South Africa: Economists anticipate no surprises from 2021 MTBPS

Fiscal and critical policy considerations are expected to be the order of the day when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers his first Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in Parliament today.

The Minister, who was appointed to the position in August, will table the policy statement amid the countrys gloomy and precarious economic position that was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond this, the country was this week experiencing its latest round of rolling power outages.

Given the prevailing economic climate, economists have crystal glazed as to what the MTBPS could contain.

Previewing todays mini-budget in a newsletter, First National Bank (FNB) economists  Mamello Matikinca-Ngwenya, Siphamandla Mkhwanazi, Thanda Sithole and Koketso Mano  said they did not expect any sign of deviation from the countrys current fiscal consolidation path.

Instead, they said the budget could highlight progress on critical policy considerations such as the Public Procurement Bill and implementation of the Zero-Based Budgeting framework.

They said: In addition, we expect the budget to highlight progress on various options that National Treasury is considering to address the widening poverty gap, including support for the economic recovery and employment creation.

Our view is that this MTBPS will provide detailed progress made on growth-enhancing reforms that are already contained in existing policy documents, namely the National Development Plan, Treasurys growth strategy paper and the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.

Additionally, the economists said the mid-term budget is expected to project a slightly stronger growth of between 4.5% and 5.4% this year.

They said this would be in line with the wide range of forecasts for South Africas growth.

However, we expect negligible forecast revisions for the outer years. We also expect the time frame for the return to 2019 levels to be brought forward, they said.

The economists argued that the policy statement should also provide details on the role that Operation Vulindlela has played to facilitate and fast-track reforms.

The MTBPS will also emphasise public infrastructure investment (although no spending adjustments will be made at this budget), the need to improve business confidence and the importance of crowding in private sector investment (along with the Infrastructure Fund).

More critically, the key message that this MTBPS could convey is implementation, implementation, implementation and the need to do more to support growth and employment creation.

In this regard, they said the budget will emphasise the necessity of urgent and accelerated implementation of growth reforms, as well as building an efficient and capable state that will work with the private sector to deliver on crucial growth measures.

Investec chief economist Annabel Bishop in a preview said she expected the MTBPS to stick to the fiscal consolidation, growth stimulatory with a move away from accelerating current expenditure.

In a note on the Banks prediction, she said market and credit ratings on the fiscal metrics to see if the rand value of borrowings and/or deficits rise.

The Bank expects gross loan debt would come out at 70.0% of GDP for 2020/21, versus the 80.3% of GDP projection in the February 2021 Budget (BR) before the GDP revisions.

She said: For the current fiscal year of 2021/22 we expect a projection of 69.8% of GDP (2021 Budget prediction was 81.9%) both on the substantial growth and upwards revision in nominal GDP, with the upwards revision to the size of the economy itself creating a larger base to grow off.

For the next three medium-term years, Investec forecast was now at 73.0%, 74.5% and 75.7% of GDP. This was against the National Treasurys original projections of 85.1%, 87.3% and 88.5% of GDP.

This, she said, may be enough to avoid sovereign credit rating downgrades from Fitch and S&P in November. The two rating agencies both currently have the country on BB- currently. Fitch continues to have a negative outlook, as does Moodys at one notch up.

Key also will be projected expenditure increases, with a form of basic income grant likely, she said.

Investec said it was also expecting a growth of 2.5% in 2023, versus the national treasurys prior forecast of 1.6% year-on-year, and accelerating GDP growth thereafter.

The Bank said the higher economic growth outcomes and outlook suggest that revenue collection will be higher than previously expected, which has also aided its reduction of the likely deficit projections.

It said underlying debt sustainability will see some benefit from a larger economy and a faster growing economy, but can quickly be eroded by rising expenditure.

Expenditure pressures have risen materially this year on the additional social welfare support after the riots and the Sasria shortfall government is compensating for. In the longer-term a form of basic income grant (BIG) is likely for the high degree of jobless adults in SA, although this could be tied to a need for active job seeking, it said.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Developing nations take the lead in tackling climate change

Developing countries continue to lead from the front on climate change actions, despite not bearing historical responsibility for causing climate change.

This is according to a Ministerial Joint Statement from the Ministers of Brazil, South Africa, India and China representing the BASIC Group at the at the 26th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Ministers highlighted that the BASIC and other developing countries have made the first move, coming forward with high ambition, despite not bearing historical responsibility for causing climate change. They now expect developed countries to show leadership and respond with a matching progression of effort, the Ministerial Joint Statement said on Wednesday.

The Minister of the Environment of Brazil reassured the countrys full commitment to being part of the global response to tackle climate change by supporting the Glasgow Leaders Declaration on Forests and Land Use.

Brazil also announced new climate goals: (i) 50% of emissions reductions by 2030; (ii) zero illegal deforestation by 2028; (iii) restore and reforest 18 million hectares of forests by 2030; and (iv) achieve, in 2030, the participation of 45% to 50% of renewable energies in the composition of the energy matrix, the statement said.

South Africa had submitted an updated and significantly more ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement ahead of COP26.

The updated NDC brings forward the peaking of South Africas emissions by a decade and contains detailed information on adaptation, and the enabling means of implementation support required from the international community.

The NDC presents a target emission range from 398 - 614 MtCO2e in 2025 and 350  420 MtCO2e in 2030. From the upper end of the range of the first NDC, this represents a 17% reduction for 2025 and a 32% reduction for 2030, the statement said.

South Africa has progressed from an original target against Business as Usual, to a fixed target emission range.

The lower end of the 2030 updated target emission range is consistent with a 1.5-degree pathway, while the upper end of the range is consistent with a 2-degree pathway.

While India is amongst the few countries whose NDCs are already compliant with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, announced further enhancements to Indias Climate ambitions at the World Leaders Summit at COP 26 in Glasgow. He called for a global mass movement for environmentally sustainable lifestyles and consumption, the statement said.

India announced five new and updated targets including (i) increasing non-fossil fuel installed electricity capacity to 500 Gigawatts by 2030; (ii) achieving 50% of cumulative electric power installed capacity from renewable energy by 2030; (iii) reducing total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tons of between now and 2030; (iv) reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45% by 2030; and (v) achieving net zero emissions by 2070.

China aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

For 2030, China will lower its carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by over 65% from the 2005 level and increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25%.

In addition, China will increase the forest stock volume by 6 billion cubic meters from the 2005 level, and bring its total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1.2 billion kilowatts.

China emphasised the importance of upholding multilateral consensus, focus on concrete actions and accelerate the green transition.

China is formulating and successively releasing the "1+N" policy framework for delivering carbon peak and carbon neutrality. Moreover, China will strictly control coal-fired power generation projects and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: Poultry imports barred

The Centre for Food Safety today suspended the import of poultry meat, poultry products and eggs from Sieradzki District in Lodzkie Region of Poland and Stratford-on-Avon District, Warwickshire County in the UK.

The bans were imposed in response to notifications from the General Veterinary Inspectorate of Poland and the World Organisation for Animal Health about the outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, the centre explained.

The centre has contacted the Polish and British authorities and will monitor information from the organisation and the relevant authorities on the outbreaks. Appropriate action will be taken based on the development of the situation.

In the first nine months of this year, about 4,070 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 24.82 million poultry eggs were imported from Poland.

Additionally, about 70 tonnes of chilled poultry meat, 2,970 tonnes of frozen poultry meat and 250,000 poultry eggs were imported from the UK.

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Load shedding downgrades to Stage 2

Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter says the power utility will reduce load shedding to Stage 2 today and he expects load shedding to be completely lifted by Friday morning.

He was briefing the media following a week which has seen the power utility implement the more serious Stage 4 load shedding  leaving households without power for longer or for multiple times throughout the day.

De Ruyter said the power system had recovered sufficiently to reduce load shedding.

This good recovery in the system has enabled us to reduce load shedding to Stage 2 from Stage 3 currently at [midday] today. We will maintain Stage 2 until 5am on Friday morning and we will then be in a position to lift load shedding as by then the system would have sufficiently recovered that we can continue to operate and meet normal demand, he said.

De Ruyter admitted that although the system recovery is going well, Eskom may have to stick to load shedding into the foreseeable future.

Given where we are and with the well-known challenges that we face on our coal fired generation, a guarantee that there will be no load shedding is not something that I think we should consider giving at this point in time, he said.

The CEO implored South Africans to use electricity wisely as this could help the country avoid frequent and severe load shedding.

We have about 14 million households in South Africa so if we all play a part we can really make a difference.

If all households were to switch off at least one unnecessary light, that would save about 835MW. Thats a huge number which is more than one [generating] unit at a big power station like Medupi that can be save by just switching off one unnecessary light, he said.

The CEO added that to save more electricity, South Africans can also switch off pool pumps an hour earlier, exchange their halogen light bulbs for energy efficient bulbs and switch off geysers over evening peaks.

If you add up all these interventions that will save up a total of 2849MW which is the equivalent of the output of one of our power stations or equivalent to the consumption of a large city like Tshwane.

It goes to show that small actionsreally can make a difference to manage our system better, he said.

De Ruyter revealed that the power utility is engaging National Treasury to address Eskoms financial problems and its consequent inability to procure spares for repairs to its power stations.

[W]e run the risk of becoming muscle bound with governance and we should look at a system which still maintains adequate control and accountability over public money. We understand that we have a responsibility to spend public money wisely bearing in mind that some of the most egregious abuses of public money took place while the PFMA was in place at Eskom.

So we are in discussions with National Treasury to find if there are ways to expedite this and in order to make sure that collectively we have the necessary sense of urgencyin dealing with these applications because these challenges do have a bearing on the duration of load shedding and therefore they have a significant economic impact.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
South Africa: Operation Vulindlela makes progress

Government, through Operation Vulindlela, has made progress on several key reforms outlined in its October 2020 economic recovery plan, says the National Treasury.

The 2021 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), presented to Parliament by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Thursday, reveals.

In the document, the department said the amendment of Schedule 2 of the Electricity Regulation Act (2006), raising the licensing threshold from 1 to 100 megawatts (MW), had made it possible for private power generators to sell directly to customers.

This, it states, would reduce pressure on the national grid and alleviate the risk of power cuts.

It said the pace and scale of private generation would largely depend on the ease of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa registration process, which needed to be streamlined.

Amended regulations also enable municipalities to self-generate or procure power directly from independent power producers.

Over the longer term, creating a competitive energy market will help contain the costs of generating electricity and support GDP growth.

On the front of Transnet, government has announced the corporatisation of the Transnet National Ports Authority as an independent subsidiary of Transnet and appointed an interim board.

Treasury said the separation of port infrastructure and operations would create incentives for efficiency and competitiveness between port service providers  reducing delays, improving services and introducing cost discipline.

However, it said critical reforms in the telecommunications space had been delayed, constraining innovation and access to better-priced data.

It said these reforms included the release of spectrum through an auction and digital migration, delayed due to recent legal challenges launched by mobile operators.

In addition, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africas possible recall of temporary spectrum at the end of November will affect the quality of digital services for those working from home and leave millions of households without free access to educational and health websites.

Government assigned this spectrum in April 2020 to alleviate pressure on digital services in light of the COVID-19 lockdowns.

The department said the durability of the recovery would depend on the implementation of a broad range of structural reforms that inspire confidence and create an enabling environment for accelerating and sustaining economic activity.

In the context of limited fiscal space, reforms that require little budgetary support  including regulatory reforms that enhance competition  are being prioritised, it said.  SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa: President expresses condolences to the De Klerk family

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to Elita De Klerk, the wife of the late former President FW de Klerk, and her family following the news of his passing.

De Klerk, who presided over a bloody state of emergency during the apartheid era in the 1980s until his party lost power to the ANC in 1994, passed away earlier on Thursday morning after an extended period of illness.

I have learned with great sadness of the passing of former Deputy President and former State President Frederik Willem FW de Klerk.

The Former Deputy President passed away earlier today, Thursday, 11 November 2021, after an extended period of illness. He was 85 years of age.

I offer my sincerest condolences to his wife, Elita, his children Jan and Susan, and his grandchildren.

My thoughts are also with Mr de Klerks friends and associates and the management and staff of the FW de Klerk Foundation.

President Ramaphosa said while de Klerk was a leader of a party that was vastly discredited in relation of the role the party played in enforcing apartheid, he played a vital role in South Africas transition to democracy in the 1990s, which originated from his first meeting in 1989 with President Nelson Mandela who was a political prisoner at that stage.

He took the courageous decision to unban political parties, release political prisoners and enter into negotiations with the liberation movement amid severe pressure to the contrary from many in his political constituency.

The Deputy President was a committed South African who embraced the democratic constitutional dispensation and placed the long-term future of the country ahead of narrow political interests.

Serving as Deputy President from 1994 to 1996, Mr de Klerk played an important role in the Government of National Unity, dedicating himself to the constitutional imperative of healing the divisions and conflict of our past.

Deputy President de Klerks passing, weeks before the 25th anniversary of our democratic Constitution, should inspire all of us to reflect on the birth of our democracy and on our shared duty to remain true to the values of our Constitution.

The President said the FW de Klerk Foundation will in due course make announcements regarding funeral arrangements.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Hong Kong: CE joins APEC's dialogue session

Chief Executive Carrie Lam attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Dialogue with the APEC Business Advisory Council via video conferencing today.

She and leaders of the other economies exchanged views with the council's representatives on the priority issues as economies emerge from COVID-19.

During a group discussion session, Mrs Lam noted that Hong Kong is among the most effective in the world in controlling the virus. It will continue to promote vaccination and work hard to resume quarantine-free cross-boundary people flow with the Mainland and other parts of the world.

While the Chief Executive stressed that Hong Kong will strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through a series of decarbonisation efforts, she also welcomed the business sector's participation.

Moreover, Hong Kong will promote green finance given its status as an international financial centre, she added.

Noting that economies should render support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which are particularly vulnerable during the pandemic, Mrs Lam highlighted that Hong Kong is in the process of developing the Commercial Data Interchange as a way to address the long-standing problem of SME financing.

This new financial infrastructure, expected to start operation next year, will offer a centralised platform to enable SMEs to make use of their own data to gain access to more convenient financing services.

It will facilitate secure data sharing based on the consent of enterprises and allow the local banking system to serve the real economy more efficiently.

Mrs Lam also reiterated Hong Kong's interest in its early accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership while reaffirming the city's commitment to free trade and regional economic co-operation.

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: Beijing joins push to ease pressure on Afghanistan

The so-called Troika Plus group pledged on Thursday to try to ease severe pressure on Afghanistan's banking system as it warned of possible economic collapse and a humanitarian disaster that could fuel a new refugee crisis.

The group, made up of China, Pakistan, Russia and the United States, met in Islamabad against a backdrop of growing alarm over the situation in Afghanistan, where more than half the population is facing severe hunger over the coming winter.

"I urge the international community to fulfil its collective responsibility to avert a grave humanitarian crisis," Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote on Twitter, adding that Pakistan would provide aid including food, emergency medical supplies and winter shelters.

The Taliban victory in August saw the billions of US dollars in foreign aid that had kept the economy afloat abruptly switched off, with more than US$9 billion in central bank reserves frozen outside the country.

"Nobody wishes to see a relapse into civil war, no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability," Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.

"Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis," he told the envoys, who also met the Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Restrictions on the banking system put in place by international governments since the Taliban took over have deepened the pain for Afghans, prompting growing calls for the freeze on the reserves to be lifted.

The troika said it acknowledged concerns about the "serious liquidity challenges and committed to continue focusing on measures to ease access to legitimate banking services."

Pakistan has called on governments, including the United States, to allow development assistance to flow into Afghanistan to prevent collapse.

Pakistan has also discussed the idea of Afghanistan joining CPEC, its multi-billion dollar infrastructure project with China, which comes under the banner of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). (AFP)

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
RTHK: Astroworld stampede death toll rises to nine

The death toll in the Astroworld Festival stampede rose to nine with the death of a 22-year-old Texas college student late on Wednesday, according to a lawyer for the family.

A stampede of fans during rap star Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival on Friday killed nine people between the ages of 14 and 27 and injured scores. A nine-year-old boy remains in critical condition in hospital, police have said.

Bharti Shahani, a Texas A&M University student, died from "horrific injuries" sustained at the rap concert, James Lassiter, a lawyer for the family, said on Thursday. She attended the concert with her sister and cousin who survived.

"We want to make sure that the people who decided to put profits over the safety of the lives of children are held responsible," said Lassiter in a news conference attended by Shahani's family.

Meanwhile Scott asked victims of the stampede to contact him directly to provide them with help.

Scott's representatives said in a statement that families who would like assistance in any way should contact his team through a dedicated email address. (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-11-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The University of Bristols Quantum Technology Enterprise Centre (QTEC) is launching a new pre-incubator programme, QUEST, this November.

The QUEST programme will support the rapid generation of new quantum, engineering and scientific technology companies.

The University of Bristol has a strong track record in contributing to the development of the UK quantum industry with a third of all UK quantum start-ups originating out of the University. Since 2016, QTEC has supported the creation of 28 active companies with a combined valuation of over 120 million. These companies have raised over 57 million and created over 175 new highly skilled jobs within the UK.

QUEST is a six-month programme for UK university researchers who are looking to commercialise their tech. Selected founders will receive skills and training designed specifically for the creation of deep tech companies, plus mentoring from respected industry leaders, regular road-mapping sessions with a team of Entrepreneurs in Residence and the potential to pitch for capital from a network of UK and European angel investors and VCs.

Participating founders will benefit from the proximity to the Bristol and Bath region, one of the most innovative, creative and desirable places to live in the UK. The Bristol and Bath smart city region is home to a 5G testbed and the UKs most productive tech cluster, providing world class digital connectivity. In addition, the founders will have access to the entrepreneurial network in the West of England, which has a strong track record of commercial success in bringing research and innovation to market.

Kimberley Brook, Programme Manager of QUEST, said: To ensure the UK remains at the forefront of deep tech innovation, it is vital that we upskill our PhD students and researchers to enable them to develop companies based on university research. Through QTEC we have demonstrated that scientists make excellent CEOs and CTOs provided they are given the training, skills and support they need to succeed early on in their entrepreneurial journey.

Neciah Dorh, CEO and Co-founder of FluoretiQ, who has previously been a Fellow at QTEC, said: QTEC gave me the freedom to explore the commercial possibilities of my technology.

Matthew Hutchings, CPO and Co-founder of SEEQC, said of his time at QTEC: If QTEC had not instilled the confidence that I was ready to pitch my business, I would not be in the position I am now. I am a co-founder of a VC-backed company based in the USA and the UK, with 18 employees and counting.

QUEST applications close on 31 October 2021. Visit the QTEC website to apply.




NEWS PROVIDED BY

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Nov. 11, 2021



NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Sen. Dick Durbin's beef with his diocese:

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, who identifies as a Catholic, has yet to find an abortion he couldn't justify. That is why his bishop, Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, recently said he will be denied Holy Communion in his diocese.

This is nothing new. In 2018, Bishop Paprocki issued an order that barred Durbin from receiving Communion following the senator's vote against the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."

So why is Durbin now whining again? Worse, he is misstating Church teachings on this subject, even to the point of claiming victim status.

Durbin complained that "Other Catholics may share my point of view [on abortion]statistics suggest they probably dobut they show up to Communion every week without any questions asked." He added that "with very few exceptions, Communion is offered to anybody if the person believes that they [sic] are worthy of it."

Durbin is right about the latter comment. Very few Catholics are denied Communion, but what he failed to say is that he is one of them. He has not only been told not to go to Communion by his bishop, in 2004 he was denied Communion by Monsignor (now a bishop) Kevin Vann of Blessed Sacrament Church in Springfield.

So yes, Durbin is unique. Where he is wrong is in his assertion that he is just like those Catholics who voted for him and go to Communion without this being an issue.

Here is what the U.S. bishops have said about this matter. "A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who favors a policy promoting an intrinsically evil act, such as abortion...if the voter's intent is to support that position."

In other words, Catholics who vote for a pro-abortion politician because they like his pro-union record, or his position on other issues, are not "guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil."

Durbin is wrong to conflate his status as a senatorsomeone who votes on pro-abortion billswith those Catholics who vote for him for reasons other than his support for abortion rights. In fact, the Catholic Church is very specific about the difference.

On November 24, 2002, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a "Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life." Part II, Sec. 4, reads, "John Paul II...has reiterated many times that those who are directly involved in lawmaking bodies have a grave and clear obligation to oppose any law that attacks human life (italics in the original)."

Congress is a lawmaking body and Durbin is a member of it. He is not analogous to a blue-collar guy who votes for him despite his lust for abortion. Therefore, he merits disparate treatment.

Contact Jasmine Hunt, Legislative Director to Sen. Durbin: jasmine_hunt@durbin.senate.gov
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Presidents participation in APEC meetings to raise Vietnams stature in multilateral activities

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc is going to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings on November 11 - 12 via videoconference, expected to help promote Vietnams stature in multilateral activities, including those of APEC.













Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the 27th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting via videoconference on November 20, 2020 (Photo: VNA)



The year 2021 is important to APEC as it is the first year to implement the APEC Vision 2040. The 21 member economies continue attaching importance to APEC and considering this a leading forum in the region and an important mechanism in the Asia-Pacific to help augment multilateral efforts to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, recover economies, and prepare for durable growth.



Vietnam became an official member of APEC on November 15, 1998, raising the forums membership to 21. This was a significant milestone during the implementation of Vietnams open foreign policy of diversifying and multilateralising external relations and integrating into the global economy.



The APEC region is critical to the countrys security and development as it gathers 15 of the 30 strategic and comprehensive partners which are leading economic and trade partners of Vietnam. Thirteen of the 17 free trade agreements Vietnam is enforcing, negotiating, or waiting for ratification cover 17 APEC members.



During the 23 years of its APEC membership, Vietnam has made active and proactive contributions to the forum, thereby helping to promote regional peace, stability, cooperation, and economic connectivity and maintain APECs role as a leading mechanism for economic connectivity in Asia-Pacific.



Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it is currently one of the members taking the lead in boosting APECs commitment to the cooperation in sharing vaccines and ensuring equal and effective distribution of and access to vaccines at a reasonable cost. It has also been appealing to other members to voluntarily transfer vaccine production technology so as to step up vaccine production and supply towards herd immunity.



The APEC Leaders' Week this year takes place amid the continuation of complex developments, increased uncertainties, and new challenges posed by the COVID-19 resurgence with more dangerous variants. Meanwhile, the global economy is recovering, but unstably and unevenly. The Asia-Pacific remains the leading region in economic recovery, development, and connectivity.



President Nguyen Xuan Phuc is scheduled to participate in the 28th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting on November 12 and a dialogue between APEC leaders and the APEC Business Advisory Council on November 11. He will deliver a pre-recorded speech at the APEC CEO Summit on November 11 - 12.



2021 is the first year Vietnam has implemented the socio-economic development plan for 2021 - 2025 and moved to a stage of comprehensive and extensive integration into the world. The State leaders participation in the APEC Leaders' Week will help raise Vietnams stature in multilateral activities, including those of APEC, and help the country make active and effective contributions to the building of a plan for implementing the APEC Vision 2040./.
Forum discusses business opportunities for older persons in Vietnam

About 100 representatives from both national and international businesses attended the first-ever virtual business forum to promote the private sectors participation in the development of business services for older persons in the COVID-19 and the new normal context in Vietnam.



The business forum was co-chaired by Vice Chairman of VCCI and Director of VCCI Ho Chi Minh City, Vo Tan Thanh and the United Nations Population Fund  UNFPA Representative for Vietnam, Naomi Kitahara. The forum was among a series of interventions funded by the the Government of Japan through the Project Project "Mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable population groups - Ensuring National Progress to Achieve SDGs in Vietnam".



The business forum discussed the current situation of the elderly care industry and the care needs as well as the potential of a silver market in COVID-19 and new normal context. A Report on Market Outlook for Elderly Care Service in Vietnam was presented at the Forum and its findings indicate that the domestic service market for the elderly is very promising with 20 million "potential customers" by 2035. As an extremely valuable intellectual and experience pool, the elderly is an important asset contributing to the development of the country. The elderly is also a crucial driving force for a special emerging market, which can generate good sales, income and jobs for the society.



The businesses also had a straightforward dialogue with policy makers, particularly with regard to the governments policies for care industry. To maximise the opportunities resulting from population aging, the participants explored the trends and future prospects, including innovative solutions for the care industry to meet the needs of older persons, especially in COVID-19 environment.



In his opening speech, Vo Tan Thanh, Vice Chairman of VCCI and Director of VCCI Ho Chi Minh City confirmed that the business forum constituted a timely intervention, especially when HCM City and many other provinces and cities across the country were hardly hit by the 4th wave of the COVID-19, causing the negative impacts on the countrys socio-economic development.



Thanh said: The elderly care industry in Vietnam is huge, yet its potentials are untapped. The development of this care industry so far is not sufficient to meet the increasing and diversified needs of older persons. There have been several factors which can hinder further development. They include under-developed infrastructure; need for incentive policies to encourage the private sector to invest in; limited financial and human resources as well as unavailability of technologies. There are no effective service models yet which are in line with the culture of the Vietnamese people while communications strategy and activities need to be more effective to make the Vietnamese older persons change their attitude and practices. The business forum today is an opportunity for all the stakeholders to discuss and create a breakthrough in this important and potential industry.





Naomi Kitahara, the UNFPA Representative for Vietnam also echoed her co-chairman by saying that the organisation of this special forum was significant, given the fact that the participation of businesses in the care industry for older persons is limited.

Naomi Kitahara stressed: While the virus spreads among persons of all ages, older persons and those with underlying medical conditions are at increased risk of developing severe conditions and having higher death rates. Meanwhile, Vietnams population ageing is progressing fast and the country will transition from the ageing to the aged society by 2036. While this presents implications on the need for care and support for the elderly population, it can also present a business opportunity for the care industry.



Minister Okabe from the Embassy of Japan to Viet Nam told the forum: Japan shares the same trend of population aging and low fertility, and a lot of private sector businesses, many of which are very unique and innovative, have developed in the past decades to provide care and services to the elderly population. The Government of Japan is honoured to support UNFPA and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce to engage the businesses in dialogues with policy makers, particularly with regards to the Governments policies for the care industry.



The participants to the forum are managers from the FDIs; local companies and manufacturers as well as from Japanese companies. Representatives from the international chambers of commerce, including JCCI, KoCham, AmCham, and EuroCham, and economic officers of international consulates.



The forum wrapped up with recommendations for next steps to ensure that older persons must be a priority in Viet Nams efforts to overcome COVID-19 and that no one is left behind in humanitarian response as well as in development effort.


Teenager in need of support to recover from work accident

A teenager in Lai Chau Province is in need of financial support to cover medical treatment for his serious injuries caused by a work accident.















Cheo A Truong at the hospital







Cheo A Truong, 16, left his home in Sin Ho District to seek a job in Hanoi after his parents divorced and were both sent to prison for trading drugs. He wanted to earn some money to support his small sister who was sent to live with their grandmother.



Truong was happy when accepted to work at a construction site in Hanoi in May. But just a short time after that his work was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He faced lots of difficulties when being stuck in Hanoi for several months during social distancing. He returned to work in October and had a serious accident just a few days later.



"I fell from the scaffold when I was working on the fourth floor on October 16," Truong remembered. "I think I was still lucky because I fell on a pile of sand which helped lessen the injuries."



Truong was rushed to a nearby hospital and stayed there for a week. Then he returned to his hometown to continue treatment to save money. However, due to his serious condition, doctors at Lai Chau Provincial General Hospital had to transfer Truong to the Vietnam-Germany Hospital in Hanoi for better treatment.



Hearing about his financial difficulties, some people helped pay the transport cost for Truong and his aunt who went to take care of him at the hospital.



Doctor Bui Hai Nam at the Vietnam-Germany Hospital said that Truong suffered from various injuries in his spine, stomach, and legs of which the spinal injury was the most serious.



"He has undergone several operations but would still need long and costly treatment," the doctor said. "We've heard about his difficulties and want to get support from the public to help him get over it."
Fact check: China and U.S. roles on issue of climate change

17:08, November 10, 2021 By Wu Chaolan ( People's Daily Online

Recently, U.S. politicians have continued to hype groundless accusations against China on the issue of climate change: "China bears the greatest responsibility for climate change" and "China failed its climate commitment." The latest unfounded remarks came from U.S. president Joe Biden, claiming that China lacks commitment on the climate issue. However, is this true? What respective roles do China and the U.S. play on the climate issue? Here are some of the answers.

The U.S. is the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world

China tops the annual list of the largest emitters of the greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon dioxide (CO2), which has provided ammunition for Western politicians, claiming that China should be in large part blamed for the climate change crisis. It seems like a reasonable claim, however net annual emissions alone can only reveal one side of the story. Climate change is the result of cumulative emissions of GHG over many decades and centuries. Therefore, it's worth looking at other figures such as cumulative emissions and CO2 emissions per capita to grasp a fuller understanding of the problem.

Developed countries, which have been releasing GHG into the earth's atmosphere over the past 200 years, have an unshirkable and historical responsibility. Historically, the U.S. is the largest GHG emitter in the world. U.S. GHG emissions accounted for 27.9 percent of the global total from 1751 to 2010. The historical emissions produced by the U.S. are about three times that of China.

CO2 emissions per capita also represents a decisive measure when examining what is driving human-induced climate change. Undoubtedly, the U.S. has long been among the biggest emitters of CO2 on per capita terms. Historical emissions per capita in the U.S. are eight times that of China. In 2017, the U.S. registered 14.6 tons of CO2 emissions per capita from fossil fuels, which is 3.3 times the global average and more than twice that of China.

Which is the country lacking in its climate commitments?

Human activities since the Industrial Revolution, particularly the cumulative impact of CO2 emissions produced by the world's developed countries, have been a primary driver of climate change. Amid robust calls to save the planet, China, as the largest developing country globally, has remained committed to the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, which holds the position that developed and developing countries ought to shoulder different historical responsibilities for climate change. The developed and developing worlds also have different development needs and capabilities.

With a clear path towards systemic climate action, China has adopted a raft of policies to tackle climate change and has taken part in global climate governance, all despite the difficulties this creates for its own economic and social development. In 2020, China set an ambitious goal that will take aim at peaking its CO2 emissions before 2030 while achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. By setting a time limit of only 30 years, China will use the shortest duration of time to achieve carbon neutrality after reaching peak carbon. In contrast, the U.S., historically the world's largest CO2 emitter, and in spite of its nonstop slandering of China's green commitments, is expected to take 43 years to accomplish the same transition, a timespan that is 1.4 times that of China's stated goal.

As a staunch advocate for global climate cooperation, China has actively engaged in South-South cooperation on climate change with other developing countries. China has never stopped providing assistance and support to other developing countries, helping them build capacity to fight climate change and reduce the adverse impacts arising from global warming. In 2021, China and 28 other countries launched the Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on Green Development, advocating for climate change to be addressed through actions guided by the principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, weighted against differences in national circumstances.

In September, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly that China will step up its support for other developing countries in developing green and low-carbon energy, and declared that China will not build any more coal-fired power plants abroad, which represents yet another bold step towards China's green commitments.

In contrast, the U.S., the largest contributor of cumulative CO2 emissions, has a notoriously poor record on tackling climate change. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime skeptic of climate change, turned the U.S. into a consensus-breaker and troublemaker on the climate issue. During Trump's presidency, the country deprioritized action on climate change and reversed its green commitments by relaxing federal regulations for GHG polluters, approving the Keystone XL pipeline and scrapping the Clean Power Plan  an Obama-era policy that aimed to reduce CO2 emissions in the country's power sector.

In 2020, the U.S. became the first country in the world to officially pull out from the Paris Agreement. This is not the country's first instance of undermining attempts at global climate cooperation. Historically, the U.S. refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. These successive rollbacks in U.S. policymaking have had an adverse impact on the worldwide fight against climate change, having led to greatly increased levels of GHG emissions and a higher American death toll from weaker controls on air pollution.

After little to nothing was done during Trump's administration, the incumbent U.S. President Joe Biden used his voice to put climate change at the forefront of his agenda. The U.S. moved to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Biden's first day in office and he announced that the U.S. would aim to cut its GHG emissions by 50 percent to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030 while hitting the net-zero emissions target by 2050. While these targets now represent the country's aggressive near-term climate goals, it still remains to be seen whether Biden can convert his administration's grandiose rhetoric into real climate action. At present, the entrenched divisions in the U.S. make it almost impossible for the Biden administration to push forward the president's climate agenda. Repeated congressional impasses are likely to eventually send Biden's climate dreams down the drain, sadly just like his predecessors.

Which country is a laggard in climate action?

Visions will come true only when people act on them. As a responsible country, China continues to honor its pledge to reduce emissions, remaining steadfast in its commitment to green and low-carbon development. China has turned its climate goals into feasible action plans by incorporating them into the country's overall national development program.

China has set a clearly defined timetable, roadmap and blueprint for achieving its climate goals. The country has released two directives: Working Guidance for Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality in Full and Faithful Implementation of the New Development Philosophy, and the Action Plan for Carbon Dioxide Peaking Before 2030, to guide the country's work towards its climate goals, laying out key targets and measures for the coming decades. China also plans to take other measures, such as rolling out specific implementation plans for key areas. Taken together, these measures will form a "1+N" policy framework for delivering the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

China's efforts have achieved positive results. China's carbon intensity in 2020 was nearly 50 percent less than that in 2005, which means that China had more than fulfilled its commitment to the international community. As for global climate cooperation, China has helped developing countries to build low-carbon demonstration zones and provided them with climate-related supplies, such as meteorological satellites, PV power generation and lighting equipment, NEVs, environmental monitoring devices and clean cookstoves.

Compared to China's systematic and solid actions in the fight against climate change, the green commitments made by the U.S. are nothing more than hollow rhetoric. Since the presidential election, Biden has talked a big game about his ambitious campaign against climate change. He promised to be a leader and support developing nations in their quest to reduce CO2 emissions and he pledged to double U.S. climate change aid. After months of excruciating negotiations, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the Build Back Better Act, President Joe Biden's signature social safety net and climate change bill. However, the final rendition of the bill cut out or limited the key parts found in the bill's original version, which dissatisfied many progressives. For example, the agreed framework reduced by $50 billion to over $550 billion the amount dedicated to fight climate change.

The Biden administration has not only failed to live up to his climate commitments, but has often implemented policies to the contrary. In September, the White House approved the lease for 78 million acres of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in what's been billed as the largest offshore oil and gas auction in U.S. history. In May, the Biden administration defended a huge Alaskan oil project, known as Willow, set to produce more than 100,000 barrels of oil a day for the next 30 years. Even ahead of the crucial United Nations summit on climate change in Glasgow, U.K., President Biden, who has routinely admitted that the burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of the "climate crisis," continued to talk the talk as his actions told otherwise, showing a cavalier disregard for the CO2 emissions generated by his delegation as he cavalierly cruised through Rome in an 85 vehicle motorcade during his stopover in Italy for the G-20 summit in late October. Such hypocrisy towards the climate crisis epitomizes the reality of U.S. climate action  the piling up of grandiose language despite doing none of the actual heavy lifting.

(Web editor: Wu Chaolan, Hongyu)
Xi urges Asia-Pacific to stride toward community with shared future

Xinhua) 08:10, November 11, 2021

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit via video, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday urged the Asia-Pacific region to face up to the responsibility of the times, be in the driver's seat, and strive hard to meet the goal of building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks while delivering a keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit via video.

At present, COVID-19 is still ravaging the world, and the journey to global economic recovery remains a difficult and tortuous one, Xi said.

He urged the region to make all-out efforts to fight COVID-19. "At this trying time, it is all the more important that we should stay confident, keep a steady hand on the tiller, and forge ahead with determination," Xi said.

Xi called for openness and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. "We should all be broad-minded, follow the underlying trend of the times and proactively expand opening-up."

The Asia-Pacific region should "advance trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and functioning, and promote the orderly flow of resources and inputs to boost economic recovery and achieve interconnected development," he said.

While urging the region to be forward-looking and move ahead, Xi said that the Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era.

In terms of green transition, he urged the region to follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and deliver on what was agreed upon in the Paris Agreement on climate change and at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

"Working together, all of us can embark on a path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development," Xi said.

Talking about innovation, Xi called for efforts to speed up scientific and technological innovation and institutional innovation, promote the commercialization of scientific and technological advances, and foster new drivers of growth.

"We need to scale up cooperation between member economies of the Asia-Pacific on scientific and technological innovation, and foster an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory environment for the development of science and technology," Xi said.

China has attained the goal of fully building a moderately prosperous society within the set time frame, secured a historic success in eradicating absolute poverty, and embarked on a new journey toward fully building itself into a modern socialist country. "This will create greater opportunities for our region," Xi said.

He pledged that China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening-up so as to add impetus to economic development in the Asia-Pacific.

China is committed to building a high-standard market system and will work to make new progress in reforming important areas and key links. The country will pursue high-standard institutional opening-up, and continue to improve its business environment, Xi said.

The country will work to cement the foundation for long-term development of the Chinese economy and better support businesses from both the Asia-Pacific and the wider world in investing and operating in China, Xi said.

He stressed that China will advance green transition on all fronts and make its due contribution to boosting ecological conservation in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.

"China will strike a balance between low-carbon transition and ensuring the living needs of its people, and between development and carbon reduction, and will achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality within the time frame we set," Xi said.

He underscored that China will stay committed to promoting win-win cooperation and contribute to the economic development of the Asia-Pacific.

China will continue to practice true multilateralism, take an active part in global economic governance and promote the building of an open world economy, Xi added.

China will also inject impetus into economic recovery and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region, and strive to build a global community of development with a shared future, he noted.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
How "Double Eleven" 20 years ago benefits the world

Xinhua) 08:18, November 11, 2021

-- People who witnessed China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) 20 years ago would have never expected the "Double Eleven" today would be a totally different sight in this country.

-- Over the past two decades, China's continuous efforts in widening opening-up have injected new vitality into the country's development and world economy.

-- "WTO accession has proved to be one of the most important economic events in the history of China and the modern world, which has created a win-win outcome for China and the world," said Yi Xiaozhun, WTO's former deputy director-general.

SHANGHAI, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- People who witnessed China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) 20 years ago would have never expected the "Double Eleven" today would be a totally different sight in this country.

On Nov. 11, 2001, Shi Guangsheng, then Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, signed the protocol on China's accession to the WTO in Doha, and a month later, China formally became a WTO member -- a landmark event in the country's opening-up and development and the world's multilateral trading system.

Twenty years later, Chinese netizens are gearing up for another "Double Eleven," the annual consumption spree which started in 2009. In the pre-order session that started two weeks ago, washing machines and dryers, household appliances, and a wide range of cosmetics belonging to various foreign brands are among the popular choices.

File photo shows Shi Guangsheng (L, front), then Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, celebrating with others after signing the protocol of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on behalf of the Chinese government in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 11, 2001. China became a formal WTO member on Dec. 11, 2001. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

Economists believe that the two "Double Eleven" are closely linked and are the result of China's reform and opening-up policy that brings massive benefits to both the country and the world.

TRANSFORMATION AFTER WTO ACCESSION

In 1984, the U.S.-based 3M founded its China branch in Shanghai as the first wholly foreign-owned enterprise established outside the four special economic zones since China's reform and opening up.

In 2001, the company officially launched its first particulate respirators tailored for Chinese customers and manufactured in the country.

Now 3M is one of the key multinational enterprises to have participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai for four consecutive years. With products ranging from masks, noise-reducing earplugs to water purifiers and acne pimple patches, the brand has won growing popularity among Chinese consumers. It is also ready for the upcoming "Double Eleven" shopping extravaganza.

People visit the 3M booth during the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, east China, on Nov. 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Fan Peishen)

Over the past two decades, China's continuous efforts in widening opening-up have injected new vitality into the country's development and world economy.

During the period, China's economic size has grown from the 6th to the 2nd largest in the world, trade in goods from the 6th to the 1st, and trade in services from the 11th to the 2nd. China has led developing countries in utilized foreign investment, and its outbound direct investment has risen from the 26th to the 1st. China has contributed an annual average of nearly 30 percent to the growth of the world's economy.

The huge changes can be more clearly seen in a group of comparison figures: 20 years ago, China imported and exported 11.56 billion yuan (about 1.81 billion U.S. dollars) of goods a day, and now it only takes about three hours; Chinese people spent 480 million yuan an hour then, and now it takes about six minutes.

China has fully delivered on its accession commitments. Its overall tariff rate has been cut from 15.3 percent to 7.4 percent, lower than the 9.8 percent accession commitment. The central government has reviewed and revised over 2,300 laws and regulations, and local governments over 190,000, which all helped unleash market and social vitality.

"WTO accession has proved to be one of the most important economic events in the history of China and the modern world, which has created a win-win outcome for China and the world," said Yi Xiaozhun, WTO's former deputy director-general.

People buy products while visiting the "CIIE Fair" on the Nanjing Road pedestrian walkway in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

As Chinese consumers keep filling their shopping carts, the country's shopping list from the rest of the world is also getting longer with more variety.

The annual "Double Eleven" festival, which falls on Thursday, was first started by Alibaba's e-commerce platform on Nov. 11, 2009, and quickly grew into a major shopping event.

On Alibaba's Tmall platform, the "Double Eleven" festival sees a record 290,000 brands participating and discounts for more than 14 million types of commodities.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FROM HIGH-STANDARD OPENING-UP

As China marks the 20th anniversary of its accession to the WTO this year, the country is pushing high-standard opening-up, which will further benefit its over 1.4 billion people and the world.

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the fourth CIIE on Nov. 4, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that China will firmly safeguard true multilateralism. It will also firmly share market opportunities with the rest of the world, promote high-standard opening-up, and uphold the common interest of the world.

People visit the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in east China's Shanghai, Nov. 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

Among the new opening-up moves, China will lay more emphasis on expanding import, open more demonstration zones for creative promotion of import trade, and optimize the catalogue of retail imports via cross-border e-commerce. The country will also further shorten the negative list for foreign investment, and expand the opening of telecommunication, healthcare and other services in an orderly fashion.

Through the establishment of free trade zones and the Hainan free trade port, the relaxation of restrictions on foreign investment, the hosting of the CIIE and the China International Consumer Products Expo, as well as the domestic ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, China has accelerated its overall opening-up, bringing real and remarkable benefits to people and enterprises both at home and abroad.

In the first three quarters of 2021, China's imports totaled nearly two trillion U.S. dollars, up 32.6 percent year on year and a record high. According to the latest WTO data, in the first half of the year, China's international market share of imports increased by 0.7 percentage points year on year to 12 percent, contributing 15 percent of the global import increment.

Abikunda Samuel, the commercial counselor at the Embassy of Rwanda in China, said that previous participation in the CIIE has helped Chinese consumers learn more about Rwanda's famous products, such as chili oil and coffee.

Some Rwandan brands have caught up with China's e-commerce trend in collaboration with well-known live-streaming hosts. "Once, we sold some 3,000 packs of coffee within one second, and we hadn't even prepared that much stock," he recalled. "That was a huge surprise."

Long-term business ties established between China and Rwanda through the CIIE have created many job opportunities for Rwandan farmers, and thus benefited the country's economy as a whole, said Samuel.

Staff members are busy sorting packages at a dispatch center of Yuantong Express Company in Jiangbei District, Ningbo of east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Jiang Han)

China announced at the first CIIE in 2018 that its imported goods and services were estimated to exceed 30 trillion dollars and 10 trillion dollars, respectively, in the next 15 years.

As the fourth CIIE concluded Wednesday with 70.72 billion dollars worth of tentative deals reached, many of the participating companies will join the "Double Eleven" festival.

"The CIIE is a bridge that connects China with the rest of the world, and that's exactly what Cargill has been doing for the past 50 years," said Jerry Liu, president of Cargill in China.

"Inspired by the exciting new opportunities that the CIIE has unlocked for us, we will embrace the next 50 years with even greater hope and ambition as we continue to grow together with our partners and customers in China," Liu said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
China unswervingly safeguards common interests of all

09:07, November 11, 2021 By He Yin ( People's Daily

The 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) has spurred a wave of openness and cooperation, through which the international community sees more clearly that China is unswervingly safeguarding true multilateralism and common interests of all through courageous actions, continuously providing impetus for improving global economic governance and jointly building an open world economy.

Visitors watch models of high-performance mine shovels at the Intelligent Industry and Information Technology exhibition area of the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Nov. 6, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Zhai Huiyong)

As unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise and economic globalization is encountering headwinds, the 4th CIIE attracted participants from various countries, offered great opportunities for cooperation, and caught the attention of people around the world, signaling a more evident role of the expo in promoting international economic and trade cooperation.

As a Chinese saying goes, people with petty shrewdness attend to trivial matters while those with greater wisdom attend to the governance of institutions.

The combined forces of changes and a pandemic, both unseen in a century, have brought the world into a phase of fluidity and transformation. To ride out the phase, countries need to reform and improve the global economic governance system constructively and better seize opportunities and avoid harm to facilitate the steady progress of economic globalization.

The multilateral trading regime with the WTO at its core is the cornerstone of international trade. However, the regime has been eroded, and the WTO has had difficulty performing normally in recent years, with its Doha Development Round going around in circles and the Appellate Body of its dispute settlement mechanism paralyzed.

The reform of the WTO has been put on the agenda, yet a consensus hasnt been reached on the goals of the reform and the ways to advance the reform.

Standing at a crossroads, countries can only enjoy a bright future by deciding on a clear direction and marching forward together.

A robot and a tea master perform tea ceremony at the same time at the exhibition booth of Japan-based multinational Mitsubishi Electric at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Nov. 6, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Chen Bin)

China supports the WTO reform in moving in the right direction. We support the inclusive development of the multilateral trading regime, as well as the legitimate rights and interests of the developing members, announced Chinese President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the 4th CIIE.

China has always stressed that the WTO reform should preserve the core values of the multilateral trading system, guarantee the development interests of developing members, and follow the consensus-based decision-making mechanism.

Besides, China believes that the reform of the WTO should uphold the multilateral trading systems status as the main channel for international rules-setting, give priority to the key issues that threaten the survival of the organization, ensure the fairness of trading rules, respond to the needs of the times, guarantee the special and differential treatment for developing members, and respect the respective development models of WTO members.

Chinas propositions for WTO reform have provided theoretical guidance and political impetus for maintaining and developing the multilateral trading system, drawing wide attention and winning recognition from the international community.

Of the problems confronting the world economy, none can be resolved by a single country alone.

Photo taken on Nov. 6, 2021 shows visitors at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Nov. 6, 2021. (Peoples Daily Online/Chen Bin)

Countries should stick to the vision of global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits and jointly improve global economic governance, instead of allowing unilateralism or protectionism to undermine the international order and international rules. They should show more willingness and roll out more measures to advance opening-up and cooperation, rather than isolating themselves from the rest of the world.

China will take an active and open attitude in negotiations on issues such as the digital economy, trade, and the environment, industrial subsidies, and state-owned enterprises, uphold the position of the multilateral trading regime as the main channel for international rules-setting, and safeguard the stability of global industrial and supply chains, Xi said at the opening ceremony of the 4th CIIE.

The WTO attaches great importance to Chinas significant influence and leading role and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China, according to WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

As humankind shares a common stake, countries should put the common good of humanity first and protect the common interests of the world rather than placing ones interests above the common interests of all.

Over the past year, China has reaped fruits in honoring its words with actions to promote bilateral, multilateral, and regional cooperation. Negotiations on the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment have been concluded; China is among the first to complete domestic ratification of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement.

Determined to uphold the common interests of the entire world, China will take an active part in cooperation within the UN, the WTO, the G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and other institutions, and promote more discussions on such issues as trade and investment, the digital economy, and green and low-carbon development, said Xi.

The country will support the fair distribution of and unimpeded trade in vaccines and other critical medical supplies worldwide to assist global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

In a bid to help other countries explore drivers of economic growth, China will promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation so that more nations and peoples will benefit from its development opportunities and real outcomes, according to Xi.

China will actively join in global efforts to tackle climate change, safeguard food and energy security, and provide more assistance for fellow developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation to help the international community overcome the pressing challenges hindering development, Xi added.

Humanity has always been able to forge ahead despite risks, disasters, and headwinds, and humanity shall and will continue to stride forward.

As a Chinese proverb reads, The going may be tough when one walks alone, but it gets easier when people walk together. As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc and the global economy faces a bumpy recovery, it is all the more imperative that people around the world pull together to tide over this difficult time.

China stands ready to work with all countries to build an open world economy, improve global economic governance, and make the pie of common interests even bigger.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Duty-free shopping heats up as Singles' Day shopping bonanza approaches

Xinhua) 09:21, November 11, 2021

HAIKOU, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tao Chaoran, a newlywed shopaholic, has prepared a long wish list as China's Singles' Day shopping carnival draws near, choosing south China's island province of Hainan as the perfect destination to fill up her shopping cart.

"I'm having my honeymoon in Hainan, and duty-free shops here are definitely an important part of my itinerary," said Tao while showing her memo that includes a smartphone, skincare products, jewelry and handbags.

"With cheaper products and high-quality services, Hainan has long enjoyed the reputation of 'shopping paradise' in China and the increased tax-free shopping quota is also very attractive. Special discounts are also underway for Singles' Day," she said.

Since July 1, 2020, Hainan has raised its annual tax-free shopping quota from 30,000 yuan (about 4,691 U.S. dollars) to 100,000 yuan per person. The previous tax-free limit of 8,000 yuan for a single product has been lifted, and the duty-free purchase limit for cosmetics has also been raised from 12 items to 30.

The move came amid China's efforts to build the island province into an international tourism and consumption destination, with duty-free shopping already one of the core competitive features of Hainan's tourism consumption.

"I bought a facial cream for my mom, which is more than 1,800 yuan cheaper than the Singles' Day discount on the e-commerce platform Taobao," said Fu Weijia, a 24-year-old man who came to Hainan for vacation. "I also plan to buy some gifts for my relatives."

Duty-free shops in Hainan have launched a slate of promotional activities for the annual shopping spree. At the CDF Haikou Duty Free Shop in the provincial capital, world-renowned brands are up to 70 percent off and coupons can be superimposed. For perfume and cosmetics, a 150 yuan coupon can be used when the original prices hit more than 500 yuan.

Cosmetics, electronics and portable massagers are among the most popular items, with shops flooded with customers, salespeople constantly replenishing goods and consumers waiting in long queues at the checkout counters.

Anti-epidemic measures have been rolled out to prevent gathering and ensure a safe shopping environment. On Tuesday afternoon, visitors lined up and entered the CDF Haikou Duty Free Shop after having their temperatures taken and showing their health QR code.

The Global Duty-Free (GDF) Plaza started its Singles' Day promotion online and offline on Nov. 5. Customers can get a 70 percent discount for fragrance products and a 35 percent discount for 100 selected products. Xu Shenglan, a staffer of the plaza, said the preferential activities tripled the sales volume on Nov. 6.

The shopping festival, celebrated on Nov. 11, was originally a day for the single and later become a trend started by Alibaba's e-commerce platform in 2009. It is now one of the largest online shopping sprees worldwide that can serve as a barometer for China's consumer confidence.

While the country is fighting against the resurgence of COVID-19, analysts believe that the consumer demand will not be dampened, thanks to the evolving digital technology, supporting policies and rising consumer confidence.

"On Nov. 11, we will launch livestreaming shows with promotion activities on various platforms, through which our customers can go shopping just with fingers swiping on their mobile phone's screens," said Zhang Ke, a staffer of CDF Haikou Duty Free Shop.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
SW China county forges sister-city ties with city in Mexico

Xinhua) 09:25, November 11, 2021

Combination photo shows Fengdu County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality in 2003 (top, file photo provided by Chongqing Three Gorges Migrants Memorial) and on Aug. 5, 2020 (bottom, photo taken by Huang Wei), respectively. (Xinhua)

CHONGQING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Fengdu County in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Wednesday signed an agreement via video link to establish a sister-city relationship with Guanajuato in Mexico, according to county authorities.

"Thanks to our cultural legacies, we are both international tourist destinations. In addition, we share a deep tradition of ghostly legends and afterlife culture, manifested through different artistic means," said Mario Alejandro Navarro, mayor of Guanajuato, in his address to the online signature ceremony.

Guanajuato practices the traditional folk culture of the Day of the Dead, which was the inspiration for the Hollywood film "Coco." Fengdu is also known for its ghost culture.

Zhang Guozhong, Party chief of the county, said the two sides will continue to promote mutual visits as well as economic and trade exchanges.

The county delegation visited Guanajuato to carry out cultural exchange and promotion activities in December 2018, when the two sides signed a letter of intent on establishing sister-city ties.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Mainland reacts strongly to US lawmakers Taiwan visit; Provocative moves may speed up reunification process: expert

By Wang Qi, Chenqingqing and Zhao Juecheng (Global Times) 09:27, November 11, 2021

China's second aircraft carrier sails through the Taiwan Straits into the South China Sea. Photo: screenshot from the Weibo account of the PLA Navy

The Chinese mainland has made stern warnings after a delegation of US lawmakers sneaked into the island of Taiwan via US military aircraft on Tuesday night, the second time since US President Joe Biden took office. Experts said that the US lawmakers' visit is driven by a mixture of political and business interests, as well as to embolden the pro-secession DPP authority, and it could also speed up the deployment of the mainland and the process of final reunification between the two sides of the Straits.

The visit came after an announcement by the mainland's Taiwan affairs office's on Friday that the mainland will pursue criminal responsibility for diehard Taiwan secessionists and they will be in effect for life. Soo Tsing-tshiong, head of Taiwan's executive authority, Joseph Wu, head of the external affairs authority, and You Si-kun, head of the legislative body, are on the blacklist.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin urged the US lawmakers to stop colluding with secessionists on the island of Taiwan, saying that such tactics will eventually backfire.

The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council on Wednesday said the Chinese mainland is willing to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification with the utmost sincerity and efforts, but will not leave any room for any form of Taiwan secessionist activities.

No one should underestimate the strong resolve and capability of the Chinese people to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, the spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office Zhu Fenglian said.

After Taiwan authority on Tuesday announced that US lawmakers had landed in Taiwan, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, said The PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted a joint combat readiness patrol near the Taiwan Straits to further improve the joint combat capability of multiple military services and branches.

Compared with a whirlwind visit by three US senators to Taiwan via a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in June, the mainland has escalated its reaction, from dispatching patrolling military aircraft to conducting a joint combat readiness patrol.

Hours after the US military aircraft landed, Tan Kefei, spokesperson of China's Defense Ministry warned the US to stop all provocative actions that grossly interfere in China's internal affairs and undermine China's territorial sovereignty. "We warn the DPP authorities not to misjudge the situation or act in a desperate way; otherwise, it will only lead Taiwan into a grave disaster," Tan said.

Trip of blackmail?

The delegation of US lawmakers includes Republican senators John Cornyn of Texas and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, media reported. According to the South China Morning Post, the delegation also included senators Mike Crapo of Idaho and Mike Lee of Utah, as well as Representative Jake Ellzey of Texas, all Republicans. The sixth lawmaker is unnamed.

Taiwan media said the delegation on Wednesday visited the defense authority of Taiwan and heard a report on the mainland's "military threats." It came after the island on Tuesday released a 2021 "national defense report," detailing how the mainland had sent 554 sorties of military aircraft over the past year to "intrude" in the island's self-proclaimed southwest air defense identification zone.

On November 4, Republican senators including Cornyn and Crapo introduced a bill dubbed the Taiwan Deterrence Act, seeking to give $2 billion a year in military grants and loans to Taiwan until 2032, so as to increase the island's self-defense ability, US media reported.

Analysts view the act as a greedy debt trap aimed at Taiwan, which means the US wants to ensure Taiwan continues to buy huge amounts of American weapons in the future even if the DPP loses the 2024 election.

Although Cornyn sits on the Senate Committee on finance, judiciary and intelligence, his actions are always driven by military-industrial interests in the US, Diao Daming, an associate professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times, noting Cornyn has long emphasized playing the "Taiwan card" militarily.

"Tuberville sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, with strong ties to military-industrial interests Crapo and Lee's states of Idaho and Utah have close agricultural ties to Taiwan island," Diao said.

Ellzey, the only House member among the delegation, also has a military background. He served as a fighter pilot in Afghanistan and Iraq, and he was appointed to the Veterans' Affairs and Science, Space, and Technology Committees in August 2021.

Taiwan media reported in November 5 that DPP authorities have purchased 66 new F-16V aircraft. Adding to its existing fleet of 141, the island with 23 million residents will have the largest number of F-16Vs in the world when all the aircraft are delivered in 2026.

Troublemakers on the tightrope

According to media reports, the military aircraft took off from the US military base in Guam with two military officers, made a temporary stop in the Philippines to pick up the US delegation and then headed to Taipei.

Spokesperson of the US Defense Department John Kirby claimed that congressional visits on military aircraft are "not uncommon" and "fairly routine," and said it is in line with US obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act.

But experts said there is actually no such routine of taking military airplanes to visit Taiwan, and said the US and DPP are walking a tightrope on the redline of the mainland.

The military aircraft the lawmakers took was not a chartered plane, otherwise it won't detour to the Philippines to unload military supplies. "In essence, the six lawmakers were taken like a 'package' that was sent to the Taiwan island conveniently, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"People on both sides of the Taiwan Straits know very well that Taiwan secession means disaster and loss of peace," Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said on Wednesday.

Zhu's remarks came in response to a question regarding speculation surrounding a war, as the head of Taiwan's defense authority Chiu Kuo-cheng said on October 28 that a manual on people's survival and asylum is being prepared and expected to be completed by March 2022.

Despite that all the delegation members are Republican lawmakers, experts said the Biden administration cannot pretend it is innocent, due to the coordination with the American Institute in Taiwan and the use of military aircraft. Moreover, it is almost a bipartisan consensus to suppress China with the "Taiwan card."

Given that US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said days ago that Washington is seeking coexistence with Beijing rather than a new cold war, the GOP lawmakers' Taiwan visit could be interpreted as an attempt by the US opposition to make waves and hinder the Biden administration's any possibility of detente with China in too many areas, or in any area, Diao said.

However, the partisanship and political polarization could be a way for Republicans to participate in the US' overall China policy: The Biden administration can send positive signals to China in some areas, while conniving opposition lawmakers can do damage in other questions like Taiwan as leverage, Diao said.

On the sidelines of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rome last week, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Wang stressed that the Taiwan question is the most sensitive matter between China and the US, and if the question is mishandled, it would bring "subversive damage to overall China-US ties."

"When China and the US established diplomatic relations, the US made its commitment to China on the Taiwan question in the three joint communiques. What the US is doing now violates its commitment and also the norms governing international exchanges. It is not the behavior of a responsible major country," a Beijing-based Taiwan question expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday.

"The Americans are aware of China's red line. They are constantly walking on the edge of the red line, playing a dangerous balancing game, but if they go too far, they will inevitably stumble," said the expert.

Experts said that further deterrence by the mainland, including exercises to encircle the island of Taiwan cannot be ruled out. Besides, Chinese aircraft may also fly over the island to declare sovereignty.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Punishing "Taiwan independence" diehards the must to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests: spokesperson

Xinhua) 09:35, November 11, 2021

BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday said that punishing diehard "Taiwan independence" secessionists in accordance with the law is the must to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.

It is also necessary to ensure the peaceful development of the relations across the Taiwan Strait, said Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, when responding to a media query regarding the punitive measures against diehard "Taiwan independence" secessionists.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, Zhu said, adding that introducing punitive measures against diehard "Taiwan independence" secessionists has legal basis.

"We have zero tolerance for acts that flagrantly defy national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will punish diehard 'Taiwan independence' secessionists in accordance with the law," Zhu said.

Diehard "Taiwan independence" secessionists will be held criminally responsible on a permanent basis, Zhu said.

Zhu said the mainland will closely monitor relevant situations and resolutely crack down on any form of "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities.

The proposed punishments against those diehards and their sponsors, which ban them from engaging in profit-making activities on the mainland, will fundamentally benefit the normal economic and trade exchanges across the Strait and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan compatriots, said Zhu.

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Aksu, Hotan in NW Chinas Xinjiang shift into the development fast lane

People's Daily Online) 09:48, November 11, 2021

Sitting on the edge of the Taklimakan Desert, the largest desert in China, Aksu and Hotan prefectures in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have experienced robust development in the areas of eco-tourism, industry and education in recent years, becoming shining pearls in the region.

A local villager shows Nang, a kind of crusty flatbread popular among local people, in a Nang industrial park in Keping County, Asku prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on June 17, 2020. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

Tacun village in Aksu, which boasts a sound ecological environment and beautiful scenery, such as snowy mountains, grasslands and Karst landforms, was once an impoverished village due to its disadvantaged geographic location. In a mere two year period, however, it has been transformed into a well-known village in south Xinjiang with the investments made by the Aksu Culture Tourism Group. The group fully tapped the eco-tourism potential of the village and invested over 200 million yuan (about $31.29 million) to build a scenic spot, according to Turghun Rozi, head of the team responsible for a pairing-up aid program initiated by the group that was directed at Tacun. The scenic spot, which offers up several tourism programs, such as a ski resort, suspension bridge, and sites for tourists to appreciate the starry night sky, provides plenty of job opportunities for local villagers who previously made a living through herding.

A local villager by the name of Gulnar, for example, has been engaged in the tourism sector for two years since she graduated from high school. She guides tourists to ride her horses at the scenic spot every day, earning 5,000 yuan per month during the peak tourism season. I didnt expect to make a lot of money from my horses, she said.

Likewise, Haneriq Town in Hotan invested about 70 million yuan in a cultural and tourism program that integrates features of Uygur culture with 20,000 mu (about 1,333 hectares) of paddy fields in the desert, helping local residents to increase their incomes. Villager Gheyret Rozimemet and his wife earn a rental income every month, receiving monthly earnings of over 6,000 yuan by working for a homestay owner where they also take up regular work.

Meanwhile, a wide variety of industries are now thriving in Hotan and Aksu prefectures. One vivid example is a modern agricultural industrial park in Hotan that integrates agriculture and tourism sectors. With an investment of 1 billion yuan from the Xinjiang Kolengreen Agricultural Technology Development (Group) Co., Ltd., the industrial park is the largest of its kind in Xinjiang. According to the companys president, Du Jun, the industrial park covers an area of 2,100 mu, as well as possessing a series of processing plants for grain and flour, animal feed, poultry and meat products, in addition to an industry processing area for agricultural sideline products. It has been estimated that the mega project will generate a sales revenue of 3.5 billion yuan and provide some 2,200 job opportunities for local villagers each and every year upon completion, he added.

In June 2020, Aksu also built an industrial park featuring production facilities for Nang, a kind of crusty flatbread popular among local people. It has over 600 ovens and provides the means for about 3,000 bakers to produce Nang at the same time. Statistics have revealed that the industrial park is capable of producing an average of 1.01 million Nang per day, generating an annual sales revenue of 920 million yuan and creating job opportunities for over 6,800 people.

The two prefectures also attach a great importance to education, providing free education from kindergarten to senior high school. With the support of pairing-up assistance from Beijing, Kumu village in Hotan city built a kindergarten with a capacity of 300 students in 2017. Now all the preschoolers in the village are enrolled in a kindergarten class.

The city has implemented plans to build four educational parks, with two of them already being put into use, according to Zhai Qiyong, secretary of the leading Party members group of the education bureau of Hotan city.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
CIIE introduces higher-end products and services to China, accelerates consumption upgrading

People's Daily Online) 10:49, November 11, 2021

The 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) provides a platform for global enterprises to satisfy the rising demand of Chinese consumers with new technologies and products purchased at the expo.

REFIRE, a provider of commercialized zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell technologies headquartered in Shanghai, unveiled a hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck at the CIIE. According to Lin Qi, CEO of REFIRE, the vehicle can travel nearly 1,000 kilometers on a single charge, which takes just 10 minutes.

People visit the booth for Danish toy giant LEGO Group at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. (Peoples Daily Overseas Edition/Qiu Haifeng)

Through the CIIE, we hope to provide high-quality, reliable and green solutions to global clients and satisfy their need for green consumption, said Lin.

Karcher, a German cleaning systems provider, unveiled a third-generation cleaning product named KIRAB 50. In developing and manufacturing the product, we cooperated with a top visual navigation company in China. The cleaning product was exclusively developed for Chinese consumers, said an executive from Karcher.

French beauty giant LOreal Group displayed Perso, a personalized lipstick at this years CIIE. Powered by artificial intelligence, Perso allows consumers to create their own lipsticks. Fabrice Megarbane, president of L'Oreal North Asia Zone and CEO of L'Oreal China, said that new consumption trends are tending towards personalization. Technologies allow us to build a bridge between consumers and the products they want to buy, and thus tapping into new consumption potential, Fabrice Megarbane explained.

Furniture seller IKEA rolled out a line of products themed on the Chinese New Year, such as cushions featuring the tiger to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year in 2022, and placemats featuring peony flowers. In an exclusive interview with Peoples Daily Overseas Edition, Sven Rau, vice president of IKEAs retail business in China, expressed that China is one of the most important markets for IKEA. While pursuing common development alongside China, IKEA is also witnessing the inheritance and innovation of Chinese culture, consumption and lifestyle.

In less than one hour after the opening of the enterprise and business exhibition at the CIIE, Shanghai sealed its first deal, which involves a procurement order worth $700 million. Later, a deal worth $70 million was signed between Shandong Zhongke Electric Power Co based in Jinan and Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas. Enterprises from other province, including Henan, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Zhejiang and Anhui, also signed deals for the purchase of commodities at the CIIE.

Visitors look over a new energy race car produced by Apollo displayed at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. (Peoples Daily Overseas Edition/Qiu Haifeng)

On Nov. 7, New Zealands largest dairy company Fonterra unveiled a milk product at the CIIE and signed a tripartite strategic cooperation agreement with Hema Fresh of Alibaba and the cross-border logistics business of China Southern Airlines, turning the exhibit into a product. Currently, the milk is available at Hema Fresh supermarkets in Shanghai and Hangzhou. Over the past year, our direct purchase from overseas increased by nearly 50 percent, said Xiao Lu, general manager of commodity branding at Hema Fresh.

At the CIIE, Baidu Health signed a memorandum of cooperation with GlaxoSmithKline to develop a digital model for promoting disease education and prevention. The two parties will work together to carry out disease knowledge popularization and improve prevention concepts. We hope to raise the awareness of disease prevention among middle-aged and the elderly population through our cooperation, said Yang Minglu, general manager of Baidu Health.

Chinas sales of consumer goods jumped from 20.6 trillion yuan (about $3.18 trillion) in 2012 to 39.2 trillion yuan last year, with the country becoming the second largest consumer market in the world over the course of eight years, said Chinas Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen.

Over the years, we actively conformed to the trend of consumption upgrading, and connected the domestic and international markets by pursuing opening-up at a higher level, and pushed for steady and healthy development of consumption. Its fair to say that consumption has strongly supported economic growth and served as a powerful driving force for global economic recovery, Wang said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Combat aviation brigade stages flight training

China Military Online) 13:19, November 11, 2021

A pilot assigned to an aviation brigade of the air force under the PLA Southern Theater Command climbs into the cockpit of his J-10 fighter jet during a flight training exercise on October 11, 2021. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Wang Guoyun)

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
U.S. can learn from China's response to COVID-19 infections: U.S. broadcaster

Xinhua) 15:25, November 11, 2021

WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China present two diverging visions on where the pandemic is headed, and the United States can learn from the way that China is dealing with COVID-19, a U.S. media outlet reported.

"While China tries to stamp out COVID-19 infections as soon as they pop up, the U.S. has a much more laissez-faire approach of learning to live with the virus, even if it means a thousand deaths a day," the National Public Radio (NPR) said earlier this week.

The strict and rigorous approaches China has been using since the earliest days of the pandemic worked well for the country, NPR's China correspondent John Ruwitch said in a broadcasting program.

"Economically, China was able to bounce back quicker than any other country. You'll recall it was the only major economy to grow last year," Ruwitch noted.

According to U.S. health officials, the daily infection number below 10,000 means that the virus is under control, NPR's health reporter Pien Huang told the program.

"By those metrics, China has the virus under control," Huang said, adding that the United States is "still a ways off from that."

(Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun)
Small business owners in Chinas export hub Yiwu stay optimistic about future

People's Daily Online) 15:40, November 11, 2021

Thanks to Chinas favorable policies, small business owners in Yiwu, the countrys export hub in eastern Zhejiang province remain optimistic about business prospects, despite the challenges they are currently facing, such as rising ocean freight rates and raw material costs, in addition to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Customers buy bamboo fans at the 14th China Yiwu International Forest Products Fair held at the Yiwu International Expo Center in Yiwu, east Chinas Zhejiang province. (Photo/Gong Xianming)

Although there are some difficulties, I believe my company will have a brighter future here with the support of our country, said Ding Dandan, owner of a shop selling Christmas products at the Yiwu International Trade Mart, the worlds largest small commodity trading hub that boasts more than 70,000 tenants.

Ding, who started her business at the trade mart almost 10 years ago, said that she has benefited from the countrys favorable policies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), such as tax and rent cuts, over the past two years.

Not long ago, the trade mart refunded shop owners two months of rent, Ding noted, adding that it also provided epidemic prevention and control materials such as masks and disinfectants to them.

Ding revealed that she is shipping out most of her Christmas products to overseas customers just like in previous years. Some of her products could not leave for overseas destinations in time due to soaring sea freight prices and a severe shortage of containers for shipments, Ding added, explaining that all of the orders would normally have been shipped by the end of October in the past.

However, I can rise to the occasion, so do most other merchants in the trade mart, Ding said.

Luo An, who runs a plastic products shop at the trade mart, has also benefited from the countrys policies. Tax cuts for my shop surpassed 40,000 yuan (about $6,255.9) per year. Now its the third year in a row that I have enjoyed the tax reduction, Luo said.

Moreover, I had to pay an annual rent of 200,000 yuan in the past, but now I only need to pay over 50,000 yuan, Luo said excitedly.

Luo pointed out that although rising raw material costs have squeezed his profit margins this year, tax and rent cuts have offset some of the rising costs.

Meanwhile, the relatively more time-saving and cost-effective Yixinou cargo line, a major China-Europe freight train route linking Yiwu with Europe via Xinjiang in northwest China, has become a new option for business owners in Yiwu.

The Yixinou cargo line has played an important role in offsetting the negative impacts of the current global shipping containers shortage, said Feng Yunhai, business manager with a local trade company.

The route offers a new option for us. And we tend to deliver our products to Europe through the route, Luo An said, noting that business owners in the city can ensure steady operation in general.

Yiwu has continuously made institutional innovations and introduced new services, such as launching freight trains for cross-border e-commerce and a single waybill mechanism for multimodal transport to relieve foreign trade enterprises burdens in settlement and financing, according to an official with the citys market development committee. So far, the Yixinou cargo line has connected 101 places overseas.

According to the statistics from Yiwu customs, the city saw surging Europe-bound freight trains in the first three quarters of this year, with the total import and export value of goods handled by the line hitting 23.96 billion yuan, up by 71.9 percent year-on-year.

Thanks to the local governments continuous efforts to support the development of foreign trade and improve the business environment, Yiwu has secured robust performance in its foreign trade so far. Customs data also showed that the citys total value for foreign trade hit 272.69 billion yuan in the first nine months of this year, up by 18 percent from a year ago.

With a sound business environment, favorable policies and innovative measures, we can surely tide over the current difficulties, Ding Dandan said.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Gulf of Tonkin Incident a clear-cut example of US escalation, warmongering towards other countries

17:05, November 11, 2021 By Chen Zi ( People's Daily Online

(Cartoon by Lu Lingxing)

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, which led to further escalation in the Vietnam War, turned out to be an insidious lie fabricated by the United States.

Lyndon Baines Johnson, the president of the US at the time, appeared on national television to announce on Aug. 4, 1964 that patrol torpedo boats of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam had attacked US destroyers, with the destroyers and supporting aircraft having acted at once on the presidents orders to engage the offending targets. Following this incident, the US Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which authorized President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to fully retaliate.

However, the so-called provocation was in fact wholly baseless. A report released by the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2005 revealed that it was highly unlikely that the named vessels of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam were involved during the reported incident of Aug. 4. Files from the US Navy showed that two US destroyers fired off nearly 400 shells and five depth charges. James Stockdale, one of the pilots at the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, recalled that the US destroyers were just shooting at phantom targets. In the end, there were absolutely no patrol torpedo boats to be found in their vicinity. There was nothing surrounding them but the deep black depth of the waters below and excessive American firepower above.

Even without the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, the US would most certainly have found some other excuses in any case to go ahead with its unilateral intervention in the Vietnam War, as the countrys real aim was to maintain American hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Expanding 5G network coverage helps remote villages tap thriving e-commerce market in SW Chinas Guizhou

People's Daily Online) 17:28, November 11, 2021

E-commerce is flourishing in remote villages in southwest China's Guizhou province thanks to the expansion of 5G network coverage, with this expansion being supported by the installation of over 30,000 5G base stations across the province. In recent days, many younger villagers have been gearing up for the countrys Double 11 online shopping bonanza.

Yang Wenli promotes a local handicraft in a live-streaming session at an embroidery workshop in Huawu village, Xinren Miao township, southwest China's Guizhou province. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Once plagued by poverty, Huawu village in Xinren Miao township in the provinces Qianxi city, is now witnessing a thriving e-commerce business due to the expanding 5G network. Many villagers have been jumping on the live-streaming bandwagon to sell local agricultural products and handicrafts on e-commerce platforms.

Villager Yang Wenli, born in the 1990s, now promotes embroidery works and traditional costumes of the Miao ethnic group online at an embroidery workshop. Yang said that the workshop sold nearly 70 percent of all its embroidered products through live-streaming sessions.

Taking part in the Double 11 shopping festival for the first time this year, Yang is busy making Miao embroidery products with other embroiderers in the workshop these days, while promoting the products on e-commerce platforms for about three hours every day. Yang and her fellow villagers also sell local specialties online, such as glutinous rice cakes and locally-made rice wine.

A woman makes embroidery works from the Miao ethnic group in Huawu village, Xinren Miao township, southwest China's Guizhou province. (Photo/Qu Honglun)

A similar story is unfolding in Libei village, Yongjing town, and Xifeng county of the provincial capital Guiyang. Libei is Guizhous first Taobao Village, a rural e-commerce hub that features Alibabas logistics, service and training capabilities to encourage farmers to engage in the online sales of farm produce and local specialties.

Long Rui, also born in the 1990s, is a local e-commerce entrepreneur who often drives his van to nearby villages to purchase agricultural products, including pickles, eggs, dried chili peppers, and then sells them online.

Normally, I sell over 1,500 kilograms of pickles every week, and the figure is expected to double during the Double 11 shopping festival, Long said. He added that since all the local specialties can always be sold at good prices online, he earns an annual income over 1 million yuan (about $156,500) for selling these products.

Long revealed that local farmers have become their own sales agents with the help of 5G networks and smartphones.

Yang Wenli promotes the traditional costumes of the Miao ethnic group on her WeChat Moments. (Screenshot/Yang Wenlis Wechat Moments)

Photo shows Libei village in Guiyang city, capital of southwest China's Guizhou province. (Photo/Zhou Yanling)

A villager packs homemade pickles in Libei village, Guiyang city, capital of southwest China's Guizhou province. (Photo/Zhou Yanling)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji)
Punishing the stubborn secessionists who engage in seeking "Taiwan independence" is necessary to safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and ensure the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said on Wednesday.

"We have zero tolerance for acts that blatantly challenge the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," office spokeswoman Zhu Fenglian said, adding that "those who dare to test the law will be punished according to the law."

Measures to punish Taiwan secessionists on a blacklist drawn up by the Chinese mainland were released by the office last week. They included a mainland travel ban and restrictions on companies related to them that have business on the mainland.

The office named three Taiwan officials on the blacklist: Su Tseng-chang, head of Taiwan's executive body; Yu Shyi-kun, who is in charge of the local "legislature" in Taiwan; and Joseph Wu Jau-shieh, the island's leader of external affairs.

They have been inciting confrontation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, undermining cross-Straits relations, plotting to split the country and undermining peace across the Straits, Zhu said, adding that "they can't get away with what they did."

Taiwan's mainland affairs authority said it would consider taking countermeasures.

When asked if there would be a follow-up list, Zhu said Taiwan secessionists include those who organize, plot and carry out acts to split the country and undermine national unity.

They seek independence by colluding with foreign forces and making "constitutional amendments" on the island, she said, adding that they and their financial backers will be punished in accordance with the law.

The punitive measures include banning the Taiwan secessionists and their families from entering the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, the office said.

Organizations related to them will be restricted from cooperating with organizations and individuals on the mainland, and enterprises related to them and their financial backers are not allowed to make profits on the mainland, it said.

The mainland will pursue criminal responsibility for the secessionists and they will be held accountable for life, it added.

Responding to concerns about whether the move will affect Taiwan investment on the mainland and economic exchanges across the Straits, Zhu said that it will help promote normal economic exchanges and protect the legitimate rights of Taiwan residents.
By Shen Dingli

The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia. [Photo/Agencies]

On the heels of the Pentagon releasing its annual report on the "military and security developments involving" China, the US has made another provocative move against Beijing by sending a delegation of Congress members to Taiwan, which landed on the island in a military plane on Tuesday.

Beijing has strongly condemned the US congressional delegation's visit to the island. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the US side's action seriously violates China's sovereignty and threatens peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

Beijing has asked Washington to immediately stop its provocative actions that are escalating tensions in the Straits, and refrain from encouraging separatist forces in Taiwan, and warned the ruling Democratic Progressive Party on the island to not misjudge the situation and take risks which could lead to disaster for Taiwan.

China must and will be reunified. And no one should underestimate the determination, will and capability of the Chinese people and the People's Liberation Army to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As for the Pentagon's 192-page report, which was issued last week, it describes China's efforts to boost its regional defense capability as an attempt to extend its military reach to the Indo-Pacific region and even beyond. As usual, it highlights what it calls China's rapidly rising military capability, including fast expansion of its nuclear arsenal. What's new in the report is the inclusion of China's alleged chemical and biological warfare capability.

It's a cliche for the US to play up the "China threat" theory, no matter how much truth or false information there is in their so-called report.

However, there is nothing wrong in China bolstering its military capability to better safeguard national security, as it is necessary for the most populous country to fulfill the national reunification mission and maintain peace and tranquility along its long border.

The US should reflect on its strategy of trying to block China's national reunification. Even after Beijing and Washington established formal diplomatic relations in 1979, the US has continued to challenge China's legitimate rights to deal with its internal affairs  the Taiwan question being one  on its own terms.

The Pentagon's report suggests China's increasing military power poses a threat to other countries. Which is strange, because using the same logic, the US can be accused of posing a serious threat to the rest of the world given its military might. When Barack Obama completed his tenure as US president in January 2017, the US military budget stood at $500 billion. But this year the budget has increased to $780 billion, about four times that of China.

To some extent, the Pentagon's argument makes sense: the more money you spend on the military, the greater threat you pose to others, which applies perfectly to the US. Thanks to its massive military resources, the US was able to wage war in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021, and has been doing the same in Iraq since 2003 (the US still has some troops in Iraq). Not to mention the US military's involvement in Libya and Syria.

Unlike the US, China has not fought any big wars for more than four decades, and in the meanwhile settled its territorial disputes with Russia and Central Asian neighbors. Also, China has agreed a deal with Vietnam on fishing cooperation in Beibu Gulf, and with Japan on an air and sea emergency liaison mechanism in the East China Sea.

And it is working with ASEAN members toward the goal of finalizing the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, which would allow them to handle their disputes through peaceful means in the future.

There is a purpose behind the strengthening of China's defense capability  to deter aggression and better safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China is well established. And yet the US has been playing the "Taiwan card" to check and balance China since the founding of new China in 1949.

Since Beijing's legitimate seat in the United Nations was restored in 1971 and the US established diplomatic ties with it in 1979, the US should keep the promises it made in the Three Joint Communiques. It's high time for the US to stop interfering in China's internal affairs including the Taiwan question.

As former US president Dwight Eisenhower said, peace has to be maintained with force.

Despite the US provocations, over the years, distorting China's real defense capability from time to time, China will keep strengthening its defense capability to safeguard its territorial integrity and defend regional peace.

The author is professor and former executive dean of Institute of International Studies, Fudan University.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
By Xin Ping

A Chinese H-6K bomber patrolling islands and reefs in the South China Sea. /Xinhua

Editor's note: Xin Ping is a commentator on international affairs who writes regularly for CGTN, Global Times and China Daily. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The northeast monsoon has blown away the summer clouds above South China Sea, giving it a high clear sky and pure, transparent water. Yet, deep under the tranquil surface, there is treacherous turbulence, caused by natural or human activities, with the man-made ones being more dangerous and troublesome.

One month ago, the USS Connecticut, a Seawolf-class nuclear-powered submarine of the U.S. Navy, collided with an "unknown object" in the South China Sea. The submarine's sneaking away by stealth, the much-delayed announcement of the accident, and the ambiguous statement by the U.S. military altogether have left the world with too many queries: what on earth happened in the collision; was there any nuclear leak caused by the collision; was there any environmental consequences or hidden impact; and more importantly, why did the U.S. naval vessel take such a long journey to South China Sea and bring so big a trouble in the first place?

A collided nuclear submarine has all the possibilities to cause nuclear leakage. The U.S. Navy has reported a dozen more staff injured, which indicates that this could hardly be a slight hit but one with violent impact.

Even if the nuclear reactor was not damaged, as the latest U.S. Navy announcement purported, a possible broken pipeline might also trigger a leaking. Leakage of weapon-grade nuclear material contained in the Connecticut would do more harm to the ocean environment and the adjacent land thousands of times more than the contaminated water to be discharged from the Fukushima Daiichi Power Station.

The fishery industry of countries around the South China Sea would be severely affected. The right to health and right to life of the people living in this region would be under severe threat.

When the U.S. warships cruise rampantly all across the South China Sea in the name of Freedom of Navigation, the U.S. should respect the right of littoral countries and their people, and disclose the result of its investigation into the accident in a thorough and transparent way.

The Connecticut collision is just an early warning against the danger of existence of any nuclear equipment within the South-East Asian nuclear-free zone. To protect the ASEAN countries and its people from any harm caused by nuclear weapons, the ASEAN member-states concluded in 1995 the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone, also known as the Bangkok Treaty, obliging its members not to develop, manufacture or otherwise acquire, possess or have control over nuclear weapons. While the ASEAN countries are strictly observing the Treaty, the nuclear-weapon states ought to respect, not violate it.

Submariners standing on top of the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut in the water at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Washington, May 7, 2018. /Getty

However, the signing of a new trilateral defense technology-sharing pact among the U.S., the UK and Australia, known as AUKUS, will put the Southeast Asia under nuclear hazard. According to the pact, the U.S. and the UK will help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines. This would allow the latter, as a non-nuclear weapon state, to obtain high-enriched uranium which could be used directly in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

This is too obvious an act of nuclear proliferation, totally against the spirit of Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The building of more nuclear-equipped warships and their future deployment near or in South China Sea would no doubt jeopardize this region with potential and realistic nuclear damage scenarios. How many more "Connecticut Collisions" would be expected to come to pass?

It is a stock-in-trade of the U.S. government to cite the international treaties and obligations to contain and even sanction countries it doesn't like, and to trample on the international law when it or its allies commit misdeeds. But the world cannot take this for granted, especially when it is a matter of life or death like the proliferation of nuclear materials.

The legitimate rights of the people around the South China Sea shall not be sacrificed for the deepening of defense cooperation between the U.S. and its allies, nor shall they be traded into the pocket money of the U.S. Military-Industrial Complex. To play with nuke in the South China Sea will only lead to catastrophes. No countries should stand idly by with folded arms.
November 11, 2021 marks the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

For the past 72 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, PLAAF has tempered and grown in wars and battles, and advanced in military reform and transformation, creating immortal feats for safeguarding China's national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The generations of PLAAF service members and people caring about and supporting its development have written or witnessed the PLAAF's brilliant achievements, leaving behind multiple stories. Tao Wei, an air force pilot of the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) is one of them, and here is an unforgettable experience he dictated and shared during the interview.

In the second half of 1950, when the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea broke out, I was a senior high school student in Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province. Joining the army and going to Korea to resisting the U.S. aggressors was a choice made by many young people at that time. Of the 40 students in my class, more than 30 chose to be recruited for the military, and I was no exception. On January 16, 1951, upon receiving the order of enlistment, I, at my age below 17, packed my luggage and registered in a preparatory school of the PLA Air Force in Xiaogan City about 60 km away from Wuhan. Before departing, my mother was reluctant to let me go and asked worriedly: "Can we win the war?" To be honest, I had no answer to my mothers question at that time.

Time flew. In the three months studying in the preparatory school, I had learned about the nature and purpose of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the battlefield situation in the war to resist US aggression and aid Korea, and I was delighted and encouraged by the news on the first shot-down of an enemy plane by Li Han, a pilot in the 4th Division of the PLAAF. At that time, an idea occurred to me: to be a fighter pilot like Li Han to defeat the invaders on the battlefield and defend China's territorial air space.

In April 1951, my dream of becoming a fighter pilot came true. I was assigned to the former PLA Air Force Third Flight Academy in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, to pursue my study as a pilot cadet. For more than a year, I flew Yakovlev Yak-18, YakovlevYak-11 trainers and the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 fighter jet in succession. What remains fresh in my memory is that Li Yongtai, who was then a flight group leader under the PLA Air Force 4th Division, acted as the supervisor in my graduation examination. In the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, Li shot down four enemy planes. Although I had a mild cold during the exam, I still successfully completed all the subjects in the exam.

In July 1952, I was dispatched to the 4th Division, where I and the other pilots started to refit the MiG-15 fighter jets. At the end of that year, we completed the mission as assigned and began to take on combat duty. In March 1953, the 4th Division advanced to the DPRK for the fifth time to participate in the war to resisting US aggression and aid Korea. It was the first time for me, a 19-year-old young man, to be on a battlefield. As new pilots, we were lucky to have veteran pilots who were here to impart us combat experience. Their experience not only saved my life many times, but also facilitated me to achieve feats on the battlefield.

April 17, 1953, marked my first involvement in an air combat. However, shortly after taking off, I was left behind with insufficient engine thrust, and even more dangerous, "locked" by four US F-86 Sabres. Despite the combat tactics I had learnt from veteran pilots, for the first time in actual combat, I had to rely all on my own to decide when to launch counterattacks and what tactical maneuvers should be used. Calming down, I steered to the enemy planes abruptly as the right time came, and left no time for the enemy planes to respond since they had never expected I could counterattack. With no delay, I immediately steered right, smoothly getting rid of the enemy planes, and successfully "locking" them instead. I fired at the enemy planes and damaged one after three consecutive shots and returned with success.

The Picture shows the form recording Tao Wei's feats in melee air battles.

The first success in the air battle made me more confident. One month later, on May 17, I took off for the second time. This time, our 8 fighters fought fiercely with 20 enemy fighters. In that battle, we achieved the victory of shooting down 4 enemy aircrafts, and I set in the PLAAF the first record of launching a close-in attack at the enemy warplane within 120 meters. Later, when seeing the photos in which I piloted my fighter to charge at the enemy warplanes as my plane rolled and fired the airborne gun at the enemy planes, and shot down an enemy plane while my fighter was making upside down flight, Wang Xiangxiong, deputy commander of the 4th Division, blurted out: "This is really a bayonet fighting in the air!"

No one could always ensure a safe triumph in air combats. On the eve of the victory of the war, my plane was hit by 21 shells from the U.S. planes. The fragments of the exploded cockpit cover left nearly 40 marks permanently on my neck, arms and thighs, though no critical system of my plane was damaged.

Picture of congratulations to Tao Wei's meritorious feats

In 1953, after the signing of the Korean Armistice Agreement, my family received my second-class merit citation certificate. My mother framed it in a glass photo frame, and hung it in the most conspicuous place in the house. I think this is the best answer to my mothers question, and also the best answer to my motherland.
By LanShunzheng

The defense budget for Fiscal Year 2022 submitted by the Japanese Ministry of Defense included a spending of 10.2 billion Japanese Yen for the acceptance of a mid-sized transport vessel and a small one. The media reported that the request was made by the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF), and the transport vessels will be used to project "mobile forces" to remote islands. Analysts said the move indicated JSDF's intention of strengthening its so-called remote-island defense strategy and the amphibious combat capability.

Japan consists of more than 6,800 islands and all of them  with the exception of Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Hokkaido  are called remote islands. Japan has paid closer attention to its remote-island defense in recent years with prominence to those in the southwest, which, in Japans eyes, not only concern economic development, but also its national defense, security cooperation with the US, and the contention for sea power in the East China Sea and West Pacific.

Japan has been tempering its amphibious combat capabilities in the past few years and the JSDF believes that this effort has been impeded by the lack of suitable transportation vessels, without which the troops cannot move swiftly among different islands and reinforcements wont be able to arrive quickly from other regions.

Nozomu Yoshitomi, a retired major general of JGSDF, previously said in an article that there were few ports on the southwestern islands that could berth large vessels and many islands were surrounded by coral reefs, which seriously limited the routes for large vessels to approach and the speed and flexibility of island recapture operations.

In addition, the US-Japan joint amphibious assaults rely heavily on the large vessels to transport reinforcements and replenishments, but they are usually deployed far away from the landing troops, and it takes much time to transport the troops to large amphibious assault ships.

It is also reported that JGSDF has been seeking an alternative to the Type 96 wheeled armored vehicle to enhance its island-seizing capability, yet information shows that the alternative may be bigger and heavier than the Type 96 wheeled armored vehicle and therefore slower in deployment. The MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft that JSDF plans to buy and the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter currently in service cannot hoist the alternative, and Japans self-developed C-2 transport plane, though it can transport the vehicle by air, is unable to land on islands where there isnt an airport available and the alternative vehicle isnt good at fording. This means that if suited transport vessels dont come along, JSDF will have no choice but use the landing craft air cushion (LCAC) onboard the Osumi-class amphibious transport vessel to get the alternative vehicle ashore.

Therefore, the JGSDF thinks the more flexible medium- and small-sized transport vessels are better suited for island operations that require a high level of mobility, lightweight and high efficiency, and can be deployed more quickly during island-seizing operations to support islands under attack.

It must be pointed out that both the recent budget request by JGSDF and the various moves made by JSDF in recent years point to Japans enthusiasm for developing amphibious combat forces. Its ill intentions behind such moves are likely to jeopardize regional security and stability, and are worth close attention and high alert from the international community.
The United States is heading down a slippery slope after a visit to Taiwan on Tuesday by a group of US Congress members, experts said. They added that the visit demonstrates that Washington is seeking to normalize diplomatic interactions with Taiwan through de facto "official" visits, thus severely damaging China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

On Tuesday, a US Navy C-40A military transport plane carrying the US lawmakers, including Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, made an unannounced visit to the island. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby later confirmed the trip, which has received a strong backlash from Beijing.

Kirby said on Wednesday that it was the second such congressional trip to Taiwan this year. He called the visit "fairly routine" and said it was "not uncommon for them to be transported on US military aircraft".

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that China opposes the US having any form of diplomatic and military interactions with Taiwan, and the US should stop sending the wrong message to Taiwan separatist forces.

"Taiwan secession means the end of peace and the onset of calamities," she said. "We hope the vast majority of Taiwan compatriots can open their eyes and don't become the victims of Taiwan separatist forces."

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that the US colluding with Taiwan separatist forces is a dangerous game that will ultimately backfire. "Any adventurism and provocation against China's irresistible trend of reunification is futile and doomed to fail," he said.

Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement on Tuesday that the visit by the US lawmakers has blatantly interfered in China's domestic affairs, and has seriously undermined China's territorial sovereignty and peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits.

"We solemnly urge the US to immediately stop its provocative actions, and stop any disruptive actions that can escalate tension in the region," he said. "The People's Liberation Army will remain on high alert, and will take all actions necessary to thwart any ploys by foreign powers and Taiwan secessionist forces."

Meanwhile, the PLA Eastern Theater Command said in a statement on Tuesday that it organized a joint combat readiness patrol in the direction of the Taiwan Straits on the same day to further examine and improve the joint combat capability of its forces.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the theater command, said this military action was targeted at "gravely erroneous actions and rhetoric" by certain countries and recent secessionist activities by Taiwan separatist forces.

Tang Yonghong, deputy director of the Taiwan Research Center of Xiamen University in Fujian province, said that in recent years the US has passed several pieces of legislation that encourage diplomatic interactions with the island. Therefore, similar visits by US politicians will likely increase in the future, Tang said.

"We have to carefully evaluate the nature of these interactions and react accordingly based on their impact on the one-China principle and China's core interests," he said.

Tang said the US' long-term objective is to compete with China and contain its rise. Therefore, it is willing to play the Taiwan card to gain more geopolitical leverage against China, but it also wants to maintain a degree of strategic ambiguity to ensure the situation doesn't get out of control.

Strategic ambiguity refers to a carefully managed diplomatic position in which Washington deliberately keeps the Chinese mainland and Taiwan guessing about its true intention regarding the Taiwan question.

Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said the claim by the administration of US President Joe Biden of supporting the one-China policy is "highly deceptive", because the administration has been actively undermining China's territorial sovereignty by calling for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations.

"The US executive branch used to enjoy some diplomatic flexibility in regard to the Taiwan question by hiding behind its strategic ambiguity," he said. "But the recent visits by US lawmakers to the island are proof that the US Congress, which is overwhelmingly in favor of building a more robust relationship with the island, is dictating the White House's China-related policy. This is a very dangerous trend."

A Beijing-based military observer, who requested anonymity, said the US is reshaping its decades-old policy framework of strategic ambiguity regarding the Taiwan question into "strategic autonomy", meaning it hopes to gain more leverage to unilaterally react to the changing geopolitical dynamic in the region without drastically altering the status quo.

"There has been a robust but fruitless debate in the US on whether it should adhere to its strategic ambiguity, or just ditch the facade and clarify its position regarding Taiwan," he said. "But given the high stakes involved, it is more likely that the US would tread a fine line between strategic ambiguity and clarity, and focus on bolstering its own capability in managing risks in the Taiwan Straits," he said.

These capacity-building measures include more formal interactions, both public and covert, between the US and Taiwan, as well as the US selling more advanced arms packages to the island and supporting its international presence.
The European Union's General Court has rejected Google's appeal of a US$2.8 billion European Commission fine for giving its own shopping suggestions an illegal advantage in search results.

The commission fined the American technology giant in 2017 for wrongfully directing visitors to its Google Shopping service at the expense of smaller European competitors.

The General Court ruled that it "largely dismisses" Google's appeal and is upholding the fine after "finding that Google abused its dominant position by favoring its own comparison-shopping service over competing" services.
A former Hyundai employee who informed the U.S. government of serious flaws in the automaker's engines has been given the first-ever whistleblower award of US$24.3 million.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday that the award, which was created in 2015, has gone to Kim Kwang-ho (59), a former engineer at Hyundai.

Kim used to work at a quality control team at the automaker and informed the Korean and U.S. governments of defects in the Theta II engine used by Hyundai and affiliate Kia. Kim was fired for divulging corporate secrets and was even accused of dereliction of duty.

But the NHTSA launched a probe into the Theta II engine based on Kim's tipoff which resulted in the recall of 1.6 million Hyundai and Kia cars sold in the U.S. The NHTSA also found that the Korean automakers lied to investigators and slapped them with an $81-million fine last November.

The NHTSA decided to award Kim 30 percent of the fine, the maximum amount that can be given to whistleblowers.

"Whistleblowers play a crucial role in bringing information to NHTSA about serious safety problems that are hidden from the agency," it said. "This information is critical to public safety and we are committed to rewarding those who bring information to us."

Kim was also given a medal by the Korean government as well as a W200 million reward from the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission in 2019 (US$1=W1,178).
Korea has found itself dramatically short of diesel exhaust fluid as China canceled shipments of 18,700 tons that had already been paid for because of new restrictions on exports of urea, which is also essential as fertilizer. After government intervention the contracted amounts that China was holding back will be finally shipped, but it was a close call and the incident exposed the country's weakness in depending so heavily on China for core supplies. Korea has benefited significantly from China's rapid economic growth, and it now accounts for 25.8 percent of its exports and 23.3 percent of imports. But now the U.S. is aggressively pursuing anti-Chinese policies and trying to wrest its allies away from the Chinese supply chain, this could soon prove a burden. Also, Beijing has never hesitated to resort to economic arm-twisting to achieve any number of political goals and is proving a tremendous bully of countries that have been lured into economic dependence on it.

There are other areas of concern. Out of 12,586 imported products, Korea is 80-percent dependent on China for 1,850. It depends entirely on China for magnesium ingots, which are essential for the manufacture of lightweight materials for cars, and they too are in short supply after China curbed output to deal with power shortages. It also largely depends on China for oxidized tungsten, which is used to make microchips, neodymium magnet used to make electronics products lightweight, and lithium hydroxide which is essential for rechargeable batteries.

Unless Korea can reduce its dependence on China by diversifying suppliers, the entire economy could be held hostage by the shortage of even a single product. It might be inconvenient at first, but such efforts will protect the country's industries over the long term. The government must review the country's total industrial supply structure and provide policy and financial support to manufacturers.

Japan has steadily reduced its dependence on China after suffering economic retaliation in 2012 over the disputed Senkaku or Diaoyu Islands. But the Korean government has done nothing despite a crippling Chinese boycott in 2017 over the stationing of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery from the U.S. here. It took a hardline stance on Japan's attempts at economic retaliation in historical disputes, but with China it invariably folds. President Moon Jae-in commented on the diesel exhaust fluid crisis a few days ago and asked Korean manufacturers to "carefully manage the supply of products that are highly dependent on imports from a particular country." Why is he saying that now when he did nothing for years?


Domestic products in demand on Double 11

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-11-11 18:31

The annual "Double Eleven" shopping festival is here again, and consumers still cannot help spend money while complaining about the few accounts offered by the merchants. At the same time, there have been some new changes in this years Double 11 shopping spree.



Compared with previous years, Chinas domestic products have won a larger number of consumers. The number of Chinese brands gaining a turnover of more than 100 million yuan on Tmall from 00:00am November 1st to 00:45am November 11th has reached 382. Among them are not only popular brands like Huawei and Erke, but also time-honored brands such as Pechoin and Warrior Shoes, and new emerging brands like Bananain and Tineco.



The case is the same on JD.com. The website has seen the fastest growing consumption among national brands this year. As statistics show, the sales of time-honored cross-over products increased by 105% within four hours compared with the same period of last year, and first- and second-tier cities lead the growth rate list of Chinese brand consumption.



As per a report by Baidu.com, Adopt A Cow, an emerging dairy brand founded in 2016, achieved the highest year-on-year increase in search number, while the TOP 5 hottest Chinese brands over the past month are Huawei, Xiaomi, Anta, vivo and DJI.










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Wednesday Comment: USB Connections; Online TV Better and Better; iPad Pro Fixable Limitations

By Graham K. Rogers





I thought a USB connection problem with Monterey was fixed: not so. Personal changes caused problems with FaceID on the iPhone 13: confirmation needed. Television output from Apple is quite good currently, with more to come. The iPads also have more to come if Apple moves in the directions I want.



Every so often Apple releases security updates and makes changes to data. The two files are MRTConfigData and XProtectPlistConfigData. Any changes to these can be seen in the System Report, accessed through, About This Mac (Apple symbol top left on the menu bar). After a heads-up from hoakley (Eclectic Light Company) I checked the report but neither file had been updated. This is not unusual. Sometimes it takes a day or so for these to appear. I was keen to see if this changed anything important as Apple is not likely to release the 15.1 Monterey update for a few days, so I used Terminal. An update for MRTConfigData was installed. The command I used is softwareupdate -ia --include-config-data which will install any such updates, and if nothing is available, will report that too. After running the installation, I connected the Logitech web-cam that stopped working when I installed Monterey. I was delighted to find that this was working. I checked first with FaceTime and then WebEx. Not so fast. . . As I had added or changed nothing in recent days that could have changed this, it seemed an unusual coincidence. I did update Zoom a few days back, but had checked the camera after that, and it still failed. It may of course just be luck, although I was not so lucky with the Beolit 20 speaker. That still showed it was connected, but produced no sound from the Mac. iOS devices are fine with this. However, owing to a problem with another app, I restarted the Mac. When I tried the webcam later it was back to square one and the apps failed to recognise or work with it. I must have surprised it earlier.

I started to have problems with FaceID on the iPhone this weekend. It did not always work and there was a higher-than-usual fail rate. It dawned on me that I had had a haircut over the weekend and the beard had also been shaved off. I have done this before: going from bullet head to curly locks, with or without beard, and FaceID had worked then. However I had set this new iPhone up only a month ago with the longer hair and this iPhone had never seen me with the trimmed look. I reset the FaceID on Monday morning, but noticed after I had done this that there was an option to set up an alternative appearance. That may be something I do in a few weeks time. I did not have problems with the iPad Pro, but then it has seen me with short hair before. The iPad mini only has FingerprintID so was unaffected.

AppleTV+ has kept me entertained nicely with Series 2 of Ted Lasso (now done), but then a number long term projects arrived: Series 2 of The Morning Show; Foundation; Invasion; and Finch. The last episode of The Morning Show had the report of the death of Mitch Kessler, whom we saw involved in an accident at the end of the previous episode. With the accident in Italy where (historically) Covid was just becoming a serious problem, it was difficult for the Morning Show staff to confirm the death (2 independent confirmations needed). The second confirmation came from Paola. We did not see the body. I speculate that Mitch may not have died and, with Paola's help, will emerge with a new identity. His accident (real in the context of the show) was too convenient coming the same day there had been revelations about him in Maggie Brenner's book. That villa he was staying at looks like the Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como which some sources say is owned by George Clooney. I stayed in the area several times and drove the lakeside road a lot. From satellite views it looks as if the hotel I stayed at in Domaso is still there, although the lakeside area is much developed. It is not impossible to drive to San Moritz for dinner. I mainly drove the other way down to Monza on my visits to the Italian GP.

I must admit I am a sucker for science-fiction and look at most offerings in that genre that arrive, although Another Life on Netflix is straining me. Katee Sackoff was wonderful in Batttlestar Gallactica, but she is not impressing me with the second series of this, which has a less than stellar cast and some poor writing. It all looks cheap, and with a direct comparison to Invasion and Foundation, this is heightened. Both of Apple's current science fiction series have me eagerly waiting for the next episode, but for different reasons. Foundation is clearly based on the Asimov work. While that limits plot, the presentation and scale of the presentation is superb. It is a slow burner and that is fine. Invasion has also picked up slowly but the presentation of different world scenes, running concurrently, allows the viewer to build a picture of the unfolding event. We are several weeks in and still have not seen the invaders, although their presence is felt by each group of characters. Nick Allen (Roger Ebert) is quite positive about this Roland Emerich series, commenting that it is about people, not aliens, although he gets it wrong about the crash of the school bus. There are no mountain roads in London. The school trip ventured a little further afield. I was disappointed that Sam Neill, who was in the first episode, has not been seen again. I was hoping that this is part of the strategy and in some future episode he would emerge as one of the characters who will save the world, but Nick Allen says not, which makes this cameo appearance all the more odd. The future saviors are clearly marked out: Mitsuki, the young Japanese scientist; the English schoolboy, Casper; the Asian female Aneesha, in a failing marriage (or her young son who was unaffected by an early event and has received some communication). I find the scenes in Afghanistan disturbing for a number of reasons: the way the protagonist, Trevante, only speaks English to the native Afghanis expecting - no, demanding - that they understand (no wonder American troops have problems), and the character's limited vocabulary. I also watched the Tom Hanks movie, Finch. Set in a post-apocalyptic world with only a few human survivors, its premise stretched credibility more than a couple of times. It was sad and sappy, with some tense parts, but the outcome was predicated so we just watched a kindly old man in his dying days and a super-developed robot with A1 far ahead of anything we have now. I rate Hanks highly, but he was not stretched here and this borrowed from so many of the decent characters he has played in the past. It was entertaining, but it does not make me want to go out and change the world (apart from the climate thing). There are a number of new arrivals on the Apple service that do not appeal to me, including Dickinson and See. I have not watched the second series of Servant despite liking series One. It is the same with Truth Be Told. The first series was a magnet for me, but I am yet to drum up the enthusiasm for series 2. Perhaps that is because there are so many other good offerings coming out. The Final season of Lost in Space is coming on 1 December on Netflix.



Screenshot from Dune Episode 1 - YouTube

Dune is also making noises, although I may not see it unless it appears in iTunes here: not always guaranteed with the poor selection that the Thai service allows. The half-movie by Villeneuve is being criticised favourably and is often compared with the earlier (1984) movie by David Lynch. There was another version: a 3-part TV mini-series (2000) and I saw that a while back. There was also a 2003 release of Children of Dune that I have not seen. I had read all of the Dune books (not just the first) and there could be much more to come although most only consider Dune alone as a complete work. That three-part TV version I saw had William Hurt as Paul Atreides father, and there was a great performance by Ian McNeice as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. The character is payed by Stellan SkarsgArd in the Villeneuve movie. That earlier version, looking a little faded, is still available on YouTube. Dune, Episode 1

Dune, Episode 2

Dune, Episode 2 Children of Dune is also available on YouTube and that is in my must-watch list (after I have watched the MotoGP and Moto2 races). I only had time for Moto3 on Sunday, but that was a thrilling race. I was rooting for the young Pedro Acosta whose performances this year have been superb. His main rival, Dennis Foggia, was cruelly knocked out of the race by Binder (later disqualified). I was pleased that Acosta was made World Champion, but not like that.

I also have a number of online meetings this week on top of the classes I already teach. The university is trying to gain accreditation through ABET: the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. This weekend I was told to attend a meeting (live) to prepare me for an online session that the Dean has put me forward for. I am a bit in the dark right now. I was also annoyed that the meeting will use Zoom so I had to spend some time setting this up. I knew I had downloaded this but was surprised to find I had already registered. Once I had logged in, I was able to have a look at this on the iPad Pro. I also tried on the Mac, and this is not the same. I know that Craig Federighi was criticized about his comments on side-loading on iOS because Macs already do this, but they always have. The App Store grew up as part of the early iOS, while the Mac System OS, then OS X, and now macOS have always allowed installations from 3rd parties, and the MacAppStore is the latecomer. OS X was more secure than System 6 through 9 (my experience of Macs) as it was UNIX-based and, although there is a root, it has no password. The only way to access Root is using the Admin user account for one-off installations, or the SUDO command. It used to be possible to allocate a Root password, but once this exists, it can be guessed. If it does not exist, you cannot guess it. This is why I continue to say that there are no viruses on the Mac. There is malware, like Trojans, but for these to operate, a user has to invite them in. By definition a virus replicates and is self-installing, but to install any software on the Mac, you need access to Root (see above). When I started Zoom on the Mac, it needed an update. There was nothing unusual with that. I always check the scanner software each time I use it and other 3rd party apps will prompt for updates. The process was easy enough, and the panels were nicely designed. However, when I ran Zoom after the update, another panel appeared telling me that, because I had the M1 chip, I needed a further update. If the software cannot detect that difference, there are shortcomings in the developer's processes. I ran the second update and the software now runs nicely on the Mac. I tried this out on the iPad Pro before the main meeting on Thursday and had changed some settings on the Mac version so we may be ready to run.

I keep thinking about how to improve the iPad Pro. In general terms the three or four different versions have served me well and I usually take this to work in preference to the Mac (weight reasons). I have had some ideas in the back of my mind since I was able to try the first iPad Pro, compliments of Apple, but when I bought my own 10.5" version, then upgraded that to the iPad Pro with M1 chip, it is clear that the device lags in some areas. Make no mistake this is relative, as the iPad Pro is a powerful machine. When I first had one, it enabled me to go to the office most days leaving the MacBook Pro at home. But as with any device, Apple giveth and Apple taketh away. There are some things I like and some things I do not; while there are a number of features that I would like to see added. Photos has been improved recently, and now finally includes some basic metadata, but it is so hard to access all of this even on a Mac. It was so easy with Aperture. Photos on the iPad is weak, even when compared with the Mac version. A user does not need the same interface as is used on a smartphone: they have different functions. The sliders are not suitable for the iPad Pro and a return to the Mac-like interface, with a consolidation of controls is needed. Working in black and white images as I do often needs far better controls and Photos on the Mac does a somewhat better job. Why the Mac and iOS/iPadOS interfaces are different is beyond me.



iPad Pro and iPad mini

While I have card readers, I link my DSLR to the iPad Pro (and iPad mini) by cable (micro-USB to USB-C), the ability to use tethering is not available: taking images directly from the camera connected to the device. Some apps can do this with JPEG images over WiFi, but this is not a Pro feature. I use RAW. I have software for that on the Mac and it is useful in some situations. With tethering the subject can view the image immediately on the larger screen and a photographer can make necessary adjustments: a Pro requirement. I have however seen this on the Hasselblad app, so there must be an API for it. The Nikon Bridge software on the iPhone has some capabilities, but trying to make any WiFi connection with the camera is hit and miss. Cable-connected tethering would open up the potential of the iPad Pro considerably. Another missing feature is the ability to run proper scanner software on the iPad Pro. I take a lot of film shots and scan the negatives, but I have to use the Mac for this. This is another limitation of the iPads. There was some software for scanning with a WiFi-connected all-in-one device (printer/fax/scanner) but these scanners do not have the sophistication for the high end scanning photography requires, or the physical attachments needed to scan negatives. As good as it is, the iPad Pro is not ready to replace the Mac (or PC). The iPad (not only the Pro) is sometimes used by more than one person, especially in families. This has become more critical with online teaching. The ability to use multiple accounts has always been a feature of the Mac, and I use this daily, with a User account for my general work, and an Admin account that does nothing, although that is the point: the Admin account and password control operations, including software installations and other major actions. Sometimes a friend or a student wants to use the Mac, and by providing a specific account, my data (and the apps) are unaffected. The use of multi-user accounts on the iPad is now long overdue.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. After 3 years writing a column in the Life supplement, he is now no longer associated with the Bangkok Post. He can be followed on Twitter (@extensions_th)
Woburn, MA (01801)

Today

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 49F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 49F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
On November 9, 2012, Cook County Illinois created a special tax on guns. On November 18, 2015, the County board added a tax on ammunition. At the time, this correspondent believed the tax to be unconstitutional on its face. So did the Illinois Advocacy Group for Second Amendment rights, Guns Save Lives. They filed a lawsuit, challenging the tax law, on December 17, 2015.

The lower courts in Illinois did not agree. They did not find a problem with the taxes. Guns Save Lives appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court. The case was decided on October 21, 2021. The decision was unanimous, 6-0. Chief Justice Anne M. Burke did not take part in the decision. The judges ruled the taxes to be unconstitutional, but the majority decision was a narrow ruling based on tax law instead of the Second Amendment or the Illinois State Constitution. From sj-r.com:
UAW Local 685 is teaming up with Embracing Hope of Howard County to bring a piece of local history back to life. The organizations will host a holiday pop-up shop at UAW Local 685 Hall at 929 E. Hoffer St. on Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All proceeds from the pop-up shop will go towards renovations at Douglass School.

It was a dream that I had, Sharon Reed, Owner of Esthers Place Boutique, said about opening her own shop. The boutique specializes in selling dresses and will be featured at the pop up shop.

I wanted to be able to reach out and help women feel and look more beautiful, and I wanted to address all women of all sizes. I wanted to be able to be here for women and encourage them while theyre here to have fun.

Reed said she sells dresses that range from a size small to 3X, and she has customers who range from teenagers who are looking for prom dresses to women in their 70s and 80s.

Its a great honor and a privilege to be invited to come be a part of [the pop up shop], Reed said. Im really glad they had the idea.

The pop up shop is extra special to Reed because Douglass School is close to her heart. She is president of the Kokomo Historical Society, and she also serves on the planning board for the Douglass School building. She said the schools renovation is a worthy cause.

Supporting that project is really valuable to me, Reed said. This is history being made. Its kind of exciting being part of it as they continue to develop Douglass School for the community.

Douglass School was opened in 1920 and served as Kokomos first segregated school. According to Indiana Landmarks, Black students were able to attend whichever school was closest to their home before Douglass School was constructed. After Douglass School opened, Black children were not allowed to attend any school besides Douglass.

The school eventually desegregated and ultimately shut down in 1968. In the fall of 2018, the Kokomo Community Development Corporation bought Douglass School and planned to restore the building. A little over a year later, the city sold the school to Embracing Hope of Howard County.

Embracing Hope of Howard County is a nonprofit organization associated with Second Missionary Baptist Church. Lead by Pastor William Smith, the organization has held fundraisers since it bought the building to continue raising money for important restoration to Douglass School.

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For African-American families in this community, there are some whove been here for generations upon generations, and they know some of their history but not all, Karen Lancaster, Douglass School event coordinator at Embracing Hope of Howard County, said.

Lancaster said the plan is for Douglass School to eventually become a museum centered around local education and African-American history. She said many local churches keep very detailed chronicles about their communities, including information about local businesses and families who lived in the area.

Lancaster said that information will help create a bigger picture of the African-American community in Howard County, which will help African-American residents feel like they fit into the countys history. Embracing Hope of Howard County plans to complete work on the school by next spring.

By bringing that in and highlighting those things, we give more sense of identity to our community and let them know more about the specifics of who, when, and what they did, Lancaster said.

The Douglass School building still needs quite a bit of work. Lancaster said mold and water leaks need resolved, the windows need replaced, false ceilings need to be removed, and structural issues need to be addressed. Nevertheless, she has been planning fundraisers like the holiday pop-up shop to help accomplish these tasks.

Lancaster advertised widely for vendors to join the pop-up shop. She had noticed an increase in women-owned businesses since the start of the pandemic, but she was pleasantly surprised when every single vendor who applied to be at the pop-up shop was a woman. She said there are many women of color as well, and this will be a great opportunity for the community to be exposed to new local businesses.

Womens businesses over the last few years have just exploded, Lancaster said. We want to highlight all these new people who are here now that people may not know about.

Raffle tickets can be bought at the door upon arrival at the pop-up shop, and each vendor is donating a door prize. Everything made from the raffle will go directly towards the Douglass School restoration fund.

We need to know that who we are matters in the places that we go, Lancaster said. That, to me, is very important to bring out and say, Look, heres who we are as a community. This is the totality of it all. If we can present that to children when theyre young and adults when theyre older and say, This gives me a bigger picture of where I fit into this community, then weve done our job.
The Howard County Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 Nov. 1 in favor of passing a solar ordinance that sets guidelines for future large-scale solar projects in the county.

Theres a lot of debate about electrification and alternative energy and all those kinds of things, Commissioner Paul Wyman said. The truth of the matter is simple. That train has left the station, and this is not stopping. What we should do as leaders and as citizens in the community is come together and figure out how best we get on that train and make sure Howard County benefits from it for a long time to come.

The ordinance only affects commercial solar farms that use energy off-site. Small-scale solar projects that directly use the energy, like someone adding solar panels to their house or installing panels at a school, will not be affected by the ordinance.

Wyman said in addition to providing a framework for solar projects, the ordinance also provides protections for Howard County families in close proximity to solar projects. The commissioners took previous public comments into account before approving the ordinance, and detailed changes that were made due to public concerns.

One of the biggest changes was the setback distance determining how far solar panels must be from other structures. Some residents were concerned with the proximity of solar panels to buildings and asked the commissioners to add additional buffer space. The commissioners changed the minimum setback distance from 200 feet to 300 feet from buildings over 250 square feet.

An area of contention concerning the new solar ordinance is well testing. Some residents are concerned about the possibility of wells being polluted by solar panels. The commissioners created a provision in the ordinance that will test wells before solar panels are installed, then check the wells for damage 30 days after work on panels is completed.

Wyman said the ordinance, as it is, gives well owners a baseline to look at, but checking their well water quality is the well owners responsibility. He said the biggest concern was about potential damage to wells during solar panel installation, which was why they included the 30 day provision.

Some Howard County residents were not satisfied with the provision.

What youre referring to in the ordinance has to do with disturbance of the well itself, where we were concerned about contaminants. Were talking about two different things there, Greentown resident Merrill Swisher said during public comment.

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Wyman responded that each owner tests their wells on a different time schedule, so it is difficult to determine how often or for how long the solar company should be required to pay for well testing. He said the most important thing was to get a baseline reading to help determine potential problems in the future.

Commissioner Brad Bray was the sole vote against the ordinance. Bray said he was concerned by the lack of property value guarantees and wanted a material safety data sheet that details the components of solar panels and what they react with. Bray said the Greentown Volunteer Fire Co. is worried about potential projects because they do not have that information.

Bray said some types of solar panels cannot be doused with water if they catch fire, and he also questions whether first responders could even maneuver between panels. He said there are still too many unanswered questions the ordinance does not address.

I tried to listen to what the people out there who are going to live amongst [solar panels] wanted. They wanted guaranteed property value, and they didnt get it, so I voted against [the ordinance], Bray said.

Commissioner Jack Dodd, who voted in favor of passing the ordinance, said that if Howard County did not take action by passing a solar ordinance, the state would.

Dodd said he was part of a group that lobbied against an earlier bill in the Indiana General Assembly that attempted to set standards for wind and solar projects across the state. Critics of House Bill 1381 said it took decisions away from local governments.

We lobbied hard against [House Bill 1381]. Without that lobby, that could have been us, Dodd said. This [ordinance] keeps solar under local control.

The full ordinance can be viewed at http://www.howardcountyin.gov/files_uploaded/solar_ordinance_10-18-2021.pdf.

I do want to thank everyone, Wyman said. Its been quite a process, but a good process. I think its important that were always in a position to be able to talk with companies that want to invest in our community.
President Joe Biden announced his plan last week to mandate millions of private-sector employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan 4, 2022. But first, he must ensure his own federal workers get the shot.

About 4 million federal workers are to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 under the presidents executive order, the Associated Press reports. Some, like those at the White House, are nearly all vaccinated. But rates are lower at other federal agencies, particularly those related to law enforcement and intelligence, according to federal agencies and union leaders. Some are filing lawsuits and protesting what they say is unfair overreach by the White House.

The upcoming November deadline is the first test of Bidens push to compel people to get vaccinated. The federal worker rule and the Jan. 4 mandate, aimed at around 84 million private-sector workers, received swift pushback from governors across the nation, including from Indianas Eric Holcomb, who ordered Attorney General Todd Rokita to file suit.

Here is a synopsis of the presidents COVID vaccine rules for the nations private-sector workers, according to National Public Radio:

 Private companies with 100 or more employees must ensure all workers are fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, 2022. Those who arent vaccinated must be tested for COVID every week.

 Workers must be given paid time off to get vaccinated.

 Employers do not need to pay for the weekly testing of unvaccinated workers. The responsibility is on the workers.

 Unvaccinated workers must wear masks while at their job.

 Health care workers dont have the testing option. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires all 17 million health care workers to be vaccinated by Jan. 4. The rule covers all employees, clinical and non-clinical alike.

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 Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors will add COVID-related inspections when they are on on-site visits. Employers who violate the COVID mandate face fines of $13,653 per violation, and nearly $140,000 in fines for willful or repeated violations.

Locally, Bidens COVID mandate affects workers at the Stellantis plants, Aptiv, GM Components Holdings, Haynes International, Kokomo School Corp., Community Howard Regional Health, St. Vincent Kokomo, Bona Vista Programs, Syndicate Sales, IU Kokomo, city and county government workers, as well as every long-term care facility and nursing home, just to name the obvious.

This is an overreach of the governments role in serving and protecting Hoosiers, Holcomb said Nov. 4. While I agree that the vaccine is the tool that will best protect against COVID-19, this federal government approach is unprecedented and will bring about harmful, unintended consequences in the supply chain and the workforce.

The approach might be unprecedented, but vaccination mandates have been supported by Supreme Court decisions since 1905.

In 1901, the city of Boston saw a smallpox outbreak take 270 lives and infect 1,596 residents. City officials passed a vaccination mandate, which was challenged by Lutheran pastor Henning Jacobson. In the case known as Jacobson v. Massachusetts, Jacobsons lawyers argued the vaccination order was a violation of their clients 14th Amendment rights, which forbade the state from depriv[ing] any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law. At question, then, was whether the right to refuse vaccination was among those protected personal liberties.

The Supreme Court rejected Jacobsons argument. Writing for the majority, Justice John Marshall Harlan acknowledged the importance of personal freedom, but also recognized the rights of the individual in respect of his liberty may at times, under the pressure of great dangers, be subjected to such restraint, to be enforced by reasonable regulations, as the safety of the general public may demand.

There have been more than 46.4 million confirmed cases of COVID in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University Monday morning, and more than 754,000 deaths. Within just the last two weeks, Howard County reported 413 new COVID cases and its 300th death due to the virus.

Indiana and the rest of the nation dont need political leaders fighting a vaccination mandate intended to save lives and open the economy. We need their encouragement and support to put an end to the pandemic.

- Kokomo Perspective
LAPORTE  U.S. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., declared Wednesday he has no regrets about voting against the once-in-a-generation federal infrastructure funding legislation set to be signed into law in coming days by Democratic President Joe Biden.

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is poised to deliver an estimated $8.8 billion to Indiana for road and bridge repair, drinking water safety improvements, expanded public transit services, additional broadband internet availability and severe weather recovery.

Speaking in LaPorte and Valparaiso to small groups of business and community leaders, Young said he was proud of the work he did in the Senate to shape the infrastructure legislation, particularly the broadband component.

But, in the end, he could not join the 19 Senate Republicans and all 50 Democrats supporting the plan on final passage in August because Young believes it opened the door for congressional Democrats to consider enacting an even-larger human infrastructure spending measure that Young opposes even more vigorously.

The two were linked together by (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi, Young said. And if I ended up enabling the passage of a human infrastructure bill, the people of Indiana would be really upset with me.

That second measure, also known as the Build Back Better Framework, still is being negotiated in the Democratic-controlled Congress.

Its likely to squeak through the House by the end of the year, but faces an uncertain fate in the equally divided Senate where two Democrats have objected to its $1.75 trillion price tag.

The latest version of the proposal includes continuation of the $300 per child monthly federal income tax credit, federal assistance for child care expenses, more post-high school education and job training opportunities, expanded Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and incentives to speed the transition to clean energy, among other provisions.

Young said hes confident the people of Indiana wont support those programs, and he especially objects to the child tax credit not being linked to a requirement that the childs parents be working to claim the credit.

It effectively creates a universal basic income and will forever incentivize people to stay out of the labor market, which will be most injurious to people of modest means, Young said.

When asked whether he believes the child tax credit will enable more parents to stay home to take care of their kids, Young said: We need to come up with smart solutions to allow them to take care of their kids.

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Returning to the physical infrastructure measure, Young said despite voting no on the legislation, he is committed to helping communities in Northwest Indiana, and across the state, secure all the money to which they are entitled once it becomes law.

I am very supportive of investment in core infrastructure, Young said.

LaPorte Mayor Tom Dermody, a Republican, said he doesnt care how Young voted, so long as Young works to help his city secure the estimated $100 million needed to construct an alternative traffic corridor that will get the hundreds of semi-trailer trucks currently driving through downtown each day on a new route around LaPorte.

Likewise, Republican Valparaiso Mayor Matt Murphy said the various federal assistance programs enacted during the Biden administration have created a lot of opportunities to invest in his city.

Business owners in both LaPorte and Valparaiso told Young theyre hoping he can fashion solutions to finally put the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview mirror, alleviate their inability to fully staff their workplaces, and resolve the supply chain issues that are leading to higher prices and occasionally empty store shelves.

Young acknowledged theres little he can do legislatively, since Republicans currently are the minority party in the Senate.

Though hes absolutely confident Biden is headed down the wrong path by mandating the COVID-19 vaccine, or weekly COVID-19 testing, for all employees at businesses with 100 or more workers.

I think its right to encourage people to get vaccinated. But I just think its impractical to mandate, and frankly, counterproductive, to mandate, Young said.

I hope the administration is going to back away from this. Its really unpopular in Indiana, for what its worth."

In fact, according to the Indiana Department of Health, nearly 3.4 million Hoosiers already are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Thats 59.7% of the states population age 18 and up.
Press Release

November 11, 2021 De Lima lauds Senate move to realign NTF-ELCAC funds to pandemic response programs Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima backed moves by her Senate colleagues to realign the funds of Mr. Duterte's controversial anti-insurgency task force to pandemic response programs. De Lima, a social justice and human rights champion, said the 86% budget cut for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is reasonable and just considering that it has only been used by the administration to red-tag critics and instill fear among the populace. "Makatarungan lamang na ibalik sa mamamayan ang bilyong pondo ng Task Force na ginagamit lang upang lalong maghasik ng lagim sa gitna ng krisis. The government has been so obsessed with funding its so-called 'anti-insurgency' program at the expense of our survival amid the pandemic," she said in her Dispatch from Crame No. 1173. Last Nov. 9, Sen. Sonny Angara, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, announced that the Senate slashed the proposed funding for the controversial NTF-ELCAC by as much as P24 billion in the 2022 proposed spending measure. Reportedly, the reduction in the NTF-ELCAC budget was borne out of questions of alleged misuse of its P19.33 billion funding in 2021, noting that Senators took away the bulk of the NTF-ELCAC's 2022 budget and realigned the funds to crucial pandemic response programs. Part of the realigned funds went to the compensation of health workers, including their special risk allowance that was not programmed in the House version of the 2022 budget. If it were only up to her, the lady Senator from Bicol said that she would not have given a single centavo to fund NTF-ELCAC. "Kung ako ang tatanungin, the Task Force's budget should be brought to zero. Napupunta lang naman sa red-tagging at witchhunt. Defund the NTF-ELCAC and realign its budget to the pandemic response, and social amelioration programs, such as the 4Ps," she said. "Ni isang kusing ay hindi dapat ipagkaloob sa isang ahensyang sa halip na magtaguyod ng kaayusan at kapayapaan sa mga komunidad, ay siya pang nagiging kasangkapan sa paglaganap ng kultura ng takot at dahas, at pasimuno pa ng mga paratang na walang batayan," she added. In August, De Lima backed Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon's call for the Commission on Audit (CoA) to conduct a special audit of the funds given to the government's anti-communist insurgency task force following Malacanang's reported plan to double its funding to P40 billion in the 2022 National Budget.
Silo Square will be selling fresh Christmas trees and donating every penny of the proceeds to help children in the Mid-South community as well as children across the world in impoverished areas.
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Qatar and Turkey pledged Wednesday to increase cooperation in mutual military training as part of intention to bolster security cooperation.

The pledge came during the meeting in Istanbul between Turkeys Defense Minister Hulus Akar and his Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohammed al-Attiyah.

Both security leaders, Daily Sabah reports, discussed bilateral and regional defense, security and cooperation in the defense industry. The two also pledged to increase cooperation in mutual military training.

The two allies enjoy strong relation in the region and the abroad especially in Libya where both backed form Libyan Government of National Accord to derail plans by rebel commander Khalifa Haftar to seize capital Tripoli during an offensive that last more than year.

Qatar and Turkey are also cooperating in Afghanistan after Taliban took control of the country.
Egypt and the Jordan Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support the sector of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the two countries, Arab Finance reports.

The agreement signed between Egypts Minister of Trade and Industry Nevin Gamea and her Jordanian counterpart Yousef Al Shamali aims at developing MSMEs, through exchanging experience and holding training courses and exhibitions, in addition to exploring opportunities for achieving trade integration between Cairo and Amman.

The MoU also seeks to boost economic and investment cooperation with Jordan, by increasing bilateral trade in small business products.

Additional both countries under the agreement will work to cement cooperation on banking and non-banking financing products and promoting integration of projects, in a way that enables young entrepreneurs to export their products by raising their competitiveness in local and regional markets.

The both countries have seen trade value between the two grow by 26.2% in the first half (H1) of 2021, registering $430.8 million, against $341.3 million recorded in H1 2020, recent figures by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) showed, Arab Finance notes. Meanwhile, Egypts exports to Jordan also jumped 26.9% in H1 2021, registering $348 million when compared to $274.3 million in the corresponding period of 2020.
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CCTV: What is China's expectation for the 28th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting?

Wang Wenbin: As the world faces flare-ups of COVID-19 and multiple challenges in economic recovery, global cooperation against the pandemic and on economic recovery has entered a crucial stage. China is an important member of the Asia-Pacific and attaches great importance to the role of APEC as a key platform for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. We expect that all parties in the region will follow the vision of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future and promote the implementation of the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040 to inject strong impetus into the fight against COVID-19 and sustainable economic recovery in the Asia-Pacific and the wider world, and make active contribution to common development of the Asia-Pacific. China is ready to work with all parities for positive outcomes of this meeting.

AFP: Firstly, China and the US announced a surprise climate agreement at COP26. Does this suggest some degree of improvement in China-US ties? Secondly, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview that "we have commitments... to make sure that Taiwan has the ability to defend itself". He added that there are many countries that would take action if they see any unilateral action to use force to disrupt the status quo. What's your response?

Wang Wenbin: On your first question, on November 10, London time, China and the US reached and issued the Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s on the sidelines of the Glasgow Climate Change Conference.

Building on the China-US Joint Statement Addressing the Climate Crisis released in Shanghai in April and the talks in Tianjin in September, this joint declaration further puts forward specific measures for China and the US to carry out their respective domestic actions, promote bilateral cooperation and advance multilateral processes. The two sides appreciate the work done so far and pledge to continue the combined efforts and work with all parties to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The two sides will take enhanced climate actions to effectively address the climate crisis in accordance with common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and in the light of different national circumstances. The two sides agreed to establish a "Working Group on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s" to advance bilateral climate cooperation and the multilateral processes. The joint declaration has been released online for your reference. The Glasgow Climate Change Conference is concluding soon. I believe that the joint declaration will enhance the confidence of all countries in jointly tackling climate change and contribute to the success of the conference.

Since the beginning of this year, China and the US have held intensive dialogues and consultations on climate change in accordance with the spirit and instructions of the telephone conversation between the two heads of state. The joint declaration is the product of candid exchanges, mutual understanding, mutual respect and active efforts to expand consensus between the two sides. This shows once again that China and the US can work together on major international issues, and accomplish many great things that benefit the people of both countries and the world through cooperation, and inject positive energy into the multilateral processes.

On your second question, I want to stress that relevant remarks by the US side disregard facts and violate international law. The one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques are the foundation for the establishment of diplomatic ties and the sound development of China-US relations. The Taiwan Relations Act unilaterally formulated by the US is illegal, null and void, as it goes against the commitment the US made in the three joint communiques and puts its domestic laws above international obligations. China never allows the US to wantonly violate China's sovereignty and interfere in China's internal affairs citing any reasons or with any excuses. The US should take real actions to abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, speak and act prudently and stop sending any wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces.

There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. This is not only a historical and legal fact that cannot be changed, but also a status quo that cannot be challenged. The one-China principle is a universally recognized norm governing international relations and the consensus of the international community. Resolution 2758 of the United Nations General Assembly recognized "the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations", and decided to "expel the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations". When Resolution 2758 was under consultation, the "dual representation" draft resolution proposed by the US and a few other countries to create "two Chinas" failed to pass, which fundamentally denied the representation of Taiwan in the UN. Relevant UN documents pointed out explicitly that "the United Nations considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status", and the "authorities in Taipei are not considered to ... enjoy any form of governmental status".

The one-China principle is recognized and supported by 180 countries in the world. The landscape of the international community upholding the one-China principle is becoming ever more solid and China's reunification has become an unstoppable trend of history. The root cause of the current tensions across the Taiwan Strait is that the Taiwan authorities and a handful of "Taiwan independence" separatist forces try to negate and challenge the one-China principle and expand the space of "Taiwan independence" activities, which has been firmly rejected by the Chinese government and the international community. All acts to challenge the one-China principle and resist the trend of reunification will be resolutely foiled. All attempts to support the "Taiwan independence" separatist acts and go against the trend of history will end in failure.

Beijing Youth Daily: According to Kyodo news agency of Japan, researchers of Tsukuba University recently released research results, saying that cesium 137, a radioactive substance that flowed into the sea in the accident of Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011, has travelled northward after reaching the West Coast of the US to the Bering Strait at the northernmost of the Pacific Ocean, and returned to the northeastern coast of Japan after about 7 to 8 years. At the same time, cesium 137 from the Fukushima nuclear accident was found in the Arctic Ocean. What is China's comment?

Wang Wenbin: I have noticed relevant reports. The latest research by Japanese experts has shown that the radioactive substance from the accident of the Fukushima nuclear power plant has diffused across the whole North Pacific Ocean and even reached the Arctic Ocean. Previous authoritative international research also pointed out that the current along the coast of Fukushima is the strongest in the world, and if Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water is discharged into the ocean, then radioactive substance it contains will be spread to all waters of the globe in a few years.

This once again proves that the treatment of Fukushima nuclear-contaminated water is never Japan's private matter. Instead, it bears on the marine environment and public health of the whole world. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out in his remarks at the Symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2021 that we should deal with conducts that damage the marine environment such as the discharge of nuclear-contaminated water in strict accordance with law, so as to ensure that our blue planet retains its primary color forever, and that our future generations continue to enjoy clean ocean and blue skies. We urge the Japanese side to heed the concerns of neighboring countries and the international community, act with a responsible attitude toward the marine environment and human health, and revoke its wrong decision to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the sea. It should not start the discharge before reaching consensus with all stakeholders and the relevant international organizations through full consultation.

BBC: Although the COVID-19 pandemic is not brought under control 100 percent, many countries, including the US, have eased border restrictions and issued tourist visas to foreign travelers. Do you have any comment on that and when will China ease its border restrictions on foreigners?

Wang Wenbin: Since the onset of COVID-19, by drawing on the practice of other countries and international customary practice, China has been adjusting its management measures on in-bound travelers in light of the changing epidemic situation in a science-based manner. The coronavirus is still spreading in many parts of the world with the emergence of many variants. China will continue taking prevention and control measures through scientific analysis in light of the evolving situation. On the basis of ensuring safety amid COVID-19, China stands ready to work actively to foster healthy, safe and orderly personnel exchanges with other countries.

Bloomberg: US media are reporting on the time for the Xi-Biden virtual summit. Can the foreign ministry confirm any more details of the Xi-Biden virtual summit?

Wang Wenbin: I responded to a related question yesterday. We will release information in a timely manner if there is any.

RIA Novosti: A cargo ship with the name Rise Shine ran aground off the coast of the city of Nakhodka in Russia's Far East. All 14 crew members are Chinese citizens and they have been successfully evacuated and taken ashore. Could you please provide any information on if they contacted the consulate-general and embassy of China in Russia seeking help or support?

Wang Wenbin: On November 9, local time, affected by bad weather, a cargo ship flying the flag of Panama ran aground and was in danger in waters near the city of Nakhodka in Russia's Primorye Territory in the Far East, with 14 Chinese crew members on board. The local Chinese diplomatic mission paid timely attention and took corresponding measures. After receiving requests for help, the local emergencies service immediately sent helicopters to the site for rescue, and all of the 14 Chinese crew members were evacuated to safety. The hull of the vessel was damaged when stranded but it didn't capsize. There were no causalities. We appreciate the rescue efforts of relevant Russian authorities.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts are in orbit following their launch to the International Space Station on the third commercial crew rotation mission aboard the microgravity laboratory.

The international crew of astronauts lifted off at 9:03 p.m. EST Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, into orbit to begin a six-month science mission on the space station.

This mission is the first spaceflight for astronauts Chari, Barron, and Maurer, and the third for Marshburn. Marshburn is the sixth person to launch from Earth on three different spacecraft.

During Crew Dragon's flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California, and NASA teams will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"With Raja, Thomas, Kayla and Mattias on their way to the International Space Station just days after Crew-2's return, we're seeing the power of American ingenuity right before our eyes," Nelson said. "NASA's partnership with SpaceX is not only critical for cutting-edge research, but also for international collaboration. The space station brings together nations around the world for the benefit of all. Godspeed, Crew-3 - I can't wait to see all that you accomplish."

The Crew Dragon Endurance will dock autonomously to the forward port of the station's Harmony module around 7:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11. NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website are providing ongoing live coverage through docking, hatch opening, and the ceremony to welcome the crew aboard the orbital outpost.

"Ensuring our crews have safe transportation and continued access to space is an enormous responsibility," said Steve Stich, manager with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. "We know the crew is excited to get on station and settle into their long duration mission. The NASA and SpaceX team remains vigilant in support of their safe arrival and eventual return to Earth."

Chari, Marshburn, Barron, and Maurer will join the Expedition 66 crew of NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos. Crew-3 is the second commercial crew mission to fly an ESA astronaut.

"It is always thrilling to watch a rocket launch, especially when an international crew of astronauts is sitting atop it. Matthias Maurer is the second ESA astronaut to be launched in a Crew Dragon spacecraft under the U.S. Commercial Crew Program," said Josef Aschbacher, ESA director general. "We are delighted to see him fly alongside NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, continuing a long history of international collaboration in space for the benefit of Earth. On behalf of ESA, I'd like to wish all Crew-3 astronauts a productive and enjoyable mission."

The Crew-3 astronauts will spend approximately six months aboard the space station conducting new and exciting scientific research in areas such as materials science, health technologies, and plant science to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth.

The Crew-3 mission continues NASA's efforts to restore and maintain American leadership in human spaceflight. Regular, long-duration commercial crew rotation missions enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the station. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars, starting with the agency's Artemis missions, which includes landing the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.

Crew-3 Astronauts

Chari is commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Crew-3 mission. He is responsible for all phases of flight, from launch to re-entry. He also will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the station. This will be the first spaceflight for Chari, who was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 2017. He was born in Milwaukee, but considers Cedar Falls, Iowa, his hometown. He is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and joins the mission with extensive experience as a test pilot. He has accumulated more than 2,500 hours of flight time during his career.

Marshburn is the pilot of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and second-in-command for the mission. He is responsible for spacecraft systems and performance. Once aboard station, he will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer, and is scheduled to assume command of station for Expedition 67. Marshburn is a Statesville, North Carolina, native who became an astronaut in 2004. Prior to serving in the astronaut corps, the medical doctor served as flight surgeon at NASA Johnson and later became medical operations lead for the International Space Station. The Crew-3 mission will be his third visit to the space station, having flown on three different spacecraft, and his second long-duration mission. Marshburn previously served as a crew member of STS-127 in 2009 flying aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour, and Expedition 34/35, which concluded in 2013, using a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Barron is a mission specialist for Crew-3. She will work closely with the commander and pilot to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and re-entry phases of flight. Once aboard the station, she will become a flight engineer for Expedition 66. Barron was born in Pocatello, Idaho, but considers Richland, Washington, her hometown. She earned a bachelor's degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2010, and a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge, in England, in 2011, where she was a Gates Cambridge Scholar. Barron earned her submarine warfare officer qualification and deployed three times while serving aboard the USS Maine. Her current rank in the U.S. Navy is a Lt. Cmdr. At the time of her selection as an astronaut candidate, in 2017, she was serving as the flag aide to the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. Crew-3 will be Barron's first spaceflight.

Maurer also will be a mission specialist for Crew-3, working with the commander and pilot to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and re-entry phases of flight. He also will become a long-duration crew member aboard the space station. Like Chari and Barron, he will be making his first trip to space with the Crew-3 mission. Maurer comes from Sankt Wendel, in the German state of Saarland. Before becoming an astronaut, Maurer held a number of engineering and research roles, both in a university setting and at ESA. In 2016, Maurer spent 16 days on an undersea mission as part of a NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations space analog.

Learn more about NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission at: https://go.nasa.gov/31b7VE2



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What A Knockout turned heads at the first mixed session of the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with a top Thursday bid north of a half-million dollars.

What A Knockout, Hip 1097, was sold as part of a mare dispersal in foal to Muscle Hill for $595,000 to Hanover Shoe Farms. From the Peninsula Farm consignment, the six-year-old Donato Hanover-Southwind Sofia mare was a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner and took a mark of 1:52.4 at The Meadowlands for owner Herb Liverman. Her first foal is a Muscle Hill yearling filly The Ladys A Ten, who sold for $100,000 at last month's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale to Yankeeland Partners.

Jolie De Vie, Hip 1110, also attracted a high bid of $425,000. The seven-year-old Muscle Hill-Dream Angel mare was purchased from the Preferred Equine consignment in foal to Walner by Steven H. Stewart of Paris, Kentucky. The unraced broodmare is a half-sister to trotting mare Oasis Dream ($221,961 - 1:53.4), a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship runner-up at two and winner of a Kentucky Futurity Filly elimination heat in a career-best 1:53.4 at The Red Mile. Jolie De Vie's first two foals are stakes winners and have each earned nearly $200,000, including this Saturday's Kindergarten Classic two-year-old filly trot favourite Lilbitalexis, who is seven-for-10 in her freshman season with a mark of 1:52.2 and victories in the Bluegrass Stakes and Breeders Crown elimination.

Other top priced purchases of the day, trotting broodmares Graceful Lady ($360,000, in foal to Muscle Hill) and Maven ($285,000, in foal to Tactical Landing), were bought by Jean-Pierre Barjon of Paris, France. Graceful Lady is a four-year-old Father Patrick three-quarter sister to Hambletonian Oaks winner Lifetime Pursuit. Maven, a 12-year-old daughter of Glidemaster, is a multiple award-winning world champion who earned more than $2 million in her racing career.

The first mixed sale session included 306 racehorses, broodmares, yearlings, weanlings and stallion shares. Total gross sales were $13,565,000 and the average price was $44,330.

A total of 119 trotting broodmares sold on Thursday for $7,231,000, averaging $60,765.

The five-day auction will wrap up with the final mixed session on Friday, starting at 10 a.m.

IMPORTANT LINKS

 Sale Catalogues

 Outs List

 Sale Results

 Online Bidding (via i-bidder)

 Sale Live Streaming Video (Active during the sale and will also appear below. Click 'watch live' and then 'play' to view the live stream.)
By Trend

After the 44-day second Armenia-Azerbaijan Karabakh war, which ended in Azerbaijan liberating its lands from occupation, the main task ahead is to clear the liberated areas of mines, carry out reconstruction work and create the necessary infrastructure to bring people back to these lands.

Rapid reconstruction work has been conducted during more than a year - during the 30-year occupation, mines have been planted on these lands, Azerbaijans underground and land resources have been plundered, environment has been polluted.

The scale of work carried out in the country, which was involved in the war, along with battling the COVID-19 spread, shows Azerbaijan's economic strength, successful policy of the country, as well as determination and will of the Azerbaijani people.

Azerbaijani MP, expert in the field of economy Vugar Bayramov told Trend that the restoration work, as well as construction work, being carried out in the liberated territories, on one hand, allows to assess value of these territories, as well as ensure employment.

"The reports of international financial institutions also show that the factor influencing economic growth in Azerbaijan, especially in 2020-2021, is the restoration of our liberated territories," the MP added. "The funds allocated are already affecting the growth rate of GDP. The results will be even bigger in the coming years."

"At the same time, if we pay attention to the some infrastructure projects, both temporary and permanent jobs will be created as part of these projects," Bayramov added. "For example, more than 600 citizens were employed as part of the first phase of the construction of the Fuzuli International Airport. At the same time, after the commissioning of the airport, there was an increase in the number of our citizens with permanent jobs."

"On the other hand, more than 600 kilometers of roads are being built and restored in our liberated territories," the MP said. "There is also an opportunity for creating new jobs."

Meanwhile, important work is being conducted to develop agricultural sector in the liberated territories. Some 20 percent of fresh water resources fall to these lands and abundance of fertile lands promises new opportunities for development of agricultural sector.

The "Smart Village" project also envisages the purposeful use of lands and the creation of the necessary infrastructure for the processing of products.

Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament's Agrarian Policy Committee, Tahir Rzayev told Trend that the restoration of the territories and the beginning of sowing process will result in abundance of agricultural products in the country, which in turn will lead to low prices for these products.

"Of course, the lands liberated from occupation are distinguished by their fertility and productivity," the chairman added. "A lot of cotton, grain, grapes, vegetables and other agricultural products were grown on these lands, livestock sector was developing during the Soviet times."

The restoration of sowing process in the lands, having great potential, will give a new impetus to the development of agricultural sector in Azerbaijan, as well as greatly prevent the import of agricultural products and increase the countrys export potential.

The liberated Azerbaijani territories also have special advantages in terms of natural resources.

"Zangilan, Kalbajar and Lachin districts have an advantage in terms of natural resources compared to other Azerbaijani districts included in the Karabakh economic region," Azerbaijani MP Vugar Bayramov said.

"There are enough natural resources in these districts," Bayramov said. "Of course, this allows the development of mining sector. An agreement has been reached with the Turkish companies to develop ore deposits."

The MP added that the cooperation is expected to continue with both local and other foreign companies.

Foreign companies are also interested in the projects in Karabakh region and East Zangazur. Some countries have already invested in liberated Azerbaijani territories. Significant reforms conducted recently to diversify the economy, develop the non-oil sector and ensure favorable investments in Azerbaijan will have an impact as well.

At the same time, creation of Aghdam and Araz Valley Economic Zones industrial parks in Karabakh region will help increase investment opportunities.
By Trend

Amendments to the Tax Code of Azerbaijan envision benefits worth 50 million manat ($29.4 million) for taxpayers in 2022, Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said on Nov. 11, Trend reports.

Sharifov made the remark during the discussion of the draft state budget for 2022 at a joint meeting of the committees on legal policy and state building, defense, security and anti-corruption, human rights, international relations and inter-parliamentary relations and the Disciplinary Commission.

According to him, in this regard, the head of state established five priority areas.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Hilal Baydarov's film "Crane Lantern" has been screened at the 34th Tokyo International Film Festival.

The film was included in the main competition program and won an award in the "Best Artistic Contribution" category.

"Crane Lantern" tells the story of law student Musa, who is looking for Davud, who was imprisoned for the abduction of four women. He soon discovers that all of his victims are reluctant to press charges.

The film cast includes Orkhan Iskandarli, Elshan Abbasov, Huseyn Nasirov, Rena Askerova, Aytekin Mirishova, Maryam Naghiyeva, Nigar Isayeva, Seda Hasanova, Kamran Huseynov.

The scriptwriter, director and cameraman is Hilal Baydarov, composer-Kanan Rustamli.

Founded in 1985, the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF) is considered to be the largest film festival in Asia.

The awards handed out during the festival have changed throughout its existence, but the Tokyo Grand Prix, handed to the best film, has stayed as the top award. Other awards that have been given regularly include the Special Jury Award and awards for best actor, best actress and best director.

In recent years, the festival's main events have been held over one week in late October. A series of events include open-air screenings, voice-over screenings, seminars and symposiums related to the film market.
By Azernews





By Laman Ismayilova

Baku Music Academy has hosted an International Scientific-Practical conference "Dialogue between Eastern and Western Musical Cultures".

More than 100 renowned scientists, head of the Rossotrudnichestvo office in Baku Irek Zinnurov and many others took part in the conference held both virtually and face-to-face, Trend Life reported.

Rector of Baku Music Academy (BMA), People's Artist Farhad Badalbeyli, Rector of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory (ANC) People's Artist Siyavush Karimi and Vice-Rector of the ANC's Scientific and Creative Work Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, Honored Art Worker Lala Huseynova addressed the conference which marks BMA's centenary

Professor of the Moscow Conservatory, Doctor of Art History Konstantin Zenkin, professor of the Art History and Music Theory Department at Tajik State Institute of Culture and Arts Ulmasov Firuz and director of the Azerbaijan Cultural Center of the International Israel-Azerbaijan Association "AzIz" Yegana Salman congratulated the Baku Music Academy on 100th anniversary.

The opening ceremony ended with a small concert, which featured works of world and Azerbaijani classics, as well as folk music performed by BMA's teachers and students.
By Trend

The Grand National Assembly (Parliament) of Turkey approved a bill to extend the term of stay of the Turkish military in Azerbaijan, signed by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trend reports citing Turkish media.

Thus, the term of office of the military working in the joint Turkish-Russian monitoring center in Agdam was extended for another year.

The Turkish Grand National Assembly on November 17, 2020 authorized the Turkish Armed Forces to send Turkish troops to Azerbaijan for a period of one year.
By Azernews





By Vafa Ismayilova

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged his countrys further support to Azerbaijan to restore its territories liberated from Armenias occupation in 2020, Azertag reported on November 10.

In a letter of congratulation addressed to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Victory Day, Erdogan said: I am delighted with the rapid improvement of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur and the elimination of the consequences of occupation in a short time. We will continue to provide support in the process of reconstruction and restoration of the liberated lands in the future too."

He stressed that "by signing the declaration in the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, Shusha, which was liberated from occupation on 8 November last year, we raised our relations to the level of an alliance, which is a historic step for our countries".

There is no doubt that the Turkish-Azerbaijani unity will continue to develop in all areas under the motto "one nation, two states", Erdogan said.

He remembered with respect the Azerbaijanis who died for the freedom of Motherland and veterans, who paved the way for victory.

Erdogan conveyed his best wishes to Aliyev for the health, happiness, well-being and prosperity of the Azerbaijani people.

Meanwhile, the Turkish parliament approved a bill to extend the term of stay of the Turkish military in Azerbaijan, signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Thus, the term of office of the military working in the joint Turkish-Russian monitoring center in Aghdam was extended for another year.

on November 17, 2020, the Turkish Grand National Assembly authorized the Turkish armed forces to send Turkish troops to Azerbaijan for a period of one year.

On January 30, 2021, the joint Turkish-Russian monitoring center was inaugurated in Aghdam. The center aims to contribute to the restoration of lasting peace and security in and around the Karabakh region liberated from Armenia's occupation. Turkey and Russia are represented with an equal number of servicemen in the center.

Military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey first emerged in 1992, with an agreement signed between the Azerbaijani and Turkish governments on military education and weapon equipment and deals to help strengthen the bond between the two nations.

On June 15, the two countries signed a memorandum of alliance that cemented the existing military, political and economic cooperation.
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has said that Azerbaijan in its efforts of post-conflict rehabilitation is looking forward to cooperation with UNESCO, the Foreign Ministry has reported.

He made the remarks speaking at the General Policy Debates of the 41st Session of the General Conference of UNESCO on November 10.

He noted that since the end of the conflict, Azerbaijan and UNESCO have been actively engaged in dialogue with a view of dispatching a technical mission to the liberated lands.

The two sides have agreed on several complex technical, legal, and political aspects of the mission, which will ensure its effectiveness and independence, he said.

Noting that the results of the Armenian occupation were devastation, the minister underlined that Armenia has pursued a systematic policy to destroy, pillage, and misappropriate Azerbaijans cultural heritage.

Bayramov stressed that during the occupation period, hundreds of cultural properties have been deliberately and completely destroyed, damaged, looted, and subjected to alteration with a view to changing their historical and cultural character.

He stated that out of 67 mosques, 65 had been razed to the ground and the remaining two were desecrated and used as stables for pigs and cows in total disrespect to the Muslim world. Bayramov added that thousands of museum artifacts had been illegally exported to Armenia.

By all these actions, Armenia pursued far-reaching targets of removing any sign heralding their Azerbaijani origin, as an example of cultural genocide. Armenia also refuses to share the maps of the minefields, deliberately preventing the return of IDPs to the liberated territories, he said.

It also constitutes a gross violation of international law, including UNESCO instruments, such as the 1954 Hague Convention and its Two Protocols, as well as the 1970 Convention, the minister added.

The minister recalled that in various communications, Azerbaijan has alerted UNESCO of these gross violations and illegal activities committed by Armenia and requested the need to dispatch a technical mission to the occupied territories through the past 30 years.

Unfortunately, each time Armenia prevented the dispatch of this mission, which was acknowledged by UNESCO in its 2005 report, he said.

Bayramov said that Azerbaijan has already initiated practical steps aiming at eliminating the consequences of decades-long occupation followed by massive destruction.

At the highest-level Azerbaijan declared its determination that all cultural and religious monuments on the liberated territories regardless of their origin will be duly preserved and restored, Bayramov said.

He added that Azerbaijan will continue to build upon these ideas and values and guarantee all the rights for all its citizens, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation.

Emphasizing that the assessment of the unprecedented damage inflicted upon the countrys cultural heritage is a priority for the government, the minister also stressed the readiness to host an independent technical mission as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, Armenia is trying to block and politicize the mission, which is detrimental to its successful accomplishment. Armenia must refrain from interfering in this process and cease exploiting this Organization for its own political purposes, he said.
By Trend

The committees of the Milli Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan on legal policy and state building, defense, security and anti-corruption, human rights, international relations and inter-parliamentary relations and the Disciplinary Commission are holding a joint meeting, Trend reports on Nov. 11.

According to the information, the meeting discusses the documents included in the package of the state budget for 2022.

It is reported that Finance Minister Samir Sharifov, Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) Sabina Aliyeva, Chairperson of the Accounts Chamber Vugar Gulmammadov and deputies are taking part in the discussions.
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

President Ilham Aliyev and BP Chief Executive Officer Bernard Looney have discussed the bilateral strong partnership and BP renewable energy plans in Azerbaijan, Azertag has reported.

At a meeting held on November 11, it was noted that Azerbaijan is considered to be the strongest partner of BP.

The meeting stressed that Azerbaijan enjoys a rich history and bright future of cooperation with the company based on mutual trust.

Noting that BPs interest in renewable energy is in line with Azerbaijans energy strategy, they added that the expansion of cooperation with BP in this area is being reviewed.

Pointing to the importance of BP's renewable energy plans in the liberated areas, the sides expressed their hope that it would contribute to transforming the areas into green energy ones, as stated by Azerbaijan.

They noted that this work has great potential, especially given that Azerbaijan has diversified energy links with neighboring countries and that the country produces more energy than it needs.

Recalling the initiatives of national leader Heydar Aliyev to develop hydrocarbon resources for the benefit of Azerbaijan, Looney congratulated President Aliyev on his ideas related to the energy transfer issues.

Looney also praised Azerbaijan's efforts in the environmental protection field, stating that the country is among the world's leading states in this area. He added that the environmental standards and protection of environmental regulations in Azerbaijan are stronger than in many developed countries.

Moreover, he congratulated the head of state on Azerbaijans achievements since they last met.

Expressing his gratitude, Aliyev congratulated Looney on the joint accomplishments regarding the Southern Gas Corridor and reiterated that the project was achieved through the joint efforts of Azerbaijan and BP. The president also highlighted the large-scale measures taken in Azerbaijan to protect the environment.

The sides discussed the issues related to the cooperation prospects.

BP opened its first office in Baku in June 1992 and has since then contributed to Azerbaijans oil and gas sector through operating projects such as Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli (ACG), Shah Deniz, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), and South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP).

Earlier, Azerbaijans Energy Ministry and BP signed an Implementation Agreement to build a 240MW solar power plant in the liberated Zangilan and Jabrayil regions.
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

A member of the public committee under the Justice Ministry, the president of the constitutional research foundation, Alimammad Nuriyev, has said that the amnesty act can be executed ahead of schedule.

He made the remarks at a round table with the participation of media representatives, dedicated to the Amnesty Act, announced on the occasion of Victory Day - November 8.

"In my opinion, the execution of the Amnesty Act can be completed in a month," he said.

Nuriyev noted that immediately after the adoption of the Amnesty Act by the parliament, more than 100 people were released.

Moreover, the head of the punishment control inspectorate at the Justice Ministry Malik Alakbarov added that a day after the announcement of the amnesty act 36 people were released. He stated that to date the action of the Amnesty Act has covered 101 convicts in the Penitentiary Service.

On November 5, parliament approved a bill on the declaration of amnesty on the occasion of Victory Day. The amnesty act is the largest one in terms of the number of people and institutions that it will cover.

The act submitted to parliament by the president will apply to more than 16,000 people. Over 3,000 convicts are expected to be released from prisons, as well as the unserved part of the sentences of about 3,000 convicts will be reduced.

Under the act, close relatives of those who took part in the 44-day war and other military operations to protect Azerbaijans sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as persons awarded orders and medals will be released.

Moreover, close relatives of those with disabilities or killed as a result of military provocations, as well as persons who have committed crimes that do not pose a major public threat will also be released from criminal liability.

At the same time, negligent offenders, persons who have committed a less serious or first-time grave crime for which the unserved part of the sentence is less than six months, persons serving a sentence in a precinct-type penitentiary institution less than one year before the end of their sentence will be released from the unserved part of the sentence.

The act is expected to apply also to individuals, who were fined, sentenced to public work, correctional work, imposed restrictions over military service, detained in a disciplinary military unit, and had other non-custodial sentences.

The amnesty will remove convictions from individuals who do not pose a major public threat or who have committed less serious crimes.
By Trend

Azerbaijan's victory in the 44-day second Karabakh war [from late Sept. to early Nov.2020] has paved the way for long-term peace and stability in the region, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, Trend reports on Nov. 11.

Cavusoglu made the remark at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the countries participating in the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States (Turkic Council) in Istanbul.

The minister recalled that the Victory Day of Azerbaijan was celebrated on November 8.

"The day lasts more than a hundred years," the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov said. I congratulate brotherly Azerbaijan on Victory Day and National Flag Day," Turkish FM said.
By Trend

The restoration of the liberated territories of Azerbaijan will be one of the main directions in budget expenditures for 2022, Azerbaijani Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said during the discussion of the draft state budget for 2022, Trend reports on Nov. 11.

According to the information, the committees of the Milli Majlis (parliament) of Azerbaijan on legal policy and state building, defense, security and anti-corruption, human rights, international relations and inter-parliamentary relations and the Disciplinary Commission are holding a joint meeting.

The meeting discusses the documents included in the package of the state budget for 2022.

The minister added that the implementation of such honorable tasks as the restoration of the liberated territories, the return of compatriots to their native lands will be ensured.

"It is planned to allocate 2.2 billion manats ($1.3 billion) from the state budget of this year for these purposes," he said.

The revenues of the state budget of Azerbaijan in 2022, according to official forecasts, will amount to about 26.82 billion manats ($15.781 billion), an increase of 5.4 percent compared to 2021. State budget expenditures are planned at the level of 29.89 billion manats ($15,822), which is 4.7 percent more than this year.
By Trend

Some countries began to attract foreign loans, but Azerbaijan did not do this during the COVID-19 pandemic, Azerbaijani Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said on Nov. 11, Trend reports.

He made the remark during the discussion of the draft state budget-2022 at a joint meeting of the Law Policy and State Building Committee, Defence, Security and Counter-Corruption Committee, Committee for Human Rights, Committee for International Relations and Inter-Parliamentary Connexions of the Azerbaijani parliament and the Disciplinary Commission.

The minister stressed that Azerbaijan used own funds during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Azerbaijan decided to use the funds accumulated in the State Oil Fund, Sharifov said. Therefore, transfers from the State Oil Fund have slightly increased. Taking into account that the way out of the COVID-19 pandemic can be difficult, we thought that it is necessary to pursue a soft fiscal policy.
By Azernews





By Vugar Khalilov

The Turkish Machinery Company TUMOSANs net profit has amounted to 40.8 million TL ($4.1m) in the first three quarters of 2021, Yeni Shafak newspaper reported on November 10.

In the first nine months of 2021, the company's total revenue increased by 89 percent compared to the same period of 2020, amounting to 855 million TL ($86m), the report added.

According to the independent audit reports, the company increased the number of sales by 41 percent and the production amount by 67 percent compared to the same period of the previous year, making a significant contribution to domestic production.

The company's gross profit margin saw a 23-percent increase during the said period.

As TUMOSAN, we made a strong start in 2021. We continue with the same momentum as we enter the last quarter of the year. We continue to invest, produce and develop technology with all our might for the purpose of a new and sustainable national agricultural policy, TUMOSAN General Manager Halim Tosun stressed.

He added that thanks to the domestic and national supply chain, the company survived the pandemic without experiencing a perceptible negative situation, especially in terms of production and sales.

TUMOSAN, which invests in the field of armored combat vehicles in the Turkish defence industry, entered a new period in production.

In line with the memorandum of understanding signed between the two companies, HAVELSANs DOOB/HARB?YE-Tactical Command and Control Information System will be integrated with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems to be used in PUSAT and similar platforms developed by TUMOSAN.

The HAVELSAN KASK system enables the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers on military and civilian systems to produce the needed position information and continue their duties despite jamming. It will be installed in PUSAT armored vehicle and other similar products of TUMOSAN.

Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) products developed by HAVELSAN against relevant threats and dangers will also be integrated into PUSAT and similar platforms developed by TUMOSAN.

TUMOSAN, which has been producing Turkey's first and only domestic-national tractors for farmers, continues to take steps in this field.

The company is developing a new-generation engine product family for the agricultural sector developed in line with the EU standards.

TUMOSAN is preparing to break new ground once again in Turkey by completing the tests of its engine with electronic control, high pressure line and exhaust purification systems.

The company continues to develop its works and investments every day in order to ensure the sustainability of agricultural production activities.

Currently, we are receiving intense demand from our 23 overseas distributors, especially from the Balkan countries, the Middle East and Africa. We export especially to the Middle East countries. We continue our preparations for the European tractor market with all our strength," Tosun underlined.

Developed to provide economical and domestic solutions for floating platforms in Turkey. Tosun noted that the company had completed the localization activities of the diesel engine for the naval forces with the help of domestic resources.

In this context, the company also signed an important strategic cooperation agreement in June 2021.

Additionally, the company displayed the marine versions of the 310 hp TMSN 5.4 and 450 hp TMSN 7.4 engines for the first time at the IDEF 2021 defence industry fair.
By Trend

The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) evacuated 70 of its employees from offshore facilities on Nov.10 due to storm, Ibrahim Ahmadov, deputy head of the SOCAR Public Relations and Event Organization Department, told Trend.

Ahmadov emphasized that during storms, work on the open sites is suspended.

"According to available information, none of the SOCAR employees suffered from the consequences of a sharp deterioration of the weather," he said.

The company has recently strengthened control over the observance of safety rules, and its structural units have been created to effectively ensure labor protection, added Ahmadov.
By Azernews





By Ayya Lmahamad

The State Social Protection Fund under Azerbaijans Labor and Social Protection Ministry has increased social support payments to the population by 3.5 percent or AZN 166.5 million ($97.9M) in January-October 2021, the ministry has reported.

Citizens were provided with pensions, allowances, and targeted social assistance worth AZN 4.9 billion ($2.8bn) covering 2.4 million citizens during the reported period.

Earlier it was reported that Azerbaijan increased by AZN 2.4 billion ($1.4bn) or 60 percent to AZN 6.4 billion ($3.7bn) social payments paid to citizens in the past three years.

Over AZN 5.7 billion ($3.3bn) was spent on pensions, allowance, targeted social assistance in 2020, which is by 20 percent or AZN 1 billion ($588.2M) more compared to 2019. The number of paid government jobs was increased to 90,000 last year, to expand employment opportunities in the country.

It should be noted that since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has expanded social programs, covering more than 4.8 million citizens.
Bahrain-headquartered CoinMena has secured $9.5 million in its first seed funding round, from top regional and international investors in the crypto and venture space, in a move to further dominate the Mena market.



Investors in the round included BECO Capital, Kenetic, Arab Bank Switzerland, Bunat Ventures, Alameda Research, Rua Growth Fund and Girnas Capital alongside a number of select global angel investors.



Launched in early 2021 by Dina Saman, Talal Tabbaa, and Yazan Barghuthi, CoinMena was built primarily to address a market gap that existed for easy and safe access to crypto investing. Today, as a fully regulated, onshore crypto exchange licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, CoinMena has not only successfully bridged the gap but also become the go-to exchange, known for its prompt transactions, a wide variety of assets, excellent customer service, and easy-to-use mobile app.



Recently, CoinMena entered into an agreement with the Dubai World Trade Centre to build the next blockchain and crypto hub in the UAE.



Commenting on the investment, CoinMena's co-founders said: "With growing awareness about crypto assets and their transformative potential, appetite from both retail and institutional investors in the Mena region is growing at a rapid pace. Our strategic capital partnerships provide support for our vision to increase the adoption of crypto assets in the region in a regulated and seamless manner. We believe that this is a positive outlook for the crypto assets sector over the coming years both locally and globally."



Dany Farha, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BECO Capital, stated: "We had been searching for a while for the combination of the strength of the team and depth of vision that the team at CoinMena set out to build. We are very excited to partner with this stellar team in delivering financial inclusion, investing, and saving in a crypto native manner, in a hyper-local manner, all whilst being regulated and adhering to the highest levels of governance and compliance for all stakeholders."



Rani Jabban, Managing Director at Arab Bank (Switzerland) commented: "As a pioneering bank in Digital Assets with a strong foothold in the Middle East, we believe that our strategic partnership with CoinMena will pave the way forward for greater adoption in the region."



Jehan Chu, Founder of Kenetic, said: "CoinMena is positioned for explosive growth, and Kenetic is excited to lend our extensive experience and deep network to support them as they provide superior crypto liquidity and user experience in a new era of digital finance throughout the Mena region."



CoinMena's sign-up process takes less than a minute and can be performed on its simple, seamless, and highly intuitive mobile app, which is designed for both beginners and professional traders. The exchange's services are currently available to residents of Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, with a view to expanding to other countries in the Mena region.  TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Exim Bank has signed an agreement with leading French institution Coface to drive the development and diversification of Saudi Arabias non-oil exports and promote international economic and trade cooperation.



Furthering its goal of expanding partnerships in reinsurance, Saudi Exim Bank signed the agreement with Compagnie Francaise d'Assurance pour le Commerce Exterieur (Coface), a global leader in trade credit insurance, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).



The cooperation aims at supporting importers of Saudi services and products in international markets. The two parties will also collaborate to provide insurance products for Saudi-based exporters to provide insurance cover for exports from the Kingdom against political and commercial non-payment risks, thus contributing to increasing the competitiveness of Saudi products in foreign markets.



The strategic partnership comes as an extension of Saudi Exim Bank's efforts to forge collaborations with reinsurers and international credit and guarantee institutions, to benefit from their expertise in providing credit solutions that support Saudi exporters in global markets. The bank plans to conclude more agreements to support the growth and development of the Kingdoms private sector with a strong focus on non-oil exporters through bridging financing gaps and mitigating export risks.



Through its trade development initiatives, Saudi Exim Bank aims to deliver on the ambitious vision of the of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to diversify its economic base by promoting and enabling non-oil exports in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.



Saudi Vision 2030 envisages boosting the exports of Saudi non-oil products and services to raise their share in GDP from 16% to 50% by the end of this decade.
Global leaders will formulate visions and ideas for shaping long-term future trends in human-centred sectors, and develop a sustainable future vision at a summit between the UAE Government and the World Economic Forum (WEF).



The two-day Great Narrative Meeting kicks off tomorrow in Dubai, UAE, bringing together global thought leaders, specialists and futurists



Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, stated that organizing the Great Narrative Meeting in the UAE reflects the government keenness on enhancing its global leadership and active participation in defining the future trends for vital sectors.



"The UAE leadership has adopted a clear vision and approach since the establishment of the Union, based on promoting cooperation, establishing positive dialogue and boosting partnerships to secure the future of humanity, he added.



Al Gergawi stressed that the event also reflects the strong relationship between the UAE and the WEF and builds on their shared objectives and visions towards global development. The meeting reflects the ever-evolving partnership between the UAE government and the World Economic Forum. This robust partnership is considered a new role model for effective collaboration between countries and international organizations, he said.



He pinpointed that the UAE Leadership adopts future directions based on building comprehensive development partnerships aiming at achieving progress, enhancing societies wellbeing, and securing a better future for next generations.



He further stressed that the UAE government aims to develop a new approach for convening meetings and conferences, where all adopted outputs are transformed into initiatives.



"Global thought leaders, experts and futurists are gathering in the UAE to shape global future trends and discuss potential challenges. The meeting outcomes will be gathered in a comprehensive book to define long-term trends and directions. Our aim is to empower governments and societies to shape a better future for next generations, he added.



Interactive workshops and meetings



On its first day, the meeting hosts intensive workshops focusing on five major future sectors, while on the second day it discusses forming ten long-term future trends in vital fields. In addition, the UAE Government is organizing a ministerial session to discuss the vision and ambitions of the UAE Government over the next 50 years.



A number of UAE government senior officials and a group of global thinkers, experts and specialists working in the fields of future sciences and genetics, future healthcare, space, economy and business, cities, environment and climate change, society, will participate in the meeting, whose outputs are intended to be published in a book entitled The Great Narrative.  TradeArabia News Service
Almunajem Foods, one of the largest food companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) and listing of its ordinary shares on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul).



The offering is expected to comprise a sale of existing shares and result in a free float of 30per cent.



The Capital Market Authority (CMA) has approved the companys application for the initial public offering of 18 million ordinary shares (representing 30% of the Companys share capital) on 28 September 2021.



The price at which all subscribers in the offering will purchase shares will be determined at the end of a book-building period, a company statement said.



Thamer Bin Abdulaziz Abanumay, Chief Executive Officer at Almunajem Foods, said: Almunajem Foods has witnessed tremendous transformation and growth over the last few decades to emerge as one of the largest food companies currently operating in Saudi.



We import, market, distribute and produce a wide variety of frozen, chilled and dry foodstuff items. We provide high-quality, nutritious food to millions of kitchens in Saudi Arabia by operating the largest temperature-controlled cold stores of frozen and chilled food.



We have 12 of these warehouses, where we store up to 250,000 metric tons of imported foods annually before sending them to more than 18,000 customers. Most importantly, we maintain strong logistical capabilities, backed by technology to move products safely and efficiently, he added.



Saudi F&B sales reached SR221 billion ($58.8 billion) in 2021G and long-term consumer spending is expected to continue to grow at 4.6% CAGR until 2024, driven by favourable demographic reforms, population growth and tourism, all part of meeting Vision 2030 targets. This was one of the key reasons that today Almunajem Foods decided to proceed with an initial public offering.



We are confident in our outlook on the food sector and are well placed operationally to capture greater market share. The IPO will see us further institutionalize from a governance and sustainability perspective and allow us to share our story and success with our partners and investors, Abanumay concluded.



Investment highlights



 Almunajem Foods is amongst the largest Saudi food companies with an established market leading position in the F&B space.

 It serves a wide variety of major customers across the Kingdom within the retail, foodservice and wholesales segment.

 The company has a robust and well-invested supply chain and logistics network across KSA.

 The companys diverse portfolio of 700 SKUs fromtrusted household brands has enabledus to grow through various market cycles and become some of the top selling products to retail channels within its core categories.

 Gross margin contribution amongst the categories are well spread with the top three constituting white &red meats at 54%, frozen fruits& vegetables at 22%, and dairy at 11% in 2020G.

 Clear focus on strategic growth centered on portfolio enhancement through multiple levers of growth; led by an experienced, commercially driven senior management team and key Almunajem shareholders

 Strong, long-term market fundamentals in place with local food consumption expected to continue gaining momentum, led by Government-backed initiatives

 Institutional Investors not registered in the Kingdom may apply for subscription with the Bookrunner telephonically or electronically, without the need to complete and sign a Bid Form. Institutional Investors not registered in the Kingdom must complete the Subscription Form for Participating Parties after the allocation of Offer shares based on the number of Offer shares allocated to them.- TradeArabia News Service
The Saudi British Bank (SABB) has launched the Technology Sector Financing Program designed to finance micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the IT sector, in cooperation with the National Technology Development Program and the Kafalah Program.



On this occasion, the Bank hosted a celebration in the presence of Tony Cripps, Managing Director of SABB, Nawaf Al-Hoshan, Deputy Minister for Technology at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Technology Development Program, Majed Najm, Deputy Managing Director of Corporate and Institutional Banking at SABB and Mohammed Al-Khowaiter, Chief Operating Officer at Kafalah Program.



Nawaf Al-Hoshan commented: We appreciate SABB's efforts in the information technology sector in the Kingdom, and its effective and rapid participation in its development. We also congratulate them on the launch of the Technology Sector Financing Program, which contributes to the growth of the micro, small, and medium technology companies, as well as their support by implementing their projects and expansion plans.



This will positively benefit the technology industry and boost the Kingdom's position as a regional and global technological centre. We look forward to further cooperation to support the Kingdom's IT sector."



Tony Cripps said: "The launch of this product demonstrates our commitment to our role as an active partner in achieving Kingdom's Vision 2030 objectives. In addition to developing new products and services, we will continue to use collaborative work in pursuit of common national goals. SABB is eager to contribute to the growth of the small and medium-sized enterprise sector, which is one of the most significant drivers of economic growth.



Mohammed Al-Khowaiter said: "We would like to congratulate Kafalah partners, the National Technology Development Program and the Saudi British Bank on this cooperation, which will increase the growth and empowerment of the digital sector in the Kingdom to achieve Vision 2030."  TradeArabia News Service
Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) will provide the Government of Lesotho AED73 million ($20 million) to finance the development of a water supply system in the Butha-Buthe District in Lesotho.

A loan agreement to this effect was signed by Mohammed Saif Al-Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, and Thabo Sophonea, Lesothos Minister of Finance.

The water supply system will provide 9,000 cubic metres of clean water per day, enough to meet the water needs of the Butha-Buthe population and its industrial sector through 2045.

This project, which is in line with the third and sixth goals of the Sustainable Development Goals and supports Lesothos strategic infrastructure development objectives, will help reduce cases of water-borne illness and disease due to water pollution by 50% while contributing to job creation and economic development in the district.

Al-Suwaidi said: "This project contributes to the long-term water security of Lesotho while representing the Fund's commitment to support the development of sustainable clean water sources and infrastructure in developing countries in line with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It will provide a reliable clean water resource to meet multiple needs of the Butha-Buthe Districts residents, including improving water quality, safety and efficiency while supporting economic development of Lesotho.

Sophonea expressed his gratitude to the UAE and ADFD for their ongoing support of priority development projects in Lesotho. He also praised the pioneering role played by the Fund in assisting developing countries to achieve their development goals, support economic growth and help revitalise societies.

He said: "The loan agreement will help us to mitigate the water supply challenges that Lesotho faces and enable us to modernise the water supply system in Butha-Buthe, facilitate continuous access to clean water to meet the needs of the population in the district and enhance our capabilities to better manage our water resources.

The project will include the construction of a water barrier and outlet on the Hololo River with a capacity of 76,000 cubic metres per day as well as a water treatment and purification plant with a capacity of 45,000 cubic metres per day. The project will also include installation of a network of water transmission and distribution lines with a total length of 350 km, 25 pumping stations and 42 water tanks to deliver clean water to residents of the district.

ADFD's developmental activities in Lesotho began in 1978 with a total value of AED84 million financed by the Fund to date. Projects in the country supported by ADFD include the Metolong Dam project, Maseru International Airport and the engineering studies for the airport.-- TradeArabia News Service
Emirates Glass has added highly-effective bird-friendly products to its Emicool range, thus supplementing emerging building standards designed to prevent bird collisions.

For this, the company, a subsidiary of Dubai Investments and one of the largest processors of flat architectural glass in the region, has signed an agreement with Feather Friendly Technologies, based in Canada to be an authorised dealer of Feather Friendly Bird Collision Technology across the UAE and the GCC region.

The products, constructed of bird-friendly materials, meet specified design standards and are intended to reduce bird strikes.

The partnership highlights the rising awareness and need for sustainable bird-friendly glass in architecture, providing architects a newly tested and safe glass choice for building facades providing good balance between transparency and reflectivity.

With the modern building facades evolving at a rapid pace and with glass continuing to make up more and more of the external building envelope, it is likely that the number of birds affected by the glass collision problem, leading to fatal impacts, is on the rise and this technology is an answer to this problem. Our partnership with Feather Friendly Technologies Inc. is not only aimed at providing a solution but is also aimed at reiterating the companys support towards larger environmental issues through its products like climate change which derive a natural impact from the ecosystem around us, said Rizwanulla Khan, Executive President, Emirates Glass.

Unfortunately, our buildings have become a death trap for billions of birds each year, said Paul Groleau, Vice President, Feather Friendly Technologies Inc. This technology comprises of enhanced pattern thats more visible to birds than it is to humans, which helps to prevent these collisions and ensures maximum transparency, while maintaining the aesthetical appeal of glass in architecture. Its a huge leap forward for long-term conservation as well as our biodiversity and save migratory birds whose numbers are declining dramatically.

Over the past decade there has been an upsurge of interest in protecting environment by protecting birds from fatal collisions with man-made structures, and this issue has been addressed by Feather Friendly Bird Deterrent Technology, designed to protect birds while enhancing the buildings design.

It is an easy-to-use and unobtrusive window application that is barely noticeable to humans but highly effective in allowing birds to see the windows, allowing them to avoid deadly collisions. The technology is also endorsed by leading bird conservation organisations.-- TradeArabia News Service
Emaar Hospitality, a unit of Dubai developer Emaar Properties, has joined hands with Emirati developer Arada to launch the first branded serviced apartments building - Vida Residences 3 - within the Aljada master community in Sharjah.

Owned and developed by Arada, and operated by Vida Hotels and Resorts, the Vida Residences Aljada building contains one, two, three-bedroom branded serviced apartments and a major penthouse, which will add to Vidas already impressive portfolio, including Vida Emirates Hills, Vida Downtown, Manzil Downtown, and the recently opened beach resort, Vida Umm Al Quwain.

According to Arada, the Vida Residences 3 Aljada consists of 149 high-end smart homes, all of which are fully furnished and decorated by Vida, a brand renowned for its sleek, contemporary aesthetics, minimalist luxury and immaculate finishes.

Buyers get to choose to live in or rent out their properties themselves, or lease back the apartment to the hotel rental pool and gain an enhanced return on their investment, stated the developer.

Set in the heart of Aljada, the high-end property is located along a lush green tree-lined boulevard that contains multiple shopping and dining experiences.

The building is located next to the Vida Aljada hotel, and is part of Naseej District, a new creative neighbourhood for Sharjah that also contains a world-class museum and makers district.

Construction on Vida Residences Aljada and the adjacent Vida Aljada hotel will commence in the second quarter of 2022 and is set to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2023.

Arada Vice Chairman Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal said: "The introduction of this impressive building is yet another step in our partnership with Emaar Hospitality Group and follows on from the successful launch of two branded residences buildings over the course of the last year."

"We are delighted to be able to provide our buyers with the service quality, finishing and amenities for which the Vida brand is well known," he noted.

Vida Residences 3 Aljada takes focus on bold, modern social spaces in line with its sister properties in Dubai and the Vida Hotels and Resorts brand.

Emaar said the residences are typified by the entrance lobby, a cosy and comfortable environment that encourages creativity and connection online and offline.

Apartments are fitted with smart home features, a standard in all Vida Residences, alongside warm and simple designs with immaculate finishes, stated the Dubai developer.

Residents will have exclusive access to a breath-taking rooftop infinity swimming pool and state-of-the-art gym, while little residents will be able to enjoy a dedicated family pool and kids play area.

"The opening of Vida Residences 3 Aljada is testament to Emaars commitment to continuously placing the UAE in the frontline of innovative and luxurious solutions for residents," remarked a company spokesman.

"Emaar Hospitalitys Groups Strategy will ensure buyers are presented with residential units designed to reflect Vidas iconic brand elements in the heart of Sharjahs fastest-growing community," he added.
Under the theme of carbon neutrality, the Bitgaram International Exposition of Electric Power Technology 2021 (Bixpo 2021) is presenting future energy technologies in the energy industry.

Hosted by Korea Electric Power Corporation from November 10 to 12, 2021, the event is being held at the Kim Dae Jung Convention Centre in Gwangju, South Korea and also being held online simultaneously. Some 248 companies from Korea and the world over are participating.

Marking its 7th year, Bixpo 2021 will undoubtedly be a comprehensive international energy exposition that presents future technologies and direction of the energy industry, including renewable energies and energy efficiency, under the theme of Carbon Neutrality, the global critical issue.

Kepco has been hosting the Bixpo to provide the global energy industry with opportunities to share the latest technologies and expand exchanges and collaborations between leading companies in Korea and other countries.

The event this year features keynote addresses by Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations, and Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General of the World Energy Council (WEC).

At the ceremony of declaring the carbon neutrality vision, Cheong Seung-il, President of Kepco, initially declares the companys vision of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and discusses its significance.

To help Korea achieve the carbon neutrality goal on schedule, Kepco plans to lead decarbonisation in the energy transition sector by innovating power supply systems, and to fully support other implementation segments, such as overall industry, transportation and buildings.

As part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas, Kepco is demonstrating major technologies and policies for addressing the climate crisis by composing realistic content, such as smart tables and videos of future vision.

At the Energy Leaders Summit, the primary conference of Bixpo, experts from international organisations in the energy sector including the WEC, International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) and International Energy Agency (IEA) are discussing global trends of implementing commitment for carbon neutrality by 2050.

Also, chief executive officers and chief technology officers at global utilities will disclose commitment to achieving imminent carbon neutrality goals and action plans for achieving such goals of their respective countries.-- TradeArabia News Service
SteelFab 2022, from January 10 to 13, will be a comprehensive showcase of technology and innovation for a wide range of industrial segments and sub-sectors of the manufacturing sector.

It will cater to core sector industries such as construction, infrastructure, oil and gas, ship building and pipelines, among others. A key attraction at SteelFab will be the live display of metal cutting, metal forming, welding robots and laser machines.

With the UAE opening fully for the vaccinated and the launch of a game-changing plan to harness fourth industrial revolution technology, preparations for the regions premier metal fabrication event has shifted into top gear.

The 17th SteelFab 2022, which is scheduled to be held at Expo Centre Sharjah, will be in sharp focus since the new strategy, with its core focus on the manufacturing sector, aims to embrace innovations in 4IR technologies to place the UAE at the heart of the fourth industrial revolution.

Moreover, the lifting of travel curbs, recovery in tourism, rising oil production and higher oil prices coupled with a rebound in global trade will also go a long way in preparing the ground for the upcoming SteelFab 2022.

"We are witnessing a new era of technological innovations and 4IR technologies that fuse many of the incredible advances made since the middle of the last century from 3D printing to artificial intelligence and Internet of Things are key to the growth of the manufacturing industry in the country. With the advent of intelligent machines and smart factories, one of the sectors that is the most impacted is manufacturing, including precision metal fabrication," said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah.

Manufacturing has traditionally played an important role in the UAEs economy and the new programme aims to double the industrial sector's contribution to the countrys GDP to AED300 billion ($81.68 billion) by 2031.

"SteelFab has always been seen as an enabler for the regional metal working, metal manufacturing and steel fabrication industry. Now, with the new strategy aiming to accelerate the digital capabilities of thousands of local manufacturers, it can play a bigger role in facilitating technology transfer and sharing of knowhow that could increase productivity and boost development of innovative products," Al Midfa said, adding that this could help the UAE emerge as a global industrial hub.

SteelFab is also set to gain from the Expo 2020 Dubai that is now under way. The six-month-long mega event is facilitating increased business and leisure travel to the UAE, thus helping SteelFab to benefit from the heightened industry attention and visitor turnout.

With the entire production value chains being upgraded for optimised processes, and regional fabricators on the lookout for new technology to maintain their competitiveness, SteelFab is seen as an attractive platform to launch new products and services. This time too, major exhibitors like Simco, DMG, Narex, German Gulf, Trumpf, Lincoln Electric, Akyapak, Ficep, Faccin, Arwani, Salvagnini among others, are planning to introduce several of their new products and technology at SteelFab.

Besides, for the first time, SteelFab will be organising a specialised conference catering to the steel fabrication industry. The two-day conference will feature a keynote speech and four panel discussions on the impact of the Covid-19 on demand and supply and the changing face of the structural steel fabrication market, and digitisation in steel fabrication.

SteelFab 2022 will feature special sections such as Welding & Cutting, Machine Tools, Pipe & Tube Machinery, Grinding & Cutting, Surface Preparation & Finishing, Tools & Ancillaries, besides the 6th Fasteners World Middle East, making it an important industry event for engineers, manufacturing personnel, professionals, decision makers and buyers from a wide spectrum of industrial segments.

The past edition of SteelFab hosted 300 exhibitors who displayed over 700 international brands from across the world at 26,000 sq m of exhibition space and attracted 6,500 trade visitors from 70 countries.-- TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the launch of a new control tower at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

Designed to support Saudi Basic Industries Corporation's (Sabic) operations at the port, the control tower will be jointly managed by Mawani, Sabic, Saudi Global Ports Company (SGP) and Tabadul.

Using the latest technologies, the control tower regulates the entry of trucks to the port and monitors the loading of containers to drive improved efficiency throughout Sabics export operations.

Its advanced capabilities include the ability to integrate into the port community system and be able to check for confirmation of all customs x-ray procedures and other related logistics processes in a seamless setup.

According to Mawani, the tower further enhances King Abdulaziz Ports efficiency by optimizing its operations, ensuring the smooth flow of cargo, and achieving faster turnaround times, thus bringing a number of benefits to the ports key stakeholders.

"The launch comes as part of its continued efforts to develop world-class ports and logistics services in Saudi Arabia and transform the kingdom into a unique logistics hub connecting continents, positioning it as a more competitive logistical hub," said a company spokesman.

"Mawani is accelerating the progress of Saudi Arabias maritime sector in line with the Vision 2030 goals by promoting investment opportunities, adopting state-of-the-art technology, improving infrastructure, and revamping the regulatory and operational frameworks to offer greater customer-centricity and transparency," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
The Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS) and Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the national rail network, will partner to highlight the vital role of rail transport in supporting the transformation of logistics, manufacturing and building a sustainable supply chain in the UAE, and globally.

A joint initiative of the UAE and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the summit will be held at Expos Dubai Exhibition Centre from November 22 to 27.

GMIS is a global platform that presents stakeholders with an opportunity to shape the future of the manufacturing sector and contribute towards global good by advancing some of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

As a strategic partner to GMIS, Etihad Rail will showcase how rail networks will serve as an economic growth engine for the country's manufacturers as well as the GCC countries.

Established in 2009, Etihad Rail, one of the regions largest infrastructure projects, will link the principal industries across the country and connect the UAE to its neighbouring nations.

The company will share its expertise in delivering faster, greener, more effective, and technologically advanced transport solutions to support the development of a globally integrated business environment, in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 and UAE Centennial 2071.

At the event, Etihad Rail will highlight the importance of rail networks in reducing supply chain costs, through reducing transport and storage costs, thereby increasing competitiveness and productivity in the industrial sector.

Commenting on the partnership, Omar Al Sebeyi, Acting Executive Director of Commercial Sector at Etihad Rail, said: "We are committed to accelerating industrialisation, economic growth and social development in the UAE and across the GCC, while offering a safe and sustainable mode of transportation for both businesses and individuals in the region."

"As we build the next-generation of transport and logistics solutions, we constantly seek new partnerships and collaborations with organisations who are passionate about enhancing the UAEs regional and global competitiveness. We are pleased to partner with the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit in support of its mission to drive industrial transformation and economic progress in the UAE and globally," added.

Badr Al-Olama, Head of the GMIS Organising Committee, said: "Etihad Rail is transforming the wider transport and logistics ecosystem in the UAE and GCC. They are also at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technology and sustainability solutions to help industrial organisations enhance supply chain resilience and reduce transport costs."

"Together, GMIS and Etihad Rail will showcase the UAEs advanced capabilities in transport and manufacturing, while highlighting the countrys potential to become a world-class logistics hub. The partnership will promote the prosperity of our nations economy," he added.

According to him, the summit will explore the latest trends and technologies shaping the global manufacturing sector, highlighting the evolving mechanisms of interaction between and among humans and machines in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Reinforcing how data and connectivity are becoming the leading factors shaping the future of supply chains, the six-day event will focus on topics such as the creation of digitally driven societies, decarbonisation of the manufacturing industry, Government 5.0, the future of renewable energy, and innovations in policymaking, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
A high-level forum organised by GE at Expo 2020 has called for strong collaboration and action to make energy, flight, and healthcare systems more resilient and sustainable.

In line with its sustainability commitment to tackling the worlds biggest challenges, GEs forum titled Spotlight Tomorrow focused on embracing the future in energy, flight, and health.

It brought together influential experts from across the industry who contributed to insightful discussions and highlighted key actions to address the global challenge of sustainability.

In addition to showcasing how businesses are putting sustainability at the heart of their strategy to build a more resilient future, they reiterated the need to act now offering solutions across industries.

The sustainability thought leaders from global and local entities who participated in the panel sessions included: Nabil Habayeb, Senior Vice President, GE and President & CEO, GE International Markets; Roger Martella, Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer, GE; Ivano Iannelli, Head of Sustainability, Emirates Global Aluminium; Joseph Anis, President & CEO  EMEA, GE Gas Power; Ahmed Safa, Divisional SVP, Emirates Engineering; Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer, Etihad; Mohamed Ali, Vice President & General Manager - Engineering, GE Aviation; Mohie Elrafey, Head of Strategic Marketing, GE Healthcare EMEA; Andre Daoud, CEO, Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centre; and Robert E. Mortiz, Chairman, PwC International Limited.

Delivering the opening remarks, Habayeb said: Today, the world is rallying around the goal of sustainability  a global priority that requires strong action on the ground. In addition, we need to focus equally on resilience. From driving decarbonisation of the energy sector, to utilising disruptive technologies in the aviation sector, and developing precision healthcare, we at GE, are invested in solving the worlds biggest challenges. And this cannot be achieved without partnerships from clients and the government.

Martella presented a keynote speech regarding the critical milestones that the world will see across energy, aviation, and healthcare, especially in the decade leading up to 2030. He said: The time to act is now. The current decade will set the trajectory for the future, and 2030 is a critical milepost in our sustainability journey. A decade from now and beyond, the world will look very different. Today, we have the opportunity to make systems more sustainable in the sectors in which we operate to support the global community in meeting its goals.

In the first session exploring the specific, practical actions that the energy industry needs to take to decarbonise the sector, panelists called for collaboration to realise the energy transition. Emphasising the need to deliver actual emission reductions instead of shifting CO2 from one balance sheet to another, it is evident that a holistic, sector-wide approach, involving governments and policymakers, as well as the entire energy value chain, needs to be carefully considered to reach global emission reduction targets.

The second panel discussion focused on how the aviation industry can achieve its C02 reduction goals. The panelists discussed progress on research and development of new, disruptive technologies and stressed the need to further these technologies to reach emissions goals.

In addition to reviewing where we are today, panelists discussed the roadmap to economic viability, and the challenges and opportunities along the way.

The third moderated discussion focused on making healthcare systems more sustainable for the future, facilitating wider access to deliver better outcomes to more people. Exploring how businesses can meet the ultimate goal of precision health, participants discussed some of the challenges that need to be solved, and the solutions that the healthcare industry is working on now.

In the closing note, Moritz reiterated the concept of the ecosystem and the need to work together to get to the world we want tomorrow. He highlighted challenges that need to be addressed for sustainable impact including the importance of raising capital, reskilling and upskilling to meet the skills gap for technologies, and data reporting to help stakeholders make the right choices.

Last year, GE announced its plans to achieve carbon neutrality across its own operations by 2030, which is aligned to the sustainability and decarbonisation targets outlined by governments in the region. Its commitment to sustainability across energy, aviation, and healthcare will complement the regions focus on a resilient future of the next generation.-- TradeArabia News Service
The north Indian state of Rajasthan is offering big investment opportunities to global investors in chemicals and petrochemicals, fintech, automobile and electric vehicles, renewable energy, infrastructure, mining and tourism.

During the states week from November 12 to 18 at Expo 2020 India Pavilion in Dubai a number of MoUs are slated to be signed.

A high-level delegation from Rajasthan government will be in Dubai to meet the investors during the week and pitch for the investments.

The programme would also feature diaspora connect programmes and tourism prowess of Rajasthan. The delegation will include Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, Minister for Urban Development & Housing; Parsadi Lal Meena, Minister for Industry; Arjun Singh Bamaniya, Minister of State for Industry; Mr Ashutosh A T Pednekar, Secretary  Industries, Government of Rajasthan; Ms Rukmani Riar, Executive Director, RIICO; Mr Dhiraj Srivastava, Commissioner  Rajasthan Foundation, etc.

The Rajasthan Week will kick start with the inauguration of the states pavilion in the India pavilion followed by an inaugural session which will be addressed by the Rajasthan government ministers and other top officials.

The delegation will have focused interactions and G2B meetings with a number of companies in Dubai for attracting investments in the state.

Among the specific projects in which the State is looking for investments, is Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR). HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), a subsidiary of HPCL is developing this project, which is one of the largest refineries of the country in Barmer, Rajasthan.

Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) is developing PCPIR near the refinery to catalyse the investment for the downstream products of the refinery. With a capacity of 9 mmtpa, the refinery has the potential to generate big investment.

The other mega project of Rajasthan is FinTech Park at Jaipur. RIICO is pitching Jaipur as destination par-excellence for corporates and start-ups of the financial and Information Technology world by developing a world-class FinTech Park spread over 100 Acres.

The State is also planning to develop a textile park at Jodhpur. Considering the current potential and existing ecosystem of textile and apparel sector in the State, RIICO has proposed to develop a dedicated textile park in the city, which is well connected by road, rail, and air. Investments would also be in the offer for Khushkera Bhiwadi Neemrana Investment Region (KBNIR) along the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Marwar Industrial Cluster and MEDtech Medical Devices Park.

RIICO is developing the Medtech Medical Devices Park at Jodhpur with a proposed area of approximately 230 Acres. The park will have a dedicated common facilitation centre (CFC) equipped with high quality laboratory and research and development facility.-- TradeArabia News Service
SAP, the Innovative Enterprise Software Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai, has launched the SAP House featuring how real-time customer experience innovations can transform the economy, society, and environment at Expo 2020 Dubai.



Global technology company SAP, the Innovative Enterprise Software Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai, has launched the SAP House featuring how real-time customer experience innovations can transform the economy, society, and environment at Expo 2020 Dubai.



Inspiring innovative customer experience solutions from SAP and its partners at the 900-sq-m SAP House include: an immersive tunnel, an interactive gamification of equestrian sports, the PODway platform for people of determination, and SAP Customer Checkout for retail innovation.



As SAP global partners, Deloitte is revealing what it takes to navigate relentless disruption and the futures uncertainty by becoming an intelligent enterprise, and Google Cloud is showcasing how the cloud is fuelling digital transformation.



Expo 2020 Dubai running in real-time on SAP solutions is a globally-leading example of how mega-events can transform exhibitor and visitor experiences, as well as operations said Claudio Muruzabal, SAP President for Southern Europe, Middle East, and Africa.



In line with the Expo 2020 Dubai theme of Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, our SAP House is a showcase of how SAP and our partners are providing the latest innovations in cloud and emerging technologies to develop the future of business.



Customer and citizen experience is a priority in the region, especially in the government and public sector. For example, among government IT decision-makers, 91% in the UAE and 94% in the GCC agree that technology is vital for transforming citizen experiences, according to new research by YouGov.



The SAP House at Expo 2020 Dubai is an unparalleled immersive zone for real-time technology to solve the current eras most pressing challenges, including supporting people of determination, said Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, SAP Middle East South.



With 94 percent of GCC government IT decision-makers agreeing that technology can transform citizen experiences, enabling the future of a Networked Economy is vital. Together with our partners Deloitte and Google Cloud, we are showcasing how cloud-based digital transformation can create the future through new levels of innovation.



The SAP House at Expo 2020 Dubai is the ideal global showcase to demonstrate how Deloitte is helping transform organizations enabled by technology to become Kinetic Enterprises that can reimagine everything, innovate rapidly, and evolve with confidence, said Tim Parr, Managing Director and CEO for the Consulting Practice at Deloitte Middle East.



Deloitte has over 70 ready-to-use assets enabled through the SAP Cloud Platform that can be used to accelerate transformation. Middle East and global organizations that leverage these assets can rapidly drive innovation, optimize operations, and enhance customer experiences.



Visitors to the SAP House can also experience Google Clouds business transformation solutions. Worldwide, Google Cloud serves as a global strategic cloud partner for the RISE with SAP offering, and also offers organizations the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.



SAPs enhanced ties with Google Cloud is part of the joint strategy to offer customers more choice for their SAP S/4HANA implementations on more hyperscaler cloud platforms and to integrate Google Cloud technologies.



At the SAP House at Expo 2020 Dubai, Google Cloud is demonstrating to a global audience how organizations can digitally transform in a future-proof, secure, innovative, and low-latency environment on the industrys cleanest cloud, said Tarek Khalil, Director Mena, Google Cloud. With the Middle Easts rapid adoption of RISE with SAP, Google Cloud provides the advanced technology that supports customers in their digital transformation plans.



During Expo, SAP University Alliances and SAP Next-Gen are hosting several academic and innovation sessions to explore the future of work, education, diversity and inclusion, and how youth will contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  TradeArabia News Service
Airbus Secure Land Communications will showcase its portfolio of modern hybrid communication and collaboration solutions for smart airports at Dubai Airshow 2021, taking place from November 14 to 18.

During the exhibition, Airbus will hold at its booth a demo for its Tactilon Agnet solution, a cloud-based collaboration service, to highlight how its features can support smarter teamwork among airport staff and security personnel.

Delivering the best of both Tetra and broadband solutions, the push-to-talk and end-to-end encrypted Tactilon Agnet is packed with state-of-the-art features for better connectivity and higher operational efficiency and safety.

Users can securely talk, send multimedia messages and exchange live video with their teams with just a click. Apart from its multimedia-enriched messaging and video transmissions capabilities, it is also equipped with emergency calls and real-time location tracking functionalities to promote better staff coordination and faster response time.

Tactilon Agnet is a modern, easy-to-use, flexible and scalable collaboration solution that is efficient for group communication. By rolling out this solution airports can reduce operating costs, manage flights more effectively and improve security - all of which are vital to running and managing smart airports.

At airport facilities, efficient supervision of different aspects of the operations is critical to optimising processes, minimising aircraft turnaround time and maximising customer satisfaction. All employees need to ensure that the systems are in place to look after the passengers, airlines, airport security, check-in facilities, baggage handling, passport control, gates, ground handlers, and many more, are working seamlessly. Therefore, Airbus collaboration tools, including our Tactilon Agnet, play a pivotal role in ensuring that all staff can communicate and collaborate without interruption and in a fast and secure manner. This is what we offer to smart airports, which we will highlight at Dubai Airshow, said Selim Bouri, Head of Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific for Secure Land Communications at Airbus.

Airbus has been providing the UAEs aviation industry with its mission-critical collaboration and communication technologies for over a decade. Its roster of clients in the country includes Dubai Airports, Abu Dhabi Airports and Sharjah Airports.-- TradeArabia News Service
US dairy farmers on a trade mission to the UAE have highlighted their countrys long-term commitment to sustainable supply of dairy products to the Middle East besides supporting growth and innovation.

Having increased the exports to the region by 20% in 2020 to reach $328 million, the focus is on enhancing exports as the entire US dairy industry boosts its commitment to global sustainability best practices.

The mission participants included dairy farmer delegates from across the US that hold top level leadership roles for research and promotion boards in addition to US Dairy Export Council (USDEC) executives.

As the worlds largest single-country producer of cows milk with 101.3 million MT during 2020, the US offers tremendous supply diversity to the region with the breadth and depth of high-quality products.

Over the last five years, skim milk powder/non-fat dry milk and cheese accounted for about half of all US dairy export volume to Middle East North Africa (Mena).

The farmers on the mission stated that over generations, US dairy farms have improved efficiency and increased their ability to meet the growing global population.

The long legacy of environmental stewardship is expanding to include ambitious environmental goals to become carbon neutral or better by 2050.

Continual progress is an ever-present commitment from US dairy farmers and suppliers, said Krysta Harden, US Dairy Export Council (USDEC), president and CEO. The US dairy community is accelerating adoption of new practices and technologies that use fewer resources and emit fewer greenhouse gases, including methane, while producing innovative and affordable products that nourish a growing global population.

Retailers, manufacturers, foodservice operators and consumers can count on the US dairy community for sustainable innovation solutions that are healthful for both the body and the planet. Highlighting diverse in-market investments, US farmers and suppliers engaged with regional trade across a wide-range of USDEC activities. A few highlights include:

Gulfood Manufacturing Show attendees visiting USDECs booth where they learned about the quality and diversity of US dairy ingredients, including milk powders, whey permeate, whey protein concentrate/isolate, milk protein concentrate/isolate and lactose.

A trade dinner attended by USDEC staff, USDEC members, local trade and the US Department of Agricultures Foreign Agricultural Service Dubai office on November 9 cultivated networking and sharing awareness of US dairy quality, reliability and variety.

A retail tour highlighting the USA Cheese Guilds multifaceted in-store promotions and robust retail programme responsible for introducing over 900 SKUs to the region over the last several years. Attractive displays and point of sale materials and merchandising have helped spread the word of the US as a competitive supplier of high-quality cheese. The Guild works with more than 20 retailers across the Mena market and this trip showcased the partnership with the prominent retailer chain, Lulu Hypermarket.

The International Centre for Culinary Arts (ICCA Dubai) education partnership graduation ceremony featuring the USA Cheese Guilds training programme called the USA Cheese Specialist Certification Programme. This unique offering aims at educating culinary students and trade professionals across the foodservice and retail segments about US Cheeses. To date, across all global markets, the Guild provided 23,000 hours of training to over 870 students from 39 countries. In the UAE specifically, 259 students earned the designation of US Cheese Specialist and an additional 185 graduates are expected to do so in 2021.

A social media event, US Dairy Farmers in the Kitchen  featured visiting farmers engaging with social media influencers, Nicole Maftoum (@eatlikenicole) and Chef Nikita Gandhi Patni (@theveggiefix) for a tasting of two regionally-popular recipes. Insights from the farmers on a dairy farming in the US were shared while creatively cooking with US cheeses. This helps consumers across the Mena region to connect through @USAcheeseGuild Facebook and Instagram channels.

We are committed to ensuring our sustainable US dairy supply reaches across international markets and increases consumer demand for new, innovative dairy ingredients and cheeses, said Larry Hancock, a US dairy farmer from Texas and USDEC Board Chair.

I represent a diverse group of more than 31,000 US dairy farmers across all 50 states that are united with US dairy suppliers in delivering quality products and nutrition to support Mena as a food innovation hub.-- TradeArabia News Service
Dubai Airshow 2021 will welcome members of the general public, families and children to witness the daily flying display from the purpose-built Skyview Grandstand, at Dubai World Central, Al Maktoum International Airport, the home of the Airshow, taking place from November 14-18.

The flying teams include Al Fursan, the United Arab Emirates Air Force aerobatic display team; Russian Knights by the Russian Air Force; Surya Kiran, the aerobatics demonstration team of the Indian Air Force; Sarang, the helicopter air display team of the Indian Air Force; and the Saudi Falcons, a BAE Hawk-equipped Royal Saudi Air Force aerobatic team.

Tarsus Middle East Managing Director Timothy Hawes said: We are looking forward to welcoming members of the general public to watch and enjoy the spectacular flying display at the Airshow. The Skyview Grandstand guarantees a perfect view from right beside the runway and for aviation photographers  the perfect picture.

Visiting the Skyview Grandstand will be an opportunity to see some of the worlds military fighter jets and large commercial aircraft, reserved usually for people in the aviation industry. Tickets are free but numbers are limited.

There will be free shuttle buses operating from Expo 2020 Dubai and Ibn Battuta Metro stations. The Grandstand will be open from 1.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. from November 14-18. Access for the general public will be limited to the Skyview area and not the main Airshow exhibition hall.-TradeArabia News Service
Help India!



The unscheduled internet shutdowns in different parts of Kashmir, especially capital Srinagar, have hit the students and businesses hard.

Auqib Javeed | TwoCircles.net

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SRINAGAR  For the last two weeks, Aisha Jan, 22, had to travel over 15 kilometres every day to attend her online classes in Central Kashmirs Ganderbal district along with her younger sister.

Jaan, who lives in the Soura area of Srinagar city, was accompanied by her younger sister, Aira Jan along with their father, who drops them at a relatives home in Ganderbal so that his kids dont miss their online classes.

The area where the siblings live has been witnessing unscheduled internet cuts and restrictions since last month.

I cant attend my online classes due to internet restrictions. I dont know why there are these restrictions, she told TwoCircles.net.

Aisha is pursuing a Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree in Srinagar, while her younger sister studies at 8th standard.

Mobile internet services were suspended in parts of the Kashmir valley, especially in Srinagar city, as a precautionary measure in the first week of October following a spate of civilian killings.

Eleven civilians were killed by suspected militants in Kashmir last month triggering fear, anger and panic in the Valley.

In the Srinagar district, the areas where the people complain about the frequent internet and call drops include Maharajgunj, Nowhatta, Safa Kadal, Bohri Kadal, Anchar, Eidgah, Qamarwari, Soura and Buchpora.

Reports coming from South Kashmir Kulgam, Pulwama and Pampore suggest the residents are witnessing frequent internet shutdowns.

The residents complain that unannounced and unscheduled internet cuts have hit their education and business alike.

The locals told TwoCircles.net that the mobile internet goes off frequently at any time during the day. The residents alleged that they are experiencing frequent call drops causing inconvenience to students and traders.

The authorities on their part maintain that the decision was taken after security agencies thought the evening hours were being used by militants to target civilians.

The killings in Srinagar occurred during evening hours. It was also found that some apps were used in these areas by the militants, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Pandurang K. Pole was quoted by a local newspaper in Kashmir.

He further said, So as a precautionary measure we restricted the internet during non-online class hours i.e. from 3 PM onwards.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police said that the internet was shut down because of terrorism-related incidents in the Union territory, the police said in a tweet.

However, the locals alleged that the internet restrictions are unscheduled.

My two daughters had to attend an online class at 11 AM every day but as soon as I tried to open the zoom app, I failed to connect it due to no internet, Nisar Ahmad, a resident of Safa Kadal, Srinagar said.

Nisar said not only the internet but the phone calls have also been dropping suddenly from last month.

The government needs to come clean on this. The education of our kids suffer because of frequent internet restrictions, Ahmad added.

The authorities have frequently restricted the internet and phone connections in Kashmir under the pretext of maintaining law and order.

Business and education have taken the biggest hit due to the internet shutdowns from the last three years, especially when the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was revoked by the BJO government on 5 August 2019.

According to a report, India reported the highest number of internet shutdowns last year, at 109 out of a total of 155 globally. This is the third consecutive year India has topped the global charts on this score, a new report by digital rights and privacy organisation Access Now has found.

It is alarming that the worlds largest democracy  India  continues to be the biggest instigator of internet shutdowns in the world, Raman Jit Singh Chima, Senior International Counsel and Asia Pacific Policy Director at Access Now said.

We have lived through targeted blackouts in Jammu and Kashmir for years, and watched shutdowns spread to every part of the country, and increasingly being used to target peaceful protestors and hide the actions of government authorities. People in India live in precarity. This is not on par with international human rights standards, nor is it in line with the progressive facade of the Union Governments Digital India mission.

Sami Ullah, the co-founder of Fast Beetle delivery service in Kashmir, told TwoCircles.net that the companys operation had come to a halt due to the incessant seizing of bikes by the police in Srinagar. Just when the businesses in Kashmir were trying to recover from the losses caused during article 370 and global pandemic, our law and order is crumbling again and again, he said in a tweet.

Many youths in Kashmir who had started their business online maintain that they are thinking of winding up the business due to internet restrictions.

I am thinking of winding up my business. The problem is the internet restrictions will be there until the Kashmir issue gets resolved. So, I am thinking of doing something else, Mohammad Jibran, who had his travel company in the downtown area of Srinagar.

Auqib Javeed is a journalist based in Srinagar, Kashmir. He tweets at @AuqibJaveed
Help India!



For scores of visually impaired students from Tamil Nadu, writing exams amid the ongoing pandemic has been a tough ask, with no or minimal assistance by the government.

Shalini S | TwoCircles.net

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CHENNAI  For Parameshwari, a 29-year-old visually impaired student from Puzhal, Red Hills, Chennai, the availability of a scribe is an existential question. A scribe is a sighted volunteer who could help her in writing exams. Not only her career but her life depends upon it.

She is in her final year of post-graduation in English literature through distance education at the University of Madras, which is 21 kilometres from her distance. Married at an early age, she has two kids. Her youngest kid is 3 months old. Domesticity seems less tiring than having to look for a scribe, says Parameshwari as she pacifies her newborn while the elder toddler starts throwing a tantrum. Her mother Selvi goes to sell flowers in the morning and returns by evening. Meanwhile, Parameshwari who finished her B.Ed. from Chengalpattu, manages the household chores and takes care of her two daughters. Her father, who worked at a construction site on a contractual basis is now unemployed due to old age.

Parameshwari says that one doesnt have it easy being blind and a woman. After overcoming the challenges of preparing for an examination, whether or not shed pass the test depends upon the availability of a scribe. Sometimes, if the volunteers cant come as promised, wed have to skip the exam and it will fall as an arrear.

Accessibility to education has been a major concern for the visually impaired (VI) community even before lockdown. The situation worsened postpandemic as the visually impaired students of Tamil Nadu complained of facing exclusion and neglect in online education. It exacerbated the existing inequities for the community particularly in terms of arranging a scribe during examinations.

According to the 2011 census, Tamil Nadu has a 1,27,405 visually impaired population. Dr Aranga Raja, President of College Students and Graduates Association of the Blind (CSGAB) in Chennai, there are over 2000 visually impaired college and school students, and scholars in the state.

Double marginalization

During her training period in the final semester of B.Ed. program, students at secondary level would mock her for wearing bright yellow saris and play pranks by replacing her materials or misplacing chairs in the classroom.

In the beginning, it would hurt, but eventually I got used to it. If students are entertained by my disability, let them have fun but I will not have others hurt or humiliate me she says.

She has three elder siblings and two of them are visually impaired too. One of her elder sisters is pursuing PhD in Tamil literature. I want to complete my post-graduation and do a PhD like her. I wonder when that time will come.

Parameshwari says it was easier to arrange a scribe during her under graduation than now. I studied in a private school till my 6th standard and in a special school after that. Schools are much better in arranging volunteers to write our exams, unlike colleges.

For instance, during her undergraduate course at Queen Mary College, for semester exams shed have to pay a scribe 500  1000 INR per day for volunteering. The money was paid out of her pockets.

Colleges violate scribe guidelines

Parameshwari had to pay for the scribes while guidelines for conducting written examinations for disabled students mandate the educational institution to pay the volunteers. The reality is that a large number of colleges dont follow the guidelines.

During her undergraduate days, in the pre-Covid era, Parameshwari relied on reading centres for the visually impaired community arranged by elderly citizens who intend to do social service. Shed get contacts of working professionals from the centres to assist in her examinations but this has been drastically affected in lockdown as the reading centres are no longer functioning.

Dr Raja says that according to the recent guideline released by the government of Tamil Nadu on 21.09.2021, the scribes are to be paid an allowance of 300 INR. But city colleges like Pachaiyappas pay only a meagre amount of 25 INR.

As per the central development scheme of UGC (University Grants Commission), every university and college must have a Higher Education Centre for Disabled Persons but it is not the case with the University of Madras or any other city colleges here he adds.

The Madras University officials, however, assured that they will look into the matter. According to Prof. N. Mathivanan, Registrar of the university, the university will look into the new scribe guidelines, a response which Dr Raja doesnt find very promising.

HC didnt issue instructions for visually impaired

Dr Raja points out that hundreds of visually impaired students and graduates were denied the opportunity to take up a competitive examination last month for Clerical jobs. The Madras High Court didnt issue instructions for the exam centres to allow the visually impaired aspirants along with their scribes.

The minimum qualification for the posts notified was 8th grade. Lakshmi Narayanan, a 12th grader says I was not allowed to enter the centre because I require a scribe. We all had our hall tickets and application form but were denied the opportunity.

There were other elderly graduates who got heartbroken by this incident. We work day and night to prepare for these government examinations as no private company will provide us with an opportunity. But we were sent back home only because we are blind he adds.

There is no rationale behind it and we are filing a case against this in the Madras High Court. Such misconception from the High Courts side sets a bad example for other sectors. They cannot take the visually impaired community for granted. If the jobs are not meant for us, they shouldnt identify it in other ways in the exam notifications only to discriminate against us later, adds Dr Raja.

Post-pandemic online classes made life difficult

Attending online classes or appearing in exams online could be simple and easy things in a dream world. For visually challenged students from a financially humble background, the very process of going online and appearing in an exam could be a very challenging process. Parameshwari gives the example of her compulsory internal assessment scheduled last month.

She managed to arrange for a scribe who had to travel a long distance to get to Parameshwaris house and assist her. Travelling during Covid risks both the parties, particularly Parameshwaris newborn baby. Yet after all the arrangements, Parameshwari was unable to access the link provided on the University website to take up the online exam.

Siddarth (39), an Engineer who scribes now and then, who helped Parameshwari find a volunteer underlines how what is an easy thing could become a difficult process for visually challenged students like her.

It is going to be difficult for Parameshwari because she couldnt appear in her internal assessment exams. We tried mailing and calling the concerned University department. I even went down to the University thrice to enquire but they just make you wait and provide no clarity he said.

Rich students get brilliant scribes

Parameshwari is deeply conscious of her class status and how disabling it could be for her in realizing her dreams. Rich students who are blind have access to scribes who are academically brilliant and they, in turn, help them excel in the exam.

What is sad is that people like me who come from a poor background cannot imagine clearing government exams easily. People who can afford the money to arrange good scribes will seek their help academically to clear the exams. These are issues that nobody likes to talk Parameshwari added subtly.

For Parameshwari the combination of poverty and lack of sight is a daunting cocktail of disabling factors pulling her down

After she couldnt attend her examination she seeks solace in her two children. When asked about her husband, she says that its a failed marriage. As her mother returns from the sales, Parameshwari goes silent as discussing her marriage life would worry her mother.

Only If I had a boy child, hed give more protection to the family. However, I am glad my girls are not blind she sighs.

Shalini S is a SEED fellow with TwoCircles.net. She tweets at @_Shalini_Nathan
Help India!



Paying homage to the educational services of Maulana Azad, the JIH education board chairman Mujtaba Farooq called on the government to commemorate the day as one of the most significant days and launch an educational mission on the day.

TCN News

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NEW DELHI  Chairman of the Jamaat-e-Islami Hinds (JIH) education board Mujtaba Farooq on Thursday hailed the contributions of the first education minister of the country, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, on his birth anniversary.

In a statement, the chairman of the JIH Markazi Taleemi Board (education board), said, Today is the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, which is commemorated as the National Education Day every year. But presently, we are seeing a lack of interest and enthusiasm in its celebration. Even people with a biased mentality assume disrespecting him as a sign of patriotism. They also wrongly presume that a cleric was made the first Education Minister of the country, who was neither an educationist nor familiar with modern education. Whereas, Maulana Azad was a highly intellectual person, author of many books and edited prominent newspapers and journals which played a revolutionary role during the freedom struggle.

Farooq further said, Unfortunately, attempts are being made to confine the pillars of the countrys integrity, just to their communities. The architect of the Constitution of India, Dr Ambedkar, is being projected as the leader of the Dalits while the staunch defender of united India, Maulana Azad, is being presented just as the representative of Muslims in the post-independent India.

Talking about Maulana Azads journalistic career and participation in the freedom struggle, Farooq said, Maulana Azad started publishing a journal Nairang-e-Aalam and was already an editor of a weekly Al-Misbah in 1900 at the early age of 12. In 1903, he brought out a monthly journal, Lissan-us-Sidq. He launched the Al-Hilal newspaper at 20. When the papers popularity gained ground as a voice of the Indian independence movement, the British government banned it. Later, Maulana Azad started a new journal, the Al-Balagh, which also got banned in 1916. Maulana Azad was imprisoned several times for actively participating in the freedom struggle.

If, targeting such a personality is not ignorance and narrow-mindedness, what else could it be? Farooq asked.

Calling education one of the biggest challenges for the country today, Farooq has pointed out that the country is still unable to establish justice and equality in the field of education, despite 75 years of independence.

Paying homage to the educational services of Maulana Azad, the JIH education boards chairman called on the government to commemorate the day as one of the most significant days and launch an educational mission on the day.

Lauding that Maulana Azad laid down strong foundations for the education ministry through his invaluable services, Farooq suggested researching the educational services and ideas of Maulana Azad in Indian universities. Today we need to revive the ideas of Maulana for making the students morality strong and good members of the society. But, unfortunately, education is being used to create communal hatred, which is a big challenge for the country. Besides, education is rapidly becoming a business, which is narrowing down the opportunities for poor but intelligent students of the country, he added.

Farooq urged the government to formulate policies and schemes providing equal educational opportunities to poor and rural students too.

On the occasion of Education Day, Farooq also advised the Muslim community to conduct introspection of its progress in the field of education on an individual and collective level.

He suggested that every educated person, who holds high positions and one who is affluent should sponsor one or two poor students.
by Mathias Hariyadi

The Indonesian government has claimed that the rate of tree felling has fallen to the lowest ever. Activists have disputed these claims by showing long-term data. Concern for Papua's forest, reduced by at least 19,000 hectares.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - "Indonesia deforestation data 2019-2020 has been becoming the lowest level since the last two decades, said Pres. Jokowi in Glasgow adressing COP26 Such achievement is undeniable.

According to data presented at the climate conference by Environment Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, just over 115,000 hectares of trees have been felled in the past two years - a considerable reduction from over 462,000 hectares in 2018.

Criticizing these claims, Greenpeace illustrated the data from a different angle: if we look at the period from 2003 to 2011, we see that 2.45 million hectares of forest were cut down. Between 2011 and 2019, the figure rose to 4.8 million hectares. Only one million trees disappeared between 2014 and 2015 after Jokowi came to the presidency.

According to Global Forest Watch, in 2001 Indonesia had 93.8 million hectares of primary forest (the oldest forest, untouched by human activities): an area the size of Egypt. Although the rate of deforestation since 2015 has begun to decline, Indonesia's rainforest, the third largest in the world, is continuing to shrink.

Greenpeace activist Kiki Taufik, criticized the environment minister for advocating for "large-scale developments that clearly have the potential for environmental destruction." "If we don't take immediate action to stop deforestation, we can't meet the modest emission reduction targets," Taufik explained.

In April, Greenpeace organized protests to oppose deforestation in Kaimana, West Papua province, where land is being cleared to make way for intensive palm plantations. During the Yudhoyono government (2009-2014), former Environment Minister Zulkifli Hassan had allowed at least 25 companies to operate in Papuan forests, which have shrunk by at least 19 thousand hectares.

The deforestation treaty signed at COP26 by more than 100 countries, including Indonesia, commits signatories to "work collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, while fostering sustainable development and promoting inclusive rural transformation."

However, Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said

Siti Nurbaya Bakar, Indonesias environment and forestry minister who attended the climate conference in Scotland, said on social media that forcing Indonesia to zero deforestation in 2030 is clearly inappropriate and unfair. The massive development of President Jokowis era must not stop in the name of carbon emissions or in the name of deforestation, she said Indonesias natural wealth, including forests, must be managed for its use according to sustainable principles, besides being fair."
by Shafique Khokhar

Mareeb Abbas went missing on 2 November and was in all likelihood taken to Balochistan. Her mother is hospitalised. The parish priest in Sahiwal calls for a law to protect minorities.

Sahiwal (AsiaNews)  Another Christian girl was abducted by a Muslim in Pakistan. Meerab Abbas, 12, was taken by Muhammad Daud, 10 years her senior and a native of the Pakistani province of Balochistan.

The girl lived in Sahiwal (Punjab) with her mother, Farzana, a 45-year-old widow who works as a domestic worker.

She disappeared on 2 November, in all likelihood taken to Balochistan to be forced to convert to Islam and marry Daud.

So far, police have arrested two suspects, but the girl remains in the hands of her abductors.

Cecil George, a relative of the mother, said that Farzana is suffering greatly from her daughters abduction to the point of requiring admission to a local hospital (see picture 2). Her mental state is critical.

George noted that no information has yet come as to where the kidnappers hid Mareeb.

Journalist Wilson Raza explains that these events are commonplace in the region, urging the police to do more to bring the young woman home to her mother.

Fr Zahid Augustine, pastor in Sahiwal, joined the appeal, explaining that Farzana already has many challenges to face in her life".

"We call upon the government to consider these abductions and forced marriages as a grave issue and adopt strict laws to protect minorities, who are essential for the development of the country," he said.

Mareeb is only 12 years old, and she cannot marry, he added. The perpetrators commit these crimes in the name of religion. We just want justice.

Human rights activist Ashiknaz Khokhar notes that kidnapping underage girls from religious minorities is commonplace in Pakistan.

"The government is not taking this issue seriously and parliament recently refused to pass the bill on forced conversion," Khokhar explained.

"Every year about 1,000 Christian and Hindu girls are forced to convert to Islam. There is a dire need for a dedicated law to protect minority girls.
Police officers arrested Bishop Shao Zhumin on October 25. Officially, they took him away "on vacation". He is continuously subjected to political "re-education" sessions. Wang finally allowed to meet his wife; UN agency, humanitarian groups and political figures are calling for his immediate release.

Rome (AsiaNews) - Bishop Shao Zhumin of Wenzhou (Zhejiang), has been freed. Local sources spoke to AsiaNews of his return, although it is not yet clear when the release by the Chinese authorities took place. The Catholic faithful "thank God" for their pastor's return to his home.

Policemen had seized Msgr. Shao on October 25: officially they had taken him away for "tourism". This is not the first time that the police have arrested the bishop, making him disappear for months. Persecuted like Msgr. Lin Xili, first bishop of Wenzhou, Msgr. Shao is often subjected to sessions of brainwashing to push him to join the "official" church, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The signing in 2018, and renewal in October 2020, of the Sino-Vatican Agreement on the Appointment of Bishops has not stopped the persecution of Chinese Catholics, especially unofficial ones. Msgr. Jia Zhiguo is another example, often placed under house arrest. Then there are bishops who suffer various harassments, such as Msgr. Guo Xijin; and bishops forced into political sessions such as Msgr. Zhang Weizhu.

Beijing's repression also extends to Protestant Christians. In recent days ChinaAid has turned the spotlight back on Pastor Wang Yi, sentenced on December 30, 2019 to nine years in prison for "subversion against state power" and other crimes. A former democracy activist at the time of the Tiananmen massacre, Wang later converted to Christianity and became pastor of the Early Rain Church, which had at least 500 members in Chengdu (Sichuan).

Recently, three years after his arrest, Wang was able to receive a visit from his wife. Jiang Rong said her husband is in good health, but underweight. The woman has also suffered police detentions and is basically living under house arrest.

In a tweet posted Nov. 8, Lord David Alton condemned the CCP's continued persecution of the Early Rain Church; he recalled that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Arrests called for Wang's immediate and unconditional release.

A member of the House of Lords, Alton is one of nine British figures sanctioned by China in March - Beijing's response to previous punitive measures by London against Chinese officials and entities accused of human rights violations in Xinjiang. According to the British politician, the international community should boycott Chinese products until the CCP puts an end to its policy of "repression and genocide."
The news of the day: Thai authorities deported two Cambodian activists; the toll of floods in India and Sri Lanka rises to 41; in Hong Kong more than one in five citizens in poverty; a Taliban commander is the new governor of Kabul; Erdogan wants two more atomic power plants.

CHINA - USA

In a surprise announcement at COP26 in Glasgow, China and the United States agreed to strengthen climate cooperation over the next decade, issuing a (rare) joint statement promising action. From the two sides, a commitment to "work together" to close the "significant gap" toward the 1.5C target set in the Paris Agreement.

THAILAND - CAMBODIA

Thai authorities have arrested and deported two activists linked to the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), at the request of Prime Minister Hun Sen. Police detained Voeung Samnang and Voeun Veasna as they were returning home. The latter in October - under the pseudonym of Kranhoung Preylang - had published a poem critical of the Cambodian Prime Minister.

SRI LANKA - INDIA

The provisional toll of the heavy rains that have fallen in recent days along the Sri Lankan coast and in Tamil Nadu (southern India) has reached 41 victims. The government of Colombo counts at least 20 deaths, most of them from drowning. According to forecasts, the showers should diminish in intensity in the next hours, with occasional more intense phenomena.

HONG KONG

More than one in five Hong Kong citizens (1.65 million) lived in poverty in 2020, the highest number since data collection began 12 years ago. The poverty rate rose to 23.6 percent, up from 21.4 percent a year earlier, with growth linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. Activists and experts reject the measures put in place by the government, judged inadequate.

AFGHANISTAN

A Taliban commander linked to al Qaeda, famous for kidnapping foreign journalists and planning suicide attacks, is the new governor of Kabul province. Intelligence sources reported Qari Baryal's death a decade ago in a U.S. raid. He has actually established himself as a leader in the north, leading attacks in the capital and surrounding areas.

INDONESIA

Anti-terrorism Detachment 88 arrested five people in East Java on charges of illicit arms trafficking, recruiting and training militiamen in the pay of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). The Islamic extremist group is responsible for bloody attacks, including the 2002 Bali massacre. This is the second largest counterterrorism operation in the year.

TURKEY

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced the construction of two more nuclear power plants, which will add to the Akkuyu plant already under construction. The first unit is expected to be active by 2023. Concern is expressed by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to which the plant in the southern province of Messina will become "a new Chernobyl".

RUSSIA

In Russia exceeded the records of cases and deaths for Covid-19 with more than 250 thousand victims, but citizens refuse protection measures: spacers, masks and vaccines are ignored and in the last three months more than 10 thousand people have been fined. Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said that "in 12 regions oxygen supplies will be enough for a couple of days".
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Russian Foreign Minister: strategic collaboration between the two countries. The Kremlin condemns cases of xenophobia towards Russian-speaking Kazakhs, while blaming foreign forces. Attention to the protection of common borders, transit points between Europe and Asia.

Moscow (AsiaNews) - On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and Kazakhstan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov wrote an article in Rossijskaja Gazeta extolling the "strategic collaboration" between the two countries. However, he condemned the "cases of xenophobia" against Kazakhs of Russian origin, which he believes are "inspired from outside."

Lavrov claims there are many opponents, especially Western ones, who aim to discredit the Russian-speaking community in Kazakhstan. According to Lavrov, this community lives thanks to the recent "powerful mutual ties" between Moscow and Nur-Sultan, rooted in ancient times.

Russia and Kazakhstan have been able to show "great successes in consolidating society and strengthening international harmony," but the cases of ethnic hostility in recent times "are the product of the application from the outside of special information methodologies, directed at the exacerbation of nationalist particularism and contempt for Russia."

Lavrov says to counter these attempts Moscow and Nur-Sultan must take appropriate measures, using various channels of relations: diplomatic, public order and administration of justice. The aim is to stifle "the tendentious work of the private sector and the journalistic and specialized sector of the two countries".

Kazakhstan's authorities have branded the cases of Russophobia as an expression of "caveman nationalism," in the words of Kazakh Prime Minister Askar Mamin. Instead, the traditions of friendship should be guarded with great care, "a particularly significant role is the spiritual closeness between Russians and Kazakhs." The common Soviet past is an "extraordinary advantage of our countries in the conditions of fierce competition in international markets."

Russia and Kazakhstan maintain coordination programs in economic policy. In the last eight months, according to data exposed by Lavrov, the growth of the trade balance was 34%, reaching 15 billion euros and exceeding the three years before the pandemic.

The cooperation is based on documents confirmed several times in this thirty-year period, such as the Friendship Agreement of 1992, the Declaration of Friendship and Mutual Union of 1998, the Agreement of Good Neighborliness and Union of the 21st Century of 2013. An inter-parliamentary commission for collaboration between the two countries is always active, with sub-committees dealing with transportation, science and new technologies, energy, fuels, industry and other sectors.

Every year forums are held at the highest level, with the participation of the two presidents, as happened last September in video-conference, with the passionate discussion between Putin and Tokaev on the origins of the Asian tiger. The Kazakhs emphasized the role of the "Leader of the Nation" Nursultan Nazarbaev and his major "Eurasian projects" involving several former Soviet states.

Lavrov pointed to the special significance of some recent projects, such as the Bajterek astronautical program, which will open the way for Kazakhstan to enter the small circle of world cosmic powers. According to the plan, in 2023 Russian Soyuz-5 communication rockets will be launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome (the most important from Soviet times), which will help the country's economic and social growth.

Great attention will be given to border protection, in this very delicate phase for all of Central Asia: Russia and Kazakhstan share 7,500 kilometers of border, from which to pass large volumes of transport between Europe and Asia.
In his message to the 4th Paris Peace Forum, the pontiff slams military spending which has exceeded the level recorded at the end of the Cold War. In addition to the illusion of deterrence, such expenditures are driven by a market logic that treats weapons like all other manufactured goods. Francis opts instead for "responsible hope in a fairer post-pandemic world.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis sent a message to the 4th edition of the Paris Peace Forum, an international conference on multilateralism that opened today in the presence, among others, of French President Emmanuel Macron and US Vice President Kamala Harris.

In his statement, the pontiff writes that there can be no peace-generating cooperation without a concrete collective commitment to integral disarmament. He goes on to reflect on "how to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic improved overcoming the temptation of a "return to normality" marked by the same injustices.

The reality we knew before meant that wealth and economic growth were reserved for a minority while millions of people were unable to satisfy their most basic needs and lead a dignified life. In such a world, our Earth was plundered by narrow-minded exploitation of resources, pollution, 'throwaway' consumerism and wounded by wars and experiments with weapons of mass destruction.

Yet, for Francis, Self-sufficiency, nationalism, protectionism, individualism and isolation also exclude the poor. Is this a future we can choose?" Instead, the pope warns to undertake a better journey, rulers must heed one urgency, that of global disarmament.

World military spending now exceeds the level recorded at the end of the Cold War and is systematically increasing every year. Ruling classes and governments justify this rearmament by referring to the misused idea of deterrence based on a balance of weapons. From this perspective, governments are inclined to pursue their interests mainly on the basis of the use or threat of force.

Pope Francis notes that Pope John XXIII, in his Encyclical Pacem in terris, already explained how deterrence does not guarantee the construction and maintenance of peace.

Moreover, today this logic has been associated with that of free markets whereby weapons are like all other manufactured goods and therefore, as such, for sale worldwide. It is therefore no coincidence that for years we have uncritically witnessed the expansion of the global weapons market.

In view of this, the pope opts for "responsible hope" and rejects "the easy way of going back to a 'normality' marked by injustice. Instead, "Hope invites us to dream big and give room to imagining new possibilities. Hope is bold and encourages action based on the awareness that reality can be changed.

"My hope is that the Christian tradition, in particular the social doctrine of the Church, as well as other religious traditions, can contribute to provide your meeting with the steadfast hope that injustice and violence are not inevitable, that they are not our destiny.

Let us not waste this opportunity to improve our world, Francis writes in concluding his message. Instead, he urges people to adopt decisively fairer ways to bring about progress and build peace.

Moved by such conviction, it is possible to generate economic models that serve the needs of all while preserving the gifts of nature, as well as [pursue] far-sighted policies that promote the integral development of the human family.
The bodies arrived over the summer and fall of 1921. That of Henry Nicholas John Gunther, an Eastern Avenue resident who history records as the last soldier of any of the belligerents to die in World War I, arrived in September. He was buried at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery on Belair Road in Northeast Baltimore. Gunther was killed on Nov. 11, 1918 at Chaumont-devant-Damvillers, France. He was 23.
It was a big change because it was the middle of winter in Buffalo and that was my first time leaving Buffalo in my life, he said. I went to Denver, Colorado, for gunnery school and didnt know what I would be doing.
It was a very fulfilling feeling to be able to see myself for who I am and live my life authentically, she said, adding coming out made her better at her job because she was less stressed than when she was in the closet.
Its my family name. Until its taken from you, you dont fully understand the value of that: Its who you are, said Huffington, flanked by his lawyer at a conference table in the Washington, D.C., office of the law firm Ropes & Gray as they announced Tuesday that they took the unusual step of sending his petition for a pardon directly to the Republican governors office.
He would call Kentucky home for the next six years. His days were regimented; he describes doing physical training every weekday between 6:30 and 8 a.m. followed by combat exercises in a variety of settings, field trainings and spending time on the range. This repetition  a descriptor he is hesitant to use saying it is the wrong word, but at the same time  the right word  is how you improve these skills.
Charges against Brennan stemmed from one of those interviews, in which investigators say the priest lied about knowing a man who alleged Brennan had sexually abused him while he was an altar boy at a North Philadelphia church. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March, and prosecutors have asked for five years of probation with two years served under house arrest.
In response to the recent letter to the editor from Bronwyn Mitchell-Strong (Dear mental health providers: Kids in foster care need some extra help, Nov 9), may I suggest that the writer direct their plea in the right direction? The reason that many licensed professional counselors (LCPC in Maryland) do not take Medicare has little to do with our preferences or concerns about the amount of reimbursement. Rather, it is due to the policy of Medicare.
During her years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Melissa Ulven was stationed both at home and abroad and served during the invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq. Ulven now lives in Buffalo with her kids and husband, who also served in the Marines.
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Dakota graduated from Bret Harte in 2013 and went to Davidson College, NC where she earned a bachelor's degree in Arab studies. After spending time studying in the Middle East and Europe, she is happy to be home, writing about the community she loves.

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.
University of Buea Archives

An explosive attack on a lecture hall at the University of Buea (UB) leaves 11 students wounded.

The incident occurred around 3:30 pm Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at Amphitheatre 600 of the institution when the explosive was thrown on the roof of the lecture hall, said the universitys top administrator.

The vice-chancellor, Professor Ngomo Horace Manga, declined to comment on who might have been behind the attack.

"An investigation will tell us who the perpetrators are," he said. I do not want to presume that I have knowledge of those who perpetrated the attack. Investigations will ascertain that, he furthered.

Quizzed on what he knows about the incident, Professor Ngomo said: Today, we were having a conference on peacebuilding. The conference started at around 11 am and ended at about 3 pm. At 3:30 pm when we were at the reception venue, at the Restaurant of the University, we had information to the effect that some students were injured and were being conveyed to the hospital.

So, upon further inquiry, we were informed that an improvised explosive device was thrown on the roof of a lecture hall, Amphitheater 600. On reaching the ground, the device exploded midair. The metallic particles injured about eleven students who were in the vicinity. They were immediately rushed to the hospital. Nine of them are here at Solidarity Clinic and two are in another clinic. They are undergoing treatment. Treatment was immediate and they are stable. As of now, there are no major injuries but they are still in pain. They are being stabilized. I hope they will improve.

Our first preoccupation is to stabilize the injured. After that, we will start informing the families. But we didnt want to create any panic because, from the way we look at the injuries, we expect that they will go back to classes, to resume classes in a few days.

I think you are dragging me into this whole idea of suspicion. With the security we have in place, and no security can be too tight, we wouldnt expect that anybody will have the bad will to attack students who are innocent and harmless, whose only mission on campus is to study. So, nobody will imagine that anybody will want to visit the university with any device that will cause bodily harm to them.

We heard that somebody else wearing garments which are completely alien to the university community came calling and dancing in traditional steps. His coming being an hour or so after the incident created some panic but everything is stable. It is just that, of course, upon hearing the explosion, students are edgy. But I can say that classes are going on normally.

Cameroons state forces have been battling to dislodge armed separatists who pitched their tents in the North West and South West Regions since Anglophone protests transformed into an armed conflict in 2017.

Corporate demands by Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers led to protests in November 2016. The street demonstrations later morphed into ongoing running gun battles between state forces and armed separatist fighters in the predominantly English-speaking regions, leading to untold destruction of human lives, their habitats, and livelihoods.

Tit-for-tat killings, kidnappings, arsons, use of improvised explosive devices, maiming, and outright terror have become part of daily lives in some parts of the English-speaking regions.
The school system also announced this week that the Board of Education will hold a public forum at 6:30 p.m. Monday where it will accept testimony from 50 people, in person. While in-person testimony has been limited to agenda items only since Board of Education meetings resumed this fall, the public forum will give parents, teachers and the community a chance to talk about any subject, as long as it isnt related to a specific student or an employee personnel matter.
MDE projects that between 2020 and 2070 there will be an 11% increase in the amount of rain that will fall during a 1-year storm, or a storm that has a chance of happening once every year, based on a forecast released this spring by the RAND Corporation. In Anne Arundel, that figure is 2.7 inches of rain within 24 hours, but 3 inches of rain within 24 hours could be the new norm due to climate change.
Upon coming home four years after first being drafted, Nutter was shocked at the way Vietnam veterans were received. He said he and his peers struggled to get jobs due to stigma around the war. Ultimately, his only choice was to return to the military where he worked in the Army for 20 years.
Miller credits his three decades of involvement with the institute for inspiring four key decisions during his investment career that significantly contributed to his fortune. Those include buying tech stocks, including Dell and Apple, in 1995 when the stocks were perceived as unpredictable; buying Google shares for $85 each on their initial public offering; being an early investor in Amazon; and buying Bitcoin when it was trading at $200 each.
In addition to the prison sentence, Russell Ramseur, 44, of Largo was given five years of supervised release on Tuesday, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least one kilogram of heroin and for possession with intent to distribute heroin.
By the time Pietrorazio came upon the writings of Clarke  a man who was once a professor of English at Washington College in Chestertown, but about whom little other public information survives  he was already aware of the nastiness of the language often used in such coverage, particularly in newspapers in the American Deep South. He and 57 fellow student journalists came to realize early on that such coverage was tragically endemic to newspaper coverage at the time.
Gardner lets her first grader roam the classroom, if needed. She is not distracting others. When a boy bursts into tears, he can sit in the beanbag chair for a few minutes to calm down. Ramsey and a social worker will talk to the boy struggling with family illness, as well as others who have issues. Ramsey has faith that over time, she will be able to give the boy who seems to shut down a safe enough space to let go of his hidden sorrows.
The state board voted to make masks mandatory for all public schools during the summer in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Maryland. Its vote was approved by the General Assemblys Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review. Prior to the votes on the mandate, Carrolls board members kept masks optional. At one point, they were the only system in the region without a mask mandate.
CCPSs weekly dashboard, which updates every Wednesday, showed the number of positive coronavirus cases rose from 164 to 193, making it the third consecutive week of increases. Of the 193 people who tested positive, seven are staff members. The number of people in quarantine also increased this week from 508 to 586.
Decades of under-investment in our crumbling infrastructure has taken a toll on every state including Maryland, Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-Timonium, said in a statement. This bill is an opportunity to literally build back from the COVID-19 crisis better than ever. Funding for Marylands roads, bridges, waterways and broadband will not only create good-paying jobs, but will keep products and people on the move.
Shortly after returning to home port, I received orders to report to the Pentagon for my first shore duty assignment as an officer. Before even reporting I was told to get my civilian wardrobe in order because we wouldnt be wearing our uniforms very often  perhaps one day every couple of weeks. I was terribly confused because I thought you were supposed to be proud of being in the military and wearing your uniform. It was just another example of what being in the military was like then and living with the after effects of Vietnam.
The upcoming term is a chance for Democratic council members to make good on promises made during the last budget cycle, he said, including a citywide survey on what services residents care most about and funding a task force to explore merging some services with the county. If they dont follow through on those promises, voters could punish them for it in four years, Hammond said.
Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, will discuss Kabul-Islamabad relations, the economy, transit and as well as refugee issues with the Pakistani side, local media reported.

"Transit and Economic issues will be discussed. Traders' problems and as well (de facto) border crossing problems will be addressed," Tolo News quoted Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid as saying.

Muttaqi has arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday. It is the first visit to Pakistan by an Afghan minister since the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August.

This comes after Pakistan earlier on Tuesday sent a special invitation to Muttaqi to attend the Troika Plus meeting, the Pakistani media reported.

"Special Representatives for Afghanistan from the United States, China, Russia and Pakistan will be meeting on Thursday and we hope that Muttaqi will also be able to attend," The News International quoted an official.

The meeting is scheduled in Islamabad for November 11.

"Troika Plus at SRs (special representatives level) will meet with Muttaqi," the Pakistani official said.

The dialogue is taking place at a time when the Taliban is seeking international recognition. However, the international community is not in hurry to give legitimacy to the Taliban interim government unless they fulfil their promises.

"Troika Plus has become an important forum for engagement with Afghan authorities. It will express support for an inclusive government, discuss ways to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as well as the protection of human rights, particularly women's rights," the official said.

This is the first full-fledged meeting of the Troika Plus after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

(ANI)

Also Read: UN Security Council reiterates concern over Myanmar situation, call for military restraint
The opposition in the senate in Pakistan has called into question Imran Khan government's talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban, reported local media.

Mian Raza Rabbani, former Senate Chairman and Pakistan People's Party's stalwart, underlined that it was the mandate of the Parliament to decide on negotiations with a banned outfit.

Stressing that it would be better to lock the parliament if is to be treated this way, the PPP Senator emphasised that all the decisions on national security are neither being taken from the platform of parliament nor is the Senate being taken into confidence.

Pakistan Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhary had earlier said that the government has reached the deal with the TTP and a ceasefire was agreed upon.

TTP has been active in several parts of Pakistan since 2007 and is responsible for carrying out several attacks and blasts in the country.

(ANI)

Also Read: Japan raises concerns with Beijing over Chinese ships repeated entry into its waters
I am inspired this week by an assignment my wife is doing for a Law in Education class. Her assignment was to write about religion in school and particularly release time for religious classes. It is an interesting assignment for her because, unlike most of her class, she grew up in a state 
Native American Heritage Month Statement 2021: In November, National Native American Heritage Month raises awareness about our history, our present-day struggles and our hope for the future
But I have not walked in the shoes of Adams or Jaslyns family and so many others who are facing a very different reality, he said. Not taking the time to think about this from their viewpoint was wrong, and lacked the empathy and compassion I feel for these families.
Testing requirements in schools and workplaces have led to a substantial increase in the number of people being checked for COVID-19 in recent months. But the rise in cases has been accompanied by increases in the coronavirus positivity rate, which suggests the increase isnt just a function of more people being screened for the virus. The statewide case positivity  the share of new cases as a percentage of total test  reached a seven-day average of 2.5% for the week ending Tuesday after dropping below 2% late last month.
I too was subjected to a lot of nastiness coming home after my service was completed. The day I got home and changed my clothes was the last day I ever talked about being in the service. I moved away from my neighborhood and never told a soul that I had been in the military.
Thousands of migrants and refugees have flocked to Belarus border with Poland, hoping to get to Western Europe. Many of them are now stranded at the frontier, setting up makeshift camps as Polish security forces watch them from behind a razor-wire fence and try to prevent them from entering the country. The European Union has accused the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, of aiding illegal border crossings in retaliation for EU sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging migration to Europe.
Palmer, who has a handsome salesmans charm and is the more gregarious of the two, said he wasnt the type to be wowed by a persons house  but Ecclestones was spectacular. It was also immaculate. There was never a leaf on the ground, he said. He soon learned that keeping it that way was a complex, expensive operation.
The financial straits that many of these south suburban municipalities find themselves in due to structural disadvantages and the COVID-19 pandemic mean that they are simply not in a fiscal place to take on their water issues alone, Rush wrote. The lurking threats to these towns water systems must be addressed  and I call on the state and federal governments to step in to assist these municipalities.
Unfortunately, my disappointment with the inability of this departments top leadership to even feign interest in pursuing reform in a meaningful manner has made it impossible for me to remain involved, Williams wrote in the email, obtained by the Tribune via a public records request. Even more unfortunate is that my experience is far from unique. Many well-meaning and talented civilians have signed up to help improve the nations (second largest) police department, only to find themselves steadily thwarted by its perverse incentive structures until they inevitably depart due to demoralization.
The inspection was construction-specific to examine the renovations, and was requested by 33 Realty, said Weber. According to a letter sent Oct. 27 to the apartment buildings owner by Oak Parks Chief Building Official Steve Cutaia, when a village inspector was looking at the renovations they noticed the floors were sloping about 3 to 4 inches. There were also cracked concrete floors, according to the letter.
The worker handed over their cellphone after one of the assailants pulled a gun and demanded the workers property and the two got back into the SUV, which fled east after the attack, the alert said.
The doctor later apologized to the court for his behavior, records show. In a court filing in September, his lawyer said that while he certainly would have known he couldnt carry a gun into hearing in an actual courtroom, it is another matter to presume that someone knows that doing so in their own home could lead to criminal contempt charges.
It will be up to the jury to decide whether Rittenhouse believed his life was in danger that night and, if so, whether that belief was reasonable. However, he made several statements to the jury that were easily verifiable and spoke to his credibility, given what prosecutors suggest is a penchant for aggrandizing himself and his abilities.
The primary purpose of Veterans Day is to honor those who have served in the U.S. armed forces. Most, like a former Chicagoan named Red Madsen, have come home from wars to lead ordinary lives. Not that their lives are the same as they would have been if they hadnt seen the bloodshed, the shattered lives, the lonely deaths. Many carry to the grave more unspoken memories than they would like. Those memories help shape, often profoundly, who they are and what they believe.
Nightly prayer helped Dr. Aziz Ansari, associate chief medical officer and professor of medicine at Loyola Medical Center, get through the fear of the beginning of the pandemic. He leaned on his Muslim faith, which taught him God will not put a burden on someone that they cannot handle. What did that look like during a pandemic? To him, as a leader, it meant not asking staffers to do anything he would not also be willing to do. And it meant wrestling with fear as he sought to work beyond his own mortality toward servitude to others.
Griffin, speaking at the DealBook Online Summit hosted by The New York Times, sounded perturbed that Pritzkers camp called him a liar last month after he criticized Pritzker over the issue of rising crime in Chicago and said he was considering moving his investment firm out of Chicago during an event at the Economic Club.
According to the Mayo Clinic website, uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. Uterine fibroids arent associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer, according to the website.
Such context is helpful for understanding the dynamic in Calumet City. One may be tempted to think government is like the private sector, where new bosses can push workers out the door and bring in their own people. But government does not operate like an episode of The Apprentice.
Yates, a 23-year-old wife and mother who was a registered nurse, was struck by a bullet on Oct. 17 while inside her home in the 2800 block of Enoch Avenue. She was reportedly reading a Bible story to her 7-month-old daughter when she was hit by gunfire from outside the house.
On November 10, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hosted the Virtual COVID-19 Ministerial joined by multiple foreign ministers and leaders from international organizations, discussing issues such as equity of vaccine distribution, global health security, etc. Ambassador Qin Gang, as Representative of State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi, attended the meeting and delivered remarks.

Ambassador Qin Gang pointed out, President Xi Jinping has said on many occasions that vaccines should be made a global public good. He has proposed a Global Vaccine Cooperation Action Initiative, and called for fair distribution of vaccines globally, equal treatment of different vaccines, and mutual recognition of vaccines in accordance with the WHOs Emergency Use Listing.

To date, China has provided over 1.7 billion doses of finished and bulk vaccines to over 100 countries, and will provide a total of two billion doses within this year. We have supplied over 70 million doses of vaccines and donated US$100 million to COVAX. Vaccine supply should be maximized through a combination of donation, commercial purchases, joint production and other means.

Ambassador Qin Gang stressed, China firmly supports developing countries in fighting the pandemic, and has provided them with a large number of medical supplies. Over 99% of vaccines we have provided for the world have been shipped to other developing countries. President Xi announced in September that China would donate 100 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries by the end of this year. In addition, China has launched an Initiative for Belt and Road Partnership on COVID-19 Vaccines Cooperation with 30 countries, and is conducting joint vaccine production with 19 developing countries.

Ambassador Qin Gang said, Solidarity and cooperation is the most powerful weapon to defeat COVID-19. Countries must take a scientific attitude, and oppose stigmatization and politicization. Major countries need to earnestly shoulder their responsibilities in taking the lead in providing vaccines to low and mid-income countries quickly and help them build up production of vaccines.
A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon.

The plane carrying these treasures from Paris landed around 3:15 p.m. local time at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, the economic capital of the West African country.

A mixed feeling of joy and anxiety could be read on the faces of representatives of the authorities present on the scene to welcome the returned treasures.

"We are living a very important moment in our history. It is a happy and emotional day for all Beninese," said the Beninese Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Jean Michel Abimbola.

On Wednesday, many Beninese come to the airport to celebrate the return of their ancestral artworks, with songs and traditional dances.

"Welcome to your homeland after a long stay of approximately 130 years in the land of colonists. We are proud to welcome you," they sang.

According to a government press release recently published in Cotonou, on August 26, 2016, Benin officially brought before France a request for the return of royal treasures located in several museums and in private collections in France.

The agreement of handover of these treasures was signed Tuesday in Paris.
The Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia's participation at a recent career fair exposed young Namibians to the Chinese language and career opportunities.

26-year-old Hamunyela, a student in the capital city of Windhoek, not only learned more about what the Confucius Institute offers but also other diverse opportunities.

"I gained more insight about the Confucius Institute's services as well as subsequent benefits of studying the Chinese language such as scholarships for further studies in China. It was informative and exciting," he said on Tuesday.

Like Hamunyela, many visitors wanted to know more about the application processes, requirements to study in China, and whether the Chinese language was a prerequisite.

Meanwhile, many learners studying Chinese in middle school expressed their desire to study Chinese at university.

Liu Dianbo, the director of the Confucius Institute, said that the institute gave information to visitors, including how to select Chinese courses once they enter university, curriculum provision, and explained to students on ways of applying for the Chinese government scholarship programs.

"Participating in the career fair can let more high school students learn more about the institute and enable them with more choices when deciding what kind of languages they want to study at university," he said.

Ji Qingfen, a lecturer with the institute, assisted the students and visitors at the career fair. Ji sees her participation in the career fair as an integral part of promoting the work of the institute and nurturing relations between the Chinese people and the Namibian people.

"It is our responsibility to participate in the affair because we are part of University of Namibia staff and it is also a good opportunity for us to introduce our institute, to let the students know what courses we can provide. For me, the communication with the students and the feeling of offering help are the parts I liked most," she said.

In the interim, the career fair has since inspired Hamunyela to work hard and to study the Chinese language.

"Now that I know what opportunities are available, I hope to maximise on them, especially mastering the Chinese language to diversify my skills and chances of employment in the future," Hamunyela said.

The career fair is held by the University of Namibia annually.
With her new directorial effort Love After Love, Ann Hui - the first female director to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Venice International Film Festival - finds herself at the center of controversy.

The film, adapted from writer Eileen Chang's first published short story Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier, was released across the Chinese mainland on Oct 22.

Despite gathering a stellar crew, including cinematographer Christopher Doyle, a winner of many Hong Kong Film Awards, and Oscar-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, the film has received mixed reviews with a majority of the criticism revolving around the casting.

Set in Hong Kong in the late 1930s, the film recounts the tale of actress Ma Sichun's protagonist. A high school student from Shanghai, she visits her widowed aunt-a tycoon's wealthy concubine-to ask her to support her education. Seduced by the luxurious lifestyle, she falls for a playboy, portrayed by Eddie Peng, before surrendering herself to a life of actual, and moral, corruption.

The original story depicts Ma's character as a slender woman with a "flat and beautiful face "whose eyes are long and lovable, and Peng's role as a "bloodless-skinned mixed-race philanderer, whose lips are as pale as those of a plaster statue". However, disgruntled fans of the book feel that the appearance and temperament of both Ma and Peng in the film do not match their literary depictions.

Describing herself as a "nonsensitive" person, Hui says that she hadn't predicted that the casting controversy, which started as early as mid-2019 when the cast was announced, would ferment to such an extent.

"I have never wanted to tell audiences how to watch a film, but I still feel a bit surprised to read these comments," says Hui, wearing her trademark black-rimmed glasses, during an interview with China Daily.

"I think Eddie Peng is quite similar to George, his character. According to my impression shaped from reading Chang's original tale, George is not weak and sort of sensitive. As Peng grew up overseas, his gesture and personality fit my imagination of the character," explains Hui.

"I chose Ma because I was very impressed with her 2016 film, Soul Mate. She perfectly renders how a young woman crazily falls in love. Also, Ma's appearance-if admired from a certain angle-reminds me of some foreign movie stars of the 1940s, such as Ingrid Bergman," adds the director.

Love After Love marks Hui's third time directing a film adapted from Chang's novels, after Love in a Fallen City (1984) and Eighteen Springs (1997).

With an in-depth examination of the complex nature of humanity, especially deeply reflecting the inner struggle of urban women, Chang's novels have accumulated a huge fan base, but her works are also widely regarded as being difficult for cinematic adaptation.

Clearly realizing the difficulty to adapt Chang's work, Hui initially decided to just serve as the executive producer of Love After Love, but she was convinced to helm the project by Blue Bird Film, a Shanghai-based studio founded by Hsia Meng, an actress revered by Hui. A legend in Hong Kong cinema, Hsia had wished to shoot the film before she passed away in 2016.

Hui was already fond of the short story, and had been since she was young. When Hui was working for Radio Television Hong Kong in 1978, she stumbled on Chang's The First Brazier, which was published in a collection of short tales and novellas.

Recalling her obsession with the story, Hui says she was mostly fascinated about the vivid depiction of the iconic scenery of Hong Kong, from the billionaire residences on Victoria Peak to the University of Hong Kong.

"But the romances from Chang's pen are, for the most part, extremely realistic and a bit brutal, giving most of her stories a sense of tragedy," comments Hui.

For example, Hui says, the 1984 movie Love in a Fallen City's protagonist, a woman suffering prejudice after filing a divorce, coldly calculates the benefits of a romance with her new partner.

"In Love After Love, the dissecting of human nature is more profound. The protagonist falls for an unworthy man and pays a high price for that," says Hui.

With her own understanding of the story, Hui started the preparation in 2017, inviting veteran writer Wang Anyi to pen the script in 2018 before selecting four cities, Xiamen in Fujian province, Changzhou in Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Hong Kong, as locations for the filming, which began in May 2019 and concluded the following August.

After wrapping up the film's voice-over work between January and September last year, Hui took the film to attend the 77th Venice International Film Festival, where she received the highest honor in her life.

Recalling that many in the industry were feeling down during that period because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hui says she was excited to get the award, deeming it as an auspicious sign. "I didn't expect to receive such a high honor. I will continue my work," she says.

With a directorial career spanning more than 40 years, Hui has made a string of critically acclaimed features, such as Summer Snow (1995) and A Simple Life (2012), but mixed reviews about her latest directorial effort has given her second thoughts.

Noting that she has yet to catch up with the digital world, exemplified by the fact that she rarely uses ride hailing apps and prefers to shop in physical stores, Hui says the recent online controversy will propel her to be more cautious and considerate to the "requirements" of the audience during a project's early phase.

In spite of the buzz on the internet, the film has currently grossed over 60 million yuan ($9.39 million), a pretty decent market performance for an artistic feature.

Now engaged in producing a short film tailored for a streaming site, Hui says she has also tried to maintain an optimistic and positive mood.

"The good thing about getting older is that you don't have too many things to be concerned about," says Hui, wearing a big smile.
China's new yuan-denominated loans totaled 826.2 billion yuan (about 129.2 billion U.S. dollars) last month, up 136.4 billion yuan from the same period last year, central bank data showed Wednesday.



The M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.7 percent year on year to 233.62 trillion yuan at the end of October, according to the People's Bank of China.

The growth rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the figure seen at the end of September, and was 1.8 percentage points lower than that during the same period last year.

The M1, which covers cash in circulation plus demand deposits, stood at 62.61 trillion yuan at the end of October, up 2.8 percent year on year.

The M0, the amount of cash in circulation, increased by 6.2 percent from a year ago to 8.61 trillion yuan at the end of last month.

In October, the central bank withdrew a total of 78.1 billion yuan of net cash from the market.

Newly added social financing, a measurement of funds that individuals and non-financial firms receive from the financial system, came in at 1.59 trillion yuan during the period, up 197 billion yuan from the same period last year.

Wednesday's data also showed that China's new yuan deposits in October reached 764.9 billion yuan, up 1.16 trillion yuan from a year earlier. In October last year, the country saw a decline of 397.1 billion yuan in new yuan deposits.

By the end of last month, total outstanding yuan deposits stood at 229.95 trillion yuan, up 9.1 percent year on year.

In October, RMB settlements for cross-border trade amounted to 617.5 billion yuan.

China's central bank has pledged to make its prudent monetary policy more targeted and flexible to better adapt to the needs of high-quality development, and place more focus on the efficiency of financial services to support the real economy.
During the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), global business leaders told China.org.cn about their excitement over unprecedented opportunities in China thanks to the country's commitment to further opening-up.

20 years in WTO and beyond

This year marks two decades since China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). For Leon Wang, executive vice president of AstraZeneca, "the two decades since then have been a period of deep integration, shared opportunity and joint growth between China and the rest of the world."

With regards to China actively building a "dual-circulation" development pattern, he believes that "this has also provided unprecedented opportunities for foreign enterprises to seek development in China."

Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L'Oreal, said China is a very competitive market, while for them it is also a long success story. " China's participation in the WTO  I think it's a strong sign of the opening-up and we've seen many positive evolution, stable context, tax reductions and more importantly, a real desire to foster innovation."

Jean-Christophe Pointeau, president of Pfizer China, said China is one of the largest and most important pharmaceutical markets in the world, stating: "Economic transformation has generated a large number of middle class; their demands for medicine and healthcare are increasing."

He noted that as an open, innovative and cooperative platform, CIIE has become an important window on economic development in China, a booster for promoting medical innovations and a solid measure for accelerating the accessibility of breakthrough products.

Positive outlook amid US-China tension

Ben Duncan, the president of North Asia and CEO of Greater China, Advisory Services, CBRE, noted that there has certainly been an uptick in international tensions, such as between the United States and China. However, he added, "I don't think it has changed the way we see China or the market or the opportunity."

He is also aware that there has been much speculation about the impact of these increased tensions on international companies expanding and growing in China. "I think I can say unequivocally in the clients that we serve, on balance, the vast majority plan to invest more, to expand more in China than those that are planning to withdraw," he said.

More to join China feast

A total of 58 countries and three international organizations participated in the Comprehensive Country Exhibition this year, with 15 countries making their debut at this online exhibition. Among them, the Republic of the Congo, Kiribati, Mauritius, Solomon Islands and Palestine are participating in CIIE for the first time. There is also a Belt and Road section at this year's expo.



The Trade and Investment Matchmaking Conference, held during the 4th CIIE, in Shanghai. [Photo by Zhang Rui/China.org.cn]

Sun Chenghai, deputy director-general of the CIIE Bureau, believes that CIIE is a platform for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

China has become Swarovski's largest market in the world after over 30 years of promoting the brand in the country, said Tony Wei, managing director of Swarovski's Crystal Business in Greater China.

The 126-year-old Austrian fashion brand, which has witnessed increasingly enhanced exchanges and cooperation between China and Austria, plans to increase strategic investment in China over the coming years, and is optimistic about the Chinese government's continued opening-up.

Paul Huang, senior vice president of the Lego Group and general manager of Lego China, expressed his appreciation that the open, friendly business environment "benefits foreign companies such as ours." He pointed out that China's 14th Five-Year Plan announced earlier this year is an example of this, and a strong commitment from the government to further accelerate opening up. "China is an important strategic growth market for us," he said. "We will continue to invest in China and Chinese society."
You are here: China

In a special operation launched earlier this year, Chinese police have cracked more than 1,600 cases in which criminal elements used the internet for the manufacture and sale of counterfeit goods.

The police eliminated a number of criminal groups who defrauded online shoppers into purchasing counterfeit products on livestreaming and cross-border e-commerce platforms, said the Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday.

The Chinese police also cautioned online shoppers against fraudulent sales during this year's Single's Day shopping spree.

The operation code-named "Kunlun 2021" was launched in April and targets cases involving food and drug safety violations, environment-related crimes, intellectual property rights infringements and counterfeit products.
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The British government said it would recognize COVID-19 vaccines on the World Health Organization's Emergency Use Listing later this month, adding China's Sinovac and Sinopharm Beijing vaccines to the country's approved list of vaccines for inbound travelers.

The change, which will come into force from Nov. 22, means travelers who have received these two jabs will be considered fully vaccinated in Britain.

India's Covaxin is also included in Britain's updated list of approved vaccines.

Passengers arriving in Britain after having been fully vaccinated and having received their vaccine certificate from one of more than 135 approved countries and territories are no longer required to take a pre-departure test, a day eight test or self-isolate upon arrival.

Those who have proof of vaccination from a country or territory that is not on the list, or with a vaccine that is not listed, must follow the rules for people who do not qualify as fully vaccinated.

The approved vaccines list currently includes Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca (including Covishield), Moderna and Janssen (J&J).

Additionally, the British government has said that, from Nov. 22, all under-18s travelling to England will be treated as fully vaccinated at the border and will be exempt from self-isolation requirements on arrival, day eight testing and pre-departure testing.

They will only be required to take a post-arrival test and a confirmatory free PCR test if they test positive.

The British Department for Transport said on Monday the travel rules are being further simplified as all people under the age of 18 will be treated as fully vaccinated at the border and will be able to enter England without self-isolating on arrival.

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the announcement marks the next step in the restart of international travel.

More than 87 percent of people aged 12 and over in the country have had their first dose of vaccine and more than 79 percent have received both doses, the latest figures indicated. At the same time, more than 17 percent have received booster jabs, or the third doses of a coronavirus vaccine.
You are here: World

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Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the migrant crisis currently developing at the European Union (EU)-Belarus border with Germany's outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel in a telephone call Wednesday.

The two leaders discussed at length the refugee crisis on the Belarusian border with EU countries and expressed concern over its humanitarian consequences, the Kremlin said.

Putin proposed to establish a dialogue between representatives of the EU member states and Minsk to address current problems.

Putin and Merkel agreed to continue discussing this topic, it added.
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The caretaker government of Afghanistan on Wednesday downplayed the security threat posed by the hardliner Islamic State (IS), or Daesh outfit, saying security forces had arrested 600 militants affiliated with the armed group over the past three months.

"The security forces of the Islamic Emirate have destroyed 21 bases of the Daesh group in different provinces including Kabul, Nangarhar and Herat and also captured about 600 militants over the past three months," spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters at a press briefing.

Downplaying the threat posed by the Islamic State, Mujahid said the group doesn't enjoy support from Afghans and its activities are under control.

The spokesman also assured that the crackdown on the armed group would continue. "Afghanistan's soil won't be used against any country."

The remarks come as the United States and its allies are concerned over alleged presence of al-Qaida, the Islamic State and like-minded outfits in Afghanistan.

Responding to a question, Mujahid said that Afghanistan attaches great importance to developing ties with its neighbors and seeks to boost trade and economic cooperation with them.

Mujahid also said that acting Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi was paying a visit to Islamabad to discuss with Pakistani officials the matters concerning mutual interests including trade and economic cooperation.

Also speaking at the briefing, Khalil Hamraz, head of public relations of the General Directorate of Intelligence, or the country's counter-intelligence agency, said that the agency would continue to crack down on the IS operatives and criminals including kidnappers, thieves and all those who violate law and order.
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Wireless Security Cameras market is growing at a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period. Increase of thefts and growing infrastructural developments are some of the driving factors for the market growth. However, higher deployment cost and maintenance are hindering the market growth.

A security camera is used to provide protection for private as well as commercial and industrial places. Wireless Security camera, is a type of digital video camera commonly employed for surveillance, and which, unlike analog closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, can send and receive data via a computer network and the Internet. The wireless security cameras are most widely used owing to the flexibility in installation.

Based on Application, Home Use segment refers to crimes prevention such as burglaries and kidnapping. The wireless cameras are increasingly used by households for indoor surveillance for the kids, grandparents and other family members as the data recorded using the cameras are transferred to the mobile phone applications. By geography, Asia Pacific is going to have a lucrative growth during the forecast period owing to increasing focus on the various application industries on implementing the security on the business premises as well as employee safety program.

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Some of the key players profiled in the Wireless Security Cameras Market include Amcrest, Lorex Technology, Zmodo, GW Security, Amcrest, Sony, Bosch, Panasonic, Honeywell, Tianjin Yaan Technology, Uniview, LG, Canon, Logitech, Infinova (Swann).

Views Covered:

 60 Viewing Angle

 72 Viewing Angle

 90 Viewing Angle

 100 Viewing Angle

 Other Views

Uses Covered:

 Outdoor

 Indoor

Types Covered:

 Mini Dome Security Camera

 Fixed Security Camera

 Pan-tilt-Zoom Security Camera

 Motion Direction Security Camera

 Night Vision Security Camera

 Other Types

Resolutions Covered:

 UHD

 Full HD

 HD

 Non HD

Applications Covered:

 Commercial Use

 Home Use

 Detached Buildings

 Long-Distance Outdoor Monitoring

 Border Security

 City Infrastructure

 Residential

 Institutional

 Industrial

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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Report Description

A recent market intelligence report that is published by Data Insights Partner on the global POP Display Market makes an offering of in-depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in the regional and international Global POP Display market. The research also emphasizes on the impact of restraints, drivers, and macro indicators on the regional and global POP Display Market over the short as well as long period of time. A detailed presentation of forecast, trends, and dollar values of global POP Display Market is offered. In accordance with the report, the global POP Display Market is projected to expand with healthy CAGR over the period of forecast.

Market Insight, Drivers, Restraints& Opportunity of the Market:

POP also referred to as At Retail Marketing and Point Of Sale (POS), is a wonderful marketing / promotional tool that increases brand visibility, product creditability eventually leading to product sales. It increases the merchandising effectiveness of the brand in cases when retail stores are out of space. The major raw-material used in manufacturing of POP display are corrugated board owing to its cost-effectiveness. Besides metal, plastic, glass, etc. are also used as per the promotional requirement.

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The global POP display market is correlated to the growth in the organized retail sector. Apart from this, rise in the middle-class population coupled with increasing per capita disposable income are expected to fuel the demand for organized retail during the forecast period. Generally, manufacturers of FMCG brands are focused on enhancing their brand presence and visibility. POP displays play a major role in the launch of new products in the market and enhance their brand visibility. Furthermore, steady growth of FMCG companies is estimated to augment the POP display market.

Increasing raw material cost would likely to restrain the growth of the global POP Display market in future. However, strategic alliance among key players and technological advancement would provide the global POP Display market an opportunity to grow during the forecast period.

Segment Covered:

This market intelligence report on the Global POP Display Market encompasses market segments based on product type, material and country.

In terms of product type, the Global POP Display Market is classified into:

Counter Display

Floor Display

Gravity Feed Display

Pallet Display

o Full Pallet Display

o Half Pallet Display

o Quarter Pallet Display

Side Kick Display

Dump Bin Displays

Clip Strip Displays

Other POP Displays

In terms of material, the Global POP Display Market is classified into:

Corrugated Board

Foam Board

Plastic Sheet

Glass

Metal

In terms of sales channel, the Global POP Display Market is classified into:

Hyper Market

Supermarket

Departmental store

Specialty Store

Convenience Store

Others

In terms of application, the Global POP Display Market is classified into:

Food & Beverages

Cosmetics & Personal Care

Pharmaceuticals

Printing & Stationary

Electronics

Automotive

Others

By country/region, the Global POP Display Market has been divided into:

North America (the U.S., Canada)

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries)

Europe (Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Russia, and other countries)

Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand and other countries)

Middle East and Africa (GCC, South Africa, Israel and Other countries)

Get Request for Table of Contents: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/pop-display-market/653#content

Profiling of Market Players:

This business intelligence report offers profiling of reputed companies that are operating in the market. Companies such as:

International Paper Company

DS Smith Plc.

Smurfit Kappa Group PLC

Sonoco Products Company

Georgia-Pacific LLC

WestRock Company

Pratt Industries Inc.

Creative Displays Now

Other companies are profiled into detail so as to offer a glimpse of the market leaders. Moreover, parameters such as Global POP Display related investment & spending and developments by major players of the market are tracked in this global report.

Report Highlights:

In-depth analysis of the micro and macro indicators, market trends, and forecasts of demand is offered by this business intelligence report. Furthermore, the report offers a vivid picture of the factors that are steering and restraining the growth of this market across all geographical segments. In addition to that, Growth Matrix analysis is also provided in the report so as to share insight of the investment areas that new or existing market players can take into consideration. Various analytical tools such as DRO analysis, Porter's five forces analysis has been used in this report to present a clear picture of the market. The study focuses on the present market trends and provides market forecast from the year 2020-2028. Emerging trends that would shape the market demand in the years to come have been highlighted in this report. A competitive analysis in each of the geographical segments gives an insight into market share of the global players.

Salient Features:

 This study offers comprehensive yet detailed analysis of the Global POP Display market, size of the market (US$ Mn), and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the period of forecast: 2020-2028, taking into account 2019 as the base year

 It explains upcoming revenue opportunities across various market segments and attractive matrix of investment proposition for the said market

 This market intelligence report also offers pivotal insights about various market opportunities, restraints, drivers, launch of new products, competitive market strategies of leading market players, emerging market trends, and regional outlook

 Profiling of key market players in the world Global POP Display Market is done by taking into account various parameters such as company strategies, distribution strategies, product portfolio, financial performance, key developments, geographical presence, and company overview

 The data of this report would allow management authorities and marketers of companies alike to take decision when it comes to launch of products, government initiatives, marketing tactics and expansion, and technical up gradation

 The world market for Global POP Display caters to the needs of various stakeholders pertaining to this industry, namely suppliers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors for Global POP Display market. The research also caters to the rising needs of consulting and research firms, financial analysts, and new market entrants

 Research methodologies that have been adopted for the purpose of this study have been clearly elaborated so as to facilitate better understanding of the reports

 Reports have been made based on the guidelines as mandated by General Data Protection Regulation

 Ample number of examples and case studies have been taken into consideration before coming to a conclusion

Reasons to buy:

v Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the Global POP Display market

v Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the Global POP Display market

v Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data

v Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential

v Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events

v Identify key partners and business development avenues

v Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects

v Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants

Full View of Report Description: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/pop-display-market/653
Report Description

A recent market intelligence report that is published by Data Insights Partner on the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market makes an offering of in-depth analysis of segments and sub-segments in the regional and international Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market. The research also emphasizes on the impact of restraints, drivers, and macro indicators on the regional and global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market over the short as well as long period of time. A detailed presentation of forecast, trends, and dollar values of global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is offered. In accordance with the report, the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 26% over the period of forecast.

Market Insight, Drivers, Restraints& Opportunity of the Market:

A workflow management system identifies, performs, and operates workflow with a software program. It operates on workflow engines, which can determine the process definition and interact with workflow participants. It helps in automating business operations and processes.

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One of the major advantages of Workflow Automation Software is that it can be used for various applications across industry verticals. With the rising need to streamline complex processes in addition to technological penetration will boost the demand of this market in years to come. With the adoption of Enterprise Workflow Automation systems, the business processes are enhanced across all industry verticals in terms of lesser lead time, reduced errors, and microscopic understandings of process execution. It helps in better utilization of resources and cost efficiency and increased access to information which are major drivers for the growth of Enterprise Workflow Automation system market in the forecast period. With more productivity and considerable reduction in errors, many large organizations are availing the services of Enterprise Workflow Automation Software. This software offers complete transparency of all actions across teams and organization, as well as improving customer satisfaction and curtailing the time required for products and/or services to reach the market. However, the major factor that may restrain the growth of Enterprise Workflow Automation System market is the high cost for the procurement of software, network development and management as implementation of such a software requires strong IT infrastructure and support. Due to less budget of organizations and lack of adequate IT infrastructure and technical know-how, many companies are less likely to adopt the Enterprise Workflow Automation System. However, with businesses growing with a clear understanding of the advantages and serviceability of this software, would help create big opportunity for the adoption of workflow management software globally in the forecast period.

With growing penetration of process management and automation solutions in addition to increase in adoption of cloud technology across the United States, the region of North America dominated the market and is expected to continue the trend throughout the forecast period. Many companies are expanding their operations with acquisitions, mergers and partnership and introduction of new solutions. For instance, Top Imaging System Ltd, in 2018, announced a global reseller agreement with Xerox, wherein Top Imaging Systems content processing solutions will be integrated with the workflow automation suite of Xerox. As the competition is increasing, companies are focusing on enhancing operation efficiency and providing better consumer experience management.

Segment Covered:

This market intelligence report on the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market encompasses market segments based on component, software, service, deployment, vertical, and country/regions.

In terms of Component Outlook, the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is segregated into

Software

Services

By Software Outlook, the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is also classified into,

Production Workflow Systems

Messaging-Based Workflow Systems

Web-Based Workflow Systems

Suite-Based Workflow System

Others

By Service Outlook, the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is also classified into,

IT Consulting

Integration and Implementation

Training & Development

By Deployment Outlook, the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is also classified into,

Cloud

On-Premise

By Vertical, the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is also classified into,

BFSI

Public Sector

Healthcare

Retail

Energy & Utilities

IT & Telecom

Transportation

Travel & Hospitality

Education

Others

By country/region, the global Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market has been divided into

North America (the U.S., Canada),

Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and other countries),

Europe (Germany, France, the U.K., Spain, Italy, Russia, and other countries),

Asia Pacific (India, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand and other countries),

Middle East and Africa (GCC, South Africa, Israel and Other countries).

Get Request for Table of Contents: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/enterprise-workflow-automation-software-market/645#content

Profiling of Market Players:

This business intelligence report offers profiling of reputed companies that are operating in the market. Companies such as

Appian

Bizagi

IBM Corporation

Newgen Software Technologies Limited

Nintex Global Limited

Oracle Corporation

Pegasystems Inc.

Software AG

SourceCode Technology Holdings Inc.

Xerox Corporation and many more

Other players have been profiled into detail so as to offer a glimpse of the market leaders. Moreover, parameters such as Enterprise Workflow Automation Software related investment & spending and developments by major players of the market are tracked in this global report.

Report Highlights:

In-depth analysis of the micro and macro indicators, market trends, and forecasts of demand is offered by this business intelligence report. Furthermore, the report offers a vivid picture of the factors that are steering and restraining the growth of this market across all geographical segments. In addition to that, Growth Matrix analysis is also provided in the report so as to share insight of the investment areas that new or existing market players can take into consideration. Various analytical tools such as DRO analysis, Porter's five forces analysis has been used in this report to present a clear picture of the market. The study focuses on the present market trends and provides market forecast from the year 2020-2028. Emerging trends that would shape the market demand in the years to come have been highlighted in this report. A competitive analysis in each of the geographical segments gives an insight into market share of the global players.

Salient Features:

 This study offers comprehensive yet detailed analysis of the Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market, size of the market (US$ Mn), and Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR (%)) for the period of forecast: 2020  2028, taking into account 2019 as the base year

 It explains upcoming revenue opportunities across various market segments and attractive matrix of investment proposition for the said market

 This market intelligence report also offers pivotal insights about various market opportunities, restraints, drivers, launch of new products, competitive market strategies of leading market players, emerging market trends, and regional outlook

 Profiling of key market players in the world Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market is done by taking into account various parameters such as company strategies, distribution strategies, product portfolio, financial performance, key developments, geographical presence, and company overview

 Leading market players covered this report comprise names such as Appian, Bizagi, IBM Corporation, Newgen Software Technologies Limited, Nintex Global Limited, Oracle Corporation, Pegasystems Inc., Software AG, SourceCode Technology Holdings Inc., Xerox Corporation and many more

 The data of this report would allow management authorities and marketers of companies alike to take informed decision when it comes to launch of products, government initiatives, marketing tactics and expansion, and technical up gradation

 The world market for Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market caters to the needs of various stakeholders pertaining to this industry, namely suppliers, manufacturers, investors, and distributors for Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market. The research also caters to the rising needs of consulting and research firms, financial analysts, and new market entrants

 Research methodologies that have been adopted for the purpose of this study have been clearly elaborated so as to facilitate better understanding of the reports

 Reports have been made based on the guidelines as mandated by General Data Protection Regulation

 Ample number of examples and case studies have been taken into consideration before coming to a conclusion

Reasons to buy:

v Identify opportunities and plan strategies by having a strong understanding of the investment opportunities in the Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market

v Identification of key factors driving investment opportunities in the Enterprise Workflow Automation Software Market

v Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data

v Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industrys growth potential

v Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events

v Identify key partners and business development avenues

v Respond to your competitors business structure, strategy and prospects

v Identify key strengths and weaknesses of important market participants

Full View of Report Description: https://datainsightspartner.com/report/enterprise-workflow-automation-software-market/645
According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Enterprise Cyber Security Market is accounted for $3.35 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $17.65 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 20.3% during the forecast period. Some of the key factors influencing the market growth include increasing adoption of cloud-based services and an increase in the frequency and sophistication of cyber threats. However, the high cost of implementation is restraining the market growth.

Cyber Security is the body of technologies, processes and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs and data from major cyber threats, such as cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, and cyber espionage. In their most disruptive form, cyber threats take aim at secret, political, military, or infrastructural assets of a nation or its people. In a computing context, security includes both Cyber Security and physical security.

Based on the application, BFSI has emerged as a potent sector due to increased cybercrime activities. The BFSI sector is among the backbone of economies and its safety is a matter of high concern. The BFSI industry is an early adopter of cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions due to the highly sensitive financial data. It faces different challenges related to stringent regulatory and security requirements, providing superior service to customers, and others. By Geography, North America is a region of innovative technology adopters and has a large presence of cybersecurity vendors who are contributing to the growth of the market. Especially the United States will play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from the United States might affect the development trend of Enterprise Cyber Security.

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Some of the key players in global Enterprise Cyber Security market are Intel, Cisco Systems, Check Point Software Technologies, Akamai Technologies, IBM, 360 Enterprise Security, Huawei, Westone, Nsfocus, Asiainfo, Venustech, H3C, Topsec, Sangfor, DBAPPSecurity and Symantec Corporation.

Types Covered:

 Security Hardware

 Security Services

 Security Software

 Other Types

Applications Covered:

 Enterprise

 Government

 Financial

 Education

 Telecom and Manufacturing

 Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)

 Healthcare

 Other Applications

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Corporate E-Learning Market is accounted for $14.23 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $49.87 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 15.0% during the forecast period. Some of the key factors influencing the market growth include the adoption of e-learning in employee training and adoption of microlearning is a growing priority. However, high training costs are hampering the market growth.

Corporate eLearning ensures that employees are kept up to date with developing job requirements and changes in both external and internal organizational/market conditions. Corporate eLearning allows organizations to reduce HR costs associated with onboarding, training, recruitment, retainment, and engagement via automated processes, sophisticated reporting and a decreased need for hiring talent to manage and provide training/continued education.

Based on Deployment, The on-premise segment is constantly enhancing during the forecast period. This deployment method enables the organization to have complete control over all the components of e-learning. Large enterprises that consider training as an integral part of the overall business model usually prefer this deployment type.

By Geography, North America is estimated to have a lucrative growth due to the growing advances in technological infrastructure and increasing investments from major organizations and e-learning vendors in launching innovative solutions and systems for digital learning.

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Some of the key players in global Corporate E-Learning market are Infor, SAP, Adobe, Oracle, 247 Learning, SkillSoft Corporation, Digital Ignite, Adrenna, CERTPOINT Systems, Blatant Media Corporation, GeoMetrix Data Systems Inc., AllenComm, G-Cube, Tata Interactive Systems, CommLab India and City & Guilds Group.

Deployments Covered:

 Cloud-Based

 On-Premise

Technologies Covered:

 Mobile E-Learning

 Learning Content Management System (LCMS)

 Virtual Classrooms

 Web Based

 Podcasts

 Learning Management System (LMS)

 Other Technologies

Training Types Covered:

 Outsourced

 Instructor-Led

 Text based

End Users Covered:

 Consumer Goods Sector

 Energy Sector

 Automotive Industry

 Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI)

 Manufacturing

 Retail

 Services

 Other End Users

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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What our report offers:

 Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

 Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

 Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

 Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

 Strategic analysis: Drivers and Constraints, Product/Technology Analysis, Porters five forces analysis, SWOT analysis etc.

 Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations

 Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends

 Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments

 Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:

All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:

 Company Profiling

o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)

o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)

 Regional Segmentation

o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the clients interest (Note: Depends of feasibility check)

 Competitive Benchmarking

o Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances

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The global terminal sterilization services market size is expected to reach USD 18.97 billion by 2028 according to a new study by Polaris Market Research. The report Terminal Sterilization Services Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By End Use (Hospitals & Clinics, Pharmaceuticals, Others); By Product; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2021  2028 gives a detailed insight into the current market dynamics and provides analysis on future market growth.

The industry is seeing massive growth in recent years due to factors such as an increase in the number of surgeries across the globe and rising cases of Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity for the accelerated growth during the forecast period.

Many services systems include ethylene oxide, moist heat, and irradiation type of sterilizing. Ethylene oxide is the most commonly used low-temperature sterilizing technique as they are well suited for many medical instruments and devices. Terminal sterilizing systems have applications in hospitals, clinical laboratories, and pharmaceutical industries.

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Surgical procedures are increasing every year. It is estimated that more than 330 million surgical procedures are conducted globally every year. The increasing incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic diseases are contributing to the growth of increased surgical procedures. In the US alone, more than 157 million people are living with some form of chronic disease.

New sterilizing systems are arriving in the industry, which is expected to be adopted in the hospitals in the coming years. Companies are also in the process of acquisition to increase the portfolio of products. For instance, In January 2021, Cantel Medical was acquired by Steris for USD 4.6 billion. Cantel has a wide range of disinfectant products in their portfolio, which Steris will now offer.

Industry participants include Getinge Group, Advanced Sterilization Products Services, Inc., Steris Plc, Belimed, Cantel Medical, 3M, Sterigenics International LLC, TSO3, Matachana Group, and Olympus Corporation are some of the key players operating in the global market.

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Polaris Market Research has segmented the terminal sterilization services market report on the basis of product, end-use, and region:

Terminal Sterilization Services, Product Outlook (Revenue  USD Million, 2016  2028)

Ethylene Oxide

Irradiation

Moist Heat Terminal Sterilization

Others

Terminal Sterilization Services, End-use Outlook (Revenue  USD Million, 2016  2028)

Hospitals & clinics

Pharma

Others

Terminal Sterilization Services, Regional Outlook (Revenue  USD Million, 2016  2028)
Veterinary Medicine Market: Information By Animal Type (Domesticated and Companion), Product (Drugs and Vaccines), Route of Administration (Oral, Parental), Distribution Channel (Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Retail Stores, Online Pharmacies) and Region (Americas, Europe , Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa) - Forecast till 2027

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The trend of animal companionship has deep-rooted itself in modern society. Furthermore, the increasing disposable is another factor responsible for aiding Veterinary medicine Market proliferation in the forthcoming years. Other factors responsible for favoring the growth of the Global Animal Health Market expansion are the large-scale prevalence of animal diseases, rise in the population of companion animals, favorable pet insurance policies, rising veterinary expenditure, and increasing veterinary professionals. However, infections transmitted to humans from animals remain an impediment to the Veterinary Medicine Industry proliferation.

Veterinary Medicine Market Segmentation:

By animals, the global veterinary medicine market is segmented into companion and domesticated animals.

By products, the veterinary medicine industry has been segmented into injury medicine, disorder medicine, and diagnosis medicine.

By route of administration, the global veterinary medicine is segmented into parental, oral, and topical.

By end user, the veterinary medicine market has been segmented into research institutions, veterinary hospitals, veterinary clinics, and others.

Veterinary Medicine Market Competitive Dashboard:

Some of the key players profiled in the report are Merck & Co., Inc. (Intervet), Eli Lilly and Company (Elanco/Novartis), Zoetis, Inc. (Pfizer), Bayer Healthcare AG, Nutreco N.V., Sanofi S.A. (Merial Limited), ADM Alliance Nutrition, Ceva Sante Animale, Virbac S.A, Vetoquinol SA, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Koninklijke DSM N.V, Cargill Inc. (Provimi), and Evonik Industries AG.

Industry News:

In October 2018, Singapore based VolitionRx announced that it is moving into veterinary medicine.

In October 2018, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, the U.S., received USD 3.18 Mn for the launch of Vet Up!. The program aims to address rural veterinary shortages.

In October 2018, the European Parliaments Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) passed legislation that causes concerns to the availability of veterinary medicine in Australia.

Veterinary Medicine Market Regional Analysis:

By region, the global veterinary medicine market has been segmented into Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. Americas is expected to hold the largest share of the global market and is likely to retain its position over the next couple of years. The growth of the region is attributable to the presence of major veterinary hospitals, consolidation of key players in the US, favorable animal welfare policies, increasing investments in researches related to veterinary medicine, etc.

Europe has secured the second spot in the global market owing to growth inducive policies by governments, and tax benefits for pet animals. Germany is poised to drive the proliferation of the regional veterinary medicine market over 2023.

Asia Pacific is likely to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth can be ascribed to the increasing private veterinary clinics coupled with rising awareness regarding animal welfare. Additionally, the initiatives undertaken by NGOs and governments for promoting the welfare of the animals are projected to augment the veterinary medicine market in the region. The South East Asian countries such as India, China, and Malaysia are estimated to accrue massive revenues over the assessment period.

The Middle East & Africa is poised to exhibit slow growth owing to poor healthcare development in the majority of the regions. However Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia are forecasted to drive the growth of the veterinary medicine market in the region.

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Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
Anti-Venom Market Research Report: By Type (Polyvalent, Monovalent, Others), by Species (Snake, Others), by Mode of Action (Cytotoxic, Neurotoxic, Haemotoxic, Others), by Products (Snake Anti-Venom, Others), and by End-User  Global Forecast Till 2027

It is estimated that the Anti-Venom market is expected to grow at a USD 10.57. 54 Million, CAGR 6.50% during the forecast period of 20202027.

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Various factors are boosting the global anti-venom market growth. Such factors, as revealed by the new MRFR report, include enhancing regulatory framework, increasing awareness about anti-venoms, rising government assistance, increasing patient pool, rising funds from the government for R&D activities, unmet medical needs, and increasing cases of snake bites.

On the flip side, shortage of anti-venom stock, inappropriate clinical application, inefficient production processes, high production cost, and inconsistent quality standards are factors that are likely to impede the global anti-venom market growth during the forecast period.

Anti-Venom Market Segmentation

The global anti-venom market has been broadly segmented into type of species, product type, type, and end user.

By type, the global anti-venom market has been segmented into monovalent heterologous anti-venom, small molecule anti-toxins, polyvalent heterologous anti-venom, and homologous anti-venom. Among these, polyvalent heterologous anti-venom will have a major share in the market during the forecast period.

By species type, the global anti-venom market has been segmented into scorpions, snakes, spiders, and others. Snakes are again segmented into common krait, Russell Viper, common cobra, & others.

By mode of action, the global anti-venom market has been segmented into neurotoxic, myotoxic, cytotoxic, cardiotoxic, hemotoxic, and others.

By product type, the global anti-venom market has been segmented into scorpion anti-venom, snake anti-venom, spider anti-venom, and others. Among these, snake anti-venoms will have the largest share in the market over the forecast period.

By end user, the global anti-venom market has been segmented into clinics, surgical centers, hospitals, ambulatory, and others. Among these, hospitals will spearhead the market over the forecast period.

Anti-Venom Market Regional Analysis

The global anti-venom market is geographically segmented into four regions- Europe, the Americas, the Asia Pacific, and the Middle East and Africa. Of these, the Americas will command the largest share in the market over the forecast period for high healthcare expenditure and increasing incidence of scorpion and snake bites.

The global anti-venom market in Europe is expected to hold the second-largest share over the forecast period. Factors propelling the global anti-venom market growth in the region include improvements in the reimbursement scenario and the governments strong financial support for R&D activities.

The global anti-venom market in the Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace over the forecast period. Factors propelling the global anti-venom market growth in the region include constant advances in pharmaceuticals and a huge patient pool. Besides, the increasing incidence of snake bites is also adding market growth.

The global anti-venom market in the Middle East & Africa will have the lowest share over the forecast period for the lack of technical know-how, poor medical facilities, and restricted economic development.

Anti-Venom Market Studied by Top Key Players

Notable players profiled in the anti-venom market report include Allison Medical, Thermo Fisher Scientific, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Medtronic plc, Roboz Surgical Instrument, Dickinson and Company, Boston Scientific Corporation, Stryker Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc, Ypsomed Holding AG, Smiths Medical, Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC, Allison Medical, Inc., Medline Industries, Inc., Novo Nordisk A/s, ArtsanaS.p.a., UltiMed, Inc., Becton, Terumo Corporation, cHill-Rom, and Owen Mumford, Ltd. Industry players have adopted strategies such as acquisitions, contracts, R&D, product launch, collaborations, and mergers, to stay ahead in the competition.

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Global premium shoes and leather goods brand transitions to Centric PLM

to digitally transform merchandising strategy from initial line plan proposal through sales commitments.

CAMPBELL, Calif., November 11, 2021  Premium shoes and leather goods brand ECCO has chosen Centric Softwares Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform to transform their organization from production-oriented to merchandise-driven. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source and sell products such as apparel, footwear, sporting goods, furniture, home decor, cosmetics, food & beverage, and luxury to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals.

ECCOs first production facility was founded in Bredebro, Denmark, in 1963. Today, ECCO factories are operated in 6 locations across the globe, delivering millions of premium quality shoes to their customers. ECCO also owns and operates four of their own tanneries, which deliver leather not only for ECCO shoes and accessories, but also to some of the worlds iconic luxury brands.

ECCO owns and manages practically every aspect of their value chain, from tanneries and shoe manufacturing, to wholesale and retail activities. ECCOs products are sold in 89 countries from over 2,180 ECCO shops and more than 14,000 sales points.

Before switching to Centric PLM, ECCO was using multiple Excel spreadsheets, which led to a saturated system landscape rife with offline documents that were not maintained in any centralized online repository. They knew that they needed to adopt a new operating model to meet their ultimate goal: become a leading merchandise-driven brand. That means being able to offer the right product, at the right price, with the right content, through the right channel, in order to better serve their customers.

Centrics PLM solution was truly in line with our merchandise strategy, says Torben Nrgaard, Head of Business Transformation & Strategy at ECCO. That is to say, to align collection development with financial planning by giving designers, product developers and buyers a real-time view of planned collections, target margins and actual margins that change in response to decisions we make.

Best practices were critically important for ECCO in their evaluation of PLM vendors, since they had a lot of in-house practices but were new to the direct-to-consumer market. Their hope is to learn from Centric Softwares best practices and expertise in serving the fashion, retail and footwear industries.

Nrgaard continues, Innovation is a cornerstone in ECCO. We are constantly seeking to disrupt and provide improvements for the footwear and leather industry. We see our partnership with Centric as a two-way relationship, one in which we can learn from each other, constantly challenging and inspiring one another, and helping us to drive innovation together.

We hope to improve our sell through rates and capture COGS savings opportunities by digitally transforming the process of planning assortments and creating, sourcing and launching products, adds Nrgaard, as well as connecting product development with buyers, merchandisers and sales teams. We can plan for better hit rates, engage stakeholders early in the merchandise and range planning process and drive digital samples as the primary collaboration element.

As a company, we can also better meet our financial objectives by connecting costing with early product decisions. Among other benefits, we can get rid of unnecessary combinations of articles and achieve better sales transparency, Nrgaard concludes.

ECCOs implementation of Centric PLM will be extended across Denmark, the U.S., Asia, and Europe, as part of the global digital journey the company is currently embarking on. The platforms user-friendly and intuitive interface will help ECCO to connect the entire product development process, from ideas and digital sampling, all the way to end consumers.

We continue to see that our innovation partners are finding incredibly unique and new ways to leverage our solutions to support their digital transformation strategy, says Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. The team and the brand are a great fit for Centric and we share many of the same values, including a focus on product and innovation.



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ECCO (group.ecco.com)

Since ECCO started its first production facility in Bredebro, Denmark, in 1963, ECCO has expanded steadily. Today, ECCO factories are operated in 6 locations across the globe, delivering millions of premium quality shoes to our customers.

Unique to our industry, ECCO also owns and operates their own tanneries. ECCOs four tanneries deliver leather not only to ECCO shoes and accessories, but to some of the worlds iconic luxury brands.

ECCO owns and manages practically every aspect of the value chain from tanneries and shoe manufacturing to wholesale and retail activities. ECCOs products are sold in 89 countries from over 2,180 ECCO shops and more than 14,000 sales points.

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, beauty and food and beverage. Centrics flagship Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) platform, Centric PLMTM, 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. Centrics 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.

Media Contacts:

Centric Software

Americas: Jennifer Forsythe, jforsythe@centricsoftware.com

EMEA: Kristen Salaun-Batby, ksalaun-batby@centricsoftware.com

APAC: Lily Dong, lily.dong@centricsoftware.com
Patient monitoring devices market information, by Product type (Central monitoring stations, Portable bedside monitors, Electrocardiogram (ECG) Devices, Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices, Fetal and neonatal monitors, Respiratory Monitors, Weight management monitors, Temperature monitoring devices) - Forecast to 2027

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Patient Monitoring Devices Market  Segments

MRFR has segmented the analysis into three key dynamics; for better understanding: 

By Product type : Central monitoring stations, Portable bedside monitors, Electrocardiogram (ECG) Devices, Hemodynamic Monitoring Devices, Fetal and Neonatal Monitors, Respiratory Monitors, Weight Management Monitors, and Temperature Monitoring Devices, among others.

By End-users : Hospitals and clinics, Ambulatory care centers, and Homecare among others.

By Regions : North America, Europe, APAC and Rest-of-the-World.

Key Players:

Fervent players driving the market for the patient monitoring devices include Roche Diagnostics, GE Healthcare, BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Siemens Healthcare, Abbott Laboratories, Philips Healthcare, Spacelabs Healthcare, CAS Medical Systems, Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., and Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co.

The North American region is estimated to lead the global patient monitoring devices market with a significant market share. Factors such as the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, patients suffering from different lifestyle diseases, and the increase in the geriatric population are contributing to the growth of the regional market. Huge uptake of continuous monitoring technology alongside the rise in the adoption rate of remote patient monitoring devices is fostering the market growth in the region.

The European region is another lucrative market for patient monitoring devices. Augmenting demand to move to a more wireless and streamlined operation in major health facilities as well as in the homecare settings is predominantly driving the market growth.

Tremendous advancements in medical technologies is a key driving force pushing up the regional market. Countries such as Germany and the U.K. backed by their well-developed medical devices markets which are led by enormous investments account for the major contributors to the growth in the regional market.

The Asia Pacific region is rapidly emerging as a promising market for patient monitoring devices due to the technological growth in India and China. AI-based remote patient monitoring solutions have become a trend in India, changing the dynamics of healthcare. Foreign investors are getting attracted to India, investing rapidly with aggressive plans of leading Indian healthcare into the digital age. They are designing remote patient monitoring solutions that can provide high resolution, ICU-grade monitoring to all areas of the hospital, throughout the patient care pathway.

Patient Monitoring Devices Market  Competitive Landscape

The highly competitive market appears to be diversified with the presence of giant manufacturers of the device, playing on the global level. These players are heavily investing in R&D, global expansion, advanced technologies, and product Launch to gain a competitive edge in the market.

Industry/Innovation/Related News:

November 14, 2018  ivWatch LLC (US), a leading global provider of continuous patient monitoring devices announced the partnership with New Medical (Australia), a supplier of medical consumables, devices, and patient monitoring accessories in Australia and New Zealand to manage distribution to support market expansion outside of the United States.

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At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
Africa Medical Devices Market Information, by Product type (Monitoring Devices, Diagnostic devices, Diagnostic Molecular Devices, Drug delivery devices, Surgical Devices, Bio implants and Stimulation Devices, Automation and Robotics), Therapeutic Application (General Surgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Respiratory, Orthopedics, Cardiovascular, Dental, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Ear-Nose-Throat (ENT), Nephrology and Urology) and by End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory and Home) - Forecast to 2027

Africa Medical Devices Market Proliferate Relentlessly; Asserts MRFR Unleashing Industry Forecast

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Market Scenario:

A medical device is any instrument, appliance including any software, biologic or non-biologic material, to be used for the diagnostic or therapeutic use for management of diseases and disorders. Africa presents both opportunities and challenges which are very different from the rest of world. The socioeconomic drivers include a guaranteed customer base as Africa has a disproportionate number of young people. It is estimated that 62% of the population in Africa is under 25 years as compared to Europe whose workforce is expected to shrink from 63% in 2010 to 51% in 2050. The second factor is the rising middle class of Africa. The regions with the greatest middle class population are South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt and Morocco.

Africa Medical Devices Market Segments:

Africa medical devices market has been segmented on the basis of product type which comprises monitoring devices, diagnostic devices, diagnostic molecular devices, drug delivery devices, surgical devices, bio implants and stimulation devices, automation and robotics and others. On the basis of therapeutic application; market is segmented into general surgery, diagnostic imaging, respiratory, orthopedics, cardiovascular, dental, neurology, ophthalmology, ear-nose-throat (ENT), nephrology and urology, and others. On the basis of end users; market is segmented hospitals, ambulatory and home.

Regional Analysis of Africa Medical Devices Market:

The healthcare sector of Africa is divided between private and state. The public healthcare expenditure accounts for approximately 48 % of total health expenditure in 2014 with variation in different countries. Local manufacturing represents a poor outlook which is limited to consumables and ordinary articles and there are a handful of high tech devices manufacturers. Africa is extremely dependent on imports for medical devices and imports account for approximately 90 % of total market for medical devices and Chinese medical device suppliers dominate the scenario. Among the regions of Africa, South Africa and Egypt account for 40 % of market. Other important nations are Nigeria, Morocco and Algeria. Collaboration with large global companies and technical transfer will remain the key strategy for developing the regional African market as can be seen by the example of China.

Key Players Africa Medical Devices Market

Johnson & Johnson (U.S.), Mindray Medical International Limited (China), Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands), Siemens AG (Germany), Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation (Japan), GE Healthcare (U.K), Medtronic Public Limited (U.S.), Baxter International Inc. (U.S.), Cardinal Health, Inc. (U.S.), Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (Africa), and Al Faisaliah Medical Systems (Africa).

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About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.
The hybrid composites market is expected to grow from USD 436 million in 2018 to USD 876 million by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.0% during the forecast period. The report " global Hybrid Composites Market by Fiber Type, Resin (Thermoset and Thermoplastic), End-Use Industry (Automotive & Transportation, Aerospace & Defense, Wind Energy, Marine, Sporting Goods), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", The major factor driving the market is balanced cost and performance characteristics offered by hybrid composites. Hybrid composites offer properties comparable with carbon fiber such as high strength, low weight, and increased resistance to corrosion, but with the lesser price than carbon fiber composites.

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Primary Research

The hybrid composites market comprises several stakeholders such as raw material suppliers, processors, end-product manufacturers, and regulatory organizations in the supply chain. The demand side of this market is characterized by the development of the automotive & transportation, aerospace & defense, marine, wind energy, and sporting goods end-use industries. The supply side is characterized by advancements in technology and diverse application industries. Various primary sources from both the supply and demand sides of the market were interviewed to obtain qualitative and quantitative information. Following the breakdown of primary respondents.

Carbon/glass and glass/carbon hybrid fiber composites accounted for the largest share of the global hybrid composites market

Carbon/glass fiber hybrid composite parts are lighter and stronger than their metal counterparts, due to which, they are extensively used in many industries, including automotive & transportation and wind energy. Carbon/glass hybrid fiber composites are used in high-end vehicles to reduce the overall cost.

The wind energy industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR in the global hybrid composites market during the forecast period

The hybrid composites market has been segmented on the basis of end-use industry into 5 categories: automotive & transportation, aerospace & defense, wind energy, marine, sporting goods. The wind energy end-use industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, due to increasing wind turbine installations across the globe especially in the APAC region.

Europe is expected to the largest hybrid composites market during the forecast period

Europe is estimated to account for the largest share of the market in 2018. The region is considered the most advanced region in terms of technology adoption and infrastructure development. Europe is home to some of the major automotive and aerospace & defense equipment manufacturers, which create demand for hybrid composites in the region. The wide presence of the key industry players offering hybrid composites for automotive & transportation and aerospace & defense is the main driving factor for the growth of the hybrid composites market.

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Royal DSM NV (Netherlands), SGL Group (Germany), Gurit (Switzerland), Hexcel Corporation (US), Teijin Limited (Japan), General Electric (US), Exel Composites (Finland), Innegra Technologies, LLC (US), Solvay (Belgium), and PlastiComp, Inc. (US) are some of the key players in the hybrid composites 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.

Markets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" 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.

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The report "Amphoteric Surfactants Market by Type (Betaine, Amine Oxide, Amphoacetates, Amphopropionates, Sultaines), Application (Personal Care, Home Care and I&I Cleaning, Oil Field Chemicals, Agrochemicals) - Global Forecast to 2027", is projected to grow from USD 3.52 billion in 2018 to USD 6.48 billion by 2027

Rising demand for personal care products and high-performance amphoteric surfactants is expected to drive the growth of the amphoteric surfactants market during the forecast period. Personal care is the largest application of amphoteric surfactants, as they are one of the important ingredients required for skin care, hair care, and other personal care products. The industry is growing rapidly as personal care products have high demand among customers. Growing urbanization, increasing number of working women, changing lifestyle, and rising awareness regarding hygiene and skin care are some of the key drivers of the amphoteric surfactants market in the personal care application. The awareness regarding hygiene and personal health has propelled the need for personal care products. This change has led to an increase in the manufacturing of skin care and hair care products, thus driving the demand for amphoteric surfactants.

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Based on type, the amine oxide segment of the amphoteric surfactants market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR, in terms of value and volume during the forecast period

Based on type, the amphoteric surfactants market has been segmented into betaine (alkyl betaine, alkyl amido betaine, and others), amine oxide, amphoacetates, amphopropionates, and sultaines. The amine oxide segment of the market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR in terms of both, value and volume during the forecast period. Amine oxide is a mild surfactant, which offers excellent secondary surfactant characteristics. It has the ability to decrease skin irritation in combination with Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) or alcohol sulfates. Moreover, amine oxide possesses inherent stability and has improved cleansing properties.

Based on application, the personal care segment is projected to lead the amphoteric surfactants market during the forecast period in terms of both, value and volume.

The personal care segment is projected to lead the amphoteric surfactants market in terms of both, value and volume during the forecast period. Amphoteric surfactants are the mildest surfactants and hence, are commonly used in the formulation of various personal care products. The mildness of amphoteric surfactants can be attributed to their zwitterion nature. The use of these surfactants in the personal care products results in lower skin irritation as compared to other surfactants.

The European region is expected to be the largest market for amphoteric surfactants during the forecast period.

The amphoteric surfactants market has been studied for 5 regions, namely, Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South America. The European region is projected to be the largest market for amphoteric surfactants during the forecast period due to the strong foothold of manufacturers of personal care products in the region. Amphoteric surfactants are the key compounds used in the formulation of various personal care products. The European region is also home for the leading manufacturers of amphoteric surfactants. The major countries driving the growth of the amphoteric surfactants in the European region are France, Germany, Italy, and Russia.

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Some of the key players in the amphoteric surfactants market include AkzoNobel N.V. (Netherlands), BASF SE (Germany), Clariant AG (Switzerland), Croda (UK), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Lonza (Switzerland), the Lubrizol Corporation (US), Oxiteno SA (Brazil), Solvay (Belgium), and Stepan Company (US).

Critical questions the report answers:

Where will all these developments take the industry in the long term?

What are the upcoming trends for the amphoteric surfactants market?

Which segment provides the most opportunity for growth?

Who are the leading vendors operating in this market?

What are the opportunities for new market entrants?

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.

Markets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" 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.

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MarketsandMarkets  INC.

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The report "Industrial Dryers Market by Product (Direct, Indirect, Specialty), Type (Rotary, Fluidized Bed, Spray), Application (Food, Pharmaceutical, Fertilizer, Chemicals, Cement), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", The global industrial dryers market was valued at USD 4.00 Billion in 2015 and is projected to reach USD 6.37 Billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2016 to 2026. Increasing demand of industrial dryers from the food, pharmaceutical, chemicals, fertilizer, cement, minerals, and paper & pulp industries is projected to drive the growth of the market in the near future.

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Research Methodology

The research methodology used to estimate and forecast the global industrial dryers market began with capturing data on key vendor revenues through secondary research from secondary sources such as Hoovers, Bloomberg, Chemical Weekly, Factiva, and various other government and private websites. The vendor offerings have also been taken into consideration to determine the market segmentation. After arriving at the overall market size, the total market was split into several segments and subsegments, which were later verified through primary research by conducting extensive interviews with key personnel, such as CEOs, VPs, directors, and executives. Data triangulation and market breakdown procedures were employed to complete the overall market engineering process and arrive at the exact statistics for all segments and subsegments of the market. The breakdown of profiles of primaries is depicted in the figure below.

Fluidized bed dryers is the fastest-growing type segment of the global industrial dryers market

The fluidized bed dryers segment is projected to be the fastest-growing segment in the industrial dryers market, by type, from 2016 to 2026. This growth can be mainly attributed to the growth in demand for fluidized bed dryers from different application industries such as food and pharmaceuticals. Fluidized bed dryers are cost as well as energy efficient.

Pharmaceuticals industry is the fastest-growing application segment of the global industrial dryers market

The pharmaceuticals segment is projected to be the fastest-growing application segment from 2016 to 2026. This growth can be attributed to the increased demand for industrial dryers in pharmaceuticals industry. The pharmaceuticals industry uses industrial dryers to remove liquids or moisture from bulk solids, powders, or other liquids by evaporation or sublimation.

The Asia-Pacific region was the largest market for industrial dryers in 2015

The Asia-Pacific region was the largest industrial dryers market in 2015 owing to the rise in demand for industrial dryers in this region from the end-use industries such as food, pharmaceutical, chemicals, fertilizer, cement, minerals, and paper & pulp in the region. China, India, and Japan are the leading countries in terms of consumption of industrial dryers in the Asia-Pacific region. The easy availability of raw material and labor and the increase in demand from end-use industries is projected to drive the growth of the industrial dryers market in these countries.

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Key players operational in the industrial dryers market include ThyssenKrupp AG (Germany), Andritz AG (Austria), GEA Group (Germany), Metso Corporation (Finland), FLSmidth & Co. A/S (Denmark), Buhler Holding AG (Switzerland), ANIVI Ingenieria SA (Spain), Carrier Vibrating Equipment, Inc. (U.S.), COMESSA (France), and Mitchell Dryers Ltd. (U.K.).

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. 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.

M & M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" 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. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.

We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.

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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Alcoholic Drinks in Saudi Arabia" under Food & Beverage Market Research Reports category. The Alcoholic Drinks in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

Non alcoholic beer is the only alcoholic drinks category with a presence in Saudi Arabia, as alcoholic drinks are banned under Islamic law. The COVID-19 crisis resulted in a sharp fall in non alcoholic beer sales for a number of reasons in 2020. The lockdown from March until July aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 included the closure of foodservice outlets, which had a severe effect on on-trade sales.

Alcoholic Drinks in Saudi Arabia report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (2016-2020), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they legislative, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2025 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage: Beer, Cider/Perry, RTDs, Spirits, Wine.

Data coverage: market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Why buy this report?

* Get a detailed picture of the Alcoholic Drinks market;

* Pinpoint growth sectors and identify factors driving change;

* Understand the competitive environment, the markets major players and leading brands;

* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Table of Content

Alcoholic Drinks in Saudi Arabia

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN SAUDI ARABIA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COVID-19 impact on alcoholic drinks

COVID-19 country impact

Company response

Retailing shift

On-trade vs off-trade split

What next for alcoholic drinks?

CHART 1 Alcoholic Drinks Off-Trade Volume Sales Growth Scenarios: 2018-2025

CHART 2 Alcoholic Drinks On-Trade Volume Sales Growth Scenarios: 2018-2025

CHART 3 Alcoholic Drinks Impact of Soft Drivers on Off-Trade Volume Sales: 2018-2025

CHART 4 Alcoholic Drinks Impact of Soft Drivers on On-Trade Volume Sales: 2018-2025

MARKET BACKGROUND

Legislation

Advertising

Smoking ban

On-trade establishments

Table 1 Number of On-trade Establishments by Type 2015-2020

TAXATION AND DUTY LEVIES

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Contraband/parallel trade

Duty free

Cross-border/private imports

KEY NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES

Outlook

MARKET INDICATORS

Table 2 Retail Consumer Expenditure on Alcoholic Drinks 2015-2020

MARKET DATA

Table 3 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: Total Volume 2015-2020

Table 4 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: Total Value 2015-2020

Table 5 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2015-2020

Table 6 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: % Total Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 7 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category by Off-trade vs On-trade: Volume 2020

Table 8 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category by Off-trade vs On-trade: Value 2020

Table 9 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category by Off-trade vs On-trade: % Volume 2020

Table 10 Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category by Off-trade vs On-trade: % Value 2020

Table 11 GBO Company Shares of Alcoholic Drinks: % Total Volume 2016-2020

Table 12 Distribution of Alcoholic Drinks by Format: % Off-trade Value 2015-2020

Table 13 Distribution of Alcoholic Drinks by Format and by Category: % Off-trade Volume 2020

Table 14 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: Total Volume 2020-2025

Table 15 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: Total Value 2020-2025

Table 16 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: % Total Volume Growth 2020-2025

Table 17 Forecast Sales of Alcoholic Drinks by Category: % Total Value Growth 2020-2025

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Litchfield, CT (06759)

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Periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

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Periods of rain. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
They didnt say why Settles is suspected of targeting the New London house, nor would they talk about a possible connection with the dog attack. On Thursday, New London Capt. Matthew Galante said, I do know theres some type of nexus between the family and the [New London] house. But he could not elaborate on it because he didnt have the arrest warrant affidavit, he said.
Temple went on to urge that people use the ubiquity of smartphones to call 911 when they witness criminal activity, suggesting that the incident could have been averted with a little quick thinking or for that matter any thinking.
Stacker researched PayScale's 2018-2019 College Salary Report to determine which college majors earn the least money on average. Many included in the gallery relating to teaching and the arts earn less than the average salary reported to the U.S. Census of $56,516. (Elizabeth Jackson, Stacker) Visit TEXT for similar lists and stories.
Workers at Loos & Co., part of Canadian-based Central Wire Industries, are among 750 throughout the company who faced a stark choice: Be vaccinated or be fired. At Loos & Co., eight employees quit rather than receive the vaccine. Because of the manufacturing environment, employers cannot keep vaccinated and unvaccinated workers apart, said Paul From, president and chief executive of Central Wire Industries, a specialty manufacturer of wire used in medical, aviation, energy and other industries.
Asked why the board was willing to break the rules and agree to a compromise in the past but not now, she pointed to widespread media attention the controversy attracted years ago and said, I think they were cowed into submission by New York Times-level coverage. All but two members of the board are new, having been elected for the first time last spring.
Saleen Martin Staff writer

Saleen Martin, a Norfolk native, is a reporter on The Virginian-Pilots features team. She joined The Pilot in 2018 after getting her master's degree from the University of Georgia. She also has a bachelor's degree from Virginia Wesleyan University. She has a weakness for horror movies, witchy Netflix shows, reality TV, and sushi.
He pleaded guilty in February to only four of those charges  two counts of distributing heroin, one count of maintaining a drug house and one count of using drugs while possessing a gun. The other 15 felony charges were dismissed as part of the agreement.
The Goin' Band from Raiderland marches onto the field during pregame on Sept. 11, 2021, at Jones AT&T Stadium.
Lubbock, TX (79409)

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Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 31F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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A man holds a child on his shoulders as they wade through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in Chennai. (Photo: AFP)

Chennai: The death toll due to heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu stands at 12, informed Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran on Wednesday.

11 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 7 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are deployed in the state as of now, added the minister.

Amid incessant rainfall in Tamil Nadu, the authorities on Tuesday had issued a flood warning for the Theni district and adjourning low-lying areas.

Parts of Tamil Nadu are likely to witness heavy rainfall over the next few days due to a depression over the Bay of Bengal.

People in Chennai today woke up witnessing heavy rainfall thereby leading to waterlogging in parts of the city.

Schools in Coimbatore also remain closed on Wednesday in wake of the red alert issued by the weather department.

"Under the influence of the cyclonic circulation over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood, a low-pressure area has formed over the same region. Associated cyclonic circulation extends upto 4.5 km above mean sea level. It is very likely to concentrate into a depression over Southwest and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal during next 36 hours. It is likely to move west-northwestwards and reach near the north Tamil Nadu coast by the early morning of November 11, 2021. Northeast monsoon has been active over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal area and Kerala," the daily bulletin by the regional meteorological department in Chennai informed.

Extremely heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over delta districts, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Pudukottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Puducherry and Karaikal.

Heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Chennai, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Thenkasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Chengalpattu districts and Kerala, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

Heavy rain is also likely to occur at isolated places over Nilgiris, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Vellore, Ranipettai, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Thoothukudi and Kallakurichi districts.

Yesterday, the India Meteorological Department issued a red alert in Cuddalore, Viluppuram, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Karaikal following incessant rainfall in the city.

Tamil Nadu government declared local holidays on November 10 and 11 for nine districts - Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, and Mayiladuthurai -- after the weather department predicted heavy rains for the next couple of days.
Chennai: As many as 14 people have lost their lives in Tamil Nadu due to heavy rains, said Kumar Jayanth, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department on Thursday.

"Till now, 14 people have lost their lives in the state due to heavy rains. Due to overnight rainfall, there is waterlogging in parts of Chennai today. 13 subways waterlogged will be cleared, 160 fallen trees removed. In last four days, almost 20 lakh people given food packets in Chennai," said Kumar Jayanth.

Meanwhile, the arrival of flights has also been suspended till evening in view of showers and heavy winds, though departures would continue, authorities said on Thursday.

"Due to severe rains and heavy cross winds, arrivals at #AAI Chennai Airport will remain suspended from 1315 hrs to 1800 hrs, today. Departures will continue. The decision has been taken considering the safety aspect of passengers and severity of wind," the Chennai Airport tweeted.

In another tweet, the metropolis airport regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers due to severe weather conditions.

"Passengers are requested to contact concerned airline(s) for any updates regarding schedules. @AAI_Official."

The office of Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway, Chennai on Thursday said that the majority of the services from MAS to Tiruvallur had been suspended due to waterlogging of tracks at Avadi and Ambattur.

"Dear passengers, due to waterlogging of tracks at Avadi and Ambattur, most of the services from MAS to Tiruvallur have been suspended. There are delays on the north side towards Gummidipoondi due to heavy rains between Tiruvottiyur and Korukkupet. Please plan travel accordingly," said DRM, Chennai.

The depression over Bay of Bengal will cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh this evening and the city would witness "strong" winds up to 45 km, the weather office here said on Thursday.

Districts in northern Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Kancheepuram and Villpuram are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran said, even as the city and its suburbs received sharp showers all through the night.

The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 21 kmph during past six hours and lay centred at 5.30 AM on Thursday over southwest Bay of Bengal, about 170 km east-southeast of Chennai and 170 km east of Puducherry, the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin.

"It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts around Chennai by the evening of today," it added.

As a result, Balachandran said, Chennai would witness "strong surface winds" ranging between 40-45 km, he told reporters.

"People should not venture out unnecessarily," he said.

IMD also warned of extremely heavy to heavy rainfall in six districts of the state.

Incessant rain caused water-logging in several parts of Chennai including the areas of Nungambakkam, Sterling road, KMC Hospital road due to heavy rainfall.

The Kodambakkam area of Chennai even witnessed trees being uprooted with water-logging due to heavy rainfall and wind.

Police said trees were uprooted in places like Egmore and Perambur.

Meanwhile, ESI Hospital located in Chennai's KK Nagar was water-logged on Thursday due to heavy rains. All the facilities including OPDs are operational in the hospital with the available manpower.

"The hospital wards including COVID19 wards are not affected," said Dr Mahesh of ESI hospital.

Personnel of Greater Chennai Corporation, police and Fire and Rescue Services were involved in various relief and rescue work, including pumping out stagnant water.

Most of the water bodies in the state, including the reservoirs meeting the drinking water needs of Chennai, the Mettur Dam in Salem and others are full and excess water is being released from most of them.

Meanwhile, Stalin spoke to Ministers and Special Officers deputed to manage the rain-related issues in various districts and reviewed the situation with them, an official release said.

He directed them to expedite the relief activities and ensure provision of quality food and medical facilities in relief camps.

He further wanted the authorities concerned to take steps to prevent crop loss. He also held a review meeting with top state government officials including Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu.

The chief minister also ordered constituting a six-member ministerial panel, headed by Cooperatives Minister I Periyasamy, to assess crop damage, especially in the Cauvery delta region, and submit a report to the government to expedite relief work, the release added.
UDF legislators led by V. D. Satheeshan, Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, arrive at the Assembly on bicycles to protest against the state government's refusal to slash sales tax on fuel, in Thiruvananthapuram. (Photo: PTI)

Thiruvananthapuram: Intensifying their agitation demanding the cut of state tax on petrol and diesel, the opposition Congress-UDF legislators on Thursday took out a bicycle rally to the Kerala Assembly and later boycotted the House proceedings protesting over the LDF government's reluctance to discuss the matter in the House.

After trooping out of the House, they also staged a protest sit-in at its portals and raised slogans against the state government for rejecting their demand for discussing the topic during the zero hour.

Last week also the UDF had staged a walkout in the Assembly urging the Left government to forgo the additional tax on fuel products on the lines of the Centre to ease the burden of the common people.

However, the Left government maintained that it was unable to slash the tax as it would adversely impact the welfare initiatives of the state due to the grim financial situation.

Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan led the protest cycle rally of his legislator colleagues from the nearby MLA Hostel attached to the assembly complex.

Wearing masks and donning the usual khadi dhoti and shirt, they could be seen pedalling the 'poor man's vehicle' through the busy city road to reach the main entrance of the Assembly.

When the House proceedings commenced and zero hour began, K Babu (Congress) sought a notice for an adjournment motion over the issue saying that common people were in a crisis due to the frequent fuel price hike and the state government's stand not to reduce tax was a challenge against them.

Hitting out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government, Satheesan said the central government had made a nominal reduction in the fuel tax and many other states made proportionate decrease on its lines.

However, Kerala, which levies the highest tax, was not prepared to slash it and the state government was amassing additional income through that.

Stating that the opposition protest was against the 'tax terrorism', he said if the government was not ready to forgo the additional tax, they would go ahead with mass agitation.

However, Finance Minister K N Balagopal reiterated that his government had not increased the state tax on petrol and diesel for the last six years and it had reduced it once.

He also criticised the previous Congress-led UPA regimes at the Centre for handing over the control of fuel price to the oil companies and the party-led Oommen Chandy government in the state for raising fuel tax 13 times.

Taking at dig at the UDF MLAs' bicycle protest, the Finance Minister advised them to go New Delhi with a bullock cart to reduce the central tax.

When Speaker M B Rajesh rejected leave for the motion based on the minister's reply, the opposition boycotted the House.

The Congress-UDF has been staging protests across the state for the last several days demanding the slashing of state tax on petrol and diesel.
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Support Justice for Timor-Leste,

End Impunity



Sign ETAN's Petition









FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



30 Years On Justice for Timorese Remains Elusive



ETAN Says That It Is Never Too Late to Hold Accountable Those Responsible for Santa Cruz Massacre



November 2021









Contact: John M. Miller, Coordinator ETAN, +1-917-690-4391

Photo by Steve Cox, Generations of Resistance: East Timor

"The U.S and other governments that armed and trained Indonesia's security forces during the Suharto dictatorship, now actively pursue business-as-usual with Indonesia leaving no room for genuine accountability for their collusion with Timor's oppression ."

On the 30th anniversary of the Santa Cruz massacre, the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) urges the international community to end impunity for the human rights crimes committed during the occupation of Timor-Leste."The Santa Cruz massacre is among the most notorious crimes committed by Indonesia during its illegal occupation of Timor-Leste and has waited too long for justice," said John M. Miller, National Coordinator of ETAN."Those responsible for the massacre and for the many other crimes against humanity during Indonesia's illegal occupation need to be held accountable for their crimes."On November 12, 1991, U.S.-armed Indonesian troops shot hundreds of peaceful demonstrators calling for self-determination and protesting atrocities committed by the Indonesian military. More than 271 East Timorese were killed on the spot or died soon after and an equal number disappeared and are believed to be dead.The 1991 massacre was a major turning point in Timor-Leste's struggle for liberation. Indonesia's assault was witnessed and filmed by foreign journalists. The eyewitness accounts of U.S.-based Allan Nairn and Amy Goodman, photographer Steve Cox, and filmmaker Max Stahl (who died recently, see below ) countered Indonesia propaganda and inspired the formation of dozens of grassroots groups worldwide - including ETAN - to support Timor's self-determination.During more than two decades of U.S.-backed occupation, Indonesian soldiers committed serious crimes with impunity, taking as many as 184,000 Timorese lives and torturing, raping, and displacing countless others. Timor-Leste became independent in 2002."The East Timorese people still need to know where the bodies of their relatives and friends are," said Miller. "Impunity for decades of systematic Indonesian military and police atrocities prevents both Timor-Leste and Indonesia from respecting human right and consolidating the rule of law.In recent years, Indonesia has increasingly violated human rights including stepped up military action in West Papua and the harassment of human rights defenders and environmental and anti-corruption activists."The U.S and other governments that armed and trained Indonesia's security forces during the Suharto dictatorship, now actively pursue business-as-usual with Indonesia leaving no room for genuine accountability for their collusion with Timor's oppression," Miller added.Perpetrators from countries such as the United States, Britain, and Australia that actively aided in these crimes by providing weapons, training, and political support have yet to be held accountable.For more on the Santa Cruz massacre see ETAN's backgrounder here: http://etan.org/factsheets/santa_cruz.htm The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) was founded in December 1991 following the Santa Cruz massacre. ETAN supports democracy, human rights and justice in Timor-Leste, West Papua and Indonesia. Website: www.etan.org Twitter/Instagram: @etan009.
Fort Hood, TX (76544)

Today

A few clouds. Low 43F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low 43F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Fort Hood, TX (76544)

Today

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 43F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. Low 43F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Fort Hood, TX (76544)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
No meio da esbornia gastronomica e etilica de fim de ano, a manchete do caderno "Comida", da FAlha de S.Paulo de hoje, me chamou a atencao: "X-ressaca". Na hora, meu pensamento, meu estomago e meus intestinos relembraram, entre espasmos e engulhos, iguarias da estirpe do X-Elvis (do Bar do Vava ), da salsicha com molho de tomate (do bar Moskao, em Pinheiros ), do Cala-Frango (da Avenida Antonio Emerich, em Sao Vicente ) ou da temivel dobradinha com cenoura (do buteco Tom Cat, no Terminal Jabaquara ). Mas a proposta do jornal, claro, e "coxinha" ( no mau sentido ): "Comida light ou detox para curar os exageros das festas? Cozinheiros e comiloes preferem 'aliviar' o estomago com guloseimas, de chocolate a bacon". Buenas, depois dos quatro "frutos do bar" que descrevi acima, gostaria de saber o que eles batizam como "detox"... Mas passei o olho pelas "dicas" do tal caderno e algo chamou a atencao de minhas retinas tao fatigadas:
At a virtual event on Tuesday, President Joe Biden flatly denounced House Republicans for threatening their colleagues who voted with Democrats on the bipartisan infrastructure measure.

During his decades in Washington, Biden was known for having friends on both sides of the aisle, and he claimed the hyper-partisan climate was unlike anything he'd seen before.

Biden slams Republicans who urge to punish 13 GOP lawmakers

The package, which was enacted in August by the Senate, includes $550 billion in new expenditure. Among other Democrat deliverables, it promises investment for roads, bridges, public transportation, broadband growth, and clean water.

Six Democrats joined 200 Republicans in voting against the bill. After months of inter-party impasse, it was ultimately passed by the House, with progressives withholding support until a vote on a broader $1.75 trillion social and climate spending proposal, which has no Republican support.

Democrats want to arrange a vote on the progressive bill next week, in addition to approving the bipartisan bill. Biden adopted a hands-on approach to securing his agenda, speaking to the Democratic caucus twice in the US Capitol.

The president accused House Republicans of assaulting their own colleagues on Tuesday night in order to help Biden and the Democrats win.

Reps. Nicole Malliotakis, Andrew Garbarino, John Katko, and Tom Reed of New York; Reps. Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith of New Jersey; Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Rep. David McKinley of West Virginia, Rep. Don Young of Alaska, and Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan are among the Republicans who voted for the bill.

According to Punchbowl News, a lot of the vitriol was aimed towards Katko. He informed several colleagues that he voted early after witnessing Indiana GOP Rep. Jim Banks discuss it on TV.

Read Also: Americans Oppose Joe Biden, Favors Donald Trump in Running for the 2024 Elections; President's Approval Rating Continuously Drops

Democrats criticize Republicans' rage over infrastructure bill passage

These possible punishments vary in severity, but they all have the same goal: to keep Republicans from deviating from Trump's party line. While GOP leaders can't dismiss rank-and-file members of their committees, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has the authority to do so. The political bloodlust sends an obvious message that Republican elected officials will face consequences if they put the interests of their voters ahead of Trump's loyalty.

Katko is also a ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, which would be one of the leadership changes the GOP would have to deal with if they went through with the plan. Greene's committee responsibilities were withdrawn from her earlier this year after a House vote over her usage of aggressive and racist speech on social media before assuming office.

Former President Donald Trump slammed the baker's dozen during his speech at a National Republican Congressional Committee dinner on Monday. The New York Post reported that Rep. Malliotakis, who was one of the few in the crowd, was visibly rattled by Trump's remarks.

Some Democrats have criticized Republicans for their rage toward Republicans who voted for Biden's plan while remaining silent on a member of their caucus. Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar shared a cartoon video online depicting him killing Progressive New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking Biden.

On Twitter, Gosar, one of Trump's most ardent supporters in Congress, posted an anime cartoon featuring a figure with his face photoshopped stabbing a character modified to be Ocasio-Cortez with a sword before flinging himself at Biden. It was taken down when it was found to be in violation of Twitter's content guidelines. Prior to Biden's statements, the White House issued a statement condemning his actions, Daily Mail reported.

Related Article: Donald Trump Slams Mitch McConnell, Republicans for Helping Pass Joe Biden's $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill

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China and the United States struck a remarkable last-minute deal on the margins of COP26 on Wednesday to cooperate on climate change to ensure the summit succeeded. The agreement might pave the way for rigorous discussions leading to a satisfactory finish to the summit, which Boris Johnson described as "in the balance."

Beijing pledged to combat methane and deforestation, as well as a common acceptance of the "seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis" and a commitment to decreasing emissions in the next ten years, but there was little clarity in the strategy.

China, US plan to work together to cut emissions

The move was regarded as part of a push by the two main countries to stake a claim to a key role in the summit's last days, during which neither has taken any action, as per The Telegraph via MSN.

It occurred only hours after the UK issued its proposed language for the final accord at the end of the conference, asking for big polluters like China to come back with more aggressive climate measures next year, as well as the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies and coal.

Johnson made a hasty trip to Glasgow in an attempt to resurrect the last days of negotiations, which are set to finish on Friday but are anticipated to drag on into the weekend. One of the best ways to minimize warming is to get countries to return as soon as next year with updated plans to decrease emissions before 2030, but this is likely to be contentious among big polluters.

The language will go through multiple adjustments before being issued as a final version over the weekend when it will be evident whether the UK government met their summit goals to "keep 1.5C alive."

According to one seasoned watcher of the discussions, the combined China-US deal would benefit in reaching a final agreement since it would prohibit Beijing from blocking key sections of the document.

Read Also: Americans Told To Leave Haiti Following Gang-Aggravated Fuel Shortage, Security Crisis Deepens; Hostages Remain Captive

Xi Jinping, Joe Biden to hold virtual summit next week

President Xi Jinping said China "stands ready to engage with the United States" to get relations back on track, just days before a scheduled virtual meeting with US counterpart Joe Biden.

This comes as the two countries attempt to restore contact lines to reduce tensions and re-establish bilateral ties, despite ongoing disagreements over Taiwan and US concerns over Beijing's nuclear weapons.

China "stands ready to cooperate with the United States to deepen exchanges and cooperation across the board" based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence, Xi said in a congratulatory letter to the National Committee on US-China Relations.

Following a closed-door meeting between China's top diplomat Yang Jiechi and US national security advisor Jake Sullivan in Switzerland last month, Chinese and US officials agreed in principle to have a virtual meeting between the two presidents before the end of the year.

A Chinese government adviser who spoke on the condition of anonymity to the South China Morning Post said that the upcoming Xi-Biden meeting would set the tone for solid bilateral dialogue on trade and the military.

US officials had pushed for an in-person Xi-Biden meeting, but because of China's harsh pandemic control rules, the two sides had to settle for a video conference instead. The news of the presidential summit was originally reported by Reuters.

White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to the claims by saying that working-level negotiations were underway to corroborate information, but she declined to provide specifics. The meeting takes place in the midst of simmering tensions over Taiwan and US fears over China's nuclear capability.

Related Article: Xi Jinping Fails To Lead at COP26 Climate Summit; Joe Biden Says It is a Big Mistake For China Not To Show Up

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Moscow authorized the overflight of nuclear bombers to support Minsk, its ally, as the EU is accusing the state of weaponizing migrants against Poland. Many immigrants passing through Belarus have caused tension on the shared border.

Most migrants are from the Middle East and Africa who are passing the Russian ally's border. One more development is that Belarusian leaders are supposed to concoct this plot against the Polish government's charges of human rights crimes.

Kremlin sends bombers to patrol Belarusian airspace

According to Russia's defense ministry, the nuclear bombers are there for combat alert and air defense reasons in the Unified Regional Air Defense System, which encompasses both Minsk and Moscow, reported the Sun UK.

Included in the air patrols jurisdiction is the airspace of the Belarusian republic as well. The aircraft is coordinating with the armed forces of both nations.

The night earlier, all the migrants in Belarus who were trapped attempted to force their way into the Polish border-forcing a reinforcement of the shared border and a word war with the European Union.

Incensed by the actions of dictator Alexander Lukashenko, who they charge is orchestrating the assault on an EU member's border, that only makes the border crisis heap fresh sanctions on the autocrat's state.

Flock of migrants is war waged by Lukashenko against EU

Of all the blocs, 27 ambassadors agree that numerous migrants are forcing their way into the EU is a war waged against the group by Lukashenko. They said the new sanctions are going to follow soon. If Moscow authorized the overflight of nuclear bombers, it would be to keep an eye on the crisis.

Read Also: Putin Touts New Robotic Tank and More Weapons in the Zapad-2021 Wargames, NATO Countries Concerned

The dictator issued a retort to the bloc, who accused the weaponized border crossing of warfare. But, the Kremlin agreed with the Belarus leader and told the EU to stand down and followed by the bombers in their ally's airspace.

One report in the BBC Newsnight said Minsk gave middle east migrants visas to cross the Polish border. Arriving at Minsk airport, the foreigners will be brought to the border of Poland and Lithuania, allegedly causing problems and forcing sanctions to be lifted by Brussels.

In May, Lukashenko, the Belarusian dictator, told the bloc that he would pour countless migrants on the border, cites the Week.

He added that his government was stopping illegal migrants and drugs. Once Belarus stops interdicting both from the border, the EU will have a monstrous crisis on its head.

Soon after, the Kremlin issued harsh words after the Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki blamed Vladimir Putin for starting the worsening border stand-off.

It was followed by spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who scoured what the Polish official said was most irresponsible and unacceptable for calling the Kremlin leader a scoundrel. He added the words of the prime minister should be retracted and an apology given.

Countless migrants have massed near the Belarusian and Polish border this week, where razor wire fences guard it, and troops were there to deal with illegal crossers to stop crossing.

The situation got so bad that some foreign nationals forcibly used logs and spades to break into the EU via the border. It got worse as many kids and babies were in tow and stuck in the cold at the border. It has become a huge humanitarian dilemma for the bloc to deal with.

Moscow authorized the overflight of nuclear bombers over a backdrop of a complex international issue getting worse, with humanitarian concerns about those caught in the crossfire of politics.

Related Article: Putin Says That the EU Should Recompense Belarus to Stem Migrant Flow Into Poland; Citing Turkey in 2016

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President Joe Biden will sign the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package into law on Monday at the White House, surrounded by a bipartisan group of members of Congress.

Biden To Hold A Signing Ceremony With Both Democrats and Republicans Present

In a recently published article in The Hill, Biden will be joined at the event by a bipartisan group of governors and mayors, as well as labor unions and business representatives. According to the source, members of Congress who assisted in the drafting of the law will be there.

The president will do a victory lap after completing a bipartisan achievement in his first year in office. Biden ran on his ability to work with Republicans on both sides of the aisle after months of debate over the amount of the Infrastructure Bill.

Meanwhile, the White House did not say who would be in attendance at the event, whether members of Congress, stakeholders, or other authorities. It is not also clear if Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, who voted in favor of the bill, will be in attendance, according to a published article in ABC News.

Read Also: Democrats Eyeing To Pass Social Spending and Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill on Tuesday

Biden Touts the Benefits of Infrastructure Bill

On Wednesday, Biden made an appearance in Baltimore to extol the legislation's advantages. The President claimed the law would solve the supply chain problem by upgrading ports and decreasing congestion while speaking at the Port of Baltimore.

The package provides $550 billion in additional federal infrastructure expenditures over five years, including money for ports, airports, trains, roads, bridges, and public transportation. Hundreds of billions of dollars will be spent on strengthening internet infrastructure and the electrical grid, as well as a statewide network of electric car chargers.

President Joe Biden said during his visit to Baltimore that "By investing in our roads, bridges, ports and so much else, this will make it easier for companies to get goods to market more quickly," according to a published article in Reuters.

Passage of the Infrastructure Bill

The $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill was finally approved in the House by a vote of 228-206, with 13 Republicans voting with the majority of Democrats, a decision that was swiftly criticized by members of their party, including former President Donald Trump.

In a speech over the weekend, Biden praised the bill's passing but said that he would not sign it until members of Congress who assisted in its passage could attend the signing ceremony. This week, the House and Senate are both out of session, and some members of Congress and administration officials are traveling abroad.

The bill is an important aspect of Biden's domestic program, and the White House has been working to sell it to the public since it cleared the House. Biden discussed the benefits of the measure at the Port of Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the White House is working with Democrats on Capitol Hill to pursue the second part of his program, a $1.75 trillion climate and social spending package that Democrats want to approve via budget reconciliation without Republican backing.

Related Article: US Congress Passes Biden's $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill; POTUS Describes the Passage as a 'Monumental Step Forward as a Nation'

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The United States and France are working to revitalize trust with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, and French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday after sitting down for a bilateral meeting at Elysee Palace after a mishap with Australian submarine deal.

The two countries plan to rekindle their relationship after the United States struck a deal in September, supporting Australia to develop nuclear submarines. However, the agreement caused the sinking of a French submarine contract with the latter country. Harris' trip to Paris is scheduled for five days and is the latest effort in the U.S.'s weeks-long diplomatic action to make amends with the country.

US, French Relations

Macron expressed his gratitude to Harris for traveling to France during their meeting, saying he was "extremely grateful" for the U.S. vice president's presence. Macron added that Harris did not need concern because the "French people are extremely proud to have you." The French president said that he had a previous meeting with United States President Joe Biden last month regarding the G20 summit, a "very fruitful meeting," CNN reported.

Harris also announced that the U.S. had joined an international initiative led by France that would protect civilians against cyberattacks and dishearten meddling in elections digitally. The announcement came three years after former United States President Donald Trump's administration declined to join the effort.

Read Also: Donald Trump's Lawyer Files for Another Appeal Preventing the Release of Documents Relating to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot on Friday

The agreement is called the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace and is a nonbinding declaration and only largely symbolic. However, many see Harris' visit to France as a similar thing. In the weeks after the snubbed deal between France and Australia because of the U.S., Biden's administration has done all it can to revitalize its relationship with Macron's government.

The situation was extremely tense that when Harris first arrived in France to meet with President Macron, she was asked by a reporter whether or not she needed to make amends. "I'm very happy to be in Paris," said the U.S. vice president in response to the reporter's question, the New York Times reported.

Trouble for Democracy?

Harris' trip to France also came as she is set to deliver pre-recorded remarks on Tuesday at a virtual summit for the Democracy Alliance, a network of liberal donors that billionaire George Soros funds in part. A source confirmed that the vice president was slated to speak at the two-day "Saving Our Democracy Donor Summit.

Reportedly, the summit's agenda included issues such as critical race theory, coming at a time when the Democratic Party was struggling in elections nationwide. The Democracy Alliance was founded in 2005 and has publicly claimed that there is an "unprecedented right-wing assault on democracy." Members of the group are required to donate at least $100,0000 to specific liberal groups.

The vice president follows President Biden's efforts, who, in 2011, also addressed the group during the time when he was the vice president for then-President Barack Obama. Additionally, Harris' trip to France included discussing issues regarding the U.S.-Mexico border and the surge of migrants and refugees, Fox News reported.

Related Article: Republicans' Hopes for Majority Faces Obstacle as Chris Sununu Decides Not To Run for Senate

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The European Union Commissioner and Joe Biden are considering further measures against airlines bringing migrants to Belarus as a result of the regime's decision.

Thousands Gathered Along the Shared Borders

In a recently published article in MSN News, thousands of migrants have gathered around Belarus' shared borders with European Union members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, sparking accusations that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is attempting to destabilize the union.

Belarus' claim to target the EU with migrants, according to Von der Leyen, is a destabilization effort by an authoritarian state against democratic neighbors. Some have accused Lukashenko of driving migrants toward the EU in retribution for EU sanctions placed on Belarus after its assault on internal opposition during the controversial 2020 election.

Meanwhile, about 3,000-4,000 migrants are said to have collected along Poland's border with Belarus, with hundreds concentrating in one temporary camp near the Kuznica crossing. Warsaw has beefed up security along the border, declaring a state of emergency, according to a published article in Financial Times.

Read Also: Vladimir Putin Oversees Vast War Games as Russia, Belarus Agree to Deepen Economic Ties; Huge Military Exercises Spark Concern in West

European Union is Discussing Possibility of Physical Infrastructure on Its Shared Borders

The EU is contemplating the notion of subsidizing "physical infrastructure" on its exterior borders, according to European Council President Charles Michel. According to the EU's executive commission, walls and barriers are ineffective, which has refused to build them using EU funds.

Additionally, security cameras and monitoring equipment would be covered, but not walls, fences, or other physical infrastructure. Several member nations are pressuring it to do so, with Poland and Lithuania already moving through with plans to construct high steel and razor wire barriers, according to a report published in Reuters.

The security on the Polish border has been beefed up, with around 15,000 troops, border guards, and police stationed there. The Polish Defense Ministry has called up reserves from its Territorial Defense Force to assist border guards and the military searching for migrants and assisting citizens whose lives have been disrupted by the restrictions in their region.

Belarusian Forces Accused of Firing Shots

Groups of migrants attempted to enter the nation late Tuesday and early Wednesday, according to the ministry and police, but those who made it in were arrested. It also accused Belarusian authorities of firing rounds into the air at a border crossing where migrants stuck between the two countries had established a camp.

Furthermore, thousands of migrants, including children, have been pushed back and forth in a woody region of wetlands and bogs as a result of the geopolitical stalemate. Eight fatalities have been reported, and the situation is becoming increasingly perilous as nighttime temperatures drop below freezing, as per DW reports.

Poland, which takes a tougher stance on refugees, has come under fire at home and abroad for driving many of them back into Belarus, where they are routinely abandoned in the woods. Lawmakers in Warsaw recently made it lawful to send migrants back to the country where they attempted to enter Poland without automatically granting them the right to seek asylum. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, Poland's actions are unlawful under international law.

Related Article: Putin Says That the EU Should Recompense Belarus to Stem Migrant Flow Into Poland; Citing Turkey in 2016

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Two children were discovered dead in a car, with their corpses bound in the back seat, in what authorities believe was a horrific murder perpetrated by their mother.

After investigators observed that the children were tied and confined, Yuhwei Chou, 36, of Skillman, New Jersey, was charged with murder for the deaths of Samantha Ross, seven, and 10-month-old Paul Ross, according to the Somerset County prosecutor's office.

Two children's cause of death remains unknown

A tow-truck driver travelling by on a remote road soon before 8 a.m. on Tuesday discovered the family's car beside a road. Robert Long, the tow truck driver's father, told CBS that his son contacted him in a panic after finding the mother and two dead children at Mountain View Road in Newark, some 50 miles east.

Chou was discovered in the car and her two children in the back, restrained in a booster seat and a baby seat. The reason of their death has yet to be determined. The condition of the mother was not disclosed. Long was taken aback when he learned the woman murdered her children.

According to Daily Mail, Somerset County prosecutor Michael Robertson said Chou has been charged with two counts of murder and is being detained in the Somerset County prison. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office claimed in a statement that the investigation proved Yuhwei Chou was responsible for the deaths of her two children, Samantha and Paul.

On Tuesday morning, a truck driver observed and approached the automobile that was off-road in Hillsborough. After noticing the youngsters in the car, the driver reportedly phoned the cops. Paul Long, the man's father, was also summoned to speak with the news station.

According to the driver's father, he was anxious. He claimed he came across a lady in the ditch and asked her if she was okay, to which she replied, "I believe not." "And then he saw the infants, and he immediately phoned the cops," Long said CBS.

Read Also: Ohio Son Faces Multiple Charges After Killing Adoptive Mother Then Set Her Body on Fire

New Jersey authorities discover a child bound with duct tape

Per Crime Online, the children were discovered unconscious and proclaimed lifeless at the scene by responding cops. According to a source close to the inquiry, the children's corpses had no evident injuries, but one or both of them were bound with duct tape over their eyes and mouth.

Investigators believe the youngsters died of suffocation while an official cause of death is pending autopsy results. A neighbor, Austen Wang-Bailey, told CBS 2 that they had "occasionally" seen police cars at the house but had never known why.

Meanwhile, officials announced Wednesday that a mother was detained on murder charges in the death of her 8-month-old infant. Officials said Ashley Roman, 20, and Joshua Delgado, 22, were both arrested on murder charges on Tuesday.

Prosecutors claimed Roman took her infant to the hospital on October 25. Delgado, who was not related to the child, joined her. On October 25, the baby's death was deemed a homicide.

Delgado also faces allegations of endangering the welfare of a child and drug possession. Roman was also charged with harming a child's welfare. On Wednesday, both Roman and Delgado were in arrest. The cause of the baby's death was not immediately known, as per PIX11.

Related Article: Pennsylvania Mom Faces Charges After Police Discover Dead Baby Hidden Inside Her Bedroom Wall

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Bryant Ranch Prepack has recalled 500 mg tablets of Methocarbamol, the generic equivalent of the muscle relaxer/pain medicine Robaxin, due to a serious packing error.

Recall of Methocarbamol 500mg

In a recently published article in Miami Herald, according to a press statement from the US Food and Drug Administration, Bryant Ranch Prepack has issued a voluntary recall for one batch of Methocarbamol 500mg tablets (FDA).

The bottles labeled "Methocarbamol 500mg Tablets" really contain "Methocarbamol 750mg Tablets," according to the firm. That's a greater dose than your doctor could have recommended. Bryant is also recalling a batch of 30-count, 60-count, and 90-count bottles.

Excessive Central Nervous System depression may occur if the 750mg dosage is used instead of the 500mg pills. As a consequence, you may suffer nausea, drowsiness, fainting, falls, seizures, coma, and death, among other symptoms. If you believe you've had symptoms, you should see your doctor, according to a report published in BGR.

Read Also: FDA Issues Recall Order for Enoki Mushrooms Over Potential Listeria Contamination

How To Identify the Pain Medicine?

The following Methocarbamol 500mg batches are affected: Lot 163935 has an expiration date of October 22nd. The product is recognizable by a red and white label with a yellow border at the top and bottom, and the top of the label states 'Packaged by Bryant Ranch Prepack.'

Meanwhile, set aside that lot and contact Bryant to return the pills if you are a distributor or wholesaler. If you are a patient, stop taking the recalled pills and return them to your pharmacy for a refund. Also, contact your doctor as soon as possible, as per MSN News.

After contacting a medical provider, report any problems to the FDA through its MedWatch Adverse Event website or by filling out a form obtained by calling 800-332-1088.

What Should You Do as a Consumer?

Bryant Ranch Prepack has begun alerting distributors and consumers about the recall and arranging for the return of the recalled pain medication. Distributors and doctors who got pain medications from the recalled batch should stop selling them and return them to Byrant.

Bryant Ranch Prepack advises consumers who have bottles of Methocarbamol 500mg Tablets from the contaminated lot to stop using them immediately. You may return them and make an appointment with your doctor. Whether you're not sure if the pain medication you recently got is part of the recall, speak with your doctor.

In the official notification on its website, the corporation gives contact information for the recall. Details on how to report adverse reactions and quality issues to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program may also be found there.

Furthermore, the corporation is also arranging for the bottles to be returned. Consumers who have these bottles should stop taking the pills immediately and contact their doctor for a replacement, according to the business. Patients who are taking these medicines and feel they have had an adverse reaction to them should notify their healthcare practitioner.

Related Article: FDA Recalls 2 Blood Pressure Medicines, Asks the Public To Stop Taking Them



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Kyle Rittenhouse burst into tears during his homicide trial while on the witness stand when he was asked to describe the events leading up to him shooting three men in the aftermath of demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

An emotional Rittenhouse testified that an individual, who was among the three that he shot, aggressively chased him into a parking lot. The suspect argued that the man had lunged at him, prompting him to defend himself.

Kyle Rittenhouse Bursts in Tears

In his testimony, the suspect said that he remembered the man's hand on the barrel of his gun after the judge called a recess to allow Rittenhouse to compose himself. The trial was also attended by the suspect's mother who can be heard weeping from her row in the courtroom gallery.

But for the majority of the trial on Wednesday, the 18-year-old suspect appeared to be composed, confident, and sometimes quizzical amid hours of questioning. Lawyers asked Rittenhouse on the basis of six criminal counts, including intentional and reckless homicide, reckless endangerment, and illegal possession of a firearm, the New York Times reported.

Before breaking down in tears, Rittenhouse argued that he was not looking for trouble when he traveled to Kenosha armed with a military-style assault rifle on Aug. 25, 2020. The defendant said he was merely trying to offer his assistance and provide first aid while protecting a local business from rioters.

Read Also: 2 Michigan Universities Fire Teachers, Suspend Students Who Remain Unvaccinated; Spokesperson Says No One Applied For Religious, Medical Exemptions

The teenage suspect has pleaded not guilty to felony counts for the shootings in Kenosha and faces life in prison if convicted for the most serious charges. When asked to return to the witness stand, Rittenhouse recounted his version of the events before he shot the three men, arguing that he was acting in self-defense against multiple assailants.

The 18-year-old suspect said he was walking with a fire extinguisher toward the parking lot of a local business to put out a fire when he heard a scream that said, "burn in hell!" Rittenhouse said that he responded by saying he was a friendly guy who was just trying to help, Yahoo News reported.

Defending Himself

However, during cross-examination, Rittenhouse revealed that he knew the man who lunged at him, identified as Joseph Rosenbaum, was unarmed when he ran at him. The 18-year-old said he pointed his rifle at the victim to try and prevent him from approaching, adding that he had full knowledge that pointing a rifle at a person was dangerous.

"He was chasing me, I was alone, he threatened to kill me earlier that night. I didn't want to have to shoot him. I pointed at him because he kept running at me and I didn't want him to chase me," said Rittenhouse in his testimony, CNN reported.

The defendant said that he was afraid that Rosenbaum, whom he revealed did not touch the suspect at all that night, would steal his gun and kill other people. Rittenhouse argued that if he had let Rosenbaum take his weapon, the victim would have then had the means to kill him and a lot more people in the area.



Related Article: Pakistan, Taliban Militants Agree on Ceasefire After Weeks of Negotiations

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The U.S. military is testing Israel's Iron Dome air-defense system in Guam because of the threat of Chinese cruise missiles.

US Deploys One of Its Iron Dome Anti-Missile

In a recently published article in MSN News, one of the US military's two Iron Dome anti-missile systems has been deployed to the US Pacific island of Guam. According to a news outlet, the system, which was built in Israel, is presently being tested in Guam as part of an American attempt to protect the island against Chinese missiles.

According to the information gathered, Iron Dome would be ineffective against Chinese ballistic missiles, but the present test highlights the vast variety of US technology headed to the Asia-Pacific area as the Pentagon responds to what it has dubbed China's "No. 1 threat."

Although Iron Dome may be used to counter cruise missiles fired from Chinese bombers, one analyst warned a news source that it was just a temporary solution. Guam is also home to the United States' closest military installation on American territory near China, with around 190,000 citizens and personnel, according to a published report in Times of Israel.

Read Also: Israeli Ground Forces Now Join Attacks on Gaza Strip

U.S. Planned To Purchase Iron Dome Batteries

In February 2019, the United States announced plans to buy a small number of Iron Dome batteries to evaluate and test as a system to defend deployed US military personnel from a range of indirect fire and aerial threats for military advancement.

Meanwhile, at the White Sands missile range in New Mexico, the US successfully performed its first domestic live-fire test of Iron Dome in August of this year. However, the army ultimately chose a system created by Dynetics, an Alabama military firm, over Israeli technology, according to a report published in HAARETZ.

China Could Target Guam Instantly

China might use a sea-skimming cruise missile to strike the island, which is around 1,800 missiles away, which is where the Iron Dome would come into play. Israel's Iron Dome was created by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Raytheon Technologies, and it's meant to fight against short-range rockets like the ones fired into the nation by Palestinian terrorists.

Military officials have been hesitant to deploy their Iron Dome missile defense systems, citing problems with integrating them with other missile defense systems, while others have argued that South Korea would be a better place to deploy the technology, given its border and relationship with North Korea.

Tests of Iron Dome Missile

In a published article in The Wall Street Journal, the test comes as the Pentagon's focus has switched to the Asia-Pacific area after reports that China had tested a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that circled the globe before rushing towards its target, showcasing superior space capabilities that took US intelligence off guard.

Even though Chinese government officials denied the test was what it was reported to be, both Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. John Hyten, the outgoing vice chairman, have emphasized the significance of the test, with the former referring to it as nearly a "Sputnik moment."

Related Article: What Israeli Defense Technology Can Do to Stop Iran's Small Attack Boats



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Xi Jinping on Thursday warned of a potential "Cold War" in the Asia-Pacific region amid rising tensions with the United States and Taiwan, admonishing against letting the issues cause a relapse into a dangerous mentality.

Xi's statements regarding the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum came several weeks after the U.S., Britain, and Australia, announced a new security alliance. The cooperative effort in the region would see Australia building nuclear submarines which have received harsh criticisms from China.

Potential Cold War?

In a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at APEC that is hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format, Xi made his speech. Additionally, the Chinese president is set to participate in an online meeting that would be attended by other Pacific Rim leaders, including United States President Joe Biden, and is scheduled for Saturday.

During his address, Xi said that attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would not succeed. "The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era," said the Chinese president, the Associated Press reported.

Additionally, Xi said that the Asia-Pacific region should do what it can to keep supply lines working properly and work on liberalizing trade and investment. The Chinese president said his country will continue to stand firm in advancing reform and will open up to support economic development.

Read Also: Biden To Sign $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill With Both Democrats, Republicans Present During a Monday Ceremony

The official said that the country's priority in the meantime is fighting against the coronavirus pandemic and successfully emerging from its shadow as soon as possible. Nearly three billion people were members of APEC and account for roughly 60% of the world's GDP. However, tensions have been rising between 21 nations and territories in recent months, including the U.S., China, Taiwan, Russia, and Australia.

China has long since claimed that it has authority over the majority of the South China Sea and other areas. The Communist Party has continued to conduct aggressive military actions, building islands in many disputed areas while asserting historic claims, Fox Baltimore reported.

Rising Tensions Among Nations

Xi's statements citing the Cold War were an apparent reference to efforts by the United States with regional allies and partners, including India, Japan, and Australia. On Tuesday, The Chinese military said that it performed combat readiness patrol in the direction of the Taiwan Strait. The efforts came after the country's Defense Ministry condemned a U.S. congressional delegation that visited Taiwan.

Many allies were concerned after combative U.S. diplomatic exchanges with China early in the Biden administration. The situation comes as American officials believe that direct engagement with Beijing was the best way to prevent potential conflict between the two superpowers of the world.

Authorities have not yet revealed a scheduled date of when Biden and Xi could meet face to face but a person familiar with the matter said that it could happen as soon as next week. The meeting could see a significant shift in how relationships between international powers could affect each other, Yahoo News reported.



Related Article: Donald Trump's Lawyer Files for Another Appeal Preventing the Release of Documents Relating to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot on Friday

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On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken warned that while Russia's objectives behind its recent military buildup along Ukraine's eastern border were unknown, Moscow would be making a "serious mistake" if it continued to attack its troubled neighbor.

He spoke with his Ukrainian colleague amid rumors of increased Russian military deployments along the border, which have raised concerns in Kyiv and Washington following a large concentration of Russian troops in the area this spring.

Russia troop stationed in Ukraine border

According to Ukraine's Defense Ministry, roughly 90,000 Russian troops are stationed near its border. It was unclear how many of them were newly deployed; US officials indicated in May that even after Moscow declared a partial retreat, up to 80,000 Russian troops remained posted in the area, The NY Times reported.

Officials in the Biden administration have been attempting to defuse a potential new crisis. William J. Burns, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, visited Moscow this week for an unusual meeting with Kremlin leaders.

The increased tensions come after a time of relative quiet in US-Russia ties, during which Biden officials attempted to break out from a growing cycle of conflict with the Kremlin by identifying areas of collaboration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Blinken indicated that Russia would try to retaliate against regions of Ukraine, a former Soviet country whose political leadership has shifted toward the West in recent years, angering Putin. Russian military occupied the Crimean Peninsula and sponsored a pro-Russian separatist war in eastern Ukraine, which continues today, after a mainly pro-Western popular movement deposed the Ukrainian government in early 2014.

The US is "concerned" by reports of unusual Russian military action, according to Blinken, and the prospect that Russia is "attempting to rehash" its 2014 invasion of Ukraine.

Read Also: India, China To Purchase Russia's S-500 Missile Defense System; 3 Top Methane Emitters Won't Pledge To Cut Emissions

Blinken said US is concerned with Russia's military activities

According to four people informed on the conversation, Russia's powerful security chief did not deny that Moscow was transferring soldiers or ease US fears about Russia's intentions during a meeting with CIA director Bill Burns a week ago.

Blinken, speaking at the State Department with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, said the US is "concerned" about reports of unusual Russian military activities and is "monitoring very closely" the Russian activity, CNN reported.

A pair of Russian long-range bombers flew over Belarus on Wednesday and "checked the Union State's air defenses," according to Russian state media, just weeks after a major joint military exercise between Belarus and Russia, drills that were followed by an announcement from Moscow that the two sides plan to "contribute to strengthening the Union State's military security."

Per Washington Examiner, Blinken stated that the US is prepared to deliver "lethal defense weaponry to guard against any Russian aggression," but added that the US has little patience for Russian claims of concern over NATO or Ukrainian military activities.

Related Article: Joe Biden Sends CIA Director to Russia To Warn Vladimir Putin About Building Troops on Ukraine Border

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Former United States President Donald Trump continues his desperate attempt to prevent the House Select Committee from accessing White House records amid its investigations of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot after a judge rejected his previous emergency request.

The former president's latest attempt has his legal team looking to an appeals court to prevent the National Archives from releasing the records to the House Select Committee. On Friday, United States Archivist David Ferriero is expected to start releasing the documents to the committee.

Trump's Desperate Attempts

Trump hit his latest snag after U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan denied two different attempts by his lawyer to block the disputed records from being released to the committee. Chutkan said in her Wednesday ruling that Trump's requests were similar to his original preliminary injunction motion and provided no new facts or arguments that could persuade the court to reconsider.

Judge Chutkan noted that Trump had already filed a notice of an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit previously. She added that the former president was "therefore free to petition that Court for relief" before Friday, CNBC reported.

Trump's lawyers had requested Chutkan to pause enforcement of her ruling while the Republican businessman appeals his case to a higher court. The former president previously made a similar request to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which has not yet taken action on his request.

Read Also: Biden To Sign $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill With Both Democrats, Republicans Present During a Monday Ceremony

Chutkan's ruling gives the House Select Committee the authority to access telephone records, visitor logs, and other White House documents that Trump is desperately trying to hide. The Republican businessman argues that the documents that the committee was requesting were covered by a legal doctrine known as an executive privilege which keeps them confidential.

However, in Tuesday's ruling, Chutkan rejected the argument, giving a much-needed win for congressional oversight powers. The incident being investigated occurred on Jan. 6 and caused the death of four people, one of whom was shot dead by police while the other three were of natural causes. The unprecedented incident also caused 100 police officers to be injured when a large mob stormed the Capitol, Reuters reported.

White House Records

The rioters scaled the walls of the U.S. Capitol, demolished barricades, and smashed windows amid their violent attempt to gain control of the building. The protesters were trying to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election results that Biden had won and that Trump had called fraudulent.

The incident marked the first time since the 1860 election that the transfer of executive power was distinctly not peaceful. A transcript of the ruling noted that Trump was challenging the legality of the committee's requests for certain records.

The ruling noted that in the months after losing the election, Trump had repeatedly claimed that the election was rigged and stolen from him. In a speech on Dec. 2, 2020, the Republican businessman alleged "tremendous voter fraud and irregularities" that resulted from a late-night "massive dump" of votes that caused Biden to take the lead, Newsweek reported.



Related Article: US Warns Russia Against Another "Mistake" in Ukraine Border; Blinken Claims Kremlin May Be Attempting To Rehash 2014 Invasion

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Online searches for "social media abuse" increased by 280 percent on the same day Prince Harry spoke at the conference. For the discussion, Prince Harry was joined by Renee DiResta, technical research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory, and Rashad Robinson, co-chair of the Aspen Commission on Information Disorder and president of Color Of Change. Steven Levy, Wired's editor-at-large, was also present.

"They won't stop until she's dead," Prince Harry said about the Duchess of Sussex during his mental health documentary series earlier this year, as per Express.co. During the virtual event, Prince Harry slammed the British press.

Prince Harry speaks out about deleting social media account

He also stated that he and Meghan do not use social media and will not do so until things change. The Duke went on to say that the internet is "becoming characterized by hatred, division, and deceit," according to new research from Trusted Reviews, which found that on November 9, online interest in "social media abuse" was more than double the average volume.

According to Google Trends statistics, this was an unusual rise in users Googling social media abuse, with internet searches for "delete social media and misinformation" skyrocketing by 150 percent on the same day.

The emails and messages between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and their former close advisor Jason Knauf have been revealed in court. The texts were made public on Wednesday as part of an appeal by the Mail On Sunday's publisher against a High Court judge's ruling that the publishing of a letter sent by Meghan Markle to her father was "unlawful."

The letters provide a rare glimpse into the couple's conversations and feelings in the months leading up to their departure from the Royal family. Knauf, Meghan's former head of communications, said that Meghan prepared the letter knowing it might be leaked, and that she intended to "tug at the heartstrings" if that happened, OK! Magazine reported.

Read Also: Rebel Wilson Speaks Out on Her Weight Loss Journey, Thinks She Couldn't Overcome Emotional Eating

Duke of Sussex believes term 'Megxit' is offensive towards Meghan Markle

As a consequence of his growing co-operation with reporters and photographers, Knauf stated in his witness statement that the Duchess had "lost faith that the privacy of her communication with her father would be protected by him."

Also covered was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's involvement in the controversial memoir 'Finding Freedom,' for which she first stated that she had given no permission. Despite his suggestion that removing herself from the project "would be necessary," Knauf stated there was "particular collaboration in writing" at the hearings.

"I totally agree that we have to be able to say we didn't have anything to do with it," Prince Harry said in court emails.

Prince Harry said that "Megxit' is or was a misogynistic" term and was created by a troll, as he addressed an online summit. The Duke of Sussex accused the mainstream media of amplifying the phrase, which ran in news outlets on both sides of the Atlantic, after the couple announced their decision to "step back" from royal duties on January 8, 2020.

As he spoke at an online summit, Prince Harry remarked, "Megxit is or was a sexist" term that was developed by a troll. After the pair announced their plan to "step back" from royal duties on January 8, 2020, the Duke of Sussex criticized the mainstream media of repeating the term, which appeared in news sources on both sides of the Atlantic.

Brexit, which is shorthand for Britain's withdrawal from the European Union, was the inspiration for the term. Prince Harry launched a broad assault on social media corporations, citing research from Bot Sentinel that claimed a handful of Twitter accounts were responsible for 70% of the online vitriol directed towards Meghan, as per Newsweek via MSN.

Related Article: Meghan Markle's Credibility Questioned in Court of Appeal After Former Aide Gives New Statement Against Her

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United Airlines is just one of the many carriers in the United States that was gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though the active cases in some of the states in the country are already on a decline, it will still take some time before travel in and out of the US will normalize.

Earlier this week, United Airlines announced its decision to stop flying to 11 small cities across the country starting January. A spokesperson for the company said that there had to consider several factors before they eventually decided to stop their fleets in select destinations.

"Many different factors determine a successful route and our decisions include careful evaluation of our overall network, fleet, resources at our regional partners, and yields. With that in mind, we have determined that these particular routes are not sustainable for the long-term," the airline said in a statement via Deseret News.

Which cities will United Airlines stop catering to?

Prior to the announcement, United Airlines served the different cities through its regional affiliates and from either of its two hubs: Houston and Chicago.

Following their decision to stop serving the 11 cities, the airline promised to help their loyal customers find the best flight options when traveling to their destinations.

The cities that United Airlines will no longer cater to starting January includes Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, Michigan, College Station, Texas, Columbia, Missouri, Mosinee, Wisconsin, Evansville, Indiana, Killeen-Fort Hood, Texas, Lansing, Michigan, Monroe, Louisiana, Pierre, South Dakota, Watertown, South Dakota, and Twin Falls, Idaho.

Read Also: US To Welcome Fully Vaccinated Foreign Visitors After 20-Month Entry Ban

Staff shortage, COVID-19 contributed to airline's decision

According to the Lansing State Journal, there is a possibility that United Airlines had to cancel their flights to the 11 small cities due in part to the pilot shortage. Additionally, there is also a slow return of travelers in the region because of the pandemic.

Reports revealed that several other US-based airlines have been feeling the brunt of the pandemic. Some flights have been delayed or canceled due to staffing and shortage issues.

A study conducted by The Family Vacation Guide revealed that the top three airports dealing with the most amount of delays include Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

US-based airlines have been canceling flights

Last month, Southwest Airlines reportedly canceled more than 2,000 flights in a span of a couple of days due to weather and air traffic control issues. This resulted in a loss of $75 million for the airline on top of their other losses during the pandemic.

Earlier this month, American Airlines canceled a total of 1,058 flights over a four-day period. The cancelation of the flights left passengers stranded at the airport, according to CNN.

Travel returns to normal in the US

But despite all these cancelations, the United States is slowly returning to normal when it comes to travel. The country fully reopened international travel for fully vaccinated residents.

According to The Associated Press, travelers are still required to present their vaccination card and a negative COVID-19 test in order for them to leave the country and reunite with their loved ones.

Related Article: Southwest Airlines Accused of Racial Profiling After Mom, Daughter Were Interviewed by Police Due To Suspicious Behavior on Plane

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Investigations regarding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot are still ongoing, and those who participated could face prison sentences.

According to reports, Scott Fairlamb, 44, has been named the first Jan. 6 Capitol rioter to be sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail.

Initially, he was recommended for a 41 to 51-month prison time, but Judge Royce Lamberth said that 41 months is what Fairlamb deserves because he was also the first rioter to come forward and admit his wrongdoing.

Scott Fairlamb issues tearful apology during sentencing

A tearful Fairlamb apologized to the judge and said that what he did during this year's demonstrations was out of character. He also said that he wasn't raised to incite violence on other people.

The former MMA fighters previously made headlines for assaulting a police officer during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He reportedly entered the building through a window that was already broken.

In a video clip that surfaced after the attack, Fairlamb can be heard encouraging other rioters to mob forward. And three days later, he filmed himself showing no remorse for what he did.

Read Also: Donald Trump Won't Be Able To Keep Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Documents a Secret, Federal Judge Claims

Scott Fairlamb claimed he wanted to protest again

According to CNN, Fairlamb tagged Representative Cori Bush on his Instagram post that is filled with racist and sexist remarks. He also told one of his friends via a text message that he would lead the protests at the Capitol once again if the opportunity arose.

The police officer that Fairlamb punched on the face did not sustain serious injuries because he was wearing a face shield.

Lamberth told Fairlamb during his sentencing that if he had gone to trial, he believed that no jury member would acquit him of his wrongdoing.

Judge Royce Lamberth urges other rioters to come forward

The judge also urged those who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to come forward just like Fairlamb did. After all, even if they stay silent, the court still has a way of tracking them down.

In his plea, Fairlamb revealed that he has always supported law enforcement. After all, his brother works as a Secret Service agent.

According to Fairlamb, he has been banned from talking to his brother out of respect for the latter's position.

"This is not Scott Fairlamb. That's not who I am. That's not who I was raised to be. I truly regret my actions that day," he said via MSN.

Prior to his sentencing, Fairlamb's lawyer asked the judge if they could give his client 17 months prison time. However, the request was denied by the court.

After Fairlamb leaves prison, he will be placed under 36-month surveillance to ensure that he won't incite more violence, according to MMA Fighting.

Donald Trump accused of spreading election fraud lies

Thousands of Donald Trump's supporters flocked to the Capitol earlier this year to prevent the Senate from declaring Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election.

Prior to the riot, Trump appeared in his "Stop the Steal" rally, where he told Republicans that the 2020 election was rigged.

Related Article: Donald Trump's Lawyer Files for Another Appeal Preventing the Release of Documents Relating to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot on Friday

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Billene Seyoum, the spokesperson of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, condemns Facebook's decision to remove the leader's controversial post.

Earlier this week, Ahmed made headlines after posting a cryptic message on social media, saying that he and his administration would bury the enemy with their blood and bones.

Ethiopian PM's spokesperson comes to his defense

Shortly after, Facebook decided to delete Ahmed's post because it reportedly violated the company's policies against inciting and supporting violence. However, Seyoum claimed that Ahmed's statement shouldn't be taken literally.

"The prime minister calling upon the Ethiopian people to defend their city, to defend their communities, to defend their country is part of the government's constitutional responsibility to ward off any attacks," Seyoum told CNN.

Seyoum added that the Ethiopian prime minister is not asking his supporters to attack their counterparts. However, Facebook stood by its decision to delete Ahmed's post by saying that they get rid of posts that violate their community standards regardless of who shared them, according to India Today.

Read Also: Ethiopia Could Lose Access to US Trade Program Due to Human Rights Violations; Joe Biden Urges Government To Take Immediate Action

Ethiopian PM Abiy Ahmed has been targeting TPLF

This is not the first time that Ahmed has seemingly incited violence via a post on Facebook. Days earlier, he also encouraged his supporters to march with any weapon and resources that they could use to defend themselves from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

According to reports, Ahmed has been at odds with the TPLF for months. Last year, the prime minister accused TPLF of attacking a federal army base.

A spokesperson for the group, Getachew Reda, clarified that they are not after power or territory. But they have vowed to fight Ahmed and his military forces because they have been killing members of the TPLF.

Twitter suspends trends feature in Ethiopia

Earlier this month, Twitter also announced that they would temporarily suspend the company's Trends feature amid the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia.

In a statement, Twitter said that they are monitoring the situation in the country and the conversations regarding the conflict on the platform. The social media platform also stressed that inciting violence or dehumanizing people are not allowed on Twitter.

Odanga Madung, a fellow at the Mozilla Foundation, said that Twitter may have just implicated themselves. After all, removing their Trends feature confirms that the company is aware that their platform is used to incite harm and violence, according to Quartz Africa

Donald Trump suspended from Facebook, banned from Twitter

However, it is important to note that only Ahmed's post on Facebook and the conversations pertaining to the conflict on Twitter have been removed. His official accounts on both platforms are still operational.

Ahmed isn't the only world leader who has a strained relationship with Facebook and Twitter. Earlier this year, the social media platforms decided to suspend or ban Donald Trump from their site after he was also accused of inciting violence during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The ex-POTUS has been suspended from Facebook and Instagram for two years. However, there are several conditions before his accounts can get reinstated, according to Meta.

On the contrary, Trump was banned from Twitter. And it's unclear if he will ever be permitted to use the platform again.

Related Article: Donald Trump Seeks Federal Judge's Help To Have His Twitter Account Restored; Ex-POTUS Banned From Platform Following US Capitol Riot

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Kamala Harris arrived in Paris earlier this week for a series of engagements that will last for five days.

On Tuesday, Harris visited the Suresnes American Cemetery to pay respects to service members from the United States that died during World War I and World War II.

Kamala Harris, Emmanuel Macron exchanged pleasantries

Following her visit, the vice president met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace.

Macron thanked Harris for visiting Paris, and he also told her that the French people were proud of her. Harris responded by thanking Macron for his invitation and said that the United States and France have been successful in their endeavors every time they worked together.

Harris also said that she's looking forward to discussing areas of cooperation with France in the areas of climate change, scientific research, cyberspace, and more.

Read Also: Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron Will Meet for the First Time Following Their Clash Over US, UK's Agreement With Australia

United States, France mend their broken relationship

According to reports, Tuesday's meeting showed that Harris and Macron are committed to rebuilding trust following a recent debacle involving Australia's nuclear submarine.

In September, the United States struck a surprise deal with Australia at a time when the latter was already finalizing its agreement with France. The incident resulted in Macron and Joe Biden giving each other the cold shoulder until they finally met face-to-face in Rome, according to CNN.

Kamala Harris wants politicians to use hypotheses

Earlier this week, Harris visited the Institute Pasteur, where she talked about the United States and France's partnership in scientific research. The vice president also praised the staff for continuously operating with a hypothesis.

"A hypothesis- it's well-thought-out, it's well-planned, they start out with a hypothesis and then they test it out knowing invariably, you're trying something for the first time, there will be glitches, there will be mistakes," she said via Fox News.

Harris added that what's great about having a hypothesis is that everyone gets together and tries to figure out what went wrong when there are mistakes.

US vice president criticized for faking a French accent

Even though the vice president was praised for her efforts, her fake French accent got people talking on Twitter.

Kamala "Cringe" Harris visits a group of French scientists and speaks to them as if they're toddlers, lamenting that people expect their elected officials to keep their promises. pic.twitter.com/93eoZEip4R  Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) November 10, 2021

Donald Trump supporter Jack Schneider uploaded a video of Harris talking to the scientists with what sounded like a fake French accent. Schneider dubbed the vice president Kamala "Cringe" Harris in his post.

He also slammed Harris for talking to the scientists like they were toddlers while stressing that people expect their leaders to keep their promises.

Joe Concha, a news contributor for Fox, also criticized Harris. GOP strategist Matt Whitlock joined him, who wondered if Harris practiced her accent with her child actor friends.

Sen. Josh Hawley's press secretary, Abigail Marone, likened Harris' meeting with the scientists to an episode of "Veep."

Despite the criticisms, it's business as usual for Harris. The vice president will speak at a peace forum on Thursday. And she will also join a conference on the future of Libya alongside 20 world leaders, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Related Article: Kamala Harris Will Travel to Europe To Discuss Plight of Migrants, Refugees at the 'Paris Conference on Libya'

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Attorney Rita Glavin's pleas to have his client Andrew Cuomo's testimony released have just been heard.

Earlier this week, New York Attorney General Letitia James ordered the release of the transcripts featuring Cuomo's 11-hour testimony after 11 women accused him of sexual harassment.

Andrew Cuomo wanted female staffers to support him

In the transcript, Cuomo reportedly sounded combative while trying to discredit James. The former governor of New York, who resigned from his post after Joe Biden urged him to, also slammed the POTUS in his testimony.

Independent investigator Joon Kim, who James hired, conducted the probe. Kim asked Cuomo if it was his idea to try and get women to support him publicly. And the former politician dragged the president in his response.

"I thought it was more effective than just me going out there saying, 'No, none of this happened.' I thought it was more effective to have female staff people say -- make a statement. That's what Biden did. That's what other politicians have done in this circumstance. I thought that was an effective vehicle," he said via CNN.

Read Also: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Says He Will Resign, Kathy Hochul to Take Over

Joe Biden accused of sexual misconduct

According to reports, Biden was accused of sexual misconduct during his 2020 campaign. His former aide, Tara Reade, accused Biden of sexual assault.

Following the allegations, several women released statements of support in defense of Biden. At least 74 former Biden staffers - 62 of which are women - confirmed that they never experienced any form of harassment or abuse while working for the president.

Cuomo and his aides, on the other hand, drafted a letter where they attacked the creditability of the former's accuser. Cuoco admitted that he suggested that only women should sign the letter just like what Biden's staff did, according to the New York Post.

Andrew Cuomo struggled to define 'girlfriend'

Other than Biden, the transcript of Cuomo's 11-hour interview also centered on confusion over the definition of girlfriend.

Cuomo was asked whether it's true that he compared the appearance of his accuser, Lindsey Boylan, to one of his ex-girlfriends. The ex-governor said that he remembered saying that Boylan looked like a clone of another woman that he knew.

Investigator Anne Clark then asked Cuomo if the person that she compared Boylan to was his girlfriend. And the former politician asked Clark what she means by the word girlfriend.

When asked if he understood what girlfriend means, Cuomo claimed that the word could have different meanings. He eventually defined it as a girl who is a friend, according to the New York Times.

Andrew Cuomo claims Letitia James has a vendetta against him

The release of over 500 pages of testimony came three months after James' office issued a report that confirmed that Cuomo sexually harassed at least 11 women. One week later, he resigned from his position.

Cuomo is convinced that James has a vendetta against him. And he also accused the attorney general's probe as politically motivated. After all, James declared her gubernatorial candidacy earlier this month.

If elected, James will serve as Cuomo's Democratic replacement.

Related Article: Andrew Cuomo Makes Final Speech as Governor, Continues to Deny Sexual Harassment Allegations

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
While waiting for news on fourth stimulus check, Americans should check their local government agencies for available support programs. Up to date, there are over 15 cities with guaranteed income schemes that can credit Americans up to $6,500 per recipient.

How to Get Money? Basic Income Program USA in 15 Cities

Many government agencies know that their residents are struggling, and officials are doing what they can to help. Many launched financial aid plans locally. DailyMail listed 15 cities that have ongoing proposals or approved basic income programs available.

Compton, California: 800 residents will be guaranteed $300 to $600 payments for 24 months under The Compton Pledge.

Oakland, California: 600 families will be given $500 monthly payments for at least 18 months under the Oakland Resilient Families program.

Los Angeles, California: 2,000 city residents will be guaranteed a $1,000 payment within the incoming year under the Basic Income Guaranteed: LA Economic Assistance Pilot (BIG:LEAP).

Long Beach, California: Mayor Robert Garcia proposed a guarantee income program for artists who reside in the area. The situation is still progressing, and not much detail about the proposal was available.

Sacramento, California: 100 families will be given $300 monthly payments for 24 months under the Direct Investment Program in Sacramento (DIPS).

San Diego, California: 150 randomly selected participants will be given $500 monthly payments for at least 24 months under the Resilient Communities for Every Child Initiative.

Read Also: Fourth Stimulus Check Update: $15000 Payment Rumors Not True, But LA Approves $1000 Monthly Checks

Baltimore, Maryland: Mayor Brandon Scott is reportedly designing a guaranteed income pilot for the city.

Chelsea, Massachusetts: 2,040 low-income families will receive guaranteed income up to $400 for several months.

Columbia, South Carolina: 100 selected participants will be guaranteed $500 monthly payments for 12 months under the Columbia Life Improvement Monetary Boost (CLIMB).

Denver, Colorado: Goups of homeless individuals will be given guaranteed income between $50 to $6,500 under the Denver Basic Income Project.

Madison, Wisconsin: Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is reportedly raising money for a soon-to-be-announced guaranteed income pilot.

Newark, New Jersey: 200 participants will be given $250 payments bi-weekly for 24 months, while another group of 200 participants will get $3,000 payments payable within the incoming two years (schedule is yet to be decided). Both are under the Newark Movement for Economic Equity program.

Saint Paul, Minnesota: 150 families will receive $500 monthly payments for 18 months under the People's Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot.

Tacoma, Washington: 100 families will be guaranteed $500 monthly payments for 12 months under Growing Resilience in Tacoma (GRIT).

Basic Income Program Chicago

Another notable program is the Chicago universal basic income pilot, which will give $500 monthly income to low-income families. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called it "the most progressive budget in City Hall's history."

Today we passed the FY2022 Chicago Budget making it the most progressive budget in City Hall's history. #chibudget22 pic.twitter.com/abfVg5RS87  Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) October 27, 2021

Earlier this week, Lightfoot launched a $31 million universal income pilot for the local families. Lightfoot said, "growing up, I knew what it felt like to live check to check. When you're in need, every bit of income helps." Full details of how to apply are available in this article.



Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check Update: $2000 Online Petitions Gain Steam, $500 Payments in Chicago Approved
Are you using Android? Be warned, a recently discovered PhoneSpy malware has infected over 1,000 Android devices. This spyware performs all types of surveillance activities, like harvesting account passwords, downloading device files, and even recording phone audio and video in real-time!

On Wednesday, the security firm Zimperium posted about the spyware called "PhoneSpy." It was found infecting thousands of South Korean Android users. Any infected device gives the attacker full access to the smartphone's data, communications and services.

When in control, attackers could remotely open the smartphone camera to take photos, record video and audio. They could also active GPS to pinpoint user precise location, view multimedia files on the device and more. The whole process is covert, and spying is done on the victim without raising their awareness.

Android PhoneSpy Malware: Complete List of Functions

According to Zimperium, PhoneSpy functions like an advanced Remote Access Trojan (RAT). This malware performs a wide range of malicious actions like stealing information such as:

Complete list of installed applications

User credentials and personal information

Multimedia content (images, videos, and recordings)

SMS logs

Call logs

Phone contacts

Device information (IMEI, brand, device name, Android version)

As previously mentioned, attackers could also activate the smartphone functions like:

Record GPS location

Record audio real-time

Record video real-time (both front and rear cameras)

Send SMS

Conceal its presence by hiding the icon from the device drawer.

Zimperium researcher Aazim Yaswant emphasized that "These malicious Android apps are designed to run silently in the background, constantly spying on their victims without raising any suspicion. We believe the malicious actors responsible for PhoneSpy have gathered significant amounts of personal and corporate information on their victims, including private communications and photos."

Read Also: New Google App Aids People with Speech Impairment: How to Join Project Relate Beta Test to Help

PhoneSpy Spyware Apps

Unlike the usual spyware, which takes advantage of device vulnerabilities, PhoneSpy hides in plain sight. PhoneSpy disguises itself as a legitimate application for learning yoga, watching TV, watching videos, and browsing photos. Up to date, Zimperium discovered 23 applications containing PhoneSpy.

Fortunately, Zimperium said they found no evidence of PhoneSpy in Google Play Store and other third-party app marketplaces. Researchers concluded that PhoneSpy got distributed through web traffic redirection or social engineering.

How to Stay Safe From PhoneSpy

Zimperium researchers are still investigating whether the victims had any connections with one other. They are trying to determine if PhoneSpy was downloaded through SMS messages and phishing links.

Although PhoneSpy victims were only found in South Korea, Android users are recommended to be careful of this dangerous spyware. Android users can stay safe by following these suggestions:

Do not download apps from the internet. Android users should only download from certified sources like Google Play Store because these sites have active security monitoring features.

Do not click links from suspicious sources. Researchers suspect phishing tactics might deliver PhoneSpy, so Android users should avoid clicking on links sent by an unknown SMS or email address.



Related Article: Afraid Your Samsung, iPhone Have Virus? 7 Warning Signs Your Phone Is Infected With Virus
Since the Christmas season is approaching, NASA Hubble Space Telescope captured a piece of evidence that space might be celebrating the Holiday season already. The said captured photo is a nebula called the Space Snowman.

Hubble Telescope Captures Space Snowman!

In the recent photo taken by the NASA Hubble Space Telescope, it captured an emission nebula located about 6,000 light-years away from Earth and resides in the constellation Puppis in the southern sky.

 Its a space snowman!



This newly released Hubble image of the Snowman Nebula is an example of an emission nebula, which is a cloud of gas thats become so charged by the energy of nearby massive stars that it glows with its own light: https://t.co/wIkreAIZPS#NebulaNovember pic.twitter.com/vgatRR9XxG  Hubble (@NASAHubble) November 10, 2021

The nebula is called Space Snowman, also known as Sharpless 2-302 (SH2-302), which appears to be a dual-lobed ball of gas when viewed through a telescope on Earth. However, the latest Hubble Telescope picture showed sweeping curves of luminous gas and dark knots of dust in a small portion of the nebula.

Additionally, it is one of the objects in astronomer Stewart Sharpless' inventory of mainly emission nebulae that he assembled in order to find areas of interstellar ionized hydrogen or HII regions.

Moreover, the photograph was taken during a survey of huge and intermediate-sized protostars or newly formed stars. Astronomers utilized Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3's infrared sensitivity to seek for hydrogen ionized by ultraviolet radiation from protostars, star jets and other characteristics

Read Also: iPhone 13 Pro vs. Pixel 6 Pro Cameras Compared in Massive Photo Experiment: Pros, Cons and Shocking Results!

Emission Nebula Overview

For those who are curious to know about what emission nebula is, they are a series diffuse cloud of gas that have been charged by the energy of neighboring giant stars to the point where they now emit their own light. Ionization occurs when the radiation from these huge stars removes electrons from the nebula's hydrogen atoms. The charged electrons emit energy in the form of light as they revert from their higher-energy state to a lower-energy state, causing the nebula's gas to glow.

To give much detailed information, Seasky stated that the word nebula came from the Latin word that signifies clouds. More than one nebula is called nebulae. These are the fundamental building blocks of the universe that are made up of the elements that make up stars and solar systems.

Moreover, there are five different types of nebulae that have been identified such as emission nebulae, reflection nebulae, dark nebulae, planetary nebulae, and supernova remnants. Emission and reflection nebulae have a hazy appearance with no apparent shape or structure and diffuse nebulae are another name of them.

Emission Nebula : Because of the abundance of hydrogen, emission nebulae tend to be red in hue. Various elements can produce other hues, such as blue and green, although hydrogen is almost always the most prevalent. The Orion Nebula is a great example of an emission nebula (M42).

: Because of the abundance of hydrogen, emission nebulae tend to be red in hue. Various elements can produce other hues, such as blue and green, although hydrogen is almost always the most prevalent. The Orion Nebula is a great example of an emission nebula (M42). Reflection Nebula: A reflection nebula differs from an emission nebula since it does not produce its own radiation. Aside from this, reflection nebulae are frequently the site of star formations. Because of the way the light is scattered, they are usually blue in color.

A reflection nebula differs from an emission nebula since it does not produce its own radiation. Aside from this, reflection nebulae are frequently the site of star formations. Because of the way the light is scattered, they are usually blue in color. Supernova Remnant: When a star dies in a tremendous explosion known as a supernova, supernova remnants are left behind. The crab nebula (M1) in Taurus is one of the outstanding examples of a supernova remnant.

When a star dies in a tremendous explosion known as a supernova, supernova remnants are left behind. The crab nebula (M1) in Taurus is one of the outstanding examples of a supernova remnant. Planetary Nebula: A planetary nebula is a gaseous shell formed as a star reaches the end of its life cycle, but they have nothing to do with planets at all. Because of their circular appearance, these nebulae have been given the name planetary. The relics of the star at its center frequently brighten the outer shell of gas, and one of the best examples of a planetary nebula is Lyra's Ring Nebula (M57).

A planetary nebula is a gaseous shell formed as a star reaches the end of its life cycle, but they have nothing to do with planets at all. Because of their circular appearance, these nebulae have been given the name planetary. The relics of the star at its center frequently brighten the outer shell of gas, and one of the best examples of a planetary nebula is Lyra's Ring Nebula (M57). Dark Nebula: A dark nebula is a cloud of dust that obstructs light from behind it. They have a similar composition to reflection nebulae but differ in appearance due to the location of the light source. Emission and reflection nebulae are often seen combined with dark nebulae.

Related Article: New NASA Hubble Image Reveals Stunning Cosmic Ribbon After Supernova; Space Telescope Camera Fixed After Glitch
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A photo of Serge Svetnoy, left, and Halyna Hutchins is displayed after a news conference with attorney Gary Dordick and his client Serge Svetnoy, chief of lighting on the "Rust' film set, to announce a lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and others, Beverly Hills, Calif., Nov. 10. AP-Yonhap



The head of lighting on the film ''Rust'' filed a lawsuit Wednesday over Alec Baldwin's fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the New Mexico set of the Western, alleging negligence that caused him ''severe emotional distress'' that will haunt him forever.



Serge Svetnoy said in the suit that the bullet that killed his close friend Hutchins, narrowly missed him, and he held her head as she died.



''They should never, ever, have had live rounds on this set,'' Svetnoy's attorney Gary A. Dordick said at a news conference Wednesday.



The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court names nearly two dozen defendants associated with the film including Baldwin, who was both star and a producer; David Halls, the assistant director who handed Baldwin the gun; and Hannah Gutierrez Reed, who was in charge of weapons on the set.



It is the first known lawsuit of what could be many stemming from the Oct. 21 shooting, which also injured ''Rust'' director Joel Souza.



It was the ninth film that Svetnoy and Hutchins had worked on together, and he had taken the job at low pay because she asked him to.



''She was my friend,'' Svetnoy said at the news conference.



He said he had seen guns sitting unattended in the dirt a few days earlier in the shoot, and had warned the people responsible about them.





Attorney Gary Dordick, left, speaks alongside his client Serge Svetnoy, chief of lighting on the "Rust" film set, after announcing a lawsuit against Alec Baldwin and others, Beverly Hills, Calif., Nov. 10. AP-Yonhap



On the day of the shooting, he was setting up lighting within 6 or 7 feet (2 meters) of Baldwin, the suit says.



''What happened next will haunt Plaintiff forever,'' the suit says. ''He felt a strange and terrifying whoosh of what felt like pressurized air from his right. He felt what he believed was gunpowder and other residual materials directly strike the right side of his face.''



Then, with his glasses scratched and his hearing muffled, he knelt to help Hutchins, the suit said.



The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages to be determined later. It was filed in Los Angeles County because the plaintiff and most of the defendants are based there.



Attorneys and representatives for the defendants did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment on the suit.



Gutierrez Reed's lawyer Jason Bowles said in a statement Wednesday that ''we are convinced this was sabotage and Hannah is being framed. We believe that the scene was tampered with as well before the police arrived.''



Bowles said his client has provided authorities with a full interview and continues to assist them. The statement did not address the lawsuit.



''We are asking for a full and complete investigation of all of the facts, including the live rounds themselves, how they ended up in the 'dummies' box, and who put them in there,'' the statement said.



Gutierrez Reed said last week that she had inspected the gun Baldwin shot but doesn't know how a live bullet ended up inside.





This aerial photo shows a film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., Oct. 23. Actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western being filmed at the ranch on Oct. 21, killing the cinematographer. AP-Yonhap



Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said investigators have encountered no proof of sabotage. Her comments, first made on ''Good Morning America,'' were confirmed Wednesday by agency spokeswoman Sascha Guinn Anderson.



Carmack-Altwies says that investigators know who loaded the gun, though it remains unclear how the deadly round of ammunition got on the movie set. The district attorney said she is concerned that there were so many levels of safety failures.



Dordick said at the news conference that it was ''far-fetched'' to suggest there was sabotage, but that Gutierrez Reed still had the same responsibility to know what was in the gun and who had handled it.



Authorities have said that Halls, the assistant director, handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced ''cold gun,'' indicating that the weapon was safe to use.



Halls said last week that he hoped the tragedy prompted the film industry to ''reevaluate its values and practices'' to ensure no one is harmed again, but did not provide details.





Alec Baldwin speaks on the phone in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in Santa Fe, N.M., after he was questioned about a shooting on the set of the film "Rust" on the outskirts of Santa Fe, Oct. 21. AP-Yonhap
Pianist Kim Dae-jin, newly-elected president of the Korea National University of Arts, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office on Nov. 2. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



By Park Ji-won



Korea is now known as one of the leading countries in terms of having the largest number of winners of international competitions. Statistics show that Korean musicians won 150 top prizes in the World Federation of International Music Competitions-approved tournaments over the last 60 years as of 2017.



Even Western media documented the secrets of the success of Korean classical musicians. Belgian filmmaker and TV director Thierry Loreau who has been making films on classical music and filming the final stages of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for more than two decades released documentary films on the wins, including "K-classics generation" (2020), a film tracing award-winning Korean classical musicians in international music competitions. He labeled the young Koreans dominating classical music competitions as the "K-classics generation" and considered it to be a cultural phenomenon.



Pianist and professor Kim Dae-jin of the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts), who is known as a "devil" for being strict in teaching, is one of the key figures behind the phenomenon.



The newly elected president of the state-run university which has 137 teachers and 3,544 students from six art schools, has taught more than 500 students since he took the position in 1994. Under his teaching, many talented pianists have achieved historic records continuously winning prestigious international awards for the first time as an Asian or Korean.



The list includes Kim Sun-wook, winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006, Son Yeol-eum, winner of the Oberlin International Piano Competition in 1999, Mun Ji-yeong, winner of the Geneva International Competition in 2014 and the Busoni International Competition in 2015, and recently Park Jae-hong, winner of the Busoni International Competition this year. The wins also helped the school attain an image of attracting only musical prodigies or being a nursery for artists. Korea has also gained an image of being home to a lot of talented artists in the international music scene.



"My students, who became successful now, would have been successful without me," Kim said, humbly denying his contribution to the international success of his students during a recent interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul. But not many would agree with what he is saying.





Pianist Kim Dae-jin, newly-elected president of the Korea National University of Arts, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office, Nov. 2. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk





Pianist Kim Dae-jin, newly-elected president of the Korea National University of Arts, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office, Nov. 2. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk



Considering the fact that performing on stage is similar to sports, he eliminated what he considered to be bad habits that are displayed unconsciously on stage and "corrected" them to be recognized as the gestures of winning musicians.



"We, teachers of the school, were devoted to proving that Korean students can win international competitions without going overseas. When the school opened, there was no proper facility to educate students. One rainy day, I realized my office had a water leak from the ceiling and I had to empty a basket full of water before having lessons.  I was devoted to the goal and confident in carving a talented student and turning the student into a winning applicant in international music competitions. Sooner or later, I realized I was good at doing it to some extent."



That is somewhat a reflection of his desire to make the school and his students more international but also what he has been taught while studying overseas and from his teachers.



A musical prodigy and the first generation of classical musicians in Korea, Kim was one of the few musicians to be educated in music schools overseas back then. He received a bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from the Juilliard School under Martin Canin between 1982 and 1991, winning countless awards including the prize in the 6th Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition (presently, the Cleveland Competition) in 1985.



"Martin Canin, my teacher, was so diligent. He was never late for lessons and didn't finish early. That is what I learned from him. Everybody, including me, has ups and downs. I try to show my students without justifying myself. I believe students would learn what I show them."



He also debuted as a conductor in 2005 and has led the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra and the Changwon Philharmonic Orchestra, while serving on the juries of prestigious international competitions such as the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition.



But while attending international competitions as a jury member, he came to realize that something was missing in Korean students: uniqueness. Korean students are highly skilled, but looked identical and performed like a textbook without individual color or creative interpretation.



He then quit his way of teaching by "proving" how good they were and "impressing" the judges, and started to focus on seeing the fundamental aspects of his students by discovering their uniqueness.



"I realized that the textbook-like style doesn't last long. They may be skilled and able to win, but they were not enjoying it. A core-self cannot be changed no matter what I, the teacher, does to the student. At the same time, it can be the uniqueness and the beginning of a creative interpretation of music. Since the wake-up call, I focused on spending a lot of time with them and discover their unconsciousness and teaching them about themselves, apart from teaching them technical skills. It is more about the process of learning about ourselves. And the creativity has been lacking and that is what we need in art now."



Still, the reality is tough for musicians as winning in international competitions is no more a guarantee of a successful career as he had in the 1960s and 1970s.



"As a juror on many international competitions, it is ironic to say that there are not many credible competitions. In the past, in the 1960s and 1970s, winning a contest was a guarantee of a successful career and led to multiple recitals, discographies and contracts. But not anymore. We, the jury, often joke about the contests; 'The quality of the first prize is not the same as first prizes awarded in the past.' Therefore, students are urged to win more competitions to prove their performance. The competition is a necessary evil."



Also, he stressed that many Western classical musicians are envious of the Korean classical music scene, which appears to be vibrant and full of young classical music fans. But the situation is not as positive as it looks, failing to grow the market, he pointed out.



"There were also many young fans about 10 to 20 years ago. We still have, but maybe because life in Korea is very stressful, those who grew to be middle-aged fans don't continue to sponsor classical music. Also, there is not a culture of casually going to classical music concerts. To tackle this situation, there are many management companies that could provide quality concerts with of good musicians. But they are currently depending on the revenue and recruiting award-winning musicians. It is a vicious cycle."





Pianist Kim Dae-jin, newly-elected president of the Korea National University of Arts, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office, Nov. 2. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
From left, Lee Jung-jae, Jung Hoyeon, Hwang Dong-hyuk and Park Hae Soo arrive at a red carpet event for "Squid Game," Nov. 8, at NeueHouse Hollywood in Los Angeles. AP-Yonhap



The South Korean phenomenon "Squid Game" has outnumbered the longtime TV powerhouse "Game of Thrones" in terms of combined YouTube views of its derivative video content, a U.S. media outlet has reported.



A total of 129,000 videos of the survival drama, including official trailers, fan-made reaction clips and video games, have earned a total of 17 billion views on the platform since the show's release on Sept. 17, Variety said Wednesday (U.S. time), citing a report by content analytics firm Vobile.



Those "Squid Game" YouTube videos had a combined 533 million engagements  likes, dislikes and comments  over the nearly eight-week period.



In comparison, the American fantasy drama series "Game of Thrones," which premiered in 2011 on HBO, posted a combined 16.9 billion views from 420,000 uploaded YouTube videos, with an estimated 233 million engagements, according to the report.






KG Hollys F&B CEO Lee Jong-hyun / Courtesy of KG Hollys F&B



IPOs of Starbucks Korea, Twosome, Ediya remain unclear



By Park Jae-hyuk



Hollys Coffee's franchiser recently unveiled plans to go public by the end of 2024, in an apparent attempt to outrun Starbucks Coffee Korea, A Twosome Place and Ediya Coffee, which have been viewed as candidates to become the first coffeehouse chain to be listed on the local stock market.



"Until the end of 2024, I will extend our businesses horizontally and vertically to achieve the goal of an initial public offering (IPO)," Lee Jong-hyun, the former chief financial officer of KFC Korea who was appointed the new KG Hollys F&B CEO, said Wednesday.



KG Group took over KFC's Korea operation in 2017 from CVC Capital, and acquired Hollys last year from IMM Private Equity. According to the company, the new CEO has specialized in drawing up brand strategies and conducting M&A projects.



However, it is still unclear whether his ambitious IPO plan will succeed, considering that multiple coffee shop operators here, including Coffee Bean Korea, Coffine Gurunaru and Caffe Bene, have failed in their attempts to go public.



Anchor Equity Partners had also sought to list A Twosome Place on the stock market earlier this year, but the Hong Kong-based private equity fund (PEF) ditched the plan in June, amid growing doubts among local securities firms about the coffee shop franchise's valuation.



According to industry sources, Anchor is in talks with Carlyle to sell A Twosome Place to the U.S. PEF.



There is no specific timeline for Ediya's IPO, despite comments by the company's Chairman Moon Chang-ki who said in a New Year address in January that management would resume efforts to list the company on the benchmark KOSPI market, after they had been on hold since 2018.



In 2017, Ediya selected Mirae Asset Securities as the underwriter for its IPO. But a year later, the franchiser abruptly postponed the plan indefinitely, amid growing protest from its franchisees.



Ediya explained that its chairman's remarks earlier this year were simply intended not to rule out the possibility of the company going public in the long run.



Some market observers are betting on the listing of Starbucks Korea after E-mart became its largest shareholder in July with a 67.5 percent stake.



The discount store chain of Shinsegae Group, which owned a 50 percent stake in Starbucks Korea at that time, decided to acquire an additional 17.5 percent stake from the coffeehouse's U.S. headquarters, after joining hands with GIC, which decided to buy the remaining 32.5 percent stake in Starbucks Korea.



The acquisition deal raised speculation that Shinsegae agreed to list Starbucks Korea on the stock market within a few years, so that the Singaporean sovereign wealth fund could make a profit through its divestment following the IPO.



Shinsegae, however, has denied the speculation, so the Starbucks Korea IPO plan remains unclear at this moment.




KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo speaks during the High-Level Meeting of Caring for Climate Change, an event held virtually as part of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Nov. 10 (local time). Courtesy of KB Financial Group



By Lee Kyung-min



KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo attended a high-level meeting at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Nov. 10 (local time) to discuss ways to overcome climate challenges.



During the "High-Level Meeting of Caring for Climate Change" event at the global conference, Yoon outlined his group's strategy to reorient its investment and growth portfolio to better navigate the climate crisis.



"The strategy to exclude financing for heavy-carbon businesses will not be an effective and desirable way to meet the net-zero emissions goal by 2050," he said. "The approach of granting larger and more efficient financing opportunities for businesses seeking to transition to green and sustainable business models therefore is the right answer."



The meeting, participated in by figures at the venue in Glasgow and also some online, was held to discuss ways to better transition to a low-carbon society.



U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and COP26 President Alok Sharma attended the meeting, alongside other U.N. representatives, AstraZeneca Chairman Leif Johansson and Greenpeace International Executive Director Jennifer Morgan.



Yoon noted that cooperation between the U.N.-convened Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and stakeholders would be expedited to achieve carbon neutrality.



"Participating banks and other stakeholders will accelerate the implementation of decarbonization strategies, in recognition of growing importance of financial services firms expected to play a bigger role in advancing the net-zero drive in the real economy."



KB Financial plans to become more active in expressing its opinions on ways to better resolve climate change issues and encourage its peers in the Asia-Pacific region to join the efforts.



"The meeting attended by Chairman Yoon is one of the most important COP26 events, as evidenced by attendance of global leaders including the U.N. secretary-general and the head of COP26. We are happy to be part of the meaningful global discussion," a KB Financial Group official said.



The group was the first Korean firm to earn Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation for adjusting its investment and lending portfolios to meet science-based targets.



In October, the SBTi announced the validation for the group alongside French bank La Banque Postale and Swedish private equity firm EQT.



The initiative is among global private partners that help companies set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for implementation of the Paris Agreement, thereby defining and promoting best practices in emissions reductions and net-zero targets in line with climate science.










The Korea Times is pleased to announce the winners of its 17th English Economic Essay Contest for university students written on one of two subjects: "Do you agree with the idea of institutionalizing a basic income system?" or "What are your suggestions for co-prosperity between people and artificial intelligence?"







Lee Jae-hyeon, who is an undergraduate studying at KAIST's Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, and Kyle Wardwell, an MBA student at Sungkyunkwan University's Graduate School of Business won the Grand Prize awards.







Each will receive 3 million won and an award plaque.







The runners-up were Hwang Jee-seon, who studies international relations at Seoul National University, and Koh Woo-sung, who studies economics and computer science at Yonsei University.







Each will receive 2 million won and an award plaque.







Commendation awards went to Samuel Wilson, a George Mason University Korea student specializing in conflict analysis and resolution, and Lee Yoon-ki, a student of Hanyang University's School of International Studies. Each will receive 1 million won and an award plaque.







They will receive the awards at a ceremony on Nov. 30 at Lotte Hotel Seoul. Their essays will be published in that day's edition of The Korea Times.


A truck driver holds an empty bottle of diesel exhaust fluid at a service area in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul



By Nam Hyun-woo



The government's two-track diplomacy of separating its national security and economic interests is raising some serious questions on its efficacy, after Seoul experienced some negative consequences in recent weeks that seem to be byproducts of the ongoing diplomatic row between the U.S. and China.



So far, the government has engaged in a "balancing act" between the two superpowers  standing as an ally of the U.S. on security matters, while partnering with China for economic reasons. However, experts say the U.S.-China conflict is now blurring the line between national security and the economy, making Korea's conventional strategy outdated.



In recent weeks, Korea has been suffering from a nationwide shortage of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), an additive used in diesel engines to reduce emissions. The shortage is largely attributable to a row between the U.S. and China that also involved Australia. After China banned coal imports from Australia, a strong ally of Washington, it created a sudden shortage of coal that it uses for domestic power generation.



To address this Beijing restricted the use of coal for any other purpose, affecting coal-related exports that included urea, a byproduct of burning the fossil fuel and the main constituent of DEF. Korea's inventory of DEF, also called "urea water," plunged because the country heavily relies on China for imports of urea.



Though the government managed to come up with a stopgap measure by getting China to comply with contractual agreements to export 18,700 tons of urea to Korea, Wednesday, there is the chance of further unexpected issues arising. This is especially so regarding the price of urea  also used in fertilizers  which is surging and could result in a rapid increase in crop prices and consumer goods containing them.









"As global value chains become more complex, it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict what kind of consequence we should expect from a certain event," said Sung Tae-yoon, an economics professor at Yonsei University. "There have long been concerns that the U.S.-China conflict could affect the stability of global supply chains and cause an impact on domestic economic activities. There are many possibilities for the conflict to bring economic consequence in the future."





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Seen above is the prototype of the KF-21 Boramae fighter jet during an unveiling ceremony at the Korea Aerospace Industries in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, April 9. Korea Times file



By Jung Da-min



The militaries of South Korea and Indonesia have reached a final agreement on the cost-sharing for their joint fighter development project called the KF-X (Korean Fighter eXperimental) here and the IF-X in Indonesia.



The Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced Thursday that it had reached an agreement with the Indonesian defense ministry on sharing the 8.8 trillion won ($7.4 billion) cost of development of the 4.5-generation fighter jet, the biggest project since the foundation of the Korean military.



The cost-sharing issue occurred as Indonesia, which promised to pay 20 percent of the total development budget, has paid only 227.2 billion won, citing financial problems. The two sides have held several rounds of talks to solve the overdue payment issue since 2019.



In the agreement, the two decided to retain the cost-sharing ration  20 percent for Indonesia  and the timeframe for payment of 2016 to 2026. But Indonesia will provide in-kind payments for 30 percent of its share, the details of which will be discussed at a later date.



The KF-X project is comprised of two phases  developing the basic fighter jet from 2016 to 2026, then adding advanced weapons systems from 2026 to 2028. After the roll-out of the prototype in April this year, ground testing is currently underway and test flights will be carried out next year.



Currently, 32 technicians from Indonesia are participating in the project at the development site in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, and the number is expected to increase to about 100 by the end of the year.


A former Cheong Wa Dae spokesman has been indicted for allegedly assaulting a firefighter while drunk, according to legal sources Thursday.







Jeong Yeon-guk, who served as the presidential office spokesman under former President Park Geun-hye, was indicted without physical detention on Oct. 20 by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office for alleged violation of the basic fire service act.







The 60-year-old is suspected of slapping the firefighter in the face while under the influence of alcohol in February. Further details of the incident were not available.







A former television journalist, Jeong joined Cheong Wa Dae in October 2015 and served as the last presidential spokesman under the Park administration. (Yonhap)


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A U.S. diplomat fled into the Yongsan Garrison after allegedly hitting a taxi from behind while driving in Seoul earlier this week and has since been refusing to cooperate with a police investigation, officials said Thursday.



The diplomat, whose identity is not known, was suspected of rear-ending the taxi's bumper while changing lanes near the Namsan No. 3 tunnel in central Seoul at 5:35 p.m. Wednesday but left the site without stopping to deal with the accident.



The taxi's driver chased the diplomat's car to Yongsan Garrison Gate 3.



Police also arrived at the gate and tried to identify the diplomat, but the diplomat and three other passengers refused to cooperate with all police requests, including a breathalyzer test, without even opening a window of the car and entered the base, officials said.



The base is off limits to police, and the diplomat could not be apprehended due to diplomatic immunity.



Police said they sent a request to the U.S. Embassy on Thursday asking for its cooperation with the case.



"We plan to decide on the charges after seeing the statement of the U.S. diplomat," a police official said.



The U.S. Embassy in Seoul said it expects the local law enforcement authorities to conduct "a thorough and fair investigation of the matter" and added it will refrain from providing further comment until the probe is completed. (Yonhap)


Students of an elementary school in Seoul are served lunch in this Oct. 13, 2019 photo. Yonhap



Civic group files petition with rights watchdog



By Bahk Eun-ji



A controversy has arisen over whether serving spicy foods as part of children's school lunches at kindergartens attached to elementary schools is in violation of their human rights.



Parents are showing mixed responses over the issue, after a civic group, Political Mamas, filed a complaint on Tuesday with the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) against the Ministry of Education.



In Korea, some public kindergartens are attached to public elementary schools to share space and facilities of the schools. In most cases, children at such kindergartens also share the school cafeteria and are served the same food as elementary school students.



The civic group said kindergarteners, aged five to seven, and elementary students aged eight to 13 are served the same foods, regardless of being at different stages of physical development with quite a lot of foods containing spicy seasoning, including kimchi.



"As a result, many children at such kindergartens and some lower graders of elementary schools have difficulty eating meals because they are too spicy. This also leads to indigestion for some children," Jang Ha-na, a member of Political Mamas, said in a statement.





Meals including spicy side dishes and soups provided at public kindergartens attached to elementary schools / Courtesy of Political Mamas
Han Sang-kyu, right, senior executive director of the civil movement headquarters at the Seoul Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), poses after receiving the Gender Equality and Family Minister award during a ceremony in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Seoul YMCA



By Jun Ji-hye



The Seoul Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) received an award from the Minister of Gender Equality and Family, Wednesday, in recognition of its contribution to helping mediate disputes between neighbors and village communities.



The Seoul YMCA set up a neighborhood dispute mediation center within the organization in 2011, which has been expanded around the country including Seoul, Suwon and Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province since 2013.



"Neighborhood dispute mediation centers have helped mediate a variety of disputes including apartment noise and water leak issues, parking problems in small villages and location of unpleasant facilities," Ju Gun-ihl, director of the center at the Seoul YMCA, said during a phone interview with The Korea Times. "Those centers are aiming to help residents develop abilities to resolve disputes on their own, rather than taking the issues to court."



When a resident takes issue with another and requests assistance with dispute settlement, a coordinator from the center listens to his or her complaints and contacts the other party, who is in dispute with the applicant, to listen to the person's opinions.



After collecting opinions from both sides, coordinators gather to discuss measures to solve the dispute, help the two resolve their misunderstanding and draw up an agreement, according to Ju.



"These procedures are aimed at resolving disputes without taking the issue to a court and are referred to as 'alternative dispute resolution,' which is very common in other developed countries," Ju said. "As such a concept is comparatively new in Korea, we have been working to promote it here to nurture a better democracy."


Lee Jae-myung, front left, the presidential candidate for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, walks with his wife, Kim Hye-gyeong, during a ceremony to launch his campaign office at a gym in Seoul, Nov. 2. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun



By Bahk Eun-ji



The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said, Thursday, it has filed a complaint with the prosecution against two people for spreading false information online about an injury suffered by the wife of its presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. The unidentified people uploaded postings that implied Lee had assaulted his wife, Kim Hye-gyeong.



"The accused raises indiscriminate suspicions that the health of Lee's spouse was affected by the candidate, causing public misunderstanding and controversy. They will have to take responsibility for the spread of false information unless there is evidence to back that up," the DPK said in the complaint.



According to the party, one of the postings uploaded Tuesday read: "I wonder why she got a CT scan and why she had it on the face. If she had been slapped with a palm and no bone fracture had been suspected, she wouldn't have gotten a CT scan. It may be a blow with a fist or something stronger."






Three lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party submit the party's revision bill to the Public Official Election Act to lower the age limit for those running for parliamentary and local elections from the current 25 to 18, to the National Assembly Secretariat at the Assembly on Seoul's Yeouido, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps



By Jung Da-min



The political parties of the country's liberal and conservative blocs are seeking to lower the age limit for those wishing to run in National Assembly and local elections scheduled for next year.



Political observers say the major parties share the same goal of attracting younger voters in their 20s and 30s ahead of the upcoming presidential election in less than four months, and they believe lowering the age limits could be one way to appeal to them.



Currently those aged 25 or older are eligible to run for an Assembly seat, a head of local government position or local council membership. The parties plan to lower the age limit to 18.



On Wednesday, all 103 lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) proposed a revision to the Public Official Election Act to lower the age limit for these elections. This comes four days after party leader Lee Jun-seok promised to lower the age limit to run in elections to the same age as suffrage, which is 18.



On the same day, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) also proposed a similar revision to lower the age limit to 18. While the current Public Official Election Act states, in a case where two candidates receive the same number of votes, the older one is elected, the DPK's revision bill also aims to change this so the winner is decided by drawing lots.



The minor liberal opposition Justice Party had already proposed a similar bill in August.





Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, second from right, speaks during a meeting of the party's presidential election committee held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun
By Cho Hee-kyoung





When the leaders of the G20 nations gathered in Rome this month for a summit, German chancellor Angela Merkel brought someone with her to the meeting. Unlike the other leaders, it was not her spouse who accompanied her but her likely successor, Olaf Scholz, the leader of Germany's opposition party, the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). The peaceful and smooth transition of power is a hallmark of democracy, but this German double act, especially between two opposing parties, is a pretty astonishing feat of bipartisanship.



Even British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who would rather chew his own hair than admit that Germans do some things better than Britons, said that this kind of "German transition" and "friendly takeover" is something Britain should learn. Indeed, it occurred to me that there are a few things that we could learn from the Germans. Take climate change as an example.



Korea's previous goal of a 26.3 percent reduction of carbon emissions would have led to a 3 degrees to 4 degrees Celsius of warming when we know that anything more than a 2 degrees will be deadly to more than 700 million people around the world. Even the recently raised target of a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions that was pledged by the government in advance of COP26 is barely adequate to meet our obligations under the Paris Agreement.



As individuals, we must do our share to change our behavior to contribute to carbon emission reduction. However, without businesses actually changing the way they produce, manufacture, and trade their goods and services, a meaningful reduction will be impossible.



The Korean financial dailies condemn with their screaming headlines the revised higher carbon emission reduction targets as supposedly killing the economy and imposing too much hardship on already struggling businesses. They are acting as an effective mouthpiece for business interests. Here, the contrast between Korean businesses and German industries could not be starker.



The top 70 German firms actually asked the German government for tougher guidelines on carbon emissions. Companies like Commerzbank, the construction group Hochtief, energy suppliers EnBW and MVV Energie, Deutsche Telekom, Adidas and Puma have demanded the shutting down of coal-fired power plants and "to switch quickly to 100 percent renewable energies", saying that they need a level playing field and investment security for the next few decades. For Korean companies, the real pressure will come from carbon taxes at the border, which will begin to be applied in the EU from 2023.



Another thing we should learn from the Germans is the proper civilian oversight of the military. By civilian oversight, I do not mean that military operations need civilian leadership. I mean that there must be the proper recognition that the military is not a silo, separate from all other social, political or civil institutions in our society, where normal rules do not apply. We must reinforce again and again the fact that the military is also subject to the basic rules and norms of the society we live in.



We are finally beginning to crack open the hitherto shuttered world of the armed forces and let through some shafts of light. Reforms such as ordinary soldiers being able to have the same haircut and wear the same kind of shoes and uniforms as officers come as welcome  if much belated  changes. But more serious and significant reforms are urgently needed.



One of the problems is that the soldiers have no neutral party to whom they can bring their legitimate complaints, as we saw from the tragic case of an air force officer who committed suicide after being sexually harassed, and her complaints to her superiors were either brushed off or boomeranged back at her.



In Germany, there is a position in the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, called the "Armed Forces Commissioner." The person holding this position is elected by the parliament for five years, is appointed by the president of the Bundestag and supports the parliament in overseeing the military. The commissioner's main task is to ensure that soldiers' basic rights are protected and to produce an annual report that is presented to the federal parliament and the German public.



The report includes information about the conditions of the troops, in particular, whether their basic rights are respected. The commissioner is able to draw on the assistance of all government institutions in carrying out her duties and can make site visits, including surprise visits, to military bases. The commissioner's job is not the job of the defense minister, but is to ensure that the soldiers are treated properly. Every soldier can petition the commissioner  who is referred to as the "attorney of the soldiers"  directly.



We here in Korea still tend to treat the military as a world apart, somewhere where different rules apply. Every year, in the National Assembly's annual audit, the defense minister appears and gives the same answer to the question of whether the military is addressing the latest scandal that occurred in the armed forces: we are looking into it.



An armed forces commissioner who reports directly to the National Assembly and to whom every soldier has a direct line of communication might be able to prevent more tragic and unjust deaths of our soldiers.





Cho Hee-kyoung (hongikmail@gmail.com) is a professor at Hongik University's law school.


By Eunhye Roh





South Korea is taking the lead as the first Asian host country of a U.N. Peacekeeping Ministerial in December. Its leaders will have a chance to broach women's issues but their attempts to prepare for that role are so far falling short.



The Preparatory Committee of South Korea has been organizing the Ministerial since last year. Recently, it published a rough preliminary program. I was disappointed to find only a few words in it about "plans to present Women, Peace, and Security seminars" as "side events." I was hoping there would be more because of the breadth and gravity of women's issues with which the ministerial should deal.



What are such women's issues? They include "equal participation of women in peace processes and operation," as the Action for Peacekeeping Initiative (A4P) describes them. They also should cover how peacekeeping missions can empower women and protect them from gender-based violence in conflict zone. The past ministerials treated these issues as core agenda topics.



For instance, the London Ministerial brought attention to eliminating sexual misconduct by peacekeepers. Ministers discussed a zero-tolerance policy to prevent gender violence during peacekeeping operations (PKOs).



At the Vancouver Ministerial, host countries invited member states to participate in Smart Pledges, a program focused on raising rates of female participation in PKOs. When the United Nations hosted, it awarded a prize for the U.N. Military Gender Advocate to Lieutenant Commander Marcia Andrade Braga, a Brazilian female peacekeeper.



Her story shared through media described her efforts at protecting civilians in local community. She engaged with local women leaders to build a network of trained gender advisers, and improve their participation in patrols around the community. Her case inspired other member states to think about how they could deal with women's issues in their PKOs.



Compared to these ministerials, the Korean government seems less interested in prioritizing women's issues. Given that time limit  the conference lasts one and half days  I agree that the ministerial cannot deal with all subjects. However, I do not find any reason that the agenda for women should be pushed aside.



The importance of female peacekeepers has been discussed by scholars. Professors Sabrina Karim and Kyle Beardsley provide evidence that higher representation of women in PKOs reduced sexual abuse around peacekeeping bases.



Moreover, their suggestions, such as "cultivation of a value for gender equality among all peacekeepers" or "recruitment of individuals with strong values for gender equality," help to form a policy for better accountability and performance of PKOs.



Some argue that there is no need to discuss better participation by women in PKOs. Professor Nina Wilen at Lund University emphasizes that not just females but "both male and female peacekeepers are needed for operations to be efficient."



She says that we should not give a "double burden" to women peacekeepers by forcing them to do a stereotypical role. Her argument, however, seems to weaken the reason for discussing better women's representation in PKOs.



I acknowledge that women's mere presence is not a panacea and there might be side effects of setting quotas for the number of female peacekeepers. However, there is no doubt female peacekeepers face distinctive issues and bring distinctive value. Allowing vigorous discussion in the agenda of the issues surrounding female peacekeepers allows the ministerial to improve their recruitment and deployment.



Nor should the agenda for women stop at female peacekeepers. The ministerial also should discuss how PKOs can empower women in conflict areas and improve gender equality in a region. According to Professor Dara Kay Cohen at Harvard, "Women's advancement is critical to stability and reducing political violence."



Her findings also support that war correlates with gender inequality. With regard to an essential peacekeeping mission for sustaining peace, peacekeepers should strive to improve gender equality in armed conflict areas.



Therefore, the ministerial has to accelerate discussion for this agenda and encourage other member states to jump into the discussion. The ministerial should play a role in brainstorming, examining, debating, and making a pledge for the advancement of women's rights in conflict areas.



South Korea also can introduce Hanbit Unit's missions so that women can be trained, for example, in job skills and offered better health care. Introducing successful examples of Korea's peacekeeping missions and discussing how they can be even better will have much more value than just dragging delegates to a series of exhibitions.



In order to derive fruitful pledges from member states, preparatory meetings with them should come prior to the plenary session.



For example, co-hosts of the Vancouver Ministerial gathered states in advance to push them to prepare meaningful pledges for improving women's representation. In this manner, South Korea should organize preliminary meetings online with overseas participants, at least in order to draw a blueprint for Seoul Principles.



South Korea ultimately should not only pay more attention to the agenda for women but seek to take specific actions. Women cannot be marginalized in peacekeeping conversations. Instead they are playing a more and more important role, one the ministerial should reflect and advance.





Eunhye Roh (Eunhye.Roh@tufts.edu) is a master of arts in law and diplomacy candidate at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. She researches political violence and conflict resolution.


By Ngaire Woods





OXFORD  International organizations are currently plagued by allegations of powerful states wielding undue influence over outcomes. These include recent revelations about Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and other countries pushing back against the United Nations on climate change, suggestions that senior World Bank officials intervened to boost China's ranking in the Bank's Doing Business index, and suspicions that China influenced the World Health Organization's approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.



Underlying all these controversies is the simple reality that powerful countries exert great influence over multilateral organizations. But their clout does not render multilateralism impossible. Rather, it is a force that must be actively managed and counterbalanced.



The undue influence of some countries in multilateral institutions is of course not new, but the shifting global balance of power has brought it back into focus. For example, the recent Doing Business fracas prompted arguments implying that otherwise technocratic and evidence-based institutions such as the World Bank were at risk of being led by managers too attentive to China's concerns.



As Anne Krueger writes, "Like Caesar's wife, IMF and World Bank leaders must be well above suspicion in overseeing these institutions' work and safeguarding the integrity of the data on which that work relies."



But history tells a different story. The United States has long dominated the World Bank, in both its formal and informal governance. In the 1960s, it was said that the U.S. hardly needed to exercise its formal powers over the organization, because its staff worked with one eye constantly trained on the preferences of the U.S. government, a few blocks away in the center of Washington, D.C. As the historian Catherine Gwin noted, "The result was a strong and enduring American imprint on all aspects of the Bank, including its structure, general policy direction, and the manner of granting loans."



The U.S. government has typically channeled its preferences through the World Bank's senior management. In 2006, an independent panel commissioned by the Bank to evaluate its research criticized the way in which "research was used to proselytize on behalf of Bank policy, often without taking a balanced view of the evidence, and without expressing appropriate skepticism."



Moreover, "internal research that was favorable to Bank positions was given great prominence, and unfavorable research ignored." The panel lamented that, "when the Bank leadership selectively appeals to relatively new and untested research as hard evidence that its preferred policies work, it lends unwarranted confidence to the Bank's prescriptions."



Other powerful countries also exercise influence over international organizations' senior management and staff. In the International Monetary Fund's 2014 surveillance review, for example, staff noted the "additional internal pressure and scrutiny associated with surveillance of systemic economies."



And in a background paper on evenhandedness for the review, nearly 60 percent of IMF mission-chief respondents who worked on advanced economies acknowledged "pressure to dilute the candor of staff reports in order to avoid upsetting the country authorities."



But international organizations need the backing of powerful countries in order to be effective, and they have historically secured that backing by giving these countries special rights. For example, whereas the U.S. stayed out of the League of Nations in the 1920s, it was persuaded to join the UN, the IMF, and the World Bank after World War II.



This was not least because the U.S. gained a say over these organizations' leadership, hosted their headquarters, and had outsize decision-making power (a veto in the U.N. Security Council and weighted voting power in the IMF and World Bank). China's leading position within the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank today reflects similar considerations.



At the same time, powerful countries must accept some constraints in order to persuade and co-opt others to participate in multilateral institutions. For this reason, strong states create organizations that give votes to other states, with formal decision-making arrangements that (however weakly) limit their power to decide unilaterally what the institution does.



The result is a constant constructive tension between the interests of the most powerful and those of everyone else. Three factors are crucial to managing the inevitable strains.



First, leadership is vital. The role of any multilateral institution's leader includes not only "speaking truth to power," but also mobilizing smaller countries to ensure their voices are heard in counteracting the influence of the powerful.



Yet, such offsetting influence will be muted as long as powerful states control the appointment and reappointment of organizations' senior leadership  as the U.S. and the European Union (and increasingly China) do at the World Bank and the IMF. As matters stand, the heads of these institutions are implicitly accountable to the leading powers.



Second, in principle, formal governance arrangements guaranteeing the representation of all members, rules about staffing and funding, and decision-making processes permit all member states to hold an institution to account. But the effective operation of such mechanisms requires attention, information, and experience.



Currently, too many countries are represented in multilateral institutions by officials who serve brief terms and have little access to information. This makes them easy to outmaneuver. Less powerful countries need to train and equip their representatives appropriately to serve on the boards of international organizations, so that they can hold their own and constrain the undue influence of the more powerful.



Lastly, transparency is crucial. The trend toward open evaluations conducted by independent evaluation offices, and the increased publicity surrounding efforts by some countries to influence international organizations, are uncomfortable for all participants, but they are vital in the pursuit of effective cooperation.



Given today's heightened geopolitical tensions, complaints about some countries' supposedly excessive sway in multilateral institutions may become more frequent. More accountable leadership, effective representation, and transparency are the best tools for counteracting, detecting, and mitigating it.





Ngaire Woods is dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).


Take long-term measures to secure key items



South Korea has barely avoided a looming logistics disruption amid a severe shortage of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), also known as "urea water," used to reduce emissions in diesel-powered vehicles. The government said Wednesday that it has secured a three-month stockpile of urea, the main constituent of DEF, by importing 200 tons from Vietnam and 18,700 tons from China. It also brough in 27,000 liters of the finished urea water product from Australia.

On Thursday, the Moon Jae-in administration announced a plan to cut tariffs and put emergency controls on the production and distribution of urea water to ease the ongoing supply shortage. It also decided to allow drivers of diesel trucks and passenger cars to buy up to 30 liters and 10 liters of DEF, respectively, at a time in order to prevent hoarding. These steps are necessary, but are not a final answer to address the problem once and for all.

Most of all, the government needs to take more comprehensive and fundamental measures to ensure a stable supply of DEF. The supply crunch erupted after China began to restrict exports of fertilizers and related materials, including urea, in mid-October. China has enforced the restriction as part of efforts to deal with a shortage of coal, a key source of urea, since it banned coal imports from Australia, a strong U.S. ally, apparently because of diplomatic rows over the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues.

Korea could suffer similar shortages of materials and products down the road unless it establishes more stable supply chains without relying too much on a single country. There are growing fears that Beijing may "weaponize" strategic materials and goods to force other countries such as South Korea, another strong American ally, to take sides with the Asian giant in its intensifying rivalry with the U.S.












By Troy Stangarone





For the last two weeks, much of the world's attention has been focused on Glasgow and COP26, the U.N. summit to address climate change. World leaders and government officials have been working to bridge the divide between the short-term need for economic growth and the steps required to deal with the long-term challenges our planet faces from rising temperatures.



This tension was brought to the forefront of the talks after an agreement on deforestation was reached early during negotiations in Glasgow. More than 100 countries agreed "to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation."



Trees absorb and hold in significant amounts of carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere when they are cut down and left to rot or are burned. Despite signing up to the deforestation agreement, Indonesia's minister for the environment argued that the agreement was unfair as it undermined Indonesia's efforts for economic growth.



Indonesia's dilemma is one that every country, including South Korea faces. Can we slow the emissions of greenhouse gases while still maintaining or improving our current standards of living? How they answer over this decade will determine whether the world is able to keep global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius.



Average global temperatures are already 1.1C higher than the pre-industrial era and the science suggests that if the world is unable to reduce its emissions by 40 percent this decade temperature rises will exceed 1.5C, the level at which the world will experience the worst damage from climate change.



In recent years, South Korean policy has been shifting to address this issue. President Moon Jae-in has invested in developing hydrogen as a viable alternative energy source, made a significant investment in offshore wind power, and pledged to make South Korea carbon neutral by 2050.



In advance of COP26, the Moon administration pledged to further reduce South Korea's emissions by 40 percent over 2018 levels by 2030. This is a more significant reduction than South Korea's previous pledge to reduce emissions by 24.4 percent from 2017 levels.



At COP26, South Korea also signed up to the global pledge to reduce emissions of methane gas, which has 80 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide, by 30 percent by 2030.



For South Korea to reach its overall emissions reduction goal its will need to reduce emissions on average by 24.2 million metric tons a year over this decade and see emissions fall to levels not seen since the mid-1990s.



Reducing South Korea's emissions on that scale will take time and new investments in wind, solar power, and other renewable energy resources, but as Arnold Schwarzenegger recently pointed out it is possible for countries to grow their economies and reduce emissions. California, the world's 5th largest economy, has done just that. Since 2000, California's GDP has grown by 63 percent while the carbon intensity of its economy has declined by 45 percent.



In addition to being technically feasible, there are strong economic incentives to reduce the carbon intensity of South Korea's economy.



Corporations are beginning to set their own carbon standards. Apple, for one, has set the goal of having a carbon neutral supply chain by 2030, two decades before South Korea and many countries plan to be carbon neutral. It has signed up 110 suppliers to produce components with renewable power, including South Korean firms such as SK hynix, Samsung SDI, POSCO and LG Energy Solution.



Each of these firms will need access to renewable power to maintain their supplier relationships with Apple, or need to move them abroad to locations that offer access to renewable power if South Korea is unable to significantly increase its production of renewable energy.



Global policies may also change in ways that would negatively impact South Korean industries. In addition to agreeing to remove steel and aluminum tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, the United States and European Union announced talks to deal with the carbon intensity of steel. South Korean steel production is more carbon intense than U.S. or EU production, by some metrics.



The U.S.-EU steel and aluminum talks are open to countries such as South Korea, but their results will likely lead to requirements for additional reductions in the carbon intensity of steel. If South Korean firms are unable to reduce their carbon intensity, they could face increased restrictions on steel exports to the United States and Europe and in time products such as automobiles that use steel.



Climate change has implication for eventual unification as well. The U.S. intelligence community has identified North Korea as one of 11 countries most vulnerable to climate change due to its "poor infrastructure and resource management."



The Moon administration has made commitments that will put South Korea on a path to contributing to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, but energy transitions do not take place overnight. It will take time to implement new policies and a commitment to build new facilities to reduce South Korea's carbon footprint. Ultimately, it will be the next South Korean administration that will likely determine whether South Korea meets those commitments.





Troy Stangarone (ts@keia.org) is the senior director of congressional affairs and trade at the Korea Economic Institute.


AMG Brand Manager at AMG Seoul Lee Ji-hun pose in the Mercedes-Benz's special dealership store in Gangnam, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea



By Kim Jae-heun



AMG Seoul is the world's sixth AMG Brand Center, having opened here four months ago. The center sells only Mercedes-Benz's high-performance cars, but it has become a must-visit place for car lovers.



The high-performance subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz hires its own engineers to customize the German carmaker's vehicles.



"Since the opening of AMG Seoul, there have been many visitors here including students, YouTuers and reporters. The number skyrocketed between August and September. Starting in October, we have been receiving customers mainly," Lee Ji-hun, a brand manager at the showroom, said during an interview with The Korea Times, Wednesday.



The AMG showroom offers many exclusive services for customers.



"First of all, our customers don't have to wait. They can make reservations in advance and we have eight AMG experts here to provide consultations. We also have Seoul Edition cars customized for local customers. Our staffers learn and study Koreans' favorite colors and options and make special orders from headquarters in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Korea," Lee said.



AMG Seoul started with only a small number of Seoul Edition vehicles to gauge market response. It turned out to be a huge success and now the special dealership store introduces a new model every month. This month, some 100 people entered a lottery to win a red G63 AMG Seoul Edition SUV. Lee picked the name on Wednesday in front of the press and announced the winner.





AMG Brand Manager Lee Ji-hun speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at AMG Seoul in Gangnam, Wednesday. Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Korea
A woman looks at Genesis' GV80 SUV model in Genesis House New York, Nov. 10. Courtesy of Genesis



By Kim Jae-heun



Genesis, a global luxury car brand of Hyundai Motor Group, has announced the unveiling of Genesis House New York, a sophisticated showroom located in the heart of New York City's Meatpacking District, adjacent to Little Island and the High Line. Opening its doors to the public on Nov. 19, Genesis House promises to offer extraordinary experiences influenced by Korean culture and community, culinary excellence, and innovative architecture and technology.



Since its launch, Genesis has unveiled a number of concept cars in New York, the city that leads the way when it comes to luxury and trends. The brand's decision to unveil these models in the trendy city reflects its confidence in its designs. Opening Genesis House in the same location is another progressive move for the brand  one that once again projects its confidence to the world. From its new location in the city, Genesis will showcase its luxurious and innovative brand through various types of experiences.



Designed by the Seoul-based architecture firm Suh Architects, the 46,000-plus-square-foot (approximately 4,340 square meters) space is audacious in design, progressive in function and distinctly Korean throughout, inspiring the community to gather in a sanctuary that offers nourishment of body and mind. Hyundai Motor Group said Genesis House's curated programs will engage New York in cultural conversations about design, food, travel, health and future mobility  season after season.



"Genesis House is not just a showroom. This is a sophisticated oasis. The place where we share our inspirations at the heart of New York City," Genesis Brand Global Head Jay Chang said. "It will show the world who we are as a brand: audacious, progressive and distinctly Korean."



"At Genesis, we welcome customers as if they are guests in our own house," Chang added. "We want our guests to feel Genesis' sincerity, and strive to provide them with the right experience at the right time. This defines our brand values."



Genesis House is a custom-designed space that showcases the brand in harmony and balance with the surroundings. High ceilings supported by massive columns and Corten steel, LED lighting, copper highlights and smooth oak flooring immediately communicate an industrial aesthetic that is complemented by eclectic displays of art.



As the showpiece of Genesis House, the second floor harbors the most iconic elements of distinctly Korean culture through refined, contemporary design. Whether in the restaurant, Tea Pavilion or library, stacked oak beams and shingles unify the space under a single traditional Korean roof.


Dozens of cargo trucks are lined up on a road leading to a gas station nearby Gwangyang Port in South Jeolla Province, on the first day of the 200,000 liters of supply of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), also known as 'urea water,' urgently secured by the government, Thursday. The government has restricted daily sales of DEF, needed by diesel-powered vehicles, 10 liters for sedans and 30 liters for cargo trucks, as emergency measures to cope with urea water shortage. Yonhap



By Kim Bo-eun



The government has managed to address a shortage of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), also called "urea water," by securing several months' supply of its raw material constituent from China, but the case is ringing alarm bells for possible scenarios related to other imported items for which Korea has a high dependency on the neighboring country.



Korea grappled with the shortage in recent weeks, as China cut exports of urea  the main DEF "ingredient"  last month, amid a power crisis triggered by a shortage in coal supplies there. Local industries depending on the solution faced a dire situation, given the Korea imports 97.6 percent of its urea needs from China.



While Korea has managed to secure three months' supply from China, the government has more important fundamental tasks to take care of in light of the DEF incident  diversifying sources of key imported items.






U.S. climate envoy John Kerry gestures as he speaks during a joint China and U.S. statement on a declaration enhancing climate action, at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Nov. 10. Reuters-Yonhap



China and the United States on Wednesday vowed to work together to accelerate climate action this decade, separately announcing a surprise pact on global warming, which is already wreaking disasters across the world.



The joint declaration came as the crunch COP26 summit in Glasgow entered its pivotal final days, with negotiators wrestling over ways to limit global warming to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius compared to preindustrial levels.



"This document contains strong statements about the alarming science, the emissions gap, and the urgent need to accelerate action to close that gap," U.S. special envoy John Kerry told reporters.



"It commits to a series of important actions now this decade when it is needed."



The plan is light on concrete targets but heavy on political symbolism at a conference that began with the U.S. and China  the world's two biggest emitters  seemingly at loggerheads.



Last week U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the decision of China's President Xi Jinping not to attend the Glasgow summit, accusing China of walking away.



China hit back, but relations appear to have thawed ahead of long-awaited bilateral talks next week, with Kerry and Xie each saying they were rising above differences to work together on climate.



"Both sides recognise that there is a gap between the current effort and the Paris Agreement goals so we will jointly strengthen climate action," Beijing's longtime climate envoy Xie Zhenhua said.





Dunes of low-grade coal are seen near a coal mine in Ruzhou, Henan province, China, Nov. 4. Reuters-Yonhap



'Seriousness and urgency'



A document outlining the agreement includes a focus on lowering methane emissions, which Kerry described as the "single fastest and most effective way to limit warming".



It also says the two sides will meet regularly to "address the climate crisis".



The document stresses the need to boost emissions efforts in the short term, with scientists warning that slashing emissions before 2030 is crucial for halting catastrophic warming.



The declaration said both countries "recognize the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis", especially during the "critical decade of the 2020s".



China and U.S. are the two largest emitters in the world, together accounting for nearly 40 percent of all carbon pollution.



The U.S. has said it plans to be carbon neutral by 2050, while China announced it has set a net-zero target for 2060.



The 2015 Paris climate accord commits nations to work towards limiting global temperature rises to between 1.5C and 2C.



The United Nations said that all countries' carbon cutting plans combined would still see Earth warm 2.7C by 2100.



UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomed the U.S.-China pact.



"Tackling the climate crisis requires international collaboration and solidarity, and this is an important step in the right direction," he said on Twitter.





British Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a meeting with Co-Facilitators at the COP26 Climate Summit, Glasgow, Nov. 10. Reuters-Yonhap
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon capsule, is launched carrying three NASA and one ESA astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Nov. 10. Reuters-Yonhap



A SpaceX rocket carried four astronauts into orbit Wednesday night, including the 600th person to reach space in 60 years.



The repeatedly delayed flight occurred just two days after SpaceX brought four other astronauts home from the International Space Station. They should have been up there to welcome the newcomers, but NASA and SpaceX decided to switch the order based on Monday's ideal recovery weather in the Gulf of Mexico.



''It was a great ride, better than we imagined,'' mission commander Raja Chari said after the spacecraft reached orbit.



Germany's Matthias Maurer claimed the No. 600 position, according to NASA, based on his mission assignment. He and his three NASA crewmates should arrive at the space station in under 24 hours, well over a week late.



One of the astronauts  NASA isn't saying which one  was sidelined last week by an undisclosed medical issue. The crew member is fully recovered, according to NASA. Officials won't say whether it was an illness or injury, but noted it wasn't COVID-19.



Bad weather also contributed to their flight delays.



Wednesday's night it was drizzling when the four astronauts said goodbye to their families, with umbrellas held over them. Forecasters promised the weather would improve and it did.





European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer of Germany waves while departing the crew quarters for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Nov. 10. Reuters-Yonhap



The list of 600 travelers ranges from those who have barely scratched space  like actor William Shatner last month  to U.S. and Russian astronauts who have spent a year or more in orbit. This year's surge in space tourists helped push the tally over the 600 mark.



That averages out to 10 people per year since Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight in 1961, Maurer noted.



''But I think in a very few years, we will see an exponential rise of that one because now we're entering the era of commercial spaceflight,'' he said after arriving at NASA's Kennedy Space Center two weeks ago.



The crew launch marked SpaceX's fourth for NASA in 1 1/2 years and the company's fifth passenger flight overall  a charter flight for four that skipped the space station. The Dragon capsule's toilet leaked during their three days in orbit in September, necessitating a quick redesign of the flushing system in the newest capsule, named Endurance by its crew.



A balky parachute during Monday's descent had SpaceX engineers poring over the data, before giving the go-ahead for Wednesday's launch. One of the four chutes opened more than a minute late, a problem seen in testing and well within safety limits, SpaceX officials said Tuesday.



Mauer is one of three newbies on the crew. The 51-year-old was a finalist when he first applied to be an astronaut with the European Space Agency. Encouraged, he left his research job at a medical company and joined the space agency as an engineer, and made the astronaut cut in 2015.





Astronauts, from left, Matthias Maurer, of Germany, Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron pose for a photo after leaving the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Nov. 10. 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
DTLAIt may turn out to be nothing, just remarks by a politician in a city replete with remarks by politicians. Then again, Councilman Joe Buscainos brief broadside directed at Los Angeles second-highest elected official may go down as a first, very early strike in what will ultimately be 


Experience Designer Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Marketing Summary

Posted: Nov 9, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200173565 Marcom is Apple's Global Marketing Communications group. We lead all of Apple's advertising and marketing to ensure the flawless development and execution of world-class communications. In this role, you will work with a team of designers, writers, and technologists to articulate the user experience (UX) for customers across a multitude of Apple's digital touchpoints. These include apple.com, the Apple Store app, social media platforms, and digital signage. Key Qualifications You have at least 7 years of significant experience in User Experience Design.

You have validated conceptual and analytical skills

You are focused, keep a level head and work well within a collaborate team.

You have proven success in strategic and design thinking, and validated expertise in content strategy, system design, usability, analytics, user testing, information architecture, and marketing.

You possess strong oral, written and social skills to articulately express the rationale behind design decisions.

Your capabilities engender confidence that assignments are on track and on strategy.

You can present and articulate the vision in a purposeful and thoughtful way and your design sensibility and keen eye for aesthetics are unparalleled.

You have extensive experience with content strategy and platform design, from large-scale marketing sites to transactional commerce sites.

You have excellent web and app design experience and are proficient in development technologies.

You understand the requirements of the process, including typical time and resources needed is to produce extraordinary work.

You are fluent in analytics, usability tests, and other forms of qualitative and quantitative feedback.

You have an eye for detail and an excellent sense of aesthetics and functionality.

You have a dream of working in a creative and dynamic environment. Description - Presents work to internal teams and leaders at Apple, clearly articulating design rationale. - Collaborates within the UX team by working reciprocally and sharing standard methodologies. - Produces clear UX documentation for marketing sites, transactional flows and app experiences. These include sitemaps, wireframes and prototypes. - Iterates rapidly as ideas emerge and priorities change to meet the needs of the project. - Demonstrates the ability to use analytics and user testing to inform the creative process. - Provides UX direction to a broad audience, and contributes at a high level during all phases of an interactive project. - Manages and builds positive relationships across disciplines with writers, designers, developers, and creative technologists. - Brings ideas to the table and collaborates effectively with copywriters, art directors, developers and cross functional teams to develop clear proposals for UX solutions. Education & Experience Bachelor Degree with multidisciplinary educational backgrounds such as Psychology, Computer Science, Information Sciences, commerce/business Library Science, Human Computer Interaction or other related discipline preferred. Additional Requirements Portfolio shows applied knowledge of usability, user-centered design, and content strategy. Your UX documents include site maps, flows, and wireframes and strong capacity for both logical and creative thinking. Your work shows attention to detail in every aspect.






Child Development Center Open Positions For Squaxin Island Tribe Please visit squaxinisland.org for full Descriptions

Homework Helper:https://squaxinisland.org/homework-helper-2/ SUMMARY:

Homework Helpers will provide academic support to students at the Tu Ha Buts Learning Center in all academic areas, focusing on the core academic areas of math and reading. Homework helpers will build positive relationships with students, model appropriate behavior to students and work with students to increase study skills and academic skills.

Outdoor Preschool Assistant Teacher:https://squaxinisland.org/outdoor-preschool-assistant-teacher/ SUMMARY:

The Squaxin Island Child Development Center Assistant Teacher with guidance from the lead teacher and the center administration team, helps with classroom instruction, support and a nurturing environment for all children that allows for optimal social, emotional, and intellectual development. This is a full day outside nature-based kindergarten readiness program.

Lead Teacher (2 positions open):https://squaxinisland.org/lead-teacher-2-positions-available/ SUMMARY:

The Squaxin Island Child Development Center Lead Teacher, will provide classroom instruction, support and a nurturing environment for all children that provides optimal social, emotional, intellectual development and kindergarten readiness.

Assistant Teacher (5 positions open):https://squaxinisland.org/assistant-teacher-5-positions-available/ SUMMARY:

The Squaxin Island Child Development Center Assistant Teacher with guidance from the lead teacher and the center administration team, assists classroom instruction, and supports a nurturing environment for all children that allows for optimal social, emotional, and intellectual development.

Outdoor Preschool Lead Teacher:https://squaxinisland.org/outdoor-preschool-lead-teacher/ SUMMARY:

The Squaxin Island Child Development Center Outdoor Lead Teacher with support from the center leadership team, provides outdoor classroom instruction, support and a nurturing environment for all children that provides optimal social, emotional, and intellectual development. This is a full day outside nature-based kindergarten readiness program.

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5th Grade Bilingual Teacher, North Street School Current NYS childhood education certification, bilingual spanish Salary per GTA contract Required documentation for application Letter of interest, resume, application, certification, transcripts & three letters of reference Apply online at: (please use the apply button below) COME JOIN US! We are currently seeking qualified candidates to fill the following positions: Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, application, transcripts, certification and three letters of reference for complete file Geneva City Schools As a small city, Geneva offers all the benefits of a tiny metropolis just a stones throw away from the countryside and lakes.

Seneca Lake, whose northern point the city straddles, offers breathtaking views and water recreation.

Agriculture is a staple in this picturesque region, with the lake shores offering a climate well suited to the numerous grain fields, pastures, vineyards and orchards.

The Geneva City School District is a public school serving over 2,100students grades PK through 12.

The district is comprised of a high school, middle school, two elementary schools (grades PreK to 1 and grades 25), district administrative offices and our central services facility.

AA/EOE by Choice recblid i157b89votspr8h2arvv3ns0v3ijm5




Can you join AllHealth Network? Yes you can - if you're excited by the thought of working with over 400 colleagues, 18,000 clients, being valued for the work that you do and can embrace the mission of the organization, which is to provide is to enhance quality of life for individuals and families in our community through compassionate, integrated behavioral health services. AllHealth Network is growing! We are seeking a full-time Spanish Speaking Access to Care Specialist/Call Center Representative to work at our administration office. This person needs to be flexible, as they will work every other Saturday. The schedule is from 10AM - 7PM, with a one hour lunch. This position is fully remote, but you must live in Colorado. If you are interested, please apply. Job Purpose:

Access to Care Specialists work as part of a team, autonomously responding to and managing incoming calls to AllHealth Network. Specialists interface with clients, the community, and AllHealth Network staff, to assist in the navigation of behavioral health services, scheduling, linking clients to internal and external providers of care, setting appointments, and helping members identify needs and access appropriate services.



Goals and Objectives:

Provide timely and courteous response to all internal and external calls into AllHealth Network

Ensure a broad working knowledge of agency resources and programs and be able to speak to them proficiently during calls.

Provide comprehensive service to all callers' requests by ensuring all needs have been addressed before hanging up

Provide appointments that are scheduled with appropriate providers at a high accuracy rate for best service



Duties and Responsibilities:

Answer calls, set appointments and provide responses to requests for information and services

Schedule mental health appointments by phone, collect insurance and other pertinent information to enter client data directly into computer system

Schedule such inquiries in a manner consistent with AllHealth Network policies and procedures

Document all activities in electronic medical record system

Monitor providers' schedules and schedule visits to maximize clinic productivity; this includes "back-filling" open slots

Monitor Televox and reminder call system for confirmations and cancellations per procedures

Maintain positive working relationships with clients, peers, agencies, and the general public

Participate in meetings as appropriate to this position and to the Network

Expected to demonstrate customer service focus, effective and knowledgeable communication and professionalism with consumers, co-workers and outside agency personnel in order to provide high quality services and to enhance community relationships

Coordinate incoming referrals to appropriate processes and provide feedback to referral sources for customer service

Follow all AllHealth Network policies and procedures

Complete all required trainings as listed in Relias Learning (both online training and face-to-face training) within required timelines

Perform other duties as required within the scope of the position and the experience, education and ability of the employee.



Key Technical Skills and Knowledge:

A. Education: High School/GED require, BA/BS, preferred.

B. Experience: Minimum two years of related experience required; high-volume Call Center experience preferred.

C. Skills: Strong computer and communication skills. Calmness under pressure. Superior customer service skills, organized, detail oriented, and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Familiarity with multiple line telephone system, voice mail, copiers, fax machines.

D. Other: Ability to lift equipment and supplies up to 15 lbs. Salary: $16.00 - $18.71 per hour The base salary range represents the low and high end of the AllHealth Network salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors including but not limited to experience, education, training, merit, and the ability to embody the AllHealth Network mission and values. The range listed is just one component of AllHealth Networks' total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term and long-term incentives as well as a generous benefits package detailed below. Benefits & Perks for Employees Working 30 hours or more: First, you would be joining on of Denver's Top Places to Work! We are honored to receive this amazing designation and we know it is recognition from our engaged staff who believe they are taken care of, listened to, and believe they are part of something bigger. Our facility is approved by the Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC), and we offer our employees the opportunity to participate in our Loan Repayment Program. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes: Positive, collaborative team culture

Competitive compensation structure

Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Basic Life and AD&D Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts

Retirement Savings 401k, company match up to 50% of the first 6% contributed

Excellent Paid Time Off & Paid Holidays Off

Additional Benefits AllHealth Network is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status.


Library Director

Starting Salary Range: $95,000 annually

Filing Deadline: Wednesday, December 8, 2021

The City of El Centro is seeking to fill the vacant position of Library Director. Applicants should possess the required qualifications as outlined below. Interested applicants should submit a completed job application to the Human Resources Department located at 1275 W. Main St., El Centro by the closing date listed above.

The City of El Centro is looking to fill the position of Library Director and will be under the general direction of the City Manager. The Library Director plans and supervises the Library Division reference services and circulation functions for adults, young adults and children; plans and supervises the librarys acquisitions and technical services operations; and coordinates and directs the operations of the library system.

The Citys Library has five (5) full-time positions; one (1) Library Supervisor, four (4) Library Assistants, and five (5) temporary positions of Library Page. The Library consists of one main Library and one Branch Library.

The City of El Centro is in the beginning process of designing and building a new Library. We are looking for a director that can participate and provide new ideas to have the best and most innovative Library in Imperial County that will provide everything that our patrons will need.

For more information and to Apply, click the Apply Now Button.

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Description



System ID 747543

Category General Management

Relocation Type Yes - According to Grade

Employment Status Full-Time

Unit Description

Let your passion for people be the driver of your success at Sodexo. Through your leadership, your team will make a real impact every day. Sodexo is seeking a Multi-Service General Manager for its operations at Pratt Regional Medical Center located in beautiful Pratt, KS. $2,500 sign on bonua and relocation assistance is available!!!! The successful candidate will: be responsible for the oversight of food and environmental service operations and teams;

work to develop and grow the business while managing and controlling operational costs and offering high quality service to our Clients;

have responsibility for full financial oversight of the account, including budgeting and reporting for all three services to achieve company and client financial targets and goals;

provide technical training and expertise, coaching and leadership to the on-site teams while working side by side in the operation as needed;

create a positive customer service driven environment, by driving employee engagement and customer satisfaction through strong leadership skills;

integrate fully within our client's organization becoming a trusted adviser with a customer service focus;

ensure compliance to all safety, sanitation, and overall workplace safety regulations and standards. Is this opportunity right for you? We are looking for candidates who: have the ability to develop and build strong client relationships while meeting the expectation of the client as well as Sodexo;

has demonstrated experience directing a Culinary, Environmental and Facilities Team and exceptional human resource and management skill-set;

has exceptional multi-tasking, time management and professional communication skills;

have a hands-on, innovative leadership approach to management;

are experts at high level customer service and relationship building;

adept at working independently and making sound business decisions within company guidelines;

have strong financial acumen and experience managing multiple operational budgets;

Candidate must be knowledgeable in compliance to food safety, sanitation and overall workplace safety standards. Learn more about Sodexo Benefits: At Sodexo, we believe every employee should have the resources to be their best. As part of our overall rewards, we offer benefits programs designed to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle including health, dental and vision insurance. We also offer other benefits like paid time off, financial and savings programs, 401k, and access to our employee assistance program and other discounts. Click here for more information about Sodexo's Benefits Not the job for you?

We offer Food Service Management positions in a variety of business segments, including Corporate, Schools, Universities, Government and Agencies, Healthcare, Senior Living and Sports and Leisure locations across the United States. Continue your search for Food Service Management jobs.



Working for Sodexo:

At Sodexo, you will find the ingredients for a great career in food service management. With benefits including schedules that encourage work-life balance and continuing education opportunities, you'll enjoy an improved quality of life that's unique in the hospitality industry.

Position Summary

Functions as the leader for multiple core services, in a single account and/or multiple locations within the same contract. Single point of contact and/or client liaison in support of business that in total is $5 million or less in managed volume.

Key Duties

- Monitors operations by planned and unplanned visits to each operating account of the system to plan projects, implement new processes, client interactions, and new technology to ensure sufficient resources. - Develops business plan and budget w/each account GM that supports the System and District goals - Reviews and analyzes financial statements and data and other financial information to ensure attainment of financial goals for both the client and Sodexo. - Central Point of Contact for Client Liaison promoting a solid business partnership - assists in contract negotiations for the system. - Maintains Quality & Company Standards - reviews and maintains reports to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and Sodexo / System Client(s) policies and procedures. - Responsible for system succession planning/employee development/diversity initiatives/training/constructive counseling. Promotes and supports workplace diversity initiatives. - Provides strategic leadership to the respective units within the system to maintain client satisfaction and retention

Qualifications & Requirements

Basic Education Requirement - Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience Basic Management Experience - 5 years Basic Functional Experience - 5 years



Sodexo is an EEO/AA/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran employer.



Requirements

See Job Description




At present, 800 million people are not eating sufficient amount of food, and 45 million are on the brink of starvation. This is a striking indictment of a society where the richest earned $4tn in the first year of a global pandemic.

Over the past few months, the stark reality is that 23 million people in Afghanistan have faced acute food insecurity, and 9 million are at emergency levels", according to the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification). On the tiny island nation of Madagascar alone, 300,000 people face famine of the highest classification. There are 16 million people in Yemen facing acute food insecurity. The list goes on.

For centuries, human beings endured starvation because of a lack of food. Crop failures would plunge millions into starvation, because there was no food to be had. Human beings were subject to the whims of nature: droughts, floods, cold spells and all manner of disasters. With a local economy with limited trade, it was impossible to make up the shortfall in one region with the production of another. But this is no longer the case.

We are currently producing more than enough to feed the entire planet. The amount of cereal production would be sufficient to feed everyone in the world twice over, with its highest yield ever of 2.8bn tonnes (the equivalent of 1kg per person per day). We have a network of world trade unparallelled in history. 11 billion tonnes of cargo are transported on the seas every year.

We are currently producing more than enough to feed the entire planet and we have a network of world trade unparalleled in history / Image: public domain

Why then is 10 percent of the world's population facing food insecurity; and why are a fifth of the world's children having their growth stunted from a lack of nutrition?

Recently, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, David Beasley, wound up in a Twitter spat with multi-billionaire Elon Musk. Beasley asked billionaires to donate $6bn to save the lives of 42 million people. Musk attempted to sow doubts about the claim, asking Beasley to provide open source accounting (whatever that means) to show how the money was spent.

One might ask Musk to do the same thing with his own companies, which are kept afloat thanks to massive injections of public money, but one suspects he'd take great offence at this.

Please publish your current & proposed spending in detail so people can see exactly where money goes.



Sunlight is a wonderful thing.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2021

If the world's billionaires were to give up 0.15 percent of the $4tn they earned last year, we could stop people starving to death this year. Presumably, if they gave up 3 percent, we could then ensure the 800 million people going hungry had enough to eat.

But, as Beasley found out, it's very difficult to get the world's capitalists to part with their money. Musk is also very much opposed to the idea that he or people like him should be paying more tax.

The world's richest nations aren't any more forthcoming. Whilst the need for aid has increased dramatically, the richest nations have cut their funding. Support for Syrian refugees and refugees in East Africa have been slashed, and food rations cut by half.

The truth is that the capitalist system has no interest in providing for the hundreds of millions that are going hungry. The problem isn't that the food isn't there, but that the poor can't afford to buy it. If modern agricultural techniques, including mechanisation, were put to proper use on the basis of a rational plan, we could increase our supply of food further still. But there's no profit to be made in that either.

Charities, NGOs and the UN's World Food Programme are sticking plasters that attempt to alleviate the worst starvation, but they are completely incapable of solving the problem of hunger. They basically survive by begging the wealthy to part with their money, and they get very little in return. The capitalist system is inflicting this misery on the world's poor, and it provides little in the way of relief.

We already have all the resources necessary to satisfy the basic needs of the worlds population. By ending food waste, and investing in better technology, we could not just only meet these basic needs, but ensure a decent living standard for all, and in a sustainable way.

But this would only be possible under an economic system of rational planning to fulfil human need, of organising the worlds resources for the benefit of the workers, the peasants and the poor of the world, not the profit of a tiny group of billionaires.


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MNCapital Group (South Africa), a leading international investment advisory and institutional business development firm in collaboration with communicationsC! (Mauritius), alongside various strategic partners, are bringing the Africa ESG and AIFAM Forum to Mauritius in March 2022.

The 2 flagship events, The Africa ESG Forum and Africa Investment Funds and Asset Management (AIFAM) Forum will run over a period of 2 days (March 23rd and 24th) under the theme Enhancing long-term investment performance through sustainable investing.

The global finance and investment community is witnessing increasing debate on the extent to which Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors must be integrated into the mainstream investment analysis to enhance long-term investment performance and value creation. The focus on ESG and alternative investments has never been more relevant as the investment community continues to solidify their commitment to curb key global challenges that are highlighted in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Michael Ndinisa, Group Managing Director at MNCapital said, this is a unique event that has been created to be an exhaustive value-add to both institutional and private investors as well as other key players in the industry such as Fund managers, Custodians, Administrators and every other stakeholder. We endeavour, through this 2-pronged program to deliver valuable industry insights and information on the 3 key issues that Institutional Investors have to grapple with  these being ESG Integration, Alternative Investments and of course Trustee Stewardship. Our aim is to heighten ESG Integration within the African context primarily, broadens our understanding of Alternative Investments and deepens our sense of Trustee responsibility and fiduciary duties.

Growing investment in Africas economic development along an inclusive and green path depends upon the long term investment of institutional investors in Africa because sustainable investment depends on Africas own pension funds investing in Africas future. Long term investment depends upon factoring all economic, environmental, social and corporate governance factors into investment decisions., says Cora Ng-Korimbocus CEO, communicationsC!

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To support universal and affordable broadband access in Africa, IFC has partnered with Liquid Intelligent Technologies (Liquid.Tech) to expand data center capacity and the rollout of fiber-optic cable on the continent.

The partnership with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africas leading independent fiber and digital services provider, aims to increase digital connectivity and inclusion in Africa and to support the regions growing digital ecosystem.

IFCs equity and debt investments in Liquid Intelligent Technologies, which to date total approximately $250 million, will support the company to grow its hyperscale data center capacity in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa through its subsidiary, Africa Data Centres. As Africas population grows and is increasingly urbanized, data consumption is expected to grow strongly and with this comes the need for secure local data hosting.

The investments will also support Liquid Intelligent Technologies in the continued rollout of its fiber broadband network, which today covers more than 100,000 kilometers of sub-Saharan Africa. The continued build out of its network will help to connect businesses and individuals to the Internet across the continent and position Liquid intelligent Technologies to be at the forefront of Africas digital transformation with the provision of complementary digital services.

We are very pleased that IFC continues to support Liquid. The investments in our data centers and fiber broadband network will directly support our growth plans over the coming years by encouraging the adoption of new services such as Cloud and other digital services, services that are critical in driving sustainable development across Africa, said Strive Masiyiwa, Liquid Intelligent Technologies Executive Chairman and Founder.

Digital technologies are rapidly transforming how people, businesses, and governments communicate, transact, and access information and services. By working with Liquid Intelligent Technologies, we can help expand access to infrastructure and digital services that power Africas digital economy, creating new opportunities for growth and jobs. This is an essential element for Africas economic transformation and building back better, said Makhtar Diop, IFCs Managing Director.

Digital infrastructure is the backbone of the digital economy, but sub-Saharan Africa needs around $100 billion in investment to achieve universal, affordable, and high-quality broadband access by 2030, according to the Broadband Commission on Sustainable Development (https://bit.ly/3H3XUJ5). To achieve universal broadband access, the continent needs at least 250,000 kilometers of new fiber (https://bit.ly/3H3Y2Iz).

IFCs digital strategy in Africa is aimed at enabling ubiquitous, reliable, and affordable connectivity. This includes investing in the growth of independent tower operators, data centers and broadband, as well as support to mobile operators primarily in fragile and conflict situations (FCS) and low-Income International Development Association countries (LIC-IDA).

IFCs latest investment in Liquid follows its investment in the company in February 2021 through Liquids bond placement on Euronext Dublin, Irelands main stock exchange. The issuance raised $620 million.

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An average of 61,427 vaccinations are being administered to Pennsylvania residents each day, according to CDC data. Of those, 29,544 are first doses. The number of total vaccinations per day is up 53.6% over the last 30 days. The number of first doses being given per day is up 48.2% over the last 30 days.
Kaboly said recruitment has been a top priority at Gracedale since 2018. Gracedale operates its own training program for certified nurse aides and those who go through the training are paid a stipend. She said if employees are in good standing they can receive tuition assistance and Gracedale pays for employees to attend Northampton Community College to become licensed practical nurses or registered nurses. She added they also work with local colleges to recruit employees. On top of that, Gracedale also does a good deal of advertising, she said.
Hodge Todd who lives at the building that was affected by the fire, laughs as he opens a package that has a SIM card for him and was delivered on the sidewalk from Amazon Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Allentown. Todd, who lives in the building, said eight people who rented rooms at the rowhome were displaced. You have to laugh at the little things. I saw nothing but smoke and fire from the kitchen or back area of his apartment. Todd said. (Rick Kintzel/Morning Call)
For the second seat, unofficial returns submitted to the Department of State by all 67 counties showed Democrat Lori Dumas leading Republican Drew Crompton by nearly 17,000 votes, but well within the margin under state law for a mandatory recount.
Or you have the people who see it and think its someone elses job, and someone else will pick it up. Not to fall back on a cliche, but you have to be the change you want to see. Nobody else is going to do it for you.
Looking back at everything, I realized what I did right. There were a few things (that) I did wrong and a lot of lessons that we all learned, my family learned, I learned, my daughters learned in the ordeal, Burke said. In the end, I think it was very comforting, and I finally found peace when I was able to recognize what happened and come to terms with everything and also come to terms with the fact that after this happened, the trajectory of my life just changed so much and so dramatically. You have to come to terms (with that) as well.
The bills prime sponsor, Republican Sen. Cris Dush of Jefferson County, wrote in a memo, Citizens who pass a criminal background check to purchase a new firearm are the least likely to commit an offense with a firearm. It is patently unjust and constitutionally questionable to add layers of bureaucratic regulations on these law abiding citizens just because they prefer to carry their weapon concealed.
For many of us, Jim is the last news voice we hear before ending our day. He has guided us through the good and the bad with calm confidence for more than 40 years, often reassuring us that tomorrow will bring a better day, Bernie Prazenica, president and general manager of 6ABC, said in a statement. Thankfully, we have another year with him during the 6 p.m. newscast, and we look forward to his continued presence and leadership.
Burley, ID (83318)

Today

Some clouds. Low around 25F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Low around 25F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.
The Furnace, Oct. 9.  Jake Howell stands before a crowd of dozens of Missoula music fans, singing a song he wrote, Saturdays when I forget Behind him is the band, four men he trusts with his life. Their first studio album, self-titled Cosmic Sans, has just dropped, and they are celebra
International

Biden cites India, Brazil to explain supply disruptions

WASHINGTON, NOV 11 (PTI) | Publish Date: 11/11/2021 11:40:15 AM IST

US President Joe Biden cited India and Brazil to explain how the complex global supply chain has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in higher prices and long delays in shipment of products, ahead of Christmas.

Speaking in Baltimore on Wednesday, Biden vowed to modernise Americas ports, airports and freight rail to make it easier for the US companies to get their goods to market and end supply chain woes.

Biden said as long as goods and materials are reaching where they need to reach in time, theres usually no need to worry about the supply chains.

The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched global supply chains like never before, he said, adding that suddenly, when you go to order a pair of sneakers or a bicycle or Christmas presents for the family, youre met with higher prices and long delays.

In simple terms, the supply chain is just the journey a product takes to get to your doorstep. Raw materials plus labour, assembly, shipping, everything it takes to create the finished product, he said. Biden further said, These supply chains are complex, even products as simple as a pencil. Going to have to use wood from Brazil, graphite from India before it comes together at a factory in the United States to get a pencil. Sounds silly, but thats literally how it (is)...

So, all of a sudden you got the Covid crisis in Brazil. You cant get the product made because the plant shuts down. Thats whats happening, he said.

Products like smartphones often bring together parts from France, Italy, chips from the Netherlands, touchscreens from New York state, camera components from Japan, the supply chain that crosses dozens of countries. Thats just the nature of the modern economy, the world economy, he added.

As post-pandemic demand surges and the economy tries to recover, delays at major ports around the world have driven up prices for daily essentials.

Biden has been taking steps to tackle the supply chain disruptions, including a meeting with CEOs of courier companies in a bid to ensure shop shelves are full during the coming holiday season. Meanwhile, according to government data, consumer prices in the US rose 6.2 per cent in October from a year ago, the sharpest increase since 1990.

The data comes days after a USD 1 trillion infrastructure bill was cleared by Congress that the president has said will create jobs and help cool inflation.

Biden said the global supply chains have helped dramatically bring down the price we pay for things we buy.

But they have also made them much more dependent on what happens in other parts of the world. So, if a factory in Malaysia shuts down due to a COVID-19 outbreak, which they have, it causes a ripple effect that can slow down auto manufacturing in Detroit, he said.

Why? It cant get the computer chips they need. If a climate disaster closed a port in China, it can delay shipment of furniture or clothing, reduce worldwide supply and drive up prices here in America. And the irony is people have more money now, he added. Biden said his administration will modernise ports, airports and freight rail to make it easier for companies to get their goods to market, reduce supply chain bottlenecks and lower the cost for working families.
Berlin Reporter City Council votes on resolution for Route 110 expansion

by Tara Giles

Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter write the author BERLIN  Last week's Berlin City Council meeting began with a hearing in regards to a Substance Abuse Reduction Initiative Grant. There were no public comments and Council accepted the grant.



Mayor Paul Grenier opened another public hearing in regards to accepting ARPA funds ($250,000) from the Coos County Delegation. During the ARPA hearing, resident Cam Bradshaw stated that she believes the funds should be used for Capital Projects that are already on the to do list in Berlin. The Council voted to accept the funds.



Next, Grenier opened a public hearing in regards to the expansion of the Route 110 Urban Compact Line. Bradshaw spoke in opposition to the resolution, stating that the numbers she received from City Manager James Wheeler.



Bradshaw said, "Mr. Wheeler said that it would need $600,000 in taxable revenue to maintain this stretch of road."



Grenier clarified, "It is $600,000 in taxable property, not revenue."



Bradshaw responded, "I suggest that the extension of Route 110, the TIF district, and the water and sewer projects should be taken one step at a time. Investors should be stepping up before we rush into taking over this section of the highway, as it will raise taxes."



Grenier commented after the meeting, "After the first two initial proposals with NH DOT failed to bring satisfactory results that protected Berlin's taxpayer's interests, the last effort succeeds in addressing the major concerns of Berlin's taxpayers. It allows for orderly and less costly development of Route 110 because the many interested developers will now deal with the local permitting processes."



Grenier added, "The state permitting process is cumbersome and can be quite costly. Time delays also can be quite frustrating for people. Local permitting is quicker and much less onerous. Most of the developers we are dealing with are startups in the area though they are seasoned developers. We are in exciting times here in Berlin and Rt 110 will be the crown jewel in OHRV supported business development."



The Resolution regarding Route 110 reads, "A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to enter into a five-year extended maintenance agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, NHDOT and said implementation of the maintenance agreement shall coincide with the reclassification of a section of Route 110, by the Commissioner of the NHDOT, such that the Urban Compact line will be relocated to the west side of Jericho Lake Road at the intersection of Rte. 110."



It further states, "WHEREAS, the CITY, wishes to extend the Urban Compact from its current location at approximately two miles east of Jericho Lake Road to the west side of Jericho Lake Road at the intersection of Rte. 110 resulting in jurisdictional control over that section of road to better support and align economic development and the City's vision for that area; and WHEREAS, it is the prerogative of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DEPARTMENT), through the authority of the Commissioner in accordance with RSA 229:5 to reclassify portions of State highways; and



WHEREAS, the DEPARTMENT would typically perform a certain level of maintenance upgrades to provide a serviceable maintenance condition in advance of a roadway reclassification; and



WHEREAS, the DEPARTMENT desires to cooperate with the CITY in accomplishing the extension of the Urban Compact sooner rather than later and in doing the DEPARTMENT is willing to enter into an extended maintenance agreement with the CITY to facilitate this;



WHEREAS, the effective date of the extended maintenance agreement and reclassification will be February 1, 2022.



NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Berlin, NH that it authorizes the City Manager to enter into a five-year extended maintenance agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and said implementation of the maintenance agreement shall coincide with the reclassification of a section of Route 110 such that the Urban Compact line will be relocated to the west side of Jericho Lake Road at the intersection of Rte. 110.



Councilor Peter Higbee stated, "I would not be voting in favor of the Resolution, as I feel a lot of trust has been put into the numbers for potential development, but I feels it would take more than $600,000 in taxable property value to maintain the roadway. Many folks have spoken against the extension and I will be representing them."



The Council voted by majority to accept the Resolution. BERLIN  Last week's Berlin City Council meeting began with a hearing in regards to a Substance Abuse Reduction Initiative Grant. There were no public comments and Council accepted the grant.Mayor Paul Grenier opened another public hearing in regards to accepting ARPA funds ($250,000) from the Coos County Delegation. During the ARPA hearing, resident Cam Bradshaw stated that she believes the funds should be used for Capital Projects that are already on the to do list in Berlin. The Council voted to accept the funds.Next, Grenier opened a public hearing in regards to the expansion of the Route 110 Urban Compact Line. Bradshaw spoke in opposition to the resolution, stating that the numbers she received from City Manager James Wheeler.Bradshaw said, "Mr. Wheeler said that it would need $600,000 in taxable revenue to maintain this stretch of road."Grenier clarified, "It is $600,000 in taxable property, not revenue."Bradshaw responded, "I suggest that the extension of Route 110, the TIF district, and the water and sewer projects should be taken one step at a time. Investors should be stepping up before we rush into taking over this section of the highway, as it will raise taxes."Grenier commented after the meeting, "After the first two initial proposals with NH DOT failed to bring satisfactory results that protected Berlin's taxpayer's interests, the last effort succeeds in addressing the major concerns of Berlin's taxpayers. It allows for orderly and less costly development of Route 110 because the many interested developers will now deal with the local permitting processes."Grenier added, "The state permitting process is cumbersome and can be quite costly. Time delays also can be quite frustrating for people. Local permitting is quicker and much less onerous. Most of the developers we are dealing with are startups in the area though they are seasoned developers. We are in exciting times here in Berlin and Rt 110 will be the crown jewel in OHRV supported business development."The Resolution regarding Route 110 reads, "A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Manager to enter into a five-year extended maintenance agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, NHDOT and said implementation of the maintenance agreement shall coincide with the reclassification of a section of Route 110, by the Commissioner of the NHDOT, such that the Urban Compact line will be relocated to the west side of Jericho Lake Road at the intersection of Rte. 110."It further states, "WHEREAS, the CITY, wishes to extend the Urban Compact from its current location at approximately two miles east of Jericho Lake Road to the west side of Jericho Lake Road at the intersection of Rte. 110 resulting in jurisdictional control over that section of road to better support and align economic development and the City's vision for that area; and WHEREAS, it is the prerogative of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (DEPARTMENT), through the authority of the Commissioner in accordance with RSA 229:5 to reclassify portions of State highways; andWHEREAS, the DEPARTMENT would typically perform a certain level of maintenance upgrades to provide a serviceable maintenance condition in advance of a roadway reclassification; andWHEREAS, the DEPARTMENT desires to cooperate with the CITY in accomplishing the extension of the Urban Compact sooner rather than later and in doing the DEPARTMENT is willing to enter into an extended maintenance agreement with the CITY to facilitate this;WHEREAS, the effective date of the extended maintenance agreement and reclassification will be February 1, 2022.NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Berlin, NH that it authorizes the City Manager to enter into a five-year extended maintenance agreement with the New Hampshire Department of Transportation and said implementation of the maintenance agreement shall coincide with the reclassification of a section of Route 110 such that the Urban Compact line will be relocated to the west side of Jericho Lake Road at the intersection of Rte. 110.Councilor Peter Higbee stated, "I would not be voting in favor of the Resolution, as I feel a lot of trust has been put into the numbers for potential development, but I feels it would take more than $600,000 in taxable property value to maintain the roadway. Many folks have spoken against the extension and I will be representing them."The Council voted by majority to accept the Resolution.

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Carroll County Independent Local author to release new book

Local author to release new book



WAKEFIELD  Brookfield resident Martha Atwood Pike has recently released a book of letters written between her relative Christine Peters, who lived in Burlington, Vt., and her love, Frank Peters of Los Angeles, Calif. during the period of 1903-1909. The backstory of these letters comprising the book "If You Talk of Love to Me" makes it a fascinating read for its romantic as well as historical value.



Peters wrote to her newly discovered cousin Frank Peters of Los Angeles, California, after the death of her father, Walter E. Peters of Lacolle, Quebec. She hoped to bring Frank and his parents back into touch with her scattering family. A bookkeeper for the Horatio Hickok Lumber Company, and the youngest of nine siblings, she was now helping to support her ailing mother and younger brothers, who had joined her in Burlington. An early feminist, she sought a career, friendship, and independence, not marriage.



The letters are historic in nature and vividly describe the social and cultural life in Burlington, office banter, and national events. She and Frank, an 1897 graduate of the University of Sothern California employed by the Los Angeles County Law Library, compare views on books, plays, flowers, politics, and life in Los Angeles and Burlington. Her letters are humorous, thoughtful, informative, and poignant. A startling love story unfolds, constrained by the manners and customs of New England.



Pike explains, "Growing up my mother always tried to get my sister and me to read these letters that were gathered together in original handwriting and poorly bound, with words wrapped in the binding so they were difficult to read. Over the past few years, I've taken on the challenge of transcribing the letters to present them in 'If You Talk of Love to Me.'"



The original letters are preserved in the Silver Special Collections Library at UVM under the title Cumulative Evidence. Pike's book provides prologue, introduction, epilogue, notes, chronology, genealogy, sources, index, and 180 historic images, including photos and archival post cards in 604 pages.



The book (ISBN 9781737371908) is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.



It is hoped that a fitting book launch will take place at the Gafney Library in Sanbornville when the new library addition is completed Spring 2022. Local author to release new bookWAKEFIELD  Brookfield resident Martha Atwood Pike has recently released a book of letters written between her relative Christine Peters, who lived in Burlington, Vt., and her love, Frank Peters of Los Angeles, Calif. during the period of 1903-1909. The backstory of these letters comprising the book "If You Talk of Love to Me" makes it a fascinating read for its romantic as well as historical value.Peters wrote to her newly discovered cousin Frank Peters of Los Angeles, California, after the death of her father, Walter E. Peters of Lacolle, Quebec. She hoped to bring Frank and his parents back into touch with her scattering family. A bookkeeper for the Horatio Hickok Lumber Company, and the youngest of nine siblings, she was now helping to support her ailing mother and younger brothers, who had joined her in Burlington. An early feminist, she sought a career, friendship, and independence, not marriage.The letters are historic in nature and vividly describe the social and cultural life in Burlington, office banter, and national events. She and Frank, an 1897 graduate of the University of Sothern California employed by the Los Angeles County Law Library, compare views on books, plays, flowers, politics, and life in Los Angeles and Burlington. Her letters are humorous, thoughtful, informative, and poignant. A startling love story unfolds, constrained by the manners and customs of New England.Pike explains, "Growing up my mother always tried to get my sister and me to read these letters that were gathered together in original handwriting and poorly bound, with words wrapped in the binding so they were difficult to read. Over the past few years, I've taken on the challenge of transcribing the letters to present them in 'If You Talk of Love to Me.'"The original letters are preserved in the Silver Special Collections Library at UVM under the title Cumulative Evidence. Pike's book provides prologue, introduction, epilogue, notes, chronology, genealogy, sources, index, and 180 historic images, including photos and archival post cards in 604 pages.The book (ISBN 9781737371908) is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.It is hoped that a fitting book launch will take place at the Gafney Library in Sanbornville when the new library addition is completed Spring 2022.

Carroll County Independent Arias, Seigars earn volleyball All-State honors Cook Library receives Sustaining the Humanities grant Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Coos County Democrat Broadband expansion sought in Coos County

by Tara Giles

Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter Sports reporter - Coos County Democrat and Berlin Reporter write the author REGION  A Request for Proposal (RFP) for broadband expansion in Coos County is underway. An RFP is a business document that announces a project, describes it and solicits bids from qualified contractors to complete it. This method is used by many organizations and governments.



The County is issuing an RFP to develop Coos County Broadband Roadmap to Implementation.



In a statement the Coos County Broadband Committee said, "The goal of the RFP is to further assess and analyze broadband needs identifying paths required to improve and expand broadband capacity of Coos County and Municipalities within the County."



This RFP is issued to respond to a grant award from the USDA Rural Development and American Rescue Plan Acts Funds. Coos County is looking for a qualified consultant or team of consultants to develop a Comprehensive Broadband Plan that will identify assets, gaps in the current network, identify potential models, and prioritized project areas for implementation.



The Committee further stated, "Today, Coos County is over 200 years old and many of its people still have the sense of purpose and strength of character of the early explorers to this pathless wilderness area that was home to Abenaki tribes, trees and wild animals. The people who built our North Country society were hardy and courageous. Coos is an Indian word for "dwellers in the pine tree place."



House Rep. Edith Tucker relayed the importance of this project, "There is no doubt in my mind that having broadband service that meets today's standards will help reverse our population loss, this is truly a bipartisan issue."



Notable facts, are that Coos makes up roughly 20 percent of the land area in New Hampshire, with a total of 1,800 square miles. In 2010, the County's population was 33,019, or 2.5 percent of New Hampshire's total population. Population in the area is declining, and lack of broadband is one reason many are moving to areas where remote work is more accessible as well as other remote educational opportunities.



Last summer, Coos County Commissioners formed the Broadband Committee and appointed five people from the County to serve on it. REGION  A Request for Proposal (RFP) for broadband expansion in Coos County is underway. An RFP is a business document that announces a project, describes it and solicits bids from qualified contractors to complete it. This method is used by many organizations and governments.The County is issuing an RFP to develop Coos County Broadband Roadmap to Implementation.In a statement the Coos County Broadband Committee said, "The goal of the RFP is to further assess and analyze broadband needs identifying paths required to improve and expand broadband capacity of Coos County and Municipalities within the County."This RFP is issued to respond to a grant award from the USDA Rural Development and American Rescue Plan Acts Funds. Coos County is looking for a qualified consultant or team of consultants to develop a Comprehensive Broadband Plan that will identify assets, gaps in the current network, identify potential models, and prioritized project areas for implementation.The Committee further stated, "Today, Coos County is over 200 years old and many of its people still have the sense of purpose and strength of character of the early explorers to this pathless wilderness area that was home to Abenaki tribes, trees and wild animals. The people who built our North Country society were hardy and courageous. Coos is an Indian word for "dwellers in the pine tree place."House Rep. Edith Tucker relayed the importance of this project, "There is no doubt in my mind that having broadband service that meets today's standards will help reverse our population loss, this is truly a bipartisan issue."Notable facts, are that Coos makes up roughly 20 percent of the land area in New Hampshire, with a total of 1,800 square miles. In 2010, the County's population was 33,019, or 2.5 percent of New Hampshire's total population. Population in the area is declining, and lack of broadband is one reason many are moving to areas where remote work is more accessible as well as other remote educational opportunities.Last summer, Coos County Commissioners formed the Broadband Committee and appointed five people from the County to serve on it.


Gilford Steamer Streetcar presents "All Together Now" this weekend

by Erin Plummer

Ellie Feola and Becca Wittenberg belt out "Tomorrow" (from the musical "Annie") during a rehearsal for Streetcar's "All Together Now." (Photo by Erin Plummer) (click for larger version) LACONIA  This weekend, Streetcar Company will present a special show celebrating community theater, marking its first musical since the pandemic.



Streetcar will do a production of "All Together Now" at the Belknap Mill featuring 15 classic songs from different musicals tied together by a story of a telethon supporting a community theater company.



"All Together Now" is a musical review that Music Theatre International (MTI) has offered for free to community theater groups to help them get back on their creative feet after the pandemic. The entire live theater industry was especially hit hard during the pandemic. "All Together Now" features 15 different songs from different musicals.



"Basically, it was tailor made for us," said director David Nelson of Gilford.



Theater groups had the option of presenting the show however they wanted, whether as a concert type performance or within the context of an original story. Nelson wrote a script about a telethon that helps raise money for a small New Hampshire theater group like Streetcar with the help of a big name announcer.



Nelson said he had never written a show before, and started putting ideas down.



Nelson plays Jimmy, a personal assistant to nationally known host Malcolm Palladium, who he convinces to host a telethon for a community theater group in his hometown.



Like many theater groups, Streetcar hadn't been able to stage any productions since the COVID lockdown in the spring of 2020 forced the indefinite postponement of its planned 50th anniversary show, a revival of "The Wizard of Oz." The company returned to the stage this summer with a production of "The Birds" (based on the short story by Daphne Dumaurier). "All Together Now" will be their first musical since 2019.



Nelson said this production has been going great leading up to opening day.



"(This) exceeded my expectations of what I thought the show could be," Nelson said.



Brendan Berube of Laconia plays famous host Malcolm Palladium, who he described as "professional" from how the dresses to how he makes himself heard.



Berube has been in a number of Streetcar shows, recently performing in "The Birds."



"I missed it so much," Berube said. "That connection you have with a live audience, there's nothing like that in the world."



He will also be singing for the first time ever in this show. He was initially not going to sing, but was encouraged by Nelson, who convinced him to take lead vocal duties on the show's opening number, "Be Our Guest" from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."



Carey Hough of Gilmanton Iron Works plays Sara Dutile, Jimmy's love interest.



"Sara is a small-town girl who is determined to help her local community theater organization come back after being closed for so long," Hough said.



Hough returned to the stage after 21 years away. Hough said she started doing theater in eighth grade at Palmer High School in Massachusetts. She did some more theater in high school and started studying musical theater in college, but got into other things.



She said she has been missing it for a long time and decided to audition for the Streetcar show.



"It's been amazing; it kind of fills like a place that I didn't know was missing," Hough said.



Hough said getting back to it was hard at first, but she got acclimated.



"I've found a great group of people here, and I've made some great friends," she said.



Streetcar veteran Patte Sarausky of Laconia plays Ethel Dingmeyer, an older lady who is hard of hearing.



Sarausky is currently Streetcar's longest serving active member. She first performed with the company in 1987 in its original production of "The Wizard of Oz," and has been a regular performer over the past 36 years.



"People become part of your extended family," Sarausky said. "You grow together, and you help each other out."



She said it felt great to be back in the process.



"It's wonderful to be able to go out and to learn lines and memorize lyrics," Sarausky said. "It's wonderful to go through the process of the show again."



"All Together Now" will be performed at the Belknap Mill in Laconia Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.



Tickets are available at the door and online at streetcarcompany.com. LACONIA  This weekend, Streetcar Company will present a special show celebrating community theater, marking its first musical since the pandemic.Streetcar will do a production of "All Together Now" at the Belknap Mill featuring 15 classic songs from different musicals tied together by a story of a telethon supporting a community theater company."All Together Now" is a musical review that Music Theatre International (MTI) has offered for free to community theater groups to help them get back on their creative feet after the pandemic. The entire live theater industry was especially hit hard during the pandemic. "All Together Now" features 15 different songs from different musicals."Basically, it was tailor made for us," said director David Nelson of Gilford.Theater groups had the option of presenting the show however they wanted, whether as a concert type performance or within the context of an original story. Nelson wrote a script about a telethon that helps raise money for a small New Hampshire theater group like Streetcar with the help of a big name announcer.Nelson said he had never written a show before, and started putting ideas down.Nelson plays Jimmy, a personal assistant to nationally known host Malcolm Palladium, who he convinces to host a telethon for a community theater group in his hometown.Like many theater groups, Streetcar hadn't been able to stage any productions since the COVID lockdown in the spring of 2020 forced the indefinite postponement of its planned 50th anniversary show, a revival of "The Wizard of Oz." The company returned to the stage this summer with a production of "The Birds" (based on the short story by Daphne Dumaurier). "All Together Now" will be their first musical since 2019.Nelson said this production has been going great leading up to opening day."(This) exceeded my expectations of what I thought the show could be," Nelson said.Brendan Berube of Laconia plays famous host Malcolm Palladium, who he described as "professional" from how the dresses to how he makes himself heard.Berube has been in a number of Streetcar shows, recently performing in "The Birds.""I missed it so much," Berube said. "That connection you have with a live audience, there's nothing like that in the world."He will also be singing for the first time ever in this show. He was initially not going to sing, but was encouraged by Nelson, who convinced him to take lead vocal duties on the show's opening number, "Be Our Guest" from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast."Carey Hough of Gilmanton Iron Works plays Sara Dutile, Jimmy's love interest."Sara is a small-town girl who is determined to help her local community theater organization come back after being closed for so long," Hough said.Hough returned to the stage after 21 years away. Hough said she started doing theater in eighth grade at Palmer High School in Massachusetts. She did some more theater in high school and started studying musical theater in college, but got into other things.She said she has been missing it for a long time and decided to audition for the Streetcar show."It's been amazing; it kind of fills like a place that I didn't know was missing," Hough said.Hough said getting back to it was hard at first, but she got acclimated."I've found a great group of people here, and I've made some great friends," she said.Streetcar veteran Patte Sarausky of Laconia plays Ethel Dingmeyer, an older lady who is hard of hearing.Sarausky is currently Streetcar's longest serving active member. She first performed with the company in 1987 in its original production of "The Wizard of Oz," and has been a regular performer over the past 36 years."People become part of your extended family," Sarausky said. "You grow together, and you help each other out."She said it felt great to be back in the process."It's wonderful to be able to go out and to learn lines and memorize lyrics," Sarausky said. "It's wonderful to go through the process of the show again.""All Together Now" will be performed at the Belknap Mill in Laconia Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.Tickets are available at the door and online at streetcarcompany.com.

Gilford Steamer Stow makes commitment to Michigan Tech Gilford would join Gilmanton, part of Laconia under proposed redistricting Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Granite State News Selectmen, Libby close to agreement

by Elissa Paquette WOLFEBORO  Discussions on closing the deal on a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Selectmen, which serves also as the Board of Trustees of The Libby Museum, and the Friends of the Libby, have included a requirement of creating a business plan and an economic viability study. The two entities have agreed, so far, to join in partnership on those two essential aspects of ensuring a successful future for the historic natural history museum.



The necessity of such studies has been made apparent as more questions than answers have arisen over the last few months.



"There are all sorts of expenses to run a museum that are not known," stated Chairman Linda Murray at the Oct. 20 meeting.



In her view, it would be much easier to sell voters on an upcoming warrant article if they were aware of a plan and knew the costs. Selectman Luke Freudenberg agreed, saying, "a study would determine how to move forward in a comprehensive way. It is not a roadblock; I see it as a path to enhance the entire effort."



Selectman Brian Deshaies has noted that no one on the board is an expert on running a museum, and said that as he searched for information, he was able to connect with David Skelly, of the Yale/Peabody Natural History Museum in New Haven, Connecticut. That connection led to an enlightening Zoom appearance by Skelly at the Nov. 3 meeting.



Skelly said he was impressed with the Libby project and welcomed visitors from those involved. Planning should "start with who you are trying to reach," he advised. Capital needs should be striving toward program and the needs of a year round audience and summer audience, and he urged working with professionals to find out what people are looking for.



Audiences have been dropping over time, said Skelly, and he encouraged use of the existing building and staff to try out new programs, for "preconceptions do not always match" with what participants want. He added that interactives are "a tough row to hoe" for today's audiences are used to programs developed with hundreds of millions of dollars, not hundreds of thousands.



Deshaies asked if programs could be financed with the cost of admissions.



Skelly responded, "The trend is to be free, in the interest of equity. Collections are seen as the public good," and suggested looking at alternate ways to raise money, such as events that introduce more people, who usually don't come in, to the space.



Responding to a question from Murray on how much money has to be raised, Skelly said that the Yale/Peabody Museum has around 150,000 visitors a year. Two thirds of the funding comes from the University, endowments and events. It supports research, and teaching is the justification for the university to support it.



"There are challenges in the natural history world. A number of collections are up for grabs (a phenomena occuring in the case of the Libby, as well), and it takes many dollars to store them correctly. It's an obligation," Skelly said.



The board learned that the Libby project is a microcosm of national trends. The concluding sentence in a new memorandum under consideration by the President and Board Chairman of the Friends of the Libby Museum states, "As the role of the FOLM (Friends of the Libby Museum) increases in this Strategic Partnership, thereby enabling the Libby to become more of a self-sustaining entity, representation by the FOLM on the Libby governing board in an appropriate time frame and manner is envisioned." WOLFEBORO  Discussions on closing the deal on a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Selectmen, which serves also as the Board of Trustees of The Libby Museum, and the Friends of the Libby, have included a requirement of creating a business plan and an economic viability study. The two entities have agreed, so far, to join in partnership on those two essential aspects of ensuring a successful future for the historic natural history museum.The necessity of such studies has been made apparent as more questions than answers have arisen over the last few months."There are all sorts of expenses to run a museum that are not known," stated Chairman Linda Murray at the Oct. 20 meeting.In her view, it would be much easier to sell voters on an upcoming warrant article if they were aware of a plan and knew the costs. Selectman Luke Freudenberg agreed, saying, "a study would determine how to move forward in a comprehensive way. It is not a roadblock; I see it as a path to enhance the entire effort."Selectman Brian Deshaies has noted that no one on the board is an expert on running a museum, and said that as he searched for information, he was able to connect with David Skelly, of the Yale/Peabody Natural History Museum in New Haven, Connecticut. That connection led to an enlightening Zoom appearance by Skelly at the Nov. 3 meeting.Skelly said he was impressed with the Libby project and welcomed visitors from those involved. Planning should "start with who you are trying to reach," he advised. Capital needs should be striving toward program and the needs of a year round audience and summer audience, and he urged working with professionals to find out what people are looking for.Audiences have been dropping over time, said Skelly, and he encouraged use of the existing building and staff to try out new programs, for "preconceptions do not always match" with what participants want. He added that interactives are "a tough row to hoe" for today's audiences are used to programs developed with hundreds of millions of dollars, not hundreds of thousands.Deshaies asked if programs could be financed with the cost of admissions.Skelly responded, "The trend is to be free, in the interest of equity. Collections are seen as the public good," and suggested looking at alternate ways to raise money, such as events that introduce more people, who usually don't come in, to the space.Responding to a question from Murray on how much money has to be raised, Skelly said that the Yale/Peabody Museum has around 150,000 visitors a year. Two thirds of the funding comes from the University, endowments and events. It supports research, and teaching is the justification for the university to support it."There are challenges in the natural history world. A number of collections are up for grabs (a phenomena occuring in the case of the Libby, as well), and it takes many dollars to store them correctly. It's an obligation," Skelly said.The board learned that the Libby project is a microcosm of national trends. The concluding sentence in a new memorandum under consideration by the President and Board Chairman of the Friends of the Libby Museum states, "As the role of the FOLM (Friends of the Libby Museum) increases in this Strategic Partnership, thereby enabling the Libby to become more of a self-sustaining entity, representation by the FOLM on the Libby governing board in an appropriate time frame and manner is envisioned."

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Littleton Courier Pinewood Motel tenants face eviction, renovations underway

by Angel Larcom BETHLEHEM  For four months, Bethlehem residents have been frustrated by profanity-laden political signs as they drive by the Pinewood Motel on Route 302. Town officials were powerless to do anything about it, citing the First Amendment right of free speech. Now the property is under new ownership, eviction notices were served and construction is already underway at the unoccupied units.



Former owner Randy Nearing sold the 20-unit motel to neighboring Presidential Mountain Resort in early August. PMR owner Yitz Rudich issued eviction notices to 14 tenants, which expire this week.



Rudich said he intended to expand the resort and build a bridge between the two properties. Last summer, he added five new log cabins on the north side of Route 302 to compliment the already existing 19 units near Miller Pond.



The resort owner noted that he'd had some issues with theft and break-ins since the resort's opening a few years ago. He also said that none of the tenants had paid rent or utilities since he'd assumed ownership of the property in August.



Regardless of varying resident opinions about the expletive-laden signage, all 14 tenants must now secure alternate rentals amid a housing market shortage with winter fast approaching.



Bethlehem Welfare Officer April Hibbard said two of the 14 tenants had already secured housing, but the remaining twelve had no idea where to go.



Hibbard said, "I've called different places, trying to hopefully get people to work with me because a lot of the tenants have full-time jobs. They just need someone willing to rent to them. Some people are on a fixed income and not working, and that will be more difficult. It's been nerve-wracking trying to help them out."



The welfare officer continued, "I think a lot of people's reaction to the sale was relief. Yitz is a nice guy and he may have thought he was meant to do this, but a lot of the tenants don't see it that way. They're very upset and feel like he's ruined things for them."



Hibbard said she remained hopeful that potential landlords would reach out to the welfare office, willing to accommodate lower-income tenants. Unfortunately, the increase of short-term rental units such as Airbnb and VRBO properties has limited North Country rental options in the last two years. Long wait lists for a finite number of affordable housing units only compound the problem. Anyone with available rentals is encouraged to email welfare@bethlehemnh.org or call 603-307-4177. BETHLEHEM  For four months, Bethlehem residents have been frustrated by profanity-laden political signs as they drive by the Pinewood Motel on Route 302. Town officials were powerless to do anything about it, citing the First Amendment right of free speech. Now the property is under new ownership, eviction notices were served and construction is already underway at the unoccupied units.Former owner Randy Nearing sold the 20-unit motel to neighboring Presidential Mountain Resort in early August. PMR owner Yitz Rudich issued eviction notices to 14 tenants, which expire this week.Rudich said he intended to expand the resort and build a bridge between the two properties. Last summer, he added five new log cabins on the north side of Route 302 to compliment the already existing 19 units near Miller Pond.The resort owner noted that he'd had some issues with theft and break-ins since the resort's opening a few years ago. He also said that none of the tenants had paid rent or utilities since he'd assumed ownership of the property in August.Regardless of varying resident opinions about the expletive-laden signage, all 14 tenants must now secure alternate rentals amid a housing market shortage with winter fast approaching.Bethlehem Welfare Officer April Hibbard said two of the 14 tenants had already secured housing, but the remaining twelve had no idea where to go.Hibbard said, "I've called different places, trying to hopefully get people to work with me because a lot of the tenants have full-time jobs. They just need someone willing to rent to them. Some people are on a fixed income and not working, and that will be more difficult. It's been nerve-wracking trying to help them out."The welfare officer continued, "I think a lot of people's reaction to the sale was relief. Yitz is a nice guy and he may have thought he was meant to do this, but a lot of the tenants don't see it that way. They're very upset and feel like he's ruined things for them."Hibbard said she remained hopeful that potential landlords would reach out to the welfare office, willing to accommodate lower-income tenants. Unfortunately, the increase of short-term rental units such as Airbnb and VRBO properties has limited North Country rental options in the last two years. Long wait lists for a finite number of affordable housing units only compound the problem. Anyone with available rentals is encouraged to email welfare@bethlehemnh.org or call 603-307-4177.

Littleton Courier Littleton School Board decides against mask mandate at emergency meeting County broadband project secures funding, faces opposition Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Littleton Courier Littleton Regional Healthcare continues response to COVID-19 pandemic

LITTLETON  Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Tuesday, November 2nd. Doses arrived at Littleton Regional Healthcare on Thursday, Nov. 4 and will be available for administration through North Country Primary Care and Littleton Urgent Care beginning Wednesday, Nov. 10. Appointments can be scheduled now by calling North Country Primary Care at (603) 444-7070 or Littleton Urgent Care at (603) 444-9294. Currently, Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for administration in children ages 5-11. Clinical trials have shown a smaller dosage, two-dose series given 21 days apart is over 90% effective in protecting children against contracting and becoming severely ill with COVID-19. With the dramatic increase in positive COVID-19 cases in individuals under the age of 18 in our area, LRH highly recommends children who are eligible be immunized against COVID-19.



Clinicians from LRH will be traveling to area schools to provide COVID-19 vaccines to students and staff on Friday, November 12th. Schools participating in these clinics include Lakeway Elementary School, Littleton High School/Daisy Bronson Middle School, Bethlehem Elementary School, Lafayette Elementary School, Profile Senior High School, Lisbon Regional School, and Monroe Elementary School. Parents of children ages five to 11 who would like their child to be vaccinated during these clinics should speak directly with their school's nurse. Children ages 12-18 are also eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during these clinics. If your child is in this age group and not yet vaccinated, but you would like them to be, please let your child's school nurse know. In addition, staff at any of the aforementioned schools who wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive their booster dose should speak with their school's nurse. Staff must have the card from their original vaccination series with them to receive a booster dose. Team members of LRH will return to schools on December 3rd to administer second doses.



If you would like to speak to someone about having LRH clinical staff visit your school to administer COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Koren Superchi, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at LRH, by calling (603) 444-9268. LRH is eager to make arrangements to provide COVID-19 vaccines to additional area schools if they are interested.



COVID-19 vaccines for anyone over the age of 5 as well as booster doses and third doses are available through Littleton Urgent Care and the Physician Practices at Littleton Regional Healthcare. Patients who are at LRH for an appointment and wish to be vaccinated or receive a booster dose (vaccination card required) are encouraged to speak with a member of their care team. Appointments for vaccination can be made through Littleton Urgent Care by calling (603) 444-9294. Additional appointment slots through Littleton Urgent Care for adult COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are expected to open soon. Please call for availability.



An after-hours clinic for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines (ages five to 11) will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. in Suite 11 of Littleton Regional Healthcare's Medical Office Building. This clinic is by appointment only, but open to established patients of North Country Primary Care as well as non-patients. Appointments for this clinic open on Tuesday, November 9th. Please call (603) 575-6400 and select Option #2 to reserve a time. Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive a vaccine.



For the latest information, please visit LITTLETON  Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11 received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Tuesday, November 2nd. Doses arrived at Littleton Regional Healthcare on Thursday, Nov. 4 and will be available for administration through North Country Primary Care and Littleton Urgent Care beginning Wednesday, Nov. 10. Appointments can be scheduled now by calling North Country Primary Care at (603) 444-7070 or Littleton Urgent Care at (603) 444-9294. Currently, Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine authorized for administration in children ages 5-11. Clinical trials have shown a smaller dosage, two-dose series given 21 days apart is over 90% effective in protecting children against contracting and becoming severely ill with COVID-19. With the dramatic increase in positive COVID-19 cases in individuals under the age of 18 in our area, LRH highly recommends children who are eligible be immunized against COVID-19.Clinicians from LRH will be traveling to area schools to provide COVID-19 vaccines to students and staff on Friday, November 12th. Schools participating in these clinics include Lakeway Elementary School, Littleton High School/Daisy Bronson Middle School, Bethlehem Elementary School, Lafayette Elementary School, Profile Senior High School, Lisbon Regional School, and Monroe Elementary School. Parents of children ages five to 11 who would like their child to be vaccinated during these clinics should speak directly with their school's nurse. Children ages 12-18 are also eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during these clinics. If your child is in this age group and not yet vaccinated, but you would like them to be, please let your child's school nurse know. In addition, staff at any of the aforementioned schools who wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or receive their booster dose should speak with their school's nurse. Staff must have the card from their original vaccination series with them to receive a booster dose. Team members of LRH will return to schools on December 3rd to administer second doses.If you would like to speak to someone about having LRH clinical staff visit your school to administer COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Koren Superchi, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at LRH, by calling (603) 444-9268. LRH is eager to make arrangements to provide COVID-19 vaccines to additional area schools if they are interested.COVID-19 vaccines for anyone over the age of 5 as well as booster doses and third doses are available through Littleton Urgent Care and the Physician Practices at Littleton Regional Healthcare. Patients who are at LRH for an appointment and wish to be vaccinated or receive a booster dose (vaccination card required) are encouraged to speak with a member of their care team. Appointments for vaccination can be made through Littleton Urgent Care by calling (603) 444-9294. Additional appointment slots through Littleton Urgent Care for adult COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses are expected to open soon. Please call for availability.An after-hours clinic for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines (ages five to 11) will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 3 to 6 p.m. in Suite 11 of Littleton Regional Healthcare's Medical Office Building. This clinic is by appointment only, but open to established patients of North Country Primary Care as well as non-patients. Appointments for this clinic open on Tuesday, November 9th. Please call (603) 575-6400 and select Option #2 to reserve a time. Children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive a vaccine.For the latest information, please visit www.LittletonHealthcare.org/covid-19.php

Littleton Courier Littleton School Board decides against mask mandate at emergency meeting County broadband project secures funding, faces opposition Thanks for visiting SalmonPress.com
Plymouth Record Enterprise Plymouth police welcome new Chief, Deputy Chief

by Donna Rhodes

Alexander (Alex) Hutchins received a new pin that designated him as the town's newest Chief of Police in a ceremony before the Board of Selectmen on Oct. 12. Presenting him with the honor that night were his dad Clint Hutchins and grandfather Harry Hutchins. (Photo by Donna Rhodes) (click for larger version) PLYMOUTH Last month, the family of Plymouth's Deputy Police Chief, Alexander Hutchins, had the honor of attaching the pin that designated him as the town's new Chief of Police while, in what was deemed a smooth transition of power, Det. Sgt. Nate Buffington was also pinned by his mother, Plymouth Tax Collector Linda Buffington, as the newest Deputy Chief.



Hutchins has served the community since 2002 as a patrol officer, sergeant and finally as second in command under Chief Steve Lefebvre starting in 2012. This past September Lefebvre officially announced his retirement at the end of that month and sent a letter encouraging the Board of Selectmen to consider Hutchins for his position.



"As your current Chief of Police, it is with my highest recommendation and without reservation, that I recommend the town appoints Alex Hutchins as the next Chief of Police," Lefebvre wrote.



Hutchins, who also holds a college degree in Criminal Justice, was proud to take over the role of chief and felt ready to take on the task of not only overseeing the safety and wellbeing of the Town of Plymouth, but guiding the town's officers in their duties as well.



In his nine years as Deputy Chief, Hutchins told the board he had learned much about the administrative duties of the chief's position and what it meant to lead a police department. He has also been active in the community and helped to increase the safety of students in the town and even the entire SAU 48 through the implementation of radio communications, a School Resource Officer program, and even an Active Alert System for all schools in the SAU.



Over the years, Hutchins has worked closely with Plymouth Fire and Rescue, Plymouth State University, Speare Memorial Hospital, and CADY's youth programs. Through the Plymouth Rotary he helped coordinate the annual Holiday Parade, assisted Plymouth Parks and Recreation with Downtown Trick or Treat and other community events, and worked successfully with both N.H. State Police and the Grafton County Sheriff's Department.



"While working alongside Chief Lefebvre, [we made sure] that the decisions we made best suited the town and the police department needs," Hutchins told the select board in early October. "We were always looking for ways to save the town money and make the budget that was given to us work."



Those cost-saving methods, such as grants and other economic efficiency practices within the department, will continue under his leadership, he assured them.



Hutchins was a familiar figure in the town before he even started his 19 years as a member of the police department. Born and raised in Plymouth, he felt his recent appointment was a historic transition for him as he went from longtime resident of the town to Chief of Police.



Besides his wife Amanda and children Brecken and Kennedy, his dad Clint Hutchins and grandfather Harry Hutchins took part in the pinning ceremony.



"You've taken on a great responsibility and God bless you and protect you," grandfather Harry said that night.



Once the town officially recognized the new chief, Deputy Chief Nate Buffington was then pinned for his new position.



Like Chief Hutchins, Buffington is also a graduate of Plymouth Regional High School along with Plymouth State University. He began his career in 2005 as an officer for the Thornton Police Department before moving his career to the Town of Tilton a year later. In Tilton he was initially hired as a patrolman but in 2014 Buffington was promoted to the role of Detective Sergeant and enjoyed that challenge.



Besides utilizing his investigational skills in the town, Buffington became the Assistant Commander of the Belknap County Drug Task Force where he was assigned to supervise tactical and operational planning for all cases within the county. Additional educational experiences include six months of serving as an interim Prosecuting Officer for Tilton, multiple investigations with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and his own career advancement training through the FBI's Leadership Training Program.



On Jan. 1, he transferred to Plymouth Police Department where he was hired as their Detective Sergeant. Happy to be back in his hometown, he has no regrets as to where that move has led him.



"I started years ago to prepare for this [promotion] but I just didn't know at the time that it would be back here in Plymouth," Buffington said. "It turned out this was the right time, the right opportunity and the right place for me to be."



As Deputy Chief he is confident in not only his role, but especially the role of Chief Hutchins when it comes to leading the department into the future.



"This is a new challenge for me but I'm ready for it and can't wait to get to work every day," he said. "Change is a good thing. It's important to have a good team and working with (Chief Hutchins) and this department, I couldn't be happier."



One month into their partnership, Hutchins is happy as well.



"With Deputy Chief Buffington's work ethic and work knowledge, we compliment each other very well. Deputy Chief Buffington will assist me in leading this department with respect, integrity and professionalism for years to come," Hutchins said. PLYMOUTH Last month, the family of Plymouth's Deputy Police Chief, Alexander Hutchins, had the honor of attaching the pin that designated him as the town's new Chief of Police while, in what was deemed a smooth transition of power, Det. Sgt. Nate Buffington was also pinned by his mother, Plymouth Tax Collector Linda Buffington, as the newest Deputy Chief.Hutchins has served the community since 2002 as a patrol officer, sergeant and finally as second in command under Chief Steve Lefebvre starting in 2012. This past September Lefebvre officially announced his retirement at the end of that month and sent a letter encouraging the Board of Selectmen to consider Hutchins for his position."As your current Chief of Police, it is with my highest recommendation and without reservation, that I recommend the town appoints Alex Hutchins as the next Chief of Police," Lefebvre wrote.Hutchins, who also holds a college degree in Criminal Justice, was proud to take over the role of chief and felt ready to take on the task of not only overseeing the safety and wellbeing of the Town of Plymouth, but guiding the town's officers in their duties as well.In his nine years as Deputy Chief, Hutchins told the board he had learned much about the administrative duties of the chief's position and what it meant to lead a police department. He has also been active in the community and helped to increase the safety of students in the town and even the entire SAU 48 through the implementation of radio communications, a School Resource Officer program, and even an Active Alert System for all schools in the SAU.Over the years, Hutchins has worked closely with Plymouth Fire and Rescue, Plymouth State University, Speare Memorial Hospital, and CADY's youth programs. Through the Plymouth Rotary he helped coordinate the annual Holiday Parade, assisted Plymouth Parks and Recreation with Downtown Trick or Treat and other community events, and worked successfully with both N.H. State Police and the Grafton County Sheriff's Department."While working alongside Chief Lefebvre, [we made sure] that the decisions we made best suited the town and the police department needs," Hutchins told the select board in early October. "We were always looking for ways to save the town money and make the budget that was given to us work."Those cost-saving methods, such as grants and other economic efficiency practices within the department, will continue under his leadership, he assured them.Hutchins was a familiar figure in the town before he even started his 19 years as a member of the police department. Born and raised in Plymouth, he felt his recent appointment was a historic transition for him as he went from longtime resident of the town to Chief of Police.Besides his wife Amanda and children Brecken and Kennedy, his dad Clint Hutchins and grandfather Harry Hutchins took part in the pinning ceremony."You've taken on a great responsibility and God bless you and protect you," grandfather Harry said that night.Once the town officially recognized the new chief, Deputy Chief Nate Buffington was then pinned for his new position.Like Chief Hutchins, Buffington is also a graduate of Plymouth Regional High School along with Plymouth State University. He began his career in 2005 as an officer for the Thornton Police Department before moving his career to the Town of Tilton a year later. In Tilton he was initially hired as a patrolman but in 2014 Buffington was promoted to the role of Detective Sergeant and enjoyed that challenge.Besides utilizing his investigational skills in the town, Buffington became the Assistant Commander of the Belknap County Drug Task Force where he was assigned to supervise tactical and operational planning for all cases within the county. Additional educational experiences include six months of serving as an interim Prosecuting Officer for Tilton, multiple investigations with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and his own career advancement training through the FBI's Leadership Training Program.On Jan. 1, he transferred to Plymouth Police Department where he was hired as their Detective Sergeant. Happy to be back in his hometown, he has no regrets as to where that move has led him."I started years ago to prepare for this [promotion] but I just didn't know at the time that it would be back here in Plymouth," Buffington said. "It turned out this was the right time, the right opportunity and the right place for me to be."As Deputy Chief he is confident in not only his role, but especially the role of Chief Hutchins when it comes to leading the department into the future."This is a new challenge for me but I'm ready for it and can't wait to get to work every day," he said. "Change is a good thing. It's important to have a good team and working with (Chief Hutchins) and this department, I couldn't be happier."One month into their partnership, Hutchins is happy as well."With Deputy Chief Buffington's work ethic and work knowledge, we compliment each other very well. Deputy Chief Buffington will assist me in leading this department with respect, integrity and professionalism for years to come," Hutchins said.

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Winnisquam Echo Belknap Landscape supports Gale School project



Carmen Lorentz, Executive Director of LRCD; Ruth McLaughlin, Business Systems Manager of Belknap Landscape; and Hayden McLaughlin, Principal of Belknap Landscape. (Courtesy Photo) (click for larger version) BELMONT  Belknap Landscape Company purchased $20,000 in New Hampshire business tax credits to support the redevelopment of the Gale School in Belmont. The project will transform the historic schoolhouse into a community facility that will include a new early learning center operated by the Boys & Girls Club and a new program center operated by Lakes Region Community Services.



"We are happy to lend our support to the Gale School Project," said Hayden McLaughlin, Principal of Belknap Landscape Company. "It will be exciting to see the building brought back to life and serving kids and families again. What a great asset this will be to the community."



"We are so grateful to Belknap Landscape Company for their support," said Carmen Lorentz, Executive Director of Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD), the developer of the project. "We can't do this project without the support of our local business community."



Construction on the Gale School could begin as early as summer 2022, if fundraising is successful. LRCD must sell $496,000 more in tax credits to move ahead with construction. Businesses interested in purchasing tax credits for the Gale School project should contact Carmen Lorentz at LRCD by calling (603) 524-0747, ext 110.



The Gale School was built in 1894, and was used by the Belmont school district until the mid-1980s. The building has been mostly vacant since then, and years of neglect have taken their toll. The Gale School was named to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2018, and was selected as one of New Hampshire's Seven to Save in 2017.



In July 2020, the building was successfully moved by the local Save Our Gale School Committee (SOGS) to a new location at 60 Concord Street in Belmont Village. LRCD agreed to partner with SOGS to redevelop the building.



The tax credits are administered by New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA). Any business with operations in NH that contributes to a CDFA tax credit project receives a NH state tax credit worth 75% of their contribution. The credit can be used over a period of five years to reduce the business' state tax liability (business profits, business enterprise or insurance premium taxes). The tax credit program allows New Hampshire businesses to redirect a significant portion of their state tax dollars to support local projects that they care about.



CDFA reviews many project applications each year and awards tax credits to those they determine are feasible and will make the biggest impact on economic development in the state. LRCD was awarded $750,000 in credits for the Gale School project, and has sold $254,000 to date. BELMONT  Belknap Landscape Company purchased $20,000 in New Hampshire business tax credits to support the redevelopment of the Gale School in Belmont. The project will transform the historic schoolhouse into a community facility that will include a new early learning center operated by the Boys & Girls Club and a new program center operated by Lakes Region Community Services."We are happy to lend our support to the Gale School Project," said Hayden McLaughlin, Principal of Belknap Landscape Company. "It will be exciting to see the building brought back to life and serving kids and families again. What a great asset this will be to the community.""We are so grateful to Belknap Landscape Company for their support," said Carmen Lorentz, Executive Director of Lakes Region Community Developers (LRCD), the developer of the project. "We can't do this project without the support of our local business community."Construction on the Gale School could begin as early as summer 2022, if fundraising is successful. LRCD must sell $496,000 more in tax credits to move ahead with construction. Businesses interested in purchasing tax credits for the Gale School project should contact Carmen Lorentz at LRCD by calling (603) 524-0747, ext 110.The Gale School was built in 1894, and was used by the Belmont school district until the mid-1980s. The building has been mostly vacant since then, and years of neglect have taken their toll. The Gale School was named to the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places in 2018, and was selected as one of New Hampshire's Seven to Save in 2017.In July 2020, the building was successfully moved by the local Save Our Gale School Committee (SOGS) to a new location at 60 Concord Street in Belmont Village. LRCD agreed to partner with SOGS to redevelop the building.The tax credits are administered by New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority (CDFA). Any business with operations in NH that contributes to a CDFA tax credit project receives a NH state tax credit worth 75% of their contribution. The credit can be used over a period of five years to reduce the business' state tax liability (business profits, business enterprise or insurance premium taxes). The tax credit program allows New Hampshire businesses to redirect a significant portion of their state tax dollars to support local projects that they care about.CDFA reviews many project applications each year and awards tax credits to those they determine are feasible and will make the biggest impact on economic development in the state. LRCD was awarded $750,000 in credits for the Gale School project, and has sold $254,000 to date.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-10 16:33:28|Editor: huaxia

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern(C) delivers a speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Auckland, New Zealand, Nov. 11, 2021. Jacinda Ardern on Thursday called on political and business leaders to work together to build a strong, equitable and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. She made the remarks when delivering the keynote address to a global business audience at the APEC CEO Summit. (2021 APEC CEO Summit/Handout via Xinhua)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday addressed the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Voices of the Future 2021 event and accepted the APEC youth declaration in her role as APEC 2021 Chair.

The annual youth event brings together 18 to 24-year-olds to discuss significant issues facing the region.

"As APEC leaders we must always look forward, and make decisions with the next generation at the center," Ardern said.

"Our region stands in the face of monumental and unprecedented challenges, whether it's the ongoing management of COVID-19, or the action required of us all to combat climate change," she said, adding that young people must continue to be both included and lead the debate about the future.

Ardern also noted that she wants to acknowledge the work of young people around the region in joining together to produce a declaration that projects a vision of hope for the future.

"Today's Declaration to APEC Leaders clearly contains many creative and insightful ideas for us as APEC leaders to consider in order to respond to the concerns of nearly 1 billion young people around the APEC region," Ardern said.

The Voices of the Future youth event takes place annually during the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and this year, for the first time, all 21 APEC economies were represented, with the online event generating the largest turn-out in the event's history.

The delegates heard from a wide range of speakers on the event's four key themes - international Cooperation to combat COVID-19, the digital future, a greener future, and a future for all - before presenting their vision in a formal Declaration. Enditem

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delivers a speech at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in Auckland, New Zealand, Nov. 11, 2021. Jacinda Ardern on Thursday called on political and business leaders to work together to build a strong, equitable and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. She made the remarks when delivering the keynote address to a global business audience at the APEC CEO Summit. (2021 APEC CEO Summit/Handout via Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-10 20:05:42|Editor: huaxia

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Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam speaks in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the ongoing 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, the United Kingdom, Nov. 9, 2021. Developed countries, which bear the historical responsibility for the climate crisis, should "show climate action, not just climate illusion," Pakistan's top climate official has said. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

GLASGOW, Britain, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Developed countries, which bear the historical responsibility for the climate crisis, should "show climate action, not just climate illusion," Pakistan's top climate official has said.

"We come to this conference with a lot of hope that the countries who are responsible for this issue should bear up to their responsibility and assist countries like Pakistan to face up to the consequences which are not their own doing," Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Aslam made the remarks in Glasgow, Scotland as negotiators met for the second week at the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The minister said Pakistan, as a developing country, has contributed little to the world's carbon emissions but is facing the grave impact of climate change.

"We are a country which faces glacier melt. We face horrendous heat fears. We had the hottest place on Earth in Pakistan last year. And then in the south, we have the cyclones and the hurricanes which are coming with increased frequency and intensity," he said.

"They are impacting our economy, and they are hurting Pakistan's development for the future," he noted.

The minister pointed out that the rich countries -- which built their wealth by burning fossil fuels and accounted most for the climate crisis -- have failed to deliver their promise of 100 billion U.S. dollars a year to help lower-income nations to tackle climate change by 2020, among other pledges.

"I think it's really a shame that you have the hundred-billion-dollar pledge, and we have a decade of disappointment," said Aslam, noting that the pledge by the rich countries was made 12 years ago at the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen.

"Here we are standing in 2021. and It's still not there. They are pushing into 2023, which I think is really not fair. It's not equitable. And as I said, it's really a shame that they have not been able to live up to this," he added.

As developed countries failed to honor their commitments, some developing countries are taking robust action with ambitious goals to cut emissions.

China has announced that it would strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

Meanwhile, the country has also announced green action initiatives that encourage green infrastructure, energy, transportation and finance under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework.

Aslam praised the collaboration between the two countries on a range of projects involving hydropower and tree planting in northwest China's Gobi deserts.

He also noted the leaders of the two countries have announced a commitment to making the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a green corridor.

"This represents the shift to clean energy," he said.

Aslam applauded China's decision not to build any more coal-fired power stations overseas as "a huge announcement, a very bold announcement."

China has become the world's largest market for renewable energy, with renewable power accounting for 29.5 percent of overall electricity consumption, according to official statistics.

The country is also the world's biggest manufacturer of renewable energy equipment, ranking first in installed capacity of hydroelectric, wind and solar power generation, and has the largest nuclear power generating projects under construction.

"China is a country which has taken probably the biggest U-turn in the world by shifting towards this concept of eco-civilization, which is based on low carbon development, which is based on nature-based recovery," Aslam said.

"What China is doing and you know the whole concept of eco-civilization is not talk. It is action," he said. Enditem

Pakistan's Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam (L) speaks in an interview with Xinhua on the sidelines of the ongoing 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, the United Kingdom, Nov. 9, 2021. Developed countries, which bear the historical responsibility for the climate crisis, should "show climate action, not just climate illusion," Pakistan's top climate official has said. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-10 23:42:21|Editor: huaxia

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A staff member of the Bank of Communications demonstrates the use of the online wallet of digital RMB at the Happy Valley Beijing theme park in Beijing, capital of China, June 16, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)

BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- From bill settlements in restaurants to transactions on the futures market, China's digital fiat currency, or the e-CNY, has been piloted in various scenarios amid the country's push to develop this nascent form of payment.

What progress has been made so far? How does China handle the challenges that a digital currency brings? What are the next steps?

In a speech delivered Tuesday via video at a conference of the Bank of Finland Institute for Emerging Economics, China's central bank governor Yi Gang provided the latest developments on the digital yuan and unveiled the country's future moves.

-- What progress has been made so far?

As of Oct. 8, the number of pilot scenarios for the digital yuan in the country has exceeded 3.5 million. Over 123 million personal wallets have been opened, with the transaction volume totaling 56 billion yuan (about 8.76 billion U.S. dollars), according to the governor of the People's Bank of China.

China's efforts in developing its central bank digital currency (CBDC) started in 2014 when it first started to study digital fiat currencies, followed by central bank moves to engage in research and development cooperation with commercial banks and internet companies in 2017.

Pilots of the digital yuan kicked off in late 2019, and they have since been rolled out in 10 Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. With plans to further test it at the upcoming 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the scenarios for the digital yuan in the country are rather wide-ranging.

-- How does it handle the challenges?

In the opinion of governor Yi, the design of the digital currency matters, as it will have a major impact on both monetary policy and financial stability.

To minimize the negative implications of the digital yuan, China has positioned e-CNY as M0, or cash in circulation, that bears no interest, thus reducing competition with banks for deposits, Yi said.

A two-tier system has been adopted in the country, whereby the central bank controls the issuance while commercial banks and payment institutions act as intermediaries providing exchange and payment services.

The central bank has set upper limits for wallet balances and transaction amounts, in an effort to minimize the risk of bank runs. It also aims to test e-CNY's impact on monetary policy and financial markets in the pilot, the governor said.

As for privacy protection, Yi said that data collection relating to the CBDC will follow the principle of "anonymous for small-value and traceable for large-value transactions," pledging that the amount of data gathered for the CBDC will be less than that for existing e-payment instruments.

-- What are the next steps?

The digital yuan in the country will mainly be designed to meet the demands of domestic retail payments, Yi said, adding that the design and use of e-CNY will be improved based on pilot results.

Yi specified the country's next steps in digital yuan development, saying that the focus will be placed on establishing a management model with reference to cash and bank accounts, enhancing its efficiency, privacy protection and anti-counterfeiting features, while increasing interoperability with existing payment tools.

The country will also work to improve the inclusiveness and availability of the digital yuan, according to Yi.

Despite the rapid development of the digital currency, Yi stressed that China will adopt a market-oriented approach to using e-CNY and issue as much e-CNY as consumers need.

"Cash will not die out in the foreseeable future. As long as there is demand for cash, we will continue to supply cash," Yi said. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 00:38:49|Editor: huaxia

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Photo released by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry shows Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi (1st L, front) meets with Pakistani officials upon his arrival at the airport in Islamabad, Pakistan, Nov. 10, 2021. Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-day visit as head of a high-level delegation to hold wide-ranging talks with the Pakistani leadership. (Pakistani Foreign Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday for a three-day visit as head of a high-level delegation to hold wide-ranging talks with the Pakistani leadership.

Pakistan's Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq and Abdul Razak Dawood, advisor to Pakistani prime minister on commerce, textile, industry and production, and investment welcomed Muttaqi on his arrival, according to the state television of Pakistan.

The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said on Tuesday that the visit is taking place as a follow-up to Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi's visit to Kabul in October.

The exchanges will focus on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations with a particular focus inter alia on enhanced trade, facilitation of transit trade, cross-border movement, land and aviation links, people-to-people contacts and regional connectivity, according to the foreign ministry. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 01:56:47|Editor: huaxia

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A woman takes part in a celebration of the return of ancestral artworks in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. The plane carrying these treasures from Paris landed around 3:15 p.m. local time at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

COTONOU, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon.

The plane carrying these treasures from Paris landed around 3:15 p.m. local time at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, the economic capital of the West African country.

A mixed feeling of joy and anxiety could be read on the faces of representatives of the authorities present on the scene to welcome the returned treasures.

"We are living a very important moment in our history. It is a happy and emotional day for all Beninese," said the Beninese Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Jean Michel Abimbola.

On Wednesday, many Beninese come to the airport to celebrate the return of their ancestral artworks, with songs and traditional dances.

"Welcome to your homeland after a long stay of approximately 130 years in the land of colonists. We are proud to welcome you," they sang.

According to a government press release recently published in Cotonou, on August 26, 2016, Benin officially brought before France a request for the return of royal treasures located in several museums and in private collections in France.

The agreement of handover of these treasures was signed Tuesday in Paris. Enditem

A poster announcing the return of ancestral artworks is seen on the street in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. The plane carrying these treasures from Paris landed around 3:15 p.m. local time at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

People gather along the street near Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport to celebrate the return of ancestral artworks in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. The plane carrying these treasures from Paris landed around 3:15 p.m. local time at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

Workers convey artworks at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. (Seraphin Zounyekpe/Presidence of Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

Beninese celebrate the return of their ancestral artworks at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. (Seraphin Zounyekpe/Presidence of Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

Workers unload artworks at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. (Seraphin Zounyekpe/Presidence of Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

Beninese celebrate the return of their ancestral artworks at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. (Seraphin Zounyekpe/Presidence of Benin/Handout via Xinhua)

Workers unload artworks at the Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin, Nov. 10, 2021. A total of 26 artifacts, removed by France from Benin during the colonial era, arrived in Cotonou on Wednesday afternoon. (Seraphin Zounyekpe/Presidence of Benin/Handout via Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 04:10:00|Editor: huaxia

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GLASGOW, Britain, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States on Wednesday released the China-U.S. Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s here at the ongoing 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The two sides said they appreciated the work done so far and pledged to continue working together and with all parties to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement. On the basis of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as well as taking into account national conditions, enhanced climate action will be taken to effectively address the climate crisis.

The two sides agreed to establish a working group on enhancing climate action in the 2020s to promote cooperation on climate change between the two countries and the multilateral processes. Enditem

Related:
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 06:48:24|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Oct. 31, 2021 shows a general view of the opening ceremony for COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, the United Kingdom. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

"Tackling the climate crisis requires international collaboration and solidarity, and this is an important step in the right direction," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted.

UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed a China-U.S. joint declaration on enhancing climate action at the Glasgow conference.

"I welcome today's agreement between China and the USA to work together to take more ambitious #ClimateAction in this decade," Guterres tweeted. "Tackling the climate crisis requires international collaboration and solidarity, and this is an important step in the right direction."

China and the United States on Wednesday released the China-U.S. Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s at the ongoing 26th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow.

The two sides pledged to continue working together and with all parties to strengthen the implementation of the Paris Agreement. They agreed to establish a working group on enhancing climate action in the 2020s to promote cooperation between the two countries and the multilateral processes. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 08:01:26|Editor: huaxia

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A visitor looks at handmade products at the Circle Craft Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 10, 2021. The event, which showcases various kinds of handcrafted products from across Canada, will run from Nov. 10 to 14 this year. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

People visit the Circle Craft Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 10, 2021. The event, which showcases various kinds of handcrafted products from across Canada, will run from Nov. 10 to 14 this year. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

A vendor demonstrates the making of a product at the Circle Craft Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 10, 2021. The event, which showcases various kinds of handcrafted products from across Canada, will run from Nov. 10 to 14 this year. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

Visitors look at handmade decorations at the Circle Craft Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 10, 2021. The event, which showcases various kinds of handcrafted products from across Canada, will run from Nov. 10 to 14 this year. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

A visitor buys handmade magnetic bookmarks at the Circle Craft Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 10, 2021. The event, which showcases various kinds of handcrafted products from across Canada, will run from Nov. 10 to 14 this year. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

A visitor looks at ceramic products at the Circle Craft Christmas Market in Vancouver, Canada, on Nov. 10, 2021. The event, which showcases various kinds of handcrafted products from across Canada, will run from Nov. 10 to 14 this year. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 12:12:27|Editor: huaxia

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File photo shows Shi Guangsheng (L, front), then Chinese Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, celebrating with others after signing the protocol of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on behalf of the Chinese government in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 11, 2001. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

Over the years, China has been actively advocating global free trade, preserved WTO trade rules, and championed multilateralism against the headwinds of unilateralism and protectionism.



by Xinhua writer Shi Xiaomeng

BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two decades ago, a rap of gavel at the Doha conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) declared China's accession to the global trade body.

While China's WTO membership patched a missing link in the world's multilateral trading system, some rumor-mongers in the West, particularly those in the United States, have hardly stopped their finger-pointing over the years. One of their persistent unfounded claims is that Beijing has undermined their so-called rules of world trade.

For the records, China as promised has over the past two decades faithfully followed the global trading rules set by the WTO framework. It is a defender of those rules rather than a manipulator.

The tricky part of those Westerners' accusations is that the rules they are talking about are in fact another set of rules, the kind of rules Washington can dictate and seeks to impose on the world.

Take America's trade war against China back in 2018 as an example. Then U.S. administration under Donald Trump claimed that China "ripped off" the United States in trade, and bluntly waged multi-billion-dollar tariff offensives on Chinese goods. Later in 2020, the WTO identified Washington's unilateral punitive levies as moves that breached global trade rules. The WTO's ruling drew anger from Washington who later called the organization inadequate to stop China's practices.

Aerial photo taken on Feb. 16, 2020 shows roll-on-roll-off ship Morning Laura docking at the Xiuying Port, Haikou, capital of south China's Hainan Province, Feb. 16, 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

It is all the more clear that the United States' approach to world trade is simply my-way-or-the-high-way. This self-centric mindset can well explain why those Western demagogues always try to find fault with China: to dominate world trade and maximize their self-interests. And their so-called rules-based global trading system is in fact hegemony-based.

Another myth concocted by those Beijing-bashers is that China has taken advantage of its status as a developing country in the WTO. The truth is that there is no official definitions for either "developed" or "developing" countries, and it is up for members to decide for themselves. Also, China got hardly any of the special treatment that would normally be accorded to a developing country.

For example, China cut the average tariff rate of agricultural products from 23.2 to 15.2 percent, far lower than those imposed by the WTO's developing members (56 percent) and developed members (39 percent).

Under WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement (TPA), China has forgone important benefits that accrue to developing countries such as by not invoking its right to receive technical assistance.

Over the years, China has been actively advocating global free trade, preserved WTO trade rules, and championed multilateralism against the headwinds of unilateralism and protectionism.

People buy products while visiting the "CIIE Fair" on the Nanjing Road pedestrian walkway in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)

First, China has faithfully implemented WTO rules, reformed its laws and regulations according to market economy principles, and built up a legal system in line with multilateral trade rules.

After its accession, China reviewed and revised relevant laws and regulations, involving 2,300 laws, regulations and departmental rules at central government level, and 190,000 policies and regulations at sub-central government levels, covering trade, investment and intellectual property rights protection. In 2016, China set up a legality review mechanism to examine normative documents, enhancing the transparency of and public participation in policy development.

Second, it has been supportive of an effective dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO. By lodging complaints in the WTO, China redressed other members' violation of obligations under the covered agreements, and defended its own trade interests as well as the authority of WTO rules. China also actively defended the cases filed against it, respected the WTO rulings, and made adjustments to its measures according to WTO rules. So far, none of the complainants has requested for retaliation against China.

However, in settling trade disputes, Washington's way is to pull the trigger on a trade war, and render the Appellate Body paralyzed.

Third, China has always supported multilateral and regional mechanisms to play a bigger role and have a bigger say for developing countries.

In 2015, China became the 16th WTO member to ratify the Trade Facilitation Agreement. During its G20 presidency in 2016, China encouraged a number of countries to complete their domestic ratification procedures of the agreement, prompting its entry into effect at an early date.

Robotic arms assemble engines on an assembly line at a workshop of the Weichai Power Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

In the Asia-Pacific region, the world's largest free trade agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement with China as a member, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

China also helped six least-developed countries (LDCs) accede to the WTO with The LDCs and Accessions Program established by China in 2011. Since 2017, the country has strengthened cooperation with the WTO and other international organizations under the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, and carried out cooperative projects in "Aid for Trade" to help other developing members benefit from global value chains.

The multilateral trading regime with the WTO at its core has been the cornerstone of international trade since its advent, and will continue to be in the future.

As the world economy is sailing through a cornucopia of economic uncertainties, China will continue to follow the WTO rules, and shoulder due responsibilities as a major economy in the world. The United States and other Western powers should do the same. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 16:05:34|Editor: huaxia

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A medical worker takes a swab sample from a citizen for nucleic acid test at a testing site in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Nov. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Wu Gang)

"While China tries to stamp out COVID-19 infections as soon as they pop up, the U.S. has a much more laissez-faire approach of learning to live with the virus, even if it means a thousand deaths a day," the National Public Radio (NPR) said.



WASHINGTON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China present two diverging visions on where the pandemic is headed, and the United States can learn from the way that China is dealing with COVID-19, a U.S. media outlet reported.

"While China tries to stamp out COVID-19 infections as soon as they pop up, the U.S. has a much more laissez-faire approach of learning to live with the virus, even if it means a thousand deaths a day," the National Public Radio (NPR) said earlier this week.

The strict and rigorous approaches China has been using since the earliest days of the pandemic worked well for the country, NPR's China correspondent John Ruwitch said in a broadcasting program.

"Economically, China was able to bounce back quicker than any other country. You'll recall it was the only major economy to grow last year," Ruwitch noted.

According to U.S. health officials, the daily infection number below 10,000 means that the virus is under control, NPR's health reporter Pien Huang told the program.

"By those metrics, China has the virus under control," Huang said, adding that the United States is "still a ways off from that." 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 16:42:58|Editor: huaxia

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People view black-headed gulls at Cuihu Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. Every year black-headed gulls flew to Kunming for warmer weather in winter. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A citizen feeds black-headed gulls at Cuihu Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. Every year black-headed gulls flew to Kunming for warmer weather in winter. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

People view black-headed gulls at Cuihu Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. Every year black-headed gulls flew to Kunming for warmer weather in winter. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A citizen feeds a black-headed gull at Cuihu Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. Every year black-headed gulls flew to Kunming for warmer weather in winter. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A citizen feeds a black-headed gull at Cuihu Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. Every year black-headed gulls flew to Kunming for warmer weather in winter. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

A citizen feeds a black-headed gull at Cuihu Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. Every year black-headed gulls flew to Kunming for warmer weather in winter. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)

People feed black-headed gulls at Cuihu Park in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Nov. 11, 2021. Every year black-headed gulls flew to Kunming for warmer weather in winter. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 18:03:27|Editor: huaxia

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Workers arrange newly-arrived cotton at a cotton company in Shawan, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 20, 2021. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

URUMQI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Government officials, experts and cotton farmers from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have denounced accusations of so-called "forced labor" in the region fabricated by Western anti-China forces.

The so-called "forced labor" are totally lies fabricated by Western anti-China forces, they told a press conference held in the regional capital Urumqi on Wednesday.

With unique natural conditions, Xinjiang is the largest high-quality cotton production base in China and an important producer of the crop in the world.

Xinjiang has seen mechanized and intelligent cotton planting in recent years. The development of the cotton industry has improved the lives of growers, textile workers and their families.

Emer Turhun, a cotton grower from Aksu Prefecture, said with cotton-picking machines, he can use less than a week to finish harvesting work in his 1,900 mu (about 127 hectares) field. His family rakes in an annual income totaling 1 million yuan (more than 155,000 U.S. dollars) from cotton farming.

The so-called "forced labor" is groundless and ridiculous, said Emer Turhun. "I grow cotton on my own farmland and make a profit from cotton farming. How can it be 'forced labor'?"

Anti-China forces in the United States and some other Western countries ignored facts and truth, imposing sanctions on Xinjiang's related industries and enterprises under the pretext of so-called "forced labor," said Erkin Samusak, deputy head of Law School of Xinjiang University.

"They (anti-China forces) attempt to undermine Xinjiang's development and stability, leaving all ethnic groups in the region in poverty, isolation and backwardness to achieve their sinister intention to create chaos in Xinjiang," Erkin Samusak added.

At the press conference, Xu Tao, deputy head of the regional department of agriculture and rural affairs, threw light on the state of cotton production this year in Xinjiang, which he said has seen an increase in the quantity and quality of the fiber crop. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 21:40:23|Editor: huaxia

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Aerial photo taken on July 7, 2021 shows citizens walking at Guanshanhu Park in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Noting that they have further recognize the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis, the two countries said in the declaration that they are committed to tackling the crisis through their respective accelerated actions in the critical decade of the 2020s, as well as through cooperation in multilateral processes, including the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) process, to avoid catastrophic impacts.

GLASGOW, Britain, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States on Wednesday released the China-U.S. Joint Glasgow Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in the 2020s here at the ongoing 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Noting that they have further recognize the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis, the two countries said in the declaration that they are committed to tackling the crisis through their respective accelerated actions in the critical decade of the 2020s, as well as through cooperation in multilateral processes, including the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) process, to avoid catastrophic impacts.

The two sides also stressed the vital importance of closing the gap between efforts being made around the world and those that need to be taken to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

They declared their intention to work individually, jointly, and with other countries, in accordance with different national circumstances, to strengthen and accelerate climate action and cooperation aimed at closing the gap, including accelerating the green and low-carbon transition and climate technology innovation.

Aerial photo taken on Nov. 3, 2021 shows a wind power field in Luduo Township of Baoying County of Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

In this aspect, their intended cooperation fields include regulatory frameworks and environmental standards related to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in the 2020s, maximizing the societal benefits of the clean energy transition, policies to encourage decarbonization and electrification of end-use sectors, as well as key areas related to the circular economy, such as green design and renewable resource utilization.

Recognizing specifically the significant role that emissions of methane play in increasing temperatures, both countries considered increased action to control and reduce such emissions to be a matter of necessity in the 2020s.

On the other hand, to reduce CO2 emissions, the two countries said they intend to cooperate in such areas as policies that support the effective integration of high shares of low-cost intermittent renewable energy, transmission policies that encourage efficient balancing of electricity supply and demand across broad geographies, distributed generation policies that encourage integration of solar, storage, and other clean power solutions closer to electricity users, as well as energy efficiency policies and standards to reduce electricity waste.

With respect to COP26, both countries expressed support for an ambitious, balanced, and inclusive outcome on mitigation, adaptation, and support.

Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2021 shows a poster at the ongoing 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland, the United Kingdom. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Both countries recognized the importance of the commitment made by developed countries to the goal of mobilizing jointly 100 billion U.S. dollars per year by 2020 and annually through 2025 to address the needs of developing countries, in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, and stressed the importance of meeting that goal as soon as possible.

The two sides also agreed to establish a working group on enhancing climate action in the 2020s, which will meet regularly to address the climate crisis and advance the multilateral process, focusing on enhancing concrete actions in this decade. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 22:39:16|Editor: huaxia

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Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, makes an important speech at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- A high-profile meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has adopted a landmark resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC's 100 years of endeavors, according to a communique released on Thursday.

The resolution was reviewed and adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, held in Beijing from Nov. 8 to 11, said the communique of the plenum.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made an important speech at the session, which was attended by 197 members and 151 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee.

The session heard and discussed a work report Xi delivered on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He also explained the draft of the resolution to the session.

The session also reviewed and passed a resolution on convening the 20th National Congress of the CPC in the second half of 2022 in Beijing.

Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng attend the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Since its founding in 1921, the Party has made seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation its mission, said the communique.

In the period of the new-democratic revolution, Chinese communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, adapting the basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism to China's specific realities, established Mao Zedong Thought, which charted the correct course for securing victory in the new-democratic revolution, according to the communique.

In the period of socialist revolution and construction, Chinese communists, with Comrade Mao Zedong as their chief representative, put forward a series of important theories for socialist construction. China was transformed from a poor and backward Eastern country with a large population to a socialist country, according to the communique.

During the new period of reform, opening up, and socialist modernization, after the third plenary session of the 11th Central Committee, Chinese communists, with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as their chief representative, by focusing on the fundamental questions of what socialism is and how to build it, established Deng Xiaoping Theory. The reform and opening up drive was launched, and socialism with Chinese characteristics was successfully founded.

After the fourth plenary session of the 13th Central Committee, Chinese communists, with Comrade Jiang Zemin as their chief representative, deepened the understanding of what socialism is and how to build it, and what kind of Party to build and how to build it. On this basis, they formed the Theory of Three Represents. Socialism with Chinese characteristics was successfully launched into the 21st century.

After the 16th National Party Congress, Chinese communists, with Comrade Hu Jintao as their chief representative, united and led the whole Party and the entire nation in advancing practical, theoretical, and institutional innovation during the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and formed the Scientific Outlook on Development. They succeeded in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics under new circumstances, according to the communique.

Following the Party's 18th National Congress, socialism with Chinese characteristics entered a new era. Chinese communists, with Comrade Xi Jinping as their chief representative, have established Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the Marxism of contemporary China and of the 21st century. It embodies the best of the Chinese culture and ethos in our times and represents a new breakthrough in adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. The Party has established Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and defined the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This reflects the common will of the Party, the armed forces, and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and is of decisive significance for advancing the cause of the Party and the country in the new era and for driving forward the historic process of national rejuvenation, according to the communique.

Since the Party's 18th National Congress, the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership have remained robust and, through revolutionary tempering, the Party has grown stronger, according to the communique.

China's economic development has become much more balanced, coordinated, and sustainable, and the Party has consistently promoted broader and deeper reform across the board.

The Party has actively developed whole-process people's democracy and made comprehensive efforts to improve the institutions, standards, and procedures of China's socialist democracy.

The system of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics has constantly been improved, and a sweeping and fundamental shift has been seen in the ideological domain.

The people's lives have improved in all aspects, and the environmental protection endeavors have seen sweeping, historic, and transformative changes.

The people's military has been through an all-around revolutionary restructuring in preparation for the next stage, according to the communique.

The CPC Central Committee has made moves to restore order in Hong Kong and ensure a turn for the better in the region; and firmly opposes foreign interference and maintains the initiative and ability to steer cross-Strait relations.

With regard to foreign affairs, the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics has been advanced on all fronts, with the concept of a human community with a shared future becoming a banner leading trends of the times and human progress, the communique added.

The Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee presides over the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The Party's endeavors over the past century have opened up the right path for achieving rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, enabling China to complete a process of industrialization that took developed countries several centuries in the space of mere decades, and bringing about the two miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability.

The Party has led the people in great endeavors and accumulated valuable historical experience over the past century. This covers the following ten aspects: upholding the Party's leadership, putting the people first, advancing theoretical innovation, staying independent, following the Chinese path, maintaining a global vision, breaking new ground, standing up for ourselves, promoting the united front, and remaining committed to self-reform, said the communique.

It was stated at the session that "to accomplish the Party's mission, we should never forget why we started."

The whole Party must uphold Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the Theory of Three Represents, and the Scientific Outlook on Development and fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the communique said.

The entire Party must forever maintain close ties with the people and act in line with the people-centered philosophy of development, it added.

The Central Committee calls upon the entire Party, the military, and all Chinese people to rally more closely around the Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the communique said, vowing to make tireless efforts to realize the Second Centenary Goal and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. 
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 10:19:55|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- Libya's Minister of Labour Ali Abed Al-Reda on Wednesday held a meeting with regional countries to discuss effective mechanisms to benefit migrants and enhance migration cooperation.

Present at the meeting were diplomatic representatives of the EU delegation to Libya and a group of envoys from Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan and Tunisia.

"Effective international cooperation on labour migration is an essential component of a broader strategy to improve the safety and security of migrant workers who contribute to Libya's economy. As we know, the vast majority of the 610,000 migrant workers in Libya are part of the Libyan labour market," said Federico Soda, Libya Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The EU Delegation to Libya underscored the importance of legal pathways for labour migration and safe and orderly migration in North Africa.

"A concrete roadmap is essential at this stage to guide the process further towards more bilateral and multilateral cooperation between countries of origin and the State of Libya," said Al-Reda.

Many illegal migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores from Libya, given the state of chaos and insecurity that plagued the country since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 13:56:10|Editor: huaxia

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by Tichaoma Chifamba

HARARE, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe's elephants are slowly becoming a danger unto themselves as they continue to destroy their own habitat as well as that of other wild animals, a wildlife official has said.

Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZIMPARKS) spokesman Tinashe Farawo said the situation was becoming untenable in areas such as Hwange in western Zimbabwe where huge swathes of vegetation were being lost to the growing elephant population.

Zimbabwe's elephant population is estimated to be more than 100,000, more than double its ecological carrying capacity of about 45,000, according to conservationists.

It boasts of about a quarter of the continent's elephant population and the second-highest in the world after Botswana.

This is due to the country's robust conservation measures which have protected the critically endangered species.

But such measures are now literally coming back to haunt the authorities as the habitats can no longer sustain the growing numbers.

"The elephants are slowly becoming a danger unto themselves. They are destroying their habitat and that of other animals. Go to Hwange National Park and you will think that someone has been deliberately razing down the trees," he told Xinhua.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said in May 2021 that the government was considering culling the elephants to save the habitat.

However, some international conservationists have frowned upon the idea.

Farawo said these conservationists should leave their offices abroad and come to Zimbabwe to see what is prevailing on the ground.

To sustain its conservation efforts, Zimbabwe also wants to raise funds through the sale of ivory, but the conservationists fear that this will open floodgates for poaching.

"We're battling an ever-increasing population of animals. They can come and see for themselves how our people are coping. We must be allowed to benefit from our resources. These are the issues we have to deal with," he said.

The country last culled elephants in 1988 and continues to have stockpiles of ivory which it cannot sell because of restrictions from the Convention on International Trade in Endangers Species (CITES).

President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2019 implored CITES to allow it to sell its 600 million U.S. dollars worth ivory stockpile, but the plea fell on deaf ears, prompting the country to consider pulling out of the convention.

Another option to deal with over-population would be to translocate some of the elephants from densely populated parks to those which can sustain higher populations.

However, the exercise is costly and given that there are other conflicting social needs in society, funding for such an exercise would be difficult to find, Farawo said.

"The last time we carried out such a translocation of 100 elephants it cost us about half a million U.S. dollars," he said.

Apart from the destruction of habitat, elephants are also leading in incidences of human and wildlife conflict.

Farawo said almost 60 people had died from such conflicts since the beginning of 2021, with elephants and crocodiles accounting for more than 90 percent of the cases.

He warned that the situation could get worst at this time of the year because the elephants would move out of their natural habitat in search of water and food.

"We are at the peak of the dry season and elephants stray into nearby communities. Interaction with them in such cases can be fatal," he said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 20:30:12|Editor: huaxia

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ABUJA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least four Boko Haram militants have been killed and several others injured in an ambush by troops in Nigeria's northern state of Borno, a spokesman for the army said.

Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement reaching Xinhua on Thursday the troops laid the ambush on Wednesday after noticing the movement of the militants at a crossing point in the town of Pulka in Borno state.

A fierce encounter ensued between the troops and militants, with the troops having superior firepower over them, Nwachukwu said.

According to him, the troops also recovered a large cache of arms during the operation.

The successful operation was "intelligence-driven," said Nwachukwu, noting it was conducted with precision in collaboration with the government-backed Civilian Joint Task Force and local vigilantes.

"Aside from the neutralized terrorists, several others escaped with injuries, leaving traces of blood behind, as the militants fled in disarray," the spokesperson said.

Boko Haram has been trying to establish an Islamist state in northeastern Nigeria since 2009. The terror group has also extended its attacks to other countries in the Lake Chad Basin. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 22:17:10|Editor: huaxia

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YAOUNDE, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least three villagers in overnight raids in Cameroon's Far North region, according to local security sources.

A senior army source said the attackers came to the villages of Roum Toufou 1 and Rougoua Loktcha in Mayo-Tsanaga division of the region at about 11:30 pm local time on Wednesday and killed three people.

In the last two weeks, the terror group has multiplied attacks on civilian communities in the region, according to security reports.

On Tuesday night, a civilian was killed and another one injured in the Goldavi locality of the region.

Cameroon's semi-arid Far North region has been a target of Boko Haram suicide bombings and raids since 2014 as the insurgency spilled over the border from Nigeria, killing thousands and uprooting nearly 3 million in the Lake Chad region, according to local NGOs. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 22:34:58|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Zambia has reaffirmed its commitment to join the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) in the country's efforts to combat climate change, a government official said on Thursday.

Minister of Green Economy and Environment Collins Nzovu reaffirmed the country's commitment when he held a meeting with GGGI Director-General Frank Rijisberman on the sidelines of the ongoing 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, according to a release.

The Zambian minister said the southern African nation wanted to benefit from the treat-based inter-governmental international development body in efforts to combat climate change.

During the talks the two parties agreed to speed up the ratification of Zambia's membership which was expected to be concluded in the first quarter of 2022, he added.

On his part, the GGGI chief said the organization was ready to help Zambia with technical assistance that would kick-start the process of developing a green growth strategy, development engagement strategy for the private sector, civil society organizations and academia.

Established in 2012 at the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, the GGGI aims to promote green growth, a growth paradigm characterized by a balance of economic growth and environmental sustainability. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 23:57:44|Editor: huaxia

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ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Thursday reiterated its support to African-led solutions amid expanding conflict in northern parts of Ethiopia.

The remark was made by Dina Mufti, a spokesperson for Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as he emphasized that "it is always in the interest of the Ethiopian government to overcome difficulties and hurdles through peace."

"The war is imposed on the government and it is not in the interest of Ethiopia to conduct such a way. However, always Ethiopia is interested in peaceful settlement of the dispute but there are conditions that should be met in order to realize peace," the spokesperson told journalists in his periodic briefing.

According to Mufti, one among the conditions set by the government is a recognition of the legitimate Ethiopian government, which was elected by the people of Ethiopia.

He also stressed that forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) should leave the neighboring regions that it has occupied, Amhara and Afar regional states, and should refrain from all acts of provocations.

"We are always in favor of giving African solutions to the African problems; and this is an African problem and African solution is a proper solution," he said.

Chairperson of the 55-member African Union (AU) Commission had previously assigned the former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo as his High Representative to the Horn of Africa, with particular emphasis given to bringing a lasting solution to the conflict in Ethiopia.

According to Mufti, Obasanjo is presently in a fact-finding mission in Ethiopia.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson denounced concerted propaganda undertaken by various forces about impending threats in Ethiopia, which he said is not true.

"There are a lot of fake propagandas, misinformations and disinformations by some major media outlets about the encirclement of the city of Addis Ababa by the TPLF junta, which is not true," he told reporters.

Amid escalating conflict in northern parts of the East African country between the Ethiopian federal government and forces loyal to the TPLF, the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives (HoPR) had last week endorsed a six-month nationwide state of emergency rule.

The decision to impose the state of emergency rule also came in line with the national call to support the Ethiopian army in the ongoing fighting against rebel forces, including the call to veteran members of the Ethiopian army to fight alongside the Ethiopian defense forces.

With regards to the contents of the state of emergency rule, Mufti noted that it was "designed in such a way that it does not hurt the interest of the diplomatic community and others, especially international residents in the country."

The spokesperson further emphasized that the Ethiopian government holds the upper hand both in terms of ground infantry and aerial capabilities in the ongoing fighting with the rebel group.

Over the past several days, the TPLF declared control of key cities in Amhara region, Dessie and Kombolcha, some 380 km north of the capital. This was, eventually, followed by huge popular mobilization by the Amhara and Afar regions as well as other regional states in the country to fight back the TPLF's expansion.

Since the early hours of Nov. 4, 2020, the Ethiopian government has been undertaking military operations against the TPLF.

In late June, the government announced a unilateral ceasefire in Tigray, but forces loyal to the TPLF soon took control of much of the area in the region, including the regional capital.

The conflict has since expanded to Tigray's neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.

The HoPR, the lower house of the Ethiopian parliament, has designated the TPLF as a terrorist organization.

Last week, the Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat had called for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the full respect for the life and property of civilians, as well as state infrastructure," an AU statement read, urging the parties to the conflict to engage in dialogue and seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the country. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 01:12:53|Editor: huaxia

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HANOI, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade agreement, will create favorable conditions for Asia-Pacific economies, including Vietnam, to increase trade and investment from each other, and accelerate economic recovery, said local experts here.

"The RCEP is set to take effective in January 2022. So, in the next three years, when tariff reduction goes very quickly, Vietnam will make a breakthrough in export," Tran Toan Thang, a senior official and expert from Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, has told Xinhua recently.

Vietnam has signed numerous free trade agreements (FTAs), including RCEP, which will have big impact on Vietnam's export, especially in the coming years, said Thang, adding that the RCEP will also reshape the country's production structure.

"We are researching FTAs' impact on production structure, production chain and supply chain, because with lower tariffs, FTAs increase import, and bigger import will affect domestic production," he said.

The RCEP is focusing on promoting trade activities, thereby promoting investment, creating jobs, and contributing to economic growth. Under the RCEP, over 90 percent of tariffs will be eliminated, so when coming into force in January 2022, it will certainly boost trade of all 15 members, including Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam, the Vietnamese expert said.

The RCEP will create favorable conditions for countries like Vietnam in investment, export and import, he said.

According to many other Vietnamese experts and officials, the RCEP will help spur not only regional but also global trade, especially amid and after the COVID-19 pandemic when both big multinational companies and small- and medium-sized enterprises all over the world have been hard hit.

Meanwhile, the RCEP will create a massive free trade zone covering roughly 30 percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP), trade and population.

According to the Vietnamese experts and officials, the growth recovery of major trade and investment partners like China could support economic growth of many countries, including Vietnam, in the coming years.

In the short-term, Vietnam's economic recovery is prioritized, focusing on different solutions, including taking advantage of market opportunities, especially from FTAs to promote exports, especially in markets with plenty of room. "The RCEP can make big changes in reshaping of the supply chains, so it is necessary to assess opportunities and challenges from this agreement soon," he said.

In the longer-term, Vietnam will focus on some key issues, including increasing investment in supporting industries to take advantage of big FTAs; attracting high-quality foreign direct investment (FDI); and increasing local content in manufacturing.

Vietnam is showing its remarkable attractiveness to international investors with its strong economic resilience to the COVID-19, a prospect for post-pandemic recovery and the foreseen opportunities from the FTAs, including the RCEP. The country is also likely to benefit from supply chain shipment, experts said. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 10:22:28|Editor: huaxia

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PHNOM PENH, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Defence Minister Gen. Tea Banh has said that peace and political stability are the indispensable foundations for enhancing a sustainable and prosperous ASEAN region.

He made the remarks on Wednesday during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat 2021 via videoconference.

"Without peace and stability, countries in the region would see no development nor prosperity," Banh said.

To maintain the region's peace and stability, ASEAN needs to "enhance the tradition of multilateral cooperation with external partners, based on a robust internal unity and ASEAN centrality," he said.

Banh, who is also a deputy prime minister, said Cambodia welcomed open, inclusive, and transparent initiatives with a clear objective to promote practical cooperation, sustainable peace, and development in the region.

Banh also highlighted the important role of the army in helping fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"With the COVID-19 outbreak, we have seen the emerging role of armed forces in combating the pandemic," he said. "For Cambodia, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) has been playing a significant role in containing the spread of the virus through a massive vaccination campaign for the Cambodian people."

Cambodia launched a COVID-19 vaccination drive in February, with China being the key vaccine supplier, and most of the vaccines used in the kingdom's immunization program are Sinovac and Sinopharm.

To date, the kingdom has administered at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines to 14 million people, or 87.5 percent of its 16-million population, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Of them, 13.17 million, or 82.3 percent, have been fully vaccinated with both required shots, and almost 2 million, or 12.5 percent, have received a third dose or booster dose, it added.

"It is clear that only with full vaccination we can create herd immunity in our society and resume economic activities and recovery," Banh said.

At the end of the retreat, Brunei handed over the rotating chairmanship of ADMM in 2022 to Cambodia.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 10:37:40|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged travel bubble arrangements with Japan and South Korea as the country gradually reopens to the world.

Morrison recently told the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that quarantine-free travel between Australia and the two Asian countries would soon resume after a suspension of more than 18 months.

As of Monday, fully vaccinated Australians are able to travel to Singapore without quarantining provided they test negative to COVID-19 within 48 hours of departure and again after arriving.

From Nov. 21, Australia's borders will open the other way, meaning fully vaccinated travellers from Singapore will be able to fly into Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney without undergoing quarantine.

"Singapore opens up on the 21st of November. I think we'll move fairly quickly beyond that into (South) Korea and Japan, and before the end of the year I hope we're opening up even more," Morrison said on Wednesday.

Morrison also said that international students and skilled workers will be allowed back into Australia without quarantining "as soon as possible."

"Students will be back, I think, before the end of the year," he said.

On Thursday morning, there were more than 1,500 new locally-acquired coronavirus cases and five deaths reported in Australia, as the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.

The majority of new cases were in Victoria, the country's second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, where 1,313 cases and four deaths were reported.

As of Wednesday 89.7 percent of Australians aged 16 and over have received one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 81.5 percent were fully inoculated, according to the Department of Health. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 13:02:56|Editor: huaxia

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ULAN BATOR, Nov.11 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Thursday marked one year since its State Emergency Commission announced the country's first local COVID-19 case.

Patient zero was a 29-year-old Mongolian transport driver who returned home from Russia via Altanbulag border point. He tested positive for the virus four days after he was released from a 21-day mandatory isolation.

Since then, the Asian country has imposed several nationwide and partial lockdowns. However, the COVID-19 transmission resurged due to the Delta wave.

The country reported 1,021 new local infections over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 371,512. Most confirmed cases in the country are local infections.

So far, the viral disease has claimed 1,777 lives after 10 more people aged over 20 died in the past day. About 65.9 percent of Mongolia's population of around 3.4 million has received two COVID-19 vaccine doses, with over 475,600 Mongolians aged over 18 having received a booster shot. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 13:34:39|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's export logged a double-digit growth for the first 10 days of November due to the continued global demand recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, customs office data showed Thursday.

Export, which takes up about half of the South Korean economy, stood at 18.3 billion U.S. dollars in the Nov. 1-10 period, up 29.3 percent from the same period of last year, according to the Korea Customs Service.

Shipment of semiconductors, oil products and precision machinery increased in double figures during the cited 10-day period, but export for mobile devices posted a double-digit reduction.

Export to China, South Korea's biggest trading partner, surged 34.9 percent in the 10-day period, and those to the United States, the European Union (EU), Vietnam and Japan all expanded in double digits.

Import spiked 59 percent over the year to 21.2 billion dollars for the first 10 days of November, sending the trade deficit to 2.9 billion dollars.

Import for crude oil and oil products more than doubled in the period amid a higher price for global crude oil, and those for chips and machinery recorded a double-digit increase.

Import from China, the EU and Japan went up in double digits, and import from Saudi Arabia more than tripled in the 10-day period. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 17:55:55|Editor: huaxia

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SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. diplomat in South Korea fled in a hit-and-run accident in the South Korean capital Seoul on Wednesday, Yonhap news agency reported Thursday citing the police.

According to the report, a vehicle carrying four people, including the unidentified U.S. diplomat as the driver, hit a taxi's bumper from behind while changing lanes near the Namsan No. 3 tunnel in central Seoul at about 5:35 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

The diplomat left the scene without stopping to deal with the accident.

The taxi driver chased the U.S. diplomat's car to the gate 3 of the U.S. army garrison in Yongsan district.

Local police arrived at the gate and tried to identify the U.S. diplomat, but the diplomat and the car's three passengers rejected all of the police requests, including a breathalyzer test, without opening window of the car.

The car entered the U.S. base, which is off limits to the local police, and the U.S. diplomat enjoys diplomatic immunity.

The South Korean foreign ministry said it will cooperate with the law enforcement authorities to sternly deal with the matter. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 20:02:59|Editor: huaxia

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MANILA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines received on Thursday one more batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines purchased from the Chinese vaccine maker.

The Philippine government expressed gratitude for the fresh delivery of the "lifesaving vaccines" from China.

China delivered the first batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Feb. 28. It was the first country to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines, allowing the Southeast Asian country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1.

The Philippines has administered nearly 67 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with more than 30 million people having been fully vaccinated in the country. The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 percent of its 110 million population this year.

To date, the Philippines has received more than 121 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from different vaccine makers. China is its biggest COVID-19 vaccine supplier.

The Philippines has reported a total of over 2.8 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 44,866 deaths. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 21:05:59|Editor: huaxia

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KATHMANDU, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Nepali government on Thursday encouraged eligible families to apply for cash grants to poor households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in a relief scheme announced earlier.

Under the relief plan included in the budget for the current 2021-22 fiscal year starting in mid-July, the government shall distribute 10,000 Nepali rupees (84 U.S. dollars) in one-off subsidy to each eligible family, which is the first time to do so after the coronavirus had battered the country twice since early 2020.

A total of 500,000 families will benefit from the government's scheme at a cost of 5 billion rupees (42 million dollars).

As per the notice issued by the Ministry of Finance, workers unemployed after losing jobs amid the pandemic, daily wage earners, agricultural laborers, rickshaw pullers, tourism-related porters and families losing sole breadwinners, among others, can apply for the government's support at ward offices within 15 days.

"We want the ward offices to select the eligible poor families based on the criteria of the guidelines," Ritesh Kumar Shakya, spokesperson for the ministry, told Xinhua.

"Once the eligible beneficiaries are selected, local governments will deposit 10,000 Nepali rupees in the account of each beneficiary," he added.

More than 700,000 people alone lost their jobs due to the first wave of COVID-19, according to a study by the National Planning Commission. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 21:32:00|Editor: huaxia

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ISLAMABAD, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's law enforcement agencies foiled a terror bid and arrested a terrorist of a banned outfit in the country's southwest city of Quetta, police said on Thursday.

The militant was arrested during a targeted operation based on an intelligence tip-off at a hideout in the Sariab area of Quetta, the provincial capital of southwest Balochistan province, police in Quetta told local media.

Police said that a search operation has also been launched in the area to look for any accomplice of the arrested terrorist.

Police personnel also seized explosives, arms and other sensitive materials from the terrorist's possession.

The militant was shifted to an undisclosed location for further interrogation shortly after the arrest. A case has also been registered against him, according to the police officials. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 22:36:00|Editor: huaxia

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DHAKA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The 25th session of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) kicked off at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) here on Thursday.

Bangladeshi President Md Abdul Hamid inaugurated the four-day event under the conference's theme of "ICT the Great Equalizer" at the venue, which is also known as Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

During his speech, President Hamid said "Information technology (IT) has, on the one hand, opened the door of huge opportunities for us. But, it has also increased challenges due to its misuse and fraudulence."

He urged IT insiders to remain alert in confronting the challenges related to the IT industry.

He called upon the government, private entrepreneurs and all other stakeholders to come forward to address the challenges and explore the potential at the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Bangladeshi State Minister of ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak told journalists Wednesday that the four-day congress will include seminars and ministerial conferences.

On the evening of Nov. 13, honors will be given to individuals, government as well as non-government organizations from around the world for their outstanding contributions to information technology.

On Nov. 14, the closing day of the event, the WCIT's Silver Jubilee will be celebrated. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 23:11:30|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines have helped some emerging countries achieve impressive vaccination rates, in some cases faster than richer economies, said a British research report Wednesday.

The Economist Intelligence Unit, research and analysis division of Economist Group, said in its latest report that more than seven billion shots have been administered around the world as of late October. However, developed countries have succeeded in vaccinating large percentages of their populations, while many developing states have made only negligible progress.

In some emerging economies, like Chile and Cambodia, most population has been inoculated thanks to China's help, noted the report.

Data showed Chile now posts one of the highest vaccination rates worldwide with 79 percent, and one of the reasons is that Chile secured huge supplies of Chinese-made Sinovac jab early on and "Sinovac had become the vaccine of choice in Chile and was used for 90 percent of shots".

"Chile is not an isolated case; many other Latin American countries, including El Salvador, Mexico and Uruguay, are also relying on Chinese vaccines," added the report.

It also showed that by October Cambodia had achieved one of the highest inoculation rates worldwide, with nearly 80 percent of Cambodian residents vaccinated, ahead of all other Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, except Singapore.

"Cambodia's ability to inoculate a large share of its population shows that vaccination success stories exist in emerging states, with China's help," said Agathe Demarais, author of the report. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-11 23:27:46|Editor: huaxia

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MINSK, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday threatened to cut off the Yamal-Europe natural gas pipeline if European Union countries close the border with Belarus, Interfax News Agency reported.

"We deliver heat to Europe, they still threaten us that they will close the border. And what if we cut off natural gas? Therefore, I would recommend that the Polish leadership, Lithuanians and other headless people think before speaking," Lukashenko said at a cabinet meeting here on Thursday.

The Yamal-Europe pipeline, operated by Russian oil and gas company Gazprom, runs across four countries, namely, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany.

According to Lukashenko, the volume of gas transit from Russia to Europe has increased significantly in recent days.

At Thursday's cabinet meeting, Lukashenko also instructed relevant units to monitor the movement of Polish and other European troops.

Poland put troops on high alert along the Polish-Belarusian border after a large group of refugees went to the Polish border in Belarus on Nov. 8 to seek asylum. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-12 01:38:15|Editor: huaxia

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STOCKHOLM, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- As many as 5,400 Swedes may succumb to COVID-19 by the end of next June, according to a new study released on Thursday.

The study by the Stockholm Region was aimed to estimate the risk of mortality in COVID-19 when the restrictions have been lifted and the spread of infection is expected to increase during the winter.

So far, COVID-19 has claimed more than 15,000 lives in the country, but this number could increase dramatically as the virus spreads among unvaccinated individuals, an expert told Dagens Nyheter newspaper on Thursday.

Meanwhile, one of the report's authors Stefan Fors told the newspaper that although more than 90 percent of over-60s are vaccinated, it is still likely that the most deaths will occur among the elderly. Nevertheless, young people are also vulnerable, said Fors, an administrator at the Center for Epidemiology and Community Medicine.

"As long as we have a spread of infection, we will also see deaths among unprotected children and young people," he added.

More than 20,000 individuals may need hospital treatment, which could once again place severe strain on intensive care units.

Sweden was late to recommend face masks to curb the spread of infections, although these were eventually introduced.

However, most coronavirus restrictions have been removed over the last couple of months, with shopping centers, nightclubs and restaurants as busy as ever, and face masks rarely seen on public transport. Sweden's Public Health Agency fears this situation could lead to another wave.

Meanwhile, Fors warned that vaccine uptake has decreased considerably across the country, and almost come to a halt in the region of the capital, Stockholm.

Although 5,400 deaths by next summer is a worst-case scenario, Fors explained, unvaccinated individuals are almost guaranteed to be infected at some stage.

"We assume that everyone who does not have protection will be infected during the winter and spring. It is unlikely that we would get such a high spread of infection in such a short time but in the long run, it is not unbelievable, because if you have no protection, you will probably sooner or later get the disease," Fors told the newspaper.

Numbers could be kept at a lower level should more people get vaccinated, he said. As of Wednesday, more than 81 percent of all individuals aged 16 or over have had two doses, and 35 percent of those aged 12-15 have received at least the first dose.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, around 1.18 million individuals have tested positive for COVID-19 in Sweden, but since Nov. 1, it is no longer recommended that vaccinated individuals should be tested even if they have symptoms.

The Swedish government appointed last June a commission to investigate the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Sweden's handling of the pandemic has been substandard and marked by tardiness," the commission said in their second report, presented on Oct. 29.

Testing was one of the areas where the authorities had failed, the report said.

"It can hardly be described as anything other than a disaster that a discussion on liability and financing contributed to the fact that no large-scale sampling took place until the first wave was over," said the commission. Its final report is scheduled to release in February. Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-12 05:22:03|Editor: huaxia

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ROME, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Eemaxx Engineering is already on track to produce at least 150 megawatts of clean energy in China, but that's just the beginning, the company says.

The Bologna-based company specializes in developing renewable energy projects around the world, including wind farms, ground and rooftop photovoltaic systems, biomass, and waste-to-energy plants. It has a commercial presence in around 20 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

In China the emphasis is on wind farms, Eemaxx Engineering's administrator Giuseppe D'Alessandro told Xinhua. The company is already developing 150 megawatts of wind power in China, as part of a larger 980-megawatt project, he explained

Though the development of the project has been slowed by travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, D'Alessandro said he was very optimistic about the company's future in China.

"In five years' time I think what we are working on now will seem small by comparison," he said. "Our current projects were suspended because of the pandemic, but things are starting up again and they will only gain momentum."

Eemaxx Engineering was one of around 100 Italian companies that participated in this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE), which concluded its fourth edition on Wednesday in Shanghai, China.

Eemaxx Engineering has been partnered with the Power Construction Corporation of China, best known as PowerChina, since 2014, and the company is actively looking to expand its reach with additional partnerships.

"China is emphasizing the growth of renewable energy and so that's an opportunity for our company," D'Alessandro said. "In a market as large and complex as the Chinese market, it's always important to have the right local partners. That's part of the reason we were so eager to participate in the CIIE trade fair."

"The only way to succeed in China is to understand the market and to have the right partnerships, and trade fairs and expos are an important part of that strategy," he said.

"Technologies in our sector are developing quickly, becoming more powerful and more efficient," D'Alessandro said. "As that happens, we're looking forward to working together with our partners in China and elsewhere to help develop projects." Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2021-11-12 00:49:56|Editor: huaxia

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NEW YORK, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The political battle over COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates continued in the United States, as the federal government pushed through its vaccination campaign with young children being targeted in the latest efforts.

On Thursday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated that 224,660,453 people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, making up 67.7 percent of the whole U.S. population; fully vaccinated people stood at 194,382,921, accounting for 58.5 percent of the total. A total of 26,087,147 people, or 13.4 percent of fully vaccinated group, received booster shots.

MIXED SCENARIO

A coalition of 10 U.S. states, led by Missouri, has filed a lawsuit against the Joe Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate imposed on health care workers, which they said was "unconstitutional and unlawful," reported The Hill on Wednesday.

Missouri was joined in the suit by eight other states with GOP governors: Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Wyoming, Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and New Hampshire. Kansas, the 10th state, has a Democratic governor, but is a reliably Republican state in presidential elections.

"Unfortunately, with this latest mandate from the Biden Administration, last year's healthcare heroes are turning into this year's unemployed," Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said in an official statement, adding that requiring health care workers to get a vaccination or face termination is "unconstitutional and unlawful, and could exacerbate healthcare staffing shortages to the point of collapse, especially in Missouri's rural areas."

Also on Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that a ban imposed by Texas' Republican Governor Greg Abbott on school mask mandates violates the Americans With Disabilities Act, "a decision that could have national implications as several other states are embroiled in legal battles over face-covering requirements for children," reported The Washington Post.

The ruling from U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel is the latest development in the closely watched feud, and it allows local leaders to once again decide whether they want to implement mask mandates in their school districts.

School mask mandates have been a contentious issue for months, with the disputes moving from school board meetings to courtrooms. A handful of GOP-led states, including Arizona and Florida, passed similar bans on mandates. The CDC recommended that schools require their students, teachers and staff to wear masks.

MIXED DEVELOPMENTS

On Wednesday, the White House estimated that nearly a million young children have gotten COVID-19 shots since the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was cleared for 5- to 11-year-olds last week, a figure that White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients described as a "good start."

Because of a lag in reporting to the CDC, which gathers vaccination data, the White House did its own analysis by collecting information from pharmacies and state and local health officials, said Zients, adding that officials "estimate conservatively" that 900,000 children have had their first shots.

Nearly 20,000 pharmacies, clinics and physicians' offices in the United States are offering the doses to younger kids. Besides for the almost 1 million jabs, an additional 700,000 pediatric vaccination appointments have been scheduled for the coming days at pharmacies across the nation, according to Zients.

A widely reported COVID-19 fatality case in recent days was that Jack Nyce, an officer with the San Francisco Police Department, died of coronavirus after he allegedly missed a deadline to be vaccinated against the disease.

Nyce, 46, a 17-year veteran with the department, died on Saturday after testing positive for COVID-19 last Tuesday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The newspaper reported that Nyce missed the city's deadline to receive a vaccine and was placed on a 30-day administrative leave. Enditem
ZANU PF acting national commissar Patrick Chinamasa yesterday said holding by-elections barely a year to the 2023 harmonised polls was a waste of time and resources.

This came after President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Wednesday that by-elections, which have been pending since June 2020 following the recall of 133 MDC Alliance MPs and councillors, would now be held early next year.

But Chinamasa said: Zanu PF wishes it to be known loud and clear that it is ready to wallop opposition parties by whatever name called and will take no prisoners.

But it must be put on record that the by-elections, when promulgated will take place with barely a year to go before the 2023 harmonised elections, a complete waste of taxpayers money.

He added: Notwithstanding, it is, however, Zanu PFs primary revolutionary duty to politically bury counter-revolutionary, anti-people sanctions seeking, political sellout outfits masquerading as democratic change makers and this duty has to be performed anytime anywhere.

MDC Alliance, however, said the by-elections were likely to produce a disputed outcome if held before implementation of electoral reforms.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said proclamation of an election date should have been accompanied by reforms.

The consistent position that has been taken by the MDC Alliance is that any proclamation for elections must be accompanied by a clear reform roadmap that paves the way for an undisputed election, Mahere told NewsDay.

The bad governance and legitimacy crisis that continues to plague Mr Mnangagwas regime is a direct result of the disputed election of 2018. Their failure to deliver basic services, including public health, education, housing, water and food security as well as the attendant broken economy stem from the fact that they are not a peoples government.

Mahere said the broken social contract could only be mended by electoral reforms before holding of free and fair elections.

This is the only way to solve the bad governance crisis in Zimbabwe, she added.

This is why we continue to champion a reform agenda on behalf of the citizens. To this end, we reiterate our call for the alignment of electoral laws to the Constitution, the full implementation of existing electoral laws, especially as they pertain to State media, the full disbandment of the partisan and militarised Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) secretariat.

Mahere, whose party was snubbed by Zec in September for stakeholder consultations as the electoral body waited for orders from above, demanded bona fide engagement with the institution.

To set an election date without addressing the vexed electoral reform question is to put the cart before the horse. The need for reforms is non-negotiable.

The Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC-T spokesperson Witness Dube said elections without reforms would produce a disputed outcome.

We are comfortable with elections coming. We were ready for elections when we made the recalls, however, it must always be known that we believe we need electoral reforms before any elections can take place, Dube said.

There is enough time to effect those reforms so that we dont have a broken record whereby after every election there is always the question of legitimacy hanging over our political horizon.

Zanu PF director of information Tafadzwa Mugwadi said the ruling party was ready for polls which he said would be a rehearsal of the 2023 elections.

For us, we want to see how much we are prepared for 2023 and our target of five million votes not that they will change anything, they will not change anything.

By-elections were necessitated by deaths of some elected officials and recall of MDC Alliance MPs and councillors by Mwonzoras outfit.

The MDC Alliance accused Mwonzora of working with Zanu PF to decimate the opposition by recalling its elected officials, grabbing its headquarters with the assistance of the military and trying to take over its party name as well. Newsday
James Barbera, 65, was suffering from coronavirus when FBI agents busted down the door to his Upper West Side apartment on Dec. 9, 2020, and handcuffed him on charges that he tricked investors into pouring more than $12 million into his company, Nanobeak. Barbera falsely claimed that Nanobeak had made a monumental scientific breakthrough: a gadget that could detect cancer through a Breathalyzer test, prosecutors say.
That started the strange relationship between Christmas and the cops, who he says ferried him from jail to restaurant meals to crime scenes where they would go over his story and even to the homes of two women who Christmas had sex with while the cops waited in the other room, he said.
In a time of many challenges, the armed forces continued to be one of the things that people across the board can respect and believe in, the mayor said. Its a day to celebrate, appreciate. Its a day to remember, but it should just be the starting gun for the whole year of the things we do to help our veterans.
Those were clear threats to awaken the anarchists to step up and do what they did during the (George) Floyd protests, Herbert told the Daily News, recalling incidents when protesters looted stores and torched NYPD vehicles. We cant afford to have someone rabble-rousing our young people, because they will be the ones that get in trouble and have the negative interaction with the police.
The NYPD earlier this year created a unit aimed specifically at dealing with such hate crimes and have tried to encourage Asians who may be from countries where they distrust authority to come forward if they have been victimized.
Police said the sicko threw the victim to the ground and ripped off her leggings. After the assault he stole her cell phone and ran off. Medics took the victim to a hospital for treatment.
Witness footage captured the shooting from multiple angles. There was a barrage of at least 16 gunshots, followed by a pause, then another shot, then another pause, then another two. Several seconds passed before two more shots were heard.
The first attacker knocked the victim to the ground by striking him with a blunt object from behind, police said. The other six men then rushed from different directions, stabbing and slashing the victim.
English later acknowledged that he had accepted the offer of another neighbor, Diego Perez, to keep an eye on the property. But he had never sanctioned a confrontation between the three accused and any intruders and said it was normal and common for visitors to wander in and out of the unfinished home. Moreover, he testified, Arbery, who appeared in some of the footage, had not damaged or disturbed anything.
Its hard to reconcile with the facts that this tragedy could happen because someone couldnt get employed, Placer County prosecutor David Tellman said, according to KCRA. But its an old-world, patriarchal thought pattern where if he cant be a provider, he doesnt want his family to have nothing. So he kills his family.
Mack had already been prosecuted and convicted in Indonesia in connection with the slaying. She served seven of her ten-year sentence, during which time, she gave birth to her daughter, Stella. Her boyfriend at the time, Tommy Schaefer, who is facing the same federal charges in the United States, is still behind bars in Indonesia.
Honolulu Police Maj. Ben Moszkowicz addresses a news conference in Honolulu on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, where law enforcement officers said they arrested the adopted parents of Isabella "Ariel" Kalua, shown on the screen to the left. The parents, Lehua and Isaac "Sonny" Kalua have been charged with second-degree murder in the girl's death. Police say the girl was killed a month before they reported her missing Sept. 13, 2021. (Jennifer Sinco Kelleher/AP)
Investigators are looking into a claim that Anna Nunn received a call from a woman posing as her granddaughter who said she got into a car accident over the summer, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Heading into the holiday season, we wanted to show our fans how Hormel Black Label bacon can elevate the ordinary appetizer, entree and even gift to something unexpected and truly extraordinary, Hormels senior brand manager Nick Schweitzer said. Through this wrapping paper, were bringing our product to life in a unique way that will help our fans make their gifts sizzle and be the talk of the holidays.
Born Gerald Rubenstein in 1932 in Boston, Douglas got his first on-screen role in the 1961 film Blast of Silence before spending most of his time on TV. He popped up in one episode of Gunsmoke and two episodes of Mission: Impossible, along with many other less-enduring shows.
Nearly 80% of the money is slated to go to those who were younger than 18 at the time of the crisis, with those under the age of 6 set to receive the biggest portion of the pot, according to the terms of the settlement.
He was chasing me. I was alone. He threatened to kill me earlier that night. I didnt want to have to shoot him, Rittenhouse said. I pointed it at him because he kept running at me and I didnt want him to chase me.
After initially claiming he had been shot by a passer-by while he was changing a tire on a rural road, Murdaugh eventually admitted to police that he had colluded with his former client, Curtis Smith, to have Smith kill him. Smiths shot missed, barely grazing Murdaugh, and the scheme collapsed from there.
The list of 600 people who been to space run the gamut from to U.S. and Russian astronauts who have spent a year or more in orbit, to Star Trek actor William Shatner, who just flirted with the final frontier.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner was quoted in the New York Times as saying You cannot just close when you got 50,000 and over 50,000 individuals. We have to worry about rioting, riots, when you have a group thats that young. Yet, just a short time later, Chief Finner states the responsibility to stop the show falls on Travis.
If you got yelled at in front of everyone, it wasnt any special day, she told investigators. (The office) was controlled largely by his temper, and he was surrounded by people who enabled his behavior, like surrounded by yes men  Ill use that term  of this is what he wants, this is what he gets, and that mood and that anger or that fear of him suddenly becoming angry definitely ruled the office and then trickled down.
Committee chairman Charles Lavine (D-Nassau) said members will review evidence gathered by attorneys from Davis Polk & Wardwell, hired to probe sexual harassment allegations against the former governor along with Cuomos pandemic book deal, special access to COVID-19 testing and the Cuomo administrations obscuring of the true number of nursing home deaths last year as the virus spread.
For those who hate on the basis of race or gender or ethnicity or sexual orientation, theres nothing a person can be or do that humanizes them to the hater, the group of lawmakers said.
If he thinks that theyre going to go back to the old ways of policing, then we are going to take to the streets again. There will be riots, there will be fire and there will be bloodshed because we believe in defending our people, said Hawk Newsome, co-founder of a group known as Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, after a heated meeting with Adams in Brooklyn Borough Hall.
Theres no surprise on what I said. When I ran to become the mayor of the city of New York, I said I was going to reinstitute an anti-gun unit in plainclothes. Voters voted on that. I stated what I was going to do. What I said on the campaign trail is what youre going to see in City Hall, and Im not backing away from that.
The U.S. military has been aware for years of health risks associated with open-air burn pits. In 2013, federal investigators found a military camp in Afghanistan was operating a pit for more than five years, nearly four times longer than Pentagon rules allowed. The Defense Department has said burn pits should be used only as a temporary last resort when no other alternative trash disposal method is feasible.
Ive made the conscious decision that Im going to spend my time pointing to the failures of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and helping Republicans win governorships, the House and Senate in 2022, Christie said. This is not an argument that Ill walk away from.
A bull was in his desired fishing spot, so he shooed it away, the wildlife officials said. Then, the 15-foot croc struck and yanked the man into the water by both feet. He managed to somehow hold onto the branches of a mangrove tree until he was forced to let go, then fended off the crocodile by stabbing it, authorities said.
In response to the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, the catalyst for what became the War on Terrorism, some veterans have expressed anger that more had not changed with regards to terrorism in the past 20 years. Others express a renewed sense of purpose for their service when reflecting on this anniversary. After all, for so many veterans and service members, the terror attacks of 9/11 prompted their decision to join the military. For many, this anniversary has served as a time of reflection and purpose.
The first three holidays came and went without issue, but when it came to Veterans Day, the nation didnt budge from Nov. 11. Some states tried, but American citizens, remaining states and veterans said no in a single voice. Veterans Day was too special to treat so casually. It didnt honor only a date or the dead. It honored the living walking among us, the businessperson, farmer, merchant and the factory worker, who served this nation in the armed forces. Whether they flew a plane, fired a rifle, sailed a ship or drove a desk, they were American citizens who gave up their time as a civilian to join the armed forces so others could carry on the business of this nation in peace.
Once one person fell, people started toppling like dominoes, Bellani told KTRK. It was like a sinkhole. People were falling on top of each other. There were layers of bodies on the ground, like two people thick. We were fighting to come up to the top and breathe to stay alive.
Coronji Calhoun Sr. recently joined the ancestors in watching over me and our family on October 13, 2021, Bailey wrote on the GoFundMe page. Unfortunately, we did not have any life insurance policy on him (as we never expected this tragedy to befall us) before he transitioned. Now we ask for generosity in your donations as we prepare to give Coronji a sacred celebration of life.
At a moment when the company is healthy and the brand performing so well, there must have been personal reasons behind this decision, which is clearly a brave one given his successful streak, a source told WWD, while another pointed to a revolving door of departures with Lee at the creative helm.
People dont like to shop online for these type of clothes unless they dont have any choice, said Samar Kayyali, owner of Sayyed Scarf International on Goldenrod Road. They love to shop in person because here you can see the style, the fabric, how it looks on your body.
No matter how far away we get from the farm, he says, people still love the satisfaction of doing good work... Were often unfulfilled when it comes to metropolitan life  I love the city, but it does have a certain sterility to it  and there is an ennui that often comes with working at a desk. So much so that people now frolic to do things like apple picking for fun.
Its easy to make the best mac and cheese ever  cheese of your choice, milk, butter and elbow macaroni will do the trick. But if youre hoping to transform the traditional recipe into an over-the-top creamy, cheesy and flavorful dish, adding a few unexpected ingredients will leave everyone wondering whether youre a Food Network star. We found 15 ingredients worth adding to your mac and cheese the next time you want to mix it up. But be warned: deliciousness may ensue. (Aaliyah Gibson, The Daily Meal)

(Aaliyah Gibson, The Daily Meal)
The woman received the first call from a young woman, claiming to be her granddaughter. She said she had been in a car accident and needed money to get out of jail, according to court records. A man who claimed to be the granddaughters lawyer then took the phone and spoke to the woman.
Retired Navy veteran Robert Claudy at his Orlando home on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. When Claudy was 20 years old he had a brush with death in a sinking sub in the Artic Ocean during the Cold War with Russia in 1949. The deadly accident was reported in some US papers and Claudy, a lifelong Orlando resident, sent a telegram home to calm his parents if they had read about the tragedy of the clandestine mission. (Rich Pope, Orlando Sentinel) (Rich Pope / Orlando Sentinel)
Its just the thought of someone serving our country, risking their lives and  ending up homeless that strikes me as such a grave injustice, said Morgan, whose father, John, founded Morgan & Morgan, now the nations largest plaintiffs law firm. In downtown Orlando, all one needs to do is walk around the streets to know theres a problem, and its really difficult for us, a family that has been so blessed, to walk by and not do anything about it.
What a contrast to the peevish, self-centered news conferences called by Gov. Ron DeSantis who, instead of focusing on the scope of public suffering and what to do about it, picked fights with political enemies. DeSantis pointedly avoided talking about vaccinations and other preventive measures, instead focusing almost singularly on antibody treatments for those who had already contracted the disease.
The terms of the proposed consent order between Stephen Jones, the chairperson of Floridians for Equality and Justice, and the Florida Elections Commission are confidential for now. The commission  which is run by a panel appointed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis  is scheduled to vote on the agreement at its meeting next week and the agreement will become public if its approved.
Im happy to know that were working on legislation in Miyas name, that will serve to protect other young ladies not only ... in the state of Florida but eventually the entire country, Daryl K. Washington, the Marcano familys attorney, said in a prepared statement. We know that this is something Miya would be pushing for if she was alive. Her ultimate motivation in life was to protect others and through Miyas Law, this will be done.
International tourism restrictions officially lifted on Monday for fully vaccinated visitors to the United States. After 19 months away, British tourists on the first Virgin Atlantic flight into Orlando were happy to be back. In recent years, Orlando has received the most international visitors from Canada, Great Britain, Brazil and Mexico, according to Visit Orlando, and 767,000 British visitors are predicted to return next year. Orlando Sentinel tourism reporters Dewayne Bevil and Katie Rice discuss the influx of tourists, the IAAPA Expo that opens next week, and Night of a Million Lights return to Give Kids the World. Listen to this episode of Theme Park Rangers using the player below or wherever you download podcasts.
Were going to be looking at that spotty rain from time to time with deeper moisture filling in advance of our next front that gets here over the weekend with some changes in our temperatures and humidity will fall once again, said Maureen McCann, a Spectrum News 13 meteorologist. But until that happens, were in that warm and humid sector with a southerly component to the wind taking over.
The Minetto American Legion Post 486 this week received approval from the town board to honor veterans of the Afghanistan War. Pictured above surrounding the future monument site; from left to right, Post 486 Commander Donald Phillips, Post 486 Adjunct John Mantaro and Minetto board member Joe Wallace. Officials anticipate having the monument in place by Memorial Day.
In this September 2021 photo, students at Charles E. Riley Elementary prepare to enter the building on the first day of the 2021-22 school year.
Oswego, NY (13126)

Today

Periods of rain. Low 38F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Periods of rain. Low 38F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Kinshasa, DR Congo (PANA) - UN agencies raised the alarm on Wednesday over the growing food crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), calling for an urgent scaling-up of assistance
Washington, DC US (PANA) - With the warring factions in Ethiopia not heeding appeals to cease fire despite diplomatic efforts, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has again emphasised the urgency of taking concrete steps for peace
Salk produces polio vaccine

1952



Poliomyelitis has been around since ancient times. There is still no cure for the disease. But at the peak of its devastation in the United States, Jonas Salk introduced a way to prevent it. This infectious viral disease attacks the nerve cells and sometimes the central nervous system, often causing muscle wasting and paralysis and even death. Since 1900 there had been cycles of epidemics, each seeming to get stronger and more disastrous. The disease, whose early symptoms are like the flu, struck mostly children, although adults, including Franklin Roosevelt, caught it too. As a medical student and later a researcher at the University of Michigan, Salk studied viruses, such as influenza, and ways to vaccinate against them. Successful vaccines already existed for diseases such as smallpox. For each virus, a vaccine must be custom-made, but the principles are the same: if your body is exposed to a very weak or small amount of the disease virus, it will produce antibodies, chemicals to resist and kill the virus. Then when a full-strength version of the disease virus comes along, your body is prepared to fight it. In 1947 Salk became head of the Virus Research Lab at the University of Pittsburgh. He began investigating the poliovirus. To start with, he had to sort the 125 strains of the virus. He found that they fell into three basic types and knew that a vaccine would have to include these three types to protect against all polio. One of the hardest things about working with poliovirus was manufacturing enough to experiment withand to make vaccine production practical. In 1948 researchers at Harvard (J.F. Enders, T.H. Weller, and F.C. Robbins) made a breakthrough with this. They found that the virus could grow on scraps of tissue, without needing an intact organism like a chick embryo. Bacteria usually contaminated the tissue, but Enders' team was now able to get penicillin -- discovered 20 years earlier by Alexander Fleming and developed in the 1940s by Ernst Chain and Howard Florey -- and prevent the bacterial growth. Now viruses like mumps or polio could be created in large quantities for study. This team won the 1954 Nobel Prize in physiology/medicine. Now Salk could speed up his research. Using formaldehyde, he killed the polio virus but kept it intact enough to trigger the body's response. On July 2, 1952, Salk tried a refined vaccine on children who'd already had polio and recovered. After the vaccination, their antibodies increased. He then tried it on volunteers who had not had polio, including himself, his wife, and their children. The volunteers all produced antibodies, and none got sick. In 1953 Salk reported his findings in The Journal of the American Medical Association. A nationwide testing of the vaccine was launched in April 1954 with the mass inoculation of school children. The results were amazing -- 60-70 percent prevention -- and Salk was praised to the skies. But suddenly, some 200 cases of the disease were caused by the vaccine and 11 people died. All testing was halted. It seemed that people's hopes were dashed until investigators found that the disease-causing vaccine all came from one poorly made batch at one drug company. Higher production standards were adopted and vaccinations resumed, with over 4 million given by August 1955. The impact was dramatic: In 1955 there were 28,985 cases of polio; in 1956, 14,647; in 1957, 5,894. By 1959, 90 other countries used Salk's vaccine. Another researcher, Albert Sabin, didn't think Salk's killed-virus vaccine was strong enough. He wanted to mimic the real-life infection as much as possible; that meant using a weakened form of the live virus. He experimented with more than 9,000 monkeys and 100 chimpanzees before isolating a rare form of poliovirus that would reproduce in the intestinal tract but not in the central nervous system. In 1957 he was ready for human trials of an vaccine people could swallow, not get in a shot. It was tested in other countries, including the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. In 1958 other researchers tested a strain in the U.S. and they tried to cast doubts on Sabin's "communist vaccine." In spite of this, his vaccine was licensed in 1962 and quickly became the vaccine of choice. It was cheaper to make and easier to take than Salk's injectable vaccine. In the U.S., cases of polio are now extremely rare, and ironically, are almost always caused by the Sabin vaccine itself -- being live, the virus can mutate to a stronger form. Elsewhere there are still about 250,000 cases per year, mostly in developing nations where vaccination has not become widespread. The World Health Organization has goals to eradicate polio completely in the first decade of the twenty-first century.



Related Features

On the Edge: Paralyzing Polio


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Sergeant Jeanine OConnell, with the New Mexico National Guard, directs a patient at the drive through COVID-19 testing facility in Espanola in December 2020. According to the National Guard, the location in Espanola was averaging about 120 tests a day.
India has honoured Qazi Sajjad Ali Zahir (retd), a former Pakistan elite para-brigade member in Sialkot who became a Bangladeshi Lt. Col., for his contribution in liberating Bangladesh from the atrocities of Pakistan.

Lt. Col. (retd) Zahir, a Pakistan Army officer who went on to serve the Bangladesh Army, is a highly-decorated officer. Interestingly, there is a death sentence for him for the last 50 years in Pakistan for showcasing his bravery.

Lt. Col. (retd) Zahir turned 71 when India and Bangladesh celebrated 50 years of the war this year.

He was conferred with Bir Protik, the Indian equivalent to a Vir Chakra, for gallantry, and Bangladesh's highest civil honour, Swadhinata Padak.

India has now conferred him with the Padma Shri -- one of the highest civilian awards -- recognising his sacrifices and contributions to India's success in the 1971 war against Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

He came to India when he was 20 with documents and maps about Pakistan's plans.

He was a young officer in the Pakistan army posted in the Sialkot sector and thereafter managed to cross over to India in March 1971, seeing the brutality and genocide in East Pakistan.

He had just Rs 20 in his pocket when he crossed the border. Initially, he was suspected as a Pakistani spy, but gained trust later on.

Once he landed in India, he was taken to Pathankot where military officers grilled him about Pakistan army deployments.

He was kept in a safe house for months before moving to East Pakistan, training the Mukti Bahini in guerilla warfare to take on the Pakistan Army.

He had cited that the reasons for his escape from Pakistan was that Jinnah's Pakistan had become a 'Kabristan' (graveyard).

They were treated like second class citizens, with no rights. They were a deprived population. They never got a democracy as was promised. They only got a martial law.

"Jinnah said we will have equal rights but we didn't have any. We were treated as servants of Pakistan," he stated.

He is a a second generation military officer, who is proud of all those who serve their country. His father was an officer in the British Army and was part of the Burma (Myanmar) action in the Second World War. His teenage brother was part of the Mukti Bahini that fought for the freedom of Bangladesh.

Lt. Col. Sajjad was master of map reading and night navigation.

He claims that because of his information, the Indian Army penetrated 56 miles into the Pakistani territory in the Battle of Shakargarh.

From Delhi, he was sent to East Pakistan where he served at a camp adjacent to Tripura and Assam border in a hilly area where there were 850 mukti bahini men whom he trained in guerilla warfare.
A Delhi-based lawyer Vineet Jindal on Thursday filed a complaint with the police against Congress leader Salman Khurshid for the remarks in his book 'Sunrise over Ayodhya' on Hindutva.

In his complaint, Jindal contended that the senior Congress leader and former law minister Salman Khurshid's recently released book "Sunrise over Ayodhya: Nationhood in our times" has compared Hindutva to radical jihadist groups like the ISIS and Boko Haram.

The comment has been made in a chapter called "The Saffron Sky."

On page no.113 of the book, it has stated that "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years."

In his complaint, the lawyer alleged that it is not only instigating and provoking statement but also stirring enraged emotions among the Hindu religion followers.

"Our constitution provides every citizen with the freedom of speech and expression but the misuse of this right is inexplicable when it threatens the honour and harmony of the country and provokes its citizens based on community and religion and threatens the security of the nation then it is considered as a grave offence," the petition read.

The contents of the statement made by the accused claim Hinduism to be equivalent to ISIS and Boko haram, which are terrorist groups.

It is quite an aggravating and defamatory statement for the whole Hindu community and also questions their values and virtues about a society, Jindal alleged.

The equivalence of Hinduism to ISIS and Boko haram is perceived as a negative ideology that Hindus have been following and Hinduism is violent, inhuman and oppressive.

This statement shows his intent of waging war and activating enmity between the different groups on the grounds of religion which is against the ideology of a secular democratic country like ours and also a criminal offence as per the law of the land.

Being a member of Parliament and former Law Minister of India, the accused is a public figure, having a larger influence on the public, the statement is agitating the Hindu community and also threatens the security, peace and harmony of our nation and disrupts public order.

The lawyer demanded an FIR against Khurshid under 153,153A ,298 and 505 (2) of I.P.C which are cognizable offences and very serious and to take strict Legal Action.
An undersecretary-level government officer in Lucknow has been arrested after a video of him molesting a contractual worker went viral on Thursday.

The accused, Ichharam Yadav, is posted with the minority welfare department as a section in charge in Lucknow.

The victim alleged that the undersecretary has been harassing and molesting her since 2018. She said that she had been threatened with being sacked from her job if she complained.

Recently, she picked up courage and made a video of Yadav, in which he could be seen forcing himself on the woman as she tries to push him away.

The woman then registered a complaint with the Hussainganj police station on October 29.

The woman presented multiple videos of such incidents as evidence to the police. She alleged that the police had initially failed to arrest Yadav as he was well connected through his position as an undersecretary.

Finally, the victim put the video on social media.

According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Central Khyati Garg, a case was registered in the matter on October 29 and an investigation was in progress.

"The woman was called a few times to record her statement. After recording the statements and examining the evidence from both parties, action was taken," she said.
A Chinese representative will attend the Pakistan-hosted meeting on Afghanistan on Thursday, along with representatives from the US and Russia, and Chinese analysts believe that the four countries which could play a comprehensive role in addressing the plight of Afghanistan are likely to discuss the urgent needs and next steps for Afghan Taliban in forming an inclusive government and cracking down on terrorism, Global Times reported.

China's Special Envoy for Afghan Affairs, Yue Xiaoyong, will lead a delegation to the Pakistan-hosted meeting on the Afghan situation on Thursday, and China supports Pakistan hosting the China, US, Russia-plus meeting on Afghanistan, supports all international efforts conducive to peace and stability in Afghanistan and building consensus among all parties, Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at a media briefing on Wednesday.

China's decision to join the meeting came a day after Beijing said that it was unable to attend a India-hosted meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday due of "scheduling reasons". Pakistan also skipped the India-hosted meeting, the report said.

The Dawn reported that the Troika Plus meeting on Afghanistan will be attended by representatives from the four countries who will also meet Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Islamabad. Muttaqi arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday evening, the first visit to Pakistan by an acting Afghan minister since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, the Dawn reported.

Zhu Yongbiao, Director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times that China, Russia, the US and Pakistan could have a special and comprehensive play on the Afghan issue, which has already been demonstrated through their actions.

The potential of future cooperation is great. For example, Russia could be the coordinator of Central Asian countries, China could make use of its advantages in manufacturing on the economic recovery of the war-stricken country, and the US could drive other developed countries to participate in dealing with the Afghan crisis, Zhu said, Global Times reported.
Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/11/2021 -- According to the new market research report, "Hospital Acquired Infection Control Market by Product & Service [Sterilization (Equipment, Services), Disinfectants (Hand, Skin, Surface, Wipes, Sprays)], End User (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Diagnostic Centers), COVID-19 Impact - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Hospital Acquired Infection Control Market is projected to reach USD 31.3 billion by 2026 from USD 29.1 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 1.5% during the forecast period.



Browse in-depth TOC on "Hospital Acquired Infection Control Market"

183  Tables

48  Figures

304  Pages



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The growth of the hospital acquired infection control market can largely be attributed to factors such as the high incidence of hospital-acquired infections, the increasing number of surgical procedures, the growing geriatric population and the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, technological advancements in sterilization equipment, and the growing awareness of environmental & personal hygiene due to COVID-19. The increasing use of E-beam sterilization, reintroduction of ethylene oxide sterilization, and the growing healthcare industry and outsourcing of operation to emerging countries are expected to offer high-growth opportunities for market players during the forecast period.



Currently, with the surge in COVID-19 cases, there is an increasing focus on personal hygiene along with the increasing production of medical nonwovens and single-use products such as face masks and gloves. This is further expected to drive the growth of the market in the coming years. On the other hand, concerns regarding the safety of reprocessed instruments are expected to limit market growth to some extent in the coming years. This, along with factors such as the high cost of endoscope reprocessing and limited reimbursement in developing countries and end-user noncompliance with sterilization standards, is expected to restrain the growth of this market.



The sterilization segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period



Based on the products and services used in the control of HAIs, the hospital acquired infection control market is segmented into sterilization, disinfectors, endoscope reprocessing products, disinfectants, protective barriers, and other infection control products. The sterilization segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is attributed to the growing incidence of chronic diseases and pandemics (such as COVID-19), the increasing need to reduce surgical-site infections (SSIs), and the growing number of surgeries performed worldwide. Increasing initiatives and regulatory actions taken by governments in various countries to fortify hospitals with essential infection control standards to prevent the spread of HAIs are also expected to support market growth.



The hospitals & ICUs segment is expected to account for the largest share of the hospital acquired infection control market



Based on end user, the market has been segmented into hospitals & intensive care units (ICUs), ambulatory surgical and diagnostic centers, nursing homes and maternity centers, and other end users (dental clinics, trauma centers, and clinical laboratories). The hospitals & ICUs segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2020. Growth in this market is majorly attributed to the rising prevalence of HAIs, increasing adoption of single-use medical devices, and rising number of surgical procedures worldwide.



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Asia Pacific is expected to account for the highest CAGR for players operating in the hospital acquired infection control market



The Asia Pacific hospital infection control market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2021 to 2026. Most of the growth in the market is expected from the emerging countries across the Asia Pacific. The rising number of surgical procedures conducted annually, favorable government regulations, the large patient population, and the rising incidence of COVID-19 are expected to drive the growth of the APAC market during the forecast period.



The key players operating in the hospital acquired infection control market include STERIS plc (US), Sotera Health Company (US), Getinge AB (Sweden), Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP) (US), Ecolab Inc. (US), 3M Company (US), MATACHANA GROUP (Spain), MMM Group (Germany), Belimed AG (Switzerland), Reckitt Benckiser (UK), Metrex Research LLC (UK), Miele Group (Germany), Pal International (UK), MELAG Medizintechnik GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Contec, Inc. (US), MEDALKAN (Greece), Systec GmbH (Germany), C.B.M. S.r.l. Medical Equipment (Italy), Continental Equipment Company (US), and BGS Beta-Gamma-Service GmbH & Co. KG (Germany).
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/11/2021 -- The Latest research study released by HTF MI "Global Outsourced Call Centers Market" with 100+ pages of analysis on business Strategy taken up by key and emerging industry players and delivers know how of the current market development, landscape, technologies, drivers, opportunities, market viewpoint and status. Understanding the segments helps in identifying the importance of different factors that aid the market growth. Some of the Major Companies covered in this Research are Xerox Corporation, IBM Global Services, CGS, Datamark, Inc., Infinit Contact, Five9, Runway, Invensis, Infinit-O, PSI & Sitel Worldwide Corporation etc.



Click here for free sample + related graphs of the report @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3669922-global-outsourced-call-centers-market-8



Browse market information, tables and figures extent in-depth TOC on "Outsourced Call Centers Market by Application (BFSI, Retail, Government, IT & Telecommunication, Defense Aerospace & Intelligence, Telecommunications & IT & Manufacturing), by Product Type (, Mass Market Center, B2B Center & Universal Center), Business scope, Manufacturing and Outlook  Estimate to 2025".



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At last, all parts of the Global Outsourced Call Centers Market are quantitatively also subjectively valued to think about the Global just as regional market equally. This market study presents basic data and true figures about the market giving a deep analysis of this market based on market trends, market drivers, constraints and its future prospects. The report supplies the worldwide monetary challenge with the help of Porter's Five Forces Analysis and SWOT Analysis.



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Customization of the Report: The report can be customized as per your needs for added data up to 3 businesses or countries or 2 analyst hours.



On the basis of report- titled segments and sub-segment of the market are highlighted below:

Global Outsourced Call Centers Market By Application/End-User (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : BFSI, Retail, Government, IT & Telecommunication, Defense Aerospace & Intelligence, Telecommunications & IT & Manufacturing



Market By Type (Value and Volume from 2021 to 2026) : , Mass Market Center, B2B Center & Universal Center



Global Outsourced Call Centers Market by Key Players: Xerox Corporation, IBM Global Services, CGS, Datamark, Inc., Infinit Contact, Five9, Runway, Invensis, Infinit-O, PSI & Sitel Worldwide Corporation



Geographically, this report is segmented into some key Regions, with manufacture, depletion, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Outsourced Call Centers in these regions, from 2015 to 2026 (forecast), covering China, USA, Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Southeast Asia & South America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2021 to 2026.



Informational Takeaways from the Market Study: The report Outsourced Call Centers matches the completely examined and evaluated data of the noticeable companies and their situation in the market considering impact of Coronavirus. The measured tools including SWOT analysis, Porter's five powers analysis, and assumption return debt were utilized while separating the improvement of the key players performing in the market.



Key Development's in the Market: This segment of the Outsourced Call Centers report fuses the major developments of the market that contains confirmations, composed endeavors, R&D, new thing dispatch, joint endeavours, and relationship of driving members working in the market.



To get this report buy full copy @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3669922



Some of the important question for stakeholders and business professional for expanding their position in the Global Outsourced Call Centers Market:

Q 1. Which Region offers the most rewarding open doors for the market Ahead of 2021?

Q 2. What are the business threats and Impact of latest scenario Over the market Growth and Estimation?

Q 3. What are probably the most encouraging, high-development scenarios for Outsourced Call Centers movement showcase by applications, types and regions?

Q 4.What segments grab most noteworthy attention in Outsourced Call Centers Market in 2020 and beyond?

Q 5. Who are the significant players confronting and developing in Outsourced Call Centers Market?



For More Information Read Table of Content @: https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3669922-global-outsourced-call-centers-market-8



Key poles of the TOC:

Chapter 1 Global Outsourced Call Centers Market Business Overview

Chapter 2 Major Breakdown by Type [, Mass Market Center, B2B Center & Universal Center]

Chapter 3 Major Application Wise Breakdown (Revenue & Volume)

Chapter 4 Manufacture Market Breakdown

Chapter 5 Sales & Estimates Market Study

Chapter 6 Key Manufacturers Production and Sales Market Comparison Breakdown

..

Chapter 8 Manufacturers, Deals and Closings Market Evaluation & Aggressiveness

Chapter 9 Key Companies Breakdown by Overall Market Size & Revenue by Type

..

Chapter 11 Business / Industry Chain (Value & Supply Chain Analysis)

Chapter 12 Conclusions & Appendix



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, LATAM, Europe or Southeast Asia.
Astrophysicists from the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA Collaboration have detected a further 35 gravitational waves since the last catalog release in October 2020, bringing to 90 the total number of observed events since gravitational-wave observations began. Of the 35 events detected, thirty two were most likely to be black hole mergers  two black holes spiraling around each other and finally joining together  and three were collisions between neutron stars and black holes. The black holes have a range of sizes, with the most massive around 90 times the mass of our Sun. Several of the resulting black holes that formed from these mergers exceed 100 solar masses and are classed as intermediate-mass black holes.

Gravitational waves were first predicted by Albert Einstein from his theory of general relativity in 1916.

Because the gravitational waves reaching Earth are so minuscule, it took many decades of work to build instruments precise enough to measure them.

Since the first gravitational wave detection in 2015, the number of detections has risen at a thundering rate.

In a matter of years, gravitational wave scientists have gone from observing these vibrations in the fabric of the Universe for the first time, to now observing many events every month, and even multiple events on the same day.

Gravitational wave detectors operate by using high power lasers to carefully measure the time taken for light to travel between mirrors along two perpendicular arms.

In the third observing run, which lasted from November 1, 2019 to March 27, 2020, the LIGO and Virgo detectors reached their best-ever performance.

To achieve this monumental progress, the pioneering instruments have been getting more sensitive thanks to a program of constant upgrades and maintenance.

The LIGO and Virgo detectors continue to improve with, for example, increased laser power and the installation of squeezed light, said Dr. Madeline Wade, a physicist at Kenyon College.

The excellent sensitivities of the detectors have allowed for the observation of so many more exciting gravitational wave events, including the first ever confident neutron star-black hole binary detection.

The latest discoveries represented a tsunami and were a major leap forward in our quest to unlock the secrets of the Universes evolution, said Professor Susan Scott, a researcher at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav) at Australian National University.

These discoveries represent a tenfold increase in the number of gravitational waves detected by LIGO and Virgo since they started observing.

Weve detected 35 events. Thats massive! In contrast, we made three detections in our first observing run, which lasted four months in 2015-16.

This really is a new era for gravitational wave detections and the growing population of discoveries is revealing so much information about the life and death of stars throughout the Universe.

Of the 35 new events, here are some notable discoveries:

(i) GW191219_163120 and GW200115_042309: two mergers between possible neutron star-black hole pairs; the neutron star in GW191219_163120 is one of the least massive ever observed;

(ii) GW200210_092254: a merger between a black hole and an object which could either be a light black hole or a heavy neutron star;

(iii) GW200220_061928: a massive pair of black holes orbiting each other, with a combined mass 145 times heavier than the Sun;

(iv) GW191204_171526: a pair of black holes orbiting each other, in which at least one of the pair is spinning upright;

(v) GW191109_010717: a pair of black holes orbiting each other which have a combined mass 112 times heavier than the Sun, which seems to be spinning upside-down;

(vi) GW191129_134029: a light pair of black holes that together weigh only 18 times the mass of the Sun.

Each new observing run brings new discoveries and surprises, said Dr. Hannah Middleton, a postdoctoral researcher at OzGrav and the University of Melbourne.

The third observing run saw gravitational wave detection becoming an everyday thing, but I still think each detection is exciting!

Its fascinating that there is such a wide range of properties within this growing collection of black hole and neutron star pairs, said Isobel Romero-Shaw, a Ph.D. student at OzGrav and Monash University.

Properties like the masses and spins of these pairs can tell us how theyre forming, so seeing such a diverse mix raises interesting questions about where they came from.

Looking at the masses and spins of the black holes in these binary systems indicates how these systems got together in the first place, Professor Scott said.

It also raises some really fascinating questions. For example, did the system originally form with two stars that went through their life cycles together and eventually became black holes?

Or were the two black holes thrust together in a very dense dynamical environment such as at the centre of a galaxy?

The continual improvement of gravitational wave detector sensitivity was helping drive an increase in detections.

This new technology is allowing us to observe more gravitational waves than ever before.

We are also probing the two black hole mass gap regions and providing more tests of Einsteins theory of general relativity.

The other really exciting thing about the constant improvement of the sensitivity of the gravitational wave detectors is that this will then bring into play a whole new range of sources of gravitational waves, some of which will be unexpected.

The teams paper was published online on the arXiv.org preprint server.

_____

R. Abbott et al. (LIGO Collaboration, Virgo Collaboration & KAGRA Collaboration). 2021. GWTC-3: Compact Binary Coalescences Observed by LIGO and Virgo During the Second Part of the Third Observing Run. arXiv: 2111.03606
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Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf221e90)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf2ee5a0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf221e90)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf2ee5a0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf0b7290)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf2ee5a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf2ee5a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fde8bdfa0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf265568)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf265568)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
System error

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context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf1d09d8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf1b66a8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf1d09d8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf1b66a8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f3fdf173610)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf1b66a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fdf1b66a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f3fde8bf2a0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf1cc050)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f3fdf1cc050)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Arthur Gotlieb, 95, another Wycliffe resident, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in May 1943. After basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, he was transferred to the 13th Fighter Squadron, 32nd Fighter Group at Venice, Florida, serving on maintenance crews for over a year, then moved to the Air Transport Command in Miami and trained as a space control technician  the person who determines the location of cargo and the space required for the cargo on each plane assigned to fly men and material to bases around the world.
In 10 years of being in the Kapow location, we have kind of a hipster-y music vibe, and the playlist has a lot of songs on it that have been playing for years. The staff hates it because they hear it three times a night, but the interesting part is we have friends that hear a song and say, Aw, this reminds me of Kapow. Its really cool when people make a connection with a song that creates this memory  and its your restaurant. We want to do the same thing with Penelope. We want to create something thats special, that no ones really done in our area.
First, Versailles is a business that has transcended generations. It has impacted the generation of my grandfather, my father, mine and now my son. And second, it has been the epicenter of the Cuban in exile, of the idea that Cuba will eventually be free and that until that moment we have to fight to achieve it, Suarez said. This is the pride of my community, it is the pride of my city.
Maria Mevil, 71, was driving in Pompano Beach with her 1-year-old grandchild Monday, when she was on the train tracks near Northeast Third Street and Dixie Highway, just north of Atlantic Boulevard, in Pompano Beach. She was just two miles from her home when the railroad crossing gates began to come down.
Leborgne says their love story started 16 years ago when they first met. At the time, both were married to different people and ultimately went in separate directions. He says they reconnected 10 years later, in 2019. Thats when he realized they were now both divorced.
A man in the Mercedes, estimated to be 25 to 30 years old, pointed a gun and fired twice at the Altima, the FHP said. One of the bullets caused the Altimas passenger side front window to shatter, but the driver was injured only by the shards of glass.
Ben Frazier, activist and president of the Jacksonville Northside Coalition kicked off a rally on the steps of City Hall before the evening's council meeting on Nov. 9, 2021, in Jacksonville. Members of the Jacksonville Northside Coalition held a rally in front of City Hall to continue their push to remove all Confederate Monuments from city property ahead of the evening's city council meeting where the fate of the Confederate monuments was to be taken up. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union via AP) (Bob Self/AP)
That means the longer you stay in a house, and the value continues to climb, you wont pay as much in taxes as the newbie next door. Because when you buy, the value is reset on Jan. 1 the next year based on purchase price.
The resistance that had been everywhere at first faded as the years went on. The spectacles of violence and mass rallies were exciting. The certainty, the unity  the pleasure in being superior to the scorned minority, as well as the feral pleasure in overthrowing the establishment  was exactly what had been missed. Politicians, business leaders and others who should have known better  and some who later deeply regretted it  drifted quietly to the Nazis side, often one by one, drawn by the thrill of power, plus the useful patronage it could give.
It is true that special elections, like this one, commonly post poor turnouts. Only 16.4% of the districts registered Democrats even voted Nov. 2, and less than a fourth of those nominated the winner. Many others could have been bewildered by a field of 11 candidates in the primary, and so chose no one. That said, its still unfortunate that more than three out of every four who did vote will have no one of their choice in the general election. Thats because theres no runoff.
Arab, AL (35016)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain, heavier early. Low near 45F. WSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain, heavier early. Low near 45F. WSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Arab, AL (35016)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low near 45F. WSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low near 45F. WSW winds shifting to NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi...
MBABANE  Please help us save our jobs.

This was a plea made by about 60 employees of Big Tree Filling Station as they feared losing their jobs due to the ongoing contractual disputes between the filling station and Galp Eswatini, which have remained unresolved. The matter is still in court. As such, some of these employees yesterday took upon themselves to seek assistance from different ministries, including the Prime Ministers Office. The employees delivered petitions in various government offices, seeking assistance to save their jobs as they depended on them to put food on the table.

Letters

About 12 of the employees delivered the letters and explained that the rest were left behind at the convenient shop of the filling station which was still operational. They said others had already thrown in the towel. Galp Eswatini has not been delivering fuel to the filling station due to a contractual dispute.

The employees said the reason they delivered the letters to the various offices was because their bosses had informed them that some of them would not get paid this month end. They said their superiors had been paying them for over four months now while they were not working as the filling station had not been operational since the impasse with Galp started.

Principal Secretary in the Prime Ministers office, Bertram Stewart, confirmed that the employees came to the office with the intention to deliver their letter. He, however, said when engaging them, he found that they were still working but were just panicking. Other ministries approached by the employees were that of Natural Resources and Energy and that of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. However, receipt of the letters in both ministries could not be confirmed. PS in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Lindiwe Mbingo said she had not yet received the letter. She said it would then be impossible to comment on something she had not seen.

Communications Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy Sikelela Khoza said he was not aware of any people who came to the ministry or any letter delivered by the aforementioned people. Khoza said the management was out of the office for the better part of the day for an outdoor assignment. The Director of Big Tree, Nurane Calu, confirmed that some of the employees might lose their jobs because of the situation. He said the only ones who could remain were those working in the convenient shop that was attached to the filling station. He said the fuel attendants and those who were working at the filling station might no longer be part of the company.

Control

Calu said the situation was beyond his control because he had been paying the employees for over four months from his own pocket. The director mentioned that he was equally frustrated by the situation but then there was nothing he could do. The Supreme Court upheld with costs the appeal filed by Galp Eswatini against the decision to restore the supply of fuel and fuel products to the filling station and further set aside the High Courts decision and substituted it with: The application is dismissed, with costs.

Galp Eswatini stopped supplying the filling station with fuel and Big Tree Filling Station accused Galp Eswatini (Pty) Limited of cutting its supply of fuel in the hope to collapse its business. The Director of Nur and Sam (Pty) Limited, trading as Big Tree Filling Station, Calu, made the allegation in an application filed by his company to compel Galp Eswatini to comply with an order that was issued by Judge Ticheme Dlamini on September 30, 2021.
SITEKI  A police officer sustained head injuries when he was assaulted by Ubombo Sugar Limited workers on Tuesday.

The police officer was part of the contingent of law enforcers from the Operational Support Services Unit (OSSU) who were deployed to maintain peace and order and ensure that property was not vandalised during the workers picketing. According to a shop steward who was present during the picketing, the police officers had allegedly fired tear gas canisters when they were trying to stop the workers from marching on the main road along Lavumisa-Siphofaneni. Yesterday, the police officers image circulated on social media platform, Facebook. It was said the workers were over 500 in number.

Marching

The incident happened when the workers were marching from the sugar factory to the main offices situated about a kilometre away. The shop steward claimed that a confrontation started when the workers pelted the police officers with stones, who retaliated by firing the tear gas canisters. After firing the tear gas canisters, the workers ran in all directions to avoid inhaling the gas. At that instance, some of them had cornered a few police officers and I was told that one of them was assaulted, narrated the shop steward. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the matter.

Vilakati said the police officer, together with his colleagues, were directing and stopping the marchers from using a route they were prohibited from using. She said the confrontation ended in chaos whereby the law enforcers were assaulted. She said the marchers became violent when attempts to control them were made. They pelted police vehicles with stones and that resulted in one of the police officers sustaining injuries in the process, she said. Meanwhile, Ubombo Sugar Limited workers started their picketing on September 30.

The workers are demanding 11.5 per cent while the company has offered five per cent. Talks between workers representatives, Swaziland Agricultural Plantation Workers Union (SAPWU) and companys management, have been dragging for over a month now.
SITEKI  The final decision on the reopening of schools will be taken today.

A proposal on the table is that schools should reopen next Tuesday. The ministry, together with SNAT, Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) and the countrys four regional education officers (REOs), will this morning hold a meeting in which a final decision will be made regarding the contentious issue of schools reopening. SNAT Secretary General (SG) Sikelela Dlamini said government should first address the issues raised by pupils before reopening schools. Dlamini said a majority of schools had not yet received the free primary education (FPE) and orphaned and vulnerable childrens (OVCs) grants. The SG also stated that government had also not employed teachers as per their recommendation.

Critical

He said it would be inappropriate to reopen schools before addressing the critical issues first as they would make the situation unworkable in schools. It is true, we are meeting tomorrow (today) to come up with the final decision on the reopening of schools next week. However, government has not yet addressed some of the things that were recommended, which makes it impossible to resume lessons, he said. Welcome Mhlanga, President of EPA, said todays meeting would be fundamental towards giving a real picture if government was ready to reopen schools after having given stakeholders feedback on a number of issues raised in their previous meeting.

Mhlanga said todays meeting would be a follow-up to what had been discussed in previously held meetings. The EPA president said government should be able to address the meeting on what it had done to address the issues that were raised by stakeholders. He said it was an important meeting that would shed light on the proposed date of reopening of schools.

Vital

We raised a number of issues among them being the payment of FPE, just to mention a few. We will know tomorrow how far government has gone in addressing them. That will be vital to give us a clear picture if government is ready or not, he said. The ministrys Principal Secretary (PS), Bheki Gama, said todays meeting would benchmark the final deliberations and map a way forward on the proposed date of schools reopening. The PS said they would only focus on educational matters raised by the stakeholders. The meeting will only focus on educational matters and wont be discussing politics as that is not within our jurisdiction as a ministry. We will have a definite answer tomorrow on the reopening of schools, he said. Meanwhile, government closed schools after pupils started rioting and burning furniture and vandalising classrooms.
MBABANE - Suspended High Court Judge Sipho Nkosi says for the first 13 months after he was appointed a judge, he worked without a secretary.

He said he had to utilise his own resources to execute his duties as a judge. I was humiliated and there was too much interference in my work, he alleged.

Judge Nkosi further highlighted that for the last seven months, he did not have a computer, thus making his work difficult. He said: I had to go and take the computer ngehheshi (forcefully).

The judge, who is currently waiting for the outcome of his impeachment, which was concluded in one day by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), said since Monday, the commission had not communicated anything to him yet. He also highlighted that whatever the outcome of the purported impeachment was, he had nothing to lose and he feared nothing.

Breaches

Judge Nkosi has reached out to the Kings Advisory Council (Liqoqo) to advise His Majesty about alleged breaches of the Constitution by the Chief Justice (CJ), Bheki Maphalala, and to revoke his suspension. The judge also alleged that during his first two years as a judge, he was subjected to ill-treatment in that he was not given the necessary tools and resources to carry out his duties. He said on numerous occasions, he implored the CJ, registrar of the High Court and secretary of the JSC to give him resources to work.

However, the chief justice continued with literally oppressive actions to demean my status and making it impossible for me to carry on working as a judge. He deliberately impeded my performance, reads the letter. According to Judge Nkosi, the CJ allegedly on various occasions literally subjugated the rule of law and breached fundamental provisions of the Constitution by deliberately interfering in court matters which he was seized with. This, according to the judge, undermined the sanctity of the High Court and independence of the Judiciary.

Derogation

Judge Nkosi said the first derogation allegedly by the CJ, who is also the Chairperson of the JSC, emanated from Section 158 (3) of the Constitution, which provided that where the King, acting on the advice of an ad hoc committee in the case of the chief justice, and on the advice of the chief justice in the case of any justice of a superior court, considers that the question of removing from office the chief justice or a justice on any ground stated in sub-section (2) ought to be investigated, the King shall refer the matter to the Judicial Service Commission for investigation. Sub-section 2 states that a justice of a superior court shall not be removed from office except for stated serious misbehaviour or inability to perform the functions of office arising from infirmity of body or mind.

Judge Nkosi stated that the CJ must advise the King of any complaints he had against a judge and His Majesty would then direct the JSC to investigate such complaint. This, according to the judge, did not happen in his case. He said he was not at any point advised by the JSC that a directive had been issued by the King empowering the former to investigate any matters concerning his behaviour.
LOBAMBA - Nhlambeni Member of Parliament (MP) Manzi Zwane yesterday moved that the charges against his three colleagues be dropped.

This happened after Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni had sought clarity on whether Siphofanenis MP Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane had lost his job as an MP following that he had not been attending sittings. The Nhlambeni MP stood up to say he also had the same concern raised by MP Myeni and asked to know if the issuing of a warrant did not mean that a person would be arrested. Does it not mean that I have been arrested?

I would like to know whether the three would not be here if there were no warrants of arrest issued against them. I plead with the House to move that the charges against the MPs, who spoke for the people in Parliament be dropped, Zwane submitted. The Nhlambeni MP was stopped by the Deputy Speaker, Madala Mhlanga, who advised that since he had already moved, he should find a way to draft the motion and bring it to the House. Mhlanga led the sitting yesterday standing in for Speaker Petros Mavimbela.

He said he believed that Zwane had been in the House for quite some time and, therefore, understood the proceedings. By now you know that once you stand up and move that the House should support you, it becomes a motion. No one will bully you. Draft the motion and it will come to the House, said Mhlanga. Zwane then posed a question whether there would have been a need to count days left for any MP had there been no warrant of arrest issued. Are the charges against the three MPs different? I ask this because I believe that it there is any counting done, it should apply to all three, he said. The deputy Speaker, again, advised that there would be no one to provide the answers to what the MP was asking but that he should just draft the motion.

Meetings

On another note, Gilgal MP Sandla Fakudze asked to know why virtual sittings were suspended. Fakudze said they had heard rumours that the reason was to ensure that certain members could not participate in the sittings. In response, the deputy Speaker stated that the House constituted itself, which meant that if it felt that the virtual meetings were needed, the members could vote. Also making a submission was Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo, who first thanked the deputy Speaker for being descent enough to give all members of the House a chance to make submissions. Khumalo then submitted that the virtual sittings were needed as they allowed MPs to participate in sittings without showing up in Parliament.

The Lobamba Lomdzala MP said the Ministry of Health still emphasised that the COVID-19 pandemic was still alive and that the virtual sittings should be allowed. The deputy Speaker then assured that the House would use the standing orders and bring back the virtual sittings.
LOBAMBA - The status of Siphofaneni MP Mduduzi Gawuzela Simelane, who has been declared a fugitive from justice, yesterday caused tension in Parliament.

Seeing that he was a no-show in yesterdays sitting, some of his colleagues demanded answers. This, they said, was because they believed that had a warrant of arrest not been issued against him, he would still be attending the House of Assembly sittings. Yesterday was Simelanes last chance to attend work or risk being arrested or lose his job as an MP.

This is because due to his self-imposed exile, Simelane has failed to report to work in the House of Assembly for the past 20 sittings. This is much against Section 98 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini which states that a seat shall become vacant when the holder is absent from 20 sittings of the chamber without the permission, in writing, of the presiding officer who happens to be the Speaker. Using Standing Order No.58, Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni said he had been sent by the constituents of Siphofaneni Inkhundla to raise a concern on their behalf.

Interjected

Myeni could not finish his submission as Deputy Speaker Madala Mhlanga, who was on the Speakers seat yesterday, interjected and asked him to read out the standing order he was making reference to for the benefit of the House. Instead of reading it out, the Nkilongo MP reiterated that he was using Standing Order No.58, which he said he believed the deputy Speaker was aware of. He then flashed a copy of yesterdays publication of the Times of Eswatini, saying it contained an article which disturbed him and the Siphofaneni Inkhundla constituents. The article carried the report that yesterday was Simelanes last chance to keep his job.

Myeni was determined to get answers as he said, There is something written in the newspaper which I would like to table and then debate. It is very urgent.

Minister of Public Service Mabulala Maseko interjected by standing up on a point of order and requested that MP Myeni should read the standing order and be clear about what he exactly wanted. The minister said in his view, MP Myeni was raising an issue that touched on a member of the House, who was from another inkhundla.

At that point, MP Myeni mumbled in vernacular saying; Aseningiyekele (leave me alone) after which the deputy Speaker repeated what he had earlier said that for the benefit of the House, the MP should read the standing order. However, Myeni did not back down as he mentioned that the standing order was not with him but that he was clear about what it stipulated. I have been here for a long time and I know what I am talking about. Allow me to raise an issue that is of great concern to the people of Siphofaneni. What I am talking about has to do with a member of the House, who was chosen by the people. This newspaper, which I will table, published that there is an MP whose term of office could come to an end today. I want to seek clarification from both you and the AG on whether what the newspaper published is true, Myeni submitted.

Allowed

He said all he wanted was to be allowed to table the newspaper and then speak on the issue as he felt it was of paramount importance. Again, the deputy Speaker advised Myeni to follow the procedures and table the newspaper and the legislator did. As he was about to start his submission, he was interrupted by Gege MP Musa Kunene in his capacity as the Chief Whip of the House, who reported that a cellphone had rang even though he could not tell who it belonged to. After that, Myeni was given the platform to continue with his submission and this was despite that Minister Maseko had again stood up to demand that he became clear on the standing order he was using.

The deputy Speaker advised that Myeni should be heard and that if he said something that was against the procedures, the AG was present to advise. In jest, MP Myeni applauded the deputy Speaker, saying he was handling the proceedings of the House with integrity and that the minister was disturbing. As expected, the minister stood up to ask that MP Myeni withdraw his statement, saying it was not in good taste. Myeni withdrew and then submitted that he was at pains reading the reports that it was MP Simelanes last day to show up for a sitting or else he would cease being a legislator.

Represented

It also pains me that the people of Siphofaneni are not represented by anyone at this point because their MP is in custody, said Myeni. Even though MP Simelane is currently on self- imposed exile after a warrant of arrest was issued against him, the Nkilongo MP used the word uboshiwe, which means he was in custody. At this point, I would like to know if the people of Siphofaneni can get clarity from the AG and the Speaker since Section 98 of the Constitution makes reference to a member of the House who absconds sittings without permission from the two. What we know is that warrants of arrest were issued against three MPs, one of them being Simelane, Myeni submitted.

He said according to him, Simelane was in custody since if no one knew his whereabouts, the police would have searched and found him. Had there been no warrant of arrest, MP Simelane would have been in this House. Had there been no warrant of arrests issued, both MP Bacede and MP Mthandeni would have been here with us. What pains me is that we are not debating this issue and no one is offering any clarity, Myeni stated. Elaborating, he said the constituents of Siphofaneni were worried as they last saw their MP when he was headed to Parliament and then heard about a warrant of arrest.

He said 4 800 constituents voted for Simelane and deserved the clarity regarding his term as their MP. Phondo MP Xolani Vilakati stood up to say he held a different view from the clarification requested by Myeni. He mentioned that he once heard MP Myeni say there was no Parliament in the country, therefore, wondered if he would get the clarification he had requested. The statement by the Phondo MP had most of the MPs in stitches but the deputy Speaker asked him to sit down.

The deputy Speaker then stated that MP Myeni made reference to an issue published in a newspaper, which he was not aware of. For now there is no clarification I can give you. Maybe this is the opinion of the newspaper. Even the number of days referred to here I do not know how they were counted. I will hand over to the AG to respond, said the deputy Speaker.

Advise

The AG, Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, then stood up and first made it clear that he could not advise on the issue of the actual circumstances surrounding MP Simelanes absence. He said all he could advise the House on was legal issues, which he was ready to do. I must clarify that MP Simelane has not been arrested. Only a warrant of arrest has been issued. In terms of a warrant of arrest, the High Court issues an order that authorises the MP to be arrested or detained. As for whether his days have come to an end, well I think that is counted by the office of the Speaker, said the AG. The AG also highlighted that Simelanes issue was governed by Section 98 of the Constitution sub-section 1 (c).

It is not for the AG to do the counting of the days left for the MP, the AG stated. The deputy Speaker then said he could only assist by going to the office of the Speaker to verify on the number of days and then return with an answer.
he courage, strength, and patriotism of veterans everywhere, particularly those who are familiar to AGWSR students in both the Ackley and Wellsburg educational centers, were honored during ceremonies held at both locations.

In Wellsburg, students began their day with a flag-raising ceremony in which all students form the building watched as the flag was raised to the top of the pole. Second graders led the Pledge of Allegiance with the students and their visitors joining in before trumpeters played Taps.

In the gym, veterans and the public were treated to a program of songs, essays, and a community sing-along where all veterans attending were recognized during a performance of Armed Forces on Parade.

The Ackley center program included performances by the AGWSR band and choir, along with a recognition of veterans in attendance by Reverend DJ Steen. Jim Wessels was the speaker. The program is jointly sponsored by the school and the Ackley American Legion Post #252.

The Ackley American Legion Auxiliary served chili and cinnamon rolls to veterans and community members following the program.

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Ithmaar Holding, a Bahrain-based holding company, has reported a net profit of $1.48 million attributable to equity holders for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 compared to the net loss of $3.29 million for the same period last year

Announcing the results for the nine-month period ended September 30, Ithmaar said its earnings per share (EPS) stood at US Cents 0.05, compared to negative US Cents 0.11 for the same period in 2020.

Overall, including profit attributable to minority interests, the companys results show a net profit of $15.74 million, up 79% over the net profit of $8.78 million reported for same period last year.

Ithmaar Holdings total owners equity stood at $12.02 million as of September 30, down 18.6% from $14.76 million as of December 31, 2020, said the statement.

Accumulated losses, as of September 30, stood at $831.54 million accounting to 109.7 per cent of the share capital, compared to $833.79 million as at 31 December 2020. Total assets grew to $8.96 billion, up 7 per cent over $8.38 billion as of December 31, 2020, it added.

On the Q3 results, Ithmaar said its net loss attributable to equity holders for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021 was $2.53 million compared to the net loss of $2 million reported for the same period last year.

The EPS for the three-month period ended September 30 was negative US Cents 0.09, compared to negative US Cents 0.07 for the same period in 2020.

Overall, including profit attributable to minority interests, Ithmaar Holding reported a net profit for the three-month period ended 30 September 2021 of US$2.78 million, a 103 percent increase compared to the net profit of $1.38 million reported for the same period in 2021.

follows the review and approval of the Board of Directors of the Companys consolidated financial results for the nine-month period ended 30 September 2021, including the third quarter of 2021.

On the solid results, Ithmaar Holding Chairman Prince Amr Al Faisal said: "In line with Ithmaar Holdings strategy of creating value for its shareholders, the board of directors is working on various initiatives to improve the capital, which will strengthen the companys consolidated equity."

"As part of this strategy, the company last month signed a MoU and entered into discussions with Al Salam Bank - Bahrain for the potential acquisition by Al Salam Bank of a group of assets from Ithmaar Holdings group of companies," he noted.

"The plans, which are subject to the completion of due diligence by both parties, also require shareholder and regulatory approvals," he added.
AD Ports Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Egyptian Group for Multipurpose Terminals for the development and operation of a multipurpose terminal in Egypts Safaga Port.

Under the MoU, AD Ports Group will explore investment opportunities and conduct feasibility and local market studies related to developing and operating a multipurpose terminal in Safaga Port, with both parties benefitting from the exchange of expertise and best practices.

The MoU aims to support the growth of the Middle Easts industrial and logistics sectors, as well as assist in opening new markets for Egyptian exports via direct maritime routes across the Arabian Gulf, East Asia, and Africa regions.

It will also facilitate commercial activities operating within the Golden Triangle and Upper Egypt and will elevate the countrys ability to compete with other nations that manufacture similar industrial products.

The signing was conducted on the sidelines of the 4th Smart Transport, Logistics & Traffic Fair & Forum for the MEA Region (TransMEA 2021), held under the patronage of Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The legal document was signed in the presence of Kamel El Wazir, Minister of Transportation in Egypt by Saif Al Mazrouei, Head of Ports Cluster, AD Ports Group; and Rear Admiral Abdul Qadir Darwish, Chairman of the Egyptian Group for Multipurpose Terminals.

Al Mazrouei said: The MoU with the Egyptian Group for Multipurpose Terminals falls in line with AD Ports Groups efforts to promote trade relations with Arab sister nations, as well as our commitment to expand regional and global reach as a leading enabler of global trade and logistics.

The strategic location of Safaga Port on the Red Sea holds great potential for a significant role within the global supply chain. We are confident that the cooperation will prove beneficial for both sides, as it combines the unique characteristics of Safaga Port with the long-standing expertise offered by AD Ports Group in managing and operating maritime terminals, along with the groups extensive capabilities in delivering end-to-end services across the entire supply chain.

Rear Admiral Darwish expressed his appreciation for the newly announced cooperation with AD Ports Group, noting that the MoU will serve as a promising starting point for further collaborations, which will provide a wide range of services beneficial to each nations trade and logistics sectors.

Rear Admiral Darwish, said: The investment environment in Egypt is rich with opportunities, and it is crucial that we advance and enhance seaports in Egypt so that they become centres for further commercial development, and competitive with other international ports. In turn, this will greatly benefit our nations national economy.-- TradeArabia News Service
GFH Properties, a wholly owned subsidiary of GFH Financial Group, has backed a decision to launch Cityscape Bahrain, an offshoot of Cityscape Global, a leading real estate investment event, that will launch at the all-new Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre next year.

As one of four gold sponsors of the Rera Bahrain Pavilion at Cityscape Global, GFH Properties is supporting the development and promotion of the Kingdoms real estate sector on the global stage, said its top official.

"We are very proud to support the launch of Cityscape Bahrain, which is a major development for the regions real estate sector. Over the last two decades, Cityscape Global has proved to be a highly valuable industry event for real estate professionals and investors alike," remarked Eman Al Mannai, Head of Sales at GFH Properties.

With a residential portfolio of $1.8 billion, GFH Properties favours resilient investments in key sectors that are positioned for significant growth in the wake of pandemic.

At the Cityscape Global, GFH Properties is exhibiting its developments Harbour Heights and Harbour Row.

The Harbour Row is GFH Properties flagship project and comprises six residential buildings, including over 500 upscale apartments, and a new retail district hosting over 20 retail stores and kiosks overlooking a waterfront promenade.

The $145 million development, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, neighbours several of Bahrains prime leisure and retail destinations, including Bab Al Bahrain, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, Seef District, The Avenues  Bahrain, City Centre Bahrain and Moda Mall.

Harbour Heights is another of GFH Properties developments shaping Bahrains skyline with its distinctive trio of twisted towers situated directly in front of the Bahrain Financial Harbour twin towers.

A key residential tower, Harbour Heights comprises 226 apartments and penthouses with views and facilities including the highest swimming pool in Bahrain.

"We are working to develop our diversified real estate portfolio and continue to seek unique opportunities to lead landmark projects that transform both fortunes and skylines," stated Al Mannai.-TradeArabia News Service
Leading European metal producer Aleastur has launched the regions first plant for aluminium grain refiners and master alloys production at its new Middle East base in Bahrain.

The new $15 million site at the heart of the Gulf region will supply specialty alloys to global markets, including Asia, North America and the GCC.

Aleastur's new hub is part of a broader plan, in partnership with the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company - which acquired a significant stake in the company in 2016 - to develop the kingdoms downstream aluminium sector and strengthen synergies between local manufacturers and key international players, said the statement from Bahrains Economic Development Board (EDB).

The Bahrain facility will be exporting approximately 85% of its annual production to regional players in the industry, including main aluminium smelters and cast-houses, it stated.

The launch of this facility is a great example of Bahrains recently announced economic recovery plan in action. This supports the mandate to continue attracting investment to the kingdom, ultimately creating jobs for Bahrainis, it added.

Headquartered in Asturias, a region of the northwest Spain, Aleastur is one of the top aluminium grain refiner players in the world and is expected to hit revenues in the new facility of nearly $53 million by 2025 as it ramps up foreign exports.

This Bahrain hub will be its first overseas facility and will produce high quality aluminium alloys to be used for different purposes across various industries.

As part of its expansion strategy, the new facility, which is designed to be an ideal aluminium downstream hub, will reduce lead times and strengthen supply chains for the aluminium industry in the region and neighbouring markets as global economies begin to reboot and construction projects resume.

"We hope to establish a solid regional base and establish an access point from Spain not only to cater the GCC but other several regions. The geographical location of Bahrain and easy access to some of the fastest growing markets here will provide the platform we need to achieve our international growth ambitions," remarked Aleastur CEO Sergio Martinez.

"Were thrilled to be joining our industry peers in Bahrain and we look forward to tapping into a growing aluminium hub right next door to Alba. In combination with our Spanish facilities, the new site will be particularly well positioned to export to the South East Asian and Indian markets," he noted.

"In addition to Bahrains well-placed geographical location, we will benefit from the highly skilled local workforce, strong logistics infrastructure and best-value operating costs," he added.

Commenting on the announcement, Mumtalakat CEO Khalid Al Rumaihi, said: "As one of our key investments, Aleasturs presence in Bahrain will add significant value to the growing downstream aluminium cluster which will enable them to cater to the growing demand in the region and beyond. We look forward to seeing their operations expand and are excited by the prospects this next phase for Aleastur brings."

Bahrain is already known in the Gulf region for its booming aluminium trade. The kingdoms national aluminium manufacturer, Alba, is the largest single-site smelter in the world outside of China, producing at full capacity more than 2% of global output.

Mid and downstream clusters are fast developing around Alba, feeding off the metal it produces. Aluminium exports made up about 34.2% of Bahrains non-oil exports in 2020 and the sector already contributes 11.1% to GDP.

Economic Development Board CEO Khalid Humaidan said: "The decision by Aleaster to build its first international base in Bahrain, is a prime example of the kingdoms attractiveness in the manufacturing and logistics sectors which we believe can be summarized by three main attributes."

"Firstly, our competitive operating costs are likely to be more profitable, secondly, our free trade agreements support businesses. Last but not least, a key decisive element is the highly skilled workforce we have to man those business and keep them successful," he added.

According to him, other aluminium companies operating in Bahrain include Bamco, Garmco, Balexco, and Midal Cables. The firms distribute internationally through Bahrains FTAs with 22 countries around the world, including the US, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Siemens Gamesa has developed the worlds first project capable of producing green hydrogen directly from wind, in island mode. It can also operate connected to the grid.



The Brande Hydrogen pilot project in Denmark has celebrated the new milestone, producing its first green hydrogen as part of the testing and commissioning phase. Project partner Everfuel now distributes it to hydrogen stations in Denmark, enabling a growing number of zero emission vehicles, such as fuel cell taxis, to operate on a 100% green fuel supply.



Without the production of green hydrogen on an industrial scale, the world will not achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and the earths temperature will continue to rise. Green hydrogen, derived from low-cost, competitive wind power, is a 100% sustainable and versatile fuel which can be stored and transported for use on demand.



It represents a massive opportunity for the green energy transition by driving the transformation of the energy system: green hydrogen can be produced anywhere and used in sectors that are very difficult to decarbonise, such as aviation and shipping, as well as heavy industry, such as iron and steel, chemicals and glass. Hydrogen made from wind can be used to cut emissions from nations and industries that are struggling to limit their impact on the climate.



There is no way around green hydrogen. It is a game changer in the quest to decarbonise the power supply and solve the climate crisis, said Poul Skjrbk, Chief Innovation Officer, Service, at Siemens Gamesa.



Our hydrogen-producing wind turbine is an example of the innovative projects that will help shape the emerging clean-fuel market and accelerate the green energy transition as we integrate unprecedented amounts of renewable energy into the energy system. We are very proud to have reached yet another milestone in making this vision a reality  getting our first 100% green hydrogen out to the consumers.



We are pleased to showcase the entire hydrogen value chain, from renewable energy production to the distribution, with our own high-capacity hydrogen trailers and delivery to our fuelling stations, said says Jacob Krogsgaard, CEO for Everfuel.



Distributing 100% green hydrogen fuel from Brande is a significant milestone for Everfuel, and we are proud to be the first to offtake green hydrogen in island mode from wind energy. The project in Brande is more than just the production of green hydrogen. It symbolizes the beginning of the Danish hydrogen adventure, which will help decarbonise our society and fight climate change.



Brande Hydrogen test site as use case for large-scale production



Earlier this summer, the Danish authorities granted Siemens Gamesas Brande Hydrogen test site status as official regulatory test zone, allowing activities here to operate outside the existing electricity regulations and enabling research into how to develop an island-mode capable system of offshore hydrogen production at turbine level.



The pilot project celebrates now a new milestone, producing its first green hydrogen as part of the testing and commissioning phase. Project partner Everfuel is distributing this to hydrogen stations in Denmark, enabling a growing number of zero emission vehicles, such as fuel cell taxis, to operate on a 100% green fuel supply.



The Brande Hydrogen setup couples an existing onshore Siemens Gamesa SWT 3.0-113 DD wind turbine with an electrolyser stack from electrolysis partner Green Hydrogen Systems. Siemens Gamesa is also using the Brande Hydrogen site to explore whether integrating new battery technology as an upgrade to the co-located turbine and electrolyser can contribute to grid stability and help address issues around the variability of wind.



This combination also has the potential to expand the output of existing wind projects. Batteries can store energy in a way that allows electrolysers to run for longer and produce more green hydrogen. If there is a grid connection, the batteries can distribute the renewable energy to the grid rather than the electrolyser when conditions allow, easing bottlenecks and providing flexibility.



The battery, turbine and electrolyser setup has the potential to enable the production of industrial-scale volumes of green hydrogen in the near term. Innovations and learnings from the Brande Hydrogen test site will be shared with partners to build use cases for larger-scale green hydrogen production.  TradeArabia News Service
Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate, has updated its winter schedule reflecting frequency increases and flight resumptions following easing of Covid curbs in many nations. Among reinstated destinations are Munich, Zurich and Kuala Lumpur.

Starting from December 1, there will be three flights every week to Munich from Muscat, two weekly flights to Zurich and four flights to Kuala Lumpur every week, according to the latest schedule released by the airline.

Oman Air will maintain its comprehensive safety programme throughout all elements of the travel journey to ensure that passengers fly confidently, according to a spokesperson.

Masks are required on board the aircraft and in Oman's airports. Distancing is maintained while passengers board and exit the aircraft, which are carefully cleaned after each flight and at the end of every day.

Meal service has been modified to further ensure safety, and a number of other measures have been implemented to ensure that passengers and crew are safe at all times.

Those planning to travel to Muscat are advised to visit the Civil Aviation Authority website, caa.gov.om, to ensure they are prepared to comply with requirements to enter the country.

Passengers travelling to Germany, Switzerland and Malaysia, as well as other destinations on Oman Airs network, should ensure they are aware of official requirements to enter or transit through their destination.

Guests departing from Oman should also ensure that they are aware of all pre-departure requirements and requirements during their flights, the spokesperson added.-TradeArabia News Service
New Delhi, Nov 11 (UNI) The Central government will on Thursday hand over the idol of Goddess Annapurna to the Uttar Pradesh government, which was recently retrieved from Canada.

The stone idol of Goddess Annapurna was stolen about 100 years ago from Varanasi. It will be installed at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on November 15 by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi offered prayers to the idol at the National Art gallery, here. Later in the day, the idol will be taken from Delhi to Aligarh. From there, it will be taken to Kannauj on November 12 and will reach Ayodhya on November 14.
Moody's upgrades Yes Bank's rating to B2 from B3, changes outlook to positive

New Delhi, Nov 10 (UNI) Moody's Investors Service has upgraded Yes Bank's long-term foreign currency issuer rating and long-term foreign and local currency bank deposit ratings to B2 from B3.

The rating agency in a statement on Wednesday said that it has also upgraded the bank's Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and Adjusted BCA to b3 from caa2.

"At the same time, Moody's has changed the outlook on Yes Bank's ratings where applicable to positive from stable, reflecting Moody's expectation of a further improvement to the bank's credit profile, driven by a cleanup of legacy stressed assets and/or improvements to its capital and profitability," Moody's said.

Listing out the rationale for the rating upgrade, Moody's said that the bank's funding and liquidity have substantially improved in the past year which have strengthened depositor and credit confidence in the bank.

The rating action also reflects the fact that despite the significant economic challenges since the onset of the pandemic, Yes Bank's asset quality has deteriorated only modestly while its capital has remained stable.

"The improved financials metrics are reflected in the two-notch upgrade of the bank's BCA to b3 from caa2. Moody's has also lowered government support assumption for Yes Bank to moderate from high, which results in a one-notch uplift to the B2 issuer rating from the b3 BCA," the rating agency said.

Yes Bank's deposits have increased over 65% between 30 September 2021 and 31 March 2020, after Indian regulators rescued the bank.

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Beijing, Nov 9 (UNI) China has said it is not attending the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan being hosted by New Delhi due to scheduling issues, and that it has informed India, joining close friend Pakistan in skipping the key regional gathering of security chiefs.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday: It is not convenient for China to attend the meeting due to scheduling issues, and we have informed India, when asked if China will attend the regional security dialogue on Afghanistan hosted by India.

The Security chiefs of Russia, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are attending the 'Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan' being hosted by Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Wednesday.
DSGMC writes to President to withdraw Padma Shri awarded to Kangana 21 Nov 2021 | 11:26 PM New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) wrote a letter to the President Ram Nath Kovind, appealing that the Padma Shri award conferred to actress Kangana Ranaut be withdrawn immediately as she allegedly targeted the Sikh community, insulting farmers and freedom fighters, here on Sunday. see more..

SKM decides to send a letter to PM 21 Nov 2021 | 11:23 PM New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) Samyukt Kisan Morcha held a meeting on Sunday at Singhu Border Kisan Andolan office. see more..

PM attends 56th DGP, IGP conference in Lucknow 21 Nov 2021 | 10:23 PM New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the 56th Director Generals of Police (DGP) and Inspector Generals of Police (IGP) conference in Lucknow on November 20 and 21, said a statement by the Prime Ministers Office said on Sunday. see more..

Amit Shah to lay foundation stone of Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum 21 Nov 2021 | 9:53 PM New Delhi, Nov 21 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone for setting up of the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum at Luangkao village in Tamenglong district in Manipur on Monday through video conferencing, a statement said. see more..
New Delhi, Nov 11 (UNI) One of the Supreme Court judges in the three-Judge bench hearing the Amazon and Future case, Justice Hima Kohli, on Thursday said she and her family members hold shares in RIL group companies and offered to recuse if any party or lawyer had objections to her being part of the bench.

The other two judges in the bench include Chief Justice (CJI) Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana and Justice AS Bopanna.

All the lawyers and parties in the case said they had no objection to Justice Kohli hearing the matter. The Apex Court then fixed November 23 for hearing the matter related to Future's sale of retail assets to the Reliance group. The Apex Court also orally asked the Future group not to proceed with the matter at any other forum till it heard the case.

The Apex Court was hearing the case in connection with a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Future group against the Delhi High Court's October 29 interim order.

This order denied an application for interim relief on Future Retails appeal, seeking a stay on enforcement of the October 25, 2020 Singapore International Arbitration Centre emergency arbitrator award.

Senior lawyer Parag Tripathi appeared on behalf of Future Coupons Pvt Ltd, one of the petitioners in the case before the Supreme Court.

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New Delhi, Nov 11 (UNI) The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urged the states and Union Territories to achieve 100 per cent coverage of the adult population with the first dose of COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday.

The minister said during a review meeting of the Centre's 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign with the health ministers of all states and UTs that 79 per cent of adults have been covered so far with the first dose.

Let us ensure collectively through collaborative and multi-stakeholder efforts that no eligible citizen is left without the Suraksha Kawachh of COVID 19 vaccine in the country. Let us reach each and every corner and household across the country and motivate people to take both the doses," he appealed in the meeting.

Meanwhile, the minister also informed that among the first dose beneficiaries, only 38 per cent have taken up their second shot. He also said that over 12 crore such individuals have not turned up for their due second shot.

Reiterating the importance of full immunisation, Mandaviya urged the states and UTs to motivate those who are due for the second dose.

The minister suggested roping in children for taking forward the message of full vaccination. Let the children motivate their parents and the other family members to take both the doses of vaccines," he said.

He also said that vaccination centres can be set up at railway and bus stations, especially in large metro cities.

"These are the primary points for a large number of people entering the city. Some states have started a Roko and Toko campaign where the passengers alighting from buses, trains, rickshaws etc. and are motivated to take the vaccine doses Each day of the Har Ghar Dastak campaign can be dedicated to mobilisation and vaccination of different groups of beneficiaries," he added.

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Two dozen terror groups with 23,000 militants present in Afghanistan, says Russian security chief

New Delhi, Nov 10 (UNI) More than two dozen terrorist organizations having a total strength of 23,000 militants are operating in Afghanistan at the moment, according to different estimates, Nikolay Patrushev, the secretary of Russias Security Council, told Russian media in New Delhi following multilateral consultations on Afghanistan on Wednesday.

He said the participants in the meeting in the first place had discussed the security situation in Afghanistan and also its regional and global effects, according to Tass news agency.

"The worst threat coming from Afghanistan is terrorism. According to different estimates, there are more than 20 terrorist organizations in Afghanistan. Their total strength exceeds 23,000 militants," Patrushev said.
Thailand to Host the Miss Universe 2018 Pageant

"To God be the Glory".
UW WWAMI Students Volunteer to Treat COVID-19 Patients

From left, UW second-year medical students Taylor Thompson, from Cody, and Luiza Bosch, from Pinedale, wore full-body personal protective equipment while volunteering in the Outpatient Regeneron Infusion Clinic at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie. (Samantha Herriott Photo)

Two second-year Wyoming medical students enrolled in the WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Wyoming recently took part in a volunteer effort to support COVID-19 patient care at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie.

Luiza Bosch, from Pinedale, and Taylor Thompson, from Cody, volunteered at the hospitals Outpatient Regeneron Infusion Clinic through Dr. Samantha Herriott, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist.

Herriott also is a preceptor for the Wyoming-WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Medical Education Program. A number of physicians from Laramie and surrounding communities serve as preceptors to work with medical students and provide hands-on experience in hospitals and clinical settings.

The Outpatient Regeneron Infusion Clinic was a great way to get firsthand experience as a medical student, Bosch says. Dr. Herriott had an active role in getting us involved and was very invested in our education. She advocated for the continuance of our clinical experience and taught us the virtue of the real-world application of it.

Luiza and I volunteered our time that day, alongside Dr. Herriott, which included bringing COVID-19 patients into the Outpatient Regeneron Infusion Clinic, Thompson says. From there, I took vitals, started IVs and administered a monoclonal antibody therapy to the patients. We had to closely monitor them and their vitals throughout the infusion and afterward.

A relatively new treatment for COVID-19 patients at high risk of severe symptoms, monoclonal antibody therapy involves giving patients an infusion of laboratory-created antibodies to help build immunity while preventing the virus from making them sicker.

Both Bosch and Thompson wore full-body personal protective equipment (PPE) and experienced firsthand the challenges many health care providers have faced over the extent of the pandemic dealing with COVID-19 in clinical environments.

Wearing full PPE with respirators makes it extremely difficult to communicate with the patients, Thompson says. It makes an impact on the humane side of medicine, and I can see why health care workers are getting so burned out. It made me even more appreciative of all of the health care workers who have been working in these treacherous conditions for almost two years now.

Student volunteer efforts, along with working alongside physicians and other medical professionals serving as preceptors, are key components of the education and training provided to students in the Wyoming-WWAMI program. These experiences help prepare students for working with patients on all fronts of medical care and treatment.

In the clinic, the student volunteers interacted with real patients and community members by starting the IVs that administered monoclonal antibodies, checked patients vitals, checked for signs of anaphylaxis and monitored patient progress.

From this experience, I now have not only a greater understanding of the impact of the pandemic on patients and medical professionals, but a strengthened sense of empathy for their plight as well, Bosch says. I am so grateful to have had this experience.


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The 41st Meeting of the WCO-UPU Contact Committee was held jointly by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) on 9 and 10 November 2021. This year, the meeting was attended by some 60 experts from Customs administrations and designated postal operators and was hosted by the UPU in a hybrid mode allowing for remote and on-site participation at the UPU building in Bern.

In their opening remarks, Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, the WCO Director of Compliance and Facilitation, and Mr. Abdel Ilah Bousseta, the UPUs Director of Postal Operations, welcomed Members and Observers to the Meeting of the WCO-UPU Contact Committee. They stressed the importance of cooperation between the WCO and the UPU, and at national levels as well, in exploring possible measures so that together we might overcome the challenges that lie ahead. The directors praised the Contact Committee for its dedicated work over the past five years in agreeing on priorities, addressing common challenges and identifying potential solutions to improve Customs-Post collaboration. In particular, this involved the organization of capacity-building workshops, the implementation of electronic advance data (EAD) exchanges, the strengthening of security and safety measures, the handling of E-Commerce and trade facilitation, and the processing of regulatory matters as well.

The Contact Committee was informed of the envisaged signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding between the WCO and the UPU, which is currently being finalized. When the new MOU is signed by both parties, it will serve as an important basis for closer cooperation between the two organizations in pursuing common goals to ensure and facilitate the free and secure movement of international postal items and to address challenges during transit and Customs clearance procedures.

The Committee took note of the joint WCO-UPU workshop, the results of the 2021 Work Plan, the Work Plan for 2022, the status of the Electronic Advance Data (EAD) capture, transmission and compliance project, and an update on capacity building activities. For matters relating to EAD requirements, the Committee discussed the analysis on EAD exchanges and readiness, EAD requirements for transit, the joint expert teams works on data flows 3 and 4 of the UPU Global Postal Model, and the UPU EAD roadmap update. The Committee also examined and endorsed the revision of the WCO-UPU Joint Message Standards (CUSITM and CUSRSP version 2) with a view to meeting requirements stemming from the Pre-Loading Advance Cargo Information (PLACI) risk analysis process, which will be submitted to the next PTC for endorsement.

Regarding security and safety matters, the Committee took note of and provided fruitful feedback on the update on AEO and UPU security standards (S58 and S59), asynchronous training in illicit goods for post and Customs from INTERPOL, and the opioid strategy and toolkit from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). E-Commerce and trade facilitation matters were also discussed in the meeting, including the results from the WCOs Second Global Conference on Cross Border E-Commerce, experience sharing regarding the E-Commerce data pilot being conducted by a Customs member, and the progress on the Rail-UPU Contact Committee. The Committee also received an update on the report from the joint expert team on the potential integration of CN 22 and CN 23 forms and the harmonization of data, and an update on the progress of the comprehensive review of the Revised Kyoto Convention.

Finally, the Committee reviewed the draft Work Plan for 2022-2025. The 42nd meeting of the Contact Committee will take place in the Fall of 2022.
The U.S. violent crime rate -- an annual, population-adjusted measure of cases of rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide -- climbed by 5% in 2020. The increase was driven by a rise in aggravated assault and, most notably, a historic 29% surge in homicides that made 2020 the deadliest year in the United States since the mid-1990s.

Despite the largest single-year increase in homicides on record, the overall violent crime rate in 2020 remains relatively low by historical standards. There were 1.3 million violent crimes reported in the U.S. in 2020, or 399 for every 100,000 people. For context, the violent crime rate ranged between 523 and 758 incidents per 100,000 throughout the 1990s.

Of course, crime is a local phenomenon influenced by a wide range of factors. As a result, violent crime rates in the U.S. can vary considerably from place to place -- and in some metro areas, rates of violence far exceed the nation-level highs recorded in decades past.

Following a 21.3% spike, the violent crime rate in the Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana, metro area stands at 683 per 100,000 -- higher than in the vast majority of U.S. metropolitan areas. The increase was led by homicides, which more than doubled from 41 in 2019 to 85 in 2020.

Deadly violence in the area has continued to surge into 2021, prompting Shreveport's chief of police to step down following a vote of no confidence from the city council. Local experts claim that the pandemic has exacerbated existing socioeconomic problems, like poverty, that are linked to crime. An estimated 22.2% of metro area residents live below the poverty line, compared to 12.3% of all Americans.

Metro areas are ranked on their violent crime rate using data from the FBI's 2020 Uniform Crime Report. Additional data on specific crimes are also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are one-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey.
Fort Polk, LA (71446)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Low 52F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Retired Franklin Fire Battalion Chief Andrew Gentry Fox, who died Nov. 15 at the age of 70, will take one last ride through Franklin on Sunday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.
Coronation Insurance has posted total assets of N41.15billion at the end of the third quarter of 2021 as against N39.72billion recorded in same period of 2020.

This is just as the underwriting firm settled N4.16billion claims of its policyholders from January to September 2021.

The information is contained in the company's unaudited interim financial results for the year 2021 third quarter ended September 30, 2021 signed by its Chairman, Mutiu Sunmonu.

According to the report, Net premium income increase to N6.63 billion as against N5.54 billion recorded same period of 2020 while net underwriting income grew to N7.29 billion against N7.25 billion recorded in the third quarter of 2020.

Comparing the underwriters claims paid in third quarter 2021 to 2020, the result shows that the company has maintained its integrity in the insurance sector as the firm settled N4.25billion claims within the period in 2021 as against N2.74billion in same period of 2020.

Comparing the underwriters claims paid in third quarter 2021 to 2020, the result shows that the company has maintained its integrity in the insurance sector as the firm settled N4.25billion claims within the period in 2021 as against N2.74billion in same period of 2020.

However, the company's Gross premium written stood at N11.06 billion within the period of 2021 compared to N13.26 billion recorded in 2020 while gross premium income stood at N10.37 billion against N12.85 billion posted in the previous year.

Profit before tax stood at N685.2 million compared to N1.19 billion posted in the comparable period of 2020 while profit after tax recorded N711.1 million against N992.7 million written in the previous year.

The Underwriting expenses to N1.94 billion compared to N2.10 billion recorded in the period under review of 2020, while investment income recorded hit N1.33 billion against N765 million recorded in the previous year.

The Underwriting expenses to N1.94 billion compared to N2.10 billion recorded in the period under review of 2020, while investment income recorded hit N1.33 billion against N765 million recorded in the previous year.

Coronation Insurance Plc is an insurance company in Nigeria licensed to underwrite all classes of life and non-life insurance for the personal, groups, commercial and industrial sectors.
Humanitarian aid being delivered to the Tigray region of Ethiopia by a convoy of 50 trucks (file photo).

The organization says the detentions amount to "a de facto humanitarian blockade." News of the detentions follows a day after 22 UN staff were arrested in the capital Addis Ababa.

The United Nations (UN) on Wednesday announced that at least 70 truck drivers delivering aid to the northern Ethiopian Tigray region had been detained during the past week, after the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy declared a six-month nationwide state of emergency.

The UN says drivers working for it and other international aid organizations were arrested on November 3, in the northern city of Semera in Ethiopia's Afar region. Although representatives enquired as to the grounds for the detentions, they have received no answer according to the UN.

Semera is a key gateway for aid deliveries into Ethiopia's northern regions, the UN says the mass detention of aid delivery drivers amounts to a "de facto humanitarian blockade."

What is the humanitarian situation in Tigray?

The UN has struggled to deliver food and medical aid to millions of people in Tigray in recent months and especially since Addis Ababa began conducting airstrikes in the region in mid-October. "It is estimated that 80% of essential medication is no longer available" in the region, said the UN's humanitarian aid agency last week.

The Ethiopian government claims aid may be being diverted to Tigray fighters rather than delivered to civilians, though it has offered no evidence for this. A similar logic also prompted Addis Ababa to impose the state of emergency, which allows government forces to detain anyone it accuses of supporting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

On Tuesday, the UN announced that 22 of its staff members had been arrested and detained in the capital for "supporting terrorists." Though six staff were released, 16 remain in custody. The Ethiopian government has arrested thousands of Tigrayans since the law went into effect last week.

Why are relations so bad between the UN and Ethiopia?

Relations between the Ethiopian government and the international organization have been tense since seven top UN staff members were expelled from the country in late September after pushing for an end to ethnic fighting between the central government in Addis Ababa and armed fighters linked to the TPLF. The Ethiopian government accused UN leaders of "meddling" in the country's internal affairs after it was suggested that sanctions may be needed if the warring parties could not strike a peace deal.

Fighting in the northern Tigray region broke out in November 2020 when Addis Ababa accused the TPLF of attacking government forces and then mobilized its army. The TPLF ruled Ethiopia for 27 years before current Prime minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018. Fighting in Ethiopia, the second-most populous country in Africa, has killed thousands, sparked famine, and raised grave concern over the perpetration of war crimes.

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Fighting in the country of 115 million has now spread beyond Tigray, with ethnic groups opposed to the central government now banding together to embark on a march toward the capital. International observers have warned of probable war crimes committed on all sides. On Wednesday, the NGO Amnesty International (AI) released a report documenting TPLF atrocities including gang rapes in Amhara, which borders Tigray.

Germany joins US and UK advising nationals to leave Ethiopia

Germany's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued travel warnings for Ethiopia, urging all German citizens to leave the country in response to the "worsening conflict and its potential spread to other regions and even the capital Addis Ababa."

The move follows a November 5 announcement by the US State Department ordering "the departure of non-emergency US government employees and their family members from Ethiopia due to armed conflict, civil unrest, and possible supply shortages."

The UK on Tuesday also advised nationals to leave Ethiopia, saying, "The conflict has potential to escalate and spread quickly and with little warning."

(AP, dpa)
New tuberculosis medication aimed at children reduces the number of pills a patient has to take.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reaffirmed its commitment to support the country in eradicating Tuberculosis (TB), one of the top infectious killer diseases in the world.

The Deputy Country Representative Mr. Chimbaru Alexander in his goodwill message at the 2021 National TB conference in Abuja on November 09, 2021 said WHO as a technical partner will continue supporting the National TB program at all levels.

Although Nigeria recorded a gain in its fight against TB in 2020, Nigeria ranks sixth among 30 TB High Burden countries in the world and has the highest burden in Africa. As such necessitates a continuous strategic intervention by the federal government, the WHO, and partners to reduce the burden of the disease in the country by 2030.

In the quest to reduce the burden of the disease in Nigeria, Mr Chimbaru said "WHO has supported the government to develop guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures, adopt new strategies, regimen, and interventions in addition to building capacities and enhancing data analysis and use for optimizing performance."

He further stated that "we will also support the country in the implementation of the multisectoral approach towards ending TB epidemic in Nigeria. The gathering of intellectuals at this year's TB conference provides the country with an opportunity to come up with best practices and innovative ideas for ending the TB epidemic. I, therefore, would like to thank the National TB Programme, the Stop TB partnership, and all stakeholders for putting this together."

The three-day conference; 9 to 11 November 2021. with the theme "Sustaining A Resilient TB Response in Nigeria: Addressing The Impact of COVID-19 and Other Diseases" organized by the Stop TB Partnership Nigeria in Collaboration with the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) and other partners is aimed at providing a platform for all TB stakeholders to deliberate on the magnitude and dimensions of the effects of TB pandemic in Nigeria. It will also create an opportunity for participants within and outside the country to share experiences and recommend effective strategies to address TB control especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic and the future ones.

Tuberculosis remains a major public health problem globally and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. An estimated 9.9 million people developed TB in 2020, with Nigeria having the highest number of TB cases in Africa and accounting for 4.6% of the Global TB burden (WHO Global TB report 2021).

While speaking at the event, the Honorable Minister of Health Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) portrayed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB control in Nigeria "the advent of COVID19 pandemic and its control measures impacted many aspects of human endeavor, including health services, and in some cases reversed gains made over the years in aspects of health programs that affected TB control."

"The first COVID19 case was diagnosed on February 27, 2020 and measures to control the pandemic were introduced, with eventual lockdown in Quarter 2 (Q2), 2020. Nigeria recorded a 30% reduction in GeneXpert testing in the first week of the lockdown, the number of notified TB cases also dropped by 17% from 33,119 TB cases in Q1, 2020 to 27,353 in Q2,2020. This necessitated the conceptualization and implementation of innovative interventions to ensure program sustainability and mitigate the impact on TB control efforts, the implementation of which resulted in an eventual 15% increase across the country, in the number of TB cases notified from 120,266 TB cases in 2019 to 138,591 TB cases in 2020, making us one of the few countries that recorded an increase in TB notification in 2020, despite the pandemic.

I am delighted to also let you know that nine months into this year 2021, we have already surpassed the total number of TB cases notified in all of 2020 by about 7%, and for the first time, Nigeria could be notifying up to 200,000 TB cases by the end of 2021."

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Also flagging off the ceremony, the first lady of Nigeria Mrs Aisha Buhari represented by Niger State First Lady Mrs Amina Abubakar Bello urged the general public to come together in supporting the TB control program in the country.

"I call on all stakeholders, development partners, academia, civil society, religious and traditional institutions to work together to end TB by supporting a multisectoral approach and effective coordination in our efforts to end TB in Nigeria. I also call on everyone to put affected communities of those living with TB at the forefront of our response. I will continue to be available to support the end TB programme."

Technical Contact

Dr Jean Baptiste Anne Eudes; Email: jeana [at] who.int; Tel: +234 813 173 6281

Dr Awe Ayodele; Email: awea [at] who.int; Tel: +234 803 525 0215
Only 10 per cent of the registered voters in the state voted during the 2021 governorship election.

Following Tuesday's supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area, the much-awaited Anambra governorship election has been concluded with the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Charles Soludo, declared the winner.

The election was important not just to Anambra State but to Nigeria, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) calling it a "great test" to Nigeria's democracy.

The final results announced early Wednesday by INEC showed that Mr Soludo polled 112,229 votes to see off the challenge from his closest rival, Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 53,807 votes.

Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) came third with 43,285 votes while Ifeanyi Ubah, the candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), came behind with 21,261 votes.

As predicted by PREMIUM TIMES, the four candidates mentioned above were the leading contenders but Mr Soludo won with a wide margin, clearing 19 of the 21 local governments in the state.

Both Mr Ozigbo of PDP and Mr Ubah of YPP won one local government each in the race.

Of the 2,466,638 registered voters in Anambra as announced by INEC, only 253,388 were accredited. In the end, there were only 253,388 votes cast, of which 8,108, were rejected.

This means only 10 per cent of the registered voters in the state voted during the election. Simply put, only one in every ten registered voters in the state's 21 local government areas, consisting of 326 wards and 5,720 polling units, voted on Saturday and Tuesday.

Election observers and civil society organisations had predicted the low voters' turnout which they said could be due to "late arrival of election materials, lack of trust and fear of violence." A PREMIUM TIMES analysis showed a trend that is deeply rooted in the state.

A survey by SBM Intelligence, a geopolitical research firm, earlier predicted that 60 per cent of registered voters had decided not to participate in the election. Reasons given by some of the respondents include insecurity and lack of trust in the electoral system. Also, many people that came out to vote could not do so because of the failure of INEC's BVAS machine which was meant to accredit registered voters before they are allowed to vote.

This newspaper also reported how the election campaign season was characterised by fear of attack by the separatist group, IPOB.

The polity was tense, prompting federal authorities to deploy a large number of police officers. The deployment of over 34,000 police officers and thousands of other security personnel was to stop any violent acts by IPOB and other armed groups during the election, especially as IPOB had declared a sit-at-home order to coincide with the election. IPOB only announced the cancellation of the sit-at-home order two days before the election.

Despite the cancellation, analysts said the "fear was palpable" because the group's sit-at-home order has been so successful that even when it lifts the ban, "residents still sit-at-home either out of solidarity or to err on the side of caution."

History of voter turnout in Anambra

Since the consolidation of democracy in 1999, elections in Anambra State have been marred by low voters turnout.

The governorship elections in the state have never witnessed up to 50 per cent voter turnout except in 2007 when the election was characterised by allegations of massive rigging, according to the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).

However, although the voter turnout in previous governorship elections in Anambra was low, the recent election had the lowest turnout.

Of the 1.84 million registered voters in the state in 2010, only 302,000 turned out to vote on election day. This translates to about 16 per cent of voters.

In 2013, only 465,891 of the total 1,770,127 registered voters actually went out to vote on election day - representing about 25 per cent.

Likewise, in the 2017 election, less than a quarter of the total number of registered voters actually participated in the polls. INEC had said of the 2,064,134 residents registered as eligible voters for the election, only 448,711 - about 21 per cent - showed up to vote.

The turnout reached a nadir in Saturday's election which had a turnout of 10 per cent.

Voter apathy, a pattern in Nigeria's fourth republic

Aside from Anambra, Nigerians' aversion to voting during elections is well pronounced. This is despite the huge amount of money spent by the government.

In the last two electoral cycles, including off-season elections, voter turnout across the country has been lower than 35 per cent, according to INEC official figures.

Only a few elections had higher percentages. Some recent by-elections recorded as low as 3 and 8 per cent voter turnout.

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Last September, only a quarter of the eligible voters voted in the Edo governorship election, a historic low and a decline from 32 per cent in 2016.

In the Ondo governorship election too, of the 1,812,634 eligible voters, only 32.8 per cent (or 595,213) turned out. In 2016, the turnout was 35.6 per cent.

Other reasons for low turnout

Some observers have said that abstinence from elections could be the people's way of showing civic rebellion due to failed promises by elected officials.

More than this, elections in the country are sometimes marred by violence and disruptions. From 2006 to 2015, about 4,000 lives were lost during elections, Crisis group said in its 2018 report.

Similarly, the history of questionable elections conducted by INEC, like the 2007 polls, which international overseers described as a "charade" adds to the reasons voters boycott elections.

In addition, the lack of trust of eligible voters in the electoral system as well as the government has also proven to be a contributing factor to the low voter turnout in Nigerian elections.
Nigeria has already surpassed the number of TB cases notified in 2020 by seven per cent.

Nigeria could be recording up to 200,000 Tuberculosis (TB) cases by the end of 2021, the Minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, has said.

Me Ehanire said this at the ongoing 2021 national tuberculosis conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said nine months into 2021, Nigeria has already surpassed the number of TB cases notified in 2020 by seven per cent.

"Nine months into this year 2021, Nigeria has already surpassed the total number of TB cases notified in all of 2020 by about 7 per cent and for the first time, Nigeria could be notifying up to 200,000 TB cases by the end of 2021.

"I like to commend all who are making this happen, including our partners WHO, Global Fund, USAID and other USG agencies and their partners, KNCV, Stop TB partnership, the TB network, community based organisations, and health workers who are the foot soldiers, for their hard work in the fight to end TB in Nigeria," he said.

TB notification is the process of reporting diagnosed TB cases to relevant health authorities, which in turn report them to the World Health Organisation (WHO) through National TB Programmes (NTPs) or their equivalent.

TB conference

The National TB conference is organised by the Stop TB partnership in Nigeria and the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP).

The theme of the conference is "Sustaining a resilient TB response in Nigeria; Addressing the impact of COVID-19 and other diseases".

The Acting Board Chairman, Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Ayodele Awe, said the conference aims to galvanise action towards ending TB in Nigeria and across the world.

He said participants at the three day conference would deliberate on the way forward for TB elimination.

TB menace & COVID-19

Mr Ehanire said TB is one of the oldest infectious diseases that the world including Nigeria has resolved to eliminate.

TB is a contagious disease that is caused by a bacterium (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) that often affects the lungs. Nigeria remains one of the 30 countries globally with the highest burden of TB.

Although TB is one of the vaccine-preventable diseases which is also curable, statistics from the WHO shows that every year, around 245,000 Nigerians die from TB, and about 590,000 new cases occur (of these, around 140,000 are also HIV-positive).

Data released by 'Stop TB Partnership' in March shows that global treatment and diagnosis of TB cases witnessed a drastic decline in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected millions of people worldwide.

Mr Ehanire also noted that the advent of the pandemic impacted many aspects of human endeavor, including health services.

He explained that the pandemic brought 2020 global case finding levels back to 2012 level, with an 18 per cent reduction in the number of patients diagnosed with TB dropping from 7.1 million in 2019 to 5.8 million in 2020.

This, he said, set global case-finding efforts back by 8 years.

He said Nigeria recorded a 30 per cent reduction in GeneXpert testing in the first week of the lockdown, the number of notified TB cases also dropped by 17 per cent from 33,119 TB cases in Q1, 2020 to 27,353 in Q2,2020.

He said this drop necessitated the implementation of innovative interventions to ensure programme sustainability and mitigate impact on TB control efforts.

"The implementation of which resulted in an eventual 15 per cent increase across the country, in the number of TB cases notified from 120,266 TB cases in 2019 to 138,591 TB cases in 2020, making us one of the few countries that recorded increased in TB notification in 2020, despite the pandemic," he said.

Collaborations

In her remarks, Nigeria's First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and Global Tuberculosis Ambassador, urged all stakeholders to work together to eliminate the disease in Nigeria.

Represented by the First Lady of Niger State, Amina Bello, Mrs Buhari said a multi-sectoral approach and effective coordination are needed to tackle the disease.

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Mrs Buhari said that despite TB being curable, Nigeria still loses citizens to it.

She noted that with the help of the governors' wives, more awareness are being created on TB, particularly in the rural areas.

Also speaking at the event, WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Walter Molumbo, commended thecountry's efforts towards the elimination of the disease.

Mr Molumbo said as a technical partner, WHO will be supporting the National TB programme at all levels required.

He said this include the development of guidelines, adoption of new strategies, regimen, and interventions in addition to building capacities and enhancing data analysis and use for optimising performance.

"We will also support the country in the implementation of the multisectoral approach towards ending the TB epidemic in Nigeria," he said.

He said the gathering of intellectuals at this year's TB conference provided the country with an opportunity to come up with best practices and innovative ideas for ending the TB epidemic.
Manuel Chang, Minister of Finance of Mozambique, gives a statement to the media during the African Financial Ministers Press Briefing at IMF Headquarters during the 2014 IMF Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C.

A South African court has ordered the extradition of former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang to the United States to face charges related to a $2 billion debt scandal, overturning a decision by South Africa's justice minister to send him to his home country.

Chang has been in custody in a prison near Johannesburg in South Africa since his arrest at the city's main airport in December 2018 on a US warrant for alleged fraud, embezzlement, money-laundering and corruption.

Both the US and Mozambique requested Chang's extradition over his alleged role in the 2013-2014 debt scandal in Mozambique, and a legal battle has been going on for years about where he should face charges.

In August, South Africa's Justice Minister Ronald Lamola decided to send Chang to Mozambique, but civil society groups challenged this decision in court arguing proper justice would only be done in the United States.

On Wednesday, Judge Margaret Victor overturned Lamola's decision, saying it was inconsistent with South Africa's constitution and set it aside.

"This court cannot find that the decision was rational," Victor said.

Chang denies any wrongdoing and the South African Justice Ministry and Chang's lawyer said they needed to see the written judgement before commenting on the ruling.

'Hidden debt' scandal

Chang is wanted for signing off on $2 billion worth of loans that state-backed companies took in 2013 and 2014 when he was finance minister. The monies were ostensibly for projects such as tuna-finishing, shipyard development and maritime security.

However, hundreds of millions of dollars went missing, including as kickbacks, authorities say, while many of the promised benefits never materialised.

Trial over Mozambique's 'hidden debt' scandal opens in Maputo

The Mozambican government did not disclose all of the loans to parliament or donors, including the International Monetary Fund.

When, in 2016, the full extent of the borrowing was revealed, donors cut off support to Mozambique. This led to the government defaulting on its debt and its currency, the metical, collapsed.

(with AFP)
Morocco's foreign minister says the kingdom is committed to finding a solution to the "artificial conflict" in Western Sahara but ruled out negotiating its rights to the territory - at the heart of an ongoing dispute with neighbouring Algeria.

Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said on Tuesday that his country is determined to "turn the page definitively" on the Western Sahara conflict but without giving up its "legitimate rights" over the disputed territory.

Bourita said Morocco was committed to finding a solution to an "artificial regional conflict stemming from the opposition of a neighbouring state [Algeria] to its legitimate rights to ... territorial integrity".

Western Sahara has long been a source of dispute between Rabat and Algiers.

Morocco controls 80 percent of the former Spanish colony and sees it as its own sovereign territory.

While mostly desert, it has mineral reserves and access to rich Atlantic fisheries. It also provides a potentially strategic trade route linking Morocco with West African markets.

Algiers, however, backs Western Sahara's Polisario Front which is fighting for independence.

Morocco "does not negotiate" over the Moroccan character of Western Sahara or its rights, Bourita said, reiterating comments made by King Mohamed VI on Saturday which Polisario dismissed as "fabrication".

Growing tensions

Ties between Morocco and its regional rival have been fractious for years, but have further deteriorated since last year after the Polisario Front said it was resuming its armed struggle.

Tensions flared up again in August when Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco, stopped supplying it with gas and blocked Algerian airspace to Moroccan flights.

Algeria closes airspace to all Moroccan planes as Western Sahara dispute deepens

Algeria ends diplomatic ties with Morocco citing 'hostile acts'

Algeria cited various "hostile actions" including supporting the outlawed Movement for Self-determination of Kabylie (MAK) and instigating the wildfires that ripped through Algeria in the summer.

Morocco denies the allegations.

Last Wednesday, Algiers accused Morocco of killing three Algerian civilians while they were driving in the Sahara, raising concern that the conflict would escalate.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune vowed in a statement that the death of the three men "would not go unpunished".

Morocco has not formally responded to the accusation.

The quest for recognition

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Last year, the US administration of then-President Donald Trump recognised Morocco's claim over the territory in a quid pro quo for Rabat normalising ties with Israel.

Morocco's national airline Royal Air Maroc (RAM) said Tuesday it would start regular direct flights to Israel.

Israel and Morocco to 'normalize' ties, Western Sahara will pay the price

The move by the US broke with years of international consensus that Western Sahara's future should be settled by a UN-supervised referendum.

Morocco has pushed to get the EU to follow the Americans' suit, but to no avail.

In September an EU court said some European trade deals with Morocco were invalid because they included products originating in Western Sahara territory.
press release

Joint Statement of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on Scaling COVID-19 Tools

The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization and World Trade Organization held on 9 November the 2nd High-Level Consultations with the CEOs of leading COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing companies. At the meeting, all participants agreed on the urgency of delivering more vaccine doses to low-income countries, where less than 2.5% of the population has been fully vaccinated.

The objective of the meeting was to identify how to ensure more equitable distribution of vaccines and all those participating pledged to continue working together to gain greater clarity on donations, vaccine swaps and delivery schedules so that distribution of the life-saving vaccines can be more effectively targeted towards those countries most in need.

The meeting of the Multilateral Leaders Task Force on COVID-19 built on technical work undertaken by multidisciplinary teams during the months of September and October.

During the consultations, the heads of the four organizations and the CEOs also examined how best to tackle trade-related bottlenecks; how to improve the donation process; what additional steps are needed to reach the vaccination target of 40% of people in all countries by the end of the year; and how to improve transparency and data sharing with the IMF-WHO Vaccine Supply Forecast Dashboard and the Multilateral Leaders Task Force, requiring close collaboration between manufacturers, governments and COVAX on enhanced visibility of delivery schedules, especially for donated doses.

The outlook for 2022 was also discussed, focusing on diversification of manufacturing across regions, as well as strengthening collaboration to achieve the global target of vaccinating 70% of the populations of all countries by the middle of the year. The group acknowledged progress in diversifying manufacturing, with new partnerships in multiple developing country regions, and stressed the need to continue to strengthen such manufacturing collaboration.

The heads of the organizations encouraged all G20 governments to join the effort to meet the vaccination target of 40% by end-2021 by allowing manufacturers to prioritize COVAX and African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) contracts; streamlining donations to COVAX and pledging more doses; exploring possibilities for effective vaccine swaps with COVAX and the AVAT; and eliminating export restrictions to vaccines and their inputs.
press release

ICRC's Rwanda delegation held its fifth Annual National Moot Court Competition on International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The event, jointly organized by the ICRC, the Schools of Law and the Rwanda Red Cross Society in Kigali, brought together eight law students from four Rwandan Schools of Law.

The 2021 moot court competition theme was "International Humanitarian Law and Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict " which was chosen to coincide with the Africa Union Theme of the Year for 2021 'Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.'

The competing universities included the University of Rwanda (UR), INES -Ruhengeri, University of Kigali (UoK) and Kigali Independent University (ULK). The format was a simulated, hypothetical war-crimes trial, in which the teams took turns playing out the roles of both the prosecution and defense.

The Kigali Independent University (ULK) team won the 2021 national Moot Court competition and went on to represent Rwanda in the All-Africa IHL moot court competition organized by ICRC in Nairobi, Kenya.

"ICRC will continue to increase awareness and interest in IHL; promote academic excellence in the student community; develop advocacy skills as well as to enhance students' knowledge of the role of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Rwandan Red Cross Society to promote International Humanitarian Law." Noted ICRC's head of delegation in Rwanda, Yann Fridez.

"Students are the purpose of disseminating humanitarian law, especially among the youth, it is for them to define the world in which they want to live in. All these efforts and investments are not for drama. They are part of ICRC's commitment to build better leaders for better future for all of us." Said Justice Dr Aime Muyoboke Karimunda, the guest of honour of the competition.

"The position of your judges and lecturers will be yours tomorrow, and for you tomorrow is today. Our responsibility is to give you the maximum exposure, with the hope that your spirit will remain constantly armed with the willingness to play your role in bettering the world and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in troubled times" added Justice Dr Aime Muyoboke Karimunda.

This competition is part of a larger ICRC programme that aims to develop and promote IHL in Rwanda.
This year's UN Woman Police Offer of the Year Award was officially handed over to Superintendent Sangya Malla on Tuesday, for her groundbreaking work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) - one of the highlights of the annual Police Week celebrations taking place at UN Headquarters in New York.

The Nepali officer was honoured for enhancing the safety and welfare of UN 'blue helmets' in the DRC peacekeeping operation, MONUSCO, by helping to establish and lead the Health and Environment Unit, which has helped lessen the spread of COVID-19 and other serious threats.

"Superintendent Malla, you have done your country, MONUSCO, and the entire United Nations family proud", Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, in a video message.

Gender parity

Mr. Guterres described her service as "another reminder" of the importance of achieving gender parity across the UN system, adding that "she represents something far larger - the many contributions of women police officers in advancing peace and security around the world".

"Through her work, Superintendent Malla embodies the best of the United Nations", he underscored, passing on his congratulations.

'Tall orders'

Speaking virtually to the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations (C34 on UN Police), Police Adviser Luis Carrilho reiterated the UN's commitment to accelerating the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) Declaration.

He welcomed the Committee's support to UN policing, including its recognition of the importance of nationally and locally-supported policing priorities; in generating a highly qualified, gender-balanced workforce; and the participation of top police officials in the third UN Chiefs of Police Summit, which took place in early June.

In Our Common Agenda, the Secretary-General called for a "new vision on the rule of law" and a "new agenda for peace".

"It is my firm belief that United Nations Police could not be more instrumental in helping the international community realize both of these tall orders", said Mr. Carrilho.

'Unique police institution'

MONUSCO Police Commissioner Mody Berethe, reflected on police reform and strengthening capacity in DRC.

After more than 20 years in the country, he upheld the importance of assisting security institutions to bring together policing services for "a unique police institution".

Mindful of the many challenges ahead, he assured that MONUSCO has "the deep certitude" that UN policing in the country can help ensure "the durable peace that the Congolese people have been longing for".

Police Commissioner Berethe expressed his gratitude to Police Contributing Countries and to all Member States, for their continuous support to field Missions "with adapted resources, fit for purpose to deliver according to mandate's previsions".

Building police capacity

Krista Kimber, Senior Police Adviser of the UN Mission in Kosova (UNMIK), spoke of sustaining peace through police capacity-building and development.

"Through close collaboration with local counterparts and by conducting regular needs assessments, UNMIK UNPOL and local law enforcement agencies, have forged a key partnership based on constructive cooperation and trust", she told participants.

Throughout the pandemic, UNMIK continued to deliver on its mandates while also supporting local law enforcement institutions in tackling the unprecedented crisis that dramatically impacted the country's governmental institutions, including rule of law institutions.

She maintained that supporting local ownership, empowering law enforcement and implementing the women, peace and security agenda, while providing innovative solutions, "are the key drivers in supporting the development of the rule of law in a sustainable, cost-effective manner".

Protecting civilians

Elaborating on UN Police efforts to protect civilians in the Central African Republic (CAR), MINUSCA Police Commissioner Christophe Bizimungu, said it was "one of the priorities" of the mission's mandate.

Against the backdrop of a security situation shaped by serious human rights abuses, he said protection of civilians by MINUSCA personnel, "involves a series of actions necessary to prevent and respond to threats of physical violence against civilians by armed groups and individuals and State forces".

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And MINUSCA is also committed to their protection through dialogue, mediation, and conflict resolution, including by fighting against impunity and re-establishing an effective judicial system.

Advancing political solutions

The Senior Police Adviser from the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Satu Koivu, highlighted efforts to advance political solutions through community-oriented policing.

She underscored the importance of political sensitivity in all UNPOL and Mission work.

"UNPOL tasks have political impact and political issues have impact on UNPOL tasks", said Police Adviser Koivu, noting that UNPOL officers must recognize the political context of their work, as the UN respects host States' ownership and seeks their support.

She described community policing as an important tool to maintain stability, encourage dialogue and build trust, which fosters a positive environment for the overall peace process.
UN Police (UNPOL) is a key component of peacekeeping, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix told the Security Council on Thursday, whose officers help guide the UN's response to challenges facing the thousands of 'blue helmets' who serve, through the Action for Peacekeeping initiative (A4P).

"A4P aims to refocus peacekeeping on realistic expectations, make peacekeeping missions stronger and safer, and mobilize greater support for political solutions and for well-equipped, well-trained forces", he told ambassadors.

"Through this, we are better placed to address today's challenges to peace and security and, ultimately, to improve the lives of the people we serve".

Partnering for peace

Working to advance the A4P+ implementation strategy, Mr. Lacroix highlighted the Inter-Agency Task Force on Policing, which is co-chaired by his department and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

"The Task Force will enable us to unite efforts throughout the UN system and maximize our collective impact by drawing on our comparative advantages, expertise, and know-how to foster representative, responsive and accountable policing services", said Mr. Lacroix.

To this end, UNPOL will also continue reinforcing its partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations, particularly in strategic guidance development and training, he added.

Bolstering capacities, accountability

A4P+ also aims to strengthen capabilities and mindsets, by better aligning pre-deployment training by Member States to suit the needs of UN peacekeeping missions.

And to ensure the highest levels of accountability from peacekeepers, which is the fourth priority of A4P+, improving the safety and security of UN personnel is critical.

"The Action Plan to Improve the Security of UN Peacekeepers... continues to structure our efforts towards this aim", while UNPOL continues to create an enabling environment, he said, "including by promoting women's networks within our missions, which advise mission leadership on living conditions for women peacekeepers and how to foster gender-responsive working environments."

Mr. Lacroix said that to advance the accountability of peacekeepers, UN Police reinforces zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse.

"Conduct also relates to how we manage the environmental footprints of our missions, and the UN Police continues to refine its Environmental Management Framework."

Strategically communicating, cooperating

UN Police has also sought to highlight its positive impact through strategic communications, including on social media platforms, community-oriented policing and awareness-raising activities, to combat misinformation and disinformation, surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

And the continued improvement of cooperation with host countries will enable smoother transitions, as witnessed in Darfur, where UNPOL, in concert with the Sudan Police Force, helped facilitate the drawdown of the UN mission, UNAMID.

The move to the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission (UNITAMS) - has provided much-needed interim policing, and police planning capacities, he added.

Gender focus

"The women, peace and security agenda is infused in all aspects of A4P+ and remains the foundation for improving our overall effectiveness", Mr. Lacroix told the Ambassadors.

UNPOL'S Gender-responsive policing efforts ensure that the varying security needs of men, women, girls and boys, receive due consideration.

And UN Police has already achieved its gender parity targets for 2025, with five police components currently headed by women, he said.

Challenges continue

Police Commissioner Violet Lusala briefed the Council via video teleconference, noting that although the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) is in its 10th year of operation, an improved relationship between its two host countries, Sudan and South Sudan, has yet to translate into progress towards a political solution.

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"Challenges to the protection of civilians and mandate implementation in general remain", she said, highlighting limited rule of law structures, human rights violations and impediments to humanitarian assistance.

Balancing gender

The Police Commisioner of the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), Patricia Boughani, said via teleconference, that while the notion of equality is old, its presence when it comes to gender issues, is more recent.

She acknowledged the Council's role, for seizing on the need to put a gender parity strategy in place, one "applicable to uniformed personnel in peacekeeping operations".

The "huge task" of promoting gender issues in UNPOL requires an increased presence of more women police officers, she told ambassadors.
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Bousse  Terror attacks on gold mining operations in Burkina Faso are becoming a regular occurrence. For VOA, reporter Henry Wilkins looks at the impact the attacks are having on the lives of survivors and what it could mean if extracting gold, the country's primary source of income, becomes too dangerous.

"Boukare," whose name has been changed to protect his identity, is a survivor of the Yirgou massacre.

The attack by an unknown terror group in June this year targeted a small informal gold mining site, like this one, and killed at least 160 people, mostly mine workers.

Boukare was hiding on the roof of a building, from where he could see women and children moving around. At first, he thought they were being kidnapped by the attackers and then realized they were carrying out the attack themselves. "When they finished shooting, it was around 4:30 a.m. and then they started to burn [buildings and vehicles]," he said.

Burkina Faso is the fastest growing producer of gold in Africa. While informal mining is estimated to employ and indirectly support about 3 million people, large-scale commercial mining by foreign companies brought in $300 million of revenue for the government in 2018.

But as groups linked to Islamic State, al-Qaida and bandits have stepped up attacks on miners, extracting gold is seen as increasingly dangerous.

Since August, there have been two attacks on convoys belonging to iamgold, a company headquartered in Canada, and another one on a convoy owned by Endeavour Mining, headquartered in the Cayman Islands. The attacks left six dead.

'Salam,' whose identity we also have protected, survived an assault on a mining convoy on the same route in 2019. He played dead as terrorists killed 40 of his colleagues.

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He now works for a different company, but said that many of his colleagues are wary of the mines.

They no longer want to take the convoys along the road to the mine, because it has become too dangerous. He says that after the last attack military police were able to kill two terrorists. "The terrorists are going to want revenge. They are going to want revenge," he said.

In recent weeks, mining companies in Burkina Faso have begun transporting local employees to mines by air instead of by road. Previously, only foreign staff flew to the mines.

But some logistics still must be done by road.

Liam Morrissey, CEO of MS risk, a security consultant that works with mining companies operating in Burkina Faso, said the attacks could spell trouble for the industry.

"The producing mines have regular convoy activity to keep their mines supplied: crew rotations, consumables, parts, plant and equipment and so on. So, we have seen, correspondingly, with this spike of incidents through the wet season, incidents involving convoys. Now, they haven't been devastating, not yet," he said.

Asked if deteriorating security might force some companies to pull out of Burkina Faso, Paul Melly of London-based Chatham House said no - at least for the time being.

"Burkina Faso is now one of the most important gold producing countries in Africa, and the large number of investors who've come in over recent years and the large number of mines that have opened up, point to the economic attractions, so I don't imagine that companies would take a decision to pull out very easily," said Melly.

Analysts say major disruption to the gold mining industry could have far-reaching impacts for the already fragile state.
Mogadishu, Somalia  Climate change-related disasters, such as prolonged drought, floods and locust infestations, have displaced thousands of Somali farmers from their land, threatening food security in the Horn of the African nation.

Somalia contributes less than 0.003% of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere -- but the impact of global warming is evident in the well-being of the country's herders and farmers.

Fatuma Ibrahim Aden, a mother of eight, is among thousands of farmers currently living in a displaced persons camp in Mogadishu, after her family's livestock succumbed to the escalating drought in Qoryoley in the lower Shabelle region.

She says prolonged drought and lack of water that killed their livestock forced her extended family to the city four months ago. She added that they have not experienced such recurring famine in recent years.

Ibrahim Dagane Ali, a Somali agriculture and resilience specialist, says there is need for new strategies to mitigate the impact of such events on the lives of the farmers.

"Without getting assistance of climate investment and installation of climate smart technologies, it will be difficult. Plus, other issues of environmental conservation, regenerative agriculture, use of renewable energy, all these elements. But above all, we need to educate our people, and to do that it is the sole responsibility of the government to stand up and address this," Ali said.

The Somali government has called upon richer nations emitting most of the greenhouse gases to act swiftly as the COP26 climate conference continues in Glasgow.

"Somalia and other poor countries are paying with their lives and livelihoods for a problem of not our making," said Somalia's Deputy Prime Minister Mahdi Mohamed Gulaid. "It is therefore our loud call to the countries emitting the most to start acting on the issue, especially so now that we know what the problem is, and we know actions needed."

The world's richest countries once pledged to deliver $100 billion per year to help developing nations cope with climate change -- a pledge that has never been met.
The development bank officials also called for the mechanisation of cassava planting and harvesting.

The Director of Agriculture and Agro-industry of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Martin Fregene, has said increasing investment in cassava production in Nigeria will reduce the annual food importation bill of African countries estimated at about $35 billion.

The AfDB official who was represented by Tabi Karikari, AfDB's Agriculture and Natural Resources Management Officer, made the remark while speaking during the National Cassava Seed Summit in Abuja on Thursday.

The summit themed: 'Catalyzing and Scaling Private Sector-Led Cassava Seed Development,' was organized by the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) in partnership with Building an Economically Sustainable Integrated Cassava Seed System, Phase 2 (BASICS-II) and International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

It is aimed at bolstering private sector-led investment in the cassava seed sector, as well as identifying and engaging stakeholders on the policy reforms required to galvanize the cassava seed sector in order to raise productivity and drive industrial growth projections.

The development bank officials also called for the mechanisation of cassava planting and harvesting, combined with high-yielding variety and complementary agronomy practices that will lead to higher competitiveness and economic breakthrough for the cassava farmers.

Casssa is a versatile staple crop in Nigeria majorly grown by small-scale farmers for arrays of food types (Garri, fufu, cassava flour etc), a significant and affordable delicacy in the country and Africa at large.

Rapid multiplication and prospects

Mr Fregene said the available technology toolkit for the cassava compact was already in use, and that the laboratory propagation technique (Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics Technology) for rapid multiplication of the seed and commercial dissemination provides high quality disease-free stem cuttings.

"The National Cassava private sector-led Seed Development Summit is particularly important at this time as there is a growing need to leverage resources from private sector players in filling the financing gap in the sector, while providing opportunity for agri-preneurship and agri-business growth. May I mention the need to also accelerate the deployment of other toolkits, notably mechanisation and modern processing technologies," he added.

In his remarks, Alfred Dixon, IITA's Director, Development and Delivery Office, underscored the imperative of deploying technologies and innovations to boost food production in Nigeria and Africa.

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He canvassed for vibrant promotion of inclusive investment in the cassava sector while calling for strategies for launching cassava into a high performing and growth-oriented sub-sector.

"We have made progress but more needs to be done to achieve the cassava sector of our dream in Nigeria. Our yield per hectare must increase significantly above 20 tonnes per ha up from the current 9 tonnes per ha to make us globally competitive," Mr Dixon said.

He said the cassava sector needs to attract new investments to curb importation of other alternatives and save foreign exchange, saying jobs and wealth need to be created to engage the young men and women so as to have a prosperous nation.

"Cassava must remain a pillar and beacon of our food security," he added.

On his part, Dara Akala, executive director, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, said his organisation has since 2016 invested almost $ 800,000 to increase cassava productivity, strengthen coordination and relationships of cassava value chain actors, and promoted improved technologies for cassava production in the Niger Delta region.

"Through this, we have effectively reached approximately 300,000 farmers with information and training, facilitated the creation of almost 2,500 jobs and a network of 150 service providers," he explained.
The petitioner alleged extortion, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to him in his testimony before the #EndSARS panel.

A petitioner, Temitope Alake, told the #EndSARS Independent Investigative Panel on Wednesday that the judgement of the Federal High Court in Abuja awarding compensation to him and has yet to be complied with by the police.

The panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is investigating cases of human rights voolations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the police.

Mr Alake alleged extortion, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to him in his testimony before the panel.

Respondents to the petition are the defunct SARS in Lagos, and some of its operatives. The operatives most of who were identified by only their first names or surnames are, Anaku, a chief superintendent of police; Goodluck Adoni, a superintendent of police; Kingsley, an inspector; Solomon, a sergeant, and Julius, a police inspector.

Other respondents are Friday Binfa, a retired deputy superintendent of police, office in charge od defunct SARS in Lagos, the Commissioner Police Lagos, and the Inspector General of Police.

The complainant is seekibg the enforcement of a judgment given in his favour by A. I Chikere, a judge of Federal High Court, Abuja.

Complaint

The petitioner had informed the panel that three of his tankers and a Mercedes Benz, were seized while he was being investigated over alleged financial impropriety.

Speaking further, he told the panel how he was arrested by the officers of the defunct SARS, Lagos, and detained from January 2, 2014, to June 6, 2014, even when he was granted bail by an Ebute Meta Magistrate's Court, Lagos.

He said the Federal High Court judge, in her judgment, ordered that the seized three DAF truck tankers and the Mercedes Benz car be released to him, in addition to a compensation of N5 million and N10 million for loss of earnings.

He told the panel that the judgment given in his favour had not been obeyed till date.

Panel speaks

Garba Tetengi, who stood in for the chairperson of the panel, Suleiman Galadima, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, told the police counsel, James Idachaba, to cooperate with the panel to to ensure justice was done to all the petitions before the panel.

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Mr Tetengi pointed out to the counsel that he had a duty to course of justice even though he was trying to defend his clients.

He, however, commended the counsel for previous cases settled and hope for the same in this matter.

Responding, Mr Idachaba told the panel that he was willing to support the panel to come to a logical conclusion.

He informed the panel that the complainant's lawyer went contrary to the directive of the panel to liaise with the police lawyer to ascertain the whereabouts of DSP Friday Binfa who. the police said was now retired.

Mr Idachaba, however, promised to assist the panel, stating that the case was all about the property which would be released to the complainant.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how another petitioner, Ibrahim Abubakar, on Tuesday, begged the to help him to enforce a court judgement he obtained against the police.

The judgement delivered on March 3, 2021, by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, awarded damages against the police over alleged cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to the petitioner.
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on his victory at the gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, enjoined him to rally other stakeholders to tackle the enormous challenges confronting the State and the South East in general.

President Buhari said that he looked forward to working with the incoming governor, a member of the Presidential Economic Advisory Committee, for the peace, security and development of not only Anambra State but the entire country.

He laud the security agencies for their determination to ensure that the election went on as smoothly as possible, and the Independent National Electoral, Commission (INEC) for the successful conclusion of the exercise despite the initial challenges encountered.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had Wednesday morning declared Prof Soludo as governor-elect of Anambra State.

Professor Florence Obi, Returning Officer of the election, made the declaration at exactly 1;50am.

She said Soludo scored the highest number of votes cast and certified all the requirements of being declared the winner.

"I, Prof Florence Obi, hereby certify that I am the returning officer of the Anambra state governorship election conducted on 6th and 9th of November 2021; that the election was held and Prof Charles Soludo having certified the requirement is hereby declared the winner and returned elected," she said.

She said Soludo polled a total of 112,229 votes followed by Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 53,807 votes and Senator Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had 53,807 votes.
The Senate Wednesday approved the federal government's request to borrow $16.2 billion (about N6.651 trillion at N475/$ rate), 1bn (N474.190bn) and a grant of $125m (N51.3bn) under the 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) plan, totalling N7.635 trillion.

The approval followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, in a letter read in the Senate on September 15, 2021, requested the Red Chamber to approve $4,054,476,863, 710,000,000 and $125,000,000 loans.

The loans are to be sourced from the World Bank, China EXIM Bank, Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Development Bank, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), French Development Bank (AFD), European Investment Bank, International Capital Market, and Standard Chartered Bank.

The loans, Buhari said, were to finance critical infrastructural projects across the country.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP, Edo), said his panel found that out of a sum of over $22.8bn earlier approved borrowing by the National Assembly under the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Rolling Plan, only $2.8bn, that is, 10% has been disbursed to Nigeria.

"The Committee, therefore, notes that the great pressure placed on the human and financial resources of the National Assembly to approve loans under the Medium Term External Borrowing Plans is unnecessary.

"The Committee observes that these projects, some of which requires additional financing, will have a great multiplier effect on stimulating economic growth through infrastructure development, job creation, poverty alleviation, health care and improve our security architecture," he said.

He said the committee, therefore, recommended that the Senate approve the "ongoing negotiation of external borrowing in the sum of $16,230,077,718; 1,020,000,000 and a Grant component of $125,000,000 under the 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) plan."
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Gambo, Wednesday, vowed to stamp out piracy and crude oil theft from the maritime sector and expressed the commitment of the Navy to the safety of the maritime space.

Gambo who stated this when he and his delegation paid a courtesy visit on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Asaba, said legitimate socio-economic activities would thrive as a result of the security that was being provided both on water and land in active collaboration with other sister security agencies.

He said Delta State covers huge national strategic assets in the nation and appealed to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to do more in the provision of facilities in various Naval formations in the state.

The Naval Chief outlined measures in place to stem the tide of piracy to include surveillance, response and maritime law enforcement, stressing that the approach has reduced criminal activities in the maritime space.

Gambo said: "Delta, as a coastal state, has a very long cordial relationship with the Nigerian Navy and of course, with our shared value, it is only apt to use this opportunity to consolidate on the already existing relationship between the Nigerian Navy, the government and the good people of Delta State.

"Delta State covers huge national strategic assets which are partly heart of the nation and therefore, its maritime space must remain safe and secured for economic activities to thrive for our common economic development and prosperity of the good people of Nigeria.

"The Nigerian Navy remains resolute to make sure that Delta State and its maritime sector remains secured within our ambit of responsibility to ensure that legitimate socio-economic activities remain unhindered by would-be and existing criminals in the maritime space".

The Chief of Naval Staff said he was in Delta to familiarise himself with the state and to also, build on the existing cordial relationship between the Delta State Government and the Navy.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in his remarks called on the Nigerian Navy to strengthen its operational efficiency in ensuring that piracy and other unwholesome activities were nipped in the bud in the maritime sector of the nation's economy.

Okowa who said he was impressed with the operational performance index of Naval personnel in the state, affirmed that with sustained surveillance and peace, Delta as a coastal state would increase its contribution in crude oil production to the national treasury.

He said: "I welcome you to Delta State. I want to thank you also for this visit. There is no doubt that Delta State is a very important coastal state, particularly because, it is a major producer of crude oil in our nation.

"I want to thank the Navy for the effort they have put in consistently in helping to secure our state and even working with other sister security agencies in securing even our lands.

"So, we want to appreciate you for the good work you are doing in the state. We are aware that you work with a lot of our people who assist in the area of intelligence in being able to carry out your various surveillance activities.

"We are also grateful to the officers you have sent to us. They have been quite helpful and committed to their works both on land and in waters".

Okowa who spoke further assured the Chief of Naval Staff that his administration would continue to assist in making the job of Naval personnel both on land and in water easier through the provision of logistics.

He emphasised that the synergy among various security agencies has yielded positive results, adding that internal roads in the Navy's Logistics Command, in the state has been captured in the budget. He affirmed that the request for the upgrade of facilities was being looked into.

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On the Admiralty University, Ibusa, the Governor thanked the Navy for bringing the institution to the state, stressing that his administration would contribute towards the growth of the university.

Okowa said: "As for the barracks, we have spoken about it through your officer at the state security council. It is a contract awarded before we came in. I think we are sorting out the issue of re-costing after six years so that the contractor can commence work very soon.

"The internal roads in Logistics Command would be done because there is a provision for it in the budget. The Commissioner for Works in charge of Rural and Riverine has visited the site.

"He has spoken with me recently and I know that the basic engineering measurements are already done. So, I do believe that it would be awarded before the end of this month.

"For the Admiralty University, we want to truly thank the Navy for bringing the University to our state. I will try to liaise with the University authorities to see what we can really do to support them".
Canciller Oscar Maurtua recibe en Palacio de Torre Tagle a la Secretaria de Estado Adjunta de los Estados Unidos, Sra. Wendy Sherman, con quien abordo los principales temas de la agenda bilateral y global.

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Presidente Pedro Castillo, sostuvo hoy una reunion con la Secretaria de Estado Adjunta de los Estados Unidos, Sra. Wendy Sherman, con quien intercambio puntos de vista acerca de la relacion bilateral y las acciones conjuntas para continuar fortaleciendola.https://t.co/SgUQejG7OY
10:40 | Trujillo (La Libertad region), Nov. 11.





According to Jorge Meneses head of the archaeological research project this find is unusual due to its characteristics and location in a raised area of the Utzh An (Great Chimu) walled complex.





"Most of them (the remains) belonged to women under 30 who were buried with objects used in textile activities, a couple of children, and a couple of teenagers. It is a very specific population, not too young considering the average human lifespan was 40 years," he remarked.









Meneses said that this discovery took place three weeks ago during the fourth season of works on the southern wall at Chan Chan.





The skeletal remains were found in an area of 10 square meters, arranged in two levels of the embankment, along with approximately 70 vessels and objects used in textile work.





Burial place for Chimu elite





For her part, Sinthya Cueva head of the Chan Chan Archaeological Research Program confirmed that the discovery took place three weeks ago and may have been a burial place for members of the Chimu elite.





"This is something new to us because, in spite of this, we are finding individuals and not simple ones, but of a more relevant category due to the amount of objects placed with them as an offering. We may be walking over more remains," Cueva stated.





"We have found several individuals in the western part (of the site) since 2020, and we expect to continue to do so across the eastern sector in the coming seasons. That's why we suggest that all this raised area could be a pre-Hispanic cemetery," she added.





(END) VGG/MAO/RMB/MVB

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A grave with remains of 25 people has been uncovered at the archaeological site of Chan Chan located in Trujillo Province (La Libertad region) archaeologists behind this important find have reported.Publicado: 11/11/2021
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan notified Armenia that it will conduct inspections of Armenian citizens and vehicles in the part of the Goris-Kapan road which is under its control.

After receiving the notification the Armenian government decided that citizens and cargo transporters will be offered to use the alternative road instead, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at the Cabinet meeting.

In his speech, Pashinyan reminded that since August 2021 the Azerbaijani authorities were charging Iranian cargo trucks with customs duties in the parts of Eyvazli and Chayzami passing through their territory of the Goris-Kapan road.

Yesterday an unofficial notification was received from Azerbaijan that they are planning to conduct passport and customs control of Armenian citizens and vehicles starting midnight November 11. After receiving the notification we made a decision to guide our citizens traveling on that part towards the Kapan-Aghvani-Tatev-Halidzor-Shinuhayr-M2 road and organize traffic here. The Tatev-Aghvani section, which was practically impassable for several decades, was paved and commissioned last week. Last Thursday I personally used that road to travel to Kapan and back, the PM said, adding that nearly 100 cargo trucks have already used this road in the Kapan-Tatev section since Wednesday midnight.

Moreover, the commissioning of this new road means that the problems caused by Azeri authorities for Iranian cargo trucks traveling to Armenia is resolved. Iranian cargo vehicles can now use this new road and avoid the additional customs duties levied by Azeri authorities.

After yesterdays decision of Azerbaijan, by the way, the situation doesnt change for the Iranian cargo trucks [on Azeri-controlled Goris-Kapan part], with the difference that now they can travel via the paved Tatev-Aghvani road without additional customs duties, the prime minister said.

The high-quality of the road also cuts travel time from/to Yerevan-Kapan.

PM Pashinyan noted that other major construction works are ongoing to build alternative roads in Tatev-Ltsen, Shurnukh and Vorotan and elsewhere.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. On 9 November the European Parliament (EP) friendship group with Armenia was relaunched. The event also marked the 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Armenia, the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) said in a statement on social media.

One of the main goals of the activity of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy is to broaden the circle of the friends of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh for the sake of justice and in order to defend the Armenian state interest. In order to achieve this goal, the EAFJD traditionally actively cooperates with the diplomatic staff of the Mission of Armenia to the EU.

As in the previous two legislative terms of the European Parliament, also this time the EAFJD actively worked towards the relaunch of the cross-party friendship group with Armenia which consists of Members from all the main political groups of the European Parliament. The President of the friendship group is MEP Loucas Fourlas (EPP, Cyprus). In the previous legislative term the friendship group with Armenia was presided by MEP Dr. Eleni Theocharous (Cyprus), the statement says.

In his remark during the event the EAFJD President Kaspar Karampetian thanked Loucas Fourlas for his initiative, all the participants of the friendship group as well as the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia H.E. Anna Aghadjanian for the extensive work. We are sure that the friendship group will take initiatives to defend justice and help our people in Armenia and in Artsakh,  Karampetian concluded.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. According to proposed legislative amendments, non-resident companies providing electronic services in Armenia must pay a value added tax starting from January 1, 2022, a senior tax official said at a press conference in Armenpress.

Lusine Ayvazyan, head of the department of management of information systems changes and impact assessment at the State Revenue Committee, said that works are already underway with the major international companies which provide electronic services in Armenia.

We have held discussions with the representatives of Google, Facebook, Booking, Amazon, Netflix and other companies. I would like to inform that there hasnt been any objection by any of these companies regarding paying a tax. All have expressed readiness to be registered. During the discussions a question was raised connected with making the system simple and more convenient. I also want to inform that a question was raised to set a reporting period for VAT calculation every three months, Lusine Ayvazyan said.

These new amendments would contribute to the increase of the state budget funds, however, its still unclear how much money will enter the budget within a year.

Head of the department N1 of tax and mandatory fees methodology Asaneth Aloyan said that no regulations are envisaged for electronic trade by this draft.

The proposed legislative amendments also have a component for those resident companies in Armenia which provide electronic services.

She informed that there will be better taxation regulations for some electronic services. According to the current regulations, these services are taxed at a 20% VAT rate, but the expected changes propose applying 0% VAT rate. For instance, I can state that a company based in Armenia, which provides online educational service abroad, in other words, the one who gets its service is non-resident, it may not be taxed, she added.

As for the physical entities who provide electronic services in Armenia, the SRC representative said that there is no tax obligation for them.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation, and Brice Roquefeuil of France) released a statement today. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the official website of the OSCE, the statement runs as follows,

The Co-Chairs met separately in Paris with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on November 10. The Co-Chairs hosted both Foreign Ministers at a joint meeting, which was opened by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings.

The Co-Chairs and Foreign Ministers continued the discussions begun in New York on a number of possible deescalatory measures and next steps in the process, including future meetings in this format and the Co-Chairs proposed visit to the region. The Co-Chairs and the Ministers also discussed the status of the implementation of the commitments made in the November 9 trilateral statement.

The Co-Chairs reiterated the importance of making progress on humanitarian issues  including, inter alia, detainees, demining, missing persons, voluntary return of displaced persons, and protection of historic and cultural sites  and called on the sides to provide unrestricted access to international humanitarian organizations. The Co-Chairs also stressed the importance of avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and provocative actions.

The Co-Chairs met with representatives of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Elysee on November 10 and 11 to discuss their ongoing efforts to help the sides find comprehensive solutions to all remaining issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in accordance with their mandate.
The statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan that 60 Armenian servicemen had been besieged in the Sev Lake section is disinformation, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia reported.

November 11, 2021, 09:15 Defense ministry denies reports claiming 60 Armenian servicemen have been besieged in area of Lake Sev

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: On November 10, several Azerbaijani media outlets reported that a fight has allegedly taken place between the Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen in the territory of Lake Sev of Armenias Syunik province and that a group of Armenian servicemen have been besieged.

Later, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan also spread disinformation by declaring that 60 Armenian servicemen had been besieged and that only through the mediation of the Russian side were they released. The statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan is blatant disinformation. Whats more, after the operations of the units of the Armenian Armed Forces that followed the provocation of the Azerbaijani side, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces applied to the Russian side with the request to solve the situation, and it was thanks to the active efforts of the Russian side that the situation became stable.

The Defense Ministry of Armenia reaffirms that the situation in the territory of Lake Sev is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces, the statement says.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met on November 10 with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on the sidelines of his working visit in Paris, the Armenian MFA reports.

November 11, 2021, 09:23 Armenian, French FMs discuss Nagorno Karabakh conflict

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 11, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The ministers discussed the further deepening of the Armenian-French unique relations and reaffirmed their interest to further develop the mutually beneficial cooperation. The importance of expanding the economic ties between Armenia and France was emphasized.

The Armenian and French FMs discussed also a number of issues relating to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Ararat Mirzoyan said that the comprehensive and lasting settlement of the conflict is possible only through peaceful negotiations under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

The meeting also touched upon the current humanitarian problems caused by the 2020 Artsakh war. FM Mirzoyan emphasized the necessity of unconditional and quick return of Armenian prisoners of war and other persons held from Azerbaijan, as well as the importance of preserving the Armenian historical-cultural and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh which have come under the Azerbaijani control.

Ararat Mirzoyan said Armenia and the Armenian people highly appreciate the French governments and parliaments position and steps during last years aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and the subsequent period.

FM Mirzoyan also thanked the French side for the support provided for fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
NATO warship activity in the Black Sea is a matter of concern for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a reason for heightened precautions, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, Tass informs.

November 11, 2021, 16:30 Putin concerned about NATO warship activity in Black Sea, says Kremlin

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: It is "absolutely a matter of concern to him and he has spoken about this," Peskov told reporters in response to a question about how Putin feels about US warships taking part in a multinational exercise in the Black Sea region, held by the United States European Command.

He said there are regular contacts between the military of the two countries that aim to prevent conflicts. But this activity near the Russian border calls for "heightened precautions," as the head of state and the defense minister said earlier, Peskov said.

Earlier, the Defense Ministry said that US Navy ships arrived for the multinational exercise in the Black Sea region, which is being held by the United States European Command. According to the ministry, USS Porter, a destroyer carrying guided missiles, USNS John Lenthall, a replenishment oiler, and USS Mount Whitney, a command ship, are in the area.
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to cut off the transit of gas to Europe (via the transnational Yamal - Europe gas pipeline) if the European Union expands sanctions. He made this statement at a meeting with the country's government on Thursday.

November 11, 2021, 17:43 Lukashenko threatens to shut off gas transit to Europe in response to EU sanctions

STEPANAKERT, NOVEMBER 11, ARTSAKHPRESS: "We furnish Europe with heat, yet they threaten to close the border. And what if we shut off natural gas there? Therefore, I would recommend that the Polish leadership, the Lithuanians and other empty-headed individuals think before they speak," Lukashenko said, Tass informs, citing BelTA news agency.

"But it is up to them. If they close it (the border - TASS) let them do it," Lukashenko said. At the same time, he ordered the Foreign Ministry "to warn everyone in Europe: if they introduce additional sanctions that are undigestible and unacceptable for us, then we should respond." "How to respond, we agreed with you about it half a year ago," the President of Belarus said.

Lukashenko reiterated that as a tough response to the new packages of EU sanctions, his country may shut off transit.

"What if we close the transit through Belarus? Through Ukraine it wont work: the Russian border is closed there, there are no roads through the Baltic states. If we close it for the Poles and, for example, for the Germans, what will happen next? We should stop at nothing to protect our sovereignty and independence," Lukashenko said commenting on Warsaws plans to close the Polish-Belarusian border.

Meanwhile, the price of gas in Europe grew by almost 2% following the statements of Lukashenko about the possible shutdown of gas transit to Europe, according to data from the ICE exchange.

The price of December futures on the TTF hub in the Netherlands increased by 1.9% to $847 per 1,000 cubic meters.

To date, the price of gas has returned to $836 per 1,000 cubic meters.
NSA-level conference also 'expressed concern over the deteriorating socio-economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan'

New Delhi: In what is seen as a clear message to the ruling Taliban regime in Kabul and its main backer Pakistan, the participating countries at the NSA-level conference hosted by India on the situation in Afghanistan on Wednesday, that also comprised Russia, Iran and the five Central Asian republics, emphasised that Afghanistans territory should not be used for sheltering, training, planning or financing any terrorist acts and that the strife-torn nation should never become a safe haven for global terrorism while calling for a collective cooperation against the menace of radicalisation, extremism, separatism and drug trafficking in the region.

They also expressed concern over the deteriorating socio-economic and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and underlined the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan while reiterating that humanitarian assistance should be provided in an unimpeded, direct and assured manner to Afghanistan and that the assistance is distributed within the country in a non-discriminatory manner across all sections of the Afghan society. This too is seen as a major acceptance of New Delhis concerns.

In the Delhi Declaration adopted at the Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, national security adviser Ajit Doval, who chaired the meeting, and his counterparts also stressed the necessity of forming an open and truly inclusive government that represents the will of all the people of Afghanistan and has representation from all sections of their society, including major ethno-political forces in the country, adding that the inclusion of all sections of society in the administrative and political structure is imperative for the successful national reconciliation process in the country. This is seen as criticism of the almost exclusive Pashtun composition of the Taliban regime in Kabul that leaves out the minority Tajiks and Uzbeks, besides the Shia Hazaras.

Expressing immense satisfaction, government sources late Wednesday evening said the NSA-level Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan held here earlier in the day had exceeded Indias expectations and that the NSAs of eight countries -- India, Russia, Iran and five Central Asian republics -- had easily arrived at a complete consensus that enabled the issuing of the Delhi Declaration in the afternoon itself. Sources also said there was extraordinary degree of convergence on the assessments of the situation in Afghanistan and the principal challenges in Afghanistan and the region (and that) these included the security situation, heightened risk of terrorism and the impending humanitarian crisis.

The sources said the NSAs noted the need to provide humanitarian assistance and emphasised that the land and air routes should be made available and no one should impede the process. These views are being viewed as a snub to Pakistan, that is seen to have blocked Indias access to Afghanistan through the land route passing through its territory.

The sources also said the NSAs had a substantive exchange of views with Prime Minister Narendra Modi too when they called on him after the conference. They said Mr Modi shared Indias perspective on Afghanistan with the NSAs.

The participating nations in the Delhi Declaration also emphasised the importance of ensuring that the fundamental rights of women, children and minority communities are not violated while noting the United Nations has a central role to play in Afghanistan and that its continued presence in the country must be preserved. It may be noted that while Pakistan boycotted the conference, its all-weather friend and benefactor China too decided to skip the meet, citing scheduling difficulties.

In his opening remarks, Mr Doval said: We are meeting today to discuss matters related to Afghanistan. We all have been keenly watching the developments in that country. These have important implications not only for the people of Afghanistan, but also for its neighbours and the region.

At the conference, Iran referred to the problems facing Afghanistan such as terrorism and poverty and said the solution is inclusive government with participation of all ethnic groups. Afghanistans other neighbour Tajikistan said the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border still remained complicated and that Afghanistan may face a real humanitarian catastrophe. Kazakhstan said it was concerned about terrorism, extremism and the spectre of Central Asian radicalised fighters.

Indias time-tested friend Russia said there should be practical measures to counter threats emanating from Afghan territory and hoped in future other relevant regional issues would also be on the agenda. Moscow said different formats of dialogue on Afghanistan must complement each other and not duplicate work. Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan were the other countries that were at the conference.

At the conference, the sources said, all the NSAs stressed no one should boycott the process due to bilateral agendas. The NSAs also had a very substantive exchange during their call on the PM.

Later on Wednesday, Mr Doval held bilateral meetings with the NSAs of Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran. They had detailed discussions both on Afghanistan as well as other bilateral issues. With Kazakhstan, besides Afghanistan, there were discussions on enhancing connectivity and trading routes between the two countries, and practical steps to be taken in this direction. During the meeting with Iran, bilateral trade and the current state of relations were discussed, besides Afghanistan. Iran had earlier hosted the previous two meetings of this format, and discussions on how to carry forward this process also took place. It may be noted that Mr Doval had held bilateral meetings with the Tajik and Uzbek NSAs earlier on Tuesday.
WARSAW (Reuters) - Thousands gathered in Warsaw for an annual Independence Day march carrying Polish and nationalist group flags, an event the far-right organizers dedicated to uniformed "protectors of the border" amid an escalating migrant crisis at the country's eastern border.

Warsaw authorities had secured a court ban on the event that runs separately from official celebrations and has a history of occasional violence, but Poland's nationalist administration helped challenge the ban.

Marchers, including families with children but also representatives of nationalist groups like ONR, fired red flares and chanted "Viva, viva border guard" and "God, Honour, Homeland" as they walked through Warsaw.

March leaders warned against what they said were Western attempts to turn Poles into "pariahs", and condemned liberal Western political and cultural influences, saying Poles did not want to "kill unborn children".

Critics say in lending its hand, the Law and Justice government is giving overt support to the far-right and fomenting anti-migrant sentiment at a time when Poland faces unprecedented pressure from thousands of migrants trying to cross into the European Union via its border with Belarus.

The European Union accuses Minsk of manufacturing the crisis in revenge for earlier sanctions by helping people fleeing conflict-torn regions make it to Belarus and then try to cross into Poland and its other EU neighbours.

A Law and Justice spokesperson declined to comment on whether the party was endorsing the march and directed questions to a veterans' agency that gave it the formal approval.

Poland also faces its worst conflict with the EU in years over accusations that it is subverting the rule of law.

Representatives of other European far-right groups, including the Hungarian Our Homeland Party, were expected to take part in the march. Polish media reported Italian far-right group Fuorza Nuova was present.

(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska and Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk in Warsaw, Additional reporting by Krisztina Than in Budapest, Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
The president of the Skaneateles Central School District Board of Education is resigning, and the board set to pick a candidate from its most recent vacancy search.

Board president Michael Kell announced at a meeting Nov. 2 that he and his family are moving out of the area, which will leave a vacant seat, the district said in a news release on its website. Kell will remain a board member until Dec. 31.

The news release noted the board's options to address an unexpected vacancy are to keep the seat empty until the next election, ask community members to apply and interview for the vacancy, hold an election or appoint a candidate to take the slot until the next election.

At the Nov. 2 meeting, the board talked about appointing one of the finalists from the September-October 2021 board member search process, the district said, which was held to replace former board member Gary Gerst.

"With only five meetings remaining until the May 17, 2022 election date, the Skaneateles Board has decided the most responsible course of action is to appoint a finalist from the September-October 2021 search process at its next regularly scheduled meeting," the district said.

Skaneateles Superintendent Eric Knuth could not be reached Wednesday about Kell's resignation.

Back in early August, Gerst resigned for career development reasons. The board later said it was accepting applications for the role. Thirteen people turned in applications. There was also a screening and interview process facilitated by Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES.

The board appointed Gary Campbell to that seat at a special meeting Oct. 1, following a discussion in a closed-door executive session at that same meeting.

The Citizen inquired with the state Committee on Open Government about the legality of holding an executive session regarding an appointment to fill an elected office vacancy. The committee provided four previous advisory opinions all citing a 1994 court decision, Gordon v. Village of Monticello, determining such discussions should take place publicly because they involve elected office vacancies.

Before the Skaneateles board voted to go executive session at that special meeting Oct. 2, district attorney Bethany Centrone said the Committee on Open Government advisory opinions are not binding in any way and the court decision the committee cited in advisory opinions was later overruled.

However, in a letter sent Oct. 8 to the school board from the New York Coalition For Open Government, president Paul Wolf said assuming Centrone was referring to Gordon v. Village of Monticello, that case was overturned at the Appellate Division regarding whether attorney fees should have been awarded.

"The Court decision remains good law and the award of attorney fees was upheld in a later decision by the New York Court of Appeals," Wolf wrote in the letter.

Wolf said other public bodies have addressed interviews and discussions regarding filling a vacant elected office without going to into an executive session. He added he felt board members' thoughts and discussions on which candidate to pick should have occurred publicly so people could have observed the board's conversation.

"There should be nothing secretive about seeking an elected office. Individuals seeking to serve on the School Board should have no qualms about discussing their interest, qualifications and goals in a public forum. The elected School Board members who will vote to fill the vacancy should likewise have no concern about questioning, discussing and voting on interested applicants in public," Wolf wrote.

Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau.

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While absentee ballots did not change leaders in most Cayuga County elections this year, they did make a difference for a candidate in Sterling. And that was not a surprise to her campaign.

In the race for two full-term seats on the Sterling Town Board, Democrat Caren Thompson received 418 votes from in-person votes cast on Election Day or early voting. That left her 22 behind Republican Michele McIntyre for the second spot. Republican Joan Kelly had a commanding lead as the top finisher with 514 votes.

Absentee votes that were counted this week went heavily in favor of Thompson, according to the Cayuga County Board of Elections. She picked up 75 more votes from those ballots, while McIntyre added 33 and Kelly gained 43.

The final, still unofficial, total put Thompson into the second spot with 493 votes compared with McIntyre's 473.

Any races that involve margins of 20 votes or less are subject to an automatic hand recount under state law. The county elections board plans to start recounts for a handful of those narrow races on Monday.

For Thompson, who ran as a team with Cayuga County Legislature District 1 candidate Caitlyn Augustyn, encouraging supporters to take advantage of absentee voting was a strategy, said campaign manager Ken Warner.

The Augustyn and Thompson team, which also ran on an independent line they named Preserve & Protect Our Water, mailed instructions and an absentee ballot application to every Democrat and unaffiliated voter, and even included a stamped envelope to the elections board "figuring no-one ever has an envelope these days let alone a stamp!" he said in an email to The Citizen.

They also mailed newly registered voters, and monitored absentee ballot returns so they could call or visit people who had not returned a ballot.

"The path to winning involved making a commitment that every vote counts," Warner said.

The number of absentee votes counted in Sterling, 94, was the second highest among all towns in Cayuga County. Owasco had the most with 110, but the third largest total was from Fleming with just 57 votes.

Warner noted that while Augustyn came up short in her Legislature bid against Fair Haven Mayor James Basile, she also made up considerable ground. Augustyn trailed by 128 votes on election night but had a net gain of 49 votes from absentees.

Warner said Republicans have a roughly two-to-one enrollment advantage in Sterling, but Augustyn and Thompson "worked like dogs" to reach local residents with their message.

He said Thompson would be the first woman Democrat elected to the town board in Sterling, and the first Democrat in about 30 years.

"This election was actually historic," he said.

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The new-gen Honda Civic has been given a launch timeline for the market of the Philippines. Honda Cars Philippines (HCP) will be launching the 11th generation Civic on November 23rd.

HCP will introduce the car in three trims - Civic S Turbo CVT, V Turbo CVT and RS Turbo CVT.

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Honda Philippines hasnt yet provided any specs for the more powerful VTEC turbo engine" that will be seen under the hood of the new Civic, but the model sold in the market of Thailand gets a 1.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that has been rated to churn out 176hp of maximum power and 240Nm of peak torque.

(Also Read: Hondas new SUV ZR-V to debut next week, likely to replace WR-V in India soon)

Meanwhile, the Civic will feature the Honda Sensing suite which includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation with lane-departure warning, lane-keep assistance, auto high beam, lead car departure notification, and adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow. Thanks to the long suit of safety features and of course the built, the new-gen Civic has recently managed to score a five-star ASEAN NCAP rating. The sedan scored 18.16 points over 20.00 and in the Motorcyclist Safety (MS) category, it scored 10.39 points. The new-gen Civic also became the first model from Honda to be assessed under the new ASEAN NCAP 2021-2025 protocol.

(Also Read: Honda lowers profit outlook for a second time amid semiconductor shortage)

As far as its launch in the Indian market is concerned, there is no official confirmation as of yet. Chances are less likely that the new Civic will be launched in the country anytime soon. Especially when Honda Cars India previously discontinued the last generation model owning to lower demand.
Global automakers are planning to spend more than half a trillion dollars on electric vehicles and batteries through 2030, according to a Reuters analysis, amping up investments aimed at weaning car buyers away from fossil fuels and meeting increasingly tough decarbonization targets.

(Also Read: Is your electric car as eco-friendly as you thought?)

Less than three years ago, a similar analysis by Reuters found car companies planned to spend $300 billion on EVs and related technologies. But looming zero-carbon mandates in cities such as London and Paris and countries from Norway to China have lent additional urgency to the industrys EV-related investment commitments.

The most recent analysis shows carmakers planning to spend an estimated $515 billion over the next five to 10 years to develop and build new battery-powered vehicles and shift away from combustion engines.

But industry executives and forecasters remain concerned that consumer demand for EVs could fall well short of aggressive targets without substantial additional incentives and even greater spending on charging infrastructure and grid capacity.

Brian Maxim, head of global powertrain forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions, likens the growing investment commitments in vehicle electrification to the Cold War: "Once a few manufacturers announced EV programs, everyone else had to announce their own or be viewed as being left behind."

However, he added, "this leaves a lot of vehicle manufacturers planning significant volumes for a vehicle category that has unknown consumer acceptance, and will have minimal to no profit" for years.

Reuters compiled the investment data from company statements, investor presentations and regulatory filings.

Other surveys have come up with different spending projections. In June, consulting firm AlixPartners said auto industry investments in electric vehicles would reach $330 billion by 2025. In 2020, all global automakers combined spent nearly $225 billion on capital expenditures and research and development, according to AlixPartners.

Tesla Inc, the world's largest EV manufacturer, appears to be the one company that is selling virtually every vehicle it can build and is readying new multibillion-dollar "gigafactories" near Berlin and Austin that will significantly boost its annual production capacity. In early November, the company was valued at $1.2 trillion, more than twice the combined value of Volkswagen AG, Toyota Motor Corp, Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co.

Meanwhile, political and regulatory pressure is building on the world's carmakers to begin phasing out production of fossil-fueled vehicles, including gasoline-electric hybrids, over the next 10-15 years, while ramping up output of full electric models.

A number of countries, from Singapore to Sweden, have said they will ban sales of new combustion engine vehicles by 2030. U.S. President Joseph Biden has said he wants 40% to 50% of sales to be electric vehicles by 2030.

Germany's VW Group, which is still recovering financially from the 2016 Dieselgate emissions cheating scandal, continues to lead the rest of the industry, with more than $110 billion in EV and battery investment commitments through 2030. Those commitments, which represent more than 20% of the industry total, underpin VW's aggressive rollout plans for millions of EVs in Europe, China and North America over the next decade.

VW's investments, like those of many of its rivals, are aimed at improving the range and performance of batteries and lowering the cost of EVs, as well as expanding battery and EV production across the globe, according to public data released by the companies.

VW and fellow German automakers Daimler AG and BMW AG are planning to spend a combined $185 billion through 2030, while U.S. automakers GM and Ford expect to spend nearly $60 billion through 2025.

Chinese automakers, led by VW and GM local partner SAIC Motor, have announced well over $100 billion in investment targets over the next decade. Japanese automakers lag far behind, with Honda Motor, Toyota Motor and Nissan Motor so far publicly committing less than $40 billion combined.

These investments do not include the tens of billions of dollars being invested in additional production capacity by the world's largest battery companies, many in cooperation with their automaker partners.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
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.



NavInfo to provide services for Volvo Cars' IoV cloud-based platform





Photo credit: NavInfo



Beijing-based mapping company NavInfo announced on Nov. 11 it has signed an agreement with Volvo Cars to provide services for the latters IoV (Internet of Vehicles) cloud-based platform over the next three years.

NIO-backed EV startup HYCAN teases auto exhibits for Auto Guangzhou 2021

HYCAN, the Chinese EV startup backed by NIO, will launch two all-electric concepts, including a coupe and a MPV, at the forthcoming Auto Guangzhou 2021.

JAC Group, its subsidiaries obtain 36.62 million governmental subsidies so far this year

As of Nov. 11, JAC Group and its subsidiaries had received a total of 36.62 million yuan ($5.718 million) worth of governmental subsidies so far this year, according to JAC Group's announcement.

VOYAH to launch premium MPV at Auto Guangzhou 2021

According to a local media outlet, Dongfeng Motor's premium EV brand VOYAH will launch a new MPV model code-named H56 at the Auto Guangzhou 2021.

Joyson Electronics intends to introduce strategic investors for safety business segment

Joyson Electronics claimed in Nov. 12 it intends to introduce three strategic investors for its safety business segment. Those possible investors plan to pour a total of 2.5 billion yuan ($390.39 million).

QCraft launches 3rd-generation Driven-by-QCraft solution



On Nov. 10, Chinese self-driving technology company QCraft launched its third-generation Driven-by-QCraft Level 4 autonomous driving hardware solution, which will use the NVIDIA DRIVE Orin solution.

CATL, ENERGY TECHNOLOGY to build platform JV for investment in power battery separator

CATL has agreed with Yunnan Energy New Material Co.,Ltd. (ENERGY TECHNOLOGY), a Chinese manufacturer of paper packaging materials, to co-build a limited liability platform venture focusing on the investment in the projects of dry-/wet-process separators, ENERGY TECHNOLOGY announced on Nov. 10.

Sunwoda, Wuling Industrial attempt to build JV for NEV power battery system

Liuzhou Wuling Motors Industrial Company Limited (Wuling Industrial) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese battery supplier Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery Co.,Ltd. (Sunwoda EV Battery) for a possible investment and establishment of a joint venture dedicated to manufacturing power battery system products for new energy vehicles (NEVs), according to an announcement issued by Wuling Motors Holdings Limited, a parent company of Wuling Industrial.

CATL contributes to 50.7% of China's Jan.-Oct. installed battery capacity

In October 2021, China's power battery outputs reached 25.1GWh, surging 191.6% year on year, while also growing 8.4% month on month, according to the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA).
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- HOZON Auto signed on Nov. 10 a framework agreement with PTT Public Company Limited (PTT), the biggest refiner and seller of petroleum products in Thailand, to build a long-term strategic partnership, the Chinese EV startup announced via its WeChat account.

HOZON Auto, PTT signing agreement; photo credit: HOZON Auto



Through the partnership, both parties will be dedicated to developing the smart car ecosystem that integrates value-added services and infrastructures with user experience, in a bid to provide consumers in Thailand and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with high-quality China-made intelligent vehicles.

By working with PTT, HOZON Auto will also introduce its high-standard services as well as highly efficient smart travelling solutions in Thailand. More importantly, the startup will regard Thailand as the center for its global strategy and will afterwards make inroads to the EV markets of other ASEANs member countries.

The Thai government is the majority shareholder of PTT, which is on a mission to implement the national strategic planning for a green and zero-emission future.

At the 18th China-ASEAN Expo, HOZON Auto announced its foray into the new energy vehicle (NEV) market of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) with the right-hand drive NETA V launched at the same time.

Among Chinese NEV startups, HOZON Auto is the first one to develop right-hand drive car model for export. According to the automaker, the NETA V's overseas version features a combined range of 401km.

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Shanghai (Gasgoo)- CATL has agreed with Yunnan Energy New Material Co.,Ltd. (ENERGY TECHNOLOGY), a Chinese manufacturer of paper packaging materials, to co-build a limited liability platform venture focusing on the investment in the projects of dry-/wet-process separators, ENERGY TECHNOLOGY announced on Nov. 10.



Photo credit: CATL



Per the agreement, the yet-to-be-launched platform joint venture will involve a registered capital of 1.5 billion yuan ($234.234 million) and a total investment of 8 billion yuan ($1.25 billion). Upon completion of the capital increase, the joint venture will be 51% and 49% held by ENERGY TECHNOLOGY and CATL respectively.

The platform firm will invest in and set up a wholly-owned subsidiary for wet-process separator projects with a planned capacity of 1.6 billion square meters per year. Besides, it will also join hands with Jiangxi Enbo New Materials Co., Ltd., a sub-subsidiary of ENERGY TECHNOLOGY, to establish a joint venture dedicated to dry-process separator projects with a designed annual capacity of 2 billion square meters.

Moreover, per the agreement, within 5 years after signing the agreement, ENERGY TECHNOLOGYs subsidiaries should offer CATL its wet-process separators with priority. Correspondingly, the Ningde-based battery giant should prioritize ENERGY TECHNOLOGYs subsidiaries when procuring such products.

ENERGY TECHNOLOGY is a global leader in lithium-ion battery separator film, with diversified product portfolios ranging from cigarette label, BOPP film, aseptic packaging to special paper.
LOS ANGELES  xHamster has released never-before-seen sales data and purchase habit data for more 30,000 adult fans in an effort to better inform creators using the platform.

xHamsters 2021 Creator Report results overturn much of the conventional wisdom surrounding adult sales, according to xHamster, and provides marketing strategy for individual creators on every platform to better reach a paying audience.

Accurate data is crucial to building a successful business, but creators are starved for data. xHamster is changing that, says xHamster Vice President Alex Hawkins. The industry has changed dramatically in the last 18 months, and so many of the old rules no longer apply to fan sites or individual creators. The xHamster Creator Report surveyed over 30,000 active fans to find out what drives them to make a purchase.

The first installment of the report, now live on xHamster, overturns many of the myths associated with adult sales by differentiating active consumers (those who pay for porn) from non-paying fans.

Among the findings:

Millennials are buying more porn than any other generation. 64% of active consumers are under 45, and nearly half are under 35.

Posting frequency is ranked last in importance by active consumers. Sex acts and production value is much more important when it comes to making or renewing a purchase.

The top three sources of new fans are social media (41%), tube sites (36%) and cams (22%)

Active consumers arent lonely. Theyre more likely to be sexually active in real life than their non-paying counterparts, a differential that grows as they spend more.

The initial report is available free to all creators. Future installments of the report, which will go into more detail about Big Spenders (whales), Cam vs Fan Consumers, LGBTQ+ Sales, and Sales by Politics will be available only to registered xHamster.com Creators.

The xHamster Creator Program provides 100% ad revenue on qualified clips uploaded to xHamster.com, as well as free traffic to fan profiles on any platform. More information about the program, as well as the xHamster Creator Report itself, can be found on the xHamster Creators Blog.
MIAMILilly Hall headlines Handy Man, a new scene from veteran director Jim Powers, now available on BiPhoria.com.

The scene, which also features Wolf Hudson and Chris Damned, opens with Hall having some work done on her home by two handy men (Hudson and Damned). She lures Damned into her bedroom, offering to relieve some of his stress. When Hudson goes looking for him, hes livid about what he sees. But, Lilly soon calms him down with a blowjob, and the three join in a threesome.

I am so happy my debut for BiPhoria is finally out, Hall said. This was an incredible scene to film and I enjoyed every single moment. Chris and Wolf were amazing to work with and I loved working for Jim Powers.

Hall recently spoke to Fleshbot's Holly Kingstown about her experience. To read the article, click here.

Hall will be in Los Angeles and available for shoots starting in early December. She is represented by East Coast Talents and can be booked by contacting [email protected].

For more updates, follow the starlet on Twitter.
Education

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Coconino High School seniors send letters for Veterans Day

Rachel Gibbons, Arizona Daily Sun Shay Samuel, Christian Burrow and Brandon William Curley, seniors at Coconino High School, sit with 240 letters addressed and ready to be delivered to veterans across northern Arizona Thursday morning. The letters were written by a group of about 50 students after they read "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien during senior English class.

A group of Coconino High School seniors participated in a project celebrating Veterans Day earlier this month when students in Janet Chavez-Veselys English class wrote appreciation letters to send to local veterans.

Chavez-Vesely said her students came up with the idea after reading "The Things They Carried," by Tim OBrien, for class. The book is a collection of short stories about the authors time in the Vietnam War, using various items in soldiers packs as a metaphor for the weight of war.

These people that went to war were carrying a lot of items, personal items or even items that they carried with their souls, said senior Brandon William Curley. Sometimes it could have been a burden and sometimes it was a relief to carry those items. ...Even throughout war, those items brought peace to them. Those items...kept them alive emotionally and physically.

Rachel Gibbons, Arizona Daily Sun A total of 240 letters written by about 50 seniors from Coconino High School are addressed and ready to be mailed to veterans across northern Arizona Thursday morning. The letters were written after the students read "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien, a book that had a profound impact on the students.

About 50 students wrote a total of 240 letters, which were mailed out to arrive by Veterans Day. Each student was assigned two letters, but many volunteered to write more so everyone on the list received a letter.

Student Shay Samuel said the book helped him understand the veterans in his own family.

My late uncle was a veteran and he would tell my mom stories that she would tell me, he said. It was more or less how hard, how he wasnt exactly the same, things like that. How he changed. This book definitely...filled in holes of what exactly he possibly experienced and had to do.

Chavez-Vesely said the letters were her students' idea. She contacted Mike and Sarah Cromer, her former fifth- and sixth-grade teachers, who provided a list from the local chapter of the American Legion. She said Sarah Cromer addressed all the letters.

The students said the letters were a way to thank veterans for their service.

Reading the book really brought what they had to go through in order to just protect the ones in this room, senior Christian Burrow said. They go through so much to protect people that they dont even know.

Curley said he wanted to honor veterans sacrifices. Like Samuel, he said the letters were a small way to express gratitude.

They sacrificed so much and what Im going through right now trying to get a scholarship [has] nothing on what they were going through. Its like a day or two worth of work in order to give them a little bit of satisfaction that someone actually cared to write to them, he said.

Chavez-Vesely said the assignment was meant to help her students connect their futures with the people they were writing to, even though those futures might not look the same or involve going to war.

They said, How are we ever going to thank them, were not going to the military? and I said, Thats OK, you can be a positive contributing member of your society in whatever avenue you choose,'" she said. "I think in their heads it really stuck with them. ...They were maybe even more appreciative of the fact that I have doors that I can open on my own and have opportunities instead of being told what my future will be."

Another assignment she gave her students was to write an essay called "The Things I Carry," about how their own circumstances and stories might affect their futures.

Burrow said he found the way the characters changed through the war a little scary. Both he and Samuel mentioned a soldier who had plans to go to college and how much those changed after he was drafted.

I find it terrifying that these soldiers are very, very young. Theyre young adults. Im 17 and some of them were 18 when they were drafted, and thats terrifying, having to drop a lot of things.[The author] was almost my age when he got drafted and just having your whole life be driven off what he thought he was going to be, Samuel said.

All three said they would recommend the book.

It puts you in a perspective that really you dont talk about, you dont know what they go through, Burrow said.

Curley agreed, saying he appreciated how detailed the book was about war and the soldiers' emotional, physical and moral states.

Though this is the first year sending letters, Chavez-Vesely said she hoped this would become an annual project for CHS seniors.

I feel like it's a perfect tradition to uphold... its such a good way to get them to reflect at such a pivotal point in their own lives, she said.
After a troubled past, U.S. Forest Service officials are turning a new page for forest restoration in northern Arizona.

That was the claim made by U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore during a visit to Flagstaff during which he announced $54 million in money for forest restoration for this fiscal year.

Moore made the announcement alongside Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Rep. Tom OHalleran in Flagstaff on Tuesday night in the same building that had served as the city/county headquarters during the 2019 Museum Fire.

This time, however, the rooms were filled with Forest Service officials, congressional staff, local leaders and stakeholders who have been working toward successful forest restoration for two decades.

This decision represents an important step for our larger national strategy to treat landscapes, and protect communities and watersheds, and create fire resilient forests at the right scale to address this current wildfire issue that we have here in this country, particularly in the West, Moore told the gathering.

OHalleran said of the announcement, We've seen what California has gone through; we don't want that for [any community in Arizona].

The announcement comes just two months after the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), which hopes to create healthier forests less prone to catastrophic wildfire across the Coconino, Kaibab, Tonto and Apache-Sitgreaves national forests, experienced a significant setback.

In September, after close to two years of work and several companies waiting on the results, the Forest Service canceled its Phase 2 contract for the project after officials said they discovered challenges that made the project unfeasible.

The decision was roundly criticized by elected officials including Sens. Sinema and Mark Kelly, with some worrying the setback spelled the end for one of the nations most ambitious forest restoration projects.

But while the future appears brighter given Moores announcement, it appears many of the same challenges that sunk the previous contract still exist.

Moving forward

Sinema told the Arizona Daily Sun she believes the announcement this week shows the efforts have come a long way since the contract was canceled.

Chief Moore is here today because when I had a phone conference with him back in September, the day that they canceled the [contract], I said, I want you to come to Arizona, and when you come you need to have a plan. And I have to say, they did arrive with a plan, so I'm grateful for that, Sinema said.

I was pleased to see that Chief Moore and the entire USDA and Forest Service Team took action in just 45 days to come up with a new plan, she added.

Nonetheless, Sinema said, given the troubled past that 4FRI has had, her office will work to hold the Forest Service accountable to ensure that the agency follows through with what it has said it will do.

Moore said the investment of $54 million beginning in the coming months will allow them to immediately begin working with local partners to treat approximately 135,000 of the highest-priority acres of the forests.

That largely includes areas of the Coconino National Forest surrounding Flagstaff and near the C.C. Cragin (Blue Ridge) Reservoir, areas of the Kaibab National Forest on Bill Williams Mountain and areas of the Tonto National Forest in the vicinity of the Sierra Ancha mountains.

Forest Service officials have previously said they want to see those top-priority acres treated within the next five years, but this week that goal was extended to within the next decade.

Forest officials say 35,000 of those priority acres will be treated within fiscal year 2022, which began last month.

Those acres come as just a part of nearly 850,000 acres that the Forest Service hopes to see treated over the next 20 years, although the exact plan for all of those acres is still being worked on.

If the Forest Service and industry partners are able to see nearly that many acres treated, be it through mechanical thinning or the use of prescribed fire, and with the forest treatments that have already occurred, 4FRI will have restored close to 47% of the 2.4 million acres involved, officials say.

And the Forest Service officials said studies have shown that those efforts will go a long way to lowering the risk of catastrophic wildfires and to create a healthier ecosystem overall.

Still, many challenges remain ahead of achieving that restoration goal, along with many hundreds of millions of dollars in expenses, such as road maintenance.

Southwest forester Michiko Martin pointed out that of the $54 million, a full $10 million is going to repair forest roads beginning this fiscal year. Martin said another $30 million contract for roadwork is also on the way.

And Deputy Forest Chief Chris French said this announcement represents an extended commitment to 4FRI and forest restoration generally.

We looked at the long-term costs of what it takes to implement the strategy that was put together [for] the next 10 years, and through the bills we've seen we can see the pathway to create that, French said.

But there are $65 million in needed deferred maintenance on forest roads and bridges alone within the project area, plus as many as $10 million to $13 million in annual maintenance costs for roads through the life of the project.

It still appears to be somewhat undetermined exactly how some of those road expenses will be paid for, and other expenses associated with prescribed burning and noncommercial fuels treatments also exist.

The infrastructure bill passed last week could help, along with the Build Back Better bill if it is implemented, but even then the challenges could be significant given the financial burdens ahead.

Adrian Skabelund can be reached by phone at (928) 556-2261, by email at askabelund@azdailysun.com or on Twitter at @AdrianSkabelund.

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A group of Coconino High School seniors participated in a project celebrating Veterans Day earlier this month when students in Janet Chavez-Veselys English class wrote appreciation letters to send to local veterans.

Chavez-Vesely said her students came up with the idea after reading "The Things They Carried," by Tim OBrien, for class. The book is a collection of short stories about the authors time in the Vietnam War, using various items in soldiers packs as a metaphor for the weight of war.

These people that went to war were carrying a lot of items, personal items or even items that they carried with their souls, said senior Brandon William Curley. Sometimes it could have been a burden and sometimes it was a relief to carry those items. ...Even throughout war, those items brought peace to them. Those items...kept them alive emotionally and physically.

About 50 students wrote a total of 240 letters, which were mailed out to arrive by Veterans Day. Each student was assigned two letters, but many volunteered to write more so everyone on the list received a letter.

Student Shay Samuel said the book helped him understand the veterans in his own family.

My late uncle was a veteran and he would tell my mom stories that she would tell me, he said. It was more or less how hard, how he wasnt exactly the same, things like that. How he changed. This book definitely...filled in holes of what exactly he possibly experienced and had to do.

Chavez-Vesely said the letters were her students' idea. She contacted Mike and Sarah Cromer, her former fifth- and sixth-grade teachers, who provided a list from the local chapter of the American Legion. She said Sarah Cromer addressed all the letters.

The students said the letters were a way to thank veterans for their service.

Reading the book really brought what they had to go through in order to just protect the ones in this room, senior Christian Burrow said. They go through so much to protect people that they dont even know.

Curley said he wanted to honor veterans sacrifices. Like Samuel, he said the letters were a small way to express gratitude.

They sacrificed so much and what Im going through right now trying to get a scholarship [has] nothing on what they were going through. Its like a day or two worth of work in order to give them a little bit of satisfaction that someone actually cared to write to them, he said.

Chavez-Vesely said the assignment was meant to help her students connect their futures with the people they were writing to, even though those futures might not look the same or involve going to war.

They said, How are we ever going to thank them, were not going to the military? and I said, Thats OK, you can be a positive contributing member of your society in whatever avenue you choose,'" she said. "I think in their heads it really stuck with them. ...They were maybe even more appreciative of the fact that I have doors that I can open on my own and have opportunities instead of being told what my future will be."

Another assignment she gave her students was to write an essay called "The Things I Carry," about how their own circumstances and stories might affect their futures.

Burrow said he found the way the characters changed through the war a little scary. Both he and Samuel mentioned a soldier who had plans to go to college and how much those changed after he was drafted.

I find it terrifying that these soldiers are very, very young. Theyre young adults. Im 17 and some of them were 18 when they were drafted, and thats terrifying, having to drop a lot of things.[The author] was almost my age when he got drafted and just having your whole life be driven off what he thought he was going to be, Samuel said.

All three said they would recommend the book.

It puts you in a perspective that really you dont talk about, you dont know what they go through, Burrow said.

Curley agreed, saying he appreciated how detailed the book was about war and the soldiers' emotional, physical and moral states.

Though this is the first year sending letters, Chavez-Vesely said she hoped this would become an annual project for CHS seniors.

I feel like it's a perfect tradition to uphold... its such a good way to get them to reflect at such a pivotal point in their own lives, she said.

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Residents impacted by post-Museum Fire flooding received some good news this week after Forest Service Chief Randy Moore announced the agency would provide $3.5 million of funding for several flood mitigation projects below the burn scar.

The announcement came after Moore and several other federal officials toured the Museum Fire burn area along with local county and city officials and Rep. Tom OHalleran.

I didn't come here today with intentions of funding that particular project. But I was so impressed with the level of partnership and the level of commitment that we had here, Moore told the Arizona Daily Sun. It was such a great project and we had such a level of commitment, but we also saw what the potential damage could be if we don't address the source of the issue.

The money will be used to construct several flood mitigation projects on Coconino National Forest lands below the burn scar and above the county neighborhood of Mount Elden Estates.

The money also comes in part as a result of the infrastructure bill that was passed last week and is expected to be signed into law soon, said Southwest forester Michiko Martin. Without the money brought by those bills, Martin said, the Forest Service may not have had the money available to make that decision.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who was also in Flagstaff on Tuesday, applauded Moore for the action.

I appreciate Chief Moore coming to Arizona and listening to the concerns of local communities. Were thrilled that millions of dollars in federal funding is on its way to rehabilitate the burn scar, Sinema said in a statement.

The work will include the creation and stabilization of alluvial fans, infrastructure that allows debris flows to spread out and slow down, depositing a portion of the sediment it is carrying before it can reach Flagstaff, said Coconino County Flood District Director Lucinda Andreani.

Andreani said similar infrastructure made a significant impact in mitigating post-fire flooding after the Schultz Fire.

Upcoming projects, many of which came out of a county-led engineering summit earlier this year, will also include channel stabilization in order to prevent further erosion.

County Supervisor Patrice Horstman said Moores decision demonstrated the close partnership the county has developed with the Forest Service and that federal officials were willing to cut through red tape in order to help mitigate flooding.

[Moore] understands the need to get this done before the next monsoon, Horstman said. We need to get this other work done before there's any work within the city, because we need to start removing some of the sediment or any mitigation efforts within the city are not going to be helpful.

In a statement, Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez, who represents much of the area most impacted by the flooding, called the federal aid a game changer.

County officials have previously said that without work on the forest lands upstream, improvements made throughout Flagstaff may simply become clogged with sediment and debris, as was seen several times throughout this summer.

Now that funding has been secured, its a matter of coordinating and working with the Coconino National Forests Flagstaff Ranger District to get those structures built.

Exactly how that may happen is still up in the air, but because the $3.5 million is being routed through the county flood district, it is likely that the flood district will be able to contract that work out itself rather than needing to go through a potentially long and arduous federal procurement process.

Prior to this, it was unclear whether there was a path for the projects on forest land to receive grant funding due to internal disputes within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

In providing Forest Service funding to the project, Moore sidestepped that situation, a move that may have significantly delayed the awarding of any money to projects on forest land.

Moore said after seeing those challenges to flood control projects, there could be policy changes they need to discuss when he returns to Washington D.C.

[Ive heard here] it's not just about the money, but there are also some policy shifts that we need to be looking at as well, because we don't have the ability to move as quickly as you would like us to, unless we make some modifications to some of our policies, Moore said. So I'm taking that back with me to look at some of those policies that have that kind of an effect on how we operate at this level of the organization.

Andreani said they hope to receive grant funding for several other projects above Flagstaff but off of forest land. The county has applied for $4 million in grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Andreani said they should hear back on those grants within the next week, adding she expects those applications to be successfully awarded.

Adrian Skabelund can be reached by phone at (928) 556-2261, by email at askabelund@azdailysun.com or on Twitter at @AdrianSkabelund.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  The U.S. faces a heightened threat environment from domestic extremists and people inspired by foreign terrorist groups with the approach of the holiday season, the Department of Homeland Security warned Wednesday.

While DHS said it had no credible information on a specific threat, the agency warns in its latest national terrorism advisory bulletin that mass gatherings for the upcoming religious holidays could be potential targets, including from people and organizations seeking to exploit resentment over pandemic lockdowns and recent events such as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"The Homeland continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment," it said.

This is the fourth time this year the agency has issued a bulletin, highlighting the perceived danger from a volatile mix of domestic extremists, often motivated by racially or ethnically motivated hate, and homegrown extremists inspired by overseas groups. It reflects a shift from the focus on al-Qaida and other organizations following the creation of DHS after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

It also comes in an environment that has been super-charged by online propaganda and conspiracy theories as well as anger over the economic turmoil caused by the pandemic. DHS warned that extremists will pose a significant threat at least into 2022.

Timothy Langan, the assistant director of the FBIs counterterrorism division, made similar points last week in an appearance before the House intelligence committee. He said the threat from domestic terrorism has significantly increased in the last 18 months, with the agency currently conducting about 2,700 investigations on violent domestic extremists.

The greatest terrorism threat facing our homeland is that posed by lone actors in small cells, who typically radicalize online, look to use easily accessible weapons to attack soft targets, Langan said.

The language of this latest bulletin is similar to the previous ones but adds language based on recent events. It warns that foreign groups such as al-Qaida and the Islamic State celebrated the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and may use it to encourage violence by their supporters.

At the same time, some domestic extremists have sought to use the resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. to stir up anti-Muslim hatred.

DHS has said it is working with the FBI, state and local law enforcement and foreign counterparts and has also increased grants and training to community-based prevention programs to address the threat.

From 2010 through 2020, racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists advocating for the superiority of the white race have committed 18 lethal attacks in the United States, killing 70 people in attacks that typically focused on houses of worship, including in Charleston and Pittsburgh, according to the FBI.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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HOUSTON (AP)  Organizers of the Astroworld music festival have not provided investigators with clear records about private security personnel working the grounds when a massive crowd surge during headliner Travis Scott's set led to at least eight deaths, Houstons police chief said Wednesday.

It was up to Live Nation Entertainment, the show's promoter, to secure two mosh pits in front of the stage Friday night at the sold-out festival of 50,000 people, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference. He described staffing records handed over by organizers as just not good" but emphasized that he was not placing any blame.

But key questions are still unknown five days after the tragedy, which left hundreds of other concertgoers injured, including at least two who were still in critical condition. Finner said police told organizers to shut down the performance when fans in the crowd were administered CPR. But he repeatedly declined to provide timelines, making it unclear at what point that order came in Scott's roughly hourlong set, and how much longer the show lasted after the directive was given.

When you say authority and ability to end the show, we dont hold the plug. But its always in the plan, its always a discussion of how that would happen, he said. We had those discussions with the promoters.

Scott's attorneys on Wednesday pointed to an operational plan for the event that states only the festival director and executive producers have the authority to stop the show, neither of which is part of Traviss crew.

Investigations should start proceeding over finger-pointing so that together, we can identify exactly what transpired and how we can prevent anything like this from happening again, attorney Edwin F. McPherson said in a statement.

Finner also forcefully defended his department's ability to handle the criminal investigation on its own, rejected calls for an outside probe and said he did not have a close relationship with Scott, who is from Houston and founded the festival.

Finner said he expressed safety concerns to Scott before the Friday night show but did not go into detail. He said he has only ever spoken with Scott twice.

I had no reason to believe that it wasnt going to be safe, Finner said. But Im the kind of chief that I meet with people whenever I can, and that includes him. We had a very respectful, few minute conversation on my concerns.

Speaking to reporters for just the second time since the tragedy, Finner was defensive at times and criticized what he described as rumors and speculation surrounding what happened.

About 530 Houston police officers worked the festival, more than twice as many as when the festival was last held in 2019, according to Finner. He repeatedly cautioned that the investigation was still in the early stages and said he would not cast blame" on any organization.

Todd Mensing, another attorney representing Scott, told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that the artist only found out about injuries and deaths in the crowd after the show.

At least two concertgoers remained in critical condition Wednesday. Officials have not disclosed details about the fans who have been hospitalized since Friday, but the family of a 9-year-old boy who attended the concert with his father has said the child was in a medically induced coma after sustaining injuries to his heart, lungs and brain.

How did this happen? That is a question that remains on all of our minds, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said earlier Wednesday. "How did this happen? Where were the missteps? Where were the failures? Where were the gaps? We owe it to the family members, all of those who attended and quite frankly the city as a whole, to the first responders, all of them, how did this happen?

Turner read the names of the eight people who died before pausing a City Council meeting for a moment of silence. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 27 and came from Texas, Illinois and Washington state, according to authorities.

Finner said there was no evidence that a security guard near the crowd had unknowingly received an injection during the show, despite reports.

The festival grounds and stage where Scott performed have yet to be disassembled as authorities and attorneys representing the injured and their families continued combing the area. The festival was held on a parking lot that is part of NRG Park, a complex consisting of stadiums, an arena and a convention center.

Bernon Blount said his son and 9-year-old grandson, Ezra, attended the festival together but became separated during the crowd surge. He said Tuesday that the child was in a medically induced coma at a Houston hospital.

I'm angry because its disrupted our family, and this could have been avoided if people in positions of power had done the right thing, Blount said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced the formation of a task force to develop concert safety recommendations, which he said would ensure that the tragedy that occurred at the Astroworld Festival never happens again.

Experts say crowd surge deaths happen because people are packed into a space so tightly that they cant get enough oxygen. Its not usually because theyre being trampled.



Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, and Jake Bleiberg in Dallas 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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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)  U.S. food banks already dealing with increased demand from families sidelined by the pandemic now face a new challenge  surging food prices and supply chain issues walloping the nation.

The higher costs and limited availability mean some families may get smaller servings or substitutions for staples such as peanut butter, which costs nearly double what it did a year ago. As holidays approach, some food banks worry they won't have enough stuffing and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

"What happens when food prices go up is food insecurity for those who are experiencing it just gets worse," said Katie Fitzgerald, chief operating officer of Feeding America, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the efforts of more than 200 food banks across the country.

Food banks that expanded to meet unprecedented demand brought on by the pandemic won't be able to absorb forever food costs that are two to three times what they used to be, she said.

Supply chain disruptions, lower inventory and labor shortages have all contributed to increased costs for charities on which tens of millions of people in the U.S. rely on for nutrition. Donated food is more expensive to move because transportation costs are up, and bottlenecks at factories and ports make it difficult to get goods of all kinds.

If a food bank has to swap out for smaller sizes of canned tuna or make substitutions in order to stretch their dollars, Fitzgerald said, it's like adding "insult to injury" to a family reeling from uncertainty.

In the prohibitively expensive San Francisco Bay Area, the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland is spending an extra $60,000 a month on food. Combined with increased demand, it is now shelling out $1 million a month to distribute 4.5 million pounds (2 million kilograms) of food, said Michael Altfest, the Oakland food bank's director of community engagement.

Pre-pandemic, it was spending a quarter of the money for 2.5 million pounds (1.2 million kilograms) of food.

The cost of canned green beans and peaches is up nearly 9% for them, Altfest said; canned tuna and frozen tilapia up more than 6%; and a case of 5-pound frozen chickens for holiday tables is up 13%. The price for dry oatmeal has climbed 17%.

On Wednesdays, hundreds of people line up outside a church in east Oakland for its weekly food giveaway. Shiloh Mercy House feeds about 300 families on those days, far less than the 1,100 families it was nourishing at the height of the pandemic, said Jason Bautista, the charity's event manager. But he's still seeing new people every week.

"And a lot of people are just saying they can't afford food," he said. "I mean they have the money to buy certain things, but it's just not stretching."

Families can also use a community market Shiloh opened in May. Refrigerators contain cartons of milk and eggs while sacks of hamburger buns and crusty baguettes sit on shelves.

Oakland resident Sonia Lujan-Perez, 45, picked up chicken, celery, onions bread and and potatoes  enough to supplement a Thanksgiving meal for herself, 3-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son. The state of California pays her to care for daughter Melanie, who has special needs, but it's not enough with monthly rent at $2,200 and the cost of milk, citrus, spinach and chicken so high.

"That is wonderful for me because I will save a lot of money," she said, adding that the holiday season is rough with Christmas toys for the children.

Many people also rely on other government aid, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Kate Waters, a spokeswoman for the USDA, which administers the SNAP program, said there were no immediate plans for an emergency boost in SNAP benefits to compensate for the rising food costs. But she said that previous moves by the Biden administration such as the permanent increase in SNAP benefits earlier this year and a fresh wave of funding for food banks should help ease the burden. In addition, Waters said the fact that schools are open and offering free lunches and, in some cases, free breakfast, should also help.

Bryan Nichols, vice president of sales for Transnational Foods Inc., which delivers to more than 100 food banks associated with Feeding America, said canned foods from Asia such as fruit cocktail, pears and mandarin oranges have been stuck overseas because of a lack of shipping container space.

Issues in supply seem to be improving and prices stabilizing, but he expects costs to stay high after so many people got out of the shipping business during the pandemic. "An average container coming from Asia prior to COVID would cost about $4,000. Today, that same container is about $18,000," he said.

At the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado in Colorado Springs, CEO Lynne Telford says the cost for a truckload of peanut butter 40,000 pounds (18,100 kilograms)_has soared 80% from June 2019 to $51,000 in August. Mac and cheese is up 19% from a year ago and the wholesale cost of ground beef has increased 5% in three months. They're spending more money to buy food to make up for waning donations and there's less to choose from.

The upcoming holidays worry her. For one thing, the donation cost to buy a frozen turkey has increased from $10 to $15 per bird.

"The other thing is that we're not getting enough holiday food, like stuffing and cranberry sauce. So we're having to supplement with other kinds of food, which you know, makes us sad," said Telford, whose food bank fed more than 200,000 people last year, distributing 25 million pounds (11.3 million kilograms) of food.

Alameda County Community Food Bank says it is set for Thanksgiving, with cases of canned cranberry and boxes of mashed potatoes among items stacked in its expanded warehouse. Food resourcing director Wilken Louie ordered eight truckloads of frozen 5-pound chickens which translates into more than 60,000 birds to give away free, as well as half-turkeys available at cost.

For that, Martha Hasal is grateful.

"It's going to be an expensive Thanksgiving, turkey is not going to cost like the way it was," said Hasal as she loaded up on on cauliflower and onions on behalf of the Bay Area American Indian Council. "And they're not giving out turkey. So thank God they're giving out the chicken."

AP reporters Terence Chea in Oakland and Ashraf Khalil in Washington contributed to this story.

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POLACCA, Ariz. (AP)  Candidates for Hopi chairman move easily between the tribe's language and English as they make their case for votes from a high school auditorium.

The audience is a mix of fluent speakers, Hopis whose language and culture were attacked at assimilation-focused boarding schools, Hopis who fear they might be mocked if they stumble over Hopi words, and others who want to learn.

To be in the place of Chairman Tim Nuvangyaoma or his challenger, David Talayumptewa, Hopis must be able to speak and understand Hopi. The rule in the tribal constitution was loosened in 2017 from being fluent, and Nuvangyaoma is pushing to eliminate any language requirement for the top leadership job on the 2,500 square-mile (6,475 square-kilometer) reservation.

He contends nixing it would draw in younger Hopis who were told to leave their homeland, get an education and return to help their people with skills in technology, engineering, law and hydrology but cannot speak Hopi. The reservation is composed of 12 villages in the Arizona high desert and is home to about half of the 14,000 enrolled Hopis. It is completely surrounded by the much larger Navajo Nation.

We're never going to ignore our culture and traditions, but we are in 2021 now, Nuvangyaoma said in an interview. Theres competition at the state and federal level to seek funding. We need to be a little more aggressive and aware."

Talayumptewa counters the problem lies not with the constitution but in Nuvangyaomas leadership style, and the solution is in fostering a resurgence of the language that defines Hopis.

Thats his gamble, Talayumptewa said of Nuvangyaoma's push. It will be an issue in the election. Im not backing off, and I guess thats my gamble.

The discussion about the language's role in tribal politics inevitably turns into one about identity, and cultural maintenance, sustainability and preservation. Hopi, like other tribes, have fought to maintain their language while the U.S. government tried to eradicate their culture and assimilate them into white society.

Ada Curtis, who is 65 and known by Somimana in Hopi, recalled being taught by non-Natives on the reservation and the sickening feeling when she stepped on the bus not knowing English but being scolded and getting her mouth washed out with soap for speaking Hopi.

Several years ago, the neighboring Navajo Nation grappled with a similar issue over language when a presidential candidate was disqualified after he refused to be the first to undergo a fluency test. Voters on the largest Native American reservation relaxed the requirements, essentially eliminating the need for key leaders to speak Navajo.

The White Mountain Apache Tribe in eastern Arizona requires its leader to speak the tribe's language. Other Arizona tribes, including Hualapai and Pascua Yaqui, and the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma do not.

The Hopi reservation has been trending toward English being the dominant language for decades, as fewer parents speak Hopi at home, said Dr. Sheilah Nicholas, or Qotsahonmana, a University of Arizona professor from the Hopi village of Songoopavi. A U.S. Census Bureau study released in 2011 found fewer than a half-million people age 5 and over spoke a Native American language at home.

A small segment of Hopis who live in a community at the base of First Mesa speak Tewa, a language more commonly heard among pueblo tribes along the Rio Grande in New Mexico. The Hopi reservation also includes the Village of Oraibi, the oldest, continuously inhabited settlement in the U.S., dating back around 1,000 years.

The Hopi sense of identity is vulnerable when Hopis live off the remote reservation, are distanced from religious and cultural practices like dry farming and ceremonies in the kiva, and cant speak the language that is part of a spiritual covenant with the creator, Maasaw, Qotsahonmana said.

But focusing only on the speaking ability erases other forms of language, she said.

Theres songs, theres teachings, theres prayer, said Qotsahonmana. All of those, if you are engaged and involved in those, you are becoming Hopi.

Bernita Duwahoyeoma, whose Hopi name is Siwivensi, pointed to sacrifices made over the years to protect the tribe's language and culture.

Nineteen Hopi men were incarcerated at Alcatraz, off the coast of San Francisco, in 1865 after refusing to send Hopi children to boarding school. In 1701, Hopis who resisted efforts by the Spanish to convert them to Christianity destroyed one of their own villages to ensure continuation of Hopi practices. Hopi men, women and children died, Siwivensi said.

It's our whole culture at stake, she said. Just something as simple as language, and there we go as a people. And I'm wondering, which one of these candidates is going to be sincere and listen to what the people are saying from their hearts?"

The winner in Thursdays nonpartisan election cannot single-handedly make changes to the 1934 Hopi constitution, but can shape a proposal through the Tribal Council and put it out for a vote.

Leilani Nish, who volunteered as a moderator for the debate and doesn't speak Hopi yet, said she'd welcome a change to involve the youth.

It's not a free pass, said the 19-year-old college student. Whoever is there, regardless, should be able to learn the language. That way, when you're talking (to) and greeting the people, you can greet them in Hopi. It's just more respectful.

Nuvangyaoma, 50, was a fresh face in Hopi politics before he was elected for the four-year term. He has been a firefighter, worked in finance, volunteered for the Hopi radio station and served four prison terms for aggravated drunken driving, experiences he said have helped him connect to Hopis who struggle with substance abuse.

During Saturdays debate, he repeatedly alluded to constitutional reform to give citizens a larger voice in tribal government, to create separation of powers and to modernize the document.

Talayumptewa, a 71-year-old retired U.S. Bureau of Education official, has championed creating a single school district on the reservation. He said the tribal government needs to partner with small businesses and private industries, and reengage with language and culture.

Nuvangyaoma beat Talayumptewa in the 2017 election. Vice chairman candidates Clark Tenakhongva and Craig Andrews run on separate tickets. Turnout generally is low.

Nuvangyaoma and Talayumptewa took questions on public safety, tribal sovereignty, tourism, flooding and illegal trash dumping during the debate at the school in Polacca that has allowed Hopis to get a high school education on their own reservation. A Hopi word at the entrance  nahongvita  encourages students to dig deep and stay strong.

The stage was adorned with gourds, baskets and a colorful painting with corn stalks and Hopis in traditional dress.

The candidates introduced themselves in Hopi but spoke primarily in English. Toward the end of the two-hour debate, Talayumptewa outlined his plan to revitalize the language, which includes immersion programs. Nuvangyaoma dismissed the talk as an empty promise, saying Talayumptewa has had plenty of time to enact change as a three-term council member on the education committee.

Deidra Honyumptewa, 47, said she left the debate feeling hopeful. She and her family recently moved from the Phoenix area back home to the Village of Tewa but do not speak Hopi or Tewa.

Theres a lot of highly educated people my age that are willing to step up to the plate and do what we need to do for our tribe, but that is a barrier for us, she said.

Fonseca is a member of the APs Race and Ethnicity team. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FonsecaAP

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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When Andrew Mercado found himself in the middle of a protest following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis last year, he was just figuring out how to livestream on Facebook. A few months later, though, thousands watched as he streamed footage from the Wisconsin streets where Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people.

Mercado was just one of a number of people who caught snippets of Rittenhouse on that August 2020 night of turmoil and unrest in Kenosha when the 17-year-old from nearby Antioch, Illinois, shot three men, killing two of them.

Livestreamers such as Mercado have become ubiquitous at protests, seeking to provide an unedited view into movements that often reflect an angry and divided America. They are often near the heart of protests, adorned with "press" identification and protective equipment, holding glowing phones that offer a real-time view into some of the most dramatic and violent clashes.

Some say they are journalists who follow the same principles of objectivity as traditional news outlets. Others point to them as activists seeking to amplify the impact of the protests. But nearly all say they are providing an alternative to mainstream newsrooms that they don't always trust.

Livestreaming "fits into a larger cultural moment that we're in, where people seem to want authenticity," said Seth Lewis, a journalism professor at the University of Oregon. "It seems raw and real."

Mercado, who lives in a Minneapolis suburb, said that when he started documenting protests last year, he was a "devout Republican." But amid mass protests over the killing of Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, he wanted to examine the issue of police accountability for himself.

"Now I'm getting my own perspective on things," he said, adding that he does not support either major political party.

A friend had to show Mercado how to livestream from his Facebook account on his phone before he started documenting the protests. Soon, his video stream had more than 60,000 viewers.

As people sent him money through money transfer apps, he bought gear such as a protective vest and gas mask. He also set up accounts on YouTube and Facebook that paid him for his streams.

Less than three months after first pointing his phone at the Minneapolis protests, Mercado was traveling the country and trying to make a living out of covering protests. He was on his way to a protest in Washington when he heard that a white Kenosha police officer had shot Jacob Blake, a Black man. He immediately headed that way.

As some of the protests in the Wisconsin city turned violent, Mercado said he found it hard to stay in his preferred role of observer. At one point, a fire threatening a church compelled him to put down his phone and extinguish the flames.

As shots rang out from Rittenhouse's rifle that night, Mercado was on the street. He streamed video as Rittenhouse ran past between the first and second shootings.

"I jumped out of the objective observer mode and I grabbed people and tried to help them," Mercado said.

Mercado was not the only one to capture footage of Rittenhouse. Video streams have featured prominently at the trial so far, with several livestreamers and reporters taking the witness stand.

Kristan Harris, who hosts a web-based talk show "The Rundown Live," testified Monday after video footage he shot that night was shown earlier in the trial.

He told The Associated Press that he saw a livestream as "the most raw form of reporting" that would "allow people to make decisions for themselves."

But even with plentiful video footage from the scene of the shooting, Rittenhouse's case has been cast into a cultural wedge that has been used by powerful interest groups, extremists, politicians and others to push their own agendas.

"They are capturing snippets and slices of larger things occurring," said Lewis, the journalism professor. "They still don't provide all the pieces of the puzzle."

However, Lewis pointed out that smartphones  and their ability to instantly capture video  have completely changed how instances of police brutality are documented, particularly for Black people.

"People would not believe us so we had to document it," said King Demetrius Pendleton, a Minneapolis-based activist and citizen journalist who can frequently be found at protests with a regular camera in one hand and a phone in the other.

For Pendleton, the livestream doesn't just broadcast images to an audience, it also transports his audience to the scene of the protest. That's especially important to him because he says Black people from his community are not always able to take to the streets due to financial hardships or legal troubles.

"When I'm livestreaming, there are so many that can't go out," he said. "I'm showing them."

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WASHINGTON  Women  and some men  in Congress have been fighting for government child care assistance for almost 80 years. With President Joe Biden's $1.85 trillion social services package, they are as close as they have ever been to winning.

And it's not just child care subsidies. Biden's bill making its way through Congress would put the U.S. on course to providing free prekindergarten, paid family leave to care for children or sick loved ones, and an enhanced child tax credit in a massive expansion of federal support to working families.

Taken together, it's Democrats' answer to President Richard Nixon's veto of a 1971 child care bill and the earlier scrapping of World War II-era child care centers, potentially providing families with more government help than ever as many struggle in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think COVID really illustrated to people how broken our child care system is in a way that people finally understood," said Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat with two young children.

Biden's big bill combines a series of long-sought Democratic goals to shore up families that have been tried before only to run into resistance, as they have again today, with Republicans in lockstep against the package.

The child care subsidies would attempt to guarantee that most Americans don't spend more than 7% of their income on child care.

And while Congress approved the Family and Medical Leave Act nearly 30 years ago to guarantee time off, the U.S. remains among a handful of wealthy countries that do not offer paid time off to care for children or sick loved ones.

All told, the federal government's new programs for paid parental leave, child care and an expanded child tax credit "would be pretty major, if not landmark, change for social policy and expanding its reach into the depths of how families cope in the modern economy," said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University.

Long before child care started eating up a sizable share of a family's income and the COVID-19 crisis pushed women from the workforce to care for kids at home, Congress tried to lower the costs of child raising in the U.S.

Some 80 years ago, Rep. Mary Norton of New Jersey  she was known as "Battling Mary," the first female Democrat elected to the House  was instrumental in securing money for child care centers during World War II as mothers went off to work. But the program was terminated soon after the war ended and never resurrected.

A quarter of a century later, Nixon invoked both communism and traditional female roles when he vetoed bipartisan legislation to federally fund child care, saying it was "radical" and had "familyweakening implications."

"We're still fighting for it," says House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat who has been pushing for child care subsidies and other programs to help families since she was a Senate aide in the 1980s. "You don't have a functioning economy without a strong childcare system. You can't do it, OK? Because women are the anchor in the economy."

With Republicans opposed, Democrats are trying to pass Biden's bill on their own in what has become a messy, grueling process. One conservative Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, is not fully on board with parental leave and some other proposals, leaving their final inclusion uncertain.

Like Nixon 50 years years ago, Republicans worry that providing an expanded federal safety net for American households with children is a slippery slope toward a socialist-style system.

Republicans say the programs' costs almost $400 billion for the child care and preschool piece alone  are far too high and would create more government intrusion into families' lives.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has called Biden's approach "radical." McConnell said Biden's administration "wants to insert itself into the most intimate family decisions and tell parents how to care for their toddlers."

But the women who have championed family-friendly federal policies, many of whom ran for office and were elected in part because of their experience as parents, say times have changed.

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who was first elected three decades ago and recalls voters asking her what she would do with her children if she won, says the country has evolved since Nixon suggested communal support would upend the traditional family structure.

"There's more women in Congress, there's more women at work, there's more families who have to have that income in order to be able to put food on the table, send their kids to college," Murray says.

The House bill would phase in the new child care entitlement program over three years, starting immediately for prekindergarten for families who earn their state's median income. Enrolled families would receive subsidies to use at participating facilities, which could range from child care centers to home day cares.

The program would eventually expand to families that earn 250% of that median income by 2025, giving the child care industry time to build up after the pandemic forced many layoffs and closures.

States would decide whether they want to participate in the program. Some advocates for the child care policy have concerns that Republican states will opt out of for political reasons, meaning fewer Americans will have access to it. The child care provision is closely tied to the universal preschool option, and states would be encouraged to enroll in both.

Duckworth said it became clear to her that the debate has changed, especially post-pandemic, after her office was approached by restaurant owners and other businesses in her state  "not exactly a liberal group of folks"  who said childcare assistance was cruicial to getting their employees to return to work.

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Former state Sen. Theresa Thibodeau of Omaha announced Wednesday that she will seek the 2022 Republican gubernatorial nomination.

"This is a campaign made up of true grassroots efforts and I plan on earning the support of voters by traveling across the state and sharing my vision and passion for the great state of Nebraska," Thibodeau said.

Her announcement followed word that she had signaled her candidacy to Cass County Republican Chairwoman Tracy Zeorian by confirming plans to participate in a gubernatorial forum hosted by the county party on Saturday night.

"I look forward to beginning my campaign at the Cass County debate," Thibodeau said.

Thibodeau "told me last night she is officially a candidate," Zeorian earlier stated in an online posting that revealed her plans to participate in the county forum.

Cass County Republicans will host what they have billed as a "town hall debate" at the Cass County Fairgrounds north of Weeping Water.

Two of the three highest-profile candidates, Jim Pillen of Columbus and Charles Herbster of Falls City, will not participate in the event.

State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha accepted an invitation to be there.

Also participating will be Michael Connely of Lincoln and Breland Ridenour of Elkhorn.

Former Gov. Dave Heineman, a potential candidate, has said he won't decide whether to enter the race until January.

Thibodeau, a former chairwoman of the Douglas County Republican Party, was appointed to the Legislature by Gov. Pete Ricketts in 2017, but failed to win election to a four-year term the following year.

Herbster named her as his lieutenant governor running mate when he announced his candidacy, but Thibodeau later withdrew from that role to consider entering the contest for governor instead.

In an interview after she was appointed to the Legislature, Thibodeau said she would work to lower income and property taxes.

"Taxes are too high in Nebraska," she said.

Thibodeau and her husband were the founders of an early childhood development school in LaVista.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon

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Hoovestal also wrote the complainant at Hokkaido was quite vocal in asserting that there was video of the event, but he could not and did not produce it when asked for it, because it didnt exist.

The affidavit does not reference a video. In the back-and-forth between Gallagher and Oestreicher after the Attorney Generals Office requested Gallagher turn over his case files, Gallagher did reference that the file did not have the A/V (audio/visual) evidence because it was stored in an electronic evidence locker for which the server went down. Gallagher said if Oestreicher needed the evidence, he could contact an HPD evidence technician who was listed on a possible witness list. Its not clear what the evidence was.

Hoovestal also wrote the complainant further had a dispute with Mrs. Smith arising from a prior transaction between the two which gave him motive to lie about what occurred, but did not elaborate.

Hoovestal also said it was disputed if Smith had a firearm but that if he did, state law clearly allowed him to communicate to another person the fact that [he had] a weapon, and it also allowed him to warn or threaten the use of force, against the aggressor, including drawing or presenting a weapon, Hoovestal wrote.
The conviction of a man found guilty of sexually abusing and exposing himself to minors was reversed by the Montana Supreme Court earlier this month.

The unanimous order Nov. 2 by a five-justice panel said Kenneth Tipton was found guilty improperly under updated laws that were not in place at the times of his alleged sexual abuse of children. The case was sent back to district court.

Tipton was found guilty in Meagher County District Court in 2019 on three counts related to indecent exposure and sexual abuse of a minor. He was sentenced to a combined 200 years at the state prison, with 150 years suspended. He was assigned a level II sex offender designation and was ineligible for parole until hed served 20 years and completed phases one and two of the state prisons sex offender treatment program.

In his appeal to the Montana Supreme Court filed at the start of this year, Tipton argued he had an ineffective lawyer in 2019 who failed to argue that one of the laws he was tried under didnt take effect until after the incident he was accused of. In the appeal, he was represented by an attorney from the Office of the State Public Defenders Appellate Defender Division.
It can be a milk product, it could be a vegetable, it could be a canned product, it could be ketchup, it could be chicken, said Pam Radke, food service director for Sidney Public Schools. Theres no rhyme or reason to what it is. Its just, its all over the place.

Radke has watched online as ingredients shes trying to secure from a distributor sell out before shes able to complete an order, prompting a rush to research and order substitutes. Those last-minute substitutions on school menus have also required her to keep a close watch on students with food-based health issues like diabetes or gluten intolerance, and contact parents or a school nurse to alert them of the change.

My menu is done a month in advance, Radke said. So [now parents] cant count on what it says. It makes for a lot more coordination, a lot more communication.

In her more than 30 years in school food service, 12 of them in Sidney, Radke said, shes never experienced anything like the current situation. Radke added that the cost of even basic lunchroom supplies has increased at an alarming rate. Last month, a box of three dozen metal forks she used to pay $6 for cost $18, and was only available by special order.
A bill that would ban critical race theory from being taught in public schools overwhelmingly passed the North Dakota House of Representatives on Thursday after nearly an hour of debate.

House debate on other culture war issues, including bills to restrict vaccination mandates and allow the use of ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment, was continuing late into the night Thursday.

House Bill 1508, proposed by Rep. Jim Kasper, R-Fargo, now goes to the Senate. It would ban teaching the academic theory, which centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nations institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society. The lawmaker has called the academic theory insidious and said the goal of the legislation is to protect children from inappropriate topics.

"Our parents are seeing these types of ideas, these types of concepts in critical race theory being brought home by their children," he said Thursday.

Rep. Terry Jones, R-New Town, likened allowing critical race theory in schools to poisoning children.

Bill supporters said the theory is already being taught in some schools. Whether that's the case isn't clear. State Department of Public Instruction spokesman Dale Wetzel told the Tribune that the agency doesn't keep track of curriculum in individual K-12 school districts in the state. Neither Bismarck Public Schools nor Mandan Public Schools teaches critical race theory or has any plans to do so, according to district officials.

North Dakota University System spokeswoman Billie Jo Lorius told the Tribune that while there are no critical race theory programs across the system of 11 public colleges and universities, "the NDUS does not track or approve courses or curriculum within courses."

Though he voted for the bill, Rep. David Richter, R-Williston, during earlier committee discussion said he dealt with critical race theory in higher education and that the academic definition and the one being used politically are different.

Opponents of the bill cited First Amendment concerns and said the lack of penalties for violating the proposed law undermined the Legislature's authority.

Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo, said the bill would limit teachers' rights to free speech and that it would cause confusion in schools because of differing understandings of what critical race theory is.

The lack of penalties included in the bill were an issue for Rep. Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks. The bill includes a provision that allows the superintendent of public instruction to make rules around critical race theory in schools.

"I am not comfortable with us delegating that authority with optional rulemaking to the executive branch," he said. "If it is this severe, we are the legislative branch. We are the policymaking branch. We should be establishing the guidelines."

Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, R-Fargo, proposed turning the bill into an interim study during earlier committee discussion of the legislation, but her motion failed.

She said on the House floor Thursday that the issue needed more study and should be discussed during a full legislative session. But the House voted 76-16 to pass the bill.

The Legislature is meeting in a special session to redraw legislative districts and decide how to spend federal coronavirus aid, but legislators also have introduced bills dealing with culture war issues such as critical race theory, vaccine mandates and dubitable COVID-19 treatments.

Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com.

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PIERRE, S.D.  South Dakota lawmakers weighing impeachment of the state's attorney general will start their investigation by hiring legal counsel to guide their probe.

The House's investigative committee met for the first time Wednesday as they delve into Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg's conduct surrounding a fatal car crash last year.

Ravnsborg, a Republican who was elected to his first term in 2018, pleaded no contest in August to a pair of misdemeanors in the crash that killed 55-year-old Joseph Boever, who was walking along a rural stretch of highway when Ravnsborg struck him with his car. Ravnsborg has insisted that he did not realize he killed a man until he returned to the scene the next day and discovered his body.

The House's investigation is expected to take months as they look into the crash investigation. During their first meeting, lawmakers reviewed state law on impeachment, but held off on any further action until they could hire an attorney.

We are looking for somebody thats very educated in the constitution and in state law, said House Speaker Spencer Gosch, the Republican who is overseeing the committee.

Gosch said he wants to hire an attorney quickly, but did not give a timeline for when that would happen.

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 longtime North Dakota lawmaker from a Bismarck-area district won't seek reelection next year, citing both personal reasons and a growing erosion of civility in politics.

Sen. Nicole Poolman, R-Bismarck, told the Senate on Thursday she won't run for another term in 2022 so that she can spend more time with her family and her students as an English teacher at Century High School.

She won her District 7 Senate seat in 2012, and won reelection in 2014 and 2018. Most recently, she has served on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Legislature's Redistricting Committee.

"I decided it's time for me to move on. When I finish out my term next year, I will have served a decade in these hallowed halls, and it is important to me to thank the people of District 7 for instilling their trust in me over the last decade," Poolman said.

But she also cited politically "divisive times, toxic times."

"When I ran 10 years ago, it was because I saw civility diminishing in our national conversations, and I didn't want that to happen here in North Dakota," she said. "I hope I have contributed to the atmosphere of respect and decorum in my time here, but I do feel civility and respect slipping even here in North Dakota, some days even in the Legislature."

The Senate gave Poolman a standing ovation. Sen. Ray Holmberg, R-Grand Forks, the longest-serving senator, commended her "for gracing this body for a number of years."

Reach Jack Dura at 701-250-8225 or jack.dura@bismarcktribune.com.

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Military members, dignitaries and others gathered at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck on Thursday to mark Veterans Day.

Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is observed on Nov. 11, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. It's a federal and state holiday.

Vern Fetch, who served in the Korean War and is a 39-year veteran with the North Dakota National Guard, rang a bell 11 times during the ceremony to honor the celebration that occurred on Armistice Day, which ended the war on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

The ceremony was sponsored by 10 local veterans groups and women auxiliaries and featured speeches from several dignitaries, highlighted by keynote remarks from Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber with the state Guard. Huber, a Bismarck native who has served in the Guard since 1989, has been deployed for Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Gov. Doug Burgum, who also spoke, issued a statement thanking the more than 50,000 military veterans in North Dakota and soldiers who died in the line of duty.

To these veterans and the families who have served alongside them, we owe a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid," he said. "As Americans who enjoy the liberty that our men and women in uniform have defended for the past nearly 250 years, we all have a duty to honor their service, uphold the values they fought to protect and ensure they know how much we appreciate and support them.

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Building Security Operations From the Ground Up

As one of Australias leading brands, MLC Life Insurances ambition is to be the leading and most trusted life insurer.

After joining forces with Nippon Life Insurance, MLC Life needed to build its IT infrastructure from the ground up, improving the experience and service they delivered to customers while staying protected.

Watch this video to learn more about the security partnership that enhanced MLC Life Insurances customer experience.
Software Supply Chain Exploits Are Exploding - How CISOs Can Proactively Prevent Threats And Reduce Risk

Software supply chain attacks are on the rise, typically occurring in 1 of 3 ways:

Nation state sponsored threat actor gains access to an IT vendors code repository management system Threat actor monitors the build process and mimics the vendor developers terminology and naming conventions Threat actor imbeds a malicious backdoor in the build for ran essential software update distributed to the vendors customers

Watch this webinar to learn more about the threats facing todays organizations and discover how CISOs can better prevent threats and reduce risk across the supply chain.
On a balmy summer night, we are sitting on the balcony of our Oia vacation house, nibbling on pita, grilled meats, and a Greek salad  the first of many Greek meals to come. Our plane landed in Santorini just a couple of hours ago. Settled in our cute cave house, were ready to soak in the beautiful surroundings.



A couple of months ago, you helped pick this adorable cave house out of the dozen options I presented you. We both love the traditional Cycladic style  half-cylindrical roof, chalk-white walls with splashes of bright blue. The best part of the house is when you step out on the terrace  the most resplendent sunset views against the ancient windmills over the sparkling sea.



Santorini is one of those places that you build up in your mind as being nothing short of magical. Its plastered on glossy mags, on every list of most beautiful this and that, and airbrushed to perfection on instagram. The other day I saw you show your brother an instagram picture of breakfast over the caldera view, Lucas, this could be us!



Technically, youve been here. Daddy and I had our babymoon here when I was 5 months pregnant with you. Santorini was already becoming popular back then. But 16 years ago, there were no over-photoshopped pictures / no instagram / no social media. I fear Santorini has been varnished to a very high gloss, and instagram might have ruined it for you.



But here we are, sitting and taking in the quiet air and mesmerizing beauty of the caldera. I wonder if Santorini lives up to your expectations. Or will you find it overrated? Even its so-called most beautiful sunset of the world underwhelming in reality?



And now we watch the drama unfold. As the sun dips lower, ribbons of color  pink, crimson, yellow, orange, purple  dance across the sky. And then the golden sun gets caught in the giant pinwheel of the windmill! An Old Testament verse comes to mind: A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a silver basket.

Finally, the orange orb slides behind the horizon, draping the caldera in a shimmery twilight.



We put our dinner away and head for the crumbling fortress at the edge of town.



Meandering up and down on the cobbled streets, I find Oia even more picturesque than I remember. Stretched before us is an expansive bay framed by dark volcanic cliffs. Large clusters of pristine white houses cling to the cliffs. From a distance, they look like snow-capped mountains. Blue domed churches and windmills with pointy thatched roofs punctuate the skyline. Far below, a few lonely sailboats head for the harbor.



We arrive at the ruined castle. Across the bay, the cliffhanging whitewashed buildings look like hundreds of sugar cubes that have frozen while tumbling down the bluffs edge. I point out our babymoon hotel to you and your brother. I remember the pool, the patio, the donkey that carried our luggage to the hotel; and along with that, the joy and excitement when I felt your kicks and moves. How would I have ever dreamt that youd become such a gorgeous, sweet, cheerful young lady? The loveliest person, the kindest soul. Your eyes are transfixed by the spectacular painting in front of us, the brilliant white and blue against a kaleidoscope of pink and orange in the sky. As dusk settles over town, one by one, like fireflies, lights begin to twinkle, and soft, warm rays emanate from the creamy walls. The houses begin to glow like illuminated facets of a prism. The entire setting is impossibly dreamy. An immense sense of peace and serenity overcomes my spirit.



Wow, says your bother.

Wow, you say.

Wow, we say together.



Its even more beautiful than the pictures, you say.



Im thankful for the miracles of the world, for the blessings of being here, for our shared version of Santorini. Its serene, intimate, respectful, and soulful.


















































Ted Cruz, the sniveling, sanctimonious gasbag who gets caught on a regular basis telling laughable lies to cover up his unctuous behavior, recently talked about the possibility of Texas seceding from the union. He said a breakaway Texas would take NASA, the military, and the oil with it. It's all BS of course. Texas is a gimme state, receiving $1.20 in federal funds for every dollar it sends to Washington. It couldn't pay NASA's budget or the military without federal aid.

After I posted about Cruz's empty threat, a Goddard Space Flight Center scientist (who asked to remain anonymous) sent me an email that drives another nail in Cruz's Texit coffin:
Vogue reported on the lavish wedding of Ivy Getty, great-granddaughter of oil billionaire J. Paul Getty. The event, which took place in San Francisco, featured a performance by Earth Wind & Fire, a dance floor led by actress Anya Taylor-Joy, and a ceremony officiated by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Popstar Olivia Rodrigo joined in on the festivities too.

The article uses over 2200 words and 100 pictures to display the event's lavish details, and while some praised the wedding for its beauty, others criticized its opulence. Journalist Philip Bump called the article "powerful editorial in support of a wealth tax."

Politicians including San Francisco Mayor London Breed and California governor Gavin Newsom attended the event, and the latter received attention for
My bandmates and I were recently joking that "being in the Foo Fighters" is basically the equivalent of having the best office job. They show up, clock in, maybe pull some office pranks on each other, and then they each go home and work on their real passion projects. We meant this lovingly  they're really good at cranking out some solid tunes. And to their credit, they always find new always to challenge themselves. Case in point: they're making a movie.

In STUDIO 666, the legendary rock band Foo Fighters move into an Encino mansion steeped in grisly rock and roll history to record their much anticipated 10th album. Once in the house, Dave Grohl finds himself grappling with supernatural forces that threaten both the completion of the album and the lives of the band. Grohl continues: "Like most things Foo, STUDIO 666 began with a far-fetched idea that blossomed into something bigger than we ever imagined possible. Filmed at the same house where we recorded our latest album, Medicine at Midnight (told you that place was haunted!), we wanted to recapture the classic magic that all of our favorite rock and roll movies had, but with a twist: hilarious gore that fucking ROCKS. And now, with the help of Tom Ortenberg and the team at Open Road Films, we can finally let this cat out of the bag after keeping it our best-kept secret for two years. Be ready to laugh, scream, and headbang in your popcorn. STUDIO 666 will fuck you up.

NME had previously reported on the haunted happenings at the Encino house where the band recorded Medicine at Midnight at the end of 2019 and early 2020:

"When we walked into the house in Encino, I knew the vibes were definitely off but the sound was fucking on," said Grohl. "We started working there and it wasn't long before things started happening. We would come back to the studio the next day and all of the guitars would be detuned. "Or the setting we'd put on the board, all of them had gone back to zero.We would open up a Pro Tools session and tracks would be missing. There were some tracks that were put on there that we didn't put on there. But just like weird open mic noises. Nobody playing an instrument or anything like that, just an open mic recording a room." He continued: "And we'd fucking zero in on sounds within that. And we didn't hear any voices or anything really decipherable. But something was happening."

The band set up some hidden cameras, Paranormal Activity-style, and supposedly learned some things about the house's history  but, according to Grohl, the landlord made them sign an NDA because he's trying to tell the place.

Is it possible that this last part is bullshit, and just Grohl engaging in some long-term myth-making to promote the film they were working on in secret? It's possible. Or it could be entirely legit; with Grohl, it can go either way.

Studio 666 is out in theaters on 25th, 2022.

Foo Fighters to make feature film debut in horror comedy 'Studio 666' [Nick Reilly / Rolling Stone]

Foo Fighters say ghosts disrupted recording sessions for new album [Nick Reilly / NME]
Tech site The Verge has announced a new policy ending its use of unattributed PR ("on background") unless explicitly agreed to in advance. It also complains about the industry's public relations departments for their increasingly unethical efforts to influence coverage. EIC Nilay Patel:

We're doing this because big tech companies in particular have hired a dizzying array of communications staff who routinely push the boundaries of acceptable sourcing in an effort to deflect accountability, pass the burden of truth to the media, and generally control the narratives around the companies they work for while being annoying as hell to deal with.

Patel lists a few of the things he's had to deal with recently as the site's EIC:

 More than one big company insists on holding product briefings "on background with no attribution" which means no one can properly report what company executives say about their own new products during marketing events.

 A big tech company PR person emailed us a link to the company's own website "on background."

 A food delivery company insisted on discussing the popularity of chicken wings on background.

 Multiple big tech companies insist on having PR staffers quoted as "sources familiar with the situation" even though they are paid spokespeople for the most powerful companies in the world.

 A large recruiting company claimed it was an unethical double standard for us to attribute a statement to their spokesperson because we asked the company to respond to allegations from former employees who spoke to us anonymously.

 A big tech company refused to detail a controversial new privacy policy on the record, allowing it to amend details about it in repeated background follow-up briefings for over a week.

 A big tech company insisted on describing the upgrade requirements for its new operating system on background. Details which it then repeatedly changed on background.

 A major car company's head of communications told us an April Fools' joke was actually real on background. The joke was not real.

 A major platform's head of communications would only explain a content moderation decision attributed to "a source familiar," tried to refute our characterization of that decision after we published, and then threatened to cut our reporter off from further communication.

 A big tech company sent us a statement "on the record" with the caveat that it could not be attributed to a specific individual.

 A major delivery company spokesperson, asked when the company would be profitable, insisted that the following statement only be paraphrased on background: "We're investing in the enormous opportunity to enable omnichannel commerce for local businesses."

 A major video game company gave a briefing "on background." After we used that information in our story, attributing it to the company generally, a PR person tried to renegotiate what "on background" meant after the fact to avoid any attribution whatsoever, even going so far as to imply to our reporter that her editor had agreed to change specific sentences. (The editor had agreed to nothing of the sort.)
A frisky baby Indian rhinoceros, all perky ears and what looks like taut body armor, made her public debut at the Buffalo Zoo Thursday.

"She looks adorable," Lucas Szczesniak said. "Such a cute little rhino."

"It's so exciting watching her play," said Patti Thompson from Niagara Falls. "They're very cool-looking animals. Prehistoric."

About 50 people who arrived early watched gleefully as the small rhino frolicked about and occasionally raced toward her mom in short bursts if she got too far away.

The rhino, the fifth offspring of 24-year-old Tashi, weighed 130 pounds at birth on Oct. 16.

Pumpkins on the ground were chomped on by mother and daughter. When the baby rhino realized Tashi stepped away to get an apple offered by an animal keeper, she rushed across the enclosure to catch up.

"It is super cute," said Athena Smyntek, 9, of Lackawanna, with her mother, Kelly. "I love how the little baby rhino runs."

Sisters Brooke Skiba and Brittany Hensel brought children from Salamanca for the occasion. So did Lisa Harris of Geneva.
OGrady was a quick learner, and she liked her new gig so much that she told Yannick Cam, the celebrity chef at Le Pavillon, that she wanted to go to culinary school.

He said, Why would you pay for that? You can just keep learning on the job. What I didnt know at the time was that I could learn way more working for him than I could at any culinary school.

She stayed at Le Pavillon for a year, then moved to Galileo, another top D.C. restaurant, and then to Kinkeads, a newly opened fine-dining seafood restaurant. She worked there for 10 years under Robert Kinkead Jr., another of Washingtons top chefs.

As it happens, a fellow by the name of Brian Wolken worked for her at Kinkeads, but they didnt much like each other, so he soon left for another restaurant. Then, a few years later, at a Fourth of July boat party on the Potomac River for Kinkeads staffers, OGrady and Wolken met again. He was there as the guest of another staffer  and this time they hit it off. They talked for hours that day, and started dating soon after.
WASHINGTON  Expect to see construction cones  lots of them  along local highways and bridges starting in the spring.

If you live on a limited income, you might welcome a weatherization crew to your home around then, too.

Shrunken 'Build Back Better' bill still has provisions important to Buffalo A provision that's especially important to New Yorkers  restoring the full deduction for state and local taxes  remains in question.

Before long, you might see runway work at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

And more of Buffalo's lead water pipes will removed, probably starting next year.

Those are just four of the local ramifications of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that Congress finalized last week. Sources familiar with the legislation said it will likely mean a busy construction season in the Buffalo Niagara region and nationwide in the spring and for at least four springs after that.

+2 What's in the infrastructure bill? Money for Great Lakes, the border and weatherization No matter what you think of it, the infrastructure bill is a 2,701-page tome whose fine print reveals big spending that could benefit Buffalo.

"It's the largest infusion for infrastructure for Western New York certainly in 70 years and maybe even longer," said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat who compared the effort to the construction of the interstate highway system starting in the 1950s.
An attorney for Ji's family told the Columbia Daily Tribune before the trial started that they didn't plan to provide a statement, but said on Wednesday they're pleased with Knight's efforts.

During closing arguments on Thursday, Knight told the jury that Elledge was a stone cold killer who was guilty of first-degree murder because he intentionally killed his wife.

Rosenblum argued that his client was awkward and made unbelievably dumb decisions after she died. But he said Elledge never intended to kill his wife and should never have been charged with murder.

During his trial, Elledge said Jis death was accidental. He said she fell and hit her head on Oct. 8, 2019, after he pushed her during an argument and he found her dead in bed the next morning. He said he panicked, put her body in the trunk of her car and did not report what happened while he tried to decide what to do.

He did not tell anyone, including Jis mother, about her disappearance.
The deficit for the 2021 budget year that ended Sept. 30 totaled $2.77 trillion, the second highest on record. But that was an improvement from the all-time high of $3.13 trillion reached in fiscal 2020. The deficits in both years reflect trillions of dollars in government spending to counteract the devastating effects of a global pandemic.

Before the deficit ballooned during two years of a global pandemic, the biggest deficit had been a shortfall of $1.4 trillion in 2009. At that time, the U.S. was spending heavily to lift the country out of a severe recession following the 2008 financial crisis.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office expects the deficit will fall to $1.15 trillion in the current budget year, which began Oct. 1, and will dip below $1 trillion for three years from 2023 through 2025 before rising again above $1 trillion for each year through 2031.

That CBO forecast does not include the spending that will occur from the recently passed $1 trillion infrastructure bill or other potential spending measures in President Joe Biden's agenda.

The CBO projections are that the deficits over the next decade will add another $12.1 trillion to the national debt.
The causes of Vermonts misery are uncertain. While cooler weather is surely a factor, the truth is that no vaccination is perfect. Although new infections are concentrated in the unvaccinated, some breakthrough cases are occurring, and while those people tend not to become seriously ill, they can transmit the virus to others, mainly to the unvaccinated.

That population of resisters remains a risk to the health care system, businesses, the economy and the community, including its schools.

It may seem odd, but the low transmission rate of Covid-19 in schools proves the value of masks and the need, for now, to keep using them. Schools are comparative safe zones specifically because of such requirements, which teachers and other adults are able to enforce. School Covid policies are a success story. They should be continued until they are safe to discard.

Because of foolhardy people, were not there. So keep the masks  but give the kids a break, too. And, if youre not vaccinated, please do so. Youre part of the problem.

  

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
It was over half a century ago when I got a call from my great aunt Bonnie asking me if Id like a part-time job working for a friend of hers. The idea was that I would do household chores and minor repairs for her recently retired co-worker. Frances lived in a very large brick home up on Main Street near Kensington and the upkeep was becoming too much for her.

Jobs were scarce in the late 1960s and I jumped at the chance. For the next decade, I would head up to the big house every few weeks to scrub floors, paint bedrooms, put up storm windows, etc. Frances and I became good friends: me, a goofy high school kid and her, a refined, patrician lady in her 70s.

Frances was of English descent and her family emigrated here to prosper. At the end of the 19th century, her parents bought a house in what was once a tony Buffalo neighborhood. She would spend all of her 80-plus years living there.

My Aunt Bonnies family, on the other hand, came from Ireland to America just to survive. Their first home was in the shanty town on the shores of Lake Erie in South Buffalo. When the railroad forced them out, they moved to the Old First Ward.
Advancing Inclusive Education in Peru

Author: Aime Apaza with a Foreword by David Towell

Ever since families first came together in the field of intellectual disability to share their experiences with each other and campaign for better support, education for their children has been a top priority. Increasingly, many national family associations have made their focus delivery of inclusive education, now called for in the fourth of the global Sustainable Development Goals.

This is challenging work. Education systems are large and complex. By comparison, most national family associations and their local partners are small. Leaders of our associations need to work hard both to build their own capacity to achieve positive change and find good ways of engaging with the education system at many levels. The diagram below provides a simple illustration of what this may involve.

At Inclusion International's Global Congress in 2018, I invited three national leaders from a diverse mix of countries, all mothers of children with intellectual disabilities, to share their different experiences of advocating for educational transformation. Their story is published here.

During 2021 I have taken this further by inviting leaders on education from a wider range of national associations to share their stories. So far we have detailed case studies from Peru, New Zealand, Colombia and Spain with examples from provincial associations in Canada to follow.

The first of these case studies comes from Peru.

The Down's Syndrome Society in Peru (SPSD) is the most visible civil society association working nationally, and through several allies locally, to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities. It is led by parents but it is able to attract very well-qualified and committed professional staff to its work.

Aime Apaza, an educational psychologist by qualification, is their lead on inclusive education. She describes here how SPSD has sought to explore and influence Peruvian education through all the routes identified by arrows in the diagram above.

Perhaps most fundamentally, Aime explains how her association has come to see that improving opportunities for students with Down's syndrome requires a commitment to advancing inclusive education for all children and young people. Faced with the huge diversity and massive inequalities in Peruvian society and of course, the extra challenges posed by the pandemic, this is very much work in progress.

Read and download the Peruvian case study in full in English here and in Spanish here.

The publisher is the Centre for Inclusive Futures.

Advancing Inclusive Education in Peru  David Towell 2021.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher except for the quotation of brief passages in reviews.

Documents
MADISON, Wis.  The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection confirms that a white-tailed deer from an Eau Claire County hunt ranch has tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD). Positive samples from a 3-year-old buck were confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa.

The herd of approximately 15 deer is under quarantine while an epidemiological investigation is conducted by DATCP and U.S. Department of Agriculture veterinarians and staff. The ranch was confirmed to have received the deer from a Waukesha County deer farm, which also has been placed under quarantine.

CWD is a fatal, neurological disease of deer, elk and moose caused by an infectious protein called a prion that affects the animals brain, and testing for CWD is typically only performed after the animals death. DATCP regulates deer farms for registration, recordkeeping, disease testing, movement, and permit requirements.

More information about CWD can be found at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Programs_Services/ChronicWastingDisease.aspx

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Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand in his murder trial Wednesday, testifying about how he shot three men during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha last year.

Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz. He faces multiple charges, including intentional homicide. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, has argued that the men attacked him and he fired in self-defense.

Here's a look at some highlights from his testimony:

'NORMAL TEENAGE STUFF'

Rittenhouse said he lived in Antioch, Illinois, just across the state line from Kenosha, in August 2020. He enjoyed swimming, going to the beach with his friends and "just normal teenage stuff." He was a police explorer for the Grayslake Police Department and a cadet with the Antioch Fire Department. He also was a certified lifeguard trained in CPR, defibrillator use and "basic life support." He said his father, grandmother, aunt, uncle and a cousin live in Kenosha  an apparent attempt to push back against the prosecution portrayal of him as an outsider who went there looking for trouble.

WHY DID HE GO TO KENOSHA?

The protests began on Aug. 23, 2020, hours after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, during a domestic disturbance. Rittenhouse said he saw video on social media of the unrest.

Two days later, Rittenhouse went to downtown Kenosha and volunteered to clean graffiti off a high school. He met the owners of a car dealership where vehicles had been burned, offered his "condolences," and said he wanted to help. He said the owners asked his friend to protect their business, and that he joined his friend and others that night. He took his semi-automatic rifle and first-aid supplies. He gave his bulletproof vest  which he said was issued by the Grayslake Police Department  to a friend. He said he felt he wouldn't need it "because I'm going to be helping people."

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS ENCOUNTERS WITH ROSENBAUM?

Rittenhouse testified that Rosenbaum threatened his life twice.

He said he had been putting out fires and asking people if they needed medical help when he saw Rosenbaum carrying a steel chain and wearing a mask. Rosenbaum began screaming at him, he said.

"He was just mad about something. He's screaming, 'If I catch any of you (expletives) alone I'm going to (expletive) kill you.'"

When he encountered Rosenbaum again later, Rosenbaum shouted, "I'm going to cut your (expletive) hearts out and kill you," Rittenhouse said.

Later, he was walking with a fire extinguisher after hearing protesters were burning cars at one of the lots his friends were trying to protect. Rittenhouse said he saw a fire in a truck on one of the lots then Joshua Ziminski approached him with a gun. Rosenbaum came out from behind some cars and "ambushed" him, Rittenhouse testified.

He said he tried to run away but Rosenbaum chased him as Ziminski yelled "get him" and "kill him." Rittenhouse said Rosenbaum threw a bag at him that he mistook for the chain, and that he pointed his rifle at Rosenbaum but Rosenbaum didn't stop. He heard a gunshot behind him and "I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun," Rittenhouse said.

He said he fired four times, went up to Rosenbaum to see if he could help him, then ran away because people were yelling "get his ass, get him, get him."

He also said later that he feared that if he let Rosenbaum take his gun, "he would have used it and killed me with it and probably killed more people."

WHAT HAPPENED AS HE RAN?

Rittenhouse said Huber hit him in the neck with a skateboard and someone hit him in the back of the head with a rock, causing him to stumble. A man tried to kick him in the face after he went down, he said. He fired twice at that man but missed. Rittenhouse said he feared the man "would have stomped my face in."

Huber hit him in the neck again with the skateboard and grabbed his gun, Rittenhouse said.

"I can feel the strap coming off my body," he said. "I fire one shot."

In the next instant, Grosskreutz ran up to him. He lowered his rifle as Grosskreutz raised his hands in a "surrender" motion. But Grosskreutz was holding a pistol and as Rittenhouse lowered his weapon Grosskreutz pointed the pistol "directly at my head," Rittenhouse said. He fired once, hitting Grosskreutz in the arm.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE?

Rittenhouse testified that after he shot Grosskreutz he approached a line of police vehicles with his hands up.

"People were screaming and I'm just trying to get to the police," he said. "I didn't do anything wrong. I defended myself."

He walked up to a squad car and told an officer he had just shot somebody. "The officer said 'get the (expletive) back or you're going to be pepper sprayed' and 'go home, go home, go home,'" he said.

He turned himself in at the Antioch Police Department about an hour later because the Kenosha station was barricaded, he said. He said officers made him sit on a chair and wait for Kenosha detectives to arrive.

"I was vomiting and having panic attacks and my head was spinning," he said. "I couldn't think clearly."

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS STATE OF MIND?

A defendant's state of mind is crucial in a self-defense case. He must show that he reasonably believed his life was in danger and the amount of force he used was appropriate to win an acquittal. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger pressed Rittenhouse about his intentions during cross-examination, asking him whether he meant to kill the three men.

"I didn't intend to kill them. I intended to stop the people who were attacking me," Rittenhouse said.

Defense attorney Mark Richards also asked Rittenhouse at one point why he stopped running from Rosenbaum  relevant in a case where jurors may consider whether he did all he could to move away from danger. "There was no space for me to continue to run to," Rittenhouse answered.

DID RITTENHOUSE KEEP HIS COMPOSURE?

His youth shone through, for example when he referred to attorneys as "you guys." He gestured often with his arms, simulating how Rosenbaum reached for him, how Grosskreutz held up his hands with the pistol and how he walked toward police with his hands up.

When he was describing how Rosenbaum appeared and chased him, he cried, and Judge Bruce Schroeder called for a recess.

Rittenhouse was composed for most of the rest of his nearly daylong time on the stand, except for another period during the afternoon's cross-examination where his voice thickened as he insisted to Binger that he "never wanted to shoot Mr. Rosenbaum."

"He was chasing me. I was alone. He threatened to kill me earlier in that night. I didn't want to have to shoot him," he said.

PINCHING, ZOOMING AND LOGARITHMS

The proceedings were slowed in the afternoon as prosecutors prepared to show drone video of the moments leading up to Rittenhouse shooting Rosenbaum. After Binger said the prosecution would be pinching and zooming on an iPad to show events more clearly, defense attorney Mark Richards objected on the grounds that the device's software might not accurately depict what happened when the pinch zoom was used.

Binger responded that it was no different than using a magnifying glass on a picture, but Schroeder said he would need to bring in an expert to prove that the technology doesn't distort.

After a recess, Binger presented the video without attempting the pinch-and-zoom. When he stopped the action at one point and asked Rittenhouse to confirm that his gun was raised, Rittenhouse responded: "I can't see it."

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UW Health is joining a growing number of organ transplant programs in requiring patients to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to get transplants or be put on organ waiting lists.

The Madison hospitals policy, starting next Monday, requires patients on the transplant waiting list to get a first dose of vaccine by Dec. 15 and a second dose, if needed, by Jan. 14. If not, theyll be changed to inactive status, meaning they wont receive organ offers and cant get living donor transplants.

People not yet on the waiting list will need to be vaccinated before being added to the list, UW Health said.

This new policy reflects our commitment to patient safety and our respect for the donors and families whove made the selfless decision to give others the gift of life, Dr. Dixon Kaufman, medical director of the UW Health Transplant Center, said in a statement Thursday. It is unfortunate that transplant recipients  because of the anti-rejection drugs they need  are put at far greater risk than others for severe illness or death from COVID-19. We believe that requiring vaccination for COVID-19, just as vaccinations are required for other infectious diseases, gives our recipients the best odds for surviving and thriving once they receive their transplant.

Exceptions may be made for people deemed too ill to wait for the completion of the vaccination process, UW Health said. They can be put on the waiting list or get a transplant with the acknowledgment of the increased risk of severe COVID-19 infection, the hospital said. In such cases, vaccination will be required after transplant surgery as soon as recommended by the medical team.

The American Society of Transplant Surgeons in August endorsed COVID-19 vaccine requirements for transplant candidates.

It is a matter of active debate, Dr. Deepali Kumar, an expert in transplant infectious diseases at the University of Toronto and president-elect of the American Society of Transplantation, told Kaiser Health News in October, when UW Health said it was considering a requirement. Its really an individual program decision. In many programs, its in flux.

UW Health said that in a study of 482 unvaccinated transplant recipients who contracted COVID-19, 78% had to be hospitalized. Among them, 20.5% died.

The hospital is encouraging booster shots for transplant patients and COVID-19 vaccination for living kidney and liver organ donors. Vaccination may be required for some living donors.

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Jason Church isnt sure how hes going to feel this Veterans Day.

A combat veteran and Milwaukee resident, Church lost both of his legs from the knee down after he was hit by an improvised bomb in Afghanistan in 2012. Two months after the U.S. pulled out of that war, Church is experiencing a mix of affection for those he served with and anger over the way the conflict ended.

It was very difficult to see what happened in Afghanistan, and then to really understand how that not only affected me but my fellow veterans, Church said. A lot of us ended up asking the question of why was I there? What was I there for if we were willing to just pull out in an instant? What purpose was my sacrifice for?

What did I lose two legs for?

The messy evacuation of Afghanistan, including the deaths of 13 American service members and the evacuation of 130,000 people in the final days, left many veterans disillusioned  as has the speed with which the public appears to have largely moved on from the conflict.

Its not the cool thing trending on the internet or on the nightly news. Its totally forgotten about, veteran Ilene Henderson said of Afghanistan, where she was deployed in the early 2000s. Were still working to get people out. It hasnt stopped.

Baraboo resident and Iraq combat veteran Eric Pizer has been thinking about the Afghans who fell to their deaths after clinging to U.S. jets during the evacuation, the Americans who died helping people escape, and how the country so many Americans bled for is now in chaos after being overrun by the Taliban.

It feels like it was a gigantic waste of time, lives and money, Pizer said of the war in Afghanistan. He blames President Joe Biden, who ended the war but did everything wrong and lost lives in the process.

I think I speak on (behalf of) a greater portion of veterans when I say that were all pretty mad about everything that happened, Pizer said.

Despite their frustrations, local veterans said they are proud of what they were able to accomplish.

For one thing, Church said, there have been no more terrorist attacks in the U.S. originating from Afghanistan. Another is that millions of Afghans had an opportunity for a better life, though much of that work has now been undone since the Taliban are now back in power.

One lesson the country learned is that the U.S. needs to have a clear-cut intention when it goes to war, Church said. That purpose evolved over the years, Church said, from eliminating Afghanistan as a haven for terrorists to nation-building, restoring the countrys civil society and attempting to win over the publics support.

By many accounts, that strategy helped fuel corruption in the country and failed to rout the Taliban, who found refuge in neighboring Pakistan, a U.S. ally. Other tactics like relying on special forces units and drone warfare often killed civilians, undermining the United States stated goals of protecting the population.

Though U.S. public opinion never turned against the war in Afghanistan as it had in Iraq in the mid-2000s, the conflict has helped entrench anti-interventionist views, said Jon Pevehouse, a political science professor at UW-Madison.

It certainly has made (the public) completely unfavorable toward interventions to create democracy or even unseat governments, Pevehouse said. I think history will look back and say, Yes, we could have given it a bigger try, but the checks would have had to been even larger, the deployments even larger. It would have been hard to imagine the political support for that.

Cost of war

Over 20 years, Church said, theres a lot of blood, a lot of sweat and a lot of money spent over there.

The mental health of veterans who returned home from the conflict will also be an enduring legacy of the war.

Madisonian Fran Wiedenhoeft, 61, who served as an Army nurse anesthetist in Afghanistan in 2003, said many veterans shes known have given up trying to get mental health treatment through the Veterans Affairs system after encountering monthslong waits. Veteran suicide rates have only increased, she noted.

This is the cost of war, Wiedenhoeft said. It wasnt just the billions of dollars that you send to fight the war; its the actual taking care of everybody afterward.

Unlike the Vietnam War, which relied on a draft, the war in Afghanistan depended on a volunteer force, Pevehouse said, which led to extended and repeat tours that strained the mental health of soldiers and their families. And while a majority of people in the U.S. say they admire people in the military, fewer and fewer people actually have a family member in the military.

I think people are much more thankful of troops service because they know its voluntary, Pevehouse said. The implication then becomes people keep it an arms-length distance.

Righting wrongs

Two months removed from the pullout, the war is already fading from public discourse. Church said he thinks part of that is a desire from officials to change the topic because the withdrawal made the U.S. government look so bad.

But Church said he hopes citizens keep talking about it and press the government to learn from its mistakes.

One way for Americans to right some of the wrongs of the Afghanistan conflict, Church said, is to treat the Afghans who are here in the U.S. with respect and dignity.

Church said he has been working behind the scenes coordinating with charitable organizations and the military to help get donations to the thousands of Afghans staying at Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin. Hes also helped some Afghans connect with attorneys or file their immigration paperwork.

In interviews, on social media and in individual conversations, Church said he tries to change the perspectives of people who believe the refugees are criminals or terrorists, characterizations he said are just not true.

For Afghanistan veterans Henderson and Michelle Osborne, helping the Afghans at Fort McCoy  some of whom they fought alongside  feels like a responsibility. Henderson, of Illinois, and Osborne, of Indiana, have worked together to get clothes, toys, wagons and other supplies from their states up to Wisconsin. Last month, Henderson drove more than eight hours one way with a truck full of donations she and Osborne had collected for the Afghans.

When (Henderson) reached out to me, I automatically was like, Oh, my god, what can I do to help? Osborne said. I feel like we kind of owe it to them.

Henderson faults the U.S. for the refugees plight.

Part of Army values is  that youll never leave a fallen comrade, Henderson said. These Afghans, I view them as my comrades.  Im not just going to leave them behind.

Madison Veterans Day events 10 a.m. Thursday, Wisconsin State Capitol Building: Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and Madison Veterans Council. Watch live at wiseye.org/live. 1 p.m. Thursday, Main Lounge (2nd floor), Memorial Union: Veterans Day program hosted by The Wisconsin Union and UW-Madison University Veteran Services.

Still Veterans Day

From the frontline soldier to the medic to the cook, Veterans Day is about honoring everyone, Church said.

Its still Veterans Day, so Ill be happy that Im here and the majority of my brothers and sisters have made it home, Osborne said.

This year, Church said he hopes people will forget about politics for a bit and take the time to just thank veterans for their service. The holiday, he said, is a time we come together and celebrate who we are: a group of people willing to sacrifice their lives and limbs for their fellow citizens.

Even though all the things that have occurred with Afghanistan are lingering in the background, I dont think that changes the mentality of the people and the Americans that put on the uniform, Church said. It makes us angry about what happened, certainly. But it doesnt change who we are.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10)  San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. reported higher earnings for the first nine months of 2021 with its segments posting double-digit revenue growths during the period.

In a statement, the San Miguel Corporation unit reported a net income of 24.2 billion  68% higher than last year. This came as revenues climbed by 14% to 221.7 billion this January to September.

SMFBs food business logged 108.9 billion in revenues during the three quarters. An annual increase of 13%, this drove net income to rise four-fold to 10.6 billion.

The listed firm noted revenues rose by 20% in its protein segment as it continued to tap into existing channels while benefitting from increased sales to community-based outlets while protecting gains in pricing.

SMFBs animal and nutrition and health segment revenues also grew during the period amid higher volumes sold and support from its new feed mills.

Sales of prepared and packaged food and flour led to a positive performance anew for the said timeframe, driven by home consumption and recovery in operations of existing customers, according to SMFB.

Its beer business raked in 14 billion in earnings during the three quarters, a 27% jump with revenues also growing by 13% to 82.1 billion despite the return of stricter quarantine measures in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

The SMC units spirits business also registered a net income of 3.2 billion as of end-September, buoyed by 30.7 billion in revenues during the period.

Relevant marketing campaigns and consumer promotions, broadening distribution network, and efficiencies supported growth, noted SMFB.

SMFB president and chief executive officer Ramon Ang welcome the companys latest figures, noting these highlight the strength of their food and beverage portfolio.

While there are still impacts from the pandemic, we are hopeful that the worst is behind us and we are on the path to a new, better normal, said Ang.

With our balance sheet in a strong position, we remain focused on further strengthening our momentum and continue to invest in areas that we believe will be critical to reaching our longer-term goal of delivering shareholder value while making sure that we do our part in supporting communities that need our help the most, he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  D&L Industries, a listed plastic and food ingredients manufacturer, anticipates stronger figures this year against 2019 levels amid the expected push from pre-election spending and the easing of pandemic restrictions.

According to its president and chief executive officer Alvin Lao, the net income recorded in the first nine months is now 83% of its 2019 full-year earnings.

In a disclosure, D&L said earnings reached 2.16 billion  57% higher than the 1.374 billion booked a year earlier and 7% more than Jan-Sept 2019 figures.

The group's sales in the period also climbed by 35% from a year ago to 21.53 billion. Its export business maintained its positive momentum, accounting for 32% of the Jan-Sept topline.

The company said its coconut-based products under food and oleochemicals remained the main drivers in foreign markets given the coconut oil's natural antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties.

With the strong financials buoyed by the continued growth trajectory of its business segments, Lao said D&L is "on track to exceed the 2019 net income."

Consumer spending is expected to increase, especially in the latter part of the year amid the accelerated COVID-19 vaccination and the decision of the national government to further relax restrictions.

"We look forward to the onset of the Christmas season as we head into the last quarter of the year, as well as public spending ramping up in time for the elections in May next year," Lao said.

"On the other hand, our overseas business stands to benefit from our Batangas expansion coming online next year, which will be a key milestone in boosting our export sales further," he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Emperador Inc., the liquor arm of business tycoon Andrew Tan, is considering 2021 as "another banner year" for the company as its nine-month earnings nearly matched 2020 profit levels.

"We are confident that 2021 will be another banner year for Emperador. As economies open up, we look forward to an even better 2022," its president Winston Co was quoted as saying in a disclosure Thursday.

In a regulatory filing, the company said net income in the first nine months climbed 35% to 7.9 billionclose to the 8 billion earnings it registered in 2020.

Revenues in the period also increased by 11% to 38.4 billion as it witnessed strong overseas sales led by Fundador brandy in the United Kingdom, the US, Canada, Spain, Mexico, and the Philippines.

The group's whiskey business also continued to perform well in North America, Europe, and Asia, Emperador said.

"We are extremely delighted with our performance in spite of challenges in global logistics as well as the hard lockdown in the Philippines in the third quarter of 2021," Co said.

Emperador said its liquor products are present in more than 100 countries.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Shakeys Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) substantially cut losses in the nine months to September as sales improved, the listed fast-food chain said Thursday.

In a disclosure to the local bourse, the full-service restaurant reported 35 million in losses, calling it a significant improvement from last years 462-million deficit.

Sales settled at 4.85 billion during the period, inching past 4.79 billion as the restaurant chain grappled with the return of lockdowns.

Similarly, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization lands at 539 million for the first nine months of 2021, more than double of last years comparable period of 186 million, noted the Shakeys Pizza Restaurant local franchise holder.

SPAVI President and Chief Executive Officer Vicente Gregorio expressed confidence in the group's ability to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.

I believe we are taking the right steps in paving the foundation for a reopening play to purposefully grow our brand reach through store network expansion, he said.

Shakeys has 307 outlets nationwide, adding it has more than doubled its Peri-Peri branches since the brands 2019 acquisition.

The listed firm also established its first stand-alone store for its R&B Milk Tea franchise in Metro Manila, also featuring a drive-through.

We look forward to a steady recovery and a return to positive bottomline by the end of the year. But beyond that, in this COVID environment, we recognize that uncertainties faced this year will likely persist until the following year, Gregorio said.

Shares of SPAVI ended at 8.60 each on Thursday, down 81% from Wednesdays close.
(CNN)  Welcome to movie-awards season, as two films arriving this week, "Belfast" and "Passing," look back to the past through the lustrous filter of glorious black and white -- the former seeing Ireland's tumult in the 1960s via the eyes of a child, the latter America's racial history in Harlem during the 1920s.

Written, produced and directed by Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast" isn't exactly autobiographical but chronicles a story and time that the actor and filmmaker knows well, as unrest involving hostility by Protestants toward Catholics roiled the boy's close-knit community. The resulting tumult has caused a cash-strapped family to begin contemplating leaving, unsettling nine-year-old Buddy (newcomer Jude Hill), who wants to stay in a town where everybody knows his name.

The movie begins in color before fading to black and white as Branagh launches the audience back to Belfast in 1969, where Buddy's parents ("50 Shades of Grey's" Jamie Dornan and "Outlander's" Caitriona Balfe) fight and debate and fret about the future.

"We're living in a civil war," dad says, finding his wife more resistant to leaving behind all that she's known.

Beautifully shot, and sentimental without being saccharine, the film presents Buddy as a kid significantly influenced by American movies and TV, watching things like "Star Trek," "High Noon" and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," from which he derives his sense of heroism and justice. (He's also shown reading a Thor comic book, a sly reference to an earlier Branagh directorial effort.)

The cast is sensational, including a scene-stealing Ciaran Hinds and Judi Dench as Buddy's caring grandparents, with the boy spending a lot of time especially with grandpa as his parents struggle to get by.

In the press notes Branagh compares the film to director Pedro Almodovar's "Pain and Glory" as a fictionalized work based on his early life, which certainly falls under the "Write what you know" category. Alfonso Cuaron's "Roma," also shot in black and white, reflects another recent example of a movie infused with such personal detail.

Yet such films can also become a self-indulgent trap, a potential misstep that Branagh deftly avoids in a story that conveys his fondness for this period and these people (augmented by a song score from Van Morrison) as well as its ugliness.

Branagh has directed all kinds of movies over the past 30 years, from his frequent adaptations of Shakespeare to "Cinderella" and the aforementioned "Thor." It's perhaps appropriate, though, that his most personal film would also turn out to be his crowning achievement.

"Passing" also comes from an actor, Rebecca Hall, moving behind the camera -- here for the first time as both writer and director -- adapting a 1929 book that delivers a powerful showcase for Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga ("Loving").

Thompson's Irene, a doctor's wife, has actually flirted with "passing" in order to spend time in White society, but she's jolted when she reconnects with childhood friend Clare (Negga), who has taken the act to the extreme, living as a White woman and marrying a wealthy White man (Alexander Skarsgard).

Yet Clare's discontent and sense of what she's sacrificed becomes a growing issue as she begins to spend more time with Irene, at what appears to be significant peril should her deception be exposed.

In this case, shooting in black and white makes a statement that reinforces the film's central tension, which is a world as seen in Black and White, with no shades in between. While the central performances, especially Negga, are terrific, the one drawback would be that the story moves somewhat slowly in getting back to Clare's tale, which somewhat overshadows that of Irene -- who is married to a doctor (Andre Holland) and primarily serves as an uncomfortable observer of this dangerous balancing act.

Hall captures how the two women chafe against the system and its limitations in different ways, and shoots the film with a haunting, almost hypnotic quality. That atmosphere, in a sense, is stronger than the story, but it's more than enough to make "Passing" a movie that shouldn't be passed by.

"Belfast" premieres Nov. 12 in US theaters, and "Passing" premieres Nov. 10 on Netflix. Both are rated PG-13.

This story was first published on CNN.com 'Belfast' and 'Passing' join the Oscar race by looking back in black and white
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines)  With the backdrop of the countrys overwhelming housing needs, a group of dedicated leaders in affordable housing called the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers the Philippines (OSHDP), together with The Global Filipino Investors (TGFI), a financial literacy advocate, will bring together real estate and financial experts to the Affordable Housing Summit 2021 this Nov. 12 to 13 via YouTube.

OSHDP national president Gino Olivares stressed that throughout the past year, housing and real estate, as with the rest of the country, is an industry in the midst of a crisis.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the degree of difficulty in doing the private sectors partnership role with the government, which has the primary mandate in addressing the housing situation, particularly that pertaining to the homeless and underprivileged Filipino families.

With the theme The Home EveryJuan Deserves, Affordable Housing Summit 2021 is a manifestation of the housing sectors commitment to overcome the crisis as it highlights housing as a human right and prime necessity.

An estimated 5,000 individuals will be on the same online platform, immersing themselves and interacting with content and information related to affordable housing.

More than 30 key leaders and experts in the real estate industry will give advice, share innovations, and practical strategies in owning a home.

Housing Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario, Gino Olivares of OSHDP and Ecoverde Homes, David Leechiu of Leechiu Property Consultants, Anthony Leuterio of Filipino Homes, and Cesar Wee of OSHDP and WeeCommunity will share their expertise and insights on making homes affordable for Filipinos.

Pammy Vital of Ovialand and Fiona King of OSHDP and RFK Holdings will join one of the panel discussions. They will provide insights about women in real estate and promote inclusion.

Pag-IBIG Fund CEO Acmad Moti will open the program on the second day of the summit to discuss financing options for working Filipinos. This will be followed by the sought-after celebrity engineer and content creator Slater Young of Liteblock and Monterrazas Prime. Young who will discuss What to look for when buying a home.

Architect and actor-vlogger Dax Augustus of Delta Designs+Construct and Interior Designer Roxanne Roxas of Rox Interiors will share their knowledge on interior design and construction in a discussion to be moderated by Hausland Groups Kat Tan-Hipol.

Other notable speakers include CNN Philippines host and serial entrepreneur John Aguilar, Jason Buensalido of Buensalido Architects, Mary Gaw So of Rehub Realty, Emma Imperial of Imperial Homes, and Dr. Gia Sison of Womens Wellness Center.

I believe that we, in the private housing sector, must continue to make this definition. The Filipinos resolve to own a home remains strong. Conditions set by the pandemic, such as work from home and online class arrangements being the new norm, only makes us realize that owning a home is an urgent and primary need for everyone, Olivares said.

Join and experience this two-day collaborative event and learn from real estate leaders and industry experts. Register now for free via tgfiph.com/OSHDP.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Should he win in the 2022 polls, senatorial aspirant Monsour del Rosario will seek more benefits for health workers in a bid to convince them to stay in the country.

The former Makati representative told CNN Philippines' New Day on Thursday that he wants to help health workers, especially those who have no choice but to leave the country for better opportunities abroad.

He noted that other countries acknowledge the competence of Filipino nurses.

"One of the laws or platforms that I really want to push is to help our frontliners, especially the nurses, so they can stay in the Philippines, give them a better salary, give them better benefits," Del Rosario said. "We all realize how important they are during this pandemic."

The aspiring senator said he would also collaborate with doctors to gain more insights on how to better respond to the health crisis.

Del Rosario also vows to push for agricultural measures that will uplift the lives of farmers.

"I was born in Manila, I was raised in Negros Occidental. I am basically an Ilonggo probinsyano and agriculture is part of my life growing up," he ssaid. "I want to help farmers. I want to help them with their work."

When asked for his stand on certain issues, Del Rosario said "yes" to easing access to the statement of assets liabilities and net worth of public officials, lifting foreign ownership limits, holding peace talks with communist rebels, and asserting the country's sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

He is also in favor of reimposing death penalty, but only on those involved in illegal drugs trade.

Del Rosario is running under Partido Reporma and is part of the senatorial slate of the tandem of Senators Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto.

Del Rosario acknowledges the challenges of being an "underdog" running against veteran opponents, but he said he would not back down from the fight.

"I know I'm going up against senatorial veteran candidates that have been there, seasoned," he said. "I know I am the underdog. I know I'm the dark horse, but that's fine with me because I've always been an underdog most of my life."

"Sometimes we fall and sometimes we deliver. And we rise to the challenge, he added.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday said that he would talk to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte about his possible senatorial bid in next years elections.

Although there is no confirmation yet if she would make a bid to succeed her father as president, Roque said that he wishes to run under Duterte's slate if she decides to seek the presidency.

Kung magbabago ang isip niya na tatakbo po siya, kung tatanggapin niya po ako, nais ko pong tumakbo kasama niya. Sa ngayon po, wala pa pong hinahain na certificate of candidacy si Mayor Sara, he said in a Palace briefing.

[Translation: If ever she decides to run, if it is okay with her, I want to run alongside her. But right now, Mayor Sara has not yet filed a certificate of candidacy.]

Roque has always maintained that he would only run next year if the Davao mayor would seek the highest post in the country. Duterte withdrew her candidacy for mayoral re-election on Tuesday, ahead of the November 15 political substitution deadline amid speculation she would run for president.

The presidential spokesperson earlier said the mayor persuaded him to run for senator.

Moreover, Roque said that he has already talked with President Rodrigo Duterte about his possible senatorial campaign.

Pagdating naman po kay Presidente ay nagkausap na po kami [] Si Mayor Sara po, I will reach out to her siguro maya-maya lang and over the weekend, he said.

[Translation: Ive already talked to the President [] I will reach out to Mayor Sara maybe later and over the weekend.]

The 2022 national and local elections will be held on May 9, 2022.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte joined national party Lakas-CMD on Thursday, days after she pulled out her candidacy for reelection early this week.

Duterte took her oath as party member at the farm of Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr., said Lakas-CMD president and House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez. Duterte was one of the principal sponsors in the wedding of Revilla's daughter.

Earlier in the day, Duterte resigned from her regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago, where she was the founder and chairperson.

"We had long been inviting Mayor Inday to join our party as we are all impressed with her sterling qualities as a leader and we saw up close here exemplary work ethic as chief executive of Davao City," said Romualdez in a statement.

Romualdez did not comment on which position the mayor will run for in the 2022 elections.

Some of her allies have said the presidential daughter could possibly run for a national post ahead of the November 15 political substitution deadline.

Lakas-CMD, the party of former presidents Fidel Ramos and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, fielded a certain Anna Velasco as presidential bet and Lyle Uy for vice president. But the party's secretary general and Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay earlier said they are open to have Duterte as substitute standard bearer.

The Commission on Elections earlier said that Duterte could only qualify as a substitute candidate for whoever filed for a national post, if she joins a national political party.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Bantayan Island in Cebu received an electricity supply boost with the operation of Isla Norte Energy Corporation's (INEC) 23.3-megawatt diesel engine power plant.

Located in Barangay Kabangbang, INEC president and chief executive officer Emil Andre Garcia said the plant's operations can address power shortages and spur the growth of the local economy of Bantayan Island, an emerging tourist destination in Cebu province.

"The plant has a guaranteed dependable capacity of 15MW, which is sufficient to address the peak demand of Bantayan Island," INEC said in a statement.

"The operation of the INEC plant finally resolves the pressing demand for a stable, dependable, and sufficient power supply that has, thus far, eluded Bantayan Island residents," it said.

INEC, an incorporated joint venture of Vivant Integrated Diesel Corporation and Gigawatt Power Inc., bagged a 15-year power supply agreement to fulfill the demand of Bantayan Electric Cooperative Inc. (Banelco) following a competitive selection process.

Late in October, the Energy Regulatory Commission provided INEC with a provisional authority to operate the power plant.

"The INEC plant uses the latest advancements in diesel power generation technology that comply with environmental and safety standards. Our operations are also subject to periodic monitoring by an environmental unit which reports to regulators on the plants compliance to environmental conditions," Garcia said.
(CNN)  China is ready to manage differences with the United States, the country's leader Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, ahead of a planned virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden.

The meeting, the first since Biden became President earlier this year, will be held as early as next week, a source familiar with its planning told CNN. However, specific details and a firm date have not been laid out.

News of the meeting arrangement was first reported by Bloomberg.

It comes as Xi hinted at a slight warming of relations with the US, according to a statement published on the website of the Chinese embassy to the US on Tuesday.

In the letter, Xi said China is willing to "enhance exchanges and cooperation across the board" with the US and bring relations between the two world powers back on the right track.

The letter was read by China's ambassador to the US Qin Gang, at a dinner of the National Committee on US-China Relations in Washington on Tuesday.

US officials revealed last month that they had reached an agreement in principle with China to hold a virtual meeting between Biden and Xi before the end of the year, as part of an effort to ensure stability in one of the world's most consequential and fraught relationships.

That tentative agreement was the result of an extended, six-hour meeting between Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan and China's top diplomat, Yang Jiechi in Switzerland, just days after Beijing sent record-breaking numebrs of war planes into Taiwan's defense zone.

Victor Shih, an expert on elite Chinese politics at the University of California, San Diego, said the meeting is a positive development for bilateral relations.

"I think the bilateral meeting next week is a preliminary sign that the relationship between the US and China is getting back on a more normal track -- than (what) had been the case in the later Trump years," Shih told CNN.

The meeting is also likely to motivate officials, especially on the Chinese side -- from the Foreign Ministry to the Commerce ministry -- to once again focus their energy on US-China relationship and think of ways to improve it, Shih added.

The last time Biden and Xi spoke was in September, in a phone call that lasted roughly 90 minutes.

"The two leaders had a broad, strategic discussion in which they discussed areas where our interests converge, and areas where our interests, values, and perspectives diverge," said a readout of the call released by the White House.

"They agreed to engage on both sets of issues openly and straightforwardly. This discussion, as President Biden made clear, was part of the United States' ongoing effort to responsibly manage the competition between the United States and the People's Republic of China," the statement added.

A senior administration official described the tone of the call as "respectful" and "familiar and candid."

The two leaders also spoke for two hours in February -- their first phone call since Biden took office.

"It was a good conversation, I know him well, we've spent a lot of time together over the years I was vice president. But, you know, if we don't get moving, they're going to eat our lunch," Biden said at the time, outlining China's efforts to invest in rail and other transportation.

Xi hasn't left China in 21 months, following moves to tighten the country's borders in response to the pandemic. He skipped the G20 summit in late October, as well as the COP26 climate conference in Scotland this month.

Last week, Biden criticized Xi for not showing up at COP26, saying he had made a 'big mistake."

Xi's absence on the global stage has been noted among world leaders and, aside from wanting to focus on internal problems such as eliminating Covid-19, signals a possible retreat from global cooperation. China's relations with the US and other Western nations are at their lowest in decades -- a point not lost on Biden.

"The fact that China, trying to assert, understandably, a new role in the world as a world leader -- not showing up? Come on," Biden said in Glasgow.
(CNN)  In September, when the White House announced its long-awaited plan to welcome vaccinated European travelers, the United States was consumed by a Covid-19 surge that far outpaced Europe's.

At that point the US rate of new cases per capita dwarfed Europe's by nearly three to one. While European governments were plotting their roadmaps towards normality, America was battling a rise in infections and warning of pressure on hospitals.

But by Monday, when the new rules came into effect and thousands of tourists jetted across the Atlantic to American cities, the two regions had experienced a dramatic reversal in fortunes.

Europe is now the epicenter of the Covid-19 pandemic once again; it overtook the US case count at the end of October and is now careering towards a difficult winter.

Infections are rising in most of the countries that make up the Schengen area, the 26-country bloc where entry rules to the US have been relaxed. Travelers from the United Kingdom and Ireland were also included in the American policy shift.

"We are at another critical point of pandemic resurgence," WHO regional director Hans Kluge said last week, warning that the pace of transmission across the region was of "grave concern."

"According to one reliable projection, if we stay on this trajectory, we could see another half a million COVID-19 deaths in Europe and Central Asia by the first of February next year," Kluge warned, adding that 43 of the 53 countries on his patch could also see high or extreme stress on hospital beds.

Europe's current wave has not resulted in as high a death rate as the US' summer spike. But it serves as a reminder of the cyclical nature of the pandemic, experts said.

"The situation across Europe was to be expected in some respects. We did anticipate there would be a surge in cases around this time of year," said Paul Wilmes, a professor at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine.

And others note that the relative success of some highly vaccinated nations such as Spain and Portugal -- where cases have remained at manageable levels despite the general upward trends across the continent -- can serve as an example to governments in Europe and elsewhere.

"It's happening in many countries, but it's not inevitable," said Martin McKee, professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "We need to look at what is happening and which policies are giving rise to it ... there are things that can be done."

Vaccination hurdles

The US' vaccine rollout outpaced Europe's in its early months, but the two regions crossed paths in the summer when the EU's rate of new shots delivered overtook that of the US.

Now attention is turning to unvaccinated pockets of both regions, as leaders struggle to kickstart their plateaued vaccine drives.

US President Joe Biden has amplified his rhetoric towards unvaccinated people in recent weeks, telling reporters in the White House they "can cause a lot of damage, and they are."

"The unvaccinated overcrowd our hospitals, are overrunning the emergency rooms and intensive care units, leaving no room for someone with a heart attack, or pancreatitis, or cancer," the President said in September.

A handful of European governments are starting to mimic his bullish stance, as they grow frustrated with stalling rollouts and adopt a more direct approach towards those who are hesitant to get a shot.

Germany's Health Minister Jens Spahn said this month the country is experiencing a "massive" pandemic of the unvaccinated. "The truth is that there would be far fewer Covid-19 patients in [intensive care] if everyone who could do it got a vaccination," he said.

"There is more and more recognition that those people who are unwilling to contribute to solving the challenges of the pandemic are placing other people at risk," McKee said. "They are undermining the recovery for other people, and there is an increasing impatience" towards them from politicians and the public, he added.

But the two regions ultimately face relatable challenges.

The vaccination rollout has slowed to a crawl in parts of the South and the Midwestern American states, with a strong correlation linking low vaccine levels to more heavily Republican and less college-educated states. Of the 15 US states with the lowest vaccination rates, all but one voted for Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

In Europe, a different divide in vaccine uptake has become equally clear; countries in the west and north of the continent have posted high figures, led by Portugal and Spain on Europe's Iberian peninsula where the share of the population that is fully vaccinated is 87% and 80% respectively. But towards the east, that trend moves sharply downwards.

Romania and Bulgaria, which are not included in the Schengen travel area and therefore not included in the US' relaxed entry rules, have particularly struggled with administering doses. Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic have also failed to keep pace with their neighbors to the west, with all four countries vaccinating less than 60% of their population so far.

"This is not new -- we have seen this for other vaccines," said Wilmes. "In some countries you see inherent levels of conformity to go along with vaccination campaigns, compared to others."

"We know that vaccination has an impact on transmission -- the more people vaccinated within a population, the more you can limit transmission," he added. But he noted that waning immunity has become a "clear reality" and has posed an additional challenge to governments.

'Cultural differences'

The other major plank of the American approach has been on face masks; Biden made face coverings mandatory on federal property during his first day in office, and has since urged states to ensure their use in schools, offices and elsewhere.

But the mask has become a symbol of a divided society in the US, and partisan leanings factor strongly into how frequently they are used.

Europe has avoided that divide, experts say. "People do not perceive mask wearing as an infringement on personal liberties the way that some parts of the US do. There's definitely a cultural difference," said Wilmes.

Some highly vaccinated countries, such as Portugal and Spain, have been cautious in easing rules on mask wearing and still require them in certain settings. But nations like the UK and Denmark have revoked rules altogether, leaving the decision up to citizens -- in the UK, the use of masks has noticeably dropped off since.

Rules on travel in Europe have eased in recent months, and many countries have dialed back restrictions on gatherings -- leading to concerns on the continent that the new surge in cases may be accompanied by a return of measures.

"The countries that have relaxed measures did so at times when the case numbers were low, and against the backdrop of many people being vaccinated," Wilmes said. "We don't have crystal balls -- it's a hard judgment call that governments have to make."

Many European countries, such as France, Italy and Germany, have meanwhile embraced vaccine passports, with the EU's digital certificate system, and some national equivalents, used to approve entry to bars, clubs and restaurants.

The safeguards have presented "an important measure in trying to limit transmission," Wilmes said.

"Vaccine passports have been helpful both in limiting unvaccinated people from mixing together, but also encouraging people to get vaccinated," added McKee.

The US has not followed suit on the EU's system, but Biden has pushed ahead with plans to implement a vaccine requirement for certain companies and fields. His administration announced last week that its vaccine rules, which apply to private businesses with 100 or more employees, certain health care workers and federal contractors, will take effect January 4.

"Vaccination is the single best pathway out of this pandemic," Biden said in a statement. "And while I would have much preferred that requirements not become necessary, too many people remain unvaccinated for us to get out of this pandemic for good. So I instituted requirements -- and they are working."

This story was first published on CNN.com, "The US and Europe have finally reconnected, but they're moving in different directions on Covid-19"
(CNN)  Disney's streaming service continues to grow -- just not as strong as investors on Wall Street were hoping.

The streaming service now has 118.1 million subscribers. That's higher than the 116 million the company reported in August, but a softer-than-expected result that sent shares down as much as 4.5% in after-hours trading.

Overall, Disney nabbed $18.5 billion in revenue in the quarter, which was up 26% from last year. That's slightly worse than the $18.8 billion that analysts were expecting.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Disney+ slow growth is starting to worry Wall Street."
The same millennials who grew up on T.V. culture are now raising their young kids in a completely different world. Screen time in the early 90s to the early '00s was sourced from local and cable television, whereas nowadays screen time for todays children is purely on demand. Kids no longer have to wait each week for new episodes of their favorite shows.

Video on demand (VOD) has seen a steady growth in the last few years, especially as most parts of the world remain in quarantine. The global VOD industry is projected to grow up to $159 billion in 2027. Content creation by way of YouTube and TikTok has never been more democratic. If you can think of any type of content, theres probably someone out there making it. Its enough for a child to stay entertained for hours, and for parents to get a much-deserved moment of sanity. And as much as its advisable to reduce screen time for young children, theyve never been more glued to laptops and tablets than they are now, especially because of online school.

Musician, podcast host, and mom of two Saab Magalona-Bacarro remembers how her feelings about screen time for kids have changed  especially when the pandemic began. Its really funny because I, of course, as a new parent in this age, thought, Oh, Im gonna be one of those moms whos like zero screen time (scoffs) Who does that? [I said], I can do this. Theyre not gonna have screen time. Were gonna be really strict about it. Its gonna ruin their brains, she says during a video call with CNN Philippines Life. But its just not you really cant avoid it eh.

For Saab and her husband Jim Bacarro, also a musician and podcast host, knowing that screens would be a part of their childrens lives pushed them to seek out content that theyd be happy to let their kids watch. And upon realizing that they themselves had the tools to produce that content, they decided to embark on creating Puddy Rock, a kid-friendly, educational music channel on YouTube. The fully animated channel prides itself on being Filipino-made, with songs written in English, Filipino, and Bisaya. Some songs also include onscreen sign language translators.

Puddy Rock may be free for anyone to enjoy, but for the Bacarros, its origins are very personal: the songs on the channel were made for their toddlers Pancho and Vito. Music has been so important in this household, and we had these songs for our kids  either to get them excited or to calm them down, Jim says. There were times kasi when we could go out pa in car rides, wed lose signal. We couldnt play Spotify anymore. And we couldnt do anything to keep them entertained. So sabi ko, why dont I just record 

As opposed to just saving a song on your phone, huh? You made one. Labo, Saab interjects with a laugh. And though Saab readily teases her husband about making music for their kids, Jim credits her as the one who really encouraged him to keep at it. Saab really pushed me and said Oh, these are great, keep making the songs.

YouTube channel Puddy Rock is an attempt at making Filipino/Filipino-made songs more contemporary, more hip, and definitely more accessible to the internet-aware toddlers of today. Photo courtesy of PUDDY ROCK

They teamed up with Ali Sangalang, writer and founder of casualwear brand Linya Linya. Sangalang and the Bacarros are business partners at Linya-Linya (Jims work wife, says Saab, to which Jim wholeheartedly agrees), and felt that the brands design capabilities would be the answer to Puddy Rocks production requirements.

Linya-Linyas lead artist Rob Cham took the reins on Puddy Rocks look: bright colors, and bold, textured lines for the character design. The animation is also done in-house by the Linya-Linya team. According to Sangalang, his input is mainly cultural; while he helps Jim with translating some of the lyrics, he says, Yung main elements talaga that I can contribute to the team is yung Filipino experience na I think important ngayon. Yung isang insight namin, especially with Jim and Saab, as young parents, parang they want to teach Pancho and Vito about the Filipino language, the Filipino culture. And ang hirap noon [kasi] when you go to Youtube, puro international songs lang yung available for kids.

In the same way that the witticisms on Linya-Linya products feature Filipino humor, Puddy Rock is an attempt at making Filipino/Filipino-made songs more contemporary, more hip, and definitely more accessible to the internet-aware toddlers of today. [Filipino kids songs] are very traditional like yung Leron Leron Sinta pa rin or Bahay Kubo, Sangalang says. Gets naman na [those songs] can help them learn about the Filipino language, pero hindi na relatable, I think. Di na rin cool for the kids. Even for the parents. Parang nagkakaroon ng disconnect.

The Puddy Rock team has taken particular care in bridging that disconnect and to do that, theyve made it into a family business, in the truest sense of the word. For their earlier Bisaya songs, Jim enlisted the help of Panchos caregiver to help translate some of the words. Jim handles most of the music production work, while Saab mainly provides the channel structure by suggesting songs based on kid-friendly lessons. Shes also the occasional sounding board during the drafting process.

Sometimes, si Saab needs to come in and say, Oh, thats too weird. [Or] shed say, Sobra na yan, Jim says. But in fairness naman, maganda yung batuhan namin because initially, Id get, Huh? Okay naman ha. I know for a fact that shes right.

Most importantly, the arbiter on which songs actually make it on the channel are the Bacarro kids themselves. Their younger son Vito can either really love a song, or hate it enough for Jim to scrap a near-finished piece of work completely. We made this hip-hop ABC song. I was so ready for it. And we played it for the boys, and talagang ayaw na ayaw nila, Jim recalls. Vito, first ten seconds, Pancho ayaw. I completely scrapped it. And it was full na ha. Tapos na.

They also noticed that since he was a baby, their son Pancho, who is living with cerebral palsy, was extremely responsive to certain songs or sounds. Its also the reason why Jim painstakingly works on the mixing of every song. Im very particular na, I want this to sound like an LCD Soundsystem track or something like that, Jim says. [Because] I see how that type of music affects Vito in one way, and also Pancho. I get to merge both things that they love. Si Pancho loves these quirky synthesizers. Alam ko na eh, alam ko yung kiliti niya.

The devotion to making Puddy Rock a safe space for their special needs child is part of why they wanted the channels cast of animal characters to be diverse as well  each one, interestingly, named after the many nicknames the couple has given their kids. Oceanist, the fish character, sits on a wheelchair. Saab adds: Si Arfist [the dog], its not that clear, but most of the time, his arm is bent, which is a symptom of cerebral palsy. Of course the inspiration is Pancho and Vito, and promoting inclusivity for children with special needs to feel like theyre always welcome. Even if it started as a personal thing, we wanted to make the message clear that were not doing this just for Pancho, but we really feel for parents who have special needs kids din, and we want to give them what we have.

With giving back in mind, the Puddy Rock team is determined to not only make the channel profitable, but reciprocal too. Like the partnerships theyve taken on with non-profit organizations like AHA! Learning Center and Love Yourself through Linya-Linya, they plan on replicating that model with Puddy Rock.

Its really one of the channels that we will use to give back to our community, and we have partnerships at the planning stage of advocacies, and helping them get the word out, Saab says.

For Sangalang, giving back has never been more essential during tough times. And though promoting a kids music channel when content on demand has never been more diverse and saturated is a challenge, theyre determined to make something out of it beyond just content production. Ngayon pang pandemic, nahihirapan din [kami] to survive, pero parang doon namin naramdaman yung love ng community na hindi kami iniwan, he says. Ang galing na ito yung time na pinaka nahihirapan kami, pero ito rin yung time na nakakatulong kami. It goes back to the community rin thats been empowering us a brand, so yun lang din yung ginagawa namin.

Puddy Rock is on YouTube.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  The Bureau of Internal Revenue is investigating Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. and government contractors involved in alleged anomalous procurement of medical supplies for COVID-19 response.

Senate Finance Committee chairman Senator Sonny Angara bared this on Wednesday during the chambers plenary debates on the proposed 2022 budget of the Department of Finance and its attached agencies, including the BIR.

Citing a document submitted by the BIR, Angara noted that the agencys probe into the governments suppliers is being undertaken by concerned revenue district office per memos of the Commissioner issued in September and November.

The Blue Ribbon Committee earlier adopted a motion urging the BIR to form a task force that would perform a special audit on taxes paid by governments suppliers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the debates, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon asked why the investigation is being done by the regional offices, when a special unit from the main office is more ideal given the billions of amounts involved and to ensure that the procedure is really being conducted.

Citing his conversation with BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay, Angara said the companies are located in different revenue district offices, so the information is in their respective districts. This also makes it difficult to conduct a single investigation, the lawmaker added.

The BIR also committed to submit a consolidated report by yearend.

President Rodrigo Duterte told senators on Tuesday that they can imprison Pharmally executives for failing to settle their taxes.

This comes after Drilon revealed on Oct. 28 that Pharmally claimed a tax credit worth over 96 million last year but did not pay any tax, according to records from the BIR.

CNN Philippines correspondent Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Senators on Thursday questioned the proposed 22-billion Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), which one said can "look like a pork barrel" and should be reviewed for possible reappropriation.

Senator Ralph Recto made the remark after Senate Finance Committee chairman Sonny Angara explained all local government units may apply for financial aid under the LGSF, and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has the power to choose which projects to fund.

"Wouldn't that look like a pork barrel of the DBM, too?" Recto asked Angara, who defended the DBM's proposed 2022 budget during plenary debates.

Citing the Supreme Court, Angara said not all lump-sum funds are illegal. "As long as they say a lump sum has a singular appropriation purpose, then it is constitutional," he said.

While the proposed budget for the LGSF has already been significantly slashed from the previous 49 billion, Recto said the amount is still "huge," considering LGUs are also slated to receive a higher internal revenue allotment share next year.

According to the senator, the 22 billion could be used for other items, such as agriculture and housing programs to help economic recovery.

In his interpellation, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon suggested the abolition of the proposed 1.25-billion Growth Equity Fund (GEF), which is under the LGSF.

He said the purpose of the GEF under the 2022 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is "completely different" from what was stated in Executive Order No. 138  which called for the creation of the fund.

Under the order, the amount shall cover the requirements to enable the full implementation of the functions and services devolved to disadvantaged local governments. Drilon said under the GAB, it would be for the "implementation of various infrastructure programs" in the poor areas.

"Maybe we should abolish this...because this is not consistent with the objective of establishing the Growth Equity Fund," Drilon said. "Magiging pork barrel nanaman ito [This will be another pork barrel]."

In September, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas also expressed opposition to the GEF, calling it a "pork barrel variant." At the time, the proposed amount was 10 billion before the Senate Finance Committee decided on a budget cut.
(CNN)  New Zealand's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, was faced with unexpected comments as she addressed the nation  not from the opposition, or from an angry citizen, but from her daughter, who interrupted her during a Facebook livestream.

Ardern was midway through updating viewers on the country's COVID-19 response when she was disturbed by 3-year-old Neve calling: "Mommy?"

"You're meant to be in bed, darling," Ardern replied.

"It's bedtime, darling. Pop back to bed. I'll see you in a second," she added, before asking her daughter to return to her grandmother.

"Well, that was a bedtime fail, wasn't it," Ardern laughed at the camera.

But Neve wasn't taking no for an answer. Later in the broadcast, the prime minister's daughter returned.

"I'm sorry, darling, it is taking so long," Ardern responded before announcing she would be ending the livestream.

The Prime Minister's struggle no doubt struck a chord with parents around the world, who have battled to balance working from home and childcare.

The pandemic has forced a large segment of the global workforce to go through a remote-work experiment on a scale never seen before, blurring the boundary between work and home lives.

This story was first published on CNN.com "'You're meant to be in bed!' -- Jacinda Ardern's toddler interrupts Facebook livestream"
(CNN)  A layer of toxic foam coated parts of a sacred river near India's capital on Wednesday as Hindus gathered on its banks to celebrate a religious festival and some devotees bathed in the waters.

The white froth, a mixture of sewage and industrial waste, formed over the last week in sections of the Yamuna River -- a tributary of the holy Ganges River -- which flows about 855 miles (1,376 kilometers) south from the Himalayas through several states.

The pungent foam contains high levels of ammonia and phosphates, which can result in respiratory and skin problems, according to experts. Its arrival coincided with Chhath Puja, a festival dedicated to the sun god Lord Surya. Earlier this week, some Hindus were seen wading through the toxic foam to bathe and pray in the river.

Devotee Gunjan Devi said Tuesday she had no choice but to bathe in the polluted waters.

"The water is extremely dirty but we don't have many options," she said, Reuters reported. "It is a ritual to take a bath in a water body so we have come here to bathe."

According to the Press Trust of India, 15 boats have been deployed by the government to remove the foam, but experts fear it has already caused significant damage.

"The river in Delhi's stretch is an ecologically dead river," said Bhim Singh Rawat, from the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP). "It doesn't have fish or fresh water birds. That has been the case for years now."

India's polluted rivers

For decades, sections of the Yamuna have been plagued by the dumping of toxic chemicals and untreated sewage. In several sections, the river appears dark and sludgy, while plastic waste lines its banks.

The river is most polluted in areas surrounding Delhi, owing to the city's dense population and high levels of waste. Only 2% of the river's length flows through the capital, but Delhi contributes about 76% of the river's total pollution load, according to a government monitoring committee.

Rawat, from SANDRP, said the polluted river is impacting people living in several cities downstream, including Faridabad, Noida and Agra. "Thousands of villagers take irrigation water from the river, they take buckets to the river for bathing and drinking," he said.

In 2017, similar looking foam appeared on Varthur Lake in the southern city of Bangalore. Strong gusts of wind carried the frothy chemical cocktail onto roads.

The same year, a lake in Bangalore erupted into flames, which experts believe was due to traces of petroleum in the water.

This story was first published on CNN.com Toxic foam coats sacred river in India as Hindu devotees bathe in its waters
(CNN)  A delegation of United States lawmakers arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday sparking immediate condemnation from China, with Beijing describing the trip as an "act of provocation."

The unspecified group landed in Taipei on a Boeing C-40A military plane shortly after 6 p.m. local time, according to flight details by Flightaware. The plane subsequently took off for Okinawa after a brief stay at the airport.

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the visit and said the trip was arranged by the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in Taipei. It did not disclose the names of the lawmakers involved in the visit, nor their itinerary.

When approached for comment, the American Institute in Taiwan did not confirm the list of lawmakers but directed CNN to Sen. John Cornyn's office for information, a Republican from Texas.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters Tuesday the trip "seriously violated the one-China principle" and demanded the US "immediately stop any form of official interaction with Taiwan."

"We urge the US congressmen to recognize the situation. Collaborating with the 'Taiwan independence' forces is a dangerous game; playing with 'Taiwan independence' will eventually lead to fire," Wang said.

Relations between Taipei and Beijing are at their lowest point in decades, marked by fiery rhetoric and military posturing. Last month, China's military sent a record number of warplanes into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) -- the area surrounding the island where Taipei says it will respond to any incursions.

In a statement, China's Ministry of National Defense condemned the US for "grossly interfering in China's internal affairs" and said it should stop "provocative actions" that may escalate tensions on the Taiwan Strait.

"(The US) should refrain from sending wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' forces," the statement read. "The People's Liberation Army will always be on high alert and adopt all necessary measures to resolutely smash any interference by foreign forces and separatist attempts."

Beijing views the self-ruled island as an inseparable part of its territory -- even though the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

On Tuesday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said China was ready to manage differences with the US and "enhance exchanges and cooperation across the board," according to a statement published on the website of Chinese embassy to the US. It comes ahead of a virtual meeting with US President Joe Biden that could be held as early as next week, a source told CNN.

The US delegation visit to Taiwan comes as China conducted what it characterized as a "combat readiness patrol" near the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday.

The drills were conducted to "further improve the joint combat capability of multiple military services and branches," said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, according to the state-run tabloid the Global Times.

"This drill is targeted at a certain country's seriously wrong moves and remarks on the Taiwan question and Taiwan secessionists' activities, and is a necessary measure to safeguard the country's sovereignty," said Shi.

In a press release on Tuesday night, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported that six Chinese warplanes entered its southwestern ADIZ that day.

When asked about the trip, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters, "It is not our practice to confirm congressional delegations or to speak to them."

This isn't the first time a delegation of US senators has flown to Taiwan. In June, an American delegation including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, landed on a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III freighter to announce the donation of 750,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine. And previously, US officials and politicians have flown to Taiwan on the C-40, a military version of the Boeing 737 commercial airliner.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday the visit was made by a US congressional delegation and that it was "not uncommon" for them to travel on a military aircraft.

"Congressional delegation visits to Taiwan are fairly routine," Kirby said, adding the trip was "in keeping with our obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act, which has been supported by multiple administrations, both Democratic and Republican, that reinforces our requirement to help Taiwan with its self-defense needs."

The US also maintains military ties with the island. On Tuesday, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said a total of 618 US personnel visited Taiwan on military exchange programs between September 2019 and August 2021.

In its defense report, released once every two years, the ministry said the exchange programs were aimed at boosting Taiwan's national security, defense strategy and military operations, saying it was essential to deepen military cooperation with the US.

According to the report, 542 Taiwanese personnel also visited the US in 175 military exchange programs during the same period.

During an exclusive interview with CNN in October, President Tsai became the first Taiwanese leader in four decades to confirm the presence of US military trainers in Taiwan, though she did not specify the number.
Longtime Columbus resident Jerry Chlopek said he always wanted to serve his country as he desired to follow in his father's and uncles footsteps.

They all served in the Army. They were all in the (military) and I wanted to do the same thing, said Chlopek, who is currently the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) board of directors first vice chairman.

Enlisting after high school, Chlopek served 30 years in the armed forces, spending three years as a Marine and then 27 in the U.S. Army Reserve. He served from 1964-67 in the Marines and then the Army from 1975-2002.

With the Marines, he was overseas in the Vietnam War from 1965-66 where he was involved in the motor and transportation side of the conflict.

I was a truck driver and mechanic, Chlopek said. In Vietnam, he hauled just about everything that you would want to haul. We hauled supplies and fuel. We hauled everything.

About a decade later, Chlopek was working in the Army Reserve where he was with the military police. During that time, he and the other military police officers were activated to Desert Storm/Desert Shield during the Gulf War in 1991. Chlopek and the others were responsible for running a prisoner of war camp then.

But no matter what his capacity was with the armed forces, Chlopek has been an advocate in helping his fellow veterans. Chlopek first joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) in 1966. Currently, he is serving as a Nebraska VFW commander.

I wanted to help other veterans and help newer veterans, the ones coming back now, he said. I want them to make sure they are entitled to their benefits, what their benefits are and help them and their families. There are so many programs out there now that I dont know if they are aware of them. We just want to help them.

Chlopek said he believes the soldiers must be informed about those kinds of benefits.

A lot of them dont realize that they have them and that they are entitled to those benefits, Chlopek said. Some of them need the help and we want to make sure they are aware of those benefits and they can get the help they need.

He is also a member of the American Legion Hartman Post 84 honor guard. The group helps ensure that a veteran who passed away gets a military funeral.

Additionally, from his work with NPPD Chlopek is a member of the Rotary Club of Columbus Morning.

Chlopek said for any student interested in going into the military, it is a great benefit to them and he would urge them to do so.

The military is something that they can do and took forward to, he said. If they want to join the military, its a good place to really start a career or get to know people and to serve your country.

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On Tuesday evening at Post 84, a group of local seamstresses awarded roughly two dozen quilts to American Legion Hartman Post 84 members.

The quilts were created and presented as part of a local Quilts of Valor (QOV) effort. The QOV Foundation works to give handmade quilts to military service members and veterans.

According to the QOV website, Catherine Roberts started QOV in 2003 after she had a dream about a quilt comforting a young veteran. What Roberts started in Delaware 18 years ago has now spread across the country.

The local QOV affiliate -- Stars, Stripes and Stitches -- is based in Shelby. Members of two area quilt organizations -- the Fat Quarters Evening Quilt Guild and Calico Quilt Club -- have been making quilts of valor since 2018.

One of the local quilters, Connie Talbott, noted that Nebraska 4-H'ers have also made quilts of valor as public service projects, which are often exhibited at county and state fairs.

"Hundreds of quilts have been presented to veterans by the 4-H'ers," Talbott said. "Its great to see the young people connecting with older citizens and appreciating their military service."

Bonnie Evans -- another local quilter involved in QOV -- said the organization typically focuses on getting quilts to older veterans first, especially those who served in World War II and the Korean War. However, at Tuesday night's presentation, quilts were given to members of the Post 84 honor guard.

"Our main purpose in life is to do the funerals of veterans -- we've been doing a lot of them this year," Post 84 Finance Officer and honor guard member Jack Steiner said.

Steiner said the quilts of valor presentation was a special event for Post 84.

"This is a one-time thing (for us), although these ladies are doing it all the time.  They've given out well over 100 quilts," Steiner said.

Steiner said a few honor guard members had already received quilts. Talbott said the goal of the Tuesday event was to get through the remaining Post 84 honor guard members.

Crafting a quilt by hand alone can take months, so making a quilt of valor is usually a group effort. Different people may be asked to work on a few individual blocks of a quilt, which someone else might piece together into a quilt top.

Once the quilt tops are finished, Talbott usually uses her longarm quilting machine to sew the quilt top, batting, and backing together. After that, the final step -- binding the quilt with fabric along the edges -- can be done.

Talbott and Evans estimated that roughly 30 people were involved in the creation of the 26 quilts awarded on Tuesday.

Those who would like to join or directly support local QOV efforts can email stars.stripes.stitches.qov@gmail.com. Information about donating to the greater QOV Foundation can be found at qovf.org.

"People interested in nominating a veteran or active duty member may fill out a form on the QOV website," Talbott said in a Wednesday morning email to the Telegram. "The name is then passed on to the closest local affiliate. Of course, they can contact quilters directly if they know who is involved in Quilts of Valor."

The quilters said the effort was one of their ways of showing appreciation for the honor guard members' service, both past and present, as Veterans Day approached.

"It is appropriate that we gather at this time because in two days we will observe the 103rd anniversary of Armistice Day, now known as Veterans Day," Talbott said during the presentation. "On Nov. 11, 1918, more than four years of war in Europe ended when the Allies and their enemy, Germany, signed an armistice that halted fighting on land, sea and in the air."

Molly Hunter is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach her via email at molly.hunter@lee.net.

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When Dennis Medvid joined the U.S. Army in 1961, it wasnt voluntary  he was drafted. But in retrospect, it was worthwhile.

Its a time in my life I wouldnt trade for anything, said Medvid, one of dozens of veterans who attended the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Old Courthouse on the Carlisle Square. The event, organized by the Joint Veterans Council of Carlisle, featured music by the St. Pauls Brass Quintet, a rifle salute and a wreath-laying.

This years featured speaker was Col. James Scott, a current student of the U.S Army War College who has served multiple tours overseas, who described his fellow service members as a beacon of hope in an increasingly complex world.

They live uncommon lives under a common banner of love of country and service to our nation, he said.

Scott relayed his own familys military history, with a grandfather who served in the Army Air Corps during World War II; he also remarked on the increasing recognition not just of the World War generation, but also of the conflicts that came after.

Weve also come to appreciate more than ever the veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars, he said. They endured the worst that war can bring ... for some, the nations gratitude seems long in coming.

Many veterans at Thursdays ceremony have been attending Veterans Day ceremonies for years as a way to keep in touch with a shared experience.

Seeing these guys does a lot for me, said Jack Griffith, who joined the Air Force in 1960.

Medvids friend Stuart Taylor was also drafted in 1965, and ended up spending 21 years in the Army, he said.

Interest in veterans experiences seems to wax and wane with the years, Taylor said  there was a surge of enthusiasm after the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, which seems to be wearing off.

Its peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys, he said. Before 9/11, there wasnt as much military recognition.

With many events having been canceled or scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor said he hopes the interest in Veterans Day sustains itself and the occasion doesnt become just another holiday.

Email Zack at zhoopes@cumberlink.com.

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The state Department of Health reported 108 cases of COVID-19 and one death for Cumberland County Thursday.

The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 increased to 86 in Thursday's report, up three from Wednesday. There are 16 adults in intensive care (up one from Wednesday) and 14 on ventilators (up one from Wednesday). Twelve adult ICU beds remain open of the 114 currently staffed across the county, and 36 of 95 ventilators in the county are in use.

Thursday's report included 264 test results, with 33 probable cases. Comparing just the number of negative tests (156) and confirmed positive tests (75), the county saw 32.5% of its tests come back positive.

The southcentral region reported 909 cases and nine deaths Thursday, with 268 cases and two deaths in York County, 105 cases and one death in Dauphin County and 84 cases and no deaths in Blair County.

Franklin County reported 52 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Thursday (down one from Wednesday), with three of 28 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 11 of 35 available ventilators in use. There are eight adults in intensive care and five on ventilators.

Dauphin County reported 94 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 Thursday (up one from Wednesday), with 18 of 198 currently staffed ICU beds available in the county and 72 of 177 available ventilators in use. There are 28 adults in intensive care and 14 on ventilators.

School-age children

In its weekly update for the 10th week of the school year, the department reported 84 cases among children aged 5-18 in Cumberland County during the week of Oct. 27-Nov. 2, an increase of 12 from the 72 cases reported last week. That brings the total number of cases in Cumberland County for this school year to 1,346.

Statewide, the number of cases among 5- to 18-year-olds decreased for the sixth week in a row with 4,918 cases reported. The state said the total number of cases in that age group for the school year is 64,674.

Early Warning Dashboard

Cumberland County saw an increase in its in percent positivity and a decrease in 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 increased to 9.5% for the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 4, up from 8.4% the previous week. The incidence rate per 100,000 people decreased to 115.6, down from 128.3 the previous week.

Philadelphia County, which includes the city of Philadelphia, had the lowest percent positivity in the state for the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 4 at 3.4% and the lowest incidence rate per 100,000 people at 62.5.

Penn State Health update (Nov. 10)

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.

Wednesday's update shows 88 total cases (85 adults, 3 pediatrics) in the health system's four hospitals  18 are fully vaccinated (20.4%) with four in an ICU and two on ventilators, 56 are nonvaccinated (63.6%) with 19 adults in an ICU and 10 adults on a ventilator, and 14 are unknown status patients. All three children hospitalized are unvaccinated, with one in an ICU and no one on a ventilator.

Holy Spirit Medical Center in Camp Hill has 16 COVID patients. Four are fully vaccinated adults (no one in ICU and no one on a ventilator) and 12 unvaccinated adults (one in an ICU and one on a ventilator).

Hampden Medical Center has eight COVID patients. Five are not fully vaccinated (two in an ICU, one on a ventilator) and three 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. 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 Wednesday evening, the CDC says Cumberland County has seen 63.6% of its total population of 253,370 become fully vaccinated. For the county's vaccine eligible population of people ages 12 and older, 73.3% have been fully vaccinated.

County numbers in the southcentral region (for Nov. 11):

Adams County (pop. 103,009): 56 new cases; 13,802 total cases (11,247 confirmed, 2,555 probable); 44,420 negatives; 233 deaths; 50.7% of county population vaccinated

56 new cases; 13,802 total cases (11,247 confirmed, 2,555 probable); 44,420 negatives; 233 deaths; 50.7% of county population vaccinated Bedford County (pop. 47,888): 58 new cases; 7,135 total cases (4,853 confirmed, 2,282 probable); 12,632 negatives; 178 deaths; 35.2% of county population vaccinated

58 new cases; 7,135 total cases (4,853 confirmed, 2,282 probable); 12,632 negatives; 178 deaths; 35.2% of county population vaccinated Blair County (pop. 121,829): 84 new cases; 18,583 total cases (14,641 confirmed, 3,942 probable); 47,555 negatives; 411 deaths; 46.6% of county population vaccinated

84 new cases; 18,583 total cases (14,641 confirmed, 3,942 probable); 47,555 negatives; 411 deaths; 46.6% of county population vaccinated Cumberland County (pop. 253,370): 108 new cases; 29,129 total cases (22,698 confirmed, 6,431 probable); 103,295 negatives; 637 deaths (+1); 63.6% of county population vaccinated

108 new cases; 29,129 total cases (22,698 confirmed, 6,431 probable); 103,295 negatives; 637 deaths (+1); 63.6% of county population vaccinated Dauphin County (pop. 278,299): 105 new cases; 35,843 total cases (30,693 confirmed, 5,150 probable); 129,566 negatives; 671 deaths (+1); 59.4% of county population vaccinated

105 new cases; 35,843 total cases (30,693 confirmed, 5,150 probable); 129,566 negatives; 671 deaths (+1); 59.4% of county population vaccinated Franklin County (pop. 155,027): 51 new cases; 22,463 total cases (18,216 confirmed, 4,247 probable); 64,841 negatives; 475 deaths (+1); 46.3% of county population vaccinated

51 new cases; 22,463 total cases (18,216 confirmed, 4,247 probable); 64,841 negatives; 475 deaths (+1); 46.3% of county population vaccinated Fulton County (pop. 14,530): 23 new cases; 2,387 total cases (1,175 confirmed, 1,212 probable); 5,042 negatives; 33 deaths; 31.9% of county population vaccinated

23 new cases; 2,387 total cases (1,175 confirmed, 1,212 probable); 5,042 negatives; 33 deaths; 31.9% of county population vaccinated Huntingdon County (pop. 45,144): 19 new cases; 7,037 total cases (5,775 confirmed, 1,262 probable); 21,139 negatives; 171 deaths (+1); 47.4% of county population vaccinated

19 new cases; 7,037 total cases (5,775 confirmed, 1,262 probable); 21,139 negatives; 171 deaths (+1); 47.4% of county population vaccinated Juniata County (pop. 24,763): 10 new cases; 3,019 total cases (2,755 confirmed, 264 probable); 6,769 negatives; 120 deaths; 40.7% of county population vaccinated

10 new cases; 3,019 total cases (2,755 confirmed, 264 probable); 6,769 negatives; 120 deaths; 40.7% of county population vaccinated Lebanon County (pop. 141,793): 74 new cases; 21,310 total cases (18,220 confirmed, 3,090 probable); 63,658 negatives; 344 deaths; 51.5% of county population vaccinated

74 new cases; 21,310 total cases (18,220 confirmed, 3,090 probable); 63,658 negatives; 344 deaths; 51.5% of county population vaccinated Mifflin County (pop. 46,138): 35 new cases; 7,529 total cases (7,122 confirmed, 407 probable); 17,735 negatives; 214 deaths (+2); 49.6% of county population vaccinated

35 new cases; 7,529 total cases (7,122 confirmed, 407 probable); 17,735 negatives; 214 deaths (+2); 49.6% of county population vaccinated Perry County (pop. 46,272): 18 new cases; 5,478 total cases (4,222 confirmed, 1,256 probable); 13,503 negatives; 130 deaths (+1); 47.8% of county population vaccinated

18 new cases; 5,478 total cases (4,222 confirmed, 1,256 probable); 13,503 negatives; 130 deaths (+1); 47.8% of county population vaccinated York County (pop. 449,058): 268 new cases; 65,028 total cases (52,906 confirmed; 12,122 probable); 195,895 negatives; 1,015 deaths (+2); 55.9% of county population vaccinated

ZIP code-level counts (updated Nov. 11):

17013: 3,491 positives, 15,990 negatives - +57 since Nov. 5

17015: 2,071 positives, 7,834 negatives - +24 since Nov. 5

17050: 3,297 positives, 16,356 negatives - +45 since Nov. 5

17055: 3,712 positives, 18,494 negatives - +50 since Nov. 5

17011: 3,429 positives, 15,510 negatives - +57 since Nov. 5

17007: 501 positives, 2,022 negatives - +13 since Nov. 5

17065: 358 positives, 1,383 negatives - +9 since Nov. 5

17324: 406 positives, 1,419 negatives - +6 since Nov. 5

17241: 931 positives, 3,474 negatives - +13 since Nov. 5

17257: 2,384 positives, 7,838 negatives - +26 since Nov. 5

17240: 233 positives, 706 negatives - +5 since Nov. 5

17025: 1,584 positives, 6,311 negatives - +22 since Nov. 5

17070: 1,494 positives, 5,986 negatives - +30 since Nov. 5

17043: 509 positives, 2,265 negatives - +17 since Nov. 5

17019: 1,775 positives, 6,068 negatives - +48 since Nov. 5

17266: 28 positives, 136 negatives - +0 since Nov. 5

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): 16 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of the sites last update on Nov. 5.

(reports active cases in past 14 days with school exposure): 16 student cases and 3 staff cases being monitored as of the sites last update on Nov. 5. Camp Hill School District (posts chart that includes total case count): 12 new student cases and no new staff case since Oct. 29; 74 student cases and 8 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.)

(posts chart that includes total case count): 12 new student cases and no new staff case since Oct. 29; 74 student cases and 8 staff cases this school year (started Aug. 25.) Carlisle Area School District (reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 4 new cases since Oct. 29; 168 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Nov. 4.

(reports cases as they occur and updates a chart): 4 new cases since Oct. 29; 168 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) according to the charts last update on Nov. 4. Cumberland Valley School District (reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 25 cases since Oct. 29; 219 cases this school year (started Aug. 31.)

(reports weekly and total number of cases with school exposure): 25 cases since Oct. 29; 219 cases this school year (started Aug. 31.) Mechanicsburg Area School District (chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 14 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Nov. 5.

(chart lists total cases actively being monitored, updated Tuesday and Friday): 14 positive and presumed positive cases being monitored as of Nov. 5. Shippensburg Area School District (reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 9 new cases since Oct. 29; 156 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of the charts last update on Nov. 3.

(reports weekly and total confirmed case counts involving school exposure): 9 new cases since Oct. 29; 156 cases this school year (started Aug. 19) as of the charts last update on Nov. 3. South Middleton School District (posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 1 new case since Oct. 22; 73 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Oct. 29.

(posts notices as cases occur, updates table of case counts weekly on Fridays): 1 new case since Oct. 22; 73 cases this school year (started Aug. 25) as of the charts last update on Oct. 29. West Shore School District (reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 63 student cases and 9 staff cases being monitored as of Nov. 5.

(reports active cases with school exposure within past 14 days): 63 student cases and 9 staff cases being monitored as of Nov. 5. Dickinson College : no new student cases and 3 employee cases since Oct. 29; 34 student cases and 27 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.)

: no new student cases and 3 employee cases since Oct. 29; 34 student cases and 27 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 30.) Messiah University : 8 new student cases and 5 new staff cases since Oct. 29; 66 student cases and 29 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.)

: 8 new student cases and 5 new staff cases since Oct. 29; 66 student cases and 29 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 7.) Shippensburg University: 1 new student case and no new staff cases since Oct. 29; 164 student cases and 21 employee cases this semester (started Aug. 1) as of the last update on Nov. 1.

(Counties with a percent positivity above 5% in a week go on the Department of Health's watch list)

Pennsylvania: Percent Positivity - 9.3% last 7 days (8.7% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 165.3 (165 previous 7 days)

Adams County: Percent Positivity - 14.2% last 7 days (15.2% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 192.2 (194.2 previous 7 days)

Cumberland County: Percent Positivity - 9.5% last 7 days (8.4% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 115.6 (128.3 previous 7 days)

Dauphin County: Percent Positivity - 10.6% last 7 days (11.8% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 140.1 (179.3 previous 7 days)

Franklin County: Percent Positivity - 11.1% last 7 days (11.7% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 138.7 (152.2 previous 7 days)

Lebanon County: Percent Positivity - 14% last 7 days (11.7% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 201 (186.9 previous 7 days)

Perry County: Percent Positivity - 9.1% last 7 days (14.7% previous 7 days) Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 97.3 (179.4 previous 7 days)

York County:

Percent Positivity - 15.9% last 7 days (15.3% previous 7 days)

last 7 days (15.3% previous 7 days)

Incidence Rate per 100,000 people last 7 days - 228.3 (249.2 previous 7 days)

Email Jeff at jpratt@cumberlink.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelPratt.

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Pennsylvanias Commonwealth Court on Wednesday ruled that the state masking order for school entities issued by acting Health Secretary Alison Beam in September due to the coronavirus pandemic is void because she didnt have the authority to issue it.

The 4-1 ruling comes in a case brought by parents of school children in a number of districts, including West York Area School District, in which arguments were made on Oct. 20.

Within hours of the decision, it was put on hold when Health Department lawyers filed an appeal to the state Supreme Court.

The secretary of healths authority is clearly outlined in existing law, said Beth Rementer, press secretary for Gov. Tom Wolf. The Department of Health has directed counsel to file an appeal today. Filing of the appeal will immediately stay the Commonwealth Courts decision.

Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon issued an opinion Wednesday that detailed the discussions of the lawsuit. In her opinion, she said Beam did not have authority under state law to make the mask mandate, especially in light of no emergency declaration, which Gov. Tom Wolf was not able to provide after voters in the primary approved an amendment limiting his emergency declaration powers.

For this court to rule otherwise would be tantamount to giving the acting secretary unbridled authority to issue orders with the effect of regulations in the absence of either a gubernatorial proclamation of disaster emergency or compliance with the Commonwealth Documents Law and the Regulatory Review Act, as passed by the General Assembly, Cannon wrote.

The states disease control law does not give health secretaries the blanket authority to create new rules and regulations out of whole cloth, provided they are related in some way to the control of disease or can otherwise be characterized as disease control measures, Cannon wrote.

She said the judges express herein no opinion regarding the science or efficacy of mask-wearing or the politics underlying the considerable controversy the subject continues to engender.

Judge Michael Wojcik, one of two Democrats on the five-judge panel that considered the case, wrote in a lone dissent that Beams order was a valid interpretive rule that tracks the statutory and regulatory authority conferred upon her.

Wolf on Monday announced his plans to keep the mask mandate for K-12 students in place until Jan. 17, where school districts would then be able to decide whether they would enforce mask usage.

Beams mask mandate was issued Aug. 31 (and took effect Sept. 7) when the state faced a surge of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations due to the highly contagious delta variant, but after many school districts had already made decisions regarding masks since school had started.

Here is a look at what local school districts had decided before the state mandate was issued:

Big Spring School District: Masks were required for students, staff and visitors when inside the school buildings, but students were allowed to remove their masks when sitting at a desk.

Carlisle Area School District: Masks were required for students, staff and visitors inside the school buildings.

Cumberland Valley School District: Masks were voluntary, but would change to mandatory if COVID-19 cases reached a certain level of community transmission (the CDC as of Nov. 10 still rates Cumberland County as having high-level of transmission).

Mechanicsburg Area School District: Masks were strongly recommended for unvaccinated students inside district buildings.

South Middleton School District: Masks were required for students and staff.

Shippensburg Area School District: Masks were required for students and staff (this mandate was voted on twice after parents became upset over an early Aug. 9 vote that was not on the agenda for the school board meeting).

Republican state lawmakers pushed through a pair of constitutional amendments that voters approved in May, limiting the length of gubernatorial disaster declarations.

State Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, who sued along with Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, parents and school entities, said the issue for him was not the masks themselves. He said the Beam order was an end-around the constitutional amendment passed by the people, limiting the executive branchs authority during a state of emergency.

Voters in the primary agreed to end a governors emergency disaster declaration after 21 days and gave lawmakers the sole authority to extend it or end it at any time with a simple majority vote.

Before they were passed, the state constitution required a two-thirds majority vote by lawmakers to end a governors disaster declaration and, legally, the governor could issue an emergency declaration for up to 90 days and extend it without limit.

It wasnt the masks at all, Topper said Wednesday. It was about the idea of imposing a mandate like this on a healthy population of children outside any of the regulatory process that would normally have to go through or any of the legislative process you would normally have to go through.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Email Naomi Creason at ncreason@cumberlink.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason

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There is no set way to discover the story behind the service of a veteran in your family tree.

Each case is its own unique standalone investigation, said Duane Miller, a technical information specialist with the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center outside Carlisle.

It is bits and pieces you use to restructure from different sources, he said. Sometimes, its very successful. Other times, we get very little, but we always give our best effort.

Every Veterans Day, thoughts turn to the past and present service of men and women in uniform. Yet, for many families, all that remains are photographs in a dusty old album or a stack of official looking papers.

But help is available at places like AHEC or the Cumberland County Historical Society. Both offer the public experts trained in research and a range of resources to build upon a sketchy start.

What we do for people is to try and flesh out more information, Miller said. If they have some documents or evidence of service, we can help put it into historical context for them.

Local sources

One key to success is to understand how information on a service member was recorded and where it could be stored. Methods and repositories change over time.

How records are kept can depend on what level of government was used to recruit or enlist the service member, said Cara Curtis, Historical Society archives and library director.

For example, the local historical society maintains a list of militia units and regiments formed in Cumberland County. The holdings include rosters of men who served with each unit.

We also have the WPA project in the 1930s, Curtis said, referring to the Works Progress Administration.

Introduced during the Great Depression, this program hired job seekers to perform public works projects throughout the country. One project in Cumberland County documented and mapped the grave sites of veterans buried in local cemeteries up until the mid-1930s.

Its not a perfect list by any stretch of the imagination, Curtis said. There are mistakes. There are people left out. There is a case where one guy is listed in three different cemeteries.

We have letters and diaries from different wars, she said. We have regimental histories. It can be difficult with military records because they are housed at different places depending on the war.

The society has ancestry.com so library patrons can have access to federal sources.

AHEC

A common misconception is that AHEC is the repository of the service records of soldiers, Miller said. Much of that false notion is based on confusion between what are personal records  diaries, letters, etc.  and what are official records kept by the National Archives and Records Administration.

Part of it is a question of timing. After a veteran is discharged, a certain period of years has to pass before the military can turn over a service record to the NARA for access to the public.

In 1973, the National Personnel Record Center in St. Louis caught on fire, Curtis said. It is estimated that 80% of the files were lost for soldiers discharged between Nov. 1, 1912, and Jan. 1, 1960, and that 75% of the files were lost for Air Force personnel discharged between Sept. 25, 1947, and Jan. 1, 1964.

Families affected by that timeline should follow through and submit a request anyway for a service record from the center, Miller said. Give it a shot. Some files were damaged.

The collection at AHEC includes individual unit histories and digests dating back to the Revolutionary War. That could give them leads, Miller said. We ask family members for information on what they know. We approach it on a case-by-case basis.

Since many Army units were organized under militias, state archives may be a good source of information along with the historical society of the community where the veteran or their family resided.

Challenges

You will hit walls. Be prepared for that, Curtis said. Thats true of any kind of research. You may answer one of your questions. Then get three more.

All too often, the usefulness of a source is only as good as the person who transcribed the original document. It is not unusual for something to be misread or misspelled because of handwriting issues. Curtis recommends using different spellings of the veterans name.

Sometimes, it can be hard to figure out if you have the right person especially if you have a common name, she said. Sometimes, its about taking a break and getting back to it.

There are so many stories to be told for these veterans, she said. A lot of them are no longer around to speak for themselves so it is up to us to piece together some of their stories to remember them.

Part of the challenge facing family members is the veteran may be unwilling to recount their stories of service. Curtis experienced that situation with her grandfather who, for whatever reason, didnt want to talk about it.

This resistance should be met with understanding and empathy for what they have been through. Never force a veteran to discuss his service.

Ideally, if the veteran is alive and willing to talk, a family member should take down notes or record the stories of service for future generations.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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Fifteen Army recruits will be sworn in Thursday during a Veterans Day recognition and remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center outside Carlisle.

The public is invited to attend the 40-minute ceremony that is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Soldiers Walk patio in front of the AHEC building at 950 Soldiers Drive in Middlesex Township.

Called Generations of Soldier Heritage: Veterans Day Enlistment Ceremony, the event is a new concept that incorporates presentations by Army veterans with the Oath of Enlistment.

Were trying to tie our future soldiers to the history and heritage of the Army, said Jack Giblin, AHEC director of education and engagement. Were trying to instill in our public the importance of service.

The event will follow the COVID-19 mitigation plan developed in consultation with the Army War College. Masks will be optional during the outdoor ceremony. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors where masks will be required. Seating at both venues will be spaced at least three feet apart.

The ceremony will begin with the national anthem followed by a speech on what it means to be a veteran by retired Army Maj. Ed Miller. He served as a noncommissioned officer in Vietnam before returning to military service to attend Officer Candidate School. Miller later served with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.

War College student Army Lt. Col. J. Brad Fausnaugh will deliver the keynote address on what it means today to be a soldier. The Oath of Enlistment will then be administered to 15 recruits, including 10 from the Carlisle recruitment office, Giblin said. AHEC is coordinating the event with the Army Recruiting Command Harrisburg Battalion based in New Cumberland, which draws recruits from much of south-central Pennsylvania.

Generations of Soldier Heritage is the brainchild of educator Karl Warner and his work group of AHEC staff members drawn from across its departments.

We do a lot of programming now through work groups, Giblin said. The ceremony will be unique. The families of future soldiers are going to get the opportunity to hear from veterans who have given decades of service. We are trying to make this not only a remembrance event, but a recognition event.

AHEC staff work routinely with the Harrisburg Battalion by providing recruiters with educational resources to promote enlistment among regional high school students.

Below is a list of other Veterans Day events and ceremonies planned for the Cumberland County area:

Thursday, Nov. 11

Carlisle: The Joint Veterans Council of Carlisle will conduct the annual Veterans Day ceremony in the second floor courtroom of the Old Courthouse on the Square at 10:30 a.m. The Cumberland County Honor Guard is providing the firing squad and bugler.

Mechanicsburg: The Mechanicsburg Area Veterans Council will hold a ceremony at the Mechanicsburg Cemetery GAR monument on Marble Street at 11 a.m. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. inside VFW Post 6704 in Mechanicsburg. The guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Larry Workman, an Army War College student.

Newville: The Newville Joint Veterans Council in cooperation with Newville Borough will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Fountain Square in the center of town. The event will feature traditional Veterans Day salutes including honor guard services, a rifle salute, the playing of taps and a keynote speaker from the Army War College. The service will honor all veterans with the placement of flowers and a wreath at the memorial. The Hometown Hero Banners that have adorned Big Spring Avenue all summer will be presented to family members in attendance.

Saint Patrick School: The school will host A Salute, Thank You & Remembrance Honoring Those Who Serve ceremony at 9 a.m. in the Parish Activity Center at 87 Marsh Drive. The students of Saint Patrick School invite their families to thank and honor Americas veterans for their sacrifices and service. Veterans are invited to wear their military uniforms. Masks are required.

Sunday, Nov. 14

Silver Spring Township: The Silver Spring Veterans Memorial Committee will hold a Veterans Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at Willow Mill Park, 80 Willow Mill Park Road, starting at 1 p.m.

Email Joseph Cress at jcress@cumberlink.com.

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In recognition of Veterans Day, Americans will honor and remember those brave men and women who once served or are now serving in the United States armed forces.

In our country's desire to recognize those who have fought for the nation's freedoms, often overlooked are the families of veterans and the heartaches and difficulties they experienced while awaiting the return of their loved ones serving in the military.

Farmington resident E. Dean Burns has written an autobiography titled, Down the Burns Stretch. Two chapters in the book deal with his birth in 1940, what he lived through as a child during World War II, and how he and his family coped while his father, William Adolph Burns, served two years overseas. They offer a unique perspective, seldom documented, on the hardships often experienced by those who remained at home during World War II.

I celebrate Veterans Day to honor my dad and other Americans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the good life I have today, he said.

Quoting self-help author Napoleon Hill, Burns recites hardship and adversity are a common language of nature in which she speaks to all living creatures and teaches them many things they would not learn in any other way. Again quoting Hill, he said, Every adversity carries with it the seed of an equivalent benefit.

Burns asserts that this "law" has been tested and manifested throughout his life.

My parents were very poor," he said. "They grew up during the [Great] Depression. They got married and lived in the stave mill camp on Big Creek. Pioneer Cooperage was the company that owned the stave mill.

Burns was born at the stave mill camp in Shannon County. With the timber industry declining at the time, his parents decided to hitch a ride to St. Louis to seek employment. They moved into a brick three-story apartment complex in the Lafayette Park area where they shared a two-room apartment with two other families.

Six adults and three children shared a kitchen and bedroom, he said. A bathroom down the hall was shared with other families in the apartment complex.

Owning no vehicle, Burn's father traveled to work at various jobs by street car. He finally found steady work at Ruberoid where he made asbestos shingles. In the meantime, Burns was soon joined by two brothers, the youngest of whom was born with hydrocephalus in August 1943.

My mother was in the City Hospital of St. Louis when the baby was born, he said. The stress of having three children in three years, moving from place to place, economic distress, and lack of prenatal care probably caused the deformation of the child. Mere existence was the issue of the day.

Right after the third child was born, Burns recounted that his father was drafted for service in World War II. His fathers concern about being killed in the war and leaving a wife and three children in the city led to the family's final move  back south to Reynolds County. There, his parents purchased 80 acres on Highway 72, five miles east of Bunker.

When we moved, Mom and Dad had bought some furniture from the landlady, he said. That was loaded onto the back of the truck. Mom, the hydrocephalic baby, and my brother Dick rode in the cab of the truck with the man. Dad and I rode in the back of the truck from St. Louis to Bunker, 150 miles, with the furniture.

Burns father was inducted into the Army at Jefferson Barracks on Dec. 8, 1943. While waiting to board a train to Louisiana for basic training, the Red Cross contacted him with the news that his youngest child was dying. He arranged for a two-week leave and returned to Bunker where the hydrocephalic child died, one month to the day after he had entered the Army. Even though Burns had just turned 4 years old at the time, he vividly remembers the day his little brother was laid to rest.

My brother, mother, and I rode to the cemetery in a Model A Ford driven by my uncle. We followed a logging truck. The casket of my brother was hauled on that truck with my father dressed in his military uniform hunched over it as he rode in the cold breeze of that open flatbed truck.

I remember that black and white pictures were taken with Dad in his uniform with family members at our home on Highway 72 before he returned to the Army. The pictures revealed somber and sad faces of the family as patches of snow lay on the ground.

Burns' father left again for Jefferson Barracks en route to Louisiana and then to Europe where he landed at Utah Beach approximately two weeks after D-Day. The elder Burns was stationed with the 1376th Engineering Petroleum Distribution Company, a division of the Corps of Engineers that installed a pipeline from Cherbourg, France, into Germany. He received a Bronze Star for his involvement in the battle of Saint Lo.

Burns recalled listening to the news at home on a battery-powered radio while coal oil lamps lit the room until the day Rural Electric Association installed electricity. He remembered the excitement felt by his family when they received letters, photos, and other items from his father during his time in France.

Relating the immensely complicated process involved in his father's return home from the war, Burns recalled that it all began with the mailman stopping to speak to his mother.

He informed my mother that her husband had arrived in New York City from France, Burns said. The mailman told her that [my] father had called Highleys General Merchandise Store in Bunker and wanted his wife and the boys at the store when he called back that afternoon.

When they arrived at the store and listened as their father spoke on the phone, Burns and his brother couldnt speak because they were unable to comprehend what was happening.

Detailing the extensive trip his father had to endure while returning home from France in 1945, Burns said, He was to sail from France on the Queen Mary, a modern transport ship. However, a small freight ship, the William Cushing, picked up a load of soldiers at La Havre, France, to bring them to New York. The weather was turbulent and took several more days than expected.

According to Burns, his father suffered severe sea sickness on the ship and weighed only 128 pounds upon being discharged from the Army.

Dad boarded a train in New York and traveled to Jefferson Barracks, he said. He was officially separated from the Army with an honorable discharge on Jan. 10, 1946.

At this point, one would think the trip was almost over. However, in 1946 travel was still a travail from St. Louis to Bunker despite few cars traveling the roads at that time. Burns explained that his father had to ride a bus to Ironton.

There he loaded his baggage on the back of the Wallen Bus Line mail truck, he said. He climbed on under the tarpaulin on the back of the truck to ride the last 50 miles home.

Recalling his father's arrival home from a land of war to a land of peace, Burns begins his recollection with the mail truck pulling up into the driveway.

Mother, my brother, and I were standing in the middle of the living room looking out the window. Mother said, Hes here! Our daddy is home! Who is going to get to him first? The truck driver got out of his truck and walked around back. He nodded his head in affirmation to my mother who was standing at the open door.

"The driver untied the tarpaulin covering the mail on the back of the truck, and a man dressed in a United States Army uniform climbed off the back of the truck. Mother ran to meet him as the truck driver unloaded Dads baggage. My brother and I stood frozen side by side on the front porch. Two little boys were in shock. Dad picked up both of us and held us for a long time. My brother and I were still silent. It was real. After two long years, our daddy had arrived at last.

Mark Marberry is a reporter for the Farmington Press and Daily Journal. He can be reached at 573-518-3629, or at mmarberry@farmingtonpressonline.com

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St. Francois County District 2 Commissioner David Kater was on hand at a public meeting held Tuesday night at the Bonne Terre Knights of Columbus to address local residents' concerns about the late-night noise from the Bonne Terre Drag Strip.

I guess there was about 130 racers and probably five to six people at the Homeowners Association over there in Big River Hills, he said. I felt bad for the homeowners, they wanted to be heard and were kind of overridden by the race crowd. I may have to hear them again. My position is to hear everyones concerns. To others, it may be considered big or small, but to them theyre big problems.

According to his understanding, Kater tried to clarify the position of the homeowners in the area.

These people are not against the track, they would just like to know that they are not going until 4 a.m.

According to Kater, he was previously approached by the HOA about the matter.

I dont know if there are people moving in that dont know there is a drag strip close by. We dont have ordinances or planning and zoning for the county. Its something that needs to be looked at. Now, what it will do for a grandfathered in racetrack, theres most likely nothing.

Kater noted that has been in contact with Jarrod Keen, the owner of the drag strip about trying to limit how late the track would be in operation of a night.

Hes a really good guy, Kater said. I know if theres anything he can do to end it at 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. or whatever the latest is, it would really help the situation.

Mark Marberry is a reporter for the Farmington Press and Daily Journal. He can be reached at 573-518-3629, or at mmarberry@farmingtonpressonline.com

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Area fire departments responded to a fire late Monday night in Park Hills. The Missouri Fire Marshal's Office later determined the fire to be suspicious, according to officials.

At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Monday, firefighters were dispatched to a working fire at a one-story home located in the 200 block of Hampton Avenue. The fire was initially reported as an explosion with fire.

Park Hills Fire Chief Brad Weiss said law enforcement and EMS were on the scene before firefighters arrived. He said the neighbors were reportedly adamant that there was someone trapped, so fire crews proceeded under the assumption that there was a person inside the house.

The chief said the first truck arrived less than 15 minutes after the dispatch and brought the intense, one-room fire under control within 5-7 minutes. Weiss said crews had the fire completely extinguished within 20-30 minutes.

There were no reported injuries. He noted that an animal cage was located inside the residence, but no animal was inside the house during the fire.

Law enforcement requested the Missouri Fire Marshal's Office to investigate, according to Weiss. Crews remained on the scene for a few hours after containing the blaze as the fire marshal investigated the structure.

He said the homeowners were apparently out of town when the fire occurred. Police radio traffic indicated that officers believed a break-in had taken place before the fire because one of the home's windows was broken.

The Park Hills Police Department did not immediately respond to the Daily Journal's calls about the fire or possible burglary.

After investigating the property, Weiss said the fire marshal determined that the fire was suspicious.

The chief said the homeowners arrived at the scene about 3 a.m. and had planned to inspect their house on Tuesday during daylight hours to determine if anything was missing or if they believed any theft had occurred.

The chief explained that the home would likely be a total loss due to the intensity of the fire.

Fire departments assisting Park Hills with Monday night's containment efforts included Bismarck, Leadwood, Farmington, and Bonne Terre/Big River.

Firefighters from the Doe Run Fire Department were moved up to stand-by at the Park Hills Fire Department while the other fire companies were working the scene. The St. Francois County Ambulance District also responded.

Bobby Radford is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at bradford@dailyjournalonline.com

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The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters that it will be holding mandatory chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms season, Saturday and Sunday, for hunters who harvest deer in MDC CWD Management Zone counties.

CWD is a deadly, infectious disease in deer and other members of the deer family (cervids) that eventually kills all animals it infects. There is no vaccine or cure. CWD can be spread from direct deer-to-deer contact, through improper disposal of deer carcasses, and through the environment by deer contacting infectious material from other deer. Hunters play a critical role in helping MDC manage the disease by having their deer tested and following carcass-movement restrictions. Learn more at mdc.mo.gov/cwd.

CWD Management Zone

MDC designates counties where CWD has been found and counties within 10 miles of where CWD has been found as part of its CWD Management Zone. The CWD Management Zone counties are: Adair, Barry, Camden, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Hickory, Howell, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Linn, Macon, McDonald, Mercer, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Warren, and Washington. Camden, Laclede, McDonald, and Pulaski counties were added to the CWD Management Zone this year.

Mandatory CWD Sampling Nov. 13 and 14

Hunters who harvest deer in any counties in the CWD Management Zone during opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season (Nov. 13 and 14) are required to take their harvested deer or the head on the day of harvest to one of MDCs numerous CWD mandatory sampling stations located throughout the zone. Sampling and test results are free. MDC staff working these locations will follow COVID-19 health-safety guidelines.

Hunters must present their deer to a CWD mandatory sampling station within the county of harvest, with a few exceptions. Deer that will end up being delivered to a licensed meat processor or taxidermist within 48 hours, or deer heads that will be left at the MDC CWD mandatory sampling station for disposal after sampling, may be transported to a sampling station in any county.

Find CWD mandatory sampling station locations online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd or from MDCs 2021 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet.

CWD sampling takes only a few minutes and consists of MDC staff cutting an incision across the throat of harvested deer to remove lymph nodes for testing. Tissue samples are sent to an independent lab for testing. Hunters will be given a card with information on getting free test results for their deer after samples are processed. Hunters can get their CWD test results for free online at mdc.mo.gov/cwdResults. Results are usually available within four weeks or less from the time of sampling.

Hunters presenting bucks bound for taxidermy should inform MDC staff. Staff will complete paperwork and inform the hunters about participating taxidermists taking CWD tissue samples. The cape may also be removed from the animal prior to being taken to a sampling station.

Before arriving at a CWD mandatory sampling station:

Field dress and Telecheck deer.

Bring the carcass or just the head.

Capes may be removed in preparation for taxidermy prior to arriving at a station.

Position deer in vehicles with head and neck easily accessible.

Be sure the person who harvested the deer is present.

Be prepared to find the location of harvest on a map.

If using a paper permit, have it detached from the deer for easy access.

If using the MO Hunting app, have permit information available.

Mandatory CWD sampling dramatically increases the number of tissue samples MDC can collect in a brief period of time. The increased number of samples gives MDC scientists a much better understanding of the distribution and prevalence of the disease  where it is and how many deer may have it. It can also help find new cases in new areas.

Opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season is the most popular two hunting days for most deer hunters. Hunters take about a third of the states total annual deer harvest during those two days. Focusing on this key weekend gives MDC the best opportunity to collect the most tissue samples during a very concentrated time period.

Voluntary CWD Sampling All Season Statewide

MDC is also offering statewide voluntary CWD sampling and testing of harvested deer during the entire deer season at select locations throughout the state. Locations include select MDC offices during regular business hours, cooperating taxidermists and meat processors (hours vary), and self-service freezers where hunters can leave deer heads for sampling and testing.

Hunters can get their CWD test results for free online at mdc.mo.gov/cwdResults. Results are usually available within four weeks or less from the time of sampling. Find voluntary sampling locations and more information online at mdc.mo.gov/cwd or by contacting an MDC regional office at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/regional-mdc-offices.

Carcass Movement Restrictions

Hunters must follow carcass-movement restrictions for deer harvested in a CWD Management Zone county and when bringing parts of harvested deer and other harvested cervids, such as elk or moose, into Missouri from another state.

For hunters who harvest deer in Missouri from a CWD Management Zone county:

Deer must be Telechecked before any parts of the carcass may be transported out of the county of harvest.

Whole carcasses may only be transported out of the county of harvest if delivered to a licensed meat processor.

Deer heads may only be transported out of the county of harvest if delivered to a licensed taxidermist or an approved CWD sampling station within 48 hours of exiting the county of harvest. However, on Nov. 13-14, deer, or the head, must be taken on the day of harvest to a CWD mandatory sampling station.

The following carcass parts may be moved outside of the county of harvest without restriction:

Meat that is cut and wrapped or that has been boned out.

Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.

Hides from which all excess tissue has been removed.

Antlers or antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue.

Finished taxidermy products.

For hunters bringing harvested deer and other cervids into Missouri from another state:

Hunters may no longer transport whole cervid carcasses into the state.

Heads from cervids with the cape attached and no more than six inches of neck attached may be brought into Missouri only if they are delivered to a licensed taxidermist within 48 hours of entering Missouri.

There is no longer a requirement that cervid carcass parts coming into the state be reported to the MDC carcass transport hotline.

The following cervid parts can be transported into Missouri without restriction:

Meat that is cut and wrapped or that has been boned out.

Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached.

Hides from which all excess tissue has been removed.

Antlers or antlers attached to skull plates or skulls cleaned of all muscle and brain tissue.

Upper canine teeth.

Finished taxidermy products.

Learn more about hunting safety, CWD mandatory sampling, and carcass disposal through the MDC video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn5uABH77Oo.

Share the Harvest

For the Bullock brothers, its about more than hunting Anyone who knows James Jebo Bullock would not be surprised to hear he has 20 days on his desk calendar marked off with a highlighter during 

MDC encourages deer hunters to share their harvest. Missouris Share the Harvest program helps deer hunters donate venison to those in need. To participate, take harvested deer to an approved meat processor and let the processor know how much venison is to be donated.

Deer harvested within the CWD Management Zone may only be donated to approved processors in the Share the Harvest CWD Testing Program and must be tested for CWD to be accepted for donation. Deer that are sampled for CWD prior to delivery to the processor must have the MDC CWD barcode number when presented to the processor. Participating processors will sample or collect the head from all other deer harvested in the CWD Management Zone.

Deer harvested outside of the CWD Management Zone may be donated to any Share the Harvest processor. Learn more online at mdc.mo.gov/share or from MDCs 2021 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet.

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Ten Albemarle County precincts were short official ballots in last weeks election and had to hand-count some ballots.

Election officials in Albemarle cite higher-than-expected voter turnout  about 63% of registered voters  and promise to order more ballots for future elections.

Overall, 1,896 voters had to cast ballots that were then hand counted on election night.

From speaking to the chief precinct officers when they brought their election materials in on Tuesday night, the longest wait times that I heard of were 20-25 minutes, Registrar Jake Washburne said. Each chief that I spoke with advised that they had explained to the voters in line that ballots were on the way, and that the great majority of voters waited patiently and voted.

The precincts affected were in every magisterial district except the Rio District. Samuel Miller District and White Hall District each had three affected Ivy, Red Hill and Country Green in Samuel Miller and Crozet, Brownsville and Mechums River in White Hall.

Jack Jouett in the Jack Jouett District, Mountain View in the Scottsville District and Hollymead and Baker-Butler in the Rivanna District were also short ballots.
He received a religious exemption for reasons he didnt want to share. Getting the shot should be a personal choice, he said.

But even with the exemption, he feels ostracized because hes no longer allowed to be a part of the university choir or its vocal jazz ensemble, he said. During voice classes, he has to sing behind a plexiglass wall while wearing a mask and hes treated differently by teachers now, he said.

Its a lot of that kind of stuff, said Yetzke, a music technology major. Im barred from doing a lot. Thats really frustrating because I came here to sing.

Amanda Born, who attends Grand Valley State in western Michigan, also received a religious exemption. She said she knows at least 10 students who didnt want the vaccine but went ahead with it anyway.

It was a scare tactic, and it worked, she said. They want to continue living their life, going to the school they chose and continuing with their career path.

The nine-campus University of Louisiana System told students immediately after the FDA approval that they would need to be vaccinated or receive a medical, religious or philosophical exemption before signing up for classes next semester. State law there provides for broad exemptions to vaccine mandates.
Bad weather also contributed to their flight delays. Chari said trying to launch on Halloween left them with "a trick instead of a treat. It was also drizzling Wednesday night when the four astronauts said goodbye to their families for six months  with everyone huddling under umbrellas  but it cleared up by launch time.

Enjoy your holidays among the stars. Well be waving as you fly by," SpaceX launch director Mark Soltys radioed to the crew.

The list of 600 travelers ranges from those who have barely scratched space  like actor William Shatner last month  to U.S. and Russian astronauts who have spent a year or more in orbit. This years surge in space tourists helped push the tally over the 600 mark.

That averages out to 10 people per year since Yuri Gagarins pioneering flight in 1961, Maurer noted.

But I think in a very few years, we will see an exponential rise of that one because now were entering the era of commercial spaceflight, he said after arriving at Kennedy Space Center two weeks ago.
Filler-Corn also appeared to temper her concession.

The speaker's stance is that there are provisions in place to make sure we can be certain what the outcomes are, and it's always good to check. Were just seeing what the outcome is going to be, Filler-Corn spokesperson Sigalle Reshef said Tuesday.

Republicans, who celebrated last week after flipping at least five Democratic-held seats to bring their total to at least 50  giving them at least a tie in the House  said they are confident that they will win both races that are now eligible for recounts.

Based on past experience and our experience with observers on the ground, we are confident we will have 52 seats when the new General Assembly convenes in January," said Garren Shipley, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP)  A Russian national who served as a primary source for a dossier of negative research about former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges that he lied to the FBI about the legitimacy of his own sources.

A judge set an April trial date for Igor Danchenko, a former analyst at the Brookings Institution whose lawyer says he's being maligned in a deliberately false narrative by people with an agenda.

The indictment, brought by Special Counsel John Durham, accuses Danchenko of making false statements to the FBI about how he obtained information that went into the Steele dossier, a report compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele and financed by Democrats that included salacious allegations about Trump's conduct in Russia and allegations about ties between the Trump campaign and Russia.

According to the indictment, the FBI invested significant resources attempting to corroborate the dossier and relied substantially on it to obtain surveillance warrants warrants targeting former Trump campaign aide Carter Page.

Trump has railed against the dossier for years, saying it was full of lies and part of a Democratic smear campaign.
Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalizing trade and investment.

China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development, he said.

The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian delegate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the issue, said Russia had refused to support the U.S. bid unless some of its diplomats were removed from a U.S. blacklist or allowed to enter the U.S. to participate in the APEC meetings.

The delegate said the U.S. is unlikely to agree to Russias demands because issues involving Americas security are considered non-negotiable. The delegate added that China had stayed silent on the U.S. offer.

If the 21 APEC leaders fail to reach a consensus on the U.S. bid by Friday, the delegate said, a paragraph in a draft of the summit communique welcoming the U.S. offer would have to be deleted.
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  A group of European parliamentarians on Thursday urged the Serbian president and other government officials to stop glorifying convicted war criminals and denying genocide committed in Bosnia in the 1990s.

Their statement came two days after Serbias police prevented rights activists from painting over a large mural in downtown Belgrade of convicted Bosnian Serb wartime commander Ratko Mladic.

An international war crimes court has sentenced Mladic to life in prison for genocide in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica in 1995, when some 8,000 Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslims, were gunned down by his troops during the war in Bosnia, the worst carnage in Europe since World War II.

Serbian officials have persistently denied that genocide was committed in Srebrenica, and the countrys nationalist authorities have tolerated the portrayal of convicted Serb war criminals, including Mladic, as heroes and freedom fighters.

The (police) defense of the mural is another example of what the Government of Serbia and President (Aleksandar) Vucic think regarding reconciliation, the rule of law, democracy and regional cooperation, the statement said.
Albany is one of four Oregon cities that will see F-15 Eagle fighter jets overhead for Veterans Day.

The 142nd Wing, stationed at the Portland Air National Guard Base, is conducting flyovers for Veterans Day ceremonies in Estacada, The Dalles, Albany and Tillamook from 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Nov. 11. All passes will be approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and about 400 mph airspeed.

142nd Wing Vice Commander Col. Bill Kopp said the unit is proud of the flyover mission, sharing in local celebrations of the nations armed forces history and demonstrating the resolve to carry on.

We are Oregons home town Air Force and we have roots in the community that we strive to support and protect, Kopp said in a news release. We do this with our United States Air National Guard Eagles flying overhead in attendance.

Flights could be canceled or times changed due to inclement weather or operational contingencies.

Flyover times

11 a.m. Estacada

11:15 a.m. The Dalles

11:40 a.m. Albany

Noon Tillamook

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PRAGUE (AP)  The Czech Republics president on Tuesday asked the leader of the winning coalition in last months parliamentary election to form a new government.

President Milos Zeman, who is currently hospitalized, said in a statement that he approached Petr Fiala, the coalitions candidate for the post of the prime minister, to lead negotiations with representatives of the parties elected to the lower house of Parliament in the Oct. 8-9 vote with a goal to create a new government.

Zeman asked Fiala to inform him about the results of the negotiations.

In the Czech Republic, the president usually selects the election winner to form a new government. If the candidate is successful in doing so, Zeman will swear him in as the prime minister and appoint his government.

Zemans announcement came a day after two coalitions that garnered a majority of votes in the election signed a power-sharing deal.

A three-party, liberal-conservative coalition known as Together, composed of the Civic Democratic Party, Christian Democrats and the TOP 09 party, led the election with a 27.8% share of the vote.

Together teamed up with a center-left liberal coalition made up of the Pirate Party and STAN  a group of mayors and independent candidates  which came in third place with 15.6% of votes.

The new partnership will hold 108 seats in the the 200-seat lower house of Parliament, relegating populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his centrist ANO (YES) movement to the opposition.

Babis narrowly lost the election with 27.1%.

The five parties in the potential governing coalition are closer to the European Union than Euroskeptic Babis. As part of their deal, the parties agreed to form an 18-member government.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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One man is dead and another is injured after a shooting broke out Wednesday night in Denvers East Colfax neighborhood, according to the Denver Police Department.

Police said the shooting happened around 9 p.m. in the 1100 block of Willow Street, next to the Logan School for Creative Learning.

Both victims were found suffering from gunshot wounds and taken to a hospital, police said. One man was pronounced dead shortly after, while the other is expected to survive.

Police said they are still investigating what led up to the shooting, including whether there was another person involved. No arrests have been made and no suspect information was available as of Thursday afternoon.

Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can be anonymous and are eligible for a $2,000 reward.

The deceased victims identity and official cause of death will be released by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner after his family has been notified.
The Denver City Council safety committee approved a $26 million, 25-year contract Wednesday to fund solar power generating facilities and electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city.

The full City Council will vote on whether to approve the contract in the coming weeks. If passed, the contract with McKinstry Essention LLC for the design, construction and maintenance of the facilities would last through Nov. 1, 2046.

This program is specifically designed to help us power our facilities and also provide that equity benefit to folks who might not qualify for privately-offered solar, said Jonny Rogers, the citys renewable energy specialist.

Currently, 10 solar panel arrays are planned for the proposed contract. The arrays are expected to generate over 144 million kilowatts per hour of renewable electricity, hosted across city-owned parking lots, rooftops and land parcels.

The electricity generated would be used to power city facilities like recreation centers and Denver Public Schools buildings, Rogers said. In addition, 30% of the electricity would be allocated to low-income households.

Rogers said this would equate to providing power to about 150 low-income families throughout the city.

From an equity standpoint, this is really important and is a great opportunity, Council President Stacie Gilmore said. Id be really interested in how we can build this program out.

Gilmore praised an apprenticeship program included in the contract that would allow Denver students to learn how to install solar panels. Gilmore suggested the city expand the program to also pay students to do community outreach regarding solar power.

If the contract is approved, construction on the 10 solar panel arrays is scheduled to begin in four phases throughout 2022, Rogers said.

Four of the arrays would be located at the Denver International Airport and National Western Center Campus, as well as solar carports at recreation centers, schools and city offices in Districts 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11. Some council members criticized how the arrays would be distributed.

"Of the 10 sites, all but one are east of Colorado Boulevard. None are in southwest Denver other than the Harvard Gulch Rec Center, Councilman Kevin Flynn said. Im interested in having the benefits equitably distributed.

Flynn requested that the low-income families chosen to receive the 30% of power be better distributed throughout the city. The families have not yet been selected, Rogers said.

The contract proposal was passed unanimously by committee members Wednesday.

This contract would be part of the Renewable Denver Community Solar initiative, aiming to build and operate up to 15 megawatts of city-owned community solar projects by 2025. The 10 planned arrays would add 4.6 megawatts.
The Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) has granted wholesale telecom infrastructure provider CSquared a licence to deploy fibre optic cables everywhere and anywhere in the country.

The LTA said it has amended Csquared's licence, letting it lay fibre anywhere within Liberia.

Csquared Liberia's original license, granted in 2017, was for the Monrovia metro area with 180+ kms of metro fiber in Monrovia, providing leased capacity and dark fibre access to all MNOs, ISPs, and the Government of Liberia through its National Operator, LTC Mobile.

The company has been active in the country since then via a Telecom Infrastructure Service Provider Licence.

The LTA, in granting this amended license to expand to the entire country, envisions that this will improve open access to broadband throughout Liberia, allowing for Universal Access to services such as eHealth, eEducation, eBanking, and eGovernment.

The LTA issued the licence on 2 November 2021 prompting CSquared to announce that it looks forward to continuing to invest in Liberias ICT sector, adding that with 60% of Liberias population under the age of 24, we know how important broadband infrastructure is in meeting the data consumption needs of this population.

Estelle Akofio Sowah, Csquared West Africa regional manager said the companys desire to invest in Liberia is driven by the demand for ICT in the country and its long-standing stability and friendly business environment.

According to local media reports, despite its relatively small population, Liberia has an active and competitive telecommunications sector. The main players include two System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network operators, Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange Liberia (formerly Cellcom).
Sudans three main operators have received a court order to restore internet services after they shuttered access following a military coup last month.

Reuters reported that lawyer Abdelazim Hassan lodged a complaint on behalf of the Sudanese Consumer Protection Society calling for Sudatel and the local units of MTN and Zain to restore intenet access immediately. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) described blocking internet access as a violation of international law.

Led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the coup has ousted Sudans previous power-sharing arrangement that allowed civilians equal say alongside the countrys military. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has been placed under house arrest, and a number of civilian politicians have also been detained.

CommsUpdate reports that negotiations are proving ineffective, with al-Burhan claiming he will install a technocratic cabinet before holding elections in July 2023.
Statement by Ambassador Byrne Nason at the UNSC Briefing with UN Police Commissioners

Statement

Thank you very much, Madam President. It is good to see you in the Chair, and thank you to Mexico for convening todays briefing. I want to also thank Mexico for the really important emphasis you are putting on Women, Peace and Security. Ireland is really proud to work together with Kenya and Mexico in forming a trio of Presidencies committed to, not just to highlight, but to amplifying and mainstreaming WPS in the work of this Council. Highlighting and giving priority to the importance of womens participation, particularly in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, is key to that initiative. UN Policing is no different, we know the essential contribution women make as UN police and the important role UNPOL plays in enhancing the protection of women on the ground, importantly enabling womens participation in peace-making and peacebuilding. I would like to say a sincere thank you to USG Lacroix, as well as to the Police Commissioners, for their insightful and informative briefings and Im delighted to see Madam Boughani again, with whom we met during our recent visit to Mali.



Commissioners, we receive regular reports of the important work that each of you and your teams carry out on the ground. Your work is critical. From working with communities in Abyei to prevent gender-based violence, and working with national police forces in Mali. We know you work in challenging environments. Your work is sincerely appreciated, and we thank you for your continued commitment. Your contributions to the advancement of the overall WPS agenda are fully recognized. Indeed you act as real role models for women in policing everywhere.



Ireland has been a proud peacekeeping nation for over 60 years. This includes over 30 years contributing to UNPOL, including through our current deployment to the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. We put a premium on our policing contributions.



Madam President, we acknowledge that UNPOL has made significant strides in relation to gender, with women making up over 14 percent of deployed officers. But the truth is, we can and must do better. This means looking beyond numbers, addressing the structural barriers we heard about in the briefings this morning, and creating enabling environments for womens participation.



We know that continued efforts to combat gender stereotypes will help advance us further along the road towards better gender balance in policing. The mainstreaming approach to WPS set out in Action for Peacekeeping plus, offers UNPOL the opportunity to both enhance its role in peacekeeping, and help to advance gender equality more broadly.



I want to take this opportunity to commend UNPOL for its work in conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding. The work of UNPOL in deterring violence, defusing tensions, while addressing deficits in training, and mentoring, as well as advising host state police, allows for the development of effective, legitimate and credible mechanisms and structures that can help societies on the ground and communities rebuild.



Madam President,



UNPOL can play a critical role in transitions contexts. As we have said before, when the time comes for peacekeepers to leave, or for a Peacekeeping Operation to be reconfigured, the wider UN system needs to be ready to step up and to step in.









We know from experience that the move from a peacekeeping to a peacebuilding presence, is most successful when the process is inclusive (that means including women), also nationally owned, financially supported and  crucially  when there is a strong focus on the protection of civilians.





UN Security Council resolution 2594 on UN transitions placed a particular focus on the need to enhance States capacity to protect their own civilians, emphasising the importance of quality security sector reform. This is an area where UNPOL has a pivotal role to play, through training and support, with a focus on ensuring, of course, compliance with international law.





While states bear primary responsibility for the protection of their populations, the Council here also has a responsibility to encourage and support governments in developing and implementing national strategies to do that job. For this to happen, we need the full participation of local communities and stakeholders, especially women, youth and civil society. We need a continued focus on human rights.



It is vital that we view the reconfiguration of the UNs presence in the field as a strategic process that enables and supports long-term peacebuilding efforts. This means considering and integrating the roles and responsibilities of UNPOL in early transition planning. In particular, we believe that this should focus on the bridge building role UNPOL can play between the UN and local communities on the ground, focusing also on training and coordination.



Madam President, as I conclude, we believe that we must highlight the critical role UNPOL can play in the protection of the most vulnerable - children. This requires specialised pre-deployment and in-mission training, as well as appropriate comprehensive child-sensitive prevention and protection responses. We see the enhanced coordination between Police Components and child protection advisers, as well as gender and women protection advisers in their missions as of particular importance in delivering on this.



Before concluding, I just wanted to add a question, if I may, to Under Secretary General Lacroix; to ask him if he would say a little more about which areas of the recently launched A4P+ you would like to see UNPOL to prioritise, and how we here on the Council can assist you in that work?

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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
But Democrats say Republicans have weakened some majority-nonwhite districts and needlessly divided some communities.

Republicans have drawn a state House map that silences the voices of Georgia voters, it minimizes the political power of people of color, and ignores the fact that Georgia is equally divided politically," said Rep. Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus Democrat.

Fair Districts Georgia, a group that works to prevent gerrymandering, gave the Republican map a B, based on statistical analysis. However, the group gives the proposal an F on competitiveness, because only seven of those districts are likely to give both major parties a shot at winning.

The General Assembly must redraw electoral districts at least once every decade to equalize populations following the U.S. Census. Georgia added more than a million people from 2010 to 2020, with populations in urban districts generally growing and rural districts shrinking.

This will be the first time in decades that Georgia lawmakers wont 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 circumstances surrounding the April fatal shooting of a man by a Dothan police officer will be reviewed by a grand jury early next year, according to the district attorney.

Doward Baker, 39, was shot and killed in a confrontation with Dothan police officers on April 19 during a traffic stop.

Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigation investigated the circumstances of the shooting, and Houston-Henry County District Attorney Pat Jones said his office received a final report from SBI on Wednesday morning.

While Jones said he could not comment on the details of the report, he said his office will present the case to the grand jury for an independent review likely sometime in January.

At the time of the shooting, officials said that officers pulled Bakers vehicle over for not having a license plate displayed. The officer conducting the traffic stop noticed a gun in the front seat of the vehicle. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in his car and stopped a short distance away on the corner of Third Avenue and Trim Street.

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Fort Rucker isnt the only Army installation named for a Confederate leader. There are at least 10 other bases that could be affected: Fort Benning and Fort Gordon in Georgia; Fort Lee, Fort Pickett, Fort A.P. Hill, and Fort Belvoir in Virginia; Fort Bragg in North Carolina; Fort Hood in Texas; and Fort Polk and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana. Other DoD assets being considered for renaming include two naval vessels, the USNS Maury and USS Chancellorsville.

Fort Rucker was originally called Camp Rucker, a name chosen by the War Department before it opened on May 1, 1942. It became Fort Rucker in 1955 after the Army Aviation Center was established on the post. The post is named for Edmund W. Rucker, who was a colonel with the Confederate army during the Civil War. He was given the honorary title of general.

Born in Tennessee, Rucker served in the Confederate army from 1861 to 1865. He was wounded and captured in the battle of Nashville, having his left arm amputated. A prisoner exchange was organized by Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest to secure Ruckers release. After the war, Rucker settled in Birmingham and became an industrial magnate dealing in coal and steel. He died in 1924.
ENTERPRISE  For the fourth consecutive year, Navigator Development Group Inc. has been honored by the U.S. Department of Labor with a 2021 HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion Program Award.

This is the only veteran employment award at the federal level. Navigator is among 48 companies nationwide that have received the award for four consecutive years since the award was first presented in 2018.

In a recent virtual ceremony, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh said 849 businesses of different sizes nationwide met the criteria this year to recruit, employ, and retain veterans. He said they play an important role in helping the military make the transition to civilian life.

It was noted that the companies recognized are providing veterans not just jobs, but also networking opportunities and tuition assistance, as well as other forms of support.

In a letter to Keith Gay, owner and CEO of Navigator Development Group Inc., Walsh thanked him for recognizing the value veterans bring to the workplace. Gay said it was a great honor to receive the award again.

Some 70 percent of Navigators workforce are veterans, he said. They bring unique skill sets, have a solid work ethic and are dedicated to continue serving our nations warfighters.
At all times, Alex Saab has been a loyal citizen of Venezuela and has conducted all of his activities with the full knowledge and blessing of the government of Venezuela, said Rivkin.

But Bagley's explanation tracks with the account of three people familiar with the investigation into Saab who said that he met with U.S. federal law enforcement, including agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, on multiple occasions in Colombia and Europe prior to being charged in 2019. The three individuals spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the meetings.

U.S. prosecutors and investigators frequently meet with criminal suspects outside the U.S. when they are seeking to recruit them to provide assistance against a bigger target in exchange for promises of confidentiality and the possibility of leniency.

But any meetings attended by Saab would have entailed major risks for the Colombian-born businessman given his close ties to Venezuela's ruling elite, including Maduro's own family.

Federal prosecutors in Miami indicted Saab in 2019 on money-laundering charges connected to an alleged bribery scheme that pocketed more than $350 million from a low-income housing project for the Venezuelan government.
In September, the Fairfax County school system in northern Virginia voted to remove Kobabes book, as well as Lawn Boy  a novel that contains graphic descriptions of sex between men and children  from circulation pending a more detailed review.

Last month, Kobabe addressed the firestorm over the memoir, writing in an op-ed that it had also been banned in a Florida school district and challenged at schools in states including Ohio, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Washington.

Removing or restricting queer books in libraries and schools is like cutting a lifeline for queer youth, who might not yet even know what terms to ask Google to find out more about their own identities, bodies and health," the author wrote.

In North Carolina, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson weathered calls to resign last month over over comments he made criticizing sexual education and likening gay and transgender people to filth," subsequently citing the presence of Gender Queer in the states schools as alleged indoctrination.
Gerrymandering is a practice almost as old as the country, in which politicians draw district lines to crack opposing voters among several districts or pack them in a single one to limit competition elsewhere. At its extreme, gerrymandering can deprive communities of representatives reflecting their interests and lead to elections that reward candidates who appeal to the far left or right  making compromise difficult in Congress.

While both parties have gerrymandered, these days Republicans have more opportunities. The GOP controls the line-drawing process in states representing 187 House seats compared with 75 for Democrats. The rest of the states use either independent commissions, have split government control or only one congressional seat.

Across the board you are seeing Republicans gerrymander, said Kelly Ward Burton, executive director of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which oversees redistricting for the Democratic Party. Burton didn't concede that Illinois' map was a gerrymander but argued that a single state shouldn't suggest equivalency between the parties.

They're on a power grab for Congress for the entire decade, Burton said of the GOP.
I think it would be horrible to have a secretary of state that is too ideologically to the far left or far right to fill this position, he said. I think the governor was thinking about all Washingtonians, on both side of the aisle.

In addition to being the states chief elections officer, the secretary of state also serves as chief corporations officer and supervisor of the state archives and state library.

Hobbs grew up in Snohomish County and has represented the 44th legislative district in the Senate since 2007. He served for decades in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq and Kosovo, and currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Washington State National Guard.

Inslee said that Hobbs service in the National Guard, saying it will be an asset in dealing with the best cybersecurity effort in the United States.

Inslee's office said he spoke to a number of candidates, including current county auditors. Wyman and her predecessor, Sam Reed, both were Thurston County auditors before being elected to statewide office.
High Covid-19 infection rates with low numbers of severe cases and deaths can push HCMC towards herd immunity. However, the new normal can't return to the old normal.

After spending four months under social distancing measures, Ho Chi Minh City began reopening in October, allowing numerous businesses, services and activities to resume operations.

In the beginning, when restrictions had just been relaxed, the southern city recorded around 2,000-3,000 cases a day. As more people got vaccinated, the number of new cases dropped from October 10 to around 1,000 cases a day, and gradually slowed down the days after.

But as more businesses started to open up and people went out more, the number of cases began to rise, albeit slightly. On Wednesday, HCMC recorded 1,414 new cases, its highest daily tally in the past three weeks.

The city as a whole has been classified at medium risk for novel coronavirus infections. Two districts, Can Gio and Nha Be, have been determined as high risk areas due to the presence of outbreaks, mostly among workers in industrial parks and their family members.

Doctor Truong Huu Khanh, an advisor for the Childrens Hospital 1 in District 10, said the rise in the number of cases was inevitable as the city reopened, even with high vaccination rates. If the cases dont turn severe or fatal thanks to vaccinations, it would help the city achieve herd immunity, he said.

"If Covid-19 patients still turn critical or die after vaccination, we need to carefully evaluate the type of vaccine that was used, its effectiveness, the time between two shots and other factors in order to formulate plans for Covid-19 booster shots," Khanh said.

Nguyen Minh Tien, deputy director of the municipal Children's Hospital, said while HCMC has high vaccination rates, infections could still rise as more people return to the city for work and more businesses start to reopen, especially when people don't follow coronavirus prevention measures.

"Vaccine coverage and adaptation with safety are inevitable approaches. To live alongside the virus, people must follow prevention measures and form new habits," Tien said.

He said people were getting infected inside industrial parks because of closed spaces and difficulties in maintaining distance while working, adding that asymptomatic patients may pass on the virus to co-workers without knowing it.

Habits for the new normal

Tien also cautioned that those who have already received two Covid-19 vaccine shots can still get infected, with the chances estimated at 7-13 percent by different studies. Most of the people who do get infected, however, have mild symptoms and very few cases turn severe or die.

Le Quoc Hung, head of the Tropical Disease Department of the Cho Ray Hospital, said vaccinated individuals may be protected from severe symptoms, but not actual infections, meaning that they may still pass on the virus to someone else.

"Large gatherings and not abiding by Covid-19 prevention measures may ruin our coronavirus fighting efforts so far," he warned.

Just because the city has opened up doesn't mean people could resume all activities at pre-pandemic levels, said Hung. The reopening must happen gradually and coronavirus prevention measures must still remain in place, he added.

Besides its own residents, HCMC is also vaccinating people from other localities that are not vaccinated. So far, over 7.8 million people in the city have been vaccinated with at least one shot, and 5.8 million people have received the prescribed two doses.

However, the city is yet to publish an official record of Covid-19 patients who have contracted the disease even after vaccination. A small-scale survey at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases revealed that 86 percent of Covid-19 patients at the hospital have received at least one vaccine shot, and most of them have milder symptoms than those who are not vaccinated.

Several experts have concurred that people would need to learn new habits in the "new normal" in order to successfully adapt to living with the virus.

"When you go out, you need to remember that you will still have to go back home and to your workplaces," said Khanh, adding that people should be careful and ensure that they do not infect relatives and colleagues.

People should practice keeping a safe distance while shopping at the supermarket or shift to doing it online. They should refrain from going to places with large crowds, and if they develop symptoms like fever or sore throat, they should have the rapid Covid-19 test done instead of going straight to the pharmacy, he said.

Tien suggested that industrial parks and other workplaces must require employees to make medical declarations. They can perform mass Covid-19 tests weekly if the situation calls for such screening, he said.

"Even if outbreaks have largely been put under control, one should not be negligent," he stressed, noting that several countries like Indonesia, Thailand and India were also seeing new surges in infections. In the Mekong Delta, localities like Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh are seeing a rising number of cases as well.

Medical management authorities should keep track of daily infection tally to anticipate risks of new outbreaks, Tien said, adding that booster shots should be given to bolster the populations immunity.

HCMC has recorded 442,630 Covid-19 cases so far in the fourth wave and remains the most severely hit locality in Vietnam.
The department requested the provincial People's Committee Thursday to ask owner of Glory Future and other concerned agencies to drain all the oil from the ship.

The engine of the cargo vessel, weighing 28,000 tons and sporting a Hong Kong flag, has been damaged and it cannot move. It has been stranded at sea since October 17.

At the end of the month it was moved and is now anchored about 8 km off the Cua Viet Port of the central province.

There are around 20 crew members on the ship.

Its owner said 510 tons of oil have been transferred away from the ship's vulnerable locations to safer areas. But the oil has not been drained from the vessel. The owner also said they were working with an international company to evaluate the ship's damage and find a way to fix it.
The U.S. stepped up its campaign against corruption in Cambodia on Wednesday, issuing an advisory to U.S. businesses and blacklisting two government officials accused of scheming to profit from construction work at Cambodia's biggest naval base.

The U.S. State Department, Treasury and Commerce Department jointly issued the advisory for firms doing business in Cambodia "to be mindful of interactions with entities in corrupt business practices, criminal activities and human rights abuses."

Such risks include dealings in the financial, real estate, casino and infrastructure sectors, as well as with entities involved in trafficking people, wildlife and narcotics and related risks in timber and manufacturing, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement.

Sailors stand guard at the Cambodian Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, July 26, 2019. Photo by Reuters

The U.S. Trade Representative's office would review Cambodia's trade benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences for developing countries once Congress reauthorized that program, which expired in 2020, he added.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Treasury slapped sanctions on Cambodia's navy commander, Tea Vinh, and on Chau Phirun, the director-general of the Defense Ministry's Material and Technical Services Department, accusing the two of planning to share funds skimmed from the Ream naval base project.

The base in the Gulf of Thailand has drawn concern from Washington over China's growing military presence there.

The sanctions freeze their U.S. assets and generally bar Americans from dealing with them. The U.S. State Department on Wednesday also barred the officials and several of their family members from traveling to the U.S.

"The United States will not stand by while corrupt officials personally benefit at the expense of the Cambodian people," Andrea Gacki, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, said in the statement.

Cambodia's foreign and defense ministries did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A year ago, Cambodia said it had razed a U.S.-funded facility at the Ream naval base to allow for further expansion. The United States said Cambodia had a year earlier turned down its offer to repair the base.

The United States last month accused Cambodia of lacking transparency about Chinese construction activities at the base, and urged the government to disclose to its people the full scope of Beijing's military involvement.

The Treasury and State Department statements on Wednesday did not mention China's involvement with the base.

Cambodia has moved closer to China to become one of its most important allies in Southeast Asia, at a time when Washington is seeking to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region.
Mining ended and 109 people were laid off Wednesday at the Hycroft Mine 55 miles west of Winnemucca as Hycroft Mining Holding Corp. plans for the mines future, including constructing a mill to process gold and silver sulfide ore.

We are ceasing mining operations effective immediately, however, we will continue to process ore until it is no longer financially feasible, said the companys president and chief executive officer, Diane Garrett, in business update call.

The 109 people laid off are out of a workforce of 209 at Hycroft, according to Tracey Thom, vice president of investor relations and corporate communications. She said the company will be working with other mines in Nevada to find positions for those laid off.

The Denver-based company has decided milling is the best bet for Hycroft, after looking at a patented process for sulfide ores that has too many challenges, Garrett said.

I dont want people to think we are shutting down. We are absolutely moving forward with a milling operation, she said in a phone interview, estimating that it could be two to three years before a mill could be built so continuing to mine at this time was bleeding cash.

Garrett said the high cost of consumables, including cyanide and fuels, really skyrocketed and had a big impact on the cost of mining for the run-of-mine, heap leaching operation for oxide ores that had been under way at Hycroft, which was another key reason for the decision to stop mining.

The company has $30 million to $40 million losses from operating without a process in place for the sulfide ores.

Garrett said a prefeasibility study that is expected to be completed early in the new year will consider and predict the cost of constructing a mill that would include an autoclave and will also look at alternatives such as toll milling at a third-party autoclave or roaster facility in Nevada.

Were looking at different options, she said. The way we are designing it, we would have our own autoclave.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management already permitted mill construction and expansion at Hycroft under prior owners. Allied Nevada had planned the project but went into bankruptcy in 2015 when gold and silver prices dropped.

The mine reopened in mid-2019, and the holding companys Nov. 10 announcement states that mining oxide and transition ore allowed the company to pre-strip overburden with some revenue offset to gain access to commercial scale sulfide ore.

Garrett said Hycroft has the largest silver deposit in the United States, and there would be a mine life of 34 years once mining resumes and sulfide ore is processed by milling. Currently, ore leached at Hycroft is processed in a Merrill Crowe plant.

There is a lot of great potential . It just needs to be operated in a thoughtful manner, she said, adding that shareholders have been supportive of the decisions to do studies and determine the best way to mine and process ore.

There would need to be roughly 40 million tons of overburden stripping to get to the sulfide, which would mean mining would start again before the planned mill is finished, Garrett said.

Hycroft has often been talked about as a low-grade, oxide ore mine, but she said there is potential for higher grades, and drilling has found some really compelling grades.

In the companys announcement on the decision to stop mining and pursue mill construction, Garrett stated that the acid pressure oxidation process generates significantly higher economic value at Hycroft with substantial leverage to even modest increases in precious metals prices.

Hycroft reported third-quarter gold production of 14,831 ounce, up 240% over the 2020 quarter, and silver production of 91,437 ounces, up 295% over third quarter of last year, and the average realized gold price was $1,781 per ounce and for silver, $24.15 per ounce.

A $10 million drilling program for 2021 and early 2022 continues, with $5.6 million of the total spent by Sept. 30, the company also stated.

Hycroft Holdings unrestricted cash position was $19.8 million at the end of the third quarter, compared with $54.4 million at the end of last year, and the report stated that while the company will continue to generate revenue from heap leaching ore, it does not expect to generate net positive cash for the foreseeable future.

The Hycroft Mine has a 71,000-acre land position, and it has been in operation since 1983, with a couple of shutdowns through the years.

After Allied Nevadas bankruptcy, the company emerged from the bankruptcy in October of the same year and changed its name to Hycroft Mining Corp. Hycroft Mining Holding Corp. then took over after Mudrick Capital Acquisition Corp. acquired the operation in May of 2020. The holding company is publicly traded.

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An adjusted loss of $10.7 million was recorded by i-80 Gold Corp. and revenue of $8.2 million in the third quarter, which was also when the company announced an asset swap with Nevada Gold Mines and acquired the Ruby Hill Mine at Eureka.

Our company has really stepped up on our plan to grow and grow quickly, said Evan Downie, chief executive officer of the 7-month-old i-80 Gold, in the earnings presentation on Nov. 10, when he also said that the companys goal is to produce 400,000 ounces of gold per year.

Nevada Gold Mines took over i-80 Golds 40% share of the South Arturo operations northwest of Carlin in exchange for the Lone Tree Complex west of Battle Mountain, and i-80 Gold purchased Ruby Hill in a separate deal with Waterton.

The recently acquired properties will provide near-term production to replace South Arturo, he said in the companys Nov. 9 earnings announcement, and in the call he said the company is producing gold from Ruby Hill today.

He also said the company hopes to begin full production at its Granite Creek property in Humboldt County in early 2022, and process that ore at NGMs Sage Mill at Twin Creeks nearby. The swap with NGM included allowing i-80 to use NGM processing facilities until the Lone Tree processing facilities are ready to use.

Lone Tree provides i-80 Gold with an autoclave, flotation circuit, a leach pad for the Buffalo Mountain mining project that is in permitting and was included in the swap, and tailings and waste dump facilities, Downie said.

The company plans to eventually process gold at Lone Tree along Interstate 80 from Granite Creek, Buffalo Mountain, Ruby Hill and McCoy Cove, he said. McCoy Cove south of Battle Mountain is an underground exploration project.

For the third quarter, the company reported gold production of 3,254 ounces from South Arturo, down from 7,095 ounces for its share in the third quarter of last year due to stope sequencing within the mine and disruptions caused by a breakdown at NGMs Goldstrike mill, according to the earnings report.

The average realized gold price was $1,785 per ounce in the third quarter, down from $1,879 per ounce in the 2020 quarter.

During the quarter ending Sept. 30, i-80 Gold also continued exploration drilling at the Granite Creek site in Humboldt County and reported drilling successfully intersected mineralization in every target area inside and outside the current resource areas.

The company stated that the primary goal of the 2021 drill program is to advance the underground deposit to production and advance permitting and feasibility work on the open pit opportunity at Granite Creek. An open pit is on site from the former Pinson Mine operations.

Underground drilling is focused on delineating sufficient resources for developing a near-term mining plan, the earnings report states, and Downie reported the company has added another mining shift at Granite Creek to prepare for test mining.

The ongoing surface drilling tested near-surface mineralization for metallurgical and geotechnical purposes, open pit and underground definition and expansion and to advance permitting for open pit mining, including on-site heap leaching.

The drilling at Granite Creek and now at Ruby Hill are the companys two major drill campaigns, Downie said.

According to i-80, it is also continuing to work with Orion Mine Finance to complete a financing package of up to $140 million, and Equinox Gold Corp. has committed to a partial exercise of its anti-dilution right by executing an agreement for $10 million in common shares. Equinox acquired Premier Gold earlier this year and spun off i-80 Gold.

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ELKO  An Elko man who was arrested with meth and heroin at the Amtrak station in June 2020 and sentenced to home confinement was booked into Elko County Jail on Monday for violating his parole.

William G. James Sr., 61, of Elko was arrested at the state parole and probation office.

Elko County Jail records indicated James has been booked six times in the past five years, including an arrest in June 2020 on charges of trafficking meth and heroin.

Police were called to the Amtrak terminal in Elko after receiving an anonymous tip that he was transporting drugs. They said they recovered more than 70 grams of methamphetamine and a small amount of heroin, as well as a digital scale.

On Jan. 13 he was listed as a resident of Sonora, California, when he pleaded no contest in Elko District Court to one count of sale or transportation of a controlled substance, a category B felony; and one count of possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance for the purpose of sale, a category D felony.

He was sentenced by Senior District Judge William Maddox to 12 to 48 months in prison, but Nevada Department of Corrections records indicate he was placed in residential confinement.

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ELKO  A Wells woman was arrested Monday for the second time in less than three weeks on charges of attempted failure to obey sex offender registration laws and regulations.

Shylow L. Hall, 45, of Wells was arrested Nov. 8 at an Elko residence. She was also arrested Oct. 22 on the same charge, along with domestic battery and resisting a public officer.

Nevadas sex offender registry lists Hall as a noncompliant, Tier 3 offender. Tier 3 is the highest level, and offenders must report every 90 days to local law enforcement.

The website says Hall was convicted of child kidnapping on March 12, 2018 in Utahs 8th District Court. She is also listed with the alias Shylow McCurdy.

Elko police were called to a southside residence Monday after a homeowner returned to find a woman in her living room who she did not know, according to an officers declaration of probable cause.

The woman reportedly gave police a false name but her correct Social Security number, and they were able to identify her as Hall. Police said she had been released from jail three days earlier on the same charge of failure to comply.

Bail was listed at $5,000.

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ELKO  County Commissioners invite the public to join them in honoring the men and women who in the past and present lay their lives on the line to protect the freedoms and rights of the citizens of the United States of America, at their annual Elko County Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m. Thursday.

The parade will celebrate our distinguished grand marshals who are first responder veterans representing the Elko County Sheriffs Office, Elko County Ambulance, Elko County Fire Protection District, the City of Elko Police Department and the City of Elko Fire Department, stated the announcement.

The VFW Color Guard will lead the parade for the 16th time while the Elko County Combined Honor Guard from the Elko County Sheriffs Office, Elko Police Department and Nevada Highway Patrol will present a flag-folding ceremony in honor of veterans.

I have been a member of the Honor Guard for the Elko County Sheriffs Office since 2014, said Elko County Sheriffs Deputy Brian Shoaf. We have five or six people that do honor guard, he said.

I believe this is the fifth or sixth year that weve done the flag folding, Shoaf said. I am very honored to be the commander for the Elko County Sheriffs Office.

Shoaf does all the planning and training for the group. Prior to working for the Elko County Sheriffs Office he served 14 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Half of us are former service members, Shoaf said. Its a continuation of serving the veterans of our community. We are so fortunate that we have such veteran support and groups out here. It allows us to maintain our heritage with the military services and pay our respects and continue to honor those that have come before us and those that are going to come after us.

The flag ceremony will be in front of the reviewing stand by the courthouse. We will unfold and fly a flag in honor of the veterans who have come before us and for those who have not come home, Shoaf said.

He said a flag is to be folded 13 times. Each fold has a symbolic meaning with the first fold being a symbol of life. The final fold, with the stars showing on top, signifies the national motto, In God We Trust.

When the ceremony is finished, the flag will be presented to all veterans and then handed to a veteran on the review stand who will accept it on behalf of them.

All veterans and family members wanting to participate are welcome on the Elko County float riding alongside Elko County employees. Participants should contact the county managers office so they can make accommodations.

Local veterans Robert Hunton, U.S. Navy; John Green, U.S. Marines; and Christopher Langer, U.S. Marines will be judging the parade entries at the stage in front of the courthouse. Prizes will be awarded to entries in categories including Family, Adult, and Commercial at the Elko County Commission meeting Dec. 1.

All Elko County veterans, current military personnel and their families are encouraged to participate and we encourage any business or organization in the county wanting to honor our heroes to enter a float or stand in the crowd along the parade route, stated the county.

Parade entry forms are on the Elko County website at www.elkocountynv.net or can be obtained and submitted to the Elko County Managers Office, 540 Court St., Suite 101 or faxed to 753-8535 and will be accepted up until the start of the parade.

The parade will go on no matter the weather. For information contact Michele or Jen at 738-5398.



Vietnam Voices:

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ELKO  Four new school board members took their seats Tuesday, two weeks after being appointed to fill vacancies.

Susan Neal, Matt McCarty, Dr. Josh Byers and Jeff Durham attended their first meeting Tuesday and their terms will expire at the end of 2022.

Before the hour-and-a-half meeting began, an unidentified woman was escorted out of Central Office for noncompliance with the mask mandate within school buildings.

The woman stated she had a medical reason for not wearing a mask before she was led out of the room by an Elko County Sheriffs deputy.

Before public comment, acting board president Teresa Dastrup read from NRS 203.090 that regulates conduct within lawful meetings, saying an individual could be charged with a misdemeanor for willfully disturbing any lawful assembly or meeting.

She also read NRS 203.119: A person shall not commit any act in a public building which interferes with the peaceful conduct of activities normally carried on in the building. Any such person who refuses to leave the building upon request by the proper official is guilty of a misdemeanor.

The enforcement of state laws guiding behavior in public meetings and mask mandates in schools per Gov. Steve Sisolaks Emergency Directive 048 comes a month after a school board meeting was abruptly adjourned when several audience members refused to wear a mask in the Central Office board room.

Members of the Parents of Elko County, who have attended previous meetings in the past few months and spoke during public comment sessions, were absent on Tuesday.

Mask update

Interim Superintendent Jeff Zander announced two schools, Mountain View Elementary and Grammar No. 2, were taken off the outbreak list.

Schools deemed under an outbreak require students to wear masks to school. Campuses not designated with an outbreak status give students the option to wear masks in the classroom.

Zander said possibly two or three other schools could be taken off the outbreak list. However, fluctuating case numbers made any future plans to remove the schools off the list uncertain.

Outbreaks at schools were announced about two weeks into the new school year, eventually affecting most campuses in the county. As many as 10 schools were affected.

On Oct. 27, Spring Creek Middle School was the first to be cleared of their outbreak status due to lower virus transmission rates by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

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More than a week after an initial deadline requiring Nevada college students to receive the COVID vaccine in order to enroll in in-person classes next spring, a UNR undergraduate has filed suit in federal court seeking to halt the system-wide mandate.

Filed in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, the suit named UNR President Brian Sandoval, Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Melody Rose and Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak as defendants, as well as Lisa Sherych, the head of the Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public and Behavioral Health.

Spokespeople for both UNR and the Nevada System of Higher Education said they had not yet been served the lawsuit, and therefore could not comment. A representative for the governor said Wednesday that his office has no comment on the pending litigation.

The legal challenge against Nevadas higher education mandate  filed by 18-year-old plaintiff Jonah Gold  hinges in large part on how implementation is tied directly to the enrollment process.

Nevadas State Board of Health unanimously authorized a college student vaccine mandate in August, requiring students to provide confirmation of vaccination status or confirm a valid religious or medical exemption before they could enroll in spring classes beginning on Nov. 1.

That decision was made after weeks of behind-the-scenes wrangling over which public body had the legal authority to create such a mandate. In the end, the Board of Health acted under state law requiring vaccinations for other diseases  such as tetanus and measles, mumps and rubella  that also provides wide latitude for the board to include new vaccinations as needed.

The Nov. 1 date was an initial deadline to show proof of vaccination, marking the earliest point at which students could attempt to enroll in new classes for spring. Any students across Nevadas seven degree-granting institutions still seeking either vaccination or an exemption have until mid-January to complete the process.

The November deadline appears to have prompted Golds suit, however, which also argues that the mandate violates the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause in part by discriminating against unvaccinated students, and that regular COVID testing requirements violate the 4th Amendments implied right to privacy.

The complaint backs those arguments with a raft of often-misleading claims challenging the efficacy of the vaccine itself. It also argues that the COVID vaccine is a personal treatment and that its requirement violates the bodily autonomy of Gold  who has recovered swiftly from Covid-19 with natural immunity.

The suit also calls the mandate an unscientific decision that imminently threatens Golds life because of apparent links to heart conditions in rare cases following mRNA vaccinations, and says it unlawfully segregates him because of the threat of quarantine.

Gold is represented in part by attorney and Republican gubernatorial candidate Joey Gilbert. Gilbert was a vocal proponent of former President Donald Trump who was outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection and has since questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election.

Gilbert has also staked a position as a strident opponent of Democrat-led COVID management policies in Nevada and elsewhere.

That includes filing legal challenges against a mask mandate implemented by the Clark County School District, a similar higher education vaccine mandate in California and the national approval of COVID vaccines for children under the age of 16.

Gilbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The authority of state and local governments to implement vaccine mandates has for decades been generally protected under U.S. Supreme Court precedent. That includes a case dating back to 1905, Jacobson v. Massachusetts, in which the court found a smallpox vaccine mandate in Massachusetts did not violate the 14th Amendment.

Recent legal challenges to COVID vaccine mandates at the college level have also hit stumbling blocks. The Supreme Court declined an opportunity to block a mandate at the University of Indiana in August.

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RENO  Nevada health officials said Wednesday they are encouraged by initial demand for COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-11 and local pediatricians are reporting strong interest.

But some logistical issues and technical glitches in the states scheduling platform have slowed the rollout of the doses at county and community health clinics, they said.

Experts also expressed concerns that a recent uptick in new coronavirus cases statewide could signal a similar trend as last November when the pandemic began a climb to its most serious level in December 2020.

Theyre hopeful the addition of the 277,000 Nevadans aged 5-11 to those eligible for vaccination will put the state in a better position than last year to combat the spread of the virus.

Certainly the demand is out there, said Dr. Terrence McAllister, a Las Vegas pediatrician who joined state officials for a weekly update for reporters on Wednesday.

James English, regional COVID-19 operations chief for Washoe Countys health district, said a line started forming outside the Reno Livestock Events Center for Saturdays first walk-up doses for younger kids well before 6:45 a.m., so its obvious there is demand and there are a lot of people who support this vaccination.

A lot of excited kids. A lot of relieved parents, he said.

State health officials estimated Wednesday that 4,300 Nevada children aged 5-11 have received a first dose, but the numbers are lagging a day or two as they input them in the system.

Washoe County health officials said the state estimates 300 doses have been children aged 5-11 in the county but they believe the real number is more like 700 to 1,000 because of a 36-hour delay or longer in reporting.

The biggest hurdle has been that the states vaccine scheduling site was having a problem allowing young children to sign up, an issue that also cropped up when adult boosters first came out. That problem is expected to be fixed soon.

In the meantime, most health districts are providing only walk-up shots without appointments. In Washoe County theyre capped at 100 per day.

Its really a scheduling and staffing hang-up for us. Thats really whats hindering our operation and being able to ramp up, English said. He noted there now are three different doses of four types of vaccines for children or adults, including boosters.

Officials are encouraging parents to seek vaccinations from their pediatricians or one of the other more than 230 providers statewide including pharmacies that have enrolled in the state program.

Karissa Loper, chief of the Nevada Bureau of Children, Family and Community Wellness, said the initial does delivered to the state were required to be in increments of a minimum of 300, which created storage issues for some, but this week theyve been allowed to order them in 100-dose lots.

I think the doses are available. I think counties are working through all the logistic and operational challenges of adding this new group of individuals who get a different dose, they get a different size of dose.... theres a need to be stored differently, she said Wednesday.

Among Nevadans aged 12 and older, 65.7% have received a first dose and 56.6% are fully vaccinated.

The statewide positivity test rate, which had remained below 7% since Oct. 25, has climbed from 6.6% to 7.1% over the last week, the state website showed Wednesday. Its risen to 9.8% in Washoe County, 6.2% in Clark County and 9.4% in rural counties outside Reno, Las Vegas and Carson City.

Overall, our trend has been upward, Washoe County Health District Officer Kevin Dick said Wednesday. This is the time of year last year we saw a dramatic rise in new cases.
The Kyle Rittenhouse case is making its way through court in Wisconsin as prosecutors try to assert the case against him.

He has been charged with first degree reckless homicide in the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and first degree intentional homicide in the death of Anthony Huber, 26 and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, 27. The shootings occurred on 25 August 2020 after protesters took to the streets to demand justice for Jacob Blake, who had been shot seven times by a police officer in the town earlier that week.

The teenager has pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless and intentional homicide and insists that he acted in self-defense. The distinction is important, as it could mean the difference between a murder charge and potentially avoiding dozens of years in prison.

What is the difference between the two?

According to Nicholson Goetz & Otis law firm, the two degrees of reckless homicide are:

First-degree reckless homicide: If you allegedly caused another persons death by showing an utter disregard for human life, you can face first-degree reckless homicide and a Class B felony. Second-degree reckless homicide: A Class C felony. The prosecutor must show that you acted recklessly and your reckless behavior caused someone elses death.

The distinction then is whether the prosecution can convince judge and jury that a killing was with intention to kill, or not. In the United Kingdom the difference is the same but with different wording, between murder, intentional homicide, and manslaughter, reckless homicide.

What has happened in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial today?

The biggest development of Wednesday was the likelihood of the judge declaring a mistrial rapidly rising. This was because prosecutor Thomas Binger attempted to establish that Rittenhouse had heard more than a week of testimony and that may have had an influence on his own testimony. The judge criticized Binger for doing so, saying the questioning was more commentary on Rittenhouse's right to silence during the earlier proceedings and called the prosecutor's actions "borderline."

Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi asked for a mistrial with prejudice, meaning if the judge granted the motion, prosecutors could not refile the charges. While the judge has yet to make a ruling on this, it could mean the end of the trial with no outcome and crucially no justice.
Vietnamese culture introduced at the Venezuela International Book Fair

(Source: baoquocte.vn)

Speaking at the seminar, journalist Le Duy Truyen thanked the Organizing Committee of the FILVEN 2021 and expressed his pleasure to participate in the biggest cultural event of the year in Venezuela.

Former Deputy General Director of Vietnam News Agency gave an overview of the history of formation and development of Vietnamese culture.

VNA quoted the say of Dr Tran Doan Lam, former director of The Gioi Publishing House, that Vietnam attending the event as a guest of honour at Venezuelas biggest cultural event of the year proved that the two countries, despite being far apart geographically but very close in terms of love for reading culture, share similar history with aspiration for freedom, independence, self-reliance, courage and patriotism.

Lam presented an overview of the main stages of development of the writing and publishing industry in Vietnam, from moc ban (woodblocks) printing to making use of the do (poonah) trees to make the unique paper suitable for printing and writing in about the 2nd century BC, or the creation of the Nom script in literary works in the 10th century, to the birth of world-renowned classical literary works such as the Tales of Kieu by Nguyen Du in the 18th century.

The Vietnamese speaker said that in the Middle Ages, there were villages specialising in book printing with wooden planks, mainly near the Thang Long Citadel (now Hanoi). Among them, 3,050 woodblocks preserved in Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in the northern province of Bac Giang were recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as the World Documentary Heritage in the Memory of the World Programme.

Vietnam has had over 60 publishing houses since 1952, plus about 1,500 printing establishments and 13,700 bookstores across the country. Every year, on the occasion of Vietnam Book Day (April 21), major book fairs are held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, attracting the participation of Vietnamese and international publishers.

At the event, President of the Venezuela-Vietnam Friendship Association Carolus Wimmer expressed his desire to cooperate with the The Gioi Publishing House to give more Vietnamese books to Venezuelan readers to meet their demand for studying the history, culture, country and people of Vietnam./.
This decision was made at the preparatory meeting on November 6, 2021 by the Campaign Committee to establish the Overseas Vietnamese Branch in Kitakyushu city with nearly 40 delegates, including many components from many regions in Kitakyushu city, participating in the meeting at the Hall of Orio Aishin Junior College in Kitakyushu city of Fukuoka Prefecture.

The delegates at the meeting (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Previously, under the advocacy, orientation and support of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka, the Campaign Committee for the establishment of the Overseas Vietnamese Branch in Kitakyushu city was established on December 5, 2020 with 15 members. The Campaign Committee held many meetings, both in person and online, and with the participation of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Fukuoka, to prepare for the birth of a unified organization of the Vietnamese community in the city.

At the meeting, the delegates evaluated Kitakyushu as a national city of Japan, the second largest city in Fukuoka Prefecture and the southwestern region of Japan (after Fukuoka), with many industrial facilities in automobiles, chemicals, semiconductors and mechanics, metallurgy, research centers, universities, colleges, vocational schools and increasingly attracting a large number of Vietnamese students and interns to study and work. The number of Vietnamese people in this city is quite large, reaching nearly 3,000 people.

Faced with issues from stabilizing and integrating into local life, to dealing with pressing issues in the life, study, and work of Vietnamese people of different backgrounds, the delegates attending the meeting affirmed the desire and need to establish an organization of Vietnamese people in Kitakyushu. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the efforts to establish the association/branch have been intermittent at times.

On behalf of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka, Chairman Nguyen Duy Anh affirmed that, after more than two years of operation, the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka is ready to share experiences in all aspects as well as exchange, cooperate and have certain support to the Vietnamese association/branch in Kitakyushu, even though the distance from Kitakyushu to Fukuoka city is quite far.

Speaking at the meeting, Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Binh praised the enthusiasm of the participants, emphasized the element of solidarity and consensus in the community, and highlighted the role and significance of establishing a formal organization of the community. He analyzed and affirmed that the Vietnamese community in Kitakyushu had met the favourable factors to establish its organization.

The meeting agreed and determined to promote advocacy activities, and prepare all aspects to establish the Overseas Vietnamese Branch in Kitakyushu, under the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka in 2021.

At the meeting, the delegates elected Dr. Dinh Hung Cuong, Project Director of the Deep Sea Research Institute based in Kitakyushu city, as the Head of the Campaign Committee and assigned the members of the Campaign Committee to continue promoting advocacy, communications, and recruiting personnel, building an information page, completing the draft Charter, action plan, preparing the reception, logistics in order to successfully organize the conference to establish the overseas Vietnamese Branch in Kitakyushu as planned./.
Delegates commemorate President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: baonghean.vn)

Before the heroic spirit of President Ho Chi Minh, Mr. Le Quoc Minh and the delegation expressed their sincere respect and endless gratitude for his great merits, the genius leader of the Vietnamese Party and people, the prominent activist of the international communist and workers' movements, a national liberation hero, and an outstanding cultural celebrity.

President Ho Chi Minh is a great revolutionary journalist and teacher of the Vietnamese revolutionary press. His journalistic thinking, style and ethics are precious treasures that he left for generations of journalists today and in the future. Generations of Vietnamese journalists always inherit, strive and develop the revolutionary journalism career of Vietnam founded by President Ho Chi Minh.

In the sacred atmosphere of respect, gratitude and pride for Uncle Ho, the delegation vowed to forever study and follow his noble ideology, morality and style.

On this occasion, Mr. Le Quoc Minh planted a tree in the area of relic./.
By Siyu Gu

The 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the worlds largest import fair, was organized in Shanghai from Nov 5 to 10, attracting approximately 3,000 offline exhibitors from 127 countries and regions around the world.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the CIIE is designed to be a key platform for international procurement, investment promotion, and cultural exchange.

Notably, the event, started at a special point that coincides with the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up, represents a significant decision of China to pursue a new round of high-level opening-up, and its major initiative to widen market access for the rest of the world.

HALLMARK OF CHINA

"Opening-up is the hallmark of contemporary China," said Xi at the opening ceremony.

The past 40-odds years have witnessed comprehensive advancement of Chinas economy benefiting from opening-up. Meanwhile, the effective integration of Chinas domestic market with overseas markets has promoted the flow and allocation of various elements worldwide, which sustained economic vitality for both China and the world.

As Xi noted, Chinas opening wider to the world has generated a new wave of domestic development while injecting fresh impetus into the world economy. The hallmark represents more than Chinas huge progress driven by the policy, but the nations contributions to world development.

NEW PROMISES

Since the first CIIE, China has been pledging measures for higher-level opening-up at each expo. And information about their fulfillment would be shared in the next for public review.

Xi announced at this years CIIE that measures proposed at the previous one for further opening-up have mostly been implemented. Despite the impacts of COVID-19 and other major changes both unseen in a century, China has achieved innovative growth in foreign trade and made important contributions to keeping global industrial and supply chains stable and boosting world economic recovery.

In the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism that distupt economic globalization, Xi made new pledges to reaffirm Chinas commitment to further open its market and help boost global cooperation.

China will firmly safeguard true multilateralism, share market opportunities with the rest of the world, promote high-standard opening-up and uphold the common interests of the world, he vowed.

The new promises came with three unchanged resolves to develop in line with the trend of the new era.

As for China, we will not change our resolve to open wider at a high standard; we will not change our determination to share development opportunities with the rest of the world; and we will not change our commitment to an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial for all.

FUIFILLED COMITMENTS

The year of 2021 also marked the 20th anniversary of Chinas accession to the World Trade Organization(WTO).

China has fully delivered on its accession commitments, Xi said.

Chinas overall tariff rate has been reduced to 7.4 percent from 15.3 percent, lower than the 9.8 percent accession commitment. The central government has reviewed and revised over 2,300 pieces of laws and regulations, and local governments over 190,000 pieces. The WTO accession protocol and relevant working group reports stipulated that 100 sub-sectors in nine categories need to be opened in 2007. Now, China has actually opened nearly 120 sub-sectors, exceeding its commitments.

The concrete actions have brought about fruitful achievements.

Over the last two decades, Chinas economic size has grown to the second largest in the world. It has become the worlds largest trader in goods and the second largest in services. Its outbound direct investment (ODI) has risen from the 26th to the 1st.

The huge progress is also the result of much hard work and great tenacity of the Chinese people under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the result of Chinas proactive steps to strengthen international cooperation and pursue win-win cooperation.

With its conclusion drawing near, this years CIIE has won praises from the world, believed as conducive to more opportunities and boosting world economic recovery.

The event has become a great platform for businesses around the world, a demonstration of China's efforts for high-standard opening-up, and another commitment of China to benefit more countries and peoples with its own development.

Editor: GSY
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, attends a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday said tensions across the Taiwan Strait will not ease until provocative acts advocating "Taiwan independence" cease.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, described the touting of the so-called "two states" theory by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authority and elements advocating "Taiwan independence," and their collusion with external forces to incite provocations, as the "root causes" of the tensions across the strait.

Zhu said relevant exercises and training conducted by the People's Liberation Army are meant to target separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and interference by external forces.

In essence, these exercises and training aim to safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation and the immediate interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, said Zhu. Enditem

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, attends a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
Ukraine has registered 23,283 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 16,277 recoveries and 816 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"Over the past day, November 9, Ukraine has recorded 23,283 new cases of COVID-19 (including 1,539 children and 529 medical workers), while 267,401 people have received a coronavirus vaccine, among them 150,663 persons who received the first shot and 116,738 who completed their vaccination. In the past 24 hours, 5,696 persons were hospitalized, 816 died, and 16,277 recovered," the ministry said on Telegram.

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Ukraine has seen a total of 3,130,772 coronavirus infections, including 2,553,842 recoveries and 74,206 deaths.

As of this day, 11,697,386 people have been vaccinated for COVID-19, including 11,697,384 who have received the first shot and 8,154.792 who have completed their vaccination (among them two persons who received the first shot abroad). A total of 19,852,176 shots have been administered to date.
The agreement between the State Archival Service of Ukraine and the Memorial of Catastrophe and Heroism of Yad Vashem will allow archival services to cooperate in the field of processing, preservation and dissemination of historical information. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the State of Israel Yevhen Korniychuk stated this during the signing of the agreement, according to the Embassy's Facebook page.

Ukraine and Israel are closely connected, including in the historical context, so it is extremely important to preserve and access the documentary heritage of the common historical past. This agreement is exactly the working tool within which archival services will be able to cooperate in the field of processing, preservation and dissemination of historical information, - said the Ambassador.

The signing ceremony took place in Jerusalem on Wednesday during the visit of the head of the State Archival Service of Ukraine Anatoliy Khromov to the State of Israel. It was preceded by bilateral consultations on cooperation in the field of digitization and ensuring wide access to important historical documents.
Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), Ambassador Mikko Kinnunen, after the regular TCG meeting at the level of heads of delegations, announced the deterioration of the security situation in Donbas.

"The security situation along the contact line has further deteriorated. Since the last TCG meeting, SMM has reported 6,746 cease fire violations, including 1,451 explosions. During the last week of October, the Mission witnessed the highest number of cease-fire violations since July 2020," Kinnunen said in the statement on the OSCE website.

He also said the presence and use of weapons systems banned by joint commitments of the parties under the Minsk agreements raises concerns for risk of further escalation.

In addition, according to Kinnunen, the OSCE SMM has recently faced increasing difficulties in fulfilling its mandate in eastern Ukraine. In particular, during the last two weeks, the mission has encountered 37 freedom of movement impediments, two of which on government-controlled areas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the alleged movement and amassment of Russian forces along the Ukrainian border as "psychological pressure" on Ukraine and said that the Ukrainian army "is ready to deter any external force."

"Information about a possible exacerbation of the 'disease' has been received lately: our Western partners have provided information about the active movement and amassment of Russian forces along the Ukrainian border. First of all, we are grateful to our partners for the information. Hopefully, the entire world can see now who actually wants peace and who amasses almost 100,000 troops on our border," Zelensky said in a video address on Wednesday.

He claimed that "attacks, explosions, and troop amassment and movement have been observed on the frontline for nearly eight years."

"We have long developed immunity to psychological pressure from Russia. Our security services, our intelligence have full information. Our army is ready to deter anyone, anytime and anywhere," Zelensky said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Head of the President's Office of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met on Wednesday in Washington (the United States) with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.

According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service on Thursday, during the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the further implementation of the priorities of bilateral cooperation within the Ukraine-U.S. Strategic Partnership Commission, and also paid attention to the current security situation in Donbas and along the Ukrainian border.

"The parties positively noted that the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the United States has been significantly strengthened this year [...]. Nuland assured the United States' unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of ongoing Russian aggression for further European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine," the ministry said in the statement.
President's award 'Volunteer of Year' to appear in Ukraine

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine proposes to establish the prize of the President of Ukraine "Volunteer of the Year."

The corresponding draft presidential decree was approved at a government meeting on Wednesday.

It is noted that it is proposed to establish this award to promote the development and popularization of volunteer activities, support public initiatives for conducting volunteer activities and honoring volunteers who have made a significant contribution to the development of the volunteer movement.

If this decree is signed by the president, the Cabinet of Ministers will develop the procedure for the appointment and payment of the award within three months.
Ukrainian delegation to TCG supports intention of OSCE SMM head to address issues of SMM obstruction in ORDLO at meeting in Vienna

During the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the settlement of the conflict in Donbas, representatives of the Ukrainian delegation to the TCG supported the intention of the head of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine to bring issues of obstruction of the SMM in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions to a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, the press service of the delegation said.

"The Ukrainian delegation supported the intention of the head of the OSCE SMM to raise issues of obstruction of the activities of the SMM at the meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. The issue of restrictions on freedom of movement of the OSCE SMM became the main issue in the consultations and focused on itself the main attention," the delegation said in the statement on Telegram on Thursday.

It is specified that the Ukrainian delegation during the meeting was headed by Oleksandr Merezhko, deputy head of the delegation, MP of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian delegation said that during the meeting on Wednesday, issues of security, socio-economic and humanitarian sectors, as well as issues related to the environment, in particular, the possibility of a visit of IAEA inspectors to ORDLO were considered.

"During the consultations of the Working Group on Social and Economic Issues, issues of water supply, provision of mobile communications were considered. The participants agreed on the possibility of a visit by IAEA inspectors to check the storage sites of nuclear material," the delegation said.

The Ukrainian delegation continues to insist on the need for the early release of all persons held due to the conflict, the opening of the entry-exit checkpoint, strict adherence to the ceasefire and the implementation of the decisions of the Paris summit.

"The next meeting is scheduled for November 24," the delegation said.
The Georgian Special Penitentiary Service has released a video of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's transfer to the prison infirmary.

The video released on Thursday shows Saakashvili refusing to leave an ambulance and being dragged out by several security guards. The security guards grab Saakashvili by the legs and arms and carry him from the front door to the elevator and then along the corridor to the ward. The video shows Saakashvili arguing with two men without medical gowns and throwing something off a table in the ward. He demands that the men leave the room and aggressively approaches one of them. More guards enter the room, and the video ends there.

Justice Minister Rati Bregadze commented on the video at a press briefing on Thursday and denied claims from lawyers that the security guards dragged Saakashvili 30 meters toward the infirmary doors.

"That's a blatant lie, as the ambulance stopped by the door to the prison infirmary. Inmate Saakashvili disobeyed a demand to disembark and physically and verbally abused our officer," Bregadze said.

The Penitentiary Service is doing everything necessary to keep Saakashvili in stable condition, Bregadze said. "If Saakashvili stops his hunger strike, he will be taken back to the Rustavi prison," he said.

Saakashvili, currently a citizen of Ukraine, secretly arrived in Georgia from Ukraine on September 29. He was detained in Tbilisi on October 1 and is currently being held in a Rustavi prison.

Georgia earlier declared Saakashvili wanted as a person convicted in absentia in several criminal cases and treated as a suspect in some others. Saakashvili has described his detention as unlawful and the charges brought against him as falsified.
Head of Ukraine's State Border Guard Service Serhiy Deineko has said that today there is no threat to Ukraine from the border with Belarus.

"The situation is stable and controlled, there are no threats for Ukraine yet. However, our service, together with the National Police and the National Guard, is working out all possible scenarios in order to protect the Ukrainian border from a possible breakthrough attempt, artificially organized by crowds of migrants," the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine quoted Deineko as saying during his visit to Volyn region.

As reported, on November 10, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov said that if there is a threat to Ukraine from the border with Belarus, Kyiv will use all the necessary means to eliminate the danger.

"All relevant departments have received appropriate instructions, which in the near future will be formalized in regulatory documents and all will be obliged to comply with them," he added.
Luc Chenier, who previously held this post in 2016-2018, has become the CEO of the English-language ezine Kyiv Post.

"I would like to congratulate the professional Luc Chenier, who became the CEO of the English-language newspaper Kyiv Post," said Olena Rotari, ex-chief editor of the news of Odesa Channel 7, owned by businessman Adnan Kivan.

Kivan said in a comment to the Interfax-Ukraine agency that three candidates were considered for the post of editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Post.

He said that he is a man who lives according to the command of his heart, and he liked Luc Chenier more. He said the proposal was a surprise for him, so he took time to think and agreed today.

The businessman said that he is a self-sufficient person and a believer, and he thinks investments in media are investments that are pleasing to God. The task that was set before the editor-in-chief is to develop professional and decent media, he said. He added that the Kyiv Post does not have a list of untouchable people, but any criticism must be justified. According to him, the media should constructively help become better, stimulate to do something good and kind.

Earlier, Rotari announced on her Facebook page the launch of the Ukrainian-language version of the Kyiv Post and the recruitment of journalists for the Ukrainian-language editorial office from November 2021. This post was subsequently deleted.
On Monday, November 15, at 12.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host roundtable talk entitled "Formation, development of socio-political coalition of opponents to current govt. What outcomes to expect." Participants include Head of the Ukrainian Politics Foundation/UP Foundation, historian, political expert Kost Bondarenko; Director of the Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov; political expert Kostiantyn Matviyenko; Director of the Ukrainian Barometer sociological service Viktor Nebozhenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast will be available on the YouTube channel of Interfax-Ukraine. Due to quarantine restrictions, the number of places in the press center is limited, the presence of a PCR test or a certificate of vaccination is required. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot.
KYIV. Nov 11 (Interfax-Ukraine)  Leading European attorney-at-law Bertrand Malmendier joins the team of legal defense of head of the political council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party Viktor Medvedchuk, one of his attorneys Larysa Cherednychenko has said.

"So that the authorities do not accuse us of bias and the fact that we are in vain to slander her, such a good one, that is why Mr. Bertrand joined us. Europe, where we are all striving. And we will be glad if Mr. Bertrand will help us with subsequent appeals to the European Court of Human Rights in the interests of Viktor Volodymyrovych," Cherednychenko said at a press conference held at Interfax-Ukraine on Thursday.

She said the defense had previously filed two appeals to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) due to non-compliance with the law and legal procedures, which "causes total falsification of the criminal case."

"We have an answer: criminal proceedings have been initiated on one of the appeals, the case is entitled 'Medvedchuk v. Ukraine."

In addition, the attorney said that as of today, Medvedchuk was served with charges in two criminal proceedings, it is about the "gas case in Crimea" (2014-2020) and the "coal case" (2014-2015). According to her, protection, having gained access to the materials of the pretrial investigation, can observe that law enforcement agencies operate outside the legal area.

Doctor of Law Bertrand Malmendier works in Berlin and has been in Germany since 1997. For his part, he said that on November 10 he signed an agreement on the provision of legal aid to Medvedchuk, and also joined the team of his lawyers.

"We will study how expedient the criminal proceedings launched against Mr. Medvedchuk are. We will also cooperate with public organizations and represent Mr. Medvedchuk at the European stage, in particular, in the European Court of Human Rights [...]. We also cooperate with colleagues from the UK and the United States in order to study this case in more detail. Our goal is to study the situation more deeply in order to understand whether there is actually a violation of rights in Ukraine," he said.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Sunday called the migrant crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border, the EU's eastern frontier, the "greatest attempt to destabilise Europe" since the Cold War.
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) decided that two seats in each of Egypt's bank boards will be reserved for women, CBE Governor Tarek Amer told MENA, the state-owned news agency, on Wednesday.
The figure given by the official was more than double a previous estimate for the number of people displaced of 950,000, which included 50,000 who had fled to neighbouring countries

Gebremeskel Kassa, a senior official in the interim administration in Tigray appointed by the federal government, made the comments in an interview broadcast by state-run ETV's Tigriniya language channel late on Tuesday.

The figure given by the official was more than double a previous estimate for the number of people displaced of 950,000, which included 50,000 who had fled to neighbouring countries.

Ethiopia's federal government restricted access to Tigray after fighting began on Nov. 4 between its troops and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a political party that was governing the province. The government declared victory in late November though the TPLF has vowed to fight on.

The conflict in Tigray has called into question whether Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize, can hold together fractious ethnic groups in the country.

An official from Ethiopia's National Disaster Risk Management Commission told Reuters on Wednesday that the figures cited by the administrator in Tigray were not official.

The commission's Mitiku Kassa said 110,000 people were displaced within Tigray and 1.8 million were in need of assessment, though he said the actual number of displaced was likely to be far higher than its current tally.

A U.N. refugee agency official also said on Tuesday that Ethiopians were still crossing into neighbouring Sudan from Tigray.

"Some 800 people crossed from Ethiopia's Tigray region into eastern Sudan in just the first few days of the new year," spokesman Andrej Mahecic told reporters in Geneva.

A spokeswoman for Abiy's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report that refugees were continuing to cross into Sudan.

More than 56,000 people have now crossed into Sudan from Tigray since the conflict started, according to the U.N. refugee agency's latest data.

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An estimated 40,000 displaced Tigrayans are in Sheraro, most of whom came from farther west, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said 'ethnic cleansing' is unfolding

Displaced civilians in Ethiopia's war-hit Tigray region have accused soldiers of "abduction, torture and, in some cases, murder," according to an assessment by UN agencies and aid groups obtained by AFP.

The assessment, finalised this week, focused on displacement sites in the town of Sheraro in northwestern Tigray, near the border with Eritrea.

It comes amid mounting concern over the fate of hundreds of displaced civilians abducted by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers earlier this week from displacement sites in the town of Shire, also in northwestern Tigray.

An estimated 40,000 displaced Tigrayans are in Sheraro, most of whom came from farther west, where US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said "ethnic cleansing" is unfolding.

"A consistent, main security concern in individual and group interviews related to the presence of armed forces operating in Tigray," the assessment reads.

Interviewees presented "allegations of ongoing rape by armed forces of girls and women within and outside of (displacement) sites," as well as claims of "ongoing abduction, torture and, in some cases, murder of (displaced) male youth by armed forces," it says.

The assessment was prepared by the Ethiopia Protection Cluster, which includes UN agencies, government bodies, and local and international NGOs.

It does not specify which armed forces were accused of these abuses, but Sheraro is largely under Eritrean control, according to aid groups operating in Tigray.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray in November to detain and disarm leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the region's former ruling party.

He said the move came in response to TPLF attacks on federal army camps.

Though he vowed the conflict would be brief, more than six months later fighting continues, reports of atrocities are proliferating, and world leaders are warning of a potential humanitarian catastrophe.

Eritrea, a bitter enemy of the TPLF, also sent troops into Tigray to back up the Ethiopian military, and they have been implicated in massacres and mass rapes -- allegations Asmara denies.

On Monday night Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers detained at least 200, and possibly many more, civilians from displacement camps in Shire, beating them and snatching their phones before forcing them onto trucks, according to accounts from Amnesty International and witnesses.

Their whereabouts remained largely unknown Thursday, though a local official told AFP this week they were being screened to determine if they were pro-TPLF combatants.

The operation came one day after Blinken announced visa and aid restrictions targeting Ethiopian and Eritrean officials.

Multiple witnesses in Shire said soldiers cried out "Let's see if the US will save you" as they took displaced civilians into custody.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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The drill was carried out at Egypt s Mohamed Naguib Military Base in the Northern Military Region with the participation of 20 countries

The multinational two-week long military exercise Bright Star 2021 hosted by Egypt was wrapped up on Friday, according to a video statement by Egypts Armed Forces Spokesman Gharib Abdel-Hafez.

The drill kicked off on 2 September at Egypt's Mohamed Naguib Military Base in the Northern Military Region with the participation of 20 countries, including Egypt and the US.

The final phase of the drill was attended by Egypt's Defence Minister General Mohamed Zaki, Army Chief of Staff Lt General Mohamed Farid, as well as leaders of the main branches and senior commanders.

A number of senior commanders of the armed forces of countries participating in the drill attended the final stage as well, according to the Egyptian military spokesman.

Defence Minister Zaki conveyed the greetings of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to all 20 friendly and brotherly countries taking part in the exercise.

He also praised the participating forces outstanding performance, and their ability to undertake joint tasks in a professional way after making the best use of expertise transfer.

The final phase of the drill's activities, the statement added, included a tactical live-fire shooting project with the participation of the various troops taking part in the drill.

The exercise also included training activities on first aid and field medical evacuation of injured elements by equipped ambulances and helicopters, in addition to the STX training, the CPX training.

Egypt's Army Chief of Staff Lt General Mohamed Farid attended part of the drills in which the participating forces were trained on eradicating a terrorist hotbed, securing a residential area and restoring normalcy.

The Bright Star drill is one of the most important joint training activities the General Command of the Egyptian Armed Forces is keen to implement in order to strengthen military relations between Egypt and many Arab and foreign countries, exchange expertise, and develop the leaders and officers' skills.

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Fighting over the key Yemeni city of Marib has displaced around 10,000 people in the past month, the U.N. migration agency said Thursday. The clashes escalated as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensified their push to take the provincial capital from government forces.

Yemen has been convulsed by civil war since 2014, when the Houthis captured the capital, Sanaa, and forced the country's president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and the internationally recognized government to flee to the south, and then later to Saudi Arabia.

The International Organization for Migration said the newly displaced _ the highest monthly tally recorded so far this year _ bring to around 170,000 the number of people who have fled fighting in and around the city of Marib and the surrounding province, also called Marib, as well as two nearby provinces, since the beginning of 2020.

The tally was recoded in six of Marib province's 14 districts, the IOM said.

After seizing control of serval districts and cities in nearby provinces in 2020, the Houthis began their march on Marib in February, with the aim of capturing the city to complete their control over northern Yemen.

However, the rebels suffered heavy losses amid stiff resistance from Hadi's forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition that entered the war in 2015 on the government's behalf. Despite a relentless air campaign and ground fighting, the war has deteriorated largely into a stalemate and spawned a massive humanitarian crisis.

In the Marib push, the rebels have failed to make substantial progress amid international pressure and demands to halt the offensive. The latest fighting has cut off the southern district of Abdiya, and clashes were also reported in the district of Rahaba, the IOM said.

``This renewed violence in Marib is destabilizing the lives of thousands of people and leading to tragic death and injuries of civilians, including children,'' said Christa Rottensteiner, head of IOM's mission in Yemen.

The Houthis have also fired scores of ballistic missiles and explosive-laden drones on the city, killing and wounding civilians, including women and children. They have also attacked Saudi Arabia with missiles and drones.

On Sunday, three ballistic missiles landed in Marib's residential Rawdha neighborhood, killing two children and wounding 32 people, according to Ali al-Ghulisi, the provincial governor's press secretary.

The IOM said many of the newly displaced live in displacement camps in Marib, exacerbating the already overcrowded conditions. Others have sought refuge in abandoned public buildings, their relatives' homes or have run through their savings renting accommodation, it said.

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Israel is holding its largest-ever air force exercise this week, joined by several Western countries and India, with the United Arab Emirates' air force chief set to inspect the drills.

Amir Lazar, chief of Israeli air force operations, told reporters the drills "don't focus on Iran", but army officials have said the Islamic republic remains Israel's top strategic threat and at the centre of much of its military planning.

Israel has held the "Blue Flag" exercises every two years since 2013 in the Negev desert.

Some preliminary exercises began last week.

Other nations taking part this year include France, the United States and Germany, as well as Britain, whose aircraft flew over Israeli territory for the first time since the Jewish state's creation in 1948.

With more than 70 fighter jets -- including Mirage 2000s, Rafales and F-16s -- and about 1,500 personnel participating, the drills are the largest-ever held in Israel, Lazar told reporters at the southern Ovda airbase.

Ibrahim Nasser Mohammed Al Alawi, commander of the United Arab Emirates air force, landed in Israel on Monday, the Israeli army said in a statement.

While UAE aircraft are not flying in the drills, Lazar said the visit from the country's air force chief was "very significant".

Agreements that saw Israel normalise ties last year with several Arab countries, including the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco, "opened a variety of opportunities", Lazar said Sunday.

Israel "was looking forward to hosting the Emirates air force" in the future, he added.

Shared concern over common foe Iran was widely seen as a factor that spurred the UAE towards Israel.

Lazar said the "Blue Flag" exercises in part aimed to synchronise different types of aircraft, piloted by various countries to counter armed drones and other threats.

In addition to Iran's nuclear programme, Israel has sought to sound the alarm over a fleet of drones it claims Tehran is dispatching to its proxies across the Middle East, including in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon.

Iran is focused "on building an army of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)", Lazar said.

It was possible that "some day" the nations participating in the drill would be "working together" to counter the Iranian threat, he added.

Iran and Israel have exchanged sharp rhetoric recently, against the backdrop of efforts to renew talks to revive a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

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Egyptian and US naval forces have conducted joint naval drills in the Red Sea, where the Egyptian frigate Alexandria and the American cruiser USS Portland participated, the Egyptian Armed Forces said in a statement.

The training involved a range of naval combat activities, with a focus on enhancing naval security in the Red Sea and assessing threats to the international flow of trade.

The drill also included training on countering atypical threats.

The Armed Forces statement said that Egypt and the US agree on the importance of maintaining maritime security and stability in the region and safeguarding the movement of global trade.

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Sudan's top general has promised that he won't hold a government position after planned elections in 2023, two weeks after the military takeover, and toppled the transitional government in a widely condemned move.

The military leader behind the takeover, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, has repeatedly promised to hand over power to an elected civilian government and said he will not be a part of it.

His announcement that he will not run for office does not preclude other top generals from shedding their military titles and becoming candidates.

Late last month, the military dissolved the country's transitional government and detained more than 100 government officials and political leaders and a large number of protesters and activists.

Since then, at least 13 anti-coup protesters have been killed due to the excessive force used by the country's security forces, according to Sudanese doctors and the UN.

On Sunday, security forces tear-gassed demonstrators and rounded up more than 100 people, mostly anti-coup teachers in Khartoum.

In comments aired Sunday by the Al-Jazeera satellite television news network, Burhan also said that security forces were not responsible for the protesters' deaths.

Burhan has maintained the military was compelled to take over because of quarrels between political parties that he claimed could lead to civil war.

But the takeover also took place weeks before he was supposed to surrender power of the country's top governing body to a civilian.

Sudan has been in the midst of a fragile transition to democracy since a popular uprising forced the military's removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019.

For weeks before the coup, there had been mounting tensions between military and civilian leaders over the pace of the transition.

In another development, the powerful leader of Sudan's large paramilitary group the Rapid Support Forces, made his first public comments since the coup.

Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo said in a video statement released by his office late Sunday that the generals seized power to ``correct the course of the people's revolution,`` and achieve stability.

He accused a ``handful'' of political parties in the government of monopolizing power and neglecting the people's interests. Dagalo, who is commonly known as Hemedti, has been seen by Burhan's side in many of the post-coup meetings with international diplomats.

He wields extensive influence in the country after leading brutal campaigns against the insurgency in the restive Darfur province under al-Bashir. His forces have also been accused of violently dispersing a sit-in during the 2019 uprising that led to protester deaths.

Since the coup, large-scale demonstrations have taken place around the country, demanding the return of a civilian government.

Burhan also said in the interview with Al-Jazeera that the military will not stop ``any political activity as long as it is peaceful'' and within the boundaries of the 2019 constitutional declaration.

The document was approved in August 2019 after months of drawn-out negotiations between the military and the protest movement that led to the uprising against al-Bashir.

It established the now-deposed transitional government that includes a civilian-military Sovereign Council and a Cabinet, led by former UN economist Abdalla Hamdok, to run day-to-day affairs.

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Egypt's First Lady Entissar Amer visited on Wednesday a local exhibit organised by the Decent Life presidential initiative for products handmade by local women in Shama village, Menoufiya governorate.

The first lady also visited the Decent Life initiative's healthcare convoy that provides health services to the villagers.

She also visited a number of projects organised by Decent Life including a school and a healthcare services complex.

Decent Life was first initiated in 2019 when the president charged the Ministry of Social Solidarity with developing Egypts poorest 1,000 villages.

In December 2020, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expanded the initiative to include 4,500 villages within the framework of the Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt's Vision 2030.

The initiative aims to improve the standards of living, infrastructure, and basic services in 4,500 villages, which are home to 58 percent of Egypts 102-million population.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry said on Wednesday that Egypt discussed with US officials the possibility of holding the next round of the US- Egypt strategic dialogue in Cairo in 2023.

The recent round of dialogue, held from 8 to 9 November, came up with fruitful outcomes to boost bilateral relations on all fronts, Shoukry told Egyptian and Arab reporters in his residence in the US capital.

Shoukry said the dialogue came to a halt due to some circumstances under the former US administration.

The US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue was launched in the mid-1990s under former US president Bill Clinton. Top level officials from the two sides from a variety of sectors involved in cooperation programmes related to military, education, and everything in between were to meet on a regular basis to review what was achieved and the plans for the future.

Such rounds of discussions continued to be held until 2009, when they were halted, before resuming in 2015. When former republican US president Donald Trump took office in 2017, he met regularly with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and handled the relationship on that level.

Shoukry praised the timing of the strategic dialogue under the current US democratic administration, noting that it reflects the great attention paid by Washington to promoting its ties and strategic partnership with Cairo.

The resumption of the dialogue during the first year of US President Joe Bidens administration shows that it is very much interested in strengthening ties with Egypt, he further stressed.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday night following the conclusion of the dialogue, the two sides noted that 2022 will be the centennial celebration of the start of US-Egypt diplomatic relations.

Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of their strategic partnership and identified areas in which to deepen bilateral and regional cooperation, including economic and commercial affairs, education, cultural issues, consular affairs, human rights, justice and law enforcement, and defence and security.

They also agreed on the importance of holding this dialogue on a regular basis.

The meetings tackled a number of important issues, including human rights and military ties, Egypts top diplomat told reporters, adding that they were characterised by objectivity, comprehensiveness, transparency, and understanding.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken affirmed the US interest in consolidating cooperation with Egypt regarding the response to climate change, given that Egypt will be hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 27) next year, Shoukry said.

Additionally, two joint committees for economic cooperation and climate change will be established, Shoukry said.

Shoukry pointed out that he met with a number of US congressmen during his current visit to Washington.

There were also phone calls and videoconference meetings with US officials to enhance cooperation between Cairo and Washington and discuss regional challenges to support security and stability in the Middle East, he said.

Furthermore, the talks reviewed development efforts exerted by Egypt under El-Sisi in different domains.

Shoukry underscored that military ties between Egypt and the US are a major component of the dialogue and cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.

He also underlined that he had meetings with US politicians and military officials to discuss all forms of strategic cooperation in the military and armament domains.

The GERD file

The two sides also discussed the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute, Shoukry said, noting that the US side reiterated President Bidens support for Egypts water security.

The Egyptian and US delegations to the joint dialogue called for the resumption of negotiations to reach an agreement on the GERD under the auspices of the Chairperson of the African Union, Shoukry said.

This should also come in line with the presidential statement of the United Nations Security Council of September 15, 2021, and the 2015 Agreement on the Declaration of Principles, the FM added.

He affirmed that Egypt is fully ready to resume the talks to reach a binding deal that regulates the filling and operation of the dam in a way that does not harm any of the three countries interests.

Egypt hopes that the troubling conditions in Ethiopia and Sudan will be over and stability will be restored so that the dam file come return to the front burner once again, Shoukry said.

Palestine and Sudan

Shoukry stressed that Egypt supports Palestinians, particularly Gazans, highlighting Cairos allocation of $500 million to rebuild the Gaza Strip.

Egypt has been exerting great efforts to reconstruct the Gaza enclave, rebuild its infrastructure, and improve economic conditions to ensure a decent life for the Palestinians, he said.

Egypt has received representatives of Hamas as part of reconciliation efforts to ensure calmness and push the peace process, Shoukry added.

He said his talks with the US Congressmen touched upon negotiations on the exchange of prisoners between Hamas and the Israeli occupation forces, noting that the congressmen praised Egypts efforts to maintain stability and calmness in the Gaza Strip.

On Sudan, the minister reaffirmed that Egypt hopes that the Arab country could overcome its current crisis through consultation and coordination among all parties. He asserted that Egypt does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country.

Egypt was not notified about the quartet statement that called for the restoration of the civilian government to power in Sudan, Shoukry said.

The US Department of State published a joint quad statement earlier this month, saying Saudi Arabia, UAE, the UK, and the US, call for the immediate restoration of Sudans civilian-led transitional government and institutions.

Egypts relationship with Sudan is profound and history-honoured, he said, stressing its unwavering support to the Sudanese people.

Syria, Libya, and Iran

Shoukry said Egypt laments that Syria is suffering from destruction and conflicts that claimed many lives and caused the forced displacement of a large number of Syrian people.

He noted that Egypt has a clear stance on Syria, urging to find solutions for the Syrian crisis and to restore the sovereignty, stability, and territorial integrity of the Arab country.

Foreign interference in Syria should be brought to an end and foreign fighters must leave, he said.

Concerning Libya, both Egypt and the US have shared visions on resolving the crisis through a roadmap requiring mercenaries and foreign fighters to leave the country, he said.

On Irans interference in some countries in the region, Shoukry stressed that the talks with the US side placed emphasis on the need to maintain Arab security and stop Iranian meddling in the affairs of Arab countries.

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A number of French economists said economic reforms that Egypt has implemented over the past seven years strengthened the investment-friendly environment and boosted the GDP growth.

Besides Egypts distinguished geographic location, increasing expenditure on infrastructure projects and improvement of its credit rating will help push up the volume of the French investments in it in the coming years, they added.

In statements to MENA on Thursday, the French economists said exchanging visits between senior officials and heads of the major companies in both countries aims to boost the volume of bilateral investments and trade exchange.

They expected the volume of trade exchange between the two countries to pick up this year and the coming one as growth indices are improving in both of them and the coronavirus impacts on the international economy are fading.

Francoise Courtin, a French banking expert said economic and trade relations between Egypt and France depend on the mutual benefit principle as France represents a suitable gateway for Egypt's exports to the EU countries while Egypt is a proper gateway for Frances exports to the African continent.

Private sector in both countries will play a key role in fostering economic, trade and investment relations in the coming stage, he added.

Claude Dubois, a French economist, said Egypt is qualified for playing a crucial role in the energy field at the eastern Mediterranean level in the coming period given the increasing rates of its gas discoveries, highlighting Egypts role in establishing the East Mediterranean Gas Forum.

In this regard, Jacques Fouchier, an emerging market expert at a French financial institution, described Egypt as a launching point that helps the French exports enter various markets in the Middle East and Africa, pointing out to its free trade agreements with various regional countries and the investment incentives it offers.

Egypt is a key pillar of stability and peace in the Middle East, he noted.

Meanwhile, Herve Gerard Gorin, a French economist and consultant in emerging market economies, described economic reforms that Egypt has implemented over the past five years as realistic and effective," saying that the countrys economic indices are promising.

Egypt is one of the most important countries receiving French investments which have so far hit about 5 billion euros with around 165 French companies operating in the Egyptian market.

Official data show that the volume of trade exchange between both countries jumped 20% in 2020, hitting about 3 billion dollars compared with 2019.

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The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, hailed on Thursday Egypts efforts to face the impacts of climate change locally and globally while taking into consideration African countries interests.

Guterres made his remarks in a meeting with Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, and Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said in Glasgow.

During the meeting that was held on the sidelines of the UNs 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26), Guterres welcomed Egypts scheduled hosting of the COP27 next year in Sharm El-Sheikh, a statement by the environment ministry read.

Guterres also lauded Egypts input in the discussions with the COP26, which has been taking place from 31 October and will continue to run until 12 November 2021.

Fouad invited Guterres to visit Egypts pavilion at the COP26 to review the projects Egypt has carried out, reiterating the countrys integration of climate and environment friendly practices into its developmental sectors.

She expressed Egypts keenness that the COP27 takes into account the concerns of developing and African countries.

Then, Al-Mashat highlighted the necessity of joint and collaborative efforts to advance climate action and achieve the fastest transformation towards a green economy.

She briefed Guterres on the Egyptian initiative that would be introduced in Egypts pavilion at the Glasgow summit regarding developing an international framework for innovative financing for climate action.

This, Al-Mashat added, should be carried out by enhancing the role of the private sector and building on successful partnerships with international development banks and the banking sector.

Additionally, El-Said stated that Egypt has started to implement programmes seeking to secure a safe and decent social life for Egyptians in parallel with the states orientation towards a green economy.

Consequently, Guterres hailed Egypts efforts regarding its role in climate-financing negotiations, which have contributed to the issuance of the Paris Agreement action plan.

Earlier this month, Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called on developed countries to fulfil their pledge to provide $100 billion annually to developing countries to address the effects of climate change.

In a speech delivered to the COP26, El-Sisi seconded Guterres remarks at the event, 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 president also vowed that Egypt would seek to enhance international climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement during the countrys presidency of the COP27, affirming this will achieve the interests of the global community.

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 the rate of global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in this century.

El-Sisi said strengthening climate action to achieve this rate has become imperative and undeferrable.

In 2019, Egypt co-chaired a coalition with the UK on climate adaptation and resilience at the UN Climate Action Summit.

Egypt also hosted the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2018.

Furthermore, the country has implemented many steps to implement a sustainable development model centred on adapting to climate change.

Egypt seeks to increase the percentage of government-funded green projects to 50 percent by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030, El-Sisi said during his remarks at the COP26.

The country also seeks to boost the percentage of renewable energy sources in its energy mix from the current 20 percent to 42 percent by 2035.

It also aims to rationalise energy subsidies.

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Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is heading to Paris on Thursday to attend an international conference on the state of affairs in Libya that is scheduled for 12 November at the invitation of Frances President Emmanuel Macron.

The conference comes almost a month before the scheduled presidential and parliamentary elections in Libya  as agreed upon in the UN-led talks that were held last year  in a bid to restore Libyan stability after a decade of civil war since a 2011 uprising.

During the conference, El-Sisi will highlight the need for a concerted effort by the international community to support Libya during the historical turning point it is currently going through, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement.

This includes holding the long-awaited Libyan elections on time this December and the exit of all mercenaries and foreign troops and fighters from Libyan territories.

El-Sisi will also shed light on Egypts ongoing efforts on the various economic, political, and security levels in this regard.

Along with El-Sisi and Macron, US Vice President Kamala Harris, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will also be attending the conference.

The international community on many occasions have reaffirmed the need to hold both the presidential and legislative elections on time, especially at the Berlin Conference last June.

Earlier this week, Libya opened candidate registration for the elections, with a few names standing out at the moment, including eastern Libya strongman Khalifa Haftar and Seif El-Islam Kadhafi, the son of the overthrown president in 2011.

Presidential polls are slated for 24 December, but the parliament is willing to delay the legislative election until January, although world leaders are still pressing for both elections to be held by the end of the year.

Libyas High Electoral Commission announced on Sunday the opening of candidate registration for both the presidential and legislative elections from 8 to 22 November.

While a law for the parliamentary elections was agreed upon by Libyas eastern-based parliament early in October, it was rejected by the Tripoli-based High Council of State, a body acting as a Senate.

With no agreed upon electoral law so far, holding elections by December remains challenging.

The international community  notably Egypt  have also urged for an end to the heavy foreign military presence in Libya as a condition for the restoration of Libyas sovereignty and unity.

In October, the UN-backed 5+5 Joint Military Commission signed a comprehensive action plan for the gradual and balanced withdrawal of mercenaries and foreign fighters from the war-torn country.

The conference in Paris also comes amid growing tensions between the Libyan Government of National Unity and the Presidential Council.

Earlier this month, the council decided to suspend Foreign Minister Najla Al-Mangoush and barred her from traveling abroad over allegations of monopolising foreign policy, a decision rejected by the government.

During the visit to Paris, El-Sisi will also hold a summit with Macron to discuss bilateral relations, which have witnessed a qualitative leap over the past years, Rady said.

The presidents will continue coordination and consultations on a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, Rady added.

Furthermore, El-Sisis programme during the visit includes a series of meetings with key officials in the French government to discuss boosting cooperation regarding investments, as well as in the economic, commercial, and military fields.

The president is scheduled to also meet with a number of presidents and premiers to discuss boosting cooperation and to consult on various regional and international issues.

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Ethiopia on Thursday outlined conditions for possible talks with rebels from the country's war-hit Tigray region, following days of frantic diplomatic efforts by international envoys to head off another surge in fighting.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has been locked in a year-long war with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which has pushed south in recent months and not ruled out a possible march on the capital Addis Ababa.

Foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters that one of the conditions for possible talks -- which he stressed have not been agreed to -- would be for the TPLF to withdraw from the Amhara and Afar regions bordering Tigray.

"In order for there to be a peaceful solution, they say it takes two to tango," Dina said.

"There are conditions: First, stop your attacks. Secondly, leave the areas you have entered (Amhara and Afar). Third, recognise the legitimacy of this government," he said.

"By the way, don't misunderstand, it's not being said a decision has been made to enter into negotiations," he added.

TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda said at the weekend that pulling out from Amhara and Afar before talks begin is "an absolute non-starter".

The TPLF is demanding the end of what the UN describes as a de facto humanitarian blockade on Tigray, where hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be living in famine-like conditions.

International envoys have in recent days stepped up efforts to broker a cessation of hostilities.

Jeffrey Feltman, US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, left Ethiopia on Wednesday following several days of meetings there and in neighbouring Kenya, according to officials briefed on his movements.

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU's special envoy for the region, was due to leave Thursday after a final meeting with Abiy, the officials said.

He has also recently travelled to the Tigray capital Mekele to meet TPLF leaders.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Obasanjo on Wednesday and offered "strong support" for his mediation efforts, the State Department said.

He voiced hope that there was a "window" for progress.

Yet it is far from clear how major gaps between the two sides can be bridged.

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday said that the Palestinian question is going through a very delicate and possibly the most difficult phase.

Abbas made the remarks in a televised speech commemorating the 17 anniversary of the death of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

"This anniversary comes while our just national cause is going through a very delicate stage, perhaps the most difficult in our history of struggle. It is not reasonable or acceptable for the occupation to remain chocking us forever," he said.

"It is not reasonable for us to remain committed to agreements that Israel does not abide by," Abbas added.

"Israel is building and expanding settlements and keeps launching a systematic aggression to change the historical situation of the city of Jerusalem to obliterate its Arab and Islamic identity and character," he said, calling on the world "to change the way it acts with the Israeli occupation authorities" with "tangible steps."

In November 2004, Arafat died from an unknown illness at the age of 75 in a French hospital. Palestinians accuse Israel of poisoning him, while Israel denies such accusations.

Arafat had led the Palestine Liberation Organization since 1969 and became the first president of the Palestinian Authority since its establishment in 1994.

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The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are holding their first joint naval exercise with Israel, a year after normalising ties with the Jewish state, the US Navy said on Thursday.

The five-day manoeuvres in the Red Sea, which is linked to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, are intended to "enhance interoperability between participating forces", a statement said.

"It is exciting to see US forces training with regional partners to enhance our collective maritime security capabilities," said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Naval Forces Central Command, or NAVCENT.

"Maritime collaboration helps safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade, which are essential to regional security and stability."

The exercises, which began on Wednesday, include boarding, search, and seizure training on the USS Portland, an amphibious transport dock ship.

It is the first publicly announced military cooperation by the UAE and Bahrain with Israel since they opened diplomatic relations in September last year.

The normalisation agreements, which also involved Morocco and Sudan, broke with decades of Arab consensus that there should be no diplomatic ties without a resolution to the Palestinian conflict.

Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and the United States share concerns about Iran, which has previously been accused of orchestrating attacks on shipping in the region.

The Red Sea borders Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting alongside government forces against Iran-backed rebels since 2015.

It lies next to the Gulf of Aden, which saw a rash of attacks on shipping by Somali-based pirates in the first decade of the 21st century before patrols by navies from around the world largely halted them.

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Sudan's General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Thursday named a new ruling council to steer the country's transition after last month's military takeover, state television reported.

The announcement came more than two weeks since Burhan dissolved the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, detained the civilian leadership, and declared a nationwide state of emergency.

It also comes just two days ahead of planned mass protests against the October 25 military takeover.

"The commander-in-chief of the armed forces issued a constitutional decree to form the Transitional Sovereignty Council," Burhan said in a statement.

Under the decree, Burhan chaired the council formed in August 2019 following the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir keeps the post.

Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, leader of the feared paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, remains his deputy.

The council also retains Shamsaldine al-Kabashi, Yasser Atta, and Ibrahim Gaber, all senior military figures.

Civilian figures include former parliamentarian Abou al-Qassem Bortoum, a supporter of Sudan's normalisation with Israel.

A Sufi, Salma Abdelgaber, Youssef Gad Karim from North Kordofan state, Abdelbaqi al-Zubair representing Khartoum state and Rajaa Nicola, a Copt, were also named as members.

Ex-rebel leaders Malik Agar, Alhady Idris and Altaher Hagar, who signed a 2020 peace deal with the government, also secured seats.

One member from east Sudan has yet to be named pending consultations, according to state television.

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Italy has granted citizenship to Afghanistan's first woman chief prosecutor after she fled the Taliban takeover of her war-torn country, a minister said on Thursday.

Maria Bashir, 51, was evacuated in September after the United States withdrew its last troops on August 30.

Related Taliban confirm reports four women killed in northern Afghanistan

As chief prosecutor in the western province of Herat since 2009, she had battled corruption, violence against women and child marriage.

The US State Department recognised her with an award in 2011 for showing courage in the face of Taliban threats, and Time magazine listed her among its 100 most influential people the same year.

Justice Minister Marta Cartabia said Italy, through giving her Italian nationality, wanted to show its "support to all the other Afghan women, who continue to fight for their freedom and rights at a high price".

Cartabia had welcomed Bashir when she landed in Italy on September 9.

As it approved the decision late on Wednesday, Italy's cabinet said Bashir had "worked closely with the Italian authorities while they were in (Afghanistan), contributing to reinforcing institutions and, more generally, the rule of law".

In comments relayed by the ANSA news agency, Bashir said she was "honoured" and hoped to be able to continue working for Afghan women, "with the help of our Italian friends".

Bashir lived under Taliban rule in the 90s, which she described in 2010 to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime as "a particularly grim time for women".

"Everybody was scared to go to work and I, too, had to stay at home. So, I started a secret school at home, for the neighbourhood girls," she told the UN body.

Italy was one of five countries most involved with NATO's US-led mission in Afghanistan along with Germany, Britain and Turkey.

In early September, Rome said it had evacuated almost 5,000 Afghans following the Taliban takeover.

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Egypt has done well regarding the implementation of its economic reforms and the governments performance amid the pandemic, and it has the potential to serve as a regional economic hub, Merza Hasan, the dean of the Board of Executive Directors at the World Bank Group told Ahram Online.

Hasan made his statements in an exclusive interview with Ahram Online during his current visit to Egypt; just a few days after the World Bank Group (WBG) approved a $360 million development policy financing (DPF) loan for Egypt that aims to support the countrys second wave of economic reforms.

Speaking to Ahram Online, Hasan said that his visit to Egypt aims mainly to cement the WBGs strong partnership with the government of Egypt and renew its commitment to supporting Egypts second wave of reforms through the WBGs new strategy for the coming five years: The Country Partnership Framework (CPF) FY2022-26.

It also aims to discuss Egypts key development priorities and potential World Bank support related thereto.

During his visit, Hasan met with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and the ministers of education, petroleum, international cooperation, planning, and economic development.

The WBG is keen to support Egypts next wave of economic reforms through its new CPF, which follows the countrys priorities and the results of the World Banks Systematic Country Diagnostics (SCD) recent report that was published last month, said Hasan.

SCD reports are prepared by WBG staff in close consultation with national authorities and other stakeholders to identify key challenges and opportunities for a country to accelerate progress towards development objectives that are consistent with the twin goals of ending absolute poverty and boosting shared prosperity in a sustainable manner.

As of 30 June 2014, SCDs are required prior to sending a CPF to the board.

Hasan told Ahram Online that the new CPF strategy for Egypt comes with a focus on enabling private sector investments and job creation, human capital development, and social protection, while maintaining macroeconomic stability and supporting the government of Egypts climate and green agenda.

On the key themes of cooperation between the two sides over the near- and short-term, Hasan expounded that the WBG looks forward to supporting the government of Egypt in implementing reforms to address the deep-seated structural issues that hinder Egypt from excelling to realise its ambitious potential.

These reforms could be categorised under three main themes. First, strengthening the private sectors role in development and job creation. Second, leveraging human equity and inclusion with a focus on the poor and middle-class. And third, implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change, Hasan explains.

Ahram Online also asked Hasan about his vision on Egypts progress in areas of investment, macroeconomy, and private sector support.

In this respect, Hasan said that Egypts macroeconomic reforms helped stabilise the economy in recent years and allowed the country to enter the COVID-19 crisis with improved fiscal accounts and a relatively ample level of foreign reserves. Egypt was among the few countries worldwide that maintained a positive growth rate during the pandemic, however, long-standing challenges persist.

Egypt has done well and has the potential to serve as a regional economic hub. Continuing pre-COVID macro-fiscal and structural trajectory may not fulfill its economic potential nor its ambitions of becoming a regional model. A paradigm shift could help Egypt reach its full potential; achieving a balanced, sustainable, and inclusive growth; moving from a heavily state-led growth model to a more balanced and inclusive model that unleashes private sector investment and leverages economic development in lagging regions, Hasan elaborated.

He also added that Egypt needs a range of reforms to transform the economy towards export-oriented higher productivity sectors that would generate high quality job opportunities.

A set of policy reforms is also needed to support greater private sector participation in infrastructure development and service delivery based on its successful experience in the energy sector, according to Hasan.

To achieve that, Hasan said that this will require simplifying the business environment and removing regulatory barriers; supporting land, property registration, and judicial reforms; and promoting sectoral reforms that create an open and level playing field to encourage a dynamic and competitive private sector.

Moreover, a parallel set of inclusion reforms is needed to address financial, spatial, gender, and youth disparities to alleviate poverty and promote shared prosperity in the country, said Hasan.

A third set of reforms is essential to manage state owned enterprises and transform the role of the state to deliver an efficient performance and return for the Egyptian people and facilitate private sector access to markets and resources.

A national of Kuwait, Merza Hasan was elected in 2006 to represent 13 countries as the executive director to the WBG while becoming the dean of the Board of Executive Directors at the WBG since 2012.

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Egyptian director Mohamed Diabs latest film Amira has been selected as Jordans submission for the 94th Academy Awards Best International Feature Film.

Its a great honour, stated Diab thanking the Royal Film Commission for making the shooting in Jordan such a wonderful experience.

Diabs third feature has already collected three awards after it premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September, gaining admiration from international critics

Early this week the film received a Special Mention at Carthage Film Festival (JCC) in Tunisia. The same jury selected the Egyptian feature film Reesh (Feathers) for the festivals grand prize.

Highly praised in Egypt during its MENA premiere at the El-Gouna Film Festival in October, Amira was screened earlier this month across Jerusalem as part of the 8th Palestine Cinema Days.

Written by the sibling trio of Mohamed, Khaled, and Shereen Diab. Amiras cast includes Saba Mubarak and Tara Abboud from Jordan alongside Palestinian Ali Suliman, Kais Nashif, and Waleed Zuaiter.

The 98-minute film was produced by Film Clinic (Mohamed Hefzy, Daniel Ziskind), Agora Audiovisuals (Mona Abdel Wahab), Acamedia Pictures (Moez Masoud), Taher Media Production, The Imaginarium Films, Hany Abu-Assad, Amira Diab and Sarah Gohar.

The film follows the story of Amira, a 17-year-old Palestinian, who was conceived with the smuggled sperm of her imprisoned father, Nawar. Although their relationship since birth has been restricted to prison visits, he remains her hero. His absence in her life is overcompensated with the love and affection from those surrounding her. But when a failed attempt to conceive another child reveals Nawars infertility, Amiras world turns upside down.

Amira will also be competing at the Red Sea Film Festival, taking place in December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The same event will also be hosting the premiere of Barra El-Manhag, the latest film from Egypts Amr Salama.

Last month, Egypt has unveiled its submission for the Academy Awards, selecting director Ayten Amins Souad, which was among the 2020 Festival de Cannes Official Selection.

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The United Nations in Egypt and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs co-organised a ceremony on 8 November at Tahrir Palace in Cairo to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the United Nations.

The event reflected on the long-standing relationship between the UN and Egypt, ways of reinforcing multilateralism and tackling global challenges, and highlighted the different areas of cooperation between the UN in Egypt and Egypts government, along with the work done by the UN system in Egypt to support the governments efforts to achieve the sustainable development goals.

Attended by senior representatives from the Egyptian foreign ministry, the heads of the UN agencies in Egypt, and representatives of diplomatic missions and regional diplomatic corps in Egypt; the event was an opportunity to reflect on the long-standing and successful relationship between the UN and Egypt  a founding member of the international organisation  as well as ways of reinforcing multilateralism and tackling global challenges.

Addressing the ceremony, Ihab Badawy, the assistant foreign minister for multilateral and international security, said that commemorating the UNs 76th anniversary is an opportunity to reaffirm our belief in the importance of collective multilateral action to address issues of joint interest.

He also highlighted the importance of adopting a comprehensive approach when dealing with the sustainable development agenda and achieving its 17 goals by 2030.

We, as partners, must acknowledge the nexus between any economic decision and its direct social impact when formulating policies aiming to achieve the SDGs on all levels. whether bilateral or multilateral.

For her part, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova said that the bonds of cooperation between Egypt and the UN are solid. It is grounded with the values and principles of the UN Charter.

Our common goal to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs, leaving no one behind, remains the main driver of our cooperation.

We are proud of the countless stories of joint successes derived from our partnership development framework to advance Egypts efforts on the people, prosperity, planet, and women portfolios, she added.

During the event, a video statement by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was screened, in which he reaffirmed the need to come together to overcome the challenges that arise from the COVID-19 pandemic, conflicts, hunger and poverty, the climate emergency, and advancing the SDGs.

Guterres also said that the values that have powered the UN charter for the last 76 years  peace, development, human rights, and opportunity for all  have no expiry date.

Since 1945, Egypt has been a strong partner in multilateral action.

Egypt is one of the largest contributors to peacekeeping forces and has been an elected member of the Security Council five times.

Egypt chaired multiple UN commissions, including the UN Peacekeeping Commission, and the Group of 77 at the United Nations in New York in 2018 and in Rome in 2019.

Egypt also hosts about 38 United Nations offices and can be considered one of the largest regional centres of the organisation.

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Abou Oaf is vice president for the Middle East and Africa at Kimberly-Clark Corporation in Singapore, which operates in more than 100 countries with over 40,000 employees.

He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and a minor in computer science from the AUC.

Its an honour and privilege to serve my beloved university as a member of its Board of Trustees, said Abou Oaf.

I cherish the time I spent at AUC and am proud to be one of its graduates. My experience as a student was pivotal to my career and I look forward to giving back to the university and working alongside such distinguished board members.

Abu Oaf has more than three decades of professional experience in fast-moving consumer goods and consumer packaged goods, leading and building multi-billion-dollar businesses across different markets and regions worldwide.

Rapidly rising to the C-Suite, Abu Oaf served as a regional president of Mars Wrigley Confectionery for Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

He joined Mars in 2000, going up the ranks from market manager in Egypt and expanding his leadership to North Africa, the Levant, Eastern Mediterranean, and Asian Pacific countries, and the Middle East.

He then began his career in research and development at P&G, holding strategic roles in Belgium, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.

Throughout his career, Abu Oaf led the geographic expansion, strategic growth, and transformation of international markets across the Asian Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa.

He managed mergers, integrations, and entry into emerging markets as well as the establishment of new manufacturing sites and innovative products that resulted in increased revenue, profitability, and growth.

Abu Oaf has numerous professional affiliations. He served as the chair of the Board of Trustees of the International School of Beijing and the president of Food Industry Asia. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Singapore American School and an adjunct professor at Nanyang Technological Universitys School of Management in Singapore.

I am pleased that Ehab Abu Oaf has agreed to serve as a trustee. His business acumen, astute leadership, and global exposure make him an asset to the board. As an alum, he also brings a deep familiarity and affinity with AUC, said Mark Turnage, the chair of AUCs Board of Trustees.

We are eager to work with him at this transformative time in the history of our university, as AUC welcomes President Ahmad Dallal and prepares for a second century of service and excellence.
Kyle Rittenhouse waits for the jury to enter the room to continue testifying during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. [Photo: Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool]

Kyle Rittenhouse breaks down on the stand as he testifies about his encounter with the late Joseph Rosenbaum during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. [Photo: Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP, Pool]

Wendy Rittenhouse, comforted by defense jury expert Jo-Ellan Dimitrius, gets emotional as her son Kyle Rittenhouse testifies during cross examination in his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Rittenhouse is accused of killing two people and wounding a third during a protest over police brutality in Kenosha, last year. [Photo: Mark Hertzberg/Pool Photo via AP]

Kyle Rittenhouse testified Wednesday he was under attack when he killed two men and wounded a third with his rifle during a chaotic night of protests in Kenosha, saying: I didnt do anything wrong. I defended myself.

In a high-stakes gamble, the 18-year-old took the stand at his murder trial to tell his side of what happened on the streets that day in the summer of 2020, sobbing so hard at one point that the judge called a break.

In an account largely corroborated by video and the prosecutions own witnesses, Rittenhouse said that the first man cornered him and put his hand on the barrel of Rittenhouse's rifle, the second man hit him with a skateboard, and the third man came at him with a gun of his own.

His nearly all-day testimony was interrupted by an angry exchange in which his lawyers demanded a mistrial over what they argued were out-of-bounds questions asked of him by the chief prosecutor.

The judge, though plainly mad at the prosecutor, did not immediately rule on the request. And later in the day, he instructed the jury to expect closing arguments early next week.

Rittenhouse is on trial over the shootings he committed during unrest that erupted in Kenosha over the wounding of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha police officer. He could get life in prison on the charges.

Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, went to Kenosha with an AR-style semi-automatic weapon and a medic bag in what the former police youth cadet said was an effort to protect property after rioters had set fires and ransacked businesses on previous nights.

The case has divided Americans over whether Rittenhouse was a patriot taking a stand against lawlessness or a vigilante.

As he began crying on the stand and appeared unable to speak, his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, seated on a bench across the courtroom, sobbed loudly. Someone put an arm around her. After the judge called a recess, jurors walked by Rittenhouse and looked on as he continued to cry.

After the morning outburst, he was largely composed the rest of the day, though his voice seemed to break at times as he came under tough cross-examination.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger went hard at Rittenhouse all afternoon during cross-examination, walking him through each of the shootings. Rittenhouse continually pushed back, saying he had no choice but to fire.

Rittenhouse said he didn't want to have to shoot Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man to fall that night, but he said Rosenbaum was chasing him and had threatened to kill him earlier.
KYODO NEWS - Oct 29, 2021 - 19:12 | All, Japan

A cultural exchange organization under the South Korean Foreign Ministry gave an award Friday to Hiroshi Nakao, a Japanese researcher of Korean envoys to Japan between the 17th and 19th century, for his contribution to promoting civil exchanges between the two countries.

Nakao, an 85-year-old visiting professor at Kyoto University of the Arts, became the first Japanese to receive the biannual award of the Korea Foundation since it was established in 2008, with ties between South Korea and Japan currently soured over a host of bilateral issues.

The award is given to individuals and organizations who promote awareness and a better understanding of South Korea in the global community, according to the foundation.

"Through 40 years of research on the history of Korea-Japan exchange, Professor Nakao has contributed significantly to the enhanced understanding of Korea by Japanese citizens and the broadening of civic exchanges between Korea and Japan," the foundation said in a statement.

Nakao's accomplishments include spearheading bilateral projects to preserve and research historical documents on Korean envoys to Japan, called Tongsinsa, and other activities to improve ties between the two countries.

The documents of the diplomatic missions sent by the Korean Chosun Dynasty (1392-1910) to Japan between 1607 and 1811 were added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in 2017. Nakao contributed to the registration as head of the committee of Japanese researchers working for the inclusion of the documents.

"(Korea and Japan) have had exchanges since the prehistoric era, which resulted in the establishment of great cultures in each country," Nakao said in a pre-recorded message that was played at the award ceremony.

He also said he would like to put further efforts into deepening friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

Lee Geun, president of the Korea Foundation, said the award committee unanimously selected Nakao.

"At a civic level, there are so many people who wish to see an improvement in South Korea-Japan relations," Lee told Kyodo News after the award ceremony, referring to bilateral tensions mainly due to a dispute over wartime compensation.

"What is needed, I think, is exchange to achieve better understanding and trust in various fields," Lee said.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 11, 2021 - 18:11 | All, Japan, World

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday agreed with Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and work toward a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China's rise and North Korea's missile threats.

During the roughly 20-minute meeting, which was held a day after Kishida was re-elected prime minister, the two shared concerns regarding China's unilateral attempts to alter the status quo in the region and exchanged views on North Korea's test-firing of missiles, according to the Japanese government.

"By further enhancing cooperation between Japan and the United States, I would like to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida said at the outset of the meeting.

Aquilino responded he is committed to "deliver a free and open Indo-Pacific, and peace and stability and prosperity for the region."

The commander also met Thursday with Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and new Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, who assumed the post the previous day as Kishida formed his second Cabinet after being re-elected as Japan's leader by parliament.

Hayashi called for strengthening deterrence under the bilateral alliance.

Kishi said during their meeting the "security environment surrounding Japan is increasingly severe," referring to the China and North Korea situations.

When Kishi and Aquilino last met in June, they agreed on the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to the Japanese government.

Aquilino had warned the threat of China's aggression toward Taiwan may be more imminent than expected, stressing the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance in maintaining regional security.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 11, 2021 - 21:00 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's new stimulus package with fiscal spending expected to exceed 30 trillion yen ($263 billion) will include wage hikes for care workers, nursery school staff and nurses, government sources said Thursday.

The monthly salaries of such workers, whose pay is regulated and said to be insufficient compared with other industries, will be raised by 3 percent, or 9,000 yen, in February, according to the sources.

The package aimed at easing the pain from the coronavirus pandemic will be finalized by the government on Nov. 19 following Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's pledge during campaigning for last month's general election to achieve economic growth and narrow wealth disparities.

The government is seeking to pass a supplementary budget during an extraordinary parliamentary session to be convened by year-end to fund the package, which will also include a subsidy program for domestic tourism and financial support for struggling households and students.

Some measures will also be financed by a budget for the next fiscal year starting April.

In Japan, the average monthly income, including bonuses, was 352,000 yen in 2020. But care workers and children's nurses earned 293,000 yen and 303,000 yen, respectively, on average per month.

The government's regulation of hospital and care facility charges makes wage increases difficult, even if there is a labor shortage.

However, as the average income of nurses is higher than that of all other sectors, the pay rise will be limited to those working at key medical facilities tasked with emergency care.

To support child-rearing, the government will widen the scope of households that are eligible to receive rent subsidies if they live in designated houses and apartments.

For a household consisting of two parents and three children, the income cap will be relaxed from the current annual 4.95 million yen to 6.46 million yen, according to the sources.

Kishida said in a press conference after being re-elected prime minister by parliament on Wednesday that the government will provide handouts of 100,000 yen to students facing financial difficulties to help them pay tuition fees.

The financial help will be given to students attending university, college and junior college who are from low-income families and struggling with pay cuts in their part-time jobs amid the pandemic, the sources said.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 12, 2021 - 00:11 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. has applied with the health ministry for approval to use the COVID-19 vaccine developed by U.S. biotechnology firm Moderna Inc. for booster shots from February, company officials said Thursday.

Takeda, which is in charge of sales and distribution of the Moderna vaccine in Japan, submitted the application on Wednesday seeking the green light for the amount to be used and the method in administering it. Clinical trial data were also presented.

A government subcommittee of health experts will discuss the use of the vaccine as a booster shot in late December at the earliest, with Takeda planning to start administering the vaccine at workplaces from March.

In its clinical trial, Moderna gave 0.25 milliliters for a third dose -- half of the amount it used for the first two shots, which was 0.5 ml for each -- after a period of over six months since the second shot was administered.

The move came after a health ministry panel approved Wednesday the administration of third booster shots of U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc.'s vaccine to people aged 18 and over, starting with medical personnel from December.

Following the panel's approval, the ministry also gave the nod for the vaccine's use as booster shots on Thursday.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 11, 2021 - 17:48 | All, Japan

Jakucho Setouchi, a Japanese novelist and Buddhist nun known for depicting the lives and loves of modern women in award-winning novels such as "The End of Summer" and "Ask the Blossoms," has died of heart failure, her home temple said Thursday. She was 99.

Setouchi, who was awarded the Order of Culture in 2006, was also active in anti-war and anti-nuclear movements. She died Tuesday morning at a hospital in Kyoto, western Japan, where she resided.

She had been hospitalized due to poor health and undergoing treatment since last month, according to Jakuan, a temple she founded in 1974.

A funeral will be held only with relatives, and a post-funeral gathering in her memory will take place in Tokyo at a later date.

In 1998, Setouchi completed the translation of "The Tale of Genji," written by Murasaki Shikibu in the early 11th century, from classical to modern Japanese in 10 volumes, helping create a new boom of interest in the work.

A native of Tokushima city in western Japan, Setouchi, whose secular name was Harumi Setouchi, became a nun in 1973 at the age of 51, 30 years after graduating from Tokyo Woman's Christian University.

She married in 1943 while a student at the university but later divorced and began writing. In 2017, she published her last full-length novel "Inochi." She continued her writing, however, contributing serialized works for two literary magazines.

Tetsuo Yamaori, a religious studies scholar and close friend of Setouchi, said that she inspired and comforted many with her novels, which she continued to write until her last days.

"Her fresh, youthful heart and strong conviction to correct what needs to be corrected in both individuals and the nation did not wane even at the last moment," he said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expressed his condolences at a regular press conference, saying that Setouchi made "great contributions to Japanese culture" through her translation of the classic tale and many achievements as a novelist.

"She devoted herself to listening to the thoughts and feelings of those in distress through her sermons and also contributed to social activities," he said.

Setouchi gave regular sermons at her home temple in Kyoto's Sagano area, and served as the chief priestess of Tendaiji Temple in Iwate Prefecture.

She had called for the abolition of nuclear power plants since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami wrecked Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, leading to the release of radioactive materials and mass evacuations.

She joined an anti-nuclear hunger strike in 2012 and participated in a rally in front of the Diet building in 2015 to protest national security-related bills.
The United States and China on Wednesday vowed to step up their cooperation in tackling climate change, including work toward reducing methane emissions and illegal deforestation, in a joint declaration issued during U.N. climate talks in Britain.

The show of cooperation between the world's two largest carbon dioxide emitters came as they prepare for a virtual meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with U.S. political news website Politico reporting that the event is tentatively scheduled for Monday evening.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement, which came just days before the scheduled end of the U.N. climate negotiations in Glasgow, calling it "an important step in the right direction."

In their joint Glasgow declaration, the United States and China said they recall their "firm commitment to work together" on climate issues and recognize a "significant gap" remaining between the current efforts to curb emissions and those that need to be taken to achieve the goals of the 2015 Paris climate accord.

"The two sides stress the vital importance of closing that gap as soon as possible, particularly through stepped-up efforts," the two countries said.

The Paris Agreement sets out a global framework to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change by limiting global warming to "well below" 2 C, preferably to 1.5 C, compared with levels before the Industrial Revolution.

One of the goals of the two-week U.N. climate change conference known as COP26, which is scheduled to end on Friday, is to keep alive the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 C.

The declaration said the United States and China will work together "with the aim of keeping the above temperature limit within reach and cooperating to identify and address related challenges and opportunities."

Recognizing the significant role that methane emissions play in increasing temperatures, the two countries plan to cooperate to enhance the measurement of such emissions, exchange information on the management of methane and foster joint research into the challenges of reducing emissions, according to the document.

China also intends to develop a "comprehensive and ambitious" national action plan on methane before next year's U.N. climate conference while phasing down coal consumption during the five years from 2026 and make best efforts to accelerate the move, it said.

The United States and China agreed to establish a working group on enhancing climate action in the 2020s, viewed as a critical decade in the fight against global warming.

Washington has been pitching an initiative with the European Union to reduce the world's methane emissions by 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030. As of Nov. 2, over 100 countries have signed the pledge, though China was not among them.

Methane is a greenhouse gas emitted by human activities such as leaks from natural gas systems and the raising of livestock. It is more than 25 times as potent as CO2 at trapping heat in the atmosphere and the second most abundant human-caused greenhouse gas after CO2.

Many countries including the United States and Japan, and also the European Union, aim to move toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But China, the world's largest CO2 emitter, is aiming to become carbon neutral by 2060.
KYODO NEWS - Nov 11, 2021 - 14:59 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's "Go To Travel" domestic tourism subsidy program may resume in February after being suspended late last year amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases, with the campaign to include compulsory virus countermeasures, government sources said Thursday.

While the number of new and serious COVID-19 cases in the country has sharply declined recently along with the progress of the vaccination program, the government believes it still needs to evaluate whether oral drugs to prevent serious cases will be available by the end of the year, the sources said.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a press conference Wednesday that oral medications will be an "ace in the hole" against the coronavirus. He also said the government will drastically review the tourism campaign to make it safer.

The government is planning to require people taking advantage of the "Go To Travel" program to show proof of vaccination or a negative virus test result when they check into accommodation and on other occasions, according to the sources.

The tourism-boosting campaign, which covers 50 percent of travel costs up to 20,000 yen ($175) per person per night, began in July 2020 to support the industry amid the pandemic-caused downturn, with virus-hit Tokyo added to the program in October that year, but was suspended last December due to the rapid spread of infections.

The government is considering lowering the per night subsidy cap to 13,000 yen as the relatively large original discount was criticized for benefiting luxury hotels rather than more reasonably priced operations, according to the sources.

It is also studying a plan to run the nationwide campaign until the end of the Golden Week holidays in May and then switch to subsidizing prefectural governments' own tourism campaigns that promote travel for residents within their home prefectures, they said.

The Japan Tourism Agency has been trialing procedures to confirm travelers' vaccination status or virus test results since October in preparation for a resumption of the travel campaign.

The agency will formulate operational guidelines by the end of this month, the sources said.

Opposition parties had criticized the program as a factor in the resurgence of virus infections. A total of 87.81 million hotel stays were made under the campaign by Dec. 28 last year when it was halted, with the government spending 2.7 trillion yen on the scheme.

The planned review of the program is aimed at spreading the benefits to a wider range of hotel operators and to make its use less concentrated around weekends and holidays.

A plan has emerged to reduce discount rates for accommodation facilities from 35 percent to 30 percent, in the hope that people will stay at hotels and inns that are not as expensive.

The revamped campaign is also expected to encourage people to travel more on weekdays, through measures such as handing out coupons worth 3,000 yen on weekdays for dining and shopping at travel destinations, while distributing 1,000 yen coupons on weekends and holidays, the sources said.

The tourism industry and local governments that were financially devastated by the pandemic have been calling for the "Go To Travel" program to be quickly restarted.

Related coverage:

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Chronology of major events related to coronavirus and Japan
By Joshua Miller, KYODO NEWS - Nov 11, 2021 - 11:30 | Arts, Feature, All, World

The original "King of the Monsters" graced the big screen like never before during a recent world premiere of the 4K restoration of the first "Godzilla" film in Los Angeles.

The highly anticipated remaster debuted to celebrate the 67th birthday of the pop culture icon, the star of the world's longest-running movie franchise. Similar screenings were held at over two dozen locations across the United States, including San Francisco and New York City.

Directed by Ishiro Honda, a pioneer of Japan's "kaiju" (strange beast) genre of films and television, and released by Toho Co., "Godzilla" tells the story of a giant prehistoric monster that rampages throughout Japan after being driven out of the ocean depths by underwater hydrogen bomb testing.

When first released in 1954, the motion picture immediately resonated with Japanese audiences with its symbolic depiction of the destructive power of nuclear weapons and showcasing of the threat of radioactive fallout from hydrogen bomb tests such as the ones conducted by the United States over the Marshal Islands in the early years of the Cold War.

Godzilla historian Steve Ryfle explained to the Los Angeles crowd that the film's opening scene is an "unmistakable reference" to the tragedy known as the Lucky Dragon incident, in which an American thermonuclear test irradiated a Japanese tuna fishing boat at Bikini Atoll in March 1954. It also spoke to the destruction experienced by Japan during World War II.

"The experiences of the people in this movie, they mirror the experiences during wartime. Mass evacuations, daily life disrupted, people fleeing to the hills and watching helplessly as their city burns," said Ryfle, who was introduced by Toho and gave a short speech ahead of the Nov. 3 premiere at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in downtown Los Angeles.

"Godzilla is the unmistakable stand-in for the atomic bomb in this movie. It moves slowly across the city, destroying everything in its path and shows no mercy...The issue of nuclear weapons is at the heart of this movie."

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Chris Mowry, a creative manager at Toho International Inc., said that in addition to the various iterations of the character and the sci-fi thrills, Godzilla has continued to enthrall fans by staying "relevant on a global scale" even as the issues of the day change.

"If you look through the history of the films, a lot of the filmmakers touched on certain political or environmental topics at the time," Mowry said. "I think the character itself has represented so many things as far as being a hero for Earth, a force of nature, the result of mankind's tampering with things."

"As (with) the first film, it's such an allegory for what we can do wrong. Godzilla should be seen almost like a warning, in a way. There's definitely a lesson to be learned in each film."

The character has been portrayed both as villain and hero in the 32 films produced by Toho, several animated television series, and four Hollywood films, including this year's "Godzilla vs. Kong," the fourth entry in the MonsterVerse franchise that pits the King of the Monsters against "King Kong," his American-born adversary.

In association with Janus Films, the Austin, Texas-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain plans to screen several more titles from the Japanese film series throughout November, including 1971's "Godzilla vs. Hedorah," 2016's "Shin Godzilla," and two classics from Japan's Heisei Era (1989-2019) that never made it to North American theaters.

Mowry said a 4K restoration of the 1954 film was "the next logical step" for Toho as the company combs through its archives and tries to introduce its films to new audiences.

Devoted fans and newcomers alike turned up early at the Los Angeles theater for a cocktail reception where they enjoyed Godzilla-themed appetizers and posed for photos with a towering replica of the birthday behemoth.

Andrew Wong, a YouTuber known as "GForever" and self-described lifelong Godzilla fan and collector, caught the show while on a trip from Boston and reminisced about a family tradition watching the series as a child.

"Every weekend my sister and I would watch Godzilla movies with my grandparents, so it was a nice connection with them, and I grew up just loving the movies," Wong said. "I think the films are just something very different, especially the older films. It's something that you don't really see in American cinema. And there's so many iterations of the character and meanings in the films."

A sobering appeal from Ryfle helped to set the audience's mood before the iconic shriek of the unseen protagonist sounded during the film's opening credits.

"Even though we love Godzilla for a lot of different reasons, and we celebrate him, and he makes us happy, I think it's worth looking back and realizing and remembering that this film is a story born out of the tragedy of war. Not only was Ishiro Honda a veteran, he was very much traumatized by his experiences during the war," said Ryfle, who co-authored a biography of the internationally successful director.

"The film is a commercial monster movie, of course, but it's very much also about the collective experience of the Japanese people during the war," Ryfle said. "The war may have ended nine years before, but the trauma was still being experienced. And that's very much palpable in this motion picture."
KYODO NEWS - Nov 11, 2021 - 13:26 | All, Japan

Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday became head of the largest faction within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party upon his return to the intraparty bloc following a nine-year absence.

Abe was officially named successor to Hiroyuki Hosoda, a former chief Cabinet secretary, by faction members during a meeting Thursday, a day after Hosoda was elected speaker of the House of Representatives.

In 2012, Abe left the faction, then led by the late former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, before his second stint as prime minister, and had not joined an intraparty bloc even after stepping down from the post in September last year.

"I would like to dedicate my best effort, together with all of you, in order to pass on to the next generation a Japan that we can be proud of," said Abe, who was Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

The faction, founded in 1979 by the late former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, has about 90 lawmakers and has produced four premiers -- Yoshiro Mori, Junichiro Koizumi, Abe and Yasuo Fukuda -- since 2000.

Hosoda resigned as faction leader on Tuesday and called for Abe to succeed him. At a faction meeting, all of the around 20 lawmakers attending supported the proposal and Abe accepted the request on Wednesday.

Factions have played a major role in Japanese politics, including deciding who becomes LDP president, a role that usually brings with it the office of prime minister, given the party has generally controlled the powerful lower house of parliament.

Meanwhile, Nobuteru Ishihara, a former LDP secretary general who has served in several ministerial posts, announced his resignation as leader of the smallest intraparty faction after he failed to win a seat in the lower house election on Oct. 31.

The faction, now consisting of seven incumbent lawmakers, will seek a successor to Ishihara, who lost in his constituency in Tokyo and failed to secure a parliamentary seat through the proportional representation section.

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New Delhi:

All eyes will be on Gujarat - Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state - when the results of the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections will be announced on Thursday, May 23. Although Gujarat is considered the citadel of the BJP, the Congress had put up a good fight in the recently held Assembly elections in the state. And I'm the changed scenario, it will be interesting to see if the BJP can repeat its 2014 performance when it won all the 26 seats in the state. In 1989, the Congress started loosing it's ground in the state and since then, the BJP has got stronger and stronger in Gujarat. In 1999, the BJP had bagged 20 of the total seats and the Congress party could manage to win only 6 seats. After that, the Congress improved its tally in the next two elections but in 2014, the Grand Old Party was completely wiped out from the state by the BJP. In this article, we will take you 20 years back and try to understand how things have played out for the Congress and the BJP in Gujarat in the last four Lok Sabha elections.

2014 Lok Sabha Elections:

Gujarat was on the forefront of 2014 Lok Sabha elections due to one single reason- Narendra Modi. The prime ministerial candidate of the BJP was the chief minister of the Gujarat and was seeking votes on the same development model he applied in the state. Even before the results were declared the mood of the nation was quit evident. People were fed up with the scam tainted UPA government and the wanted change. Narendra Modi came to power with a clear majority and Gujarat trusted him with all its 26 seats. The Congress party, for the first time, could not open its account in the state.

2009 Lok Sabha Elections:

In the absence of any regional party, the Congress and the BJP were the main contenders in Gujarat. The BJP was hoping to stop then Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's victory chariot through Gujarat, where it successfully kept the Grand Old Party out of power for 10 years. Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state and he, to some extent, did harm the Congress in the state. The BJP, which was fighting the polls under Lal Krishna Advani's leadership, won 15 seats and the Congress emerge victorious on 11 seats. However, the party lost one seat from its 2004 tally of 12 seats. The Congress returned to power at the Centre but Narendra Modi remained the first choice of the people.

2004 Lok Sabha Elections:

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was aiming at the second consecutive term and the BJP was hopeful of winning major chunk of seats in Gujarat where the party was in power. However, the Shining India campaign, which initially looked hit among the masses, turned out to be a disappointment for the saffron party and it lost the 2004 general elections. In Gujarat, the BJP won the winning party with most seats - 14, the Congress was not far behind with 12 seats.

1999 Lok Sabha Elections:

The 13th Lok Sabha elections were held few months after the bloody Kargil war. India was reeling under political uncertainty and the BJP was hoping to end that. The saffron party even did that by forming a government at the Centre, which lasted for full five years. Gujarat played a key role in the BJP's victory. The state gave 20 of the total 26 seats it sends to the Lok Sabha to the BJP. The Congress, which was struggling to hold it's ground in the state, could win only six seats.
New Delhi:

After the national exit poll, the exit poll of the VIP seats, News Nation brings you what senior political journalists have to say about the Lok Sabha elections 2019. Senior journalists TR Ramachandran, Renu Mittal, Satish Pednekar, Rajesh Badal, NK Singh, Chitrata Sanyal and Jagdish Upasane have expressed their views.



Senior journalist TR Ramachandran said while the NDA can get up to 320 seats, the UPA may get 80-100 seats and Others are likely to bag 122 seats. He, however, thinks the BJP does not seem to get the majority, which is 272. According to Ramachandran, Narendra Modi will win the Varanasi seat and return as the Prime Minister for the second term. He further said in the last five years, Modi has given importance to nationalism, which has overshowed other important issues, including farmers.

Ramachandran gave 60 per cent to nationalism as a key issue this election. He said it was the PM who had raised nationalism as the most important issue. He further said Modi speaks very positively about the country. However, there was a lack of employment during his regime. Also, incidents of farmer suicides have increased in the last five years.



He said further it was Congresss Digvijaya Singh who had coined the term Hindu terrorism and thats why the BJP has fielded a strong candidate like Pragya Singh Thakur against him from Bhopal. Ramachandran said Priyanka Gandhi should have come to East UP much earlier.

Senior journalist Renu Mittal said the NDA is expected to get 180 seats, while the UPA will get around 190 and Others 172. She said Priyanka Gandhis entry into the UP politics has brought new energy to Congress workers. However, she did not approve any of the names given to her for the PM candidate. According to her, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is a better option for the post of PM. Mittal further said rural and urban issues should have been raised in this election, but PM Modi did not address these issues.

Senior journalist Satish Pednekar said the NDA is likely to get 300 seats, the UPA 100-110, Others may win 125-30 seats. He added that Modi has emerged as the identity of Indianism. He further said Manmohan Singh did not visit Pakistan even once when he was the prime minister, but Modi went to the neighouring country soon after becoming the PM.



Pednekar said Modi is a better PM than his predecessor. He said elections in India have always been fought on the face. Similarly, the elections of 2019 were fought on the face. In the 2014 elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi got 11 crore and Modi got 17.1 million votes. According to him, Priyanka Gandhi's entry into politics did not help the Congress. What did Priyanka Gandhi do that people vote for them? he asked.



Senior journalist Rajesh Badal said the NDA is expected to get 265 seats, the UPA should get 175 seats, while the Others may win between 103 and 104 seats. He said the BJP alone is likely to get 190 to 200 seats. He further said in states, where the Congress got zero seats in the last election, it may get an edge this time. He said Modi is a better candidate for the post of PM. He gave Modi 40 per cent for the coveted post and 30 per cent to Rahul Gandhi.

Badal said there is an outrage among people about Modi, but people have no other options at the moment. He said the Modi wave is no longer a winning factor for the BJP. He added that Priyanka Gandhi has brought life to the Congress. Her impact will clearly be seen in the next assembly elections, he said.

Badal said had Priyanka Gandhi contested from Varanasi against PM Modi, she would have been lost the polls for sure. But that would not end her political career. Yes, Priyanka Gandhi can become a better leader than Rahul Gandhi, he added.

Senior journalist Jagdish Upasane said the NDA is likely to get 324 seats, the UPA 74 and Others 144 seats. According to him, the condition of farmers has improved in the last five years. Upasane added that the number of farmer suicide cases in the NDA government has come down. The Modi government has started the online system to sale agricultural products. Now, farmers are not forced to go to the market. He added that nationalism has been the main issue this election. He gave 70 per cent to nationalism as a key election issue this time.

Senior journalist NK Singh said the NDA may win 305 seats, the UPA 125 and Others 112 seats. In 2014, PM Modi has emerged as the most prominent face after the Anna Hazares movement. He had given 225 seats to the NDA before the exit poll, but now the figure has changed, according to him. Singh gave 20 per cent to nationalism and 40 per cent to polarisation as election issues this time. He added that farmers working in the field do not care much about nationalism.



Another senior journalist Chitrata Sanyal said the NDA is likely to win around 250 seats, the UPA may bag 150 seats, while the Others to secure 142 seats. The BJP has emerged as a new party in West Bengal. Before Balakot, the situation of the BJP was not that good, and the NDA was predicted to win around 150 seats. But after the strike, the alliance is projected to win 100 seats more. He voted 50-50 per cent for nationalism and polarisation as key election issues this time.

Experts say farmers and casteism have also been among the main issues this election. Polarisation in South will not work much for the BJP. The party can get some seats in Odisha. The BJP will not get much seats in Naveen Patnaik's stronghold, but there will definitely be some advantage.
New Delhi:

Amid reports of EVMs being transported allegedly without security in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar, former President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said that it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure the institutional integrity.

Amid reports of EVMs being transported allegedly without security in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Bihar, former President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said that it is the responsibility of the Election Commission to ensure the institutional integrity.

In a statement, Mukherjee said: I am concerned at the reports of alleged tampering of voters verdict. The safety and security of EVMs which are in the custody of ECI is the responsibility of the Commission.

There can be no room for speculations that challenge the very basis of our democracy. Peoples mandate is sacrosanct and has to be above any iota of reasonable doubt.

Mukherjee's statement came after videos of alleged movement and tampering of EVMs went viral on social media, a charge dismissed by the Election Commission as "frivolous" and "unfounded".

A firm believer in our institutions, it is my considered opinion that it is the workmen who decide how the institutional tools perform.

The onus of ensuring institutional integrity in this case lies with the Election Commission of India (ECI). They must do so and put all speculations to rest, he added in his statement.

Earlier, a video clip of EVMs being off-loaded and put in a room inside the counting centre complex in Chandauli was doing the rounds on social media. BJP's state unit president Mahendra Nath Pandey is seeking re-election from the seat.

Another video is from Ghazipur where SP-BSP alliance candidate Afzal Ansari is seen staging protest alleging that the administration was trying to change EVMs.

In the video, Ansari and his supporters were seen having a heated exchange with a police officer. The officer is urging them to clear the area, but the leader and his supporters refuse to budge, claiming there was an attempt to take out a vehicle loaded with EVMs.

Afzal Ansari is the brother of don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, who is serving sentence in Uttar Pradesh's Banda jail in connection with various criminal cases and is pitted against Union Minister Manoj Sinha of the BJP.

Ansari also demanded that at least two BSP workers must be issued passes to sit near the premises where EVMs were kept in strong rooms at five different places.

Chief Electoral Officer of the state Venkateshwarlu allayed fears of political parties.

Referring to the Ghazipur incident, he said the candidate wanted more number of people to keep a watch on EVMs on the basis of his apprehensions and the DM there has satisfied him and those staging protest have returned.

On Chandauli, he said the issue pertains to unused EVMs which had been brought back and after talks they were kept separately from the used ones kept in the strong room.

There are CCTV cameras installed in strong rooms. Candidates are allowed to keep a watch on strong rooms through their representatives. All apprehensions are unfounded, he said.

"EVMS and VVPATs were sealed properly in front of political party candidates. CCTV cameras are installed ... One representative of each candidate is present. The allegations are baseless, an EC report said.

On Chandauli, the EC report said, "Frivolous allegation by some people as EVMs are in proper security and protocol.
New Delhi:

The southern state of Karnataka went to polls in two phases, with 14 constituencies each voting on 18 and 23 April. With 28 seats, Karnataka has the second highest number of Lok Sabha seats in the south after Tamil Nadu. Polling was held in 14 seats on Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, Tumkur, Chamarajnagar, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Bangalore Rural, Udupi-Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada and Chikkballapur in the second phase. The remaining 14 seats of Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Koppal, Bidar, Raichur, Shimoga, Davanagere, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, Haveri, Bellary, Chikkodi and Belgaum went to polls in the third phase.

The electoral contest was between the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress combine. As per the seat-sharing agreement between the JD(S) and the Congress, the former contested on eight seats while the rest was with the latter. However, the coalition seems to be facing some trouble, especially in Hassan, Tumkuru and Mandya, where possible rebellions may be brewing over the seat-sharing arrangement.

In the last elections, the BJP emerged as a winner with 17 seats, while the Congress could only win nine. The JD(S) won just two seats.

In 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) performed extremely well after the return of BS Yeddyurappa in the party fold. The 2014 election in Karnataka was held in a single phase on April 17. The state sends 28 members to the Lok Sabha. The BJP won 17 of these seats whereas the Congress was restricted to just 9 seats in the state. The Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) was successful in the remaining 2 seats (Mandya and Hassan). In 2009, the BJP was successful on 19 seats and the Congress and the JDS won 6 and 3 seats respectively.

The BJP received 1,33,50,285 votes with a vote share of 43.37 per cent. The Congress garnered 1,26,66,530 votes with a vote share of 41.15 per cent whereas the JDS, known as the third force in the state, got 34,06,465 votes with a vote share of 11.07 per cent. According to our analysis, the BJP was ahead in 132 Assembly segments during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress was leading on 77 and the JDS on 15.

In 2009, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 19 seats whereas the Congress begged 6 seats and the JD(S) won 3.

Karnataka General (Lok Sabha) Election Results 2004

 BJP  18

 INC  8

 JDS  2

Karnataka General (Lok Sabha) Election Results 1999

 BJP 7

 INC 18

 JD(U) 3

What was the result of Karnataka Assembly Elections in 2018?

The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 2018 Karnataka Assembly Elections and won 104 seats in the 224-member Assembly. The party received 1,32,68,284 votes with a vote share of 36.3 per cent. The ruling Congress was routed in these elections and won only 80 seats (2 after bypolls). The party received 1,39,32,531 votes with a vote share of 38.1 per cent. The party got the maximum votes in the state but lost its majority. The JDS, on the other hand, received 67,26,668 votes with a vote share of 18.3 per cent and won 37 seats in Karnataka. The party contested the elections in an alliance with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which won a single seat in the Assembly.
New Delhi:

The 2018 Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh came as a shocker to the BJP as the Congress wrested the Maoist-hit state from the saffron party, showcasing its best sign of resurgence. The Congress won 68 seats while the BJP relegated to a distant second spot, winning just 15 seats. The JCC-BSP combine won seven seats.

The BJPs seat share dropped to 15 from 49 in the 2013 Assembly elections while the Congress seat share witnessed a big jump from 39 to 68.

However, the exit poll predictions show that the Congress might fail to capitalise on the gains it made in the 2018 Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.

The BJP which had lost its governments in three states  Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan  in assembly elections, will manage to hold on to its Lok Sabha seats, according to the exit polls.

The poll of polls predicts that the BJP is likely to win seven seats in Chhattisgarh. The Congress is expected to win only four of the 11 seats.

What happened in 2014 Lok Sabha polls

The BJP dominated the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Chhattisgarh which was then its stronghold, bagging 10 of the 11 seats while the Congress bagged only one.

The saffron retained the seats of Surguja, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Korba, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Raipur, Mahasamund, Bastar and Kanker while the Congress won the Durg seat.

What happened in 2009 Lok Sabha polls

In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls too, the BJP had won 10 of the seats while the Congress had managed to get only in its kitty.

The seats won by the BJP included Surguja, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Durg, Bilaspur, Rajnandgaon, Raipur, Mahasamund, Bastar and Kanker while the Korba seat went to the Congress.

The election was marred by Naxalite violence in several of the state's constituencies. Out of approximately 15.4 million eligible voters 55.29 per cent exercised their right to vote.

What happened in 2004 Lok Sabha polls

This is the first time, that an election took place in this state after it achieved statehood from Madhya Pradesh in 2000. The result was National Democratic Alliance winning overwhelmingly by capturing 10 out of the 11 seats, while the United Progressive Alliance, captured only 1 seat.
highlights Naveen Patnaik has been the chief minister of Odisha since 2000.

BJD is currently leading by a big margin in the Odisha Assembly.

BJD had won 117 out of 147 seats in the 2014 Assembly seats.

New Delhi:

Naveen Patnaik, the BJD Supremo, is currently leading in the Bijepur Assembly Elections. Patnaik, who has been the chief minister of Odisha since 2000, is eyeing a record term. In the early trends, the BJD was leading in over 40 seats with the Congress and the BJP still not touching double digits. This is the first time that Naveen Patnaik is fighting an assembly elections from two seats, with the other one being in Hinjili. Odisha was one of the four states that saw the Lok Sabha Elections and the State Assembly Elections being held simultaneously in first four stages on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The Odisha Assembly has 147 seats. In the 2014 Odisha Assembly Elections, the BJD won 117 out of 147 seats while the BJP secured just 10 seats with the Congress winning 16. In the Lok Sabha Elections in 2014, the BJD won 20 out of the 21 seats with the BJP winning just one seat from Sundargarh.



In 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Naveen Patnaik was one of the regional satraps who stood his ground against the Narendra Modi wave. The 2014 polls in Odisha were held in two phases on April 10 and 17. The state sends 21 members in the Lok Sabha and the BJD won 20 seats, while the BJP was able to win a single seat of Sundargarh. Jual Oram defeated BJD's Dilip Kumar Tirkey from the constituency and relegated former chief minister and Congress leader Hemananda Biswal to the third position. The BJD received 94,89,946 votes with a vote share of 44.77 per cent, while the BJP was able to garner 46,38,565 votes in the state with a vote share of 21.88 per cent.

The saffron party came second in Balasore, Bargarh, Bhubaneswar, Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sambalpur. The Congress got more votes than the BJP in the elections but drew a blank. The party got 55,91,380 votes with 26.38 per cent of the vote share. According to our analysis, the BJD was ahead in 116 Assembly segments during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress was leading on 11 and the BJP on 20. In 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJD was successful on 14 seats and the Congress won 6. The BJP was not able to open its account in the state.
New Delhi:

The fate of the ruling TRS, along with a beleaguered Congress and the BJP, would be decided today as counting of votes is being taken up in 17 Lok Sabha constituencies of Telangana.

Exit polls have predicted that the TRS would win majority of seats.

It is also a major test for the Congress, which had seen 11 of its total 19 MLAs shifting loyalty to the TRS since the beginning of March.

And no less for the BJP, which won a mere one seat in the December Assembly polls, in which it forfeited deposit in more than 100 of the 119 segments. TRS had returned to power with 88 seats.

Here are the LIVE updates on the counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections in Telangana:





17:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Owaisi was leading by 2.72 lakh votes over his BJP rival Bhagavanth Rao.

15:49 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP candidate B Sanjay was leading by 74,198 votes against his nearest rival and sitting TRS MP B Vinod Kumar in Karimnagar after the second round.

11:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP is leading on four seats in Telangana, early trends suggest.

11:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Chhattisgarh: Total Lok Sabha seats: 11, Trends available: 11, BJP 09,

Congress 02

10:10 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Telangana Lok Sabha Election Results (16/17 seats): TRS leading on 11 seats.

09:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Telangana Lok Sabha Election Results (15/17 seats): TRS - 12, BJP - 1, Congress - 1, Others - 1

09:49 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi was leading in Hyderabad. TRS nominee BB Patil was leading in Zaheerabad by 680 votes over his Congress nominee Madan Mohan, official sources said.

09:10 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Telangana Lok Sabha Election Results (9/17 seats): TRS - 6, BJP - 1, Congress - 1, Others - 1

08:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The TRS is leading on two seats, as per early trends.

08:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The early trends show the NDA leading on 18 seats while the Congress is leading on five seats. These are the counts based on postal ballot counting.

08:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In First trends are expected anytime soon. Over 16 lakh postal ballots which the Election Commission has called a "sheer count" are being counted first.

07:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The exit polls have also predicted that the TRS may win 15-17 seats in Telangana while both the BJP and the Congress will not be able to open their accounts in the state.

07:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The Election Commission is sticking to its plan of counting the paper trail machines slips at the end of counts and not in the beginning as demanded by opposition parties. The Commission is also learnt to have decided to count postal ballots simultaneously with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) count due to the "sheer size" of the ballots received this time from service voters.

07:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The Election Commission is learnt to have stuck to its plan of counting the paper trail machines slips at the end of counts and not in the beginning as demanded by opposition parties.

The Commission is also learnt to have decided to count postal ballots simultaneously with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) count due to the "sheer size" of the ballots received this time from service voters.

06:49 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In At 8.20 AM, EVMs will be brought to the counting tables for counting. Each hall will have 14 tables.

06:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The polls, which saw 443 candidates in the fray, were held in a single phase in 34,603 polling stations and 18,526 polling locations.
New Delhi:

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has written to Delhi University to align their admission process with the preponed result schedule of the class 12 board examination. CBSE had announced results of class 12 examination on May 2, in record 28 days. Usually, the class 12 results are announced by third week of May.

"As per the directives of the Delhi High Court, CBSE has preponed all its activities of conduct of examination, declaration of result and process of verification and re-evaluation. "We have also written a letter to the Registrar of Delhi University to align the admission process as per the schedule fixed by the CBSE," a board official said.

The official said now, Delhi University has to fix the last date of submission of application form for admission in Delhi University in such a manner that the work of re-evaluation is over prior to the last date of Delhi University admission process. The Delhi University is yet to announce the admission schedule while St Stephen's college which is not part of the centralised admission process has announced the schedule.

The admissions will begin at the prestigious college on May 22.
New Delhi:

The seven-phase Lok Sabha Elections 2019 were held for 542 of 243 constituencies between April 11 and May 19. Maharashtra sends 48 members to the Lok Sabha, the second highest after Uttar Pradesh. In the state, the elections were held in four phases. Interestingly, Maharashtra will play a crucial role role in electing the next government.

In this General Elections, the BJP-led NDA under the leadership of Amit Shah is seeking a second term in the office. Congress-led UPA under Sonia Gandhi's leadership is looking to make a comeback in power. According to the exit poll conducted by News Nation, BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra is likely to get upto 45 per cent of vote share in the state. Out of 48 seats, BJP is like to win 33 to 35 seats. Congress-NCP alliance is likely to win 13 to 15 seats with a vote share of 39 per cent. Now, let's understand the political scenerio of Maharashtra right from 1999 to 2014.

2014 Lok Sabha Election





In 2014, the NDA had swept the poll, winning 42 out of the 48 seats here. The BJP itself had won 23, the Sena 18 and the Swabhimaani Shetkari Sanghathana (SSS)  now a part of the Congress-led alliance  had won one seat. The Congress had won just two seats, while its ally NCP had won four. It is to be noted that while BJP contested on 25 Lok Sabha seats and the Shiv Sena on 23 seats, the Congress and the NCP fought on 25 and 19 seats respectively - leaving two seats each for their allies.

2009 Lok Sabha Election





In 2009, the Shiv Sena contested on 22 seats in the state and the BJP over 25 seats . Similarly, the NCP contested on 21 seats and the Indian National Congress contested on 25 seats . Other parties in the fray included the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Bahujan Samaj Party which fielded candidates on 47 seats, and the Fourth Front. The MNS which was contesting its first general elections fielded candidates on 11 seats in the state. While the UPA-led by Congress won 25 seats (Congress 17, NCP 8), the NDA-led by BJP bagged 20 constituencies (BJP 9, Shiv Sena 11). Swabhimani Paksha, Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi and Independent candidates have won 1 seat each.

2004 Lok Sabha Election





In 2004, the NDA-led by BJP won 25 seats (BJP 13, Shiv Sena 12) while Congress-led UPA bagged 22 constituencies (Congress 13, NCP 9). Others managed to win only 1 seat.

1999 Lok Sabha Election





In 1999, the NDA-led by BJP won 28 seats (BJP 13, Shiv Sena 15) while Congress-led UPA bagged 22 constituencies (Congress 10, NCP 6). Others clinched 4 seats. It is worth mentioning here that in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP-led NDA won 336 seats of 543 while UPA won 59 seats, 44 of which were won by the Congress.
New Delhi:

In 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Naveen Patnaik was one of the regional satraps who stood his ground against the Narendra Modi wave. The 2014 polls in Odisha were held in two phases on April 10 and 17. The state sends 21 members in the Lok Sabha and the BJD won 20 seats, while the BJP was able to win a single seat of Sundargarh. Jual Oram defeated BJD's Dilip Kumar Tirkey from the constituency and relegated former chief minister and Congress leader Hemananda Biswal to the third position.

The BJD received 94,89,946 votes with a vote share of 44.77 per cent, while the BJP was able to garner 46,38,565 votes in the state with a vote share of 21.88 per cent. The saffron party came second in Balasore, Bargarh, Bhubaneswar, Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sambalpur. The Congress got more votes than the BJP in the elections but drew a blank. The party got 55,91,380 votes with 26.38 per cent of the vote share. According to our analysis, the BJD was ahead in 116 Assembly segments during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress was leading on 11 and the BJP on 20. In 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJD was successful on 14 seats and the Congress won 6. The BJP was not able to open its account in the state.

HERE ARE THE LIVE UPDATES:

4.44 pm:BJP is leading from 8 seats namely Balasore, Bargarh, Bhubaneswar Balangir Kalahandi, Puri, Sambalpur and Sundergarh

04.20 pm: Kalahandi: BASANTA KUMAR PANDA (Leading) Bharatiya Janata Party: 137196 Votes

04.07 pm: Jual Oram is leading.

12.22 am: Sambit Patra trails against Pinaki Mishra from Puri.

12.00 am: BJP's Jay Panda is trailing.

10.20 am: BJP's Sambit Patra leading with 700 votes.

10.15 am: Change in Trends: OUT OF 19 SEATS

BJD: 15 and BJP: 4

9.50 am: Early trends of 21 seats are out: 16 BJD, 3 BJP and Congress 2.

9.38 am: BJD leading from Dhenkanal

BJD candidate Mahesh Sahoo leading from Dhenkanal Lok Sabha seat

9.32 am:

9.30 am: BJP candidate Kharabela Swain leading from Phulbani LS seat

9.25 am: BJD candidate Ramesh Majhi leading from Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat

9.20 am: BJP leading in 3 seats in Odisha.

9.13 am: BJP candidate Aparajita Sarangi leading from Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat

9.10 am: BJP candidate Sangeeta Singhdeo leading from Balangir Lok Sabha seat

9.10 am: Cong leading from Nabarangpur LS seat

Congress candidate Pradeep Majhi leading from Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat.

8.44 am: BJP leads in 1 seat.

8.30 am: Naveen Patnaik's BJD leads in 9 seats. BJP still to open its account.

8.15 am: The early trends show BJP leading on 62 seats, UPA on 22 and others on 2 seats.

8.00 am: Counting for 21 Odisha seats begins.

7.09 am: In 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Naveen Patnaik was one of the regional satraps who stood his ground against the Narendra Modi wave. The 2014 polls in Odisha were held in two phases on April 10 and 17. The state sends 21 members in the Lok Sabha and the BJD won 20 seats, while the BJP was able to win a single seat of Sundargarh. Jual Oram defeated BJD's Dilip Kumar Tirkey from the constituency and relegated former chief minister and Congress leader Hemananda Biswal to the third position. The BJD received 94,89,946 votes with a vote share of 44.77 per cent, while the BJP was able to garner 46,38,565 votes in the state with a vote share of 21.88 per cent. The saffron party came second in Balasore, Bargarh, Bhubaneswar, Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sambalpur. The Congress got more votes than the BJP in the elections but drew a blank. The party got 55,91,380 votes with 26.38 per cent of the vote share. According to our analysis, the BJD was ahead in 116 Assembly segments during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress was leading on 11 and the BJP on 20. In 2009 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJD was successful on 14 seats and the Congress won 6. The BJP was not able to open its account in the state.

6.59 am: Odisha voted in the first four phases i.e. on April 11, 18, 23 and 29 for Lok Sabha as well as Assembly. Sikkim, Andhra Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh are the other states had both the elections simultaneously. Kalahandi, Koraput, Berhampur and Nabrangpur voted on April 11 whereas the voters in Sundargarh, Bargarh, Aska, Kandhamal and Bolangir used their franchise on April 18. Six seats namely Puri, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar voted on April 23 while the voting was held in Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj on April 29.

6.21 am: The counting to begin at 8 am.

6.12 am: 91 constituencies went to polls in the first phase on April 11, followed by 97 constituencies in the second phase on April 18. The third phase held on April 23 and fourth on April 29, fifth on May 6, sixth on May 12 and seventh phase on May 19. 115 constituencies went to polls in the third phase, 71 in the fourth phase, 51 in the fifth phase, 59 in the sixth phase and 59 in the seventh phase.

6.11 am: The Lok Sabha Elections 2019 will be held in seven phases, starting from April 11.

Counting for the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand will begin at 8 am across 24 districts amid tight security, officials said.

The counting process and announcement of results, however, are expected to be delayed by several hours this time as the outcomes of five assembly segments per Lok Sabha constituency will be tallied with VVPAT slips, an Election Commission release said here Wednesday, quoting Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) L Khiangte.

EC sources said that the counting centers at Dumka, Godda, Hazaribag, Ranchi and Jamshepdur have been categorised as sensitive due to political and social reasons, adding, more security force would be deployed there.

Twenty companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), apart from thousands of state police personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order during the counting process, L Khiangte said.

In addition, 25 companies of state police will be deployed is the districts where counting is scheduled, the EC official said.

The counting process will start with postal ballots, the official added.

Once the counting process (votes in EVMs) is completed, the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips of five randomly selected assembly segments in every Lok Sabha constituency will be counted and compared with the EVM votes, the EC official said.

He said that all preparations are in place for the counting process, adding, approval from the ECI has been received for the counting places, counting halls and layout plans for all the counting rooms.BJD
New Delhi:

A day before counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls, the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday alerted all states and Union Territories on the possibility of violence in different parts of the country, saying calls were given in various quarters for inciting violence.

In a statement, the ministry also said it has asked the states and UTs to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility.

"The home ministry has alerted the state chief secretaries and directors general of police regarding possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country in connection with the counting of votes tomorrow," the statement said.

The ministry said the states and UTs have been further asked to take adequate measures for the security of strong rooms and venues of counting of votes.

"This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes," it said.

The central security agencies have received inputs that some organisations and individuals, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura, have given certain statements which may lead to violence and disruption in counting process, an official said.

Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. Counting will take place on Thursday.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi:

After seven stages of voting in the Lok Sabha Elections, the results will be declared on May 23 and India will know whether Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) forms the government on its own or with the help of regional allies or whether the Congress can pull off a surprise. Odisha is expected to play a crucial role, with Naveen Patnaiks BJD (Biju Janata Dal) expected to support Modi. Odisha was one of the four states that saw the Lok Sabha Elections and the State Assembly Elections being held simultaneously in first four stages on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Naveen Patnaik, the current chief minister of Odisha, is fighting from the Bijepur and Hinjili constituency. While Odisha has 21 seats in the Lok Sabha Polls, the Assembly has 147 seats. In the 2014 Odisha Assembly Elections, the BJD won 117 out of 147 seats while the BJP secured just 10 seats with the Congress winning 16. In the Lok Sabha Elections in 2014, the BJD won 20 out of the 21 seats with the BJP winning just one seat from Sundargarh.

23:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD leading The BJD leading in 101 seats and wins 12. The BJP leading 21 and 1 till last updated at 11.42pm.



20:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Latest Trends BJD wins 2 seats, leads on 113, BJP wins nothing so far.

14:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Sadasiva Pradhani of BJD wins from Nabarangpur assembly seat. Now, the results are starting to come in.

14:17 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Puri is witnessing a major tussle between Sambit Patra and Pinaki Mishra. Sambit has gone past a lakh but Mishra is just behind by 3000 runs.

13:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Nalini Kant Pradhan is fighting a tough battle in Sambalpur but it looks like BJD could get this seat.

13:52 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In Hinjili, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is ahead of his nearest competitor Pitambar Acharya of the BJP by 15,191 votes. So, the current Odisha chief minister is set to storm back to power in addition to winning in two seats.

13:41 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Brahmagiri, Sonepur, Rourkela, Mayurbhanj and Sambalpur are potentially under the BJD's grip while the BJP is putting up a tough fight in Sambalpur.

13:30 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The BJD has gone past 100 while the BJP has almost tripled their tally from the 2014 Assembly Elections. Meanwhile, Pinaki Mishra has extended his advantage against Sambit Patra in Puri.

12:35 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In It is proving to be a massive fight in Puri. Basant Panda is leading in Kalahandi by 9466 votes while Sambit Patra is leading by just 104 votes while Jual Oram in Sundergarh leading by 8122 votes

11:55 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The BJD juggernaut continues in the land of Jagannath. The party is leading in Anandapur, Digapahandi, Bolangir, Khallikote, Mohana, Kambisuryanagar, Jajpur, Narla while the BJP is leading from Bargarh

11:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP is leading in Bhawanipatna Assembly seat and from Karanjia but the BJD has extended their majority mark.

11:08 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The BJD has secured majority in the Odisha Assembly while the BJP has put in a strong show.

10:55 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Naveen Patnaik's BJD is approaching the majority mark while the BJP has put in a strong show, bettering their 2014 Assembly performance.

10:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD continues to rake in more seats. Even the CPI (M) has opened it's account. BJD's Lal Bihari Himirika is leading from Rayagada Assembly seat while Angad Kanhar leading from Phulbani Assembly seat. BJD's candidate Ananta Das leading from Bhograi Assembly seat.

10:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD's Rajendra Dholakia leading from Nuapada Assembly seat while Tukuni Sahu leading from Titlagarh Assembly seat while the BJP's Manmohan Samal leading from Chandbali Assembly seat.

10:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In It is BJD all the way. Bibhuti Balabantaray is leading from Jatani Assembly while Arabinda Dhali leading from Jayadev Assembly seat. Jagannath Saraka leading from Bissam-Cuttack. Even the BJP is trying to match the BJD. Rabinarayan Nayak leading from Kuchinda Assembly seat, Bhawani Bhoi leading from Talsara Assembly seat, Jagannath Saraka leading from Bissam-Cuttack while the Congress' Ganeswar Behera is leading in Kendrapada.

10:18 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik leading from Bijepur assembly seat while BJP candidate Prakash Mishra is leading from Cuttack Lok Sabha seat

10:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD candidate Achyuta Samanta leading from Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat while BJP candidate Amar Nayak is leading from Barchana Assembly sea. BJD candidate Basanti Marandi is leading from Rairangpur Assembly seat

10:09 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD candidate Basanti Marandi leading from Rairangpur Assembly seat. Jyoti Prakash Panigrahi also of the BJD leading from Simulia Assembly seat. So, once again the BJD is showing their might in Odisha.

10:01 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In the early trends, the BJD is leading in 27 seats while BJP is leading in seven. Congress is leading in just two.

09:58 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD candidate Romancha Ranjan Biswal leading from Deogarh Assembly seat while BJD candidate Ramesh Chandra Sai is leading from Athamalik Assembly seat

09:53 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD is currently leading in Puri, with Pinaki Mishra in front in the Lok Sabha Polls. Sambit Patra of the BJP is the candidate from Puri. This was the city which was decimated in Cyclone Phani.

09:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress candidate Narasingha Mishra leading from Balangir assembly seat. In the early trends in the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, BJD is leading 16, BJP has three and Congress 2. So, both BJP and Congress is in front.

09:41 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD is building on the advantage. Prasanna Acharya leading from Bargarh Lok Sabha seat while Pradeep Behera is leading from Loisinga Assembly seat

09:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In According to the trends, BJD is leading in 17 seats while BJP is leading in five seats.

09:35 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP's Nityananda Gond is leading from Umerkote assembly seat while BJD's Sadashiv Pradhani is leading from Nabarangpur assembly seat

09:29 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In So far, BJD leading in seven while BJP are leading in two. BJD candidate Seemarani Nayak leading from Hindol Assembly seat while BJP candidate Kharabela Swain leading from Phulbani LS seat

09:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD candidate Prashant Jagdev leading from Chilika Assembly seat while they are ahead Begunia constituency; BJP is putting up a good show in Umerkote and Jharigram

09:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD candidate Sushant Rout is leading from Bhubaneswar-North Assembly seat. BJP candidate Raghunath Jagdala is leading from Birmaharajpur assembly seat whole Congress candidate Suresh Routray leading from Jatani Assembly seat. So all parties have opened their account.

09:20 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP reaches majority mark in trends, BJD leads BJP+ has reached the majority mark in the early trends and BJD is leading in four seats.

09:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The early Assembly trends in Odisha so far suggest that the BJD is ahead in four assembly seats.

09:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress candidate Pradeep Majhi is leading from Nabarangpur Lok Sabha seat. So, even the Congress has opened their account in the Lok Sabha from Odisha.

09:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP candidate Sangeeta Singhdeo leading from Balangir Lok Sabha seat and this could have a massive impact in the Assembly Elections.

09:07 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The early trend in the Odisha Assembly elections is that BJP is leading in one constituency.

08:54 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJD is doing well so far but the BJP has also opened their account.

08:47 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The BJD is putting a great show in the Lok Sabha tally so far. This is an indication that the Assembly Elections could once again be dominated by Naveen Patnaik.

08:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In So far, in the early trends, BJD is leading in nine out of the nine Lok Sabha seats so far.

08:32 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP have crossed 100 in the early trends. Can BJD stem the tide in Odisha and can they stop the BJP?

08:24 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In So far, BJP is continuing to extend their lead and advantage. In Rajasthan and Maharashtra, they are putting up a good show.

08:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In So far, BJP is putting up a good show in the Eastern part of the country and is doing well in Uttar Pradesh and so far, Bengal.

08:13 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In the first 10 minutes of counting, it seems that the BJP is ahead but we are slowly getting to Odisha.

08:03 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The postal ballots are being counted first and then it will be tallied with the VVPAT entries. The same situation what has been followed in the National Elections as well as in the Assembly elections.

07:58 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Counting begins The clock has touched 8 AM and the counting has begun. Now, in the next couple of hours, we will know what is the situation in India's democracy.

07:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Can Naveen Patnaik avoid his father, Biju's fortunes when he lost from all four seats?

07:42 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In For the first time,Naveen Patnaik is going to contest from two seats in Bijepur and Hinjili.

07:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In According to Surendra Kumar, the Chief Electoral Officer in Odisha, the counting will be done in 63 centres in 22 districts of Odisha.

07:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Any chance for the Congress? The Congress won the second-most seats in the 2014 Assembly Elections. However, looking at the current status of the Congress, it will be a big deal if they can maintain their previous mark.

07:28 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In There are just 30 minutes left for the mega countdown. India and Odisha will be waiting with bated breath.

07:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Naveen Patnaik - Third Front? Naveen Patnaik is also being touted as a potential leader in the third front. If both the BJP and the Congress fall short, will he play a major role in the Mahagatbandhan?

07:11 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Naveen Patnaik has been at the helm in Odisha ever since 2000 and he has described himself as equidistant from both the BJP and the Congress. He has said he will ally with any party that gives priority to Odisha's development.

07:02 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In What will be the political equation in places like Puri, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, the places that were hurt the most in Cyclone Phani? Many are predicting that the BJD and the BJP will be in a tight contest and that the Congress might not make an impact.

06:52 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Can the BJP improve their Assembly tally as well as their Lok Sabha numbers in 2019? In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, the BJP had won just one Lok Sabha seat.

06:34 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In How will the BJD fare in the aftermath of Cyclone Fani in Odisha? The storm claimed 64 lives but it resulted in massive destruction of property especially around the coastal belt.

06:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Naveen Patnaik - Eyeing a record term Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha, is seeking a record fifth term in office. Patnaik contested from two seats for the first time in this assembly election - Hinjili, his home turf in south Odisha from where he has been winning since 2000, and Bijepur in west Odisha. This time, he looks good to continue the winning run.

06:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Odisha voted in the first four phases i.e. on April 11, 18, 23 and 29 for Lok Sabha as well as Assembly. Kalahandi, Koraput, Berhampur and Nabrangpur voted on April 11 whereas the voters in Sundargarh, Bargarh, Aska, Kandhamal and Bolangir used their franchise on April 18. Six seats namely Puri, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar casted their vote on April 23 while voting was held in Jajpur, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj on April 29.

06:09 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In What happened in 2014? In the 2014 Assembly elections in Odisha, the BJD performed brilliantly by winning 117 out of the 147 seats while the BJP won just 10. In this election, it is expected that the BJD will once again win plenty of seats but the Bharatiya Janata Party is expected to make a significant dent.
New Delhi:

Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling will be eying the sixth term as the Election Commission of India announces the results for the 32-member state legislative Assembly on Thursday, May 23. The Sikkim Assembly elections were held simultanously with the Lok Sabha elections. Key political parties in Sikkim'ss are SDF, SKM, Congress and Humro Sikkim Party (HSP). Since 1985, the state has been governed by stable governments -- first led by Nar Bahadur Bhandaris Sikkim Sangram Parishad and then by Pawan Kumar Chamlings Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF). Can CM hamling, already the longest serving chief minister in India, make another record by winning the elections for the sixths time? live updates below.

21:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Final results are in, SKM dethrones Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) with 17 seats.

16:27 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM wins five seats, leading in 4, SDF ahead in 5 The opposition SKM won five Assembly seat and is leading in four other constituencies while the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front is ahead in five as per the data available on Election Commission of India's website.

16:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM's Mani Kumar Sharma wins Khamdong-singtam SKM candidate Mani Kumar Sharma wins Khamdong-singtam Vidhan Sabha seat by defeating Garjaman Gurung of SDF with a margin of 873 votes.

16:26 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM's Mani Kumar Sharma wins Khamdong-singtam SKM candidate Mani Kumar Sharma wins Khamdong-singtam Vidhan Sabha seat by defeating Garjaman Gurung of SDF with a margin of 873 votes.

15:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM wins Sangha seat, leading in 8 seats, SDF ahead in 4 Morcha (SKM) won the Sangha Assembly seat and is leading in eight constituencies while the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front is ahead in four, election officials said. The 'magical number' in the 32-member Sikkim Legislative Assembly is 17.

13:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM's Lok Nath Shara leading in Gyalshing-barnyak SKM candidate Lok Nath Shara is leading against his nearest SDF rival Laxuman Sharma in the Gyalshing-barnyak seat.

12:08 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM extends lead, ahead in 7 seats now SKM has extended its lead over CM Chamling's party to 7. SDF is ahead in just two seats.

11:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM takes lead in 6 seats, SDF ahead in 2 seats According to the Election Commission of India, SKM is leading in 6 seats while Chamling's SDF is ahead in just 2 seats.

11:21 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In CM Chamling leading from both seats SDF supremo and Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, who contested in Poklok Kamrang and Namchi Singhithang assembly constituencies, is leading in both the seats.

10:49 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SKM goes past SDF, takes lead in 5 seat Breaking News: Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) is leading in 5 seats, while Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling's SDF was leading in just 2 seats, accoridng to the EC officials trends.

10:20 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SDF takes ahead in 6 seats, SKM takes lead in 4 seats SDF continues to lead in 6 seats. The SKM is leading in 4 seats. The majority mark in the 32-member Assmebly election is 17.

09:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling leading in Poklok-Kamrang SDF's Pawan Chamling, Dichen Wangchuk Bhutia, Narendra Kumar Subba, Tashi Thendup Bhutia and Tshering Lama are leading in Poklok-Kamrang, Yoksam-Tashiding, Maneybung-Dentam, Barfung and Sangha Assembly constituencies, respectively.

09:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SDF ahead in 5 seats SDF candidates in five constituencies have taken an early lead.

08:38 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In SDF ahead in 2 seats in Sikkim, show trends SDF candidates in two constituencies have taken an early lead in postal votes.

07:56 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Counting of votes to begin shortly Counting for the 32 Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha constituencies in Sikkim will begin at 8 am amid tight security.

07:16 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Sikkim set to elect 8th Legislative Assembly These are the eighth Legislative Assembly elections in Sikkim, probably India's first poverty free state. Assembly polls in Sikkim were held on April 11. The state has one Lok Sabha seat and 32 Assembly seats.
Sanaa: Yemen's Houthi militia claimed responsibility for firing three ballistic missiles at a Saudi Arabian military base in the south. According to reports, three ballistic missiles hit the first Regiment in Dhahran Aljanob city in Saudi Arabia's Asir region, killing dozens of Saudi soldiers, including the regiment commander.

"The Saudi forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia from Yemen towards the Asir region," Al-Arabiya TV reported earlier on Wednesday. In addition, the Yemeni Houthi militia claimed four ballistic missile attacks on three Yemeni government military bases inside Yemen, according to their spokesman.

Two ballistic missiles struck a military base in Taiz province, while two others struck two bases in Marib province. Since February, when the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia launched a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib, cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi cities have increased.

Yemen has been engulfed in civil war since late 2014, when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and drove President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised government out of the capital Sanaa.

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Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "No citizen of India should oppose CAA seeing what happened in Afghanistan. I am sure the passage of CAA is getting better appreciation now." The Assam Chief Minister further reiterated regarding the settling of Hindus from Bangladesh, "Hindus have right over India as it belongs to them.

#TimesNowSummit | Assam CM @himantabiswa shares his perspective on the Citizenship Amendment Act.#TimesNowSummit2021 pic.twitter.com/ouTSpZPL5M

 TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) November 10, 2021

The word 'Indian' was coined in 1947, but for the last 7,000 years, our civilization was known as Hindus. I believe in civilization and it is a Hindu civilization. You cannot separate us from our roots. He further said that every Hindu who is facing trouble in any country, his motherland always has to return. Taking a jibe at Badruddin Ajmal, CM Sarma said that Illegal migrants pose a threat to Assamese culture and identity.

It began in 2006 when the UDF under Badruddin Ajmal emerged in Assam and since then, politics has been fragmented. If immigrant Muslims try to claim their identity, indigenous Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike have Said they have the right to counter communal politics," the CM said. The immigrants pose a threat to the culture and identity of Assam. Earlier we were not so vocal. But once we entered communal politics, we started responding, the chief minister said.

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New Delhi: Assam CM and BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has always been vocal about the Hindutva image, has said in a recent statement that India belongs to Hindus, irrespective of the corner of the world. If they have felt safe here, they can come and stay here. Himanta Biswa said this on Wednesday (November 10, 2021) at a TV event. When asked if he supports giving Citizenship of India to Bengali Hindus in Bangladesh and settling them in Assam.

On this, Sarma said, "India belongs to Hindus. Every Hindu has a right to come and live in India whenever he feels that he is not feeling safe there. CM Sarma further said, "The Word Indian came into existence in 1947, but for 7000 years we have been known as Hindus. I believe in civilization. This is eternal civilization. When we got the Constitution, it was called India. But you cannot separate us from our roots. Every Hindu who is in trouble has their motherland to come back to India.''

After making his stand clear on the issue of Hindus living in foreign countries coming to India and settling them here, CM Sarma said that after seeing what happened in Afghanistan, no one in India should oppose CAA and NRC, where minorities have to flee the country. He said, 'I am sure they must be praising them for passing CAA. '

Saad Rizvi, the TLP leader, is removed from Pakistan's terror list

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COP26: India, the world's fourth-largest auto market On Wednesday pledged to expedite the transition to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in its markets, with Rwanda and Kenya, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

In addition, 30 countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, as well as six major automakers, including Ford, Mercedes-Benz, General Motors, and Volvo, have promised to work together to make zero-emission vehicles the new normal by 2030 or sooner. This is a huge step forward for automobiles that do not release harmful emissions to the environment or public health.

At COP26, 20 airline participants of the World Economic Forum's Target True Zero programme committed to using innovative technologies to combat climate change, such as electric, hydrogen, and hybrid aircraft. And the creation of a new World Bank trust fund to decarbonize road transport in emerging markets and developing economies, which will raise $200 million over the next ten years.

The Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council (ZEVTC), which gathered with prominent representatives, including experts on the transition in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies (EMDEs), to consider how international collaboration may assist a worldwide transition, is guided by this purpose. The ZEVTC will release its first annual Action Plan, which identifies opportunities for long-term international cooperation to speed up the transition by 2022. The United States joined the United Kingdom as a co-chair of the ZEVTC on Wednesday.

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New Delhi: The Indian government has responded in its own language to China, which is taking a stubborn and aggressive stand on the border. However, the answer is something that will hurt. In fact, India has been restoring the e-visa facility for 152 countries back from Monday, but this time China, Hong Kong and Macau have been excluded from the list of these countries. Citizens of 152 countries, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and the US will be able to avail of the e-visa facility in India.

Apart from China, India has also excluded Canada, the United Kingdom, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia from the list due to a lack of mutual cooperation. According to media reports, the e-visa facility was earlier available in 171 countries, including China. The decision to keep China away from the e-visa facility is said to have been taken in the wake of the ongoing standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, continuous infiltration attempts by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Earlier India exempted China from the Prior Referral Category (PRC) for Chinese tourists and included China in the list of 171 countries that can get e-visas. In addition to China, concessions were given under PRC to nationals of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan, Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin. However, after travel restrictions were declared in March 2020 due to the corona epidemic, all e-visas were banned.

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Jakarta: To aid economic recovery, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to open vaccinated travel lanes in stages. On Wednesday, visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Indonesian President Joko Widodo met at the latter's Presidential Palace in Bogor, West Java, to discuss cooperation on this special arrangement, according to reports.

"We must strengthen cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect and benefit as close neighbours and peoples of a common race. We agreed to create a travel corridor arrangement in stages to aid economic recovery "At a joint press conference, Jokowi, as the President is known, said. This is a positive trend, as trade between the two countries increased by 49% from January to August of this year, according to the president.

According to Ismail Sabri, the two countries will open the Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur-Bali travel routes in the first phase. "We will expedite the details and issue a joint statement to announce the reopening of the Malaysian and Indonesian borders," the Prime Minister said, noting that the two countries will celebrate their diplomatic relations' 65th anniversary next year.

Both leaders also discussed migrant worker protection, the importance of concluding border negotiations between the two countries as soon as possible, and regional issues. The two countries had previously signed a memorandum of understanding on education and customs cooperation.

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KATHMANDU: In collaboration with Royal Enfield, Kathmandu, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu is organising the "Pashupatinath-Kashi Vishvanath Amrit Mahotsav Motorcycle Rally" between Kathmandu and Varanasi, the two significant cultural and religious hubs of Nepal and India, from November 11-16.

Nearly 50 Indian and Nepali citizens are expected to attend the rally, according to the embassy's press release. The rally aims to strengthen cultural ties between India and Nepal by promoting people-to-people relations.

During the rally, bikers will visit Motihari, where Mahatma Gandhi launched the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917; Sarnath, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon after attaining enlightenment; and Gorakhnath Math, a holy temple revered by both Indians and Nepalese.

While cultural ties between Nepal and India are centuries old, it is also true that inter-country relations do not improve or last unless people-to-people ties improve. This motorcycle rally aims to highlight the importance of people-to-people ties as a symbol of friendship between Nepal and India. Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale of the Nepalese government has started the bike rally on Thursday from the grounds of Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.

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Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that engagement with the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government must continue to help consolidate peace and stability in Afghanistan, According to media reports. The Troika Plus believes that working with the IEA government will "help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development, and help constrict space for terrorist groups" operating in Afghanistan, as per the report.

Qureshi said the group of four nations, the US, China, Russia, and Pakistan, has assumed greater significance and has a critical role to play in the crisis in Afghanistan, speaking at a Troika Plus meeting in Islamabad on Thursday.

"No one wants a return to civil war; no one wants an economic collapse that leads to instability; and everyone wants the terrorist elements operating within Afghanistan to be effectively dealt with. We all want to avoid another refugee crisis "He went on to say that all regional countries share concerns about the country's peace and stability.

Qureshi stated that the country's economy was on the verge of collapse and that the international community must provide Afghans with immediate humanitarian assistance.

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According to reports, the Pakistan Punjab government has removed Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi's name from the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, a list of proscribed individuals suspected of terrorism or sectarianism.

The "name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad, being Ameer of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan, a proscribed organisation, was listed in the 4th Schedule of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, under Section 11-E on the recommendations of District Intelligence Committee, Lahore," according to a Punjab Home Department notification dated November 10. On November 7, the government removed the TLP from the Act's First Schedule as a proscribed organisation, as per the report. The report added, "The name of Hafiz Mohammad Saad is hereby deleted from the list of the 4th Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, with immediate effect."

Rizvi was apprehended by police on April 12 this year, ahead of planned TLP protests. Police filed a first information report (FIR) against the TLP chief the next day, citing sections of the ATA. Shortly after, on April 16, his name was added to the Fourth Schedule. Following another days-long protest by the TLP, which began on October 20 in Lahore, the issue of TLP de-proscription was revisited.

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Tripoli: Raisedon Zenenga, Assistant Secretary-General and Coordinator of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), has reaffirmed the importance of political parties in the development of a democratic system in Libya. Zenenga made his comments during a meeting with leaders and representatives of the country's political parties to hear their views on the upcoming elections.

The UN mission said in a statement that "participants expressed the importance of holding elections to fulfil the aspirations of the Libyan people for a stable Libya." According to the statement, some of the participants expressed their concerns about the need for greater inclusivity in the electoral framework, the importance of building consensus with the help of the UN and international partners to ensure universal acceptance of election results, as well as the need to ensure the safety of candidates and voters.

Zenenga reaffirmed the importance of political parties in Libya's efforts to build a democratic political system, and UNSMIL's priority is to assist Libya in holding elections that unite Libyans, deliver stability, and produce legitimate institutions that are acceptable to all Libyans, according to the statement. As part of a roadmap adopted by the UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, Libya is expected to hold general elections on December 24 this year.

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Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has taken a major decision and given the green signal to the rehabilitation scheme of 63 displaced Hindu families who came to India from Bangladesh in the 1970s. Under this, all these families will be given land and houses in Bhainsaya village under Rasoolabad Tehsil of Kanpur under the rehabilitation scheme. The State Government has taken this decision so that these families can make a good living.

A cabinet meeting led by CM Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, took a number of major decisions, including this one. As per the report, the state government has approved the utilization of 121.41 hectares of land under the rehabilitation scheme. Under this, the government has decided to provide 2 acres of land for agricultural purposes to each family and 200 square meters for the house. 1.20 Lakh per family will be allocated under the 'Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana.' Under MGNREGA, development works will also be taken up here so that they can get respectable employment in the village itself.

In the 1970s, 63 Hindu families from Bangladesh came to India, who later stayed here. These people were given work in the Madan Cotton Mill. But later the mill was closed, making them unemployed back. Now, for the last 30 years, they have been unemployed in this way. Soon, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Revenue Manoj Kumar Singh will visit the Kanpur countryside to see the lands allotted for the rehabilitation scheme.

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FORT WORTH, Texas, November 11, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ADM Endeavors, Inc. (OTCQB: ADMQ) announced today that on November 9th Fort Worth City Council approved our request for a zoning change. This approval will be the catalyst that allows us to start the process to relocate our corporate headquarters to East Fort Worth. We want to thank Mr. Cary Moon and his team. They were instrumental in helping everyone understand the scope of this project and its value to East Fort Worth. We are also grateful that David Gregory and his team at DCG Engineering were able to work through the challenges presented by the zoning commission and deliver the optimal outcome.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005502/en/

ADMQ Fort Worth City Council Approval (Graphic: Business Wire)

ADM Endeavors CEO Marc Johnson said, "This is an important and critical decision made by the Fort Worth City Council, but the hard work is yet to come. We will start immediately on our building project. It is essential that we complete this project as quick as possible. Without the new facility we will not be able to continue our record pace of growth. We have simply outgrown our current home."

About ADMQ: Since 2010, our wholly owned subsidiary, Just Right Products, Inc., has been consistently increasing sales, with sales topping $6.44 million for the last reported 12 months. The Company sells "Anything With A Logo" on its website, www.JustRightProducts.com, developing products ranging from unique business cards to coffee cups, T-shirts to boots, with tens of thousands of other unique products from which to select. Just Right Products, Inc. operates a diverse vertical integrated business in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, consisting of a retail sales division, screen print production, embroidery production, digital production, import wholesale sourcing, and uniforms.

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Forward Looking Statement:

This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Any statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" that involve a number of risks and uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "strategy," "expects," "continues," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "would," "will," "estimates," "intends," "projects," "goals," "targets" and other words of similar meaning are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of global economic conditions or economic conditions with respect to the retail industry, the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance of management, actions of government regulators, vendors, and suppliers, our cash flows and ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We intend that all forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor provisions. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005502/en/

Contacts

ADM Endeavors, Inc. | info@admendeavors.com | 817.840.6271

Marc Johnson | CEO ADM Endeavors, Inc. | 817.231.8040
NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (BEF) and LSS Faith Mission are proud to provide support for our local military veterans. The companies have teamed up to provide breakfast and dinner to several dozen veterans residing at Faith Mission on Veterans Day.

Bob Evans Farms announced it has donated $100,000 to the USO as part of its Making a Difference, Bite by Bite shopper marketing campaign (PRNewsfoto/Bob Evans Farms)

Additionally, local Bob Evans Farms employees are writing thank you cards, wearing purple to honor veterans from all military branches and donating hoodies, thermal socks, gas cards and a variety of other articles needed by these heroes and delivered these items to Faith Mission for disbursement. In addition, BEF employees across the country are participating in a flag tribute to veterans important to them by "planting a flag" with the name of a veteran they wish to commemorate. The flags are being planted at each facility.

"Supporting our military has always been important to us," said Devra Cornell, Chief Human Resources Officer of Bob Evans Farms. "Bob Evans was a veteran and always provided a helping hand. We're proud to keep up that tradition by including the support of our military as one of our five core philanthropic pillars. We're committed to supporting America's service members, veterans and their families through awareness, donations, strategic partnerships, grand opportunities and volunteerism."

Annually, LSS Faith Mission serves approximately 150 veterans in its emergency shelter each year and 120 in other community-based services.

"Veterans are 50 percent more likely to become homeless than other Americans due to poverty, lack of support networks, substandard housing and mental health issues as a result of their military service," said Lauren Wilson, executive director of LSS Faith Mission. "The veteran programs at Faith Mission are individualized to the unique needs of veterans and their families. These programs bring hope of housing and supportive services to give veterans a stable base from which to find or hold a job, continue their physical or mental recovery, and ultimately return to independent living with our assistance."

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About Bob Evans Farms, Inc.

Bob Evans Farms, Inc. is a brand born and raised on the promise of farm-fresh goodness. For more than 70 years, the company has been making delicious, quick-to-table farm-fresh food that is sold in grocery stores all over the country. Today, Bob Evans brand mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese products are the #1 selling refrigerated side dishes in the United States*. Based in Columbus, Ohio and owned by Post Holdings, Inc., a consumer-packaged goods holding company, Bob Evans Farms is also a leading producer and distributor of refrigerated potato, pasta and vegetable-based side dishes, pork sausage, and a variety of refrigerated and frozen convenience food items under the Bob Evans, Owens and Pineland Farms brand names. For more information about Bob Evans Farms, Inc., visit www.bobevansgrocery.com. *Source: IRI Scan Sales Data Total U.S. 52 Weeks Ending 10/31/21.

About LSS Faith Mission

LSS Faith Mission offers a safe environment for up to 252 homeless men and women on an emergency walk-in basis each night. In addition to shelter, Faith Mission provides food and clothing while helping individuals with access to longer-term solutions such as permanent housing and employment assistance, as well as medical, dental, behavioral health and vision care. Annually, Faith Mission provides shelter and services to about 2,000 people. Additionally, more than 200,000 meals are served. For more information, visit www.lssnetworkofhope.org/faithmission.

Cision

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SOURCE Bob Evans Farms
Brand Announces Return of Digital Content Series Honoring Nurses at 2021 ANCC National Magnet Conference and Invites Nurse Community to Share Their Stories for a Chance to be Featured

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Timed to the 2021 ANCC National Magnet Conference and the ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference, dermatologist-developed skincare brand CeraVe announced today the return of Heroes Behind the Masks, a promotion and digital content series honoring nurses and their stories as part of the brand's ongoing commitment to the nurse community. Returning for a second annual year, the docuseries will shine a light on the inspiring stories of healthcare heroes around the nation, and starting today, nurses can submit their stories for a chance to have them told on a national platform.

According to key findings from the American Nurses Association's 2021 HealthyNurse survey, 70% of nurses put their patients' safety and well-being above their own. To help care for the healthcare professionals that are so often giving to others before themselves, CeraVe seeks to spotlight those that go beyond the call of duty for their patients and communities.

In addition to having the chance to be featured in the content series, participants will also have a chance to win $2,500 towards a vacation of their choice, and the first 250 qualifying entries will receive a self-care kit including therapeutic CeraVe products. Interested nurses can enter by submitting a short, original essay and optional video at CeraVe.com/Heroes-Behind-the-Masks before the submissions period closes on December 10, 2021.

The return of Heroes Behind the Masks reinforces the brand's commitment to nurses and celebrating their unwavering dedication and the incredible impact they have on the lives they touch every day. CeraVe launched the first installment of Heroes Behind the Masks in October 2020, receiving more than 1,700 inspiring submissions before selecting four nurses from around the country to highlight in the inaugural content series. The videos explored winners' inspiration for entering the field, challenges they faced throughout the pandemic and hopes they have for the future of nursing, honoring a labor and delivery nurse, a traveling critical care nurse, a nurse anesthetist and a medical-surgical registered nurse.

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"As we saw through last year's stories, nurses share in some of the most joyful moments of a patient's life but are also witness to some of the toughest moments, which can be a taxing part of their jobs and something that often goes unrecognized," said Jaclyn Marrone, Vice President of Marketing for CeraVe. "To express our sincerest gratitude, we're honored to once again shine a light on this group of professionals who are the heart of a patient's experience and hope the return of this program continues to provide a platform for these incredible stories to be told, inspiring both the nursing community and beyond."

This year's entry period opens timed to the brand's participation in the American Nurse Credentialing Center National Magnet Conference and Pathway to Excellence Conference, hosted in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend, November 11  13. The ANCC National Magnet Conference is the most influential gathering for nurses and healthcare stakeholders globally, as nurses from around the world convene for educational and innovative sessions.

As part of its partnership with the American Nurses Association, CeraVe also continues to sponsor the ANA Enterprise as an extension of their Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation initiative, a movement designed to transform the health of the nation by improving the health of the nation's 4.3 million registered nurses. Through the initiative, ANA connects and engages with nurses to inspire them to take action in five key areas: activity, rest, nutrition, quality of life and safety.

To stay connected to nurses throughout the year, CeraVe also offers an online community for nurses to come together for personal and professional empowerment and to be reminded of small self-care habits that can go a long way. Nurses can join this online community to stay in touch with the brand by joining the Shift Change: Nurse Essentials Facebook group.

Nurses interested in sharing their story for a chance to be featured in the docuseries and to win $2,500 towards a vacation of their choice can visit CeraVe.com/heroes-behind-the-masks.com to submit before December 10, 2021. Four Grand Prize winners will be selected and featured in Chapter Two of the video series and additionally, 15 nurses will be selected to be featured in corresponding social media content, all premiering in Spring 2022 ahead of National Nurses Week. For complete Official Rules and how to enter, visit CeraVe.com/Heroes-Behind-the-Masks.

As a brand with roots in the medical community, CeraVe supports various initiatives for the broader healthcare community throughout the year. CeraVe is proud to offer affordable and effective therapeutic skincare products that help healthcare professionals improve patient outcomes in skincare. The full CeraVe portfolio continues to expand, as all products remain formulated with three essential ceramides to help restore and strengthen the skin's natural barrier. For more information on CeraVe and Heroes Behind the Masks, visit the brand on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About CeraVe

Founded in 2005 and developed with dermatologists, CeraVe is the first and only brand to offer a complete line of products containing essential ceramides and patented MVE technology to help restore the skin's natural protective barrier. CeraVe has a full line of skincare products to follow the dermatologist-recommended steps of: cleanse, treat, moisturize, and protect. The brand's mission is to provide therapeutic skincare for all. For more information, visit the brand on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or at www.cerave.com.

About L'Oreal

L'Oreal has devoted itself to beauty for over 100 years. With its unique international portfolio of 34 diverse and complementary brands, the Group generated sales amounting to 25.8 billion euros in 2016 and employs 89,300 people worldwide. As the world's leading beauty company, L'Oreal is present across all distribution networks: mass market, department stores, pharmacies and drugstores, hair salons, travel retail, branded retail and e-commerce. Research and innovation, and a dedicated research team of 3,870 people, are at the core of L'Oreal's strategy, working to meet beauty aspirations all over the world. L'Oreal's sustainability commitment for 2020 "Sharing Beauty With All" sets out ambitious sustainable development objectives across the Group's value chain. For more information visit www.loreal.com.

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center

The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on Twitter . ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.

About the American Nurses Association

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation's 4.3 million registered nurses. ANA advances the profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org .

Cision

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SOURCE CeraVe
By Sonali Paul

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Chevron Corp and its partners in the Gorgon liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Western Australia have agreed to buy carbon credits likely to cost more than $180 million as a penalty for failing to meet a five-year target for carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The costs, which could amount to well over A$250 million ($184 million) based on Reuters calculations, will be shared with its Gorgon LNG partners - Exxon Mobil Corp, Royal Dutch Shell, and Japan's Osaka Gas, Tokyo Gas and JERA.

The A$3.1 billion Gorgon CCS project, the world's largest commercial CCS project, is being penalised by the Western Australian government for injecting far less carbon dioxide than planned since the LNG plant started up five years ago.

Chevron said in a statement that it would invest A$40 million in "lower carbon projects" and would buy and surrender 5.23 million greenhouse gas offsets to fulfill the Gorgon project's obligations to the state government, ideally by mid-July 2022.

"The package we have announced ... ensures we meet the expectations of the regulator, the community and those we place on ourselves as a leading energy producer in Australia," Chevron Australia Managing Director Mark Hatfield said in a statement.

Based on the current price of carbon offsets on the voluntary Australian spot market, which last week hit a record high of A$37 a tonne, 5.23 million offsets would cost at least A$195 million.

Amid short supply of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), Chevron is unlikely to meet its obligation just with those offsets and said in a report to the government it would also use other internationally verified carbon units and offsets.

Gorgon CCS was designed to inject up to 4 million tonnes a year of CO2. Since starting injecting CO2 in August 2019, three years later than scheduled, it has injected a total of about 5.5 million tonnes of CO2-equivalent.

The project was delayed by three years due to a range of technical problems.

($1 = 1.3563 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; additional reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ramakrishnan M. and Kenneth Maxwell)
Q3 revenue increases 55% YoY to $16.8 million

Annual Recurring Revenue grows 52% YoY to $33.2

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Copperleaf Technologies Inc. (TSX: CPLF) ("Copperleaf" or the "Company"), a provider of enterprise decision analytics software solutions, today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated.

Copperleaf Technologies Inc. (CNW Group/CopperLeaf Technologies Inc.)

"Our third quarter results demonstrated strong progress on our key financial metrics. We delivered 52% YoY growth in Annual Recurring Revenue, 50% YoY growth in our Revenue Backlog, and a 125% Net Revenue Retention Rate," said Judi Hess, CEO of Copperleaf. "For more than a decade, Copperleaf has been helping organizations allocate their resources, time, and funds toward the most valuable areas of their businesses to optimize their performance. With the successful completion of our IPO, we are in an even stronger financial position to build on our advantage and capture a greater share of the decision analytics market, which is still in the early stages of a long-term growth cycle."

Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights

(All Capitalized terms not defined herein, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended September 30, 2021; Comparison periods in each case are the three months ended September 30,2020, unless otherwise stated)

Record revenue of $16.8 million, an increase of 55% over Q3 2020, driven by the increase in new clients and the expansion of existing clients.

Annual Recurring Revenue 1 as at September 30, 2021 of $33.2 million, a 52% increase from $21.8 million as of September 30, 2020.

Subscription revenue of $8.2 million (49% of total revenue), an increase of 52% from the prior year.

Gross profit of $12.9 million, a 67% increase from $7.7 million in Q3 2020, representing a Gross Margin of 77%. The year-over-year growth reflects an increase in revenue, successful remote delivery resulting in less travel, as well as an improvement in utilization.

Adjusted EBITDA 1,2 loss of $1.4 million, compared to a loss of $2.0 million in Q3 2020.

Net loss of $3.3 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.8 million, or $0.19 per share, in Q3 2020.

As of September 30, 2021, our Net Revenue Retention Rate 1 was 125%.

As of September 30, 2021, our Revenue Backlog 1 grew 50% to $79.1 million, compared to $52.6 million as of September 30, 2020.

Cash and cash equivalents of $12.2 million as at September 30, 2021, compared to $15.9 million at December 31, 2020. Subsequent to quarter end, Copperleaf completed its IPO for net cash proceeds of $151.5 million.

1 Please refer to "Key Performance Indicators" section of this press release 2 Please refer to "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this press release

"We delivered record revenue and Annual Recurring Revenue in the third quarter," continued Ms. Hess. "Some of the world's largest and most respected organizations trust Copperleaf to guide their investment decisions. We have built a strong global brand and we intend to continue making investments to support future growth. These investments continue to drive new client acquisition and existing client expansions, increasing our Annual Recurring Revenue, and demonstrate the power of our land and expand model."

Story continues

Key Developments

On October 14, 2021, Copperleaf completed its oversubscribed and upsized IPO and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Our Alliance Ecosystem continues to gain traction as partners build their Copperleaf practice areas, resulting in an increase in active partner pursuits during fiscal year 2021.

At the end of Q3 2021, the water and wastewater verticals officially became core sectors at Copperleaf alongside energy, with transportation starting to gain global traction in our emerging verticals.

Our environmental, social, and corporate governance ("ESG") enabled solutions empower our clients to move from aspirational goals to operational plans. Market traction for ESG and the energy transition continues to build. It has influenced half of our new 2021 deals as of the end of Q3 2021, and is leading to an expansion in our global pipeline.

The Copperleaf Community is engaged and growing, with one third of our clients participating in client-led innovation with Copperleaf Labs during Q3 2021.

During Q3 2021, we released version 21.3 of our product suite, which includes a new costing option to generate more accurate cost estimates using parameterized models, in addition to many other features. We believe better cost estimation results in better decisions.

Continuous improvement in product development for automated testing has reduced our test burden by 50% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2021, resulting in faster time to market and lower costs.

Q3 2021 Financial Results Conference Call Details

Judi Hess, Chief Executive Officer and Chris Allen, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call followed by a question-and-answer session today, November 11, 2021, at 4:30 PM ET.

Date: November 11, 2021 Time: 4:30pm ET Dial-In Number: 416-764-8659 or 1-888-664-6392 Webcast: https://bit.ly/3Cl97T2 Replay: 416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 (Available until November 18, 2021) Replay Entry Code: 410571#

1 Key Performance Indicators

The Company monitors a number of key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate performance. Some of the KPIs used by management are recognized under IFRS, whereas others are non-IFRS measures and are not recognized under IFRS. These non-IFRS measures are included as additional information to complement the IFRS measures, providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. We believe that non-IFRS financial measures are useful to investors and others in assessing our performance; however, these measures should not be considered as a substitute for reported IFRS measures nor should they be considered in isolation. As these measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, they do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For a reconciliation of non-IFRS measures to the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with IFRS, see section "Non-IFRS Measures" below.

Annual Recurring Revenue

We define Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) as the annualized equivalent value of the subscription revenue of all existing contracts as at the date being measured, excluding non-recurring SaaS and hosting fees. Our clients generally enter into three-to-five-year contracts that are non-cancelable or cancelable with penalty. Our current gross client retention is 100%, and our calculation of ARR assumes clients will renew their contractual commitments on a periodic basis as those commitments come up for renewal. We believe that this measure provides a fair real-time measure of performance in a subscription-based environment.

Net Revenue Retention Rate

We believe that our Net Revenue Retention Rate is a key measure to provide insight into the long-term value of our clients and our ability to retain and expand revenue from our client base over time. Our Net Revenue Retention Rate is calculated over a trailing twelve-month period by considering the group of clients on our platform as of the beginning of the period and dividing our ARR attributable to this same group of clients at the end of the period by the ARR at the beginning of the period. By implication, this ratio excludes any ARR from new clients acquired during the period but does include incremental sales added to the cohort base of clients during the period being measured. This measure provides insight into client expansions, downgrades, and churn, and illustrates the growth potential of our client base alone.

Revenue Backlog

Revenue Backlog represents the total revenue expected to be recognized in the future, related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied at period end. The recurring nature of our revenue provides high visibility into future performance, and upfront payments result in cash flow generation in advance of revenue recognition. Subscription contracts require annual upfront payments; however, some clients pay multiple years upfront. Typically, approximately 50% of our expected annual revenue is recognized from client contracts that are in place at the beginning of the year, and this continues to be our target model going forward. However, this also means that agreements with new clients or agreements with existing clients purchasing incremental products and services in a quarter may not contribute significantly to revenue in the current quarter. For example, for SaaS contracts and professional services, a new client who enters into an agreement late in a quarter will typically have limited contribution to revenue recognized in that quarter. Perpetual licenses, by contrast, are often recognized as revenue upon delivery of the software which typically occurs immediately upon contracting, and thus rarely enters Revenue Backlog.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is used by management as a supplemental measure to review and assess operating performance and provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure of operating performance and reflects our ability to generate cash-based earnings. It provides a more relevant picture of operating results by excluding the effects of financing and investing activities, which removes the effects of interest and other expenses such as non-cash items and other one-time or non-recurring expenses that are not reflective of our underlying business. Our management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to facilitate operating performance comparisons and decision making from period to period and to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts. In addition, it is used to provide securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures.

2Non-IFRS Measures

As required by Canadian securities laws, we reconcile the non-IFRS measures to the most comparable IFRS measures. For more information on non-IFRS measures and other measures, see the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2021, filed on SEDAR and available on the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.copperleaf.com/.

The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) for the periods indicated:



For three months ended September 30

2021 2020 $ Change % Change Net income (loss) ($3,281,416) ($2,828,932) ($452,484) (16%) Depreciation and amortization $547,734 $535,493 $12,241 2% Share-based payments expense $426,768 $220,215 $206,553 94% Finance costs $186,874 $123,671 $63,203 51% Finance income ($738) ($5,215) $4,477 (86%) Foreign exchange loss (gain) ($349,639) ($61,874) ($287,765) (465%) Income taxes (recovery) ($92,762) $27,568 ($120,330) (436%) IPO transaction related costs $1,143,600 - $1,143,600 100% Adjusted EBITDA ($1,419,579) ($1,989,074) $569,495 29%





For nine months ended September 30,











2021 2020 $ Change % Change Net income (loss) ($6,674,784) ($11,250,852) $4,576,068 41% Depreciation and amortization $1,685,183 $1,642,466 $42,717 3% Share-based payments expense $1,431,997 $876,451 $555,546 63% Finance costs $600,042 $395,552 $204,490 52% Finance income ($8,748) ($80,300) $71,552 (89%) Gain on lease modification ($181,372) - ($181,372) 100% Foreign exchange loss (gain) $701,814 ($596,196) $1,298,010 218% Income taxes (recovery) $98,782 $216,286 ($117,504) (54%) IPO transaction related costs $2,092,582 - $2,092,582 100% Adjusted EBITDA ($254,504) ($8,796,593) $8,542,089 97%

Selected Financial Information

Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(expressed in Canadian dollars)

(unaudited)



For the three months ended

September 30, For the nine months ended

September 30,

2021 2020 2021 2020

$ $ $ $ Revenue 16,802,972 10,827,117 47,485,285 28,086,716









Cost of revenue 3,934,755 3,100,818 9,861,210 9,115,359









Gross profit 12,868,217 7,726,299 37,624,075 18,971,357









Operating expenses







Sales and marketing 6,384,224 3,940,753 16,125,910 10,921,409 Research and development 5,268,994 3,936,882 14,534,271 11,851,854 General and administrative 4,752,680 2,593,446 12,428,160 7,513,604

16,405,898 10,471,081 43,088,341 30,286,867









Loss from operations (3,537,681) (2,744,782) (5,464,266) (11,315,510)









Other expenses (income)







Finance costs 186,874 123,671 600,042 395,552 Finance income (738) (5,215) (8,748) (80,300) Gain on lease modification - - (181,372) - Foreign exchange loss (gain) (349,639) (61,874) 701,814 (596,196)

(163,503) 56,582 1,111,736 (280,944)









Loss before income taxes (3,374,178) (2,801,364) (6,576,002) (11,034,566)









Income taxes (recovery)







Current income tax expense (recovery) (92,762) 27,568 98,782 216,286

(92,762) 27,568 98,782 216,286









Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period (3,281,416) (2,828,932) (6,674,784) (11,250,852) Net loss per share







Basic (0.20) (0.19) (0.41) (0.75) Diluted (0.20) (0.19) (0.41) (0.75) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic 16,781,900 15,224,756 16,428,684 15,027,915 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted 16,781,900 15,224,756 16,428,684 15,027,915











Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(expressed in Canadian Dollars)

(unaudited)



September 30,

2021 December 31,

2020

$ $ Assets



Current assets



Cash and cash equivalents 12,166,925 15,916,417 Prepaid expenses 1,716,294 1,326,691 Contract costs 668,004 601,283 Accounts receivable 12,471,327 26,169,662 Investment tax credits receivable 2,916,282 1,586,673 Contract assets 3,815,426 594,310

33,754,258 46,195,036 Non-current assets



Deposit 80,629 81,513 Contract costs 1,194,179 1,216,571 Deferred share issuance costs 639,948 - Right-of-use assets 1,402,422 2,421,832 Intangible assets 1,160,537 1,333,890 Property and equipment 1,949,468 2,389,296

6,427,183 7,443,102





Total assets 40,181,441 53,638,138





Liabilities and shareholders' equity



Current liabilities



Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 11,787,760 11,276,887 Lease liabilities 913,080 1,049,762 Contract liabilities 12,713,704 18,198,658

25,414,544 30,525,307 Non-current liabilities



Lease liabilities 1,426,756 2,694,460 Contract liabilities 10,162,615 12,906,512

11,589,371 15,600,972





Total liabilities 37,003,915 46,126,279





Shareholders' equity



Share capital 30,447,072 29,069,354 Share-based payments reserve 4,055,004 3,092,271 Deficit (31,324,550) (24,649,766) Total shareholders' equity 3,177,526 7,511,859 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 40,181,441 53,638,138











Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(expressed in Canadian Dollars)

(unaudited)



For the three months ended

September 30 For the nine months ended

September 30

2021 2020 2021 2020

$ $ $ $ Cash provided by (used in)







Operating activities







Net loss (3,281,416) (2,828,932) (6,674,784) (11,250,852) Items not involving cash







Depreciation of property and equipment 262,895 211,335 766,808 708,867 Amortization of intangible assets 93,941 115,293 304,383 312,928 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 190,898 208,865 613,992 620,671 Foreign exchange loss (gain) (349,639) (61,874) 701,814 (596,196) Gain on lease modification - - (181,372) - Income tax expense (recovery) (92,762) 27,568 98,782 216,286 Finance income (738) (5,215) (8,748) (80,300) Finance costs 186,874 123,671 600,042 395,552 Share-based payments 426,768 220,215 1,431,997 876,451 Changes in non-cash working capital items 1,209,295 5,131,463 382,183 10,124,654 Interest paid (23,824) (46,687) (87,382) (148,151) Interest received 738 5,215 8,748 80,300 Income taxes paid (124,656) - (627,642) - Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (1,501,626) 3,100,917 (2,671,179) 1,260,210









Financing activities







Proceeds from exercise of stock options 498,655 11,414 908,454 203,725 Deferred share issuance costs (270,668) - (270,668) - Payment of principal on lease liabilities (237,890) (266,890) (816,454) (784,940) Net cash used in financing activities (9,903) (255,476) (178,668) (581,215)









Investing activities







Additions to property and equipment (108,886) (14,853) (326,959) (222,697) Additions to intangible assets (48,142) (420,696) (135,827) (467,992) Net cash used in investing activities (157,028) (435,549) (462,786) (690,689)









Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents 267,896 (76,151) (436,859) 338,033 Increase (decrease) in cash during the period (1,400,661) 2,333,741 (3,749,492) 326,339









Cash and cash equivalents  beginning of period 13,567,586 12,918,834 15,916,417 14,926,236 Cash and cash equivalents  end of period 12,166,925 15,252,575 12,166,925 15,252,575























Disaggregation of revenue

Revenue For three months ended

September 30(1) For nine months ended

September 30(1)

2021 2020 2021 2020 Subscription $8,211,319 $5,419,774 $22,853,746 $13,980,994 Professional services and other $7,924,758 $3,991,666 $18,727,731 $11,283,892 Perpetual software licenses $666,895 $1,415,677 $5,903,808 $2,821,830

$16,802,972 $10,827,117 $47,485,285 $28,086,716

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada.

Forward-looking information may relate to our future business, financial outlook, and anticipated events or results, and may include information regarding our financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects, or opportunities, or the markets in which we operate, 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" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "financial outlook", "forecasts", "projection", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". 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 possible future events or circumstances.

Forward-looking information may include, among other things: (i) the Company's expectations regarding its financial performance, including among others, revenue, gross profit, expenses, Adjusted EBITDA; (ii) the Company's expectations regarding industry trends, addressable market growth, overall market growth rates, and growth rates and growth strategies; (iii) our business plans and strategies; (iv) the continued success of our commercial model; (v) our expectations regarding growth in our customer base, our ability to retain customers and increase margin per customer; (vi) acceleration in the growth and adoption of new technologies; (vii) relationships with our technology partners; (viii) our ability to continue to attract and retain talent; (ix) our competitive position in our industry; and (xi) and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as at the date such statements are made, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the risk factors described in our Q3 2021 MD&A and under "Risk Factors" within the Company's IPO prospectus (the "Prospectus"). A copy of the Prospectus can be accessed under our profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking 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 at the date made.

In addition, forward-looking financial information with respect to potential outlook and future financial results contained in this press release are based on assumptions about future events including economic conditions, the assumptions noted above and proposed courses of action, based on management's reasonable assessment of the relevant information available as at the date of such forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking financial information should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed.

About Copperleaf:

Copperleaf provides enterprise decision analytics software solutions to companies managing critical infrastructure. We leverage operational and financial data to empower our clients to make investment decisions that deliver the highest business value. What sets us apart is our commitment to providing extraordinary experiences, shaped by people who care deeply, products that deliver exceptional value, and partnerships that stand the test of time. Copperleaf is a patron of The Institute of Asset Management and actively participates in shaping the future of asset management standards, including ISO 55000. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, our solutions are distributed and supported by regional staff and partners worldwide. Together, we are transforming how the world sees value.

For more details, visit https://www.copperleaf.com/

SOURCE CopperLeaf Technologies Inc.

Cision

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LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 6, 2021

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed against Eargo, Inc. ("Eargo" or the Company") (NASDAQ: EAR) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of those who purchased Eargo, Inc. securities between February 25, 2021 and September 22, 2021, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period").

(PRNewsfoto/Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman )

All investors who purchased Eargo, Inc. and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com.

If you have incurred losses in the shares of Eargo, Inc., you may, no later than December 6, 2021, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in Eargo, Inc.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE

On August 12, 2021, after the market closed, Eargo revealed that claims submitted to the Company's largest third-party payor, which accounted for 80% of Eargo's accounts receivable, had not been paid since March 1, 2021.

On this news, the Company's share price fell $8.00, or over 24%, to close at $24.70 per share on August 13, 2021, on unusually heavy trading volume.

On September 22, 2021, after the market closed, Eargo revealed that "it is the target of a criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (the 'DOJ') related to insurance reimbursement claims the Company has submitted on behalf of customers covered by federal employee health plans." Moreover, the DOJ is the "principal contact related to the subject matter of the [ongoing] audit" of Eargo by an insurance company that is the Company's largest third-party payor. As a result of the foregoing, Eargo withdrew its full year financial guidance.

Story continues

On this news, the Company's share price fell $14.81, or over 68%, to close at $6.86 per share on September 23, 2021, on unusually heavy trading volume.

Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation.

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com, or visit our website at www.whafh.com.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Patrick Donovan, Esq.

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Email: gstone@whafh.com, donovan@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Cision

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SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
By Marwa Rashad

LONDON, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Equatorial Guinea are expected to resume after more than six weeks of disruption following an incident at the Alba gas processing facility, trading sources and the plant operator said.

Sources have told Reuters in October that force majeure has been declared at the facility and some LNG cargoes have been deferred or canceled.

Two trading sources said normal operations have been restored at the plant, which normally loads a cargo once a week, adding that exports are set to resume as soon as next week.

The West African Punta Europa LNG plant is expected to export its first cargo since Sept. 25. The cargo is expected to be lifted on the Shell-chartered SCF Barents tanker, according to Refinitiv Eikon shipping data.

Responding to a request for comment, plant operator Marathon Oil Corp cited an earnings news release published on its website which said that normal operations at the plant were resumed in the week that began Nov. 1, after an unplanned outage.

Although the facility produces a relatively small 3.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG, the disruption came at a time when gas prices in Europe and Asia are trading near record highs as post-pandemic recovery demand outstrips supply. (Reporting by Marwa Rashad; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
HSA vs. 401(k)

Two of the most common vehicles for building savings are the 401(k) and the health savings account, or HSA. While the HSA isnt a traditional retirement account, at least not formally, it can provide you with significant value when your healthcare costs likely rise in retirement. That helps it to serve as a useful backup to more ordinary retirement planning tools, like 401(k)s and IRAs. Consider working with a financial advisor as you pursue your retirement goals.

What Is a 401(k)?

A 401(k) is a tax-advantaged retirement account. Along with the IRA and Roth IRA, a 401(k) is one of the three main ways that the IRS tries to encourage individuals to save for retirement.

The IRS allows you to deduct every dollar that you contribute to a qualifying 401(k) from your annual income taxes. This allows you to pay no taxes on the money which you put aside from retirement. You do, however, have to pay taxes on this money when you withdraw it later in life.

The IRS also sets an annual cap on tax deductible contributions to a 401(k). In 2021, you cant contribute more than $19,500, though this jumps to $20,500 for 2022. For those who are 50 or older, the IRS allows extra catch-up contributions, which can total up to $6,500 for both 2021 and 2022.

A 401(k) is an employer-run retirement plan. Traditionally this means that it is only for workers who have an employer of some sort. While individuals who have their own business can set up a 401(k) for themselves, freelancers and the self-employed have not historically been able to set up a traditional 401(k). However in recent years this has begun changing, as investment firms have begun offering group 401(k) plans onto which individuals can enroll.

Generally speaking, an employer will structure their 401(k) plans as a traditional investment portfolio, though investments are limited. In fact, they usually consist of target-date funds, which are pools of investment that change based on how close you are to retiring.

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These portfolios are managed either by the employer directly or by a financial management firm that the employer chooses. Some employers contribute to their employees 401(k) plans as well. This is not necessary, but employers receive a tax break as well if they contribute to employees retirement accounts.

What Is a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

HSA vs. 401(k)

A health savings account or HSA is a form of tax-advantaged savings account that was originally built to help people set aside money for medical expenses. This is particularly relevant as people save for retirement, given that medical expenses tend to increase with age.

You can only enroll in an HSA if you are enrolled in a high-deductible insurance plan. This means that your health insurance only begins to pay for your medical expenses after you have paid a significant portion of your medical bills out of pocket. The IRS defines high-deductible plans as $1,400 for individuals and $2,800 for families. If your health insurance changes, you can keep an existing HSA but may not deduct any contributions you make to it while carrying a non-high-deductible plan.

An HSA is structured very similarly to a 401(k) and in fact many employers offer these plans to their employees. Most accounts are set up as an investment portfolio with a mainstream mix of mutual funds. Although some HSA accounts offer a simple savings account with modest interest, and are built just to help people set aside money rather than to help them grow these funds.

You can contribute to this account at your discretion, although if you have an employer-run HSA they may allow you to contribute a fixed amount from your paycheck. Some employers will make contributions to employees HSA funds as well, again similar to a 401(k), but this is relatively uncommon.

Unlike a 401(k) you can open an HSA on your own if your employer does not offer one. (Again, readers should note that it is becoming easier for individuals to find 401(k) programs, but this is a relatively new development.)

Like a 401(k) you can deduct all of the money you put in an HSA account from your federal income taxes, making the money you save for medical expenses federally tax-free. Also like a 401(k) the IRS places an annual limit on contributions. In 2021, you may contribute up to $3,600 for individuals and $7,200 for families. For 2022, these limits raise to $3,650 for individuals and $7,300 for families. Past these points, you may still contribute money to most HSA accounts, but you cannot deduct the additional contributions.

Using an HSA as a Backup for Your 401(k)

A health savings account has three basic rules for withdrawal:

Medical Expenses: If you withdraw money from an HSA to pay for medical expenses you do not pay taxes on your withdrawals. In this case you effectively have completely tax-free money to help pay for your medical expenses. While you must have a high-deductible insurance plan to make contributions to an HSA, you can withdraw this money even if you have a better insurance plan later in life.

Nonmedical Expenses, Before Retirement: The IRS charges a steep 20% penalty if you withdraw money from an HSA to pay nonmedical expenses and you are younger than age 65. In that case, you must pay both income taxes on the money you withdraw and the penalty.

Nonmedical Expenses, After Retirement: If you withdraw money from an HSA after age 65 for nonmedical expenses you do not have to pay any penalties. You do have to pay regular income taxes on the money you withdraw, however.

Its this last point that allows HSA programs to function as a form of supplemental retirement plan for some people. During your working life the tax rules for contributing to an HSA are identical to a 401(k) but with a smaller annual cap. Once you are past retirement age, the rules for withdrawing money from an HSA are also identical to withdrawing money from a 401(k). As a result, if you are eligible to open an HSA during your working years, you can effectively use this as a second retirement account.

For people looking to boost their retirement savings this can be an excellent way to get a little more mileage out of tax-advantaged programs. This is particularly useful for workers who are in their younger years. People in their 20s often can get away with taking high-deductible health plans (as long as they are absolutely certain they can afford to pay that deductible in case of a medical emergency). For this cohort, it can often be wise to open a health savings account and store money there while young and healthy. Then, as you grow and transition to a more comprehensive insurance plan in your 30s, you can simply leave that HSA alone to accrue value decade after decade.

Bottom Line

A health savings account is a tax-advantaged form of investment that allows people with high-deductible health insurance to set aside money without paying taxes on it. If you dont end up needing this money to pay for healthcare, by the time you hit retirement age it can also act as a nice supplement to your retirement savings.

Tips on Retirement Planning

HSA vs. 401(k)

Planning for retirement is stressful. Fortunately, financial advisors can offer a wealth of options for saving up during your working years. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors in your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Our free retirement calculator will help you determine how much you need to save for retirement. Planning ahead for this can be extremely helpful in the long run.

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A research team led by INRS launches a study on the socio-environmental impacts of telework by measuring the CO 2 emissions of its community

QUEBEC and MONTREAL, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - What are the environmental impacts resulting from post-pandemic changes in our work practices? That question will be explored by a team from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), in collaboration with Polytechnique Montreal, as they launch a study on the CO 2 emissions balance, which includes the effects of the INRS community's commute to and from work. This unprecedented participatory research project, financed and supported by the Montreal Climate Partnership and INRS, reflects a commitment to take concrete action to address the climate emergency.

Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) (CNW Group/Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS))

"Given the climate emergency, every action counts," says Louise Henault-Ethier, Associate Professor and director of the Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre at INRS who initiated this new study. "With this project, INRS is taking concrete action to better understand the impacts of mobility changes in its community and to accelerate climate transition."

Understanding the impacts of mobility and telework on the carbon footprint

INRS adopted a telework policy in June 2021 and seized the opportunity to properly identify and measure the environmental impact of the implementation of this policy, initially motivated by social issues. INRS had already carried out a first assessment of the direct CO 2 emissions of its community's professional commuting from the workplace for the period 2020-2021.

The research team will quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by modeling the INRS community, including faculty members, student members, and administrative staff, travelling between home and work. It will include both the CO 2 emissions avoided by working from home and the increased emissions associated with the use of computer servers during numerous virtual meetings.

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"Based on data for direct GHG emissions, we are going to integrate a tool that will allow us to identify, calculate and offset emissions associated with work-related travel. As far as I know, this is a first," explains Professor Louis-Cesar Pasquier, a specialist in carbon sequestration at INRS. "With this new study, we are taking a step further to understand the impact of individual mobility choices on the carbon balance."

INRS will collaborate with the team of Professor Catherine Morency, head of the Mobility Chair and the Canada Research Chair on personal mobility at Polytechnique Montreal. With the expertise of Polytechnique, the team will be able to survey and model the mobility behaviours of study participants within the INRS community. This includes daily habits and their impacts, relocations that prolong less frequent work-related travel, changes in motorization, or the growth of certain other leisure-related trips.

"The new habits that people will keep after the pandemic will undeniably have an impact on the carbon footprint," says professor Morency.

"In fact, many organizations are concerned about the repercussions of telework. Understanding and quantifying the effects of telework requires measuring a range of behaviours, from changes in the modes of transportation used to get to work to urban sprawl, which could increase commuting distances and reduce the availability of more sustainable transportation options," she says.

A project that mobilizes a whole community

The methodology developed for the INRS data can be applied to collaborators of the Montreal Climate Partnership, who wish to undertake mobility commitments within the framework of Les grands gestes campaign, made possible by the Foundation of Greater Montreal, the Trottier Family Foundation, the City of Montreal, the financial contribution of Cogeco and nearly a hundred other partners. The mission of the Montreal Climate Partnership is to mobilize economic, philanthropic, institutional and community forces to accelerate the decarbonization of Montreal.

"This study will complement the other initiatives of the Montreal Climate Partnership targeting employee mobility, as it will allow us to scientifically confirm the relevance of promoting certain practices over the medium term," says Melanie Le Berre, Executive Director of the Montreal Climate Partnership.

With the findings, the Montreal Climate Partnership hopes to make recommendations to Montreal organizations on how to reduce their carbon footprint, while taking advantage of the economic benefits of telework and other new practices.

Research team includes Louise Henault-Ethier, Louis-Cesar Pasquier, Philippe Apparicio from INRS, Catherine Morency, Owen Waygood, and Hubert Verreault from Polytechnique Montreal.

About INRS

INRS is a university dedicated exclusively to graduate level research and training. Since its creation in 1969, INRS has played an active role in Quebec's economic, social, and cultural development and is ranked first for research intensity in Quebec and in Canada. INRS is made up of four interdisciplinary research and training centres in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval, and Varennes, with expertise in strategic sectors: Eau Terre Environnement, Energie Materiaux Telecommunications, Urbanisation Culture Societe, and Armand-Frappier Sante Biotechnologie. The INRS community includes more than 1,500 students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and staff.

About the Montreal Climate Partnership

The Partnership is an independent initiative, which brings together about a hundred economic, community, philanthropic and institutional organizations aiming at mobilizing the key players in the Montreal community to help reduce GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 and put the city on the path to carbon neutrality by 2050. The Montreal Climate Partnership follows on the success of the collaboration established in 2018-2019 by a group of philanthropic foundations with the City of Montreal and the organization C40 Cities for the development of the City's Climate Plan and is inspired by the best international mobilization models, such as the Green Ribbon Commission in Boston. The initiative places Montreal among the world's leading C40 cities by making the ecological transition a pillar of its prosperity and attractiveness. The initiative is funded by the Foundation of Greater Montreal, the Trottier Family Foundation, and the City of Montreal. Learn more at https://climatmontreal.com/en/

About Polytechnique Montreal

Founded in 1873, Polytechnique Montreal, is one of Canada's largest engineering education and research institutions. Located on the Universite de Montreal campus, it is the largest French-language university campus in the Americas. With nearly 55,000 graduates to date, Polytechnique Montreal has educated over 22% of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec's current membership. Polytechnique offers more than 120 programs taught by 294 professors, and welcomes 9,930 students yearly, with an annual operating budget of $275 million - including a research budget of $105 million.

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Montreal Climate Partnership (CNW Group/Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS))

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SOURCE Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)

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TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945



BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Investment Management, a company of Manulife Investment Management, today announced that share classes A, C, I & R6 of John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund are available to investors. The availability of these share classes follows the completion of the merger of John Hancock Mid Cap Stock Fund into John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund (the Fund). The merger was approved at a special meeting of shareholders which took place on October 6, 2021 and completed on October 15, 2021. The investment strategy, managed by Wellington Investment Management, is available to retail investors on a standalone basis only through John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund.

John Hancock Investment Management Logo (CNW Group/John Hancock Investment Management)

John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund seeks long-term growth and capital appreciation and invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of medium-sized companies with significant capital appreciation potential. The fund will continue to be managed by Mario E. Abularach, CFA, CMT, Partner and Equity Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst and Stephen Mortimer, Partner and Equity Portfolio Manager, Wellington Investment Management. Wellington has been the investment subadvisor of John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund since inception and was also subadvisor of the acquired fund. The merger is not expected to result in any change to the investment objective or principal investment policies of the fund, or any substantial change in investment strategy or portfolio composition.

"We're thankful to our shareholders and the John Hancock Funds Board for approving and recommending this merger. We also appreciate the investment expertise and confidence of the Wellington team - who is managing this strategy only for John Hancock Investment Management in the retail channel." said Andrew G. Arnott, CEO, John Hancock Investment Management and head of wealth and asset management, Manulife Investment Management, United States and Europe. "We believe the merger is in the best interest of our shareholders to create opportunity for reductions in gross and net expenses and greater potential for asset growth."

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For more information on John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund click here.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of September 30, 2021, Manulife Investment Management's assets under management and administration, including assets managed for Manulife's other segments, totaled CAD $1.1 trillion (US $835 billion). Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

The value of a company's equity securities is subject to change in the company's financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. The stock prices of midsize and small companies can change more frequently and dramatically than those of large companies. Foreign investing, especially in emerging markets, has additional risks, such as currency and market volatility and political and social instability. In addition, when a fund focuses its investments in certain sectors of the economy, its performance may be driven largely by sector performance and could fluctuate more widely than if the fund were invested more evenly across sectors. Please see the fund's prospectus for additional risks.

 2021 John Hancock Investment Management. All rights reserved.

Request a prospectus or summary prospectus from your financial advisor, by visiting jhinvestments.com, or by calling us at 800-225-5291. The prospectus includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other information that you should consider carefully before investing.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

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SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
Help Provide Critical Emotional Resources to Children this November, National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

More than 1.6 million young children experience homelessness each year. It does not always mean living on the street, but can be kids living in cars, sleeping on couches in friends' homes, even taking refuge in a local park. Join Slumberkins to raise awareness and resources for this community. Throughout the month of November, every purchase on Slumberkins.com supports donations to young children experiencing housing instability.

More than 1.6 million young children experience homelessness each year. It does not always mean living on the street, but can be kids living in cars, sleeping on couches in friends' homes, even taking refuge in a local park. Join Slumberkins to raise awareness and resources for this community. Throughout the month of November, every purchase on Slumberkins.com supports donations to young children experiencing housing instability.

#GiveAFox This November and Raise Awareness and Resources for Homeless Children.

Slumberkins is on a mission to help raise awareness and support children experiencing homelessness in our community. Through the month of November, every purchase on slumberkins.com supports the donation of a Fox Family Change Bundle for every elementary students facing homelessness in the Vancouver/Portland metro area. We hope you'll join us in this important initiative.

Slumberkins is on a mission to help raise awareness and support children experiencing homelessness in our community. Through the month of November, every purchase on slumberkins.com supports the donation of a Fox Family Change Bundle for every elementary students facing homelessness in the Vancouver/Portland metro area. We hope you'll join us in this important initiative.

VANCOUVER, Wash., Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Across the United States, more than 1.6 million young children will experience some form of homelessness each year. In the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro areas nearly seven percent of young children experience homelessness or housing instability. It impacts well over 2,100 students in these metropolitan areas, half of them in elementary school. But it only takes one person to make a difference in the lives of these children and Slumberkins , a leading childrens brand based in Vancouver, is empowering everyone to make a difference this November.



November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. To help raise awareness and resources, now through the end of November, every purchase on slumberkins.com will support the donation of a Slumberkins Fox Bundle to homeless children in Portland, Vancouver and Evergreen school districts. Not only does homelessness disrupt normal routines and create a sense of loss of stability and safety, but it also impacts a childs development and education. Experiences of housing instability in early childhood are associated with delays in language, literacy and social-emotional development.

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With the communitys support, Slumberkins is partnering with the Family Community Resource Centers in Clark County, Washington and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Program in Portland, OR, to provide resources to children and families experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness is an ever growing crisis in the United States and the extent of this crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic, thus impacting many of our children and youth and disproportionately impacting our communities of color, said Camedra Jefferson, Ed.D. Director of Funded Programs at Portland Public Schools. Each day I see the direct impact this crisis has on a child's access to education and overall wellbeing. As a public educator and member of the Portland community, it is our duty to ensure ALL families are equipped with the resources and support needed to access a high-quality education. We are so grateful to have Slumberkins partnership in this effort.

Slumberkins Fox creature and accompanied storybook provide a resource for caregivers and children coping with big transitions. Foxs story provides guidance and tools to cope with the big feelings and emotions children experience, helping them get through the most difficult parts of change.

Creating positive attachments to the people in their lives that make them feel safe and loved can help to ease anxiety, even when other factors around them are changing, and the Fox creature and story foster those positive feelings, said Kelly Oriard family therapist and co-founder of Slumberkins. By joining us to #GiveAFox, you help us provide these valuable tools to elementary children and support their education and social-emotional development.

Founded by two moms and educators, Slumberkins was created to give parents, caregivers and educators tools to help raise caring, confident and resilient children. Through the #GiveAFox campaign, Slumberkins is working to ensure those who need it most have access to their story books, cuddly creatures and resources to support emotional wellness. To learn more visit slumberkins.com/giveafox.

ABOUT SLUMBERKINS

Slumberkins is a leading educational childrens brand created to promote early emotional learning. Their collections of cuddly creatures and books make the perfect intentional gift, resonating with those looking to take an active role in childrens social development. Founded by two moms and educators, Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard are on a mission to create a more meaningful childrens product line that is easily implemented into daily routines through the use of affirmations. Every creature and story provides digestible therapeutic techniques and normalizes conversations about big feelings.

Started in 2015 and fueled by an appearance on Shark Tank and an engaged social media presence, Slumberkins has experienced tremendous growth. The company has been named one of Inc. 5000s Fastest-Growing Private Companies two years in a row, Number 6 on Portland Business Journals 2021 Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies, and winner of both Parents Magazine Best Toy Award and Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award. Slumberkins has signed with the Jim Henson Company to co-produce a television show to bring the characters to life, providing an even greater platform to educate children and families on the importance of social-emotional learning. To learn more, visit www.slumberkins.com and follow them on Instagram , Facebook and Pinterest .

Media Inquiries:

Jennifer McFerron Sloan

jenn@commodditiesinc.com



Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0cfccae1-d361-476e-b149-eafc784932e5

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Lead Plaintiff Deadline Is November 8, 2021

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP reminds investors that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired loanDepot, Inc. ("loanDepot" or the "Company") (NYSE: LDI) shares pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with loanDepot's February 16, 2021 initial public offering ("IPO").

(PRNewsfoto/Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman )

All investors who purchased loanDepot, Inc. and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com.

If you have incurred losses in the shares of loanDepot, Inc., you may, no later than November 8, 2021, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in loanDepot, Inc.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO JOIN CASE

In February 2021, loanDepot completed its initial public offering ("IPO"), selling 3.85 million shares of Class A common stock at $14.00 per share.

By August 17, 2021, loanDepot's stock price fell 42% below the IPO price after the Company had disclosed disappointing second quarter 2021 financial results and provided significantly lower guidance for its business.

Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation.

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If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com, or visit our website at www.whafh.com.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Patrick Donovan, Esq.

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Email: gstone@whafh.com, donovan@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

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SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
Maximus recognized for including veteran-owned business in their supplier programs

RESTON, Va., November 11, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Maximus (NYSE: MMS), a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that it had earned the 2022 Military Friendly Employer Gold designation, the highest possible ranking, and the Military Friendly Supplier Diversity recognition. This is the first time Maximus has received the Gold designation and the second time receiving the Military Friendly designation. Maximus earned the Gold designation in the $1 billion to $5 billion revenue category for its commitment to hiring, tracking, and retaining veterans, both active duty and reserve, and military spouses.

In addition, Maximus also earned the Military Friendly Supplier Diversity Award, which recognizes companies that demonstrate their commitment to the veteran community by the extent to which they include veteran-owned businesses in their supplier diversity programs.

"At Maximus, we have always been committed to supporting our nations military and those who served," said Bruce Caswell, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The recognition for our company as a Military Friendly Employer is further validation of our approach, as we value the veterans who work at Maximus and look forward to continuing our work with that community."

Military Friendly is the standard that measures an organizations commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Organizations must complete surveys that consist of more than 100 questions and cover key areas determined to be important factors in supporting military talent. The surveys are reviewed and developed by the independent Military Friendly Advisory Council.

"As a veteran working for Maximus, its very rewarding to see our company recognized for our efforts with veterans," said Dr. Michael Weiner, Chief Medical Officer, Maximus, who graduated from the Naval Academy, served in the Navy, and was Chief Medical Officer of the global Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. "Many companies say they support veterans, but Maximus has gone above and beyond to prove their support through meaningful actions."

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This is the second veteran-focused award that Maximus has won in recent months. In August, U.S. Veterans Magazine named Maximus to its annual list of Top Veteran-Friendly Companies.

To learn more about Military Friendly Employers visit their website.

About Maximus

Since 1975, Maximus (NYSE: MMS) has operated under its founding mission of Helping Government Serve the People, enabling citizens around the globe to successfully engage with their governments at all levels and across a variety of health and human services programs. Maximus delivers innovative business process management and technology solutions that contribute to improved outcomes for citizens and higher levels of productivity, accuracy, accountability, and efficiency of government-sponsored programs. With approximately 34,000 employees worldwide, Maximus is a proud partner to government agencies in the United States, Australia, Canada, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit maximus.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005647/en/

Contacts

Investor Relations

James Francis 703.251.8526

JamesBFrancis@maximus.com



Madison West 703.251.8443

MadisonTWest@maximus.com

Media & Public Relations

Eileen Rivera 571.329.3410

media@maximus.com
Bell's Comstock Brewery in Galesburg, Mich., on Nov. 10, 2021.

DETROIT  Bell's Brewery is selling. Its leader, Larry Bell, is retiring. And with that, a changing of the guard is about to take place at Michigan's largest and oldest independent craft brewer.

Bell  who founded Bell's in 1985, brewing its first beers in a 15-gallon soup kettle and later inventing several hallmark beers such as the Two Hearted Ale and the Oberon Ale  announced he is selling his company to Australasian beer company Lion, a subsidiary of Japanese beverage conglomerate Kirin, for an undisclosed amount in the coming months. Lion also owns Colorado's New Belgium Brewing among its portfolio of international craft beer brands.

The move will ultimately combine Bell's, the 16th-largest overall brewer in America by sales volume in 2020, and New Belgium, the 11th-largest, into a "new American craft beer leader," though both will retain their brands and beers.

Veterans Day: Veterans can get free food at IHOP, Denny's, Wendy's, Applebee's and more.

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Larry Bell, founder and owner of Bell's Brewery in the Brew Gallery at the Bell's Comstock Brewery in Galesburg, Mich., on Nov. 10, 2021.

While the leadership team at Bell's will not change and neither will day-to-day operations at its Comstock, Michigan-based facility and Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Eccentric Cafe and Shop, the craft brewing titan will move forward without Bell, the pioneer of craft beer in Michigan and as influential of a figure as any in what has blossomed into one of America's richest beer states, with more than 400 operating breweries. He announced his retirement at the company's annual all-employee event and said he plans to stay active in the Kalamazoo community.

"I first incorporated the company when I was 25 in 1983," Bell, 63, told the Free Press, referring to what was originally The Kalamazoo Brewing Company, Inc., a homebrewing supply store that began selling its own beer two years later. "I've been CEO of the company for 38 years. That's a long time. It's a great career.

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"But there comes a time that you have to decide what you're going to do. And last year, I dealt with my old friend cancer again. I'm fine, I had successful surgery. But it does make you think about what you're going to do."

So Bell turned to his Board of Directors, which agreed that selling the company was the best option for the legacy of Bell's and its some 550 employees. And the opportunity to join forces with New Belgium, a "similarly minded company as our regarding their values and how they operate," was too good to pass up.

New Belgium was founded in 1991 by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch in Fort Collins, Colo., and expanded to Asheville, North Carolina, in 2016, Denver in 2018 and San Francisco in 2020. Its beer can be found in all 50 states; it's best known for its Fat Tire amber ale and Voodoo Ranger IPA. It staffs roughly 700 employees.

"For us to be joining forces with New Belgium is fantastic," Bell said.

A big beer: Samuel Adams to release Utopias beer that's 28% ABV and illegal in 15 states

Employee-owned for seven years, New Belgium sold to Lion in 2019. Its CEO, Steve Fechheimer, stayed on following the transaction and the company remains headquartered in Fort Collins, Colo.

Fechheimer told the Free Press that New Belgium has enjoyed roughly 25% growth the past two years and that the company has been able to build upon its mission and invest more into its brands since the sale to Lion. It's also had the flexibility to take care of its employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And personally, as a born-and-raised Michigander, he knows how important Bell's is to the state of Michigan.

"I love this state," Fechheimer said. "I know how important this brand, this company, (and) Larry's legacy is to the craft beer drinkers of Michigan. And I take that really seriously.

"I'm really proud to be here with Larry and thankful that he's entrusted a part of his legacy to me. We're going to do right by the Kalamazoo community, by the Michigan community and by Bell's fans all around the country."

Bell's Executive Vice President Carrie Yunker, who will continue to lead day-to-day operations for the brewery, will report to Fechheimer and join the combined company's leadership team, as well as Vice President of Operations John Mallett, who will "focus on integrating the two brewing organizations," according to a news release on the sale.

While there are no plans to change operations at Bell's Brewery's 500,000-barrel Comstock facility  or at its Upper Hand Brewery in Escanaba, Michigan, which just recently began slinging its beer in the Lower Peninsula  the only trajectory for Bell's is upward, Bell said.

"The purpose is to not make less beer and have less employees, its the exact opposite," he said.

Bell's is best known for Two Hearted Ale (7% alcohol by volume), an award-winning American IPA brewed with all Centennial hops, and Oberon (5.8% ABV), a beloved seasonal wheat ale whose annual release day, Oberon Day, marks the first unofficial sign of Michigan summer around the corner (that's still happening in 2022, by the way). Other year-round staples include the Official Hazy IPA, Light Hearted Ale, Porter and Lager of the Lakes.

Bell said the sale will not change the way these beers, or others, will be brewed or housed. And other company initiatives, such as 100% carbon neutrality by 2023, $1-per-barrel philanthropy and a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, will remain intact, as well as the company's support with events such as Kalamazoo Pride.

"Come Friday morning, employees of Bells and Upper Hand will be brewing beer the same way they did last week," he said. "We hope our consumers continue to support those employees."

We're so excited to welcome @BellsBrewery to our family! A powerhouse of damn good beers since 1985, Bells is an iconic leader of the craft beer movement, and an integral part of the Michigan brewing community. pic.twitter.com/Xww55xm3Xd  New Belgium Brewing (@newbelgium) November 10, 2021

Since its founding, Bell's held the distinction as Michigan's largest brewer by volume of beer until 2018, when it was surpassed by Founders Brewing Co. in Grand Rapids. Founders, long considered Bell's' counterpart as a Michigan craft brewing giant, sold a 90% majority stake to Spanish company Mahou San Miguel in 2019. Both moves mean Holland-based New Holland Brewing Co. is now the largest fully independent craft brewery in Michigan, based on sales volume, according to the Brewers Association's Top 50 list (New Holland is No. 50).

And it's the latest move in an embattled American craft beer industry facing all kinds of challenges, ranging from market saturation to an aluminum can shortage to the COVID-19 pandemic, which shuttered indoor dining for many breweries and forced them to find alternative strategies for selling their beer, such as curbside pickup. And then there's the introduction of hard seltzer and canned cocktails, which have put a dent in overall beer sales the past few years.

And now Michigan craft beer moves into a post-Bell era, which is uncharted territory for an industry that has grown exponentially over the past two decades.

"To all craft beer drinkers, thank you for supporting me for 38 years," Bell said. "I've had a great career, especially in Michigan. The people who have supported us, I can't thank them enough."

Follow Brian Manzullo on Untappd, bmanzullo and Twitter, @BrianManzullo and @SpiritsofDET.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Bell's Brewery sold to Lion, will combine with New Belgium Brewing
OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers powerful new solutions across sectors of the economy to improve the lives of Canadiansfrom advanced health care to more efficient and sustainable resource development and agriculture. International collaboration and coordination will help realize the full potential of AI to benefit all citizens and accelerate trustworthy technology development, while fostering diversity and inclusion across the AI domain.

Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, joined leading international AI experts, including representatives from 18 GPAI member countries and the European Union, for the second annual plenary of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) in Paris, France. During the opening ceremony, Minister Champagne highlighted the progress that GPAI has made in its first year under Canada's chairmanship and formally passed the torch to France, which is taking over as 20212022 GPAI Council Chair. The Minister was joined by Cedric O, France's Minister of State for the Digital Transition and Electronic Communication and the new GPAI Lead Council Chair.

Under Canada's leadership, the working groups have been examining how AI can be used to address complex global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, create more inclusive economic growth and improve working conditions around the world. The preliminary projects conducted in 2021 have set the scene for the next phase of GPAI's work.

In his remarks, Minister Champagne encouraged all GPAI members to join Canada in leveraging the proposals and recommendations of GPAI experts to help guide thoughtful and decisive actions for the responsible development of AI. The Minister also reaffirmed Canada's commitment to collaborating with France and other GPAI members to encourage a diversity of perspectives that will allow GPAI to amplify the important work it is undertaking globally.

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The Paris Summit marked the end of Canada's position as the inaugural GPAI Council Chair. Canada will continue to work closely with the new GPAI Council Chair and with other member countries and partners to make sure AI is developed and used in a manner consistent with human rights, fundamental freedoms and shared values.

Quote

"GPAI's achievements demonstrate what the global AI community can accomplish when we work together. I look forward to continuing to work with my international counterparts to make sure AI is developed and used responsibly and to the benefit of all citizens."

 The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

Quick facts

Canada has a thriving AI ecosystem composed of more than 850 start-up companies, 20 public research labs, 75 incubators and accelerators, and 60 groups of investors from across the country, grouped in major hubs such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Waterloo, Toronto and Montreal.

Launched in June 2020, GPAI is the result of a G7 initiative developed under its Canadian and French presidencies.

GPAI supports the responsible development and use of AI based on human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth, while seeking to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

GPAI has gained momentum as an international AI forum, and its work is now being discussed in other international forums, such as COP26, where the Responsible AI Working Group's draft roadmap on AI and climate change was presented.

Building on the success of the first phase of the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, Budget 2021 committed an additional $443.8 million over 10 years to renew the strategy with a focus on commercialization and talent development and attraction.

Associated links

Stay connected

Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED.

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.

Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Cision

View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/November2021/11/c0370.html
Most likely arrival time of tropical-storm-force winds for Potential Tropical Cyclone Six.

I wonder if the following comment by a Palm Beach Post Times reporter in her article, "Hurricane season uses up names for only the third time in history," signifies that the reporter, at least, recognizes that humans can not change our climate? If we could change the nature of natural phenomenon, we would be able to stop hurricanes from forming. In fact, we could stop major floods, severe tornadoes, wildfires caused by lightning, volcanoes from spewing their deadly lava and ash, and cyclones and monsoons from destroying lives and property. We cant. But what we humans can do is be kinder to our earth and recycle, treat the land and its inhabitants and our oceans and other waterways with great care. The 2021 hurricane season will go down in history for its tropical fecundity, exhausting the storm names list for only the third time on record before easing into a sluggish finish.

Cathy Yonkers, Jupiter

Thanks to those who served

I dont know you but you dont know me either and yet you have have been out there giving support and risking your life for our country, and that includes me. For that I am truly grateful. As I sit in the comfort of my home, I find it is difficult to imagine what you have endured as soldiers. It is hard to put into words how much that is appreciated and how much you are respected and valued for committing to such a service. For all of these reasons, I thank you so very much for your service.

Ellen Moses, West Palm Beach

Don't defund the private sector

A recent letter writer champions Bidenomics as if taking more money from the productive private sector and giving it to bureaucrats for bloated social welfare is a good thing for our economy. Its the free market private sector where a country's wealth is created by allocating capital most efficiently and effectively based of billions of daily market signals. Bureaucrat politicians on the other hand destroy wealth as they allocate based on their ideology.

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Tim Comer, Jupiter

Less spending on war

Our political leaders are squabbling over spending $3.5 trillion over 10 years on domestic programs with broad benefit to the American people. Yet, there is general agreement on spending, over ten years, $7-8 trillion to develop and maintain our ability to wage war, death and destruction.

I am disappointed with the Biden Administrations arrangement with Australia and the United Kingdom to increase the belligerency level in the Western Pacific. Having grown up when the British Empire was disintegrating, I became convinced that the philosophy of kill or be killed," is unacceptable and unworkable in the long run. We face many domestic and global problems and must focus on a live and let live approach. Pandemics, racism, climate change and other issues must take precedence over macho war making, if we are to have any hope of survival as a nation and as a culture. I am old enough that I will not live to experience these consequences, but grieve for my children and, especially, my grandchildren who will inherit a much degraded world.

Stephen J. Clarke, Royal Palm Beach

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Names were this storm season's casualties
LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 6, 2021

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers or acquirers of Nano-X Imaging Ltd. (NASDAQ:NNOX) ("Nano-X") securities between June 17, 2021 and August 18, 2021 has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

(PRNewsfoto/Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman )

All investors who purchased shares of Nano-X Imaging Ltd. and incurred losses are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action or join the case on our website, www.whafh.com.

If you have incurred losses in the shares of Nano-X Imaging Ltd., you may, no later than December 6, 2021, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in Nano-X Imaging Ltd.

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE CASE

On June 17, 2021, Nano-X submitted a 510(k) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for its multi-source version of the Nanox.ARC. A 510(k) is a type of premarket submission made to the FDA to demonstrate that a device to be marketed is as safe and effective, that is, substantially equivalent, to a legally marketed device. Following this submission, defendants touted the Nanox ARC's regulatory and commercial prospects in various public statements and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

On August 19, 2021, Nano-X reported that Nano-X "received a request for additional information from the [FDA] concerning the Company's last 510(k) submission of its multi-source device, Nanox.ARC," and that "[t]he submission file is placed on hold pending a complete response to the FDA's list of deficiencies," with "[t]he Company's response . . . due within 180 days from the date of the request for additional information."

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On this news, Nano-X's ordinary share price fell nearly 10%, damaging investors.

Wolf Haldenstein has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation.

If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com, or visit our website at www.whafh.com.

Contact:

Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP

Patrick Donovan, Esq.

Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis

Email: gstone@whafh.com, donovan@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com

Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.

Cision

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SOURCE Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP
Early last year, Netflix started using a new codec called AV1 on a select set of titles on Android. Now, the streaming giant has enabled AV1 streaming on the PS4 Pro and a limited number of smart TV models. Netflix was a key contributor to the development of AV1, which is available for use royalty free under the Alliance of Open Media. It shared this list of supported TVs with The Verge:

Select Samsung 2020 UHD Smart TVs

Select Samsung 2020 UHD QLED Smart TVs

Select Samsung 2020 8K QLED Smart TVs

Samsung The Frame 2020 Smart TVs

Samsung The Serif 2020 Smart TVs

Samsung The Terrace 2020 Smart TVs

Any TV connected to a PS4 Pro streaming with the Netflix app

Select Amazon Fire TV devices with Fire OS 7 and above

Select Android TV devices with Android OS 10 and above

The company explained that deployment on TVs took sometime because playback on TV platforms depend on hardware. It was only over the past year that the industry released models capable of AV1 streaming. Netflix conducted comparison testing before rollout and found that AV1 delivers videos with better quality than other codecs, especially when there's network congestion. It also noticed fewer noticeable drops in quality due to changing network conditions and lesser time to start streams. In addition, since AV1 has higher compression efficiency than the codecs Netflix is currently using, it needs lesser bandwidth. That could lead to longer streaming sessions in 4K resolution.

A team within the company created a rollout strategy to minimize associated costs with encoding its whole catalogue. Netflix will consider a title's popularity into consideration and start with well-known shows like La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) to make sure the AV1 streaming reaches the most number of viewers. The streaming giant also said that it's working with more manufacturers to develop more devices with AV1 playback capability.
TORONTO --News Direct-- No Dogs Left Behind

No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB), a global animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the reckless slaughtering of animals in East Asia, is proud to announce its presence in Canada with the opening of its first Safe House in Toronto for dogs rescued from the illegal dog meat trade. This is the first expansion of its kind for NDLB outside of East Asia.

NDLB, a United States based nonprofit organization, operates boots on the ground in East Asia fighting on the front lines to end the reckless slaughtering of all animals. With help from hundreds of local activists, Jeff Beri, the Founder and President of the organization, rescues dogs from slaughterhouses, dog meat trucks, wet markets, the Yulin Dog Meat Festival and illegal dog traffickers. He then transports them to one of NDLBs three sanctuaries in East Asia where they receive medical care, nutritional support, and rehabilitation on an ongoing basis. These survivors stay in NDLBs sanctuaries until they are adopted into loving homes in the United States, Canada and the U.K.

No Dogs Left Behind survivors waiting for a flight home.

Primarily located in East Asia, with its headquarters in New York, NDLB recently expanded its presence into Canada in order to continue its lifesaving work after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indefinitely suspended the importation of dogs into the United States from 113 countries. This suspension was a complete surprise to all international rescues, and at the time, we had 112 dogs that had American adopters waiting to welcome them home says Jacqueline Finnegan, NDLB Vice President and CEO of USA Operations. We recognized that this suspension would likely remain in place for the foreseeable future and we took immediate steps to grow the foundation so that we could continue to adopt out the dogs that we rescue.

Failure is not an option says Beri. Our mission is to end the reckless slaughtering of animals. The CDCs import ban forced us to rethink our operations because we must have the ability to adopt our dogs out in order to make room for new survivors. We have always adopted dogs to Canadian citizens, so choosing Canada as the location for our first Safe House in North America was an easy decision.

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Beri arrived in Toronto today to personally open the Safe House and ensure it operates according to all the same protocols NDLB employs in the other three sanctuaries it operates. The Safe House will include kennels, indoor and outdoor play areas, and large parks for the dogs to play in throughout the day. A key part of the operations will focus on socializing the dogs so that they are fully adjusted and ready to become part of a family when they are finally united with their adopters.

No Dogs Left Behind survivors waiting for a flight home.

The welcome we have received from everyone in Canada has been overwhelming, says Beri. We are so grateful to all of the amazing Canadians who have opened up their homes and their hearts to our survivors, whether as fosters or adopters, and to all of the new volunteers who have joined the NDLB family in the recent months to help us with transports and our Safe House.

Through the unwavering support of donors, volunteers and activists, NDLB is leading the efforts in fighting for global animal welfare reform. Beri looks forward to growing NDLBs presence in Canada and getting more people involved in NDLBs fight against animal cruelty and demanding global animal welfare laws.

If you would like to donate to support NDLBs mission or its new Canadian Safe House, click here.

About No Dogs Left Behind:No Dogs Left Behind operates boots on the ground in East Asia, fighting on the frontlines to rescue dogs from the illegal dogmeat trade. We work hands-on with local activists through emergency response, pulling dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dogmeat trucks, wet markets and traffickers. Our mission extends beyond borders, advocating for the creation and enforcement of animal welfare laws, and raising awareness for a cruelty-free, sustainable world in which no animal is violated, exploited, tortured or slaughtered for commercial goods or profit. With nearly 500 survivors in our care, No Dogs Left Behind operates sanctuaries in Dayi and Gongyi in East Asia.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok.

Contact Details

No Dogs Left Behind

Sherry Chen

+1 855-665-0888

sherry@nodogsleftbehind.com

Company Website

http://www.nodogsleftbehind.com

View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/no-dogs-left-behind-announces-the-opening-of-its-new-safe-house-located-in-toronto-canada-180348592
FILE PHOTO: The Netflix logo is seen on the company's office in Hollywood, Los Angeles

MANILA (Reuters) -Netflix Inc 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 https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-orders-netflix-remove-australian-spy-show-over-south-china-sea-map-2021-07-02 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.

(Reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Seoul, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (Gravity or Company), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games, today announced that Ragnarok Origin, a MMORPG mobile game, has been officially launched in the United States and Canada on November 10, 2021.

Ragnarok Origin, previously released in South Korea and Japan, started services with over 700,000 pre-registered accounts from August 10 with enormous expectations. On the launching day, the game ranked as the second in free download of Google Play in the United States.

Designated servers only for the United States and Canada have run to support pleasant gaming environment and the game is fully localized through local inspection in the United States. Furthermore, various events in game such as a 15 Day Log-in Reward event, a Free Respawn event and a Drop Recovery Item event, etc. are being held after its release.

Gravity said that We have prepared hard in diverse ways for players to fully enjoy Ragnarok IP through Ragnarok Origin and We sincerely appreciate huge attentions from the pre-registration and hope to enjoy the game with varieties of updates and events in future.

[Ragnarok Origin_Official Website] https://ragnarok-origin.com/

About GRAVITY Co., Ltd. ---------------------------------------------------

Gravity is a developer and publisher of online and mobile games. Gravitys principal product, Ragnarok Online, is a popular online game in many markets, including Japan and Taiwan, and is currently commercially offered in 91 markets and countries. For more information about Gravity, please visit http://www.gravity.co.kr.

Contact:

Mr. Heung Gon Kim

Chief Financial Officer

Gravity Co., Ltd.

Email: kheung@gravity.co.kr

Ms. Jin Lee

Ms. Hyeji An

IR Unit

Gravity Co., Ltd.

Email: ir@gravity.co.kr

Telephone: +82-2-2132-7800








The Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing unveils its most global class of research fellows ever.

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., November 11, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing today appointed 25 research fellows to study how granting stock to employees can sustain and grow the middle class as part of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The senior researchers, emerging scholars, and subject matter experts announced today represent the most globally diverse class of fellows in the 14-year history of the program.

"The Institutes scholars study every form of granting equity and profit shares to employees," said Joseph Blasi, the J. Robert Beyster Distinguished Professor and Director of the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. "Were trying to understand the conditions under which shares do and do not work well, both nationally and globally."

Research shows that owning a piece of the company where you work and sharing in its profits can increase productivity, reduce employee turnover, and help workers build significant wealth with a supportive corporate culture. But as the Institute documented in research commissioned by The Wall Street Journal, women and people of color do not share equally in the rewards. With todays appointments, the Institute will launch a major research initiative to further study those disparities and how to fix them.

"These scholars will explore how to include more workers in shared prosperity," said Distinguished Professor Douglas Kruse, Associate Director of the Rutgers Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing. "With a tight labor market, workers are in a stronger position. And national surveys show that they do favor having a share in their companys performance."

Representing institutions in Canada, France, Lithuania, Mexico, Slovenia, the UK, and the U.S., the 2021-22 class of research fellows includes:

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Joseph Abdel-Nour , ESSCA School of Management, Corey Rosen Fellow

Elizabeth Bennett , Harvard Kennedy School / Lewis & Clark College, Institute Fellow

Gabriel Burdin , University of Leeds, Institute Fellow

Edward Carberry , University of Massachusetts Boston, Employee Ownership Foundation-Louis O. Kelso Fellow

Robynn Cox , University of Southern California, Wawa Fellow

David Erdal , University of St. Andrews, Executive Fellow

Jose Garcia-Louzao Perez , Vilnius University, Institute Fellow

Tej Gonza , University of Ljubljana, Rutgers Fellow (Supported by Google.org)

Jessica Gordon Nembhard , City University of New York, Kendeda Fellow

Angelina Grigoreyeva , University of Toronto, Social Capital Partners Fellow

Gonzalo Hernandez Gutierrez , ITESO, Jesuit University of Guadalajara, Nachson and Arieh Mimran to.org Fellow

Jung Ook Kim , Rutgers University, Employee Ownership Foundation-Louis O. Kelso Fellow

Kyoung Yong Kim , Villanova University, Rutgers Fellow (Supported by Google.org)

Yunhyae Kim , Harvard University, Rutgers Fellow (Supported by Google.org)

Jegoo Lee , University of Rhode Island, J. Robert Beyster Fellow

Margaret Lund , Co-opera, Executive Fellow

Christopher Mackin , Harvard University / Rutgers University, Ray Carey Fellow

Thibault Mirabel , University of Paris Nanterre, Nachson and Arieh Mimran to.org Fellow

Michael Palmieri , Kent State University / Ohio Employee Ownership Center, Institute Fellow

Olga Prushinskaya , Democracy at Work Institute, Executive Fellow

Jack Stack , The Great Game of Business, Executive Fellow

Stacey Sutton , University of Illinois Chicago, Kendeda Fellow

Marcelo Vieta , University of Toronto, Faculty Mentor and Fellow

Valerie J. Whitcomb , Salisbury University, Employee Ownership Foundation-Louis O. Kelso Fellow

Nancy Wiefek, National Center for Employee Ownership, Joseph Cabral Distinguished Scholar and Fellow

Click here for more information about the fellows and their research topics. Click here for more information about how to apply for a 2022-23 research fellowship.

The Beyster family established the research fellowship program and the J. Robert Beyster endowed professorship in 2008. With generous support from the Beyster Foundation for Enterprise Development, the Employee Ownership Foundation, and other donors, it has grown to become one of the largest fellowship programs at Rutgers University. These scholars join the Institutes growing network of more than 150 research fellows and faculty mentors worldwide.

About the School

The Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations (SMLR) is the worlds leading source of expertise on managing and representing workers, designing effective organizations, and building strong employment relationships. SMLRs Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing conducts empirical research on share plans, sponsors the leading global fellowship program and academic conferences in the field, and does policy analysis. The Institute also manages a technical assistance center (The NJ/NY Center for Employee Ownership) and a program to help college professors teach about these subjects (The Curriculum Library for Employee Ownership).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005481/en/

Contacts

Press

Steve Flamisch, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations

848.252.9011 (cell), steve.flamisch@smlr.rutgers.edu
SANYA, China, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The symposium on Global Maritime Cooperation and Ocean Governance 2021, held by National Institute for South China Studies, China, also focuses on themes containing "Frontier Research on International Law of the Sea", "Ocean Governance Practices in the Arctic", "International Cooperation on Maritime Security and Safety under the Influence of Covid-19", and "Blue Economy and Sustainable Ocean Development". Speakers shared their views on a variety of frontier research on International Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including the role of UNCLOS in BBNJ negotiations and the relevance of UNCLOS on Anthropocene. The discussion was later extended over territorial entry in search and rescue operations, regional efforts on battling plastics pollution and international legal status of Coast Guards under the guidance of UNCLOS and other international law instruments, better facilitating the implementation and coordination around the existing UNCLOS regime.

Arctic states collaborative efforts and mechanisms, at different levels as well as the involvement and presence of Arctic stakeholder, commonly known as China, Japan, and Republic of Korea in Arctic affairs were also discussed. To conclude, major players in the Arctic will continue collaborating together to enhance the economic potential of the region and resolve conflicts before they emerge, as opportunities in the Arctic continue to strengthen.

International cooperation on maritime security and safety under the influence of Covid-19 has already attracted wide attention and this topic was also discussed extensively. Critical challenges faced by the world's 1.9 million seafarers including crew change crisis, no access to medical care and vaccination, required further global cooperation among international organizations and different countries. Besides, in the South China Sea, although the pandemic has significantly affected interactions among countries, the cooperation on maritime security and maritime safety particularly within the region remains robust.

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Developing blue economy is another topic rising an extensive attention. In this session, inspiring suggestions based on solid field researches and advanced experience from Great Bay Area (GBA), islands state and regional countries were introduced. Hainan, as the only Free Trade Port of China and located just beside the South China Sea, has made up its mind to contribute to the regional prosperity and to better connect the world by propelling a sustainable ocean development.

SOURCE National Institute for South China Studies, China
Acquires Drug Development and Regulation (DDR), a regulatory consultancy led by former senior officer at European Medicines Agency (EMA)

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass., November 11, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Veristat, a scientific-minded global clinical research organization (CRO), announced today the expansion of its regulatory services capabilities by acquiring Drug Development and Regulation (DDR), a scientific and regulatory consultancy with offices in Barcelona and Amsterdam. This well-timed acquisition advances Veristats regulatory capacities in Europe and the United Kingdom (UK) as it works to accelerate the development of novel therapies for a growing number of biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device clients.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005506/en/

Montserrat (Montse) Barcelo Riera, M.D. Vice President, Europe, Veristat and Xavier Luria, M.D. Founder and CEO, DDR, former Head of Safety and Efficacy of Medicines at the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

Led by Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Xavier Luria, M.D. former Head of Safety and Efficacy of Medicines at the European Medicines Agency (EMA)  DDR has carved out an impressive growth trajectory working with small to midsized companies largely involved in rare diseases and cancers, among others, and keenly interested in avoiding the implications of a less than ideal regulatory path to registration of their drugs and medical technology products. With its proficiency in European medical regulations in particular, the acquisition builds on the proven expertise of the Veristat team responsible for regulatory insight and action at a time when significant regulatory changes are afoot.

"Dr. Luria has built DDR into a company with a powerful reputation for the design, development and implementation of successful regulatory guidance, encompassing the alignment of multi-regional regulations, and proactive planning to resolve potential regulatory challenges," stated Patrick Flanagan, Chief Executive Officer at Veristat. "Sponsors recognize that historical regulatory pathways are evolving, and regulatory agencies worldwide are offering greater opportunities for access and partnership. Architecting the ideal approach to optimize the path to a positive regulatory outcome requires collaboration with an experienced regulatory partner. The astute abilities of our team to interact with regulators and support positive results will no doubt serve our clients well."

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With DDR, Veristat will continue to deliver a flexible regulatory service model that provides end-to-end strategy, implementation and oversight of all related activities that ensure compliance with global regulatory requirements and swift approval.

"I am pleased to welcome the exceptional DDR team to the Veristat family here in Barcelona," stated Montse Barcelo Riera, M.D., Vice President, Europe for Veristat. "We are now able to provide our customers with a deeper understanding of the EMA and other key regulators, along with an expanded team fully committed to reducing time to market in important areas such as cell, gene, and RNA therapies."

"Veristat exemplifies the core values DDR has embraced over the years," stated Xavier Luria, M.D. "I am delighted to know that the company makes it a top priority to support and empower its people. Veristat is at the forefront of driving bold comprehensive clinical study strategies with a team unafraid of the big thinking required to get novel therapies to patients everywhere quickly, safely and cost-effectively. On behalf of the entire DDR team, we look forward to supporting Veristat as a pre-eminent clinical research organization for the advancement of novel therapies across Europe, the UK, and worldwide."

About DDR

Drug Development and Regulation (DDR) is an independent European consultancy with offices in Barcelona and Amsterdam, focused on providing appropriate scientific and regulatory expertise for the global development and registration of drugs and medical devices. The Companys tailor-made solutions contribute to the success of clients development programs across quality, nonclinical, clinical, and regulatory functions. The DDR team brings a track record of regulatory prowess supporting hundreds of MAAs and Agency Briefing Meetings, fully accustomed to the utmost regulatory standards to carry out any plan, including innovative products, re-profiling or hybrid drugs among others. DDR benefits from a network of highly qualified experts and strategic collaborations with renowned institutions worldwide.

About Veristat

Veristat, a scientific-minded global clinical research organization (CRO), enables sponsors to solve the unique and complex challenges associated with accelerating therapies through clinical development to regulatory approval. With more than 27 years experience in clinical trial planning and execution, Veristat is equipped to support any development program. Our team has prepared nearly 100 marketing applications for approval with global regulatory authorities in the last 10 years.

Veristat's focus on novel drug development has led to success when handling the unknowns that arise across complicated therapeutic areas, such as rare/ultra-rare disease, advanced therapies, oncology, and infectious disease trials. We apply this knowledge base every day to solve any clinical program's challenges, from the simplest to the most complex. Veristat has assembled an extraordinary team of experts worldwide who have mastered therapeutic development intricacies, enabling sponsors to succeed in extending and saving lives.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005506/en/

Contacts

Veristat:

Lauren L. Brennan, Director of Marketing

media@veristat.com
LONDON, ON, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Legion will receive a contribution to its Poppy Fund from leading freelance audio marketplace Voices this Remembrance Day. Headquartered in London, Canada, Voices aims to support impactful action in its community.

A traditional Remembrance Day red poppy sits against a blue background. (CNW Group/Voices)

Ann Walton , Vice President, People & Operations at Voices, shares "Remembrance Day is an opportunity to honour and spend a quiet moment in reflection and gratitude for those who have fought and made immeasurable sacrifices for our freedoms. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the battles we continue to fight for equality and reconciliation in our nation. Now, more than ever, is the time to bolster our communities and one another as we strive to overcome the obstacles the last few years have brought forward. Voices is proud to support Canada's veterans at a time when it is most needed."

The last two years have highlighted the critical need for donations across a wide variety of non-profits within the nonprofit sector, including veteran initiatives. After a very different Remembrance Day last year, the Royal Canadian Legion is hoping that a sense of normalcy will return to this year's poppy drive and to fundraising efforts amidst fewer COVID-19 pandemic restrictions across Canada.

This is especially poignant as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the traditional red poppy , originally adopted by the Great War Veterans Association of Canadathe predecessor to the Royal Canadian Legionin 1921.

This year, the Legion estimates approximately 20 million poppies will be distributed across Canada and is hopeful Canadians will don the red flower made so popular by John McCrae's poem ' In Flanders Fields ' as an act of remembrance and respect.

For more information on the Royal Canadian Legion or to donate to the Poppy Fund, please visit www.legion.ca/donations .

About the Royal Canadian Legion

The Royal Canadian Legion is Canada's largest Veteran support and community service organization. Today, the Legion continues to improve the lives of Veterans, including serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as well as their families.

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About Voices

Voices is the world's #1 audio services marketplace, with over 2 million registered users. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have entrusted Voices to help them find professionals to bring their projects to life. Headquartered in London, Canada, Voices helps match clients with voice over, music, audio production, and translation professionals in over 160 countries.

Voices logo. (CNW Group/Voices)

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voices-supports-royal-canadian-legions-poppy-fund-in-acknowledgement-of-remembrance-day-301421073.html

SOURCE Voices
RICHMONDYoure invited to celebrate all things Dude at The Big LeBYRDski Fest this Saturday in Carytown. The fundraiser pays homage to the classic 1998 cult film The Big Lebowski written and directed by the Coen brothers Ethan and Joel.

Dress as your favorite character and compete in the costume contest at 8 p.m.

Jeffrey The Dude Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker who only wants to bowl and drink White Russians, is mistaken for another Jeffrey Lebowski, a wheelchair-bound millionaire. The Dude finds himself dragged into a strange series of events involving nihilists, adult film producers, ferrets, errant toes and large sums of money.

The movie stars Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, David Huddleston, John Turturro, Tara Reid, Sam Elliott, Ben Gazzara and Kiva Dawson.

El Duderino brew

Your $20 ticket includes the Rated R movie in 35mm and also an El Duderino brew crafted by the Center of the Universe Brewing Company of Ashland owned by Chris and Phil Ray.
A man who was indicted earlier this month for a 2019 robbery in Stafford was ordered Wednesday to serve nearly 30 years in prison for a series of incidents that took place a couple of weeks after the Stafford robbery.

Antwain J. Proctor, 36, of Washington, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Alexandria to 357 months in prison for his role in an Aug. 28, 2019, carjacking and robbery in Northern Virginia.

According to federal court records, Proctor and Jovan D. Johnson stole a Toyota Prius at gunpoint in Arlington. They then drove the car to a 7-Eleven in Lorton and robbed a clerk at gunpoint. They got about $429 in cash and 78 cartons of cigarettes.

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The clerk suffered a gash on his forehead after he failed to immediately comply with demands to open the register.

Proctor and Johnson, who is also serving a 357-month federal sentence, then got into a chase that ended with a crash on Interstate 495 near the Wilson Bridge. Two Virginia State Police troopers were injured in the crash, court records state.

The Stafford robbery occurred late Aug. 15, 2019, at the Dominos at 556 Garrisonville Road, police said.
The Stafford County School Board hired Thomas Taylor, a former regional superintendent of the year in Virginia, as the next division superintendent, effective Dec. 1.

Taylor comes from the Richmond-area Chesterfield County Public School system, where he has been deputy superintendent since 2016. Prior to that, he was superintendent of Middlesex County Public Schools.

The board voted unanimously Wednesday to hire Taylor to replace Scott Kizner, who retired as superintendent of Stafford schools this summer. Stanley Jones has been serving as interim superintendent for the division and will return to his position as associate superintendent of instruction.

The School Boards appointment of Dr. Taylor is a perfect trifecta: right person, right place, right time, School Board Chairwoman Holly Hazard said in a news release issued by the Stafford school system. As we navigate this unprecedented time, I view Dr. Taylor as a beacon for moving the division forward. I invite the community to celebrate with us the selection of our new superintendent and to engage the school division in our upcoming outreach session with Dr. Taylor.

In the press release, Taylor said he cant wait to get to work.
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Smith was serving as a public relations officer in Bosnia in 2001 when she started feeling pains in her left leg. Tests showed a blood clot and she was sent stateside. Her serious condition got even worse when she began to hemorrhage weeks laterand would continue to do so three more times in the years that followed.

She lost her left leg, below the knee, suffered extreme damage to the right thigh and lost vision in both eyes except for a tiny sliver in the right one. Doctors concluded the damage had been caused by some mysterious toxin or chemical she was exposed to in Bosnia.

In the years since, Smith has become a tremendous advocate and mentor for veterans, according to the bio that will be shared by TCM. She is involved with Canines for Veterans, the USO, the Fisher House Foundation, Fatigues to Fabulous and the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.

Smith is usually seen with her service dog, Issac, at her side. (She said shes not sure why his name got the unusual spelling, but he came to her that way.) Shes been a special speaker at national events, was included in Oliver Norths book about heroes on the home front and has encouraged women veterans to put on their high heels, along with their prosthetic legs, and dress up for a night on the town.
Amazon announced it will occupy a large fulfillment center along Centreport Parkway in Stafford County that the e-commerce giant said will bring 500 new entry-level positions to the region.

John Holden, Stafford Countys director of economic development, said the county, along with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, competed with Maryland and North Carolina for a shot to host the new facility that will be built to serve a number of Amazon facilities in the mid-Atlantic region.

Virginia won the bid and won the bid in Stafford, essentially, said Holden.

The 630,000-square-foot complex, slated for 220 Centreport Parkway, will be constructed by Peterson Cos., a property management firm based in Fairfax. The new building is separate from the existing 200,000-square-foot Amazon delivery complex on the parkway, the last place packages arrive before they are delivered by blue vans to customers.

[Amazon] identified Stafford as a good location for a cross-dock facility because its another part of their supply chain, said Holden. And the fact that we had approved, and Peterson was developing a site-ready area already, they selected that site to put in this facility.
As he and his mother left home to get his COVID-19 vaccine, Parker Breen needed a little extra help being brave, so the 5-year-old put on his royal blue superhero cape.

After his older brother Noahwho proudly announced his age as 6 3/4got his shot in the arm, Parker looked like he wished his cape could help him fly out of the doctors office. He hopped off the exam table, headed to the corner and repeatedly scurried out of the reach of his mother, Taylor Breen.

Then, the superhero in him seemed to take control. Saying, I got this, Parker climbed back up on the table and followed the directions of Nurse Trina Erwin. She told him to blow, blow, blow like he was blowing out a birthday candle as the needle quickly entered his left arm.

Once done, Parker leapt off the table again, but this time he was pumping his fists and doing a happy dance with his feet.

I want a Band-Aid, he called out happily and his mother gave him a big hug.

I knew you could do it, she said.

And you didnt even scream this time, his older brother chimed in.
They were hardly out of the woodsor the smokestack. The cage could hold only one at a time, so the experienced worker let the younger one go first. As Hauschildt began to ascend from the top of the smokestack, he entered the clouds and had no point of reference. He couldnt see the stack anymore, just lights hundreds of feet below.

As his crewman in the back gave him commands to go left or right, I began to get a little over controlling and panicky, you know what I mean? the pilot recalled.

He had to get himself oriented.

I took a deep breath and said this isnt going to work. So I dropped back down and the poor guy inside the basket, he doesnt know whats going on, Hauschildt said. He feels himself going up like this elevator, and all of a sudden, boomp, hes going back down. He thought he was going to crash into the other guy.

Hauschildt drew on the experience from his first duty station in Houston when he and a crewman would go out into Galveston Bay on training flightsexercises that he did not because they were required, but so he could improve his skills. Theyd pick a little buoy in the water and the crewman would attach a bag to the end of the hoisting cable.
Our communities have found themselves at a 20-year high murder rate, so were going to fund in higher salaries and equipment and also training budgets; were going to protect qualified immunity, said Youngkin.

Youngkin also said he will ensure the states mental health and behavior health systems are fully funded and plans to replace the entire state parole board while raising standards in public schools and increasing the education budget.

And of course weve got to work on the curriculum itself, said Youngkin. I want to make sure that Virginias kids are being taught how to think, not what to think.

Youngkin, who said Virginia ranks 49th in the country in terms of the best state to start a business, said he is ready to flip that number around after learning of Ford Motor Co.s recent announcement to build new plants in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

Its not going to be 49th by the time were done. Were going to march towards that No.1 spot, said Youngkin.

Todd Weidensaul, a retired Air Force chief master sergeant from Inverness, Fla., said he stumbled across the birthday celebration while visiting the museum. He said he was surprised to see Youngkin in the crowd.

I know him, just from the TV, said Weidensaul, after having his photograph taken with Youngkin. Watching the news, Im just so happy for the United States of America.

James Scott Baron: 540/374-5438 jbaron@freelancestar.com

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Faced with navigating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the city came together to distribute vaccines in the hardest-hit neighborhoods including at churches, parks, YMCAs, senior centers and pop-up clinics, she said.

Janey also announced in August that the citys roughly 18,000 employees would be required to either show proof of vaccination, or submit to regular testing to help slow the spread of the virus. In October, more than 800 city workers were suspended without pay for failing to comply with the mandate.

Because of our tireless efforts, Boston is one of the most vaccinated big cities in America, Janey said Wednesday.

She also fired the citys police commissioner Dennis White after decades-old domestic violence accusations came to light. White had been swiftly elevated to the top police post by Walsh, who later insisted he had no prior knowledge of the accusations and would never have picked White if he did. White called the allegations false.

One of thorniest issues facing Janey was a tent encampment around the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, known as Mass and Cass. The encampment became the focal point of the region's twin crises of opioid addiction and homelessness.
It looks more like forming a strike group of forces, the ministry said, adding that the Polish military buildup prompted Belarus to respond with actions both independently and within the existing agreements with our strategic ally, a reference to Russia.

Russia and Belarus have a union agreement envisaging close political and military ties. Lukashenko has stressed the need to boost military cooperation in the face of what he has described as aggressive actions by NATO allies.

Lukashenko on Thursday called the Russian bomber flights a necessary response to the tensions on the Belarus-Poland border.

Let them scream and squeak. Yes, those are nuclear-capable bombers, but we have no other choice, the president, who has been in office since 1994, said.

Col. Gen. Retired Leonid Ivashov, the former head of the Russian Defense Ministry's foreign cooperation department, said the Russian bomber flights over Belarus were intended to demonstrate Moscow's support for its ally amid soaring tensions.

Military drills and bomber flights are part of training for joint action, Ivashov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. It's needed to avert a possible military conflict that could escalate into a big war. It's necessary to demonstrate our readiness.
Urban dwellers either praise or curse the black walnut (Juglans nigra). Some find the tree troublesome because of the nuts they drop, the juglone (a natural herbicide) secreted into the soil to kill nearby plants, and the increased number of squirrels in the neighborhood. Supporters of black walnut like the tree because it is native, well adapted to the precipitation and temperature variations of Midwest weather, is stately, grows valuable wood and nuts, and provides food for wildlife.

No woodworkers material commands higher values than black walnut. It is not unusual for people with a bit of underutilized land to grow walnut trees, referring to the eventual sale of the trees as their retirement fund. It turns out that black walnut rustling is a thing, with thieves cutting down trees on public and private lands, sometimes in broad daylight, to sell to lumber mills. Theft, unfortunately, centers on the stately older trees.

Both the husks and hulls of black walnut are used to make stains for baskets and wood. Interestingly, the wood of black walnut is already a dark rich brown and requires no stain.

Nuts of black walnut are delicious and nutritious but if youve ever husked and cracked a black walnut, only to be confronted by multiple chambers inside, youll know the tedium involved in getting the nutmeats out. Consider growing one of the newer cultivars trialed by UNLs Professor Emeritus Dr. Bill Gustafson and available through the Nebraska Nut Growers Association (nebraskanutgrowers.org). These newer varieties have just two chambers inside the nut, making it possible to remove the nut in two large chunks.

A black walnut problem causing tree mortality, thousand canker disease (TCD), has foresters and tree pathologists monitoring its spread. This is a disease complex, combining feeding by the walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) with the canker-forming fungal pathogen Geosmithia morbida. The walnut twig beetle carries the fungal pathogen, unintentionally inoculating trees as it feeds. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture enacted an exterior state quarantine of walnut in 2010 and presently, thousand canker disease has not been found in Nebraska.

Kathleen Cue is an ISA & TRAQ Certified Arborist and a Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator for Dodge County. She can be reached at: 1206 West 23rd Street, Fremont, NE 68025-2504; (402) 727-2775; or kcue2@unl.edu.

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A Fremont Public Schools student was cited for making a terroristic threat overnight, according to an FPS press release.

The Fremont Police Department notified FPS of a non-descript terroristic threat made by a student who formerly attended Fremont Middle School and is currently attending a program in the Main Street/Lenihan Building. The student shared with two other students via online live chat that he was going to bring a gun to school on Thursday.

FPD made contact with the student and his parent overnight and it was determined that the student did not have access to a real gun. The picture shared with his friend was that of a realistic toy gun. The student was cited for making a terroristic threat. The student will not be at school for the foreseeable future, the statement said.

The original report, made to the Fremont Police Department, came from a parent of the student with whom the individual shared the threat and picture.

The district applauded the student in the release for being willing to talk to a parent and the parent for being willing to contact the local police.

Fremont Public Schools and the Fremont Police Department continue to take student and staff safety very seriously and continue the message to our students and families if you see something, say something and if you know something, tell an adult.

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Matrix Consulting Group has recommended that the City of Fremont hire six new firefighters and add an administrative assistant position.

The agency made the recommendations as part of its Long-Range Master Plan for the Fremont Fire Department that it presented to the Fremont City Council at a special meeting Tuesday.

Senior Manager Robert Finn, lead analyst for the project, spoke to the council about its findings and recommendations for the department.

I just want to thank Matrix, Robert and his team for working with us through this whole process, Fire Chief Todd Bernt said. They made it pretty easy for us to give them the data that they needed.

The study began after concerns were raised about needed improvements to the department, which has not seen an increase in firefighters per shift in more than 50 years.

The council initially approved an agreement with Matrix in February for the agency to begin work on the study, which included interviews and surveys.

Id like to thank the chief and his staff and the other folks at the city that were instrumental in getting us the data that we needed to conduct the analysis to complete this project, Finn said.

The studys creation also involved two meetings with the public, which Finn said expressed strong support for FFD.

The community expressed a great level of pride in the organization, the level of professionalism and the services that are being provided by the personnel in the fire department, he said.

The study aims to assess the department and focus on its strategic and long-range planning needs, specifically with response capabilities, available resources and staffing, as well as a facility assessment.

Because the facility is an older facility, there are some general code issues and things that need to be corrected for it to be a fully modern fire department facility, Finn said. But overall, the maintenance of the facility is great and it works well to serve the needs of the fire department today.

Finn said FFD responds to approximately 3,100 calls a year, an increase from 2,600 in 2018, with the heaviest volume between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

When you look at how and what their typical day is, its a lot of medical calls, auto accidents and then working fires and other types of rescue calls to round out the rest of the calls, he said.

In measuring the performance of FFD, Finn said Matrix looked at three factors, the first being processing time, which is the time it takes for a dispatcher to answer the phone and alert the department.

While the best practice for processing time is one minute 90% of the time, Finn said FFD came in at a little more than three minutes.

As a council, I wouldnt be concerned with that because it was not something that they were measuring, they didnt have performance goals established, he said. So thats one of the later recommendations in the report, to establish those performance goals.

The second factor is turnout time, which is the time frame from when the department is alerted until the wheels of the truck start turning. Finn said a department should aim for one minute for EMS calls and one minute and 20 seconds for fire calls.

With FFD, Finn said the department has a turnout time of around two minutes and 34 seconds for EMS calls and three minutes and three seconds for fire calls.

However, Finn said FFDs travel times are excellent, with the first unit arriving in four minutes and 40 seconds 90% of the time.

Firefighters are a competitive group, so as they start reporting the performance by shift, that friendly competition of who can get out of the station the fastest is something that you would see improvements in that, he said.

Finn said the study also showed that FFDs station is in an ideal location, as most of its calls come from just north or south of the facility.

In the study, Matrix recommended monitoring growth in east Fremont to determine if at a future time the city would need to build another fire station in the area.

(The study recommends) watching call demand in that area and then adding an additional station to the east side if at some point it warrants it, Finn said. But today, thats not a critical need.

While the study didnt recommend an immediate need to construct a second station, Finn said FFD needed to focus on bolstering its manpower and daily staffing to avoid callbacks, which take a strain on staff.

Getting the staffing where you can handle a typical day and the normal emergencies and reserving callbacks for when theres a critical event, something thats beyond the capabilities of your normal, typical daily staffing needs is definitely a focus of where our study went, he said.

The study recommended increasing the FFDs current minimum staffing from seven to nine, which would require two more positions to be added on each of the departments three shifts.

Youre looking at about $580,000 to buy the protective gear and then the first years salary for those folks, Finn said. So its a little over a half-million-dollar price tag to add those, but we thought the best approach was to phase in the additional personnel.

With the addition of more firefighters, Finn said FFD would still need aid from other departments and callbacks for structure fires, but the additional help would benefit its day-to-day medical calls.

In looking at how FFDs administration is constructed, Finn recommended reinstating a part-time administrative assistant position, as Bernt currently conducts all of the departments administrative functions.

That would be a good thing to help the chief, especially in terms of general clerical-type duties, which youre paying somebody at a high salary to do tasks that are really capable of being done by someone at a lower pay grade, he said.

Finn said FFD should also create a dedicated training function by assigning someone to focus on making sure certifications are maintained, as well as low-frequency, high-consequence events.

Structure fires are not a daily event, but when they do happen, you need to be able to be trained and be quick and efficient and effective at handling them, he said. So having somebody focused on ensuring the personnel are trained to handle those types of events is important.

The study also recommended that FFD make sure its facility is up to code, as well as create a formal succession plan to develop future leaders, a mentoring program for new employees and newly promoted officers and creating a statement of vision, mission and values.

(They should be) formally adopted as part of the drive so that people know where theyre going and how theyre going to get there, Finn said. And those should tie in with city values and the city mission and overall master plan for the city as well.

With emergency operations, the study recommended conducting a cost analysis of its services and focusing on performance goals for processing, turnout and travel times with the department and dispatch center.

Mayor Joey Spellerberg thanked Finn and Matrix for their work on the study over the year.

I think you brought a lot of good information forward, and I think part of the work that we did in the budget process was to make six new firefighters happen, and one of these initiatives seemed to be going in the right direction, he said.

Spellerberg also said the city was working with the local fire union on applying for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants to fund the new positions.

Its a collaborative effort right now in regard to our fire department, he said, and my goal as mayor is to continue to follow up on this plan and make sure that we can continue to improve the fire department with whats going on there.

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The first 911 call from inside the Superior Agrex facility where a disgruntled former employee killed two people on Oct. 21 came exactly a minute after Max Hoskinson fired his first shot, the Nebraska State Patrol announced Wednesday.

But by the time the call was made, the tragic incident had already ended.

And one victim, 60-year-old Sandra Nelson, was already dead.

The whole shooting lasted about 20 seconds, State Patrol Lt. Brent Bockstadter said at a press conference in Grand Island on Wednesday afternoon.

Bockstadter said Hoskinson, who was fired from his job at approximately 1 p.m. Oct. 21, returned to the Nuckolls County grain elevator less than 15 minutes later with a handgun.

He walked into the Agrex office and retreated to his former office briefly, just as Nelson was returning from her lunch break, Bockstadter said.

Agrex supervisors, including Darin Koepke, a 53-year-old Hadar man, were in a closed-door meeting as Hoskinson walked through the office, passed two employees who were working at their desks, and to the doorway of Nelson's office.

Hoskinson retrieved the gun from his waistband and fired twice through the doorway, Bockstadter said, striking Nelson in the chest and left shoulder. A pathologist determined the first shot killed her "nearly instantly."

"We don't believe that Mrs. Nelson knew that the managers' meeting was occurring or that Mr. Hoskinson had been terminated," Bockstadter said.

After shooting Nelson, Bockstadter said, Hoskinson turned to the closed-door meeting, where an employee was already loading a shotgun kept in the office for varmint control. Koepke, an out-of-town employee who was there to fire Hoskinson, threw himself against the door as Hoskinson tried to gain entry, Bockstadter said.

Hoskinson shot through the door and struck Koepke in the left abdominal area, Bockstadter said. A third unidentified victim was also shot while trying to barricade the door.

Bockstadter said Hoskinson, whose gun had briefly jammed, forced the door open and shot Koepke again in the chest, before the employee who had retrieved the shotgun fired toward the 61-year-old, striking him in the right arm and chest, incapacitating Hoskinson and bringing a sudden end to the shooting less than half a minute after it began.

In total, Hoskinson fired five shots and had another 10 in his gun when he was shot.

Koepke died at a Lincoln hospital six hours later, the initial gunshot wound proving fatal, Bockstadter said. Hoskinson died an hour after the shooting at the hospital in Superior.

The third gunshot victim was treated and released from a local hospital.

Troop C Capt. Jeff Roby said it's not clear where Hoskinson went in the 15 minutes he spent away from the grain elevator. The 61-year-old didn't contact anyone in that time, he said, and didn't leave any message or note behind.

The State Patrol has declined to release the name of the quick-acting employee who killed Hoskinson. That employee won't face criminal charges, Roby repeated on Wednesday, adding that his actions "without question" saved lives.

Koepke, by leaning against the door as Hoskinson tried to enter, likely saved lives, too, Roby said, "unfortunately giving his own life in the process."

Roby and Bockstadter both championed the quick actions of other Agrex employees, who provided immediate first aid and worked to evacuate areas surrounding the office.

They also complemented the efforts of first responders in Nuckolls County, who arrived at the grain elevator within minutes of the shooting, Roby said.

Most of all, though, the two men saved their thanks for the community of 1,750 in south-central Nebraska, still reeling from the tragedy that claimed three lives.

"That community has come together in the days following this tragic event," Roby said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley

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Pakistan's foreign minister has pushed the international community to urgently provide funding and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, which is teetering on the brink of "economic collapse," as envoys from the United States, Russia, and China met in Islamabad.

"Nobody wishes to see a relapse into civil war, no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability; everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis," Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in opening remarks at the meeting in the Pakistani capital on November 11.

The so-called "troika plus" meeting included the new U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West.

The Pakistani, American, Russian, and Chinese diplomats were also expected to meet with interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is heading a 20-member Taliban delegation to Islamabad.

Humanitarian agencies and human rights groups are increasingly raising the alarm that Afghanistan is slipping into a dire humanitarian crisis following the Taliban takeover of the country in mid-August.

The Afghan economy has ground to a near halt due to a disruption of aid and restrictions on the banking system put in place by the international community, which has not recognized the Taliban regime over human rights issues and a lack of inclusivity in its cabinet.

In a joint statement issued by Pakistans Foreign Ministry after the "troika plus" talks, the participants expressed grave concern at the potential for an economic collapse and significantly worsening humanitarian crisis and a new refugee wave.

They called for an inclusive and representative [government] that respects the rights of all Afghans and provides for the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of Afghan society.

Regarding Afghanistans serious liquidity challenges, the four countries are committed to continue focusing on measures to ease access to legitimate banking services.

Meanwhile, the Taliban should ensure unhindered humanitarian accessfor the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan to respond to the developing crisis.

Islamabad has called on the United States and other governments to allow development assistance to flow into Afghanistan to prevent an economic collapse.

It has also called for billions of dollars of assets that Afghanistan's central bank holds overseas to be unfrozen.

It is imperative for the international community to buttress provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis," Qureshi said.

Resuming the flow of funding "will dovetail into our efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the Afghan economy toward stability and sustainability," he added.

The November 11 meeting is the latest in a series of diplomatic gatherings in the region.

India held a regional security conference on November 10 that called for cooperation to ensure Afghanistan does not again become a safe haven for global terrorism.

It also called for an open and inclusive government in Kabul that would represent all sections of society to achieve reconciliation.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Russia, Iran, and the five Central Asian republics -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

With reporting by Reuters and AFP
Reporter

Stephanie Earls is a news reporter and columnist at The Gazette. Before moving to Colorado Springs in 2012, she worked for newspapers in upstate NY, WA, OR and at her hometown weekly in Berkeley Springs, WV, where she got her start in journalism.
The Common Ground Committee nonprofit said Tuesday afternoon that Rep. Joe Neguse, the Democrat from Lafayette, is improving the tenor in the nation's capitol by improving himself.

Neguse had one of the most improved scores of any member of Congress since the last assessment of bipartisanship a year ago. His score rose from 16 out of 110 points with Republican Donald Trump in the White House a year ago to 41 under fellow Democrat Joe Biden.

His score tied Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Centennial for the highest among the state's U.S. House delegation.

Freshman Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert from Silt came in last with 4 points.

The overall average score for congressional lawmakers was 29.

The committee also scored governors, and Democrat Jared Polis finished with 37 points.

The score is based on when officeholders "seek points of agreement on social and political issues through listening and productive conversation," the scorecard keepers said in a statement.

"Common ground is the bedrock of functional government, Neguse said in a press release from the Common Ground Committee, which put together the scorecard. Americans elected us to get things done and that can only happen if we work together. I am happy to have affirmed my ongoing commitment to find common ground and I look forward to making progress on the issues that matter most to voters.

Freshman Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who is the former governor and Denver mayor, was the Colorado delegation's highest scorer with 43 points. Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet of Denver followed with 39.

Other Colorado congressional members' scores were:

GOP Rep. Ken Buck of Windsor: 10 Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette of Denver: 28 Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs: 22 Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Arvada: 39

Read more about the scorecard by clicking here.

The Common Ground Committee describes itself as "free of political agenda and financial influence," with a "singular focus on bringing light, not heat, to public discourse."

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, a Democrat, scored 27 points. Republican Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming scored 0 and Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah netted a remarkable 95, the third-highest of any congressional member or governor. Rep. Ron Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska, was the highest with 108 points.

Some members had negative scores, penalized for such infractions as insulting opponents.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, was the lowest with minus-20. Rep. Norma Torres, a Democrat from California, was close by with minus-19, and Republican Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene of Georgia came in at minus-16.
Doherty High School's Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps celebrated Veterans Day, in part, by holding a ceremony at a retirement community in northeast Colorado Springs on Wednesday.

Seven of the corps 125 cadets performed in the event at Liberty Heights, a senior living community located a few miles northeast of the Air Force Academy. The event was nearly canceled after one of the cadets tested positive for COVID-19 that morning.

The last thing we wanted to do was put these folks at risks for infection, said retired Navy Capt. Greg Thomas, who leads the corps of cadets. So I initially called it off.

But Liberty Heights has rapid testing capability on site, and staff members told Thomas the group could still perform if no one else tested positive.

We didnt want to cancel unless we absolutely had to, said employee Natalie Schaefer. This is pretty special to (the residents).

The rest of the team tested negative, but with scant preparation time they needed to replace the sick cadet and reconfigure a routine they had practiced together for weeks. Thomas stepped back and allowed the cadets to figure things out for themselves.

If theyre going to be military leaders one day, they have to learn to think on their feet, to adapt and overcome, said Thomas, who spent 25 years in the Navy. This is good training for them.

Dozens of residents, many of them veterans or military spouses, showed up for the event, which included a color guard, a rifle drill demonstration, and a ceremonial flag folding. The cadets also handed out personalized certificates of appreciation to the veterans in attendance and gave flowers to the spouses.

After the ceremony, the future military leaders mingled and traded stories with the residents, men and women with hundreds of years worth of combined military experience.

Theres something very special about these young men and women, said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Douglas Murray, a Liberty Heights resident who wore his service dress uniform to the event. They have recognized what this nation is about at a very early age, and made a commitment to serve.

The Liberty Heights performance was the Doherty corps' second event of the day and one of several planned for the week. Thomas said the cadets would hold two events on Thursday, and two more on Friday.

Veterans Day week is a busy time for us, Thomas said. But we love it, because we understand what the day means to so many people.
A Peyton man accused of helping breach the U.S. Capitol with a large metal Trump sign was arrested in Colorado Springs Tuesday morning.

Thomas Hamner was arrested on a warrant stemming from the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, where hes alleged to have engaged in confrontations with police with other rioters, including pushing a large metal sign bearing the former presidents name on it into a defensive line of law enforcement officers.

Hamner, 48, is facing charges of engaging in violence in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers with a dangerous weapon. Hes one of several Coloradans whove been arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 riots, including U.S. Olympic Swimmer Klete Keller, who pleaded guilty in September to felony obstruction of an official proceeding before Congress.

Hamners being held at the U.S. Marshals office in Denver, according to officers on scene of his arrest, after being taken into custody by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and U.S. Marshals assisted by Colorado Springs police just outside a Salvation Army center on Yuma Street. He's being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, along with the Department of Justice's Counterterrorism Section.

According to a U.S. Attorneys Office press release, Hamner was set to make an appearance in court Wednesday in the U.S. District Court of Colorado in Denver.

The afternoon of Jan. 6, as U.S. Congress members sat certifying the vote count of the 2020 Presidential Election, authorities with the FBI allege Hamner was one among a throng of protesters assembled at the West Front of the Capitol.

That crowd, at first held at bay by a crude barricade of bike racks and a line of U.S. Capitol police, eventually breached the line, assaulting officers and breaking windows as they forced their way into the Capitol.

Hamner, officers wrote in an arrest warrant, was captured in video posted to national news sites and social media wearing a Christmas sweater reading, Guns dont kill people, Clintons do, as he and other rioters rammed a large metal Trump sign into the defensive line of officers.

Photos taken that day also depict Hamner and other rioters fighting with Capitol and Washington D.C. police over a metal gate, and struggling against barricades.

Those photos, along with other footage capturing Hamner that day, were corroborated by a person unidentified in arrest papers who said they knew Hamner and recognized him while comparing other photos of him.

On Tuesday, Hamner told onlookers that he was being arrested for being at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and joked that the officers arresting him were lucky he wasnt running.

Im a runner, and Im a fighter, but I aint that today because I know Ive been doing right, he appeared to say, referencing his rap sheet.

In 2015, Hamner was convicted of driving without a license, failing to signal, and obstructing a peace officer and resisting arrest, for which he was sentenced to 45 days in jail. Court records indicate he appealed that conviction, but show his sentence largely remained and that his case was closed.
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Additional potential victims and witnesses claiming sexual misconduct emanating from the Colorado Springs-headquartered Christian ministry Young Life are contacting Denver law firm Rathod / Mohamedbhai LLC for assistance, according to lead attorney Iris Halpern.

Meanwhile, four claims recently submitted to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are working their way through the investigative process.

A regular stream of survivors or witnesses are calling us, and the communications and context show theres a national problem happening here, and the organization really needs to take harassment and discrimination seriously, Halpern said Wednesday.

It has policies and practices that dont encourage survivors to come forward, and they dont seem to address the heart of the problem  theres a culture problem across the board.

In a statement to The Gazette, Young Life contends: The safety and well-being of all participants is a top priority for our organization, and abuse is not tolerated.

Accusers disagree.

Alleged victims from around the nation claim the 80-year-old organization, one of Colorado Springs' largest Christian ministries with revenue of $361 million in 2020, according to financial documents, for decades has covered up complaints of sexual assault and harassment involving members, staff and volunteers.

The ministry provides youth groups and camps for nearly half a million middle school, high school and college students around the world through 2,300 field offices.

Victims who say they faced sexual assault, unwanted touching or unwanted sexual attention while working for or participating in Young Life activities began speaking out in an investigation published in October by Business Insider, a New York City-headquartered financial and business news website.

At least one of the alleged cases occurred in Colorado.

A lawsuit filed in federal court in Denver in June 2020 claimed Laureana Arellano was racially and sexually harassed at a Young Life summer camp in Colorado in 2019. The case reached a settlement agreement in September, with undisclosed terms, Halpern said.

Arellano, who lived in Colorado at the time, describes in the legal complaint how a coworker assaulted her by shoving his hand down her apron and groping her genitalia.

A manager told her it was Gods plan, court paperwork states.

Arellano says she was let go from her volunteer position in the kitchen of the camp after reporting that she witnessed male campers grope a female campers breasts.

Young Life is a mandatory reporter in all jurisdictions, the organization said in its statement to The Gazette, meaning it is required by law to report to authorities reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect.

Sexual conduct, anti-harassment and mandatory reporting policies, along with rigorous training, are designed to equip Young Life staff and volunteers to recognize improper or criminal behavior and to take immediate and appropriate action, Young Life said.

This is my story begins descriptive posts from former Young Lifers on the recently formed @metooyounglife on Instagram.

One anonymous woman said she felt like she and other Young Life staff and volunteers led a double life in college. Theyd hold Bible studies during the week and party on the weekends.

One night she got drunk and went with a male leader to his house, where she thought shed sleep it off. Instead, he undressed her and everything but sex happened  without her consent.

When she reported the incident, she said area directors told her she wasnt supposed to drink that much and made me feel as if I had some responsibility.

Since 2000, at least eight Young Life staff members and volunteers have been charged criminally, following claims of sexual abuse, according to Business Insider.

Among them, a volunteer leader in Michigan pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual misconduct after five men accused him of years of sexual abuse when they were teenagers. And an adult employee in California received jail time for allegedly having sex and impregnating a 15-year-old in his Young Life group.

Young Life had investigated five of the eight allegations raised by media, the organization said in its response to The Gazette.

Three of those investigations resulted in the dismissal of a staff member or volunteer accused of misconduct affecting another adult staff member or volunteer, Young Life said.

The organization had no record of the remaining three as having been reported but opened new investigations into them immediately after they were reported in the media, the email stated.

We take every allegation of sexual misconduct and harassment seriously, and no one guilty of violating or abusing another individual is allowed to continue in relationship with Young Life, the organization said.

Arellano is among the four EEOC filers, who individually cite a pattern or practice of racial and sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.

The women argue the organizations local and national offices ignored or mishandled their complaints.

Halpern said she doesn't know when the EEOC might release its findings.

The elements of whats transpired in the Young Life cases can be found in every abuse situation thats been uncovered involving churches or parachurch organizations, said The Rev. Kelly Williams, pastor of Vanguard Church, a Southern Baptist affiliate with two locations in Colorado Springs. Williams is a national voice on holding churches and ministries accountable,

Someone says theyve been victimized and the organization either ignores, belittles or silences in some means or capacity for the sake of the good of the organization, and the mission of the organization, he said.

Williams said he understands the motivation to protect the reputation of the organization in question, as well as the effectiveness of the Gospel and the Christian faith.

But unfortunately, these means we have used have produced a duplicity in us in that we have silenced people privately, and then things come out many years later publicly, and the very thing we were trying to protect  integrity  weve destroyed.

Other Christian ministries with local ties have faced similar allegations, including Youth With a Mission, which has several offices in Colorado Springs.

The Christian missionary groups Perth, Australia, office was accused of failing to report a sexual assault to police and telling alleged victims to apologize to suspected attackers for leading them on, according to media reports.

Also, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which after 32 years of being headquartered in Colorado Springs relocated to Columbus, Ohio, earlier this year, was accused of failing to investigate one of the largest sex abuse scandals of recent years, involving its ordained minister, the Rev. Ravi Zacharias.

The case revolved around the ministries use of non-disclosure agreements to settle cases and silence victims.

A lot of organizations have used non-disclosure agreements and attorney-client privilege to try to protect the organization at the detriment of the victim and the holiness of God, said Williams, the Vanguard Church pastor.

My challenge to organizations, whether its Young Life, Vanguard, New Life or the Southern Baptist convention that my church is a part of, is weve got to stop using legal means to silence people whove been victimized by our leaders.
A Peyton man accused of helping breach the U.S. Capitol with a large metal Trump sign was arrested in Colorado Springs Tuesday morning.
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FILE PHOTO: A woman walks by a mural in support of the liberation of Colombian businessman and envoy Alex Saab, who is detained in Cape Verde on charges of laundering money for the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela September 9, 2021. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Vials with a sticker reading, "COVID-19 / Coronavirus vaccine / Injection only" and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed Johnson & Johnson logo in this illustration taken October 31, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/File Photo
El Paso County parents are showing strong interest in COVID-19 vaccines for their children, with more than 1,800 kids ages 5 to 11 getting their first shot in the first few days of the roll-out.

Children's Hospital Colorado Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael DiStefano outlined the importance of the pediatric vaccine to local officials during a El Paso County Board of Health meeting this week, noting children are far more susceptible to infection with the spread of the delta variant than they were previously. He faced a few skeptical questions during the meeting, followed by hours of testimony by the public directed at the board that questioned the vaccine and pushed back on any vaccine mandate. El Paso County officials said they have no intention of issuing a mandate.

DiStefano described a rise in COVID-19, saying in the early days of the pandemic children accounted for 5% of infections and they now account for 25%. While most children don't get severely ill from the virus, he has treated children who have developed trouble breathing, among other complications.

"It hasnt been as benign as the general population has thought of it as," he said.

The Children's Hospital system has cared for about 2,000 kids for COVID and its complications since the pandemic started, and that's included multiple children who have been flown from Colorado Springs to the system's cardiac intensive care unit because of conditions they developed as a result of their COVID-19 infections, he said. Those cases have included children with long-term complications from the virus, such as chronic fatigue. About 4% of children experience symptoms from COVID-19 for four weeks, and 1.8% have symptoms for eight weeks or longer, he said via email.

"While kids have been resilient to this, it has been challenging from a care perspective," DiStefano said.

In El Paso County, three COVID-19 patients between the ages of 10 to 19 have died from the virus, public health data show.

Children's Hospital participated in the clinical trial for the Pfizer vaccine for children, enrolling 252 participants, or about 10% of all children in the global study. The vaccine was shown to be safe and almost 91% effective in preventing infection in those 5 to 11, DiStefano said.

Colorado Springs City Councilman Dave Donelson raised several questions about the risk of the vaccine, including whether it can cause inflammation of the heart wall.

The vaccine trials showed zero cases of heart inflammation in kids ages 5 to 11 years old, DiStefano said in an email. Teenagers have experienced a few cases of inflammation, but most were mild and they recovered in one to two days.

He was not aware of any children who needed hospital care after getting the COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado Springs, he said. Children's Hospital has treated a few children ages 12 to 15 with heart inflammation following their vaccine, but all the cases have been mild and the patients returned home, he said.

He also plans to vaccinate his own 10-year-old daughter after she recovers from COVID, he said.

El Paso County started rolling out COVID-19 vaccines for those 5 to 11 last weekend and reached 1,819 kids through the end of the day Monday, said Michelle Beyrle, spokeswoman for county public health.

"We have seen strong interest in pediatric vaccines in El Paso County so far, with clinics filling up very quickly. Many parents have expressed relief in having the opportunity to vaccinate their children," she said.

Across the county, children 5 to 11 are also experiencing the greatest number of new cases each day on average as compared other age groups, she said.

Immunizing children protects elder family members and those around them that may have weakened immune systems from conditions, such as cancer, DiStefano said.

It can also give kids more opportunities to socialize, which helps ensure normal development, and physical and mental health, he said.

Numerous pediatric COVID-19 vaccine clinics are available; a full listing is available at elpasocountyhealth.org/how-can-i-get-a-vaccine.
Fifteen health care providers dispatched by the federal government arrived in Pueblo this week to help alleviate hospital capacity pressures at a hospital there, and the state is in the process of requesting two additional teams.

The team is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Disaster Medical System, which can send medical personnel, equipment and supplies to parts of the country facing various crises. The team at Pueblo's Parkview Medical Center arrived Sunday and "includes a physician, advanced healthcare practitioner, nurses, paramedics and a respiratory therapist along with support personnel," hospital spokeswoman Racheal Morris said.

The team "will be able to work for 14 days," she said. "We have requested an additional 14 days but are uncertain if we will be granted those additional days."

Pueblo, like much of the state, is facing a wave of new COVID-19 hospitalizations amid the state's ongoing pandemic surge. Parkview had 92 COVID-19 patients Wednesday; the hospital, according to Pueblo County Public Health, is at 90% of its capacity. So, too, is St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center.

The additional personnel "allows us to expand our bed capacity and help with the increase in patient volume," Morris said. Parkview requested the help, and the arrival of the team has added 20 new beds to the facility, Gov. Jared Polis said Wednesday. A spokesman for the state Department of Public Health and Environment said the state is "seeing the most requests" for additional staffing "from the Denver Metro area, southeast Colorado and northeast Colorado."

But reinforcements, even from out of state, remain limited.

"As other states are experiencing severe healthcare worker shortages, fewer contract healthcare workers are available for facilities that normally rely on contract staff to augment staff," the spokesman said.

The team is the first federal group of relief providers to arrive in Colorado, and the state has requested two more. Aid is desperately needed: The current hospitalization crush is exacerbated by COVID-19 but is pressed more fundamentally by staffing challenges. There are fewer intensive care beds statewide right now, for instance, than at nearly any point in the pandemic, a function of burnout and exhaustion facing the entire nation's health care workforce.

The wages of the provider teams will be paid by the federal government, the health department said.

Statewide, there are fewer than 700 beds available: As of Wednesday, there are 82 ICU beds left, plus 541 acute care beds, according to state data. The majority of those patients are non-COVID-19 cases; state officials have said increased movement by Coloradans has brought more trauma cases, and delayed care earlier in the pandemic means more "standard" hospital cases, often with patients in worse condition.

The state has requested two more federal teams, Polis told health officials from across the state Wednesday. Those reinforcements, plus out-of-state contractors, will be critical to the state as it looks to add 500 more hospital beds in the coming weeks. Cara Welch, spokeswoman for the Colorado Hospital Association, said that level of expansion will require all of the state's health care system's available resources.

In addition to bringing in federal and out-of-state contract providers, Colorado has "authorized temporary licenses for out of state and retired workers, as well as recent graduates awaiting their final exams," the health department spokesman said. Eric France, the state's chief medical officer, activated the crisis standards of care for staffing Tuesday, which allow providers to move into roles that they don't normally fill, among other changes.
Colorado Politics senior political reporter

Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist.
The 2021 Veterans Day ceremony planned Thursday for Central Park in downtown Mason City will be the 100th time a Veterans Day program has been offered by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Pat Askildson, secretary and historian for the organization, said the ceremony is planned for 10:30 a.m. at Central Park and is open to all veterans and members of the community.

"On Veterans Day, people come together to honor all veterans," she said of the ceremony. "Throughout the years, you are happy that people are still celebrating and remembering our veterans."

Askildson hopes people will never forget to honor veterans and remember the meaning of Veterans Day, which is: On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Germany surrendered, marking the end of World War I.

According to the bylaws, the purpose of the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association is to:

Erect and maintain an attractive and permanent memorial to veterans who were or are residents of the Mason City, Iowa, postal mailing area;

To provide for the decoration of veteran grave sites;

To observe Memorial Day in a historical, military, and proper manner;

To observe Veterans Day in a historical, military, and proper manner.

Each year, the association plans programs on Memorial Day and Veterans Day to honor fallen veterans and all who served honorably.

This year's program marks the 100th anniversary. The printed program updates the total burials, broken down by different eras. As of Memorial Day 2021, there are 4,938 veterans buried at both Memorial Park Cemetery and Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.

On Nov. 11, 2004, a new monument to honor Mason City area veterans was dedicated in Central Park by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

The monument consists of 12 black granite stones, with room for 4,600 names. Names shall be continuously accepted for inclusion on the monument. Sept. 1 each year is the cut-off time frame to have the names etched prior to Veteran's Day.

It is a source of pride for Askildson and other MCVMA members.

"Central Park was made for this very thing," Askildson said. "It was hard work and we put in a lot of hours, but we're proud of how it turned out and that we have such a wonderful monument in Mason City."

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Kyle Rittenhouses attorneys filed a motion asking for a mistrial Wednesday afternoon, arguing the prosecution had twice improperly questioned Rittenhouse during cross examination.

The move came after a dramatic morning during the eighth day of the trial, when Rittenhouse took the stand in his own defense stating that he shot three people on the night of Aug. 25, 2020, during the unrest in Kenosha to protect himself.

I did what I had to do to stop the people, Rittenhouse said. I stopped (them) from attacking me.

But Rittenhouses much anticipated testimony was later overshadowed by the move by the defense to request a mistrial with prejudice  meaning that charges against Rittenhouse could not be refiled  because of two lines of questioning Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger pursued while cross examining Rittenhouse.

When he first began questioning Rittenhouse, Binger made reference to Rittenhouse telling his story for the first time after having the opportunity to watch video and read stories about the night in question, and after listening to more than a week of testimony at his trial. Defense attorney Mark Richards objected and the jury was sent out of the room.

"This is a grave constitutional violation for you to talk about the defendant's right to silence, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce Schroeder admonished Binger. You are right on the borderline and you might be over, but this has got to stop.

After the jury returned and Binger resumed questioning. Binger asked Rittenhouse repeatedly whether it was appropriate to use deadly force to protect property. When Rittenhouse answered that it was not appropriate, Binger began to question him about an incident that happened weeks before the shootings when Rittenhouse could be heard on video talking about wishing he had his AR-15 so that he could fire rounds into people he presumed were shoplifting. The judge had previously ruled that evidence could not be introduced to the jury.

Richards again objected and the jury was again sent out of the room.

Defense attorneys objected to Binger bringing up an issue the court had said could not be admitted. Richards said Binger has crossed line twice in questioning.

"The next time it happens Ill be asking for a mistrial with prejudice," Richards said.

Schroeder then angrily scolded Binger.

Im astonished that that would have been an issue, the judge said. I dont want to have another issue as this case continues.

After the lunch break Wednesday, Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi formally made a motion for a mistrial with prejudice, alleging prosecutorial misconduct.

You had warned him, Chirafisi said. You warned him on the constitutional right to remain silent, (and) he did it again.

Normally when a mistrial is granted, the prosecution can retry a case. In asking for a mistrial with prejudice, Chirifisi said they were doing so under a provision that allows a judge to grant a mistrial and say the defendant cannot be retried if the prosecution is purposefully attempting to cause a mistrial because the prosecution is going badly.

I dont know if its my role to sit here and say who is winning, Chirafisi said to Schroeder. I think the court has to make a finding on the bad faith.

Schroeder did not immediately make a ruling, but appeared unpersuaded by Bingers arguments about his intentions.

I dont believe you. There better not be another incident, Schroeder said. When you say you were acting in good faith, I dont believe you.

Rittenhouse, now 18, was 17-year-old when he came to Ketnosha armed with an AR-15 he had only handled once before and  along with two friends, and joined by militia members they met that night  stationed themselves as guards of the Car Source used car lots along Sheridan Road.

During the night, Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum of Kenosha and Anthony Huber of Silver Lake, and shot and injured Gaige Grosskreutz, who now lives in Milwaukee.

Driven to tears

Early in his testimony on Wednesday, as he spoke of his encounter with Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse became so emotional he had difficulty speaking and the judge sent the jury out of the room to give Rittenhouse an opportunity to compose himself.

It had not been clear whether Rittenhouse would testify - defense attorney Richards had implied he would during his opening statement, but would not confirm that his client would take the stand. When he was called Wednesday morning after brief questioning of two other defense witnesses, it came as a surprise to many in the gallery.

On direct questioning from Richards, Rittenhouse said he had encountered Rosenbaum earlier in the night and that Rosenbaum had threatened to kill him  and another armed man  if he got them alone. Others have testified that Rosenbaum  a homeless man from Kenosha who had been released from a hospital earlier that day  had been angry and agitated, but that they had not perceived him as a threat.

Rittenhouse testified he walked and ran by himself to the Car Source location on 63rd Street and Sheridan Road after one of the men he was with called him about a fire there. He said as soon as he got there he encountered Rosenbaum and Joshua Ziminski, who had been seen with Rosenbaum during the night.

Mr. Ziminski instructed Mr. Rosenbaum to get him and kill him, thats what I heard, Rittenhouse testified.

Rittenhouse testified that he ran and that Rosenbaum ran after him. As Im running in that southwest direction Mr. Rosenbaum throws  at the time, I know its a bag now, but when he threw it to me in the light it looked silver and it looked like a chain.

Rosenbaum actually threw a plastic bag he had carried from the hospital he was released from earlier in the day, one Rosenbaums girlfriend testified contained things like socks, toothpaste, and an empty water bottle.

Rittenhouse testified that he pointed his gun at Rosenbaum but Rosenbaum continued to run toward him. I remember his hand being on the barrel of my gun, Rittenhouse said.

As you see him lurching at you, what do you do? Richards asked.

I shoot him, the defendant said.

Rittenhouse testified that he called his friend to say he had shot someone, then headed north on Sheridan Road, he said, to turn himself in to police.

Describing his actions, Rittenhouse said. I didnt do anything wrong, I was defending myself.

He said as he ran north there were people running after him. A person he now knows is Anthony Huber hit him with a skateboard. Rittenhouse said he became light headed and fell.

He said he saw one man jump toward him and kick him. He fired two shots at that man, who has never been identified, and missed.

He would have stomped my face in if I didnt fire, Rittenhouse said.

Mr. Huber, immediately after Im kicked in the face, as Im sitting up to try to get up and get to the police, runs up and  strikes me in the neck, Rittenhouse said. He grabs my gun and I can feel the strap starting to come off my body.

I fire one shot, Rittenhouse said.

That shot struck Huber in the chest, killing him.

Rittenhouse said he then shot Grosskreutz.

Grosskreutz, a paramedic who was at the protests as a volunteer medic, said he had started running after Rittenhouse after hearing shots fired and hearing people yelling that Rittenhouse had shot someone. Grosskreutz testified earlier in the trial that he saw Rittenhouse shoot Huber, and felt he was about to die. He said he had his hands up, but saw Rittenhouse re-racked his AR-15 and so he pointed his gun toward him to try to defend himself.

Rittenhouse denied he re-racked his weapon.

My rifle is down, his hands are up. Then Mr. Grosskreutz looks at me and thats when Mr. Grosskreutz brings his arm down like this, with me on the ground and his pistol is pointing at me and thats when I shoot him, Rittenhouse said.

Inconsistencies highlighted

In his cross examination, Binger pointed out earlier untruths and inconsistencies in Rittenhouses stories.

In videos shown during the trial, Rittenhouse told people he was a certified EMT. He admitted he lied about that, although he said he was in an EMT cadet program for kids at the Antioch Fire Department in Lake County Illinois, near the Kenosha County border. He admitted he drove his own car regularly from his home in Antioch to Kenosha although he did not have a drivers license.

But Rittenhouse said he felt he was not wrong to bring an AR-15 to Downtown Kenosha that day, insisting that it is not illegal for a 17-year-old to be in possession of an AR-15.

Although at least one person has testified Rittenhouse told people that night that he was an adult, Rittenhouse said he did not lie to anyone about his age, and didnt feel the need to.

You felt as a 17-year-old it was appropriate for you to be out on the streets of Kenosha with an AR-15 that night, Binger asked.

I thought I had just as right as anybody else, Rittenhouse replied.

Rittenhouses testimony was continuing Wednesday afternoon.

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The Day of the Dead (Nov. 2) has me thinking about how to honor my Mexican grandparents who moved to Mason City 100 years ago. Maria Guadalupe Herrera Granado (Lupe) and Jose Angel Alfaro left an isolated rancho in Los Altos de Jalisco, carrying their infant son Jesus. Their story is utterly unremarkable, except that it differs so dramatically from what immigrants can expect today.

This humble family of pious name  Jesus, Joseph, and Mary  were part of an enormous exodus. Historians estimate that nearly a million people  almost 10 percent of the Mexican population  headed north between 1910-1930. They were the illiterate, hungry refugees of the Mexican Revolution, mostly from the states of Jalisco, Guanajuato and Michoacan.

Every migrant has a personal reason to leave home. As the eighth of eighteen children, Jose knew there was no land or work for him in Los Altos. He had been to the United States before and he liked the wages. Lupes prospects were worse. Two of her siblings had succumbed to smallpox. Her father died when she was 10. She married at age 14, to a man who left for the U.S. and never returned. Her beloved 17-year-old brother was killed by gunfire while she was pregnant with Jesus. Jose offered her an escape from the grief and shame.

Jose and Lupe traveled north by train, courtesy of a recruiter for Chicago and North Western Railroad who offered a job and free passage. They crossed the border at Laredo just a few days before Christmas. Mexicans were welcomed then, no need for visas or passports, just a name typed on an index card. They replaced the Chinese and southern Europeans excluded by earlier waves of anti-immigration laws. Besides, Mexicans helped to keep wages low during the postwar depression.

Unlike the many Mexicans who settled in Texas or California, Jose was drawn to Iowa. He wasnt alone. By 1925, Cerro Gordo county had 455 Mexicans, more than any other Iowa county. Jose worked first for the railroad, then at the Lehigh cement plant. The family lived on Lehigh Row alongside Italian, Greek and Czech neighbors. As Lupe raised their seven children, the family spent harvest season picking sugar beets and onions at the Kennedy farm. My abuelos never learned to read or write, but their children became teachers, electricians and a decorated World War II veteran.

Today, someone elses relatives are leaving home for the north. They may be fleeing the Jalisco New Generation drug cartel, which has killed thousands of civilians. Or they may simply have tired of washing dishes in Guadalajara. Perhaps they were displaced by drought, or a high-end tequila distillery.

What awaits them on their journey? Some are apprehended at the border only to languish in a Laredo detention center. Others send their children over the border alone, in a desperate attempt to give them a better chance. Many are forced to remain in Mexico, where they hope in vain for a favorable asylum ruling. Perhaps we can honor the dead, in this land of immigrants, by rejecting cruel policies and extending compassion to the living.

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Friday brought the sad news of the death of Bernard Marie at age 82. A native of France, Marie was 5 years old on June 6, 1944, when American forces landed at Normandy to liberate his country. After moving to America, he made it his mission to see that dozens upon dozens of American World War II veterans received the French Legion of Honor medal. His involvement with the D-Day Memorial prompted him to move to Roanoke.

He held annual commemorative dinners to honor the veterans of D-Day. He listened to their stories.

Those stories deserve an audience year-round, not just on a single day of remembrance. Nonetheless, Veterans Day serves as a reminder to all of us to appreciate our military veterans and thank them for their time, labor and sacrifice.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, commemorating the date that Germany and the Allies of World War I signed the armistice that ended the fighting on the Western Front. Armistice Day also honored the memory of the American military personnel who died during that war.

President Woodrow Wilson asked his fellow Americans to fill their reflections on this day with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the countrys service, and with gratitude for the victory.
The attack caused a shift in Korns military journey, defining what the next four years of his enlistment would look like, he said.

The drill inspectors sat us down and said, Were going to war whether you want to or not, Korn, 38, said. It was one of those What did I get myself into?' moments

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After serving at Camp David, Korn volunteered to return to the infantry in 2004. Within months, he was deployed to a region south of Baghdad, Iraq, known as the Triangle of Death  an apt name given the extreme violence, Korn said.

During his eight-month deployment, Korn said 21 members of his deployment were killed in action and hundreds were injured.

With all the violence around us, and watching my friends getting hurt and killed, it was mentally damaging, said Korn, who had just turned 21 at the time. There was nothing I could do but pray, If todays my day, please make it quick.

Among many roles, Korns unit was responsible for the discovery of several large weapon caches housed by insurgents and weapon dealers.
While the weather was hot and the culture drastically different, Prim said the hardest part was leaving behind his high school sweetheart, Lauren, whom he had married two years earlier at age 19.

It was very hard, said Prim, a father of three. Skype was still a new thing, so we used a satellite phone and occasional email.

While strenuous at times, Prim said his time in Iraq and five years of military service prepared him for his current role as an officer on the Winston-Salem Police Departments SWAT team.

In Iraq, we were looking for high-value targets and high-risk criminals, said Prim  who has worked at the police department for 10 years. Here (on the SWAT team), we help the U.S. marshals find guys theyre looking for in the area, we do high-risk apprehensions, respond to homicides. Theres a lot of similarities.

After returning from Iraq and completing his enlistment in 2010, Prim enrolled at Forsyth Technical Community College where he earned a degree in criminal justice before pursuing his dream of law enforcement.

Prim said his career as a Marine and as an officer has given him the opportunity to serve both his country and the community in which he lives with his wife and children  Ava, 11, Hunter, 8, and Abbi, 5.

I wanted to serve my country, Prim said. It was tough, but it prepared me for life and where I am now.
During the interrogation, Cuomo insisted he was careful in how he behaved around women and said several of his accusers had misrepresented what happened. He also bristled at a groping allegation by an aide, Brittany Commisso, who said Cuomo had pulled her toward him and grabbed her breast in the governor's mansion.

Cuomo, 63, said it would be not even feasible for him to have done that, especially since he believed his conduct was constantly under scrutiny by enemies, including one of the lawyers then investigating him, former acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim.

Youve investigated me for six years," Cuomo told Kim, referring to corruption investigations conducted by federal prosecutors during Kim's tenure, including one that sent one of Cuomo's close friends to prison. I would have to lose my mind to do some  such a thing. It would be an act of insanity to touch a womans breast and make myself vulnerable to a woman for such an accusation."

Numerous people have tried to set me up, Cuomo said. Im always wary of people. I have phenomenal precautions. It would be an act of insanity.

The Albany County sheriffs office filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo over Commisso's groping allegation late last month.
Not long after Cawthorns announcement Thursday night, Moore came out with one of his own: He wouldnt be running for Congress.

The 13th District includes the western part of Mecklenburg County and all of Polk, Rutherford, McDowell, Burke, Gaston and Cleveland counties. Moore is from Cleveland County.

Cawthorns current 11th District includes most of the new 14th District, but some parts of the new 13th District. Cawthorn lives in Henderson County, which is in the new 14th. But, unlike state lawmakers, congressional candidates can run in a different district from where they reside.

The move had all the makings of a blockbuster GOP primary between Cawthorn, a national name in the Republican Party, and Moore, who has served as speaker of the House for the better part of a decade.

Moore had been expected to run up until Cawthorns surprise announcement.

Both the new 13th and 14th districts are Republican-leaning. An analysis by The Cook Political Report says Republicans would be expected to win the 13th District by 13 percentage points and the 14th District by 7 points. The 14th District may be more likely to turn toward Democrats later in the decade due to population changes  a consideration given Cawthorns age.
But it will leave out the wholesale expansion of Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults that Cooper has sought since taking office in 2017, according to the tweet. House Speaker Tim Moore had already said his caucus wouldnt support expansion, even as Berger, a Rockingham County Republican, was ready to accept it given the right situation.

An approved final measure would then go to Coopers desk for his review.

In contrast to the 2019 budget talks, when the absence of Medicaid expansion contributed to a Cooper veto and caused a stalemate that never got fully resolved, the governor is keeping options open.

After reviewing the plan, Cooper will make a decision to sign or veto the budget based on what is best for the people of North Carolina, the tweet said.

Pat Ryan, a Berger spokesperson, also confirmed expected action on the budget next week. He otherwise didnt take issue with the contents of Coopers tweet.

Saine said Coopers willingness to sign the measure reflects what he considers the serious budget negotiations that have been held since Moore and Berger presented the governor their first offer six weeks ago.
The court had to impose some consequence, if only to defend its own credibility. Judge Christopher Cooper admitted as much in sentencing her. Noting that the case has generated lots of attention, he said, People will be interested to know what sentence you get. That sentence will tell them something about how the courts and how our country responded. And I think that the sentence should tell them that we take it seriously.

But the fact that Ryan will do some time hardly proves her wrong about color-coded justice.

Yes, she got 60 days for invading the U.S. Capitol. But Sean Worsley got 60 months for possession of legally prescribed medical marijuana.

Yes, she got 60 days for an act of treason. But Willie Nash got 12 years for having a cellphone in jail.

Yes, she got 60 days for attempting to overthrow the government. But Fair Wayne Bryant got life for stealing hedge clippers.

Of course, none of those African American men  not to put too fine a point on it  has blonde hair white skin. Nor do hundreds of thousands of other over-policed, over-arrested, over-incarcerated Black men languishing in our racially-skewed injustice system.
" " When you go under anesthesia, you trust your doctors that everything will go smoothly. But what happens if it doesn't? STEEX/Getty Images

It sounds like something out of a Stephen King novel: You're under anesthesia for surgery but you wake up during the procedure. Unfortunately, the phenomenon, known as "intraoperative awareness," or "anesthesia awareness," isn't a product of Stephen King's imagination; it's real.

Though anesthesia awareness is rare  estimates put it around approximately one out of every 1,000 surgeries  when it happens it can be traumatic and frightening. So how does it occur, and who is at risk? First, let's explain a little bit about anesthesia.

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What Is Anesthesia?

Not all anesthesia is created equal. There are varying levels of sedation that patients can receive during medical procedures.

The first is local anesthesia, which is the safest and most common type. You've probably had local anesthesia before. It numbs a small area with a drug like lidocaine or articaine for procedures like stitches and dental surgeries.

Regional anesthesia is another type of minimal sedation. It blocks pain in larger areas. An epidural, which blocks pain to the lower half of the body during childbirth, is a good example of regional anesthesia. Neither local nor regional anesthesia impacts your cognitive function or level of consciousness.

IV/monitored sedation is used in minor procedures such as colonoscopies and major dental surgeries. You're conscious with moderate sedation, but anesthetized into a very drowsy state or a light sleep. Although you shouldn't feel pain, you may be able to continue to communicate and follow basic instructions from medical staff. But you likely won't remember anything afterward.

Finally, there's general anesthesia. It's administered by an anesthesiologist and used for major surgeries, especially lengthy ones. It causes you to lose consciousness and have no memory of the operation. That's because most general anesthesia surgeries include a neuromuscular-blocking agent that also causes temporary paralysis. Although it's considered safe, there are more risks involved with general anesthesia than with other types.

" " Local anesthesia is used for small procedures like stitches. Poor kid. Damon Yancy/Shutterstock

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What Is Anesthesia Awareness?

As we mentioned, when anesthesia works properly, you shouldn't feel pain during a procedure, and during major operations, you should be totally unconscious. But what happens when things go awry?

When a patient experiences anesthesia awareness, they often describe hearing sounds, and feeling sensations and emotions when they were supposed to be unconscious. They are essentially aware or conscious during the procedure. Some might remember the operating room setting or noises from machines. Some even recall pain, but it's usually brief.

Atlanta area occupational therapist Ben Keeling says he will never forget having extensive dental surgery when he was 18. "I heard the nurse count from five to one and then tell the doctor he could start. I knew I was not supposed to be aware by one," he says.

Keeling was heavily sedated, but he was alert enough to hear  and feel  much of what was going on. "I felt pressure and at one point, even felt a cold blade against my gums. It was terrible."

The combination of being aware and terrified, but drowsy with a numb mouth, prevented Keeling from being able to get anyone's attention until the end of surgery.

It's not uncommon for patients to report dreaming during anesthesia. Research shows that most dreams aren't related to anesthesia or awareness, rather they're often short and pleasant and about topics like family or travel.

" " During major surgery, it's the job of the anesthesiologist (far right) to first put the patient under general anesthesia, and then to constantly monitor the patient's vital signs. vm/Getty Images

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How Does It Happen?

Despite major advances in medicine, people, with the help of technology, still determine the dosage for anesthesia medicines. Human error, along with equipment failure, is the main cause of patients experiencing awareness while under anesthesia.

Jeanne Smart, a trauma nurse at Grady Hospital in Atlanta, has never, to her knowledge, had a patient who experienced anesthesia awareness, although she agrees that dosing, or even the medication, isn't one-size-fits-all.

"Some people are definitely more difficult to 'put under' than others," she explains. "We use Versed (a benzodiazepine) in pre-op, before anesthesia  it has a helpful side effect of causing amnesia. It's the 'I don't care, I don't remember drug.'"

Some patients also are more high risk for anesthesia awareness, including those with certain medical issues, or those who have had prior problems with anesthesia. People with a history of drug and alcohol abuse, also have a higher chance of waking during surgery.

Emergency surgeries, including C-sections and some heart surgeries, require lower doses of anesthesia for a patient's safety, as do some trauma surgeries. These types of procedures can be more likely to result in some level of awareness.

" " Before you have major surgery that requires general anesthesia, always talk to your surgeon and anesthesiologist about any fears or past issues you've had with anesthesia. Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

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Can You Prevent Anesthesia Awareness?

There are a few preventative measures you can take to lower your odds of being one of the few who "wake up" during surgery.

Talk to your doctor and anesthesiologist before surgery. It's important to discuss any fears you have about your surgery and any problems you've experienced with past surgeries or anesthesia.

Be completely honest when answering questions, too. For instance, if you have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, you might require a higher dose of anesthesia. Also disclose any medication you take including prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, and herbal and other natural supplements.

If you experience any degree of awareness during surgery, tell your doctor, surgeon or anesthesiologist as soon as you recall the incident. Research shows that immediately after surgery, only one-third of patients who wake up during the operation remember it. It can take up to a month for the rest to recall the experience.

Many patients never report their experiences for several reasons. Some patients aren't distressed enough by it to mention it to their doctor. Some want to be sure the event even happened before they say anything.

Then there are those patients who are so traumatized they essentially go into denial. These are the patients who are at high risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Despite how scary the thought of waking up during surgery sounds, anesthesia awareness occurs very infrequently. The small chance that it will happen to you should not prevent you from having needed surgery.

Fortunately, medical science has come a very long way and "biting the bullet" during a medical procedure is a now a thing of the past. Anesthesia is a medical marvel that has infinitely improved surgery, despite the inherent risks.

Now That's Awful Until the 1840s, when ether was discovered as an anesthesia, surgery meant unimaginable agony. Creative surgeons attempted to assuage a patient's pain in a variety of ways. These included use of "counterirritants," such as rubbing nettles against a patient's arm to distract from the pain of surgery and punching a patient in the head to knock them unconscious before operating.
Songs from the soul.

Devastating songs.

Spiritual songs.

Timeless songs.

These are the songs American Patchwork Quartet performs in a way that youve never heard before.

They bring their unique and powerful sound to The Myrna Loy stage 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11.

In the midst of the pandemic, this group of exceptionally talented American musicians came together to play American roots music. Their stated mission is to reclaim the immigrant soul of American Roots Music.

Grammy-nominated vocalist Falu Shah, Grammy-winning guitarist/vocalist Clay Ross, three-time Grammy-winning drummer Clarence Penn and highly acclaimed bassist Yasushi Nakamura formed American Patchwork Quartet in 2020.

Their coming together happened after a series of serendipitous encounters.

Ross, who is founder of the Grammy-winning Gullah band Ranky Tanky, met Shah when they were both teaching artists at Carnegie Hall.

Shah has done high profile collaborations with the likes of Yo-Yo-Ma, Philip Glass and Ricky Martin, and was named one of 20 most influential global Indian women by the Economic Times of India.

The first time I heard her... I was just blown away, said Ross in a phone interview from New York City. She was just a standout to me as someone who was extremely talented that I would love to collaborate with.

It took five years for us to frame the collaboration.

Ross was researching a lot of folk music and some of the songs didnt really fit Ranky Tanky, but were great American folk songs.

The common denominator of all these songs is they all incorporated the vast array of immigrant experience, he said.

It brings us back to what is America? America is a country of immigrants. Its an immigrant story. So, I thought the music reflects that more than anything --thats our story.

So, Ross who grew up in South Carolina, and Shah, who grew up in India and trained in the Jaipur classical music tradition, decided to focus their musical talents on exploring the immigrant experience in America.

We share common threads and the songs and lyrics still resonate today, he said.

The deeper Ive gone with this music, the more Ive come to appreciate the melting pot of immigrant influences that make American music unique. And really, when you look at any beloved American style, from blues to jazz to country to rock, there isnt just one culture, race, or ethnicity that defines it. These sounds that we love exist in a tangled web of cultural commingling. This is what defines our music, and really our country.

And then there was another serendipitous encounter.

Ross, who had met Nakamura about 20 years ago, bumped into him at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

And, as luck would have it, all the flights were canceled out of the Monterey airport the day they were flying out, so they spent a lot of time at the airport talking about their personal lives.

By the end of the day they were saying, Man, we should figure out a way to do music together.

Nakamura is an acclaimed jazz bassist who was born in Tokyo and trained at both Berklee School of Music and Juilliard. His album, Hometown, was awarded Album of the Year by JazzLife Magazine.

Nakamura, it turns out, is good friends with Penn, a native of Detroit, who is a highly sought-after musician and composer -- playing with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Stanley Clarke, Betty Carter and Fourplay. Hes also a composer and leader of multiple bands.

The songs theyll be playing at The Myrna Loy are songs about love and life, work songs, and songs of joy and sorrow, said Ross. Theyre really songs that speak to the essence of man...tracing the threads of shared humanity.

The songs take on new life and meaning through the interpretations of the musicians, he added. The four of us together represent such very different racial and cultural backgrounds as Americans.

Although a lot of thought has gone into their music making, its the joy of the music they most want to convey, said Ross.

At its core, its going to be a really good, joyful, expressive time, where we share beautiful music, he said of the upcoming concert. We want people to walk out of there feeling a little bit lighter, a little more joyful and a little happier about being alive.

Although the group is fairly new, and when they appear at The Myrna Loy, they will have played only six concerts together because of COVID intervening, they have the musical chops to perform an outstanding show.

Recent host venues attest to that:

"American Patchwork Quartet is a living history-in-the-making group of powerhouse artists. As they explore and re-invent beautifully curated songs and music traditions, and make them their own, APQ connects the audience in unexpected and resonant ways. A dynamic exploration unfolds in real-time and creates new points of entry for all in attendance. Many audience members described the performance as both moving and revelatory." -- Carleigh Welsh (Levitt Pavillion)

American Patchwork Quartet was an extraordinarily intimate performance featuring a soulful and uplifting array of songs from Americas past re-imagined for todays audiences. The ensemble of acclaimed artists drew the audience in and treated them to 90 minutes of magical music making. The repertoire was brought to life in brilliant new ways. After so many months of no live performance, it was sheer joy to sit and share this beautiful evening of inspired music with such a talented group of musicians. Our audiences loved it! -- Regan Byrne (The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts)

Tickets are $24 and are available at https://themyrnaloy.com/, 15 N. Ewing, or 443-0287.

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Public health officials announced Wednesday that 70% of eligible Lewis and Clark County residents age 12 or older had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Nov. 5.

"Congratulations, Lewis and Clark County!," Lewis and Clark Public Health posted on social media. "Wed like to thank all of our residents who got vaccinated to protect themselves, their families, neighbors, & our community!"

"We're one step closer to being able to curb the spread of COVID-19," LCPH Disease Control and Prevention Division Administrator Laurel Riek said in a phone interview Wednesday. "We're getting closer."

The local health department and health officials around the country have long held the 70% threshold up as a benchmark for community-level protection, or herd immunity.

That benchmark, however, relates to fully vaccinated residents. Only 63% of county residents age 12 or older had been fully vaccinated as of Tuesday.

Another 16% of eligible county residents have already received a booster shot.

Riek said the recent milestone "will limit it, but there will still be spread."

"We'll keep an eye on the curve, but at this time, we still have a lot of cases," she said. "We need to continue to be vigilant, wear masks in public, keep 6 feet of distance with the people around us and stay home when sick."

Riek said it took the county four months to get the rate of partially vaccinated residents from 60% to 70% and efforts to get more people vaccinated will be ongoing, including reminding those who have received their first dose to get their second.

"We need to keep after it and get those next doses when its time," she said.

Riek also said the county's supply of vaccine remains stable.

"There is enough vaccine for everyone who wants it," she said.

Some local pharmacies have already started administering COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5-11, which were given final approval by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Nov. 2, and two mass vaccination clinics for this age group will be held in the area in the coming days.

The clinics are scheduled for 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at East Helena High School, 2760 Valley Drive, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, at Bryant Elementary School, 1529 Boulder Ave. in Helena. According to Lewis and Clark Public Health officials, 1,000 appointments will be available at each clinic.

Participating children will receive the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and second-dose appointments will be automatically scheduled for three weeks later.

The clinics are open to all children from ages 5 to 11 regardless of where they attend school, and they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. All caregivers and children must wear a mask at the indoor clinics, and they should expect to wait for up to 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine.

Pre-registration is required, and appointments can be scheduled on Lewis and Clark Public Healths COVID-19 Hub at www.helenamontanamaps.org/LCPHCovid19HUB/.

Riek said LCPH's monthly COVID-19 community update is slated for Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

This month's meeting will include a presentation on child vaccines from local pediatrician Dr. Tom Stizich. A brief question and answer session will follow.

A link to participate in the virtual community briefing can be found on the LCPH webpage.

Local vaccination efforts continue to be a collaborative effort, and Riek thanked community partners for their participation.

"This vaccination has definitely been a collaborative effort by many agencies," she said. "It's been a phenomenal effort by our community to get to where we are."

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A former Montana Department of Corrections employee lost in her discrimination complaint filed against the state, alleging she was terminated from her job due to retaliation after several women came forward with sexual harassment allegations against the agencys director.

Adrianne Cotton, the agencys former government relations officer, had filed the complaint against the Department of Corrections (DOC) with the Office of Administrative Hearings within the Department of Labor and Industry.

Cotton told the Office of Administrative Hearings in December she had spoken with the DOC human resources department about then-Director Reginald Michael after he allegedly made what she considered to be inappropriate comments as they traveled together on a business trip from Three Forks to Billings in September 2017. Cotton said he then began to get more aggressive with her, rolling his eyes at her during staff meetings and a steady process of withholding information from her. Cotton said Michael then ordered a climate assessment of the department.

Her last day with the agency was Nov. 23, 2018. She had been with the DOC since 2011.

Cotton had filed a Human Rights Bureau complaint and appealed its findings with the Human Rights Commission, which then reinstated the complaint and sent it to the Office of Administrative Hearing for further proceedings. A hearing was held in December.

Caroline A. Holien, hearing officer with the office of administrative hearings, said in a 63-page decision filed Nov. 4 that Cotton failed to establish her claim of retaliation, and did not present sufficient evidence showing a causal link between the elimination of her position several months after her "protected activity." Holien said Cotton failed to show that the reasons offered by DOC for its decision to eliminate the government relations director position were not legitimate and nondiscriminatory, and were instead a pretext for retaliation.

The complaint was "dismissed with prejudice as lacking merit. The decision can be appealed to the Human Rights Commission.

Cotton declined to comment.

The Department of Corrections said the "department has vigorously denied these allegations throughout this entire process, and following the thorough review by the Office of Administrative Hearings, we are pleased the hearings officer found no merit in the complaint."

In her complaint, Cotton said she believed Tom Lopach, then-Gov. Steve Bullocks former chief of staff, played a role to have her removed.

Lopach said in the December hearing the DOC had too many senior staff members reporting to the director and deputy director and the recommendations for reorganization made sense. He said there is not a government relations director in other agencies, and he found it odd that we are the government and the DOC had a government relations director. He also said the director and deputy director could handle legislative relationships and found the government relations director position to be unnecessary.

Michael said during that December hearing the suggestion to look at reorganizing his agency came from his supervisors. He said he was the ultimate decider on the DOC reorganization, but with the caveat that it was a process started by the governors office and the recommendations seemed reasonable.

Cotton filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in September 2019 against the agency, alleging sexual harassment by Michael and retaliation. That lawsuit is pending.

Brian M. Gootkin is now the director of the DOC and was appointed in early 2021 when Greg Gianforte became governor.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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As part of a plea agreement reached with the state Attorney Generals Office, a Helena man accused of threatening restaurant employees with a gun after being repeatedly asked to wear a face covering will admit to disturbing the peace and pay a $50 fine.

Rodney Robert Smith was previously charged with felony assault with a weapon, which carried a possible prison sentence of up to 20 years and a $50,000 fine if he was convicted. Smith was also charged with three misdemeanors  assault, carrying a concealed weapon and carrying a concealed weapon in a prohibited place.

Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsens office in August directed the Lewis and Clark County attorney to drop the two misdemeanor conceal-carry charges. After County Attorney Leo Gallagher said he had probable cause and could not dismiss those charges and still "comply with my oath of office," Gallagher then requested the case be reassigned and the Attorney Generals office took over.

In filings shortly after the Attorney General's Office assumed the case, Smith's attorney, Palmer Hoovestal, indicated the parties were involved in settlement talks and an agreement was likely. A trial scheduled for the end of August was called off.

The charge Smith will admit to in the plea deal was not part of the original charges, but an amendment to the misdemeanor assault charge.

In the plea agreement, Smith admits he quarreled with a staff member of the restaurant and knocked over all the water glasses on a table where he and others were seated when the staff member told them to leave the restaurant for not wearing masks.

That happened Nov. 6, 2020, when Montana was under a statewide mask requirement.

An affidavit dated Nov. 27, 2020, includes Smith knocking over water glasses.

The affidavit also said Smiths wife told a Helena Police Department officer her husband shoved a staff member at the restaurant, causing the employee pain. The staff member told police he tried to detain Rodney Smith, who then struck the staff member in the genitals several times and pinned that staff member to a wall.

After that, according to the affidavit, Smith exposed his handgun and said "Im going to get you" to the employee.

Smith signed the plea agreement Nov. 8 and Derek Oestreicher, general counsel for the Attorney Generals Office, signed it Wednesday, the day it was filed in Lewis and Clark County District Court. Smiths attorney also filed a motion Wednesday to set a change of plea hearing.

While the Attorney Generals Office did not return an email Wednesday seeking information about the status of the case or requesting comment about the plea deal, Hoovestal did return a message seeking an update.

  The truth is that this is the appropriate disposition of the matter under the facts of the case, and is the proper exercise of prosecutorial discretion, Hoovestal wrote.

Hoovestal in an email wrote that there was not video from the restaurant proving or corroborating the allegations made by the complainant, and witnesses who were present substantially disputed the events, including whether Mr. Smith was even carrying a firearm.

Before the attorney generals office assumed the case, the deputy county attorney filed the affidavit stating a corporal with the Helena Police Department observed Smith in his van outside the restaurant "pull something from his waistband and then place it in the glove box of the van. Rodney Smiths movements were consistent with drawing a handgun from a holster on the right side of his body, the affidavit reads.

The affidavit also says Smith exposed a handgun he had on his waist band in a black hostler on his belt and patted it with his hand and made a statement to (a restaurant employee) to the effect of Im going to get you.

Hoovestal wrote Wednesday that the lack of a video of the incident calls into play a segment of state law saying if stronger evidence is available, weaker evidence should be viewed with distrust.

Hoovestal also wrote the complainant at Hokkaido was quite vocal in asserting that there was video of the event, but he could not and did not produce it when asked for it, because it didnt exist.

The affidavit does not reference a video. In the back-and-forth between Gallagher and Oestreicher after the Attorney Generals Office requested Gallagher turn over his case files, Gallagher did reference that the file did not have the A/V (audio/visual) evidence because it was stored in an electronic evidence locker for which the server went down. Gallagher said if Oestreicher needed the evidence, he could contact an HPD evidence technician who was listed on a possible witness list. Its not clear what the evidence was.

Hoovestal also wrote the complainant further had a dispute with Mrs. Smith arising from a prior transaction between the two which gave him motive to lie about what occurred, but did not elaborate.

Hoovestal also said it was disputed if Smith had a firearm but that if he did, state law clearly allowed him to communicate to another person the fact that [he had] a weapon, and it also allowed him to warn or threaten the use of force, against the aggressor, including drawing or presenting a weapon, Hoovestal wrote.

That part of state law governs openly carrying a weapon, while the original charges were related to carrying a concealed weapon and doing so in a prohibited place.

Under the plea agreement, Smith must also pay $75 in fees.

While the Attorney Generals Office told the Montana State News Bureau when it initially reported this story in August it could not comment on a pending case, spokesperson Kyler Nerison told the Montana Television Network then two of the charges against Smith were changed by the state Legislature after the altercation at the restaurant.

In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill that dramatically expanded where concealed firearms could be carried.

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The conviction of a man found guilty of sexually abusing and exposing himself to minors was reversed by the Montana Supreme Court earlier this month.

The unanimous order Nov. 2 by a five-justice panel said Kenneth Tipton was found guilty improperly under updated laws that were not in place at the times of his alleged sexual abuse of children. The case was sent back to district court.

Tipton was found guilty in Meagher County District Court in 2019 on three counts related to indecent exposure and sexual abuse of a minor. He was sentenced to a combined 200 years at the state prison, with 150 years suspended. He was assigned a level II sex offender designation and was ineligible for parole until hed served 20 years and completed phases one and two of the state prisons sex offender treatment program.

In his appeal to the Montana Supreme Court filed at the start of this year, Tipton argued he had an ineffective lawyer in 2019 who failed to argue that one of the laws he was tried under didnt take effect until after the incident he was accused of. In the appeal, he was represented by an attorney from the Office of the State Public Defenders Appellate Defender Division.

Kenneth Tipton is the brother of Ronald Tipton, the man who was charged in 2015 with raping an 8-year-old Billings girl nearly 30 years after the attack. In 2012, Kenneth Tipton let law enforcement officers into a trailer he and his brother lived in and officers found marijuana plants. Following a 2013 arrest for that incident, Ronald Tipton submitted to the DNA test required in felony arrests that connected him to a 1987 rape for which Jimmy Ray Bromgard was later exonerated.

Ronald Tiptons rape charges were eventually dismissed by the Montana Supreme Court, which said the statute of limitations for the rape had expired.

Reporting in the Billings Gazette in 2019 said Ronald Tipton lived with Kenneth Tipton in 2017 in White Sulphur Springs and that Kenneth had power of attorney over Ronald. The story also said Kenneth was listed on the national sex offender registry for a crime involving a 9-year-old in Washington in 1991.

In the case against Kenneth Tipton that the Supreme Court reversed in the Nov. 2 order, the state accused Tipton of five incidents of sexual misconduct against minors between July 2015 and early 2017.

The incidents include exposing himself to the minors and showing them pornographic images on his cellphone, as well as masturbating in front of the minors.

Tipton was charged with three counts: one of indecent exposure to a minor and two for sexual abuse of children.

While the law for indecent exposure has been on the books in some form since 1973, the version that was in effect from 1999 to 2015 didnt differentiate between indecent exposure made to minors versus adults and did not carry a different sentence for exposure to minors.

That law changed in 2015 to make that distinction and add a more severe sentence for exposure to minors  from a maximum of 10 years to a maximum of 100 years.

Right before trial, the state amended information to include an incident from 2015 in the claims of indecent exposure, in addition to 2016 and 2017.

At the time, the district court judge asked Tipton if he understood including the year 2015 meant the possible penalties remain the same and neither Tipton nor his attorney objected.

At the end of the trial, the jury was instructed not to consider the 2015 or 2016 and 2017 incidents separately when determining if Tipton was guilty of indecent exposure. The state also said during closing arguments that while each count was separate, each incident was not. But the state also noted if the jury thought Tipton only did one of the acts, he was still guilty.

The law for exposing a child to pornography also changed during the time between the trial and when the state said Tipton showed the children pornography on his cellphone. Before 2017, showing a minor pornography was not a stand-alone crime, according to the courts order. Tipton was accused of doing that before the law changed.

The court applied a two-part test in the case: determining if the law was applied retroactively and, if so, if it disadvantaged the offender.

The post-October 2015 version ... imposes a penalty 10 times more severe than the law in effect during the 2015 incident," Justice Jim Shea wrote in the opinion.

  Tiptons counsel failed to recognize that, as to the 2015 allegation, Tipton was being prosecuted under a statute that did not apply and carried a substantially more severe penalty.

Shea wrote that the state spent much of the six days of trial establishing the events surrounding the July 2015 incident. He also wrote the 2016 incident happened in a home with an open floor plan with the dining room looking directly into the living room, where there were other adults mere feet away at the time of the alleged conduct. The other adults present during the 2016 incident testified they did not see anything that corroborated (the minors) allegation.

Shea also wrote it was impossible after the trial to know which incident led to the jurys decision.

Tiptons counsel provided record-based ineffective assistance that requires reversal and remand for a new trial, Shea concluded.

Tipton is on probation status with the Department of Corrections, related to a previous conviction for failure to verify or keep current a sexual or violent offender registration, according to a department spokesperson. He was sentenced on that charged in March 2019 in Meagher County and his probation ends Jan. 28, 2022.

Tipton was admitted to Montana State Prison on Sept. 26, 2019, and transferred to Crossroads Correctional Center on Jan. 21, 2020. His supervision on probation out of the Great Falls district started Tuesday.

The state Department of Justice said Wednesday people on the registry don't appear on the website while incarcerated. After being released, they must check in with local law enforcement within three days, which then triggers an update to the database.

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Open enrollment for those who purchase health insurance through the federal marketplace opened Nov. 1 and runs through Jan. 15.

Several changes made in the federal American Rescue Plan Act passed earlier this year resulted in lower premiums for many people who buy insurance on the market place.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid estimated that because of increased tax credits to offset premiums, an average person will save about $50 per person a month or $85 per policy each month. It's estimated that for four out of five enrollees, plans will cost $10 or less a month and half of those seeking insurance will be able to purchase a silver plan for $10 or less.

More than 80% of Montanans who enroll in plans qualify for tax credits, according to the Montana Primary Care Association.

The association was awarded a $1 million contract to operate a navigator program meant to help Montanans learn how to sign up for health insurance on the exchange and get assistance with the application process.

Montanans can get assistance through Cover Montana, which is available online at covermt.org. Navigators can also provide in-person help in Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Browning, Kalispell and Missoula. There's also phone assistance at 406-634-3105 or 844-682-6837.

While the enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, those who want coverage by Jan. 1 must enroll by Dec. 15.

For the costs of takeout lunch, many Montanans can buy health insurance and the peace of mind knowing they can see the doctor without getting a huge medical bill, said Cindy Stergar, CEO of the Montana Primary Care Association, in a press release.

This year CMS awarded $80 million in grants that fund 60 navigator programs across the country. Funding for the navigator program was cut during the Trump administration to $10 million awarded each year between 2018 and 2020. It's also higher than the $63 million in grants during the last year of the Obama Administration, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

While Montana's funding for the program dropped 80% between 2016-2020, it's up 102% this year compared to 2016, according to KFF.

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Tammy Wham cant get her hands on canned corn or whole grain muffins. Both are staples in the public school kitchen in Ennis, where Wham serves as kitchen manager  or, she quips, head lunch lady. Wham and her staff serve breakfast and lunch to roughly 340 K-12 students daily, but numerous menu items and ingredients have become difficult or impossible to acquire this fall due to national food shortages and supply chain complications.

Ive been here since 2001, said Wham, who also serves as president of the Montana School Nutrition Association. This is like the hardest school year Ive ever had. Its kind of a bummer.

The same situation is playing out in school lunchrooms across Montana. Some kitchens have experienced challenges sourcing chicken products or pork, while others have seen milk prices skyrocket. Even plates and utensils are costing more or are in maddeningly short supply. Those shortages are occurring among major food distributors such as Sysco and US Foods, which supply restaurants and hospitals in addition to schools, and are experiencing workforce issues in their own warehouses and trucking fleets. Its happening throughout the country, leaving school food service leaders scrambling to modify menus, find substitute ingredients or source supplies locally, all in the name of keeping students fed.

It can be a milk product, it could be a vegetable, it could be a canned product, it could be ketchup, it could be chicken, said Pam Radke, food service director for Sidney Public Schools. Theres no rhyme or reason to what it is. Its just, its all over the place.

Radke has watched online as ingredients shes trying to secure from a distributor sell out before shes able to complete an order, prompting a rush to research and order substitutes. Those last-minute substitutions on school menus have also required her to keep a close watch on students with food-based health issues like diabetes or gluten intolerance, and contact parents or a school nurse to alert them of the change.

My menu is done a month in advance, Radke said. So [now parents] cant count on what it says. It makes for a lot more coordination, a lot more communication.

In her more than 30 years in school food service, 12 of them in Sidney, Radke said, shes never experienced anything like the current situation. Radke added that the cost of even basic lunchroom supplies has increased at an alarming rate. Last month, a box of three dozen metal forks she used to pay $6 for cost $18, and was only available by special order.

Similar problems in Missoula have complicated the school districts ongoing efforts to reduce waste. Superintendent Rob Watson said Missoula County Public Schools were unable to get paper plates and compostable flatware from distributors this fall, prompting a switch back to plastic utensils. At Billings Public Schools, Child Nutrition Director Sid Taylor explained that middle and high school lunchrooms across the district have had to get creative with how they dish out lunch items, using paper boats in lieu of the paper trays that are now in short supply.

Billings has even had to eliminate some menu items entirely. Yogurt parfait was a popular menu choice in the districts elementary schools, Taylor said. But making it requires bulk yogurt, which Sysco has been unable to supply. Spicy chicken sandwiches are a similarly in-demand item among middle school students, but the pre-spiced chicken patties are, again, hard to come by due to staffing issues at the food processing giant Tyson Foods. School staff have attempted to make up for the shortage by dosing regular chicken patties with spice, Taylor said, but its not the same.

On average, we serve about 12,000 meals a day, Taylor said. So, you know, when were shorted on something, it really does have an impact.

Some smaller districts have managed to find local work-arounds to fill in supply gaps. At Greenfield Elementary outside Fairfield, Food Service Director Haven Murphy said shes been able to make up for shortages with an occasional run to the local grocery store or to Sams Club in Great Falls. With the current scarcity of whole grain wheat products, she added, shes sought out whole grain flour at Wheat Montana. Murphys ability to utilize those stopgaps is due entirely to Greenfields small size  80 students overall, plus six to nine staff who also eat school meals. Watson and Taylor said that in larger districts like theirs, the sheer volume of necessary supplies precludes such alternatives.

Still, Murphy hasnt escaped the national food service pinch unscathed. French toast sticks, one of the most popular breakfast items among younger students, have all but vanished from the supply chain. And, she said, its been two months since she could get canned Mandarin oranges. The situation, for Murphy and others, is compounded by federal nutrition requirements governing school food programs. Murphy said those guidelines, which are designed to ensure that students receive a balanced and nutritious meal, require her to offer both fat-free and 1% milk options, but shes difficulty at times acquiring one or the other. Fruit juice, too, has become a challenge.

Normally we would give them like apple, grape and orange, Murphy said. Then it was down to apple and orange, and then it was down to just orange juice. We went through a lot of milk and water those days.  Especially when we couldnt get the Juicy Juice brand and it was generic orange juice. It was pretty gross.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has tried to alleviate the situation with regulatory adjustments, waiving financial penalties for schools that fail to meet certain nutrition requirements and even increasing the rates at which schools are reimbursed for free meals. In late September the agency also announced a $1.5 billion investment designed to help schools acquire the food supplies necessary to continue providing breakfasts and lunches.

Shortages of spicy chicken, milk and canned corn arent the only problems school food programs in Montana and nationally are facing. School kitchens and lunch lines are also suffering from the same labor woes that are triggering the food shortages. Taylor said the number of food service employees in the Billings Public Schools has dropped from roughly 145 to 105 over the past year. As a result, some cafeterias have had to consolidate or completely shut down lines for separate food items like pizza, hamburgers or tacos. Taylor added that due to the staffing shortage, his human resources manager and other administrative staff are now pitching in to prepare meals at various schools in the district.

Watson notes similar problems in Missoula, where the districts central kitchen supports 16 K-12 schools. There are food service positions open at nearly every one of those schools, Watson said, and the district is trying to incentivize new hires with a $500 sign-on bonus, plus a $100 bonus for any district employee who successfully recruits a new hire. Bozeman Public Schools Superintendent Mike Waterman said his district has also taken to offering such incentives in light of ongoing staff shortages.

Thats why we had to go to a sack-lunch-only model, Waterman said. The district has a beautiful, top-of-the-line central kitchen. Our intention is and always has been to produce home-cooked meals and make the most of those facilities. But unfortunately, we just dont have people to staff all of our buildings and the central kitchen to make that happen. So weve been relegated to prepackaged food in a sack lunch.

As with the supply shortages, labor issues are impacting rural and urban schools alike. In Sidney, Radke said, her program typically has a staff of 11. With several staff departing soon, including herself, that number will soon be down to six employees covering an average of 1,300 meals per day in four schools.

I honestly dont know how this is going to work out, Radke said.

Despite the challenges, everyone interviewed for this story made it clear that there has yet to be a day this fall when they were unable to feed students. Nor did they report being so shorted on supplies that they failed to meet the nutritional standards they strive for.

[Students] are definitely disappointed when they dont get something that they expect or that they really love, and so it is hard to see that, Murphy said. But at the same time, theyre still getting something and its still filling their stomachs.

This story is printed with the permission of the Montana Free Press. The original story can be accessed here.

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Sen. Jon Tester said Wednesday he was optimistic that his bill to provide comprehensive and "overdue" support to U.S. troops who experienced toxic exposure would become law.

The Montana Democrat, speaking to a small group at the veterans memorial at Helenas Memorial Park, talked about his bill that has moved out of committee and is winding its way toward the Senate floor.

Every Veterans Day we pause and recognize the men and women who have served this country in the military and we honor their sacrifices, he said. The fact is though, this day is more than being about paying respects. It is about doing right by the service and paying the continuing cost of war.

Earlier this year, Tester, chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, unveiled his Compensation and Overdue Support for Troops, or COST of War Act of 2021. This helps veterans affected by toxic exposure, including 3.5 million who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, get immediate and lifelong access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care. And it extends services to those still not recovered from toxic exposure in the Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars.

Its one of the largest expansions of VA health care ever seen, he said.

The bill sets up a procedure for Veterans Affairs to process claims of toxic exposure, Tester said in May when introducing the proposal.

It allocates $430 billion to be spent over 10 years, with $250 billion of that going toward benefits and the other $180 billion for health care, Tester said, adding the Congressional Budget Office had just recently reached that figure.

Fighting wars costs a lot of money, he said.

The bill is now in negotiations, Tester said, adding he hoped it would be voted on by the Senate before the first of the year. He said there is a similar bill in the House.

He said for decades service members have returned home and suffered through a piecemeal process to get health care and disability benefits.

They deserve better and they have earned better, Tester said.

He said the bill included bipartisan ideas from veterans and advocates. Tester said he was pleased Veterans Affairs officials were also at the table.

Tim Peters, Department of Montana VFW Adjutant, said he asked Tester to sponsor a comprehensive toxic exposure bill.

"When our country sends us off to war we have an inherent presumption they will treat our wounds, either on the battlefield, or years later, Peters, a Gulf War veteran, said. This bill will do just that.

Dave Powell, who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War and was discharged in 1975, said he was thankful for the bill.

Tester said the bill gives the VA the ability to deal with toxic exposure from the Gulf War and future conflicts, but also helps veterans with problems stemming from some of the past wars like Vietnam.

Tester said the bill has met some resistance due to costs.

But in the end you have to ask the question, and that question is, if you send these folks out to war you have an obligation to take care of them in the battlefield and when they are back home, he said. And if you arent willing to (fulfill) that obligation, you shouldnt send them in the first place.

Tom Lutey of The Billings Gazette contributed to this story.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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I have been serving as the team lead with Montana State Parks AmeriCorps for almost 10 months. My time here has been filled with adventure, opportunity and growth, both personally and professionally. In this position, I helped develop a statewide Jr Ranger passport book, revamped our volunteer manual, and assisted all members in a variety of ways. From trail building to team building, I wouldnt have had my experience be any other way!

During the summer months, I had the opportunity to visit many of our state parks assisting on multiple projects. Two of my favorite projects took place at Lewis and Clark Caverns and Makoshika State Park. At the caverns, I helped the local Boy Scout troop build a new hiking trail and quarried some stone to help build a retaining wall. Working outside this term helped me realize that I love working with my hands and stepping out of the office every now and then. Makoshika held a music festival and I assisted at the nature table, furs table, and community mural creation station. This was a wonderful event to be a part of and this area of the state is absolutely beautiful.

While in Helena, I learned what it is like to be a part of a state agency. I worked with many of the divisions of FWP, but the one that resonated with me the most was the Communication and Education division. Montana WILD generously allowed me to contribute to their events and programming this year. The largest realization for me was that I now want to go into the field of environmental education. This was something that was unclear for me at the beginning of the year and became clearer as I spent more time at Montana WILD and outdoors in general educating the youth of Montana.

My time in Montana has been in a word, transformative. Ive made lifelong friendships, developed skills I would have not otherwise, and gained direction as to where I want my career to head. I will absolutely be recommending AmeriCorps to anyone who has an interest in the program or national service in general. Im confident this AmeriCorps experience will have a positive effect on me for years to come.

Amanda Coyle is a 2018 Kenyon College graduate and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Mongolia (2018-2020). She has been serving as the Montana State Parks AmeriCorps team leader since 2021. Her interests lie in environmental education and international affairs.

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DECATUR  After months away from Millikin Universitys Kirkland Fine Arts stage, the actors and students wanted to present a lively musical fit for everyone.

After being shut down for such a long time, we were looking for something that we could share and bring people together, said director Kevin Long.

Millikins School of Theatre and Dance will present their performance of the 1963 Broadway musical She Loves Me Friday through Sunday, Nov. 12 through 14 at Millikin Universitys Kirkland Fine Arts Center.

According to Long, performing classic musicals is important to the students as well as the audience. We always try to provide a variety of choices over the four years that the student cycle happens, he said. Well do a contemporary, well do a classic, well do a dance-heavy, a tap show. Well keep it varied to give them exposure to the canon of musical theater.

The cast of 24 will be accompanied by the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra as part of the symphonys season. One of the last student performances on the Kirkland stage was for the musical Chicago in November 2019.

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She Loves Me follows two co-workers employed at a perfumery in Budapest. They write letters to each other, but they are anonymous letters, said Jasmyne-Kalei Humphrey, Millikin senior. They fall in love through writing these letters to each other.

However, without the letters, the two do not like each other. They are letter people. Its a big deal at the end, Humphrey said.

The family-friendly show made popular various songs in musical theater, such as Vanilla Ice Cream, Tonight at Eight, and the title song She Loves Me.

Although the musical is based in the 1930s, the representation is interesting for the actors born nearly 70 years later. Just seeing the way that the audience could react with certain parts of the show is eye opening to us, said Millikin senior Chase Nelson.

For the actors, the shows come back to life through the modern performers. Take a step back from what we know and embrace the things that maybe we grew up hearing about or maybe through family lore, said freshman Joshua Klaber Higgins. We can touch base with grandparents or great-grandparents and their lives. I feel a special connection.

The stories on the stage have modern elements, according to the cast; however, the show had the same sentiment more than 50 years ago. The emotions and the heart of the story that we want our modern audience to see, that same story was given to audiences in the 60s, Higgins said.

The musicals original performance was in 1963 with a revival on Broadway in 2016. Its a classic and its a love story, Long said. Its a comedy, and weve done our best to make it something for everyone.

But you will leave the theater humming so many of these songs, Higgins said.

Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR

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DECATUR  Albert E. Tillman appeared in court Wednesday denying charges that he trailed a female juvenile from the parking lot of Richland Community College and then fired five shots at her vehicle, puncturing a rear tire.

Macon County Circuit Court Judge Rodney Forbes, conducting a preliminary hearing, found probable cause to try the 25-year-old defendant on charges of the aggravated discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle and being an armed habitual criminal.

Prosecuting, Macon County States Attorney Scott Rueter offered no motive for the shooting, which occurred just after 8 a.m. Sept. 22. Giving evidence, Decatur Police Detective Jeremy Appenzeller said the juvenile had just dropped her mother off at the college before leaving the parking lot with a juvenile female passenger.

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Appenzeller said the girl noticed a Chrysler 200 occupied by a man  later identified as Tillman  following her out of the college parking lot and trailing her southbound on Brush College Road.

The detectives sworn affidavit described what happened next: The female juvenile states as she continued southbound, passing Faries Parkway, she observed the male still behind her vehicle, holding a handgun out of the window, and firing approximately five shots towards her vehicle.

Appenzeller said police called to the scene found no bullet holes in the girls GMC Terrain sport utility vehicle but discovered the rear drivers side tire was flat after being shot out.

He told Rueter that police had identified Tillman as the shooter after tracing his vehicle, which was also the suspect car in a separate shooting incident. The vehicle had been pulled over in a traffic stop Sept. 24 with a woman driving and Tillman as the passenger. Appenzeller said the woman confirmed Tillman had dropped her off at Richland Community College the day of the shooting that targeted the juvenile girl.

And during a search of that vehicle a loaded 9mm handgun was recovered, is that correct? asked Rueter. Yes, said the detective. He also confirmed that surveillance footage pulled from the college, Archer Daniels Midland Co. property and a gas station all showed Tillmans car trailing the girls vehicle.

Appenzeller was then cross-examined by defense attorney Michelle Sanders. Did the surveillance video you obtained show any evidence of shots fired? she asked, and the detective said the video did not. He also confirmed no spent bullet was recovered from the punctured tire and there were no bullet holes in the girls vehicle.

Were there any projectiles recovered from the roadway or the path of travel? Sanders asked. No, replied the detective. And no (bullet) casings, either.

Court records show Tillman is also pleading not guilty to an unrelated pending charge of being an armed habitual criminal. He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison in January 2020 after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon.

Tillman is being held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $350,000, meaning he must post a bond of $35,000 to be freed.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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TAYLORVILLE  Police in Taylorville report catching a Decatur fugitive after a chase in which the wanted man tried to run a squad car off the road.

The 44-year-old suspect was apprehended and jailed Wednesday and faces multiple charges.

A statement on the police Facebook page said the man had stolen a car from a gas station and been intercepted by a city police patrol which tried to pull him over.

The subject fled the stop and Taylorville Police began to follow the vehicle, which led into pursuing it out of Taylorville, the statement said.

The subject tried to run a police unit off the road at one point. The vehicle was northbound on (Illinois Route) 29 and decided to flee into a field; he went into a large ditch, disabling the vehicle in that field. The subject was taken into custody.

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Police booked the man on preliminary charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding police, resisting police, reckless driving, driving while revoked and possession of a stolen vehicle.

The statement also said the man was wanted on a parole violation and being sought on a warrant out of Macon County and was to be regarded as armed and dangerous. The statement listed a criminal history of 29 prior arrests and 27 convictions for offenses ranging from burglaries to narcotics and weapons crimes.

Macon County Circuit Court records show the man was last sentenced to a year in prison in August of 2019 after he pleaded guilty to a charge of theft.

All preliminary charges are subject to review by the state attorneys office.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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DECATUR  The latest shooting and wounding of a victim on a busy Decatur street in broad daylight was met with expressions of shock and outrage by city leaders, and a continued pledge to do all they can to aid police in the fight against a rising tide of violent crime.

I know we cant really make it stop, but we can do everything possible to give the Decatur Police Department the tools they need, said Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe. We are in a dangerous time.

The mayor was speaking Wednesday after a 32-year-old Decatur man suffered what police described as life-threatening injuries Tuesday afternoon when he was shot in the neck while driving near the intersection of North Water Street and East Mound Road.

Detective Sgt. Chris Copeland said the gunfire came from a suspect in a minivan and that the shooting does not appear to have been a random act. The wounded mans vehicle crashed into another car and a 34-year-old Warrensburg mother and her children, aged 6 and 9, were all injured in the collision.

On July 31, a sport utility vehicle was raked with gunfire on a Saturday afternoon at the busy intersection of North Main and East Eldorado streets.

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And, in what proved a very violent month, an 8-year-old boy had a bullet clip his ear July 28 after his Decatur home was hit by gunfire. On July 15 an 8-year-old girl was shot and wounded in the arm by a stray bullet while riding in a car with her grandmother and other children.

Crime statistics on the Decatur Police Department website show shootings for 2021 are up every month through September over the previous year. The year to date total through September was 153 shootings compared to 111 by September of 2020, a jump of more than 37 percent.

I dont think its been this bad since the mid 80s when we had so much gang activity here, said Moore Wolfe. And the police were able to get it under control at that time; but it took a lot of effort and it didnt happen overnight.

Interim Police Chief Shane Brandel on Monday presented the city council with a shopping list of new equipment he needs to fight crime in the next year, ranging from $42,000 for drones to $250,000 for more Flock system surveillance cameras.

The mayor said the council would have to consider each request but believed there was widespread support for giving cops the tools they need to do their job. Weve got to do something, she said.

The mayor noted Brandel had warned in a recent Herald & Review story about officers increasingly being faced with suspects armed with weapons that have been converted to fully automatic machine guns. Seven illegally converted guns have been seized so far this year, more than Brandel said he had previously seen in the course of his career.

Its very scary whats happening out there, said Moore Wolfe. Were going to have to do something different, and if investing in technology will help our police department crack down on this crime wave, were ready to do it.

Gunfire on the streets clearly doesnt do much for her citys image as a safe place to live and work, but the mayor said gun crime was a danger to everyone, no matter where they called home.

We have more population than some of the smaller towns and so were more likely to have a bigger presence of violence, Moore Wolfe said. But you know this could happen in Mount Zion or Forsyth or Maroa. There is no magic line you can draw around the city of Decatur and say it's just dangerous inside this circle. We have a nationwide problem.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker classified ongoing gun violence in Illinois as a public health crisis in a Nov. 1 executive order and announced plans to seek more funding for violence-prevention initiatives in next year's state budget.

Legislation, known as the Reimagine Public Safety Act, passed the state legislature during the fall veto session last month. It pledges $250 million over three years for reducing gun violence in high-crime communities through grant opportunities for organizations that provide technical assistance for violence prevention or youth development and intervention programs. It awaits Pritzker's signature.

It also creates an Office of Firearm Violence Prevention to help experts and organizations connect with people at high risk of gun violence.

This is a much larger community issue and it takes the community to help resolve it, Brandel said in an interview last week when asked about the initiative. It is encouraging that a lot of the funding to this goes towards those type of community-based efforts to help reduce violence, law enforcement alone can never be the sole answer to reducing violence in Decatur or in any community across the country.

Brandel said the governor's actions are important to addressing the issue of gun violence but there still needs to be a conversation about what actions need to be taken for those who have or will commit gun-related crimes and how much of that will be tolerated.

"In my view, if you're going to go out and shoot somebody, then you need to suffer the consequences of that," Brandel said. "Those consequences should be severe because you're not just putting your intended target at risk, but the entire community."

Shemuel Sanders, founder of the Shemilah Outreach Center  named in honor of his daughter who died in a shooting in June 2020  said he wants to see more officers and community members build bridges with each other and for people to understand that in order to solve the issue of gun-violence they need to work together.

Sanders created the outreach center as a way to keep young people away from violent situations with work programs and teach them ways to resolve conflicts with peaceful resolutions instead of acting out and getting into fights.

Sanders said he wants to create a committee for young people to be able to speak with officials and create a relationship that allows them to inform the city of what issues their seeing while also learning from each other.

I think we need to just pull our resources together and figure out what we can do to make a difference, Sanders said. It takes a village and I believe that we can make a difference and turn this community around.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

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In the wake of widespread criticism regarding the Chicago Park Districts handling of the lifeguard sexual abuse investigation, board President Avis LaVelle announced her resignation at Wednesdays board meeting.

I am deeply sorry for the culture of abuse and harassment that was allowed to fester in the beaches and pools division of the Chicago Park District, LaVelle said. It is apparent that this went on for many years, even decades, before I joined the Chicago Park District board. I take responsibility because it came to light on my watch.

LaVelles last day will be Wednesday. In a statement, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Lavelle would be replaced on an interim basis by board Vice President Tim King, per state statute. A permanent president will be named soon, Lightfoot added.

LaVelles resignation comes a month after Park District superintendent and CEO Michael Kelly resigned on the same day that Mayor Lori Lightfoot joined several aldermen in calling for his ouster. Kelly was replaced by interim Superintendent Rosa Escareno.

Kelly held the top job at the Park District during the lifeguard sexual abuse scandal first reported by WBEZ in April. His resignation came more than a year after he first learned of allegations of sexual abuse and harassment by Chicago lifeguards. According to WBEZ, Kelly knew about the first allegation by a lifeguard in February 2020 but waited until mid-March to forward the complaint on to the agencys inspector general.

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Last week, Park District commissioners released the results of an independent investigation that detailed the agencys mishandling of sexual abuse claims. Escareno then announced she had fired three high-level Park District managers.

In a statement after the release of the report, LaVelle said the allegations of sexual abuse were credible and taken seriously from the point they were turned over the inspector general in March of 2020.

However, she added that the agency had been simply dysfunctional in our approach to this investigation, and I apologize for what has been a slow, tortured process.

Lightfoot ally Ald. Michele Smith then released a statement calling on LaVelle to resign following the reports release.

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.

When asked in mid-October about LaVelles future as board president, Lightfoot said she had made a specific recommendation to the board about that.

LaVelle said Wednesday she made the decision to step down on her own. I am not being forced out, she said. Mayor Lori Lightfoot did not ask me to resign. She has been resolute in her support of me publicly and privately and for that I am profoundly grateful.

LaVelle added that her fellow commissioners were not responsible for the Park Districts culture of abuse. The Office of the Inspector General reports only to the Park District board president, not to the rest of the board, LaVelle said. She said investigations remain confidential until they have concluded. Other commissioners were not aware of the investigation for many months, she said.

That is not the best protocol, but that is the protocol that I observed, LaVelle said. She added that she had recommended the board form a committee to oversee inspector general investigations going forward.

LaVelle maintained that she had fully supported a thorough investigation and that she had acted honestly and responsibly in her role at the Park District.

In her statement, Lightfoot thanked LaVelle for her service to Chicago.

As the Park District moves forward in the days and months ahead, I am confident that important and essential work of restoring trust between the Park District and Chicago families will continue, she wrote.

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CHICAGO - A Chicago police supervisor now faces firing for his role in the wrongful raid of social worker Anjanette Youngs home a few years ago.

Sgt. Alex Wolinski faces dismissal for eight different police department rule violations  ranging from bringing discredit to the department and failing to promote its efforts to disrespecting a person and incompetency  according to city records filed last week to the Chicago Police Board.

The Feb. 21, 2019 raid at Youngs Near West Side home was highlighted as part of an extensive WBBM-Ch. 2 series on faulty search warrants executed by Chicago police officers. Late last year, Mayor Lori Lightfoots Law Department attempted in court to block Ch. 2 from airing body camera footage of Youngs home and police handcuffing her while she was naked.

The body camera footage was evidence in a lawsuit that Young filed against the Police Department for the raid.

The Law Department was unsuccessful in preventing the news station from airing the story, which ran in mid-December 2020, sending shock waves through City Hall. It prompted police Superintendent David Brown, who was not leading CPD at the time of the raid, to revamp the Police Departments search warrant protocols.

It also led Lightfoot  who also was not mayor at the time of the raid  to sign an executive order designed to make it easier for people who file complaints against police with COPA to get copies of video and other materials in cases in which theyre involved.

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The disciplinary charges filed to the police board last week also come after the Civilian Office of Police Accountability completed a 16-month investigation into the raid, finding more than 100 allegations of misconduct by over a dozen officers.

The law firm representing Young, Saulter Law P.C., has criticized COPA for taking so long to finish the investigation.

The disciplinary charges filed by Brown on Nov. 4 allege, among other things. that Wolinski failed to intervene in the disrespectful treatment of Young and oversaw the execution of the warrant without practicing the Knock and Announce Rule at her home in the 100 block of North Hermitage Avenue.

The charges also allege Wolinski did not promptly give Young a copy of the warrant, nor did he notify a SWAT team to assist in the police action.

Wolinskis lawyer could not immediately be reached for comment.

So far, no other officers under investigation for the raid face firing from the police department. Wolinskis disciplinary hearing before the police board wont take place for several months, but the board ultimately will decide whether he should lose his job as a police officer.

For Lightfoot, the raid at Youngs home and the citys response to CBS-2s reporting has become a major political crisis.

The mayor initially said she had only learned of the raid in December 2020 after Ch. 2 aired police body camera footage that showed Young repeatedly telling officers who barged into her home that they had the wrong place.

Soon after, the mayor acknowledged that members of her staff told her about the raid via emails in November 2019, as Ch. 2 was reporting on search warrants being served at wrong addresses. She also said she had no recollection of the emails.

The mayor also angrily disputed that the city declined to give Young a copy of the video before later acknowledging she was wrong. The Law Departments top attorney, Mark Flessner, resigned over the scandal. Two of his high-ranking staffers also left.

In recent months, Lightfoot has highlighted reforms to how city police execute search warrants, but her efforts have been criticized by some activists as insufficient.

The citys inspector generals office also has completed its investigation of the raid, but those findings have yet to be released. Former federal judge Ann Claire Williams also was tapped by Lightfoot to review the case, but the results of that probe have also yet to be released.

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EAST ST. LOUIS  A 47-year-old old man who admitted to fatally shooting an Illinois State Police trooper in 2019 has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

With time served, Christopher Grant will serve about 37 years. He pleaded guilty to crimes related to the shooting of Nicholas Hopkins in East St. Louis.

Hopkins had a search warrant and was near the home when he was shot. Grant told investigators the activity on the porch woke him up. He suspected someone was about to rob him and he fired his gun.

His attorney said in court this week that he's "profoundly sorry" and didn't know it was a police officer on his porch.

Prosecutors sought a life sentence, calling Grant a "street-level drug dealer" who had numerous firearms at the house.

In handing down the sentence, Chief District Judge Nancy Rosenstengal noted Grant's upbringing surrounded by drugs and violence. He was a young child when his own father was sent to prison. Grant has eight children.

Hopkins, 33, lived in Waterloo. He was married with three children.

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His mother, Verna Hopkins told Grant in court that his actions "destroyed the Hopkins family."

"Nick was a hard worker. His day started before the sun. He served with his hand and his heart. Nick was a policeman, a carpenter and a family man," she said. "His empty seat will forever be in our heart."

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Schroeder then angrily scolded Binger.

Im astonished that that would have been an issue, the judge said. I dont want to have another issue as this case continues.

The judge did not immediately rule on the request. And later in the day, he instructed the jury to expect closing arguments early next week.

 The Associated Press contributed to this report.
"Adam can be making some of the best arguments in the world," the former New Jersey governor said. "People who voted for Donald Trump in the main arent gonna listen to him."
SPRINGFIELD  The rideshare company Lyft argued before the Illinois Supreme Court Wednesday that a 2014 state law protects it from being held liable for the criminal actions of one of its drivers who allegedly raped a passenger in 2017.

The case centers on the constitutionality of the states first law to regulate the industry, passed in 2014, and could have implications for the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches.

On those points, Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a motion to intervene on behalf of Lyft that specifically addressed constitutional concerns.

The alleged rape occurred in July 2017 in Chicago, when the plaintiff, referred to in court filings as Jane Doe, used the Lyft app on her phone to schedule a ride after a night out with friends. She was picked up by Lyft driver Angelo McCoy, and fell asleep in the back of the vehicle, according to the court filing by her lawyer, J. Timothy Eaton, of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.

But, instead of driving her home safely, McCoy drove Jane to a dark and secluded alley, woke her, zip-tied her hands, and brutally sexually assaulted her multiple times at knife point, the legal filing alleged.

When McCoy began to drive away, Doe escaped from the back of the vehicle to safety, according to the filing, which stated McCoy had a criminal history spanning three decades.

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Does initial lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, described eight counts of misconduct against McCoy, Lyft and Sterling Talent Solutions, which conducted the companys background checks.

The Supreme Court was not asked to consider whether Lyft or Sterling could be held directly liable for negligence or fraud. Instead, the legal question is whether Lyft can be held vicariously liable for the acts committed by McCoy.

Key to the case is the 2014 Transportation Network Providers Act, passed on the final day of the General Assemblys legislative session on Dec. 3 of that year.

According to court filings, that law was passed to regulate the nascent rideshare industry that had previously gone unregulated. Earlier in 2014, lawmakers sent a regulatory bill to then-Gov. Pat Quinn, but he vetoed it claiming that it would be overly burdensome to an emerging industry that could be beneficial to Illinoisans.

Lawmakers came back on the final day of the legislative session to approve the bill that would eventually become law, and Raouls legal filing quoted Rep. Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, as calling the proposal a half loaf that provided less stringent regulations than the bill Quinn vetoed.

Discussion in legal filings centered on a specific provision of the Transportation Network Providers Act that states that rideshare drivers are not common carriers, contract carriers or motor carriers, as defined by applicable State law, nor do they provide taxicab or for-hire vehicle service.

Lyft argues that language differentiating Lyft from other common carriers means it is not subject to the same liability as a taxicab company  which is a common carrier, along with other modes of transportation such as airplanes and railcars.

One reason the General Assembly considered that differentiation, according to Lyfts legal filing, is that while theres anonymity to cab or bus drivers, Lyft passengers have all of their drivers information, including name, picture and license plate, on their app.

Lyft has enormous sympathy for Plaintiff, who alleges an injury no one should have to endure, the companys lawyers wrote in a legal filing. As a matter of law, however, Lyft is not vicariously liable for such acts.

Precisely because sexual assaults are such heinous acts, they necessarily are not in service of an employer or principal and are outside the scope of employment or agency, the lawyers wrote. As such, Illinois law bars vicarious liability for sexual assaults committed by an employee or agent, except in narrowly-drawn circumstances.

But Does team argued that if the General Assembly wanted to grant such immunity, it should have spelled it out directly.

Does court filing argued that a passengers safety is in the drivers hands, whether in a cab or a Lyft, which makes that a special relationship which holds the driver to the highest duty of care.

Had Doe hailed a cab, taken the train or gotten on a bus and been raped, Eaton argued before the court Wednesday, shed have a legal avenue for a complete remedy.

But because Jane did what Lyft told her to do by hailing one of its cars instead of a taxicab when she had been drinking too much, she's here today arguing for her right to be treated as more than a second class rape victim, Eaton argued.

If the court does decide that the Transportation Network Providers Act grants immunity to rideshare companies, Does team argued, then it should determine that the law is itself an unconstitutional special piece of legislation that favors a specific industry, and it should be struck down on those grounds.

But Lyfts lawyers, along with Raoul, argued that such a reading of law would be incorrect, and would constitute an overreach by the court.

Because the technology allowing rideshare companies to operate  namely the app that includes the drivers identifiable information  the industry is substantially different than existing transportation methods and its within the scope of the legislatures constitutional authority to regulate it differently.

Because lawmakers had a rational basis to act the way they did, Raouls team argued, it would be an overreach by the court to read outside the scope of what the General Assembly wrote in the law.

Concerns about process

If the court determines not to rule in Does favor on the previous arguments, Does legal team asked it to reject the law by rejecting a process that the General Assembly has used on countless occasions to pass major legislation, from abortion law changes to state budgets, on a last-minute basis.

By law, a bill must be read three times on the House and Senate floor before it can be called for a vote in order to encourage further debate.

But the passage of a bill can be quickened if one chamber takes a bill that already passed the other and files a substantial amendment with new bill language that replaces everything that has already passed the other chamber.

Thats the process that was used when lawmakers approved the rideshare regulations, leading Does team to contend it was passed in violation of constitutional requirements because it was filed as an amendment to a bill that originally pertained to the regulation of public accountants.

But the state constitution also states that the speaker of the House and Senate president must sign each bill to certify that the procedural requirements for passage have been met, a process known as the enrolled bill doctrine. So, according to Raouls team, it is up to the legislatures discretion, not the courts, to determine whether the process was sufficient.

If there was ever an instance for this court to change its precedent on the enrolled bill doctrine and the three readings rule, this is not it, Caleb Rush, assistant attorney general, said upon questioning by Chief Justice Anne Burke.

Thats because, he said, the bills predecessor, which was vetoed by Quinn, was subject to substantive and lengthy debate, meaning it was not rushed through.

There may have been a technical violation of the three readings rule, but it wasn't  the legislature in these circumstances wasn't acting in disregard of the purpose and spirit of that rule, he said.

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Friends tried to help Carter Cole Bomer salvage what he could the night before the bank was 
When we moved here in 84, the biggest problem was there wasnt enough parking. Here we are 35 years later, and the biggest problem is there is not enough parking, and youre taking parking spaces away to put in planters, Pilk said. I tell ya, wait a couple of years, and maybe theyll (City Council) suggest, you know what would be great here is if we had parking instead of those (planters), just pretend like its their idea.

The remodeling of Sixth Street is part of a larger project to revamp Bristols downtown that was announced in 2018 as the Downtown Strategy, and involves remaking pedestrian crosswalks, adding bike lanes and expanding street lighting, as well as rehabilitating historic and empty buildings for retail and upper floor housing.

Tom Anderson, the citys director of economic development, said he is looking forward to restarting the project after COVID forced them to pause it. He said the planters are a safety measure and pointed out that the city leased the parking lot on Sixth Street for public parking as a replacement for the six spots that were turned into sidewalk.

He said he is also excited about the possibility of using Sixth Street as a venue for events.
Ballad Health has articulated very clearly our concerns this mandate could have on staffing for the needs of our region during a time where the nation and rural regions in particular suffer from the worst clinical staffing shortage in history. We remain concerned this will negatively affect service and our ability to respond to the medical needs of our region, though we have no choice but to comply.

Holston Medical Group, which employs more than 1,000 people at 45 health care facilities across Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, also replied via a statement.

Our biggest priority continues to be the safety and health of our team, our patients and our community. Our leadership team is weighing the federal mandate requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for those who work with Medicare and Medicaid patients, according to the statement. As a health partner for life, its our responsibility to provide science-backed education regarding vaccination for team members and the community while meeting their individual needs. We strongly encourage all team and community members who have not yet received the vaccine to do so for the greater public health.

ETSU, which operates ETSU Physicians Group and the Quillen College of Medicine, also issued a statement.
More than 50 people have been recently indicted on drug charges in Wise County related to crimes committed during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said Wednesday.

The operation is being dubbed Operation COVID Clean-up, according to a news release from Wise County Commonwealths Attorney Chuck Slemp. The arrests stem from an extensive investigation involving illegal drug activity, specifically the dangerous schedule II controlled drug methamphetamine, Slemp said.

Officers from the Southwest Virginia Regional Drug Task Force, Virginia State Police, Norton Police Department, Coeburn Police Department, Wise Police Department, St. Paul Police Department, Big Stone Gap Police Department, Lee County Sheriffs Office, Scott County Sheriffs Office and Wise County Sheriffs Office joined forces for the operation.

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Early this morning, law enforcement officers from across our region launched an operation to clean up our streets, Slemp said Wednesday afternoon. As we speak, they are still in the field, making arrests and continuing with their efforts. Together, we are taking a very public and immediate action against the trade of illegal and dangerous narcotics, specifically methamphetamine.

Meth is a dangerous and highly addictive drug, he said.
BRISTOL, Va.  A steady stream of parents and grandparents with younger children filed hand-in-hand into Van Pelt Elementary Schools gym Wednesday afternoon  not to play, but to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The school hosted one of this regions first clinics for children ages 5-11, who are now eligible to receive a dose of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine under an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration. About 80 children had appointments.

Zak Price, of Bristol, Virginia, brought his four sons, a 9-year-old, a 7-year-old and 5-year-old twins, but only three were receiving the vaccine this time around. Some sat on their dads lap while the rest crowded around to watch the reaction  and not all were pleased with the process.

Were concerned about COVID and think this will help with herd immunity as well as their own immunity, Price said. Hopefully, this will help everyone get rid of COVID or at least greatly reduce the risks.

Asked if the decision to vaccinate was influenced by the recent delta variant surge, which affected large numbers of children and hospitalized many, he said it was.
In Afghanistan in 2012, Anthony Stobbe and three other soldiers were searching for roadside bombs when the vehicle they were riding in struck one. The four soldiers survived.

Stobbe said there were four trucks ahead of them that were staggered clearing a path for the search team. My driver was 18 at the time, and he was just being dumb, he said as he smiled.

The driver knew Stobbe had a concern about going outside the tracks. I made it all the way out to Iraq, and I was one of the few people that never got blown up. I was very proud of that, he said.

The driver started swerving the vehicle to mess with Stobbe. Our right tire goes outside of the cleared line and it just so happened to run over a pressure plate.

The impact destroyed the front axle of the mine-protected vehicle, Stobbe said. All four soldiers had to be transported with serious injuries and received medical attention.

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Stobbe doesnt hold any anger toward the driver and remains friends with him today. Thats a kid behind a huge vehicle that I put a lot of responsibility in to not getting me killed, he said. He just did a bad job that day.
We did everything, he said. We set up units all along Route 1 to secure the supply lines.

He once fell into a canal during one of his tours in Iraq. He couldnt make it out himself. I nearly drowned, he said.

There were several times throughout that I thought Well, Im already dead. I might as well stay calm, he explained. It might sound nuts, but at some point you realize there is nothing you can do.

Helton stood in place and felt the bank moving away under his feet. I was standing with my rifle over my head the entire time like an idiot, he said.

An interpreter assigned to his unit was lowered to Helton, grabbed his vest and rescued him from the canal.

Several experiences like that where its just moments that you think Well, Im not going to make it so I might as well make it look good.

Helton went back to Iraq for a second tour with the knowledge he had from the first. He took on a leadership role and taught soldiers around him.

He was traveling in a Humvee with his new team soon after their tour began.
Advice for next generation?

Use the same advice I was given. Always have a plan for your future, whether it be for next week, next year or 10 years or more. Set goals and do whats required and a little more to reach them.

And I always tell young people that if they literally or figuratively wrote those goals down, to use a pencil. Because things change. Life happens, and you may need to make corrections, additions or deletions along the way. But still always have goals in mind!

The moment I remember best?

The moment I saw my family at Pope Air Force Base after getting off the plane that brought me back from my first deployment. And the feeling that you never wanted the hugs to end.

What should people know about you and your service?

That my career was not the normal path that most take. I was able to serve in the active Army, the Army National Guard and then back on Active Guard Reserve (AGR), which basically means I was back on active duty but working full-time for the National Guard.
Foothills Veterans Helping Veterans hosts events to aid veterans twice a year, with as many as 300 people attending, board member Ric Vandett said. Dental care, haircuts, medical care and tax advice are some of the services offered at past events. VOICE has provided shoes, clothing and sleeping mats for homeless veterans who attended.

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Most of the folks in Foothills Veterans Helping Veterans are Vietnam vets, so most of us are older. We want to make sure that younger veterans, from Iran and Afghanistan, know that there are folks out there that are willing to help them, Vandett said. We want them to join, or at least connect with us, so that we can provide help. As Vietnam veterans, we are aware that when you come home from a battle, you are expected to assimilate back into society smoothly. But that is not always a realistic expectation.

Foothills Veterans Helping Veterans works to connect veterans and their families to assistance, including help finding a job.

There are jobs available, but many veterans, specifically younger veterans, because of their internal issues, personal issues, may find it difficult to meet certain job requirements, Vandett said. We want to help them in that area, provide the right kind of counseling for them.
The sanctions render Chau, Tea and their immediate family members ineligible for entry into the U.S., and freeze any assets in the U.S. that they hold. The Treasury Department did not detail whether either individual or their immediate families had financial interests in the U.S.

In addition to the sanctions, the Treasury Department, State Department and Commerce Department issued a business advisory cautioning U.S. firms "to be mindful of interactions with entities involved in corrupt business practices, criminal activities and human rights abuses.

It identified two primary areas of risk: illegal financial activities in the financial, real estate, casino and infrastructure sectors, and entities involved in the trafficking of humans, wildlife and narcotics and related risks in some areas of the manufacturing and timber sectors.

American relations with the government of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in office for 36 years, have long been frosty over concerns about the country's poor record on human and political rights.

In recent months, the U.S. has expressed further worries about ties between Cambodia and China, and has urged the leaders of Cambodia, which frequently supports Beijing's positions, to maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy.
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, The Treaty of Versailles was signed by Germany and the Allied countries bringing an end to WWI. That is why we celebrate the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month as Veterans Day. We, as Americans should value this day and remember all those that died for our Country.

"When The Good Lord Makes a Record of a Heros Deeds He Draws No Color Line" (music by Val Trainer and Harry De Costa). The all-black 369th Infantry Regiment saw extensive combat in the war and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre for being the first Allied regiment to reach the Rhine River. Those African American men returned home to face overt racism and segregation. I will always remember and be thankful to those men of the 369th.

For all American children, the end of the war meant their fathers would be coming home. The lyrics of this song were clearly meant to tug the heartstrings of parents:

Hello, Central, give me France,

I want to talk to my Daddy dear,

Because Id like to tell him while Ive got the chance,

The stork brought a brand new baby here, and wont you tell him thats its me

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Oh hell answer, you wait and see;
" " Debra Morris, a niece of U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James Calfee, wears a Vietnam War POW/MIA bracelet in honor of her late uncle in Houston, Texas, Aug. 22, 2012. Calfee was killed in action in Laos in 1968. U.S. Air Force/Val Gempis

In the early 1970s, two college students felt compelled to take action during a time when most Americans felt particularly helpless and even hopeless. The war in Vietnam had been raging since the 1950s, but it wasn't until 1964 that a pilot named Everett Alvarez, Jr. became the first United States prisoner of war (POW), which led President Lyndon B. Johnson to increase the draft to 35,000 troops each month. Within a few years, hundreds of American soldiers were dying each week and many more were taken as POWs or considered missing in action (MIA).

Carol Bates Brown and Kay Hunter, described as two "sorority-type" college students in Los Angeles, wanted to find a way to offer families some solace. The two came up with a novel idea: making bracelets to commemorate the American prisoners of war suffering in captivity in Southeast Asia. By the late '60s, Brown served as the National Chairman of the POW/MIA Bracelet Campaign for VIVA (Voices In Vital America), the Los Angeles based student organization that produced and distributed the bracelets.

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In 1969, television personality Bob Dornan (who would later be elected to Congress) introduced Brown, Hunter and several other members of VIVA to three wives of missing U.S. pilots. The women asked the student group to help draw public attention to those missing in Vietnam. While petitions and protests were certainly options, Brown and Hunter "were looking for ways college students could become involved in positive programs to support U.S. soldiers without becoming embroiled in the controversy of the war itself."

And so, the bracelets became a major part of the publicity plan. Dornan had begun wearing a bracelet he got in Vietnam from native hill tribesmen, which he said reminded him of the suffering that resulted from the war. "We wanted to get similar bracelets to wear to remember U.S. POWs, so rather naively, we tried to figure out a way to go to Vietnam," Brown wrote in an article on the origin of the bracelets. "Since no one wanted to fund two sorority-girl types on a tour to Vietnam during the height of the war, and our parents were livid at the idea, we gave up..."

It was then that Hunter began investigating ways to make bracelets but ended up leaving VIVA. Brown then collaborated with student Steve Frank and adult adviser Gloria Coppin to pursue the POW/MIA awareness program.

While significantly fewer Americans were taken prisoner during Vietnam versus previous wars (726 compared to more than 4,000 during World War I, 130,000 during World War II, and 7,000-plus in Korea), families were far more aware of their suffering. In an effort to extinguish public support for the war, North Vietnamese soldiers publicly displayed POWs in propaganda campaigns. Americans wanted to wear their support on their sleeves; Brown and her team found a way to allow citizens to wear it on their wrists.

In late summer 1970, Coppin's husband donated enough brass and copper to make 1,200 bracelets at 75 cents a pop, which the VIVA team sold to students for $2.50 and to adults for $3. Each bracelet was engraved with the name, rank, service, loss date and country of loss of a missing soldier.

"On Veterans Day, November 11, 1970, we officially kicked off the bracelet program with a news conference at the Universal Sheraton Hotel," Brown wrote. "Public response quickly grew and we eventually got to the point we were receiving over 12,000 requests a day." The income allowed VIVA to pay for promotional items like bumper stickers and buttons and gave bracelets to relatives of missing soldiers so that they could be sold on consignment. By the time VIVA closed its doors in 1976, the organization had distributed nearly 5 million bracelets and had "raised enough money to produce untold millions of bumper stickers, buttons, brochures, matchbooks, newspaper ads, etc. to draw attention to the missing men."

Brown says the public was tired of hearing about Vietnam by then and "showed no interest in the POW/MIA issue" but memorial bracelets are still available for sale, even today and news stories continue to recount the legends associated with the original items.

Now That's Sad The remains of 300,000 Vietnamese soldiers are still lost as a result of the war.
" " This status of Marcus Aurelius stands on Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy. Jupiterimages/Getty Images

Marcus Aurelius (121 to 180 C.E.) never meant for his "Meditations" to be published, let alone read and quoted by truth-seekers for millennia. The slim volume captures the private thoughts of an ancient Roman emperor and dedicated student of Stoic philosophy as he led armies to battle against barbarian invaders and watched millions of his subjects die from a plague of smallpox.

Written nearly 2,000 years ago, "Meditations" resonates so deeply with modern readers because Marcus Aurelius proffered answers to some of life's biggest questions  how to be a good person, how to deal with adversity, and how to rein in emotions and focus on what really matters  and he does it with short, easily digestible, highly quotable nuggets of Stoic wisdom.

"Stoicism from its very beginning is designed to be a philosophy to be lived, not just studied," says William O. Stephens, philosophy professor at Creighton University and author of "Marcus Aurelius: A Guide for the Perplexed." "Meditations is intended to be a practical guide. And the kinds of challenges that Marcus faced in Ancient Rome are not all that far removed from the human circumstances and challenge that we face today, including 'the plague.'"

Here is Stephens' take on five potentially life-altering pieces of advice from Marcus Aurelius:

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1. "Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself."

A central tenet of Stoicism is that you can only control yourself  your own actions and reactions  not outside circumstances or other people. In the same vein, you can't judge other people's actions as "good" or "evil," because you don't know their motivations.

"Stoics believe that other people act in accordance with what they judge to be good for themselves at the time," says Stephens. "Maybe they've been betrayed by a friend or are worried about a sick relative, so they're distracted about what they should be focused on."

Even when people act in ignorance and those actions hurt you, it doesn't make sense to think the worst of other people, because ultimately you don't know their hearts and minds. Instead of holding up a mirror to other people to show them their faults and vices, turn inward and reflect on your own thoughts and actions.

"In your own reactions, be strict," says Stephens. "Exercise Stoic virtues like patience, understanding, and cooperativeness, and flex them every day like they're muscles. Focus on your errors and think about correcting them. Count on yourself and love other people."

Bonus quote: "It's silly to try to escape other people's faults. They are inescapable. Just try to escape your own."

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2. "The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way."

From the Stoic point of view, the existence of adversity or "impediments" to our success and happiness should not be seen as hardships, but as challenges. Even the events and conditions that seem objectively "bad"  divorce, financial failure, illness, death  are not in themselves "evil." They are part of an interconnected whole, a living cosmos that is directed by divine providence.

"Impediments are just raw material that the cosmos is providing you and giving you the opportunity to rework and transform by activating your own resources: your mind, intelligence and reason," says Stephens.

Marcus Aurelius knew adversity intimately. Of his 13 children with his wife Faustina, only three lived into adulthood, says Stephens. He never aspired to be emperor, but ruled over a vast domain constantly under attack internally and externally. The thoughts recorded in "Meditations" weren't outward advice, but self-directed reminders of how to use his own adversity and loss as fuel for self-transformation.

One of the most poignant allegories in "Meditations" for grit in the face of adversity is that of an unquenchable fire. A roaring fire doesn't care what you throw at it  perfectly aged pine logs or a rotten and soggy limb.

"The fire takes whatever fuel you throw into it and grows stronger," says Stephens.

Bonus quote: "It's unfortunate that this has happened. No. It's fortunate that this has happened and I've remained unharmed by it."

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3. "Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one."

For a Stoic like Marcus Aurelius, there is a sense of urgency to life. Your one and only task is to become the most virtuous person you can be  more wise, courageous, just, friendly and self-controlled  and that self-improvement project is going to require decades of work.

"Putting off that moral project until tomorrow is nothing but laziness and self-delusion," says Stephens. "You have to practice and apply these virtues every single day if you're going to make progress. You can't become virtuous overnight."

Bonus quote: "It's a disgrace in this life when the soul surrenders first while the body refuses to."

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4. "You shouldn't give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don't care at all."

For Stoics, emotions are not some outside force that "happens" to you. Something can't "make you sad" or "make you angry." Instead, emotions are a choice. When someone provokes you or tries to hurt you, you can choose to feel angry. Or you can do as the Stoics teach and choose calm rationality.

In "Meditations," Marcus Aurelius uses the example of someone insulting you and criticizing your behavior. For a Stoic, there are only two possible responses to this. First, you need to dispassionately examine if what they say is true or false. If it's true, says Stephens, then you should actually thank your insulter and urgently get on with fixing your flaw.

"If it's false and you know that it's false, then what's there to get upset about?" asks Stephens. "In neither case is it rational to respond with anger. That's the kind of cognitive therapy that a Stoic applies to insults."

Bonus quote: "The best revenge is not to be like your enemy."

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5. "Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn't matter."

Marcus Aurelius was the last of what are known as the "Five Good Emperors" of the Roman Empire. He oversaw a far-flung state encompassing 75 million people stretching from Egypt to England. If you think your to-do list is long, imagine his!

As with all of us, Marcus Aurelius had to decide every day how to spend his limited energies, time and attention. And as a Stoic, he tried to remind himself what he could realistically control and what he could not, what was virtuous and what was trivial.

"What you can control are your own beliefs, judgements, and your own intention and goals," says Stephens. "These you take complete responsibility for. You don't have the power to transform the moral character of other people, but your moral progress is entirely up to you."

Bonus quote: "It's all in how you perceive it. You're in control. You can dispense with misperception at will, like rounding the point."

HowStuffWorks earns a small affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site.

Now That's Crazy The 2006 movie "Gladiator" made up the character of Maximus, but the bad guy Commodus was the real son and heir of Marcus Aurelius and a real nutjob. Stephens says that for sport, the megalomaniacal Commodus used to shackle together a bunch of prisoners, cut off their feet and then "fight" them as if they were a mythical beast.
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

As friends and family gather for the holidays, Americans are expected to purchase 161 million pounds of butter from the second week in November through Christmas. While butter sales usually increase during the holidays, the pandemic, which spiked a rebirth of home cooking, has also caused butter sales to grow significantly year-round.

According to Suzanne Fanning, Senior Vice President at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, the organization saw a 400% spike in recipe searches during the pandemic. We want to encourage residents to choose all-natural Wisconsin farm-to-table butter to create their favorite recipes at home, said Fanning.

Wisconsin is one of the top two butter producers in the U.S., and the dairy industry in the state employs more than 150,000 residents and contributes $45.6 billion to the states economy.

From rich sauces to flaky golden crusts and buttery cookies, the best food is made with real Wisconsin butter. Heres why:

Wisconsin butter is all-natural, simple and pure, made with only two ingredients  fresh cream and salt.

Local butter starts with high-quality milk from Wisconsin, thanks to dedicated dairy farmers and the states lush grasslands.

After fresh, whole milk is collected from Wisconsin dairy farms, its transported to a local creamery where the cream is separated from the milk. Once the butter is churned, its delivered to the local grocery store for people to take home and enjoy.

When grocery shopping for the holidays, check the label to make sure youre purchasing Wisconsin butter. Use real Wisconsin butter to make memorable holiday meals everyone will love. For recipe inspiration, visit WisconsinCheese.com/Butter.
The information below has been supplied by dairy marketers and other industry organizations. It has not been edited, verified or endorsed by Hoards Dairyman.

Wisconsin Cheese is on a nationwide hunt for the most creative holiday cheese boards. Their six-week competition opens today, and any aspiring cheese board aficionado could be named champion, winning a years supply of cheese for themselves and a friend, plus a cheese donation to the food pantry of their choice. Enter now at

In Wisconsin, we truly believe that great cheese makes the world a happier, tastier place, and we know that cheese lovers across the country will be gathering together over cheese boards this holiday season, says Suzanne Fanning, Chief Marketing Officer for Wisconsin Cheese and Senior Vice President at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Since our fans will already be creating beautiful boards, we want to encourage everyone to share images, so cheese lovers can inspire each other, and we can honor best-in-class Wisconsin cheese boards from the holidays most incredible hosts. We cant wait to see what people create!



An esteemed panel of three judges who live and breathe all things cheese boards will review submissions every week to see who creates the most delectable cheese board. Judges include Marissa Mullen, the best-selling author, content creator and founder of That Cheese Plate, in addition to Cheeselandian and former cheesemonger Doug Clemens of @CheeseTrayGay and Alisha Norris Jones of Immortal Milk, an award-winning cheesemonger from Chicago.





So, what does it take to win? Heres what the judges will be looking for:

Usage of Wisconsin Cheese.There are so many great varieties of Wisconsin Cheese. You must include a minimum of 2, but you'll get extra love from the judges if you go above and beyond. The more, the merrier! Board Abundance. In the spirit of holiday giving, every corner of your board should be covered with Wisconsin Cheese and other cheese board accompaniments. Don't hold back - the more you add, the more you'll wow the judges. Color & Creativity.

The holiday season is the perfect time to add some colorful, festive cues to your cheese board. Try something unique and let your creative side shine.

With over 25 prizes up for grabs, there is more than just a years worth of cheese on the line! The judges will choose a winner every week to receive a cheese prize pack complete with a cheese board, cheese knives, cheese paper, $100 worth of Wisconsin Cheese and more. The entries placing second, third and fourth place each week become weekly winners and will receive a custom cheese board.





Over the contests six-week period, the weekly winners as selected by the judges will be finalists for the grand prize. Finalists will be announced on the Wisconsin Cheese Facebook and Instagram channels, where judges will also be sharing inspirational content for award-winning creations. Professionals and amateurs alike can find additional inspiration to create cheese boards for the contest at WisconsinCheese.com.



All eligible entries must include three photos, including the final Wisconsin cheese board creation, the Wisconsin Cheese packaging and the creator with their masterpiece. Not sure where to find Wisconsin Cheese? Look for the Proudly Wisconsin Cheese badge on packaging at retailers nationwide. Full contest details can be found in the Official Rules. Contest entries accepted through 12/16 at 11:59PM CT. Thank you to Winona Foods for their generous donation of cheese to the food bank of the winners choice.
The No. 11 Nebraska volleyball team (17-6, 11-3 Big Ten) returns to the Devaney Center this Friday, Nov. 12, playing host to Maryland (18-8, 6-8). First serve is set for 6 p.m., and the match will be televised in a statewide broadcast on Nebraska Public Media -- formerly known as NET -- and streamed on Big Ten Network+, with Larry Punteney and Kathi Wieskamp on the call.This week's action will be carried on Huskers Radio Network with Matt Coatney handling play-by-play duties and Lauren Cook West providing color commentary.Huskers Radio Network will carry the matches on HRN radio affiliates, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and AM 590 in Omaha. A live audio stream will be available at Huskers.com and on the Huskers app. Inside the Devaney Center, fans can access the direct radio call of the match at 87.7 FM. Nebraska is tied with Minnesota for second in the Big Ten standings at 11-3. The Huskers moved down two spots to No. 11 in the AVCA national poll this week. NU is No. 15 in the latest NCAA RPI report., who returned to the starting lineup last week, is eight kills away from moving into the top 20 in school history for career kills as a Husker. Nebraska was the last unbeaten team in Big Ten play. Its 10-0 start was their second-best since joining the conference in 2011.Maryland is 18-8 (6-8 Big Ten) after falling 3-0 to Michigan on Sunday -- the Terrapins' second straight loss. Sam Csire led the Terps with 11 kills to go with eight digs. Paula Neciporuka added 10 kills and nine digs.Rainelle Jones paces the Big Ten with 1.49 blocks per set in conference play, and the Terps are second as a team with 2.87 blocks per set.Adam Hughes is in his fourth year at Maryland with a career record of 54-56.Nebraska leads the all-time series with Maryland 15-0, including 13-0 in theera. The Huskers have swept seven of the last eight matches.NU and Maryland last met Feb. 5-6 in Lincoln, with the Huskers winning 3-1 on the opening night and 3-0 in the finale.had a standout effort in the opener with 18 kills on 20 swings with just one hitting error for an .850 performance.The Huskers have a 9-0 advantage over Maryland in Lincoln, including 7-0 at the Devaney Center.Nebraska visits Indiana on Sunday, Nov. 14, with first serve set for 1 p.m. CT at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington, Ind. The match will be streamed on Big Ten Network+. John Baylor and Lauren Cook West will also have the radio call on Huskers Radio Network.
The governments $1b clean-energy fund may have captured the headlines, but Australian healthtech and spacetech innovators will also get access to targeted support as private investors increasingly step in to support early-stage companies in high-growth industries.

The latest injection of funding includes $2m in private-sector capital that will be available to 10 early-stage healthtech startups with the support of Australian Medical Angels, a network of over 400 doctors who have pooled funds to support innovative companies in the sector.

Quality angel investments are a lifeline for early-stage startups, LaunchVic CEO Kate Cornick said as the new initiative was launched, noting that healthtech is Victorias largest startup sector.

The network is LaunchVics first sector-specific angel network, coming in the wake of its moves last year to establish four new angel networks and the recommendation of noted investment academic Professor Josh Lerners recommendation that the organisation prioritise investments in healthtech companies, which comprise 18 per cent of Victorian startups.

That initiative led to a $300,000 grant for Australian Medical Angels, which was founded by emergency clinician and neuroscience researcher Dr Mian Bi and Sydney GP Dr Amandeep Hansra as a way of letting investment-minded doctors support their sector.

Angel investors have been linked to much-improved business outcomes for emerging startups, and the support of Australian Medical Angels has been welcomed by Kunal Kalro, founder and CEO of genomics startup Eugene Labs  who noted that the group has a first-hand understanding of healthtech challenges and the right connections, advice and operational expertise that will help Victorias sector scale globally.

Access to mentorship and networking is also core to the CSIROs newly-launched Innovate to Grow: Space program, which is accepting applications this month for a 10-week focused initiative designed to help small to medium enterprises (SMEs) better focus their efforts in the space sector.

Aiming at emerging areas such as small satellite technologies, remote operations and robots, earth observation and microgravity science, the CSIRO program  which follows a similar program for agrifood businesses  will link SMEs with industry experts working with the support of program collaborator the Australian Space Agency.

Collaboration is key to the growth of Australias space industry, noted CSIRO space research program director Dr Kimberley Clayfield in launching the new initiative  which, she said, taps the agencys 75 years of space-related experience with leading global companies, international space agencies and small-to-medium businesses.

SMEs have a lot to contribute, she said, and when combined with our strong capabilities in Earth observation, robotics, advanced manufacturing and communications, the sky is no limit to what we can achieve together.

Engaging the private sector

The new programs, which were announced contemporaneously to the Commonwealth governments announcement of $1b in clean-energy funding, highlight the vast gap in funding between industries that support policy priorities and those that are often left to bootstrap their equally innovative efforts.

The governments Modern Manufacturing Initiative, for example, spread just $14m across a handful of established spacetech projects as the fledgling sector competes with companies across other key industries including medical products, mining, food and beverage, defence, and sustainable industries.

The federal government will provide half of that funding and raise the other half from private investors  a far higher proportion than the 15 per cent that Victorian Government-funded LaunchVic will contribute to its healthtech angel fund.

This disparity highlights the importance of private-sector funding in providing critical mass for startup ecosystems where access to capital is crucial to overcoming commercial inertia  which is often, as one National Bureau of Economic Research analysis found, self-imposed.

Availability of angel funding had a positive impact on the growth, performance, and survival of firms as well as their follow-on fundraising, that report concluded, regardless of the countrys entrepreneur-friendliness.

Startups applying for angel funding tended to be more-mature in countries with low levels of entrepreneur-friendliness  suggesting, the studys authors posited, self-censoring by very early-stage firms that do not expect to receive funding in these environments.

In other words, startups are waiting until they have grown to a certain size before applying for funding designed specifically to help them achieve that growth.

Melbourne ranked 36th in Startup Genomes recent Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2021 but came in at 24th in the Life Sciences ranking  which rated the citys life-sciences community as being strong on talent and infrastructure but weak when it comes to funding, knowledge, and policy.
That was the best decision I ever made, he said. I met the best teachers  people youd like to be taught by all day. The college has the best teachers and a good environment.

The Rowan-Cabarrus Adult Education and Literacy program offers adult basic education programs to eligible adults who want to earn a high school equivalency diploma. The program currently serves more than 160 students, focusing on math, science, social studies, and reading/language arts. Students can take courses either online as a self-paced, 24/7 learning opportunity or virtually with an instructor teaching via Zoom.

I gained a lot of confidence through the program, found new friends, and changed my life, because now I can continue my education, Kamugisha said. My journey has not been easy, as my beloved mother, Dorothea Kamugisha, passed away before I graduated. But it has been worthwhile. With advice from instructor Mary Jane Hartley, I moved to the night class until I finished. I thank God that I didnt quit.

The GED program helped me to achieve my goals, continued Kamugisha, who officially graduated on Sept. 9. If you have ever wanted to go back to school, this is the time, and Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is there to help you like they did me.
"Personally, the things that get me excited are being able to see that influence. Test scores are great, but they are not what we are here for. I am not going to see a kid in 20 years and say, 'Remember when you had a really good grade on that state test?' It is not going to happen," said Principal of the year Dr. Adam Auerbach.
Books Between Bites meeting

MATTOON  Friends of the Mattoon Public Library will host Books-Between-Bites at noon on Monday, Nov. 15, in the basement conference room.

Ingrid Minger, librarian at the Mattoon Middle School, and a group of her students will present a program about their Read Across Mattoon program. They will discuss how they go about narrowing down their selections and what those selections consist of at the present time.

The public is invited. You may bring a sack lunch. Coffee and ice tea will be provided.

Quarter auction to benefit Christmas program

MATTOON  The American Legion Auxiliary will be hosting a quarter auction Thursday, Nov. 18.

The auction will feature over 15 vendors. Items will include crafts, books, toys, purses, wallets, makeup, gift certificates, kitchenware and more.

The auction is a monthly event, held the third Thursday of each month, with profits going to American Legion Auxiliary projects. This month the proceeds will go to One Stop Community Christmas.

The monthly quarter auction has brought in over $27,400 for community projects.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with bidding starting at 6:30 p.m. Food and drinks will available. This event is open to the public.

The American Legion is located at 1903 Maple Ave., Mattoon.

Speaker to highlight coal miner struggles

SULLIVAN  The Moultrie County Historical and Genealogical Society will be holding its annual dinner and Program on Thursday, Nov. 18.

The speaker for the evening is Kevin Corley, a retired teacher and school administrator from Shelbyville. Corley will be speaking on the struggles experienced by Central Illinois coal miners over the past century. He is also an author of five novels covering the same subject.

The dinner will be at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. at the Sullivan American Legion, located across from the Sullivan Civic Center and Wyman Park.

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WASHINGTON  Edgar County native Wilma Vaught enlisted in 1957 when the military still instructed women about makeup rather than firearms, offered them few career fields, and limited chances for promotion.

Nevertheless, the 1952 University of Illinois graduate had a trailblazing Air Force career. Vaught became the first woman to deploy with an Air Force bomber unit wing and one of the first to become a brigadier general, the first woman in the comptroller field to reach this rank. After retiring in 1985, she played a lead role in founding the Military Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

"She has had several 'firsts' in her 28-year Air Force career," said Jill Henry of Bloomington, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and a charter member of the memorial. "Because (Vaught) broke barriers for women for decades during her military career and after retirement, 20 women senators have recently urged President Joe Biden to award her the Presidential Medal of Freedom."

Vaught, 91, was unavailable for an interview in advance of Veterans Day but has shared her history in past interviews archived with the memorial, including a Stories of Service: Brigadier General Wilma Vaught" video.

The brigadier general, who grew up in Scottland in Edgar County, said in that interview she enlisted because the military offered her the management opportunities she wanted when these roles were not readily available to women in business.

"When I went through training, we didnt learn how to fire weapons, women didnt do that. We went through a course on how to put on lipstick and powder, how to get in and out of a car tastefully. I was always one of very few military women where I was assigned," Vaught said.

Following assignments that included being based 1959-1964 in Spain, Vaught deployed with a B-52 bombardment wing to Guam in 1966-1967 in a support role for flights over North Vietnam. Vaught said in a 2016 interview with the U of I College of Business magazine that this wartime deployment was a proud moment for her.

"In my military career, the highlight was when the wing commander selected me as captain to go to Guam," Vaught said. "A woman had never deployed with a Strategic Air Command bombardment wing before."

Vaught was later deployed in 1968-1969 to Vietnam, where she worked in management analysis for Military Assistance Command in Saigon. Vaught recalled in her Stories of Service" interview hearing rockets land a block and a half away from her quarters and wondering if she would survive this deployment.

Subsequent postings included Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, when she was promoted to brigadier general in 1980. Vaught recalled in an conversation with interviewer Steve Harden that she had made a point prior to her promotion from colonel of encouraging other women that they could have a military career beyond just making captain or major.

"When I got promoted, that just became a continuation of that type of feeling," Vaught said. "There wasnt any question in my mind that I stood out and that I had to be careful of what I did, because it would be picked up and criticized if it was the wrong thing, and I had to be an example for the women who were in the military. I have tried very hard to do that."

As a brigadier general, Vaught commanded the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command in North Chicago in 1982-1985. She led the preparation of enlisted recruits for all service branches and gave countless oaths of enlistment.

After Vaught retired in 1985 and settled in Washington, she was later asked to serve on the Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation board. To her bemused surprise, she was soon elected as that group's first president when she missed a meeting.

"That missed meeting changed the trajectory of the next 30 years of her life as she ultimately fund-raised, built and operated the (memorial), or as it is lovingly called, 'The House that Wilma built,'" said Henry, an Illinois Ambassador for the memorial. She said Vaught has remained active as the foundation's president emeritus after stepping down as president in 2016.

A 2015 National Geographic Society interview noted that the foundation has sought for the memorial to not only recognize the womens service, but their struggle to be included in the military.

Women in the military had to fight. They had to sue the government, the secretary of defense, and the service secretaries to attain their rights, rights that should have been given to them just the same as any man, Vaught said in that interview. We worked very hard as women in the military to get integrated. As we started to receive those rights and honors, they trickled out to the civilian sector.

Stars and Stripes reported Oct. 22 that U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who both served in the military, and 18 other senators have sent a letter to Biden asking him to award the Medal of Freedom to Vaught.

Throughout her life, Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught has led the way, forging new paths and opportunities for other women to succeed with a career in Americas military services." the senators wrote.

Contact Rob Stroud at 217-238-6861.

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For more than 20 years, meteorologist Eric Sorensen was a trusted source for weather information in Rockford and the Quad Cities.

We maybe take that for granted being meteorologists, but when we're tracking a tornado or dangerous weather, our communities trust us to keep them out of harm's way, Sorensen told Lee Enterprises on Wednesday.

Now Sorensen, a former meteorologist for WQAD-TV in Moline and WREX-TV in Rockford, feels like it's the right time to pivot and become the trusted person with a science background in Congress.

He announced Wednesday his candidacy for the 17th congressional district seat being vacated by retiring Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline. He is the fourth Democratic candidate to announce.

But Sorensen is not the only former on-air talent looking at the race. State Sen. Steve Stadelman, D-Rockford, told Lee Enterprises last week that he was still in the process of making the final decision."

Stadelman, a state senator since 2013, was previously a television news anchor in the Rockford market for more than two decades.

Bustos herself is a former journalist, first interning as a statehouse reporter as part of the University of Illinois Springfields Public Affairs Reporting program and later as a reporter for the Quad-City Times for 17 years.

Democrats Angie Normoyle, a member of the Rock County Board, and Jonathan Logemann, a Rockford alderman, also announced campaigns last month. And former state Rep. Litesa Wallace, D-Rockford, said she was running on Wednesday. Republican Esther Joy King, who came within a few points of upsetting Bustos in 2020, is running again.

Pathway to politics

Under the new congressional map, the district takes a C-shape, winding from Rockford to the Quad Cities and down to Peoria and most of Bloomington-Normal, picking up several smaller college and industry towns in between.

The fact that two former journalists are contenders to replace another former journalist in Congress will not be the main focus of the race, but it is a fascinating footnote. Though it should not necessarily be a surprising one.

In many ways, journalists  especially those on television  make good candidates for political office. They have high name recognition, are adept at public speaking, know how to listen to people and can process information quickly.

And unlike national outlets like CNN, Fox News and MSNBC, people tend to trust the folks delivering their local morning news and weather. Its this trust that Sorensen said is lacking right now in Congress.

One of the things I think about is the fact that the people that go to Congress that represent us, they haven't spent their life building that trust, he said. And that's something that I've been able to do in Northern Illinois for the better part of 20 years.

There have been several journalists that have made the jump from media to politics. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was a journalist and columnist before being elected Mayor of London and, eventually, a member of Parliament. Closer to home, state Rep. Will Guzzardi was a journalist for the Huffington Post before winning his race in 2014.

The trust factor

The late Sen. Paul Simon was an editor and publisher of a weekly newspaper in Troy before becoming a state senator and lieutenant governor. And during a brief period when he was out of office before being elected to Congress, Simon founded and was the first director of the Public Affairs Reporting program at the University of Illinois Springfield (formerly known as Sangamon State University)  the same program Bustos would graduate from a decade later.

There are also examples at the local level.

Decatur Mayor Julie Moore was an anchor at WAND-TV from 1986 to 1997 before leaving to run the citys chamber of commerce. In 2009, she ran for and was elected to the Decatur City Council. She was appointed mayor in 2015 following the death of Mayor Mike McElroy. She was elected in 2017 and reelected 2019.

I was fortunate because I'd been on TV for 11 years, so people, even if they didn't know me, felt like they knew me or a little bit about my personality, Moore Wolfe said. That's just normal because you're in people's living rooms with them for dinner every night. And there's kind of a trust thing that goes along with that.

Moore Wolfe said she did not have to spend as much on advertising since she was already a known name in the community. And the skills she used as a reporter helped her in politics.

If you're a media person, you're more likely to be comfortable speaking to a group because reporters ask tough questions that might be uncomfortable, she said. Well, it's really hard for a lot of people to get up and do public speaking or to work a room and go out and shake hands with strangers  And that's what candidates have to do.

Thats what Sorensen and, if he jumps in, Stadelman will have to do if they wish to win a crowded primary and what will likely be a high-profile general election race.

The primary election is June 28.

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The importance of masks to public health is fading as other pandemic-fighting tools emerge: highly effective vaccines, better tests and now powerful antiviral drugs. So its time to consider making masks optional in most settings.

It made sense to turn to masks when COVID-19 was spreading fast in the spring of 2020. The benefits werent (and still arent) measurable with the same kind of rigorous science thats been applied to vaccines, but it was reasonable to assume that universal masking could slow the spread of disease and death when little else was available.

Vaccines arent perfect, but most of the 68% of Americans who are fully vaccinated are very unlikely to get sick enough to need to go to the hospital  and those who are more vulnerable because of their age or health problems can increase their protection with a booster shot.

The number of hospitalized patients has fallen to half of the latest summer peak. The virus isnt going away, but its menace is subsiding. That should make it possible to reconsider the shrinking benefits of masking and especially mask mandates against real costs that public-health authorities have been loath to acknowledge. Even many of the experts who pushed for universal masking are calling for a reversal.

Its not that people should stop caring about the virus. But as risk-communication expert Peter Sandman has said, any policy people dont follow is a bad policy, and at this point, people are unlikely to follow a policy that asks them to wear a mask in all work and social situations for the foreseeable future. What was a minor inconvenience for weeks and months looks a lot more burdensome as a new way of life.

Masks can make people unhappy. They stifle communication and human interaction  affecting business and social activity. Thats why people  even those making the rules  often take them off in private to interact and socialize. Along with other restrictions, unnecessary masking is contributing to an epidemic of isolation, loneliness and poor mental health.

Masking also amps up resistance to returning to the office, which many employers consider a necessary part of restoring prosperity and business efficiency. Just let the worried stay home.

There are ways to make life safer without counting on mask mandates. Public health authorities could provide more useful information to estimate risk and minimize it by avoiding the most dangerous situations. Its still not clear, for example, if supermarkets really pose much danger. And better information is needed on when and how to use rapid tests.

But its past time to stop acting as though everyone must be treated as equally imperiled. Reality-based policies that take into consideration the way humans behave and interact should replace one-size-fits-all dogma.

People who are still fearful or vulnerable should be free to work from home. As for the rest of us, living with risk is just part of living. It reasonable for people to want to go back to showing their faces and living their lives.

Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist.

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It opens with such tremendous joy and enthusiasm, Kuan said.

She said Mendelssohn was a young man when he visited Italy for the first time.

In his Fourth Symphony, you can hear his excitement as he visits different parts of Italy, she said.

Kuan welcomes this excitement now that she can come back to music halls amid the COVID-19 pandemic after such a long shutdown.

For me, its about celebration, she said. Its about joy. Its about being together, celebrating the good things in life and all the things that we can be happy about.

She wants to share joy with the audience and musicians.

Its what the world needs  joy and beauty, Kuan said.

The symphony will also perform Johannes Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 during the concert.

Its a wonderful piano concerto, Kuan said. It was Brahms very first performed orchestral work. He originally was writing a symphony, and then a symphony turned into a piano concerto, so its a very symphonic piano concerto in many ways.

The conductor
In honor of Veterans Day, which is today, here are some classic SAM answers. Thank you to all our veterans for your service.

Q: What's the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

A.N.

Answer: Both days are observances to honor those who have served in the military. Memorial Day, which is in May, particularly honors those who were killed during their service. Veterans Day honors all those who have served.

"Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military  in wartime or peacetime," according to the website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. "In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served  not only those who died  have sacrificed and done their duty."

Q: Why is Veterans Day always on the same date instead of being a Monday like many other holidays?

J.S.
Fauth is accused by the SEC of declining to cooperate since May 2020. The agency says that he and his legal counsel have waged a relentless battle to avoid it. Fauths legal counsel has said it is painful for Fauth to sit for long periods of time.

Fauth failed to comply with an SEC subpoena served in May that would have had him provide at least three hours of testimony June 17.

The SEC said Fauth had no problems attending a confirmation hearing when President Joe Biden appointed him to the National Mediation Board earlier this year  a job he still holds.

The SEC said in a Nov. 5 legal filing that it would limit the testimony meeting to no more than 2 hours.

The commission has no intention of conducting the questioning in an adversarial manner, as this is investigative testimony, not a deposition, said the filing.

Indeed, the staff has made no determination of whether it should recommend that any charges at all be brought in this matter.

The commission trusts that Fauth and his counsel will conduct themselves in good faith, and therefore an order from the court that the parties proceed in a non-adversarial manner is unnecessary and impractical.
We certainly want to get as many of our kids vaccinated as possible. We have plenty of supply for this age group and lots of access points.

Kids doses

The Pfizer vaccine for ages 5 to 11 is about one-third of the strength of the adult version, and the shot will use smaller needles.

Cohen said many parents are trying to figure out how, when and where to get their child vaccinated with school in sessions.

She is encouraging health-care providers and county health department to consider offering more after-school and weekend vaccination hours for those ages 5 to 11.

Its a great conversation (vaccination) to have around the dining room table and plan the next week or so for an appointment, Cohen said. I would encourage parents to ask all of the questions they have to their family physician or a trusted health care source.

When asked about why kids ages 5 to 11 should get the vaccine now rather than wait weeks or months for more evidence of its effectiveness, Cohen replied by comparing getting the vaccine to wearing a seat belt.
What started as a dare blossomed into a 21-year military career with four combat deployments for Steven Bennett.

Fresh out of West Forsyth High School and barely 18, Bennett said he was was goaded into signing up for the Marines by his stepfather, who was in the Army Special Forces.

He jokingly said to me Youre not tough enough to be a Marine, so I told him Oh, Ill show you, Bennett, 53, said. He got a kick out of watching me graduate boot camp, he was giggling the whole time.

As a star-struck 6-year-old seeing his uncle in uniform, Bennett knew from the start he wanted to be join the military, but he didnt anticipate the journey it would take him on.

Shortly after joining the Marines, Bennett was deployed for Desert Storm and worked on an aviation ordnance unit, where they built bombs and loaded planes for aerial bombardments.

My mindset was everything I do here might help those guys up there on the frontlines, the Winston-Salem native said. I felt like we were doing our part to make sure our brothers got home safe.

After five years in the Marines, Bennett took time off to get his degree in sociology at High Point University. He then enlisted in the National Guard.
Those who make overbroad rules, regulations and policies do so because they lack confidence in peoples ability to reason. They think they must control peoples behavior because they are either unable or unwilling to do so themselves. The problem is, the more we rely upon rules to control peoples behavior the less people trust the reasonableness of those making the rules. Its a vicious circle.

We have many examples of unreasonableness in our society today, and they tend to fall into two categories.

The first are the dogmatists: they are the people who are convinced they are always right. They tend to think everyone who does not think as they do is exceptionally stupid or malevolent. As a result, they tend to get angry easily and are apt to defend the use of violence when it is for a cause they support.

The dogmatist is possessed by a certain type of madness, and, as G. K. Chesterton points out, arguing with them is pointless: If you argue with a madman, it is extremely probable that you will get the worst of it; for in many ways his mind moves all the quicker for not being delayed by things that go with good judgment. He is not hampered by a sense of humour or by clarity, or by the dumb certainties of experience. He is the more logical for losing certain sane affections.
This flag have been through everything that you can imagine, Alex Nelson, a retired Army command master sergeant, told participants about our national symbol. But it is still here.

Indeed, it is.

Observances continue today. As in years past, a ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the Carolina Field of Honor in Kernersville with color guards, music, the laying of the wreath and other commemorative activities. For more information, go to www.carolinafieldofhonor.org.

There will also be a memorial service at 11 a.m. in the Gods Acre band meadow near the Elberson Fine Arts Center at Salem Academy and College. For more information, go to www.salemband.org.

Some private businesses will honor the veterans in special ways. Many city, county, state and federal offices, as well as local schools, will be closed in their honor.

Despite the courage exhibited by our nations warriors  the greatest military force in history  too many of them have returned to the U.S. to find themselves beleaguered by unique difficulties.
A letter of gratitude

This letter serves as a letter of gratitude to the many veterans who served our country faithfully over the years. We are a better country for your dedication and service to protect our freedoms home and abroad. To the men and women who have served and are still serving, you are our heroes! Thank you!

This letter also serves as a letter of gratitude to those who are in the education profession in whatever role you play to support the growth and nurturing of the students in Forsyth County. As a former educator, I know and understand the role each of you play daily in the lives of students. Over the past two years, you have been put to the test! I have seen the resiliency and the perseverance that you have undertaken to make it the best learning experience possible! You too are our heroes! Thank you!

Richard Watts

Pfafftown

Our spiritual food

In love, I respond to the Nov. 3 letter Asking Concerned Moravians.
A 31-year-old Lincoln man was cited Wednesday after he inadvertently shot himself while cleaning his 9 mm Luger handgun at his home.

Officers responded to the man's house near Southwest 17th and West Lake streets Nov. 5, where they found the man with wounds to his left hand and his left thigh, Officer Erin Spilker said Thursday.

The man told police he'd dropped the gun as he cleaned it, causing it to discharge, according to a search warrant filed in Lancaster County District Court.

He was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Spilker said the man's wounds were caused by a single spent round.

But police said the man denied responders' requests to photograph the injuries or his home, prompting officers to request a warrant.

Upon searching the home, police seized the gun, a magazine, several boxes of ammunition.

On Wednesday, police returned to the home and cited the man for unlawful discharge of a firearm within city limits.

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"I think some folks are penalizing others for having experience," Mayhew said.

Joel himself said he has received emails about the search process and addressed concerns during Tuesday's board meeting, calling HYA one of about five very reputable national firms that conducts searches all over the country.

"The notion that they would have any influence on who is going to be selected is misguided," he said. "The decision to select the next superintendent rests solely in Nebraska with the (Lincoln) Board of Education."

Board President Connie Duncan said the boards in other districts are ultimately responsible for their superintendent searches and said it's simply not possible to know every detail about how other districts came to those decisions because of privacy rules surrounding those searches.

Duncan also stressed that the community will have a seat at the table throughout the search process.

"At the end of the day, I want the community to understand that it's a community process where everyone is giving input," she said. "We're going to hire the best candidate with the community's help."
Since August, Team Rubicon has helped settle more than 110 Afghan families in Colorado, said Daniel, the Denver city administrator for the group.

Tens of thousands of Afghans have been flown to the U.S. since the war wound down, and most are still living in temporary housing at military bases across the country. Between 1,000 and 2,000 Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Colorado by the end of the year.

That means Daniel and his team could have their work cut out for them  a task they seem to relish.

For us veterans, service is kind of in our blood. ... The veteran component, it adds that special piece of camaraderie to it, that sense of service, that sense of purpose, Daniel said. He said it's also a rewarding experience to help those who aided coalition forces in Afghanistan during the war.

Its just a chance for us to kind of express our gratitude as well. And just thanking them and welcoming them to the neighborhood.

Team Rubicon was formed in the days following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that caused widespread destruction in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in January 2010, according to the group's website. Haitis government put the death toll at more than 300,000, although an exact accounting was impossible given the widespread devastation.

Two U.S. Marines, Jake Wood and William McNulty, gathered supplies and volunteers before traveling to Haiti in the following days, and Team Rubicon was born. It has since grown into an international nonprofit organization that boasts more than 130,000 volunteers.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodia on Thursday dismissed as politically motivated sanctions imposed by the United States on two senior defense officials over allegations of graft, accompanied by a broader warning of systemic corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.
"It looks much bigger up close," Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon texted Thursday as five state senators finished preparations for their ascent up Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa with the threat of bad weather ahead.

The trip to and then up the storied mountain, which is 19,340 feet high at its peak, was to begin in eight hours, Brewer texted at about 11 p.m. in Tanzania, nine hours ahead of Lincoln time.

"In eight hours we start," he said.

"Weather will move in on Sunday for 3 days snow and winds will come up," Brewer texted in answer to a question.

"It could make the ascent difficult."

Brewer said "everyone is good to go and everyone is in high spirits" with safety checks completed, equipment inspected and medical briefings done.

And so the adventure begins.

The official weather forecast for Mount Kilimanjaro calls for "a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Saturday afternoon" with temperatures "well below freezing" and wind expected to be "generally light."
There are many jobs involved, and other businesses rely on their business, said Ravenna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rylie Mills. Its not good. I always try to remain positive, but I dont know what will happen.

The community is looking into options to keep a nursing home in Ravenna, but its not an easy feat with the closure date rapidly approaching.

Dethlefs said, The problem is 60 days is not much time. If we would have known about it six months ago, it would have been a different story. I have had several people say we need to try and save it. Im not saying no, but there is a lot of footwork to be done to get something going, and we are looking at those avenues.

Fred Matejka is a Ravenna City Council member, and he is concerned that even if the city could help, Good Samaritan Society would not reverse the decision.

The Matejka family is trying to get a place for Joseph at Good Samaritan Society-St. Johns in Kearney. They considered the Central Nebraska Veterans Home, but there is a long waiting list, Fred said.

I think you almost have to move him as soon as we can find an opening. If we can wait two months and move him then, that would be great. As soon as you can get him in somewhere, you better take that bed, he added.
Theyve also proven to be successful next-door in Iowa, which now ranks first in the country for its share of electricity coming from wind energy. Nebraska should follow suit and set an RPS of its own.

Net metering allows households that generate their own renewable power to sell energy to the grid and receive credit for future energy bills. Thats a direct benefit for households looking to save money. It also distributes power back to the people by decentralizing our energy structure.

Nebraska does have a net metering policy, but its too restrictive. Making it more generous could encourage more households to switch to renewables.

Finally, making wind energy community-owned  instead of owned by a utility company  would help more Nebraskans take part in renewable energy, provide secure electricity rates and give Nebraskans autonomy over their energy generation.

When combined with net-metering, it would ensure that whole communities get maximum savings on their energy bills. Nebraska could promote more community-owned energy generation by requiring utilities to purchase power from community-owned facilities in their service territory.

Our policymakers and the Nebraska Public Power District Board of Directors have a choice about what kind of future we want for the state: heat waves, droughts, and disappearing jobs  or clean air and water, affordable energy and good jobs for the future.

Aila Ganic is a "Next Leader" at the Institute for Policy Studies and lead author of the IPS report, "Rain and Sunshine and Wind: How an Energy Transition Could Power Nebraska. She lives in Lincoln.

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Current local reporting on Rep. Jeff Fortenberrys indictment may be slightly confusing to anyone not following the matter closely.

Fortenberrys latest legal challenge to the upcoming trials venue, alleging his victimization by governmental opportunistic venue-shopping, maintains contacts regarding campaign contributions were made in Washington, D.C., and Nebraska, and so he should be afforded his Sixth Amendment right guaranteeing an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed.

The allegation of receiving illegal foreign campaign contributions in the amount of $30,000, contrary to Fortenberrys latest court filing, did not occur in the contacts made but at the location where the money changed hands, which was in Los Angeles at a 2016 fundraising event.

This latest legal obfuscation aside, however, a key issue is why, after having learned in a 2018 phone call with the 2016 fundraiser host that he had received an illegal foreign campaign donation, he didnt immediately contact the FBI to disclose what had occurred and to seek a remedy to the previous illegal activity, of which, up until that moment, he and his staff may not have been fully aware.
RACINE  Sam DuVall often finds collectibles while working his job for Vassh Excavating & Grading Inc. He said he has an assortment of old Racine bottles.

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So when DuVall, a project manager for the company, was helping demolish the site at 1500 N. Memorial Drive and saw something shiny within the rubble near a wall he was knocking down, he was naturally curious.

Upon further inspection, he discovered it was a Prisoner of War/Missing in Action bracelet engraved with the name of James K. Patterson. Now DuVall and other Vassh staffers are hoping to connect the bracelet with its owner, or at least the family of its owner.

If I find something, I usually pick it up, DuVall said. Thats something we dont normally find.

A POW/MIA bracelet is a nickel-plated or copper commemorative bracelet engraved with the rank, name and loss date of an American serviceman captured or missing during the Vietnam War.

Many people have commented on Pattersons online memorial pages, sharing memories or asking for Patterson to come home. According to usna63.org, a site dedicated to the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1963, Patterson served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot and lieutenant commander and went missing on May 19, 1967. He was originally from South Pasadena, California.

He crashed on land and badly broke his leg. He maintained radio contact with rescue personnel for a period of three days, May 19, 20 and 21. The rescuers couldnt raise him on the radio on May 22 and canceled further rescue efforts.

He was thought of as captured by Russians, one of the memorial pages said. His body was never recovered.

Thats what makes it even more interesting, you get to know the guy, Co-owner Sarah Vassh of Vassh Excavating said. Theres a lot of history with him, hes got a whole story.

The Vasshes researched Pattersons life to hopefully find a family with whom to connect the bracelet. Sarah mentioned her great-grandfather was veteran.

She and other Vassh staff hope to do more good than we can now just holding onto the bracelet.

Hopefully somebody misses it, she said. Im thinking someone in his family worked here at one point and lost it. Theres some history in this building.

Besides the POW/MIA bracelet, Vassh Excavating employees have found numerous documents at the site, dating as far back as the 1920s. Theyve also found some underground tunnels that werent previously noted on site maps.

If Vassh can connect with the owner, the company would pay for shipping, Sarah said.

Help find the owner If you are the owner of the bracelet or know someone who is, contact Bids@vasshexcavating.com or 262-835-9657.

That would be awesome to give it back to them, Vassh said, noting its a good feeling to find it, but if we can reunite him with this, it would make me feel even better. Its so special; its not just a shoe or something. Its something memorable.

If anything its a memory of somebody, a keepsake, DuVall said. I hope this would bring them some kind of closure if they dont (ever) find his body.

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KENOSHA  A 50-year-old Somers woman faces a felony charge of first-degree recklessly endangering safety for allegedly firing a gun while intoxicated on Friday.

Deanna L. Fisher made her initial appearance Monday in Kenosha County Circuit Court and is free on a $3,000 cash bond. She is due back for a preliminary hearing Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.

The felony carries a maximum fine of $25,000 and 12 years, six months in prison. Fisher also is charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm while intoxicated and pointing a firearm at another person.

According to the criminal complaint:Deputies with the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department were called to a village residence Friday for a report of shots fired. Police recovered a small black handgun at the scene.

Backyard camera footage showed the defendant drinking out of a clear bottle then pointing the gun at another person, who ran to the east side of the garage. Fisher is then seen shooting the gun to the northeast.

Police recovered two shell casings at the scene.

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A "warning shot" fired by Joshua Ziminski, of Caledonia, the defense is arguing, would have made Kyle Rittenhouse feel more like he was under attack  aiding the defense's claims that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense when he killed Joseph Rosenbaum, who is identified as an "associate" of the Ziminskis.
YORKVILLE  The Racine County Board has been advancing plans for the proposed Racine County Youth Development and Care Center, which is to be a juvenile detention center.

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A first reading was done at the County Board meeting Tuesday night for the resolution by the Executive Committee authorizing the purchase of land, located along Three Mile Road in the Village of Caledonia near Batten International Airport, for $1 million and authorizing the construction of the Youth Development and Care Center at the site.

The County Board does not take action on agenda items until a second reading has been done. The second reading and vote for this item will occur at a future County Board meeting.

Racine County had previously proposed two locations for the $43 million Youth Development and Care Center. The first location was a 2-acre spot in the City of Racine, at the former Brannum Lumber property on Taylor Avenue across from the countys Dennis Kornwolf Service Center. The Racine City Council strongly opposed that location.

The second location was near the northeast corner of Batten International Airport, 3239 N. Green Bay Road. The facility would rest within a nearly 29-acre parcel with a large pond and wooded area, but that spot has not been well received by nearby residents.

The proposed mental health-focused center would replace the existing facility on the fourth floor of the Kornwolf Center and would serve a maximum of 48 youths from Racine, Kenosha, Waukesha, Manitowoc and Washington counties.

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MADISON  A Republican 2020 election investigation will now examine allegations from the Racine County sheriff that the Wisconsin Elections Commission failed to follow the law by directing clerks that they did not need to send poll workers into nursing homes to assist with absentee voting after many were turned away amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the lead investigator told lawmakers Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Republican leaders in the state Senate subpoenaed the city of Madison seeking absentee ballot certificates returned in the 2020 election  documents the city refused to hand over to a nonpartisan election audit conducted earlier this year. The subpoena is part of another investigation into the election, specifically related to the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureaus October report.

Also Wednesday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., told a reporter nearly two weeks ago that the Republican-controlled Legislature should bypass the governor and Elections Commission and oversee state elections. Johnson met Wednesday in the state Capitol with Republican lawmakers, but it was unclear what was discussed.

Theres no mention of the governor in the Constitution when it comes to running elections, Johnson told the newspaper. It says state legislatures, and so if I were running the joint  and Im not  I would come out and I would just say, Were reclaiming our authority. Dont listen to WEC anymore. Their guidances are null and void.

Lawmakers are at work drawing political maps for the next decade.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired this summer by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, to conduct the GOP-ordered probe, provided few other details about his investigation during an informational hearing Wednesday.

There are going to be times where information should not be shared in real time, he said when asked if he will commit to holding interviews and meetings related to the investigation in a public setting.

Gableman did say that the Racine County Sheriff's Office's investigation into alleged election fraud in a single Mount Pleasant nursing home has had an effect on his investigation.

"I personally have been in discussions with the Racine County Sheriff's Department," Gableman said Wednesday.

When the Racine County Sheriff's investigation was made public during a press conference Oct. 28, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling repeatedly asserted his election has been entirely independent of any statewide probes. He later said that discussions had been had with Vos and County Executive Jonathan Delagrave as the investigation was underway.

Lt. Michael Luell said in an email Thursday that Gableman contacted the Racine County Sheriff's Office after Oct. 28.

"The Sheriff and I still strongly state that Racines Voter Integrity investigation stands alone and is not affiliated with any other investigation," Luell wrote. "After the Oct. 28, 2021, news conference, I received hundreds of emails and telephone calls from people within our community and people across the country. Justice Gableman did call me, and we have had conversations."

'Simply a disgrace'

Gableman also sidestepped Democratic committee members questions regarding who is working with him on the investigation.

Im not prepared to give you those names at this time, Gableman said.

State Rep. Jodi Emerson, D-Eau Claire, said she was very disappointed that Gableman was not willing to share the names of those working on the investigation, which has been allocated $676,000 in taxpayer funds.

I think you owe it to the people of Wisconsin so they know where their taxpayer dollars are going  to do anything less than that is simply a disgrace, Emerson said.

Gableman indicated that the $676,000 amount could grow, as he said Vos is committed to funding the probe continuously, and there's no end in sight.

Republicans take aim at WEC administrator over Audit Bureau's election report

Accompanying Gableman on Wednesday was attorney Clint Lancaster, who had not previously been known to be a member of Gablemans investigation. Lancaster has a law firm in Arkansas and has litigated over 2,000 cases and received numerous awards and recognition as a result of his direct, straightforward, and no-nonsense litigation tactics and courtroom skills, according to his website.

Gablemans investigation largely focuses on how the 2020 election was carried out, with a specific focus on grants the Center for Tech and Civic Life provided to the states five largest cities, including Racine. Gableman said Wednesday his investigation also will look into electronic voting machines and the Wisconsin Elections Commissions guidance and handling of the 2020 election, although he did note that he has uncovered no evidence at all that the election or voting machines were "hacked."

Sheriff's lead investigator testifies

Its unclear how the addition of allegations made in Racine will affect the investigations overall time frame or cost. Racine County Sheriff's Lt. Michael Luell, who led an investigation into Mount Pleasants Ridgewood Care Center with Sheriff Schmaling, also spoke before the committee Wednesday.

Luell was promoted from sergeant to the rank of lieutenant Monday, he said.

Schmaling, a Republican, has called for five members of the state Elections Commission  two Republican and three Democratic appointees  to be charged with crimes for waiving the requirement that special voting deputies be sent to nursing homes during the pandemic last year. The Elections Commission has said the sheriffs claims are misplaced, that no crimes were committed and the policy was discussed and voted on in public meetings.

The commission voted last year not to send the workers to nursing homes after it became clear they would not be allowed in many of the facilities to help voters cast their ballots due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The first vote was 6-0 and two subsequent votes were 5-1.

Despite the sheriffs allegations that as many as eight Ridgewood residents cast ballots in the 2020 election even though their families believed they did not have the capacity to vote, state law does not bar those with cognitive delays or disabilities from voting unless they have been deemed incompetent by a court and had their voting rights removed. Luell said in court on Wednesday one of those eight Ridgewood residents had been determined to be incompetent to vote.

Over the course of the past several months, Gableman has issued  and later retracted  subpoenas seeking a wide swath of election-related documents from the states five largest cities. He also requested private interviews with mayors and elections clerks in the cities, including Racine's, as well as with the head of the state Elections Commission. Gableman later canceled those interviews but said he was reserving the right to make such a request in the future.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has dismissed Gablemans probe as a fake investigation and is seeking a restraining order barring Gableman from seeking interviews outside of a public legislative meeting. A hearing on Kauls lawsuit is scheduled for Dec. 23.

Racine Mayor Cory Mason said he would be willing to testify in front of Gableman only if such testimony were given publicly, such as in front of the Legislature. Gableman so far has disagreed, and refused to commit to open testimonies when pressed by state Rep. Mark Spreitzer of Beloit on Wednesday.

Gableman has said hes not trying to overturn the election results, even though he told Trump supporters last November, without evidence, that he thought the election had been stolen.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Four voters out of roughly 3 million who cast ballots have been charged with fraud.

While Gablemans investigation was originally planned to be finished by the end of October, Vos said last month it may now be completed before the end of the year. Gableman did not answer reporters questions Wednesday as to when the probe might be finished.

New subpoena

The subpoena issued Wednesday by Senate Republicans is the latest step in a new investigation into last years election being launched by the Senates GOP-led Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics. It requests from Madison all physical absentee ballot certificates returned in the November election, as well as the results of tests conducted by the Madison City Clerks office on electronic voting equipment. Senate GOP leaders authorized the investigation in late October.

That investigation focuses on the Audit Bureaus October report, which did not find any evidence of widespread fraud or abuse in the states 2020 election, but did make 48 recommendations to the Legislature and commission for improvements to how elections are run.

The Audit Bureaus report noted that officials in Madison did not allow auditors to physically handle ballots, citing ballot-security guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Its unfortunate and concerning that a few people running elections think they are more important than the electorate, Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, who signed the subpoena, said in a statement. I sign this with the full effect of the law behind it. We are not playing games, and there will be consequences if they dont comply.

Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl told the Audit Bureau in late August that she would provide copies of ballots, absentee ballot envelopes and other election-related documents but would not supply the original documents.

Speaking before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on Tuesday, state auditor Joe Chrisman said physically handling the ballots was crucial to the auditing process. Chrisman said he would review those documents if made available.

At a bare minimum, all local, county and state government officials should respect the legal authority and integrity of the LAB, Senate Elections Committee chair Kathy Bernier said in a statement. All did, with the exception of Madison. That decision cannot and will not stand.

The subpoena notes that Audit Bureau staff will physically handle the requested records in the presence of Madison officials no later than Nov. 24.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement the Audit Bureau is welcome to examine copies of election documents, but reiterated that the city stands by its position that federal and state laws require clerks to maintain control over election records.

We do not intend to violate the law simply because Senator Kapenga demands that we do so, Rhodes-Conway said.

Adam Rogan of The Journal Times contributed to this report.

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The Wisconsin Association of School Boards announced Tuesday it will withdraw its participation from the National School Boards Association after the national group issued and then rescinded a letter to President Joe Biden characterizing threats school board members across the country have received as domestic terrorism.

According to a notice sent out to WASB members on Tuesday, the state associations board of directors voted Friday to withdraw the associations participation in NSBA programs and activities.

The board did not take this action lightly, the email read. Unfortunately, the NSBA needlessly caused substantial controversy this fall, which has negatively impacted relationships among school boards, parents and community members.

Those actions do not align with WASB policies and programs nor its mission to support, promote and advance public education, the note continued.

In September, the NSBA sent a letter to Biden that said public schools and education leaders are under immediate threat. The letter pointed to an increase in threats made by the public toward public school officials and asked Biden to use federal agencies to investigate and protect those officials.

The letter also outlined more than a dozen examples of threats made toward school board members during meetings by members of the public across the country, and cited an incident that occurred in Oshkosh in August that caused a local school board to abruptly end a meeting after an argument broke out over COVID-19 masking requirements.

After the letter was submitted, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo outlining steps to protect school board members against threats, including working with local law enforcement. The national group issued a follow-up statement saying we regret and apologize for the letter.

WASB communications director Sheri Krause did not reply to a request for clarification as to whether the agencys decision was directly related to the letter, but reiterated that the WASB board of directors suspended the associations participation in the NSBAs programs and activities while it monitors NSBAs progress and receives member input.

In October, WASB released a statement of its own that condemned a growing number of threats against school board members across the state related to COVID-19 regulations and other hot-button political issues.

Discussion of COVID-19 mitigation protocols, such as mask mandates in the Beaver Dam and Oshkosh school districts, prompted a number of threats against school board members in the state. Members of the public also threatened the Waukesha School Board after they voted unanimously to opt out of a federal program that offered free meals to all students, in order to reinstate a free and reduced meal plan for economically disadvantaged students.

In its October statement, WASB acknowledged recent isolated incidents that involved threats to the personal safety of school board members.

Such threats cannot and should not be tolerated, it said.

A national conservative activist group, Parents Defending Education, celebrated WASBs decision to withdraw from National School Board Association programs and activities.

In an October press release, the organization said its members emailed 47 state school board associations for comment on the NSBAs September 29 letter. In their emails, the activist group asked state board associations if they have commented on the NSBAs September letter and instructed them to reach out to the national school board group regarding the letters tone and substance.

Emails from the conservative activist group also asked the 47 state school board associations to define intimidation, harassment, and threat, and whether or not they plan to report individuals in your state to the U.S. Department of Justice or if they feel local law enforcement agencies are able to adequately address concerns regarding threats against local school board members.

As of Nov. 9, 26 states have distanced themselves from the NSBAs letter, according to Parents Defending Education, including 10 that have withdrawn membership, participation or dues from NSBA.

The NSBA did not respond to a request for comment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Copperas Cove, TX (76522)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 43F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
1. Yes. Nonprofit youth organizations are underfunded in the city. Its a good decision.

2. Yes. In conjunction with city-run programs, it will provide needed opportunities.

3. No. The money should be used to benefit all residents, not just the citys youth.

4. No. The funds should be invested in the area where the project is being developed..

5. Unsure. Its hard to say whether its an appropriate use of the money.

Vote

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In her lawsuit, Baskin contends that Royal Goode Productions Inc., which produced "Tiger King" for Netflix, led her and husband Howard Baskin to believe their footage would only be used in a single documentary. Baskin also objects to her portrayal in the first series, especially the insinuation she had something to do with the mysterious 1997 disappearance of her previous husband, Don Lewis, who was declared dead in 2002 but whose remains have never been found.

"The Baskins believed that any sequel, though odious, would not include any of their footage," the lawsuit says. "Tiger King I was particularly harsh and unfair in its depictions of the Baskins and Big Cat Rescue."

Baskin declined further comment Tuesday on the lawsuit but did speak to The Associated Press recently about at upcoming Discovery+ two-part series called "Carole Baskin's Cage Fight," intended to call attention to the problem of zoos that allow tiger petting and private ownership of the animals. Baskin has crusaded for better treatment of big cats.

"We have never, ever had anybody mislead us and be so dishonest with us as the producers were of Tiger King," Baskin told AP. "And so they were just a fluke. I mean, that was not like it was our first experience and we were never going to do it again. It was like, OK, well, that was horrible, but that's just them. That's not the industry."
Biden's big bill combines a series of long-sought Democratic goals to shore up families that have been tried before only to run into resistance, as they have again today, with Republicans in lockstep against the package.

The child care subsidies would attempt to guarantee that most Americans don't spend more than 7% of their income on child care.

And while Congress approved the Family and Medical Leave Act nearly 30 years ago to guarantee time off, the U.S. remains among a handful of wealthy countries that do not offer paid time off to care for children or sick loved ones. Biden's bill would change that.

All told, the federal government's new programs for paid parental leave, child care and an expanded child tax credit "would be pretty major, if not landmark, change for social policy and expanding its reach into the depths of how families cope in the modern economy," said Sarah Binder, a political science professor at George Washington University.

Long before child care started eating up a sizable share of a family's income and the COVID-19 crisis pushed women from the workforce to care for kids at home, Congress tried to lower the costs of child raising in the U.S.
The Players will present Paula Vogels Pulitzer Prize winning play, How I Learned to Drive, Nov. 18-21 at the Commons Art Center in Viroqua.

The play is told by Lil Bit, from her viewpoint of being 11 years old to the present day. Her uncle, Peck, has fallen in love with her since the day she was born and as she grows up his love follows an inappropriate path. Lil Bit understands this and in the end drives away into her own life, leaving her ancestors and their antiquated ideas behind.

The play offers insight into the mind of both the predator and his victim so the audience sees the language that Uncle Peck uses to groom his niece.

The Players will present this as a staged reading. Actors will have scripts in hand while moving around the stage and acting to deliver this story. At all times the audience will be aware that the actors are telling a story, which provides a comfort to the audience by distancing them from the emotional context. A Greek style chorus of ancesorial ghosts support the story by playing different characters and making commentary.

The play was chosen immediately after the governor of Texas declared that women in his state dont have to worry about getting abortions from incest or rape because Texas was going to get rid of all the rapists. This play is being held up as a falsehood to that statement. The Players hope that people will support socially relevant theater as empowerment through understanding.

The cast includes Luke Erickson (from Grey Area Productions in La Crosse), Dodie Whitaker, Sara Tedeschi, Cele Wolf, Kathy Casper, Barb Andre, MLou Wilke, Gereon Wellhouse and Craig Anderson. The show is directed by K OBrien. Performances are Nov. 18-20 at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21. Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information, visit The Commons Facebook page.

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Dear Readers: I recently ran a letter from Old Veteran, who noted that, as a Vietnam vet, he feels quite uncomfortable when people say Thank you for your service.

Old Veteran noted that There are many wounds that have never healed because of the way service members were treated when they returned home from Vietnam.

I later ran a response from Upset, who claimed that this mistreatment was an urban myth.

These letters have prompted hundreds of responses from other veterans  and those who love them. Some of these responses are below.

On this Veterans Day, Id like to say to all service members: Thank you.

Veterans who have been mistreated when they returned stateside after serving in unpopular wars report that they have yearned to hear these two words: Welcome home.

Dear Amy: The letter from Old Veteran made me cry.

I too was subjected to a lot of nastiness coming home after my service was completed. The day I got home and changed my clothes was the last day I ever talked about being in the service. I moved away from my neighborhood and never told a soul that I had been in the military.

So, please tell Upset that this is not an urban myth. I would tell that person to reach out and speak to some Vietnam vets, if they have the guts to hear the truth about how this country handled itself during this time.  Detroit Mike

Dear Amy: Im an Army brat. People told me my dad was a baby killer when he was serving in Vietnam.

And in 1977, I was spit on when I was wearing my ROTC uniform on campus. I understand people want to believe that those things never happened, but they did.

Lets never let that happen again.  Proud to Serve

Dear Amy: Its been 52 years since I came home from Vietnam. For the first 30 years or so after I came home, I didnt tell anyone I was a Vietnam veteran because I didnt want to be harassed or ridiculed, but not anymore.

No matter how unpopular the war was, I am proud of my time in the U.S Army Infantry, and I dont care who knows it.  Proud

Dear Amy: My mom was a nurse in Vietnam and always had mixed feelings about serving in the Army.

She was in the hospital seeking treatment near the end of her life, and the nurses and doctors found out that she was a veteran.

They started asking questions, and also thanking her.

In the week before her passing, she said it took her 40 years, but she was never so proud to have served.

She knew her kids were proud, but strangers saying, thank you and showing respect for her service boosted her.

She finally felt like she fully came home.

To all of the vets out there: Thank you and welcome home.  Daughter of a Proud Veteran

Dear Amy: My husband spent 18 months in Vietnam.

When many soldiers came home, the minute they hit the States, they would change out of uniform because of comments that were being made.

Yes, there were those that were spit upon.

It was years before he would tell anyone that he served in Vietnam. Now when he is out and wearing his Army/Vietnam cap, more Vietnam veterans will come and talk to him.  Loving Wife Dear Amy: For four generations, my family has served as pilots in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan. There are two words most appreciated by vets and rarely heard, Welcome Home.

Ive had vets respond with heartfelt gratitude and pride, often telling me its the first time anyone has welcomed them home.  An Air Force Brat

Dear Amy: I am an older vet. When people say thank you for your service, I reply: I was drafted. But I would do it again for you.  Anonymous

Dear Amy: I am the wife of a Vietnam vet.

My husband was drafted, so he went. There wasnt 24-hour news coverage; mail to and from Vietnam was spotty and the internet didnt exist.

The poor treatment of returning vets isnt a myth!

I will always remember waiting at Travis AFB for his returning plane with protesters shouting curses. And yes, spitting. It was awful.

Neither my husband or I thought the war made sense, but what protesters didnt seem to understand is that the members of the armed services didnt start the war, and few were volunteers.

They were just American kids answering the call of duty.  Mickie

You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com. Readers may send postal mail to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter@askingamy or like her on Facebook.

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The following people have been charged with felonies in La Crosse County Circuit Court:

Mark Jerome Nereng, 48, La Crosse, was charged with fifth-offense drunk driving and fifth-offense operating with a prohibited blood-alcohol content. According to the criminal complaint, Nereng was pulled over for speeding July 11 on Interstate 90. Nereng reportedly failed a field sobriety test, and a preliminary breath registered a BAC of .076, just under the legal limit of .08. He was released on a $2,500 signature bond.

Timara D. Young, 31, Milwaukee, was charged with issuing a worthless check and theft between $10,000-$100,000. According to the criminal complaint, Young used a fraudulent cashiers check to purchase a vehicle in La Crosse Sept. 14. The complaint didnt list the amount of the check. Young was released on a $1,000 signature bond, but court records say she failed to appear for an Oct. 27 preliminary hearing.

Chue Yee Xiong, 33, La Crosse, was charged with operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent. According to the criminal complaint, Xiong took a vehicle from a La Crosse residence Oct. 14. Police tracked the vehicle to Monroe County, where Xiong was arrested after a short pursuit. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

Ashley M. Gingrasso, 34, La Crosse, was charged with fifth-offense drunk driving and fifth-offense operating with a controlled substance. According to the criminal complaint, Gingrasso was pulled over Oct. 14 on Interstate 90 after police recognized her revoked driving status. The complaint says police detected the odor of marijuana inside the vehicle and that she failed a field sobriety test. She was released on a $5,000 signature bond.

Kevin W. Mitchell, 54, La Crosse, was charged with fifth-offense drunk driving and fifth-offense operating with a prohibited blood-alcohol content. According to the criminal complaint, police observed a visibly intoxicated Mitchell enter the drivers side of a parked vehicle Oct. 17 in La Crosse. The complaint says Mitchell admitted driving the vehicle to the location. A preliminary breath test recorded a BAC of .039. Mitchell was released on a $1,000 signature bond.

Koua Yang, 42, Minneapolis, was charged with operating a motor vehicle without the owners consent. According to the criminal complaint, Yang was found in possession of a vehicle stolen in Minnesota after police responded to an Oct. 15 incident in La Crosse. Yang was released on a $2,500 signature bond.

Peter C. Koziara, 46, La Crosse, was charged with fifth-offense drunk driving and fifth-offense operating with a prohibited blood-alcohol content. According to the criminal complaint, police made a traffic stop after Koziara accelerated abruptly on the 1300 block of Adams Street in La Crosse. A preliminary breath test recorded a BAC of .199. He was released on a $1,000 signature bond.

Daniel J. Grant, 36, Cashton, was charged with strangulation/suffocation and intimidating a victim. According to the criminal complaint, Grant grabbed a woman by the throat Oct. 21 in La Crosse for roughly 30 seconds and caused her to black out. The complaint says Grant also took the womans phone and threatened to kill her. He was released to Minnesota authorities after he waived extradition Nov. 1.

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Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse is one of five Mayo Clinic Health System hospitals recognized with an A grade  the best possible  by The Leapfrog Group, an independent, national nonprofit organization that assigns Hospital Safety Grades to 2,600 acute-care hospitals across the nation.

The Hospital Safety Score is updated and published twice per year. This score is based on 15 measures of publicly available hospital safety data, combined with seven additional self-reported survey answers, to produce a single patient safety score.

A panel of safety experts developed these measures. The branch also received the Grade A from Leapfrog in April of this year.

The other sites to also receive the Grade A rating include Eau Claire; and Fairmont, Mankato, Red Wing and Rochester in Minnesota. Mayo Clinic Arizona and Florida also earned A grades.

It goes without saying the pandemic has provided us with many challenges, especially when it comes to our patients safety, says Prathibha Varkey, M.B.B.S., president of Mayo Clinic Health System. Yet our staff has been able to prove that despite difficult times, they will rise to the challenge no matter what the circumstances are. These high safety grades continue to help reassure confidence in our patients across many communities.

We are proud of our entire hospital staff at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse and congratulate them on receiving this top honor, says Paul Mueller, M.D., regional vice president of Mayo Clinic Health System in Southwest Wisconsin. Every day, they demonstrate the needs of patients come first by putting patient safety first. To receive this distinction during a pandemic just shows how dedicated and committed our staff are to our patients.

The Hospital Safety Grades provide patients with a single measure that represents a hospitals overall performance in keeping patients safe from preventable errors, injuries, accidents and infections.

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AHF Products, the former Armstrong Flooring hardwood division, is being sold to a Dallas private equity firm for an undisclosed price.

Paceline Equity Partners announced Wednesday it had agreed to buy AHF Products from American Industrial Partners. The deal is expected to be completed in 2022s first quarter.

American Industrial Partners had acquired the business from Armstrong Flooring in December 2018 for $100 million, then moved its headquarters from Lancaster to Mountville the next year. At that time, the headquarters had 69 employees. It now has 150. Paceline will keep the headquarters in Mountville, a AHF Products spokeswoman said.

"AHF Products has experienced incredible growth since inception and we're thrilled to partner with Paceline with a shared vision of how we will take the business to the next level, said AHF Products CEO Brian Carson in a press release. AHF Products posts annual revenue of more than $400 million and employs more than 2,400 people.
Scott Hower remembers exactly when he found his life calling.

Three decades ago, Hower made his first visit to the then-recently completed Vietnam Memorial on a trip to Washington, D.C., with his wife, Sabina. Hower, who was enlisted in the Air Force from 1972 to 1982 as a munitions maintenance specialist and a veterinary inspection specialist, felt the weight of the visit instantly.

The emotional impact of it on me was just overwhelming, Hower, 69, says. I cried like a baby. Even now, as I'm talking about it ... it was a very emotional moment. When I got home from the conference, the moment stuck with me, and I picked up a pen and started writing. I got a lot of stuff out that needed to come out, and I felt much better.

The visit began Howers journey toward co-founding the nonprofit veteran's organization Writeface, which strives to improve the lives of veterans through creative writing workshops. Since founding Writeface with local writer Annie Ginder in 2011, Hower estimates that hes assisted somewhere between 400 and 500 local veterans.

We're talking about veterans here  hardened Marines, Army guys, we've had all five branches of the service represented in our classes over the years, Hower says. And they don't think of themselves as poets, you know? That first class is always, like, an eyeball rolling. But the curriculum is designed in a way to make it easy for them to write. The prompts are geared in such a way that there's an emotional part and an intellectual part. Once the light comes on, then sharing is not an issue.

Thanks to a long-in-the-works partnership between Writeface and Music for Everyone, several local veterans will get the chance to hear their words transformed into song at the fourth annual Veterans, Voices and Values free concert at the Ware Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11  Veterans Day. The band of musicians, which includes J.C. Fetlock, Chris Milsom, Sam Frantz among others, is led by musicians Dave Lefever and Lisa Fairman.

Dave and I, from the very beginning, experienced with the veterans an unbelievable amount of trust to us right away opening up with these deep and often painful experiences, says Fairman, who has since joined the board of Writeface. They allowed themselves to be vulnerable and truthful and open to us in such a way that I feel like it's such an honor and privilege to work with them. It's a great gift.

Music and poetry

Thursdays concert features an array of voices and points of view. Works by Judith Kennedy, Dominique Jordan, Tony Crocamo, Heather Rice Gehbron, Sabina Hower cover a variety of topics. While the works are primarily written by veterans, Writeface also encourages family members to share. Connecting the past and present of service, Kennedy, who is not a vet herself, will share pieces from her great-grandfather's Civil War diary.

During the eight-week Writeface sessions, Lefever and Fairman joined Hower to guide the written pieces into proper song format.

It seems like such a no-brainer, right? says Hower about adding music to the Writeface mission. I don't know anybody who doesn't have a favorite song. Now, I'm a poet and I run in poetry circles, but nobody has ever come up to me and said, 'Scott, I want you to listen to my favorite poem.'"

Music adds a dimension to it that is mind-blowing, it really is, Hower says. When you take someone who has never written anything, get them to the point where they're comfortable writing a poem, then you turn that poem into a song with their assistance and they hear it for the first time ... the looks on their faces, oh my.

Hower will have two pieces in the show. The first, Adrenaline, is all about what Hower considers the momentous year of his life, 2020 (I tried to touch all the nerves that were touched in 2020, he says with a laugh). The other, Cant Cry, is based on a conversation he once had with a Gulf War veteran, who told Hower of the fact that she couldnt cry at her fathers grave.

Ask Hower how he relates with veterans of all ages and branches, and his answer is simple.

All the different services bust on each other, Hower says. I was in the Air Force, and all the other branches call it the 'Chair Force,' and each one has its own nickname like that. That kind of helps break the ice.

He broke ice in a big way in 2007 when, on a supplies trip to Home Depot for his main gig in home renovations, he was stopped by a young Iraq war veteran looking for guidance. The meeting helped him solidify the idea of Writeface as a way forward for those without the right direction.

"We did the obligatory  among veterans, there's the obligatory exchange of information  'What branch of service, what time were you in, what units were you assigned to?' all that kind of stuff, Hower says. We ended up sitting in my van for several hours and this young guy poured his heart out at me. He was fresh back from a year in Iraq and recently discharged and having a really hard time readjusting. His wife didn't understand, mom and dad didn't understand.

Humbles and grateful

The goal is to reach more veterans, Hower says of the date  Veterans  for the concert. I wish I could find some millionaire that wanted to donate so that we could reach more veterans. The timing of this show has always been fortuitous right before the Extra(ordinary) Give.

Current plans are for the show to be professionally recorded, though it's not certain if Music for Everyone will release the music. The makeshift band is still workshopping names, as its first choice, DMZ, was taken back in the 70s by a punk band from Boston.

Both Lefever and Fairman say that they plan to continue their work with Writeface.

I have a longtime history of creative writing and being a poet myself, Fairman says. To be able to use those things that I love to do with people that I am so grateful to be in contact with, it's really heart opening.

To understand what they've sacrificed  sometimes it's a physical sacrifice, sometimes it's a long-term emotional mental sacrifice that they carry into their day to day lives  it's humbling, and it makes me grateful for what they've been willing to do.

The fourth annual Veterans, Voices and Values concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11, at The Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St. The concert is free.
LECTURE SERIES: The Elizabethtown College will host its lecture series at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, in the Leffler Chapel and Performing Center, 1 Alpha Drive, Elizabethtown. Free and open to the public. Guest speaker will be abduction survivor and founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, Elizabeth Smart. For more information, visit etown.edu.

CONSIGNMENT EVENT: WeeUsables Consignment Event will host their Holiday Sale Nov. 11-13 in Olympic Hall at Spooky Nook Sports, 75 Champ Blvd., Manheim. Event is free and open to the public. Event will feature a bring-your-own-bags sale, half-off sales, stuff-a-bag sale and more. For more detailed information, visit weeusablesevent.com/shop/holiday-sale/.

BAZAAR: Chiques Womens in Mission, 1215 E. Main St., Mount Joy, will host their annual 49th annual Church Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. Free and open to the public. Items offered: an elephant room, bake sale featuring apple dumplings, Rada cutlery, jewelry, attic treasures, homemade knitted items, barbecue and soups to go. Proceeds benefit local and worldwide missions. For more information, call 717-653-5175.

MILLERSVILLE WOMAN: The Millersville Womans Club will meet at 7 p.m Tuesday, Nov. 16, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 222 N. George St., Millersville. This meeting will also be the clubs annual Mens Night, so attending women are welcome to bring a male companion.Speaker will be Christine Lurk, who will present a show-and-tell program. For more information, call 717-872-4834 or 717-284-4588.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION: Hands of Hope will be distributing 30-40 pounds of prepackaged food boxes at Speedwell Heights Church, 413 W. Brubaker Valley Road, Lititz, at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19. Food boxes are available on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit speedwellchurch.org or facebook.com/speedwellheights.

CRAFT FAIR: St. Peters Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10 Delp Road, will host its third annual Craft Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, in the Family Life Center. Open to the public. Over 41 vendors will showcase a variety of handmade items, from jewelry to Christmas ornaments, dog treats, and knitted and crocheted wearables. Breakfast foods will be available for purchase, along with hot dogs, chili, drinks, snacks and desserts. For more information, visit stpeterslutheran.org; call 717-569-9211.

Community Calendar runs as space is available. Three weeks notice of an event is appreciated. Please place the date of the event or the deadline date to register at the top of the press release. Email your information to news@lnpnews.com.
A 29-year-old Lancaster city man was shot and killed by a security guard for Philadelphia's Christmas Village in LOVE Park on Tuesday.

Ryan Groff was shot after an argument with a contracted security guard after Groff tried entering an off-limits area of the park, which was being prepared for Christmas Village, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Police have charged 43-year-old Gregory Thomas Sr. with Groff's murder, according to the Associated Press.

Thomas was working a security detail for the yet-to-open Christmas Village exhibit near City Hall around 8:40 p.m., according to an incident summary released by Philadelphia police.

Police said after the altercation, Thomas walked to his car, retrieved a black duffel bag, pulled a handgun out and shot the victim multiple times. He then fled in his car, the Associated Press reported.

Thomas did not have a permit to carry a gun as part of his security guard duties, according to the Inquirer.

Officers working a nearby construction detail responded to the shooting and found Groff on the ground. He was taken to the hospital with multiple gunshot wounds to the head, neck and abdomen.

He was pronounced dead a shortly after 9 p.m.

The Inquirer reported that after the shooting, Thomas drove home. A supervisor of the security company went to his house and took him to police headquarters.

Thomas wife spoke to abc6 in Philadelphia, and said that when Thomas and his partner were trying to remove Groff from the park, Groff hit Thomas in the face.

His face shattered, Latasha Whitmore-Thomas told the news station. We are all devastated. I pray for the victim. I dont wish that on nobody. Pray for my family.

A mugshot released by Philadelphia police showed Thomas with injuries and bandages on his face.

Groffs brother, Richard, remembered Ryan as a jokester and said in an interview with WGAL that he cherished every moment he spent with his brother before he went to Philadelphia.

Thomas had previous run-ins with police, and Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney said that Thomas should not have had the gun because of his past history, abc6 reported.

According to the Inquirer, there have been 473 homicides in Philadelphia so far this year, as of Wednesday morning. The city's all-time record was 500 in 1990.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Upper Leacock farmer Amos Miller, embroiled in a legal fight with the federal government over his failure to follow food safety laws and court orders, is now taking advice from extremists who dont believe in government authority, according to his current attorney.

Miller, who owns Millers Organic Farm, wants to get rid of his attorney, Steven Lafuente, of Dallas, Texas. And Lafuente wants out, too.

I dont want to have anything to do with these sovereign citizen people at all, Lafuente said Wednesday.

Sovereign citizen adherents believe in the legally baseless assertion that individuals, and not courts or lawmakers, can decide what laws to follow.

Believers contend they are beyond the jurisdiction of the courts, prosecutors wrote in court filings aimed at keeping Lafuente as Millers attorney. (Courts) have found such positions to be frivolous.

A phone message seeking comment left for Miller was not returned on Wednesday.

In early October, Miller faxed a hand-written letter to Lafuente stating that Prairie Star National would be representing him in ongoing litigation with the government.

Please notify the (United States Department of Agriculture) that you will not represent our farm at this time, Miller wrote.

Prairie Stars website contains little information other than describing itself as reclaiming freedom and providing financial services.

Prosecutors want Lafuente to stay on the case, basically arguing that hes serving his clients interests by trying to keep Miller on track with court orders and helping to bring the farm into compliance with federal regulations.

A hearing on Lafuentes status is scheduled for Friday before U.S. District Judge Edward G. Smith.

Winning the courts approval to drop Miller as a client won't be easy, Lafuente said. For one thing, businesses like Millers must be represented by attorneys in federal court, and Prairie Star is not a law firm, Lafuente said.

Other lawyers whove represented Miller have been able to drop their representation. The problem is, Im the last attorney standing, Lafuente said.

In the past, Millers Organic Farm has held itself out as a private club that sold only to members and was exempt from federal regulations.

A transcript of a 2019 deposition included in court filings related to the withdrawal request show that Lafuente had convinced Miller he was wrong.

Lafuente said Miller is smart, but impressionable and has apparently fallen victim to erroneous thinking again.

Lafuente noted federal authorities have bent over backwards to help Miller and said he worries that Miller could face jail.

Millers ongoing troubles

Miller and his farm have been at odds with the government for years over federal food safety inspection regulations.

In June, Smith found Miller in contempt of a 2020 consent decree aimed at getting him and the farm to comply with food safety inspection laws. Smith also fined Miller $250,000.

But in documents filed Tuesday in federal court, the prosecutors said Miller has been slaughtering and selling meat and poultry in violation of Smiths rulings.

In August, Smith even set aside the $250,000 fine he had imposed on Miller a month earlier. Smith wanted to give Miller and the government more time to work on compliance issues. Miller had complied with some issues, but claimed he was having trouble with others, including using a federally inspected slaughterhouse agreeable to him and the government.

Even as Smith set the fine aside, he expressed skepticism about Miller.

I think [that] there is a real belief that he has been hiding what hes been doing, that he has been, basically, trying to play a game with the government enforcers and that game cant be allowed to continue, Smith said, according to a transcript of the hearing. They cant allow it to continue, I cant allow it to continue.

Smiths words are in documents prosecutors filed Tuesday asking the court to find Miller in further contempt, enforce the $250,000 fine, levy another $25,000-a-day fine for each day Miller is found to have illegally slaughtered poultry, plus order potentially thousands of dollars in other fines and costs.

According to the filing, just two days after the August hearing, the federal Food Safety and Inspection Service received an anonymous tip that led to further investigation.

Prosecutors claim that soon after being found in contempt, Miller came up with a scheme to illegally slaughter and process poultry under a different business name, Bird in Hand Meats, and at his farm adjacent to Millers Organic.

That stunning disregard for the courts orders and the law  demands consequences, prosecutors wrote.

Prosecutors on Wednesday declined comment. A hearing hasnt been set on the governments request for a contempt finding and fine.

Millers came to the attention of federal authorities in 2016, when the Food and Drug Administration said it identified Listeria in samples of Millers raw milk and found it to be genetically similar to the bacteria in two people who developed listeriosis  one of whom died  after consuming raw milk.

That led to the Food Safety and Inspection Service investigating and suing Millers over the meat and poultry issues in 2019.

The governments latest claims

Among the governments claims:

 Miller had beef and hogs slaughtered without government approval at another facility.

The facility is licensed, but Miller wasnt allowed to slaughter without a plan approved by the government that also addressed how he was to inventory and sell thousands of pounds of the seized frozen meat and poultry.

 On Sept. 8, inspectors found an employee cutting up fresh poultry in a non-refrigerated semi trailer at Millers other farm, which is not licensed for that type of work.

 Inspectors also that day found thousands of pounds of meat and poultry in a refrigerated trailer on Millers main farm, but which lacked required inspection markings.

 Inspectors visited a trucking company in late October and found three pallets containing meat and poultry from Millers Organic that were to be shipped to Miami, Florida-based My Healthy Food Club, run by one of Millers distributors. None of the products had required inspection marks.

In asking for a hearing on the proposed fines, prosecutors wrote that Millers ... continuing failures and refusals to comply ... have flouted this courts authority and the rule of law and have impaired and will continue to impair (federal regulators) ability to fulfill their public health missions.
Columbia Borough police

THEFT

COLUMBIA: An old milk box was stolen from the front porch of a residence in the 400 block of Manor Street sometime between 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 and 12:30 p.m. on Nov. 8, police said.

VANDALISM

COLUMBIA: Red paint was thrown on a vehicle parked in the 500 block of Chestnut Street at 9:33 a.m. on Nov. 6, police said.

East Earl Township police

STRANGULATION

EAST EARL TWP.: Jeremy Douglas Parmer, 28, of East Earl, was charged with strangulation, simple assault and harassment after pushing a person on the ground and then placing his hands on their neck during a domestic disturbance at an unstated address around 12:15 p.m. on Nov. 5, police said.

THEFT

EAST EARL TWP.: An unidentified man was seen stealing about $450 in merchandise from a local business around 2:15 p.m. on Nov. 6, police said.

East Lampeter Township police

THEFT

EAST LAMPETER TWP.: Two unidentified women created a disturbance inside a New Balance outlet store in Tanger Outlets and then grabbed boxes of shoes valued at nearly $900 and fled the store around 1 p.m. on Nov. 5, police said.

Lancaster city police

ASSAULT

LANCASTER: Christopher Schumacher, 35, of Lancaster, was charged with aggravated assault and two counts of criminal mischief after punching a community service aide in the face and tearing a police officers pants at the Lancaster city police station at 39 West Chestnut Street at 9:27 p.m. on Nov. 5, police said. Schumacher, who was a prisoner at the police station, also broke the master jail cell key as he was resisting efforts to be restrained, police said.

Manheim Township police

CRIMINAL MISCHIEF

LANCASTER TWP.: An unidentified man set fire to a trash can in the 900 block of Clark Street at 6:58 p.m. on Nov. 7, police said.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT

MANHEIM TWP.: An unidentified man threw merchandise at staff and caused a disturbance inside a Visionworks store at 854 Plaza Boulevard at 4:33 p.m. on Nov. 5, police said.

HARASSMENT

LANCASTER TWP.: Jennifer M. Santiago, 20, of Lancaster, was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct after spraying three people with pepper spray, causing a disturbance that alarmed others in the area, during a fight in the 1300 block of Spencer Avenue at 6:20 p.m. on Oct. 24, police said.

THEFT

LANCASTER TWP.: Numerous items valued at a combined $279 were stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked on Cottage Avenue during the night of Nov. 1-2, police said.

Manor Township police

TERRORISTIC THREATS

MANOR TWP.: Infinity Rivera, 23, address unknown, was charged with terroristic threats and simple assault after pulling a womans hair and then pointing a handgun at her during a fight in the 200 block of Bent Pine Court around 7:15 p.m. on Oct. 27, police said.

THEFT

MANOR TWP.: Robert Jung, 57, of Lancaster, was charged with theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief after taking a $750 lamp post from the exterior of a residence in the 3000 block of Columbia Avenue and placing it in his car, causing about $200 in damage, at 12:07 p.m. on Oct. 31, police said.

New Holland police

ASSAULT

NEW HOLLAND: Travis Allen Davies, 30, of New Holland, was charged with simple assault and harassment after striking a man in the face during a fight at a residence in the 100 block of East Main Street around 10:10 p.m. on Nov. 2, police said.

NEW HOLLAND: John Lee Stoltzfus, 40, of New Holland, was charged with simple assault and harassment after hitting a person and throwing a picture at them, striking them in the back of the head, during an assault at a residence in the first block of Diller Avenue at 6:32 p.m. on Nov. 4, police said.

Northern Lancaster County Regional police

CRASH

EAST PETERSBURG: A 2015 Mazda SUV crashed into the side of East Petersburg Family Medicine Facility in the 5000 block of Main Street at 7:34 a.m. on Nov. 9, police said. The driver, who was uninjured, was found to have lost control of the vehicle, police said.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

EAST PETERSBURG: An unidentified man wearing a black ski mask was seen following children and making them feel uncomfortable near the East Petersburg pool in the 2000 block of Chrismar Way at 3:37 p.m. on Nov. 7, police said. The man was seen leaving the area in the Jeep-type vehicle before officers arrived, police said.

THEFT

PENN TWP.: Several appliances that had been left outside for pickup were stolen by unidentified thieves from Longneckers Hardwar store at 127 Doe Run Road between Nov. 3 and Nov. 8, police said.

Pennsylvania State police

ASSAULT

FULTON TWP.: Timmy L. Morefield, 52, of Fulton Township, was charged with aggravated assault and harassment after stabbing a woman in the abdomen with a pocket knife at his residence in the first block of Jubilee Court around 7 p.m. on Nov. 7, police said. The woman was transported to a hospital to be treated for a traumatic injury while Morefield fled the scene with the knife, police said.

STRANGULATION

CONESTOGA TWP.: Jamar Lawayne Brown, 28, of Conestoga Township, was charged with strangulation, simple assault and harassment after strangling a woman and then punching her in the face during a domestic dispute in the first block of Dogwood Drive at 6:24 p.m. on Nov. 7, police said. The woman then threw a glass cup at Brown, though he appeared uninjured, police said.

Susquehanna Regional police

FALSE IDENTIFICATION

CONOY TWP.: Amanda Jean Haupt, 31, of address unknown, was charged with false identification to law enforcement authorities after falsely identifying herself as another person who had warrants for their arrest during a traffic stop in the 600 block of Stackstown Road at 8:10 p.m. on Nov. 7, police said. Haupt was found to also have warrants for her arrest, police said.
Jacyln Morales sent out a call for help from the community as her sister, Jennifer Morales, prepared, emotionally and financially, to bury her 16-year-old son.

She created a GoFundMe page that has raised over $12,000 as of Nov. 10 to assist in the burial of Omar Edward Rodriguez. Rodriguez died in an Oct. 27 shooting in Lebanon City, according to his family.

The internet appeal reads, As most of you know, God gained another Angel yesterday. Our baby Omar gained his wings. With the heaviest heart we ask that u donate anything to help us put him to rest. As any family we were not prepared to bury our 16 yr old baby.

Rodriguez, a junior at Lebanon High School, enjoyed listening to music, playing PS4, hanging out with his girlfriend and picking on his little sister, according to his obituary.

Omar was the best kid, Jacyln Morales said in an email to the LNP | LancasterOnline. He was a prankster. Always cracking jokes playing his ps4. He love to dance.

Lebanon City Police have charged two teenagers with shooting and killing a person, identified as O.R. in court documents, last week.

At around 3:30 p.m. Oct. 27, police were called to North 6th Street for a collision involving a 16-year-old boy who had crashed his vehicle into parked vehicles.

The boy, identified by family as Omar Edward Rodriguez, was found with a gunshot wound to his chest. A passenger in Rodriguezs Honda Pilot fled the scene, according to court documents. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the Good Samaritan (Wellspan) Hospital.

Police say Jaedyn Gaines, 17, and Jayden Pagan, 15, planned to rob the 16-year-old Honda driver and one other following a meeting to purchase marijuana. Gaines took marijuana from a passenger in the vehicle as an argument broke out between the driver and Pagan, according to a previous report from Lebanon City Police and court documents.

Pagan and Rodriguez struggled over Pagans handgun, ran around the vehicle and shot Rodriguez, according to court documents.

An analysis of Rodriguezs phone showed that he had used Snapchat minutes before the shooting. He had been communicating with an account that had recent pictures of Pagan wearing the sweatshirt he was believed to have worn during the shooting, according to court documents.

Pagan, of Lebanon city, is charged with homicide, conspiracy to commit homicide and several charges related to robbery and the underage purchase and use of a gun, according to Lebanon City Police.

A warrant has been issued for Pagans arrest, and police continue to search for him.

Gaines was charged with homicide and conspiracy to commit homicide. He is in the Lebanon County Correctional Facility after being denied bail.
ZANATEPEC, Mexico (AP)  A group of mainly Central American migrants attempting to walk across southern Mexico has dwindled to less than a thousand, authorities said Wednesday.

Mexicos National Immigration Institute said it had granted humanitarian visas to about 800 migrants who were once part of the group, mainly women with children of others considered at risk.

The institute said fewer than a thousand migrants continued with the group, which is now in the southern state of Oaxaca. The migrants once numbered as many as 4,000.

But since they set out from the city of Tapachula on Oct. 23, the group has managed to make it only about 190 miles (310 kilometers).

The group's leader, immigration activist Irineo Mujica, denied the caravan was breaking up, and instead said he was organizing a second group to walk out of Tapachula on Nov. 18, to join up with the first group and then head toward the U.S. border.

Mujica said the first group has been pursued and harassed by Mexican government officials. A video of him addressing the group Wednesday showed what appeared to be only a couple of hundred people.

A group of migrants pelted officers of Mexicos National Guard with a hail of rocks last week, injuring five of the officers.

The Mexican government has been attempting to discourage the march, saying the poor conditions and extreme heat are putting the migrants lives at risk. The National Immigration Institute said six cases of the tropical fever dengue had been detected among members of the migrant march.

The migrants set out from the city of Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border, on foot. They claimed that Mexican immigration authorities were taking too long to process visa requests and were using Tapachula as a holding point to prevent migrants from going north.

Much larger caravans crossed Mexico in 2018 and 2019, but those migrants never tried to walk the whole distance. They usually caught rides aboard passing trucks.

But Mexico has told truckers not to pick up migrants, saying they could face charges of migrant trafficking.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  A Ugandan activist channeled the fears of many young people and vulnerable countries at Thursday's U.N. climate talks in Glasgow that world leaders won't take the action needed to prevent potentially lethal levels of global warming.

The latest available science tells us that in order to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis, we must reduce global CO2 emissions by somewhere between 7% to 11% this year, and next year, and every year after year, until we get to zero, Vanessa Nakate told business and political leaders in an impassioned speech at the conference.

In reality, annual emissions are expected to surge in 2021, as the world economy bounces back from the pandemic.

"So I hope you can understand why many of the activists who are here in Glasgow, and millions of activists who could not be here, do not see the success that is being applauded within these halls, said Nakate.

Experts say that all of the latest pledges made by governments around the world could, if fully realized, bend the curve of global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit)  the upper threshold set in the 2015 Paris accord.

But scenarios that look at what countries have committed to in the short term put warming at 2.7C (4.9F), far beyond levels scientists consider safe for human civilization. The head of the United Nations told The Associated Press on Thursday that he believes the more ambitious Paris goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C is now on life support.

Where I live, a two-degree world means that a billion people will be affected by extreme heat stress, said Nakate.

Some places in the global south will regularly reach a wet bulb temperature of 35 degrees Celsius (95 F)," she said, referring to a situation of extreme heat that researchers say is becoming increasingly common.

At that temperature the human body, cannot cool itself by sweating, said Nakate. "Even healthy people sitting in the shade will die within six hours.

Her words echoed dramatic warnings coming from others at the talks such as Tuvalu, whose foreign minister delivered a speech to the U.N. climate talks knee-deep in the ocean waters that will engulf his island nation if global warming continues on its current track.

The Pacific island nation's finance and climate minister, Seve Paeniu, said Tuvalu was already looking at a massive project to lift the surface of the island nation above the rising ocean level at a cost of hundreds of millions.

It threatens the survival of our people, he said.

Nakate called for drastic action (that) will pull us back from the abyss, saying past promises on climate change had been repeatedly broken.

Im actually here to beg you to prove us wrong, the 24-year-old said. We desperately need you to prove us wrong. Please prove us wrong. God, help us all, if you fail to prove us wrong. God help us.



Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this report.



Follow AP's coverage of the U.N. climate talks at http://apnews.com/hub/climate
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP)  Sudans top general reappointed himself as head of the army-run interim governing body on Thursday, a sign that he's tightening his grip on the country two weeks after he led a coup against civilian leaders.

The move by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan  along with other appointments he announced for the Sovereign Council  was expected to anger Sudan's pro-democracy protest movement, sidelined in the coup. Since the Oct. 25 takeover, pro-democracy leaders have demanded the military relinquish power and refuse to be part of any administration in which a military maintains a role.

Thursday's development, announced in a bulletin by Sudans state television, comes amid repeated promises from the military rulers that they will hand over power to civilian authorities. Since the coup, more than 100 government officials and political leaders have been detained, along with a large number of protesters and activists. Almost all remain in custody.

At least 14 anti-coup protesters have been killed due to excessive force used by the countrys security forces, according to Sudanese doctors and the United Nations. The military removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok who has since been under house arrest in the capital, Khartoum, as Western powers and U.N. diplomats try to mediate a resolution to the crisis.

Sudan's culture and information minister, Hamza Baloul, who was arrested during the coup and later released, condemned the appointments. He described Thursdays announcement of the new council as an extension of the coup" and said pro-democracy protesters are right to refuse to negotiate with military leaders. Along with rejecting internationally backed initiatives to return to a power-sharing arrangement with the military, the protest movement has also called for a nationwide strike.

Were obviously taking a look at these developments. I would say theyre very concerning," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said later Thursday. We want to see a return to the transition as quickly as possible. We want to see the release from house arrest of Prime Minister Hamdok as well as all other politicians and leaders that have been detained.

Sudan has been in the midst of a fragile transition since a 2019 pro-democracy uprising led to the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The 11-member Sovereign Council was first formed in the summer of 2019, after the military signed a power-sharing deal with pro-democracy forces.

A number of other members of the body sat on the previous council that Burhan headed before he dissolved it in the coup. Also reappointed to the body Thursday was the powerful paramilitary leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, as vice-president. And Burhan reappointed as council members another three generals who had served in the previous council.

Three others on the council are leaders of rebel groups who fought Bashir's government for years, but who have moved towards peace with the transitional government. They all also served on the previous council. One of them, Malik Agar, a prominent leader of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, a rebel movement in Sudan's southern Blue Nile States, was one of signees to a historic peace accord with the transitional government in Juba, South Sudan last year.

Five of the members are civilians, only one of whom  Raja Nicola, a Christian lawyer  served on the previous body. She is one of two women appointees.

The agreement under which the council was formed after Bashir's ouster stipulated that the council should include five civilians chosen by activists, five military representatives chosen by the armed forces and one civilian member to be chosen in agreement between civilians and the generals.

The make-up of the new council falls short of the demands of key pro-democracy groups in the African county. The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, the main group that spearheaded the uprising that culminated in the overthrow of al-Bashir, has said that it would oppose the reappointment of Burhan to the top decision-making position.

Before the coup, the Sovereign Council held ultimate power while Hamdok's government oversaw day-to-day matters.

The coup has been condemned by the United Nations, the United States and the European Union  all of which have urged the generals to restore a military-civilian transitional government. Mediation efforts are ongoing to resolve the crisis.

Dujarric said that U.N. Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perthes met Tuesday with Burhan and also that U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres spoke with Hamdok earlier in the week.

Perthes gave the Security Council a closed-door briefing on the situation later Thursday. Britains U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward said he was very frank in his assessment that the window now is closing for dialogue and for peaceful resolution.

Woodward said the Security Council is clear that it is important to resume dialogue, that dialogue is the way forward.

We want to see important freedoms reinstated in Sudan," she said. So we repeat our call for the military to engage in good faith to deliver a settlement that is based on the principle of genuine military-civilian partnership.

Meanwhile, an advocacy group said earlier Thursday that internet access remains largely disrupted in Sudan since last months military coup, despite a court order for providers to restore services.

According to a tweet by NetBlocks, the disruption is now in its eighteenth day and represents an ongoing impediment to democracy and human rights. A Sudanese court ruled on Wednesday, ordering the countrys three main telecommunications providers to restore internet access. However, authorities have not shown any sign yet of carrying out that order.



ElHennawy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
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THE ISSUE

Today we mark Veterans Day, which honors those who served in the U.S. military. As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website explains, the holiday has its roots in the celebration of Armistice Day, the cessation in 1918 of World War I hostilities at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day in the United States. Over the years, Armistice Day was broadened to become Veterans Day and, in 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law that officially designated Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.

Today, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 2021, a ceremony will begin at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where a wreath will be laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (also known as the Tomb of the Unknowns).

And all across the United States, including here in Lancaster County, schools and stores and restaurants will offer gestures of appreciation to this nations military veterans. Some of those gestures will seem to be more about marketing than expressing gratitude. But they indicate just how compelled Americans feel to honor those who put their lives on the line for our country.

Only a fraction of the U.S. population has borne that burden.

According to the Pew Research Center, which cites data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are about 19 million U.S. veterans as of this year. That represents less than 8% of the total U.S. adult population.

Some more salient facts from Pew:

 Gulf War-era veterans now account for the largest share of all U.S. veterans, having surpassed Vietnam-era veterans in 2016, according to the VAs 2018 population model estimates. VA estimates for 2021 indicate there are 5.9 million American veterans who served during the Vietnam era and 7.8 million who served in the Gulf War era, which spans from August 1990 through the present. There are also around 240,000 World War II veterans and about 933,000 who served during the Korean conflict, the VA estimates.

 In 2018, about 7% of U.S. adults were veterans, down from 18% in 1980, according to the Census Bureau. This drop coincides with decreases in active-duty personnel. Over the past half-century, the number of people on active duty has dropped significantly, from 3.5 million in 1968, during the military draft era, to about 1.4 million (or less than 1% of all U.S. adults) in todays all-volunteer force. The draft ended in 1973.

Weve already lost so many veterans of World War II. Were also losing those who fought in Korea and Vietnam. We know from the experience of veterans close to us that time spent on the front lines can leave veterans with physical and emotional scars.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, one study found that 15.7% of veterans who were deployed in Operation Enduring Freedom (the global war on terrorism, launched in Afghanistan after 9/11) and Operation Iraqi Freedom screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder. And traumatic brain injuries inflicted by roadside bombs in Afghanistan and Iraq too often went unaddressed until Dr. Christian Macedonia, now a retired U.S. Army colonel and Lancaster County physician, commanded the Department of Defenses Gray Team, which investigated shortfalls in the care of those wounded in combat and accelerated solutions.

Veterans have sacrificed in ways large and small, as retired Rear Adm. Jan Hamby and retired Maj. Dale Hamby, of East Drumore Township, wrote in a column for LNP | LancasterOnline last year.

Military members set aside many of their own freedoms in order to help guarantee that your freedoms are preserved, the Hambys wrote. While serving around the world, in all kinds of arduous settings, around the clock, and often at great personal risk, military members do not enjoy the full set of rights that you do. Once they leave the service, those rights return, but every veteran remembers what that personal sacrifice meant to them and their families, and they appreciate those who continue to serve today.

The Hambys many deployments meant they missed a litany of special occasions, and meant that their now-grown children, one of whom followed them into the military, repeatedly had to move, make new friends and adjust to new schools. The couple wrote of never having a chance to build equity in any homes we bought. Every move included costs that werent compensated. Many moves took us far from our extended families, and sometimes we missed critical family events.  And we both faced more solemn sacrifices. We lost friends in combat and military training. We put ourselves at risk during time of war, and in some cases, literally dodged bullets.

Despite these hardships, they wrote, we were committed to serving this great nation and the values for which it stands. We are proud of our service and proud to be veterans. We are proud that our son chose to serve. We are proud to be a military family.

And we were proud to publish their column.

Weve wondered many times throughout this pandemic why other Americans arent willing to make sacrifices for their fellow citizens  to wear masks in public spaces, and to get one of the safe, free and effective COVID-19 vaccines  when the veterans among us have been asked to do much more difficult things, and they took on those tasks without complaint. (COVID-19 vaccination, for instance, is mandatory in the U.S. military. The New York Times reported Nov. 2 that about 97% of the countrys active-duty service members had at least one dose of the vaccine at that point, and roughly 87% had both shots.)

As the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs explains, this day is set aside to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The common good  its a concept that has gotten lost amid the turmoil of partisan politics and short-sighted decision-making.

Whether drafted or enlisted, those who served in this nations military made sacrifices for the common good  for fellow citizens who were strangers to them, citizens who had the luxury of not even knowing what sacrifices were being made on their behalf.

On this day, and every day, we are deeply grateful for their service to our nation.
Biddy Mason Foundation Serves Foster Youth

Supporting foster children guides the mission of the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation. The nonprofit, founded in 2013, develops a range of programs, services and initiatives to ensure the success of young people in the L.A. County system.

Mainly comprised of First AME Church of Los Angeles congregants, the organizations volunteer team also includes members of other denominations as well. Binding them together is a deep love and concern for the well-being of foster children.

Los Angeles County is home to the largest foster care population in the nation. We felt we were losing too many talented young people to the dreadful statistics of foster care, so we wanted to find ways to support these young people, said Executive Director Jackie Broxton, who shared some of those dreadful statistics.

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Some of the most glaring numbers are 50% of foster youth never complete high school, 15% enroll in college with only 3% graduating, and 25% suffer from PTSD  post traumatic stress disease  and experience high rates of depression and extremely low self-esteem.

The Foundation strives to counter those figures by offering access to higher education and providing mentoring support. Braxton said, We began a scholarship program in 2018 that has exceeded over $200,000 in scholarship awards to current and former foster youth. The scholarships are for academic as well as vocational training.

The organization aims to establish a legal clinic tailored to handle issues faced by foster youth and once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, they will resume sponsoring outings and special events for the children. Also, the Foundation is working to open a one-stop, walk-in center that caters to the physical, emotional, social and other needs of current, former and emancipated foster youth.

Although the number of foster children is large, the Foundation has chalked up some success stories in aiding youth, noted Broxton. Recently, one of our scholarship recipients who was a senior at Cal State was faced with a car problem. She needed her car to take her young son to school and then drive a distance to Cal State.

We were able to work with the Department of Children and Family Services to identify funding to repair her car and ensure her on-time graduation. This is a clear example of our ability to collaborate with an agency to provide support, she recalled.

In another instance, the Foundation assisted a young lady attending college out-of state, said Broxton. She was experiencing challenges in getting housing and meeting her expenses. We were able to work with the university to resolve her housing issues and provide gift cards to meet her other needs.

The Foundation certainly operates in a similar manner as its namesake, Bridgett Biddy Mason. A former slave, Mason was a nurse, philanthropist and real estate entrepreneur. She accumulated close to $300,000 (the equivalent of $9 million today) that she shared with charities and the poor.

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Mason also opened a travelers center, operated an elementary school for Black children and was one of the first African Americans to purchase land in the city. In 1872, she donated the land to establish FAME, the oldest church founded by Blacks in L.A. Biddy Mason Park, located at 3rd and Spring Streets, features an artistic illustration of her life.

She became a legendary figure in early Los Angeles, not only for her astute business acumen, but for her philanthropy. Her home on North Spring Street became a refuge for many destitute settlers and Biddy, who spoke fluent Spanish, cared for the sick and became a mentor to many, shared Broxton.

The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation welcomes volunteers and contributions to the nonprofit. As Braxton vowed, Were going the distance to make a difference for foster youth.

To learn more, call 323-697-5378.
Black Pediatricians Discuss Vaccinations for Children

Doctors look for vaccines to further protect children and their future

Whether a parent, teacher, or family friend, you have seen at least one effect that this pandemic has had on children, including developmental issues, the widening education gap, and fewer wellness visits. In the United States, more than 5 million children have gotten COVID-19 and more than 763 have died from the disease. Since Delta, 1 in 5 new COVID-19 cases have been in children.

Vaccinating children who are ages 5 and older can help protect kids and slow the spread of COVID-19 and is another step in getting this pandemic under control.

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Parents, teachers, and friends play a crucial role in getting kids back on track and giving them a real chance to experience childhood in its true sense.

With all of these jarring numbers and heartbreaking stories on the toll the pandemic has taken on children, one may ask who to turn to as a medically sound voice that can provide factual, science-based information. As COVID-19 vaccines are now available to kids ages 5 and older, we spoke with Black pediatricians who serve as trusted advisors for their patients parents, and as advocates for every child that steps into their offices.

We asked these local trusted messengers to comment on expected changes if all children who are eligible are vaccinated. We spoke with Dr. Nina Ford Johnson, MD FAAP, who has worked in infirmary pediatrics for eight years and serves as the President of the Medical Society of Mobile County, Alabama. Some of the problems were seeing in the unvaccinated children is that theyre spreading the illness to parents and grandparents. Were seeing a lot of them miss school because of it. And not just the child, but their siblings also miss out.

Children that [do become vaccinated], I think its going to turn [things] around. We need to be able to keep kids in school. Our school system here in Mobile was already far behind.

Also, [vaccinations] will decrease the amount of infectivity among the adults and grandparents. It takes a village to raise our children, and this virus has become a village virus.

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Dr. Johnsons words provide a window into the experiences of those who have been on the front lines of fighting COVID-19 in children.

Some parents also have concerns about COVID-19 vaccines that are often not addressed by trusted voices who have cared for our children from the beginning of their lives.

We spoke with pediatrician Dr. Felicia Wilson, who shared impactful stories about patients she has truly cared for from birth to present day and described some of her young patients looking to her as another parental source.

I have seen hesitancy in parents, in fact some of those parents are parents that themselves got vaccinated. But they sort of felt like I lived a good life, Ive had my children, I dont plan to have anymore  but Im worried about the fertility of my children or some unforeseen thing that may come up years later. Ive also seen parents that want to get their children vaccinated because theyve been through COVID-19 themselves.

I take care of a fragile population of kids who have blood disorders and cancer, so many parts of this new way of life including masks and isolation is already a part of their lives. So, a number of those parents want to get their children vaccinated.

We already promote annual vaccinations with the flu, so were saying this is no different, other than the fact that were in a pandemic were trying to get out of.

Dr. Wilson and others like her offer perspectives on highly vulnerable populations of children with major health issues, whose lives depend on themselves and others getting vaccinated when eligible.

We also spoke to Dr. Antwan Hogue, MD who gave his thoughts on vaccinations for children. I have seen some hesitancy  even in myself, I questioned whether or not I would vaccinate my own children. The more I dove into the studies and research that support getting the vaccine; without hesitation, when my children are of age, and when the guidelines support my kids getting the vaccine, I wont hesitate to do so.

Its crucial that we get as many kids vaccinated as we possibly can to get this pandemic under control.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this generation can be lessened if we can protect our most at-risk populations and encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.

Talk to your childs doctor or nurse to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines or visit https://www.vaccines.gov/.

Josephine Reid is a member of the Public Relations Team at Creative Marketing Resources, a strategic marketing agency in Milwaukee and a partner of the COBB Institute.
Fade Out HIV: New Program Helps Barbers and Health Care Providers Tackle HIV in the Black Community

DKBmed, LLC a medical education company; HIV expert William D. King, MD; Tony Wafford of I Choose Life Foundation; and Tyrik Jackson, an award-winning barber, teacher, and social media influencer are coming together to fight HIV in the Los Angeles Black community with Fade Out HIV: Barber and Clinician Outreach.

Launching at BarberCon LA, Fade Out HIV will be featured at this day-long convention designed for barbers from Los Angeles and beyond to network and learn more about their trade. BarberCon is a leading resource of information for barbers, particularly those who work in communities of color. The event will take place on November 14, 2021, at City Market Social House in Los Angeles, CA.

Tyrik Jackson, whose father died from AIDS, understands the importance of HIV education. Were coming together from all over the country to build a comprehensive educational program that encourages barbers to talk to their clients in the Black community about the urgent need for HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and care, said Jackson.

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Black/African Americans account for 13% of the US population yet they also account for 42% of new HIV diagnoses in the United States. Forty years into the HIV pandemic, Black/African American men are eight times more likely to have HIV than White men, and Black/African American women are seven times more likely to acquire HIV than White women. Black/African American men are also less likely to know their HIV status, putting their own health at risk and potentially transmitting HIV to others.

Fade Out HIV aims to address these disparities by educating Los Angeles County and other barbers attending BarberCon LA, who have a high percentage of Black patrons. Barbershops have always been an essential staple in the Black community; the Black barbershop is a safe space where the barber serves as not only a stylist, but also as a counselor. The long and trusted relationships between barbers and their clients makes barbers ideal partners for education and linking their clients to HIV testing and care.

Giving African-American men the opportunity to address sensitive health issues with community members they trust  such as their barbers  is vitally important and when linked with trusted physicians, has been shown to improve health care outcomes. said William D. King, MD, Founder of the W. King Health Care Group and an expert advisor and faculty member for Fade Out HIV. There is well-documented mistrust of medical professionals in the Black community, so clinician education alone is insufficient to address this issue, stated Oni Blackstock, MD, founder of Health Justice and a faculty member for Fade Out HIV.

Barbers attending BarberCon will take part in several educational initiatives featured at a special VIP session, a main stage presentation, and a specially designed booth. The education will focus on HIV in the Black population and will cover topics including racial disparities of HIV and the importance of HIV testing, HIV prevention, and treatment. The education will also cover how barbers can discuss the sensitive subject of HIV with their clients. Following the BarberCon program, we will fan out in the community to provide individual education to local barbers along with patient education materials.

We see BarberCon LA as a unique opportunity to launch Fade Out HIV in the Black community. This is not just an episodic moment but an opportunity to create a major movement in the Black community to end the spread of HIV once and for all, said Tony Wafford of I Choose Life Foundation

DKBmed has also created an educational program for clinicians in Los Angeles who work in the

Black community and for others across the country. This educational webcast will launch in

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December 2021 and address issues including testing for HIV, using pre-exposure prophylaxis

(PrEP) to prevent HIV, and initiating treatment for people with HIV. We will place a special emphasis on educating Los Angeles area clinicians in order to provide a referral network for barbers, said Dean Beals, President and CEO of DKBmed. After completing the clinician education, Los Angeles area clinicians will be encouraged to join a referral network so that clients referred by barbers can find an educated and qualified clinician for testing, prevention, and/or treatment and care.

Barbers who attend the educational programs at Barbercon will be provided with a list of these clinicians so that they can more effectively connect their clients to clinicians who are prepared to discuss and address their specific health needs.

To incentivize the client to visit the clinician, clients who see their health care provider will be rewarded with a coupon for a future haircut.

More information for barbers can be found at Barbers.DKBmed.com.
Faith Leaders Learn to Build Communities of Wealth

USC Cecil Murray Center sponsors session for clergy and lay to outline steps to teaching parishioners financial literacy

Faith leaders can play a decisive role in helping African Americans and other minorities become financially secure and the USC Cecil Murray Center for Community Engagement is preparing clergy and lay to achieve that goal.

Through online interactive sessions, the Murray Center outlines the steps that pastors and faith-based influencers can take to educate their members. The series kicked-off on November 3 with a webinar entitled, Building Back Wealth in Communities of Color and scores of people tuned in for the class.

The Rev. Dr. D. Najuma Smith-Pollard, CMCCE program manager and pastor of Word of Encouragement Community Church in L.A., moderated the 90-minute event, which was co-sponsored by CIT-One West Bank. The program also included the Rev. Frank Jackson, CEO of The Group of Village Companies in Irvine and a corporate financial executive with 20-years of experience; and the Rev. Donald Cook II, pastor of Harvest Tabernacle Bible Church in L.A., who holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in business and management.

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As part of CMCCEs ongoing effort to equip faith leaders to transform underserved areas, Smith-Pollard explained that the session would focus on elevating your community through strategies on economic recovery and wealth building. The panelists also shared practical actions that could yield significant results for churches and organizations.

Last year, the Murray Center hosted sessions around how to financially maintain [ministries] during the pandemic. Now, we want to begin to talk about building back wealth and how the faith community can take lead in teaching communities of color how to prepare for the future, she said in her introductory remarks.

We also want to encourage you to think critically how this information can be shared with your congregation or the people you serve, added Smith-Pollard, acknowledging that nonprofit and faith-based groups could impart the strategies to their constituents as well.

Remember, your people are your number one asset. When they are strong, the church or organization is strong, she insisted. Following her comments, the Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Chip Murray delivered a brief welcome address.

Next, Jackson opened the first section of the program by discussing the state of wealth across demographic groups and the definition of wealth as perceived by different age groups and ethnicities. Emphasizing that his goal was to persuade people to be responsible stewards, he then proceeded to cite the facts and principles that assist with wealth building.

The difference between your assets minus your liabilities equals wealth. You may want to create a survey to find out how your congregation or the people you serve and work with see wealth, said Jackson who is also an associate minister at New Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Inglewood.

Noting that generational wealth often evolves from inherited property such as houses or land, he said that minority groups fall behind since they have a lower number of homeowners and less income, which leads the disparity.

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According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the poverty rate is 23-to-25% in the Black and Hispanic/Latino communities and 9% in the White community. Highlighting this issue of concern within your congregations and then pulling resources from within your congregation [can] help you establish your wealth building ministry, he said.

Education also aids in building wealth, said Jackson, who cited that a four-year college graduate makes about $30,000 more than a high school graduate in entry-level positions. Also, he recommended increasing finances by reducing credit card debt because the more debt a person has, the less opportunity.

Another fact he brought up was that the nations 48 million Black Americans have $1.3 trillion in spending power, yet Jackson still urged, We want our congregations or those that were servicing to be better stewards over their resources.

Cook stressed the importance of generating income to build wealth. The added funds may be the result of employment salary, financial investments or other business activities. He also explained the distinction between bad debt and good debt.

Bad debt is that which does not increase wealth and or is used to purchase goods and services that have no lasting value. Good debt is that which increases your network or helps you generate a value that allows you to manage your finances more effectively, to leverage your wealth to buy things you need and to handle unforeseen emergencies, expressed Cook.

He went on to urge attendees to consider their debt to income ratio, which will aid in securing credit worthiness. Two other acts he recommended was saving half of your income and maintaining a credit score between 742-to-799.

Lenders determine insurance rates and set premiums for auto and home loans for your coverage depending on your credit score, he said. There are even landlords out there [who] want to know where is your job, what position you have, how much you make and whats your credit score because they want to make sure that you can afford the rent or price.

Cook advised the audience to visit creditkarma.com or freecreditreport.com to obtain credit scores. He also listed some of the pathways to wealth and named entrepreneurship or starting your own business as the first way to add income.

The scripture says your gift will make room for you. Find out from your congregation, what gifts they may have, then show them how to go into this entrepreneurial opportunity, how to properly set it up, get the business licenses, etc., Cook said, adding that investments and real estate are also optional ways to increase wealth.

The session and other resources can be viewed at crcc.usc.edu/events-and-training/murraycenter/. Building Back Wealth in Communities of Color will be presented online again on Wednesday, December 1, at 10 a.m.
LAUSD Presents Young Womens Leadership Conference

The Los Angeles Unified School District Student Empowerment Unit sets the platform for middle and high school students with the 2021 Young Womens Leadership Conference on Saturday, November 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The virtual event is open to all LAUSD young ladies in grades 8th thru 12th by logging on to achieve.lausd.net ,and Student Empowerment Unit Student Leadership Conferences, said Dr. Brenda Manuel, LAUSD administrator and conference coordinator.

The diverse conference team consists of fifty amazing intergenerational panelists from across the country and around the world and fifty women serving as moderators and facilitators to welcome the students, Manuel said.

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The conversational workshops provide a space for panelists to share personal stories, explain the nuts and bolts for successful personal and career development, and inspire students to embrace the theme Your Time is Now and imagine the possibilities for living their best lives, she added.

The panelists include Lindsey Hammond-Charlet, creative director/founder, HUB Collective; Capri Maddox, Esq., executive director, Los Angeles Civil & Human Rights Department; Tamaya Petteway, sr. vice president, Brand Partnerships Endemol Shine North America; May Sung, owner, SUBU Design Architecture; Breanna Weaver, assistant, PCL Construction; Judge Winnie Young, Compton Court; and Sarah Zurbuchen, U.S. director, WE Schools, Canada.

Student leadership conferences are held annually to inspire and expose young women to role models and community leaders who provide insight, strategies, and advice on how to navigate educational and other systems to help students lead healthy, happy and productive lives.
Priscilla Wallace Named Head of Supplier Diversity for Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) announced that Priscilla Wallace has been named head of supplier diversity for the company. Wallace joined Wells Fargo last month and will report to Barb Kubicki-Hicks, chief procurement officer, with a dotted line to Kelley Cornish, head of Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion Program Management Office and Enterprise Initiatives.

In her new role, Wallace leads a team of supplier diversity professionals to build relationships within the communities Wells Fargo serves through the development, inclusion, and utilization of certified minority, women, LGBTQ, veteran, disability-owned and small business enterprises. Wallace will implement an integrated approach with strategic sourcing, procurement, and the companys lines of business to generate increased opportunities for certified diverse suppliers.

Priscilla joins us at a crucial and transformational time for our brand, said Cornish. With her vast experience, she will focus on developing business strategies to ensure a diverse supplier base is represented that will ultimately promote innovation and provide a distinct competitive advantage for our business.

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Wallace brings more than two decades of supply chain and diversity, equity, and inclusion experience to her new position. She joins Wells Fargo from Foodbuy  Compass Group, where she was vice president of supplier diversity since 2016, responsible for accelerating supplier growth across the organization. Prior to joining Compass, Wallace served as vice president of corporate development and executive director for Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative. She also spent 13 years in supply chain and diversity leadership roles at the American Red Cross.

Wallace has received numerous accolades during her career. She was recognized in 2020 and 2018 as one of the Top 25 Diversity Women in Power by Diversity Plus, Inc. and on the Top 50 Omni awards for multicultural businesses in 2018 and 2019. She is a graduate of Delta State University.

Wells Fargos supplier diversity program is a key part of the companys commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Since 2012, Wells Fargo has spent more than $10 billion with diverse suppliers. Wells Fargo is on track for its eighth consecutive year of spending more than $1 billion with certified diverse suppliers. Through the first half of 2021, the company is spending more than 13% of total controllable spend with diverse suppliers, surpassing the financial services industry average of 10%.
Rapper Travis Scott Devastated by Eight Deaths at Houston Festival

Fans of the multiplatinum rapper, Travis Scott (born Jacques Berman Webster II), will immediately tell you that you must experience his live show. Scott who is also aptly called by many  the master conductor and crowned king of crowd surfers, stage divers, and chief encourager of the chaotic, is reportedly devasted by the deaths of eight people and injuries to hundreds of fans who attended the latest installment of his Astroworld music festival at NRG Park in Houston, TX.

On Friday, November 5, 45 minutes after performer, SZA, ended the final set on Astroworlds second stage, a massive countdown clock heralding the arrival of Scott, a native Houstonian appeared, and as the clock moved closer to zero, according to several concertgoers,  the hype, the rush, the excitement, and the chaos began. All of sudden, people compressed up against each other and were pushing forward and backward. As the timer got closer to coming down to zero, it just  it got worse and worse, according to ICU nurse and festival attendee, Madeline Eskins.

Another concertgoer, Niaara Goods, told the Associated Press that as soon as he jumped out on the stage, it was like an energy took over and everything went haywire. All of a sudden, your ribs are being crushed. You have someones arm in your neck. Youre trying to breathe, but you cant. Local authorities stated that during the performance, attendees struggled to breathe, collapsed, and got trampled as the crowd surged toward the front of the stage.

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Houston Fire Chief Sam Pena said officials started receiving reports of injured people falling unconscious shortly after the crowd surge and victims were being transported as early as 9:38 p.m. It seemed like it happened over the course of just a few minutes, said Pena. Suddenly, we had several people down on the ground experiencing some type of cardiac arrest or medical episodes. And so, we immediately started doing CPR and moving people. Scott reportedly stopped the concert a few times, first to acknowledge an ambulance in the crowd asking, what is this? He later expressed concern as a few concertgoers seemed unwell.

Last night was tragic on many different levels, and this is a very, very active investigation, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said. And well probably be at it for quite some time to determine what exactly happened. Turner said the concert was officially stopped just after 10 p.m. According to city officials, eight people died, 300 people were treated at a field hospital on site at Astroworld, 25 people were hospitalized, and as of Saturday afternoon, 13 concertgoers remained hospitalized.

The festival is now being called a mass casualty event with the victims ranging in ages from 14 to 27; John Hilgert (14yrs), Brianna Rodriguez (16yrs), Franco Patino (21yrs), Danish Baig (27yrs), Jacob Jurinek (20yrs), Axel Acosta (21yrs), Rodolfo Pena (23yrs), and Madison Dubiski (23yrs).

In a video statement on Instagram, Scott said he did not realize the extent of the emergency. I am absolutely devastated by what took place last night. My prayers go out to the families and all those impacted by what happened at Astroworld Festival. The Houston PD has my total support as they continue to look into the tragic loss of life. I could just never imagine the severity of the situation.

Representatives for Scott said he would cover all funeral costs for those who died at Astroworld and all concert attendees who bought tickets would receive refunds. Scott has canceled his upcoming appearance on Saturday at the Day N Vegas festival.

The rapper, Drake, who performed alongside headliner Scott also took to Instagram to express his emotions, Ive spent the last few days trying to wrap my mind around this devasting tragedy. My heart is broken for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and for anyone who is suffering. I will continue to pray for all of them and will be of service in any way I can. May God be with you all.

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A bona fide showman, Scott is no stranger to mayhem at his concerts; in fact, he envisions his concerts as experiences where no standing around is allowed. In the 2015 Netflix documentary, Travis Scott: Look Mom I Can Fly, the rapper said, I have been working on this since I was about six years old. I feel like at some points in life, you have to be extreme  all matters to the extreme.

In a 2015 GQ interview, Scott discussed his childhood fantasy of becoming a professional wrestler and his desire to make his concerts feel like it was the WWF. Raging and, you know, having fun and expressing good feelings is something that I plan on doing and spreading across the globe, Scott said. We dont like people that just stand  whether youre Black, White, Brown, green, purple, yellow, blue, we dont want you standing around.

In 2017, one concertgoer was partially paralyzed after Scott encouraged people to jump from a third-floor balcony and then had him hoisted onstage. It was commonplace to find footage of fans in wheelchairs, on stretchers, and crutches across social media platforms after attending an Astroworld event. Fans reveled in Scotts bold stunts  the more dangerous, the better, with one fan declaring coming to Astroworld saved my life, we are family.

At a Chicago Lollapalooza festival, the rappers set was cut short after he told fans to rush the barricades, flip off security and chant, We want rage, resulting in the injury of a 15-year-old girl. Scott pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and was put under court supervision for a year. In Arkansas, at another 2017 concert, Scott was again arrested where he was charged with inciting a riot for encouraging fans to rush the stage. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct.

In the summer of 2018, Scott released his third album, Astroworld, that featured his first Billboard No. 1 single, Sicko Mode, with the artist Drake. He would go on to receive eight Grammy nominations. Scott described the album as One of the best albums of all times. He launched his Astroworld festival named for a defunct theme park near Houston that featured a roller coaster that shot out over the audience. Astroworld ran successfully for two years but did not take place in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Ever the masterful marketer, Scott, performed instead inside the video game Fortnite with 28 million viewers watching.

Houston officials are continuing to determine the cause of death for the victims and multiple narratives, including the crowd surge, people being trampled, and the injection of others with drugs are being investigated. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner has asked that officers are allowed to investigate before a rush to judgment. As of this writing, the FBI has joined what is now being called a criminal investigation.
Thanksgiving Travel

Pandemic-weary Angelenos will be hitting the roads

and airways in large numbers this Thanksgiving, with about 4.4 million

Southern California residents expected to travel for the holiday, according to

estimates released by the Auto Club.

The anticipated number of holiday travelers marks a 16% jump from last

year. According to the Automobile Club of Southern California, this year

will be the second-busiest Thanksgiving travel volume on record for the region,

just 3% below the 4.5 million people who traveled for Thanksgiving in 2019.

This is a remarkable comeback for travel, especially considering

that cruises and some other modes of transportation have only recently

restarted, Filomena Andre, the Auto Clubs vice president for travel products

and services, said in a statement. To help meet consumer demand, AAA is

hiring travel advisers. We are also strongly recommending that people not wait

to book trips in 2022 because there are deals and availability that are being

offered now that will go fast.

According to the Auto Club, the top five destinations for Southern

California Thanksgiving travelers will be San Diego, Las Vegas, the Grand

Canyon, Yosemite and Santa Barbara/Central Coast.

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Nationally, Anaheim is expected to be the second-most popular holiday

destination for travelers, thanks to Disneyland. Anaheim will be second only to

another Disney hub  Orlando, Florida.

Nationwide, the Auto Club is predicting this Thanksgiving will be the

third busiest on record, with 53.4 million travelers, trailing only behind the

56 million from 2019 and 53.7 million in 2018.

Of the 4.4 million anticipated Southern California travelers, 3.8

million are expected to travel by car, while 494,000 will travel by air, and

79,000 will use some other means, such as a bus or cruise ship.

The Auto Club noted that the increase in travel will come at a time

when Southern California residents are paying the highest gas prices ever on

the Thanksgiving holiday, with an average price of about $4.50 per gallon.

According to the Auto Club, analysts from the transportation firm

INRIX have determined that the afternoon and evening of Wednesday, Nov. 24,

will be the busiest times for Southland freeways. The stretch of the Golden

State (5) Freeway between Colorado Street and Florence Avenue is predicted to

see the heaviest congestion, with traffic volume at 385% above normal levels.
Three Blacks Among New Staffers on Cal Atty Gen Bontas Exec Team

California Attorney General Rob Bonta last week announced the appointment of his executive team. Included are three African American attorneys with a range of administrative and litigation experience in the private and public sectors.

Venus D. Johnson now serves as Chief Deputy Attorney General, Damon M. Brown was named Special Assistant Attorney General, and Amy C. Alley is the Policy Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs.

The trio joins 18 other members of California DOJs top personnel who will be setting the standards and determining the direction of the states law enforcement apparatus and criminal justice system.

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Johnson will oversee the Divisions of Legal Affairs, Law Enforcement, Operations, Policy, and Technology. She will also preside over the Office of Solicitor General Opinion Unit, Equal Employment Rights and Resolution Office, and the Office of Program Oversight and Accountability.

With over 15 years of legal, law enforcement, and criminal justice experience, Johnson has served in senior staff roles in the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office, with the City of Oakland, and at the California Department of Justice.

She recently served as Chief Assistant District Attorney for District Attorney Diana Becton, where she managed the overall administration of the Contra Costa District Attorneys office. Her duties included overseeing the general operations, budget, and personnel decisions of all units within the office and serving as the District Attorney in her absence.

Venus also served as Associate Attorney General in the executive office of Attorney General Kamala D. Harris where she oversaw Harris executive team and operated as a senior legal and policy advisor.

Venus is a dedicated public servant who is committed to the fair and equal administration of justice, said U.S. Vice President Harris said after selecting Johnson for the Attorney Generals cabinet in 2013.

Prior to this role, Johnson was Deputy Attorney General/Legislative Advocate for California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and Deputy District Attorney for Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley. Johnson earned a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, and her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Loyola Marymount University.

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Brown will serve as a legal and policy advisor on civil rights. He has over 15 years of experience working with some of the most prestigious private law firms in California where he represented a diverse client base of public agencies and private businesses in a range of civil matters, including labor and employment, class action litigation, and constitutional and civil rights litigation.

Recently, Brown served as the City Attorney for the City of Compton where, as the chief legal officer for the city, he led an office of attorneys and staff responsible for advising Compton City officials on matters pertaining to their offices.

I resigned as City Attorney on Oct. 15, 2021. Serving the residents of the great City of Compton has been a tremendous honor and I am proud of the accomplishments I was able to achieve during my tenure to protect the Citys interests, improve the structure and function of local government, and enhance the quality of life for all residents, Brown stated on his Instagram account Nov. 1.

Browns experience includes serving on the State Bar Commission for Judicial Nominees Evaluation, as President of the John M. Langston Bar Association of Los Angeles, Inc., the oldest and largest bar association in California for African American attorneys and judges, and the California Association of Black Lawyers.

Brown earned a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School and he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and African American studies from the University of California Berkeley.

Alley will be a high-level policy advisor in the development and advocacy of legislation. She joins the Attorney Generals Office with 20 years of experience working in the public sector. She was a principal consultant to California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego), working on legislation and issues involving public safety, policing, criminal justice, and gender and racial equity.

Prior to that, Alley was a Deputy Attorney General in the Office of Legislative Affairs for former Attorneys General Xavier Becerra and Kamala D. Harris. There, she assisted in the development of legislative priorities for the Attorney General, represented the department before the Legislature, and provided technical assistance and consultation to legislators and staff, committee consultants, and program staff.

Alley also was a Legislative and Communications Director for former Assemblymembers Rob Bonta and Sandre Swanson, after spending several years as a deputy with the Office of Legislative Counsel. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California Davis, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and journalism from California State University Sacramento.

The DOJ has over 4,500 employees who are engaged in a variety of law enforcement and legal services. The departments main offices are in Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland, and Fresno.

Heres a full list of the new appointees on Bontas newly appointed executive team.
Wednesday, November 10, 2021

The latest from TRAC Immigration:

"Under the new Biden administration asylum seekers are seeing greater success rates in securing asylum. While asylum denial rates had grown ever higher during the Trump years to a peak of 71 percent in FY 2020, they fell to 63 percent in FY 2021. Expressed another way, success rates grew from 29 percent to 37 percent under President Biden.

However, with the continuing partial court shutdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a sustained drop in the number of asylum decisions. This means fewer asylum seekers actually won their cases despite this improving success rate. During FY 2021 just 23,827 asylum decisions were made. This is down from 60,079 decisions during FY 2020. These statistics count all decisions rendered on the merits of asylum seekers' claims.

Even with the greater odds of success, the number of asylum seekers who were granted asylum during FY 2021 was only 8,349 with an additional 402 granted another type of relief in place of asylum. In sheer numbers, this was only about half the number of asylum seekers who had been granted relief during FY 2020. See Figure 1. "

Hat tip to Nolan Rappaport.

KJ

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2021/11/asylum-grant-rates-climb-under-biden.html
Thursday, November 11, 2021

An Illinois Hearing Board has recommended a 60-day suspension for an attorney's response to a bar inquiry into the creation of a Facebook page opposing the retention of a judge.

But the hearing board rejected charges of false statements on the web page, which were not proven as posted by the accused attorney

When she set up the GoDaddy account, and purchased the Fire the Liar website, Respondent used the email address madeline.dinmont@charter.net. This email address belonged to Respondent, as did a Dinmont terrier named Madeline. Respondent used the name Madeline Dinmont in all her communications with GoDaddy. According to Respondents testimony, whenever she set up a website or purchased a domain name for someone else, she used whatever name was on the account.

Thereafter, Respondent designed and built the Fire the Liar website, using a GoDaddy web builder. According to Respondents testimony, this entailed creating a structure where text or images could be put in later. Respondent put in some basic content, such as information about the group, and links to articles about Judge Gleeson. She also purchased a second domain name, firejudgegleeson.com for the group and worked with GoDaddy representatives to ensure that anyone who clicked on a post on that domain would automatically be directed to the Fire the Liar website. This was done, at the request of group members, as Facebook had blocked access to the Fire the Liar website. Respondent testified that, otherwise, she did not write any of the Fire the Liar websites content or post any pictures on the site. After she built the frame, she turned the website over to others. Respondent was actively involved with the website from September 2018 until early October 2018.

Based on Respondents testimony, she also gave the anti-retention group a Facebook page she was no longer using. Respondent had set up this Facebook page in 2012, under the name Madeline Dinmont, to post pictures of her dog. That Facebook page was linked to the madeline.dinmont@charter.net email account. A comment posted on the Madeline Dinmont Facebook complained about Facebook blocking access to the Fire the Liar website. Respondent denied posting that comment.

Charges

The Complaint charged Respondent with violating Rule 8.2(a) by making the October 4, 2018 statements on the Fire the Liar website. Before and after that date, Respondent had access to the Fire the Liar website and took substantive actions related to that website. However, no evidence directly connected Respondent with these posts. Significantly, the Administrator did not present any evidence which established that Respondent was the only person able to post material on the website.

But

Respondent set up a structure in which negative comments could be made, regardless of their truth or falsity, about the integrity of a judge. She knew or should have anticipated the type of material that might be posted, yet Respondent allowed persons she had no basis to expect would exercise any restraint to have access to the website. We found that behavior extremely troubling and the posts themselves highly offensive.

The Rule 8.2 charge in that count was not sustained.

A post that falsely accused the judge of KKK ties also could not be attributed to Respondent.

But there was misconduct in her response to the investigation

During Respondents sworn statement, counsel for the Administrator inquired about the Fire the Liar website. Respondent denied any involvement with setting up the site and denied knowledge of specifics concerning the site. Given her activity in relation to that website, Respondents answers were false, and Respondent knew they were false. The Administrator proved Respondent violated Rules 8.1(a) and 8.4(c).

Further

While speaking with a GoDaddy customer service representative about the Fire the Liar website, Respondent stated that the subject of the website orchestrated an attempt to set up another judge for murder. While false and baseless, Respondents comment was made in a very limited context, unrelated to any court proceeding, and did not identify anyone by name. Given these circumstances, the statement did not violate Rule 8.2(a).

Recommended sanction

Respondents misconduct is serious. She lied to the ARDC about the manner in which she assisted the anti-retention group in setting up the website, on which some of the false accusations against Judge Gleeson were made. Given all the circumstances, Respondents misconduct deserves some period of suspension, to impress upon Respondent and the bar as a whole the need for honesty in responding to the ARDC. That said, a short suspension, with the requirement that Respondent successfully complete the ARDCs Professionalism Seminar, should suffice to serve those purposes.

(Mike Frisch)

https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/11/an-illinois-hearing-board-has-recommended-a-60-day-suspension.html


As leaders meet in Scotland for the United Nations conference on climate change, a real time battle to defend Mexican forestland continues.

There, on the Yucatan Peninsula, people are working to protect and expand mangrove forests. The low trees grow in watery areas near ocean coasts. They provide a defensive shelter from dangers like big storms. They also capture carbon dioxide, the main waste gas that drives Earths rising temperature.

Years ago, mangroves were all along the Yucatan shores. Today, there are few.

A team of villagers from the area is trying to renew the forests. Scientists and donations support the effort. The Mexican government helps pay training costs of the team.

The villagers joined the renewal effort more than 10 years ago with scientist Jorge Alfredo Herrera, of the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the Mexican Polytechnic Institute in Yucatan. He told them the mangroves needed a network of connected canals where fresh and salt water could mix.

The dig was going to be hard work and the pay was only four dollars a day. A group of women from Chelem, a fishing village, took the jobs, believing they could make substantial gains with little money.

Recently, after a heavy rainy season, the workers finished the second part of the process: planting young mangroves near the city.

They placed 20-inch mangrove seeds into small hills of mud, creating islands about a meter square in size.

The happiest day is when our plants take, said 41-year-old Keila Vazquez. They are like our children.

Global threat to mangroves

This mangrove renewal effort is similar to others around the world. Scientists and community groups are increasingly recognizing the need to protect and bring back the forests.

Mangroves represent a very important ecosystem to fight climate change, said Octavio Aburto. He is a marine biologist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California.

While the tropical trees only grow on less than 1 percent of the Earth's land, he said, They can bury around five times more carbon in the sediment than a tropical rain forest.

Yet, around the world, mangroves are being destroyed. From 1980 to 2005, as much as 35 percent of the worlds mangroves disappeared, says the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

In Mexico, as in much of the world, development is the main threat to mangrove existence. The area of Cancun, a popular vacation place, lost most of its mangroves to roads and hotels starting in the 1980s. Mangroves on the country's southern Pacific Ocean coast also have been cleared to make room for fish farms. Oil industry operations in waters off the Gulf of Mexico threaten mangroves there too, said Aburto.

Mexico started to protect its mangroves in the 1980s. Mexico took steps to create a climate action plan in 1998 and was one of the first developing countries to sign on to the Paris Climate Accord. But Julia Carabias of the National Autonomous University of Mexico says the countrys government has been reducing its support recently. Carabias says resources for environmental protection were cut by 60 percent in the past six years.

Efforts to save mangroves

There have been restoration efforts around the world to protect mangroves.

In 2020, the Indonesian government set a target of planting mangroves on more than 600 hectares of coastline by 2024. Government agencies are involved in renewal efforts that include community outreach and education.

But there have been some problems. Data on mangroves is hard to gather and exact maps are few. Also, powerful waves have pulled some newly planted mangroves out to sea. And COVID-19 has slowed community outreach and education efforts.

In Mexico, the successes have arrived slowly.

Manuel Gonzalez is a 57-year-old fisherman. He helped regrow many mangroves in the community of Dzilam de Bravo, about 97 kilometers east of Progreso. Some trees are already 9 meters tall.

A powerful storm destroyed much of the area in 2002. Now, after 10 years of work, 120 hectares of mangroves are renewed. Gonzalez says the storms do not cause as much damage to the community as a result. And, he adds, the fish and wildlife have returned.

But the mangroves face a new threat.

In 10 years, you have a very nice mangrove for someone with a chainsaw to come and take it, Gonzalez said. Thats something that hurts me a lot.

Im Dan Novak.

And I'm Dan Friedell

The Associated Press reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_______________________________________

Words in This Story

canal  n. a long narrow place that is filled with water and was created by people so that boats could pass through it or to supply fields, crops, etc., with water

tropical  adj. of, relating to, occurring in, or used in the tropics

sediment  n. material that sinks to the bottom of a liquid

chainsaw  n. a tool that cuts wood with a circular chain that is driven by a motor and made up of many connected sharp metal teeth




The blue whale is the largest animal to ever live on our planet. You might wonder how much such a large creature eats. Well, you are not alone.

Scientists recently carried out a study to find out how much blue whales - and some of their closest relatives - eat in a day.

Their findings were not surprising. They found the whales eat a lot.

In just one day, blue whales living in the North Pacific Ocean can eat about 14.5 metric tons of krill. Krill are crustaceans and look like very small shrimp.

Matthew Savoca of Stanford University was the lead writer of the study, which appeared recently in the publication Nature. When speaking of the findings, Savoca said, Its an unimaginable amount of food.

Nick Pyenson was the co-writer of the study. He said the amount of food blue whales eat in a day is about the weight of one fully-loaded school bus.

Pyenson works at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He is an expert in the study of extinct marine mammals.

Savoca also described the blue whales size as unimaginable. Blue whales are larger than even the biggest dinosaurs. They can grow to 33 meters long and weigh about 181 metric tons. The animal can grow to about the size of a Boeing 737 airplane.

For the study, the researchers followed 321 whales living in the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern oceans. Some were blue whales. The rest were six other baleen whale species: humpback, fin, bowhead, right, Antarctic minke and Brydes whales. These huge ocean mammals were found to eat up to three times more food than scientists had thought.

To measure the amount of food the whales ate and to study eating behaviors, the researchers used many devices. Electronic tag devices were attached to the animal's back. They also used cameras, microphones, a GPS locator device and an instrument that follows movement. They used drones to estimate the size of a whales mouth area and how much food it could eat at one time. And they used instruments that recorded sound waves to estimate the amount of food in the waters near the whales.

Baleen whales eat small creatures that include krill, fish or crustaceans called copepods. The largest whale species prefer krill. Smaller species such as humpback, Bryde's or minke whales can eat fish or krill.

Most baleen whales do not eat year-round. They eat about 100 days out of the year, mostly during the summer mating season. They eat very little the rest of the year. Based on eating 14.5 metric tons in a day, that means blue whales eat around 1450 metric tons of food a year.

There was another important part of the study: Knowing how much waste the whales excrete.

Because they eat so much, they also produce much more excrement, or waste material, than scientists had thought.

This waste material provides important nutrients for ocean ecosystems.

By eating so much and then producing waste material, baleen whales help nutrients stay on the sea surface. These nutrients help to form phytoplankton -- extremely small organisms that take in carbon. Phytoplankton serve as the base of ocean food webs.

Whale hunting during the 20th century caused sharp drops in whale populations. Pyenson said that before whale numbers dropped from hunting, the animals were able to support far more productive ocean ecosystems.

He added that supporting whale recovery may help repair ecosystem functions lost in the past hundred years.

Im Anna Matteo.

Will Dunham reported this story for Reuters news agency. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

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Words in This Story

crustacean  n. a type of animal (such as a crab or lobster) that has several pairs of legs and a body made up of sections that are covered in a hard outer shell

marine  adj. of or relating to the sea

mammal  n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin

baleen  n. a tough material that hangs down from the upper jaw of whales without teeth and is used by the whale to filter small ocean animals out of seawater

species  n. a group of similar living things that ranks below the genus in scientific classification and is made up of individuals able to produce offspring with one another

locator  n. one that finds something (such as a mining claim or the course of a road)

prefer  v. to like (someone or something) better than someone or something else

excrete  v. to pass (waste matter) from the body or from an organ in the body

ecosystem  n. the whole group of living and nonliving things that make up an environment and affect each other

function  n. the action for which a person or thing is designed or used


China recently announced a new Land Borders Law that permits the use of weapons to stop "illegal" border crossings. The law also lists reasons for Chinese officials to ban those crossings.

Experts say the law appears to be aimed at approving military and armed police actions along the more than 22,000 kilometers of border area. They also think the law serves as a warning to other countries against testing China in any territory disputes.

China has enforced similar laws in the past. Such laws cover Taiwan, Hong Kong and countries bordering the South China Sea.

Multiple threats, multiple laws

Several land border areas cause China concern, including that shared with Myanmar and its new military-led government. China faces a possible wave of refugees fleeing ethnic-based violence by Myanmar army and police forces.

Experts say Taliban control of Afghanistan is another concern for China. They say officials worry about the possibility of refugees and Islamic extremists crossing into the country.

And, Chinese health officials are watching all borders for anyone who could be carrying the new coronavirus.

Another new Chinese law makes official Chinas use of its coast guard to defend its territory in the South China Sea. However, much of the area China claims is also long claimed by several other countries.

In 2020, the Hong Kong Security Law was put into effect, banning subversion in the territory.

India, Afghanistan, Myanmar

Nguyen Thanh Trung is director of the Center for International Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City. He said the new border law could suggest the use of more forceful action as needed against other countries.

He added, "I think that China may not use military force, but they could use some kind of force that has a lot of power, like ... what they are doing in the South China Sea  the paramilitary or the coast guard   [which is] fully equipped with weapons."

China is building up small island areas in the sea disputed with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

China is using the Land Borders Law especially as "leverage" against India, said Brahma Chellaney. He is a professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi. India and China are involved in a 17-month-old border dispute that has led to deadly clashes high in the Himalayas.

"The law gives the stamp of approval to China's assertive and expansionist actions in recent years along its land borders, especially in the Himalayas," Chellaney said.

Thitinan Pongsudhirak is a political science professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. He says that Afghanistan and Myanmar are Chinas top border threats, though not the only ones.

It is "designed to safeguard and secure China's borders in a more hostile security setting," he said. "This is a time of unprecedented, I think, insecurity for China."

Borders can be shut due to disasters or "security" threats, the new border legislation states. Military personnel will answer any "illegal border crossings" by foreign troops, it says, while armed police agencies may guard other crossings.

But the law also says that China's government observes the ideas of equality, shared trust, and friendly communications on border issues with its land neighbors. And it says the rule respects the tradition of negotiation to settle disputes and border issues left over from history.

Most of China's Land Borders Law identifies which government agencies are responsible for which areas of border operations.

Pongsudhirak said that language also may suggest policy conflicts within the Chinese government.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Ralph Jennings reported on this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_________________________________________

Words in This Story

assertive  adj. having a bold or confident manner

leverage  n. influence or power used to achieve a desired result

unprecedented  adj. not done or experienced before


Democratic lawmakers in the U.S. Congress have proposed an addition to President Joe Bidens climate and social spending legislation. The addition would permit Medicare to negotiate with drug companies over the cost of some prescription medications.

Medicare is the federal governments health care program for Americans over 65 years old.

Americans pay higher prices for prescription medications than people in almost any other developed country. For many years, politicians and health care representatives have struggled without success to change the system. If passed, the proposal would bring a small improvement to the situation for older Americans.

The plan in discussion would permit Medicare officials to negotiate pricing on a small number of the thousands of prescription medications for sale in the United States. It would begin with about 10 drugs and end at 20. Some members of Congress at first had hoped to permit Medicare officials to negotiate the prices of up to 250 costly drugs every year.

Although the number is small, the drugs that would be covered by the proposal make up a large amount of the money Medicare patients spend each year.

A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation released this year found that the 10 top-selling drugs covered under Medicare made up 16 percent of spending in 2019. The top 50 drugs made up 80 percent of spending.

Complex system

In many other countries, governments are able to negotiate drug prices and bring down the cost for a single national health care system. In the United States, however, people under 65 are mostly covered by for-profit health insurance companies.

Americans 65 years and older can received Medicare, which takes the place of private insurance. But for many years, Medicare did not offer prescription drug coverage. Older Americans had to pay for medication or get additional private insurance to pay for it.

In 2003, Congress created a new Medicare drug plan, which was meant to help older Americans pay for their medication. Many believe it was poorly designed. The plan asks each insurance company to negotiate with each drug company, rather than using the power of Medicare to force drug companies to lower their prices.

Subsidizing R&D for the world

For years, critics of drug companies have pointed out that they set prices in the U.S. far above those in other countries where they sell the same drugs. A study by the research organization Rand Corporation compared the U.S. with 32 other countries. It found that drugs cost about 256 percent more in the U.S.

Americans are paying for R&D for the world, said Lovisa Gustafsson. She is vice president of the Controlling Health Care Costs program at the Commonwealth Fund, a research organization in Washington, D.C.

R&D stands for Research and Development, or the science behind finding new drugs and bringing them to the market. R&D is very costly. Many drug companies include R&D cost in the prices of their products sold in the United States.

Patients in the U.S. face far higher cost-sharing than in a lot of other countries, Gustafsson said. She added that even Americans with insurance do not always have the money to buy their needed medications. She also says there are many studies that show about 25 percent of Americans have difficulty paying for their medications, even with insurance.

Putting a lid on costs

The proposal being considered in Congress calls for a limit on the yearly amount Medicare patients can be asked to pay for their medication.

Jo Ann Jenkins is the head of the AARP, a powerful Washington organization that represents older Americans.

Allowing Medicare to finally negotiate drug prices is a big win for seniors, she said. She called the proposed change a real relief for seniors.

Drug firms unhappy

PhRMA is a powerful trade organization that represents the drug industry. It reacted unhappily to news of the proposal.

The head of PhRMA, Stephen J. Ubl, said in a statement that the proposal would harm the environment that brought us lifesaving vaccines and therapies to combat COVID-19,

It gives the government the power to dictate how much a medicine is worth and leaves many patients facing a future with less access to medicines and fewer new treatments, Ubl added.

Industry claims exaggerated?

Many supporters of permitting the government to negotiate drug prices say that the drug companies are exaggerating the effects of the proposal on their industry.

In August, the Congressional Budget Office released the results of a study that looked at what would happen if drug companies were forced to accept lower profits. The study found it would decrease the number of new drugs on the market by .05 percent.

Im Susan Shand.

VOA News reporter Rob Garver reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

__________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

prescription  n. a written message from a doctor that officially tells someone to use a medicine, therapy

anticoagulant  n. a substance that prevents blood from forming clots

rheumatoid arthritis  n. a serious disease that continues to become worse over a long period of time and that causes the joints to become very painful, stiff, and swollen

relief  n. the removal or reducing of something that is painful or unpleasant

dictate  v. to say or state (something) with authority or power

access  n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

exaggerate  v. to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is

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ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.C. (AP)  Ricky Wright points to the bank of a creek to show one way his hometown has been affected by climate change. Many banks have eroded or collapsed, and now some favorite fishing spots that were once on solid ground are reachable only by boat.
PHOENIX (AP)  Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar was facing criticism after he tweeted a video that included altered animation showing him striking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with a sword.

In a tweet Monday night, Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., referred to Gosar as "a creepy member I work with" and said he "shared a fantasy video of him killing me." She added that Gosar would face no consequences because Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy "cheers him on with excuses." She also said that institutions "don't protect" women of color.

A fellow House Democrat, Ted Lieu of California, referred to Gosar's tweet as "sick behavior" and said in a tweet of his own: "In any workplace in America, if a coworker made an anime video killing another coworker, that person would be fired."

Gosar, a Republican, posted the video Sunday afternoon with a note saying: "Any anime fans out there?"

The roughly 90-second video is an altered version of a Japanese anime series, interspersed with shots of border patrol officers and migrants at the southern U.S. border. During one roughly 10-second section of the video, animated characters whose faces have been replaced with Gosar and fellow Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado are seen fighting other animated characters.
It's been almost three days since the Idaho athletic department decided to fire football coach Paul Petrino, and the reaction to the dismissal has been one of sadness for the players, but maybe a sigh of relief for the fan base.
County COVID-19 by the numbers

Here are the statistics for COVID-19 in Santa Barbara County on Nov. 8, except as noted, as reported by the Public Health Department.

New cases: 45

Active cases: 336

Total cases: 44,596

Daily rate: 9*

New deaths: 1

Total deaths: 527

Active outbreaks: 28

Hospitalized: 35

Beds in use: 60.2%

In ICU: 8

ICU beds in use: 63.2%

Test positivity: 2.9*

Vaccine doses: 594,902**

Pop. vaccinated: 60.7%**

Elig. vaccinated: 71.8%**

* As of Nov. 4

** As of Nov. 7
In a significant development, five more countries recognized Indias COVID-19 vaccination certificate on Monday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi informed. According to the official, Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, the State of Palestine, Mauritius and Mongolia have decided to mutually recognize vaccination certificates with India.

It is important to mention that during PM Modi's visit to Italy, a discussion was held on mutual recognition of vaccination certificates with several nations including the European Union (EU). Foreign Secretary Harsh V Shringla had revealed, "Issue of vaccination certificate was discussed especially with EU representatives. There was a conversation on mutual recognition of vaccines...a doable mechanism to facilitate easier international travel... Details will be worked out bilaterally."

Mutual recognition of COVID-19 vaccination certificates continues!



Five more recognitions for Indias vaccination certificate, including from Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, State of Palestine, Mauritius and Mongolia.  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 1, 2021

PM urges WHO to recognize Indian vaccines

In line with this, PM Modi had also urged the World Health Organisation (WHO) to recognise Indian vaccines at the earliest while promising that India will produce 5 billion doses for the world next year. At the Global Economy and Global Health Session, the Prime Minister had highlighted the importance of India's recent feat of crossing 1 billion jabs and said that the country had delivered medicines to more than 150 countries.

WHO said that additional clarifications from the manufacturer were required to conduct the final EUL risk-benefit assessment for global use of Covaxin. In a statement, the UN agency clarified, The Technical Advisory Group for Emergency Use Listing (TAG-EUL) expects the clarification from Bharat Biotech by end of this week and thus will reconvene for the final risk-benefit assessment on Wednesday, 3 November.

When it comes to Covishield, last month there was a massive row over the recognization of the vaccine - which is a formulation of Oxford-AstraZeneca- in the UK. Although the matter was mutually resolved, the UK regulatory authority did not accept India's vaccine certificates, generated by Cowin.

Australia recognises Covaxin

Meanwhile, in a big win on Monday, Australia recognised Covaxin as one of the approved vaccines for travellers wishing to enter the country. Issuing a statement, the Australian Department of Health added Covaxin (for age 12 and above) and Sinopharm (for age 18 to 60) to the list of accepted/recognised vaccines. Even as the indigenous vaccine awaits WHO's approval, it has been approved by Australia, Mauritius, Oman, Philippines, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Iran, Mexico, Greece, Estonia and Zimbabwe.
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He said Rosenbaum was running at him from one side and another protester with a gun in front of him, "and I was cornered." He said that's when he began to run.

He said another protester, Joshua Ziminski, told Rosenbaum, "Get him and kill him."

Rittenhouse said he heard a gunshot directly behind him, and as he turned around, Rosenbaum was coming at him with his arms out in front of him. "I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun," Rittenhouse said.

"I shoot him," he recounted. He also said he thought the object Rosenbaum threw during the chase  a plastic hospital bag  was the chain he had seen Rosenbaum carrying earlier.

Rittenhouse said he intended to help Rosenbaum but was in shock as someone else attended to him. Rittenhouse said he thought the "safest option" was to turn himself in to police who were on nearby.

When defense attorney Mark Richards asked Rittenhouse why he didn't keep running away from Rosenbaum, he said: "There was no space for me to continue to run to."

Rittenhouse said that earlier that night, Rosenbaum was holding a chain and had twice threatened to kill him.
Deputies found the gun, its magazine empty and laser sight still turned on, left behind in the car. The gun had been legally purchased by Virnig, Brown said.

In July, Dane County Circuit Judge Ellen Berz, who also sentenced Virnig on Thursday, sentenced Parks to 13 years in prison followed by 10 years of extended supervision. Parks had pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment and one count of possessing a firearm as a felon. Virnig was convicted of harboring a felon and eluding police.

Parks sentence was to begin in about two years, after he finished serving sentences for earlier crimes for which his state Department of Corrections supervision was revoked following his arrest in the shooting incident. According to DOC, Parks wont be released from prison until 2037.

For Virnig, Brown asked for an imposed-and-stayed prison sentence to go along with probation, which would have sent Virnig to prison immediately if her probation is revoked. Virnigs attorney, Paul Fredrickson, asked only for probation. Berz told Virnig she wanted Virnig to come back to court for re-sentencing if her probation is revoked.

If this doesnt work I want to see you, Berz said. I want you to explain why you would have squandered the opportunity youve been given.
Despite the sheriffs allegations that as many as eight Ridgewood residents cast ballots in the 2020 election even though their families believed they did not have the capacity to vote, state law does not bar those with cognitive delays or disabilities from voting unless they have been deemed incompetent by a court and had their voting rights removed. Luell said on Wednesday one of those eight Ridgewood residents had been determined to be incompetent to vote.

Over the course of the past several months, Gableman has issued  and later retracted  subpoenas seeking a wide swath of election-related documents from the states five largest cities. He also requested private interviews with mayors and elections clerks in the cities, as well as with the head of the state Elections Commission. Gableman later canceled those interviews but said he was reserving the right to make such a request in the future.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has dismissed Gablemans probe as a fake investigation and is seeking a restraining order barring Gableman from seeking interviews outside of a public legislative meeting. A hearing on Kauls lawsuit is scheduled for Dec. 23.

Gableman has said hes not trying to overturn the election results, even though he told Trump supporters last November, without evidence, that he thought the election had been stolen.
Baraboo resident and Iraq combat veteran Eric Pizer has been thinking about the Afghans who fell to their deaths after clinging to U.S. jets during the evacuation, the Americans who died helping people escape, and how the country so many Americans bled for is now in chaos after being overrun by the Taliban.

It feels like it was a gigantic waste of time, lives and money, Pizer said of the war in Afghanistan. He blames President Joe Biden, who ended the war but did everything wrong and lost lives in the process.

I think I speak on (behalf of) a greater portion of veterans when I say that were all pretty mad about everything that happened, Pizer said.

Despite their frustrations, local veterans said they are proud of what they were able to accomplish.

For one thing, Church said, there have been no more terrorist attacks in the U.S. originating from Afghanistan. Another is that millions of Afghans had an opportunity for a better life, though much of that work has now been undone since the Taliban are now back in power.
BOISE  Since the pandemic began, an estimated 2,851 to 4,516 more Idahoans have died who likely wouldnt have in pre-pandemic times.

The coronavirus disease is now the top killer of Idahoans of Native American, Asian and Hispanic descent. This year, COVID-19 is poised to be the No. 2 killer of Idahoans in their 20s  after not even breaking into the Top 10 causes of death for that age group last year.

Until Tuesday, none of the COVID-19 deaths in Idaho were among children.

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported Tuesday that an infant in Southwest Idaho died in October from the disease.

In addition, at least two stillbirths in Idaho have been attributed to COVID-19.

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a large increase in deaths among Idahoans since February 2020, compared with the average between 2015 and 2019.

Each week from mid-September through mid-October of this year, Idaho recorded 61% to 90% more deaths than average, the CDC data show.

Nationwide mortality peaked over the New Year, at 49% above average  a rate Idaho has surpassed eight times since the pandemic began.

State data show a similar pattern. The Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics this month provided the Idaho Capital Sun with Idaho mortality data.

Heres what they said:

10,746 Idahoans died between January and September 2018.

10,755 died between January and September 2019.

11,543 died between January and September 2020.

At least 12,907 Idahoans died between January and September 2021.

Idahos peak for COVID-19 mortality stretched into October, and those death counts havent yet been tallied.

It can take weeks for deaths from any cause to show up in state and federal data, because of the time needed to determine a cause of death, then produce and process a persons death certificate.

While the states population boom in recent years may account for some of the increase, Idahos net population growth was about 2% between 2019 and 2020, as the Idaho Press reported this year. The difference between 2021 so far, and pre-pandemic years, is about 20% more death.

Some of Idahos COVID deaths are different from 2020. Some arent.

The higher death toll in Idaho for the past 20 months was primarily caused by COVID-19 itself, data show.

But the CDC data show an estimated 318 to 1,322 Idahoans lost their lives for other reasons, including the pandemics toll on overall health and wellness.

According to the Idaho Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, the coronavirus disease pushed its way ahead of almost all other causes of death.

COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death in Idaho as of the end of September. It ranked No. 3 for all of 2020, as well. But only nine months into the year, the disease already makes up a larger share of Idahoan deaths than it did last year.

That is even more evident among certain groups.

COVID-19 was the top killer of Hispanic Idahoans in 2020  making up 19% of all deaths in that group. This year, preliminary data through September show COVID-19 making up 21% of all deaths among Hispanic Idahoans, trailed by cancer at 12%.

COVID-19 is poised to be the most common cause of death this year among Native Americans and Asian and Pacific Islanders, too. Last year, it ranked second or third behind heart disease and cancer.

Health care providers have told the Sun that Idahoans of color are more vulnerable to infection (theyre more likely to work in high-risk jobs), less likely to have access to health care, and may have language barriers that increase their vulnerability.

The delta variant also proved fatal to younger Idahoans this year.

The disease appeared nowhere in the Top 10 causes of death for 2020 among Idahoans in their 20s. This year, as of September, it is the third most common cause, directly responsible for the deaths of nine Idahoans in their 20s.

For Idahoans in their 30s, COVID-19 went from the No. 7 cause of death (2% of all deaths in that age group) to No. 4 so far this year (7% of deaths). For Idahoans in their 40s, it went from No. 6 (5% of all deaths) to No. 3 (11% of all deaths).

Why? Those age groups have a low vaccination rate, according to state data.

Are we seeing casualties of an overwhelmed health care system?

As the latest wave of COVID-19 crushed Idahos health care system, hospitals began in late summer to delay any surgeries and procedures that would take up a hospital bed overnight but wouldnt immediately save a persons life.

Kootenai Health in Coeur dAlene had to pause those surgeries three months ago, according to Dr. Karen Cabell, chief physician executive of the medical center.

Weve got a backlog of more than 2,000 patients (who need surgery), and were trying to accommodate as many urgent, emergent surgeries as possible, Cabell said in an interview last week. We have a backlog of open heart surgeries that need to be done.

Idaho also entered crisis standards of care in September  a real-life doomsday scenario that allows hospitals to triage patients and ration health care when theyre overwhelmed, to save as many lives as possible.

Idahos intensive care units have been more than 85% full since mid-August, and more than half of those patients had COVID-19. In normal times, that would be in the 60% to 70% range.

Several times since September, there were only six or seven empty ICU beds in the entire state. Hospital physicians and nurses told the Sun it could take hours to find an open bed in a hospital that could take one of their patients.

I think it was Friday night or Saturday night, I had a bad COVID patient who needed to be admitted  and he was ready to go at 9 p.m., Dr. Patrick Paddy Kinney of St. Lukes McCall told the Sun in September. Now, I knew that he needed to be admitted, and the hospitalist down in Boise agreed that he needed to be admitted. There was not a bed available for him until 2 a.m.

Kinney had to keep the man in the ER for the next five hours. The man eventually made it to the Boise hospital but later died.

With the health care system backed up, it can take longer for people to get help. Only now are some hospitals going back to doing surgeries, Health and Welfare Director Dave Jeppesen said in a media briefing Tuesday.

When will we exit crisis standards of care, is a question many people have. One of the reasons that this question is on peoples minds is due to the delayed surgeries and other treatments, Jeppesen said. For those of you who are experiencing the delay and medical treatment, my heart goes out to you. I can only imagine how difficult that delay must be.

Jeppesen said the situation likely will not improve until the surge of patients being driven by COVID-19 no longer exceeds the health care resources available.
KIMBERLY  Fourth-grade students in the Magic Valley are in for a treat Thursday evening at the College of Southern Idahos Fine Arts Auditorium.

A young Canadian pianist will join the Magic Valley Symphony for a special presentation of movie theme songs. Fourth-graders from 38 elementary schools around the valley are invited to bring one adult to the symphony for free.

Its not a formal concert, symphony director Ted Hadley said Wednesday, rather a special invitation to fourth-graders to interact with the orchestra and our soloist, Kevin Ahfat.

Ahfat, a native of Toronto, completed studies at the Juilliard School in New York and was named one of CBC Musics 30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30 in 2018.

A formal presentation will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, also at the Fine Arts Auditorium, for those who would like to hear the full concert. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 and $6 for seniors and students.

Fourth-grade students are just the right age to introduce them to the symphony, Amy Toft, director of development for the symphony, said after she visited with students at Stricker Elementary School in Kimberly.

Toft creatively interacted with the children Wednesday to explain the dos and donts of symphony protocol, including how to conduct an orchestra.

We are going to sit in the dark and conduct with glow-sticks batons, she said before vocalizing the introduction to Star Wars while waving her arms as if conducting.

Toft came up with the idea to invite students to a special-interest symphony for kids about six years ago when she heard the slogan Every Kid in a Park to get children to use parks.

I asked myself, What about Every Kid in a Symphony? she said.

The first year of her childrens program, she handed out free tickets to kids, but not many kids showed up. She saw a larger turnout, however, when she traveled to the schools to talk to students.

The students will also get to meet Ahfat, Hadley and members of the orchestra, Toft said.

Kevin is an amazing musician, Hadley said. His awesome mastery of the work of playing the piano makes him a musical athlete. He shares his deep musical insight and understanding in thrilling performances.

His desire is to bring the joy of music to everyone he performs for and with. People will be amazed, impressed, and touched by his performances.

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TWIN FALLS  When legislators return to Boise on Monday to consider a response to federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates and to determine an action on ethics violations of Rep. Priscilla Giddings.

Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke said Wednesday he thinks the reconvened legislative session should be kept short and to the point.

I think we need to do it efficiently and expeditiously and not waste the taxpayers dollars, Bedke told the Times-News. Theres the immediate response to the Biden mandates, but much past that are things we can take up in January.

Bedke anticipates more than 15 bills responding to federal vaccine mandates will be introduced and assigned to committees Monday morning.

Bedke says he would like to see a bill that supports Idahos lawsuits challenging the mandates.

Thats where the action is: in court, Bedke said. I would support creation of a dedicated litigation fund so we have the assets necessary to get the very best lawyers we can, with the attorney general, the governors office, and importantly, other states, because this is not just an Idaho thing.

Any bill that passes the House must also be approved by the Senate. Senator Lee Heider from Twin Falls says the Senate will be present to act on whatever bills the House may propose.

Ive heard well be there two hours, we could be there two days, Heider said. I hope were able to keep it short, but well be there however long it takes to do what we need to do.

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BOISE  Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin over incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little in the 2022 race for governor.

Trump made the endorsement late Tuesday through his political action committee following visits from Little and McGeachin last week to his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

Trump won deeply conservative Idaho in the 2020 presidential election with nearly 64% of the vote. Trump said McGeachin has been a true supporter of his from the beginning and will fight for strong borders, gun rights, American manufacturing, school choice and farmers.

Trumps endorsement said: She will make a fantastic Governor, and will never let you down!

McGeachin changed her Twitter profile picture to an image of her and Trump standing next to each other and each giving a thumbs-up sign and tweeted: It is a great honor to receive the endorsement of the greatest President of our lifetime,

The Idaho secretary of states office lists 14 active gubernatorial candidates, including eight Republicans and two Democrats. The Republican primary is in mid-May.

In Idaho, the governor and lieutenant governor dont run on the same ticket. Little hasnt yet announced his reelection plans but is expected to run and has been fundraising.

As Governor, I have worked effectively with Idahoans to make Idaho the least regulated state in the country and maintain the strongest economy, Little said in a statement to The Associated Press on Wednesday in response to Trumps endorsement of McGeachin. Were pushing back on Bidens vaccine mandates and unprecedented government overreach while banning vaccine passports here in Idaho.

Idaho currently has a $1 billion budget surplus and an unemployment rate at pre-pandemic levels, something Little has attributed in part to his cutting regulations that, according to George Mason University, has made Idaho the least-regulated state in the nation. Little in the statement also touted signing earlier this year of one of the largest tax cuts in Idahos history.

Littles statement didnt include any negative comments about Trump, a one-term president who continues to have significant influence over the Republican Party.

Little last week tweeted a photo of him being recognized by Trump at a gala for the America First Policy Institute, a Trump-aligned nonprofit.

We also have Gov. Brad Little, who is a terrific gentleman, Trump said in a recorded video of the speech viewed by the AP.

The relationship between Little and McGeachin has declined sharply in recent months after McGeachin, as acting governor with Little out of the state, issued executive orders involving the coronavirus pandemic, and also sought to find out how to activate the Idaho National Guard to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Little rescinded all of her executive orders, including one that banned mask mandates, which Little said are decisions that should be left to local officials.

Little has since stopped telling McGeachin when he leaves the state, notably on Littles trip to Florida, setting up a potential legal battle involving how the Idaho Constitution should be interpreted on the matter.

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SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP)  Shares of Rivian Automotive jumped in their debut Wednesday, rising as much as 53% as investors look for the next big winner in the electric vehicle market.

The closing price of $100.73 gave Rivian a market value of about $85.9 billion, greater than that of Ford and just below General Motors. That's noteworthy because Rivian has so far delivered about 150 of its electric pickup trucks to customers, mostly employees, whereas Ford and GM sell millions of cars globally each year.

Ford is one of Rivian's high-profile backers, having invested a half-billion dollars into the company in 2019. The other is Amazon, which held a 20% stake in Rivian ahead of the IPO.

Rivian is aiming to take advantage of a growing appetite among consumers and investors for electric vehicles. It joins whats becoming a long line of companies, both new and old, trying to peel away market share from Tesla.

Tesla has largely dominated the electric vehicle market for years, amassing a market value of more than $1 trillion along the way. So far this year, Tesla has sold around 627,300 vehicles.

Rivian priced the offering of 153 million shares at $78, giving it proceeds of nearly $12 billion. The company said it will use the money to ramp up production of its trucks, vans and SUVs.

Craig Irwin, an analyst who covers electric vehicle and EV charging companies for Roth Capital, says that even with more companies entering the EV market, there is still plenty of room for newcomers.

EVs are inevitable, and its a good thing for the markets to have another credible EV competitor come public, Roth said. Rivians IPO marks a point of incremental maturation for the industry and shows that billions in capital is available for credible players.

Rivian has a contract with Amazon to build 100,000 electric delivery vans at its factory, a former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois. Ford Motor Co. holds a 13% stake and has said the companies would work jointly to develop electric vehicles.

As of Oct. 31, Rivian had about 55,400 vehicle preorders in the U.S. and Canada. Those orders are placed with a $1,000 deposit that can be canceled and refunded.

Rivian rolled out its first vehicle, the R1T electric truck in September and will launch its electric SUV, the R1S, in December. Prices for the truck start at $67,500, while the SUV base package starts at $75,500 and gets even steeper with all the add-ons.

Options for the vehicles include a $10,000 battery upgrade that will extend the driving range from 314 miles (505 kilometers) to more than 400 miles (643 kilometers). A three-person roof-mounted tent adds $2,650 to the bill and an off-road recovery kit will cost an additional $600.

The company said it aims to produce about 1,200 R1Ts and 25 R1Ss and deliver around 1,000 R1Ts and 15 R1Ss by the end of 2021.

The R1T will compete with Fords F-150 Lightning electric pickup, which goes on sale next year. The Lightning has a starting price of $40,000, but will sell for thousands of dollars more once customers add options. General Motors has announced plans for an electric version of the Silverado pickup.

Although the R1Ts advantage is that its first to market and it will likely appeal to a Tesla-type shopper, the long-term volume expectations for a $70,000+ midsize truck arent very high, said Jessica Caldwell of the automotive website Edmunds in an email.

The research firm LMC Automotive says in 2020, EVs made up a little more than 3% of the global auto market and less than 2% of the U.S. auto market. The group projects those numbers to shoot up to about 15% and 12%, respectively, by 2025.

Rivian, which was founded in 2009, says it lost $426 million in 2019 and $1 billion last year. It reported losing nearly another billion dollars in the first six months of this year. Tesla, which went public in 2010, recorded its first annual profit last year.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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It is incumbent on us to make sure that whatever the policy says we need to do, were doing, and if something needs to be strengthened, its on us to do it, Sims said.

But Abuismail said that whatever processes are in place havent worked and demanded an immediate audit of all school division library holdings.

He said he doesnt like the idea of Rapps book being on school division library shelves for one more night and that the fact that it is in a school library means public schools would rather have our kids reading gay pornography than about Christ.

Abuismail accused division Superintendent Scott Baker of not being proactive by looking into school library holdings before parents raised concerns.

Dr. Baker, you saw this coming from Northern Virginiadid it not occur to you to check what is on our libraries? he asked.

Baker said he will take responsibility for any failure of the process for selecting library books.

I would not have thought to do an audit because I have great faith and trust in our librarians, he said. If we find something being missed in a process, then we do refine the process. There was no ill intent here. We dont have all the information.
Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin has tapped four former Virginia governors - three Republicans and Democrat Doug Wilder - to serve as advisers during his transition and upcoming administration.

Wilder, the nations first elected Black governor, will join as the sole Democrat of the group, which will meet for dinner in Richmond on Thursday, two people familiar with the meeting said.

Wilder declined to endorse in the governors race, and was critical of Democrat Terry McAuliffe during his partys primary and into the general election, writing blogs and expressing in interviews that the party had failed in its outreach to Black voters and urging more support for historically-Black colleges and universities.

In a post to his Wilder Visions blog last fall, Wilder sniped at McAuliffe for trying to leap frog over three African American hopefuls for the Democratic nomination and back into the Executive Mansion.

Youngkins advisory group will also include former Govs. Bob McDonnell, Jim Gilmore, and George Allen. The former governors will act as honorary co-chairs of the Youngkin transition.
Before we begin, lets see if we can get ahead of some rumors:

Children who take the childs dose COVID vaccine will not grow gills.

They wont become buoyant and fly into space.

Nor will the vaccine turn them into mutants and give them superpowers  though they may like that.

The only superpower it will provide is significant resistance to becoming infected and the ability to better withstand the deadly effects of COVID if they do become infected.

Just like the grown-up versions.

We feel it important to offer reassurances because of all the unhinged misinformation unleashed on the American public, believed by way too many gullible people, when the adult versions of vaccines were released and promoted earlier this year.

It turns out there are no satanic, magnetized microchips in any version of the vaccine.

Children may suffer the same temporary soreness in their arms, and slight flu-like symptoms, that their parents and other vaccinated folks experienced. But thats a whole lot better than winding up on a respirator in a childrens ward.
We are excited to partner with McDowell Tech and Dogwood Health Trust in funding the Construction Trades Academy at McDowell Tech and managing the housing development project that is associated with it, said Norman Guthrie, Chair of the Board of Directors for Gateway Wellness Foundation. Our goal as a board is to identify and implement constructive solutions to address community needs in areas like housing, education and job creation, and we are confident that this partnership will result in strong and measurable results in all three areas.

Admission to the program is coordinated by the Continuing Education Department at McDowell Tech. There are no specific admissions requirements for the program, but students must officially apply and register for the program as soon as possible.

Online registration will be available soon, but for now, students may register by contacting Buff at 828-652-0663 or by emailing him at sebuff74@go.mcdowelltech.edu .

For students enrolling in the Construction Trades Academy for the upcoming semester, the college has Learn and Grow Scholarships and other funding to cover tuition and any books or manuals that may be required in the classes.

You cant beat a program like this, said Buff. The training is short-term. Tuition and books are initially free, there is part-time, paid employment while youre in schoolif you choose to participateand employers are clamoring to hire graduates with this kind of training. Its a win-win for our community!
That success made celebrities of both Dewey and his flagship; he attained the rank of Admiral of the Navy, and the Olympia remained in service well past the days when its sister ships were scrapped or used for target practice.

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Despite serving only as a training ship and patrolling the Eastern seaboard in World War I, the Olympia was still the most famous active ship in the U.S. Navy, and thus received the singular honor of transporting the remains of the Americas Unknown Soldier back from France to the United States in October of 1921.

The process of selecting the Unknown and transporting his remains was taken with great care and solemnity, starting with disinterring from an American military cemetery in France until the coffin was carried aboard the Olympia at the port of Le Havre.

This is where I learned something new during my visit to the old ship. Despite all the attention to detail in selecting the Unknown and the logistics of honoring him on his final journey, no one thought to compare the size of the coffin with the size of the Olympias main deck hatches and doors. So not until the coffin was aboard did someone realize they couldnt get it inside the main deck where it was to lay for the voyage across the Atlantic.
Akinbowale Oyalowo, MD, MSHP, gastroenterologist at PPMC, assistant professor of gastroenterology at Perelman School of Medicine. Credit: University of Pennsylvania

Black Americans are more likely to get colorectal cancerand even more likely to die from the diseasethan any other racial or ethnic group in the United States. And while Black people experience health disparities across a host of diseases, colorectal cancer is largely preventable through screening. Furthermore, at-home stool testing kitswhich take just a few minutes to administer and don't require colon prep or a visit to the doctor's officeare as valid a form of screening as a colonoscopy for many people.

That was the premise behind a unique community-based campaign that Penn Medicine joined this year with WURD, Philadelphia's Black-owned and -operated talk radio station, and other organizations to provide free fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) kits and follow-up support to Philadelphia residents.

At-home testing kits use a stool sample collected by the patient to test for blood, which can be a sign of polyps or cancer in the colon or rectum. For people without additional risk factors, the at-home kits can be as effective as a colonoscopy in preventing cancer if done every year.

Participating in the WURD campaign was part of a multi-year campaign by Penn Medicine to raise colorectal cancer screening ratesand follow-up carestarting with getting at-home testing kits to more community members. Other Penn Medicine-involved efforts included drive-through fairs where testing kits were handed out, and mailed-home kits for Penn Medicine patients in targeted zip codes.

For the WURD campaign, Akinbowale Oyalowo, MD, MSHP, a gastroenterologist at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC) and assistant professor of gastroenterology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, approved eligible patients to receive the testing kits and followed up with those for whom a colonoscopy was recommended. He also appeared on a panel during the "Evening WURDS" show, one of several events the station organized to promote the "Go to Know" campaign. Listeners were directed to a website where they could register for a kit.

"It's like online shopping, but instead of buying a gift for yourself or someone else, it's a gift for your health," Oyalowo said.

After listeners registered for the kits, they were contacted by a patient navigator from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to determine if they met the criteria for at-home testing or should have a colonoscopy instead. The Independence Blue Cross Foundation covered the cost of kits for anyone with that insurance and the Colorectal Cancer Alliance paid for the rest.

WURD's role was critical in reaching Black Philadelphians, said Oyalowo, who has a research interest in increasing colorectal cancer screenings, particularly in vulnerable populations and in community-based settings.

"We have a responsibility to be invested in the health of our residents," he said. "If you want a community-based intervention to not only have a higher chance of succeeding, but have a higher chance of being a durable, long-term intervention, it needs to be in cooperation with leaders and individuals in that community."

Founded by a Black physician, WURD has a track record of getting community members involved in public health campaigns. The station played a critical role in getting more than 10,000 Black participants enrolled in a study by Penn's Scheie Eye Institute to understand glaucoma, which affects Black people at five times the rate of whites. With the colon cancer campaign, the station leaders believed that "even if we just reach one person and change the trajectory of their life this would be a success," said Sara Lomax-Reese, WURD's president and CEO and daughter of the founder.

"When you execute a health education campaign in an environment where people are predisposed to trust and believe you, then it goes down a lot smoother and there's less skepticism," Lomax-Reese said. "And when you have African-American physicians and African-American colon cancer survivors and Black people who are experts to further break it down and explain it, that eliminates the barrier of distrust."

The WURD campaign ran from March through October. As of early October, 145 kits had been distributed and about 18 percent of people who were identified as either having symptoms or colon cancer risk factors, and where a colonoscopy was advised. Countless others learned about the disease and how to prevent it.

"I think it has been a large success. In the research literature, there aren't many papers that describe this kind of direct outreach for cancer screening," Oyalowo said. "With interventions to increase cancer screenings, you need interventions at different levels. Some are short-term, some are long-term, some are structural, some are more individual-focused. And you really do need all of them in conjunction to move these numbers."

Explore further Take-at-home tests boost colorectal cancer screening tenfold for health center serving minorities
Cardiac CTP imaging can provide anatomical information about blockages in the coronary arteries. RCA, LAD, and CX refer to the main coronary arteries: the right coronary artery, left anterior descending and circumflex. Credit: Marly van Assen

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine recently performed a cardiac imaging procedure that was the first of its kind completed in Georgia.

The procedure, first performed on October 21, is called dynamic myocardial CT (computed tomography) perfusion imaging or cardiac CTP imaging for short. Cardiac CTP imaging is performed in conjunction with CT angiography, an X-ray scan of the heart.

"The added value is that we can provide function and anatomical assessment in one session using a single modality," says Carlo De Cecco, MD, Ph.D., professor of radiology and imaging sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and director of the Translational Lab for Cardiothoracic Imaging and Artificial Intelligence.

"That means we can see both where the coronary arteries are blocked and how muchit's kind of a one-stop shop approach," he adds.

More conventional CT angiography provides information about partial or complete blockage (stenosis) and which arteries are involved, which aids in planning future treatment and therapy. CT angiography is currently used for the evaluation of stenosis severity and is accurate in excluding disease, but often overestimates the severity of stenosis.

Studies have shown that functional information is a better predictor of disease severity, guiding decision-making about invasive interventions such as stenting or bypass surgery. Previously procedures such as FFR (fractional flow reserve) measurement, performed during cardiac catheterization, were necessary to provide accurate functional information.

Emory researchers are conducting a study that is comparing cardiac CTP imaging to nuclear stress testing, also known as PET (positron emission tomography) myocardial perfusion imaging. The goal is to include 30 patients, Del Cecco says. Valeria Moncayo, MD, assistant professor of radiology and imaging sciences, is also involved with the study, which is funded by Siemens and uses the company's SOMATOM Force scanner.

"We are including patients who are referred for a clinically indicated myocardial PET perfusion scan," Del Cecco says. "The primary indications are cardiac-related complaints and abnormal results in initial testing, such that functional testing is required to assess for myocardial ischemia or infarction."

In cardiac CTP imaging, a catheter is not introduced into the body, but vasodilator drugs such as adenosine/Regadenoson and iodine contrast agents are used. Cardiac CTP imaging is similar to PET-based myocardial perfusion imaging, except that no radioactive probes are introduced into the patient's body. PET-based myocardial perfusion imaging is currently the gold standard for quantitatively assessing cardiac blood flow, but it does not allow assessment of the coronary arteries.

The actual CTP imaging exam lasts about 30 seconds. In combination with CT angiography, it can be performed in 3040 minutes total, reducing radiation dose compared to PET-based procedures.

Explore further Study analyzes a decade of cardiac imaging trends
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis makes a point during a news conference about Colorado offering coronavirus vaccinations to children, Thursday, Oct. 28, 2021, in Denver. Colorado is also seeing an increase in overall coronavirus cases, which is putting stress on the state's hospital systems. Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Facing a surge in coronavirus infections that threatens to overwhelm Colorado hospitals, Gov. Jared Polis defied federal guidance on COVID-19 booster shots Thursday by issuing an order allowing all state residents 18 and older to get them.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules allow booster shots for those 18 and over who are at high risk of exposure to the virus. The FDA also permits boosters for people 65 and older, and adults with special medical conditions. Polis' order declares all of Colorado at high risk of infection, significantly expanding the number of residents eligible.

"Because disease spread is so significant across Colorado, all Coloradans who are 18 years of age and older are at high risk and qualify for a booster shot," the Democratic governor said in his order.

Requests for comment from the FDA were not immediately returned on Thursday, a federal holiday.

But at a White House briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the importance of getting boosters to those already eligible under the federal guidelines. She also stressed the importance of vaccinating children ages 5-11.

"As you likely know, FDA is currently looking at the data for expanding boosters to all populations," Walensky said.

Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Tuesday to allow boosters of its COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 or older, a step that comes amid concern about increased spread of the coronavirus with holiday travel and gatherings.

The Biden administration had originally envisioned boosters for all adults, but FDA scientific advisers in September rejected extra Pfizer doses for everyone. The panel wasn't convinced that young healthy people needed another dose and instead recommended boosters just for certain groups.

People who are fully vaccinated are still strongly protected against hospitalization and death from COVID-19. But immunity against infection can wane over time, and the extra-contagious delta variant is spreading widely. U.S. health authorities want to shore up protection in at-risk people who were vaccinated months ago, though they emphasize that the priority remains getting the unvaccinated their first shots.

Polis has emphasized vaccinations as a top tool in fighting the latest surge that officials worry could overwhelm the state's hospital capacity by the end of the year. He's also expressed frustration in the past with the federal government's authorization of vaccines and their distribution.

"The Governor has been disappointed with the overly complex message from the CDC and the FDA on boosters and won't allow that to harm Coloradans who want the additional protection," Polis spokesman Conor Cahill said Thursday. "The Governor is confident that this clarification is well within the guidance of the CDC and FDA."

Polis' order allows vaccine providers to give booster shots to everyone who received the double-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least six months ago. People who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which hasn't proven as effective as its competitors, can get a booster at least two months later. Anyone eligible for a booster doesn't have to stick with their initial vaccination type and can get a different company's vaccine.

About 62% of Colorado residents are fully vaccinated, putting the Rocky Mountain state above the national average and among the top 15 for states with the highest vaccination rate.

Yet Colorado had the seventh-highest COVID-19 diagnosis rate in the country over the last week, with 1 in every 259 people getting the virus, according to John Hopkins University data compiled by The Associated Press. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all been on the rise for weeks.

About 1,426 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Colorado, and State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said Wednesday the state could hit 2,258 COVID-19 hospitalizations by Jan. 1, a record high for the pandemic.

The delta variant surge combined with hospital staffing shortages has left about 720 total beds available in intensive care and acute care units, according to the Colorado Hospital Association. Some 17% of all beds are occupied by those with COVID or suspected of having it, the state health department said.

Polis put the number of available hospital beds at 623 in his order, and he has repeatedly emphasized that the unvaccinated28% of state residents, according to state dataaccount for 80% those hospitalized. Officials said many of the remainder are immunocompromised or older patients more susceptible to the virus.

"With an estimated 1 in 67 Coloradans infected, it is likely that nearly all Coloradans are exposed to COVID-19 where they live or work," the governor said in his order. "I declare the entire State of Colorado high risk for exposure or transmission of COVID19 and therefore eligible for the safe and highly effective COVID-19 booster shot."

Colorado's seven-day positivity ratethe percentage of people testing positive for the virus out of all who have been testedreached 9.93% as of Wednesday.

That means for every 100 people tested over that week, nearly 10 of them tested positive. Last year, the highest seven-day positivity rate was 11.21% as of Nov. 20.

More than 700,000 Colorado residents are known to have been infected during the pandemic, and 8,814 people have died.

Explore further Pfizer asks FDA to OK COVID-19 booster shots for all adults

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Graham Roark, 8, receives the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years from Lurie Children's hospital registered nurse Virginia Scheffler at the hospital Nov. 5, 2021, in Chicago. First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day. Credit: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File

The contagious delta variant is driving up COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Mountain West and fueling disruptive outbreaks in the North, a worrisome sign of what could be ahead this winter in the U.S.

While trends are improving in Florida, Texas and other Southern states that bore the worst of the summer surge, it's clear that delta isn't done with the United States. COVID-19 is moving north and west for the winter as people head indoors, close their windows and breathe stagnant air.

"We're going to see a lot of outbreaks in unvaccinated people that will result in serious illness, and it will be tragic," said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

In recent days, a Vermont college suspended social gatherings after a spike in cases tied to Halloween parties. Boston officials shut down an elementary school to control an outbreak. Hospitals in New Mexico and Colorado are overwhelmed.

In Michigan, the three-county metro Detroit area is again becoming a hot spot for transmissions, with one hospital system reporting nearly 400 COVID-19 patients. Mask-wearing in Michigan has declined to about 25% of people, according to a combination of surveys tracked by an influential modeling group at the University of Washington.

Kayla Pendlebury, the COVID-19 vaccine coordinator for Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, in Brattleboro, Vt., gets the children's dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine ready at the hospital on, Nov. 6, 2021. First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day. Credit: Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP, File

"Concern over COVID in general is pretty much gone, which is unfortunate," said Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director at health departments in 20 central and northern Michigan counties. "I feel strange going into a store masked. I'm a minority. It's very different. It's just a really unusual atmosphere right now."

New Mexico is running out of intensive care beds despite the state's above-average vaccination rate. Waning immunity may be playing a role. People who were vaccinated early and have not yet received booster shots may be driving up infection numbers, even if they still have some protection from the most dire consequences of the virus.

"Delta and waning immunitythe combination of these two have set us back," said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington. "This virus is going to stick with us for a long, long time."

The delta variant dominates infections across the U.S., accounting for more than 99% of the samples analyzed.

Siblings Amechi, 7, left, Chizara, 5, center and Kenechi Acholonu, 9, enjoy gifts from the hospital as they wait in the observation area after being inoculated with the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 years at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021, in the Bronx borough of New York. First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day. Credit: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File

No state has achieved a high enough vaccination rate, even when combined with infection-induced immunity, to avoid the type of outbreaks happening now, Mokdad said.

In a deviation from national recommendations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Thursday that allows any resident 18 or older access to a COVID-19 booster shot, another step to prevent hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed by the state's surge in delta infections.

Progress on vaccination continues, yet nearly 60 million Americans age 12 and older remain unvaccinated. That's an improvement since July, when 100 million were unvaccinated, said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients.

First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day, and the effort to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 is off to a strong start, Zients said at a briefing Wednesday.

Michael Farias, left, holds his daughter, McKenzie, 8, as she watches her brother, Mikey, 10, receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 at a state-run site in Cranston, R.I., Nov. 4, 2021. First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day. Credit: AP Photo/David Goldman, File

Jennifer Rubin, left, and her son Grant Rubin, 9, walk to take the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11 at Lurie Children's hospital Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Chicago. First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day. Credit: AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File

Virginia Tech's Linsey Marr, a leading researcher on the airborne spread of the coronavirus, predicted the northward spread of the virus in a Twitter post Sept. 15. The virus spreads in the air and can build up in enclosed rooms with poor ventilation. Colder weather means more people are indoors breathing the same air, Marr said.

Imagine that everyone you spend time with is a smoker and you want to breathe as little of their smoke as possible, she said.

"The closer you are to a smoker the more exposure you have to that smoke," Marr said. "And if you're in a poorly ventilated room, the smoke builds up over time."

Marr said she and her vaccinated family will use rapid tests before gathering for Christmas to check for infection.

"It's hard to know what's coming next with this virus," Marr said. "We thought we knew, but delta really surprised us. We thought the vaccine would help end this, but things are still dragging on. It's hard to know what's going to happen next."

Explore further COVID Queries: Delta breakthrough infections

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Researchers led by the Marien Hospital Herne, a Ruhr-Universitat Bochum clinic, have investigated the extent to which mRNA vaccines protect dialysis patients from infection with variants of concerns of SARS-Cov-2. They showed that people who regularly have to undergo dialysis form protective antibodies against SARS-Cov-2 less frequently. Nevertheless, many produce reactive T cells after vaccination, which can protect against severe COVID-19 after infection with the alpha or beta variant. The team headed by Professor Nina Babel from the Centre for Translational Medicine at Medical Clinic I of Marien Hospital Herne describes the results in the Journal of American Society of Nephrology, published online on 29 October 2021.

The immune system can be trained to remember a pathogen on repeated contact with it and neutralize it before a severe clinical manifestation can occur. This immunological memory can be formed not only through contact with the naturally occurring pathogen, but also through vaccination.

Analyzing different components of the immune system

The researchers examined different components of the immune system in 34 dialysis patients: antibodies and SARS-Cov2-reactive T cells. Antibodies recognize pathogens after they have entered the body and can neutralize them before an infection occurs. T cells recognize infected cells and can initiate measures against the infectionthus, they protect against serious diseases as well.

Patients who suffer from chronic kidney failure and require dialysis belong to an outstanding risk group of severe COVID-19. "The immune system of patients suffering from end-stage renal disease is in a permanently hyperactivated state. As a result, they may build up poorer immune protection after a SARS-Cov-2 vaccination, which we have already observed with other vaccinations against viral infections," says Professor Timm Westhoff, Director at Medical Clinic I. In cooperation with physicians from Dresden, the team from Marien Hospital Herne recently showed that dialysis patients also benefit from a vaccination against SARS-Cov-2.

T cells rather than antibodies

In the current study, the researchers examined the degree of vaccination protection in dialysis patients against the alpha and beta variants, which were first described in Great Britain and South Africa, respectively. The result was that only about one third of the patients produced protective antibodies against the alpha and beta variants. More than 80 percent of them, however, formed specific T cells that can also effectively fight SARS-Cov-2.

"Even though the majority of the patients we studied didn't form antibodies against the new viral variants, our results suggest that a large proportion have sufficient reactive T cells to protect against severe COVID-19," as Nina Babel summarizes her findings.

Explore further Dialysis patients benefit from a third COVID vaccination dose

More information: Constantin J. Thieme et al, Impaired Humoral but Substantial Cellular Immune Response to Variants of Concern B1.1.7 and B.1.351 in Hemodialysis Patients after Vaccination with BNT162b2, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2021). Journal information: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology Constantin J. Thieme et al, Impaired Humoral but Substantial Cellular Immune Response to Variants of Concern B1.1.7 and B.1.351 in Hemodialysis Patients after Vaccination with BNT162b2,(2021). DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2021050672
Dr. Matthew Kutny of Childrens of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham examines Asher, who participated in the Childrens Oncology Group trial that tested all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide for acute promyelocytic leukemia. Credit: Patrick Deavours, Children's of Alabama

A clinical trial has found that the combination of all-trans retinoic acid, which is a metabolite of vitamin A, and arsenic trioxide is highly effective in children with standard- and high-risk acute promyelocytic leukemia, or APL. Nearly all patients in the trial survived for two years without experiencing a relapse. None of the children with standard-risk APL required conventional chemotherapy, and those with high-risk APL received just four doses of the chemotherapy drug idarubicin (Idamycin PFS). The results of the trial, conducted by the Children's Oncology Group and funded by the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, were published November 11, 2021, in JAMA Oncology.

"This is a remarkable achievement and will be the new standard of care," said Malcolm A. Smith, M.D., Ph.D., of the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program at the National Cancer Institute, which funded the multi-institutional, nonrandomized phase 3 cooperative group trial. "Twenty years ago, these patients would have been treated with intensive chemotherapy, including drugs that lead to heart problems later in life. By comparison, all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide have fewer acute or long-term side effects."

"As a pediatrician and an oncologist, I've had to have really difficult talks with families about what their child is facing and what type of therapy they're going to have to go through to be cured," said Matthew Kutny, M.D., of Children's of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the study's lead investigator. "So being able to offer a therapy that is less intense and has fewer side effects, but at the same time has amazingly high survival rates, is a really good feeling."

APL accounts for 5% to 10% of acute myeloid leukemia diagnoses in children and adolescents. Symptoms of this blood and bone marrow cancer include excessive bleeding, easy bruising, low red blood cell count, fever, and fatigue. Previously, treatment for children with APL involved anthracyclines, which can damage the heart.

An earlier Children's Oncology Group trial showed that children with APL who were treated with arsenic trioxide and all-trans retinoic acid, along with chemotherapy drugs that included anthracyclines, had high rates of two-year event-free survival and low risk of relapse. Event-free survival is the length of time after primary treatment that the patient remains free of worsening disease, relapse, or death.

The combination of all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide is currently the preferred initial treatment for adults with standard-risk APL. Adult patients with high-risk APL also receive some chemotherapy, as well as maintenance therapy (further treatment to prevent the leukemia from coming back).

In the Children's Oncology Group trial (AAML1331; NCT02339740), 154 children between the ages of 1 and 22 who were newly diagnosed with standard- or high-risk APL were given oral all-trans retinoic acid, along with intravenous arsenic trioxide, daily for at least 28 days. Children with high-risk APL also received four doses of the anthracycline idarubicin during the initial phase of treatment. High-risk patients are defined as those with a white blood cell count of more than 10,000/L. Higher white blood cell counts have historically predicted poorer outcomes in children with APL.

However, in this trial, children with standard- and high-risk APL had two-year overall survival rates of 99% and 100%, respectively. The two-year event-free survival rates were 98% and 96%, respectively. One child with standard-risk APL died early in treatment, and three children (one with standard-risk APL and two with high-risk APL) experienced a relapse.

Fewer than 10% of the children experienced severe side effects, which occurred only in the initial phase of treatment. Side effects included increased blood sugar, liver irritation, and bleeding. Some of the patients with high-risk APL developed mouth sores from the idarubicin treatment. A severe complication of APL is differentiation syndrome, which can cause life-threatening inflammation. Physicians were offered supportive care strategies to help participants manage this and other side effects.

Dr. Kutny pointed out that because there was no need for maintenance therapy, the length of time the children were undergoing treatment was reduced from more than two years to approximately nine months. More follow-up will be needed, he said, to determine the long-term effects of treating children with all-trans retinoic acid and arsenic trioxide.

"Arsenic is often associated with being a poison, but it can also be a powerful medicine," Dr. Kutny noted. "Arsenic trioxide has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for millennia. The difference between a medication and a poison is really the dose. Over time, we have figured out the exact dosing that would be effective in killing these types of leukemia cells without damaging other healthy tissues."

Arsenic trioxide works cooperatively with all-trans retinoic acid to block the action of proteins needed by leukemia cells to survive and grow. Dr. Kutny noted that the Children's Oncology Group is currently investigating ways to deliver arsenic trioxide in an oral form, which would make it easier for children to take.

Explore further Refining treatment for childhood leukemia

More information: Assessment of Arsenic Trioxide and All-trans Retinoic Acid for the Treatment of Pediatric Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia A Report From the Children's Oncology Group AAML1331 Trial, JAMA Oncology (2021). Journal information: JAMA Oncology Assessment of Arsenic Trioxide and All-trans Retinoic Acid for the Treatment of Pediatric Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia A Report From the Children's Oncology Group AAML1331 Trial,(2021). DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.5206
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The Netherlands on Thursday reported a record daily number of new COVID cases, as the government considered reimposing restrictions to curb the spike in infections.

The 16,364 new cases over the previous 24 hours, announced by the RIVM public health institute, smashed the previous record of 12,997 set on December 20 last year.

Twenty-six people had also died over the last 24 hours, the agency said.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte will hold a press conference to announce fresh measures on Friday, with local media reporting that experts have advised a two-week "light lockdown".

The restrictions could include cancelling large events, closing cinemas and theatres and making bars and restaurants shut earlier in the evening.

Schools would however remain open.

The experts have also recommended the politically-sensitive step of restricting access to certain facilities even to those who are vaccinated or who have recovered from the disease, an idea first proposed in neighbouring Germany.

The Dutch cabinet has not yet decided on what steps to take "as the situation is so complex that further consideration is needed", with further meetings to be held later on Thursday, broadcaster NOS reported.

Several thousand people demonstrated in The Hague at the weekend after the government on November 2 said it was reintroducing face masks and other measures to contain the outbreak.

Riots greeted the introduction in January of the Netherlands' first curfew since World War II to deal with a spike in cases last Christmas.

Explore further Dutch government looking at reintroducing COVID-19 measures

 2021 AFP
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During a year when millions are working remotely, employers that provide health insurance for the bulk of working-age Americans bolstered access to telemedicine and mental-health services, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey found.

The survey also found the average cost for an employer health insurance family plan was $22,221, up 4% from a year ago, a more moderate rate hike compared to a decade ago. Workers paid an average of $5,969 toward the cost of family coverage.

Average family premiums have climbed 47% over the past decade, more than a 31% increase in wages. The average cost for an employer-provided individual plan was $7,739, also up 4% from last year.

Employers who provide coverage for about 155 million Americans are "focused on stresses that people are having, especially for mental health, and are making it easier for people to use telemedicine to get mental health benefits." said Gary Claxton, a Kaiser Family Foundation senior vice president and Health Care Marketplace Project director.

Kaiser's annual employer health benefits survey found about four in 10 companies with at least 50 employees changed or added mental health and substance abuse benefits since the beginning of the pandemic.

And the survey reported workers and their families are increasingly using those benefits. Among the largest employers that have staffing to track how employees use their benefits, 38% reported increased use of mental health services.

Employers also made it easier to use telemedicine, which soared during the early days of the pandemic when lockdowns closed doctors' offices and delayed nonemergency care for millions of Americans. Larger companies were more likely to expand services, offer a broader selection of providers or reduce or eliminated cost sharing for telemedicine.

The federal government enacted temporary policies during the pandemic that effectively allowed companies to offer telemedicine to a wider group of employees, including part-time and seasonal workers. In a letter to Congress, the American Telemedicine Association and other groups urged Congress to make those policies permanent so more employees can get virtual care.

Claxton said the pandemic likely slowed health care cost increases for employers, particularly during the lockdown when many put off expensive non-emergency operations and limited in-person medical appointments.

Workers also have paid a larger share of their heath costs through co-pays, deductibles and coinsurance that require people to pay a percentage of their medical bill. For a hospital admission, consumers on average are charged coinsurance equal to 20% of the hospital bill and a $321 co-pay, the survey found.

Average deductibles also have increase significantly over the past decade to $1,669 for individual workers compared to $991 a decade ago.

Preferred provider options are the most popular plans enrolling 46% of workers. About 28% of workers are enrolled in plans that charge lower monthly premiums but higher deductibles. Such plans can be combined with a health-savings account that allow workers to set aside pre-tax money to for health bills that might not be covered due to the higher deductible.

Claxton said fewer employers are discussing strategies to fully replace more benefits-rich PPO plans with with high-deductible plans that increase out-of-pocket costs for workers.

"While these plans can be cheaper, it's kind of hard for the lower-wage workers to meet the cost sharing," Claxton said.

2021 USA Today

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The EU's drug watchdog on Thursday approved two COVID-19 antibody treatments, in its first approvals of the groundbreaking therapies that help stop infected people developing symptoms of the disease.

Ronapreve, made by Swiss pharma giant Roche with US biotech firm Regeneron, and Regkirona, developed by South Korea's Celltrion, got the green light from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

The move adds to the European Union's toolbox of drugs as it fights coronavirus infection rates that are rising to record levels in some countries.

"Ronapreve and Regkirona are the first monoclonal antibody medicines to receive a positive opinion... for COVID-19," the Amsterdam-based EMA said in a statement.

EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the approval of the two drugs was an "important step" against the disease, with the bloc's response so far relying on four vaccines.

"With COVID-19 infections on the rise in almost all member states, it is reassuring to see many promising treatments in development as part of our COVID-19 therapeutics strategy," she said in a statement.

"Today we take an important step forward towards our goal of authorising up to five new treatments in the EU by the end of the year."

EU states could already call on the bloc's contract for 55,000 treatments of Ronapreve, she said.

Lab-produced monoclonal antibodies are Y-shaped proteins that bind to the spikes that dot the surface of the coronavirus, stopping the pathogen from invading human cells.

Vaccines train immune systems to produce such antibodies too.

But some people including the elderly and immunocompromised do not respond well to vaccines, and such groups stand to benefit the most from "passive vaccination" where the antibodies are delivered directly.

Explore further Roche applies to market COVID antibody treatment in EU

 2021 AFP
A Texas ban on mask mandates in schools violates the rights of students with disabilities, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

The decision opens the door for school districts in the state to issue their own mask policies that could affect more than 5 million students, The New York Times reported.

The lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on mask mandates was filed on behalf of several families of students with disabilities and the organization Disability Rights Texas.

In his ruling, Judge Lee Yeakel said the governor's order violated the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act because it put children with disabilities at risk, the Times reported.

"The spread of COVID-19 poses an even greater risk for children with special health needs," Yeakel said. "Children with certain underlying conditions who contract COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe acute biological effects and to require admission to a hospital and the hospital's intensive-care unit."

Yeakel also noted that Abbott's order excluded "disabled children from participating in and denies them the benefits of public schools' programs, services, and activities to which they are entitled."

Abbott's ban on school mask mandates has repeatedly been upheld by the state's supreme court, but the federal ruling could impact similar cases nationwide, the Times reported.

Explore further Judge rules against Florida's ban on school mask mandates

More information: Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on masks

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Researchers at Trinity are providing fresh insights into joint inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The condition currently affects about 1 percent of the world's population and about 2,000 new cases are diagnosed annually in Ireland. Patients suffering from RA require lifelong treatment and can experience joint destruction, pain and disability, as well as depression, and social isolation. While treatments are improving, there is still a very real need to identify new treatment strategies, as unfortunately only one in every four patients will reach full remission.

The Molecular Rheumatology Group at the School of Medicine, led by Professor Ursula Fearon is working to better understand the complex cellular and molecular events that occur directly in the affected joints of patients. This urgent research will enable a more directed approach to treating this autoimmune disease. Two recently published papers from the group have presented unique insights into joint inflammation in RA.

Through the examination of cells and tissue from the site of inflammation in well-defined patient cohorts, the group aims to understand what drives disease and response and how cells interact with each other to orchestrate the inflammatory response.

Now, two of the groups research fellows, Dr. Mary Canavan and Dr. Achilleas Floudas are examining the cells in 'the synovium' which is the primary site of the inflammatory process, which if untreated leads to irreversible damage to the adjacent cartilage and bone. Two cell types involved in the inflammation process are 'dendritic cells' and 'T-cells' which interact with one another in the joint to drive inflammation.

Dr. Mary Canavan's findings were recently published in Frontiers in Immunology, and provide unique and previously unexplored insights into the complex role 'dendritic cells' may have in joint inflammation in patients with RA. Dendritic cells are a key immune cell in the body, and there are many different subtypeseach with its own unique role. This was the first study of its kind to examine these cells at the site of inflammationthat is, in the affected joints of the patientsand not just in the peripheral blood.

Dr. Canavan said: "There is no doubt that the activities of these dendritic cells have consequences for neighboring cells in the synovium, such as T cells. Our findings also demonstrated that this CD1c+ dendritic cell population produces large amounts of 'matrix degrading enzymes' which can destroy cartilage and bone. Therefore, this study provides unique and previously unexplored insights into the complex role dendritic cells may have in joint inflammation in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis."

Dr. Achilleas Floudas's study, recently published in the journal Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, examines the previously unconsidered population of immune (T) cells found in synovial tissue become dysfunctional and exert many negative impacts associated with RA. Crucially, howeverwith regard to their potential as prognostic and therapeutic targetsthese cells begin to malfunction before the clinical onset of RA. As a result, the scientists hope they may one day serve as "early-warning flares" that may allow medics to detect at-risk individuals and act before RA becomes established.

Dr. Floudas said: "The window for effective therapeutic intervention in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is limited, and current T cell-specific therapies for treatment are broad and affect all T cells irrespective of their contribution to disease pathogenesis and progression, therefore not differentiating between protective and pathogenic T cell responses. Additionally, if we can spot the 'early-warning flares' set off by specific T cells in the synovial tissue of at-risk individuals, we should be able to extend the window for effective therapeutic intervention."

Professor Ursula Fearon, professor of molecular rheumatology, said: "We have found that the level of dysfunction observed in these immune cells varies between individual patients and is associated with level of disease activity, thus may also allow the opportunity to monitor disease as well as develop more refined and targeted therapeutic strategies while limiting the side effects and toxicity. Understanding the role that these specific immune cells play in driving inflammation in the individual patient, has the potential for the development of precision treatments that prevent onset or impact early in disease, thus would have a significant impact for the patient's quality of life."

Explore further Scientists pinpoint two new potential therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis
Venn diagram showing overlapping genes identified in the cohort the researchers studied in 2015 (TBM1) and the one in the current study (TBM2). Note that the number (16) of overlapping genes in both cohorts is very small; this represents the wide genetic heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental disorders. Credit: the authors/AJHG, 2021

Identifying the genetic causes of rare neurodevelopmental disorders can be quite challenging. In a recent study, a global scientific team, including researchers from Baylor College of Medicine, worked to find genetic answers for Turkish families.

"It's very common in clinical practice to see a patient whose characteristics do not match what has been documented in the literature, limiting the physician's ability to guide clinical care and provide information about which other family members might be at risk," said Dr. Tadahiro Mitani, a postdoctoral associate in Dr. James R. Lupski's lab at Baylor College of Medicine.

In the current study, explains Mitani, who is the first author of the work by a team of 50 investigators from around the world, the researchers looked to identify the genetic causes of rare neurodevelopmental disorders in 234 subjects and 20 previously unsolved cases of affected families of the Turkish population.

"To achieve this goal, we integrated improved genome-wide screening technologies, including exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing, and newly developed computational tools and bioinformatic analyses to improve our ability to identify the genetic underpinnings of rare neurodevelopmental conditions," said co-corresponding author Dr. Davut Pehlivan, assistant professor of pediatricsneurology at BCM.

The researchers started this project in 2011 and over the years developed close collaborations with physicians and patients worldwide, as well as with researchers in the fields of genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. The team used GeneMatcher, a freely accessible web-based 'matchmaking service' designed to enable connections between clinicians and researchers from around the world who share an interest in the same gene or genes.

Improved diagnosis

The team identified new genes and confirmed genes previously associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. They were able to make a molecular diagnosis in 181 of 254 (71%) of the individuals in this study and in approximately 80% of neurodevelopmental disorders overall. Twenty of the 181 diagnosed individuals had been studied before, but at the time the researchers did not identify a genetic diagnosis.

"Our findings confirm that applying newly developed molecular and computational tools on existing data can provide answers to previously undiagnosed families," Pehlivan said.

A new perspective of complex neurodevelopmental disorders

"Importantly, we also found an explanation for the diagnostic challenge presented by conditions with characteristics that do not match what has been reported in the medical literature," said Mitani, currently at Jichi Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. "We determined that the accumulation of particular combinations of rare disease-causing gene mutations at multiple genes, a phenomenon called multilocus pathogenic variation, results in complex characteristics unique to each individual."

The original idea that a single disorder is caused by a mutation in a single gene does not explain the variety of complex neurodevelopmental disorders," Pehlivan explained.

In multilocus pathogenic variation, one patient may have multiple mutated genes. For instance, one gene mutation may result in muscle disease and a different gene mutation that leads to brain disease, while in another patient one mutation may affect the kidneys and another the brain. The accumulation of specific combinations of rare multiple mutated genes results in conditions with complex characteristics that are unique to each individual.

Patients may present with neurodevelopmental disorders that share similarities but also have important differences, which need to be taken into consideration when deciding treatment and when evaluating risk for other family members.

"In this study, for the first time we strictly applied a set of criteria to evaluate multilocus pathogenic variation in our patients and found that it was present in 28.9% of the cases in which we established a genetic diagnosis," Pehlivan said. "Our findings confirm the value of routinely applying these criteria to assess the contribution of multilocus pathogenic variation to rare neurodevelopmental disorders and again revealed why genomic studies are superior to single gene testing."

"The integrated analyses of the genetic and genomic characteristics of each patient enabled the team to improve their ability to reach a diagnosis in many cases," said co-author Dr. Zeynep Coban Akdemir, assistant professor at UT Health School of Public Health-Houston. "Most patients with multilocus pathogenic variation are in consanguineous families."

"With studies such as this one, we seek to tackle the challenge of finding the cause of currently unexplained rare genetic disorders," said co-author Dr. Jennifer Posey, assistant professor of molecular and human genetics at BCM. Posey also leads the newly launched BCM- GREGoR (Genomic Research to Elucidate the Genetics of Rare) program, a part of the NIH-funded GREGoR Consortium.

The researchers' comprehensive approach also adds a valuable resource of information to the study of the function of human genes, human biology and molecular mechanisms involved in neurodevelopmental disorders, all of which can lead to improved diagnosis and treatments.

The study was published in The American Journal of Human Genetics.

Explore further Rare genetic disorders more complex than thought

More information: Tadahiro Mitani et al, High prevalence of multilocus pathogenic variation in neurodevelopmental disorders in the Turkish population, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2021). Tadahiro Mitani et al, High prevalence of multilocus pathogenic variation in neurodevelopmental disorders in the Turkish population,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.08.009 GeneMatcher: genematcher.org/ Journal information: American Journal of Human Genetics
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A majority of parents of children 18 or younger in the New York area are likely to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19, according to new data recently collected in a CUNY SPH survey on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in New York State's lower nine counties.

Parents made up 39 percent of the 1,000 respondents surveyed in September 2021 across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Nassau, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.

Thirty-two percent of survey respondents had a child 12 to 18 years old. Among them, 51 percent had either gotten their child vaccinated with at least one dose or were very likely to get them vaccinated against COVID-19, and an additional 13 percent were somewhat likely to do so. Among the 27 percent of respondents with a child under 12 years old, 56 percent were very or somewhat likely to get them vaccinated.

The results may foreshadow parents' responses to last week's news that federal health officials gave final approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages five to 11.

"Parental support of the vaccine for children will prove to be a giant leap forward in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," says Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, CUNY SPH Dean and a lead author of the survey. "We must protect every precious child. With every family member immunized there is a significantly lowered risk of exposure to the virus and its variants, which is especially heartening as we look forward to family gatherings around the upcoming holidays. "

The report tracked vaccine acceptance in the region among adults of all ages: 68 percent of all respondents had received at least one dose themselves. Conversely, 32 percent of respondents had not yet received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccinenearly half of whom (48 percent) were very likely or somewhat likely to get the vaccine in the future.

"Now is the time to stop the virus in its tracks and these survey results give us some guidelines on how to do that," says Dean El-Mohandes. "As long as the virus has the chance to live, it can generate variants that can be nefarious or even more fatal than we have seen before."

Notable differences in vaccination were reported among insured and uninsured respondents. Six percent of participants did not have health insurance. Only one in four (25 percent) of those uninsured respondents had received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 71 percent of those with health insurance. Among the unvaccinated respondents, those without health insurance were slightly more likely to express intent to get vaccinated than uninsured respondents (49 percent versus 46 percent).

The survey inquired into reasons for not yet receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. These respondents expressed feelings of fear, of vaccine safety, side effects, or of the vaccine in general, or mistrust in the COVID-19 vaccine development process, clinical trials, or effectiveness. Many participants believed there was no need to get vaccinated. For most, this was because they had already been infected with COVID-19.

Beyond those feelings, the survey discovered regulatory, logistical and childcare roadblocks. Of the 25 percent of respondents reporting barriers, 35 percent of that group said the lack of child or dependent care was their top barrier to getting vaccinated, 19 percent did not know where to get the vaccine, and 13 percent did not know how to sign up for an appointment.

Other factors were found to influence decisions about the vaccine:

Loss of a loved one may increase the likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly one in four (24 percent) of participants reported that they had lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Those who experienced the death of a close family or friend from COVID-19 were 50 percent more likely to be vaccinated than those who did not lose a loved one (15 percent versus 10 percent).

may increase the likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly one in four (24 percent) of participants reported that they had lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Those who experienced the death of a close family or friend from COVID-19 were 50 percent more likely to be vaccinated than those who did not lose a loved one (15 percent versus 10 percent). Chronic health conditions. Having a chronic health condition did not seem to affect vaccination acceptance. However, unvaccinated participants with chronic health conditions were more likely to express the intent to get vaccinated in the future (53 percent) compared to participants with no chronic conditions (42 percent).

Having a chronic health condition did not seem to affect vaccination acceptance. However, unvaccinated participants with chronic health conditions were more likely to express the intent to get vaccinated in the future (53 percent) compared to participants with no chronic conditions (42 percent). Overall access to social services. 40 percent of respondents reported needing better access to social services. Among them, food (38 percent) or housing assistance (27 percent) were most needed. In a separate question on health service needs, 52 percent of respondents reported needing better access to health services. Thirty percent said they needed better access to mental health services; 27 percent said wellness, followed by dental care (26 percent) and general medical care (26 percent).

"We know that people do not make decisions in a vacuum. As part of our continued outreach to our New York neighbors, we must understand the challenges they are facing and consider how to mitigate them as part of our campaign against the pandemic," Dr. El-Mohandes says.

How the boroughs compared:

Manhattan had the highest rate of vaccination with 79 percent of participants already vaccinated with at least one dose. This was followed by Nassau (74 percent), Queens (74 percent), and Westchester counties (73 percent).

Rockland, Suffolk, and Staten Island showed the lowest rates of vaccination and the lowest likelihood that unvaccinated respondents will receive the vaccine in the future. Among those who remain unvaccinated in those three counties, 36 to 58 percent reported that they are not very likely or not at all likely to get vaccinated

Overall, Asian and White participants had the highest rates of vaccination, at 73 percent and 72 percent, respectively. Sixty-five percent of Latino/a and 60 percent of Black participants reported having already received at least one dose. Among unvaccinated Black participants, 51 percent said they were very or somewhat likely to receive the vaccine, while 23 percent remained not very likely or not at all likely to get vaccinated in the future.

Explore further New survey shines light on racial disparities persisting in COVID-19 vaccination

Provided by CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy
Alpha-synuclein solubility in the cingulate cortex from Lewy body disease and controls with and without GBA mutations. Using soluble (cytoplasmic, TEAB), detergent-soluble (membrane bound, Triton X100) and insoluble (aggregates, SDS/Urea) protein fractions from Parkinsons disease/Dementia with Lewy body cases and controls with and without GBA mutations, we determined alpha-synuclein levels by western blotting. We identified the presence of high-molecular weight alpha-synuclein species only in insoluble fractions from Parkinsons disease/Dementia with Lewy body cases with an absence in controls, but with no difference between mutation carriers (MT) and wild-type GBA Lewy body disorders cases (WT). Graphs represent Mean  SEM from densitometric analysis of protein bands. Credit: DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02367-3

Increased levels of certain fats and proteins found in one of the most common forms of dementia, Lewy body dementia, could help with diagnosis and test for the effectiveness of treatments.

Researchers at Newcastle University led by Dr. Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi of the Biosciences Institute have moved a step closer to identifying the cause of Lewy body dementia, with a publication in the journal Acta Neuropathologica.

Lewy body dementia affects over 100,000 people in the UK and results in a decline in memory and the ability to concentrate for the person affected, but also shows fluctuating levels of alertness, problems with movement and visual hallucinations.

Dr. Kurzawa-Akanbi of the Newcastle University Biosciences Institute said: "The findings from this study are significant not only as they bring us closer to finding out why nerve cells die in Lewy body dementia, but also importantly, pave the way towards sensitive and accurate testing for the disease."

Gene changes

A common finding in people with dementia with Lewy bodies is that changes in a gene called glucocerebrosidase (GBA) often occur. It isn't really understood how changes to GBA lead to Lewy body dementia but what GBA normally does, is to cause the breakdown of certain types of fats in the body, and particularly the breakdown of fats in the brain.

Funded by the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and the Lewy Body Society, the team in Newcastle and colleague Prof Philip Whitfield, University of Glasgow along with researchers in St. Andrews, Edinburgh, and Gothenburg in Sweden, investigated how changes in GBA might alter certain fats in Lewy body dementia patients.

The team, which included Prof Ian McKeith, Dr. Chris Morris, and Prof Mathias Trost in Newcastle, found that specific fats called ceramides are increased in brain tissue samples from people who had Lewy body dementia. Surprisingly, the increased amounts of ceramides were found in everyone with Lewy body dementia, and not only in those people who had changes in GBA. This means that these changes in ceramides might be a unique feature of all types of Lewy body disease, which also includes conditions such as Parkinson's.

The team also found that these ceramide fats were highly increased in small particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs). These EVs are released by all cells, including the damaged and dying cells, and the ones from Lewy body dementia patients also contained an important protein called alpha-synuclein that is implicated in Lewy body disease.

A big problem for people with Lewy body dementia is getting an accurate diagnosis. Putting the two findings of increased ceramides and alpha-synuclein protein together the team suggest that EVs from Lewy body dementia patients might in the future be a way to help with diagnosis but also a way to test for effectiveness of treatments.

Jacqueline Cannon, chief executive of The Lewy Body Society said: "This is a very exciting discovery that will give hope to the many thousands of families affected by Lewy body dementia (LBD). Since we were founded 15 years ago, our mission as a charity has been to raise awareness of Lewy body dementia, and to support research that helps to diagnose and treat the disease.

"Every step forward is very welcome as too often, people living with LBD struggle to get a timely diagnosis, resulting in additional distress for the individual and their family and a delay in receiving appropriate support. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have awarded over 1.8m in grants to researchers, and we are fortunate to have some of the global leaders in LBD research here in the UK. We congratulate the team at Newcastle University on the publication of this excellent paper."

Explore further New information on the early stages of dementia with Lewy bodies

More information: Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi et al, Altered ceramide metabolism is a feature in the extracellular vesicle-mediated spread of alpha-synuclein in Lewy body disorders, Acta Neuropathologica (2021). Marzena Kurzawa-Akanbi et al, Altered ceramide metabolism is a feature in the extracellular vesicle-mediated spread of alpha-synuclein in Lewy body disorders,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02367-3
Credit: Portrait Image Asia/Shutterstock

APO-2 (Aposec) is a secretome-based trial preparation derived from stressed peripheral blood mononuclear cells. APO-2 was shown to be safe and effective in a multinational Phase I study in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (non-healing foot ulcers). The Data Safety Monitoring Board has therefore recommended continuation into a Phase II clinical trial. This represents a major success for the wound healing preparation developed at MedUni Vienna.

APO-2 contains the secretome (released substances) of stressed blood mononuclear cells, a current waste product from transfusion units. This new technology harnesses the power of these blood cells, immunology and biotechnology to overcome tissue damage and wound healing disorders. It is produced by the Blood Donor Service of the Upper Austria Red Cross in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice.

Secretome-based wound healing treatment for diabetic foot ulcers

The MARSYAS II clinical trial is the first study to test a secretome-based wound healing treatment in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. APO-2 is applied three times a week for four consecutive weeks. In the main phase (Phase II) of the clinical trial, three different doses of APO-2 are being evaluated. Clinical-stage company Aposcience AG, a MedUni Vienna spin-off, is conducting the study at an international level together with partners FGK Clinical Research GmbH (Munich, Germany) and ABF Pharmaceutical Services GmbH (Vienna).

"Our Phase I study has confirmed that this novel agent is safe for patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Only the data from the Phase II trial will show whether the massive investment in preclinical research and product science has paid off," says Hendrik Jan Ankersmit from the Department of Thoracic Surgery at MedUni Vienna and Vienna General Hospital. The Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) unanimously recommended proceeding with the main phase of the MARSYAS II trial.

The burden of diabetes

According to the International Diabetes Federation, 8.9 percent of adults aged between 20 to 79 in Europe suffered from diabetes in 2019, equating tor 59.3 million people. Another 296,500 children and adolescents under the age of 20 are living with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is among the top ten causes of non-communicable disease-related deaths. Significant complications of diabetes mellitus are impaired wound healing and the development of foot ulcers. Foot ulcers that do not heal can lead to amputation and premature death.

Explore further Study probes efficacy of APOSEC for allergic skin lesions
Around 79 percent of Spain's entire population is fully vaccinated, compared to just 67 percent in Britain and Germany.

With the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate of Europe's big nations, Spain has been spared the surge in infections seen across the continent but experts warn the country remains vulnerable to the virus.

Spain, one of the nations hit earliest and hardest by the pandemic, now has one of the lowest infection rates in Europejust 63 cases per 100,000 people reported in the past 14 days.

The rate is twice as high in Italy, about six times higher in Germany and Poland and 12 times higher in Britain, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday the evolution of the pandemic in Spain was "positive", adding "we have more than enough reasons to feel proud of what we have achieved".

Around 79 percent of Spain's entire population is fully vaccinated, compared to just 67 percent in Britain and Germany.

While the vaccination rate is only several percentage points higher than France's and Italy's, Spain has a much higher percentage of vulnerable, elderly people who have received the jab.

Over 99 percent of those over the age of 70 are fully vaccinated in Spain.

The lack of vaccine hesitancy, combined with an inoculation programme that worked through age groups, beginning with the oldest, yielded good results, Inaki Comas, a researcher at the Biomedicine Institute of Valencia, told AFP.

Mild climate

Spain's milder climate has also helped to prevent the spread of the virus as it favours outdoor gatherings on patios instead of indoors, he added.

And while limits on the size of social gatherings were scrapped in Spain over a month ago and nightlife allowed to fully re-start, face masks are still required indoors in public spaces.

But experts warn the arrival of colder weather, the fact the protection provided by COVID vaccines appears to wane over time and the risk posed from new variants means infections will likely rise.

"These three factors are a very good breeding ground for the coronavirus," said Comas, adding Spain was "entering a very critical moment".

Cesar Carballo, a doctor in the emergency unit of the Ramon y Cajal hospital in Madrid, agreed, saying infection rates will start to rise in Spain as colder weather causes social life to move indoors.

"We know how the virus is transmitted and when the cold comes and the evenings are darker we will tend to go indoors and the virus spreads there," he said.

'Good position'

While Spain has a high immunisation rate, epidemiologists now suggest that it is unrealistic that herd immunity can be reached solely with the use of existing vaccines since they don't fully suppress infections.

"Spain is in a good position now but it does not mean that it has already reached a point where it will not go back," Salvador Macip, an expert in health sciences at Catalonia's Open University who has written a book called "The Great Modern Plagues", told AFP.

"Once you get to the point where the levels of infections are very low, the only way to go is up."

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) predicts Spain will see a rise in infections during the second half of November which will soar in December before peaking at the end of the year.

"Infection rates may be high but if people are vaccinated and do not get seriously sick, it is not a problem," said Comas.

Explore further Spain says 70% of population fully vaccinated

 2021 AFP
Start by focusing on just two  G and N  of the eight types

Between now and 2030, when the last Baby Boomers turn 65, about 10,000 people a day will officially become eligible for Medicare. That means 10,000 people a day have to make sense of what Medicare coverage to sign up for.

Anyone who opts to enroll in Original Medicare (rather than Medicare Advantage) will be on the hook for 20% of costs they run up outside of a hospital. This is known as Part B of Medicare: the doctor appointments, tests and treatment that occur when you arent admitted to a hospital.

There is no annual maximum out-of-pocket cost for what you might be required to spend to cover your 20% cost sharing.

Medicare supplement insurance solves the 20% problem

Some people who enroll in Original Medicare have their Part B copays covered by complementary retirement benefits they have from a former job. This typically is for public sector employees.

But if you dont have a complementary plan to cover Part B expenses, you need to buy one.

Welcome to the world of Medigap

Medicare supplement plans, also known as Medigap, are private insurance plans to help pay for out-of-pocket Medicare costs. Medigap policies can cover part or all of your Part B copays, as well as charges youre liable for when you are admitted to a hospital (Part A of Medicare).

In a design failure that predates all we have learned from behavioral science about having too much choice, the government has set up a maze of eight different Medigap policies that private insurers can offer to new enrollees. Thats a lot to get confused about.

Relax. If you are new to Medicare, there is one type of plan that provides blanket coverage, and one other plan that is very similar, but with a few additional out-of-pocket costs.

Those are the two plans to focus on first. And if you find them affordable, they provide the best out-of-pocket protection.

Medigap Plan G

In most states, Medigap plans have alphabet names. Plan A, Plan B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N.

New enrollees since 2020 are not eligible for Plan F and Plan C. (Massachusetts, Minnesota and Wisconsin have different plans.)

For anyone new to Medicare, Plan G is the best plan to limit your out-of-pocket costs. The only cost that isnt covered is the annual deductible for care that falls under Part B. Thats $203 in 2021. (The 2022 deductible has yet to be announced.) It also covers all of your in-patient hospital coinsurance, which falls under Part A of Medicare.

If you happen to know someone who raves about their Plan F Medigap policy, that means they enrolled in Medicare prior to 2020. New enrollees arent allowed to purchase Plan F. But the only difference between F and G is that with Plan G you have to pay the annual deductible. Thats it.

Basically, with a Medigap Plan G, if you can handle the monthly premium cost, all expenses not covered directly by Medicare will be covered by the insurer who you buy your Plan G from.

And theres the rub. All Medicare supplement plans charge a monthly premium. Plan G will be the most expensive because it removes all your out-of-pocket exposure. Plan G monthly premium costs typically range from $80 to around $300 a month depending on where you live.

And it really pays to shop. Within your state, and your region, there may be more than a dozen Plan Gs you can purchase. And for no good reason, the costs can vary by hundreds of dollars a month between each Plan G offered in your area. To be clear, the benefits for each type of plan are standardized by the federal government. That is, every Plan G is exactly the same in what it offers.

The Medicare Finder, a free online tool run by the federal government, will show you personalized plan costs based on where you live. You can also contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to be connected to counselors who provide free assistance in navigating all Medicare decisions.

There are also independent insurance agents who specialize in helping folks sort through their options. Independent agents shop for you across plans offered by different insurers. Thats key; as noted earlier, identical plans can have wildly different costs from insurer to insurer. Agents are paid by the insurance company you choose. Theres no direct charge to you.

Medigap Plan N

After Plan G, the next best option for comprehensive coverage is a Plan N.

One main difference between a Plan G and a Plan N is that Plan N will have copays for doctor visits. Typically its up to $20 every time you see your GP and up to $50 when you see a specialist. You might also have a $50 copay if you seek care in an emergency room and arent admitted to the hospital.

A Plan N will have a lower premium than a Plan G. If you are healthy that can be worth considering. But just do the math of how copays can add up. If you see one specialist once or twice a year, you will likely save money with a Plan N. But if you are seeing multiple specialists more often, paying more for a Plan G might be a better move, as there are no doctor copays.

Plan N also requires that you pay any excess charges billed by a doctor you see. This refers to a system where doctors can charge more than what Medicare agrees to pay them. It is not common for doctors to impose excess charges, and the maximum they can charge is typically more than 15% more than what Medicare pays them. But if you do have a doctor who levies an excess charge, with a Plan G it will be covered by the insurer. With a Plan N you will be on the hook.

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Its really not that complicated. Kids love dogs. Dogs love kids. Separate them at your peril.

So despite obvious efforts to link the beloved and durable Clifford story, about a huge dog and the little girl who loves him, to a bigger and more current message in the CGI-meets-live action Clifford the Big Red Dog,  it really isnt necessary. You had us at Clifford."

On some levels the film, directed by Walt Becker, understands this, giving us plenty of lovely, warmhearted scenes between Clifford and young Emily Elizabeth (an appealing Darby Camp) that show it knows its core audience: young children. And for them, it will work fine.

For older viewers, though, it may be hard to ignore some of the clunkier moments of a script that, in trying to update a story created in 1963, gets in its own way with dialogue that while sometimes funny and sweet, can be awkward and occasionally even off-key.

First, though, the dog. For those who worried that the CGI version of Clifford wouldn't look real or otherwise meet expectations, rest assured that it's fine. Hes big, hes red, hes furry, he's sweet  and as for realism, well, how many elephant-sized, ruby-red dogs do YOU know? Plus: he doesn't speak human. This is a good thing.

And the cast is game, led by sweetly-but-not-obnoxiously precocious, red-headed Camp and rakishly likable British comedian Jack Whitehall as Emily Elizabeth's ne'er-do-well Uncle Casey. There are also a bunch of Saturday Night Live actors in cameos  with the funniest, not surprisingly, coming from the gifted Kenan Thompson as a veterinarian tasked with examining Clifford. (How does one take the temperature of a Tyrannosaurus-sized pup? He doesn't know, either.)

Emily Elizabeth is older here than the little girl in the original book and PBS animated series; she's a sixth-grader, and a new student at an elite Manhattan academy on Fifth Avenue. She lives a subway ride uptown with her mother, a harried single mom, in what the production notes call a quaint Harlem apartment but is actually huge, airy and comfy  it can hide Clifford! Still, at Emilys posh school, which she attends on scholarship  having moved from upstate"  she feels alone, and the resident Mean Girl calls her Food Stamp.

Let's stop there a moment. The bullying plotline has its narrative purpose, but Food Stamp? Is this an actual middle-school insult, or something a group of grown-up writers came up with but forgot to test on real kids? In any case this jarring economic diss, repeated a few times, feels way crueler than anything uttered by the films purported villain, a slimy entrepreneur (Tony Hale) who wants to replicate Cliffords DNA to create giant food, feed the world and presumably get rich.

Mom Maggie (Sienna Guillory, who doesn't have much to do here) goes away for business, leaving brother Casey in charge. One morning he and Emily stop at a strange pop-up animal rescue tent run by mysterious Mr. Bridwell  that would be John Cleese, and the name is a nod to original Clifford author Norman Bridwell. The man shows them a tiny, red abandoned puppy. Emily is besotted. How big does he get, she asks? That depends on how much you love him, Bridwell replies.

Casey, sensible for once, says no to adopting the pup. But Clifford somehow sneaks into Emilys backpack. When, that evening, she cuddles him and wishes they could both be big and strong, Clifford takes this literally. By morning, hes a giant. (Why, when this becomes a major liability, Emily's love can't simply shrink Clifford back again is not explained.)

Unsurprisingly, Clifford develops an Instagram presence. That gets the attention of our aforementioned villain. But he and his shady guys with earpieces have nothing against the ragtag Dream Team of Emily, her adorable friend Owen (Izaac Wang), Casey, and neighborhood friends. Even a well-meaning gazillionaire fails to save Clifford, but in the end, we all know, the spunky kid will triumph.

And spunky kids everywhere will cheer, and this durable tale will remain so. In the sequel, how about dropping the too-mean Mean Girl subplot, and making more screen time for Thompson's vet? Clifford the Big Red Dog and the Very Funny Vet would do just fine.

Clifford the Big Red Dog, a Paramount Pictures release, has been rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for impolite humor, thematic elements and mild action. Running time: 97 minutes. Two stars out of four.

MPAA definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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A coalition of environmental groups and Indian tribes have sued the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for declining to enforce the states bad actor mining law.

The suit revolves around efforts to mine for copper and silver under the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness near Libby by Hecla Mining Co. and its chief executive officer, Phillips Baker.

Baker was also an executive of Pegasus Gold Inc., which operated cyanide heap-leach gold mines at Zortman-Landusky, Basin Creek and Beal Mountain in Montana. Since Pegasus filed for bankruptcy in 1998, cleanup of those mines has cost Montana taxpayers more than $80 million, the coalition claimed.

Montanas bad actor law was modified in 2001 by a 97-2 vote in response to the Pegasus cleanup issue. It prohibits corporations with outstanding reclamation obligations from starting new mining operations without first paying their cleanup costs.

DEQ issued violation orders to Hecla in 2017. The company sued the state to block the action, but a state judge ruled in May that the law did apply. However, DEQ Director Chris Dorrington reversed course in July, saying that changing the law is the best way to ensure it is clearer and easier to go after bad actors in the future.

Coalition members countered that the existing law clearly directs DEQ to pursue such cases.

The Cabinet Mountains hold an important position in the relationship between the Ksanka people and all of creation, Vernon Finley of the Ksanka Elders Advisory Committee and member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes said in an email on Wednesday. The 'Bad Actor' law is the best way to hold people responsible for attempting to heal the wounds inflicted on nature. To simply free someone from their responsibility is to allow them to do it again and is unforgivable.

The coalition includes Missoula-based Clark Fork Coalition and Earthworks, the Fort Belknap Indian Community, Montana Environmental Information Center, Montana Trout Unlimited, Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, Rock Creek Alliance and Cabinet Resources Group.

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A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts:
INDIANAPOLIS (AP)  A former Indiana mayor was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison on federal charges of taking a $5,000 bribe in exchange for steering city projects to a contractor.

Former Muncie Mayor Dennis Tyler reached an agreement with federal prosecutors in May to plead guilty to a count of theft of government funds.

In the plea agreement, Tyler admitted to receiving the bribe in 2015 from the business that federal prosecutors said received more than $250,000 in improper city contracts for excavation and demolition work.

Tyler, 78, told U.S. District Judge James Sweeney that his actions left a stain on a career that included 42 years as a city firefighter, The Star Press reported. Tyler, a Democrat, was Muncies mayor for eight years, first winning election in 2011 after seven years as a state legislator.

I stand before you so ashamed, sorry and absolutely scared to death for what might happen next, Tyler told the judge before the sentence was imposed.

Tyler did not seek reelection in 2019 and was indicted in the bribery case just weeks before his term ended.

Six other people charged after a federal probe of corruption in the Muncie Sanitary District and Tylers administration have reached plea agreements and are awaiting sentencing. Tylers city building commissioner, Craig Nichols, was sentenced to two years in prison in January 2019 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges.

Tylers defense attorney, James Voyles, urged the judge to consider sentencing the former mayor to home detention or community service.

Federal prosecutors, however, sought at least a year in prison for Tyler because of the seriousness of public corruption.

Mr. Tyler chose to serve himself and the interests of insiders who were willing to buy their way into a rigged system, prosecutors said in a court filing. He now joins a dishonorable list of corrupt politicians who have contributed to the growing erosion of public trust and confidence in government.

The judge also ordered three years of supervised release for Tyler following his prison term and that he pay $15,250 in restitution.

Tyler's sentencing follows a former northwestern Indiana mayor getting a 21-month prison term last month after he was found guilty of taking a $13,000 bribe from a trucking company in return for steering about $1.1 million in city contracts to the company.

Former Portage Mayor James Snyder, a Republican, has maintained his innocence, testifying during his trial that the money was payment for consulting work that he declared on his income tax returns.

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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Hospitals in northwestern New Mexico were grappling Wednesday with a surge in coronavirus cases that has left only a handful of intensive care beds available and led to a rationing of care.

State health officials said New Mexico's health care system overall remains heavily burdened with high rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hospitals across the state had just eight intensive care beds available Wednesday, making it more difficult to attend to health emergencies such as heart attacks, said David Scrase, the states top health official.

But the situation is particularly concerning in the state's far northwest, where hospital administrators recently invoked crisis standards of care to focus resources on critical patients. Federal and state authorities have dispatched medical and support personnel to shore up services at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington.

Coronavirus patients accounted for 90 out of 169 patients at the hospital Wednesday afternoon, with 15 patients sustained by breathing machines.

Wednesday evening, hospital staff and local government officials held an online town hall meeting, imploring unvaccinated residents to reconsider.

Our crisis right now is a crisis of the unvaccinated, said emergency medical physician Brad Greenberg, noting that vaccinated patients in the area are 10 times less likely to die if infected.

San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari lamented that personal decisions about the vaccine have become politicized. The county is a conservative stronghold where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.

As of right now, its still a personal choice, he said of vaccination. You need to have that conversation with your doctor, decide if thats the right avenue for you. If you choose not to do that, care for your neighbor. ... Wear your mask, wash your hands, dont get out.

State epidemiologist Christine Ross visited the hospital in Farmington last week and said she encountered dedicated health workers that have worked to exhaustion.

They are amazing and they are really, really tired," Ross said during an online news conference.

Hospital facilities are adequate but staff have been struggling to keep up with the demands of coronavirus patients, she said.

The surge staffing that the state was able to send out there, along with the federal team, it's making a real difference," Ross said.

State health officials say the resurgence of the virus corresponds with waning immunity from early rounds of vaccinations, as residents approach or pass the time they need booster shots.

New Mexico vaccinated faster than most states, so we're seeing breakthrough cases earlier than others, Scrase said.

Just over 60% of residents in New Mexico are fully vaccinated, including children. About 4% of eligible children aged 5-11 statewide made vaccine appointments during the first week of eligibility. Scrase said that response is similar to participation when a vaccine was first made available to children aged 12-16.

Local elected leaders, including Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett and San Juan County Commissioner John Beckstead, said there are no plans to extend vaccine mandates to more public employees in their region. New Mexico requires health care employees, teachers and other high risk workers to be immunized with few exceptions.

Sheriff Ferrari and Farmingtons police chief said their agencies dont ticket people for violations of the statewide indoor mask mandate but encourage compliance by example.

Complicating matters in the hard-hit northwest is an an ongoing labor dispute at a county hospital.

In Gallup, a city on the edge of the Navajo Nation, a union representing medical staff at a county-owned hospital has filed a complaint alleging unfair labor practices and retaliation against unionization efforts by doctors and nurses with the National Labor Relations Board, the agency confirmed on Wednesday.

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital was overwhelmed with coronavirus patients in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, when Gallup was briefly closed to outside visitors and encircled by police barricades.

This year, medical staff voted to unionize as they expressed concern about the hospitals financial standing and whether it can sustain a high standard of care for patients amid recent layoffs. The hospital's labor and birthing unit reopened in late October after a weekslong shutdown.

Hospital administrators had no immediate response to the complaint filed by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, and have not filed an answer with federal regulators.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP)  A Northern California man who confessed to killing his wife and three children was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole.

Investigators in Placer County said Shankar Hangud, 55, confessed to killing his family members over the span of several days across two Northern California counties in October 2019, saying he couldnt provide for them financially, KCRA-TV reported. His children were aged 13, 16 and 20.

Hangud was arrested shortly after the killings when he drove to a police station in Mount Shasta, more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) from his home, with the body of his oldest son in his car and confessed to all four murders, prosecutors said. After the confession, the bodies of the three other victims were found inside the familys apartment in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento, police said.

Placer County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Penney called it a horrific crime where no victims were alive to speak as he sentenced Hangud to three life prison terms. The district attorneys office said that because Hangud had killed more than one person he had no possibility of parole.

Prosecutors said Hangud claimed to be in despair after losing his IT job and dealing with a marriage that was falling apart.

Hangud pleaded guilty in September to three counts of first-degree murder for his children and one count of deliberately aiding his wife to die by suicide.

Its hard to reconcile with the facts that this tragedy could happen because someone couldnt get employed, Placer County prosecutor David Tellman said. But its an old-world, patriarchal thought pattern where if he cant be a provider, he doesnt want his family to have nothing. So he kills his family.

Hangud was an unemployed data specialist. His LinkedIn profile showed he had worked for several companies in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Universities that adopted COVID-19 vaccine mandates this fall have seen widespread compliance even though many schools made it easy to get out of the shots by granting exemptions to nearly any student who requested one.

Facing pockets of resistance and scattered lawsuits, colleges have tread carefully because forcing students to get the vaccine when they have a religious or medical objection could put schools into tricky legal territory. For some, there are added concerns that taking a hard line could lead to a drop in enrollment.

Still, universities with mandates report much higher vaccination rates than communities around them, even in places with high vaccine hesitancy. Some universities have seen nearly complete compliance, including at state flagship schools in Maryland, Illinois and Washington, helping them avoid large outbreaks like those that disrupted classes a year ago.

Since announcing its mandate two months ago, Ohio University students and employees who reported being vaccinated at its Athens campus shot up from 69% to almost 85%.

Educating and encouraging was only getting us so far, said Gillian Ice, a professor of social medicine who is overseeing the school's pandemic response. We had a lot who were on the fence. They werent necessarily anti-vaccine. They didnt think they were high risk.

School administrators are watching closely to see how the mandate affects enrollment, she said. Some students are likely to transfer, but there's also a less vocal group who support the requirement and would not have come to campus without it, Ice said.

At least 1,100 colleges and universities now require proof of COVID-19 vaccines, according to tracking by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Some schools told students last spring they would need to be vaccinated before returning to campus this fall. Others held off on making the shots a requirement until the Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine in August.

Many other universities dont have vaccine requirements for anyone on campus. In some cases, political leaders have blocked universities from issuing mandates.

Just about every university with a vaccine requirement allows students and employees to ask for a medical or religious exemption. A smaller number of schools allow students to refuse the shots over philosophical reasons.

Most of the nation's largest public universities aren't seeing large numbers of student exemption requests, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. At the same time, those colleges have approved the vast majority  in some cases all  of the requests.

At many colleges, the requests are evaluated by committees that include medical experts, faculty members and student life administrators. Some schools ask students for notes signed by doctors or detailed statements explaining the principles of their religious beliefs.

At Virginia Tech University, where 95% of students are now vaccinated, the school granted all of the 1,600 exemption requests from students as long as they agreed to weekly testing.

Its a balance. How hard you want to come down on people? Do you say you cant be on campus if youre not vaccinated? Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said. We didnt want to go that far.

School leaders decided not to second-guess doctors or question someones religious beliefs, he said.

Thats just not a conversation we want to get into, Sands said about the religious exemptions. Everybody has their own approach to their faith.

Virginia Tech, which posted a record enrollment of more than 37,000 this fall, also sent away 134 students who failed to show they had been vaccinated or received an exemption.

Jake Yetzke, a junior at Oakland University in Michigan, thought about transferring, but he didnt want to give up his full scholarship after the school announced a vaccine mandate for the fall.

He received a religious exemption for reasons he didnt want to share. Getting the shot should be a personal choice, he said.

But even with the exemption, he feels ostracized because hes no longer allowed to be a part of the university choir or its vocal jazz ensemble, he said. During voice classes, he has to sing behind a plexiglass wall while wearing a mask and hes treated differently by teachers now, he said.

Its a lot of that kind of stuff, said Yetzke, a music technology major. Im barred from doing a lot. Thats really frustrating because I came here to sing.

Amanda Born, who attends Grand Valley State in western Michigan, also received a religious exemption. She said she knows at least 10 students who didnt want the vaccine but went ahead with it anyway.

It was a scare tactic, and it worked, she said. They want to continue living their life, going to the school they chose and continuing with their career path.

The nine-campus University of Louisiana System told students immediately after the FDA approval that they would need to be vaccinated or receive a medical, religious or philosophical exemption before signing up for classes next semester. State law there provides for broad exemptions to vaccine mandates.

The results have been mixed: A third of the students at McNeese State University have applied for an exemption, while at the University of New Orleans just 6% have asked to skip the shot. Overall, inoculation rates have increased.

Jim Henderson, whos president of the system, said there likely would have been twice as many exemption requests if they had required the vaccine before FDA approval.

Every step chips away at hesitancy, he said. If we approach this in an instructional and educational way, students are going to be receptive to that for the most part.



Associated Press Writer Kathleen Foody in Chicago contributed to this report.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Election officials in Montana are ringing alarm bells that the Secretary of States plan to move forward with new election software at the start of 2022 could leave them with a largely untested, unworkable system for next year's federal elections.

Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen is planning to replace a statewide election database system that tracks voter registrations and interacts with nearly all levels of running elections, from updating precincts to printing and accepting ballots, by January 2022. Her predecessor, Corey Stapleton, had previously begun the process of switching from the current system, Montana Votes, with a new system known as electMT.

But during a meeting of the Legislatures State Administration and Veterans Affairs Interim Committee last week, the top county election officials from Cascade and Ravalli counties said that months of delays and a missed deadline for a major test during this years general elections has created the need to push back that switch-over date. They also indicated Jacobsen's office has been unresponsive to their concerns.

At some point, its going to be a fabulous program, but right now we want to  not be forced to use a program that we have no faith in and we dont have faith in this system right now because we havent been able to test it, Cascade County Clerk and Recorder Rina Fontana Moore told the committee.

A spokesman for Jacobsens office, Richie Melby, did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Plettenberg said before changing systems, it's critical to be able to conduct a parallel test  using the old system to actually run an election while simultaneously using the new system before officially switching over, to detect any potential discrepancies or remaining bugs in the software. Moore said that Jacobsen's office had assured the states clerks and recorders in July that Elect Montana would be ready for that major trial in time for this years November elections.

That didn't happen, and instead, Plettenberg said the Secretary of State is inviting election officials to Helena in early December to conduct a mock election on the new system.

The preliminary testing of the new system is done in 15 stages, referred to as sprints, which are each scored based on dozens of criteria. Moore said that while election officials aim to achieve at least a 90% score for each of those sprints, the top scores have been barely hitting the 70% mark. Plettenberg added during an interview Wednesday that the software development team still hasnt finished programming for the final sprint.

Moore suggested that if the new system launches before its ready, there could be grave repercussions in next years federal elections. Recently most Republican lawmakers signed on to an effort to create a special committee to probe the states election security  an effort driven by right-wing legislators and activists who have pushed unsubstantiated theories that the 2020 general election was marred by widespread fraud.

As an election administrator, and someone that actually runs elections, the last thing I need to do is explain to a voter next year, Oops, there was a bug in the system. Sorry you got issued two ballots,' Moore said.

While Democrats on the committee expressed alarm about the election officials testimony, Sen. Doug Kary, R-Billings, noted that the interim committee has no ability to intervene in a decision that ultimately rests with Jacobsen.

If there is an issue here, it must be resolved between the county and the state, Kary said. We cannot meddle into it; that is an operating procedure, we deal with laws and regulations and rules. We do not operate departments.

Sen. Mike Cuffe, a Eureka Republican who worked closely with Jacobsen during the legislative session, echoed those comments and suggested the clerks were bringing forth their complaints at the last minute.

Although we are an oversight committee, were not the boss of the Secretary of State, Cuffe said.

Moore responded that her group of county election officials have been working with the Secretary of States office for two years on the new system, and have more recently tried and failed to bend Jacobsens ear on the lingering issues, with little response from her office. In the past month, she said multiple attempts to bring their concerns forward had only elicited a response that Jacobsen is sticking to her plans to kill the current system on Dec. 23. The electMT system would go live on Jan. 3.

This is hard for us. This is hard that no ones listening to us, and this was an act of desperation today, Moore told the committee. We have thought long and hard about taking this final step and we decided that today, to make this public, is the only option that we have if this system doesnt work and they insist on pushing it on us and making us go live next year. This is the integrity of Montanas election.

Plettenberg said Wednesday that the Secretary of States office is currently planning to host election administrators for a two-week test of the system, which will wrap up Dec. 17. The interim committees next meeting, on Dec. 16, will include an update from election administrators on those efforts to get the new system up to par.

Well just have to see if that alleviates our concerns, but it still leaves our concern that we still wont be able to do a parallel test for the election, she said. We feel this is very rushed.

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As if Flathead Lake wasnt big enough, dont forget the four islands open for public enjoyment in its 191-square-mile basin.

Wild Horse Island gets lots of attention, but plenty of people also appreciate Cedar, Douglas and Goose islands too. And someone possibly appreciated Bird Island too much, setting it on fire last summer and burning about 80% of its wildlife habitat.

To deal with this growing interest, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks has started a public review of its island management. The wildlife habitat protection areas on the four little islands got an initial plan in 2009. Since then, levels of human waste, garbage, vandalism and other problems have reached the point where a new assessment is needed. Wild Horse Island and its state park are covered under a separate plan.

The biggest problem is a lack of bathrooms, according to FWP spokesman Dillon Tabish.

During peak summer months, heavy day use and overnight visitation has been documented on Cedar and Bird Islands and has resulted in large amounts of human waste, Tabish said in an email. With growing use, litter is also persistent, and vandalism has been extreme.

The 2020 fire on 30-acre Bird Island  southwest of Blue Bay on Aug. 3, 2020  burned most of the trees on the rocky outcrop, including most of the bird nesting habitat established in 1947. The fires cause remains undetermined. Due to its rocky terrain and lack of safety areas, firefighters opted to let it burn rather than risk fighting in its confined space.

Cedar Island sits just east of Shelter Island and Rollins on Flatheads western side. Douglas Island lies to the north, near West Shore State Park.

FWP allows five campsites on Cedar Island per night, and allowed two on Bird Island before it burned. The sites must be a minimum of 75 feet from the shoreline and sleep no more than six people.

The two rocky outcrops known as ONeil Islands allow day use only.

"It's been a strange three years," FWP Region 1 Parks and Recreation Program manager Dave Landstrom said. "The park system as a whole saw just incredible growth in 2020. The pandemic played a big role in that, as the parks were open and available and people were coming to Montana to escape more populated places."

Even though the use pressure dropped in 2021 by about 25% over 2020, Landstrom said that would still put the year ahead of 2019.

"We'll see well over 300,000 visits to the state parks on Flathead Lake this year, and that doesn't include the fishing access sites," Landstrom said. "The trends we see on the mainland parks are what we see on the islands too."

At 27.3 miles long and 191 square miles of surface area, Flathead Lake could float eight Manhattan Islands. In fact, it could float the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island as well, leaving New York City with just Queens on shore. As it is, Flathead has more than a dozen inhabited islands, including Wild Horse which has both private and public acreage and a developed state park.

The FWP proposal would set up established campsites on Bird and Cedar islands in traditional locations, limiting proliferation of additional sites in the remaining wildlife habitat. The islands would also get composting toilets installed.

The campsites would be offered on a first-come/first-served basis with a fee for camping. Camping would not be permitted on Douglas Island. Reservations would probably be handled through FWPs existing reservation system.

The agencys alternatives are doing nothing, or prohibiting access to the islands altogether.

FWP is seeking public input on how to balance recreational opportunities and habitat conservation on the four islands. A breakdown of the specific proposed actions is detailed in a draft environmental assessment published online at https://fwp.mt.gov/public-notices/news/2021/oct/1020-flathead-lake-islands-management-plan.

Written comments can be mailed to: Flathead Lake Islands Proposed Recreation Management, cc: Coltrane; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; 490 N. Meridian Road; Kalispell, MT 59901, or sent by e-mail to JColtrane@mt.gov.

Comments can also be submitted online at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices.

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DEER LODGE  One burr in the saddle has been debate about whether a portion of the old West Side Road within the Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site remains a county road.

Another hitch ties into Montanas past and present penchant for cow-punching: Is there such a thing as a bicycle-friendly cattle guard?

Phase 2 of the Old Yellowstone Trail, a recreational trail that promises to be a popular amenity for Powell County and Deer Lodge, would travel through the Grant-Kohrs Ranch to reach a possible trailhead on Washington Street or, headed north, to an existing trailhead off the Rock Creek Cattle Road and on to Garrison.

Grant-Kohrs still punches cows and has been maintaining the West Side Road, which the county has never abandoned.

Kathryn McEnery, county attorney for Powell County, said Tuesday that negotiations continue between Powell County and the Grant-Kohrs Ranch to draft a cooperative management agreement that fits National Park Service and county guidelines for the portion of trail through the ranch.

There are a few legal, technical issues about who does what, McEnery said. Were finalizing the language.

As for the West Side Road, she said, There might be some differences of opinion about whose road it is.

Jacqueline Lavelle, superintendent of Grant-Kohrs, said trail access through a portion of the ranch requires Grant-Kohrs to follow provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act.

As for the West Side Road, she said, Weve been actively maintaining that road.

Lavelle said the ranch has had concerns about potential effects of the trail on ranching operations and water rights.

I think we are working toward the same goal, she said. Its a great project.

For now, the ranch doesnt allow bicycles. Phase 1 of the Old Yellowstone Trail travels from a trailhead at Rock Creek Cattle Road to a trailhead in Garrison and also a short distance south toward Deer Lodge. This roughly 7.5-mile path follows the former right-of-way of the Milwaukee Road and is pedestrian and bicycle friendly.

The county acquired the railroad right-of-way with money from the states Natural Resource Damage Program.

Phase 2 would add about 4.5 miles and bring the trail to Deer Lodge.

McEnery said she is hopeful that work on Phase 2 could begin in spring, once an agreement with Grant-Kohrs is finalized and construction plans can go out for bid.

The trails entire length is surrounded by a combination of private and publicly-owned lands. Adjacent owners include the state, National Park Service, Montana Rail Link, the Rock Creek Cattle Company, Bighorn Cattle Ranch and other individual property owners.

The Old Yellowstone Trail prohibits motorized use. Dogs will be barred from some portions of the trail and leashes will be required on other sections because of proximity to livestock.

Much of the trail parallels the Clark Fork River and is therefore conducive to wildlife watching.

Powell County sought public input on the Old Yellowstone Trail beginning in the summer of 2018 with an online survey and an open house. This was followed by public outreach to adjacent landowners, a public hearing on the final draft of the trail plan and its adoption by county commissioners.

The trails name pays homage to the Yellowstone Trail, a transcontinental automobile route first conceived of by J.W. Parmley and business associates in South Dakota who wanted a good road from Ipswich to Aberdeen. At the time, good roads were rare.

It ultimately became known as Americas first coast-to-coast highway and traveled through southwest Montana and a portion of its original roadbed parallels Phase 1.

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Elmer Cahoon longed to join the fight during World War II. But Uncle Sam turned him down. Not because of physical infirmity. Not because of any personal limitation.

Uncle Sams rejection came during a time when there was a groundswell of unity and patriotism in the United States about stopping the brutal expansionism of Germany and Japan.

Uncle Sam said no because one of Elmers brothers, Wells Cahoon, a new pilot, had died when his plane crashed at the very end of flight training, just as he was poised to deploy overseas. And Uncle Sam said no because another one of Elmers brothers, Ralph Cahoon, was also serving.

Nearly 80 years later, Wells Cahoon, 70, Elmers son and his uncles namesake, choked up when describing how his father felt troubled for years by being denied an opportunity to fight in what some have termed the last just war.

They wouldnt let my Dad join, Cahoon said. It really haunted him.

Elmer was haunted too by the death of his brother, the pilot.

And that grief reared decades later when Cahoon told his parents, Elmer and Vera, that he wanted to enlist in the U.S. Army and be a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam.

It was Elmers turn to say No. And he and Vera were emphatic.

Instead, Cahoon, who grew up in Potomac in Missoula County, signed up for the Army National Guard before finishing high school at Sentinel in Missoula and formally enlisted in June 1970.

My mom was just absolutely livid about my enlisting in the regular Army, Cahoon said.

Today, as the father of two sons, Elmer and Levi, Cahoon has a different perspective on why his parents did not want him to go to Vietnam as a helicopter gunner  an especially hazardous duty.

I understand it. You dont want to see your kid go over there with a death wish, he said.

Cahoon completed basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and then trained in heavy artillery at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, a storied base whose grounds include the grave of Apache leader Geronimo.

Afterward, he returned home and remained in the Army National Guard. After the May 1970 shootings by members of the Ohio National Guard of students at Kent State University, Cahoons unit received training in crowd control and riot response. Four unarmed students were killed at Kent State and nine others were wounded.

It was a time of intense opposition on college campuses to the Vietnam War.

Meanwhile, Cahoons training continued with the Army National Guard in Montana. It included instruction preparing him to serve as a sniper.

The best part about it was that we trained on rooftops. I didnt have the patience to sit still like you see in the movies, he said.

Cahoon said he became pretty proficient with the sniper rifles used in training, including the M14.

I very seldom missed, he said.

The instructor liked to use watermelons as targets because its fleshy and reddish interior reacted a bit like human victims when shot.

The instructor told us, If you havent got the stomach to shoot at watermelons you need to leave right now.

His heavy artillery experience included being a fuze setter and then sergeant in charge of the gun. Weapons included a self-propelled howitzer.

Cahoons unit deployed once to the Montana State Prison to provide support during an employee strike and played a similar role at the Montana State Hospital.

He left the National Guard in June 1977.

Cahoons life outside of the Guard wasnt without hazards.

His father worked for many years as a logger for the Anaconda Co. And Cahoon worked in logging too, sometimes as the operator of the pioneer CAT leading other dozers building road to get into timber stands.

He also had a career in law enforcement, work that included about 15 years as a reserve deputy for the Missoula County Sheriffs Office.

Cahoon was called out once because a fugitive from Idaho had fled into the Potomac area, territory Cahoon knew well. The man had kidnapped a judges daughter and set the judges house on fire, Cahoon said.

He responded and the suspects vehicle was in view. A fellow officer shot out the back windshield and Cahoon saw that the fugitive was armed with a handgun.

He pointed his gun at me. He had a .45. He took aim and then he shot himself.

On another occasion, Cahoon helped round up four male escapees from the Idaho State Correctional Institution. A logger had spotted the suspected escapees walking across a meadow in the Belmont Creek area and called the sheriffs office. Authorities, including Cahoon, soon arrived and the men surrendered without incident.

But then Cahoon became a single father to boys Levi and Elmer following a divorce.

And Levi asked his father a memorable question as Cahoon prepared for work as a reserve officer.

Levi said to me one day, Dad, are you coming home tonight?

Cahoon didnt leave law enforcement. But he moved the family to Plains and worked for the Sanders County Sheriffs Office as a civil officer, a safer though not altogether safe job. He served legal papers and transported prisoners to the Montana State Prison.

Levi grew up to join the Army National Guard and deployed twice to Iraq. Elmer, living in Potomac, is a truck driver who hauls cattle.

Cahoon said Elmer nearly died from COVID.

Later, Cahoon and his second wife, Glenda, moved to Wyoming for jobs that included work at a bentonite mine in Powell.

After Cahoon was hurt on the job, the couple started thinking about returning to Montana, probably Helena, to settle down.

We were going to Helena to put our stuff in storage and my wife says, I want to go into Anaconda and have lunch. We drove around a little bit and the rest is history.

The Cahoons have called Anaconda home for about 10 years.

And Wells is the commander of American Legion Post 21.

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Our health care system has been pushed to the brink over the last year and a half. From the height of COVID in 2020 when hospital beds were full across the country and non-emergency treatment was being postponed nationwide, to where we are now with vaccines widely available and the most serious impacts of this disease prevented by shots, the health care system has been working in overdrive for 18 straight months.

Unfortunately, some disappointing information about health care in this country was made evidently clear when our health care system was put under a microscope during the pandemic. Chief among them being that not every individual in the United States has the same fair shot at accessing the high-quality, affordable health insurance that is needed for overall health and wellbeing.

This is particularly true in rural communities, where COVID case counts were often higher and access to care was far more limited. Montanans are well aware of the benefits that come with having high-quality, accessible and affordable care even in the most rural parts of the state. Its part of the reason why they strongly support rural Veterans Affairs hospitals and offices, and why 92 percent of Montana voters said they think its important that policymakers prevent their closures in recent polling from ALG Research and Lake Research Partners, conducted on behalf of Consumers for Quality Care. Beyond that, 82 percent are in support of improved broadband access to allow for greater access to telemedicine.

The fact of the matter is that guaranteeing access to health care, particularly for rural Montanans, is a major priority for voters in the state. A second priority is ensuring that the care Montanans receive is affordable.

Though coming out of the pandemic, over 60 percent of Montana voters agree there needs to be caution in making changes to the health care system, theres widespread support for legislation to lower deductibles (95 percent), as well as for reducing overall insurance costs (49 percent). For far too many in the state, insurance is simply unaffordable, the majority of Montanans (82 percent) agree that that the amount they pay for health care seems to be going up every year.

The time is now for common-sense reforms to the health care system, and that includes guaranteeing access to care, including for those in the most rural parts of Montana and the country writ large, and also guaranteeing individuals can afford their insurance and the care they need to thrive. As the country emerges from the pandemic, there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change the health care system to make sure it works for all consumers. Its paramount that state and federal lawmakers take advantage of it.

Josh Manning is a combat veteran and former Missoula resident. His work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Foreign Policy and Newsweek. He now lives in Tacoma, Washington.

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Cartagena contracts cleaners to remove rotting biomass from Mar Menor coast



The 140,000-euro contract signed by Cartagena council starts on December 1

After some incredibly bad PR for the Cartagena Town Hall earlier this week, when the Mar Menor canal was turned bright blue by bicycle lane paint , the local council has announced that they have contracted a cleaning service to remove decomposing biomass from bathing areas along the lagoons coast.

The cleaning personnel will be working for eight hours a day from Monday to Friday, with the possibility of increasing the working hours to weekends, bank holidays and even night-time if needed. However, the cleaning activity will be limited to the areas of the Mar Menor that are within the municipality of Cartagena.

STV is the company contracted for the job, with a 7-month contract worth around 140,781 euros, which starts on December 1.

In addition, the council has also issued a report regarding the damages registered on footbridges and bathing structures in the Mar Menor, in order to file an official complaint (denuncia) for acts of vandalism.

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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Global luxury comprehensively is expected to reach 1.1 trillion euros ($1.26 trillion) this year, which is about 10% below 2019 levels. The hardest-hit sector is luxury cruises, with spending down 80% from pre-pandemic levels and reduced even from 2020. Still, strong bookings for 2022 offer glimmers of hope, DArpizio said.

With international tourism still hampered, consumers have started picking up their new fashion trends at home, instead of fueling duty-free sales abroad.

U.S. consumers have at least temporarily supplanted the Chinese as the biggest spenders, accounting for one-third of all sales this year, compared with about 23% by Chinese shoppers, who were on par with Europeans. That trend is expected to invert by 2025, with nearly half of all spending by Chinese consumers, just over 20% by Americans and 18% by Europeans.

Bain forecasts that tourism will rebound by the end of next year to mid-2023, but DArpizio said she expects the pandemic will have established new habits, with luxury shoppers doing a lot of spending at home, not necessarily abroad.

We expect tourists to come back. We dont expect them to be as relevant as before, she said.
The others were buried in multiple plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. They were classified as non-recoverable until 2015, when crew from the Oklahoma were exhumed from the Punchbowl.

Skeletal and dental analysis was performed, and DNA was compared to Harold's family members to get a match.

"Carneys name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are missing from WWII," the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced in October. "A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for."

A short, difficult life

Harold Carney spent part of his life in an orphanage.

His mother died after delivering his youngest sister in 1928. He was just 10 years old, and his father couldn't care for all the children alone, so Harold and three others were sent to an orphanage.

"At different times, different family members got the kids out of the orphanage," said his niece, Stephanie Nelson of Rock Island. "As adults, the kids were very close, especially the sisters. They all took a trip to Ireland together."
A political novice, first-time candidate and Bettendorf business owner has announced his intent to run as a Republican in 2022 for the U.S. House in Iowa's new 1st Congressional District.

Kyle Kuehl, who owns and operates FSBO Homes Quad Cities (For Sale By Owner) and launched Code Ninjas Quad Cities -- a franchise that teaches computer coding and STEM education to children ages 5 to 14 -- issued a news release Monday announcing plans to run for the open U.S. House seat representing much of southeast Iowa, including Scott, Clinton, Muscatine, Cedar, Johnson and Louisa counties.

Kuehl, who has "absolutely zero political experience," said he is running on his experience serving in the military and as a business owner.

"When I look at Congress, there are way too few veterans in Congress and way too few business owners in Congress, and, honestly, thats why not much is getting done," Kuehl said. "Whether left or right, that will appeal to a lot of eastern Iowa folks looking for those attributes in Congress."

According to a press release, Kuehl served as sniper in the Iowa Army National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.
Thousands of migrants and refugees have flocked to Belarus' border with Poland, hoping to get to Western Europe, Many of them are now stranded at the frontier, setting up makeshift camps as Polish security forces watch them from behind a razor-wire fence and try to prevent them from entering the country. The European Union has accused the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, of aiding illegal border crossings in retaliation for EU sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging migration to Europe.


MEAN GIRLS

Cuomo and several former employees all testified about a nickname used around the office for his top aides: the mean girls," a group that included his hard-driving top adviser, Melissa DeRosa.

Cuomo testified he was aware of the moniker, but dismissed it as a silly gossipy thing that a former male staffer came up with. Cuomo also argued its sexist to portray successful female employees as catty.

Bennett said the mean girls were part of Cuomos efforts to instill division among his employees.

Like his test is setting up someone in a position where theyre being abused by the people around him and not just directly from him, Bennett testified.



BRINGING THE RECEIPTS

When she was promoted to executive assistant, Bennett said an outgoing staffer told her she'd be expected to buy Cuomo coffee and not be reimbursed.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  The first man killed by Kyle Rittenhouse on the streets of Kenosha was shot at a range of just a few feet and had soot injuries that could indicate he had his hand over the barrel of Rittenhouses rifle, a pathologist testified Tuesday.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  A Utah doctor is accused of lying about ill patients in his climbing party to get a high-altitude government helicopter to rescue him off the tallest mountain in North America after a failed summit and of destroying evidence.
NEW YORK (AP)  Boeing has reached an agreement with the families of the victims of a March 2019 crash in Ethiopia of one of its 737-Max aircraft that claimed 157 lives.

In the agreement, Boeing accepted responsibility for Ethiopian Airways flight 302 losing control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The plane nose-dived into a barren patch of land about 40 miles (65 kilometers) from Addis Ababa. There were no survivors.

At the time, it was the second crash to involve a Boeing 737-Max aircraft in six months. After the Ethiopian crash, U.S. authorities grounded the 737-Max until Boeing could fix the plane's faulty software.

In court documents filed Wednesday in federal court in Chicago, where Boeing is based, the company admitted that its software was to blame for ET 302's loss of control and destruction, and that the 737-Max was in an unsafe condition to fly. Boeing's 737-Max were recertified to start flying again earlier this year.

The agreement does not involve monetary compensation to the families as of Wednesday, according to court records, but it does allow victims' families to pursue individual claims in U.S. courts instead of their home country. The crash killed people of 35 nationalities.
Kyle Rittenhouse points and names people in a photograph taken on the night of Aug. 25, 2020, as he testifies during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Nov. 10, 2021.
Editor

Zaldy Dandan is the recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His three books are available on amazon.com
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) will hopefully present a solution to the legal dispute over precious cellular network capacity by the end of the day.

This is according to Telkom CEO Sipho Maseko, who spoke to SABC News about the meeting Icasa called with South Africas major mobile network operators.

MyBroadband also spoke to an industry source with knowledge of what was discussed at the meeting. They said that Icasa committed to issuing a notice on Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, Rain, and Liquid Intelligent Technologies met with Icasa on Monday afternoon to discuss the regulators decision to claw back radio frequency spectrum assigned at the start of South Africas Covid19 epidemic.

Spectrum represents raw network capacity and is the lifeblood of mobile operators like Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, and Rain.

Icasa assigned the spectrum on an emergency, temporary basis under the National State of Disaster regulations for the Covid19 pandemic.

It said that the temporary spectrum would be valid for three months or would expire three months after the State of Disaster ended  whichever came first.

After extending the temporary assignments every quarter, Icasa issued a notice at the end of August informing the networks that they must return the spectrum on 30 November.

This led to an outcry, with MTN and Telkom warning that Icasas decision would have catastrophic consequences on South African end-users.

Together with other operators, MTN and Telkom explained that data traffic on their network remains much higher than their pre-pandemic levels.

They argued that revoking the temporary spectrum would cause significant network congestion and could even lead to price increases when South Africa could ill-afford it.

The two operators ultimately filed papers in the Pretoria High Court to block Icasa from taking back the temporary spectrum.

To de-escalate the situation, Icasa CEO Willington Ngwepe sent letters to Vodacom, MTN, Telkom, Cell C, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, and Rain, inviting them to an online meeting on Monday at 14:00.

Icasa has proposed an amendment to the current Covid19 regulations that radio frequency spectrum issued on an emergency basis be re-issued under a new provisional assignment scheme.

The new applications will cover the 700MHz, 800MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and 3500MHz spectrum bands.

Icasas proposal is in-line with communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavhenis comments in October that government was considering interim spectrum assignments to bridge the gap between the end of November and March next year.

March 2022 is a significant date because thats when Icasa hopes to have concluded an auction and licensing for the sought-after spectrum.

According to MyBroadbands source, the meeting with Icasa was not a consultation.

The regulator was simply informing South Africas wireless carriers what to expect in the coming week.

It is unclear precisely what regulatory process Icasa would follow, but in essence, it will ask operators to give back the temporary spectrum and reapply for frequencies to tide them over until March next year.

While the spectrum auction is scheduled to happen in March 2022, it is worth noting that industry insiders believe the deadline is unrealistic and is setting Icasa up for failure.

It is hoped that Icasas proposed solution will consider the scenario that the spectrum auction needs to be delayed.

Our source said that Icasa did not give much attention to the spectrum auction during its discussion with operators on Monday.

This caused concerns that Icasa will repeat many of the same mistakes it made with its previous attempt to auction the spectrum.

MyBroadband contacted Rain, MTN, and Liquid for feedback, and they said that they could not comment on the meeting with Icasa at this time.

Vodacom said it would provide feedback as soon as it could.

We are supportive of ICASA proposing an out of court remedy, said Rain CEO Brandon Leigh.

Unfortunately, I cant comment further at this stage.

Liquid said that the meeting was held on a confidential basis and, as such, it would be inappropriate to comment or report on the discussions.

It was held in a collegial atmosphere with a focus on finding solutions.
In an effort to reduce emissions and comply with upcoming city and state mandates, Calistogas Planning Commission on Wednesday endorsed an ordinance that would prohibit future gas stations within city limits.

The measure does allow for the continued operation of the citys three existing gas stations, and provides incentives to modernize operations to include charging stations for zero-emission vehicles.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to recommend the city council approve the ordinance. Commissioner Alissa McNair cast the dissenting vote.

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The ordinance states that if one or two operators goes out of business, a new one would be allowed to come in, and unlinks car washes from the definition of service station so car washes would still be allowed, given the proper permits.

The ordinance was drafted by city staff with the help of similar amendments already passed by Petaluma and American Canyon.

The motion furthers the goals of the Climate Action Plan adopted by the city council in 2014, which sought to reduce the citys emissions by 15 percent. On Aug. 3, the council adopted a resolution declaring a climate emergency, and committed the city to net-zero emissions by 2030. The council asked staff and Calistogas Green Committee to look into the gas station ban.

Theres a lot of momentum moving in this direction, and if we dont join that momentum it could potentially leave us in the dust, said Chair Scott Cooper. Government policies are moving this way.

During the hour-long discussion, questions were raised about whether the city might be moving too fast with the general publics ability to adapt to electric vehicles (EVs), and whether the measure was proactive or punitive.

I would rather support the things we do want rather than banning the things we dont want, McNair said, adding she was in favor of incentivizing current station owners to provide EV charging stations. I want to be supportive of this feel good ordinance but Im more in favor of the carrot than the stick.

The ordinance was brought before the city by Calistogas Green Committee, which pursued the idea at the request of the city council. The Committee cited transportation as the largest contributor to greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions in California.

Clearly the tide is turning on gas emission vehicles, and California is amply served by gas stations. The need for more gas stations will continue to decline," said Antoinette Mailliard, Chair of the Green Committee.

The city also determined that the current gas stations are adequate to serve existing and planned residential developments.

While current gas stations are within a 5-minute drive for residents within the city, McNair pointed out the town sees a lot of traffic from commuters from Lake County and elsewhere.

Im not pro gas station, and I dont think we need more, she said, adding she was in favor of competition, which might spur current owners to improve their operations. I want to support the climate action plan, and make forward progress, but not just progress for progress sake.

The measure now goes before the city council.

You can reach Cynthia Sweeney at 942-4035 or csweeney@weeklycalistogan.com.
The City of St. Helena is seeking to keep some of the rainwater that fell during the late October storm for city use instead of bypassing it all into Bell Creek.

During a closed session meeting on Nov. 1, the council directed staff to petition the California State Water Resources Control Board in hopes of keeping some of that rainfall in Bell Canyon Reservoir, despite a requirement in the reservoir's permit that rainfall before Nov. 15 must be bypassed into the creek.

City Attorney Ethan Walsh announced the move during Tuesdays City Council meeting.

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The storm dropped about 10 inches of rain onto the Bell Canyon watershed, where Bell Canyon Reservoir had stood at 28%, with 25% set aside for firefighting.

The city opened its bypass valves to maximum capacity as soon as it was safe to do so after the arrival of the storm inflows and maintained that (release) at maximum capacity during the rains and then at the rate of inflow thereafter, Walsh said. But even with those releases, the reservoir remains at approximately 76.7 percent full.

This additional water could be crucial to the citys ability to meet the health and safety needs of the community, particularly in light of the current prolonged state of drought that we find ourselves in, Walsh added.

The citys urgency petition will be posted online, Walsh said. The water board is expected to respond within 30 days.

St. Helena remains in a Phase II water emergency.

You can reach Jesse Duarte at 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com.

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A long-awaited plan to redo St. Helenas downtown sidewalks is now being split into three segments, with the first phase happening in 2022.

The original plan was to rebuild the sidewalks along Main Street between Pine Street and Mitchell Drive. Now the city is just planning to do the single block between Adams and Pine in 2022, while working to secure more funding and resolve complicated issues in the other two segments, which are loosely defined as Adams to Hunt/Spring and Hunt/Spring to Mitchell.

The projects funding gap was previously estimated at $2.4 million, depending on where bids come in, and conceptually could be more like $4 million today, City Manager Mark Prestwich told the City Council on Tuesday. The rising cost of concrete is largely to blame.

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The segmented approach will allow the city to take advantage of a $1.2 million grant that expires Dec. 31, 2022. Prestwich said he hopes the Pine-to-Adams segment could be done for $1 to $2 million.

Postponing the other two segments will also buy more time to wrestle with the complex right-of-way and easement issues, which are especially complicated between Adams and Mitchell.

What you would think would be a simple project  unfortunately has had every complication you could throw at it, Public Works Director Mark Rincon told the council.

Obtaining right-of-way clearance from Caltrans poses one challenge. City staff had thought the right-of-way extended from the face of one building to the face of the building across the street, but records indicate it's not that simple, and portions of the sidewalk could be outside the right of way. Title reports are necessary to clear up the matter.

Once the right-of-way issues are resolved, the city will need to obtain temporary construction easements from property owners to ensure that transitions to doorways and alcoves are properly constructed, according to a staff report.

Complicating the project even further are the sewer laterals that run from the sewer main to the individual properties. The city offered property owners loans of up to $7,500 to replace faulty laterals before the new sidewalks are constructed, in order to avoid having to tear them up later.

However, nobody has taken the bait, Rincon said.

After consulting with property owners, the city is now looking at replacing the laterals at the same time the sidewalks are being replaced, provided the landlords pay for their laterals. Landlords would still be free to replace the laterals on their own if they wish.

You can reach Jesse Duarte at 967-6803 or jduarte@sthelenastar.com.

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On a crisp Tuesday morning, Napa city staff members gathered to plant five Chinese elm trees at south Napas Playground Fantastico, in celebration of Arbor Day.

The trees, with roots initially contained in wooden crates, were planted over the course of an hour by city staff, who used a forklift to lift and place the trees into pre-dug holes. Then, staff members filled in the holes with soil and mulch and smoothed the dirt with shovels.

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Though Arbor Day is celebrated nationally on the last Friday of April, the city of Napa celebrates the event in the fall because its a better time for planting, said Jeff Gittings, the citys Parks, and Urban Forestry manager.

The Tuesday celebration marked the citys 31st Arbor Day and 30th year as a Tree City USA. To be recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation, a city must spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, maintain a tree board or department, have a community tree ordinance, and celebrate Arbor Day annually, Gittings said.

Gittings said the event also helps recognize the effort the citys Parks and Recreation department puts into maintaining city trees.

With about 60,000 trees in the city, we do a ton of tree work, Gittings said.

The chosen location this year, the plot of land just east of the Playground Fantastico play structure  located on Old Sonoma Road  was chosen in part because some trees were previously removed from the area after the city rebuilt the play area in 2019, said Gittings. Those trees were transformed into wood chips to serve as the ground beneath the new trees, he said.

Those trees were in decline, Gittings said at a City Council meeting last week. And so those trees have been removed and were replacing them, with two additional trees. Its a great place; its one of our new playgrounds, a great asset for the community, kind of a playground like no other, really. And so its really just a good spot to plant those trees.

Katrina Gregory, city of Napa recreation manager, said the Tuesday celebration was the second staff-only event in a row because of the pandemic.

Gittings added that the event in typical years involves a community effort from volunteers planting younger and smaller trees, and not the sturdier 48-inch elms planted Tuesday, which came from the citys nursery. Last year, the city planted eight similarly-sized Chinese elms in Lake Park for Arbor Day, said Gittings, and all have survived and thrived throughout the past year.

Council member Mary Luros said at the event that, as a mother of two young kids who use Playground Fantastico frequently, shes happy to see the new trees and excited for the shade theyll bring.

You can reach Edward Booth at (707) 256-2213.

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A crash of a tanker truck at midday Wednesday blocked a rural road in Sonoma County just outside Napa Countys Carneros area for several hours, according to the California Highway Patrol.

At about noon, a two-axle 2020 Peterbilt driven by 64-year-old David Sanders of Vallejo was headed north on Skaggs Island Road when, as it approached an intersection with Ramal Road, it edged onto the shoulder and overturned, according to Jaret Paulson, spokesperson for the CHP Napa bureau, which sent officers to the scene.

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Sanders suffered minor injuries in the wreck and was taken by American Medical Response ambulance to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center, according to Paulson.

The crash released less than 10 gallons of red-dye diesel fuel, but the spill nonetheless led to the arrival of Sonoma County fire and hazardous material crews to stop the leak and clean up the area, Paulson said. The site of the incident is less than a block from the border separating Sonoma and Napa counties.

Red-dye diesel is fuel that is colored to mark it as intended for agricultural equipment, rather than for trucks and other on-road vehicles and is taxed by states at a lower rate.

Skaggs Island Road remained closed as of 5:45 p.m. and was not expected to reopen until about 8 p.m., according to Paulson. The closure extended into the night because fuel had soaked into soil as well as spilling onto the pavement, and also because the diesel remaining in the crashed tanker had to be transferred to a second truck before the wrecked vehicle could be turned upright, Paulson said.
She has earned two doctorates, researched some of the world's deadliest viruses in Africa and spent 300 days in space  and now Kate Rubins is a soldier.

Rubins, 43, who returned from her latest six-month trip aboard the International Space Station in April, was commissioned as a major in the Army Reserve during a ceremony last week.

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She will serve with the 75th Innovation Command, a unit designed to help the Army make inroads into the private sector for research and development. It supports the Army Futures Command's efforts to modernize the service for strategic competition with China and Russia.

Rubins was born in Connecticut but raised in Napa, and graduated from Vintage High School in 1996. After earning degrees from UC San Diego and Stanford University, she launched a career as a biochemist and virologist, eventually leading an infectious disease laboratory based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and operated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Now, more than ever, we need top-notch scientists, clinicians and microbiologists like Dr. Rubins paving the way for the future of the Army and our great nation," Col. Amy Roy, deputy commander of U.S. Army Medical Recruiting Brigade, said during a commissioning ceremony Nov. 2 in Houston.

The astronaut and scientist will bring a "wealth of education, skills and experience" to the service's medical corps, said Lt. Gen. Jody J. Daniels, commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command.

She cited Rubins' degrees, fellowships and "on-scene medical experience combatting viral outbreaks in central and west Africa," in addition to being among the top four female astronauts in terms of time in space.

"You definitely travel quite a bit ... in different dimensions," Daniels said, before swearing Rubins into the service.

Rubins knew from the time she was 5 that she wanted to be an astronaut, geologist and biologist, Roy said.

"So far, she's achieved two out of those three goals," Roy said. "You know, just the easy goals."

In a NASA interview just before she was selected as one of nine members of space agency's 20th astronaut class in July 2009, she said she'd initially thought she would have to be a fighter pilot before getting a chance to go to space. But she became fascinated with molecular biology and viruses while working on public health prevention of HIV in high school and spent 15 years pursuing that interest.

While an undergraduate at the University of California, San Diego, she conducted HIV research at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences, which was founded by polio vaccine developer Dr. Jonas Salk. She earned a doctorate in cancer biology from Stanford University Medical School in 2005.

Rubins studied smallpox and the Ebola virus at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, she said in the 2009 NASA interview. On her first mission to the ISS in 2016, she became the first person to sequence DNA in space and grew heart cells in a cell culture as part of the Cardinal Heart experiment.

On her last mission to the ISS, she realized she wanted to give back to the U.S., she said last week. She'd also seen "what it does to people to live under an oppressive regime" during her time in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kazakhstan and Russia, she said.

Rubins decided to join the Army Reserve in part because of her time working at Fort Detrick, Maryland, from 2000 to 2009, she said.

The cutting-edge research at that facility was promising not just for therapeutic treatments and vaccines against bioweapons, but for civilian applications, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

Rubins was also inspired and encouraged by her stepfather, who had served as an Army Reserve chaplain for 10 years.

"I really admire him and I admire many of the people that are here today," she said. "A lot of my heroes are in the Army and they embody values that I would like to strive to become."

Daniels, head of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, said that no matter what goals someone might have in their civilian career, there's a place for them in the Army Reserve.

"It seemed like a really excellent fit" with her career as an astronaut, Rubins said. "I'm looking forward to both of these careers together."




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During the war, our soldiers were severely tortured by the representatives of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan, who, it turns out, have to carry out border control on the Goris-Kapan road. This particularly refers to the October 2020 atrocities in Kovsakan. The Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Armenia, Arman Tatoyan, wrote this on Facebook.

"The recently publicized report by the RA Human Rights Defender shows in detail with facts that they tortured, illegally killed people, then tied them to cars and dragged them. They photographed and video recorded all this, and then celebrated their victory with open faces (being sure that they would not be punished) with song and dance at the school after Tatul Krpeyan in Kovsakan.

Are the RA Armenian officials who legitimize their presence and actions with their statements, instead of taking steps to remove them, aware that none of these representatives of the State Border Service of Azerbaijan has been held accountable?

In these conditions, how are they [the Armenian officials] going to guarantee the rights and safety of the RA residents traveling on the Goris-Kapan road?

Once again, I want to clearly note that peace is of the highest value to us, but in no case can the people's rights be put at real risk of mass violationsand without guarantees, at that.

The facts related to the Kovsakan case are written in detail in my report. I suggest studying [it] in detail, the ombudsman of Armenia added.
It was possible to prevent Azerbaijan from carrying out border inspection of Armenian trucks and Armenian citizens on the Goris-Kapan motorway, but at the cost of corridor logic, it is inadmissible for us. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated this at Thursdays Cabinet session of the government of Armenia.

"As you know, since August 2021, Azerbaijan has been collecting customs duties from Iranian trucks on the Goris-Kapan motorways Eyvazli-Chayzam section which passes through its territory," he said.

Pashinyan said that an unofficial notification was received Wednesday from Azerbaijan that as of midnight Thursday, they are going to carry out customs and passport inspections also for Armenian citizens and Armenian goods.

"After that, we decided to direct the citizens moving through this section to the Kapan-Aghvan-Tatev-Halidzor-Shinuayr road. This roads Tatev-Aghvan section , which was impassable for several decades, was put into operation last week. Last Thursday I went to Kapan [city] and returned. I can say that we have received a quality road which requires certain improvements for a more comfortable passage of trucks with trailers. About 100 trucks with trailers passed along the Kapan-Tatev road from midnight to dawn," the Prime Minister added.

According to him, the situation will not change for the Iranian trucks after Wednesdays decision of Azerbaijan, with the only difference that they can now travel also on the paved Tatev-Aghvan road without paying additional customs duties.

"The length of the road from Yerevan to Kapan with the new route and vice versa is reduced, taking into account the quality of the road. Unprecedented road construction work is being carried out on the Yeraskh-Goris, Tatev-Ltsen, Shurnukh, Vorotan, and several other roads. As a result of the changes, no village has been cut off. To avoid speculation, let me say that the Azerbaijani checkpoint on the Goris-Kapan road is not in the territory of Armenia; it is about the Eyvazli section. If necessary, we [i.e., Armenia] will also introduce customs and passport inspection on the Goris-Kapan road," he assured.

Pashinyan stressed that the unblocking of regional communications shall take place without extra-territoriality.

"We do not discuss and will not discuss the corridor logic; this is specified in a trilateral format. In recent weeks, this logic has been confirmed by Russia, too, and in this context, the Azerbaijani side has made this decision. Armenia continues to adhere to the logic of fulfilling the statements of November 9 and January 11 in terms of unblocking all communications. We are interested in that, and we hope to come to a concrete decision soon based on the principles that are agreed upon within the framework of the tripartite working group. We need cool-headedness and strong nerves. A new environment is being formed around Armenia, which should correspond to our long-term strategic interests, and we are going that way," Nikol Pashinyan concluded.
At the government session, Pashinyan is once again trying to mislead the people. By giving the territory of the homeland to the Turk, he lies that, "You know, we gave that part [of the Goris-Kapan motorway to the Azerbaijanis] so that we would not give anything else." Opposition "Armenia" Faction MP Gegham Manukyan said this Thursday at the opposition rally in front of the main building of the government of Armenia.

He added that PM Nikol Pashinyan gives much more by lying every day.

"Since today, a while ago, he tried to deceive again, now with our [MP] colleagues, using our constitutional right, we will go to the government session, live, not behind closed doors, just to tell him what lies he is telling, how he is deceiving our citizen. No one, I repeat, Mr. police officers, can forbid us from exercising our constitutional right," Manukyan said, trying to approach the aforesaid government building.

The police, however, do not allow Manukyan and several other opposition lawmakers to approach the building.

A scuffle broke out between the police and the participants of the rally.
This section of the road has a special status, and because of this, the customs points that may be installed, at the moment Azerbaijan has not informed about the procedure, but the logic suggests that the procedure may be a certain toll or something. Secretary of the Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, said this Thursday in his briefing with reporters after the Cabinet meeting of the government of Armenia.

"Citizens can travel [on the Goris-Kapan motorway] by paying [a toll]. As we have an alternative road, it has already been builtthat is, the Kapan-Tatev road has been completely repairedand yesterday we announced that the road is open, so it is completely convenient for the citizens to use that road," he said.

And to the question why the Armenian side will also set up customs checkpoints on the Goris-Kapan motorway, the Security Council chief responded: "If these possible roads are used also by the Azerbaijani citizens, we will also implement a corresponding policy."

"We, naturally, considered it a priority not to have any deal in the corridor logic," the Security Council secretary added.
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov continues to develop the concept of the "Zangezur corridor..

The latest respective statements were made at the eighth meetingin Istanbul, Turkeyof the FMs of the countries that are members in the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States (Turkic Council).

According to Azerbaijani media, Bayramov "drew attention to peaceful initiatives in the South Caucasus and the successful cooperation between Baku and Ankara. The 3 + 3 initiative aimed at post-conflict regional cooperation is a vivid evidence of that.

According to the Azerbaijani FM, "this format can become a useful mechanism of cooperation amid the end of the long-term occupation of Azerbaijani lands by Armenia."

The head of the Azerbaijani diplomacy expressed confidence that from now on the processes in the South Caucasus will develop in a completely different direction.

"The joint statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia, and Armenia on November 10, 2020 was further processed by the adoption of a trilateral statement on January 11, 2021, which refers to the unblocking of communications in the region. Concrete steps are being taken to unblock the transport roads, including the very important Zangazur [(Zangezur)] corridor, which will contribute to the growth of trade in the region. We hope that the colleagues of the Turkic Council will also use these opportunities," Bayramov said.

To note, the Armenian side has repeatedly stated that there will be no "corridors", and the unblocking of regional communications implies the opening of roads which will be under the territorial jurisdiction of the countries they are in.
The opposition Armenia Alliance has issued a statement stating that there will be more concessions so long as the incumbent authorities are in power

The authorities, which symbolize defeat, made another agreed concession  the Goris-Kapan motorway is fully under the control of Azerbaijan. The capitulator declared that we Armenians will always move freely via that motorway. He was deceiving the people once again, and now he is announcing an alternative road.

Such embarrassing concessions can be expected every day so long as the incumbent regime is in power. The person holding the office of Prime Minister doesnt decide anything any longer. Azerbaijan is the one making decisions instead of him. The adversary is not only physically present in the sovereign territory of Armenia, but is also setting up customs and border control points in the territory. The incumbent authorities are impotent and wont show resistance to Azerbaijan. However, we will not put up with this.

This shows that the agenda of the regime to open an era of peace in the region means the loss of sovereignty of Armenia. What happened is a direct threat to the security of our compatriots in Syunik Province in terms of defensibility of Armenia. This also contains serious and unmanageable economic risks.

Dear compatriots, the alternative to this devastating situation is not war (some people are trying to present it this way). The alternative is dignified peace and the formation of a new government that will protect national and state interests. We have laid the foundation for a pan-national resistance against the authorities destructive policy. The pressures and violent acts of power structures will not break us down. We will go until the end. Syunik Province will not be ceded, Artsakh will not emptied of Armenians, and Armenia will not be Turkified.

Armenia will be a sovereign state, and Armenians will live in a just and strong country again, the statement reads.
YEREVAN.  Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan on Wednesday held a meeting in Paris with the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Andrew Schofer (USA), Igor Khovaev (Russia), and Brice Roquefueil (France), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The interlocutors discussed a wide range of issues on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Ararat Mirzoyan stressed that the comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict can be achieved only through peaceful means under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship on the basis of the principles and elements well-known to the sides.

The importance of the Co-Chairs visit to the region was underlined in the context of assessing the situation on the ground. During the meeting the sides emphasized the priority of implementing concrete steps towards the de-escalation of the situation in the region In this regard, Ararat Mirzoyan condemned the attacks on the civilian population of Nagorno-Karabakh, which resulted in casualties, as well as the consistent Armenophobic rhetoric.

Foreign Minister of Armenia and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs exchanged views on humanitarian issues that need to be urgently addressed. In this context, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the imperative for immediate and unconditional repatriation of the Armenian prisoners of war, hostages and other detained persons, as well as clarification of the fate of missing persons and preservation of the Armenian historical-cultural heritage.

On the same day, with the mediation and participation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan was hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean-Yves Le Drian.

During the five-party meeting, the Foreign Minister of Armenia expressed the position of the Armenian side to fully resume the peace process of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. Ararat Mirzoyan reaffirmed the position expressed during the meeting with the Co-Chairs, including on the need for de-escalation of the situation and addressing the humanitarian issues, as well as the inadmissibility of provocations and Armenophobic rhetoric.
The "stiff competition" between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific does not have to turn into a new Cold War, U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Thursday, describing the United States as "doubling down" on its presence in the region, Reuters reports.

In a speech delivered via videolink to Australia's Lowy Institute, Sullivan said the United States had quit Afghanistan to put more emphasis on the Indo Pacific where it wanted to minimise the potential for conflict.

Responding to questions, Sullivan sought to downplay fears about the risk of a new Cold War developing with China.

"All of this talk of the United States and China going into a new cold war and we are on our way to conflict... we have the choice not to do that," Sullivan said.

"We have the choice instead to move forward with what President Biden says is stiff competition, where we are going to compete vigorously across multiple dimensions, including economics and technology, where we are going to stand up for our values, but we also recognise China is going to be a factor in the international system for the forseeable future."
The Criminal Court of Appeal of Armenia today overturned the decision to release Deputy Mayor of Goris Menua Hovsepyan on bail and rendered a decision on arrest, Hovsepyans attorney Armen Melkonyan said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

This is the most embarrassing decision of the Court. How can it arrest a second-degree disabled father of five children who had simply tried to solve the issues of residents of villages near the Goris-Kapan motorway before entering the courtroom? In this case, the institution of release on bail should be banned in general in Armenia, or release on bail shall only be applied for criminals and oligarchs, he stated, adding that, in his opinion, the arrest is politically motivated.

His arrest is probably linked to the deployment of customs points, or this is an attempt to intimidate the residents of Kapan ahead of the upcoming mayoral elections, Melkonyan said, adding that he will dispute the decision in the Court of Cassation.

Hovsepyan is charged with embezzlement or squander by use of official position, in particularly large amounts and coercing to participate in election campaign by use of official position.

There are three others who are charged under this criminal case, including former Deputy Mayor of Goris Irina Yolyan.
Armenian News - NEWS.am presents the daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 11.11.21:

The Azerbaijani side has informed the Armenian side that starting today at 12 a.m. it will perform the function of border and customs control on the Goris-Kapan motorway, meaning it will set up customs points.

According to the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan, he "would like to declare that the Armenian side will also take appropriate actions, that is, it will set up customs and border control points on the motorway."

"We had initially launched activities so that we can work in this direction, but since the Kapan-Tatev road is ready, as already announced, it is safe to say that Armenia has a safe road leading from the Kapan-Tatev road to Goris or Yerevan, and the alternative road is ready for the transfer of goods and any type of vehicle. What is very important is the fact that this is a newly built road,' the Secretary of the Security Council added.

The opposition was holding a protest in front of the main building of the government of Armenia after Security Council secretary Armen Grigoryan announced that the Azerbaijani side had informed the Armenian side that it would set up customs checkpoints on the Goris-Kapan motorway of Armenia.

A large number of police officers were standing at the entrance to this building.

The police started to use force to apprehend protesters, including women and the elderly, from in front of the main building of the government of Armenia. No justification was provided by the police.

Several opposition MPs tried to enter this building, but they were allowed by police, causing a scuffle between the police and the participants of the opposition rally outside this government building.

The opposition Armenia Alliance has issued a statement stating that there will be more concessions so long as the incumbent authorities are in power

The authorities, which symbolize defeat, made another agreed concession  the Goris-Kapan motorway is fully under the control of Azerbaijan. The capitulator declared that we Armenians will always move freely via that motorway. He was deceiving the people once again, and now he is announcing an alternative road," the statement said.

Four people have been killed and four wounded as a result of the shootings in Yerevan.

A criminal case has been filed into this incident.

A total of 45 cartridges and bullets, 4 pistols, and 2 rifles with bullets were found at the scene of the shooting.

Among those killed is former MP Artush Simonyan.

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian on Wednesday had separate meetings with Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, who are visiting Paris to attend the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference.

According to the French foreign ministry, at the end of the bilateral talks, Le Drian opened the joint meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani FMs under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairsand which is called to continue their discussions that began in New York on September 23.

As of Thursday morning, 1,482 new cases of the coronavirus were confirmed in Armenia, and the total number of these cases has reached 325,521 in the country.

Also, 36 more deaths from COVID-19 were registered, making the respective total 6,867 cases.

The quarantine regime has been extended until June 20, 2022, due to the coronavirus situation in Armenia.

The decision was made at the meeting of the Government of Armenia on November 11.

The current restrictions in connection with the coronavirus have been preserved.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sues the Greek newspaper Dimokratia (Democracy) for a headline published on the front page on September 18, 2020, according to the Greek Reporter.

Erdogan's lawyers in a lawsuit filed in Ankara court against the newspaper's director, two editors-in-chief, and a journalist, demanded up to five years in prison, Greek Reporter reported.

An article in Dimokratia, detailing the actions of Erdogan and other Turkish officials during the tense period between Greece and Turkey, was titled "Siktir Git" which roughly translates to f*ck you, or screw you, in Turkish.

Dimokratia called the lawsuit a parody.
The Russian and New Nakhichevan Diocese of the Armenian Holy Apostolic Church has endorsed the deputy of the Parliament of Finland who is charged with offending representatives of sexual minorities. This is stated in the statement issued by the Christian Interconfessional Advisory Committee and posted on the website of the Division for Church Relations Abroad of the Patriarchate in Moscow.

We support the Christians who, in spite of the fact that liberalism is gaining momentum, stay true to the conventional principles of their faith and dont refuse to protect the biblical and moral values. We join all the brothers and sisters who definitely defend the truth of the Bible and are not losing hope that reason and intelligence will win, the statement reads.

The statement states that MP Pyayvi Ryasanen cited the remarks of Paul the Apostle about people who desecrated their bodies. According to the authors of the statement, in the modern world, the concept of truth is being replaced by the concept of pluralism, meaning the true and false opinions are on the same level.
The ruling Civil Contract Party is the political party that is implementing Bakus policy in Armenia. this is what secretary of the opposition With Honor faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Hayk Mamijanyan said during a special discussion with deputies of the parliamentary opposition today, clarifying the reason for the absence of representatives of the ruling majority.

According to the deputy, the opposition With Honor faction is currently busy campaigning ahead of the local self-government elections. Mamijanyan called on the residents of towns and villages in which there is an election campaign to approach representatives of the Civil Contract Party and ask them why the advancement of their candidate in the elections is more important than the urgent discussions in parliament.

The opposition MP is certain that the current situation is a result of agreements with Azerbaijan.

This isnt the first capitulator Nikol Pashinyan is reaching an agreement with the enemy state. In 2018, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan agreed with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, asking him to not create any tension on the border so that he can do away with the national and patriotic forces in Armenia, the parliamentarian assured.
A year after the end of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh, the situation has changed and continues to change drastically. This is what Russian political scientist Andrey Areshev said during a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am today.

This is mainly due to the fact that Armenia is no longer a foreign political entity as a result of its defeat. The second factor is the sharp growth of Turkeys influence in the region. The third factor is the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Nagorno-Karabakh which is maintaining the new status-quo in the medium-term. As far as the long-term prospect is concerned, nobody knows what will happen in Nagorno-Karabakh and what agreements Moscow and Baku will reach, he stated.

According to him, all the potential concessions of Armenias leadership, including the deployment of a border and customs checkpoint on the Goris-Kapan motorway, incite the adversarys intentions to receive much more by taking advantage of the situation created in Armenia.

This may lead to more incidents that the Russian side will try to prohibit, but there is an understanding that there are different players in the region. Some compare Armenia with Syria, and this will lead to a situation that may explode. The other hotbed of tension is the section in Nagorno-Karabakh under the supervision of Russian peacekeepers where there may also be different kinds of incidents, including murders of peaceful civilians, Areshev said.

The political scientist says the incumbent authorities of Armenia arent expressing a clear position on the so-called Zangezur corridor and are responding to the opposite proposals with consent. So, Russia is compelled to deal with the communications in the South Caucasus. I dont think circulating this topic favors Russia or Iran. However, Baku has a serious winning card that it will definitely use, that is, its intention to organize border and customs control in Lachin, if the issue of traffic through Syunik Province is delayed, Areshev concluded.

Starting from midnight, the Azerbaijani side deployed customs checkpoints on the Goris-Kapan motorway.
Yesterday a group of women of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) organized a meeting with commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops, Lieutenant General Genady Anashkin and expressed their concern about the unbridled acts and crimes that Azerbaijan has committed recently and the fact that Azerbaijan has remained unpunished. This is what organizer of the meeting Armine Avagimyan wrote on her Facebook page, adding the following:

Compatriots! On November 8, a tragic incident took place in the vicinity of Shushi  an Azerbaijani soldier fired gunshots at unarmed employees of a water company while they were repairing a water pipeline, after which 22-year-old resident of Stepanakert Martik Yeremyan died on the spot, and another three employees were injured.

Taking into consideration the fact that this is already the second incident that ends with the death of a peaceful civilian over the past month, the Armenians of Artsakh are extremely concerned, and there are many questions regarding the actions of the Russian peacekeeping forces to ensure security.

We would like to inform that yesterday a group of Armenian women of Artsakh and I organized a meeting with Commander of the Russian peacekeeping troops, Lieutenant General Genady Anashkin to express our concerns about the unbridled acts and crimes that Azerbaijan has committed recently and the fact that Azerbaijan has remained unpunished. We spoke out about the need to revisit the existing security mechanisms, a number of other urgent and vital issues, and we transmitted a letter to him.
Reimagining the college experience for an ever-changing world.

That is what the 13 staff and faculty members selected as the University of Miamis first Academic Innovation Fellows are working toward this semester. Selected by President Julio Frenk and Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, the fellows are meeting weekly to create a proposal for a novel undergraduate endeavor that will appeal to students well into the future.

We have learned a great deal about education over the last 19 months, and now we want to be on the front of the wave to revolutionize the undergraduate experience, so that students will leave the University prepared for careers that are not even defined yet, said Duerk. This is an opportunity to ask faculty to think and work intentionally outside of the box, and many of these fellows have been fearless in reshaping the classroom experience for our students, so their guidance will be invaluable.

As part of the Universitys strategic plan, the Roadmap to Our New Century, the fellows represent part of a larger focus on educational innovation encouraged by Frenk in his recent State of the University address.

Just as we continually develop new treatments in our academic health system, test them, and then incorporate the most effective cutting-edge approaches into our standard of care to better serve patients, we must intentionally cultivate a student-focused approach to the structure and delivery of curriculum, said Frenk. The world is rapidly changing, and we are deliberately accelerating the pace at which we drive innovation in the classroom. This is what leading the educational revolution looks like.

As the first initiative of the New Century Collegethe Universitys novel conceptual incubator for pioneering educational venturesthe fellows are working to outline a new, accelerated interdisciplinary degree program focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and design thinkingor a way to generate ideas that center on human benefits. It will likely take a hybrid approach, with in-person and online classes, experiential learning opportunities, and many individual and team projects.

Upon the fellows completion of a degree framework, which is expected soon, it will go through the appropriate University review and approval processes.

One of the fellows, Suhrud Rajguru, is an associate professor of biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering and in the Department of Otolaryngology at the Miller School of Medicine. Rajguru has guided students and faculty and staff members across the University in how to bring their innovations to the commercial market. He also has firsthand experience creating devices to improve the loss of hearing and balance. Rajguru is eager to help future students learn strategies that can help propel their ideas into the world, which is also one of the aims of the new degree program.

We want individual students and those working on interdisciplinary teams to have a higher probability of success in disseminating their ideas in whichever industry they choosehealth care, the environment, engineering, technology, or others, he said. If we can better prepare them about how to present those ideas and how to generate a social and/or economic impact using their innovations, I think itll be great.

Another fellow, associate professor Marianna Makri, who teaches in the MBA and Online MBA programs at the Miami Herbert Business School, has enjoyed the creative process of building a new degree.

Its been a very rewarding experience for me because we all came into the ideation process from different disciplines, which made for divergent thinking, she said. It was a design challenge that we are approaching with great curiosity.

Ideally, any models of success from the New Century College that help improve instruction, engagement, or the student experience could be streamlined into the Universitys existing curriculum, Duerk added.

Allan Gyorke, the Universitys associate vice president for information technology, chief academic technology officer, and assistant provost for educational innovation, who is also a fellow, agreed.

The future is coming, and change is constant, so why not think differently about the future of education instead of waiting for someone to invent it? Gyorke said. Lets start exploring what it should be and shape it.

With a first draft of the framework complete, and the creation of courses forthcoming, the fellows have agreed on a few key points. They will shape a multidisciplinary degree where students will get hands-on experience through partnerships with global businesses, nonprofits, and civic institutions; use cutting-edge technology; have the opportunity to learn multiple languages; possibly live abroad or attend classes remotely; and learn from their peers through collaborative projects.

Karen Mathews, associate professor of art history, has been integrating 3D modeling, as well as augmented and virtual reality, into her classes for several years. The challenge of learning how to bring ancient artifacts into the digital domain has encouraged her to work with other schools and departments across the University. Mathews has found this interdisciplinary approach enriching because it introduced her students to novel technologies, while also engaging them with the artworks themselves. Mathews said she is privileged to be a fellow.

Most of the fellows have all taken innovative approaches to their own disciplines, pushing the boundaries of their pedagogy, and empowering students to take on complex problems or great challenges, she said. And now is a powerful moment to do that. We want to provide an active learning environment where students are both solving problems and defining some of the content themselves. And we want students to take risks and embrace complexitynot shy away from it.

To help create the New Century College, the University is collaborating with the Minerva Project, a San Francisco-based educational company that opened its own college in 2014 called Minerva University, which was fully accredited last summer. The company is now recognized as a trailblazer, delivering top-tier educational programs through educational and corporate partners globally. A key component of Minervas curriculum is its own online platform called Forum, a learning environment tool designed to encourage participation.

The University of Miami and Minerva are working collaboratively with the fellows to create a degree that will support and accelerate some of the Universitys educational goals. Minerva founder and CEO, Ben Nelson, said he is thrilled for the opportunity.

This is a thriving University whose leadership has the foresight to reform its educational and experiential model to solidify its leadership among other universities in the coming century, he said. We are confident that Miamis exceptional strengths married with our wealth of experience in creating standard-setting programs at Minerva University, and other partners, will redefine education within the context of a leading American research university.

Top row, from left: Jennifer Kahn, Marianna Makri, Karen Rose Mathews, and Barbara Millet.

Middle row, from left: Harihara Natarajan, Suhrud Rajguru, Lokesh Ramamoorthi, Andrew Dawson, and Michele DeStefano.

Bottom row, from left: Marcia Narine Weldon, Rik Bair, Allan Gyorke, and Samuel Martin-Barbero.

The Academic Innovation Fellows represent a variety of experience from across the Universitys schools and colleges. The following is a list of the fellows.
Beijing joins push to ease pressure on Afghanistan

A mother holds her malnourished baby at a hospital in Kabul. Neighbouring countries have called for a restoration of humanitarian aid to the country. File photo: AP

The so-called Troika Plus group pledged on Thursday to try to ease severe pressure on Afghanistan's banking system as it warned of possible economic collapse and a humanitarian disaster that could fuel a new refugee crisis.



The group, made up of China, Pakistan, Russia and the United States, met in Islamabad against a backdrop of growing alarm over the situation in Afghanistan, where more than half the population is facing severe hunger over the coming winter.



"I urge the international community to fulfil its collective responsibility to avert a grave humanitarian crisis," Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote on Twitter, adding that Pakistan would provide aid including food, emergency medical supplies and winter shelters.



The Taliban victory in August saw the billions of US dollars in foreign aid that had kept the economy afloat abruptly switched off, with more than US$9 billion in central bank reserves frozen outside the country.



"Nobody wishes to see a relapse into civil war, no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability," Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.



"Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis," he told the envoys, who also met the Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.



Restrictions on the banking system put in place by international governments since the Taliban took over have deepened the pain for Afghans, prompting growing calls for the freeze on the reserves to be lifted.



The troika said it acknowledged concerns about the "serious liquidity challenges and committed to continue focusing on measures to ease access to legitimate banking services."



Pakistan has called on governments, including the United States, to allow development assistance to flow into Afghanistan to prevent collapse.



Pakistan has also discussed the idea of Afghanistan joining CPEC, its multi-billion dollar infrastructure project with China, which comes under the banner of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). (AFP)
Brittany Tichenor, a Black mother in North Salt Lake, Utah, is raising awareness about bullying after her 10-year-old daughter recently took her own life as a result of what her mother says was constant harassment at school.

Tichenor said in a recent news conference that she contacted the Davis School District multiple times months ago to discuss her concerns about her daughter Isabellas treatment at the school before the fifth grader hanged herself on Saturday, Nov. 6.

Brittany Tichenor vows to continue fighting after her 10-year-old daughter Isabella Tichenor (above) took her own life following what her mother describes as incidents of school bullying. (Photo: Fox 13 screenshot)

Even though my baby is gone, Im going to make sure that I stand for Izzy, Tichenor said while describing the teasing her daughter  one of the few Black students at less than 2 percent African-American Foxboro Elementary School  endured.

And Im going to make sure  for voices that cant be heard like hers  that this will never happen again to any kid.

Tichenor said her daughter voiced to her that she didnt believe her teacher liked her. Isabella, who was autistic, told her mother that she didnt believe her teacher liked her because she would greet all the other kids in her class but would ignore her.

The girl told her mother that students began taunting her after her teacher complained that the students smelled bad  many thinking it was Isabella.

Tichenor said this incident prompted her daughter to carry air freshener in school to use as perfume. Tichenors other children have reportedly faced their own issues at school as well. The mother claimed her 7-year-old daughter was called the N-word last September.

Tichenor said she was setting up to help Isabella with a book report this past Saturday before the child kissed her and walked into her room. Tichenor said she stepped away to the garage for less than ten minutes before her two other children found their sister hanging in her closet.

Isabellas death comes just two weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice announced last month that an investigation discovered the district ignored or failed to act on hundreds of reports of racially-motivated harassment and discrimination over the course of five years. 

Story continues

Hundreds of people gathered at the school in North Salt Lake on the night of Nov. 9 for a vigil held in honor of Isabella. Sapphire Robinson, a licensed child and family therapist, told KSL TV Izzys death could have been avoided. Her death is on Utahs hands, the people of Utah, the school district, she said.

The Davis School District said it is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the young girls death. In a statement released ABC 4 the district said, We, like everyone, are devastated by the death of this child. Our hearts go out to the family. Foxboro Elementary has worked extensively with the family and will continue to provide help to them and others impacted by this tragedy.

They continued, We take all incidents and reports of bullying seriously. At this point, the incident we are aware of involved another student. The teacher and administration responded quickly and appropriately. As with all allegations of bullying, our investigation will continue.

Tichenor said she plans on creating a nonprofit called I Stand with Izzy, telling reporters, Im doing this in speaking out because my child harmed herself and I dont want nobody, another parent to go through what I have to. Now, were going to be burying our 10-year-old. Like, its surreal. She added, Parents, please talk to your kids and even if you see a little sign, get them help as fast as you can.

In honor of Isbellas memory the PTA president said the school would be creating a Buddy Bench on the playground where students can go if they need a friend.

More stories from our partners:

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Enough Is Enough: Thousands Sue the City of Houston and Freight Rail Company Following Reported Cancer Clusters, Including Family of 13-Year-Old Who Died of Leukemia
Rapper Travis Scott performs during the Astroworld Festival at NRG Park on November 5, 2021 in Houston, Texas. Erika Goldring/WireImage

Bharti Shahani, a senior at Texas A&M University, has died of her injuries after attending Astroworld, her family's attorney said.

She was 22 years old.

9 people have died from the crowd surge at last week's Astroworld music festival.

A 22-year-old college student who attended Travis Scott's Astroworld concert has died of her injuries, raising the death toll in the crowd surge to 9.

Bharti Shahani, a Texas A&M senior, died Wednesday night, according to an attorney for the family, James Lassiter.

She was left without brain activity after being crushed in the crowd surge at the music festival last Friday.

At an emotional press conference, Shahani's mother, Karishma, broke down and said she didn't "have any words" for her loss.

"Bharti is love - pure. Always thinking about everybody," Karishma Shahani told reporters. "I am blessed God gave me [her]. But what happened now? What happened to my blessing now?"

"I want my baby back," she sobbed. "I won't be able to live without her. It's impossible."

Bharti's father, Bhagu "Sunny" Shahani, said she had a "bright future."

"She was the head of the family," her father, Sunny Shahani, said. "She was a very nice girl, always calm, always listened ... I don't want somebody else's daughter to go like this."

According to the family, Bharti wanted her organs to be donated.

She was accompanied to the festival by her cousin, Mohit Bellani, who survived. Speaking Thursday, Bellani described the scene as an "atrocity."

"I can't even call it a festival," he said.

In addition to the 9 deceased victims, hundreds of others were injured at the festival. Police have said an investigation could take weeks, if not months.

Bellani described seeing Bharti in the hospital later after she was hurt in the surge of the crowd.

"I walked into the room and I saw her with the tubes down her throat and I just wish we could bring her back somehow," Bellani said.

Story continues

The family dog, a husky named "Blue," keeps looking for her, he added.

Bharti's little sister, Namrata, described her as a "second mother."

"She was always someone I could look up to," she said. "I just don't know what the picture will look like from now on."

Astroworld was her first music festival, Namrata said.

"Stuff like this shouldn't be happening," she said. "This is not normal."

Read the original article on Insider
Sweet T's in Montclair is offering sweet potato pie for Thanksgiving dessert.

Hi, friends.

Happy Veterans Day to all of our brave servicewomen and men! First thing's first: click here for a list of restaurants and fast-food joints giving out free food to veterans. I hope you stay well-fed and happy. Thank you for your service!

OK, onto the news (and a bunch of Thanksgiving prep).

Restaurant openings

The Farmer's Daughter, Newton

A cheese board at The Farmer's Daughter, a new American restaurant in Newton

The Farmer's Daughter is an airy, rustic restaurant in Newton attached to the town's retail shop selling local offerings, antiques, gifts and gourmet items. The 42-seat restaurant opened in October.

It uses mostly local fresh ingredients to make dishes like sweet corn bisque, the Tuscan burger topped with Jersey Girl mozzarella, dry-aged strip steak on a bed of succotash and pork belly with bacon jam and pickled apples, among other dishes for lunch, dinner and brunch.

Openings: From a rustic gourmet American to a low-cal bar and grill, new openings in North Jersey

Petal Dust Cakery, Glen Rock

Cristina Vazquez has opened a new bakery in Glen Rock

Cristina Vazquez, a Hawthorne resident and graduate of Johnson & Wales pastry and bakery program, has converted a two-bay garage into a bakeshop, one half offering pastries and other baked goods, the other custom cakes.

Petal Dust Bakery, which had its grand opening Nov. 6, is strictly a grab-and-go place. Among the treats you can grab: brownies, cookies, cream puffs and a selection of specialty coffees.

Thanksgiving prep

Thanksgiving to go is available from Faubourg in Montclair

There are four things you should do now. That's right -- now. No procrastinating for Turkey Day! The first: make a reservation if you're planning to go out to dinner on Thanksgiving.

Make a reservation: Check out what these North Jersey restaurants are serving on Thanksgiving Day

2. If you're not going out and don't plan to cook, order catering.

Order catering: Where to find Thanksgiving catering for every taste and price-point in North Jersey

3. If you're vegan or have vegan members of the family, grab some of these to-go sides and desserts!

Story continues

Vegan dishes: Where to order vegan feasts in North Jersey for Thanksgiving

This vibrant cranberry meringue pie is available for order at Porter.

4. Make sure you have tons of pie.

Pie: 20+ gorgeous pies for your Thanksgiving table from North Jersey bakeries

News bites

Thrillist named four New Jersey restaurants the "best outside of New York City:" Sushi Aoki in Fort Lee, Razza in Jersey City, Bread & Salt in Jersey City and Jack's Lobster Shack.

More: These 4 North Jersey spots named best restaurants outside of New York City by Thrillist

Shorty Tang sesame noodles

You can now get Shorty Tang's legendary sesame noodles in New Jersey. His grandson Gilley has opened a ghost kitchen in Orange.

More: NYC's legendary (and best ever) sesame noodles now made and available in North Jersey

North Jersey has a new invite-only, secret restaurant: Sushi by Sea, which offers omakase (chef's tasting) sushi.

More: Another secret, by-invite-only restaurant opens in North Jersey

That's it from me! Until we meet again, here's where to find more dining news:

NorthJersey.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Rebecca King is a food writer for NorthJersey.com. For more on where to dine and drink, please subscribe today and sign up for our North Jersey Eats newsletter.

Email: kingr@northjersey.com

Twitter: @rebeccakingnj

Instagram: @northjerseyeats

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: 4 things you should do now to prep for Turkey Day
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  A fire at a COVID-19 hospital in Romania killed two people Thursday, authorities said. It was the fourth fatal fire at a Romanian COVID-19 hospital during the pandemic.

The blaze broke out in the infectious disease wing of the hospital in the city of Ploiesti as 21 patients were receiving care, authorities said. Officials identified the two victims as men in their 70s. A nurse who reportedly suffered serious burns was transferred to a hospital in Romanias capital of Bucharest.

The cause of the fire, which was quickly extinguished, was not yet known, but an investigation was underway.

Interim Prime Minister Florin Citu sent his condolences Thursday morning to the families of the fire victims and said such tragedies must not be repeated.

I always asked that the hospitals be prepared for wave four, Citu said during a news conference. We are facing an overload of the medical system due to wave four, and everyone involved must ensure that all measures are taken for the safety of patients.

In recent weeks, Romania's health care system has grappled with a record number of virus infections and deaths. Romania is the European Union's second-least vaccinated nation, with just 40% of adults fully inoculated against the coronavirus.

More than 1,800 COVID-19 patients in Romania are currently receiving intensive care, and hundreds of people with the disease have died every day for the last month.

The Ploiesti hospital fire follows a string of deadly fires that have afflicted Romania's hospitals during the pandemic. On Oct. 1, a fire tore through a COVID-19 hospital in the Romanian port city of Constanta, killing at least seven people.

Ten people died in November 2020 after a fire engulfed an intensive care unit for COVID-19 patients in the northern Romanian town of Piatra Neamt. Another blaze in January engulfed a ward at Bucharests Matei Bals hospital, killing five people.

After the Constanta fire last month, President Klaus Iohannis said Romania had "failed in its fundamental mission to protect its citizens.
An 82-year-old Florida woman was robbed of more than $700,000 after she fell for a grandparent scam.

Scammers targeted Anna Nunn, a widow, over the summer by telling her that her granddaughter was in legal trouble and needed financial aid.

They convinced Ms Nunn to make multiple withdrawals from her bank and pass the bricks of cash to a courier in padded envelopes, according to court records obtained by the Tampa Bay Times .

The Hillsborough County Sheriffs office is now asking Uber to turn over records for rides that originated at Ms Nunns home, which she said she didnt arrange.

Investigators believe the records will assist with providing information to who purchased the rideshares and where the victims funds actually went, a detective wrote in a court filing.

The filing specifically seeks the name of the Uber account holder, credit card information and the history of pickups and drop-offs at various locations, the Times reported.

The sheriffs office declined to clarify whether the rides were for couriers to come to the womans house to get the cash, citing an ongoing investigation.

An Uber spokesperson said the company is in contact with the sheriffs office regarding the case. It is unclear if Uber intends to comply with the request for records.

The so-called grandparent scam began when Ms Nunn received a call from a young woman claiming to be her granddaughter who said she had been in a car accident and needed money to get out of jail.

A man who identified himself as the granddaughters lawyer then took the phone to add credibility to the story.

The pair convinced Ms Nunn to make 13 withdrawals from different BB&T Bank branches. Her attorney, Guy Burns, said the scammers story grew more and more elaborate for weeks before the final withdrawal of $100,000 drained her account completely.

Mr Burns said Ms Nunn was instructed to tell any bank staff who asked about the withdrawals to say they were for home improvements by contractors who preferred cash.

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Ms Nunn filed a civil lawsuit in September against Truist Bank, which was created when BB&T merged with SunTrust. The suit alleges that the bank was negligent in allowing Ms Nunn to make the large and unusual withdrawals even after red flags were identified.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Civil rights icon Al Sharpton cast doubt on Kyle Rittenhouse's tearful testimony in his own murder trial and decried the circumstances surrounding the killing of Ahmaud Arbery during a stop Thursday morning in Cincinnati.

Sharpton, an activist, politician, and minister who founded the National Action Network, was the keynote speaker at the 38th annual convention of the National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals held downtown at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati.

During his address, Sharpton suggested Rittenhouse dramatized his testimony Wednesday in his trial for shooting and killing two men and wounding a third during a protest against police brutality last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Rittenhouse sat through the whole trial taking notes and watching everything but got on the stand yesterday and all of a sudden broke down and cried, Sharpton said incredulously. "Now, I cant say he was insincere, but I can say that Ive seen actresses have the same kind of weeping he had.

More: Kyle Rittenhouse lawyers continue to build self-defense case, a day after emotional testimony and call for mistrial

More: Georgia man who called police on Ahmaud Arbery describes 'shocking scene' in the street after shooting

Sharpton, who has campaigned for voters' rights and other issues in the Cincinnati area, also commented on the case of three white men on trial in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was chased and gunned down by armed residents of a South Georgia neighborhood.

Rev. Al Sharpton stands with Marcus Arbery outside the Glynn County Courthouse as he talks about the trial of three men accused of killing Marcus's son Ahmaud.

"Sitting behind the (Arbery) family and the three men that killed him reminded me no matter how much progress we've made, we still have Blacks who can't jog through streets in Georgia without being killed,'' said Sharpton, who attended the Arbery trial Wednesday.

Sharpton said he brought up the Rittenhouse and Arbery trials to underscore continued racial and civil unrest in the country despite nationwide protests last year, and to encourage the meeting professionals to seek out convention cities where leaders are advocating for social justice and racial equality.

"We don't even have to go back in history to last year,'' he told the audience. "Right now. This is the climate that you will be gathering and bringing meetings together in. To ignore the climate and context is bad for your business.''

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sharpton says Rittenhouse, Arbery trials why 'I'm still marching'
Always Jane

The four-part docuseries Always Jane follows the two-year journey of trans teen Jane Noury through her final year of high school, across the country to Los Angeles for a modeling contest, back home to New Jersey for the pandemic shutdown, and as she heads into her future of college and a confirmation surgery. It can be seen as a visual diary of a woman going through a time of massive change in her life, a portrait of a unique (and incredibly charming family), a learning opportunity about the complexity of one persons trans experience, or as a primer for parents and family members on how to support their trans loved one. And yes, its all of these things  but, most of all, its a love story.

That story centers on Noury loving herself enough to do what she needed to be happy, even when it was incredibly difficult, and the love of her family who was going through a kind of transition alongside her. Watching it all unfold is a much-needed salve for the heart and a beacon of hope in a year that has proven to be especially painful and deadly for trans people. Its not just a story of resilience against adversity, but of compassion as well, and it will tug at your heartstrings. And it all started with a modeling contest.

All I can say is it really wasnt a planned thing, Noury recalls when asked by The Advocate how the show came about. She had expressed an interest in modeling and her mother Laura encouraged her to follow her dream and begin submitting to agencies. Slay Model Management in Los Angeles contacted her back, inviting her to participate in a model search competition. They were having this big, global transgender competition to sign with the agency, Noury explains. We all met in New York City to have brunch and do an interview and a photo shoot. Thats how I met my director, Jonathan Hyde. After meeting with Noury and her mother, Laura, Hyde was struck by how supportive Nourys whole family was of her transition. So he gave me some small Handycam recorders to record myself from December up into the competition in February to get more content for the show that he was going to start making, she shares. And then I kind of just turned into something more over time.

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Always Jane

The series is such a vulnerable and intimate view into your life and it started as focused on the model search, what made you want to share more of your life?

I really just was having fun with it. You know, I was filming myself at a time where I was in my senior year of high school and I was starting my modeling career. It was great. I was going to start graduating high school, deciding about college, and then COVID happened and I was also having my confirmation surgery, so I kind of just wanted to document it and not because I wanted to make a show out of it, but just because I wanted to have the memories to look back on, because, you know, you only have all these experiences once in your life.

Was it challenging to get your whole family to sign on to opening up and sharing their life this way?

We really didnt have a huge conversation about oh, like, are you comfortable with sharing our whole lives with the world, it was just me recording and just having fun with it. And then we sat down and had serious conversations, whether this is something we wanted to do. I kind of just felt like it was just something I had to do, regardless of the backlash that I may get, or people not accepting it or people hating our story.

My parents, basically, at the end of the day, were just like, if this is something you want to do, we will hold your hand through it, and we will support you through and through, we will do this as a family. And well make it happen.

And hopefully well help someone if we can...regardless if theyre trans, or if theyre maybe not educated enough on the topic, or maybe theyre just curious, you know, if it helps improve someones life in some way, shape, or form. But in my eyes, it would have been worth it, putting everything out on the table that Ive been through.

Always Jane

You mentioned backlash. Is that something youre concerned about or are preparing for?

I cant control how people are gonna think about it, even if I want to. Of course I want everyone to love our show. Were very proud of it. Im proud of it. My familys proud of it, everyone who worked on it is proud of it. And we did the best we could with telling our story, and were also not preaching. People have every right to feel whatever they want to feel about us. Its not something we have control over.

What do you hope audiences will take away from your story?

I hope generally they laugh with us, they cry with us, and they enjoy the show. I hope people learn something or they realize something that they never have before.

As for my trans community, I hope they feel represented. I hope they feel loved. I hope they feel heard. If someone doesnt even know they're trans yet, or someone whos contemplating how their life is going, or if theyre thinking about it, I hope it teaches them something, like to really fight for yourself and just to love yourself. Youre going to live with yourself for the rest of your life, so you might as well be happy, so just be confident and not care about what other people think. And also surround yourself with people who love and accept you and who are there for you. Just to be patient with not only yourself but with the people around you who are also going to be transitioning with you if you are trans.

Always Jane

Do you have plans for the premiere day?

Im spending the day with my aunt who lives in the city with me. And were going to just order some food and watch, and I think one of my friends is coming over too. Then over the weekend, Im going back home to Jersey to spend time with my family. Were just gonna have a big viewing party, honestly. And on the weekend, when were all together, were just gonna hang out and probably watch it and just catch up.

Always Jane premieres Friday on Prime Video.
EXCLUSIVE: TheGrio spoke with body performance and injury expert Dr. Rami Hashish to discuss what may have led to the Astroworld Festival deaths.

The aftermath of the tragedy at the Astroworld Festival on Nov. 5 has been mounting exponentially with chaos and controversy. Following the deaths of nine attendees during headliner and festival founder Travis Scotts Saturday night set, numerous dominoes swiftly began to drop.

The festivals second day was immediately canceled. Rapper Roddy Rich pledged to donate his net earnings for appearing to the families of the deceased. Scott has offered to pay for the funeral costs of the dead, refund all Astroworld ticket buyers, and has withdrawn from his forthcoming appearance at the Day N Vegas Festival.

A memorial to those who died at the Astroworld festival is displayed outside of NRG Park on November 09, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

As video accounts of the concerts from bystanders began going viral, finger-pointing has been unrelenting in the direction of Scott, first on social media and now in the form of legal action. No less than18 lawsuits have been filed against Scott, festival organizers, and even Drake, who was a surprise guest during Scotts set.

Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok are being flooded with disturbing real-time clips of concertgoers being trampled, bodies being carted off as CPR is administered on them, fans pleading with camera operators to stop the concert because of dead bodies in the crowd, and so on.

So, who is to blame for the deaths and injuries? What led the victims to die? Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena described it as The crowd began to compress towards the front of the stage, and that caused some panic, and it started causing some injuries, as previously reported by the Associated Press.

The term being used by multiple publications has been a crowd surge. Now, exactly what is a crowd surge? Is it the same as a stampede, a mosh pit? What incited this so-called crowd surge? Many are blaming Scott, saying that he encouraged the aggressive atmosphere, or even that he saw the chaos and chose to carry on with the show?

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Travis Scott performs at Day 1 of the Astroworld Music Festival at NRG Park on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Dr. Rami Hashish, a body performance and injury expert, explained to theGrio, that there are more than one contributing factors that may have led to what Pena deemed a mass casualty incident.

Dr. Hashish is the founder of the National Biomechanics Institute, a Los Angeles consulting company that examines injuries and injury prevention. He confirms that a crowd surge is a sudden and rapid movement in a large crowd of people, particularly during a concert as a surge of people moving forward trying to get in close proximity to the artists. And obviously, the problem with that is that when you have a mass of people moving together, a lot of people unfortunately get left behind. In this case, some people got obviously trampled, he said.

The attendance of the festival at the time of Scotts set on Saturday had reached upwards of 50,000 people. Hashish explains that once you have that many people grouped together in a tight space, the main risk is just the fundamental lack of control over your environment, not to mention a bit of copycat syndrome.

What happens and what they found in these corners and in these mosh pits, in particular, is that theres this concept of group-think where essentially somebody comes up with an idea such as the surge of the stage and then people kind of just lose themselves in the moment and they act on that and they kind of fall into the pressure of doing so even against probably their best judgment, right? And then that results, and this kind of potentially catastrophic event like what happened in this situation.

Hashish explained that in such situations, more than half of the injuries sustained are head injuries. It was followed by lower extremities, and when coupled with being in a large crowd and being off-balance, you get this mass collection of dangerous calamities.

Dr. Rami Hashish (Credit: Dr. Hashish/Twitter)

As people are jumping around and and doing actions, its kind of unpredictable, Hashish said. How theyre going to move is unpredictable. But what is predictable is that its more likely than not theyre going to leave with a head injury if theyre doing it in kind of a forceful fashion.

Scott has a history of having hyper shows. In fact, hes publicly encouraged fans to get rowdy for his performances. In 2019, when video surfaced of his fans breaking through a barricade at one of his shows, he reacted in his Instagram stories, DA YOUTH DEM CONTROL THE FREQUENCY, adding EVERYONE HAVE FUN. RAGERS SET TONE WHEN I COME OUT TONIGHT. BE SAFE RAGE HARD. AHHHHHHHHHHH, as reported by The LA Times.

At that years Astroworld Fest, three people were hospitalized after a crowd stormed over security barriers.

Prior to Saturdays events, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner visited Scott in his trailer, expressing concerns over possible injuries that may occur during his set, as previously reported by theGrio. Finner, whos known Scott personally for years, reportedly warned him about the energy of his fanbase might pose a problem, especially considering the aforementioned 2019 Astroworld Fest injuries.

So is Scott to blame? Fans seem to think so, as videos of Scott supposedly seeing audience members in disarray during a portion of his show when hes on a cherry picker. Hashish says you cant just blame the headliner. Other factors may have led to the crowd surge besides any supposed instigating from Scott, be it directly or indirectly.

What also happens is that you have these people or if you have people who may be under a bit of influence of alcohol, they may be a bit intoxicated, so their actions may be a little bit irrational or sporadic, Hashish said. They are responding to the songs and the music and the lights and the and the increased sound, and theyre also now responding to the people in whom are around them, right, all doing this kind of action.

Travis Scott performs at Day 1 of the Astroworld Music Festival at NRG Park on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Houston. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

A lack of preparation from the security staff is also contributing factor to the tragedy. One such security guard, Darius Williams, came forward and stated that training for security staff was brief, instructions upon arrival were vague and they were severely understaffed, as previously reported by theGrio.

From what I saw, there was probably one security guard for everyone, 500 to 1,000 people, Williams said. There were 505 event security staffers, 91 armed private security officers, and 76 uniformed Houston police officers to patrol the 50,000.

Also, mosh pits and crowd surges are not new in hip-hop. Rapper/actor Ice-T once spoke during an interview on The Combat Jack Show podcast about how he noticed as far back as the 1990s while on tour with Public Enemy that fans in Europe would mosh and slam dance to Public Enemys songs. In 2016, Kanye West made history during his Saint Pablo Tour by performing from a levitating stage. Thousands of fans each night would notoriously mosh and slam dance underneath the stage in the general admission areas.

But none of those shows ended in a mass of people dying. Hashish said that the combination of poor security and organizer planning, the presence of small children and the visceral reaction to Scotts music, and the group-think atmosphere among 50,000 were all contributing factors. However, he says that ultimately, the onus ultimately by and large lies on the human being, otherwise, the concertgoers must understand what theyre getting into, understand their surroundings and much preventative work must happen prior to the event.

What can be done is that we educate ourselves and we understand right and have a little bit of compassion and empathy and understanding, Hashish said.

I want to keep going to concerts, but I also dont want to expose myself and others to injury. So there has to be just a little bit of better wherewithal of whats happening, right? So not to act in an irrational manner and surge the stage not to kind of get so extreme and moshing. Where could potentially cause injury? Sure, you could jump around and dance, but obviously, theres extremes of things, right? So its just theres a contact between toeing the line and passing it.

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The post Anatomy of a Crowd Surge: Analyzing factors that played role in Astroworld tragedy appeared first on TheGrio.
ASHEVILLE - Restaurants and other businesses that expanded onto public sidewalks, streets and private lots during the pandemic can continue doing so, city officials said, citing the practice's popularity and economic benefits.

In many cases those expansions can be permanent.

Recent surveys have shown the city program, AVL Shares Space, to be highly popular among residents and 94 participating businesses  mostly restaurants and mostly outside of downtown. The outdoor expansion during the pandemic has allowed them to hire and rehire staff, said City Manager Debra Campbell and Dana Frankel, downtown development specialist.

Some questions remain, though, about equitable use of public space and whether pedestrians will be crowded out.

Frankel did not respond to a message Nov. 10 but told City Council at a meeting the day before that surveys have shown "positive impacts on staff retention, morale and sense of safety not only for customers but for staff."

"Anecdotally, we've heard from so many businesses, literally, that they would have closed if they didn't have this opportunity," Frankel told the council.

Tables expand seating outside of The Market Place, 20 Wall St., before service on Aug. 18, 2020.

More: Asheville restaurants see $38M COVID aid; Katie Button eateries: $1.8M, Buxton Hall: $1.5M

Among them was William Dissen, owner of The Market Place downtown, who in September 2020 told the Citizen Times putting 20 seats in three Wall Street parking spaces "helped save my business."

Amy Cavanaugh, co-owner of Limones, said restrictions cut her capacity to 50% and five tables outside helped keep her restaurant open, along with federal and local aid.

Among the aid money received was $284,194 for Dissen's Market Place in federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund money. Limones got $649,510 in RRF aid.

The AVL Shares Space program started in May 2020 in response to COVID-19 restrictions on businesses. It now involves six elements:

 Expansion on private property, that is not allowed under current zoning rules.

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 Expansion on public sidewalks.

 Expansion into on-street parking spaces (parklets).

 Expansion into on-street parking along an entire corridor (shared streets/pedestrian priority zones).

 10-minute curbside pickup zones  downtown and West Asheville.

 Equity Markets  vendor support in partnership with the city Business Inclusion Office.

The program has been extended three times, and the city is now exploring how to make permanent four pieces: private property and sidewalk expansion, parklets and shared streets.

More: Asheville eats outdoors: See innovative, safe dining spaces around the city

Over the next six months, city staff will look for how to fund the administration and regulation of a permanent program, Frankel said. That money could come from fees, federal pandemic aid or "outside sources," she said. Frankel did not give an estimate of how much was needed.

"We do think there are some policy questions to consider to ensure that uses and fees are equitable moving forward as we look to longer term programs. It does take significant staff time to manage these initiatives and we currently have limited enforcement abilities."

Council member Sage Turner asked if the spaces had allowed more spots for street musicians, saying the outdoor dining has improved the atmosphere of downtown during the pandemic and music would make it better.

"Folks are feeling like they're not seeing as many buskers," Turner said.

Frankel said that was a good question and something that would be explored as they look at ideas for the permanent program.

Council member Gwen Wisler said it might be possible to decrease required parking spots, considering "that people really weren't complaining about the reduction in parking."

Downtown or on the South Slope, 19 businesses are using one to three parking spaces for parklets. Forty-eight businesses are using private property, mostly parking lots along commercial corridors outside downtown, such as Merrimon Avenue and Haywood Road.

Zia Taqueria transformed a parking lot into a socially-distanced outdoor dining space.

More: Can takeout keep Asheville restaurants afloat? The numbers just aren't working for some

The city will move forward in a "slow, methodical" way, looking at data and making changes as they learn more, said Campbell, adding she liked the idea of rethinking parking and open space rules.

Council member Kim Roney, meanwhile, raised concerns about reductions in pedestrian space.

"How are we going to, moving forward, make sure that we have a safe place for people to commute once they get out of their car or maybe arrive without one?"

Frankel said the city is requiring a 6-foot minimum for pedestrians, "but is that good enough? I think that's one of the questions we definitely need to consider moving forward with any longer-term program."

Roney and Turner also talked about the possibility of closing Wall Street to motor vehicles. The council at the same meeting approved a reduction of the street's speed limit from 15 mph to 10 mph, and they noted it has been closed on a trial basis before.

Frankel said city staff would "continue to work with both the businesses and the community to consider possibilities" on the street.

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Business use of Asheville sidewalks, spaces during COVID to continue
The State Department is mulling the sale of armed drones to Indonesia, but concerns over human rights abuses and the countrys past purchases of Russian equipment have set off a debate inside the Biden administration over approving the move, according to government and defense industry officials.

The Indonesian government wants a new package of armed drones as it modernizes its fleet of aging fighter planes, though the country has cast a wide and tangled net as it claims to be considering new planes from Russia, South Korea, France and the United States.

Jakarta's request to purchase armed MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones, which was confirmed by three people both in government and with ties to the defense industry, comes as Washington is also considering selling Qatar four MQ-9B Predator drones. The proposed sale to Qatar was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, but the debate over selling armed drones to Indonesia has not previously been reported.

The State Department and White House have been working for months on a new arms transfer policy that promises to place a renewed emphasis on human rights and protecting civilians, a review that could complicate some pending deals with countries that have a history of abuses.

That review and the Qatar and Indonesia requests have contributed to a larger debate within the Biden administration over the export of armed drones, and which countries should be able to acquire that capability with U.S. help, said a defense industry official familiar with the discussions. Both Indonesia and Qatar have histories of human rights abuses, and some U.S. diplomats are hesitant to transfer weaponry that could be turned on civilians.

A State Department official confirmed that the review of arms control policies is considering the connection between human rights and arms transfers as well as highlighting the importance of promoting transfers when they are in the U.S. national interest.

There is also uncertainty over whether Indonesia has the appropriate regulatory processes in place to protect U.S.-made technology, and whether the government could support high-end technology over the long-term. The Indonesian Embassy did not respond to a request for comment, and a State Department spokesperson said the agency does not discuss internal deliberations over potential arms sales.

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The question of selling Gray Eagle drones to Indonesia has been percolating since the last year of the Trump administration, when it determined that the countrys defense capabilities as part of the broader Indo-Pacific strategy require drone capabilities to support naval and coast guard maritime security, R. Clarke Cooper, former assistant secretary for political-military affairs at the State Department under Trump, told POLITICO.

That need was partly met by the American donation of a dozen ScanEagle drones for maritime surveillance in 2020, after repeated Chinese incursions and illegal fishing around the Natuna Islands  which sit within Indonesias exclusive economic zone, but also fall within Chinas disputed claims  frustrated Jakarta and threatened to spark a wider conflict.

The larger MQ-1C armed drones would represent a major upgrade from the unarmed ScanEagles, which can fly for about 18 hours at 19,000 feet. The MQ-1 can stay in the air for up to 25 hours at 29,000 feet, and can carry more weight for surveillance packages or four Hellfire missiles.

There is concern, however, that selling Indonesia a drone capable of carrying missiles, even if Washington doesnt arm it, could lead to Indonesia buying missiles from China or Russia in an attempt to fit them onto the American aircraft. In April, reports indicated that Jakarta had purchased air-to-surface AR-2 missiles from China to arm its Chinese-made CH-4 drones.

While Jakarta and Beijing have a tense relationship around fishing rights, their small defense sales ties are still a concern for Washington, as is Jakartas continued reliance on Russia for weapons, including the potential to buy Su-35 fighters.

Despite the risks, a drone sale would have a geostrategic upside for the U.S., proponents argue. As Washington shifts its focus from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific region, Indonesia has emerged as a strategic ally in the competition with China. The sale of armed drones with significant surveillance capabilities would help build that military relationship and potentially head off Indonesian purchases of similar drones from China, Russia or Turkey, all of which produce advanced unmanned aircraft.

Indonesia has about 70 aircraft in its inventory, a mix of older Russian fighters and U.S-made F-16s. In February, the government signaled it was interested in buying new F-15EX fighters from the U.S., a new addition to the countrys wishlist that for several years has included French Rafale and Russian Su-35 fighter planes.

They like shopping, but buying is another story, said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of analysis at the Teal Group. The new fighter requirement has been around for a great many years; they've never actually purchased a new Western combat aircraft, he added, suggesting that the governments inability to follow through might give the Biden administration pause about trying to move forward.

The very fact that they're shopping all over the world, including for Russian equipment, that in itself is a red flag, he said. Indonesia has been negotiating with Russia since 2018 over the Sukhoi deal, talks that have included Jakarta bartering goods such as palm oil and other natural resources to offset the cost of the planes.

Still, the Biden administration has shown its interest in bolstering the air wings among allies in the region, and has already approved deals with the Philippines for 10 F-16C fighter planes along with a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones to Australia.

Some deals, however, will likely run against the administrations desire to emphasize human rights and democratic governance as the Biden administration looks to build up fledgling allies around the globe.

Bilal Saab, a former Pentagon official and now director of the defense and security program at the Middle East Institute, said the new Biden review is unlikely to radically alter how or what Washington sells overseas.

Every single president has tried in one way or another to emphasize rule of law and human rights, and make sure that our partners use the weapons responsibly, Saab said. But not a single one of them really has committed to that, and we are far less attentive to the institutional capacity of those partners, and their ability to effectively use and sustain those arms.

The State Department has highlighted human rights abuses by Indonesias security forces, including unlawful or arbitrary killings; reports of torture by police; arbitrary arrest or detention, and politically-motivated arrests.

President Joe Biden met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Nov. 1 on the sidelines of the U.N. Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, where they discussed ways to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, according to a White House readout. No mention was made of weapons deals or promoting human rights.

Alexander Ward contributed to this report.
President Biden. Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock

Although Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has historically been one of the loudest political voices in support of student loan debt cancellation, he warned this week not to expect any meaningful action from Congress on the matter.

Citing the evenly split Senate and thin Democratic majority in the House, Schumer explained why Congress shouldn't even bother debating student loan debt legislation. "You read about the tough time we're having with legislation, the bill to build roads, bills to make prescription drug costs lower, the bills to get a tax break and get our kids out of poverty and get them to get a good education, to help small businesses," he said at a virtual event hosted by Mitu, a Latino digital media company. "Those all require the House and Senate to pass it, but these days, with the partisanship, filibuster, and all that, it's not so easy."

Schumer is correct in saying partisanship and the filibuster impact a myriad of issues that can be addressed with legislation. But his comments also suggest that, of all the things to fight for, student debt is not a priority for congressional Democrats. Unfortunately, this about-face comes as no surprise: As a Black person who likes to vote and hates police brutality, I'm all too familiar with how quickly the rhetoric from Democratic leadership can shift to passive language following an election.

But student loan debt is the perfect issue on which President Biden can take the lead. As Schumer himself noted, "the president can do this on his own."

For months now, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has also called on Biden to cancel $50,000 in student debt per borrower, likewise expressing concern that doing so through legislation would take too long. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), too, has said that "given how much [Build Back Better] has been slashed, there is more opportunity than ever to bring the heat on Biden to cancel student loans."

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Beyond momentum in Washington, Biden owes answers to people like me. After all, he campaigned on approving $10,000 in student debt cancellation but has yet to fulfill that promise or provide any details on his next steps.

We can't even get a definitive answer from the president about what he believes his authority is here. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in February that Biden would ask the Justice Department to review his authority to use executive action to cancel student debt, but it's unclear whatever came of that. In April, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain said Biden had asked Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to create a memo on the president's legal authority to forgive $50,000 in student loans per person. But, as Insider reported, the Biden administration has known whether or not he has had that authority since at least the spring. And while Biden has canceled more than $11 billion in targeted student loan debt, that accounts for less than 1 percent of all federal loans. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking: There are fewer than 85 days until federal student loan payments restart.

Polling shows public opinion is quite mixed on the issue of canceling student debt, particularly for graduates with higher incomes. But even if this doesn't seem like an immediate political win, Biden should still step up. The common criticism from politicians like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)  who has suggested canceling student debt is unfair to people who did not take out loans for college  is clearly out of touch and comes from a place of privilege. As someone who has lived and written about my own struggles with student loan debt extensively, I don't want to hear the rich and detached be so dismissive about the crushing debt many struggle to tackle.

Pelosi should listen to experts like Bharat Ramamurti of the COVID-19 Congressional Oversight Commission, who tweeted a thread last November spelling out the benefits of canceling student loan debt for millions of borrowers based on previous studies and government data. One of his sources was a study from the Levy Economic Institute of Bard College that found a one-time cancellation of the $1.4 trillion outstanding student debt load would translate to an increase of $86 billion to $108 billion a year in GDP. "The bottom line is that broad debt cancellation via executive order is popular, economically potent, and  most importantly  life-changing for millions of Americans struggling through this crisis," Ramamurti wrote on Twitter.

Likewise, Lowell Ricketts, lead analyst for the Center for Household Financial Stability at the St. Louis Fed, told Insider that even $10,000 in forgiveness could benefit low-balance borrowers. It could "carve out an income-based repayment plan or a payment plan that is more workable" for those with $20,000 in debt, he said. There are tangible benefits to debt cancellation, and it doesn't take hard work for our political leaders to locate them.

Moreover, public opinion can be molded and shaped, and progressives need to be mindful of their audience in this debate. Arguing for full student debt cancellation for the Brookings Institution, authors Andre M. Perry, Marshall Steinbaum, and Carl Romer explain how a focus on income alone obscures the Black student loan debt crisis, because many assume people with similar incomes have similar abilities to pay back student loans. Yet Black college students graduate with far more debt than their white counterparts, which only exacerbates the existing racial wealth gap. Without action from Biden, Black student debt will hinder his administration's agenda with respect to eliminating racial inequities. Arguably, debt elimination would give Black people stronger participation in the economy in terms of spending power, homeownership, and access to capital to start businesses.

As of now, Biden and Democrats in Congress haven't delivered on other crucial promises to Black voters, like better protection of voting rights or police reform. They aren't giving historically Black colleges and universities anywhere close to the $45 billion originally promised in the reconciliation bill tied to the Build Back Better agenda. And their excuses are tired and uninspiring  not exactly the best themes for a looming midterm election.

I know there's a wing of Democratic leadership that feels bipartisanship still matters to the electorate, but in the age of "critical race theory" and other racist conspiracy theories, the Democratic Party should think less about appeasing Republicans and more about mobilizing its own core voters.

Student loan debt cancellation could be that issue for Black and younger voters alike, both important blocs  if only Biden would finally act.

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Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi has demanded a ban on issuing and trading mining permits until the country's mining registry has been audited, a measure aimed at combating fraud within the sector. Tshisekedi told ministers he wanted to end the squandering of mining assets by unnamed political actors and officials involved in the administration of the mining register, which records mining concessions, according to minutes of the meeting seen by Reuters. "This recommended clean-up will increase the contribution of the mining sector to the state's budget and help, as a priority, the people benefit from the mineral wealth of our country," Tshisekedi told ministers.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodia on Thursday dismissed as politically motivated sanctions imposed by the United States on two senior defense officials over allegations of graft, accompanied by a broader warning of systemic corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Cambodia had not been told in advance about the sanctions, which are related to construction financing at the Ream Naval Base  a project that has raised U.S. concerns over China's involvement. He said Cambodia did not intend to respond to Washington.

The sanctions imposed by the U.S. government were made unilaterally and their decision was not based on the rule of law  it is an injustice for Cambodia, he told The Associated Press.

These sanctions were politically motivated, and it is not the position of Cambodia to talk with the U.S. on this matter," he said.

The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh would not comment on whether Cambodia had been in contact regarding the sanctions but said that the move would not have come as a surprise.

U.S. officials have regularly raised concerns with Cambodia's officials about systemic corruption, transnational organized crime and human rights abuses, embassy spokesman Chad Roedemeier said.

Regrettably there have been no meaningful changes, he added.

The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday, target Chau Phirun, the director general of the Defense Ministrys material and technical services department, and Tea Vinh, the commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy and brother of Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh.

The Treasury Department alleged that in 2020 and 2021, Chau conspired with Tea and other Cambodian officials to inflate costs of the Ream Naval Base construction project and then planned to use the funds for their own benefit.

Chau and Tea were involved in corrupt acts that undermined the rule of law and the Cambodian publics faith in their government institutions and public processes, including by using their political influence and official power for personal benefit, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

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Neither the Cambodian Defense Ministry nor the Royal Cambodian Navy could immediately be reached for comment.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin defended what he called equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Cambodia on the project and accused the U.S. of interfering in Cambodias affairs by levying sanctions.

China has always opposed unilateral sanctions and the so-called long-arm jurisdiction of the U.S., as well as its gross interference in other countries internal affairs, he said at a daily briefing in Beijing.

The sanctions render Chau, Tea and their immediate family members ineligible for entry into the U.S., and freeze any assets in the U.S. that they hold. The Treasury Department did not detail whether either individual or their immediate families had financial interests in the U.S.

In addition to the sanctions, the Treasury Department, State Department and Commerce Department issued a business advisory cautioning U.S. firms "to be mindful of interactions with entities involved in corrupt business practices, criminal activities and human rights abuses.

It identified two primary areas of risk: illegal financial activities in the financial, real estate, casino and infrastructure sectors, and entities involved in the trafficking of humans, wildlife and narcotics and related risks in some areas of the manufacturing and timber sectors.

American relations with the government of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in office for 36 years, have long been frosty over concerns about the country's poor record on human and political rights.

In recent months, the U.S. has expressed further worries about ties between Cambodia and China, and has urged the leaders of Cambodia, which frequently supports Beijing's positions, to maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy.

New tensions have focused partly on Chinas construction of facilities at the Ream Naval Base, and the possibility its military could seek future basing rights there. Hun Sen has strongly denied reports that Cambodia would allow China to set up a military outpost there, saying such an agreement would be forbidden by Cambodia's constitution.

The base faces the Gulf of Thailand, which lies adjacent to the South China Sea, and holding basing rights in Cambodia would extend Beijings strategic military profile considerably.

In a meeting with Hun Sen in June, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman expressed concern about Chinas construction of new facilities at Ream.

She also sought clarification about the demolition of two U.S.-funded buildings at Ream without notification or explanation, and observed that a (Chinese) military base in Cambodia would undermine its sovereignty, threaten regional security and negatively impact U.S.-Cambodia relations, according to the State Department.

____

Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press journalist Sam McNeil in Beijing contributed to this report.
Father Solanus Casey will be honored at a November 18, 2017 mass at Ford Field in Detroit.

Father Solanus Casey, the Capuchin friar who co-founded the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit and was beatified in 2017, is known to many as an inspiration and is a miracle away from being declared a Catholic saint.

If canonized, Casey would join a rare group of American saints. While there are more than 10,000 saints in the Roman Catholic Church, fewer than a dozen are from the United States.

More: Michigan COVID-19 survivor says vision of the Blessed Solanus Casey saved his life

A 'premier citizen' of Detroit

Casey has been lauded as "one of the premier citizens of our city" by Detroit Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron, who added that Pope Francis "sees great holiness in Fathers life."

The late priest is known for his great faith, humility and love of the violin. His significance also is tied to Detroit, which has wrestled with revitalization and deeply entrenched poverty.

The beatification ceremony

For the beatification ceremony, nearly 70,000 people  from parishes across metro Detroit as well as from other nations, including Ireland, Italy, Guam and Panama  packed Ford Field.

At that event, many said they were saved by Casey's intercession.

The service for the Beatification of Father Solanus Casey begins at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday November 17, 2017. Father Solanus Casey is only the second American-born male to be beatified by the Catholic Church as the final step before sainthood.

Early life, surviving diphtheria

Bernard Francis Casey was born in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, on Nov. 25, 1870. He was one of 16 siblings  10 boys and six girls  whose parents were Irish Catholic immigrants looking to escape famine.

Three years after birth, he moved with his family to a larger farm in Wisconsin.

Michigan man: Vision of the Blessed Solanus Casey healed him

When he was 8, he contracted diphtheria, which killed two of his siblings. The disease left him with a speech disorder. At 12, he felt called to be a priest. At a Christmas Eve midnight Mass, he wondered whether he could become one.

He spent several years doing different jobs. He was a logger, street car operator, prison guard and hospital orderly. Then, at 21, he entered St. Francis de Sales Seminary in Milwaukee. He was unsure whether to become a Jesuit, Franciscan or Capuchin.

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But, Casey said, the Blessed Mother told him: "Go to Detroit," where the Capuchins are based.

Life in Detroit as a priest

Casey was named after St. Francis Solanus, who lived in the 17th century and who, like Casey, loved to play the violin.

Casey was not a stellar student and as a result, not allowed to preach sermons. But he drew crowds asking for his blessings.

The funeral of Father Solanus Casey is held in Detroit in 1957.

In Detroit, he helped start the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, which still exists. Unemployed workers came to the center begging for food and Casey would give them large sandwiches and cups of coffee.

He died in 1957 at St. John Hospital in Detroit.

His veneration and dedication

Pope John Paul II declared Casey venerable in 1995. In 2017, Pope Francis announced he would be beatified, saying there was proof of a miracle caused by Casey's intercession.

A favorite expression of Casey's that is often quoted: "Give thanks ahead of time." He meant, trust God and give thanks to Him no matter what because God never abandons you.

Casey's memory continues through the soup kitchen and his dedication to the poor.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. Free Press archives contributed.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Father Solanus Casey, a Detroit priest, would be a rarity among saints
KOAA

The skate park at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs is closed as officers and detectives investigate a reported shooting with multiple victims. Just before 7:30 p.m. Saturday a report came in about the shooting near the skate park along Pikes Peak Ave. Multiple ambulances were called to the scene to assist with multiple victims but soon left the area, along with fire department units. The location is just three blocks from UCHealth Memorial Hospital.
A mud-and-silt covered car pulled from Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge on Wednesday night belonged to Miriam Ruth Clark Hemphill, who has been missing since 2005.

A car that went missing in 2005 was pulled from Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge on Wednesday night, and human remains were found inside.

The car belonged to 84-year-old Miriam Ruth Hemphill, of Oak Ridge, who disappeared in July 2005, according to a news release from Oak Ridge police.

Oak Ridge police received a tip from private divers about the vehicle on Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle was pulled out of the water shortly before 8 p.m.

Its unclear how long it will take to identify the remains, a release stated.

"As previously stated, it is still unclear whether the remains discovered in the vehicle are Hemphills," the release stated.

Miriam Ruth Hemphill

Anyone with information that may help investigators is asked to call Oak Ridge police at 865-425-4399. Tips can be submitted at oakridgetn.gov/department/ORPD/home. Tips can be submitted anonymously.

In a 2009 story in the Oak Ridger marking the fourth anniversary of her disappearance, Hemphill's husband, Bill, said he believed his wife was dead and that she drove her car into a lake.

Three months prior to her disappearance, the Hemphills' daughter, 44-year-old Connie Hemphill Skapik, was found dead inside her car in Dayton, Ohio. Her death was ruled a suicide.

Bill Hemphill told police his wife, who was called Ruth, left a note about their daughter's death. He said he found a newspaper clipping his wife had cut out concerning a person who drove into a lake.

Bill Hemphill died in 2016 at the age of 95, according to his obituary.

Donna Smith can be contacted at 865-220-5514 or by email at dsmith@oakridger.com. Follow her on Twitter @ridgernewsed.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Car found in Melton Hill Lake belonged to woman missing since 2005
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday against letting tensions in the Asia-Pacific region cause a relapse into a Cold War mentality.

His remarks on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum came weeks after the U.S., Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region which would see Australia build nuclear submarines. China has harshly criticized the deal.

And in a separate illustration of strains within APEC, one Southeast Asian delegate told The Associated Press that the group had so far failed to reach agreement on a U.S. bid to host the 2023 summit due to unmet demands from Russia.

Xi spoke in a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at APEC, which is being hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format. Xi is scheduled to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday.

In his speech, Xi said attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would fail. His reference to the Cold War echoes Beijing's oft-stated position that the U.S. should abandon that way of thinking in dealing with China.

The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era, Xi said.

Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalizing trade and investment.

China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development, he said.

The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian delegate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the issue, said Russia had refused to support the U.S. bid unless some of its diplomats were removed from a U.S. blacklist or allowed to enter the U.S. to participate in the APEC meetings.

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The delegate said the U.S. is unlikely to agree to Russias demands because issues involving Americas security are considered non-negotiable. The delegate added that China had stayed silent on the U.S. offer.

If the 21 APEC leaders fail to reach a consensus on the U.S. bid by Friday, the delegate said, a paragraph in a draft of the summit communique welcoming the U.S. offer would have to be deleted.

New Zealands Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said earlier this week that APEC was founded on consensus and that there was not yet a confirmed host for 2023.

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney also spoke at the CEO summit, saying she believed that liberal democracies could improve global human rights by pressuring autocratic nations. She said businesses also needed to play a role.

If you can't battle evil, you can at least try to tackle apathy, Clooney said. And if you can't rely on liberal governments to solve global issues, you have to try and inspire the private sector to step in."

In all, APEC members account for nearly 3 billion people and about 60% of the worlds GDP. But deep tensions run through the unlikely group of 21 nations and territories that include the U.S., China, Taiwan, Russia, and Australia.

Many of the countries in Asia endeavor to balance Chinese and U.S. influences on the economic and geopolitical fronts.

China claims vast parts of the South China Sea and other areas and has moved to establish a military presence, building islands in some disputed areas as it asserts its historic claims.

Both Taiwan and China have applied to join a Pacific Rim trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Beijing saying it will block Taiwans bid on the basis that the democratically governed island refuses to accept that its part of communist-ruled China.

Officials say they have made significant progress during some 340 preliminary meetings leading up to this week's leaders' meeting. APEC members have agreed to reduce or eliminate many tariffs and border holdups on vaccines, masks and other medical products important to fighting the pandemic.

___

Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines
A Clay County judge has sentenced Viola Bowman to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the fatal shooting of her husband in Kansas City nine years ago.

Bowman, who rejected an earlier plea deal that would have freed her, was sentenced by Judge Shane T. Alexander after being found guilty at trial of first-degree murder and armed criminal action three weeks ago. Her husband, Albert Rusty Bowman, was shot and killed in what prosecutors contend was a cold and calculating murder.

Bowman continued to maintain that she is innocent as she spoke in court Wednesday.

I did not murder my husband, she told the judge, before she turned and addressed two of her daughters present in courtroom.

Im sorry you lost your father.  I suffer every day without your father here.

Rusty Bowman was found dead on Nov. 7, 2012 in his Northland home at 5530 N.E. Munger Road. He was covered in blood in his recliner when first responders arrived, summoned to the house with a 911 call placed by his wife.

Nearly two years after the homicide, police took Bowman in for questioning and let her go. She was later arrested in January 2015. She spent roughly six-and-a-half years awaiting her day in court.

At trial, prosecutors alleged Bowman staged a break-in at the home and shot her husband twice, striking him in the head and chest. Her demeanor was considered odd by emergency workers and she made inconsistent statements to investigators, who questioned her theory that a burglar was responsible, prosecutors said.

They noted that items like a laptop, car keys and a wallet were not stolen from the home. Prosecutors also contended that Bowman benefited from a life insurance policy in the wake of her husbands death.

Meanwhile, Horton Lance, Bowmans defense attorney, said she loved her husband of 35 years. She was at Walmart during the shooting, buying items to make caramel apples, and when she arrived home, she encountered the most traumatic, terrifying event of her lifetime, he said.

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During the sentencing hearing Wednesday, supporters and opponents of Bowman sat on opposite sides of the courtroom as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Robert Lee Sanders called two witnesses to the stand.

The first was Debbie Bowman, sister of Rusty Bowman. She said their mother was never the same as she was consumed by grief following the death of her only son. She attributed her mothers death  on Nov. 7, 2020, the eight-year anniversary of the murder  in part to the long pursuit for justice.

I hope she gets to be the oldest person in the state of Missouri prison, Debbie Bowman said of her ex-sister-in-law, saying her brothers and mothers lives were both stripped away by the killing.

Also testifying was Pamela Franklin, one of Bowmans three daughters. She said her fathers absence during the growth of her own family  getting married, having children of her own  is a heartache that never leaves me.

I miss him, Franklin said of her father. I would give anything to have him back.

Sanders, the assistant prosecutor, recommended to the judge that Bowman be imprisoned for life. He accused her of being a cold, calculating manipulator and said her husband deserves no less for justice.

Supporters of Bowman wrote letters to the judge asking for leniency. Among them was Sandi Johnson, a longtime friend of the Bowman couple, who wrote in a letter to the judge that Bowman was a caring wife who loved her husband with every fiber of her being. Johnson wrote that she and her husband are fully convinced of her innocence.

Before sentencing, Judge Alexander said that requests for leniency in sentencing for a first-degree murder conviction simply cannot be granted under the law. He also said that the court is convinced of Bowmans guilt.

Lance, the defense attorney, sought for the judge to order a new trial, saying the jury made a tragic mistake by convicting Bowman. That motion was rejected Wednesday. Lance told The Star after court that he would be filing an appeal on Bowmans behalf, saying we hope to prove in the end that she truly is innocent.

Bowman was given the opportunity last year to take a plea deal that would have resulted in a five-year sentence with credit for time served, effectively releasing her in exchange for admitting to voluntary manslaughter.

But she rejected that offer, telling the judge at the time: I did not do this.

In 2019, Bowman was the subject of a Star investigation examining problems with the Missouri State Public Defender system. The investigation found that the system routinely fails poor defendants by providing inadequate representation that falls short of constitutional guarantees. It highlighted Bowmans case, which was postponed dozens of times as the office struggled to balance overwhelming caseloads.
WORCESTER  Clark University last week announced it is aiming to land $100 million in financing to help pay for a new academic building campus and other planned work.

The proposed interdisciplinary academic building, which will encompass computer science, visual and performing arts, and interactive media arts and game design, will be located east of the Strassler Center between Hawthorne and Woodland streets, Clark President David Fithian said in a message to the school.

Among the divisions to be housed at the new facility are the Becker School of Design & Technology, a program Clark subsumed earlier this year when Becker College closed. It will also be home to Clarks department of computer science as well as individual programs within the department of visual and performing arts.

More: Clark buys vacant 7-acre parcel, site of former Park Avenue car dealership

The intersection of these areas creates new opportunities for synergy in teaching, research, and innovation and advances new forms of pedagogy, Fithian said.

Clark University

The schools efforts to secure new financing, meanwhile, represents a substantial step forward that takes advantage of highly favorable market conditions and Clarks strong financial position, he said.

In addition to funding new construction, the university also intends to refinance $56 million in debt, according to the presidents announcement. Fithian also shared that credit rating agency Moodys recently gave Clark a promising report of its financial status and long-term fiscal outlook, although it also slightly downgraded the universitys credit rating from A1 to A2.

QCC announces new senior dental care initiative in region

Quinsigamond Community College on Wednesday announced a new partnership with the Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging to offer free preventative dental care to seniors in the region.

The new Central Massachusetts Senior Dental Clinic will provide cleanings, assessments, X-rays and fluoride treatment, all at no charge, to residents who are at least 55 years old. Worcesters Yellow Cab will also provide transportation for seniors to get to the program.

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The American Rescue Plan Act is giving $60,000 to the initiative, thanks in part to Congressman James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, according to the college; QCC will provide a 50% match to cover expenses. Officials expect the funding will be able to help 2,000 seniors receive dental treatment over the next three years.

Older Americans, particularly low income, underserved seniors, often lack access to dental care, QCC President Luis Pedraja said. Thanks to this partnership with the CMAA, we are helping to provide equitable access to important dental care for this vulnerable population, as well as enabling our dental hygiene students to become better prepared to care for senior patients when they enter the workforce.

Mount Wachusett announces new leadership picks

Mount Wachusett Community College this past week announced it has appointed a new vice president of finance and administration as well as made several other leadership moves.

Sandra Quaye, who most recently worked at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire, will be the colleges new finance and administration head, replacing the retiring Robert LaBonte.

I am excited to be joining the MWCC community, said Quaye, who had been vice president of finance and administration, chief financial officer and treasurer at Franklin Pierce since 2014. The opportunities MWCC provides to students, faculty, and staff as well as the local community are endless. I am energized by the work ahead and look forward to contributing to the success of MWCC.

Mount Wachusett also announced it has tapped John Eisler, who came to MWCC from Springfield College last year, to serve as interim vice president of academic affairs, and Adam Duggan, previously dean of adult basic education, as its new vice president of workforce development and lifelong learning.

In addition, Senior Dean of Students, Jason Zelesky, will become the colleges interim vice president of student affairs.

Robin Frkal

Nichols names new associate deans for graduate programs

Nichols College recently announced its has named two new associate deans for its graduate programs.

Robin Frkal, associate professor of human resource management, will become the associate dean for the Graduate School of Business and Professional Studies. She has been at the college for three years.

Allison McDowell Smith, associate professor of criminal justice and counterterrorism, will take over as associate dean for the Graduate School of Liberal Arts. She has been with Nichols for seven years.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Clark University Becker Worcester financing buildings campus QCC MWCC
Collier County commissioners have adopted new registration rules for short-term rentals.

The board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the rules, which have been years in the making.

They'll apply to vacation and other short-term rentals of six months or less in the county, outside city limits, taking effect Jan. 3.

Following a few speakers and a brief board discussion, Commissioner Bill McDaniel motioned to approve the new ordinance. A second came from Commissioner Andy Solis.

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Commissioners agreed they didn't need a detailed presentation from staff on the legislation, saying it had been discussed "ad nauseam" over many years.

The registration requirements are designed to protect residential neighborhoods. They'll require rental owners to provide local contact information for their properties, making it easier and quicker to address and resolve unruliness when it arises.

Naples continues to be the premier spot for vacation rentals.

The intent is to "encourage the appropriate management of these properties, and protect the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents and visitors to Collier County."

"The core of this ordinance is that we need a contact person when somebody is partying at 2 a.m. That is the heart and the soul of this ordinance. It really doesn't do anything else," County Attorney Jeff Klatzkow explained to commissioners.

He frowned upon making any last-minute changes to the language of the new rules, pointing out there had already been so much back and forth on them with the local industry, going back to 2019. He said county staffers never seemed to get a "consensus on anything."

"I think this language works. I really do," Klatzkow said.

Under the new rules, owners will have to obtain a Collier County registration certificate for each of their short-term vacation rentals  and provide a contact that's available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to address any law enforcement actions, code violations or emergencies involving their property.

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There will be a one-time fee of $50 for registration.

Registration will generate a unique identification number for each property or unit, which owners will have to include in any marketing or advertising they do for their rentals.

Failure to register a short-term rental could result in a fine or civil citation, up to $500 per violation, per day.

The new rules will apply to single- and multi-family homes, as well as condominiums. Single rooms and apartments will have to be registered too if used as temporary rentals.

Owners of vacation rental properties are already required to obtain a license through the state's Department of Business and Professional Regulation and register with the Collier County Tax Collector's office to pay a mandatory tourist development tax.

Jamie French, deputy department head for the county's Growth Management Department, told commissioners the new registration process will provide code enforcement with information that's otherwise hard to come by, as it's not readily available from those other sources.

A 52-foot houseboat on Naples Bay in downtown Naples is available for rent through Airbnb.

"It's not duplicative to us. It's unique," he said.

When code enforcement receives complaints about short-term rentals, it handles them based on the issues reported and the laws that apply to those problems. Complaints usually involve noise, trash, parking or maintenance.

The county has no authority to regulate rentals, French said, and it still won't after the registration rules take effect. State law doesn't allow it.

Through the registration process, the county will create a searchable database for contact information.

There will be an easy online platform to register, French said, which should be up and running shortly. Notices will be sent out to affected owners, at least the ones the county knows about.

The number of short-term rentals that will have to get registered is estimated at 10,000 to 14,000.

This house is a geodesic dome in Golden Gate Estates in Collier County and is available for rent through Airbnb.

Brad Estes, with the Poinciana Civic Association, told commissioners he wholeheartedly endorsed the new registration rules. He said his quaint community of Poinciana Village, located across from Grey Oaks Country Club between Pine Ridge Road and Golden Gate Parkway, has struggled to deal with disruptions from short-term renters because it has been so difficult to identify and reach their owners.

The community's association has sent out 300 to 400 letters to property owners related to problems caused by their temporary rentals over the past four years, Estes said, and he can count on one hand the number who responded.

"It's a situation that is not just in our case distracting and a threat to our community character, but there are communities that have actually had very serious consequences from this," he said.

"How you approach it, I don't know," Estes said. "But we think information is the first thing, who owns it, and who is going to be responsible and who is going to be immediately responsible."

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Collier County approves short-term rental registration requirements after years of discussion, debate
A Colorado county has settled a civil rights lawsuit for $325,000 that repeatedly mentioned a controversial contractor  who was hired to provide training at York County Prison  and agreed to never use him or his company again.

Though they had not been named as defendants in the case, CSAU-1 LLC, a corrections special operations" organization based in Greenville, South Carolina, and its senior team leader, Joseph Garcia, were cited more than 60 times in the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado. The acronym stands for Corrections Special Applications Unit.

The Weld County Board of Commissioners agreed to several conditions as part of the settlement, including that it will never again contract with Garcia or any companies connected to him for training.

U.S. District Judge William J. Martinez closed the case on Oct. 28 after the parties reached the agreement.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News obtained a copy of the settlement through a Colorado Open Records Act request.

RELATED: York County commissioners approve 2-year, $252,770 contract with controversial jail trainer

The Weld County Board of Commissioners has settled a civil rights lawsuit that repeatedly mentioned CSAU-1 LLC, a "corrections special operations" organization in Greenville, South Carolina, and its "senior team leader," Joseph Garcia, for $325,000.

On June 23, 2018, Tage Rustgi, a student at the University of Colorado at Boulder, alleged that he was placed in a detox hold and taken for unclear reasons to the Weld County North Jail Complex. The lawsuit states that he was not charged with a crime.

Deputies, the lawsuit asserts, later fired multiple concussion explosives from shotguns in his direction and smashed his face into the floor while he lay face-down and helpless.

Garcia, the lawsuit asserted, trained and encouraged staff members to use "intimidation, harassment, aggression, threats of violence, physical violence, and weaponry, to terrify pretrial detainees and other inmates in the jail.

Weld County Attorney Bruce Barker and Dave Maxted, Rustgis attorney, declined to comment.

READ: York County pays $120K for controversial 'Navy SEALS'-like jail trainer. Controversy follows

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Meanwhile, the York County Board of Commissioners in October approved a two-year, $252,770 contract extension with C-SAU but then decided to hold off on signing the agreement.

Thats after several people spoke out after the vote during public comment and brought up past statements that Garcia has made in interviews.

For instance, Garcia stated on Talking Lead Podcast during a discussion about Black Lives Matter that he preferred Dogs Lives Matter.

York County Vice President Commissioner Doug Hoke said on Wednesday that members of the board have not yet signed the contract.

In a statement, York County Prison Warden Adam Ogle has said leaders have extreme confidence in the C-SAU program.

CHECK OUT: York County Prison contractor used prisoners in provocative promo videos, email shows

Garcia and his former company, U.S. Corrections Special Operations Group, are referred to in a use of force analysis about the case of Jamal Sutherland, a Black man who died on Jan. 5 while in custody at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center outside Charleston, South Carolina.

The Charleston County Council settled with Sutherlands family for $10 million. Garcia has adamantly denied that his company and training had anything to do with what happened.

In 2015, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Worchester County Sheriffs Office settled a class action lawsuit that named U.S. Corrections Special Operations Group as a defendant for $90,000, according to documents obtained through a Massachusetts Public Records Law request.

ALSO OF INTEREST: York County Prison's controversial trainer was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in British prison

Contact Dylan Segelbaum at 717-771-2102.

Code of ethics to apply to third-party contractors at York County Prison

The York County Prison Board of Inspectors on Wednesday voted to require third-party contractors to sign a code of ethics.

York County Prison Warden Adam Ogle said contractors already have to sign to similar form, but the code is more specific to ethics.

We wanted to mirror exactly what our staff had, Ogle said. This is going to be signed to have a contract with us in general.

If a contractor violates the code of ethics, theres an option to cancel a contract, said Don Reihart, York County Prisons solicitor. But he said he thinks it would have to be a pretty egregious violation.

Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services

The York Daily Record/Sunday News has obtained copies of contracts, invoices and training proposals that C-SAU Senior Team Leader Joseph Garcias former company, U.S. Corrections Special Operations Group, sent to the Dona Ana County Detention Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

A memo dated June 29, 2017, lists MD Subject Matter Expert for the MD DOC under Awards and Recognitions.

In an email, Mark Vernarelli, manager of media relations for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, said Garcia taught a class at its training facility in 2009 but has not done any instruction there since.

Vernarelli said there is no designation of subject matter expert for the department.

So neither he, nor anyone else, has been so designated, Vernarelli said.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: C-SAU: Weld County, Colorado, settles federal lawsuit for $325,000
Columbus police investigating a fatal shooting Monday at the Target store at Morse Crossing near Easton Town Center on Monday.

Columbus police on Thursday identified 21-year-old Abraha Ermias as the man brazenly shot and killed Monday morning outside the main entrance of the Target store on Morse Crossing near Easton Town Center.

The victim, who police say has an Atlanta home address but a driver's license from California, walked into the Target just before 11:30 and purchased something at Starbucks, according a release from homicide detectives.

After leaving the Northeast Side store, police said he was waiting outside the main entrance when he was shot twice at close range. There was no altercation or disturbance before the gunfire, Sgt. James Fuqua previously said, and the shooting was not believed to be random.

The police incident report, which was released Thursday morning also provided a little bit more information about the suspect  who has not been arrested  but with wide ranges on the description.

Detectives say the suspect is a Black male, somewhere between 18 and 30 years old, between 5-foot-6 to 6-foot-1 in height, and weighs 165 to 220 pounds, according to the report. The suspect fled the scene in a black or dark blue Chevrolet Impala.

Detectives also indicated on the report that the homicide may have been gang-related, but provided no further details.

Gang activity has been a focus of Columbus police, as well as a growing concern of the public, after a national research center released a report in October stating that 46% of the homicides from the first nine months of 2020 studied were confirmed or suspected to involve gangs. The report stated there are some 17 gangs or organized groups in the city with an estimated 480 members.

Ermias' death was the 175th homicide in Columbus this year, tying last year for the deadliest on record with more than a month and a half to go in 2021.

award@dispatch.com

@AllisonAWard

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Shooting at Target Columbus Ohio: police name victim, Abraha Ermias
BELFAST (2021)

Judi Dench (left) and Ciaran Hinds (right) play the beloved grandparents of Jude Hill's Buddy in Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast' Credit - Rob Youngson 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

On Oct. 5, 1968, chaos broke out in the streets of Derry, Northern Ireland. As a civil rights parade wound through the streets, the policeor Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)blocked the protesters route, surrounding them. Forming two intimidating lines on either side, the RUC baton-charged protesters. Images of the violence were broadcast into homes around the globe. Writing later that month for the BBC magazine, The Listener, the poet Seamus Heaney declared the moment a watershed in the political life of Northern Ireland. After this, Heaney wrote, there could be no more shades of grey.

I thought of Heaneys words as I watched Kenneth Branaghs heavily autobiographical film Belfast, which releases in the U.S. on Nov. 12 following a successful run at fall film festivals. The film opens with glorious vistas of contemporary Belfast in full color, from its opening shot of the sunflower yellow of the Harland and Wolff cranes to the lilac sea-blues of the Titanic museum, and aerial footage of the city surrounded by the verdant green of Cave Hill, nestled in the crook of Belfast Loch. A version of Van Morrisons Coming Down to Joy soundtracks these images. We only get a glancing look at this highlight of the citys tourist reel before we soon lose the pigment for black and white Belfast of mid-August 1969.

At first, the movie presents this moment in the citys history as a more innocent time. We see the lead character, a young boy named Buddy (Jude Hill), playing with his friends in their terraced street in a mixed area of north Belfast, where both of Northern Irelands dominant two communities live alongside each other peacefully. These two communities have their roots in centuries of entanglements between Ireland and Britain, an often-fraught relationship exacerbated exponentially by the messy, violent partition of Ireland in 1921. The two sides are the nationalist or republican community, who are usually (but not always) Catholic and identify as Irish; and the unionist or loyalist community, largely Protestant, who identify as British and wish to remain in the union that forms the United Kingdom of Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

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In Branaghs Belfast, this peace between communities doesnt last for long. Minutes into the film, a wide-eyed Buddy is confronted with a riotous, swarming masked mob brandishing torches and homemade weapons, screaming chants of Catholics Out! Its a pacey opening scene. But, for all the exposition-heavy dialogue that follows (Youre as welcome here as anyone, Paddy) and the occasional splices of TV or radio news playing in the background, audiences unfamiliar with the Northern Ireland conflict might be left as disoriented and confused as Buddy is.

A summer of escalating violence

Two young girls stand with members of the British Army's Parachute Regiment in the primarily Catholic Divis Flats housing estate, Belfast, Northern, Ireland, August 10, 1969 Leif Skoogfors/Corbis via Getty Images

The riots that Buddy witnesses did in fact happen in Belfast in August 1969, and Branaghs film draws strongly on his own experience as a child growing up at 96 Mountcollyer Street in north Belfast. The writer-director, whose family was Protestant, has said that he hid under the dining room table, much like Buddy and his older brothers mother instructs them to do, as a group of Protestants from the Shankill Road came to their street with the aim of intimidating Catholics out of their homes.

The riots came as part of a week of violence across Northern Ireland. On Aug. 12, in Derry, a parade by the Protestant Apprentice Boys was followed by fighting between the RUC and the residents of the Bogside, a Catholic nationalist area of the city. The British Army was deployed to quell what is now known as the Battle of the Bogside. In Belfast, and across the North, nationalists called for protests in response; amid the escalating tensions and paranoia across the city, violent riots soon broke out.

Until this point, parts of Belfast had still been relatively mixed, with Catholics and Protestants often living side by side. As the violence escalated, many families fled their homes in terror; scores of houses were burnt down, like those in Conway and Bombay Streets in west Belfast. This was displacement on a significant scale: thousands of people left their homes, with many Catholic refugees fleeing south across the border in an echo of the unrest following Partition. This decisionto stay or to leave and start a new life in Englandis the central tension facing Buddys family in the film, with his parents, whom he calls Ma (Catriona Balfe) and Da (Jamie Dornan), in a stalemate.

Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe play young parents deciding whether to stay or go as violence escalates in Belfast in 1969 Rob Youngson / Focus Features 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

Makeshift barricades went up across the city, as depicted in Belfast. There was an unease among the Catholic population that the police would not protect them and their homes because the RUC was overwhelmingly unionist and Protestant. Branaghs film gives voice to this fear of abandonment, too, when one of the characters declares, The Police wont protect us, we have to do it ourselves. While Buddys family is Protestant, his father faces threats of violence from another Protestant character for his attempts to remain neutralhis insistence on remaining in the shades of grey.

As Branaghs film also dramatizes, the British Army was sent into the streets of Belfast that month. Initially deployed as a temporary measure to protect Catholics from violence, the British Armys Operation Banner would maintain a presence that became tense in Northern Ireland from 1969 until 2007, nearly a decade after the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement brokered a fragile peace.

Part of a global movement for civil rights

These riots of 1969 didnt come out of nowhere: tensions had been building for years. In Belfast, Buddys Da lays the blame for the conflict at the feet of Bloody Religion; this is an oversimplification of a highly complex political situation. The violence of Partition had established a statelet with a Protestant majority; unionist interests were maintained through repressive tactics to the detriment of the Catholic minority. Being Catholic didnt just mean that you held different religious beliefs: it meant you were significantly more likely to suffer unfair employment practices, inequitable housing distribution and be disenfranchised due to gerrymandering that favored unionists in elections.

Unrest had been especially potent following the establishment of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association (NICRA) in 1967. The NICRA was founded in an effort to address state discrimination against the Catholic minority and members came from a variety of political and religious backgrounds. And, of course, Ireland didnt exist in a vacuum. Social activism, civil rights mobilization and mass protest were a globally defining feature of the late 1960s.

This Northern Irish civil rights movement drew heavily on the U.S.-based African-American civil rights movement of the 1960s for inspiration. In 1969, Irish politician and civil rights campaigner Bernadette Devlin was given the key to New York City; in 1970, on his visit to the United States, fellow Irish activist Eamonn McCann gave this key to the Black Panthers as a gesture of solidarity with the Black liberation and revolutionary socialist movements in America.

Branaghs film gives us glimpses of this Belfast, too. Its a Belfast that is much more diverse than viewers might expect, and one that complicates the idea that Belfasts social fabric consists only of the binary two communities. Buddys schoolteacher is played by Irish-Nigerian actor Vanessa Ifediora, and there are numerous South Asian families living in north Belfast, including Mr Singh, who runs their local corner shop, and Grannys (Judi Dench) Indian neighbor.

The Belfast writer Glenn Patterson has stated that Belfast in the mid-1960s is curiously a very outward looking place. In his novel The International (1999), about a barman in Belfasts International Hotel in 1967, Patterson reaches back to a moment just before violence engulfed Northern Ireland. Like Branaghs Belfast, returning to this time of suspended animation before the horror of the Troubles is a powerful way to retell the history of the conflict. It allows Branagh, who emigrated to England with his parents in 1970, to indulge in the romantic nostalgia of his own memory, and there is something highly artificial in the stylized aesthetic of the film. The carefully composed scenes remind viewers of the theater or old Hollywood, both of which, during a few scenes when the family enjoys a cultural outing together, puncture the narrative with bursts of color.

The childs perspective as a storytelling device

Judi Dench (left) and Ciaran Hinds (right) play the beloved grandparents of Jude Hill's Buddy in Kenneth Branagh's 'Belfast' Rob Youngson 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

But this return to an earlier Belfast does more than this. Telling audiences about how close these Belfast communities were, as neighbors chat on doorsteps and run through each others houses, makes plain how terrifyingand heartbreakingthe looming civil war will be. An amusing scene where Buddy and his friend, Moira (Lara McDonnell), discuss whether their names reveal their religious identity makes light of what would come. To return to Heaney once more, his caution that you must be expertly civil-tongued with civil neighbours rings heavy here. Branaghs vision of such friendly coexistence foreshadows the horrifying intimacy of the impending conflict marked, Heaney writes, by neighbourly murder.

Theres also something painfully resonant about the films focus on the North through the eyes of a young child, even if Branagh runs the risk of simplifying or decontextualizing the very real history against which the story of Belfast is set. The Irish boyhood narrative has some serious literary clout to it too, like James Joyces Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916)to which Branaghs film makes some decided nods, notably through the lengthy sermon from Buddys Protestant minister (in contrast to Joyces Catholic priest) about the horrors of hell awaiting sinners.

Using a childs perspective to frame narratives about the North is common, too, as readers or viewers gain awareness and understanding of the conflict as the lead character does. Seamus Deanes autobiographical novel Reading in the Dark (1996) springs to mind here, as does Lucy Caldwells novel Where They Were Missed (2006). Caldwells work is part of a growing body of fiction insisting on the importance of the Irish girlhood; Lisa McGees irreverent TV series Derry Girls is another joyful example.

Some of the drama of Belfast rests on the all too real fears of Buddys parents that their teenage son, Will, might be pressured into joining a loyalist gang. Children did become co-opted into various paramilitary organizations during the conflict. They were also casualties, too, as the harrowing ground of Freya McClements and Joe Duffys Children of the Troubles: The Untold Story of the Children Killed in the Northern Ireland Conflict makes so painfully clear.

A subtleand contemporarypolitics

Director Kenneth Branagh (left) and actor Jude Hill (right) on the set of 'Belfast' Rob Youngson / Focus Features 2021 Focus Features, LLC.

Though Branaghs film looks to be on solid footing heading into a long awards season, its saccharine charm wont please everyone. Some reviewers have been quick to suggest it is apoliticalpresumably because there are no men in suits debating things; no explicit references to paramilitary organisations; no discussion about union, either Irish or British. Belfast might not be Political in the way we demand of material about the Northern Ireland conflict, but it has its own politics, despite its simplified retelling of the conflicts tensions. Its the politics of the everyday, the personal and the ordinary. In small, subtle ways, Branaghs film shows how homes, families and lives were lost and irrevocably changed by the conflict. Dustbin lids become makeshift shields; milk bottles become petrol bombs; laundry detergent is the centrepiece of a riot; doors close on relatives that would not open again.

For those who live in Northern Ireland, the simple facts of daily life are political. You can see this in the endless debate about what to call the six county statelet. Branaghs film gets its release in the same year as the centenary of the Partition of Ireland, marking 100 years of a divided island. People who live in the North live with shades of gray, despite the fact that our political system operates on a consociational model which insists on binary thinking. This means all political decisions come back down to the black and white of Catholic/Protestant, nationalist/unionist.

The night I watched Belfast, a protest, ostensibly about dissatisfaction with the new Brexit protocol, broke out in Lanark Way, an interface area between communities in west Belfast. Alongside one of Belfasts euphemistically named Peace Walls, loyalist youths threw missiles and fireworks at the police. The police made two arrests: both were boys, one 12, the other 15. Branaghs black and white ode to a disappeared Belfast might play to most audiences as a historical drama. But as Northern Ireland hits the headlines again, for all the wrong reasons, Belfast might be more of a contemporary story than reminiscence on the long lost past.

Dr Alison Garden is a writer and academic based at Queens University Belfast, and the author of The Literary Afterlives of Roger Casement, 1899-2016 (2020). She is currently writing a book about love, mixed marriage and the Northern Ireland Conflict. She tweets at @NotSecretGarden and you can learn more about her work here.
Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett appointed Sally Burchett as the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation Director. Burchett is replacing former director Jerry Allbert who retired in October 2021.

Burchett has worked at Montgomery County Parks and Recreation since Aug. 2016 as an administrative coordinator, custodial and playground crew chief and most recently as the natural resource and programming manager.

During her time at County Parks and Recreation, she secured $1.8 million in grants, oversaw the opening of the Wade Bourne Nature Center, and was responsible for playground renovation projects.

Burchetts background is in youth development. She spent time as a school-age services coordinator for the YMCA and the education director for the Boys & Girls Club of Rutherford County.

She is a graduate of Clarksville Academy and attended Middle Tennessee State University. Burchett is certified as a National Recreation and Park Association (NPRA) Playground Safety Inspector.

I believe Sally is a great addition to our leadership team," Mayor Durrett said. "Sally is enthusiastic about our first-class parks and she will continue to bring new ideas and excitement to the County Parks and Recreation Department.

I am excited and honored to get to continue serving Montgomery County in this new role as Parks Director. Supporting the daily work of our exceptional team is my top priority to continually offer our community top rate parks and recreational opportunities, Burchett said.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: County Mayor appoints New Parks and Recreation director
A grim federal inspection of Washington, D.C.s central jail has left hundreds of inmates, including about three dozen detained Jan. 6 defendants, in limbo this week, as city officials confront allegations of filthy conditions and inhumane treatment.

Officials are racing to transfer hundreds of inmates in the central jail to other facilities, including nearly 400 to a Pennsylvania prison, following the U.S. Marshals Service report that described rampant abuses by guards, retaliation against prisoners, substandard food and unsanitary plumbing problems throughout the central jail.

The Jan. 6 inmates detained in Washington do not reside in the central jail, but are being held in a nearby annex called the Correctional Treatment Facility. Federal inspectors found that facility to be adequate. But it was these defendants complaints of mistreatment that prompted the U.S. Marshals to investigate conditions, resulting in last weeks report about the central jail.

Members of the D.C. City Council demanded immediate steps on Wednesday to address the failures at the central jail, but they also expressed outrage that long-standing problems raised by Washingtons largely Black prison population had gone ignored, while the complaints of the predominantly white Jan. 6 defendants drew quick action from the feds.

I am deeply disturbed that we only have attention now that the January 6 insurrectionists drove it, Councilmember Trayon White said at a meeting of the councils Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

As many have noted, concerns about conditions in the jail received little attention until they were raised, of course, by mostly white defendants accused of perpetrating the January 6 insurrection, said D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine, who attended the remote hearing. Thats not because people werent complaining.

Federal judges presiding over hundreds of Jan. 6 cases have expressed increasing alarm about conditions in the D.C. jail.

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U.S. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth last month held the city in contempt for refusing to provide key details about its handling of some defendants. And last week, he released to home confinement Christopher Worrell, a Proud Boy and Capitol Riot defendant who is preparing to begin chemotherapy for cancer treatment, contending that he has no confidence the D.C. Department of Corrections would provide adequate medical care.

Lamberth revealed in court last week that the U.S. Marshals Service had discovered squalid conditions inside the central jail and encountered staff who threatened retaliation against inmates who cooperated with inspectors.

One inmate said he had been sprayed with pepper spray and prevented from showering, which caused an infection, Lamberth said as he read findings of the inspection. Inspectors also described a water shutoff intended as a punitive measure that led to plumbing problems throughout the jail. The marshals also found a burning smell in many parts of the facility, including the distinct smell of marijuana.

Deputy Mayor Chris Geldart, who oversees the citys public safety agencies, said at Wednesdays council hearing that he disagreed with some of the U.S. Marshals Services findings, and said he believed that problems at the D.C. central jail were not so pervasive that [the jail] has become uninhabitable.

Geldart acknowledged some of the issues, but generally downplayed the concerns raised by federal inspectors. He said Mayor Muriel Bowsers administration had been working diligently to improve living conditions at the decaying building, including by retaining a new food service vendor that was ushering in innovative experiences with food.

His comments drew sharp rebukes from council members who described receiving nearly daily calls from constituents concerned about conditions at the jail.

Councilmember Charles Allen also expressed concern that when Marshals Service representatives returned to the jail after the initial six-day inspection last month, they were denied entry. Geldart confirmed that and said the warden declined to allow what was deemed a tour of the facility on the weekend.

For now, theres significant confusion among defendants, judges and attorneys about the status of the defendants housed in D.C.s facilities.

An attorney for David Dempsey, another Jan. 6 defendant, urged Lamberth in a court filing on Tuesday to prevent D.C. officials from moving her client out of the District, after she was informed he was going to be transferred. Hours later the attorney, Sabrina Shroff, said Dempsey had already been moved before the judge could act and prosecutors viewed the matter as moot.

But Shroff checked in with the judge yet again on Wednesday to say that, in fact, Dempsey hadnt been moved and remained housed in the Central Treatment Facility.

The U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement last week that it planned to transfer 400 pretrial detainees from the central D.C. jail to a federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pa., but that federal detainees housed at the nearby Central Treatment Facility  including the Jan. 6 prisoners  would be kept there.

Officials said on Wednesday they were not aware of any plans to move the small fraction of the Capitol Riot defendants who are detained. Most of the more than 700 charged in connection with Jan. 6 are on pretrial release.

Geldart said that 90 federal prisoners were moved out of the main jail on Tuesday and that almost 50 were scheduled to be moved on Wednesday.

D.C. council members said that simply moving prisoners to new jails or prisons would do little to solve the decades-old issues in D.C.s central jail.

Moving people out is a Band-Aid, White said.

Geldart also made clear that Bowser opposes the federal detainee transfer because it puts D.C. residents farther from their families. The executive is strongly against the move of residents in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, he said.

Federal and D.C. officials have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at resolving deficiencies at the jail and restoring its use for federal detainees, Geldart said. One unusual provision in the four-page agreement released on Wednesday by Bowsers office prohibits the Marshals Service and D.C. officials from conducting any media interviews or issuing any news release about the issue without prior consent from both sides.

One council member at the virtual hearing, Robert White Jr., said hed heard from close partners who work in the D.C. jail that the Marshals Service report was off-base.

Allen, the council committees chair, said he was frustrated by the D.C. jails handling of the matter, noting that officials who guided city councilors on a tour of the jail last week also permitted right-wing conspiracy theorists to join them. Allen appeared to be referring to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who toured D.C. jails last week and said, Ive never seen human suffering like I witnessed last night.

Greene is promising to issue a report on her visit, which she says will provide findings on the treatment of all D.C. jail prisoners , not just the Jan. 6 defendants.

Ill never forget hearing their screams, she wrote Our detailed report will outline everything we saw in every area of the jail we were allowed to see, on behalf of all inmates.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The last time Congress approved a major renewal of federal highway and other transportation programs, the votes were 359-65 in the House and 83-16 in the Senate. It was backed by nearly every Democrat and robust majorities of Republicans.

This years $1 trillion infrastructure bill easily cleared the Senate 69-13 with GOP support, but crawled through the House last week by 228-206 with just 13 Republican votes.

Those defectors were savaged afterward by former President Donald Trump, hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called them traitors while tweeting their names and office telephone numbers, and one of the 13 says he received a death threat.

The votes, six years apart, and the harsh blowback against Republican mavericks illustrate a GOP in which conservative voices have grown louder and more militant, fanned by Trumps bellicose four years in office.

Growing numbers of progressives have made Democrats more liberal too, with both shifts fueling a sharpening of partisanship in Washington.

This madness has to stop, said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., an 18-term moderate, who said his offices received dozens of threatening calls following his yes vote. That included one obscenity-laced rant that aides provided in which the caller repeatedly called Upton a traitor and expressed hope that the lawmaker, his family and aides would die.

FILE - Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks to a reporter on Capitol Hill in Washington, Aug. 24, 2021. This years $1 trillion infrastructure bill easily cleared the Senate by a 69-13 vote with some GOP support. But the bill crawled through the House last week by a 228-206 margin with just 13 Republican votes. Those 13 GOP members have come under harsh criticism from former President Donald Trump and others. (Photo: AP Photo/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades,)

Upton closed his two Michigan offices for a day and reopened them after increasing their security.

This years bill, triple the size of the 2015 measure, is a keystone of President Joe Bidens push to create jobs and build out the nations roads, water systems, broadband coverage and other projects. A compromise between Senate Democrats and Republicans, it will send money into every state and is the kind of bill that politicians have loved promoting back home for decades. Biden plans to sign it Monday.

Democrats say GOP opposition to the bill is indefensible on policy and political grounds.

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Its a sad statement of how the other party has lost its way, said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., whos leading the House Democratic political arm into a 2022 campaign in which Republicans have solid chances of capturing congressional control. If you want our country to fail so you can say things are bad and win power for yourself, you act like the House Republicans are.

But for many Republicans, infrastructure projects  once an issue the two parties would reflexively work together on for mutual and national benefit  now offer a complex political calculation.

When it comes to policy these days, were basically divided into two tribes. And you stick with your tribe and you dont try to help the other tribe, said Glen Bolger, a GOP pollster and strategist.

As president, Trump repeatedly promised his own massive infrastructure plan but never produced one, making the phrase infrastructure week a Washington synonym for pipe dream. But he opposes the current package, and his ability to rally his conservative supporters against those who cross him was a factor as GOP lawmakers decided how to vote.

Even so, hard-right cries for retaliation against the 13 pro-infrastructure Republicans, largely moderates from the Northeast and Midwest, have prompted their own pushback.

This notion that were going to have people that are on the fringe, in terms of the Marjorie Taylor Greenes of the world and others, imposing some kind of a purity test on substance is lunacy, said Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Cheney has been at war with Trump and the partys far right ever since backing his impeachment early this year.

Cheney opposed the bill, saying it contained clean energy and other provisions that would hurt Wyoming. She said the 13 Republicans who backed it are among some of our very best members who did it because it was the right thing for their districts.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., an unabashed partisan warrior, was among 19 Senate Republicans who voted for the bill in August. McConnell, who doesnt have to worry about being reelected until 2026, said this week he was delighted the measure was heading to Biden.

A day earlier, McConnell had already drawn Trumps wrath.

Trump issued a statement denigrating GOP senators whod backed the bill for thinking that helping the Democrats is such a wonderful thing to do. Those Republicans should be ashamed of themselves, in particular Mitch McConnell, Trump wrote.

That was just the tip of the iceberg for the attacks.

In an interview, the leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus said GOP lawmakers should consider removing from their posts the 10 of the 13 defectors who are the senior Republican on committees and subcommittees. I respect their right to vote their districts and their conscience. But that doesnt mean that they should get the privilege of leading House Republicans, said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.

At a private Florida dinner Monday to bolster House GOP campaign prospects, Trump said he loves House Republicans but not the 13 who voted for the bill, according to an attendee who described Trumps remarks on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, House GOP leaders tweeted, and then deleted, that Americans wont forget a vote for the socialist infrastructure bill. Time to name names and hold these fake republicans accountable, tweeted Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

Before last weeks vote, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said it would be very difficult for Republicans to promote backing the infrastructure bill during their campaigns because it is so closely linked to Democrats accompanying $1.85 trillion social and climate measure, which the GOP has solidly opposed.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who switched parties in 2019, said he supported the infrastructure bill because his state would receive over $20 billion we desperately need. Van Drew, who said he had heard some cranky things from some people, scoffed at the notion that the bill would catapult the president politically.

If Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to be mean to me, thats fine, he said of the colleague who labeled him and 12 others traitors. I love America very much. I would never ever do anything to hurt this country.

__

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

Related...
The Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce welcomed Zia Sweets to the Deming business community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently. Owners Danielle and Richard Little provided cream puffs, chocolate tasting and fresh squeezed lemonade and iced tea at the new bakery located at 110 S. Gold Street. The Chamber also made arrangements for local country-western recording artist Clay Mac to entertain during the grand opening.

The Deming-Luna County Chamber of Commerce welcomed Zia Sweets to the Deming business community with a ribbon-cutting ceremony recently. Owners Danielle and Richard Little provided cream puffs, chocolate tasting and fresh squeezed lemonade and iced tea at the new bakery located at 110 S. Gold Street. The Chamber also made arrangements for local country-western recording artist Clay Mac to entertain during the grand opening.

This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Deming-Luna County Chamber holds ribbon cutting at Zia Sweets
Kevin Carson spent 11 years in the Navy before he joined Denso, eventually becoming president of the company's thermal manufacturing site in Battle Creek.

On Wednesday, Carson signed an agreement to help other military veterans adjust to civilian life by finding a career with the global mobility supplier and Fortune 500 company.

Under the workforce development memorandum agreement between Denso and the U.S. Army, enlisted soldiers in the Army PaYS (Partnership for Youth Success) program are entered into a candidate database and guaranteed an interview with the company.

"Much to a lot of people's surprise, a lot of people leaving the military don't have a plan," Carson said. "They only have that next step. When I came to Denso, if you would have told me I would be here 22 years later, I couldn't tell you that. What I could tell you was that it was my job and it turned into a career. I think that was very much a nice surprise and a nice fit for me, and I think it's a nice fit for a lot of people."

DENSO Thermal Manufacturing site president Kevin Carson announces a new partnership with Army PaYS on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at DENSOs thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. Army PaYS matches veterans with civilian jobs after their service.

The Army PaYS program was designed in 2000 as an enlistment incentive and is typically for companies with over 500 employees, although partnerships do exist with smaller agencies that offer full-time positions. Along with Regular Army soldiers, the program is open to servicemen and women in the Army Reserve, Officer Candidate School, Warrant Officer Flight Training, the Army National Guard and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets.

While the program enables companies to plan for hiring needs as far as 10 years down the road  or at the completion of a soldier's first term of enlistment  Denso is immediately able to tap into the Army PaYS candidate database and can now hire Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers who have identified the auto parts manufacturer as one of five companies they're interested in working for.

Denso Manufacturing Michigan, Inc. in Battle Creek is the lead production facility for Densos Thermal Systems North American Center, focusing on automotive air conditioning and engine cooling components and systems out of its 1.8 million-square-foot facility at 1 Denso Road, which opened in 1986.

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Production takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at DENSOs thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Denso is the city's largest employer with some 2,500 workers, and about 10% of its workforce has served in the military.

The company currently has 100 job openings and is hosting weekly on-site job fairs from 9 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays. The company offers sign-on bonuses between $500 and $15,500.

"Our motivation to do this was not to close that labor gap," Carson said.

But, he contended, "it happens to help. That is coincidental. It was designed truly to help our veterans, it's just the timing was really good as well."

Production takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at DENSOs thermal manufacturing facility in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Denso has been recognized by the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency as a silver-level veteran friendly employer, thanks in large part to the work of the Denso Veterans Network that was created in 2018.

"The manufacturing automotive industry in the state of Michigan is a big deal," said Maj. Stefan K. Wilson, executive officer of the Great Lakes Recruiting Battalion. "So having a corporation that's on the larger side that can handle a few more employees from a population we directly support, and we end up putting a lot of people in the Army in those services.

"This is a great opportunity to bring America's best back home and promise them an opportunity to work for an outstanding company," he added. "You are getting the best this nation has to offer. They come trained, they come physically fit, and they come ready to work."

Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Denso partners with US Army on military-to-workforce pipeline for vets
File photo: Denali is the highest mountain in the US (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A doctor is facing charges after he called emergency rescue services and allegedly faked hypothermia in a bid to get himself rescued from Denali, instead of descending the mountain on his own.

Denali, formerly known as Mt McKinley, is North Americas highest mountain with its summit at 20,320ft.

Dr Jason Lance, 47, a radiologist from Ogden city in Utah, is facing three charges for the 24 May incident, according to the criminal complaint filed in Fairbanks, Alaska Federal Court.

The complaint said that on 24 May, Dr Lance and his 31-year-old traveling partner Adam Rawski, set out from Denalis Camp 3, at 14,000ft, to reach the summit.

They were somewhere between 18,600ft and 19,200ft, when Dr Lance noticed that his partner was exhibiting symptoms of altitude sickness.

At 17,200ft, temperatures drop below -30F (-34.44C) and climbers experience strong winds, according to the American Alpine Institute.

The complaint stated that Dr Lance realised his partner was too ill to continue and decided to leave him with another pair of climbers. He then proceeded towards the summit with Mr Rawskis satellite text-messaging device.

But soon after, the other pair and Dr Lance gave up on their climb and decided to help Mr Rawski descend. Neither of the four climbers were using a rope. Around 6pm, Mr Rawski fell from the mountain tumbling approximately 1,000ft, the complaint said, reported The Daily Beast.

All three then alerted emergency rescue services and Mr Rawski was soon airlifted to a nearby hospital.

After this, Dr Lance texted emergency services that he was stuck without equipment after Mr Rawskis fall and also needed to be evacuated.

He was told to email Denali Park services directly. Around an hour later, Denali Park Services asked him to use a safety rope to descend the mountain. But Dr Lance kept insisting that he had no rope and needed evacuation.

The helicopter cannot come to your location and is not flying anymore tonight. Do you have a rope with you? Your only option tonight is descent, said the message by the Park rangers.

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Dr Lance then alleged hypothermia in an attempt to get rescued. Cant decend [sic] safely. Patients in shock. Early hypothermia... Cant you land east of pass? he messaged back, according to the complaint.

Denali Park rescuers then launched a helicopter to rescue the three climbers, but it turned around at 17,200ft, when guides informed them that the three climbers were descending by themselves.

Dr Lance was not informed that a helicopter had been launched.

The next morning, when park services officers reached his tent to gather Mr Rawskis belongings, Dr Lance appeared evasive and did not immediately handover the satellite device, the complaint stated. Though he was asked not to delete any messages or manipulate the device in any way, Dr Lance used his backpack to cover himself as he worked on the device.

Authorities later found that Dr Lance had deleted the initial messages where he said that they needed to be rescued due to lack of equipment and not hypothermia.

The other two climbers who descended with him also informed rangers that they had tried to convince Dr Lance to use the safety rope and start descending, but Dr Lance insisted on waiting to be rescued by emergency services.

Dr Lance has called the allegations baseless in a statement to The Daily Beast. He is scheduled to appear in court on 29 November in a detention hearing.

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Democrats sell infrastructure bill, push for Biden backup
Neighbours of the young boy killed this week described the animal as an American bulldog or a pitbull. Pitctured is an American pit bull terrier. (Getty/file pic)

Investigators are looking into whether a dog that mauled a young boy to death was a breed that is banned in the UK.

Jack Lis, 10, was killed at the home of a friend in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, on Monday.

Gwent Police said on Wednesday they had arrested a woman on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death.

The dog was shot by firearms officers who also attended the scene.

Two men voluntarily attended the police station in relation to the offence.

Flowers left outside the house in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly where Jack Lis was killed by a dog on Monday. (PA)

A 34-year-old from the Mountain Ash area and a 19-year-old from the Caerphilly area were later released.

The case has sparked calls for a review of the laws around keeping dangerous pets. Wayne David, the Labour MP for Caerphilly, said: There needs to be an examination of the Dangerous Dogs Act to see if the law needs to be strengthened."

Chief Superintendent Mark Hobrough said work was continuing to identify the breed of the dog. Neighbours said the dog resembled an American pit bull - also known as a pit bull terrier - which is one of four dog breeds that are banned in the UK.

What dog breeds are banned in the UK?

There are four dog breeds that are illegal to own:

Pit bull terrier

Japanese Tosa

Dogo Argentino

Fila Brasileiro

While the breeds themselves are banned, there are also activities associated with them that are illegal in the UK.

Under the guidelines of the Dangerous Dogs Act, that came into effect in 1991, anyone who owns  or sells, abandons, gives away or breed from  an illegal breed faces punishment.

The maximum punishment could be up to six months in prison or an unlimited fine or both, while community orders can also be handed out, depending on the perceived risk factor to the public.

Japanese Tosas are one of four dog breeds banned in the UK. (Getty/file pic)

It is illegal to own an Argentino Dogo in the UK. (Getty/file pic)

The dogs will also be destroyed.

Anyone with a banned dog can have it removed by the police or local council, even if there has been no complaints and the dog is not acting dangerously.

Police can also seize a banned dog without a warrant if seen in a public place  experts will then determine if the animal is an illegal breed.

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The American pitbull terrier is not permitted to be owned in the UK. (Getty/file pic)

Fila Brasileiro are banned in the UK under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. (Getty/file pic)

Courts can determine that a banned dog is not a danger to the public and will allow an owner to keep it if put on the Index of Exempted Dogs (IED).

However, the dog must be neutered, microchipped, kept on a lead and muzzled at all times when in public and kept in a secure place so it cannot escape.

Owners must be over 16 and also take out insurance against the dog injuring other people, while the certificate of exemption must be shown to police or council dog wardens when asked.

Watch: Boy was trapped in house with 'large and powerful' animal
By Alexandra Valencia

QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's government will analyze a gasoline price reduction proposal from the country's indigenous movement, but any final decision on the issue must serve the public interest, Interior Minister Alexandra Vela said on Wednesday.

Indigenous and civil society leaders have asked President Guillermo Lasso to reverse a gasoline price increase they say puts the burden of Ecuador's post-pandemic economic recovery on working people.

Lasso, an ex-banker who took office in May, last month scrapped planned incremental rises in gasoline charges meant to eventually align with international costs, after pressure by indigenous and other organizations.

He opted instead to raise the price of "gasoline extra," a cheaper gasoline that is Ecuador's most-used fuel, to a fixed $2.55 a gallon, and diesel to $1.90 a gallon, sparking protests and road blockades.

"The government will analyze and review the proposals that different organizations have brought ... on the issue of gasoline," Vela told journalists after a meeting between the groups and the government.

"The government will do this responsibly, it will determine what needs to be determined in service of the Ecuadorean people and then we'll have another meeting," she said, adding the next meeting will take place in three weeks.

Indigenous groups have also asked Lasso to suspend plans to expand oil and mining developments and pause debt payments by farmers, among other requests.

There was some agreement on three of the six requests, Vela said, but discussion remains on the issues of oil, mining and gasoline.

Indigenous groups have proposed reducing the price of gasoline extra to $2.10 a gallon and diesel to $1.50 a gallon, said Leonidas Iza, the president of the Ecuador Confederation of Indigenous Nations (CONAIE).

"There was lots of progress, but there is not an agreement while the issue of gasoline remains unsolved," Iza said.

Indigenous groups suspended protests at the end of October, but have said they remain attentive to progress on their requests.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by Karishma Singh and Gerry Doyle)
Elon Musk has officially sold the 10 per cent of his Tesla shares he promised to after losing a controversial Twitter poll.

The electric vehicle manufacturer filed paperwork with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday that confirmed the entrepreneur had sold the stock.

The sale of a large chunk of Mr Musks shares comes after he put up a Twitter poll, with users casting 3.5m votes by a margin of 58 per cent to 42 per cent for him to sell.

As a result of the poll, Teslas stock plummeted on Monday and Tuesday, wiping off around $300bn worth of value from the automakers more than $1 trillion valuation.

The S-4 form filed by Tesla confirms that the sale of 2,154,572 shares took place on 8 November, when the value of a share in the company closed at 1,162.94, according to Teslarati.

Much is made lately of unrealized gains being a means of tax avoidance, so I propose selling 10% of my Tesla stock.



Do you support this?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2021

The company also filed an 2-4 form saying that the worlds richest man had exercised the option on 2,154,572 shares at a value of $6.24 per share.

Investors are required to file the S-4 forms within two days of the transaction.

I was prepared to accept either outcome, Mr Musk wrote after the results of the Twitter poll came in.

Mr Musk owned around 23 per cent of Tesla before the sale, and following it still owns more than 20 per cent of the company, which is worth around $250bn.

He is expected to receive a big tax bill coming due from his 23 million stock options awarded in 2012 that have vested and expire in August 2022 and he was going to sell some stock before year-end,, according to Wedbush Securities stock analyst Dan Ives.

Mr Ives said that investors expected Mr Musk to sell between five and six per cent of his shareholding to cover his future tax liability.

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We would rather Musk rip the Band-Aid off now and sell this portion of stock rather than it lingering over the next year and feeding into any non-fundamental bear thesis on the story, he told USA Today.

Mr Musk has previously said on Twitter that he does not take a salary or bonus from Tesla, and that his only way of paying an outstanding tax bill is to sell his stock.

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Ethiopia on Thursday outlined conditions for possible talks with rebels from the country's war-hit Tigray region, following days of frantic diplomatic efforts by international envoys to head off another surge in fighting.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has been locked in a year-long war with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which has pushed south in recent months and has not ruled out a possible march on the capital Addis Ababa.

Foreign ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters that one of the conditions for possible talks -- which he stressed have not been agreed to -- would be for the TPLF to withdraw from the Amhara and Afar regions bordering Tigray.

"In order for there to be a peaceful solution, they say it takes two to tango," Dina said.

"There are conditions: First, stop your attacks. Secondly, leave the areas you have entered (Amhara and Afar). Third, recognise the legitimacy of this government," he said.

"By the way, don't misunderstand, it's not being said a decision has been made to enter into negotiations," he added.

TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda told AFP at the weekend that pulling out from Amhara and Afar before talks begin is "an absolute non-starter".

- Aid blocked -

The TPLF is demanding an end to what the UN describes as a de facto humanitarian blockade on Tigray, where hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be living in famine-like conditions.

No aid has gone into Tigray by road since October 18, and 364 trucks are stuck in the capital of Afar "pending authorisation from the authorities to proceed", the UN said Thursday in a weekly report on the humanitarian situation.

"It is estimated that 80 percent of essential medication is no longer available in Tigray while most health facilities are not functional due to damage and lack of supplies," it said.

The region's biggest hospital, Ayder Referral Hospital in the Tigray capital Mekele, has been forced to close its cancer treatment programme, "leaving some 500 patients without treatment", it said.

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Last week the government imposed a nationwide state of emergency, triggering a fresh wave of mass arrests that has further hobbled the aid response.

Some 22 UN staffers have been detained in the raids that rights groups say target ethnic Tigrayans, and nine remained in custody as of Wednesday.

The UN has also sounded the alarm about 72 drivers contracted by the World Food Programme who have been detained in Afar.

The government describes such arrests as part of a legitimate effort to stamp out the TPLF.

Asked about the detentions, Dina said UN workers "have the duty to respect Ethiopian people and Ethiopian law", though he acknowledged that "mistakes can be made" and would be investigated.

The European Union has decided to withdraw non-essential staff from Ethiopia, a diplomat in Addis Ababa said Thursday, following several other foreign missions including the US embassy.

Separately, a government statement said all landlords have a week to provide information about their tenants to the police "to assist security forces in their efforts to clean those who pose a threat to public safety."

More than 27,500 youths have also been recruited to help in security operations in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopia Press Agency (EPA) quoted a city official as saying.

- High-level talks -

International envoys have in recent days stepped up efforts to broker a cessation of hostilities.

Jeffrey Feltman, US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, left Ethiopia on Wednesday following several days of meetings there and in neighbouring Kenya, according to officials briefed on his movements.

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, the African Union's special envoy for the region, was due to leave Thursday after a final meeting with Abiy, the officials said.

He has also recently travelled to Mekele to meet TPLF leaders.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Obasanjo on Wednesday and offered "strong support" for his mediation efforts, the State Department said.

He voiced hope that there was a "window" for progress.

Yet it is far from clear how major gaps between the two sides can be bridged.

rcb/np/gd
By Robin Emmott and Sabine Siebold

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union is considering imposing sanctions on Belarus' main airport in a bid to make it more difficult for airlines to bring in migrants and exacerbate a crisis on the bloc's borders, two diplomats said on Thursday.

The EU has accused Belarus of encouraging migrants to come to its territory then pushing thousands of them to cross into Poland and other neighbouring EU states in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Minsk.

As more migrants massed on the Belarus-Poland border on Thursday, the EU was finalising a new, fifth round of sanctions on top Belarus officials and state-owned airline Belavia that could be approved next week, one diplomat said.

The bloc is also considering a sixth package of asset freezes and travel bans, which could include orders to stop EU firms supplying Minsk National airport, two other diplomats told Reuters.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, already under international sanctions for cracking down on protests, has threatened to retaliate against any new measures, including by shutting down the transit of natural gas via Belarus.

An extraordinary EU summit of the bloc's 27 leaders is under consideration, while the bloc is also debating whether to use its common funding mechanisms to build border fencing, according to one of the diplomats who was briefed on a closed-door EU meeting that took place on Wednesday.

REPATRIATION CONSIDERED

One senior diplomat said the sanctions on Minsk airport could choke off EU financing, supplies and equipment. Germany's Lufthansa Cargo is a ground and cargo handler at Minsk National, according to its website.

No more details on the plan were immediately available.

EU Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas was in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday as part of a visit to countries in the region whose airlines are operating flights to Belarus, diplomats and officials said.

The EU is also debating how to stop Belavia from leasing aircraft from companies including Ireland's AerCap and Denmark's Nordic Aviation Capital. Most of Belavia's 30 aircraft are leased from European operators, industry analysts have said.

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Such measures may serve as leverage over Lukashenko in any talks between his government and the United Nations that diplomats said are also under consideration to repatriate Middle Eastern migrants stuck on the Belarus-Polish border.

The Belarusian airport of Hrodna, which is near the Polish and Lithuanian borders, could be an exit point to avoid thousands of people freezing to death at the border during the winter, diplomats said.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  A group of European parliamentarians on Thursday urged the Serbian president and other government officials to stop glorifying convicted war criminals and denying genocide committed in Bosnia in the 1990s.

Their statement came two days after Serbias police prevented rights activists from painting over a large mural in downtown Belgrade of convicted Bosnian Serb wartime commander Ratko Mladic.

An international war crimes court has sentenced Mladic to life in prison for genocide in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica in 1995, when some 8,000 Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslims, were gunned down by his troops during the war in Bosnia, the worst carnage in Europe since World War II.

Serbian officials have persistently denied that genocide was committed in Srebrenica, and the countrys nationalist authorities have tolerated the portrayal of convicted Serb war criminals, including Mladic, as heroes and freedom fighters.

The (police) defense of the mural is another example of what the Government of Serbia and President (Aleksandar) Vucic think regarding reconciliation, the rule of law, democracy and regional cooperation, the statement said.

It is utterly unacceptable for an EU candidate country to deploy its police to protect a mural of convicted war criminal, it added. We urge Serbian authorities to stop denying Srebrenica genocide and glorifying convicted war criminals."

Police in Belgrade cited the need to prevent possible clashes between the activists and right-wing nationalists in banning the gathering at the mural to mark the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism.

Vucic, a former ultranationalist, said on Thursday that if the police were not deployed, those guys (Mladic's supporters) would have run them down.

He rejected EU criticism, saying they literally have nothing else to do but to hate Serbs.

The Mladic mural was restored after being briefly splashed over with white paint. It's being guarded by hooded men in black clothes who activists believe are members of one of several extreme right organizations that have mushroomed in Serbia.
Members of the Milton Lewis Young Marines salute the memorials at which they have just laid wreaths at the annual Veterans Day velebration at Alachua County Veterans Park in 2018.

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."  George Washington

Our countrys history is rich with brave women and men who have eagerly answered the call of duty to defend our nation and way of life, and safeguard the principles upon which our nation was founded. From Bunker Hill to Baghdad, their sacrifices have given us the security and freedom in which to grow and flourish as a nation  in law, human rights, economics, science and technology, business and the arts.

As citizens, we owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to our veterans who, during peace and war, have touched lives, spread freedom and changed the course of history. Veterans Day is a time to remember and pay tribute to the brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces who served in previous wars, who are serving today and who have made sacrifices before having the chance to become honored veterans.

I would like to reaffirm our commitment to those who have answered the call of duty on behalf of all Americans. Enduring great personal sacrifices, these men and women and their families need the support of our entire nation. We are deeply thankful for the veterans who served our country with great honor in the past, and to those who uphold their duties today.

The greatness of America is found in the bravery and heroism of men and women who stand strong in the face of oppression and conflict. They ignite the enduring spirit of our nation and strengthen the unity of the American people with their resolve for freedom, justice and democracy.

Every day is Veterans Day at North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, because it is our honor to help the nation repay its debt to Americas veterans. To keep that covenant, the Department of Veterans Affairs and North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System are modernizing how we deliver support to better meet the ever-increasing demand for benefits and health care. We see evidence of that modernization throughout the facility in our construction projects, systems redesign activities, new equipment, changing treatment modalities and our high-reliability journey to Zero Harm.

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The Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville

Our measure of success will be the timeliness, quality and the experience of the services and support we provide to veterans rather than our promises. We want veterans to choose VA, because they want to and not because they must. Thanks to all the veterans on our staff for your service. And thanks to all personnel for assuring that every day is Veterans Day at North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to serve these heroes. They are our neighbors. Our friends. Our families. Our loved ones. We have an obligation to serve them as they have served us.

At the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, we will continue to put our veterans first. We salute the spirit of the American service member and we honor the sacrifices of those who fulfilled their obligations and now proudly call themselves American veterans.

To my fellow veterans, thank you. God bless you and may Veterans Day and every day bring you joy in the freedoms our country has because of your sacrifices.

David Isaacks is a Marine Corps veteran and executive health system director at the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System.

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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: David Isaacks: An obligation to serve veterans as they have served us
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Boeing Co that some of its appointees overseeing aircraft certification tasks lack expertise and directed the largest U.S. planemaker to quickly address the issue.

In a Nov. 2 letter seen by Reuters, the FAA told Boeing an oversight review conducted this summer found some appointees did not have required expertise and found some of those Boeing employees performing certification tasks for the agency "are not meeting FAA expectations."

The air regulator added that of 12 recent appointees who handle safety matters on the agencys behalf, some "38% struggled to demonstrate an understanding of FAA certification processes."

An FAA spokesman said the letter speaks for itself.

Under a new law adopted in the wake of two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes in five months that killed 346 people, the FAA will start exercising new oversight over the selection of candidates who perform safety work on the FAA's behalf.

Starting Jan. 1, Boeing will nominate candidates for but the FAA must approve or reject them. The FAA will also review existing members.

Boeing said Wednesday it is "committed to ensuring the highest levels of safety and quality in all that we do, and that includes the important work of Boeing employees who are designated as authorized representatives. We respect the FAAs oversight role and look forward to strengthening" the selection process and overall program.

The letter also cited concerns about appointment evaluation panels have "not demonstrated an independent assessment of a candidates experience and technical capability." The FAA directed Boeing to investigate and submit "corrective action" within 30 days.

The day after the letter was sent, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told Congress https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/faa-administrator-says-boeing-has-more-work-do-2021-11-03 that Boeing has "more work to do."

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"Boeing is not the same as it was two years ago but they have more to work to do," Dickson said. "We have reset the relationship with Boeing in no uncertain terms."

Boeing agreed to a $2.5 billion settlement with the U.S. Justice Department into the MAX as part of a deferred prosecution agreement.

(Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Chris Reese and Gerry Doyle)
Mark Glaze with lawmakers and celebrities

Mark Glaze, a founder of the modern gun-control movement, died last month at 51. Glaze, who was gay, contributed to The Advocate on issues related to his activism.

He died by suicide on October 31 while at the Lackawanna County Prison, according to a statement posted to Facebook by his family. He was being held for DUI and other charges. Glaze was arrested after fleeing the scene of a car accident, reported The New York Times.

As we celebrate the life of our beloved Mark, we would be remiss not to mention his harrowing struggle with alcohol, depression, and anxiety, the family said in Glazes obituary In the last years of his life, Mark actively sought help. He completed several treatment programs, with the hope of finding peace and breaking free of the addictive cycle that caused him to feel so desperately alone and in pain.

We pray that by being open about Marks cause of death, something positive may emerge from our devastating loss.

The family described Glaze as the face of the gun control movement, a role he took on following the Sandy Hook Elementary mass shooting.

They also noted that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. Omission of the true cause of death allows mental illness to remain impersonal, a silent killer, the family wrote.

Glaze was born in Pueblo, Colo. on October 21, 1970. The gun-control activist attended The Colorado College as a Truman Foundation Scholar and went on to graduate from the George Washington University Law School.

He worked at the D.C. political affairs firm the Raben Group, working with campaign finance reform, government ethics as well as LGBTQ issues, and served as director of Mayors Against Illegal Gun. He resigned from the Raben Group to serve full time as the director for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which eventually became part of Everytown for Gun Safety.

In 2014, Glaze started his own consulting practice, according to The Washington Blade.

With a razor-sharp sense of humor and boundless empathy, Mark could turn strangers into friends like no one else, Steven Fisher, a longtime friend of Glaze, told the paper. His closest friends also knew a very complicated personality and his early and tragic death was, sadly, not a surprise.

Glaze was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Glaze and Nancy Green. He is survived by his 14-year-old son, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.

If you are thinking about suicide, concerned for a loved one, or would like emotional support, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States at 1-800-273-TALK. The Trevor Project offers 24/7 counseling for LGBTQ+ youth at 1-866-7386.
On Friday, a judge in Los Angeles terminated Britney Spears' conservatorship. For some fans, the legal battle  which exposes larger problems within America's guardianship industry  has been a rallying cry as they side with the pop star's wishes and against those of her father and former legal guardian, Jamie Spears. Here's a look back at some of the #FreeBritney rallies over the last few years.

More on this
A federal judge has ruled that Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order that bans public schools from imposing mask mandates cannot be enforced because it violates federal law by putting students with disabilities at greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel of Austin also blocked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from bringing legal action against school districts that require students, teachers and staff to wear face coverings as a pandemic safety measure.

More: Gov. Abbott announces Texas Task Force on Concert Safety after Astroworld Festival tragedy

Yeakel's injunction, issued Wednesday, also blocked state officials from imposing fines or withholding state money from districts with mask mandates.

Paxton  who has filed lawsuits to overturn mask mandates in 15 school districts, and who has threatened similar action against dozens more  is expected to appeal the decision.

"I strongly disagree with Judge Yeakel's opinion barring my office from giving effect to GA-38," Paxton said on Twitter. "My agency is considering all legal avenues to challenge this decision."

Ruling in favor of seven students with various disabilities and medical conditions, Yeakel said Abbott's order  issued July 29 and known as GA-38  violates the Americans With Disabilities Act by denying the students the opportunity to participate equally in school.

More: Texas AG Ken Paxton sues to block federal vaccine mandates for larger businesses

The evidence, Yeakel wrote, shows that wearing masks can decrease the risk of spreading COVID-19  a particularly useful strategy for children with disabilities who can be at higher risk of contracting the respiratory disease and suffering severe symptoms that require hospitalization.

"Because GA-38 precludes mask requirements in schools, (students with disabilities) are either forced out of in-person learning altogether or must take on unnecessarily greater health and safety risks than their nondisabled peers," Yeakel wrote.

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Either way, he added, they are denied the opportunity to participate equally in school as required by federal law.

Poll suggests Greg Abbott would win Texas governor election. How do Beto O'Rourke, Matthew McConaughey compare?

Abbott's office disagreed with Yeakel's conclusions.

"As a paraplegic himself, Gov. Abbott cares deeply about the health and safety of disabled students, just as he does for all Texas students," spokeswoman Renae Eze said. "Nevertheless, he believes the federal district courts decision to be flawed and is working with the attorney generals office to appeal that decision in order to protect Texans' rights against school districts attempting to impose mask mandates."

But Tom Melsheimer, a Dallas lawyer who represented the students and the advocacy group Disability Rights Texas, praised the ruling.

"Going forward, school districts all over the state will be free to follow sound medical science and common sense to protect the most vulnerable among us. Who can reasonably object to such a result?" Melsheimer said.

Yeakel's injunction blocked enforcement of Abbott's executive order only as it pertained to schools. The governor's ban on mask mandates imposed by city and county governments or public health officials remains in place.

In addition to finding violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act, Yeakel said Abbott's order ran afoul of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, and the American Rescue Plan Act that was signed into law earlier this year.

The rescue plan provided almost $121 billion to help schools return safely to in-person instruction amid the continuing pandemic, including $11 billion allocated to schools in Texas  giving local officials the authority to determine how that money should be spent to address health and safety needs.

State actions that restrict that discretion are not allowed, Yeakel wrote.

"It cannot be more clear that Congress intends that the local school district receiving ARP Act funds be the ultimate decider of the requirements of the safe return to in-person instruction of students," he wrote.

Schools closed amid outbreaks

Since the school year began several months ago, at least 45 Texas school districts temporarily closed campuses to contain COVID-19 outbreaks, Yeakel noted, adding that federal health officials recommend universal indoor masking in schools despite the vaccination status of students, employees and visitors.

But Abbott's executive order is a universal ban on mask requirements, handcuffing school officials who determine that limited mandates  for one classroom or building wing, for example, or during one-on-one instruction  would improve the safety of students with disabilities, the judge said.

"GA-38 expressly prohibits a school district from requiring 'any person to wear a face covering,' clearly forbidding such a reasonable modification no matter the scope of a local schools mask mandate," Yeakel wrote.

Paxton had asked the judge to toss out the lawsuit, arguing that the students must be denied their requested injunction because they complained of "speculative" injuries  the possibility of becoming infected with COVID-19 at school or being forced to stay home to avoid the disease.

Yeakel rejected that line of reasoning, saying Abbott's policy deprives students with disabilities  some of whom have contracted COVID-19  of their right to equal participation in school.

"They do not have to show that Paxtons enforcement of GA-38 will actually cause any of them to contract COVID or that they would actually contract COVID in a mask-optional school environment," Yeakel wrote.

Mask mandates continue

According to a list maintained by Paxton, 62 school districts and eight public charter schools have mask mandates that he is seeking to overturn, including Austin, Del Valle, Elgin, Manor, Pflugerville, Round Rock and San Marcos in Central Texas.

All but four of the districts across Texas have been sued by Paxton or have received a letter threatening legal action if the mandates are not rescinded.

Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, said the ruling corrected "misguided blanket orders" from Abbott.

"With the opportunity now to vaccinate our younger students, we look forward to letting districts work with their local health officials to decide on the best means to keep their students and teachers safe," he said.

An American-Statesman analysis in late September found that Central Texas school districts with mask mandates in place since the start of the school year had recorded the fewest cases per 1,000 people since the start of the school year. The Austin school district was the first in the area to defy the governor's order.

Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde told the Statesman in late October that before considering a change to mask rules, she will monitor COVID-19 cases after the holidays and give time for students ages 5 to 11 to get fully vaccinated.

"If we can help to have that occur before the spring semester starts in January ... that would be an ideal state for us to then look at what happens to our numbers that first week, second week we return," she said, "and then at that point, begin the conversations of which of our protocols can we begin to possibly consider loosening up on."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Federal judge blocks Gov. Greg Abbott's ban on school mask mandates
By Essi Lehto

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The Finnish government is planning a new law allowing workers to check what their colleagues are earning if they suspect they are being discriminated against, part of a bid to close the wage gap between men and women.

The bill has been criticised by both workers' unions, which want even more transparency, and the biggest employers' organisation, which says it would create more conflicts in the workplace.

But the centre-left five-party coalition of Prime Minister Sanna Marin is pushing ahead with the legislation to shrink the wage discrepancy.

"What is central to the government's programme is the elimination of unjustified pay gaps," Equality Minister Thomas Blomqvist told Reuters. "They will now be addressed more rigorously."

He said he expected the bill to be passed in parliament before elections in April 2023

Finnish women earned 17.2% less than men in 2020, according to a pay equality ranking by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The survey placed Finland in 37th position, well behind peers Norway in 8th, Denmark in 9th and Sweden in 12th, even though gender equality has been high on the political agenda for decades in Finland.

A 2018 report by the Finnish Equality Ombudsman showed the reasons are often similar to those in other western European nations - segregation of the job market into male- and female-dominated professions, fathers taking less parental leave than mothers, and women not being promoted as often as men.

Merja Mahka, a journalist turned investor and blogger, has since 2019 published what she earns on Twitter and Instagram to encourage public discussions about pay transparency.

"There have been situations where I've found out that a man doing a similar job to me has been paid more," said Mahka of her reasons, speaking on Tuesday as she published her taxed income of 48,522 euros ($56,111) for 2020.

TAX DAY

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Finnish tax authorities on Wednesday published the 2020 taxable income of every Finn, a day nicknamed "tax day" in Finland, when local media pore over the records of the rich and famous.

Though it is transparent, it does not give the full picture. The tax authority has estimated a person's taxed income is on average 75-80% lower than their actual income because of deductions and tax-free dividends.

With regards to the upcoming government proposal, the main employers' organisation, the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), left the parliament pay transparency working group last November in protest at how quickly changes to the law were being proposed.

A senior legal adviser for the group, Katja Leppanen, told Reuters EK would have liked to do more research into the wage gap and said giving information about pay should be voluntary.

"Making publishing detailed information on individual salaries mandatory would lead to general curiosity and a deterioration of the work atmosphere," she said.

Workers' unions and the equality ombudsman Jukka Maarianvaara said they think enough research has been done during the past three government tenures and that it is now time to act.

"Closing the gap requires a change in attitudes and therefore it is necessary to change the law to change the culture," added Katarina Murto, director at Akava, the Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff.

Drafting the proposed bill, part of the five-party coalition's joint political programme, to combine the different views of the working group has been difficult and publication has been delayed. But Blomqvist told Reuters it would go ahead.

"We will adhere to what we agreed on in the government programme," he said.

($1 = 0.8648 euros)

(Editing by Gwladys Fouche and Jan Harvey)
Jan. 6 will mark 50 years since former Newburgh resident Dave Middleton was shot down in Vietnam while piloting a Loach helicopter on a mission to which he wasn't originally assigned.

Shot in both legs, he survived with the help of his crew chief and was later awarded the Purple Heart  a medal that, like Dave, had its origins in Newburgh. Middleton is just one of the many thousands honored on this day, Veterans Day, Nov. 11, each year.

Now he's also had the honor of having his part of time in Vietnam recounted in the latest book by author Colin Cahoon, himself a former Army pilot.

"Mended Wings" tells the tales of 10 Vietnam War helicopter pilots wounded in combat, in chronological order from 1966 to 1972.

Here, the helicopter that Dave Middleton piloted is being sling loaded back to base after the crash.

Middleton had enlisted in the Army after getting a low draft number, in order to gain some control over the course he would follow. He started in combat engineers, only to regret that choice when he found out it did not involve much engineering design work, but mostly involved carrying the mines and explosives for operations. He jumped at the chance to learn to fly a helicopter when he read about it in the Army Times newspaper.

Middleton doesn't talk a lot about the day he was wounded or the rest of his time in Vietnam, but he has never been able to forget it.

"It doesn't leave you," he said in a Nov. 5 phone interview. "It's this little piece of your life that always stays with you."

Dave Middleton in Vietnam.

On that January day, Middleton was trailing another Loach helicopter on a patrol mission, flying down tree lines between rice paddies, looking for evidence of the presence of Viet Cong soldiers. He got the job because the pilot originally assigned to the trailing position experienced throttle failure.

The helicopter that Dave Middleton piloted is sling loaded back to base after the crash.

Well, the enemy was there that day, and the two Loaches immediately came under machine gun fire. They flew out of firing range, then dropped down again, resuming their overlapping circles approach and checked the next tree line, which was cold, meaning no evidence of recent enemy activity.

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But the next tree line exploded with red muzzle flashes, and the other Loach was shot down, landing in a rice paddy.

Middleton's job at that point was to suppress enemy fire, so the downed pilot and his gunner would have a chance to be rescued. Middleton made a hard right turn, firing a minigun mounted on the left side of the aircraft into the trees while his crew chief, Jim Wheeles  who was flying with him for the first time  fired a machine gun.

Halfway into the turn, bullets ripped through the cockpit, striking Middleton in both legs with such force that his knees smacked his face, giving him a bloody nose.

Meanwhile, the helicopter went into an uncontrollable spin and landed hard in the mud of a canal.

Dave Middleton and Jim Wheeles

Middleton and Wheeles were pondering their options, knowing they had to get out of there or face certain capture by the enemy, when they heard the approach of a Huey helicopter coming to rescue them.

Wheeles, who had only suffered a cut on his chin, ran toward the Huey while Middleton somehow got to his feet. But as he did, the still spinning rotor blades of the Loach  he'd neglected to turn off the engine  struck the back of his helmet. He lost consciousness for a few seconds, and when he came to he saw Wheeles jump aboard the Huey and it began to take off.

The downed helicopter is loaded for its trip back to base after the crash.

Did they think Middleton was dead? Middleton wondered.

But then the Huey settled back down, and Middleton looked up to see Wheeles jump out of it and slog his way across the rice paddy to him. He dragged Middleton out from under the rotor blades, slung him over his shoulder and carried him, fireman-rescue style, across the paddy to the Huey.

Rehab and return home

It took Middleton a lot of time and rehab, but he eventually was able to walk on his own again, although he would have a limp for the rest of his life. His days in the Army were over, though, and he was medically retired from military service in August 1972.

He came home and returned to Orange County Community College, where he had been struggling before his time in the Army began. He got his grades up and graduated. He then graduated from Arizona State University, where he studied construction management  a field in which he went on to have a successful career.

And he has no complaints about his post-Army life.

"If they had let me stay in the Army, I never would have met my wife, never had my kids," he said.

Although his construction work took him all over the country, he eventually settled in Nevada City, California, with his wife, JoAnne, who he first met tending bar in a hotel where he was staying on one of those construction jobs. He has three children and two grandchildren, with a third grandchild on the way.

And he still thinks about those he knew in Vietnam, especially those who didn't make it home.

"I cry more now," he said, "thinking about the guys who died. I eventually joined the Vietnam Veterans of America, because being around others who were there helps. But none of us can shake it.

"But I can't say my life has been bad," he adds. "I'm happy to be alive."

mrandall@th-record.com

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: New book recounts Newburgh man's time as Vietnam helicopter pilot
University of Florida President Kent Fuchs speaks on Sept. 13.

Wow! Talk about igniting a firestorm.

For a while there, Tigert Halls ham-handed attempts to censor professors caught more flack than Dan Mullens flailing football fortunes.

Realizing hed gotten a tiger by the tail (sly LSU reference) University of Florida President Ken Fuchs did an about-face, told the suppressed professors to go ahead and testify and announced hed appoint a task force to review UFs conflict of interest policies.

Hopefully, Fuchs will do some soul searching of his own while awaiting the work of the task force.

In that regard I suggest he ask himself three questions:

1. WWJHMD?

J. Hillis Miller was UFs first post-World War II president. He oversaw a major campus expansion, and ended up getting UFs health center named after him.

But Miller was no champion of his facultys right to get involved in the larger world beyond campus. The so-called Miller Memo prohibited faculty from running for office. It was insulting and blatantly unconstitutional, but Miller had been dead for more than a decade before economics professor Jim Richardson finally defied his edict and ran for City Commission.

Dont be a J. Hillis Miller, Dr. Fuchs.

2. WWJWRD?

J. Wayne Reitz has been dead for almost 30 years, but students are still agitating to get his name taken off the Student Union. And rightly so.

When the Johns Committee came to town in 1958, to root out homosexuality on campus, Reitz played the stooge while careers were ruined and students expelled.

Demonstrators march away from the J. Wayne Reitz Union at the University of Florida while calling for the administration to change the name of the student union and address racial inequities on campus.

Reitz called homosexuality a complete aberration, and he thanked the Johns Committee for its work.

Dont be a J. Wayne Reitz, Dr. Fuchs.

3. WWJLD?

While hes mulling all this over, Fuchs ought to invite law school Dean Emeritus Jon Mills in for a cup of tea and a little chat about academic freedom.

Mills is former speaker of the Florida House (a position he could not have aspired to while Miller was in charge).

He is also co-director of UFs Center For Governmental Responsibility, which was founded after Dick Nixon impounded funds earmarked for social and civil rights programs. The centers work helped support successful litigation challenging the impoundments.

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In the decades since, the Center has been elbow deep in matters of environmental law, poverty, health and education policies, gender and race bias and much more.

Needless to say, that work has not always been greeted with enthusiasm in Tallahassee. (Governmental responsibility? We dont need no stinkin governmental responsibility!)

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City Commission speakers relentlessly cast doubt, assign bad motives

In 1998 the Legislature tried to strip its funding on the trumped-up excuse that the Center was somehow encouraging people to sue the government. The horror!

It took then-President John Lombardi about five minutes to decide: No, were not going to do that.

Lombardi basically said that the Center for Governmental Responsibility would continue to be funded separately under a different line, Mills recalled.

University of Florida President John Lombardi gestures as he speaks in 1995 in Tallahassee.

In other words, Lombardi ignored the Legislature. And, Mills recalls, there was no further reaction from Tallahassee to his defiance.

Lombardi called Tallahassees bluff.

Its fair to say this was an attempt by somebody to send UF a message, Mills reflected. Nonetheless, UF defended the ability of academics to talk about public policy.

Let the record show that when it counted, Lombardi stood firmly in defense of academic freedom at UF

Which leaves one last question.

WWKFD?

Be a John Lombardi, President Fuchs. Else what is The Academy for?

Ron Cunningham is former higher education reporter for The Sun. He has known and written about every UF president since J. Wayne Reitz. Read his blog at www.floridavelocipede.com. Email him at ron@freegnv.com.

Gainesville Sun columnist Ron Cunningham

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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Ron Cunningham: Consider the track record of former UF presidents
Steven Gerrard will get his first taste of management in the Premier League after the Liverpool legend was appointed Aston Villa boss on Thursday.

Gerrard has left his role as Rangers manager to take charge at Villa, who sacked Dean Smith on Sunday after five successive league defeats.

Considered one of the greatest players in Premier League history, former England midfielder Gerrard made a promising start to his managerial career by reviving the fortunes of the Glasgow giants.

The 41-year-old guided Rangers to a first Scottish Premiership title in 10 years last season, with the club finishing the campaign undefeated in the league for the first time in 122 years.

Gerrard, who took the reins at Ibrox in May 2018, also made progress in Europe, reaching the knockout stages of the Europa League for the past two seasons.

"The board of Aston Villa are delighted to appoint Steven as our new head coach," said Villa CEO Christian Purslow, who was managing director of Liverpool when Gerrard was at the club.

"Since moving into coaching after his illustrious playing career, Steven began by managing and developing top young players in the Liverpool FC Academy, which is experience we value highly at Aston Villa.

"He then took the brave decision to test himself in the intense and high-pressured environment of the Scottish Old Firm.

"His subsequent achievement in winning the Premiership title with Glasgow Rangers really caught our eye as did his experience in Europe."

Villa finished 11th in the Premier League last season, but have ambitions of challenging for Europe after spending nearly 300 million ($402 million) on players over the past three seasons.

However, Smith paid the price for losing Jack Grealish to Manchester City in August in a British record 100 million deal, with new signings Danny Ings, Leon Bailey and Emi Buendia struggling for form and fitness.

Villa are languishing in 16th place in the Premier League, two points above the relegation zone, after 11 games.

Story continues

- Villa history -

Gerrard, who never won the Premier League title as a player with Liverpool, is widely expected to return to Anfield as manager at some stage but now has the task of proving himself in one of the toughest leagues in the world.

"Aston Villa is a club with a rich history and tradition in English football and I am immensely proud to become its new head coach," said Gerrard.

"It was apparent how ambitious their plans are for the club and I am looking forward to helping them achieve their aims."

Rangers thanked Gerrard for his contribution to ending bitter rivals Celtic's domination of Scottish football.

The Hoops won the league in Gerrard's first two seasons in Glasgow to match a record nine consecutive titles, but were blown away as Rangers romped to a 55th title by 25 points last season.

"I would firstly like to put on record my thanks to Steven for his outstanding efforts over the last three-and-a-half years at Rangers," said Blues chairman Douglas Park.

"He has provided us all with some unforgettable moments, not least his delivery of the Scottish Premiership title back to Ibrox last season having not lost a match in the entire league campaign.

"In European competition, he has restored the good name and credibility of our club on the continent and leaves us in a very healthy position on the pitch."

Former European champions Villa are one of the great names of English football but have not won a domestic trophy since 1996.

Gerrard's first game will be at home to Brighton on November 20, following the current international break.

He takes his side to face Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool on December 11 and also has tough fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea next month.

jw-kca/smg/nr
The Hummer H1 was based on a military truck, and now it appears GM is ready to return the favor. GM Defense president Steve duMont told CNBC the company planned to build a military vehicle prototype based on the upcoming Hummer EV. The eLRV, or electric Light Reconnaissance Vehicle, would modify the Hummer's frame, motors and Ultium batteries to suit US military requirements.

The prototype should be ready sometime in 2022. There's no guarantee American armed forces will use the eLRV, however. The Army is still exploring the viability of EVs like this, and GM will have to meet formal requirements (along with a rival manufacturer) if and when they exist. A choice is due sometime in the mid-2020s.

Any military EV faces logistical challenges, at least for machines on the front lines. Soldiers couldn't just find a charging station on the battlefield, for starters  they'd need transportable charging systems that aren't dependent on a working electrical grid. DuMont said GM could provide combustion-powered charging systems. We'd add that temperatures significantly affect EV range, and swappable batteries (important for quick turnarounds and repairs) are still in their relative infancy.

There could be advantages to military EV adoption. They might improve overall emissions, even if the need for combustion-based chargers partly offset that advantage. EVs generally require less maintenance due to fewer moving parts. And their quiet operation could be extremely useful for recon and stealth missions where conventional rides would be too noisy. The challenge is to make the most of these advantages while minimizing drawbacks that could hurt operational speeds.

Editor's note: This article originally appeared on Engadget.
If youve ever watched the movie Black Hawk Down, then youve seen a depiction of the horrors one Gulf Breeze man experienced during the longest night of his life.

Ret. Army Col. Larry Perino, 53, of Gulf Breeze, was still a fresh-faced, 24-year-old recent West Point graduate and just a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army Rangers when in 1993 he fought in the Battle of Mogadishu  commonly referred to as Black Hawk Down.

All these years later, Perino still exudes a seriousness that can be felt in the air when hes talking about the Black Hawk Down.

Retired Army Col. Larry Perino talks about his involvement as a then first lieutenant during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu at his home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, on Tuesday, Nov. 9. 2021. On Jan. 5, 2021, Perino was awarded the Silver Star for his gallant action during this incident also known as Black Hawk Down.

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Sitting at his desk in his Gulf Breeze home in front of shelves filled with military books and souvenirs from youthful days at The Point, his memories come rushing back.

There's a pause. Then he speaks.

Man hunting is a very difficult task, Perino said, reminiscing about the reasons behind the Rangers involvement in Somalia.

What happened was, this one was hotter than usual. We started taking fire immediately, but we were still working our way to the target, he later added.

In the movie Black Hawk Down, the lead character, Staff Sgt. Matthew Eversman, is played by actor Josh Hartnett.

A print of the only photograph of the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu target building hangs on the wall as retired Army Col. Larry Perino talks about the incident at his home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, on Tuesday, Nov. 9. 2021. On Jan. 5, 2021, Perino was awarded the Silver Star for his gallant action as a then first lieutenant during that battle, also known as the Black Hawk Down incident.

Eversman was a real-life Ranger who participated in the Battle of Mogadishu, but the events that happen to Eversman in the movie make him a composite character on the silver screen.

Perino is one of about four former U.S. Army Rangers whose experiences at the Battle of Mogadishu were woven together to create the narrative arch for Hartnetts character in the movie.

Historical background

In 1991, the government of Somalian President Siad Barre was overthrown and civil unrest erupted throughout the country as rival factions and clans clambered for power.

The ensuing violence caused Somalis societal systems to crumble leading to mass starvation, dislocated refugees and an overall humanitarian crisis.

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In response, the United Nations tasked teams to enter into the country and provide food and safe haven for those in need of help. But in the summer of 1993, Perino explained that certain Somali clans began attacking U.N. aid teams and disrupting the humanitarian supply chain.

One of those clans was led by warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and the U.S. prioritized Aidid as a target for capture or elimination.

U.S. Special Forces units  including the platoon that Perino was in charge of leading for the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Refinement  were assigned to track him down.

While we were there, our mission was to capture or kill Mohamed Farrah Aidid, dismantle his infrastructure and preferably capture him and bring him back to a responsible authority for trial for the actions he had taken, Perino said. From early August to late October, we had conducted six missions.

But so far unable to locate Aidid, Perino explained that his orders changed.

If we couldnt find him, we were going to start going after his lieutenants who were supporting him, Perino said, explaining that is exactly what the U.S. military was up to during what came to be known as the Black Hawk Down mission.

The mission

A meeting was supposed to be taking place between two of Aidids top lieutenants on Oct. 3, 1993, in a building in the city of Mogadishu, and Perinos platoon was assigned to provide blocking cover to an assault team that would go into the building and extract the lieutenants.

The plan was that an assault force would come in and seize the building, and immediately behind them, the Rangers would come in, fast-rope down on the four corners of the building and secure it for two things: keep people from squirting out and to keep people from coming in from the outside who might try and disrupt the mission, Perino explained.

First Lieutenant Larry Perino (left) Sergeant Aaron Williamson (Center) and Corporal Jamie Smith (right) pose for a picture in front of a helicopter in Somalia in 1993.

We started taking fire immediately, but we were still working our way to the target, he added.

Without too many problems, the U.S. Special Forces were able to capture the two lieutenants and their 24 body guards alive.

We were processing them, pulling them out of the building and actually just getting ready to exfil when the first Black Hawk helicopter was shot down, Perino remembers.

Somalis in and around the city had been starting to fire volleys of RPG rockets at incoming American helicopters, and one rocket hit one of the U.S. Black Hawks in the tail boom causing it to crash about two and a half blocks away from Perino and his platoons position.

And right then, the decision was made to load all of the detainees and link up around the crashed helicopter and secure it for multiple reasons, Perino said.

Ret. Army Col. Larry Perino speaks in 2007 when he was the acting commander of the 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Eglin Air Force base.

One, you dont leave anyone behind. And two, there could be survivors in there, and we wanted to get to them as fast as possible, he recalled. And then, also, a couple of weeks before, we had seen a couple of helicopters from a different unit shot down, and we saw pictures of them dragging the dead pilots through the streets. So we did not want to see that happen.

It was kind of unspoken, he continued. But it immediately began a combat search and rescue.

So began a 15-hour firefight.

The fight

Perino and his platoon helped to secure the helicopter crash site.

We went to the first crash site, and we took a lot of casualties the whole way up Perino recalled. It seemed like they had one hell of a civil defense plan, and they were all coming up to get us at that point  it basically seemed like everybody in Somalia had a gun to shoot us with at that point.

Under fire, the Rangers learned that the helicopter pilots were both deceased. However, they still wanted to get their bodies out of the city.

But one of the two bodies was stuck in the crashed aircraft, and even bigger problems arose when the Rangers exit strategy was postponed.

Retired Army Col. Larry Perino holds his framed Silver Star at his home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, on Tuesday, Nov. 9. 2021. On Jan. 5, 2021, Perino was awarded the Silver Star for his gallant action as a then first lieutenant during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, also known as the Black Hawk Down incident.

An armored convoy of Humvees and trucks that was meant to roll into the city and evacuate the Rangers and the assault force was not going to be able to make it to their location before sunset.

Perino and his men had to spend the night protecting the crash site under fire.

There was a period of time that fear would grip you so much so that you were almost paralyzed through the fear. You didnt want to move even if you were taking bullets, Perino said.

But Perino did move. He found the strength to get his men to move too.

You will yourself to move. In a situation like that you will yourself to do anything, Perino remembers. It was pretty far into it when I actually processed, Wow. One of these bullets could have been made for me.

There were so many people who had already been shot," he continued. "There were so many people who were wounded around you or were dead.

At one point during the long night, a young sergeant in Perinos platoon was shot in the neck.

It was a graze wound, Perino recalled, touching the right side of his neck while telling the story. And it was bandaged, and he had this look on his face like, you know, I was scared to death and I could tell he was too. We all were.

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Perino asked the injured sergeant if he was all right.

I asked him Are you OK? He said, Yeah. And, every time I asked him, Are you OK? I was actually almost talking to me. I was calming myself down," Perino recalled.

Only three out of the 15 men who Perino commanded that night were not injured by the time that the sun rose.

The battle ended after 15 hours of fighting when the convoy finally arrived at the Rangers' position on Oct. 4, 1993, and Perino and the other uninjured special forces personnel ran out of the city, in what has become known as the Mogadishu Mile, alongside the armored convoy.

Aftermath

He made it out of the hostile city with his mission accomplished almost 30 years ago, but Perino said that the battle still impacts him to this day.

I lost a man named Corporal Jamie Smith. He was killed when my hand was on his shoulder. He was mortally wounded by a bullet that went into and severed his femoral artery. We couldnt evacuate him from the site, and had we been able to evacuate him right away, we probably would have been able to save him. But we just couldnt because the fire was just so bad, Perino said. So, that affected me tremendously throughout my career because I would think and hope that there were lessons learned and that his life had to matter somehow.

I kind of carry a lot of that with me.

Silver Star

Many awards were given out in the days after the battle. For his part, Perino was initially awarded a Bronze Star Medal with the "V device, for valor, in 1993.

Last year, Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy ordered a review of more than 150 awards presented to military service members who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu.

Now, our task force was 400 people, Perino explained. They reviewed 150 of the awards that were given and decided that 60 of them merited an upgrade, two to the Distinguished Flying Cross and then 58 to the Silver Star.

Retired Army Col. Larry Perino talks about the signed print of the Task Force Ranger The Battle of Black Hawk Down painting by artist James Dietz and other memorabilia hanging on the wall of his home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, on Tuesday, Nov. 9. 2021. On Jan. 5, 2021, Perino was awarded the Silver Star for his gallant action as a then first lieutenant during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, also known as the Black Hawk Down incident.

Almost 30 years after it all went down in that lawless and riotous foreign city on the other side of the world, Perino was presented with The Silver Star Medal on Oct. 1 during an awards ceremony at Fort Benning, Georgia, for his actions taken in that long-ago battle in Somalia.

The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat award issued by the U.S. Army and recognizes courageous acts performed while under fire.

Perinos Silver Star citation states the following:

After conducting a fast rope insertion into the Black Sea district, while under intense fire from automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades, his force successfully sealed off the area preventing enemy reinforcements from entering the objective.

Upon notification that a MH-60 helicopter had been shot down several blocks away, he and his element quickly moved to the crash site and helped secure the aircraft until reinforcements arrived the next morning.

(First) Lieutenant Perinos courage and acts of heroism reflect great credit on him and the United States Army.

Perinos wife, Leslie Perino, said that she is incredibly proud of her husband for winning The Silver Star.

Hes just so humble and he doesnt talk about it, Leslie said. Ive learned more about it through this award than our 11 years of marriage because he just doesnt tell that story.

Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Veterans Day: Florida man gets Silver Star for "Black Hawk Down"
As more companies recall workers to offices, professionals share their side of what that bumpy transition is like. (Photo: reklamlar via Getty Images)

Pre-COVID, work greetings were simple. Now theres even a new uncertainty about how to say hello in person to clients and co-workers.

Do I give them a high-five? Do I give them an elbow? Do I give them a handshake or a hug? asked AJ Eckstein, a strategy consultant based in San Francisco. Some people say that COVID is not a big issue; other people are still very afraid of it. Its always trying to judge what that person is comfortable with. And its always that awkward fumble, kind of similar to when you try to give someone a handshake and they are going for a high-five.

I, too, have felt uncertainty wondering what are the new norms for how to interact with co-workers and be an office person again. The version of me who chugged coffee before 9 a.m., coordinated her outfits, took a 30-minute train ride and worked a whole day surrounded by co-workers in a row of desks feels like a stranger. Talking with colleagues face-to-face now both thrills and exhausts me.

Im not alone in having a bumpy return to office life.

Being an office person again is not an easy or quick adjustment.

Eckstein said that even remembering to wear a full business casual outfit to work has been an adjustment after simply needing to be office-ready from the chest up in video calls. One day he found himself about to drive to the office wearing sweatpants and a Polo shirt.

For Katie George, an events and operations manager for a university in Connecticut, the biggest pro to having gone back to the office full time in August was seeing co-workers again. But the huge con is waking up before 6 a.m. and driving more than an hour from Danbury to West Haven, which takes a financial toll due to rising gas prices and a mental toll due to traffic.

Theres a different tone of the day when youre just kind of waking up and enjoying a coffee and then logging on, versus trying to combat angry parents dropping their kids off at school, or buses or trucks, George said, adding of her resumed commute that there are just so many factors that you cant control. Last week, for example, there was a huge accident right at the exit that I normally take. It took me legitimately two hours to get to work.

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Its an aspect of before life that many people are not sure they even want to try to handle again. George said that, despite what so many workers learned from their time spent away from the office, theres no acknowledgment from employers of the cost commuting extracts. The time she spent getting ready for her day or spending quality time with her husband when she was working remotely or on a hybrid schedule is now spent commuting.

Before returning to the office, I was able to have a normal breakfast instead of an English muffin in my car, she said. Now shes back to having that perpetually stressful no-time-left-in-the-day feeling. Having experienced the benefits of a flexible schedule, George would love to bring those opportunities into her regular office work but said its hard to implement in higher education settings.

Establishing boundaries with yourself over how much and when you will work can help with the transition, California therapist Katheryn Perez said, but managers are the ones who should be helping employees adjust by checking in with them about their individual needs.

As much as we want to say that individually we can set these boundaries or make these changes, its really difficult to do that if leadership is not on the same page, she said.

The prospect of returning to the office is prompting deep reflection on what people want  and if theyre in the right job.

Perez said she has seen clients who are better able to take care of themselves, their families and pets being away from the office, and theyre now worried about what a return to an office would mean for their progress.

There is this fear of This has been helping me, Perez said. Even the thought of going back to in-person is just bringing up a lot of anxiety, a lot of emotional distress, and not being ready for that change.

One e-commerce account manager in Los Angeles said she was relieved when her return-to-office date was pushed back from August to January because she saw what it was like when her mother got COVID-19, and shes been cautious about socializing. The woman, whose job requires lots of face time with partners and who asked not to be named, said her clients are eager for her to meet with them in person again.

How do I make sure that Im in a safe place without hindering the partner relationship? she said. A lot of them are ready to be face-to-face. Theyre excited, and I dont share that excitement, which is really hard.

Although good at her existing job, she said that her anxiety around going back to socializing with colleagues is a big reason shes been weighing a decision to go independent: Is the monetary value or compensation worth me continuing this emotional mental roller coaster that Ive been experiencing the last couple of months?

April Phomthavong, who works for a tech company and lives in Oakland, California, compares the pandemic experience to stepping into a portal. I knew stepping into that portal, youre not going to exit from that being the same person, Phomthavong said.



Her company is not expecting her to go back into the office until February, when shell work a hybrid schedule. But although Phomthavong said she looks forward to having an ergonomic desk chair again, she feels less pressure this time around to do How was your weekend small talk or to keep up with celebrity goings-on to make connections with certain co-workers.

Phomthavong said the work-from-home period gave her the opportunity to pause and reflect on her values, to reevaluate the idea that working 200% was just normal and to have a better understanding that her self-worth shouldnt be equated to how she produces. She know she has to be an office person again, in a few months, but she wont be the same one as before.

Its a reminder that how we think we do our best work  and in what setting  may have totally shifted during the pandemic. George said that in her open-concept workspace, Were basically all in one room, and it can get pretty rambunctious. Being home let me zero in on some of these projects, these bigger things that I need to really focus on. It gave me that time.

Eckstein, a self-described extrovert, said that at first he was super bummed to start his consulting job remotely due to the pandemic but that he learned to network more easily with colleagues online. He now wants a hybrid schedule. If Im commuting two hours every day, then Im also losing 10 hours a week that I could be putting towards my work and a podcast side project, he said.

The pandemic helped me realize that I do not thrive in an office full time. I miss the snacks and my standing desk, but I work best typing away in silence. I dont miss the distractions of office chatter, even though I miss the people doing the chattering.

I can be an office person again because I know it will not be my everyday reality in our planned hybrid schedule. Although I do expect more awkward handshakes and uncertainty in the coming months as my return-to-office date approaches, Im clearly not alone. The pandemic has been a universally shared life-altering event, and many of us who got a reprieve from in-person work are worried about reentry into our old office life, from its annoying social norms and expectations to structural drawbacks and life-sucking bureaucracy.

All of this is completely normal. These fears, these anxieties, Perez said. Youre not the only one going through these big changes.



This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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For 38 years, The Enquirer has published a list of the largest privately held companies based in the Cincinnati region. Together, they have combined revenues of $43.9 billion and just under 119,000 employees.

Here is the 2021 Deloitte Cincinnati 100 list, ranked in order by 2020 revenues.

Deloitte Cincinnati 100: Stalwarts and newcomers to the list

Deloitte Cincinnati 100: Outlook's bright according to Cincinnatis top private companies

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What are the 100 largest privately held companies around Cincinnati?
The husband of a British-Iranian dual national held by Tehran said Thursday he was in the "last few days" of a hunger strike as officials met to discuss her fate.

Richard Ratcliffe began his protest outside Britain's foreign ministry in London on October 24 after his wife Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe lost her latest appeal.

Ratcliffe met UK government minister James Cleverly after British officials held talks with Iran's deputy foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani.

"It (the hunger strike) is definitely feeling harder and it's definitely feeling like we're in the last few days," said Ratcliffe.

"We're not going to be able to do it for much longer because my body is saying so.

"We are most likely to still be camping after the meeting, but that's a decision to make then."

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested during a visit to her family in Tehran in 2016, convicted of plotting to overthrow the Iranian regime and sentenced to five years in prison.

The project manager for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the news and data agency, strenuously denied the accusations.

She was then sentenced to another year's imprisonment in April this year for participating in a rally outside the Iranian embassy in London in 2009.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe lost her appeal in October and her family fear she will return to prison, which she had been allowed to leave with an electronic bracelet in March 2020 amid Covid-19 concerns.

Ratcliffe believes his spouse is "caught in a dispute between two states" over a debt of 400 million ($540 million) that London refuses to settle since the shah of Iran was ousted in 1979.

He began his current hunger strike, his second since 2018, in the face of what he said was "complacency running through the government strategy".

"I'm hoping the needle has moved in the last couple of weeks and there's a realisation that the status quo isn't enough," he added.

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"I've had a lot of Foreign Office meetings where we've gone in with high expectations and come out deflated.

"The obvious thing that needs to be done is to settle that dispute and not allow innocent people to have their life wasted."

imm/phz/ach
Editor's note: This story contains details of sexual violence that are included in public court documents and historic records.

More than 30 years ago, a Nashville jury convicted two people of a horrific case of child sex abuse and murder they did not commit, new legal filings from the Tennessee Innocence Project contend.

The victim was 4 years old. She was brutally raped and beaten around the head before her death.

The child was treated at Vanderbilt for hours after falling unconscious in the care of family members before being pronounced brain dead.

Her killing shocked Nashville and sent Joyce Watkins and Charles Dunn, the child's great aunt and her boyfriend, to prison for life in 1988.

The child's death was splashed across the late-1980's front pages beside panic over the AIDS crisis and claims of devil worshipping in Nashville parks.

The two family members accused of hurting her were painted as monsters by prosecutors and police  nightmarish figures torn from the unfounded hysteria of the satanic panic and rampant homophobia sweeping the nation.

But who really killed her?

A new investigation from the Tennessee Innocence Project suggests the "purely circumstantial" case against the defendants was flawed from the start.

Jessica Van Dyke of the Tennessee Innocence Project speaks in August in an unrelated case.

Dunn and Watkins were given life sentences on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated rape. Lawyers now question whether the original case proved a sexual assault took place, according to the new legal filings.

Watkins, who maintains her innocence, was released on parole in 2015 and has spent the time since under strict Sex Offender Registry conditions. Dunn died of cancer in prison later that same year.

A new review of the evidence in the case shows shoddy investigative work, unreliable medical evidence from now-disgraced pathologists and hints of racism from then-prosecutors toward the Black defendents.

Attorneys from the Tennessee Innocence Project filed a motion Wednesday asking a Nashville judge to reopen a post-conviction appeal and consider Watkins' and Dunn's possible innocence.

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The Nashville district attorney's office will support them in the second and third wrongful conviction push this year under the direction of its Conviction Review Unit.

"The inescapable reality is that we may never know for certain what happened," wrote Sunny Eaton, director of the CRU, in a report filed to the court Wednesday.

Sunny Eaton, director of the Davidson County District Attorney's Office Conviction Review Unit, during a July hearing in an unrelated case.

"However, what is clear is that Joyce Watkins and Charles Dunn neither committed the Aggravated Rape...nor did they taken any actions that caused her death. The case against them was purely circumstantial and failed to exclude other reasonable theories or possible perpetrators."

Jason Gichner and Jessica Van Dyke from the Tennessee Innocence Project took up her case and brought it to the conviction review unit's attention.

Signs of abuse before death

Watkins was the child's great aunt, one of a set of four sisters who lived spread across the South in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. Dunn was her longtime boyfriend. Neither had a previous criminal record, and they both held steady jobs, according to both the CRU and Tennessee Innocence Project reports and news coverage at the time.

The child's name was redacted in the legal filings.

The couple picked up the child from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, late one June 1987 night.

Nine hours later the child was dead.

For the two proceeding months, the child had been in the care of a different great aunt in Kentucky, where she began showing worrying signs of serious health conditions, records show.

She began wetting the bed, was found unconscious more than once, showed up with bruises and welts. Family testified she went from a happy, engaged child to falling asleep standing up.

A child abuse allegation was filed to the Kentucky family services agency to investigate during the two-month visit.

But when an investigator stopped by, the child's caretaker lied, saying she'd already gone back to Georgia, the new filing said. The investigator closed the case without ever setting eyes on the toddler, the CRU report found.

Tennessee Innocence Project's Jessica Van Dyke looks over a large stack of papers in July as part of an unrelated case.

Even after she fell unconscious after choking on peanut butter, according to a neighbor, no one took her to the doctor, the CRU report said. Not until Watkins picked her up and took her back to Nashville.

There, police obtained phone records that show Watkins called the child's mother and grandmother several times.

She told police she informed the pair that the toddler seemed unwell and she had spots in her underwear that looked like blood.

Concerned for the child's health, Watkins said she checked on her throughout the night.

When the child's mother and grandmother had not arrived by morning, she took the child to the hospital herself.

Mourners turned suspects

For days after her death, police insisted Watkins was not a suspect, news coverage from the time shows.

She and Dunn were interviewed four times by police in the following days, attorneys note. They were not read their rights, nor did they consult attorneys, records show.

Family members immediately suspected something happened while the child was in Kentucky, making comments to that effect in the hospital waiting room, police evidence shows.

But the jury was left with little other choice than to convict.

An inaccurate assessment of the injury timeline meant it was hard to believe there was time for anyone else to reasonably have access to the child, the Tennessee Innocence Project filing said.

At trial, the jurors were told police in Kentucky thoroughly investigated all other suspects and eliminated them. The prosecutor told the jury they were looking at the worst of humanity.

But the new review shows that investigation was perfunctory at best.

'Some pockets of town'

The new legal filings show then-Assistant District Attorney Richard Fisher made statements the defense says smacks of racism.

Trial transcripts indicate Fisher told the jury the assault and murder were the work of monstrous people.

He said: I knew before you ever sat there that I was going to put you through your own

personal torture, because you had no idea when you got that notice, you were

going to be a juror and when you walked into this courtroom, that you were going

to be exposed to what humanity in Nashville, Tennessee, may be all about in some

pockets of town or to some evil deviants who have no control.

"This is how innocent people are wrongfully convicted. The science is flawed, the

arguments misstate the evidence, and perhaps most importantly, the prosecutor is implying that these people must be guilty because they are deviants from the wrong part of town," the Tennessee Innocence Project filing argues.

Eaton agreed the prosecutor's missteps were egregious.

"The States closing argument was rife with emotionally charged, flatly incorrect summations of the evidence the jury had heard," the conviction review report found. "These false assertions flowed through to the Post-Conviction and Appellate Courts understanding of the facts tainting their ability to meaningfully analyze the questions posed to them."

Fisher also misrepresented medical evidence to the jury, even after repeated clarification of the testimony.

Medical evidence debunked

Initial medical reports suggested the child's injuries were recent, possibly  but not definitely  happening during the time she was in Watkins' and Dunn's care, the CRU report noted.

New medical evidence disputes that analysis, widening the timeframe for the child's injuries, the CRU, citing an opinion from Tennessee's current Chief Medical Examiner Adele Lewis

Then-Assistant Medical Examiner Gretel Harlan believed she could tell the age of bruises by eye. Twenty minutes before trial, she changed her opinion, narrowing her testimony to claim the child was injured sometime after 1:30 a.m. that day.

But she could not have known that from the evidence, the new analysis shows.

Relying on 30 more years of study into pediatric brain injuries and other medical advances, Lewis filed an opinion that there's no way to determine precisely when the child was assaulted  but that it was likely well before the hours Watkins and Dunn picked her up from Kentucky.

In a 1994 post-conviction hearing on the case, Harlan "admitted" her theory for the shortened timeline was incorrect, the new petition notes. She went on to give another, also-incorrect theory that was not fully examined at that time, records show.

"At that same hearing, she presented a new medical theory on timing of the fatal injury, but it went unrefuted in post-conviction, so the court was unaware of its falsity. Her new theory was also wrong and significantly, not information ever put before a jury," defense attorneys wrote.

Harlan's time at the medical examiner's office was concurrent with that of her husband, once the state's chief medical examiner and the first ME of Davidson County, Charles Harlan.

Their testimony was key to the case against Watkins and Dunn. Everything else was circumstantial.

The couple's high-powered careers ended in scandal and disgrace.

In 1994, Charles Harlan resigned as medical examiner after three female employees sued him for sexual harassment. Earlier that year, Harlan falsified a death certificate, conduct which resulted in suspension without pay.

Gretel Harlan left the office soon after, voluntarily surrendering her medical license.

The pair were trailed by reports of misidentified corpses, pet dogs allowed in the examining room, autopsy results and evidence left behind in rental houses and multiple instances of failing to accurately identify homicides.

Reviewing their work in the case against Watkins and Dunn now relies on photographs because the physical evidence no longer exists.

Case latest to get new look

Wednesday's new legal filings follows a ruling Tuesday also alleging racial bias by past Nashville prosecutors.

Davidson County Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins ruled to vacate the first-degree murder conviction of Abu-Ali Abdur'Rahman before accepting a new guilty plea that took the death penalty off the table for charges stemming from a deadly 1987 armed robbery.

It comes also a year to the day after another Nashville judge overturned the conviction of Joseph Webster, also a case brought to the CRU by defense attorneys. Webster was released Nov. 11, 2020.

It will be up to Criminal Court Judge Angelita Dalton to review the motion and decide what's next in the Dunn and Watkins case.

Joyce Watkins has never stopped fighting.

She has maintained her innocence for 34 years, according to her attorneys. She attempted to appeal the ruling in 1994 but was denied.

She's now 74 years old.

For nearly half her life, she's lived with the belief someone brutally raped and murdered her 4-year-old great niece and walked free.

Dunn will never get any answers.

Reach reporter Mariah Timms at mtimms@tennessean.com or 615-259-8344 and on Twitter @MariahTimms.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Innocence Project, Nashville DA: Couple innocent of 1987 child rape, murder
Trump Tulsa rally. Win McNamee/Getty Images

As with plenty of former President Donald Trump-related revelations, it turns out his infamous June 2020 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma  the one that was woefully underattended  may have been more of a train wreck than originally thought, according to an excerpt of journalist Jonathan Karl's forthcoming book Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show published in Vanity Fair.

When multiple campaign staffers, who had partied together the night before, tested positive for COVID-19 the day of the rally, campaign leadership actually ordered the team to "STOP TESTING," Karl reveals. The directive arrived following an "embarassing" NBC News headline that broke the news of the staff infections. And Trump, for his part, was "furious."

And that's not all. "Incredibly," Karl writes, the former president's infected staffers were then told to rent a car and drive over 1,200 miles back to Washington, rather than self-isolate for 10 days, as required by public health guidelines. "At least one" of those rental cars was stuffed with COVID-positive team members, Karl says.

"There was a car of three staffers who had tested positive that drove all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Washington, D.C.," one senior adviser told him. "We called it a COVID-mobile."

Two Secret Service agents had also tested positive, forcing dozens of others to quarantine as a precaution. What's more, in a revelation never disclosed by Trump or his team, one infected campaign staffer was actually hospitalized in Tulsa for a week after becoming "severely ill," says Karl.

"It was really scary," said a senior campaign official of the incident. "He was actually worried he was going to die." Read more at Vanity Fair.

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An Iowa State University faculty vote this week preserved updates to a graduation requirement of all the university's undergraduate students, though there's not yet a timeline for when those updates will take effect.

The university's provost and some faculty counted the updates to the U.S. diversity course requirement as a win, though the process of getting there was full of twists and turns and not everyone got everything they wanted.

The U.S. diversity requirement, first approved in 1996, mandates that students take course work to give students experience with "significant manifestations of human diversity and provide students with insights that enhance their understanding of diversity among people in the U.S.," according to the university's description.

Updates to the requirement have been in the works for years. Previously, students had to complete two of the following learning outcomes:

"articulate how their personal life experiences and choices fit within the context of the larger mosaic of U.S. society, indicating how they have confronted and critically analyzed their perceptions and assumptions about diversity-related issues.

"analyze and evaluate the contributions of various underrepresented social groups in shaping the history and culture of the U.S.

"analyze individual and institutional forms of discrimination based on factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, class, etc.

"analyze the perspectives of groups and individuals affected by discrimination

"analyze how cultural diversity and cooperation among social groups affect U.S. society."

The university's faculty senate approved four new outcomes in the spring that require students be able to:

"identify the experiences and contributions of underrepresented or marginalized groups and how they have shaped the history and culture of the United States.

"understand the analytical concepts of culture, ethnicity, race, gender, and/or religion and be able to apply these concepts to an analysis of the United States.

"analyze systemic oppression and personal prejudice and their impact on marginalized communities and the broader U.S. society.

"evaluate important aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion so they can live, work and collaborate with others in the 21st century United States."

Originally, students would have had to complete all four of those new learning outcomes.

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However, as faculty approved those updates in the spring, state lawmakers also approved HF 802  a law that bans the teaching of certain concepts and that Gov. Kim Reynolds has said would address the teaching of critical race theory, which examines how slavery's legacy continues to influence American society, in Iowa's classrooms.

More: Update to Iowa State University's diversity course requirement prolonged by Iowa's new law on banned concepts

With the new law, Jonathan Wickert, Iowa State's senior vice president and provost, did not sign the at-the-time new version of the diversity requirement because of possible legal consequences, and because he had questions about whether there would be enough seats in classes for every student to complete their requirements in order to graduate on time.

Over the summer, the faculty senate's executive board reached a compromise that Wickert and university President Wendy Wintersteen did sign off on, according to Rob Schweers, the spokesperson for the provost's office.

That compromise  what remains in place after this week  is that students will have to complete a minimum of three of the four new learning outcomes, but not all four.

However, the executive board's actions  overriding what the full faculty senate had passed, without their approval  divided the senate. Some faculty favored rescinding the compromise either because they wanted students to have to complete all four outcomes or because they said the board's actions overstepped their authority and jeopardized the senate's, or both.

Wickert told faculty senators Tuesday that if the three-out-of-four requirements version was rescinded, he would not sign a version of the diversity requirement that would ask students to complete all four outcomes because his original concerns remained.

"Where we have landed is a win," he said of the compromise the executive board had reached. "You make progress a step at a time."

More about diversity at Iowa State: New plaza honoring Black fraternities, sororities at ISU to be 'a space where we all can just come together'

Ultimately, a majority of the faculty senate did vote Tuesday against rescinding the compromise, keeping it so that students will have to complete three out of the four outcomes for the U.S. diversity requirement.

Faculty Senate President Andrea Wheeler told the Ames Tribune that with the vote behind them, the senate and its committees and councils can begin to work on setting a timeline for implementing the updated requirement.

An ad hoc committee has already been gathering information to answer questions about the new requirement's implementation, including through a survey of faculty about whether they think their courses would fit the new requirements.

According to those survey results  presented Tuesday by the committee's chairperson, Meghan Gillette, a professor of human development and family studies  93% of current U.S. diversity requirement courses would fit, though that percentage depends on how much of a course's content must be tied to meeting an objective, and that percentage decreases the higher that threshold would be set.

A not yet formed faculty committee will approve U.S. diversity courses, according to Gillette's presentation.

A list of currently approved courses is available at registrar.iastate.edu/students/div-ip-guide/usdiversity-courses.

Phillip Sitter covers education for the Ames Tribune, including Iowa State University and PreK-12 schools in Ames and elsewhere in Story County. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Iowa State to require diversity course requirement for students
Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO asked the Israeli government for assistance in trying to lift sanctions imposed by the U.S. Department of Commerce, according to a letter obtained by Axios.

Why it matters: The department's decision last week to black list NSO for engaging in activities contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States was the first time the U.S. government has targeted Israeli cyber companies, which receive their export licenses from the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

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The designation will limit the activities of the company in the United States. Every American entity that wants to deal with NSO will have to get a license from the Commerce Department.

Driving the news: NSOs CEO Shalev Hulio last Tuesday sent a letter to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett with copies to Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Hulio classified the letter as Secret.

He wrote that NSO was surprised by the U.S. decision and claimed it was a result of an orchestrated campaign by anti-Israeli organizations who want to harm Israeli companies for political reasons.

Hulio added that the move could cause hundreds of the company's Israeli employees to lose their jobs and stressed that formal backing by the Israeli government is a basic condition for the efforts to lift the U.S. sanctions.

The backstory: An international consortium of investigative journalists reported in July that NSO's Pegasus software  designed to track terrorists and criminals  had become a valuable tool for governments to spy on journalists and critics.

Hungary, India, Mexico, Morocco and Saudi Arabia are among the countries listed in the report as NSO clients.

The Commerce Department said its decision was based on evidence that both companies developed and supplied spyware to foreign governments that in turn used it "to maliciously target government officials, journalists, businesspeople, activists, academics, and embassy workers."

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Thursday announced that NSO spwyare had been discovered on phones belonging to three senior officials, the Associated Press reported. Spyware from NSO was found on the cellphones of six Palestinian human rights activists, Front Line Defenders, an Ireland-based rights groups, said in a report Monday.

Behind the scenes: Senior Israeli officials told me that after the U.S. announcement last week, Israeli government officials held consultations and considered protesting to the Biden administration and demanding it to reverse the decision, but these options were ultimately dropped.

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Nevertheless, senior officials in the Israeli foreign ministry did protest to their State Department counterparts about the fact that the Biden administration notified Israel of the decision only an hour in advance of the public announcement.

What they are saying: Three senior Israeli officials denied a New York Times report that claimed the Israeli government is going to lobby the Biden administration to remove the NSO off the black list.

Whats next: The Israeli Defense and Foreign ministries want to start a dialogue with the Biden administration on the broader issue of exports of cyber spying software, Israeli officials said.

We want to talk to the U.S. first in order to make sure that the NSO affair didnt damage our bilateral relations. We would also want to hear from the U.S. if they have any information we need to know about NSO, a senior Israeli official told Axios.

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In a major win in the years-long battle over contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, a court has approved a settlement of $626m in favour of residents of the city.

District Judge Judith Levy said in her opinion : The settlement reached here is a remarkable achievement for many reasons, not the least of which is that it sets forth a comprehensive compensation program and timeline that is consistent for every qualifying participant.

Recognised as one of the worst environmental and public health disasters in US history, residents of Flint were exposed to dangerous levels of lead contamination in drinking water.

Criminal cases are still pending relating to the scandal.

The deal makes compensation available to Flint children who were exposed to the water, adults who can show an injury, certain business owners, and anyone who paid water bills.

Half of the population has signed up for a share of the settlement.

Approximately 80 per cent of whats left after legal fees is earmarked for children, though it is not certain how much each child will receive  families will need to provide evidence of injury, such as medical records, blood tests, and neurological results.

Plaintiffs motion for attorney fees will be addressed in a separate opinion and order, Judge Levy said. Attorneys are seeking as much as $200m in legal fees.

The majority of the settlement, $600m, will be paid by the state of Michigan, which is accused of repeatedly ignoring the problem.

Flint is paying $20m toward the settlement, while McLaren Health is paying $5m, and an engineering firm, Rowe Professional Services, is paying $1.25m. Lawsuits still are pending against the Environmental Protection Agency, McLaren, and other engineering firms.

The Flint water crisis dates back to 2014 when a decision was made to draw water from the Flint River rather than from Lake Huron, in an effort to save money. The decision was approved by city managers and regulators in the administration of then-Governor Rick Snyder.

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The state did not ensure that the correct corrosion-control chemicals were added to the new water supply.

Over time, lead in old pipes broke off and began seeping into the water that was being distributed to homes in the city.

There is no safe level of lead in water. Residents soon began to complain that the water was discoloured, smelled bad, and was causing rashes when used for bathing. Worse still, lead can harm a childs brain development and cause attention and behaviour problems.

Their concerns were largely ignored, and many pointed to the fact that as the majority of the population of 90,000 is black, it is a prime example of environmental racism.

Eventually, the city switched back to a Detroit regional water agency in late 2015 after it was publicly reported that children in the city had been found to have elevated lead levels.

This is a historic and momentous day for the residents of Flint, who will finally begin to see justice served, said Ted Leopold, one of the lead attorneys in the litigation.

Corey Stern, another key lawyer in the case, said he represented many brave kids who did not deserve the tragedy put on them.

This is not the end of legal proceedings relating to the case. Nine people, including the former governor, have been charged with crimes. They have pleaded not guilty and their cases are pending.

With reporting from the Associated Press.

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Mercy facilities in Springfield. The health system faces a new lawsuit from a Kansas health care app company over trade secrets.

A Kansas mobile health care app company has filed a lawsuit against Mercy in a contract dispute over trade secrets related to home telehealth technology that allows providers to keep tabs on patients and communicate about their treatment needs.

As reported earlier by the Kansas City Business Journal, LifeScience Technologies LLC accuses St. Louis-based Mercy of using its virtual care software platform, m.Care, since 2015. More recently, LST asserts, Mercy made a "willful and deliberate disclosure of LSTs trade secrets and confidential information to a third-party competitor," Myia Health, located in San Francisco.

"To accomplish this, (Mercy) allowed Myias software development team improper access to LSTs software using @Mercy.net credentials," LST said in its lawsuit filed in the Missouri Eastern District federal court on Oct. 25. The lawsuit states that before demonstrating m.Care for potential customers like Mercy, LST requires them to sign non-disclosure agreements "prior to receiving technical information about the system."

After giving Myia access to m.Care, LST argues, Mercy acquired a $5 million ownership interest in Myia and replaced LST's software with what the Kansas company calls "Myia's derivative software."

"Mercy and Myia systematically and deliberately began implementing the Myia software at Mercy in place of LSTs long-standing m.Care software," the lawsuit argues, characterizing the actions as "stealing."

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In its lawsuit, LST said it wants the federal court to award actual and punitive damages, lost profits and the amount of any "unjust enrichment" Mercy and Myia may have accumulated. It also asked the court to permanently enjoin Mercy and Myia from use of LST's trade secrets and to order the "the destruction of any software product" developed with the help of LST's know-how.

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Mercy declined to comment on Thursday via a Springfield-based spokesperson. The News-Leader could not immediately reach Myia Health.

More: COVID-19 vaccines now available for children age 5 and up at Cox and Mercy

In announcing the suit, LST president Steve Hendrix said in a news release, "This is the first time in our 30 years that we have needed to enforce our contracts and protected work product via a lawsuit."

Reach News-Leader reporter Gregory Holman by emailing gholman@gannett.com. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Mercy accused of 'stealing' trade secrets from health care app company
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  The Kellogg Co. has filed a lawsuit against its local union in Omaha complaining that striking workers are blocking entrances to its cereal plant and intimidating replacement workers as they enter the plant.

The company based in Battle Creek, Michigan, asked a judge to order the Omaha chapter of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union to stop interfering with its business while workers picket outside the plant. The workers in Omaha and at Kellogg's three other U.S. cereal plants have been on strike since Oct. 5.

We respect the right of employees to lawfully communicate their position in this matter. We sought a temporary restraining order to help ensure the safety of all individuals in the vicinity of the plant, including the picketers themselves, company spokeswoman Kris Bahner said Thursday.

The president of the Omaha union declined to comment on the lawsuit Thursday.

Kellogg's lawsuit comes after a vehicle struck and killed a United Auto Workers member last as he was walking to a picket line to join striking workers outside a John Deere distribution plant in northwest Illinois. An Iowa judge issued a temporary restraining order against Deere workers in Davenport limiting their demonstrations to four picketers at a time.

Kellogg's said in its lawsuit that union members have been physically blocking the entrance to the plant as semitrucks and buses try to enter and leave.

The company also said in the lawsuit that people picketing outside the plant have threatened the lives of people working at the plant including threatening that an individuals wife and young children will be assaulted (including sexually) while he is away from home working with Kellogg.

Two days of contract talks earlier this month failed to produce an agreement. Earlier this week, Kellogg's launched a PR campaign trying to sell workers on its latest offer because the union declined to put the deal up to a vote. But the company said Thursday that its offer to the union had now expired, and no additional talks have been scheduled.

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Ken Hurley, the head of labor relations at Kellogg's, said in a video the company posted on its website that Kellogg's has tried to address the union's main concerns about its two-tiered pay system, wages and benefits in its offer.

We have made every attempt to build a bridge toward a new agreement, but those efforts are met with rejections and more unrealistic demands, Hurley said in the video. We urge the union to reconsider its approach and agree to engage in real bargaining for a contract to get our employees back to work and back to their lives.

Union officials told workers after those contract talks that they couldn't recommend Kellogg's offer because it was full of concessions.

The Kelloggs strike includes roughly 1,400 workers four plants in Battle Creek; Omaha; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee, that make all of Kelloggs brands of cereal, including Frosted Flakes and Apple Jacks.

The company has said that it has restarted production at all of the plants with salaried employees and outside workers, and it is now hiring new employees at the plants. CEO Steven Cahillane also told investors earlier this month when the company reported a $307 million quarterly profit that Kelloggs stockpiled cereal beforehand to help weather the strike.

Workers at Kellogg's and other companies feel emboldened this year to strike in the hope of obtaining a better offer because of the ongoing worker shortages.

Besides the Kellogg's strike, more than 10,000 Deere workers remain on strike after rejecting two different offers from the tractor maker.

Employees are also less willing to compromise this year after working long hours during the coronavirus pandemic to keep up with demand over the past 18 months.

Earlier this year, about 600 food workers also went on strike at a Frito-Lay plant in Topeka, Kansas and 1,000 others walked off the job at five Nabisco plants across the U.S. At meatpacking plants across the country labor unions have been successfully negotiating significant raises for employees.
South Dakota Department of Criminal Investigation and the Bon Homme County Sheriff investigate a triple homicide that happened Wednesday night in Scotland, SD.

Three people are dead following a residential shooting in Scotland, South Dakota, on Tuesday evening.

Angela Monclova and her father, Librado Monclova were shot and killed at Angela's home around 6 p.m. at the 700 block of Second Street in Scotland, according to court documents. A third woman, Diane Akins, was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and pronounced dead.

Francis Lange, 42, has been charged with three counts of first degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and commission of a felony while armed with a firearm, according to documents.

More: Third person dies after shooting in Scotland, South Dakota

During their initial investigation on Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, the Department of Criminal Investigation said they believed the incident was a domestic violence situation.

Lange made his first appearance in court at the Bon Homme County Court House on Wednesday afternoon.

Court documents lay out a grisly scene in Scotland

Probable cause documents filed with the Bon Homme Court House on Wednesday state that Bon Homme County Sheriff deputies responded to a call around 6 p.m. at the 700 block of Second Street in Scotland after a woman called dispatch saying her mother-in-law had been shot.

Deputies also learned Jacob Monclova had received a call from his brother Anthony Monclova that their mother Vicki Monclova had been shot at the residence after arriving at Anthony's house, according to documents. Jacob went to the home and found his father, Librado Monclova, on the couch and "thought he was dead."

More: Victim identified in Sioux Falls fatal shooting outside Giliberto's this past weekend

Monclova also found Diane Akins on the floor of the living room and said "she wasn't doing good," according to the documents. It's unclear how Akins is related to the Monclovas.

While in the house, Monclova found a five-year-old girl crying and who had been shot, according to documents. While taking the child out of the house, Monclova noticed a black gun magazine lying on the floor near the front door.

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Paramedics arrived on scene and found Angela Monclova and Librado Monclova dead in the house, according to documents. Akins was transported to the Scotland Hospital and later pronounced dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

The child and Vicki Monclova, both suffered serious life-threatening injuries from gunshot wounds, and were transported to a Sioux Falls hospital, according to the documents.

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Francis Lange was found at 220 Third Street after his father reported him to police, according to the documents. Lange was taken into custody around 8:43 p.m..

A Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun was found less than half a block from where the shooting had occurred, according to court documents. The box that the gun belonged in was found underneath Lange's bed at his father's house.

The gun belonged to Lange who called it "his pride and joy," according to Lange's father.

The police had previously been called to Monclova's house months earlier for a domestic issue stemming between Angela and Francis, according to court documents. It's unclear what their relationship at the time of the shooting was.

Francis Lange charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault, and more

Lange appeared in front of a Bon Homme County judge Wednesday afternoon, in a nearly empty court room.

He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and commission of a felony while armed with a firearm. More charges may be filed, the judge said.

The judge set a $2 million cash-only bond because of the severity of the crime, she said. During the hearing, Lange was read his rights and did not have an attorney present.

Lange applied for a court-appointed attorney during his initial hearing.

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He's due in court at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16 for a preliminary hearing.

Follow Annie Todd on Twitter @AnnieTodd96. Reach out to her with tips, questions and other community news at atodd@argusleader.com or give her a call at 605-215-3757.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Scotland, South Dakota shooting leaves three dead. Here's what we know
The trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, an Illinois man accused of fatally shooting two people and wounding a third during chaotic August 2020 demonstrations, is underway in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The demonstrations were sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake two days prior, while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Rittenhouses trial is expected to last at least two weeks. Heres a look at the key players:

KYLE RITTENHOUSE: PROSECUTORS COULD BE BARRED FROM RETRYING DEFENDANT: LIVE UPDATES

Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, was 17 at the time of the shootings. He served as a youth cadet in the Grayslake Police Department and posted photos of himself brandishing a rifle above the caption "Blue Lives Matter." He worked part time as a YMCA lifeguard in Lindenhurst, Illinois, before he was furloughed in March 2020. Rittenhouse testified that he was an EMT cadet at the Antioch Fire Department until the incident on Aug. 25, 2020.

He traveled to Kenosha, which is only about 15 miles from his home, on Aug. 25, 2020 after pleas went out on social media to protect businesses during riots over the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a White police officer two days earlier.

Video from the night of the shootings shows Rittenhouse on the streets with a medical kit and an AR-15-style semiautomatic rifle, the latter of which had been supplied to him by a friend and was later used in the shootings. He is charged with two counts of homicide, one count of attempted homicide, recklessly endangering safety and illegal possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18.

"People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business," Rittenhouse told a reporter from the Daily Caller before the shootings. "And part of my job is to also help people. If there is somebody hurt, Im running into harms way. Thats why I have my rifle."

KYLE RITTENHOUSE: PROSECUTORS COULD BE BARRED FROM RE-TRYING DEFENDANT: LIVE UPDATES

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Rittenhouses attorneys say a man  Joseph Rosenbaum  chased the 5-foot-8, 150-pound Rittenhouse in an attempt to steal his gun, forcing Rittenhouse to fatally shoot him. Rittenhouse testified that Rosenbaum had threatened to kill him twice earlier in the night and was advancing toward him before the shooting. Video that has surfaced so far doesnt show that shooting, but it does show Rosenbaum run toward Rittenhouse and appear to throw a plastic bag at him before shots ring out and Rosenbaum lies on the ground.

Other video shows Rittenhouse moments fatally shooting Anthony Huber and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz.

Rittenhouse is White, as are the three men he shot.

Prosecutors have painted Rittenhouse as the instigator, while defense has argued the teen was defending himself.

Kyle Rittenhouse takes a drink of water while testifying during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Nov. 10, 2021 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark Hertzberg-Pool/Getty Images)

As conservatives rallied to Rittenhouse as a symbol of gun rights and resistance to the violent rioting and lootings that followed George Floyds death in Minneapolis, he has seemed at times to revel in his notoriety. He posed for photos in a Wisconsin bar with members of the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys, though his attorneys say theres no evidence he was affiliated with the group before the shootings.

Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, had been released the day of the shootings from a Milwaukee hospital where he had been treated for a suicide attempt. Its not clear why he was on Kenoshas streets the night of the protests, though he had a fiancee who lived in the city. His background includes a conviction for sexual conduct with a minor in Arizona in 2002.

RITTENHOUSE JUDGE TEARS INTO PROSECUTION WITH AGGRESSIVE TONGUE LASHING OVER QUESTIONING

Anthony Huber, 26, of nearby Silver Lake, is seen on video swinging a skateboard at Rittenhouse before he was shot. He was known around Kenoshas skateboarding community, and his girlfriend, Hannah Gittings, said skateboarding was his life.

Huber served a pair of prison stints stemming from family conflict, including choking his brother in 2012.

A great-aunt, Susan Hughes, said Huber was involved in protests because he was "very upset" that a police officer had shot Blake, who was left paralyzed from the waist down. Despite some major media pundits promoting the false narrative that Blake was unarmed, prosecutors showed video evidence that Blake was holding a knife when he was shot and Blake himself admitted in a "Good Morning America" interview that he had a knife.

At the time of the shooting, Blake had several warrants out for his arrest for charges including disorderly conduct and third-degree sexual assault. Police tried to arrest him following a 911 call from the mother of his children on Aug. 23, 2020.

Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, of West Allis, about 30 miles northwest of Kenosha, has said he attended several protests following Floyds May 2020 death. With training as a paramedic, Grosskreutz had carried medical supplies and was doing so the night of the Kenosha shootings. He was also armed with a pistol and had it in his hand when he approached Rittenhouse, who shot him in the arm.

When called to the stand Monday, Grosskreutz admitted he was pointing his gun at Rittenhouse when he was shot. He also acknowledged that Rittenhouse did not shoot him earlier when Grosskreutz had his hands up and Rittenhouse only fired once Grosskreutz advanced with his gun. Prosecutors showed graphic images and videos of the injuries that Grosskreutz had suffered when the bullet tore away a large portion of his bicep

Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder graduated from Marquette University Law School in Milwaukee in 1970 and has been on the bench since 1983. At 75, hes the longest-serving active circuit judge in Wisconsin. He was appointed as a Kenosha County Circuit Court judge in 1983 by Democratic Gov. Anthony Earl. He was subsequently elected for a full term a year later and was most recently reelected last year.

He has run unopposed in the last three elections.

Schroeder scolded Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger after he asked Rittenhouse whether he knew the use of deadly force can not be used to protect property. Schroeder accused Binger of trying to improperly introduce testimony that he said earlier he wasn't inclined to include.

"I was astonished when you began your examination by commenting on the defendants post-arrest silence. That's basic law. It's been basic law in this country for 40 years, 50 years. I have no idea why you would do something like that," Schroeder told Binger with the jury out of the courtroom. "You know very well that an attorney can't go into these types of areas when the judge has already ruled without asking outside the presence of the jury to do so. So don't give me that. That's number one."

Among his highest-profile cases 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 had erred by admitting as evidence a letter Jensens wife had given to a neighbor before her death in which she said that if anything happened to her, her husband was responsible. A new trial is set next year.

PROSECUTORS COULD BE BARRED FROM RE-TRYING RITTENHOUSE IF PROSECUTORS INTENTIONALLY CAUSED MISTRIAL: EXPERT

Schroeder has the reputation of being a stern judge who often hands down tough sentences. In 2018, he sentenced a woman convicted of shoplifting to tell the manager of any store she entered that she was on supervision for theft. Schroeder told the woman that "embarrassment does have a valuable place in deterring criminality." A state appeals court threw out the sentence.

Schroeder drew attention before Rittenhouses trial by forbidding attorneys from referring to Rosenbaum, Huber and Grosskreutz as victims  a longstanding practice in his courtroom. He also ruled that defense attorneys could portray the three as looters, arsonists or rioters if they could prove it.

Judge Bruce E. Schroeder rebukes Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger during the Kyle Rittenhouse trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on Nov. 10, 2021 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark Hertzberg-Pool/Getty Images)

Kenosha-based defense attorney Michael Cicchini said Schroeder wont wilt under the intense attention expected for Rittenhouses trial.

"Hes protective of the right to present a defense, the right to confrontation. Hes that way for all defendants, regardless of the case. The judge in my opinion is not swayed by or interested in politics," Cicchini said. "Hell apply the rules even-handedly without any influence from the media."

Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, the lead prosecutor, got his law degree in 1996 from the University of Michigan. He served as a Milwaukee County prosecutor in the early 2000s and spent nine years in private practice before joining the Kenosha County district attorneys office in 2014. He ran for district attorney in nearby Racine County as a Democrat in 2016, promising he would get tougher on heroin traffickers and help heroin users overcome their addiction to keep them out of the criminal justice system. But he lost to the Republican candidate.

Cicchini said hes worked against Binger on several cases. He called the prosecutor "skilled" and "a hard worker."

During cross-examination, Binger lightly scolded Rittenhouse for looking at his attorney too much.

Mark Richards, the defense attorney, argues that he is sitting behind Binger and therefore his client could be looking at Binger, not at him.

Racine attorney Mark Richards is leading Rittenhouses defense. Hes a courtroom veteran, earning his law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987. He served as an assistant district attorney in Racine and Kenosha counties in the late 1980s before he opened his own firm in 1990 that specializes in criminal defense.

Kyle Rittenhouse (3rd L) sits with his defense team, Mark Richards (L), Corey Chirafisi (2nd L) and Natalie Wisco during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse on November 10, 2021 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark Hertzberg-Pool/Getty Images)

Richards has worked on more than 100 jury trials. He forced Racine prosecutors in 1999 to drop first-degree intentional homicide charges against Kurtis King, who was accused of strangling his cellmate at the Racine Correctional Institution, after raising questions about the guards credibility.

Paul Bucher, a former district attorney in Waukesha County and a one-time state attorney general candidate, said Richards is well known and respected in legal circles.

Richards made a motion for a mistrial with prejudice, citing a prosecutor's line of questioning with Rittenhouse, who took the stand earlier Wednesday. If granted, the state would not be allowed to re-file charges against Rittenhouse.

Fox News' Stephanie Pagones and Jiovanni Lieggi, as well as The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Luke Garcia, 6, shows off his Baby Yoda bandage after getting his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 was the first day of distributing COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5 to 11 in Las Cruces.

LAS CRUCES  Las Cruces Public Schools will host a series of clinics to provide the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Nov. 2 that vaccines can be distributed immediately to the younger age group and the state is working to set up clinics to distribute the doses.

New Mexico has received about 90,000 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for young children, according to health officials.

Las Cruces is expected to receive about 9,000 of the children's vaccines, which are one-third the dosage of the adult vaccine.

Read more: Las Cruces children ages 5 to 11 start receiving COVID-19 vaccines

Through a partnership with the New Mexico Department of Health and the Office of Emergency Management, LCPS has scheduled six clinics, that will each have the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine.

The first clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex, 505 S. Main St. The clinic will be at the southwest end of the building.

Parents will need to register their child online with the NMDOH at vaccinenm.org using the event code BNYSPNZ.

Printed and signed consent forms will be required, but a limited number of forms will be made available at the clinic for those who do not have access to a printer.

Vaccine clinics will be held inside the gymnasiums at the following middle schools from 4 to 7 p.m. and are open to all LCPS students who are eligible for vaccine:

Nov. 15 at Zia Middle School (Use code ZIAMS)

Nov. 16 at Sierra Middle School (Use code SIERRAMS)

Nov. 17 at Mesa Middle School (Use code MESAMS)

Nov. 18 at Vista Middle School (Use code VISTAMS)

Nov. 19 Picacho Middle School (Use code PICACHOMS)

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Las Cruces Public Schools to host six vaccine clinics over the next week
Lathrop City Council member Minnie Diallo requested a restraining order last month against former Lathrop-Manteca Fire District Chief Gene Neely and his wife, Rozelle Neely, and City Manager Stephen Salvatore.

Lathrop City Council member Minnie Diallo withdrew her request for a restraining order against City Manager Stephen Salvatore on Wednesday.

Diallo requested restraining orders against Salvatore and former Lathrop-Manteca Fire District Chief Gene Neely last month amid an ongoing investigation by San Joaquin County law enforcement into their alleged harassment of Diallo.

The council member withdrew her request against Salvatore because the conflict had de-escalated, N. Allen Sawyer, Diallo's attorney, said.

"She's taking a leap of faith that there can be some civility in the process now," he said.

Diallo claims Salvatore harassed her and used a racist insult in an October phone call in which they discussed Neely, who was appointed last month to a committee on public safety expenditures over Diallo's dissenting vote.

Neely announced Monday he would not accept the appointment, the Manteca Bulletin reported.

Salvatore agreed not to seek fees or sanctions from Diallo.

"I vehemently deny (the) allegations that have been made," Salvatore said in a statement. "My decision not to pursue my claim for attorneys' fees was based on my desire to let the city heal."

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Tony J. Agbayani Jr. dismissed the case during a court session Wednesday morning.

Diallo's harassment case against Gene Neely and his wife Rozelle Neely is ongoing. On Wednesday Judge Agbayani granted a request by Diallo's attorney to delay a hearing of the case until Dec. 2.

Sawyer requested the delay to give the council member additional time to prepare her case, which she had initially been pursuing without the help of a lawyer.

Sawyer also said he had identified new evidence in the case.

"There's an ongoing criminal investigation that occurred, and ... we are attempting to get access to some of the information that was uncovered during that investigation," Sawyer said in a phone call after the court session.

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He noted he was optimistic that the case could be resolved before the hearing.

Judge Agbayani also dissolved a temporary restraining order against the Neelys that he had granted Diallo in October.

But the judge cautioned the Neelys during his comments from the bench.

"Act as if you have the restraining order," he said. "Don't talk to her, or follow her, don't look at her social media ... keep the peace until we come back."

"We're hoping this will get resolved," Gene Neely said after adjournment.

The Neelys are represented by Stockton attorney Scott Malm. In 2019, Malm also represented a San Joaquin County prosecutor in a discrimination, defamation and breach-of-contract lawsuit against District Attorney Tori Verber-Salazar.

Diallo could not be reached for comment.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers business, housing, and land use. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Lathrop council member won't pursue restraining order against city manager
Pastry chef Keegan Yee and his wife Yilin Chen run Keegan Kreations Bakeshop on Court Street in Plymouth. Yee trained at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

PLYMOUTH  Keegan and Yilin Yee started with $25 in their pocket when they came to their first farmer's market in Weymouth with a few croissants, sticky buns and cupcakes. When they got home they saw a review on their Facebook page from a customer that said: "This double chocolate croissant was worth the two-hour drive from Cape Cod."

Ever since, Keegan Kreations has been known for their croissants and the Yees grew a a steady stream of customers.

"My wife and I run a commercial kitchen, and we went from 10 croissants produced to like a thousand croissants that we sold out every week," Keegan Yee said. "We even had a line of people waiting to buy our croissants every weekend, no matter what farmers market we went to."

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The Yees were content with their booth at farmer's markets across the South Shore. But when customers would buy their croissants they began to ask where they could get the baked goods on a daily basis. After hearing suggestions that they should open a store for two years, they finally took the plunge.

Pastry chef Keegan Yee and his wife Yilin Chen run Keegan Kreations Bakeshop on Court Street in Plymouth. Yee trained at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

"That was stuck in our mind, that we really needed to open a store because for two years we heard almost every single customer tell us that we needed to open a store front," Yee said.

Using MainVest, an online platform that helps small businesses to find investors, Keegan Kreations raised $96,000 to open the bakeshop in Plymouth. Yee's confections - croissants, cakes, sticky buns, scones - hit the South Shore's sweet spot. However, the week they opened in March of 2020, the state announced its stay-at-home order and the Yees had to close their doors and let go the workers they had just hired and trained.

More: Let's Eat, Ledgerland: Say 'oui' to French macarons from Farmhouse Baking Co. in Weymouth

They quickly pivoted by editing their website so customers could order online and started offering curbside pickup. Some of Yee's creations include pistachio rose croissant, almond croissant, Matcha croissant and Monkey Bread, made with cinnamon sugar and croissant dough.

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French pastries are the stars at Keegan Kreations Bakeshop in Plymouth.

"The crazy part is, we were really busy and people were really supportive, and people were buying everything and we continued to sell out," Yee said.

Yee was born and raised in Malaysia in a small town called Ipoh. He immigrated to Boston in 1996. He studied in the baking and pastry program at Johnson and Wales University in Providence and after graduation he began his career at Taj Boston Hotel, designing wedding cakes. In 2013 Yee moved to the Berkshires and became the pastry chef at Wheatleigh, a luxury Hotel in Lenox.

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The aesthetically pleasing atmosphere of the store's white walls and wooden accents resembles the ambiance of the high-end hotels Yee worked at as a pastry chef.

"At the Wheatleigh Hotel, which is my last job before I opened my business, everything in the shop is handmade and everything is made from scratch," Yee said. "That's where I found my passion for making croissants."

Keegan Kreations offers walk-in service and online orders for pickup. Their famous croissants range in price from $4 to $6 depending on the flavor and every weekend Yee creates "something special" based on what fruits are in season.

Pastry chef Keegan Yee and his wife Yilin Chen run Keegan Kreations Bakeshop on Court Street in Plymouth. Yee trained at Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

For Yee, his favorite part about baking and owning his own store is interacting with the many customers that wait outside.

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"When I was a pastry chef back in the hotel, I never got to interact with my customer. I always plated the dessert and the server brought it to the customer. I never got to talk to them," Yee said. "But then once I opened my own shop, I found the connection between customers and I really fascinating. I feel like baking really brings people together and I feel like what I do is bring a community or a family together. My creation, my dessert is always a thing to bring people together and sit at the table, and then talk and have a good conversation."

IF YOU GO

What: Keegan Kreations

Where: 20 Court St., Plymouth A 02360

Hours: 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Contact: 617-299 -1340; https://www.keegankreations.com/

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: From croissants to cakes, Keegan Kreations in Plymouth hits sweet spot
Nov. 10NEW LONDON  A high school student is facing criminal charges related to an alleged assault last month on a school administrator.

The name of the juvenile and details of the Oct. 29 incident at New London's Multi-Magnet High School Campus were withheld by police because of the student's age. The arrest comes on the heels of an unrelated report in September of an assault on a middle school student by fellow students.

Zato Kadambaya, supervisor of math for grades 6-12, was reportedly slapped, punched, yelled at and had a backpack thrown at him by the youth in the Oct. 29 incident at the high school. The juvenile was charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct and referred to juvenile court, police confirmed.

Kadambaya, reached at his home this week, declined to discuss any details of the incident and said he did not want to exploit the situation. He had sought treatment for his injuries  ice and Tylenol  at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and did not miss any work as a result.

"I'm OK," Kadambaya said. "My hope is this child will get some help."

Kadambaya said administrators pitch in to help usher students through the hallways as part of their normal duties. That is when the incident happened. When asked about the school climate this year and the behavior of students in general, Kadambaya referred to the issues facing schools across the country.

"I think the whole nation, we are really trying to find a way to help the kids who have had almost two years off. Having our children at home for two years and coming back ... it's been very hard for some to adjust," he said. "It's very sad, but hopefully we can get a handle on this this year. The goal here is helping the kids."

"Sometimes something unusual happens," he added. "It doesn't mean that's the whole picture."

Kadambaya credits the school district with implementing procedures this year to address social and emotional needs of students but said it might take some time for the procedures to take hold.

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School Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie also declined to discuss any specifics of the incident, citing privacy concerns. She did say the school district, which no longer employs a school resource officer, has security personnel on the premises and regular meetings with the New London Police Department to discuss any issues in the community and at the district schools.

The school district also has added programs and staff this year  guidance counselors, social workers and mental health specialists  to address challenges faced by students in the district, Ritchie said. She said specifics on discipline of any individual student are not made public.

Kate Fioravanti, president of the New London Administrators' Education Association, said she was glad Kadambaya was OK and said any time an administrator's safety is at issue, it is of significant concern to her union.

"The NLAEA is willing to work with the district to determine how best to minimize these types of risks going forward, not only for administrators, but for all students and staff," she said.

Saying that Kadambaya is right, Fioravanti noted that "nationwide, many students are struggling getting back on track. We are still having to redesign how we educate. Kids being back in school (after a year and a half) doesn't mean we can simply resume how things used to be."

And though the state Department of Education has prioritized student and staff wellness, she said, "there is no such thing as a 'how to' manual for educating" during or after a pandemic.

The October incident wasn't the only report of an assault in the school district.

Adriana Davis, parent of a 13-year-old at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, said her daughter was the victim of an assault by at least two other students on Sept. 15 and again on Sept. 16.

Davis, on Wednesday, said in one incident her daughter was pulled to the ground by her hair and struck, and in another incident was attacked by another girl, slapped and hit with a container of underarm deodorant. Davis said she was at the school on one occasion and was approached by the girl who assaulted her daughter. The student was wielding a baseball bat, she said.

"The kids are absolutely out of hand," Davis said.

Davis said she has reported the incidents to police. Police did not immediately respond to a request for information.

Davis said the school has set up a safety plan for her daughter and she has had multiple meetings with school staff, the latest on Wednesday, but remains uncomfortable considering the girls involved in the assault on her daughter are still walking the halls of the school.

"I feel like she is in an unsafe situation," Davis said of her daughter. "I don't feel like the school is doing enough. I tried to explain if you have a splinter in your finger, you remove the splinter and not the finger."

In a message to the school district posted on Facebook this week, Davis said, "What concerns me most, as a parent, is that the violence from the students is escalating and the school has demonstrated a significant lack of concern. What else is happening at the school, who else is experiencing the same things, and how much will the violence escalate?"

g.smith@theday.com
The Chicago Bulls have yet to play a perfect game this season, but Wednesdays 117-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks was about as good as it gets.

Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine and Alex Caruso combined for 60 points on 21-for-33 shooting, hitting 12 of their 16 3-point attempts, to lead the Bulls past Luka Doncic and the Mavs.

When LaVine executed a 360-degree windmill slam on a Ball feed after a Caruso steal to give the Bulls a 14-point lead with 1:50 remaining, it put an exclamation mark on a frenzied night on the West Side.

Zach did what he does, Caruso said.

The Bulls had five players in double figures  including 23 points from LaVine and 21 from Ball  and Caruso added 16 points and six steals in an entertaining show before an appreciative crowd of 20,910 at the United Center.

After struggling from long range their last few games, the Bulls hit 48.4% of their 3s (15 of 31) against the Mavs zone. They improved to 8-3 as they begin a difficult five-game West Coast swing that begins Friday in San Francisco against the red-hot Golden State Warriors.

Ball had his best offensive night as a Bull, getting the offense rolling from the outset and connecting on a season-high seven 3s. He sank a pull-up 3 on the Bulls first possession and another three minutes later. He didnt put up another shot until hitting another 3-pointer 1 minutes into the second quarter, then sank two more 3s in the half and two in the third quarter.

Even when Ball has the hot hand, he doesnt seem to want to take over a game, taking pains to get his teammates more involved.

Is he too unselfish?

For me its just taking an open shot, Ball said recently in a Tribune interview. We have a lot of great scorers on this team, so for me to force it doesnt make any sense. When my time comes, it comes. Other than that, just try to play the right way.

Ball certainly could average 20-plus points if he was the focal point of an offense. But thats not what his role calls for on this team with LaVine and DeMar DeRozan the primary scorers.

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I could take a lot more shots I feel like, but theres really no reason to do that, Ball said. Its a long year. Some games are going to require me to score more, but right now take the open shot, swing the ball and get into the offense.

LaVar Ball, the father of Lonzo and Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball, once famously said his sons were the only NBA players who had to slow down their games once they entered the league rather than playing faster. Lonzo runs the Bulls offense like a bee buzzing from hive to hive.

We have to run for him, coach Billy Donovan said of the fast-paced offense.

Meanwhile, Balls 3-point shooting percentage has improved every season.

It tells you, one, hes working on his game, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said. And two, it just shows that sometimes we just need time. Sometimes we want it to be instant. We have instant oatmeal, we have a lot of instant meals. But unfortunately, it just takes time. I played a long time ago, but when you look at what Ball has done, he works on his game, his craft, and sometimes we want it on Day 1.

It just doesnt work that way. Were human. Hes human. I love that he hasnt listened to the noise and hes continued to work and hes on a very talented team.

LaVine and DeRozan came into the night as two of only six players with nine games of 20 or more points. No other team had more than one such scorer. DeRozan had his first off night, scoring 17 on 7-for-20 shooting.

The dynamic is pretty cool that those two feed off each other, Kidd said. Theres no complaining of someone taking too many shots. Theyre pros and they want to win, and you can see the environment they created here in a short amount of time is at a very high level.

It has rubbed off on the rest of the team, with everyone looking to complement each other.

Part of us being a great team is the depth we have, Caruso said. Thats the great part about our team. We have bench guys that can do a lot of different things.

Now the Bulls head out to California, and Ball will return to his Los Angeles home Sunday and Monday to play at his old stomping grounds, the Staples Center, where he began his career with the Lakers.

He might have thought that was the culmination of a lifelong dream, but now that Ball is in a Bulls uniform and feeling the love from fans, its almost like being at home.

With the Lakers it was early on in my career, I came in and really didnt know what to expect, Ball said. Being in my first year now, its crazy, Im one of the older guys on this team. We have a pretty young team, I guess.

But for me the energy in Chicago is amazing. You can feel the history just stepping into the building. All the great teams that already played there, and obviously where (Michael) Jordan played. For me, its just carrying on that legacy and doing what I can do to help the team win.
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday raised the possibility he could shut down the transit of natural gas to Europe via Belarus in retaliation against any new European Union sanctions imposed over his country's handling of migrants.

The EU on Wednesday accused Belarus of mounting a "hybrid attack" on the bloc by encouraging thousands of migrants fleeing poverty and war-torn areas to try to cross into Poland, and is gearing up to impose new sanctions on Minsk.

Lukashenko, backed by close ally Russia, has dismissed the allegations and blamed the 27-nation bloc and the West for fuelling the crisis at his country's border with EU states.

On Thursday, he raised the possibility of cutting off the Yamal gas pipeline that carries Russian gas across Belarus en route to Poland and Germany.

"We are heating Europe, they are still threatening us that they will close the border. And if we shut off natural gas there?," Lukashenko said in comments published by the state news agency Belta.

"Therefore, I would recommend that the Polish leadership, Lithuanians and other headless people think before speaking," he was cited as saying.

Europe's gas market, where prices have hit record highs in recent weeks, would be highly sensitive to any interruption in the flow of Russian gas via Belarus.

The EU has paved the way for new sanctions against Belarus as early as next week.

(Reporting by Maxim Rodionov and Tom Balmforth; writing by Mark TrevelyanEditing by Andrew Osborn)
Vietnam Veteran John Zarb of Luna Pier waves from his 1931 Ford Model A with his wife Connie as they take part in the Luna Pier Veterans Parade. Zarb was honored as the Luna Pier 2021 Citizen of the Year. He also received awards from the fire and police departments.

If you live in Luna Pier, chances are you know the name John Zarb.

The Vietnam Army veteran moved to the small town from Monroe 15 years ago with his wife, Connie. Since the move hes made a lasting impression on his community that was recognized three times at Luna Piers Veterans Day Parade last weekend.

Not only was Zarb awarded Luna Piers 2021 Citizen of the Year honor, he also received an award from both the Luna Pier Fire and Police Departments for his Outstanding Dedication and Service.

I love the town, I love the people of the town and Ive been happy to help, especially the fire and police departments because theyve needed it, said Zarb. I sincerely appreciate it, I didnt expect it and it makes my heart go pitter patter.

Luna Pier Mayor James Gardner presented Zarb with the Citizen of the Year award.

He is an inspiration to our community as an active member of our veterans parade committee, Gardner said. He has inspired others by being there for his neighbors as a trusted ear to listen and always being eager to help in tough situations.

Gardner recalled that residents who nominated Zarb for this award described him as everything they love about Luna Pier, a sentiment he echoed.

Zarb spent three years in the United States Army in the Military Intelligence Unit. He joined in 1969 at age 17, just 10 days after he graduated high school.

I had three goals: one was to grow up, another was to learn a trade, and the other was to see the world, he said. Well, I accomplished that.

Zarb said his job at Fort Shafter in Hawaii was to analyze data that came from the Pentagon or Vietnam, and aggregate the information into computers.

We would give general John McCain Sr. and his generals the information they needed to make good decisions regarding the Vietnam war, said Zarb. I was not in Vietnam, but everything we did every day was dedicated to the war in Vietnam.

When Zarb finished his career in the Army he was a Specialist level 5. The knowledge he gained in the Army allowed him to transition into a career as a computer programmer for Ford Motor Company when he returned, a career he had for the next 35 years.

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Im very active with the veterans day parade because I really feel privileged to have come out of the service with all my physical and mental capabilities intact, said Zarb. So many of my friends did not.

Zarb also has contributed to the community of Luna Pier by using his writing skills to secure numerous grants for the city. He said the closing of the JR Whiting power plant in Luna Pier sparked his interest in grant writing for the city.

It was the biggest employer, it was the biggest tax payer in town. They paid two thirds of the taxes for this town. Just imagine shutting that off like a light switch. The town took a real big financial hit, said Zarb.

In effort to help the city recover from the financial hit, Zarb started writing grants for Luna Pier in 2017 and since then has been able to secure $285,000. Many of the grants have been used to purchase much needed supplies for the citys fire and police departments. Zarb said among other community members, Deputy Clerk Jolene Upchurch, Assistant Fire Chief Derrick Welton, and Police Chief Brett Ansel have all helped him achieve this.

John Zarb of Luna Pier embraces with Luna Pier Police Chief Brett Ansel after receiving an award for the police department at the Luna Pier Veterans Day Service.

John Zarb of Luna Pier received the Luna Pier 2021 Citizen of the Year award stands with Mayor Jim Gardner at the Luna Pier Veterans Day Service.

They have been remarkably supportive and involved, and Mayor Gardner too has just been wonderful. Hes such an encouraging guy, said Zarb.

As Luna Pier Fire Chief, Robert Dinius, presented the next award for Zarb at the Veterans Parade ceremony he spoke of the countless hours Zarb spent writing grants to help improve the department.

He has helped us in ways that we can almost never say thank you for, said Dinius. Hes helped us acquire lots of equipment that will help save lives.

Luna Pier Police Chief, Brett Ansel, also expressed the gratitude he and his department have for Zarb and the grants he has helped them to secure. Ansel said when he first took this position over three years ago the small budget was a concern of his but meeting Zarb helped immensely.

He understood the budget and he understood the problems that we face as a police department and the equipment that we needed, said Ansel.

Ansel described Zarb as a positive influence who stays persistent no matter what.

His cup is always half full, its never half empty. Hes an encourager, hes someone that presses forward, said Ansel. When you get grants that come through and say sorry, try again next year hell go right back at it the very next day and say lets do this, lets try it again.

Zarb said he was touched by all of the thanks and recognition he received that day. He brought up a quote from one of his favorite people, Lee Iacocca, an automotive executive who is most known for developing the Mustang. Zarb, who is the son of Maltese immigrants, said Iacocca proved to him, as the son of Italian immigrants, that he too, could accomplish anything.

One of his famous lines was, you only have three things to do as a person or as an employee: its learning, earning, and returning. Im kind of in the returning stage, said Zarb. This grant thing to me is all about returning back for all of the goodness that Ive gotten in my life timeand I'm going to try and do it as long as I can.

Zarb wanted to impress this volunteerism onto other members of the community as well.

This town has 1250 people. If half of them were to devote four hours a month to volunteer for the city, to do what theyre good at, it would be the equivalent of 15 full time employees working for the city, said Zarb. Imagine what we could do. Thats the message Id like to share. We can have an impact.

Terry Mueller the First Captain of the Luna Pier Fire Department was honored as the Luna Pier 2020 Citizen of the Year received the award from Mayor Jim Gardner at the Luna Pier Veterans Day Service.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Luna Pier Army veteran honored with three awards
A Collin County jury sentenced 39-year-old Ismael Lopez to 99 years in prison Wednesday for continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to a news release from the Collin County District Attorneys Office.

Lopez was convicted of continuously abusing a child for three years, starting when the child was 10, according to the release. He will not have the possibility of parole. A conviction of continuous sexual abuse does not allow for parole by law.

Prosecutors said Lopez started abusing the child when he or she was 10 years old. Lopez continued the abuse for three years, telling the child to keep it a secret. The child told his or her family about the abuse eventually, the district attorneys office said in the release.

Lopez was close to the childs family, which gave him ongoing access to the child. The family reported the abuse to Plano police after the child told them about it. The child disclosed more details about the ongoing abuse during a forensic interview with the Childrens Advocacy Center of Collin County, according to the release.

Lopez had prior convictions for assault, driving while intoxicated, and possession of a controlled substance. He served prison sentences for those charges and was released to federal immigration custody in 2017. He was deported but returned to the country illegally, according to the release.
Family members of shooting victim Antwan Morris say he had a generous heart.

A 34-year-old man shot in Northside four days ago has died and his family says he was replacing locks at a womans home when he was fatally injured.

Cincinnati police said in a news release Nov. 10 that officers found Antwan Morris suffering from a gunshot wound in the 1700 block of Casey Drive about 12:40 p.m. on Nov. 7.

Morris was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he died on Nov. 10, police said.

The news release does not name a suspect in the shooting.

But Hamilton County Municipal Court records show an arrest warrant was issued for Arthur Smith, 34, of Millvale, after a Cincinnati police officer said in an affidavit on Nov. 7 that Smith shot Morris in the stomach earlier that day after a verbal altercation.

The officer filed one complaint against Smith for felonious assault and a second one against Smith for having a weapon while under disability. Smith was not supposed to have the .380 semi-automatic handgun he used to shoot Morris, due to having been convicted in the past of felonious assault, the officer said.

Smith is not charged in court records with a homicide.

Police said in the Nov. 10 news release that the departments homicide unit is investigating Morris death and asked anyone with information to call 513-352-3542.

'His children don't deserve not to have a father'

In an interview Enquirer media partner Fox19 NOW conducted with Morris family members, his mother, Tracy Morris, said her son didnt deserve this.

His children dont deserve not to have a father.

Relatives said Antwan Morris was a skilled handyman with his own business.

His sister, Kelly Morris, said her brothers death means the house he was building for her autistic son in her backyard wont be completed.

Why would you take my brother from me?" she cried.

Enquirer media partner Fox19 contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Antwan Morris dies after being shot in Northside
LAS CRUCES - Eligible New Mexicans who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 continue to drive hospital bed scarcity across the state, raising the risk for everyone who needs urgent medical care there won't be a spot for them, state health officials said Wednesday.

At the same time, meticulous data kept by the state health department pointed to waning immunity for those who are vaccinated, creating an immediate need to get booster doses into as many arms as possible to ward off a worse surge.

During a remote press conference Nov. 10, New Mexico Department of Health officials said 76.9 percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations between Oct. 11 and Nov. 8 have been unvaccinated people. The unvaccinated account for 71.6 percent of reported cases and 95 percent of deaths during that same time.

As of Nov. 10, 73 percent of New Mexican adults have completed a one or two-dose vaccine series, with 83.2 percent having taken at least one dose of a two-dose series. NMDOH data showed 55 percent of kids ages 12 to 17 have completed a vaccine series, and 63.4 percent have taken at least one dose. Recently, children ages 5 to 11 began to receive vaccines.

"So the progress is good, but there are still groups of people who are getting sick with COVID and spreading the virus amongst the whole state," state epidemiologist Dr. Christine Ross said.

More: Las Cruces Public Schools to host vaccine clinics at middle schools and administration complex

The NMDOH presented data which showed cases of the coronavirus were slowly ticking upward across the state following a plateau last month.

Statewide, eight ICU beds and 51 medical or surgical beds were open Nov. 9.

New Mexico Secretary of Human Services David Scrase takes part in the update on the COVID-19 outbreak in New Mexico and the state's effort to deal with it. The news conference is being held at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, Thursday August 27, 2020.

"What it means is if one of the people watching this press conference has a heart attack right now, there's a good chance that we won't have an intensive care unit bed for that person here in New Mexico," Acting Health Secretary David Scrase said.

Scrase said he was in conversation with multiple hospital systems which were considering declaring crisis standards of care, though he didn't say which hospitals those were. San Juan Regional Medical Center has done so already.

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Mask mandate to be extended

New Mexico was quick to vaccinate its population, outpacing much of the country throughout the spring. For Scrase, this may have created a perfect storm of waning vaccine effectiveness combined with the rise of the highly infectious Delta variant of the virus.

Scrase said he thinks some residents are being less careful and less compliant with COVID-mitigation measures while a virus variant that's more infectious is going around.

"Maybe we've all gotten complacent with COVID-safe practices both as individuals, perhaps businesses, (and) large gatherings," Scrase said.

But the acting health secretary seemed unsure of how to enforce the state's indoor mask mandate, which is planned to be extended, against lack of compliance. The mandate was set to expire Friday.

Some fans wear masks as the NMSU Aggies face off against the UC Irvine Anteaters at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021.

"The state simply can't enforce every single mask infraction," Scrase said. "I think this is a balance between individual responsibility, community responsibility and state responsibility. We can't be everywhere at every time. We try to respond to complaints and will continue to do that. And I also think that this is going to really involve a cultural change in how we think about wearing masks and protection."

Rise in breakthrough infections

Data kept by the NMDOH, which showed breakthrough COVID-19 cases in vaccinated individuals along with the date of their most recent dose of vaccine, showed a rise in breakthrough cases the further out from someone's ultimate dose, with the median number of days before someone experienced a breakthrough infection being 170, or 5 and a half months.

More: New Mexico State University employees protest against vaccine mandate, deadline pushed back

The rate of breakthrough infections still remains low in New Mexico, accounting for 1.5 to 2.5 percent of total vaccinated residents.

To state health officials, this shows the continued need for eligible vulnerable residents to get booster doses of vaccine, or for parents to get their eligible children vaccinated.

To date, more than 230,000 New Mexicans have received booster shots.

Michael McDevitt is a city and county government reporter for the Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: New Mexico hit with full beds, waning immunity and rising COVID-19 cases
Green Ops Ocala has purchased the warehouse at 500 NW 27th Ave. for $3.2 million. It was previously operated by beverage distributor Cone Distributing and later ZT Polygel, which manufactured ingredients for hand sanitizer. The medical marijuana company is also renovating a warehouse on Southwest 17th Place and a storefront on North Pine Avenue.

Green Ops Group, a medical marijuana company, has purchased a second distribution warehouse in Ocala, property records show.

The company paid $3.2 million for the vacant building at 500 NW 27th Ave. in northwest Ocala, just south of U.S. 27. The deed shows the property was purchased from Kimber Randi Brady, LLC on Oct. 29.

Green Ops Group, which is based in Columbus, Ohio, is already renovating two other spaces in Ocala, according to city permit records. One is a 60,000-square-foot warehouse in south Ocala at 720 SW 17th Place, which the company is spending $3 million to renovate into a medical marijuana greenhouse.

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Marion property acquisitions: UF Health purchases property in south Marion County for $2.21 million; plans uncertain

Green Ops Ocala has purchased the warehouse at 500 NW 27th Ave. for $3.2 million. It was previously operated by beverage distributor Cone Distributing and later ZT Polygel, which manufactured ingredients for hand sanitizer. The medical marijuana company is also renovating a warehouse on Southwest 17th Place and a storefront on North Pine Avenue.

The other is a storefront at 2301 N. Pine Ave., next to Dunkin in north Ocala, which the company plans to spend $150,000 to renovate, records show.

A public relations representative for Green Ops Group's parent Boich Companies said the company had no comment on the new purchase at this time.

The new purchase includes two parcels of land totaling 7.4 acres, the bulk of which is classified as warehouse distribution. Just under half an acre is classified as vacant industrial.

With the property zoned for M-1 light industrial use, wholesale distribution, warehouse storage or an indoor greenhouse or hemp facility would be allowed if other requirements are met.

A chain and padlock secures the gate at the old Cone Distributing building on Tuesday. Green Ops Ocala has purchased the warehouse at 500 NW 27th Ave. for $3.2 million.

Beverage distributor Cone Distributing previously occupied the space before moving to its current location on Northwest 44th Avenue.

Less than a year ago, it was announced that ZT Polygel LLC would lease the space for its business producing algae-based ingredients for use in hand sanitizer.

According to the Marion County Property Appraisers website, the land and building were assessed at just under $1.9 million this year. The building, which was built in 1973, totals over 56,000 square feet.

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As Florida approved medical marijuana in 2016, Green Ops Group would not be the only cannabis distributor or dispensary in the area.

Also in Ocala, Green Thumb Industries, Inc. is working on its $20 million renovation of the Mark III manufacturing plant buildings to create a medical marijuana distribution center.

The project is supposed to create around 100 jobs and distribute marijuana to 35 of the companys dispensaries in Florida. The facility is located west of Interstate 75 along the 5400 block of Northwest 44th Avenue in northwest Ocala.

Green Ops Ocala has purchased the warehouse at 500 NW 27th Ave. for $3.2 million. It was previously operated by beverage distributor Cone Distributing and later ZT Polygel, which manufactured ingredients for hand sanitizer. The medical marijuana company is also renovating a warehouse on Southwest 17th Place and a storefront on North Pine Avenue.

There are also several dispensaries in the area, including Trulieve Cannabis Corp., Curaleaf, GrowHealthy, Surterra Wellness and Sunnyside Medical Cannabis Dispensary. Consumers must have a prescription from a doctor for medical marijuana.

Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Green Ops Group spends $3.2M on second warehouse in Ocala in 2021
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, glided down the red carpet as she joined Prince Harry at the 2021 Salute to Freedom Gala on Wednesday night.

The former Meghan Markle wore a regal red gown with a plunging neckline and an A-line style train.

2021 Salute To Freedom Gala (Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images)

She paired the dress with matching pumps and a high bun.

2021 Salute To Freedom Gala (Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images)

The Duke of Sussex complemented his wife in a black suit and bow tie that highlighted the crimson poppy pinned to his lapel, a symbol Brits have worn since 1921 to honor Remembrance Day.

2021 Salute To Freedom Gala (Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images)

The meaningful flower was especially fitting for the occasion as the Salute to Freedom Gala, held this year at New York's Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, will recognize five service members, veterans and their families.

Prince Harry, who served in the British army for 10 years, presented the inaugural Intrepid Valor Award to the five recipients.

In his remarks, he thanked the honorees for living their lives "defined by service, purpose and resilience."

"As many of us see it, service isnt loud. Service is what happens in the quiet and when people arent looking," he said. "Its about how we take care of each other every day. Its about the camaraderie we sharethe laughs, the comfort, the pain, the challenge, and yes, the banter."

He added how important mental health care is to veterans.

"You have experienced, seen, and dealt with things that few have had tothough the crises we are increasingly experiencing as communities are not only felt by those in the military world, but by everyone," he said. "Nevertheless, you are part of an everlasting bond. You are part of the team of teams. And we will always have your backs. You are not alone."

The couple has made fewer public appearances since stepping back as senior royals and moving to the United States in 2020.

In September, they made an appearance at the Global Citizen Live event in New Yorks Central Park to speak about the importance of COVID-19 vaccine equity.

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During their public trip to New York City, Meghan and Prince Harry also visited the World Trade Center to pay their respects at the 9/11 memorial.

In addition to all the causes the duke and duchess lent their support to throughout their New York City trip, the duchess also took the time last month to prioritize her campaign for workforce equality.

She penned a public letter addressed to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer about the importance of paid parental leave amid the pandemic.

"At an alarming rate, millions of women dropped out of the workforce, staying home with their kids as schools and daycares were closed, and looking after loved ones full-time," she explained. "The working mom or parent is facing the conflict of being present or being paid. The sacrifice of either comes at a great cost."

She continued, "Paid leave should be a national right, rather than a patchwork option limited to those whose employers have policies in place, or those who live in one of the few states where a leave program exists. If were going to create a new era of family first policies, let's make sure that includes a strong paid leave program for every American that's guaranteed, accessible, and encouraged without stigma or penalty."
Memphis police Chief C.J. Davis listens as an audience member asks about solutions that could address Memphis' elevated level of violent crime at a community forum held in East Memphis.

Police recruiting, crimes committed by minors, an elevated level of gun crime, and reckless driving were among the topics officials discussed in a community forum held in East Memphis Wednesday.

The head of Memphis police, Chief C.J. Davis, joined Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich and Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission president Bill Gibbons to highlight what measures officials can, and cannot, take as an elevated crime level in city limits continues to hold steady.

Discussion points at the forum were underpinned by data from the crime commission, the nonprofit entity that tracks and publishes statistics culled from law enforcement agencies.

Davis, just six months into her appointment as Memphis' top cop, said part of her tenure at MPD so far has been about "taking a very, very close look" at what resources Memphis police have at their disposal.

Like her predecessor, former police director Mike Rallings and Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland, Davis identified police recruitment as a top priority. Her goal, she said, is to recruit 300 new officers over the next two years, which would push the compliment of police officers somewhere north of 2,200  provided the typical rates of attrition within the force hold steady.

Police recruiting: Strickland again wants to let Memphis cops live outside the county. What has changed since 2020?

Davis said there's a balance to strive toward within the issue of police recruitment. Ideally, there are enough officers to effectively respond to calls, she said. But she also expressed a desire to prevent communities from feeling suffocated.

"We don't want to over-militarize," Davis said.

On the subject of reckless driving, a topic that spurred a flurry of head nods from the audience, Davis acknowledged Memphis drivers take dangerous driving to a new level.

A recent commitment from the Tennessee Highway Patrol means that 16 troopers will stay stationed on Memphis highways and I-40, areas that the state has jurisdiction over. And while Davis said the commitment is welcome news, she also noted that reckless driving marked by the sounds of racing, roaring engines and screeching donuts feels omnipresent in Memphis, particularly in the Downtown area.

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She also said she's been instructing police officers to impound the cars of any drivers they witness driving dangerously. Davis has previously commented that the priorities of Memphis police have shifted from pulling drivers over for minor infractions like broken taillights.

But, she said, she has instructed officers to start impounding vehicles of drivers when those officers witness driving that endangers those around them.

On the subject of violent crime and weapons offenses, Davis has inherited a problem that Rallings decried for years; since the passage of a 2013 law that allows citizens to store firearms in their vehicles, the number of firearms stolen out of vehicles has risen yearly.

Youth violence: Read the letter SCS Superintendent sent to parents about the spike in youth gun violence

Opinion: Gun theft, MPD police retention and recruitment major factors in solving Memphis' violence

In September, the previous record of guns stolen from cars in Memphis  1,324 for all of 2020  has been surpassed. More than 1,381 guns have been taken from vehicles this year. The total comprises 67% of all guns seized by police in 2021.

Weirich, who followed Davis, kept a tight focus on the problem of keeping violent offenders incarcerated for full sentences.

Currently, she said, prosecutors and police are hampered by sentencing laws as written.

"All we want as prosecutors is a solution to not have violent offenders re-offend," Weirich said, explaining that violent offenders often serve a fraction of sentences issued by a judge.

Programs within the prosecutors office work in tandem with police to keep tabs on those that have multiple convictions for violent acts. But the laws as they stand now are somewhat toothless without a period of incarceration that matches the severity of the crime.

"There's this sense that it's some big joke and it's not very serious," Weirch said.

Weirich also touched on the practice of transferring juvenile offenders to criminal court, a practice that has drawn criticism from faith-based organizations like MICAH and activists.

For the majority of juvenile offenders, she said, offenses are tried in juvenile court. But so far in 2021, 25 juvenile offenders have been transferred to criminal court: Four offenders are facing murder charges, six are facing sexual assault charges, and others are accused of violent offenses like carjacking and aggravated robbery.

Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal, and can be reached at micaela.watts@commercialappeal.com.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis, Shelby County officials address violent crime at forum 2021
New Philadelphia's Central Elementary choir performs during the Veterans Day ceremony at the Tuscarawas County Courthouse Thursday.

NEW PHILADELPHIA  The speaker at Thursday's Veterans Day ceremony in New Philadelphia talked about what it means to be a veteran, and highlighted the importance of Americans taking care of those who cannot get away from the physical and mental wounds they suffered while in the service of this country.

"For most, their service is a badge of honor," said Jerry Chenevey, chaplain of New Philadelphia VFW Post No. 1445.

"They answered the call to duty, and served honorably. They take that experience. It becomes a part of who they are and who they will become and sets an example for others to follow."

But some, who experienced the horrors of war, can never forget.

Jerry Cheveney, chaplain for VFW Post 1445, speaks during the Veteran's Day ceremony at the Tuscarawas County Courthouse.

"While they remain proud of their service, their bodies and their minds do not allow them to forget the pain and suffering they have endured or witnessed," he said.

"The suicide rate among active duty members and veterans is unacceptable. It is unforgivable and must be ended now.

"Each one of us owes a debt of gratitude to everyone who served honorably and each one of us has a responsibility to take care of those who suffer from the wounds they endured, whether physical or mental, in the service of our country."

The event was held in front of the Tuscarawas County Courthouse, with a large crowd in attendance.

Chenevey's brother Steve, commander of Post 1445, also spoke.

Caleb Crowthers, a student at Welty Middle School, explains the meaning behind each fold of the flag.

He told of how the post received a scholarship request from a 15-year-old girl. The girl wrote that her family has had a hard time meeting its needs recently and she believes that we ought to burn the country down and start over.

He said that most Americans don't want to burn this country down but want to move it forward and they do want to get help for that girl's parents.

"We as adults have to show our young people that we are trying to work for the majority of our country, not fight each other," Steve Chenevey said.

"Not fight each other in school boards, not fight each other over masks, not fight over liberal and conservative. We as a nation have got to work together or we're going to be losing our young ones. They're smart enough to understand that a democracy is people working together for the common good, but we are not getting that message across to our young people."

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He said the young girl used her freedom to express her opinion.

"I hope and I am confident that if people work together as a democracy, and not as individual dictators trying to force your rights on everybody else, either side, we can accomplish what she wants, a country where everyone is equal and everyone is taken care of."

Music was provided by the Central Elementary choir, the New Philadelphia High School Band and the Delphian Chorale.

Students from Welty Middle School gave a talk on the meaning of the folds of the flag.

This year was special, because the flag belonged to the family of Pvt. Elery Anderson Beans, a World War I veteran who served in France. A year after the war ended, Anderson was struck by lightning and killed on June 15, 1919, at the Roxford Methodist Church.

The flag was used at his funeral but had not been folded properly.

Student Caleb Crowthers served as reader, and the flag was folded by Jack Kolat and Brennen Hostetler. It was then presented to Beans' family.

The event was sponsored by the New Philadelphia Veterans Coordinating Committee.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Military veterans honored at New Philadelphia ceremony
I was a little skeptical when Moms for Liberty announced it had found 28 "unacceptable" books in Indian River County school libraries containing pornography and/or inappropriate sexual content or innuendos.

Pornography? Thats serious business, not the tedious complaints about the F-word, Holden Caulfield trying to lose his virginity to a hooker in Catcher in the Rye, or coming-of-age activities in any number of books.

Then I saw a video from Oct. 21 in which Vicki Flannery, from North Wales, Pennsylvania, read to her school board a lurid  unpublishable here  excerpt from All Boys Arent Blue.

Do any of you  find this book that depicts a sexual encounter and rape acceptable for any minor, regardless of gender or sexual orientation? Because I do not, she said, according to the Lansdale Reporter. A child is a child, and if you see this as acceptable, you belong on a national registry, and not a school board.

More: 16 words could determine fate of cross on Memorial Island

More: Vero Beach High School KO's candidate in free speech issue

More: Trump effect puts international spotlight on Indian River County school issue

More: Freedoms jeopardized amid toxic election campaigns

Sexual books in elementary school?

School officials confirmed to The Reporter the book was in an elementary school library for five months, but never checked out.

It turns out the book also was on a library shelf at Vero Beach High School, but never checked out, according to Richard Myhre, assistant superintendent of curriculum & instruction for the Indian River County School District.

Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy, Amazons description of a George M. Johnson "memoir-manifesto" explains. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults."

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Apparently, it was so frank Indian River school officials reviewed it after receiving a complaint, then pulled it off the shelf.

More: Sebastian residents wanted transparency from council? What's been going on?

More: Judge wrong to shut out public from Indian River contempt case

More: Vero Beach need not be Ground Zero in battle over cross in veterans sanctuary

More: Will high court ruling end challenge to cross on veterans monument in Vero?

A display of books for teenagers is shown on the second floor of the Indian River County Main Library in Vero Beach Nov. 8, 2021.

School district launches review

Myhre said high school principals, media center heads and district officials have been reviewing other books on a growing list Moms for Liberty has found mostly in high schools.

Im prepared to defend free thought and expression, Myhre said, noting some content might not be appropriate for teenagers. I would not want my children (elementary-age) to be exposed to some of this.

Myhre and David Moore, superintendent of Indian River schools, acknowledged some books were purchased in bulk from publishers and not reviewed beforehand as is required in a 2014 policy.

You cant trust, you have to verify, Moore said on Bob Soos' radio show. Why book companies would push this into our schools is a question I have.

The issue is not only age appropriateness or procedure. Its a third-degree felony in Florida to show any obscenity to a minor. Obscenity is defined in Florida statutes as any material that:

The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest.

Depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct, including actual or simulated sexual intercourse and masturbation.

Taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.

Three books among dozens on a growing 'watch list' of books in Indian River County schools provided by Moms for Liberty are pictured on a desk at the Indian River County Main Library Nov. 8, 2021.

Obscenity in eye of beholder?

In other words, there is room for differences of opinion.

Jennifer Pippin, head of Indian River Countys Moms for Liberty and parent of 12- and 15-year-olds, is concerned students can get academic credit for many of the books by checking them out of the school library. Parents might never know how racy some of the content is.

Some of these books have rape in them, incest in them, things that are extremely concerning and you know, a parent might want to bring that to light to a child, she said. There were books in there that talked explicitly about sex toys.

It's just absolutely inappropriate and there are hundreds of thousands of good reading materials that does not have pornography in it, she said. I don't know any parent personally that would read one of these books and say, You know what, I'm OK with my child, reading that and they have to take a test on it. 

I asked Pippin for descriptions of objectionable material found in some books. She sent me the ones I requested and an updated watch list.

Don't want to miss another column like this? Here's our latest membership deal

Best-sellers included on list

The update included books not found yet in county schools. It included two titles Ive heard of but not read. They seem appropriate for Harkness table discussions  where students are free to speak their minds and there are no right answers  often found in high school advanced placement or college-level courses. The books:

The Kite Runner, a bestselling historical novel (made into an award-winning film) from 2003 about two boys friendship in war-torn Afghanistan that Pippin said includes rape, sexual assault and sexual content.

How to Be an Antiracist, Ibrahim X Kendis 2019 bestselling book on how to mitigate racism.

Pippin sent me the groups objections to a related childrens picture book, Antiracist Baby, which she noted was Completely CRT (critical race theory), racist and unacceptable for children."

It might not be appropriate for young children  the language seems targeted to older children and adults  but the content wasnt pornographic. You can watch it read at tinyurl.com/antiracistbaby1

Nor was another childrens picture book on the list, The Purim Superhero. The book was about children with an "Abba" and a Daddy  two adult men in the household. I saw no evidence of whether they were partners, friends, brothers, etc.

One graphic novel  like a comic book  for young adults Moms for Liberty questioned and I perused in the countys main library (the system had 8 of 13 titles I asked to see) had some sexual suggestion, but little else. Pippin was concerned "The Breakaways" had pictures of teens in bed kissing.

One young adult book I found that just in perusing made me feel a little uncomfortable was Two Boys Kissing.

Pippin said shes OK with students and/or parents getting the books outside of schools. Expect the issue to come up at the school board's next meeting Tuesday.

Texas legislator launches probe

Meanwhile in in Texas, state Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, recently launched an inquiry over which books about racism and sexuality are available at certain Texas public schools, according to the Texas Tribune.

Krause, running for attorney general, would not tell the media where the roughly 850-book list included in the inquiry originated.

Critics told the publication his probe includes books about women, people of color and LGBTQ people.

Let's hope that's not the case here. Any district review should target alleged obscenity and age appropriateness only.

Last time I checked, our community was diverse  with people of all colors, faiths, ages and sexual orientations. Traditional public schools remain a melting pot and should have appropriate books for everyone.

Moms for Liberty, if its true to its name, should stand firm for the Constitution, including the First Amendment.

This column reflects the opinion of Laurence Reisman. Contact him via email at larry.reisman@tcpalm.com, phone at 772-978-2223, Facebook.com/larryreisman or Twitter @LaurenceReisman

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: No room for porn, but fair review of school books critical | Opinion
Miami Herald

As a professional journalist who has been reporting on the assassination of John F. Kennedy for almost 30 years, I have long been skeptical about the pursuit of a proverbial smoking gun that supposedly will blow open the case of the murdered president. When the congressional deadline for the release of the last of the JFK files approached last month, I instinctively advised friends that there would no smoking gun in the released material.
Six weeks before the scheduled start of Kyle Rittenhouse's trial, a judge in Kenosha on Friday is set to hear arguments on a raft of motions that could shape what a jury hears.

Rittenhouse was 17 when he was charged with killing two men and wounding a third during violence in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, after the shootings were mostly caught on various bystander videos. His lawyers say Rittenhouse acted in self-defense and the case immediately became a conservative cause celebre.

As the Nov. 1 trial date nears, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder will decide what evidence must be shared, and what "other acts" of Rittenhouse and one of his victims can be presented to the jury.

Kyle Rittenhouse, right, listens to his attorney, Mark Richards, during Rittenhouse's pretrial hearing Friday, May 21, 2021 at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis. Rittenhouse's attorneys and prosecutors are expected to iron out deadlines and other housekeeping matters ahead of his trial in November. Rittenhouse is charged with killing two men and wounding a third during the August protests.

Prosecutors want to introduce videos of Rittenhouse hitting a girl who was fighting with his sister in July 2020, and of him saying he wished he had his rifle with him so he could shoot at people he seemed to assume were stealing from a CVS drug store 15 days before the violence, and surveillance photos of Rittenhouse posing for pictures with Proud Boys members at a tavern after a court hearing in January.

More: Kyle Rittenhouse's case quickly became a sensation during Kenosha unrest. A year later, there's a long way to go

More: Rittenhouse shooting victim's estate sues Kenosha law enforcement, blames agencies for allowing vigilante activity

Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger is leading the prosecution. Rittenhouse is represented by Racine attorney Mark Richards and Corey Chirafisi of Madison.

The state says the CVS video shows Rittenhouse was "eager to use deadly force in an unlawful situation."

The defense says all those requests should be denied. The videos don't address what the defense says is the only issue in the case  whether Rittenhouse acted reasonably when he fired at his victims  and would only be prejudicial by leading jurors to make impermissible character inferences.

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Bruce E. Schroeder speaks during Kyle Rittenhouse's pretrial hearing Friday, May 21, 2021 at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis. Rittenhouse's attorneys and prosecutors are expected to iron out deadlines and other housekeeping matters ahead of his trial in November. Rittenhouse is charged with killing two men and wounding a third during the August protests.

Prosecutors also want the judge to compel Rittenhouse's team to turn over a list of the likely tens of thousands of people who contributed to his defense and bought "Free Kyle" merchandise, to make sure none of them would be in the pool of potential jurors.

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His lawyers say they don't have the information, and that whether a potential juror donated to Rittenhouse's defense fund is a simple question to ask during jury selection.

Prosecutors also want to exclude testimony from the defense's expert on self defense, John R. Black, of Oregon.

Defense motions are also pending, including one to dismiss the misdemeanor charge that Rittenhouse, as a minor, unlawfully possessed his AR-15 style rifle. The law says it's a crime for anyone under 18 to go armed with a dangerous weapon, but the defense says an exception allows 16- and 17-year-olds to legally carry rifles and shotguns with normal-length barrels.

The defense has also asked Schroeder to make prosecutors identify the witnesses it realistically intends to call. The list filed earlier this month includes 175 names, including a woman who was not in Kenosha the night of the shootings but merely sent an opinionated letter to the district attorney's office.

The defense wants to be able to bring up victim Joseph Rosenbaum's criminal record as a sex offender. They argue that because, as a felon, Rosenbaum couldn't legally possess a firearm, he had motive to try to take Rittenhouse's rifle from him that night, and was the initial aggressor in attempting to rob Rittenhouse of the rifle.

Contact Bruce Vielmetti at (414) 224-2187 or bvielmetti@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ProofHearsay.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kyle Rittenhouse due back in court Friday for pretrial hearing
Alongside her parents and coaches, Karlyn Pickens signs to play softball for Tennessee on November 10, 2021.

WEAVERVILLE  One of WNC's best athletes finalized her college plans Monday, the first day of the early signing period.

North Buncombe softball ace Karlyn Pickens put pen to paper on her letter of intent to play with Tennessee, where she committed last fall.

"Tennesse has always had a special place in my heart. I kind of knew that's where I wanted to go to begin with," Pickens said. "Growing up, I went to a lot of their camps. So I knew it would be a good fit for me."

An All-American and WNC's first Gatorade State Player of the Year in softball, Pickens was 14-1 with a 0.41 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched during the spring season. She's ranked the No. 5 player in the 2022 class by Extra Innings Softball and accordingly had her pick of elite programs to make her next home.

But shortly after Tennessee approached, she had decided, and she never wavered.

"It's an SEC school, and I'd always dreamed of being in a school that big," Pickens said. "It's very family-based, and it's close to home. Tennessee just checked all the boxes."

Until recently, Pickens' recruitment likely would've dragged on for years. But a 2018 NCAA rule change prohibited college coaches from contacting recruits prior to September of their junior year.

That date came after the summer of the COVID-19 pandemic, making for a strange recruiting cycle for Pickens and other class of 2022 players.

"When COVID hit, it was kind of a slap in the face," Pickens said. "But I knew I wanted to take my time and get a good understanding of the school I wanted to go to."

During the spring season, Pickens showed why she has her recruiting pedigree, leading the Black Hawks to an undefeated regular season against WMAC teams and a run to the 3A Regional Final.

This season, Pickens and North Buncombe will get to test themselves against a formidable nonconference schedule that should better prepare them for the postseason. But before then, Pickens will lead the Black Hawks basketball team, making the most of her high school experience as a three-sport athlete before heading to Knoxville.

"It's kind of shocking. [Signing] feels like the final thing, and I'm thankful for everyone who always supported me, my family coaches and school," Pickens said. "It's just a sigh of relief to think back of all the work I've put into it."

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: North Buncombe softball ace Karyln Pickens signs with Tennessee
Photo credit: Kyle Kinard

Overlanding and off-roading pit man and machine against nature. Action on dirt metes out in slow, intense bursts. But if you spend enough time on the trail, eventually something will break. Then you're tasked with MacGyvering a fix, armed only with your ingenuity (and maybe a roll of duct tape). And isn't that half the point of getting your tires muddy?

But what happens when the situation goes from "oh shit" to Shit Just Got Real? When you cross that divide from mechanical exasperation to mortal peril? Well, there's a gadget for that.

Welcome to Kinardi Line, mouthpiece of the free worlds most self-loathing auto writer. Home to questionable takes, reviews, and shitbox worship.



Meet SPOT. If you've spent any time hiking in the last five years, you'll have seen one or two of these bright orange pods perched on the backpacks of fellow trail-goers. At its most basic level, SPOT is an emergency distress beacon that reaches out to rescue services via satellite. You pull back a small protective cover, press the "S.O.S." button, and SPOT takes care of the rest, notifying emergency services in your area. On its website, SPOT claims to have bailed out more than 8000 distressed parties and counting.



Photo credit: Kyle Kinard

As it happened, I've been shopping for emergency transceivers this year, ahead of peak hiking season. (More than a car nerd, I'm an outdoorsmanclimbing, hiking, fishing; I'd trade cars away for any of them.) So when SPOT's marketing team offered to let me try out a demo unit, I didn't hesitate.

They mailed me a SPOT X, the company's flagship unit. It's capable of not only sending for help, but of two-way messaging via satellite connection. This is a game changer. For any amateur adventurer who's trundled off the grid for a week and left a worried spouse behind, the ability to send an "all-clear" message back to home base is invaluable.

Photo credit: SPOT

So I packed the SPOT X on a canyoneering and rappeling trip to beautiful Moab, Utah, keen to test out the little orange box's messaging capabilities. The trip went off splendidly. The weather in Moab toward the end of October is peerless: cobalt skies, a swaying breeze, 60 degrees. We drove into Moab, scrambled my buddy Evan's Subaru Crosstrek over rutted dirt roads, then hiked in for a pair of 10-story rappels.

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Perfection.

Photo credit: Kyle Kinard

So what about SPOT? It seems like a no-brainer, right? Well, as with any recommendation, it's a very firm "that depends." If anything, this trip convinced me not to get the SPOT X. Let me explain.

Evan and I didn't venture far into the backcountry on this trip, but I'd say we went deeper than most casual hikers ever get. Despite hiking several miles from our parking spot, which was already buried many miles deep into Moab's red-rock paradise, I had cell signal for nearly the entire trip. At one point, the hiking trail disappeared. We used Google Maps to plot a straight-line route back to the Subaru. (Ironically, this pitted us against a gnarly, exposed scramble that got my palms far sweatier than the rappelling).

Photo credit: Kyle Kinard

That brings up my first observation: If you're hiking or wheeling on mostly flat ground and you'll have 5G cell service the whole time, the SPOT X is superfluous. If you live in the mountainous Northwest, or anywhere cell signal is rarer than a jackalope, you'll likely want a SPOT of some flavor.

But even with great cell signal on most of my trip, I did try the SPOT X's custom messaging capability. The device is easy enough to set up and program with a list of contacts. You can choose to send pre-recorded messages or custom ones. I tried sending a couple custom messages to my wife's cell phone on our hike out to the rappelling spot, then followed them up with some rude emojis. (You remember the ones you spelled out with numbers and symbols on your calculator in grades school? Yeah, those.) She later reported that only one rude message went through, and it appeared from a strange number she didn't recognize. She did not bother messaging back.

Oh well. My impatience likely sold the SPOT X short. I get the impression that if I'd waited longer for the device to gather satellite signal, more of my messages would have gone through. Instead, I packed up my water break and kept moving. And deep inside Moab's canyons, no electronic device can reach out to the world for help.

That led to an epiphany. Half the joy of being outdoors is leaving behind society's tethers, including the constant distraction that is two-way messaging. It's nice to send childish messages to your wife from the backcountry, but it's certainly not necessary. And in the worst case, it's a distraction from enjoying the outdoors. So if you've got the coin for a SPOT X ($249 at the time of writing) and you absolutely must be able to send custom messages, go ahead and pick that up. But it turns out, I actually don't want that functionality.

However, I will be buying a SPOT product.

Let's take a look at the SPOT X's simpler sibling, the SPOT GEN4. It's capable of sending "all-clear" messages or a few pre-programmed messages. Its core mission remains as a distress beacon, same as the SPOT X. At $124 on SPOT's site right now, the GEN4 undercuts the X on price by more than $100, and remains some of the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy, just in case the shit really hits the fan.



After you purchase any SPOT device, you're on the hook for a service contract, of course. (It's 2021, your entire life is on a subscription plan.) The cheapest option is $11.95 per month, though they have some interesting "flex" plans that could be cheaper if you only need to activate the SPOT device occasionally. Think about how much time you spend in the wilderness and do the math.

I'll be sticking with the cheapest subscription plan and the cheapest SPOT transceiver. It'll allow me to send an "all-clear" message at the end of a long day, but won't distract me during the hike. The core function of a transceiver like this is saving your bacon, and it's important to remember that.

As an anecdote, a kid I grew up with lost her father in a hunting accident. He went out alone into the hills outside town one day and didn't come back. Later, they found his body down a ravine with his hunting dog still at his side. Nobody knew how long he'd been down there before the elements and injuries got to him.

I think about that a lot.

Overlanding, off-roading, any outdoor hobby tends to fetishize expensive gear beyond reason. Roof-mounted tents don't exist because regular tents needed improving. Much of this slick gear exists as a flex, accoutrement for pimping your outdoor-adjacent lifestyle on Instagram. And that's fine. People can spend their hard-earned cash however they want.

But if you're serious about getting deep into the backcountry, there are some core essentials, and I think a SPOT device or a similar emergency transceiver is one of them. When shopping for yours, just keep in mind how you'll actually use it, and how it performs its most basic, important function. You'll probably save some money, and it might just save your bacon.

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Ozarks Technical Community College took a significant step this week toward creation of an aircraft maintenance and repair program.

The OTC Board of Trustees voted Monday to pay up to $85,000 to N Form Architecture to design  and develop building cost estimates  for a new airframe and maintenance powerplant facility at the Springfield-Branson National Airport.

If the college is able to secure local, state or federal funding for the facility, it will be built next to OTC's flight training center at the airport.

"We have a willing community that wants this expansion, they need the people so there is a workforce demand," said Matt Hudson, OTC's executive dean of career, technical and community development.

Ozarks Technical Community College provided a basic site map Monday to show the location of OTC's flight training program (in white) and the proposed location of its airframe and powerplant facility (in purple) at the Springfield Branson National Airport.

"This is one of those things we've been talking about for some time."

OTC officials met in September with Brian Weiler, director of aviation at the airport, and Crawford, Murphy & Tilley Engineers & Consultants to develop an initial site plan.

More: Future of the Ozarks: OTC student, struggling to make ends meet, wins coveted scholarship

In October, OTC submitted a request to the state to use American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds for the project.

Hudson said initial ballpark projections show the cost to build and equip an A&P facility will likely be between $8 million and $10 million and the design work approved this week by the board will allow the college to be as specific as possible.

Matthew Hudson

He said specificity will help the college as it seeks funding from different sources.

"As we go forward, we want to be able to refine our numbers and our requests for the ARPA funds, not only with the state but also the county and the city," said Rob Rector, vice chancellor of administrative services at OTC.

"We need to really step it up and move into more of a schematic design to lay out the building and get the true costs."

OTC Chancellor Hal Higdon said state will likely allocate ARPA funds in the spring, and make the money available by July 1.

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"We have to be ready to hit the ground running," he said.

Dr. Hal Higdon

Higdon said the college is talking about a long-term lease, likely 50 years, at the airport for the space to build the facility.

Hudson said there is high demand for skilled aircraft maintenance and repair workers. In Missouri, those who graduate from the two-year program can earn a starting salary of $50,000.

If funding is secure and the facility is built, the OTC program could start as early as fall 2023.

He noted Springfield has long been a transportation hub for the region.

Ozarks Technical Community College explores creation of aircraft repair program"This is a great fit for here," he said. "There is a ton of activity here in terms of repair that Joe Public would know (about) and that is what I think is cool about this."

Claudette Riley is the education reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Ozarks Technical College hopes to start aircraft repair program
JERUSALEM (AP)  The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Thursday said it has detected spyware developed by the Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group on the phones of three senior officials and accused Israel of using the military-grade Pegasus software to eavesdrop on them.

The Palestinian accusations against NSO came as the embattled Israeli firm acknowledged that it had called off the appointment of its incoming chief executive in the wake of U.S. accusations that its spyware has been used by repressive governments around the world.

Thursday's announcement by the Foreign Ministry marked the first time Palestinian officials have claimed NSO software was used to spy on them.

Earlier this week, software was detected on the phones of six Palestinian human rights activists, three of whom worked for civil society organizations that Israel has controversially branded as terrorist groups. The spyware can be secretly installed without the victim taking any action and gives full access to their phone, including real-time communications.

Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NSO Group declined to comment on the specific allegations, saying it does not disclose its clients and does not have information on the individuals they target.

Ahmed al-Deek, the assistant Palestinian foreign minister for political affairs, said a professional Palestinian institution inspected several phones and detected Pegasus on three of them. It was not immediately clear if the results were verified by outside researchers.

The hacking of the activists' phones was independently verified by security researchers at Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto and by Amnesty International. Amnesty said it has not been asked to verify the Foreign Ministry's findings. Citizen Lab did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

We are 100% sure that these three phones were hacked, al-Deek said. They belonged to senior officials.

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A Foreign Ministry statement blamed Israel for the hacking, calling it a blatant and immoral violation of international law" and urged an international boycott of all parties involved.

NSO Group has come under fire in recent years after its software was found on the phones of rights activists, journalists, dissidents and other public figures from Mexico to Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration moved to limit the company's access to U.S. technology earlier this month, saying its tools have been used to conduct transnational repression.

After the U.S. announcement, NSO Group called off a leadership transition in which Itzik Benbenisti was set to take over as CEO from the company's founder, Shalev Hulio. A source within the company said Thursday that Benbenisti resigned after the transition was scrapped and before assuming the new position. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity because the company has not issued an official statement.

The Israeli government regulates NSO Group but has not said whether it uses the software. Officials have denied there was any link between the decision to outlaw the rights groups and any use of NSO software. The company says its products are used by security agencies to combat crime and terrorism.

The Palestinian Authority governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank under agreements reached in the early 1990s. Its security forces cooperate with Israel against Hamas and other militant groups that both view as a threat, and it is seen by Western countries as a partner in the long-dormant peace process.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled the first elections in 15 years last spring, and his popularity has plummeted as Palestinians increasingly view the PA as a corrupt and authoritarian institution. Security cooperation is extremely unpopular among Palestinians, many of whom view it as aiding Israel's half-century occupation of lands the Palestinians want for a future state.
A photo is circulating in Facebook and Twitter posts that claim it shows a monk who was killed in a spate of violence that broke out during a Hindu festival in Bangladesh in October. The claim is false; the photo shows a different monk who told AFP on November 11 that he was alive and well.

The photo was shared here on Twitter on October 19, 2021.

The tweet reads: "This is Swami Nitai Das Prabhu who was killed in the attack on the #ISKCON temple in #Bangladesh last Saturday."

ISKCON is the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a Hindu religious organisation also known as the Hare Krishna movement.

The photo shows a monk serving food to a number of men in traditional Muslim dress.

Screenshot of the misleading post, taken on November 9, 2021

The post circulated online following deadly violence in Bangladesh over the desecration of the Koran during a Hindu religious festival in October.

Two Hindu men were killed after protesters attacked a temple in the southern town of Begumganj in Bangladesh's Noakhali district.

The photo was shared in similar posts here and here on Facebook and here, here, and here on Twitter. It was also shared in Hindi posts here, here and here.

However, the posts are misleading.

A Google reverse image search followed by a keyword search found the photo published in an article by UCA News from July 4, 2016 headlined: "Hindu group hosts fast breaking event for Muslims".

It describes an event held at an ISKCON temple in Kolkata, capital of India's West Bengal state.

Below is a screenshot comparison of the image in the misleading post (left) and the image in the article (right):

Screenshot comparison of the image in the misleading post (left) and the image in the article (right)

ISKCON's National Director of Communications in India Yudhistir Govinda Das told AFP the photo was taken in West Bengal.

Das identified the monk in the photo as an ISKCON devotee from Croatia, Ivan Antic, also known as Chaitanya Nitai Das.

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"He is not among the two members of ISKCON who were killed in recent attacks on Hindu temples in Bangladesh," Govinda Das added.

Contacted by AFP, Ivan Antic confirmed he was the monk in the photo.

In a statement dated October 17, ISKCON identified the two devotees who died during violent protests in Bangladesh as Pranta Chandra Das and Jatan Chandra Saha.

The statement does not mention Swami Nitai Das Prabhu, whom the misleading posts purport was the ISKCON member who died in Bangladesh.
Marcus Ramone Cooper, 17, is being sought for the alleged roadside murder of Tyron Arthus in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Oct. 8.

Marcus Ramone Cooper, Jr., the son of recording star Pleasure P, is being accused of killing a man in Fort Lauderdale and leaving his body on a Florida freeway.

As of press time, 17-year-old Cooper was still being sought by police for the alleged roadside murder of 24-year-old Tyron Arthus in the early morning hours of Oct. 8. A warrant was issued for the teenagers arrest on Nov. 1.

Marcus Ramone Cooper, Jr. (above), the 17-year-old son of recording star Pleasure P, is accused of killing a man and leaving his body on a Florida freeway. (Photo: Broward Sheriffs Office)

The Miami Herald is reporting that authorities believe Cooper was riding in a car with Arthus, heading east on Interstate 595, when he ordered the older man out of the car and shot him several times, leaving his body on the shoulder of the highway.

Cooper should be considered armed and dangerous, and the investigation into the homicide is ongoing, the Broward County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

Coopers father, Pleasure P  whose real name is Marcus Ramone Cooper, Sr.  has been touring the nation as part of the singing group Pretty Ricky, performing in front of sold-out audiences on The Millennium Tour.

However, the mother of his sons alleged victim is mourning her child. Marie Arthus told ABC7 News, I just want justice for my son. He was not a bad person. He was not a bad kid. For them to take my sons life and gun him down and left him like a dog on the side of the road, that wasnt fair.

This is something that no one, no family wants to go through, said the slain mans aunt, Marie Civil, but unfortunately, our family has to go through it.

Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony vowed to bring Cooper in to face judgment for his alleged crime. I dont care where hes at, whether it be in South Florida or Maine, Tony declared. He committed a crime in Broward County, and were gonna bring him back here.

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We encourage you to turn yourself in, Tony implored the teen, but make no mistake: Were not going to wait for you to come in.

Pleasure P and Pretty Ricky have been on The Millennium Tour, featuring Omarion, Bow Wow, Ashanti and others. The tour was on hiatus from 2019, and returned this year to huge crowds of fans of the music from the early 2000s.

In a clip captured and shared by The Neighborhood Talk, the elder Cooper went live on Instagram and asked viewers: Why would a 17-year-old be around a 24-year old? He proclaimed his sons innocence, adding no disrespect to that family, but that something was missing from the investigation.

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The post Pleasure Ps son accused of killing man, leaving body on freeway appeared first on TheGrio.
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) has announced that Priscilla Wallace has been named head of supplier diversity for the company.

Wallace joined Wells Fargo last month and will report to Barb Kubicki-Hicks, chief procurement officer, with a dotted line to Kelley Cornish, head of Diverse Segments, Representation and Inclusion Program Management Office and Enterprise Initiatives.

In her new role, Wallace leads a team of supplier diversity professionals to build relationships within the communities Wells Fargo serves through the development, inclusion, and utilization of certified minority, women, LGBTQ, veteran, disability-owned and small business enterprises. Wallace will implement an integrated approach with strategic sourcing, procurement, and the companys lines of business to generate increased opportunities for certified diverse suppliers.

Priscilla joins us at a crucial and transformational time for our brand, said Cornish. With her vast experience, she will focus on developing business strategies to ensure a diverse supplier base is represented that will ultimately promote innovation and provide a distinct competitive advantage for our business.

Wallace brings more than two decades of supply chain and diversity, equity, and inclusion experience to her new position. She joins Wells Fargo from Foodbuy  Compass Group, where she was vice president of supplier diversity since 2016, responsible for accelerating supplier growth across the organization. Prior to joining Compass, Wallace served as vice president of corporate development and executive director for Charlotte Minority Economic Development Initiative. She also spent 13 years in supply chain and diversity leadership roles at the American Red Cross.

Wallace has received numerous accolades during her career. She was recognized in 2020 and 2018 as one of the Top 25 Diversity Women in Power by Diversity Plus, Inc. and on the Top 50 Omni awards for multicultural businesses in 2018 and 2019. She is a graduate of Delta State University.

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Wells Fargos supplier diversity program is a key part of the companys commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). Since 2012, Wells Fargo has spent more than $10 billion with diverse suppliers. Wells Fargo is on track for its eighth consecutive year of spending more than $1 billion with certified diverse suppliers. Through the first half of 2021, the company is spending more than 13% of total controllable spend with diverse suppliers, surpassing the financial services industry average of 10%.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets, proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of small businesses in the U.S., and is the leading middle market banking provider in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment, and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. Wells Fargo ranked No. 37 on Fortunes 2021 rankings of Americas largest corporations. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low-carbon economy. News, insights, and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.
KANSAS CITY (5-4) at LAS VEGAS (5-3)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC

BETTING LINE: Chiefs by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Kansas City 2-7; Las Vegas 4-4.

SERIES RECORD: Chiefs lead 68-54-2.

LAST MEETING: Chiefs beat Raiders 35-31 on Nov. 22, 2020, in Las Vegas.

LAST WEEK: Chiefs beat Packers 13-7; Raiders lost to Giants 23-16.

CHIEFS OFFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (15), PASS (6), SCORING (15).

CHIEFS DEFENSE: OVERALL (26), RUSH (21), PASS (21), SCORING (24).

RAIDERS OFFENSE: OVERALL (6), RUSH (27), PASS (2), SCORING (16).

RAIDERS DEFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (28), PASS (5), SCORING (15).

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Chiefs minus-9; Raiders plus-2.

CHIEFS PLAYER TO WATCH: WR Josh Gordon took more snaps than Demarcus Robinson last week, a sign the former All-Pro is starting to pick up the Kansas City offense. The next step is for Gordon and QB Patrick Mahomes to get on the same page. Their only connection came in Week 5 against Buffalo, even though Gordon has been targeted plenty of times since.

RAIDERS PLAYER TO WATCH: DE Yannick Ngakoue has back-to-back games with two sacks and has done it in three of the past four contests. Ngakoue is the first Raiders player with consecutive multi-sack games since Khalil Mack in 2016 and can tie the franchise record held by Mack (2015) and Derrick Burgess (2005) by doing it in three straight games.

KEY MATCHUP: Chiefs TE Travis Kelce vs. Raiders LB Cory Littleton. Kelce has averaged 110.3 yards receiving and has five TDs in his past six matchups against the Raiders. Littleton could get plenty of time matched up with Kelce and figures to have his hands full.

KEY INJURIES: Chiefs RT Mike Remmers has been out with a knee injury, and backup Lucas Niang hurt his ribs against the Packers. That forced third-stringer Andrew Wylie to finish the game. .. DT Johnathan Hankins (back) and LB Nick Kwiatkoski (ankle) could miss the game for the Raiders.

SERIES NOTES: The Chiefs are 12-4 against the Raiders since Andy Reid took over as coach in 2013. ... The teams split last season with the Raiders winning 40-32 at Kansas City and the Chiefs getting a late comeback win in Las Vegas. ... Mahomes has 15 TD passes and 1,882 yards passing in six games against the Raiders, his most against any team. ... Raiders QB Derek Carr threw for 722 yards and six TDs last season against the Chiefs.

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STATS AND STUFF: Reid needs one more win to pass Curly Lambeau (226) for fifth place on the regular-season list. ... Mahomes needs 300 yards passing to pass Kurt Warner (29) for the most 300-yard games in a quarterbacks first five seasons. ... Mahomes is 10-1 in the month of November. ... Mahomes threw for 166 yards last week against Green Bay, the lowest total of his career in a game that he finished. ... Mahomes has six interceptions in six games against the Raiders. ... Kelce has caught a pass in 120 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in Chiefs history. ... WR Tyreek Hill needs one TD to pass Jamaal Charles (64) for third most in Chiefs history. Hill has 53 through the air, six on the ground, four on punt returns and one on kickoff returns. ... Chiefs K Harrison Butker has three field goals of at least 50 yards, one off the single-season club record. ... Chiefs RB Darrel Williams ran for a career-best 70 yards last week against Green Bay. ... LB Nick Bolton leads all rookies with 71 tackles and is second with nine tackles for loss. ... The Raiders are 2-1 under interim coach Rich Bisaccia. ... Las Vegas turned over the ball three times last week after having only five in the first seven games. ... The Raiders have gained a league-leading 98.3 net yards passing per game more than their opponents. ... Las Vegas RB Josh Jacobs had a season high 95 yards from scrimmage last week and has run for a TD in three of the past four games. ... The Raiders have topped 100 yards rushing in back-to-back gams after doing it only once in the first six games. ... This is the first time since 1999 that the Raiders held each of their first eight opponents to fewer than 30 points.

FANTASY TIP: The Raiders settled for four FGs on six red-zone drives last week as part of a continuing problem of finishing off drives. That could make K Daniel Carlson a prime target as no team has attempted more field goals from inside 40 yards than the Raiders the past two seasons.

___

More AP NFL coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL
Only a few years ago, Al-Naim square was the grim stage for Raqa's public executions. Today, Nader al-Hussein sits in its new arched design, waiting for his date to arrive.

"This is the best meeting point for lovers, families and friends," the 25-year-old says, sitting on one of the rare public benches in the bustling, war-ravaged north Syria city.

"Before, we used to avoid passing near it so that we wouldn't see blood and horror," Hussein says.

The Al-Naim (Paradise) traffic circle was anything but heavenly when the Islamic State group reigned over Raqa, its former de facto Syrian capital, between 2014 and 2017.

Residents dubbed it the "roundabout of hell".

Jihadists flaunted their implementation of Islamic sharia law in the square, carrying out flagellations, crucifixions and even decapitations on those deemed apostates or criminals.

Their marauding morality police made it impossible for lovers to meet, even in private, without risking death.

"I never dared to meet with my girlfriend in person; we used to speak only over the phone, out of fear that we may be stoned as punishment," Hussein says.

Two years after IS was declared defeated in Syria, the revamped square is a far cry from the barren dirt mound that hosted some of the jihadist group's most repulsive acts.

Arched columns have been built around a new central fountain, replacing the metal fence on whose spikes an IS executioner once impaled the heads he had just severed before posing for a picture.

Benches have been placed near elliptical side pools. At night, multicoloured laser lights turn the square into a rare attraction amid the drab and ghostly concrete jumble of the city, four years after IS left.

- 'Space for families' -

The roundabout is central and ringed by cafes and restaurants, making it a popular spot for families and couples alike.

"Al-Naim square has turned from hell into paradise... even lovers come here now," says 24-year-old Manaf, declining to provide his surname and adding that he visited it often.

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Around him, children dash between benches while men and women chat and snap photos. Laughter rises from a picnic spot as street vendors selling red heart-shaped balloons mill about.

In a scene unimaginable just four years ago, Mohammad al-Ali, 37, and his wife sit side-by-side, looking out for their three children as they play around one of the empty pools.

"We never brought the kids here so that they wouldn't see decapitated heads hanging," he told AFP.

"But today, the square is a space for families and children."

Life is slowly picking up in Raqa, where levelled buildings and traces of IS insignia provide stark reminders of the dark era of jihadist rule.

It was here that IS stoned people to death, tossed allegedly gay men from rooftops and auctioned off women from the Yazidi minority as slaves.

- 'Death and suffering' -

A few kilometres (miles) away from Al-Naim square, another infamous yet smaller roundabout used by IS for executions has also regained its bustle, largely owing to its location near a popular market.

For some, however, a shadow still hangs over the place known as "clock-tower square".

"This roundabout reminds us of the tragedy we lived... it reminds us of death and suffering," says Ahmad al-Hamad, who was passing the square on his wheelchair on the way to the grocer's.

"We used to see the severing of heads and hands, and executions carried out using swords," he says.

Several of Hamad's own relatives were beheaded in the square.

"We used to be scared of even passing near it," he says.

The situation is similar at the nearby Al-Dallah roundabout, named after a large-scale reproduction of a traditional Arabic coffee pot that adorns its centre.

Also a former IS punishing ground, Raqa residents have since dubbed Al-Dallah as "the workers' square", in reference to the day labourers who usually dot its sidewalks in the hope of being picked up for odd jobs.

Abdel Majid Abdallah, one of the workers, says he could never forget how IS used to display prisoners in cages at the roundabout.

"But today it's a place where we come to earn a living," the 35-year-old says.

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Congressman Mo Brooks speaks at a rally for Donald Trump on 6 January 2021 (Copyright 2020 Jacquelyn Martin. All rights reserved.)

A retiring Republican senator from Alabama is reportedly prepared to spend $5m to help defeat the Donald Trump-backed congressman vying for his seat.

The massive cash infusion from US Senator Richard C Shelby, who announced his retirement in February, promises to tighten an already thin margin in Alabamas 2020 GOP Senate primary.

Mr Trumps pick for the seat, US Representative Mo Brooks, received his endorsement after speaking at a rally in support of the then-president on the morning of the 6 January Capitol riot.

But Mr Shelby, 87, is throwing his weight behind his former chief of staff Katie Britt instead, two sources with knowledge of the situation told The Washington Post .

The newspaper reported that Mr Shelby has $9.7m cash on hand in his campaign account  $5m of which is slated to go to Ms Britts campaign.

Senator Richard C Shelby announced his retirement in February (The Washington Post)

Ms Britt has recently seen greater success with fundraising than Mr Brooks, bringing in more than $1.5m last quarter next to his $699,909.

In a speech after the quarterly totals were released, Mr Brooks linked Ms Britts success to special interests.

Mr Brooks is hoping that Mr Trumps backing  earned after he told the 6 January rally: Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass  will give him the momentum he needs to win the primary.

Mr Trump attacked Mr Shelbys support of Ms Britt over the summer, accusing him of wasting money and calling her an assistant.

Responding to the Posts report on Mr Shelby on Wednesday, Mr Brooks said he wasnt surprised.

I entered this race after factoring in that Richard Shelby would probably put millions in on Katie Britts behalf, he told the newspaper. They are hand in glove.

A spokesperson for Mr Shelby declined to comment on the spending plans, telling the Post: The Senators support for Katie is well known. He will continue to back her as the race develops in whatever ways are most appropriate, as he believes she is the best candidate to serve the people of Alabama.

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Mo Brooks says he understands anger toward socialism in response to Capitol bomb threat
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian flag carrier Aeroflot on Thursday denied any involvement in organising mass transportation of migrants to Belarus, responding to a news report that it could face EU sanctions over the crisis on the Belarus-Poland border.

"The information about Aeroflot's participation or assistance in the organisation of mass transportation of migrants to the territory of the Republic of Belarus is untrue," the company said in a statement.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the EU was discussing targeting Aeroflot as part of a new sanctions package.

Aeroflot shares were down 1.5% by 0922 GMT.

"Information about the threat of imposing sanctions may have a material negative impact on the operating and financial activities of the company, and its capitalization," the airline said.

"Aeroflot intends to protect the interests of the company and its shareholders in all possible legal ways, including the right to defend the interests of the company in court."

(Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; writing by Polina Devitt and Mark Trevelyan; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Abel Chapa salutes a large American flag at Sherill Park during the annual Veterans Day Ceremony in 2009.

On November 11, 1918, Ralph Lindsey wrote from his hospital bed in France Armistice signed at 11 oclock. Grand celebration all over France. War is at last over and I am still alive! Later in life if you asked him about the scars on his chest he would simply respond with a shrug and say, I zigged when I should have zagged.

Ralph was my Great Grandfather, and now, nearly 103 years after he wrote those words our nation once again finds ourselves celebrating the contributions of our Veterans during a period where their sacrifices may be less visible than they have during the past 20 years of war.

After returning from WW1, like many others from his unit, he found tremendous success, he took over the family business, and raised a family. His friends H.A. Durkee and Fred Mower, both former Infantrymen, started a small company based on a unique marshmallow confection. Another from his unit, Walter Brennan, is one of only three men to win three academy awards, his distinct voice the result of the same gas attack that wounded my Great Grandfather.

To be clear, the end of the United States involvement in the Afghan war doesnt mean our service members are serving without risk. Our military will continue to execute missions across the globe in support of our national security, some of those more sensitive missions, may never be known to us. That aside, superficially this Veterans Day will be much like years past with parades, speeches, and free meal deals in honor of the nearly 19 million Veterans living in our communities. Unfortunately, for many veterans  especially those who served in combat  may see this acknowledgement as at best, shallow and at worst, patronizing. This civil-military divide is not only impacting the militarys ability to recruit new troops, but also our Veterans ability to find meaningful post-service careers.

A few years ago, I was traveling from a conference in D.C. in uniform, I was seated next to a young man who was wearing a sweatshirt from a very prestigious college in the D.C. area. He was clearly bright, affable, and I was enjoying our pre-flight conversation when he turned to me and said, so youre in the military, did you not get a chance to graduate high school? This is just one of the many, many cringeworthy stories demonstrating the real-life challenges of this civil-military divide.

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This divide is even more pronounced in Congress where in the 1970s, nearly 80% of the members of Congress had served in the U.S. Military; today, less than 20% of the 117th Congress have ever worn a uniform. When my Great Grandfather, and Grandfather returned from WW1 and WW2, respectively, they entered a job market that was saturated with fellow Veterans, who understood them and the value they bring to our communities as did our elected representatives.

A congressional study in the late 80s looked at the return on investment on Veterans programs (e.g., the GI Bill) found that for every dollar spent on veterans benefits, nearly $7 came back to the community through some form of economic output. Having worked with numerous veterans groups since leaving active duty I can tell you, this figure is an understatement.

The truth about our veterans since the end of the draft in the 70s has become increasingly diverse as individuals saw (and continue to see) the military as a way to achieve economic mobility. They are smart, driven, resilient, and entrepreneurial  words that most Americans like my seat mate  dont always associate with a veteran. After WW2 nearly 50% of veterans owned their own business, like my great grandfather; and most veterans outperform their non-military peers in the long run.

There is still work to do, while many veterans thrive in their post-service years others struggle. Veterans continue to be over-represented in the homeless population, court system, substance mis-use disorders, and suicide deaths. These are hard problems, but they are solvable ones.

For the past 20 years Americans have claimed we support our troops, but how we choose to treat our veterans over the next few years will be the measure of whether we meant it or not. As a nation we put an impossible burden on a small group of men and women who volunteered to serve  fully knowing the hazards of their chosen profession.

If we are truly a grateful their service, we will invest in those individuals who have invested so much in our freedoms? Each generation of veterans have shown time and time again, that when they thrive, our communities, and our nation thrives as well.

Joseph Reagan is the Director of Military and Veterans Outreach for the national nonprofit Wreaths Across America.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: We said wed never forget: Will we?
MARTIN COUNTY  A county-operated beach cafe reopened to the public Thursday after it was damaged when a car crashed into it in July.

Sand Dune Cafe at Jensen Beach Park on Northeast Ocean Boulevard is now back open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and eventually will expand to other days of the week, according to county officials. The eatery serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and alcoholic beverages.

Connecticut man arrested: Arrest made in connection to crash at Sand Dune Cafe at Jensen Beach Park

Pursuit and crash: Sand Dune Cafe at Jensen Beach Park damaged

The cafe was damaged and shut down for about four months after a driver fleeing from law enforcement officers crashed into it. Part of the building collapsed and a power line was knocked down.

Eight days later, sheriff's deputies arrested a 22-year-old Connecticut man, who was identified as the driver.

The Sand Dune Cafe closure came about a week before the county opened a second, similar beachside cafe at Stuart Beach. The Seaside Cafe also serves breakfast, lunch and drinks and is open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Lina Ruiz is TCPalm's watchdog reporter for Martin County. You can reach her at lina.ruiz@tcpalm.com, on Twitter @Lina_Ruiz48 or at 321-501-3845.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Martin County's Sand Dune Cafe reopens after four-month closure
Hebert's Store down the decades

Im pretty sure its a safe bet to say that most are as relieved as I am that the election signs are once more put away and things can go back to some kind of normality in Somersworth. Mayor Dana Hilliard was reelected for his fifth term as both his opponents failed to secure the needed votes against him despite valiant efforts. As you are probably aware one of the opponents was a female and she was attempting to become Somersworths first female mayor. She was however not the first female to attempt this task and I doubt that she will be the last.

Somersworths first female mayoral candidate

The first woman to run for the title was way back in 1953 and she would also be the first Republican mayoral candidate in the city for over 30 years at the point. Its worth pointing out here that at that time Somersworth was governed under what is known as the Storng Mayor system.

The name of the woman who presented the then City Clerk Napoleon A. Berube with a petition containing 260 names was Mrs. Virginia H. Legro.

Virginia H. Legro helped by Mrs. B Burkett submits a petition with 260 signatures to Somersworth City Clerk Napoleon Berube in 1953 to enter the race to be mayor of Somersworth.

At the time, you can imagine, Mrs. Lego was considered something of a trailblazer. She was well-known as an actress in the 1930s and '40s. I know that Virginia lived on Elm Street but beyond those details and the two pictures we have of her in the museum, very little record of what must have been a quite remarkable lady exists. I would love to hear from anyone who could tell me more about her.

I was lucky enough last Tuesday to run into another remarkable Somersworth woman at the polls. That lady is known by the name of Loretta Witham and she was there supporting her son David, who you might know from City Council. Anyway, as Loretta and I always do, we sat and chatted a few hours away and she mentioned the piece that I had written a couple of weeks ago about the old Somersworth neighborhoods and the fact that I mentioned the Plains, but didnt elaborate on it. Ill put that right now.

Heberts store

The Plains as it was known was the area by the Indigo Hill Road, High Street and Blackwater Road where CVS and Rite Aid sit today. So when I was at the museum this past Sunday, I did a little digging and unearthed some pictures with the help of Frank Kennedy Jr. What a difference that area of Somersworth took on back in 1941 when a little store would appear on that junction. That store would be known as Heberts Store and over the years it would become a staple for those living on the Plains and beyond.

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Heberts store had a humble beginning and was nestled between houses, one of which belonged to Roland Hebert, the store's proprietor. For many years, the store would remain the same but as Somersworth grew so did Heberts ambitions as well as the store itself. In order for that to happen though there were literally a few changes that needed to be made to that part of the Plains. Two of the houses had to be moved back in order to accommodate more parking as well as more stores, and that is exactly what happened. The houses were rolled back into a new position and the store and parking lot were expanded. Over the years, the store would change as witnessed in the photos that accompany this column. The store would be passed down to the next generation from Roland to Ray.

Today nothing remains of the original store and that corner has changed dramatically since Ray Hebert sold the store in 1985. Ray saw the writing on the wall for the smaller stores when the larger grocery stores like Market Basket came to town in the 1980s. He decided to sell and lived out his retirement in Florida, according to an article I found. For a while, the store was owned by Gregoire's hardware and that was what it sold. Over the following years, it would become a discount furniture store among other things before it became what it is today: a CVS.

I would love to hear from you if you have any memories of Herbets as the more gaps we fill in the better when it comes to history.

Craft fairs this weekend

On Friday, Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., St Ignatius of Loyola 7th Annual Spirit of Christmas Fair will be held at Holy Trinity Church, 404 High St., Somersworth.

This two-day fair features artisans, penny sale, raffles, jewelry, cookie carousel, baked goods, Christmas decorations, pet boutique and more.

Sunday, Nov. 14 sees the return of the ever-popular St Ignatius Sunday breakfast served from 8 to 10:30 a.m. All are welcome to this family-friendly event, which is held in the basement of St. Martins Church on Maple Street. Cost for the all-you-can-eat breakfast is $9 per adult and $3 per children 7 to 15.

On Sunday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Somersworth Festival Association will hold its penny sale. The penny sale will take place in the high school cafeteria and all are welcome to attend.

On Saturday, Dec. 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Somersworth Festival Association Christmas Craft Fair will take place in the high school gym.

On Saturday, Dec. 4, starting at 1:30 p.m., the Berwick/Somersworth Christmas Parade will be winding its way up High Street. This year's theme is Joy to the World.

Thats all I have for this week but as always I ask that we all be kind to each other as none of us truly knows what another is going through.

Jenne Holmes

Jenne Holmes is from England and has lived for years in Somersworth. Her passion for history and her love of writing led her to the Summersworth Historical Museum, where she is now a director. She can be reached at SomersworthNow@gmail.com.

Follow me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplysomersworth; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplysomersworthjenne/; Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplysomersworth/

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Heberts grocery store was a Somersworth NH institution
The past six years have been difficult for Amari Church and her eight siblings.

In 2015, someone killed their mother, Danielle M. Wilson, and dumped her body in an alley in the 2900 block of Myrtle Ave in Kansas City.

On Thursday, Church and other family members gathered at Kansas City police headquarters asking anyone with information to step forward and contact homicide investigators.

Its really been hard for my family since my mamas been gone, said Church as she sat at a table flanked by relatives. These past six years, its hard to go on about our day. Holidays are really hard for us.

Church said her 36-year-old mother has missed her high school graduation and her 21st birthday. Wilson will not be around to see Church get married one day or see her future grandchild.

All that I have got to say is community, Kansas City, if yall know anything, I would greatly appreciate it if yall speak up, Church said. Im pretty sure if yall were in my shoes, yall would want justice for yall family.

A resident who lived near 29th Street and Myrtle Avenue alerted police on Aug. 14. 2015, when he saw Wilsons body in a neighborhood alley. It appeared that Wilson had been deceased for several days.

Police said Wilson was killed at another location and her body was later moved to Myrtle Ave.

At the time of the killing, police did not release the cause of death. On Thursday, a homicide detective said Wilson was beaten and then fatally shot.

People change. This was six years ago, said homicide detective Daniel Frazier. Maybe someone who had information and didnt want to come forward at that time has had something like that happen to them and they have a different view now. Or they have matured and this is what they need to do now.

Wilson grew up in Higginsville, where she played softball and ran track in high school. Her family later moved to Kansas City, where she worked in nursing and retail jobs.

During the news conference, several family members wore t-shirts featuring Wilsons picture.

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Her mother said Wilson battled a drug addiction and had sought treatment. Wilson was not afraid or ashamed to express her love for others, said her mother, Mildred Wilson.

Danielle marched to her own beat, Mildred Wilson said. She loved everybody but she didnt take no stuff either.

Six years is a long time for anybody who has lost someone. She is not at rest and I am not at rest so please, please come forward, Mildred Wilson said as she fought back tears.

At the time of Danielle Wilsons death, she was the citys 51st reported homicide. Wilson was one of 10 homicides that Kansas City reported in August 2015. The year ended with 109 reported homicides, which then was the citys highest total since 2011, when 111 people were killed.

Forty-two of the killings in 2015 remained unsolved by the end of the year, police said.

Following the news conference, family members gathered in front of police headquarters, where they lowered their heads and prayed before they released about a dozen multi-color balloons into the sky.

Anyone with information is urged to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).
A jury found a St. Helena man guilty Wednesday of assaulting a 73-year-old woman and holding her for hours at gunpoint at her home in 2019, and a judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison.

Codrian Smalls, 26, was convicted Wednesday of assault with intent to commit first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree burglary, armed robbery, kidnapping and possession of a weapon in the commission of a violent crime, according to a press release from the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Circuit Judge Robert Bonds sentenced Smalls to 30 years for the assault and two years for the weapons charge, the press release said, to be served concurrently. Smalls will receive credit for the 795 days  2 years, 2 months  that he spent awaiting trial, according to the press release.

The victim showed bravery in identifying her attacker and when testifying against him in court, said Hunter Swanson, a prosecutor with the 14th Circuit Solicitors Office.

As a result, a predator has been removed from our community and gets the punishment he deserves, Swanson said.

On Aug. 29, 2019, Beaufort County Sheriffs Office deputies responded to a home on Lanes End in St. Helena after receiving a call about a burglary and sexual assault, according to an alert from the Sheriffs Office at the time. The woman had been napping around 1:30 p.m. when she woke up to a tap on the shoulder, the press release said, and saw Smalls standing over her. She told him to leave and he did, but returned soon after and pointed a gun at her, according to the press release. He tried to rape her three times over the next several hours, the press release said, but was unable to. He left on a bicycle, having stolen $120 and a .380 handgun, the press release said.

Smalls turned himself in on Sept. 7, according to previous reporting by the Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. His DNA was matched to DNA found on the victims clothing by the Sheriffs Office forensic lab analysts, the press release said.

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Smalls defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When we publish mugshots

The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette publishes police booking photos, or mugshots, in the following instances:

In situations where a public figure or someone in a position of public trust is arrested

In cases where there is an immediate and widespread threat to public safety

In cases where the arrested person is accused of a crime reporters have evidence to believe involved numerous, unknown victims

Reporters will avoid using mugshots as lead images for online articles in order to limit their circulation on social media, except in cases where the public is served by the immediate identification of the accused. Reporters and editors may use discretion in situations that dont meet the criteria outlined in this policy but still present a compelling reason to publish a mugshot.
If you're putting your family's home on the market, staging a part of your home can make it sell faster. While the housing market is currently hot and favors sellers, it doesn't hurt to stage parts of your home to make it stand out to prospective buyers. Especially for buyers with kids (or those looking to start a family), visualizing themselves in the house long-term can make a home more attractive. So maybe setting up a cute, albeit temporary nursery in your home will up its sales factor?

Actually, when it comes to the choice between staging a nursery or a home office, you might want to consider the latter. While a nursery can definitely be a valuable addition, staging a home office can help you appeal to a bigger group of people. Plus, according to data by the Institute for Family Studies, Americans had fewer babies over the past decade5.8 million fewer, to be exact (the average is usually around 4 million births per year).

"Unless the buyers have or are expecting a baby, I don't think that staging a nursery brings any added value," North Carolina real estate broker Luly Lopez tells Parents. "There is no doubt in my mind that staging a home office will most definitely increase the probability of selling a home quickly and for more money," adds Lopez.

Last year, because of the pandemic, an Owl Labs study found that 70% of full-time workers were working from home. With many working parents pushing for company perks such as flexible schedules, a home office might be just the space parents are looking for. Here is why staging a home office will make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Office At Home With Baby Room

Getty Images

There is a higher demand for home offices right now.

The pandemic pushed many people to work from home, and even as companies return to the office, many are trying out hybrid and flexible work schedules. For parents juggling work and kids at home, a dedicated office space can be a huge asset in a home.

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"We recall during the shutdowns that most businesses shifted to remote working from home for employees. This created a huge necessity for having a decent private work area in the home conducive to productivity," says Lopez.

She says that with more companies integrating remote work more permanently, she believes a home office is the new must-have buyers are looking for. "With the trend heavily weighing on working from home and remote, there is a higher demand for an extra office space," says Gigi Malek, a real estate agent at Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty in New York. Rocket Homes also found that the number of listings with the word "office" in them increased by almost 17% from 2019 to 2020, as more people began working from home.

Staging a home office will make your home more marketable to a wider group of people.

Having a home office can help you appeal to a larger group of potential buyers. "A home office increases a home value more than a nursery," Khari Washington, real estate broker and owner of 1st United Realty tells Parents. "The period someone needs a nursery is a lot smaller than when they might want a home office," he adds. Also, parents might have their own preferences as to how they want a nursery to look (or if they even want a nursery at all) so you might be wasting your time staging one.

"A nursery is a sweet idea to stage in a home, however not everyone will utilize a space that way," says Lauren Reynolds, a real estate agent in Connecticut. "Additionally, if you have a budget to stage (on average it's about 1% of the home's asking price), you will want to focus on the spaces used most often, and today that means a home office," Reynolds explains. Plus, a home office offers a space that is more versatile than a nursery. "Home offices are commonly used for studying, filing away important documents, tutoring, etc.," says Lopez.

Stage the home office with a desk and plenty of natural light so people can visualize themselves in the space.

Stage your home office in a way that allows prospective buyers to see themselves using the space. Stick to neutral paint colors that will keep the room looking spacious and bright. "Make sure the accessories you choose are warm and pleasing to the eye," says Liz Hutz, real estate investor and expert.

"Add layers by hanging some curtains and throws on the sofa chair to make the buyer feel at home," adds Hutz. Make sure you declutter the room as well, and add a desk and chairbut stay away from anything too big that's going to make the space look smaller. If your home doesn't have an additional room for a home office, consider spaces such as an unused closet, a loft area, or any place that can be a comfortable and private work space, suggests Lopez.

First impressions are everything, so be sure the room looks good as soon as a buyer enters. "Sellers have only a few minutes to make an impact on a prospective home buyer. So you want to make sure you have your best foot forward," advises Reynolds.

A 2017 report by Robin Realty on staging homes found that staged homes spend 90% less time on the market. So, while there is nothing wrong with staging a nursery (and you certainly can, especially if you know your prospective buyers are expecting a baby), staging a home office is more suitable in the current market regardless of your own family situationand it's more likely to make a bigger impact on potential buyers, and thus earn your family more money in the long haul.
Another Stevie Nicks song is having a bit of a moment on TikTok.

It's been a year since Nathan Apodaca went viral on the video platform for riding a skateboard while chugging his Ocean Spray cranberry juice from a bottle as "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac was playing, eventually singing along.

It wasn't long before drummer Mick Fleetwood got in on the action, joining TikTok just to chug Ocean Spray while appearing to skateboard to "Dreams."

Even Nicks did a version, lacing up her roller skates at the piano bench while singing along to a signature song she wrote and recorded a lifetime ago, 1976.

What to know about Stevie Nicks' song 'Crystal' from 'Practical Magic'

Now an earlier Nicks song, "Crystal," is making the rounds on TikTok in a version Nicks recorded for the soundtrack to "Practical Magic," a 1998 Sandra Bullock film about witches.

The haunting ballad was written by Nicks and first appeared on a self-titled album by Buckingham Nicks in 1973, as sung by Lindsey Buckingham.

When she and Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac, they repurposed the song, again with Buckingham on vocals on a self-titled Fleetwood Mac album that topped the Billboard charts in the summer of '76 a year after hitting the streets.

The seven-times-platinum album sent three singles up the pop charts  the Christine McVie classics "Over My Head" and "Say You Love Me" and Nicks' first signature song, "Rhiannon."

There are about 32,600 videos  most involving witchcraft, cats and crystals or some combination of the three  set to the version of "Crystal" from "Practical Magic" on TikTok.

'This is actually my home': Stevie Nicks on her ties to Arizona

But the most liked "Crystal" on TikTok is by a user known as daddy..voldy, who shares a tale of buying a huge set of lockers to use in her room and how she went about refurbishing those lockers with a little help from Mr. Clean.

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This is all while Nicks is singing of being driven like a magnet to the sea "in the crystalline knowledge of you."

It's all very surreal.

As of Nov. 10, the video had 4 million views, 893,800 likes and more than 1,700 comments, mostly about lockers, although one user noted, "Mr. Clean is seggsy."

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why Stevie Nicks' song 'Crystal' is taking off on TikTok
A teenager was stabbed by a homeless man Wednesday night in downtown Fresno, according to police.

The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. near Fulton and Merced streets.

Fresno Police said the 16-year-old got into a verbal disturbance with a person who police described as homeless, then the two started fist fighting before the teen was struck in his lower right leg by a knife, police said.

It was unclear what the two were fighting about.

Police said a friend of the teen eventually intervened and hit the suspect, causing what officers described as superficial injuries to the homeless mans head.

Both the victim and the suspect were taken to Community Regional Medical Center to be treated for their injuries.

The suspect, who is in his 30s, was arrested and charged with assault. Hell be booked into Fresno County Jail once hes released from the hospital, Lt. Skye Leibee said.

Detectives were on scene investigating the stabbing.
(Reuters) - Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk disclosed in a filing on Wednesday that he had sold shares of the electric-car maker.

Musk said on Saturday that he would sell 10% of his stake if his followers on Twitter approved the move on a poll.

The shares were sold to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to exercise of stock options to purchase about 2.2 million shares, according to the filing.

(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
Voting Bills Texas (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is doubling down on his embrace of conservatives escalating war against educational materials in public schools that some parents find inappropriate, with a new letter requesting a probe into the availability of supposedly pornographic books in school libraries.

The letter, sent on Wednesday, asks the states bureau of education to investigate any criminal activity in public schools involving the availability of pornographic material that serves no educational purpose. It builds upon a letter he sent to the agency earlier this week asking it to develop a set of standards to ensure no child is exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content.

In Texas, it is illegal to provide pornography to anyone under the age of 18 according to Section 43.24 of the Texas Penal Code, reads the letter from Mr Abbotts office. The fact that pornographic material that serves no educational purpose has been made available to students in Texas public schools is a clear violation of the law. That is why I am directing the Texas Education Agency to investigate any criminal activity in our public schools involving the availability of pornography.

While Mr Abbotts latest letter includes no mentions of specific topics or books he wishes state education officials to look at, his previous letter singled out two memoirs by queer authors: Gender Queer: a Memoir by Maia Kobabe and In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado.

Both books are explicit looks at LGBT+ relationships and contain references to sexual themes; Ms Kobabes book was removed from school shelves in one Texas jurisdiction in recent days after parents complained about parts of the illustrated memoir that depict sexual acts.

Though his letters do not mention the topics, Mr Abbotts requests also come as other Republicans in the state are pushing for action against any content they see associated with so-called critical race theory teachings, which Texas Republicans have defined as anything related to issues of systemic racism.

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Conservatives around the country have rallied around the issue of education and school curriculums as backlash against Black Lives Matter and other antiracist groups has endured in their communities.

The issue became a rallying point in the Virginia governors race, and Democrats found themselves unable to mount an effective response to the Republican Partys embrace of the idea that parents should have a direct say in what content is or isnt allowed in public school libraries and classrooms.

It isnt clear who would face any criminal consequences stemming from Mr Abbotts request for a criminal investigation of supposedly pornographic materials in state school libraries; the Texas Education Agency does not have an investigative arm, but could potentially ask the states attorney general to pursue criminal charges if it thought a crime had been deliberately committed.

Read More

Federal judge strikes down Texas governors ban on mask mandates in schools

Debate over explicit memoir becomes a focus of GOP gov races

Matthew McConaughey opposes Covid vaccine mandate for children
New coronavirus infections are rising again in most states for the first time in two months, and deaths are increasing in about half of the states, a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data reveals.

In the week ending Wednesday, case counts were higher in 29 states than they were the week before. A month ago, cases were rising in just 12 states.

The states now reporting increased infections are primarily in the North, which had fared far better in the late summer as the delta variant clobbered the South. Vermont, an early leader in vaccinations, is now seeing record case numbers. Florida, which has suffered the most deaths of any state since July 1  22,600  now reports the lowest daily per-capita case count of any state. The three remaining school districts with mask requirements in the state are dropping them.

The highly contagious delta variant began dominating even after vaccines, which are most effective at preventing severe disease and death, became widely available to all adults. Health officials are now encouraging booster shots and newly authorized vaccines for children.

 Mike Stucka

Also in the news:

Colorado will expand hospital capacity and staffing amid a coronavirus surge in hospitalizations that could break records, Gov. Jared Polis said.

Coronavirus deaths across Europe jumped 10% in the first week of November from the previous week, while new cases rose 7%, the World Health Organization reported. Globally, deaths fell 4% while new cases edged up 1%.

A Veteran's Day parade dubbed the nation's first returned to the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, on Thursday after 2020 was online because of the pandemic. The Veterans Administration credits Birmingham with having the first celebration to use the term Veterans Day in its title after World War II veteran Raymond Weeks organized National Veterans Day in 1947.

Stonecrest, Georgia, Mayor Jason Lary pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and other charges related to a scheme to steal federal coronavirus relief funds. Defense lawyer Dwight Thomas, however, said Lary wont fight the charges.

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Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 46.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 759,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 251.7 million cases and 5 million deaths. More than 194 million Americans  58% of the population  are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

 What we're reading: If youre taking your child to get vaccinated against COVID-19 soon, experts say some approaches can make it easier.

Keep refreshing this page for the latest news. Want more? Sign up for USA TODAY's Coronavirus Watch newsletter to receive updates directly to your inbox, and join our Facebook group.

More than 2.2 million COVID home tests recalled

The Food and Drug Administration said more than 2.2 million COVID-19 home tests from Australian manufacturer Ellume are being recalled because of an unacceptable rate of false positives. This is an extension of a recall of 200,000 Ellume tests in early October because of the same problem.

The agency, which granted Ellume emergency use authorization for the tests in December 2020, said it has received 35 reports of false positives and none was connected to a fatality.

Though Ellume pointed out in a statement that "the reliability of negative results is unaffected by this issue,'' the FDA noted false positives carry their own complications. Besides the worry they create, they could prompt healthy people to seek unnecessary treatment or quarantine themselves when they don't have to.

The recalled tests were manufactured between February 24, 2021 and August 11, 2021.

What would experts do? Travel for Thanksgiving, avoid indoor concerts

As the second Thanksgiving of the COVID era approaches, public health specialists are less adamant about avoiding indoor family gatherings as last year but still wary of large, maskless events as infections tick up again in much of the U.S.

In a survey of 28 medical experts, the STAT health news website asked not what they would advise but what they would do, or not, based on their perceived safety level for a number of activities.

The good news? Nearly all of them would be OK with traveling by air, train or bus for Thanksgiving, although 25 said they would wear a mask. The activity they would most assiduously avoid? An indoor concert or other event where masking was not required, which 23 of them said they would stay away from.

The results of the survey make it clear that, even closing in on the anniversary of COVID vaccines first being administered, face masks remain a key mitigation measure.

NFL player sent to emergency room with COVID

The coronavirus struck the NFL's Minnesota Vikings this week, including a vaccinated player who was admitted to an emergency room, head coach Mike Zimmer said Wednesday. Zimmer, who said the situation was "scary," said the player was hospitalized in stable condition. ESPN and NFL Network reported the player was offensive lineman Dakota Dozier, who was placed on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list last Friday. The Vikings have placed several players on the league's COVID list in recent days; NFL policy does not require vaccinated players to be quarantined.

"It's serious stuff," said Zimmer, who has been outspoken in urging players to get vaccinated. "Like, 29 guys are getting tested because of close contact, including myself."

 Analis Bailey

Clear majority of Americans support requiring masks, vaccines in schools

At a time when high-profile Republican governors like Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida vehemently oppose vaccine and mask mandates, a clear majority of Americans continue to favor them in schools. They also approve of how Democratic President Joe Biden has handled the pandemic.

A new Monmouth University poll shows 61% of the public supports mask requirements in schools for students, teachers and staff. The number has decreased from 66% in September but still flies in the face of the heated protests against masks in some parts of the country.

The dramatic images of parents protesting at school board meetings has not shifted overall public opinion on mandates one way or the other since the beginning of the school year, said Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute.

The survey, conducted Nov. 4-8, also found support for vaccination of those in schools holding steady, with mandates for teachers and staff at 59% -- down just 1 percentage point from September -- and requiring kids 12 and older to get the shots up to 53%, after registering 51% in September.

Biden's general approval ratings have been tumbling as the pandemic continues and inflation has become a bigger factor, but he still gets the backing of 53% of respondents when it comes to fighting the coronavirus. Forty-one percent say he's doing a poor job.

As FDA ponders, Moderna states case for adolescent vaccine

As it awaits FDA authorization of its COVID vaccine for children ages 12-17, Moderna is making the case for its effectiveness while acknowledging an increased risk of a rare side effect.

The FDA has withheld its endorsement as it studies the link between the vaccine and uncommon cases of myocarditis -- inflammation of the heart muscle -- in young men. Moderna Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Burton said Thursday the benefits of the Moderna vaccine in adolescents outweighs the risks, even as he recognized that a French study revealed those risks are higher than with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

Burton cited CDC data in saying the Moderna vaccine has yielded fewer breakthrough cases -- infections of fully vaccinated people -- than Pfizer's, according to CNBC.

Judge blocks Texas governor's ban on mask mandates in schools

A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order that bans schools from imposing mask mandates cannot be enforced because it violates federal law by putting students with disabilities at greater risk.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel also blocked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from bringing legal action against school districts that require students, teachers and staff to wear face coverings as a pandemic safety measure. The evidence, Yeakel wrote, shows that wearing masks can decrease the risk of spreading COVID-19  a particularly useful strategy for children with disabilities who can be at higher risk of contracting respiratory disease and of suffering more severe symptoms.

"Because GA-38 precludes mask requirements in schools, (students with disabilities) are either forced out of in-person learning altogether or must take on unnecessarily greater health and safety risks than their nondisabled peers," Yeakel wrote.

 Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman

Universities with mandates see widespread compliance

Universities that adopted COVID-19 vaccine mandates this fall have seen widespread compliance even though many schools made it easy to get out of the shots by granting exemptions to nearly any student who requested one. Facing pockets of resistance and scattered lawsuits, colleges have tread carefully as forcing students to get the vaccine when they have a religious or medical objection could put schools into tricky legal territory. For some, there are added concerns that taking a hard line could lead to a drop in enrollment.

Still, universities with mandates report much higher vaccination rates than communities around them, even in places with high vaccine hesitancy. Most of the nations largest public universities arent seeing large numbers of student exemption requests, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. At the same time, those colleges have approved the vast majority  in some cases all  of the requests.

At Virginia Tech University, where 95% of students are now vaccinated, the school granted all of the 1,600 exemption requests from students as long as they agreed to weekly testing.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New COVID infections on the rise in most states: Updates
The City of London had the highest number of second homes in England. (Getty)

More than one in five properties in the City of London are second homes, significantly higher than anywhere else in England, new data shows.

The latest council tax figures show 1,713 of the 7,636 homes in the City are second homes, equating to 22.43% of the total housing stock.

The next highest is North Norfolk with second homes accounting for 9.68% of housing stock, followed by Kensington and Chelsea with 8.97%.

In total there are almost 250,000 second homes in England.

Locals in Cornwall say the rise in people buying second homes has priced them out of the market. (PA)

Read more: Lack of properties on estate agent books pushing house prices up

The City of London is unlike anywhere else in the UK, as the home of much of Britain's powerful financial sector it has a local authority that is not part of Greater London and is often accused of avoiding major legislative changes.

House prices have risen sharply since the start of the pandemic and the latest figures show this did not slow down in October, with 70% of estate agents reporting a price increase last month.

The topic of second homes has been hotly debated in recent years as the housing crisis makes getting onto the property ladder increasingly harder for many.

The debate has largely focused on popular holiday areas like Norfolk and Cornwall, with locals demanding tighter rules and caps on second homes as normal residents are priced out of the market.

The top 10 places with second homes are:

City of London  22.43%

North Norfolk  9.68%

Kensington and Chelsea  8.97%

Isles of Scilly  8.10%

South Hams  7.58%

Scarborough  6.94%

South Lakeland  6.88%

Camden  6.83%

Chichester  5.39%

Cornwall  4.78%

In September, the Eastern Daily Press reported the then-communities secretary Robert Jenrick was considering plans to allow councils to cap second home numbers.

Among the ideas proposed were tighter planning permission for second homes also used as holiday lets and insist developers build more starter homes.

In 2016, residents of the Cornish holiday town of St Ives voted to ban the purchase of second homes.

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Read more: Inside the 170k three-bedroom house that hasn't been touched for 50 years

Locals and the council had hoped this would mean houses became more affordable for locals, but a 2019 study by the London School of Economics found developers had been driven away by the policy limiting available supply.

The ban also only applied to new build properties meaning prime stock of older housing saw a surge in demand.

Professor Christian Hilber, who led the study, said: "In St Ives, where primary homes can easily be converted into second homes, demand has switched from new-build to existing homes and, possibly, to other nearby towns.

Watch: How does the 95% mortgage scheme work?

"This has led to an increase in the price of existing homes as summer dwellers are competing for existing homes with local residents."

Other areas of Cornwall, as well as places like Norfolk, have watched the results in St Ives closely but have yet to propose a similar referendum.

Sarah Butikofer, the leader of North Norfolk District Council, told the Eastern Daily Press: "There's a fine balance.

"[St Ives] stopped the second homes and any new homes being sold for second homes but all it did was inflate prices and mean that local families that wanted to live in character properties were priced out of those.

"Every action you take has another side to it."

She added that addressing housing shortages was a "hugely complicated issue".
Thibodaux firefighters on the scene of a recent fire.

The Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department is asking voters Saturday to renew a property tax to help support its operations.

Voters are being asked to renew the 1.83-mill tax for 10 years beginning in 2023 that will generate about $237,600 yearly for the 500-member department.

A mill is $1 in tax levied on every $1,000 of property. In Louisiana, the first $75,000 of a homes value is tax-exempt.

If the tax is renewed, the owner of a $150,000 house would pay $27.45 a year for the next 10 years.

This is not a new tax, Assistant Fire Chief Benton Foret said. This is just a continuation of what the citizens have so graciously voted for in the past. Its important to us that the citizens understand how really valuable these taxes are, especially over the past couple years with COVID and the hurricane.

More: Thibodaux Firemen's Fair canceled for second straight year

The millage renewal comes after the department was forced to cancel the Firemens Fair for the second year in a row due to damage from Hurricane Ida. The event was canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fair serves as the departments biggest fundraiser and generates about 45% of its revenue. The event drew about 100,000 visitors in 2019, raised $969,916 and grossed about $1.4 million.

These millages have really been our source of funding, Foret said. Its something we can count on for continuity of operations. In 2020, we had no generated funds from the fair. We also didnt have any self-generated funds in 2021. The year prior to that we generated around $900,000 of profit which we reinvested into infrastructure, training, equipment, personnel and all the things that we need to operate. Even as a volunteer organization, its quite costly to operate every year.

Despite a loss in nearly half of its yearly revenue, the department handled about 425 calls over the past year, Foret said.

I dont think anyone could have seen the double whammy like were facing currently, he said. It was kind of a nuclear situation. We will survive and surpass it, but its only because of our boards leadership, financial stewards and, most importantly, support and open-mindedness of the citizens to self-impose these millages. Because of these millages, we were able to operate without any interruptions to service.

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Early voting: What Terrebonne and Lafourche voters need to know

More:Choctaw Fire Department asks voters to approve new parcel fee

The money from the tax will also help the department maintain its insurance rating, Foret said.

The Property Insurance Association of Louisiana ranks fire departments every five years on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best. The rating helps determine how much homeowners pay in property insurance. Factors that go into the rating include response times, equipment, training hours and station locations.

Thibodauxs current insurance rating is Class 3. It is scheduled to be rated again next year.

Other Thibodaux ballot items

The city of Thibodaux has three other items on Saturdays ballot.

Road tax renewal: Voters are being asked to renew a 2.74-mill property tax to generate $355,800 a year for 10 years to help pay for the maintenance of streets, roads and alleys. If the tax is renewed, the owner of a $150,000 house would pay $20.55 a year for the next 10 years.

Date change for city officials: Voters will also decide if the date will be changed for city officials to take office after their election. If approved, the change would allow the newly elected mayor and City Council to take office the second Monday in January. That will allow time to receive certified results from a runoff election that would be conducted in December prior to being sworn in.

Civil Service Board change: The fourth item asks voters to change two of the nominating authorities for the Thibodaux Civil Service Board, which handles work-related disputes dealing with city employees, including police.

Nominations are currently made by the president of Nicholls State, Tulane and Southern universities as well as the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce and Lafourche Parish Bar Association.

If approved, the measure would allow more local voices to nominate candidates to the board. The proposed change would replace the Tulane and Southern university representatives with the Lafourche schools superintendent and chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever.

Voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some polling sites have been impacted by the hurricane. To find polling locations or preview your specific ballot, visit geauxvote.com.

 Staff Writer Dan Copp can be reached at 448-7639 or at dan.copp@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanVCopp.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: Thibodaux Fire Department asks voters to renew property tax Saturday
The third suspect in a 2020 murder investigation that began with the discovery of two bodies thrown from a bridge in Georgia has been brought to Cherokee County  where investigators believe the two women were killed  to face a capital murder charge.

Half-sisters Vanita Richardson and Truvenia Campbell were shot in May 2020 and found dumped off a bridge in Rome, Georgia. The investigation into their deaths led authorities across the state line to Cherokee County, where they say the two women were taken and shot to death, then driven back to Georgia.

Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said Devon Lashawn Watts, 37, and Christopher Leedarius Pullen, 24, both of Rome, were booked into the Cherokee County Jail on Oct. 8, while a third suspect, Desmond Brown, 29, fought extradition.

Brown was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center Tuesday. All three men are charged with capital murder.

Investigators have said it was Brown's missing wallet that led to the slayings.

Georgia men jailed in Alabama, charged in shooting deaths of two women over missing wallet

They are accused of taking Richardson, 18, and Campbell, 30, to Cherokee County, where they stopped and questioned them about a wallet, which Brown allegedly suspected they had stolen during a party earlier.

According to a story in The Rome News Tribune, Campbell put up a fight and was shot, then the younger sister was shot.

According to the news story, Brown later learned that his mother had found his wallet behind a television.

Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Cherokee County murder suspect extradited from Georgia to face charge
By Tsvetelia Tsolova

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria holds its third parliamentary election this year on Sunday in the hope of finally securing a government to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, deal with rising energy prices and wipe out corruption.

No party is expected to win an outright majority and the European Union's poorest member state is likely to face its third round of difficult coalition talks in a deeply fractured parliament this year.

Failure to put together a new government could potentially slow Bulgaria's plan to adopt the euro currency by 2024 and delay measures to cushion the impact of high energy costs on consumers this winter.

Former Prime Minister Boyko Borissov's centre-right GERB party leads opinion polls on around 24% support but lacks obvious allies. We Continue the Change, a new centrist party that focuses on fighting corruption and leftist Socialists, lie next on 15-16%.

Voters' hopes that a viable coalition will take shape are dimmed by political differences and rivalries that prevented a new government being formed after elections in July and April. The country is currently led by an interim government.

"Two things are clear: the new parliament will not be easier than the previous two and forming of a government will not be easier," said Boryana Dimitrova, political analyst with Alpha Research pollster.

But, with politicians under pressure from weary voters to put aside their differences, she said it was widely expected that "we cannot be left without a government for a third time."

She and other political analysts say a government could eventually be formed grouping anti-corruption parties and the Socialists.

"Potential cooperation between the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and the so-called 'protest parties', especially the newcomer We Continue the Change, could be key to solving a protracted government crisis," said Andrius Tursa of consulting firm Teneo.

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A presidential election also being held on Sunday is likely to be more straightforward, with Rumen Radev expected to retain the largely ceremonial post after a likely second-round run-off against Sofia University Rector Anastas Gerdzhikov.

CORRUPTION

The dominant issue in Bulgarian elections has long been corruption, which is widely blamed for low living standards in the Balkan country of 7 million where the gross domestic product per capita is only 55% of the average in the EU.

We Continue the Change, set up in September by two Harvard-educated former interim ministers, has picked up support by assailing corruption, and criticising Borissov for not doing enough to tackle graft during a decade in power.

After large anti-corruption protests against Borissov's government in 2020, he failed to extend his rule after the April vote. Though GERB won more votes than any other party in the former communist-ruled state then, others shunned it.

GERB was edged into second place by the anti-establishment ITN party in July. But ITN was unable to form a coalition and its support has plummeted since then, while the political stalemate has helped Borissov mobilise GERB's core supporters.

Other important election issues are the high energy costs and concerns about rising coronavirus infections and deaths in the EU's least vaccinated state.

Librarian Maya Danailova, 60, wants a government that is serious about rooting out corruption.

"We cannot continue like that, without investigations, without bringing the truth in the open," she said.

Pensioner Georgi Georgiev, 79, is worried about the possible consequences of not securing a new government.

"I hope this parliament will form a government, because otherwise the situation will get much worse ... All crises will deepen," he said.

(Reporting by Tsvetelia Tsolova, editing by Jan Lopatka and Timothy Heritage)
Harper Tomlinson, 5, watches her brother Davis Tomlinson, 7, salute Wednesday after they placed flowers at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

Thousands of people joined a solemn procession at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, following a path trod for decades by only the Old Guard, to lay flowers and pay respects to the nation's military dead at the Tomb of the Unknowns in honor of its centennial.

The event was one of several to commemorate the establishment of the Tomb of the Unknowns 100 years ago. A memorial procession, accompanied by a military flyover, will be held today beginning at the main entrance on Memorial Avenue near the welcome center; the public will be able to observe.

Some people attended Tuesday's ceremony in formal funerary attire, while others came in shorts, sneakers and T-shirts. Some wore masks because of the pandemic, but many did not. They filled the plaza and the steps above the memorial and yet remained so quiet that the breeze could be heard sifting through copper-colored leaves from a nearby tree.

U.S. Army Sgt. Brian Pomerville, left, and his wife Tiffany Lee, both from Roanoke, Va., prepare to place flowers. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

One man knelt at the foot of the tomb and made the sign of the cross before leaving a flower. Four people, dressed in black motorcycle vests, black jeans and riding boots, saluted the tomb, then turned toward the public before marching off. A woman pushed her walker across the plaza, its wheels squeaking faintly on the stones. An Air Force major paused to take a picture but was asked by guards to keep moving. Some sat on the stairs above the plaza, watching the line go past. Others took pictures.

Rixie Lowden of San Clemente, who was in Washington to attend her father's funeral at the cemetery the day before, came to view the changing of the guard and lay a bouquet of daisies, roses and carnations at the tomb.

"Because I am the daughter of a Marine, I was just thinking about all the fallen people that have come here ... and especially for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and what that would mean for me if that had been my dad that was never found," said Lowden, whose father, Ret. Sgt. Maj. James Lowden, had served 30 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam, before his death at age 75. "How sad that would be if we never knew where he was or what happened to him."

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A nun prays after placing flowers at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

The memorial was established following World War I to commemorate what had been an unprecedented level of carnage in modern warfare. More than 100,000 Americans perished, as did hundreds of thousands of French, British, Germans and others. At the Battle of the Somme in July 1916, more than 19,000 British soldiers were killed in a single day  most within the first 30 minutes, historian John Keegan wrote. The war ended on Nov. 11, 1918.

Three years later, thousands lined the district's streets to watch as a horse-drawn casket carried the remains of an unknown American soldier through the city, over the Potomac River and into the cemetery.

People place flowers at the Tomb of the Unknowns. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

A soldier with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, moves flowers. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

U.S. Air Force airmen place flowers at the Tomb of the Unknowns. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

Catalina Brambilla, 4, of Arlington, Va., places flowers. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

A guard from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

Darrell Bush, 96, left, a former Army staff sergeant from Camp Springs, Md., and a WWII veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, arrives to place a flower. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

A man kneels to place flowers. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

A man kneels to place flowers. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

A child prepares to place a flower. (Alex Brandon/Getty Images)

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Bruce Hornsby.

Bruce Hornsby

Van Wezel's 2021-22 season continues in full force with pianist/singer-songwriter Bruce Hornsby. First rising to fame as a member of Bruce Hornsby and the Range, scoring big hits with "The Way It Is" and "Mandolin Rain" and earning a Best New Artist Grammy, he went on to play with the Grateful Dead, win a Bluegrass Recording Grammy and contribute music to Spike Lee movies. More recently, he's released 2019's "Absolute Zero" and last year's "Non-Secure Connection," two critically acclaimed albums featuring collaborations with other musicians such as Bon Iver's Justin Vernon, Jamila Woods and The Shins' James Mercer. 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $32-$72; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

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More upcoming acts: Top 10 musicians, comics playing Sarasotas Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in 2021-22

J.P. Soars.

J.P. Soars and the Red Hots

South Florida guitarist and singer-songwriter J.P. Soars will play Sarasota County restaurant and blues venue Englewoods on Dearborn this week. Soars, who was nominated for the Contemporary Blues Male Artist Blues Music Award earlier this year, most recently released 2019's Tab Benoit-produced full-length "Let Go of the Reins," his follow-up to 2018's "Southbound I-95." Along with his solo career, he's also played in the supergroup Southern Hospitality with Grammy-nominated pianist Victor Wainwright and fellow Floridian Damon Fowler. 7 p.m. Thursday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $7; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

Straight No Chaser.

Straight No Chaser

Van Wezel is also set to host a cappella group Straight No Chaser this week. Formed in the 1990s at Indiana University, the act first rose to prominence when an old video of them performing "The 12 Days of Christmas" went viral on YouTube in the 2000s, signing to Atlantic Records and releasing an album shortly thereafter. Straight No Chaser most recently released last year's full-length "Social Christmasing," featuring numerous other holiday standards and originals, with the group set to perform tracks from that album as well as a mix of brand new arrangements and fan favorites. 8 p.m. Friday; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; $30-$70; 941-263-6799; vanwezel.org

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Paul Cebar.

Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound

Paul Cebar, who attended New College of Florida, returns to Sarasota for a show at Fogartyville with his group Paul Cebar Tomorrow Sound. Starting out in the coffeehouse folk scene of mid-'70s Milwaukee, later gigs saw Cebar incorporating jump blues and other early R&B, with his thesis addressing rhythm and blues varieties. The different places he's lived in and visited and genres of music he's followed can be heard in his sound, taking cues from the dance bands of his native Midwest, New Orleans musicians and African and Caribbean combos. 8 p.m. Friday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $24, $20 members, $12 students; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Selwyn Birchwood

Florida native and guitarist/singer-songwriter Selwyn Birchwood will return to Sarasota restaurant and blues spot The Blue Rooster this week. Earlier this year, Birchwood released his latest full-length "Living in a Burning House," which hit No. 1 on Billboard's blues albums chart and is his third for renowned blues label Alligator Records. His first, 2014's "Don't Call No Ambulance," won a Blues Music Award for Best New Artist Debut, with Birchwood earning his latest nomination this year in the Contemporary Blues Male Artist category. 8 p.m. Saturday; The Blue Rooster, 1525 Fourth St., Sarasota; $20; 941-388-7539; blueroostersrq.com

Joni Adno and Friends.

Joni Mitchell Tribute

To celebrate the 78th birthday of Joni Mitchell, one of the greatest singer-songwriters of all time, keyboardist, guitarist and singer Joni Adno of Sarasota band Big Night Out and musician friends will perform a tribute show. Along with Bob Miner (saxophone), Joe Bruno (bass) and Paul Cartwright (percussion), Adno will perform Mitchell songs from the 1960s to 1978, a period that includes albums "Song to a Seagull," "Hejira" and the classic 1971 LP "Blue." Still hankering to hear '60s/'70s folk/rock performed live? On Sunday, Grateful Dead tribute acts Uncle John's Band and Waynard Scheller & Rainbow Full of Sound play Tampa mainstay Skipper's Smokehouse. 8 p.m. Saturday; Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, 525 Kumquat Court, Sarasota; $18, $15 members, $9 students; 941-894-6469; fogartyville.org

Paul Nelson.

Paul Nelson

Grammy-winning guitarist Paul Nelson will visit Charlotte County Southern food spot and venue Leroy's (and Englewoods on Dearborn soon after.) Nelson played in the band of and produced albums for guitar icon Johnny Winter, winning a Best Blues Album Grammy for Winter's posthumously released 2014 record "Step Back," which also topped Billboard's blues album charts and won the Rock Blues Album Blues Music Award. Nelson has produced and performed on several other musicians' records, as well as releasing 2016's "Badass Generation" with his own band. 8 p.m. Wednesday; Leroy's Southern Kitchen & Bar, 201 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda; 941-505-2489; leroyspg.com

Johnny Rawls.

Johnny Rawls

Shortly before he's set to perform at this year's Bradenton Blues Festival, soul-blues musician Johnny Rawls will play numerous local headlining dates, starting with Englewoods on Dearborn. Rawls earned the two most recent of his numerous Blues Music Awards nominations earlier this year, nominated for Soul Blues Male Artist and Soul Blues Album for last year's "Where Have All the Soul Men Gone." Prior to that album and 2019's "I Miss Otis Clay," paying tribute to the late Blues Hall of Famer, Rawls released 2018's "I'm Still Around," which won the Soul Blues Album Blues Music Award. 7 p.m. Wednesday; Englewoods on Dearborn, 362 W. Dearborn St., Englewood; $5; 941-475-7501; englewoodsondearborn.com

Synia Carroll.

Jazz Trolley & Pub Crawl

This event features some of the area's most talented jazz musicians playing various downtown Sarasota venues, with a trolley providing transport. The lineup includes Panama Drive Quintet (Aloft), Mark Moultrup Trio (Art Ovation Hotel), Pete BarenBregge Quintet (Bevardi's Salute!), Michael Ross Trio (Cask & Ale), Synia Carroll Band (Fogartyville), Skip Conkling Band (Gator Club), Melanie Massell Quartet (Mattison's City Grille), Dave Morgan Quartet (Oasis) and Hot Club of SRQ (Raffurty's.) Music runs 6-10 p.m. and the trolley 5:30-10:30 p.m., and tickets/wristbands must be bought online. 6 p.m. Wednesday; Downtown Sarasota; $25, $20 Jazz Club of Sarasota members; jazzclubsarasota.org/events

Mindi Abair.

Mindi Abair

Mindi Abair's Punta Gorda Wine + Music Festival starts Wednesday and runs through Nov. 20, featuring the twice-Grammy-nominated saxophonist performing multiple times, with other musicians playing as well. Abair will perform at Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens on Wednesday, with Ron Reinhardt in the courtyard of Carmelo's Italian Ristorante on Nov. 18, and a full band show at Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center on Nov. 19. The following evening, that same venue will host fellow saxophonist Eric Darius and singer-songwriter Selena Albright, each performing with full bands, to close out the festival. Wednesday-Nov. 20; Punta Gorda; event prices vary; puntagordachamber.com

If you are an area musician whod like to be considered for this list, please email ticket@heraldtribune.com with your event information at least a week in advance. Show schedules are subject to change; check venues/pages in advance to confirm or for questions on COVID-19 protocols.

Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Top 10 Sarasota-Bradenton-Charlotte concert picks, Nov. 11-17
By Charlotte Greenfield

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) -The so-called Troika Plus group pledged on Thursday to try to ease severe pressure on Afghanistan's banking system as it warned of possible economic collapse and a humanitarian disaster that could fuel a new refugee crisis.

The group, made up of Pakistan, China, Russia and the United States, met in Islamabad against a backdrop of growing alarm over the situation in Afghanistan, where more than half the population is facing severe hunger over the coming winter.

"I urge the international community to fulfil its collective responsibility to avert a grave humanitarian crisis," Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote on Twitter, adding that Pakistan would provide aid including food, emergency medical supplies and winter shelters.

The Taliban victory in August saw the billions of dollars in foreign aid that had kept the economy afloat abruptly switched off, with more than $9 billion in central bank reserves frozen outside the country.

"Nobody wishes to see a relapse into civil war, no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability," Pakistan's foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said.

"Everyone wants terrorist elements operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively and we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis," he told the envoys, who also met the Taliban acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Restrictions on the banking system put in place by international governments since the Taliban took over have deepened the pain for Afghans, prompting growing calls for the freeze on the reserves to be lifted.

The troika said it acknowledged concerns about the "serious liquidity challenges and committed to continue focusing on measures to ease access to legitimate banking services."

Pakistan has called on governments, including the United States, to allow development assistance to flow into Afghanistan to prevent collapse.

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Pakistan has also discussed the idea of Afghanistan joining CPEC, its multi-billion dollar infrastructure project with China, which comes under the banner of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Thursday's conference, which reiterated calls on the Taliban to ensure women's rights are respected and that Afghanistan does not become a base for militant groups to carry out attacks outside the country, is the latest in a series of diplomatic meetings in the region.

Muttaqi arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to discuss trade and other ties, while neighbouring India held a conference for regional countries on Wednesday, though arch-rival Pakistan did not attend that meeting.

(Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield and James Mackenzie; Editing by Ana Nicolaci da Costa, Andrea Ricci and Jonathan Oatis)
Then-President Donald J. Trump speaks on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at a rally in Tulsa, OK. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Eight Trump campaign staffers tested positive for COVID-19 and one was hospitalized in June 2020.

ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl reported on the outbreak in his forthcoming book, "Betrayal."

A senior campaign official told Karl the hospitalized staffer "was actually worried he was going to die."

Eight Trump campaign staffers and Secret Service members tested positive for COVID-19 and one was hospitalized for a week with the virus during then-President Donald Trump's controversial June 2020 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, according to a forthcoming book by ABC News Correspondent Jonathan Karl.

A senior campaign official told Karl the hospitalized campaign staffer "was actually worried he was going to die."

"It was really scary," the official said, according to an excerpt of "Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show" published on Thursday in Vanity Fair.

The staffer, who Karl was asked not to name, "had been worried about the dangers of working on the rally because of preexisting conditions that made the prospect of being infected especially dangerous," Karl wrote.

Other infected staffers were told to rent cars and drive more than 1,000 miles back to Washington, DC, despite public health guidelines recommending that infected individuals immediately quarantine for at least 10 days. In one instance, three infected aides drove together. The indoor rally in Tulsa, held on June 20, was the first large campaign event Trump held during the pandemic and would become the first of many.

"There was a car of three staffers who had tested positive that drove all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Washington, D.C.," a top Trump aide told Karl. "We called it a COVID-mobile."

Karl wrote that many of Trump's campaign staffers partied together at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tulsa the night before the rally. Trump campaign leaders attempted to cover up the outbreak by issuing an order to "stop testing" staff for the coronavirus.

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Herman Cain, a Republican activist and 2012 GOP presidential candidate, died from complications of COVID-19 a month after attending the Tulsa rally. One senior Trump aide told Karl told ABC's Will Steakin, "We killed Herman Cain."

A former Trump campaign official didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Donald Trump has been ridiculed for claiming his envoy ambassador Ric Grenell is helping to defuse tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

Mr Trump released a statement on Thursday to say Mr Grenell, a former ambassador to Germany, had visited the border between the two countries on his behalf.

The agreements my administration brokered are historic and should not be abandoned, many lives are at stake, the statement said.

Mr Trumps statement (Supplied)

In a statement, the White House shot down Mr Trumps attempted diplomacy.

Outside of his very active imagination, Donald Trump is no longer President and doesnt have any envoy ambassadors representing the United States.

The statement was met with some surprise that Mr Trump appeared to be conducting a shadow foreign policy agenda.

Others thought his statement may have been confusingly worded.

As a connoisseur of Trumptalk, I can report that Trump is not saying Grenell is his envoy ambassador, but is instead referring to my envoy, Amb. Ric Grenell in his own idiosyncratic way, Washington Post reporter Philip Bump said.

Mr Grenell served as the Trump administrations ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020 before becoming the Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations.

The position was abolished after Mr Trump lost the 2020 presidential election.

Prior to his appointments Mr Grenell was a political operative who was known for trolling opponents on Twitter.

Read More

New 'rocket docket' for migrant families raises old concerns

Judge says Trump cant use legal delays to hide papers from Congress

Court filings: Maduro ally met with US prior to arrest

AP News Digest 3:30 am

Federal judge refuses Trump request to block Jan. 6 records

Judge refuses Trump request to block Jan. 6 records
By Jan Wolfe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday put off allowing congressional investigators access to former President Donald Trump's White House records relating to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and scheduled a hearing on the matter for Nov. 30.

Trump's lawyers had asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to put Tuesday's lower court ruling on hold pending an appeal, which they said could be fast-tracked for a quick ruling.

The three judges on the appeals panel randomly assigned to the case were all appointed to the judiciary by either President Joe Biden or former President Barack Obama, both Democrats.

The National Archives, a federal agency that holds Trump's White House records, had been scheduled to give Congress hundreds of pages of documents on Friday.

Related video: Trump asks appeals court to block release of Jan. 6 records

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan's decision on Tuesday allowed the U.S. House of Representatives committee investigating the attack to access telephone records, visitor logs and other White House documents that Trump wants blocked.

The committee has said it needs the requested materials to understand the role Trump may have played in fomenting the riot in which his supporters aimed to block lawmakers from certifying Biden's presidential win.

The Republican former president had argued that the materials requested by the committee were covered by a legal doctrine known as executive privilege https://www.reuters.com/world/us/can-trump-use-executive-privilege-block-jan-6-attack-probe-2021-09-09 that protects the confidentiality of some White House communications.

But Chutkan rejected that argument in a clear win for congressional oversight powers.

Four people died on Jan. 6, one shot dead by police and the other three of natural causes, and more than 100 police officers were injured in the attack. A Capitol Police officer who had been attacked by protesters died the next day, and four other police officers who defended the Capitol later died by suicide.

(Reporting by Jan Wolfe, additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Scott Malone, Jonathan Oatis and Howard Goller)
Hours after an armed robbery on campus and two days after a recent graduate was fatally shot near campus, University of Chicago leaders Thursday outlined measures being taken to increase safety around the school.

A university staffer was robbed at gunpoint early Thursday outside a school research center in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Two assailants jumped out of a small black SUV and confronted the staffer who was walking outside Chapin Hall, 1313 E. 60th St., about 5:30 a.m., according to a university security alert.

The worker handed over their cellphone after one of the assailants pulled a gun and demanded the workers property and the two got back into the SUV, which fled east after the attack, the alert said.

The worker was not physically hurt.

A university spokesman said there was no indication the reported robbery was connected to the death of recent university graduate Shaoxiong Dennis Zheng, who was fatally shot Tuesday afternoon in the 900 block of East 54th Place near the campus.

University police are investigating.

University of Chicago leaders, including President Paul Alivisatos, Provost Ka Yee C. Lee and Assistant Vice President for Safety and Security Eric Heath, held a safety webinar Thursday afternoon for the campus community.

I want to begin by offering my deepest sympathies for the family and friends of Shaoxiong Dennis Zheng who was tragically murdered on Tuesday, Alivisatos said. The entire university community is heartbroken. We will come together soon to remember and honor Dennis.

Alivisatos said violence today is on the scale of a public health crisis and requires a commensurate response. The university plans to continue meeting with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and will hold a campus discussion with a leader of the Chicago Police Department about violence in the next week.

After the fatal shooting, Heath said the university increased police patrols on and around campus. This includes university and Chicago police officers conducting foot and vehicular patrols throughout Hyde Park.

Story continues

The two departments will also work together on robbery missions focused on current crime trends and increasing traffic enforcement in high pedestrian areas, Heath said.

Chicago police will add more patrols to the Wentworth district, focused on areas surrounding the university campus, in the coming week, Heath said. Chicago police will also temporarily add Police Observation Devices or POD cameras to the Hyde Park area.

The university is working with Chicago police and local aldermen to develop a long-term strategy for adding permanent technology solutions to the areas surrounding campus, Heath said.

Heath didnt provide many details on the shooting of Zheng, but said that university police did provide CPD detectives with all footage and data they had on the shooting and vehicles involved.

Heath said there is not any evidence to suggest that Zhengs shooting was racially or ethnically motivated, which was a concern raised by the universitys international students.

As of Wednesday evening, the universitys Lyft Ride Smart program was extended to seven nights a week till Nov. 24, Heath said. Students will have access to 10 free Lyft rides a month after 9 p.m. in the university area.

More details on the universitys safety tips and protocols can be found at uchicago.edu/safety.

rsobol@chicagotribune.com

pfry@chicagotribune.com
The U.S. is now part of an international agreement on cybersecurity that the Trump administration declined to sign up for, Vice President Kamala Harris announced in Paris Wednesday.

Why it matters: 80 countries, along with hundreds of tech companies  including Microsoft and Google  nonprofits and universities have signed the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace, established in 2018 to create international norms and laws for cybersecurity and warfare.

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Details: The U.S. support of the voluntary Paris Call reflects the Biden administration's "priority to renew and strengthen America's engagement with the international community on cyber issues," per a White House statement.

It builds on U.S. efforts to improve cybersecurity for citizens and businesses, the statement continued.

This includes "rallying G7 countries to hold accountable nations that harbor cyber criminals, supporting the update of NATO cyber policy for the first time in seven years, and the recent counter-ransomware engagement with over 30 countries around the world to accelerate international cooperation to combat cybercrime."

Of note: The Biden administration announced last month plans to create a bureau of cyberspace and digital policy and a new envoy to oversee critical and emerging technology, pending congressional approval.

The big picture: The Paris Call commitment followed Harris' meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday.

During the meeting, they also "agreed to establish a U.S.-France Comprehensive Dialogue on Space to enhance civil, commercial, and national security space cooperation," Harris' senior adviser and chief spokesperson Symone Sanders said in a statement.

Between the lines: Relations had become strained between the Biden administration and the French government over the U.S.-U.K. submarine deal with Australia, which saw the Southern Hemisphere country scrap a $90 billion submarine deal with France.

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But President Biden smoothed things over with Macron during a meeting in Rome, where he described the submarine deal announcement as "clumsy."

What they're saying: Macron said during a joint news conference with Harris that his "fruitful" meeting with Biden "paved the way for the coming weeks, months and ... years," per the New York Times.

"We were just discussing about the fact that we do share the view that we are at the beginning of a new era, and our cooperation is absolutely critical for this one," he said of his talks with Harris.

The vice president added: "I do believe, and I think we share this belief, that we are at the beginning of a new era, which presents us with many challenges, but also many opportunities."

Go deeper: The pandemic has unleashed a cyber crime wave

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KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine will deploy another 8,500 troops and police officers, and 15 helicopters, to guard its border with Belarus, aiming to prevent possible attempts by migrants to breach the frontier, the Ukrainian interior minister said on Thursday.

The European Union has accused Belarus of encouraging migrants to come to its territory then pushing thousands of them to cross into Poland and other neighbouring EU states in retaliation for sanctions imposed on Minsk.

While not an EU member, Ukraine is wary of becoming another front in the migrant crisis.

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy said the new forces would include 3,000 border guard servicemen, 3,500 servicemen of the National Guard and 2,000 police officers.

"Aviation (from) the interior ministry will also be on duty, in particular 15 helicopters, which will ensure mobility and, if necessary, will transfer our forces to the border," he said.

Monastyrskiy said earlier on Thursday that Ukrainian border guards, police and the national guard would hold drills on the border with Belarus.

"In order to counter the potential crisis with migrants, we will involve all five structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs without exception," the minister was quoted as saying in the statement.

Monastyrskiy said the latest actions would deter migrants from entering Ukraine, but the former Soviet republic needed to radically re-equip its border with the neighboring Russia and Belarus in order to avoid similar problems in the future.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Toby Chopra and Alex Richardson)
Climate promises from nations at COP26 ring "hollow" while they continue to invest in oil, gas and coal, UN chief Antonio Guterres said Thursday, as the summit struggles to make headway on its goal to halt devastating warming.

Representatives from nearly 200 countries have gathered in Glasgow for painstaking talks aimed at keeping the world within the Paris Agreement goal of limiting temperature rise to between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius.

But with emissions still rising and current promises putting the world on a path to heat far beyond that target, negotiators were wrangling over a range of issues.

"The announcements here in Glasgow are encouraging - but they are far from enough," Guterres told the COP26 climate summit, urging negotiators to "pick up the pace".

"Promises ring hollow when the fossil fuels industry still receives trillions in subsidies."

COP26 President Alok Sharma warned that time was running short to clinch a deal before the meeting's scheduled end on Friday evening.

"We still have a monumental challenge ahead of us," he said, appealing to delegates to show more ambition.

"Quite a lot has been achieved. But we are still some way away from finalising those very critical issues that are still outstanding."

He welcomed a joint China-US pact to accelerate climate action this decade, which experts said should allay fears that tensions visible early in the summit might derail the talks.

- Science warning -

The 2015 Paris Agreement saw nations promise to limit heating to "well below" two degrees Celsius and to work towards a safer 1.5C cap through sweeping emissions cuts.

The 1.1C of warming so far is already magnifying weather extremes, subjecting communities across the world to more intense fire and drought, displacement and severe economic hardship.

But the UN says that even the most up-to-date national pledges set Earth on course to warm 2.7C this century.

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More than 200 scientists sent an open letter to the summit Thursday urging countries to take "immediate, strong, rapid, sustained and large-scale actions" to halt global warming.

A handful of nations committed to phasing out oil and gas production, in what organisers Denmark and Costa Rica hope will inspire a global movement towards ending of fossil fuels.

"The fossil era must come to an end," said Danish Climate, Energy and Utilities Minister Dan Jorgensen.

"But just as the Stone Age did not end due to lack of stone, the fossil era will not end because there's no more oil left in the ground. It will end because governments decided to do the right thing."

However major emitters were not part of the initiative.

- 'Credibility test' -

Egypt was on Thursday was confirmed as the host of COP27, due for 2023, while the United Arab Emirates will host COP28 in 2024.

Wednesday saw the release of draft "decisions", which were the first real indication of where nations are 10 days into deeply technical discussions.

The text, which is sure to change during ministerial debates, called for nations to "revisit and strengthen" their new climate plans, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs) by next year, instead of 2025 as previously agreed.

The issues that remain unresolved at the COP26 include how vulnerable nations are supported financially to green their economies and prepare for future shocks.

Rules over transparency, common reporting of climate action and carbon markets are all also still under discussion.

Also contentious is wording in the draft text to "accelerate the phasing-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels", something which large emitters are opposing, according to sources close to the talks.

And nations already hit by climate disasters are demanding "loss and damage" support from rich emitters.

But the main sticking point is ambition: which countries plan to slash their carbon emissions fast enough to avert dangerous heating.

"We need action if commitments are to pass the credibility test," Guterres said, urging negotiators not to settle for a lowest common denominator outcome.

"We know what must be done."

pg/klm/har
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Senior U.S. and South Korean diplomats discussed how to restart stalled talks with North Korea on Thursday, days after the North conducted artillery firing drills in its latest weapons tests.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink was in Seoul for talks on security issues including North Korea, economic cooperation and other matters.

Kritenbrink and his South Korean counterpart Yeo Seung-bae agreed on the importance of pursuing stability on the Korean Peninsula. The two discussed ways to resume the talks with North Korea as quickly as possible, the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul tweeted that the two spoke about how our Alliance can continue to promote the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific & beyond.

Since September, North Korea has conducted a spate of missile and other weapons tests, including the artillery drills last Saturday. Some experts say North Korea aims to pressure the U.S. and South Korea to recognize it as a nuclear state in the hope they will work to ease international sanctions on the North. Nuclear diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang largely remains stalled since early 2019.

Kritenbrink separately met with other South Korean officials and discussed economic relationships and partnerships on critical and emerging technologies, according to the U.S. Embassy. He also met South Koreas ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on Thursday.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it will invite nine U.S. pork processing plants  including a JBS plant in Ottumwa  to increase line speeds in a trial to determine if they can boost production without risking worker and food safety.

Previously, the Biden administration had said it would not fight a March court ruling that struck down a Trump-era rule change allowing U.S. pork processing plants to speed up their production lines. The administration said the 2019 decision had failed to properly consider worker safety.

But on Wednesday, the Agriculture Department said it had decided to hold a "limited trial" to collect data to share with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The trial, lasting up to a year, could guide future processing rules, Kate Waters, the department's spokeswoman, said in a statement.

USDA says it will invite nine plants, including JBS in Ottumwa, to increase line speeds under a "limited trial."

Plants participating in the trial will be required to implement worker safety measures subject to agreement by their unions or worker safety committees, the statement said.

"The trial will facilitate experimentation with different ergonomics, automation and crewing to design custom work environments that increase productivity and protect food safety while decreasing the probability of worker injuries," Waters said.

Zach Corrigan, a senior attorney at Food & Water Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based environmental group, denounced the move.

"With this decision, the Biden administration is caving to industry pressure ... and puts industry profits over protecting the safety of our food supply," said Corrigan, whose group has operations in Iowa.

Some pork packing plants were processing up to 1,450 head an hour before the court ruling forced them at the end of June to revert to a maximum line speed of 1,106 head an hour.

More: COVID infections among meatpacking workers much higher than previously reported, new report says

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, one of the groups that led the rule challenge, had said the Trump administration's decision "allowed pork plants to push workers to the breaking point with unsafe line speeds that increase their risk of injury and put the safety of our food supply in jeopardy."

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But on Wednesday, UFCW President Marc Perrone said in a statement that the Biden administration was "creating a mechanism to collect the data to show how best to protect worker safety and promote food safety with "a time-limited trial in pork plants, undertaken with input from unions and others focused on worker safety."

The National Pork Producers Council didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The industry group opposed the court ruling, saying higher-speed plants have operated for decades without endangering workers.

It said the higher speeds were necessary to "support much-needed pork processing capacity in the United States."

Pork producers sent U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack an economic analysis in May from Iowa State University agricultural economist Dermot Hayes, who outlined what he said would be $83.2 million in losses this year if the ruling was allowed to stand.

Hayes estimated the industry would lose 2.5% of its processing capacity with lower speeds at six plants, even with mandatory overtime for workers.

The UFCW and local unions in Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas joined with nonprofit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen to file the lawsuit challenging the rule in federal court in Minneapolis.

Workers testified that faster line speeds increased the risk of knife and repetitive motion injuries and knee, back, shoulder and neck trauma.

More: Small pork producers for Niman Ranch have an outsized impact on Iowa's economy, ISU report finds

Among them was a Smithfield Foods worker at the Denison pork plant in western Iowa, who said that because of the higher speeds, he had hooked himself by accident as he pulled hog carcasses from the line to ensure they were properly trimmed.

The Biden administration's decision to allow the trial comes as labor shortages and supply chain disruptions are combining with strong demand to drive pork, beef and other meat prices higher at U.S. grocery stores. The Agriculture Department said it expects beef, veal and pork prices to climb 6.5% to 7.5% this year and poultry prices to jump 3.5% to 4.5%.

In addition to the Ottumwa JBS plant, the department said the plants invited to participate in the trial are:

Seaboard Foods in Guymon, Oklahoma.

JBS-Swift in Beardstown, Illinois.

Quality Pork Processors in Austin, Minnesota.

WholeStone Farms Cooperative in Fremont, Nebraska.

Clemens Food Group in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, and Coldwater, Michigan.

Tyson Fresh Meats in Madison, Nebraska.

Smithfield Packaged Meats Corp. in Los Angeles.

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: USDA to invite 9 pork plants to increase line speeds in safety trial
Isabella Faith Tichenor was found dead by her mother on Saturday

A 10-year-old Black autistic girl died by suicide over the weekend after repeatedly being racially bullied at school.

The girls mom, Brittany Tichenor-Cox, reached out to Davis School District several times to report that her daughter, Isabella Faith Tichenor, was bullied by classmates and her teacher for being a Black special needs student. Tichenor-Cox said school officials failed her child by allowing the harassment to foster for months without intervention, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Isabella Izzy Faith Tichenor (Credit: Tichenor Family)

Even though my baby is gone, Im going to make sure I stand for Izzy, Tichenor-Cox said. I will never get to see her again I will nevershe was 10 years old. She was only 10, she said.

Isabella, who reportedly died by suicide by hanging, was found dead Saturday by her mother.

Izzys grandfather Gregory Tichenor told The Sun that the bullying had been going on for months and nothing has been done.

It was both verbal and physical, he added.

Gregory said Izzy was close to her five siblings.

She had told her mom she loved her and she loved God and that was the last time they spoke. Then she was found, he said.

The death of the fifth-grader comes weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice outlined in a bombshell report that Davis School District administrators have intentionally ignored serious and widespread racial harassment in its schools for years.

Black students have reportedly been under attack by suspected white supremacists within the student body. Administrators are said to have failed to respond to hundreds of reports from students about being called slaves, the N-word, and threatened with lynchings if they didnt go pick cotton as instructed by their white classmates.

As a consequence of this dismissive attitude to serious racial harassment, a district-wide racially hostile environment went unabated, the department concluded in the report. The report notes that the district left students of color vulnerable to continued abuse.

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Some students, now in middle and high school, said they had experienced racial harassment each year since they were in kindergarten, the DOJ report noted, per The Salt Lake Tribune. Students who attended school in other districts told us that the harassment they experienced in Davis schools was worse by far.

In a recent statement, the district said it takes these findings very seriously.

For YEARS, Davis School District intentionally ignored complaints of racial harassment. Sadly, 10 yr-old autistic student Isabella Faith Tichenor committed suicide after school admin. and the district did NOTHING to stop a teacher & students from bullying her! pic.twitter.com/ejRsBM8MsF  Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) November 10, 2021

They do not reflect the values of this community and the expectations of the district, the statement said of the reports findings. The district pledges to correct these practices.

The predominantly white school district in northern Utah is accused of condoning the racism and discrimination against Black students.

The district issued a statement Monday about Isabellas death and the familys response, saying it will continue to provide help to them and others impacted by this tragedy.

We, like everyone, are devastated by the death of this child, the district said. We take all incidents and reports of bullying seriously. At this point, the incident we are aware of involved another student. The teacher and administration responded quickly and appropriately. As with all allegations of bullying, our investigation will continue.

Local activists have slammed the districts statement, as officials never addressed the concerns about Izzys bullying before she committed suicide.

I dont think theyre listening, said Darlene McDonald, an activist with the Utah Black Roundtable and the Utah Educational Equity Coalition. Their colorblindness is causing the death of our children.

The biggest issue is that the district just hasnt addressed anything, racist incidents and bullying. They just dont respond to it, said Kathleen Christy, leader of the Utah Ethnic Studies Coalition.

Whats real is what caused this young girls death, said McDonald. The real problem is being ignored.

As any parent would, we reported this abuse to her teachers, the school administration, and the district administration. Nothing. Nothing was done to protect Izzy. Children did not have their behavior corrected so the torment of this child continued day after day, Tichenor-Cox said.

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The post Utah girl, 10, dies by suicide after being bullied for being Black, autistic appeared first on TheGrio.
A vial of the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine and a diluent for it are seen on the first day of a clinic with the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics on Nov. 3 at the University of Iowa Health Care Iowa River Landing location in Coralville, Iowa.

Vanderburgh County had administered more than 210,347 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Nov. 8, according to data from the Indiana Department of Health.

That's up 1.27% from the previous week's tally of 207,703 COVID-19 doses administered.

In Vanderburgh County, 52% of people living in Vanderburgh County are fully vaccinated as of Nov. 8. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they've been given a single-dose shot (Johnson & Johnson) or a second shot (either Pfizer or Moderna).

Indiana reported 1,035,141 total cases of coronavirus, an increase of 1% from the week before.

The five counties with the highest percentage of their population fully vaccinated in Indiana as of Nov. 8 are Hamilton County (72%), Boone County (66%), Hendricks County (62%), Hancock County (60%) and Warrick County (58%).

Here are the latest numbers on COVID-19 vaccinations in Vanderburgh County as of Nov. 8:

How many people in Vanderburgh County have received a COVID-19 vaccine?

55% of people in Vanderburgh County have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 100,319 people

52% of people in Vanderburgh County are fully vaccinated, for a total of 94,730 people

For a county-by-county look at the vaccination rollout, see our COVID-19 vaccine tracker, which is updated daily.

How many people in Indiana have been vaccinated so far?

55% of people in Indiana have received at least one dose of the vaccine, for a total of 3,650,520 people

51% of people in Indiana are fully vaccinated, for a total of 3,373,285 people

COVID vaccinations for kids and boosters

The percentages in this story reflect the total share of the population that has received vaccines. That now includes people as young as 5 years old, for whom vaccines have been authorized.

These weekly stories will be updated as more data on vaccination rates in children, as well as booster vaccination rates, are released.

We pull data on local vaccine distribution on a weekly basis. Check back for our next weekly update mid-week for the latest numbers.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Vanderburgh County Indiana vaccine rate: How many people are vaccinated?
The Vermont State Police and other state investigators looked into threatening messages Vermont Secretary of State's Office employees received after the 2020 election, but say no one was ultimately prosecuted.

Vermont State Police and Washington County State's Attorney Rory Thibault concluded the messages fell short of criminal offenses under state law. Thibault concluded that the messages were not specific to individual state officials or to any sort of planned action the caller wanted to take.

However, a Nov. 9 investigation by Reuters outlined how concerning these messages were to Vermont state employees and quoted several experts saying the messages likely would have been considered criminal threats under federal law.

Previous coverage: Vermont elections office receives threatening calls amid national voter fraud accusations

Vermont State Police said its agency and the FBI conducted independent reviews of the threats. State police then asked Thibault to conduct an independent analysis of the agency's review.

"The Vermont State Police agrees that elections officials are dedicated, hardworking public servants who are the backbones of our democracy," a news release from the Vermont State Police stated. "Like all of us, they deserve to go to work and do their jobs without fear and intimidation. That said, the police should not and cannot make up or willfully misconstrue the law in order to affect a desired outcome."

What did the messages say?

The messages all appeared to come from the same person, who only identified himself as a Vermont resident. The man's messages claimed that voter fraud impacted the 2020 presidential election, causing Donald Trump to lose his reelection bid to Joe Biden, according to a letter from Thibault to Vermont State Police Maj. Dan Trudeau from December 2020.

A pro-democracy stencil greets users of United States Postal Service drop box in Burlington on April 7, 2021. Vermont mailed ballots to every registered voter for the November 2020 elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The man's messages, which are laced with profanity and slurs, accuse state officials of treason and tell them their days are numbered and they will pay. At least one message encouraged state officials to put a gun in their mouths and pull the trigger, and multiple messages referenced capital punishment.

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"It goes without saying the communications are offensive, profane, and may have caused fear or concern among the recipients," Thibault said in the letter. "However, a communication may include or induce all of these things and still constitute protected speech."

Why Vermont officials say the messages are protected speech

According to Thibault's letter, the caller's lack of specificity in his messages meant that the statements did not cross the criminal threatening threshold under Vermont state law.

"They are relatively imprecise in that they are not specifically directed at a single person or official, are conditional or conditioned on the callers perception of malfeasance in the election process, and suggests that those cheating the election system should kill themselves or be subject to capital punishment through vague reference to authorities," Thibault's letter stated.

He added, "At no point does the caller indicate that he would personally partake in any action or participate in inflicting harm upon anyone."

The envelope of a mail-in ballot for the 2020 General Election sent to South Burlington, Vermont, residents.

Thibault told Reuters that Vermont law offers more protections for individual rights, so it often presents a challenge when looking at these cases. However, legal experts interviewed by Reuters said the threats could have constituted crimes under federal law.

Theres certainly an intent to put people in fear, said University of Virginia law professor Fred Schauer, according to the Reuters story.

The article also quoted Timothy Zick, a William & Mary Law School professor, who said a threat didn't necessarily have be aimed at a specific person to be prosecuted under federal law.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 802-310-8585 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizMurrayBFP.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont officials outline probe into 'threats' after 2020 election
Upon returning home, the men and women who have fought for our country often face another battle: This one is waged on their bodies and in their minds, as the side effects of war often exist in the form of long-term injuries, PTSD and other service-related physical and emotional challenges.

Zaneta Adams

At the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, we know that those who bravely served should never have to fight alone. Our agency works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life  making Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. And while our job is important in connecting veterans to their federal resources and benefits, as well as state benefits they have earned, it would be impossible for veterans to receive the full support they need and deserve without veteran caregivers.

Spouses, parents and children caring for a veteran are in the trenches too, making their own sacrifices daily to serve our nation. Veterans rely on family members (or others in their household and community) to help them transition back to civilian life and manage the physical and mental toll of war day in and day out.

Caring for a veteran is a valiant, heroic duty. However, its a difficult job that often goes unnoticed. Caregivers act as nurses, pharmacists, schedulers and everything in between  and they often have day jobs too. Rarely do they complain or ask for help in doing one of the most important jobs this country requires.

When former U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole visited her husband, Sen. Bob Dole, at Walter Reed Military Hospital, she came across hundreds of individuals dedicated to the health and well-being of the veterans they love, and as a caregiver herself, she began recognizing the barriers and challenges they face and the impact it has on a veterans care.

The "Hidden Heroes" program was formed by Sen. Dole and her foundation to advocate for military caregivers and provide them with essential resources and a network of support. With more than 567,000 veterans residing in our state, Michigan is proud to be a "Hidden Heroes" state, partnering with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to increase awareness and support for our veteran caregivers.

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And we are proud to be a part of the new "I Am A Caregiver" campaign that seeks to ensure and empower all military caregivers know the resources they have access to  to not only care for Americas wounded, ill and injured veterans and servicemembers, but to also care for themselves.

More from LSJ opinion

Its impossible to pour from an empty cup, but its not surprising that many military caregivers feel lost and overwhelmed, unsure how to ask for help or where to go. It is our responsibility to ensure that these essential caregivers do not fall by the wayside. Its important that they have access to critical resources to best care for our nations veterans.

While those in the military have made a great sacrifice for the sake of our freedom and democracy here in the United States, military caregivers have made a different sacrifice, but one of great importance. We cannot allow this sacrifice to go unnoticed, and Michigan is proud to partner with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to acknowledge and honor our Hidden Heroes. Please join me in this effort at hiddenheroes.org.

Zaneta Adams is the director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Caring for a veteran is a valiant, heroic duty to be celebrated
Today

Avenue of the Flags committee Veterans Day observance is at 10:30 a.m. in the Mount Pleasant Veterans Hall Community Room.

Central Lee FFA Labor and Service Auction is at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Lee High School's old gymnasium in Donnellson. Lee County Farm Bureau will serve a free chili and vegetable soup dinner with Hy-Vee catering sides, drinks, and dessert starting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Great River Players, 17 S. Sixth St., Keokuk, presents the musical "All I really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11, 12, 19 and 20, and 2 p.m. Nov. 13 and 21. Tickets are $20. Student tickets to matinee performances are $5. To learn more, call GRP at (319) 795-5355.

Iowa Wesleyan University, Mount Pleasant, Veterans Day service is 1 p.m. at the flag pole in the center of the school campus.

Keokuk Veterans Day Ceremony is 11 a.m. at Keokuk National Cemetery, 1701 J Street.

Lunch at the Top is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at First United Church of Christ, 611 Columbia St., serving pulled pork sandwich meals for $7 each. To order carryout, call (319) 754-4807.

Moose Lodge, 2529 Mount Pleasant St., is hosting Early Bird Bingo at 5:30 p.m., and Regular Bingo at 7 p.m. The public is welcome.

Murray Foundation free Travelogue shows presents "Scotland's Highlands and Islands," by Rick Steves at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater, 211 N. Third St.

Veterans Day Ceremony is 10:30 a.m. on the first floor of Memorial Auditorium, followed by coffee and donuts.

VFW, 215 Washington St., will serve a pork loin sandwiches meal with baked beans and potato salad free to veterans from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again at 2:30 p.m. There will be DJ music at 2:30 p.m. The meal cost for non-veterans is $5.

Winfield-Mount Union school Veterans Day assembly for students, veterans and the public is 9 a.m. in the big gym. Light refreshments for veterans and their families will follow. To learn more, call the school at (319) 257-7700.

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Friday

Bonaparte Music Bonanza is 7 p.m. Nov. 12 and 13 of the Bonaparte Community Improvement Building, 602 Eighth St. Saturday will feature a freewill donation soup supper at 5:30 p.m. For advance tickets, call (319) 561-0992.

Family Night Unplugged is 6:30 p.m. at Burlington Public Library, 210 Court St. Registration is required and face coverings are requested. To learn more, visit burlington.lib.ia.us.

Moose Lodge, 2529 Mount Pleasant St., will serve a pre-Thanksgiving dinner from 5 to 7 p.m., with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, and more. After dinner, dance to the music of Silver Streak. Members and guests are welcome.

Stumptown duo Jerad and Nathan Live will play country hits from 8 to 11 p.m. at Wake N Bake Breakfast Company.

Take Away Hunger Greater Burlington annual fundraiser New-to-You Christmas Sale featuring used and new Christmas decorations, gently-used toys and re-gifted items is at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2411 West Ave., from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 12, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 13, and 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 14. Saturday will have a bake sale. Masks are required.

Saturday

Freedom Rock event is 10:30 a.m. at the Mediapolis City Hall, 510 Main St., with speaker Shane McCampbell, the Mediapolis Choir, a 21-gun salute and Taps. The public is invited.

Great River Players, 17 S. Sixth St., Keokuk, auditions for "Leaving for Iowa" are 6 p.m. Nov. 13, and 4 and 6 p.m. Nov. 14. To learn more, call GRP at (319) 795-5355.

Heartland Harley Davidson, 117 S. Roosevelt Ave., will host a Chili Cook-Off for Toys for Tots from noon to 3 p.m. Entry fee is $10. Tasting fee is $5.

Heritage Trust's Preservation Station, 213 Valley St., is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Mount Union Fire Department annual Fall Dinner serving turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, rolls and desserts is 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., dine-in or drive-up, at the fire station on Crew Street. There will be door prizes and a raffle.

WACO PTO will host Santa at Wayland City Hall from 2 to 5 p.m. The event also will have horse drawn wagon rides, a coloring contest, a raffle, silent auction, refreshments and more. There is a $2 admission per person or purchase a family package for $15.

Sunday

Jane Sutter, author of "Beloved Burlington" and "Beloved Burlington Vol. 2" will give a talk at 1:30 p.m. at Des Moines County Historical Society's Heritage Center, 501 N. Fourth St. She will sign book copies. Visit Sutter Media to learn more.

Southeast Iowa Band fall concert is 3 p.m. in the Iowa Wesleyan University, Mount Pleasant, Chapel Auditorium. Admission is free.

This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Visit Freedom Rock, shop used Christmas items, tour Scotland with Rick Steves: Your guide to what's happening in Southeast Iowa this week
The Utah Legislature quickly passed the Republican controlled Legislative Redistricting Committee congressional maps on during its special session on Nov. 9.

Utah lawmakers passed four redistricting maps on Wednesday despite criticisms the maps were "gerrymandering" with the heaviest criticism going towards the congressional map.

Now the only thing left to make these maps official is Gov. Spencer Cox's signature. In a Tuesday night town hall, Cox indicated he likely wouldn't veto any maps.

Following the 2020 Census, the state was tasked with redistricting and drawing new boundaries for state house districts, state senate districts, congressional districts and school board districts. Utah didn't gain any new seats in Congress this time, but as the fastest-growing state in the nation, the boundaries were expected to change dramatically. Southern Utah residents expected to see increased influence because Washington County was the fastest-growing area in the state.

Washington County is set to gain an extra house seat and a larger share of a senate district in the new maps.

Redistricting this year was a unique process for multiple reasons, one of which was the Census delayed its results by months due to coronavirus pandemic which forced a more condensed timeline. There were also two tax-payer funded groups working on redistricting.

One of which was the Legislative Redistricting Committee that was made up of state representatives and senators. The other was the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission that included seven commissioners picked by Republicans and Democrats.

In 2018, Utah voters passed Proposition 4, a ballot referendum that proposed an independent commission should redraw the boundaries. In its next session, the Legislation amended the rule to also create the legislative committee, giving itself more influence on how the maps were created.

This referendum was backed by a group called Better Boundaries Utah in the hopes to end partisan gerrymandering.

The Independent Commission was an advisory group to the Legislative Committee and created three sets of maps for each set of districts. Proponents of the commission and proposition 4 said the maps created through the commission were less partisan than any map created by legislatures.

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This group said in a press release it's "extremely disappointed" in the maps approved by the Legislature and said it's exploring legal and legislative solutions. One of which is to start a political action committee to "pursue electoral consequences" that was started with a seed donation of $50,000.

The maps were passed during a jam-packed two-day Legislative special session that tackled many issues including changing Dixie State University's name, reforming the state's bail system and denouncing certain bank reporting requirements outline by President Joe Biden's administration.

For local stories that matter, subscribe today.

Congressional Maps & Gerrymandering

The final congressional map that was presented by Rep. Paul Ray (R) was ultimately approved by all the republicans present at the redistricting hearing.

This map was controversial since it split Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County  which contains about one-third of Utah's population  four separate ways, dividing up the Salt Lake-area votes in a way that one district stretches all the way to Washington County.

The map that ended up passing the house was the one created by the committee chairs, Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, and Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, the two chairs of a Legislative Redistricting Committee appointed to draw up new maps, by a vote of 50-22.

Rep. Paul Ray defends his congressional map during the Nov. 9 special session which has been accused of gerrymandering Democrats out of a congressional seat.

The committee chairs released their maps late on Friday night, giving the public very little time to comment on them. But in the maps produced and presented at a contentious redistricting hearing on Monday, both chairs defended their own maps, saying they believed in an urban-rural mix for congressional districts.

We've made decisions that we think best reflect the will of the people that we are elected to represent, Ray said at the redistricting hearing on Monday.

We are one Utah and we are in one combined community of interest, in my view, said Sandall, the co-chair of the Legislative Committee.

Ultimately, the Legislature approved all the committee chair maps for redistricting, although not without controversy. Hundreds of residents showed up and complained these maps were gerrymandered, including Evan McMullin, a former presidential candidate and a current challenger to incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, and Katie Wright, the executive director of Better Boundaries Utah.

Democratic state senators called the congressional map passed by the Legislature an "unacceptable abuse of power"

Representation must be close to and created by and for the people. The Legislatures passage of H.B. 2004 blatantly silences the voices of Utahns through Congressional boundaries that unacceptably divide and crack our communities #Utpol #Utleg pic.twitter.com/eMMCZbWwd5  Utah Senate Democrats (@UtahSenDems) November 10, 2021

There were alternative maps proposed by the Independent Commission that was backed by Democratic representatives, but those maps failed.

These donut hole maps would have created two urban districts along the Wasatch Front and two large rural districts encompassing both the northern and southern parts of the state. They failed, 55-17.

Some Republicans voted against the majority on these congressional maps, including Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, who created his own map, saying it would be more competitive and create a swing district.

"There need to be places where people know it could go either way," Ward said about why he supported the idea.

Ultimately, Ward's map failed to get adopted.

House Speaker Brad Wilson, a Salt Lake City Republican, was steadfast in his preference for elected legislators to have the power to draw voting districts over appointed independent commissioners, saying the Utah Constitution gives the Legislature the final say on redistricting.

The majority of state senators agreed, approving the congressional map with a veto-proof majority. All six Democratic Senators voted against this map, along with one Republican, Sen. Daniel Thatcher of West Valley.

Southwest Utah would remain under a similar district as it is today, inside of District 2, which stretches from Salt Lake City to St. George and is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Chris Stewart, a Republican. Some local leaders argued during the redistricting process that incumbency should have an influence in how the maps are drawn.

"If we can put in a plug for Washington County  we firmly want Congressman Stewart since they already understand the issues, said Adam Snow, a recently-appointed Washington County commissioner who previously worked as a staffer for Stewart, during a redistricting hearing in September.

St. George Mayor Michele Randall said that even with the city growing fast, she prefers an urban-rural mix of congressional districts and likes Stewart.

"We still have many rural land issues throughout our county that only Congressman Stewart is very familiar with and well versed," Randall wrote in an email to the Independent Commission and shared with The Spectrum.

State House Districts

Here is how the state house districts look for southwest Utah.

Due to Washington County's explosive growth since 2010  the population increased by more than 30%  the area is getting more representation in the statehouse.

"Understand, the biggest population shifts happened in Utah County, and down in southern Utah and Washington counties, Ray said during the Monday redistricting hearing.

Each House district would ideally represent roughly 43,000 residents.

That means that under the new map Washington County will have four representatives exclusively inside the county lines, up from three in the current maps.

A district that currently includes part of Iron County would now stop at the eastern and northern borders of the county and cover the Hurricane Valley area and Zion National Park.

Iron County is mostly represented under two districts under the new map, with the 71st district exclusive to Iron County. The 70th district will be combined with Beaver, Sevier and Piute counties.

These maps were approved quickly by lawmakers, with debate on the house floor over the statehouse map lasting around 20 minutes. They were approved by a vote of 60-12 by the house and by 25-3 in the senate.

Although Democrats did introduce motions that would've adopted maps produced by the Independent Commission during the debate, all these motions were voted down by the majority.

Senate Districts

A look at how the Utah Senate districts will look for the next 10 years in southwest Utah if approved by Gov. Spencer Cox.

The senate maps also sailed through the Legislature with relative ease on Wednesday, passing the House by a vote of 60-12 and the Senate by a vote of 26-2.

Sandall said this map tried to keep the "core" of current districts intact as much as possible since the Senate currently has an average term of fewer than seven years. Voters are responsive to senators and will elect new senators if they wanted to, he said, remarking that "the will of the voters have spoken" when it comes to senate terms.

He also argued that it would be a disservice to drastically change the makeup of senate districts where it wasn't called for, since senators have gotten to know their districts well and the people they represent.

The senate districts were renumbered for the ease of the Legislative staff, said Sandall, meaning the senate district numbers look different than the original map that was shown on the night of Nov. 5.

But this new district map does significantly change the makeup of senate districts in southwest Utah. Before this corner of the state only had two senators. Now it will have three senators, meaning three state senators could technically live in Washington County in the future. But two of the three districts will be very large geographically and encompass multiple counties.

Each district is supposed to have an ideal size of roughly 112,000 residents.

The 27th district will be one of the largest land-size districts in the state and will cover portions of 10 counties, combining the eastern part of Washington County with several central counties including Utah County.

The 28th district will now just take a sliver of central Washington County including Washington City  which is the county's second-most-populous city  after this district covered the eastern part of the county for the last 10 years. That sliver of Washington County will be combined with all of Iron County and three other counties going north along Utah's border with Nevada.

The 29th senate district will be the only one that is exclusive to Washington County and is currently represented by Sen. Don Ipson. This district looks very similar to the previous senate district in that it covers St. George and the western part of the county.

School Board Maps

Here is a look at how the new state school board map looks for southern Utah.

The state school maps weren't debated much on either floor and passed the house by a vote of 59-11 with much of the attention on this map given to how districts were divided within Salt Lake and Davis County.

For southern Utah, the 15th district is now much larger geographically. Previously this district was just Iron and Washington counties. Now, this district only takes a part of Iron County and combines it with Washington County and five other southern Utah counties that go across the entirety of the state.

In this new map, St. George and Cedar City will be in two different school board districts, with St. George in the 15th and Cedar City is in the 14th. Cedar City and a large chunk of Iron County will be combined with nine counties that cover the mostly rural central part of the state. It also combines Cedar City with the southern portion of the state's second-most-populated county, Utah County.

These maps need the approval of Gov. Cox, which is likely to happen since Cox said during the virtual town hall event he isn't a "bomb thrower" and will honor the maps passed by the Legislature.

Sean Hemmersmeier covers local government, growth and development in Southwestern Utah. Follow on twitter @seanhemmers34. Our work depends on subscribers so if you want more coverage on these issues you can subscribe here: http://www.thespectrum.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Washington, Iron counties to get more representation under new maps
The Daily Beast

Michael M. Santiago/GettyThe Democrats have plenty of reason to fear a blow-out in next years midtermsand Bill de Blasio's New York City helps to explain why.The party's defeats up and down the ballot in Virginia were no one-off. A red wave also swept over Long Island, just to the east of New York City. There, Republicans recaptured the Nassau County executive slot and district attorneys office and unseated the incumbent Suffolk County DA. With polls showing Republicans favored by an unpreced
COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5 to 11 are well underway in Connecticut, with a number of upcoming public vaccination clinics scheduled for locations across the state.

The state Department of Public Health recommends that parents or guardians visit ct.gov/covidvaccine to schedule a vaccination for their child. Parents can also reach out directly to their childs pediatrician, or to one of the hospitals, pharmacies or clinics administering the vaccine, to make an appointment.

But there are also a wide range of public vaccination clinics scheduled for the coming days in towns across the state, some of which are walk-ups and others which encourage appointments in advance.

Hartford HealthCare announced Thursday that they will vaccinate 2,200 children Saturday at six different clinics statewide, including in Bridgeport, Hartford, New Britain, Norwich, Torrington and Wethersfield.

As of Thursday morning, about 75% of appointments were already filled, officials said. Parents wishing to schedule vaccinations for their children are encouraged to do so online at hartfordhealthcare.org.

Connecticut Childrens, Saint Francis Hospital and the City of Hartford are also hosting a vaccine clinic this Sunday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford. The clinic will accept walk-ins as well as appointments.

While noting that children are generally less affected by COVID-19 than adults, hospital leaders and health experts have urged parents and guardians to vaccinate their 5 to 11-year-olds.

Most kids that get COVID-19 dont get impacted significantly, but there are some that do, Hartford HealthCare senior system director for infection prevention Keith Grant said. There are some kids that end up in clinical care, and there are some kids, unfortunately, that die.

Heres a town-by-town guide to finding a vaccine clinic for your child:

Bridgeport

On Saturday, Nov. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., Connecticut Childrens and Hartford HealthCare are hosting a public vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 at St. Vincents Medical Centers Hawley Conference Center, located at 2800 Main St. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled at https://bit.ly/2YCD6ai. Kids who get their first shot Saturday will be scheduled for their second dose Dec. 4.

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Cromwell

The Stop & Shop at 195 West Street will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

Greenwich

A free vaccination clinic, run by the state Department of Public Health, will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 at Greenwich Academy, 200 N. Maple Ave, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Another clinic will be held that same day at Sacred Heart Greenwich, 1177 King Street, from noon to 7 p.m. No appointment, insurance or identification is required.

Groton

The Stop & Shop at 220 Route 12 will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Friday, Nov. 19 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

Hamden

The Stop & Shop at 2335 Dixwell Avenue will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Thursday, Nov. 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

Hartford

On Saturday, Nov. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., Connecticut Childrens and Hartford HealthCare are hosting a public vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 at Hartford Hospitals Heublein Hall, located at 560 Hudson Street. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled at https://bit.ly/2YCD6ai. Kids who get their first shot Saturday will be scheduled for their second dose Dec. 4.

Connecticut Childrens, Saint Francis Hospital and the City of Hartford are hosting a vaccine clinic this Sunday, Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dunkin Donuts Park, at 1214 Main Street. Appointments for the clinic be scheduled by calling 860-757-4830, but walk-ins will also be taken. Three weeks later, on Sunday, Dec. 5, children will be able to receive their second dose.

Madison

A free vaccination clinic, run by the state Department of Public Health, will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 at the Town Campus Gym, at 8 Town Campus Drive, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment, insurance or identification is required.

The Stop & Shop at 128 Samson Rock Road will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

Middletown

The Stop & Shop at 416 East Main Street will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

Naugatuck

Griffin Health offers pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations at 727 Rubber Ave. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary.

New Britain

On Saturday, Nov. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., Connecticut Childrens and Hartford HealthCare are hosting a public vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 at The Hospital of Central Connecticut, Lecture Room #2, located at 100 Grand St. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled at https://bit.ly/2YCD6ai. Kids who get their first shot Saturday will be scheduled for their second dose Dec. 4.

The Stop & Shop at 1309 Corbin Avenue will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

New Haven

Children ages 5 to 11 can get vaccinated at the New Haven Health Department, 54 Meadow Street, on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and Thursday, Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and on Friday, Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Proof of insurance is requested but not required.

Norwich

A free vaccination clinic, run by the state Department of Public Health, will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 at Integrated Day Charter School, at 68 Thermos Avenue #2, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment, insurance or identification is required.

On Saturday, Nov. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., Connecticut Childrens and Hartford HealthCare are hosting a public vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 at Hartford HealthCare East Region System Support Offices Norwich Business Park, 11 Stott Ave. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled at https://bit.ly/2YCD6ai. Kids who get their first shot Saturday will be scheduled for their second dose Dec. 4.

Portland

A free vaccination clinic, run by the state Department of Public Health, will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 at Portland Secondary School, 93 High Street, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. No appointment, insurance or identification is required.

Shelton

A free vaccination clinic, run by the state Department of Public Health, will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 at 10 Progress Drive from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. No appointment, insurance or identification is required.

Griffin Health also offers pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations at 10 Progress Drive on Mondays and Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at Griffin Health Occupational Medicine Center, at the same address, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. No appointment is necessary.

Stafford

A free vaccination clinic, run by the state Department of Public Health, will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 at Stafford High School, 145 Orcuttville Road, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. No appointment, insurance or identification is required.

Stamford

A free vaccination clinic, run by the state Department of Public Health, will be held on Friday, Nov. 12 at Cummings Park, 468 Shippan Ave, from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Another clinic will be held that day at Hunt Park, 43 Courtland Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A third clinic will be held Friday at Jackie Robinson Park, at the intersection of W. Main Street and Richmond Hill Ave., from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No appointment, insurance or identification is required.

Torrington

On Saturday, Nov. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., Connecticut Childrens and Hartford HealthCare are hosting a public vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, in the Memorial Conference Room, located at 540 Litchfield Street. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled at https://bit.ly/2YCD6ai. Kids who get their first shot Saturday will be scheduled for their second dose Dec. 4.

Wallingford

The Stop & Shop at 930 North Colony Road will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Tuesday, Nov. 23, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

Wethersfield

On Saturday, Nov. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., Connecticut Childrens and Hartford HealthCare are hosting a public vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Office, located at 1290 Silas Deane Highway. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be scheduled at https://bit.ly/2YCD6ai. Kids who get their first shot Saturday will be scheduled for their second dose Dec. 4.

West Haven

The Stop & Shop at 460 Elm Street will be hosting a vaccine clinic for children ages 5 to 11 on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Parents can schedule their childs appointment at www.stopandshop.com/covid-vaccine.

Eliza Fawcett can be reached at elfawcett@courant.com. Courant staff writer Alex Putterman contributed to this report.
The South Fire burning in Lytle Creek, California, in August 2021. AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu

Soot from fires in mid-latitudes are traveling all the way to the Arctic, scientists have found.

The substance can speed the melting of ice and in turn could warm the atmosphere.

The discovery may have far-reaching implications for the climate crisis.

Wildfires have been brutal these past few years, and may have wider-reaching implications than first realized.

The vast blazes send soot particles so high into the atmosphere that they are carried as far as the Arctic, where they may be intensifying warming there as well.

New research has suggested the effect could be more profound than previously thought.

A burning home seen along Cherry Glen Road during the LNU Lighting Complex fires on the outskirts of Vacaville, California, on August 19, 2020. Stephen Lam/Reuters

As global warming accelerates, the number and scale of biomass burning events could increase, said Sho Ohata, an assistant professor at the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research of Nagoya University, Japan.

Particles in the soot from those fires are called "black carbon." Scientists are trying to understand how their emissions could change how global temperatures will rise, experts told Insider.

The global atmospheric black carbon density from August 1, 2009 through November 19, 2009. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

Black carbon on white ice

Temperatures over the Arctic are rising twice as quickly as average global temperatures.

The arctic ice sheet acts like a huge sun visor for the Earth: it reflects a large amount of sunlight back to space.

As it disappears, the sunlight instead warms the Earth, contributing to global temperature rises.

Scientific models already predict that by the middle of the century, the Arctic will be completely free of ice in the summer.

A still image visualizing Arctic sea ice on Sept. 16, 2021, when the ice appeared to reach its yearly minimum extent. NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

According to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics on Thursday, to which Ohata contributed, current climate models could underestimate the contribution of wildfires to black carbon in the Arctic atmosphere by a factor of three.

Makoto Koike, an associate professor at the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of Tokyo, told Insider that the main driver of the planet warming up is CO2 emissions. Koike was also an author on the study.

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"But black carbon may also accelerate the rapid increase in temperature, there are very large uncertainties...We cannot say, for example, [if] wildfires burning over in California this year affect the Arctic or not.

"But we need to realize that that may happen, even though we don't know," he said.

Arrows show the proximity between fires in North America and Siberia to the Arctic sea ice. Google Earth/Insider

What we know is that fires in mid-latitudes, like those from the Zombie Siberian wildfires and those that ravage North America year after year, throw up black carbon that makes it to the Arctic.

"The Arctic is affected quite a lot because these emission sources are fairly close, whereas the Antarctic is much, much further away," Markus Frey, a senior scientist in the British Antarctic Survey, told Insider.

One indisputable effect of the black carbon is that, as it darkens the ice, the ice is more likely to melt, the experts told Insider.

There's more uncertainty about whether the black carbon also warms the atmosphere.

Mikael Hilden, a professor researching environmental policy at the Finnish Environment Institute and author on a recent report on black carbon for the Arctic Council, told Insider that its effects can cut both ways.

Hilden says that forest fires, for instance, can give off sulfur oxide alongside the black carbon, which may reflect light back into space and actually cool the atmosphere down.

Two Humpback whales are swimming together among icebergs in the arctic ocean, in Ilulissat, Greenland. Monica Bertolazzi/Getty Images

If this effect outweighs other warming impacts, then it may not be so bad for the planet.

But other chemical components that coat black carbon can make them more light absorbent, meaning that they'll give off even more heat, Ohata said.

"Depending on the origin of the black carbon and the different proportions, then that can be a cooling effect and warming effect," said Hilden.

"The current consensus seems to be leaning towards saying that there's a net warming effect," he said

Read the original article on Business Insider
State and local officials salute the flag during a Massport ceremony at Worcester Airport.

WORCESTER  Worcester Regional Airport celebrated the return of commercial service in a ceremony Wednesday and, in recognition of Veterans Day, announced charitable donations to local nonprofit Veterans Inc.

Today is a milestone worth celebrating, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said of the return of commercial service to the airport. She then thanked Delta Air Lines, JetBlue and American Airlines for their dedication to the airport and the fulfillment of the promise that you would come back.

This is a cause for celebration, Polito continued.

Delta, JetBlue and American have all recently restarted service at Worcester Regional Airport after suspending operations due to the pandemic. They are offering trips from Worcester to New Yorks John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Philadelphia.

Vin Perrone, president and CEO of Veterans Inc., speaks near a food drive for Veterans Inc. during a Massport ceremony at Worcester Airport.

A lot of people gave up on this airport, State Rep. Jim ODay said, after speakers noted that the pandemic marked the second time in the airports history that it had been without commercial flights. We never have.

And U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, said the return of service was just the beginning.

He touted the bipartisan Infrastructure bill soon to be signed by President Joe Biden, noting it delivers $12.5 billion to Massachusetts, including $244 million just for airports.

Were just getting started in Congress, McGovern said. Similarly, the return of service to the airport is just the beginning.

Vin Perrone, president and CEO of Veterans Inc., greets Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito during a Massport ceremony at Worcester Airport.

In recognition of Veterans Day, the airlines also each donated two round-trip ticket vouchers to Veterans Inc.

The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), owner and operator of the airport, also is collecting food to give to the organization.

Vincent Perrone, president and CEO of Veterans Inc., said that the food would be used at an event that feeds 3,000 people, and that over the past 30 years, the organization has helped 90,000 veterans and veterans family members deal with homelessness, substance abuse and other challenges.

We cant do this alone, Perrone said, thanking the assembled guests.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Regional Airport Veterans Day Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito James P. McGovern
Good Energy's Good Future Board has six members (five of whom are pictured here) now aged from 13 to 17

What would the world be like if it was run by teenagers? One company decided to find out.

UK renewable energy provider, Good Energy, appointed six young people, aged from 12 to 17, to sit on a new advisory board back in March - no adults allowed.

This Good Future Board holds regular meetings, where its members have the opportunity to present ideas to the firm's chief executive and other bosses, and question business decisions.

One of the board members is Shaina Shah,14, who lives in London. She is passionate about the environment, and wants to protect her world for future generations.

"I think adults can think about money first," she says. "They don't always choose the most sustainable option."

Shaina Shah says that children and young adults invariably think more longer term

"[But] young people have grown up in a world where the effects of climate change are clearly visible."

Shaina adds that she and the other five members of the advisory board are not afraid to tell the adults when they think they're wrong.

They were appointed after more than 1,000 school children across England entered a competition organised via environmental charity Eco-Schools.

Entrants had to write a 500-word personal statement that answered three questions - What inspired you to care for our planet? What skills or experiences you can bring? And - Do you have one idea for how a renewable energy company can do more to help protect the planet?

The six winners were described as "incredibly passionate, insightful and impressive".

Jack Solly, 13, is also on the advisory board, having been appointed when he was just 12. He says he jumped at the chance, as he wanted to learn about business and the energy market. He also hopes to use the opportunity to help "preserve some of the wild places".

"This planet is precious," says Jack. "And if we don't look after it then we won't have anywhere to live."

Jack Solly was keen to find out more about how businesses work

He adds that young people's priorities are more focused on the future than those of adults. "Adults are more focused on the present, on doing their jobs - will their boss be happy? Will they get their promotion? Rather than thinking ahead and considering the long-term impacts of their actions," he says.

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"Younger people don't have so many pressures and stresses, so are free to look into the future."

The positions on the advisory board are unpaid, but the members do get their expenses paid for when they attend Good Energy's annual general meeting. And two weekends ago the company paid for them to attend United Nations Climate Change Conference of Youth, held in Glasgow ahead of the COP26 climate summit.

New Economy

New Economy is a new series exploring how businesses, trade, economies and working life are changing fast.

Good Energy says that, so far, the advisory board has helped it review its diversity and inclusion strategy, and that "their feedback on our brand and how we position ourselves has played a big part in a new website we are launching soon".

The company's chief executive, Nigel Pocklington, adds: "We wanted to give a diverse group of young people a voice in the [climate] crisis which will impact them more than older generations. They give us new ideas and perspectives which we wouldn't get from experienced business executives."

Shaina and Jack are both part of Generation Z or Gen Z - young adults and children born between the mid 1990s and the early 2010s.

Gen Z is now the most-populous generation on Earth, according to numerous studies. One such report said that members of Generation Z now account for 2.5 billion people, or 32% of the global population. This is ahead of second place millennials (those born between 1981 and 1995), who make up 22%.

The environment is the biggest concern of members of Gen Z, according to a global survey this year by accountancy group Deloitte. This is followed by unemployment, healthcare and education.

Studies show that children are more concerned about the environment than adults

Maxine Marcus, is the founder of San Francisco-based The Ambassadors Company, which allows brands to survey thousands of teens across the US.

The 21-year-old says the idea for the business "really fell into my lap". "When I was in middle school, my dad, a venture capitalist, pulled me out of class to attend my first pitch meeting.

"The companies pitching kept diverting their attention to me, asking about my life and habits. It was then that I realised how critical my voice was."

So, in 2017, at the age of 17, Ms Marcus recruited school friends and set up The Ambassadors Company. "I hope I can build something meaningful, a business that can perpetuate long after me," she says. "I grew up in the start-up world - so I'm mentally wired to want to build a unicorn [a privately-owned company valued at more than $1bn [740m]."

The issue of excessive food waste is a topic that concerns many members of Generation Z. And with the World Wildlife Fund estimating that one third of all edible food is thrown away globally, perhaps it should be a bigger topic of discussion for people of all ages.

In the US state of Colorado, Sophie Warren says that when her parents first started beekeeping when she was a young child, she and her older sisters, Chloe and Lily, couldn't bear to see all the beeswax going to waste after the honey had been harvested from the honeycombs.

"We realised there was a significant amount of beeswax left over," says Sophie, now 17, "We didn't want to throw it away because the bees worked super hard to make it. So, instead of wasting it, we made lip balms out of it."

In 2009 when Sophie was just five, Chloe, seven, and Lily, nine, the three sisters (with a bit of help from mum and dad) set up a cosmetics company - Sweet Bee Sisters - to sell the lip balm.

The firm now sells a range of skincare products, and the siblings hope that their example will inspire other children and young adults to become environmentally-minded entrepreneurs.

"We want other strong leaders to come up alongside us," says Sophie. "We believe that our generation will be world changers."

Mahnoor Kamran

Back at Good Energy, fellow advisory board member, Mahnoor Kamran, 17, from Stoke-on-Trent, says that the group debate the firm's "business policies, environmental policies and ethics".

"For us [on the panel], it's not about short-term gains and profit," she says. "For young people, it is about our future -who gets to live, and who suffers. I think we will always put the planet over profit in every situation."
SCITUATE  John Billings took his first airplane ride in 1926 when he was 3 years old. It was at Hinghams Bayside Airfield, the site of the future Hingham Naval Shipyard, near the Weymouth line.

That's when the seed was planted. It grew into a more than eight-decade-long passion.

Billings, now 98 years old, is still flying airplanes.

At the Jenkins Elementary School in Scituate, I was often in trouble for flying an airplane in my head instead of listening to my teacher, Billings said.

While playing outdoors, he would climb trees and pretend it was his private plane. At age 15, he again visited Bayside Airfield, this time for flying lessons instead of rides.

John Billings sits in the cockpit of a B-24 plane, which is what he flew during World War II.

After graduating from Scituate High School in 1941, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor expedited his ambitions. Billings immediately registered for the draft, then enlisted in the aviation cadet program of the U.S. Army Air Forces in June 1942. He was 18.

He was called to active duty on Dec. 1 and, after boot camp and training on B-24 Liberator bombers, Billings was awarded his wings on March 8, 1944.

Soon he was flying an airplane across the stormy Atlantic to southern Italy airfields, where all Axis targets were within range of American heavy bombers.

Flying top-secret missions

Billings had completed 14 combat missions when he was selected to fly top-secret missions with the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor of todays Central Intelligence Agency. His job was to drop spies and materiel behind enemy lines in the German and Austrian Alps while flying at low altitudes, between 100 and 600 feet, through Alpine valleys. His B-24 was painted black. All OSS missions were flown at night.

My most challenging flight occurred when I dropped spies on a 10,000-foot-high frozen lake so they could ski down the mountain, infiltrate local villages and gather critical information on German supply lines, Billings said.

But he said he never considered his job dangerous.

Being an aviator, Ive always been enormously grateful for being spared most of wars horrors, Billings said.

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John Billings, left, and Nevin Showman at a veterans event.

All told, he completed 53 combat missions at a time when bomber crews were limited to 35, since the odds of survival were slim after that.

On May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe Day, Billings and thousands of other GIs left Naples bound for Staten Island, New York, on the USS West Point troop transport for a joyous ride home, knowing Germany had unconditionally surrendered.

Upon returning to Scituate, he traveled to Rhode Island and  like so many returning servicemen  married his high school sweetheart and raised children.

John Billings in 2013 while attending a World War II reunion of the 484th Bombardment Group in Omaha, Nebraska.

Life after the war

After the war, Billings worked in the Mojave Desert town of Victorville, California, testing B-24s that were being repaired. Every so often, hed say, Any of you guys want to go for a ride? and took his co-workers up for a test flight. Not far from the Grand Canyon, Billings flew the four-engine bomber 20 feet above the Colorado River through the canyon and gave his buddies a ride theyd never forget.

As Billings freely admits, You couldnt do that today.

World War II veteran John Billings speaks during the 484th Bomb Groups reunion in Dayton, Ohio in 2018.

After leaving the Army Air Forces in 1946, he moved back to Scituate and worked for a while in a Cohasset machine shop making tools for Raytheon. But as usual, flying was always dear to his heart and he flew for TWA and Eastern airlines as a captain for 36 years between 1947 and 1983.

Passion for flying leads to Angel Flights

Billings, being a family man, loves children.

And since he already owned an airplane, flying seriously sick kids free of charge to distant hospitals was the perfect way to help youngsters while satisfying his passion for flying.

One time, an adorable little girl asked me If Im going on an Angel Flight, does that mean Im an angel? Naturally, I confirmed it, he said. By the end of the flight both of us were absolutely convinced!

John Billings with his wife, Barbara.

Billings gives the youngsters a stuffed animal for the flight, which never fails to bring a smile.

Since 2005, Billings has flown 459 nonprofit Angel Flights.

On Nov. 20, he will retire from Angel Flights because of a recent heart attack. Friends and family are honoring him with a ceremony at his hangar at Luray Caverns Airport in Virginias Shenandoah Valley, where he and his wife, Barbara, moved more than 20 years ago.

Hell still be able to fly recreational trips with another qualified pilot.

Health problems havent slowed down his civic activism. On Nov. 3, he was asked to speak to seventh graders at a nearby middle school. When asked beforehand what he would talk about, he said, The first thing Im going to do is ask them to raise their hands if theyve ever heard of Hitler, and well go from there.

Editor's note: John Billings new book, Special Duties Pilot: The Man Who Flew the Real Inglorious Basterds Behind Enemy Lines, is available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

WWII reunions and the vanishing vets

I first met John Billings in 2013 while attending a World War II reunion of the 484th Bombardment Group in Omaha, Nebraska. Newly retired, I was interested in meeting crew members who may have flown with my father during 1944 to 1945, when the 484th was flying Italy-based B-24s to Axis targets from Europe to the Balkans in an effort to cripple Hitlers war machine. Over 12,000 U.S. bombers were lost in the conflict, many with 10-man crews.

I chatted with many of the vets, most of whom were in their late 80s or 90s and arrived using walkers, canes or wheelchairs.

Dick Olson, the 484th Bombardment Group historian whose father was shot down over Innsbruck and became a POW for nearly a year, puts the rapid decline of WWII veterans in perspective:

There were approximately 150 veterans at the 1986 reunion, 45 in 2002, seven in 2019 and two this year. If we even have one veteran at the next reunion, it will be a miracle.

Thank you, John Billings, and thanks to veterans everywhere for your service.

 Richard Prone

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: World War II veteran, Scituate native John Billings still flying at 98
A major power grid improvement project launched in 2014 to support southeast New Mexicos electric reliability and economic development efforts has reached a significant milestone with the completion of a new high-voltage transmission line in southern Eddy and Lea counties.

David Hudson

Over the past 15 years weve seen phenomenal economic growth in southeast New Mexico, especially in Lea and Eddy counties, said David Hudson, president, Xcel Energy  New Mexico, Texas, in a news release. To ensure our customers have the necessary capacity to power that growth, we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in upgraded and new lines and substations across this area. And in some places, we have built lines where there was virtually no infrastructure at all.

Xcel Energys Power for the Plains transmission grid expansion was already in high gear when the Southwest Power Pool released its High Priority Incremental Load Study in 2014 that called for an additional $557 million in high-voltage infrastructure for Texas and New Mexico. The SPP is a regional transmission organization that oversees the bulk electric grid and wholesale power market on behalf of utilities and transmission companies in the central U.S. covering portions of 17 states. A large focus of that 2014 SPP study was the lack of transfer capacity in Lea and Eddy counties, resulting in the development of new 345-kilovolt lines branching from a new trunk line originating in Texas.

Two lines identified in the 2014 study were completed in 2018. SPP later issued a notice to construct a third segment that would close the loop on the two lines earlier identified. This month, the last of these line segments has been completed between China Draw Substation, located 22 miles south of Carlsbad, to Roadrunner Substation, located 23 miles northwest of Jal. Xcel Energy also built the new Phantom Substation at the midpoint of the newest line, which is the bottom segment of a three-part loop feeding from Kiowa Substation located 14 miles northeast of Carlsbad. The previous segments were:

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 A 40-mile line segment between the Kiowa Substation and Roadrunner Substation that was originally built in 2015 as a 230-kilovolt line and converted to 345-kilovolt service in 2018.

 A 90-mile 345-kilovolt transmission line from the Hobbs area to Kiowa Substation and down to China Draw that was completed in 2018.

These lines and substations have been a vital part of New Mexicos economic and job creation success, and a key component in the state of New Mexicos tax revenues. Were proud of the many employees who have accomplished so much in a short amount of time to make it happen, Hudson said. But it wouldnt have been possible without the support and cooperation of our community partners who understand the importance of a robust power grid that is capable of powering growth for years to come.

Transmission lines are the backbone of the power grid, moving electricity from power generating sources across long distances to towns, cities and industrial areas. These lines feed into substations that lower the voltage and move electricity onto local distribution systems and ultimately to the customer.

Xcel Energy has invested more than $3 billion in its New Mexico and Texas transmission grid since 2011. Additionally, the company has invested large sums in distribution system upgrades that include hundreds of miles of new lines to connect new customers as well as capacity upgrades on existing lines to meet the needs of business expansion and neighborhood growth.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Xcel Energy completes major transmission project
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday became head of the largest faction within Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party upon his return to the intraparty bloc following a nine-year absence.

Abe was officially named successor to Hiroyuki Hosoda, a former chief cabinet secretary, by faction members during a meeting Thursday, a day after Hosoda was elected speaker of the House of Representatives.

In 2012, Abe left the faction, then led by the late former Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura, before his second stint as prime minister, and had not joined an intraparty bloc even after stepping down from the post in September last year.

"I would like to dedicate my best effort, together with all of you, in order to pass on to the next generation a Japan that we can be proud of," said Abe, who was Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

The faction, founded in 1979 by the late former Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda, has about 90 lawmakers and has produced four prime ministers -- Yoshiro Mori, Junichiro Koizumi, Abe and Yasuo Fukuda -- since 2000.

Hosoda resigned as faction leader on Tuesday and called for Abe to succeed him. At a faction meeting, all of the around 20 lawmakers attending supported the proposal and Abe accepted the request on Wednesday.
Business Insider - Nov 14

Longbows, or Yumi, have been used in Japan for centuries. But today, a handmade bamboo bow can cost over $2,000. At over 2 meters tall, these bows are difficult to handle. And making them is just as challenging.
In Council Bluffs, the number of graduates who have taken the test has been trending downward since a peak of 52% in 2014. The number of members in the Class of 2021 who completed it was down by 27% from the Class of 2020, he said.

The average composite score among graduates of Council Bluffs Community Schools was 20.3 in 2012 and has fluctuated less than a point on its way to an average this year of 20.2, according to a chart displayed by Vorthmann.

Among racial subgroups in the district, multiracial students averaged a composite score of 22.5, followed by white students at 20.8, African-American students at 19, Asians at 18.3 and Latino students at 17.

Council Bluffs Community Schools provides ACT test prep classes for students who plan to take the exam, Vorthmann said. The district will continue to do that for students who may want to have an ACT score among their academic credentials.

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Our job is to provide opportunities for all students, he said.

ACT scores are still used by many private organizations that award scholarships, board President Chris LaFerla said.

Organizations are slow to change, so I think its important to keep that going, he said.
Iowa Western Community College will honor retired President Dan and Pam Kinney Saturday at its annual Black Tie Harvest Auction.

The event, Iowa Westerns biggest scholarship fundraiser, has generated more than $2 million for the scholarship fund since its inception.

The Kinneys are being honored for their dedication to Council Bluffs and southwest Iowa and for their commitment to the college and its students, according to Iowa Western Foundation officials.

The pair met during the summer of Pams junior year in high school when Dan moved into her hometown of Blue Hill, Nebraska, according to a press release from Iowa Western. The two graduated together in 1964 and continued their education together at Kearney State. They graduated in 1967 and were married that summer.

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The couple began their professional careers in education soon after, with Pam teaching in Kennesaw and Bladen, Nebraska and Dan teaching at Central Community College in Hastings, Nebraska. In 1969, the family expanded with the birth of their son, Daniel. Over the next two decades, Pams career shifted from education to public relations, while Dan continued to advance within community colleges, taking the family to Grand Island, Nebraska and Colby and Coffeyville, Kansas.
While at Fort Bragg, Collins met her husband, John, a weapons specialist in the Army.

We had our first child when we were still at Fort Bragg, she said.

It was a difficult time to serve, Collins said.

My era was a huge shift, she said. When we joined the Army, there was no talk of war. We were in the midst of our service when Operation Enduring Freedom started and the (World Trade Center) towers went down. When the towers went down, Fort Bragg went into lockdown. I didnt see my husband for three days.

It was a very scary time, but it also kind of rallied the troops, Collins continued. When we were in peacetime, there wasnt that much patriotism. People who joined later were true patriots, because they knew they were going to be deployed. It completely changed the landscape.

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The change hit home when John was deployed. Her daughter Kylie was only 3 months old.

(His were) some of the first boots on the ground in Iraq, Collins said. I didnt know if he was alive or dead.

He did not have access to internet or cellular phone service in the desert, she said.
I didnt want to deal with my emotions or deal with the silent war inside my mind.

After deciding he needed help, he self-reported to his first sergeant telling him everything that was going on. Shortly after he went to rehab in Lincoln, Nebraska. In rehab he was able to get sober, but he still had to deal with the emotional trauma he was facing.

Jastorff started therapy and after eight months, he decided to open up about what he was struggling with emotionally.

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I was scared to even talk about that stuff at first because I didnt know what people were gonna think of me, he said. But I got the courage and my family support system helped me through all of that.

After opening up to his therapist about everything, the Army found him unfit for duty  saying he had PTSD and other symptoms.

Jastorff kept up with therapy  going through intensive therapy for two years, where he would meet with his therapist four to five times a week.

Now its a maintenance therapy that I do, he said. I have two groups once a week, and I meet with my therapist once a week and now I have a routine in my life.
This story first appeared in the Nonpareil's Honoring Our Veterans section, available on newsstands now.

1st Sgt. Todd Smiley has served in the Iowa Army National Guard, 168th Infantry, for more than 24 years and was deployed to Afghanistan twice. He now works full time for the National Guard as a noncommissioned officer of operations.

Smiley moved to Council Bluffs during his high school years from Colorado and joined the Air Force Junior ROTC at Abraham Lincoln High School. His stepfather had served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and he was interested in military service. He joined the National Guard in 1997 and completed basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The offer of college tuition was good motivation, he said.

Smiley graduated from Abraham Lincoln in 1998 and took his Advanced Individual Training. He attended college for one semester right after high school but, at that point, was more interested in finding a job. He began with the Guard as most members do, training one weekend a month in order to be prepared.
As one who generally supports religious pluralism and workplace accommodations, and doesnt support employers prying into peoples private lives or morals, I think this law opens up a hornets nest. When life or death hangs in the balance for some in proximity, these mandates  with allowance for legitimate exceptions  are an appropriate attempt at protecting public safety.

The truth is, some of those protesting vaccines or masks are doing so out of an antipathy to government telling them what to do. Some even continue to doubt basic facts about COVID-19. And some people just dont care about the well-being of others who are medically compromised and could die after being exposed to it.

Employers obviously have a careful balancing act to do here and cant be too heavy handed. How do they know if employees resistance is based on bona fide religious prohibitions or medical conditions? What if those are just excuses when the real motivation is some political agenda? Is it fair for other employees to be exposed to possible infection with a potentially life-threatening pandemic by people who refuse to take precautions? And should the state  i.e., taxpayers  be required to pay for that refusal?
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What services does your agency provide, and who generally does it serve? We're an organization that matches a mentor and mentee that get together one hour a week on school grounds. It's meant for the mentee to have a positive role model in their lives. Mentees are children from grades 3-12.
Just 19 years old and less than a year out of high school, Chris Bruns found himself in the midst of one of the most dangerous operations of the Iraq War.

As a member of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines  or the 2/11  Bruns was part of Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, which stretched from Nov. 7 through Dec. 23, 2004.

It was an experience that I will hold near and dear to my heart for the rest of my life, along my entire time in Iraq, said Bruns, a Lincoln County commissioner who served a decade in the Marines. Ill look back at that time in my life fondly  even with all the chaos that there was and all the emotions that are wrapped up with it. I served with some amazing individuals and we were a team. It was what we trained for, and we did the job honorably in my opinion.

Bruns was a member of a squad that initially took position on ridges on the eastern edge of the city and provided coverage as other military troops made their way toward northern Fallujah for the start of the joint campaign by U.S., British and Iraq troops to drive the Iraq insurgents out of the city.
They lost in 64 and they lost now in 2016, said Bolsonaro, referring to Brazils left and the beginning of the 1964-1985 dictatorship.

Surrounded by dozens of deputies, waving his hands and shouting into the microphone, Bolsonaro went on: For the families and the innocence of children that the Workers Party never respected! Against communism! For freedom! Against the Sao Paulo Forum!

The Sao Paulo Forum, founded by the leftist Workers Party in its namesake city, is a conference of leftist parties and other groups from Latin America and the Caribbean  the kind of gathering that conservatives like Bolsonaro frequently bash. In recent decades, participants have mostly been fringe politicians of socialist leanings, but that is enough for the forum to be a bogeyman for far-right activists and fans of conspiracy theories.

Then came Bolsonaros most fiery statement, which provoked gasps, boos and some muted cheers in the chamber as he delivered it: In memory of Col. Carlos Alberto Brilhante Ustra, the dread of Dilma Rousseff!

It was a shout-out to the military officer who had overseen the repressive apparatus that tortured Rousseff when she was imprisoned  clearly a low blow, and shocking even by Bolsonaros standards.
More than half of cases are in New York and Boston, a common destination for Ecuadorians, Brazilians and Haitians.

The Justice Department, which oversees immigration courts, has said it chose the 11 cities involved not just because they're where most recent arrivals are settling, but because they have established legal service providers and available judges.

In Boston, which was added to the program relatively recently, one judge had the most cases on the new docket of any in the country, at least through August. Mario Sturla had 3,178 cases assigned to him, on top of the nearly 4,000 others he was handling, according to TRAC.

One October afternoon, almost all of the roughly 20 cases before the Obama appointee were Brazilians, mostly parents with young children. The judge was courteous as families spoke through interpreters and juggled restless, sometimes crying children.

Few had lawyers. A 24-year-old woman from Cuenca, Ecuador, who asked to be identified by first name only for safety reasons, didnt know what to expect. The judge told her to return with an attorney in March.
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Then in August, a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport triggered old memories. Thirteen U.S. service members and 179 Afghan civilians died. It reminded him of the blast that killed his comrades and nearly took his life.

One photo in particular moved him to tears. It showed Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, holding an Afghan baby in her arms a few days before the explosion that took her life.

I saw that photo, and it just grabbed me so hard, Kirby said, tearing up again. It overpowered me so much. It brought back the night I was wounded.

He downloaded the photo and put it on his computer desktop. He couldnt stop thinking about the young sergeant cradling that baby before she died.

And it reminded Kirby how grateful he was for the soldiers who had brought him back from the dead, and gifted him with another half century of life.

Last month that memory led him to VirtualWall.org, an online version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., with the names of 58,282 people killed in the war etched in black granite.
A battle between Democratic progressives and moderates, accusations of domestic violence against a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump and the potential entry of a television doctor are all factors in Pennsylvanias wide-open 2022 Senate contest.

The Republican side of the race opened up in October 2020, when incumbent Sen. Pat Toomey announced he would be retiring and not seeking a third term. Democrats had substantial victories in the gubernatorial and Senate races in the 2018 midterms, but Toomeys reelection in 2016 and the last two presidential results in the Keystone State were all tight races within 2 points. Joe Biden won Pennsylvania in 2020, but in 2016, Trump became the first Republican to carry the state since the Reagan era.

Next years Senate race is expected to be a marquee midterm contest, with both the Cook Political Report and the University of Virginia Center for Politics rating it as a toss-up. And given the Senates current 50-50 split between the parties and a map that could favor Democrats, its plausible that Pennsylvania will decide who controls the Senate.

From left: Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, Rep. Conor Lamb, Dr. Mehmet Oz and Sean Parnell. (Photos: Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, Jeff Swensen/Getty Images, Keith Srakocic/AP Photo, Mark Makela/Getty Images)

The races very early frontrunner in fundraising and name recognition is Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. The former mayor of Braddock, a small steel town outside Pittsburgh, Fetterman ran for the Senate in 2016 as the progressive candidate in the race, finishing third in the Democratic primary. He also stands out physically: bald, goateed, dressed down and towering over Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in their appearances together.

Fetterman's profile has risen since then, as he was an outspoken critic of election conspiracies promulgated by Trump and his supporters last fall, becoming a cable news regular in the process. When the Republican lieutenant governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, issued a reward for proof of voter fraud, Fetterman pointed to a Pennsylvania man who voted for Trump via his dead mothers absentee ballot.

Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)

Fetterman asked for the reward in gift cards to Sheetz, a regional gas station chain, and the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. Patrick did not pay up, however.

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Fetterman has touted his progressive bona fides throughout the campaign, vocally supporting marijuana legalization, directing his supporters to donate to union strike funds and criticizing centrist Senate Democrats who are unwilling to abolish the filibuster in an effort to pass more of the partys agenda. Since entering the race in February, he has raised more than $9 million.

The candidate who could emerge as Fettermans top competitor, Rep. Conor Lamb, has positioned himself to the lieutenant governors right. Lamb, a Marine and former prosecutor, first gained prominence in Democratic circles by winning a March 2018 special election to a Pittsburgh-area U.S. House seat. In a series of tweets on Sunday, Lamb did not directly name Fetterman but implied he was too radical to win a general election.

If you want a Senator who runs as a Socialist, feeds the GOP attack ads, & didn't help with infrastructure, I'M NOT YOUR GUY, wrote Lamb. That's not how you beat Republicans. I know because I've actually done it & will again. I'm a normal Democrat who supports jobs & wins elections.

Rep. Conor Lamb talks with constituents in New Castle, Pa. (Jeff Swensen/Getty Images)

Two Philadelphia-area Democrats are among the others contending in the race. Valerie Arkoosh, a physician and chairperson of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, would become the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Pennsylvania. And Malcolm Kenyatta, a 31-year-old state legislator representing Philadelphia, would become the states first Black and openly gay senator.

According to the most recent filings, Lamb and Arkoosh have both raised more than $2 million, while Kenyatta has brought in $1.2 million. Both Lamb and Kenyatta were featured as Rising Stars keynote speakers at last years Democratic National Convention.

The Republican race to replace Toomey is just as muddled at this point. Among the contenders is Jeff Bartos, a Philadelphia-area real estate investor who has served as the state partys finance chair and unsuccessfully ran for lieutenant governor against Fetterman in 2018 after considering a Senate bid.

Then theres Carla Sands, who served as Trump's ambassador to Denmark and was one of his key fundraisers in California before recently relocating back to Pennsylvania. The CEO of a real estate investment firm founded by her late husband, Sands has the ability to self-finance her run, already investing $3 million of her own money, according to reporting by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

But neither Bartos nor Sands has earned the endorsement of Trump, who has instead thrown his support behind Pittsburgh native Sean Parnell, calling him a great candidate who will make Pennsylvania very proud. A former U.S. Army Ranger who lost a tight House race to Lamb in 2020, Parnell has become a favorite in conservative media circles. But his campaign has been rocked by accusations from his estranged wife that he strangled her and abused their children.

Sean Parnell at a campaign rally for then-President Donald Trump at Pittsburgh International Airport in September 2020. (Keith Srakocic/AP)

During testimony in a custody case last week, Laurie Snell said her estranged husband tried to choke me out on a couch, and I literally had to bite him, and said he called her a whore and told her to go get an abortion. Parnell testified Monday that her comments were complete fabrications and flat-out lies, saying he never strangled or got physical with her.

Let me emphatically state: I have never raised a hand in anger towards my wife or any of our three children, Parnell said in a statement after Snells testimony. What happened today in court was not justice, nor did it have any basis in fact or truth.

The judge hearing the case said Tuesday he would issue a written opinion after he comes to his decision but did not offer a timetable as to when that might happen.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who oversees the Republican Senate campaign arm, declined to say whether the Trump-endorsed candidate was right for the job considering the allegations. Scott is formally staying neutral in Senate primaries.

Well see who comes out of the primary, he said in an interview with CNN on Monday. Facts will come out. Well find out exactly what people think. I think what ultimately happens is, people are going to look at somebodys background and say is that the type of person they want and also are they talking about the issues I care about.

More Republican candidates could still enter the race, and on Tuesday a report circulated of one potential wild card: Dr. Mehmet Oz, televisions Dr. Oz, who rose to prominence via guest appearances on Oprah Winfreys show before getting his own series. The Washington Free Beacon, a conservative outlet, reported that Oz had begun hiring a staff and reaching out to potential allies.

Dr. Mehmet Oz speaking in New York in 2019. (Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Oz has been long criticized for promoting junk science on his show. A spokesperson for him told the Free Beacon: "Since last year, Dr. Oz has lived and voted in Pennsylvania where he attended school and has deep family ties. Dr. Oz has received encouragement to run for the U.S. Senate, but is currently focused on our show and has no announcement at this time."

Meanwhile, Politico reported last week that Pennsylvania Republicans are urging David McCormick, a combat veteran and hedge fund executive who served in former President George W. Bushs Treasury Department, to enter the race.

With Toomeys retirement, Pennsylvania is seen as a top pickup opportunity for Democrats next year, as is neighboring Ohio, where a brutal GOP primary to replace outgoing Republican Sen. Rob Portman is playing out.

Republicans, meanwhile, are hoping to hold onto seats not only in Pennsylvania and Ohio, but also in North Carolina and Florida, while knocking off Democratic incumbents in Georgia, Nevada, Arizona and New Hampshire.
Still serving your countryCapt. Tony Amerson of the OPD retired from the Army in 2018 after 28 years of service. He started in field artillery, as a cannoneer, and by the time he retired he had changed his military occupational specialty to logistics supply. As a first sergeant, he deployed in 2003 and 2004 and was sent to Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan.

Amerson says he was drawn to police work because the structure and chain of command were similar.

When I got out of the military, there was nowhere I could go shoot a tank, so policing was the closest I could get to still wearing a uniform, Amerson said.

Lee County Sheriffs Deputy Vanessa Williamson, the first generation in her family to be born in America, spent 12 years in the Marine Corps, where she rose to the rank of staff sergeant and served three tours in Iraq.

I wanted to serve my country, she said. Whether youre defending your country from foreign enemies or protecting local members in the community from harm, youre still serving your country.

According to these veterans, the military has helped them develop discipline, communication skills and leadership skills, which has helped them with law enforcement work.
The workers in other states allege that, while they weren't forced to work as many hours as their counterparts in New Jersey, they were paid well below standards set by federal and state minimum wage laws. Multiple workers named as plaintiffs worked at more than one of the temples, the lawsuit alleges, some for as long as eight or nine years in total.

Similar to the allegations in the initial suit against the Hindu temple in Robbinsville, outside the New Jersey capital of Trenton, workers at the temples in the other four states claim they weren't allowed to have their passports and slept in large halls on the temple grounds that were monitored by security guards.

At the Robbinsville temple and elsewhere, the defendants intentionally caused the workers to reasonably believe that if they tried to leave their work and the temple compounds, they would suffer physical restraint and serious harm," the lawsuit claims.

The temples named in the lawsuit are all affiliated with BAPS, a corporation registered in Delaware and with offices in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


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I swear I already read this in a dystopian fanfic shipping Jude Law/Forest Whitaker from Repo Men. Like, a bar owner who partnered with virtual therapy who subsequently targeted ads at women victimized at the establishments

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so was this a ship you were seeking out or

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Yeah, the movie was taking too long to finish.

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desperately need you to drop the link

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Fucking ghoulish. This reads like a parody, if this was a plot line on Black Mirror Id say it was too on the nose.



I HATE IT HERE

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"This reads like a parody"



RIIIIGHHHHTTTTT!

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I don't know about betterhelp or their outreach much. I've only seen it from youtubers promoting on their channels as a sponsorship so yeah.



But he part that gets me is "partnering with BetterHelp to offer one month of free therapy" that it's only ONE MONTH!!



You know I've never had to use therapy for trauma or ptsd but hearing other peoples accounts....I know that healing is not done in ONE MONTH!! Maybe some might but it usually seems to be a long process and everyone is different. Some may take days, weeks, months, years....whatever!! Clearly there is not time-limit !!(seriously sending all the love and prayers to people during their healing process out there!!<333)



So that one month only offer is a joke!! to the point that I almost getting gallows humor here cause of the absurdity of it all!!



I hope they sue them for all they got!!

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Clinical psychology grad student here. Although I'm not experienced in trauma work, that's my labmate's specialty. Based on our conversations, one month is definitely not enough and typically requires months (if not at a year) to work on. Even if they do trauma-informed therapy multiple times a week (instead of the typical one session a week schedule) to account for the short timeline, that's not feasible because the client may not be emotionally ready to get through full sessions multiple times a week. This is especially true when they're starting therapy.



The combination of the publicity and the short duration covered really makes BH seem like they're trying to profit off of a highly public traumatic event and raises questions about how they approach treatment (i.e., do they really expect one month to be sufficient or are they hoping to earn money off of all the new clients that need to continue therapy once that one month expires?)



*Normally, I don't dive too deep in discussing mental health/clinical psychology in comments, but making an exception here since we're talking more about ethics and general discussion about quality of care rather than Dxing someone with little/no information (a big no-no).



Edited at 2021-11-11 02:20 pm (UTC)

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Ive been in therapy for 20 years and Im still healing and working on moving on from my sisters r*pe and and murder from 20 years ago (my mom and myself found her and had her 3 year old with us). Plus other trauma pops up in life too. It definitely takes much longer than a month. Theyre like sharks smelling blood in the water. Theyre expecting to profit off those needing therapy beyond the one month which will be all of them!!!

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I was almost involved in a car accident a few years ago. I was travelling behind a semi who hit a vehicle passing in the oncoming lane head-on. I watched everything and saw the dead body afterwards. I still have trauma and anxiety driving because of it.



After witnessing multiple dead bodies and the sheer indifference of some of their concertgoers, event staff and the artists they love, these people may need therapy for years as well. I still feel sick from everything this weekend and I wasn't there.

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Everything you said plus:



"They also cannot be used to obtain a clinical diagnosis or medication."



So anyone who was affected by this and understandably may need to be medicated or diagnosed to an actual physician for the short or long while will essentially be rehashing their trauma for A MONTH with nothing or no one to aid in their recovery.



Absolutely disgraceful, they should be ashamed but I'm not surprised they're using this as an opportunity to profit - both Travis and BetterHelp

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These services are also meant to address the wealth gap in therapy but are terrible for therapists working there and patients who seek help thru it. I read an article (maybe in WaPo?) about people who get bounced from therapist to therapist and then cant cancel their accounts. And unfortunately I don't think these services provide a quality provider. This won't help anyone and I guarantee BetterHelp is either paying Travis or offered it free for the "promo" and it's disgusting and a misread of the situation by everyone involved.

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This whole thing is so fucking sick and demented and I cant believe they insulted the victims with this bullshit betterhelp scam site

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Obviously Scott is throwing money around pre-emptively to save face, and probably thought BetterHelp would be a one-stop-shop kind of deal. And if BetterHelp thought this would be good publicity for their "brand" they are idiots. Flush then both.

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Wow him and the Kardashian/jenner family are a match made in hell, they dont do ANYTHING without monetizing the shit out of it

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i would very much like to see this energy against TS kept up

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Between the initials "TS" and your gif I thought this was aimed at Taylor Swift and I was like...wait, how is she involved in this?



I need sleep, or coffee.

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I keep doing that too lol

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Nope, I'm right there with you lol

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i knew that was a risk, but i'm not giving this man the respect of typing out his name 

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Lol me too especially since I just came form the other TS post

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Off topic but I just read the comments on TSs last post on IG his fans are deranged. The defense of him makes me sick. What is wrong with these people?

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He has his fans commit violent acts for him. This is so unsurprising. Stan culture is fucked up.

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isn't one month free better help the standard sponsorship for youtubers podcasters influencers etc? mess

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lol yes!!

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nnn promo code ASTROWORLD





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no its not, it's $100 off the first month

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Youve been through something traumatic, heres our promo code! It takes months even years to understand for some people to seek help for trauma and disaster tragedies such as this one so wow a whole month the same as if these people listened to a podcast then taking no insurance so generous Better Help, fabulous.



Lol fuck Better Help and fuck Travis Scott.

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I want to share this because I feel like the media isnt doing a good job explaining how bad and traumatizing this was. It wasnt just trampling - people were being slowly suffocated to death from the pressure of bodies around them. Their screams for help were ignored pic.twitter.com/0C1dFtEpWV  Savvy (@sleepisocialist) November 8, 2021



Just awful I was literally just watching this:Just awful

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"It really wasnt a mosh pit where we were. We were actually towards the back," he said. "And all of a sudden, people start pushing us from the back and were not actually able to open up anything. There was no space. People were actually freaking out. There was a girl behind us who was frantically screaming."



"And as the people, the first layer of people, fell down ... we ended up falling down on our backs and people ended up falling on top of us," he said. "I couldnt get up for the longest. No one really could get up. There was no one moving. The music was going and people were jumping and dancing."



https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/ayden-cruz-tried-stopping-travis-scott-show-astroworld-festival/285-8802a1cd-3c2c-4b6d-b50e-ca87db207ebb



Nightmare situation.



ETA: she mentions parents trying to protect their kids and at first I kept thinking why would you bring your kids to open-air concerts like this??? Especially since it's really meant not for kids at all too especially the under-15 crowd + there is some known history about his concerts being kinda intense and wild.



I think stadiums concert in comparison are a bit safer cause the crowd is limited to their seats (unless you're on the floor near the stage). Granted I do remember going to my first concert when I was around 9 years old.





Edited at 2021-11-11 05:47 am (UTC) Yeah I saw Ayden Cruz's account and he said similar things!Nightmare situation.ETA: she mentions parents trying to protect their kids and at first I kept thinking why would you bring your kids to open-air concerts like this??? Especially since it's really meant not for kids at all too especially the under-15 crowd + there is some known history about his concerts being kinda intense and wild.I think stadiums concert in comparison are a bit safer cause the crowd is limited to their seats (unless you're on the floor near the stage). Granted I do remember going to my first concert when I was around 9 years old.

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God I cant imagine. This is horrific

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This was a horrific event but yeah, why you would bring your child to a concert of this size while we are in the midst of a pandemic is beyond me. Even if the crowd weren't know to be rough, even if Peppa Pig were performing, I wouldn't do it.

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I saw video of a FIVE YEAR OLD at the damn front of the crowd. Not even wearing protective headphones or anything. They should be fucking child abuse tbh a five year old does not belong in a fucking festival crowd

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i remember going to a festival (isle of wight) with my parents when i was really young, but we stayed near the back and they brought deck chairs, which at the time i thought was embarrassing and i wanted to be where the action was but now as an adult i totally get it.

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i'm tearing up reading this. i hope this kid has all the support he needs to deal with this trauma.

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BetterHelp is so sketchy. Fuck them.

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Are they? why? i was thinking about giving it a try.

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https://jezebel.com/the-spooky-loosely-regulated-world-of-online-therapy-1841791137



https://www.thecut.com/article/mental-health-therapy-apps.html Somebody posted these on a previous post about this:

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As a therapist who is solicited by these services to join and "work" there, do not. They're horrible.

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My husband just started working for one of these apps and says it's the most toxic place he's ever worked.

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Get a real therapist that offers Telehealth sessions instead, lots of them do.

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the only good use I see for it is the extremely specific case of someone who has had real therapy before + feels too overwhelmed to find a new therapist = uses BH as a stopgap (a friend of mine did this recently and called it BetterThanNothing) but obviously that's not a big business model so that's not what they're doing for the vast majority of their customers

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like, I'm genuinely curious - are they THAT tone deaf, or are they so out of touch with reality that this seemed like a good idea?



I truly hope this entire family never recovers from this tbh

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I truly hope this entire family never recovers from this tbh



surely they just need a month of virtual therapy? /s

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The U.S. Commerce Department has rejected a request by a group of companies to impose tariffs on solar panels imported from Southeast Asia.

U.S. solar farm developers' dependence on cheap imported panels has burst into the spotlight amid supply chain disruptions and the continued tensions between Washington and Beijing. However, the sector has been vocal against the imposition of tariffs that would reduce their dependence on imports but expose them to the higher prices of locally produced panels.

The group of solar farm developers that asked for the tariffsAmerican Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumventiondiverged from the industry line with the argument that panels imported from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand were actually Chinese panels as Chinese manufacturers moved their production lines to these three countries to skirt U.S. tariffs on China-made panels introduced by the Trump administration.

The majority opinion, however, is that if tariffs are imposed on imported panels, the U.S. solar industry will suffer a severe blow. According to industry body Solar Energy Industries Association, if tariffs are imposed on imported panels, this would compromise the commercial viability of some 18 GW of new solar projects over the next two years.

Interestingly enough, it was not on industry-related grounds that the Commerce Department decided to reject the group's request. According to a Reuters report, the motive for the rejection was the American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention's unwillingness to identify its members, which, the department said, prevented it from evaluating the request adequately.

The group has said it fears the Chinese solar industry's reaction if it reveals the identities of its members.

The Solar Energy Industries Association said that the Commerce Department's decision on the tariff issue "provides a rush of certainty for companies to keep their investments moving, hire more workers and deploy more clean energy."

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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When news that Chinese factories were shutting down for lack of electricity and that many in Europe were struggling to pay their electricity bills, it ignited fears that the crunch squeezing Europeans would spill over in the United States.

After all, shale drillers remained cautious about boosting demand and focused instead on returning cash to shareholders. Exporters, on the other hand, geared up for massive increases in the amount of gas sent abroad, where buyers were willing to pay hefty premiums. The fear quickly deepened. Yet, not all believe that the United States is in for its own version of the European energy crunch.

In Europe and Asia, the crunch was the result of tighter than usual gas supplies because of a cold start to this years spring in those parts of the world, as well as gas market speculation. The thing about these regions, however, is that they rely on imports for a substantial portion of the gas supply that they need. In the case of Asia, imports account for the bulk of gas consumption, which explains why buyers there were the preferred clients of U.S. LNG exporters as they were willing to pay top dollar for the much-needed supply.

Rising exports were one reason for the worry that there wont be enough gas for domestic consumption this winter. The Wall Street Journal reported last week that because of heightened exports, U.S. utilities were having to pay the highest price on record to replenish their reserves ahead of the winter season.

Last Friday, the report said, the Henry Hub benchmark hit $55.16 per million British thermal units, which compared to just $3 per mmBtu a year ago. As substantial as this price increase is, it is still nowhere as substantial as the price rise European utilities have seen. And, according to some, it will never get as bad in the United States as it is in Europe and Asia.

Bloomberg earlier this week cited the chief executive of pipeline company DT Midstream as saying that despite the higher prices, the United States did not risk an energy crunch because drillers were boosting production, motivated by the higher prices.

You can see periods of strong pricing, but I dont believe in North America we will have any supply disruptions, David Slater told Bloomberg in an interview. We have adequate inventory and adequate production.

The mild weather during the fall has helped, too, Slater said, as it helped utilities replenish their inventories more easily than their European counterparts. He also noted private shale drillers production increase amid higher prices that led to the increase in supply.

IHS Markits Daniel Yergin agrees that the United States is not threatened by an energy crunch. I dont think we get a gas crisis, Yergin told Bloomberg in another interview. The U.S. has lots of natural gas.

And yet consumers will see higher utility bills this winter, the Wall Street Journal reports. Despite the abundant domestic reserves, production is lower than it was before the pandemic and the export pressure is substantial. As a result, several utilities have filed requests with their regulators to raise prices for end-consumers, the WSJ notes.

Demand for natural gas and power is increasing substantially over where it was a year ago, says James Daly, vice president of energy supply at Eversource Energy, a utility with 3.6 customers, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal. Were seeing a bit of upward pressure on natural gas prices here to respond to the very high demand and the prices in Europe.

This upward pressure is quite significant, according to the Energy Information Administration, in fact. In its latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, the authority forecast that U.S. households using gas for heating will have 30-percent higher bills this winter season because of this pressure.

The EIA noted in its report, released earlier this week, that inventories of natural gas were below the five-year average for this time of year, demand from utilities continued strong despite the rise in prices, and exports of liquefied natural gas would continue higher during the winter. Production would also rise during the winter, the EIA said, but still, prices would remain highly volatile during this heating season, with the weather acting as the ultimate price-setter.

That the United States is one of the worlds top producers of natural gas is what sets it apart from both Europe and Asia. Even with record exports set to continue as demand for LNG remains strong across much of the world, the U.S. still has enough gas to avoid the worst of the crunch that saw utilities go bust in the UK, and Chinese businesses endure rolling blackouts.

A repeat of the European gas crunch in the United States, therefore, is simply impossible. This, however, is not to say that Americans are insured against a tough winter. Mostly, it is exports that are behind the higher prices, and exports will continue strong. If the winter turns out mild, the pain wont be as bad, but if it turns out harsh, then problems with utility bills might become a reality for many.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Private firms are now jumping into the race, and investors are ready to fork over huge amounts of cash for the best and brightest in the field.

For the past 100 years, commercial nuclear fusion has existed in a realm far closer to science fiction than to scientific practice. In fact, when English mathematician and astronomer Arthur Eddington hypothesized that our sun and stars generate their own power through a process of merging atoms to create massive amounts of energy, heat, and light just a century ago, he was very nearly dismissed as a quack. But since that time, nuclear fusion has advanced by leaps and bounds, from thought experiments to lab-tested experiments, and in the last few years, to major breakthroughs that hint that commercial fusion could really finally be just around the corner.

Nuclear fusion is sought after as the holy grail of clean energy because it is a totally clean energy source with the potential to create essentially limitless power with absolutely zero greenhouse gas emissions if the full power of fusion reactions can be harnessed by humans. Simply put, nuclear fusion is the process by which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a single heavier one while releasing massive amounts of energy, the International Atomic Energy Agency explains. Fusion reactions take place in a state of matter called plasma  a hot, charged gas made of positive ions and free-moving electrons that has unique properties distinct from solids, liquids and gases.

The trick is creating an environment here on Earth that facilitates fusion, but recreating the kind of conditions found in the core of the sun is a tall order. Amazingly, scientists are already capable of creating man-made nuclear fusion reactions in controlled spaces. The issue is that provoking these reactions requires immense amounts of energy, and so far controlled nuclear fusion experiments have not been able to produce more energy than they consume.

Experimenting with nuclear fusion is an extraordinarily expensive endeavor. The reactors that are built big enough to achieve potentially commercially viable fusion are massive, and require huge amounts of costly materials as well as years of research and development led by some of the smartest scientists out there. Because of these massive barriers to entry, huge government projects have led the charge toward nuclear fusion. Related: Metals Will Be The Oil Of The Future

ITER, an intergovernmental project located in the South of France, has announced that it expects to reach net-positive energy in its massive tokamak reactor by 2036, with a price tag of around $22 billion. China also has an artificial sun which set a record for a sustained nuclear plasma reaction this summer. But now, for the first time in nuclear fusion history, private companies are entering the race to get to commercial fusion first.

In what can be seen as a clear sign that nuclear fusion is getting close to viability, private financiers are getting involved in the research and development process and funneling money into nuclear fusion startups. Just this month, Helion Energy, based in Washington State, was the subject of what is allegedly the largest single fundraising round for a private fusion firm in history. The company raised $500 million in this round alone, and will receive another $1.7 billion, contingent on achieving designated performance milestones. Helions reactor has already achieved the necessary temperature threshold of 100 million degrees Celsius, and the company says it will reach net-positive energy by 2024.

Other private companies have set similar targets: TAE Technologies in California says it will be commercially viable by 2030, while MITs Commonwealth Fusion Systems expects its reactor to achieve this goal by 2025, Quartz reported this week. The UK, which says it wants to become the first country to commercialize fusion energy, has set a more modest target. The government has invested in a 200 million ($248-million) reactor which it hopes will be viable by 2040.

Whether by causation or correlation, the nuclear fusion industry is heating up at the same time that the rest of the world is getting serious about combating climate change. Weaning the world off of fossil fuels in time to meet the targets set by the Paris climate accord is an urgent imperative that is going to be extremely hard to meet without serious technological advances. While commercial nuclear fusion still isnt a proven technology, the influx of new actors to the market with lofty goals of achieving net-positive energy production before mid-century is certainly a hopeful development.

By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com

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Senior energy ministry officials from Russia and the United States discussed the stabilization of oil markets on the sidelines of the COP26 conference in Glasgow.

According to a statement issued by the Russian Energy Ministry, deputy minister Pavel Sorokin and his U.S. counterpart David Turk talked about bilateral cooperation regarding international energy markets and multilateral action within the G20 group to stabilize global oil markets.

As news agency TASS noted in a report, face-to-face meetings between Russian and U.S. government officials are a rarity because of tense bilateral relations resulting from U.S. sanctions. In energy, such meetings are even rarer as much of the sanctions are targeting Russias oil and gas industry.

In this context, the meeting between Sorokin and Turk suggests that the Biden administration is actively looking for ways to boost oil supply after direct pleas and demands to OPEC+ failed to yield anything productive.

Russia produces over 10.8 million bpd of crude oil as of October. This makes it the second-largest producer after the United States, which, according to the latest EIA weekly petroleum status report, pumped 11.5 million bpd in the first week of November.

Russia is also a major exporter to the United States: in August, it became the second-largest oil exporter to the country, after Canada. According to a Bloomberg report at the time, the increase came on the back of stronger fuel demand, which prompted refiners to look for gasoline-rich feedstocks, of which Russia produces ample quantities.

The meeting could also be seen as the next logical step after U.S. officials discussed oil markets with Saudi Arabia, probably to convince the decision-makers in Riyadh to boost production.

The Biden administration has signaled repeatedly that it was trying to find a way to push prices lower without going into much detail about the tools it was considering using, only mentioning that they are using all that is available.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Belarus threatened on Thursday to halt natural gas supply at a key pipeline from Russia to Germany passing through Belarus, if the European Union imposes additional sanctions to the country in response to the migrant crisis at the Belarus-Poland border.

In recent days, a growing number of migrants have been flocking to the Belarus border with Poland. The EU has accused Belarus of stoking the tensions and the border crisis and of attempting "a hybrid attack" on the EU border.

The EU bloc is already said to be considering another round of sanctions against Belarus.

Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, warned on Thursday that his country could shut gas flows via the Yamal-Europe pipeline from Russia to Germany, which crosses Belarus and Poland.

"We provide heat to Europe, and they are threatening us with the border closure. What if we block natural gas transit?" Lukashenko said on Thursday, as quoted by Belarusian state news agency Belta.

"Therefore, I would recommend the leadership of Poland, Lithuanians and other brainless folk to think hard before opening mouth. But it is up to them. They are welcome to close the border. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should warn everyone in Europe that if they impose additional sanctions, 'indigestible' and 'unacceptable' for us, we will hit back," Lukashenko was quoted as saying.

The specter of another hurdle to Russian supplies to Europe is being raised days after Russia's gas giant Gazprom largely relieved the European gas market by saying that it had approved and started implementing a plan to send natural gas into five storage sites in Europe.

The volumes and the transportation routes for the gas flows have been determined, Gazprom said in a brief statement on Tuesday, easing concerns on the market and sending prices lower on Tuesday morning.

Despite the calmer gas markets in the past three days, uncertainty over Russia's intentions, and now the Belarus-EU spat could make Europe's gas prices extremely volatile again.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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India, which imports around 80 percent of the oil it consumes, is looking to boost its domestic oil production and has reportedly asked its state-owned producer, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), to weigh a potential sale of majority stakes in two large offshore oil and gas fields.

The Ministry of Petroleum of India has asked ONGC to consider a sale of 60 percent in the Mumbai High and Bassein oil and gas fields off Indias west coast to private firms, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting a source in the Indian government with direct knowledge of the communication.

India is the third-largest crude oil importer in the world, and imports account for more than 80 percent of its petroleum consumption. The country has been trying to increase domestic production for years, as it has become especially vulnerable to oil price rallies which raise its import bill and lead to fuel price hikes.

In recent weeks, India has grappled with record gasoline and diesel prices as international crude oil prices have held at above $80 per barrel amid a tight market and the unwillingness of the OPEC+ group to release more supply to the market than the monthly increases in volumes decided in July. India has criticized OPEC and the OPEC+ alliance for keeping the oil prices high several times this year.

Now the country is looking to raise output at its own oilfields by opening them to private companies. The recent government request to ONGC was not a binding order to the state-run oil firm to divest stakes, according to the Reuters source.

Raising domestic output will not solve Indias oil import dependence, but it could bring some relief to the country when oil prices are rallying. Another question is whether India would be able to attract private companies willing to invest in its offshore oilfields.

Last month, Indias petroleum ministry secretary Tarun Kapoor told Reuters that U.S. supermajor ExxonMobil was in talks to potentially invest in some of ONGCs deepwater exploration assets off Indias east coast.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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OPECs crude oil production rose by 217,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 27.453 million bpd in October, but still fell short of the cartels share of the 400,000-bpd total output hike of the OPEC+ group.

Under the OPEC+ deal, the ten OPEC members bound by the OPEC+ pact should be raising their combined production by 254,000 bpd each month.

Yet, estimates from secondary sources in OPECs Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR) published on Thursday continued to show what analysts, tanker-tracking firms, and previous OPEC monthly reports showed: the cartel has been undershooting its collective production quotamostly because of a lack of capacity at some members to pump crude to their respective quotas.

While OPECs top producer and the worlds largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, pumped nearly in perfect alignment to its quota and raised crude production by 110,000 bpd, several African members not only fell short of their quotas, but they also saw their respective output drop in October compared to September.

Saudi Arabias crude oil production rose to 9.759 million bpd, and the Kingdom was quite naturally the producer with the largest monthly increase. But Nigeria, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea saw their output decline last month. The steepest drop was in Nigeria, whose production fell by 45,000 bpd to 1.354 million bpd, per OPECs secondary sources. Nigerias output was more than 200,000 bpd below its cap of 1.6 million bpd. Nigeria has been struggling to reach its quota while frequent force majeure events have also contributed to the much lower production than allowed under the OPEC+ deal.

At the end of October, Shells Nigerian unit declared force majeure on loadings of Bonny Light crude, following the shutdown of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line (NCTL) by the operator, Aiteo Exploration and Production Limited.

Elsewhere among African members, the combined crude production in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea fell by 30,000 bpd in October from September.

The OPEC members that raised their respective production last month included all three producers exempted from the OPEC+ cutsVenezuela, Iran, and Libya. Venezuela boosted its oil production by 57,000 bpd per secondary sources in the OPEC report. Iran and Libya saw smaller increases of 10,000 bpd and 15,000 bpd. Since production at those three is not part of the OPEC+ deal, the 217,000-bpd output increase of OPEC-13 becomes even smaller when restricted to the 10 members part of the OPEC+ pact.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, lashed out at Greenpeace for spreading "lies" and "fabrications" about the Kingdom's policy towards climate change.

The spat ignited during the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, where bin Salman was asked about "serious allegations" made by Greenpeace that Saudi Arabia was trying to block negotiations on the climate.

"These are not serious allegations; these are fabricated allegations," the official said, as quoted by Arab News, referring to allegations made by Greenpeace that the Kingdom was obstructing progress at certain important meetings during the conference.

The Associated Press, meanwhile, reports that the Saudi Arabian delegation suggested that negotiations end every day at 6 pm rather than continue into the small hours of the night and that, according to unnamed sources referred to as "climate negotiation veterans," the Kingdom was also engaging in "complex efforts to play country factions against one another with the aim of blocking agreement on tough steps to wrench the world away from coal, gas and oil."

"It is imperative that we recognize the diversity of climate solutions, and the importance of emissions ... without any bias towards or against any particular source of energy," said bin Salman during his speech at the conference, as quoted by Reuters. The statement was in tune with those made by fellow OPEC officials such as secretary-general Mohammed Barkindo, who said the notion of a transition away from fossil fuels was misleading.

According to the Associated Press report, Saudi Arabia has been singled out this year as a culprit behind the world's failure to make any significant progress on climate commitments. One Greenpeace representative even suggested that the Saudi delegation should be isolated from other governments if they wanted to make any progress.

With Saudi Arabia, participants also bundle Russia and Australia because of their major natural resource industries that make them naturally unwilling to make any major commitments.

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Local

Omaha veteran reunites with long-lost soldier who saved his life in Vietnam

Sgt. 1st Class Doug Kirby curled up, broken and burned, on the ground in front of the flaming Army fuel depot. Nothing remained of his left leg but a bloody stump.

HANDOUT Kirby enlisted in the Army in 1961 and was a sergeant first class by the time he arrived at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam, in June 1970.

In the hours just after midnight that morning  June 5, 1970  Kirby had been guarding the fuel farm at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam. He dimly remembered the firefight as Viet Cong saboteurs opened fire, the massive explosion as several large fuel tanks ignited, and the now-dead VC who had flung the satchel bomb that ripped off Kirbys leg.

Near death, he couldnt breathe or talk. He could barely blink his eyes.

I honestly thought I was crossing back and forth between this side of life and that other side, recalled Kirby, 80, who lives in Omaha. I swear before God, I just wanted to stay on the side of peace and not go back to the hell I was in.

Then, out of nowhere, angels: three soldiers in a military police Jeep. They propped Kirby up in the front seat and sped off through the streets of Qui Nhon to a U.S. military hospital.

One of the soldiers, a Spec. 4, sat behind Kirby, slapping him repeatedly and yelling, Stay with us! Stay with us!

Kirby hung on, barely. He spent months recovering from his wounds and was medically discharged from the Army the following year, with a 100% disability.

In the years and decades that followed, he often wondered about the angels who had saved him from the fire. He didnt know any of their names.

Until now.

Ex-Central High football star piloted helicopters in Vietnam At the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., Vince Orduna confronted the memories of soldiers he knew who died fighting in Southeast Asia, and forgave himself for surviving while they didnt.

Last month, on Oct. 22, he found an account of the battle of the tank farm online. A former military policeman named Rick Wilcox described rescuing a grievously wounded master sergeant from the flaming wreckage of the fuel depot at Qui Nhon that night and rushing him across town to a military hospital.

HANDOUT Wilcox, who was sent to Vietnam in March 1969, chose his assignment in Qui Nhon in 1970. It looked like a really nice place to go, he said.

Kirby  who was actually a sergeant first class at the time, one rank lower  realized Wilcox was talking about him.

I said, Oh my God! I found the guy who saved my life!  Kirby said.

He typed an email to Wilcox.

I hope youre still alive to read this, he wrote. Chills throughout my body is the only way I can describe how I feel! THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE!

Wilcox, equally stunned, booked a flight to Omaha from his home in western Massachusetts. Just in time for Veterans Day, the pair spent three days this week swapping stories and answering half a centurys worth of questions.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD Doug Kirby recalls his service during the Vietnam War, when he was badly wounded and nearly died after a Viet Cong attack on the fuel depot he was guarding in South Vietnam on June 5, 1970. Last month he connected for the first time with Rick Wilcox, of East Barrington, Massachusetts, a military police officer who helped save Kirbys life that night.

Its very emotional. I knew it would be, Wilcox, 72, said Monday. In 24 hours, Ive let go of a lot of stuff. Ive found some peace.

It took more than a few serendipitous twists for Kirby and Wilcox to cross paths in Vietnam briefly in 1970, and then reconnect 51 years later.

Its like a Victor Hugo novel, he said.

Nebraska beet fields and Vietnam battlefields launched Marty Ramirez's activist voice On Veterans Day, Marty Ramirez will be at his childhood stomping grounds to unveil the final phase of the Chicano/Mexican-American Veterans Monument honoring Scottsbluff-area Hispanics who served.

Wilcox grew up in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the kind of town that could, and did, inspire Norman Rockwell paintings. (Rockwells studio was in Stockbridge.) In 1965, the artist once paid Wilcox, then 15, $10 to pose as a Boy Scout getting pinned with a merit badge for a painting that was reproduced on the cover of Boys Life magazine.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD Rick Wilcox, a Spec. 4 military police officer during the Vietnam War, helped save the life of a gravely wounded Army sergeant first class the night of June 5, 1970. The NCO, whose name he never knew, suffered burns, two collapsed lungs and lost a leg. He turned out to be Sgt. 1st Class Milton Doug Kirby, who is now 80 and lives in Omaha. Kirby found Wilcoxs account of the incident online last month, and the two reunited this week.

An uninspired student, Wilcox wanted to go into law enforcement after graduating from high school. He enlisted in the Army with an agreement that he would be trained as a military police officer.

I thought it might be a little easier to get a job out of the service, Wilcox said.

He was looking forward to an assignment in West Germany or South Korea like many of his classmates.

Instead, the Army sent him to Vietnam in March 1969. And as an infantry soldier, not a military police officer.

Nearing the one-year mark, he opted to extend for six months. He got his choice of assignments and picked a military police slot in the port city of Qui Nhon, 270 miles northeast of Saigon. He was part of a reaction team with the 127th Military Police Company, responding to emergencies along with routine patrols.

It looked like a really nice place to go, Wilcox said. Peaceful.

Remains of 5 Vietnam War photojournalists killed in copter crash wait at Offutt for permanent burial Five Vietnam War photojournalists died when their helicopter was shot down in 1971. Nearly 30 years later, fragments of their remains were recovered, eventually ending up at Offutt Air Force Base, where they will stay until a permanent burial site can be found.

Thats pretty much the same reason Kirby had landed in Qui Nhon.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD Doug Kirby recalls his service during the Vietnam War, when he was badly wounded and nearly died after a Viet Cong attack on the fuel depot he was guarding in South Vietnam on June 5, 1970. Last month he connected for the first time with Rick Wilcox, of East Barrington, Massachusetts, a military police officer who helped save Kirbys life that night in Vietnam.

Kirby grew up in the South  mostly east Tennessee and Georgia  following his father, who did construction work.

After graduating from high school in 1960, he faced the choice of working construction with his dad, or joining the Army. He enlisted in early 1961 and stayed in, even after the war in Vietnam ramped up.

Kirby was an airborne soldier and was on his second tour in southeast Asia when he arrived at Qui Nhon at the beginning of June 1970. Weeks earlier, he had been involved in secret missions against North Vietnamese positions across the Cambodian border.

He had recently retrained as a petroleum supply sergeant and also chose the assignment in Qui Nhon.

It was one of those safe rear areas, Kirby said. I was going to the beach. I thought I was in heaven.

'We thought we were invincible': Midlands copter pilots forged bond in nearly forgotten battle in Laos Despite its importance, Lam Son 719 is almost forgotten now  even by many Vietnam veterans. Yet to the small community of Army helicopter crews, it is their own Iwo Jima. They flew long hours, almost every day, against the fiercest anti-aircraft fire of the war.

The night of June 4-5 was Kirbys second night standing watch at Qui Nhons Tank Farm II, the main fuel storage and distribution depot for U.S. forces in South Vietnams Central Highlands. The 25-acre site in the hills outside the town held 20 million gallons of fuel for trucks, helicopters and aircraft.

A chain-link fence and razor wire surrounded the fuel farm, and Kirby had posted about 30 soldiers in gun towers and bunkers around the perimeter. Two men with guard dogs also patrolled.

About 11:30 p.m., electronic sensors started sending alarms, and the dogs sensed trouble. Spurts of gunfire followed, then rockets and explosions as some of the giant fuel tanks ignited, lighting up the night sky.

Viet Cong sappers carrying small satchel bombs penetrated the camp. Two of them got into the small building where Kirby and his radio operator, Pvt. Roosevelt Braggs Jr., 20, had been standing.

Kirby shot one sapper at the entrance, but the other threw his bomb with the fuse lit. Kirby and Braggs both dived for a corner. Braggs landed on top and bore the brunt of the blast. He died instantly.

If his body wasnt there, my body would have been cut in half, Kirby said, tearing up at the memory.

A fire was raging all around us. I knew immediately my left leg was gone, he said. I was totally immobile and realized I was going to burn to death.

As he prayed to be shot before the flames reached him, an officer appeared and dragged him outside and away from the fire.

Honor Flight: Vietnam veterans get their day in Washington The veterans arrived on four chartered jets. They boarded buses that took them to the National Mall, where they presented a wreath at the Vietnam memorial. They traced the names on the wall and wiped away tears. Some left mementos.

Across town, Wilcox and his partner, Spec. 5 Jerry Crane, were on patrol when they heard an explosion at Tank Farm II. They raced to the front gate, where several MP vehicles had already arrived. But they couldnt get inside because of small arms fire.

Finally one of the trucks drove through the fence. Wilcox saw at least two bodies, and helped two less-injured men get medical help. Then he saw Crane carrying the gravely wounded sergeant to their Jeep.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD Doug Kirby, right, of Omaha, tells a story about his service during the Vietnam War. Rick Wilcox, left, helped to save Kirbys life in 1970, but they never knew each others names until a chance discovery online last month. They met for the first time this week.

Thats when they started their wild ride to the hospital.

As they screeched up to the emergency room, two medics rushed out. Kirby remembers one of them shouting, This ones alive.

Wilcox and Crane headed back to the tank farm, where the battle had ceased but the fires continued to rage for another 24 hours. The soldiers somehow managed to extinguish them, and return the depot to service within a day.

But not without cost. Braggs and six other soldiers died in the battle. Kirby does not want their names forgotten: 1st Lt. Grady McBride III, 24, of East Gadsen, Alabama; Spec. 4 Robert Podnar, 28, of Reinbeck, Iowa; Spec. 4 Everett Ratliff, 20, of Baltimore, Maryland; Spec. 4 Johnny Dover Jr., 20, of Gaffney, South Carolina; Pfc. Robert E. Cook, 21, of Honesdale, Pennsylvania; and Pfc. Archie Trimm, 21, of Colton, New York.

Fourteen others, including Kirby, had been wounded.

'We didn't know it was bad for us': Veterans exposed to Agent Orange tell their stories, seek answers At the annual Nebraska Vietnam Veterans Reunion on Friday in Omaha, there was a session called Faces of Agent Orange, about the possible health impacts of the dioxin-laden chemical on the children and grandchildren of veterans. Such links have been suspected for decades but never proven.

Wilcox returned to the hospital the following day, to the very same ward where the sergeant he had helped rescue lay critically wounded. He had been assigned to guard a Viet Cong prisoner who was hurt in the battle.

Across the room, Wilcox saw where the soldier he had brought in was resting. He thought about asking him how he was doing. But he didnt want to disturb him.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD Kirby and Wilcox hold hands. Kirby recently found a post on the internet, written by Wilcox, that described the explosion in which he was injured. Kirby reached out to Wilcox, and that led to a meeting between the two. You get an email that says, Thank you for saving my life, it grabs your attention, Wilcox said.

The prisoner died within a few hours, and Wilcox left the hospital without saying anything to the sergeant. He finished up his extended tour in Vietnam in early 1971, and within a year got a job as a police officer in Stockbridge. Fourteen years later, he became the towns police chief. He held that job until retiring in 2014.

Wilcox earned a college degree, married (twice) and raised three children. In his police career, he witnessed the aftermath of car accidents and a murder, and of course he had seen some ugly things in the war.

But he never stopped wondering about the wounded sergeant, and kicked himself for keeping quiet that day in the Army hospital.

It bothered me for 51 years. I didnt know who he was. I didnt know whether he lived, or if he lived, Wilcox said. It was one of those things. Why didnt I go introduce myself and get his name?

Vietnam vet with brain tumor wins Honor Flight salute at home James Martin Davis helped Bill and Evonne Williams, whose Patriotic Productions organization sponsors the flights, bring a bit of the hoopla to Walter Roberts, 65, who has been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Kirby never forgot his rescuers, either, the nameless soldiers who gave him a second chance at life.

He suffered two collapsed lungs, and painful burns. His left leg was gone and his right leg was riddled with shrapnel  including bone fragments and a zipper from Braggs uniform  that caused a raging infection.

CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD Doug Kirby recalls his service during the Vietnam War, when he was badly wounded and nearly died after a Viet Cong attack on the fuel depot he was guarding in South Vietnam on June 5, 1970. Last month he connected for the first time with Rick Wilcox, of East Barrington, Massachusetts, a military police officer who helped save Kirbys life that night.

He hung on at Qui Nhon long enough to be sent to a Navy hospital in Yokosuka, Japan.

My parents had been notified, Kirby said. They were going to fly to Japan because I wasnt expected to make it.

But they never had to come. After a few weeks in Japan, he was sent to a hospital at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

He received a Bronze Star with a V device for valor, for continuing to direct the defense of Tank Farm II until he was disabled by the explosion.

Kirby recovered and was medically discharged from the Army in 1972. He studied accounting and business administration in his hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee. He did some tax work and became part owner of a sporting goods store.

'It has to be Agent Orange': Vietnam vet's tumors linked to herbicide, but convincing VA is 'uphill battle' Veterans whose diseases are officially presumed to be connected to Agent Orange may collect up to about $3,200 per month in disability benefits  plus a pension for a surviving spouse if the veteran dies. But vets whose diseases dont make the list may spend years fighting the VA. Some just give up.

A few years later, Kirby moved with his wife, Gail, and daughter, Allison, to Fort Walton Beach, in the Florida Panhandle. He became very interested in boats and took classes in boating skills. In 1981, he passed a rigorous test to qualify as a master in the U.S. Merchant Marine  a career he worked at for 20 years.

Gail died in 1997. Three years later Kirby married his second wife, Tina. Five years ago they moved to Omaha to be near Allison and her husband.

Over the years, Kirby queried the Army to try to find out who might have saved his life at Tank Farm II but got no help. His internet searches turned up nothing, either.

Then in August, a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport triggered old memories. Thirteen U.S. service members and 179 Afghan civilians died. It reminded him of the blast that killed his comrades and nearly took his life.

One photo in particular moved him to tears. It showed Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, holding an Afghan baby in her arms a few days before the explosion that took her life.

HOGP This photo of Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee holding a baby at the Kabul Airport last August in Afghanistan, was posted to her Instagram page just a few days before she was killed in suicide bombing. The photo and story of her death moved Doug Kirby, 80, of Omaha, to tears. Kirby had been gravely wounded in a bomb explosion in 1970, when he was a soldier in Vietnam. The photo inspired him to look for the military police officer who saved his life 51 years ago.

I saw that photo, and it just grabbed me so hard, Kirby said, tearing up again. It overpowered me so much. It brought back the night I was wounded.

He downloaded the photo and put it on his computer desktop. He couldnt stop thinking about the young sergeant cradling that baby before she died.

And it reminded Kirby how grateful he was for the soldiers who had brought him back from the dead, and gifted him with another half century of life.

Nebraska nurse practitioner aided women, babies during 24-year Air Force career After earning her masters  specializing in womens health  Mary Smith was ready to deploy. She got the call in 2008, when she was sent to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, for five months.

Last month that memory led him to VirtualWall.org, an online version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., with the names of 58,282 people killed in the war etched in black granite.

Kirby found Panel 9W, Lines 12 through 17, with the names of Braggs and the other men who died at Qui Nhon. On the tribute page for one of the men, he found the post by Rick Wilcox about the explosions and the gunfire at Tank Farm II, about the dead men he saw and the nameless sergeant he slapped and begged to stay alive on the way to the hospital.

In that electric moment of joy, he knew he had found his savior.

I couldnt wait to get my hands on the keyboard, Kirby said.

Wilcox had written his account in 2005, but he had only posted it on Virtual Wall last year. He was no less shocked to hear from that sergeant as Kirby was to finally find him.

You get an email that says, Thank you for saving my life, it grabs your attention, Wilcox said.

Offutt doc led effort to treat tens of thousands of Afghan refugees in Qatar Four weeks into Maj. Elaina Wild's assignment, a plane loaded with hundreds of evacuees from Kabul landed at Al Udeid Air Force Base. Then another C-17 landed. And another, and another and another.

Emails led to phone calls, which led to an invitation and a plane ticket. The two old soldiers who were linked by fate couldnt wait to meet.

HANDOUT Rick Wilcox, left, hugs Doug Kirby, after they met for the first time since Wilcox helped to save Kirbys life in Vietnam in 1970.

Doug and Tina drove their car  ironically, a Jeep  to pick up Rick at Eppley Airfield. They embraced in the cellphone lot.

We just started to give a big hug to each other, Wilcox said. There wasnt a lot of conversation. Just blubbering.

It was a magic moment, he added.

Theyve spent hours since swapping stories, catching up. The words tumble out. Their eyes light up.

I told myself, Im not going to fall to pieces every time I think about this, Kirby said. I just want to grab hold of him. I dont want to turn him loose.

CHRIS MACHIAN photos, THE WORLD-HERALD Doug Kirby of Omaha, left, and Rick Wilcox of Massachusetts, right, met this week for the first time since Wilcox saved Kirbys life in Vietnam in 1970. Kirby had been wounded in an explosion at an Army fuel depot before three soldiers rescued him and sped him to a hospital; one of those soldiers, Kirby learned last month, was Wilcox.

They have no doubts that this friendship, forged in battle but delayed so long, will last.

Friends for life.
Lefler said two of McGreevy's accusers failed repeatedly to show up for depositions. Two others acknowledged that they continued to date McGreevy for months after he "supposedly" sexually assaulted them, casting doubt on their credibility, Lefler said.

Kleine said he and Deputy County Attorney Molly Keane thought their witnesses had presented enough evidence to continue with the case and have a jury deliberate. The standard is that a judge should look at the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, Kleine said.

"We respectfully disagree wholeheartedly with (Polk's) decision," Kleine said. "I think it was unexpected not only from us but even from the other side."

Kleine said the woman in the case testified that "this guy," meaning McGreevy, had assaulted her. Another woman testified that the then-17-year-old was telling her what happened, and McGreevy entered the conversation and acknowledged that he "did it," Keane said.

"Yes, she testified that she did not directly look behind her and see him," Keane said. "But she also testified that she had no doubt that he was the person standing behind her who did this to her."

Polk ruled that wasn't enough. He pointed to a Supreme Court case in which the high court emphasized the importance of identification.
Former NASA astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison will speak about her diverse background in engineering, medicine, education and entrepreneurship at Thursdays 21st annual Lunch for the Girls.

Thursdays event is hosted by Girls Inc. and will take place at the CHI Health Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is sold out.

Jemison began her career in medicine, graduating from Cornell University Medical College in 1981, according to a press release. She worked as a general practitioner in Los Angeles before becoming a Peace Corps medical officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Jemison switched career paths when she became the first African American woman to be admitted into the NASA astronaut training program in 1987. She traveled to space aboard the Endeavour in 1992, becoming the worlds first woman of color to travel to space.

After leaving NASA, Jemison started a technology consulting firm that incorporates sociocultural considerations into technical and engineering design, the press release said. Jemison leads the 100 Year Starship, a nonprofit initiative focused on establishing the capabilities for human travel beyond our solar system within the next 100 years.
DETROIT (AP)  An official at a suburban Detroit branch of the United Auto Workers took $2 million from the union and spent it on cars, guns, luxury clothing and gambling, federal investigators said Wednesday.

Tim Edmunds, secretary-treasurer of UAW Local 412, was charged with embezzlement and other crimes. It's the latest chapter of union corruption that has sent more than a dozen people to prison and and forced major changes.

The alleged theft by Edmunds "is a betrayal to every UAW worker, said Timothy Waters, head of the FBI in Detroit.

UAW Local 412 represents about 2,600 people who work for Stellantis, formerly known as Fiat Chrysler, at factories in the Detroit area.

He is entitled to the presumption of innocence just like anybody else is. We will work through this process, defense attorney Joseph Arnone told The Detroit News.

In a statement, the UAW said its auditors discovered the improper expenditures and turned their findings over to federal authorities.

We are confident that these new guidelines will identify any similar activity in our union and serve as a deterrent to prevent such activity in the future, Frank Stuglin, the union's secretary-treasurer, said in a statement Wednesday.
But it will leave out the wholesale expansion of Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income adults that Cooper's has sought since taking office in 2017, according to the tweet. House Speaker Tim Moore had already said his caucus wouldn't support expansion, even as Berger was ready to accept it given the right situation.

An approved final measure would then go to Cooper's desk for his review. In contrast to the 2019 budget talks, when the absence of Medicaid expansion contributed to a Cooper veto and caused a stalemate that never got fully resolved, the governor is keeping options open.

After reviewing the plan, Cooper will make a decision to sign or veto the budget based on what is best for the people of North Carolina," the tweet said.

Pat Ryan, a Berger spokesperson, also said he expected action on the budget next week. Except for specifics on the plan's release date, he didn't take issue with the contents of Coopers tweet.

Saine said Cooper's willingness to sign the measure reflects what Saine considers the serious budget negotiations that have been held since Moore and Berger agreed six weeks ago on their first offer to the governor.
But Cooper said in a written statement that legislators cant simply erase this right because they dont like it. We have an effective, court-approved roadmap for making education better in North Carolina and its time to get it done.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs and their allies have said the state has shirked its responsibilities to too many children in the generation following the 2004 ruling, and there's no excuse to act now when more than $8 billion in unused funds are in state accounts. They said Supreme Court decisions, combined with language in the North Carolina Constitution approved by voters, give Lee authority to order funds be spent without a specific law passed by the General Assembly.

Lee cited a part of the state constitution that says the people have a right to the privilege of education, and it is the duty of the state to guard and maintain that right.

Every Child NC, composed of advocacy groups, praised Lee's order, adding that minority students, rural students and those learning English were among those hurt the most by school system failures: Today is an unambiguous victory for North Carolinas 1.5 million students, their families and the communities across the state that all benefit from strong, inclusive public schools and early education.
A federal jury could not agree on whether a former Nebraska state trooper violated a motorists civil rights when he bashed him in the head with the butt of an AR-15.

Jurors deadlocked after deliberating for 2 days over whether Lindsey Bixby was guilty of a felony civil-rights violation that could have sent him to prison for up to 10 years. The jury forewoman told a judge that 10 jurors had voted to find Bixby not guilty; two had voted to find him guilty. With that, she pivoted toward the back of the courtroom and nodded at a relative of Bixby sitting in the gallery.

U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher declared a mistrial. Prosecutors could retry Bixby, who remains under indictment.

Lecia Wright, an assistant U.S. attorney, said she, co-counsel Cameron Bell and prosecutors would further evaluate their case before making a decision on trying Bixby again.

Bixbys attorneys, John Berry and Michael Wilson, said the case and this weeks lengthy deliberations have been stressful on Bixby. The former trooper was appreciative of the jurors work, his attorneys said.

It would be very nice for Lindsey Bixby to have closure, but this is the next best thing, Berry said of the 10-2 vote.
Patrol officials said while no criminal charges are anticipated, the investigation is continuing. They added that a surveillance video of the incident was obtained by investigators, but it would be up to the Nuckolls County Attorney if it will be released to the public.

Roby and Lt. Brent Bockstadter gave the following account of what happened on Oct. 21:

At about 1 p.m., two Agrex managers met with Hoskinson to inform him that he was being fired. Hoskinson, who had worked as a grain buyer for the company for at least five years, then left the office building, per company policy, on what appeared to be cordial terms.

About 15 minutes later, however, Hoskinson returned, walking through the building to his former office in a back corner. Employees who saw him enter were not alarmed because they were not aware that Hoskinson had been fired.

About five minutes later, Hoskinson left his office and walked to the open door of the next-door office occupied by Sandra Nelson, 60, a fellow grain merchandiser from Formoso, Kansas. She also was not aware that he had been fired.

Hoskinson pulled a 9 mm handgun from his waistband, and quickly shot Nelson, once in the chest and once in the upper arm and shoulder. A pathologist ruled that the first shot was likely instantly fatal.
Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson on Wednesday filed a multistate lawsuit challenging the Biden administrations COVID-19 vaccine requirement for health care facilities that receive Medicaid or Medicare funding.

The lawsuit asserts that state health officials and local hospital administrators are in the best position to address appropriate COVID-19 issues in Nebraska health care facilities, a statement from Petersons office reads. We hope to avoid the detrimental impact that the mandate threatens to healthcare services in Nebraska.

The Biden administration has been encouraging widespread vaccinations as the quickest way out of the pandemic, and in September announced a series of sweeping requirements. The requirement for health care workers is separate from the mandates for federal contractors and larger employers. Nebraska is already part of lawsuits challenging those requirements.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday issued an emergency regulation requiring covered staff to get a one-dose vaccine or their first dose of a two-dose vaccine by Dec. 6 and to get the shots necessary to be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, according to an announcement from the agency.
There have also been comments on social media, including one Facebook poster who said: You need to stop talking about this vote if you have any desire to be reelected. You handed Democrats a huge W and undermined your own political party. I would strongly suggest you apologize, ask for forgiveness, and move on.

Way to turn your back on Nebraska, traitor Bacon, another said.

Bacon said that 90% of the complaints have been about the other spending measure, which has not been voted on and which he said he opposes. He said leaders in the GOP and conservative media have pushed misinformation about the just-passed bill and about his position.

I am having to answer to lies from my own team, he told The World-Herald Wednesday. Thats a bunch of bs. I dont think its right.

He also pointed out Trumps support for an even larger infrastructure bill two years ago, noting that: Partisan politics must not take the place of thoughtful policy discussions.

By contrast, Bacon said he has gotten a generally friendly reception while out and about in his district this week. He said people he doesnt know have come up to thank him for the vote, including one man who approached him while he was filling his gas tank.
Supporters of a petition drive to raise the minimum wage in the state to $15 say the effort would improve lives and economic security for Nebraskans.

In a virtual kickoff event held via Zoom on Tuesday to announce the launch of its website and social media pages, Raise the Wage Nebraska said it has begun collecting signatures to put the increase before voters in November 2022.

The coalition also said it wanted to highlight the stories of the roughly 195,000 Nebraskans whose lives would be improved by raising the minimum hourly pay of workers, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Hannah Robinson of Omaha said she continued working more than 60 hours a week at two jobs in order to survive, even after it began to take a toll on her physically and emotionally.

Robinson said she began to see work as a human condition, becoming too scared to call in when sick, and even fearing that her supervisors would not let her leave if she fell ill while at work.

She would fall asleep on the job, or during her commute to or from work, and said she felt a constant anxiety, a feeling that she always needed to be on the go, even when she wasnt working.

I took on my work as my whole identity, she said.
Online retailer JD.com also did not publicly stream a running tally of sales this year. But it did hold a media event Thursday, where a counter showed that as of 2 p.m. local time shoppers had spent over $48 billion.

Although it was a common to see consumers take advantage of deep discounts in past Singles Day festivals to stock up on daily necessities, consumption habits have changed.

Demand is weaker amid the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic, and Singles Day is now competing with other e-commerce festivals throughout the year.

2021 is a year of troubled times. There is the pandemic and various disasters, economic growth is slow and the stock market is not performing well, said Hua Wei, a Beijing resident.

These make people a little bit panicked. After all, you have a stronger sense of security if you hold onto your money, she said. I think people are also more rational now when it comes to consumption.

Another shopper, Jiang Chen, said that he held back on impulse shopping this year, buying only what he needed.

I dont think its necessary to waste time and energy in order to save a little money, so the things I buy are what I need, he said, such as snacks and fruit.
Herbster on immigration

Nuclear power

The United States Navy has over 160 ships that are nuclear powered, some well over 50 years old. Yet a lot of people, maybe most, are concerned or afraid of nuclear power. If we had a nuclear carrier sitting on the Missouri River, who would not take a tour of it out of fear the reactor(s) were going to kill them? A nuclear carrier has approximately 5,000 crew on board totally supported by nuclear power for years. As Jonah Goldberg said in his More Commentary article in the Nov. 3 World-Herald, wind and solar are not going to get the total job done. A segment on 60 Minutes a few months back showed Bill Gates with some company developing small nuclear systems that can be used to support smaller segments of the population instead of the really large facilities. Therefore, large transmission infrastructure would not be required to carry the load as there would be numerous of these units across the state. I know I must be missing something, and I am sure some engineer is going to let me know.
BLOOMINGTON  Raymond Robert Mullins said as a young man, he started out working construction. His dad worked in that field, too.

One day, Mullins said, his dad left a ladder leaning against a porch while he was working  right in front of a big sand pile. Thats when Mullins said another kid dared him to jump off the ladder and onto the pile.

When I hit it, I landed on my feet, but my body went down and my chin hit my knee, he said, and boy, it just crushed up my jaw.

Mom! Mom! Mom! he exclaimed, running toward the house.

His right eardrum was ruptured, and he never regained hearing in that ear. He was 9 or 10 years old when it happened.

Old enough to know better, he added.

In May, Mullins will celebrate 100 years of life. Although some memories he shared with The Pantagraph are eight decades old, the World War II veteran recalled them like it was yesterday.

He took his first step in his journey to the Pacific by hopping on a bus to military headquarters in Peoria when his draft number was called.

All day long, Im hoping I wouldnt have to go because of my ear, Mullins said. About 5 p.m. that evening, I find myself standing in line. Theyre swearing me into service.

Talk about somebody feeling bad.

He was bused back home, he said, and shared the news with his family. He entered service with the Army on Dec. 30, 1942.

Three days later, Mullins received his assignment in the military police at the Chicago airbase.

Mullins said they figured they would be invading Japan, and MPs would be needed for directing traffic.

He was first trained in Fort Riley, Kansas, but he wasnt sent overseas right away.

They put me on what they called 'town patrol' in Junction City, Kansas, Mullins said. There were soldiers everywhere. Soldiers, sailors, Marines, whatever it was, all over that town.

And sometimes they got into trouble, he said.

Mullins said he rented a basement room in Junction City that was complete with a bed, kitchenette and dining area. He stayed there with his wife, Alma, for two or three months. They had married before he went into the service.

He owned a 1939 Plymouth convertible coupe, he said, and the couple would go for rides with the top down when he had time off.

After that, Mullins said he had to send his wife back home, and he went to the Fort Lewis base in Washington state for more basic training.

You get up every morning, and you go outside and you march, he said. Every morning when you woke up, you could see Mount Rainier covered with snow.

Its just a beautiful place to be.

Today, his son Greg Mullins, who lives with him in Bloomington, said hes amazed by all the details his father remembers.

Raymond Mullins said Pearl Harbor was laid with mines for Japanese attacks. By the time he arrived there from Fort Lewis, he said, the naval base had been hit by surprise from the air.

Mullins noted the sunken ships were never recovered.

He would later be stationed on the Mariana Islands, Guam, and Enewetak Atoll. Mullins said his MP unit was protecting 40 nurses, and their quarters were fenced with barbed wires inside and out.

Washington was expecting a lot of wounded soldiers, he said.

One night on guard duty, Mullins said he kept hearing a noise, and it got louder the closer he got to the nurses' quarters.

Getting out of the jungle, he said he found a great, big old shepherd dog.

You talk about a relief, he said, adding the dog indicated Japanese forces had to be nearby.

But they never showed, he said.

While stationed in Guam, he said he could hear B-29s flying out at 6:30 a.m. on their bombing runs.

About two hours later, theyd be back, Mullins said, "and theyd land and get ready for the bombing next morning.

Mullins said he was in Guam when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, leading to their surrender. But that didnt mean hed immediately return home.

Mullins said a points system would determine when hed get discharged, based on rank and amount of time in service. He reached the rank of Corporal, fifth grade, he said.

In 1946, he was released from service in San Francisco after four years of duty and arrived in St. Louis early in the morning after a three-day train ride.

I thought I never would get there, he said.

Mullins then hired a taxi driver to take him to Edgemont in East St. Louis.

The fare was $10. Mullins said he would have handed over $100 if that was the bill.

He ran to the door where his wife was staying and knocked; his mother-in-law and father-in-law answered.

We really had a celebration, Mullins said.

The Pantagraph reported in a 1986 news article covering Mullins' retirement from Illinois Power that he was hired in 1946 as a forestry journeyman in Belleville. He went on to work as a lineman, a line foreman and a troubleman, and was an assistant electrical distribution superintendent for nearly 22 years.

Mullins moved to Bloomington in 1964, where he worked for Illinois Power for almost 36 years.

He was also a business agent for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for four years in Collinsville.

Contact Brendan Denison at (309) 820-3238. Follow Brendan Denison on Twitter: @BrendanDenison

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WEST FRANKFORT  The Old King Coal Festival is still held here every year, though coal is no longer king.

This community in deep southern Illinois was once awash with so-called black diamonds. The boom continued into the 1970s, but has declined steadily since. Neighborhoods just outside the city limits are still known by the numbered names of forgotten mines: No. 9, No. 11, No. 15, No. 18.

The result of the coal decline is a shifting economy and a shrinking population. West Frankfort had nearly 15,000 residents decades ago but today is home to barely 7,000 souls. Once-bustling Main Street  which at one time boasted three competing movie theaters  is now peppered with vacant, crumbling buildings.

There were 75 mines within a 50-mile radius of West Frankfort, said Leonard Hopkins, a native of the community who still lives here.

Now there are only a handful. Several factors are responsible for the downturn, including government regulation, labor strife and the depletion of the coal seams.

The boom-and-bust nature of the mining industry is certainly not unique to this area. The Old West was full of gold towns that in the New West are ghost towns. Many of those  such as Deadwood, South Dakota  have become tourist attractions that provide a new type of income. Economic recovery in the Coal Belt is more challenging.

The area as a whole will continue to lose working population, said Hopkins, a retired executive with Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, which depends on coal to deliver electricity to farms, homes and businesses in the region.

The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970, may have marked the beginning of the end for the coal industry in the region. The high-sulfur coal mined here was targeted by environmental regulation, and the rules were made more and more stringent over the years by the EPA.

What started out as a sulfur dioxide limit of 6.8 pounds per million BTU is now around 0.2 pounds per million, said Hopkins, who was vice president of fuel and environmental safety with the co-op. What started out as 1.2 pounds of nitrogen oxide per million BTU is now down to 0.12 or something like that. Its crazy. Its 90% lower over time.

The green energy push today may pound more nails into the coffin. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently signed a bill calling for the end of coal as a power source and mandating only clean energy production by 2050.

There used to be a lot of resistance to alternative energy like solar from communities because they felt an allegiance to coal companies, said Rick Linton, director of the Franklin County Economic Development Corp. Thats understandable, because so much was built by coal. But that seems to be dissipating.

Still, the region is ill-prepared to transition from coal, gas and oil to solar and wind. While many politicians claim that the new economy will provide green jobs, those jobs may not materialize in areas like southern Illinois.

For us to get into clean energy technology we need an available, capable workforce, Linton said. We have a lot of unemployed people, but a lot of companies are looking for somebody with a technical background or education. We also dont have the population base to draw from. That puts us in a weak position when it comes to attracting companies.

The region does have good infrastructure, including 18,900-acre Rend Lake, the second-largest reservoir in Illinois. Interstate highways crisscross the region. Commercial airports in Carbondale and Marion serve as commuter hubs. The Mississippi, Ohio and Wabash rivers border southern Illinois. The nearby Shawnee National Forest  the only national forest in Illinois  provides various recreational opportunities.

Were really blessed with water and transportation, Linton said. But were not going to attract retail into the area because we dont have a population base to support consumer spending.

Meanwhile, the region grapples with the loss of jobs and lack of economic growth. The closing of coal mines also affects ancillary businesses, such as machine shops and other service industries.

Illinois Basin Enterprises, which installed and serviced conveyor belts in mines across the region, was forced to shut down a few years ago.

We got up to about a dozen employees, said Randy Manning, owner of the business, which was based in nearby Benton, the Franklin County seat. Many of the mines were running three shifts.

The industry began suffering in the late 1980s when the price of coal fell dramatically.

The coal market dropped out, Manning said. Union mines were asking the workers to take some cuts. They didnt want to do that. Some of the coal mines had to shut down. Imagine all the taxes that were lost.

In some ways, the coal industry is a victim of its own success. Longwall mining  a method in which machines chew large swaths of coal underground replaced room-and-pillar mining, in which pillars of coal were left to help support the top. That meant fewer workers and more efficient production, shortening the lives of mines.

When I started, coal didnt produce like they do now, Manning said. Mainline belts were 42 to 48 inches. Now many are 84 inches wide. Longwall mines still employed quite a few people, but they produced so much coal that the life of the mine would shorten.

Hopkins believes those pushing for the elimination of fossil fuels may be sorry in the near future.

The country as a whole will be hurting for electricity in 10 or 15 years, he said. Its becoming clear that the sun doesnt always shine and the wind doesnt always blow. Its tough to compete with coal.

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Be sure to thank a veteran today. In fact, thanking a veteran every day would be a good start to a better country.

Taking an additional step, though, could help save lives.

The United States continues to fail in addressing the ongoing epidemic of suicide by active-duty members of the military and veterans. Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, 7,057 members of the armed forces have died in combat operations. Over the same period, an estimated 30,177 active-duty personnel and veterans have taken their own lives. Veterans account for 22,261 of those deaths.

Americans who die by suicide use guns about half the time, but the rate for veterans is 70%. Of course, using a gun is often lethal. One of the ways to interrupt suicide is to remove guns from troubled people. But this is especially difficult for veterans. Suggestions have included locking the guns in a house or storing them with a friend, relative or local gun club until the risk of suicide has passed.

Stand-up comedian Maria Bamford had a shocking statement in part of her performance. Pointing out that more than 7,000 U.S. veterans die of suicide every year, she adds, Which is funny. As the audience quiets and gasps, she says, Because youd think theyd die over there, but they come home. Right? I thought that must be funny, because nobody was taking it that seriously. The line is horrifying and gives a true feeling of helplessness.

Sticklers will point out that the estimates of annual suicides among veterans are closer to 6,000 per year. (That doubles the number among the civilian population.) Data reporting about suicide is complicated.

Suicide has always been a silent epidemic among soldiers. These men and women experience awful things in a combat theater and risk their lives. All are changed, whether the results of being under fire, firing themselves, or losing fellow soldiers In battle.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says it is putting a high priority on suicide prevention and awareness. But we must also play a role to be certain our soldiers are properly tended to, during and following their active service. They must receive the care promised to them.

The first thing troubled veterans may need is someone to talk with. The extent to which you feel comfortable talking to a stranger or a casual acquaintance about their mental well-being is going to vary, of course. The vital personal parts of the conversation will be more important coming from family and close friends.

Be certain the veterans in your life are aware of and able to get in touch with a suicide prevention lifeline and website. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is (800) 273-8255. The related website is SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. A resource specifically for veterans can be found at www.veteranscrisisline.net, by phone at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting 838255.

But being aware that there is an issue is the beginning of making it no longer an issue.

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Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, a Deputy Minister for Energy has called on African leaders to leverage the abundance of the gas resource on the continent. This, according to him is a key step in bridging the poverty gap in various countries.



The Secondi Member of Parliament made this call when he represented Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh at an African ministerial panel at the on-ongoing Africa Oil Week in Dubai, UAE. Hon. Mercer further called for responsible exploitation of this fossil fuel resource as it is being held in trust for generations yet unborn. This he says would ensure that the economic value of the resource is sustained for a long period of time.



He said Ghanas Gas Master Plan recognizes the power sector as the most important sector to channel the natural gas resources as currently, over 70 % of the countrys fuel requirement for power generation is met by natural gas. Hon. Mercer also called for attention to be given to the legal and regulatory framework of various countries as it provides the basis for the overall benefit of the resource for their people. He also called for the deployment of appropriate technologies in the development and utilization of the gas resource.



At the session on prospects in the upstream sector that took place during the conference, CEO of the Petroleum Commission, Egbert Faibille Jnr., walked prospective investors through Ghanas legal and regulatory regime as well as its fiscal system which makes the country an attractive destination for upstream investment. He also touched on available blocks for investment in the sector.



On his part, a Deputy CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Benjamin Acolatse touched on the role of the National Oil Company in Petroleum Agreements and their readiness to partner potential investors in the exploitation of Ghanas hydrocarbon resource.



The Ghanaian delegation continues to engage prospective investors and key players in the African oil and gas space at the conference all in the bid to position Ghana favourably for investments.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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 had a bachelors degree in Business Management from the University for Professional Studies in Accra, Ghana. But that did not stop him from going to the streets of Kantamanto to learn the art of watchmaking, thats the story of Chief Executive Officer of Caveman Watches, Anthony Dzamefe.



In his sitdown with Kwabena Kyenkyenhene Boateng on the Business edition of 21 minutes with KKB, Anthony Dzamefe recounted how he quit his job as a hotel employee to venture into entrepreneurship.



Anthony was decisive enough after realizing he was not built for a typical 8-5 work schedule. So he quit trying anything but a regular white-collar job.



He failed! But that did not deter him. Anthony kept thinking of new ideas and finding ways of implementing them just so he would make it in life.



All work and no play, they say, makes Jack a dull boy so every once in a while, Anthony would take pictures of himself and share on social media for some accolades  of course, hes an extremely good-looking gentleman, you cant blame him for serving some sauce every once in a while.



But the play would soon become the entry point to work for the aspiring entrepreneur.



After purchasing a watch for GHC 50 from a vendor and sharing photos of himself wearing the watch, fans instantly turned into a business opportunity as Anthony recounts.



I saw somebody selling a watch on one of these online platforms for 50 cedis so I just called the person and I bought the watch just to use for myself. I happened to wear the watch, I took a picture of it and someone said chale your watch dey bee oooo, are you selling it, and I said yeah. So he came and bought the watch [and] I think that was the light-bulb moment for me so I was like wow, maybe I could make a business out of this so I called the supplier back and bought two more, I sold the two and bought three, sold the three and bought four, that was the beginning of my wristwatch adventure.



After realizing his natural flair for selling watches, Anthony Dzamefe took to the streets of Accra, in a bid to make some more money, to hawk watches.



He moved from one office to another, and from one person to the other, convincing them of the need for them to purchase his products.



This would go on for three years.



While hawking though, Anthony realized that a number of his customers persistently complained about how bad the straps of their watches were and how quickly they deteriorated so in thinking of ways to solve that problem, he decided to become an apprentice to a shoemaker in order to learn leathercraft.



Anthony Dzamefe did all this while also understudying multiple roadside watch repairers so he could fix the watches of his customers should they require such a service.



After every time I would add something new. It was three years after selling watches and repairing watches and getting to know a lot about watches from the entire industry knowing how they are made because I could break down different watches, take their components out and form a new watch with it that kept an accurate time.



Soon, Anthony would graduate from the street hustle into starting his own company, except, his curiosity got him thinking about the best possible way to break into the market.



Research was the key.



I used to research about African watch brands and I couldnt find any African watch brand so all those things led to me being very curious that I know how all these things are made but how come no African has done anything like this? and that question led to the birthing of Caveman Watches.



Today, people such as the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, celebrated music icon, Akon, as well as a host of celebrities across the length and breadth of Africa use his products.



Watch the full interview of Caveman Watches CEO, Anthony Dzamefe on the business edition of 21 minutes with KKB below:





Source: Kwabena Kyenkyenhene Boateng | 21 minutes with KKB









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Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, the General Overseer of Glorious Word Power Ministry International and two others have been re-arrested.



This comes shortly after they were discharged by the Circuit court.



The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Dennis Terkpetey had Wednesday morning, prayed the court to discharge them of earlier charges, following the development of fresh charges in the case, according to Kasapaonline.com.



Aside this case, Rev Bempah and three others are also facing charges of causing unlawful damage in a different court, a development the lawyers are unhappy about.



Reports by Kasapaonline indicate that the accused persons are currently waiting for the case to be allocated to a court for the new charges to be pressed against them.



Background



Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah was arrested on September 12, 2021, with four accomplices by the Ghana Police Service.



He was arrested for allegedly storming the home of converted fetish priestess Nana Agradaa.



He was charged with offensive conduct conducive to breach of peace, threat of death, and assault of public officers.



He was later granted a GH200,000 bail on health grounds on September 15, 2021, with two sureties.



He was standing trial at the Accra Circuit Court 1 until yesterday, October 5, 2021, when the police amended the charge sheet and separated the cases.









Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has appealed to the government to use the 2022 budget to reduce the cost of doing business and strengthen companies to spur economic recovery.



The business advocacy group also urged the government to resist the temptation to introduce new taxes in the budget, given the hardship businesses are facing at the moment.



The President of GUTA, Dr Joseph Obeng, said in an interview that although the private sector was doing its best in the build-back agenda, it had been dampened by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rising cost of transaction.



Consequently, Dr Obeng said the budget, which would be presented to Parliament next Monday, must introduce policies to ease the burden on businesses and fast track the recovery.



Courtesy call



The GUTA President made the appeal shortly after the executive members of the association paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at his residence in Accra.



The visit was to strengthen the relations between GUTA and the Ga Traditional Council to help grow sustainable businesses in the country.



No taxes



Dr Obeng said the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic had affected businesses so much such that any introduction of taxes in the 2022 budget would lead to the collapse of businesses.



This year saw the introduction of new taxes and so we are not expecting another layer of cost in doing business to be added. Businesses have started showing signs of fatigue in terms of tax payment so the introduction of new taxes will make businesses collapse, he stated.



According to the GUTA President, the fees and commission paid by business in the country were way higher than what pertained in the sub-region.



He said the disparity in cost made it difficult for businesses in the country to compete with their peers in the sub-region.



In the wake of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), we should think about how to reduce the cost of doing business and not increase it, he said.



Traditional leaders



Earlier, the GUTA president congratulated the Ga Mantse on his enstoolment and pledged to work with him to advance the cause of his territory and businesses.



Dr Obeng said in the past, paramountcies evolved around trading, with traditional leaders playing critical roles in ensuring peace for businesses to thrive in Ghana.



He said GUTA was keeping to that tradition by ensuring harmonious relations between its members and traditional authorities in places they operated.



As we all know, the King has just been enstooled as the Ga Mantse. Since we believe in tradition, we have come to show our support to him and as subjects, we promise to abide by the laws of the Ga State to ensure sanity in the country. We have come to show reverence to the King and let him know how prepared we are to collaborate with the Ga Traditional Council to address issues that bother us and see the way forward to help grow our economy, Dr Obeng added.



Appreciation



The Ga Mantse expressed appreciation to the executive of GUTA for the visit and said a meeting would be scheduled for both parties to deliberate on how best they could collaborate to help grow businesses in the country.









Source: graphiconline.com









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Tullow Ghana has taken delivery of the first Ghanaian-owned, Ghanaian-flagged marine vessel to support offshore activities in the oil and gas industry in Ghana.



Named, MV Flat Confidence, the vessel was released following the successful Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID) testing on November 5, 2021.



A release issued in Accra by Tullow in Accra last Monday said: The MV Flat Confidence vessel was acquired by Flat C Marine Offshore Limited, following a long-term contract granted by Tullow Ghana to the company that enabled them to raise finances to procure the vessel.



In 2020, Tullow Ghana embarked on an initiative to develop the local capacity of the oil and gas industry through the adoption of the marine sector with the aim of creating opportunities for indigenous Ghanaian companies to own and operate vessels to support the oil and gas industry, and upscale the capacity of Ghanaian personnel in the marine sector.



Commitment



The release said the presence of the Flat Confidence vessel reflected Tullows commitment to develop and support capability growth to international standards in marine sectors.



It added that the marine sector adoption initiative aimed at enhancing indigenous participation with 100 per cent Ghanaian-owned and operationally Ghanaian-flagged offshore vessels.



This is also part of Tullows Shared Prosperity agenda which include optimising local content and developing supplier capacity.



The 71-meter long and 19-meter wide vessel will be operational in the Western Region of Ghana and will support the work of Tullow Ghanas two FPSOs  Kwame Nkrumah and John Evans Atta Mills, it added.



Leadership role



The Managing Director of Tullow Ghana, Wissam Al Monthiry, said in the release that: As a leading oil and gas company in Ghana, we recognise the active leadership role we must play to develop local capacity for participation in the oil and gas industry. That is why last year, we adopted the marine sector to develop local capacity in that sector to support the oil industry.



Mr Monthiry said the company was happy to have achieved that and we appreciate our key stakeholders, joint venture partners, Government of Ghana, Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ministry of Energy and the Petroleum Commission for their efforts in helping us make this possible.



He said: Hopefully this is the start of something progressive, adding that: Oil companies in Ghana play a significant role in accelerating the socio-economic development of the country.



Over the years, Tullow and its partners have succeeded in empowering and supporting Ghanaian businesses to participate in the oil and gas industry.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has encouraged Ghanaians to get vaccinated against the coronavirus because the vaccines save lives.



Mr. Mahama said he has personally lost friends to the pandemic because they did not believe in vaccination.



Using himself as an example, the 2020 flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) said the vaccines are safe and have no dire effects.



Delivering a thank-you address to Ghanaians on Wednesday, 10 November 2021 for the support they showed him in the last election, Mr. Mahama said: COVID-19 is still here with us and those of you who have not yet taken your vaccination, I appeal to you, it saves a life, Ive lost too many friends to covid-19 because they did not believe in vaccinations and I can assure you the vaccinations are safe you can take them and youll have no adverse repercussions.



Im a living testimony of the vaccinations and I can tell you there have been no adverse repercussions on my mortal being and, so, those of you who have not taken it, please remember to go and take your covid-19 vaccines.



Figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate that some 3,188,114 vaccine doses have been administered in the country as of 5 November 2021.



As of the same date, Ghanas total recorded covid-19 cases stood at 130, 608 with 128,131 recovered and discharged.



Some 1,203 people have died from the virus while the active cases stand at 1,247.













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At least 2,380 lives have been lost to road crashes alone between January and October 2021, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has said.



Speaking at the launch of the National Stay Alive campaign by the NSRA in Accra, the director general of the NRSA, May Obiri-Yeboah, urged all Ghanaians to collaborate with the authority to fight against the menace. Just between January and October this year, over 2300 and 12,800 people have been killed and injured respectively on our roads.



The crashes we register everyday are not only reckoned in losses of lives, behind the staggering figures lies a family that has descended into abject poverty, a community burdened by dependents and a nation deprive of its valuable human resource, Obiri-Yeboah said.



The campaign is an initiative that seeks to educate the public on the need to adhere to road traffic regulations.



Statistics



The crashes recorded are a 9.54% increment from last years record. The four regions with the highest record of crashes are Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, and Tema regions in descending order.



Total number of people who lost their lives due to road crashes is 2,380 with 81.9% being males and the remaining 18.1% being females.

Source: asaaseradio.com









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The chairman and founder of KABAKA foundation, Nana Owiredu Wadie known in private life as Mr. Richard Nana Kwasi Wadie, has simultaneously commissioned a series of projects undertaken by his social intervention foundation at Kwahu Nkwatia.



At the durbar which took place on October 29, 2021 at their chiefs palace, Nana Owiredu intimated that it is his utmost priority that the developmental needs of the people of Nkwatia are well addressed, thereby extending developments to other parts of Kwahu.



The foundations Chairman blessed God and the people for the honour bestowed on him saying, We thank God very much for everything going on here. Its our deepest and heartfelt prayer that everything desirable on your hearts shall come to pass. In that light, we shall see light, we thank God.



The Deputy Chief Coordinating Director who represented the Chief Executive of the Kwahu East District Assembly at the commissioning of the projects, admonished and recognized KABAKA foundations developmental efforts.



He noted that education is the fore focus of development and that with the donations of educational materials provided by the foundation, students ability to read would be sharpened.





Meanwhile, the District Director of Education for the Kwahu East also applauded Nana Owiredu Wadie for embarking on developmental spree to renovate the Nkwatia D/A school.



According to him, when the KABAKA foundation reached out to him to reconstruct the school, he doubted its ability to begin within one week as promised, but with the timely intervention they have completed the project for commissioning.



He admonished the other related stakeholders to emulate the posture of KABAKA foundation to help governments agenda of giving the best of education in the country.



The Director also charged the teachers to be admission-driven to enrol more children into schools.



However, the event was climaxed and highly publicized by the Republic Media Group, notably the Republic 97.5 FM at Nkawkaw and the Republic Press in Accra.



It was regarded as one of the most visited events in the Kwahu enclave and this was evidenced when family, friends, loved ones and business associates of the newly crowned Nkosuohene [Development Chief], Nana Owiredu Wadie, besieged the town to witness the coronation of a true son of the Kwahu land.











Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Former President John Mahama has accused the current administration of playing the ostrich with regards to the myriad problems that have bedeviled the country.



Speaking at a lecture to climax his nationwide "Thank You Tour" held at the Kempinski hotel, Wednesday, Mr Mahama further slammed the Akufo-Addo government for attempting to wish away the problems confronting the country "through PR, sloganeering, divisive rhetoric, populism, and plain political deception."



The public lecture centered on economic sustainability and other social issues including unemployment.



"The tragedy of our current national situation is that we have a government that appears completely unwilling to acknowledge the problems and even begin the process of addressing them. We are instead confronted with an administration that believes that these major problems can be wished away through PR, sloganeering, divisive rhetoric, populism, and plain political deception.



The daily struggle of Ghanaians to make ends meet would be impossible to recount in one address. The question we ask, however, is how have things moved from bad to worse so quickly when we were promised a much better and more affordable standard of living?" portions of the former President's statement read.



Below is his full speech:

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Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama formally rounded up his nationwide "Thank You Tour" with a public lecture in Accra on Wednesday night.



In a 14page address that spanned thematic areas on the economy, corruption, youth unemployment, politicisatuon of state agencies, the former president attributed the current hardships to "bad leadership" and "misguided priorities in economic management".



His public lecture, however, would not have been complete without directing a few lines of his address at the Vice-President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia - believed to be a torn in the flesh of the opposition party - and his recent statement on Digitalization of the Economy.



He accused Dr Bawumia, who is head of the Economic Management Team, of using digitalization to mask up the NPP's poor handling of the economy.



While mocking the Vice President for touting himself as an "economic messiah" who has metamorphosed into an "overnight IT champion", Mr Mahama was emphatic that the former's lectures on digitization can in no way wish away memories of the economic distress Ghanaians are facing.



"No amount of digital propaganda will take away the excruciating hardships Ghanaians are going through. This our country Ghana will be liberated, ex-president Mahama stated.



Still on the subject of digitalising the economy, the NDC 2020 Flagbearer sought to downplay what the Akufo-Addo led government considers as landmark achievements.



"The recent brouhaha about upweighting the use and application of enhanced computer systems in our workflows, practices and lifestyles is needless. Some have opted to term the drive a digitalisation drive. I am not the type to be taken in by words or huge catchy phrases as I focus on the substance of the programme in terms of its objectives, mode of delivery, outcomes, and impacts at cost effective levels."



"It is quite amusing though, that even as the economy faces these severe challenges requiring urgent action, those who have been responsible for the mess, have attempted to make a fluid transition from failed, self-styled economic messiahs of the very recent past to overnight IT champions," he stated.



To Mr Mahama, the current administration cannot claim all the credit for the digitalisation drive since the groundswork was laid decades ago by successive governments.



"We are suddenly being told that the decades old incremental progress that has been made in the ICT sector due to sound and consistent policy making spanning several governments leading us to a point where they are being leveraged for convenient, efficient and innovative service delivery and transactions, is the brainchild of some people whose record and involvement is at best, very tenuous."



"It bears stating that if the ICT sector has grown in leaps and bounds, then it is down to the hard work of several people who dedicated their lives and efforts towards bringing us thus far," the former president added.









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Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, Mame Yaa Aboagye has blasted former President John Dramani Mahama for calling NPP response to the Catholic Bishops as arrogance of power.



She explained that, prior to election 2016, NDC and Mr. MAHAMA fought the clergy who spoke against them and called them all sorts of names, therefore Mr. Mahama has no credibility to talk about arrogance of power.



Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the NPPs response to the recent comments by the Catholic Bishops Conference as due to the arrogance of power.



He also accused the NPP of being unreceptive to criticisms.



But that is what we call the arrogance of power. They said when the gods want to destroy you, they first make you mad. Because this is madness. The Catholic Bishops have spoken; what is your business holding a press conference against them? Accept criticism in good faith, the former President said.



Mame Yaa Aboagye, reacting to the former President's statement, described his pronouncements as hypocritical as his Ministers and party members, under his regime, did worse to Pastors and the Catholic Bishops.



You (Mr. Mahama) and NDC called these men of God so many names under your regime including Criminals in Cassocks. Could that also be described as arrogance of power?.



Mame Yaa Aboagye further said; Arrogance of power is when you were dancing sarcastically to the tune Yentie Obiaa when Ghanaians were complaining about hardship during your time. Arrogance of power is when you told nursing and teacher trainees that you will never restore their allowances even if it will cost you the elections. This is cheap propaganda!

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The Presidency has taken a jibe at the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference for criticising the Akufo-Addo government of mismanaging the public purse.



At a press briefing, the Communications Director at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, outrightly expressed misgivings about the observation of the clergy.



According to him, although the government is tolerant of divergent views on matters, criticisms of the Conference should be factual and constructive.



We believe that these criticisms should be well-founded and well-grounded in facts as this is the only way an honest conversation devoid of malice and propaganda can be held, he said on Thursday.



The Catholic Bishops Conference, at a plenary assembly of the association in Wa on Monday, alleged that the government had lost touch with Ghanaians and had defaulted on its promise of protecting the public purse.



The President of the Bishops Conference, Most Reverend Philip Naameh, said, The express commitment of the President to the public to protect the public purse, a promise that citizens welcomed seems to be an illusion now.



But in a sharp rebuttal, Mr Arhin said President Akufo-Addo is resolved to protect the public purse and resuscitate the economy.



The Communications Director, amidst touting the governments achievements, noted that the successes could not have been realised if the President was not concerned about the public.



Indeed, the transformation that has taken place in all aspects of our national life points to a well-managed economy and a public purse that is being protected.



If President Akufo-Addo had not superintended over the funds well, the Ghanaian people wouldnt have reposed their confidence in him barely 10 months ago by returning a decisive margin for him in the 2020 election, he opined.



Mr Arhins retort will not be the first hit back at the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference after they raised concern about how the Akufo-Addo administration is handling the public purse.



On Tuesday, the Director of Communications for the governing New Patriotic Party, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, also took on the cleric body.



In his view, the comments of the Conference lacks clarity.



In an interview, he said the Conferences observations would have been considered by the government if it hadnt lacked focus.



Where are the specifics on that? Some level of clarity at that level is important. It is not about enabling the NDC to come in and spout, he said.



Reacting to these remarks former President, John Mahama described it as arrogance of power.



Mr Mahama accused the NPP of being unreceptive to criticisms. If they are saying Ghana is hard, do the things that will make things more affordable for the people of Ghana. But that is what we call the arrogance of power. They said when the gods want to destroy you; they first make you mad.



Because this is madness. The Catholic Bishops have spoken; what is your business holding a press conference against them? Accept criticism in good faith, the former President said.



However, the Catholic Bishops Conference is yet to comment on any of the responses by the governing NPP and the Presidency.

Source: Ama Cromwell/Joy News









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, will proceed on a seven-day leave beginning November 13, 2021. Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, who announced this, said he is expected to resume on November 20.



He disclosed that during his leave, President Akufo-Addo will travel to France to preside over a debate in the French Parliament on November 19.



He is expected to come back to Ghana on November 20, he said. During his absence, the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, will act as the President.



Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo will later Thursday lead a Ghanaian delegation to attend UNESCOs 75th-anniversary ceremony in France.



The President will on Friday deliver a statement on the impact UNESCO has had in Ghana and what Ghana expects from UNESCO in the coming years, Mr Arhin said.









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The Member of Parliament for the Buem Constituency, Kofi Adams, is collaborating with the Ghana Health Service to distribute 17,400 dewormers to the people in his constituency.



The exercise will commence on November 12  14, 2021. The Jasikan District Health Directorate will be providing technical support and education on the drug administration.



Mr Adams is undertaking the exercise as part of his social intervention programme in his constituency.



During the exercise, there will be free distribution of tablets for soil-transmitted helminthlasis (worms infestation).



It is reported that more than two billion people around the world live with unrelenting illness due to intestinal parasites. Parasitic infections deprive the poor of health and well-being, slow their economic progress, and contribute to social marginalisation.







Source: Daily Graphic









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" " Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Frederick Edison, left, presents a folded flag to Laurie Ward, right, the niece of U.S. Air Force Col. Ruth A. Lucas during a funeral service for Lucas at Arlington National Cemetery in 2013. Lucas was the first female African American to ascend to the rank of colonel in the Air Force. Matt McClain/ The Washington Post via Getty Images

Sgt. 1st Class Bou Harrold remembers the first time he participated in an honor guard at a funeral. It was for his grandfather's funeral, where he also played taps on the trumpet.

"It meant a lot to me and I know it meant a lot to the family, because his service was very important to him," says Harrold. "When you talk to funeral directors, they say it also helps to provide families with some closure. Everyone's always really appreciative of what we do."

Military honors are a final act of recognition and respect for those who served in the United States armed forces and include the presentation of a carefully folded American flag and the ceremonial playing of taps. Under U.S. law, military funeral honors are provided, upon request, for every deceased veteran of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and Selected Reserve. This law was enacted in 1999.

Do you have to have fought in a war to be eligible for military funeral honors? No, says Jessica Maxwell, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense. All individuals who were active duty in any branch of the military and received an honorable or general discharge, or died while active duty, are qualified to receive funeral honors. Under U.S. law, that service to your country defines you as a "veteran."

There are, however, two different types of military honors that are provided for veterans, depending on whether they were career military and the circumstances of their death.

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Basic Military Honors

Harrold is in charge of the honor guard for the Idaho Army National Guard. Idaho, like many other states, relies on the Army National Guard to provide honor guards for the funerals of Army veterans. He says that the Idaho Army National Guard provided military honors at 850 funerals in 2018 alone.

Harrold explains the difference between the two types of military honors: basic and full.

Basic honors are provided for veterans who served in any branch of the military, in wartime or peace, and were then discharged honorably from the military. Basic honors include a detail of at least two members of the armed forces, one of whom must be a member of the branch in which the deceased veteran served.

During the funeral service, taps (a bugle call played at military funerals as well as flag ceremonies) must be played. Then two uniformed individuals ceremoniously fold and present an American flag to the next of kin. The flag is folded in a very precise way so it ends up in a triangle with only the blue field visible.

Harrold, who has participated in honor guards at more than 1,200 funerals, says there's rarely a dry eye during taps and the presentation of the flag.

He recites from memory the speech that accompanies the presentation of the flag to the surviving spouse or other loved one: "On behalf of the president of the United States, the United States Army and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's honorable and faithful service."

"When you present the flag to the next of kin, you're going to get the brunt of the emotion," says Harrold. "There's only a foot of space between the two of you and you're trying to make it meaningful to the individual."

Taps is played by a live bugler when available or else by a "ceremonial bugle," a nickel bugle that contains a special insert hidden inside the bell of the instrument. "We push a button and it sounds a recording of taps," says Harrold.

With hundreds of military funerals each year, live buglers are in high demand. The volunteer organization Bugles Across America recruits male or female buglers (plus trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn players) to play live taps at funerals, and now counts 4,000 volunteers in all 50 states.

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Full Military Honors

Full military honors come in modified and "complete" versions. Modified full military honors (or retiree honors) are provided for any veteran who retired from the military  meaning they served a minimum of 20 years in active duty  or who died during active duty in noncombat-related circumstances. In both of those cases, says Harrold, modified full military honors include the folding and presentation of the flag and the sounding of taps, plus pallbearers and a ceremonial, three-volley rifle firing. The firing party consists of a minimum of three riflemen and up to seven, plus a firing commander.

If a service member is killed in combat, says Harrold, he or she will receive full military honors, which includes everything mentioned above plus a six-person flag folding, during which the flag that was draped over the coffin is lifted by the six pallbearers and folded in unison. The coffin may also be carried on a horse-drawn caisson (wheeled cart). Commissioned officers and Medal of Honor recipients are also eligible for full honors.

" " Funeral services were held at Arlington National Cemetery in 2013 to remember four missing U.S. Navy sailors from the Vietnam War who were killed when their aircraft was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967. They received full military honors. Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Harrold explains that the flag that is folded and presented to the next of kin in all military honors ceremonies isn't a standard flag. It's a special 5-by-9 foot (1.5 by 2.7 meter) cotton flag that's long enough to be folded exactly 13 times into a triangle. According to tradition, the 13 folds have religious and patriotic significance.

Even though the military is only required to provide basic honors for soldiers who were honorably discharged after temporary military service, Harrold says that he works with 50 veterans organizations across Idaho to supplement the service with a firing party or pallbearers, if the family requests it.

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Requesting Military Honors for Your Loved One

The funeral home is typically the one to initiate a request for military honors. As part of the process, the military requires proof of service. This is normally a discharge document known as a DD Form 214. If families no longer have the original, they can request a free copy through the Department of Defense. There's even a same-day emergency request line.

All honor guard soldiers receive three days of training on the basic funeral honors and a weeklong training to perform the full honors. Harrold says they'll rehearse an hour or more before every funeral in order to provide the best service possible.

While the members of the honor guard are paid for their service, it's completely free to the families of the deceased.

Now That's Cool Honor guard members remove their name tags when serving at funerals. "It's not about us as individuals," says Harrold. "It's about that veteran."
" " HowStuffWorks/ YouTube The U.S. government was created by the founders to have three co-equal branches, each designed to provide checks and balances to the other two branches.

If you're a person who isn't a hardcore political junkie, you may find yourself bewildered by how the three main parts of the U.S. government continually seem to be butting heads instead of working together on solutions to the nation's problems. But, as we'll see, the government was structured in three parts for a reason. The three branches are:

The executive branch , which includes the president and the agencies he controls;

The legislative branch , consisting of the two houses of Congress, which are the House of Representatives and the Senate; and

The judicial branch, which includes the Supreme Court and all the nation's federal and state courts.

In the abstract, here's how the system sort of works. The president might press Congress to pass legislation on some issue that he made a campaign promise to enact. After lots of arguing and finagling, legislators pass a bill, which sometimes turns out to be very different from what the president asked for. If he doesn't veto the bill, he may issue a signing statement that spells out how the federal agencies he controls are going to enforce the law in a different way than Congress intended. Then, the executive branch draws up regulations for how to enforce the law and it takes effect. Congressional committees may hold hearings to scrutinize what the executive branch is doing.

And to top it all off, the U.S. Supreme Court might step in and smack down both the president and Congress, by ruling that some part of the law is unconstitutional, forcing them essentially to start over.

Crazy as it seems, that's how the nation's founders actually intended the system to work, because they didn't want any one part of the government to have too much power. To that end, they filled the U.S. Constitution with checks and balances that each branch could impose upon the others. The idea was that those three branches eventually would hammer out compromises that everybody could live with.

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Where the Founders Got the Idea

The idea of the three branches of the U.S. government isn't a totally American one. "The idea of separate branches and mixed government went all the way back to antiquity and Aristotle's "Politics," something the framers were well aware of," Nicholas Mosvick explains via email. He's a senior fellow at the National Constitution Center, a museum and civil education organization in Philadelphia.

James Madison, the future president who was lead author of the U.S. Constitution, and the other founders also were influenced by John Locke, the late 17th-century British philosopher.

But the most prominent influence may have been French philosopher Baron de Montesquieu, author of the 1748 treatise "The Spirit of the Laws," who described what should distinguish Republican self-government from monarchies and despotic countries. The republican government, he believed, needed to have separate and independent executive, legislative and judicial branches, in order to prevent one another from abusing their various powers.

The system devised by the founders, which is described in Articles I, II, and III of the U.S. Constitution, wasn't quite as cut-and-dried as Montesquieu's, Mosvick says. Instead, they allowed some overlap.

"The easiest examples are in the Senate and Article II," says Mosvick. "The Senate clearly holds executive functions, as they perform a role in advice and consent for treaties, the appointment of judges and executive officers. The president holds a veto power, which gives him a role in legislation, and he has the power to give advice to Congress, typically in the form of a State of the Union and recommendations on legislation."

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How the Three Branch System Evolved

To make things more complicated, some of the president's powers aren't precisely spelled out in the Constitution, Mosvick explains. "Neither executive orders nor signing statements come from the Constitution's text. Executive orders were a power derived from the implied 'executive power,' 'commander in chief,' and 'faithfully execute' language of Article II, along with the power to command the opinions of executive officers, which led Washington to create the cabinet."

"Signing statements are of significant constitutional debate," Mosvick continues. "Many scholars do not believe that they are constitutional precisely because they violate the separation of powers in that they take on the legislative power by determining the letter of the law when 'faithful execution' merely means to follow the law according to Congress."

The concept of how the three branches work together  or against each other  also has evolved over the centuries.

"The most significant change to separation of powers is likely the rise of the administrative state since the New Deal and the 1930s," Mosvick says. "The Supreme Court was heavily involved in the 1930s in determining the boundaries of what we call delegation  the granting of one branch's powers to an independent body or as part of the executive branch. Some delegations were initially struck down under the non-delegation doctrine. Scholars debate whether or not the non-delegation doctrine flows from the understanding of the founders, but the idea is simply that Congress cannot delegate its core power from the vesting clause  to make all laws  to another body, any more than it can grant non-Article III courts Article III powers or jurisdiction."

"This too is where recent questions about removal of directors of administrative agencies by the president comes from  it too is a separation of powers question, but one that flows from modern innovations that the founders could not entirely envision."

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How the Three Branches Push Back Against One Another

Bruce Peabody is professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University and author of "Where Have All the Heroes Gone? The Changing Nature of American Valor," as well as a 2019 article in The Conversation on the separation-of-powers concept. He explains in an email that the checks and balances baked into the three-branch system have prevented abuses of power in the past.

"One of the classic examples is the push and pull associated with the congressional investigation into the Nixon campaign's trespass and bugging of the Watergate building and the Democratic National Committee's headquarters," he says.

"Congress rightfully investigated, the president pushed back, claiming that the White House recordings which implicated the president were covered under the legal protection of 'executive privilege,' and the Supreme Court helped navigate the dispute, ultimately ruling that the president did have the unwritten constitutional power of the executive privilege, but noting that it was not an unlimited power  and setting out some of the rules for its use.

"In the process of this dramatic example of checks and balances, each branch arguably served its own political and institutional interests as well as the nation's," he says.

But the three-branch system isn't some sort of government machine that can run on autopilot. In order for the democracy to work, the people in the three branches need to have personal qualities that go beyond the architecture of the system, Peabody and other scholars say. In recent years, we've seen the system become less effective in working out conflicts and taking effective action. The increasingly acrimonious stalemate over the nation's immigration policy is a prime example.

"I would probably attribute our logjam and chronic inaction most directly to hyperactive partisanship. But, yes, this development is tied up with a decline in our belief in republican virtue, a somewhat old-fashioned idea that our leaders should be expected to act for the public good, not just personal interest, and that they should achieve honor while serving in government," Peabody says. He cites the example of George Washington, who agreed to serve as president of both the constitutional convention and as the first U.S. president out of a sense of duty, even though he was eager to return to his slave-supported estate in Mount Vernon.

Peabody cites the work of scholars Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, whom he says have identified basic norms that are necessary for enabling our government to function. One of their key principles, Peabody explains is "mutual toleration"  the idea of accepting your political opponents as legitimate, even if you vehemently disagree with them. Another important ingredient is "forbearance," which basically means that you self-impose limits on how far you'll go in using your powers of government to advance your interests and those of the political party to which you belong.

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Why It Doesn't Work as Well as It Should

Nevertheless, America's three-branch system also is highly susceptible to developing imbalances, in part because the founders chose to create a strong chief executive. That leader has broad authority and can't easily be removed from power before his certain number of years are up. (In the U.K., by contrast, political conflict can lead to Parliament calling an early election that can lead to the prime minister being kicked out of power.)

To exacerbate the problem, over the years we've seen a gradual expansion of presidential power. Peabody says that the U.S. government has become increasingly president-centric for a variety of reasons, from changes in our media environment and political campaigns that focus on candidates rather than ideas, to the growth of what's sometimes called the administrative state  the vast, permanent bureaucracy of executive branch agencies.

"This, combined with both parties' post-FDR success in placing their candidates in the White House (and the close competitiveness of many presidential races) have made both Democrats and Republicans complicit in increasing executive power," Peabody says. Both the Trump and Obama administrations, he says, "illustrate that we look to our chief executive to solve problems and wield authority when Congress isn't able to cooperate, lead or assert itself."

After years of infighting in Congress over immigration, for example, President Obama in 2014 decided to issue an executive order deferring the deportation of "dreamers," the children who entered the U.S. illegally with their parents and grew up here, as this National Public Radio story details. The constitutionality of that action was upheld in a narrow 5-4 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2020. (That ruling is compelling the Trump administration, which had wanted the courts to overturn Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood [DACA] program, to decide whether or not to take the politically unpopular step of dismantling it through a similar executive order.)

But even so, the three-branch system has an amazing amount of resilience. As Peabody notes, the Constitution still enables Congress and the courts to push back against presidential power.

" " The legislative and executive branches worked together to accomplish meaningful change which resulted in President Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights bill into law on July 2, 1964. The bill was a joint effort by both parties in Congress and was also signed by House Speaker John McCormack and President Pro Tempore of the Senate Carl Hayden. Bettmann/Getty Images

"Despite having a majority of Republican appointees, the justices of the Supreme Court and lower federal courts have provided some checks to presidential overreach," Peabody says. Additionally, "Congress retains the so-called power of the purse, which it can exercise to re-direct national priorities."

Current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has fought to protect Congress's power in the system, by arguing that the Constitution is focused on the procedures and authority of the legislative branch.

"While extremely difficult in our hyper-partisan era, one could at least imagine a nimble Speaker asserting him or herself against an overstepping president and consistently making the case for what political value an engaged Congress provides," Peabody says.

HowStuffWorks may earn a small commission from affiliate links in this article.

Now That's Interesting In this 2017 Politico essay, former Congress member Mickey Edwards (R-Okla.) argues that we no longer actually have three branches of government, because Congress members increasingly see themselves as not as a separate branch, "but as arms of their respective political parties."

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Originally Published: Jul 27, 2020
Watch: Prince Harry slams term Megxit

Since 'stepping back' from the royal family, Prince Harry has not been shy about voicing his opinions - particularly when it coms to the press and their tactics.

This week, he went further, while speaking on a panel called The Internet Lie Machine, organised by US magazine Wired.

Discussing reports around the Sussexes' move to the US, Harry attacked the language used, and highlighted 'Megxit', a spin on Brexit, which suggested that the Duchess of Cambridge was behind the decision to move.

"Maybe people know this and maybe they dont, but the term Megxit was, or is, a misogynistic term," said the Prince, "and it was created by a troll, amplified by royal correspondents, and it grew and grew and grew into mainstream media. But it began with a troll,

Prince Harry has had a prickly relationship with the tabloid press. (REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs)

Harry has been vocal about the racism he perceived to be directed at his wife.

Speaking about a study by social media analytics service Bot Sentinel that identified 83 Twitter accounts responsible for 70% of the hate-speech and 'misinformation' around Meghan and Harry, he said, perhaps the most disturbing part of this was the number of British journalists who were interacting with them and amplifying the lies.

"But they regurgitate these lies as truth.

Harry's distrust and dislike of the tabloids has only grown since he was a child, and paparazzi chasing his mother's car in Paris were thought to be responsible for her death in the resulting crash.

Harry said, I learned from a very early age that the incentives of publishing are not necessarily aligned with the incentives of truth.

I know the story all too well. I lost my mother to this self-manufactured rabidness, and obviously Im determined not to lose the mother to my children to the same thing.

Harry is famously protective of Meghan and his children. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)

Though he now chooses a shielded and largely private personal life for himself and his family, Meghan, Archie, two, and Lilibet, six months, he regularly speaks out about perceived injustices. Harry is deeply protective of Meghan and quick to attack anything that may suggest racism.

Story continues

According to the authors of Finding Freedom, the biography detailing Harry and Meghan's journey to 'freedom' in America, Harry has previously called the press 'trolls', first in response to 'banana-gate', where Meghan's gesture of writing positive messages on bananas in food parcels to be given to sex workers was mocked.

Read more: The real reason why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are not on social media

On other occasions, he has failed to mask his disdain. "Thanks for coming, even though you werent invited, he told a group of reporters on their way to the couple's tour of Australia in 2018.

Any engagement that Im at with him, he just scowls at us, said one royal correspondent afterwards. "I cant stress that clearly enough, he cant hide his disdain.

"Its just so uncomfortable, he has fury and venom in his eyes. Hes very tortured.

Harry and Meghan when still undertaking royal duties. (REUTERS/Carl Recine)

Harry later spoke about a 'misconception' that royal reporters had accurate inside information, and accused the press of 'frequent misreporting'.

In 2019, when the Mail on Sunday published a letter Meghan had written to her father (which led to a court case, currently undergoing an appeal), Harry released a statement saying:

"Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences  a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son.

"In todays digital age, press fabrications are repurposed as truth across the globe. One days coverage is no longer tomorrows chip-paper," he went on.

"Up to now, we have been unable to correct the continual misrepresentations  something that these select media outlets have been aware of and have therefore exploited on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.

"It is for this reason we are taking legal action."

Harry showed little patience with reporters on tour in Australia in 2018. (REUTERS/Phil Noble)

HIs protectiveness of Meghan was clear, too, during their Oprah interview earlier this year.

Referring to the lack of security offered to her, Meghan argued, "we havent created this monster machine around us in terms of clickbait and tabloid fodder. (The Palace) allowed that to happen."

Later in the conversation, referring to his mother's death, Harry added, "my biggest concern (about Meghan) was history repeating itself and Ive said that before on numerous occasions, very publicly.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make important pledge: 'We can all do better'

"And what I was seeing was history repeating itself. But more, perhaps. Or definitely far more dangerous because then you add race in and you add social media in."

Harry went on to explain that press intrusion was one of the reasons the couple made the decision to leave the UK.

"Ive got my own relationship that goes back a long way with the media," he told Oprah. "I asked for calm from the British tabloids  once as a boyfriend, once as a husband and once as a father."

How the British press responded to the Oprah interview. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

He added, "It was like, I need to do this for my family. This is not a surprise to anybody. Its really sad that its gotten to this point but Ive got to do something for my own mental health, my wifes and for Archies as well."

Meghan then said, "because from the beginning of our relationship, they (the tabloids) were so attacking and inciting so much racism, really, it changed our risk level . . . it wasnt just catty gossip. It was bringing out a part of people that was racist in how it was charged. And that changed the threat. That changed the level of death threats. That changed everything."

Whether or not the press intrusion and perceived racism were threats to the couple's safety, it's clear that Harry is far happier in his new life, where he calls the shots - and he no longer has to run decisions through a Palace committee before saying exactly how he feels.

Watch: Study reveals Meghan Markle was trolled by a hate network on Twitter
Air Pollution Maximum Levels. Credit: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)

A health impact assessment from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has concluded that European cities could avoid an extra 114,000 premature deaths every year if they met the new air quality guidelines presented by the World Health Organization (WHO) in September 2021 compared to the previous guidelines.

These estimates are an update of a study originally published in January 2021 in The Lancet Planetary Health, in which ISGlobal researchers showed that European cities could avoid up to 51,000 premature deaths per year by meeting WHO's previous air quality guidelines, which had been in place since 2005. After the publication of the new guidelines, the research team performed a new assessment of the mortality burden attributable to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in the same 1,000 European cities included in the original study. The overall results have been published in a letter in The Lancet Planetary Health, while the specific results for each city have been published on the ISGlobal Ranking of Cities website.

The updated results show that achieving the new air quality guidelines for PM 2.5 would result in a 113 percent increase in the number of deaths that could be avoided in European cities compared to the previous air quality guidelines from 2005, avoiding 109,188 premature deaths each year. For NO 2 , achieving the new recommended levels could prevent up to 57,030 premature deaths, 56,130 more than the 900 avoidable deaths estimated for the former NO 2 , recommended levels.

Going further, meeting the lowest levels of PM 2.5 and NO 2 observed in any city, could prevent 125,000 and 79,000 annual premature deaths, respectively.

"Even though there is no safe exposure threshold below which air pollution becomes innocuous, these new results show how the new WHO global air quality guidelines offer a much better framework for protecting human health and prevent a large number of deaths," says ISGlobal researcher Sasha Khomenko, first author of the study.

The new data show that the number of avoidable deaths is much higher if the new WHO reference levels are adopted as targets. This effect is much more noticeable in the case of NO 2 . Among the cities with the highest mortality attributable to this pollutant, Madrid would go from avoiding 206 annual deaths if the old WHO recommendations were met to avoiding 1,966 using the new targets. Antwerp would go from 22 avoidable annual deaths to 254; Turin from 34 to 562; Paris from 185 to 2,135; Milan from 103 to 1,864 and Barcelona from 82 to 1,554.

Avoidable Deaths in European Cities. Credit: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)

Nearly 100 percent of the population above recommended levels

One statistic that shows how far European cities have to go to achieve clean air is the percentage of the population living in areas with concentrations of air pollutants higher than those recommended by the WHO. While under the previous WHO recommendations this percentage was 84 percent for PM 2.5 and 9 percent for NO 2 , under the new recommendations these figures rise to 99.8 percent and 99.7 percent of the urban population, respectively. It should be noted, however, that the study was based on air pollution data for 2015.

"Since the current levels of air pollution in European cities are putting more than 100,000 lives at stake every year, the EU should align its legislation to match the WHO recommendations," says Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, senior author of the study and director of the Urban Planning, Environment and Health Initiative at ISGlobal. "In turn, local, regional and national governments should set the reduction of air pollution as a priority. We urgently need to reduce fossil fuel use, remove private cars and add more green spaces in our cities. This will not only reduce air pollution, but also contribute to climate action, which is one of our highest priorities for humankind," he adds.

Current European directives stipulate an upper limit of 25 g/m3 for annual mean PM 2.5 and 40 g/m3 for annual mean NO 2 .

From November 11, 2021, updated avoidable mortality data using the new WHO recommendations for the 1,000 cities included in the study will be available at www.isglobalranking.org, where the recently published ranking of mortality associated with lack of access to green space is also available.

The update of the WHO's air quality recommendations has not changed the position of the cities within the rankings of mortality associated with excess air pollution.

European Cities with the Lowest Mortality Due to Air Pollution. Credit: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)

Top 10 cities with the highest mortality burden

The 10 cities with the highest mortality burden due to PM 2.5 :

Brescia (Italy) Bergamo (Italy) Karvina (Czech Republic) Vicenza (Italy) Silesian Metropolis (Poland) Ostrava (Czech Republic) Jastrzebie-Zdroj (Poland) Saronno (Italy) Rybnik (Poland) Havirov (Czech Republic)

The 10 cities with the highest mortality burden due to NO 2 :

Madrid (metropolitan area) (Spain) Antwerp (Belgium) Turin (Italy) Paris (metropolitan area) (France) Milan (metropolitan area) (Italy) Barcelona (metropolitan area) (Spain) Mollet del Valles (Spain) Brussels (Belgium) Herne (Germany) Argenteuil-Bezons (France)

European Cities with the Highest Mortality Due to Air Pollution. Credit: Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)

Top 10 cities with the lowest mortality burden

The 10 cities with the lowest mortality burden attributable to PM 2.5 :

Reykjavik (Iceland) Troms (Norway) Umea (Sweden) Oulu (Finland) Jyvaskyla (Finland) Uppsala (Sweden) Trondheim (Norway) Lahti (Finland) Orebro (Sweden) Tampere (Finland)

The 10 cities with the lowest mortality burden attributable to NO 2 :

Tromso (Norway) Umea (Sweden) Oulu (Finland) Kristiansand (Norway) Pula (Croatia) Linkoping (Sweden) Galway (Ireland) Jonkoping (Sweden) Alytus (Lithuania) Trondheim (Norway)

Explore further Study identifies European cities with highest mortality due to air pollution

More information: Sasha Khomenko et al, Health impacts of the new WHO air quality guidelines in European cities, The Lancet Planetary Health (2021). Sasha Khomenko et al, Health impacts of the new WHO air quality guidelines in European cities,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00288-6
A migrant daily wage worker bathes at a public well pump on a hot morning in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, May 17, 2016. Scorching summer temperatures, hovering well over 40 degrees Celcius, (104 Fahrenheit) are making life extremely tough for millions of poor across north India. Without access to air conditioning and sometimes even an electric fan, they struggle to cope with the heat in their inadequate homes. Credit: AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File

World leaders have committed to limiting Earth's rising temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times.

But what does that feel like?

It's difficult to convey, because you may not notice changes in average temperature. But, depending on where you live, you might notice when it's extremely hot.

To better understand the issue, Columbia University's climate school recently published a global dataset with estimates of both population and temperature. The Associated Press analyzed the dataspanning 1983 to 2016and found that exposure to extreme heat has tripled and now affects about a quarter of the world's population.

HOW HEAT IS MEASURED

As the global average temperature rises, so do the hottest daily temperatures. And, in some places, the hottest days can be dangerous to human health, causing heat stress.

Heat stress can create a host of health problems, including rashes, cramps and heat stroke. Hot air is not the only risk factor for it. Other factors include humidity, wind speed and the amount of shade.

You may be familiar with the heat index, which takes into consideration temperature and humidity to suggest what it feels like in the shade on a hot day. But even the heat index doesn't tell you what it's like to be working in the full sun on an extremely hot windless day.

An elderly man suffering from heatstroke waits for a medical help at a local hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, Friday, June 26, 2015, during a heat wave that struck southern Pakistan. Credit: AP Photo/Shakil Adil, File

Increasingly, climate scientists and meteorologists are advocating for the use of a different metric for understanding extreme heat. It's called wet-bulb globe temperature and it takes into account temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover.

The new dataset uses estimates of both population and wet-bulb globe temperature to better understand how many people are affected by dangerously hot temperatures and where they live.

When the wet-bulb globe temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), people are advised to start taking rests if they're working outdoors.

HEAT EXPOSURE IS RISING

To match heat measures with population estimates, the researchers averaged temperature data over 13,115 urban centers identified in a dataset produced by the European Union.

Out of those urban centers around the world, nearly half experienced an increasing trend in heat exposure.

Rickshaw pullers wait in a line, awaiting passengers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, July 11, 2018. In Dhaka, the population more than tripled from about 7.7 million in 1983 to 24 million in 2016. While the city grew by more than 16 million people, the number of extreme heat days also increased by 1.5 days a year, until Dhaka experienced about 50 more dangerously hot days a year than it did in 1983. Credit: AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, File

In 2016, just under 1.7 billion people lived in those areas, with the majority in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The most affected region, by far, was southern Asia, where India alone accounted for 37% of the population living in areas with an increasing extreme heat trend.

With population growth from 1983 to 2016 for each city and estimates for the year-to-year increase in annual counts of dangerously hot days, the AP was able to identify the cities in the world where exposure to extreme heat is increasing most.

NOTABLE HEAT EXPOSURE INCREASES

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, the population more than tripled from about 7.7 million in 1983 to 24 million in 2016. While the city grew by more than 16 million people, the number of extreme heat days also increased by 1.5 days a year, until Dhaka experienced about 50 more dangerously hot days a year than it did in 1983.

A fan sprays water mist as customers sit outside a cafe in downtown Rome on Friday, July 31, 2020, during a heat wave with temperatures over 34 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Credit: AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca, File

This large population growth, along with the warming trend for the area, reveals that Dhaka had the biggest increase in heat exposure in the world.

Population growth and increasing temperature both contribute to exposure trends. In some cases, these have an equal effect. That was the case in Kolkata, India, where the population grew by 6 million people and the number of hot days grew by 1.76 each year. Both of these increases contributed to a steep exposure trend.

Meanwhile, New Delhi added nearly 14 million people. While the city added 1.12 additional hot days each year, the population increase is what made Delhi's exposure trend the steepest in India.

INDONESIA'S CAPITAL

This dataset focuses on the past, but could help world leaders make more informed decisions in the future. Indonesia is planning to move the country's capital from Jakartaa city that is sinking below sea levelto Kalimantan. The development site is in an area of jungle between two cities, Samarinda and Balikpapan. Both cities have increasing heat exposure trends.

A farmworker, who declined to give his name, wipes sweat from his neck while working, Thursday, July 1, 2021, in St. Paul, Ore., as a heat wave bakes the Pacific Northwest in record-high temperatures. Credit: AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File

People in Balikpapan, located at the mouth of the Bakpapan Bay, could expect 10 more days of extreme heat in 2016 compared with 1983.

Samarinda, situated on the humid Mahakam River delta, could expect 19 more days. Jakarta, although sinking, did not register a significant increasing exposure trend in the dataset.

AFRICA'S GROWING CITIES

Many cities that already experience extreme heat are growing rapidly.

Douala, Cameroon, grew from roughly 760,000 people in 1983 to nearly 3 million in 2016. United Nations population projections suggest that count will double by 2035. Douala's citizens endured 76 days of extreme heat in 2016.

Douala is representative of sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. According to the 2019 U.N. World Population Prospects, most of the world's population growth will come from this region in the coming years, and it's growing rapidly at a time when warming trends are increasing in cities across the area. Whether world leaders are able to limit the rise in the global average temperature, people in this part of the world will likely feel the difference in the resulting heat exposure most.

Katherine Morgan drinks water in front of a box fan while trying to stay cool in her downtown apartment without air conditioning on Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Portland, Ore. People have headed to cooling centers as the Pacific Northwest began sweltering under another major, multi-day heat wave. Credit: AP Photo/Nathan Howard, File

A street vendor breaks blocks of ice to be used to cool beverages for sale in downtown Mexico City, Wednesday, April 8, 2008, as the country experiences unusually hot weather for this time of the year, with highs of 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Credit: AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini, File

People wash clothes as others rest on a hot summer day on the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata, India, Friday, June 14, 2019, as severe heat wave conditions sweep through north and western parts of India. Credit: AP Photo/Bikas Das, File

A military truck drives through the water on a flooded toll road following heavy rains in Jakarta, Indonesia, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. Heavy downpours combined with poor city sewage planning often causes heavy flooding in parts of greater Jakarta. Indonesia is planning to move the country's capital from Jakartaa city that is sinking below sea levelto Kalimantan. Credit: AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File

A woman holds a portable fan in Tokyo, Monday, July 23, 2018, as searing hot temperatures are forecast for wide swaths of Japan and South Korea in a long-running heat wave. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File

People in a slum work in a saw mill with downtown in the distance in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday May 12, 2020. Dim Coumou, a climate professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, said the combination of growth in African cities and climate change presents a serious risk. "As the population increases in these megacities, you have more buildings, more concrete and an increased heat-island effect, making the heat waves worse," Coumou says. "I think it's a dangerous combination." Credit: AP Photo/Sunday Alamba, File

Palm trees in City Park are silhouetted at dusk after temperatures peaked at 40 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. Credit: AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File

Hospitality staff are silhouetted by the sun as they pose for a group photo during a plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Thursday, March 9, 2017. Credit: AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File

Dim Coumou, a climate professor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, said the combination of growth in African cities and climate change presents a serious risk.

"As the population increases in these megacities, you have more buildings, more concrete and an increased heat-island effect, making the heat waves worse," Coumou said. "I think it's a dangerous combination."

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Photometric observations of TOI-2257 with the best-fit transit parameters over-plotted. Credit: Schanche et al., 2021.

Using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), an international team of astronomers has detected a sub-Neptune exoplanet orbiting a nearby M dwarf star. The newly found alien world, designated TOI-2257b is about two times larger than the Earth. The finding is reported in a paper published November 2 on the arXiv pre-print server.

TESS is conducting a survey of about 200,000 of the brightest stars near the sun with the aim of searching for transiting exoplanets. So far, it has identified over 4,600 candidate exoplanets (TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI), of which 167 have been confirmed so far.

Recently, a group of astronomers led by Nicole Schanche of the University of Bern in Switzerland has confirmed another TOI monitored by TESS. While observing a nearby M-dwarf known as TOI-2257 (other designation TIC 198485881), a transit signal was identified in the light curve of this star. The planetary nature of this signal was confirmed by follow-up observations using ground-based facilities.

"This work presents the discovery and characterization of TOI-2257b, a sub-Neptune in a relatively long-period orbit around an M3V star. The preliminary characterization is based on photometry from TESS and several ground-based facilities, with spectral analysis and high-resolution imaging supporting the validation," the researchers wrote in the paper.

According to the study, TOI-2257b has a radius of about 2.19 Earth radii and is some 5.71 times more massive than our planet. The exoworld orbits its parent star every 35.19 days on a highly eccentric orbit (with an eccentricity of nearly 0.5) at a distance of 0.145 AU from it. The planet's equilibrium temperature is estimated to be 256 K.

The host TOI-2257 is an M dwarf at least 8 billion years old and its spectral type was found to be M3V. The star, located just 188 light years away, is about one-third the size and mass of the sun, has a metallicity at a level of -0.27, and an effective temperature of around 3,430 K.

Summing up the results, the astronomers noted that the newly found exoplanet has a relatively long orbital period, as only two other transiting exoplanets around M dwarfs with periods greater than that of TOI-2257 b are known to date. Moreover, it is also the most eccentric exoplanet transiting an M dwarf so far detected, what offers a great opportunity to test various possible planet formation scenarios.

The authors of the paper consider further observations of TOI-2257, hoping to find more planets in the system and even liquid water in the atmosphere of TOI-2257b.

"This planet is one of only a small number of sub-Neptunes for which liquid water is a possibility. The expected TSM [transmission spectroscopy metric] of the object make it amenable to more detailed atmospheric characterization from JWST [James Webb Space Telescope]," the researchers concluded.

Explore further Astronomers discover twin sub-Neptune exoplanets orbiting nearby star

More information: N. Schanche et al, TOI-2257 b: A highly eccentric long-period sub-Neptune transiting a nearby M dwarf. arXiv:2111.01749v1 [astro-ph.EP], N. Schanche et al, TOI-2257 b: A highly eccentric long-period sub-Neptune transiting a nearby M dwarf. arXiv:2111.01749v1 [astro-ph.EP], arxiv.org/abs/2111.01749

 2021 Science X Network
Arabidopsis thaliana plant. Credit: Salk Institute

Salk Institute scientists, collaborating with researchers from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University, have sequenced the genome of the world's most widely used model plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana, at a level of detail never previously achieved. The study, published in Science on November 12, 2021, reveals the secrets of Arabidopsis chromosome regions called centromeres. The findings shed light on centromere evolution and provides insights into the genomic equivalent of black holes.

"Just over 20 years ago the Arabidopsis genome was published, and it has been the gold standard plant genome since giving rise to amazing advances from models to crops," says Todd Michael, a research professor in the Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory. "Our new assembly resolves the final missing pieces of the genome, paving the way for exciting research on chromosome architecture and evolution, which will be critical for our efforts to engineer plants to address climate change in the future."

Arabidopsis thaliana was adopted as a model plant due to its short generation time, small size, ease of growth and prolific seed production through self-pollination. Its fast life cycle and small genome make it well suited for genetics research and to map key genes that underpin traits of interest. It has led to a multitude of discoveries and in 2000 it became the first plant to have its genome sequenced. This initial genome release was of an excellent standard in the chromosome arms, where most of the genes are located, but was unable to assemble the highly repetitive and complex regions known as centromeres, telomeres and ribosomal DNA. Now, due to advances in sequencing technologies, these challenging regions have been assembled for the first time.

The study is the first to successfully perform long-read sequencing and assembly of the Arabidopsis thaliana centromeres. Since the genome was first sequenced in 2000, long-read sequencing technologies have advanced, allowing researchers to see the genome in greater than 100,000 nucleotide pieces, instead of 100-200 nucleotide pieces. These data, combined with algorithmic advances that assemble the reads, means that the "genomic jigsaw puzzle" can now be completed.

"The centromeres are some of the most interesting, but also the most difficult, regions of the genome to analyzethey are like endless 'blue sky' within a jigsaw puzzle," says co-corresponding author Professor Mike Schatz, from Johns Hopkins University. "Fortunately, advances in sequencing paired with advances in the computational methods for genome assembly now make it possible to accurately assemble even the most challenging of sequences," such as the genetic makeup of the centromere.

For decades, researchers have been trying to understand the paradox of how and why centromeric DNA evolves with extraordinary rapidity, while remaining stable enough to perform its job during cell division. In contrast, other ancient parts of the cell that have conserved roles, such as ribosomes, which make proteins from mRNA, tend to be very slow evolving. Yet the centromere, despite its conserved role in cell division, is the fastest evolving part of the genome. This study, by revealing the genetic and epigenetic topography of Arabidopsis centromeres, marks a step change in our understanding of this paradox.

As part of the study, the compiled centromere maps provide new insights into the "repeat ecosystem" found in the centromere. The maps reveal the architecture of the repeat arrays, which has implications for how they evolve, and for the chromatin and epigenetic states of the centromeres. Moving forward the scientists want to use these maps as a foundation to understand how and why centromeres are evolving so rapidly.

"It's fantastic to be able to see into the centromeres for the first time and use this to understand their unusual modes of evolution," says co-corresponding author Professor Ian Henderson, from the University of Cambridge's Department of Plant Sciences.

Next, the scientists will be looking at using this approach to map centromeres from diverse Arabidopsis species, and ultimately more widely throughout plants.

Explore further Study unlocks secrets of an elusive genome compartment

More information: Matthew Naish et al, The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres, Science (2021). Journal information: Science Matthew Naish et al, The genetic and epigenetic landscape of the Arabidopsis centromeres,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abi7489
The Copernicus Carbon Dioxide Monitoring mission, or CO2M for short, is one of Europes new high-priority satellite missions and will be the first to measure how much carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere specifically through human activity. Credit: OHB

A new satellite destined to be Europe's prime mission for monitoring and tracking carbon dioxide emissions from human activity is being put through its paces at ESA's Test Centre in the Netherlands. With nations at COP26 pledging net-zero emissions by 2050, the pressure is on to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we pump into the atmospherebut the race is also on to support the monitoring that shows targets are being met. ESA, the European Commission, Eumetsat and industrial partners are therefore working extremely hard to get the Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring mission ready for liftoff in 2025.

As the reality of climate change is hitting hard, the target of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C is critical if we have any hope combating climate changeand the best way of doing this is to reduce greenhouse emissions. However, understanding that targets are being met is also a priorityand the best way of doing this is from space.

The Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring mission, or CO2M for short, is one of six Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions that ESA is developing on behalf of the EU. These high-priority missions will address EU policy and gaps in Copernicus user needs, expanding the current capabilities of the Copernicus programthe world's biggest supplier of Earth observation data.

CO2M is planned as a two-satellite mission, with the option of a third satellite. They each will carry a near-infrared and shortwave-infrared spectrometer to measure atmospheric carbon dioxide at high spatial resolution. These measurements will be used by the new CO2M Monitoring and Verification Support Capacity, which the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts is developing, and which will eventually reduce uncertainties in estimates of emissions of carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuel at local, national and regional scales.

As its name suggests, the Copernicus Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide Monitoring (CO2M) satellite mission will measure atmospheric carbon dioxide produced through human activity. CO2M is one of six Copernicus Sentinel Expansion missions that ESA is developing on behalf of the EU. As global efforts are put in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address the climate crisis, the CO2M mission will play a critical role in providing the EU with a unique and independent source of information to assess the effectiveness of policy measures, and to track their impact towards decarbonising Europe and meeting national emission reduction targets. With launch of the first CO2M satellite scheduled for 2025, the satellite structural model is being tested in ESAs Test Centre in the Netherlands. The video features the missions ESA Project Manager, Valerie Fernandez, who explains the purpose of the mission and the stage at which the mission is in its development process. Credit: ESA - European Space Agency

This will provide the EU with a unique and independent source of information to assess the effectiveness of policy measures, and to track their impact towards decarbonising Europe and meeting national emission reduction targets.

Moreover, nations throughout the world will be able to assess and compare with transparency how they are meeting their targets.

Yasjka Meijer, CO2M Mission Scientist at ESA, said, "Remarkably, the mission will enable us to distinguish between natural sources of carbon dioxide and sources that are a result of human activity. This is no easy matter because the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from many sources, but each source only contributes a small amount. We need to measure very precisely if the mission is going to provide reliable data to ensure that governments are meeting their targets."

With such an important task ahead, the development of CO2M is running at full speed and the industrial team is working hard to get the satellite ready for its life in orbit.

CO2M on the shaker at ESAs Test Centre in the Netherlands. Credit: European Space Agency

As part of the development, the satellite structural model is at ESA's ESTEC testing facilities in the Netherlandsthe largest satellite test facility in Europe, equipped to simulate every aspect of the space environment. The shakers are used specifically to simulate launch stresses.

Valerie Fernandez, ESA's CO2M Project Manager, explains, "Everyone is working hard to keep the development of the mission running to a tight schedule. The current suite of tests is being carried out on the structural model of the satellite at ESTEC. It is now on a shaker, which tests the satellite's mechanical integrity to make sure that it is sufficiently rigid and will survive the vibrations of launch.

"These tests will allow us to consolidate the satellite design and move quickly towards the next steps in the hardware procurement. Although we have to work as efficiently as possible, the team is being very careful and thorough to ensure that CO2M will be a world class mission and something Europe can be extremely proud of."

Explore further CO2 tracking in space
Delegates in Glasgow are negotiating how to implement the Paris Agreement temperature goals.

China and the United States on Wednesday vowed to work together to accelerate climate action this decade, separately announcing a surprise pact on global warming, which is already causing disasters across the world.

The joint declaration came as the crunch COP26 summit in Glasgow entered its pivotal final days, with negotiators wrestling over ways to limit global warming to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius compared to preindustrial levels.

"This document contains strong statements about the alarming science, the emissions gap, and the urgent need to accelerate action to close that gap," US special envoy John Kerry told reporters.

"It commits to a series of important actions now this decade when it is needed."

The plan is light on concrete targets but heavy on political symbolism at a conference that began with the US and Chinathe world's two biggest emittersseemingly at loggerheads.

Last week, US President Joe Biden criticised the decision of President Xi Jinping not to attend the Glasgow summit, accusing China of walking away.

Beijing hit back, but relations appear to have thawed ahead of bilateral talks next week, with Kerry and China's longtime climate envoy Xie Zhenhua each saying they would rise above their differences to work together on climate.

"Both sides recognise that there is a gap between the current effort and the Paris Agreement goals so we will jointly strengthen climate action," Xie said.

Chinese President Xi on Thursday stressed the need for cooperation between the two superpowers, who together account for nearly 40 percent of all carbon emissions.

"All of us can embark on a path of green, low-carbon sustainable development," he told a virtual business conference on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

"Together, we can usher in a future of green development."

China and US are the two largest emitters and together account for nearly 40 percent of all carbon pollution.

'Seriousness and urgency'

A document outlining the agreement includes a focus on lowering methane emissions, which Kerry described as the "single fastest and most effective way to limit warming".

It also says the two sides will meet regularly to "address the climate crisis".

The document stresses the need to boostefforts to fight climate change in the short termscientists have warned that slashing emissions before 2030 is crucial for halting catastrophic warming.

The declaration said both countries "recognise the seriousness and urgency of the climate crisis", especially during the "critical decade of the 2020s".

The US has said it plans to be carbon neutral by 2050, while China announced it has set a net-zero target for 2060.

The 2015 Paris climate accord commits nations to work towards limiting global temperature rises to between 1.5C and 2C.

The United Nations said that all countries' carbon-cutting plans combined would still see Earth warm 2.7C by 2100.

UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomed the US-China pact.

"Tackling the climate crisis requires international collaboration and solidarity, and this is an important step in the right direction," he said on Twitter.

Monthly global temperature variation since 1880, according to NOAA.

'No excuse'

Negotiators are in Glasgow to work out how to keep the Paris Agreement degree limits in play as countries across the globe are battered by ever-fiercer floods, droughts and storms made worse by rising seas.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that countries have "no excuse" for failure.

Wednesday saw the release of draft decisions, which were the first real indication of where nations are 10 days into deeply technical discussions.

The text, which is sure to change during ministerial debates, called for nations to "revisit and strengthen" their decarbonisation plans by next year, instead of 2025 as previously agreed.

The Paris accord contains a "ratchet" mechanism requiring countries to update emissions plans every five years.

But several large emitters missed the 2020 deadline for submitting new plans, known as nationally determined contributions. Others handed in plans that were no more ambitiousor even less sothan their initial plans.

Vulnerable nations say that the next deadline, in 2025, is too distant to deliver essential short-term emissions cuts.

In what observers called a "significant first mention" of the drivers of global warming, the draft summit called on countries to "accelerate the phasing out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels".

Last week, more than 100 countriesbut not Chinasigned a pledge to slash methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030.

"The US-China declaration shows that the two countries can cooperate to address the climate crisis," said Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and, as France's top climate negotiator at the time, a main architect of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

"Now they must cooperate on ensuring an ambitious outcome to COP26," she added. "That means putting us on track to 1.5 degrees and delivering the vital support needed to those most vulnerable."

Explore further COP26 draft urges boost to emissions cutting goals by 2022

 2021 AFP
Credit: Mikhail Nilov for Pexels

As COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters reach a wider segment of the human population, experts at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine say they're still not recommending vaccinations for pets.

"To date, I think we have only confirmed a single case of a pet infected with COVID-19 in this area, and that was from a household with an infected human, so it appears to be a fairly unlikely scenario," said Mark Freeman, a clinical assistant professor in Community Practice at Virginia Tech.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a very small number of pets around the world have been reported to be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, mostly after having contact with people with the virus. Based on the information available to date, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is considered to be low.

"Most dogs and cats are exposed to other strains of coronavirus when they are puppies or kittens, so already have some natural immunity, although it may not always be cross-protective," said Freeman. "We have tested several animals that had some clinical signs that would be expected with coronavirus, and also who came from households where there was a human infected, but to my knowledge all the tests in pets have been negative."

Pets that do have symptoms usually have mild illness that can be taken care of at home. If you think your pet is sick with the virus or if you have concerns about your pet's health, talk to your veterinarian.

"As this virus continues to mutate, we may find that it could be more likely to infect pets, at which point we would we may be more likely to consider vaccination to prevent further spread, especially between pets and humans," Freeman said.

Explore further SARS-CoV-2 variant detected in dogs and cats with suspected myocarditis
Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Deforestation and global warming in one Indonesian province caused temperatures to rise nearly a whole degree Celsius in 16 years leading to an eight percent increase in deaths, a study found Wednesday.

The report published in the Lancet Planetary Health gives a rare insight into how global warming and deforestation can affect people living in one of the world's most vulnerable regions.

"Heat from deforestation and climate change is killing workers in tropical forest countries and decreasing the ability to work safely," lead author Nicholas Wolff of the Nature Conservancy told AFP.

With resources concentrated in developed countries, studies on the affects of global warming on health and mortality have largely focused on the so called global north.

"There's a real dearth of studies looking at the impacts on those who are most vulnerable to climate change and who are least responsible," Wolff said.

His team used publicly available data to reveal how the clearing of 4,375 square kilometres (1,690 square miles) of forest in the Berau Regency increased daily maximum temperatures by 0.95Con top of already warmer global temperaturesbetween 2002 and 2018.

Some 17 percent of Berau lost tree cover and the resulting heat increase made outdoor work conditions unsafe an additional 20 minutes of the day and caused an estimated 104 deaths.

Using climate modelling, the study projects that under a scenario of +3C of global warming against pre-industrial levels (or +2C against 2018 levels) deaths could increase by about 260 per year.

'Different reality'

Wolff's team used satellite image information to determine how much tree cover was lost in Berau between 2002 and 2018years during which overall whether conditions were otherwise relatively stable.

They calculated the subsequent change in daily average temperatures and found nearly a whole degree Celsius of warming had occurred there in 16 years while over the rest of the country they remained relatively stable.

Wolff says that kind of change in such a short period of time is staggering.

"The globe has warmed about a degree so far... over 150 years," Wolff said referring to warming over pre-industrial levels.

"These forests go in a week or a month and suddenly you're just living in a completely different reality."

Researchers used public health data on heat-related mortality from other regions to calculate how many deaths had likely been caused by the additional heat.

But Wolff says that higher temperatures making it unsafe to work outdoors for an increasing part of the day is an equally bleak finding.

"It's going to affect so much of the larger population," he said, "People are going to have to make these awful choices about whether to risk their lives to put food on the table."

Indonesia is home to the world's third largest rainforest and although deforestation there has slowed markedly since 2015 economic drivers like agriculture, logging and mining mean the trees are still disappearing.

According to Global Forest Watch in 2001 the country had 93.8 million hectares (230 million acres) of primary forestancient forests which have largely not been disturbed by human activityan area about the size of Egypt.

By 2020, that area had decreased by about 10 percent.

Wolff says that the forests act as "natural air conditioners"a finding that should be considered hopeful.

"They are probably the best bet for adapting to climate change for these countries," he said, adding that re-growing deforested areas was an important option.

"An even more important option is to keep what's left."

Explore further Five million deaths a year caused by global climate related abnormal temps

 2021 AFP
Researchers including The University of Texas at Austin have published a study in Nature that says subducting tectonic plates become segmented like a slinky snake, in a process similar to geologic boudinage (pictured) but on a much larger scale. Credit: Haakon Fossen, Structural Geology/Cambridge University Press

Our world's surface is a jumble of jostling tectonic plates, with new ones emerging as others are pulled under. The ongoing cycle keeps our continents in motion and drives life on Earth. But what happens when a plate disappears into the planet's interior?

The question has long puzzled scientists because conventional wisdom said that sinking tectonic plates must remain intact to keep pulling on the portion behind it, but according to geophysical evidence, they are destroyed.

Now, in a study published Nov. 11 in Nature, scientists say they've found an answer that reconciles the two stories: Plates are significantly weakened as they sink but not so much that they break apart entirely.

The finding came after scientists put tectonic plates through a computer-generated gauntlet of destructive geologic forces. The model showed that as the plate enters the mantle, it bends abruptly downward, cracking its cold, brittle back. At the same time, the bending changes the fine grain structure of the rock along its underbelly, leaving it weakened. Combined, the stresses pinch the plate along its weak points, leaving it mostly intact but segmented like a slinky snake.

This means the plate continues to be pulled under despite becoming folded and distorted.

According to the researchers, the model predicted a scenario that matches observations from Japan. Studies of the region where the Pacific tectonic plate divesor subductsunder Japan have turned up large cracks where the plate bends downward, and they have shown signs of weaker material underneath. Deep seismic imaging conducted by The University of Texas at Austin's Steve Grand has also revealed tectonic shapes in the Earth's mantle under Japan that appear a close match for the slinky snake in the model.

The researchers put sinking tectonic plates through a simulated gauntlet of destructive geologic forces. Only when all forces were included did the plate behave in a way that matches geophysical evidence from the surface. Credit: Taras Gerya, David Bercovici, Thorsten Becker/Springer Nature.

Co-author Thorsten Becker, a professor in UT's Jackson School of Geosciences, said that the study does not necessarily close the book on what happens to subducting plates, but it certainly gives a compelling case to explain several important geologic processes.

"It's an example of the power of computational geosciences," said Becker who assisted in developing the model and is a faculty associate at UT's Oden Institute for Computational Engineering & Sciences. "We combined these two processes that geology and rock mechanics are telling us are happening, and we learned something about the general physics of how the Earth works that we wouldn't have expected. As a physicist, I find that exciting."

The study's lead author, Taras Gerya, a professor of geophysics at ETH Zurich, added that until now, geophysicists had lacked a comprehensive explanation for how tectonic plates bend without breaking.

Things got interesting when the researchers ran their simulations with a hotter interior, similar to the early Earth. In these simulations, the tectonic snake segments made it only a few miles into the mantle before breaking off. That means that subduction would have occurred intermittently, raising the possibility that modern plate tectonics began only within the past billion years.

"Personally, I think there are a lot of good arguments for plate tectonics being much older," Becker said, "but the mechanism revealed by our model suggests things might be more sensitive to the temperature of the mantle than we thought, and that, I think, could lead to interesting new avenues of discussion."

Becker and Gerya were joined by David Bercovici, a geophysicist at Yale University whose investigation into how rock grains are altered in the deep mantle helped motivate the research. The study is based on a two-dimensional computer model of plate tectonics incorporating Bercovici's rock deformation research and other plate-weakening mechanics. The researchers are now studying the phenomena using 3D models and plan to investigate what those models can tell them about the occurrence of earthquakes.

Explore further Going with the grains to explain a fundamental tectonic force

More information: T. V. Gerya et al, Dynamic slab segmentation due to brittleductile damage in the outer rise, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature T. V. Gerya et al, Dynamic slab segmentation due to brittleductile damage in the outer rise,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03937-x
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

In Finland, parents often regard assessment carried out in schools primarily as a tool for supporting pupils' learning and growth. However, many parents would also like to see more of numerical assessment, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. The researchers analyzed the beliefs and conceptions of assessment among Finnish parents of pupils in grades six and nine of Finnish basic education. The study was based on 622 open-ended responses by parents regarding the assessment of their children.

Assessment plays multiple roles

In addition to pupils, assessment also concerns parents in many ways. So far, however, parents' beliefs about assessment have been studied only scarcely in Finland and also globally.

"It is important to explore parents' conceptions of assessment because assessment-related information is relevant not only to teachers and pupils, but also to parents, and the idea is to collaborate in order to achieve smoother learning paths," says lead author, Postdoctoral Researcher Juuso Henrik Nieminen from the University of Eastern Finland.

The Finnish National Core Curriculum for comprehensive schools requires the use of diverse forms of assessment, including self- and peer-assessment, exams, oral presentations, and portfolios. These can support the individual growth of children and adolescents as learners and make their diverse skills visible in a fair manner.

At the same time, assessment also plays a societal role. Numerical data that is based on assessment is used to admit pupils to different educational institutions and, consequently, to different roles in society. Parents are, understandably, interested in this aspect of assessment.

"Studies show that parents can even be opposed to assessment methods that differ from the ones used in their time. However, assessment that is based on exams alone doesn't adequately meet the desired learning outcomes of school today," says Professor Paivi Atjonen from the University of Eastern Finland.

According to various reports and evaluations, there are many supporters of numerical and comparative assessment also among parents in Finland, although teachers are instructed not to compare pupils with each other, but only with the desired learning outcomes.

In contrast to this, the study published now shows that Finnish parents primarily regard assessment as a promoter and supporter of learning and growth. They hoped for diverse forms of assessment and challenged the exam-driven assessment culture.

Support for learning, and comparison

The Finnish assessment culture is strikingly different to the assessment culture of many Asian countries, for example. In Finland, the focus of assessment is not on testing and control, but rather on personal growth, learning, and positive feedback.

"Many parents emphasized even the ethical role of assessment in supporting pupils' participation, and they hoped that children wouldn't have to act in a certain, adult-dictated manner, simply for the sake of assessment," Nieminen says.

On the other hand, parents also wished for more numerical assessment and less pupil-oriented methods, because they felt that "a number speaks a thousand words"to both children and adults. Parents also regarded numerical assessment as an easier way to compare children with each other, and as something that motivates the child.

"However, I dare to say that comparing children and adolescents who are in a sensitive age is not really helpful or motivating", Atjonen says.

Parents play a role in the assessment process

Based on their findings, the researchers propose that schools should engage in an increasingly close dialog with parents.

"Many of the recent changes in basic education assessment require that schools keep parents informed of current issues, but that is not enough. Assessment should be discussed face-to-face because it clarifies many things and increases mutual understanding. The results of this study, too, show that parents have many pedagogically important messages to schools," Atjonen points out.

In the future, research could focus on developing teachers', pupils' and parents' shared assessment competence.

"In order to achieve this, assessment should be made more visible to homes. Some schools have succeeded in this with, e.g., digital solutions, but we need research-based knowledge on other good practices as well," Atjonen says.

The research was published in Studies in Educational Evaluation.

Explore further New assessment tool reveals 1 in 3 kids with food allergies say they've been bullied because of their condition

More information: Juuso Henrik Nieminen et al, Parents' beliefs about assessment: A conceptual framework and findings from Finnish basic education, Studies in Educational Evaluation (2021). Juuso Henrik Nieminen et al, Parents' beliefs about assessment: A conceptual framework and findings from Finnish basic education,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.stueduc.2021.101097
COP26 has so far focused on reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. But we also need to adapt to a changing climate and increase our resilience to risks. One of the barriers to this is a lack of information on how risks might change at the local scale, in terms directly relevant to users.

The University of Reading has therefore launched a new website showing how climate change will affect different risks in every corner of the UK.

The UK Climate Risk Indicators project website allows users to see how extreme temperatures, droughts, river floods and wildfire will affect risks in their local area and at the national scale The estimates are available for different time periods up to the end of the century and for different assumptions about how greenhouse gas emissions change. They are presented using accessible maps and graphs.

The free-to-use website is aimed at agencies and decisionmakers responsible for helping the UK adapt to and prepare for climate risks to communities, transport, infrastructure, buildings and agriculture. How might growing seasons change, for example, and what is the chance of getting temperatures high enough to melt roads?

The launch of the tool comes as world leaders and negotiators meet at COP26 this month to set out plans to meet climate change targets set out in the Paris Agreement. The website will be launched at the UK Climate Resilience Programme event on "Building climate resilience in a low carbon world" at COP26 on the evening of 10 November.

Professor Nigel Arnell, Professor of Climate Change Science at the University of Reading, said: "There is a wealth of research and data on how the world is likely to be affected by climate change, so the key challenge is getting that information to those that need it in an easy-to-use way.

"This website provides a comprehensive tool that can be used to inform decisions on everything from infrastructure development to housebuilding and healthcare."

The website allows users to look at 39 separate climate impacts across seven categories: Climate, Temperature Extremes, Heating and Cooling, Transport, Agriculture, Wildfire and Water. The indicators are calculated at scales ranging from the smallest local authority to the four nations of the UK.

Users can combine impacts and create maps based on the different indicators and download time series for specific locations.

Explore further Explore ESA's interactive Climate Change Kit
The specimen was collected in 1894 near Seppenrade. LWL-Museum for Natural History, Munster. Photo: CI. Scale: 100 mm. Credit: Ifrim et al., 2021, PLOS ONE, CC-BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

A small team of researchers from Germany, Mexico and the U.K. has found evidence suggesting that the reason a species of ammonite grew into giants was because of the increasing size of the mosasaurs that fed on them. In their paper posted on the open-access site PLOS ONE, the group describes their detailed study of 154 specimens of two species of ammonite fossils and what they learned about them.

Ammonites are a kind of coil-shelled mollusk that went extinct millions of years ago. They were notable for their distinctive frilled suture lines. Prior research has shown that the average ammonite was no more than half a meter in diameter. But one species stands outParapuzosia seppenradensis, a species that could grow to have a diameter as large as 1.5 to 1.8 meters. In this new effort, the researchers sought to discover why it was that P. seppenradensis grew so large.

The approach by the team was to first learn more about ammonites in generalto that end they collected 154 specimens from various institutions, all of which were of two species: P. seppenradensis and Parapuzosia leptophylla. As part of their effort, they found evidence that suggested P. seppenradensis evolved from P. leptophylla after P. leptophylla began migrating from the coastlines of what is now western Europe to the shores of what is now the Americas.

After a split occurred, P. seppenradensis began to get bigger. The researchers were not able to find any conclusive evidence to explain why they began to grow, noting that it could have been due to events such as changes in climate. But they did find that many species of mosasaurs began to grow bigger at around the same time. The large marine reptiles are believed to have been the main predators of ammonite. The researchers suggest the reason P. seppenradensis began to grow was because the larger they were the more difficult it was for the reptiles to fit them in their mouththose that were bigger survived to reproduce.

The researchers acknowledge that there is one kink in their theoryprior research has shown that as P. seppenradensis reached its peak size, mosasaurs continued to get bigger. And after a while, P. seppenradensis began to get smaller again for unknown reasons.

Explore further Huge ancestors of squid once littered England's beaches

More information: Christina Ifrim et al, Ontogeny, evolution and palaeogeographic distribution of the world's largest ammonite Parapuzosia (P.) seppenradensis (Landois, 1895), PLOS ONE (2021). Journal information: PLoS ONE Christina Ifrim et al, Ontogeny, evolution and palaeogeographic distribution of the world's largest ammonite Parapuzosia (P.) seppenradensis (Landois, 1895),(2021). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258510

 2021 Science X Network
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

It hung over the Los Angeles Basin like a curtaina veil of stagnant air that blotted out the sun and concealed both the San Gabriel Mountains and the skyscrapers of downtown L.A.

Over the first weekend of November, residents across the region were puzzled by a surprising fog that seemed to roll in from nowhere and failed to burn away like any other overcast morning. Was it wildfire smoke? Was it smog? Was it mutant June gloom?

Now, in the wake of last weekend's mystery pall, some clean air advocates are blaming the long line of idling cargo ships anchored off the coast of Southern California for triggering the haze.

For their part, air quality regulators say the poor visibility was due to seasonal weather effects that trap air pollution over the region. They told The Times on Wednesday, however, that they would look into whether shipping was a factor.

It's a mystery that wraps itself around chemistry, weather and international trade.

Ships often travel in and out of the ports in Southern California within a relatively short window. Ships outside the Port of Los Angeles are now waiting up to 14 days on average to enter, according to port officials. Over 100 ships are anchored and idling there, awaiting their chance to offload cargo.

Ship emissions have increased substantially when compared to the pre-pandemic era, said Chris Cannon, chief sustainability officer with the Port of Los Angeles. Anchored ship emissions went from just 1% of overall ship emissions to 42% of emissions in December 2020.

"While we have not seen any obvious emissions increases at our local [air quality] monitoring stations during these anchorage periods, we continue to carefully monitor this activity and are coordinating with local and state agencies to assess impacts," Cannon said in a statement.

Last weekend's haze arrived just as the port gridlock entered its second month.

"In recent times, ships usually operate using shore power when docked at the port, but they can't do that when they are anchored offshore waiting for their turn to unload," said Michael Kleeman, civil and environmental engineering professor at UC Davis. "I'm speculating that the fuel used by those ships while they are anchored contains enough sulfur to contribute to the regional haze problem."

Along the coast of California, cargo ships are required to use fuel with low sulfur content.

Suzanne Paulson, professor of atmospheric and oceanic studies at UCLA, said that up until January 2020, cargo ships burned heavier fuel. Now, when those ships get near the coast of California, they're required to shift to low-sulfur fuel. What's unclear is whether the ships idling along California's coast have enough of that fuel to wait out the backlog at the ports.

"This issue is unprecedented," Paulson said. "Usually, ships come and go. The ships off the coast may be a component that contributes to the pollution we're seeing, but a lot of it has to do with the chemistry."

It's a theory that Kleeman thinks could be tested by measuring the air pollution for trace amounts of "chemical fingerprints" such as vanadium, an element that can be traced back to burned sulfur fuel used by cargo ships.

The question remains up in the air, said Sarah Rees, deputy executive officer at the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

It's not uncommon to see this type of winter pollution buildup stretching out over several days at a time, air officials said.

On Tuesday, the South Coast district extended its 24-hour ban on residential wood-burning in fireplaces, wood stoves and fire pits, in an effort to limit the amount of pollution released into the air. Of particular concern are microscopic particles known as PM2.5, which can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause difficulty breathing. They can also trigger strokes, asthma attacks and heart attacks.

Starting Nov. 4, the South Coast Basinwhich includes Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino countiesrecorded a five-day period in which the daily average of PM 2.5 exceeded the national 24-hour health standard, according to available air quality data. On Nov. 5, spikes were recorded at air quality management district stations in Compton, North Hollywood, Reseda, Upland and Ontario. In the last few years, similar periods of unhealthy air coincided with massive heat waves and wildfires burning across the region.

The current available data offer a glimpse at the trends but not whether idling cargo ships are to blame.

Rees said the cargo ships could be a contributing factor to the haze but are just one part of the tapestry of machines pumping pollution into the L.A. Basin.

"It's a little hard to say how much," Rees said. "Even without the ships, we would have seen high levels of [particulate matter] around this time of year."

Ships along the coast pump emissions into Southern California that contribute to PM 2.5 levels, but they also contribute precursors that become fine particulates over time. The source of each pollutant is difficult to nail down, according to the South Coast district.

"Since these pollutants are emitted by many other sources throughout the region, it is challenging to determine how much these ship emissions contribute to measured PM2.5 concentrations," South Coast spokesperson Nahal Mogharabi said in an email.

Weather patterns and atmospheric chemistry all influence how emissions move and affect air quality, furthering the mystery on the source of the haze.

But Adriano Martinez, senior attorney at environmental nonprofit Earthjustice, said the weather is just one factor in the pollution question.

"Whenever we see this spike in fine particulate pollution, people point to the weather," Martinez said. "What some of that explanation misses is that impact of some of the urban areas where people live, and glosses over the specific solutions that could be pursued to curb emissions."

There was a time when L.A. was submerged in a thick layer of smog that made people afraid to leave their homes, Martinez said. Industry regulations over the last several decades improved the quality of life for cities across the country, but there's still much more that needs to be done, he noted. Just last year, smog remained a threat to those living in L.A., and not just for children, seniors and people with health conditions.

Kleeman said there has been tremendous progress carried out by regulatory agencies such as the South Coast district and at the federal level, but this most recent deluge of pollution is a reminder that progress is fragile.

"We're having a little bit of a throwback to what it was like 15 to 25 years ago," Kleeman said. "It's a reminder of how far we've come and a reminder that we have to realize that these problems go away when we take the steps to make them go away."

The National Weather Service forecasts that Santa Ana winds will return to Southern California this week. The winds are likely to blow away the haze but will also increase the chance for wildfires.

2021 Los Angeles Times.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Wooly mammoths persisted in Siberia until the mid-Holocene. Credit: Mauricio Anton

New research shows that humans had a significant role in the extinction of wooly mammoths in Eurasia, occurring thousands of years later than previously thought.

An international team of scientists led by researchers from the University of Adelaide and University of Copenhagen, has revealed a 20,000-year pathway to extinction for the wooly mammoth.

"Our research shows that humans were a crucial and chronic driver of population declines of wooly mammoths, having an essential role in the timing and location of their extinction," said lead author Associate Professor Damien Fordham from the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute.

"Using computer models, fossils and ancient DNA we have identified the very mechanisms and threats that were integral in the initial decline and later extinction of the wooly mammoth."

Signatures of past changes in the distribution and demography of wooly mammoths identified from fossils and ancient DNA show that people hastened the extinction of wooly mammoths by up to 4,000 years in some regions.

"We know that humans exploited wooly mammoths for meat, skins, bones and ivory. However, until now it has been difficult to disentangle the exact roles that climate warming and human hunting had on its extinction," said Associate Professor Fordham.

The study also shows that wooly mammoths are likely to have survived in the Arctic for thousands of years longer than previously thought, existing in small areas of habitat with suitable climatic conditions and low densities of humans.

"Our finding of long-term persistence in Eurasia independently confirms recently published environmental DNA evidence that shows that wooly mammoths were roaming around Siberia 5,000 years ago," said Associate Professor Jeremey Austin from the University of Adelaide's Australian Centre for Ancient DNA.

Associate Professor David Nogues-Bravo from the University of Copenhagen was a co-author of the study which is published in the journal Ecology Letters.

"Our analyses strengthens and better resolves the case for human impacts as a driver of population declines and range collapses of megafauna in Eurasia during the late Pleistocene," he said.

"It also refutes a prevalent theory that climate change alone decimated wooly mammoth populations and that the role of humans was limited to hunters delivering the coup de grace".

"And shows that species extinctions are usually the result of complex interactions between threatening processes."

The researchers emphasize that the pathway to extinction for the wooly mammoth was long and lasting, starting many millennia before the final extinction event.

More information: Damien A. Fordham et al, Processexplicit models reveal pathway to extinction for woolly mammoth using patternoriented validation, Ecology Letters (2021). Journal information: Ecology Letters Damien A. Fordham et al, Processexplicit models reveal pathway to extinction for woolly mammoth using patternoriented validation,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/ele.13911
Ocean currents, propelled by kinetic energy from the wind, are the great moderators of our climate. By transferring heat from the equator to polar regions, they help make our planet habitable.

And yet, the large-scale models used by scientists to study this complex system fail to accurately account for the impact of wind on the ocean's most energetic components: swirling, mesoscale eddies. These temporary, circular currents of water 50 to 500 kilometers in size are critical to determining the trajectory of larger ocean currents like the Gulf Stream.

In a recent paper in Science Advances, researchers from the University of Rochester and Los Alamos National Laboratory document for the first time how the wind, which propels larger currents, has the opposite effect on eddies less than 260 kilometers in sizeresulting in a phenomenon called "eddy killing."

They also provide the first direct measurement of the overall impact of this eddy killing: a continual loss of 50 gigawatts of kinetic energyequivalent to the detonation of a Hiroshima nuclear bomb every 20 minutes, year-round.

Wind and ocean map using satellite observations. Credit: University of Rochester. Credit: University of Rochester

"For the first time we are able to unravel eddy killing by direct measurement from satellite observations, with minimal assumptions," said corresponding author Hussein Aluie, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rochester.

Aluie will present the results at the 74th Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics.

This method provides a more detailed spatial analysis than is possible with the ones used by most oceanographers, which concentrate on temporal fluctuations, Aluie says. Those methods either fail to account for the impact of eddy killing or provide wildly varying estimates.

"On the one hand the wind is making the ocean move, and yet it is killing the part of it that is the most energetic. So, it is counterintuitive and something that had not been directly measured before because people were using the wrong tools," said Aluie.
Asteroid 2004 UE is approximatly 160 meters in diameter and will travel close to the Earth this week. Any object over 140 meters in diameter could cause major damage to cities or coasts if there were to be a collision, said astronomy professor Leslie Looney. Asteroid 2004 UE is not considered a safety concern since the closest approach to Earth's orbit on Nov. 13 will be more than 30 times the Earth-moon distance. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer

Recent weeks have witnessed a series of medium-to-large-sized asteroids cross paths with Earth's orbit. The largest of the packasteroid 2004 UEis on track to make its closest approach to the planet Nov. 13. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign astronomy professor and chair Leslie Looney spoke with News Bureau physical sciences editor Lois Yoksoulian about what researchers refer to as near Earth objects and how much of a threat they are to the planet.

What are near Earth objects, what are they composed of and how do we know?

Near Earth objects are meteoroids, asteroids or comets with orbits that bring them close to Earth's orbit. They are the leftovers of our solar system formation process, which means they are the nearly pristine bits and pieces of ice and rocks from which the planets formed. We know their orbits from tracking them, and we know of their composition from examining their reflected and infrared light and by comparisons to objects that we have visited with space missions.

There seem to be a lot of large NEOs in Earth's neighborhood in recent weeks. Is this unusual?

Over the last 20 years, NASA has dramatically increased the number of known NEOsfrom knowing of less than a thousand to nearly 28,000. The precise dimensions of NEOs can be difficult to resolve due to their small size and great distances. However, those estimated by NASA to be 140 meters or more along their longest axismost asteroids are potato-shaped, so their dimensions can be described as roughly sphericalhave been mandated by Congress to be classified as NEOs. The increase in the number of objects classified as NEOs was in part due to this mandate. Anything of this size could have a catastrophic impact on Earth, destroying cities with large losses of life. This awareness leads to more reporting of objects.

How do scientists spot and track NEOs?

We discover NEOs by taking pictures of the night sky over a night or over multiple nights, looking for something that moves compared with the stars or galaxies. The closer the NEO is to Earth, the faster it will move. With enough time, we can use these images to determine the object's orbit. Many new and exciting upcoming astronomical surveys will also map the night sky over many years to look for supernovae or other time-varying objects, so we expect to find even more objects over the next few decades.

At what size does a NEO become a concern?

Anything over 140 meters in diameter could cause major damage to cities or coasts, so any NEO with orbits that cross Earth's orbit is classified as a potentially hazardous object. There are about 2,000 PHOs known today. None of them are likely to impact the planet in the next 100 years, but we still watch their orbits for any shifts. The orbital paths of NEOs that will be near Earth in more than 100 years cannot be predicted very well. However, it is important to note that large impacts have hit Earth in the pastask any dinosaur you meetand the planet will be hit by large impacts in the future. It is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. But don't panic. It is not likely to happen anytime soon.

Are there any ways we can deflect NEOs that come too close?

If we have an advanced warning of five to 10 years or so, deflecting a NEO should be easy. I am not talking about nuclear blasts or anything like that. Blowing up a NEO is probably the worst thing to do, since now you have many smaller rocks in the same orbit. That said, NASA will launch this month the Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART, which will test a kinetic impact with an asteroid. This planned high-speed impact is scheduled to occur in October, and will determine how effectively we can change an asteroid orbit.

There are many other methods, including a gravity tractora spacecraft that nudges the asteroid using the spacecraft's massor attached rockets. If our civilization wants to survive for the next 1,000 years, we have to figure this out.

Asteroid 2004 UE will reach its closest approach to Earth on Nov. 13. How do this object's size and trajectory compare to other identified NEOs throughout history?

Asteroid 2004 UE is pretty typical of a NEO. It is around 160 meters in diametermost are smaller, but many are bigger. Asteroid 2004 UE is not considered a safety concern since the closest approach to Earth's orbit on Nov. 13 will be more than 30 times the Earth-moon distance. This happens frequently.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

When deciding how much nitrogen fertilizer to apply, farmers have options. The standard tool for the Midwestthe maximum return to nitrogen (MRTN) calculator  offers a static recommendation. It is based on hundreds of field trials, but doesn't vary much year to year. Newer dynamic tools have the potential to account for soil properties and weather, but also require input from farmers during the growing season to deliver site-specific nitrogen recommendations.

The idea is, always, to optimize corn yield for maximum profit. Avoiding over-application is part of that calculation, but it's also key to minimizing nitrogen pollution. So, which tool is better?

"The difference between tools is small and difficult to see in only a few trials. In consequence, we needed a dataset that allowed us to compare performance in the long term. That is where crop modeling came into play, allowing us to explore millions of soil and weather combinations," says German Mandrini, Ph.D. graduate from the Department of Crop Sciences at U of I, and first author of the new study in Agricultural Systems.

Mandrini used a crop model based on thousands of fields across Illinois to test static and dynamic nitrogen recommendation tools.

"This is an interdisciplinary study, only attainable thanks to the contributions of experts in crop modeling, environmental sciences, agricultural economics, and crop sciences from several institutions," says Mandrini. "The broad dataset not only allowed us to compare the performance of the tools but also to understand in what conditions the differences happened."

For the management scenarios explored, the researchers found that complex dynamic tools did not consistently increase profits over simpler static tools.

"Around half the time, dynamic tools under-predicted the amount of nitrogen a farmer needs, leading to yield penalties. Those yield penalties were usually high and not compensated by the situations in which the dynamic tool predicts nitrogen with higher accuracy," says Nicolas Martin, corresponding author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Crop Sciences. "For years, we haven't seen a clear winner among nitrogen-prediction tools, and our results explain why."

Martin specializes in big-data approaches to agricultural challenges, so the result came as a bit of a surprise. He explains that the results are important for setting clear goals in future research, acknowledging that higher complexity does not always mean better results.

"Dynamic tools require bookkeeping and data input from busy farmers, partially explaining the low adoption of current products in the marketplace. From the farmer's point of view, I imagine that newer tools based on precise information represent extra work. And then it's not always clear how much benefit they get one season to the other," Martin says. "I could see if they ended up with a high yield penalty in one season, farmers might not want to try it again."

The researchers also found some good news from an environmental standpoint: Both tools have the potential to reduce nitrogen leaching by about 15% compared with current practices.

"The higher accuracy of dynamic tools leads to reduced leaching, but static tools could achieve the same result by recommending the low end of the MRTN range," Mandrini says. "This reduction can be attained in a simple way and at almost no cost for the farmers, just by lowering current recommendations."

Do these results mean complex dynamic nitrogen tools are doomed to obscurity? The researchers don't think so. Instead, they say, the findings are an opportunity to refine these tools and redefine their goals. Since higher accuracy does not consistently improve profits and reduce nitrogen leaching, developers of nitrogen recommendation tools should be clear about whether they're prioritizing economic or environmental outcomes.

"Our results highlight the need to develop additional strategies, including education and policy, to account for environmental benefits and provide clear incentives for farmers to adopt these tools and increase the eco-efficiency of agriculture," Martin says.

Explore further Research links soil nitrogen levels to corn yield and nitrogen losses

More information: German Mandrini et al, Understanding differences between static and dynamic nitrogen fertilizer tools using simulation modeling, Agricultural Systems (2021). German Mandrini et al, Understanding differences between static and dynamic nitrogen fertilizer tools using simulation modeling,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2021.103275
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When a forest fire rages or a flood hits, many people these days tend to put the blame squarely on climate change. But many others do not, even when the extreme weather affects them personally. And that's something a Canada-U.S. team of researchers is trying to understand.

Led by Universite de Montreal political scientist Erick Lachapelle, with colleagues at Yale University, University of CaliforniaSanta Barbara and Utah State University, the team developed an interactive map that charts Canadian public opinion on climate change.

Freely available for download, the modeling resurfaced this month as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other world leaders gathered in Glasgow, Scotland for the United Nations COP26 climate talks, vowing to end deforestation and stop funding fossil-fuel projects.

We asked Lachapelle to discuss his team's research in light of the conference and recent climate events and in anticipation of the updating in January of the current map, which dates from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why do you think a lot of people in places like Canada's "oil patch" or the American Midwest, who have experienced terrible natural disasters like fires and floods, are still reluctant to acknowledge climate change?

Researchers are only beginning to unpack the links between experience with climate-change impacts and climate-change beliefs. The best available evidence suggests that these impacts are short-lived and modest. In a study of the impacts of extreme weather on climate change opinion in the U.S., for instance, researchers found that there is indeed an association between exposure to these events and concerns about climate change, but only with relatively recent experience with extreme weather. Extreme weather occurring more than three months out tends to have little bearing on the evolution of climate-change opinions. Moreover, these effects are modest compared to the effects of other things that mold public-opinionlike values, ideology and political identitieswhich trump the effects of weather. And they can vary heavily whether a person is more of a political liberal or a political conservative.

So it's not a question of being ignorant of the facts, or of willfully ignoring them, but rather of the facts getting in the way of a strongly held opinion?

In fact, much evidence suggests that people interpret their experience with extreme weather in ways that fit their pre-existing beliefs and values, such that people who are predisposed to reject climate change (because it does not fit their values, identity, or ideology) are less likely to perceive or accurately remember extreme weather events in their local area. This phenomena of "motivated reasoning" or more specifically "biased assimilation" is commonly found in studies of public-opinion formation, and suggests that people selectively interpret new information in ways that fit and do not challenge their pre-existing attitudes, beliefs and world views. In light of all of this, it might not be so surprising to learn that, even in the aftermath of extreme wildfires happening a few years ago, political conservatives living in the oil patch might not be so moved by extreme weather events. Their values motivate them to be skeptical about attempts to attribute the fires to climate change.

At base, what makes people with more conservative values and identities so skeptical about climate change?

First, it's because climate change threatens their values of freedom and autonomy, and their preferences for small government. Climate change demands more government regulation and changes to our lifestyles, something political conservatives do not necessarily like. It also provides these groups with a political weapon they can use to demonize their opponents for proposing policies intended to change the status quo. The second reason is that climate change threatens their identity. For years, conservative elitesfrom politicians to media barons to oil executives have downplayed the risks of climate change. In some places siuch as the U.S. climate change has joined the ranks of other issues like abortion and gun control as a conservative identity marker. Group membership can affect how people interpret new information, as we tend to adopt a position that is consistent with our perceived "in-group" while actively resisting information coming from "out-group" sources, who are generally seen as less credible and trustworthy. To the extent that people identify with conservative elites, they are motivated to adopt a similar stance toward climate change, or else risk the in-group status and self-esteem derived from their standing in the group.

What do you think is lacking currently in terms of the political messaging around climate change?

Lots. But a key thing is messengers. Right now, most of the people speaking for climate change in the country are ecologists and youth. Their discourse is portrayed as a left-wing narrative. This does not speak to all Canadians. Because of the reasons given above, out-group messages will fall on deaf ears, or worse, polarize the public. What is missing are prominent voices from different segments of society: if working mothers in suburban Canada, farmers and ranchers in rural Canada, and conservative politicians in general, were to acknowledge and communicate the climate-change emergency, we would go a long way in terms of reducing polarization and one of the major barriers to climate action.

Is the fact of a rural-urban divide behind a lot of the skepticism?

It's no secret that rural areas are more conservative. So having prominent voices in rural communitiespeople like themselvesraising awareness and concern about climate change is also missing. Rural areas also have considerable structural barriers preventing them from engaging in the types of behaviors commonly asked of Canadians in the fight against climate change: "drive less" and "take public transit" are a lot more difficult in rural settings. So these kinds of messages when heard in rural parts of the country don't work. But, rural areas are more pro-environmental in other ways. They are more likely to grow their own food; make, mend, repair or re-use goods rather than buying new; buy local: these are all pro-environmental behaviors you commonly see in rural areas. Speaking to this, reminding rural dwellers that they are already pro-environment before asking them to do something about climate change, would go a long way in activating latent pro-environmental values. It's better than guilt-tripping them for not driving a fancy new electric carthat only serves to polarize them further.

Did the recent federal election reveal anything that suggest a better way to bring about a consensus on climate change?

Yes. (Conservative Party leader) Erin O'Toole got the message. He can't win on what's seen as an anti-environmental platform. He went against some grassroots in his party and came out with a message that climate change is real and is caused by humans. He dropped the fight over carbon pricing and came up with his own plan to put a price on carbon. Conservative voices coming around to acknowledge and address the ultimate existential threat facing humans and living things on our planet is the single biggest thing we need to build a consensus on climate change. That's what happened in in Quebec (and to a lesser extent in places like the U.K.). There is an inter-party consensus on the reality of climate change and the urgent need for action. But there are still many conservative politicians across the country and in provincial positions of power who are not singing the same tune as O'Toole. Making climate change a wedge issue, as in the U.S. or as the ex-Tory politician Maxime Bernier and others have tried to do in some provinces like Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, is definitively not the way forward. Pro-climate action conservatives need to be given more sustained prominence if we are to reduce polarization around climate action and reach a consensus on climate action in this country.

Explore further Do opinions regarding climate change adjust to economic conditions?
The Inti tanager. Credit: Ryan Terrill

After persuading his parents to bring home a bird feeder from his relatives' hardware store, Kevin Burns became captivated by watching his avian visitors. He would flip through pages in a bulky encyclopedia to know which kind of bird was flitting about.

Now an ornithologist and professor of biology at San Diego State University, Burns's childhood fascination led him and his collaborators to identify a new bird, Heliothraupis oneilli, not previously described in any field guide.

The bird's common name, the Inti tanager, is named after the word for sun in Quechua, the Indigenous language of the tropical mountainous area it inhabits, befitting of its vivid yellow feathers and tendency to sing during midday.

Burns's colleagues from Louisiana State University first spotted the bird while leading a birdwatching tour over twenty years ago, in the foothills of the Andes mountains in Peru. But they were not able to collect enough genetic material to analyze until 2011 when they found additional Inti tanagers breeding in nearby Bolivia during the rainy season.

Burns and his graduate students then were able to analyze nearly 5,000 genes to understand how this bird fit into the puzzle of over 300 other species of tanagers, the second most diverse bird family.

When comparing the Inti tanager to species that shared the most genetic similarities, only some had yellow coloring and none had a bright orangey-pink beak. It is also very unusual for tanagers to migrate between tropical regions. The genetic analysis combined with the unique appearance and behaviors led to the decision to propose it as not only a new species but also a new genus.

When asked why a new genus and species of bird is important, Burns answered, "If we want to sustain ecosystems, we have to know all the players."

He likened it to a mechanic trying to get a car going without knowing all the pieces of a car and what they do.

"We should care about biodiversity for a lot of reasonsphilosophical, aesthetic reasons, but also practical reasons," said Burns. "All those creatures, birds or insects, they've been evolving for millions of years and they've been solving problems for millions of years that we might need to solve."

Additional unidentified species of flora and fauna may contain chemical compounds useful for treating disease or have special adaptations that can guide engineers in building more efficient machines based on evolution.

"Birds are very well-known compared to other organisms. You'd think there's not that much left to discover," said Shannon Hackett, the associate curator of birds for the Negaunee Integrative Research Center at the Field Museum in Chicago, who was not involved in identifying the Inti tanager. "Some of the best ornithologists have been to these places all the time and never saw this bird."

"There's always the idea that you could be that person, that you could capture lightning in a bottle. It fulfills the childhood curiosity to figure out something that nobody knew the day before and they did it with a pink-beaked bird," Hackett added.

The identification of the Inti tanager was reported in a paper that was recently published in Ornithology and the genetic analysis research was supported by the National Science Foundation.

Explore further Wing shape determines how far birds disperse

More information: Daniel F Lane et al, A new genus and species of tanager (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) from the lower Yungas of western Bolivia and southern Peru, Ornithology (2021). Daniel F Lane et al, A new genus and species of tanager (Passeriformes, Thraupidae) from the lower Yungas of western Bolivia and southern Peru,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/ornithology/ukab059
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

When considering determinants of an individual's health outcomes, doctors and researchers consider personal factors like age, race, gender or socioeconomic factors such as education quality, economic stability or health care access. A new study from the University of Kansas adds to the evidence that political ideology can be a social determinant of health, especially during public health crises.

Researchers have long considered that a person's association with an ideological view may have bearing on health behaviors on a long-term basis, such as embracing bans on public smoking to prevent lung cancer, or opposing vaccines due to concerns about secondary effects, but the COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study how it plays into behavior during a public health emergency. For the study, the authors conducted two surveys and a review of studies on ideology and health, finding that political beliefs did influence attitudes and health behavior during the pandemic.

"What this study shows is political partisanship and ideology seem to be one of the most significant drivers of health behavior when it comes to COVID-19," said lead author Mugur Geana, associate professor of journalism and director of KU's Center for Excellence in Health Communications to Underserved Populations. "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines social determinants of health as the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, play, worship and age that affect a wide range of health outcomes. Because ideology depends on group affiliation and influences interpersonal relationships, we think it should also be considered a social determinant of health."

That finding is especially important to remember in a time of significant political polarization in the United States, wrote Geana and co-authors Nathaniel Rabb and Steven Sloman of The Policy Lab at Brown University. The study was published in the journal SSM-Population Health.

For the study, researchers first conducted a convenience sample survey on social media through the Center for Excellence and Health Communications to Underserved Populations, followed by a survey with a nationally representative sample through Brown's Policy Lab. Respondents were asked about their political ideological beliefs as well as their knowledge of COVID-19, attitudes and beliefs related to COVID-19 risk factors, and demographic information. The surveys, conducted in late 2020, also asked where people received information on the pandemic, if they intended to get vaccinated, if they had COVID-19 themselves or knew anyone who did, if they wore masks and practiced social distancing, and other related questions. Data analysis from both surveys suggested that ideology was a significant predictor for all dependent behavioral variables, and in most cases, the strongest one.

For the third part of the study, authors conducted a review of 181 papers on the emerging COVID-19 behavioral literature and analyzed the results from 44 selected studies that examined ideology's influence on health behaviors. It was shown to be a significant predictor of responses in 79% of the studies' estimates, and it had the largest effect on COVID-19 related behaviors in 39% of these. No other variable, such as age, gender, education or race/ethnicity, was the best predictor in nearly as many studies.

The three sources of data, taken together, contribute to the growing body of knowledge that individuals' political ideology will influence how they behave in relation to their own health and that of the public. That has significant potential ramifications on public health as well as for health policy and strategic communications.

"It was obvious we expected to see differences in attitudes and behaviors based on political partisanship, but we wanted to know how much of an impact it has, and if our findings reflect those from other studies," Geana said. "Much to our surprise, we found that ideology was the best predictor of COVID-19 related behavior. When we take that all in, it suggests that in times of crisis, which the pandemic was, and in a polarized society, ideology is a significant driver of how people behave when it comes to their health."

Geana said the study was not intended and should not be used to advocate for any ideology or argue that any ideology is right or wrong. The purposed was to contribute to the body of knowledge of how ideology influences health behavior in times of crises and to create awareness about this phenomenon for policymakers, health officials and health communicators, especially in the hyperpolarized climate of the United States.

Geana has conducted similar studies into how Kansas residents received information on the pandemic and assessed risk, as well as comparing how the United States and Chile, two seemingly different nations, approached the crisis. Together, these studies show the importance of considering multiple variables, including ideology or political partisanship, when assessing health behavior, and promotes understanding that one message will not resonate equally with all in terms of health interventions and when addressing the valid concerns people may have in regard to their health.

"This shows we need to keep an open mind and be sure the messages for the health interventions we are designing are appropriate for the audience we are trying to reach at that moment in time," Geana said.

Explore further Urban Americans more likely to follow covid-19 prevention behaviors than rural Americans

More information: Mugur V. Geana et al, Walking the party line: The growing role of political ideology in shaping health behavior in the United States, SSM - Population Health (2021). Mugur V. Geana et al, Walking the party line: The growing role of political ideology in shaping health behavior in the United States,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100950
The cover is a rough diagram of the circulation which occurred during the extraordinarily wet summer mei-yu of 2020 in eastern Asia. It shows how the rainfall principally occurred as a result of warm, moist low level flow from the south meeting colder, upper level flow from the north. High pressure (denoted by the "H'), normally over the western North Pacific was also further west than usual, helping to feed additional moisture, from the south, towards the regions most impacted by the flooding. Credit: Advances in Atmospheric Sciences

With impacts of climate change like the extreme heatwaves in Canada and Italy and the severe floods in Europe and China, 2021 has been a year of new records and fear for the future. For large parts of eastern Asia, however, the previous summer was one that locals won't forget for many, many years. For vast parts of the region, it was the wettest summer for almost 60 years, with widespread flooding in several provinces of China, but also in southern Japan and South Korea. With model projections heralding an approaching world of multiple extremes as climate change begins to bite, the need to understand and predict such events has become ever more pressing and essential in order to mitigate their worst impacts and save lives in coming decades.

As part of this effort, Springer Nature's peer-reviewed journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences invited scientists from several countries, including China, the U.K., South Korea, the U.S. and Japan to come together in October 2020 to encourage scientists to research and submit their findings on the East Asian flooding of 2020 to a special issue dedicated to the event.

Dr. Robin Clark from the U.K."s national weather agency, one of the co-organizers of the special issue and co-author of the preface, says, "Climate change knows no borders and will impact everyone. We're already seeing its fingerprints on the extreme weather around the world, so it's important for countries to work together to avoid the very worst impacts of climate change."

A key aspect of the summer, highlighted by contributions to journal, was extremely unusual behavior of an anti-cyclone usually present in the sub-tropical west Pacific. Professor Jianhua Sun from China's Institute of Atmospheric Physics, one of the co-organizers of the special issue, says, "The anticyclone is a feature in every year, but in summer 2020, the periodic evolution of the western Pacific subtropical high is a key atmospheric circulation factor that led to the persistent extreme Meiyu season in 2020." Many of the scientists writing in the journal attributed this behavior to the Indian Ocean which was much warmer than normal.

A surprising thing about the 2020 summer was that it wasn't preceded by a major El Nino, the classic warming in the east Pacific which usually precedes the wettest summers in eastern Asia. However, as a paper led by Dr. Congxi Fang, of the Chinese Academy of Sciences points out, there was a warming further west, in the central Pacific, which rapidly cooled, which looks to have worked in tandem with the influence of the Indian Ocean on the behavior of the west Pacific anticyclone.

Seasonal prediction models appeared to have grasped the underlying effects of the ocean on the high pressure and were even successful in predicting a wetter than normal summer for the Yangtze River region giving useful forewarning but under-predicted the excessive nature of the rainfall. Professor Xiquan Dong of the University of Arizona in the U.S. says, "Despite great advances in recent decades, it is still a great challenge to accurately forecast extreme heavy precipitation events, including their spatial and temporal evolutions, coverage and intensity."

A contribution to the special issue by Dr. Clark and co-authors, again from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, also highlighted how the rainfall levels seen in 2020 are something that society will have to prepare for in future years.

"The studies and outcomes revealed in this special issue on the extreme rainfall in summer 2020 should contribute to a common understanding of extreme weather and rainfall during the Asian monsoon period over East Asia and the surrounding regions," said preface co-author Tetsuya Takemi, researcher with the Disaster Prevention Research Institute at Kyoto University in Japan.

The special issue will be available in November, in time for the COP26 climate change conference at Glasgow in the UK.

Explore further A warm Indian Ocean drives anomalous weather events in East Asia

More information: Robin T. Clark et al, Preface to the Special Issue on Summer 2020: Record Rainfall in AsiaMechanisms, Predictability and Impacts, Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (2021). Robin T. Clark et al, Preface to the Special Issue on Summer 2020: Record Rainfall in AsiaMechanisms, Predictability and Impacts,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s00376-021-1010-5
Palm cockatoo breeding pair at the nesting hollow. Female on left, male on the right. Credit: Christina N. Zdenek

Australia's largest parrot, the palm cockatoo, is justifiably famous as the only non-human animal to craft tools for sound. They create drumsticks to make a rhythmic beat. Sadly, the "Ringo Starr" of the bird world is now threatened with extinctionjust as many other parrots are around the world.

This week, the Queensland government moved this speciesalso known as the goliath cockatooonto the endangered list, due to our research on palm cockatoo populations over more than 20 years.

Our analysis predicts a severe decline from 47% to as high as 95% over the next half-century. Given the current population is estimated at just 3,000 birds, it is likely to drop to as low as 150 birds. They could all but disappear from Australia in our lifetimes.

Is it too late? Not yet. There are concrete ways to protect these magnificent, elusive birds by conserving habitat and their all-important breeding hollow trees, by reintroducing cool burns (including unburnt areas), and finding out more about these special parrots.

So why are palm cockatoos in trouble?

Palmies, as we call these charismatic birds, hail from an ancient lineage on the parrot evolutionary tree. In Australia they only live on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland, where they face a perfect storm of threats and vulnerability.

They're losing habitat due to poor fire management and ongoing land-clearing, but they also have extremely low breeding rates, with females laying a single egg every two years.

Of the offspring, only 23% of their chicks live until they fledge. On average, this means each breeding pair successfully raises just one chick every 10 years. And who knows if that fledgling will make it to sexual maturity at five or more years old?

One of the crucial palm cockatoo hollows burning down in Cape York. Credit: Christina N. Zdenek, Author provided

One challenge in studying these birds is the difficulty in identifying individual birds over time. To date there has been no successful capture of palmies to mark them via leg bands or GPS trackers. Without knowing who's who, major problems with breeding success could be masked by an aging population, given their life expectancy is up to 60 years.

Our research on palm cockatoo genetics and vocal dialects reveals their three major populations on the peninsula are poorly connected, meaning little movement of birds between groups.

Each group has developed "cultural" traits which have not spread between the populations. For example, the famous drumming display mainly occurs in the eastern population, where the birds also make distinctive calls including a unique human-like "hello".

The downside is that if one population is in trouble, the others are unable to pick up the slack and provide breeding reinforcements.

How do we save them?

Palmies are in real trouble. Saving them from extinction will take a concerted effort.

We urgently need a better understanding of why they have such trouble breeding, to figure out if it's similarly bad across all three populations, and to work out how palmies use the landscape.

Researcher Christina Zdenek with a palm cockatoo. Credit: Christina N. Zdenek, Author provided

At the same time, we have to get better at managing the landscape they need to survive. What does that look like? It means cool burns to prevent extreme bushfires burning down their ancient nesting treesplus avoiding any further felling of these priceless trees.

These trees are a key part of the puzzle. Palmies are picky breeders. For these birds, not just any tree hollow will do. They require large, old hollow-bearing trees to breed in, which can be up to 300 years old.

The hollowing process typically starts with a small burn at the base, giving termites access to the insides of the trunk. Eventually, these trees resemble vertical hollow pipes. The palmies then spend months splintering sticks and bringing them to the hollow to make a nesting platform up to a meter deepthe only parrot to do in the entire world.

Unfortunately, these "piped" trees are especially vulnerable to big fires, which also lower termite populations and reduce the chances of future hollows being formed.

Protecting their habitat

We've found using a brush cutter and rake to clear the grass and debris for three meters around nesting trees is enough to save them from fires. This is of course labor intensive.

A longer-term strategy is to manage fire better. The frequency and intensity of bushfires in tropical Australia has changed for the worse since Europeans started managing the landscape. A return to the traditional cool burns employed by indigenous people from the Uutaalnganu, Kanthanampu and Kuuku Ya'u language groups could largely resolve this problem.

Palm cockatoos can live up to 60 years. Credit: Christina N. Zdenek, Author provided

Land clearing also reduces habitat. Though long saved by distance, Cape York is now seeing strip-mining, road building, and quarrying, which all contribute to habitat loss. We can reduce the damage done if skilled ecologists survey proposed clearance areas ahead of time.

Another vital step towards keeping this species alive is to broadly assess and protect as much as possible of the remaining palm cockatoo breeding habitat on Cape York.

We also need better ways of detecting their nest hollows. We've researched these birds for over two decades, and can confidently say that birds don't come any harder to study than palmies.

Hunting for their nests is time consuming and expensive because palmies can lay their egg any day in an eight month breeding season, with pairs often switching among several hollows on their territories. This spreads our survey teams thin.

We've also found that palmies go quiet during nesting and are super wary of humans, making finding their nesting hollows especially difficult.

Despite all the challenges in saving them, it is worthwhile. Even after watching them for 20 years, we have not tired of their company. They're magnificent birds with unique behavior and a surprising number of parallels with humans, such as drumming, blushing, tool-making, and their "Hello" call.

To bring them back from the edge, we must work quickly to figure out why and where their breeding survival rates are so low, improve how we use fire, and protect their habitat and the all-important old trees.

Explore further Cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets battle for nest space as the best old trees disappear

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

On top of the COVID-19 pandemic, people worldwide have dealt with an infodemica flood of ever-evolving information and misinformation about the virus, causing confusion and mistrust. New Cornell research finds that in remote parts of Bangladesh with little internet access, people have relied on local experts, spiritual views and their sense of social justice to evaluate new coronavirus information.

"How do you fight this crisis of misinformation, especially when the people in rural Bangladesh have limited access to information and communication technology?" said Sharifa Sultana, a doctoral student in the field of information science and lead author of the new study. "By understanding the people better, we can design technologies that help them combat misinformation."

The new study, "Dissemination, Situated Fact-Checking, and Social Effects of Misinformation Among Rural Bangladeshi Villagers During the COVID-19 Pandemic," published Oct. 18 in the Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction. It received the Diversity and Inclusion Recognition Award at the Association for Machine Computing's 2021 Computer Supported Cooperative Work conference.

Sultana traveled to Bangladesh in March 2020 to understand how villagers evaluate suspicious COVID-19 information. Before the pandemic, many already distrusted the formal health care and medical system, which is primarily government-subsidized. Rural hospitals are often understaffed, and many suspect that managers refer patients to private clinics in exchange for kickbacks. Villagers instead rely on medicine shopkeepers called Parar-daktars, who have little or no medical training, and rural witches who provide exorcisms and herbal medicines.

Sultana spent six months visiting three villages in Jessore, a remote district in southwest Bangladesh dominated by agriculture and tilapia fish farming. Sultana grew up in this area and speaks Bengali in the local dialect. She worked with the nonprofit Rural Reconstruction Foundation to conduct interviews, focus group sessions and general observations with 90 individuals using proper COVID-19 precautions. Only about one-third of participants had a smartphone and fewer than half had access to Facebook.

She found that villagers often shared medical misinformation, such as a rumor that tilapia ate medical waste and carried the virus. People frequently believed religious stories, such as the idea that Islamic fasting would prevent coronavirus infection, and accepted Indigenous knowledge, like the use of unverified herbal remedies.

People also repeated political rumors, including claims that local politicians failed to distribute government food aid. The rumors led to disruptions in community life, the collapse of the tilapia market and even greater distrust of the medical system.

When villagers encountered new COVID-19 information, they evaluated it using a five-part system named "situated fact-checking" by Sultana and co-author Susan Fussell, professor in the Department of Information Science in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science and the Department of Communication in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

People consulted with "experts"elders, educated family members and local teachers, religious leaders and NGO workers. Groups made collective decisions through discussions at tea stalls, mosques and front yards. Individuals considered the local reputation of the source. They also researched the information's background and tried to explain it using existing religious beliefs and myths.

Finally, some people accepted suspicious information if it reinforced the community's sense of morality and justice. For example, believing that farmers fed their tilapia medical waste, some claimed that police would arrest people with tilapia in their freezers, using the rumor to seek justice against dishonest fish farmers.

Modern fact-checking tools present the factual truth of a claim, but Sultana proposes that designing new tools that consider local knowledge, myths and cultural beliefs will be more effective at combatting misinformation in Bangladesh. Finding and removing misinformation from social platforms are not enough, she said.

"People need to be told that, 'OK, what I told you yesterday is wrong,' so that they can apply it to their lives," she said. "Otherwise, there is no social justice for them."

She also suggests that fact-checking tools take a democratic approach, involving a network of local NGO workers, health care providers and local government, along with the tech industry, to ensure that the tool abides by the local value system.

Currently, Sultana is running workshops and group discussions with rural villagers to find out what type of tool would be most culturally appropriate.

Explore further Fact-checking works across the globe to correct misinformation

More information: Sharifa Sultana et al, Dissemination, Situated Fact-checking, and Social Effects of Misinformation among Rural Bangladeshi Villagers During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction (2021). Sharifa Sultana et al, Dissemination, Situated Fact-checking, and Social Effects of Misinformation among Rural Bangladeshi Villagers During the COVID-19 Pandemic,(2021). DOI: 10.1145/3479580
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

New research by the universities of Kent, Warwick and Notre Dame (United States) has found that sex-selective abortion is lower in India districts with a Muslim state legislator, consistent with a higher reported aversion to abortion among Muslims compared to Hindus.

Sex-selective abortion has dramatically increased in India in recent decades. Abortion was legalized in India in 1971 and while safe abortion is viewed as a woman's right, illegal abortion is still easily accessible with procedures and facilities deemed unsafe.

Published by the Journal of Development Economics, the study discovered a rise in fertility under Muslim legislators in India, suggesting a substitution from sex-selective abortion to greater fertility as a means of achieving the desired gender mix of children.

The sex ratio at birth in India has grown more male-biased since the mid to late 1980s despite rapid increases in income, improvements in women's education, a decline in stated son preference, and the implementation of a ban on prenatal sex determination in 1996. According to the research, Muslims have similar levels of son preference. However, because Muslims have stronger (stated) preferences against abortion than Hindus, Muslim legislators, acting on their preferences, are more effective at reducing abortion than Hindus.

Professor Irma Clots-Figueras (Kent's School of Economics), Professor Sonia Bhalotra (Warwick's Department of Economics and Associate Professor of Economics and Global Affairs Lakshmi Iyer (University of Notre Dame) led the research using nationwide survey data on the retrospective fertility histories of more than 450,000 women with more than 860,000 births over three decades.

Professor Clots-Figueras said that their "research shows that Muslim legislators are more effective at controlling the selective abortion of girls in India. Previous studies have not established a causal link between politician preferences and abortion outcomes, yet our findings suggest that the personal identity of legislators could indeed be a key component of policy effectiveness."

Explore further Risks of later abortions on subsequent births

More information: Sonia Bhalotra et al, Religion and abortion: The role of politician identity, Journal of Development Economics (2021). Sonia Bhalotra et al, Religion and abortion: The role of politician identity,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2021.102746
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

A SpaceX rocket carried four astronauts into orbit Wednesday night, including the 600th person to reach space in 60 years.

The repeatedly delayed flight occurred just two days after SpaceX brought four other astronauts home from the International Space Station. They should have been up there to welcome the newcomers, but NASA and SpaceX decided to switch the order based on Monday's ideal recovery weather in the Gulf of Mexico and pulled it off.

"It was a great ride, better than we imagined," mission commander Raja Chari said shortly after the spacecraft reached orbit.

The launch was just as riveting for spectators at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, as well as along the East Coast, as the Falcon rocket thundered through clouds on its way to space, turning night into day.

Germany's Matthias Maurer claimed the No. 600 position, according to NASA, based on his mission assignment. He and his three NASA crewmates should arrive at the space station in under 24 hours, well over a week late.

One of the astronautsNASA isn't saying which onewas sidelined last week by an undisclosed medical issue. The crew member is fully recovered, according to NASA. Officials won't say whether it was an illness or injury, but noted it wasn't COVID-19.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

Bad weather also contributed to their flight delays. Chari said trying to launch on Halloween left them with "a trick instead of a treat." It was also drizzling Wednesday night when the four astronauts said goodbye to their families for six monthswith everyone huddling under umbrellasbut it cleared up by launch time.

"Enjoy your holidays among the stars. We'll be waving as you fly by," SpaceX launch director Mark Soltys radioed to the crew.

The list of 600 travelers ranges from those who have barely scratched spacelike actor William Shatner last monthto U.S. and Russian astronauts who have spent a year or more in orbit. This year's surge in space tourists helped push the tally over the 600 mark.

That averages out to 10 people per year since Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight in 1961, Maurer noted.

Photographers are silhouetted as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon attached lifts off Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Credit: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

"But I think in a very few years, we will see an exponential rise of that one because now we're entering the era of commercial spaceflight," he said after arriving at Kennedy Space Center two weeks ago.

The crew launch marked SpaceX's fourth for NASA and the company's fifth passenger flight overallincluding a September charter flight for four that skipped the space station. The Dragon capsule's toilet leaked during their three days in orbit, necessitating a quick redesign of the flushing system in the newest capsule, named Endurance by its crew.

A balky parachute during Monday's descent had SpaceX engineers poring over the data, before giving the go-ahead for Wednesday's launch. One of the four chutes opened more than a minute late, a problem seen in testing and well within safety limits, but still being examined, officials said.

Guests watch the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft on NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer onboard, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, from the balcony of Operations Support Building II at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Credit: Joel Kowsky/NASA via AP

As of Wednesday, Elon Musk's company has launched 18 people in 18 months.

"Human spaceflight was the reason we were founded, so it's incredibly meaningful for the whole team," said Sarah Walker, a SpaceX manager.

The European Space Agency's Mauer is one of three newbies on the crew. The 51-year-old was a finalist when he first applied to be an astronaut. Encouraged, he left his research job at a medical company and joined the space agency as an engineer, and made the astronaut cut in 2015.

Chari, 44, is an Air Force colonel and the first space rookie in decades to lead a mission to orbit for NASA. A test pilot from Cedar Falls, Iowa, Chari accumulated more than 2,500 hours in fighter jets, including combat missions in Iraq.

Also on board:

 Dr. Thomas Marshburn, 61, will be the oldest person to live aboard the space station and perform a spacewalk. Born in Statesville, North Carolina, he pursued a career in emergency medicine, then joined NASA in 1994 as a flight surgeon. This is his third trip to the space station.

 Kayla Barron, 34, a Navy lieutenant commander from Richland, Washington. She was among the first women to serve as submarine warfare officers. Added to the flight in May, she's No. 601 in space.

During their station stay, they will welcome two groups of tourists. A Russian film crew recently spent two weeks at the station, making a movie.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule attached lifts off Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Credit: AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Astronauts, from left, Tom Marshburn, Matthias Maurer, of Germany, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron wave as they leave the Operations and Checkout building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The four astronauts are scheduled to fly on SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn, center, smiles as he stands under an umbrella after leaving the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The four astronauts are scheduled to fly on SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

Astronaut Matthias Maurer, of Germany, waves as he gets into a car before a trip to Launch Pad-39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The four astronauts are scheduled to fly on SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, of Germany, waves as he gets into a car before a trip to Launch Pad-39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. SpaceX counted down Wednesday toward a nighttime launch of four astronauts who have been grounded for nearly two weeks by weather and medical delays. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

Astronauts Tom Marshburn, right, and Kayla Barron talk to family members before heading to Launch Pad 39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The four astronauts are scheduled to fly on SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

Astronaut Raja Chari stands under an umbrella as he talks to family members before heading to Launch Pad 39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. SpaceX counted down Wednesday toward a nighttime launch of four astronauts who have been grounded for nearly two weeks by weather and medical delays. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

Astronaut Matthias Maurer, of Germany, makes a heart symbol with his hands as he is strapped into a vehicle for a trip to Launch Pad-39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. SpaceX counted down Wednesday toward a nighttime launch of four astronauts who have been grounded for nearly two weeks by weather and medical delays. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

Astronauts, from left, Matthias Maurer, of Germany, Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron pose for a photo after leaving the Operations and Checkout Building for a trip to Launch Pad 39-A Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The four astronauts are scheduled to fly on SpaceX's Crew-3 mission to the International Space Station. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Daragon capsule stands ready on Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday evening. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule stands ready on Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday evening. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

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. SpaceX counted down Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 toward a nighttime launch the four astronauts who have been grounded for nearly two weeks by weather and medical delays. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule stands ready on Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. The launch is scheduled for Wednesday evening. Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux

The new crew will be joining three station residentstwo Russians and NASA's Mark Vande Hei, who celebrated his 55th birthday on Wednesday.

"NASA and @SpaceX are lighting a big candle in the sky for you tonight," NASA tweeted before the launch.

That candlethe first-stage boosterlanded upright on an ocean barge.

Explore further SpaceX aims for night crew launch; ailing astronaut now OK

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Reconstruction of the head of Brighstoneus simmondsi. Credit: John Sibbick

Scientists from the Natural History Museum and University of Portsmouth have described a new genus and species of dinosaur from a specimen found on the Isle of Wight.

Following on from a new species of ankylosaur, new species of therapod and two new species of spinosaur dinosaurs, Brighstoneus simmondsi is the latest in a host of new dinosaur species described by Museum scientists in recent weeks.

The new dinosaur is an iguanodontian, a group that also includes the iconic Iguanodon and Mantellisaurus. Until now, iguanodontian material found from the Wealden Group (representing part of the Early Cretaceous period) on the Isle of Wight has usually been referred to as one of these two dinosaurswith more gracile fossil bones assigned to Mantellisaurus and the larger and more robust material assigned to Iguanodon.

However, when Dr. Jeremy Lockwooda Ph.D. student at the Museum and University of Portsmouthwas examining the specimen, he came across several unique traits that distinguished it from either of these other dinosaurs.

"For me, the number of teeth was a sign," Dr. Lockwood says. "Mantellisaurus has 23 or 24, but this has 28. It also had a bulbous nose, whereas the other species have very straight noses. Altogether, these and other small differences made it very obviously a new species."

The herbivorous dinosaur was about eight meters in length and weighed about 900 kg. Published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, Dr. Lockwood describes the species and names it Brighstoneus simmondsi: Brighstoneus after the village of Brighstone, near to the excavation site, and simmondsi honoring Mr Keith Simmonds, who made the discovery of the specimen in 1978.

The discovery of this new species suggests that there were far more iguanodontian dinosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of the UK than previously thought, and that simply assigning specimens from this period to either Iguanodon or Mantellisaurus must change.

"We're looking at six, maybe seven million years of deposits, and I think the genus lengths have been overestimated in the past," says Dr. Lockwood. "If that's the case on the island, we could be seeing many more new species. It seems so unlikely to just have two animals being exactly the same for millions of years without change."

Museum scientist Dr. Susannah Maidment, a co-author of the paper, says: "The describing of this new species shows that there is clearly a greater diversity of iguanodontian dinosaurs in the Early Cretaceous of the UK than previously realized. It's also showing that the century-old paradigm that gracile iguanodontian bones found on the island belong to Mantellisaurus and large elements belong to Iguanodon can no longer be substantiated."

The Isle of Wight has long been associated with dinosaur discovery, and even yielded the crucial specimens that led to Sir Richard Owen to coin the term Dinosauria. The authors conclude that the describing of Brighstoneus simmondsi as a new species calls for a reassessment of Isle of Wight material:

"British dinosaurs are certainly not something that's done and dusted at all," says Dr. Lockwood. "I think we could be on to a bit of a renaissance."

Explore further Two new species of large predatory dinosaur discovered on Isle of Wight

More information: Jeremy A. F. Lockwood et al, A new hadrosauriform dinosaur from the Wessex Formation, Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous), of the Isle of Wight, southern England, Journal of Systematic Palaeontology (2021). Journal information: Journal of Systematic Palaeontology Jeremy A. F. Lockwood et al, A new hadrosauriform dinosaur from the Wessex Formation, Wealden Group (Early Cretaceous), of the Isle of Wight, southern England,(2021). DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2021.1978005
Volcanic eruptions contributed to the collapse of dynasties in China in the last 2,000 years by temporarily cooling the climate and affecting agriculture, according to a Rutgers coauthored study. Credit: Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Volcanic eruptions contributed to the collapse of dynasties in China in the last 2,000 years by temporarily cooling the climate and affecting agriculture, according to a Rutgers co-authored study.

Large eruptions create a cloud that blocks some sunlight for a year or two. That reduces warming of the land in Asia in the summer and leads to a weaker monsoon and less rainfall, reducing crop harvests.

"We confirmed for the first time that collapses of dynasties in China over the last 2,000 years are more likely in the years after volcanic eruptions," said co-author Alan Robock, a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. "But the relationship is complex because if there is ongoing warfare and conflict, dynasties are more susceptible to collapse. The impact of a cooled climate on crops can also make conflict more likely, further increasing the probability of collapse."

Scientists reconstructed 156 explosive volcanic eruptions from 1 A.D. to 1915 by examining elevated sulfate levels in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctic, according to the study in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. Scientists also analyzed historical documents from China on 68 dynasties and examined warfare there between 850 and 1911.

Erupting volcanoes can pump millions of tons of sulfur dioxide into the upper atmosphere, forming vast sulfuric acid clouds that reflect sunlight and lower Earth's average surface temperature.

Major eruptions can lead to "a double jeopardy of marked coldness and dryness during the agricultural growing season," the study says. Impacts may be worsened by livestock deaths, accelerated land degradation and more crop damage from agricultural pests that survive during milder winters.

Scientists found that smaller volcanic "shocks" to the climate may cause dynasties to collapse when political and socioeconomic stress is already high. Larger shocks may lead to collapses without substantial pre-existing stress. Other factors include poor leadership, administrative corruption and demographic pressures.

"Mandate of heaven," an influential Chinese concept, allowed for some continuity between dynasties. Elites and "commoners" more readily accepted a new dynasty that, by seizing power, demonstrated a divine mandate to rule that the former dynasty had lost.

The scientists' findings emphasize the need to prepare for future eruptions, especially in regions with economically vulnerable populations (perhaps comparable to the Ming and Tang dynasties in China) and/or that have a history of resource mismanagement, as in Syria before the 2011 uprising that may have been partly triggered by drought.

Eruptions during the 20th and 21st centuries have been smaller than many during imperial China. Still, moderate eruptions may have contributed to the Sahelian drought of the 1970s to 1990s, contributing to about 250,000 deaths and resulting in 10 million refugees in this economically marginalized region. Future major eruptions, combined with climate change, are likely to profoundly affect agriculture in some of the Earth's most populous and most marginalized regions, the study says.

More information: Chaochao Gao, Volcanic climate impacts can act as ultimate and proximate causes of Chinese dynastic collapse, Communications Earth & Environment (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00284-7 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment Chaochao Gao, Volcanic climate impacts can act as ultimate and proximate causes of Chinese dynastic collapse,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-021-00284-7
Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow is drawing to a close. And despite high hopes, many young people may be feeling disappointed with the progress at these landmark talks.

They may be feeling anxious about their future, considering they'll be bearing the brunt of the impact of decisions made over the past two weeks.

Watch Greta Thunberg's speech at a protest outside the UN climate summit in Glasgow, where she decried #COP26 as a "PR event." https://t.co/3hplQTVPtK pic.twitter.com/WQBLy9XRus  The New York Times (@nytimes) November 5, 2021

Our soon-to-be published research in the journal Child and Adolescent Mental Health shows most young people in Australia are concerned about climate change.

But that's not necessarily a problem. For some, a growing concern can motivate them to take action.

There's a word for this concerneco-anxiety

Eco-anxiety relates to worry and despair about climate change. Connected terms include "ecological grief," which reflects grief related to ecological loss. People can also experience emotions such as fear, guilt and anger about climate change.

We know adults experience these types of climate-related emotions.

However, understanding young people's views about climate change is important as they are more likely to be alive to experience its worst potential effects.

Young people have also had a prominent role in climate activism, including the School Strike 4 Climate movement involving millions of young people around the world.

Given the level of young people's worry or concern about climate change we identified in our study, we may see their views becoming more influential as they reach voting age.

Listening to these climate change concerns is vital. However, only 13 percent of young people in Australia feel government leaders are listening to them.

We asked young people about climate change

In our study, we tracked concern and worrying about climate change in more than 2,200 Australian young people over a period of eight years. At the start of the study, participants were aged 1011, so by the end, they were 1819 years old.

At 1819 years of age, most young people (75 percent) had at least some concern or worry about climate change. But we also identified different patterns of climate worry over time.

About half had increasing or had maintained moderate levels of worry over time. A total of 13 percent maintained high levels of worry over the eight years we tracked them.

But 17 percent had persistently low levels of worry. Some young people became less worried over time.

Compared to those who were moderately worried, adolescents with high levels of persistent climate worry had higher depression symptoms at age 1819. However, those who increased their climate-related worry over time did not.

This suggests developing an awareness and concern for the environment was not associated with general mental health difficulties.

Those with persistently high and increasing levels of climate worry had greater engagement with politics and news at 1819 years.

There are some positives

Some level of worry and anxiety is normal. Anxiety can play an important role in protecting ourselves from danger and threat.

Some worry may also motivate people to engage in constructive responses to climate change.

Although we did not specifically examine activism in our study, previous studies show climate worry is associated with greater feelings of personal responsibility to make changes to reduce the impacts of climate change.

However, anxiety can become a problem when it preoccupies us, leads us to avoid the thing that makes us anxious, gets in the way of daily life or stops us from doing the things we want to do.

Our study shows that for most young people, climate worry is not associated with general mental health difficulties.

However we don't yet know the relationship between climate-related worry and mental health difficulties in younger children, as our study only looked at mental health outcomes at age 1819.

What if your concerns are overwhelming?

Open communication about climate-related worry is essential. Parents play an important role and can talk with their children about these issues and listen to and validate their concerns.

Worrying about the environment is rational and grounded in reality, as we are increasingly seeing the impacts of climate change around us.

It's OK for young people to feel worried. And we shouldn't assume these worries are unproductive or necessarily associated with broader mental health difficulties.

Acknowledging and validating feelings is key, and supporting young people to engage in activities to take action, if they want to, may help.

Reassuringly, most young people in our study were not presenting with levels of worry that would warrant further assessment or treatment.

Where to go for support

If young people (and their parents) want additional support, seeing a GP is a good first step. Young people can also visit specialist youth mental health services such as headspace.

A psychologist or other mental health professional can help young people develop ways of coping with and managing their worries.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
FORT EDWARD  A woman accused of stabbing a Fort Edward man in the chest in January was sentenced in Washington County Court on Wednesday to 11 years in prison.

Nikketa Connor, who is homeless, stabbed Richard Chadwick with a paring knife inside his residence at 161 Broadway on Jan. 27 at about 2:30 p.m.

Chadwick, who is the boyfriend of Connors sister, had a 3-inch puncture wound but survived the attack. During the struggle, police said Connor told Chadwick that she loved him and was going to kill Chadwicks wife and kids.When police arrived, she was naked and fought with officers. At one point, she attempted to grab the gun from the holster of one of the deputies, court records showed.

Connor, who suffers from mental health issues, was not taking medication at the time.

She entered what is called an Alford plea on Sept. 22 to first-degree attempted assault in which she did not admit guilt but believe prosecutors had sufficient evidence to convict her of the crime.

Connor had faced a range of sentences from 7 to 14 years in prison. Washington County District Attorney Tony Jordan sought a 13-year sentence given the severity of the crime, and he said Connor did not take responsibility for her actions in a pre-sentencing report when interviewed. She attacked Chadwick for no reason and seemed to minimize her role in the crime, according to Jordan.

She seemed to remember everything very vividly other than when she stabbed Mr. Chadwick, he said.

Jordan added if not for the efforts of Connors sister and a police officer, Connor may have been successful in trying to kill Chadwick.

He has since recovered.

Defense attorney Henry Bauer sought a sentence on the minimum end of the range. He said that his client has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder with psychotic tendencies. During the month leading up to the attack, he said Connor had been in Glens Falls Hospital twice.

She was prescribed medications after being discharged from the hospital each time, according to Bauer.

She had neither the funds to purchase those prescriptions, nor did she have appropriate identification to go to a pharmacy and get them, he said.

In between hospital stays, Bauer said Connor also assaulted someone she did not know.

Bauer said Connors mother had begged the hospital workers not to release his client, but there was nothing they could do. She was released the day of the stabbing.

She was in a psychotic state. She was off her medications, Bauer said.

Bauer asked Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan to take Connors 4-year-old daughter into consideration.

Connor also pleaded for a lower sentence and said she is sorry for the harm she caused to Chadwick.

I would like to apologize to him. If I was the person I am right now, medicated and well-minded. I would have never hurt anybody, she said through tears.

McKeighan said he believes that Connor had not done enough to take care of her mental health, based upon the pre-sentence reports.

You choose not to take your medications and that put you and the community in danger, he said.

McKeighan also sentenced Connor to 5 years of post-release supervision and issued an order of protection prohibiting her from having contact from Chadwick and five other people.

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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SOUTH GLENS FALLS  Veterans Day has always been a proud day for retired pastor Patti Girard, whose father and son both served in the military.

But this year, her Veterans Day pride is mixed with grief and a few tears.

Girards son, Collin Fuller, a Gulf War veteran, died May 15 at the age of 50. Fuller died from complications from COVID-19 after more than 30 years fighting for his health after chemical exposure during the war ravaged his body.

His health started to deteriorate immediately upon his return from the Gulf in May of 1991. The former high school athlete could no longer turn a door knob. He suffered from pneumonia and other lung ailments. He fell and broke both his legs twice.

Fuller was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy and was in and out of hospitals and nursing homes.

Collin was a champion wrestler for Hudson Falls High School. He won every award that they had, some of them twice. He was a Boy Scout, Girard recalled. He was one of those kids that worked hard, earned his way, was kind to people. He just was never mean-spirited.

Girard called his sons death from COVID-19 heartbreaking.

He went through so much to live, Girard said. He was so strong. He had faith. He was like a soldier. Never did he complain.

During a recent move, Girard came across a sermon she had written with her son upon his return from active duty. In the sermon, Fuller thanked the congregation for their support during his deployment and shared a story that still makes his mother cry.

I had no idea his depth, to be able to write a sermon like this at his young age, Girard said, her voice cracking with emotion.

In full uniform, Fuller delivered his sermon in 1991 recounting a tragic event in Saudi Arabia when a bunker caved in on two other soldiers, Pfc. Scott Rush, 19, and Spc. Gary Crask, 20.

Just 18 years old at the time, Fuller was tasked with digging the men out of the collapsed bunker.

We were still hoping they were alive. We found Scott first, Fuller writes. CPR was administered by the medic and combat lifesavers, but to no avail. Some of the men jumped in the hole to look for Gary. CPR was applied, but it was too late.

We were all in shock, not really believing what had just happened, the sermon continues. I asked myself, why did God allow this to happen, but knew we had been prepared for this  it was war.

Girard re-read the sermon out loud during lunch at The Peppermill on Wednesday. She takes solace in the idea that her son is no longer suffering.

Every day is hard when you lose your child, Girard said. Youve got to move on but you never get over it. And he fought so hard to live. And it took the COVID to bring him down. Of all the things.

Gretta Hochsprung can be reached at 518-742-3206 or ghochsprung@poststar.com.

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But while discussing his military achievements, it quickly becomes obvious theres someone else Schollenberger would rather discuss  his wife.

I enjoyed being in Newfoundland especially because we only worked nine-hour days there, and then three days a week a local priest came in from a neighboring town and he held novena services, Schollenberger recalled. A novena service is a service where you can ask a saint to help pray for you for a special need. So I attended those novena services, and I asked God to give me a good sweetheart to finish my life with, and He answered my prayers.

Schollenberger is referring to his wife Edna May, who he met in January of 1954 and was married to seven months later, in August.

Two years later (after praying in Newfoundland), I married my sweetheart in St. Anthony Church in Trenton, he continued. Weve been married 806 months  67 years and two months.

Its been a wonderful 67-year honeymoon, he added. The couple have seven children together.

The other common theme in Schollenbergers stories from his time in the Navy is his faith.
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: Rutgers Cooperative Extension Family and Community Health Sciences Grandparents Raising Grandchildren support group will hold its next in-person meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at Rutgers Cooperative Extensions 4-H Lockwood Youth Center, 355 Courthouse-South Dennis Road, Cape May Court House. There will be a special presentation, Yoga for Stress Release, with guest speaker Teri OConner, NJ Beach Yoga. There is no charge to attend. A light supper will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the program immediately following. Childcare will be provided. New Cape May County families are welcome. Advanced registration is required by Nov. 12. Call 609-465-5115, ext. 3609, or email Christine.Zellers@co.cape-may.nj.us.

Virtual Lunch & Learn programs: Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) will host a series of free history programs via Zoom. All programs begin at noon. Nov. 17: A History of Thanksgiving in America, by MAC Chief Outreach Officer Mary Stewart; Dec. 15: Shocking Secrets of Victorian Christmas, by MAC Museum Education Manager Elan Zingman-Leith. Registration is required in advance. To register, visit capemaymac.org or for assistance call 609-884-5404.

Cumberland County
This year, alternative students in the resort have been learning remotely, which does not work well for them, Yahn said.

Small said people from Galloway dont complain when they take a paycheck home from a job in Atlantic City, but a bunch of black and brown kids (are coming to town) and they dont feel safe. Why dont you feel safe? This is despicable. It shows an attitude of privilege.

Small also said he and School Board President Shay Steele were looking into legal action against school board member John Devlin, who went to the Galloway meeting and didnt say a word as others were speaking out against our children.

Devlin said at the Galloway meeting that he and fellow board members had been told that the decision to locate the alternative school in Galloway was a done deal, and would open in January, and he was there to find out if that was true.

He also suggested that leaders from the Atlantic City School District meet with residents of Galloway to discuss the school.

Reached Wednesday, Devlin said that he left the meeting prior to the comments made by Jezycki and Keister.

Devlin said that he would be contacting a lawyer regarding Smalls comments, to see if they constituted a threat.
Jerome Ingram said the best life lessons hes received from being in the military were discipline and structure.

He has applied those skills to his everyday life, and now, hes applying that to his new role at Atlantic Cape Community College.

Ingram, a captain in the New Jersey Army National Guard, was recently hired as the newly-created program coordinator for athletes and veterans. The goal of this position is to help Atlantic Cape become a more military- and veteran-friendly school.

Ingram said by phone Wednesday he was honored to take on this role.

I feel like I was chosen, like the job was not necessarily created for me, but they had me in mind, Ingram, 37, said. Having graduated from here and being in the military myself. Being able to give back in this way is amazing.

We are proud to provide educational opportunities and additional support to students who have served our country or those who are currently serving in the military and their family members, said Atlantic Cape President Dr. Barbara Gaba in a Tuesday news release from the school.
Council President George Tibbitt, a strong supporter of closing the center, said at the time city officials were anticipating the lawsuit but also anticipated a legal victory.

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Im a little surprised that the judge even took the case because its very clear in state statutes that we are in the right here, Tibbitt said, adding he hopes the judge makes a quick decision.

The idea of moving the Oasis center from the resorts Tourism District has been on the table for years.

Council members and other supporters of shutting down the program have said stray needles and an overwhelming number of out-of-towners coming into the city for the needle exchange and other social services had pushed them to repeal the program, which has been in place since 2007.

Despite vocal protests from advocacy groups and health officials, the majority Democratic council repealed the program in a 7-2 vote.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 30 years of research have shown such programs are cost effective, help reduce drug overdoses, encourage users to seek treatment and reduce the spread of HIV and hepatitis.
The White House estimated that more than 900,000 children ages 5-11 will have received the first dose of the vaccine by the end of the day Wednesday. An additional 700,000 children in that age group have an appointment for their shot scheduled in the coming days.

Charlotte Coville, another Linwood parent, said she was eager to have her 11-year-old son, Theo, vaccinated. While she was considering waiting until he turned 12 in January, she decided she wanted to have him inoculated as soon as possible. She said it was especially important to have him vaccinated because her parents from England were coming to visit their grandson next week.

John Kern, a Linwood parent who brought his daughter to the clinic, has personal experience with the virus. As a pulmonologist for AtlantiCare, he has seen how devastating the virus can be, and was eager to protect his children and the community.

Hospitalizations and death from COVID-19 are relatively rare in younger children. Still, according to the CDC, approximately 8,300 children ages 5 to 11 have been hospitalized with COVID-19  and 146 in that age group have died of COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic.

I think its all about stopping the spread, protecting each other, family, loved ones, Coville said. I just think its the right thing to do.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said during a news conference Wednesday that police told organizers to shut down the performance when fans in the crowd were administered CPR. Authorities gave word around 10:03 p.m. that the concert was in the process of shutting down, but witnesses say Scott and Drake, the superstar rapper who came on toward the end of Scott's set as a special guest, kept performing.

Finner repeatedly refused to provide timelines, saying the case was still under investigation. He said more than 500 officers were working the festival, more than double the number assigned in 2019 when the festival was last held.

But Finner said festival organizers had not provided clear records of how many private security guards were working the show, describing what they turned over as just not good. It was up to Live Nation Entertainment, the shows promoter, to secure two mosh pits in front of the stage, Finner said.

Scotts attorneys on Wednesday pointed to an operational plan for the event that states only the festival director and executive producers have the authority to stop the show, neither of which is part of Traviss crew.
The Jersey Shore has been a pioneer in stopping the wasteful use of plastic bags, and the litter and harm to oceanic life they bring. Many area municipalities have banned them and residents are accustomed to bringing reusable bags (or buying one if they forget their own).

The New Jersey Legislature and Gov. Murphy finally got around to a statewide ban, after a much-criticized attempt to make the provision of disposable bags a source of state revenue. Having been laggards in the movement against plastic pollution, they overreached (against our urging) and banned paper bags as well, despite the negligible harms of paper.

Even though eventually transitioning to reusable grocery bags is desirable, there was no need to make the change all at once and more difficult. But thats what happens when everything is about the political look.

Oh well. As of next May, grocery shoppers will have to bring their own bags to any food store 2,500 square feet or more  which is all of them except small convenience and specialty stores.
After waiting and watching the first Americans get their vaccines, Davidson was able to get her first shot in April and her second in June, as Canadian experts advised extending the time between doses. She also got a booster shot two weeks ago.

But another stressor popped up when demand for the medication she uses to manage her rheumatoid arthritis -- a biologic called Actemra, or tocilizumab -- escalated.

In June, the US Food and Drug Administration gave Actemra an emergency authorization use to treat hospitalized Covid-19 patients. It's a monoclonal antibody therapy that helps reduce inflammation that can make patients sicker.

"I'm worried that my medication that I desperately need and have gone through so many to find the right treatment for me, (that there) will be a shortage of it because people are refusing to get their vaccine," Davidson said.

They just want to go back to normal

Among those who are immunocompromised, a common thread is the yearning to live their lives. For Linder, the thought of not getting to resume some shred of normalcy at some point is overwhelming.
Lawyers for Heather Mack waived her right to a detention hearing Wednesday on federal murder conspiracy charges stemming from the 2014 slaying of her mother at a Bali vacation resort.

The decision means Mack, who was arrested by the FBI last week after being deported from Indonesia, will be held in custody while the charges are pending, though her lawyers could renew a request for bond at any point.

Mack, 26, pleaded not guilty last week to an indictment charging her with conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and obstruction of justice in the killing of her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, whose bludgeoned body was found stuffed into a suitcase at the upscale St. Regis Bali Resort.

Also charged with the same counts was her boyfriend at the time of the murder, Tommy Schaefer, who is still in prison in Bali.

Dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit with her hair pulled back in a pony tail, Mack peered around the ceremonial courtroom on the 25th floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse and swiveled in her chair before the hearing began. She spoke only once during the brief proceedings to confirm there was nothing she wanted to say on the record.
Veterans Day, celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 11, is a time to recognize those living among us who have served in the military, putting their lives on hold and on the line to ensure people can enjoy the freedoms they have.

Born in Rapid City, Terry and Mike Birnbaum  two amongst six brothers  were both in the U.S. Army, followed by time with the National Guard.

I kind of chased him through the military, Terry said. Mike, who is 14 years older, has 38 years of military experience and Terry has nearly 28 years.

Terry said he joined the Army in October of 1976, though he went in on what was called the delayed entry program. He graduated on May 24, 1977, married his wife Jenny May 27 the same year, and 13 days later, June 9, he was in the Army at 17 years old.

Basic Training for Terry was at Fort Dix, New Jersey, followed by schooling at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland for schooling as a diesel mechanic. I worked on tanks and trucks, he said, and basically just about everything other than the stuff that floated.

His wife met him there, and the couple lived off-post. He then received orders to go to Fort Ord, California, where they lived for the next 19 months.

The base is in Monterey Bay, and they lived in Pacific Grove. Just two kids on the beach. It was unbelievable, he said.

From there, Terry got orders to go to Germany, where they were stationed for 22 months. While there Terrys brother Mike, their father Lawrence, and Mikes wife Sarah came over to visit and they toured Switzerland together.

Following his return from Germany, Terrys time with the Army was up and the couple moved to Chadron. He wasnt done with the military, however, as he joined the National Guard in August of 1982. As to why he chose to join, he said he had a 1966 GTO to start restoring, and needed the extra money for it. He was also following his brother, who had joined the Guard in South Dakota.

Terry started out with the 168th field artillery, which later became the 1057th transport company, as a mechanic in the motor pool. He went on to become a motor sergeant and then first sergeant before everything was said and done. He noted he was the youngest first sergeant in Nebraska in 1995, at 35 years old.

The unit was activated to go to Iraq in January of 2003, and Terry travelled to Fort Carson, Colorado to prepare. While training for the desert in -25-degree weather, he slipped and fell on a canteen, blowing his back out on Feb. 13, 2003. That was pretty much a career ender, he said. He remained at Fort Carson for the next 14 months, undergoing two back surgeries in that time.

He came back to Nebraska in February of 2004, and worked with unit, getting ready for units to come home from Iraq. He noted his unit was one of the guinea pig for the de-mobilization efforts in Nebraska.

Birnbaum added the unit had a lot of firsts, including being the first to do an Operation Night Owl mission. He explained this involved the ground works of setting up whatever was necessary to sustain Air Force One, moving from place to place depending on where the aircraft would land. At the time it was classified, he said, but it is no longer.

The unit was also one of the first to switch from artillery to transportation.

Terry was with the Guard until he retired in June of 2014 as a first sergeant. While with the unit, he also worked for the City of Chadron, starting as a street laborer and working his way up to street superintendent. He retired in 2020, and emphasized the City was very supportive in allowing his time to serve.

Speaking of his brother, Terry said, Mike and I used to train together at different trainings. He shared a story about when he was on an exercise and was trying to find out where the showers were. A two-star general told him where to find them, but while Terry was getting ready to leave that same general joked he didnt want to speak to the sergeant major, whom Terry found was his brother Mike.

Mike also attended Terrys 2001 graduation from the Sergeant Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas, and was Terrys sponsor when he received his promotion to First Sergeant. Terry recalled when he would show up to a base and get a double look from guards when he handed over his ID for entry, having to explain Mike is his brother.

Mikes story with the Army is quite different, as his service began with a draft into Vietnam. He had a premonition as a high school senior that he would get drafted, but was aware of the deferment if he were married or a college student. He looked to the latter, attending at South Dakota School of Mines.

His first touch of the military was in the colleges ROTC program, and he also took general courses for two years. He got to a point where all of his core classes were out of the way without his declaring a major. He told his advisor he didnt think he wanted to be an engineer and planned to drop out. It just so happened the advisor was also on the draft board.

Mike still chose to drop out, and while working his uncles ranch south of Rapid City, every day he expected his letter to come. His brother Jim called him one day, while Mike was out at the ranch, and told him he had a letter from Selective Service. Though Mike asked him to open it, Jim wouldnt because it wasnt addressed to him and was official government mail; of course, it was the letter they knew was coming.

Within two to three weeks, Mike reported to the draft board and was deemed physically fit. He went through Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and Advanced Individual Training in Fort Polk, Louisiana, training on everything infantry and mortars.

From the time he was drafted in June of 1967, Mike knew he was Vietnam-bound, and he arrived there on Thanksgiving Day that year. Looking back, there were no phones like there are now. He never called from in-country, but in his 14 months he still was able to call home twice while on R&R  once in Bangkok, once in Singapore.

On Jan 23, 1969, Mike came home and was out of the Army. Youre in the war zone one minute, he said. Twenty-four hours later, youre home in Rapid City, South Dakota.

There was a policy then that if a soldier had less than 150 days to serve when he returned, the Army would not go through the expense of re-issuing years. Mike had a choice to make. Come home when he was supposed to, or extend for 59 days to get the 150 days early out.

What made the decision was if I got killed now I could be mad at the government. If I get killed after I extended, thats my own damn fault. He later opted for the extension, though it angered his older brother who was scared something might happen to him.

Terry noted Mike sent money while in Vietnam, for him and his brother to buy bicycles. Mike added he planned to buy them when he came home, but didnt think hed make it so he sent the money to make sure the boys got their bikes.

Another story Terry shared is how his older brother got him out of school detention, as the principal let him go to celebrate his brothers return from Vietnam.

After Mike returned from Vietnam, he went back to college, this time at Black Hills State, as it was one of the goals he set for himself; the other was to buy a new car.

He recalled the country certainly changed when he was overseas. When he returned to the states, he was processed in California and asked to slip out the back due to protestors. He didnt expect to see the same in his home state, but they were there.

He knew Sarah, the woman who would become his wife, while in the Army and the two married when he came home.

Because he was drafted, Mike had the option to join the National Guard for six years. A few of the guys he ran with convinced him to join. There was a Try One program, which allowed him to sign up for a year to decide if he like it. Mike signed up and joined the 235th General Supply Company, a year at a time, until about the 10th year when he was told to sign up for a longer stint.

He got frustrated from time to time while with the Guards, often wanting to give up, though Sarah convinced him to stay in. On the civilian side he sold office supplies and furniture for more than 30 years.

The colonel he worked for once asked him what his goals were, and Mike said he wanted to be the Staff Sergeant Major. Though he initially thought this wouldnt happen, since Mike wasnt full-time, a new adjutant general brought him into the position; this was the same position he had when he and Terry had their run in during a training in South Dakota.

As there were soldiers everywhere after 9/11, Mike found himself in several combat zones overseas, sometimes under the guise of a soldier rather than an officer.

In March of 2006, Mike retired from the Guards. While he really appreciates all of the soldiers, some of his favorite times were when he and Terry served together.

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Movement to a 10-point grading scale may soon be under consideration at Rapid City Area Schools.

Valerie Seales, RCAS director of teaching, learning and innovation, delivered a presentation Tuesday during a Board of Education study session explaining a possible move to a 10-point grading scale. The scale, if approved by the board, would replace the districts current seven-point grading scale.

Tuesday's meeting was open to the public virtually.

A 10-point grading scale would mean that a student would move into the "A" range with a 90%, a "B" range with an 80%, and so on. The soonest it could go into effect, officials said, would be the fall of 2022.

Seales said the 10-point scale matches the scale generally used by universities and allows students to compete on a level playing field with other school districts that employ a 10-point scale. She mentioned two other school districts in South Dakota that use the 10-point scale: the Sioux Falls School District and the Lead-Deadwood School District.

Several teachers who attended the study session spoke in favor of the change. Melissa Hadorn, who teaches German at Central High School, noted that a seven out of 10 on a quiz or other assignment is barely passing under the current seven-point scale, a status that may not accurately reflect the students performance on the assignment.

Members of the board engaged in discussion about the proposed change and also about the general process of grading. Board member Gabe Doney stressed the importance of "holding students accountable" for their work, but he also cautioned against leveling long-lasting judgments about students who are still teenagers, and who still have much time to grow.

Superintendent Lori Simon spoke in favor of the change.

I do support the transition, she said, citing the importance of students having a level playing field with institutions that use the 10-point scale. Simon said she planned to talk with colleagues in other districts using the 10-point scale.

Seales also discussed other aspects of grading, such as the way grading practices take into consideration late work, resubmissions, homework and other factors. She noted the importance of rubrics, which, as she explained, clarify  what exemplary work looks like, and she noted the drawbacks of grading behavior as opposed to work performance.

Seales mentioned, too, the importance of the timeliness of grading. Grades are most effective, she said, when theyre issued as close to the learning event as possible.

Regarding the 10-point scale, Simon suggested that the measure appear soon at a coming Board of Education meeting.

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PIERRE | South Dakota's Legislature approved Wednesday new political boundaries that are likely to shake up the statehouse after moderate Senate Republicans championed the proposal.

The states population has shifted towards urban areas in the last decade, and the maps proponents argued that new legislative districts had to reflect that change. House lawmakers unsuccessfully pushed a map that would have kept legislative lines similar to their current positions.

The proposal cleared the House by a handful of votes with a conservative group of Republicans opposing the redistricting proposal. It easily passed the Senate.

Under the new boundaries, legislators said they would be working to win votes in unfamiliar territory, and several could be pitted against each other in next year's primaries.

With the new political map in the hands of lawmakers, the once-in-a-decade process is inherently laden with self-interest. In previous years, the Republican-dominated House and Senate have moved as one to quickly approve new districts, but the process this year was marked by GOP infighting, laying bare a rift between moderate Republicans and their more conservative colleagues.

A process that was first scheduled for a single day dragged into three days. Negotiations, which happened behind closed doors, left lawmakers fuming in the halls of the Capitol.

We have been bullied by the other chamber the entire time, said Republican Rep. Taffy Howard, who was part of the right-wing group that opposed the map.

Republican Rep. Chris Johnson likened the new map to a political meteor hitting his hometown of Rapid City and causing a shake-up.

Senators who pushed the map described it as a compromise that had to be made to reflect shifts in the state's population over the last 10 years. Lawmakers also had to ensure that the voting rights of Native American voters were protected to keep with federal law.

I would hope as legislators we would work hard to do what is right for all of South Dakota, said Republican Sen. Mary Duvall, who chaired the Senate's redistricting committee.

In a crucial win for Native American representation, the northern area of Rapid City  which contains much of the Native American community  was included in a single legislative district with the eastern part of the city.

Democratic Sen. Red Dawn Foster said that move could give the community the chance to have a voice and to have collective representation.

Other districts that covered American Indian reservations were improved to ensure voting rights, said Brett Healy, who was lobbying for Four Directions Vote, a voting rights advocacy group.

Democrats predicted the new map would make legislative races more competitive. Their ranks in the Statehouse have shrunk to the smallest in over 60 years.

But Democratic Rep. Ryan Cwach said the closed-door negotiating process showed lawmakers should not be drawing their own political districts.

The whole fact that politicians are involved in this process of redistricting brings transparency questions," he said. "My only conclusion from this whole thing, besides Im thankful we got to a pretty competitive map, is that this should be the last time politicians draw the lines."

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It has been about 14 months since the AG struck and killed a man but our state legislature is still "unsure" what to really do about it and how to get rid of him. I am speechless.

If our congressional delegation was so opposed to the recently passed infrastructure bill (all three voted against it), they should have written an amendment that took South Dakota's $2.8 billion out of it. That would have shown some real backbone.

Wonder how our great SD legislative trio would have voted on infrastructure if someone just told them it was a GOP idea? Bet they would have been first in line to make sure it happened.

Dusty did not vote for the infrastructure package, but I bet he will get his name and picture on everything that gets built.

The infrastructure spending bill is one thousand two hundred billion dollars. The share SD will receive is only a drop in the 50 gallon barrel. Where is all this money going? Kudos to our senators and rep for voting against it.

On behalf of Black Hills veterans, thank you to all the businesses who give veterans' discounts on meals and purchases all year long. Your kindness is truly appreciated.

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Yankton Press & Dakotan. November 9, 2021.

Editorial: Yankton And Norfolk: Building A Relationship

During Monday nights Yankton City Commission meeting, City Manager Amy Leon mentioned a handful of ideas that had been proposed to her for possible study at some point. Just doing this was a good idea, for it injected fresh topics into the city conversation and opened the door for commissioners to explore new, unanticipated territories.

One idea Leon mentioned Monday night was considering an outreach to neighboring Norfolk, Nebraska, which is 60 miles south of Yankton but, sometimes, seems like it could be located on another planet.

Thats an exaggeration, obviously, but it points to the fact that the state boundary that separates these two communities sometimes seems to put us in two different realities. One example mentioned Monday night by City Commissioner Nathan Johnson noted that Yankton focuses its state attentions on Pierre while Norfolk looks south to Lincoln for its state business.

Nevertheless, there are similarities, the foremost being that they share a trade area and are both regional centers.

On the other hand, there has always been a disconnect between the two communities, at least in the last several decades. As with their state capitals, Yankton, located at the southern end of South Dakota, is always looking north and also east to Interstate 29; meanwhile, Norfolk, situated in the northern part of Nebraska, seems concentrated on the south as well as west toward the panhandle area. State borders can make for formidable barriers sometimes.

Through a quirk in geography and settlement patterns, the two communities are 60 miles apart on Highway 81  basically a straight shot  with only one town between them. That would be South Yankton, Nebraska, which is literally within walking distance of Yanktons downtown Meridian District.

While Yankton and Norfolk have their differences, their similarities are compelling. Instantly, Highway 81 is a connection. So, too, is their agricultural economic base. They also share some of the same struggles, such as with their employment pools. The two towns are reliant (at various levels) on immigrant workers needed to make their industrial sectors thrive; Norfolk is several years ahead of Yankton on this front, but the Yankton area is making gains as its needs grow.

Johnson said he began thinking about building more cooperation between the two communities at a 2019 National League of Cities conference when he spoke with the mayor of Norfolk.

We were talking about how close we are but we dont have any knowledge of each other really because of the state border, Johnson said.  We just thought we have a lot in common being the largest cities in the region and wanted to exchange ideas and build the relationship and see how we can, perhaps, help each other achieve what we want to for our communities.

Developing such a relationship can open some constructive possibilities. It would seem wise for both communities to pursue those avenues.

END

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 Korean War began in June 1950 when North Korea troops invaded South Korea.

By November, U.N. forces (led by the United States) had pushed the North Korean army into a small area approximately 60 miles south of the Chinese border. It was at this point that the Peoples Volunteer Army of China entered the conflict, which caught the U.N. forces by surprise.

U.S. Marines, under the command of General Edward Almond, were based in the Chosin Reservoir area. Counting U.N. troops, the total number of allied troops was about 30,000. They were soon surrounded and outnumbered by over 100,000 Chinese soldiers. The U.N. troops were able to break free and withdrew to a safe area. This left the U.S. Marines, facing freezing temperatures and rough terrain, to make their escape.

The severe cold froze fingers, toes and rations. The troops were nearly 80 miles from the sea, surrounded, with supplies cut, and facing an enemy whose sole objective was the annihilation of the First Marine Division

Running low on ammunition, Marines requested 60mm mortar rounds  code name Tootsie Rolls. As it turned out, the radio operator taking the message did not have the code sheets that would tell him what a Tootsie Roll was. However, he knew the request was urgent, so he quickly called in the order.

The Marines cheered when they saw the supply plane overhead. However, their joy at being supplied with badly needed ammo soon turned to surprise and disappointment. After opening the dropped crates, the soldiers discovered they contained actual Tootsie Rolls, not the 60-caliber ammunition they desperately needed.

But, the Marines soon turned disappointment into a solution. While they were not ammunition, this candy from the sky did provide well needed nourishment for the troops. More importantly, the Marines soon discovered that after the candy had melted in the mouth, they could put it to good use. The warmed-up Tootsie-Rolls turned into a sort of putty which was then applied to shot-up fuel pipes, acting as a seal. It was so cold that the sweets then solidified around the pipes, thus resealing them.

With their banged-up equipment repaired (at least temporarily), the Marines were able to make it to the sea with most of their dead and wounded, and valuable equipment. The 15,000 soldiers and Marines suffered over 12,000 casualties, 3,000 killed, and 6,000 wounded along with thousands of cases of frost bite. The Chinese suffered around 25,000 casualties.

Those U.S. Marines that survived, thanks in part to the Tootsie Rolls, nicknamed themselves The Chosin Few.

According to U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris "The heroes of the battle of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir laid the foundation for today's ironclad bond between the Republic of Korea and the United States.

"The battle for and the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir has become Marine Corps legend," said Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific on the 70th anniversary of the battle.

This was not the first time that Tootsie Rolls had proven their worth. They also played a small part during the Second World War. These chewable candies were included in ration packs as a durable treat that could withstand pretty much any weather condition. A very appropriate use for an all-American sweet.

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The Montana Department of Transportation will host two open houses next week on its proposal to reconstruct a 6-mile stretch of the Eastside Highway south of Florence.

The project hooks into the 2014 upgrade east of Florence south to just past the intersection of Wildfowl and Moiese lanes. When completed, the new road will be 44-feet wide and include two 12-foot travel lanes, a 12-foot left turn lane and 4-foot shoulders.

MDT is currently in the right-of-way acquisition phase. If that goes smoothly, construction on estimated $14 million project could get underway in either 2023 or the year after.

MDT Project Design Manager Josh Dold said the department made some changes to its original proposal after hearing from the public at an earlier open house, including dropping the idea of extending the bike path.

We actually got quite a bit of push back from adjoining landowners, Dold said. They didnt want it.

The state changed the configuration of the ditches along the edges of the road from flat-bottomed to V-shaped in order to lessen the impact on adjoining landowners. It added some wildlife crossings, including a larger one near Porter Hill Road. And it removed the center turn lane in two locations to allow motorists to pass slower moving traffic.

The state steered clear of installing another roundabout at the dangerous Ambrose Lane intersection after hearing from the public. Instead, it plans to flatten out the curve to improve sight distance.

The public did not want to see a three-legged roundabout go in there, Dold said.

There are 145 private parcels along the stretch of road. Not all require a right-of-way acquisition. Dold said there were a handful of houses that were too close to the roadway and the state has acquired those properties.

While the scope of the project is pretty well set, Dold said there is still some wiggle room where adjustments can be made.

Were not trying to bulldoze anyone, he said. We want to hear from the public  We want people to know that were working with them to create a design thats safe.

The construction will be funded through the states secondary road program.

The first in-person open house will be held Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Lone Rock School, 1112 Three Mile Creek Road. The second meeting is virtual. It will run from noon to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 17.

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Since the early 1940s, the Bitterroot Conservation District (BCD) has worked with the citizens of Ravalli County to conserve their soil, water and other natural resources. The specific activities of the BCD have evolved over the years, but its core mission of promoting natural resource conservation has remained unchanged.

The history of conservation districts starts back with the Dust Bowl. The U.S. Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act in 1935, with the goal of providing soil and water conservation assistance to the nations farmers. States were encouraged to form soil conservation districts that would allow for greater local involvement in soil and water conservation programs.

Montanas conservation districts were created by the state legislature in 1939, and the BCD was officially chartered in 1941. Montanas 58 conservation districts are part of a network of over 3,000 conservation districts across all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Technically speaking, conservation districts are legal subdivisions of state government that are responsible for promoting soil and water conservation on the local level. In Montana, state law gives conservation districts the specific authority to conduct resource surveys, develop conservation plans, and carry out or support projects related to natural resource conservation. Because of their unique legal status, conservation districts are positioned to assist landowners by connecting them to various sources of project support at the local, state and federal levels.

Montanas conservation districts are also tasked with implementing the Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act of 1975, often referred to as the 310 law. This act requires that any project which will be performed in or near a natural stream in Montana must first be approved by the local conservation district and a permit, a310 permit, must be issued.

Because of the large number of natural waterways in the Bitterroot watershed and the relatively high population density, managing the 310 permitting process is a major component of the BCDs annual workload, with upwards of 100 projects being reviewed and permitted each year.

The procedure for applying for a 310 permit is straightforward and there is no fee for the permit. A single application form is used for 310 permits as well as any other permits that may be required depending on the nature and location of the project.

The required information includes a detailed description of the project, plans or drawings with sufficient detail to allow the BCD to understand the nature of the project, and the expected impacts on the stream and surrounding area. A site inspection is typically required and is performed by a team comprising the applicant, area BCD supervisor, and FWP biologist.

After the inspection, BCD supervisors review the application and inspection report at the next scheduled meeting, at which time the supervisors can either act to approve, modify, or deny the project, or to table it if more information is required. The application process is often completed in less than a month. Permits remain in effect for a period of one year from the approval date.

Another priority for the BCD is educating kids about natural resources and the environment.

Conservation Days is a two-day program for sixth graders in Ravalli County that is put on by the BCD each year. The event, which is held in May at Como Lake, gives students a chance to learn from the experts about soils, grazing, wildlife habitat and resource management. Over 150 students typically participate in this fun and educational event.

The BCD also has a working model of a watershed, which is mounted on a trailer and is available for conservation-oriented public events. The model includes all of the features of a typical watershed and gives kids of all ages a hands-on way to learn about erosion, floodplains and stream dynamics.

The BCD also contributes to natural resource conservation in Ravalli County through its cost-share program, which provides grants of up to $7,000 for projects involving habitat improvement and/or erosion control on private lands. For larger projects, the BCD will typically partner with other entities and will provide financial, administrative, and technical support.

The BCD office is located in the USDA building at 1709 North First Street in Hamilton and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. You can contact the BCD at 406-361- 6181 or by email at bcd@qwestoffice.net. BCD meetings are open to the public and are held on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., currently via Zoom.

More information about the BCD, including meeting agendas and minutes, can be found at the BCD website bitterrootcd.org.

Watershed Wellness is a monthly installation provided by the Bitter Root Water Forum, a local nonprofit that builds community around the river. Learn more about the Water Forum and their education and restoration programs at www.brwaterforum.org. This informational project is funded in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, DEQ and MACD.

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Tuesday ended with a mound of flowers left at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, placed there by a procession commemorating the tombs centennial.

At the head of that procession were Apsaalooke men and women, each one paying their respects and tightening the bond between the Crow Nation and the monument. A century prior, Chief Plenty Coups himself stood on the same plaza as the sole Indigenous representative present for the burial of the Unknown Soldier of World War I.

We can feel the excitement when visiting with the other guardsmen. Theres an electricity, said Elsworth GoesAhead, one of eight members of the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard who was at Tuesdays commemoration.

Finally completed in 1921, three years after the armistice of World War I, Congress approved construction of a special tomb for one unknown soldier to represent the thousands who lost both their lives and their identities fighting in a war that left 20 million dead. Sgt. Edward F. Younger selected one of four caskets carrying the remains of unknown American service members exhumed from military cemeteries in France. He made his decision by placing a spray of white roses on the casket.

The casket left Le Havre, France, onboard the USS Olympia, which docked at the Washington Navy Yard on Nov. 9. Two days later, the casket was interred at Arlington National Cemetery, decorated with a Medal of Honor from then President Warren G. Harding. Also left at the tomb were a coup stick and a war bonnet.

Chief Plenty Coups, then in his 70s, was the last traditional chief of all three Crow bands. He served as a scout for the U.S. military as conflicts between white settlers and the Indigenous tribes of the Great Plains erupted into war. Going into the 20th century, he pivoted from war chief to diplomat, prioritizing the preservation of the Apsaalookes land and culture.

Anywhere between 8,000 and 15,000 Indigenous men and women served in World War I, according to military personnel records, hindered by incomplete tribal data. They enlisted to serve in a war nearly a decade before the federal government officially recognized every Native American in the nation as a U.S. citizen.

Joseph Kossuth Dixon, a photographer and advocate for Native American citizenship, wrote to Secretary of War Joseph Weeks in the time leading up to commemorating the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier asking that an Indigenous leader be one of the dignitaries to be invited.

What more fitting than that this race of people  should have a place in the ceremony, for doubtless hundreds of unknown Indian graves are scattered from the sea to the Alps? Dixon wrote, according to Arlington National Cemetery records. It will give added distinction to the ceremony  the fact that the First American Warrior should lay his tribute on the grave of the Latest Hero of War an Unknown American Soldier.

Although several Native Americans were present in Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 11, 1921, the U.S. Army selected Chief Plenty Coups to represent all American Indian peoples for the ceremony. According to an account of the days events published in the Nov. 12 edition of the Billings Gazette, Chief Plenty Coups spoke, with gesture and chant and tribal tongue that the dead should not have died in vain, that war might end, peace be purchased by such blood as this.

The coup stick and war bonnet that he left behind remain at the Arlington National Cemeterys artifact collection.

Since 1937, the tomb has stood nearly silent, with the exception of the clicking paces of its sentinels. In the decades since, three more caskets have been interred, each one recognizing the 79,000 unknowns from World War II, the 8,000 of the Korean War and the 2,500 lost in the Vietnam War. DNA testing later determined that the Vietnam Unknown was Air Force 1st Lt. Michael Joseph Blassie, who was then interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri.

The War in Afghanistan concluded in August after nearly two decades. It has the distinction of the being the only major conflict in U.S. history to end with no American personnel unaccounted for, the New York Times reported.

Officials at Arlington National Cemetery told those attending Tuesday that no one outside of the ever-present sentinels would likely walk across the plaza again during their lifetime. Before heading the procession, members of the Chief Plenty Coups Honor Guard held a smudging ceremony, burning cedar and bitterroot.

As representatives of Montana veterans and American Indian veterans, were really humbled with this honor, said GoesAhead, who served in the Marine Corps and carried Chief Plenty Coups flag through the ceremony.

Joining the honor guard were their families, along with members of the Plenty Coups High School Indian Club from Pryor.

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A former Corvallis attorney was sentenced in federal court Wednesday to three years in prison for defrauding his clients and being part of a real estate investment scheme.

Ronald Dean Lords, 53, pleaded guilty in July to one count each of wire fraud, money laundering and filing false returns.

He was given 36 months in federal prison for each count, to be served simultaneously. He was also given three years of supervised release for the first two indictments and one year of supervised release for filing false returns. Those will run at the same time.

U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided. Federal defender Andrew Nelson represented Lords and Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Racicot represented the prosecution.

Lords defrauded several victims by convincing them to invest their money in his construction company, Eagles Landing Construction, from June 2011 to September 2018 in Ravalli County, federal court documents said. Lords told them he would make monthly interest payments, use their money to build homes and repay them after the newly built homes were sold.

He said he would return their money within 30 days of any request. Many of Lords' victims were people who he had established legal relationships with and had been working with for years prior, meaning he knew their financial situations.

Rather than using the money to fund the promised construction projects, Lords used it to make interest payments to prior investors and lost much of the money in the futures markets and by depositing the funds into trading accounts. When some of the impacted individuals asked for their principal back, Lords admitted he lost over $1 million in the futures market and didn't have the cash to return to them.

Lords also failed to declare $432,608 he received from victims in 2015 as "other income" on his taxes, resulting in unpaid taxes of $152,734 for that year.

At Wednesday's hearing, victim impact statements were given by two people Lords took money from. Judge Molloy said there were 14 victims in total. Lords' attorney noted he has made significant strides in repaying a handful of the victims.

"I truly believe the man has no moral conscience and should be sentenced accordingly," Stan Hendricksen said. He was one of Lords' targets and has not received repayment yet.

Lords apologized for his actions when addressing the court, saying he wanted to pay back the amount he stole in full to the victims.

Before imposing the sentence, Judge Molloy said he hoped prison time for Lords would deter similar criminal activity in the community. Molloy noted he was especially concerned about how Lords' actions affected the physical and mental well-being of the victims.

Lords has been disbarred from practicing law in Montana. He is ordered to not engage in any gambling or wagering activities when released from prison. He is also prohibited from entering casinos.

He was initially charged with 19 counts  six for wire fraud, nine for money laundering and four for filing false tax returns. All of those counts but three were dismissed at Wednesday's sentencing.

The case was investigated by the FBI and Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division.

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Sen. Jon Tester said Wednesday he was optimistic that his bill to provide comprehensive and "overdue" support to U.S. troops who experienced toxic exposure would become law.

The Montana Democrat, speaking to a small group at the veterans memorial at Helenas Memorial Park, talked about his bill that has moved out of committee and is winding its way toward the Senate floor.

Every Veterans Day we pause and recognize the men and women who have served this country in the military and we honor their sacrifices, he said. The fact is though, this day is more than being about paying respects. It is about doing right by the service and paying the continuing cost of war.

Earlier this year, Tester, chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, unveiled his Compensation and Overdue Support for Troops, or COST of War Act of 2021. This helps veterans affected by toxic exposure, including 3.5 million who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, get immediate and lifelong access to Department of Veterans Affairs health care. And it extends services to those still not recovered from toxic exposure in the Vietnam and the Persian Gulf wars.

Its one of the largest expansions of VA health care ever seen, he said.

The bill sets up a procedure for Veterans Affairs to process claims of toxic exposure, Tester said in May when introducing the proposal.

It allocates $430 billion to be spent over 10 years, with $250 billion of that going toward benefits and the other $180 billion for health care, Tester said, adding the Congressional Budget Office had just recently reached that figure.

Fighting wars costs a lot of money, he said.

The bill is now in negotiations, Tester said, adding he hoped it would be voted on by the Senate before the first of the year. He said there is a similar bill in the House.

He said for decades service members have returned home and suffered through a piecemeal process to get health care and disability benefits.

They deserve better and they have earned better, Tester said.

He said the bill included bipartisan ideas from veterans and advocates. Tester said he was pleased Veterans Affairs officials were also at the table.

Tim Peters, Department of Montana VFW Adjutant, said he asked Tester to sponsor a comprehensive toxic exposure bill.

"When our country sends us off to war we have an inherent presumption they will treat our wounds, either on the battlefield, or years later, Peters, a Gulf War veteran, said. This bill will do just that.

Dave Powell, who served in Thailand during the Vietnam War and was discharged in 1975, said he was thankful for the bill.

Tester said the bill gives the VA the ability to deal with toxic exposure from the Gulf War and future conflicts, but also helps veterans with problems stemming from some of the past wars like Vietnam.

Tester said the bill has met some resistance due to costs.

But in the end you have to ask the question, and that question is, if you send these folks out to war you have an obligation to take care of them in the battlefield and when they are back home, he said. And if you arent willing to (fulfill) that obligation, you shouldnt send them in the first place.

Tom Lutey of The Billings Gazette contributed to this story.

Assistant editor Phil Drake can be reached at 406-231-9021.

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Norm Gold, who was instrumental in leading the development and management of The Market @ 25th grocery store in Church Hill, has left after nearly four years.

Gold, 66, decided to retire as the stores developer and operator, effective Oct. 25. The 25,000-square-foot grocery store at Nine Mile Road and North 25th Street opened in April 2019 as a way to help fill a supermarket void in the grocery store-deprived East End of Richmond.

I think weve been successful, Gold said about the grocery stores mission.

I think we havent done everything I wanted to do. But I think weve done a lot as far as helping people who needed jobs, needed to have a sustainable life, he said. Weve given vendors opportunity to sell product when they havent had a chance to sell before. And we really have been offering healthy, nutritious foods to a community that hadnt seen it in decades.

Steve Markel, chairman of Henrico County-based specialty insurer Markel Corp., and his wife, Kathie, financially backed the mixed-use development that includes The Market @ 25th. He said he was pleased with Golds performance in taking the idea of opening a grocery store in a food desert and turning it into a business.
The entire Performance Food Group business supplies food and food-related products to more than 300,000 locations such as restaurants, health care facilities, universities, convenience stores and movie theaters. It operates mores than 150 distribution centers in the U.S. and Canada, including one on Ranco Road in Henrico.

The company generated $10.4 billion in the fiscal first quarter that ended Oct. 2.

Virginia competed with Pennsylvania and North Carolina for the distribution center project, Northams office said.

Performance Food Group had a choice in where to locate, and we thank the company for choosing Hanover County, said E. Linwood Thomas IV, Hanovers economic development director. This announcement is a prime example of the importance in the investment of site development at the local level in conjunction with the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program. The project would not have been possible without the zoning in place and Tier 4 designation provided by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership.

The Cardinal Commerce Center was being developed by Indianapolis-based developer Scannell Properties.

The Hanover Board of Supervisors approved the 65.1-acre site for use as a distribution center in 2019 with a plan for a single driveway on Cedar Lane.
We are very sensitive to a persons right to freely speak their mind, but when they will not work with our attempts to de-escalate matters, we are left with little choice, Capitol Police Chief Anthony S. Pike said in a statement. We take our role as peacekeepers seriously, and we try to de-escalate free-speech matters whenever possible.

***

Ronald McNeil was born in Richmond in 1914 and became a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne in World War II. Paratroopers earned more money, and he sent his earnings home to his family. They needed all the help they could get after McNeils father passed away.

In the hours before D-Day, McNeil jumped behind enemy lines at Normandy, where he was shot in the knee. He was later awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

Two of his brothers also served in the war, Fred and Maurice. Maurice was deployed to the Pacific, but Fred was in Europe, too, working a clerical position. Around Christmas 1944, Ronald and Fred agreed to find one another in Europe.

Ronald never made it. He was killed in the Battle of the Bulge on Dec. 27 and is buried at the Henri-Chapelle cemetery in Belgium.
While the memorial has some artifacts, it wants more, Mountcastle said. People often have old items tucked away in attics and basements, and the war memorial is interested in preserving the stories of Virginians lost serving their country, he said.

Some of these artifacts led to stories included in the exhibit, like the letters of soldier Gordon Young to his sister, Dennis, in Charlotte County. Gordon joined the Army in 1963 and was deployed to Vietnam. From there he sent his sister a birthday card and wrote about his fondness for Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

On Nov. 17, 1965, he was killed during the Battle of Ia Drang Valley.

One of the 32 stories even has a personal connection to the exhibits curator, Jesse Smith.

Smiths great uncle, Robert Long of Buena Vista, was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II. He died when his B-17 bomber crashed into the English Channel.

Because the plane went into the water, his body was never discovered. For the next 10 years, his family sent letters to the War Department asking for updates. That preserved documentation tells some of Longs story.
Smith falsely accused Yakish of trying to flee and charged him with eluding law enforcement, even though Yakish stopped immediately after Smith activated his patrol cars lights and siren. That charge was dropped after a prosecutor reviewed the video and concluded it was baseless.

Yakish lost his license because of the arrest, his motorcycle was impounded and he spent the night in jail. A chiropractor later treated him for neck pain.

The Iowa State Patrol allowed Smith, a 30-year veteran of the force, to quietly retire in 2018 after conducting an internal investigation into the incident. Smith was later hired as a police officer in the small town of Durant, where he was accused of using excessive force against a woman during an arrest.

Smith's use of force during the 2017 traffic stop only became public in 2019 after The Associated Press published video of the incident obtained from Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington.
Meehan, who along with his colleagues is investigating the role of inhalation exposures among military personnel who were deployed to Southwest Asia, said it isn't only burn pits that are the issue  the air quality in some countries is so poor that troops would not be allowed to work there under civilian federal workplace guidelines. The center receives funding from the Department of Defense, along with private donors.

Meehan has worried that troops who came back with breathing problems are being compared with other Americans to determine whether there is a higher rate of lung illness. But those deployed with the U.S. military are in peak physical condition, stronger and more fit than average Americans. To come back unable to make it up stairs without getting winded or unable to lift anything without breathing heavily is highly unusual.

When you compare them to another group, you have to compare them to another healthy, fit group, Meehan said. Thats one of the problems overlooked in surveys that have shown no higher incidence of cancer."

The new rules will allow veterans to make claims within 10 years of service, and the government has changed how it determines what symptoms count and why.
San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari lamented that personal decisions about the vaccine have become politicized. The county is a conservative stronghold where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.

As of right now, its still a personal choice, he said of vaccination. You need to have that conversation with your doctor, decide if thats the right avenue for you. If you choose not to do that, care for your neighbor. ... Wear your mask, wash your hands, dont get out.

State epidemiologist Christine Ross visited the hospital in Farmington last week and said she encountered dedicated health workers that have worked to exhaustion.

They are amazing and they are really, really tired," Ross said during an online news conference.

Hospital facilities are adequate but staff have been struggling to keep up with the demands of coronavirus patients, she said.

The surge staffing that the state was able to send out there, along with the federal team, it's making a real difference," Ross said.

State health officials say the resurgence of the virus corresponds with waning immunity from early rounds of vaccinations, as residents approach or pass the time they need booster shots.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP)  A Northern California man who confessed to killing his wife and three children was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole.

Investigators in Placer County said Shankar Hangud, 55, confessed to killing his family members over the span of several days across two Northern California counties in October 2019, saying he couldnt provide for them financially, KCRA-TV reported. His children were aged 13, 16 and 20.

Hangud was arrested shortly after the killings when he drove to a police station in Mount Shasta, more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) from his home, with the body of his oldest son in his car and confessed to all four murders, prosecutors said. After the confession, the bodies of the three other victims were found inside the familys apartment in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento, police said.

Placer County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Penney called it a horrific crime where no victims were alive to speak as he sentenced Hangud to three life prison terms. The district attorneys office said that because Hangud had killed more than one person he had no possibility of parole.
Even before 51% of Richmond voters rejected the casino project last week, Urban One CEO Alfred Liggins said that a casino could rise in one of the Richmond areas suburban counties if his project didnt pass the city referendum.

Officials in Chesterfield and Henrico counties have thrown cold water on that idea  at least for now.

Our [Board of Supervisors] and School Board have been working on a referendum that would be on the ballot in November 2022 that would largely fund schools within our existing revenues, said Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas. I cannot envision a scenario where our board would place a casino on that same ballot.

Henrico Supervisor Tyrone Nelson, who represents the Varina district in the eastern part of the county, said he has been approached by casino operators since the city referendum last week. He declined to say who, but said he has not given the idea of a casino in Henrico much thought.

A spokesperson for Chesterfield, which is also preparing for a bond referendum next year, said there are no casino proposals it is considering, and that it would be irresponsible to speculate or comment further on the idea.
Recounts are unlikely to change the outcomes of two tight Virginia contests for the House of Delegates because of the size of the margins, the commissioner of the state Department of Elections told a Richmond civic group on Wednesday.

To change 94 votes  Republican A.C. Cordozas lead over Del. Martha Mugler, D-Hampton  when youve got about 27,000 cast in that election is going to be really hard to do because were so good at our jobs, Chris Piper said, referring to the dedication of local and state elections officials.

Piper addressed the group Richmond First just over a week after Republicans swept elections for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general and apparently took control of the House of Delegates.

Local electoral boards in Hampton Roads on Tuesday certified Cordozas victory over Mugler by 0.33% in House District 91 and Republican Karen Greenhalghs win over Del. Alex Askew, D-Virginia Beach, by 127 votes, or 0.44%, in District 85. Once state electoral officials sign off on the totals on Monday, both Democrats are entitled to seek recounts at state expense because the margins are within half a percentage point.

If the GOP wins hold up, Republicans will take control of the House of Delegates with 52 seats to the Democrats 48.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned that a key temperature goal in climate talks is on life support but he still hopes that world governments will step up their pledges to slash emissions of greenhouse gases.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Guterres said the negotiations set to end Friday in Glasgow, Scotland, will very probably not yield the carbon-cutting pledges he has said are needed to keep the planet from warming beyond the 1.5-degree threshold.

Still, the U.N. chief wouldnt say at what point he thinks that goal would have to be abandoned.

When you are on the verge of the abyss, its not important to think too far into the future, he said. Whats important to discuss is what will be your first step. Because if your first step is the wrong step, you will not have the chance to ... make a second or third one.

So far, the talks have not come close to achieving any of the U.N.'s three announced priorities for the annual conference, called COP26. One is cutting carbon emissions by about half by 2030 to reach the goal Guterres alluded to.
Every year on Nov. 11, Americans honor our nations veterans. Veterans Day is an opportunity for all of us to show our appreciation for all those who have served in our armed forces, past and present, and to thank the future veterans who still are serving.

Virginia is home to more than 713,000 veterans  1 in every 12 Virginians. Of these, more than 109,000 are women, the highest percentage in the U.S.

Our veterans continue to serve our commonwealth every day. They are first responders, health care workers, teachers and students. They build everything from ships to computer networks. They are part of our largest businesses and our newest startups.

I am proud that in my past four years as governor, the commonwealth has worked hard to recognize and show appreciation to those who served our country  and we have taken important steps forward in ensuring that our veterans have the services and support they need, and have earned.

For example, the Virginia Values Veterans program, known as the V3 program, helps veterans find jobs in the civilian workforce through a unique partnership. More than 2,700 private employers, public institutions, local and state agencies, and educational institutions have committed to recruiting, hiring and retaining veteran employees.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
Following a criminal complaint that was brought against Sabrina Garvin for trespassing, the Garvins also sued the neighbors for obstructing the public right of way into the wildlife center property. (The trespassing charge against Garvin was dismissed.)

In the meantime, the court battles have prevented the wildlife center from building the aviary. In 2018, that would have cost $85,000, Sarbrina Garvin said. But the delay has pushed construction estimates to beyond $150,000, she added.

On top of that, wildlife center has spent $110,000 in the past three years on legal fees related to the lawsuits.

All the above background has given me great insights into the best names for those birds. But before we get to those, I called Seymour and asked if he would participate in the auction by the wildlife center.

You mean, give them money? he asked. Why do you think would I do that?

I replied that if he won the auction, he would control the naming rights. But that failed to persuade him.

I dont want to do anything that could hurt their fundraising, other than the lawsuits that are outstanding, Seymour said.

So here are two sets of recommendations for those birds names.
Prosecutors are opposing a former Rocky Mount police officers request to be released from jail pending his trial on charges of participating in the insurrection of Jan. 6.

An attorney for Thomas T.J. Robertson asked a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to place him on home incarceration, writing in a motion last month that he had learned to comply with the judges orders. In August, Judge Christopher Cooper found the Robertson had violated his bond by ordering firearms online after being told he was not allowed to have them.

In a response filed late Wednesday, prosecutors argued that following the instructions of a judge is not something that a former police officer should have to learn.

Such a request makes a mockery of the badge he used to wear, Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi wrote.

Aloi also noted that Robertson has expressed no remorse for his actions, which suggested that he still fails to appreciate the seriousness of entering the U.S. Capitol while it was being stormed by an angry horde of supporters of former President Donald Trump.

At a hearing earlier in the day, Cooper said he would rule on Robertsons motion for release after prosecutors had filed their response.
He helped bolster Virginia's transportation programs under McAuliffe, including a major expansion of the Port of Virginia, which former Gov. Bob McDonnell, a Republican, had entertained selling. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Virginia Port Authority.

Layne also worked with the General Assembly, then led by Republicans, to reform the state law allowing public-private partnerships for major highway projects after a failed attempt by McDonnell to build a four-lane expressway along U.S. 460 in Southside Virginia that was never built, costing the state $260 million without a shovelful of dirt being turned.

Under Northam, he helped guide Virginia through the COVID-19 pandemic without cutting state jobs or services, leaving with a record $2.6 billion surplus in the fiscal year that ended on June 30. He reshaped the job as finance secretary to resume that of a chief financial officer at a corporation to not only manage revenue and spending, but also risks and strategic direction.

Layne said he is not taking a leave of absence from his new job at Sentara, one of the largest health care companies in Virginia, but would devote one day a week to helping Youngkin with the transition to his first job in government.

"I think it's in everybody's best interest that he gets off to a great start," he said.
"I have witnessed the transformational impact of higher ed in my life and in the lives of many others," he said. "Through my professional work in multiple settings, I also have seen the impact higher ed can have on the economic competitiveness and growth of regions, states, and our country as a whole."

"While there are bigger organizations than Strada, Im not aware of any nonprofit of Stradas scale (or larger) that has Stradas focused mission paired with such a distinctive, multi-dimensional approach to accomplishing it," he said.

Moret led the LSU Foundation at his alma mater, Louisiana State University, before coming to Virginia. He said he was so impressed by Strada's work that his interview with the organization's search committee "represented the first time in my career that I have ever choked up in an interview."

"It was just so powerful to think about the prospect of helping other people to achieve their own unique version of the American Dream, particularly as I reflected on my familys economic challenges growing up as well as my own challenges navigating through the process of choosing where to go to college, how to pay for it, and how to get a good job afterward," he said.

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Holbrook is a Staunton River High School graduate who now works as a building and electrical contractor. Of his four children, three are school-aged and are currently being homeschooled.

Holbrook said he is eager to send his students back to the countys schools but first wants to see positive change.

He said his priorities as a board member are simple: He wants to advocate for parent voices and student opportunities. Come budget season, Holbrook said hell prioritize compensation, vocational programs and transportation needs. Holbrook said he looks forward to taking office in January and is eager to listen and learn as he assumes the role.

Holbrook said he was thankful for the support he received from the community.

I wouldnt have been able to do it without them, he said.

Nelms, a graduate of Liberty High School, currently works for the City of Roanoke as a traffic engineering technician and has one student at Staunton River Middle School.

Nelms said he was humbled and overwhelmed by the support he received at the polls last week.

Im excited to start this new chapter and make some positive changes in the school system, he said.
There was a hand recount in Georgia. Joe Biden won when machines counted the votes, and he won again when people counted them. A partisan group of amateurs in Arizona examined the paper ballots in the states largest county and found that Biden got a few more votes than the scanning machines gave him the first time around. An independent audit in Wisconsin found that the voting machines in 2020 worked well and that the states election procedures were safe and secure. Surely, we can all agree that voting machines did not rig the election results in the close-call states.

Can we perhaps agree on something else? Voter fraud is real and should be punished. In a nation with millions of voters, some ballots will be cast by the dead, by ineligible convicted felons, or by pranksters and criminals who try to vote twice. We should find those fraudulent voters and punish them. And we do.
Friday brought the sad news of the death of Bernard Marie at age 82. A native of France, Marie was 5 years old on June 6, 1944, when American forces landed at Normandy to liberate his country. After moving to America, he made it his mission to see that dozens upon dozens of American World War II veterans received the French Legion of Honor medal. His involvement with the D-Day Memorial prompted him to move to Roanoke.

He held annual commemorative dinners to honor the veterans of D-Day. He listened to their stories.

Those stories deserve an audience year-round, not just on a single day of remembrance. Nonetheless Veterans Day serves as a reminder to all of us to appreciate our military veterans and thank them for their time, labor and sacrifice.

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, commemorating the date that Germany and the Allies of World War I signed the armistice that ended the fighting on the Western Front. Armistice Day also honored the memory of the American military personnel who died during that war.

President Woodrow Wilson asked his fellow Americans to fill their reflections on this day with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the countrys service, and with gratitude for the victory.
'Stories of Honor' is a series spotlighting veterans on the Central Coast, their lives, and their contributions to our country. Take a look th
" " The NIST's replica of Le Grand K (front), the international weight that defines a kilogram which is stored in a vault in France. Physical objects will be replaced by Planck's constant as the definition of a kilogram. J.L. Lee/NIST

For nearly 150 years, the official weight of a kilogram was determined by a shiny cylinder of platinum locked away in a French vault.

The kilogram, like the meter and the second, is one of the seven fundamental units of measurement (also known as the International System of Units or the metric system, the "SI" for short). These were first formalized in the 1875 Treaty of the Metre. Back then, the best way to agree on the weight of a kilogram was to forge a single hunk of metal and call it "Le Grand K." And for more than a century, all scientific scales were calibrated back to that one physical reference point (with copies stored in a dozen countries).

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But even solid objects can change over time. When Le Grand K was weighed in the 1980s, it was a couple of micrograms lighter, meaning that all highly accurate scientific scales (not the one in your bathroom) had to be recalibrated. That's what nerds call a real pain in the mass.

Luckily, teams of metrologists were already on the case (metrology is the science of weights and measures), searching for a universal constant that would generate a fixed value for the kilogram that's true now and a million years from now.

They had already found such a physics fix for the second, which was redefined in 1967 from 1/86,400th of a day to something much more confusing, but constant. It takes 9,192,631,770 oscillations of a special microwave beam to excite atoms of the isotope cesium-133 to a higher energy level. Since that number will never change (unlike the exact length of a day), that's your new second!

Same for the meter. Instead of being defined as the length of a single, meter-long metal pole forged back in 1889, it was redefined in 1983 as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458th of a second.

It wasn't until 2017 that scientists working at the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and similar bodies worldwide finally agreed on a universal constant for the kilogram. The achievement required solving one of the thorniest physics problems of the last century, coming up with a numerical value for Planck's constant.

Without getting too technical (you can do that here), physicist Max Planck proved in 1900 that matter releases energy in discrete chunks called "quanta." His equation for measuring those packets of energy included a constant called h, hitherto known as Planck's constant. Thanks to Einstein, we know that energy and mass are mathematically related, so physicists figured out that Planck's constant (which is a fixed unit of energy) could yield the world's most accurate measurement of mass.

Calculating the exact value of Planck's constant took decades and some serious technological innovation (specifically a nifty device called a Kibble Balance), but now even distracted kindergarteners know that Planck's constant is 6.626070150  10-34 kgm2/s. I mean, duh.

In mid-November, at the annual meeting of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in Versailles, France, representatives from more than 60 countries voted to approve a new and everlasting definition of the kilogram as calculated by the Planck constant. No more hunk of metal  the kilogram's mass is now tied to Planck's constant. New definitions were also announced for SI units the ampere (electrical current), the kelvin (temperature) and the mole (number of molecules or atoms in an element). These new definitions took effect on May 20, 2019.

The original platinum kilogram prototype will remain in that underground French vault, while countless generations of scientists make life-changing discoveries using the kilogram 2.0.

Now That's Cool Jon Pratt, one of the chief metrologists at NIST, got a tattoo of the Planck constant to celebrate the 2017 achievement.
COLUMBIA, S.C.  South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster has asked Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman to begin an investigation into the presence of obscene and pornographic materials in South Carolina public schools.

McMaster sent a letter to Spearman and requested the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to evaluate whether any state laws have been broken after he received examples of pornographic materials found in schools from concerned parents in Fort Mill.

By way of example, it is my understanding that concerned parents were recently required to petition the Fort Mill School District to remove a book from a schools physical or digital library, titled Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, McMaster wrote in the letter. If school personnel had performed even a cursory review in this particular instance, it would have revealed that the book contains sexually explicit and pornographic depictions, which easily meet or exceed the statutory definition of obscenity. Thus, I am concerned that further examination may identify additional instances in which inappropriate materials have been introduced into our States public schools.
I was a young student when President Truman integrated the Armed Services in response to the blinding of Isaac Woodard, and that stuck with me throughout my life," Clyburn said in a media advisory. "We must rectify what happened not only to Sgt. Woodard, but to all the Black World War II veterans who were treated unjustly when they returned home from serving their country and denied their GI Bill benefits. We all know that the quickest way to build wealth is through education and homeownership. So many Black families were denied this path to the middle class. It is important to acknowledge this injustice and help address the wealth gap that was exacerbated by the governments failure to fulfill this promise to World War II veterans of color.
Given that medical news, the helicopter launched but hadnt informed Lance. Shortly after launching, it abandoned the mission when guides at the nearby high base camp reported the three climbers were climbing down.

In later interviews, neither member of the other climbing team reported they suffered from medical shock or hypothermia at any time. They also said they spent hours trying to convince Lance to descend with them the 1,000 feet (305 meters) to the 17,200-foot (5,240-meter) high base camp.

Lance insisted they stay put, and that the National Park Service was obligated to rescue them because weve paid our fee, according to court documents.

The other team finally convinced him to descend, which they did without incident.

The next day Denali Mountaineering Ranger Chris Erickson, who is also a law enforcement officer, interviewed Lance at base camp. Erickson said he was to safeguard all of A.R.s equipment, including his satellite communication device. According to court documents, Lance refused to hand over the device.

Though Erickson ordered him not to delete any messages off the device, authorities allege he zipped himself inside his tent alone for up to five minutes before handing it over.
 Moussaoui sentencing news and notes | Main | Homelessness and the Eighth Amendment 

April 14, 2006

Should prior military service reduce a sentence?

This interesting federal sentencing story from Alabama, entitled "Soldier gets 5-year sentence," has me thinking again about whether guideline sentencing systems ought to provide (and regulate) sentencing reductions for military service. Here are highlights from the article:

Patrick Lett seemed to have everything going for him, including a 17-year Army career that saw him rise to the rank of sergeant and serve honorably in the Iraq war and Operation Desert Storm a decade earlier. But something went terribly awry in early 2004. Lett, 37, of the Monroe County town of Peterman, fell in with some cousins who law enforcement investigators contend sold tens of thousands of grams of crack cocaine in the Monroeville area. Lett pleaded guilty in December to seven counts of distribution of crack. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge William Steele, who appeared moved by Lett's story, sentenced him to five years in prison -- the minimum allowed by law. Defense attorney Glenn Cortello said his client also faces expulsion from the military. The prison term is 10 months shorter than the punishment recommended under advisory sentencing guidelines, but the judge rejected a request Cortello to cut the prison time. A judge could order a shorter sentence by ruling that the mandatory-minimum sentence would be unconstitutionally excessive.

I often think of honorable military service and other past good deeds by a defendant as the flip side of criminal history. Criminal history, after all, is just a past record of prior bad deeds, and every sentencing system (guideline or otherwise) provides for sentence enhancements (often huge enhancements) based on such a record of prior bad deeds.

Doesn't it make some logical sense for a sentencing system to similarly provide for sentence reductions based on a notable record of prior good deeds such as military service? Especially during a time of war, wouldn't a sentence reduction based on honorable military service serve as a tangible way to recognize and reward service to our country?

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Lett admitted his crime, while Nancy Bistrup took the matter to trial.

Lett admitted to selling crack to undercover officers on seven separate occasions between Feb. 24 to April 1 in 2004. The drugs added up to a little more than 60 grams and netted $2,100.

"The district court sentenced Nancy Bistrup to ... two years of probation for her role in the offenses.

I cannot help but look at the number of people injured by the Bistrups fraud of over 3 million dollars compared to the paultry sum of 2 thousand dollars for a hand full of powder. Does cocaine injure, no doubt, and often times, the addict unable to stop steals money to support his habit? But when comparing the two, Lett voluntarily entered the military and placed himself in the line of fire, so that Nancy would be free. Lett will be in prison 5 years while Nancy will be home. Cannot Lett better continue to serve his country while on probation and make restitution in the form of community service while Nancy makes restitution in the form of one million dollars.

I spent 8 years in the Marine Corps and 16 years in prison for drug crimes, that is 24 years under federal authority and not much difference in the living conditions, food or housing. Lett will have 22 years after 5 years in prison, isnt that excessive for a two thousand dollar crime.



Posted by: Barry Ward | Apr 14, 2006 10:08:53 AM

Wow, Doc, that's a great state-level bill idea. It could have legs. Hmmmm ...

Posted by: Gritsforbreakfast | Apr 14, 2006 10:49:49 AM

You've got to be kidding me. What about those who think that waging war is immoral to begin with? Would they think military service was a mitigating factor? Or what about those who believe that drugs should be decriminalized? Would they think there was even a crime in the first place?

That aside, I'm not sure you can argue that a history of doing some particular non-criminal (in a legal sense) "good" (in some subjective sense) activity is any better than a lack of prior criminal history. By that logic, those Catholic priests should do hardly any time for child molestation and abuse.

(BEG - 1 unit away from being a certified paralegal)

Posted by: BEG | Apr 14, 2006 1:08:07 PM

Maybe your next unit will be on the difference between apples and oranges. Dont you think the judge took into consideration the fact that the priests used their position as clergymen to gain access to children and in the same token if Lett had worn his uniform as a recruiter to gain access to children, then it should be used against him. It is purely an individual determination and there should be additions and subtractions, not just, if you havent been convicted previously, you all stand in the same pond. There is a difference between having served your country in the military and not haven taken up arms against your country. I am a certified paralegal with 8 years in the USMC, 16 years in prison and 15 years practical experience as a post-conviction paralegal

Posted by: Barry Ward | Apr 14, 2006 2:25:40 PM

I truly feel in this case as in others that a persons good deeds should not be frowned upon. In this particular case you have someone who has experienced things in his life that no one can imagine. Then sees the error in his ways and makes life altering decisions to make his life and the life of his children better. For someone to compare the life of this man and his case to that of Catholic priests is deplorable. His actions in no way mirror that of the Catholic priests. Each case should be treated on its merits and the particulars of the case. So my personal opinion on this case is that the judge made the correct decision.

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Posted by: Tourism Dissertation | Jan 8, 2010 2:41:53 AM

Can courts still do that? Can a criminal court judge sentence a person to military service as an alternative to jail. Can a prosecutor mandate that someone join the military as an alternative to criminal prosecution?

Posted by: karen | Feb 8, 2014 8:00:16 AM

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 "Marijuana, Not Yet Legal for Californians, Might as Well Be" | Main | Latest OSJCL issue with "McClesky at 25" symposium now available on-line 

December 21, 2012

"Military Veterans, Culpability, and Blame"

Recently in Porter v. McCollum, the United States Supreme Court, citing a long tradition of according leniency to veterans in recognition of their service, held that a defense lawyers failure to present his clients military service record as mitigating evidence during his sentencing for two murders amounted to ineffective assistance of counsel. The purpose of this article is to assess, from the just deserts perspective, the grounds to believe that veterans who commit crimes are to be blamed less by the State than offenders without such backgrounds. Two rationales for a differential treatment of military veterans who commit crimes are typically set forth. The Porter Court raised each, stating that we should treat veterans differently in recognition of both their service and the intense stress and mental and emotional toll of combat. The former factor suggests there being a social contributions or gratitude-based discount, whereas the latter factor points towards a mental disturbance discount. This article analyzes the two accounts and raises some doubts about both. This article then argues that a military veteran who commits a crime should not be blamed to the full extent of his blameworthiness, not necessarily because of his mental capacity nor because of his social contribution, but because the States hand in producing his criminality undermines its standing to blame him.

The title of this post is the title of this notable new paper by Youngjae Lee, which I just noticed via SSRN. Here is the abstract:

December 21, 2012 at 06:33 PM | Permalink

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We are fully back in the vile pro-criminal lawyer Twilight Zone. Government trained killers, taught discipline, taught to go forward in the face of fire, taught the articles of war, and subject to an extremely tight honor code. Those guys are less culpable? Only in the bizarro world of the sicko lawyer.

I can see less culpability if their service was highly material to the crime. For example, they went on a rampage in a VA facility, after waiting 3 hours in pain. That is less culpable.

Now, you drink, and stab the wife 50 times after she refuses to get you another beer. That is not less culpability, but more culpability.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Dec 21, 2012 7:43:42 PM

Leona Helmsley should have appealed on inadequacy of counsel. She reported work on her home as a business deduction. She was turned in by the workers, whom she stiffed. She threw the IRS out when they politely asked for their $ 4 million dollars owed.

She went on trial. She claimed to have paid $400 million in taxes. She served her country in that sense. Is she less culpable? That jury said, no. If the value of life is $ 6 million, she served her country more than the combined service of 90 veterans.

She went to prison. She had other prisoners make her bed for 50 cents. And guess what in support of the method of counting crimes. She stiffed those prisoners, and never paid them upon leaving prison.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Dec 21, 2012 7:48:54 PM

I wonder if there are any sentencing discounts for highly punitive, painful consequences taking place during the crime. An arsonist is burned, and spends a painful year on a burn unit. A bank robber is gut shot during the robbery. A purse snatcher, trips running away, and smashes his front teeth landing on his face. Any discounts? These natural consequences of crime seem to be more relevant, and compelling for a discount than past military experience. I would think military experience should be a cause for greater culpability, given the oath to uphold the constitution.

Would appreciate a brief reply from experience from with defense or prosecution.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Dec 22, 2012 5:55:52 AM

Here is the real agenda, finally spoken, "...because the States hand in producing his criminality undermines its standing to blame him."

This trend is cheap partisan Bush Bashing. Because of what Bush did to you, you can victimize others and get away with it. What Bush did was that horrible.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Dec 22, 2012 1:10:02 PM

The state's culpability as a mitigating factor in veterans' sentencing stems from the Clean Hand doctrine. I know we have left the world of reality at multiple levels when speaking of the law and sentencing. However, in formal logic, the unclean hands doctrine is an example of a tu quoque (you too), and has no formal logic validity.

Nice, brief review:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_quoque

International Criminal Court rejected this argument in the Yugoslavia crimes against humanity. The Dachau trial court accepted it as a defense against charges of wearing American uniforms by German soldiers because one American wore a German uniform one time.

I know the author attended high school and learned this in 11th grade.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Dec 23, 2012 4:38:30 AM

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November 18, 2013

Are special jail facilities for veterans (and other special populations) key to reducing recidivism?

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this notable Los Angeles Times article headlined "Separate jail facilities seek to cut recidivism rates among veterans." Here are excerpts:

The N-Module-3 housing wing at the San Diego County Jail was recently repainted red, white and blue. Brightly colored paintings now hang on the walls: one of the Statue of Liberty, another of the U.S. flag, and one of a screaming eagle landing with talons outstretched. Hanging from the ceiling are the service flags of U.S. military branches and the POW/MIA flag. The paintings and the flags are key to a program begun this month that aims to reduce recidivism among veterans who have slipped into the criminal justice system after leaving the structured world of military service. Thirty-two veterans serving sentences or awaiting trial have volunteered to live in the module separate from the other prisoners and participate in classes meant to increase their chances of making a law-abiding return to civilian life. "We're all dedicated to making this work, nobody wants to go back," said Jeremy Thomas, 22, who served with the Marines in Afghanistan and lost his left hand when a roadside bomb exploded. Each of the veterans has agreed to take classes Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. to assist with problems of post-traumatic stress disorder, anger management, substance abuse, parenting and other issues. "We hope that by putting them together we can rekindle that esprit de corps they had when they were serving their country," said San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore, whose department runs the jails. "It's a great population to work with." The program was spurred both by a sense of obligation toward the veterans and also an increased need to reduce recidivism to accommodate the state's prison realignment program that threatens to overwhelm the capacity of local jails. "We've got to do things differently," Gore said.... Nationwide, a small but growing number of jails have housing and programs specifically targeting veterans, an effort that the VA encourages and supports by forming partnerships with local law enforcement. "Being treated as a veteran reminds them of a time when their lives made sense and they deserved the respect of others," VA Secretary Eric Shinseki, a retired Army general, told a recent convention of the American Correctional Assn. An estimated 1 in 9 prisoners in the U.S. is a military veteran, according to the Department of Justice. But only 1 in 6 is being helped by the VA with the challenge of resuming life after incarceration, said Shinseki, who has vowed to get more help for those veterans. The California prison system does not house veterans separately from other prisoners but does encourage formation of veterans-only discussion groups at its 34 institutions, a spokesman said. VA "reentry specialists" regularly meet with prisoners on the verge of being released to tell them of benefits and therapy programs. In Los Angeles County, where the Sheriff's Department runs the largest jail system in the country, 291 prisoners are housed in veteran-only dorms where they participate in programs including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous and classes in art, computers and relationship counseling. One of the oldest and most successful of the veterans-behind-bars programs is run by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department at its jail in San Bruno. Begun in 2010, the San Francisco program houses 48 veterans in a separate "pod" where they can receive help from specialists from the VA and the Bay Area nonprofit group Swords to Plowshares.... Most of the jail deputies are volunteers who preferred working with the veterans. "In here, the staff is totally different than out there," said inmate Kimbra Kelley, 49, a former Marine. There are incentives for inmates to participate, seemingly small to outsiders but very large in the life of the incarcerated: pillows, more television time, more time in the exercise yard, extra mattresses, an extra visit each week from family members, access to a vending machine and, soon, a microwave oven. "This is the future, gentlemen: incentive housing," sheriff's Lt. Steven Wicklander told the inmates during a visit this month. If any of the 32 veterans quits attending the classes and stays in his cell, he can be returned to general population. There's a waiting list among the 270 veterans in county custody to transfer to N-Module-3. "We were given an opportunity, and we're going to hold on to it for dear life," said Dana Mulvany, 42, who served in the Navy.

November 18, 2013 at 09:55 AM | Permalink

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Conspicuously missing is any data indicating that this actually works (although it would surprise me if you were to pick the 30 most motivated inmates out of any population of300 and work on them with this level of effort that you did not get much better results than the criminal justice system as a whole). Whether this particular population is worth that amount of effort while others are not is an entirely different question.

Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Nov 18, 2013 10:17:35 AM

Prof. B.,

I am not sure what you mean by "and other special populations" in the title of the post but if it is to imply that a program like this which works with veterans could also work with diaper snipers, drug dealers, etc., I doubt it.

Veterans have a big advantage. They have accomplished something in their lives to be proud of, which cannot be said of other "special populations." Veterans know what it is like to have discipline, even if they lost it.

It is my experience that they are already the best "special population" (least troublesome)of inmate. If this program works, I doubt it could be copied successfully to many other groups.

Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Nov 18, 2013 3:13:14 PM

"They have accomplished something in their lives to be proud of"

By which you mean murder under the color of law.

Posted by: Daniel | Nov 18, 2013 4:46:46 PM

TarlsQtr1: How about the deeply religious and/or the elderly and/or female offenders with college degrees as just a few other possible special populations worth special post-sentencing attention and resources? The idea here is to focus on offender characteristics, not crime labels, in organizing possibly effective inventions.

more broadly, given that statistics suggest that 10%+ of the prison population is made up of veterans, I am certain some veterans are among the "diaper snipers, drug dealers, etc.," that you disparage here. I am unsure if you think these folks are redemable becase of their past service or not worthy of the energy because of the crime they committed.

Posted by: Doug B. | Nov 18, 2013 5:21:15 PM

In Vietnam, the opiate addiction rate was 40% of troops. Upon return, it dropped to the baseline USA rate of 2%. In a study comparing the 2% who became addicts in the addiction limiting environment of the USA, the veteran addicts were close in personal features and family backgrounds to the other addicts far more than they were to other veterans. So a veteran criminal or addict is the same as a non-veteran one.

The whole veteran privileging is a thinly veiled criticism of George Bush's wars. They imply, Bush did this, it is not the vet's fault.

I view veteran status as an aggravating factor. These are trained killers, more capable of devastating, professional violence than any ghetto gangbanger. They are capable of great discipline. They took the skills they learned at tax payer expense, including character growth skills, and turned them into criminality and addiction. The hammer should come down on the left wing privileged walking pretext.

This mitigating factor is in a long list of mitigating factors from the Twilight Zone. All lawyer invented mitigating factors are actually highly aggravating factors in very dangerous, unreachable, relentless, irrational, non-negotiable ultra-violent offenders. Now, we are privileging trained warriors as handicapped and disabled. They survived Afghanistan, the big city is too hard for them, the lawyer is saying.

Prof. Berman has never addressed the super dangerousness of all defendants with lawyer mitigating factors, starting with the first from 1844, the insane.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Nov 18, 2013 8:11:27 PM

Prof B stated: "How about the deeply religious and/or the elderly and/or female offenders with college degrees as just a few other possible special populations worth special post-sentencing attention and resources?"

And what experience do you have, either academic or first-hand, that the "deeply religious" etc. are a better class of inmate than any other? For instance, I would state that the "deeply religious" were the second biggest problem population in prison (behind the gang thugs), as it was often a facade (among many "Christians") or a militant variety (Muslims).

You stated: "The idea here is to focus on offender characteristics, not crime labels, in organizing possibly effective inventions."

I did "focus on characteristics" in stating that those of veterans are generally unmatched by other groups.

You stated: "more broadly, given that statistics suggest that 10%+ of the prison population is made up of veterans, I am certain some veterans are among the "diaper snipers, drug dealers, etc.," that you disparage here."

Of course. However, veterans have some type of anchor into the world of discipline that your 22 year old gangbanger does not. At least the veteran knows what it is like to live a disciplined life. As far as my use of terms, I do not apologize for living in the real world where you are what you are. A "diaper sniper" is a diaper sniper (even if he is a veteran) and I do not see much reason to use a euphemism on a website of adults.

You stated: "I am unsure if you think these folks are redemable becase of their past service or not worthy of the energy because of the crime they committed."

Well, one of us spent 11+ years on the ground actually trying to redeem these people and the other safely lecturing to others in the world of theory and academia. Perhaps we should wonder about whether you think they are "worthy of the energy" beyond talking about them.

Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Nov 19, 2013 11:29:25 AM

Daniel stated: "By which you mean murder under the color of law."

You do realize that your statement is logically incoherent, correct?

If a killing is legal, it is not murder. If it is murder, it is not legal.

You may also be surprised to learn that most veterans have never "murdered" or even "killed" anyone. Not everyone is in the infantry, you know.

Thanks for letting the veil drop, though. Do you have a VFW or Legion Post near you where you can go spit on veterans? Nah, too dangerous for a weasel unless you can get muscles by acting in a group. The cowardly type enjoy laughing at Wounded Warriors commercials, which I suspect is more your style.

Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Nov 19, 2013 12:36:03 PM

TarlsQtr1 --

One week after Veterans Day, Daniel spits on our soldiers as "murderers under the color of law."

Far out. I am prouder than ever that Daniel recently called me insane. Condemnation from Daniel is better than endorsement from a normal person.

I also notice than not a single one of the usual liberal commenters on this board has a word of reproach for him. My, my.

Posted by: Bill Otis | Nov 20, 2013 9:44:29 AM

Bill,

Not only are they silent but they post nonsense like this in other threads (AnonymousOne): " I have expressed the view that much discourse about "retribution" masks a baser, subconscious phenomenon--there are neuropsychological reasons why revenge feels so good, and that is why retribution..."

I wonder why they never investigate the "baser, subconscious phenomenon" and "neuropsychological reasons" for posting the complete BS that Daniel enlightened us with.

It takes a special kind of dumb to believe that a person who feels an animal abuser should do time shows signs of mental illness but calling veterans murderers is AOK.

Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Nov 20, 2013 11:11:42 AM

TarlsQtr1 & Bill Otis

I am a veteran of the Vietnam era and I'd be shocked to learn that either one of you flag waving patriotic paper tigers ever even served during peacetime let alone came close to an armed conflict. Daniel has his opinions and he's welcome to them just like you but don't try to come off as some kind of sanctimonious super patriot because I would bet more than likely both of you were probably sitting on your asses in a safe classroom somewhere during any of those conflicts. People who diss others for having an opposing opinion on the military and then wrap themselves in the flag or no better than the people who dodged the draft when there was one.

Posted by: a real vet | Nov 20, 2013 8:27:47 PM

A real vet,

Stripping all of the irrelevancies, ad hominems, and red herrings out of your post, it comes down to a single question.

Are you and all of those who served in our military since 1776 murderers?

Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Nov 21, 2013 11:07:23 AM

Being vet I'm not stupid enough to take it personal, the man has his opinions and knowing I, among many others, served to give him the ability to feel that way doesn't bother me one iota. In fact, I'd have to say the same about your opinions. I'm more concerned with individuals as yourself who like to try and impose their morality and beliefs on others using the subtle guise of rightful legalities.

Posted by: a real vet | Nov 21, 2013 8:30:12 PM

A real vet,

What you appear to be saying is that there is no standard of right or wrong and that all opinions are equal. However, that does NOT extend to those who DO believe in such a standard, then their beliefs are an attempt to "impose morality" (I am not even sure how I could do that if I wanted).

You do realize, I hope, how logically incoherent it is to criticize me for holding another's opinion to be idiotic?

But beyond that, not all opinions are equal. Some are based on fact (lawful killing is not murder) and some are based on fiction (soldiers killing in war is murder). I believe you sense this, which is why you avoid addressing the point, that his comment was beyond absurd. I do not care if he likes veterans. If he had stated, "Women murder under the color of law" because they cook animals for dinner and he believes an animal's life is equal to a human's, I would have jumped on that as well. Perhaps, I would have been wrapping myself in "grandma's quilt"?

Words have meaning. Neither killing an animal nor a human in war is "murder." Call it a defense of the English language (I am now wrapping myself in a Webster's Dictionary). That was my point and only point. You need to see a physician before your case of relativism becomes terminal.

Posted by: TarlsQtr1 | Nov 22, 2013 11:15:28 AM

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November 11, 2013

How about a few clemency grants, Prez Obama, to really honor vets in need on Veterans Day?

In 2008 the RAND Corporation surveyed a group of veterans six months after their return. It found that almost one in five had either PTSD or major depression. In recent years rates of substance abuse and suicide among veterans have also ticked steadily upward. A certain number of veterans suffering from mental-health issues will, invariably, end up in jail or prison. After Vietnam, the number of inmates with prior military service rose steadily until reaching a peak in 1985, when more than one in five was a veteran. By 1988, more than half of all Vietnam veterans diagnosed with PTSD reported that they had been arrested; more than one third reported they had been arrested multiple times. Today veterans advocates fear that, unless they receive proper support, a similar epidemic may befall soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. No one knows how many veterans are incarcerated, but the most recent survey, compiled by the Department of Justices Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2004, found that nearly one in 10 inmates in U.S. jails had prior military service. Extrapolated to the total prison population, this means that approximately 200,000 veterans were behind bars.

On Veterans Day, I always find myself thinking about veterans who, after serving our country in the military and thereby supporting of our nation's commitment to liberty and freedom, return home and discover the hard way that these constitutional values are not always paramount in our modern criminal justice systems. This Daily Beast piece , headlined "From PTSD to Prison: Why Veterans Become Criminals," highlights that there are now probably hundreds of thousand of veterans in America's prison and jails:

As the title of this post highlights, I would like to see President Obama go beyond the usual symbolic gestures and use his historic clemency powers to salute at least a few veterans in federal prison with commutations that would create just a bit more physical liberty and honor a few more veterans with pardons that would free offenders from the enduring collateral consequences of a federal criminal conviction.

This effective recent op-ed by Mark Osler, headlined "Clemency is a task for people and institutions of faith; It should also be a task for the president, but he seems unwilling or unable to use his powers," starts by noting why, sadly, I am not expecting the President to step up to the clemency plate today or anytime soon:

President Obama is, by a wide margin, the stingiest president in modern times in his use of the pardon power. He seems unwilling or unable to use this simple constitutional tool, even as both conservative and progressive commentators are criticizing the federal governments overincarceration of nonviolent offenders. A simple way to alleviate that problem would be to commute (shorten) the most egregious of these sentences using the pardon power.

Some recent and a few older posts concerning federal clemency practices:

November 11, 2013 at 10:10 AM | Permalink

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I wonder how much of Obama's reluctance to use the pardon power is a reaction to Clinton's last-minute pardons of Marc Rich and others. It seems that Clinton gave pardons a bad name, at the end of his second term.

Posted by: Late Inning Relief | Nov 11, 2013 4:10:58 PM

Pardon me for saying this Mr. President but the pardon is now something that you are entitled to "give" like you give your nephew a birthday gift. The Pardon Power is an obligation of your office to exercise and not lay dormant.

The word Pardon also conveys a sense of forgive. We will not forgive your failure to exercise the pardon power and especially for veterans. Screw what Clinton did. Do your job!

Posted by: Liberty1st | Nov 11, 2013 11:32:58 PM

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April 8, 2014

How many states now require judges to consider military service and/or PTSD at sentencing?

The question in the title of this post is prompted in part by this short local article headlined "Calif. Bill Urges Judges To Consider PTSD In Sentencing Of Military Veterans." Here are the basics:

A bill moving through the state Legislature would urge judges to grant probation and give shorter prison terms to defendants who have mental health problems stemming from their military service. AB2098 passed the Assembly on Monday on a 70-1 vote. It requires courts to consider post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health issues in sentencing. The bills author, Democrat Marc Levine of San Rafael, says as many as one in five soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have PTSD and are more likely to commit crimes. California law already requires judges to consider ordering treatment when granting probation for veterans with mental illness. The bill is one of several that address how to deal with veterans in the criminal justice system. It now heads to the Senate.

I view legislative action regarding consideration of military service and/or PTSD at sentencing to be part of a broader set of modern sentencing developments focused on the importance of offender characteristics. The modern structured/guidelines sentencing reform era has often generated laws and practices suggesting sentencing decision-making could and should focus much more, if not exclusively, on the specifics of an offense rather than the nature of the offender.

But the Supreme Court's recent Eighth Amendment rulings in Graham and Miller now suggest that an offender's youth is a constitutionally essential sentencing consideration (at least in some settings). State sentencing laws requiring consideration of military service and/or PTSD seems another example of the (post-modern?) view that consideration at sentencing of at least some offender characteristics may be essential to a fair and effective sentencing system.

Some older related posts:

April 8, 2014 at 11:44 AM | Permalink

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Actually, Doug, having just taught Williams v. New York this very day, I think the trend is not post-modern, or even modern, but cyclical. And the consideration of offender characteristics in a medicalized model, remember (where "Retribution is no longer the dominant objective of the criminal law"), need not result in lesser sentences. Because Williams was essentially incorrigible, he got the death penalty, even within a rehabilitative framework...

Posted by: W. David Ball | Apr 8, 2014 1:34:14 PM

Once again. Aggravating factor converted to a fictitious mitigating factor by the pro-criminal lawyer.

Someone has been screened for endurance, toughness, and resourcefulness, and then extensively trained to kill. Then some are traumatized, so their nervous systems are on edge, and they over-react to imaginary threats or offenses. Most have other pathologies to explain their symptoms, such as alcoholism, or caffeinism. They get a $60K tax fee disability payment if they lie and get qualified as having a combat related disability.

So when they commit crimes, they have far mor similarity to criminals than to other veterans.

But the lawyer wants less incapacitation, not more, as warranted by their dangerousness.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 8, 2014 3:25:31 PM

Generally, military culture embraces personal responsibility. Laws such as this one seem paternalistic and may stigmatize veterans with PTSD and veterans in general. One of the benefits of being a veteran is society's belief that veterans possess increased self-discipline. Equating PTSD to violence undermines this belief. Instead, veterans could be perceived as impulsive and prone to violence.

As future attorney and veteran of multiple combat operations, the last thing I need a potential employer or client wondering if I have violent impulses.



Posted by: Jesse Lemon | Apr 8, 2014 3:31:19 PM

The United States Supreme Court recently ruled, "Our Nation has a long tradition of according leniency to veterans in recognition of their service. . . ." Porter v. McCullom, 558 U.S. 30, 43 (2009). Lest anyone think that this is something imposed by a bunch of liberal judges, Porter was a unanimous per curium reversal of the denial of habeas relief in a death penalty case. That means Roberts, Alito, Scalia, and Thomas supported it.

In my state, Ohio, the General Assembly last year mandated that trial courts consider military service when sentencing: "The sentencing court shall consider the offender's military service record and whether the offender has an emotional, mental, or physical condition that is traceable to the offender's service in the armed forces of the United States and that was a contributing factor in the offender's commission of the offense or offenses." R.C. 2929.12(F).

(I represent represent a U.S. Marine in an Ohio Supreme Court case in which the trial did not treat combat-related PTSD as mitigating. The case has been argued and is awaiting decision.)

Posted by: Stephen Hardwick | Apr 8, 2014 4:14:01 PM

I have mixed minds on this topic. On one hand I think these laws are nothing but another attempt to imposes the "externalities" of a stupid and foolish set of wars on an unsuspecting populace. I wonder how many Congressmen who voted for those wars honestly communicated with their constituents that one consequences was going to be a herd of rampaging lunatics in their midst. Why weren't these bills passed at the same time as the authorization of force? It is not like PTSD is a new phenomenon. Honestly, these "get out of jail free" cards are noting more than constituent service to the bloodlusters at the core of the Republican party.

On the other hand I kind of like the laws. At least this way when the drums of war are beat again by vapid and facile men it's one more argument in the anti-war cause. The monsters can't pretend next time as their own support for these law will put the lie to the test. They are going have to justify this additional cost.

Posted by: Daniel | Apr 8, 2014 4:33:07 PM

Daniel touches on the real message behind these decisions and statutes. "See what George Bush did to our heros." That is the left wing propaganda message of this movement. And behind that Bush bashing message is, "Bush took care of his pals in the oil industry, and spent our raises in the left wing constituency on the military. We have not gotten a raise in 10 years, thanks to his militarism."

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 8, 2014 5:57:01 PM

Yes, terrible left-wingers like Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Alito.

Posted by: Stephen Hardwick | Apr 8, 2014 6:48:58 PM

There is no difference between conservative and liberal judges. Scalia led the charge on the mandatory guidelines once lawyer unemployment rose through the roof as crime dropped by 40%. All lawyers are rent seekers. All support government make work jobs for the profession, even if worthless or toxic to our nation. All lawyers are pro-criminal, not a single exception. Take Bill. Propose to kill all violent criminals at a young age, up to the number of murder victims. He could never consider that, despite the murder of 15,000 victims a year. Inconceivable he would support the end of crime by getting rid of the criminals. OK, that goes too far. Propose to immunize citizen self help against violent predators. He would oppose that too. Never mind paying any citizen who kills a vilent predator a handsome reward, such as $10,000, even the citizen has saves the nation likely $100 million in damage done by the violent predator in injuries, social services and drops in real estate prices.

The self styled conservative jurists cited are just bigger hypocrites than their liberal colleagues. As I predicted years before, Roberst would support the ACA and gay marriage.

How could I make such a prediction? Family law is in trouble because only a suicidal male fool would get married today. That business is hurting. Gay marriage is not a homosexual idea, since they are not idiots either. It is a lawyer idea. because they need the family law business.

My next prediction, animals get civil standing and the right to marry humans. They are the absolutely perfect client, can't speak, and cannot object when picked clean of their assets by the lawyer.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 8, 2014 10:05:30 PM

PTSD is an anxiety disorder. Anxiety makes people avoid situations. It does the opposite of causing crime. It causes greater caution, care and worry.

In support of Mr. Lemon's argument, the unemployment of veterans is similar to that of the general age matched population of a state.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/vet.nr0.htm

What was not stated in the above. Veterans include more minorities than the general population. If corrected for race (not done) their employment rate is far superior to that of the general population. Hire a vet, you are getting a disciplined, self reliant, persistent, and improvising employee, who has held life and death responsibilities and thrived with them at an extremely young age.

So far from less culpability, criminals who are veterans are far more culpable, betraying the investment and trust placed by our nation.

I have also cited an early study of opiate addicts (40% in Vietnam), dropping to 1 or 2% back in the US, with the remaining veteran addict being the same as non-vet addicts, i.e. sociopaths.

Mr. Lemon may be too mature to characterize this mitigating factor as offensive to the dignity of our warriors. But it is highly offensive insult for base partisan political points by Democratic Party Bush bashers.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 8, 2014 10:19:09 PM

The flaw in a system that relies on defined consideration criteria is twofold: first, it inherently omits relevant circumstances; second, it fails to comprehend the uniqueness of human beings.

On the first point, when gauging a person's culpability or his/her proclivity for recidivism, it is impossible to forecast all of the factors that may be relevant in making such a determination.

Secondly, the use of statistics overly simplifies humans. People are more than their labels, they are a collection of unique and shared experiences. Classifying them is dangerous. For instance, lets suppose we have a MIT graduate black jewish orphan army veteran millionaire. How would this person be classified? What statistical model would he most resemble?

Judges should follow a "totality of the circumstances" model. Looking at the offender and offense in their totality, the judge gives a sentence within a statutory range. Sentences handed out previously can act as a guideline.

(Student)

Posted by: Jesse Lemon | Apr 9, 2014 11:16:03 AM

Because crime is highly rewarding, and carries such little risk, the one statistic that is reliable is 123D.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Apr 9, 2014 11:42:54 AM

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November 11, 2015

How many vets, after serving to secure liberty, are now serving LWOP sentences?

The question in the title of this post, in addition to raising an important empirical question on a day devoted to honoring our veterans, seeks to highlight my view that even more disconcerting than the number of veterans who many be on death row (as dicusses in this new DPIC report) is the surely much larger number of vets who are serving a sentence ensuring they will never experience true freedom again after they served to protect that very freedom.

The DPIC report indicates that around 300 veterans may be on death row, which would make vets a little less than 10% of the condemned population. Using that rough percentage and knowing that at least 100,000 persons (and likely many more) are serving LWOP sentences in the United States, it think it would be reasonable to guess that as many as 10,000 veterans might be serving the ultimate American liberty-depriving sentence after having devoted part of their life to protecting American liberties.

November 11, 2015 at 09:00 AM | Permalink

Comments

Why exactly is it disconcerting? What it is about prior military service that should exempt veterans from the penalty set by statute? Nearly all of those LWOP sentences will be for first degree murder. Is there some reason why a veteran should be treated differently than every other defendant who possibly had a failed home, traumatic upbringing, sexual or drug abuse as factors in their crimes?

Most veterans do not see combat, so any assumptions that their service was a factor in their crimes may be tenuous. Regardless, the fact is that PTSD is brought up in non combat veterans criminal cases all the time, so the idea that it is unique to veterans is flawed - although Professor Berman may not be saying this to begin with.

Today is Veteran's Day, and we should recognize those who have chosen to serve. LWOP is not part of that recognition, it is a punishment for killing with special circumstances that often can warrant the death penalty. LWOP for someone who served should not be disconcerting, except for those who question LWOP generally and are using this day as as way to chip away at it.

Posted by: David | Nov 11, 2015 11:42:00 AM

"Is there some reason why a veteran should be treated differently than every other defendant who possibly had a failed home, traumatic upbringing, sexual or drug abuse as factors in their crimes?"

Yes, since it is somewhat more likely for veterans -- taking everything into consideration -- to have certain issues that mitigate such as trauma from combat and other service related matters. Likewise, they provided -- now a voluntary thing -- a particular service to society and warrant some degree of special treatment. This doesn't mean they should "be exempt" and no that was not said at all. They aren't the only people whose past warrants them to be taken into consideration more, including regarding the service hey provided to society. But, they are one group that deserves some degree of extra respect.

Posted by: Joe | Nov 11, 2015 1:18:22 PM

I know most will assume that those serving sentences of life without parole have murdered someone, but that assumption is incorrect.

Billy Dekle is a nonviolent marijuana offender serving a sentence of life without parole.

Kenny Kubinski is a nonviolent first time drug offender serving a sentence of life without parole.

Antonio Bascaro is a first time nonviolent marijuana offender serving a defacto life sentence. He has been in prison for 35 years. He is 80 years old.

Famm has a page with links where you can see stories of imprisoned veterans.

http://famm.org/veterans-day-2015/

Posted by: beth | Nov 11, 2015 2:53:09 PM

"Likewise, they provided -- now a voluntary thing -- a particular service to society and warrant some degree of special treatment."

And this is where Joe goes off the rails. The problem here is the voluntarism of the service--why should someone get special treatment for something they volunteered to do? If this had been the case of the draft--where people were forced to go whether they liked it or not--I would be far more sympathetic. But as it stands such proposals are nothing but an egregious bribe. We mythologize it as a voluntary service driven by love of country but the more special treatments we pile on the more it begins not to look like love but a mercenary endeavor.

Further, I think that much of what is going on here is liberal guilt. People such as Joe couldn't stop the war so their logic is that maybe they can stop some of the damage that the war did. To hell with that! The country voted for this whirl, they should reap the whirlwind. Since we refused to learn from Rome and her ruinous wars, maybe a little bit of the personal ruin will teach the lesson history could not.

Posted by: Daniel | Nov 11, 2015 6:42:29 PM

"why should someone get special treatment for something they volunteered to do"

I simply don't find this sensible as a general statement. The average person regularly gives "special" treatment to those who do things that require serious effort, here maybe lethal effort, when they don't have to do it.

An example, but one, that doesn't even require much effort. A friend, e.g., volunteers to help move. As compared to the commitment to go to Iraq a trivial thing. But, it is seen as a basic matter of human nature that such volunteering warrants something in return. This is not seen as an "egregious" bribe to most people. YMMV.

I reckon merely giving points to vets in civil service jobs -- after all they weren't FORCED to go -- is a problem too. Reference is made to "liberal" guilt, which is almost amusing given the level of disrespect here if anything (given it doesn't only apply to punishments) is more likely to bother conservatives. The "liberal" guilt part is duly noted in reference to stopping a war, but your disdain again is broad.

As to "reap the whirlwind," some sort of just desserts as to society doesn't warrant ignoring that vets -- here we are directly talking about war as compared to your comment that many vets did not go to war -- have special qualities regarding trauma etc. than any Joe Smoe (again it is not merely a get out of jail free cared -- it is A factor to factor in). Using vets as weapons against the military industrial complex here sounds like a form of draft (they didn't sign up for that) fact as well as some sort of hobbyhorse on your part.



Posted by: Joe | Nov 11, 2015 7:02:12 PM

@Joe

You and I have fundamentally different worldviews. In your worldview when a cop refers an accident victim to a specific body shop and the owner gives him some money in return that is just a "tip". When one lawyer referrers a major client to another lawyer and gets an expensive bottle of wine at Christmas from that same lawyer that is just "a cool gift, how nice of him!" In your worldview this is just the social grease that makes business work, it's all done in good cheer and genial bonhomie. As for me, I simply cannot imagine living in a world where every time I did something I anticipated something in return. That would be my definition of hell.

"it is seen as a basic matter of human nature that such volunteering warrants something in return."

Maybe so. Maybe that is human nature. But morals and decency are about the elevation of man above his base human nature. As Jesus said, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. That's the definition of sacrifice. All quid pro quos are corruptive if they go unacknowledged or passed off as something else.

FWIW I don't actually have a problem giving veterans special treatment. Lots of favored groups in our society get special treatment. What I can't stand is all the moral mayo that's poured over the rotting road kill to hide its stink. That is what I disdain.

Posted by: Daniel | Nov 11, 2015 8:13:39 PM

"...serving a sentence ensuring they will never experience true freedom again after they served to protect that very freedom."

And,

"... it would be reasonable to guess that as many as 10,000 veterans might be serving the ultimate American liberty-depriving sentence after having devoted part of their life to protecting American liberties."

What kind of bald faced lying is that? They did not lose their freedom, nor are they serving life sentences after defending our freedom.

They are serving their sentences because they viciously, and unlawfully killed an innocent person.

The David Duke web site has more facts and has less in your face lying propaganda than this anti-victim hate group.

Joe, of course, advocates for vicious, trained to kill murderers.

Leona Helmsley claimed $8 million in work on her private residence as work on her business properties. After she refused to pay her contractors, and bragged that only the little people pay taxes, they reported her. The IRS offered her a deal. She told them to get lost. The prosecutor offered her a plea bargain. Again, she refused it. During her trial, she offered this mitigating factor: over the years, she had paid $400 million in taxes to the IRS. Shouldn't that get her a consideration of her $4 million in evasion? The jury replied, no, go to prison.

If you are disturbing the peace, or making noise after dark, but your are an upstanding citizen, perhaps, you should get consideration. Past a certain amount of harm, you do not get consideration. And indeed, if Leona Helmsley or a city Mayor had murdered someone, the Judge would say, you deserve a harsher sentence because of your privileged position.

Joe. Let's have your closing argument defense of Leona Helmsley who paid $400 million in taxes prior to her tax evasion of a mere $4 million. If you do not want to defend her, tell us how her argument differs from that about the veterans' prior service.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Nov 11, 2015 8:57:57 PM

While in prison, Leona Helmsley paid 50 cents to other female inmates to make her bed. Upon leaving prison, she stiffed them.

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Nov 11, 2015 8:59:23 PM

Can I sign up for the vegans and Native Americans who hate on Thanksgiving Day post? Might not have sentencing angle, I guess. Perhaps, something against good will to all on Christmas. Aren't their workhouses?

Posted by: Joe | Nov 12, 2015 12:54:54 PM

Joe. Timothy McVeigh. Veteran. Thank for your service in the Persian Gulf War, Timothy McVeigh.

Killed 168 innocent people, including little kids in a daycare, as the building fell on their little heads. Some lived for a long time in agony before dying of crush injuries. Defend him against the death penalty.

The lawyer is made really stupid by his criminal cult indoctrination. The profession is run by a hierarchy of arch criminals and villains, who run a tighter ship than the KGB.

What is your frickin' excuse?

Posted by: Supremacy Claus | Nov 14, 2015 10:35:13 PM

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 Fraternal Order of Police now supporting FIRST STEP Act with some sentencing reform provisions | Main | "US Criminal Justice Policy and Practice in the TwentyFirst Century: Toward the End of Mass Incarceration?" 

November 11, 2018

How about a few clemency grants, Prez Trump, to really honor vets in need on Veterans Day?

Five years ago in this post, I noted that on Veterans Day I often find myself thinking about veterans who, after serving our country in the military and thereby supporting of our nation's commitment to liberty and freedom, return home and discover the hard way that these constitutional values are not always paramount in our modern criminal justice systems. This 2015 report on "Veterans in Prison and Jail, 201112" found that in "201112, an estimated 181,500 veterans (8% of all inmates in state and federal prison and local jail excluding military-operated facilities) were serving time in correctional facilities."

In my Veterans Day 2013 post, I asked "How about a few clemency grants, Prez Obama, to really honor vets in need on Veterans Day?". Five years later, especially after Prez Trump talked up possibly granting thousands of clemencies earlier this year, it seems fitting to pose the same question to Prez Obama's successor. It also seems worthwhile to link to posts from the summer and thereafter highlights reports and comments by Prez Trump which generated lots of clemency optimism on which he has yet to deliver.

A few of many recent related posts:

November 11, 2018 at 10:23 PM | Permalink

Comments

Name names and write the President, Professor Berman.

Couple things---have any more of the Obama clemency recipients been bad? I know there was one.

As may surprise people, I believe in a judicious but effective use of the clemency/pardon power. Sometimes people locked up for 20 years do change, or a sentence was too long.

Kyrsten Simema will probably oppose clemency for military vets--she hates them.

Posted by: federalist | Nov 13, 2018 7:34:13 AM

I have in prior posts named a lot of names, federalist, and I appreciate that you have consistently indicated (as has Prez Trump) that you think some federal sentences can be too long.

Meanwhile, I am not aware of any public accounting of the history of Obama's clemency recipients. Statistically speaking, it would be shocking if there weren't many dozens who have done something bad after release. Roughly 1 in 3 persons released from federal prison gets arrested again within two years, meaning we should expect more than 500 of the more than 1500 Obama clemency recipients to get rearrested unless his team did a good job with both clemency selection and re-entry services. Even if that means only 1 in 30 (rather than 1 in 3) gets in trouble anew, that would still mean 50+ recipients causing some trouble again. Like you, I hope the number is even lower AND I hope any future trouble is minor stuff, not significant harms.

As for the new Senator from Arizona and her regard for veterans in the criminal justice system, I found this press release: "Sinema-backed Bill to Expand Access to Treatment, Support for Veterans Passes House" https://sinema.house.gov/latest-news/sinemabacked-bill-to-expand-access-to-treatment-support-for-veterans-passes-house/. This does not seem like the work of someone who hates vets, but perhaps you know better.

Posted by: Doug B | Nov 13, 2018 9:50:33 AM

Anyone who calls himself "federalist" likely knows everything about everything. It's almost as good as going by "Justin D. Dunning-Kruger".

Posted by: G. B. Robinson | Nov 17, 2018 11:35:38 PM

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 BJS releases "Census of State and Federal Adult Correctional Facilities, 2019  Statistical Tables" | Main | Making the case for criminal justice reform as a way to honor those who served on Veterans Day 

November 10, 2021

Feds get 41 months for one high-profile January 6 rioter and seek 51 months for another

Two new Politico articles provide updates on the latest sentencing news from the prosecution of persons involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. Here are links and excerpts:

"N.J. man hit with toughest sentence yet in Jan. 6 attack":

A federal judge on Wednesday imposed the most serious sentence yet in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, ordering a New Jersey man to serve almost three-and-a-half years in prison for punching a police officer in the face during the melee. Scott Fairlamb, 44, a former MMA fighter and gym owner, is the first defendant charged with assaulting an officer during the attack to face sentencing. The judge, Royce Lamberth, said he expected Fairlambs 41-month sentence would end up lower than others also facing charges for assaulting police that day. Thats because Fairlamb was the first to plead guilty to such an assault and, despite initially celebrating the attack, has since expressed remorse that both prosecutors and Lamberth himself described as genuine. Had you gone to trial, I dont think theres any jury that could have acquitted you or would have acquitted you, Lamberth said, citing clear video evidence of the attack. You couldnt have beat this. Lamberth, an appointee of President Ronald Reagan, also said the sentence should serve as a signal to other rioters to take the chance to plead guilty rather than risk getting even more prison time. Wise up, the judge said.

51-month sentence urged for QAnon Shaman Jacob Chansley" Jacob Chansley  the QAnon adherent who infamously stormed the Senate chamber shirtless and wearing horns on Jan. 6  should go to prison for 51 months, prosecutors said Tuesday in a late-night sentencing memo carrying their stiffest recommendation yet in any case stemming from the insurrection. Images of Chansley on the Senate rostrum, where he scrawled a menacing note to Vice President Mike Pence, became iconic in the aftermath of the attack. The so-called QAnon Shaman is just the third felony defendant to reach the sentencing phase of his prosecution after pleading guilty to obstructing Congress effort to certify the 2020 election. Defendant Chansleys now-famous criminal acts have made him the public face of the Capitol riot, prosecutors said in the 28-page filing . The defendant was among the first 30 rioters to penetrate the U.S. Capitol building, they continued. The defendant then stalked the hallowed halls of the building, riling up other members of the mob with his screaming obscenities about our nations lawmakers, and flouting the opportunity to rid our government of those he has long considered to be traitors. The Justice Departments sentencing proposal for Chansley  who isnt accused of assaulting law enforcement or destroying government property  far outstrips prosecutors 18-month recommendation for Paul Hodgkins, the only felony defendant serving a prison sentence related to the Jan. 6 attack. A judge ultimately sentenced Hodgkins, who like Chansley made it into the Senate Chamber, to an eight-month jail term.

Some of many prior related posts:

November 10, 2021 at 04:06 PM | Permalink

Comments

It is difficult to comment on this national travesty that spits in the face of American jurisprudence. This is what happens when prosecutorial overreach is left to go wild over several decades. No one ever reined it in so this (and the other current travesties--the Rittenhouse, the Chauvin. etc. trials) that has caused this cancer on America's soul to metastasize into forcing a plea to a "crime" that never should have been charged. Ever.

Anyone who had any part in this lynching should hang their heads in shame. Despicable is the only word for it.

Posted by: restless94110 | Nov 11, 2021 12:27:31 AM

Good sentence. Just about right.

Posted by: anon1 | Nov 11, 2021 11:34:55 AM

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FILE PHOTO: A Tesla logo is seen at the Tesla Shanghai Gigafactory in Shanghai

By Tom Westbrook and Medha Singh

(Reuters) -Tesla's stock declined slightly on Thursday after filings revealed Chief Executive Elon Musk sold about $5 billion worth of his shares https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-selloff-puts-risk-its-1-trillion-club-membership-2021-11-10 this week following his much-hyped Twitter poll https://www.reuters.com/business/tesla-shares-fall-after-musks-twitter-poll-backs-stake-sale-2021-11-08.

The electric-car maker's stock ended the session down 0.4% at $1,063.51 after tumbling earlier in the week.

Musk's share sale was his first since 2016 and comes after his weekend poll of Twitter users about offloading 10% of his Tesla stake, which comprises most of his estimated $281 billion fortune.

"I don't think investors are reading in to the news negatively," said Oliver Pursche, senior vice president and adviser at Wealthspire Advisors in New York. "If you believe in the Tesla story, this should not impact you or change your mind."

Tesla's stock is in portfolios utilized by Wealthspire, Pursche said.

Filings showed Musk's trust sold nearly 3.6 million shares of Tesla, worth around $4 billion, while he also sold another 934,000 shares for $1.1 billion to cover tax obligations after exercising options to acquire nearly 2.2 million shares.

The sale equates to about 3% of Musk's total holdings. The options-related part of the sale was put in place in September, well before his Twitter poll.

Before the sale, Musk owned a 23% stake in Tesla, including stock options. He also owns other companies including SpaceX.

Musk's move to sell his Tesla shares comes as U.S. Senate Democrats propose taxing the stock holdings of billionaires to help finance President Joe Biden's social spending plan.

"Elon Musk doesn't take a salary, he's paid in big chunks of stock. At some point in time you have to take some of that concentration down," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at National Securities in New York.

Story continues

"This is not novel. It just gets more attention because it's such a high market-cap type, attention-grabbing kind of company."

With nearly 800,000 options, or about 12% of Tesla's open contracts, set to expire at the close of trading on Friday, some analysts have pointed to the potential for additional near-term volatility as investors and options dealers make adjustments to account for expiring positions.

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

EV MANIA

Tesla this week has lost $157 billion in stock market value, more than the combined market capitalizations of Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co. At the same time, demand for shares of electric vehicle makers has heated up.

Shares of Rivian Automotive Inc jumped 22% a day after a stellar market debut that sent the company's valuation over $100 billion. Lucid Group surged 10%.

Underscoring retail investors' thirst for EV stocks, Rivian, Tesla and Lucid made up three of the four most-traded stocks on Fidelity's brokerage website on Thursday, with buy orders outnumbering sell orders.

Wall Street's biggest institutional investors, including T. Rowe Price and BlackRock Inc, are betting on Rivian to be the next big player in a sector dominated by Tesla, amid mounting pressure on automakers in China and Europe to eliminate vehicle emissions.

"Rivians valuation makes it a legitimate option for institutional investors who have previously only had Tesla to play the electric vehicle space," wrote Nicholas Colas, co-founder of DataTrek Research, in a recent note.

Four former and current Tesla board members, including Musk's brother, Kimbal Musk, have filed to sell nearly $1 billion worth of shares since Tesla's market value surpassed $1 trillion late last month, according to filings and market data.

Tesla's share price has made staggering gains over recent years and has epitomized the ebullient mood in U.S. markets and the optimism of small-time traders who have helped drive it up 51% this year and 1,300% from 2020 lows.

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook in Sydney, Medha Singh in Bengaluru Additional reporting by Noel Randewich in Oakland, Calif.; Tanvi Mehta, Bansari Mayur Kamdar, Anisha Sircar and Devik Jain in Bengaluru; and Caroline Valetkevitch, Ira Iosebashvili and Saqib Iqbal Ahmed in New York Editing by Anil D'Silva, Nick Zieminski and Matthew Lewis)
With Belarus locked in a migrant standoff crisis on its border with the European Union  Russia on Wednesday took the rare step of dispatching two nuclear-capable strategic bombers to patrol Belarusian airspace

And NATO signaled its backing for neighboring Poland.

Russias bold show of support for its ally, Belarus, comes as European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen - during White House meetings on Wednesday - confirmed that the EU would widen its sanctions against Belarus.

"We absolutely share the assessment that this is a hybrid attack of an authoritarian regime to try to destabilize democratic neighbors and this will not succeed."

The EU accuses Minsk of drawing in migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa and then pushing them to cross into Poland to try to sow violent chaos on the bloc's eastern side.

Polish government video published Wednesday allegedly shows Belarussian guards leading migrants along the border and another, purporting to show guards confronting migrants.

Belarus and its ally Russia are pointing fingers at Europe with the Kremlin accusing the EU of failing to live up to its own humanitarian ideals and trying to "strangle" Belarus with plans to close part of the frontier.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has said hes not trying to escalate the migrant crisis but said Belarus will not kneel down under pressure.

If God forbid, we make any mistake, if we take a wrong step, then it will instantly drag Russia into this maelstrom and it's the largest nuclear-armed power. I am not a madman I understand very well what this could lead to. So, there is no valour here - grab an assault rifle and march to the Polish border, by the way, a place where I used to serve as a border guard. No, surely not, we realize it, we know our place.

Amid freezing temperatures, thousands of people have converged on the border this week

Where some migrants have complained of being repeatedly pushed back and forth by Polish and Belarusian border guards, putting them at risk of exposure, lack of food and water.
ABOUT: L&L Builders Co. is a Sioux City-based construction firm celebrating 60 years doing business in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. L&L has decades of experience building lasting relationships with many industry professionals such as architects and subcontractors, and maintains a substantial number of construction professionals, allowing the company to better control both the quality and timeliness of turn-key projects, from design to completion.
MILAN (AP)  The personal luxury market of high-end accessories, leather goods and apparel has snapped back to pre-pandemic levels as U.S. shoppers outspent those in China in pursuit of the latest fashion trends, according to a study released Thursday by the Bain consultancy.
SERGEANT BLUFF -- The owner and record-keeper of a Sergeant Bluff construction company both face federal charges of evading more than $1 million in taxes through years of filing fraudulent tax documents, falsifying financial information and concealing business dealings through a second company.

Kevin Alexander, president of K&L Construction Inc., was arrested Monday, and his daughter, Jenna Alexander-Wilson, the company's record keeper and office manager, was arrested Tuesday. Both are charged with single counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax evasion. Alexander-Wilson also faces four counts of employment tax assessment evasion.

The two appeared Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City, where they pleaded not guilty to all charges and were released from custody on personal recognizance bonds. A trial was scheduled for Jan. 3.

A grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday detailed steps Alexander and his daughter have taken to avoid paying employment taxes since at least 2014, when the IRS initiated collection activity against K&L to assess and collect delinquent employment taxes. In 2017, the IRS issued a tax levy seeking to collect $1.02 million in unpaid taxes, but has not received any of the money owed.

During the IRS' collection efforts, Alexander and Alexander-Wilson failed to report multiple assets and submitted misinformation, including altered bank statements and checks in which the account and routing numbers had been changed.

In October 2016, the Iowa Department of Transportation disqualified K&L from bidding on all contracts let through the department because the company, which earned a significant portion of its income from federal, state and county construction contracts, had been filing fraudulent invoices for construction materials. Alexander-Wilson pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements and in January 2018 was fined $34,432 and placed on probation.

As a result of her conviction, the Federal Highway Administration barred Alexander, Alexander-Wilson and K&L from federal contracts.

Meanwhile, the indictment alleges, Alexander had sold Circle A Construction, a company he formed in 2010, to a person referred to in court documents as Insider 2 for approximately $1,000. Insider 2 was listed as president and sole shareholder but maintained full-time employment elsewhere. Alexander remained the true owner of Circle A, the indictment said.

In May 2017, Alexander-Wilson began using the name Danielle Cutler to hide her role in Circle A in order to conduct business on behalf of K&L through Circle A, the indictment said. With Alexander-Wilson using the false name, Circle A continued to bid on FHA-funded highway projects, submitting false certificates of liability insurance to contractors in attempts to secure jobs.

From 2017 to the present, Alexander and Alexander-Wilson attempted to conduct K&L's operations through Circle A in order to conceal income and assets from the IRS, in part by submitting fraudulent bank statements to the IRS to hide K&L's ongoing noncompliance with its suspension from bidding on highway projects, the indictment said.

They did not disclose the transfer of 49 trucks and trailers from K&L to Circle A, withheld money from Circle A workers for employment tax purposes but never paid the money to the IRS and maintained fraudulent accounting records. In some instances, Alexander-Wilson deleted payroll checks from K&L's ledger in order to conceal the company's real payroll tax liability and then filed false forms with the IRS.

For the tax years 2015-18, the indictment said, Alexander-Wilson filed false returns in an attempt to evade assessment of federal income taxes and payroll taxes, making it look like the company owed less than it actually did and resulting in tax losses to the IRS of $466,344.

Bradley Hansen a federal public defender in Des Moines who is representing Alexander-Wilson, declined to comment. Alexander's attorney, Holly Logan, of Des Moines, did not immediately return a message from the Journal.

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SIOUX CITY -- A former Morningside University alumni relations director awaits extradition to Virginia, where he faces child pornography charges.

Shiran Nathaniel, 48, was arrested and booked into the Woodbury County Jail Saturday. He is wanted in Stafford County, Virginia, where officials say he had been in contact with a 14-year-old girl for months and received sexually explicit photos and videos from her.

Sioux City Police investigators became involved in the case after they were contacted by the Stafford County, Virginia, Sheriff's Office. According to a search warrant application filed Oct. 12 in Woodbury County District Court, Nathaniel, who referred to himself as "Jmack," met the girl online in the fall of 2020 and he later asked her to move their conversations to an online platform that allowed sharing of photos and videos.

The girl then began sending videos and photos of herself, and Nathaniel asked her to perform sex acts, according to court documents. Nathaniel eventually convinced the girl to recruit other girls to do similar acts. The girl did not receive any photos of Nathaniel, but said she knew he was an adult because he told her he had a job, was older and could get in trouble.

A Stafford County detective who took over the girl's apps and communicated with Nathaniel was able to confirm her story and document numerous sexually explicit chats with him.

Using information from the girl's phone, Virginia investigators found Morningside University email addresses and other personal subscriber information that led them to Nathaniel.

A Morningside spokeswoman said Nathaniel's employment at the school was ended in October. He had been appointed director of alumni relations at the school in June 2016, according to a news release at that time. Before that, he was the assistant director of alumni relations.

Sioux City police executed a search warrant Oct. 13 at Nathaniel's Sioux City home and seized numerous cell phones and laptops, a thumb drive, memory stick and modem.

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An initial investigation determined that the woman had failed to yield at a stop sign before driving through an intersection, at which point she was struck broadside by a truck. She was airlifted to a hospital.
BOSTON (AP)  Acting Mayor Kim Janey  Boston's first woman and first Black resident to serve in the top post  bid farewell to the office Wednesday, ticking off a series of accomplishments during her brief tenure, including helping the city navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite holding the office for less than a year, Janey marked a dramatic pivot in the city's long history  a history she found herself thrust into as an 11-year-old when she was bused to a largely white neighborhood during the second phase of Bostons tumultuous school desegregation era. Rocks and racial slurs were hurled at her bus.

Her rise to the mayor's office, however brief, reflected a changing city where people of color now make up a majority of the population.

Until Janey, only white men had served as mayor.

When I was sworn in, following former Mayor (Marty) Walshs confirmation as U.S. labor secretary, we were in the midst of a global pandemic and a national reckoning on racial injustice, Janey said during the address. It was a time of uncertainty in our country, but Boston stayed strong.

Janey officially steps down on Tuesday, transferring power to incoming mayor-elect and fellow Democrat Michelle Wu.

As mayor, Janey said she focused on two overarching priorities: First, to comfort our city through a time of multiple crises and ensure stability. Second, to lead Boston to become the more equitable, just and resilient city that we all deserve.

Janey ticked off a series of accomplishments, including expanding protections for homeowners and renters with a foreclosure prevention fund; creating a free-bus pilot to help low-income communities of color; establishing mask mandates; supporting asylum-seekers; providing free swimming lessons for children; and providing every public school student with a library card and cancelling all late fees.

What I love most about Boston is her people: from the small business owners to the seniors; from our veterans to our teachers; from our restaurant workers to our public servants; to ordinary people who do extraordinary things every single day, she said.

Janey had been president of the Boston City Council before taking over as mayor. She would attempt to use the status of the office in her run to replace Walsh, but failed to garner enough votes to make it past the preliminary election that whittled the field down to two candidates  city councilors Wu and Annissa Essaibi George.

Wu would go on to win that contest, becoming the first woman and first Asian American elected mayor in the citys long history, a milestone noted by Janey in her farewell.

While I am proud to be Bostons first woman mayor and first mayor of color, I am also very proud to know that I will not be the last, Janey said.

During her short tenure as mayor, Janey confronted a series of challenges.

Faced with navigating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the city came together to distribute vaccines in the hardest-hit neighborhoods including at churches, parks, YMCAs, senior centers and pop-up clinics, she said.

Janey also announced in August that the citys roughly 18,000 employees would be required to either show proof of vaccination, or submit to regular testing to help slow the spread of the virus. In October, more than 800 city workers were suspended without pay for failing to comply with the mandate.

Because of our tireless efforts, Boston is one of the most vaccinated big cities in America, Janey said Wednesday.

She also fired the citys police commissioner Dennis White after decades-old domestic violence accusations came to light. White had been swiftly elevated to the top police post by Walsh, who later insisted he had no prior knowledge of the accusations and would never have picked White if he did. White called the allegations false.

One of thorniest issues facing Janey was a tent encampment around the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, known as Mass and Cass. The encampment became the focal point of the region's twin crises of opioid addiction and homelessness.

In October Janey declared addiction and homelessness a public health emergency and said the roughly 150 tents that have been set up in the area would be removed. The city also set up a special court for people arrested at the encampment.

Janey said she approached "the dual opioid- and homelessness-crises with a public health lens,

The move to clear the camp sparked a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. The ACLU argued that the effort is unconstitutional because it doesnt provide viable alternatives to those living there.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
WASHINGTON (AP)  House investigators issued subpoenas to 10 former officials who worked for Donald Trump at the end of his presidency, an effort to find out more about what the president was doing and saying as his supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 in a bid to overturn his defeat.

The subpoenas issued Tuesday, which included demands for documents and testimony from former senior adviser Stephen Miller and former press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, bring the House panel tasked with investigating the insurrection even closer inside Trumps inner circle  and closer to Trump himself. They come a day after the committee subpoenaed six other associates of the former president who spread mistruths about widespread fraud in the election and strategized about how to thwart President Joe Bidens victory.

The Select Committee wants to learn every detail of what went on in the White House on January 6th and in the days beforehand, said Mississippi Rep. Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the panel. We need to know precisely what role the former president and his aides played in efforts to stop the counting of the electoral votes and if they were in touch with anyone outside the White House attempting to overturn the outcome of the election.

Later Tuesday, a federal judge rejected Trumps request to block the National Archives from releasing White House documents concerning the Jan. 6 insurrection to the House committee. Trump has filed notice that he will appeal the ruling, and it is likely to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

It is so far unclear if the Jan. 6 panel will subpoena Trump, though the committees leaders have said they havent ruled anything out. The panel has now issued more than 30 subpoenas, including to White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, longtime ally Steve Bannon and others who were close to the former president.

The House later voted to hold Bannon in contempt after he said he would not comply, and the Justice Department is still deciding whether to prosecute the case. Meadows and others have engaged with the committee, according to lawmakers, but may still be held in contempt if they do not fully comply.

The panel has already interviewed more than 150 witnesses, and lawmakers have said they want to not only probe the attack itself but its origins  namely the lies that Trump spread about massive voter fraud even though all 50 states had certified Bidens win and courts across the country rejected his claims. The violent mob of Trumps supporters echoed those false claims as they pushed past police, broke through windows and doors and threatened lawmakers who were certifying the election that day.

Trump continued to push the false narrative in a statement responding to the subpoenas, saying the committee is studying the PROTEST when it should be studying the Fraudulent Election that led to the protest.

The 10 former officials who were subpoenaed Tuesday either could not be reached or did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The panel said Tuesday that it had issued subpoenas for Miller, who Thompson said had participated in efforts to spread false information about alleged voter fraud and McEnany, who the committee said was present at times with Trump as he watched the insurrection and spoke at a rally that morning.

The panel is also demanding documents and testimony from Keith Kellogg, former Vice President Mike Pences national security adviser, writing in the subpoena that it wants to hear from him because you were with President Trump as the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol unfolded and have direct information about the former presidents statements about, and reactions to, the Capitol insurrection. His subpoena says that according to several accounts, Kellogg urged Trump to send out a tweet aimed at helping to control the crowd.

Other former Trump White House aides subpoenaed Tuesday include personal assistant Nicholas Luna, who the panel said may have witnessed a phone call from Trump to Pence pressuring him not to certify Bidens win; special assistant Molly Michael, who the committee said sent information about election fraud to various individuals at the direction of President Trump; deputy assistant Ben Williamson, a senior adviser to Meadows; deputy chief of staff Christopher Liddell, who was in the White House on Jan. 6 and considered resigning, according to reports; and personnel director John McEntee and special assistant Cassidy Hutchinson, who the committee said were also in the White House that day and at the rally.

The panel also subpoenaed former Justice Department official Kenneth Klukowski, who Thompson said communicated with Jeffrey Clark, a former assistant attorney general, about a letter Clark had drafted urging officials in Georgia to delay certification of the voting results in that state because of purported fraud.

The letter said Clark and Klukowski spoke before a Jan. 3 meeting at the White House in which Trump openly contemplated replacing acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen with Clark. Rosen and other leaders at the department had pushed back on the false fraud claims.

The committee has also subpoenaed Clark, who appeared for a deposition last week but declined to testify, partly based on Trumps claims that documents the committee is trying to obtain from the National Archives are privileged. Trump has sued to shield the documents from the panel but Biden has so far said he will allow the release of most of them.

On Monday, the panel issued subpoenas to Bill Stepien, manager of Trumps 2020 reelection campaign; Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the campaign; Angela McCallum, national executive assistant to the campaign; John Eastman, a lawyer who advised the former president; Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser to Trump who talked with Trump ahead of the insurrection; and Bernard Kerik, who the committee says paid for hotel rooms that served as command centers ahead of Jan. 6.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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RENO, Nev. (AP)  Nevada health officials are encouraged by initial demand for COVID-19 vaccinations for ages 5-11 and local pediatricians are reporting strong interest.

But some logistical issues and technical glitches in the states scheduling platform have slowed the rollout of the doses at county and community health clinics, they said Wednesday.

Experts also expressed concerns that a recent uptick in new coronavirus cases statewide could signal a similar trend last November when the pandemic began a climb to its most serious level in December 2020.

Theyre hopeful the addition of the 277,000 Nevadans age 5-11 to those eligible for vaccination will put the state in a better position than last year to combat the spread of the virus.

Certainly the demand is out there, said Dr. Terrence McAllister, a Las Vegas pediatrician who joined state officials on a weekly update for reporters on Wednesday.

James English, regional COVID-19 operations chief for Washoe County's health district, said a line started forming outside the Reno Livestock Events Center for Saturdays first walk-up doses for younger kids well before 6:45 a.m., so its obvious there is demand and there are a lot of people who support this vaccination.

A lot of excited kids. A lot of relieved parents," he said.

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Double-masking, staying at home nearly 24/7 and rarely seeing people beyond his wife are still the way of life for kidney transplant recipient Andrew Linder, even after many in the United States are living like the pandemic has ended.

Health officials are recommending third and even fourth shots to boost Covid-19 resistance for people with certain conditions, but that hasn't eased the fears of some immunocompromised people.

Linder, 34, received the life-changing gift of a kidney from his wife, Emily, in September 2019. He will be on immunosuppressants for the rest of his life to keep his body from rejecting the organ.

In March 2020, as Covid-19 cases started to shut down workplaces and cities, Emily moved in with her parents for months because she works with the homeless and people in the prison system and did not want to get her husband sick.

The coronavirus vaccines brought some hope for the Linders, who live in Akron, Ohio. Andrew Linder had two doses of the Pfizer vaccine and later an additional dose and a booster. Hope quickly turned to heartbreak.

"I had no antibodies whatsoever. That was shocking and scary and sucky for sure," Linder told CNN. "I almost feel just as unsafe or if not potentially a little bit more unsafe now than at the beginning of the pandemic, just for the fact that I could get it at this point in time."

The pandemic isn't over for many

Linder is one of many moderately to severely immunocompromised people trying to protect themselves as a number of people across the US are going back to some version of their normal lives.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 9 million people who live in the US, or about 3% of the population, are moderately to severely immunocompromised. That includes people in active treatment for cancers of the blood or for solid tumors, certain organ transplant and stem cell recipients, people with advanced or untreated HIV, and those who take high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune system.

A new study published by the CDC last week suggests people with compromised immune systems may need to receive three doses of a coronavirus vaccine and a booster shot to get as much protection afforded by two doses to those who are not immunocompromised. The effectiveness of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines against Covid-19 hospitalization was 77% among immunocompromised adults versus 90% among immunocompetent adults.

For transplant recipients like Linder and some other members of the immunocompromised community, the research showed that vaccine effectiveness was lower than that.

Feeling more free to go out

CNN followed up with five immunocompromised people interviewed in March 2020. For some, like Linder, life really hasn't changed much because of their lack of immunity. Others have gotten a sense of security after getting vaccinations and booster shots.

For Courtney Hodge, a single mom from outside Pittsburgh, living through the pandemic has brought her a new sense of clarity, and she said she's trying to live with less fear.

Last year "made me reevaluate my entire life because you can die that quickly," Hodge told CNN.

The 39-year-old has asthma and several autoimmune disorders, such as Graves' disease, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Given how suppressed her immune system is, Hodge worries she wouldn't be able to fight off the damage coronavirus does to someone's lungs.

"I am fully vaccinated with the booster, (so) I've been going out more and talking to more people than I think I have in my entire life," Hodge said. She said she received a booster in August and would consider a fourth dose if needed.

Being vaccinated and boosted has also given Hodge the confidence to feel safe going to craft and vendor shows to further the candy business she started during the pandemic.

"I'm not as anxious, and I don't feel impending doom anymore," she said. "Even if I get sick with the vaccine, my chances of dying are not as high without the vaccine."

She's back to grocery shopping

Embracing life and trying to get back out into the world is also what Danielle Grijalva has tried to focus on, despite having a few people around her get sick and losing a friend to Covid-19, she said.

Grijalva received her first and second Covid-19 shots in April and May, respectively, and she said being vaccinated changed her outlook, allowing her to shift from mostly staying at home to feeling safe enough to grocery shop or see friends.

"Now I can I feel comfortable with walking in and shopping, and I keep my distance," the 45-year-old said. "I just have decided that I am not going to live in fear."

The mother of two from California was diagnosed in 2018 with a pain condition called fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and several strains of echoviruses, which were found in her stomach.

However, her conditions don't put her among the group of immunocompromised people recommended to get an additional dose, and it hasn't yet been six months since her primary vaccination.

She said she will be eligible for her booster shot this month. Regardless, she said she is happy to see things reopening in the US and is enjoying seeing good friends and feeling a little bit of normalcy again.

She still caught Covid-19

But not all the immunocompromised people CNN followed up with were able to stay healthy and Covid-19 free.

Brittania Powell, a student at The Ohio State University, barely left her home for two months last fall until her family encouraged her to come work the polls in Ohio on Election Day 2020, she said.

Powell was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease lupus when she was 14. She also has an autoimmune disease called rheumatoid arthritis, anemia and lupus nephritis, which inflames her kidneys. She doesn't know if she'll wake up to swollen joints or if she's going to be able to get around on any given day.

The 22-year-old said she and the other poll workers tried to disinfect common surfaces and keep things clean, but some of the people who came to vote were not wearing masks.

"I was double-masking, although I was wearing gloves, but I still caught (Covid-19)," she said.

Powell felt like she had the flu for a week and only coughed for one day, so she didn't think she had Covid-19 at the time, she said. The next week she was very nauseous and had stomach issues, which sent her to the emergency room.

The next morning, she said she got a positive test result. The stomach issues stayed with her and she didn't feel better for a month. Despite feeling sick, Powell said she stayed positive and tried not to stress as she recovered.

She received both doses of the vaccine this spring, and she said she's not in a rush to get a booster yet. However, she has a message for other people.

"You're not going to know who is immunocompromised just by looking at them," Powell said. "I would just be considerate of others around you, even if you don't want to get the vaccine, wear your mask at least. Follow the safety protocols that we use so that you're not risking others' lives."

She's still worried about her health

The need to have people watching out for those who may be more susceptible to Covid-19 is real for Eileen Davidson, a Canadian writer for an arthritis website.

The 35-year-old is a single mother with rheumatoid arthritis. She lives with her 8-year-old son, Jacob, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

"Some people kind of think the pandemic may be ending -- it doesn't really end for somebody who's immunocompromised," Davidson said.

At first, the lockdown was a good thing, as Davidson said she could relax. But not having access to physical therapy and her gym made it hard to manage her chronic condition.

"I went into a flare and there was a lot of stress," she said. "Even just the stress around the pandemic can put somebody into higher disease activity."

After waiting and watching the first Americans get their vaccines, Davidson was able to get her first shot in April and her second in June, as Canadian experts advised extending the time between doses. She also got a booster shot two weeks ago.

But another stressor popped up when demand for the medication she uses to manage her rheumatoid arthritis -- a biologic called Actemra, or tocilizumab -- escalated.

In June, the US Food and Drug Administration gave Actemra an emergency authorization use to treat hospitalized Covid-19 patients. It's a monoclonal antibody therapy that helps reduce inflammation that can make patients sicker.

"I'm worried that my medication that I desperately need and have gone through so many to find the right treatment for me, (that there) will be a shortage of it because people are refusing to get their vaccine," Davidson said.

They just want to go back to normal

Among those who are immunocompromised, a common thread is the yearning to live their lives. For Linder, the thought of not getting to resume some shred of normalcy at some point is overwhelming.

"For me not to be able to live a life that again, I fought so hard to get and that my wife donated a part of her body to me for us to live a life together, it just it hurts," he said. "It cuts so deep that it's a pain that I can't explain."

Linder said a stranger in a grocery store, where Linder goes when he's become stir crazy and just needs to get out of the house, once yelled at him that he doesn't need a mask and the pandemic is over. Note: That stranger is wrong. Neither of those things are true.

He said he feels "a lot of jealousy, a lot of envy because the message that has been clearly pushed into the society right now is that it's like if I don't want to risk death, I need to just stay home, and I need to stay in my house forever," he said.

Linder dreams of finally taking a honeymoon with his wife -- their two-year anniversary is approaching in December. That trip is not happening anytime soon, because they know it's not safe for him to fly.

For now, he hopes he can see his sister, her husband and his nephew for the holidays. They aren't sure how that would look, but he said it would be nice to spend a holiday with his family for the first time in two years.

***

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TOKYO (AP)  The head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Thursday met with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and reaffirmed America's commitment to achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific despite rising tensions amid China's increasingly assertive military actions.

Adm. John C. Aquilino was in Tokyo following a three-day joint session with Chief of Staff Koji Yamazaki that included a trip to Japan's southern islands, where they observed Japan Self-Defense Force exercises in the same region where Chinese warships have been repeatedly spotted.

Aquilino told Kishida he is committed to working with Japan to deliver a free and open Indo-Pacific and peace and stability and prosperity for the region.

He said the U.S.-Japan alliance is strong thanks to Japan and other allies and partners in the region.

The U.S. and Japan have been promoting the goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific to ensure peace, free navigation and rule-based international order in the key international sea lanes, a move also joined by Australia and India in a framework known as the Quad. The strategic dialogue is seen as a move to counter Chinas increasing influence in the region.

Britain and France, as well as some other European nations, have also shifted their attention to the region and recently conducted joint military exercises. Some of these countries are also participating in the United Nations Security Council's surveillance mission in the regional seas to monitor illegal North Korean maritime activities.

Aquilino's trip follows recent visits by top navy officials from Britain and Germany.

Kishida told Aquilino he wants to further promote cooperation with the United States in the region "for the stability of the region and the international community."

Earlier Thursday, Aquilino met with Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and the two discussed recent developments related to North Korea's missile and nuclear development.

China, which claims most of the disputed South China Sea as well as Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea, has defended its growing maritime activities and says it has the right to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Japanese officials say Chinese vessels routinely violate Japanese territorial waters around the islands in the East China Sea, sometimes threatening fishing boats.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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CHICAGO (AP)  The Chicago woman arrested in the U.S. last week on a murder conspiracy charge in the 2014 slaying of her mother in Indonesia will remain locked up after her attorney waived a detention hearing Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle agreed to waive the hearing in which attorneys would have argued over whether Heather Mack should be allowed to post bond. Mack, who served seven years behind bars in Indonesia for killing Sheila von Wiese-Mack, sat in the courtroom wearing a orange jail-issued jump suit and shackled at the ankles.

Norgle said Mack's attorney can request another hearing at any time, but if no other hearing is scheduled she will remain in federal custody at least until her next court appearance on Jan. 18.

Attorney Keith Spielfogel did not explain his reasons for deciding against a detention hearing and Mack did not say anything other than to confirm that she did not wish to make a statement.

In an indictment unsealed last week, Mack, 26, and her former boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were charged with conspiring to commit murder in a foreign country and obstruction of justice in von Wiese-Mack's killing. The maximum sentence on the murder conspiracy charge is life in prison and the obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Schaefer remains in prison in Indonesia after being convicted of killing von Wiese-Mack at a luxury resort on Bali then stuffing her body in a suitcase that they left in the trunk of a taxi.

Mack was released after serving a little more than seven years of a 10-year sentence and quickly deported to the United States. She was arrested on arrival at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Mack's 6-year-old daughter, Stella, arrived in the U.S. with her and court records show that a Cook County judge issued an emergency order appointing one of Mack's attorneys as the girl's guardian.

Mack appeared in court later that day, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. At the time, Norgle ordered that she remain in custody until the hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

According to the indictment, Mack and Schaefer exchanged messages about how and when to kill" von Wiese-Mack, and tried to cover up the crime by removing the clothing they wore when they did it.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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When past presidents have seen their approval numbers take a dive, they went on foreign trips. Sometimes this works, but more often it doesnt, because failure at home often follows them abroad. World leaders can sense failure and its twin, weakness.

Vice President Kamala Harris, whose poll numbers and favorability among the public and even her fellow Democrats have sunk faster than a rock thrown in the River Seine, left for Paris this week where she is attending a five-day meeting to focus on the plight of migrants and refugees.

Thats a laugh, because she has done such a terrible job focusing on stopping the flow of migrants into the United States across what used to be called our southern border. It was the first assignment given to her by President Biden and she has literally done nothing about it, leading even a casual observer to conclude neither she, nor the president, are interested in stemming the flow. That may be because President Biden  and former President Barack Obama  have repeatedly said they want to fundamentally transform America.

A USAToday/Suffolk survey conducted among 1,000 registered voters from Nov. 3 to Nov. 5, found Biden has an approval rating of 38 percent and Harris has an even worse 28 percent approval rating. The poll, as reported by SFGATE.com, found that Harris is more unpopular than both congressional Democrats (29 percent approval) and congressional Republicans (35 percent approval), which is pretty hard to do as members of Congress often receive low marks in public opinion polls (overall congressional approval is at 12 percent). SFGATE topped the story with this devastating headline: Kamala Harris has a comically bad approval rating.

Comically? Will she now be a target of late-night comedians and Saturday Night Live skits? In the event she is, the treatment will likely be gentler than the mean-spiritedness directed at Sarah Palin.

A Google search of Kamala Harris successes turns up thin gruel. Most of her accomplishments have little to do with actual policy achievements and more to do with supposed achievements related to her race and gender. In her brief time in the Senate, Harris took what has turned out to be the wrong side in the false Russian collusion allegations against then-President Trump. She also treated Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh like an already convicted criminal. She sought less to discover information than to impose a pre-determined personal conclusion that he was unfit for the bench.

The White House and some congressional leaders are trying to spin these latest polls to their advantage, but that strategy is unlikely to succeed. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), attempted to explain and dismiss Bidens declining approval and rising disapproval numbers. Appearing on Fox News, the House Majority Whip said, its a real tough time to be president. Anytime is a tough time to be president, but some presidents have been more up to it than others. It is becoming increasingly clear that Biden and Harris are not up to their jobs.

The French have some delightful ways of putting things, and in their language some phrases might accurately describe Kamala Harris. The kinder one is Tu ne sais pas de quoi tu parles, which means you dont know what you are talking about. The other is considered vulgar and French slang: Con comme balai, which means as stupid as a broomstick. Draw your own conclusions from what Harris has done, or more importantly, not done.

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Be sure to thank a veteran today. In fact, thanking a veteran every day would be a good start to a better country.

Taking an additional step, though, could help save lives.

The United States continues to fail in addressing the ongoing epidemic of suicide by active-duty members of the military and veterans. Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, 7,057 members of the armed forces have died in combat operations. Over the same period, an estimated 30,177 active-duty personnel and veterans have taken their own lives. Veterans account for 22,261 of those deaths.

Americans who die by suicide use guns about half the time, but the rate for veterans is 70 percent. Of course, using a gun is often lethal. One of the ways to interrupt suicide is to remove guns from troubled people. But this is especially difficult for veterans. Suggestions have included locking the guns in a house or storing them with a friend, relative or local gun club until the risk of suicide has passed.

Stand-up comedian Maria Bamford had a shocking statement in part of her performance. Pointing out that more than 7,000 U.S. veterans die of suicide every year, she adds, Which is funny. As the audience quiets and gasps, she says, Because youd think theyd die over there, but they come home. Right? I thought that must be funny, because nobody was taking it that seriously. The line is horrifying and gives a true feeling of helplessness.

Sticklers will point out that the estimates of annual suicides among veterans are closer to 6,000 per year. (That doubles the number among the civilian population.) Data reporting about suicide is complicated.

Suicide has always been a silent epidemic among soldiers. These men and women experience awful things in a combat theater and risk their lives. All are changed, whether the results of being under fire, firing themselves, or losing fellow soldiers In battle.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says it is putting a high priority on suicide prevention and awareness. But we must also play a role to be certain our soldiers are properly tended to, during and following their active service. They must receive the care promised to them.

The first thing troubled veterans may need is someone to talk with. The extent to which you feel comfortable talking to a stranger or a casual acquaintance about their mental well-being is going to vary, of course. The vital personal parts of the conversation will be more important coming from family and close friends.

Be certain the veterans in your life are aware of and able to get in touch with a suicide prevention lifeline and website. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is (800) 273-8255. The related website is SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources. A resource specifically for veterans can be found at www.veteranscrisisline.net, by phone at 1-800-273-8255 or by texting 838255.

But being aware that there is an issue is the beginning of making it no longer an issue.

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A federal jury could not agree on whether a former Nebraska state trooper violated a motorists civil rights when he bashed him in the head with the butt of an AR-15.

Jurors deadlocked after deliberating for 2 days over whether Lindsey Bixby was guilty of a felony civil-rights violation that could have sent him to prison for up to 10 years. The jury forewoman told a judge that 10 jurors had voted to find Bixby not guilty; two had voted to find him guilty. With that, she pivoted toward the back of the courtroom and nodded at a relative of Bixby sitting in the gallery.

U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher declared a mistrial. Prosecutors could retry Bixby, who remains under indictment.

Lecia Wright, an assistant U.S. attorney, said she, co-counsel Cameron Bell and prosecutors would further evaluate their case before making a decision on trying Bixby again.

Bixbys attorneys, John Berry and Michael Wilson, said the case and this weeks lengthy deliberations have been stressful on Bixby. The former trooper was appreciative of the jurors work, his attorneys said.

It would be very nice for Lindsey Bixby to have closure, but this is the next best thing, Berry said of the 10-2 vote.

After a lengthy high-speed chase through western Nebraska in March 2016, motorist Brian Davis stumbled out of his minivan, visibly drunk. He briefly dropped his hands behind his waist, and Bixby testified he thought Davis was reaching for a gun in his waistband. However, Davis held his hands, palms up, above his head or out from his body for the next 26 seconds.

After he failed to follow 16 commands to get on the ground, Bixby pummeled Davis with the butt of his rifle. The force of the strike snapped Davis head to the side and dropped him to the ground.

Bixby testified he was aiming for Davis shoulder when he swung and missed, instead hitting Davis in the head.

A dash camera video of the arrest made its way online and was obtained by the World-Herald in 2017. Soon after the newspaper submitted questions about Bixbys actions, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts fired then-Nebraska State Patrol Col. Brad Rice amid a series of patrol controversies.

Bixby resigned four months after the traffic stop. Five years later, a federal grand jury charged Bixby with violating Davis civil rights by subjecting him to unreasonable force.

At trial this week and last, Berry and Wilson pointed to all the ways Davis endangered troopers and the public when he led them on a chase that reached 110 mph through three counties. Wilson told jurors in closing arguments that Bixby had justification to shoot Davis when Davis got out of the minivan with his hands behind his back.

While Bixby testified that he thought Davis was reaching for a weapon in his waistband, Davis actually was pulling up his pants. A fellow trooper on the scene, Kyle Kuebler, testified he could tell that Davis was simply pulling up his pants.

Wright argued that Bixby was enraged that Davis had led troopers on the 50-minute high-speed chase. She said Bixby violated the right that any citizen has to be free from police brutality.

Part of the testimony of experts for both the prosecution and defense backfired a bit.

An expert for the governments case acknowledged that Bixby could have been justified in shooting Davis when he reached behind his back. Wilson pounced on that in closing arguments.

An expert hired by the defense  Prior Lake (Minnesota) police commander Liam Duggan  testified that the video was too grainy for him to determine whether Bixby actually landed the rifle blow to Davis head. He suggested that Davis may have flinched, and that flinch may have caused Davis head to snap to the side and him to lose balance.

Duggan argued that Davis committed acts of aggression that could have merited deadly force. After the chase, he noted, Davis threw the minivan in reverse and gunned the engine, potentially trying to race it at the troopers. The minivan remained stuck.

The expert also noted that Davis didnt obey 16 commands from the troopers to get on the ground. Such actions amount to physical resistance, Duggan said, and police officers can meet physical resistance with deadly force.

Wilson, Bixbys attorney, took issue with a government experts suggestion that Bixby could have pulled out a baton to strike Davis in the legs while he held his rifle in the other hand.

What is he  Rambo? Wilson mocked.

Meanwhile, Wright chided the defense experts assertion that Bixby may not have struck Davis in the head. She asked jurors whether they believed the defense expert or their own eyes.

Watch the video for yourself, she urged.

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At times during the pandemic, health officials have worried that COVID-19 was spreading under the radar, with more cases occurring than were found through testing.

Now Nebraska has received federal funds to join a new national surveillance network intended to help monitor ebbs and flows of the virus in wastewater.

"Our goal is to use wastewater surveillance data to help local public health officials better understand trends of (coronavirus) transmission within specific communities," Dr. Matthew Donahue, Nebraska's acting state epidemiologist, said in an email. "If successful, our public health stakeholders can use this new data source to inform how to approach COVID-19 as we work to bring the pandemic to an end."

Researchers learned early in the pandemic that some people infected with the coronavirus  about 40% of them, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-led study  shed the virus's genetic material in their stool.

Since then, a number of states, universities and other jurisdictions have used wastewater sampling to help track the virus, which can be detected in wastewater before it shows up in more traditional measures such as case reports and hospital admissions.

Once they have found it, experts have been able to target responses, such as sending in mobile testing units.

To coordinate wastewater surveillance programs nationwide, the CDC launched the National Wastewater Surveillance System in September 2020, said Amy Kirby, the agency's program lead for the system.

Nebraska now is among 43 jurisdictions that have received funding to build out their programs and provide data to the federal system. The state was awarded nearly $836,000 for the current year, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Agency officials hope to renew the grant next year.

While there's no official guarantee of future funding, the CDC has said it is committed to funding state wastewater surveillance.

Because wastewater surveillance data isn't dependent on whether people get tested or visit doctor's offices when they're ill, Kirby said, it provides an added source of information that can help health officials understand what's going on in their communities, including whether they're seeing true increases in cases.

"What health departments say is (that) wastewater gives me confidence I understand what's going on in the communities I'm responsible for," Kirby said.

Nebraska already has a head start on its program.

Shannon Bartelt-Hunt, professor and chair of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, began collecting weekly samples of wastewater in Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island in early April 2020.

She handed them off to collaborators at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, who worked out an accurate method of finding the virus's genetic material in the samples.

Different elements in wastewater can interfere with the tests. And the virus is much more diluted in wastewater than in the samples collected on nasal swabs, the kind the researchers are more accustomed to handling.

Bartelt-Hunt and the UNMC researchers also worked together last year on a pilot project with the Omaha Public Schools that combined saliva testing in students and staff with analyzing wastewater, air and surface samples gathered at three South Omaha schools.

The pilot project found COVID-19 infections that were not identified by outside testing, suggesting that infections and case rates in schools were higher than what was being reported. The pilot was not extended for the current school year.

Bartelt-Hunt said that early work helped put the researchers on the state's radar. They were contacted by the state health department to help prepare the proposal to the CDC.

The researchers plan to start a program to monitor 30 different wastewater utilities across the state. They already haven spoken with the three they worked with initially  Omaha, Lincoln and Grand Island. They would like to include at least one in each of the state's 19 public health districts in order to provide statewide coverage.

Because the CDC wants to use the network for community-level monitoring, Bartelt-Hunt said, the researchers will focus their sampling efforts on wastewater treatment plants. But they potentially could include samples from other sources, such as schools, businesses and prisons.

Bartelt-Hunt said she hopes to start collecting samples by the end of the year.

Kirby, the CDC official, said some states that already have systems in place have helped federal officials understand how surveillance works best and what states need to help bring their systems online.

Ohio and Utah, according to the CDC study, collect samples twice a week at dozens of wastewater plants across those states. Trends in virus levels are posted on public dashboards. In Utah, wastewater now is one of the main components of a ranking system that's used to determine where to send mobile testing teams. Closer to home, Missouri also has a wastewater surveillance dashboard that shows where viral load is increasing, decreasing or holding steady.

At the institutional level, Kirby said, upwards of 30 universities deployed wastewater sampling programs last year. By monitoring dormitories, universities were able to catch outbreaks when there were only a few cases and, by testing students and isolating those who were positive, keep them under control.

The CDC, she said, is hoping to replicate that success in correctional facilities and nursing homes. The agency is evaluating wastewater testing in 20 correctional facilities, which have been supplied with on-site testing kits. If the method works, officials hope to develop guidelines for such facilities to use wastewater surveillance as part of their mitigation strategies. Another study is underway with nursing homes.

The next step for COVID-19 will be to go beyond simply looking for the virus in wastewater to looking for variants of concern, Kirby said. The agency is evaluating the analysis methods for that and hopes to make them available to the system in the next few months.

The agency also is looking to the future, which may involve expanding surveillance to other pathogens, such as E. coli. Other potential uses could involve preparing for future pandemics and responding to emergencies such as hurricanes and floods.

"We're really excited about all the potential ways this could be used in the future," Kirby said.
Less than a week after the release of a former Nebraska State Patrol employee indicted for allegedly conspiring to sell drugs stolen from the evidence locker, she is back in jail.

Anna Idigima was released to house arrest on Nov. 4, following a hearing Oct. 28 where U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart approved her release for health reasons but told Idigima she wasn't allowed to have any contact at all with her co-defendant, George Weaver Jr.

In a motion filed Monday, a pretrial services officer alleged that Idigima started talking with Weaver in jail calls two days later and had more than 4 hours of conversations within the next three days.

"The phone calls include Ms. Idigima and Mr. Weaver discussing the case, witnesses, and video evidence of their pending charges," according to the petition for action on conditions of pretrial release.

To conceal the calls, Idigima used a relative's phone and Weaver another inmate's account.

A warrant went out for Idigima's arrest Monday, and she was back at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections the next day.

At a hearing Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Fullerton asked for Idigima's detention pending trial.

"I don't see how she could be released at this point and that we would expect that she would follow any release conditions and that she would not be a risk of flight and a risk of further offense," Fullerton said.

In an exhibit she offered to the court, Lincoln police said investigators learned that Idigima and Weaver had been communicating, despite the judge's order, in 22 calls and eight attempts.

Investigators still are reviewing the calls, but say the calls involved personal conversations, including some that were sexual in nature, as well as discussion about potential witnesses in the case.

Idigima's attorney, Jamel Connor, made no argument.

In the end, Zwart found that Idigima had violated the terms of her release.

"And it is a significant violation," she said. "It goes toward obstruction of justice in this matter."

She said she knew Idigima had small children at home.

"But you made a decision to have contact with your co-defendant in direct violation with what I told you and what was in writing, and that poses a significant problem with your continued release," the judge said, ordering her detention pending trial.

Idigima and Weaver have been indicted for conspiracy to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a detectable amount of fentanyl and marijuana.

Both have entered not guilty pleas. A trial date hasn't yet been set. If convicted, they would face 10 years to life in prison.

Last month, Lincoln Police and the State Patrol announced their arrests and the theft of more than $1.2 million worth of narcotics from the patrol's evidence facility, including $329,800 worth of cocaine.

Idigima, 35, had been a Nebraska State Patrol employee for more than a decade, patrol Col. John Bolduc said. Weaver, 36, owns and runs GrannyWeavs Soul Food and Catering in Lincoln, a business he started after a stint in prison.

At Weaver's initial hearing, Fullerton said the case was related to Brandon Davis' indictment in October for possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, distribution of cocaine and fentanyl causing serious bodily injury, and conspiracy to deliver cocaine and fentanyl.

Police have tied him to at least six overdoses.

It's unclear if the drugs Davis is accused of selling were part of the cache of drugs stolen from the State Patrol.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7237 or lpilger@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSpilger

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Sgt. 1st Class Doug Kirby curled up, broken and burned, on the ground in front of the flaming Army fuel depot. Nothing remained of his left leg but a bloody stump.

In the hours just after midnight that morning  June 5, 1970  Kirby had been guarding the fuel farm at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam. He dimly remembered the firefight as Viet Cong saboteurs opened fire, the massive explosion as several large fuel tanks ignited, and the now-dead VC who had flung the satchel bomb that ripped off Kirbys leg.

Near death, he couldnt breathe or talk. He could barely blink his eyes.

I honestly thought I was crossing back and forth between this side of life and that other side, recalled Kirby, 80, who lives in Omaha. I swear before God, I just wanted to stay on the side of peace and not go back to the hell I was in.

Then, out of nowhere, angels: three soldiers in a military police Jeep. They propped Kirby up in the front seat and sped off through the streets of Qui Nhon to a U.S. military hospital.

One of the soldiers, a Spec. 4, sat behind Kirby, slapping him repeatedly and yelling, Stay with us! Stay with us!

Kirby hung on, barely. He spent months recovering from his wounds and was medically discharged from the Army the following year, with a 100% disability.

In the years and decades that followed, he often wondered about the angels who had saved him from the fire. He didnt know any of their names.

Until now.

Last month, on Oct. 22, he found an account of the battle of the tank farm online. A former military policeman named Rick Wilcox described rescuing a grievously wounded master sergeant from the flaming wreckage of the fuel depot at Qui Nhon that night and rushing him across town to a military hospital.

Kirby  who was actually a sergeant first class at the time, one rank lower  realized Wilcox was talking about him.

I said, Oh my God! I found the guy who saved my life!  Kirby said.

He typed an email to Wilcox.

I hope youre still alive to read this, he wrote. Chills throughout my body is the only way I can describe how I feel! THANK YOU FOR SAVING MY LIFE!

Wilcox, equally stunned, booked a flight to Omaha from his home in western Massachusetts. Just in time for Veterans Day, the pair spent three days this week swapping stories and answering half a centurys worth of questions.

Its very emotional. I knew it would be, Wilcox, 72, said Monday. In 24 hours, Ive let go of a lot of stuff. Ive found some peace.

It took more than a few serendipitous twists for Kirby and Wilcox to cross paths in Vietnam briefly in 1970, and then reconnect 51 years later.

Its like a Victor Hugo novel, he said.

Wilcox grew up in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, the kind of town that could, and did, inspire Norman Rockwell paintings. (Rockwells studio was in Stockbridge.) In 1965, the artist once paid Wilcox, then 15, $10 to pose as a Boy Scout getting pinned with a merit badge for a painting that was reproduced on the cover of Boys Life magazine.

An uninspired student, Wilcox wanted to go into law enforcement after graduating from high school. He enlisted in the Army with an agreement that he would be trained as a military police officer.

I thought it might be a little easier to get a job out of the service, Wilcox said.

He was looking forward to an assignment in West Germany or South Korea like many of his classmates.

Instead, the Army sent him to Vietnam in March 1969. And as an infantry soldier, not a military police officer.

Nearing the one-year mark, he opted to extend for six months. He got his choice of assignments and picked a military police slot in the port city of Qui Nhon, 270 miles northeast of Saigon. He was part of a reaction team with the 127th Military Police Company, responding to emergencies along with routine patrols.

It looked like a really nice place to go, Wilcox said. Peaceful.

Thats pretty much the same reason Kirby had landed in Qui Nhon.

Kirby grew up in the South  mostly east Tennessee and Georgia  following his father, who did construction work.

After graduating from high school in 1960, he faced the choice of working construction with his dad, or joining the Army. He enlisted in early 1961 and stayed in, even after the war in Vietnam ramped up.

Kirby was an airborne soldier and was on his second tour in southeast Asia when he arrived at Qui Nhon at the beginning of June 1970. Weeks earlier, he had been involved in secret missions against North Vietnamese positions across the Cambodian border.

He had recently retrained as a petroleum supply sergeant and also chose the assignment in Qui Nhon.

It was one of those safe rear areas, Kirby said. I was going to the beach. I thought I was in heaven.

The night of June 4-5 was Kirbys second night standing watch at Qui Nhons Tank Farm II, the main fuel storage and distribution depot for U.S. forces in South Vietnams Central Highlands. The 25-acre site in the hills outside the town held 20 million gallons of fuel for trucks, helicopters and aircraft.

A chain-link fence and razor wire surrounded the fuel farm, and Kirby had posted about 30 soldiers in gun towers and bunkers around the perimeter. Two men with guard dogs also patrolled.

About 11:30 p.m., electronic sensors started sending alarms, and the dogs sensed trouble. Spurts of gunfire followed, then rockets and explosions as some of the giant fuel tanks ignited, lighting up the night sky.

Viet Cong sappers carrying small satchel bombs penetrated the camp. Two of them got into the small building where Kirby and his radio operator, Pvt. Roosevelt Braggs Jr., 20, had been standing.

Kirby shot one sapper at the entrance, but the other threw his bomb with the fuse lit. Kirby and Braggs both dived for a corner. Braggs landed on top and bore the brunt of the blast. He died instantly.

If his body wasnt there, my body would have been cut in half, Kirby said, tearing up at the memory.

A fire was raging all around us. I knew immediately my left leg was gone, he said. I was totally immobile and realized I was going to burn to death.

As he prayed to be shot before the flames reached him, an officer appeared and dragged him outside and away from the fire.

Across town, Wilcox and his partner, Spec. 5 Jerry Crane, were on patrol when they heard an explosion at Tank Farm II. They raced to the front gate, where several MP vehicles had already arrived. But they couldnt get inside because of small arms fire.

Finally one of the trucks drove through the fence. Wilcox saw at least two bodies, and helped two less-injured men get medical help. Then he saw Crane carrying the gravely wounded sergeant to their Jeep.

Thats when they started their wild ride to the hospital.

As they screeched up to the emergency room, two medics rushed out. Kirby remembers one of them shouting, This ones alive.

Wilcox and Crane headed back to the tank farm, where the battle had ceased but the fires continued to rage for another 24 hours. The soldiers somehow managed to extinguish them, and return the depot to service within a day.

But not without cost. Braggs and six other soldiers died in the battle. Kirby does not want their names forgotten: 1st Lt. Grady McBride III, 24, of East Gadsen, Alabama; Spec. 4 Robert Podnar, 28, of Reinbeck, Iowa; Spec. 4 Everett Ratliff, 20, of Baltimore, Maryland; Spec. 4 Johnny Dover Jr., 20, of Gaffney, South Carolina; Pfc. Robert E. Cook, 21, of Honesdale, Pennsylvania; and Pfc. Archie Trimm, 21, of Colton, New York.

Fourteen others, including Kirby, had been wounded.

Wilcox returned to the hospital the following day, to the very same ward where the sergeant he had helped rescue lay critically wounded. He had been assigned to guard a Viet Cong prisoner who was hurt in the battle.

Across the room, Wilcox saw where the soldier he had brought in was resting. He thought about asking him how he was doing. But he didnt want to disturb him.

The prisoner died within a few hours, and Wilcox left the hospital without saying anything to the sergeant. He finished up his extended tour in Vietnam in early 1971, and within a year got a job as a police officer in Stockbridge. Fourteen years later, he became the towns police chief. He held that job until retiring in 2014.

Wilcox earned a college degree, married (twice) and raised three children. In his police career, he witnessed the aftermath of car accidents and a murder, and of course he had seen some ugly things in the war.

But he never stopped wondering about the wounded sergeant, and kicked himself for keeping quiet that day in the Army hospital.

It bothered me for 51 years. I didnt know who he was. I didnt know whether he lived, or if he lived, Wilcox said. It was one of those things. Why didnt I go introduce myself and get his name?

Kirby never forgot his rescuers, either, the nameless soldiers who gave him a second chance at life.

He suffered two collapsed lungs, and painful burns. His left leg was gone and his right leg was riddled with shrapnel  including bone fragments and a zipper from Braggs uniform  that caused a raging infection.

He hung on at Qui Nhon long enough to be sent to a Navy hospital in Yokosuka, Japan.

My parents had been notified, Kirby said. They were going to fly to Japan because I wasnt expected to make it.

But they never had to come. After a few weeks in Japan, he was sent to a hospital at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

He received a Bronze Star with a V device for valor, for continuing to direct the defense of Tank Farm II until he was disabled by the explosion.

Kirby recovered and was medically discharged from the Army in 1972. He studied accounting and business administration in his hometown of Cleveland, Tennessee. He did some tax work and became part owner of a sporting goods store.

A few years later, Kirby moved with his wife, Gail, and daughter, Allison, to Fort Walton Beach, in the Florida Panhandle. He became very interested in boats and took classes in boating skills. In 1981, he passed a rigorous test to qualify as a master in the U.S. Merchant Marine  a career he worked at for 20 years.

Gail died in 1997. Three years later Kirby married his second wife, Tina. Five years ago they moved to Omaha to be near Allison and her husband.

Over the years, Kirby queried the Army to try to find out who might have saved his life at Tank Farm II but got no help. His internet searches turned up nothing, either.

Then in August, a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport triggered old memories. Thirteen U.S. service members and 179 Afghan civilians died. It reminded him of the blast that killed his comrades and nearly took his life.

One photo in particular moved him to tears. It showed Marine Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, holding an Afghan baby in her arms a few days before the explosion that took her life.

I saw that photo, and it just grabbed me so hard, Kirby said, tearing up again. It overpowered me so much. It brought back the night I was wounded.

He downloaded the photo and put it on his computer desktop. He couldnt stop thinking about the young sergeant cradling that baby before she died.

And it reminded Kirby how grateful he was for the soldiers who had brought him back from the dead, and gifted him with another half century of life.

Last month that memory led him to VirtualWall.org, an online version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., with the names of 58,282 people killed in the war etched in black granite.

Kirby found Panel 9W, Lines 12 through 17, with the names of Braggs and the other men who died at Qui Nhon. On the tribute page for one of the men, he found the post by Rick Wilcox about the explosions and the gunfire at Tank Farm II, about the dead men he saw and the nameless sergeant he slapped and begged to stay alive on the way to the hospital.

In that electric moment of joy, he knew he had found his savior.

I couldnt wait to get my hands on the keyboard, Kirby said.

Wilcox had written his account in 2005, but he had only posted it on Virtual Wall last year. He was no less shocked to hear from that sergeant as Kirby was to finally find him.

You get an email that says, Thank you for saving my life, it grabs your attention, Wilcox said.

Emails led to phone calls, which led to an invitation and a plane ticket. The two old soldiers who were linked by fate couldnt wait to meet.

Doug and Tina drove their car  ironically, a Jeep  to pick up Rick at Eppley Airfield. They embraced in the cellphone lot.

We just started to give a big hug to each other, Wilcox said. There wasnt a lot of conversation. Just blubbering.

It was a magic moment, he added.

Theyve spent hours since swapping stories, catching up. The words tumble out. Their eyes light up.

I told myself, Im not going to fall to pieces every time I think about this, Kirby said. I just want to grab hold of him. I dont want to turn him loose.

They have no doubts that this friendship, forged in battle but delayed so long, will last.

Friends for life.

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When the lights dimmed in the North American Martyrs gym, all eyes turned to a far wall lit up by a projector's bright beams.

At least, almost all eyes.

Some were also looking at the girl dressed in pink in the crowd -- Kayla Jones, a fifth grader at the Catholic school where students, staff and veterans had gathered for a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday morning.

Her mother, Veronica Jones, a captain in the Army National Guard deployed at the southern U.S. border, was delivering a recorded video message to the crowd.

"All the teachers I knew were staring at me," said Kayla, whose brother also attends North American Martyrs.

Their mother talked about her time in the military and the Nebraska State Patrol, her deployments across the U.S. and abroad, how she learned about veterans' sacrifice and the call to help others.

How she thinks about her children, too.

"I just wanted to say, 'Hi'," she said in her video message. "I miss you, and I love you very much."

Kayla Jones knew her mother was making an appearance in the Veterans Day ceremony but wasn't sure how exactly.

"It was cool," she said. "It's sad (that she's deployed), but at the same time, you know they're doing a good deed for other people."

In Nebraska, there are almost 4,000 students, like Kayla, whose parents have served in the military. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed a bill from Bellevue Sen. Carol Blood that recognizes schools making a commitment to those students and their families.

The Nebraska Department of Education's Purple Star Schools program will soon be open to all public and private schools.

To earn their Purple Star, schools must designate a staff member as a military liaison, maintain a website to provide resources to families, create a transition program for military-involved students and offer professional learning for staff.

Schools must also do one of the following: Recognize April as Military Child Month or November as Military Family Month and host related events; post a resolution on their website; or partner with a local military installation.

The program is still in the early stages, said Department of Education spokesperson David Jespersen.

Sister Janelle Buettner, principal at North American Martyrs, said the school will do whatever it takes to earn its Purple Star designation.

The school in northwest Lincoln already honors veterans annually on Nov. 11, Buettner said, as a way to highlight the sacrifices veterans and their children make.

"They make huge sacrifices, and a lot of times, kids in their class don't realize (their classmates') parents are deployed," she said.

This year, the school held a ceremony where students sang patriotic songs and presented veterans, like Richard Wiese, homemade cards.

"It's always a good tribute to our military. It's kind of nice to see people thanking you," said Wiese, 94, who served in World War II and the Korean War. "Every service member is going to tell you, 'I had a job to do, and I did it.'"

Former students who are now in the service also shared their stories Thursday, which are important for students to hear, said Kristin Unger, a junior high teacher who helps organize the Veterans Day ceremony.

"Those are connections for our school kids to names and faces that they might recognize," Unger said.

She, too, is looking forward to taking part in the Purple Star program as an additional way to serve military members and their families.

And for the girl in pink? Well, Kayla's looking forward to the holidays this year, when she'll get to visit a hero: her mom.

"That's my Christmas present."

Contact the writer at zhammack@journalstar.com or 402-473-7225. On Twitter @zach_hammack

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MOSCOW (AP)  Russia sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus for a second straight day on Thursday in a strong show of Moscow's support for its ally amid a dispute over migration at the Polish border.
This evening's outlook for Sioux City: Overcast skies and windy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. It will be a cold day in Sioux City Friday, with temperatures in the 30s. The forecast calls for it to be a cold 34 degrees. 21 degrees is tomorrow's low. Partly cloudy skies are in the forecast. Very windy conditions are expected Friday in Sioux City, with winds reaching 29 miles per hour, coming from northwest. This report is created automatically with weather data provided by TownNews.com. Visit siouxcityjournal.com for more weather updates.
1 Character witnesses

Now this is very cool! The Marquee, 1225 Fourth St., will be hosting Siouxland Character Jam, a fundraiser to benefit local chapters of Boy Scouts of America. See performances from Emily Johnson & Friends, AM Radio and Maddie Layne from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Saturday.

2 Drink beer, play games!

Wanna spend some quality time with grandma? The pubmasters at Wise I Brewing Company, 15 Second St. N.E., Le Mars, will be hosting their first-ever Bingo & Brews Tournament from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.

3 Musical mash-up!

We love "Les Miserable," "Hairspray" and "Sister Act" just as much as any other theater nerd. But why can't we hear songs from each show -- and many more -- all at the same time. Well, the New Stage Players have hit upon the perfect solution with "Musical Theatre International's All Together Now," being performed Friday through Monday at 3201 Dakota Ave., South Sioux City.

4 Home(stead) for the holidays!

Go back in time for an old-fashioned Christmas at Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve, 272 Westshore Drive, North Sioux City. From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, kids can make crafts in a country schoolhouse and parents can listen to carols in the visitor center. Plus we imagine naturalist Jodi Moats will gather up a critter or two for some seasonal show and tell.

5 Beauty of botanicals

The Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St., will be hosting an opening reception for Des Moines-based photographer Molly Wood from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Wood's work showcases the duality of botanicals. Simply put, they are pretty as well as lethal. So, look but don't touch!

6 Pick up sticks!

Yeah, your friends at the Weekender have a monkey on our backs called Pocky. We're addicted to the chocolate-covered sticks of goodness that come from Japan. In case you were wondering, Thursday -- or 11/11 or 1-1-1-1 -- is International Pocky Day. Celebrate wisely.

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At least eight people died and hundreds were injured on Friday when a surging crowd pushed the breath out of Astroworlds audience of thousands. Two of the dead were high schoolers. The oldest victim was just 27. And the entire show was caught on tape.

Theres video of Travis Scott singing while an unconscious concertgoer is carried out, just yards away. Theres video of fans dancing on an ambulance as medics try to reach someone in trouble. And theres a clip of people begging for helpa camera operator livestreaming the performance for Apple Music waved them off. The show kept going for 40 minutes after Houston police declared it a mass casualty event.

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On Thursdays episode of What Next, I spoke to Stereogum senior editor Tom Breihan about what went wrong at Astroworld, whether Travis Scott is to blame, and why tragedies like this keep happening at concerts. Our conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

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Mary Harris: Can you give me a Travis Scott 101, where he came from and what his musics like?

Tom Breihan: Travis Scott is from Houston. The Astroworld Festival is his festival. He started out as a rapper and producer who worked under Kanye West. He co-produced some of the tracks on the Yeezus album that Kanye West put out. Around 2013, Travis Scott emerged as his own artist, and he works as a rapper. Hes a sort of psychedelic figure.

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What do you mean when you say that, a psychedelic figure?

He likes to create this sort of woozy, mystical sound. Houston has this long tradition of whats called screw music, where a legendary DJ named DJ Screw took tracks, slowed them way down, and made them sound alien and otherworldly and just super woozy and trippy.  Travis Scott integrated little bits of it into his music without going the full screw style. His music is sort of built out of classic Houston rap sounds, but it brings in different things. 

He is, or has been up until now, probably one of the five or six biggest rappers in the world. He creates a lot of excitement around just the release of a single. And a lot of that has to do with his ability to create these brand partnerships, which are a huge part of his identity. Like McDonalds had a Travis Scott meal. He has sneakers that Nike makes. He is a corporate-friendly figure.  He has made himself and other people very rich through these sort of sponsorship deal things that he does.

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Hes also known for his shows getting wild.

I saw him for the first time in 2014 in Austin, during South by Southwest, when he was a mixtape rapper. He had like one big mixtape out, nothing that you could really describe as a hit. When he performedand this is my first time seeing himhe didnt really rap onstage. This really struck me. His thing is kind of shouting melodic catchphrases. Its about capturing a certain feeling. So when he plays live, its always about telling the crowd how to react, saying, Everybody jump up this way. Divide in half this way. Were all going to rage together. Its all going to be a big mosh pit.

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Moshing in rap shows has really, really grown over the past six or seven years. Its about sort of creating this feeling of catharsis. And thats what he does. That has made him a huge live draw. It can make for an environment that is unpredictable and euphoric in some ways, but it can also be really unstable and potentially dangerous.

The energy that youre describing at Travis Scott showsit was notable to me how often it had gone wrong before this past weekend. I wonder if you can describe some of the previous incidents where Travis Scott held a concert, something went wrong, and various people are trying to hold him accountable.

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So the big thing that happened, the sort of emblematic moment before this one, was at Terminal 5 in New York, which is a very tall concrete venue with balconies that go up several floors. This one show a few years ago, I believe what happened was he sort of shined the spotlight on somebody who was hanging from a second-floor balcony and said, go ahead, theyll catch you. And then a while later, somebody fell or, he says, was pushed from a third-floor balcony and fell and was paralyzed on the ground and apparently then Travis Scott told people to bring him up onstage after he fell. And so this guy is now partially paralyzed. He tried suing Travis Scott.

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Part of his claim is that if hed gotten medical attention sooner, he wouldnt be paralyzed.

Yeah. A pretty clear case of a performer who wasnt thinking clearly and did not necessarily have his audiences best interests in mind. You know, he has told crowds to smash through barriers before, and he has been arrested for it a couple of times and pleaded down to minor charges. In the past week since Astroworld, there have been a lot of videos being sent around online of performers stopping shows to make sure that everybodys OK and to get help to people. And Travis Scott has done that in the past, but he has also added to situations and helped create situations where people could get hurt.

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I was struck by this piece of video from a documentary about Travis Scott, where you see the crew thats getting ready to start a show openly talking about the fact that the crowd is going to get wild, people are going to have trouble breathing. But it wasnt even a warning. It was said casually.

Yeah, it was like, This is what these shows are like, be ready for it. And Travis Scott has been proud of being able to create that atmosphere before. Hes bragged about it. He has a line on one of his songs that says, It aint a mosh pit if aint no injuries. So this has been a point of pride, his ability to make things go crazy to set it off.

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The people who put the show together should bear a real responsibility for not being ready for what was about to happen, for what they had engineered.  Tom Breihan

In Houston, early on, like 2 p.m., before anyone was really on the stage, a bunch of concertgoers rushed the barricades and they came through. And it was basically a stampede of people. Eventually, the police are there with horses, but they cant even stop anyone.

Yeah, and that, by itself, for a Travis Scott show, is pretty routine, where a bunch of people bust their way in. And I think that is the sort of thing that he has helped to encourage. The thing where these people got basically crushed to death while he was performingthats something else. That is not routine.

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Scott took the stage around 9 oclock, and the head of the Houston Police Department is saying that he basically warned Scott, theres an energy out there, be careful, Im worried. How did things start to go wrong?

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At the first day of Astroworld, all of the earlier acts in the day played on one stage, while the other stage was empty. This was Travis Scotts own stage. It cost a reported $5 million to build. He had it set up to become this whole spectacle. Half an hour before he starts playing, the screens near the stage start a countdown for when hes going to go on, so it creates this big burst of excitement and energy when he is about to start. So the people who have been lined up at the front of this stage waiting for him to start for a while, they get sort of crushed by the big, big groups of people who come running over to the stage when the countdown starts up. So I think by the time Travis Scott even came onstage, things were very chaotic.

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Looking back now, engineering the event so that you basically create a swell of a crowd seems like a terrible error.

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Yeah. And it also seems like, from everything that Ive read, from the accounts of the people who were there, the promoters didnt do anywhere near enough to be ready for that. It seems like a lot of the medical people who had been hired to take care of injuries were in no way ready for what was about to happen. There are stories that some of them didnt know how to do CPR. Theres a video of somebody dropping a stretcher and dropping somebody on their head.

There have been many, many Travis Scott shows where maybe people got bumps and bruises, but everybody was fine. This one was a bigger undertaking and I think were going to be going through video and trying to figure out what happened for a long time. But it certainly seems like the people who put the show together should bear a real responsibility for not being ready for what was about to happen, for what they had engineered.

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Even if the staffing was inadequate, there was one person who many argue could have stopped the show: Travis Scott. But you say its impossible to know what Scott knew when, or what Scott could even see from the stage.

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If you were a performer who routinely encourages this type of chaos and you look out at this vast crowd and you see chaos, I can understand how he didnt think that anything was going seriously wrong while playing.

Because this is what it always looks like.

Yeah, exactly. Theres a part of the show in the video where he sees an ambulance out in the crowd and he says, Oh, its an ambulance. Is everybody OK? Everybody wave your middle fingers if youre OK. And then he sees a bunch of middle fingers. And so he was like, all right, and so he starts. Theres another video of him stopping and saying, This person over here has passed out. Go help them. But also, if youre onstage in front of 50,000 people as he was, then you cant see everything. You just see this massive, heaving humanity. And so I can understand how he would have looked out at that and not realized that things were going seriously wrong.

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The story weve been told is that the local authorities thought if we stopped the show, it might get worse. Do you think that hunch holds water?

No. Their specific fear was a riot, and a riot and a crowd surge are two very different things. In a riot, something like Guns N Roses in St. Louis in 1991, people dont get killed. They destroy a lot of property. But nobody died that day. I think worrying about a riot is sort of a misplaced fear. I think they should have stopped that show right away.

The idea that the police didnt necessarily trust this crowd to leave in an orderly way and so allowed them to keep getting crushedthats messed up.  Tom Breihan

Is this about whos performing and the assumptions theyre making about the fans? Because it seemed like a lot of the fans were really upset, and if someone had said, Were going to stop the show, especially if the artist had said it, they would have listened.

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Thats definitely possible. I think the Houston police is going to have to think about that for a long time. I think the way rap crowds get treated is potentially very different. A rap show is often more heavily policed than a rock show. And things about race and class come into that. And the idea that the police didnt necessarily trust this crowd to leave in an orderly way and so allowed them to keep getting crushedthats messed up, and that should be really, really reexamined at this point.

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I know you want to keep the focus on the structure here and the fact that the people in charge of planning the concert did not do their job in gaming out what could have gone wrong here. But when I look back at Travis Scotts history as a performer, when I look at what had happened at this venue earlier in the day, when I look at the fact that this is Travis Scotts event that he was hosting, its hard for me to think that he doesnt bear at least some responsibility for what took place. Do you see it differently?

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Not exactly. Looking at Travis Scott, I think certainly, if he ever returns to performing, he needs to radically rethink the way that he does it. I think there is value in shows that get wild in mosh pits and in the raging-out thing that Travis Scott has always encouraged. I think that can be a real, healthy outlet for aggression, frustration, energy, whatever. The trick with that stuff is to find a way to channel and harness that energy in a way that doesnt kill people or hurt people. He certainly is going to have to face some heavy responsibilities for that.

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Travis Scott released a statement on Instagram where hes clearly pretty shook, but he says things like Im honestly just devastated and I could never imagine anything like this just happening. And its hard for me to believe thats true, because bad things have happened at his concerts and hes been sued over them and arrested over them before.

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This is far beyond anything thats ever happened at any of his shows. It is magnitudes worse. And I think if he is sincere in those videos, and I have no reason to believe that hes not, hes going to have to do some really serious soul-searching about how he put these young people in danger, the responsibility that he bears for that. But I also think that in the right situation, a show like a big Travis Scott festival performance can be safe, or at least minimally dangerous, I guess.

It makes me wonder, can you prevent everything? Especially when being in a mosh pit, being close to other people, having a cathartic experience, thats part of what youre paying for. And so if you have all these barriers up and you cant get close to the artist and youre not slamming into other people, why are you there?

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Maybe its not possible to have these sort of grand-scale mosh pits safely.  Tom Breihan

Yeah. And I dont know, honestly. Maybe theres no way to stop it from happening again, which is horrifying to contemplate. Mosh pits in general work best in small shows in smaller spaces where theres a community around them, theres an ethos, theres whats called mosh pit etiquette, where everybody knows that if somebody falls down, everybody has to pick them back up again, that everybodys in it together. A big festival like Astroworld, where people pay hundreds of dollars to get in and where theyre shuttled from checkpoint to checkpoint on their way and then made to feel like cattlethat does not lend itself to a spirit of community and to an atmosphere where everybody is looking out for each other even if they are moshing.

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Maybe its not possible to have these sort of grand-scale mosh pits safely, like maybe that should stop. I think that if youre going to put on a festival like this, you need to be ready for things to go badly wrong and you need to have plans in place. Otherwise, theres another thing like this waiting to happen.

And what happened last week has happened before. You can tick off event after eventa Who concert in 1979 where 11 people died rushing the entrance, a Pearl Jam concert in 2000 where nine fans were crushed to death. One of the videos from Astroworld that went viral this week showed Travis Scott midperformance while in the crowd, an unconscious woman was being hauled away.

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It kind of reminds me of the part in Gimme Shelter, where the guy is getting stabbed and the Rolling Stones are a few yards away singing. Theres this sort of visceral power to the idea of someone performing while people are being physically harmed so close to them and they seem almost oblivious.

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There have been disasters at music festivals, big concerts, for decades. Since the birth of popular music in the rock n roll era and since these large concerts started, people have been dying at them. Theyre potentially very dangerous places.

With Travis Scott, I dont know where his career goes. Every time that somebody has had something bad happen at one of their events, it seems like it affects those people deeply and it really traumatizes them. It doesnt kill their careers. So The Who are still considered rock legends after Cincinnati, the Rolling Stones are widely beloved after Altamont. Pearl Jam, what happened at Roskilde has not affected their standing in the world. So I think this will affect Travis Scott in the short term. I certainly think a lot of his corporate partnerships will go away. I think this will affect him on a personal level. I dont think it will destroy his career. I just hope he does things differently. I hope he doesnt play more shows like that because it is clear that they cant keep happening.

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Kenneth Branaghs autobiographical coming-of-age drama Belfast opens with a title sequence that takes the viewer on a soaring aerial tour of that ancient Northern Irish port city as it looks today, all red-brick row houses and bright-blue river water. But as the credits come to an end, we are abruptly thrown into the pastAugust of 1969, to be exactand into a much more intimate view of the city: a small residential street, seen in deep-focus black-and-white. Most of the rest of the film will stick to that location, with the action only rarely leaving the cozy cobblestoned block that, for 9-year-old Buddy (Jude Hill) and his older brother Will (Lewis McAskie), constitutes the only world theyve ever known.

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This shift between black-and-white and color happens a few more times during the film, always when Buddy and members of his familyMa (Caitriona Balfe), Pa (Jamie Dornan), Granny (Judi Dench), or Pop (Ciaran Hinds)find themselves in the audience of some sort of spectacle. When they go to the movies to see Chitty Chitty Bang Bang or attend a local production of A Christmas Carol, the action on the screen or stage appears in rich color, a vivid demonstration of how much film and theater mean to the little boy who will grow up to be one of Britains foremost actors and directors. Except for those few, magical moments, though, theres no hint of Kenneth/Buddys future career as a thespian. Hes a regular kid, less interested in the arts than in Matchbox cars and play-fighting in the street with a trash can lid as a shield.

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It isnt long until the fighting turns real. In the first scene, Buddys trash can lid is pressed into service as an actual shield when a riot breaks out on the block, with Protestant thugs arriving to blow up a car and terrorize the streets Catholic residents. Buddy and his family are Protestants, so they are spared direct harm. But the young men causing the trouble put pressure on Pa, a carpenter who regularly travels to England to find work, to join up with their anti-Catholic gang. The dual conflict of the movie to come will involve Pa and Mas attempt to keep their family safe and Buddys attempt to understand the religious and political violence swirling around him, as the capital of Northern Ireland enters the bloody period of its history now known as the Troubles.

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Though it takes place against a backdrop of mounting civil unrest, Belfast focuses for the most part on smaller domestic dramas. Buddys parents struggle to pay their rent and back taxes and argue about whether to leave the city for a safer but lonelier life as emigrants somewhere in the British Commonwealth. Buddy gets a crush on a Catholic classmate and is pressured by an older girl to shoplift sweets. Meanwhile, his grandfather, a former coal miner played with tremendous warmth and humor by Hinds, serves as the familys moral anchor and Buddys closest confidant, despite the old mans declining health. In a lovely, improvised-feeling scene between Hinds and the equally magnificent Dench, Pop serenades Granny with a show tuneHow to Handle a Woman, from Camelotand pulls his protesting wife to her feet for a slow dance.

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Its story beats are more familiar, its message about the primacy of family love a bit cornier, and the young heros view of his parents marriage considerably more idealized.

In many of its stylistic details, Belfast resembles another film that takes place in its writer-directors fondly remembered if less than idyllic childhood: Alfonso Cuarons Mexico Cityset Roma, also shot in black and white with long, intricately choreographed tracking shots. Belfast is not the tour de force that Roma was; its story beats are more familiar, its message about the primacy of family love a bit cornier, and the young heros view of his parents marriage considerably more idealized. (Should two working-class Irish parents really look this hot, or be this madly and exhibitionistically in love?) But good luck getting through this bighearted family drama without tearing up at least once, especially when Van Morrisons familiar bluesy growl shows up on the soundtrack. Which is a lotMorrisons swelling ballads are so heavily used in the soundtrack that at times Belfast feels like an extended music video. This is a movie more intent on evoking outsize feelingsnostalgia, romantic longing, griefthan on exploring the political and historical themes its setting gestures toward. The Troubles serve as a backdrop that gives the story suspense and stakes, but if, like me, you go in not knowing much about this period of recent Irish history, you will leave scarcely more informed.

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Still, Belfast gets the job done when it comes to producing waves of emotion in the viewer. The acting is consistently marvelous, including from the newcomer Jude Hill, only 9 at the time of filming. He appears on-screen, often alone and silent, for nearly every minute of the movie, and his watchful, expressive face recalls the juvenile protagonists of Truffaut films like The 400 Blows or Small Change. Without the right kid in the central role, a movie like this would never have worked, and to Branaghs credit, he directs his junior alter ego with a light touch that lets the character of Buddy seem like a real, specific boy, rather than a symbol of lost childhood innocence as filtered through grown-up memory. A few late scenes pull too hard on the heartstrings, like a family party at which Dornans normally stoic character suddenly reveals himself to be a karaoke god as he takes the mic to belt a showstopping cover of Everlasting Love. But the very last shot, a close-up of Judi Denchs bowed head seen through the blurred glass of a window, fully earns the tears I found myself shedding, almost despite myself, as the credits rolled.

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[Read: How Kristen Stewart Went From Object of Mockery to Best Actress Front-Runner]

Belfast is already being called the front-runner in several major categories in the Oscar race, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director. The fluid deep-focus cinematography by Haris Zambarloukos (who also shot Branaghs recent Agatha Christie adaptation Murder on the Orient Express) also seems likely to garner some awards season recognition. Its easy to imagine this film cleaning up at the Oscars. Its a humanist crowd-pleaser with just enough historical heft to count as something more than a small family drama, and its also a deeply personal labor of love that, even if it never quite knocks your socks off, seems too sincere and too beautifully crafted to hate. Im sure I will see better films than Belfast this yearin fact, now that the big end-of-year films are finally starting to roll out, I may see a better one this week. But if this tenderhearted dad movie does give Branagh his first Oscar (hes been nominated five times in various categories over the past 32 years and never won), I would be hard-pressed to be so churlish as to begrudge it its success.
Maid will make you cry. I definitely found myself having a cathartic sob session by the end of the 10-hour the series, which has become one of Netflixs most-streamed releases in just over a month. Im not just particularly sensitivegenerally far from itbut Maid is absolutely a show designed to get your tears flowing: Its a sentimental-but-not-saccharine, depressing-but-not-hopeless watch. The trials and tribulations faced by single mom Alex, played by a magnetic Margaret Qualley, are both relatable and fully notjust intimate enough to touch the similarly skinny, white brunettes who are likely helping keep this show afloat. Because despite Maid tackling both the domestic service worker industry and the bureaucracy attached to poverty in this spiteful AF country with a surefire mix of pathos and patience, it also tells a particular version of that story: the white woman fairy tale version.

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Brass tacks first: Maid tells the story of Alex Russell, a twentysomething living in Washington with her abusive, alcoholic boyfriend. Alex takes her 3-year-old daughter and flees their dangerous home, seeking out safety and a better life in a shelter for domestic abuse victims. From there, she experiences custody battles, homelessness, constantly diminishing funds, and dependence on fair-weather figures, like her parents and a friend who wants to be much more. But Alex also enjoys numerous breakthroughs: She meets kindly women willing to hire her to clean their homesto be their maid, as they call it, even if these jobs are usually one-offs. The shelter that she returns to after she leaves her boyfriend a second, final time takes her in with open arms, offering her stability, new clothes, a new phone, safety, and child care. All the while, Alex is writing her memoirs about being a woman finding a new pathjust like Stephanie Land, whose memoir Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mothers Will to Survive inspired the series. Just as Lands knack for writing got her out of her similar situation, Alex manages to gain acceptance into a college writing program in Montana, where she secures financial aid, child care, housing, and employment for herself.

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There is no way for this show to succeed, even exist, without Alex having an independent dream life waiting for her on the other end.

Its a satisfying ending for a character whom weve grown to care for over the course of the shows 10 episodes. I quietly rooted for Alex to find a better life for herself and her daughter, breaking the cycle of abuse that ensnares her family so that she can progress in ways her motheror real-life women in similar situations to herscould only dream of. Alexs reality, although based on a true story, is not one that is achievable for many people in her situationespecially those who look less like Alex and more like the women whom she cleans houses for.

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But Alex benefits from privileges of her own. She lived a ferry ride away from a wealthy town, in which she was able to find regular work and support from well-off women who empathized with her plight. Even gaining acceptance to an MFA writing program, the key to Alex getting out of the Pacific Northwest and starting a new life out in Montana, is incredibly rare. Getting into or affording to go to college is far from a given in this country, especially a specialized program; fine arts programs typically offer sub-10 percent acceptance rates. Financial aid? Housing? Day care? These are accommodations that are even further from guarantees. But there is no Maid without Alex being guaranteed themthere is no way for this show to succeed, even exist, without Alex having an independent dream life waiting for her on the other end.

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The people that help guide Alex to that other endthe ones who employ her, provide housing for her, and befriend her at the domestic violence shelters she stays in, serve as fairy godmothersnotably ones who are of color, as if to hammer home that this is a series that is actively trying to subvert the racial elements regularly part of real-life versions of Alexs story. Theres Denise (BJ Harrison), the Black director of the shelter who provides Alex safety, confidence, and therapy, and teaches her about how to manage the bureaucracy of programs like SNAP and financial assistance, which none of the white people in Alexs life could help her with; Tara (Mozhan Marno), the one lawyer willing to take on Alexs case and actively fight for her to get solo custody of Maddy; and Anika Noni Roses Regina, who opens up to Alex about her marital strife and fertility struggles, developing a close relationship with her that nonetheless began with a Black woman threatening to call the cops on white woman Alex for stealing her dog, in a weird scam constructed by Alexs Latina friend. A Black woman feeling this comfortable calling the cops is something that feels distinctly native to this rendering of society, making me, a nonwhite woman, yearn for a white woman to be granted the same privilege as her Black and brown benefactors. This dramatic inversion of racial privilege is not unique to Maid, but its both crucial to its success and also whats unnerving about it. It feels as if the show is assuming that the person watching looks more like Alex than Regina, that its much easier to believe in a white woman becoming a success as long as the people of color have celebrated theirs off screen.

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It would be unpalatable, most likely, in its commonality, or assertion to Netflixs majority white viewing base that this is how people of color live around this country toothat research shows more than 61 percent of domestic workers are nonwhite, despite making up less than 40 percent of the U.S. workforce, and more than half of Black and brown domestic workers live in poverty. Not that Netflix is afraid to showcase people of color who live harsh lives of all kinds. The platform is rife with content about life behind bars, or in poverty, or amid injustices. And, to be fair, there are also Netflix shows that celebrate diverse peoples diverse experiences. But, then, those are not the shows we are talking about as among the most-watched miniseries Netflixs ever produced. (Its telling that the show Maid has usurped at the top is The Queens Gambit.)

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A story like Alexs is a white fairy tale that runs counter to plenty of data we have on how this story is usually far from white, and far from a fairy tale. But would Maid have been this successful if Alex were a Black woman? If nothing else had changed, but our lead was Black? Perhaps the majority of discussion then would be about the lack of realismthat it is harder to stomach a person of color persevering under systems made to ground her down than it is a model-thin white woman. Therein lies the challenge, I suppose: finding the middle ground between fidelity to the reality of being a lower-middle-class American of color and the predominantly white executives and creatives ability to tell those stories with the same empathy and hopefulness that Stephanie Lands memoir received in its dramatic translation. Maybe it shouldnt be as hard as it sounds. But maybe Maid and its core whiteness tells us otherwise.
Twenty years ago, after 9/11, Vice President Dick Cheney called for a war on terrorism. He blamed Iraq for the attack, wrongly, and pushed the United States into a disastrous occupation of that country. Cheney was determined to defend America, pursue its enemies, and punish Democrats who refused to go along. That fixation, combined with bad judgment, did a lot of damage.

On Jan. 6, America was struck again, but this time the attack came from within. It was orchestrated not by Islamic terrorists but by a Republican president, and congressional Republicans are trying to obstruct a House select committee investigation of the plot. So Dick Cheneys daughter, Republican Rep. Liz Cheneywith the same resolve that drove her father to take on Saddam Hussein and congressional Democratsis taking on her own party. Shes calling out Republican leaders for aiding the enemy.

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Cheney, who sits on the select committee, agrees with liberals that the Jan. 6 attack threatened democracy. But she also sees it as a military battle. In August, speaking at the Aspen Institute, she recalled walking through the Capitol after the attack and seeing members of SWAT teams, members of the Capitol Police, in uniform, in riot gear, lying against the statues and against the walls. She quoted a witness who told her, I fought in Iraq. And I have never seen anything like the level of just violent hand-to-hand combat that we faced at the Capitol. Last month, as the House debated a contempt-of-Congress resolution against Steve Bannonwho has defied a subpoena to testify before the select committeeCheney quoted Bannons martial language just before the assault began: We are coming in right over the target. This is the point of attack we have always wanted.

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On Tuesday, speaking in New Hampshire, Cheney described Jan. 6 as the latest in a history of momentous battles. She recalled Americas victories over Nazism and Soviet communism, praised the U.S. armed forces, and lauded the heroism of the passengers on Flight 93. She also spoke of her great-great-grandfather, who had fought for the Union in the Civil War. In every generation, she observed, Americans had stood up to defend our freedom. The new heroes, she argued, were the 140 law enforcement officers who fought for hours and held the tunnel on the west front of the Capitol.

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This perspective leads Cheney to regard her partys collaboration with Donald Trump in a particularly grim and hawkish way. Republican leaders who conspire to thwart the Jan. 6 investigation arent just corrupt. Theyre betraying national security. At the Aspen Institute, Cheney described multiple backstage maneuvers by Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, to sabotage any inquiry into the attack. In New Hampshire, she warned that Trump, in his ongoing campaign to unravel the foundations of our constitutional republic, was being aided by political leaders who, together with the former president, posed a domestic threat.

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In raising these alarms, Cheney is echoing her fathers administration. President George W. Bush framed the war on terror as a binary choice, telling foreign governments, You are either with us or you are against us. His running mate, Dick Cheney, used that us-or-them message to pummel Democrats for questioning the war in Iraq. On Tuesday, Cheney delivered the same message: There is no middle ground. But she was talking about the invasion of the U.S. Capitol, not the invasion of Iraq, and she was challenging her own party.

The insurrection, in her eyes, isnt just a shameful moment in history. Its still going on, and Republicans are abetting it. In New Hampshire, she explicitly rebuked House Republican leaders for inviting Trump to deliver the keynote speech at a GOP fundraising dinner the previous night. She noted that at the dinner, Trump reportedly said once again that the insurrection was on Nov. 3, and that the events of Jan. 6, when a violent mob invaded the Capitol  were justified. Cheney didnt mince words about this treachery: Political leaders who sit silent in the face of these false and dangerous claims are aiding a former president who is at war with the rule of law and the Constitution.

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This week, Cheney and her colleagues on the select committee issued 16 more subpoenas in their investigation of the Jan. 6 plot. But her concern goes beyond the events of that day. At the Aspen Institute, she noted that Trump and his allies are trying to install puppets as local election officials. She cited a colleague, Rep. Jody Hice, whoat Trumps instigationis running to replace Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state who refused Trumps demands to tamper with vote tallies. She also warned that legislators in some states are giving themselves more control over the adjudication of elections. In a close race, Trump or another usurper could seize power without firing a shot.

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Cheney doesnt flinch from the C-word. At the Aspen Institute, she pointed out that Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had expressed concern about a coup by Trump. And at a House hearing on Sept. 29, when Republican lawmakers challenged Milleys loyalty, Cheney praised him for standing in the breach on Jan. 6. She called her colleagues smears against the general despicable and condemned those who impugned his patriotism while attempting to obstruct the investigation into that attack.

Within the GOP, Cheney is losing her fight. Shes been booted out of the House Republican leadership, and Trumps allies have targeted her for defeat in 2022. In a party of cowards, her hawkish case against Trumps collaboratorsthat theyre harboring and protecting enemies of the United Stateshas fallen on deaf ears. But that doesnt make her wrong. She wants to know why a party that claims to stand for national security is trying to cover up an attack on America. And the leaders of that party have no answer.
As a giant clock ticked down the time to Travis Scotts performance at Astroworld, the crowd gradually became more and more dense as thousands of fans rushed the stage. Thats when 20-year-old Ian Hoskins said people compressed all around him. It couldnt have been more than 50 degrees outside on that November night in Houston, but Hoskins was drenched in sweat from the heat of bodies crammed against him. I had a gut feeling that this was not right, he said. This is dangerous. I should leave.

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But there was no way out. Everyone is trying to get out as an individual, but youre moving as a whole, Hoskins said, referring to the force of the crowd moving as one as a powerful ocean. Standing tall at 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, Hoskins became a human life preserver, desperate to keep those around him from being swallowed by the tide. I was having people grab my arms and shoulders. At one point I had five or six people grabbing on to me to stay above the crowd. If someone fell, theyd get trampled.

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Live Nation, the organizer of the festival, stopped the show early, but still 40 minutes after city officials said a mass casualty event was underway. At least eight people died at Astroworld, hundreds more were injured, and several more remain in critical care.

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It will take some time for investigators to determine exactly what conditions made Astroworld become so dangerous and deadly, and it could be several weeks to determine the cause of death for those who died. Lawsuits accusing rapper Travis Scott of encouragement of violence and negligence are piling up. Scott is no stranger to the law, having pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in 2017 after a show in Rogers, Arkansas, ended in chaos and injuries. Clearly, the performers shows fit a pattern of dangerous and crammed crowds.

But in the immediate aftermath of the chaotic event, the police and the media floated a bizarre story about a possible culprit. TMZ reported that a mystery assailant wielding a syringe loaded with drugs was injecting people, causing some to unwittingly overdose. Somehow, this alleged assailant is thought to have set off a panic that triggered a stampede among a crowd of over 50,000 people. This theory purported to explain what sparked the chaos and how otherwise healthy young adults suffered cardiac arrest and died at a music festival.

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The needle-stabbing rumor didnt stay in the celebrity gossip pages. Hours later, at a press conference, Houston police Chief Troy Finner perpetuated the theory, saying that one of the narratives being investigated was that some individual was injecting other people with drugs.

The waters became even muddier when CBS News, NBC News, Fox News, the New York Post, and numerous other local outlets amplified and broadcasted that the police chief confirmed the needle-prick theory. To be sure, the police chief did no such thing. Rather, he recklessly repeated a rumor that was floating around. It took days before the police chief cleared up the theory he himself spread: On Wednesday, he said that the security guard in question was struck in the head and that no one injected drugs in him.

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But the needle-prick story should never have been reported as news. In addition to a lack of evidencethere was no toxicology report verifying the claimit just doesnt make basic sense. Ive been a journalist on the drug beat for several years, and Ive never talked to a drug user whos eager to give their drugs away for free to people who dont want it. It also takes time and concentration to dilute drugs and load them in a syringe, a task that could be quite difficult to do in a dark and crowded space like Astroworld. Then, theres the matter of actually injecting a moving target square in the neck, unless maybe the assailant is Showtimes Dexter. In reality, its incredibly difficult to inject someone in the neck, especially stealthily, said Dr. Ryan Marino, who specializes in addiction and overdose. The needle theory didnt make sense to Hoskins either, who was in the pit at the concert. There was no way you could prick somebody with a needle and inject themyou couldnt even move your arms, he said. It wouldnt even explain the fact that some concertgoers went to the hospital for cardiac arrest, as opioid overdoses mostly involve severe respiratory depression. As for what explains the health complications and injuries of Astroworld attendees, Marino told me that young people could easily experience cardiac arrest and asphyxiation due to crowd crush.

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Crowd crush, otherwise known as crowd surge, is a horrifying phenomenon that occurs when people are jammed so tight together that they cant breathe, leading to injury and possible death by compressive asphyxia. In crowd crush, people dont need to be in an altered state of mind to trample other people to death (not that drugs cause one to do that, anyway). Its happened before: A gruesome case of crowd crush at Hillsborough stadium in 1989 killed 97 people. Crowd crush is not a very intuitive thing, said Claire Zagorski, a paramedic and addiction researcher at the University of Texas at Austin. When I started paramedic school, I didnt understand how trampling was deadly. But its completely plausible that young, perfectly healthy people could die from it.

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Zagorski described crowd crush as a critical mass of bodies being compressed until their airways are constricted. It gets to a point where you no longer have control over your body and its no longer up to you where you go, and quickly becomes no longer up to you if you can breathe. An attorney representing the family of a 21-year-old who died at Astroworld revealed the cause of death to be compressive asphyxiation. The air was literally slowly squeezed out of him, the familys lawyer said, adding that the young man collapsed from cardiac arrest and was trampled.

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So why was the narrative of rogue injectors so appealing and spreadable? One Astroworld attendee told Rolling Stone that she thought authorities were trying to blame drugs for a massive disaster and failure of planning. The experts I interviewed also expressed frustration at how the police and media handled the needle-prick story. A needle-wielding stabber triggering chaos at Astroworld was widely believed because it fit neatly into existing drug panics, they said, which center drug users as dangerous and unpredictable.

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When it comes to raising the specter of drugs, multiple experts said police have neither a credible or trustworthy track record. In the midst of an unprecedented overdose crisis, misinformation about drugsespecially opioids like fentanylis rampant among law enforcement. For instance, many police officers still believe that touching fentanyl or simply standing near it is deadly and causes officers at the scene of drug busts to overdose from mere exposure to the substance. Thats highly unlikelyits been thoroughly debunked multiple times by Slate aloneyet police and local news outlets continue to run the same dubious story. Police really love their fantastical drug narratives that are just really implausible, Zagorski said.

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Rather than the cause of the chaos being some crazed assailant wielding a syringe, its likely that the event organizers were overwhelmed by the crowd and failed to implement crowd control safety measures; this could be out of sheer incompetence or cutting corners to save costs or maybe both. Astroworld was organized and managed by Live Nation, the worlds largest live-events company, which has been linked to hundreds of deaths and injuries and is also being sued for negligence. Hoskins noted that there were only two free water stations, and that lines for everything from water to merch were hours long, indicating there were not enough staff. One security guard at the show said they were woefully understaffed, received little to no training, and when chaos broke out, they stopped working, took off their gear, and disappeared into the crowd.

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The media and police were looking for a bad guy to blame. Its understandable to reach for a clear cause and source of blame in the aftermath of an unthinkable tragedy; on TikTok, conspiracy theorists suggested that the concert was some kind of satanic ritual led by Scott. But by its very nature, crowd crush is irreducible to a single individual or a few bad apples. Its a mass phenomenon that occurs when large crowds collide with systemic failures, like poor design and incompetent event management. In some ways, its scarier than the drug theory: The worst thing about this [crowd crush] phenomenon is if youre looking at the crowd from a safe position, it doesnt look like anything dangerous is even happening, he said. It just looks like people dancing and moving. But if youre in there, youre fighting for your life.

For more on the Astroworld tragedy, listen to this episode of What Next.
In October, the U.S. and Russia did what many thought was unthinkable: They jointly signed a cyber norms agreement. Submitted to the U.N. General Assembly, the three-page document outlined, for the first time, some general cyber principles on which the countries nominally agree.

The power of real diplomacy is not to be lost herethe Trump administration took a hammer to State Department expertise and ripped the rug out from under highly dedicated cyber diplomats who previously led these dialogues with Moscow. Bringing this engagement back is a significant accomplishment of the Biden White House. All that said, however, many ideological gaps persist in the US-Russia relationship, including on technology. Its these points of divergencein some cases, a radically different worldviewthat will greatly shape how much cyber understanding and cooperation the states can pursue going forward.

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Dated Oct. 8, the recently published U.N. submission was co-signed by the United States and Russia, plus 53 other countries. Some signatories are authoritarian countries, such as Eritrea (and obviously Russia), although many longstanding supporters of a more state-controlled internet, like China and Iran, did not put their names on the draft resolution.

Its content doesnt read as earth-shattering; in line with decades of such U.N. proposals, the agreement focused on general principles, as captured in its lengthy title: Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security, and advancing responsible State behavior in the use of information and communications technologies. Nonetheless, its a big deal. For decades (going back to a Russian document in 1998), the U.S. and Russia have firmly opposed each others U.N. cyber proposals. When a Russian resolution was successfully passed in December 2019, a former White House official and cyber negotiator described it to me as an embarrassing and stunning defeat, for it cemented an advance against global, open internet values. Reaching consensus even on the October documents admittedly anodyne languagethat all states should promote the use of information and communications technologies for peaceful purposes; that states should work to prevent conflict with those technologies; that uses of such technologies could undermine international stability and securityis an achievement.

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Russia and the U.S. arent far apart on cybersecurity just because they view each other as adversaries or at least antagonistsits also because they have fundamentally different views here, down to the language they use. In the U.S., officials talk in the language of cybersecurity, a term generally used in the West in reference to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability (the so-called CIA triad) of systems, networks, and data. This word is also relatively synonymous with the term information security, hence phrases like information security conferences or information security professionals. Underpinning this verbiage is a conceptual distinction between data (1s and 0s that computers process) and information (content people can process). For example, when practitioners talk about filtering internet traffic for cybersecurity threats, they are referring to code and malware; those conversations typically exclude filtering for content, like with disinformation.

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Moscows view is quite different. Information security is a bedrock concept in Russian cyber and internet policy (and, indeed, modern information strategy), but its used much more broadly. It encompasses what American policymakers would dub cybersecurity, like network defenses and encryption, but it also includes ideas of general political, social, and cultural stability in the information sphere. Effectively, information security includes everything from building up Russias cyber defenses to spreading Kremlin-manufactured disinformation to surveilling citizens internet activity to protect the Putin regime. Even in English, cyber or cyberspace is not a concept in Russian doctrine, and is generally only used by Russian officials in reference to Western thinking.

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These differences matter when Washington and Moscow sit down at the negotiating table. While Russian officials understand that the United States uses the term cyber, Russian thinking does not seriously recognize the distinction between information and data. U.S. policy that pushes for less online censorship alongside more control of cybercriminal activity thus doesnt neatly fit this worldview. Relatedly, the U.S. government rightfully will not recognize the Russian governments definitions of cybercrime, where anything that violates the information security of the Putin regimesuch as disseminating news that reflects poorly on the stateis considered an illegal offense. This has even been a problem in ongoing U.S.-Russia cyber negotiations. U.S. efforts to get Moscow to crack down on ransomware gangs in Russia have been met with classic what-about-ism tactics that falsely equate U.S. and Russian law. Of course Russia will extradite cybercriminals to the U.S., Putin told a state news agency in Juneso long as the US extradites cybercriminals in the U.S. to Russia. Moscow effectively said the same in a U.N. cyber treaty introduced that same month. Given the Kremlin believes the U.S. government is interfering in Russian elections through U.S. media and internet platforms, its not hard to imagine Moscow accusing any number of U.S. journalists or social media executives of criminal behavior.

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The friction doesnt stop at terminology. Russias cyber ecosystem is composed of a complex web of state actors, individuals acting independently from the state, and many in the gray area in betweenoffensive cyber and information groups that are state-backed, state-directed, state-encouraged, or state-ignored. If Putin wanted to crack down on a particular cybercriminal gang, he absolutely could. Yet, contrary to popular Western perception, Putin does not control literally everything in Russia, and many cybercriminals do as they please so long as they attack foreign targets and dont undermine the Kremlins objectives.

The state also depends on a web of criminal proxies and front organizations to spy on and launch other cyber and information operations against foreign targets. For instance, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has been known to recruit cybercriminals to run operations by discovering them via online forums and criminal investigations into their activities. While the U.S. can pressure the Putin regime to do more against ransomware gangs, it must focus narrowly on particular kinds of operations against particular U.S. targets; handing Russian officials a list of dozens of sectors off-limits for all kinds of cyber operations risks going nowhere at all.

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Putin also genuinely believes that Silicon Valley platforms are tools of Western subversionand that the U.S. and other democracies are constantly interfering in Russias domestic political sphere and electoral processes by the nature of the global, open internet. Where democracies looked at the Arab Spring and imagined technologys inherently democratizing force, the Kremlin saw American meddling and the internets threat to regime security. When Apple and Google wouldnt delete opposition candidate Alexey Navalnys app in Septemberwhich they ultimately did, after the Kremlin sent armed men to Googles Moscow office and threatened company representatives on the groundthe Russian government cried U.S. election interference.

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Russias 2016 Information Security Doctrine itself says: Intelligence services of certain States are increasingly using information and psychological tools with a view to destabilizing the internal political and social situation in various regions across the world, undermining sovereignty and violating the territorial integrity of other States. Religious, ethnic, human rights organizations and other organizations, as well as separate groups of people, are involved in these activities and information technologies are extensively used towards this end. American diplomats will be hard-pressed to get anywhere on election interference and internet repression issues without recognizing this ideological viewone in which the Russian government views all online mobilization as the work of enemy powers and cracks down on speech, assembly, and online activity in response.

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All told, cybersecurity practitioners, policy wonks, and scholars constantly debate whether cyber norms that dictate acceptable behavior matter, and if so, how much. In this case, its easy to find phrases in the U.N. document that Moscow clearly doesnt actually endorse, like the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the use of information and communications technologies. Other issues plague the U.S.-Russia cyber relationship, too, such as continued Russian disinformation and election interference operations. Theres also the question of whether U.S. Cyber Command, a military organization, should be going after a Russian cybercriminal group, especially one the White House says is likely not Kremlin-directed, even as it may enjoy the states tacit approval.

The Biden administration and its cyber negotiators have made a real achievement in getting agreement on this United Nations proposal, and that feat should be recognized. Yet when dealing with a government that has such an all-encompassing and conspiratorial view of information, the internet, and regime security, the U.S. will have a better chance at successful cyber negotiations by narrowing its discussions to focus on specific behaviors and specific targetsand specific costs for going after them.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
Spain denies promising the EU to impose road tolls



The Minister of Transport in Spain insists that a payment for use system hasnt been agreed

This week, Spain has begun outlining its plan to introduce charges for road use from 2023 amid a huge amount of backlash from truck drivers and minority political parties. In the midst of controversy, Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sanchez, insisted on Wednesday November 10 that the government had in no way made an agreement with EU to impose tolls in order to receive recovery funds.

Having already proposed a payment-for-use system back in 2012 and 2018 which never came to fruition, it now seems inevitable that drivers in Spain will have to pay around one cent per kilometre to use the countrys high-speed highways in the coming years.

Despite this, Ms Sanchez has denied that any firm decision has been made and instead reiterated that the Governments commitments are purely related to developing and aligning ourselves within the European Unions strategy of safe, sustainable and connected mobility.

Confirming that Spain is aiming to develop a roadmap for the process by the end of the year, the minister added that, for now, the plan is to enter into a transparent dialogue with political parties and the transport sector, which has threatened strikes over the issue, to analyse the best way to pay for the infrastructure in this country.

Unfortunately for Ms Sanchez, the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan sent by Spain to Brussels directly contradicts her claims. According to the document, the government explained that it is necessary to develop a system of payment for use of the high-capacity road network that allows us to cover maintenance costs.

The Plan goes on to say that the ongoing maintenance of Spains 12,000 kilometres of motorways and dual carriageways cannot be covered by the regular budget, and so it was proposed that a pay-as-you-go system be introduced from 2024.

Image: Archive
A former heating plant gets new life, the second package of measures will improve the business environment and police warn of burglars in Bratislava.

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Good afternoon. The weekend is coming and we have prepared a quick summary of the main news of the day in our Friday, October 29, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia. We wish you a pleasant read.

For weekend tips and reads, check out our Spectacular Slovakia weekly roundup. This week, Peter Dlhopolec is writing about celebrating Halloween at the Bojnice castle and several places in Bratislava, the Rusyn version of some fairy tales and an exhibition of graffiti. And there is a folk song to listen to as well.

Illustrative stock photo (Source: TASR)

The police are warning the public of an increase in breaks-in of flats in Bratislava without clear damage to the front door. Michal Szeiff, the spokesperson of the Regional Directorate of the Police Forces in Bratislava, told the TASR newswire.

In the period from the middle of July 2021 to the present day, we have recorded in Bratislava more than 20 such acts in which the locking mechanism of the entrance door to the flats was overcome in an undetermined manner, said Szeiff. In most cases, it was a security door with a higher-grade security lock.

The police have brought charges against one man. He is currently being prosecuted.

The police urge citizens to pay more attention. At the same time, they are asking the public to help in identifying strangers in a video they posted on social media.

Photo of today

Slovaks mark All Saints Day this weekend. (Source: TASR)

Feature story for today

Anyone at a meeting in either of the two special conference rooms in the historic Jurkovic heating plant in Bratislava might want to make sure they keep their eyes on whoever is speaking, and not drop them to the floor, no matter how bored they may be.

The two rooms are built inside a huge concrete storage bin and have glass floors offering a view that goes metres down to its lit bottom. Looking down into it can make some people dizzy.

The rooms design is just one example of the concept behind the recent reconstruction of the iconic building.

The former Jurkovic heating plant  built in 1944 and named after its original designer, prominent Slovak architect Dusan Jurkovic  is part of the massive 420 million Sky Park development in the heart of the capital on the banks of the Danube.

Surrounded by residential towers designed by the award-winning British architectural studio Zaha Hadid Architects, it is one of a few historical industrial buildings still standing in the capital that has been repurposed.

Historic heating plant gets new lease of life Read more

Anniversary of the day

Statue of Ludovit Stur in Modra (Source: Peter Nagy)

Slovakia marks the birthday of Ludovit Stur (October 28, 1815  January 12, 1856), a leader of the Slovak national revival in the 19th century and the author of the Slovak language standard. On October 29, 1815, his name was written down in the parish register.

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Coronavirus and vaccination news

The coronavirus was the sixth-most common cause of death in Slovakia in September of this year, with 103 individuals succumbing to Covid-19. Based on the preliminary data, the number of deaths in September was 5.7 percent above the five-year monthly average. (Slovak Statistics Office)

in Slovakia in of this year, with 103 individuals succumbing to Covid-19. Based on the preliminary data, the number of deaths in September was 5.7 percent above the five-year monthly average. (Slovak Statistics Office) 4,587 people were newly diagnosed as Covid positive out of 17,338 PCR tests performed on Thursday, October 28. The number of people in hospitals has increased to 1,421. 23 more deaths were reported on October 28. The vaccination rate is at 45.41 percent; 2,497,287 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here.

people were out of 17,338 PCR tests performed on Thursday, October 28. The number of people in hospitals has increased to 1,421. 23 more deaths were reported on October 28. The vaccination rate is at 45.41 percent; 2,497,287 people have received the first dose of the vaccine. More stats on Covid-19 in Slovakia here. A total of 8,820 cases of suspected adverse reactions to vaccines against Covid-19 have been reported in Slovakia as of October 28, the State Institute for Drug Supervision (SUKL) wrote on its website, adding that 1,067 of these cases were serious.

cases of have been reported in Slovakia as of October 28, the State Institute for Drug Supervision (SUKL) wrote on its website, adding that 1,067 of these cases were serious. A total of 30,789 people in Slovakia have been inoculated with a third vaccine dose as of Wednesday, October 27, the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) reported on its website.

people in Slovakia have been inoculated with a as of Wednesday, October 27, the State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) reported on its website. The State Institute for Drug Control (SUKL) registered another two cases in which a death has been linked to vaccination against Covid-19. The first case concerns a 67-year-old man who received the Comirnaty vaccine from the Pfizer/BioNTech consortium. The second case involved a 68-year-old woman who received the Vaxzevria from AstraZeneca.

Other news

The consortium NS MHD Petrzalka has signed the contract on the extension of the tram in Bratislavas Petrzalka, worth 74.5 million without VAT. The Bratislava City Council still needs to confirm the contract before the construction of the 3.9km tram track with seven stops can start. It should be completed by the end of 2023 and be co-financed with EU funds.

has the contract on the worth 74.5 million without VAT. The Bratislava City Council still needs to confirm the contract before the construction of the 3.9km tram track with seven stops can start. It should be completed by the end of 2023 and be co-financed with EU funds. Slovakia will switch from daylight savings time to the normal Central European time between Saturday, October 30, and Sunday, October 31.

will from daylight savings time to between Saturday, October 30, and Sunday, October 31. Another alternative electricity and natural gas supplier is quitting the Slovak energy market. Following Slovakia Energy and BCF Energy, Smart Energy Contractor SEC is the third alternative energy supplier that failed due to a dramatic development of energy prices on the markets. OKTE, the organiser of the short-term market in electricity, terminated the agreement on the settlement of imbalances with the company Smart Energy Contractor SEC.

is the Slovak energy market. Following Slovakia Energy and BCF Energy, is the third alternative energy supplier that failed due to a dramatic development of energy prices on the markets. OKTE, the organiser of the short-term market in electricity, terminated the agreement on the settlement of imbalances with the company Smart Energy Contractor SEC. A delegation from the EP Committee on Employment and Social Affairs will arrive in Kosice on Wednesday, November 3, to evaluate the implementation of projects focused on the better inclusion of disadvantaged groups in Slovakia. During the working trip, MEPs will meet with representatives of non-governmental organisations, experts and representatives of public administration. They are also planning a visit to Roma settlements and the Lunik IX housing estate in Kosice.

will arrive in on Wednesday, November 3, to evaluate the implementation of projects focused on the better inclusion of disadvantaged groups in Slovakia. During the working trip, MEPs will meet with representatives of non-governmental organisations, experts and representatives of public administration. They are also planning a visit to Roma settlements and the Lunik IX housing estate in Kosice. The Slovak Statistics Office revised the GDP downturn in 2020 to 4.4 percent from the originally reported -4.8 percent.

in to 4.4 percent from the originally reported -4.8 percent. Entrepreneurs in Slovakia can look forward to less red tape and more changes. On Thursday, October 28, the Economy Ministry submitted for interdepartmental review the second package of measures to improve the business environment. The cabinet is scheduled to discuss it in late November. It contains 207 measures, some of which were proposed by entrepreneurs. They sent almost 2,500 suggestions in total. The measures include those that concern all entrepreneurs, but also those that will help only certain sectors, such as gastronomic establishments.

Do not miss on Spectator.sk today

Looking back at 'utopian' Bratislava housing estates through graffiti and symbols Read more

With her moms recipes, popular radio host taught Slovaks to cook Rusyn meals Read more

Man finds ancient grave and remains while digging foundation for garage Read more

When injured or lost in the mountains, who do you call? Read more

Writer of history: Dobra Voda Read more

If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.
The amendment was one vote short of passing again.

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Parliament did not approve a law on the assistance to pregnant women, which would set several limits to their access to safe abortions.

Out of the 134 MPs present, 67 voted for it, 38 were against, 28 abstained and one did not vote. The repeated attempt of MP Anna Zaborska (OLaNO) to pass more restrictive legislation fell exactly one vote short of passing once again.

NGOs advocating for human rights, as well as leading Slovak gyneacologists, saw in the amendment an attempt to make access to abortions more difficult. One point of the proposal said that the time period between the decision to undergo abortion to the actual surgery should be prolonged to 96 hours from the current 48.

Only a small number of people support more restricted access to abortions Read more

Conservative MPs argued that the law should use social measures to motivate women not to have an abortion.

Attempts to remove the restrictive parts of the law while leaving the ones that were seen by most MPs as helpful for families were not successful.

The parliament has dealt with the abortion legislation every six months as MPs have proposed the amendment repeatedly.
https://sputniknews.com/20211110/meghan-markle-thanks-prince-harry-who-quoted-spider-man-when-talking-about-responsibility-1090639682.html

Meghan Markle Thanks Prince Harry Who Quoted Spider-Man When Talking About Responsibility

Meghan Markle Thanks Prince Harry Who Quoted Spider-Man When Talking About Responsibility

Meghan Markle Thankful to Prince Harry, Who Quoted Spider-Man When Talking About Responsibility

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Meghan Markle recalled during the interview on Tuesday a phrase from her husband when she was asked about her initiatives regarding parental leave and her privileges.The quote is very similar to the one said in the "Spider-Man" movie, when Peter Parkers uncle Ben shared his wisdom with the superhero, saying with great power comes great responsibility. Also, this quotation was used by the French writer Voltaire.The 40-year-old former actress also noted in the interview that even before she had any privilege in her life, when her life and her lifestyle were very, very different, she always just stood up for what was right.The Duchess of Sussex spoke about responsibility after Sorkin was surprised by her recent letter, where she asked US lawmakers to introduce parental leave of 12 weeks for child care and illness. At the same time, the former actress admitted that she herself has never needed to be separated from her children due to work. The letter caused controversy, as Meghan used her British title during the phone conversations.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/algerian-foreign-minister-calls-for-restoring-syrian-membership-in-arab-league-1090643569.html

Algerian Foreign Minister Calls for Restoring Syrian Membership in Arab League

Algerian Foreign Minister Calls for Restoring Syrian Membership in Arab League

Algerian Foreign Minister Calls for Restoring Syrian Membership in Arab League

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"It's time to return Syria to the fold of the Arab League without interfering in its internal affairs  We initially did not agree with the suspension of Syria's membership and we do not believe that this step helped to improve the situation", Lamamra told Algerian reporters late Wednesday.Lamamra has also welcomed the official visit of UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Damascus.The 22-nation Arab League suspended Syria's membership in 2011 after a civil war broke out in the country. Several member states then recalled their ambassadors from Syria. Years later, some of them have begun taking steps to reengage Damascus and reopen embassies.

mandrake Provided the criminals that ruined a perfectly functioning country pay up for the restructure of Syria. 0

STABOU Youssef Il n'y a que les vrais Arabes qui ne font pas parti de La Ligue Arabe ! 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/almaz-antey-to-take-part-in-dubai-airshow-2021-1090650416.html

Almaz-Antey to Take Part in Dubai Airshow 2021

Almaz-Antey to Take Part in Dubai Airshow 2021

The Russian defence industry firm "Almaz-Antey" will take part in the international aerospace exhibition "Dubai Airshow 2021", which is scheduled to take place... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

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"Almaz-Antey" will present its anti-aircraft missile system S-350E "Vityaz", which is designed to defend objects from massive air attacks by various types of weapons. Besides this, the company is set to present its non-strategic missile defence system 98R6 "Abakan", designed to destroy modern and advanced tactical and operational ballistic missiles. Apart from this, "Almaz-Antey" is set to display such missile defence systems as the S-400 "Triumf", "Viking", and "Thor". Visitors will also have a chance to see the space surveillance radar "Sula", which is capable of tracking objects at a distance up to 6,000 kilometres.The tasks of the ROSC-1 radar-optical complex, which will also be presented at the expo, include the detection and counteraction of UAVs through the use of electronic control and UAV interceptors, as well as an assessment of the ornithological situation in areas adjacent to airfields.According to "Almaz-Antey" Director-General Yan Novikov, the company sees the expansion of its presence on the international defence market as one of its priorities. The company has the right to make supplies for foreign customers."Almaz-Antey" is one of Russia's largest military-industrial complex associations. It includes more than 60 firms and employs over 130,000 people and supplies its products to more than 50 countries around the world.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/andrew-cuomo-wanted-female-staffers-to-defend-him-a-la-joe-biden-in-sexual-harassment-case-1090646020.html

Andrew Cuomo Wanted Female Staffers to Defend Him 'a la Joe Biden' in Sexual Harassment Case

Andrew Cuomo Wanted Female Staffers to Defend Him 'a la Joe Biden' in Sexual Harassment Case

Earlier this year, 11 women accused the NY governor of kissing, groping, and inappropriate behaviour, a claim he vehemently denied. The Democrat dismissed... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

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Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wanted his female staffers to defend him "a la Joe Biden" against sexual harassment claims, according to an inquiry conducted by Attorney General Letitia James.The results of the investigation, which showed that the Democrat did sexually harass 11 women, were unveiled in August, but were released to the public on 10 November. Among the documents is an interview with Andrew Cuomo himself.During the 11-hour grilling he spoke about how his administration tried to respond to the accusation made by former aide Lindsey Boylan. Cuomo's team drafted a letter that was never released to the public, and the official suggested that only female staffers should sign it, apparently in a bid to cast doubt over the accusation made against him and show that the politician is innocent.Allegations Against Joe BidenDuring the 2020 presidential campaign several women accused Joe Biden of sexual harassment. They claimed that the politician touched and kissed them without their consent.Former aide Tara Reade alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the Democrat. Ms Reade claimed that Biden forced her against a wall and penetrated her with his fingers in 1993, when he was a senator for Delaware.Tara Reade filed a criminal complaint against the politician in April 2020. That same month a spokesperson for DC's Metropolitan Police Department said the case was "inactive".Biden dismissed all the accusations, calling them a lie, while his female staffers, both current and former, made statements defending the politician. Over 50 women, who worked with Joe Biden said they had never experienced sexual harassment by the politician.

Vanessa Lewi Myriam Bourla  the wife of Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla  has died from complications from the COVID-19 vaccine early Wednesday, according to her doctor. She passed away in the emergency room at New York-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital after being brought in by paramedics. The cause of death has been listed as complications from the Pfizer vaccine. 0

Vanessa Lewi We need to talk about #PfizerGate 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/as-us-marks-veterans-day-ex-wwii-soldier-fears-youth-failing-to-learn-from-history-1090646152.html

As US Marks Veterans Day, Ex-WWII Soldier Fears Youth Failing to Learn From History

As US Marks Veterans Day, Ex-WWII Soldier Fears Youth Failing to Learn From History

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Veterans Day in the US is a sad feast for Americans who engaged in active combat and lost friends, but the major problem is that the... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T06:23+0000

2021-11-11T06:23+0000

2021-11-11T13:56+0000

soviet union

us

wwii

veterans

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On 11 November, the United States observes Veterans Day, which the US Congress set aside as a legal public holiday honouring all Americans who've served in the military. In addition, the date marks the end of World War I in 1918.Some middle schools, Cohn added, are focused on history, but it is not a general trend.Children, for example, he said are not familiar with terms or phrases associated with the 7 December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour such as "a day that will live in infamy". He also said young people are not familiar with D-Day, when the Allied forces landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944 in addition to VE Day (Victory over Nazi Germany in Europe) and VJ Day (Victory Over Japan).On 25 April 1945, Soviet and US troops met on the Elbe River near the town of Torgau, Germany. The meeting was a key milestone in the process of ending World War II and came about as US troops advanced from the west and Soviet troops advanced from the east, thus splitting Nazi Germany in two.The veteran noted that he always celebrates Veterans Day by commemorating his fallen comrades. Usually, he goes to Arlington Cemetery near Washington, DC, to participate in wreath laying ceremonies in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but this time has had to skip it due to health issues.Cohn welcomed the US administration's efforts to help veterans but noted that some minor improvements still can be made.The veteran admitted that he does not know how to avoid wars in the future.

vot tak The american schools k-12 never teach history, they fill the kids heads with propaganda. So what this man says about the american youth not knowing much about history is nothing new. Loewen, who wrote Lies My Teacher Told Me, noted in that book that the first thing college history educators need to do with first year history students is correct all the bs they learned in k-12. That was in the 1980s-1990s. Since then, with all the rightwing bs contaminating and corrupting every facet of american society, the historical ignorance has probably gotten worse. 4

neutral hooper It was not America's war in Europe and we faced no threat : and we (the united States Government) caused and provoked the Raid on Pearl Harbor with Sanctions and Embargo's and Penalty's on Japan (much like we do today against country's with no central bank or China or Russia or Iran and Syria (the latter resistant to the Jewish conquest of territory in the Mid east ) 4

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/as-who-warns-of-global-syringe-shortage-in-2022-is-india-ready-for-another-public-health-crisis-1090652185.html

As WHO Warns of Global Syringe Shortage in 2022, is India Ready for Another Public Health Crisis?

As WHO Warns of Global Syringe Shortage in 2022, is India Ready for Another Public Health Crisis?

The WHO has warned that a "generation of children" may miss their scheduled immunisation doses because of a possible shortage of syringes, additionally... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T21:03+0000

2021-11-11T21:03+0000

2021-11-11T21:00+0000

world health organization (who)

india

vaccination

public health

healthcare

covid-19

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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned that there may be a global shortage of the one to two billion syringes needed to administer COVID-19 vaccinations next year. According to the global health agency, this shortage could affect routine immunisations while undermining needle safety. Hedman also emphasised that as the supply of COVID-19 vaccine doses increases, the stock of syringes must also keep pace. The WHO is concerned as a shortage could lead to delays in routine vaccinations, particularly for children, and other health services, and it may also instigate the practice of the unsafe reuse of syringes and needles, particularly in poorer countries. According to the WHO, around 6.8 billion COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered around the world, almost double the annual number of routine vaccines. During the meeting, Hedman highlighted that the world's total current manufacturing capacity is about 6 billion immunisation syringes a year."That means the world could face a shortage of up to two billion syringes next year, unless more factories are shifted to producing the right kind of device for shots. If we shift capacity from one type of syringe to another or attempt to expand capacity for specialised immunisation syringes, it takes time and investment," she said. What is Happening in India? India is considered one of the world's major producers of medical supplies. In recent months, however, Indian syringe makers have struggled to balance global and domestic commitments. Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices (HMD), one of Indias largest syringe makers, manufactures an estimated 90 million injection devices suitable for Covid-19 vaccines every month according to media reports. But it also supplies the instrument for global vaccination programmes, which includes UNICEF.After this shortage became more prominent, the Indian government last month placed restrictions on the export of syringes and said that only 40 million units will be allowed to be exported in October and November, and then 90 million each in December and January. According to media reports, HMD claimed that it has diverted 100 million units from a UNICEF order for vaccination efforts within India. In an interview to an Indian news portal The Wire, HMD chairman and managing director Rajiv Nath said that the "global body had 'rapped' the company on the knuckles." Nath alleged that this crisis was "avoidable" if "India had placed orders in advance and had been transparent about the momentum of its vaccine rollout". Concerns over a syringe shortage have loomed since September, as India's COVID-19 vaccination drive surged from a daily average of 5.5 million doses in August, to 7.8 million in September. This includes the largest-single day spike, of 25 million doses, on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday. According to experts, the syringe shortage in India and their restriction on exports may affect global immunisation for both COVID and other diseases, as well as contribute to a possible global scarcity. 'India - A Key Global Syringe Supplier' Industry experts told Sputnik that supplies of syringes from India are important especially for the inoculation of children in low- and middle-income countries. Reportedly, its products vary in size from 0.1 millilitres to 3 millilitres. India used the 0.5 ml auto-disposable (AD) syringe to innoculate citizens with Covishield and Covaxin. This specification is recommended by WHO to prevent the transmission of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.Per media reports, India's export restrictions may particularly affect programmes targeting diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis among children. According to a report by Scroll.in, syringe manufacturing companies had written letters to India's Health Ministry to allow the use of conventional disposable syringes in the COVID-19 vaccination programme which began in January. Since 2005, India has been using auto-disable syringes for its mass vaccination programmes. In their letter, manufacturers informed the Indian government that the country is not "capable" of producing the amount of auto-disable syringes needed for the COVID-19 vaccination drive. No improvement in the current situation has occurred. Hiremath also noted difficulty in procuring syringes from leading syringe brands. "Dispovan, one of the major syringe brands, has suddenly become unavailable because of increased exports. Adding to it, long Deepavali holidays have affected production to a great extent," he added. Scroll.in reported that after the vaccination drive intensified in July, the Indian government invited bids for 1.25 billion auto-disable syringes. It did not get enough bidders, however, and subsequently placed a single order for 100 million syringes. In the same month, the government relaxed the bidding criteria for companies manufacturing conventional syringes, inviting bids of over $12,082,000. The orders were reportedly too late, however, as companies had already sealed export deals with other countries. Syringes from India are exported to 149 countries and export curbs have become a cause for concern. India has at least 20 syringe makers capable of producing over 500 million syringes on a monthly basis. Manufacturers have claimed that they have raised their output since last year. Last month, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement that by the end of 2022 humanity could face a serious shortage of COVID vaccine syringes with "potentially dire consequences for the global effort to bring the pandemic under control".

https://sputniknews.com/20211103/who-approves-emergency-use-of-indias-covaxin-vaccine-1090445016.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210917/india-eyes-record-vaccination-on-pm-modis-birthday-but-opposition-observes-it-as-unemployment-day-1089146000.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211021/india-hails-historic-one-billion-covid-vaccination-milestone-in-nine-months-1090089362.html

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world health organization (who), india, vaccination, public health, healthcare, covid-19
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/china-builds-village-inside-indian-territory-in-arunachal-pradesh-indias-foreign-ministry-1090659041.html

China Builds Village Inside Indian Territory in Arunachal Pradesh: India's Foreign Ministry

China Builds Village Inside Indian Territory in Arunachal Pradesh: India's Foreign Ministry

A Pentagon report said that China had built a large civilian village of about 100 homes in disputed territory in Arunachal Pradesh. China considers Arunachal... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T16:57+0000

2021-11-11T16:57+0000

2021-11-11T16:57+0000

tibet

ladakh region

china

indian foreign ministry

border dispute

arunachal pradesh

india

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Taking note of the US Department of Defense's annual report to Congress, the Indian foreign ministry said that China had built a village inside the Indian Territory in Arunachal Pradesh that "it has illegally occupied" over decades. "The government has always conveyed its strong protest to such activities through diplomatic means and will continue to do so in future," Bagchi said.According to the Pentagon's annual report on military developments involving China, the new village was established along the Tsari river last year.Bagchi highlighted that New Delhi remains committed to creating infrastructure along the border areas to improve the livelihood of its citizens, including in Arunachal Pradesh.The statement comes days after China enacted land border laws which aim to "standardise and strengthen the security and stability of land borders". India's foreign ministry expressed concerns as the country still has unsettled border disputes with China. Chinese maps show the entire Arunachal Pradesh, Barahoti Plains in Uttarakhand and areas up to the 1959 Claim Line in Ladakh as part of its territory. "The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Bagchi added.The decades-old border dispute between the two Asian rivals escalated into serious conflict in June last year when the two countries' armies opened fire at each other in the Ladakh region, for the first time in 45 years. 20 Indian soldiers and four People's Liberation Army troops were killed in the dispute clash where iron rods and stones were hurled on 15 June 2020. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday described the situation at the border as being volatile and asked the armed forces to be ready to respond at short notice.

Nonyank Once again, the people get along fine it is the Bungling Government Meddling that is the problem. 5

bill b india cannot defend itself as a monarchy puppet state, besides its land of tibet, by globalist created an imaginary line with miles of buffer. its technically china land within a declared buffer that china doesnot agree with, only uk-india selfdeclared buffer actually claimed right to china land using the lie its within bufferzone. typical politics used by anglosaxon to startwars when india does know who rules overthem still 5

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/covid-19-pandemic-is-tipping-point-for-reforming-indian-education-system-scholars-say-1090644343.html

'COVID-19 Pandemic is Tipping Point for Reforming Indian Education System', Scholars Say

'COVID-19 Pandemic is Tipping Point for Reforming Indian Education System', Scholars Say

To commemorate the birthday of freedom fighter, scholar, and education advocate Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, India celebrates National Education Day on 11... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T12:41+0000

2021-11-11T12:41+0000

2021-11-12T08:25+0000

education

education

india

digital

school

children

high school

teacher

student

shutdown

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India, which possesses the second-largest school system after China, has been undergoing a big transition amid the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing academics to rethink ideas and implement reforms.Be it switching from traditional classrooms to online study, training teachers in new learning technologies, or switching from rote learning (learning by memorising) to a practical mode of learning, schools and colleges are revamping their ways of educating pupils.However, recent reports by UNESCO revealed that over 320 million students in India have been adversely affected by the transition to the e-learning model.On National Education Day, several education experts have told Sputnik that the COVID-19 pandemic is the "tipping point" for reform of the Indian education system.Digitisation of EducationWhile the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the gates to innovative methods of transmission of knowledge through e-learning models not just in cities but in remote areas of India, creating the right infrastructure for online education has been the biggest challenge."The digitisation of education has led to a digital divide especially for those belonging to underprivileged backgrounds living in remote and rural regions", she adds. With the advent of e-learning models in schools, the adaptability to digital learning is another big challenge for students and teachers.Nidhiluxmi, co-founder of the Achilles Centre of English in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, opines that both teachers and students are not very well versed in digital literacy."It needs a collaborative approach for a continued and uninterrupted teaching-learning process. Soft skills such as communication, initiative, productivity, leadership skills have become more relevant in the online mode. The education sector should now be looking out for technological advancements for remote teaching across India", Nidhiluxmii adds.For ed-tech companies, the biggest roadblock is the misconception that digital education is here to replace traditional pedagogy."Ed-tech today is complementing the traditional educational system as the tech-led renovation has accelerated the administrative processes, optimising the curricula by aligning it with dynamic developments in the industry, and providing students with 24/7 on-demand, online learning as well as a skill support system", Chief Product Office Rajesh Bysani at the online learning platform "Brainly", explains.Revising Students' CurriculumMonica Malhotra Kandhari, the managing director of MBD Group, one of the largest education publishing houses and learning platforms in India, emphasises the need to revise the syllabus for students.She further says that cohesive learning should be designed in such a way that people don't have to do rote learning. "The vocational courses can't be online, and you not only need practical learning but trained instructors as well to teach".With the new wave of e-learning, the need for cybersecurity education has dramatically increased as several universities have made it an integral part of their curriculum to create awareness in students, Roy Zur, the CEO of the cyber-education firm, ThriveDX SaaS, says.Impact on Psychological & Social Development of StudentsWhile online learning ensured the continuation of students' academic growth, their social, emotional, and physical development was impacted.According to a UNICEF 2021 report, the social and emotional well-being of 33% of children aged between 5 to 13 and 50% of teenagers aged between 14 to 18 was negatively impacted due to school closures.Experts say that due to social distancing, students also struggled with emotional and social outbursts which parents found difficult to deal with."Teachers had to act as counsellors, facilitators along with the traditional role of mentors. This increased their work pressure as well", Nidhiluxmii opines.As schools across India are reopening, the need of the hour is to incorporate social and emotional learning into pedagogy."Peer knowledge sharing and peer learning is the key. Communicating their ideas and thoughts about different topics would help students become confident and would equip them to solve real-life problems through critical thinking and creativity", Nidhiluxmii adds.Teacher TrainingExperts feel that there is a need to increase the knowledge of teachers."With frequent training and workshops backed by exposure to international standards of teaching and learning, teachers are sure to grow and regain a commanding position among the rest of the industry leaders. Hence, educational institutions need to give equal focus to the professional development of their educators", Mehta says.Shishir Jaipuria, the chairman of the Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions, shares that to bridge the digital divide and build higher inclusivity in the education system, teachers must become proficient in the information and communications technology (ICT) model, in addition to their subject knowledge.Ankit Sanan, the co-founder of the e-learning platform - Inkclick, feels that training teachers in the use of modern e-tools are required to make learning more effective and engaging so that it doesnt have to be pushed down the throat of students.Moreover, long-standing issues of availability of technology and promoting the digital ecosystem must be addressed to ensure equal and adequate access to e-learning platforms for the country to catch up with the advanced economies, Sanan adds.Rise in DropoutsSince the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic in India, over 1.5 million schools have shut down affecting nearly 2.47 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in the country as they have dropped out of their education.Anirudh Khaitan, the vice chairman of the Khaitan Public School in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, states that the pandemic not only led to the closure of schools and children dropping out, it also caused inequality in learning among girls and boys, among poor and children from prosperous well-to-do families, and across communities with individuals of fluctuating income levels.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/czech-cabinet-tenders-resignation-1090647801.html

Czech Cabinet Tenders Resignation

Czech Cabinet Tenders Resignation

After parliamentary elections in October, Prime Minister Babis' party ANO admitted defeat, as it came second after the opposition alliance SPOLU (Together). 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T07:36+0000

2021-11-11T07:36+0000

2021-11-11T08:02+0000

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The Czech government, led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis, agreed to step down on Thursday, following an election loss. After President Milos Zeman accepts the resignation, the cabinet will continue to perform its duties until a new PM is appointed.Following the vote, Together and the Pirates/Mayors alliance stated they would immediately start negotiations to create a new government. In total, they have 108 of 200 seats in the Czech Parliament, meaning they are able to form a firm simple majority.Zeman previously asked the head of the Together coalition, Petr Fiala, to take charge of the new government. Fiala accepted the mandate but stressed that negotiations with their coalition partners are still ongoing.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/delhi-declaration-showcases-indias-ability-to-shape-regional-discourse-on-afghanistan-professor-1090629540.html

Delhi Declaration Showcases India's Ability to Shape Regional Discourse on Afghanistan: Professor

Delhi Declaration Showcases India's Ability to Shape Regional Discourse on Afghanistan: Professor

On Wednesday, the national security advisers (NSA) of eight regional countries - India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T13:32+0000

2021-11-11T13:32+0000

2021-11-11T13:32+0000

afghanistan

pakistan

turkmenistan

uzbekistan

nikolai patrushev

delhi

central asia

narendra modi

china

iran

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The top security officials of eight countries have called for an "open and truly inclusive government" in Afghanistan and vowed to ensure that Afghanistan's soil not be used for planning terrorist activities. The Delhi Declaration, issued after the event, also called for cooperation to tackle radicalisation, extremism, separatism, and drug trafficking in the region.The Delhi Regional Security Dialogue was the first multilateral meeting on Afghanistan convened by India.Sputnik spoke with Professor Harsh V. Pant, the director of the Strategic Studies Programme at the New Delhi-based think tank Observer Research Foundation, on the debate and discussion during the dialogue and its importance for India.Sputnik: The Delhi Declaration emphasised non-interference in the internal matters of Afghanistan, but at the same time stressed the need to ensure an open and truly inclusive government. How do you see this?Harsh V Pant: The Delhi Declaration, which talks about non-interference in the internal matters of Afghanistan, I think, is to reassure various stakeholders in Afghanistan that countries like India and those who participated in Wednesday's meeting have no intention of dictating what kind of government Afghanistan should have, but I think the principles on which the government should be formed, it should be inclusive. If it is not inclusive and not participatory, including all stakeholders, then instability will be endemic in Afghanistan. So, I think that's the message that the Delhi Declaration has been emphasising.Sputnik: India is yet another country to host a multilateral event on Afghanistan. The world already has the UNSC, G20, Moscow Format, Troika, etc. What is the purpose of holding another multilateral event on Afghanistan as it seems everyone has the same concerns regarding Afghanistan?Harsh V Pant: This is an India-led initiative. So, India wants to be part of the dialogue on Afghanistan. There has been a lot of debate whether India has been marginalised in Afghanistan, and whatever has happened since the Taliban* takeover of Afghanistan has underscored that India cannot be marginalised. India's concerns are the concerns that are widely shared, including by the countries that participated today, and those concerns are being reflected in the Delhi Declaration. The Taliban and those who want to govern Afghanistan will have to take the issues raised in the Delhi Declaration into account. So, thus, this platform showcases India's ability to shape regional discourse on matters pertaining to Afghanistan, i.e., terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, etc.Sputnik: The Russian security chief urged countries to include more issues of common concern. What are the problems that these regional countries may include in their dialogue in the future?Harsh V. Pant: When we talk of other issues of common concern, whether they are narco-trafficking, migration, environmental concerns, terrorism, there is a broader consensus on all of these concerns, at least in those countries who have participated in India. I think what the Russian security chief might be calling for is that there are lots of issues on the table, and those issues should be taken forward. They will be taken forward in this format because Central Asia, Russia, Iran, and India have common regional concerns. Those regional concerns reflect the kind of discussion and debate that happened today.Sputnik: China and Pakistan did not attend the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue. Do you think this weakens the efforts to solve the Afghan issue and could they further complicate the situation?Harsh V Pant: I think China and Pakistan decided not to attend this dialogue for their own reasons. Pakistan did not participate, which is very obvious. Pakistan's whole approach to Afghanistan is to look at Afghanistan through the prism of strategic depth. Pakistan's entire foreign policy is about India. So, the question that increasingly the world has to ask and is already asking is - whether Pakistan can be a responsible stakeholder when it comes to Afghanistan - as the whole idea is to look at Afghanistan as a protectorate rather than an independent sovereign nation that can take its own decisions. I do not think other countries would want to have anything to do with that. Regional states would like Afghanistan as a stable, peaceful country - peace with itself and its neigbours. It is something that Pakistan inherently does not want because it wants a client country in Afghanistan, and that's the challenge that Pakistan will have to resolve for its own sake as we are already looking at extremism rising in Pakistan. For China, because its entire Afghanistan policy premised on Pakistan, it was very clear that China would not participate if Pakistan was not participating. But long-term solutions to Afghanistan will come if all countries can work together. By inviting China and Pakistan, India made it very clear that India has no interest in excluding anyone. I think Pakistan's desire to see India as a so-called spoiler is a real problem.Sputnik: The Taliban welcomed the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue. How do you see this from the perspective of New Delhi?Harsh V. Pant: The Taliban's welcoming of the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue indicates that the Taliban acknowledges India is a vital stakeholder in Afghanistan and that Indian concerns will have to be seriously examined. That is being reflected in what the Taliban has said. I think it is also a reflection of the fact that for all those who claimed that India is irrelevant in Afghanistan, it is entirely clear that three months after the Taliban takeover, the continuing instability underscores all the challenges that India had long been talking about when it comes to Afghanistan and unless Indian concerns are taken on board, it will be very difficult to look at a viable future for Afghanistan.*An organisation under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.

https://sputniknews.com/20211110/pakistan-to-hold-extended-troika-meeting-after-indias-summit-on-afghanistan-invites-taliban-1090615355.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211026/afghan-soil-will-not-be-used-against-china-assures-taliban-leader-after-meeting-with-wang-yi-1090222063.html

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pakistan, turkmenistan, uzbekistan, nikolai patrushev, delhi, central asia, narendra modi, china, iran, afghanistan, taliban, security, drug trafficking, ajit doval
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/epitome-of-russianness-world-marks-200-years-of-legendary-russian-author-fyodor-dostoevsky-1090651553.html

'Epitome of Russianness': World Marks 200 Years of Legendary Russian Author Fyodor Dostoevsky

'Epitome of Russianness': World Marks 200 Years of Legendary Russian Author Fyodor Dostoevsky

Fyodor Dostoevsky is arguably one of the most renowned Russian authors when it comes to global admiration. His books have been translated into over 170... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T12:08+0000

2021-11-11T12:08+0000

2021-11-11T15:44+0000

fyodor dostoevsky

russia

literature

society

books

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The 11th of November marks the bicentennial of Fyodor Mikhaylovich Dostoevsky - a Russian writer praised not only for his literary ingenuity, but also for his insight into what is known as "the mysterious Russian soul".Dostoevsky, who was born in 1821 and marked his creative path with around 50 literary works, appears to remain of interest not only to Russians but also to people from all around the world. Among his most prominent works are "Crime and Punishment", "The Brothers Karamazov", "The Idiot", "The Possessed", "The Gambler", and many others. For some, Dostoevsky is associated with the apocalyptic and gloomy spirit of his novels that take the reader to the dark streets of Saint Petersburg. Some immediately think of the cunning on-point language and style of his writing, while others recall some renowned philosophical remarks that still resonate today even though they were written nearly two centuries ago.'Russian Soul'Many foreign readers also leaf through the pages of Dostoevsky's novels in order to delve into the mysteries of the "Russian soul" - "as hackneyed as this notion may have become", as noted by Professor of Russian and Comparative Literature at University College London Maria Rubins.Yet, one should not rush to idealise the writer, according to the professor, because Dostoevsky is a complex and even controversial figure."The Orthodox framework is Dostoevsky's inevitable accoutrement and raison d'etre. As opposed to Tolstoy, whose moralism can be occasionally circumvented to enjoy the sheer beauty of his writing, Dostoevsky's religious agenda cannot be ignored", she explains. "The Christian pathos is something that turns off some, myself included, while it also carries a special appeal to like-minded readers. His anti-Semitism is by far his most repulsive feature, one that marred not only his tendentious Diary of a Writer [A Writer's Diary] but also his masterpieces".Still, the texts continue to evolve even long after the author is gone, with new times offering new reading trajectories and interpretations. Thus, Rubins says, "Notes From the Underground" appeared to be appreciated for its insight into the subconscious, and today this narrative "seems to have foreshadowed the revision of human nature (or rather of the humanistic discourse) provoked by the unprecedented barbarism of the 20th century".Writer-PhilosopherWhile Dostoevsky is widely studied in schools and universities across the globe - and not only in the context of just Russian literature - the opportunity to use his works to get a glimpse into the "Russian soul" is not the only thing that draws modern readers to his novels and stories.Smith refers to Dostoevsky as "a writer-philosopher who probes his readers to think critically about [the] human condition and to develop empathy for others". However, she notes that he is "often pessimistic" - which is why she, for her part, relates more to Leo Tolstoy, another renowned Russian writer.One may not share the sentiment about Dostoevsky necessarily being "pessimistic" - for some, like Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Durham University Alastair Renfrew, Dostoevsky's reputation outside Russia as "difficult and gloomy" is "undeserved"."In fact, he is often very funny, nowhere more so than in The Devils ["The Possessed" or "The Demons"], which is regarded as a novel of political ideology, but is in fact scabrously funny almost throughout", Renfrew argues.Dostoevsky and His BooksRenfrew also notes how "you can read [Dostoevsky] at various stages of life and get very different things from the experience, but always something that seems essential to your own experience". It's hard to argue with this assertion, given how many readers enjoy "Crime and Punishment", "The Brothers Karamazov", and many other tomes to this day. But why is that?Without downplaying the importance of his most renowned books, Dostoevsky is in fact much more than his literary works. His legacy discovered its ways to the public via other means. Maria Rubins recalls that lovers of Russian Avant-Garde music may approach him through Prokofiev's opera The Gambler", and fans of theatre may enjoy Peter Brook's "The Legend of the Grand Inquisitor", which has long been in the core repertoire of the famous Parisian theatre Les Bouffes du Nord. And the list goes on."Boris Eifman's 'Beyond Sin', based on The Brothers Karamazov, grapples with the writer's central problems of faithlessness and spirituality using the language of dance", Rubins continues. "But perhaps the most stunning adaptation of Dostoevsky is Akira Kurasawa's classic film 'The Idiot'. By transplanting the novel into the post-World War II Japanese context, Kurasawa came as close as artistically possible to revealing the universal significance of a writer often seen as the epitome of Russianness".As the world celebrates 200 years of Fyodor Dostoevsky, whose works continue to mesmerise readers across the globe even 140 years after his death, one cannot help but remember a quote by another prominent Russian writer, Mikhail Bulgakov, from the novel "Master and Margarita"."'Dostoevsky's dead', said the citizeness, but somehow not very confidently.'I protest!' Behemoth exclaimed hotly. 'Dostoevsky is immortal!'"

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/ex-afghan-military-pilots-join-taliban-air-force---commander-1090664415.html

Ex-Afghan Military Pilots Join Taliban Air Force, Commander Says

Ex-Afghan Military Pilots Join Taliban Air Force, Commander Says

KABUL (Sputnik) - A number of former Afghan air force pilots have taken up service with the Taliban (sanctioned by the UN for terrorism), a provincial military... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T17:35+0000

2021-11-11T17:35+0000

2021-11-11T17:35+0000

air force

asia & pacific

afghanistan

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Mawlavi Ataullah Omari, a Taliban commander in the northern Balkh province, announced the launch of a new air force at a base near Mazar-e Sharif, the Bakhtar news agency reported.Zia-ul-Haq Aghasi, the new head of the Balkh air force, urged other military professionals to come out of hiding, two days after the Taliban promised amnesty for US-trained pilots.Many Afghan pilots fled Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that more than a hundred pilots flew from Tajikistan to the UAE's Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and were being screened for admission to the US.

https://sputniknews.com/20210815/taliban-boasts-of-seizing-black-hawk-helicopters-us-jets-after-capturing-kandahar-airport---video-1083611317.html

WhatTheFishIsThis Better the Afghan pilots who fled Afghanistan return to Defend their Country with honor, rather than be used as Cannon Fodder by other countries. 1

Preterist-ADSeventy Title should read: Ex-Afghan Military Pilots Join BIDENS Taliban Air Force, Commander SaysHeres a partial list of what Biden left the Taliban 45 UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters; The Taliban now have more Black Hawk helicopters than 85% of the countries in the world.; 50 MD530G Scout Attack Helicopters; ScanEagle Military Drones; 30 Military Version Cessnas; 4 C-130s; 29 A-29 Ground Attack Aircraft Over 200 aircraft total 0

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air force, asia & pacific, afghanistan
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/gamma-rays-detected-coming-from-nearby-galaxies-for-the-first-time-new-study-claims-1090660634.html

Gamma Rays Detected Coming From Nearby Galaxies For The First Time, New Study Claims

Gamma Rays Detected Coming From Nearby Galaxies For The First Time, New Study Claims

Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, which is transmitted in waves of particles. They have the smallest wavelength, the most energy of any wave... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T16:19+0000

2021-11-11T16:19+0000

2021-11-11T16:19+0000

tech

milky way

gamma ray

nasa

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An international group of scientists claims to have detected gamma rays coming from nearby galaxies for the first time. In their research, the astronomers used the Large Area telescope as well as a stacking technique, which combines signals too weak to be observed on their own.According to the findings of their study, published in The Astrophysical Journal this week, gamma rays were coming from ultra-fast outflows, the most extreme winds launched from very close supermassive black holes.Study leader, Chris Karwin, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Clemson University in South Carolina, says their discovery will shed light on what happened in galaxies early on. The ultra-fast outflows are thought to play a significant role in how supermassive black holes and galaxies grow, scientists say.Researchers believe that Sagittarius A, a supermassive black hole, which is located at the centre of our galaxy, was active and produced ultra-fast flows. This hypothesis, scientists say, may explain the existence of Fermi bubbles, mysterious structures, which are located above and below the centre of the Milky Way. Discovered in 2010 with the help of NASAs Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (hence the name), the bubbles span a total length of about 50,000 light years.According to Karwin, these enigmatic structures could be remnants of the ultra-fast outflows' activity that occurred near Sagittarius A.

Thomas Turk Millions of taxpayers money spent on this? Yet when something juicy comes up.. they clam up, and lie. Open.. Angelismarriti it. AN ALIEN SPACESHIP ON THE MOON: INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM RUTLEDGE, MEMBER OF THE APOLLO 20 CREW.. same subject.. YouTube. Apollo 20 Alien Spaceship On The Moon and Ebe Mona Lisa 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/india-as-of-now-has-no-role-to-play-in-afghanistan-says-strategic-analyst-1090649008.html

India 'As of Now, Has No Role to Play in Afghanistan', Says Strategic Analyst

India 'As of Now, Has No Role to Play in Afghanistan', Says Strategic Analyst

India was Afghanistans largest regional donor before the Taliban* took over the country in August, with the total aid contribution estimated at around $3.5... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T14:32+0000

2021-11-11T14:32+0000

2021-11-11T17:05+0000

afghanistan

pakistan

russia

us

china

afghanistan

india

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The "Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan" marked the first time that New Delhi brought together regional powers to discuss the security situation in the central Asian nation after the Taliban's takeover. However, the absence of China, Pakistan, and even the Taliban at the event raises questions on its effectiveness.According to Indian Strategic Affairs Analyst Pravin Sawhney, in order to be viewed as a reliable stakeholder in Afghanistan, India needs to improve its ties with Pakistan and China. He also feels that improving ties with the US haven't served Indian interests in Afghanistan well.In an interview with Sputnik, ex-Indian Army officer and strategic affairs analyst Sawhney talks about the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, and the "Extended Troika" conference, which was organised in Pakistan a day after the Delhi event was held on 10 November.Sputnik: How do you view the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, hosted by India recently? What are the major takeaways from the conference for you?Pravin Sawhney: As far as I am concerned, the major takeaway from the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue is a negative one. The reason for that is simple. Within hours of the Delhi Declaration, Russia issued its own statement. While the "Delhi Declaration", or the joint statement, says that the participants would hold the next meeting by 2022, the Russian statement completely misses that point. Not only that, the Russian representative issued a statement that multiple dialogues shouldnt complicate the situation.In other words, the growing fissures between India and Russia, as far as regional geopolitics is concerned, are out in the open. In my assessment, New Delhis idea of holding a regional conference was a perception management exercise for the people of India. It was meant to send out a message that India is still an important stakeholder in Afghanistan.Sputnik: Do you feel that Pakistan has gained an upper hand over India as far as the regional security situation is concerned?Sawhney: The "Extended Troika" conference that is taking place today in Islamabad will have three major geostrategic players participating in it. Geostrategic basically means a country that has the ability to influence foreign policy of other nations, way beyond its borders. The US, Russia, and China are participating and the Afghan Taliban will also be present at the conference. Out of these four, only Russia was present at the Indian conference and even they decided to express their own views.Both Afghanistan and China have now provided humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. They are just withholding the recognition of the country for a simple reasonthat they want everybody (other global and regional powers) to be onboard.The Taliban government has already given a commitment that they wont allow the use of their territory by terrorist groups targeting other nations. The joint statement after yesterdays (10 November) meeting also expressed concerns about possible terrorism from Afghan territory. There was nothing new in that.Sputnik: Are good ties between the Taliban and Pakistan a threat for India, as far as terrorism is concerned?Sawhney: I dont see the Taliban-Pakistan nexus posing anymore of a threat to India than what has already been expressed or known. But the threat that is posed is very substantive.Besides Pakistan, China, Russia, and to an extent even the US have a lot of stakes in ensuring that Afghanistan remains stable and secure. As far as the Central Asian Republics (CAR) are concerned, they are basically weightless, be it militarily or geopolitically. The central Asian states will listen to everybody and try to extract something for themselves from every major regional power at such conferences.Sputnik: How do you feel about the India-US ties? Are warm ties between India and the US paying dividends for India, as far as its standing in the region is concerned? Is being seen close to the US affecting Indias image regionally?Sawhney: India is on the wrong side of history. America is a very important country. We need good relations with the US. But the Indian government must realise that peace and prosperity must first come in the immediate neighbourhood. If our neighbourhood is not at peace with us, the Americans can do nothing for us.There are practical reasons why India must be at peace with China. While India has linked its overall bilateral relations to the situation at the border and demanded that it wants the status quo at the Ladakh border (pre-April 2020) to be restored, I can guarantee you that it will never happen.It is completely out of the question that the Indian territory that China has taken from us will be given back now.We dont have any land connectivity with Afghanistan. The only land route is through Pakistan, but we dont have good ties with Islamabad. Such is the current state of ties between India and Pakistan that Islamabad isnt even allowing Indian flights to use their airspace.This is as big a challenge for the Americans, as it is for us. But for us, that rise of China means an entirely different thing due to the geographical proximity.Sputnik: How do you suggest India should go about managing its ties with China now, given that it's affecting New Delhis foreign policy elsewhere, including in Afghanistan?Sawhney: India needs to call for a dialogue with China. I suggest New Delhi could try and initiate a dialogue towards holding an informal summit with the Chinese leadership, like we did in the case of the Wuhan "Informal Summit" of 2018.*An organisation under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.

https://sputniknews.com/20211110/delhi-regional-security-dialogue-countries-stress-the-need-to-form-inclusive-govt-in-afghanistan-1090612422.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211110/pakistan-to-hold-extended-troika-meeting-after-indias-summit-on-afghanistan-invites-taliban-1090615355.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210904/india-us-closely-watching-pakistans-actions-in-afghanistan-says-indian-foreign-secretary-1083794137.html

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Dhairya Maheshwari

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/india-rolls-out-hgco19-jab-as-rival-mrna-covid-vaccines-are-probed-for-links-to-myocarditis-1090613540.html

India Rolls Out HGCO19 Jab as Rival mRNA COVID Vaccines are Probed for Links to Myocarditis

India Rolls Out HGCO19 Jab as Rival mRNA COVID Vaccines are Probed for Links to Myocarditis

A study by Israeli scientists published last month revealed that the risk of myocarditis caused by the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is even higher among patients... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T16:00+0000

2021-11-11T16:00+0000

2021-11-11T16:00+0000

narendra modi

india

pfizer inc

vaccine

covid-19

moderna

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Dr Shrey Srivastava, an internal medicine specialist at the Sharda Hospital in Greater Noida in the state of Uttar Pradesh, told Sputnik that scientists have started examining several possible theories about the link between inflammatory heart conditions after being given the mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination. The mRNA (messenger-RNA) COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and partner BioNTech, and the other from Moderna have been suspected of causing myocarditis and pericarditis in some people especially young adults and adolescent males. According to researchers, there is a possibility that the mRNA, or some other component of the vaccine, might trigger inflammation in some people. Another theory that is being considered is that the injections has been incorrectly administered sending the dose directly to the heart through veins. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, more than 870 cases of myocarditis in vaccinated people under the age of 30 have been confirmed in America out of the 86 million mRNA vaccine doses administered.To find the causes of this vaccine-induced myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscles) and pericarditis (inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart muscle), doctors and scientists in the US are examining samples of heart tissue from people who developed myocarditis or pericarditis after being vaccinated. In the midst of all these investigations, Indias first locally developed mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, HGCO19, is undergoing its Phase II and Phase III trials. Last month, Sanjay Singh, chief executive of Gennova Biopharmaceuticals, based in the city of Pune, told NDTV that the company's HGCO19 is being peer-reviewed and he was optimistic that it will be in the market by the end of this year. According to Singh, Gennova has succeeded in developing its vaccine to remain stable at temperatures of between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius. According to experts, mRNA vaccines are generally considered safe because mRNA is non-infectious, non-integrating in nature, and can be degraded by standard mechanisms of cells. But the question arises: Is it possible that HGCO19 will have similar side-effects to rival mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna?The consultant from Yashoda Hospital said that myocarditis and pericarditis usually have symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain and palpitations. "However, most of these complications are self-limiting and tend to respond well with medicine and rest and most can resume activity in a short span of time. Though it can be associated with any sort of vaccination, it is more commonly reported with mRNA-based Pfizer and Moderna vaccines," Dr Balasubramanian said. 'Benefits of Vaccine Outweigh Side-effects' "With both the mRNA vaccines that are available in the US and other countries - namely Pfizer and Moderna - there have been some rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis and these have been mainly seen in young men, especially after the second dose," Dr Trupti Gilada, an infectious disease specialist at Masina Hospital in Mumbai, told Sputnik. "The side-effect definitely exists but the benefits from the vaccine far, far outweigh any side-effects. Also the side-effect is not very severe," she added. She said that most of these patients have had a very benign course of illness and only required symptomatic treatment, and all have recovered from this complication. Dr Gilada also said that there isn't any way to predict which individual will get the side-effect and there is no way to avoid the side-effect. "So all we need to do is keep an eye out for this side-effect ... But we need to remind people that all the side-effects are really there," she added. mRNA Vaccines VS Conventional Vaccines Dr. Gilada explained that the mRNA vaccine is different from the other traditional vaccines in the way they provoke the immune system into mounting an immune response. In traditional vaccines, small inactivated particles of the virus or the disease-causing organisms are injected into the body which will essentially contain the protein that in turn will evoke an immune response. However, in the case of an mRNA vaccine, no protein or any part of the virus is injected. Instead, a tiny piece of the mRNA is used which will eventually use the cell machinery in the human body to make the protein."Vaccine-induced spike protein IgG antibodies prevent attachment of SARS-COV-2 to its host cell via spike protein binding to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors, and thereby neutralises the virus," Dr Srivastava of Sharda Hospital, told Sputnik.So, created in a laboratory, mRNA triggers an immune response inside the recipient's body by producing antibodies, which protects it from getting infected if the real virus enters."There is a myth that mRNA will change the genetic make-up of the body which is untrue - because the mRNA never enters the nucleus of the cell. So, there is no way that the mRNA can ever get integrated into the genetic material of the human being or any animal where this vaccine is injected," Dr Gilada revealed. 'HGCO19 Vaccine Would be a Good Option' Dr Srivastava said that mRNA vaccines have been studied and used for decades and the incidence of complications is on the decrease. The chances of contracting myocarditis would be much lower forin HGCO19 and it's curable too.He also revealed that Gennova has used the most prominent mutant of spike protein (D614G) for this vaccine and it uses the adsorption chemistry to attach the mRNA to the nano-lipid carriers surface to reinforce the discharge kinetics of the mRNA within the cells compared to the encapsulation chemistry. Dr Srivastava also noted that the indigenous mRNA vaccine can "potentially" be used with other approved vaccines. Doctors and health experts, meanwhile, highlighted the several disadvantages of mRNA vaccines including poor immunogenicity in humans, instability concerns, induction of anti-vector immunity, and decreased translation into protein. "Although mRNA vaccines are efficacious, there are certain drawbacks that need to be tackled which include the need for deep cryogenic storage of the vaccine which complicates its deployment, particularly in lesser developed countries where the facilities for cold chain storage are limited," Dr Balasubramanian said. Last week, Moderna announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs more time to evaluate recent international analyses of the risk of myocarditis after vaccination. The FDA has put Modernas Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) request for its COVID-19 vaccine (mRNA-1273) for adolescents on hold, "as it needs more time to review and complete its assessment about the security and efficacy of the jab for those aged between 12 and 17".

https://sputniknews.com/20210708/uk-regulator-quietly-recognises-pfizerandmoderna-vaccines-may-result-in-heart-damage-reports-say-1083336189.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211021/who-studying-swedens-denmarks-data-on-side-effects-of-moderna-vaccine-1090106853.html

https://sputniknews.com/20210820/worlds-first-dna-based-anti-covid-vaccine-gets-emergency-administration-approval-in-india-1083671706.html

vot tak Thinly disquised advert. 0

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narendra modi, india, pfizer inc, vaccine, covid-19, moderna
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/indian-navy-presence-in-arctic-could-act-as-a-strategic-counterweight-to-china-analyst-1090622956.html

Indian Navy Presence in Arctic Could Act as a Strategic Counterweight to China: Analyst

Indian Navy Presence in Arctic Could Act as a Strategic Counterweight to China: Analyst

India looks at the Arctic from the perspective of climate change and also as a strategic construct. New Delhi has shown its willingness to engage more with... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T13:03+0000

2021-11-11T13:03+0000

2021-11-11T13:03+0000

arctic

indian navy

narendra modi

south china sea

us

vladimir putin

china

quadrilateral security dialogue (quad)

india

interviews

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The melting ice in the Arctic has provided opportunities for energy-hungry nations to explore the possibilities of more imports via this region as transportation facilities may be available throughout the year.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spelled out the countrys interest in the region and said in 2019 that New Delhi is ready to play a significant role in the Arctic Council.However, it has also opened up a new zone of military competition, as China and the US have already increased their defence-related activities in the region. As the state with the longest Arctic coastline, Russia has included among its challenges in its 2035 strategy the military build-up by foreign states in the Arctic and an increase of the potential for conflict in the region.Sputnik spoke with Uttam Sinha, who works at the Delhi-based Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, about the opportunities for India in the Arctic region.Sputnik: India has received an LNG shipment from Russia's Gazprom under a long-term contract. The shipment travelled through the Northern Sea Route, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean. As the Arctic route is expected to become more operational than present, how much importance does it hold for Indias trade and investment?Uttam Sinha: The receding ice along the Arctic coast is advancing shipping routes, with the Northern Sea Route (NSR) along the Russian coast gaining prominence. The NSR offers the shortest route between East Asian and Western European ports. The NSRs salience as an alternative shipping route to the Suez Canal came to the limelight recently when a large cargo ship, the Ever Given, blocked the narrow passage of the Suez for six days as a result of its grounding. Though the opening up of NSR brings limited prospects for India, in terms of shipping distance and travel time, it could still offer a strategic alternative to Indias energy shipments once the oil and gas fields in the Russian high north develop. But far more significant for India is the developments in the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor (CVMC) to connect the ports of Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Kolkata with Vladivostok, Vostochny, and Olga on the east coast of Russia. The CVMC, in addition to the International North-South Corridor, could bring India and Russia physically closer than ever in terms of connectivity. Once fully operational, the CVMC would reduce the cargo transfer time between India and Russia to 24 days instead of 40 days via the European route. Consequently, the CVMC would jettison Indias strategic position in the South China Sea and broaden the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing its naval presence in order to secure its energy and trade shipments from the Russian Far East. The CVMC would also offer a strategic alternative for Russia to diversify its energy and other exports from its Far East to India and East Asian countries.Sputnik: How would any escalation in the Indo-Pacific be harmful to India if it wants to optimise the use of this route?Uttam Sinha: The melting of the ice, as said, brings in altogether a new geo-strategic seascape in the Arctic. The opening of the Arctic or the Blue Arctic will cause a spillover of great power competition. Likewise, rivalry in other areas like the Indo-Pacific will leave its tremors in the Arctic. China calls itself a "near-Arctic state" Since the US considers China as the most comprehensive threat, it will have to deal with it on two ocean fronts (the Arctic and Pacific). On the Arctic front, the US will work more closely with Japan which is its Quad partner. There has also been a significant increase in Russias military presence in the Arctic. For India, it will be essential to strengthen its partnership with Russia. After all, Russia is the largest investment destination for Indian oil and gas companies. There are wide-ranging areas of cooperation and benefits where India and Russia can work together.Sputnik: How can the NRC change the Indian Navys role in the Indo-Pacific and beyond?Uttam Sinha: India and Russia have strong defence cooperation. The defence ministers of the two countries meet annually on Military-Technical Cooperation. Bolstering this framework is the initiative on Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement and the proposed Navy-to-Navy MoU. This has the potential to grant India access to Russian naval port facilities in the Arctic and thereby add to its overall strategic reach. Likewise, the logistics cooperation can benefit Russia in accessing Indian naval port facilities in the Indian Ocean. However, skilled seafarers will be required with various energy and mineral extraction projects coming up in the Arctic and the Russian Far East. India provides almost 10 percent of global seafarers in the maritime industry and can use this strength to provide a workforce in the Arctic.Sputnik: Can it be inferred that India would be best not to engage in any military grouping in the South China Sea?Uttam Sinha: India has considerable stakes in the South China Sea. Roughly 50 percent of maritime trade with the Indo-Pacific countries passes through the South China Sea. Peace and stability, and freedom of navigation are of great interest to India. With Indias emphasis on the Indo-Pacific, it is keen to build stronger ties with Southeast Asian countries. A few months ago, India deployed naval vessels from its Eastern Fleet, sending a strong message to China of its strategic intent and reassuring friendly countries in the South China Sea of its regional role. India has also shown to its Quad partners (US, Japan, and Australia) that it has little hesitation in participating in annual joint drill exercises with the overall objective to ensure freedom of navigation at sea and strengthen the Quad in countering China.

https://sputniknews.com/20190812/india-russia-discussing-cooperation-in-gas-exploration-supplies-from-arctic---minister-1076528893.html

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arctic, indian navy, narendra modi, south china sea, us, vladimir putin, china, quadrilateral security dialogue (quad), india, interviews
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/indian-trade-unions-to-protest-against-pm-modis-monetisation-pipeline-1090644806.html

Indian Trade Unions to Protest Against PM Modi's Monetisation Pipeline

Indian Trade Unions to Protest Against PM Modi's Monetisation Pipeline

The National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led federal government on Monday to raise INR 6 trillion ($81... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T14:39+0000

2021-11-11T14:39+0000

2021-11-11T14:39+0000

narendra modi

india

narendra modi

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india

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A group of India's central trade unions has planned a series of protests against Narendra Modi's National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP). The demonstrations are slated to take place on Thursday.As many as 10 central trade unions have formed a joint platform to protest against the NMP.The collaborative platform is comprised of the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), the Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), the All-India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), the Trade Union Coordination Committee (TUCC), the Self-Employed Women's Association, the All-India Central Council of Trade Unions, the Labour Progressive Federation, and the United Trade Union CongressSpeaking with Sputnik, Shankar Dasgupta, general secretary of the All-India United Trade Union Centre, said: "We will be holding the first convention or protest in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar area. We will speak about our demands, and warn the federal government to take back the NMP."Stating that the NMP is a move against ordinary Indians, Dasgupta stressed the government cannot hand over its assets to private businesses in the name of disinvestment. The national convention of trade unions is the first in a series of demonstrations to reach out to citizens, the trade unions said. According to Dasgupta, it will be followed by state-level conventions and protests all over the country.In September, the trade unions said in a statement: "The NMP is nothing but a nefarious design to hand over all infrastructural assets to private hands virtually free for revenue generation by them without any obligation of capital cost and share a small part of that huge revenue with the government". Yet, according to the federal government, the NMP serves as a medium-term roadmap for identifying potential monetisation-ready projects across various infrastructure sectors.

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narendra modi, india, narendra modi, prime minister's office of india, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/iranian-general-israel-doomed-to-termination-as-tel-aviv-threatens-to-strike-nuclear-sites-1090666984.html

Iranian General: Israel 'Doomed to Termination' as Tel Aviv Threatens to Strike Nuclear Sites

Iranian General: Israel 'Doomed to Termination' as Tel Aviv Threatens to Strike Nuclear Sites

A new government in Israel, elected earlier this year, has begun mulling strikes against nuclear sites in Iran in anticipation of upcoming talks between Tehran... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T21:32+0000

2021-11-11T21:32+0000

2021-11-11T21:29+0000

middle east

israel

iran

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Iranian Air Force General Amir Ali Hajizadeh has warned Israel that it is "doomed to termination" if it gives the Islamic republic an "excuse" to fulfill the threat of nuclear attack. The top Iranian military brass made the comment in light of Tel Aviv's warnings that it could attack the country's nuclear fuel enrichment plants.Hajizadeh further ridiculed Tel Aviv over its threats, suggesting that the latter is not in a position to issue warnings while pretending that it is the "only regime in the world arguing about how to survive".The general acknowledged that Israel is able to carry out strikes against Iran, but noted that Tehran would win in an armed conflict. Additionally, he noted that constant demands from Israeli allies for Tehran to limit its missile programme are vivid proof that Iran possesses the power to fulfill its threat of eliminating Israel, should the latter strike first.Earlier, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi revealed that his country's military had been carrying out preparations for a possible attack on Iranian nuclear sites. Tel Aviv has for years claimed that Tehran was developing nuclear weapons, begging global powers not to restore the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which fell apart after the administration of US President Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018, arguing that it could boost Iran's capability to create a nuke.Iran has consistently rejected allegations that it had been working on a nuclear device, insisting that such a weapon contradicts the state religion of Islam. Tehran has long pointed out that it uses nuclear technologies for energy generation. At the same time, Iran lamented that the international community completely ignores the fact that Israel has possessed nuclear weapons for decades, despite avoiding an international declaration of its status as a country that has nuclear weapons ready to use.At the moment, the Islamic republic is planning on returning to the negotiating table in Vienna to reach an agreement with the US and other signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, also known as the Iran nuclear deal) treaty to restore the accord and lift sanctions from Iran. The last round of talks ended without tangible results due to the failure of Tehran and the US to agree on the terms of a return to the JCPOA compliance, as well as due to presidential elections in Iran that would result in a change of government. A new round of talks is set to start later in November.

https://sputniknews.com/20211106/iran-to-consider-experience-of-past-nuclear-deal-talks-in-vienna-foreign-minister-says-1090526076.html

Hess Iran should attack and destroy the Israeli nuclear plant at Dimona where Israel produces and stores most of nuclear bombs.. 10

Nonyank I think an eye for an eye applies here. 8

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middle east, israel, iran
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/jeffrey-epsteins-former-employee-claims-he-saw-prince-andrew-groping-virginia-giuffre-1090657088.html

Jeffrey Epsteins Former Employee Claims He Saw Prince Andrew Groping Virginia Giuffre

Jeffrey Epsteins Former Employee Claims He Saw Prince Andrew Groping Virginia Giuffre

The Queens second son has been accused by American Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claims he had sex with her at least three times, including when she was an... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T14:38+0000

2021-11-11T14:38+0000

2021-11-11T14:38+0000

prince andrew

jeffrey epstein

uk royal family

virginia roberts giuffre

uk

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Steve Scully, Jeffrey Epsteins former telecoms specialist, claims he saw Prince Andrew groping Virginia Giuffre, who has accused the prince of sexual assault. In a trailer to the forthcoming documentary 'Spotlight: Sex, Lies and Videotape' made by 7News TV channel, the 71-year-old staffer said the incident occurred between 2001 and 2004 at Epsteins private island Little Saint James.The telecoms specialist said he was certain he saw Prince Andrew and said he is ready to testify under oath during the trial. However, a source close to the prince has questioned the veracity of Mr Scullys account.Jeffrey Epstein and Accusations Against Prince AndrewThe royals accuser, 38-year-old campaigner Virginia Roberts Giuffre, is one of the alleged sex slaves of Jeffrey Epstein, a US financier, who was accused by dozens of women of rape and sexual assault. Some of the individuals claim the abuse took place when they were underage. The victims have alleged that they were lured into Epsteins hands by his former girlfriend and life companion Ghislaine Maxwell, who promised them well-paid job in the house of a millionaire. Epstein had many acquaintances in high places, 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 and was forced to have sex with the prince. Mrs Giuffre alleged that Prince Andrew had sex with her at least two more times without her consent.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 has categorically denied the accusation. In an interview with the BBC he said he had an alibi for the day the alleged sexual intercourse occurred in London and had no recollection of meeting Giuffre. However, his remarks were cast in doubt as there is at least one photo showing the royal with a young Giuffre [when she was Virginia Roberts], reportedly at Ghislaine Maxwell's mansion, with Prince Andrews hand around 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.Epsteins alleged victims claim the financier and his powerful friends abused them on his private island. Steve Scully, who visited Little Saint James several times, said he worked for Epstein between 1999 and 2006 and decided to quit over personal concerns of "unsupervised young women".Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on charges of running a sex-trafficking network of minors. He was found hanged in a cell with his death being ruled a suicide. Supporters of conspiracy theories believe he was either murdered by his powerful friends, who feared they could be implicated in the scandal, or escaped prison by planting a body double.Ghislaine Maxwell, who was dubbed by the media as Epsteins "pimp", was arrested by the FBI in July 2020 and is awaiting trial in the in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in New York City. She faces eight charges, including sex trafficking of minors and enticing minors as young as 14 to engage in illegal sex acts. She claims she is innocent and insists that the prosecution has made her a scapegoat for Epstein's crimes. Her trial is scheduled to start on 29 November.

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Max Gorbachev

prince andrew, jeffrey epstein, uk royal family, virginia roberts giuffre, uk
EU Unlikely to Sanction Aeroflot Over Migrants Row, Will Target Charter Flights - Source

The European Union is unlikely to sanction Russian flag carrier Aeroflot in connection with migrants crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border, rather targeting charter carriers, a source in the European Commission told Sputnik.

Earlier in the day, the commission said the EU would look into the option of sanctioning airlines engaged in transferring immigrants to Belarus as part of the fifth sanctions package against Belarus. On Wednesday, the commission's president, Ursula von der Leyen, said the European Union was planning to impose new sanctions on Belarus and the corresponding announcement would come early next week.

"Most likely, the EU will not sanction airlines like Turkish Airlines or Aeroflot, but rather companies/airlines/operators which book and operate charter flights from those regions that the immigrants come from," the source said.

The new sanctions list will include around 45 Belarusian individuals and officials, they will face assets freeze and travel ban in the bloc, he said.

"Those individuals will be Belorussian officials but also people who are responsible for moving immigrants in Belarus," the source specified.

There also might be targeted sanctions for the some financial institutions and banks in Belarus, he added.

Aeroflot earlier denied information about its participation or assistance in organizing mass transportation of migrants to Belarus. The airline said it did not operate regular and charter flights to the cities of Iraq and Syria, as well as flights on the Istanbul  Minsk route.
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/lukashenko-congratulates-polish-people-on-independence-day-amid-migrant-crisis-1090656966.html

Lukashenko Congratulates Polish People on Independence Day Amid Migrant Crisis

Lukashenko Congratulates Polish People on Independence Day Amid Migrant Crisis

MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko congratulated the people of Poland on Thursday on their National Independence Day, in the midst of... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T13:05+0000

2021-11-11T13:05+0000

2021-11-11T13:05+0000

belarus

europe

poland

alexander lukashenko

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Despite the ongoing tensions, Belarus and Poland can cooperate and strive for international stability and security through "openness and rational dialogue, an unbiased view of the past and the present", Lukashenko is convinced.He wished the Polish people solidarity, prosperity, and confidence in the future.Tensions between the two states escalated earlier this week at their common border, where more than 2,000 migrants are stranded, trying to enter Poland from Belarus and prevented by the Polish troops from doing so.The migration crisis at Belarus' borders with the EU has been going on for several months, with Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania blaming Minsk for facilitating the movement of migrants into Europe to get back at them for Western sanctions. For its part, Belarus maintains that these sanctions impede its efforts to contain the influx of migrants to neighbouring states.

TruePatriot A touch of class. Bravo Mr. Lukashenko. 2

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belarus, europe, poland, alexander lukashenko
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/madame-cringe-harris-grilled-online-for-allegedly-using-french-accent-during-her-visit-to-paris-1090655124.html

'Madame Cringe': Harris Grilled Online for Allegedly Using 'French Accent' During Her Visit to Paris

'Madame Cringe': Harris Grilled Online for Allegedly Using 'French Accent' During Her Visit to Paris

Kamala Harris, along with Joe Biden, has recently seen a dramatic decrease in her approval ratings. According to a recent poll by USA Today/Suffolk, Harris'... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T13:11+0000

2021-11-11T13:11+0000

2021-11-11T13:23+0000

france

us

kamala harris

viral

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US Vice President Kamala Harris has been panned online after a clip from her visit to a laboratory in Paris went viral, with some of her critics alleging that she was condescending to the French scientists and even used a fake "French accent".During her trip to France, Harris visited the Pasteur Institute (Institut Pasteur), where she discussed US-French cooperation in scientific research with a group of scientists. The remarks that appeared to irritate some users were about how politicians could use the scientific method.Politicians, according to her, always have to stick with "The Plan" - and, when using these words, Harris underscored them in a way that was interpreted by some users to be her fake "French accent".The so-called "French accent" was immediately mocked by many critics, with users thinking up new nicknames for Harris like "Madame Cringe" and even crafting a hashtag, #AuRevoir. Harris was also blasted as "tone-deaf" and "condescending".Some users made a joking reference to one of Harris' most notorious phrases: "And I haven't been to Europe", which she said when asked to comment about why she, as the appointed border czar, had been refraining from visiting the southern US border amid the migrant crisis.Others, however, defended the US vice president, arguing that they can hardly hear any "French accent" in the viral clip.Several netizens even came up with another clip of Harris where she emphasises "The Plan" in a similar way.This is hardly the first time Kamala Harris has been mocked on social media - her recent video speaking to kids to promote science also prompted chuckles in Twitter threads.Apart from this, Harris has found herself to be one of the most unpopular vice presidents in US history, with her approval ratings plummetting to only 28% of Americans who feel positive about her performance in office, as shown in a USA Today/Suffolk poll. President Joe Biden also does not enjoy massive public support, with his approval ratings hitting a new low of 38%.

Nonyank Just anoth Clinton Clone of an wanna be Entitled, Arrogant Witch! 3

4Justice People just don't appreciate the genius of Kameltoe. Not everyone can grasp the the depth of her intellect, her profound thoughts such as "The Plan". :) 2

5

france

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france, us, kamala harris, viral
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/man-stabs-woman-18-times-after-she-refuses-to-marry-him-in-indias-hyderabad-1090649216.html

Man Stabs Woman 18 Times After She Refuses to Marry Him in India's Hyderabad

Man Stabs Woman 18 Times After She Refuses to Marry Him in India's Hyderabad

While the 23-year-old accused Baswa Raj has been put under arrest, the victim woman is undergoing treatment at a hospital, a police official has revealed. 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T13:18+0000

2021-11-11T13:18+0000

2021-11-11T13:18+0000

crime

murder charges

lover

india

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In a horrific incident, a 20-year-old woman was brutally attacked and stabbed 18 times allegedly by her former lover Baswa Raj on Wednesday in Hyderabad, Telangana. "The incident took place at the victim's apartment in [the] Hastinapuram area. The accused got angry as she refused to marry him", V. Ashok Reddy, an official at the Lal Bahadur Nagar Police Station, told Sputnik on Thursday. "When he came to know that she got engaged three months ago to another man, he lost his cool and stabbed her with a knife 18 times", the police official added. The victim, who was taken to a local hospital in serious condition, survived. She is currently undergoing treatment. Doctors have since said that she is stable and recovering.The police have arrested the accused. He was sent before a court on Thursday.

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Sangeeta Yadav https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1b/1080292803_0:121:960:1081_100x100_80_0_0_7490b319dab9611e309056b177265184.jpg

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crime, murder charges, lover, india
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/must-be-stopped-norwegian-militarys-plans-for-firing-ranges-in-russias-proximity-blasted-1090646879.html

'Must Be Stopped': Norwegian Military's Plans for Firing Ranges in Russia's Proximity Blasted

'Must Be Stopped': Norwegian Military's Plans for Firing Ranges in Russia's Proximity Blasted

Politicians and fishermen have teamed up to slam the Norwegian military's plans to establish firing ranges off its Arctic coast, arguing that it will... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T07:10+0000

2021-11-11T07:10+0000

2021-11-11T07:29+0000

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military & intelligence

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russia

norway

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nato

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The Norwegian military is set to create eight new firing and training ranges near the coast of Finnmark County, bordering Russia.This is part of a national plan that involves the establishment of 12 new shooting ranges and the closure of 49 of existing facilities. In total, there are over 50,000 square kilometres of fjord and sea that the Norwegian Armed Forces will claim, according to national broadcaster NRK.Temporary fields were previously established off the Finnmark coast. Yet, as these are considered time-consuming to create, the military is now seeking to put permanent facilities in place. Furthermore, the entire northern coast has been called a military priority to assert national sovereignty and avert possible crises. The Armed Forces said it plans to use the fields between two and 20 times a year.These plans have been met with opposition, as many believe this will unnecessarily provoke Russia and bring ruin for local fishermen, as some of the aforementioned areas are rich in salmon and other important fish.These will be the northernmost and easternmost permanent training fields Norway has ever created. Coupled with NATO's increased presence in Norway, this could make relations with Russia even more tense, Geir Jrgensen argued. He ventured that Norway's vast eastern neighbour will perceive the firing grounds in Finnmark as a provocation.Jrgensen also made a case that the firing grounds will become an obstacle for local fisheries, supported by local politicians.Helga Pedersen, mayor of the town of Tana, affected by the plans, said she was dissatisfied with the proposed firing range off the Finnmark coast."It makes it very unpredictable for our fishermen who run their business in the fjord throughout the year", Helga Pedersen told NRK, emphasising that the Tana Fjord, earmarked as one of the ranges, is a national salmon breeding ground.Norwegian-Russian relations, which date back hundreds of years, have in recent years been strained due to reciprocal buildups, military jet interceptions, spying accusations, and an overall harsher tone, undermining the nations' decades-long partnership.In February, it became clear that American bombers were to be deployed in Norway, and in January 3,000 NATO soldiers arrived in Troms County for the winter exercise Joint Viking. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov subsequently stressed the presence of foreign brigades being in Norway, despite laws that make the permanent presence of foreign armed forces illegal.However, the Labour Party, the winner of the recent Norwegian elections, voiced hopes for a warmer relationship with Russia.

https://sputniknews.com/20200819/nuclear-submarines-radars-war-games-how-nato-militarising-norway-over-alleged-russian-threat-1080216981.html

Martian On Earth This is a crime! This is not about Norway or Norwegians. I has never been! The US Corporate Profit and its death- and destruction industry is behind the crime! 9

vot tak Typical israeloamerican colony. They screw over the locals and the environment for unnecessary reasons. Just because they can. 7

8

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Igor Kuznetsov

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/mystery-of-lost-norwegian-underwater-cable-sea-monsters-giant-squid-and-russian-submarines-1090647458.html

Mystery of Lost Norwegian Underwater Cable: Sea Monsters, Giant Squid, and Russian Submarines

Mystery of Lost Norwegian Underwater Cable: Sea Monsters, Giant Squid, and Russian Submarines

A total of ten tonnes of cable from the nation's giant offshore network, located some 200 metres underwater and about 30 kilometres from land, has disappeared... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T07:29+0000

2021-11-11T07:29+0000

2021-11-11T07:29+0000

news

russia

norway

underwater

scandinavia

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The mysterious disappearance of a four-kilometre-long cable on the seabed outside the Vesteralen archipelago in northern Norway has left specialists and pundits scratching their heads and suggesting versions one wilder than the other.According to the Norwegian Institute of Marine Research, a total of ten tonnes of cable from the country's giant offshore network, located some 200 metres underwater and about 30 kilometres from land, was lost.National broadcaster NRK has compiled five versions of various probability.First, a trawler could have dragged the cable from its resting place. The area has been described as frequented by trawlers, which can easily haul up to 30 tonnes of catch. However, despite trawlers having the power to do so, a ten-tonne submarine cable wouldn't go unnoticed.Next off is that the cable was removed by sea currents. Yet, according to Institute of Marine Research oceanographer and specialist on ocean currents Jon Albretsen, local currents are not strong enough to rip off a cable. He called this perspective "completely unbelievable".Third, a large animal such as a whale could have disrupted the cable. In particular, humpback whales, playful and curious, are known to gather in the area while hunting for herring.Marine mammal researcher Tore Haug, however, underscored that while humpback whales grow to be about 15 metres long, they lack the power to drag such a cable and would have likely been stuck.Fourth among the possible culprits were "sea monsters", such as a giant octopus or giant squid.Giant squid can grow up 20 metres long and they have a beak-like mouth with sharp teeth. While acknowledging the possibility to do "great harm", Axelsen said he failed to see the "motivation behind it".Last, but not least, the broadcaster directed its suspicions at Russia.According to Ulriksen, Russia currently has about 20 submarines around Norwegian waters. In addition, Norway's northern waters are visited by American, British, French, and Norwegian submarines. While ordinary submarines cannot move large cables, there are special ones that can, he stressed.Perhaps tellingly, in an attached poll, a vast majority of Norwegian readers supported the Russian version (68 percent at the time of writing), with the trawler and the giant squid versions trailing second and third at merely 19 and 11 percent respectively.This reflects the years of the Norwegian media, politicians, and military officials portraying Russia in a negative light, often citing perceived wrongdoings and fictitious threats and using it as a scapegoat in Cold War-style rhetoric. Arguably the most egregious example of this phenomenon is the fictional political thriller "Occupied", where Norway suffers an outright Russian invasion. It has been slammed as anti-historical, as the two nations have never been at war with each other (unlike, say, Russia and Sweden that waged numerous wars). Furthermore, it was the Red Army that liberated northern Norway from Nazi occupation during the final stage of World War II.

https://sputniknews.com/20211109/norwegian-authorities-suspicious-after-4-km-long-length-of-surveillance-cable-gets-cut-disappears-1090602852.html

vot tak Yes, of course Russia did the nefarious deed. They mount giant lobster claws on their subs a regularly go about pinching lengths of undersea cables with these. The nabbed cables are then returned to Russia and secretly sold on the cable black internet market tocable dealers in China, Iran, DPRK, Cuba, Venezuela and now also Nicaragua. ;-D 7

Holger H. Spot on... the nefarious Russians must be at the helm of it. Its the one and only possibility... ;) 4

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Igor Kuznetsov

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/nato-maneuvers-in-black-sea-show-alliances-longing-to-step-up-military-tensions-in-region-1090664129.html

NATO Maneuvers in Black Sea Show Alliance's Longing to Step Up Military Tensions in Region

NATO Maneuvers in Black Sea Show Alliance's Longing to Step Up Military Tensions in Region

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) - Military presence of NATO member states in the vicinity of Russia's Crimea is deliberate and provocative and aimed at ratcheting up... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T17:28+0000

2021-11-11T17:28+0000

2021-11-11T17:28+0000

black sea

us

russia

nato

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The US Sixth Fleet announced earlier in November that its flagship Mount Whitney was heading to the Black Sea for routine maritime drills with NATO allies and partners. On Thursday, the Russian defense ministry pointed to an increase in US and NATO military activities in the Black Sea region  over the past 24 hours, four NATO reconnaissance planes were detected and escorted by the Russian anti-aircraft missile forces. Moscow qualified unscheduled drills close to the Russian border as aggression that threatens regional stability.He recalled that this summer, Ukraine and NATO had conducted drills in the Black Sea, involving dozens of warships. The expert believes that "that kind of flexing-the-muscles-acts are extremely dangerous," as one incident nearly sparked an open military confrontation after a British naval vessel HMS Defender entered Crimea's territorial waters in June.According to leaked classified documents, accidentally discovered at a bus stop in June, the incursion by HMS Defender into the Russian territorial waters near Crimea was a calculated provocation, planned at the highest levels of the government and the armed forces.By stepping up its military cooperation with Ukraine, NATO wants to heat military tensions with Russia, De Brabander said.In this regard, the spokesman views as legitimate Russia's concerns over the perspective of Ukraine becoming a NATO member state, as it may cause a serious threat to Russia's security interests after consecutive rounds of NATO expansions towards Russian borders in the last two decades.De Brabander is also of the opinion that common security meant avoiding dangerous military activities, building constructive communication channels, common understanding and negotiations to find political solutions.

https://sputniknews.com/20211111/putin-told-merkel-us-nato-actions-in-black-sea-destabilizing-1090662982.html

WhatTheFishIsThis Provocations will never stop until a strong response is delivered .. Eg. "Kill the Chicken to Scare the Monkeys" .. Chinese Idiom. 1

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black sea, us, russia, nato
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/north-american-fans-of-dostoevsky-to-celebrate-bicentennial-of-his-birth-by-virtual-party-1090666398.html

North American Fans of Dostoevsky to Celebrate Bicentennial of His Birth by Virtual Party

North American Fans of Dostoevsky to Celebrate Bicentennial of His Birth by Virtual Party

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Admirers of the renowned Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky in North America will commemorate the 200-year anniversary of his birth by... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T06:35+0000

2021-11-11T06:35+0000

2021-11-11T18:35+0000

fyodor dostoevsky

us

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"We will be marking November 11th with a virtual birthday party for Dostoevsky," Holland said.Holland explained that the birthday party celebration is part of a Dostoevsky jubilee program that has been ongoing for several months at various universities and other venues in North America.Dostoevsky was born on November 11, 1821 in Moscow, Russia, and is author of the novels "Crime and Punishment," "The Idiot," "The Brothers Karamazov," "The Gambler," "Demons" as well as of other literary masterpieces for which he is known throughout the world.Holland, who is Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto, said she first read Dostoevskys novels in English during her teenage years and began reading them in Russian in her 20s.Holland emphasized that she not only teaches a class on Dostoevskys works, but has worked on preserving his literary legacy throughout her life.Holland noted that she teaches at least one course on Dostoevsky at the University of Toronto every academic year and said her students always express great interest in his legacy."Dostoevsky is particularly appealing to the young because of the youth of his heroes and the power with which he conveys their divided consciousness. Students are extremely engaged with Dostoevskys novels, his characters and the ideological problems they pose, and want to stay after class to carry on discussing them," she said.Holland pointed out that people outside of academia often express interest in Dostoevskys works in very original ways. More recently, Holland said she interviewed the founders of an online Dostoevsky reading group about how his literary works benefited them during the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns."I think interest in Dostoevsky and the classics has increased since the pandemic began and since people were locked down in their homes," she added.Asked which of Dostoevskys literary masterpieces has been most popular, Holland said "Crime and Punishment" and "The Brothers Karamazov," but added that people have also shown great interest in "The Idiot," "Demons" and "Notes From The Underground."Speaking about the readers' interest of "The Brothers Karamazov," Holland said they seem to love the novel for its family drama, the psychological explorations of the three very different brothers who are nevertheless still Karamazovs."The religious context and content of the novel is strange but is appealing to Western readers," she added.

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fyodor dostoevsky, us
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/putin-told-merkel-us-nato-actions-in-black-sea-destabilizing-1090662982.html

Putin Told Merkel US, NATO Actions in Black Sea Destabilizing

Putin Told Merkel US, NATO Actions in Black Sea Destabilizing

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin told outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a phone conversation on Thursday that increased US and... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T16:58+0000

2021-11-11T16:58+0000

2021-11-11T18:41+0000

russia

belarus

black sea

vladimir putin

angela merkel

migrant crisis

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"The destabilizing and dangerous nature of the provocative activities of the armed forces of the United States and a number of other NATO countries in the Black Sea was also noted," the Kremlin said in a statement.Earlier this month, the US Sixth Fleet announced that its flagship Mount Whitney departed to the Black Sea to conduct drills with NATO allies and partners. On Monday, Mount Whitney along with US destroyer Porter entered the Georgian port of Batumi.Ukraine welcomed the presence of the alliance's forces near Crimea which it considers to be its annexed territory. The peninsula rejoined Russia in 2014 as a result of a referendum, which saw the vast majority of the population voting in favor of the reunification.Moscow, for its part, sees NATO activities in the Black Sea as a provocation to spur tensions and pursue the policy of containment of Russia.Putin and Merkel also continued discussing the situation on the borders between Belarus and the EU member states. They already discussed the situation during another phone conversation on Wednesday."The discussion of the situation on the borders of Belarus with the EU countries was continued. The importance of an early settlement of the acute migration crisis that has arisen was confirmed - in accordance with international humanitarian standards," the Kremlin said in a statement.Putin also called for the restoration of communication between the EU countries and Belarus to solve the issue.Acting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in her turn, told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the current situation on the Belarusian-Polish border had been caused by Minsks actions."During the phone conversation, the chancellor and the president of Russia exchanged views on the current situation on the Belarusian-Polish border. The chancellor stressed that the reason for this was the Belarusian regime, which uses defenseless people in a hybrid attack on the European Union," the German government said after the two leaders' phone conversation.

https://sputniknews.com/20211111/risk-of-clashes-in-black-sea-escalate-as-nato-tests-russia-deputy-fm-warns-1090648805.html

vot tak Additional info on the Belarus-poland migrant at RT supplying needed background missing in this sputnik article: "Putin offers Merkel plan to solve Belarus border migrant crisis". 2

C-Han Do realy the European leader understand that if a conflict arise between the US and Russia, Europe is the battlefield - it will be eradicated. Similiarly, if a conflict arise between the US and China, Japan, Korea, South-east Asia will be destroyed. In both cases the US leaders believe the US will never be harmed. 1

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russia, belarus, black sea, vladimir putin, angela merkel, migrant crisis
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/russia-slams-back-over-us-warning-against-making-mistake-in-ukraine-amid-alleged-military-buildup-1090654900.html

Russia Slams Back Over US Warning Against Making 'Mistake' in Ukraine Amid Alleged Military Buildup

Russia Slams Back Over US Warning Against Making 'Mistake' in Ukraine Amid Alleged Military Buildup

Washington previously expressed concern about the alleged Russian military buildup on the border with Ukraine reported by several American media outlets. The... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T12:17+0000

2021-11-11T12:17+0000

2021-11-11T12:17+0000

us

russia

ukraine

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The US should look at its own conduct in Ukraine in 2014 instead of issuing warnings to Moscow, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov stated when responding to an earlier comment by Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The latter warned Russia against making new "mistakes" regarding Ukraine as he welcomed the country's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.Speaking to reporters on 10 November, Blinken said that Washington was "concerned" about the media reports of "unusual Russian activity near Ukraine", referring to claims of a military buildup along the Russia-Ukraine border. The Kremlin dismissed these reports by the American media as a part of another fake news campaign against Russia.The secretary of state admitted that the US had no "clarity into Moscow's intentions", but claimed that the White House is familiar with its "playbook".In 2014, when protesters hit the streets of Kiev over the government's policies, the US and other western countries backed them even as the demonstrators resorted to riots and attacks on government buildings. The West also failed to respond after the rioters carried out a coup in the country ousting the democratically elected president.The latter provoked an uprising in the nation's eastern provinces over fears that the new nationalist authorities would limit the use of the Russian language, broadly used in that region. The two regions, Donbass and Lugansk, declared independence triggering a civil war in Ukraine in which the US and the EU supported Kiev and its military, who shelled the cities of the rebellious provinces.The West also perpetuated Kiev's claims that Russian forces were fighting on the side of the self-declared People's Republics in Donbass and Lugansk, while presenting no solid proof. Moscow strongly rejected these claims, stressing that none of its soldiers had crossed into Ukrainian territory.

https://sputniknews.com/20211110/us-wants-russia-to-explain-military-buildup-near-ukraines-border-1090634388.html

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us, russia, ukraine
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/saakashvili-decides-to-end-hunger-strike-if-transferred-to-civilian-hospital-1090661258.html

Saakashvili Decides to End Hunger Strike if Transferred to Civilian Hospital

Saakashvili Decides to End Hunger Strike if Transferred to Civilian Hospital

TBILISI (Sputnik) - Jailed former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Thursday decided to end hunger strike after appeals from the European Court of... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T15:17+0000

2021-11-11T15:17+0000

2021-11-11T15:17+0000

mikheil saakashvili

europe

georgia

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"I decided to take into account the calls of the Strasbourg Court and Western partners and end the hunger strike ... As soon as I am transferred from this institution to the appropriate institution, I will immediately end the hunger strike," Saakashvili said in a message, which was read out by Gvaramia.Saakashvili, who fled Georgia in 2013, was arrested on October 1 after returning to the country ahead of the municipal polls. On Monday, the former president, who went on a hunger strike as he considers himself a political prisoner, was moved to a prison hospital in Tbilisi.

Dang! Leave the corrupt traitor, an ex president that fired on his own citizens, right where he is. He will UNDOUBTEDLY voluntarily end his fasting since he doesn't have the backbone to keep it up. What's to lose, his life?? GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH, I say!! 1

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mikheil saakashvili, europe, georgia
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/snp-mps-deny-defence-secretarys-claim-they-got-drunk-on-armistice-day-trip-to-gibraltar-1090651299.html

SNP MPs Deny Defence Secretarys Claim They Got Drunk on Armistice Day Trip to Gibraltar

SNP MPs Deny Defence Secretarys Claim They Got Drunk on Armistice Day Trip to Gibraltar

A group of 15 MPs visited the Gibraltar - which has been British since 1713 - as part of an Armistice Day trip. The visit was part of the Armed Forces... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T10:32+0000

2021-11-11T10:32+0000

2021-11-11T15:58+0000

snp

gibraltar

ben wallace

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Two SNP MPs have rejected claims by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace they got drunk during an official Remembrance Sunday trip to the Rock of Gibraltar.David Linden and Drew Hendry denied Mr Wallaces claims and the SNP called it "a Tory smear."Labour MP Charlotte Nichols was accused of being so drunk she had to be taken out of Gibraltar airport in a wheelchair.Mr Wallace claimed they had shown a lack of respect for the armed forces and had been guilty of "undermining respect for Parliament.The Daily Telegraph reported Mr Wallace as saying the trio had put their hosts "in a difficult position."The BBC claimed to have spoken to a witness who said the three MPs had been drinking in the departure lounge at Heathrow Airport and continued imbibing on the flight and were inebriated on arriving in Gibraltar.The incident came as British soldiers, sailors and airmen marked Armistice Day on Thursday, 11 November.Mr Hendry accused Mr Wallace of making "false claims" and said: "That is a matter for their conscience. I'll focus on doing my job and respecting our troops as we mark Armistice Day."Ms Nichols issued a statement to The Sun newspaper in which she said: Everyone had had a few drinks on the flight. The issue for me is the medication I am taking. That affected my tolerance. I had the same amount to drink as the others. I do not know how many drinks I had, I wasn't counting. It was less than five.Later the BBC reported she had a "mental health episode" and was on medication for post-traumatic stress disorder.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/the-kyle-rittenhouse-trial-continues-and-russia-suggests-solutions-to-the-refugee-crisis-1090642331.html

The Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Continues, and Russia Suggests Solutions to the Refugee Crisis

The Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Continues, and Russia Suggests Solutions to the Refugee Crisis

On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan and co-host John Kiriakou discussed current events, including Kyle Rittenhouse testifying in his trial... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T10:52+0000

2021-11-11T10:52+0000

2021-11-11T11:36+0000

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The Kyle Rittenhouse Trial Continues, and Russia Suggests Solutions to the Refugee Crisis On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan and co-host John Kiriakou discussed current events, including Kyle Rittenhouse testifying in his trial, and YouTube hiding the dislike counter button.

GUESTPeter Oliver - RT European Correspondent and Sputnik European Correspondent | Asylum Applications in the EU, Border Walls, and Sanctions on BelarusJoel Segal - Former Congressional Staffer, Co-Author of HR 676 | Infrastructure Bill, Omnibus Bills, and The FunkadelicIn the first hour, Lee and John spoke with Peter Oliver about migrants along the Polish border, cheap labor, and refugees in Greece. Peter talked about the refugees in Turkey and President Erdogan using refugees as political pawns against Greece. Peter spoke on the asylum policy in the European Union and Germany unable to receive more refugees.In the second hour, Lee and John spoke with Joel Segal about the Trump voters, Biden got infrastructure done, and Medicare for all. Joel discussed the recent passing of the infrastructure bill and the Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill. Joel spoke on the Republican party and the dangers he sees in Trump voters.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/troika-plus-calls-taliban-to-form-inclusive-govt-with-representation-of-women-at-all-levels-1090656267.html

Troika Plus Calls Taliban to Form Inclusive Gov't With Representation of Women at All Levels

Troika Plus Calls Taliban to Form Inclusive Gov't With Representation of Women at All Levels

The Taliban took over Kabul on 15 August, and the Troika Plus, consisting of the US, China, Russia, and Pakistan, met for the first time on Thursday, in... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T20:30+0000

2021-11-11T20:30+0000

2021-11-11T20:26+0000

pakistan

kabul

us

russia

un

china

afghanistan

humanitarian aid

troika

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On Thursday, the Troika Plus, the grouping of the US, Russia, China, and Pakistan, agreed to continue practical engagement with the Taliban* to encourage the implementation of "moderate prudent policies," including access to education and representation for women and girls at all levels.The Troika Plus meeting was attended by Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood, Pakistan's Special Representative to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, US State Department's Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West, Russia's Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, and China's Special Representative for Afghanistan, Yao Jing.Issuing a joint statement after the meeting in Islamabad, the members called on the Taliban to work with fellow Afghans to "form an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans."Represented in part by the world's top three global powers, the Troika Plus also called on the Taliban to take a friendly approach towards neighboring countries to uphold Afghanistan's international legal obligations. They also asked the Taliban to protect the safety and legitimate rights of foreign nationals and institutions in Afghanistan. Member countries, represented by their special envoys, condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and called on the Taliban to quickly dismantle and eliminate all the terrorist groups operating inside Afghan territory.'Avert Economic Collapse'Islamabad has called for positive engagement with Kabul to prevent economic collapse or an all-out civil war in Afghanistan.Addressing the meeting, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan's Foreign Minister, said that the landlocked country stood at the brink of economic collapse and urged the international community to "buttress the provision of humanitarian assistance on an urgent basis."He has also called on governments, including the US, to unfreeze billions of dollars of assets belonging to Afghanistan's central bank that has been locked in the US to restart stalled economic activity.Washington froze nearly $9 billion of assets belonging to Afghanistan after the Taliban took over Kabul in mid-August.A UN report estimated that 22.8 million people, or more than half of the country's population, are expected to be in crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity between November 2021 and March 2022. Earlier on Wednesday, national security heads of eight regional countries - India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - met in New Delhi at the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan. They noted the need to provide humanitarian assistance and emphasized that the land and air routes should be made available and "no one should impede the process." They also stressed that no one should boycott the process due to bilateral agendas. Pakistan and China did not join the India-led initiative despite an invitation reported to have been sent to the two nations last month.*An organisation under UN sanctions for terrorist activities.

https://sputniknews.com/20211106/berlin-will-reportedly-discuss-with-taliban-return-of-german-diplomats-to-afghanistan-1090529704.html

Ahson Iran should deport all 4 million Afghanis and make em fight the illiterate wahabbi pashto terrorists. No mercy! 0

John Mason Troika should mind their own business; interferring in another states internal affairs yet complaining when other states do it. Troika should be more concerned in persuing rapatriation from the US/NATO for damages they caused in Afghanistan, return the confiscated funds and prosecute those responsible for war crimes. Russia still busy crawling up the US/West rear end. 0

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/us-based-hindu-group-accused-of-violating-wage-laws-exploiting-hundreds-of-indian-labourers--1090653964.html

US-Based Hindu Group Accused of Violating Wage Laws, Exploiting Hundreds of Indian Labourers

US-Based Hindu Group Accused of Violating Wage Laws, Exploiting Hundreds of Indian Labourers

According to a report, the amended lawsuit stated that complainants alleged that they were sent to temples around the United States. The Indian workers stated... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T20:56+0000

2021-11-11T20:56+0000

2021-11-11T20:52+0000

new jersey

united states

india

exploitation

labour

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A US-based Hindu organisation - the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sansth (BAPS) - has been accused "of luring labourers from India to work on temples near Atlanta, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, as well as in Robbinsville, New Jersey, paying them just $450 a month" in a lawsuit filed in a New Jersey Federal Court and amended last month, as reported by The New York Times on Wednesday. BAPS representatives have denied any wrongdoing.According to the report, a group of Indian workers filed a lawsuit against BAPS in a US district court alleging violations of human trafficking and wage law. The complaint has also mentioned six men among over 200 Indian nationals who have been "lured" in to the country since 2018 on religious visas "R-1 visas".In May, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the Swaminarayan Temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey, and rescued around 200 workers, most of them Dalits, Bahujans, and Adivasis. At that time, an original lawsuit was filed by a group of Indian workers, claiming that they were "forced" to work for about $1 an hour to construct the massive Swaminarayan Temple in New Jersey. Later, the lawsuit expanded the claims to include violations at temple sites across the country.

https://sputniknews.com/20211110/domestic-violent-extremists-to-pose-significant-threat-to-us-homeland-into-2022-1090639216.html

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/washington-post-faces-criticism-over-steele-dossier-whats-next-for-assange-1090640775.html

Washington Post Faces Criticism Over Steele Dossier; What's Next for Assange?

Washington Post Faces Criticism Over Steele Dossier; What's Next for Assange?

Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple argues that media outlets must review their coverage of the Steele dossier and be ready to retract stories that they... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T10:52+0000

2021-11-11T10:52+0000

2021-11-11T11:36+0000

julian assange

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Washington Post Faces Criticism Over Steele Dossier; What's Next for Assange? Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple argues that media outlets must review their coverage of the Steele dossier and be ready to retract stories that they find to be unverifiable or false.

Dan Lazare, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," joins us to discuss Russia-gate. Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple argues that media outlets must review their coverage of the Steele dossier and be ready to retract stories that they find to be unverifiable or false. Also, the firm "New Knowledge" was creating false "Russian" accounts online to mislead voters in Louisiana, but was still used by the US Senate to write an extensive document regarding alleged Russian interference in the 2016 elections.Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch, joins us to discuss Julian Assange. The British High Court has heard the arguments in the US appeal of the Court's decision regarding the extradition of Julian Assange. Joe Lauria's latest piece dissects the case and evaluates the potential outcomes.Jonathan Kuttab, human rights lawyer, joins us to discuss US foreign policy. The US currently has special operations teams drilling with military personnel in 33 of the 44 nations in Europe. Also, a new CBO report has outlined measures that would allow Congress to cut one trillion dollars from the military budget over the next decade.Ajamu Baraka, 2016 US vice-presidential candidate for the Green Party, joins us to discuss Nicaragua. President Daniel Ortega and his Sandinista party won the Nicaraguan elections with over 70% of the votes. The Biden administration and the Organization of American States (OAS) are making outrageous claims to discredit the overwhelming statement by the Nicaraguan people.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, joins us to discuss the Middle East. Israel continues their sabre rattling with claims of how they will wage war against the Islamic Republic. Marjorie Cohn, professor of law at the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, joins us to discuss the Supreme Court's upcoming ruling regarding the Texas abortion ban case. Professor Marjorie Cohn has penned an article in which she argues that the SCOTUS will likely allow a challenge to the Texas legislation, but may still overturn Roe v. Wade.Obi Egbuna, activist and US rep for The Zimbabwean Newspapers, joins us to discuss the leadership of Black politicians in America. Recent revelations that the Congressional Black Caucus helped Speaker Nancy Pelosi overcome the objections of House progressives regarding important fiscal legislation have renewed the discussion about the effectiveness of Black politicians and powerbrokers in the struggle for a fair and just society.Arial Gold, national co-director of Code-Pink, joins us to discuss Israel. Palestinian activists are complaining about the recent revelations that Israeli intelligence agencies used the Pegasus spyware platform to tap their phones. Also, we examine the West's role in the ever-increasing number of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/we-got-alms-rather-than-freedom-bollywood-actress-kangana-ranaut-sparks-outrage-over-1947-1090653282.html

'We Got Alms Rather Than Freedom': Bollywood Actress Kangana Ranaut Sparks Outrage Over 1947

'We Got Alms Rather Than Freedom': Bollywood Actress Kangana Ranaut Sparks Outrage Over 1947

Recently, the actress has not only targeted her colleagues in the film industry but also become embroiled in various political issues including the farmers... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T13:08+0000

2021-11-11T13:08+0000

2021-11-11T18:08+0000

mumbai

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Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has landed in fresh load of hot water for making a sweeping statement about India's independence from Britain after a freedom struggle. Ranaut, the winner of four National Film Awards, on Monday received the honour of Padma Shri (India's fourth-highest civilian award), and said India got its real independence in 2014, and that what the country had received in 1947 was bheekh (alms).In 2014, the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a thumping victory in the general elections throwing Congress - the party of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and his descendants - out of office.Slamming Ranaut for her statement, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarian Varun Gandhi said: Sometimes she insults the sacrifice and self-suffering of Mahatma Gandhi, sometimes she glorifies his assassin and now she is insulting the sacrifices of martyrs such as Mangal Pandey, Rani Lakshmibai, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose - not to mention hundreds of thousands of freedom fighters. Should I term such thinking madness or treason?Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjinder Singh Sirsa also condemned the actress for her statement.Congress politician Sanjay Nirupam said that the actress should tender an apology. He tweeted in Hindi: Kangana Ranaut has been stupid again. She said that we got freedom in alms while the real freedom came in 2014 after Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister. This is an insult to our freedom fighters. Then why is the Modi government celebrating the 75th anniversary of Independence? The actress should apologise to the nation.Her statement about Indias freedom has left many people outraged as it appears to ignore the sacrifices made by the real freedom fighters. What they managed to achieve -- national freedom from British Rule -- is a matter of pride for every Indian.People generally regard the freedom fighters highly and strongly believe it is because of their indescribable struggle against British rule that Indians today live in a free country.A section of social media users reacted strongly to her remark and some even demanded that she have her Padma Shri award withdrawn for insulting the freedom fighters. A few said that she should be arrested for sedition.A user said: Which quality of drugs do you take Kangana Ranaut? Only the slaves of Britishers can dare to insult the bravehearts who fought for the freedom of India.According to local media reports, the national executive chairman of the Aam Aadmi Party Preethi Menon has filed a complaint with the Mumbai Police seeking a First Information Report (FIR) against the actress for her seditious remarks. Ranaut's Brushes With ControversyThe actress, who takes pride in being a nationalist, has proved a dab hand at stoking controversies in the past. In January, on the anniversary of the death of Indian freedom struggle icon Mahatma Gandhi, Ranaut triggered a controversy when she glorified his assassin Nathuram Godse. She had said that there always are "three sides" to every story.Earlier this year, Twitter permanently suspended her account for "repeated violations of Twitter rules. This came after the actress posted a series of tweets on the alleged violence that took place in the Indian state of West Bengal after the assembly election results were declared.Before being permanently suspended, her account was briefly suspended when she posted a tweet referring to the controversy surrounding Aam Aadmi Party Preethi Menon

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/xi-says-cooperation-with-us-only-right-choice-ahead-of-biden-meeting-tentatively-set-for-monday-1090640301.html

Xi Says Cooperation With US Only Right Choice Ahead of Biden Meeting Tentatively Set for Monday

Xi Says Cooperation With US Only Right Choice Ahead of Biden Meeting Tentatively Set for Monday

With a third summit between the US and Chinese leaders expected next week, Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his hope that the two superpowers can... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T00:01+0000

2021-11-11T00:01+0000

2021-11-11T00:07+0000

joe biden

xi jinping

us

china

asia-pacific

summit

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Right now, China-US relations are at a critical historical juncture, Xi said in a letter to the National Committee on US-China Relations. The letter was read to the New York-based non-profit at its annual gala on Tuesday by Chinas ambassador to the United States, Qin Gang.Both countries will gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, Xi said. Cooperation is the only right choice.The letter added that China aims to jointly address regional and international issues as well as global challenges and  properly manage differences, so as to bring China-US relations back to the right track of sound and steady development.Coming SummitThe letter comes amid reports that Xi and US President Joe Biden will hold a remote conference next week. When their chief diplomats met in Switzerland last month, they pledged to hold a summit before the end of the year, and while neither government has confirmed reports that the meeting will be next week, Politico on Wednesday gave the most precise report yet, saying that a US official informed them it was tentatively scheduled for Monday.US-Chinese relations have deteriorated markedly in the last five years, with Biden continuing the policy set by his predecessor, Donald Trump, of pursuing great power competition with Russia and China. With the socialist giant identified by Washington as the US chief rival for the 21st century and an aspiring successor to the US as a leading world power, the US has pursued an increasingly antagonistic agenda, accusing China of abuses of its own population, aggression on the international stage, and unfair practices in business and trade.A Chinese government adviser who asked to remain anonymous told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post on Wednesday that The two sides have engaged in finger-pointing on many fronts. They have to see how to rebuild mutual trust. The US has kept containing China and using the Taiwan issue as leverage to pressure China.Taiwan TensionsTwo unrelated reports on Tuesday gave scope to just how antagonistic that relationship has become, with the Pentagon and Taiwanese defense ministry separately revealing that US troops have been stationed on the autonomous island since at least 2008 and that hundreds more have traveled there for training in the last few years. The timeline closely tracks the growth of US weapons sales to Taiwan as well.China regards Taiwan, which is ruled by the former republican government it defeated on the mainland in the civil war in 1949, as part of its sovereign territory thats presently in rebellion. US aid to Taiwan violates the fundamental principle of US-China relations: that only one Chinese government exists, which is in Beijing.Reframing the SituationJake Sullivan, the White Houses national security adviser, recently tried to reframe the US approach to China by suggesting that Biden had departed from Trumps policy in important ways.Rather, "the goal of America's China policy is to create a circumstance in which two major powers are going to have to operate in an international system for the foreseeable future," he added.Still, Sullivan noted the US was looking to create an international coalition capable of pressuring China into playing by the international rules-based order created by the United States after World War II.

Barros No problem. US is just a mass murder country. 4

bones289 All this on the verge of a major financial collapse. Will it be war? Will it be financial destruction? The fuse is lit. Beware. Thunder and war drums. 4

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joe biden, xi jinping, us, china, asia-pacific, summit
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/yemeni-migrant-stuck-at-polish-border-says-illegal-migration-networks-set-up-by-europeans-1090664808.html

Yemeni Migrant Stuck at Polish Border Says Illegal Migration Networks Set Up by Europeans

Yemeni Migrant Stuck at Polish Border Says Illegal Migration Networks Set Up by Europeans

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Illegal migration networks are organized mostly by people of European nationality through various channels, a migrant from Yemen stuck at... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T17:59+0000

2021-11-11T17:59+0000

2021-11-11T17:59+0000

yemen

belarus

europe

poland

migrants

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More than 2,000 migrants have been camping on the Belarusian side of a barbed-wire border fence in subzero temperatures since Monday.These networks bypass new restrictions that the authorities of Poland and the European Union are adopting in an attempt to stop the flow of migrants, he went on to share.Migrants have been sent to the Polish border since summer, for which illegal migration organizers use private planes to transfer them from the Middle East to Belarus and Poland via Dubai for subsequent shipment to Germany, he said.He also told Sputnik how he got to Belarus under the guise of a tourist."This is how we got to Belarus: first we went to the office of the travel company in Yemen, they made us an invitation to Belarus certified by the consulate in Minsk, paid hotel reservation and medical insurance. After that, we went to Egypt, and then, with our invitation, to Minsk, where we received visas at the airport. We entered Belarus like ordinary tourists", he said.Recent massive attempts to cross the border are due to the fact that after the onset of cold weather, people can no longer remain in unsuitable living conditions without food.For many stranded at the border, returning home is not an option, the Yemeni admits.Among migrants, there are many university graduates with bachelor's and master's degrees, and people with advanced degrees who cannot find work in their homeland or were forced to flee after the outbreak of military conflicts.In recent months, Poland, Latvia, and Lithuania have reported an increase in the number of people trying to cross the border from Belarus illegally, accusing Minsk of using migrants as a "hybrid weapon" against the bloc after it imposed sanctions on the country. On September 2, Poland declared a state of emergency on the territories bordering with Belarus, and the army and the police are involved in protecting the border. Belarus denies all allegations, saying it could no longer suppress migration to neighbouring countries due to the lack of resources caused by Western sanctions against the country.On Monday, the State Border Committee of Belarus reported that a large group of migrants, mostly Kurds, were headed towards the border of Belarus with Poland. More than 2,000 people, including a significant number of women and children, stopped in front of the Polish barriers at the border line and set up a makeshift camp. The Polish security forces did not let them through, and the migrants made attempts to overcome the barbed-wire border fence.

https://sputniknews.com/20211109/belarus-defense-ministry-refutes-claims-about-militarys-involvement-in-migration-crisis-1090586074.html

https://sputniknews.com/20211110/kremlin-alarmed-over-situation-at-poland-belarus-border-understands-its-complexity-1090621251.html

FeEisi Belarus, CSTO and the Union State can make sure migrants and refugees have water, food and warm clothing. Belarus can supply wire cutters and pay migrants for any fencing removed that can be sold for scrap metal.There should also be emergency personal in case there is a medical emergency. 1

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yemen, belarus, europe, poland, migrants
https://sputniknews.com/20211111/yikes-meghan-markle-admits-she-gave-information-to-authors-of-biography-after-previously-denying-it-1090654044.html

Yikes! Meghan Markle Admits She Gave Information to Authors of Biography After Previously Denying It

Yikes! Meghan Markle Admits She Gave Information to Authors of Biography After Previously Denying It

"Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family" talks about their life as senior royals and relationship with other members of the... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T12:12+0000

2021-11-11T12:12+0000

2021-11-11T12:12+0000

prince harry

uk royal family

meghan markle

uk

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Meghan Markle has admitted that she instructed her former communications secretary to give information to the authors of her unauthorised biography. Her statement was submitted to the UK Court of Appeal as part of a legal battle between the royal and the publisher of The Mail on Sunday, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).The Duchess of Sussex apologised to the court for failing to remember that she told her ex-PR chief Jason Knauf what information to reveal to the authors of "Finding Freedom". Previously, both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry denied that they spoke with the authors of the book.Jason Knauf told the court that the book was "discussed on a routine basis" in person and over email. Multiple messages and emails were reviewed by the court. In one of the messages, Prince Harry writes that the couple will publicly distance themselves from the book.The Duke of Sussex replied: Finding Freedom and Meghan Markle's LetterThe unauthorised biography, released last year, talks about the life of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as senior royals as well as about their relationship with other members of the family and their controversial decision to quit royal life and move to North America, which the media dubbed Megxit. Among other things, it painted some royals in an unflattering light. Claims made in the biography include:The issue of the biography came to light during the court battle between Meghan Markle and Associated Newspapers Limited. The company is trying to appeal a verdict by the UK High Court. In 2019, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry sued the publisher of The Mail on Sunday for printing excerpts of a letter the Duchess of Sussex wrote to her father Thomas. The couple accused the publisher of breach of privacy and copyright infringement. Earlier this year, the judge sided with the royals ruling that the publication was manifestly excessive and hence unlawful.Associated Newspapers Limited appealed the verdict and presented new information they obtained from the Duchess former communications director. QC Andrew Caldecott has argued that correspondence between Jason Krauf and Meghan Markle shows that the royal suspected that the letter might be leaked to the press.He quoted from a witness statement in which Mr Krauf said the Duchess "asked me to review the text of the letter, saying, 'Obviously, everything I have drafted is with the understanding that it could be leaked'".The court hearing will last until Friday, with the judges expected to give their ruling at a later date.

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https://sputniknews.com/20211111/young-americans-like-dostoevsky-as-his-novels-depict-reality-of-now-associate-professor-says-1090665965.html

Young Americans Like Dostoevsky as His Novels Depict Reality of Now, Associate Professor Says

Young Americans Like Dostoevsky as His Novels Depict Reality of Now, Associate Professor Says

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Young Americans like the literary legacy of the renowned Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky because his apocalyptic novels reflect... 11.11.2021, Sputnik International

2021-11-11T15:32+0000

2021-11-11T15:32+0000

2021-11-11T18:32+0000

fyodor dostoevsky

us

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On November 11, Dostoevsky fans around the world will celebrate 200 years of his birth. Dostoevsky is the author of the novels "Crime and Punishment," "The Idiot," "The Brothers Karamazov," "Gambler," "Demons" and other literary masterpieces that have brought him world fame.The professor pointed out that Dostoevskys fictional work is largely defined by a profound struggle between good and evil, between ideological warriors who insist they have a monopoly on the truth."Such a vision of life reminds young people of this moment, this often dystopian world they live in today: a world of incessant struggle and marked by profound social injustice," Kaufman said.On November 17, Kaufman will present his book - "The Gambler Wife: A True Story of Love, Risk, and the Woman Who Saved Dostoyevsky," during a virtual event hosted by Brandeis University.Kaufman said he is of the opinion that, in fact, more young people in the United States like Dostoevsky than Leo Tolstoy."For years, I tried to change their minds as I was - and remain - a great admirer of Tolstoy, having written two books on him, but I now understand why Dostoevsky resonates so powerfully," he said.Kaufman said he has been reading Dostoevsky for years, but was able to appreciate the full extent of his genius and relevance to present time only when he began to work with young incarcerated people.Kaufman pointed out that the central theme in Dostoevsky's writings is the freedom to change as are the radical compassion for the fellow human beings regardless of how far they have sunk morally or socially.Asked about the most popular masterpieces of Dostoevsky in North America, Kaufman mentioned "The Brothers Karamazov" and "Crime and Punishment."Robin Miller, professor of Russian literature at the Brandeis University, expressed confidence in a resurgence of interest in Dostoevskys works among students and readers outside academia in the United States."My sense is that the most often Dostoevsky books read by students are Notes from Underground, Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov," she said.At the same time, however, scholars seem to be turning more to "Notes from the House of the Dead" along with "The Idiot" and "The Adolescent," Miller added.Archpriest Michael van Opstall of the St. George Russian Orthodox Church in the US state of Utah also believes Dostoevsky's novels are timeless.Van Opstall said he and the believers in his church will commemorate Dostoevsky by holding a panikhida - a special memorial service on the 200 year anniversary of his birth."Dostoevsky was an Orthodox Christian," he said. "We are not treating Dostoevsky as a saint by any means, but we can hold a memorial service for him and talk about his books after the service - and I think that is a good thing."In fact, Van Opstall said he was so inspired by Dostoevskys novels during his youth that he decided to become an Orthodox Christian."One of my philosophy professors was very much encouraging me to read Dostoevskys novels," he said. "That eventually got me when looking to visit an Orthodox church, specifically to go to a church of the Russian tradition, especially after I read The Brothers Karamazov. It reflected a lot of my own faith."Van Opstall said as a very young man he was attracted to how novels like "Crime and Punishment" and "Demons" show how God intervenes through their conscience."I think his novels very much show life the way it is and that there are many dark sides to life," he said.Van Opstall agreed with the often heard assertion that Dostoevsky is now the most popular Russian writer in the United States.

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The Grand Circuit's weekly overview highlights the upcoming races at Dover Downs and Meadowlands Racetrack.

This Week: Matron Stakes, Dover Downs, Dover, Delaware; and Kindergarten Series finals, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Schedule Of Events: The Grand Circuit returns to Dover Downs this Thursday (Nov. 11) for four Matron Stakes for three-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The three-year-old colt pace carries a purse of $164,750, the three-year-old colt trotters will race for $156,300, the purse for the three-year-old filly trot is $148,550 and the three-year-old filly pacers will race for $129,000.

The Meadowlands on Saturday (Nov. 13) will offer the lucrative finals of the Kindergarten Series for two-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. The two-year-old colt trot carries a purse of $300,960, the two-year-old filly trotters will race for $294,580, the purse for the two-year-old colt pace is $238,700 and the two-year-old filly pacers will race for $220,110.

Complete entries for the races are available on the USTA website.

Last Time: After an uncharacteristic break in stride marred her chances of a Breeders Crown title, Mohawk Million winner Venerable ($2.10) righted the ship on Thursday night (Nov. 4) at Dover Downs, delivering a scintillating 1:54.3 win in the $130,700 Matron Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies and leading a stakes double for trainer Richard Nifty Norman.

I pulled up that night and told Nifty, I have no reason why she did that, driver David Miller said of Venerables misstep in her Breeders Crown elimination. I really dont know  shes a two-year-old trotter. Its not unusual for them to do something like that.

With her lone flaw in the rearview mirror, Venerable looked every bit her usual self in the Matron, cruising through a :57.1 first half before accelerating up the backstretch to evade pocket rival HL Revina and first-over challenger Missy Trix to three-quarters in 1:25.3. After leaving those rivals behind midway on the far turn, the daughter of Walner and Jolene Jolene steadily increased her margin of clearance over the field, reaching the winning post 6-3/4 lengths in front while confidently handled by Miller. Im Happy Hanover (Brian Sears), the longest shot on the board at 47-1, flew down the grandstand side to finish second over HL Revina (Montrell Teague); Missy Trix (Dexter Dunn) faded to fourth.

Dexter got in to follow me on the last turn, but I yelled at her (Venerable) and she coasted on, Miller continued. I never pulled the ear plugs on her. She felt like herself.

Now a nine-time winner in 10 starts, Venerable has earned $1,076,605 for David McDuffee, Melvin Hartman, Paul Bordogna and Steven Arnold.

You cant dwell on the last race  youve got to move on, Norman said. We needed to get a good look at her and make sure she was OK, and she passed all the tests. She was really good. Its hard to tell watching her because everything looks so easy for her, but David said she had no problems at all.

Norman completed his stakes double with Joyride Hanover ($5.20), who defeated stablemate Shipnstrol Hanover in the $145,100 Matron for rookie pacing fillies.

In line to Tim Tetrick, the American Ideal-JK Higher Power filly sprinted to a clear lead over Galleria Hanover through a :27.2 quarter and maintained a solid pace throughout. After rating a :56 half, Joyride Hanover faced pressure from even-money favourite A Girl That Twirls up the backstretch before bursting to a four-length lead upon cornering for home and maintaining three lengths of clearance at the end of her 1:52 lifetime-best win. Shipnstrol Hanover (Miller) checked in traffic at the eighth pole behind a faltering Galleria Hanover but salvaged second up the open stretch; Frantasy Hanover (Corey Callahan) lifted off cover for third.

Norman defers some of the credit for Joyride Hanovers success to Eddie Dennis, who campaigned the three-time winner this summer before owner Eric Good transferred her to Normans stable before the Shes A Great Lady.

Shes a really nice filly, Norman said. Eddie Dennis trained her down and did a good job  she was a good horse when I got her.

Thus far, Joyride Hanover has earned $181,364.

Grand Circuit Standings: In 2021, the Grand Circuit leaders in three categories (driver, trainer and owner) will once again be tracked on a points system (20-10-5 for the top three finishers in divisions/finals and 10-5-2 for the top three finishers in eliminations/legs). Winbak Farms is the sponsor for the 2021 Grand Circuit awards.

Here are the leaders (through the races on November 6, 2021):

Drivers: 1. Dexter Dunn  1,298; 2. Yannick Gingras  1,118; 3. Tim Tetrick  1,015.5; 4. David Miller  1,000; 5. Andrew McCarthy  811.5.

Trainers: 1. Ron Burke  1,231; 2. Tony Alagna  756.5; 3t. Ake Svanstedt  680; 3t. Nifty Norman  680; 5. Nancy Takter  635.

Owners: 1. Burke Racing Stable  248.6; 2. Weaver Bruscemi  216; 3. Crawford Farms Racing  209.6; 4. Brad Grant  207.5; 5. Courant Inc.  194.

Looking Ahead: Grand Circuit action will again take place next week at The Meadowlands and Dover Downs. The Meadowlands will feature the four TVG finals for older pacers and trotters and the Fall Four stakes for two-year-old pacers and trotters. Dover will host the Progress Pace eliminations for three-year-old open pacers.

(Grand Circuit)
"My job is to provide indications and warnings of terror threats to the Department of the Navy," the 37-year-old said. "It's always been very important to me to feel like I'm doing something impactful, and I feel that I am making an impact because someone very important is making informed decisions based on my analyses."

Bragg isn't working bizarre hours anymore either, something that his wife, Melanie, said has made a big difference in his ability to be there for her and their children, 5-year-old James and 3-year-old Emmalyn.

"When he was working those security jobs, the hours kept him away from us constantly," she said. "He worked nights, weekends and holidays, and that forced him to miss important things going on with the kids and family events. It put a huge strain on our family life.

"In his new position, he works Monday through Friday and is able to take time off if the kids or I get sick," she pointed out. "He never works holidays or weekends, and we are able to spend a lot of time together as a family because of that. It's made a world of difference in our home."

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More important than any of that, however, is the effect the change in careers has had on Bragg's mental health.
His brother went to boarding school and later was stationed with the Marines in Washington, D.C., where Mallory went to join him as a teen, leaving the farm behind. He was 21 and working as an auto mechanic in the Nations Capital when he got drafted in early 1941.

Sent me a notice, I had to report to Fort Meade, Maryland, Mallory said.

The young soldier, assigned to the first armored division, received training in basic battlefield trauma care, how to use splints, tourniquets, ace bandages and the like.

We learned stuff we could do to get the soldiers prepared to send them back to the hospital, Mallory said. The Army, learning of his mechanical abilities, also assigned him to drive an ambulance and maintenance truck. Mallory had just completed months of maneuvers through Florida and Texas and was scheduled for a Christmas furlough when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.

It was the first time we were able to have a bath in a while so Sunday morning we all got dressed up in our dress uniforms and went to breakfast in the dining room for the first time in about four months. Got back to the barracks and our first sergeant was standing therehe said, gentlemen your furloughs have been cancelled, Japanese just bombed Pearl Harbor, Mallory recalled.
I knew there was a chance of war when I came into the military, he said. And, to me, it was exciting. I had all this training I had received over the last five years and I got to use it in a combat environment.

Its a little stressful, he admits, particularly when you have a family, including those who serve to your left and your right. Soldiers knew there were going to be losses, he said, and there were, but he also says, I guess thats just the nature of the beast.

He describes going to Iraq as like somebody turned off the TV. His unit went from Germany, which he said is a beautiful country, with trees and green landscape, to Iraq, which he describes as desolate. Its like everythings black and white, but its tan and brown.

They would have crazy dust storms and he estimates he saw grass twice while serving deployments in Iraq.

While on deployment in Iraq, he said, they were under fire eight to 10 times a day, depending on the activities that day. Sometimes they are under mortar fire, other times, indirect fire, and when driving through towns, they were bound to take on fire.
Ninety-three-year-old Ronald Dutton of Gering doesnt remember a lot about his time in the service, but he remembers the important parts, including the part when he met his wife.

Honoring our Heroes: Gering veterans time in the military changed his life in an unexpected way Ron Dutton served for about 4 years in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Nome, Alaska, where he didn't see much action but foun

Dutton signed up to serve in the Air Force around the age of 25, he saidaround the time of the Korean War. His son, Allen Dutton, said that he did his basic training somewhere in southern California, and then was stationed in Nome, Alaska, where an Aircraft Control and Warning radar site was based. Allen said his father did mostly desk work.

For my part, I was never in danger, Ron said. I really didnt have to experience the bad things. I wont say they were fun, but we were never in danger.

While Ron might not have gotten to see much of the exciting parts of the military, the experience would change his life forever.

While in Alaska, Ron got to become well-acquainted with a local family.

I went and had dinner with them a few times, he said. I ended up marrying their daughter. And Ive never regretted that.

Ron met Mary Louise after she returned to her family in Nome for a visit, and the rest is history, he said.
Perez said the lack of recognition for the Mexican-Americans who served spurred the project.

Collectively, this is where were at today, he said. We want to show that Latinos have contributed and hopefully pass on the pride and honor to the younger generations. We have heroes, look at the names that are on this wall. 600 Latinos have served.

Ramirez said he was then trying to figure out how to list all 600 of the names on a monument. A trip to the Minatare cemetery served as inspiration, he said. At the cemetery, there is a plaque about the size of an index card that listed everybody buried there.

The project got off to a shaky start, though, after contracting with a company to make the plaque. The company had been shuttered before the project was finished.

Then we thought, Well, lets engrave the names and put them on three monuments, which is a much bigger deal, Ramirez said.

Then came the process of gathering names for the monuments. Ramirez said it took two years to gather the names of the 600 Mexican-Americans whose names are engraved on the three monuments.
Teresa Elliot, of Scottsbluff, also headed out this morning to visit with officers, like Officers Ron Wilson and Spencer Griess.

Im retired and its nice to come and visit with the officers, just to, you know thank them for their service, she said.

Mary and Russ Nielsen were among the people who stopped by to also ask some specific questions. The couple said it was a good event for them to be able to talk one-on-one with officers.

Usually when you see them, theyre working and you cant just stop and talk, Mary Nielsen said. As I told them, sometimes, when were just out and about and we see them doing their job, weve always been very impressed with how they handle themselves.

Sierra Parra, owner of the Luna Bean Coffeehouse, said the event is the second time that the Parras have hosted the event, hosting Coffee with a Cop in 2018 when the coffeehouse was a deli. At that time, owner Anthony Parra described local police as doing a great job when the adjoining convenience store experienced a robbery in December 2017 and during the times they have responded to alarms or provided other assistance.

The business owners enjoyed it then and Sierra Parra and other baristas were having fun during Coffee with a Cop Wednesday.
Issues in supply seem to be improving and prices stabilizing, but he expects costs to stay high after so many people got out of the shipping business during the pandemic. "An average container coming from Asia prior to COVID would cost about $4,000. Today, that same container is about $18,000," he said.

At the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado in Colorado Springs, CEO Lynne Telford says the cost for a truckload of peanut butter 40,000 pounds (18,100 kilograms)_has soared 80% from June 2019 to $51,000 in August. Mac and cheese is up 19% from a year ago and the wholesale cost of ground beef has increased 5% in three months. They're spending more money to buy food to make up for waning donations and there's less to choose from.

The upcoming holidays worry her. For one thing, the donation cost to buy a frozen turkey has increased from $10 to $15 per bird.

"The other thing is that we're not getting enough holiday food, like stuffing and cranberry sauce. So we're having to supplement with other kinds of food, which you know, makes us sad," said Telford, whose food bank fed more than 200,000 people last year, distributing 25 million pounds (11.3 million kilograms) of food.
Policies that continue to encourage fossil-fuel exploration and extraction, for instance, simply exacerbate the climate change that underlies many of the worlds worst problems. Toxins from heavy metals, plastics, and other pollutants continue to ruin our air, water, and soil, creating immense public health problems in this country and elsewhere. Our oceans increasingly suffer from the longstanding human habit of dumping our waste there. And even when we dont do it deliberately, our carbon emissions are acidifying ocean waters, killing coral reefs and other animal and plant life.

Meanwhile, when was the last time you heard a serious debate in Congress about environmental policyof any sort? The US is hardly alone in this, but we can only control our own public policy and hope to influence othersand for the most part, environmental issues have taken a back seat in recent decades to other pressing concerns. But as the WMO report makes clear, the earth isnt inclined to wait for us. Which suggests that environmental policy on Capitol Hill and in the White House needs to be moved to the front burner.
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Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you on this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majestys hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of God you have set up.  Daniel 3:16-18

Many people who grew up in faith, be it a Christian church or Jewish synagogue, are very familiar with the story of Daniels three friends being thrown into the fiery furnace for not bowing the knee to the ginormous statue that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon built in honor of himself. (Think of the Kim statues in North Korea) The reason Daniels three friends wouldnt do it was because they knew that no mere human being, no matter how great he thinks he is, is worthy to be worshipped; only God alone should be worshipped. When these three men put their dogged faith into practice it got them into trouble, and they were thrown into a fiery furnace.

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The good news is that God spared them from incineration. But what has always struck me about this story was not just that God spared them, which is what folks usually think of when they reflect on this story, but rather what the three men said they would not do even if God did not spare them.
Bad weather also contributed to their flight delays. Chari said trying to launch on Halloween left them with "a trick instead of a treat." It was also drizzling Wednesday night when the four astronauts said goodbye to their families for six months  with everyone huddling under umbrellas  but it cleared up by launch time.

"Enjoy your holidays among the stars. We'll be waving as you fly by," SpaceX launch director Mark Soltys radioed to the crew.

The list of 600 travelers ranges from those who have barely scratched space  like actor William Shatner last month  to U.S. and Russian astronauts who have spent a year or more in orbit. This year's surge in space tourists helped push the tally over the 600 mark.

That averages 10 people per year since Yuri Gagarin's pioneering flight in 1961, Maurer said.

"But I think in a very few years, we will see an exponential rise of that one because now we're entering the era of commercial spaceflight," he said after arriving at Kennedy Space Center two weeks ago.

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Britains government, which is hosting the U.N. climate summit, needs to be much more upfront about such risks, said Richard Dawson, a member of the committee and professor of engineering at Newcastle University.

Ultimately, difficult decisions need to be made about many coastal settlements with disproportionately high numbers of older and poorer residents, he said, and officials need to prepare people for moving inland.

Whatever happens at COP the sea level will continue to rise around the U.K., thats something we absolutely need to prepare for, Dawson said. We have to be realistic. We cant afford to protect everywhere. The challenge for government is that the problem is not being confronted with the urgency or openness that we need.

In Fairbourne, a continuing standoff between villagers and officials underlines that challenge. Residents feel they have been unfairly singled out, and arent convinced there is a clear timeframe on how quickly sea levels will rise enough to threaten their homes. When and how will evacuation take place? Will they be compensated, and if so how much should it be?

There are no answers. The village vicar, Ruth Hansford, said many residents suffered emotional fatigue from years of uncertainty and negativity. Others simply decided to carry on with their lives.
Its the time of year when members of Mechanicsburg Christian Church prepare for a mission trip to an orphanage in Bolivia, where they help make the holidays merry and bright.

Unfortunately, Covid has put a halt to the annual trip for church members, but Pastor Tom Maurer still plans to visit. He leaves Dec. 1 for a two-week stay. Before he leaves, he hopes to raise $1,500, or $15 per child, so each child will be able to shop at a local market for a Christmas present.

They usually buy a pair of pants or a shirt or shoes, stuff they need, Maurer said.

Maurer hopes this trip goes better than his last trip to the orphanage in June when mechanical difficulties with his plane and a false positive Covid test stranded him in Bogota, Columbia, for a week.

It was pretty scary, he said.

While in Bolivia, Maurer will have Bible studies with the children and celebrate high school graduations, which are in December.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)  A Missouri man repeatedly denied suggestions from prosecutors Wednesday that he fatally injured his wife by jumping on her back or strangling her during an argument two years ago.

Joseph Elledge testified for the second day in his first-degree murder trial in the death of 28-year-old Mengqi Ji, who he married after she came to the U.S. from China to study at the University of Missouri.

The defense rested its case Wednesday afternoon, and closing arguments were scheduled to begin Thursday morning.

During nearly eight hours of testimony on Tuesday, Elledge said Ji died after she hit her head when he pushed her during an argument on Oct. 8, 2019. He said she went to bed and that he discovered her dead the next morning.

On Wednesday, Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight suggested during cross-examination that Ji died when Elledge hurt her during an argument that began when he was giving her a massage, KOMU-TV reported.

At one point, Knight asked, Do you want to tell the jury how you really killed your wife, Joe?
There are plenty of local models that do show rising hospitalizations that we are already starting to see in local environments, Bibbins-Domingo said. It is a little bit of a race, and it sort of depends on whether waning immunity wins or whether us getting boosters into people wins.

Dr. Lee Riley, chairman of the Division of Infectious Disease and Vaccinology at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, said the increase may be due to complacency as businesses reopen and people let down their guard, though the number of cases is nowhere close to the summer surge.

I think it is a good idea to be prepared because weve been burned several times before when we didnt do that, (although) I do feel a little more optimistic now than before, he said.

Newsom used a visit to a COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot clinic in Los Angeles to urge residents, including newly eligible children 5 to 11, to get vaccinated. He also urged booster shots for those who are eligible.

Newsom, who got a booster on Oct. 27, said it has become evident from the experience of Europe and other U.S. states that the coronavirus has a seasonal aspect that can lead to an increase in infections.
Almost four years ago, Amanda Juarez was pregnant and living in a vehicle with her fiance when she decided to call 211 and found the help she needed.

An operator for the state resource hotline guided the U.S. Navy veteran to the local Veteran Integration Program  a service that provided immediate housing for Juarez and her family and one she said she never heard of before.

Castle Rock veterans nonprofit hires first employees to grow services CASTLE ROCK  A nonprofit that connects veterans to local resources hired its first two staff members this fall thanks to a federal grant to e

This year, Juarez will spend Veterans Day inside a rented home with her family, while the programs recent roughly $1 million grant could help additional veterans find the shelter they need.

There are a lot of organizations out there people arent aware of, if youre in that situation and youre a veteran, she said. Theres hope that you can get through it.

Rough times

Around 2017, the former boatswains mate found herself without a job and a home, spending her minor funds to rent a vehicle to use as shelter.

Within two days of contacting the Veteran Integration Program, Juarez said she moved into their temporary housing in Longview, where she built her savings, learned best practices when renting homes and fought a rare form of melanoma.

Blue Star monument will be unveiled in Kelso on Veterans' Day The Kelso Garden Club will unveil a Blue Star By-Way memorial at an event in Tam OShanter Park on Veterans Day, the first armed forces tribu

Eventually, Juarez said she used a Department of Housing and Urban Development voucher to rent a house for her family. Without the Veteran Integration Programs help, Juarez said her gap in rental history and lack of rental references would have prevented her from finding a home.

Housing help

According to Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Westerman, the organization sets aside a portion of housing vouchers for homeless veterans each year.

The Veteran Integration Program is a separate arm of the housing authority that is funded through the U.S. Veterans Affairs to cover expenses like temporary housing and case managers for homeless veterans in Cowlitz, Lewis, Wahkiakum and Pacific counties.

Single veterans or those with families can share living spaces in a local three-bedroom home or apartment complex, said Program Manager Rachelle Sanders, while working toward goals like obtaining identification cards or health insurance so they can move out on their own. Those who qualify for housing vouchers can receive them through the housing authority as well.

In November, Housing Opportunities announced the organization received roughly $1 million in VA grants to cover services like a full-time case manager and remodeling and expanding veterans housing. Westerman said the award was more than previous years due to additional struggles during the pandemic.

Fewer veterans can join the program today, compared to previous years because of socially distanced housing requirements to protect veterans from COVID-19, Sanders said. Some funds have been used to house veterans in hotels, in addition to the organizations temporary housing, she added.

Kelso middle school students start community campaign to honor veterans; ask community to participate Students in the leadership group at Huntington Middle School are writing thank you cards, painting rocks and making a display of local names on the school's front window this year in advance of Veteran's Day Thursday.

Despite the limits, the program still works. Of the 52 veterans who joined the Veteran Integration Program over the last year, Sanders said 30 have found permanent housing.

Other help

The Veteran Integration Program doesnt work alone. Westerman said the organization relies on others, like the all-volunteer staff at the Cowlitz County Veterans Service Center and Disabled American Veterans offices in Longview to provide additional support.

Cowlitz County veterans services Veteran Integration Program: 1207 Commerce Ave., Longview; 360-423-0140, extension 47, hoswwa.org/veteran-integration-program. HEVIN: Castle Rock, 360-749-2016, hevin4vets.com. Cowlitz County Veterans Service Center: 1005 Fir St., Longview; 360-200-4611.

HEVIN, a Castle Rock nonprofit that stands for Helping Every Veteran In Need, also chips in donations. Juarez said HEVIN helped her receive donated furniture and appliances for her new home and Christmas presents for her children over the last two years. When she needed a new vehicle, Juarez said HEVIN Co-founder Rhonda Black drove her to local dealerships and placed a down payment on a van.

Juarez said HEVIN members still check in to see how the family is doing on their new path.

They worked so hard to make sure I had a vehicle, Juarez said. Rhonda said we love you. We want your life to be better. 

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Artificial evolution of synaptic plasticity rules in spiking neuronal networks. (A) Sketch of cortical microcircuits consisting of pyramidal cells (orange) and inhibitory interneurons (blue). Stimulation elicits action potentials in pre- and postsynaptic cells, which, in turn, influence synaptic plasticity. (B) Synaptic plasticity leads to a weight change (w) between the two cells, here measured by the change in the amplitude of post-synaptic potentials. The change in synaptic weight can be expressed by a function f that in addition to spike timings (t pre ,t post ) can take into account additional local quantities, such as the concentration of neuromodulators (, green dots in A) or postsynaptic membrane potentials. (C) For a specific experimental setup, an evolutionary algorithm searches for individuals representing functions ff that maximize the corresponding fitness function . An offspring is generated by modifying the genome of a parent individual. Several runs of the evolutionary algorithm can discover phenomenologically different solutions (f 0 ,f 1 ,f 2 ) with comparable fitness. (D) An offspring is generated from a single parent via mutation. Mutations of the genome can, for example, exchange mathematical operators, resulting in a different function f. Credit: DOI: 10.7554/eLife.66273

Uncovering the mechanisms of learning via synaptic plasticity is a critical step towards understanding how our brains function and building truly intelligent, adaptive machines. Researchers from the University of Bern propose a new approach in which algorithms mimic biological evolution and learn efficiently through creative evolution.

Our brains are incredibly adaptive. Every day, we form new memories, acquire new knowledge, or refine existing skills. This stands in marked contrast to our current computers, which typically only perform pre-programmed actions. At the core of our adaptability lies synaptic plasticity. Synapses are the connection points between neurons, which can change in different ways depending on how they are used. This synaptic plasticity is an important research topic in neuroscience, as it is central to learning processes and memory. To better understand these brain processes and build adaptive machines, researchers in the fields of neuroscience and artificial intelligence (AI) are creating models for the mechanisms underlying these processes. Such models for learning and plasticity help to understand biological information processing and should also enable machines to learn faster.

Algorithms mimic biological evolution

Working in the European Human Brain Project, researchers at the Institute of Physiology at the University of Bern have now developed a new approach based on so-called evolutionary algorithms. These computer programs search for solutions to problems by mimicking the process of biological evolution, such as the concept of natural selection. Thus, biological fitness, which describes the degree to which an organism adapts to its environment, becomes a model for evolutionary algorithms. In such algorithms, the "fitness" of a candidate solution is how well it solves the underlying problem.

Amazing creativity

The newly developed approach is referred to as the "evolving-to-learn" (E2L) approach or "becoming adaptive." The research team led by Dr. Mihai Petrovici of the Institute of Physiology at the University of Bernand Kirchhoff Institute for Physics at the University of Heidelberg, confronted the evolutionary algorithms with three typical learning scenarios. In the first, the computer had to detect a repeating pattern in a continuous stream of input without receiving feedback about its performance. In the second scenario, the computer received virtual rewards when behaving in a particular desired manner. Finally, in the third scenario of "guided learning," the computer was precisely told how much its behavior deviated from the desired one.

"In all these scenarios, the evolutionary algorithms were able to discover mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, and thereby successfully solved a new task," says Dr. Jakob Jordan, corresponding and co-first author from the Institute of Physiology at the University of Bern. In doing so, the algorithms showed amazing creativity: "For example, the algorithm found a new plasticity model in which signals we defined are combined to form a new signal. In fact, we observe that networks using this new signal learn faster than with previously known rules," emphasizes Dr. Maximilian Schmidt from the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Tokyo, co-first author of the study. The results were published in the journal eLife.

"We see E2L as a promising approach to gain deep insights into biological learning principles and accelerate progress towards powerful artificial learning machines," says Mihai Petrovoci. "We hope it will accelerate the research on synaptic plasticity in the nervous system," concludes Jakob Jordan. The findings will provide new insights into how healthy and diseased brains work. They may also pave the way for the development of intelligent machines that can better adapt to the needs of their users.

Explore further Mesoscale neural plasticity helps in AI learning

More information: Jakob Jordan et al, Evolving interpretable plasticity for spiking networks, eLife (2021). Journal information: eLife Jakob Jordan et al, Evolving interpretable plasticity for spiking networks,(2021). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.66273
Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Boeing has reached an agreement with the families of the victims of a March 2019 crash in Ethiopia of one of its 737-Max aircraft that claimed 157 lives.

In the agreement, Boeing accepted responsibility for Ethiopian Airways flight 302 losing control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. The plane nose-dived into a barren patch of land about 40 miles (65 kilometers) from Addis Ababa. There were no survivors.

At the time, it was the second crash to involve a Boeing 737-Max aircraft in six months. After the Ethiopian crash, U.S. authorities grounded the 737-Max until Boeing could fix the plane's faulty software.

In court documents filed Wednesday in federal court in Chicago, where Boeing is based, the company admitted that its software was to blame for ET 302's loss of control and destruction, and that the 737-Max was in an "unsafe condition" to fly. Boeing's 737-Max were recertified to start flying again earlier this year.

The agreement does not involve monetary compensation to the families as of Wednesday, according to court records, but it does allow victims' families to pursue individual claims in U.S. courts instead of their home country. The crash killed people of 35 nationalities.

It allows Boeing to consolidate its 737-Max legal issues to the U.S. while allowing victims' families to access the U.S. legal system, which is more equipped to handle such cases.

"This is a significant milestone for the families in their pursuit of justice against Boeing, as it will ensure they are all treated equitably and eligible to recover full damages under Illinois law while creating a pathway for them to proceed to a final resolution, whether through settlements or trial," said Robert Clifford, Steven Marks and Justin Green, the lead attorneys representing the victims, in a statement.

Explore further Boeing 737 MAX negligence case ends with $237.5 mn settlement

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Liu Hui, Chief Data Officer of the JD Big Data Research Institute, speaks in front of a display showing live sales figures for China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" at the headquarters of online retailer JD.com in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

China's Singles' Day, the world's largest online shopping festival which falls on Nov. 11 every year, is losing its shine, with less marketing hype and a crackdown on the technology industry.

Singles' Day has been viewed as the largest online marketing event of the year. It is heavily advertised for weeks ahead of time with brands and merchants offering deep discounts to attract consumers looking for bargains.

But shoppers say deep discounts of what is also called "Double Eleven" are now a thing of the past and experts are predicting lower sales as the economy slows.

This year, Alibaba, the e-commerce platform that pioneered the online shopping festival more than a decade ago, decided not to showcase a running tally of its real-time gross merchandise volume (GMV)defined as the amount of transactions racked up across its platformon its site for Nov. 11.

Chinese regulators have cracked down on technology companies, investigating giants like Alibaba and food delivery firm Meituan over alleged anti-competitive practices.

Earlier this year, Alibaba was fined a record $2.8 billion for violating antitrust rules. Ahead of Singles' Day, Alibaba, rival JD.com and Meituan were among companies asked to curb excessive marketing text messages sent to consumers during the festival.

A worker pulls a trolley loaded with computer accessories at the Chinese online retailer JD.com's warehouse in Beijing on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Last week, 16 e-commerce platform operatorssome of which are linked to Alibaba and Meituanwere also summoned by regulators in the southern province of Guangdong and warned over "unfair competition."

Platforms are also reining in the marketing hype to align themselves with Chinese President Xi Jinping's calls for "common prosperity," which includes curbing excess and advocating for more equitable distribution of wealth and resources.

"The decision not to publish a live GMV tally suggests China's major e-commerce platforms believe this consumption display is incongruent with current 'common prosperity' themes," said Michael Norris, research strategy manager at the Shanghai-based consultancy AgencyChina.

"While not publishing a live GMV tally may appease local sensibilities, without careful management, it may spook foreign investors who are already concerned about Alibaba's growth prospects," he said.

A worker pulls a trolley of goods at the Chinese online retailer JD.com's warehouse in Beijing on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Online retailer JD.com also did not publicly stream a running tally of sales this year. But it did hold a media event Thursday, where a counter showed that as of 2 p.m. local time shoppers had spent over $48 billion.

Although it was a common to see consumers take advantage of deep discounts in past Singles' Day festivals to stock up on daily necessities, consumption habits have changed.

Demand is weaker amid the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic, and Singles Day is now competing with other e-commerce festivals throughout the year.

"2021 is a year of troubled times. There is the pandemic and various disasters, economic growth is slow and the stock market is not performing well," said Hua Wei, a Beijing resident.

"These make people a little bit panicked. After all, you have a stronger sense of security if you hold onto your money," she said. "I think people are also more rational now when it comes to consumption."

Liu Hui, Chief Data Officer of the JD Big Data Research Institute, speaks in front of a display showing live sales figures for China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" at an empty hall of the headquarters of online retailer JD.com in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Liu Hui, Chief Data Officer of the JD Big Data Research Institute, speaks in front of a display showing live sales figures for China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" at an empty hall of the headquarters of online retailer JD.com in Beijing, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Workers sort out goods at the Chinese online retailer JD.com's warehouse in Beijing on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Workers sort out goods to load into trucks at the Chinese online retailer JD.com's warehouse in Beijing on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Workers prepare goods to load onto trucks at the Chinese online retailer JD.com's warehouse in Beijing on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. China's biggest online shopping day, known as "Singles' Day" on Nov. 11, is taking on a muted tone this year as regulators crack down on the technology industry and President Xi Jinping pushes for "common prosperity." Credit: AP Photo/Andy Wong

Another shopper, Jiang Chen, said that he held back on impulse shopping this year, buying only what he needed.

"I don't think it's necessary to waste time and energy in order to save a little money, so the things I buy are what I need," he said, such as snacks and fruit.

Jiang seemed happy with a lower key approach to the festival.

"I hope that there will be less exaggerated publicity and hype in future (Singles' Day) sales, and that the discounts will be bigger," he said.

Meng Xiaolu, a sales manager who lives in the eastern province of Zhejiang, said she spent most of her shopping budget for this month on Singles Day sales of cosmetics and clothes.

"Because of the pandemic, I'm not able to travel and take vacations, so all I can do is find some joy in online shopping," she said. "I think shopping on Double Eleven has become a habit for young people."

 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Israeli tech company NSO was at the centre of a storm in July after a list of about 50,000 potential surveillance targets worldwide was leaked.

The designated chief executive of Israeli tech firm NSO Group is resigning days after being announced, a source close to the company said Thursday, as Palestinian officials claimed its software hacked their phones.

Isaac Benbenisti was tapped last week to succeed founder and CEO Shalev Hulio, who was to have become global president and vice chairman of the board.

NSO's Pegasus software can switch on a phone's camera or microphone and harvest its data.

It was at the centre of a storm in July after a list of about 50,000 potential surveillance targets worldwide was leaked to the media.

The management shake-up at NSO comes after the United States on November 3 blacklisted the company for enabling "foreign governments to conduct transnational repression".

NSO as well as the Israeli company Candiru and firms based in Singapore and Russia were targeted for restrictions on US exports.

The source close to NSO who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said "because of the crisis with the US... Shalev decided that he still will sit on the chair of the CEO."

NSO says its Pegasus software helps fight crime, but investigators have found it on the phones of journalists and dissidents.

On Thursday Ahmed al-Deek, a senior official in the Palestinian foreign ministry, said Pegasus was found on phones of three of his colleagues.

"We have confirmed by experts and specialised companies that Pegasus has been found on phones of three officials at the foreign affairs ministry," he told AFP.

The Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates said it "condemns in the strongest terms" the hacking of Palestinians' phones, calling it a "crime that must be held accountable".

The allegation follows a report on Monday by a European rights group saying Pegasus was used to hack phones of the staff of Palestinian civil society groups that Israel has deemed terrorist organisations.

The groups deny the charge.

Eitay Mack, a human rights lawyer specialising in Israeli defence exports, said Benbenisti's decision to resign "proves that the US Department of Commerce's decision is making waves and seeping through.

"The big question (is) what will the company's international investors do now?" he said.

Israel has pushed back against the US blacklisting of NSO.

Pegasus can only be sold to states, and the sales must be approved by the defence ministry.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid stressed that NSO was a "private company" that followed Israel's defence export guidelines.

"I don't think there's another country in the world which has such strict rules according to cyber warfare and that is imposing those rules more than Israel."

Explore further US blacklists Israeli maker of Pegasus spyware

 2021 AFP
France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, talks with U.S Vice President Kamala Harris, during the Paris Peace Forum, in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Some world leaders and internet giants are expected to issue a global call to better protect children online during a Paris summit of about 30 heads of state and government, including U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris. Credit: AP Photo/Christophe Ena

Internet giants, including social media apps Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, joined several world leaders to issue a global call to better protect children online at a Paris summit on Thursday.

The call, initiated by France and the U.N. child protection agency UNICEF, acknowledges that "in the digital environment, children can come across harmful and violent content and manipulation of information. Just like adults, children have rights to privacy, which should be respected."

The text also listed "threats amplified by technology" including cyber bullying, sexual abuse, prostitution, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence or violent online radicalization.

"We call upon all governments, online service providers and relevant organizations to stand up for children's rights in the digital environment," it said.

Signatories include Amazon, Google and YouTube, Facebook and Instagram's parent company Meta, Microsoft, Snapchat and Twitter. The call has also been joined by eight nations including France, Italy, Argentina, Jordan and Moroccoalthough not the United States.

About 30 heads of state and government and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris were participating in the Paris Peace Forum that opened Thursday. The summit, organized both in person and online, brings together world leaders, CEOs, NGOs and others to discuss global issues such as climate, the COVID-19 pandemic and digital transition.

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris watch a welcome video at the beginning of the Paris Peace Forum, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 in Paris. The forum focuses on gaps in global health, post-COVID recovery and looking ahead for new principles of action for the post-COVID world. Credit: Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times via AP, Pool

Macron chaired the session about children's rights in the presence of YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.

"We must regulate contents and authorization tools so that an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, a 15-year-old child ... cannot be exposed to all contents without rules," Macron said. That must go via parental control installed by default on some tools, he said. He also insisted on the need for educating children about the risks of social media.

Macron, Harris, EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also participated in another roundtable on regulating the digital domain, along with Microsoft president Brad Smith. Harris announced that the U.S. is joining the Paris Call launched in 2018 to improve security and better regulate cyberspace.

Children's rights advocates have for years urged internet giants to take action to better protect children.

From left, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Former European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy and Vice President Kamala Harris speak during a Paris Peace Forum, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron is right. Credit: Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times via AP, Pool

Revelations last month from whistleblower Frances Haugen about internal Facebook studies on the harm of Instagram on teenagers intensified parents' concerns about the popular photo sharing app.

Justine Atlan, head of "E-Enfance," a group advocating the protection of children on the internet, participated in the Paris Peace Forum.

"We can build a lot of tools ... but all these functionalities are useless because children lie about their age. For me, this is the big issue," she said. "That's why I think we all need to work together and find solutions."

Nora Fraisse, head of a French association fighting school bullying, praised "a key moment" that puts "international pressure" on internet giants.

Fraisse founded "Marion La Main Tendue" ("Marion The Outstretched Hand") after her daughter, Marion, committed suicide at the age of 13 because she was being harassed at school.

From left, former European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy, Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron and French historian Justin Vaisse arrive at a Paris Peace Forum, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 in Paris. The forum focuses on gaps in global health, post-COVID recovery and looking ahead for new principles of action for the post-COVID world. Credit: Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times via AP, Pool

France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, talks with U.S Vice President Kamala Harris, during the Paris Peace Forum, in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Some world leaders and internet giants are expected to issue a global call to better protect children online during a Paris summit of about 30 heads of state and government, including U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris. Credit: AP Photo/Christophe Ena

France's President Emmanuel Macron, right, laughs with U.S Vice President Kamala Harris, during the Paris Peace Forum, in Paris, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Some world leaders and internet giants are expected to issue a global call to better protect children online during a Paris summit of about 30 heads of state and government, including U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris. Credit: AP Photo/Christophe Ena

"Those who are spreading hatred via their pipes hold some responsibility," she said about popular social media apps like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Cyberbullying and bullying at school are often interconnected.

Fraisse said social media companies should request proof of identity as a first step and have better control over published content.

Social media companies have generally banned kids under 13 from signing up for their services, although it's been widely documented that kids sign up anyway, with or without their parents' permission.

Fraisse, who speaks in schools about online risks, also called for better educating children and parents on these issues.

She cited a nationwide study her association commissioned this year that showed the proportion of those who attempted suicide is higher among children bullied at school (12%) than in the general population (7%).

Explore further Joining social media before age 11 is associated with problematic digital behaviors

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A picture illustrating the use of a recurrent neural network (RNN) for the purpose of finding the lowest point in an optimization problem through classical annealing. (a) Initially at high temperatures, the hot RNN (in red) explores the landscape, defined by an optimization problem of interest, by making smarter moves through the space of configurations. After cooling temperature during annealing, the cold RNN in figure (b) points out to the lowest energy configuration in the rugged landscape. Credit: Hibat-Allah et al.

Optimization problems involve the identification of the best possible solution among several possibilities. These problems can be encountered in real-world settings, as well as in most scientific research fields.

In recent years, computer scientists have developed increasingly advanced computational methods for solving optimization problems. Some of the most promising techniques developed so far are based on artificial neural networks (ANNs).

Researchers at the Vector Institute, University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Canada have recently developed variational neural annealing, a new optimization method that merges recurrent neural networks (RNNs) with the principle of annealing. This new technique, introduced in a paper published in Nature Machine Intelligence, works by generalizing the distribution of the possible solutions to a given problem using a parametrized model.

"The topic of our recent research is at the intersection between machine learning, statistical physics and quantum physics," Mohamed Hibat-Allah, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told TechXplore. "More specifically, it aims to solve real-world optimization through a new algorithm based on the theory of annealing and RNNs borrowed from the field of natural language processing (NLP)."

The idea for this recent paper originated during a series of conversations between Hibat-Allah and his collaborators. Ultimately, the researchers set out to create a new algorithm that would outperform existing optimization methods based on both classical and quantum annealing principles.

"At the time, I was teaching at a school in Bogota with Juan Carrasquilla and Roger Melko," Estelle M. Inack, another researcher involved in the study, told TechXplore. "During one of ours chats, Juan suggested me the idea of using annealing in a variational Monte Carlo set-up. When we returned to Waterloo, he put me in touch with Mohamed, his Ph.D. student at the time. This is how our project started."

Some of the most difficult optimization problems are known to be nondeterministic polynomial time (NP)-hard problems. Essentially, this means that they are highly complex and either cannot be solved using simple computational methods or solving them would require enormous amounts of time.

As simple algorithms cannot effectively tackle these problems, researchers worldwide have been trying to create more efficient techniques that could solve them within realistic timescales. The approach created by Hibat-Allah, Inack and their colleagues is one of the most recent efforts aimed at addressing optimization problems more efficiently.

"The framework we presented is based on the principle of annealing," Hibat-Allah explained. "The latter is inspired from annealing in metallurgy, where one can heat a material and let it cool down in a slow manner to bring it to a lower energy state that is more robust and more stable. This process has inspired the invention of simulated annealing, which aims to find numerical solutions to optimization problems."

The most characteristic feature of the optimization method introduced by this research group is that it merges the efficiency and computational power of ANNs with the advantages of simulated annealing techniques. More specifically, Hibat-Allah, Inack and their colleagues used RNNs, a class of algorithms that have been found to be particularly promising for NLP applications. While in NLP studies these algorithms are trained to process human language, the researchers re-purposed them and trained them to solve optimization problems.

"In simple terms, if you think of an optimization problem as a rugged landscape filled with valleys, the classical version of annealing aims to find the lowest point in the landscape by jumping through barriers using thermal fluctuations," Hibat-Allah said. "On the other hand, the quantum version of annealing attempts to solve this problem by digging tunnels through the barriers for the hope of finding deeper valleys."

Using RNNs, Hibat-Allah, Inack and their colleagues found that they were able to solve optimization problems more efficiently. In fact, in contrast with more conventional numerical implementations of annealing, their RNN-based method made smarter choices, improving the efficiency of both classical and quantum annealing methods.

"We demonstrated the ability to encode the annealing paradigm with autoregressive networks and the performance that is derived with respect to standard simulated classical and quantum annealing is the most important achievement of our study," Inack said. "Our work takes optimization problem solving to a new dimension that directly exploits the infrastructures used to train advanced neural networks, via rapid iteration using for example TensorFlow or Pytorch accelerated on GPUs / TPUs."

Hibat-Allah, Inack and their colleagues evaluated their approach in a series of tests, comparing its performance with that of standard annealing optimization methods based on numerical simulations. Their framework outperformed all the techniques they compared it to on different prototypical optimization problems. In the future, the algorithm introduced by this team of researchers could be applied to numerous real-world optimization problems, helping specialists in a variety of fields to solve these problems more efficiently.

"Our recent paper resulted in a patent filing," Inack said. "My plan is to use the framework we developed at my newly created startup, yiyaniQ, to achieve faster and more accurate derivative pricing calculations."

In their next studies, the researchers plan to test their algorithm's performance on more realistic problems, while also comparing it with that of other state-of-the-art optimization techniques. In addition, they hope to develop their technique further, by substituting some of its components or integrating additional ones.

"It would be also interesting to improve our method by using more advanced neural network architectures or by choosing different cooling schemes during annealing," Hibat-Allah added. "We do not know yet how much improvement we can get, but we can learn a lot through these investigations and potentially find a better algorithm that can improve current solutions to optimization problems."

Explore further New 'quantum' approach helps solve an old problem in materials science

 2021 Science X Network
Multimedia Reporter

Staff writer Harry Funk, a professional journalist for three-plus decades, has been on the staff of The Almanac since 2015. He has a bachelors degree in journalism and master of business administration, both from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The field of eight candidates vying to be Brunswicks next mayor was reduced to two on Nov. 2 with Cosby Johnson and Ivan Figueroa emerging from the pack to qualify for the runoff.
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His hope is that the people who attended understand a little more how the process works after seeing oral arguments. The Waco-based court will then continue their review before issuing a decision.

I think its valuable for them to see the inner workings of it and have the opportunity to go observe and either, one, confirm their decision of what they want to do or, two, saying, You know, maybe I think Ill do something else, Smith said.

Robert Stanberry, coordinator of Blinns paralegal and criminal justice program in Bryan, said it makes the opportunity to see the law in action more exciting that they are real cases.

He called it a partnership between the law and education. Some students return even after graduating because of the impact it made on their careers.

Emily Exley, who works in family law, was the LASO chair in 2017 when two former Texas Supreme Court justices were on either side of a case, and said the experience of sitting in the audience when the justices visit Blinn College is what encourages her to stay in the legal field.

She said it inspires students and encourages them to get engaged and ask questions they may not feel comfortable asking in a traditional classroom setting.

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The superintendent's advisory cabinet, composed of administrators across the school district, quickly objected, saying they were "shocked and dismayed that the board would take this disruptive action in the middle of the school year.

They described Morelock as a tireless advocate for the schools, noting that he took over as interim superintendent in 2018 with the district in significant financial difficulty after having to lay off staff.

Under his leadership, new contracts with our associations brought better pay to teachers and staff, more educational school days for our students, a stabilized financial situation with a safety net of over $9 million in the ending fund balance, and the passage of the largest construction bond in the history of Newberg Public Schools, the administrators said.

The teachers union in Newberg denounced Morelock's termination as yet another example of a board majority bringing instability to our schools.
Climbers are equipped with specially designed safety harnesses that let them ascend an outdoor staircase, from the first lookout known as the Cliff, to the top platform called the Apex, located 1,271 feet (387 meters) above 10th Avenue.

There, they can lean out over the edge and look down at the Empire State Building. City Climb will operate rain, snow or shine, but will close if the temperature drops below 23 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 5 degrees Celsius) or if there is dangerous weather in the area.

Setting off on our climb, my stomach tightened as soon as the gate saying "Restricted Area" opened onto the Cliff. My hands, tingling with nervous anticipation the night before, were numb in the cold as I walked the 161 steps on the exterior edge of the building's distinctive triangle top.

I looked down on the Hudson Yards plaza and the streets next to it, where the cars looked like ants.

When I got to the Apex, Barbato, the attraction's manager, welcomed me: "We are at the top of the world."

Then, she leaned back, arms stretched out, hanging over the city as a tether kept her from falling to the streets below.

"Put your heels on the edge, bend your knees, and push out," one of the guides said, when it was my turn.
Richwood, TX (77531)

Today

Showers early with some clearing overnight. Thunder is possible early. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Showers early with some clearing overnight. Thunder is possible early. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Less than a week after the release of a former Nebraska State Patrol employee indicted for allegedly conspiring to sell drugs stolen from the evidence locker, she is back in jail.

Anna Idigima was released to house arrest on Nov. 4, following a hearing Oct. 28 where U.S. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Zwart approved her release for health reasons but told Idigima she wasn't allowed to have any contact at all with her co-defendant, George Weaver Jr.

In a motion filed Monday, a pretrial services officer alleged that Idigima started talking with Weaver in jail calls two days later and had more than 4 hours of conversations within the next three days.

"The phone calls include Ms. Idigima and Mr. Weaver discussing the case, witnesses, and video evidence of their pending charges," according to the petition for action on conditions of pretrial release.

To conceal the calls, Idigima used a relative's phone and Weaver another inmate's account.

A warrant went out for Idigima's arrest Monday, and she was back at the Lancaster County Department of Corrections the next day.

At a hearing Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Fullerton asked for Idigima's detention pending trial.
GRAND ISLAND  Its been a long walk, but Jim Hickey isnt stopping. He still has about 200 miles to go.

Hickey, who lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., is walking across Nebraska to raise money for Paishence, 5, who lives in Cozad and is battling cancer-related brain tumors.

Hickey, 60, arrived in Grand Island on Monday. He began his venture Sept. 15 in Scottsbluff. Averaging 15 miles a day, he paused in Kearney two weeks ago, and was in Grand Island earlier this week.

Hed walked nearly 300 miles by then.

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A Marine veteran, Hickey has spent 23 years walking throughout the country to raise money for charitable causes. A friend in Fort Collins, Colo., told him about Paishence.

Paishences story tugged at his heartstrings. She has already lost an older sister. Another sibling has a degenerative bone disease. Her mother is single and lives in Cozad.

Hickey began his treks in memory of his father, mother and brother, who all died of cancer. That effort soon expanded. He has covered nearly 9,000 miles walking for 27 children and 11 adults.
Edith Robbins will present a Hall County Historical Society Voices from the Past program at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Burlington Station, Sixth and Plum streets.

Robbins will focus on the life of a German war prisoner in the camp in Grand Island during World War II. Because of the labor shortage in the area, farmers were able to secure help from prisoners. Through personal interviews with farmers, research and correspondence, Robbins is able to shine light on the of a prisoners day. There were other ways the prisoners were working in the area.

Robbins, a native of Germany, has done much historic research through Stuhr museum and other contacts. An article on the topic of the German war prisoners was recently published in the magazine of the Nebraska State Historical Society.

A time for discussion and refreshments will follow the program. Open to the public, the program is free to members of the Hall County Historical Society, with a $5 charge for non-members.

For more information, call Annette Davis at 308-226-2465.

Crane Trust to host guest speakers, potluck
He was just mad about something. He's screaming, 'If I catch any of you (expletives) alone I'm going to (expletive) kill you.'

When he encountered Rosenbaum again later, Rosenbaum shouted, I'm going to cut your (expletive) hearts out and kill you, Rittenhouse said.

Later, he was walking with a fire extinguisher after hearing protesters were burning cars at one of the lots his friends were trying to protect. Rittenhouse said he saw a fire in a truck on one of the lots then Joshua Ziminski approached him with a gun. Rosenbaum came out from behind some cars and ambushed him, Rittenhouse testified.

He said he tried to run away but Rosenbaum chased him as Ziminski yelled get him" and kill him. Rittenhouse said Rosenbaum threw a bag at him that he mistook for the chain, and that he pointed his rifle at Rosenbaum but Rosenbaum didn't stop. He heard a gunshot behind him and I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun, Rittenhouse said.

He said he fired four times, went up to Rosenbaum to see if he could help him, then ran away because people were yelling get his ass, get him, get him."
Union officials told workers after those contract talks that they couldn't recommend Kellogg's offer because it was full of concessions.

The Kelloggs strike includes roughly 1,400 workers four plants in Battle Creek; Omaha; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee, that make all of Kelloggs brands of cereal, including Frosted Flakes and Apple Jacks.

The company has said that it has restarted production at all of the plants with salaried employees and outside workers, and it is now hiring new employees at the plants. CEO Steven Cahillane also told investors earlier this month when the company reported a $307 million quarterly profit that Kelloggs stockpiled cereal beforehand to help weather the strike.

Workers at Kellogg's and other companies feel emboldened this year to strike in the hope of obtaining a better offer because of the ongoing worker shortages.

Besides the Kellogg's strike, more than 10,000 Deere workers remain on strike after rejecting two different offers from the tractor maker.

Employees are also less willing to compromise this year after working long hours during the coronavirus pandemic to keep up with demand over the past 18 months.

Earlier this year, about 600 food workers also went on strike at a Frito-Lay plant in Topeka, Kansas and 1,000 others walked off the job at five Nabisco plants across the U.S. At meatpacking plants across the country labor unions have been successfully negotiating significant raises for employees.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
He said he fired four times, went up to Rosenbaum to see if he could help him, then ran away because people were yelling "get his ass, get him, get him."

He also said later that he feared that if he let Rosenbaum take his gun, "he would have used it and killed me with it and probably killed more people."

WHAT HAPPENED AS HE RAN?

Rittenhouse said Huber hit him in the neck with a skateboard and someone hit him in the back of the head with a rock, causing him to stumble. A man tried to kick him in the face after he went down, he said. He fired twice at that man but missed. Rittenhouse said he feared the man "would have stomped my face in."

Huber hit him in the neck again with the skateboard and grabbed his gun, Rittenhouse said.

"I can feel the strap coming off my body," he said. "I fire one shot."

In the next instant, Grosskreutz ran up to him. He lowered his rifle as Grosskreutz raised his hands in a "surrender" motion. But Grosskreutz was holding a pistol and as Rittenhouse lowered his weapon Grosskreutz pointed the pistol "directly at my head," Rittenhouse said. He fired once, hitting Grosskreutz in the arm.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE?
"It looks much bigger up close," Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon texted Thursday as five state senators finished preparations for their ascent up Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa with the threat of bad weather ahead.

The trip to and then up the storied mountain, which is 19,340 feet high at its peak, was to begin in eight hours, Brewer texted at about 11 p.m. in Tanzania, nine hours ahead of Lincoln time.

"In eight hours we start," he said.

"Weather will move in on Sunday for 3 days snow and winds will come up," Brewer texted in answer to a question.

"It could make the ascent difficult."

Brewer said "everyone is good to go and everyone is in high spirits" with safety checks completed, equipment inspected and medical briefings done.

And so the adventure begins.

The official weather forecast for Mt. Kilimanjaro calls for "a moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Saturday afternoon" with temperatures "well below freezing" and wind expected to be "generally light."
The standoff near the frontier crossing at Kuznica, 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Warsaw, was on the minds of many at the march, and one banner in Warsaw read: We Thank the Defenders of Polands Borders.

Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik tweeted that some security forces will go directly from Warsaw to defend our border with Belarus. When marching, remember this!

About 15,000 Polish troops have joined riot police and guards at the border. The Belarusian Defense Ministry accused Poland of an unprecedented military buildup there, saying that migration control didn't warrant such a force.

The Polish Defense Ministry said the migrants made a number of attempts to cross the border since Wednesday, as they have all week.

Near the village of Bialowieza, where a few hundred migrants threw debris across the razor-wire fence at Polish troops and then tried to destroy it, shots were fired in the air to deter them, the ministry said. Near the village of Szudzialowo, migrants attacked a soldier in the chest with a tree branch, but he fired two warning shots in the air and was unhurt, the ministry said, adding that the attackers fled deeper into Belarus.
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:
CARTERVILLE  TJ and Jackie Cowan, Carterville residents and owners of Cold Blooded Coffee and Roastery, have announced plans to open not just a coffee shop downtown, but also a 4,575-sqare-foot historically renovated venue that will serve as the hub of their growing business.

The building, 131 S. Division St., will include a roastery, full taproom and event center with outdoor seating. The building is just two doors down from Heathers Bake Shop, where customers can currently enjoy limited options of Cold Blooded Coffee.

The 131 building, dating back as early as 1894, currently is being renovated by Jennifer Spence, of J. Spence Properties LLC, and a team of local tradesmen, with the completion goal for Cold Blooded Coffee to open this spring.

When I began renovating the 131 building, I wasnt sure what the use would be, I just knew I had to save the historic building, said Jennifer Spence. When I listed the former renovated Rise Above It Bakery & Cafe building for sale, I gave TJ and Jackie a tour of both spaces. Even though I was far from finished with 131, they saw the potential and said they had to have it.

The downtown Carterville establishment will be the third and largest Cold Blooded Coffee & Roastery location in Southern Illinois, said TJ Cowan.

He said other locations have roasters in the back. This space will bring the roasters to the front. Patrons can sit at the bar and watch coffee being roasted.

The addition of a full tap-house is exciting and allows us to continue to support local breweries and wineries, TJ Cowan said.

The taproom will give the coffee house evening hours. TJ Cowan expects the building to be open from 7 a.m. to 10 or 10:30 p.m.

A commercial kitchen is also on-site, and great food is coming, TJ Cowan said. Theres really a lot there that is not in other locations.

Being able to open a facility of this size and character in downtown Carterville is going to be a huge benefit to our business and our lives, said Jackie Cowan. We are Carterville residents, and knowing TJ can roast his coffee in town versus traveling to our current out-of-town production facility is huge.

Both Murphysboro and Carterville have coffee roasters on-site now, and Jackie Cowan says its vital to the authentic nature of their business.

I can manage the growing demand while being able to produce our signature cold brew growlers in the same in-town location, she said.

TJ Cowan is in charge of Cold Blooded Unlimited, which creates, produces and distributes products across 48 states, as well as business development with major accounts. Jackie Cowan manages all retail locations, wholesale accounts as well as oversees cold brew production.

Cold Blooded Coffees Carterville location will house a new Legendary SF25 San Franciscan Roaster, which will roast up to 100 pounds of coffee per hour.

The American-made, handcrafted roaster will not only serve as an important production machine, but will provide a unique experience as customers can view up close the roasting process. It will be housed in a location of the building that connects with the coffee shop, but can also be closed-off for private coffee tastings and roasting sessions.

Unique to the area and normally only provided in metropolitan cities such as Chicago and Nashville, the roasting experience in the Carterville coffee shop will be one of only three similar-type experiences offered south of Springfield, Illinois.

To learn more about Cold Blooded Coffee & Roastery, go to coldbloodedbrew.com.

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MARION  The Williamson County Board on Wednesday approved a resolution adopting and approving the budget for the Reed Station Road extension and infrastructure project.

The resolutions include $13.1 million in funding for the project and up to $300,000 in legal fee reimbursements. Reimbursements will be paid on a monthly basis for worked performed and materials acquired. Receipts must be sent to Williamson County Engineer Travis Emery.

Legal reimbursements will not be paid without proof of actual costs and cannot exceed $300,000.

Walker's Bluff owner Cynde Bunch was at the meeting.

I want to thank you all for this incredibly hard thing weve done, she said.

Commissioner Brent Gentry thanked Bunch for her vision.

I appreciate you picking our county to have your resort. There is truly a bright future head, he said, adding that the project will help the region as a whole.

He also addressed people who object to gaming, saying they have to look at the big picture or what the resort will do for the region.

I feel we have done our best on behalf of the residents of this county. I wish you and your partners the very best, Gentry said.

Tim Atkisson, the newest county board member, also thanked Bunch and said he was glad to have played some part in the process.

This is a regional effort, not just Williamson County benefits, County Board Chairman Jim Marlo said and made a motion to pass the resolution.

The vote was unanimous.

Bunch will send the resolution and her building permit to the Illinois Gaming Board and expects approval by early next week.

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WHEATON  A former suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for the 2011 sexual assault and slaying of his ex-wife.

Juan Granados, 43, was sentenced Tuesday after being found guilty last year of first-degree murder and criminal sexual assault for attacking and killing Nancy Bustos.

A DuPage County judge sentenced Granados to 40 years in prison on the murder charge and 10 years for the sexual assault, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

Bustos, 36, was found dead in October 2011 in the bathroom of the Glen Ellyn apartment where she and Granados, who had divorced the previous year, were living, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Bustos had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death. Investigators determined that the evening before she and Granados had been involved in a scuffle.

They had been married for 10 years and had two children, and although they divorced in 2010. They had continued living together in the apartment but at the time of her death, Bustos was trying to move out after she started dating someone new.

After Bustos' death, police said Granados drove to Mexico and lived there for six years, eventually remarrying.

He was extradited to the U.S. in late 2017.

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SPRINGFIELD  State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, inched closer Wednesday to making his bid for his party's nomination for Illinois secretary of state official.

Brady filed paperwork amending his campaign finance committee to reflect his intention to run for the statewide office instead of another term in the Illinois House. Brady, a deputy minority leader, has represented portions of the Twin Cities and surrounding rural areas in the House since 2001.

"Stay tuned," Brady told The Pantagraph when reached Wednesday afternoon. He declined to divulge details but alluded to an official announcement early next week.

Brady has hinted for months his desire to run for the office, which is being vacated by Democrat Jesse White, who has served since 1999.

The secretary of state's office is state's second-largest constitutional office after the governors office, employing more than 4,000 people, with responsibilities that exceed most of its counterpart offices in other states.

Most prominently, it is the unit of government that issues drivers licenses and registers motor vehicles. But the secretary of state is also the keeper of official state records, maintains the 20-building Capitol Complex and oversees the state library.

White is easily the most popular politician elected statewide, never facing serious opposition and winning in places Democrats long ceded to Republicans in every other race.

But his retirement offers an opening to the party, which has been shut out of statewide offices since the 2018 losses of former Gov. Bruce Rauner and Comptroller Leslie Munger.

Brady is the only GOP candidate for the office thus far, though state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, is weighing a run for either secretary of state or state treasurer.

The opening also provides an opportunity for politically-ambitious Democrats. Chicago Ald. Pat Dowell, Former Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago Ald. David Moore and Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia are all running for the office.

Brady had just $189,716 in his campaign account as of Oct. 1, according to campaign finance reports, far less than Democrats Giannoulias, Valencia and Dowell

Before his election to the House, Brady served as McLean County coroner from 1992 to 2000. He is also a funeral home director at Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home.

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Chicago Ald. Gilbert Villegas formally announced his candidacy for Congress Wednesday in a new open-seat district drawn with the aim of creating the opportunity for a second Latino representative from Illinois in Washington.

Illinois needs a proven fighter with the courage and conviction to combat the rising cost of living, lack of increase in wages and struggles our small businesses face in todays economy, Villegas, whos in his second term as alderman, said in a statement. Voters can count on me to deliver results and Im ready to hit the ground running.

Villegas, 51, a Marine Corps veteran and chair of the councils Latino caucus, is the first candidate to enter the 2022 contest in the new 3rd District approved by Democratic state lawmakers Oct. 29. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign the new map into law and other candidates are expected to surface.

Democrats created the new district to give greater influence to the states growing Latino population, though Latinos are not a majority within the district that stretches from Chicagos Northwest Side westward to include Latino communities in Bensenville, Addison and West Chicago. Villegas ward is entirely within the new district.

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Several allies of U.S. Rep. Jesus Chuy Garcia, the Chicago Democrat who is the states lone Latino congressman, also have expressed interest in the race including state Sen. Omar Aquino of Chicago, Eira Corral Sepulveda, a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District commissioner, and state Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Chicago Democrat.

Its also possible that one or more suburban candidates emerge in the sprawling district.

Meanwhile, Bloomington Republican state Rep. Dan Brady, who has been in the legislature since 2001, signaled his intention to seek his partys nomination for Illinois secretary of state in next years primary.

Brady, who is a deputy GOP leader in the Illinois House, shifted his campaign finance committee to be a fundraising arm for the secretary of states race.

So far, no Republicans have formally announced for the post, which will be open with the retirement of veteran Democratic Secretary of State Jesse White. Four Democrats have announced for the partys nomination in the June 28 primary: former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago City Clerk Anna Valencia and Chicago Alds. Pat Dowell, 3rd, and David Moore, 17th.

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ST. LOUIS  A woman shot a 13-year-old boy who, along with another male, was attempting to carjack her on Monday evening, the woman told police.

The 37-year-old woman was getting out of her car and walking to her house in the 5500 block of Natural Bridge Avenue when two people approached her and asked to use her phone. She told them she didn't have one, and then the 13-year-old boy pulled out a gun and demanded her car keys and cash, the woman told police.

The woman gave her keys to the 13-year-old. He handed them to the man with him, who got in her car and tried to start it. The 13-year-old was still pointing a gun at her but became distracted, she said, and so she pulled out her own gun and shot him. The teen and the man then fled.

Police arrived at the house about 8:30 p.m. While taking the woman's report, they were called to a shooting in the 5500 block of Hebert Avenue and found the 13-year-old suffering a gunshot wound to his leg. The boy was taken to a hospital where he was listed as being in stable condition. He has been remanded to juvenile courts, police said.

The second carjacking suspect has not been found, police said Tuesday.

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WATCH NOW: 'Here am I, send me: Veterans recognized for service

LARRY HARDY, T&D Dr. Robert Johnson, left, presents retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Broadus James Jamerson III with a special recognition at the Wednesday, Nov. 10 meeting of Vets Helping Vets.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:8.

Veterans could use Isaiah 6:8 as their testimony of service and sacrifice. The featured speaker at a ceremony honoring veterans said their selfless dedication to duty makes them all special and worthy of recognition.

When the call came to man the forces, we all said, Here am I, send me, said retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Broadus James Jamerson III.

LARRY HARDY, T&D Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Broadus James Jamerson III

Jamerson was the speaker at a veteran recognition program which the Orangeburg-based Vets Helping Vets organization held Wednesday morning at the Orangeburg Area Boys & Girls Club. They also held their annual luncheon.

All of us have that pride of serving and protecting this great country. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. All of us are proud to serve and place ourselves in harm's way, Jamerson said.

Vets Helping Vets: Group assists veterans with array of services A local veterans group is seeking to meet the physical, social and economic needs of veterans with an array of services as it works to extend its community outreach arm.

Jamerson said every branch of military service has a role to play in securing Americans' freedoms and way of life, with all vets displaying courage and perseverance in serving their country.

It takes the collective group. ... We need to tell our story. It's incumbent upon us to talk about our experience in the military. ... It sure gave me a new lease on life, Jamerson said.

If we don't share it, how can we expect anybody else to appreciate it? he said.

The 77-year-old's father, U.S. Army Sgt. Broadus James Jamerson Jr., was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Hall of Fame on June 22 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

He was one of seven soldiers who were on a secret mission to protect and maintain 125 tons of aerial mustard bombs when they came under an intense German aircraft attack in Bari Harbor, Italy, on Dec. 2, 1943. All ultimately perished following an explosion on the ship, which they did not abandon.

That's definitely a personal story for me. There was not a question as to whether or not I was going to don the uniform, Jamerson said. He considered it a duty to serve his country.

He saluted the more than 20 veterans who gathered on Wednesday for their own personal service and sacrifice.

It's not where you start in the beginning, it's how you end up that counts. ... Let's keep pressing on, Jamerson said.

Vets Helping Vets is a veterans group that focuses on holistic care and support for veterans. The group has grown to 32 members and meets from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Orangeburg Area Boys and Girls Clubs Thomas B. Eklund Center at 1313 Cannon Bridge Road in Orangeburg.

Dr. Robert Johnson, who serves on the six-member advisory board, said, We are an organization that helps each other.

Group members said they appreciate the work the organization does for them, as well as the message from Jamerson.

U.S. Army veteran Chris Baxter said it was very important to honor veterans on Veterans Day and every other day.

It's very important because a lot of veterans went through a whole lot. A lot of them come back and can remember some things, and some things they can't remember. They've put up their life to fight for a cause for everybody to have a better way of life and to protect what is yours and ours, Baxter said.

With the different types of things in this world today, we're fighting against an evil devil that will throw things all about and change things around. That's why it's very important to protect what belongs to us and our family members and keep going on, he said.

U.S. Army veteran McKinley Ransom Jr. said, It doesn't matter what side you are, just as long as you're working together for one common goal. ... We all need to be together to help one another. That's the goal of all life.

Ransom said he hopes people will display both unity and pride, along with appreciation for veterans, on Veterans Day.

Veterans are always together, black or white. ... The only way we can get this thing together is if we all stick together, Ransom said, noting that Vets Helping Vets helps promote both unity and awareness of resources veterans need to know about.

Roosevelt Fisher, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and retired as a sergeant major in 1992, said veterans deserve recognition for the sacrifices they've made in serving the country.

I just appreciate Veterans Day. I heard about veterans when I was a kid growing up, and it came to light when I retired and I became a vet. It feels good to be a veteran," he said.

Fisher said being a part of Vets Helping Vets allows him to do what he enjoys best.

TheTandD.com: $5 for 5 months Support local journalism by becoming a member at www.TheTandD.com The limited time offer is full access to all the website has to offer for $5 for 5 months. https://go.thetandd.com/nov5

It really doesn't have to be vets. ... I just like helping people," he said.
Claflin University has announced a change in venue for the 27th Presidential Scholarship Gala on Friday, Nov. 19.

The gala featuring the rhythm-and-blues trio SWV has been relocated to the Jonas T. Kennedy Health and Wellness Complex (Tullis Arena) on the Claflin campus of Claflin University. Purchase tickets now at https://alumni.claflin.edu/2021-presidential-gala

Claflin cited "the upcoming weather forecast/temperature" in announcing the change from the previously announced location, Camp Landy. The event was to have been held outdoors.

The gala, which begins at 7 p.m. and is part of homecoming week, raises funds for Claflins Presidential Scholars, high-achieving students who receive full tuition, room and board, and a book stipend because of their outstanding academic accomplishments.

The event will honor a former Claflin distinguished administrator, Alice Carson Tisdale. Former first lady Alice Carson Tisdale, who will be recognized posthumously, was the director of Claflins honors college, which bears her name. She was also the wife of the eighth president of Claflin University, Dr. Henry N. Tisdale.

The performers, Sisters With Voices, are from New York City. The group is made up of Cheryl "Coko" Gamble, Tamara "Taj" Johnson and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons. They were one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s with a series of hits including "Weak," "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)," "I'm So into You," and "You're the One." The group disbanded in 1998 to pursue solo projects and reunited in 2005.

The university will exercise COVID-19 safety protocols (the wearing of a face covering and proof of full vaccination) for the gala and other events, Claflin stated.

The university is utilizing the CLEAR Health Pass (mobile app) for the verification of the COVID-19 vaccination. Attendees of the gala will receive instructions on using the app after tickets have been purchased.

In conjunction with homecoming, the inauguration of Claflins ninth president, Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack, will be held at 10 a.m. Nov. 19. The event will be broadcast live on Claflin Universitys Facebook. The event is invitation-only.

Warmacks inauguration was originally scheduled for March 2020. However, the celebration was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another major event is the Homecoming Concert featuring rapper Big Latto. It will be held Thursday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.) at the Orangeburg County Fairgrounds. Price: $45 for general admission.

Raised in Atlanta, 22-year-old rising rapper Latto has been making a name for herself since she was 10 years old. The Rap GameSeason One winner has continually released music since 2016 and signed with RCA Records in 2020. In June 2019, Latto released her EP Big Latto, which included her breakout-hit song Bitch From Da Souf. The December 2019 release of her follow-up project, Hit The Latto, contained the remix version of the track featuring Saweetie & Trina.

Some of the other events for Claflin's homecoming week are:

CU Wine Down (Friday night)

Young alumni social (Friday night)

Tailgate Experience (Saturday)

Game (Saturday)

NPHC Step Show (Saturday)

Alumni Dance Event (Saturday)

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COLUMBIA  Reps. Jerry Govan D-Orangeburg, and Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews, could face each other in the next election.

A House redistricting proposal places Govan and Ott in the same district as lawmakers redraw lines to account for South Carolina's rapidly growing coastal and suburban areas. There could be five House districts and one Senate district with two incumbents in the 2022 election.

Govan, first elected in 1992, said Wednesday that being put in a district with Ott won't keep him from running again in 2022 if his family and faith agree. The district now contains all of Calhoun County and part of Orangeburg and Lexington counties.

Govan said the new maps -- which still must be approved by a committee, the full House and survive any legal challenges -- obliterate his minority district by moving it to well-off Tega Cay, in the rapidly growing area near Charlotte, North Carolina.

The House plan didn't put the House's longest-serving member, Democratic Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg, with an incumbent.

The House plan also kept Rep. Justin Bamberg, a Bamberg Democrat elected in 2014, alone in his district. He is on the House redistricting committee.

During a break at a public hearing Wednesday, Govan spoke to several people unhappy with the ways the districts in and around Orangeburg County were drawn.

The new districts are drawn with 2020 U.S. Census numbers.

South Carolina grew by 10.7% to more than 5.1 million people. But that growth was lopsided, with many more of the 500,000 new people moving to areas along the coast, the South Carolina suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, or around Greenville.

That meant collapsing some districts that were up to 20% under the population needed to make House districts equal. Along with the new Tega Cay district, a rural Richland County district is now in Mount Pleasant and a Florence County district is now in Conway, according to the proposal by the House redistricting committee.

Tough decisions have to be made. This General Assembly cant control growth patterns," said Rep. Jason Elliott, a Republican from Greenville.

Both the House and Senate districts must be approved by a committee and then by each chamber, likely in a December special session. There could be changes before then.

And lawmakers are under a time crunch. The House districts must be approved and any significant legal challenges resolved before filing for the 2022 elections begin in mid-March.

Both chambers also must approve new U.S. House districts. Neither chamber has proposed new maps for the 2022 elections yet.

The Senate committee handling redistricting released its proposed maps last week. They moved a Columbia district to Charleston and put Democratic Sens. Nikki Setzler and Dick Harpootlian in the same district, anchored by downtown Columbia and the areas just west of the Congaree River.

Setzler entered the Senate in 1977.

The other House Democrats being pitted against each other are Reps. Roger Kirby and Lucas Atkinson in a district that includes all of Marion County, part of Williamsburg County and snakes back to Kirby's home near Lake City and Reps. Wendy Brawley and Jermaine Johnson in a rural Richland County district southeast of Columbia.

Republican Reps. Brandon Newton and Vic Dabney are drawn into the same district in Lancaster and Kershaw counties and GOP Reps. Richie Yow and Sandy McGarry are now in the same district that includes much of Chesterfield County and part of Lancaster County.

The new maps would likely not significantly change the Republicans 81-43 advantage over Democrats in the House and 30-16 advantage in the Senate.

The leader of the House redistricting committee said several times during Wednesday's meeting that his chamber's maps are still a work in progress. But Republican Rep. Jay Jordan of Florence also warned there are no easy fixes.

For every action, there is a reaction that reverberates across the entire map, Jordan said.

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Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:8.

Veterans could use Isaiah 6:8 as their testimony of service and sacrifice. The featured speaker at a ceremony honoring veterans said their selfless dedication to duty makes them all special and worthy of recognition.

When the call came to man the forces, we all said, Here am I, send me, said retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Broadus James Jamerson III.

Vets Helping Vets Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Broadus James Jamerson III

Jamerson was the speaker at a veteran recognition program which the Orangeburg-based Vets Helping Vets organization held Wednesday morning at the Orangeburg Area Boys & Girls Club. They also held their annual luncheon.

All of us have that pride of serving and protecting this great country. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. All of us are proud to serve and place ourselves in harm's way, Jamerson said.

Jamerson said every branch of military service has a role to play in securing Americans' freedoms and way of life, with all vets displaying courage and perseverance in serving their country.

It takes the collective group. ... We need to tell our story. It's incumbent upon us to talk about our experience in the military. ... It sure gave me a new lease on life, Jamerson said.

If we don't share it, how can we expect anybody else to appreciate it? he said.

The 77-year-old's father, U.S. Army Sgt. Broadus James Jamerson Jr., was posthumously inducted into the U.S. Army Chemical Corps Hall of Fame on June 22 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

He was one of seven soldiers who were on a secret mission to protect and maintain 125 tons of aerial mustard bombs when they came under an intense German aircraft attack in Bari Harbor, Italy, on Dec. 2, 1943. All ultimately perished following an explosion on the ship, which they did not abandon.

That's definitely a personal story for me. There was not a question as to whether or not I was going to don the uniform, Jamerson said. He considered it a duty to serve his country.

He saluted the more than 20 veterans who gathered on Wednesday for their own personal service and sacrifice.

It's not where you start in the beginning, it's how you end up that counts. ... Let's keep pressing on, Jamerson said.

Vets Helping Vets is a veterans group that focuses on holistic care and support for veterans. The group has grown to 32 members and meets from 9 to 11:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Orangeburg Area Boys and Girls Clubs Thomas B. Eklund Center at 1313 Cannon Bridge Road in Orangeburg.

Dr. Robert Johnson, who serves on the six-member advisory board, said, We are an organization that helps each other.

Group members said they appreciate the work the organization does for them, as well as the message from Jamerson.

U.S. Army veteran Chris Baxter said it was very important to honor veterans on Veterans Day and every other day.

It's very important because a lot of veterans went through a whole lot. A lot of them come back and can remember some things, and some things they can't remember. They've put up their life to fight for a cause for everybody to have a better way of life and to protect what is yours and ours, Baxter said.

With the different types of things in this world today, we're fighting against an evil devil that will throw things all about and change things around. That's why it's very important to protect what belongs to us and our family members and keep going on, he said.

U.S. Army veteran McKinley Ransom Jr. said, It doesn't matter what side you are, just as long as you're working together for one common goal. ... We all need to be together to help one another. That's the goal of all life.

Ransom said he hopes people will display both unity and pride, along with appreciation for veterans, on Veterans Day.

Veterans are always together, black or white. ... The only way we can get this thing together is if we all stick together, Ransom said, noting that Vets Helping Vets helps promote both unity and awareness of resources veterans need to know about.

Roosevelt Fisher, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam and retired as a sergeant major in 1992, said veterans deserve recognition for the sacrifices they've made in serving the country.

I just appreciate Veterans Day. I heard about veterans when I was a kid growing up, and it came to light when I retired and I became a vet. It feels good to be a veteran," he said.

Fisher said being a part of Vets Helping Vets allows him to do what he enjoys best.

It really doesn't have to be vets. ... I just like helping people," he said.

Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter at @DionneTandD

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A prominent South Carolina attorney whose wife and son were found shot to death at the home where the family's housekeeper also died will likely remain in jail for many months now that a judge has again denied bond pending his insurance fraud trial.

Circuit Judge Clifton Newman initially denied Alex Murdaugh bond on Oct. 19, but asked Murdaugh's lawyers to send him a report on his mental condition from professionals, including those involved in his monthlong stay to get treatment for an addiction to opioids.

The judge's order said that after reviewing the report for more than two weeks, he did not change his mind that Murdaughs considerable financial resources and mental instability make it too risky to allow him to remain free until trial on charges he stole $3.4 million insurance money meant to go to his dead housekeeper's sons.

After considering the arguments of counsel, the evaluation submitted, then pending charges and other investigations, and the apparent character and mental condition of the defendant, the Court finds that the Defendant is a danger both to himself and his community, Newman wrote.

Murdaughs lawyers Wednesday asked the South Carolina Supreme Court to overturn Newmans decision, saying the state constitution guarantees bond for everyone except people charged with violent offenses or ones punishable by life in prison. The petition also said that a psychiatrist who examined Murdaugh found he was not a danger to himself or the community.

The ruling issued late Tuesday could mean months or even years behind bars until the 53-year-old lawyer, a member of one of South Carolina's most prominent legal families, gets his day in court.

Murdaugh's father, grandfather and great-grandfather were all elected prosecutors for tiny Hampton County. The familys law firm, located in the most impressive building in town after the courthouse, has spent a century winning multimillion-dollar verdicts.

Still unsolved are the killings that intensified the scrutiny into Murdaugh and his family. According to his 911 call, he returned home one night in June to find his wife, Maggie, 52, and their son Paul, 22 shot to death. Five months later, state police have not named any suspects nor ruled anyone out.

Murdaughs lawyers had asked the judge to release Murdaugh on his own recognizance, like another judge did in September pending a separate trial on charges that he tried to arrange his own death so his surviving son could get a $10 million insurance payout. Prosecutors had asked for a $200,000 bond and GPS monitoring.

The fraud charges keeping Murdaugh in jail involve two insurance payments that were supposed to go to the sons of his longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, who died in 2018 a few weeks after falling at the familys home, investigators said. Both of these felonies  obtaining property by false pretenses  carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Murdaugh told Satterfields sons he would help them get settlements for her death, recommending they hire an attorney who was a family friend without telling them about the relationship, according to a lawsuit filed by the sons.

Murdaugh negotiated more than $4 million in payments, then had the checks  minus fees and attorney payments  sent to a fraudulent bank account, investigators said.

The attorneys for Satterfield's family said they are glad to see Murdaugh is not getting special treatment from the judicial system.

Since the original bond hearing, Alex Murdaugh has taken financial actions which clearly show that he has no respect for the judicial process, legitimate creditors and victims of his criminal activities and that the ordinary rules do not apply to him," attorneys Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter said in a statement.

Murdaugh was arrested for the first time in September after making another 911 call. He initially told police someone shot at him after he had a flat tire on a lonely road and the bullet grazed his head.

He later told investigators Curtis Eddie Smith agreed to kill him, with nothing offered in exchange, authorities said. Smith, meanwhile, said his friend Murdaugh called him for help without being specific on Sept. 4 and when he saw Murdaugh with the gun, he tried to grab it and it fired.

Both Murdaugh and Smith were indicted by a grand jury in Hampton County last week on charge of conspiracy, false claim for payment and filing a false police report. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all of the charges.

The two insurance cases are not the only seven-figure stolen money investigations involving Murdaugh that state police are handling. Murdaughs former law firm  founded by his great-grandfather a century ago  has accused him of stealing possibly millions of dollars.

And Murdaugh lost control of his finances last week after a judge in a wrongful death lawsuit ruled the attorney and his family appeared to be trying to hide millions of dollars that could be collected in legal actions. That judge tore up a power of attorney agreement that gave control over all of Murdaugh's money and legal affairs to his surviving son, Buster Murdaugh.

The family of a 19-year-old girl who died in a boat crash in 2019 sued the Murdaugh family; Paul Murdaugh was facing charges of boating under the influence causing death when he was shot to death.

The independent lawyers monitoring Alex Murdaugh's affairs have already asked the court to stop any payment to Murdaugh's brother, who said he is owed $90,000 he loaned to help his brother make payroll and go to rehab before his initial arrest, and to Murdaugh's former law firm, which said it loaned him $470,000 in 2021 before determining he was stealing money.

Both lawsuits over the debts were filed after lawyers in the wrongful death suit asked for the independent monitors.

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina's rapidly growing coastal and suburban population means there could be five House districts and one Senate district in the 2022 election where lawmakers are placing two incumbents, according to maps released by each chamber.

Three of those House races involve Democrats, including the House's second-longest-serving member. The potential Senate race also involves Democrats and the Senate's longest-serving member.

The new maps would likely not significantly change the Republicans 81-43 advantage over Democrats in the House and 30-16 advantage in the Senate.

Rep. Jerry Govan, first elected in 1992, said Wednesday that being put in a district with fellow Democratic Rep. Russel Ott won't keep him from running again in 2022 if his family and faith agree. The district now all of Calhoun County and part of Orangeburg and Lexington counties.

Govan said the new maps, which still must be approved by a committee, the full House and survive any legal challenges, obliterate his minority district by moving it to well-off Tega Cay, in the rapidly growing area near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Govan has tangled with both Republican leaders and people in his own party in his 30 years in the Legislature. The House plan didn't put the House's longest-serving member, Democratic Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, with an incumbent. She and Govan had a confrontation four years ago that the Speaker's Office investigated.

It also kept Rep. Justin Bamberg, a Democrat elected in 2014, alone in his district. He is on the House redistricting committee.

I know this process a lot better than some of the people sitting up there," Govan said.

During a break at Wednesday's public hearing, Govan spoke to several people unhappy with the ways the districts in and around Orangeburg County were drawn.

The new districts are drawn with 2020 U.S. Census numbers. South Carolina grew by 10.7% to more than 5.1 million people. But that growth was lopsided, with many more of the 500,000 new people moving to areas along the coast, the South Carolina suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, or around Greenville.

That meant collapsing some districts that were up to 20% under the population needed to make House districts equal. Along with the new Tega Cay district, a rural Richland County is now in Mount Pleasant and a Florence County district is now in Conway, according to the proposal by the House redistricting committee.

Tough decisions have to be made. This General Assembly cant control growth patterns," said Rep. Jason Elliott, a Republican from Greenville.

Both the House and Senate districts must be approved by a committee and then by each chamber, likely in a December special session. There could be changes before then.

And lawmakers are under a time crunch. The House districts must be approved and any significant legal challenges resolved before filing for the 2022 elections begin in mid-March.

Both chambers also must approve new U.S. House districts. Neither chamber has proposed new maps for the 2022 elections yet.

The Senate committee handling redistricting released its proposed maps last week. They moved a Columbia district to Charleston and put Democratic Sens. Nikki Setzler and Dick Harpootlian in the same district, anchored by downtown Columbia and the areas just west of the Congaree River.

Setzler entered the Senate in 1977.

The other House Democrats being pitted against each other are Reps. Roger Kirby and Lucas Atkinson in a district that includes all of Marion County, part of Williamsburg County and snakes back to Kirby's home near Lake City and Reps. Wendy Brawley and Jermaine Johnson in a rural Richland County district southeast of Columbia.

Republican Reps. Brandon Newton and Vic Dabney are drawn into the same district in Lancaster and Kershaw counties and GOP Reps. Richie Yow and Sandy McGarry are now in the same district that includes much of Chesterfield County and part of Lancaster County.

The leader of the House redistricting committee said several times during Wednesday's meeting that his chamber's maps are still a work in progress. But Republican Rep. Jay Jordan of Florence also warned there are no easy fixes.

For every action, there is a reaction that reverberates across the entire map, Jordan said.

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.

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 New Hampshire Public Health Association (NHPHA) announced that it has welcomed Ellen Smith Ahern, MSW as its new Immunization Program Coordinator. Ms. Smith Ahern, a graduate of Middlebury College and the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, is passionate about building relationships and movements for inclusive, transformative change. She has worked with communities in Connecticut for food and environmental justice, sustainable work and housing, and refugee rights and support. Ms. Smith Ahern is also a professional dance artist whose creative practice informs her approach to organizing, advocacy and policy. A recent newcomer to New Hampshire, Ms. Smith Ahern is excited to join NHPHA and work with communities across the Granite State. About NHPHA NHPHA is a statewide membership organization composed of health care and public health professionals. For over 25 years, it has brought together members who share a common goal of making sure that all New Hampshire citizens live, learn, work, and play in safe and healthy environments. For more information, visit nhpha.org or call 603-228-2983. ###
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Today

Rain. Low 46F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.

Tonight

Rain. Low 46F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.

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Fort Payne, AL (35967)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Thunder is possible early. Low 46F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

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Cloudy with periods of rain. Thunder is possible early. Low 46F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
BEIRUT  Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Thursday blamed Saudi Arabia for prompting the present diplomatic rift with Lebanon, but said he is not concerned with escalating the crisis. The party's secretary-general also rejected calls for the resignation of Lebanese Information Minister George Kurdahi, whose remarks on the war in Yemen are at the center of the ongoing dispute.

Here's what we know:

 During a televised speech to mark Hezbollahs annual Martyrs Day, Nasrallah contended that Saudi Arabia fabricated the ongoing diplomatic spat by purposefully retrieving an interview with Kurdahi from before he took up office as information minister in order to initiate this crisis. Nasrallah added that Saudi Arabias reaction to the interview was very very very exaggerated. The comments were the Hezbollah secretary-general's first on the affair since the interview in question was broadcast on Oct. 25.

 Describing Kurdahi's controversial remarks as "calm and objective," the Hezbollah chief also reiterated his party's commitment to rejecting calls for the information minister's resignation.

 After Kurdahi's remarks were aired, several Gulf countries, led by Saudi Arabia, announced retaliatory measures against Lebanon, including the recall of ambassadors in Beirut and the expulsion of Lebanese diplomats. In the interview, the information minister had made controversial remarks, criticizing the war in Yemen and Riyadhs involvement in it. Kurdahi had also expressed his support for Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran.

 Nasrallah on Thursday pointed out that many American officials and Arab diplomats have previously described the war in Yemen in harsher terms than those the minister of information used but that the reaction in the Gulf to these instances was much less harsh.

 However, Nasrallah also emphasized that his party is not interested in escalating the tension, asking that if Saudi Arabia has an issue with the information minister it deal directly with the minister.

 Since the crisis errupted, Saudi Arabia has stopped all imports from Lebanon, while Kuwait has reportedly tightened the terms under which it grants visas to Lebanese passport holders.



 The affair has also taken on the appearance of a tug-of-war over Hezbollah, a heavyweight in Lebanese politics, which is armed and financed by Iran, a major regional rival of Saudi Arabia.

 The head of Saudi diplomacy, Faisal bin Farhan, has said that the problem goes far beyond the mere comments of a minister and denounced the hegemony of Hezbollah over Lebanon.

 On Monday, the deputy Secretary-General of the Arab League, Houssam Zaki, during a visit to Lebanon, suggested that the rift could have been resolved quickly with Kurdahis resignation.

 Prime Minister Nagib Mikati has repeatedly suggested that the minister should act in the best interests of Lebanon and its expatriates living and working in Gulf countries, but has stopped short of explicitly asking Kurdahi to step down. The minister, supported by Hezbollah, refuses to resign.
LONDON (AP)  The Duchess of Sussex has apologized for misleading a British court about the extent of her cooperation with the authors of a sympathetic book about her and Prince Harry.

The former Meghan Markle, 40, is embroiled in a court battle in London over a British newspapers publication of portions of a letter she wrote to her estranged father after her 2018 marriage to Harry, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

She sued the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and the MailOnline website for breach of privacy and copyright. A High Court judge ruled in her favor in February, saying publication of the letter Meghan wrote to her father, Thomas Markle, was manifestly excessive and hence unlawful.

Publisher Associated Newspapers is trying to overturn that decision at the Court of Appeal. The publisher argues that Meghan wrote the letter knowing it might be published, and made private information public by cooperating with Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, authors of Finding Freedom.

The duchess lawyers have previously denied that she or Harry collaborated with the authors. But the couples former communications director, Jason Knauf, said in evidence to the court that he gave the writers information, and discussed it with Harry and Meghan.

In a witness statement, Knauf said the book was discussed directly with the duchess multiple times in person and over email. Emails released as part of Knaufs statement showed he also emailed Harry to discuss the book and to say he would meet the authors.

Knauf said Harry replied: I totally agree that we have to be able to say we didnt have anything to do with it. Equally, you giving the right context and background to them would help get some truths out there.

In a witness statement made public on Wednesday, Meghan accepted that Mr. Knauf did provide some information to the authors for the book and that he did so with my knowledge, for a meeting that he planned for with the authors in his capacity as communications secretary. She added that the extent of the information he shared is unknown to me.

The duchess said she did not remember the discussions with Knauf when she gave evidence earlier in the case, and I apologize to the court for the fact that I had not remembered these exchanges at the time.

I had absolutely no wish or intention to mislead the defendant or the court, she said.

Associated Newspapers says Knaufs evidence also undermines Meghans claim that she did not intend the letter to be seen by anyone but her father.

In his witness statement, Knauf said the duchess asked me to review the text of the letter, saying obviously everything I have drafted is with the understanding that it could be leaked.

Knauf said Meghan asked whether she should address her father in the letter as Daddy, adding that in the unfortunate event that it leaked, it would pull at the heartstrings.

In her own written evidence, Meghan said she had not believed that her father would sell or leak the letter, primarily because it would not put him in a good light.

To be clear, I did not want any of it to be published, and wanted to ensure that the risk of it being manipulated or misleadingly edited was minimized, were it to be exploited, she said.

Lawyers for Meghan told the Court of Appeal Thursday that if she had wanted to put the letter to her father in the public domain, the Finding Freedom book would have been the perfect opportunity to do so.

Defending the newspaper, lawyer Andrew Caldecott also argued that Thomas Markle had the right to publicly rebut misleading claims about his relationship with Meghan that surfaced in a 2019 People magazine interview with five of her close friends.

Thomas Markle has been royally attacked in the People magazine... and this is his reply, he said.

The appeal continues Thursday before three senior judges. A ruling is expected at a later date.

Meghan, a former star of the American TV legal drama Suits, married Harry at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

The couple announced in early 2020 that they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.

They have settled in Santa Barbara, California, with their two young children.

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 judge Wednesday dismissed a petition to overturn a pair of ordinances exempting Mills and Bar Nunn from state statutes requiring public notices to be published in a newspaper.

Judge Daniel Forgey said that the case, brought by the Casper Star-Tribune and the Wyoming Press Association, did not adequately prove the paper had standing in the matter.

Attorney Bruce Moats, representing the paper and the WPA, said he plans to refile the petition with a bolstered argument for the Star-Tribunes interest in the ordinances. His task now, Moats said, is to explicitly state the legal relationship between the paper and the municipalities, relying on state statutes that require public notices like council meeting minutes and project proposals to be published in a local newspaper of general circulation.

Neither Mills nor Bar Nunn have stopped publishing those notices, said Pat Holscher, the attorney representing them. The ordinances passed by both municipalities, he argues, merely give them the option to publish them other places including on the municipalities websites or in public places including post offices, a fire station or library.

Holscher said that he hasnt heard any complaints from residents about the accessibility of those notices. The only parties that seem to be interested in the ordinances, he said, have been the press and its lawyers. And while the Star-Tribune could have claimed the ordinances would hurt the paper financially, Holscher pointed out, money wasnt discussed in the petition.

There is nobody with standing in this suit, Holscher said.

But Moats said he and his clients are concerned that the ordinances give Mills and Bar Nunn the ability to cease the long-held practice of putting those notices in the paper at any time.

In his decision Wednesday, Forgey cited a 2018 case in which a Wyoming man tried to sue state legislative leadership on behalf of the states taxpayers, over an issue related to awarding bids for construction projects. The Wyoming Supreme Court upheld a district court ruling that the taxpayers did not have grounds to sue, and if they did, it would set a precedent for any citizen to be able to sue the government for anything.

The papers petition had already been amended once in the case and still failed to make a case for their standing, Forgey said.

Holscher also raised the question during Wednesdays hearing of the modern-day definition of a newspaper. When the statute was written, he said, there was likely only one definition  the physical stack of paper that arrived on your doorstep or for sale in a newsstand. These days, Holscher said, a newspaper could also be an online publication, such as Oil City News.

Editors note: The Star-Tribune newsroom is not involved in the legal decisions in this matter.

Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst.

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Wyoming will see a federal oil and gas lease sale in early 2022 due to a federal court ruling that ended the Biden administrations 2021 moratorium. But the size of the lease sale will be much smaller than industry, and state leaders, hoped for.

The Bureau of Land Management will defer 264 lease parcels initially considered for the sale, it said, and will instead offer a total 195 parcels.

The parcels struck from the sale represent about 382,882 acres of Priority Habitat Management Areas for greater sage grouse, according to BLM Wyoming. The decision to defer is rooted in Obama-era federal sage grouse management plans that instruct BLM to prioritize mineral lease acres outside core sage grouse habitat, BLM said.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cited those Obama-era sage grouse plans, finalized in 2015, to support its decision not to recommend listing the bird under the Endangered Species Act.

Conservation groups say the BLMs decision to defer Wyoming leases appears to be an attempt to return to the collaborative stakeholder process set forth in the 2015 sage grouse management plans. Legal wrangling over compliance with those plans, combined with recent reports by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies indicating the health of sagebrush habitats is still in decline, add pressure on the BLM to act, Audubon Rockies Policy and Outreach Director Daly Edmunds said.

That habitat is really challenged by a lot of different pressures, Edmunds said, including oil and gas development and invasive plant species like cheatgrass. So we have a lot of issues.

In addition to further assessing potential impacts and existing pressures on greater sage grouse habitat, the Interior Department is moving forward with a comprehensive review of the federal oil and gas leasing program to possibly update rules regarding minimum bids, royalty rates and potential conflicts with other sensitive wildlife habitats, wilderness study areas and cultural resources.

The BLM, which operates under the Interior, announced Oct. 29 it will also begin analyzing greenhouse gas emissions likely to result from the sale of federal minerals. BLM recently published its 2020 annual report on greenhouse gas emissions and climate trends, which notes Wyoming ranks highest in the nation for CO2 emissions resulting from leasing federal coal, oil and natural gas, accounting for nearly 56% the nationwide total. Federal coal makes up the vast majority of Wyomings CO2 emissions profile.

The recent federal actions could dramatically change course for conservation and oil and gas development in Wyoming, where about half the acreage, and nearly 70% of the mineral estate, is under federal management.

This leasing review is a crafty way of establishing a moratorium on federal lease sales, making continued progress ever more tenuous, more difficult, and more likely that good paying, family supporting jobs will migrate somewhere else, Gov. Mark Gordon told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in April. That is bad for this country, for the climate, and especially for Wyoming.

Reducing the size of the first-quarter 2022 lease sale is an attempt by the Biden administration to skirt the court injunction on the leasing moratorium, Petroleum Association of Wyoming Communications Director Ryan McConnaughey said.

While theyre going to comply by holding those lease sales, theyre going to do everything they can to stop leasing on federal lands, McConnaughey said. Given the reliance of Wyoming on drilling on federal lands, it will be devastating for the industry here if these [federal efforts] continue to move forward.

About 5 million acres of federal oil and gas are currently under lease and available for development in Wyoming, according to a 2021 Conservation Economics Institute report. The Natural Resources Defense Council funded the CEI study, which was endorsed by various conservation groups, including Wyomings Powder River Basin Resource Council. The Biden administrations pause on new leasing did not impede the availability of those minerals, the groups contend, and the industry has relied on them to take advantage of rebounding market conditions.

There are a large number of existing leases in Wyoming that have not been developed, Edmunds said. We encourage developers to focus on these and to hold off on pursuing new leases in sage grouse habitat until the review of federal oil and gas leasing process and the 2015 sage-grouse resource management plans are reviewed.

We know sage grouse are not doing well, Edmunds continued. Lets listen to the science, and lets not lease in sage grouse habitat at this point. Lets hold off on that until we let these other processes finish up.

Despite the volume of federal oil and gas already under lease in Wyoming, industry still has to contend with federal analysis and approval processes that take years. Its critical to continue regular oil and gas lease sales in order to plan for those long regulatory processes, McConnaughey said.

I think you can point to the Converse County [Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement] that took almost a decade to get through, McConnaughey said. Its hard to argue that that process was rushed when it takes that long.

Conservation groups have rallied to support the Biden administrations pause on federal oil and gas leasing to allow for a thorough review. Now theyre looking for clues within upcoming lease sales for how far the administration might go in its commitment to emphasize human health and environmental protections.

Based on the upcoming first-quarter 2022 lease sale in Wyoming, as proposed, there is cause for concern, Wyoming Outdoor Council conservation advocate John Rader said.

Although the BLM deferred many leases proposed in core sage grouse habitat, several parcels still included in the sale are within whats categorized as general sage grouse habitats.

Thats a problem because BLM still has a duty under the grouse plans to prioritize leasing outside of general habitat, not just for core habitat, Rader said. They dont really have an explanation for how theyre doing that with all these leases.

Several of the lease parcels are within the BLM Rock Springs Field Office jurisdiction, where a Resource Management Plan revision has been underway for years. The BLM should withhold further lease sales in the region until the RMP is completed, Rader said.

 Were still operating under a 1997 plan that doesnt include the latest science on wildlife and impacts of industrial development, Rader said. Thats concerning because that particular area contains the Red Desert and the Golden Triangle. These are landscapes that are really important because theyre some of the best wildlife habitats in Wyoming and they are the best sage grouse habitats on the planet.

Deadline for public comment regarding Wyoming BLMs first quarter oil and gas lease sale is Dec. 1. Comments can be submitted here.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.

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Nearly $25,000 has been raised for the family of the Cheyenne teenager killed by a car last week.

Makaili James Evans, 13, was crossing Western Hills Boulevard near McCormick Jr. High School around 7 a.m. on Nov. 5 when the driver of a Ford Escape hit him.

Evans, a student at the middle school, was pronounced dead after being taken to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.

As of Thursday morning, a GoFundMe campaign organized by a close friend of Evans family had raised $24,581 from 362 donations.

According to the fundraiser page, Evans was a prankster who also loved camping, fishing, hiking, music and movies. He had recently started to take after his older brother, becoming interested in film and photography. He liked to spend time with his friends, often riding bikes.

His joyful personality and pursuit to make his friends and family laugh and smile was his mission, the description by organizer Reed Barrett reads. There wasnt a day that would go by where even the smallest interaction with Makaili wouldnt lead to your biggest smile.

The money raised will go towards helping the Evans family with the memorial services, hospital bills and other unexpected expenses.

Two other teenagers were also hit while crossing the street in Cheyenne on Monday, police said. They were at the intersection of Windmill Road and East Pershing Boulevard near East High School.

The driver of a GMC Acadia hit the 13-year-old and 15-year-old while they were trying to cross the street at the crosswalk. The teens had minor injuries, and were taken to the hospital. The driver, according to police, was cited for failing to yield.

A statement from the Cheyenne Police Department on Monday said that there have been 238 traffic incidents near East High School this year, 50 of them at the same intersection.

The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that Laramie County School District #1 is planning to work with law enforcement to address pedestrian safety near schools. Superintendent Margaret Crespo said the Cheyenne Traffic Safety Committee is planning an audit of pedestrian, bike and car traffic safety around each school in the district.

Follow city and crime reporter Ellen Gerst on Twitter at @ellengerst.

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Wyoming nursing homes lead the nation in COVID-19 cases and related deaths, according to new data from the AARP.

Nearly nine per 100 long-term care residents in Wyoming contracted COVID-19 during the first half of OCtober. Nearly two residents per 100 died from the illness during that time.

Those figures soar above the national average, and come as the state is seeing a consistently higher virus death toll.

In addition to vaccine numbers, the data shows Wyoming nursing home staff have been infected with COVID-19 nearly eight times as often as the national average. Nearly 60% of locations reported shortages through mid October.

The state does not lag in the percent of nursing home residents who are fully vaccinated. With almost 90%, Wyoming is in the top half of the country.

Conversely, Wyoming nursing home staff are among the least vaccinated in the nation, with about 40% of employees unvaccinated as of mid October. New federal rules will require any facility that receives Medicare or Medicaid dollars to implement a staff vaccination policy. Wyoming on Wednesday joined with nine other states to file suit over the mandate.

An AARP spokesperson declined to comment on how the federal rules will impact policies at Wyoming nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

Some have speculated that the new rules will drive employees away at a time when the health care industry is hemorrhaging staff, but Wyoming Hospital Association vice president Josh Hannes said that isnt a primary concern.

Hannes said he anticipates some people will leave their positions, but that vaccine policies are not driving staffing shortages in hospitals and nursing homes.

With nearly 60% of facilities reporting some shortage, Wyoming is the fifth most labor strapped state.

The new data comes a day after another grim update from the Wyoming Department of Health, adding 55 new deaths to Wyomngs COVID-19 toll. Last week, the state announced 69 deaths  the single highest weekly update reported in 2021.

This fall has been among the most deadly periods for COVID-19 related illnesses since the pandemic arrived in Wyoming.

There have now been 1,298 coronavirus-caused deaths in Wyoming since the pandemic arrived here in March 2020. Thirty percent of those deaths were reported after Sept. 1 of this year.

Follow health and education reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @m0rgan_hughes

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The significance of Virginia Lt. Governor-elect Winsome Sears victory cannot be overstated. But her victory is significant not only because she is a Black woman and the first of her race and gender to hold the office of lieutenant governor in Virginia, but also because she has been described as an anti-racist. Sears does not buy into a victimhood that characterizes the Democratic Partys view of people of color.

In her victory address, she said: Im telling you that what you are looking at is the American dream.

I recall seeing white racists jeering at Black students integrating a high school in Arkansas and a university in Mississippi. Last week the polarization was reversed with love replacing hate. Sears stood on a stage with her husband and two daughters and was cheered by a crowd that included many white people in Richmond, once the capital of the Confederacy.

She recounted her personal story: When my father came to this country (from Jamaica) August 11 of 1963, he came at the height of the civil rights movement.  I said to him it was such a bad time for us, why did you come, and he said, because America was where the jobs and the opportunities were. And he only came with $1.75, took any job he could find and put himself through school.  He came and got me when I was six years old.

Sears said when she joined the Marine Corps. she was still a Jamaica citizen, but this country has done so much for me I was willing to die for this country.

She then drove a stake into the heart of the Democrats appeal to racism, discrimination and victimhood which the party has sold to Black people for generations: There are some who want to divide us, and we must not let that happen. They would like us to believe we are back in 1963. She then lowered the hammer about the progress made since then: We can live where we want. We can eat where we want. We own the water fountains. We have had a Black president elected, not once, but twice, and here I am living proof. She could have added that Virginia previously elected a Black governor, Douglas Wilder, a Democrat.

When was the last time a modern Democrat politician talked like Winsome Sears? Here is a role model for everyone, not just minorities: an intact family; a sense of duty to, and love of America; a strong work ethic; and a refusal to allow the dislike of others to keep one from pursuing the American dream.

Some cable news commentators claimed the Republican sweep in Virginia (Republicans also took back the House of Delegates) was because white racists turned out to vote in large numbers. New York Times columnist Charles Blow blamed racial anxiety. In addition to Sears profile, the incoming attorney general, Republican Jason Miyares, will be the states first Latino in that office. That charge doesnt fly anymore.

Winsome Sears is the lefts worst nightmare. She is proof that anyone can achieve their dreams in America if they follow the right path. She and Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin are also open about their Christian faith, while the Democratic Party is increasingly the home of secular progressives. Serious faith plays well in rural areas and in the heartland, especially as cancel culture, wokeness and critical race theory are being imposed on conservative voters.

The word winsome means sweetly or innocently charming; winning; engaging. Sears is all three. She is joined by other winners with similar stories of overcoming obstacles. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Justice Clarence Thomas are two of the better known. Winsome Sears adds to a growing number of people who refuse to allow the negative views of others to prevent them from achieving their goals.

There will be more as people of color realize theyve been sold a lie by the left and that the future  their future  belongs to them and no one else.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for his new book, Americas Expiration Date: The Fall of Empires and Superpowers and the Future of the United States.

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The Colonial Life Insurance Company (Trinidad) Ltd (CLICO) now owes the Government $1.21 billion as part of its 2009 bailout arrangement.

Its taken 12 years to have the debt reduced from $18 billion in 2009 to now $1.2 billion in 2021.
Keep the faith. God is great and he knows best.

Thats the uplifting message from New York-based singer Kevon Carter to the people of T&T during the current spike in Covid-19 cases here at home. T&T recorded 537 new cases of Covid and 17 deaths on Thursday.

Carter, who returned to the United States earlier this year following the reopening of international borders, says he is disturbed by the continued rise in Covid cases in T&T.
A POLICE Constable and a Coastguardsman shot and killed each other yesterday morning in Diego Martin during an alleged dispute over a woman.

Police said around 2.20 a.m., PC Jomo Gulston, 37, a soon-to-be father of Endeavour, Chaguanas had just dropped off an unidentified woman at the home of her boyfriend, Coast Guard officer Jabari Francois, 33, at Waterwheel Road, River Estate, Diego Martin.
Ive noticed in recent times a series of letters with an anti-vaccination leaning from Kevin Baldeosingh culminating with one published on Saturday. Could Mr Baldeosinghs need to write in the public forum be the result of cognitive dissonance, where he is really trying to convince himself that what he is doing is correct?
Q: Five years ago my wife passed away suddenly of a heart attack at age 43. I have since met a wonderful woman and we have been seeing each other for three years. My daughter, 14, gets along with her and her 11-year-old daughter very well. We are considering marriage, but within the last year my daughter has changed. She has become self-centered and very intolerant of my fiancee. Its become such a problem that my fiancee and I are thinking about putting our wedding plans on hold. Whats good ex-etiquette?
TOKYO (AP)  Jakucho Setouchi, a Buddhist nun and one of Japan's best-known authors known for novels depicting passionate women and her translation of The Tale of Genji, a 1,000-year-old classic, into modern language, has died. She was 99.

Setouchi was already an established novelist before she shaved her head and became a nun at age 51. She was mostly based at a small temple in Kyoto, where she wrote hundreds of books from biographical novels to romance, often depicting women defying traditional roles.

Even in her late 90s, she was active in writing and giving talks, but her health declined recently and she had been treated at a hospital in Kyoto, where she died on Tuesday of heart failure, according to her temple, Jakuan.

Born Harumi Setouchi in 1922 in the city of Tokushima on the southwestern main island of Shikoku, she debuted in 1957 and has since published more than 400 books. Many of her stories of independent and somewhat rebellious women won many female readers.

Setouchi brought The Tale of Genji back to life with her 1998 translation into modern, easy-to-read Japanese, gaining new fans to an ancient story. It took her six years to finish.
MILAN (AP)  Daniel Lee is leaving his job as creative director at Bottega Veneta after three years and creating the brand's distinctive cloud-like bags and puffy-weave slip-on footwear.

Bottega Veneta did not give a reason for the surprise departure of the 35-year-old British designer, who joined the Italian fashion house in July 2018. The company, which revealed the news Wednesday, said a new creative organization would be announced soon.

The fashion houses CEO, Leo Rongone, credited Lees creative vision with helping the brand grow over the last three years.

He provided Bottega Veneta with a fresh perspective and a new sense of modernity, while remaining respectful of the brands 50-year heritage, Rongone said in a statement.

Lee joined Bottega Veneta, which is owned by the French group Kering, from Celine, where he was womenswear director.

His accessories enjoyed quick success at the Italian fashion house, especially the soft leather Pouch bags and square-toed pumps and sandals.

Lee took the top four prizes at the 2019 British Fashion Awards. His tenure also saw an abrupt change in marketing, leaving Bottega Veneta fans bemused when it disappeared from social media for a spell.
Accreditor to visit

But the commission now has a focused visit planned for no later than April 2022. It comes in response to a complaint Bill Ward, a former facilities administrator, filed with the commission earlier this year. It alleges PCC engaged in unlawful contracting practices with Trane, an HVAC company, regarding an energy management project at the college.

There is no information in the complaint that supports the allegations or that has not already been reviewed and addressed, Lambert told the board over the summer, according to an email obtained by the Arizona Daily Star. While it is unfortunate that we have to devote our time to addressing allegations that have been refuted multiple times, we welcome the opportunity to fully address the complaint with HLC and receive further confirmation that Pima College has fully complied with accreditation standards.

After reviewing Lamberts explanations, the commission alerted the college last month that it will schedule a campus visit to assess whether or not the governing board of the institution is autonomous to make decisions in the best interest of the institution in compliance with board policies and to ensure the institutions integrity.

That visit is one of the reasons why board member Maria Garcia voted against the contract extension.
PHOENIX  A staffer for state Senate Democrats, who says she was fired because of her race, was awarded more than $2.7 million this week by a federal court jury.

The verdict came after jurors heard from Talonya Adams that she was dismissed in 2015 after she complained about discrimination based on her race  she is Black  and her gender.

She said male, non-African-American counterparts received substantially higher salaries and salary increases.

Adams also said that while the job responsibilities were the same, she had a heavier workload and the more challenging committee assignments. She was the only policy advisor who did not get a raise while she was there, she said.

She won't wind up with anywhere near as much money as the jury said she could get. That's because federal civil rights laws limit damages in discrimination cases to no more than $300,000.

The verdict already is causing political ripples.

Adams was, and continues to be, a staffer for Senate Democrats. A judge ordered her reinstated in the job in 2019 after a first trial also ended in her favor; that verdict was set aside over legal issues, which led to this second trial.
Pima Community College is now among the recent wave of higher learning institutions that will require employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine in the near future.

This is about safety and the health of our employees, PCC Chancellor Lee Lambert said at a virtual board meeting Wednesday night, right before it unanimously approved the mandate, which includes accommodations for employees with verified religious or medical exemptions. We are required to do this because Pima is a federal contractor.

The boards vote to mandate vaccines comes in response to President Joe Bidens federal order that requires all employees of federal contractors to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 of next year.

PCC has approximately more than $4 million in federal contracts, according the Lambert. Its biggest contract right now is with the Air Force Medical Operations, and that partnership allows the college to train future paramedics.

Of PCCs approximately 2,500 employees, the college has received voluntary proof of vaccination from 900 of those people to date. The 16,000 students enrolled at PCC have not been asked to volunteer their vaccination status and will not be required to get vaccinated, unless they are also an employee of PCC. In that case, theyd be subject to the employee vaccine requirement.
Arizona is the only state nationwide in which COVID-19 has been the leading cause of death during the pandemic, according to a new report Wednesday from the Arizona Public Health Association.

Nationally, COVID-19 is the third leading cause of death, with cancer and heart disease in the first two spots.

There are five states in which COVID-19 is the second leading cause of death, or in which there was a tie for second: Georgia, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Texas, says the report, which examined data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in 40 states. In four states, it was lower than the third leading cause: Alaska, Hawaii, Maine and Vermont.

Other states that might have competed with Arizona for the top COVID spot on the list have higher rates of heart disease brought on by other statewide health issues, such as obesity or lax smoking policies, said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association, an advocacy group.

In Arizona, we have horrible decisions made around COVID-19 coupled with long-term tobacco control, said Humble, referring to the Smoke-Free Arizona Act in 2006.
My guess is, it will take a couple of weeks before things really start to pick up, he said.

Water has already traveled further downriver than he thought it would, said Bogan, adding hes heard secondhand reports its reached as far north as Julian Wash, just south of 29th Street, and about 1.75 river miles north of the discharge point.

What we dont know is how the infiltration dynamic will change over time, he said. When water first flows over soil, the soil tends to be a little hydrophobic, a little water repellent, because it hasnt had water on it for a long time. That allows water to travel farther, at first.

But eventually, all the sands and gravel you see here become saturated, so the infiltration rate could increase, so the water wouldnt travel as far, he said.

Still, Maybe the water here could get all the way to the other one, he said, referring to the original Heritage Project where water dumped into the river at about 25th Street.

He thinks the Irvington area has the potential to match the richness of wildlife and habitat at 25th because of the channels relatively untouched nature at Irvington, he said. Its west bank is packed with desert shrubs and the sediment remains in place, he said.
A Black police officer has filed a discrimination charge against an Ohio police department whose chief was seen in a surveillance video putting a note saying Ku Klux Klan on the officers jacket.

Attorneys for the officer said Thursday they discovered after the video was released this summer that the chief, who soon retired, had previously posted pictures of the officer and other employees on the Sheffield Lake Police Departments bulletin board that mocked their race, gender and religion.

The discrimination charge filed with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission is the first step toward filing a civil rights lawsuit, the attorneys said.

It was not a funny joke. It was offensive and humiliating, said Sheffield Lake Officer Keith Pool, who talked publicly for the first time about what happened. Even when we watch it now I'm in disbelief that this happened to me.

Pool, who last year became the first Black officer in the department's history and still works there, said all he could think was are you serious when he found the note.

He said the chief quickly came in the room and then called in other officers to look at the note. The chief then came back wearing a makeshift KKK hat, Pool's attorneys said.
The first time someone contacted Ada County dispatchers about Bergquist was on March 7, according to the records. A caller from a Walmart store in Meridian, Idaho, reported that Bergquist  apparently a new employee  was told that he could not open carry on the premises but refused to put his weapon away, dispatch noted.

The caller said Bergquist made verbal threats but did not brandish the handgun he carried in a side holster. The caller also said he intended to fire Bergquist and wanted him banned from the store. Meridian Police Department officers notified Bergquist of the ban when they caught up with him after he left the store.

The next call about Bergquist was made on June 17, when someone reported that he had entered the Boise Towne Square mall through the entrance near Old Chicago with a gun holstered on his hip and two ammo magazines strapped to his back.

The mall does not allow firearms on the premises. The caller told dispatch that Bergquist was walking quickly and said they were concerned about the additional ammunition he was carrying.
One of the final witnesses for the defense was a use-of-force expert, John Black, who testified that less than three seconds elapsed between the time somebody fired a bullet in the air and Rittenhouse opened fire on the first man he shot, Joseph Rosenbaum.

Black took the stand as part of an effort by Rittenhouse's lawyers to show that he had reason to fear for his life and acted in self-defense.

Rittenhouse, in his own turn on the stand Wednesday, testified that he heard a gunshot directly behind him as he was being chased by Rosenbaum. Authorities said the shot was fired by someone else in the crowd.

The account Rittenhouse gave has largely been corroborated by a wealth of video and the prosecutions own witnesses: Rittenhouse said that Rosenbaum cornered him and put his hand on the barrel of his rifle, the second man hit him with a skateboard, and the third man came at him with a gun of his own.
The FBI has said that the children's mother had been a voluntary member of Lev Tahor but fled the group's community in Guatemala in October 2018 after its leadership became increasingly extreme. Authorities said Helbrans is the brother of the kidnapped childrens mother.

After the mother and her children settled in New York, Helbrans and Rosner devised a plan to return the girl to Guatemala to resume a sexual relationship with her then-20-year-old husband after a supposed marriage that Helbrans had arranged a year earlier, prosecutors said.

In a written ruling, U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Roman ruled for a second time Wednesday that the alleged marriage was invalid.

As part of the plot, the men kidnapped the girl and her brother in December 2018 and took them through various states and into Mexico, prosecutors said.

After a three-week search, the kidnapping victims were found in the Mexican town of Tenango del Aire and were returned to their mother, prosecutors said.

They added that members of Lev Tahor tried to kidnap the children again in March 2019 and March of this year.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
SCOTLAND, S.D. (AP)  A South Dakota man has been charged with murder and other counts for allegedly gunning down his ex-girlfriend, her father and another woman and wounding his ex-girlfriend's mother and a young child.

Francis Lange, 42, made an initial appearance Wednesday in Bon Homme County Circuit Court. He faces six charges  three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of committing of a felony while armed with a gun  in the Tuesday evening attack in Scotland, a small community in the southeast of the state about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Sioux Falls.

He appeared without a lawyer and asked that a court-appointed attorney be assigned to his case. The judge set his bond at $2 million cash and scheduled his next court appearance for Nov. 16 in Tyndall, the Yanton Press and Dakotan reported.

Lange went to the home of his ex-girlfriend Angela Monclova and fatally shot her, her father Librado Monclova, and Diane Akins, authorities allege in court documents. He also shot and wounded his ex-girlfriends mother, Vicki Monclova, and a 5-year-old girl whom authorities haven't publicly identified.
Five years ago: President-elect Donald Trump shook up his transition team as he plunged into the work of setting up his administration, elevating Vice President-elect Mike Pence to head the operations. Three days after Election Day, President Barack Obama used his last Veterans Day speech to urge Americans to learn from the example of veterans as a divided nation sought to forge unity after the bitter 2016 campaign. Actor Robert Vaughn, 83, died in Connecticut.

One year ago: Georgias secretary of state announced an audit of presidential election results that he said would be done with a full hand tally of ballots because the margin was so tight; President-elect Joe Biden led President Donald Trump by about 14,000 votes out of nearly 5 million votes counted in the state. Texas became the first state with more than 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases. The U.S. marked Veterans Day with virtual gatherings and spectator-free parades; many of the traditional ceremonies were canceled because of the surging coronavirus that had killed thousands of veterans. Cleveland Indians ace Shane Bieber was the unanimous winner of the American League Cy Young Award; in the National League, Trevor Bauer became the first Cincinnati Reds pitcher to win the award.

Todays Birthdays: Country singer Narvel Felts is 83. Former Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., is 81. Americana roots singer/songwriter Chris Smither is 77. Rock singer-musician Vince Martell (Vanilla Fudge) is 76. The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, is 76. Rock singer Jim Peterik (PEE-ter-ihk) (Ides of March, Survivor) is 71. Golfer Fuzzy Zoeller is 70. Pop singer-musician Paul Cowsill (The Cowsills) is 70. Rock singer-musician Andy Partridge (XTC) is 68. Singer Marshall Crenshaw is 68. Rock singer Dave Alvin is 66. Rock musician Ian Craig Marsh (Human League; Heaven 17) is 65. Actor Stanley Tucci is 61. Actor Demi Moore is 59. Actor Calista Flockhart is 57. Actor Frank John Hughes is 54. TV personality Carson Kressley is 52. Actor David DeLuise is 50. Actor Adam Beach is 49. Actor Tyler Christopher is 49. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is 47. Actor Scoot McNairy is 44. Rock musician Jonathan Pretus (formerly with Cowboy Mouth) is 40. Actor Frankie Shaw is 40. Musician Jon Batiste is 35. Actor Christa B. Allen is 30. Actor Tye Sheridan is 25. Actor Ian Patrick is 19.

Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The study recorded a total of 6,175 suicides from 2015 through 2019, of which veteran status was available for 6,066 individuals.

In addition to physical trauma, veterans are more likely to experience life stressors before suicide, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

Although both male and female veterans were at notably higher risk of dying by suicide than nonveterans, overall suicide rates were higher for males, especially young white males.

Veterans that are between the ages 18 and 34 are at significantly higher risk to commit suicide than veterans at almost any age group, Katz said. We think that individuals involved in recent conflicts are much more likely to have experienced a physical health injury or engage in some sort of life stressor.

Mohave County had the highest veteran suicide rate, at 78.3 per 100,000 population, followed by Yavapai County and Coconino County. Located in rural areas, they lack many veteran services that other areas have, Katz said.

There are fewer resources available to the folks within these counties, in terms of outreach, in terms of support they can receive for a number of issues that veterans encounter, Katz said.
He said helping the developing world cope with climate change is a call of conscience that "should be in the heart of every person. But especially in those whove a greater historical responsibility than others.

The minister said India  a country with nearly 1.4 billion people or almost one-fifth of the global population and yet accounting for just 5% of its emissions  is among the few countries in the world on track to meet its climate targets before 2030.

However, emissions analysts say India should have more ambitious targets to help put the world on track to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the goal of the U.N. climate negotiations.

India recently announced it would stop adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by 2070  two decades after the net zero target set by the U.S. and 10 years after that of China. It has also promised to get half of its energy from clean energy and rein in its emissions growth by 2030.

But to achieve those goals, developing nations like India need financing.
Macron chaired the session about childrens rights in the presence of YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.

We must regulate contents and authorization tools so that an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, a 15-year-old child ... cannot be exposed to all contents without rules, Macron said. That must go via parental control installed by default on some tools, he said. He also insisted on the need for educating children about the risks of social media.

Macron, Harris, EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also participated in another roundtable on regulating the digital domain, along with Microsoft president Brad Smith. Harris announced that the U.S. is joining the Paris Call launched in 2018 to improve security and better regulate cyberspace.

Children's rights advocates have for years urged internet giants to take action to better protect children.

Revelations last month from whistleblower Frances Haugen about internal Facebook studies on the harm of Instagram on teenagers intensified parents' concerns about the popular photo sharing app.

Justine Atlan, head of E-Enfance, a group advocating the protection of children on the internet, participated in the Paris Peace Forum.
Despite efforts to diversify the economy, oil accounts for more than half of Saudi Arabia's revenue, keeping the kingdom and royal family afloat and stable. About half of Saudi employees still work for the public sector, their salary paid in large part by oil.

And there's China, whose dependence on coal makes it the world's current biggest climate polluter. It argues it can't switch to cleaner energy as fast as the West says it must, although the United States and China did jointly pledge to speed up their efforts to cut emissions.

A core issue in the talks: Scientists and the United Nations say the world has less than a decade to cut its fossil fuel and agricultural emissions roughly in half if it wants to avoid more catastrophic scenarios of global warming.

Not surprisingly, island nations that would disappear under the rising oceans at a higher level of warming are the bloc at Glasgow pushing hardest for the most stringent deal out of this summit.

Meanwhile, climate advocates accuse the United States and European Union of so far failing to throw their weight behind the demands of the island nations, although the U.S. and the E.U. often wait until the last few days of climate talks to take hard stands on debated points.
OPINION: Have an opinion on something or are you an expert on a subject? Write an opinion piece or a Letter to the Editor at tucson.com/opinion.
The renamed section of Oklahoma 20 pays homage to Roberts sacrifice, which came in the line of indirect enemy fire while stationed at Camp Taji in Iraq on March 11, 2020.

Serving with the 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, Roberts was supporting Operation Inherent Resolve about 20 miles north of Baghdad when his unit was hit with a rocket attack.

The engagement claimed Roberts life and that of another American soldier, along with a U.K. service member and two Iraqi Security Forces members. Fourteen others were wounded, including Oklahomas Tech. Sgt. Ariel E. White.

Its a tremendous loss to our nation, U.S. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., told attendees at Wednesdays event.

On this highway, he said, theres a big sign so that in the decades ahead  people can tell the story to their children, and that their children would hear the story of the sacrifice of his (Roberts) bravery, about what it means to be free as a nation.
A Romanian national who admitted to creating and using fake ATM cards with stolen credit union account information was sentenced to time already served in federal custody, plus restitution.

Iancu Ovidiu Florea, 53, also known as Iancu Jianu, was ordered to pay $79,660 in restitution to Tinker Federal Credit Union and to serve five years of supervised release.

Florea admitted in August to participating in an ATM "shimming" or "skimming" operation with several other Romanian nationals beginning in July 2019.

Skimmers are placed over ATM card readers to read the magnetic strips on cards; shimmers read the chips on chip cards.

The devices, along with tiny cameras used to record debit and credit card personal identification numbers, were installed on ATMs at four Tinker Federal Credit Union branch locations in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas between July 21 and Aug. 3.

The devices would record customer account information along with their PINs.

Florea admitted to using the information to create fake ATM cards that were used to withdraw cash in other cities from customer accounts in transactions ranging from $80 to $1,000. Prosecutors said when charges were filed that more than 100 customer accounts were hit by the scam.
The optics of it are bad, so the question becomes: 'Why did the legislative compensation committee do it?' Well, they met pre-COVID," the House majority leader said of the timing on the first salary bump for lawmakers in two decades.
Jones supporters say Christopher Jordan, the key witness against Jones, admitted to three fellow inmates at different times that he and not Jones killed Howell.

Jones says he was at home with his family at the time of the shooting.

Much of the prosecutions case rested on Jordans testimony and the discovery of the murder weapon and other evidence in Jones house.

If we believe, as conservatives, in law and order and the criminal justice system, then we have to make sure the system is getting it right, Talley said in the news release.

In this case, the Pardon and Parole Board spent several hours looking at the case, during two separate hearings, and determined that it may not have. We should not execute a man in that context.

Paul Howells murder was a terrible tragedy for his family and this entire community, said Stinson. More than two decades later, however, I have many constituents who still have questions.

McDugle has championed the case of Richard Glossip, another death-row inmate who even prosecutors agree did not actually kill anyone.
He encouraged the Legislature to pass legislation to clarify that a nonbinary designation is contrary to state law.

The federal lawsuit was filed in 2020 by Kit Vivien Lorelied, who lives in Oregon but was born in Oklahoma.

The settlement agreement allowed Lorelied, who was assigned the sex of female at birth, to have the state issue a nonbinary birth certificate.

Lorelieds Tulsa attorney, Christopher Brecht, declined to comment on the executive order.

Alex Wade is medical services director for Oklahomans for Equality.

We were expecting there to be some sort of reaction after the initial settlement, Wade said. We suspected there would be an executive order.

He said the executive order was disheartening.

There will be people fighting this decision in the coming months, Wade said.

Stitt said last month that I believe that people are created by God to be male or female. Period.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  The Latest on the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow:

GLASGOW, Scotland  Alok Sharma, the British official presiding over this years U.N. climate talks, has dismissed suggestions that he is trying to ratchet up pressure on negotiators in an effort to get them to seal a deal at the Glasgow meeting.

I think people have sometimes described me as no drama Sharma, he said Thursday, barely cracking a smile.

Sharma said the draft agreements already circulated showed that a lot has been achieved.

But we are still some way away from finalizing those very critical issues which have been outstanding, he added. And I dont think we can overemphasize how difficult this is. If it was easy we would have resolved this over the past six years.



GLASGOW, Scotland  European Union officials say they will push for a strong signal on financial support for poor countries to cope with global warming, a key sticking point at this years U.N. climate talks.
One hundred years ago, four caskets of unidentified American soldiers were in a French town being prepared for transport back to the United States. A soldier was asked to formally select a casket by placing a bouquet of white roses on one of the four.

That selected casket was transported to, and buried in, the Arlington National Cemetery at what we now know as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The tomb was dedicated at 11 oclock, on the 11th day of the 11th month (World War I Armistice Day) in 1921. Veterans Day this year marks the centennial observance of that dedication.

The unidentified soldier represents the honor and valor of all Americans who served. Veterans Day 2021 in Tulsa will include its national centennial observance.

In that spirit, we will recognize the honor and valor of Tulsans Spc. 4th Class Joe Thomas and Brig. Gen. Roscoe Cartwright by inducting them into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame this Veterans Day. At the same time, we will announce a special Honor and Valor exhibit honoring Thomas and Cartwright at Booker T. Washington High School.

Both are graduates of Booker T. Washington High School, Cartwright in 1936 and Thomas in 1965.
Authorities in Iran have released a Vietnamese-flagged oil tanker and its 26 crew members after seizing the ship off the Iranian coast in late October.

Oil tanker SOTHYS was freed under judicial orders on Tuesday after the oil stored on the ship was unloaded, according to Iranian state media.

Satellite images and an automatic identification system (AIS) signal showed that the vessel left Iran Bandar Abbas City and entered the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday.

On November 3, Iranian media reported that the naval force under Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had intervened and prevented a U.S. warship from seizing the Vietnamese-flagged ship, which was said to be carrying Iranian oil in the Sea of Oman.

Iran accused the U.S. vessel of plotting to steal Iranian oil, adding that the arrival of the naval force had foiled the scheme.

In a statement released on the same day, the U.S. Department of Defense denied the allegations, stating that Iranian forces had actually seized the oil tanker, and U.S. naval forces were merely monitoring the situation.

On November 4, Pham Thu Hang, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Vietnam was in talks with Iranian authorities over the seizure of the oil tanker.

Hang said the captain of the ship had confirmed to the Embassy of Vietnam in Iran that all 26 crew members had been treated well and were in good health.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted the Ministry of Transport to verify the identity of the crew members and the company which owns the ship to ensure the interests of those aboard, she added.

Oil tanker SOTHYS is 245 meters long, 42 meters wide, and is designed to carry crude oil, according to FleetMon.

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The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has granted conditional approval for the emergency use of Indias Covaxin vaccine against the novel coronavirus, making it the ninth COVID-19 jab authorized in the Southeast Asian country.

The vaccine, developed by Indias Bharat Biotech International Limited, was given the approval under a decision of the Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

The vaccine relies on an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 antigen (Strain NIV-770-2020) and is presented in single-dose bottles and vials of 5, 10, and 20 doses.

Each 0.5ml dose of Covaxin vaccine contains 6mcg of the antigen prepared in the form of suspension for injection.

On November 3, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued an emergency use listing for Covaxin, adding it to a growing portfolio of vaccines approved by the WHO for the prevention of COVID-19.

The WHOs Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization recommended use of the vaccine in two doses spaced four weeks apart for individuals aged 18 and above.

Covaxin has been found to have 78 percent efficacy against COVID-19 of any severity, 14 or more days after the second dose, and is recommended for low- and middle-income countries due to easy storage requirements, the WHO said on its website last week.

The health ministry has tasked the Drug Administration of Vietnam with licensing the importation of the vaccine to ensure compliance with regulations on quality control of imported jabs.

The Department of Science and Technology was asked to select a qualified agency to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Covaxin while the General Department of Preventive Medicine will be charged with carrying out vaccination.

This is the ninth vaccine authorized for emergency use by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health, following the UKs AstraZeneca, Chinas Sinopharm, Russias Sputnik V, the UAEs Hayat-Vax, Cubas Abdala, and three U.S. vaccines including Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.

Vietnam has so far received around 125 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines out of the 200 million shots that had been contracted.

Health authorities aim to immunize at least two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year.

Vietnams health workers have administered about 62.8 million first vaccine doses and 31.1 million second shots to people nationwide since immunization was rolled out on March 8, according to official figures.

The Southeast Asian country has recorded 992,735 patients, including 844,054 recoveries and 22,765 deaths, since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year, the health ministrys data shows.

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The Ministry of Health added 8,162 coronavirus cases to Vietnams caseload on Thursday, lifting the national count past one million patients.

The latest cases, including 17 imported and 8,145 local transmissions, were recorded in 56 provinces and cities, the ministry said, adding that 3,951 patients acquired their infection from the community.

Ho Chi Minh City logged 1,185 of the domestically-transmitted infections, Dong Nai Province 930, Tay Ninh Province 656, Binh Duong Province 615, An Giang Province 595, Tien Giang Province 417, Kien Giang Province 399, Binh Thuan Province 237, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 185, Hanoi 154, Khanh Hoa Province 128, Can Tho City 55, Quang Nam Province 27, and Da Nang 13.

Vietnam had confirmed 7,918 locally-infected patients on Wednesday.

The Southeast Asian country has documented 995,903 community-based transmissions in all its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave emerged on April 27. A total of 843,131 of them have recovered from the respiratory disease.

Ho Chi Minh City is the biggest epicenter with 443,815 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 241,589, Dong Nai Province with 75,843, Long An Province with 36,179, Tien Giang Province with 19,516, An Giang Province with 15,555, Tay Ninh Province with 14,342, Kien Giang Province with 13,470, Dong Thap Province with 12,144, Khanh Hoa Province with 9,685, Can Tho City with 8,867, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 6,047, Hanoi with 5,816, and Da Nang with 5,140.

Vietnam detected only 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves.

The health ministry reported 1,894 recovered patients on Thursday, taking the total to 845,948.

The toll has jumped to 22,849 deaths after the ministry registered 84 deaths on the same day, including 38 in Ho Chi Minh City, six in Binh Duong Province, and the remainder in 16 other provinces and cities.

Vietnam has found 1,000,897 infections since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year.

Health workers have administered more than 95.5 million vaccine doses, including 1,510,844 shots on Wednesday, since inoculation was rolled out on March 8.

Over 32 million people have received two injections.

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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A group of Vietnamese scientists have bagged JPY3 million ($26,300) for winning the top prize of Asia Innovation Award, funded by Japan's conglomerate Hitachi.

The Hitachi Global Foundation under the auspices of the Japanese corporate that provides funding for science and technology had given the top prize of its 2021 Asia Innovation Award to a collaborative project on biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) led by Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Phuong from Vietnams Institute of Chemical Technology, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology announced on Wednesday.

The Vietnamese group scored the Best Innovation Award, which gives each winner JPY3 million.

BOD is a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria while they decompose waste organic matter in water.

It can be used as an index of the degree of organic pollution in water.

In their award-winning work, Dr. Phuong and her partners seek to develop biosensors for online assessments of BOD, which can help identify the toxicity of water samples in a timely and accurate manner.

Requiring low investments and operation costs, the biosensor solution is expected to make its way into realistic scenarios that call for automatic and real-time environment tracking,

In those cases, they will provide early alerts for environmental catastrophes, protecting lives on land and under water.

A biosensor system for assessment of biological oxygen demand (BOD) created by Dr. Pham Thi Thuy Phuong and her partners. Photo: My Dung / Tuoi Tre

The Hitachi Global Foundation, founded in 2015 in a merger of five corporate social responsibility branches of Hitachi, seeks to provide social programs in home upbringing, youth development, promotion of science and technology, awareness-raising of environmental conservation, and support for human development in Asia, according to the Japanese company's website.

The foundation started the annual Asia Innovation Award in 2020 to promote science, technology, and innovation that help solve social issues and realizing a sustainable society in the ASEAN region.

It seeks to highlight outstanding achievements in research and development in the fields of science and technology, which contribute to an ideal future society and achievements of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2020, 18 universities and research institutes in six ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, were invited to submit R&D results that contribute to the following targets of SDGs Goal 2 End Hunger and Goal 3 Good Health and Well-Being.'

Out of the group, a total of 12 recipients were selected and rewarded, including two Best Innovation Award winners.

As one of the winners, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tan from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) and her research group were honored for their work on processing agricultural and fishery products.

The full result for the 2021 competition will be announced in January 2022.

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A court in Vietnam has sentenced a young Vietnamese woman to one year and nine months in prison for stuffing a rag into the mouth of an 11-month-old baby boy at a private daycare center earlier this year.

The Peoples Court of Thai Binh City in the namesake province on Wednesday gave the jail term to 19-year-old Le Thi Lanh on charges of torturing others," as prescribed in the Vietnamese Penal Code.

Due to the sensitive nature of the case, the whole trial was conducted behind closed doors, except the court's announcement of the sentence.

The incident took place on April 6 at the city-based Sao Viet daycare center, which was licensed in July 2020 and is managed by the local bureau of education and training, the indictment said.

On that day, when the little boy, H.N.N., was crying, Lanh stuffed the boys mouth with a rag and beat him with her hands to keep him quiet.

The abuse was discovered after N.s mother received from a former teacher of Sao Viet a clip showing the baby boy being tortured by Lanh.

N. began attending the daycare center in March this year and had since feared directly contacting strangers and lost weight, according to the boys relatives.

The mother posted the video on social media on June 28 and filed a letter of denunciation to the citys police, requesting an investigation into Lanhs brutalization acts.

The Thai Binh administration suspended the operation of the center one day later.

Police launched a probe and identified Lanh as the younger sister of Le Thi Huong Giang, the centers owner.

Lanh, who does not have a pedagogical license, helped Giang take care of the preschoolers at the center.

On June 30, police served a prosecution on her for torturing the boy.

At the court, she admitted to committing the crime as stated in the indictment.

The trial panel commented that Lanh should be given a strict sentence as a deterrent to others given her brutalization acts, which had stirred up the public.

The court decided to give the 21-month jail term to Lanh after reviewing the case file and considering that the parents of the boy had filed a petition seeking an extenuation for the defendant.

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Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Tyler, TX (75702)

Today

Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. (Psalm 95:1-2)
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  An Israeli family asked an appeals court on Thursday to halt the planned return of a 6-year-old boy who survived a cable crash in Italy to his relatives there.

There was no immediate ruling in the case surrounding Eitan Biran, who has been at the center of a bitter custody battle between relatives in Italy and Israel. This week, an Italian judge issued an international arrest warrant for the boy's grandfather, who whisked Eitan to Israel on a private jet in September.

Eitans parents and younger sibling were among 14 killed in May when a cable car slammed into a mountainside in northern Italy. His maternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal relatives in Italy are both seeking custody.

Last month, an Israeli court ordered the boy to be returned to his relatives in Italy, saying that was the place of his normal residence. It also ordered his grandfather, Shmuel Peleg, who had brought him to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 in expenses and attorney fees.

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Peleg's lawyer, Ronen Dalyahu, said the hearing on Thursday was very meaningful and discussed all of the relevant issues connected to the boy's return to Italy. He said the court promised a decision in the coming days.

"The judges studied the documents and considered the points, and I hope they will give a ruling that serves the well-being of the child for years, he said.

Lawyers and relatives from the family in Italy left the courthouse without commenting.

The grandfather has defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the child's best interest. He drove Eitan from Italy to Switzerland without the other relatives' knowledge before flying him to Israel. He has not commented on the Italian arrest warrant.

Eitan's paternal relatives say he was taken without their knowledge and they had filed a legal complaint in Italy seeking his return.

Story continues

Eitan and his parents were living in Italy at the time of the accident. After his release from a Turin hospital following weeks of treatment, Italian juvenile court officials ruled the child would live with a paternal aunt, Aya Biran, near Pavia, in northern Italy.

In the earlier ruling, the Tel Aviv family court said Eitans residence was in Italy, where his family moved when he was only a month old. She concluded that his relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt.

The judge also called on the family to reconcile, saying it was in the boy's interests.
President Emmanuel Macron led tributes on Thursday to the last French Resistance fighter from World War II who died last month and will be buried with a cross carved from the wood of Notre-Dame cathedral.



Hubert Germain, who was the last surviving Resistance fighter honoured by late Free France leader Charles de Gaulle, died aged 101 in October.

His coffin, draped in the French flag, was carried up the Champs-Elysees on an armoured vehicle to the Arc de Triomphe, where Macron and visiting US Vice President Kamala Harris paid their respects.

Germain, the son of a general in France's colonial army, was in his late teens when he fled to Britain after France's capitulation where he joined up with de Gaulle who was organising resistance to the German occupation. He went on to fight in key battles at Bir-Hakeim in Libya, at El Alamein in Egypt and in Tunisia, as well as in the invasion of German-occupied France in 1944 which liberated the country.

The Paris-born fighter was one of 1,038 people decorated with the Order of the Liberation for their heroism by de Gaulle, who would go on to become president of France and is the founder of the current constitution.

Germain, who became an MP and minister, will be buried later Thursday in a special crypt reserved for Resistance fighters at Mont Valerien, a former fortress west of Paris where German troops used to execute opponents.

At the Armistice Day ceremony Thursday, Macron laid a Cross of Lorraine, the symbol of the resistance, fashioned out of wood from Notre-Dame cathedral on his coffin, in accordance with Germain's wishes.

France holds a ceremony ever year at the Arc de Triomphe on Armistice Day, a public holiday to mark the armistice signed to end World War I.

'I am going to need you'

Germain was born in Paris on August 6, 1920, the son of a general officer who had served with Frances colonial forces. After graduating from high school, he was preparing for the entrance exam to the naval academy at the Lycee Michel Montaigne in Bordeaux when war was declared in September 1939. Months later, after May 1940 and the Fall of France, he decided to continue the fight.

Story continues

Germain boarded a vessel transporting Polish soldiers to England and arrived in London on June 24, 1940. There he met De Gaulle. After inquiring about my studies, he explained where he would send me to continue my training and told me, I am going to need you. Well, at 19, when the man who took the affairs of the nation into his hands tells you that, it puffs up your chest. I understood right away that, along with Churchill, De Gaulle and I were going to win the war! he wrote in his autobiography.

Having joined the Free French Forces from their inception, Germain was assigned to the battleship Courbet where he studied to become a marine officer. In the spring of 1941 he was assigned to the staff of General Paul Legentilhomme, commander of the 1st Free French Division in Palestine, and slated to intervene in the Levant. He fought in Syria and Libya, where he saw combat at the Battle of Bir Hakeim, and in Egypt.

In Italy in May 1944, Germain, a lieutenant commanding an anti-tank section near Pontecorvo, sustained an injury to his side while supporting the attacking battalion along the Liri River with heavy artillery fire. Evacuated to Naples, Germain was decorated with the Cross of Liberation by De Gaulle at the end of June 1944. He later told of his astonishment in receiving the honour. I never thought about that. I had fought hard, but I was never working with that in mind. It didn't interest me, he said.

Germain took part in the Allied landing in Provence in August 1944. Four years after his departure for England, he finally set foot once again in his country. You arrive on the land, you disembark, walk a few steps, and you collapse. Its that land that inhales you, the beach. At that moment, you fall down on your knees and you weep. Not for long, because there is no time to lose, but its breathtaking, he recalled during an interview with LCI television. And it was then that I said to myself, There, you have returned to France! France doesnt belong to you, it is not your France, but that night, it would be mine.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
On October 29, the Armenian media reported that Hampig Sassounian, an Armenian-American who was an alleged member of the Armenian terrorist organization Justice Commandos of the Armenian Genocide (JCAG) is in Armenia upon his extradition from the United States. Eurasia Review reports that until he was controversially granted parole in March 2021, Sassounian was serving a life sentence in a US prison for fatally shooting Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles Kemal Arkan while he sat in his car at an intersection in Los Angeles in 1982.

Despite Sassounian denying he was a member of JCAG, the organization was widely reported to have financed his legal costs. Sassounians extradition to Armenia was celebrated in Armenian social media as he, along with many other members of the Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA) and the JCAG, is glorified as a national hero in Armenia. Both ASALA and JCAG have been designated as terrorist groups by many countries, including the United States.

As a result of the terrorist attacks of the two groups in 22 different cities across the globe, at least 58 Turkish nationals, including 31 diplomats, lost their lives. In one of the most notorious attacks by ASALA, the group killed nine people and injured over 80 by deliberately targeting civilians in a crowded passenger waiting area at Esenboga airport in the Turkish capital Ankara on Aug. 7, 1982. The wave of these terrorist operations grew to a level that the Washington Post protested on July 31, 1983 asking: How many more Turkish diplomats will be killed by fanatical murderers from Armenian terrorist groups? The question has a raw answer: as many as the terrorists think they can put away without getting caught.

Neither the members of these terrorist groups nor their supporters amongst the Armenian people have since then regretted or expressed remorse for assassinating innocent people. While in prison, in an interview with the Armenian military magazine Hay Zinvor in 2012, Hampig Sassounian called himself as a soldier and expressed wish to serve in the Armenian military in Karabakh, occupied territory of Azerbaijan at that time, which demonstrates that he is [an] unreformed terrorist, said Leyla Abdullayeva, the spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry commenting on the release of Sassounian. We consider this decision regarding the aforementioned terrorist a grave mistake and a concession to terrorism and we once again condemn it, Tanju Bilgic, the spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said in the written statement.

Despite these reactions, the Armenian governments and society have never ceased to regard the members of these groups as national heroes giving their names to streets, schools and other institutions and building statutes in their honor. Although there are some Armenians who objected to the glorification of Sassounian as a national hero, the Armenian social media generally was in the celebrative mood. For instance, an Armenian diaspora organization called Armenian Youth Federation based in the United States excitedly announced on Twitter that Armenian Hero Hampig Sassounian is free and in the Homeland.

As stated above, the glorification of the terrorist acts of Sassounian is not an isolated case for Armenia. For instance, Monte Melkonian, one of the leaders of ASALA, is heroized by Armenians for having killed Turkish diplomats and for playing a leading role in Armenias war against Azerbaijan. In 1980, in Athens, Greece, Melkonian murdered a Turkish diplomat and his 14-year-old daughter. After being released from the French prison, Melkonian went to Armenia and joined his countrys ethnic cleansing of the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. He participated in mass atrocities against Azerbaijani civilians, the largest of which was at the town called Khojaly in 1992. Since Armenia gained independence in the early 1990s, statues have been built in his honour, his name has been given to educational institutions, and a foundation was named after him. In the cemetery where he is buried, there is a memorial built in honour of ASALA.

Varoujan Karapetyan, another ASALA member and the head of the organizations French branch, was welcomed in Armenia as a national hero, after having spent nearly 20 years in jail in France, for the fatal bombing attack against Turkish diplomats at Orly Airport in Paris. The eight victims of the attack were not only the Turkish citizens: apart from two Turkish nationals, four French, one American and one Swedish lost their lives in that incident. But this did not keep Armenian politicians and intellectuals from campaigning for his early release and heroizing him at the highest level.

The glorification of those terrorists like Sassounian, Melkonian and Karapetyan who murdered innocent civilians, diplomats and children justifies and legitimizes terrorist tactics in the pursuit of alleged national causes and encourage the next generations of Armenians to follow suit. The tragedies experienced by Armenians and Azerbaijanis over the latest decades seem unfortunately not to have sufficed for the supporters of these extremist groups to realize that violence breeds more violence and more tragedies. Quite the contrary, against the background of the peace efforts since the end of the 44 Day Karabakh War, it is high time for Armenia to renounce the violent past and seize the historic chance for a peaceful future.
The Chinese role and influence have expanded in all NATO member states, especially with the acceleration of the scope and number of giant projects in NATO countries, as the Chinese government and its companies implemented hundreds of projects in the Eurasia region within the framework of the Belt and Road initiative, which was launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013, Modern Diplomacy writes. The forms of the extensive Chinese encroachment ranged to participate, buy or rent an increasing number of seaports overlooking the Mediterranean, some of which are important ports and ports used by NATO. For example, China controls the famous Greek port of Prius. It also finances highway and railway projects between the Balkan countries and Hungary.

China relatively dominates the global maritime arena and the management and operation of global ports, the most 50 largest ports in the world, especially in Europe are invested by China. With regard to container ports, five giant Chinese companies in the field of transport control 18% of all container shipping activities operated by the 20 largest companies in the world, according to data issued by Dury Company, a Chinese consulting company in the field of shipping.

In 2016, Beijing set up a national giant through China merger of China Ocean Shipping and China Shipping Company to form giant COSCO Shipping and Container Company, which is a huge trading group company that includes seven branches of international subsidiaries and shipping line bearing the same name. COSCO is known worldwide and performs different commercial activities in the field of shipping.

Three giant Chinese companies for shipping and containers globally are competing at the NATOs member states and the world, and all of them are working in the field of port operation. These companies are China Merchants Port Holdings, Cosco Group and China Shipping Terminal Development. These companies are vigorously competing with the three major global dominant companies AP Moller Maersk of the Netherlands, BSA International of Singapore and Hutchison Ports Holdings of Hong Kong.

The most amazing thing is Chinas control of the port of Long Beach in California, which is the second-largest container port in the United States of America. As the deal to acquire the Long Beach Port by the Chinese Cosco Company, through its subsidiary company in Hong Kong, was finally approved, the COSCO Group has become the third-largest shipping company in the world. It controls Kaohsiung Port in southwest Taiwan as well.

China has also started to operate its company COSCO Shipping Ports in Piraeus Port in Greece in 2008. Since then, Chinese companies have expanded in the three largest ports in Europe, as it acquired a 35% stake in Euromax Port in Rotterdam, a 20% stake in the Port of Antwerp in Belgium. China also started actual planning for the construction of a terminal for Chinese containers and cargo ships in the port of Hamburg in Germany.

In Italy, Chinese state companies were allowed to manage or maintain stakes in Italian ports to expand exports between China and Italy in the framework of the announced agreement between them. The Italian port of Trieste is subject to intense interest from Beijing, as the giant Chinese company China Communications Construction manages some pilot projects in the port in northern Italy. Another giant Chinese ship and container shipping company in the ports of NATOs member states is called China Merchants. It is a Chinese state-owned company, headquartered in Hong Kong that negotiates with the Italian government to establish a joint venture for the ship and container terminal between China and Italy in the Italian port of Trieste.

But, what is remarkable here, is the rejection of a number of Italian officials of that Chinese deal. The governor of the Veneto region Luca Zaia, as the region adjacent to Trieste that administers Venice, rejected the Italian-Chinese deal, as he described it in the Italian media by saying: The proposed Chinese deal to manage and operate the port of Trieste at Italy carries a new form of colonialism." The importance of the Italian port of Trieste for China is due to Beijing from a strategic point of view because it will connect the Mediterranean with landlocked countries, such as Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Serbi, all of which are markets that China hopes to reach them through its Belt and Road Initiative, and thus the Italian port of Trieste is the most important station for China in Europe on the Chinese Silk Road. The country plans to make it always open to Chinese investments.

The Italian government also agreed to contract a deal between the Port Authority in the Italian port of Genoa and the giant China Communications Construction Company.

The head of the Italian port system authority in the western Ligurian Sea, Paolo Emilio Signorini, confirmed that "the Italian Ports Authority is working to create a company in partnership with the China Communications Construction Company to manage and operate the main Italian ports.

Perhaps because of the American fear of Chinese expansion in Italian ports, US former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited both Italy and the Vatican in late September 2020, exactly weeks after the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Italy and four other European countries. Beijing has set its primary goal of investing in four Italian ports within the framework of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, especially after Italys announcement as the first European country to join the Chinese initiative of the Belt and Road. China has set its plan to expand its ownership in Italian ports as s part of the Belt and Road Initiative projects. In particular two ports in the north of the Adriatic Sea of Italy, Tristi and Ravenna, after the Italian and Chinese governments agreed within a Chinese plan to compete with the main European ports.

Chinese companies have succeeded in owning actual shares of seaports in Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Germany, thus becoming an important player in the field of European ports. It is estimated that state-backed Chinese investors own at least 10% of the total shares of all ports in Europe.

The Chinese Cosco Company succeded in the acquisition of a terminal in the port of Trieste in northern Italy and Zeebrugge port, which is the second-largest port in Belgium. The United States of America, in its turn, imposed sanctions on five companies affiliated with the giant China Communications Construction. in August 2020. The US accuses the company of militarization of the South China Sea.

Due to the fear of the Chinese presence in the European ports, the US proposes alternative projects to oppose the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. Since many European states have challenged Washington and cooperated with China, it is clear that China expands its influence in the European ports. The European Union, mainly by France and Germany, have expressed their reservations about the Italian deal for the operation and management of its ports by Chinese companies, and NATO fears the increasing Chinese influence on the strategic and important Italian ports on the Mediterranean.
Over the past years, Russian diplomats have repeatedly expressed their hope that Tehran will ratify the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea signed on August 12, 2018, in Aktau following the results of the 5th Caspian Summit. The document will enter into force after ratification by all signatories - Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. So far, everyone except Iran signed the Convention.

According to the document, the activities of the parties in the Caspian Sea should be carried out on the basis of almost two dozen principles, some of which provide for ensuring a stable arms balance of the parties. Some of them are:

- developing military capabilities within the limits of reasonable sufficiency with due regard to the interests of all the Parties and without prejudice to the security of each other

- compliance with the agreed confidence-building measures in the military field in the spirit of predictability and transparency;

- non-presence in the Caspian Sea of armed forces not belonging to the Parties;

- non-provision by a Party of its territory to other States to commit aggression and undertake other military actions against any Party.

Business Insider writes about the naval capabilities of littoral states.

Russia has continued to develop its Caspian flotilla. In October 2015, it demonstrated a significant new capability when some of its ships launched 26 Kalibr cruise missiles at 11 targets in Syria  a distance of about 1,000 miles. They launched even more missiles a month later.

Other Caspian Sea states have largely operated in the shadow of Russia's Caspian Flotilla, but in recent years they have begun to build up their navies to more modern standards.

Azerbaijan, with revenues from its own large oil reserves, has grown its navy and coast guard fleets to a combined force of over 30 ships. Most of them are patrol vessels, but some are relatively modern and advanced ships built by Israeli and Turkish firms.

Turkmenistan has also taken advantage of its commercial and cultural ties to Turkey and purchased a number of Turkish-made vessels. It has 10 Serhet-class patrol boats (based on the Turkish Tuzla-class) and commissioned its first Turkmen-class corvette in August.

Iran has historically had a limited presence in the Caspian. The waters it controls are among the deepest, averaging 3,360 feet, which makes offshore oil drilling difficult. Moreover, Iran's navy has mostly focused on the Persian Gulf. But Iran is also building up its Caspian fleet. In 2003, it completed its first modern Caspian vessel, the IRIS Paykan, a Sina-class fast-attack craft. In 2015, it commissioned the IRIS Damavand, the second frigate of the Mowj-class  Iran's most modern warships. IRIS Damavand sank after an accident in 2018 and is being repaired, but Iran has continued its activity in the Caspian, including regular drills and exercises.

Kazakhstan, which inherited no naval vessels from the Soviet Union, has built a navy with about a dozen ships, including a domestically produced class of missile boats. Kazakhstan also conducts drills and exercises in its waters.

While there is no doubt that other Caspian Sea navies are stronger than they were 30 years ago, Russia's Caspian Flotilla remains the dominant naval force there. Most of Azerbaijan's, Iran's, Kazakhstan's, and Turkmenistan's naval ships are small vessels such as patrol boats, missile boats, or fast-attack craft. The Caspian Flotilla has many similar vessels, but it also has more large warships than anyone else, chief among them the two Gepard-class frigates and six Buyan-class corvettes. Those ships are smaller than the destroyers and cruisers of the Russian navy's other fleets, but, as demonstrated by the 2015 Syria strikes, they carry similar armaments, which are far more capable than the weaponry of neighboring navies.

"The Russians equip these small ships with long-range land-attack and anti-ship missile systems, and they really punch above their weight and size," Jeffrey Edmonds, a research scientist and Russia expert at the CNA think tank, told Insider. Moreover, the Caspian Flotilla is part of Russia's powerful Southern Military District, one of the largest and most important military forces in the Russian military. As such, the Caspian Flotilla's combat power has to be evaluated alongside other assets in the district, such as aircraft and coastal defenses.

"You shouldn't view the Russian Navy broadly or something like Caspian Fleet separate from the rest of the Russian military," Edmonds said. "If there was a conflict in the Caspian Sea, you would have the full might of the Russian military in the region." Additionally, the Caspian Flotilla could be reinforced by ships from Russia's Black Sea Fleet via the Volga-Don Canal, or even by the Baltic Fleet through the much longer Volga-Baltic Waterway if need be. "The Russian military looks at the total correlation of forces." Edmonds said. "They'll calibrate their military capabilities in the region to match or overmatch any potential competitors."

Naval activity in the Caspian will likely increase as new oil fields are discovered and the region's navies grow. Russia's dominance is assured for now, but with more players, it may one day have to compete, Business Insider writes.
Lithuanian authorities do not give up the idea of further increasing the foreign troops presence in Lithuanian territory. They made efforts to attract attention to the military threat from the East using all available meetings and foreign visits, The Baltic Word reports.

Some recent events and statements demonstrate the unwillingness of the authorities to notice internal problems, such as population decline, anti-vaccination movement, healthcare system crisis and so on. It is easier to divert peoples attention by portraying heroes fighting for the countrys security.

On November 4, the Lithuanian government has approved an updated National Security Strategy highlighting new threats. The strategy was previously discussed by the State Defence Council, chaired by the Lithuanian president, and will now go to the parliament for a final vote.

The strategy aims to increase the Lithuanian Armed Forces combat power and readiness, with a focus on developing land warfare capabilities, to maximize the permanent presence of the US, Germany, the UK and other allies in Lithuania and the region, and to step up military cooperation with Poland, Latvia, and Estonia.

Having been defeated in building a prosperous Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda attributes his failures to enemies, which surrounded the country. This message of course needs constant recharging.

In order to hold out on the political Olympus authorities continue to convince foreign leaders to support Lithuania by sending new military contingents in Lithuania. They even do not pay attention to the opinion and needs of ordinary people.

Thus, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Session of the Baltic Assembly on November 5, Gitanas Nauseda once again stressed that the current geopolitical situation demanded NATOs fast response to the challenges facing the region. Updated defence plans and the presence of our allies in the region will contribute to this.

October 25-26, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lieutenant General Valdemaras Rupsys attended EU Military Committee Conference in Belgium.

We have discussed extensively the further adaptation of the EU Battlegroups which was put forward earlier. It is very important to use the means at hand and to complete the groups we already have. I am referring to human resources, communication, infrastructure, and of course, coordination with NATO. This aspect is also important for planning and ensuring the defence of Lithuania and our region, said Chief of Defence of Lithuania.

Lithuanian politicians are ready to provide the country for any military activity to show their loyalty to NATOs decisions. It should be said that more than 3,000 troops from Lithuania and 12 other NATO or partner countries have been practiced for almost two weeks in and around Pabrade military training base close to Vilnius in October. Iron Wolf 2021 II, a major multinational military exercise involved around 1,000 pieces of military equipment, including Leopard and Abrams tanks, Marder, CV 90 and VCI Pizarro infantry fighting vehicles, Stryker, Fuchs and Boxer armoured fighting vehicles, PzH2000 self-propelled howitzers, as well as supply and administrative vehicles. One can only guess how many million euros these maneuvers cost the Lithuanian taxpayers. And how many million euros are needed to restore roads and reduce environmental damage.

To be honest, people do not care of foreign military troops until they cost them money, turn into masters, commit crimes with impunity and pose a threat to local residents. Locals just want free movement, protection by police, full store shelves, possibility to find job and enough money to buy food. But foreign military often become uncontrolled, their number is growing. Sooner or later Lithuanians will notice that they are no longer masters in their own country, they will turn in service staff.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu refuted claims of Ankara's involvement in bringing migrants to Belarus in a recent phone conversation with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, a source in the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"The foreign ministers of Turkey and Poland held a phone conversation about illegal migration on the Polish-Belarusian border. Our minister expressed regret to the Polish side about the attempts to misrepresent Turkey as a party to the problem although it is not true. He refuted the groundless accusations against Turkey and Turkish Airlines", Sputnik cited the source as saying.

Cavusoglu also invited Poland to deploy a technical commission to Turkey for an inspection in light of the migration crisis, the source added.
The United States is watching for signs that Russia may be using energy as a political tool in Europes energy crunch, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, adding that Washington was committed to take appropriate action, along with Germany, if Moscow were to take that path.

Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba met at the State Department and signed a charter on a strategic partnership.

Should Russia attempt to use energy as a weapon or commit further aggressive acts against Ukraine, we are committed, and Germany is committed, to taking appropriate action, Blinken said, adding that Washington was "watching very carefully for signs" that Russia was using energy as a weapon as it has in the past.

"Russia could and should take steps to alleviate the energy crunch by increasing gas supplies," Reuters cited Blinken as saying.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the creation of an American military base in the Greek city of Alexandroupolis indicates that Greece has become an outpost of the United States.

"The military bases of Greece are used by the United States. There are so many of them that they cannot be counted. Greece has practically become an outpost of America. Therefore, the base in Dedeagach (Alexandroupolis - editor's note) is only a small part," RIA Novosti quotes the Turkish leader.

According to him, he discussed this issue with US President Joe Biden, but there was no answer. "Greece's behavior in the region is wrong," Erdogan said.

He also stressed that Turkey, Greece and the United States as NATO members must agree on this issue.
The European Court of Human Rights has rejected a complaint by former president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili on his transfer to a private clinic from a prison hospital, and instead urged him to call off his hunger strike, the Georgian Ministry of Justice said and released the judgement of the court.

The court demanded from the Georgian government to inform them about Saakashvilis state of health and ensure proper medical care for him now and in the post-hunger-strike period, Agenda.ge reported.

Saakashvili has been on hunger strike for 42 days and was transferred to a prison hospital on Monday to prevent complications in his health. He claims that his release from prison will lead to snap parliamentary elections and the final defeat of the Georgian Dream.
Director for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Matthias Luttenberg urged Baku and Yerevan to step up efforts for post-war settlement.

"One year after the trilateral declaration of 9 November 2020, we urge Azerbaijan and Armenia to fully respect the ceasefire and intensify efforts for a lasting settlement of the conflict in the interest of the people in both countries," he wrote on Twitter.
At least nine foreign nationals suspected of being members of the ISIS and Al-Qaeda terrorist groups (banned in Russia) were apprehended in Istanbul, Turkish security sources said Thursday.

The counter-terrorism operation was undertaken by Istanbul police teams to capture suspects found to be operating in association with terrorists in conflict zones, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The suspects, all of whom are foreign nationals, were apprehended in 16 separate raids across 11 districts of Istanbul, Daily Sabah reported.
Azerbaijan in its efforts of post-conflict rehabilitation is looking forward to cooperation with UNESCO, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov said in his statement at the General Policy Debates of the 41st Session of the General Conference of UNESCO.

"Azerbaijan liberated its territories from the 30-years long occupation by Armenia and with the signing of the Trilateral Statement by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Russia and Armenia on November 10, 2020, the armed conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan came to an end.

The results of the Armenian occupation were devastating. Armenia has pursued systematic policy to destroy, pillage and misappropriate Azerbaijans cultural heritage both in the territories it has occupied for 30 years and in Armenia itself.

During the occupation period, hundreds of cultural property have been deliberately and completely destroyed, damaged, looted and subjected to alteration with a view to changing their historical and cultural character. Out of 67 mosques, 65 have been razed to the ground and the remaining 2 were desecrated and used as stables for pigs and cows in total disrespect to the Muslim World. Thousands of museum artifacts have been illegally exported to Armenia. By all these actions, Armenia pursued far-reaching targets of removing any sign heralding their Azerbaijani origins, as an example of cultural genocide. Armenia also refuses to share the maps of the minefields, deliberately preventing the return of IDPs to the liberated territories.

It also constitutes a gross violation of international law, including UNESCO instruments, such as the 1954 Hague Convention and its Two Protocols, as well as the 1970 Convention.

In our various communications, we alerted UNESCO of these gross violations and illegal activities committed by Armenia and requested the need to dispatch a technical mission to the occupied territories throughout the past 30 years. Unfortunately, each time Armenia prevented the dispatch of this mission, which was acknowledged by UNESCO in its 2005 report.

The Government of Azerbaijan has already initiated practical steps aiming at eliminating the consequences of decades-long occupation followed by massive destruction. At the highest-level Azerbaijan declared its determination that all cultural and religious monuments in the liberated territories regardless of their origin will be duly preserved and restored. Azerbaijan will continue to build upon these ideals and values and guarantees all the rights for all its citizens, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation. Indeed, Azerbaijan is home to more than 50 different ethnic groups.

Azerbaijan in its efforts of post-conflict rehabilitation is looking forward to cooperation with UNESCO. Over the past months since the end of the conflict Azerbaijan and the UNESCO have been actively engaged into dialogue with a view of dispatching a technical mission to the liberated territories. The two sides have agreed on several complex technical, legal, and political aspects of the mission, which will ensure its effectiveness and independence.

The assessment of the unprecedented damage inflicted upon our cultural heritage is a priority for our Government and we are ready to host independent technical mission as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Armenia is trying to block and politicize the mission, which is detrimental to its successful accomplishment. Armenia must refrain from interfering into this process and cease exploiting this Organization for its own political purposes," he said.
Slightly more than half of elderly people in Russia have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said at the Fourth Al-Russia Forum dubbed "Russia - Territory of Care" on Thursday.

"It is crucial to remember amid the pandemic that it is elderly people who are the main at-risk group in terms of the course of the disease and coronavirus complications. As of now, slightly more than half of the elderly population got vaccinated, which means that one in two elderly people in our country still hasn't received a vaccine jab and their lives are in danger," Murashko pointed out.

The health minister said earlier that over 62 mln people in Russia had received their first vaccine shot, which is 53% of the country's adult population.
The Parliament of Chechnya proposed to prohibit the dissemination of information about the nationality of the criminal by the media, a document with such content will be submitted to the State Duma for consideration, the press service of the republic's legislative body said.

In particular, we are talking about amendments to article 4 of the federal law "On Mass Media" and to the Code of Administrative Offenses: these documents will include a ban on the dissemination of information in the media and in information and telecommunication networks about "nationality, religion and Russian ethnicity" of people, involved in crimes.

"The author of the project is the chairman of the parliament of the Chechen Republic, Hero of Russia Magomed Daudov," RIA Novosti quotes the message.

Those who still disseminate such data will incur administrative responsibility.

The explanatory note specifies that the publication of this information offends "the national and religious feelings of honest, respectable citizens, true believers", which are in no way connected with criminal activity.
In the three quarters of 2021, 103,000 more Armenians left the country than entered it, according to official data. Armenia's population is 2.963 million people, so this is an extremely alarming figure, because that amounts to about 3.5% of the countrys entire population . In other words, every 29th resident of Armenia has left the country since the beginning of the year.



Why does emigration from the country reach such a catastrophic scale?



First, it should be noted that some of 103 thousand people are separatists and illegal settlers who fled to Armenia from Karabakh and Zangezur last year during and after the Patriotic War of Azerbaijan. Despite the fact that they had Armenian passports, there was no place for them in Armenia, because the republic doesn't have enough work and money even for local residents, so they were forced to leave. At the same time, they are displayed in the statistics as Armenian citizens who emigrated, without specifying that before that they lived in the occupied Azerbaijani territories.

Second, after the Karabakh war, Armenia simply did not have any means of subsistence. War is an expensive business, especially for small and poor states. The republic spent too much money to maintain the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, as a result, the government has nothing to invest in revitalizing the national economy. So, along with the Karabakh Armenians, residents of Armenia also leave the republic.



Third, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the Armenian authorities do not abandon plans for a military revenge, pumping up the Russian peacekeepers' zone of responsibility with weapons and building there new military positions. Yerevan is looking for sponsors to rearm Armenian troops (since they don't have money for this). Armenia remains both unattractive for foreign investment and dangerous for living. People have not forgotten how they were forced to go to the war last year, and they do not want it to happen again. They emigrate not only because of money, but also because of war.

There is a fourth reason, according to the opposition politician, representative of the Prosperous Armenia party Naira Zohrabyan. The ex-parliamentarian told Vestnik Kavkaza that many were forced to leave due to the results of early elections to the National Assembly.
Armenian police have detained today morning several people who were protesting against setting up border and customs checkpoints on a section of Kapan-Goris road in the southern Armenia by Azerbaijan.

The protesters gathered in front of the government building and then tried to block the Tigran Mets Avenue.

The news that Azerbaijan has set up border and customs checkpoints on a section of the Kapan-Goris road was announced November 10 late in the evening by secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan. He said the Armenia side will also set up border and customs checkpoints on that section, ARKA reported.
Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin and Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy David Turk held a meeting at the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Glasgow, discussing the issues of stabilization of the global oil market, and shared views on the relevant issues of the climate agenda, the Russian Energy Ministry said in a statement.

"The meeting focused on the multilateral cooperation within the G20 framework on further stabilization of the global oil market. Moreover, Pavel Sorokin and David Turk shared views on the relevant issues of the climate agenda," the statement said.

The meetings through the Russian Energy Ministry and the US Department of Energy are rather rare. Such contacts last occurred in a remove format in the middle of 2020 when oil-producing countries, including the US, needed to urgently take joint decisions on stabilization of the oil market situation.

The last face-to-face meeting at the level of energy ministers was held in 2018. On September 11, they held talks in Moscow, discussing the ways of cooperation between Moscow and Washington aimed at ensuring the stability of global energy markets, their transparency and long-term sustainability.

Energy cooperation between Russia and the US has been suspended due to Washingtons sanctions policy. In particular, sectoral American sanctions prohibit investment and technological cooperation with projects on the development of Russian offshore fields, including in the Arctic.
Russia is concerned about a series of provocations staged by the U.S. and its allies in the Black Sea in an attempt to put Moscow to the test, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov told reporters on Thursday following a meeting with members of an inter-faction parliamentary group led by First Deputy Head of the United Russia faction Adalbi Shkhagoshev.

The senior diplomat pointed out that Moscow "is indeed concerned about the developments in the Black Sea region." "It's a non-stop series of provocations staged by the United States, its NATO allies and some of their regional clients," he said, adding: "It's like playing with fire, it is another attempt to put us to the test."

"Our defenses are strong. We see through these plans. We are prepared to push back against them but unfortunately, we have to say that our colleagues from the other side ignore the obvious and logic that says that the risks of confrontation are on the rise," Ryabkov noted.

The deputy foreign minister noted that Russia conducted "training activities" "on its own territory." "The question is, what are US ships doing in the Black Sea, thousands of miles away from their home bases? Explanations that it's all for the sake of freedom of navigation wont work," Ryabkov emphasized.
The plane with the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev has landed in Istanbul, the press secretary of the head of the republic Berik Uali reports.

Recall that the Kazakh leader will take part in the VIII summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking countries.

Uali added that within the framework of the two-day working visit, Tokayev will hold a number of bilateral meetings.

During the summit, participants will discuss the prospects for strengthening multifaceted interaction within the Turkic Council with an emphasis on the development of trade, digitalization, green technologies and other relevant areas.
Two citizens have been injured by stones thrown during a United National Movement (UNM) rally held in front of the State Security Service (SSS) building.

The stones, supposedly thrown from the roof of the residential building near the SSS, have been handed to the police for investigation, Agenda.ge reported.

The injured individuals have been assisted by paramedics at the scene. UNM head Nika Melia reported that one person had received head trauma. "They threw two stones from the roof and hit one person in the head. Protectors of criminals, arent you ashamed? What if this stone killed someone?" Melia said.

The UNM members and supporters demand the transfer of the imprisoned former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili to a private clinic from a prison hospital, his eventual release from prison, and the annulment of the 2021 municipal election results. The opposition asserts that the rallies will not stop until all their demands are fulfilled by the government.
In the US national security strategy and the updated NATO strategy, China and Russia are identified as the main rivals of Washington and the military bloc. This does not prevent US President Joseph Biden from planning meetings with the leaders of each of these countries. What are Biden's real motives?

On November 15, US President Joseph Biden intends to hold a remote summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The publication Politico reports about this with reference to a source in the US administration . It is difficult to say how much the information corresponds to reality, since Politico recently spread disinformation about the accumulation of Russian troops near the border of Ukraine. Taking into account that Biden's wanted to meet with Xi since summer, and Xi refuses him, most likely, the White House is really planning a virtual summit. Prior to that, the media reported that Biden was going to meet with Vladimir Putin again.

Does Biden have anything to talk about with Xi Jinping? The same question could have been asked at the June meeting of Biden with Putin, because the United States with both Russia and China has almost insoluble contradictions over a whole range of issues, both foreign and domestic, as well as economic and military.

If we talk about domestic politics, the democrats consider both Russia and China to be authoritarian countries where free speech and human rights are suppressed, the media is limited and the opposition is oppressed. Biden reacted rather harshly to the prison term of Alexei Navalny and imposed sanctions against Russia. In an interview, he agreed that Putin could be called a "killer." One of his first decisions, Biden passed a resolution on the Uyghurs and imposed sanctions against Beijing for their oppression. He also criticizes China for infringing on the rights of the people of Taiwan, Hong Kong and Tibet.

In foreign policy, Biden is not satisfied with the revival of the geopolitical power of Russia and China. Moscow is hindering the "promotion of democracy" in the CIS, it allegedly "occupied" South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Donbass and Crimea. And China, according to Biden, is crushing the Asia-Pacific region. By the way, in the first months of Biden's presidency, China made a deal with the ASEAN countries - the "Chinese CIS", which the United States did not like very much.

In the American attitude towards China, the root of evil lies in the economic plane. America has a huge deficit in trade with the Middle Kingdom, amounting to several hundred billion dollars. Under Donald Trump, the United States imposed trade duties against China, and they have remained in force to this day. Washington does not like "dishonest practices" against foreign business in China forcing foreign companies to share intellectual property and technology.

Military disputes are a separate topic. The United States is extremely unhappy with China's development of ballistic missiles. Therefore, even if Biden extended START-3 with Russia, he does not want to revive the INF Treaty, because the PRC will still remain outside its framework and will strengthen its missile potential. American experts are seriously concerned about the modernization of not only Russian strategic weapons, including hypersonic missiles, but also China's nuclear weapons. The United States, along with Japan, India, Great Britain and Australia, systematically conduct military exercises off the Chinese coast.

Summing up all these contradictions, let us return to the main question: why does Biden need a meeting with Putin and Xi Jinping? The modern world system is designed in such a way that none of the sides are ready for a serious escalation. China, USA and Russia are three nuclear powers. To achieve something, threats and sanctions alone are not enough. Russia can always respond to NATO attacks in Ukraine, and China in its region. And in order to reduce the escalation, which is dangerous for the US allies in Eurasia, Biden has to communicate even with the official "enemies."

In addition, let's not discount the old plan of American presidents to play one rival against another. It has not yet been possible to reach an agreement against China with Russia. That's why now Biden will most likely probe the soil in Beijing. Will it work?
Output contraction is an inevitable part of exploiting finite oil and gas fields worldwide. In Vietnam, most of the active fields have been exploited since 1986.

The Vietnam petroleum sector is calling for more favourable policies from the government, to offset an output drop in the sector.

The capital outlay to explore a single potential well runs between US$10-15 million, with a success rate of just 20 per cent.  Photo vietnamplus.vn

After decades of extraction, many high-performance fields are approaching the end of their lifespan. Output shrank by 15-25 per cent per year. With current fields running out, discovering new fields is the only way to maintain output.

Unfortunately, exploration activities are declining, due to adverse policies. The Vietnam Petroleum Club (PCV) and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) are calling for a change in the governments policies to boost petroleum exploration.

In the past, the government directly reinvested 10-15 per cent of petroleum revenue into exploration activities. Now, petroleum revenue has to be submitted in full to the state budget, before any portion of it can be reinvested in the petroleum sector.

This mechanism delays money flow and has caused a fall in reinvestment in recent years. On top of that, it takes up to US$10-15 million to explore potential petroleum wells, which has a success rate of about 20 per cent. Therefore, a favourable reinvestment mechanism is needed to ensure such risky activities can be carried out.

Inappropriate administrative procedures for getting project approval is another hindrance to new projects. PVN is urging the government to allow the firm to approve projects without regard to the projects capital. Furthermore, they want the authority to change technical details in field development plans, as approved by the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, many regulations in Petroleum Law are believed to discourage investments in small, marginal and depleting fields. PCV suggested the government adjust the profit-sharing mechanism between the State and contractors to attract more investments to such types of fields.

In the short and medium-term, PCV is requesting the government clear a backlog in two major projects, namely Lo B and Ca Voi Xanh, so the two could be placed on production as planned. Likewise, PCV also proposes an operation mechanism be in place for petroleum block 01/97&02/97 and that contractual terms are developed for block 01/17&02/17. It is hoped that these moves will encourage more investments.

Along with oil output, PVNs gas extraction is planned to be cut next year due to difficulties in selling gas, especially gas for electricity production. It is worth noting that 80 per cent of PVNs gas sales were marked for electricity production.

In the first nine months of 2021, sales of gas for power generation amounted to just 72 per cent of the firms figure in the same period last year, and just 70 per cent of its plan.

Compared to the targets assigned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, gas sales only reached 84 per cent in the southeast region and 70 per cent in the southwest region. Due to various risks associated with extraction activities, PVN allows a mismatch of 10 per cent between planned and real output.

PVN's General Director Le Manh Hung underlined the group has made its exploration and extraction activities a top priority. As the potential of Vietnams petroleum sector remains enormous, those activities should be carried out smoothly in order to attract more investors and generate new income for the country.

Source: Vietnam News
Many retailers in HCM City have adapted after strict social distancing measures, combining local and foreign brands.

Consumers can buy agriculture products at the Uniqlo store in Van Hanh Mall, District 10, HCM City.  Photo SGGP

At the same time, the launch of new brands contributes to attracting customers after prolonged closures.

The Business Association of High-Quality Vietnamese Products has cooperated with Japans Uniqlo chain to bring local agriculture products from the Green Market programme into Uniqlo stores, marking the beginning of a tie-up between the two groups.

Consumers in HCM City can buy fashion items and agricultural products at Uniqlo stores in Van Hanh Mall, District 10, including Vinamit dried fruit, Cay Thi porridge, Tue Vien organic agriculture and Khanh Hoa bird's nests.

Ikezoe Osamu, CEO of Uniqlo Vietnam, said that through a series of cooperative activities with the association, "Uniqlo hopes to offer practical support to local businesses and production firms, adding at the same time, creating conditions for output during the recovery and development phase after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, as one of the top phone retailers in Vietnam, The Gioi Di Dong (Mobile World) has refreshed its retail chain by officially launching TopZone  Apple's latest high-end authorised retail brand in Vietnam and selling the companys flagship iPhone 13. At TopZone, customers will find a full and diverse range of products such as iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks and Apple accessories.

According to the firm, the first four stores have been opened, including two in Hanoi and two in HCM City. It set an ambition to dominate the retail market of Apple products with a plan to open the Apple system at 50 to 60 stores from now until the end of March 2022.

Doan Van Tue Em, general director of Mobile World Joint Stock Company, said: The company hopes TopZone will bring a fresh vibe to the retail market. TopZone completed negotiations with Apple at the peak of the pandemic and opened the first four stores at the same time right after social distancing.

Em said they expected the average revenue for each TopZone store to be VND2 billion (US$96,956) to VND3 billion per month for small stores and VND8 billion to VND10 billion per month for a large-scale store.

Accompanying businesses in the city after the outbreak, Bui Ta Hoang Vu, director of the city's department of Industry and Trade, said following the direction of the citys People's Committee, the department has just launched the Golden Brand Award of HCM City for the second time in 2021 and expects to hand out prizes in December.

He said the award would raise awareness of businesses about the role and importance of building and developing a brand, alongside developing competitiveness.

In 2020, the award encouraged businesses to actively innovate, create, and develop sustainably, contributing to enhancing competitive advantages, strengthening the citys brand names in domestic and international markets, said Vu.

In particular, a preliminary survey of 30 firms which won the award in 2020, showed that, despite difficulties and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, production and business activities were still guaranteed to follow a sustainable trend.

As the country's economy was gradually adapting to "living with the pandemic", enterprises must balance production and business plans and measure possible solutions by developing internal resources to reconnect broken lines in the value chain and operate the business according to the requirements of the "new normal".

HCM City is the economic hub of the southern region. Consumers are now looking for sustainable, green consumption, choosing reputable brands so businesses and retailers need to quickly adapt to new consumer tastes and keep pace with market movements after social distancing.

Regarding the recent cooperation between domestic and foreign retailers, Vu Tuan Anh, chairman of the Junior Chamber International (JCI) in Vietnam, said JCI Vietnam will focus on diversifying trade programmes, helping members connect resources according to JCI World's COVID-19 pandemic response campaign  JCI RISE.

Relying on the JCI network in more than 120 countries around the globe, JCI Vietnam promotes domestic and international trade connections, bringing practical opportunities to businesses facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Vietnam News

Food retailers doing well but not enough to save the day: CEO Food and grocery retailers are doing particularly well during the pandemic, or at least they are on paper, according to recent reports from securities traders and financial analysts.
A number of violations by medical staff have been found recently, and many medical doctors, who have the respect of society because they save peoples lives, have been handcuffed.

Nguyen Quang Tuan

Nguyen Cong Long, Director of the Legal Department of the National Assembly Office, a National Assembly Deputy from Dong Nai province, spent his speech during the discussion session on November 8, 2021 to talk about the medical branch, which has recently witnessed many managerial officers at different levels committing violations and facing criminal prosecution.

Theres nothing more painful than having to prosecute individuals who are considered the elite of the country, he said.

In September 2020, former Director of Bach Mai Hospital Nguyen Quoc Anh was prosecuted and arrested for price gouging by fraudulently inflating the price of robots used in medical treatment.

Seven other people were also accused in the case, including Nguyen Ngoc Hien, former vice director of Bach Mai Hospital, Trinh Thi Thuan and Ly Thi Ngoc Thuy, former chief accountant and deputy head of finance division at the hospital.

In October 2021, the investigation agency prosecuted Nguyen Quang Tuan, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, on a charge related to wrongdoings in medical equipment bidding at Hanoi Heart Hospital.

Tuan, the former chair of the procurement board of the Hanoi Heart Hospital, has been prosecuted for violating regulations on bidding and causing serious consequences.

Initial investigation results found that some leaders and officers at Hanoi Heart Hospital, members of the procurement board, members of a group of specialists attending bids, and members of a bidding appraisal group, and some officers at AIC (Vietnam Valuation and Investment) joint stock company violated regulations on bidding materials, chemicals and medical equipment at Hanoi Hospital.

The violations led to increases in costs for equipment, caused losses to the State and patients, affected medical examinations, and caused frustration among the public.

In November, Truong Quoc Cuong, born in 1961, Deputy Minister of Health, was prosecuted for lacking responsibility, thus causing serious consequences.

Cuong was involved in the case of trafficking counterfeit medicines with the Health 2000 Canada label. He has been prosecuted for lacking responsibility, causing serious consequences, and abusing positions and power while performing official duties in HCM City and other cities and provinces and at the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV) under the Ministry of Health (MOH)

In 2007-2016, Cuong, who was head of DAV, lacked responsibility, supervision, examination and control over the operation of the group of inspection specialists and the unit in charge of drug registration, which resulted in seven counterfeit drugs with a Health 2000 label successfully registered for import. The drugs were sold in Vietnam with a total value of VND151 billion.

Cuong then received information about the problems with the drugs with the Heath 2000 Canada label (the drugs had no clear origin), but did not direct the suspension of circulation of these drugs, or recall or destroy the drugs.

As a result, after November 21, 2014, many medical units began procurement and bidding to provide these counterfeit drugs to hospitals, totaling VND3.7 billion.

At the same time last year, Nguyen Nhat Cam, Director of CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Hanoi, was prosecuted for violations related to the procurement of goods in Bid Package No 15.

Truong Quoc Cuong

Cam told subordinate officials to appoint, for Bid Package No 15, the MST Company as contractor, which was in contravention of the law, causing a loss of VND5.4 billion to the State.

Greed or policy to blame?

At the trial of Cam, CDC Hanois authorized representative said at the time the problem occurred, Vietnam was pursuing a Covid-19 fighting strategy with testing, isolation and localization. It was urgently necessary to increase testing capacity and buy testing machines.

Meanwhile, MOH at that time did not provide any information about medical equipment prices, so the prices of machines at the localities that bought the machines varied.

As testing machines are not common goods, which makes it difficult to check prices, contractors exploited the lack of information to raise the prices.

Meanwhile, the jury in the second instance trial concluded that Cam exploited the conditions at that time to commit violations in a self-serving deal.

The behavior of Cam and his accomplices was dangerous to society and affected the prestige of State agencies. While the Government and State were gathering strength to fight Covid-19, the defendants violated the law for material benefits.

Cam was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

According to lawyer Dang Van Cuong from Chinh Phap Law Office under the Hanoi Bar Association, the purpose of bidding is selecting the best contractors, best products and services at the lowest prices, thus saving money for the State budget.

If the regulations on bidding are not observed, the State will have to spend big money for low-quality products and services, which will cause losses to the State and peoples property.

T. Nhung

Ministry reports to National Assembly on problematic medical equipment bidding cases Top-ranking General To Lam, Minister of Public Security, authorized by the Prime Minister, has signed a report to the National Assembly on work to prevent and fight crime and legal violations in 2021 (from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021).
Minister of Heath Nguyen Thanh Long, answering questions from National Assembly Deputies on test kit prices, on November 10 affirmed that test kit prices have been put under control.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long

Pham Van Hoa, a National Assembly Deputy from Dong Thap, expressed his concern about the testing fee turmoil. Sometimes people are required to pay up to VND450,000 for a test, he said. He asked if there was an interest group involved this problem and what the Ministers responsibility was.

Local newspapers also reported that a rapid testing kit sourced from China is being sold at three different price levels. The number of test kit importers increases proportionally with the increase in infection cases. People complain that the testing fees are higher than the real costs, and the testing service fees vary at difficult medical units.

Dang Hong Sy, a National Assembly Deputy from Binh Thuan, said Vietnam was one of the first four countries in the world that successfully isolated coronavirus. It has produced test kits since 2020 and has been selling kits to many countries. Why does Vietnam still have to import test kits? Where are the Vietnamese-made test kits being used?

Long answered that previously, under the Law on Prices, medical equipment and diagnostic biologicals were not listed among products subject to price stabilization by the State. The prices of products from different manufacturers and countries differ. They vary at different moments and depend on the quantity ordered. Buyers can enjoy lower prices if they order big quantities.

In early 2020, when the pandemic broke out, the prices of protective face masks, gloves and ventilators rose because of the scarcity. Countries all over the world competed to purchase the products in the first phase of the pandemic.

However, according to Long, as more businesses later began importing the products, the prices decreased.

MOH has chosen to solve this problem step by step by making the supply of medical equipment and materials transparent. MOH has required companies to quote their prices on MOHs information portal. The ministry has also asked businesses to increase supply and lower the prices. It has licensed more businesses to join the market to increase competition among suppliers.

We have licensed 131 diagnostic biological products, including 60 rapid test products, and 43 PCR and 28 products for antibody testing, Long said.

Vietnam has successfully called for support from other countries with 50 million test kits committed. MOH has also released guidance on how to reduce testing costs, including guidance for the pool testing method  3-5 samples for rapid testing and 10-20 samples for PCR testing.

This is technically permissible and cost effective, said Long. He also said that MOH has made adjustments to guidance about testing, depending on the level of the epidemic to ensure "effectiveness and economy".

Prior to July 1, the number of rapid test kits being used was small. But after that, MOH anticipated that the market would be more bustling because of higher demand. The ministry decided that hospitals could collect fees based on the input costs from people who voluntarily asked for tests. Therefore, a price gap existed between hospitals.

Since we were too busy with the fight against the pandemic, in September, when MOH repeated that hospitals could only collect testing fees equal to the input costs, units admitted their mistakes, saying that they were too busy to implement the instruction. We have asked localities to deal with the problem, Long said.

The ministry has released a document and the Prime Minister has repeatedly asked localities to strictly observe regulations to be sure that there is no room for wrongdoings, embezzlement and waste, or interest-group interference.

The bidding for medical equipment and diagnostic biological product procurement, has been included in the inspection program in 2022.

Regarding the question on how made-in-Vietnam test kits are being used, Long said Vietnam is one of four countries that have successfully isolated and sequenced the virus genome. In April and May, 2021, MOH cooperated with Viet A, the Military Academy and Thai Duong Company to produce Real-Time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test kits.

Based on the epidemic situation and testing strategy, Vietnam has promoted the production of rapid antigen tests.

"As for antibody testing, we also are also trying to be self-sufficient," said Long.

Thu Hang - Hong Nhi - Tran Thuong

Rapid-test kit prices out of control, businesses propose price stabilization The Ministry of Finance (MOF) and Ministry of Health (MOH) are considering adding rapid test kits to the list of products subject to price stabilization after reports about price turmoil.
The Ministry of Finance has advised the Government to launch a demand stimulus package through an interest-rate subsidy, worth VND20 trillion a year and VND40 trillion for two years.

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said on November 9 that the 2021 state budget collection and expenditure tasks have been fulfilled with collections exceeding the estimates, the expenditures close to estimates, and the state budget overexpenditures within the safety line.

The Government has issued fiscal policies to support businesses and people hit by the pandemic, as well as pandemic prevention policies, worth VND200 trillion in total. The fiscal policy has been regulated in a flexible way.

According to Phoc, no space is left for public debts, because in 2016-2020, the total Governments debts reached VND1,852,000 billion, while it plans to borrow VND3,068,000 billion in 2021-2025, or 1.7 times higher than the previous period.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) supports a demand stimulus package to stimulate economic development.

We are advising the Government to launch a demand stimulus package through an interest-rate subsidy, worth VND20 trillion a year and VND40 trillion for two years, Phoc said.

So, with the 4 percent support, we will have VND1 quadrillion to be pumped into the economy, which would help create jobs, increase output and reduce budget overexpenditures in subsequent periods, he said.

Learning experiences from the VND1 billion interest-rate subsidy package in 2009, which led to bad debts , the Ministry recommended that instead of broad support, the package would be allocated to certain subjects, including ones with potential that can create value to the economy, and businesses that dont have bad debts and can satisfy requirements for loans. The procedures will be simple, accurate and strict.

Regarding questions from National Assembly Deputies related to the small increase in estimated budget collections and mobilization ratio plan in 2022, Phoc said the state budget collection is not proportional to the GDP growth rate.

In 2011-2012, for example, when the GDP growth rate was 5.25 percent, the budget collection increase was just 2.2 percent. Meanwhile, the GDP growth rate in 2020 was 2.91 percent, but revenue from domestic sources increased by 1.6 percent, while revenue from businesses decreased by 2 percent.

Weaknesses that need fixing

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said that pandemic prevention and control and socio-economic development have helped to identify valuable lessons and the shortcomings that need to be fixed immediately to ensure sustainable development.

The capability of the healthcare system, especially preventive healthcare units, is still weak, leading to embarrassment and unreasonable responses to the rapid and complicated developments of the pandemic.

The second problem is the limited capability of social administration, state management, and situation handling, leading to inconsistency in implementing strategies among localities and the disruption of goods circulation, production and supply chains.

The third lesson is the important strength and role of the political system and people.

Dung said the pandemic has been basically controlled nationwide. But in the immediate time, when Vietnam begins reopening the economy, the number of infections may increase, especially in localities with low vaccination coverage.

In such conditions, agencies and local authorities need to strictly observe Resolution 128, firmly maintaining the stance of adapting safely and flexibly to new circumstances and effectively controlling the pandemic.

Extending the FIT for wind power is unreasonable Regarding the proposal on extending the FIT, or feed-in tariff, for wind power projects, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said FIT is a price subsidy mechanism of the State which has been applied only for a certain period to encourage investments in certain business fields. The extension of the preferential pricing is unreasonable because this will cause unfairness, legal consequences and economic losses to the State and electricity users. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) is drafting a Prime Minister decision on the development of wind and solar power projects in accordance with the Investment Law, to be implemented under the PPP mode. Under the new mechanism, bidding and auctioning will be the major solutions for choosing investors and defining electricity prices. Investors will negotiate with EVN on electricity prices they sell to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN). The prices are within the electricity generation price framework to be set by MOIT. MOIT is building a price framework for wind and solar power projects for investors to use when negotiating with EVN in the future.

Tran Thuong - Huong Quynh

Economist warns of side effects from bailouts Vietnam is considering an unprecedented support package, including tax reductions, interest rate subsidies and cash to people. However, the package needs to be tailored to the economys size or it will cause side effects, an expert has said.
The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training have recommended that local authorities allow children to return to school, and not wait for vaccinations as vaccines are currently for children aged 12 and over.

During a Q&A session of the National Assembly on November 10, several deputies asked Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long about vaccinations for young children.

Minister Long said the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Education and Training had jointly discussed this issue. The two ministries recently held a conference to provide guidance on the issue to all provinces and cities.

We suggest that local authorities not restrict children from going to school, especially primary pupils. Regarding anti-epidemic measures, we have told localities to ensure both safe learning and epidemic prevention," Long said.

The Health Minister said that vaccinations will be given to children 12 years old and older, so children aged 5 to 11 should not wait for the vaccine. "The risk at this age is not as high as that of older children, so the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education and Training also recommend localities to allow children to go to school, especially in areas at epidemic level 1 and 2, Long said.

As for vaccines made with mRNA technology can affect reproductive health, National Assembly deputies asked the Health Minister to talk about this issue and present the scientific basis for the Ministry to implement mass vaccinations for children 12-17 years old.

The Health Minister said the decision to give vaccinations for children was made after the Ministry studied and discussed this with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and scientists. It is also based on guidance of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on giving the mRNA vaccine for children of 12 years and older. This vaccine has been administered in nearly 40 countries.

The only vaccine used for children in Vietnam is Pfizer-BioNTech. The vaccibe does not enter the human genome, and it helps the body produce antibodies against the virus's invasion into cells.

According to Minister Long, because there is no direct penetration of the vaccine into human DNA, the opinion that it can causes mutations and reproductive effects on children have been rejected by American agencies like the FDA and CDC, and Vietnam will continue to follow this.

He said that all vaccines licensed for use in Vietnam ensure safety and quality and conform to the world's standards.

Tran Thuong - Huong Quynh - Thu Hang
Albright said the task force was at one point paralyzed by a large dust storm near Baghdad, and found themselves surrounded once the dust cleared.

We battled hard, he said. In some cases, our soldiers were picking up the enemies weapons to continue the fight. Close air support came to our aid and we battled out of the situation. By the end, our unit had seen more combat over such a short stretch than any unit since Vietnam.

Albright was awarded a Bronze Star for his service, and left the unit that summer. He would go on to serve at the Chief of Division for Urogynecology at Walter Reed Hospital.

He became deputy commander for clinical services for Ireland Army Community Hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky, but went back to practicing medicine after two years.

Injured veterans transitioning back to life outside of the Army now had to put together their lives post-deployment, and there was a backlog of cases nationwide.

They want to get out and have stability when they do, and so you end up with a lot of people that are in this situation where theyre not deployable, theyre still working, unless their injuries are too grave, but theyre working through this transition to get out, Albright said.
In 2010, the Air Force Reserve officer volunteered for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2010 to get first-hand experience in what a soldier in a combat zone goes through. He captured that in his 2016 book What Happens In War Doesnt Stay In War, which he co-wrote with his wife Katherine, who presently serves as medical director at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Tharp currently splits his time between his familys home in China Spring and the Nevada base.

That memoir shows the broad range of emotional stresses on a veteran in the field, from the constant monitoring of a hostile environment for threats to the emotional loss felt in watching comrades die. Those stresses dont end when a soldier comes home as theyre compounded with new frustrations of dealing with bureaucracies for treatment and support or others who dont understand what theyre going through, he said.

Tharp said many programs aimed at treating PTSD dont address survivor guilt, grief or moral injury, all common issues for those whove been in combat and his program to build resilience in returning veterans specifically focuses on those issues. He also uses his experience as a military chaplain in addressing spiritual and emotional struggles some service members experience after coming home, some of which is covered in his book On God and Trauma: Hope for Moral Injury and Survivor Guilt.
Willis has donated canes for veterans all over the world, including Japan, Australia and Germany.

Its an amazing feeling, Willis said. When I actually turned this into a nonprofit organization it was an amazing feeling to have friends join me. They actually wanted to be a part of what was going on. It was like having a brotherhood again.

Willis, along with volunteers including friend Dave Garza, is now hoping to tackle 800 pending orders at Canes for Veterans Central Texas.

People dont understand that it isnt something we can knock out every day, Willis said.

He said the process is extensive and he is trying to prioritize veterans who might not be with them for much longer so that they can enjoy their canes with what time they have left.

With canes in high demand, Willis hopes to be able to recruit volunteers to help work through the orders. Wood is also needed, said Willis, as all the Christmas trees that were donated were destroyed during the big freeze earlier this year. Willis said he uses all types of wood to personalize the canes.
However, with a remodeling and new construction housing project for homeless veterans at the Waco facility and its central location and direct pipeline to veterans leaving the service at nearby Fort Hood in Killeen, Doris Miller VA Assistant Director Amy Maynard said she thinks the local facility has a healthy future.

There is a utilization review underway and there has been market assessments done throughout the VA, Maynard said. When you look at our growth rate, the growth rate of our veteran population is one of the highest in the country, and projections are that it will continue to grow. So no, I dont believe we are in danger of closing, and there have been no projections of the Waco campus closing down.

U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, said he will do what he can to keep the Waco VA medical center a vibrant community asset.
Rittenhouse faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide in Huber's death, which carries a mandatory life sentence. He also faces one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for wounding Grosskreutz and one count of first-degree reckless homicide in Rosenbaum's death. Both charges are punishable by up to 60 years in prison.

He's also charged with two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment for firing at an unknown man who tried to kick him in the face and allegedly disregarding that a reporter was standing behind Rosenbaum when he shot him. A reckless endangerment charge requires prosecutors to show Rittenhouse put someone in harm's way with an utter disregard for life. It carries a maximum 12-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors also charged Rittenhouse with a misdemeanor count of being a minor in possession of a firearm. That's punishable by up to nine months behind bars.

Prosecutors or defense attorneys can ask Judge Bruce Schroeder to inform jurors as they begin deliberations to consider finding Rittenhouse guilty of lesser charges in lieu of the original counts. The judge would then have to weigh whether the evidence the jury had seen supports those lesser charges before instructing the jury to consider them.
During the summer, Lithuania introduced a state of emergency to deal with an influx of migrants and strengthen its border with Belarus. It set up tent camps to accommodate the growing number of migrants.

In previous months, small groups of asylum-seekers tried to sneak into Lithuania, Poland and Latvia at night, using forest paths away from populated areas. This week, much larger groups gathered openly at the Polish border, and some people used shovels and wire cutters to try to break through a razor-wire fence at Poland's border.

Authorities in Warsaw estimated the crowds at about 3,000-4,000 and said they prevented hundreds of people from entering the country. Poland deployed riot police and other forces to bolster the border guards. Eight deaths have been confirmed at the Belarus-Poland border,, and temperatures have fallen below freezing at night.

The EU has made a strong show of solidarity with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. EU officials are expected to discuss another round of sanctions against Belarus, and European Council President Charles Michel said for the first time that the bloc would consider the possibility of financing physical infrastructure such as barriers or fences on the border.

Analysts say Lukashenkos heavy-handed approach would likely backfire.
Adolescent vaccinations have since flagged considerably, to just 32,000 getting their first shots last week. Only about half of adolescents ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated, compared to 70% of adults.

Its unlikely that vaccination rates in young kids will be as high as whats seen in adults  or even in adolescents, some experts said, unless they are required for school.

Part of the reason is that adults are far more likely than children to suffer serious illness or die from COVID-19, they noted. Parents may have the perception it may not be as serious in young children or they dont transmit it, said Stokley, the acting deputy director of the CDCs Immunization Services Division.

But more than 2 million COVID cases have been reported in U.S. children ages 5 to 11 since the pandemic started, including 66 deaths over the past year, according to CDC data. Were going to have a lot of work to do to communicate to parents about why its important to get children vaccinated, she said.

Zients said the effort to vaccinate younger kids is still ramping up, with new clinics coming on line. Government officials expect the number of children who are vaccinated to keep rising in the days and weeks ahead, he said.

We are just getting started, he said.
This was a unique year for me and it impacts my thoughts as we approach Veterans Day. Just last week, a friend from my Army service days in Vietnam stopped by my home for a few hours. We had lunch and thoroughly enjoyed our all-too-brief time together. Given our twilight years, we knew it would be the last time wed see each other. We resolved to call and text each other faithfully.

Labor Day weekend marked the 50th anniversary of my return from Vietnam. Some might say, So what? I respond: I never anticipated leaving Vietnam and making it back home. And if you must know, that experience has never left me.

So this Veterans Day I will feel more special inside myself, I guess  more confident of my rising to the occasion long ago.

Yet Veterans Day is not just about wartime veterans. Its a day to say thank you to every man and woman who served, regardless of when or where, whether in peacetime or war. No matter what the politicians or news media tell you, the enemies of our nation are always out to malign or ridicule or test our way of life.
In addition to previously identified projects and proposals that spread across the state, the concept of doing a larger reservoir lake between Omaha and Lincoln is on the table now, the speaker said.

But there are lots of questions yet to be answered about the impact of such a lake, he said.

Professional engineering and financial consultants hired by the committee are studying all of that now, Hilgers said.

We are finding the best ideas to fit the mission, Hilgers said.

A great idea might not be doable, he noted, due to its environmental impact or potential impact on water supply.

We are taking the conceptual to the real now, he said.

A number of proposals for a lake between Lincoln and Omaha have been aired during the past 50 years, some of which would do so by constructing a dam on the Platte River and others that would result in flooding Ashland.

Although Hilgers said studies are still underway, a new proposal, if it is pursued, would not follow that pattern.

Absolutely no impact on Ashland or other areas that are being developed around Ashland, he said.
When Kevin and Sandys daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Dan Bunjer, started their family, they were in a similar predicament as their parents had been. They needed daycare for their children, but the options were limited because the area daycares were already full in Wahoo.

We found there was such a need here, said Sandy.

Katie and Dan took matters into their own hands and remodeled the garage of their home into a daycare, with help from Kevin and Sandy. Sandy also assisted with the daycare once it was up and running.

They soon outgrew the converted garage and began searching for a location outside of Katie and Dans home. They found an available building in 2007 and began work to renovate it from an industrial space to a daycare facility.

Before the owners knew the city utility building was going to be available, they needed more space for a summer program for school-aged children. They purchased a building across the street that had been a hair salon and storage space. They have since transferred the summer program back to their main facility and sold the building.
WAVERLY  The resignation of longtime business manager for District 145 was approved by the Board of Education at its Nov. 1 regular meeting.

In his letter to the board, Robin Hoffman said his resignation would be effective June 30, 2022.

I reflect on my many memories of my time as business manager as I look forward to my retirement and starting a new chapter in my life, Hoffman wrote in his letter.

Hoffman was hired in 1999 after working for 22 years as an accountant in the telecommunications and health care fields.

During his time with District 145, Hoffman has worked with five superintendents.

Serving as the business manager for this period of time has been an extreme honor, he said.

Hoffman said he was proud of the many accomplishments the district has completed while he was business manager, including building a new middle school, installing a district-owned fiber optic network, implementation of security measures including secure-card access and video surveillance. He also noted that he is leaving the district in a good financial position.
A couple of weeks ago, we reported that Pioneer Aero Ltd. had completed the restoration of Claudio Coltris Curtiss P-40E Warhawk (41-13570). While the selected test pilot, Frank Parker, had performed some taxi trials, Pioneer had decided to postpone the P-40s first flight until the right moment arrived

Well, the wait is now over! In honor of Remembrance Day, Frank Parker took the Warhawk aloft for the first time at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month. It is truly marvelous to see this aircraft back in the skies, and we wish to congratulate everyone at Pioneer Aero for a job well done! Now all that remains is for the P-40 to accumulate the appropriate flight test hours to achieve her formal sign off requirements, and then the fighter will be making her way, by sea, to her new home in Europe.
CEDAR FALLS  After his flight was delayed for more than a week, NASA astronaut Raja Chari, a Cedar Falls native, blasted off Wednesday evening from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida headed to the International Space Station.

It was a great ride, better than we imagined, said Chari, the mission commander, shortly after the spacecraft reached orbit.

He and his three NASA crewmates pulled up Thursday night at the space station, their new home until spring.

About a dozen fans from his hometown gathered at the Cedar Falls Public Safety Building to watch on television as the SpaceX Crew-3 launched into space. Other residents virtually came together to view it over Zoom.

Mayor Rob Green, a self-proclaimed space nerd, organized the watch party for community members wanting to witness the momentous occasion involving Cedar Falls first astronaut. The 1995 Waterloo Columbus High School graduate served as the the mission commander on the spacecraft that took off at 8:03 p.m.

I loved it, and was glad to see it was a successful launch. Its amazing to see how much can happen in 15 minutes, Green said. And its always great to have the community come together, or else itd just be us in our own homes.

It was quiet at points during the launch as viewers listened to the experts on television, but upon reaching milestones  like when the spacecraft lifted off or entered orbit  there were cheers from those in attendance.

Others occasionally pointed out things they observed, like the sea turtle used as a zero-gravity indicator or how calm the astronauts seemed to be. Just like driving through Nebraska, one viewer quipped.

Im here to watch because I just wanted to say I was here. I didnt know Raja, but his younger brother knew my daughter who was the same age, said Sandy Formanek.

David Swindlehurst, who graduated the same year from Columbus High School as Chari, noted how hes amazing, and hes beyond capable of doing this. I trust that hes got everything locked down.

He touted Charis natural talents and abilities and drive to be successful from their time in kindergarten through senior year, whether it be in cross country running, band, theater or academics.

I had seen a launch on TV years and years ago, but its great to see it this time with a local astronaut, and its always great to get out and see other Cedar Falls folks, said Mary Lyman.

The launch was originally scheduled for Oct. 30.

One of the astronauts  NASA isnt saying which one  was sidelined last week by an undisclosed medical issue. The crew member is fully recovered, according to NASA. Officials wont say whether it was an illness or injury, but noted it wasnt COVID-19.

Bad weather also contributed to their flight delays.

Chari, 44, is an Air Force colonel and the first space rookie in decades to lead a mission to orbit for NASA. A test pilot from Cedar Falls, Chari accumulated more than 2,500 hours in fighter jets, including combat missions in Iraq.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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En espanol

Neil Russo, a longtime fan of cruising, boarded the 3,960-passenger Carnival Horizon in July and found, with relief and joy, the kind of cruise vacation he has come to love.



Everything is open, says Russo, 50, from Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. The same fun and excitement is there.

Before boarding in Miami for a six-night sailing to the Bahamas and Dominican Republic, Russo, his wife, and their 16-year-old son were required to prove they had been fully vaccinated and to show the results of a negative PCR test. Onboard they encountered constant reminders about handwashing and social distancing, with signage on how to stay safe posted around the ship. But these pandemic measures were minor inconveniences, they say.

The subtle changes are really not that noticeable, Russo says. You feel safe.

That last sentence is key for travelers considering whether to head back to sea for their vacations.

Joaquin Bello, 78, from Miami, says tight health procedures were how he persuaded his wife of 50 years, Marilyn, 68, to cruise to Alaska on Norwegian Cruise Lines 3,998-passenger Norwegian Encore in August. Norwegian is sailing with 100 percent vaccinated passengers and crew and with COVID-19 tests conducted for all guests before they board. She was a little afraid at the beginning, Bello says. But when she knew about the precautions they were taking, she didnt hesitate to tell me yes, we can go. 

Their experience included a boat tour to a small island where they feasted on fresh Alaska seafood. For safetys sake, NCL took only 20 people on a boat that accommodates 40 or 50, and everyone wore masks. They dined outdoors.

Overall, he says, the cruise surpassed our expectations.

Cruisings long pause

The cruise industry shut down in March 2020 as the world was waking up to the dangers of COVID-19, and with highly publicized outbreaks on cruise ships, such as the Diamond Princess sailing off the coast of Japan; eventually, some 690 positive cases were diagnosed among the 3,711 Princess passengers and crew.

What followed was a long pause  15 months before North America sailings slowly began to resume in June  while the industry worked to mitigate the potential for future outbreaks.

Cruise companies brought in A-team advisers to create new health and safety protocols that cover, among other measures, vaccine requirements, COVID-19 testing procedures and installation of hospital-grade air filtration systems, as well as quarantine and evacuation plans for anyone who might fall ill.

The Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, working with experts who included Scott Gottlieb, M.D., former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, produced a 65-page plan with 74 safety points that became an industry standard. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its own set of rules and suggestions as part of a conditional sailing order, which includes a rule that crews must be vaccinated.

Safety protocols

Policies vary by cruise line but vaccine requirements are at the core of protocols. Most ships operate with at least 95 percent onboard vaccinated; exceptions are made for a small number of children under age 12 and a smaller number of unvaccinated adults who have had COVID-19 or have underlying medical conditions. Many cruise lines require masks in crowded indoor areas on their ships. With the spread of the delta variant, most also added a pre-cruise COVID-19 test (either PCR or antigen, performed under the watchful eye of a health professional), required whether or not you are vaccinated.

Some cruise lines have gone further: Vikings ocean and river ships are open only to people who are fully vaccinated, and they must submit to nasal-swab COVID-19 testing before boarding and to daily testing onboard. (Guests spit into vials each morning; the samples are processed in full-service labs on the ocean ships, in labs onshore for the river ships.) The tests have detected a few cases. A circumnavigation of Iceland, round-trip from Reykjavik on the 930-passenger Viking Sky in July got halfway around the island when one positive case was found; small towns got squeamish about welcoming cruisers, resulting in three port calls being missed, replaced by time at sea. Viking quarantined the guest and companion in a cabin the line had specifically set aside for this purpose until the ship returned to Reykjavik, where they were transferred onshore for additional quarantine.

Cruise lines are working hard to avoid making those kinds of headlines. Bill Smith, 77, from Buffalo, New York, set sail from Bayonne, New Jersey, to the Bahamas in August on Royal Caribbeans Oasis of the Seas, one of the worlds largest ships, which can carry 6,771 passengers at full occupancy. Smith, who was joined by his adult niece, says he found a safety-first atmosphere, which he expected: The crew wore masks, and guests were urged to do the same. To get onboard, he and his niece had to show their vaccination cards and the results of a COVID-19 test taken two days before the sailing. Their paperwork was carefully scrutinized, with staffers checking and double-checking vaccination dates and their COVID test results. I think I did that four times before I got onboard, he says. I never felt more comfortable in my life. For their startups this summer, most cruise lines sailed at reduced capacity  40 to 70 percent occupancy  to allow for social distancing and to test the waters before eventually making a full-blown splash back into business (its not clear when many will go back to full capacity).


Wyss Validation Study SARS-CoV-2

Sydney, Nov 11, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - iQX Limited ( NSX:IQX ), on behalf of Life Science Biosensor Diagnostics Pty Ltd (LSBD), in which IQX holds 19% equity position, today announced the successful completion of a clinical validation study showcasing the efficacy of its rapid SARS-Cov-2 Antibody test.The results of the validation study, conducted at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, are a significant milestone.Among the major findings it was reported:- The SARS-CoV-2 Antibody biosensor assay was 100% sensitive and 100% specific using clinical COVID-19 positive and negative SARS CoV-2 human samples.- The time in obtaining results was less than 10 minutes.The study is the first step towards the validation of a rapid point-of-care diagnostic that LSBD intends to develop and commercialize for the quantitative measurement of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. The company will now work with Johns Hopkins University to commence clinical trials."We are very excited with the outcome of this program and are eager to validate the test in saliva, there is evidence in recent scientific literature correlating IgG, IgM responses to spike and receptor-binding domain (RBD) in the serum positively correlated with matched saliva samples." Dr. George Syrmalis, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of The iQ Group Global, said."This evidence confirms that serum and saliva IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are maintained in most COVID-19 patients for at least three months post symptom onset. Our objective is to deliver a SARS-CoV-2 test that is calibrated against the WHO reference preparation, non-invasive and easy to use by everyone.""We anticipate two urgent applications for the technology including population screening with diagnosis as a complement to the RNA virus test for patients presenting late onset of symptoms; and post-vaccination screening to determine whether booster vaccines are required by assessing the degree of the antigen-specific antibody responses to a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine that's been administered." Dr. Syrmalis said.About IQX Limited

A member of The iQ Group Global, iQX Limited is an investment funds management company specialising in the bioscience sector that is committed to eradicating disease through capital investment.
The district attorney reviewing the fatal Rust shooting case doesnt believe the movies New Mexico set was sabotaged, describing those ideas as conspiracy theories.

Mary Carmack-Altwies, the district attorney for Santa Fe County, told ABC News that its her understanding there were more live rounds on the film set, in addition to the one that struck and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last month.

She doesnt believe, however, that a live round was intentionally put inside a box of dummies by someone hoping to sabotage the set, dismissing a theory recently suggested by an attorney for the films armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed.

We do not have any proof, Carmack-Altwies said in an interview that aired Wednesday on ABCs Good Morning America.

Hutchins died after she was hit by a bullet from a prop gun that was being handled by Rust star Alec Baldwin. Director Joel Souza was wounded in the incident.

The moment of the shooting, we know that at least Mr. Baldwin had no idea that the gun was loaded, Carmack-Altwies told ABC. So its more, How did that gun get loaded, what levels of failure happened, and were those levels of failure criminal? 

Carmack-Altwies said she has an understanding of how many live rounds were on the movies set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe that day, but cant release that information. She also said she knows who loaded the gun, but wouldnt identify the person.

Carmack-Altwies said she is prepared to file charges if the circumstances warrant it, she told ABC.

Separately Wednesday, the head of lighting on the film filed a lawsuit over Baldwins fatal shooting of Hutchins, alleging negligence that caused him severe emotional distress that will haunt him forever.

Serge Svetnoy said in the suit that the bullet that killed his close friend Hutchins, narrowly missed him, and he held her head as she died.

The lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court names nearly two dozen defendants associated with the film including Baldwin, who was both star and a producer; David Halls, the assistant director who handed Baldwin the gun; and Gutierrez Reed, who was in charge of weapons on the set.

It is the first known lawsuit of what could be many stemming from the Oct. 21 shooting.

Simply put there was no reason for a live bullet to be placed in that .45 Colt revolver or to be present anywhere on the Rust set, and the presence of a bullet in a revolver posed a lethal threat to everyone in its vicinity, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit seeks both compensatory and punitive damages to be determined later. It was filed in Los Angeles County because the plaintiff and most of the defendants are based there.

Attorneys and representatives for the defendants did not immediately respond to email and phone messages seeking comment on the suit.

The New York Daily News and Associated Press contributed to this report.
DENVER  Colorado plans to expand hospital capacity and staffing amid an ongoing surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations that could surpass a record high for the state set in 2020, Gov. Jared Polis told a pandemic task force Wednesday.

Polis said Colorado also is consulting with local governments on vaccination requirements for certain indoor events in hard-hit communities, Colorado Politics reported. His remarks came during a meeting of the Governors Expert Emergency Epidemic Response Committee.

Colorados hospital and intensive care capacity is being tested by the latest case surge, with roughly 1,426 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, state epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said. If the trajectory holds, the state could hit 2,258 COVID-19 hospitalizations by Jan. 1, she said. That compares with a high of 1,841 patients hospitalized last December.

Polis said hes working with health care providers to add as many as 500 beds by adjusting staffing, repurposing hospital units and making other changes in existing facilities, in contrast to the separate field hospital units built with state and federal support earlier in the pandemic.

The state also is considering bringing in retired and out-of-state nurses and providers, Polis said. On Tuesday, the state issued a staffing rule allowing licensed health care providers more flexibility in tending to the sick.

The delta variant surge combined with hospital staffing shortages has left roughly 720 total beds available in intensive care and acute care units, Cara Welch, spokeswoman for the Colorado Hospital Association, told Colorado Politics.

We hope the state and FEMA can provide additional support, especially staff, to help us surge additional beds as we will absolutely need those in the weeks and months ahead, Welch said. Already, a crisis health team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is assisting a hospital in Pueblo.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Bracing as new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations spike once again, New Mexico health officials laid out new research Wednesday suggesting vaccines show a dip in protection after about five months.

Acting state Health Secretary David Scrase said the waning immunity provided by COVID-19 vaccines underscores the importance of getting booster doses in a state in which about 40% of residents remain unvaccinated  including children younger than 5 who are still ineligible for vaccines.

He also said New Mexicos face mask mandate for indoor public settings, regardless of vaccination status, will remain in place under a revised state public health order set to be released Friday.

Were on the way up and this is not the time to relax public health orders, said Scrase, who said reimposing stricter measures like business capacity limits and remote learning for New Mexico public schools are not being considered and will not be included in the revised public health order.

Despite being one of just six states with an indoor mask requirement, New Mexicos number of new COVID-19 cases has surged over the last week, with infection levels statewide reaching their highest point since January and the states test positivity rate recently reaching 11.8%.

The number of hospitalizations related to the virus has also increased, with state health officials reporting 490 hospitalizations on Wednesday  up from 419 individuals hospitalized a week earlier.

Thats prompted criticism about the states approach to the pandemic, with the Republican Party of New Mexico saying this week Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams handling of the pandemic was not working.

However, Scrase and other top state health officials said during a Wednesday briefing with reporters that other parts of the United States  and the world  are also struggling with rising case rates due to the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19.

That includes neighboring states like Colorado, which this week reactivated its crisis standards of care for hospitals and other health care facilities. One New Mexico hospital  The San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington  has declared crisis standards of care in order to get more staffing flexibility and other hospitals are considering doing likewise after the state reauthorized such steps last month, Scrase said.

Part of the increase in cases could be due to a rise in breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals, with New Mexico Department of Health data showing the average time between a last vaccine shot and a positive test result in such cases is roughly 163 days  or just over five months time. But while pushing for more New Mexicans to get booster doses, state health officials have also insisted initial COVID-19 vaccine shots reduce individuals risk of serious health symptoms and death.

We believe the vaccine still is effective, even though vaccinated individuals are getting infections, Scrase said.

During a four-week period that ended Monday, unvaccinated individuals made up 71.6% of new confirmed cases and about 77% of those hospitalized due to the virus, according to DOH data.

A total of 117 of the 123 deaths during that time period  or roughly 95%  were unvaccinated people, while six of those who died were fully vaccinated.

Another driving factor behind New Mexicos latest virus surge could be a general public thats become increasingly lax when it comes to social distancing and other practices, state health officials said Wednesday.

Christine Ross, New Mexicos state epidemiologist, said theres been an increase in large gatherings and travel compared to a year ago. There are certainly more opportunities for the virus to transmit, Ross said.

Health officials have also noticed the trend, with Jasmin Milz Holmstrup, the chief development officer at La Familia Medical Center in Santa Fe, saying many local residents are not being as careful as they were during the earlier stages of the pandemic.

It seems like people have let their guard down, Holmstrup said.

Some New Mexicans have also let their masks down  based on photos from sporting events and other activities  but Scrase said its impossible for New Mexico officials to enforce every single face mask violation.

He did say the Department of Health has continued to send out letters warning of possible $5,000 fines for those who violate the public health order. One such warning was sent recently to Curry County commissioners in eastern New Mexico.

A total of 5,148 statewide deaths have been linked to COVID-19 since the pandemic hit New Mexico in March 2020. Thirteen additional deaths were reported Wednesday, including four individuals from Otero County in the southern part of the state.

While rising COVID-19 case levels could portend another difficult winter, state health officials said the approval of the COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 is a promising development that could reduce virus spread across New Mexico.

Since final federal approval was given last week, more than 1,300 children in the age range statewide had received at least one vaccine dose, according to state DOH data. That figure could actually be even higher due to reporting gaps.

Ultimately, health officials hope the vaccination rate among younger children at least reaches the rate of residents age 12 to 17 who have gotten vaccinated  about 55% of kids in that age range had received all shots necessary to be fully vaccinated as of Wednesday.

While children who test positive for COVID-19 do not generally have the same health risks as elderly residents, 304 New Mexico residents younger than 18 have been hospitalized due to the virus and five have died, according to DOH data.

Brothers Xavier and Roman Ramirez got their first shots this week at a Santa Fe health clinic, with their grandfather David Findley looking on.

Just take a deep breath and wiggle your toes, Xavier, 7, told his little brother, age 6, who was crying in anticipation of getting the shot.

After seeing both his grandsons get vaccinated, Findley said he felt a big sense of relief. I prayed a long time for this to come, he said.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Months after Albuquerque officials hammered out land-use provisions for the budding recreational marijuana industry, Bernalillo County is ready to do the same.

Leaders are now weighing a proposed zoning code update that outlines where businesses can grow and sell cannabis within the countys unincorporated areas. The County Commission voted Tuesday to introduce and publish the proposed rules, and could make a final decision as early as Dec. 14.

Its something brand new, and we want to see how close to right we get it the first time, Commission Chairwoman Charlene Pyskoty said during Tuesdays meeting, adding that leaders always have the option to make future changes.

County zoning administrator Nicholas Hamm told the commission the pending proposal aims to treat cannabis like any other product in the county. For example, it permits recreational sales in most commercial zones, as long as the shops are at least 300 feet away from schools and day cares.

If a zone allows for a special type activity for another type of product, this ordinance will allow a similar cannabis activity to occur in that zone, Hamm said.

The countys proposal also permits outdoor commercial cannabis cultivation in agricultural zones, though it does set limits based on property size. Commercial growers can use only 25% of lots 1 acre or smaller, but up to 75% of sites larger than 5 acres. Any growing beyond those caps must take place indoors.

Commissioner Debbie OMalley said she hoped the county also could create a permit for cannabis processing on agricultural sites as a way to help smaller operators stay competitive in the market, though Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada said the county must consider the effect on surrounding neighborhoods and businesses.

We want (cannabis businesses) to be harmonious with everybody else, but the plain fact of this industry is it has an odor, and were going to have to really look at what we bring forward when were looking at manufacturing, processing and growing, he said.

The rules also address cannabis consumption.

They would ban outdoor cannabis smoking at licensed businesses, restricting smoking to indoor spaces with proper ventilation.

The proposed regulations permit medical cannabis consumption in more zones than recreational consumption  a distinction one local cannabis industry advocate said makes little sense.

Why are we restigmatizing this? New Mexico Cannabis Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ben Lewinger said in a Journal interview.Were talking about something legal for adults over 21.

Lewinger also disagrees with the outdoor smoking prohibition and some other proposed provisions. He said his organization would make formal comments to the commission prior to its final vote, but that the current proposal is more reasonable than hes seen in some other jurisdictions.

The approach Bernalillo County is taking seems less prohibitive than that in other counties, which is good. Kudos for that, he said. (But) we still have some work to do.

The countys rules would apply only to unincorporated parts of Bernalillo County, such as the South Valley and East Mountains.

Albuquerque has already established zoning rules for recreational cannabis operations inside city limits  a process that sparked some debate over the summer.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller wanted to stop new marijuana shops from opening in certain areas  including along much of Central Avenue  and also proposed specific standards related to cannabis shop operating hours and signage. The City Council mostly rejected the attempt to regulate cannabis differently than other businesses, though it did pass a rule that addressed density concerns by making new shops go through a public hearing to open within 600 feet of another cannabis retailer.
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The pillboxes.

Jim Duncan doesnt even blink before naming the World War II episode that stands out most starkly in his memory.

It was, without doubt, he said, that time his outfit was trying to knock out German pillboxes, concrete blockhouses manned by armed defenders, and Duncan was sent out alone to draw the enemys fire.

Duncan, we are attacking those pillboxes over there. I want you to head out of these woods and run as fast as you can.

If it wasnt a suicide mission, it sure seemed like it. The idea was that, while the Germans concentrated their fire on Duncan, the American forces could lock in on the enemys position.

That was my most frightening experience, Duncan said. Machine guns scared me more than anything. German machine guns had a much faster rate of fire than American machine guns.

Fortunately for Duncan, the Germans were apparently too focused on the main body of Americans to bother blazing away at a single, sprinting man. He could hear the enemy firing, but doesnt think any bullets came close to him.

But we did get the pillbox, he said.

During the war, Duncan received two Purple Hearts  one for getting an arm mangled bloody in barbed wire and the other for taking some shrapnel in a leg, injuries he considers inconsequential.

If you live long enough, you become a hero, he said.

Duncan said today, Veterans Day, is for remembering the heroes who did not live long enough, those who did not come back from the war. He figures he may have known as many as 100 of those men.

I saw a lot of people get killed, he said. A lot of people I saw carried off wounded, and others we left behind wounded because we had to keep moving. I have no idea how many of these people died.

Duncan, 96, was sitting in his apartment in a Santa Fe retirement community, his memories close by  framed and hanging on the walls, in photo albums stacked on shelves, preserved deep inside himself  as he told his story.

He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of a career Army officer who served on Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhowers staff during World War II. Because of his fathers profession, Duncans family moved often. He was living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, when he went into the Army in June 1943, just after his 18th birthday.

He volunteered for the infantry, but was sent to specialized Army training at West Virginia University.

I was pulled out of there to go overseas as a replacement, Duncan said. I was glad to go. I felt I had been cheated (out of combat).

Duncan was transported to Le Havre, France, and into the fierce fighting that marked the final months of the war in Europe. He took part in the last days of the Battle of the Bulge, which was fought in the Ardennes Region of Belgium from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945, and was the bloodiest combat engaged in by the United States during the war.

In March 1945, less than two months after the Allied Forces were victorious at the Battle of the Bulge, the 2nd Infantry Division, including Duncan, arrived at Remagen, Germany, a Rhine River town, to guard a bridge that had been captured by the U.S. 9th Armored Division. The Allies were able to move five divisions over the Rhine before the bridge, which was under near continuous bombardment by the Germans, finally collapsed.

The 2nd Infantry Division moved through Germany, fighting as it went.

We came to a castle, Duncan said. We had a tank destroyer with a big gun on it. The tank destroyer fired on the German position.

Four Germans and a machine gun fell out of that turret, Duncan said. Then we heard women and children screaming in this newer castle, a forest house, nearby.

The Americans found German women and children hiding in a cellar. Duncan understood enough German to know that they were pleading not to be shot.

 We will not shoot you, I told them. Americans do not shoot women and children. We got them some K-rations (canned combat food).

In April, the 2nd Infantry Division captured Leipzig, Germany.

After seizing Leipzig, the 2nd Infantry moved east to Germanys Mulde River.

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It was near the border of Germany and Czechoslovakia that Duncan and other members of the 2nd Infantry Division came upon a schoolhouse with an open field on one side and dense woods on the other side and behind the school.

Two things there remain etched indelibly in his memory.

There was an American tank in front of the school with dead, burned-up bodies inside, Duncan said.

The other thing was the motorcycle with a sidecar that suddenly appeared, coming as fast as it could out of the woods near the school and into the open field.

Men of the 2nd Infantry fired on the cycle, which overturned amidst a hail of bullets. Later, it was found that those on the motorcycle were wearing civilian clothes.

The men fired reactively, as they had been trained to do, Duncan said. Anything that was a threat, or might be a threat, you shot at. I didnt shoot, but I was the one in charge of that group of people who did. Some German soldiers were putting on civilian clothes then. You just dont know.

The tank, those people on the motorcycle, stick with him all these years later, memories just a shade less vivid than the sprint to the pillbox and its machine guns.

You rationalize enough to say, Dont forget about it, but learn to live with it. 

The 2nd Infantry Division crossed into Czechoslovakia on May 4, 1945, and attacked and liberated the city of Pilsen just before the war in Europe ended on May 8.

In July 1945, the 2nd Division arrived at Camp Swift in Bastrop County, Texas, to begin training for the invasion of Japan. But the atomic bombs were dropped in Japan on Aug. 6 and 9, and the war in the Pacific was over a few days later.

After the war, Duncan enrolled at Western Michigan University and met fellow student Colleen Cloney. They were married in September 1947 and had seven children, six sons and one daughter.

Duncan had a successful 35 years in the banking business in Michigan, retiring in 1985 as chairman, chief executive officer and president of a major bank and trust company.

The Duncans bought a house in Santa Fe in 1979, and settled in the city in the early 90s.

Colleen, who died in 2000, was active as a volunteer with the Museum of New Mexico. The store at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture is named for her.

More than two years ago, Duncan was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus and has been in hospice care at his home for a year.

He wonders how many people today remember World War II, or even know about the war.

People today might not even know who (President Franklin D.) Roosevelt was, or who Eisenhower was, he said. What can we do to make sure we remember, that we dont forget the guys who never had the privilege to come back and do the things Ive had the chance to do?
Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  With arguments before the state Supreme Court looming next week, four prominent Senate Democrats have joined a roiling dispute over who controls the states purse strings when it comes to discretionary federal aid  the governor or the Legislature.

In a Wednesday court filing, the four lawmakers, all Senate committee chairmen, said New Mexicos Constitution and previous court rulings make it clear Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a fellow Democrat, should not have sole authority to decide how to spend whats left of $1.7 billion in federal relief funds.

The Constitution vests the appropriation power in legislators from 112 districts across the state because it is essential to have a diversity of interests represented when the Legislature sets spending priorities, the four legislators wrote in their filing. This representation of diverse views would be lost if the appropriation power were vested in one person.

The filing by the four lawmakers  Sens. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, Daniel Ivey-Soto of Albuquerque, George Munoz of Gallup and Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque  marks the latest twist in a political tug-of-war between the Governors Office and the Legislature.

Two other legislators  Sen. Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, and Senate GOP floor leader Greg Baca of Belen  filed a petition with the Supreme Court in September after Lujan Grisham used her line-item veto authority to ax legislative earmarks for more than $1 billion in federal stimulus dollars from a state budget bill. The vetoed earmarks included funding for a state unemployment fund, a popular college scholarship program and highway repairs.

However, the governor announced in June her administration would target more than $656 million of the federal money to replenish the unemployment fund, which was all but drained by a deluge of pandemic-related claims for jobless benefits.

The governor has also earmarked smaller amounts of the federal dollars for COVID-19 vaccine incentives and a temporary wage supplement for individuals working in New Mexicos chile fields.

The lawsuit filed by Baca and Candelaria, who are both attorneys, does not seek a reversion of those funds  or other federal dollars already allocated by the Lujan Grisham administration

Meanwhile, Lujan Grishams office has insisted legal precedent supports the governors handling of the relief funds, which stem from the federal American Rescue Plan Act that was signed into law by President Joe Biden in March.

Courts have previously made clear the Legislature may appropriate state, not federal, funds, Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett said Wednesday, adding the Governors Office has no further comment on the litigation, but looks forward to providing more support for economic rejuvenation statewide.

Sackett has also said top officials in the Democratic governors administration have held meetings with legislative leaders to discuss a spending plan for the roughly $1.1 billion of the $1.7 billion that has not been spent.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case Nov. 17. The states highest court could then issue a same-day ruling or wait and release its decision at a later date.
SANTA FE  Hospitals in northwestern New Mexico were grappling Wednesday with a surge in coronavirus cases that has left only a handful of intensive care beds available and led to a rationing of care.

State health officials said New Mexicos health care system overall remains heavily burdened with high rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hospitals across the state had just eight intensive care beds available Wednesday, making it more difficult to attend to such health emergencies as heart attacks, said David Scrase, the states top health official.

But the situation is particularly concerning in the states far northwest, where hospital administrators recently invoked crisis standards of care to focus resources on critical patients. Federal and state authorities have dispatched medical and support personnel to shore up services at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington.

Coronavirus patients accounted for 90 of 169 patients at the hospital Wednesday afternoon, with 15 patients sustained by breathing machines.

On Wednesday evening, hospital staff and local government officials held an online town hall meeting, imploring unvaccinated residents to reconsider.

Our crisis right now is a crisis of the unvaccinated, said emergency medical physician Brad Greenberg, noting that vaccinated patients in the area are 10 times less likely to die if infected.

San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari lamented that personal decisions about the vaccine have become politicized. The county is a conservative stronghold where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.

As of right now, its still a personal choice, he said of vaccination. You need to have that conversation with your doctor, decide if thats the right avenue for you. If you choose not to do that, care for your neighbor.  Wear your mask, wash your hands, dont get out.

State epidemiologist Christine Ross visited the hospital in Farmington last week and said she encountered dedicated health workers who have worked to exhaustion.

They are amazing and they are really, really tired, Ross said during an online news conference.

Hospital facilities are adequate, but staff have been struggling to keep up with the demands of coronavirus patients, she said.

The surge staffing that the state was able to send out there, along with the federal team, is making a real difference, Ross said.

State health officials say the resurgence of the virus corresponds with waning immunity from early rounds of vaccinations as residents approach or pass the time they need booster shots.

New Mexico vaccinated faster than most states, so were seeing breakthrough cases earlier than others, Scrase said.

Just over 60% of New Mexico residents, including children, are fully vaccinated. About 4% of eligible children aged 5-11 statewide made vaccine appointments during the first week of eligibility. Scrase said that response is similar to participation when a vaccine was first made available to children aged 12-16.

Local elected leaders, including Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett and San Juan County Commissioner John Beckstead, said there are no plans to extend vaccine mandates to more public employees in their region. New Mexico requires health care employees, teachers and other high-risk workers to be immunized, with few exceptions.

Sheriff Ferrari and Farmingtons police chief said their agencies dont ticket people for violations of the statewide indoor mask mandate, but encourage compliance by example.

Complicating matters in the hard-hit northwest is in an ongoing labor dispute at a county hospital.

In Gallup, a city on the edge of the Navajo Nation, a union representing medical staff at a county-owned hospital has filed a complaint alleging unfair labor practices and retaliation against unionization efforts by doctors and nurses with the National Labor Relations Board, the agency confirmed Wednesday.

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital was overwhelmed with coronavirus patients in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, when Gallup was briefly closed to outside visitors and encircled by police barricades.

This year, medical staff voted to unionize as they expressed concern about the hospitals financial standing and whether it can sustain a high standard of care for patients amid recent layoffs. The hospitals labor and birthing unit reopened in late October after a weekslong shutdown.

Hospital administrators had no immediate response to the complaint filed by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, and have not filed an answer with federal regulators.
WARSAW, Poland  Thousands marched in Warsaw on Thursday to mark Polands Independence Day, led by far-right groups calling for strong borders, while its troops blocked hundreds of new attempts by migrants to enter the country illegally from neighboring Belarus in a tense standoff.

Security forces patrolled the capital for the parade, which was peaceful, unlike those in recent years that have seen violence by some extremists.

Today there are not only internal disputes. Today there are also external disputes. Today there is an attack on the Polish border, march leader Robert Bakiewicz said in a speech, adding that all Poles should support those who are protecting the eastern frontier.

The march was overshadowed by events unfolding along Polands border with Belarus, where thousands of riot police, troops and border guards are turning back migrants, many from the Middle East, who are trying to enter the European Union. Makeshift camps have sprung up in forests on the Belarusian side near a crossing at the Polish town of Kuznica, and with temperatures falling and access to the frontier restricted, there are fears of a humanitarian crisis.

EU officials have accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns in a hybrid attack to retaliate for sanctions imposed on his authoritarian regime for a harsh internal crackdown on dissent.

With the EU weighing more sanctions on Belarus, Lukashenko threatened to cut off Russian natural gas supplies to Europe that pass through a pipeline in his country. I would recommend the Poles, Lithuanians and other brainless people to think before they talk, he said.

The U.N. Security Council discussed the crisis privately but took no action, though six of its Western members condemned the use of human beings whose lives and well-being have been put in danger for political purposes by Belarus and called on the international community to hold Belarus accountable and to stop these inhumane actions.

Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, called the EU members decision to raise the Belarus-Poland issue in the U.N.s most powerful body a total shame. He said Belarus is not to blame that people who came legally to Belarus want to enter EU countries.

Courts and Warsaws liberal Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski had banned the Independence Day march, which celebrates Polands statehood, but right-wing authorities in the national government overrode the order and gave the gathering the status of a state ceremony.

The governments support for the far-right leaders of the march underlined how Polands right-wing ruling party wants their backing. It also is engaged in a political fight with the EU over changes to Polands judiciary, seen in Brussels as an erosion of democratic norms, along with rhetoric viewed as discriminatory to LGBT groups.

In 2017, the parade drew tens of thousands and featured white nationalist and antisemitic slogans. The next year, the president, prime minister and other leaders marched the same route as the nationalists.

In seeking to ban the march, Trzaskowski argued that Warsaw, which was razed by Nazi Germany in World War II, is no place for fascist slogans.

Groups marched with Polands white-and-red flags Thursday, but some also waved the green flags of the National Radical Camp displaying a stylized hand with a sword, a far-right symbol dating to the 1930s.

The standoff near the frontier crossing at Kuznica, 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Warsaw, was on the minds of many at the march, and one banner in Warsaw read: We Thank the Defenders of Polands Borders.

Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik tweeted that some security forces will go directly from Warsaw to defend our border with Belarus. When marching, remember this!

About 15,000 Polish troops have joined riot police and guards at the border. The Belarusian Defense Ministry accused Poland of an unprecedented military buildup there, saying that migration control didnt warrant such a force.

The Polish Defense Ministry said the migrants made a number of attempts to cross the border since Wednesday, as they have all week.

Near the village of Bialowieza, where a few hundred migrants threw debris across the razor-wire fence at Polish troops and then tried to destroy it, shots were fired in the air to deter them, the ministry said. Near the village of Szudzialowo, migrants attacked a soldier in the chest with a tree branch, but he fired two warning shots in the air and was unhurt, the ministry said, adding that the attackers fled deeper into Belarus.

Since the start of the year, there have been 33,000 attempts to cross the border illegally, with 17,000 in October alone, the border guard service said.

At least eight migrants have died, officials said, and conditions have been getting worse with freezing nighttime temperatures. Video from Russian state media Thursday showed hundreds of migrants pushing and scrambling to get aid that was delivered to them, along with a woman being treated for what the report said was hypothermia.

Mulusew Mamo, a UNHCR representative in Belarus who visited the migrants, called the situation there catastrophic.

And in a day, it will be more catastrophic, I think, Mamo said, adding that aid is being distributed via the Red Cross and will continue for several days.

The crisis has been brewing since summer, with migrants trying to cross from Belarus to Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Many want to head for Germany, but Finland also is a destination.

Warsaw has taken a hard line, depicting the migrants as dangerous criminals and changing its law to allow the arbitrary rejection of asylum applications, something condemned by the U.N. refugee agency.

But Poland has largely gotten support on the border issue from Europe, facing only mild criticism for pushing the migrants back.

The problem is not Poland, said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. The problem is Lukashenko and Belarus and its regime, and so Poland has earned our European solidarity in this situation.

But Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said it was shocking to see Europes inability to properly handle such a relatively low number of migrants at the Poland-Belarus border.

A few thousand people at Europes Polish border, many of whom have fled some of the worst crises in the world, is a drop in the ocean compared to the number of people displaced to countries that are much poorer elsewhere, he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenkos main ally, for the second time in as many days. The Kremlin said they discussed the Poland-Belarus border and the importance of a quick settlement along international humanitarian norms.

Merkels office said she stressed the crisis was brought about by the Belarusian regime, which is using defenseless people in a hybrid attack against the European Union.

Moscow and Minsk have close political and military ties, and Russia sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus for a second straight day in a strong show of support.

Lukashenko has emphasized the need to boost military cooperation in the face of what he has described as aggressive actions by NATO, which includes Poland.

The EU is looking at the role some airlines have played in carrying migrants and asylum-seekers to the blocs doorstep, and there are reports that it is mulling sanctions against them.

Russias national carrier Aeroflot strongly denied any involvement, saying it isnt conducting any regular or charter flights to Iraq or Syria and didnt have any between Istanbul and Minsk.

A Turkish official with direct knowledge of the issue said Turkish Airlines would halt selling tickets to Iraqi and Syrian nationals for flights to Minsk as part of measures being considered by Turkey to help resolve the crisis. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the issue and because he was not authorized to announce company policy.

Iraqs Deputy Migration Minister Karim al-Nuri told the Russian state news agency Sputnik that his country will help its citizens who want to return from Belarus, working through its embassy in Russia because it doesnt have one in Belarus.

___

Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin, Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Vladimir Isachenkov and Daria Litvinova in Moscow, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

___

Follow APs migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
KABUL, Afghanistan  The cool 1960s-style lines of the Ariana Cinemas marquee stand out over a traffic-clogged roundabout in downtown Kabul. For decades, the historic cinema has entertained Afghans and borne witness to Afghanistans wars, hopes and cultural shifts.

Now the marquee is stripped of the posters of Bollywood movies and American action flicks that used to adorn it. The gates are closed.

After recapturing power three months ago, the Taliban ordered the Ariana and other cinemas to stop operating. The Islamic militant guerrillas-turned-rulers say they have yet to decide whether they will allow movies in Afghanistan.

Like the rest of the country, the Ariana is in a strange limbo, waiting to see how the Taliban will rule.

The cinemas nearly 20 employees, all men, still show up at work, logging in their attendance in hopes they will eventually get paid. The landmark Ariana, one of only four cinemas in the capital, is owned by the Kabul municipality, so its employees are government workers and remain on the payroll.

The men while away the hours. They hang out in the abandoned ticket booth or stroll the Arianas curving corridors. Rows of plush red seats sit in silent darkness.

The Arianas director, Asita Ferdous, the first woman in the post, is not even allowed to enter the cinema. The Taliban ordered female government employees to stay away from their workplaces so they dont mix with men, until they determine whether they will be allowed to work.

The 26-year-old Ferdous is part of a post-2001 generation of young Afghans determined to carve out a greater space for womens rights. The Taliban takeover has wrecked their hopes. Also a painter and sculptor, she now stays at home.

I spend time doing sketches, drawing, just to keep practicing, she said. I cant do exhibitions anymore.

During their previous time in power from 1996-2001, the Taliban imposed a radical interpretation of Islamic law forbidding women from working or going to school  or even leaving home in many cases  and forcing men to grow beards and attend prayers. They banned music and other art, including movies and cinema.

Under international pressure, the Taliban now say they have changed. But they have been vague about what they will or wont allow. That has put many Afghans lives  and livelihoods  on hold.

For the Ariana, it is another chapter in a tumultuous six-decade history.

The Ariana opened in 1963. Its sleek architecture mirrored the modernizing spirit that the then-ruling monarchy was trying to bring to the deeply traditional nation.

Kabul resident Ziba Niazai recalled going to the Ariana in the late 1980s, during the rule of Soviet-backed President Najibullah, when there were more than 30 cinemas around the country.

For her, it was an entry to a different world. She had just married, and her new husband brought her from their home village in the mountains to Kabul, where he had a job in the Finance Ministry. She was alone in the house all day while he was at the office.

But when he got off work, they often went together to the Ariana for a Bollywood movie.

After years of communist rule, it was a more secular era than recent decades, at least for a narrow urban elite.

We had no hijab at that time, said Niazai, now in her late 50s, referring to the headscarf. Many couples went to the cinema, and there wasnt even a separate section, you could sit wherever you wanted.

At the time, war raged across the country as Najibullahs government battled an American-backed coalition of warlords and Islamic militants. The mujahedeen toppled him in 1992. Then they turned on each other in a fight for power that demolished Kabul and killed thousands of people caught in the crossfire.

The Ariana was heavily damaged, along with most of the surrounding neighborhood, in the frequent bombardments and gunbattles.

It lay abandoned in ruins for years, as the Taliban drove out the mujahedeen and took over Kabul in 1996. Whatever cinemas survived around Kabul were shuttered.

The Arianas revival came after the Talibans ouster in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. The French government helped rebuild the cinema in 2004, part of the flood of billions of dollars of international aid that attempted to reshape Afghanistan over the next 20 years.

With the Taliban gone, cinema saw a new burst of popularity.

Indian movies were always the biggest draw at the Ariana, as were action movies, particularly those featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, said Abdul Malik Wahidi, in charge of tickets. As Afghanistans domestic film industry revived, the Ariana played the handful of Afghan movies produced each year.

They had three showings a day, ending in the mid-afternoon, at 50 afghanis a ticket  about 50 cents. Audiences were overwhelmingly men. In Afghanistans conservative society, cinemas were seen as a male space, and few women attended.

Wahidi recalled how he and other staffers had to preview all foreign films to weed out those with scenes considered too racy  with couples kissing or women showing too much skin, for example.

Letting something slip through could bring the wrath of some movie-goers. Offended audiences were known to hurl objects at the screen, though it didnt happen at the Ariana, Wahidi said. He remembered one patron at the Ariana, outraged by a scene, storming out and shouting at him, How can you show pornography?

Ferdous was appointed as the Arianas director just over a year ago. She previously led the Kabul municipalitys Gender Equality division, where she had worked to gain equal pay for women employees and install women as senior officers in the capitals district police departments.

When she came to the Ariana, the male staff were surprised, but they have been very cooperative and have worked well with me.

She focused on making the cinema more welcoming to women. They dedicated one side of the auditorium for couples and families where women could sit. Those entering the cinema had to be patted down by guards as a security measure, and Ferdous brought in a female guard so women patrons would feel more comfortable.

Couples began coming regularly, she said. In March 2021, the cinema hosted a festival of Afghan films that proved very popular, attended by Afghan actors who held talks with the audiences.

Now it has all been brought to a halt, and the Arianas staff is left not knowing their fate. The male employees have received part of their salaries since the Taliban takeover. Ferdous said she has received no salary at all.

It is women who suffer the most. Women are just asking for their right to work, she said. If they are not allowed, their economic situation will only get worse.

Inanullah Amany, the general director of the Kabul Municipalitys cultural department, said that if the Taliban do ban movies, the Arianas employees could be transferred to other municipal jobs. Or they could be dismissed.

The staff said they couldnt even guess what the Taliban will decide, but none held out much hope they would allow movies.

That would be a loss, said Rahmatullah Ezati, the Arianas chief projectionist.

If a country doesnt have cinema, then theres no culture. Through cinema, weve seen other countries like Europe, U.S. and India.
TEHRAN, Iran  Thousands of Afghan refugees are fleeing the Taliban into neighboring Iran every day and the trend could eventually become a crisis for Europe, a top aid official said Wednesday.

Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, visited refugees this week around Kerman province in eastern Iran close to the Afghanistan border. He warned that Europe could be affected if the influx into Iran continues.

Speaking to The Associated Press in the capital Tehran at the end of his trip, Egeland said more needs to be done to provide hope, food and care for Afghans fleeing the Taliban.

Many Afghan refugees called their relatives telling them they are on their way to Iran and many want to go on to Europe, so Europe should be less occupied with a few thousand (refugees) sitting on the Polish-Belorussian border.

More people came today to Iran than are now on that border, he added.

More than 120,000 Americans, Afghans and others were flown out of Afghanistan during a massive airlift operation in the days after the capital of Kabul fell to the Taliban on Aug. 15. But thousands more were left behind, with many fleeing to the borders and seeking help from aid agencies.

An estimated 300,000 have fled Afghanistan into Iran since the Taliban takeover, according to the NRC.

There is no economy, there is very little assistance, and there is too little shelter and food for millions and millions in need, Egeland said.

He said that as the Afghan winter arrives and there are not enough shelters for refugees in Afghanistan, more refugees will enter Iran.

We expect this to become even more acute as hundreds of thousands are coming to the border between Afghanistan and Iran. Winter will be horrific in Afghanistan, he said.

The secretary-general urged wealthy countries to immediately scale up their aid contributions, both inside Afghanistan and in neighboring countries such as Iran, before the deadly winter cold.

According to the NRC, between 4,000 and 5,000 Afghans are fleeing into Iran each day through informal border crossings. It said Iran has supported those Afghans, in addition to hundreds of thousands of others who have been sheltering in the country for much longer  some for decades.

During his trip to Kerman province, Egeland met with some of the refugees and he said that the 3.5 million Afghan migrants already in Iran are struggling as a result of U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Irans interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, on Tuesday said Iran has several thousand people at its border with Afghanistan every day. He, too, warned that a fresh wave of Afghan refugees might attempt to go to Europe if help is not delivered.

The influx into Iran of millions of Afghan refugees began in 1979, when forces of the former Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan. The occupation ended in 1989, giving way to years of civil war and ultimately a Taliban-controlled government. Then came the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington, and the subsequent U.S.-led invasion targeting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, who was harbored by the Taliban.

Iran and Afghanistan have three border crossings along a common border some 945 kilometers (580 miles) long. Reportedly, Iran hosts some 800,000 registered Afghan refugees and more than 3 million undocumented Afghans.

In the years since the U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and re-imposed sanctions that sent the countrys economy into free fall, however, some Afghans in Iran have left the country.

Egeland praised Iran for hosting millions of Afghans for the past four decades and said the international community must now step up and show support. How can you expect Iran to shoulder this responsibility on their own? he said.

What Europe should do is invest in hope, possibility, opportunity inside Afghanistan and in the neighboring countries if they want to avoid people wandering towards Europe.

___

Associated Press TV producer Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran contributed.
NEW YORK  The average time for U.S. immigration cases to be resolved is nearly four years. But thats not the mandate in Francisco Prietos courtroom.

The New York judge must attempt to rule within 300 days on dozens of cases he hears daily from families that just entered the country. The migrants are being sent to the front of the line with the idea that others will be less likely to migrate knowing a backlog of more than 1.4 million cases will no longer buy them a few years in the United States even if they lose.

Nearly six months ago, the Biden administration established a dedicated docket for families, many seeking asylum, in Prietos city and 10 others, including Boston, San Francisco, Miami and El Paso, Texas. It is a modest step aimed at bringing order to the southern border, where authorities this year have faced unusually high numbers of migrant arrivals, including nearly 15,000, mostly Haitians, who camped under a bridge in the small border town of Del Rio, Texas, in September.

Roughly 35 of the countrys more than 530 immigration judges are assigned to the new docket, according to the most recent data provided by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees federal immigration courts. Many juggle the duties on top of their normal caseloads.

While its still early, the effort has made progress: As of mid-September, it was handling nearly 16,000 cases, and more than 100 had received at least an initial decision, according to the agency. It declined to provide more details.

Still, the numbers barely make a dent: Tens of thousands of migrants are released into the country each month, with orders to report to immigration authorities later.

The expedited docket also faces some of the same challenges and complaints as similar efforts under Bidens two predecessors.

Critics say it rushes the complex work of building asylum cases, making it nearly impossible for migrants to have a fair shot, especially if they cant secure an attorney in time. Judges follow the same procedures applied in other immigration cases but on a shorter timeline.

During the Obama and Trump administrations, most families that went through similar fast-track dockets lacked legal representation and were ultimately ordered removed from the country, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a D.C. think tank.

Prieto, the New York judge, is among those handling the most cases under the new docket, with more than 1,600 assigned to him by the end of August, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, at Syracuse University.

One day last month, the Trump appointee urged families to find a low- or no-cost attorney on a government referral list. Some said no one answers the phone when they call, or they are told they cant be helped. Prieto told them to persist before he set new court dates.

Many families had immediate concerns: trouble with their ankle monitors or with rules confining them to their homes one day a week. Joselyn Margarita Aguilar, who appeared with her young daughter, cant leave her house on Fridays.

I found a job and I lost it because I was told I cant miss Fridays at work, the Honduran woman told the judge. I need more time (to find an attorney) because I dont have a job and I cant pay.

An unusually large number of cases got postponed because the court didnt receive hearing notices from the Homeland Security Department. Prieto told families to wait for another notice.

Creole interpreters were connected by phone for Haitian migrants. One familys hearing was delayed due to technical difficulties. Their child ran around the courtroom while they waited, crying loudly when his fingers got caught in a swinging door.

Another woman from Ecuador who arrived with her husband and two children, one in a stroller, asked for a work permit. Prieto told her to discuss it with an attorney.

More than half of cases are in New York and Boston, a common destination for Ecuadorians, Brazilians and Haitians.

The Justice Department, which oversees immigration courts, has said it chose the 11 cities involved not just because theyre where most recent arrivals are settling, but because they have established legal service providers and available judges.

In Boston, which was added to the program relatively recently, one judge had the most cases on the new docket of any in the country, at least through August. Mario Sturla had 3,178 cases assigned to him, on top of the nearly 4,000 others he was handling, according to TRAC.

One October afternoon, almost all of the roughly 20 cases before the Obama appointee were Brazilians, mostly parents with young children. The judge was courteous as families spoke through interpreters and juggled restless, sometimes crying children.

Few had lawyers. A 24-year-old woman from Cuenca, Ecuador, who asked to be identified by first name only for safety reasons, didnt know what to expect. The judge told her to return with an attorney in March.

I was nervous, fearful, worried about what was going to happen, said Angie, who fled with a 4-year-old daughter and year-old son, citing threats of being forced into prostitution. Im better now. The judge seemed nice. He was very calm. But well see.

She and her kids crossed the border in San Diego in August and have settled temporarily with an uncle in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The truth is, I am very afraid that they will return us to our country, and I do not know what will happen to us there, she said.

The fast-track docket is part of Bidens humane asylum system, which has included few other detailed plans, save for a proposal to use asylum officers at the border to decide cases instead of judges.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in an emailed statement this week, maintained the dedicated docket provides fair hearings for families seeking asylum.

He noted the Justice Department is working to provide families legal orientation services and referrals to pro bono lawyers  an improvement over prior rocket docket efforts.

The goal of this process is to ensure that individuals who merit protection do not have to wait for years to get it, and that those who are ineligible for protection are quickly returned to their countries, Mayorkas said.

Theresa Cardinal Brown, a managing director at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said shes skeptical unless the effort gets more resources.

Youre still asking immigration judges who have a regular docket to also do this, said Brown, who recommends new positions to fund border courts that would aim to decide cases in six months. You havent expanded capacity at all.

Neptali Chiluisa, 47, crossed the border in June in Arizona and was detained for a week with his 14-year-old son, leaving behind his wife and three other children in Ecuador. The son returned in August because Chiluisa had to work and couldnt find a nearby school with space.

Chiluisa, who rents a room for $800 in a Bronx apartment he shares with other Ecuadorian families, was a boiler specialist for the army and found a similar job at New York construction sites. He acknowledges coming for economic reasons and wonders if he has any options for temporary legal status.

The U.S. needs workers, so policies should be less harsh with us, he said. We come to work.

A judge told him last month to return to court in November.

___

Marcelo reported from Boston and Spagat from San Diego.
Aaron Pico and Arlene Blencowe, MMA fighters who train in Albuquerque at Jackson-Wink, each made weight for their fights Friday on a Bellator card in Hollywood, Florida.

Pico (8-3) weighed in at 145.4 pounds on Thursday for his featherweight fight against Justin Gonzales (12-0). Gonzales weighed in at 145.6. The featherweight limit is 145 pounds with an additional pound allowed for non-title fights.

Blencowe (14-8), also a featherweight, weighed in at 145.8 pounds for her fight against Pam Sorenson (9-3). Sorenson weighed in at 146.

Both fights are scheduled for Fridays Bellator 271 main card, scheduled to be telecast on Showtime, starting at 8 p.m.
Instagram Movie

The attorneys defending Hannah Gutierrez-Reed double down on their claims that the armorer is 'being framed' following the deadly gun incident involving Alec Baldwin.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - The attorneys representing embattled "Rust" armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed are doubling down on their "sabotage" conspiracy theory, claiming their client is "being framed."

The weapons expert has been named in a suit filed by on-set gaffer Serge Svetnoy, who helped nurse cinematographer Halyna Hutchins as she lay dying after being accidentally shot by actor Alec Baldwin during a bullet mix-up on the set of the western in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Svetnoy has accused Gutierrez-Reed, Baldwin, and assistant director David Halls of negligence.

But the armourer's attorneys insist she is being set up, and they have offered up evidence to support their claim to police officials.

"We are convinced that this was sabotage and Hannah is being framed," her attorney, Jason Bowles, says.

"This morning we offered to share additional, critical information with the Sheriff's Office and are awaiting their response on the sharing of information.

"Yesterday, we met with the Santa Fe County Deputy Sheriffs and Hannah continued to co-operate and provided a full interview. Information is coming out that needs to be fully investigated and considered by the District Attorney. We eagerly await the FBI's investigation as well and we are asking for a full and complete investigation of all of the facts, including the live rounds themselves, how they ended up in the 'dummies' box, and who put them in there.

"We are convinced that this was sabotage and Hannah is being framed. We believe that the scene was tampered with as well before the police arrived. The truth finding process demands that the District Attorney and FBI run down all of the evidence, including the nature of those live rounds."

The statement comes hours after Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies appeared on "Good Morning America" and insisted there is no evidence to support the sabotage claims.

"I know that some defence attorneys have come up with conspiracy theories and have used the word 'sabotage', but we do not have any proof," she said, and asked if she believes sabotage is a possibility, the D.A. said, "No."
Instagram Celebrity

According to a police report, Joseph Zolciak and Kim's 'highly intoxicated' mother Karen Zolciak are involved in a fight over his talking to a female neighbor.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - Kim Zolciak's estranged father Joseph Zolciak was reportedly arrested for battery on Monday, November 8. Joseph was accused of physically assaulting his wife during an altercation.

According to a police report that was obtained by HollywoodLife.com, Joseph and Kim's mother Karen Zolciak were involved in a fight over his talking to a female neighbor. It was said that when Joseph was leaving to run an errand, Karen slammed the door behind him because she was "upset."

Upon his return to the house, Karen decided to take a bath. Joseph, meanwhile, was watching TV in the bedroom while "ignoring her." After Karen was done, she allegedly tried to talk to Joseph several times. However, instead of talking to her, Joseph reportedly "pushed her, causing her to fall and hit the right side of her head on an antique table."

The report also stated that Karen was "highly intoxicated" when she was transported to West Florida Hospital, though Karen claimed that she only had two glasses of wine. As for Joseph, he said that Karen fell when she tried to block the TV because she was drunk.

Joseph was arrested for misdemeanor battery and booked at the Escambia County Jail on Monday. He was later released on Tuesday after posting a $1,000 bond. He is set to appear at court on November 29.

Kim has yet to comment on the report.

The former "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" star stopped speaking to her parents after they accused her of lying in the media. Joseph and Karen also claimed that Kim's daughters, Brielle and Ariana, had two different fathers. It was also said that their exacerbated their strained relationship was a fight that her mom had with husband Kroy Biermann during their 2011 wedding, at which Karen allegedly told Kroy to "f**k off."

"I don't talk to my parents," the "Don't Be Tardy..." star said in a March 2019 episode of "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen". "But I talk to my brother and no, my brother doesn't talk to them either ... so that was comforting to find that out."
https://www.beyonce.com/ Celebrity

While the 'Empire State of Mind' hitmaker doesn't need to pay anything to the company bosses, his request to receive $6 million in unpaid royalties is also denied.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - Jay-Z can now breathe a sigh of relief. After a Manhattan jury cleared the "Empire State of Mind" hitmaker in a breach of contract lawsuit against Parlux Fragrances, the jury decided that he shouldn't have to pay $67.6 million to the company.

"You failed to prove your case, they failed to prove their case," Justice Andrew Borrok told lawyers for both parties after the verdict was announced on Wednesday, November 10. "That's the outcome."

While the hip-hop mogul was not held liable for $67,7 million in requested damages, Parlux Fragrances bosses also didn't have to give the husband of Beyonce Knowles unpaid royalties. He was previously asking for $6 million.

Following the jury's decision, Jay-Z left the court with a huge smile. In a picture surfacing online, the father of Blue Ivy was seen dressed in a black suit, black tie and a pair of sunglasses. After leaving the courtroom, he told the press through a representative, "I'd like to express my gratitude to the jury, especially during these difficult times."

The Wednesday verdict arrived nearly six years after Parlux bosses filed the breach of contract lawsuit. They claimed that they had lost millions in the collaboration, due to Jay-Z's refusal to promote "Gold Jay-Z" on TV and at an in-store appearance at department store Macy's.

The Roc-A-Fella co-founder himself has filed a countersuit against the company. He accused its bosses of failing to furnish him with accounting reports and promotional resources, among other things.

During an October 29 hearing, Jay-Z was grilled by Parlux's lawyer. "In the fragrance industry, it is virtually impossible to sustain the success of a celebrity fragrance brand [unless it's bolstered by] promotional support from the celebrity in the form of public appearances," the lawyer told the court.

However, Jay-Z defended himself. He insisted that he "did a lot for the Gold Jay-Z launch. I had a year to complete these (obligations)."
Facebook Celebrity

News of 'The Mentalist' actor's breakup from Laura May Gibbs comes to light after the activewear designer shared an Instagram video from an anti-vaccination rally in Australia.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - Australian actor Simon Baker has split from girlfriend Laura May Gibbs after she attended an anti-vaccine protest.

"The Mentalist" star "quietly parted ways" with the activewear designer several months ago, after discovering she is opposed to nationwide COVID-19 vaccine mandates, People reports.

The news of their break-up came to light after Gibbs shared an Instagram video on Sunday, November 7 from an anti-vaccination rally in Australia.

In the clip, unmasked protesters are shown singing John Lennon's "Power to the People", with one person's sign reading, "We stand united against 'no jab no job' and vaccine passports."

Gibbs, who is the founder of luxury fashion and lifestyle brand Nagnata, captioned her Instagram post, "Power to the people @reclaimtheline."

Last month (October 2021), Gibbs released a statement on her company's official account criticizing the "discrimination" surrounding the COVID vaccine.

"It is against our personal and brand values to discriminate against any customers from walking through the doors of our Nagnata retail store," the Instagram post read.

"In light of the NSW (New South Wales) government releasing a roadmap to ease Covid restrictions for the vaccinated only, we have made the decision to close our Byron Bay store from Monday 11th October. We will reopen when ALL are welcome without fear of judgement and fines."

Baker and Gibbs were first linked when they were spotted in Byron Bay in February 2021, a month after he split from his actress wife of 29 years, Rebecca Rigg.

"We remain close friends and our three children will always be the most important focus of our lives," the former couple, who share children Stella, 28, Claude, 22, and Harry, 20, said in a joint statement at the time.
WENN/Avalon Movie

The 'Poker Face' hitmaker stars as Italian socialite Patrizia Reggiani, who was convicted of hiring a hitman to kill her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci, in the Ridley Scott-directed biopic.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - Lady GaGa fears she'll struggle to let go of Patrizia Reggiani after spending months researching and portraying her for new movie, "House of Gucci".

The "Poker Face" star played the Italian socialite, who was convicted of hiring a hitman to kill her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci, and GaGa admits she's finding it tough to move on now the film has wrapped.

"I would say that in terms of letting the character go, I don't know that I'd ever let her go," the pop star told Sky News, revealing she also had trouble shaking the Ally Maine character she created for 2018's "A Star Is Born".

"It took me years to shed Ally from 'A Star Is Born', and I think the same will be true here."

GaGa also admitted she really connected with the character of Patrizia while researching the role, "To say that it would be easy to play a murderer would be a lie. I don't believe she had the murder gene, but I do believe that she was triggered and pushed so far over the edge that she committed this murder."

Meanwhile, GaGa recently revealed she left no stone unturned in her preparation for the role, likening her approach to that of an investigative journalist and revealing that it took six months to master Patrizia's accent.

GaGa explained, "A lot of people don't know this, but when she married Mauricio Gucci, his entire family had turned their back on him, so she didn't marry for money. And when he was murdered, also they were divorced. So there was nothing financially at stake for her when all of this took place, which I found fascinating as a woman because I thought, 'Oh well, then it's because she was hurt. Then it's because it was love.' "

"So I spent a lot of time... I spent six months working on the accent and also delving like a journalist into her life and into their lives to see what were the moments that she was hurt, not included, traumatized... and how then did this make motivation for murder."
CBS Celebrity

Months after welcoming a baby girl, the 'Wonder Woman 1984' star opens up about enjoying every phase of parenthood with businessman husband Yaron Varsano.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - Gal Gadot is convinced her family is complete after welcoming her third child in June 2021. The actress, who has been married to businessman Yaron Varsano since 2008, gave birth to Daniella and already has Alma, 10, and Maya, 4, with her spouse.

Speaking on "The Late Late Show With James Corden", the Israeli star opened up on her growing family, gushing, "On the one hand, it's overwhelming because you're being outnumbered and all of that, but, on the other hand, I feel like we now we're whole."

"We have been expecting her the whole time and now it feels so good because I feel like in the first one you worry about having your first child."

The leading lady of "Wonder Woman 1984" continued, "I don't know how many of you here are parents. Look like we have some even grandparents here."

"The first one you're so nervous about how it's going to be. The second one, you worry about the first one, how she's going to take it. Then by the third one, you're, like, they can deal with each other, let's enjoy this."

"And then you're thinking, I don't know if I'm ever going to have another baby so I just enjoy every phase of it," she added.

Prior to welcoming her third, the 36-year-old spilled in an interview the plan she and her husband had. "We're going to sleep train her (new baby), we're going to make sure she loves and enjoys sleep," she said. "I feel like this is the hardest part of parenthood, the lack of sleep, the being tired all the time, that was the hardest thing for me."
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The Duchess of Sussex dazzles in a red hot Carolina Herrera gown while attending the 2021 Salute to Freedom Gala in New York to honor war veterans with her husband.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - Meghan Markle isn't shy away from showing her true self, now that she's no longer a senior member of the British royal family. The former actress got daring when making a rare red carpet appearance with Prince Harry in New York City.

The couple turned up at the Intrepid Museum to attend the 2021 Salute to Freedom Gala on Wednesday, November 10, ahead of Veterans Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in the U.K. For her look that night, the Duchess of Sussex opted for a cleavage-baring red gown by Carolina Herrera.

The 40-year-old stunned in the sexy dress which also featured a slit on the front. She teamed the dress with pointed heels in matching color by Giuseppe Zanotti. Harry, meanwhile, sported a classic black suit and bow tie pinned with four medals and the cross for Knight Commander of Royal Victorian Order around his neck.

Both of them had a poppy brooch pinned to their ensembles. The matching floral accessories paid tribute to Remembrance Day on November 11 as the poppy symbol has been used since 1921 to commemorate military members who have died in war.

As for Meghan's makeup, she sported her signature subtle smokey eye and flushed cheeks, with her hair being pinned up in a sleek top knot bun. Her longtime makeup artist Daniel Martin shared on Instagram that Meghan's look was created with Tatcha skincare products and a Danessa Myricks Beauty eyeshadow palette.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a rare red carpet appearance at Salute to Freedom Gala.

On the red carpet, Meghan paid tribute to Harry when a reporter asked her, "Meghan, are you proud of your husband?" She smiled and responded, "I'm always proud of him, yes."

At the gala, Harry, who served in the British army for 10 years, presented the inaugural Intrepid Valor Awards to five service members, veterans and military families living with the invisible wounds of war. According to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, which is hosting the event inside the "historic" aircraft carrier dubbed the Intrepid, the gala "recognizes extraordinary leadership and honors the brave men and women who serve in defense of our nation."

"We are so grateful to Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex for honoring and amplifying the stories of these heroes and helping to raise awareness for mental health support for our men and women in uniform," said Susan Marenoff-Zausner, president of the Intrepid Museum, in a press release.

The event also featured Jon Bon Jovi. iHeartMedia Chairman & CEO Bob Pittman received the 2021 Intrepid Salute Award, which honors outstanding business and philanthropic achievements.
Marvel Studios Movie

'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' has announced that it temporarily shuts down production as the Shuri depicter continues to recover from her injury in London.

Nov 11, 2021

AceShowbiz - "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" could be facing a bigger problem than it is publicly acknowledged following Letitia Wright's on-set injury. The actress may not be able to return to the U.S. to work on the movie because of her alleged anti-vaccination stance.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, sources say that the Shuri depicter is not vaccinated. She currently stays in London, where she returned to after sustaining injury on the set back in August. As pointed out by the site, "now, a return to the U.S. for a possible shoot in Atlanta, where 'Wakanda Forever' is based, could be an issue."

"On November 8, the CDC implemented rules that require all non-immigrant, non-citizen air travelers to the U.S. be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination status before boarding a plane. Wright is not a U.S. citizen," it further states. Disney remains mum when reached for comment on the matter.

Earlier this month, it was announced that production on the movie is temporarily shut down as Wright continues to recover from her injury, which she sustained during the filming in Boston in late August. At the time, it was reported that she suffered minor injuries on a stunt rig incident and was soon discharged from the hospital. However, she's still unable to return to work.

With Wright's absence, director Ryan Coogler has reportedly shot all scenes that his crew is able without the actress. Sources say the production is taking the hiatus to reconfigure the shoot to get things back on track for an early 2022 restart.

Meanwhile, a representative for Wright said in a statement to THR, "Letitia has been recovering in London since September from injuries sustained on the set of 'Black Panther 2' and is looking forward to returning to work early 2022." The rep added, "Letitia kindly asks that you keep her in your prayers."

Following the untimely passing of its lead star Chadwick Boseman, Marvel Studios announced that they would not be recasting the role of T'Challa. Instead, Wright's character Shuri is elevated as the lead of the sequel.

However, she has given herself a bad rep when she questioned the legitimacy of Covid-19 vaccines in December 2020, forcing her to quit social media following the backlash that she received. Later in October, she denied reports that she's promoting an anti-vaccine agenda on the set of the "Black Panther" sequel, insisting that it's "completely untrue."
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The 'Dallas Buyers Club' actor slams 'clickbait headlines' for accusing him of 'anti-vaccinating kids' and reveals his oldest son is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Nov 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Matthew McConaughey is not "anti-vaccinating children" against COVID-19 but wanted more information before he did.

The actor nipped any rumours in the bud about believing in "conspiracy theories" about the vaccine and denied being opposed to vaccine mandates - but said he would not be getting his youngest children inoculated against the virus until more information became available to him - after the CDC gave the go-ahead to allow five to 11-year-olds to get a Pfizer COVID-19 shot.

Matthew - who has Levi, 13, Vida, 11, and Livingston, eight, with wife Camila Alves - wrote on Instagram, "When asked my opinion on the subject of children and vaccination mandates I stated, 'I couldn't mandate it for kids just yet.' What was not clear is that I was referring specifically to the 5-11 year old mandate."

The "Dazed and Confused" actor called out "clickbait headlines" and their claims of being anti-vaccinating kids, saying his eldest child has gotten his jab.

He continued, "What is NOT true, and insinuated with the clickbait headlines since, is that I am against vaccinating children at all. This is false. In fact, our eldest 13-year-old son Levi is fully vaccinated for COVID-19."

The "Dallas Buyers Club" star's post ended with "I appreciate the ear and the clarity" and reminded his followers to "just keep livin'."

Matthew's clarification came after he declared he was not anti-vaxx but "couldn't mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids" during an appearance at the New York Times DealBook Summit earlier this week.

He said, "Right now, I'm not vaccinating mine, I'll tell you that."

The "Interstellar" actor - who along with his wife is vaccinated against coronavirus - said he "chose" to get his shot instead of being motivated by the mandate.

He continued, "Do I think that there's any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no. We all got to get off that narrative. There's not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines."

Matthew outlined that he and Camila had opted to "go slow" with vaccinating their children "even before COVID."

He also said, "I couldn't mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids. I still want to find out more information. There's gonna come a time, though - and there has already in these last two years, obviously - there'll come a time where you're gonna have to roll the dice one way or the other and go, where are the numbers in my favour? I'm vaccinated. Wife's vaccinated. ... We're over here just trying to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, but I couldn't mandate it for kids just yet."
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The John Abbott depicter passes away at the age of 88 and his television wife and real-life spouse are quick to pay tribute to the late actor on social media.

Nov 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Veteran U.S. soap star Jerry Douglas has died aged 88.

The actor appeared in almost 900 episodes of "The Young and the Restless" over three decades, portraying cosmetics company boss John Abbott. His character was killed off in 2006, but he returned as Abbott's ghost, most recently in 2016.

Douglas' TV credits also include "Melrose Place", "Mission: Impossible", and "The Incredible Hulk" while he appeared on the big screen in movies like "JFK".

Born Jerry Rubenstein in Massachusetts, he joined "The Young and the Restless" in 1982.

"On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to the Douglas family on the passing of Jerry Douglas," the show's executive producer Anthony Morina said.

"Jerry came to Y&R in 1982 with an impressive resume of credits. Our show was lucky to have an actor of his caliber join the Y&R cast and introduce the audience to the iconic Abbott family. His contribution to the legacy of Y&R as Abbott family patriarch, John Abbott, is still felt to this day. He will be sorely missed."

Actress Jess Walton, who played Jerry's onscreen wife on the show, remembered the actor on Twitter, "Rest in peace my dear TV husband Jerry Douglas. Thank you for the laughter all those years. Much much love to you and your beautiful family Kim and Hunter and everyone."

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, television host and author Kym Douglas. In response to condolences from a fan, she wrote on Twitter, "I am broken-hearted I have been with him since I was 22."
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The attorney representing the 'Sicko Mode' rapper slams officials for 'finger-pointing' and flip-flopping on their statement regarding the deadly Astroworld festival.

Nov 12, 2021

AceShowbiz - Travis Scott's lawyer has hit out at the "inconsistent messages" sent by officials following last week's (05Nov21) Astroworld tragedy.

Eight people died, two are fighting for life, and hundreds more were injured during a crowd crush at the event on Friday night, with the rapper facing backlash for his handling of the surge and organisation of the event.

However, in a statement to People, Scott's attorney Edwin F. McPherson addressed "finger-pointing" by city officials, "who have sent inconsistent messages and have backtracked from original statements" regarding the tragedy.

"Houston Police Chief Troy Finner was quoted in the New York Times as saying 'You cannot just close when you got 50,000 and over 50,000 individuals. We have to worry about rioting, riots, when you have a group that's that young'," he continued. "Yet, just a short time later, Chief Finner states the responsibility to stop the show falls on Travis."

In a press conference on Wednesday, Finner insisted that local officials did not have the power to end Scott's performance, asserting, "The ultimate authority to end the show is with the production and the entertainer."

He later insisted he didn't want to "point fingers" until the investigation was complete, but McPherson added, "It was reported that the Operations Plan designated that only the festival director and executive producers have authority to stop the show, neither of which is part of Travis's crew."

"This also runs afoul of HPD's own previous actions when it shut down the power and sound at this very festival when the performance ran over 5 minutes back in 2019."

"Investigations should start proceeding over finger-pointing so that together, we can identify exactly what transpired and how we can prevent anything like this from happening again."
BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. - Many people on the Ridge are still waiting on settlement money from Pacific Gas and Electric.

Action News Now spoke with survivors and brought their concerns to the Fire Victims Trust Fund.

Oak Hill Estates Mobile Home Park owner, Richard Stach says most of the homes in the park burned during the fire in 2018.

He says a lot of the money hes been using to rebuild it has come from his own pocket.



They made promises that initial disbursement would be almost a year ago and we still have seen nothing, Stach said.

Tate Siemens is one of the people staying at the park in an RV.

RELATED: Butte County BOS votes to extend dry camping for Camp Fire survivors

"Im a single father it would be nice to have that, it would be beneficial right now, Siemens said.

Action News Now spoke with Justice John Trotter, who manages the trust fund. He says theyre working as fast as possible. The trust fund includes multiple PG&E-related fires, not just the Camp Fire. So far its paid $1.2 billion but many are still waiting.

Its just difficult when you have to survive. if you're a business person rebuilding without help and on the promise some money is gonna come in someday. That doesn't do me any good now, we have to feed our families now. Its been difficult to rebuild the park. Somehow we did it. It wasn't easy, it was very very stressful, he added.

Trotter says sometimes the delay is because some people dont provide the required documents needed to verify their information.

He says around 20,000 Fire victims with special needs or hardships have received an advance payment so far.

RELATED: Camp Fire survivors still waiting on settlement money, 3 years later

Stach hopes more can be done to help.

"Were all doing the best we can I wish the fund and trust administrators were a little better organized, it doesn't seem like they have planned this out very well, Stach said.

Justice Trotter says they expect another cash deposit from PG&E in January. Itll be for around $600 million.

In December of 2019, PG&E agreed to pay $13.5 billion to victims caused by PG&E. Justice Trotter says PG&E has paid around half in cash. The other half will be paid in PG&E stock.

That has not been cashed out yet because the value of the stock has been unpredictable and dropped after the Dixie Fire.
GRIDLEY, Calif. - The Gridley Police Department has released more information about two Alabama men who were reported missing on Saturday.

Police made an exigency request to Ladexter Pelt and John Dubose Jr.s cell phone providers on Sunday.

It was reported that a hunter located a cell phone that belongs to Dubsose Jr. in the Sutter Bypass Wildlife Area on the northwest side of Highway 99 near the Feather River bridge crossing. This is near the town of Nicholas.

This is the same area the cell phone provider last located the cell phone.

On Monday, police and the Sutter County Sheriffs Office searched the area where the cell phone was located. Detectives also met with the hunter who found the phone.

Officials searched by foot and by ATV but did not find any additional information.

RELATED: 2 Alabama men are missing in Gridley area

On Tuesday, the cell phone provider for Pelt provided information on where the phone was.

The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office conducted a search near a Super 8 Wyndham Hotel in Sacramento. The search did not bring out any additional information.

Video surveillance taken at the Sacramento International Airport shows the two men leaving in a dark blue four-door sedan. Police said it was possibly a Toyota or a Nissan.

The vehicle was seen leaving the airport on Nov. 4 at about 11:07 a.m.

The Gridley Police Department is working with the Sacramento Police Department, Sutter County Sheriffs Office and Sacramento County Sheriffs Office.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Gridley Police Department and speak with Detective Mike Mitchell or Officer Adam Reusser.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A vice principal of a Sacramento City Unified High School found racist graffiti in front of her parking spot after over the school's dress code.

"Black Hitler," that's what some high schoolers are calling their assistant principal over the school dress code.

Laura Haefeli spoke with the teacher who says she found even more racist graffiti in front of her parking spot.

It's written on the wall in front of vice principal Elysse Versher's parking spot, one racist word written five times, said Dr. Elysse Versher, the assistant principal of West Campus High School. "I'm devastated. Im devastated."

The words continue onto social media comments aimed at Dr. Versher, from accounts angry about a school dress code.

"This is the first time in my career that students have been emboldened enough to call me a black N**** a N*** b****, black Hitler," said Dr.

The racist language that Dr. Versher says is heartbreaking.

It's not just words but threats facing the three-year vice principal and her family.

What's worse, it's all coming from her own students.

CBS 13 obtained an email the school principal sent to parents, reading in part:

"Ive been made aware of social media and online activity that contains racially derogatory statements targeting our assistant principal, Dr. Elysse Versher, as well as threatening electronic communications made directly to her family members."

"How do I know that they're not going to enact that violence?" Dr. Versher asked.

It's not just herself she's worried about.

My black staff has experienced it, and trust me when I tell you my Black students are the same students who are checking out of here because they don't feel connected, they feel it every day," she said.

The California Department of Education census shows 80% of West Campus High School students identify as non-white. Dr. Versher says the faculty demographic doesn't reflect that.

"There are no black teachers. There's not one black counselor for our students, but, I tell you this, Im not going anywhere," Dr. Versher said.

Versher says the district is supportive and protective of her role at the school.
SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. - Cameron Hookers case has reached a probable cause hearing, which will determine if theres enough evidence to take the case to trial.

The hearing, which could take two days, will begin on March 1, 2022, and will determine if there is sufficient evidence to continue the case which could label Hooker as a Sexually Violent Predator. If there is enough evidence, Hooker will go to trial.

If found guilty, Hooker would remain in jail and receive mental health treatment. If found not guilty, Hooker could be released on parole under certain conditions like wearing an ankle monitor.

Hooker appeared in court Wednesday morning after the case was continued last month.

RELATED: Cameron Hooker case pushed back to November

On Oct. 6, Hookers attorney motioned to continue the hearing so he can speak with Hooker about the Sexually Violent Predator petition and review the court case file.

Hooker will be back in court for a hearing where the court will have to find there is a basis for a Sexually Violent Predator case in order to continue for a jury trial.

Hooker remains in San Mateo County Jail with no bail status.

In 1985, Hooker was convicted for brutal, years-long imprisonment and sexual assaults on Colleen Stan in the late 1970s until the early 1980s.

In November 2019, Tehama County District Attorney wrote a letter to campaign Hooker should be evaluated as a Sexually Violent Predator.

RELATED: DA: Sexually violent predator case continued until July

After multiple law enforcement officials wrote letters to the California Department of Corrections advocating that Hooker be evaluated, the corrections office said Hooker would be evaluated as a Sexually Violent Predator.

After an evaluation of Hooker by a state hospital, Hooker was deemed positive for classification as a Sexually Violent Predator.

In May 2021, the case was continued to determine if both sides have all the necessary documentation in the case.
(CNN) -- The Biden administration on Veterans Day announced a series of new support options for veterans who had been exposed to "contaminants and environmental hazards," such as burn pits, while serving.

The steps, which the White House detailed in a fact sheet, seek to "improve our understanding of the health effects of military-related exposures, educate providers and veterans about these exposures, and provide timelier access to health services and benefits for individuals who were exposed."

The measures include new efforts to determine if there are links between burn pits and rare forms of cancer.

Burn pits were used to incinerate all sorts of waste, hazardous material and chemical compounds at military sites throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Eighty-six percent of post-9/11 veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan say they were exposed to burn pits, according to a 2020 survey by the nonprofit Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

While the Department of Veterans Affairs has previously said the issue is being studied and that those exposed "may be at greater risk for longer-term health conditions," the Biden administration's announcement Thursday brings a number of new support options to sick veterans.

They include the creation of "presumptions of exposure" in order to establish service connections for various chronic conditions and expanded disability benefits based on "presumed exposure to particulate matter."

The VA began processing disability claims for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis in August on a "presumptive basis" based on "presumed particulate matter exposures."

The department will now begin applying the data model it developed to determine potential connections between exposures and rare respiratory cancers, lung cancers and constrictive bronchiolitis.

President Joe Biden directed the VA to complete the review of rare cancers and provide recommendations about new presumptions of service connections within 90 days, according to the fact sheet. The White House added that it would consider taking additional action based on the results.

Other new efforts announced on Thursday include a push to improve data on individual exposures and raise awareness about veterans' eligibility for benefits.

"At the same time, the Administration will work with Congress on its encouraging ongoing efforts to ensure we are able to quickly and fairly recognize additional presumptions of service-connected disabilities, in order to live up to our sacred obligation to provide veterans the care they have earned," the White House said in the fact sheet.

Veteran's groups have welcomed the decision but believe the administration need to do more.

Jeremy Butler, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, called it a "very nice first step," but added "there's a lot more than needs to be done."

"This is a good step by the administration. Unfortunately if you read the fine print, there's a lot of lines in there like, 'We'll do a 90-day review, we'll then see what the evidence shows, we will then consider making changes.' There's a lot of things that don't say what we need to hear, which is we're changing the rules now to make sure that any veteran exposed to and sickened by these toxins is able to get health care from the VA," Butler told CNN's Brianna Keilar on "New Day" Thursday.

The issue of burn pit exposure gained fresh attention last year when Jon Stewart, the former host of "The Daily Show," publicly advocated for a bill that would help sick veterans.

"Welcome to another exciting episode of 'When is America going to start acting like the great country we keep telling ourselves we are?'" a frustrated Stewart said at a news conference at the time. "Our veterans lived 24 hours a day, seven days a week, next to toxic smoke, dioxins -- everything."

But it had already been on the legislative radar of the past two presidents, including bills signed into law that expand the data on exposure.

In 2013, then-President Barack Obama signed the burn pit registry into law so that the VA could gather data on veterans' exposure to burn pits -- even if they weren't experiencing health issues at the time. High traffic plagued the launch of the registry and continually disrupted the early years of its service.

In 2019, then-President Donald Trump signed a law that, in part, will phase out burn pits and require the Department of Defense to pinpoint where they have been used, so that information can be cross-referenced with where sick veterans served.

Biden has said he believes burn pits may have caused the cancer that killed his son Beau -- an Iraq War veteran who died of brain cancer in 2015 -- but has noted he "can't prove it yet." Biden has vowed to fund research on the long-term effects of burn pit exposure.

He told PBS NewsHour in 2018 that, as far as he's aware of, there isn't any "direct scientific evidence that a particular person came back with a lot higher instance of cancer coming from Iraq and Afghanistan than other wars."

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The committee appointed by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), which was tasked with reviewing guidelines on TV rating agencies in India, has recommended a slew of measures to refurbish BARC. Annual audit for transparency and corporate governance are some of the key recommendations in the committees report.

As per the committees report, the Chairperson of BARC, members of the BARC Board as well as nominees of the stakeholder bodies should not only be persons of eminence with impeccable credentials in corporate governance, but should also be someone without conflicts of interest. Further, the nominee for BARC Chairperson should have no other full-time responsibilities. Articles of Association have to be amended to ensure the same, the committee said.

Also read:

MIB steps into TV ratings ecosystem; sets up committee led by Prasar Bharati CEO

Prakash Javadekar informs House about progress of its 4-member TV ratings committee

The chairperson also needs to be able to devote adequate time necessary for effective oversight and supervision of BARC. Thus, to ensure this, the person must not have other full-time responsibilities.

Another important recommendation pertains to audit. BARC India should continue to get an annual audit conducted by an independent agency to ensure conformance with TRP rating methodology, sample size, and grievance redressal methodology and publish the audit report on its website after the Boards approval within three months, after the end of the financial year. It should also prepare an audit manual to ensure accuracy of the process adopted for ratings, household-panel selection, functioning, and data collection for overall rating systems, says the committee report.

The committee report recommends that the stakeholders must make efforts to broaden their membership so that even smaller broadcasters, agencies, and advertisers get a chance to ensure plurality and diversity of stakeholders. The report cites the example of MRC in the US as a best practice to take inspiration from.

Stakeholder bodies managing BARC India should abide by norms on term limits for individual members representing them on the BARC Board and on various BARC committees. Articles of Association may be suitably amended to ensure the same.

The stakeholder bodies must ensure the widest opportunity to member representatives to participate by rotation through the mechanism of term limits. Further, the number of seats held by any one stakeholder corporation must be capped.

The report also recommends a separate one-time audit to be conducted by an independent third party focused on the structure, operating model, risks and dependence on entities other than stakeholder bodies, financials, checks and balances from a corporate governance standpoint of MDPL.

To improve transparency, the committee wants an independent review and oversight of technical matters with no conflicts of interest. The report further stated that the oversight committee must be truly independent in every sense and its members must have no other relationship or interest in BARC India or its stakeholders.

The committee must comprise technical experts drawn from stakeholder representatives rather than executives with sales/ business development/ marketing and other business responsibilities.

The committee has strongly recommended combining traditional sample-based statistical approaches with big data approaches to overcome limitations of sample-based panels and to allay concerns over how representative such samples are.

The committee recommended that provision for Return Path Data (RPD) be made a mandatory capability in all future STBs deployed by DPOs, so that RPD becomes a ubiquitous capability on par with encryption, conditional access and other such mandatory STB level capabilities.
India CTV Report 2021 - Mapping Connected TV (CTV) Viewership in India and the Opportunities for Brands, a report by mediasmart, an Affle company, highlights the changing media consumption patterns of the Indian consumer. India is undergoing digital transformation and consumers are steadily moving away from traditional linear TV to CTV and OTTs. This change presents an untapped advertising opportunity for brands and advertisers. The report highlights consumer adoption insights layered with an expert view on the possible advertising potential.

Speaking to Adgully, Nikhil Kumar, Senior Director - Brand & Strategy, mediasmart, an Affle company, shares the findings and insights from the report, advertiser adoption of CTV, the potential offered by CTV Advertising, and much more.

The CTV Report 2021 is an interesting research, which mediasmart has carried out. What was the objective of conducting this study in India on the viewing habits towards CTV? Is this the first time that this research is being done and what kind of frequency are you looking at?

India has undergone a significant digital transformation post the pandemic and has seen consumers steadily moving away from traditional Linear TV to watching OTT and other content on CTV. This change also presents an untapped advertising opportunity for leading brands. While consumers have adapted to this new medium very fast, we see advertisers slowly warming up to it. One of the reasons limiting faster advertiser adoption of CTV was the lack of standard industry metrics and measurement methodologies. As a leading programmatic platform focused on CTV advertising, we at mediasmart wanted to change that and that led us commission this research to help us understand the CTV behaviour patterns in India. We have published this report for the first time and we are looking to do it regularly now to provide greater market understanding and industry metrics that would help fast track the growth of this industry.

How did you go about doing this research and what was the methodology applied? How many towns did you cover in your research study and how did you go about identifying those towns?

We partnered with VTION Digital Analytics to run a first-party data survey with their audiences mostly spread across metros, Tier 1 and 2 towns. VTION has an interesting panel-led methodology and that led us quickly scale the scope of this project. The survey methodology sought to cover audiences across genders without any bias with the core qualifier criterion of ownership of Smart TV and consumption of the Internet via their Smart TV. The survey covered Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh/ Telangana, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and recorded responses from all respondents with the above qualifier.

From a media planning perspective, where will CTV figure on the planning front and how will it help brands leverage their campaigns?

Industry observers are keenly following how Indias multi-screen viewing habits are shaping up. If one were to look at the western digital advertising spends pie, CTV has already cemented its place. It is interesting to watch leading advertisers in the country adopt CTV advertising as a critical new addition to their media mix. CTV advertising is here to stay and with evolutionary solutions provided by mediasmart with our Household Sync Technology, we are creating unified consumer journeys across devices with CTV being the pillar for it.

If one were to look at the brand impact of CTV in comparison to the traditional TV or online video, CTV in the past has also proven to have led on both metrics of ad awareness and purchase intent in comparison to Linear TV on independent brand lift surveys. It is no surprise that the brands have begun to embrace CTV as well.

Our platform offers an innovative approach to help optimise the CTV opportunity. With mediasmarts unique Household Sync Technology, advertisers can make ads more engaging by syncing CTV ad campaigns with ads on other connected devices in the same household. Brands can launch CTV campaigns to a specific audience in the same household, target premium inventory, measure results and drive them to the nearest store.

CTV is still at a nascent stage. There is no clear data available from where insights can be pulled out on the viewing habits. How will this gap and challenge be addressed?

Agreed, CTV viewing in India is still at a nascent stage and the advertisers also dont have much insight into who these audiences are and how they are consuming CTV. This is the exact problem we are trying to solve with the CTV India Report helping to create standard industry metrics and Household Sync technology driving greater measurement for CTV ad spends.

Advertisers globally  and in India  are lapping up the CTV opportunity as it continues to grow as an exciting medium for digital advertising. We have seen great results and ROI for some of our top clients in India, who are already using the CTV advertising proposition on mediasmart.

What are the significant trends that you have noticed? What are the key takeaways from this study and how will it excite brands when they look at their media strategies?

According to the Report, the key CTV viewership trends and takeaways include:

Out of the select audience surveyed, 78% own a Smart TV and 93% of these smart TV users access Internet-based content

Mobile-first, active and aware CTV consumers: CTV users who are already mobile-first and are actively engaging with diverse apps such as  89% of the respondents are social media users, 82% are e-commerce, 44% are gamers and more

CTV users who are already mobile-first and are actively engaging with diverse apps such as  89% of the respondents are social media users, 82% are e-commerce, 44% are gamers and more Content on demand: Over 59% of the respondents prefer downloading apps via Smart TV App Store, while 26% respondents primarily consume content via pre-installed apps and a small section (15% respondents) use the dongle to stream content on TV

Over 59% of the respondents prefer downloading apps via Smart TV App Store, while 26% respondents primarily consume content via pre-installed apps and a small section (15% respondents) use the dongle to stream content on TV One device, many uses: Close to 70% respondents spend between 1 and 4 hours on CTV watching movies (91%), streaming music (64%), playing games (47%) or watching news (64%)

Close to 70% respondents spend between 1 and 4 hours on CTV watching movies (91%), streaming music (64%), playing games (47%) or watching news (64%) Spending ability and OTT preferences: Over 65% respondents subscribe to more than one OTT app. There is 40%+ adoption for the leading eight OTT apps in India: Disney+ Hotstar, Amazons Prime Video, Netflix, ZEE5, MXPlayer, Sony LIV, VOOT and ALTBalaji. The inclination on app usage is also heavily dependent on seasonality and timing

Over 65% respondents subscribe to more than one OTT app. There is 40%+ adoption for the leading eight OTT apps in India: Disney+ Hotstar, Amazons Prime Video, Netflix, ZEE5, MXPlayer, Sony LIV, VOOT and ALTBalaji. The inclination on app usage is also heavily dependent on seasonality and timing Limited barriers to viewership and adoption: Unlike mobile usage of the Internet, CTV consumption cuts across age and language barriers. By going vernacular, advertisers can engage with users in ads of their language.

For brands and advertisers, CTV brings together the twin strengths of: (a) Engaging storytelling associated with CTV Advertising, and (b) Targeting associated with Programmatic & Digital Advertising. With this twin-fold targeting, brands can achieve three-pronged impacts:

High Impact storytelling on CTV

Amplified engagement on CTV exposed audience on mobile

Drive action and conversion on mobile

Going forward, where do you see CTV headed in India and how are we placed as compared to the West?

CTV consumption and also CTV advertising has very well cemented its place in the western markets, especially in the US. India has started really well on consumer adoption of CTV and cheaper Smart TVs, dongles and data plans together with compelling content propositions of leading OTT players are only going to accelerate this change going forward. As consumers spend more time on this device/ content format, ad dollars will also eventually move in this direction as the Indian market will see growth for both subscriber funded SVOD content and advertiser funded AVOD content on CTV. Therefore, we remain bullish on this opportunity and see India as a key market for our CTV business on mediasmart.
In a respite to broadcasters, TRAI has extended the deadline for enforcing NTO 2.0 to April 1, 2022. The regulator has come up with an implementation plan for migration of subscribers to its new pricing system. The deadline set for the implementation of NTO 2.0 was December 1, 2021.

TRAI decided to extend the deadline after it received representations from industry stakeholders like DPOs, MSOs, DTH operators, and broadcasters. The regulator believes that lack of sufficient time should not stymie the hassle-free implementation of the new pricing regime.

In the latter sent to the stakeholders TRAI said: In view of the complexities and magnitude of processes involved and keeping in view of the past experiences, it would be prudent that sufficient time should be given for migration of consumers to New Regulatory Framework 2020 to avoid any inconvenience to consumers. Sufficient time for exercising an informed choice is the basic premise of the New Regulatory Framework 2020 which will ensure easy implementation of New Regulatory Framework, the TRAI said in a letter to the stakeholders.

Broadcasters are required to provide new RIOs (Reference Interconnect Offers) to the regulator before December 31, 2021 while publishing the necessary details such as bouquet offerings and the MRPs. Those who have provided their RIOs as per the new pricing regime can revise their RIOs by December 31.

The TRAI has asked the broadcasters and DPOs to abide by the provisions of NTO 2.0, as upheld by Bombay High Court. The likes of Viacom18, Sony, Star, and Zee had challenged the NTO 2.0 in different high courts.
Outreach Nepal celebrates its 18th anniversary this week with the ceremony held within the limited team members in the premise of the agency with a wishing anniversary cake that came from Advertising Association of Nepal (AAN).

Outreach is the most awarded agency of Nepal both internationally and domestically and have been creating innovating and distinctive advertising campaigns for global brands, domestic corporate sectors and social development sector clients since 2003.

Mr. Ujaya Shakya, Founder, Outreach Nepal and author of Brandsutra expressed his appreciation to all his colleagues, team, extended partners, clients and brand team, creative fraternity and media channels on this occasion for their continuous support & trust towards outreach team on the occasion.

Outreach is 3-time finalists at the Campaign South Asia Independent Agency of the Year and is the sole winner for Nepal in the year 2016. It has also won multiple awards at many global forums including Adstars Korea, One Show Asia Showcase, ECI China, Abby Awards/Goafest, Flame Awards India and multiple Crity Awards over the years.
Practically Indias first experiential app designed for students in classes 6th to 12th grade with a focus on STEM learning has crossed their first milestone of 1 Million downloads showcasing a strong growth trajectory. Recently, the app has also been ranked amongst the Top 10 education apps on Playstore in India.

Practically offers immersive content and learning experiences through many of its innovative features such as industry-first Scan Anything, 3D visual content, life-like simulations, augmented reality modules, seek help, doubt resolution, test preparation, etc. that help students grasp STEM concepts better.

Charu Noheria, Co-Founder & COO, Practically, commented, We express sincere gratitude for the overwhelming response. It has been a dream run for us since we launched in April last year. The increasing number of students studying on the Practically platform clearly shows the acceptance of our innovative learning approach that is immersive, experiential and distinct. The product favourability, recognition of our advanced features to benefit the blended learning scenario and strategic marketing efforts have helped us reach the milestone of 1 Million downloads early in our journey. We will further innovate and localize the app experience to ensure that young bright minds continue to benefit from it. 

Mahadev Srivatsa, Vice President - Marketing & Brand Strategy, Practically, said, It is indeed a recognition of the smart work and strategic planning that we have been working on to drive the app growth. Delighted to be a part of this exciting journey that saw us go from 1 Lakh downloads to 5 Lakh downloads and now eventually 1 Million downloads. All these milestones were achieved in the last year alone which shows the likeability of the product and the impact of our brand building efforts. With this growing brand stature, we aim to achieve 3 Million installs and then 5 Million eventually accelerating our programs in a phased manner. 

The recently introduced Scan Anything feature has been revolutionary. In just over a month, post introducing this feature, Practically has witnessed growth at a record speed of almost 3X to cross 1 Million Installs. All the in-app metrics (MAU, DAU) have also seen exponential growth and Practically has recently hit more than 200K MAU. #ScanAnythingPractically recently trended at #4 on Twitter on 29th Sept, an indication of the campaign going viral.

Practically has a unique model that has benefited both students and teachers over the past year. Addressing the learning and teaching needs of the current times, Practically have combined game engine, immersive learning assets, and AI-assisted study buddy all in one compact cross-platform app. It also empowers teachers with AI-based insights to enhance the teaching process.

In addition to the above, with the reopening of schools in the second half of the year, Practically has been able to successfully align its content-rich offerings in sync with the hybrid or blended model of learning - comprising a right mix of face-to-face and virtual classes. Practicallys School Solution is every teachers dream, being able to offer end-to-end support for all academic needs.

Practically app is available for free download on the Play Store for Android and App Store for iOS. The app was recently revamped with a host of new features like Study Plan, 3D library with 30,000+ objects and made lighter, offering a new-age consumer experience with a more friendly User Interface. Last week, the Practically app also broke in the Top 10 education apps in India on google playstore.

Practically was named TiE50 Award Winner at TiEcon 2021. It was also awarded as the EdTech Startup of the Year at Startup Awards 2021 by Franchise India & Entrepreneur India. Practically is also adjudged Most Innovative STEM Solution by Elets Digital Learning at the World Education Summit 2021.
Quint Digital Media, a leading digital media company and only new-age digital-first news/ information operator listed on an Indian stock exchange, has entered into definitive agreements to acquire 100% ownership of Quintillion Media as well as 47.92% stake in Spunklane Media.

The said stakes will be acquired for a total consideration of Rs 24.5 crore, subject to necessary closing adjustments. The consideration will be discharged by Quint Digital on a deferred basis, 5% on closing and balance 95% within a period of 12 months from closing.

Also read: Quint Digital Media posts positive results in FY2021

The acquisition of 100% of Quintillion Media includes underlying stakes in the following digital media and technology properties:

Quintillion Business Media (QBM): QBM is an Indian business and financial news company and operates a leading business news digital platform in India. Its main content is based on the Indian economy, international finance, corporate law & governance and business news. As a part of the acquisition, Quint Digital will acquire 100% stake in QBM along with an amended Program Services and Content Sharing Agreement with Bloomberg Television Production Services India, which inter-alia has extended the tenure of the partnership by 10 years.

Anil Uniyal is the Chief Executive officer and Menaka Doshi is the Managing Editor at QBM.

Quintype Technologies India (QTIPL): QTIPL is a Bengaluru-headquartered company and is engaged in providing Software-As-A-Service (SaaS) platform to digital media publishers. QTIPL was set up in 2015, and it provides digital publishers with state-of-the-art content and subscription management systems. Quint Digital will acquire 50.41% stake in QTIPL. In September 2020, QTIPL had raised Rs 25 crore from IIFL AMC, part of IIFL Wealth Management in Series A Funding.

Chirdeep Shetty is the Chief Executive officer at QTIPL.

YKA Media (YKA): YKA is Indias largest media platform (www.youthkiawaaz.com) for young changemakers who want to change the world. YKA was founded by Anshul Tiwari, Founder and Chief Executive Officer in 2014. Quint Digital will acquire 34.6% stake in YKA, including convertible instruments held by QMPL.

In addition, Quint Digital will also acquire 47.92% stake in Spunklane Media (SMP). SMP operates a digital news platform (www.thenewsminute.com) and is focused on reporting and writing on issues in India, with a specific focus on the 5 southern states  Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It was founded by Dhanya Rajendran, Chitra Subramaniam and Vignesh Vellore in 2014.

Speaking on this transaction, Ritu Kapur, Co-Promoter & Chief Executive Officer, Quint Digital, said, The proposed acquisition of stakes in QBM, SMP and YKA will give Quint Digital the double edge advantage of synergising across news platforms as well as diversifying across demographics and geographies, bringing a larger community of readers/ viewers into our fold. QBMs acquisition will add the most valuable learnings in running a successful premium subscription platform as the world gets ready for a rapid growth of reader revenues. The expansion of audiences across various websites and new-age social media platforms, makes us way and away the largest pure-play digital news/ information group in the country. It will close to double our group revenue base, giving us size and clout in the new digital media space. Additionally, QTIPL brings to us cutting edge capabilities in media tech, which is a critical strength in todays burgeoning growth in digital content.

Raghav Bahl and Ritu Kapur are also committed to providing the necessary growth capital to Quint Digital, if required, to finance this acquisition and other growth plans, in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework.

The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors and is subject to customary closing conditions and approvals. The proposed acquisition is a related party transaction and is subject to approval of the shareholders in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, SEBI Listing Regulations, etc.
Quint Digital Media has reported strong Q2 FY2022 (September 21) performance, with the revenues shooting up by 50%+ as compared with Q1 FY22 (June 21). On a year-on-year basis, the revenues increased by over 80% as compared with Q2 FY2020 (September 20). With the increased economic activity, The Quint witnessed a faster and more widescale digital adoption across different sectors of the economy leading to a robust growth in revenue and profitability.

On a half-yearly basis, the revenues grew by over 90% over the same period during FY21. The EBITDA witnessed a positive swing by more than 400%. The quarter also witnessed The Quint continue its earnings growth with an EBITDA level of Rs 4.50 crore. It is a complete upturn in performance as compared with Q2 FY2021 (September 20), which saw an EBITDA level of Rs 1.03 crore.

Overall financial performance:

INR in 000

Particulars Q2  September 30, 2021 Q2  September 30, 2020 Half year ended September 30, 2021 Half year ended September 30, 2020 Revenue from Operations 95,983 52,398 159,922 83,444 Other Income 5,030 (24) 9,186 3,263 Total Income 101,013 52,374 169,108 86,707 Employee benefit expenses 24,224 18,016 46,006 58,100 Finance cost 2,522 2,660 5,219 4,332 Depreciation and amortization expense 18,347 6,108 32,623 8,439 Other expenses 31,778 18,399 54,511 44,242 Total Expenses 76,871 45,183 138,359 115,112 Exceptional Items - 5,736 - 5,736 Profit before tax 24,142 1,455 30,749 (34,141) Tax expenses 5,836 (9,388) 7,540 (9,341) Profit after tax 18,307 10,843 23,209 (24,800)

Audience engagement:

The audience footprint across the websites and digital platforms  including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.  continued its strong momentum in the quarter. Some of the key data points, aggregated across the websites and digital platforms, include:

Description/ Period 15 months ending Quarter 2 Quarter 1 September 30, 2021 FY2021-22 FY 2021-22 Page Views 496.4 Mn 104.2 Mn 93.4 Mn Video Views 1.11 Bn 298.4 Mn 261.1 Mn Unique Viewers 997.4 Mn 313.5 Mn 291.5 Mn Impressions 13.1 Bn 3.01 Bn 3.52 Bn

Source: based on data provided by platforms/ other agencies

The digital properties had nearly 16.03 million subscribers/ followers across various platforms at the end of Q2.

In the video space, as per Facebook Leader-board, The Quint is the only new-age digital media portal that is rubbing shoulders with traditional and legacy media players. The Quint has also secured a higher video interaction rate on Facebook as compared to some of the leading players within a short span of 6 years.

The Quint also featured at the 18thposition on Feedspots list of 100 Top Indian News Websites. In due recognition of its position and content, The Quint also bagged two awards at the IMA South Indian Marketing Awards, 2021  Gold in the branded content category and Silver in the branded content and podcast category.
After a muted festive season last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the willingness to spend is higher. As per a ZestMoney Survey, 72% of Indians plan to splurge on electronics & gadgets, while 59% prefer BNPL to fund festive purchases. 62% of the respondents revealed that festive budgets have gone up compared to last year. A recent market research by YouGov gives a big boost to the Diwali Expense Index, which is generally indicative of Q3 sales growth in India.

Also read: Voltas Beko salutes the spirit of motherhood this Durga Puja

The Indian festive season is a crucial time as consumer demand is at its peak with many planning several small and big-ticket purchases. With increased vaccination and the general opening of the economy, the survey has witnessed a positive sentiment around budgets and shopping at physical stores, even as online shopping continues to be popular among people.

As part of Adgullys Festive Mood series, we have been covering the market, brand and consumer sentiments during the festive season this year. In conversation with Adgully, Deba Ghoshal, Vice President and Head of Marketing, Voltas, speaks about the companys strategy for the festive season this year, the growing demand for need-based functional categories, leveraging digital activations and more.

What kind of trends have you seen in consumer spends, ad spends by brands and sales during this festive season?

During these times, especially after the lockdowns have been lifted, we have been witnessing an uptick in health and hygiene products like our PureAir Inverter AC, Air Purifiers, Microwaves and Dishwashers, as many customers are looking to upgrade or replace their existing home appliances. There has been a prominent increase in demand for need-based functional categories like cooling products and kitchen appliances, and we expect the industry to swiftly move back to normal operating levels. The revival of consumer demand is undoubtedly phased, and we expect the industry to gain more traction in many parts of the country during and after this festival season. We have also witnessed that the Home Appliances industry has gained good contribution from online channels during this festive season. We are optimistic that in the festival season, all categories of cooling products and home appliances will continue to gain lost ground as witnessed in the previous quarter.

What kind of online/ offline split is seen in brands marketing strategies?

By enhancing the availability of the Voltas and Voltas Beko products across the country, as market leaders, we expect more and more business coming in from the Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, where we also have the highest AC distribution reach. Simultaneously, with social distancing bound to remain as the new norm, digital media investments will continue to go up as more people end up searching online and making purchases. For Consumer Durables, especially Cooling Products and Home Appliances, like last year, Digital has and will be our priority, followed by Electronic and Print.

We are leveraging digital activations by launching various category specific campaigns and festive contests to connect with our customers and build an omni-channel presence in this space. Our new webstore, www.voltaslounge.com, is a step in this direction. Also, all leading e-commerce players recognise our online traction and pull, and are ensuring our availability on their respective platforms. Similarly, our Grand Mahotsav Offer introduced exciting exchange offers, hassle-free EMI schemes, cash-back offers, and extended warranty, all under one package. Given this context, we have adopted a hybrid marketing model and taking advantage of our extensive distribution reach and online presence, to create real-time customer delight.

What is your overall festive season spends for this year? What kind of campaigns and marketing strategies have you drawn up to engage with your consumers this year?

This year, our marketing strategy towards retail and customer engagement has been to make use of a 360-degree approach. For Consumer Durables, especially Cooling Products and Home Appliances, like last year, Digital has and will be our priority, followed by Electronics. For our flagship category, Voltas ACs, and Voltas Beko range of Refrigerators and Washing Machines, we came back to Electronic media (Television) during this October, with emphasis on impact GECs, regional and news channels. This was supported by Digital, especially programmatic, display, social and search. And for our Consumer Offer, we used Print and Radio tactically, pan India. All media cylinders were firing for us this festive season.

Recently, we have launched our brand new Voltas web lounge, www.voltaslounge.com, which is a one-stop destination for purchasing all Voltas and Voltas Beko products. We are using an omni-channel approach with a mix of digital, electronic print and radio to engage with our customers during this time of the year.

As India was at the peak of the festive season in October, we also announced our Grand Mahotsav Offer for all our customers across the country. As a part of the festive offers, consumers have the opportunity to win many benefits on the purchase of Voltas and Voltas Beko products. With an effort to increase access to its products during this auspicious time of the year, Voltas and Voltas Beko are also providing multiple finance offers including up to 15% Cashback on select Credit & Debit Cards and Easy EMI Finance offers as low as Rs 2,000 through NBFCs. Additionally, Voltas is also offering up to Five Year Comprehensive Warranty worth up to Rs 12,000 to encourage purchases for home upgradation and festive gifting. The company also introduced an exclusive offer on standard installation for Split ACs. The idea was to provide tangible benefits to the consumer and reduce the barriers for adoption and upgradation.
ZebPay, Indias oldest and most trusted bitcoin and crypto asset exchange, today announced the appointment of Raj Karkara as its Chief Operating Officer (COO). Raj joined ZebPay as Chief Business Officer in September 2020 and, more recently, had been promoted to the role of Chief Marketing Officer. With this role change, in addition to Marketing, Raj will now directly oversee Product Management, Trade, OTC, Global Growth and Operations (Customer Service & Excellence).

Raj Karkara comes with over 15 years of experience in the financial services, fintech and e-commerce industries. Previously, he was the Co-Founder of KansoStrategy, a boutique strategy and consulting firm that works with crypto, e-commerce, payments and fintech clients globally. Prior to Kanso, Raj held various positions such as Senior Vice President of product, CRO and COO at tZERO ( www.tzero.com ), the global leader in digital securities. Prior to tZERO, Raj held the role of Vice President of Product management for financial services, loyalty and new business development at Overstock ( www.overstock.com ). Prior to Overstock, Raj held the role of Director, Global Product and Solutions at MasterCard ( www.mastercard.com ), where his responsibilities included prepaid strategy and mobile money.

With this new appointment, ZebPay further strengthens its leadership team to enhance market share in India as well as expand into new markets globally. Rajs primary responsibility will be to develop actionable business strategies and plans that align with the companys short-term and long-term objectives. He will work closely with ZebPays Co-CEO, Avinash Shekhar, in setting and driving organisational vision, operational strategy, performance management and hiring needs. Additionally, he will work towards translating the strategy into executable goals for performance and further growth of ZebPay.

On this announcement, Avinash Shekhar, Co-CEO, ZebPay, said, Raj has strengthened ZebPays presence and business in the crypto ecosystem since he joined us over a year ago and I am glad to have him as ZebPays Chief Operating Officer. With his extensive expertise, ZebPay will see rapid growth and global expansion to achieve our vision of becoming become the #1 cryptocurrency exchange in India and subsequently, the world. We are building ZebPay as an all-encompassing crypto company that offers innovative solutions and products to a diverse set of investors, from retail to institutional. I am confident Raj will continue to play a pivotal role in helping ZebPay chart new paths of success and achieve the long-term vision to create a social enterprise with a blockchain-based mutualized structure.

Raj Karkara, COO, ZebPay, said, ZebPay has been innovating and launching new and industry-first products to address the needs of a diverse set of customers ever since its inception in 2014 and I am excited to lead ZebPay as it gears up for further expansion. Crypto is booming in India with vast untapped potential for solutions that will make us a global leader. ZebPay is well-positioned to play an integral part and I am looking forward to driving strategies and building on our foundation of product and customer excellence to be the leading crypto exchange in India and Globally.
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Bern, 11.11.2021 - In the year in which Greece celebrates the bicentenary of its independence, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis received Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias in Bern. The main topics for the official talks included the two countries' strong bilateral relations, Switzerland's European policy, the challenges of migration and current international issues.

The last time the two foreign ministers met was in 2019, when Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis travelled to Greece on a working visit. Today's bilateral talks in Bern emphasised the good relations that the two countries have enjoyed for many years in a wide variety of areas. They were also an opportunity to commemorate the bicentenary of Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire and the uprising of 1821, which was also supported at the time by various Swiss public figures. The strength of Switzerland's ties with Greece is also reflected in more recent examples, such as the engagement of Swiss Humanitarian Aid and the Swiss Armed Forces in extinguishing the forest fires in the country this summer and the dispatch of medical supplies by the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) to the Greek authorities to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Close bilateral and multilateral cooperation

Switzerland and Greece maintain successful relations in a wide range of areas including energy, business, culture, research, and of course tourism. Over 500,000 Swiss tourists spend their holidays in Greece every year. In the area of migration, the two countries pursue common interests and work closely together. Switzerland is also supporting Greece in the migration emergency. The Swiss support includes targeted aid in refugee camps. Mr Cassis and fellow foreign minister Nikos Dendias restated their desire to further strengthen their countries' good bilateral relations and discussed global issues such as the health challenges of the pandemic and the environmental challenges resulting from climate change.

Turning to current international events, the two ministers discussed the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and Switzerland's role as host state. Mr Cassis then informed his counterpart about Switzerland's European policy and the current situation with regard to SwissEU relations, reiterating that the Federal Council seeks to establish a political dialogue with the EU.

Address for enquiries

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West Wing

CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53

Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55

E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Twitter: @SwissMFA

Publisher

Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html




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Mona el-Kurd and other residents of the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah hold a press conference.
Energy secretary Jennifer Granholm, the laughing face of Joe Biden's not-so-funny energy policy, told CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday that Americans' home-heating costs are going up this winter. Interviewed on Bloomberg Radio a few days earlier, a question implying that she, the secretary of energy, might possibly have some ideas about fixing soaring gas prices had Granholm in stitches. "Would that I had the magic wand on this," she said, once she finished laughing. You see, Dana, oil is controlled by a cartel called OPEC, and where else can we get it?

We can be grateful Granholm doesn't have a magic wand: just imagine the additional nightmares she would conjure. Still, there had to be some magic  black magic, that is  in how team Biden changed us, practically overnight, from a net energy exporter before January 20 to an energy orphan today pathetically begging OPEC for "more oil, please."

Of course, our current skyrocketing fuel prices aren't OPEC's fault, because they're the direct result of deliberate Biden actions meant to reverse Donald Trump's triumphant achievement of American energy independence. On Biden's first day in office, he killed the Keystone XL Pipeline, then later banned oil exploration on federal lands. Then he picked as energy secretary a woman who admitted in 2016 that the real goal of climate activists is to do "everything possible to keep fossil-fuel energy in the ground."

Last week, Biden was in Glasgow confessing America's climate crimes. Then, as soon as he got back, he launched a new attack, this one on Line 5, a critical fuel pipeline that runs 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin through Michigan to its terminus in Sarnia, Ontario. Since 1953, Line 5 (built to last by the company that put up the Hoover Dam) has been safely transporting 540,000 barrels per day of light crude and natural gas liquids to refineries in the Midwest and Ontario  refineries that employ thousands of workers, producing gasoline, propane, jet fuel, and other petroleum products vital to heat the homes and power the economies of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, along with providing "nearly half of the oil needs of both Ontario and Quebec."

But climate fanatics hate Line 5 because it includes a single four-mile section that runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. There has never been a Line 5 leak, let alone a catastrophic one. Nor is there any evidence of poor maintenance or a recently developed weakness, and Enbridge, the line's Canadian owners, are in full compliance with governing federal law. But climate activists have convinced themselves Line 5 is an imminent ecological time bomb, and every year, anxious college kids trudge door-to-door with petitions to shut Line 5 down before it's too late, and the Great Lakes have been reduced to 94,000 square miles of steaming tar pits. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, along with her radical pit bull, Attorney General Dana Nessel (the most dangerous Democrat in Michigan), campaigned on shutting down Line 5. Since taking office, they have waged non-stop lawfare against Enbridge, so far without success. In fact, there's a treaty with Canada, ratified by Congress, making the United States  not Michigan  legally bound to keep the line running, which may be why the Biden administration is now sticking its beak in. According to federal court filings, a shutdown of Line 5 will be a "'massive and potentially permanent' blow to Canada's economy and energy security." Our relations with Canada are already strained thanks to Biden's senseless halting of the Keystone Pipeline.

But safe record aside, Enbridge decided to further reduce potential risk from Line 5 to near zero and made an agreement with Michigan in 2018 (before Whitmer became governor) to construct, at Enbridge's own expense, a $500-million tunnel that replaces the existing pipeline with a 21-foot diameter tunnel bored through solid rock, 100 feet beneath the lake bed, encasing the new pipelines completely.

It goes without saying the implacable left are fighting the tunnel project, too.

Whitmer's insistence that Line 5 poses "an unacceptable risk of a catastrophic oil spill in the Great Lakes that could devastate our economy and way of life" is unsupported speculation. But it's a certainty that a permanent shutdown of Line 5 guarantees catastrophic economic, social, and infrastructure damage to the entire region. Without Line 5, 45% of the region's current fuel supply drops to 0%, causing an immediate shortage of 14.7 million gallons of gas, diesel, and jet fuel. Michigan's Upper Peninsula would lose 65% of its fuel supply, and the rest of the state will drop by 55%. In northern Wisconsin, 27% of Congressman Tom Tiffany's constituents heat their homes with propane, and they've already watched the price of propane more than double  from $.80 per gallon in August 2020 to over $2.00 per gallon now. What will choking off 540,000 barrels per day mean for these households? Or the potential loss of 33,000 jobs, and "at least $20.8 billion in economic losses in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania"?

Nor would closing Line 5 satisfy the true believers, because it's not really pipelines they hate, anyhow; it's the demon stuff that goes through them. They're not outraged because there's a chance of a catastrophic oil spill. They're outraged that there's oil anywhere.

That's why on Monday, as reported in Law360 (subscription only), "the Biden administration ... proposed suspending a 2020 rule that allows liquefied natural gas to be transported by rail in bulk"  a rule "intended to help handle the country's increased production of natural gas, and to comply with former President Donald Trump's order to promote energy and the economy." The administration claims that "environmental risks" were overlooked that, naturally, now demand further study. But clearly, the rule change is a pretext to throw yet one more obstacle between fossil fuelproducers and their markets in the hopes of driving them under.

Petrophobia is behind Biden's choice of Soviet-trained Saule Omarova for comptroller. Omarova's big idea is to "starve" companies of money to invest in oil and gas producers because we need producers "to go bankrupt if we want to tackle climate change."

The undying shame of this pathological loathing for fossil fuels is that America is sitting on a superabundance of it, and we were finding more all the time, or we were till the Democrats took over. Now it's like the seventies all over, only worse, because back then the supply problems really were the fault of foreign adversaries. Now we're doing it to ourselves. As Victor Davis Hanson puts it, "we have suffered plenty of fossil fuel scarcities due to war, embargoes, and declining reserves. But never has America deliberately created shortages amid a sea of our own gas and oil." Never, until now.

Fossil fuel isn't just a gooey hazard useful only for powering gas-guzzling SUVs (or private jets): it's the lifeblood of the industrialized world. Without its applied usefulness, our typical day would be unrecognizable, and the modern world unimaginable, and the world's population dramatically smaller. Every thoughtless repetition that windmills or solar panels are "alternatives" to fossil fuel is a fresh insult to our intelligence. Every reckless decision to dismantle the nation's fossil-fuel infrastructure, in reliance on the figment of "alternative sources," makes the slope we're all descending on just that much steeper.

T.R. Clancy looks at the world from Dearborn, Michigan. You can email him at trclancy@yahoo.com.

Oil derrick image: lalabell68 via Pixabay, Pixabay License.

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Veterans' Day this year will definitely feel different to me  in both good and bad ways. As a veteran, one of my favorite days of the year is November 11, when I get to pull out and wear my old threadbare 82nd Airborne Division "re-enlist" t-shirt. It's the one time per year that I wear my shirt  one of my favorites  to the local parade, and then strategically plan out, like a battlefield commander, how to get a free coffee, a free donut, a free lunch, and still have room to throw in a free dinner somewhere. The logistics are brutal, as you can imagine, but it's been a tradition now for over twenty years. Each year that passes makes the journey more difficult as I find the time spent with family more valuable than the time spent gorging myself on multiple meals that neither I nor my waist really needs.

I served at a time when America wasn't at war; I came in at a time of relative peace, and my most difficult deployment was probably to Fort Polk for some Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) exercises that primarily involved sleeping in mud, sweating profusely, and having a substantial portion of my blood volume extracted by mosquitoes over the course of the week. I'm proud of my time in the military and what I gave to America; it was a hard five years, and I didn't always like it, but in retrospect, the things I learned and did during those years made me who I am today.

Shortly after I left the military, America did go to war. Iraq and Afghanistan would soon be on the minds of all Americans as we began to hear the stories of victories and of injuries and deaths. Back when I joined the military as a young(er) man, I thought war would be fun  I hoped for the chance to be a hero and make a name for myself...visions created in my mind, no doubt, by the many movies I had seen as a child where the hero never died. But, year after year, as I grew older and saw the news of war, and understood what war really looked like, as I heard the stories of soldiers returning home with injuries to their bodies and their minds, I knew that war was not a movie, and it wasn't something to be hoped for.

The best of us returned home over those years, hailed as heroes...men and women of the greatest character and strength, bearing within their bodies and minds the physical and mental cost of battle. They were our veterans, our heroes, a living testament to the greatness of a nation where men from all walks of life and all callings were willing to give of themselves up to the last full measure to keep America safe and to spread the light of democracy to a world that was not as blessed and free as America.

While I always made it a point to thank the old men I would see wearing hats that said "Veteran," I especially made a point to thank the young men who I knew were veterans. I thanked them for doing what most did not, and for the freedom that my family and I enjoy because of their service.

The Veterans' Day ceremonies seem to come more quickly the older I get, like Groundhog Day, taking out that old t-shirt from the 82nd, going to the local parade, saying thanks to the veterans I meet, and then hitting the road in search of some free meals. But this year, it all just seems different...this year, it all just feels different.

Having seen what love of country is, having seen the displays of sacrifice by America's best, and having grown in appreciation for the blessings of freedom for which so many have served, my heart breaks when I see and hear of the callousness with which our current administration treats our soldiers, our "one-day" veterans. Those who have chosen to defend our country, who have chosen to stake their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to maintain our way of life, are being treated in a way that no hero should be treated. They are being threatened over vaccination, which is not a health issue at this point, but a political control issue.

I understand that our military members receive vaccines. I remember standing in a room, along with dozens of other men, at Fort Leonard Wood, getting jabbed with all manner of vaccines and substances on my first day, not knowing what they were putting into me and not caring. I still have a yellow paper shot record that might as well be one of the Dead Sea Scrolls for all that I can make of it. But this vaccine is different. It was created at "warp speed" with no long-term testing, under emergency use authorization, approved by the FDA because of politics, designed to fight a virus with a greater than ninety-nine-percent survivability rate, created for a variant that may no longer exist or be dominant, and demanded under threat to be injected into some of the healthiest Americans.

I had always assumed that the greatest threat to our soldiers, sailors, and airmen would be from somewhere overseas, from some malevolent adversary with a bad haircut wearing something that looks like one of Hillary Clinton's pantsuits. Indeed, that was the case with Iraq and Afghanistan over the last twenty or so years. But my heart breaks as I see that the new greatest threat to these men now comes from the military they joined, from the commanders who swore to defend their troops, and from the country that relies upon the voluntary enlistments and commissions of patriotic Americans.

I'm torn, as I know that an order is an order...but this whole situation just feels wrong, when I read accounts of the commander in chief opposing honorable discharges for those service members who refuse this particular vaccine, Navy SEALs being harassed and intimidated, and calls for military members to repay their bonuses and the costs of their training. This can't be about what's best for our heroes; this can't be about caring for them, who have seen and sacrificed so much, as the best that America has to offer; this can't be about making our nation safe by breaking and destroying the lives of patriotic men in their prime.

Most veterans are extremely proud to have served their country; they are proud to have given some bit of themselves in support of our way of life and to have carried the torch of liberty and passed the beacon of freedom from one set of protectors to the next. To financially ruin these underpaid heroes with repayments for training and to discharge them with anything less than an honorable discharge, which would limit their employment and benefit opportunities for life, would be the greatest betrayal to our brave men and women. It would be more than a betrayal; it would be malicious depravity of the highest order, disgusting, and a violation of all that is decent and good about this country. It is almost sickening to think that anyone, let alone the commander in chief, would condemn these individuals to such a bleak future for the sake of an experimental vaccine.

Indeed, Veterans' Day this year does feel different, and I will celebrate a little more loudly this year, cheering for the floats as they pass by, hugging my children a little tighter as we watch, telling them of what heroism looks like and why those men are deserving of honor, teaching them of what America really stands for and what duty really is. As I enjoy my free meal with my family, telling them stories of my time in the military, I will lead my family in a prayer for those brave men who are now in the most intense fight of their lives with the most at stake if they lose. God bless America, our military, and our veterans.

Image via Max Pixel.

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The U.S. is facing a serious constitutional crisis over the handling of the cases of defendants in the Jan. 6 so-called "insurrection" in Washington, D.C. to protest the presidential election modus operandi and the results. Those being held for many months without a trial are being denied their habeas corpus rights under the U.S. Constitution and even dating back to English law hundreds of years before our Constitution was implemented. Not only are they being incarcerated without having had a trial, but there is some evidence that they are being mistreated or are being held 23 hours a day in solitary confinement, which is a punishment accorded only the most dangerous criminals, such as serial killers and terrorists.

What are habeas corpus rights? According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), "[h]abeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Translated from Latin it means 'show me the body.' Habeas corpus has historically been an important instrument to safeguard individual freedom against arbitrary executive power." A citizen must be charged and cannot be held indefinitely. A charge requires a trial, and, if found guilty in a trial, there is a sentence for a specific amount of time.

Even PolitiFact  hardly an unbiased fact-checker  relates, "The vast majority of defendants have been released from custody while awaiting trial, but some [my italics] held in jail have been kept in solitary confinement." The fact that exact numbers for how many are held in solitary confinement or for how long suggests to this writer evasion by the Washington, D.C. jail authorities.

Despite the attempt by outlets like PolitiFact to minimize the problem of solitary confinement, a number of GOP senators have voiced their concern about this problem, and even the ACLU  certainly not an outreach arm of the Republican Party  has become involved. However, the Republican senators who are concerned do not have a specific number. The lack of definitiveness in this area is alarming.

Even saying that "it's only a few bad dudes" being held without habeas corpus does not dilute the evil that suspension of habeas corpus is. Only a couple of weeks after seven Southern states seceded from the Union in 1861, Pres. Lincoln suspended habeas corpus and arrested an individual in Maryland  a state that had not seceded  for advocating secession. The U.S. Circuit Court ruled that Lincoln's action violated the U.S. Constitution. Although Lincoln did not rescind his setting aside of habeas corpus, John Merryman, the object of this action, was allowed to post bail three months later and was never brought to trial. Charges of treason against him were eventually dropped. This was only one case in the context of social turmoil much greater than that of Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C., yet the Circuit Court and many citizens who supported our fight against the secessionist states still deemed Lincoln's action an overreach.

A crucial law in respect of this right not to be imprisoned without being charged was the English Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, 110 years before our U.S. Constitution was written. That law said no one could be held in prison except for treason indefinitely, and that failure to present the person to be charged to a court would result in officials being fined. This law was followed by the Declaration of Right in 1689. Among the many provisions of this 1689 foundational document, which became a formative model for our own Constitution and Bill of Rights, was the provision "promises of fines and forfeitures before conviction are illegal and void." So the earlier law was updated to include financial injury to the prisoner as well as removal of his freedom.

In today's context, that 1689 extension of the earlier 1679 law extends to the health of the incarcerated person. This applies to the present Washington, D.C. prisoners from Jan. 6 like Christopher Worrell, who has non-Hodgkins lymphoma and who has not had necessary surgery on his right hand. He is being made to suffer over and above the denial of his habeas corpus rights, which additional neglect and suffering have, since 1689, also been considered illegal in English law. Thus, we can see that the Nov. 3, 2021 ruling by U.S. district judge Royce C. Lamberth, declaring that Warden Wanda Patten and director of the D.C. Dept. of Corrections Quincy Booth are in civil contempt for "potential civil rights violations," is a ruling based in English common law going back 332 years! If that is not egregious conduct, what is?

On many MSM outlets, commentators are referring to the Jan. 6 protesters as "insurrectionists," but so far no one has been charged with insurrection. Insurrectionist is possibly another word for "traitor," so  going back to the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679  it would seem to justify holding someone without charging him. However, this mindset is gripped by hyperbole. Even if the protesters are guilty of violent actions during their protest, it would be an exaggeration to say they were traitors. Benedict Arnold, a notable traitor during the American Revolution, sold us out to the British for 10,000 pounds, but he was not imprisoned. Jefferson Davis, who was president of the Confederacy during the Civil War, was imprisoned for only two years and then lived as a free man. Jane Fonda denounced the U.S.'s role in Vietnam to American soldiers serving in Vietnam but was never prosecuted, and John Kerry, another anti-American who lied repeatedly about the Vietnam War and about U.S. activities while prosecuting that war, became a candidate for president and is now our climate czar.

Denouncing those in jail as insurrectionists and traitors completely lacks perspective and is an attempt to generate a climate of fear and hatred for those who repudiate the administration of President Joe Biden as unworthy of this great country.

Readers should contact their senators and representatives ASAP to promote the cause of justice. They can link this article to provide the historical and legal context for holding the view that action must be taken to resolve the abuse of power we now see regarding defendants who have been arrested for their actions on Jan. 6.

Image via Pxhere.

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In 1842, Edgar Allan Poe wrote a horror story entitled "The Masque of the Red Death." It turns out to be a powerful metaphor for what the Democrat party is doing with COVID and the vaccines in America in 2021.

In the story, a mysterious plague that causes people to bleed to death is abroad in the land. Prince Prospero takes over a walled and gated abbey and fills it with his rich friends so they can avoid the Red Death that is bringing so much misery to the land. Safe behind the abbey's walls, Prospero organizes a lavish masked costume ball that will be held in seven different rooms, each decorated in a different color.

Our modern Democrat rulers, who feel so superior to us, are having their own lavish parties, whether in Martha's Vineyard, in expensive restaurants such as the French Laundry, or at a Getty heiress's wedding, while the hoi polloi couldn't even attend a funeral or say goodbye to loved ones. Now we need permission to work or shop. And in 2021, the masks are for you to wear, not the elites.

In Poe's story, the seventh room is different from the rest. The walls are black, but the stained glass windows are red. The combination sheds a garish light upon the guests, making them grotesque in appearance.

The partiers in the black room become inexplicably uneasy whenever the ebony clock rings in the hour, so the dancing stops and the band stops playing. When the bells stop, the guests start to feel foolish and vow not to be alarmed when the clock strikes again, and yet they grow uneasy with each hour's bells.

In 2021 America, instead of a clock, we have the diminutive Dr. Fauci sounding the alarm in perfect harmony with the MSM constantly reminding us about the latest COVID statistics and offering dire predictions. When these predictions don't come to pass, we are temporarily relieved until the next hour's alarms, news, and predictions make us apprehensive all over again.

At last, it's midnight in the black room. The clock strikes twelve. The guests stand still, and the band stops playing as all nervously wait for the clock to finish its twelve strokes. But this time, with the last chime, things do not return to normal. Instead, a figure wearing a mask and a dark, blood-spattered robe that looks like a funeral shroud appears, seemingly mocking Prospero and his guests.

Enraged, Prospero confronts this uninvited guest who dared mock him and his gathering of elites. When Prospero, who has chased the guest with a dagger, finally reaches him and tries to unmask him, Prospero instead cries out and falls dead, with all the signs of the plague upon his face and body. The terrified crowd somehow finds the courage in numbers to attack this assassin before he can flee.

However, when the guests strip the figure of its mask and robe, they find nothing underneath. Almost instantaneously, they contract the Red Death and die en masse. The plague had taken its revenge against Prospero and the elites who thought they were superior to everyone else and could defeat death itself. The story concludes with the line "And Darkness and Decay and the Red Death held illimitable dominion over all."

Our elites also believe that they can have dominion over COVID (or us?) through the vaccine. Unlike Prospero and his guests, they are forcing all of us to dance at that ball, whether we want to or not. And as noted, we must wear those masks. Instead of Prospero's willing guests, we have been made his unwilling guests  all for a virus with a 99.7% survival rate. And as COVID recedes, it begins to look as if the vaccine itself has become the new Red Death.

Just as the revelers discovered that they were wrong about what lurked behind the costume of the Red Death, many Americans believe we are not seeing what's really behind the rush for vaccinations. That is, what is the invisible agenda? Perhaps we'll all find the answer to that after the clock strikes midnight.

Image: The Masque of the Red Death by Harry Clarke. Public domain.

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The comptroller of the currency is not another one of those do-nothing Washington jobs. The person filling this critical role controls all federally licensed banks, credit unions, and foreign banks operating in the United States and similar institutions. Normally, you would think receiving your postgraduate education at the University of Moscow (in the USSR) and writing your doctoral dissertation on the advantages of Marxism over free economy capitalism might be a disqualifier for this all-powerful position. But not in the Biden administration.

To Biden and his cronies, the fact that their nominee for comptroller is a lifelong Marxist is not disqualifying. In fact, to the radical Democrats pulling Biden's strings, Russian-born Saule Omarova's dedication to hardcore communism is one of her strongest qualifications. Ms. Omarova makes no attempt to hide her radical leftist political and economic feelings other than to try to prevent the Senate committee considering her confirmation from accessing her other "academic" works.

As noted yesterday, some conservatives digging into Omarova's recent past may have found the wooden stake to drive through the heart of her nomination. In a newly unearthed video clip, this woman who Biden wants to control all our nation's finances told her audience, "In order to prevent climate change, we have to bankrupt all the coal, oil, and gas companies."

Under other circumstances, we might consider this utter foolishness to be little more than the drunken utterance of some Ivy League sophomore. Unfortunately, in this case, the threat and intent to completely bankrupt American energy producers came directly from the mouth of a person who might be given the power to do just that!

Omarova's nomination is still sitting before the Senate. All 50 Republicans have pledged to vote against her. Veteran Capitol Hill observers think the "no" vote necessary to scuttle her nomination would certainly come from West Virginia's Sen. Manchin. No one can see him approving a nominee committed to destroying his state's economy.

That she probably won't get confirmed isn't the most important part of the story. There is absolutely no doubt the Biden cabal knew about her history and ideology before they nominated Comrade Omarova to run the nation's financial future. This feeds into the question so many of us are asking.



Image: Saule Omarova (edited in befunky). Twitter screen grab.

How could it be possible that Biden and Harris (AKA Mumbles and Giggles) and their policies are such complete and total failures in absolutely every area? It simply is not conceivable that all their failures, the universal disasters that have hurt the country and its people so badly could have been accidents. No one is that bad "accidentally."

What does that mean to us now and in the near future?

Twelve years ago, Barack Obama opened his presidency by touring the world to apologize for how horrible a country the United States was. We all remember the video highlights of Obama's "Great Apology Tour" as he bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia.

In looking at Omarova's nomination and everything else this administration has done, from the border to Kabul to the supported terrorists, including Iranians, receiving de facto permission to build their atomic bomb, I believe we are forced into one inescapable conclusion: the Biden/Harris administration's actions are not the result of ineptitude. They are a carefully thought out, well-planned, and almost flawlessly executed plan to ensure the destruction of the United States as we know her. It is being viciously implemented by Obama acolytes such as Susan Rice and hundreds of others who are the people really running our country under the Biden administration.

Is that an overstatement? I certainly hope so.

After Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Yamamoto presciently said, "I fear all we have done is awaken the sleeping tiger." Certainly, the election in Virginia suggests that Americans are becoming roused. But that may not necessarily save us.

The new question we almost dare not ask is this: do the radical Democrats now realize they will lose their rubberstamp governing power in Washington after next year's midterm elections? With that in mind, will they simply accelerate what they're doing to destroy the country so that they can accomplish their goal before Republicans almost certainly take over Congress in fifteen months?

I certainly have no crystal ball to predict the results of such an attempt by the radical left, but Omarova's nomination leaves little doubt as to their intentions.

Ed Sherdlu is the pen name of a former CBS television network reporter. He uses a pen name because his mother would be so embarrassed to know that Ed's 12-Step Journalism Recovery Program had been a failure.

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Anyone who watches Saturday Night Live probably saw the segment starring Cecily Strong as "Goober the Clown" in the last show. The skit is disgusting. Unless you work for Planned Parenthood, you will want your three-plus minutes of life back.

Strong's clown character talks about an abortion she had at age 23. She jokes about the choice she made as though having an abortion were as easy as a walk on the beach. Abortion is not funny or a joke. A woman who has been traumatized or left infertile from a botched abortion and tunes in to SNL for comedy won't find this skit amusing. It is an appalling slap in the face to any woman grieving over an abortion decision, regretting the loss of her unborn child.

Who is SNL's target audience? If its audience gives tacit approval of this garbage, then I pity the future of TV comedy. The militant abortion-friendly media are worse for applauding the skit. The Daily Beast calls it "brilliant." The Salon headline reads: "On 'SNL,' Cecily Strong's Goober the Clown nails the joy and comedy of abortion."

"It's a rough subject. So we're gonna do fun clown stuff to make it more palatable," Goober says with glee.

The militant pro-abortion left will never make abortion palatable. Their "Shout Your Abortion" movement appeals to Planned Parenthood and its donors. But most Americans dislike their message and criticize the movement as extreme. Comedians Sarah Silverman and Michelle Wolf tried their hand at making jokes about abortion. Wolf's comments were so appalling that Netflix pulled her show.

The stigma of abortion is embedded in the act. What pro-abortion Democrats refuse to accept is that most Americans consider abortion repugnant and morally reprehensible. When abortion was legalized, ultrasounds were in their infancy, displaying grainy black-and-white images that did not clearly show the unborn human, leaving room for doubt. Today there is no doubt. Current technology makes what was once invisible visible and verifies what pro-lifers have been saying for years. Parents view the full humanity of their own unborn children in 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds, and this has had a huge impact on how most Americans view abortion.

While fictional characters talk about how safe abortion is on TV, in the real world, disgraced abortionists continue their grisly trade with suspended and revoked licenses, even after killing and butchering women in previous botched abortions. Operation Rescue has done a remarkable service exposing these slick operators and how they open multiple offices under different business entities to hide ties to their original abortion practices.

One of these facilities butchered a woman so badly that a large gash was left in her perforated uterus, and her unborn baby's head was severed and pushed into her abdomen. A multi-million-dollar lawsuit is pending against that abortion business, which already had a dismal safety record and should have been shut down years ago.

All this may seem like a joke to the writers of that SNL skit and all the other abortion TV programming that is meant to be humorous. But to the post-abortive women who sustain severe injuries at the hands of nefarious quacks, it's a traumatic and horrific event that they may never recover from.

Horror stories like these have not moved radical abortion-supporters to reconsider their position. They are concerned with abortion's image, so they promote more propaganda. That's why they want no abortion restrictions. The slogan "safe, legal, and rare" is anathema to feminists today, and it was amended to delete "rare" from the discussion. Writing in the Atlantic, Caitlin Flanagan stated:

These women are fighting an equally intense anti-abortion culture, one that wants to instill shame in women as a means of reducing the number of abortions.

What is really a shame is that the next time a pregnant woman becomes a tragic victim of a botched abortion, the feminists won't shout their outrage.

In 1999, Bonnie Chernin started the pro-life website Jews For Life and launched the Jewish Life League in 2017. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Pro-Life Foundation.

Image: All.org.

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The ironically named Joy Reid embarrassed herself again on her MSNBC show The Reidout recently. She asked a guest, Vanderbilt University professor Michael Eric Dyson, to opine on newly elected Republican Winsome Sears, the first Black female lieutenant governor of Virginia. Dyson sneeringly labeled Sears, an immigrant from Jamaica and a Marine Corps veteran, as nothing but a "black mouth" for white supremacy.

MSNBC guest on @WinsomeSears:



There is a black mouth moving but a white idea running on the runway of the tongue of a figure who justifies and legitimates the white supremacist practices. pic.twitter.com/P3O8ciTveG  Jewish Deplorable (@TrumpJew2) November 5, 2021

"The problem here is they want white supremacy by ventriloquist effect," Dyson said of Republicans. He then added, "There is a black mouth moving but a white idea ... running on the runway of the tongue of a figure who justifies and legitimates the white supremacist practices." Huh? "Running on the runway of the tongue" is nothing but gibberish, but implying that Sears is an empty, brainless, heartless puppet being controlled by white supremacists who tell her what to say is repulsive in the extreme. And stupefyingly ignorant, demeaning, and racist.

If I were to say something in support of black people, would I then be nothing but a "white mouth" for black supremacy?

Reid not only had Dyson on, providing him with another forum to spew his vile slander, but obviously agreed with his odious sentiments. To her everlasting shame.

So Dyson and Reid believe there are "white ideas" and "black ideas"? What about "brown ideas" or "yellow ideas"? Red ones? Are there "Mexican ideas," "Albanian ideas," and "mixed-race ideas"? "Female ideas"? "Bisexual ideas"? Where does this stop? The unceasing effort of those on the left to divide us by any and every means they can devise must stop. Now. Their woke, "progressive" insistence that if people are black, they must think a certain way and believe certain things while also averring that white people are racist, because of their skin color  and there is nothing they can do about it  is so preposterously outrageous that it should make sane people laugh. Yet, tragically, a significant percentage of the citizens of the erstwhile "land of the free and home of the brave" either buy this kind of crap or are somehow afraid to disagree with an overtly hostile minority.

Today, vast and powerful forces endlessly seek to make all of us believe certain things. They demand we buy into their hoaxes, worship accredited "experts," accept oxymoronic phrases like "the science is settled," and unquestioningly allow them to inject experimental pseudo-vaccines into our bodies, the long-term results of which cannot possibly be known at this time. Our Founders, reviled by the left, would never have put up with this. Or the notion that ideas are color- and race-specific.

Ideas are born of individuals. Individuals are born with unalienable rights endowed by their Creator. Among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This idea, like all others, is not endemic to any one race. It encompasses us all. Once upon a time, we knew this in our marrow. Once upon a time, we instituted a government of, by, and for the people to protect and enshrine these rights, the obviously inherent right of every individual to think and believe what he pleases without coercion.

One important idea, in which most Americans of all colors and backgrounds previously believed, is the concept of "e pluribus unum"..."out of many, one."

Today's Democrats, and their aiders and abettors in the Media-Academic Complex, are hell-bent on reversing that dictum and balkanizing the country. That is something all of us should rebel against, black, white, and otherwise.

Thomas Jefferson, the supposed founder of the Democrat party, once stated: "I have sworn on the altar of God, eternal hostility to all forms of tyranny over the minds of man." How times have changed. Many in "his" party no longer believe in God. Many now do believe in tyranny over the minds  and bodies  of those with whom they disagree.

If you are black and somehow think you are independent and can believe what you want to believe and that you have your own ideas...those who purportedly have your interests in mind will label you an "Uncle Tom," a "black face of white supremacy," or a "black mouth" espousing a white idea.

This is simply a new form of slavery. Slavery of the mind and soul.

But maybe I think that only because I am white. What other reason could there be?

Photo credit: Twitter video screen grab.

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On Nov. 7, an important suit was filed in Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington against Elizabeth Warren for her brazen effort to censor a book challenging the false narrative of the Biden administration about COVID-19 and the trustworthiness of vaccines.

The authors of The Truth About COVID-19: Exposing the Great Reset, Lockdowns, Vaccine Passports, and the New Normal, together with the book's Vermont publisher, Chelsea Green Publishing, aver that Senator Warren's conduct flagrantly violates fundamental free speech rights  which it does.

Perhaps, like feigning Native American status, Sen. Warren just wants to see if she can "get away with it."

But while she might have gotten away with race-shifting, her attempt to silence free speech is such a disgraceful effort to dominate Americans with the lying propaganda she and her buddy Biden spout that her only hope was that her victims would not challenge her despotism. They have.

As stated in the complaint:

6. Today, certain members of the United States Congress have apparently forgotten, or think they are above, the prohibition of "informal censorship" by public officials set forth in Bantam Books. 7. On September 7, 2021, Senator Warren wrote a letter to Amazon, the largest bookseller in the world, naming certain books and threatening, without basis or justification, that Amazon's "peddling" of those books is "potentially unlawful." ... 10. The Truth About COVID-19 expresses viewpoints, ideas, opinions, facts, and factual hypotheses about the pandemic that Senator Warren and many others in her political party not only disfavor but have systematically sought to suppress  and to a remarkable degree have successfully suppressed  through the same tactics used here, in which Members of Congress warn behemoth Internet-based companies, which carry so much of today's public discourse, that if they do not censor the disfavored speech, they will face serious adverse legal consequences.

The Bantam Books decision held that Rhode Island could not censor children's schoolbooks for obscene content, a boon to left-wing purveyors of child pornography in "social justice" materials in today's schools. But progressive extremists like Warren want to have their porn-for-kids cake and eat it, too  explicit sexual imagery in schools is praised, but it is verboten to question the efficacy of ineffective vaccines, dontcha know?

In her unconstitutional edict, Warren trumpeted the official (lying) mantra of the Fauci/Biden school of Big Pharma, while boldly demanding of Amazon "a plan to modify [its algorithms which direct customers to books containing COVID-19 misinformation] so that they no longer do so":

Despite the fact that vaccination remains our greatest tool to protect Americans from the virus, myths about COVID-19 vaccines continue to spread, often facilitated by misinformation and conspiracy theories that insist the virus is a hoax, promote false cures to COVID-19, raise false concerns about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines, and lead to further illnesses and deaths.

Frantic Elizabeth alleges that "misinformation" is causing deaths, but that is unproven speculation  it is misinformation. Subsequent to her laughable effort to quell public awareness, more and more studies (along with throngs of infected vaccinated people) are "proving" that the vaccines are less effective than originally advertised. Yet a United States senator shamelessly alleged that these truths were "raising false concerns." The facts in issue demonstrate the importance of free speech and curtailing partisan government efforts to silence Americans. How are citizens to obtain trustworthy "science" when political hacks lie about it pathologically?

It is obvious that COVID-19 was developed in a gain-of-function laboratory in Wuhan, and that the Biden administration and Anthony Fauci deliberately and systematically lied (and continue to lie) to Americans about that fact. Elizabeth Warren would stifle this discussion as "the sale of inappropriate products  an unethical, unacceptable, and potentially unlawful course of action." The Complaint alleges that Warren "to a remarkable degree ... successfully suppressed" free discussion.

It is Sen. Warren who has displayed an "unethical, unacceptable, and potentially unlawful course of action" in her traitorous abuse of her position to perpetuate dishonesty and impinge on basic speech liberties. The Bantam Books court noted that non-criminal constraints (like Warren's) were a particular threat to speech because they circumvent Due Process safeguards and thus

create[] hazards to protected freedoms markedly greater than those that attend reliance upon criminal sanctions, which may be applied only after a determination of [criminality] has been made in a criminal trial hedged about with the procedural safeguards of the criminal process.

Bantam Books clearly held that interfering with a book distributor "would present a claim, plainly justiciable, of unlawful interference in advantageous business relations" for book publishers (footnote 6). The Court's clear warnings then are now proved urgent by Senator Warren's thuggery. Justice Douglas declared in his concurrence:

[T]he Bill of Rights was designed to fence in the Government and make its intrusions on liberty difficult and its interference with freedom of expression well-nigh impossible. ... All nations have tried censorship, and only a few have rejected it. Its abuses mount high. ... The evils of unreviewable administrative action of this character are as ancient as dictators.

Americans would do well to be suspicious of Sen. Warren's outrageous actions. What is it she is willing to go to such extremely desperate despotism to achieve? Concealing the truths revealed in The Truth About COVID-19. As the plaintiffs highlight in their action:

13. The term "vaccine misinformation," as Senator Warren uses it is propagandistic and false, referring to any speech challenging the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccines, even when that speech consists of factually accurate information or reasonable and protected opinion.

Readers serve themselves well if they acquire this important and prescient tome before the Biden administration bans it. Elizabeth Warren's attempt to silence it is the strongest possible endorsement for the truth of its contents. The District Court may protect free speech against such intrusions. But reading the book is a guaranteed win for liberty, thwarting Warren and others who seek to subjugate America.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.

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November 11 marks Veterans' Day, previously designated as Armistice Day, to commemorate the end of World War I, "the war to end all wars." Hostilities ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the armistice between our Allies and Germany went into effect.

People often confuse Veterans' Day with Memorial Day in May. Veterans' Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who have died while in military service.

As a thirty-year veteran of the United States Navy, I have witnessed firsthand key moments in our nation's military history. Some of these events were by choice, and others were not. My first ship, the USS Leahy (DLG 16), visited Leningrad in 1975 and was the first U.S. warship to visit the former Soviet Union since World War II. This port call was the first in a series of military-to-military exchanges and made the Soviet people aware of their economic depravity and lack of freedom, which ultimately led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

In those days, I recall witnessing firsthand the abuse of drugs and the racial confrontations that were widespread in all the military services. The 1970s were a low point for the military in the aftermath of our retreat from Vietnam. Disintegration of military readiness and unit cohesion became the norm. During this era, military members and veterans typically did not disclose their service to civilians for fear of recrimination or spittle in one's face.

As time progressed, I was fortunate to see this trend reversed through the implementation of the all-volunteer force and the rebuilding of our military into an effective integrated and "joint" (all-service) fighting force. While assigned to the Joint Special Operation Command (JSOC) during Operation Desert Storm, I witnessed firsthand the resurrection and triumph of the American military from its post-Vietnam malaise.

Our integrated strategy of "Shock and Awe" enable the United States to conduct precise and integrated air and sea strikes during the first Iraq war without challenge. Our forces destroyed Iraq's ground, air, and naval forces with ease, and our adversary, the Soviet Union, which had trained and supplied Iraq in that era, was stunned by our swift victory. Veterans were once again thanked by a grateful nation. "Welcome home" parades became the norm instead of vicious confrontations.

Subsequently, as commanding officer of the USS Rushmore (LSD 47), we provided support to Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Here I witnessed our now proud and revitalized military providing humanitarian aid to those who would have starved without our assistance.

During this operation, our mission shifted to peacekeeping among the country's numerous warlords. Unfortunately, the debacle of Black Hawk Down transpired as forces on the ground were denied support required to conduct their mission by the Clinton administration. My former boss, Major General "Bill" Garrison, assumed sole responsibility for its failure, unlike today's leaders.

Shortly thereafter, as a member of the Navy Staff on the Pentagon, on 9/11, I lost twenty-seven of my good friends and "shipmates" when Flight 77 plowed into the office where I had worked just two weeks before. Subsequently, while assigned to Joint Staff during our "War on Terrorism," I saw their loss avenged as we struck the Taliban swiftly and without hesitation and eventually brought Osama bin Laden to justice.

I suspect that my experience as a United States veteran is typical of many others who have seen our military at both its lows and its highs. Many of us armchair warriors now wonder how our military will respond to an almost inevitable confrontation with communist China as that country vows to achieve world hegemony through both economic and military means.

Although resigned to watch our withdrawal from Afghanistan on the sidelines, I have to wonder if military leaders such as my former boss, the late Gen. Wayne Downing, who was a highly decorated U.S. Army Ranger, would have left those who had helped this nation behind on the field of battle in Afghanistan. One will never know, but somehow, I suspect we would have witnessed a different outcome.

While we will debate how the wars in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan were mismanaged, one thing remains clear: the bravery and sacrifice of our American troops in the face of adversity is a constant reminder of who we are as a nation. Their selfless and unquestioned sacrifices represent the absolute best of this country. Regardless of your thoughts on politics, or war, those who have worn this nation's uniform deserve your heartfelt appreciation and gratitude.

On Veterans' Day please thank a veteran for his service, and do not be surprised if he responds: "Thank you, you were worth it," because at the end of the day, that is what it is all about  one's selfless service to preserve your individual freedom and liberty.

Image: Capt. James R. Poplar, III, USN (ret.).

To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.
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Google desperately needs to make its own smartwatch. Weve seen many leaks of Google working on a Pixel Watch but it always seems to be delayed. It needs to come out, and come out now. Why? Because Google desperately needs something to compete with the Apple Watch.

There are currently over 100 million Apple Watch users around the world. Thats a pretty big number. By context, thats about a third of the US population. And Apple is singlehandedly cornering the smartwatch market. Sure, we others available from Samsung, TicWatch, Amazfit and others. But none of them are really any good, and that is also Googles fault. Google keeps changing up Wear OS, and doesnt really know what it wants to do with it.

Google needs to release its Pixel Watch, even if it is not good on the first attempt. It could then get feedback from reviewers and purchasers of this first-generation product, and make it better. Lets explore some reasons why Google needs to release a Pixel Watch ASAP.

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The leaked Pixel Watch is way better looking than the Apple Watch

Earlier this year, Jon Prosser leaked the Google Pixel Watch. Which was originally set to debut this October with the Pixel 6. But ultimately got delayed, again. And it looks, stunning.

I mean just look at that. That looks 100x better than the Apple Watch and its square display. Theres no flat tire there like the Moto 360 had many years ago, and its super thin. If Google released this, it would likely sell better than every Pixel it has ever released, combined.

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And if Google could promise that this would last more than a day on a single charge, they might even get some Apple Watch users to switch over. Remember that Wear OS is available to Apple users, but Apple Watch is not available to Android users.

Many Android journalists and YouTubers use an Apple Watch

Im going to let some of you guys in on something, a lot of people that cover Android for a living  use an Apple Watch. Linus from Linus Tech Tips uses one. He rarely has anything nice to say about the iPhone and usually is daily driving a Samsung phone, but wears an Apple Watch. Why? Because theres nothing good on the Android side.

Heres another example, Austin Evans who is pretty well-known for carrying around the Galaxy Z Flip (I think he uses the Flip 3 now), also wears an Apple Watch.

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There are a number of others that also wear an Apple Watch, including myself. Now, I carry both a Pixel 6 and an iPhone 13, largely to be able to communicate with people on iMessage. So I tried out the Apple Watch last year, giving up my Fitbit. And I havent looked back. And it makes sense as to why so many people carry both phones from both platforms around.

The way that the Apple Watch works with the iPhone is incredible. It all just works. Unlike with Wear OS and Android, where things might work, or they might not.

Sure the design of the Apple Watch isnt the best, Id definitely like a rounded watch, rather than a square, but it works. Which is what I want.

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I made the decision to give up on Fitbit because there were times where my Fitbit just wouldnt sync with my phone, even though it synced with it multiple times that same day. This was an issue that persisted for many years. And I finally gave up on them ever fixing it.

The Apple Watch isnt crazy about apps

I think Googles biggest problem with Wear OS is that it is trying to hard to make apps on your wrist a thing. We dont need every single app that is on our phone, on our wrist. Its not needed, at all. Some apps would be nice to have on our wrist, but we dont need things like Twitter or Facebook on our wrist.

However, things like Google Fit, Uber, maybe even Gmail to filter out those emails you immediately delete as soon as they arrive. Some apps are good, but all apps, not good.

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This is where Samsung really thrived with its Tizen OS on its Galaxy smartwatches (until Galaxy Watch 4). As it mostly served as a fitness tracker and as a notification screen. Telling you when you get notifications, so you know if you need to deal with it right away, or if it can wait. Without pulling out your phone.

If Google just focused on how to make Wear OS better, it would make a huge difference. And Ill give them a hint, more apps is not the way.

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It would help Google make a better Wear OS

This will probably sound weird, but Google releasing a Wear OS smartwatch would help it make Wear OS better. We saw the same thing once it started releasing its own smartphones, with Android. This is because it will be in the R&D process of making the hardware, and be able to see what it can do to make Wear OS a much better platform.

Of course, Google does get feedback from its manufacturing partners, like Samsung and TicWatch. But its not quite the same as Google going through the process itself.

The Pixel Watch could be the best smartwatch ever made

With the leaks weve seen of the Pixel Watch, it could be the best smartwatch ever made. It just looks so stunning. Now, of course, the other part of that equation is going to be the software. If Google can give up on apps, and focus more on fitness and notifications, like Samsung was doing, that would make Wear OS way better.

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And an added benefit to axing all of these apps would be, longer battery life. That is a big reason why a lot of companies moved away from Wear OS. In fact, Huawei even stated this a few years ago. It moved to its own software on its smartwatches, because it was annoyed by the 24-hour battery life of Wear OS. Whereas its newer watches can last around 24 days or longer.

Wrap Up

The bottom line is, Google is late to wearables. Yes, it has been making wearable software for about six years now, but now it needs hardware. It needs a Pixel Watch that can show its partners what is possible with Wear OS. Similar to what Nexus and Pixel does for Android.

Apple has already eaten a large chunk of the smartwatch market. But many analysts still say theres room to grow in this market. And Google needs to grab a nice chunk before it is to late.
Soon after the Pixel phone was born, there was the Pixelbook, a Chrome OS-powered laptop that was manufactured by Google. Theres a niche of people who genuinely enjoy this device, but much to their disappointment, Google will not introduce a new model next year.

A new Pixelbook was rumored to launch this year

According to Trusted Reviews, Qualcomm held a press event in London where a Google spokesperson was invited to speak. Chrys Tsolaki is her name, and she was asked if Google was going to be unveiling a new Pixelbook next year. Her response was Next year, there wont be anything coming. In the future, I dont know. Thats not really reassuring to anyone whos been waiting for a new model to come out.

Previous rumors suggested a new Pixelbook would launch alongside the Pixel 6 phones, but that, unfortunately, didnt happen. Other rumors even pointed to this new Pixelbook running on Googles own Tensor chip.

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What was the Pixelbook?

The Pixelbook was a Chromebook manufactured by Google itself. This was a top-tier device running the latest and greatest specs of the day. What made it stand out was the two-tone silver color and the relatively tall display. It used a 3:2 aspect ratio instead of the standard 16:9.

This device had a 12.3-inch QHD LCD display at 2400 x 1600. Another good thing about the display was that it was a touchscreen. There was an optional stylus that you could add on as an accessory.

The Pixelbook used the latest chips from Intel at the time and maxed out at 8GB of RAM. As for storage, it could go up to 265GB of onboard storage. It was really a powerful device, but it wasnt the best when it came to sales.

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Theres no telling if well ever see one again

The last Pixelbook launched four years ago, and Google hasnt really shown any sign of working on another one. There were only rumors floating around, but now that Google confirmed this information, it looks like fans are out of luck.

From the way that Tsolaki said her response, we dont know if even Google knows the fate of the Pixelbook line. The fact of the matter is that Google doesnt really need to manufacture a laptop. It makes enough money elsewhere, so it doesnt rely on Pixelbook sales.

Its possible that Google just lost interest in this device. Another Pixel device that Google stopped creating was the Pixel line of tablets. Only time will tell if Google plans on making another Pixelbook.
Google has scored a major legal victory in the UK, courtesy of the Supreme Court. The countrys highest court threw out a claim seeking damages over the companys alleged tracking of iPhones.

Lord Justice Leggatt said the prosecution could not prove the damage caused to individuals by Googles data collection practices. However, the judge didnt rule out the possibility of future lawsuits provided the claimants can calculate the overall damages.

The claimant seeks damages for each individual member of the represented class without attempting to show that any wrongful use was made by Google of personal data relating to that individual, the judgment said (via).

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Without proof of these matters, a claim for damages cannot succeed, the judge went on to say.

Google said it is building tools that respect and protect peoples privacy

The judge said that the case could have a chance of success if the petitioner claims damages as an individual instead of a mass action lawsuit.

Google defended its position by saying it has continually worked on building products and infrastructure that respect and protect peoples privacy.

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The case has been ongoing since 2017 at UKs lower courts. It was set in motion by Richard Lloyd, former director of the consumer rights group known as Which?

The original lawsuit said that Google illegally collected data via cookies on Apples Safari web browser even with the do not track setting enabled. The company reportedly collected sensitive data on metrics like race, ethnicity, health, finance, and sexuality between 2011 and 2012.

Lloyd wanted Google to pay compensation of 3.2 billion ($4.3 billion) to roughly 4.4 million users. A potential fine could have surpassed billions, while each iPhone owner may have received a small chunk of the payout. Lloyd expressed disappointment with the Supreme Courts ruling.

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Although the court once gain recognised that our action is the only practical way that millions of British people can get access to fair redress, he said.

Theyve slammed the door shut on this case by ruling that everyone affected must go to court individually.

While the Supreme Court recommends filing suits individually, experts say this may not be financially feasible for everyone. The door is now partially open for further privacy lawsuits against Google. So this may not be the last we hear of such cases. This case has already been through the High Court as well as the Court of Appeal. It ultimately reached the UK Supreme Court.
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(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 11 - A 50-year-old Italian aid worker and member of the Salesian order is among the many foreign nationals including mainly UN staffers arrested recently during Ethiopian government operations against Tigre rebels, well-informed sources told ANSA Thursday.

News of Alberto Livoni's arrest was reported by Rome daily La Repubblica, and the sources confirmed the report.

"The situation is delicate", they said, noting that while arrested people are normally released after 72 hours if no charge is pressed, the current state of emergency has suspended such provisions.

Sources added that the Italian embassy in Addis Ababa is closely following the case in tight liaison with the foreign ministry in Rome.

The embassy is providing all necessary assistance to the police commission in the Ethiopian capital where Livoni is being held, and is in contact with competent local authorities and the man's relatives. (ANSA).


(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 11 - The European Commission said in its autumn economic forecasts on Thursday that it expects Italy's GDP to rise by 6.2% this year, by 4.3% in 2022 and by 2.3% in 2023.

The Italian economy slumped by 8.9% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Following the rebound in the first half of 2021, real GDP is set to continue expanding, albeit encountering some headwinds in the near term," the Commission said.

"Domestic demand, notably buoyant investment spending, is expected to underpin growth.

"Government deficit and debt are projected to decline as a share of GDP thanks to the economic recovery".

In the summer the EC had forecast growth of 5% this year and 4.2% in 2022 for Italy.

It said the Italian economy should returns to pre-crisis output levels by the middle of next year.

"The outlook remains subject to pandemic-related downside risks, including the potential entrenchment of flagging labour force participation," it said. (ANSA).


MADRID - Crew members were reportedly pushed and subjected to "aggressive" behaviour resulting in "chaos" on a Casablanca-Istanbul flight that effected an emergency landing Friday on Palma de Mallorca.



Over 20 passengers are thought to have escaped, according to the judge investigating the case.



Several Spanish media reported the incident, citing the resolution with which the judge decided on keeping all 12 arrested in jail as a preventative measure for alleged links to what happened.



The incident forced the airport authorities to block it off for three hours.



In the document cited, the judge stated that the aircraft crew, in fearing for their safety, chose not to keep the doors of the airport closed during healthcare assistance for a passenger.



The plane had landed on Palma de Mallorca for the medical incident, on which many doubts remain. Though a doctor was onboard (who did not take part in the escape) who said that the individual did need medical help, once on the ground healthcare personnel did not find any real need for it.



The man who had requested medical help was later arrested, as was the person accompanying him.



Investigators suspect that the escape had been planned ahead of time. On a Moroccan Facebook group, one post from July suggested that youths wanting to emigrate engage in almost exactly the same actions as occurred on Friday for a forced landing in Spain.



The judge stated that it is possible that at least some of those who fled knew each other but lawyers of those in jail quoted by Europa Press deny this.



Some 12 other individuals are still being sought by the authorities and police believe that at least two have left Mallorca already.


TEL AVIV - Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas spoke about historic leader Yasser Arafat on the 17th anniversary of his death.



As part of a commemoration ceremony, he laid a wreath on the tomb of the mausoleum for the former Palestinian leader at the Muqata presidential palace in the West Bank city of Ramallah.



Next to him was Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, along with a delegation from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and Fatah (the largest Palestinian political party), and several ministers.



In a televised speech, Abbas underscored that the anniversary has come at a "very delicate moment, perhaps the most difficult in the history of our fight".



"It is neither acceptable nor reasonable," he added, "that the occupation continues to suffocate us forever, and it is not reasonable for us to continue to put forth effort for agreements that Israel does not comply with." For the anniversary of Arafat's death - who died on Nov. 11, 2004 - events have been planned across all the West Bank.
Officers have arrested 70 people at Cop26 to date, Police Scotland have said.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said: Police officers have had several hundred engagements with people who were protesting and have made around 70 arrests.

He continued: The policing operation for Cop26, the biggest in UK history, is drawing towards a close.

Since the start of the conference we have policed numerous events and protests, some official others unofficial, across the city and the country.

We helped ensure that two huge marches through the city attended by tens of thousands of protesters were completed successfully.

With the exception of a tiny minority of protesters intent on creating conflict and compromising public safety, all of these events were peaceful.

I would like to thank protesters and all the police officers and stewards engaged in these operations for ensuring rights were upheld, voices were heard and peaceful protest was facilitated, while also maintaining the safety of all involved.

It is important to us that we understand what the experience of Cop26 has been for people in Glasgow and Scotland.

For this reason, we want to hear from those who have attended or experienced our policing of these events in Scotland recently.

This is about gathering insight that we will use to ensure we are effective and collaborative in our approach; working with communities to keep people safe as they practise their human rights of freedom of assembly and of association.
FAIRBOURNE, Wales (AP)  Like many others who came to Fairbourne, Stuart Eves decided the coastal village in northern Wales would be home for life when he moved here 26 years ago. He fell in love with the peaceful, slow pace of small village life in this community of about 700 residents nestled between the rugged mountains and the Irish Sea.

I wanted somewhere my children can have the same upbringing as I had, so they can run free, said Eves, 72, who built a caravan park in the village that he still runs with his son. Youve got the sea, youve got the mountains. Its just a stunning place to live.

That changed suddenly in 2014, when authorities identified Fairbourne as the first coastal community in the U.K. to be at high risk of flooding due to climate change.

An aerial view of Fairbourne village in Gwynedd in Wales, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. In north Wales, residents in the small coastal village of Fairbourne face being the U.K.'s first "climate refugees." Authorities say that by 2054, it would no longer be sustainable to keep up flood defenses there because of faster sea level rises and more frequent and extreme storms caused by climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Predicting faster sea level rises and more frequent and extreme storms due to global warming, the government said it could only afford to keep defending the village for another 40 years. Officials said that by 2054, it would no longer by safe or sustainable to live in Fairbourne.

Authorities therefore have been working with villagers on the process of so-called managed realignment  essentially, to move them away and abandon the village to the encroaching sea.

Overnight, house prices in Fairbourne nosedived. Residents were dubbed the U.K.'s first climate refugees. Many were left shocked and angry by national headlines declaring their whole village would be decommissioned. Seven years on, most of their questions about their future remain unanswered.

Theyve doomed the village, and now theyve got to try to rehome the people. Thats 450 houses, said Eves, who serves as chair of the local community council. If they want us out by 2054, then theyve got to have the accommodation to put us in.

Watch: Which countries release the most CO2?

No one here wants to leave. While many are retirees, there are also young families raising a next generation. Locals speak proudly of their tight-knit community. And although the village center only consists of a grocers, a fish and chip shop and a couple of restaurants, residents say the pebbly beach and a small steam train draw bustling crowds in the summer.

Natural Resources Wales, the government-sponsored organization responsible for the sea defenses in Fairbourne, said the village is particularly vulnerable because it faces multiple flooding risks. Built in the 1850s on a low-lying saltmarsh, Fairbourne already lies beneath sea level at high spring tide. During storms, the tidal level is more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the level of the village.

Scientists say U.K. sea levels have risen about 10 centimeters (4 inches) in the past century. Depending on greenhouse gas emissions and actions that governments take, the predicted rise is 70 centimeters to 1 meter by 2100.

Fairbourne is also at the mouth of an estuary, with additional risks of flash floods from the river running behind it. Officials have spent millions of pounds in strengthening a sea wall and almost 2 miles of tidal defenses.

An view of bungalows and houses in Fairbourne village in Gwynedd in Wales, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. In north Wales, residents in the small coastal village of Fairbourne face being the U.K.'s first "climate refugees." Authorities say that by 2054, it would no longer be sustainable to keep up flood defenses there because of faster sea level rises and more frequent and extreme storms caused by climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

While there are flood risks in many other villages along the Welsh coast, decisions on which areas to protect ultimately boil down to cost. Officials say that in the case of Fairbourne, the cost of maintaining flood defenses will become higher than the value of what were protecting.

The effects of climate change that negotiators at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, are working to mitigate already are a reality here.

Catrin Wager, a cabinet member of Gwynedd Council, the local authority overseeing Fairbourne, stressed that while Fairbourne may be the first Welsh coastal village to be designated unviable due to climate change, it certainly wont be the only one. Theres no precedent for how to develop policies for helping the villagers adapt, she said.

Becky Offland with her son Toby look out of the window of the Glan y Mor Hotel that she is renovating with her husband in Fairbourne village in Gwynedd in Wales, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

We need more answers from the Welsh and U.K. governments, thats my message going into this (U.N. summit), Wager said. We really need to get some guidance on not only mitigating the effects of climate change, but about how we adapt for things that are already happening.

Across the U.K., half a million properties are at risk of coastal flooding  and that risk figure will jump to 1.5 million by the end of the 2080s, according to the Climate Change Committee, an independent advisory body set up under climate change laws.

Britains government, which is hosting the U.N. climate summit, needs to be much more upfront about such risks, said Richard Dawson, a member of the committee and professor of engineering at Newcastle University.

Watch: Who are 'Insulate Britain'?

Ultimately, difficult decisions need to be made about many coastal settlements with disproportionately high numbers of older and poorer residents, he said, and officials need to prepare people for moving inland.

Whatever happens at COP the sea level will continue to rise around the U.K., thats something we absolutely need to prepare for, Dawson said. We have to be realistic. We cant afford to protect everywhere. The challenge for government is that the problem is not being confronted with the urgency or openness that we need.

In Fairbourne, a continuing standoff between villagers and officials underlines that challenge. Residents feel they have been unfairly singled out and arent convinced there is a clear timeframe on how quickly sea levels will rise enough to threaten their homes. When and how will evacuation take place? Will they be compensated, and if so how much should it be?

There are no answers. The village vicar, Ruth Hansford, said many residents suffered emotional fatigue from years of uncertainty and negativity. Others simply decided to carry on with their lives.

Stuart Eves a Fairbourne resident walks with his dog Lucy in Fairbourne village in Gwynedd in Wales, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021. Like many others who came to Fairbourne, Stuart Eves knew this coastal village in northern Wales was home for life when he moved here 26 years ago. However, authorities say that by 2054, it would no longer be sustainable to keep up flood defenses there because of faster sea level rises and more frequent and extreme storms caused by climate change. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Becky Offland and her husband recently took on the lease of the Glan Y Mor Hotel, going against the grain and investing in the village's future. They're hopeful their business will bring more visitors and financial support to Fairbourne.

Its like a big family, this place. Its not a village, its a family, said Offland, 36. Well all fight to keep it where it is.

Down the street, Fairbourne Chippy owner Alan Jones, 64, also said he has no plans to go anywhere.

Until water actually comes in here, 'til we physically cant work, well carry on, he said.

Eves said he and his son believe that what will be, will be. But he will mourn the inevitable disintegration of the village he loves.

You cant sort of take this village here, and put it over there and expect it to work again, he said. What you have here is a human catastrophe, albeit on a small scale.

___

Read stories on climate issues by The Associated Press at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
A magician impressed the Prince of Wales by performing a mind trick on him as the royal visited a bank in Brixton.

Heir to the throne Charles was meeting young entrepreneurs helped by his youth charity the Princes Trust at a NatWest branch in south London.

The prince encountered performer Chris Reads Minds, who asked him to think of a colour, a number and the name of a person, with Charles replying blue, 12 and George  the latter seemingly a nod to his eldest grandson Prince George.

The magician went on to reveal one of his own business cards, which was hidden in a sealed envelope in a wallet, on which identical answers had been written.

Charles chuckled and remarked: Very impressive. It really is.

The magician, real name Chris Wall, was supported by the trust in his bid to become a full-time magician when he became unemployed after a work contract ended in 2019 just before the start of the pandemic.

Charles laughs after the magicians mind trick (Chris Jackson/PA)

He joined the trusts four-day Explore Enterprise Course and then its Boost Your Business programme, and received a grant from the Entreprise Relief Fund.

The Trust and NatWest set up the Enterprise Relief Fund during the Covid-19 crisis to provide emergency grants  totalling 3.7 million  to young people under 30 who were self-employed and ran a business but did not qualify for government support.

Charles was greeted by crowds of people, who clamoured to shake his hand as he left the branch.

The card featuring Charles answers (PA)

One man asked him How is your mother? with Charles giving him a reassuring pat on the arm, and appearing to say: Shes alright, thank you.

The Queen, 95, has been under doctors order to rest during the past three weeks after undergoing preliminary tests and spending a night in hospital on October 20.

Buckingham Palace previously said it is the monarchs firm intention to attend the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph on Sunday.
The boss of insurer LV= has insisted the mutuals controversial sale to private equity is the only deal that secures our future as he faces mounting criticism from politicians and policyholders over the move.

Mark Hartigan, chief executive of LV, told the BBCs Today programme the 178-year-old insurers 530 million sale to US firm Bain Capital was the best financial outcome for members.

The sale has taken centre stage as politicians from across the spectrum have united to hit out at the deal, which would see LV lose its status as a mutual.

With one month to go until members vote on the deal, concerns are growing over the groups future in the hands of a private equity firm and the payouts being offered to members, as well as the motives behind the sale.

Mr Hartigan defended the decision to back the Bain bid and urged members to vote for the sale next month.

He said: Its the only deal that secures our future.

This is a very important brand and important British business, and its the only bid that secures it.

LV  formerly Liverpool Victoria  was founded in 1843 to allow Liverpools poor to cover burial costs. It is currently owned by its 1.2 million customer members.

Under the deal, they would hand over ownership of the group and receive 100 each while with-profits members will be given an additional boost when their policies mature.

Some members have dismissed the payout as being paltry.

LVs board agreed to the Bain capital deal after receiving around a dozen expressions of interest, including a bid from rival Royal London that is thought to have been for 10 million more than Bain.

LV has not disclosed the value of the Royal London approach.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for mutuals wrote a letter to the Financial Conduct Authority earlier this week demanding it release more details surrounding the Bain sale and rival bid interest.

Former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has also criticised the deal, urging members to veto the sale.

But Mr Hartigan said Bain was the only business prepared to invest in our growth.

That means saving the jobs that we have and the sites that we operate in, he added.

He stressed that all options on the table would have seen LV lose its mutual status.

Members will be asked to have their say on December 8 or at an online meeting on December 10, with 75% of votes needed to back the takeover and a minimum turnout of 50%.

Tthere are concerns LV is also planning to push through a rule change that will mean it can override the minimum turnout threshold.

Mr Hartigan told the BBC he would 100% respect the outcome of the vote.

He also denied reports that management had backed the Bain deal because of guarantees to secure their roles.

Theres no incentives related to the deal for me or anyone else  the chairman, the board or any part of our management team, he said.

More than 400 people have now signed a petition on change.org calling for City regulators to stop the demutualisation of LV.

One member who joined the online petition, branded the plans a betrayal for members.

I dont want my savings to create profits for Bain Capital, she added.
FILE - This 2017 image from the Iowa State Patrol video provided by the Cedar County Attorney's Office in Cedar County, Iowa, shows former Iowa State Patrol trooper Robert Smith in an altercation with Bryce Yakish by Yakish's motorcycle during a traffic stop near Tipton, Iowa. Smith, a former Iowa State Patrol officer with a history of excessive force allegations, has been indicted on a federal charge over the 2017 traffic stop that was captured on video and during which Yakish was injured. (Cedar County Attorneys Office via AP, File)

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  A former Iowa State Patrol officer with a history of excessive force allegations has been indicted on a federal charge over a 2017 traffic stop in which dash-camera video captured him roughing up a motorcyclist.

A federal grand jury charged Robert James Smith last week with violating the motorcyclist's civil rights by using unreasonable force during the Sept. 25, 2017, stop near West Liberty, a community of about 4,000 people roughly 15 miles (25 kilometers) southeast of Iowa City.

The indictment notes that the victim suffered bodily injury during the encounter, which means the charge could carry a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Smith is scheduled to make his initial appearance on Nov. 16 at the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids. He did not immediately respond to phone messages seeking comment, and court records don't show whether he has an attorney.

Dash camera video shows Smith pulling over Bryce Yakish for speeding at a gas station off of Interstate 80. The routine stop escalated immediately when Smith ran from his car with his gun drawn and pointed at Yakish, who was then 20 years old.

Smith used his left hand to strike the face shield of Yakishs helmet, knocking him backward onto his motorcycle and to the ground. Smith briefly put his knee on Yakishs neck while handcuffing him. Yakish can be repeatedly heard in the video complaining of neck pain.

Smith falsely accused Yakish of trying to flee and charged him with eluding law enforcement, even though Yakish stopped immediately after Smith activated his patrol cars lights and siren. That charge was dropped after a prosecutor reviewed the video and concluded it was baseless.

Yakish lost his license because of the arrest, his motorcycle was impounded and he spent the night in jail. A chiropractor later treated him for neck pain.

The Iowa State Patrol allowed Smith, a 30-year veteran of the force, to quietly retire in 2018 after conducting an internal investigation into the incident. Smith was later hired as a police officer in the small town of Durant, where he was accused of using excessive force against a woman during an arrest.

Smith's use of force during the 2017 traffic stop only became public in 2019 after The Associated Press published video of the incident obtained from Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington.

The sheriff released the video after announcing he would no longer book any suspects arrested by Smith at his jail. He said he could no longer vouch for the credibility of Smith, whose wife serves on the Cedar County Board of Supervisors and has been a political rival of the sheriff. Smith soon resigned from Durant's police force.

Wethington said the federal indictment comes after two prosecutors in Iowa  the Cedar County Attorney and the former Muscatine County Attorney  reviewed the stop and determined that state charges weren't warranted.

I think it's really important that the taxpayers know that this was overlooked by two local county attorneys, he said.

Marty Diaz, an attorney who represented Yakish in a civil lawsuit against Smith, said the case shows the importance of the public's ability to access police video. He said his client knew he had been abused but there was no way he was going to prove that until the video's release.

Diaz praised federal prosecutors for pursuing the case, saying incidents of violence by law enforcement officers had become too pervasive.

It seems like every week we are seeing an event like this, he said.

State Attorney General Tom Miller's office represented Smith against Yakish's lawsuit. Earlier this year, a state panel agreed to pay Yakish $225,000 from the state budget to settle the case.

In addition, the Iowa Department of Public Safety unsuccessfully resisted a subpoena from the federal grand jury that sought records related to Smith's use-of-force and disciplinary history. One defense lawyer has alleged that Smith faced two dozen internal affairs investigations during his patrol career.

Smith's son serves as a trooper in eastern Iowa.
Grand Canyon Bison In this photo provided by Grand Canyon National Park, an adult bison roams near a corral at the North Rim of the park in Arizona, on Aug. 30, 2021. Officials at the Grand Canyon have been working to remove hundreds of bison from the North Rim, using a mix of corralling and relocating the animals, and a pilot project this year to allow select skilled volunteers to shoot certain bison. (Lauren Cisneros/Grand Canyon National Park via AP)

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP)  Day three and the shooters were waiting under the cover of pine trees for the rain to let up. Thirty minutes later, a single branch snapped, revealing a small herd of bison in the distance.

Before a young cow was identified as the target, the massive animals disappeared into a thicket at the Grand Canyon's North Rim.

No shots and no bison, said Charles Gorecki, one of about a dozen volunteers selected to participate in a highly anticipated and highly criticized lethal removal program at the Grand Canyon.

Gorecki and the rest of his crew came up empty-handed after a week that required shooting proficiency tests, safety training and walking at least 30 miles (48 kilometers) in elevations that can leave flat-landers short-winded. Three other groups fared better, shooting and field dressing a total of four bison.

Up to 500 bison are roaming the far northern reaches of Grand Canyon National Park, trampling archaeological and other resources and spoiling the water, park officials say. Hunting pressure on the adjacent national forest has pushed most of the animals into the park.

Critics say rather than killing the bison, the animals should be relocated to other areas or given to Native American tribes under an existing effort.

Lethal removal was one of the tools outlined in a 2017 plan approved after an environmental review, but the guidelines weren't established until more recently with the pilot program this fall.

More than 45,000 people applied in a lottery for 12 spots to help cull the herd and make bison less comfortable at the park. One person backed out and another failed the shooting proficiency test, leaving 10 volunteers from around the U.S. working to kill up to 10 bison.

We were following bison and trying to find bison and disturbing bison by the mere fact of trying to remove them, said Grand Canyon wildlife biologist Greg Holm, who was among most of the crews. So they had some activity this fall that I don't think they've ever experienced in the park.

As big as they are, they skillfully evaded most of the shooters.

It was still a learning experience for all of us involved, said Gorecki, a military veteran who works at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. We got an appreciation that they are very quiet and cunning. These animals, if they catch wind of us from hundreds of yards (away) in thick forest, you'll never ever see them. These are not big, fluffy forest cows."

Each volunteer selected up to three people who were on standby to help cut up the bison and pack the meat out. The groups that shot a bison divided the meat and donated parts of the animals to the Navajo and Zuni tribes in Arizona and New Mexico, Holm said.

A crew led by the National Park Service killed one bison in a trial run in August. The meat was given to the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Holm said.

Officials at the Grand Canyon haven't put a price tag yet on the program, but Holm said some of the cost is for overtime pay for park employees. They'll meet soon to determine whether to do it again, he said.

Various groups pushed the park service to call off what they argued is a hunt and suggested relocating the bison to southern Colorado instead. Hunting is prohibited within national parks, but the agency has authority to kill animals that harm resources using park staff or volunteers.

Olympic National Park in Washington state turned to volunteers to reduce the number of mountain goats, and Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota used volunteers for help with elk.

Bison were introduced to northern Arizona in the early 1900s as part of a crossbreeding experiment. The state manages the animals that can be hunted nearby in the Kaibab National Forest.

The main tool in reducing the population at the Grand Canyon has been to corral them near the North Rim entrance and ship them to Native American tribes through the Intertribal Buffalo Council. The park has relocated 124 over the past three years  enough to start seeing the reproductive rate slow, Holm said. The goal population is around 200.

Ideally, the more females we can ship out, the better, he said. But we also do the dance around not wanting to shift away a bunch of females because they have the knowledge to teach the younger generation.

The Modoc Nation in Oklahoma received 16 of the bison last year.

It's great for us, it's great for our heritage, and they're beautiful animals," said Charlie Cheek, assistant to tribal Chief Bill Follis. We enjoy working with them, and they're good for our tribe.

The Santee Sioux Nation in Nebraska received 23 bison from the Grand Canyon this year. The Cherokee Nation got 13 that boosted the herd at a tribal ranch in Kenwood, Oklahoma, to more than 200, said Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. Bison have been an essential source of food, clothing, shelter and tools for tribes and used in ceremonies, he said.

These newly acquired bison will help revive some ancient cultural traditions, as well as provide expanded economic opportunities for future generations of Cherokee, he said Wednesday.
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Kinsey Farms on Jot Em Down Road is among the sites recently approved for agritourism through a newly introduced conditional use permit. The designation allows farmers a wider selection of uses for their land.
MILTON, Ga.  After traveling 13,000 miles and interviewing 27 soldiers for an upcoming documentary, Greg Baker stopped by Milton City Hall Nov. 6 to share breakfast and speak to a room full of veterans about the importance of staying involved after combat.

Peyton Jamison, Miltons mayor-elect, introduced Baker at the Milton Veterans Breakfast and thanked the veterans there for their sacrifices, including the time they spent away from their families.

Thank you because you cannot say that enough, Jamison said.  You all are truly best at what America is all about.

Baker attended the University of Georgia before enrolling in the U.S. Army in 1984, where he spent over 24 years as an airborne ranger infantryman with assignments as a scout sniper, reconnaissance team leader, sniper squad leader, rifle squad leader, pre-ranger instructor, rifle platoon sergeant and company first sergeant.

He has been stationed at Fort Ord in California, Korea, Fort Benning and the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. Baker retired from the Army in 2010 as a first sergeant; however, he continued to be involved when he got hired to serve in the Joint Expeditionary Team, a combat support program of the Department of Defense.

As a part of the team, he deployed 10 times to Afghanistan, serving as a tactical adviser and later as a counterterrorism consultant. He stepped back from the role after seven years, but, as Jamison described it, military life continues to run deep in his bones.

Now, Baker has teamed up with fellow soldier turned filmmaker Thomas White for a documentary detailing the stories of the soldiers they led and served in combat with as well as their families. What inspired the project, titled Souljah Stories, is that despite deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan 13 times, Baker has lost more soldiers and friends to suicide than in combat.

Through the project, Baker said hes learned that many times the veterans who struggle the most with long-term post-traumatic stress disorder began having issues early in life, not just during their military service or when their service concluded.

He also attended a program called REBOOT Combat Recovery. The program was started in Kentucky and is a 12-week, faith-based, peer-led course with a mission to empower people to overcome trauma. Its website states, The war against trauma doesnt end when the deployment is over.

Baker said many of the people he met in the program joined the military looking for a family or a tribe.

And they have it for a while, but if they have traumatic experiences where their chain of command doesnt support them or once they leave and theyre no longer a part of that tribe, thats where these things start to come back around  the behaviors, the isolation, depression, addiction, Baker said. Its the same stuff you see out in the community.

According to Baker, only about 2% of the U.S. population serves in the military. Add law enforcement, fire personnel and EMS, and that number rises to about 11%. Baker said these groups tend to stick together and have a difficult time communicating with the other 89% of the population, worsening their mental health issues or trauma.

The VA (Department of Veterans Affairs) cant do it alone, Baker said. There has to be community development. Just like it takes families to fix families, it takes communities to fix communities, and firefighters, cops and EMS are a part of the community. So, how do we do that?

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12002 Quartermaster Jim Swain shared several opportunities for camaraderie and support in and around north Fulton County. He encouraged veterans of all ages to get involved with organizations such as the VFW and American Legion, which serve to lobby for veteran interests. He said another way of contributing is by donating.

I didnt join anything until about 17 years ago, because I didnt have time or I felt like they didnt have anything to offer me, and I just had to meet some people that said, We have an organization over here that does things differently, Swain said.  Thats what grabbed me.  If you participate, youll get more out of it. You can help make that organization what you want it to be.

Swain also took the opportunity to mention the grand opening of the Johns Creek Veterans Association half-scale version of the Vietnam Wall, The Wall that Heals, on Nov. 13. The wall is inscribed with the names of the more than 57,000 American men and women who died in the Vietnam War.

The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at Newton Park, 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek.
Owosso, MI (48867)

Today

Light snow this evening giving way to partly cloudy conditions late. Low around 25F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%..

Tonight

Light snow this evening giving way to partly cloudy conditions late. Low around 25F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%.
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Armenia denied the statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry according to which 60 Armenian servicemen had been besieged in the area of Lake Sev and were set free only with the meditation of the Russian side.

On November 10, several Azerbaijani media outlets reported that a fight has allegedly taken place between the Armenian and Azerbaijani servicemen in the territory of Lake Sev of Armenias Syunik province and that a group of Armenian servicemen have been besieged.

Later, the Azerbaijani defense ministry also joined this misinformation, stating that 60 Armenian servicemen have been besieged and were released only with the mediation of the Russian side. The statement of the Azerbaijani defense ministry is obvious disinformation. Moreover, after the actions of the Armenian armed forces following the provocation of the Azerbaijani side in the area of Lake Sev, the Azerbaijani armed forces applied to the Russian side with a request to resolve the situation, and it was due to the active work of the Russian side that the situation was stabilized.

The Defense Ministry of Armenia reaffirms that the situation in the territory of Lake Sev is under the full control of the Armenian Armed Forces, the statement says.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met on November 10 with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on the sidelines of his working visit in Paris, the Armenian MFA reports.

The ministers discussed the further deepening of the Armenian-French unique relations and reaffirmed their interest to further develop the mutually beneficial cooperation. The importance of expanding the economic ties between Armenia and France was emphasized.

The Armenian and French FMs discussed also a number of issues relating to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Ararat Mirzoyan said that the comprehensive and lasting settlement of the conflict is possible only through peaceful negotiations under the mandate of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.

The meeting also touched upon the current humanitarian problems caused by the 2020 Artsakh war. FM Mirzoyan emphasized the necessity of unconditional and quick return of Armenian prisoners of war and other persons held from Azerbaijan, as well as the importance of preserving the Armenian historical-cultural and religious heritage in the territories of Artsakh which have come under the Azerbaijani control.

Ararat Mirzoyan said Armenia and the Armenian people highly appreciate the French governments and parliaments position and steps during last years aggression unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh and the subsequent period.

FM Mirzoyan also thanked the French side for the support provided for fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict will get a lasting solution only when all concerned sides, by putting aside their disagreements and emotions, gather around a table and try to reach an agreement, Member of the European Parliament Lars Patrick Berg said in an interview to ARMENPRESS, expressing hope that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship format will again be activated, and the European Union will be more actively engaged in the conflicts settlement process.

-Mr. Berg, over the past one year active processes are taking place in and around the South Caucasus, mainly conditioned by the 2020 Nagorno Karabakh war, new initiatives are being put forward which, according to some experts, could change the balance of power in the region or in other words lead to the creation of a new status quo in the region. And not only the countries of the region, but also the influential role players close to the region  Russia, Iran and Turkey, play an active role in these processes. What is the position of Germany as a member of the Minsk Group on the ongoing developments?

-I, of course, cannot speak on behalf of the German federal government, I am a member of the European Parliament, one of the 705 MEPs. Unfortunately, I am also not a foreign minister or head of state. In reality, yes, changes in the balance of power are taking place in the region. I just regret that in the past the European Union has not made active efforts on this direction. Recently the President of the European Commission said that the European Union must play an active role on the matters of this region. The problem is that the situation in this region is very complex, and its impossible to give a solution to the conflict in several days, and as politicians we must assess the situation correctly, not to run for our wishes.

Armenia is a country whose opportunities both in the East and West are very compressed, it can neither spread into the East nor the West. In line with this, of course, its important that people in Artsakh have an opportunity to live in peace and stability. I think and this is not something new that the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship must again get activated so that the EU will have a chance to be more actively engaged in these processes and also to participate in the creation of new formats, including engaging the major role players you said, in the person of Russia, Turkey and Iran. My wish as an MEP is to raise my voice and give it in favor of the final settlement of the conflict.

-I know that you have visited Artsakh for several times and have supported a lot the Artsakh-Armenians fight for their freedom and right to self-determination. Did you visit there this time? How do you imagine the overcoming of the war consequences and Artsakhs recovery from all the wounds it received?

-I would gladly visit Artsakh this time, but the latest incidents have created such a situation that my visit there could have a provocative nature. Although I know many politicians in Artsakh who both have responsibility and are active. I visited Artsakh in 2017, many visited with me, and currently we are involved in the black list of another country, and visiting Artsakh now is quite a sensitive issue.

In Artsakh I met with the former president Bako Sahakyan, former foreign minister Masis Mayilyan. In any case, I think that this conflict can have a solution if all concerned sides gather around a negotiation table and as politicians and decision-makers be able to put aside their disagreements, emotions and try to find the best solution to the issue.

-The most painful and urgent issue is that relating to the Armenian prisoners of war. Despite the requirements of the 2020 November 9 trilateral statement and the Geneva Convention, Azerbaijan still refuses to return all Armenian POWs.

-Of course, this is a very important issue, and the captivity of civilians first of all, as well as the representatives of regular army and the conditions which are not being observed, contradict to all international agreements, including the Geneva Convention. We had a chance to visit the pantheon of national heroes of Armenia, the Yerablur, from where we returned with great emotional impressions, and taking into account these moods, I think that the persons who keep the prisoners of war in detention, must quickly release them for the sake of peace and stability. There had been so many losses in that terrible war, so many people had been killed that it could be a big obstacle for the establishment of lasting peace in the region.

-In your opinion, what political, legal or other tools exist in European structures, the European parliament in particular for exerting pressure on Azerbaijan to return the Armenian captives? The next important issue is the destruction of the Armenian historical-cultural heritage in the occupied territories of Artsakh. What could be done to prevent this?

-Very good question. But I want to say that, unfortunately, we do not have other tools than words. However, the European Union is a large trading partner, and if we manage to introduce this idea in all member states that there could be such developments, than a lot of success can be achieved, but if they say every time that we must close an eye for the sake of gas and oil, people would not go beyond the words.

After the war I wrote a letter to the UNESCO Director General, asking to do what depends on their organization to prevent the damage to the Armenian cultural heritage in that territories. Such attitude against the cultural heritage of any people does not bring honor to those people who do that, and this must be viewed within a global perspective. But as of now I dont know whether UNESCO sent a respective mission to Artsakh for examining the issues of preserving of the cultural heritage or not. Several months ago we had such hearings in the European Parliament with the participation of UNESCO, but until that moment no mission from UNESCO has visited Artsakh for security reasons.

And that hatred which exists and continues today, leads to further hatred and hostility. Therefore, its necessary to stop it with more serious, capable forces and take deeper steps towards reconciliation which would eliminate that feeling of hatred and would not allow its spread among the future generations.

We must take into consideration that this conflict would hardly have a quick solution in the short-run, as it requires a lasting solution, but such a solution is needed which would satisfy all sides.

Many in the European Parliament ask me why you adopt such a position, because the result is that we cannot do anything there from here, and instead you get insults from Azerbaijanis and Turks under your posts on Facebook. I tell them that the title of the politician is such that he must raise his voice in favor of the solution of any issue and any positive result. The other politicians raise their voices for another country, and I would like to raise my voice in favor of Armenia.

-Probably you do that based on the aspiration to fight for justice, the humanitarian principles?

-Firstly, I want to tell you that 5 years ago I even didnt know where Armenia is, but when I saw that there are countries, which by using the tools of the current realities, such as lobbying, etc, conduct very active works in their favor, I decided to raise my voice in favor of Armenia in order for the justice to be restored. Eventually, there are countries which do not have that financial capacities.

Summing up my remarks, I would like to state that I arrived in your country as a guest and being aware of this countrys developments, in any case I must try to express as much balanced position as possible, but of course not forgetting about the incidents that have taken place.

Interview by Aram Sargsyan

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The Investigative Committee has taken over the criminal case launched by police into the mass food poisoning at the Tashir Pizza restaurants.

The Investigative Committee said it will conduct a criminal investigation to determine the circumstances of the food poisoning.

Earlier on November 10, the Ministry of Healthcare and the Food Safety Inspection Agency released lab results of samples taken from the food, employees and patrons of Tashir Pizza, the restaurant where a mass food poisoning left nearly 180 people sickened and hospitalized.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The European Unions External Action Service issued a statement on the Artsakh ceasefire anniversary.

This week marks the first anniversary of the cessation of hostilities in and around Nagorno Karabakh following the ceasefire agreement signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan, Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano said in the statement. The EU regrets the loss of life inflicted during these hostilities and extends its condolences to the families of those who were killed or injured. While hostilities have ceased, many pending issues still need to be addressed in order to move towards a negotiated, comprehensive and sustainable settlement. We call in particular for the strict respect for the ceasefire, the immediate release of all remaining prisoners, full cooperation on demining, and the de-escalation of tensions in border areas.

The EU remains committed to promoting a peaceful and prosperous South Caucasus and it is actively engaged contributing to peace-building and post conflict rehabilitation. It has played an important role in the release of prisoners and the handing-over of minefield maps. The EU has also supported people affected by the conflict with more than 17 million in humanitarian assistance, including for demining and early recovery. The EU is also ready to support border de-escalation and delimitation by providing technical assistance, as needed by the sides, and encourages connectivity and the reopening of economic cooperation in the South Caucasus.

Looking ahead, a comprehensive settlement is necessary to put an end to more than three decades of conflict and suffering. To achieve this goal, the EU will continue to be in active contact with relevant international partners, particularly the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and fully supports them in carrying out their mandate by working with Armenia and Azerbaijan on a comprehensive solution to all outstanding issues.
PARIS, NOVEMBER 11, ARMENPRESS. The French foreign ministry released details from the meeting of Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan with Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs.

One year after the end of the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, today received MM. Ararat Mirzoyan and Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, for separate bilateral talks during their trip to France on the occasion of the UNESCO General Assembly.

At the end of these bilateral talks, the Minister opened a joint meeting of the ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan under the aegis of the three French, American and Russian co-chairs of the Minsk Group, intended to continue the momentum started in New York on September 23.

In these various exchanges, the Minister reiterated France's desire to contribute to the strengthening of dialogue between the parties, capable of promoting the establishment of a lasting peace in the South Caucasus region, for the benefit of the populations of the region. He underlined our determination to maintain a strong involvement of the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group in order to achieve this objective and recalled his availability to continue exchanges at political level with the two parties, the French foreign ministry said in a press release.
The November 8 notice was served to Mr Singh under Section 7 (3) of Control of Building Operations Act 1988

Mr Singh was deputy CM twice in PDP-BJP coalition governments and was also later Speaker of the erstwhile J&K Assembly. (PTI)

Srinagar: Senior BJP leader Nirmal Singh, a former J&K deputy chief minister, has been asked by the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) to demolish his illegally built house on the outskirts of Jammu within five days.

A JDA notice served on Mr Singh says if the structure is not removed by this time, it will get its enforcement wing to demolish it. The November 8 notice was served to Mr Singh under Section 7 (3) of Control of Building Operations Act 1988.

The notice stated: You are hereby directed to remove the illegal construction on your own level within five days from the date of issuance of the order. It added: If you fail to remove the illegal construction within the stipulated period, the same shall be demolished by the JDA enforcement wing, and the cost of removal shall be recovered from you as arrears of land revenue.

Mr Singh was deputy CM twice in PDP-BJP coalition governments and was also later Speaker of the erstwhile J&K Assembly.

The palatial house is on a 2,000 square metre plot next to the Armys ammunition sub-depot at Nagrota. It is part of the 12-acre land bought by some senior BJP leaders through a company Himgiri Infrastructure Development Ltd, of which Mr Singhs wife Mamta was a shareholder.

The J&K high court had in May 2018, on a petition by the Centre, told government departments to ensure strict implementation of the 2015 notification barring the public from construction within 1,000 yards of defence installations.

In November 2017, soon after Mr Singh began constructing the house, the Army had written Jammus then deputy commissioner asking him to direct the police and civil administration to stop the work. Despite the Army sending several reminders, no action was taken. Mr Singh and his family moved into the new house in July 2020.
Rajbhar's remarks came days after his poll ally Akhilesh Yadav touted Jinnah as a freedom fighter

Ballia: A day after saying that there would have been no partition if Muhammad Ali Jinnah was made the first prime minister of the country, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar blamed the RSS on Thursday for the historic event.

Reiterating his stand, Rajbhar said if Jinnah was made the first prime minister of independent India, there would have been no partition, India would have been a big country and all kinds of problems would not have arisen.

"The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is responsible for India's partition and not Jinnah. The state of dispute was created by the Sangh itself," he told PTI.

The SBSP chief said leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani and Govind Ballabh Pant had praised Jinnah, who had contributions in the country achieving independence.

"He fought for the country," he said while asserting that after independence, Jinnah should have been made the prime Minister.

In the wake of his poll ally Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav speaking about Jinnah in the same breath as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru as freedom fighters, drawing criticism from BJP leaders including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Rajbhar had on Wednesday said the partition of the country could have been avoided by making Jinnah the prime minister.

Addressing a public meeting in Hardoi recently, Yadav had said, "Sardar Patel, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and (Muhammad Ali) Jinnah studied in the same institute and became barristers. They helped (India) get freedom and never backed away from any struggle."

To a question on mafia-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, Rajbhar, who recently met the Mau MLA in the Banda jail, alleged that BJP leaders contributed the most in making Ansari a lawmaker.

"BJP leaders made Mukhtar Ansari victorious," he said, adding that he has proof to substantiate his claim.

The SBSP leader also claimed that Akhilesh Yadav and his estranged uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav, who has floated his own political party, will be united soon.

"When Shivpal Yadav is ready to merge his party with the SP, there is no problem in both the leaders coming together," he said.
The health ministry informed that 110.23 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold meetings with health ministers of States and Union Territories on Thursday to strengthen the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the country.

"To give further impetus to Prime minister Narendra Modi's call of Har Ghar Dastak, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya will hold meetings with health ministers of states and UTs. Important discussions will take place to strengthen the vaccination campaign," he tweeted.

With this campaign, the Centre is targeting to complete maximum single dose and second dose adult COVID-19 vaccination. It was launched on November 2 on the occasion of Dhanwantari Diwas.

The health ministry today informed that 110.23 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

The Centre has provided 1,20,08,58,170 vaccine doses to states and union territories so far, through free of cost channel, and through the direct state procurement category, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.

According to an official release, 16,74,03,871 balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories to be administered.
Gandhi urged women in the state to unite and fight for themselves

New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government over the issue of safety of women, alleging that women are unsafe in the state.

Her attack came after media reports claimed that an officer at Bapu Bhavan in Lucknow has been arrested for allegedly molesting a contractual worker after a video of the incident went viral.

"Be it secretariat, road or any other place: Women are unsafe in Uttar Pradesh. This is the reality of the government's claim on 'women's safety'," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

"A sister from Uttar Pradesh had to make a video of the incident with her viral due to inaction on her complaint of sexual harassment. How much patience and fighting power would she have had?" the Congress general secretary said.

Gandhi urged women in the state to unite and fight for themselves.

"You are a girl, you can fight. All the women of the country are standing with you," she said.

The Congress has been attacking the state government over the issue of law and order and women's safety, alleging that criminal activities are rampant, a claim denied by the Yogi Adityanath dispensation.
A major tussle had been going on between the Congress state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi

The remarks came after the Channi government on Tuesday accepted the resignation of advocate general A.P.S. Deol, yielding to the pressure mounted by Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu for replacing the state's AG. (PTI)

New Delhi: Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi faced flak from leaders of his own party on Wednesday for ousting the advocate general, with former state Congress president Sunil Jakhar calling him a "really compromised CM. Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari, who is an MP from Anandpur Sahib, also took a swipe at his own party government over the issue, saying politicising the AGs office "undermines" the integrity of constitutional functionaries.

The remarks came after the Channi government on Tuesday accepted the resignation of advocate general A.P.S. Deol, yielding to the pressure mounted by Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu for replacing the state's AG.

Mr Tewari said two previous advocate generals of Punjab became "punching bags in proxy political wars".

"Since the Punjab government is going to appoint (a) new advocate general, they would be well advised to peruse Rules of Professional Standards prescribed by Bar Council of India An advocate is bound to accept any brief in the courts or tribunals or before any other authority in or before which he proposes to practise," Mr Tiwari said quoting the rule of Bar Council of India. He further added, He should levy fees which is at par with the fees collected by fellow advocates of his standing at the Bar and the nature of the case. Special circumstances may justify his refusal to accept a particular brief. Politicising AG's office undermines the integrity of Constitutional functionaries.

A major tussle had been going on between the Congress state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Mr Sidhu had been demanding the removal of the advocate general, while Mr Channi wanted him to continue.

Finally Mr Sidhu prevailed and Mr Deol tendered his resignation.

Mr Deol had represented former Punjab DGP Sumedh Singh Saini in cases related to the 2015 post-sacrilege police firing incidents.

Mr Sidhu had also been targeting his own party government over the appointment of officiating director general of police Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota who was the head of the special investigation team formed by previous SAD-BJP government to probe sacrilege incidents.

Mr Jhakhar, the former Congress chief of Punjab, tweeted: The ouster of a competent yet 'allegedly' compromised officer has exposed a 'really' compromised CM. Giving rise to a pertinent question  Whose government is it anyway?"

Last week, Mr Sidhu had said that he had withdrawn his resignation as the Punjab Congress chief but had also put a precondition that he would resume the charge the day a new advocate general is appointed. Now Mr Sidhu wants the DGP to be replaced. Many feel that the new government after Captain Amarinder Singh is busy catering to the demands of Mr Sidhu rather than concentrating on the assembly elections early next year.

On Monday, Mr Sidhu, while targeting the state government over the advocate general and DGP had said, "(Either) choose compromised officers or the PPCC chief."
'India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims,' said MEA

India on Thursday slammed the reported construction of a border village by China in Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh that has been under Chinese occupation for more than 60 years. (PTI file photo)

New Delhi: India on Thursday slammed the reported construction of a border village by China in Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh that has been under Chinese occupation for more than 60 years. New Delhi said that China has been carrying out construction activity in border areas, including in Indian territory illegally occupied for decades, adding that India has always conveyed its strong protest to such activities through diplomatic means and will continue to do so in the future. New Delhi added that India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims.

According to media reports early this year, the border village built by China is in the territory that has been under Chinese occupation since 1959 and is located on the banks of the river Tsari Chu in the Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The issue hit the headlines again recently after the construction was referred to in a US government report. China does not recognise Arunachal Pradesh as part of India and covets about 90,000 sq. kms of the state and refers to it as South Tibet.

In response to a query at his weekly media briefing on Thursday evening, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, We have taken note of the US department of defence report to US Congress which inter-alia also makes a reference to construction activities by Chinese side along the India-China border areas particularly in the Eastern Sector. Reports had also appeared in the media earlier this year on this issue. As we had stated then, China has undertaken construction activities in the past several years along the border areas, including in the areas that it has illegally occupied over the decades. India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims.

He added, The government has always conveyed its strong protest to such activities through diplomatic means and will continue to do so in the future. Further, as conveyed earlier, the government has also stepped up border infrastructure including the construction of roads, bridges etc, which has provided much-needed connectivity to the local population along the border. The government remains committed to the objective of creating infrastructure along the border areas for the improvement of livelihood of its citizens, including in Arunachal Pradesh. Government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Each election between now and 2024 will challenge the old federal design of authority, power, responsibility and accountability

Elections, at every level, are going to be a series of confrontations over political cultures right up to the mother of all battles in 2024. That much is clear from Prime Minister Narendra Modis harangue at the BJPs national executive meet convened after a two-year gap in hybrid mode, with some attending in person and others virtually.

After propounding the idea of cooperative federalism way back, when Mr Modi was Indias bright new hope, the relationship between the Centre and states, in the BJPs assessment, has sunk to labelling the Opposition of family parties as enemies, who peddle hate. This hostility is reciprocated by the Opposition and its new and perhaps unabashedly self-nominated messiah, Mamata Banerjee.

Her description, and its probably a shared belief among parties opposed to the BJP about the current status of the relationship, that its not a federalism of partnership, meaning between equals, but its a hierarchy of subordination, followed up by her attack that the BJP government at the Centre dishes out step-motherly treatment, is sufficient warning that the run-up the 2024 war will be a series of battles fought in states due to hold elections between now and then. Unless the Oppositions fightback state by state, as seems the strategy now, collapses either under the weight of its own contradictions or buckles to the pressure of politically targeted raids and investigations by Central agencies.

Each election between now and 2024 will challenge the old federal design of authority, power, responsibility and accountability. Though India doesnt have a two-party system, the politics of the Union, that is the politics of exercising power at the Centre, has always been based on the idea of a big, strong national party with a sufficient majority in the Lok Sabha. Even when the party in power at the Centre was fragile and needed allies to survive, the model remained of a big party with weak satellites.

Aiming to win a third term, the BJP is still attached to the old strategy of defending itself against a challenger with national party status. Its principal political target has been and is the Congress, as it simplifies the fight into a past versus future contest or an elite versus proletarian leader race. The model of two national parties competing helps the BJP dress up its Hindutva, hard-right, nationalist agenda.

By recognising the Opposition as family-led parties that peddle hate and enmity, Mr Modi has acknowledged theres a new kind of challenge to the BJP. In claiming the lead role in an Opposition assault on the BJP, state by state, starting with Goa that goes to be polls in February 2022, and then Tripura in 2023, Mamata Banerjee has taken the bull by the horns. Accusing the Congress of being indecisive, inevitable given its failure to identify a leader, she justified her pre-emptive bid as a remedy to her question: Why should the country suffer?

The Opposition may not have met in a conclave to endorse Ms Banerjee as the face to fight Mr Modi in 2024. But the Opposition has also not shot down her launch of the Trinamul Congress in Goa, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh. Misgivings that Modiji is going to be more powerful because of the Congress are evident in the lack of enthusiasm among Opposition parties or non-national parties invited to the August meeting called by Sonia Gandhi. Non-national parties in opposition to the BJP and to the Congress have reasons to be wary of the two big names.

The Congress, as the reigning party across India, the original model of double-engine sarkar, created the precedents that underlie the centralisation of power and the practice of shifting responsibility and accountability to the states. The BJP has merely deepened the divide between the Centre and states by undermining the institutions of dialogue and accommodation like the Planning Commission once was, or the Inter-State Council recommended by the Sarkaria Commission as a concession to the idea of federalism and shared responsibility.

There is, however, a clear difference between the older and increasingly obsolete idea of a bunch of chaotic regional parties, family led as most of them are, trying to forge an alternative to challenge the national party in power at the Centre and the Opposition parties in power in several states for decades. Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and off and on Bihar and Karnataka (this isnt a full list) have been run for decades by parties that are non-national in the sense that they are based in specific geographies. In these states, the ruling parties have fought off the Congress or the BJP as challengers.

In each of these states, there is a commonly shared agenda, of finding new routes to interface and connect with voters that both short-circuits and bypasses the ever more centralising politics of governance of the two national parties, Congress and BJP. Since Rajiv Gandhi launched the panchayati raj system that linked the party in power at the Centre directly to the gram panchayats in the states by establishing a route for funding Central programmes, state governments and regional/non-national parties had to find new ways to ensure that they too have programmes recognised by the voters in the most distant polling booths as customised schemes that meet their most immediate needs and fulfil their expectations.

In almost every state election between now and 2024, the territorially non-national or regional parties will be locked in survival wars over defending the right to represent the people living in separate states within a multi-party system. What it boils down to is a random example that illustrates the nature of the confrontation -- the Centres rejection of the Aam Admi Partys request to clear its scheme of doorstep delivery of food rations on the grounds that the Food Security Act does not sanction such measures.

To concede defeat to the BJP/Centre over improving access and establishing entitlement to something as basic as food safety by states will mean the beginning of the end of the idea that regional parties are better at identifying and fulfilling voters needs. Such schemes are not populist, buying voter programmes as old-style politicians invariably and derisively label them. These are intelligent investments in building human capital that have high rates of return in the long term, as economists like Gary Becker demonstrated, and fill the gap between the Centres grand programmes and a more granular response to perceived gaps in access and delivery. In the run-up to 2024, state elections will be fought by regional parties in defence of a multi-party, multi-location system of democratic politics.
Eight nations issued a joint Delhi Declaration, with twelve sub paras stressing, recalling, condemning or emphasising the salient issues

The concerns that are shared and reflected in the Delhi Declaration are: drug trafficking; refuge to terrorist organisations and their leaders; the impending humanitarian crisis due to the onset of winter and the paucity of resources with the Taliban regime. Representational Image. (AFP)

At the third regional meeting of national security advisers or secretaries on Afghanistan, that was held in New Delhi earlier this week, the absence of both Pakistan and China underscored the lack of regional unanimity in dealing with the developments in that country in the aftermath of the capture of power by the Taliban around three months ago. Further differences between the eight participants became apparent when Russia issued a separate statement, despite it having signed onto the joint Delhi Declaration. Russia watered down some of the language on combating terrorism and safeguarding the human rights of children, women and the minorities.

While some of the Russian back-pedalling may have been due to their own concerns about international interference in Russias internal affairs using human rights arguments, there appeared also a desire not to overly criticise the Taliban. Russia has been engaging the Taliban and is set to attend the Troika-plus meeting in Pakistan, a day after the Delhi meet, at which, unlike in Delhi, Taliban representatives will also be present. Thus, there are several regional initiatives on tackling the geo-strategic and humanitarian ramifications of Afghanistan under the Taliban.

Other than India, Iran and Russia, the meeting was attended by the five Central Asian nations. The eight nations issued a joint Delhi Declaration, with twelve sub paras stressing, recalling, condemning or emphasising the salient issues. The opening point reiterated support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan.

Furthermore, it seeks respect for the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. However, all eight may have disparate levels of concern on the different aspects. For instance, Tajikistan, which falls in the Persian cultural footprint, unlike the Turkic legacy of some of the other Central Asian republics, has a greater convergence of interests with Iran. As a result, as during the 1990s, the leaders of the Tajik ethnic minority of Afghanistan have sought refuge there. That includes the son of the late Tajik strongman Ahmed Shah Massoud, who was assassinated days before 9/11. This special role of Tajikistan was apparent as on the very eve of the Delhi meeting the United States managed to extricate over a hundred Afghan pilots and technicians who had managed to fly in their planes to Tajikistan as Kabul fell. Similarly, Uzbekistan sheltered the Turkic minorities of Afghanistan, including soldiers of erstwhile Afghan National Army who fled across the Amu river rather than surrender to the Taliban.

The concerns that are shared and reflected in the Delhi Declaration are: drug trafficking; refuge to terrorist organisations and their leaders; the impending humanitarian crisis due to the onset of winter and the paucity of resources with the Taliban regime. Also related to this is the need for the Talibans domestic conduct to become more acceptable to the international community. That would require for ethnic minorities to be included in the government to demonstrate more than token devotion to the principle of inclusivity. Also, the regime must act all across Afghanistan in conformity with established principles of human rights.

China and Pakistan want these criteria to be diluted and to use the humanitarian crisis to force the international community to start dealing with the Taliban straightaway, preferably even recognise the regime. To counter this, the Delhi Declaration desires that humanitarian assistance is allowed to be delivered in an unimpeded, direct and assured manner. The Taliban would want all assistance to be canalised through their offices, thus giving them legitimacy within Afghanistan and abroad.

On terrorism too, the position of the regional powers remains nuanced. Pakistan, China and it seems Russia as well do not want to hold the Taliban regime to public accountability on the question of them severing links with terrorist groups. China has concerns about Uyghurs but would rather handle the matter bilaterally or by using Pakistans good offices.

India has met the Taliban representatives on the sidelines of regional meetings but has been cold to any direct contacts after the elevation of a representative of the Haqqani clan as interior minister. India made a token gesture by attempting to send grains overland to Afghanistan via Pakistan, which was not allowed by Pakistan. But that was more to make a political point about Pakistan blocking even humanitarian aid. In the past, India has used the maritime-cum-land route via Iran to send similar assistance.

That brings up the question of Iran. India having merrily joined the new Quad with Iran, the UAE and the United States, Iran would resent an even closer shift by India into the American corner. That is perhaps one of the factors why Iran did not invite India for its regional meeting on Afghanistan recently. Iran is critical to any Indian strategy to bring pressure on the Pakistan-sponsored Taliban government. The Iranian and Indian interests converge on the need for an inclusive government. Iran has twin interests in Afghanistan  to ensure protection for Shia Hazaras and have the Tajiks accepted as partners in the governance structure, in keeping with their second largest minority status after the Pashtuns. At the moment, the first question is still not certain and the second clearly unavailable. But Irans geo-strategic interests, unlike in the 1990s, are primarily focused on two other issues.

One is how to get the nuclear deal resurrected after former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States. Two, how to safeguard its predominant position amongst the Shias to its west. This is what distinguishes its priorities now as compared to those it had when the Taliban first rose in the 1990s. The proclivity of the Narendra Modi government to get drawn into US-sponsored alliances thus clouds the outlook for strategic India-Iran cooperation on Afghanistan.

What then was the gain from the New Delhi meeting? It showed that all neighbours, other than Pakistan and China, share in varying degrees Indias concerns regarding the Pakistan-sponsored Taliban regime running Afghanistan. They are mindful of the humanitarian crisis brewing there but are not in a hurry to ignore their concerns about the Taliban and rush aid. But so far, the Taliban has not yet faced a political challenge domestically. The Tajik resistance was quickly overcome in the Panjshir valley with active Pakistani military support. Tajik leaders who fled to Tajikistan havent yet got the kind of international support that Ahmad Shah Massoud had till he was assassinated in September 2001. The NSAs of eight nations resolved to keep in touch and meet again next year. The fact that Russia, in its separate statement, kept the next meeting date unspecific indicates the difficult path that lies ahead.
Windows 11 SE is optimised for Microsoft apps like Edge, Office, and OneDrive

Washington: Microsoft has announced Windows 11 SE, a lighter version of Windows 11 designed for educational purposes, along with Surface Laptop SE.

As per GSM Arena, the OS that's running on the Surface Laptop SE is Windows 11 SE, which has been stripped of some functionality, in order to fit the needs of the classroom.

There's no Windows Store, and instead, Windows 11 SE is optimised for Microsoft apps like Edge, Office, and OneDrive. There's a limited number of third-party apps that are supported, like Zoom and Chrome, but more will be added with time.

Features such as complex snap grids have been removed in favour of a simple split screen of two apps on the left and right.

Microsoft Edge, which has lost its Chrome Extensions support in Windows 11, has gained it back under 11 SE because classrooms rely on some of these for their classes.

The Surface Laptop SE is a no-nonsense USD 249 machine with an all-plastic body, an 11.6-inch 1366x768px TFT display, 4GB or 8GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron processor (either N4020 or N4120).

The keyboard and trackpad have been carried over from the USD 550 Surface Laptop Go. Storage is of the eMMC variety and can be either 64GB or 128GB. There's a 1MP camera capable of 720p video.

The ports are one USB-A, one USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack and a barrel-type DC connector for charging.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go will be easy to repair, allowing school ITs to swap the display, battery, keyboard, and motherboard. These replacement parts will be widely available from Microsoft.

The Surface Laptop SE will cost USD 249 for the 4/64GB option and USD 329 for the 8/128GB model. It will become available in the US, UK, Canada, and Japan in early 2022.

More Windows 11 SE laptops will arrive from Acer, Asus, Dell, Dynabook, Fujitsu, HP, JK-IP, Lenovo, and Positivo.
Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalising trade and investment

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit via video, from Beijing on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 (Li Xueren/Xinhua via AP)

Wellington: Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday against letting tensions in the Indo-Pacific cause a relapse into a Cold War mentality.

His remarks on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum came weeks after the US, Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region which would see Australia build nuclear submarines. China has harshly criticised the deal.

Xi spoke in a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at APEC, which is being hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format. Xi is scheduled to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders including US President Joe Biden on Saturday.

In his speech, Xi said attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would fail.

"The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era," Xi said.

Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalising trade and investment.

"China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development," he said.

The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said.

In all, APEC members account for nearly 3 billion people and about 60 per cent of the world's GDP. But deep tensions run through the unlikely group of 21 nations and territories that include the US, China, Taiwan, Russia and Australia.

China claims vast parts of the South China Sea and other areas and has moved to establish a military presence, building islands in some disputed areas as it asserts its historic claims.

Both Taiwan and China have applied to join a Pacific Rim trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Beijing saying it will block Taiwan's bid on the basis that the democratically governed island refuses to accept that it's part of communist-ruled China.

And it remains unclear whether all APEC members will support a bid by the US to host the 2023 round of APEC meetings.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Wednesday that APEC was founded on consensus and that there was not yet a confirmed host for 2023.

Officials say they have made significant progress during some 340 preliminary meetings leading up to this week's leaders' meeting. APEC members have agreed to reduce or eliminate many tariffs and border holdups on vaccines, masks and other medical products important for fighting the pandemic.
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In our effort to always give our readers the best, up to date local reporting, we have recently collaborated with Ohio University students to build interactive, constantly updated timelines for stories that are important to you.
Graveside services for Dorothy Clarice "Dottie" Cross 86, of Athens have been scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday November 22, 2021 at Oaklawn Memorial Park with Bro. Cody Craig officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Autry's Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home. Mrs. Cross passed away November 18
The Italian chef has a net worth of around $10 million, and his salary is around $2.7 million per year from his television deals, which include Ginos Italian Family Adventure and Gordon, Gino and Freds Road Trip. The famous celebrity chef also has an enviable motorized collection, which he admits is worth over $1.5 million. The list also includes some watercraft.In a new interview, Gino DAcampo admits that he is the proud owner of several Italian cars, because of his heritage, but that he doesnt drive them much. "I drive... I own a couple of Ferraris, like many Italians, as well as a Porsche, a big Jeep and Harley Davidson, he told OK! Magazine . He continued: "I rarely drive, however, because I enjoy a drink. I employ a driver instead." Which is one of the most responsible things he can do.He owns a Ferrari 360 and a Ferrari 458 Italia, which has been discontinued. In the past, he called a Fiat 500C One of my favourite cars I owned.....a proper Italian toy.His biggest purchase, though, was "a high-tech military boat, made to my specification, which cost more than a 1 million ($1.3 million). He added: "It was made by an Italian company called Novamarine which makes powerful boats for the American marines.One of his sons, Luciano, revealed he also owns a Ferrari 458 , shown in the gallery. In a post from 2019, which you can see below, the Chef shared a picture of how he was giving driving lessons to his son on a Ferrari.Were not all that lucky to learn how to drive in the Italian supercar, but given his fathers collection, it would have been a pity for Luciano to miss that experience.
AMG

In the red corner, we have none other than the fabulous Ferrari F8 Tributo . This mid-engine, rear-wheel drive exotic replaced the 488 more than two years ago, and it is a true force to be reckoned with.As the naturally aspirated days of such rides are almost over, it embraces a turbod 3.9-liter V8, with 710 horsepower and 568 pound-feet (770 Nm) of torque. The thrust is directed to the wheels through a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission, and it brags about hitting 62 mph (100 kph) in just 2.9 seconds, en route to a maximum speed of 211 mph (340 kph).In the black corner, with numerous victims under its belt, is the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-Door Coupe. Offering space for an entire family and their luggage, this is a true four-door supercar and the direct replacement of the oldCLS. Thats right, you cannot get the modern-day CLS in the hot 63 flavor, so thats what the GT 63 is for; well, that and extra bragging rights since it looks different on the outside.A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine lies under the hood of the German model. In the 63 S specification, it pumps out 630 hp and 664 lb-ft (900 Nm) of torque. The Affalterbach brand claims that it can do the 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) in just 3.2 seconds, with a 196 mph (315 kph) top speed.Thus, in theory at least, the AMG holds the upper ground, but surely the Ferrari cannot go down without a fight. That said, let's get ready to rumble. The action starts at the 2:06 mark, and the video shared down below also shows the Prancing horse take on other fast machines, including a BMW M5 E60 and a Porsche 911 Turbo S.
ADAS

FSD

NHTSA

EV

The unidentified customer seems to live in Brea, California, and has a Tesla Model Y RWD, but we are not sure if it is a Standard Range or a Long Range. The fact is that they were driving with the Level 2(advanced driver assistance systems) engaged and, in a left turn,would have decided to invade the nearby lane.According to the report published on the NHTSA website , the car sounded a warning. However, it was halfway through the turn. The driver tried to steer the vehicle back to the correct lane, but the car would have taken control and forced itself into the incorrect lane(,) creating an unsafe maneuver (and) putting everyone involved at risk.The car that was in the invaded lane did not have time to avoid the crash. With that, the Model Y would now be severely damaged on the driver side. Without a name or any other reference, such as the location in which the crash happened, we have no way to check if the story is true or not. Despite that, it was relevant enough to deserve an article, which may be a way to clarify everything.On top of that,said that it might remove complaints that it is unable to verify. The report against FSD Beta is still online. If you know what happened or if you were directly involved with the crash, please get in touch with us to tell your story with all the necessary details.This is not the first reported dangerous situation caused by FSD when turning left. Many videos published on YouTube report that the car tried to kill its driver and passengers by entering in front of vehicles approaching in the opposite lanes despite detecting them. Luckily, none of these other incidents resulted in a crash. Based on one of those videos, Philip Koopman asked NHTSA to intervene and prevent Tesla from testing beta software with untrained customers.If the NHTSA complaint is for real, it may be the first crash involving FSD Beta. Tesla fans will argue that anyone using the beta software accepts a disclaimer that states the driver is responsible at all times, which is true. They may also say that thewill not fight for control, which is debatable. After all, FSD can steer, brake, and accelerate the cars without driver's interference.The point here is that this driver considers FSD to be dangerous. If NHTSA agrees with their report and confirms the story, it may concede what Koopman and other traffic safety experts have been asking for ages: that Tesla follows the same rules with FSD that all other Level 4 developers have to obey, regardless of what Tesla tells regulators.
The GOES-T (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) is the next-gen weather satellite in Lockheed Martins GOES-R series, built by the manufacturer for the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). It is meant to keep an eye on our planet, particularly the Western Hemisphere, to be more precise.With an expected lifespan of 15 years, the satellite is the size of a small school bus and has been assembled by Lockheed Martin in Colorado. However, the GOES-T is scheduled for launch in Florida at the beginning of next year, so it was recently transported to the Kennedy Space Center, where it will start its launch preparations.And it wasnt just any kind of ride, but one on board Air Forces very own C-5 Galaxy , its largest and only strategic airliner, capable of transporting cargo on longer distances than any other aircraft. This behemoth of a flying machine has a payload of up to five helicopters, so carrying a satellite the size of a school bus in it was a joyride.The GOES-T was first safely packed to keep all its state-of-the-art instruments protected during the flight. It was enclosed in a shipping container, which, according to Lockheed Martin, functioned as the satellite's own miniature cleanroom environment. It was then loaded onto the C-5.Thanks to its advanced technology, the GOES-T will be able to provide the NOAA with sharper, more defined images of all kinds of weather hazards (such as hurricanes, wildfires, severe storms, etc.) occurring in the U.S. and the Western Hemisphere in general. It will even be able to offer information on the strength of storms, thanks to the lightning mapper built by Lockheed Martin, which the manufacturer boasts as being the first-of-its-kind.Mapping tropical storms and hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean will also be part of its tasks, and it will also support NOAAs SARSAT (Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking) system.The GOES-T weather satellite is scheduled to launch from Florida on February 16, 2022.
Several nations are already working to develop hypersonic weapons . And while theyre focusing on producing rockets that can travel at supersonic speeds, defending against these incredibly-fast weapons is also a top priority. This is why U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) plans to implement hypersonic weapon tracking satellites as part of its defense systems.The HBTSS satellites will be part of a hypersonic tracking layer made up of hundreds of satellites located in Earths low orbit that will communicate with one another to identify and track enemy weapon systems. They will identify and track the weapons by sensing heat signatures.They will offer continuous tracking and handoff to help services track enemy missiles launched from land, sea, or air. HBTSS satellites are also capable of tracking threats with near-global reach when utilizing infrared sensors before they even get to be detected by U.S. ground-based defenses.Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $153 million contract by the MDA for the Phase IIB section of the HBTSS program, which will expand on work completed by the industry through design. The recent critical design review demonstrates that the agency is on track with the development of the HBTSS prototype.This critical design review puts Northrop Grumman on track to deliver a vital component of our missile defense architecture to keep the U.S. and its allies safe against hypersonic threats, said Sarah Willoughby, Northrop Grumman vice president.Northrop Grumman expects delivery for the HBTSS prototype to take place in 2023. Following the delivery of the HBTSS prototype, the company will conduct an on-orbit test to demonstrate the satellites capability to continuously track hypersonic threats and its ability to communicate the information so that the missile is intercepted.
Sir Richard Branson is a known and proud adventurer, one who keeps himself in top physical shape (the fact that hes 68 makes his accomplishment even more impressive) and often takes part in all types of challenges. The most recent was Strive BVI in Tortola, the British Virgin Islands, with proceeds from it going to the Big Change foundation.It was also the scene of his most recent bicycle crash, one that Branson himself describes as colossal. The potential consequences of the crash would have been dire had he not worn his helmet, Branson says in a recent blog post on Virgin , detailing the crash and its aftermath.Part of the challenge was a 60-km (37-mile) bike ride up and down hills. Coming down on one, he saw fellow rider Felix Stellmaszek up ahead, passing by a car that was coming up from the opposite direction. To Bransons left was a massive cliff drop. In short, this is the worst kind of scenario in which, as a rider, you notice that your brakes are not working, and Branson was suddenly forced to choose between crashing to his left and falling off the cliff, crashing into the car, or braking by taking out Steve. He chose option number three.We crashed  hard, Branson writes. We both fell off our bikes and our heads and bodies slammed into the concrete road. There is no question that wearing helmets saved our lives  not the first time that has been the case. We both lay flat out on the road as the rest of the team gathered around us. I stayed still, hoping I hadnt broken my back or paralyzed myself.Luckily, Branson wasnt left paralyzed and neither was Felix. Both did sustain severe road rash and bruising, but were still in decent enough shape to laugh about Bransons courtesy (apologizing in advance for crashing into Steve). Branson was eventually able to return to the final stretch of the challenge and complete the event.
T-1 hour to Falcon 9 launch of Dragon. The crew is go! pic.twitter.com/XlQcY2w5oM  SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 11, 2021

The rocket took off together with the spacecraft, named Endurance by the crew, at 9:03 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer on board.The international crew is currently on its way to the orbiting lab. The Crew Dragon Endurance will dock autonomously to the space station's Harmony module on Thursday, November 11th, after a 22-hour flight. SpaceX introduced several upgrades to the Crew Dragon system for this significant journey, building upon knowledge gathered from prior missions. As a result, the spacecraft now benefits from updated software that improves computer performance and reliability during re-entry. It also assists the spacecraft's docking procedures and mechanisms in reducing hardware interference on the space station.Although the improved capsule will dock autonomously during Crew Dragon's flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. At the same time, NASA teams will monitor the ISS operations from its Johnson Space Center in Houston to ensure that everything goes accordingly."Ensuring our crews have safe transportation and continued access to space is an enormous responsibility," said Steve Stich, the manager with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. "We know the crew is excited to get on station and settle into their long duration mission. The NASA and SpaceX team remains vigilant in support of their safe arrival and eventual return to Earth."The four astronauts will spend six months aboard the space station, where they'll conduct new scientific research in fields such as health technologies, materials science, and plant science.
CVT

A challenger to the likes of the Toyota Corolla and Volkswagen Jetta, the Nissan Sentra has received a few updates for the 2022 model year. The changes are minor and include the introduction of the Midnight Edition Package and All-Weather Package on certain trim levels.Bringing black detailing on the outside, such as the V-motion grille, rear diffuser, and spoiler, and badging, as well as a similar look for the 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, the Midnight Edition Package is offered on the 2022 Sentra SR.The All-Weather Package, on the other hand, is a Sentra SV affair as of now, and adds dual-zone climate control, heated steering wheel and front seats, and remote engine start. Nissans compact sedan also gets the Safety Shield 360 bundle of driver assistance gear across all grades at no extra cost.Powered by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine across the range, rated at 149 horsepower and 146 pound-feet (198 Nm) of torque, and mated to a, the 2022 Sentra lineup comprises the S, SV, and SR. Pricing for the base model starts at $19,510, excluding the $975 destination and handling charge. The mid-range is offered from $20,570, and the top-of-the-line variant kicks off at $22,100.Things such as the active grille shutters, dusk-sensing headlights with halogen for the first two trim levels and LED for the range-topper, electrically adjustable side mirrors, air-con for the S and dual-zone climate control for the SV and SR, 7-inch infotainment and 4.2-inch driver display for the base model, and 8-inch infotainment next to the 7-inch driver display for the other two, smartphone integration, voice control, and others are included.
The Israeli aerospace company is continuously upgrading the design of its compact eVTOL, the CityHawk . Since it was designed to provide air taxi and ambulance services even in the most challenging urban spaces, enhanced landing, navigating and night vision capabilities were essential.The CityHawks unique compact design, without wings and with a fully-enclosed rotor system, was already confirmed through hundreds of test flight hours, conducted over the past years. Now, it was time to work on the aircrafts software. Sensor fusion and augmented reality are the main technologies that will take the CityHawk to the next level. The manufacturer has recently joined forces with an expert in avionics, to make the future air taxi even more agile than before.Universal Avionics has developed an Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) and an Advanced Video Management Device that will help the CityHawk navigate more easily through the city, have better nighttime vision, and be able to take off and land safely, even in confined and crowded spaces.These are essential capabilities, considering that the CityHawk is meant to operate as an emergency medical services (EMS) vehicle that needs fast and smooth access in difficult locations. Even as an air taxi, this eVTOL is supposed to easily fly from the rooftop of an office building to that of an apartment building.The avionics company will provide a complete package including an augmented reality platform, sensors, and a headset for the pilot. With this technology, the future eVTOL pilots will benefit from enhanced situational awareness, a key element, especially for emergency operations.Urban Aeronautics is also working with other partners on developing UAM infrastructure in the Middle East, and adapting hydrogen fuel cell technology for eVTOLs.
The research and development section of the world's largest military aviation museum is home to a collection of the wildest, most advanced (for their time), and unique aircraft that have ever taken to the skies. But in terms of top trumps, there's nothing that quite compares the raw, awesome power of the North American Aviation X-15. A rocket plane so powerful and so fast, nobody's bothered even to attempt to build a manned aircraft even remotely that fast today. Granted, any speed beyond what the X-15 could muster essentially qualifies you for astronaut wings.As breathtaking as the X-15's capabilities may have been, it can't be argued that it didn't sit on the backs of giants. The rocket came from an established lineage of American experimental aircraft, having its genesis in the Bell X-1, the first aircraft to verifiably break the sound barrier. The X-1, too, was a rocket aircraft. Between it and the X-15, they make up the most famous rocket planes ever to fly.When visiting the X-15 at any of the museums where they find homes today, there's a particular charisma that emanates from every fiber of its construction. There's a sense that every man who entered the cockpit strapped the underside of a B-52 Stratofortress Strategic Bomber was scared half to death, even if they never showed it. The Reaction Motors XLR 99 rocket engine was indeed something to be feared. The rocket engine in the German Me 163 Komet interceptor was known for spontaneously exploding less than 15 years earlier. The men who flew in the X-15 very likely were aware of this, as many of the men who worked on the project, including the project director, Walter Dornberger, were former employees of the Wermacht.Just seeing the quality of the composite nickel alloys and high-strength steel in the X-15's construction tells a story of a plane so advanced, it still hasn't been matched. Each of its flush rivets was designed to withstand enough speed and pressure to make the plane's nose glow red hot like a meteor at the upper limits of its maximum speed. It's said that approaching speeds that neared an eye-watering mach-seven nearly generated enough heat to melt through the fuselage. This actually happened during a flight controlled by top-notch test pilot William J. "Pete" Knight.Inside the cockpit, the remarkably aircraft-like instrument panel reminds you that even a plane with a rocket engine in the back, this machine is still flying using the same principles as a Cessna . In the days before LCD multifunctional displays, it was the pilot's job to interpret all the data the vast array of instruments were relaying and to wrestle with the flight stick like mad to keep the rocket plane in the sky. By mastering this beast of an airplane, Neil Armstrong gained the skills he needed to one day lead the first human-crewed mission to the Moon.Decked out in its iconic black paint job with contrasting NASA emblem on the tail fin, the X-15 looks every bit the world-beating speed demon it looks like it is. Just looking at the plane on the ground in a hangar is enough to intimidate some people. Imagine what it must have felt like to have to strap yourself in and hit the rocket engine ignition switch, people back then really must have been made of sterner stuff. The streamlined cockpit canopy is angled in just the right way to be at peak aerodynamic efficiency and evil looking. Considering the barely controlled demon of an engine that sits behind the pilot who's forced to look through thin slits of glass that more or less made a windscreen, the look is more than appropriate.The X-15 on display in Dayton, Ohio , was delivered there in 1969. If you ask us, it's probably for the best it never flies again. If the tragic death of test pilot Michael J Adams told anything to the Air Force and NASA, it's that one of these days, the heat and pressure of mach-five-plus speeds was going to eventually rip the aircraft apart, given enough time. It's a miracle far more of these didn't end up melting under the heat. It managed to survive long enough to be drooled over by awestruck museum-goers for the foreseeable future. Check out the awesome slideshow above if you want to see more
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) ban on mask mandates in state public schools "violates" the rights of students with disabilities.

Why it matters: U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in the ruling that the Americans with Disabilities Act overrides Abbott's order issued earlier this year prohibiting government entities in the state, including public schools, from requiring masks.

Yeakel's ruling, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, could have an impact on other Republican-led states seeking to prohibit mask mandates in schools.

Driving the news: The judge's ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by advocacy group Disability Rights Texas and families of students with disabilities challenging Abbott's order.

The ruling means Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton can't enforce Abbott's order to impose a fine of up to $1,000 for entities that implement mask mandates.

Details: "The spread of COVID-19 poses an even greater risk for children with special health needs. Children with certain underlying conditions who contract COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe acute biological effects and to require admission to a hospital and the hospitals intensive-care unit," Yeakel wrote.

"This includes children with conditions including, Down Syndrome, organ transplants, lung conditions, heart conditions, and weakened immune systems."

"The evidence presented by Plaintiffs establishes that Plaintiffs are being denied the benefits of in-person learning on an equal basis as their peers without disabilities."

 Yeakel

Of note: The Texas Supreme Court has on several occasions ruled in favor of Abbott's ban.

What they're saying: Kym Davis Rogers, litigation attorney at Disability Rights Texas, said in a statement that the group was "thankful that school districts can now take the steps necessary to protect these students."

"No student should be forced to make the choice of forfeiting their education or risking their health, and now they wont have to," Rogers added.

The other side: Paxton tweeted that he "strongly" disagreed with Judge Yeakel's "opinion barring my office from giving effect" to the executive order, "which prohibits mask mandates imposed by government entities like school districts."

"My Agency is considering all legal avenues to challenge this decision," he added.

What to watch: The Education Department in August launched investigations into five GOP-led states that banned mask mandates in schools for possible discrimination against students with disabilities or underlying medical conditions.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.
The Biden administration is urging the Israeli government to start engaging with Sudan's civilian leaders, rather than just the military, as part of the normalization process between the countries, Israeli officials tell me.

The backstory: Sudan is governed by a transitional civilian-military council, but the Israeli government has communicated almost exclusively with the military, starting with a summit 18 months ago between then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gen. Abdel Fatah al-Burhan, the chairman of Sudan's governing council.

While Burhan pushed the normalization process forward, there were strong reservations on the civilian side, many of which remain to this day.

Foreign Minister Mariam al-Mahdi, for example, opposed the abolishing of an Israel boycott law. Other top officials, such as Justice Minister Nasreldin Abdelbari, are more supportive of the normalization process.

Why it matters: The U.S. believes that increasing contacts between the Israeli government and the civilian faction of the Sudanese government could advance the normalization process.

Behind the scenes: In a recent meeting with the U.S. charge daffaires in Khartoum, Brian Shukan, senior Sudanese civilian officials said that Israel was engaging only with the military and intelligence services and asked the Biden administration to intervene, Israeli officials tell me.

State Department officials then conveyed that message to the Israeli Foreign Ministry and prime minister's office, and made clear that the State Department also believes Israel should work with Sudan through civilian channels.

They didnt ask us to stop working with the military but asked that we start working with the civilian government, too," an Israeli official said.

A State Department official declined to comment.

But there was a new source of tension last week after an Israel private jet affiliated with the Mossad spy agency landed in Khartoum.

Sources familiar with the flight tell me Mossad officials met with Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, aka Hemetti.

Hemetti is Burhans deputy on the Sovereignty Council but has been trying to create an independent relationship with the Israelis in order to promote his own domestic political agenda in Sudan. He's also a highly controversial figure who has been accused of war crimes in Darfur.

Sudanese officials were upset about the optics of the Mossad visit, which could be seen as an Israeli attempt to undermine Burhan and the civilian government, a source familiar with the issue says.

Whats next: Sudan and Israel still havent signed a formal agreement on diplomatic relations. The agreement has been drafted, but the Sudanese want to have it endorsed by the Biden administration and signed in a ceremony in Washington.
Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov also met with Le Drian as well as the U.S., Russian and French co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group separately before their face-to-face talks held in Paris.

Le Drian tweeted afterwards that he brought them together to help reduce tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan one year after a Russian-brokered ceasefire stopped the war in Nagorno-Karabakh.

France remains fully engaged in in the Minsk Group, he said. We do not forget the victims of the war interrupted a year ago.

The first meeting of Mirzoyan and Bayramov took place in New York on September 24 in the presence of the groups co-chairs. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov organized and presided over their second encounter in Minsk on October 14.

The French Foreign Ministry said Le Drian sought to keep up the momentum in Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations.

In these various exchanges, the Minister reiterated France's desire to contribute to the strengthening of dialogue between the parties, a ministry spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the Armenian Foreign Ministry, during his meetings in Paris Mirzoyan stuck to the official Armenian line that the Karabakh conflict remains unresolved and requires a comprehensive settlement based on the mediators peace proposals. He also condemned the recent killings by Azerbaijani forces of two Karabakh Armenian civilians and Bakus reluctance to free dozens of Armenian prisoners.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, for its part, that Bayramov discussed with the Armenian foreign minister and the mediators ways of normalizing Azerbaijans relations with Armenia given the new realities in the region.

The co-chairs issued no joint statement on the Paris talks as of Thursday afternoon. In their last statement released on October 8, they reiterated their willingness to visit the region in the near future to discuss next steps in the process.

The visit has still not taken place. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian suggested over the weekend that it is delayed by Azerbaijan, which claims to have ended the conflict with its victory in last years war.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the mediators should be able to resume their visits to Karabakh as part of their peace efforts.
The official, Menua Hovsepian, was first taken into custody on August 17 following the arrest of Goris Mayor Arush Arushanian. The two men affiliated with the main opposition Hayastan alliance are facing criminal charges which they both reject as politically motivated.

Arushanian remains behind bars despite his and his political allies landslide victory in a municipal election held in Goris on October 17. The election outcome is widely regarded as a serious setback for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his Civil Contract party.

A local court granted Hovsepian bail and ordered his release three days before the vote. The Court of Appeals overturned that ruling in what the vice-mayors lawyer, Armen Melkonian, denounced as a political decision aimed at intimidating other opposition members.

Melkonian argued that his client posted bail worth 30 million drams ($63,000) and did not obstruct the investigation into the high-profile case after his release.

Thirty million drams is not 30 cents; its a serious guarantee that a person wont do anything wrong, Melkonian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service.

Hovsepian is accused of misusing public funds and coercing local residents to campaign for Hayastan in the run-up to the June 20 parliamentary elections. His lawyer insisted that the charges are baseless.

Goris and surrounding villages make up a major community of Armenias Syunik province bordering districts southwest of Nagorno-Karabakh that were retaken by Azerbaijan during and shortly after last years war. The mayors of virtually all provincial towns and villages blamed Pashinian for Armenias defeat in the war and demanded his resignation.

Some of them, including Arushanian, encouraged supporters to disrupt Pashinians visits to the region. Four Syunik mayors were arrested shortly after the June elections. One of them was freed late last month.
The Armenian police said it occurred in the courtyard of a house in the citys northern Kanaker suburb. Police officers found two assault rifles and four pistols at the scene.

The Investigative Committee said later in the day that four people have been arrested in connection with what was one of the deadliest shootings in Armenias recent history. The law-enforcement agency did not identify them or comment on possible causes of the bloodshed.

Armenian media reports said the victims included Artur Ghazarian, a 42-year-old underworld figure nicknamed Tuy, and Artyush Simonian, a former parliament deputy and business executive.

Both men lived in Kanaker. Armlur.am reported that Simonian, 61, returned to Armenia from the Netherlands on Monday.

The publication also said investigators believe that the overnight killings were either the result of a bitter dispute between two groups of men gathered in the Kanaker house or an armed attack carried out by a third party.
Police are investigating after a double shooting near 13th Avenue and Monroe Street, which is just south of Van Buren Street, in Phoenix Monday morning. Phoenix police says when officers arrived on scene just after 6:45 a.m., they found a man and a woman who were shot. Both were taken to the
Bakersfield, CA (93308)

Today

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 42F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 42F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
BASF and rsted have concluded a 25-year fixed-price corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA), under which BASF will offtake the output of 186 megawatts from rsteds planned Borkum Riffgrund 3 Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea.

The offshore wind farm will have a total installed capacity of 900 megawatts and go into full commercial operation in 2025. rsted has recently secured planning approval from the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH).

With this CPPA as a tangible first step, the two companies will look into where the interests of both companies can match in the future to support emission reductions in the chemical industry. The power purchase agreement will help cover the increased electricity needs of low-emission technologies for BASF and is a step towards BASFs ambition of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.

As the agreement will run for 25 years, it is the longest CPPA for offshore wind ever announced and an important step in enabling rsted to take final investment decision on Borkum Riffgrund 3, which is expected towards the end of 2021.

Borkum Riffgrund 3 was the worlds first large-scale offshore wind farm to be awarded with a zero bid. This was made possible by several cost-drivers, including the installation of next-generation wind turbine technology, very favourable site conditions and high wind speeds, and anticipated revenue-stabilising power purchase agreements with industrial partners such as BASF.

This supply agreement with rsted is another important step in securing additional renewable energy for BASF, says Dr. Martin Brudermuller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. BASF wants to reduce its CO 2 emissions by 25% by 2030 compared with 2018. To achieve this ambitious goal, we will have to replace large amounts of fossil energy with renewable energy within the coming years. rsted can provide the required additional quantities through the construction of new wind farms to support us in our energy transformation.

Mads Nipper, CEO of rsted says: In the common fight against climate change, its partners like BASF that will make the difference. The chemical sector has a challenging path towards decarbonisation, but it will also make one of the biggest contributions. For this reason, countries like Germany must respond to the enormous demand for renewable electricity by urgently making more seabed available for offshore wind projects and by increasing its ambitions for deploying large-scale renewable energy sources such as offshore wind power. Offshore wind in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea is an abundant source of green electricity that can be unleashed through clearer and more ambitious policies. With our vision of a world that runs entirely on green energy, we aim to further accelerate the build out of renewable energy and support partners like BASF in realising their climate ambitions.

rsted and BASF share a vision that innovative, zero-emission technologies like large-scale offshore wind can play a significant role in the emission reductions in the chemical industry, say both CEOs, Brudermuller and Nipper.

BASF is working on scaling up low-emission technologies to industrial dimensions. On this path, beyond 2030 BASF expects to implement technologies such as CO 2 -free methods for the production of hydrogen and electrically heated steam crackers, which will significantly increase BASFs demand for renewable power.

rsted is also pursuing ambitious decarbonisation goals. More than ten years ago, the company started its own transformation, from being one of the most coal-intensive energy companies to being the most sustainable energy company in the world. rsted has the target and plan of becoming carbon-neutral in its energy generation by 2025 and of reaching full value chain decarbonisation by 2040, as the worlds first energy company with scientifically validated plans. By 2030, rsted aims to have installed 50 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity. Of this, 30 gigawatts will be offshore wind power.
Bluefield, WV (24701)

Today

Occasional rain. Low 39F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Occasional rain. Low 39F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
After years of work, a partnership between Lamar State College Port Arthur and the Port Arthur Economic Development Corporation is about to pay off for future culinary professionals.

Starting Monday, at least a dozen students in colleges culinary arts and hospitality program will be learning the skills of the trade in a new 8,000-square-foot facility in The Press Building.

The start of class will be the first official step toward the EDCs $10 million plan to turn the former home of the Port Arthur News into an entrepreneurial engine for the city.

Jana Barnes, facilities manager for The Press Building, said the key purpose of the grant-funded project to revitalize the building was to create a place to train and develop future professionals.

The culinary arts program is an intrinsic part of that project, she said. We want to provide education, job training and small business development in this space, which includes these students.

The college started to develop the program after the EDC approached it with plans for the downtown revitalization project and a proposal for fulfilling a gap in training professional chefs and hospitality specialists.

That process started in 2018 and classes were supposed to start in 2020. But a pandemic, tropical storms and hurricanes slowed the timeline.

But some four years later, students will be walking into a unique lab environment complete with a bistro where they can gain real-world experience handling a restaurant and its customers.

Sheila Guillot, department chair of business and industrial technology at LSCPA, said creating real-world experiences was key to the kind of program the school wanted to develop and the kind of training that industry partners would expect for the next generation of chefs and cooks.

And there seemed to be a demand for that kind of training, as students and professionals already have started giving a lot of attention to the program.

Weve had a lot of great applicants for instructors, and weve had several inquiries by industry members that want to offer internships next spring, Guillot said. A lot of area high schools that have culinary programs have also been interested in dual credit opportunities.

The new facility will capacity for 18 students to train and learn in two kitchens, as well as some specific amenities to make sure they have the best learning experience.

Melissa Armentor, dean of technical programs at LSCPA, said the lab is outfitted with cameras and a monitor system, so each student can get a crystal clear view of how to perform intricate techniques that wouldnt be easy to view just standing around in a crowd in front of a workstation.

Its a lot like what you would see on TV, Armentor said. The students can see exactly what the instructor is doing, and then they get the opportunity to demonstrate skills themselves.

Students can earn a progressive series of certificates for culinary arts foundation and culinary arts specialist or a two-year applied science degree.

Students that develop their skills and have dreams of their own wont be too far away from more opportunities, as the EDC is considering turning a part of its space reserved for an eatery into a pilot kitchen for entrepreneurs looking to develop their own business.

Armentor said the EDC has been a key partner in helping develop a successful program, allowing the college to create the kind of classroom that would work best for its students.

We were wanting a space where students were comfortable and teachers could best demonstrate skills in an open environment, Armentor said. The EDC was very accommodating in letting us develop the space in the way we want.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

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One of Central Texas' biggest TV productions is DOA. Fear the Walking Dead is reportedly moving production from Texas to Savannah, Georgia, according to the Austin Chronicle. The smash-hit The Walking Dead spin-off has filmed in the Austin area since 2017, bringing with it hundreds of jobs.

As the Chronicle points out, Fear the Walking Dead isn't just a blow to Austin's creative economy, but to the small Central Texas towns where it filmed, including New Braunfels, La Grange, and Manor. Potential filming locations for its current season have also included Corpus Christi and Galveston.
On Sunday, Patricia Munoz will bring her father, Patrick Silva Aguilar, to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Port Arthur for a reception to honor his service in World War II and as one of the oldest surviving Mexican-Americans who served his country.

Aguilar is 98.

Time, of course, has clouded his memory and dulled his hearing, but he can still see the medals he earned mounted in a presentation box. He can still see the photos of himself wearing a sergeants uniform in the U.S. Army Air Forces, serving "somewhere in England," as Army censors required soldiers to say in letters home.

After D-Day on June 6, 1944, it was somewhere in France and as the war wore on, somewhere in Germany.

More Information A reception for Patrick Silva Aguilar will be held at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Guadalupe banquet hall, 3648 S/Sgt Lucian Adams Drive, 61st St., Port Arthur. Call the Lamar University History Department at (409) 880-8511 to reserve. The reception is open to the public. It is sponsored by Lamar and the Center for History and Culture of Southeast Texas and the Upper Gulf Coast. This event grew from an oral history project conducted by two Lamar graduate students, Tishia Hubert and Joseph Akers. They are writing a scholarly article placing Aguilar and his service in the context of the local Mexican-American community. As veterans themselves, Hubert and Akers wanted to honor Mr. Aguilar's contribution to history and raise awareness of our local Latino/a community. The Aguilar reception will provide students, veterans and members of the public the chance to thank a World War II veteran for his service. This act will serve to create a chain of living history linking generations together. See More Collapse

Aguilar's older brothers and neighborhood friends were in the service as well.

His mother Melquiadez prayed for their safe return and did so in her culture's traditional manner  by "walking" on her knees from her home to the old church of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 15th Street in Port Arthur. Her devotion and faith were repaid as all her sons came home safely.

It wasn't a grand homecoming for Patrick, not like the celebratory crowds in Times Square with the iconic photo of the sailor jubilantly kissing a nurse.

It was just Patrick touching ground at a bus stop by himself, walking a couple of blocks to his home in Port Arthur  no bands playing, no parade. Just safe at home.

Tishia L. Hubert, a candidate for a master's degree in history at Lamar University, managed to compile these details over the course of a year's research and through interviews with Patrick Silva Aguilar to put together a thesis about the former soldier and the Mexican-American experience in wartime.

Hubert, herself a Navy veteran who served as an operations specialist 2nd Class  the new rating for what was once called radarman, delved into as much oral history of the Aguilars as she could to tell Patrick's story.

She plans to continue her education at Lamar University and dive into researching women who served in World War II.

In her paper, Hubert explained why she chose to focus on Aguilar.

"While there is some history that does honor the most famous Mexican-American who served in World War II from this area -- (Medal of Honor recipient) Staff Sergeant Lucian Adams (whose family the Aguilars knew) -- it does little else to discuss the contribution that other Mexican-Americans have made.

"Little history is written about their service, and this research will focus on an oral history of one local man named Patrick Silva Aguilar, who served from 1942 until 1945. This oral history is meant to cover the whole of history that is missing and honor these men and women who served this country.

"This paper explores Mexican-American history in Southeast Texas through oral testimony provided by Sergeant Patrick Silva Aguilar. It documents his personal experiences in Southeast Texas and his service in World War II," Hubert wrote in her draft report shared with The Enterprise.

Aguilar was born in San Antonio on March 17, 1923 after his parents, Miguel and Melquiadez emigrated from Mexico in 1916  attracted by the promise of work and to escape the revolution-wracked country.

The family migrated to Port Arthur around 1930, where Miguel found work as a bricklayer at one of the refineries. They settled into their busy lives in the neighborhood, or "barrio," that grew up around their church, Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was founded to serve Mexican-American families.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into the world war, Patrick and his older brothers found themselves in the Army. Patrick was the only one to be sent into the U.S. Army Air Forces as that service expanded from the former Army Air Corps to comprise 2.4 million men.

Patrick was sent into the 9th Air Force to become a radio operator whose job it was to ensure supplies got to where they were needed. While he wasn't aboard a bomber, his service placed him in danger many times as he followed the front lines across France and into Germany and victory on May 7, 1945, three years after joining.

As any professional soldier knows, it's not solely the fighting man who gets the job done. The fighting man needs supplies  from boots to helmets to belts of ammunition to food and fuel. Logistics win wars, professional soldiers like to say.

War, also, demands sacrifice and Aguilar's boyhood friend, Gonzalo Orta, who joined the same week as Aguilar did, served on a bomber. He did not come home.

When Patrick Aguilar finally reached home in Port Arthur later in 1945, he went to work as a laborer at the Gulf Oil refinery where his father had worked.

A family friend and neighbor worked as a laborer at the Texas Refining Co.  later, Texaco. His daughter Petra grew up alongside Patrick.

When she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1947, she and Patrick married and started their own family.

Petra worked at Amelia's Drapery Shop behind the La Suprema restaurant in Nederland as they pursued the American dream in the optimistic post-war world.

Patrick was recalled to service during the Korean conflict in 1951, but he did not have to leave the country. He exited service as a staff sergeant in what is now the U.S. Air Force  succeeding the U.S. Army Air Forces of World War II.

Hubert wrote that Patrick and Petra were active in their church and in their local League of United Latin American Citizens.

Patrick was always involved with his Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter.

Patrick and Petra had three children together  Patricia, Mary, and Glenn, and were married for 68 years until Petras death in 2015.

He retired from Gulf Oil Refinery with more than 38 years of service as an insulator.

Hubert wrote that Patrick's son Glenn had said his father never gave the impression he was treated any differently at his job because he was of Mexican heritage.

Aguilar, in comments he made to Hubert, compared it with his experience in the service.

"Men form a camaraderie like no other because they know that one day, they may have to save each other lives," she wrote.

"We all had a job to do," he told her. "And we worked well together and got along."

Dan Wallach is a freelance writer.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  Tens of thousands of climate activists marched Saturday through the Scottish city hosting the U.N. climate summit, physically close to the global negotiators inside but separated by a vast gulf in expectations, with frustrated marchers increasingly dismissive of the talks and demanding immediate action instead to slow global warming.

The mood at the protest in Glasgow was upbeat despite the anger and bursts of rain. Similar protests were also held in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin, Copenhagen, Zurich and Istanbul.

Many of the marchers condemned government leaders for failing to produce the fast action they say is needed, with some echoing activist Greta Thunberg's view Friday that the talks were just more blah, blah, blah.

We're having these conversations, but there's no policies to actually back them, said Daze Aghaji, a marcher from London at the Glasgow demonstration, shouting over the steady beat of the drums.

And on top of that, the real people should be in the room," Aghaji said, referring to complaints that the Glasgow summit has too sharply limited participation by the public. How are we expecting to make decent policy when the people who are the stakeholders of this aren't even present in the room?

Marchers held signs with messages including Code Red for Humanity, Stop big polluters, COP26, we are watching you or simply Im angry. One sign asked If not you, then who? If not now, then when?

Megan McClellan, 24, of Glasgow said she doubted that climate negotiators were listening.

This is a very easy thing for them to ignore. Theyre nice and comfortable" inside the summit conference center, she said, which is ringed by steel fences.

But her friend Lucette Wood, 30, of Edinburgh disagreed.

They might not actually do anything about it but they pretend that they do ... and they will just put it off for 20-30 years," Wood said.

Thunberg's dismissive talk of the two-week climate summit  which has another week to go  has touched a nerve inside and outside the summit site. Government leaders and negotiators insist they are as equally aware as the marchers of the urgency of their task, with time slipping away to rein in pollution from fossil fuels before the Earth faces much higher levels of warming.

Jamila Khatoon from Pakistan carried a sign in Glasgow about three glaciers in her region that may disappear because of climate change.

The glaciers are melting, Khatoon said. Villages are drowning. Nobody is doing anything.

Elaine Knox, 69 and William Oliphant, 60, both from Glasgow, said they were attending the rally for the next generations.

Im dying before the worst happens, Knox said. Its the youngsters were leaving a horrible, horrible world.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose country is hosting the talks, has defended the progress made by governments in raising promises of emissions cuts and climate financing, while acknowledging the public's demands that more needs to be done.

At the huge U.N. conference venue, negotiators spent a seventh straight day haggling over draft agreements that can be passed to government ministers for political approval next week. Among the issues under discussion were a fresh commitment to capping global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), pushing countries to review their efforts more frequently to increase the pressure for deeper cuts, and providing more financial support for poor nations to adapt to climate change.

The summit's president, Alok Sharma, told reporters he understood the protesters' frustration.

I think we have overall made progress," Sharma said Saturday. "I think people have been constructive in the negotiating rooms.

We are getting to the point where the rubber hits the road, where were going to have to make, you know, tough decisions" by government officials, he said. "I dont, certainly do not, underestimate the difficulty of the task which is ahead of us.

Saturdays marches drew a range of participants and ages, a day after tens of thousands of young people in the Fridays for Future movement protested outside the Glasgow conferences fences. Thunbergs mix of school strikes, blunt and impatient talk about government excuses, and mass demonstrations have galvanized climate protests since 2018, especially in Europe.

The climate protest movement  and the worsening droughts, storms, floods, wildfires and other disasters around the world this year  have brought home to many the accelerating damage of global warming and have kept the pressure on governments for stronger and faster action to reduce fossil fuel emissions.

Elizabeth May, a Canadian member of parliament and 16-time participant in the U.N. climate talks, said the protests are making a difference.

Most of the people on the inside are here in their hearts and sometimes physically, May said, who joined the Glasgow demonstrators Saturday.

In central London, thousands of climate protesters marched from the Bank of England to Trafalgar Square. Protester Sue Hampton, 64, said everyone is at risk and all generations need to press for action.

We cant let the young people do all the work here. Weve all got to do it together, she said.

In Istanbul, climate protesters brought their children to the demonstration Saturday, emphasizing the impact of global warming on future generations.

I want my children to live on a beautiful planet, said Kadriye Basut, 52, in Istanbul.



Danica Kirka in London and Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed to this report.

___

Follow all AP stories on climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/Climate.
NEW YORK (AP)  The average time for U.S. immigration cases to be resolved is nearly four years. But that's not the mandate in Francisco Prietos courtroom.

The New York judge must attempt to rule within 300 days on dozens of cases he hears daily from families that just entered the country. The migrants are being sent to the front of the line with the idea that others will be less likely to migrate knowing a backlog of more than 1.4 million cases will no longer buy them a few years in the United States even if they lose.

Nearly six months ago, the Biden administration established a dedicated docket for families, many seeking asylum, in Prietos city and 10 others, including Boston, San Francisco, Miami and El Paso, Texas. It is a modest step aimed at bringing order to the southern border, where authorities this year have faced unusually high numbers of migrant arrivals, including nearly 15,000, mostly Haitians, who camped under a bridge in the small border town of Del Rio, Texas, in September.

Roughly 35 of the countrys more than 530 immigration judges are assigned to the new docket, according to the most recent data provided by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees federal immigration courts. Many juggle the duties on top of their normal caseloads.

While it's still early, the effort has made progress: As of mid-September, it was handling nearly 16,000 cases, and more than 100 had received at least an initial decision, according to the agency. It declined to provide more details.

Still, the numbers barely make a dent: Tens of thousands of migrants are released into the country each month, with orders to report to immigration authorities later.

The expedited docket also faces some of the same challenges and complaints as similar efforts under Bidens two predecessors.

Critics say it rushes the complex work of building asylum cases, making it nearly impossible for migrants to have a fair shot, especially if they cant secure an attorney in time. Judges follow the same procedures applied in other immigration cases but on a shorter timeline.

During the Obama and Trump administrations, most families that went through similar fast-track dockets lacked legal representation and were ultimately ordered removed from the country, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a D.C. think tank.

Prieto, the New York judge, is among those handling the most cases under the new docket, with more than 1,600 assigned to him by the end of August, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, at Syracuse University.

One day last month, the Trump appointee urged families to find a low- or no-cost attorney on a government referral list. Some said no one answers the phone when they call, or they are told they cant be helped. Prieto told them to persist before he set new court dates.

Many families had immediate concerns: trouble with their ankle monitors or with rules confining them to their homes one day a week. Joselyn Margarita Aguilar, who appeared with her young daughter, cant leave her house on Fridays.

I found a job and I lost it because I was told I cant miss Fridays at work, the Honduran woman told the judge. I need more time (to find an attorney) because I dont have a job and I cant pay.

An unusually large number of cases got postponed because the court didnt receive hearing notices from the Homeland Security Department. Prieto told families to wait for another notice.

Creole interpreters were connected by phone for Haitian migrants. One familys hearing was delayed due to technical difficulties. Their child ran around the courtroom while they waited, crying loudly when his fingers got caught in a swinging door.

Another woman from Ecuador who arrived with her husband and two children, one in a stroller, asked for a work permit. Prieto told her to discuss it with an attorney.

More than half of cases are in New York and Boston, a common destination for Ecuadorians, Brazilians and Haitians.

The Justice Department, which oversees immigration courts, has said it chose the 11 cities involved not just because they're where most recent arrivals are settling, but because they have established legal service providers and available judges.

In Boston, which was added to the program relatively recently, one judge had the most cases on the new docket of any in the country, at least through August. Mario Sturla had 3,178 cases assigned to him, on top of the nearly 4,000 others he was handling, according to TRAC.

One October afternoon, almost all of the roughly 20 cases before the Obama appointee were Brazilians, mostly parents with young children. The judge was courteous as families spoke through interpreters and juggled restless, sometimes crying children.

Few had lawyers. A 24-year-old woman from Cuenca, Ecuador, who asked to be identified by first name only for safety reasons, didnt know what to expect. The judge told her to return with an attorney in March.

I was nervous, fearful, worried about what was going to happen, said Angie, who fled with a 4-year-old daughter and year-old son, citing threats of being forced into prostitution. Im better now. The judge seemed nice. He was very calm. But well see.

She and her kids crossed the border in San Diego in August and have settled temporarily with an uncle in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The truth is, I am very afraid that they will return us to our country, and I do not know what will happen to us there, she said.

The fast-track docket is part of Bidens humane asylum system, which has included few other detailed plans, save for a proposal to use asylum officers at the border to decide cases instead of judges.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, in an emailed statement this week, maintained the dedicated docket provides fair hearings for families seeking asylum.

He noted the Justice Department is working to provide families legal orientation services and referrals to pro bono lawyers  an improvement over prior "rocket docket" efforts.

The goal of this process is to ensure that individuals who merit protection do not have to wait for years to get it, and that those who are ineligible for protection are quickly returned to their countries, Mayorkas said.

Theresa Cardinal Brown, a managing director at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said she's skeptical unless the effort gets more resources.

Youre still asking immigration judges who have a regular docket to also do this, said Brown, who recommends new positions to fund border courts that would aim to decide cases in six months. You havent expanded capacity at all.

Neptali Chiluisa, 47, crossed the border in June in Arizona and was detained for a week with his 14-year-old son, leaving behind his wife and three other children in Ecuador. The son returned in August because Chiluisa had to work and couldnt find a nearby school with space.

Chiluisa, who rents a room for $800 in a Bronx apartment he shares with other Ecuadorian families, was a boiler specialist for the army and found a similar job at New York construction sites. He acknowledges coming for economic reasons and wonders if he has any options for temporary legal status.

The U.S. needs workers, so policies should be less harsh with us, he said. We come to work.

A judge told him last month to return to court in November.

___

Marcelo reported from Boston and Spagat from San Diego.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) 

The Republican state senator-elect who works as a furniture store truck driver and whose victory over New Jersey's powerful Senate president made national headlines acknowledged Wednesday how formidable the new role will be for him and added he's focused on thwarting Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

I feel like I'm about to throw up, Ed Durr said during a news conference after Senate President Steve Sweeney conceded the race, when asked if there's a learning curve for him. This is all new to me. Its all overwhelming, but I am very happy that the voters selected me. Im going to earn that vote and I'm going to prove them right."

Durr, who drives a truck for Raymour & Flanigan, shocked the state and stunned Sweeney by coming out on top in their suburban Philadelphia district.

Sweeney conceded the contest shortly before Durr's appearance at Gloucester County Republican headquarters.

I of course accept the results. I want to congratulate Mr. Durr and wish him the best of luck," Sweeney said during a speech at the statehouse complex Wednesday.

Sweeney said his loss to Durr, who spent at least $2,300 in the contest, was the result of overwhelming GOP turnout in his suburban, politically split district. Sweeney lost by about 2,000 votes after spending about $305,000 on his campaign.

It was a red wave, Sweeney said.

Durr said the victory stemmed from voters upset with Murphy's COVID-19 mask mandate in schools and the early-pandemic lockdown.

He said the secret" to his win came down to two words: Phil Murphy."

The voters have spoken," Durr said. They dont want government rule by a dangerous guy armed with a bunch of executive orders."

Murphy has called Durr, who's a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, dangerous as well.

Durr responded to tweets he had made previously that called Islam a false religion, compared vaccine mandates to the Holocaust and defended rioters at the Capitol, saying he plans to meet with an Islamic group in the state

You get behind the keyboard, you dont see a person and you dont consider the other person," Durr said. I just wrote something that I dont mean to offend anybody."

Asked whether he might change his approach to public commentary given his new role, Durr said he wants to represent the whole state, not just his district.

I'm clearly not going to be responding irrationally," he said. First off, I think I've grown as a person."

Murphy's victory was a lonely bright spot for Democrats, who lost seats in the Legislature as well as the the governor's race in Virginia.

Sweeney said he won't be withdrawing from public life, although he stopped short of saying whether he would seek election to the Senate again or run for governor in 2025. He said he'll continue to focus on the things that are important to the people of this state.

What the voters said in this election is New Jersey is a state filled with hardworking people who want to provide for their families and as leaders we need to speak directly to the concerns of all voters, he said. I plan to keep speaking to those concerns.

His loss unfolded in a politically competitive district that includes parts of Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem counties, which split their votes between Democrats and Republicans in the presidential elections in 2016 and again in 2020.

It also coincided with boosted GOP turnout in an off-year election that saw Republicans win across the state. Durrs victory, which The Associated Press declared Thursday, netted about 3% more votes than Sweeney did in 2017 in unofficial returns.

Sweeneys attention was also focused on tight Senate races elsewhere in the state.

Durr said Wednesday that although his campaign didn't spend much money, they knocked on thousands of doors.

Wednesday's speech was unusually formal for Sweeney, who stood before a lectern with the state seal, speaking in a quiet voice.

He said he entered politics after his daughter Lauren was born prematurely and had developmental disabilities. He said he stayed with her in the hospital because he had a good benefits at his job as a union ironworker.

Twenty years later, I was able to make sure that all New Jersey parents had the same opportunity to be with their loved ones in their time of greatest need when the paid family leave bill I sponsored was signed into law," he said.

Sweeney served as Senate president since 2010 and was responsible for shepherding Democratic Gov. Phil Murphys progressive agenda through the Legislature, including a phased-in $15 an hour minimum wage, paid sick leave and recreational marijuana legalization.

He is also known for his high-profile reversal on opposition to same-sex marriage. Sweeney said in 2011 that he made the biggest mistake of my legislative career when he voted against marriage equality.

Although Sweeney was a fellow Democrat, he fought Murphy at the start of his administration over raising income taxes on the wealthy, and had worked closely with Republican Chris Christie during his eight-year term in office ending in 2018.

A deal he worked out with Christie to overhaul public worker pensions put Sweeney at odds with public sector unions, who would go on to become key supporters of Murphy.

Although he has clashed with Sweeney, Murphy said last week he bemoaned the loss and said he didn't welcome the news.

Sweeney said he wouldn't be seeking a recount, which is not automatic in New Jersey and would have to be financed by the party seeking the tally.
Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Villagers gather to see a dead elephant in Bangladeshs Sherpur district, about 115 miles north to Dhaka, Nov. 9, 2021.

Forest Department officials in Bangladesh said Thursday that they had filed cases against villagers under the countrys strict wildlife conservation laws over the killings of three wild elephants, a species considered critically endangered here.

Two of the elephants died of electrocution in separate incidents where they came into contact with electrified fences erected by villagers to ward off the giant beasts in efforts to preserve their crops, and the third elephant was shot by villagers inside a forest reserve, officials said.

This is very unfortunate and painful to see three elephants killed in four days, said Molla Rezaul Karim, a conservator at the Bangladesh Forest Department, which filed the court cases under the Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act of 2012.

The incidents took place in Chittagong, Sherpur and Coxs Bazar districts between Saturday and Tuesday, he said.

We have already filed three separate cases, he told BenarNews. We have strict laws against killing elephants.

The 2012 act has a provision to punish the killers of endangered animals. It stipulates that any person convicted of killing an elephant or a tiger can face a prison sentence of two to seven years and/or a fine of between 100,000 taka (U.S. $1,167) and 1 million taka ($11,678).

Repeat offenders could face a maximum sentence of 12 years and a fine of 1.5 million taka ($17,500).

A forest department letter seen by BenarNews identified the alleged shooter of the elephant in Coxs Bazar and said he had been jailed.

Bangladesh was home to between 260 and 268 Asian elephants, which were categorized as critically endangered according to a 2016 survey by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Another organization, the Arannayk Foundation  an initiative between the Bangladesh and U.S. governments to save the South Asian nations forests  claims 25 have been killed in the last two years.

Bangladesh and 12 other countries are home to the Asian elephant species, according to the IUCN. The elephants move in hilly areas along the borders between Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

The elephants destroy the paddy

Jewel Akanda, a Sherpur district local government official, said the people he represents live in hilly regions that border the elephants habitat.

The human-elephant conflict in Sreebordi started more than 60 years ago, he told BenarNews, referring to his sub-district.

The conflicts continue to increase almost every year as one or two people die from elephant attacks, he said, adding that people install the electric fences to ward off the elephants, which travel in packs of about 40.

They come to our areas when the paddy matures or vegetables grow. The elephants destroy the paddy and vegetable fields more than they eat, he said.

Ruhul Amin, a divisional forest officer in Sherpur district, said villagers in his and other Bangladesh districts install the electric fences around their houses to stop elephants from eating their crops.

We have already removed all the electric wires to save the elephants from being electrocuted. We have brought charges of killing the elephants in line with the Wildlife Act, he told BenarNews.

Farid Uddin Ahmed, a forest researcher and former executive director of the Arannayk Foundation, said the conflict with elephants is a consequence of destroying their habitat.

The elephants move in groups and follow some specific corridors. The elephants seen in Bangladesh move between Bangladesh and India and Bangladesh and Myanmar. This is because they are not exclusive to any particular country, he told BenarNews on Thursday.

But unfortunately, we have destroyed their habitats and corridors  people have erected houses, farmlands and other structures. The consequence is human-elephant conflict, Ahmed said.

He noted that Rohingya refugees sheltering in Coxs Bazar camps live in what had been sanctuaries for elephants.

The elephants have turned aggressive. I think the human-elephant conflict could intensify as forest lands are turned into human settlements and agricultural lands, Ahmed said.

Karim, the forest conservator, said his department has a manpower shortage and cannot protect elephants from electrocution.

We have only 20 people in charge of protecting the wildlife in the forest in Bangladesh. When we see people setting up electric fences, we remove them, he said. Elephants have a long memory  they can remember their attackers for many years and are very revengeful by nature.
British journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown, editor of the Sarawak Report, gestures during an interview with Agence France-Presse in Kuala Lumpur, May 20, 2018.

The editor of the Sarawak Report, a news website known for its reporting about corruption in Malaysia, is alleging that the UMNO-led government has revived a 2018 defamation case to target her for revelations she made in a book about the 1MDB financial scandal.

Clare Rewcastle Brown, the websites editor who is a British national, said the 2018 lawsuit was reactivated this year for plain politically motivated reasons. The case stems from a book she wrote about the 1MDB affair.

I am plainly a top political target for members of the current government owing to my exposure of 1MDB and other scandals in which they are implicated and which they are now trying to pretend was all a lie, Rewcastle Brown told BenarNews in a series of email exchanges this week and last week.

Given this mongering of untruths by the regime itself I would consider myself to be in danger, were I to set foot in Malaysia.

The United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, returned to power in August. Najib Razak, the partys former president and the countrys ex-prime minister, is facing trial for money laundering and abuse of power in connection with hundreds of millions of dollars looted from 1Malaysia Development Berhad, a state investment fund he established while in office.

Last year, Najib was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison on corruption charges linked to 1MDB, but he is out on bail while appealing that ruling.

Malaysian police issued an arrest warrant for Rewcastle Brown because, they said, she did not appear in court for a Sept. 23 hearing related to the suit. She claims prosecutors made no effort to notify the Sarawak Report of the court hearing or the charges before the authorities issued the warrant for her arrest.

The warrant was part of the smear campaign against her, she alleged.

Rewcastle Brown was charged in absentia under Section 500 of the Malaysian Penal Code for criminal defamation in a Terengganu court on Sept. 23.

It would be exceedingly dangerous for her to enter Malaysia, she alleged, because criminally convicted persons are now part of the Malaysias administration.

UMNO, which she was alluding to, came back to power in Malaysia unelected three months ago, after a government headed by Muhyiddin Yassin collapsed when UMNO, one of the partners in his ruling bloc, pulled its support for him.

In the suit filed in a Kuala Lumpur court on Nov. 21, 2018, the queen of Terengganu state had claimed that a portion of Rewcastle Browns book about the 1MDB scandal could be taken to mean that the royal was corrupt, state news agency Bernama had reported.

The section of the book in question also suggested that the royal had used her status to influence the establishment of the Terengganu Investment Authority (TIA), the queen alleged, referring to an entity that later became 1MDB.

The queen has also claimed that statements contained in the book misconstrued her as having helped fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low, who is the alleged mastermind in the 1MDB scandal.

Malaysian and U.S. prosecutors have alleged that at least $4.5 billion (18.8 billion ringgit) was stolen from 1MDB between 2009 and 2014, in a financial scandal that implicated foreign and local financial institutions and high-ranking officials, including Najib.

A lie

The case against Rewcastle Brown was halted in 2018 with a No Further Action decision by the police, she said.

Police, meanwhile, said the case remains open and that an arrest warrant was issued against Rewcastle Brown for her failure to attend court proceedings on Sept. 23. A senior police official said Rewcastle Brown was notified, although the journalist disputes that assertion.

Clare [Rewcastle] Brown was informed of the court date by the investigating officer on July 27, 2021, Abdul Jalil Hassan, director of the federal polices Criminal Investigation Department, told BenarNews on Thursday.

He also denied that the 2018 case against her had been halted.

The investigation paper [against Brown] was never closed and the Attorney-Generals Chambers instructed for a charge to be made after having sufficient evidence, Abdul Jalil said.

When BenarNews told the editor that police said she had been notified about the September court date, Rewcastle Brown replied, this is a lie.

But she did acknowledge that the cases investigating officer contacted her in July. She said Malaysian police got in touch with her to inform her that they were reopening the case and to ask if she would be available to show up in Kuala Lumpur to face charges when they were framed.

BenarNews tried to contact Rewcastle Browns lawyers in Malaysia for comments and updates on the case but they did not immediately respond.

Meanwhile, Malaysias federal police last week issued a wanted persons notice against Rewcastle Brown, following the September arrest warrant, and urged the public to contact the police if they knew her whereabouts. If convicted, Brown could be jailed for up to two years or fined or both.

But Rewcastle Brown has no intention to return to Malaysia to fight the case against her because, she said, the case had been filed and acknowledged as NFA (no further action) by the police in 2018.

Rewcastle Brown added she has legal representatives in Malaysia who could have represented her in court on Sept. 23, had she been informed of the date.

If I had been notified they would have represented me in the Magistrates Court, thereby avoiding the excuse for any warrant to have been issued owing to my not turning up, she said.

Malaysian authorities want to try her for criminal libel, which does not exist in Britain, where she lives, Rewcastle Brown said.

[A]ny judgment reached in the criminal court would not be enforceable, she said.

So why would I dignify this case by going out of my way to attend a trial for something that is not a crime in my own jurisdiction?
Communist New Peoples Army fighters stand in formation in Langonlong, a town in Misamis Oriental province, Philippines, May 2, 2016.

The Philippine Senate is proposing to slash billions of pesos from the budget of a government task-force fighting the countrys long-running communist insurgency, and target the funds for COVID-19-related projects instead, officials said.

The Senates finance committee earlier this week said it would allocate only 4 billion pesos (U.S. $80 million) for the 2022 budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). This cuts about 24 billion pesos ($480 million) from the proposed budget, officials said, adding that deliberations over the agencys funding took weeks.

Sen. Leila de Lima, a jailed leader of the opposition who sits on the committee, said the proposed budget cut came about largely because of questions about the task forces use of funds. Some of the questions focused on proposed spending on projects in villages that were cleared of communist guerrillas.

The government has been so obsessed with funding its so-called anti-insurgency program at the expense of our survival amid the pandemic, she said.

As a result, the committee members took away the bulk of the NTF-ELCACs 2022 budget and realigned the funds to crucial pandemic-response programs, de Lima said.

Part of the realigned funds target compensating health workers, including their long-delayed special risk allowance, she said.

De Lima was among the senators who have been calling for a special audit or the total defunding of NTF-ELCAC, which implements the administrations strategy to end the local communist insurgency that began in 1969 and is the longest in Asia.

The strategy focuses on sustained military operations against guerrilla units coupled with local government programs to entice rebels to defect, including amnesty and economic aid packages.

Duplication

Vice President Leni Robredo, another leading opponent of President Rodrigo Duterte who is running for president in the May 2022 election, called the task force redundant.

There is a duplication in the mandate because there are already existing agencies doing its job. It looks like the agency was created just for the sake of giving it funds, she told reporters on Thursday.

She compared the NTF-ELCAC using its funds to eliminate alleged communist fronts and leftist organizations to the governments anti-drugs program.

What I am afraid of is that theres this very powerful group that can abuse power and tokhang could happen again, Robredo said in Filipino, referring to the prototype for the nationwide anti-drug campaign that killed thousands.

Tokhang is a combination of two Filipino words meaning to knock and plead, a strategy where police reach out to people harboring suspected drug addicts or dealers and ask them to surrender. The word has morphed to mean summary killings.

Earlier, human rights activists voiced fears that the practice was being used by authorities to arrest perceived dissidents or members of left-leaning groups that criticize the Duterte administration.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that the Senates decision to slash the budget showed its lack of appreciation for the plight of remote communities suffering under communist threat.

Their act was supposed to punish NTF-ELCAC, but in effect they are suffering the poor people who would have benefitted from the infrastructure and social services projects, Lorenzana said in a statement.

He said Robredos concern that the funds could be used to finance tokhang was misplaced.

VP Robredo may consider inviting NTF-ELCAC for a dialogue so she can be enlightened on the inter-agency bodys mission, he said.

In recent years, activists and personalities associated with progressive groups were killed in assassinations or in police operations, often after they were accused of being members of communist front groups.

The agency has caused a public furor over accusing lawmakers, journalists and celebrities of being supporters of the outlawed communist movement.

In February, its spokesman accused Tetch Torres-Tupas, a reporter for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, of being a communist propagandist after she reported about indigenous tribesmen petitioning against a controversial anti-terrorism law government passed last year. The spokesman later apologized.
Filipino gunsmiths, for whom elections mean big business, work in an illegal makeshift gun factory on the outskirts of Danao, a city in the central Philippines, July 8, 2012.

A gunman shot dead a mayoral candidates son and a worker at a quarry owned by the politicians family in the southern Philippines, police said Thursday, in what could be the first election-related killings ahead of nationwide polls next year.

The shootings of Roland Sherwin Uy, 45, and his employee, Samuel Tabalan, 75, in Cagayan de Oro City are the first known case of killings possibly tied to the May 2022 elections, police said, although investigators have not yet established a motive. Gun violence and politics-related killings are common during electoral seasons in the Southeast Asian country.

We are not discounting that this is the first election-related violence in the city, said Major Evans Vinas, the spokesman for local police. He said they were also looking at other angles, including a business rivalry.

Sherwin Uy is the son of Roland Uy, a Congressmen who is leaving the Philippine legislature and running for mayor of Cagayan de Oro City. Despite being accused by his opponents of having ties with drug traffickers, Roland Uy so far is the frontrunner in the 2022 race.

Vinas said Uy died on the spot after being shot in an eye on Thursday afternoon as sat on a chair at his family-owned quarry business in the city. The gunman then turned to Tabalan, an assistant at the sand and gravel quarry, and shot him in the head, the police spokesman said.

The suspect fled aboard a motorcycle driven by an accomplice, police said, citing witness accounts.

Sherwin Uys driver, identified as Rubue Alayuay, said he was hiding inside a room at the time. He told reporters that he heard shots after the victim spoke to the gunman. He told the police he heard a motorcycle speed off afterwards.

Vinas said police were also investigating if the killings were connected to a rivalry among quarry operations in the village of Pagatpat, the primary source of sand and gravel in the city.

He said that when the gunman approached the victim, he asked for the price of sand and gravel, and began shooting after the victim answered with the price.

Apart from being a businessman, Sherwin Uy was also a local village councilor. Political rivals have accused both father and son of being drug users, with the father allegedly known to be a narco-politician.

The father has repeatedly denied the accusation. He has even shown pictures of himself with President Rodrigo Duterte, who has launched a war on drug traffickers and so-called narco-politicians, taken on several occasions.

Next May, the Philippines will hold elections to choose a successor for President Duterte, to fill 12 of the 24 seats in the Senate, all 316 House seats and thousands of official posts ranging from provincial governors to town mayors and councilors.

Elections in the Philippines, especially in the countryside, are traditionally marred by violence. In 2019, 23 people were killed and 50 injured during mid-term polls and as many as 50 people died in poll-related violence during the 2016 presidential election, according to statistics from the national police.

Police had earlier said they were looking at dismantling 150 known private armed groups nationwide known to be controlled by politicians.

Richel V. Umel contributed to this report from Iligan City, Philippines.
Submarines can be seen at the naval base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, March 21, 2017.

The Taiwanese Navy has deployed one of its two most advanced submarines in naval drills in the Spratly Islands, a report by Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said without specifying the timing.

The Republic of China National Defense Report 2021 released on Tuesday said the Hai Lung (Sea Dragon) submarine from the 256th Fleet successfully took part in a number of missions including the Navy and Air Force missile shooting drill, Lie Jin (Whale-hunting) drill, routine patrol and tactical combat drill in Nansha (Spratly) islands, and combat-ready patrol and Hai Qiang anti-submarine drill.

It didnt mention the time and frequency but as this is the defense report for 2021, observers said the drills are likely to have been conducted within the last 12 months.

Taiwan controls two of the largest islands in the South China Sea, the Dongsha (Pratas) Island and the Taiping (Itu Aba) Island. Taiping is the largest of the naturally occurring islands among the Spratlys which Taiwan call Nansha Islands. It is also claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Governments from claimant countries have yet to respond to the news of the submarine drills but it has been widely covered by regional media.

Prior to this, Vietnam has repeatedly protested against Taiwans military activities at Taiping Island, which it calls Ba Binh, saying they infringed upon Vietnams sovereignty and raised tensions in the South China Sea.

To be honest, Im not at all surprised by this revelation, said Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore who studied the Taiwanese submarine program.

Its expected that the ROCN subs would conduct peacetime missions in the Spratlys anyway as Taiwan has sizeable possessions in the disputed area, he said, using the initials for Taiwans navy.

In times of a Taiwan Strait war, I believe Taiwanese defense planners will also want to ensure that its southern flank is properly secured, Koh added.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, although the island is self-governing and regards itself as a sovereign state.

Indigenous submarine program

Koh said the subs are likely to conduct surveillance on the Chinese military (PLA) and other Spratly claimants military forces, collect intelligence and even conduct training to hone combat proficiency in preparation for different conflict scenarios.

The Ministry of National Defenses report merely confirms this logical undertaking, he said.

The news comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and Taiwan. The national defense report dedicates a full 12-page chapter to outline the major military threats China poses to the island, pointing out that China has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan.

To prepare for that, the report puts great importance on strengthening Taiwans underwater capability including acquiring (a) new generation of submarines and upgrading the combat systems for the existing Chien Lung-class submarines.

Taiwan has a total of four submarines, two of them dating from World War II, making them among the oldest submarines in service in the world. They were transferred from the U.S. during the 1970s. The other two are the Chien Lung-class Hai Lung (SS-793) and Hai Hu (SS-794) submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s.

While the Hai Lung and Hai Hu were very modern when first inducted, the growing PLA Navys anti-submarine warfare capabilities mean they will become increasingly obsolete, Koh said.

Taiwan launched the construction of its Indigenous Defensive Submarine program in November 2020 at a new submarine factory in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted.

Taipei aims to acquire as many as eight diesel-electric submarines at an estimated cost of $16 billion. In April, Taiwans defense ministry revealed that assistance is provided by important countries in Europe and the United States to build new submarines.

A month before, the U.S. approved the export of sensitive technology including three major types of equipment  digital sonar systems, integrated combat systems and an auxiliary equipment system (periscopes)  for the fleet.

Taipei will need to watch its steps carefully because of the risk of escalation is high in the South China Sea, warned Leyi Qi, a Taiwanese military analyst and contributor for Radio Free Asia, a sister entity of BenarNews.

The PLA submarines are operating nearby and there are Kilo-class submarines operated by Vietnam, close to the Spratly Islands, Qi said.

Vietnam has acquired six diesel-electric Kilo-class submarines from Russia at a cost of $3.2 billion, the last of which was delivered in 2017.

Meanwhile China is believed to have around 70 submarines, including a dozen nuclear-powered submarines. The number of Chinese nuclear submarines is likely to increase to 21 by 2030, according to the U.S.s Office of Naval Intelligence.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

A few showers early becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

A few showers early becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
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.
LEE  The $60 million Eagle Mill redevelopment could be a catalyst for affordable housing in the Lee area and throughout Berkshire County.

But, that housing needs a huge infusion of taxpayer money to get built.

That was the assessment of federal, state and local officials Wednesday, during a ceremonial groundbreaking for the revitalization of the dormant Eagle Mill paper-making complex that dates to 1808.

Central to the mixed-use project are the 122 mostly affordable units intended to bolster the workforce.

This will bring people to our area by creating a new town center and more interest in this end of town, real estate broker Michael Sorrentino said before the speeches from political and government dignitaries.

For more than 50 years, Sorrentinos family ran Joes Diner on the north end of Main Street, an eatery that was popular with the millworkers.

While actual construction is weeks from starting, Lee Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Colleen Henry noted that the gathering at the 6-acre mill complex on West Center Street showed the project is becoming a reality after nearly of decade of planning, revisions and government red tape.

People can see were moving forward and making progress, Henry said. Its of vital importance to provide housing in Lee and the Berkshires and retain workers.

Berkshire Housing Development Corp. President/CEO Eileen Peltier cited the importance of affordable housing, saying one-third of Berkshire households earn $35,000 or less each year.

Jeffrey Cohen, principal of Eagle Mill Redevelopment, said work on the site is weeks away, pending receipt of a letter from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development that will allow the project to move forward.

The first step is removing five vacant residences and one former business that front the mill property on West Center Street.

Tax dollars a must

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, said at a gathering under a tent pitched on the mill macadam that Cohen and his partners have taken a risk to improve the local economy  a risk the federal and state governments were willing to share.

To bring these buildings back to life, to generate taxes, you need government assistance, said Neal, who is chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.

In July, the Berkshire Housing Development Corp. and Rees-Larkin Development from Boston received $16.3 million in state and federal money to create 56 mixed-income rental units in two of the historic buildings, as part of the projects first phase. In addition, the developers have received a total of $8.9 million in historic tax credits, with more state credits possible.

Housing development cannot happen without massive amount of financial support from the state and federal governments, said Rees-Larkin Principal Jon Rudzinski.

Rudzinski noted that the 56 units being built in Phase 1 will cost $26 million  88 percent funded with state and federal money.

In all, the mixed-use project will have 122 apartments; an additional 66 will be located in newly constructed buildings on the eastern portion of the downtown property. In addition, six condominiums will be built on-site along the Housatonic River.

Eagle Mill Redevelopment also includes 14,000 square feet of retail and office space.

Built in stages

Phase 1 includes the Eagle and Union mills and the renovation of the 160-year-old machine shop that will be leased to The Marketplace, which has cafes in Sheffield and Great Barrington and operates a catering business.

Phase 2 calls for leveling the 1960s-style section of the factory on the east side of the property and erecting the new apartment building.

The final aspect of the project is a new, mixed-use building fronting the machine shop with commercial space on the first floor and approximately 24 apartments on the upper floor. Cohen says that commercial space could be a future marketplace, if one is viable financially.

Once completed, the project could further bolster an already vibrant downtown business district, the focus in recent years being on the south end of Main Street.

This is critical to the north end of Main, said Scott LePrevost, owner of Henrys Electric. The [Eagle Mill] has been a blight for too long and, hopefully, we can tie the whole Main Street together.

This is one project that hits the sweet spot, added state Sen. Adams Hinds, D-Pittsfield, during the events concluding speech. We want to develop projects that have more people walking the downtown.
Johnny Reilly, my neighbor and classmate, trained me to be a sub on his paper route. In those days, The Berkshire Eagle  once referred to in Time magazine, along with The New York Times and Le Monde, as one of the three great newspapers in the world  came out Monday through Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.

People are funny about their newspapers, Johnny instructed me as he demonstrated how to fold one properly. So dont be late, because a few customers cant even eat their supper till they get the paper.

Eagle columnist Kevin O'Hara publishes collection of Christmas columns Sixteen of Kevin O'Hara's Christmas columns have been collected in the book A Christmas Journey." The hardcover book, published by The Studley Press, is now on sale for $25 through The Berkshire Eagle.

After Id completed a successful two-week stint while he was at summer camp, Johnny would call on me to stand in when the occasion demanded. It was an easy duty in the pleasant months, but lugging a heavy sack in the bleak winter was another matter entirely.

One frosty morning in December, when every pupils head was ringing with Christmas carols, I noticed that Johnny was absent. That meant Mrs. Reilly would call my mother to ask if I could cover his route that evening. I was happy enough to make a little extra money for the holidays, but on my walk home from school that afternoon, a thick sky enveloped the nearby hills, and snow began to whip across the frozen Housatonic River.

I quickly changed out of my school uniform and walked up to Johnnys to collect his canvas bag and payment book  it was Friday, collection day  and listened to his instructions as he shouted them through a stuffy nose and down the stairs from his bedroom.

Mr. Olson owes for four weeks, and Mrs. Miller for two, he croaked. And watch out for Mrs. Howells mad dog, and if old Mrs. Madden invites you in for hot cocoa, just say no, or youll be stuck there for an hour. And Mr. Curtis will swear at you when he counts out his nine nickels, saying theres nothing in The Eagle but news of the world, and he saw too much of the world during the war.

The snow was swirling in great gusts when I arrived at the foot of Mohawk and Wahconah streets, the drop-off point for our newspaper bundles. Foolishly, I had forgotten Johnnys wire clippers and had to ask an older paperboy if he would snip the wire bands off my bundle. He did so, but carelessly, allowing a quick flurry of newspapers to escape and scatter up the road in a mad dance.

I threw myself across the remaining pile as the older boy laughed, saying Id need to call The Eagle after I had completed my route. Theyd deliver the missing papers to the customers later that evening, but Id have to pay them back.

If this bully hadnt been twice my size, I would have taken him on right there. If I had done so, I would have been pummeled to pudding, so I wisely let him go  this time. Then I counted the surviving papers, which I placed carefully in my bag. Oh, great  35 newspapers for 42 households!

Seven papers short at seven cents apiece was 49 cents; Johnny always paid me a half-dollar, so I was now making this two-hour trek in the teeth of a noreaster for a penny. Worse still, it was just one Friday away from his Christmas collection, and Johnny had high hopes of receiving good tips  tips that he saved up for next summers stay at Camp Russell. And even if my family and Johnnys went without a newspaper, Id still have angered five of his customers.

With sagging spirits, I slung the heavy sack over my shoulder and lumbered through the snowy blackness, hoping that five families would be out doing their holiday shopping and not miss their timely delivery. But every single family was at home, greeting me at the door and inviting me in from the cold. There, they searched pocket or purse for a shining Franklin half-dollar, or a cascade of smaller coins. Their kids were scattered everywhere, squinting up at Christmas lights, thumbing through Jack & Harrys Christmas toy catalogs, or flitting like moths before a flickering black-and-white TV.

After making my Wilson Project deliveries, I ventured down Mohegan Street, which was more exposed to the elements, and where frozen branches rattled in a war dance in the bitter winds. I continued to knock on doors and deliver papers, slogging in and out of homes. As I did so, my collection bag filled with the weight of coins. I plodded up Calumet and down Watson streets, and, approaching Greylock Terrace, I cut across the courtyard of St. John the Baptist Church.

That small Ukrainian chapel overlooked the storied footbridge at Bel Air Falls, where I stopped to bless myself backward, the way wed seen the old orthodox parishioners do.

It was a mysterious church, filled with frightful icons of Our Lord. Once, Jimmy went to confession there and insisted it counted, though I dont believe the ancient priest understood a word of English.

The winds had settled, but thick snow continued to fall, landing on the chapel steps like goose down. I mumbled a few prayers to the oddly shaped cross that crowned its square steeple, asking the Holy Family to intercede in my hour of need.

I trudged down Greylock Terrace, going over the route in my head, then stopped to double-check my payment book. Everyone had received a newspaper except the Tibloms, Tarts, Dalys, Bramleys, Rupinskis, Johnnys family, and us. Seven  and yet there were still papers in my bag! I foraged through and counted the remaining papers. Seven. No, it couldnt be! I fell on my knees, awestruck by this sudden blessing.

I hurriedly distributed five of the papers and raced up to Johnnys to deliver his familys, and to tell him what had happened. But his sister, Karen, answered the door and told me that Johnny was still ill and fast asleep. Before leaving, I remembered to ask for his wire clippers for the next mornings delivery, and passed on the message that Mr. Olson had finally paid his bill.

When I arrived home, I handed the last Eagle to Dad before pulling off my boots in the kitchen. When Mom called me to the table for a late supper of beans and toast, the emotions of the past couple of hours suddenly got the better of me, and I began to bawl my eyes out.

Whats happened to you? she asked, as Dad and the gang gathered round to listen.

Sobbing over soggy toast, I told them of my predicament and of my miraculous rescue.

Its like Jesuss miracle of the loaves and fishes, Mom said, covering my hand reassuringly. The Holy Family heard your prayers tonight and simply answered them. No surprise, that. Now eat your beans before they get cold.

Famished, I took a calming deep breath and picked up my fork. Yes, we must take our miracles as we find them, I reminded myself. Heed Moms unquestioning faith and move on. I buttered my toast and dived into my beans, swaddled in the mysterious warmth of the Holy Season.
Falcons give back to honor veterans

While the University committee played a big part in securing the new memorial, the solemn place of reflection wouldn't have been possible without the support of retired Army Capt. Edward J. Reiter 62 and his wife, Linda S. Reiter '61. The Falcon Flames generously provided much of the funding to make the BGSU Veterans Memorial a reality.

We gratefully recognize the generous lead gift from Ed and Linda Reiter that propelled the vision of this memorial into reality, said Pamela Conlin, vice president for University Advancement and president and CEO of the BGSU Foundation, Inc. Their philanthropic support will have a lasting impact on honoring service at its highest level at BGSU.

A generous donation of time by Ridenour also ensures the memory and sacrifice of BGSU service members won't be forgotten. From reviewing University records to scouring the federal government's list of POW/MIA personnel, Ridenour put in the care and effort to ensure the most accurate account of veteran names were inscribed on the memorial.

"We are grateful to everyone who put in the time and effort to make this memorial a reality," Henry said. "It has taken a lot of work, but the result is a beautiful, yet simple tribute to our nation's fallen heroes. It is a very moving place that I hope everyone in the campus community takes time to visit."

While the University will be closed in observance of Veterans Day, Henry hopes the new Veterans Memorial will serve as a constant reminder of the sacrifice U.S. service members make every day.

"It is a restful and contemplative place that allows anyone to reflect and remember the service members who have given the ultimate sacrifice for us to enjoy our way of life," Henry said.
Spearfish, SD (57783)

Today

A few clouds. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 35F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
3. Be Sent

In Acts 6:1-6, a need for a new ministry came to the attention of the apostles. The Hellenistic Jews complained that their widows were being overlooked in the distribution of food. While they could have divided up the duties and tried to accomplish everything themselves, the apostles realized they needed other believers to step up and serve in this place of ministry. As spiritual leaders, they instructed the disciples to choose seven godly men and commissioned them for this new work. The seven men were brought before the apostles, who prayed over them and laid hands on them.

In the same way, the elders at Jerusalem fasted and prayed over Paul and Barnabas, and laid hands on them before they were sent out by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1-4).

Practically, in order to be sent, one needs a sending entity. This could be your local church, or an established ministry with a similar focus as your new ministry. It could also mean establishing a board of directors to provide wisdom and guidance, financial, emotional and spiritual support, and accountability. Most importantly, build a team of prayer warriors to undergird you and continually remind you that you are sent.

4. Commit to Integrity

The decision to launch a ministry in the name of Jesus should be approached with humility, fear, and trepidation. As Christ-followers, we know that believers arent perfect people, and we are still susceptible to moral failures and foolish decisions. Therefore, when we present ourselves to a watching world as ministers of Jesus Christ, we must commit to a life of holiness, integrity, and accountability. The last thing we want is to bring shame to Jesus.

Because we speak and act in Jesus name, everything we do in ministry should be above-board, honest, and without deception. Our lives should be an open book. While a worker is worthy of being paid (1 Timothy 5:18) and it is acceptable that a person makes a living from proclaiming the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:14), no matter what kind of ministry we do, we should live exemplary, humbly, and generously. For the sake of Jesus reputation, those in any kind of Christian ministry ought to commit to being honest, hard-working, godly men and women of integrity (Colossians 4:17; 2 Timothy 4:5).

2 Corinthians 4:1  Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 6:3-4a  Giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Jack Sharp
Well, this stinks.

Cities and states have been ranked and mapped to determine which has the worst problem with dog poop left abandoned after little Fido or Patches does their business.

The folks at Protect My Paws didn't pass on dropping the information they gathered.

Social media was the source of data gathering as researchers looked to Twitter to analyze various tweets about dog poop left behind without being picked up. The manure researchers looked, they found both the poopiest and least poopiest cities and states across the land.

The Steel City, Pittsburgh, came out as the poopiest city with 74.2 yearly tweets per 100,000 population. Rounding out the Top 10 poopiest cities are Seattle; Atlanta; San Francisco; Buffalo, New York; Norfolk, Virginia; Austin, Texas; New Orleans; Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis.

Information from the results points out that just a small amount of dog poop can contain up to a million Toxocara eggs. A Toxocariasis infection can cause pain, dizziness, nausea, asthma, epilepsy and eventually blindness. Children between the ages of 18 months and five are the most common humans to get it.

As far as the states go, Colorado is the poopiest with 15.4 yearly tweets per 100,000 population. The least poopiest state was Delaware with 1.5.

Illinois came out to 7.4 yearly tweets per 100,000 population, while Michigan and Missouri both topped out at 5.7.

Texas was very poopy with 8.1 yearly tweets per 100,000 population.
Using deep data to tackle global public health problems

A global collaboration to apply data science and artificial-intelligence (AI) methods to solve intractable problems in public health has been launched simultaneously in Sydney and Hong Kong (HK).

The Sydney hub was established thanks to $HK17 million ($3 million) in funding by InnoHK, a major initiative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

The hub is part of the Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, a joint project led by the University of Hong Kong in collaboration with the University of Sydney, University College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

The local Sydney hub is part of a global effort to build the Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H) under the AIR@InnoHK Cluster to collate and curate massive, unique data resources and develop novel, deep, frontier analytics in protecting global public health and improving individual health care through precision medicine.

Researchers in Sydney will work on projects, collaborating with the University of Hong Kong, to develop techniques in meta-genomics, a process that simultaneously sequences the genetic material of all organisms in a biological sample.
The company plans to launch the neurology app by the end of this year covering Alzheimers disease, Parkinson Disease

Swiss-based OncoCoin, a fully-owned subsidiary of Innoplexus, a leading international Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain-based drug discovery and development company, will launch AMRIT, a decentralised and GDPR compliant Real World Data (RWD) exchange to fuel AI for patients health and longevity.



AMRIT ecosystem will create a level playing field for the 1.3 billion Indians by putting them at the heart of the healthcare solution. Over 3,50,000 users benefit globally by using this platform.

Cancer research can be drastically accelerated using diverse Real World patient data. This data has become an invaluable asset for companies doing research in Life Sciences, but sharing of the data doesnt provide any benefits to the patients.



Built on top of a blockchain, the Cancer Twin, feature in the CURIA App enables users to identify other users with similar disease types to communicate anonymously with each other.



Dr Gunjan Bhardwaj, CEO, Innoplexus and Founder/Chairman of the Board, OncoCoin, said, The AMRIT ecosystem is democratising the process of cancer research by offering a base of 3.5 lakh users globally registered on the mobile app CURIA. Through the app, the pharma companies seeking to conduct clinical trials can connect with the patients for their participation and incentivise them for sharing their real-world data with the utility token AMRIT.

The company also plans to launch a neurology app by the end of this year covering Alzheimers disease, Parkinson Disease among others.




The Conversation Africa is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community. Its aim is to promote better understanding of current affairs and complex issues, and allow for a better quality of public discourse and conversation.Go to: https://theconversation.com/africa
AMEC's global managing director Johna Burke, demystifies the Barcelona Principles 3.0 and the latest best practices around the measurement and evaluation of communication - in a webinar first for South African audiences

The International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication (AMEC) is hosting its eighth annual "Measurement Month" during November 2021. This initiative, which sees many events across the globe, aims to educate communication and public relations practitioners about the latest best-practices in measuring the effectiveness of their communication and PR strategies.In a first for South African audiences AMEC member Ornico, a firm believer in the Barcelona Principles, will be hosting an online talk and panel discussion on Friday, 19 November 2021, with AMECs global managing director Johna Burke, who will demystify the Barcelona Principles 3.0 and the latest best practices around the measurement and evaluation of communication.AMEC is arguably most well-known for launching and adopting The Barcelona Principles in 2010 which created a framework for best practices in PR measurement. The original Barcelona Principles saw a 2nd iteration in 2015 but the latest version, the Barcelona Principles 3.0 was just launched last year.Burke is globally recognised as one of the worlds leading experts in the communications and public relations measurement fields and heads the worlds biggest measurement association, with membership in more than 86 countries.She will also be joined in a panel discussion around best practices with guests that include Ms Bulelwa Makeke (head of communications: National Prosecuting Authority), Prof Rene Benecke from the Department of Strategic Communication at the University of Johannesburg (and a previous PRISA president) as well as the head of communications at Liberty Retail, Babazile Mbetse.The Barcelona Principles is certainly becoming more important for South African communicators, as the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA) President Tebogo Ditshego earlier this year also expressed his endorsement of the principles and that it should be become the local industry standard for public relations measurement and evaluation.With Covid-19 restrictions still in place across most of the world, this years Measurement Month will be filled with many online events, giving South African practitioners even more access to top speakers and content from the worlds measurement experts. AMEC members organise events across the globe as part of AMECs Global Education Program.Communicators are also encouraged to follow #AMECMM on social media during November to join thousands of global colleagues who are learning and working to better the public relations and communication industry.To register for this unmissable session please visit:Ornico is a Brand Intelligence company, helping brands make sense of the endless sea of data for both advertising and media monitoring purposes across all industries. Ornico's ability to track, measure and analyze data, help's Africa's top companies with better informed decision making. Our SA clients such as Standard Bank, Tiger Brands, Ninety One as well as our international ones such as P&G and Reckitt Benckiser have been receiving years of in depth insights including: trend analysis, brand reputation and crisis management, competition analysis and others.Ornico's Brand Intelligence is an all in one solution that combines data monitoring and insights for all aspects of a brand. Whether that is creative/brand management and advertising or PR/external communication strategies, Ornico provides creative and media coverage over 60 countries in Africa across all mediums including print, broadcast, online and social media. Our 37 years of expertise, our people and our investment in to state of the art technology, help businesses make the right decisions.
South African Tourism has confirmed that both Meetings Africa and Africa's Travel Indaba will be returning in 2022. The last Meetings Africa was hosted in February 2020, just before the coronavirus outbreak, when it celebrated its 15th year anniversary. Africa's Travel Indaba did not take place in 2020 and 2021, however, due to global restrictions on movement and immigration regulations necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Business events industry

SA is open for business

Both platforms will be hosted as physical events with limited virtual components.Meetings Africa will take place from 28 February 2022 to 2 March 2022 at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, while Africas Travel Indaba will be hosted from 2 to 5 May 2022 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. Both events will have virtual participation capabilities, albeit to a limited extent.As South African Tourism charges forward with its commitment to the recovery of the tourism sector, the return of these shows will promote and market the countrys business events hosting capability and showcase destination South Africas leisure tourism products and experiences. The hosting of these events will contribute to the countrys economy, as delegates from various parts of the world will attend these trade shows.Over the recent past, South Africa has recorded a significant reduction in the number of new Covid-19 infections. The vaccination programme is well under way as part of the South African governments efforts to contain the spread of the virus. The country aims to have 70% of its adult population fully vaccinated by the end of 2021.During his address to the nation on 30 September 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa moved South Africa to adjusted alert level 1, reduced the hours of curfew and increased the number of people permitted for gatherings up to 750 people for indoor and 2, 000 people for outdoor gatherings providing a major boost for both for leisure travel as well as for the business events industry."We are very pleased to bring Meetings Africa and Africas Travel Indaba back. The need for physical events and face-to-face encounters is evident in both the industry and the public. The experiences over the last months have shown that on-location events can take place safely and successfully, and demonstrate how important they are for dialogue and exchange."We recently hosted Africas Travel and Tourism Summit, a hybrid format which was well-executed and attended bringing the tourism sector together for a common purpose of reigniting the tourism sector," said Sthembiso Dlamini, acting CEO of South African Tourism.While Africas Travel and Tourism Summit was not a replacement for Meetings Africa and Africas Travel Indaba, it did provide a platform to showcase the African continents leisure tourism offerings and business event capabilities."Hosting Meetings Africa and Africas Travel Indaba will certainly show our exhibitors, buyers, and the world, that South Africa is open for business and that the South African tourism sector has world-class Covid-19 safety protocols in place to deliver on memorable experiences and events. South Africa is ready and well prepared to welcome delegates from across the world," concluded Dlamini.Registration details for delegate participation for these trade shows will be announced soon.
Leandre Kark shares her journey that led to her being the brand marketing lead for Virgin Active South Africa.

Leandre Kark, brand marketing lead for Virgin Active South Africa

Tell us more about your role and what it entails exactly

Growing up, what did you want to be?

Tell us about your career: what you studied and why, and how you ended up where you are today?

What other sectors impact on your industry?

What are some of your most recent brand campaigns and the rationales behind them?

Tell us about your most successful marketing campaign.

In your opinion, what do you think are the most successful channels for getting your brand message out there?

Its about targeting messaging and content thats meaningful, engaging and impactful.

Any career highlights youd like to share.

When it comes to branding, what can brands no longer ignore?

It unifies and drives the business from revenue generation through to social responsibility initiatives.

If you were mentoring a future you, what career advice would you give to aspiring young marketing and branding professionals?

Your questions will not only help you understand a directive or strategy better, but it may spark new ideas or a different direction.

I am brand lead at Virgin Active South Africa. My role entails managing marketing and communication strategy from the annual campaign calendar through to the individual campaigns. I handle the media and PR and all the bits in-between. No two days are the same and thats what keeps me coming back for more.A lifeguard, but then I realised that you had to swim in the real ocean and not theocean, so that dream ended abruptly.I studied Business Science Marketing at the University of Cape Town (UCT). It combined my passion for language and communication with some pretty pictures. The mathematics, economics and statistics we studied as part of the broader business degree also satisfied the inner numbers nerd in me. It reminded me that marketing is not just about those pretty pictures - we need to be able to hold our own at the boardroom table in those monthly management meetings and annual strategy sessions.When a graduated, I sold everything I had and bought a ticket to London where I ended up working for two dodgy brothers in publishing. After three years in London, I decided an adventure was the order of the day so I took a year off and backpacked around the world, giving my communications skills a fiery baptism.Broke, but thoroughly high from my incredible experiences, I ended up in Seychelles for two years doing PR and Marketing for Eden Island (a commercial and residential development). The travel bug was still coursing through my veins so I took 10 months off and did an overland trip through Southern and East Africa.Broke once more, but filled with life experience, I was finally ready to settle down back at home and joined The Foschini Group, where I worked on some of South Africas most loved brands like Foschini, Duesouth and Totalsports for eight years. I loved the fast-paced environment of retail and I was fortunate enough to work on the rebranding of some iconic brands like Foschini, Donna and Duesouth to make them resonate with South Africans again.Im all about challenging myself so when the position became available at Virgin Active, I jumped at the opportunity to make a difference in peoples lives with exercise. I joined the Virgin Active team on 1 March 2020 just as Covid was making its mark on the world as we know it. The challenges have been real but the potential value this brand has makes even the toughest days seem worthwhile.Health and wellness trends, beauty and fashion as well as sports. With Covid and lockdowns, South Africans are slowly recognising the need for mental and physical wellness and this, in turn, has impacted the way people view exercise and nutrition, and more specifically, the type of exercise they do.And then there are the amazing fashion and beauty trends that get paraded around within our clubs! We launched our Born to Move brand campaign to re-open our clubs in August 2020. It served to remind South Africans that our bodies are essentially built for movement. It spoke of the need to be active to maintain physical and mental wellness and how fun movement can actually be to get them to get out of lockdown mode, dust off those trainers and get active with Virgin Active again.We then launched our Live Life Active campaign that focused on the exercise experiences we offer to inspire South Africans to get and stay active with us by switching up their exercise routines.The launch of Donna lingerie. We pushed all the boundaries to clearly stand for something as a brand  that Plus is Equal. We launched with nationwide events where our models and customers (who volunteered) were dressed in Donna lingerie and Denim and walked around the malls with placards showing positive slogans like Curves are beautiful Plus is us and plus is equal, ending with a live window display.They were cheered and photographed everywhere they went. It was a true celebration. The campaign carried through to in-store installations, windows and then a TTL media campaign. The conversations we started were so positive and any negative sentiment was quickly drowned out by the support and positive sentiment of all women (and some men) who engaged with us at the time. Our social communities grew exponentially and the media coverage was amazing.It really depends on who you are targeting. Were no longer able to broadcast the same message and content to everyone on the same channel.Where we often fall short as brands is having the right resources (and enough resources) to successfully follow through on these strategies. When were short on resources, we fall back on the good old spray and pray approach which risks alienating us to certain audiences.The delicious targeting and tracking ability of digital campaigns, coupled with the cost benefits does however make us more susceptible to going digital-first and foremost. Activations and events are the best for creating true brand experiences.Re-defining the purpose and positioning of Foschini was an incredible experience. We were having the female empowerment conversations before it became mainstream and had to battle quite a bit of resistance when we first started. Being a group of determined women, however, finally saw the success and launch of the repositioned brand.And then slowly changing the narrative around plus size women from negative to positive and celebratory during my time on the Donna brand was by far the most rewarding. It took months of hard work and dedication, fielding some very negative conversations, overcoming many obstacles and doing a lot of negotiating and convincing to change everyones mindset, both internally and externally. We persevered as a team and the reward was well worth it. To stand at an event where these women came together as a community to lift each other up, encourage and inspire was the pinnacle of my two years on the brand.A clear purpose. To stand for something thats meaningful to South Africans.It makes internal and external conversations so much easier when everyone is aligned BUT also understands the purpose. It should ignite a passion amongst employees and customers alike.Network and reach out to other industry professionals. These conversations spark ideas, solve problems, create contacts for projects but can also sometimes just make you feel like youre not alone.And, as a junior specifically, ask all the questions. No matter how dumb you may think they are.Leaders and managers dont always have it all figured out.And finally, have those difficult salary conversations. Back it up with facts and figures, but have the conversation. The worst that can happen is that they say no.
Some of Africa and Europe's biggest blue chip business leaders will convene in Johannesburg this month to unlock economic opportunities in high-growth sectors at the 8th edition of the high-powered 'Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue'.

- The business outlook and impacts of the African Continental Free Trade Area: challenges and opportunities.

- CEOs views on African business.

- Building pharmaceutical hubs across Africa: the importance of cross border partnerships.

- The energy transition and the commodities market in Southern Africa.

- Sharing experience and technology to foster competitiveness and sustainability in agri-business.

Organised by The European House - Ambrosetti, N.1 Think Tank in Italy, N.4 in Europe and among the top 20 globally, in collaboration with the Gauteng Province, GGDA and a number of international public and private stakeholders, including ABSA, Italian Trade Agency, Terna, CLN-MA, Finstone, BBM Law, ASPEN, Italtile, Brand SA and Emilia Romagna Region, the event will take place in a hybrid format onin Sandton, Johannesburg, at The Capital on Park.The CEOs and top management of major African and European multinationals, such as Vodacom, SASOL, Old Mutual, BNP Paribas, Eni, Siemens, DHL, Transnet, Eskom, Enel Green Power, Italian State Railways, Saint-Gobain, Bollore Logistics and CNH have been past participants of the Dialogue between Southern Africa and by a long way the regions biggest trade partner, Europe.Just some of the dialogues confirmed participants this year include: Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General, African Continental Free Trade Area; Italys Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marina Sereni; South Africas Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago; Siemens Africa CEO, Sabine dallOmo; Old Mutual Chairman, Trevor Manuel; Angolas Minister of Finance, Vera Daves de Sousa; Gauteng Premier, David Makhura; Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker; United Nations Under-Secretary General and Special Adviser on Africa, Christina Duarte; the Governor of Italys Emilia-Romagna Region, Stefano Bonaccini; the CEO of Enel Green Power, Salvatore Bernabei; the President of the World Farmers Organisation, Theo De Jager; and the Managing Director of the recently-formed Stellantis groups SA operations, Leslie Ramsoomar.The Head of African Affairs at The European House - Ambrosetti, Pietro Mininni, says Africa offers unique opportunities due to the recent implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the largest free trade area in the world, connecting almost 1.3 billion people across 54 countries with a combined GDP of roughly $3.4tn.At The European House - Ambrosetti we are strongly convinced that Africa occupies a particularly significant and important position on the regional and international stage. Many unfairly believe that Africa will be the continent of future economic opportunities; instead we are convinced that it is the place to be today, the continent of present opportunities, says Mininni.The Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue has as its express goal promoting strong and stable dialogue and supporting the long-term growth of strategic trade and economic relations between Europe and Southern Africa.The Summit is held annually in South Africa, but The European House - Ambrosetti is constantly collaborating with an international Advisory Board to identify new business opportunities, priority themes and sectors to analyse future strategic developments in continental value chains.Since 2019 the event has been enriched by the contents and activities of the Community CEO  African Chapter, an exclusive Club of top business leaders whose aim is to foster maximum interaction between leading entrepreneurs operating in Southern Africa and build strong and lasting relationships between its members and high-level external guests participating in the annual programme. Among the past speakers: Investec CEO, Fani Titi; Zimbabwes President, Emmerson Mnangagwa; AngloAmerican CEO, Mark Cutifani; Wits Vice Chancellor, Adam Habib; Nandos founder, Robert Brozin; New GX Capital CEO, Khudusela Pitje; and Thebe Chairman, Nhlanhla Nene.The past two years have been nothing short of a socio-economic whirlwind for the world. The socio-economic impacts of the Corona virus pandemic have compelled us to radically shift thinking, behaviour and outlook on how we work and relate as societies. Inevitably this disruption has severely impacted our economies, causing major regression in fighting unemployment, poverty and class inequalities. The inequality gap, more especially in South Africa is more vivid and demands salient solutions to mitigate an economic meltdown. However, we must equally acknowledge that historically, each crisis has served as a catalyst towards a radical shift towards a more progressive direction or a way to bring global leaders together, finding innovative ways to reignite our economies, says the CEO of the Gauteng Growth Development Agency, Musa Tshabalala.It is within this background that I am excited about the upcoming Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue, taking place in Gauteng. For us the conference cannot have taken place at a more critical time where the Gauteng province is bestowed with the mammoth responsibility of resuscitating the economy, ensuring that we reinforce and develop the participation of Small Medium enterprises, Tshabalala added.This edition of the Southern Africa Europe CEO Dialogue will be enhanced with side events on the themes Joburg Hour, Renewables in South Africa, The Constitution of South Africa and SMEs and Inclusive Economy.Furthermore, a Business Intelligence Round Table on Italy and Zambia challenges and opportunities in the mining sector in the Copperbelt province will take place on 29 November in Kitwe, Zambia.
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The mother of a missing woman who is last known to be in Brandon is pleading for anyone with information to contact police.

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SUBMITTED Jake Laliberte (left) and Natasha McLean (right).

The mother of a missing woman who is last known to be in Brandon is pleading for anyone with information to contact police.

Beverly McLean said her daughter, 25-year-old Natasha McLean, was travelling through Brandon when she last heard from her over text message. At the time, she was with her friend, 24-year-old Jake Laliberte.

On Nov. 4, Ile a la Cross RCMP said they were in Brandon on Oct. 22 travelling in a grey Chevrolet Cruze. At the time, they were believed to be travelling to Steinbach. The two might now be in a black Dodge Ram pickup truck with an unknown licence plate.

"As a mother, Im just pleading to anybody that may have seen [Natasha] or Jake to please let us know that shes OK," Beverly said.

Natasha is vulnerable, she said, and has autism spectrum disorder.

"Were not here to force them home, were here to make sure theyre safe and make sure my daughter gets her medication," Beverly said.

The two are from Saskatchewan and Beverly said they may be trying to get away from COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

"I dont know where they got that from  theyre beautiful young adults," she said.

Laliberte is approximately six-foot-one and weighs 265 pounds. He has short, dark blonde hair and blue eyes, police say. He usually has a goatee.

McLean is five-foot-six and weighs 165 pounds, police say. She has long, dark blonde hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a waist-length leather coat.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact their local police service. Information can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submitting a tip online at www.saskcrimestoppers.com.

 dmay@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @DrewMay_
More restrictions could be on the way for Manitoba if the trajectory of new cases keeps going up, warns the provinces chief medical health officer.

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Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, speaks during a COVID-19 update at the Manitoba legislature in Winnipeg on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. Roussin says more public health restrictions are coming as COVID-19 cases go up in the province. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

More restrictions could be on the way for Manitoba if the trajectory of new cases keeps going up, warns the provinces chief medical health officer.

In a Zoom press conference on Wednesday, Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer and Dr. Joss Reimer, medical lead, Vaccine implementation gave an update on the COVID situation, vaccine rollout and the ever-growing case numbers across the province.

The major topic of discussion was the looming possibility of further restrictions to stem the tide. Dr. Roussin said no one wants to have more restrictions, but the growing numbers are disappointing and concerning.

"The trajectory is going in the wrong direction. So far we are following trends and monitoring the strain on the healthcare system, but we will be reviewing what our next steps could be, and I have said before that stricter measures are an option," he said.

The possibility of more restrictions is frustrating, he said, especially for those who have been following the rules and received their vaccines, but added the entire province was in this situation together.

When asked if regional restrictions could be a possibility, Roussin said they are weighing all options and the province will be making an announcement in the near future.

For the time being they are focusing on getting people vaccinated. Even with infections happening in vaccinated people, most of the severe outcomes, such as hospitalizations and even death, are in the unvaccinated.

Wednesdays new case numbers reflect the severity of the situation. The province logged 143 new cases, 10 on the Interlake-Eastern Health region with seven not fully vaccinated, five in the Northern Health Region, with three not fully vaccinated, 29 in Prairie Mountain Health region with 14 not fully vaccinated, 66 in the Southern Health Region with 44 not fully vaccinated an 33 in Winnipeg with 21 not fully vaccinated.

There are 111 active COVID cases in hospital, with 21 active cases in intensive care and two more deaths, bringing the total who have died from COVID since the start of the pandemic to 1,268.

Talk of more restrictions so close to the holiday season isnt something the public wants to hear, he acknowledged. The province wants to avoid anything broad-reaching.

"The restrictions have been targeting the unvaccinated," explained Dr. Roussin. "It is heartbreaking to see so many suffering, especially with vaccines being readily available."

This makes the likelihood of restrictions that will apply to everyone much higher.

In previous comments, Premier Heather Stefanson has said she was not in favour of more restrictions and lockdowns. Dr. Roussin said the team is working with her and reiterated that elected officials have the final say on any decisions regarding public policy.

But they are going to be working for the best interests of all Manitobans.

For the holidays, Dr. Roussin said they are sure there will be an increase in cases as people are more likely to travel and gather in large venues. There is capacity for new cases in the system, but they are still monitoring to protect that space for when they need it.

With talk of tighter measures there are questions surrounding how it will affect schools. Dr. Roussin said they still believe schools should be kept open for the sake of childrens learning and mental health. Schools are often not major sites of transmission, he said. The infections come from the surrounding community and students bringing them to the schools.

"I have said before that schools should be the last to close and the first to open and we are working toward that," Dr. Roussin said. "There are more cases in schools, but the outcomes are not as severe. We are continuing to keep measures in place that will allow students to stay in class."

Vaccines have been the top weapon against COVID. To that end, Dr. Reimer announced the province is opening up third doses to everyone over the age of 18.

The province is also doing away with age priority and moving towards a flu-clinic model. People can still get their third shot at supersites, as well as any participating pharmacy, doctors office or health clinic.

"While this third dose is open to all, those who are considered healthy and not in a high-risk category will have to wait at least six months after their second dose," she said

Even then, most people deemed healthy will still have a high level of protection if they have to wait a little longer, she added. This announcement gives people time to consider if they will need a third dose and plan accordingly.

High risk groups are anyone over the age of 70, First Nations, the immunocompromised and health care employees.

The Johnson and Johnson single-dose Janssen vaccine will be arriving in the province next week. However, a mRNA booster is still recommended as an added precaution, Dr. Reimer said.

For most third doses, an mRNA vaccine, either Pfizer or Moderna, is highly recommended. Dr. Reimer said it is the most effective and has the least risk for blood clots. However, if someone is deemed at-risk for heart inflammation, or myocarditis, which is a side effect of an mRNA vaccine, they can get a different vaccine, such as Johnson and Johnsons, or AstraZenecas.

 kmckinley@brandonsun.com
The Catholic Bishops of Canada says 25 to 30 Indigenous people will be meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in December.

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Pope Francis salutes bishops as he arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Alessandra Tarantino

The Catholic Bishops of Canada says 25 to 30 Indigenous people will be meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican in December.

The delegates will include elders, knowledge keepers, residential school survivors and youth.

The bishops say in a news release that First Nations, Inuit and Metis delegates will each have private meetings with Pope Francis where he will hear personal stories of the legacy of residential schools.

Indigenous delegates will also be able to share their expectations for the Pope's visit to Canada.

Last month, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis is willing to make that pilgrimage, but Indigenous leaders have said it must come with an apology.

Calls for the Pope to apologize intensified in the last year after the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential school sites.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 10, 2021.
Shawn Bigby | The Bellamy Group

Columbia, SC -- Shawn Bigby's desire is for others to experience God at higher and deeper levels of worship. Shawn is the Creative Arts Director at Right Direction Church International in Columbia, SC. He is a songwriter, a recording artist, a worship leader, and a clinician who "...transforms a room into an atmosphere made conducive for true worship," says Grammy Award-winning producer Cedric Thompson.

Shawn has many years of experience and an unwavering passion and anointing for music ministry. Shawn has now written a book to connect the worshipper further to embrace the raw presence of God through the Word and theologically based music. THE PLATFORM: ON & OFF - A Blueprint For Worship Facilitators is an informative and compelling book for worship leaders, pastors, choir members, praise teams, and musicians.

Shawn Bigby - THE PLATFORM: ON & OFF A Blueprint For Worship Facilitators | The Bellamy Group

In his book, Shawn defines what worship is as well as what it is not. He provides practical ways to engage the people you serve and share reasons why some may display apprehension. The Platform: On & Off - A Blueprint for Worship Facilitators encourages self-examination and provides opportunities to build and expand your leadership muscles as you lead others into the presence of God. At the end of each chapter, there is opportunity to Map the Blueprint by considering the plans and strategies to facilitate the worship culture of your house, also leverage the questions for excavation of self to discover ways you can go deeper both on and off the platform.

"Shawn is an incredible and proven voice to this generation," says Justin Savage, Award-winning producer and music director - The Potters House, Dallas, TX. "In this instance, you can safely judge the book by its cover, as it fits perfectly. The reader is guaranteed to come away with valuable tools and information to help them carry out their assignment."

THE PLATFORM: ON & OFF - A Blueprint For Worship Facilitators is available now at ShawnBigby.com and online at Amazon, Apple iBooks, and Barnes and Noble. Follow and connect with Shawn on Facebook and social media to discover ways you can go deeper in worship both on and off the platform.
Alumna Karen McCullah graduated from JMU with a marketing degree, and after various jobs in different fields, she discovered screenwriting. Since then, she's helped write various well-known films like "Legally Blonde," "10 Things I Hate About You" and "The House Bunny." Some themes in her films relate closely to her own college experiences.
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts and Pats is the place to do it.
Rising inflation fears on Wall St, and weak results from blue chip stocks like Xero and Ramsay Health Care, weighed on the ASX on Thursday sending the bourse to its fourth consecutive decline.

The ASX200 fell 42 points or 0.6 per cent to 7,381 with miners and telcos providing the only bright spot for the market.

The big miners defied a drop in the iron ore price to below $US90 a tonne overnight with BHP closing 2.5 per cent higher and Rio Tinto gaining 1.8 per cent.

Commsec analyst Tom Piotrowski said this may be a result of the surprise inflation figures from the US overnight.

In an inflationary environment, investors try to find a hedge and head for hard assets, he said.

Fortescue was the real surprise packet. Its shares soared 11 per cent before closing 8 per cent higher at $15.45 after it announced a deal to supply green hydrogen to US-based Universal Hydrogen for use in the aviation industry.

Shock US inflation numbers created a volatile day for bonds and Wall St. Credit:AP

All of the major US markets closed lower after a report showed inflation had hit a 31 year high.

Inflation-triggered volatility is set to shake markets until the end of 2021, warned the CEO and founder of deVere Group, Nigel Green.

From China to the U.S., the UK to Europe, inflation risks are building, and this will increasingly rattle the markets, he said.

There are real opportunities to be had, but navigating the territory is set to become more complex in coming months as we move towards a new era of interest rate normality driven partly by inflation fears.

Inflation fears were not the only issue rattling local markets with corporate news also having an impact.

Nine Entertainment, the publisher of this website, provided one of the few highlights with a profit upgrade at the companys shareholder meeting sending shares up more than 5 per cent in morning trading before closing 3 per cent higher at $3.05.

Hospital operator Ramsay Health Care dropped as much as 7.3 per cent to a low $66.97 after it recorded a drop in its first-quarter earnings due to lockdowns hitting surgery in its private hospitals.

Xero dropped more than 6 per cent to close at $138.12 after the company flagged higher investment costs and unveiled lower than expected revenue and underlying earnings for the first half.

Nearmap was the other big fall, closing 12 per cent lower at $1.88, after providing disappointing guidance ahead of its AGM.

Explosives group, Orica, also finished lower after sinking to a loss of $174 million as the pandemic hit mining activity and Chinas Aussie coal ban and rising sea freight costs.
As global leaders gathered in Glasgow to negotiate an agreement to limit global warming, investors would be forgiven for thinking the outlook for oil giants stocks were bleak.

But analysts are still backing Big Oil, and expects the last hurrah for fossil fuels to send related shares surging. In fact, money managers argue there has rarely been a better time to invest in oil companies.

With oil demand continuing to rise and supply tightening, analysts predicts oil prices to keep rising. Credit:Bloomberg

FTSE 100-listed Shell is the most popular stock among fund managers who invest in British shares, despite a rise of fund groups promoting their ethical and green investing credentials amid the push for net zero.

The Anglo-Dutch giant is held by 35 per cent of funds, up from 22 per cent a year ago, while BP is owned by a third.
Migrant nurses with decades of experience and academic credentials are struggling to join a health system screaming out for talent, with one working at a fast food restaurant to make ends meet as they attempt to get their qualifications registered with the national regulator.

Mamata Sherpa Awasthi is a masters-educated Nepalese nurse and midwife with more than a decade of experience in nursing education, and even wrote some of the books Nepalese university students use in their courses.

Nepalese nurse Mamata Sherpa Awasthi is struggling to get registered in Australia despite her extensive experience.

She arrived in Perth a year ago on a dependent visa with her husband, who is completing a PhD, and wants to get into nursing in WA.

However, she has been so frustrated by the prohibitive costs of bridging courses  which can soar to more than $15,000  and the slowness of medical registration body she is considering a similarly expensive but quicker New Zealand registration and transferring that to Australia.
Homicide detectives have been called in to investigate the death of a man in police custody in Melbournes west overnight.

The 43-year-old Sunshine man was found unresponsive during a routine check by custody officers at Sunshine police station about 11pm on Wednesday.

Police are investigating the death in custody. Credit:Paul Rovere

The man was arrested on Tuesday because of an outstanding warrant and was due to face court Thursday morning.

Victorias Chief Commissioner of Police, Shane Patton, told ABC Radio Melbourne CCTV footage of the cell showed the man falling backwards and hitting his head on the toilet bowl.
Victoria Police have arrested one man and charged another over a hit-run collision in Melbournes south-east that left one man dead and another requiring surgery.

Bayswater man Timmy Rakei, 44, was working as a traffic controller at a roadworks site at Carrum Downs when a Holden Commodore allegedly ploughed into him about 7.15am on Tuesday morning. He died at the scene.

The scene of the crash at Carrum Downs. Credit:Nine News

The Commodore driver left his car after the crash and was picked up nearby by another man driving a black Hyundai SUV, police have alleged.

A 38-year-old man was also seriously injured in the crash and underwent surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Police said he was released from hospital on Thursday.
There were 46 good reasons for Scott Morrison to race from a carmakers office to an Italian cafe, a barbershop and a Chinese restaurant in the space of just a few hours one morning in Melbourne this week. There were just as many good reasons for him to dash from an electrical engineering company to the Port of Newcastle in NSW the previous day. And he has good cause to plan the same for Melbourne again on Friday.

The Prime Minister is making up for lost time. He spent 46 days in isolation or home quarantine during the middle of this year, thanks to lockdowns and restrictions when he returned from overseas travel. Now, finally, with no home quarantine required after his trip to Europe last week, he can be on the move where it counts most.

Illustration: Andrew Dyson Credit:The Age

There is a simple reason this week has looked so much like an election campaign. It is an election campaign  a very long one, lasting all the way to election day some time from March to May. It has been frenzied, effective and utterly shameless.

Why? Morrison has no time to waste. He is playing catch-up. Anthony Albanese ran rings around the government in the middle of the year while Morrison was stuck in Kirribilli House and The Lodge. The Labor leader stayed out of Sydney while it was in lockdown and had the freedom to visit marginal seats in Queensland and Tasmania, some of them two or three times.
I was in a bad period, I was desperate at that time, I crossed multiple lines, I accept that, but it didnt happen, he said, knowing theres no pub in Australia whose test this behaviour would pass.

The worst misconduct came during the war period in 2019 and 2020 when he was going hammer and tongs in a stacking war against the Socialist Left. It was then that Somyurek asked former friend Anthony Byrne to give Somyureks son extra shifts to make more cash to pay for branch stacking (the extra shifts didnt eventuate).

But evidence presented this week shows Somyureks faction exploited the murkiness of state legislation governing electorate officers. By his own admission, his office and those of his allies were commonly populated by people whose sole job was to recruit party members, including some whose activities he had no oversight over.

The community may accept this argument has some merit. Political staffers are political people and delineating their obsession with the Labor Party from their day jobs working for Labor MPs is difficult. Somyurek was appealing to proportionality and making a pub test argument.

Somyurek has waffled and sought to rationalise wrongdoing, but he has also posed interesting questions about the paradigm in which IBACs lawyers are operating. His gist is that IBAC is venturing too far and meandering in the normal operation of politics and the autonomy of politicians to direct their staff.

He referred to a section of the Equal Opportunity Act allowing MPs to discriminate on the basis of political belief or activity when hiring staff. When presented with another state law requiring MPs to prove value for money when hiring staff, he argued the most valuable thing to him might be hiring an ethnic community organiser to engage with that section of his constituent. If that organiser was also recruiting people to his Labor faction, well so be it.

His other argument is that all factions have done exactly what he did to amass power, and have been doing so for decades. It may be correct to say other factions carry out some of the same practices, but that does not make it right.

IBAC has faced weeks of criticism from some media commentators and the opposition, who have attacked the focus on Somyureks faction and urged IBAC to look into other Labor groups and call Premier Daniel Andrews to address allegations he also branch stacked and was warned about the red shirts rort.

After lunch, Redlich said the calls for other political actors to be called were misguided because IBAC was constrained by its underpinning legislation, which only allows it to compel witnesses relevant to the misconduct of the individuals under investigation.
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.
Rather than hide the rail tunnels, he embraced them. They add a gritty historical and archaeological dimension to a site otherwise filled with air, green space and a giant screen larger than the Sydney Opera House that will project art over Hong Kong Harbour. Architecture is always very political, but its not ideologically political. Architects cannot be activists, he tells The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. Inside the M+ building in Hong Kong. Credit:Virgile Simon Bertrand Thats an impossibility as an architect. If you spend the money of somebody you cannot be an activist at the same time against this person. The role of the architect is to do something which attracts and seduces people to use the place as long as it is an art museum. Ultimately, Herzog says, buildings are for the people who use them. These institutions have to be platforms for people to meet and to go to. That I think is a very important statement, he says. How to run it is something I cannot control.

That is the responsibility of Suhanya Raffel, the Australian art director whose last major project, the Art Gallery of NSWs Sydney Modern was described by former prime minister Paul Keating as a gigantic spoof of institutional conceit and cultural snobbery. Raffel has never been shy of rattling the establishment. When it opens on Friday works from the Chinese dissident artist best known for sticking his finger up at Beijing will be on display. Yes, we are exhibiting the work of Ai Weiwei, she says. The backbone of the gallery is the private From Revolution to Globalisation collection of Uli Sigg, which spans modern Chinese art from the 1970s until 2012. Siggs donation to the gallery includes 26 artworks by Ai Weiwei. Raffel did not elaborate on which works would be displayed.

The Second Situation by Geng Jianyi, 1987 displayed inside M+. Credit: There are also pieces by Yoko Ono, Nam June Paik and Marcel Duchamp and the epic Asian Field by Antony Gormley, made up of tens of thousands of clay figurines moulded in a village in Guangzhou. Raffel, who says the collection of visual culture will rival that of the Centre Pompidou in Paris or the Museum of Modern Art in New York, is treading a much thinner line between expression and sedition in Hong Kong than in those other global cities. In March Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam told art galleries to be on full alert against artworks that could endanger national security. We have to respect the freedom of artistic expression, but Im sure staff [at cultural institutions] are able to tell whether pieces are meant to incite hatred or to destroy relations between two places and undermine national security, Lam said.

Raffel says M+ is like any institution in the world, we are not going to break the law. China imposed the national security laws in 2020 to put an end to 18 months of anti-Beijing protests in the semi-autonomous region. More than 80 per cent of prosecutions under the laws so far have been for speech-related crimes for statements such as liberate Hong Kong. M+ director Suhanya Raffel. Credit:Isaac Lawrence The situation requires a closer level of negotiation with the government than many galleries outside China would be comfortable with. We work very carefully with the regulatory authorities to ensure that we are compliant, she says.

Hong Kong has been and is changing rapidly. And like in any major institution in a major city, we are also reflecting on what that means. That said, the curatorial integrity of what we had set out to do is absolutely intact, we are very proud of that. Its a very important institution to bring to the world, I dont believe that we will see an institution of this scale again in our lifetimes. Badiucao morphed the faces of Hong Kongs Chief Executive Carrie Lam with President Xi Jinping in 2018. Credit:Badiucao Raffel will have to manage the expectations of an increasingly assertive Beijing, whose influence now reaches far wider than Hong Kong. In October, the Chinese embassy in Rome demanded an exhibition by Chinese-Australian artist Badiucao in nearby Brescia be stopped. The Melbourne artist has previously lampooned Lam and Chinese President Xi Jinping by moulding them into one. The gallery declined to cancel the exhibition but Badiucao has been dismayed at what he says is a lack of support from Australian authorities despite its recent strong condemnation of attempts at international censorship by Beijing.

In September, the OzAsia Festival in Adelaide said a local Hong Kong group would not be able to display yellow umbrellas as part of their performance because they were a symbol of the pro-democracy movement. The politics in Hong Kong are much closer to home. The gallery next door to M+ is the Hong Kong Palace Museum. When it opens in 2022 it will display relics lent from Beijings Forbidden City. The two institutions have been accused of being too patriotic or not patriotic enough by Hongkongers on either side of politics. Politics are real here, Raffels predecessor Lars Nittve, said in an interview in 2015. It has real consequences, and you have to take it very seriously. Herzog, who prefers the subtle poetry of Baudelaire to the overtly political drama of Brecht, says there is always space for nuance.

I think that explicitly political statements in art are boring, he says. And I think that the more poetic side has a much more seductive and also a much more effective, long-term effect. Herzog has created a huge digital canvas in the middle of one of the most divided cities in the world to give artists that opportunity. Loading How free they are to express it will depend on how the M+ navigates the restrictions of new Hong Kong and Beijings tolerance. This big slab, it really is a face that looks at the city of Hong Kong, he says. It seems like a commercial sign but in fact, its the opposite. Its a platform for artistic messages and we found that especially interesting, also politically interesting, to offer such a tool to the institution and to the artists that show their work.
Paris: Kamala Harris and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed that their countries are ready to work together again, after the diplomatic drama surrounding the Australia-France submarine deal that put the relationship at a historic low.

The US Vice-President met with Macron on Wednesday evening at the Elysee presidential palace, as part of a weeks-long effort by Washington to mend relations with France, Americas oldest ally.

French President Emmanuel Macron welcomes Vice President Kamala Harris at the Elysee Palace. Credit:AP

Harris four-day trip to Paris comes after President Joe Biden told Macron the US had been clumsy in handling the submarine issue, during a meeting in Rome, Italy on October 29. Biden didnt formally apologise to Macron, but conceded the US should not have caught its oldest ally by surprise.

Australia in September cancelled a deal with Frances Naval Group, opting instead to build at least 12 nuclear-powered submarines in a deal with the United States and Britain.
Washington: In June 1987, US president Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin and issued what would become a famous demand of his Soviet counterpart, Mikhail Gorbachev.

Secretary General Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalisation, come here to this gate, Reagan said. Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

Regans plea for Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall reflected his view that the Soviet Union (which he previously dubbed an evil empire) was a fundamentally despotic, totalitarian regime. The Soviet press agency TASS shot back, calling Regans Brandenburg address an openly provocative, war-mongering speech.

US President Ronald Reagan, right, and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev exchange pens during the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty signing ceremony in the White House in 1987. Credit:AP

Six months later, Reagan and Gorbachev appeared together at the White House to sign the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, a landmark agreement that banned the countries from using nuclear and conventional ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.
Latest News Big Four reports suggest radical changes in home buying trends Both NAB and CBA have released data that suggests that Covid and housing affordability crisis have drastically altered how people buy property in Australia

Brokers are leading customers away from the Big Four, says research The broker channel is sending more clients than ever away from the Big Four  and customers are loving them for it

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has launched a cash incentive for merchant customers who offer the new StepPay just in time for the holiday season.

StepPay is the CBAs buy now, pay later (BNPL) product to support local businesses as they navigate through the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

Many BNPL schemes charge business around 4% per transaction, with some going as high as 7%, but StepPay promises no transaction fees. This is to encourage smaller businesses to hop on the rising BNPL trend and allow them to put extra money back into the enterprise.

Some businesses, particularly small businesses, have been hesitant to offer BNPL because of the traditionally high fees, said Mike Vacy Lyle, group executive for business banking at CBA. With no additional merchant costs or integration costs, StepPay is a win for small businesses and levels the playing field to allow them to better compete.

StepPay is also providing eligible businesses a 4% bonus on transactions over the Christmas period.

To give businesses a boost, were giving customers a bonus payment of 4% per transaction when they process a StepPay transaction, Lyle said. This means every time a customer uses StepPay, the business will be credited 4% of the transaction.

There is no set-up required for a business to accept StepPay, as it can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Latest News Big Four reports suggest radical changes in home buying trends Both NAB and CBA have released data that suggests that Covid and housing affordability crisis have drastically altered how people buy property in Australia

Brokers are leading customers away from the Big Four, says research The broker channel is sending more clients than ever away from the Big Four  and customers are loving them for it

REA Group CEO Owen Wilson has staked his companys claim to be the biggest player in the Australian real estate marketplace, naming their newly-merged Mortgage Choice and Smartline franchises as the second-biggest franchise player in the mortgage broking space.

Mortgage Choice and Smartline are estimated to have around 900 brokers across Australia, with Mortgage Choice operating over 400 franchises, which will retain their name and branding after the merger.

They are second only to Aussie Home Loans and Lendi, who also merged this year and can boast 1,200 brokers in Australia.

Wilson told the REA Groups AGM that the integration of Mortgage Choice, as well as the dominant position of the flagship realestate.com.au brand and the newly-acquired Simpology e-lodgements and loan application brand could see his company become the biggest player in Australian property.

READ MORE: Open Banking tipping point for broker channel

This acquisition not only increases our access to the $400bn home loan market, it positions REAs combined Mortgage Choice and Smartline business as the #2 retail mortgage broking business in Australia, said Wilson.



Since completing the acquisition, we have made excellent progress to integrate our businesses, including the announcement that the combined businesses will operate under the Mortgage Choice brand.



In June, REA acquired a 34% stake in Simpology, an Australian software company providing mortgage application and e-lodgement solutions for the broking and lending industries.



Simpologys technology enables direct transmission of digital mortgage applications to a broad range of banking and lending partners. This technology will also deliver significant productivity improvements to our broker network.
Japan's Corporation on Thursday said it expects its automobile sales in India to decline 6 per cent year-on-year and has cut its overall global sales forecast for the ongoing fiscal by 2.25 lakh units on account of semiconductor shortage.

In a financial presentation, the company whose subsidiary Maruti Suzuki India is the largest carmaker in India, pegged its total global sales forecast for the ongoing fiscal at 24.86 lakh units, down by 2.25 lakh units from the previous forecast.

In the last financial year, Corporation (SMC) had a total sales of 25.71 lakh units.

"Full-year sales in India are expected to decrease by 6 per cent year-on-year," SMC said.

In the pandemic-hit fiscal 2020-21, Maruti Suzuki India had sold a total of 14,57,861 units and so far in the first half of the ongoing fiscal ended September 30, 2021 the company has sold a total of 7,33,155 units.

SMC said it has also revised downwards its annual production plan for the ongoing fiscal to 25.79 lakh units, which is 2.99 lakh units less than initially planned, it added.

In the previous fiscal, the company had a total production of 26.51 lakh units.

"The initial plan for automobile production is an in-house plan that does not take into account the effects of semiconductor shortage and COVID-19 pandemic in India," SMC said in the presentation.

The Japanese carmaker said it is "placing efforts to minimise the effect on production output arising from parts shortage, including semiconductors and to deliver as many products as possible to our customers."



Meanwhile, it added, "effect on production output is still unclear" and therefore, with respect to full-year forecasts for the ongoing fiscal "we revised downward the sales volume and net sales figures".

However, it said despite the expected decrease in production, operating profit is kept unchanged from the previous forecast of 170 billion yen, down 12.6 per cent from the previous fiscal, taking into account the depreciation of Yen and cost reduction efforts.

(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 on Thursday said it will hear on November 23, the Future group plea against NV Investment Holdings, over former's sale of retail assets to the Reliance group. The top court orally asked the Future group to not proceed with the matter at any other forum till the top court finally hears the case.

Justice Hima Kohli, part of a three-judge headed by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana hearing the matter, said she and her family members hold shares in Reliance group and offered to recuse, if any party or counsel had objections to her being on the bench.

Counsel representing parties in the matter said they had no objection to Justice Kohli hearing the matter. During the hearing, the bench orally asked the Future group to not proceed with the matter at any other forum till the top court finally hears the case and scheduled the matter for further hearing on November 23.

On September 9, the had stayed all proceedings before the Delhi High Court on Amazon's petition seeking enforcement of Singapore emergency arbitrator's (EA) award, which restrained the Future Group from going ahead with its Rs 24,731 crore merger with Reliance Retail.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana had then said: "We think it fit to balance the interest of both the parties by staying all further proceedings before the Delhi High Court for the time being. Ordered accordingly. We further direct to all the authorities, i.e., NCLT, CCI and SEBI not to pass any final order for a period of four weeks from today. This order has been passed with the consent of both the parties."

On September 3, the had said it will give a date on Ltd's (FRL) fresh appeal challenging the Delhi High Court order, which asked it to implement its earlier direction restraining the firm from going ahead with its Rs 24,731 crore merger with Reliance Retail.

Senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi sought early hearing on the appeal as the High Court would go ahead with the enforcement of the EA's award, if stay is not granted in its favour by the apex court.

On August 17, the high court asked the FRL to implement the earlier single-judge bench order restraining it from going ahead with the deal. The high court passed the order while e-commerce giant Amazon, seeking enforcement of the award by Singapore's EA, restrained FRL from going ahead with the deal.

In the absence of stay from the top court, the high court had noted that it had no option but to enforce the order passed by its single judge on March 18.

In March, a single judge bench of the high court besides restraining FRL from going ahead with its deal with Reliance Retail, had imposed costs of Rs 20 lakh on the Future Group and others associated with it. The judge had also ordered attachment of their properties.

The top court, on August 6, delivered a judgment favouring by upholding Singapore EA's award, restraining the Rs 24,731 crore FRL-Reliance Retail merger deal as valid and enforceable under Indian arbitration laws.

--IANS

ss/dpb

(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.)
Apple's largest manufacturing partner is moving ahead with a plan to acquire a Lordstown Motors vehicle assembly plant in Ohio for $230 million, the have announced.

The cash-strapped electric vehicle start-up will find some relief from the capital infusion, while the partnership gives a jump start on producing fully electric trucks. Shares of Lordstown rose more than 13 per cent hours after the broke, reports CNBC.

According to a statement from the companies, acquired $50 million of common stock directly from Lordstown Motors at a price of about $6.90 per share after signing the agreement in September.

Going forward, Foxconn will make a down payment of $100 million by November 18, subsequent payments of $50 million each in February and April, and a final closing payment before the end of April.

Once the deal is finally closed, Foxconn will get 1.7 million warrants to buy more Lordstown shares at a price of $10.50 per share.

Foxconn has also agreed to pursue a contract manufacturing agreement to assemble Lordstown Motors' first product, an all-electric pickup truck called the Endurance.

In 2017, Foxconn promised the state of Wisconsin it would make a $10 billion investment in a 20 million square feet LCD manufacturing facility there and create 13,000 jobs in the state in exchange for $2.85 billion in subsidies.

The state, under former Governor Scott Walker and at the urging of the Trump administration, agreed.

Eventually, Foxconn said would not be able to fulfil those promises and pared back its plans in the state dramatically. It reduced its planned investment there to $672 million from $10 billion and cut the number of new jobs to 1,454.

--IANS

vc/bg

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
For employees around the world, the onset of the pandemic and subsequent shutting of offices in March last year was beyond their belief. All of them wondered how things would work out. And now, over 19 months later, when things have actually turned out well, the gradual opening of offices is yet again posing a challenge before them. Some are raring to go back to the office, while others are preferring the comfort of home. The employers and the HR are also grappling with some tough questions. Will the transition be smooth again, let us try to find out



What the employees want



Most employees want hybrid culture, flexibility to and office both

40% employees expect to work from office premises only up to three days a week

A big chunk also wants to work from office

With the Covid-19 infection ebbing, IT around the world have started opening offices. In India, IT firms are also following the suit as employees are being called back to offices in a phased manner. A joint survey by tech industry body Nasscom and job listing portal Indeed found that employees and employers are equally interested in returning to offices. But 40% of the employees expect to work from office premises only up to three days a week.

It all has also triggered a debate about what is the best way to work and does working from home affect productivity. A large chunk of workers is now expecting a hybrid work culture where they have the freedom to work from both the places. According to the Nasscom survey, hybrid work is the preferred choice of over 70% of organisations. The culture has also helped employees save on travelling time and costs. Not just this, many also saved on rent as then moved from metros to their hometowns to live with their parents. are trying to strike a balance between the needs of the employees and also those of their clients.

How return to office will help employers





Manage critical business function

Maintain organisational culture

Maintain data security

From the companies perspective, a return to office will help manage critical business functions, maintain organizational culture and data security. So, as the restrictions eased, Google announced a 25% salary cut for those opting to work from home, a step apparently taken to bring all the workers back to office. Most IT in India have also started calling employees back to the office. Companies also hope that it will reduce workers ability to attend job interviews with ease, making it difficult for them to switch jobs. The is facing attrition rates as high as 30%.

The cautious approach



TCS - Workers to be back in base cities by November 15

Infosys - Senior leaders are in office once a week

HCL - 5-6% of staff returned to offices

Wipro - Fully vaccinated senior staff can come to work twice a week

The IT companies have also saved a lot during the pandemic due to the reduced bills of electricity, Internet and that of transport. But they are also facing several challenges including managing the key business functions.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the countrys largest IT services player, has told all its employees to be back at their deputed cities by November 15. TCS is encouraging most of its employees to return by the end of this year before gradually switching to the 25/25 model, under which only 25% of its half-a-million global workforce will be in office at any point of time by 2025.

Infosys has asked senior leaders to come to the office at least once a week. It is preparing to have a larger population come to office. Its COO Pravin Rao said the company is working on a model that provides flexibility to employees. 5-6% of HCL employees have returned to offices while fully vaccinated senior staff at Wipro can come to work twice a week. According to the Nasscom survey, 50% of the workforce is likely to return to offices for up to three days a week starting next year. But most IT firms have now said that their leaders have begun to travel internationally for client meetings.

Specialist staffing company Xphenos Co-founder Kamal Karanth gave some valuable insights into the thought process of IT employees and their companies. He said:



Staff want to come to office only for a change of setting

Leadership prefers working out of office

WFH gives flexibility to switch jobs

Employees may prefer companies providing flexibility

Getting people back for five days a week will be a struggle

Firms believe in-office work can be even more productive

No clear verdict right now

Teamlease survey shows 57% want hybrid working model

WFH reduced social capital of employees

WFH blurred boundaries between work and personal spaces

Pandemic obligated remote work, productivity may not sustain long-term

Rituparna Chakraborty, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of staffing firm Teamlease Services, said the arrangement might not continue after the pandemic. He added:While a consensus among the employers has not been reached regarding the work style they may adopt, a clearer picture will emerge when a majority of the employees return to office over the next few months.
Fintech unicorn said on Thursday that it is launching a merchant shareholding program (MSP) with an pool of up to $100 million for small business owners on its platform.

This pool will be allotted over the course of four years to more than 75 lakh merchants on its platform currently and also those who join it in the future. The company said it is aiming for the MSP pool to be worth close to $1 billion by the time it goes public. was valued at $2.85 billion when it last raised a funding round of $370 million in September.

Ashneer Grover, co-founder and managing director, BharatPe, said We like to keep our ears close to the ground. While the startup community celebrates its coming-of-age with multi-billion-dollar IPOs, there is resentment brewing elsewhere. Millions of consumers and merchants are feeling left out of the digital / startup value creation in India.

The folks who contribute to user numbers and revenue of startups and therefore aid the valuation don't get any upside or even allocation in IPOs. We will change it at by making our merchants part owners and giving them the IPO upside through the first of its kind program in the world," he added.

BharatPe plans to build a loan book of $5 billion in five years to serve credit needed by millions of small businesses in India. The Delhi-based firm is about to cross $14 billion in annualised total payment value and it is working to ramp up to about $30 billion in total payments volume by March 2023.

Our plan is to build a lending book of about Rs 40,000 crore ($5 billion) in five years, Suhail Sameer, chief executive officer of BharatPe, earlier told Business Standard in an interview. Hopefully, a large part of this would be funded by our merchant and consumer network. We have heavy usage and investments by our merchants and consumers.

BharatPe is focused on three segments: merchant lending, consumer business and the Unity Small Finance Bank, a joint venture with Centrum Group that would start operations soon.

The firms target segment includes about 65 million MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) in India that employ some 80 million people. The firm is tapping on the opportunity to address the unmet credit gap of $1 trillion in MSMEs in India.

The company has facilitated loans to over 3 lakh merchants to date. It has facilitated over Rs 2,800 crore of loan disbursals. There has been a growth of 10X in the last fiscal. It does monthly disbursals of Rs 300 crore. By next year, the firm aims to disburse loans of $1 billion among merchants.
With India pushing towards the target of 100 per cent Electric Vehicle Nation by 2030, Boom Motors, a new high-tech EV brand from the state of Tamil Nadu, has launched its first product. The firm said it aims to accelerate the countrys transition to clean mobility through indigenous high-performance electric vehicles that suits the Indian conditions.

I believe that climate change is the biggest threat in front of us and have made it our mission to eliminate the largest sources of pollution in India  vehicular pollution, said Anirudh Ravi Narayanan, CEO of Boom Motors.

The company on Thursday unveiled the Boom Corbett  a durable and long-lasting bike. The bike features a 2.3 kWh which can optionally be doubled to 4.6 kWh  giving the vehicle a best-in-class range of up to 200 kms. The batteries are swappable and they come with a portable charger that can plug into any household socket thereby removing the requirement for charging infrastructure. The vehicle can hit a top-speed of 75 kmph with the two-battery option, can support 200 kgs loading, and can climb the steepest gradients in our cities.

Narayanan said Boom Motors is the first EV company to offer customers to purchase its vehicles for 5-year EMI. Rates will start at Rs. 1,699 per month  which is less than what many people spend on petrol. For convenience, the firm is offering swappable battery with a portable charger that will allow the bike to be charged anywhere. Today many people struggle with charging in apartments, offices and malls. We are freeing people of this problem. For peace-of-mind, we are offering service touchpoints across the country, roadside assistance and of course an unbeatably durable bike that will have minimal downtime to begin with, said Narayanan.

Boom Motors worked non-stop and tirelessly over the past two years to bring this product to market in record time. It has built a factory in Coimbatore capable of manufacturing 100,000 bikes per year. The production has already started, and it is in the process of ramping up. The firm has a localized supply chain and has created hundreds of jobs in the process.

The firm said it has developed a battery tech, where the battery is completely fire-proof. It is able to provide 5-year warranty on it versus 3-years that is typical. Also the battery itself is super intelligent  running its own operating system inside.

We have done all this in a bootstrapped manner  without any external VC or PE investment  the first company in India to do so, said Narayanan.

For the Boom Corbett product, it has built the bike to last with an exo-skeletal double-cradle chassis made of high-tensile steel. Its also packed with intelligent features like petrol savings calculation, accident and theft detection, and parental model. The product has been priced at Rs. 89,999, or even lower with state subsidies.

Boom Motors is opening up bookings for its bike from November 12, 2021. The online booking requires a Rs 499 deposit in order to confirm the introductory discount of Rs 3,000, and to hold a position in queue for deliveries. The company will commence retail deliveries from January 2022.

Indias electric vehicle market could be worth nearly $206 billion in the coming decade if India were to achieve its 2030 EV ambitions, according to an independent study released by the CEEW Centre for Energy Finance (CEEW-CEF). The report also estimates a cumulative investment need of over $180 billion in vehicle production and charging infrastructure until 2030 to meet the country's EV ambition.
Delhi Chief Minister will address a Rozgar guarantee rally' here on November 28, the (AAP) said on Thursday.

"The party will organise a rally in Lucknow on November 28 on the issues of rising unemployment and harassment under the Yogi Adityanath regime in Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha Member from AAP, said at a press conference here.

Delhi Chief Minister will address the rally and give guarantee for employement," he said.

Criticising the state government, Singh said young people are getting 'lathis' (sticks) for seeking employment, and married shikshamitra' had had to to shave their heads in protest against the BJP.

The latter was a reference to a protest held by 'shikshamitra' (ad hoc teachers) in Lucknow in 2018, under which several of them shaved their heads demanding permanent status in their jobs.

It is Kejriwal's promise that if the AAP forms the government in UP it will solve the unemployment issue for the youths of the state, Singh said.

Kejriwal's first guarantee' is of providing 300 units of free electricity and it is getting a lot of support from the common man, he said.

"People are coming forward and demanding guarantee from the party workers and taking the guarantee card'. Kejriwal is coming to the state to give guarantee for employment," he said



Singh alleged the oppression of youths has reached its peak under the Yogi government.

"Shikshamitras, Anganwadi workers, candidates for teacher recruitment, police recruitment. Everyone is angry.

A sister who applied for teacher recruitment has been demonstrating on a water tank for 90 days, but the Yogi government is not listening," he said.

Singh also raised the issue of death of a man in Kasganj in police custody and questioned the state of law and order in UP.

(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 on Thursday said that a Jatha of around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from November 17 to 26 through the Atari-Wagah Integrated Check Post, as per the 1974 bilateral protocol between India and Pakistan on Visits to Religious Shrines.

The move came keeping in view the significance of the upcoming occasion of Guru Nanak Gurpurab, and the sentiments associated with the religious festival, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during a media briefing.

"It's been decided that a 'jatha' of around 1,500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from Nov 17-26 as per the 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines b/w India-Pakistan," Bagchi said.

"They [the jatha] will visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Sri Panja Sahib, Dera Sahib, Kartarpur Sahib and Gurdwara Sacha Sauda," he added.

Guru Nanak Jayanti, also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurab, celebrates the birth of the first Sikh Guru and is considered one of the most sacred festivals among Sikhs.

The day is celebrated on the full moon day of the Kartik month as per the Hindu calendar. It is also marked as Kartik Poornima.

This came after Bagchi was asked about his remarks on the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor.

"The movement to Kartarpur Corridor was suspended in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Land travel between India and Pakistan is since been conducted on a limited scale through Attari-Wagah integrated check-post in coordination with the Pakistan side," the spokesperson said.

The 1974 Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines between India and Pakistan is a set of principles that was implemented while keeping in view the sentiments and devotion of the various communities in the two countries.

The protocol states that such visits from one country to the other shall be allowed without discrimination as to religion or sect; upto 20 parties may be allowed to visit from one country to the other every year, while the number could be revised from time to time; Every effort should continue to be made to ensure that places of religious worship mentioned in the agreed list are properly maintained and their sanctity preserved, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

Earlier in this year, Pakistan has denied permission to Sikh pilgrims from India to Pakistan on two occasions in June this year; one on the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji and second on the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Ji, the MEA spokesperson said.

During the press briefing, Bagchi also made remarks on India's Vaccine Maitri programme and informed that India has resumed the overseas supply of Indian vaccines.

"Keeping in mind our domestic requirement of vaccines, we have resumed our overseas supply of India made vaccines," Bagchi said.

"Some shipments have already taken place, while others are in the pipeline including through the COVAX facility," he added.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vice President M paid rich tributes to Maulana Abul Kamal Azad on his birth anniversary on Thursday and said he will always be remembered for his invaluable role in the country's freedom struggle.

"My tributes to great freedom fighter, nationalist and educationist, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary.

"He strove to promote unity and value-based He will always be remembered for his invaluable role in India's freedom struggle," the vice president wrote on Twitter.

Azad was India's first minister.

(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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Employees of the State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) continued their strike for the 15th day on Thursday over the demand for merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government, despite an appeal from Chief Minister to cooperate with the government in its effort to resolve their issues.

All 250 bus depots of the MSRTC remained shut for the second consecutive day, an official said.

Lakhs of passengers across the state continue to face hardships with no solution in sight to the issue.

Despite the suspension of over 900 employees, several MSRTC workers are still firm on continuing the agitation until their demand for the merger of the corporation with the state government is met.

According to MSRTC officials and union sources, as of now no meeting with government authorities is scheduled on Thursday for resolving the issue of the strike.

A section of the MSRTC employees are scheduled to meet Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray during the day.

"The situation is unchanged today. All 250 depots are shut across the state," an MSRTC official said.

The state-run corporation has so far suspended 918 employees from various depots for provoking and participating in the strike. Action is likely to be taken against more employees later in the day.

The indefinite strike started from October 28 and gradually intensified after the Diwali festival concluded last week.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Thackeray appealed to the corporation's employees not to hold the poor people to ransom by continuing their protest.

Transport Minister Anil Parab, who is also the chairman of the MSRTC, on Wednesday met a delegation of the Maharashtra ST Employees Joint Action Committee and appealed to the employees to call off their strike, even as the corporation filed a contempt petition in the Bombay High Court.

Hundreds of MSRTC employees from across the state converged in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon and held a rally at the Azad Maidan to press for their demand.

Parab said Maharashtra has 56 state-run corporations, and if the MSRTC unions' demand was ceded, other corporations will also demand merger with the government.

"While merging a corporation, comprehensive thinking is needed. Explain this to the workers and ask them to get back to work," Parab told the unions.

BJP leader Sadabhau Khot met Parab on Wednesday and said the salaries of MSRTC workers were very low, some had committed suicide, therefore the corporation should be merged with the state government immediately.

Parab pointed out that the state government has already appointed a committee to study the merger demand.

The MSRTC on Wednesday also filed a contempt petition in the HC, saying the unions have continued the strike despite the court declaring it illegal.

The court sought replies from the unions by Friday, and posted the matter for hearing to November 15.

(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 on Thursday reported a net reduction of 1,127 in active cases to take its count to 138,556. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 0.75 per cent (one in 133). The country is fifteenth among the most affected countries by active cases. On Wednesday, it added 13,091 cases to take its total caseload to 34,401,670 from 34,388,579  an increase of 0.1%. And, with 340 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 462,189, or 1.34 per cent of total confirmed infections.

With 5,754,817 more Covid-19 vaccine doses being administered on Wednesday, Indias total count of vaccine shots so far reached 1,102,334,225. The count of recovered cases across India, meanwhile, reached 33,800,925 or 98.25 per cent of total caseload  with 13,878 new cured cases being reported on Thursday.

Now the fifteenth-most-affected country by active cases, third by deaths, second by total cases and recoveries, India has added 80,645 cases in the past 7 days.

India now accounts for 0.74% of all active cases globally (one in every 133 active cases), and 9.08% of all deaths (one in every 11 deaths).

India has so far administered 1,102,334,225 vaccine doses. That is 3204.3 per cent of its total caseload, and 78.82 per cent of its population.

Among Indian states, the top 5 in terms of number of vaccine shots administered are Uttar Pradesh (140848252), Maharashtra (104334367), West Bengal (87089742), Gujarat (76451156), and Madhya Pradesh (76178070).

Among states with more than 10 million population, the top 5 in number of vaccine shots per one million population are Kerala (1201693), Gujarat (1196936), Jammu and Kashmir (1183122), Delhi (1175796), and Uttarakhand (1086133).

Backwards from here, the last 1 million cases for India have come in 55 days.

The count of active cases across India on Thursday saw a net reduction of 1,127, compared with 955 on Monday. States and UTs hat have seen the biggest daily net increase in active cases are Mizoram (157), Himachal Pradesh (78), Karnataka (72), Odisha (66), and Delhi (39).

With 13,878 new daily recoveries, Indias recovery rate stands at 98.25%, while fatality rate remained unchanged at 1.34%.

The Indian states and UTs with the worst case fatality rates at present are Punjab (2.75%), Nagaland (2.16%), and Uttarakhand (2.15%). The rate in as many as 13 is higher than the national average.

Indias new daily closed cases stand at 14,218  340 deaths and 13,878 recoveries. The share of deaths in total closed cases stands at 2.18%.

Indias 5-day moving average of daily rate of addition to total cases stands at 0.1%.

Indias doubling time for total cases stands at 1821.2 days, and for deaths at 941.9 days.

Overall, five states with the biggest 24-hour jump in total cases are Kerala (7540), Maharashtra (1094), West Bengal (853), Tamil Nadu (828), and Mizoram (531).

India on Wednesday conducted 1,189,470 to take the total count of tests conducted so far in the country to 619,902,064. The test positivity rate recorded was 1.1%.

Five states with the highest test positivity rate (TPR)  percentage of tested people turning out to be positive for Covid-19 infection (by cumulative data for tests and cases  are Dadra & Nagar Haveli-Daman & Diu (14.75%), Kerala (13.09%), Sikkim (11.96%), Goa (11.93%), and Maharashtra (10.42%).

Five states with the highest TPR by daily numbers for tests and cases added  are Mizoram (10.81%), Kerala (9.87%), Sikkim (3.35%), Manipur (2.92%), and West Bengal (2.03%).

Among states and UTs with more than 10 million population, five that have carried out the highest number of tests (per million population) are Delhi (1593095), J&K (1218025), Kerala (1077550), Karnataka (765065), and Telangana (709128).

The five most affected states by total cases are Maharashtra (6620423), Kerala (5034858), Karnataka (2990856), Tamil Nadu (2711584), and Andhra Pradesh (2069066).

Maharashtra, the most affected state overall, has reported 1094 new cases to take its tally to 6620423.

Kerala, the second-most-affected state by total tally, has added 7540 cases to take its tally to 5034858.

Karnataka, the third-most-affected state, has reported 328 cases to take its tally to 2990856.

Tamil Nadu has added 828 cases to take its tally to 2711584.

Andhra Pradesh has seen its tally going up by 348 to 2069066.

Uttar Pradesh has added 14 cases to take its tally to 1710236.

Delhi has added 54 cases to take its tally to 1440230.
Union Transport Minister on Thursday stressed on the use of ethanol in vehicles as a cost effective and pollution-free substitute to other fuels, and said flex-fuel engines will be made mandatory in the coming days.

The flex-fuel, or flexible fuel, is an alternative fuel made with a combination gasoline, methanol or ethanol.

Speaking at an event of the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank here, Gadkari mentioned a Russian technology through which the calorific value of petrol and ethanol can be equalised.

If this happens, all petrol pumps can be replaced with ethanol pumps, the road transport and highways minister said, referring to western Maharashtra which is a major sugarcane belt.

Pointing out that there are already three ethanol pumps in Pune, the minister urged the state government to permit auto-rickshaws that run on 100 per cent ethanol in western Maharashtra.

Notably, the central government on Wednesday hiked the price of ethanol extracted from sugarcane for blending in petrol by up to Rs 1.47 per litre for 2021-22 marketing year starting December, as part of its target to achieve 20 per cent doping by 2025.

A higher blending of ethanol in petrol will help cut India its oil import bill and also benefit sugarcane farmers as well as sugar mills.

Referring to his recent meeting with representatives of vehicle manufacturers Kirloskar and Toyota, Gadkari said, "They have prepared cars with flex (flexible) engines. Flex engine means use of 100 per cent petrol or ethanol. This has been made on the Euro 6 norms. I am going to make flex engines mandatory."



Speaking in a lighter vein, Gadkari said, "Don't use petrol...you don't have to hold agitations over rising fuel price...the price (of ethanol) will be Rs 62 and it will be an import substitute, cost-effective and pollution- free."



Fuel prices have skyrocketed in the recent past, evoking strong reaction from the opposition parties.

The minister also stressed on the use of technology in the cooperative sector, and said that financial and technical diversification in agriculture is very important.

Emphasising on the use of green technology for vehicles, Gadkari said will be using a green hydrogen car in Delhi.

If green hydrogen technology is used by the cooperative sector before the corporate sector, then the latter will reap benefits, the minister said.

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Twesh Mishra, Arindam Majumder & Shine Jacob

India aims to sell only blended with 20 per cent (E20) from 2025-26. According to officials in the know, all new vehicles sold in the country will also need to be E20 compliant from 2025 onward. This move may force manufactures to reconfigure their existing vehicle offerings to operate using the blended fuel.

Speaking to journalists a day after the Union Cabinet hiked the procurement price, Petroleum Secretary, Tarun Kapoor said, The target is to only sell E20 across the country from 2025 onward. E20 blended petrol will be introduced from 2023. In the transitional period, both E20 and E10 (petrol blended with 10 per cent ethanol) will be available but at different retail outlets (commonly called petrol pumps).

There will be no separate dispensing unit for E20 at a single retail outlet. The existing dispensing units will just start selling E20 ethanol, he added.

Automakers said they are ready to be E20 compliant even as some expressed concerns.

Indias largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki which has more than 50 percent market share is already compliant to E10 norms and the automakers products will be E20 compliant by 2023.

As far as the government is concerned they are looking to mandate E10 and E20 compliance. So we are in line with this thinking and we have supported this part of the discussionEthanol is going to be one big technology that we will be using in our products, C V Raman, Chief Technical Officer, Maruti Suzuki India adding that the carmaker is planning to introduce flex fuel in its lineup. Along with petrol and CNG, flex fuel will be their third option on offer.

An executive at a foreign carmaker however raised concern that there can be problems over customer acceptability as impact of ethanol fuels on on-road vehicles is likely to result in increased fuel consumption and higher maintenance costs for vehicles which are not developed to run on 20 percent ethanol-blended fuel.

According to the petroleum secretary, the government also intends to ramp up sale of E100, or pure ethanol for running vehicles. A separate dispensing station will need to be installed at petrol pumps for E100 since existing vehicles cannot run on it. The use of E100 as a primary fuel is being examined through a pilot project in Pune, he said.

He said while manufacturers are complaining that using E20 petrol could harm existing vehicles, there is no conclusive evidence about it yet. There may be an impact on the fuel efficiency of a non-compliant vehicle after E20 roll out but studies are still on to decide whether there is any other adverse impact of the blended petrol, he said.

A call to mandate sale of only E20 optimized vehicles will be taken by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. But the Petroleum Ministry is keen on ensuring that only E20 petrol will be available in the country from 2025. This is similar to the stand taken by the oil refineries when rolling out Bharat Stage VI fuels in the country, eventually forcing makers to comply with stricter emission norms.

Indias oil marketing companies (OMCs) are target a 10 per cent ethanol blending in petrol by the end of ensuing ethanol supply year (ESY  period from December to November) 2021-22, and 20 per cent by ESY 2025-26. As a step in this direction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had released a report on Roadmap for ethanol blending in India 2020-25 on World Environment Day June 5, 2021.

To make this possible, the centre is also focusing on ramping up ethanol supplies. According to an official statement, OMCs have contracted over 350 crore litre of ethanol in ongoing ESY 2020-21, up from 38 crore litre during ESY 2013-14. The goal is to achieve 1000 crore litres of ethanol procurement for meeting the E20 blending target.

Two-wheeler manufacturers like Bajaj Auto, TVS and Toyota have already agreed to come up with engines that can work on flex fuel engines, which will help the vehicle to adapt to a higher percentage of blended ethanol. TVS Motor Company and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) have already initiated pilot projects in Pune. According to sources, TVS is credited with launching the first-ethanol powered motorcycle called TVS Apache RTR 200 Fi E100 in 2019.

The vehicle manufacturers need to handhold vendors to develop ethanol compatible parts, optimize engine for higher ethanol blends and conduct durability studies on engines and field trials before introducing E20 compliant vehicles, according to a Niti Ayog report. Interestingly, a major cause of concern for the consumers will be a drop in fuel efficiency of 6 per cent with E20 due to lower calorific value of the blended fuel, it said.
India on Thursday said it has neither accepted China's illegal occupation of its territory nor any unjustified Chinese claims, in the first official reaction to a report that said Beijing built a large village in a disputed territory along the Line of Actual Control in the sector.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on its security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He was replying to a question on the US report at a media briefing.

Bagchi said India too stepped up infrastructure development including the construction of roads and bridges in areas along the border with

"We have taken note of the US Department of Defence's report to US Congress which inter-alia also makes a reference to construction activities by Chinese side along the India- border areas particularly in the Eastern sector," he said.

Bagchi said reports had also appeared in the media earlier this year on this issue.

"As we had stated then, has undertaken construction activities in the past several years along the border areas including in the areas that it has illegally occupied over the decades," he said.

"India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims," Bagchi said.

The spokesperson said India has always conveyed its strong protest to such activities through diplomatic means and will continue to do so in the future.

"Further, as conveyed earlier the government has also stepped up border infrastructure including the construction of roads, bridges etc, which has provided much-needed connectivity to the local population along the border," he said.

Bagchi said the government remained committed to the objective of creating infrastructure along the border areas for the improvement of the livelihood of its citizens including in

"The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.

In its recent report, the US Department of Defence said China built a large 100-home civilian village inside disputed territory between its Tibet Autonomous Region and India's in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Sources in the security establishment on Tuesday said the village along the disputed border in the upper Subansiri district is in an area that was occupied by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) after overrunning an Assam Rifles post in 1959.

Following the eastern Ladakh standoff last year, India has bolstered its overall military preparedness along the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh sector as well.

Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Manoj Pande said last month that China has increased the intensity of its military exercises and deployment of troops in its depth areas opposite the LAC in the Arunachal Pradesh sector.

He said that India has correspondingly readied contingency plans to deal with any eventualities.

Lt Gen Pande had said new villages have come up on the Chinese side of the border in certain areas and India has taken note of it in its operational strategy.

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India and the United States are natural allies, especially in the field of education, Union Minister said and stressed that there is immense potential to strengthen collaborations between educational institutions of the two countries.

He was speaking during a virtual roundtable on 'Advancing India-US Partnership' on Wednesday. The roundtable was organised by the Embassy of India in association with its five consulates in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Houston and Atlanta.

"India and the US are natural allies, especially in the field of There is a lot of potential to strengthen collaborations between India and US educational institutions, specifically in interlinking industry, academia and policymakers," Pradhan said.

He said India's Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has opened up the mobility of students and teachers across the globe and it encourages research partnerships and mutually beneficial educational collaborations.

"To align with the prime minister's announcement at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, India's education system must be ready to align with the global aspirations and NEP 2020 allows for such an alignment," he added.

The roundtable was attended by presidents, chancellors and representatives from 20 American universities including University of Colorado, New York University, Rice University and University of Illinois etc.

All American participants agreed that NEP 2020 was a welcome announcement and that the removal of restrictions, particularly bureaucratic hurdles, from the field of education would be mutually beneficial for both India and the US on all fronts, especially economic.

Representatives of most American universities said that they would like to partner with India on some specific topics of interest -- cybersecurity, healthcare, biotech, artificial intelligence, data sciences, agriculture, climate change and sustainability.

They said they would like to encourage research collaborations and linkages with the existing partners as well as explore new relationships with educational institutions in India.

In his address, India's Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said Office of International Affairs has been set up in more than 150 universities across India.

New guidelines have been issued for India's higher education institutes to move ahead in research at the international level. Regulations for embedding internships in general education have been set into motion. The government proposes to set up a research foundation to further improve the research ecosystem in the country, he said.

"All these provide huge opportunities for US institutions. We could now look at two-way student and research mobility: US students can do short-term courses or some semesters in Indian institutions. We could certainly have more student and academic exchanges as well as joint research programmes," Sandhu said.

"Education institutions in both countries can also explore joint projects in third countries including in Africa, Latin America and Indo-Pacific. The top political leadership of both countries have spoken about it," he said.

University Grants Commission chairman D P Singh, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe, Jawaharlal Nehru University vice chancellor Jagadesh Kumar and others attended the roundtable.

Indian speakers noted that this is the right time to leverage the India-US partnership and their common areas of interest, education being the most important of all.

Of late, India has intensified its interactions with American educational institutions. Ambassador Sandhu alone has interacted with more than 120 university presidents.

The embassy has been organising several interactions between Indian and US educators and experts to explore ways to deepen the education partnership.

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With the Ministry of Education scheduling the massive nationwide Achievement (NAS) 2021 on Friday, states are concerned about student attendance and logistics that might hamper the

The NAS, being implemented on a rolling process every three years, aims to assess learning loss among school students, with this years edition especially looking to assess disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to school students learning abilities.

Expected to cover 123,000 schools and 3.8 million students across 733 districts in 36 states and Union territories, NAS 2021 will be conducted in language, mathematics and EVS for classes three and five. Class eight students will be assessed for language, mathematics, science and social science, while class 10 students will have an additional subject of English apart from the four subjects. The test will be conducted in 22 mediums of instruction. However, states are concerned about the logistics and timing of the

The survey is being held at a time when most states still have voluntary offline attendance till classes eight. Several students and their parents are still wary of offline classes. At such a time, the survey may not yield the potential results the government is expecting. Also, while some states are witnessing climate issues like heavy rains, others are still reeling under festival-induced absenteeism, said a teacher at one of the sample schools in Gujarat.

On Thursday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Education Minister too requested the Centre to postpone the survey. Whose achievement will it test when most children are not even coming to school? Sisodia asked in a tweet.

On its part, the Ministry of Education has appointed over 180,000 field investigators, over 123,000 observers, 733 district-level coordinators and district nodal officers along with 36 state nodal officers in each state and UT for the survey. The Centre aims to use the findings to diagnose learning gaps of students and determine interventions required in education policies, teaching practices and learning.

For this, the Ministry of Education has also developed a NAS-2021 portal through NIC in consultation with the NCERT, CBSE, UNICEF, DDG (Stats) and NITI Aayog.

To be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as assessment administrator for Grade 3, 5, 8 and 10 students, the survey will cover not only state government schools but also government-aided schools, private unaided recognised schools and central government schools.
Union minister on Thursday said the Centre is moving towards creating 'One Nation, One Portal' to redress

He said efforts are being made to integrate state grievance portals with the Centre's CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), an online system that mainly allows filing of complaints by people against different central government departments.

Addressing an event here, Singh said Uttar Pradesh will be the first state in the country to have a district-wise good governance index.

Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurated a two-day regional conference on the theme of strengthening the state institutes of public administration here on Thursday.

Yogi Adityanath, in his address, said it would strengthen the state public administration institutes and empower the state civil servants in bringing development.

Singh announced that the Department of Administrative Reforms and (DARPG) shall collaborate with the government of Uttar Pradesh in developing a district good governance index, the first for any state, on the lines of the good governance index for improving the efficiency of governance across districts.

He said this good governance index for the state can be replicated in other states also as the main mantra of the Modi government is to reach out to the last man in the last queue with all the benefits of welfare schemes, a statement issued by the Union Personnel Ministry said.

The minister also announced that the DARPG will collaborate with the Uttar Pradesh government for integration of the CPGRAMS with the district portal of Uttar Pradesh which will enable citizens to lodge complaints from a single portal, it said.

'One Nation, One Portal' is the goal, and towards this end, integration of CPGRAMS with state grievance portals will play an important role in redressal of grievances, the minister said.

Later speaking to PTI, Singh said the Centre is working towards having One Nation, One Portal for public grievance redressal.

He said the conference is an effort to create a common platform to share experiences in the formulation and implementation of best practices in administrative training, capacity building to facilitate citizen centric governance, improved public service delivery through e-governance, transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly effective administration.

Singh also highlighted the role of training in public administration and said it is essential not only for efficiency of the administration but also for broadening the vision of officials.

V Srinivas, Special Secretary, DARPG, Srinivas R Katikithala, Director of Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) and 350 officials from Uttar Pradesh participated in the inaugural session.

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The has ruled that the authorities have to grant a personal hearing to an assessee if he demands so before passing an order to raise additional demand under the faceless assessment scheme.

In a case related to Umkal Healthcare Ltd versus Faceless Assessment Centre, the court set aside the demand notice of authorities given to the company as the request of personal hearing was not accepted.

The court remanded back the matter to the assessing officer.

The court said the officer shall grant an opportunity of hearing to the company by way of video conferencing and thereafter pass a reasoned order in accordance with law, Sandeep Sehgal, Director- and Regulatory, AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm, said while informing about the order.

The tax authorities argued that the law prescribed that personal hearing "may be and not shall be" granted and as such there is no vested right in the petitioner to claim it.

However, the court ruled that it was incumbent upon the tax authorities to accord a personal hearing to the assessee.

The court said there is a violation of principles of natural justice as well as mandatory procedure prescribed in the faceless assessment scheme and stipulated in section 144B of the Income Tax Act.

Sehgal said,the faceless assessment was introduced with the objective of enabling transparent and fair tax assessments.

However, in the process, there have been several instances where the revenue has proceeded ahead without adhering to the principles of natural justice."
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that Prime Minister has asked him not to bother about the scandal in the state.

After meeting Modi at the Prime Minister's Office, he said that discussion on the scandal did not come up in the meeting. "When I started telling him about the scandal, he cut me short asking me not to bother about all this," he claimed.

Modi asked him to continue serving the people with more dedication and courage, Bommai said.

"The meeting with the Prime Minister went off very well. We discussed a lot of issues. He was especially keen on administration and our decisions during the last 100 days. How things could be made better was also deliberated upon," he said.

Bommai said that he had extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to attend four programmes in December. "The Prime Minister happily agreed for a visit. He asked me to split the programmes and assured he would visit the state twice," he added.

The Prime Minister has agreed to lay the foundation stone for the Railway Suburban Project, and inaugurate the Ambedkar School of Economics and other projects in Bengaluru.

He said Modi appreciated the scholarship scheme aimed at the farmers' children. He said this project should succeed as is the only state which has farmers' data in digital format. He expressed his desire to emulate the scheme in the entire country, he underlined.

The Transparency Act brought by the state government was liked by the Prime Minister who called it a "revolutionary" step. There was also a long discussion on implementation of Education Policy (NEP), Bommai said.

"On losing Hangal bypoll, the Prime Minister advised to take winning and losing in the same way and asked me to set a target for 2023 general elections and win people's hearts," Bommai said.

Bommai also said he met BJP President J.P. Nadda and discussed upcoming elections in the state. "I also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. It was a brief meeting," he said.

Asked if they discussed the scandal, Bommai said that being the Home Minister, Amit Shah would have more information on the issue than him.

--IANS

mka/shb

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President and Prime Minister on Thursday attended the Conference of Governors and Lieutenant Governors at Rashtrapati Bhawan in the capital.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were also present at the Conference.

As per Rashtrapati Bhavan's press release, this will be the fourth conference to be presided over by President Kovind.

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The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a policy formulated for extending relief to picking farm labourers affected by the damage caused to the crop by the pink bollworm pest attack.

With this decision, 10 per cent of the total compensation would be provided to the farm labourers affected by the pest attack on crop, according to a government statement.

Pink bollworm attack had caused extensive damage to crop in Mansa, Sangrur, Bathinda, Sri Muktsar Sahib and Barnala districts.

The government last month announced releasing a sum of over Rs 416 crore to compensate cotton growers for their crop loss due to pink bollworm pest attack.

Of this amount, 10 per cent would be given to the cotton picking workers as relief.

On the issue of post-matric scholarship for scheduled caste students, the cabinet deliberated upon the hardships faced by the SC students who are beneficiaries of the scheme.

It was highlighted that the Centre had stopped giving its share of 60 per cent under this scheme from 2016, it said.

Resultantly, the Cabinet decided that the state government would bear its liability of 40 per cent amounting to Rs 433.96 crore, which would be released in two installments during the financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23.

The cabinet meeting was chaired by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

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By Noor Zainab Hussain and Carolyn Cohn

(Reuters) - Tony and Jhan Dunn never thought they would leave California, where they grew up, built a life together and planned to retire.

But after a wildfire swept through their Northern California town of Paradise three years ago, burning their home to the ground, they could not get insurance to buy another.

"We basically got priced out of California," Dunn, a retired planning specialist, told Reuters from the couple's new home in North Carolina.

There are thousands of homeowners and businesses from California to Australia in a similar position because the insurance industry, known for its readiness to cover anything from Bruce Springsteen's vocal chords to alien abductions, has trouble factoring in

The tried and tested approach, where decades' worth of historical data serve to estimate future claims, falls short when weather patterns change and hurricanes, floods, heat waves or snowstorms become more extreme and unpredictable, industry experts say. And the British hosts of the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow acknowledged on Wednesday that current pledges to cut greenhouse gases were not enough to avert climate catastrophe.

Insurance broker Aon said in a report last week that "highly anomalous" floods in Germany and China this year caused record insured losses in those regions.

"Insurers are pulling out because nobody wants to be in the business of losing money," says Attila Toth, chief executive at specialist risk analytics firm Zesty.ai. "And if they don't trust their traditional models, then they are concerned that they will be losing money."

Zesty.ai, whose customers include Farmers Insurance, reinsurer Berkshire Hathaway and Aon, uses artificial intelligence trained on more than 1,400 wildfire events to produce risk scores for any individual property.

In the same vein, reinsurance broker Willis Re is using data from AI firm Cloud to Street to help clients price flood reinsurance.

Insurance statistics show an urgent need for such innovation.

For example, the average number of large U.S. wildfires has risen by 30% over the past 15 years and by nearly a fifth in just the last five, according to Lloyd's of London insurer Chaucer.

In all, insured losses for so-called "secondary" perils such as floods and wildfires - rather than more closely modelled perils such as hurricanes - nearly doubled over the past decade, data compiled by Swiss Re shows.

The reinsurer expects no let-up, forecasting a 30-63% rise in insured losses for all types of natural catastrophes in advanced markets by 2040. China, Britain, France and Germany, could even see those soaring between 90% and 120%.

Given the momentum, it is no surprise that traditional models cannot keep up, Bruce Carnegie-Brown, chairman of insurance market Lloyd's of London told Reuters.

"If you've reached an exponential part of the curve where suddenly, something's accelerating, it's almost certain that we are underpricing the risk that we're taking."

FEELING THE HEAT

Policyholders are already feeling the heat, with coverage getting costlier or harder to come by.

Broker Marsh estimates U.S. property insurance rates have risen by 10% in the third quarter.

In California, non-renewals of homeowners' insurance policies rose 31% from a year earlier in 2019 to more than 235,000, the state's Insurance Department's most recent data showed. The data for 2020 could be similar, according to Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog LA.

Across the northern border, the Insurance Bureau of Canada warned on its website homeowners might not be able to buy a new insurance policy if they have suffered a fire.

Among those pulling back from home insurance in California are some household names such as Liberty Mutual, Nationwide and State Farm. Liberty Mutual said it was a "difficult but necessary step to reduce overall exposure to wildfires," a sentiment echoed by other insurers.

Some insurers aim to reduce their exposure by helping clients become more resilient. Commercial insurer AXA, for example, offers a consulting service for clients such as manufacturers, identifying their vulnerabilities and suggesting remedies, such as erecting flood barriers, its chief risk officer Renaud Guidee told Reuters.

"This is really an alignment of interest."

U.S. insurer Chubb is also working with clients to help them make their infrastructure sturdier, said Paul J Krump, Vice Chairman, Chubb Group, Global Underwriting and Claims.

Reinsurers, with their global scope and long history of underwriting catastrophe risks, also have a role to play in helping the industry adapt to climate change, analysts say.

Ernst Rauch, chief climate and geo scientist at Munich Re, said the group had the expertise and willingness to take on climate risk.

The 141-year-old company set up a team to work on natural catastrophes and in the 1970s after noticing loss patterns starting to change for weather related events, Rauch said.

"We observed a continuation of years with losses significantly higher compared to the last 35 years or so. And that's reflected in our models," he said.

Yet there was a gap between what the reinsurer considered a fair premium and what insurers were prepared to pay.

"We can only transfer this risk on our balance sheet if we get the premium which we need to cover these risks, based on our own assessment," Rauch said.

Ratings agency S&P Global warned even reinsurers could be underestimating their exposure to climate risk by as much as 50%, describing their efforts to account for climate change as "nascent" in a recent report.

Industry experts also say disasters such as hurricanes in Florida with a long history of causing severe damage, are more closely modelled than floods or wildfires, which have only in recent years begun to cause major losses.

That calls for reinsurers and independent risk modelling firms such as RMS and KCC to try new ways of approaching natural catastrophes.

One such approach is scenario modelling, where insurers are provided with a number of possible climate impacts on their portfolios over years, to take account of "the whole range of uncertainty," said Laurent Marescot, senior director, EMEA and CIS, at RMS, which sells its risk models to insurers.

Another involves machine learning, which can be used to take existing models of floods in a particular region, for example, and map them to other parts of the world, Marescot said.

But any developments in making insurance more available and affordable will come too late for the Dunns.

"It was sad because we both spent our whole lives in California, we both grew up in San Diego," Tony Dunn said. "I never had any intentions ever of leaving California."

(Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru and Carolyn Cohn in London; Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Elaine Hardcastle)

(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.)
Bhartiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the farmers' protests will continue till the contentious farm laws are not repealed by the Centre.

Only the repealing of the contentious laws would ensure the end of the protests, the influential farmer leader asserted.

"The movement will continue across the country until the three black laws are not repealed and a legal guarantee on the minimum support price of crops fixed," Tikait said in a Hindi tweet.

"Bill wapsi hi ghar wapsi hai (Withdrawal of the laws will ensure return of farmers to their homes)," he said in the same tweet.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson said the movement is for safeguarding "jal, jungle and zameen" (water, forest and land).

The BKU is part of farmers collective the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which is spearheading the campaign, particularly the demonstrations at Delhi's three border points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November 2020.

Farmers are demanding that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020; be rolled back and a new law made to guarantee the minimum support price for crops.

The Centre, which has held 11 rounds of formal dialogue with farmers, has maintained that the new laws are pro-farmer, while the protesters claim they would be left at the mercy of corporations because of the laws.

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The department has initiated three digital initiatives at the inland container depot (ICD) at Tughlakabad in the national capital.

It has launched an online facility for scheduling examination of import cargo to expedite clearance of inbound shipment.

The facility is aimed at minimising the physical interface of trade with the department, the finance ministry said in a statement here.

With this, customs, CONCOR, brokers and importers will have a shared view of scheduling examination of goods on the same platform.

The ICD will also have a baggage scanner which will result in non-intrusive examination of unaccompanied baggage while ensuring swifter clearances.

This will help the customs in targeted intervention to check smuggling.

A few days earlier, an electronic tracking of containerised cargo through use of smart locks and an application built on blockchain technology was launched. This enables customs to monitor and track movement of non-duty paid goods through GPS tracking while reducing compliance burden on trade in terms of documentation.

ICD Tughlakabad has also launched customs clearance work on Sunday and all public holidays. This facility will be implemented from the coming Sunday.

ICD Tughlakabad, the second land port set up in the country after Bangalore in 1993, handles around 2,50,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) of cargo and is well connected with four full length rail lines to gateway ports such as Mumbai, Nhava Sheva, Chennai, Mundra etc.
The Union government has added more than 100 advanced technologies, including alternate fuel systems such as compressed natural gas (CNG), under the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the automobiles.

Bharat Stage VI compliant flex fuel engines, electronic control units (ECU) for safety, advanced driver assist system, e-quadricyle, among others will also be covered under the scheme.

Till now, the government has included only two-wheelers and four-wheelers under the scheme.

The scheme aims to boost manufacturing capability of the automobile sector, including the electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

In September, the Union Cabinet had approved the scheme with an outlay of Rs 25,938 crore. The scheme aims to incentivise high-value advanced automotive technology vehicles and products such as sunroofs, adaptive frontlighting, automatic braking, tyre pressure monitoring system, and collision warning systems, among others for the auto industry.

The incentive structure aims to encourage industry to make fresh investments for indigenous global supply chains of advanced automotive technology products.

The scheme for the sector is open to existing automotive companies as well as new investors who are not in the automobile or auto component manufacturing business.

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said it is thankful and compliments the Ministry of Heavy Industries for coming out with a structured list of PLI parts and procedural details in a very short time.Our preliminary observation is that the list of AAT parts is broad-based and well  structured across themes, said Rahul Bharti, chief engagement officer, Siam.

The inclusion of e-quadricyle is another highlight of the notification and set to benefit firms including Bajaj Auto, M&M.

While Bajaj Auto sells the internal combustion engine powered Qute in the export markets, M&M showed the battery operated quadri at at the last auto expo but has yet to launch it commercially.

Till now the government has included only two wheelers and four wheelers under the scheme.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's plans to blend 20% ethanol with petrol from April 2023 will help cut sugar export subsidies, Oil Secretary Tarun Kapoor told reporters on Thursday.

India on Wednesday approved a proposal to achieve 20% ethanol-blending with gasoline by 2025, five years ahead of its previous target.

Higher ethanol output will cut India's sugar production, reducing the need to give incentives for the export of the sweetener.

(This story was refiled to add source in headline)

(Reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Toby Chopra)

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Companies in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector may legally challenge the governments new law which mandates 75 per cent reservation of jobs in the private sector for locals.

We had earlier gone to the high court against this law, but the court said that it would hear the matter after the law was notified, said Manoj Tyagi, general secretary, IMT Industrial Association.

Industries and associations feel that the law will not benefit the state and will hit that are just coming out of the crippling effects of the lockdowns owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

is a highly industrialised state with a large automobile manufacturing hub, containing multiple small component manufacturers that supply to large companies like Maruti Suzuki.

Unlike the MSMEs, however, an auto major like Maruti will be much less affected by the law since the state government has said that the quota would apply only to jobs with a gross monthly salary of up to Rs 30,000. The draft bill had set the salary ceiling for the reservation at Rs 50,000.





ALSO READ: IT industry weighs options as Haryana quota law comes into force in January

Such restrictive policies are not at all welcome. However, due to our negotiations, the salary ceiling has come down. Almost all of our employees earn more than Rs 30,000. So, we are happy that the negotiations have shown some results. We will go ahead and finalise the new land where we will move within this calendar year 2021, Maruti Suzuki chairman, RC Bhargava, told Business Standard.

Bhargava said that the major reason to set up the plant in was that Marutis vendor base is situated in the state and relocating them would be difficult.

The Haryana State Employment of Local Candidates Act, 2020, lays down that private companies, societies, trusts, and partnership firms in the state which employ more than 10 people have to reserve 75 per cent of their jobs that offer a salary of 30,000 or less, for locals. Notified last week, the law will kick in from January 15, 2022.

Stressing that auto component companies will be severely hit by the law, Sunjay Kapur, chairman of auto component major Sona Comstar and president of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), said that the salary ceiling of Rs 30,000 will primarily hurt the which are just recovering from the downturn caused by the pandemic.



ALSO READ: Labouring under illusions

This is a restrictive practice which will challenge hiring of the best and skilled employees. This will also set a wrong precedent for other states. The government should find some other means to increase employment and livelihood, Kapur said.

More than 800 ACMA members are trying to find their feet after the pandemic. This law is going to seriously impact them, he added.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko threatened to shut down a key pipeline carrying Russia gas to the European Union as the bloc considers new sanctions, escalating a dispute flaring over migrants seeking to cross from his country into the EU.

European gas prices reversed earlier losses after the threat. The continent is dealing with the worst energy crisis in decades amid limited Russian supplies of gas, among other factors.

The refugee tensions on the border between and Poland -- which the EU accuses Lukashenko of instigating in retaliation for its pressure on his government over its brutal crackdown on domestic opponents -- has spiraled in recent days, with several thousand people stuck on the frontier.

The EU, together with the U. K. and U. S., is planning more sanctions on the isolated authoritarian leader, who has turned to his closest ally in Moscow for support. About 20% of Russian gas flows to EU were sent via so far this year, mainly through the Yamal-Europe pipeline.

Russia Silent

Neither the Kremlin nor Russian gas giant Gazprom commented on Lukashenkos latest ultimatum Thursday and it wasnt clear whether he had the legal authority to do it. Since tensions with the West spiked last year in the wake of his crackdown on critics after presidential elections, Lukashenko has threatened a wide range of retaliatory moves, but followed through on only a few.

Were heating Europe and they are threatening us that they will close the border, Lukashenko said at a meeting with officials. What if we cut off natural gas flows there? Therefore, I would recommend the leadership of Poland, Lithuanians and other empty-headed people to think before speaking.

Lukashenko said he asked Russia to deploy strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons to patrol his countrys border and mulled shutting down cargo transit to Europe as well as other possible measures to retaliate for any additional sanctions.

We should not be intimidated, of course, by Lukashenkos threats, EU Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said, according to Politico.

Why Turmoil in Is Spilling Over Its Borders: QuickTake

How Europe Has Become So Dependent on Putin for Gas: QuickTake

Facing the influx of refugees from the Middle East and other conflict zones on their borders with Belarus, Poland and Lithuania have demanded the EU take stronger action against Lukashenko.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, after meeting with U.

S. President Joe Biden, said Wednesday that the EU and the U. S. are preparing to penalize the regime for orchestrating a hybrid attack on the bloc.

We have to protect our democracies from this kind of cynical, geopolitical power play, she told reporters outside the White House.

Merkel Appeal

Earlier Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin brushed off a request by Chancellor to exercise his influence over Belarus in the crisis.

The bloc is discussing targeting airlines, possibly including Russian ones, in the new package, an EU official said. New penalties could be announced -- jointly with the U. S. and possibly the U. K. -- early next month, the person said.

We will widen our sanctions against Belarus, so very rapidly at the beginning of next week, there will be a widening of the sanctions against elements, von der Leyen said. As far as Im informed, the United States have prepared sanctions that will be in effect at the beginning of December.

Poland estimated that thousands of migrants may be in the forests along the border, and even more on route to the frontier area from Belaruss capital. Neighboring Lithuania, facing a similar problem, called on the United Nations to open a humanitarian corridor in Belarus.
Boeing reached a settlement with the victims' families from the March 2019 crash of one of its 737-MAX aircraft that claimed 157 lives.

In the settlement, Boeing accepted responsibility for Ethiopian Airways flight 302 losing control shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole Airport. The plane crashed into a nearby town. There were no survivors.

At the time, it was the second crash to involve a Boeing 737-MAX aircraft in six months. After the Ethiopian crash, US authorities grounded the 737-MAX until Boeing could fix the plane's faulty software.

In its settlement, Boeing admitted that its software was to blame for ET 302's loss of control and destruction, and that the 737-MAX was in an "unsafe condition" to fly. Boeing's 737-MAX were recertified to start flying again earlier this year.

The settlement does not involve monetary compensation to the families as of Wednesday, according to court records, but it does allow victims' families to pursue individual claims in US courts instead of their home country, which might be more difficult.

"This is a significant milestone for the families in their pursuit of justice against Boeing, as it will ensure they are all treated equitably and eligible to recover full damages under Illinois law while creating a pathway for them to proceed to a final resolution, whether through settlements or trial," said Robert Clifford, Steven Marks and Justin Green, the lead attorneys representing the victims, in a statement.

(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 high-profile conclave of the ruling Communist Party of (CPC) has adopted a "landmark resolution" of the party's major achievements in the last 100 years besides paving the way for a record third term for President next year.

The "landmark resolution" - the only third of its kind in the party's 100-year history - was reviewed and adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, held in Beijing from November 8 to 11, an official communique released at the end of the meeting on Thursday said.

The party is due to hold a press conference on Friday to announce further details.

Xi made an important speech at the session. The meeting also heard and discussed a work report Xi delivered on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, it said.

He also explained the draft of the resolution whose details have not yet been revealed.

The session also reviewed and passed a resolution on convening the 20th National Congress of the CPC in the second half of 2022 in Beijing, which was expected to formally endorse Xi's unprecedented third term.

Xi, 68, who holds China's all three power centres - General-Secretary of the CPC, Chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) which is the overall high command of the military, and the Presidency, is set to complete his second five-year tenure next year.

Politically, the meeting is regarded as significant for Xi who - in the last nine years of his tenure - has emerged as the most powerful leader after party founder Mao Zedong.

He is widely expected to continue for a third term unlike his predecessor, Hu Jintao, who retired after two terms, and perhaps may remain in power for life in view of a key constitutional amendment in 2018 which removed the two-term limit for the President.

He was also made core leader of the party in 2016, a status enjoyed only by Mao.

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Chinese President warned Thursday against letting tensions in the Indo-Pacific cause a relapse into a mentality.

His remarks on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum came weeks after the US, Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region which would see Australia build nuclear submarines. has harshly criticised the deal.

Xi spoke in a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at APEC, which is being hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format. Xi is scheduled to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders including US President Joe Biden on Saturday.

In his speech, Xi said attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would fail.

"The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the era," Xi said.

Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalising trade and investment.

" will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development," he said.

The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said.

In all, APEC members account for nearly 3 billion people and about 60 per cent of the world's GDP. But deep tensions run through the unlikely group of 21 nations and territories that include the US, China, Taiwan, Russia and Australia.

claims vast parts of the South China Sea and other areas and has moved to establish a military presence, building islands in some disputed areas as it asserts its historic claims.

Both Taiwan and China have applied to join a Pacific Rim trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Beijing saying it will block Taiwan's bid on the basis that the democratically governed island refuses to accept that it's part of communist-ruled China.

And it remains unclear whether all APEC members will support a bid by the US to host the 2023 round of APEC meetings.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Wednesday that APEC was founded on consensus and that there was not yet a confirmed host for 2023.

Officials say they have made significant progress during some 340 preliminary meetings leading up to this week's leaders' meeting. APEC members have agreed to reduce or eliminate many tariffs and border holdups on vaccines, masks and other medical products important for fighting the pandemic.

(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.)
China's climate envoy says and the United States have pledged to increase cooperation on climate action at U.N. talks in Glasgow.

Xie Zhenhua told reporters Wednesday that the two biggest carbon polluters would outline their efforts in a joint statement based on the guidelines of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Governments are considering calling for pulling the plug on coal power, the single biggest source of man-made greenhouse gas emissions, according to a draft deal under negotiation in U.N. climate talks.

The draft released Wednesday at the talks in Glasgow, Scotland, calls for accelerating the phasing out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels, though it sets no timeline.

The early version of the final document also expresses alarm and concern about how much Earth has already warmed and urges countries to cut carbon dioxide emissions by about half by 2030. Pledges so far from governments don't add up to that frequently stated goal.

Some nations, especially island states whose very existence is threatened by climate change, warned that the draft didn't go far enough in requiring action to limit increases in global temperatures or in helping poorer countries to pay for adapting to the warming and for losses from it.

Urging,' calling,' encouraging,' and inviting' is not the decisive language that this moment calls for, Aubrey Webson, Antigua and Barbuda's U.N. ambassador, said in a statement.

With time running out in the climate summit, a clear message had to be sent, he added: To our children, and the most vulnerable communities, that we hear you and we are taking this seriously.

Governments agreed in a landmark 2015 deal in Paris to jointly reduce emissions enough to keep the global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, with a more stringent target of trying to keep warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) preferred.

That would require a dramatic reduction in emissions from the burning of coal, oil and gas that remain the world's top source of energy despite the growth of renewables like wind and solar power. But setting deadlines for phasing out fossil fuels is highly sensitive to countries that still depend on them for economic growth, including and India, and to major exporters of coal such as Australia. The future of coal is also a hot-button issue in the United States, where a spat among Democrats has held up one of President Joe Biden's signature climate bills.

Greenpeace director Jennifer Morgan, a long-time climate talks observer, said that the call in the draft to phase out coal and subsidies for fossil fuels would be a first in a U.N. climate deal, but the lack of a timeline would limit the pledge's effectiveness.

This isn't the plan to solve the climate emergency. This won't give the kids on the streets the confidence that they'll need, Morgan said.

European Union climate chief Frans Timmermans was more upbeat about the negotiations.

Consider my sleeves rolled. We're ready and willing to make sure we deliver on the highest possible levels of ambition, leading to prompt global action, he said.

The draft is likely to change, but it doesn't yet include full agreements on the three major goals that the U.N. set going into the negotiations: for rich nations to give poorer ones $100 billion a year in climate aid, to ensure that half of that money goes to adapting to worsening global warming, and the pledge to slash global carbon emissions by 2030.

The draft acknowledges with regret that rich nations have failed to live up to the climate finance pledge. Currently they are providing around $80 billion a year, which poorer nations that need financial help both in developing green energy systems and adapting to the worst of climate change say isn't enough.

Papua New Guinea Environment Minister Wera Mori said given the lack of financial aid that his country may rethink efforts to cut logging, coal mining and even coming to the U.N. talks.

The draft says the world should try to achieve net-zero (emissions) around mid-century," a target that was endorsed by leaders of the Group of 20 biggest economies in a summit just before the Glasgow talks. That means requiring countries to pump only as much greenhouse gas into the atmosphere as can be absorbed again through natural or artificial means.

Highlighting the challenge of meeting those goals, the document expresses alarm and concern that human activities have caused around 1.1 C (2 F) of global warming to date and that impacts are already being felt in every region.

Separate draft proposals were also released on other issues being debated at the talks, including rules for carbon markets and the frequency by which countries have to report on their efforts.

The draft calls on countries that don't have national goals that are in line with the 1.5- or 2-degree limits to come back with stronger targets next year. Depending on how the language is interpreted, the provision could apply to most countries.

This is crucial language,'' World Resources Institute Climate Initiative Director David Waskow said Wednesday. Countries really are expected and are on the hook to do something in that timeframe to adjust.''



In a nod to one of the big issues for poorer countries, the draft vaguely urges developed nations to compensate developing countries for loss and damage, a phrase that some rich nations don't like. But there are no concrete financial commitments.

As the talks enter their final stage, Britain's Alok Sharma, who is chairing the negotiations, acknowledged that significant issues remain unresolved.

My big, big ask of all of you is to please come armed with the currency of compromise, he told negotiators as they prepared for another long night of talks. What we agree in Glasgow will set the future for our children and grandchildren, and I know that we will not want to fail them.

(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.)
Tesla Chief Executive Officer unloaded $5 billion of stock in the electric-car maker, shortly after restoking a social media debate over the tax treatment of billionaires shareholdings.

The worlds richest person so far has disposed of more than 4.5 million shares this week, according to regulatory filings. Those were his first sales in more than five years.

Musk, who frequently stokes controversy on Twitter, created a firestorm over the weekend with a survey asking whether he should sell part of his Tesla stake. While he portrayed his proposal as having to do with debate over billionaires avoiding taxes, the filings released Wednesday show some of the transactions were pre-arranged in mid-September -- weeks before the poll. He also didnt mention in the tweets that he has millions of stock options that must be exercised before next August, when they expire.





The poll resulted in a decisive vote for Musk to sell and sent Tesla shares down 16 per cent in the first two days of the week. The stock pared those declines Wednesday, closing up 4.3 per cent, and rose 2.5 per cent before the start of regular trading Thursday.

On Monday, Musk offloaded about $1.1 billion worth of stock to pay income taxes on equity options that he also exercised that day, two of the filings showed. On Tuesday and Wednesday, he carried out the remaining sales. The filings detailing those disposals didnt indicate that they were pre-planned.

The documents shed no light on whether Musks weekend Twitter poll had any bearing on his decision to carry out some or all of the transactions -- or whether hell keep selling until hes met the 10 per cent threshold. To get there, hed have to get rid of roughly 17 million shares, and even more if he also includes exercisable options in his total holdings.

The options Musk exercised came from a big award he received in 2012. Taxes on such transactions are usually covered by immediately disposing of some of the newly acquired shares. Earlier this year, Musk said publicly that he likely would exercise options earned from the 2012 award in the near future.
The will unveil next week its strategy for more than 40 billion euros ($45.9 billion) in technology and infrastructure spending that is a key part of the Wests response to Chinas Belt and Road program.

The EUs Global Gateway strategy will focus on digital, transport, energy and trade projects, according to a draft seen by Bloomberg. The plan is aimed at boosting Europes interests and competitiveness around the world, while also promoting sustainable environmental standards and values such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

The strategy follows a US-led agreement reached during Julys Group of Seven summit where leaders agreed to launch a global infrastructure initiative called Build Back Better World to help narrow the gaping infrastructure need in the developing world and provide a green rival to Chinas ambitious initiatives.

The Global Gateway plan will provide an umbrella brand for the already extensive EU investment in infrastructure worldwide, the document says, to allow better coordination between member states, expand cooperation with and regional partners and make funding go further.

The EU will offer 40 billion euros in guarantees from its European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus mechanism, in addition to several billion euros in grants, according to the draft. The document also notes that under the EUs current budget cycle through 2027, investments in connectivity are expected to rise.
Frederik Willem de Klerk, the former South African president who negotiated the end of apartheid with Nelson Mandela after spending years upholding the system of White minority rule, has died. He was 85.

De Klerk died at his home in Cape Town earlier on Thursday after having been diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2021.

After taking power in 1989, De Klerk removed a ban on the pro-democracy African National Congress, released Mandela from jail and managed the nations first all-race elections in 1994. He and Mandela were awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize for securing a smooth transition to democracy.

De Klerk had the courage to admit that a terrible wrong had been done to our country and people through the imposition of the system of apartheid, Mandela said in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech. He had the foresight to understand and accept that all the people of must, through negotiations and as equal participants in the process, together determine what they want to make of their future.

Born in Johannesburg on March 18, 1936, De Klerk worked as a lawyer until 1972, when he became a lawmaker for the pro-segregation National Party. Six years later, Prime Minister John Voster appointed De Klerk as minister of post and telecommunications, the first of several cabinet positions he held. During his tenure as education minister, he pushed for racial segregation in universities.

Qualified Apology

De Klerk came to power in 1989 after President Pieter Willem Botha suffered a stroke and the National Party leadership deemed him no longer fit to govern.

After negotiating an end to White minority rule, De Klerk gave a qualified apology for apartheid, admitting it was unjust and oppressive.

Like any other people in the world at any time in history, we were the products of our time and circumstances, he wrote in his 1999 autobiography The Last Trek, a New Beginning. The former government feared if apartheid was abolished our people would be swamped by the vast Black majority, and that this would inevitably lead to the extinction of our own hard-won right to national self-determination.

After the 1994 elections, the National Party joined Mandelas government, and De Klerk became the nations second deputy president. He complained of being sidelined and unjustly criticized by Mandela, and in 1996 his party pulled out of the government and became the official opposition. The following year, De Klerk quit and went on the speaking circuit.

Harsh Critic

He also started a foundation that aims to promote democracy and uphold the rights enshrined in the Constitution negotiated at the end of apartheid rule. Over the past few years, De Klerk was a vocal critic of the government, accusing it of failing to uphold the rule of law and tackle corruption.

While De Klerk was well regarded abroad, many of his Black countrymen felt he didnt take adequate responsibility for atrocities committed under his watch. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, formed to probe apartheid-era abuses, produced evidence showing De Klerk was present at a meeting of the State Security Council, where the assassination of a pro-democracy activist was authorized. De Klerk denied doing anything illegal.

Neither I, nor I am sure the great majority of my colleagues in former cabinets, were involved in or aware of the gross violation of human rights committed by some operatives, De Klerk wrote in his autobiography. We deny responsibility for actions of which we were not informed, which we would have not approved.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said hed personally told De Klerk about abuses taking place during his rule and the president couldnt possibly have been ignorant of them. The commission omitted its finding on De Klerk from its final report in 1998, after he threatened to sue to halt publication.

De Klerk was married twice and had three children. He divorced first wife, Marike, in 1997. She was strangled at her Cape Town apartment in 2001 by a security guard who worked at her apartment complex.
Group Inc. is set to plow at least $30 billion into Asian alternative assets over the next five years after revamping its operations and starting an aggressive campaign to raise outside funds in a bid to overtake investment giants such as KKR & Co. and Blackstone Inc.

In Asia, that means doubling investments to about $60 billion, betting on technology startups, real estate, consumer and renewable energy, said Stephanie Hui, the banks co-head of alternative investing in the region.

The challenge for Hui is deploying the money at a time when cashed-up rivals are bidding up valuations. Private equity firms must also navigate a Chinese regime increasingly suspicious of U.S. investments in its most-sensitive sectors, closing off once attractive targets, as well as a broad crackdown on large parts of its private sector.

Since 2003, Goldman has invested $6.3 billion in Asian growth alone, generating a realized gross return of 35% as of June, according to Hui. The top quartile of funds in Asia had a net return of a bit more than 20%, according to a Bain & Co. report.

Globally, the firm has already pulled in more than half of the $150 billion its targeting to raise for the alternatives business under a plan outlined by Chief Executive Office David Solomon in 2019. The inflows have helped swell assets under management to $416 billion, topping firms such as Carlyle Group Inc., but lagging behind KKR and Blackstone.

In an interview in Hong Kong last month, Hui offered a rare insight into how Goldmans alternative investments are decided and what changes the team is making to navigate the political tensions that have stung investors in China.

The past year has brought a blizzard of regulation in Asias largest economy. President Xi Jinpings crackdown on the private sector and push for more common prosperity has raised risks and put dominant firms under closer scrutiny, forcing Goldman to adjust its approach.

Huis team is now looking at second-tier firms with leading technology with an ambition to be sector leaders, rather than focusing on the most dominant. On top of investments in the latest enterprise software and financial services technology, it is also betting on consumer and health-care firms.

Helping Hui sift through the opportunities is a more integrated team after Solomon brought under one umbrella groups focused on private equity, credit, real estate and financial technology investing. The overhaul also included folding in the principal investment and special situations teams.

Globally, executives are now pushing to make the 3,000 investment bankers, 700 research analysts and 800 wealth managers work better on deal referrals and tending to clients. Goldman has about 160 investment professionals across private equity, credit and real estate in Asia, and may increase that number by as much as 10% next year, said Takashi Murata, who co-heads the group with Hui and is one of the founding members of the firms Asian special situations group. Thats more than Carlyles about 100 and also tops KKRs headcount of about 130, according to people familiar.

The reach sets us apart, said Hui, a Harvard-educated managing director who has spent 24 years at the bank. We simply have more people, more feet on the ground, to touch, feel and understand whats happening in the market.

Less jostling

The changes have also led to more coordination and also less jostling between the firms different dealmakers, according to Hui.

In the past, there have even been some instances where Hui only found out about investments the firm had made from news reports. After the revamp, its just one group making decisions and that clarity is extremely helpful, she said.

Hui recently tapped Goldmans 9,000-strong engineering group to assess an investment in a Chinese technology company. A team in Hong Kong specializing in robotics and artificial intelligence ran product tests on both the company and its competitors. One engineer then helped make the final pitch to the global investment committee, which green-lit the investment of tens of millions of dollars.

We have many instances where we get calls from our engineers saying this is good technology or software and we should take a look at it since it could be the next big fintech company, she said.

Goldmans alternatives group typically invests $50 million to $100 million equity in startups, building significant minority stakes via multiple rounds, with a threshold of $150 million.

Deals

Among standout deals was a recent sale of holdings in South Koreas Woowa Brothers, which generated an almost 30-fold return. Chinese trans-catheter heart valve producer Venus MedTech made it almost eight times the money.

Instead of taking tips from the engineering deck, the Woowa investment followed the more traditional route with a recommendation by Goldmans investment bankers. On the flip side, the investing team introduced Venus Medtech to the bankers, who arranged the companys Hong Kong initial public offering in December 2019 as well as a follow-on share sale in 2020.

Still, one key Goldman investment was entangled by Chinas recent crackdown on after-school tutoring. The bank was among a group of investors including Primavera Capital to put $350 million into education technology startup Zuoyebang in 2018. The company was considering U.S. initial public offering to raise $500 million, but that is now largely mothballed.

In real estate, Goldman has deployed $7.7 billion of its own capital in more than 100 deals, generating a 26% return since 2012, according to Murata. Its also targeting credit investments, such as mezzanine debt, senior loans and structured credit in Asia, he said.

The firm plans to build a bigger presence in real estate in developing markets such as China, Korea and India, according to Murata. To get closer to the ground in Korea, it recently moved the Hong Kong-based team to Seoul.

Fundraising

Goldman and its employees have invested heavily in its alternative funds over the years, contributing more than $70 billion to be the two largest investors. They make up above 20% of the investor base in some of the most established funds, said industry executive familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named discussing internal figures. That is far higher than the 8% to 10% at other global funds, the people said.

Under Solomon, the firm has pledged to turbo charge its capital raising activities, driven by new planned funds in alternative investments. To this end, Goldman has built its first-ever fundraising team in the region, moving Stuart Wrigley from Dubai to become head of alternatives capital markets & strategy. The bank has added three managing directors in the Asia alternative business since 2020, including Rajat Sood, who joined from General Atlantic in Mumbai last year. This year it relocated Nikhil Reddy from New York and Thomas Hilger from London, for real estate and private credit, respectively.

The firms network is generating deals, Hui said, with as much as half of the growth in investments in Asia referred internally during peak years.
Puneet Dikshit, a 40-year-old Indian-origin partner at management consulting giant, McKinsey & Company, has been arrested and charged with insider-trading and making illegal profits totalling over USD 450,000 in the US.

Dikshit, a partner at a global management consulting firm, has been charged with "illegally trading in advance of a corporate acquisition by one of the firm's clients in September," the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

Dikshit, who was arrested on Wednesday and charged with two counts of securities fraud - violating Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder faces up to 20 years in prison on each count, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

Representing McKinsey as partner, Dikshit learned highly confidential information concerning The Goldman Sachs Group's impending acquisition of the consumer loan fintech platform GreenSky Inc, the SEC statement said.

The SEC's complaint, filed in Federal District Court of Manhattan, alleged that in the days leading up to the acquisition announcement on September 15, 2021, Dikshit used inside information to purchase out-of-the-money GreenSky call options that were set to expire just days after the announcement. Following the takeover, GreenSky share prices jumped 44 per cent, CNBC reported.

The SEC's complaint further alleged that Dikshit violated his firm's policies by failing to pre-clear these options purchases, which he sold on the morning of the acquisition announcement for illicit profits totalling over USD 450,000.

US Attorney Damian Williams said, As alleged, Puneet Dikshit, a consulting firm partner, exploited his access to material nonpublic information about a pending acquisition of GreenSky, Inc., to trade in GreenSky call options. This breach of duties to his firm and its investment bank client and violation of the law allegedly reaped the defendant nearly half a million dollars in illegal profits. Now Puneet Dikshit has been charged with serious felonies for his alleged conduct.

"As alleged, Dikshit exploited his access to material nonpublic information regarding the acquisition of Green Sky to profit from trades he made in options markets," FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said in a statement.

"Actions like those we allege serve to undermine the public's confidence in the integrity of financial markets, and, as we have demonstrated time and again, the FBI and our partners are committed to ensuring a level playing field for all investors," Driscoll said, adding that Dikshit now faces significant federal charges, which should serve as a warning to others considering similar conduct.

Dikshit's lawyers at Kramer Levin did not immediately respond to requests for comment, CNBC reported.

"We have terminated the employment of a partner for a gross violation of our policies and code of conduct. We have zero tolerance for the appalling behavior described in the complaint, and we will continue cooperating with the authorities," McKinsey told CNBC news outlet.

"We allege that Dikshit breached duties to his employer and his client by misusing their confidential information for his own financial gain. Thanks to our trading analysis tools, we were able to move swiftly to hold him accountable for his actions and protect the fairness of our securities markets," Joseph G Sansone, chief of the SEC's Market Abuse Unit, said in a statement.

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By Joe Skipper and Steve Gorman

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - and private rocket company launched four into orbit late on Wednesday, sending a veteran spacewalker, two younger crewmates chosen for future lunar missions and a German materials scientist to the Space Station.

The SpaceX-built launch vehicle, consisting of a Crew Dragon capsule and a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, was launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 9 p.m. (0200 GMT Thursday), with a reddish fireball lighting up the night sky as its nine Merlin engines roared to life.

The liftoff of the Dragon spacecraft, named Endurance by the crew, was aired live from Cape Canaveral on TV, punctuated by the sound of cheers and applause from mission controllers. Intermittent rain and clouds over the Cape earlier in the day had cast doubt on launch prospects, but the weather cleared by flight time, said.

The mission had been confounded by a string of weather delays since its original launch window on Oct. 31. One postponement earlier this month was attributed to an astronaut's unspecified medical issue, although NASA said the problem was later resolved.

Live video footage webcast by NASA showed the four crew members strapped into the pressurized cabin of their capsule and seated calmly in their helmeted white-and-black flight suits moments after a launch that appeared to go flawlessly.

Within 10 minutes of liftoff, the rocket's upper stage had delivered the crew capsule into orbit, according to launch commentators. Meanwhile, the rocket's reusable lower stage, having detached from the rest of the spacecraft, flew itself back to Earth and successfully touched down on a landing platform floating on a drone vessel in the Atlantic.

'HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE RIDE'

As the Dragon separated from the upper rocket stage moments later, a launch engineer on the ground radioed to the crew: "Welcome to orbit. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Dragon will take you from here. Safe travels."

The three American and their European Space Agency crewmate were due to arrive at the space station, orbiting some 250 miles (400 km) above the Earth, on Thursday evening following a flight of about 22 hours.

The flight marks the third "operational" space station crew sent to orbit aboard a Dragon capsule since NASA and teamed up to resume space launches from American soil last year, following a nine-year hiatus at the end of the U.S. space shuttle program in 2011.

"Crew 3" includes two members of NASA's latest graduating class of - Raja Chari, 44, a U.S. Air Force combat jet and test pilot serving as mission commander, and mission specialist Kayla Barron, 34, a U.S. Navy submarine officer and nuclear engineer.

The team's designated pilot and second-in-command is veteran astronaut Tom Marshburn, 61, a medical doctor and former NASA flight surgeon who has logged two previous spaceflights to the space station and four spacewalks. Rounding out the crew is European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer, 51, of Germany, a materials science engineer.

BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE

Chari, Maurer and Barron were all making their debut spaceflights with Wednesday's launch, becoming the 599th, 600th and 601st humans in space.

Both Chari and Barron also are among the first group of 18 astronauts selected for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions, aimed at returning humans to the moon later this decade, over a half century after the Apollo lunar program ended.

NASA has extolled space station missions in low-Earth orbit as critical training grounds and incubators for technologies that will help achieve the goals of a sustainable lunar presence and eventual human flights to Mars.

The four astronauts were expected to have a snack and get some sleep before arriving at the space station to begin a six-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The launch stands as SpaceX's fifth crewed flight overall in 17 months, and the fourth under NASA's public-private partnership with the rocket company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of electric car maker Tesla Inc

The first was a two-astronaut trial run to the space station in May 2020, followed by the maiden NASA- operational "Crew 1" in November of that year.

"Crew 2" flew to the space station in April of this year, and just returned safely to Earth on Monday night with a splash-down capping a record 199 days in orbit.

The latest mission also follows a flurry of recent high-profile astro-tourism flights, including the SpaceX launch in September of "Inspiration 4," the first all-civilian crew sent to orbit without a professional astronaut on board.

The "Crew 3" team, on arriving at the space station, will be welcomed aboard by its three current occupants - two cosmonauts from Russia and Belarus and a U.S. astronaut who shared a Soyuz flight to orbit earlier this year.

(Reporting by Joe Skipper in Cape Canaveral, Fla.; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Cooney)

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The U. S. and Chinas climate pact late on Wednesday changed the dynamics at high-stakes COP26 talks. It was a surprise statement for two powers that have been at odds throughout the meetings and locked for years in geopolitical rivalry.

If the Carbon Dioxide goals announced by countries are achieveda big if, as they saythe world could halt global heating to 1.8 degrees Celsius above 19th century levels, according to an analysis by the research initiative Climate Action Tracker. The Energy Agency reached a similar figure.

These estimate came out before the harder-to-quantify but altogether optimistic news out of Glasgow last night. China and the U. S. broke from days of fraught negotiations with an unexpected bilateral pact to boost each countrys efforts to cut emissions. Included in the agreement are cooperation on methane, a supercharged greenhouse gas with more than 80 times the warming impact of carbon dioxide, and a promise to update national pledges this decade to meet the most ambitious climate goals.

Analyses of these kind of commitments are the speedometers for debate. One thing they have in common is a basis in announced, official climate pledges. A few years ago, a small group of investment-minded researchers noted that analyses of formal policies and pledges left open an alternative question: What would global emissions projections look like if they were based on policies that countries haven't publicly embraced yet but are likely to as pressure to act mounts? Thus the Inevitable Policy Responsea project of the UN Principles for Responsible Investmentwas born.

The IPR's premise is simple. Climate change will only worsen the weather, and nations will undergo continued pressure to tighten their UN goals, particularly in 2023 to 2025, the so-called ratchet period when pledges are expected to go lower. Investors naturally need visibility into what countries will be doing then. Where will scientific necessity and policy momentum lead the conversation? Enter IPR, which has developed scenarios that evaluate the impact of climate policies across the spectrum and their aggregate influence on the global emissions problem.

The bottom line of IPRs pre-COP26 update: Emissions by 2050 in 21 economies are projected to fall 80%, which would leave an even chance that global heating stays under 2 degrees Celsius. The changes come from many commonly recognized sectorstransportation and renewable energyand some under-recognized ones, such as a decline in land-use emissions after a 2030 world peak in meat consumption.

As the final days tick by, an IPR note posted Nov. 1 may become a prescient reminder that the forces impelling debate in Glasgow, Scotland, whatever its outcome, will grow only stronger in the months and years ahead. The COP26 first-draft final statement, released Wednesday, contained several hints of what policy acceleration might look like of the sort that the IPR has based its work on since 2018: Nations strengthen their commitments by the end of 2022; a call for a faster phase out of coal burning and fossil-fuel subsidies; and more cash for developing nations. Whether any of these make it anywhere near Glasgow's final statement remains to be seen.

Its doubtful.

The IPR is betting however that not only are these ideas not going away, pressure to implement them will grow.

Take the question of rich-nation payments to developing countries. The rich-poor divide has framed UN talks since the 1992 treaty that bore them. Rapid industrialization has complicated the traditional fight between haves and have-nots. While rich countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) bear the most historical responsibility for causing climate changethe U. S. above allthey arent expected to be the greatest source of future emissions.

With heat waves, floods and sea-level rise upon us, it's comforting to hear that if countries do boost their ambitions in the 2023-2025 period, they can monumentally reduce climate risk. What's tricky is that much of the burden to reach that figureand the much more difficult limit of 1.5 degrees Celsiuslies on rapidly growing economies with commensurately growing energy demand. China alone is responsible for more than 30% of global emissions. Half of the 10 biggest cumulative Carbon Dioxide emitters are developing countries: China (2), Russia (3), Brazil (4), Indonesia (5) and India (7). China may overtake the U. S. by mid-century. That means some of the countries that already need the most aid must carry the greatest weight.

IPRs 1.5 degrees Celsius scenario is the only one granular enough to work as a policy roadmap, the authors say. Earlier this month they ranked 10 policies that would do the most to close the gap between their current forecast of 1.8 degrees Celsius (dependent on policy uptake in the next couple of years) and the safer and extremely difficult 1.5 degrees Celsius policy scenario. These policies include coal phase-outs in China, India and Indonesia; ending deforestation and promoting nature-based solutions; emissions-free industries in China, India, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Southeast Asia; all clean power in MENA; and fossil-fueled transportation phase-out in China.

That means the most important question after the U. S.-China agreement is how it translates into action.

I wouldnt call it a game changer, but its a significant statement, said Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, the Belgian climatologist who served as vice-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Its another set of promises made here, and the atmosphere only knows real emissions, or rather real emission reductions. We need to remain cautious and see how all these good intentions materialize.
Non-banking financial company has filed preliminary papers with capital regulator to raise up to Rs 2,752 crore through an

The IPO is an entirely an offer for sale (OFS) by existing shareholders and promoter group entities, according to the draft red herring prospectus (DRHP).

The NBFC is backed investors like TPG, Matrix Partners, Norwest Ventures, Sequoia and KKR.

The OFS will see sale of shares to the tune of Rs 257.10 crore by SCI Investments V, Rs 568.92 crore by Matrix Partners India Investment Holdings II LLC, Rs 9.56 crore by Matrix Partners India Investments II Extension LLC, Rs 385.65 crore by Norwest Venture Partners X- Mauritius, Rs 1,349.78 crore by TPG Asia VII SF Pte Ltd and Rs 180.93 crore by promoter group entities.

At present, TPG Asia holds 20.99 per cent stake, Matrix Partners owns over 14 per cent, Norwest Venture has 10.22 per cent stake and SCI Investments holds 8.83 per cent stake in the company. ICICI Securities, Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, Edelweiss Financial Services and Nomura Financial Advisory and Securities (India) Private Limited are the book running lead managers to the issue.

Chennai-headquartered, Five Star Business Finance, provides secured business loans to micro-entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals, each of whom is largely excluded by traditional financing institutions.

It has a strong presence in south India, and all loans are secured by the borrowers' property, predominantly being self-occupied residential property.

The NBFC commenced operations in 1984, with a focus on consumer loans and vehicle finance and it changed its business approach in 2005 with a focus on small business loan lending in urban, semi urban as well as rural areas with growth potential.

Five Star has grown from 173 branches in 2019 to 268 branches as on September 2021 across 126 districts in eight states and one union territory. Besides, live accounts grew from 15,803 in fiscal 2017 to 1.92 lakh as of September, 2021.

Its assets under management (AUM) grew 86 per cent CAGR over fiscal 2016-21. The asset base stood at Rs 4,445 crore as of March, 2021, compared to Rs 3,892 crore as of March, 2020.

As of March 2021, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana accounted for 95 per cent of the overall portfolio.

The NBFC posted a 34 per cent growth in total income at Rs 1,051 crore in FY21 from Rs 787 crore in FY20, while its net profit jumped 37 per cent to Rs 359 crore in FY21 from Rs 262 crore in FY20. It also recorded a profit after tax (PAT) of Rs 218 crore for the first half of the current financial year.

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The initial public offer of Latent View Analytics Limited was subscribed 23.22 times on day two of subscription on Thursday.

The Rs 600-crore received bids for 40,69,77,264 shares against 1,75,25,703 shares on offer, according to NSE data.

Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) category received 69.56 times subscription, non-institutional investors, 33.29 times, and Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) 3.51 times.

The three-day initial public offer aggregating up to Rs 600 crore has a fresh issue of up to Rs 474 crore and an offer for sale of up to Rs 126 crore.

The price range for Latent View's offer is Rs 190-197 per share.

Latent View Analytics raised Rs 267 crore from anchor investors.

Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used for funding inorganic growth initiatives, working capital requirements of the subsidiary LatentView Analytics Corporation, and investment in subsidiaries to augment their capital base for future growth and general corporate purposes.

The company provides services ranging from data and analytics consulting to business analytics and insights, advanced predictive analytics, data engineering, and digital solutions.

It engages and provides services to blue-chip companies in technology, BFSI, CPG & retail, industrials, and other industries, and has worked with over 30 Fortune 500 companies in the last three fiscals.

The company serves clients across countries in the United States, Europe, and Asia through its subsidiaries in the United States, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, and Singapore, and its sales offices in San Jose, London, and Singapore. Axis Capital, ICICI Securities, and Haitong Securities India are the managers of the offer.

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Shares of Monte Carlo Fashions were locked at the 20 per cent upper circuit at Rs 523.05, also its 52-week high on the BSE after the company posted robust set of numbers. The company's net profit jumped nearly eight-fold to Rs 33.91 crore in the September quarter (Q2FY22). The company manufacturing and trading of textile garments had profit of Rs 4.43 crore in Q2FY21. It had posted net loss of Rs 10.18 crore in June quarter (Q1FY22).

The companys revenue from operations more-than-doubled or up 142 per cent year on year at Rs 238 crore from Rs 98.25 crore in a year ago quarter. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (ebitda) margin improved 686 basis point to 22.1 per cent from 15.2 per cent in previous year quarter.

During the quarter the company recorded strong volume growth, mainly on account of opening up of economy on the back of reduction in COVID 19 cases and removal of lockdown restrictions in most of the geographies.

The company has strengthened its retail presence in India with the opening of 12 new EBOs during Q2FY22; with this the company has achieved a milestone of 300 EBOs across 20 states and 4 union territories in India. Apart from thrust on retail network expansion, the company also accelerated its digital and omni channels during the quarter.

Meanwhile, the board has approved incorporation of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company. The incorporation of the wholly-owned subsidiary will leverage the growth opportunities in the Home Textiles i.e. Rugs and Mink Blanket Fabric, and will help the company in becoming more agile and customer- focused.

Monte Carlo is a leading branded apparel company with a comprehensive range of woollens, cottons, cotton blended, knitted and woven apparels for Men, Women and Kids under the umbrella brand Monte Carlo.

During the last year, the lockdown restrictions caused a slump in retail sales of apparel for around 4-5 months. Moreover, the festive and wedding season sales were also deeply impacted.

Till 01:57 pm; a combined 679,000 shares had changing hands and there were pending buy orders for 118,000 shares on the NSE and BSE. In comparison, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.86 per cent at 59,835 points. The stock had hit a record high of Rs 664 on January 10, 2018.
regulator has amended rules to introduce silver exchange traded funds, a move that will expand the options available for investing in commodities through stock exchanges.

Currently, Indian mutual funds are allowed to launch ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) tracking gold.

The watchdog has amended the rules to enable the introduction of silver ETFs, according to a notification issued on Tuesday.

said that a silver ETF scheme means a mutual fund scheme that invests primarily in silver or silver-related instruments which have silver as the underlying product.

"Mutual fund schemes investing in exchange traded commodity derivatives may hold the underlying goods in case of physical settlement of such contracts," the regulator said.

In case of a silver ETF scheme, the assets of the scheme being silver or silver-related instruments may be kept in the custody of a custodian registered with

Silver ETF schemes will be subject to certain investment restrictions. The funds of any such scheme will be invested only in silver or silver-related instruments in accordance with its investment objective and the mutual fund may invest such funds in short-term deposits of scheduled commercial banks.

Hemen Bhatia, Deputy Head - ETF at Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd said, will provide an additional option to investors to invest in commodity as an asset class. "Additionally, it will help investors to diversify their portfolio as part of their asset allocation, due to low correlation with other asset classes."



With regard to value, Sebi said that silver held by a silver ETF scheme will be valued at the AM fixing price of London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) in US dollars per troy ounce for silver having a fineness of 999.0 parts per thousand.

This is subject to adjustment for conversion to metric measure as per standard conversion rates and adjustment for conversion of US dollars into Indian rupees as per the RBI reference rate declared by the Foreign Exchange Dealers Association of India (FEDAI) along with transportation charges and notional customs duty and other taxes.

Like in the case of gold ETFs, too will pass on the benefits of price efficiency, liquidity and convenience to retail investors, experts said.

In a separate notification, the regulator has amended the portfolio management rules to facilitate co-investment by investors of Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) through the portfolio management route.

The portfolio manager providing co-investment services to investors of AIFs will invest 100 per cent of the assets under their management in unlisted securities and will be exempted from certain requirements under portfolio managers rules, including minimum investment amount, and minimum net worth.

Co-investment portfolio manager means a portfolio manager who is a manager of a category I or category II AIF, provides services only to the investors of such category of AIFs and makes investment only in unlisted securities of investee companies where such category I or category II AIFs make investments.

Sebi said that portfolio manager may designate a member of the key investment team of the manager as the principal officer.

The new rules will come into effect from December 9, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said.

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As many as 14 people have lost their lives in due to heavy rains, said Kumar Jayanth, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department on Thursday.

"Till now, 14 people have lost their lives in the state due to heavy rains. Due to overnight rainfall, there is in parts of today. 13 subways waterlogged will be cleared, 160 fallen trees removed. In last four days, almost 20 lakh people given food packets in Chennai," said Kumar Jayanth.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that extremely heavy to heavy is likely to occur in six districts of on Thursday.

"The Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal lies about 140 km southeast of The Depression will cross between north and south around Chennai by Thursday evening," IMD Chennai's Deputy Director-General S. Balachandran told ANI.

He further said that strong winds will prevail and "extremely heavy to heavy likely to occur in six districts".

Heavy rains continued to lash Chennai and its nearby areas on Thursday morning, affecting vehicular movement and causing in several parts of the city including the areas of Nungambakkam, Sterling road, KMC Hospital road.

The office of Divisional Railway Manager of Southern Railway, Chennai on Thursday said that the majority of the services from MAS to Tiruvallur had been suspended due to of tracks at Avadi and Ambattur.

"Dear passengers, due to waterlogging of tracks at Avadi and Ambattur, most of the services from MAS to Tiruvallur have been suspended. There are delays on the north side towards Gummidipoondi due to heavy rains between Tiruvottiyur and Korukkupet. Please plan travel accordingly," said DRM, Chennai.

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Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) reported 4.6% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 478.89 crore on a 8.5% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 3,163.65 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21.

On the segmental front, India revenue was Rs 1,838.14 crore (up 9.5% YoY), Indonesia revenue was Rs 444.93 crore (down 0.2% YoY), Africa revenue was Rs 748.54 crore (up 14.8% YoY) and revenue from Others was Rs 173.72 crore (down 4.2% YoY) in the second quarter.

With respect to India business, Godrej Consumer said that the Home Care category saw a steady growth of 7%. The company delivered single-digit growth in Household Insecticides. Growth was mixed driven by seasonality during the quarter. Air Fresheners and Fabric care continued to see gradual recovery and grew in double-digits.

The Personal Care category grew by 12%. Personal Wash & Hygiene maintained its growth momentum, delivering double-digit sales growth (2-year CAGR was also in double-digits). The company continued to gain market share, led by micromarketing initiatives to fuel growth. It is currently navigating high input costs through calibrated price increases.

GCPL's Indonesia business delivered a soft performance with a sales decline of 2% in constant currency terms. The economy is witnessing gradual recovery. The company continues to see strong traction in Hygiene. EBITDA margins expanded by 60 bps year-on-year.

GCPL's Africa, USA and Middle East cluster delivered a broad based double-digit sales growth of 16% in constant currency terms (2-year CAGR 13%). EBITDA margins increased by 50 bps yearon-year, driven by scale leverage and cost-saving initiatives.

Total expenses rose 11% YoY to Rs 2,579.45 crore during the quarter.

Profit before tax in Q2 FY22 stood at Rs 605.61 crore, up by 0.2% from Rs 604.32 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21.

Nisaba Godrej, Executive Chairperson, GCPL, said: We have delivered steady sales growth. Consolidated sales grew by 9% and EBITDA declined by 1%. We continued our growth momentum and delivered another quarter of double-digit 2-year CAGR of 10%.

Going forward, we will continue to focus our efforts where the demand is in Home Care and Personal Care - in Household Insecticides, Personal Wash & Hygiene, and Hair Care. We remain focused on expanding our total addressable market. We have a robust pipeline of consumer-centric innovations and are building out full portfolios across price points. To support this, we are strengthening our supply chain operations and ramping up new capabilities and channels in digital, e-commerce and chemists.

I am very excited that Sudhir Sitapati has taken over as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GCPL and I look forward to the leadership and growth he will bring along with our wonderful GCPL team."

Godrej Consumer Products is an Indian consumer goods company. The company's products include soap, hair colourants, toiletries and liquid detergents.

The scrip fell 3.08% to currently trade at Rs 947 on the BSE.

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Page Industries reported 45% growth in net profit to Rs 160.5 crore on a 46% increase in revenue to Rs 1,084 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21.

EBITDA improved by 41% to Rs 233.4 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 165.4 crore in Q2 FY21. profit before tax in Q2 FY22 stood at Rs 214.8 crore, up by 47% from Rs 145.9 crore in Q2 FY21.

Cash and cash equivalents were at Rs 533.3 crore, up 33 % YoY. Liquidity continues to remain strong with robust cash flow management.

Sunder Genomal, Managing Director, said: I am pleased to share that the sales momentum has picked up significantly after the setbacks of the global pandemic. We saw increased momentum in sales across all our product categories backed by expansion in our portfolio and existing network.

E-commerce continues to witness an increasing trend and our investments in warehousing, technology and logistics support helped not only in strong execution but also on delivering on profitable growth."

Page Industries is an Indian manufacturer and retailer of innerwear, loungewear and socks. It is the exclusive licensee of JOCKEY International Inc. (USA) for manufacture, distribution and marketing of the JOCKEY brand in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UAE. Page Industries is also the exclusive licensee of Speedo International for the manufacture, marketing and distribution of the Speedo brand in India.

The scrip shed 0.18% to currently trade at Rs 39693.85 on the BSE.

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Reliance Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 2551.8, up 0.07% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 28.88% in last one year as compared to a 40.65% jump in NIFTY and a 51.53% jump in the Nifty Energy.

Reliance Industries Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 2551.8, up 0.07% on the day as on 12:49 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.93% on the day, quoting at 17850.05. The Sensex is at 59849.56, down 0.83%. Reliance Industries Ltd has slipped around 4.35% in last one month.

Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Reliance Industries Ltd is a constituent, has slipped around 1.69% in last one month and is currently quoting at 24041.3, down 0.77% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 29.78 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 55.21 lakh shares in last one month.

The benchmark November futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 2558.45, up 0.29% on the day. Reliance Industries Ltd is up 28.88% in last one year as compared to a 40.65% jump in NIFTY and a 51.53% jump in the Nifty Energy index.

The PE of the stock is 47.31 based on TTM earnings ending September 21.

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The issue received bids for 6.39 crore shares as against 96.63 lakh shares on offer.

The initial public offer (IPO) of Sapphire Foods India received bids for over 6,39,45,000 shares as against 96,63,468 shares on offer, according to stock exchange data at 17:00 IST today. The issue was subscribed 6.62 times.

The IPO opened for bidding on 9 November and it will close today, 11 November. The price band is set at Rs 1120 to Rs 1180.

Ahead of the IPO, Sapphire Foods finalized allocation of 79,06,473 equity shares to anchor investors at Rs 1,180 per equity share, aggregating to Rs 932.96 crore.

The IPO is a complete offer for sale of shares worth Rs 2,073.25 crore by existing shareholders - Sapphire Foods Mauritius, QSR Management Trust, WWD Ruby, Amethyst, AAJV Investment Trust, Edelweiss Crossover Opportunities Fund and Edelweiss Crossover Opportunities Fund- Series II.

The company will not directly receive any proceeds from the offer, and all the offer proceeds will be received by the selling shareholders, in proportion to the offered shares sold by them.

The promoters of the company are Ravi Sapphire Foods Mauritius and QSR Management Trust.

The promoters and promoter group held an aggregate of 38,173,680 equity shares, aggregating to 60.08% of the pre-offer issued and paid-up equity share capital. The post IPO shareholding for the same is expected to be around 49.97%.

Sapphire Foods is one of YUM's franchisee operators in the Indian subcontinent. The company is also Sri Lanka's largest international QSR chain in terms of revenue for the financial year 2021 as also number of restaurants operated as of 31 March 2021. As of 30 June 2021, company owned and operated 209 KFC restaurants in India and the Maldives, 239 Pizza Hut restaurants in India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, and 2 Taco Bell restaurants in Sri Lanka.

The company reported a net loss of Rs 26.09 crore and sales of Rs 303.05 crore in the three months ended on 30 June 2021.

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If President Joe Biden has his way, the US will have as head of the Office of Comptroller of Currency (OCC) a lady who intends to change the very nature of banking. The US has multiple regulators for banking. The OCC is, perhaps, the most important one.

Consequent to the global crisis, the pendulum has swung in the US away from the market and towards a greater role for regulation and state intervention. That Saule Omarova, a law professor at Cornell University, has even been nominated for the post of OCC is evidence of such a swing. Ms Omarova belongs to the school that believes ...
By all accounts, matters relating to policy should be pandemic-oriented in the current situation. Uddalok Bhattacharya sums up

Employed vs jobless, formal vs informal, urban vs rural  the pandemic has exacerbated the divide with lasting consequences for the economy. Shankar Acharya explains. Read it here

Kanika Datta gives a comparison between Gurugram and Kolkata from the standpoint of the labour policies of the two state governments the cities are located in. Read it here

Our edit says: Ways must be explored to ensure reasonable returns to agriculture.

Read it here
Rejecting the Punjab government resolution moved in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha today against the proposed move of the centre to extend the operational jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km, former Chief Minister asked the state government not to politicise the issue of security for petty partisan ends and motives.

"The operational jurisdiction of the BSF concerns security and not law and order in the state, which the current powers that be in Punjab are apparently not able to understand," he remarked in a statement issued here today.

Singh said that it was sad that the government was trying to politicize an issue, which concerns security and concerns all border states including Punjab.

He pointed out that it is not only Punjab but the states like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and others where the BSF jurisdiction is 50 kilometres inside the international border.

The former Chief Minister added that Pakistan is using sophisticated technology and highly improvised drones with a range of as much as 30 kilometres, so it is important that the BSF gets more operational jurisdiction.

"Extending the operational jurisdiction of the BSF neither infringes upon the federal authority of the state, nor questions the competence of the state police in maintaining law and order, as some vested political interests are trying to make out," he said.

Singh also made it clear that there is a huge difference between law and order and national security.

"Unfortunately people playing up the issue are unable to make out the difference between the law and order and the national security," he said adding, "BSF like Punjab Police is our own force and not any external or foreign force coming to occupy our land."

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday moved a resolution in Vidhan Sabha's special session, demanding the withdrawal of the Union Home Ministry's directive that increases the Border Security Force's (BSF) jurisdiction from 15km to 50km in the state.

Randhawa said that the decision of extending the jurisdiction of BSF is an expression of distrust towards the State Police and the People of Punjab.

The Centre had earlier in October empowered the Border Security Force (BSF) to conduct searches, arrest suspects and make seizures up to an area of 50 km inside Indian territory from the International Border (IB) along India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders.

The BSF, which was only empowered to take action up to 15 kilometres in the states of Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam, has now been authorised to extend its jurisdiction up to 50 km without any hurdle or permission either from central or state governments.

However, its jurisdiction has been cut short by 20 km in the five northeastern states-- Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya-- where it had jurisdiction up to 80 km. Similarly in Gujarat, the BSF's jurisdiction has been curtailed from 80 to 50 km. In Rajasthan, the BSF's area of jurisdiction will remain the same at 50 km.

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A delegation of ASHA workers met general secretary Vadra here on Thursday and apprised her of their problems related to honorarium and service conditions.

The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers had tried to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his recent visit to Shahjahanpur, but they were roughed up by police, a spokesman said.

The ASHA workers met Priyanka Gandhi, who arrived in the state capital Thursday morning, and told her about the issues faced by them, including those related to their wages and service conditions, he said.

They also showed Gandhi the injuries sustained by them in Shahjahanpur, the spokesman said.

The general secretary had on Wednesday accused the government of "insulting" the work done by ASHA workers, and promised an honorarium of Rs 10,000 per month for ASHA and Anganwadi workers if her party was voted to power in the assembly polls next year.

Taking to Twitter, she had also shared a purported video of the alleged "assault" by police on the ASHA workers in Shahjahanpur.

"Every assault on the ASHA sisters by the UP government is an insult to the work done by them. My ASHA sisters have given their services diligently in coronavirus times and on other occasions. Honorarium is their right. It is the duty of the government to listen to them," Gandhi had tweeted in Hindi.

"ASHA sisters deserve respect and I am with them in this fight," she said.

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): SVKM's NMIMS' School of Business Management (SBM), recognised as one of India's top management schools, invites applications for its MBA in Human Resource (HR), considered among the best in its category in the nation.

The carefully-designed curriculum is reviewed annually with inputs from industry, alumni and academia to equip students with competencies needed for the VUCA world.

The program structure:

Courses with end term: Focus on knowledge (primary) and skill building

Courses with internal continuous assessment: Equal focus on knowledge and skill building

Workshops: Primary focus on skill building

The industry-oriented pedagogy combines rigorous academic coursework with workshops, guest sessions and field assignments. The program has achieved full placements during campus recruitments. For the MBA HR program, the highest package offered was INR 21 LPA. The institution proved its pedagogical credentials with approximately 25% of the students securing PPOs for their brilliant performances in the summer internship and competitions.

The course covers Design Thinking, Business Anthropology, Ethical dilemmas in business Talent Management, Employee rewards and recognitions, Negotiations, leadership and team effectiveness, Compensation Management and Emotional Intelligence which give students right exposure to tackle complex business scenarios.

The curriculum also includes courses and workshops on People Analytics, Competency Mapping, Negotiation skills, Business research etc. The curriculum includes 38 courses and 15 workshops spread over six trimesters. It focuses on building business acuity, harnessing technology for high impact organizations, developing research driven business solutions, and creating sociological, anthropological, psychological, economics and global outlook while keeping the changing nature of workforce and emergence of gig economy in mind.

To meet the demand for analytics and technology-proficient HR professionals, the course work lays an enhanced focus on data and analytics. The program includes 8-10 weeks of summer internship, Business Research Workshops and Dissertation to enhance skills of opportunity recognition, problem identification and solving, critical thinking and ability to work independently as well as in teams.

Students get complete acquaintance about the industry focused curriculum through courses and guest lectures from distinguished professionals from the industry.

HR professionals are now playing a vital role in the post-pandemic era. With a blended work culture, remote working and globalisation HR professionals are in demand.

With the economy expected to recover in the coming months, recruiters are looking for HR professionals with proficiency in cognitive skills like command over digital tools, critical thinking, adaptability, flexibility, with the emotional intelligence required for collaborations and team management. The current placement trends indicate a high demand for HR professionals who can blend digital tools with a strategic approach while nurturing a collaborative approach.

Elaborating on the role of HR leaders, Dr. Prashant Mishra, Dean, School of Business Management, SVKM's NMIMS, said, "The role of HR leaders has become all the more critical for enterprises. From hybrid working models, rapid scaling up of work forces, to compensation models in an era of Unicorns. Our HR-MBA program has gained its reputation as the best in the country because of our dedication to guiding future leaders who can read the pulse of the people. Thanks to our comprehensive program, we are proud of our graduates who have gone on to become HR leaders in top companies across India and abroad."

Launched in 2011, the aim of the program is to develop professionals with a strong grounding in the HR domain which is aligned with the overall business strategy. One of the distinguishing features of the MBA-HR is the multi-phased collaboration between academicians and the industry which extends from curriculum development, partnering for case writing to collaborations on capstone projects. The faculty is a mix of academicians with a strong background in research as well as HR professionals, industry experts, CHROs (Chief Human Resources Officers) and CEOs (Chief Executive Officers).

Speaking on the program Dr. Hema Bajaj - Program Chair MBA HR and Behavioural sciences. The program has now completed 10 years and we have done complete review of the program. This has been done over a period of 7 months with extensive consultation with industry, faculty, students and alumni. The program has been benchmarked amongst the best from Indian and foreign institutes. The focus has been on skills and knowledge building through courses and workshops in areas like competency mapping, design thinking, emerging technology, people analytics and negotiation skills.

Eligibility: To apply students must have a Bachelor's Degree in any discipline from a recognized University with minimum 50% marks in the aggregate.

Admission Procedure:

Step 1: Register for NMAT by GMAC

Step 2: Register and apply for NMIMS MBA at (https://nmat.nmims.edu/?utm_source=NewsvoirPR & utm_medium=link & utm_campaign=PR) Last day to apply is either before the NMAT by GMAC first exam attempt date.

Note - Important changes introduced by NMIMS for MBA Admissions 2022

NMIMS accepts score of the first NMAT examination attempted by the candidate

Apply for NMIMS before your scheduled NMATbyGMAC examination.

Accreditation: SBM has the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation, which is known as the longest-standing and most prestigious professional accreditation in business education. It has NAAC accreditation with Grade A+ (3.59 CGPA), Mumbai Campus and is recognized as Category-I University by MHRD/UGC Grant of Graded Autonomy Regulation, 2018.

SBM of SVKM's NMIMS, Deemed-to-be-University, is one of India's leading business schools with a legacy of world-renowned faculty and an excellent placement program. NMIMS which began as a business school 40 years ago, is known for its trailblazing curriculum. The school has consistently ranked among the top 10 B-Schools in the country since 1998, in various such published surveys.

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) owns and administers the NMAT by GMAC exam. The NMAT by GMAC is accepted by 38 leading institutions in India for securing admissions to their flagship MBA and other management programs in India. Besides India, the NMAT by GMAC exam today is delivered across 12 countries namely, South Africa, Philippines, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Botswana, Nepal, Sri Lanka, UAE, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia.

GMAC has two types of testing modes for the exam. One is online proctored exam that can be taken from home and the second is the centre-based online exam. Candidates have the option to take the test either at test centre that follows all the social distancing protocols or take the online proctored exam from the comfort of their homes.

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Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], November 11 (ANI/BusinessWire India): India's Mutual Funds and Life Insurance sectors offer better digital customer experience today compared to other verticals in the country's BFSI industry, according to Talisma CustoMirror Survey 2021.

While E-mail support was provided in 93% of the cases, the Banking sector contributed to 7% with no email support for new customers.

Talisma CustoMirror Survey 2021, the benchmarking study on digital acceleration in India's BFSI sector released today aims to provide insights into how new customers access and interact with brands in India. The study brings out significant differences in approach across verticals in BFSI and how this impacts new customers.

Customer experience is a critical indicator of whether they will do business with a brand repetitively and advocate on their behalf. Talisma CustoMirror acts as a definitive guide on how brands can accelerate their digital journey towards superior customer experience.

Key Findings

Chat support was found in only 34% of the companies

While email support was provided in 93% cases, the banking sector contributed to the remaining 7% with no email support for prospective customers

100% of Life Insurance companies follow-up with prospective customers for sales

Chat, Facebook, WhatsApp enabled but only to collect customer data

38% of Banks do not support phone services for new customers. Only existing customers with bank details can reach phone service

44 companies do not have chat service, 22 out of 44 companies are integrated with bot on their portal and majority of these are from Life Insurance & Mutual Fund verticals.

13/67 companies displayed omni-presence between bot and CC Agent. This was mainly in Business vertical such as Brokerages, GI, LI, & MF.

The detailed report helps identify brands into 4 categories - Pioneers, Followers, Starters and Latecomers - based on the Acceleration Quotient (AQ) Index and allows for an understanding of a digital acceleration strategy for each category. Acceleration Quotient is an index to measure company's ability to build superior digital customer experience based on multiple factors including channel presence, response promptness, response time and validity of response.

"Technology has enabled customers to be in charge of the whole buying process, displacing the brands from that position. The present-day customer expects brand experiences to be synced at all primary touch points. Hence, companies must actively take an omnichannel approach and allow for scalability across existing and new channels. While the CustoMirror report may be used by businesses to identify customer experience successes and challenges, brands may use it to improve their performance and create a more positive experience for the customer. I am certain that these steps can translate into higher brand recall and increased lead conversions," said Raj Mruthyunjayappa, MD - Talisma Corporation.

Methodology

Talisma commissioned an independent research company to conduct a mystery shopper style audit of 67 brands in the BFSI industry in India, across communication channels from the perspective of a new customer.

The team of researchers contacted each brand to create a new account via each of the 6 channels identified and recorded individual responses as well as interactions. The research team also tracked the conversations across channels to measure omni channel presence and capabilities.

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Gurugram (Haryana) [India], November 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): M3M, India's leading real estate developer, has registered phenomenal success through its new project - M3M Soulitude.

Within the first week of launch of the project the Company has registered a robust sales of over Rs. 1000 crore.

Speaking on the announcement, Pankaj Bansal, Director, M3M India said, "We are quite pleased with the response we have received for our M3M Soulitude project. Within the first week itself we have crossed Rs. 1000 crore sales.

The project will have 2 BHK and 3 BHK accommodation, with an average size of 1100 square feet and 1400 square feet respectively. These units are priced between Rs. 70-90 lakhs. The Company aims to deliver the project by 2023. M3M Soulitude project is located at sector 89 at NPR and offers best of both the worlds-advantage of low rise and convenience, security and amenities of a condominium."

In the first phase, M3M India has come up with 2 BHK and 3 BHK accommodation with features like landscaped greens, jogging tracks and other amenities, including dedicated utility space - which acts as a basement; elevated pathways, and landscaping at top level, which acts as one's terrace. A world class Clubhouse offers all the recreational facilities including a temperature-controlled pool.

The project's proximity to Dwarka Expressway, CPR and NH8 has also been the catalyst towards attracting the attention of prospective homebuyers.

"M3M India has identified buyers' need for low rise residential spaces that address their aspirational lifestyle. M3M Soulitude is perfectly in tune with the requirements of today's perceptive customers who are looking for low density residential space, amenity rich accommodation, comfort and security under one roof," he added.

The Hon'ble Union Minister for Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari's announcement of the Dwarka Expressway completion by early 2023 has given the much required impetus to NPR. The NPR has bolstered its position as the most sought-after location in NCR, owing to large infrastructure development, excellent connectivity and vibrant social infrastructure.

Additionally, he said, "M3M India has delivered ten key residential and commercial projects in the last 6 months. This achievement reinstates our commitment towards timely delivery of projects and positions M3M India as a trusted developer, amongst both customers and investors. M3M India is also aggressively working towards reducing the debt liabilities. The Company has repaid a loan of Rs. 418 crore in Q4 FY 2020-21 ahead of its target of 400 crore. The Company is confident of clearing the balance liabilities by March 2022. In keeping with the company's aggressive growth plan in different segments - residential, commercial and retail, we are looking forward to reducing our debt by nearly Rs. 500 crore by the end of FY 2022."

M3M India has seen a meteoric rise in a short span of a decade. With strategic customer centric campaigns and timely delivery of projects, the Company has grown from strength to strength. In the last six months, April-September 2021, the Company has clocked sales of Rs. 3034 crore which includes under-construction residential sales of Rs. 1450 crore, under-construction commercial sales of Rs. 835 crore and delivered projects sales of Rs. 749 crore.

M3M India is the no.1 developer in North India & no. 2 in India, in terms of sales. The group has also come up with North India's first and only Trump Towers.

M3M India had envisioned reimagining the luxury real estate scenario with the help of competent real estate experts and today the group has a robust portfolio of 39 projects out of which 27 projects have been delivered despite market upheavals. M3M has been the only developer to deliver 15 projects in a short span of a year (July 2020-August 2021).

With a prime land bank of 2200 acres, it has established itself as one of the largest real estate conglomerates across the country. The brand achieved Rs. 4,600 crore worth of sales in the last financial year.

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New Delhi [India], November 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): "Khadi is the fabric of unity from the holy land of India, having the potential to become the market leader in high fashion and lifestyle for the world," says the Founder and Creative Director of WARDAN, Wardan Chandra Basu, 26, an alumnus of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi.

Basu spent 4 years in NIFT Delhi studying Fashion Design with a vision to merge design aesthetics with business. In Basu's words, "I learnt a great deal about design and aesthetics from Dr. Purva Khurana and the sense of Business model from Dr. Amandeep Grover. Since then, I have always wanted to find a way to bring them together." Hence, since his second year, 2015, Basu introduced himself to the world of entrepreneurship and was one of the top 5 contestants in NIFT-HG Startup Competition in 2018. He kept getting mentored on startups by Harish Gupta, CEO, Fashion Learning Resources, even after the competition.

Graduated with the Most Creative and Innovative Design Collection in 2018 for the collection ZERO, based on Luxury in craft sector, Basu owes his success and foundation to his mindset inspired by his long list of influential personalities across the globe. He also bagged the first position in International Student Design Competition Award in the International Conference held in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in 2018 hosted by NIFT.

Basu started his journey towards his dream by setting up a sampling unit, OFFERING DREAMS in 2020 with Shahzad Salmani, who later became the HOD of Products and Services at WARDAN.

Basu's progressive business model led him to subsequently open the first Design Studio of WARDAN along with a sampling workshop in Fashion Street, Shahpur Jat, New Delhi on 16th April, 2021 for the operations of WARDAN.

After getting the extravagant response both from the Private and Government sector for his first collection, SWADES, showcased at Couture Runway Week, Basu is now looking forward to unleashing the potential of the rich fabric, Khadi. SWADES consisted of premium garments having modern silhouettes made in Khadi presented in an aesthetic way focusing on comfort and quality which was never seen before in the Fashion Industry.

SWADES has shown that it's possible to have various tuxedos, jackets, blazers, coats, shirts, sweatshirts, corsets and many more made in Khadi.

In records of recent events, taking the high road in order to take Khadi into high-end fashion, the company is moving towards its online and offline stores soon.

WARDAN is a high fashion company focusing on quality and comfort with modern aesthetics. Specialized in both Menswear and Womenswear, the company intends to give a new direction to the fashion and lifestyle ecosystem with a mission to embody a team of creative enthusiasts who are ready to invigorate the current fashion that exists.

"Khadi has always been sidelined by the younger generation, but the rise of Khadi in the premium sector will give a boost to the vision of reviving the Khadi Spirit in the country," says Basu.

The Prime Minister's passion for Charkha is a well known fact for all of us.

Keeping this Khadi Spirit alive, WARDAN aims to act as a bridge between the two sectors on the basis of economy.

Khadi is not just a fabric, it is a national heritage that we must treasure.

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Dubai [UAE], November 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): Rajasthan is geared up to offer big-bang investment opportunities to the global investors during the State's week (November 12-18) at EXPO2020 India Pavilion in Dubai.

The sectors in which the state is looking at major investments include chemicals & petrochemicals, fintech, automobile & electric vehicles, renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, tourism, MSMEs, etc. A number of MoUs are slated to be signed during the course of Rajasthan week at the India Pavilion.

A high-level delegation from Rajasthan government will be in Dubai to meet the investors during the week and pitch for the investments. The programme would also feature diaspora connect programmes and tourism prowess of Rajasthan. The delegation will include Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, Minister for Urban Development & Housing; Parsadi Lal Meena, Minister for Industry; Arjun Singh Bamaniya, Minister of State for Industry; Ashutosh A T Pednekar, Secretary - Industries, Government of Rajasthan; Rukmani Riar, Executive Director, RIICO; Dhiraj Srivastava, Commissioner - Rajasthan Foundation, etc.

The Rajasthan Week will kick start with the inauguration of the state's pavilion in the India pavilion on Saturday followed by an inaugural session which will be addressed by the Rajasthan government ministers and other top officials. The delegation will have focussed interactions and G2B meetings with a number of companies in Dubai for attracting investments in the state.

Among the specific projects in which the State is looking for investments, is Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR). HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), a subsidiary of HPCL is developing this project, which is one of the largest refineries of the country in Barmer, Rajasthan. Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) is developing PCPIR near the refinery to catalyze the investment for the downstream products of the refinery. With a capacity of 9 MMTPA, the Refinery has the potential to generate Rs. 15,000 crore investment.

The other mega project of Rajasthan is FinTech Park at Jaipur. RIICO is pitching Jaipur as destination par-excellence for corporates and start-ups of the financial and Information Technology world by developing a world-class FinTech Park spread over 100 Acres. The State is also planning to develop a textile park at Jodhpur.

Considering the current potential and existing ecosystem of textile and apparel sector in the State, RIICO has proposed to develop a dedicated textile park in the city, which is well connected by road, rail, and air. Investments would also be in the offer for Khushkera Bhiwadi Neemrana Investment Region (KBNIR) along the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Marwar Industrial Cluster and MEDtech Medical Devices Park. RIICO is developing the Medtech Medical Devices Park at Jodhpur with a proposed area of approximately 230 Acres. The park will have a dedicated common facilitation centre (CFC) equipped with high quality laboratory and research and development facility.

To know more about India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai, please visit:

Website - (https://indiaexpo2020.com)

Facebook - (https://www.facebook.com/indiaatexpo2020)

Instagram - (https://www.instagram.com/indiaatexpo2020)

Twitter - (https://twitter.com/IndiaExpo2020?s=09)

LinkedIn - (https://www.linkedin.com/company/india-expo-2020/?viewAsMember=true)

YouTube - (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6uOcYsc4g_JWMfS_Dz4Fhg/featured)

Koo - (https://www.kooapp.com/profile/IndiaExpo2020)

To know more about EXPO2020 Dubai, please visit - (https://www.expo2020dubai.com/en).

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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], November 11 (ANI/NewsVoir): Siyaram's, one of the leading textile brands in men's fashion for over four decades, has launched its most innovative range of Bamboo fabrics with superstar Ranveer Singh.

Bamboo as a raw material is one of the most renewable, biodegradable and, fastest-growing resources on the planet. It also has great environmental benefits and contains natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

A dedicated team of expert innovators at Siyaram's spent multiple man-hours behind the research and development of this product to create a fabric for consumers who appreciate inspirational craftsmanship.

"We have always believed in giving back to nature on multiple fronts and initiatives for years. Today, we are extremely proud to successfully integrate our commitment to nature into our products as well. Siyaram's bamboo fabric is a material that we have created with a lot of passion without compromising on the style quotient, the texture, the feel, the designs and, the range of colours it will be made available in," says Ramesh Poddar, CMD of Siyaram Silk Mills Ltd.

Bollywood superstar and style icon Ranveer Singh who also is a brand ambassador of Siyaram's said, "The Bamboo fabric launched by Siyaram's is a new benchmark in fabric innovation. It's one of the softest fabrics in the world and it keeps one fresh throughout the day. I am happy to be associated with a brand which has such a great and vast legacy. The bamboo fabric is a game-changer. I have been wearing shirts made from this new fabric and I have to say that I'm absolutely loving it!"

Some of the key benefits of the new Bamboo fabric by Siyaram's are:

Powerfully Insulating: Keeps you cooler in the Summer and warmer in Winter

Hypoallergenic: Does not cause any allergic reaction

Highly Absorbent: The thermal regulating effect of Bamboo fibres help absorb upto 70% more moisture than any other fabric keeping you fresh.

Anti Bacterial: The natural elements of Bamboo keep the bacteria away from the Bamboo Fabric, which lets you stay odour free and fresh.

Sweat Wicking: It has a structure that wicks moisture away from your skin letting it evaporate and keeps you dry.

Excellent Breathability: The microscopic holes in the Bamboo fibres allow the air to circulate through the weave of the fabric letting your skin breathe easily.

Softest fabric 0n the planet: It gives luxurious softness.

It is Super Light and Silky

Most eco-friendly fabric

The company has shot a campaign promoting the Bamboo Fabric featuring its Brand Ambassador Ranveer Singh, who is the heartthrob of the youth today. Siyaram's constantly works with some of the most talented craftsmen across the world and is constantly developing products to make the best of the world available to Indian consumers.

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New Delhi [India], November 11 (ANI/SRV): EdTech startup, Valuationary has raised their pre-seed round of funding from strategic investors & corporate leaders, such as Ashish Jain (Ex-India Head, Enfusion), Ajay Surana (Ex-Director, Moody's Analytics- Singapore), Rachit Poddar (Venture Capitalist and Industrialist), Rajesh Gupta (Executive Director, Jaybharat Group), and Hetal Desai (Angel Investor).

The round also saw further participation from existing investor Marwari Catalysts Ventures, India's fastest-growing startup accelerator.

The Surat-based start-up will use the funds to further build a stronger team by hiring talent for marketing and product development and to accelerate its growth in order to expand its footprint in India and international markets.

Founded by Pratik Bajaj, Kunal Shah, and Mahip Gupta, Valuationary is an end-to-end upskilling and recruiting platform that helps candidates to bag deserving finance jobs and corporates to find the right talent with preferred skill set. Graduates & post-graduates candidates are trained by industry leaders for technical as well as soft skills to make them industry-relevant.

On his investment into Valuationary, Ashish Jain, Ex-India Head, Enfusion (Managed services- Hedge Funds), says, "We believe in Valuationary's vision, the model, the product, and most importantly, the executing team to make Valuationary a flagship name for financial role recruitment & training in the times to come. Being a part of the finance industry for the past 20 years, I understand the need of addressing the skills gap and Valuationary has created job programs that match the present and future requirements of industries. We are excited to work with the passionate founding team of Valuationary that sees this gap clearly and aspires to bridge it."

Commenting on the fundraise, Ajay Surana, Ex-Director of Moody's Analytics- Singapore, says, "Financial industry is ever so changing and thus requires new skills as well as up-gradation. With Valuationary, we are pioneering this upheaval task of upskilling, which our current education system lacks. Not keeping myself confined to being just an investor, I'm so aligned with the founders' vision that I'm also participating as an instructor on the edtech platform. Together with the founding team, we are ensuring that the candidates are not only upskilled but also successfully placed with hiring partners."

The startup's mission is to not only provide jobs through skilling but also to contribute to an individual's career through a continuum of opportunities and growth.

Commenting on the announcement, Kunal Shah, Co-Founder & COO at Valuationary, said, "We are delighted to receive this tremendous support from the strategic investors who have not only provided us with their financial support but also understand our business model deeply to support our vision of making financial leaders of tomorrow by giving them the right opportunities today. Our first job-cohort of 'Hedge fund Accountants' got successfully placed even before the program concluded with an average salary increment of around 150% for the experienced candidates and an average starting CTC of INR 8 lacs for freshers. The strength in numbers speaks volumes about our concentrated efforts towards job-training and career advancement."

Mahip Gupta, Co-founder & CPO, said "This fund infusion will help us further build a stronger team by hiring talent for marketing and product development, and to accelerate its growth in order to expand its footprint in India and international markets. We'll be also utilising resources to build personalised corporate training and recruiting solutions."

Pratik Bajaj, Co-founder & CEO, said "We're thrilled to welcome strategic investors on our cap table. While edtech space is buzzed with coding and software development skills, non-tech upskilling & reskilling still remain not commonly talked about, despite non-tech jobs being a major portion of organised workforce. We understand corporates require pre-trained high-quality candidate pool, which is what Valuationary is committed to delivering at absolute zero cost to our hiring partners."

Valuationary has seen aggressive growth in terms of enrolments, placements and social media engagement since its launch in 2020. The startup also plans to place over 1000 candidates by the end of 2022 on their success-based fee model through income-sharing agreement (ISA) in the domains of credit analysts, hedge fund accounting, investor services, financial reporting, and research analysts for investment banking roles.

This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)

DISCLAIMER

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FSN E-Commerce Ventures, the parent company of Nykaa, debuted in the stock market at Rs 2,018 apiece yesterday, commanding a premium of 79 per cent over its issue price of Rs 1,125 on the National Stock Exchange. Backed by strong investor interest, the shares scaled a high of Rs 2,248, up 100 per cent versus the issue price, in the intra-day trade. They, however, ended at Rs 2,208, up 96 per cent against the issue price. The strong debut also pushed Nykaa's market capitalisation over Rs 1-trillion mark, placing it among the top-60 most valuable companies on the BSE. Meanwhile, owner Falguni Nayars net worth, who owns about half of Nykaa, swelled to $6.5 billion courtesy the solid listing. Going-forward, Vikas Jain, senior research analyst at Reliance Securities, suggests investors to partially book profit in the stock. He says:

The stock is up over 95% compared with issue price

Any level around Rs 2,400 will be a good exit point

New investors should wait for earnings before taking positions

Jyoti Roy, DVP- Equity Strategist at Angel One, on the other hand, suggests aggressive investors to hold the stock while new investors may buy at current levels.

He explains:

is trading at price-to-sales ratio of 43 times FY21 revenues

This is a significant discount vs Zomato (54times FY21 revenue)

Investors can buy stock at around Rs 2,200

Overall, as remains one of the few profitable start-ups in India, belonging to the growing consumer Internet space, analysts expect it to be one of the greatest growth stories over the next decade. However, it needs to deliver consistently on the bourses to justify the market exuberance.While for Thursdays session, volatility may remain high amid continuous foreign fund outflow and mixed corporate earnings. Besides, scheduled weekly expiry today will also lead to choppiness through the day. Overall, as stock-specific flow, Q2 results, and global cues will guide the sentiment in the secondary market, investors are advised to maintain extra caution in the selection of stocks and focus more on risk management. In the primary market, public offers of Sapphire Foods and Latent View Analytics will be on investor radar today.
Senior officials from China and the U.S. have been engaged in climate talks since earlier this year as the two sides see climate change as an area with cooperation potential. Photo: VCG

China and the U.S. have pledged to work together to enhance climate action over the next decade in a joint declaration announced at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, noting that cooperation will include consensus on reducing methane emissions in the 2020s.

The two countries said that both sides consider increased action to control and reduce such emissions to be a matter of necessity in the 2020s as emissions of methane play a significant role in global warming, second only to carbon dioxide among major greenhouse gases.

Both countries will bring out additional emissions control measures before the next U.N. climate summit, and plan to meet early next year to focus on the specifics of enhancing measurement and mitigation of methane, according to the statement issued during the COP26 United Nations climate summit which is taking place in Glasgow until Friday.

The worlds two largest carbon emitters note in the statement they recognize a significant gap between efforts made globally to address the climate crisis and those needed to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. The two countries declare their intention to work individually, jointly, and with other countries during this decisive decade, in accordance with different national circumstances, to strengthen and accelerate climate action and cooperation aimed at closing the gap, according to the statement.

A global methane pledge led by the U.S. and the EU, which seeks to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030, has been signed by some 100 countries including Indonesia, Canada, U.K. and Brazil.

China has reportedly signaled its unlikely to join the pledge, according to a Bloomberg report quoting a Chinese negotiator. The U.S keeps telling people to join it for new pledges but without giving solutions about how to tackle methane, Wang Yi, a senior Chinese negotiator at COP26 was quoted as saying. Young people say theres a lot of blah, blah, blah here, which to some degree is true, he added.

Major emitters including Russia and India are reportedly also not joining the pledge.

According to the joint declaration, China and the U.S. plan to cooperate to enhance the measurement of methane emissions, to exchange information on their respective policies and programs for strengthening management and control of methane, and to foster joint research into methane emission reduction challenges and solutions.

The statement noted the U.S. Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan, announced earlier this month by the White House, describing it as an ambitious, whole-of-government initiative that uses all available tools to identify and cost-effectively reduce methane emissions from all major sources.

China also plans to develop a comprehensive and ambitious National Action Plan on methane, following its updated plan for reducing emissions, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), according to the joint declaration. The new plan on methane aims to achieve a significant effect on methane emissions control and reductions in the 2020s, the statement said.

Prior to the next U.N. climate summit, COP27, the two countries plan to develop additional measures to enhance methane emission control at both the national and sub-national levels, the statement said.

The joint statement said the meeting planned for the first half of 2022 intends to focus on issues including thorough standards to reduce methane from the fossil and waste sectors, as well as incentives and programs to reduce methane from the agricultural sector.

The two sides also plan to establish a joint working group that will meet regularly to enhance concrete actions, which may include continued policy and technical exchanges and meetings of governmental and non-governmental experts.

Senior officials from China and the U.S. have been engaged in climate talks since earlier this year as the two sides see climate change as an area with cooperation potential, offering a possible path to reengagement after four years of turbulent ties under the Trump administration.

In a letter sent for the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of bilateral cooperation, saying that China stands ready to work with the United States to enhance exchanges and cooperation across the board, jointly address regional and international issues as well as global challenges and, in the meantime, properly manage differences, according to the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

Xi also said Thursday in a keynote speech delivered at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit that the country needs to promote a green transition, according to a statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry.

We need to put the people first, and strike a balance between economic growth, ensuring peoples well-being, and energy conservation and emissions reduction, he said. This will enable us to catalyze green transition in the course of economic development and achieve greater development through green transition.

Qin Hu, senior director of research of the Environmental Defense Funds Beijing Representative Office, told Caixin that the joint declaration is a milestone document for bilateral climate cooperation, as well as a wind vane for future cooperation, and will lay a solid foundation for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

He noted that China and the U.S. have made substantial progress in cooperation on methane emissions reduction following almost 10 months of joint efforts.

The joint declaration marks the move from global scientific consensus to policy consensus on the need for methane control, and gives direction to the development of action plans, cooperation on monitoring and methane reduction measures in specific areas, he said.

Contact reporter Cai Xuejiao (xuejiaocai@caixin.com) and editor Heather Mowbray (heathermowbray@caixin.com)

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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
Dakota graduated from Bret Harte in 2013 and went to Davidson College, NC where she earned a bachelor's degree in Arab studies. After spending time studying in the Middle East and Europe, she is happy to be home, writing about the community she loves.

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The Facebook Papers project represents a unique collaboration among 17 American news organizations, including The Associated Press. Journalists from a variety of newsrooms, large and small, worked together to gain access to thousands of pages of internal company documents obtained by Frances
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Photo: Contributed

The Canadian Dairy Commission announced recently that farmers will get an unprecedented 8.4 per cent more for their milk and better than 12 per cent more for butter starting in February.

For consumers, this certainly isnt great news. Milk, butter and yogurt prices will likely skyrocket in the new year. Its the highest increase since the commission was created in 1967.

Provincial boards will need to approve these increases, but that likely wont be a problem.

But Canadian industrial milk was already the most expensive in the world and has been for many years.

In Canada, we produce what we need and dairy farmers get a fair price for their work. That sounds reasonable. The Canadian Dairy Commission is the centrepiece of that supply management system.

Only a privileged few can produce milk in Canada, making milk almost a public good. Most people are willing to pay extra for good Canadian milk and dairy products. Even without supply management and our quota system, milk prices would likely be high, perhaps even higher. But its sensible to believe Canadians still want domestic quality.

But in recent months, Canadians have seen that quality may not always be there. Buttergate shone a light on the practice of feeding cows palmitate, an imported palm oil derivative. It affected our butters hardness and made many Canadians scratch their heads. Why would we import an ingredient to produce butterfat and compromise quality when the Dairy Farmers of Canadas Blue Cow logo is all about local?

The Dairy Farmers of Canada banned the practice in the spring and created a working group to investigate the matter. So far, the group hasnt released a single report about its progress or offered any new quality assurance practices the industry is pursuing at retail. Not one hint of transparency to reassure Canadians.

With this latest increase, raising farmgate prices for milk so farmers can make a decent living isnt really the issue. Whats problematic is the way the commission does it. The Canadian Dairy Commission, a Crown corporation owned by all Canadians, is controlled by three people, all with dairy connections. Processors, retailers and, most importantly, consumers arent even represented on the board.

To be clear, the 72 people working for the commission in Ottawa are actually working for the Canadian public, not dairy farmers. We set dairy prices, not farmers  the supply management regime is owned by all Canadians.

However, 91 per cent of the Canadian public doesnt even know the commission exists and how it operates, even though its decisions impact the lives of most of us.

And the commission hasnt shown any interest in being transparent and forthcoming with information. Its press release about the record-breaking price hikes, posted late on a Friday afternoon, wasnt shared by the commission, just by citizens on social media.

Many observers are also concerned about the methods used to calculate increases. The commission posted a very simplistic seven-page report explaining how it calculated the increase. Not only is raw data not provided but we have no idea if data used in the pricing formula are verified by competent authorities.

All the data is self-reported by a group of randomly-selected dairy farmers, according to the report. The sophistication of these reports is worthy of the work of a young university student at best. All reports are worded the same, every year, with a few exceptions. Numbers change, but thats the extent of it.

Higher milk prices wont be good news for consumers  or for the dairy industry. With this decision, we expect more milk to illegally enter the Canadian market from the United States, as was the case a few years ago with diafiltered milk.

Goat milk and other alternatives will also become more financially attractive as prices for milk and dairy products continue to rise. But dairy farmers wont care. Most will cash out and exit the industry while others continue to do well under a regime that guarantees them revenue.

Thats great for them, but were on pace to lose half of Canadian dairy farms by 2030. We could have fewer than 5,000 farms within the next decade. If thats what Canadians want, fine.

But, if we want to really help our dairy industry, a good starting point would be to reform the commission and address its questionable governance and opaque processes.

Sylvain Charlebois is senior director of the agri-food analytics lab and a professor in food distribution and policy at Dalhousie University.
Photo: Contributed Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas

This week it was the leader of the official Opposition's turn to announce his appointments of shadow cabinet critics in the new Parliament.

I was honoured to be returned to the role of shadow minister for Environment and Climate Change. This news arrived to me as I was attending the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

As I mentioned in my report last week, it was earlier at this conference where Prime Minister Trudeau announced Canada will impose a hard cap on emissions from the oil and gas sector. It was an announcement that provoked much discussion, given the exact details of this announcement to get emissions to net zero by 2050 within this Canadian industry remain unknown.

I also raised the concern that other countries such as Saudi Arabia and USA, which import oil and gas into Canada, are not following this policy of setting emissions caps or a price on pollution.

In last weeks column, my weekly question was How do you think the government should deal with oil and gas imports from other countries that are not subject to these same types of policies?.

There was a significant number of well-thought out responses to this question and I would like to sincerely thank those who took the time to share their ideas.

One other challenge has also since emerged. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has stated that at no time did the prime minister or the environment and climate change minister ever pick up the phone to consult, or otherwise communicate with him, about the policy promise to cap Canadian oil and gas emissions.

This is problematic because oil and gas regulation in Canada remains an area of provincial jurisdiction.

It is also my concern that actions to reduce our emissions here in Canada are important. Likewise, the need for the federal government to work with the provinces is critical. Taking action on our environment should not be done divisively, in a manner that pits regions of Canada against each other.

I believe strongly that the prime minister has an obligation to work with the premiers and that includes consultation and communication on policies that are within provincial jurisdiction.

My question this week is: Do you agree?

I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711.
Photo: CTV News

A judge on Wednesday approved a $626 million settlement for Flint residents and others who were exposed to lead-contaminated water.

Most of the money  $600 million  is coming from the state of Michigan, which was accused of repeatedly overlooking the devastating risks of switching Flints water source in 2014 without treating the water to prevent contamination.

The settlement reached here is a remarkable achievement for many reasons, not the least of which is that it sets forth a comprehensive compensation program and timeline that is consistent for every qualifying participant, U.S. District Judge Judith Levy said.

The settlement was announced in August 2020 by Attorney General Dana Nessel and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, both Democrats, who were elected in 2018 while the litigation was pending.

Flint managers appointed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder and regulators in his administration allowed the city to use the Flint River in 2014-15 without treating the water to reduce corrosion. As a result, lead in old pipes broke off and flowed through taps.

The deal makes money available to every Flint child who was exposed to the water, every adult who can show an injury, certain business owners and anyone who paid water bills.

Flint switched back to a Detroit regional water agency in fall 2015 after Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha publicly reported elevated lead levels in children.

Attorneys have been seeking as much as $200 million in legal fees from the $626 million settlement.
Photo: The Canadian Press This 5,500 kilogram weather buoy will be used to record and transmit meteorological and oceanographic data using sensors to continuously gather and transmit live data about wind speed and behaviour to researchers.

Researchers at the University of Victoria are floating a new idea that could bring clean, renewable power to British Columbia's remote coastal communities and end their dependence on diesel generators.

A highly customized buoy, equipped with a wind turbine and a 3D laser-scanning system, will soon be launched off the Victoria-area coast to transmit live data.

Researcher Brad Buckham, at the university's Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery, says the data will fill in the knowledge gap that has prevented offshore wind energy from being used more widely.

The buoy, which weighs 5,500 kilograms and is nine metres tall, will be barged out to waters not far from the university later this month for an assessment that could support a larger offshore power industry.

Research scientist Chloe Immonen, who joined the project in 2019, says the trial will not only benefit remote communities hoping to replace diesel but will also give a better understanding of the way wind can be harnessed to create sustainable energy.

The buoy will be transmitting weather and ocean conditions over a period of about six months.
Photo: The Canadian Press An archeologist in eastern Newfoundland says his team has unearthed what could be the oldest English coin ever found in Canada.

An archeological fieldworker excavating a site in eastern Newfoundland has unearthed what could be the oldest English coin ever found in Canada.

William Gilbert, head archeologist and supervisor at the Cupids Cove Plantation Provincial Historic Site, says one of his colleagues found the silver coin in September, adding that research has confirmed it was minted sometime between 1493 and 1499.

"It's important because it sparks your imagination," Gilbert said in an interview Wednesday. The coin, he added, is more than a century older than Cupids, founded in 1610. "You just have to wonder when you look at this thing: how many hands did it pass through?"

Known as a Henry VII 'half groat,' or twopenny piece, the nickel-sized coin was minted in Canterbury, England, more than 500 years ago. Gilbert said he came to that conclusion after consulting Paul Berry, former curator of the Bank of Canada's Currency Museum.

The coin features a stylized portrait of King Henry VII and a Latin inscription that says, "Henry, by the grace of God, King of England and France." The other side features a cross and the king's motto, also in Latin: "I have made God my helper."

The coin was found under 20 centimetres of soil near the northeast corner of the excavation, just beyond the remains of what was once a wooden palisade.

"You can picture kind of a Wild West fort arrangement," said Gilbert.

Settled by Bristol, England, merchant John Guy, the Cupids plantation is the site of the oldest English settlement in Canada. The English colony at Jamestown, Va., was settled in 1607. By 1613, Guy and a small group of colonists had built several structures, including Canada's first sawmill and brewery.

Meanwhile, research on the coin is ongoing. It is expected to be put on display in time for the historic site's 2022 tourist season.

Gilbert discovered the former plantation in 1995 and it was declared a historic site in May 2011. By that time, more than 150,000 artifacts had been unearthed at the site, which now includes an interactive museum known as the Cupids Legacy Centre. The community is on the west side of Conception Bay, N.L., about an hour's drive west of St. John's.

"It is incredible to imagine that this coin was minted in England and was lost in Cupids over a hundred years later," the province's tourism minister, Steve Crocker, said in a statement. "It links the story of the early European exploration in the province and the start of English settlement."

In 2001, an Elizabethan coin  dated 1560-1561  was found at the same site, and at the time it was considered the oldest English coin ever found in Canada.
Photo: The Canadian Press Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Minister Lawrence MacAulay responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa on November 10, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The federal Liberal government is promising to hire more staff to tackle a backlog of requests for assistance and shortage of case managers that is leaving many disabled veterans without the help they need.

Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay made the commitment in an interview after The Canadian Press published a series of articles in the lead-up to Remembrance Day that looked at some of the most pressing challenges facing veterans today.

Those challenges included the backlog of disability applications that is leaving thousands of veterans waiting months and sometimes years for treatment and financial support, and which veterans organizations have identified as the communitys top concern.

The series also looked at the overwhelming number of veterans assigned to individual case managers, and how those caseloads are threatening to let some of the most severely injured fall through the cracks.

We're going to hire more, MacAulay said. Our party and government have indicated quite clearly we're going to hire more adjudicators and case managers. The biggest priority in Veterans Affairs Canada is to deal with this backlog. And thats what were going to do.

Yet while the minister underscored adding staff, as the Liberals also promised during the recent election, will form a key part of the government's response, he would not say how many people would be hired or when.

I'm not going to give you an exact date on anything, MacAulay said. But what I'm going to do is make sure that we continue to deal with the backlog and bring that percentage down.

The Canadian Press series also looked at the lack of a promised strategy from the government for veterans homelessness, calls for more assistance to the families of injured veterans, and the fight some are waging for equal treatment from Ottawa.

Veterans Affairs had more than 40,000 unprocessed disability claims from more than 30,000 veterans in its possession at the end of June. Veterans and their advocates have said the long waits for claims to be processed are adding more stress and instability on injured ex-soldiers.

The Liberals have hired about 560 temporary adjudicators over the past two-plus years to bring the backlog under control after years of cuts under the previous Conservative government and a surge in new applications for help more recently.

The parliamentary budget officer in September 2020 reported the government would need to keep most of those temporary staff past their current contract end in March 2022 for another three years to properly deal with the backlog.

Veterans Affairs officials privately warned MacAulay the same thing this past May, according to documents obtained through access to information, noting those temporary staff only really got up and running this past January after months of recruitment and training.

Those officials not only spoke of the importance of retaining those temporary staff, but also for the government to make a decision on such an extension sooner rather than later.

With delays in extending spike staff comes the higher risk of losing these highly skilled and trained employees, reads the report. To date, we have lost 38 employees with 27 being essential decision makers.

MacAulay would not speak to whether the temporary staff would be hired or otherwise extended.

The minister was also vague on the governments plan to address the fact case managers within his department and struggling with large caseloads, though he did say the government remains committed to its 2015 campaign promise of having only 25 veterans to one case manager.

Our goal is to make sure that we bring down that ratio, he said. Yes, 25 to one. Theres only one way you can do this, and it is to have more people to do the job.

Veterans Affairs says the average case manager today has about 33 veterans assigned to them, but the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees says a survey of its members found the majority have more than 35 and some have in excess of 50.
The family of Bharti Shahani broke down in tears announcing her death after she died from injuries sustained at the Astroworld Festival, bringing the death toll from the concert to 9.
Kyle Rittenhouse listens as his lawyer gives opening statements to the jury at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis, on Nov. 2, 2021.
HeidelbergCement sells southern Spanish assets to Votorantim

11 November 2021

After having announced to sell regional businesses in Catalonia, Madrid, Asturias and on the Balearic Islands, HeidelbergCement now signed a contract to sell its southern Spain business to Votorantim Cimentos.

The sale includes the 1.4Mta integrated cement plant in Malaga, three aggregate sites, and 11 ready-mixed concrete sites in Andalusia. Both companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

"With this transaction, Votorantim Cimentos strengthens its business in Spain and creates significant synergies with its existing assets. This deal is fully aligned with our strategy and will allow us to reinforce our presence in the Iberian Peninsula, following recent acquisition of Cementos Balboa," said Marcelo Castelli, global CEO of Votorantim Cimentos.



Divesting these assets in Spain is part of the portfolio optimisation and margin improvement programme within HeidelbergCements Beyond 2020 strategy. In Spain, the company will now fully focus on its northern cluster located in the Basque country. HeidelbergCement will continue to supply customers from its remaining facilities in northern Spain with products from all three business lines cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete.



The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval by regulatory authorities in Spain which is expected for the second half of 2022.

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Will Smith's determination to "overachieve" was sparked by his dad's abusive behaviour.

The 53-year-old actor was just nine years old when he helplessly watched on as his father beat his mother, and Will admits that the experience has shaped his life.

He shared: "I couldn't shake the idea that I had failed my mother and I was somehow unworthy of love and care because of my cowardice.

"And that [was] the beginnings of wanting to overachieve and wanting to create and wanting to win and wanting to build an external life that could somehow and hopefully cover the pain."

Will shot to stardom on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'.

And the Hollywood actor admits that his on-screen persona was markedly different to his real-life self at the time.

He said: "That buoyant, happy, joyful image was painted over a core of a real lack of self-esteem and self-respect."

Will's dad passed away in 2016, and he waited until his death before writing his new memoir.

The actor - who is married to fellow movie star Jada Pinkett Smith - explained to NPR: "I saw my father beat up my mother, and that narrative didn't fit into the image that I was crafting. It was embarrassing.

"There was a person I wanted to be, or a person I thought I had to be, to be able to create the life that I wanted to create, and I just never could have said that out loud while my father was alive. Because at the same time, my father was my hero, and my father is largely responsible for all of the blessings and the things that I've been able to go on and create and build, so that internal conflict was dissolved when my father passed in 2016."
Henry Cavill feels honored to be spoken about as a potential James Bond.

The 38-year-old actor has revealed he'd love to speak to the producers of the iconic film franchise about replacing Daniel Craig as 007.

Asked about the prospect of playing Bond, Henry - who is best known for playing Superman - shared: "Look  I hate it when people start a sentence with, Look  - it sounds like theyre lying about something. I think it would be very exciting to have a conversation with the producers.  In an ideal world, Id never have to turn anything down.

"Nothing is off the table. Its an honor to even be part of that conversation."

Henry enjoys starring in action movies, and doesn't have a particular desire to turn his focus towards other genres.

The actor also enjoys the challenge of being in tip-top physical condition for so many of his on-screen roles.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "Im very happy to keep doing movies that use action as a form of storytelling, and I have no particular desire to say, I just want to do drama now.' I enjoy being in the best shape of my life, year after year, despite the injuries. I want to be pushed so I can get better. I dont want to sit down."

Henry has a packed work schedule for the next few months and he actually loves that he's so busy.

He said: "After 21 years of hard work, I have three jobs lined up. Maybe its me, maybe its my approach, maybe my value as a commodity increases being attached to things like 'The Witcher'. Now I can really focus on the storytelling and grow from here."
Twelve students in Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges Human Lactation program were honored at the Gordon County Campus in Calhoun.The event was an opportunity for the students to celebrate their accomplishments with family, friends and faculty.Shannon Vann, a GNTC Human Lactation student from Dallas, shared some of the challenges the class faced during the pandemic.Challenges the class of 2021 faced were schedule changes when several students were quarantined and we had a couple of virtual weeks in a row.This was communicated as best as possible so we could plan on where we needed to be, said Ms. Vann. Personal Protective Equipment was another concern, but equipment was provided to the students for use and maintenance throughout the clinical rotation.During the month of October, for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, GNTCs Human Lactation students designed campaigns for community public health as a capstone project.One of the students created a social media infographic highlighting breast cancer statistics based on a local hospitals efforts to boost mammograms and correlated it with the reduced risk experienced by parents who body feed, said GNTCs Human Lactation Program Director Audrey Thompson.Another initiative the Human Lactation program undertook was implementing an alumni association. The alumni association includes members from all previous Human Lactation classes.The alumni association meets quarterly, either virtually or in-person. We plan to hold one or two events yearly outside of the pinning ceremony for program graduates and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant exam study groups. We also plan on having an alumni member involved in the 2022 class for study guidance, tutoring and as an ongoing presence to build the membership of the association, said Ms. Vann.The Human Lactation program at GNTC gives students clinical and classroom experience in the management of lactation, breastfeeding counseling skills and general health sciences.The Human Lactation Diploma program at GNTC provides academic foundations at the diploma level for the clinical management of breastfeeding and human lactation. Program graduates are trained in the standards of practice and code of ethics. They work within a defined scope of practice. The program provides clinical practice experience in management of lactation and breastfeeding counseling skills, as well as education in human lactation, breastfeeding and general health sciences. The program graduates will be trained to sit for International Board of Lactation Examiners Certification to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), which is considered the highest certification of a lactation professional.
Anthony Lavell Williams, Jr. has been sentenced for perpetrating a string of armed robberies in Carroll, Catoosa, Chattooga, Cobb, and Hall Counties during which Williams assaulted pharmacy customers and forced employees to surrender cash and tens of thousands of opioids and amphetamines to him.

Driven by greed, Anthony Williams terrorized our community and sought to profit off of the opioid epidemic, said Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine. This epidemic tragically claims many American lives every year. A multi-agency response at all levels of government and from every corner of this district has brought him to justice.

This sentence is a direct result of what good multi-jurisdictional partnerships and communication can accomplish, said Chris Hacker, special agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta. We are grateful for all the hard work by our partners that allowed Williams to be removed from the streets before he could commit any worse crimes or traumatize anymore innocent citizens.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the charges and other information presented in court: Williams, while armed with a handgun, robbed five retail pharmacies between May 2020 and July 2020. Williams escaped with approximately $9,600 in cash and more than $183,000 of controlled substances. The pharmacies losses were eclipsed by the street value of the stolen drugs, which included but was not limited to nearly 44,000 doses of opioids and more than 5,700 tablets containing amphetamine.

Williamss robberies were carefully planned and increasingly violent, said officials. During the May 7, 2020 robbery of a pharmacy in Powder Springs, Ga., and the May 11, 2020 robbery of a pharmacy in Summerville, Ga., Williams held store employees at gunpoint, forced them to empty cash registers, and then forced them to another part of the store while he escaped.

On June 4, 2020, Williams robbed a pharmacy in Fort Oglethorpe. During the robbery, Williams threatened a pharmacist and ordered her to open a drug safe containing Schedule II controlled substances from which Williams pillaged very large quantities of oxycodone, hydrocodone, amphetamine, and morphine.

A month later, on July 5, 2020, Williams stole cash and more than $50,000 worth of Schedule II controlled substances from a pharmacy in Carrollton, Ga. Williams took only the most dangerous narcotics, leaving other pharmaceuticals behind. He forced all of the employees and customers in the store to surrender their cell phones and lay on their stomachs in different areas of the store before fleeing.

On July 7, 2020, Williams walked into a pharmacy in Gainesville, Ga., grabbed a customer at the front register by her hair, and forced the customer and cashier at gunpoint to go with him to the pharmacy at the back of the store. Williams made his victims abandon their cell phones, demanded painkillers, and forced them to unlock safes and load a backpack with drugs. Williams stole $1,820 in cash and approximately $30,000 of Schedule II narcotics.

Anthony Lavell Williams, Jr., 28, of Rome, Ga., was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten, Jr. to 12 years, seven months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $192,983.77 after pleading guilty to five counts of interference with commerce by robbery and armed robbery involving controlled substances. Williams pleaded guilty to these charges on Aug. 3.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Carrollton Police Department, Gainesville Police Department, Fort Oglethorpe Police Department, Powder Springs Police Department, Summerville Police Department, Bartow-Cartersville Drug Task Force, and Rome Police Department with assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Rome/Floyd County Metro Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. In keeping with the Attorney Generals mission to reduce violent crime, the Northern District of Georgias PSN program focuses on prosecuting those individuals who most significantly drive violence in our communities, and supports and fosters partnerships between law enforcement and schools, the faith community, and local community leaders to prevent and deter future criminal conduct.




The former president of a UT-Chattanooga fraternity, Charles Mote, is facing sexual battery and assault charges in an incident at a frat house on 11th Street. He briefly appeared in court on Wednesday morning, and defense attorney Bill Speek said the preliminary hearing is scheduled for February.

Todays case was passed, and we expect we will have a hearing on Feb. 23rd, attorney Speek said. At the hearing, we are going to provide a lot of evidence that is going to refute the victims allegations. We look forward to getting him in court and giving him his day to present proof.

The District Attorneys office had no comment.

Chattanooga Police Department officers responded to a sexual battery report on Aug. 30 and spoke to the victim. She said that during the early morning hours on Aug. 28, Mote, 22, sexually assaulted her and that she reported the alleged incident through UTCs online reporting website.

According to court documents, the victim told police she was at Phi Kappa Alphas, a fraternity at UT-Chattanooga, house at 1117 E. 11th dancing with some friends. She said Mote wanted to dance with her, and grabbed her face and tried to kiss her.

She said she walked away and went into the bathroom, and that Mote followed her. She said Mote grabbed her and pulled her into a room. She said he began to undress her even as she repeatedly said no and stop to him. She said Mote pinned her down and hit her legs several times.

She said that after 10 minutes, Mote went to the bathroom and the victim tried to find her clothes. Other people entered the bedroom, and the victim said she told them what had occurred and that they took Mote into another bathroom. She said a woman helped her get dressed and that other males removed Mote from the house.

In her report, she said the males told her that Mote was not affiliated with PIKE and that they did not know how he got in. She said she later discovered that Mote was the president of PIKE the previous year. She said the woman and the woman's boyfriend walked her to her car. She then went home.

Police said they saw photos of bruises on her arms and legs. She said both she and Mote were intoxicated, and that neither knew one another and that she only knew his identity because other people at the party knew who he was.

The victim identified Mote when shown a picture of him. She said she did not remember being penetrated by Mote. The suspect was arrested and booked on Aug. 31.

According to UTC's website, the Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity was put on probation from December 2017 to December 2019 for hazing. The fraternity was again put on probation from September 2018 to August 2020 for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedure during the Sept. 15 Bid Day.

Phi Kappa Alpha was found responsible of harassment, disorderly conduct, and violations of the universitys alcohol police and violation of the university policy. Mote is still listed as the fraternitys president on UTC's website.

UT-Chattanooga was also contacted for a statement. In an email, interim vice chancellor Gina Stafford said The University is unable to disclose any information regarding this matter under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
A cashier at the Speedway, 1330 East 3rd St., told police a man stole beer and fled the area on foot. He said the man was a black male, 40-50 years old, six feet tall and was wearing an orange jacket, blue jeans, a camouflage hat, and carrying a black backpack. He also reported the man was a habitual shoplifter, however is always gone before police arrive. This man took nine Bud Ice 32 oz. beers valued at $24 and put them into a black backpack. He was last observed running east on East 3rd Street towards Highland Park Avenue. Police checked the area, but were unable to locate the man. The cashier did not have camera access. Police will conduct a follow-up to obtain camera footage for further information about the man.

* * *

A suspicious vehicle was reported at the Motel 6, 2440 Williams St. Police approached the Toyota Avalon (TN tag), which returned to a Volkswagen Jetta. The tag and the vehicle were negative on return for being stolen. The vehicle was last registered in 2019, to an address on South Holtzclaw Avenue. The tag had been renewed recently to Jackson County. Police seized the tag for improper display and transported it to CPD Property.

* * *

A man in an apartment on Stringer Street told police he left his 2006 green Wrangler Jeep parked and locked on the street directly behind the apartment complex. He said he last saw it at 9 p.m. the night before. He came outside at 6 a.m. that day for work, and it was gone. He said the keys were not left in it and it was not repossessed. The vehicle was entered into NCIC. There is a motion sensor with a camera close to where it was parked. It was located right of the building number if you're looking at it from Stringer Street.

* * *

A woman on Chestnut Street told police that her 2013 Hyundai Elantra was parked in the parking lane on Chestnut Street outside of her apartment complex. She said someone broke into her vehicle and stole her drivers license and her Chime debit card out of her wallet. She said she thought her vehicle was locked, but found no damage.

* * *



An employee of Insulation Unlimited, 3455 Brainerd Road, told police that two of the company's trucks had the catalytic converters stripped from them during the nighttime hours. He said the vehicles were left behind a fence near the rear of the business.

* * *



A man was reported sleeping in front of the doors of Havertys, 2565 Lifestyle Way. Police spoke with the man and asked him to leave. He left the area without any issues.

* * *

A man told police the last place he recalls seeing his debit card was the day before at Burger King, 3401 Amnicola Hwy. He said he has canceled the card. There was somewhat of a language barrier, and police had some difficulty understanding him.

* * *

A woman on Snow Street told police that she just placed three bills in her mailbox that had money orders with them totaling $447, and she had put the flag up on the box. She said when she got back out to the box about 10 minutes later to put more mail in it, she discovered that the money orders were gone and the flag was still up. She said someone must have been watching her and then stole them when she went back inside her house.

* * *



A man at 4850 Jersey Pike told police that a man continues to cross over a fence at the active construction site there. The fence surrounds the property. The man had left the area prior to police arrival, but the caller was encouraged to call back if he sees the man on the property again.

* * *



Employees with the Walmart Loss Prevention Department, 490 Greenway View Dr., told police that a white male came to the store and shoplifted $30 worth of bicycle parts. Police were unable to identify the man, but will send a photo to CPD Sworn to attempt to identify him.

* * *

A vehicle was recovered at 3001 E. 45th St. with no suspect info, other than a nickname of "Little Bit," who is possibly a white female with blonde hair. The vehicle was towed by A1 Towing and an attempt was made to notify the owner, but a message had to be left. The vehicle had no exterior damage. The vehicle was removed from NCIC.

* * *

A woman on Montview Drive told police that a man came to her house and would not leave. Police asked the man to leave and he left without incident.

* * *

The store manager at Publix, 400 N Market St., told police that a person who had been asked to leave earlier in the day, had returned to the business. The person, described as a white male in a gray shirt, blue jean shorts and a backward Tennessee hat, was not present when police arrived. A cursory search of the area did not reveal the man. The manager said he would not hesitate to call police if the man returned in order to ensure a trespass notice could be properly documented.

* * *



A person reported a gray Nissan Sentra blocking the driveway access to a residence on East 5th Street. Police ran the TN tag displayed on the vehicle in an attempt to make contact with the owner or person driving the vehicle. After trying multiple times with no success, United Transport

#2 arrived on scene and towed the vehicle back to their lot until the owner comes to claim it.

* * *

A disorder was reported at 40 Frazier Ave. A woman told police that a homeless woman she had been attempting to help was upset when she and her friend desired to leave. This confrontation had ended prior to police arrival. The homeless woman was known to police. The woman told police her primary concern was for the homeless woman's well-being, and not the confrontation. Police directed the homeless woman to move along.

* * *

Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop at 2222 Roanoke Ave. on a 2013 Silver Hyundai (TN tag) for an expired registration. The vehicle fled from police. Last known direction of travel was east on Wilcox Boulevard towards the tunnels.

* * *

A woman at Stone Ridge Apartments on W. 37th Street told police she observed a white Crown Vic parked near her vehicle. She said on a prior incident, a tire was stolen from her black Crown Vic. She said she observed her tire on the front passenger's side of the white Crown Vic. She said she observed a black male and female get into the white Crown Vic. She said the man had a gun in his waist band, so she did not confront him. She said that is when she called police.

* * *

While an officer was in the middle of a phone call at 1900 Northpoint Blvd. with a citizen regarding a separate incident, a man pulled up to the car saying he needed to make a police report. He told police a man was incarcerated and he had power of attorney over him. He said a woman had forged a document to become the man's power of attorney and had not been putting all the money on his books he is supposed to be getting. He said the woman was putting most of the money

into one of her accounts, and only a small percentage on the account of the person in jail. He did not say what prison or jail the man was at.
In April 1917, the United States Congress declared war on Germany and, during the next nineteen months, more than four million American men would serve in the Great War, with 2.8 million serving in Europe. Emotions ran high among citizens as the civilian front activated in full support of the war to end all wars, responding to President Woodrow Wilsons appeal for unity that would make the world safe for democracy.



At 11:11 am on 11 November, 1918, the guns fell silent as the belligerent nations signed an armistice, agreeing to a ceasing of all conflict.

Representatives of the Allied nations meet with representatives of the German Empire in Paris and eventually hammered out the Versailles Treaty, identifying the terms of peace.In the months following the treaty agreement, France and Great Britain were reeling from tremendous casualties during their extended years of combat and the fact that many of their soldiers had been buried in cemeteries on foreign soil. To ease the pain of their citizens, both countries choose to honor all soldiers by creating memorials to an Unknown Warrior, each entombing an unidentified soldier in a special ceremony on Armistice Day 1920.Inspired by the British and French example, U. S. Congressman Hamilton Fish, Jr., NY Great War veteran, introduced a bill creating a similar memorial at Arlington National Cemetery - - the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After approval by both houses and the signature of President Warren G. Harding in the spring of 1920, construction of the tomb began.On November 11, 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated. The unknown soldier had been chosen from four U. S. unknowns who had been exhumed from four different cemeteries in France. Sgt. Edward F. Younger of the 50th Infantry, American Forces in Germany, was tasked with choosing the veteran who would be returned home for the ceremonial burial. Sgt. Younger identified his choice by placing a spray of white roses on one casket. He later said that he felt a draw to the second casket, as though he knew the soldier whose body was inside.The unknown came home via the USS Olympia, arriving at the Washington Navy Yard on November 9 and lying in state at the US Capitol on November 10. Almost 100,000 citizens filed past the flag-draped casket on that day.On Armistice Day, the nation observed two minutes of silence as the official state funeral began. The Great War Unknown Soldier was awarded the Medal of Honor and buried with honor at Arlington National Cemetery, with President Harding presiding. Congressional members, representatives of the military and thousands of citizens attended.On this centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the citizens of the United States recognize all those who have served in our armed forces in the commemoration of Veterans Day. A special ceremony will occur at Arlington, remembering all those who lie in graves, names known only to God.The story of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will continue . . .* * *

Linda Moss Mines is the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Historian and Secretary of the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council. She can be reached at localhistorycounts@gmail.com


As a Hamilton County citizen, Im embarrassed by the reprimand recently given to Judge Gerald Webb by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct. His Facebook posts, which partly gave rise to the reprimand, trivialize the suffering of the victims of crime that come before his Court. The posts also mock criminal defendants, who are innocent until proven guilty. Regardless of what crimes they are alleged to have committed, defendants deserve fair treatment by the Court, not ridicule. More than anything, the Facebook posts send the message that Judge Webbs caseload is fodder for free publicity on social media for his own political gain.



As an attorney, Im disturbed by the other incidents mentioned in the reprimandnamely, that Judge Webbs law license has been suspended twice for failure to comply with requirements related to continuing legal education. Compliance with such requirements is the bare minimum that any competent attorney must do in order to practice law. Its bad enough for an attorney in private practice to have such a suspension (let alone two), but its alarming that an attorney who has taken an oath to serve as an elected judge would be so careless about his law license.



I was one of many attorneys who applied along with Gerald Webb for appointment to the seat held honorably for many years by Judge Shattuck. That applicant pool included well-qualified attorneys eager to serve Hamilton County, and for Judge Webb to dishonor the office in the ways described above is a slap in the face to those of us who aspire to elected office. However, his behavior should also be a call to action for voters and prospective candidates.



The office that Judge Webb holds is on the ballot on Aug. 4, 2022, and the deadline to qualify for that election is April 7, 2022. I hope that the voting public and any potential candidates will keep those dates in mind.

Jeff Davis

* * *

Mr. Davis,

As a 17 year member of the Hamilton County Criminal Defense Bar, I must say I find your comments most disturbing. I believe your statements show your utter lack of experience in Hamilton Countys General Sessions Court and your lack of experience in practicing in front of Judge Webb. In fact, in my 17 years of practicing in the Criminal Sessions Court Ive never seen you and I am there nearly every day and in every courtroom. If you had any experience in those courts you would know that some judges have made far worse comments in open court and those are never reported by anyone. Judge Webbs comments were tongue and cheek and anyone who ever practices in General Sessions Criminal Court knows that and thats why I find your motivations suspect.

I first met Judge Webb when he was an assistant district attorney for Division III (for those like Mr. Davis who are not familiar with the Criminal Courts System, thats on the third floor and currently presided over by the Honorable Judge Poole). During those years I observed Judge Webb, he demonstrated exceptional dedication to his professional pursuits and I have experienced no less from him as judge.

Judge Webb's success as an assistant district attorney and a private attorney stands as a testament in my mind as to both his overall ability and proficiency in areas which require astute analysis and attention to detail. I regard Judge Webb as being one of the most responsible, reliable and fair judges that I have the privilege of practicing in front of, and these days, the importance of those traits cannot be overestimated.

I have no hesitancy in my support for Judge Webb. His personal and professional qualities make him an outstanding judge, and I have no doubt that he will continue to provide many invaluable contributions to Hamilton County in the years to come.

Chris Dixon

Attorney at Law
Nene Leakes is one of the iconic stars of The Real Housewives of Atlanta and possibly the most recognized star of the Bravo franchise. The tastiest peach left the reality series in 2020 after a contentious negotiation that didnt materialize and Leakes making accusations against Bravo and Andy Cohen. After a year off of the show, Leakes has hinted that she would consider returning to reclaim her peach. Following the revelations, Cohen is now reacting to the latest interview from Leakes.

Nene Leakes and Andy Cohen | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Nene Leakes is open to returning to RHOA

Leakes announced her departure from RHOA after season 12. Although there were talks about returning for that season, it didnt happen as Leakes wasnt happy with the terms. Its not entirely known what Leakes was demanding from Bravo executives and producers, but she hinted there were issues about racial inequality.

More than a year from when she left RHOA, Leakes has seemingly put thought into opening up the conversation about possibly returning to the show. When the Glee alum made an appearance on The Real, she confirmed that she wouldnt mind returning to the franchise.

Yeah, sure, Ill return to the show. Im OK with returning to the show as long as we can work through a few things, Leakes said. Im happy to return to the show. Besides, I have a lot of unfinished business with a couple of them that they confirmed on the show.

For the entrepreneur, it would take a conversation with executive producer Andy Cohen for Leakes to make it happen. As their relationship is rocky, Leakes wants the opportunity to reconnect with her former friend.

Andy and I were really close for a really, really long time, she added. I think that Andy and I need to have a sit-down and talk and then were off to the races.

RELATED: Nene Leakes on The Real Talks About What She Misses About Late Husband Gregg

Andy Cohen reacts to Nene Leakes manifesting return to RHOA

Cohen has reportedly been in touch with Leakes following the death of her husband Gregg. Up until that point, the Watch What Happens Live host didnt mention the former RHOA star in any of his shows. However, when Gregg died, Cohen dedicated a sweet message to the Leakes family on the late-night show.

As the television host promotes his new book, fans have been asking him questions. During one of his stops, he was allegedly asked about Leakes manifesting her return to The Real Housewives. Cohen said that he was focused on the new season of RHOA that had already started filming.

Now, Reality Blurb is reporting that Cohen made another statement on his Sirius XM show Andy Cohen Live saying, What I dont want to do is get into a public thing with her. I think she would probably prefer that I keep her name out of my mouth and that is what Im going to honor.

Andy Cohen and Nene Leakes | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

RELATED: RHOA Alum Nene Leakes Calls out Cynthia Bailey for Not Attending Greggs Repast Following His Death

Kenya Moore was asked about Leakes putting out into the world that she was open to returning to RHOA as well. Despite their rollercoaster friendship, the two reality stars are in a cordial place now.

You know, I dont know. I know she has a lot of fans and people love her, and definitely, she has made her mark on the show and she made the show what it is, Moore said on Daily Pop. I think that interview was from her, you know, wanting to come back. Whether theres a future for her there in terms of with the network or, you know, the higher-ups, I cant really speak to that.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta Season 14 is expected to return in 2022 on Bravo.
Dexter fans always wondered what happened to Hannah McKay, especially after the news that she wouldnt be in the revival series, Dexter: New Blood. While the show has yet to discuss her, showrunner Clyde Phillips revealed her fate in an interview.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Dexter: New Blood.]

Yvonne Strahovski as Hannah McKay in Dexter | Randy Tepper/Showtime

What happened to Hannah on Dexter?

Hannah became Harrisons guardian in Dexter Season 8, after Dexter decided not to join them in Argentina. It was later reported that he was presumed dead after his boat capsized during Hurricane Laura. But in reality, Dexter had faked his death to go into hiding. The final scenes revealed he had fled to Oregon and become a lumberjack.

Eight years later, Dexter has a completely different life  but in Iron Lake, New York, a fictional small town that affords him more privacy. He uses the name Jim Lindsay, works at a local hunting supplies store, and dates the local police chief. But everything becomes threatened when Harrison shows up.

While Dexter initially sends the boy away, he has a change of heart after a kill, during which local bad boy Matt Caldwell blames his father for his behavior. Wanting different for Harrison, Dexter makes it to the bus station just before Harrison leaves and invites him to come home.

RELATED: Dexter: New Blood: Michael C. Hall Breaks Down Why Dexter Finally Snapped

Hannahs fate, revealed

While Harrison has yet to tell Dexter about Hannah, Phillips revealed her fate on the Dexter: New Blood Wrap Up podcast. He was discussing Harrisons life when he revealed Harrison had been placed in the foster care system after Hannah died of cancer.

Harrison has traveled the world to find his father, having thought that his father had died in the hurricane in the last episode of season 8 and then having learned that indeed from a letter that Dexter had sent Hannah, Yvonne Strahovski, that Dexter had indeed survived, he shared, around the 35:00 mark. And as any teenager with a laptop can do, he found his father, from Argentina to Miami to Oregon to Iron Lake, New York.

Phillips continued: [It shows] how obsessed he is, how much he needed a father. He was alone in the world. His mother had been murdered, his stepmother had died of cancer, he was shipped off to the foster care system in the U.S., and he was a teenager. Nobody wants a teenager and so he was mal-treated and said basically, f*** it, Im gonna go find my father. And he did.

Strahovski first revealed she would not be in the show in a May appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. She didnt know how the revival would address Hannahs absence but shared a fun theory that Harrison had maybe killed her. I dont know. I dont know anything, she added.

RELATED: Dexter Fans React After Yvonne Strahovski Says Shes Not in the Revival

What to expect next on Dexter: New Blood

As Dexter tries to get to know his son, the heat will be coming down over Matts death. Dexter thinks he can get away with it, but Matts dad, wealthy and powerful businessman Kurt Caldwell, is serious about finding his killer. It all leads up to a finale that Phillips promises will blow up the Internet.

Its going to be surprising, inevitable and its going to blow up the Internet, he told TVLine. It is, I personally think, the best thing Ive written. Our director Marcos Siega, who could not be more experienced and a better friend of the show, thinks its the best thing hes ever directed. I havent seen it yet, by the way. I only saw it get shot. Were editing Episodes 7 and 8 right now, so I havent seen 10 yet. I cant wait, to tell you the truth.
Father, son, and House of Gucci, Lady Gagas Patrizia Reggiani says in Ridley Scotts film House of Gucci. The movie features big names like Gaga, Adam Driver, and Al Pacino. It tells the story of the 1995 murder-for-hire of Maurizio Gucci, including the conviction and trial of his ex-wife. Neither Reggiani nor the great-grandchildren of Guccio Gucci are happy with the film, and there are a few reasons why.

Al Pacino, Marco Piraccini/Archivio Marco Piraccini/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images | Aldo Gucci, Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Gucci family is disappointed in Ridley Scott for stealing their identities to make a profit

House of Gucci has yet to be released in theaters, but the Gucci family has been talking about it since pre-production. We are truly disappointed, Patrizia Gucci, the second cousin of the late Maurizio Gucci, told The Associated Press in April 2021.

They are stealing the identity of our family to make a profit, to increase the income of the Hollywood system. Our family has an identity, privacy. We can talk about everything. but there is a borderline that cannot be crossed.

The movie is based on Patrizia Guccis 2015 book Gucci, The True Story of a Successful Dynasty, so she reached out to Ridley Scott and his team for clarity. Ultimately, she never heard back.

Al Pacino in House of Gucci is really ugly according to Aldo Guccis granddaughter

Patrizia Guccis disappointment spans all aspects of House of Gucci, from the story to the actors hired to retell it. She especially has a problem with Pacino, who portrays her grandfather in the movie.

Pacino plays Aldo Gucci in Scotts film. Patrizia remembers her grandfather as the expert salesman responsible for the brands VIP clientele and global reach. [He] was a very handsome man, like all the Guccis, and very tall, with blue eyes and very elegant, Patrizia tells The Associated Press.

He is being played by Al Pacino, who is not very tall already, she adds. This photo shows him as fat, short, with sideburns, really ugly. Shameful because he doesnt resemble him at all.

Patrizia Reggiani is annoyed with Lady Gaga, who didnt want to meet her

Its not just the Gucci family who are upset with House of Gucci. Patrizia Reggiani is also upset about aspects of the film.

I am rather annoyed at the fact that Lady Gaga is playing me in [House of Gucci] without having had the consideration and sensibility to come and meet me, Reggiani told Italys ANSA news. She pointed out how she wont be making any money from the movie based on her conviction and trial. I think it is not right that I wasnt contacted, the former Gucci said. And I say this with all the sympathy and appreciation that I have for her.

Instead of contacting Reggiani directly, Gaga took a different approach to character study. The pop star combed over articles and videos of Reggiani to approach the role with a journalistic spirit.

The actress and singer, Lady Gaga stars in House of Gucci as Patrizia Reggiani, a roll that she says was not easy.



Get more on this story: https://t.co/x8FRH0UkQa pic.twitter.com/PwRDKJ1X1w  Sky News (@SkyNews) November 10, 2021

RELATED: The Last Duel Star Adam Driver Gets Annoyed by 1 Question Regarding His Acting Career

I only felt that I could truly do this story justice if I approached it with the eye of a curious woman who was interested in possessing a journalistic spirit, Lady Gaga told British Vogue. In this way, she felt she could read between the lines of what was happening in the films scenes.

Meaning that nobody was going to tell me who Patrizia Gucci was, Gaga added. Not even Patrizia Gucci.

See House of Gucci in theaters beginning Nov. 24, 2021.
Its easy to believe that Queen Elizabeth II has the most power in the royal family. After all, she is the reigning monarch.

However, according to a royal expert, Kate Middletons influence should not be overlooked. In fact, the expert believes the Duchess of Cambridge might be the most powerful royal at the moment.

Kate Middleton | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Kate Middletons popularity has grown during the pandemic

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has forced many people to rethink the way they approach work. In Kates case, the duchess has managed to make the most of the difficult situation.

For example, when the United Kingdom was on lockdown, she continued to carry out royal engagements. Like many folks around the world, Kate jumped on Zoom to work with charitable organizations and promote important causes.

Additionally, Kate worked with the National Portrait Gallery to publish a photo book called Hold Still. The book, which was released in May 2021, features 100 images that document life in the U.K. during the pandemic.

Kates recent work has made her more likable to the public. Author Katie Nicholl explained to 60 Minutes Australia, I think some people might say that the lockdown that weve experienced herewell, three of themin many ways was the unlocking of Kate. I think that the public got to see more of the true duchess than theyve ever been able to see before.

A royal expert says Kate Middleton might be the most powerful person in the royal family

RELATED: Kate Middleton Inspired Her Parents Successful Business When She Was 5 Years Old

According to journalist Camilla Tominey, Kates influence on the royal family is one that should not be discounted.

This is often overlooked, but she is arguably the most powerful person in the royal family, Tominey said in a video for The Telegraph, because she is the wife of a future king and the mother of a future king.

Many people compare Kate to Meghan Markle, who married Prince Harry in 2018 and stepped down as a senior royal in 2020. However, Tominey does not believe there is any competition between them, given Kates role.

You could say, when it comes to their generation, you could say [Kate and Prince William] are ruling the royal roost, Tominey said.

Can Kate Middleton become queen after Queen Elizabeth dies?

RELATED: Kate Middleton Tried to Help Meghan Markle Adjust to the British Way of Life, Royal Commentator Says

Kate and William are a lot more popular than Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, who are next in line to the throne. According to research firm YouGov, Kate and William rank 4th and 3rd, respectively, in popularity. Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla are 6th and 10th respectively.

There have been a lot of questions about whether the crown could skip Charles and jump straight to the Cambridges after Queen Elizabeth dies. However, this does not seem to be something the royals support.

The Queen doesnt believe in breaking the rules, she does not want Charles to step aside when she passes, royal expert Simon Vigar said, according to Express. William doesnt want that to happen.
Get ready for an explosive crossover, Greys Anatomy and Station 19 fans. On Thursday, Nov. 11, the two Shondaland shows return from the break, and ABC doesnt want you to miss a moment. Ahead of the big event, the network released a new promo trailer for episode 5 of Station 19 Season 5 and Greys Anatomy Season 18  and ultimately, fans will want to watch live because it seems death is on its way.

[Spoiler alert: This article contains spoilers from episodes 5 and 6 of Station 19 Season 5 and Greys Anatomy Season 18.]

The new Greys Anatomy Season 18 Episode 5 and Station 19 Season 5 Episode 5 promo confirms a firefighter gets hurt

RELATED: Greys Anatomy: Addison and Merediths Scene About Derek Will Break You

The preview for episode 5 of Greys Anatomy Season 18 and Station 19 Season 5 starts with an explosion that shakes Seattle from the firehouse to Grey Sloan Memorial. No one knows what caused the explosion. But the promo briefly highlights a decimated neighborhood as the Station 19 and Station 23 teams try to evacuate the residents.

Later, its clear every house in the neighborhood can be ignited, and Andy Herrera (Jaina Lee Ortiz) says theyre in the deep end and instructs everyone to pay attention or they might get hurt. Then Theo Ruiz (Carlos Miranda) runs through the chaos with worry spread across his face as someone points toward the sky in the background. Someone is hurt.

In the next shot, a member from the Station 19 crew heads up a ladder, and Jack Gibson (Grey Damon), Robert Sullivan (Boris Kodjoe), and Dean Miller (Okieriete Onaodowan) hose down a massive fire down below. Then two people are spotted on the ladder. One is unconscious after an explosion and the other tries to help. Andy and Jack look up at the horrific sight, and Maya Bishop (Danielle Savre) jumps into action alongside Sullivan before Travis Montgomery (Jay Hayden) calls for an ambulance.

The Greys Anatomy and Station 19 trailer suggests someone dies on arrival in the next crossover

Caterina Scorsone as Amelia Shepherd in Greys Anatomy Season 18 Episode 5 | Bonnie Osborne/ABC via Getty Images

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The setting shifts to Grey Sloan midway through the Station 19 and Greys Anatomy crossover trailer. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) warns Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) about the massive trauma that will come from the explosion. Then Megan Hunt (Abigail Spencer) looks surprised as she enters the operating room, as if her patient is someone she knows.

Later, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) looks worried, but dont fret. Shes safely in Minnesota with Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone), Tom Koracick (Greg Germann), and Nick Marsh (Scott Speedman). But then the teaser suggests that Ben Warren (Jason George) is in danger.

Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) says shes been trying to call her husband, but she cant reach him. Then a clip of Ben flashes by, and luckily, hes clearly alive with Jack. However, the Greys Anatomy and Station 19 promo confirms not everyone will survive during Bens segment. Travis also tells someone at the hospital that there was a second explosion, and Megan breaks down as Owen seems to experience PTSD.

Finally, the Station 19 and Greys Anatomy preview ends with the narrator urging fans to watch this crossover event live. Then we find out why. Bailey notices a silent ambulance approaching the hospital. Suddenly, she confirms what many fans fear the most.

No siren, no rush, Bailey says. Theres a dead person in there.

Who dies in the Station 19 and Greys Anatomy crossover on Nov. 11, 2021?

James Pickens Jr. as Richard Webber and Chandra Wilson as Miranda Bailey in Greys Anatomy Season 18 Episode 6 | ABC/John Fleenor

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Now, many Greys Anatomy and Station 19 fans are wondering who dies in the next crossover on Nov. 11. As always, viewers will just have to wait and see what happens. But Victoria Vic Hughes (Barrett Doss) suspiciously missing from most of the new promo. So while the preview suggests that Ben could die, Vic is the one who isnt shown in the midst of all the chaos.

Meanwhile, we believe a member from Station 19 or Station 23 will be dead by the end of the crossover. According to the synopsis for episode 6 of Station 19 Season 5 on Nov. 18, both teams will come together to toast to loved one they have lost. New photos from Greys Anatomy Season 18 Episode 6 also confirm most of the Grey Sloan doctors will survive the event.

Owen, Megan, and Cormac Hayes (Richard Flood) gather around Farouk Shami Hunt (Bardia Seiri). The photos also show Bailey celebrating Thanksgiving at the hospital. Shes with Richard Webber (James Pickens Jr.), Levi Schmitt (Jake Borelli), Nico Kim (Alex Landi), and Jo Wilson (Camilla Luddington).

Bailey also seems delighted with those around her. So while Ben isnt shown celebrating with his wife, it doesnt look like Bailey just lost the love of her life. Its also possible Ben chose to spend the holiday with his fellow firefighters. As mentioned, Station 23 and Station 19 will get together to mourn the ones they lost. But whatever happens next, we know its going to be heart-wrenching. Stay tuned.

Station 19 Season 5 Episode 5 and Greys Anatomy Season 18 Episode 5 air Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. The new episode will drop on Hulu on Friday.
Airmen receive medals ahead of Veterans Day

2nd Lt. Luke Wales, Staff Sgt. Ivan Bustamante and Staff Sgt. Lorenzo Tafoya all stand ready to receive medals for the hard work and perseverance during Operation Allies Refuge.

FAIRCHILD AFB  Several airmen were recognized Nov. 1 for outstanding achievement in helping with airlifting people out of Afghanistan.

The airmen from the 92nd Security Forces Squadron, 92nd Mission Support Group and the 92nd Air Refueling Wing recognized here are 2nd Lt. Luke Wales, Staff Sgt. Ivan Bustamante and Staff Sgt. Lorenzo Tafoya .

They were part of "Operation Allies Refuge" the largest U.S. non-combatant withdrawal and humanitarian airlift that evacuated 124,000 refugees out of Afghanistan.

The trio deployed to initially complete nine flight missions for Air Mobility Command as Phoenix Ravens, personally moving over 2,100 passengers out of Hamid Karzai International Airport in Afghanistan and to a U.S. command area of operations. They helped develop security arrangements on multiple occasions to guarantee the security in flight and on the ground during the transports.

Phoenix Ravens are a specialized military security detail in which there are only about 3,000 current service members that have graduated from the program, Wales said. They are specifically trained in use-of-force and hand-to-hand combat, and both lethal and non-lethal weapons in and around aircraft environments, he said.

Wales said they are trained to handle extreme situations, but said everyone they interacted with during these missions were grateful for the help.

Bustamante said it was an extremely emotional time for a lot of the refugees as women and children were crying and sobbing, and in one instance he remembers a male evacuee "kissing the ground of his homeland because that refugee might never return."

"We felt that training adequately prepared us for the job mentally and physically," Wales said.

Bustamante said some of the missions would last 26-30 hours and that they would only get 5-6 hours of sleep between missions.

The schedule lasted for close to two weeks, he said.

As an officer, Wales was needed in terms of managing and overseeing 86 Raven teams during the final 41 flight missions, said Air Force Maj. Brian Slater, 92nd Security Forces Squadron commander.

"I was just honored to be a part of it," Wales said. "The nation called and we had the opportunity to be at the closest point essentially to help."

Fitting so many individuals on the C-17 cargo and transport planes was tricky at times,

"It was very intense bringing them on and trying to ensure their safety," he said.

Communication was a minor issue, but Wales said the aircraft had plenty of interpreters directing and assisting the refugees.

Wales was born in Medford, Ore., and raised in that area until he joined the military at age 18. He has been a serviceman for 14 years.

Wales closely followed the situation in Afghanistan and anticipated becoming involved, he said. Although a recent graduate of the Phoenix Raven qualification course, he said he felt a little uncertain at first.

Wales said he did receive the call to suit up for Operation Allies Refuge and sent to Rammstein, Germany, 12 days before the final evacuation day.

Matthew O. Stephens The servicemen were all awarded with this medal during the presentation.

The individuals helping get the refugees off the aircraft worked very efficiently to get the evacuees to staging areas for medical care and food, as well, Wales said. As flights progressed, they developed better systems and ways to seat passengers comfortably and eventually added flight medics to help refugees with flight sickness.

"For the majority of those people, it was their very first flight," he said.

Bustamante said the missions were well-coordinated with the Army and Marines.

Because they were setting exact evacuee numbers for the Ravens, they were able to know how many people would need to fit on an aircraft during each flight, he said.

Tafoya said it was good to work with other branches of the military.

"They get trained differently than we do and it's nice to see how the differences can mesh together to complete the mission," he said.

Reporter Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at reporter2@cheneyfreepress.com
The opening scene of Confetti brilliantly sets a tone of frustration for the rest of the movie.

A nicely dressed woman says, Talk about persistent and angrily presses play on a voice recorder, on which we hear a different female voice speaking in Mandarin. Clearly annoyed, the woman scoffs: Is this all in Chinese?

Unknowingly, the viewers have made judgments within seconds about the first woman who enters the office, as well as the second woman speaking Mandarin on the recorder. We make these judgments based on little to no information about the two women other than a few sound bites, which Hu challenges as the movie progresses. It all sets up the clearly presented themes that can be seen throughout the rest of the film: normal vs. abnormal, the individual vs. the group, judgments, and persistence.

The woman speaking Mandarin on the recording is Lan Chen (played by Zhu Zhu), a Chinese mother who desperately desires for her daughter to be given an opportunity to a better life through education. Zhu, recognizable from Cloud Atlas and Marco Polo, beautifully plays a severely stoic woman who has buried and brushed off hardship she had to suppress in order to survive. On the recording, we learn that Lans daughter, Mei Mei (played by a delightful Harmony He) has some type of disability and that the woman listening to the recording is Dr. Wurmer (Helen Slater), the director of an American school that can potentially help her.

The next scenes skip back in time and portray Lans life in China before coming to the United States to find a school for Mei Mei. Lan and her husband are faced with an issue that is familiar to so many parents: finding a school where Mei Mei can thrive. It is clear that Mei Mei is very bright, but Lan knows from her own experience that without the proper teaching, her academic and creative abilities will be stifled for the rest of her life. Lan decides against this future for her daughter and makes the difficult decision to leave China and her husband so that Mei Mei can study in America.

This theme of the individual vs. the group resurfaces again when Lan is called into a meeting with a Chinese principal. He says that although Mei Mei is lovely, she is very behind in her studies compared to the other students. Mei Mei is again judged based upon her falling outside of the normal and acceptable standards of the group. There is no allowance for deviance outside of the majority, and therefore there is no room for Mei Mei at the school. We find out that the same thing happened with Lan at her school when she was younger through a flashback. In both Lan and Mei Meis life, they were rejected and told to go elsewhere because they were different.

The rest of the movie shows us the new life that Lan and Mei Mei make in America. They go to live with Helen, an older disabled woman who lives by herself and uses a wheelchair. Amy Irving plays Helen deftly, with a rigid yet warmth that comes across the screen very well. Despite Helens initial reluctance to take Lan and Mei Mei in, she is won over by them. She becomes inspired by Mei Meis special view on the world and obvious bright charm.

Through Lans work experiences, the viewers see a common immigrant struggle in the United States. These scenes are all too familiar to many children of immigrants who witnessed their parents toil and labor, often receiving payment under the table. The immigrant struggle is beautifully portrayed here, nuanced but effective. As a mother and daughter of immigrants, I resonated with Lans tenderness.

This heartwarming movie displays the unwavering love of a mother for her child and the tenacity she has to give her daughter everything she did not have herself. Parents that have children who have disabilities might also be encouraged and relate with seeing the perseverance of Lans advocacy to provide her child the appropriate care and education in order to thrive.

We can also learn a valuable lesson from Mei Mei: sometimes parents or guardians try to fit them into a mold, but the path a child chooses on their own is the best one. Although Lan wanted to spare her daughter from the personal trauma of rejection she experienced, she did not realize that Mei Mei was not affected in the same way she was. Perhaps the biggest lesson we could learn from Mei Mei in Confetti is that being rejected because you fall outside of what is considered normal is not necessarily a bad thing.

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Like Mei Mei, maybe we should embrace and welcome being different and celebrate it. It could be the best thing to happen to you in a world that no longer takes the time to see the real beauty before us in everyday and simple things, such as paper confetti dancing along the wind.

To see Confetti now, groups can request to host a screening.

Lora Kwan is committed to walking with marginalized and vulnerable people towards wholeness. Through her pastoral care counseling ministry, she has the privilege of being witness to the restorative power of the Holy Spirit, and the unfathomable love that God has for His children. She seeks to embody Christ to all those that she meets, and cares deeply for people affected by the great injustices present in this fallen world. She hopes to be a peacemaker and bridge for racial reconciliation, as well as a champion for cultural connection. Lora is currently pursuing a Masters degree at Wheaton Humanitarian Disaster Institute.
Last Friday, both chambers of Congress passed an infrastructure bill that will commit more than one trillion dollars to Americas deteriorating roads and bridges, making life easier for pedestrians and bikers, improving broadband access, and renovating suffering public transit systems.

This bill has been closely tied to Bidens Build Better Back, legislation that would invest heavily in climate change and social policies. While the bill had passed the Senate in July, Progressive Democrats in the House had wanted to hold out on passing the bill until Build Better Back first passed.

But mustering support for that initiative has been challenging for Democrats, including from within their own party. Last week, West Virginia senator Joe Manchin suggested his refusal to support the bill was because it didnt share enough of the other sides interests.

"While I've worked hard to find a path to compromise, it's obvious: Compromise is not good enough for a lot of my colleagues in Congress. It's all or nothing, and their position doesn't seem to change unless we agree to everything," Manchin said in a press conference.

Though Manchin and fellow Democrat Arizona senator Krysten Sinema have insisted that their holding out is part of a commitment to look out for the interests of everyone, some suggest that their posture is actually selfish.

"It is simply not fair, not right that one or two people say: My way or the highway," said Vermont senator Bernie Sanders.

Amy E. Black is professor of political science at Wheaton College and author of several books, including Honoring God in Red or Blue: Approaching Politics with Humility, Grace, and Reason.

Black joined global media manager Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss what compromise is, why Christians often make it harder for Christian leaders to practice it, and why politicans have become so loathe to work across the aisle.

What is Quick to Listen? Read more.

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Follow this week's hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen

Music by Sweeps

Quick to Listen is produced Morgan Lee and Matt Linder

The transcript is edited by Faith Ndlovu

Highlights from Quick to Listen: Episode #288

Starting with the basics, what is compromise and what is not compromise?

Amy Black: That's so important because this word has become such a boogeyman for so many people as if compromise is evil. But what I think is important for us to remember is that compromise is pretty much a part of our daily lives. So, when we talk about compromise, what we're really talking about is reaching an agreement when we have differences. It's a helpful process for navigating life together because frankly, we all have differences. There are times, and it's nice, but rare when everyone agrees, we have a unanimous agreement and we can move forward, but there are lots of times when not everyone agrees.

There are three possible options. One; someone can force a decision and that's what we usually call authoritarianism or domination and if someone forces the decision, lots of people are unhappy and basically, no one except the person making the decision has agency. If we cant agree, nothing happens so we just have a stalemate or a third option, and this is the way of compromise. We can find a way to compromise, and we reach an agreement that everyone can live with. When we talk about compromise, usually we're talking about two essential pieces. One is that we're coming into something where there's willful opposition.

People have differences of opinion and you're coming together to resolve those differences and as you do, there's mutual sacrifice. We are on opposing sides perhaps, but we can come together and each side sacrifices some of what they want to get something good.

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We accept compromises in our daily lives often I think without even realizing that we are compromising, because this is how we get along with one another and even more importantly, I would say, this is how we love each other well, anyone who is acting in places where they are not all alone, all of us living in community. All of us are probably compromising every day on little things, and we don't even think about it, but it does make our life together more peaceful and frankly more possible.

Ted Olsen: If politics is about generally trying to seek the common good, one of the things we have seen in culture, whether it's reality or perception is that poll data shows that people feel like they have radically different views than the other side about what the common good is.

One survey from last November during the election period showed that 80% of Biden voters, 77% of Trump voters said, not only do we have different priorities when it comes to politics, but we fundamentally disagree about core American values.

Is politics about reaching a consensus about things for the common good? Is it about finding where our areas of the common good overlap? Is it about some things that are not for the common good, where it's harmful to society but it could be voted for, and we'll do something else that will ameliorate the negative effects of that?

What is compromise when we say it in a polarized political environment?

Amy Black: Something that might be helpful is just to realize that there are different kinds of issues that we debate in politics, and I think what's happened is we've conflated them. The social science terms which are complicated or wrong, hard issues, and easy issues are what we call them, but let me explain what we mean. When we talk about political issues, I think it's important to recognize what is the point of disagreement. A lot of times in a lot of our rhetoric we immediately go to, they are wrong, I am right. I'm on the side of the angel. They are evil before we even know if we disagree or not. So, when we talk about issues it's super important that we discuss ends and means, goals, and ways that we achieve those goals. There are some issues, and these are the issues in which I would say we probably can't compromise, or it's going to be much more difficult to compromise. There are issues in which we disagree on the end goal, what I think is for the common good, you do not think is for the common good, that's going to be hard, and a lot of these issues are issues that we think of as classic cultural issues, moral issues. We're going to run into this a lot on issues related to abortion. We're going to run into this a lot on issues related to sexuality.

Sometimes at the end of the day, there's very little or no room to compromise because we just disagree on what we're doing. But so much of what's going on in Congress and infrastructure would fit right into this I think, we're not battling about end goals.

We agree with the end goal, we have a shared sense of common good. We just don't know how to get there. I think most people would agree, poverty's a bad thing and we would like to alleviate it. But we disagree a lot over what's the best policy, what's the best way to help decrease poverty. We don't want violence.

We don't want crime. We don't want terrorism. There are lots of things we don't want, but trying to figure out how to fight terrorism most effectively? How do you fight crime most effectively? What policies are going to help alleviate the effects of crime? Those kinds of questions, super complicated and super difficult.

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But that's where I feel like there's often more room for compromise because if we agree on an end goal, then we recognize we both want to get somewhere and roughly the same place, but we're looking at it differently. If you look at the current bill we're talking about for today, the infrastructure bill, most people in both parties would agree, not everyone, but there's general agreement that American infrastructure is crumbling.

We've tried to get these major infrastructure bills through for many congresses now and have not been successful. So, I think there are people of goodwill in both parties thinking a little investment in roads, bridges, broadband, et cetera, would be a good and necessary thing.

But how much investment, what things qualify as infrastructure, how much to spend, that's where we have to sort of start having those conversations and that's where compromise enters.

Getting into Scripture or theology about this, what examples do we see in the Bible of different folks that we may or may not look up to compromising?

Amy Black: If you want to search for the word compromise we're not going to find that in our English translations of the Bible, but we are going to see this practice that I'm talking about, this idea of how we can learn to love one another well. How can we sacrifice our pride? How can we sacrifice our own needs on behalf of others and its throughout Scripture? Let me just give you a few examples. First and foremost, the Bible just says so much about how we should conduct ourselves and how we should live in community. We are told the great commandments; love God and love neighbor and what does it look like to live that out? In 1 Peter, (1 Pet) Peter says that we should live such good lives among the pagans, that they may see your good deeds and glorify God. We are told the way we live our lives matters. People are watching, and this has kingdom consequences.

In Romans 12 (Rom 12), Paul says, do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you live at peace with everyone. Thats not about not needing vengeance or repayment. Its about trying to live peacefully with people as far as it depends on you, get along, find ways to resolve our differences. In other words, one piece of that might be that idea of compromise.

Galatians 5 (Gal 5) unfortunately speaks to our current politics perhaps more than we want in that. In that chapter, Paul calls us to serve one another humbly in love and I think service and humility are things that we don't see a lot in our politics. He continues, for the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command, love your neighbor as yourself. If you bite and devour one another watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other. Biting and devouring each other strikes me as you could take those words from Galatians and just put them right into our current context.

The most famous part of Galatians 5 (Gal 5) is the fruits of the Spirit. But before Paul encourages us to put on the fruits of the Spirit, he tells us to take off the acts of the flesh. He tells us to move away from that which Satan would have us do. There's a long list but let me just give you the stuff that seems to me that translates directly to how we engage in politics; hatred, discord, jealousy fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and the like. That to me describes so much on social media, so much on the Talk shows on in the evening, on the cable news, and even how people talk about politics with one another, and this is not just other people, this is what we Christians are doing.

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We're showing hatred, we're showing discord, fits of rage and instead, we're called to demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. That's what we're called to do in everything, in politics, in our home lives, at work, with our friends everywhere and I feel like we've just gotten off that mark.

Morgan Lee: You're mentioning a lot of instances where Paul is giving, these mandates of here's how to make it work with other people. But one of the interesting things that Paul ends up advising on is this situation in 1 Corinthians 8 (1 Cor 8) where there's been food that's been sacrificed to idols and there's disagreement among Christians about whether or not it is appropriate to eat that food.

Can you get into Paul's response or how he advises them to work through that and what that suggests about compromise as well, especially in an area where there's a lot of intense moral and spiritual feelings/convictions about how to act in that particular instance.

Amy Black: That passage is an important one and it's one of many where we see in the early church that there are differences and sometimes the differences can't be resolved yet we see that there's room for healthy differences. In this case, Paul is talking about the fact that some feel like they can eat the food sacrificed to idols and some who cannot. He's trying to remind them that God is above all of this. There's no God but one, he says, for even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or earth for us there's but one God, the Father from whom all things come. He's trying to point them to their unity in Christ. So, he's saying, I know we're going to disagree on this and there are these false gods, but we know we have the true God, but then he also says some people are used to this and this is what they've done and so he's telling us that it depends on their conscience. In the end, he says, be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to those who are weak, where someone with a weak conscience sees you with all your knowledge eating in an idol's temple, wont that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?

He's talking about this practice being perfectly fine as long as you understand who the true God is, but for others, this could be a stumbling block. For others, this could confuse them in their faith and so he's saying we need to be careful about that and we need to be concerned about the effect that it has on others, particularly others in the faith.

At the very end, he says, therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again so that I will not cause them to fall. We have to think about what's the purpose, what's the end that we want to seek here. Paul is saying, we're going to have some disagreements and these disagreements are often going to confuse people. What we want is to say what points people to God, what confirms our unity in Christ, and any simple practice that we have that is not essential to our spiritual life, we can give that up if giving that up is helping our brothers and sisters grow in Christ.

Ted Olsen: You have people who say those are great bible verses when you are talking about brothers and sisters who are united in Christ but what about those who say we are not brothers and sisters?

What you do hear on both left and right is questions about partial justice being injustice, or justice delayed being as justice denied. It is a pretty compelling argument about some of the slowness of civil rights issues moving through the political system that you have a lot of leaders saying cultural change takes a lot of time. Don't push for too much in the legislation and in the meantime, injustice prevails.

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You hear this on abortion the Southern Baptist Convention in their last meeting had a fairly big fight over this resolution that was passed at the convention condemning what has been the dominant pro-life effort over several generations of incremental change and instead the Southern Baptist Convention voted to repent for attempting incremental change on abortion rather than pushing for absolute abolition now.

For those of us who say, half a loaf is better than none is that a good principle to operate by? Whats the response that half a loaf is an injustice to the person that needs a full loaf to get their nutrition and survive the day?

Amy Black: This is very much the prevailing analogy, at least in the eighties and into the nineties, this idea of if you want a whole loaf of bread and that's your policy goal and someone else wants something different, if you can get half of that loaf, you haven't gotten the whole loaf of bread yet, but you've at least received part of, you've achieved part of what you wanted to achieve and it's better to achieve some of something than none of something. It doesn't work with absolutely every issue, but I do think that that is a good analogy for thinking about political compromise and even on a tough issue like abortion.

I'm very strongly pro-life. I worked for a pro-life Congresswoman and even got to help work on legislation that we believe moved forward our goals and our concerns. So, on something like abortion I think incremental change often makes sense. I'm not saying it's necessarily the best way I'm saying it's the most likely way.

If you look at abortion, it is a moral issue on which there is significant disagreement. As someone pro-life, I'm going to see that developing life inside of the womb as human life made in the image of God, of infinite worth and value. Someone who disagrees with me from the pro-choice side is wanting to just see it as sort of massive cells and tissue. It's just part of the woman's body until some point, that gets debated, possibly viability, possibly birth. We got some pretty fundamental differences here, but from my position, I'm going to say that's a human life that must be protected and it's an innocent human life that has no agency whatsoever.

So, I want to protect that vulnerable person. If the current law says all abortion is legal and there is something before a legislature restricting some abortions, I would see that most likely I'd have to see the legislation, but probably as a good thing, do I want innocent lives killed?

No, but if this law might prevent 10,000 abortions, I would say we now have 10,000 fewer human lives lost than before. In my mind, that is a moral good and that is something that God would want us to seek. Does it mean I end there? No, but it means that we're looking for opportunities to move forward.

If you look at the abortion statistics, there's been a lot that's gone on. It's been a mix of abortion legislation. There's also been a mix of social service funding, but we've seen abortion rates have gone down a lot in the United States. As someone who's pro-life, I would say that it is a great thing that we have seen fewer innocent lives lost.

Is this compromise in there? Sure. Am I compromising my values? I don't think so because I still am going to finally say we're talking about human lives here made in the image of God, of infinite worth and what we need to do is see how we can protect them and protect as many as we can.

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Morgan Lee: Interestingly, you're talking about this through the lens of abortion or in some ways almost a single issue. To what extent, if you are someone who ended up being animated by a particular issue, does it become a little bit easier to understand how and when to possibly compromise, because it creates almost a hierarchy of priorities.

For instance, you might be fine passing some legislation that you feel like is pro-life even if it increases government spending significantly because you know that ending abortion or fighting back against abortion is your number one concern. We've seen politicians who are ostensibly pro-life and yet at the same time may have significant issues about raising government spending and so they would not pass a particular bill because of concerns about that.

Do you think that it is helpful for Christians to rank the things that are most important to them and then try to see how they can elect officials who carry out those political priorities as to how they rank them?

Is a move towards caring about single issues or using a hierarchy like that a helpful change from the current way which can often result in us getting entrenched in what we would call partisan politics?

Amy Black: There are lots of different ways to approach one's voting choices when we come to an election. We don't have a lot of choices in the United States because of our two-party system, but we still have options and one that you mentioned is this idea of single-issue voting, which is not uncommon, where someone will say there's one issue that is the most important and that's what I care about the most. I will only support someone who is with me on that issue. I understand that and in many ways, respect that my only concern with that is that there's so many issues that are going to come up at different levels that if you only focus on one issue, I think you're also missing a lot of the distinctions and sometimes candidates agree on your one issue so it doesn't help you. I think single-issue voting isnt necessarily a bad thing. I'm just not sure it's the best framework for approaching our elections, particularly as it just doesn't always help you. This idea of having some priority issues, I'm thinking of this, of course, through the prism of my faith, what biblical principles are in play, what do I believe God would seek to have us do? What does it mean to serve the common good? And so what issues are at the forefront for me coming out of those biblical principles and that's a list and it's a list of maybe three, maybe four, maybe five.

There's no magic formula, but I do think that the Holy Spirit is working in our lives and stirs in our hearts about different issues. If you have that list, then you can say, let me evaluate the candidates on my priority issues and see who lines up the most. Rarely is any candidate going to align with us on every issue?

If you find you align with the candidate on every issue, I would just ask you just to make sure that you're aware because it just seems to me that would be unusual. There are so many complex issues that we have to wrestle with.

So if you have that list of priority issues, I think that is a great way to help evaluate candidates and I like it far better than picking a party and going with a party full stop because party issues change, party values change, party priorities change. We've seen that in the past 10 years a lot.

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What I want is allegiance to be to Christ, to God and his principles, to what it means for us to be followers of Christ. That's our first allegiance, not to the Republican Party, not to the Democratic Party. So I need to start with biblical principles, find those issues that align, and then evaluate.

You're gonna evaluate parties that way and you can evaluate candidates that way.

Is there ever a time when we should not be willing to work with people with who we may disagree on other issues?

Amy Black: I just have a hard time seeing how that stance is helpful. It seems to me that we should be listening to everyone. Respecting other people's views doesn't mean we have to agree with them, but look to partner. I guess one way you could even look at it is by using a war metaphor. So my enemy, the person whos against me, I don't want you to hear that I think that someone who views something different in politics than me is my enemy, but many do. What would the Bible say about our enemies? It says, love your enemies.

We're to love those who persecute us. It doesn't say heap hatred back on them. It doesn't give us that path at all. It's not always going to be possible to work with people with whom we disagree, but it often can be and I think that's just both a political opportunity to move forward and a super opportunity for people of faith.

It's a beautiful opportunity for Christian witness to say, we fundamentally disagree on this issue. I'm pro-life or pro-choice and we're just going to have an impasse on almost everything related to that, but I do share some of your views here on social spending and I'm concerned about those single mothers and how they can care for their children. I'm concerned about early childhood education and I'm concerned about childhood poverty. Let's work together on those issues. To me, it's just an opportunity to build community and to help us to show our love for them. Our love for neighbor also comes out in the political positions we take and the political policies that we pursue but it also comes out in how we engage in politics.

If it's politician with politician, elected official with elected official trying to reach compromise on legislation, or if it's individuals interacting on social media, it should all be about love for neighbor.

Ted Olsen: The American political system is also not just about every particular vote but there's a short-term view and there's a long-term view. So thinking through the strategy where, because we're in a two-party system, it does seem to me that there is some legitimacy to saying, I think that this party is heading generally in the wrong direction and the more legislative wins, the more political wins that they receive and the more momentum that party gets, the more the country and that party head in a wrong direction, even if I may agree with the specificities of this particular bill.

If I'm a member of Congress, there would be a strategic goal for opposing something that you might otherwise think is fine or you can meet them halfway on this if we were hoping to create common good on this particular issue, but because I'm thinking that the party is heading in the wrong direction on all sorts of other issues that I disagree with, I don't want them to get wins.

It sounds like from our conversation that you would be saying, that's not a great attitude to have. That's not a good Christian strategy. Am I reading you right or do you think that's a legit strategy?

Amy Black: I understand and can sympathize with the idea that if you see a particular party going in what you believe is the wrong direction, that you're hoping that they won't succeed. I think we definitely in that case should be supporting, campaigning, or voting for candidates of the other party if you will.

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But I think when it comes to governing, that's just not the way to go about it. What's happening right now in Congress is pretty simple and that is Republicans do not work with Democrats and Democrats do not work with Republicans and that's pretty new.

Compromise is super difficult right now, especially in Congress because the leaders in both parties have decided we're going to take a firm party line, and we want everyone in the party to vote together. If you are a good Democrat, you are going to vote the Democratic line. If you are a good Republican, you're going to vote the Republican line and we will not tolerate anyone who does otherwise.

That's been the model for the last 10 years. In the not too distant past, Republicans and Democrats worked together, particularly Moderates and Democrats controlled the house for over a generation. Republicans would have been shut out if they didn't seek to work across the aisle. But what we saw is that members from both parties worked together on a lot of major legislation.

Democrats of course had more say because they had the majority, but Republicans also had a voice. They also had a chance to be a part of the process. So they were able to help shape public policy. If you're concerned that the other party is going in the wrong direction, maybe you should see if you can work with them, point out what you think is problematic, steer them. Let's say they're going 180 degrees in the wrong direction, maybe you can move them to 90 degrees in the wrong direction. That's at least gotten them closer to what you think is the right direction. I just think it is about, we have to find ways to work together and when we start demonizing the other party, when we start thinking that we're at war, pride is a lot of that too.

I am right. You are wrong. God is on my side and Satan is on yours. We must vanquish this evil. Pretty soon we're into death threats. This is contemporary politics, so I think we have to move away from these us versus them constructions and we have to move in a direction where we realize we're going to fundamentally disagree on a lot of stuff, but we also can work together on a lot of stuff because what's happened in this decade or so, that has been kind of all or nothing, all Republicans, all Democrats will wait till the next election and we're going to win and we don't want you to help us because we don't want you to get any credit that has led to something we call a stalemate.

Congress has not been able to accomplish much. If we want our elected representatives to be able to pass new policy, if we want them to move forward, it helps to have legislation and ultimately practically, historically, it just seems to work better when you have both sides contributing truly bipartisan legislation.

Morgan Lee: For many Democrats, Joe Manchin is the reason why legislation is not getting passed right now and Joe Manchin may be saying he wants to involve himself with the other side. But for many Democrats, Joe Manchin is being arrogant and is wielding his power in a way that feels inappropriate. He is in many ways denying Democrats the ability to be able to pass some of Biden's legislation that it appears otherwise they would be able to pass given that they do have the votes to pass that if he decided to get along with the program. In a quote, he says, I've worked hard to find a path to compromise. Its obvious compromise is not good enough for a lot of my colleagues in Congress. It's all or nothing and their position doesn't seem to change unless we agree to everything.

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In trying to embrace the spirit of compromise, is this the type of leadership on this issue that we would want to use as a model?

Amy Black: We're in a very interesting position with Joe Manchin and of course, Kristen Sinema is right there as well. We have a 50, 50 Senate and if we have a 50 50 Senate, that means that voters in 50 elections voted Republicans into the Senate, and voters in 50 elections voted Democrats into the Senate.

Sometimes we even forget that there are voters behind all of this. We're at this very narrow list of possible margins in the US Senate and it didn't just happen overnight. There are discrete choices behind that so we've got this 50 50 with this evenly split Senate.

So as I mentioned before, right now the politics are all or nothing with each party and you see this very strongly in both parties. It doesn't mean every member of the caucus is going to go along, but pretty much most of them do. I would say we've got a lot of my way or the highway politics from the party leaders.

They expect all of their members to vote in lockstep. They leave no room for compromise. I am the Republican leader and I tell you, you must vote with us and you may not vote with them. I am the Democratic leader, and I say, you must vote with us and you may not vote for them. There's no space for compromise in that posture.

So what's interesting to me here is that any of the Republicans, any of the Democrats in the Senate can defect from falling the party line if they want. They always have been able to, and it's how it's almost always worked. They just aren't doing so because the party pressure is so strong and they are so scared of the implications that they're going to go on lockstep.

So Manchin and Sinema, part of it are because they are Moderates, but probably these two figured out, we're willing to negotiate. We're willing to talk to the other side they're telling us not to, but what's going to happen. And if I'm the only one willing to negotiate, if I'm the only one willing to be a part of this, that positions me well to figure out what I think my constituents need and to get what I want because everyone is now looking to me.

That's what they're doing. Manchin has a lot of power. He's probably the most powerful member of the Senate right now because of this unique position he's in as the only one who's going to move away and Sinema is starting to do that and it may or may not work with their constituents so we can see in the next election.

I have a feeling it's going to work well for Manchin since he comes from a very Republican state, he's protected West Virginia interests in a lot of this compromising. Here's the thing though, any other senator can be joining them. It's not as if they're the only ones who could be part of this compromise and it seems to me that 5 or 6 Republican senators or 5 or 6 Democratic senators saying they want to be a part of this too. Some of this is happening behind the scenes. Don't get me wrong. There's been a lot of compromise going behind the scenes, but we're focusing a lot on Manchin and Sinema because they're most public about it and they often end up being the last person that has to be included. It's a super interesting political dynamic, but we have to remember they're not there on their own because of the choice they made. They're there because the voters have given us a 50, 50 Senate and they're there because 98 of the other members of the chamber aren't willing to compromise on much of anything.

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Ted Olsen: Do you see that lack of compromise being more representative of a shift to passion, to a shift to ideas that they care about, a shift to take a stand, ideological strength? It seems to me that the people who are saying don't compromise are basing that a little bit on standing for what they believe in.

Do you see this split towards more ideological rigor as being a move away from politics as a game view or a move toward politics as a game because we know a lot of folks in politics who get this mindset of how many wins they can rack up? It becomes a little bit less about the common good and becomes a little bit more about sports teams.

Do you see what's going on right now with less compromise and a little bit more hardening on the left and the right as a move away from that view or a move that is happening because more people are viewing politics as a game and war?

Amy Black: I think this is a move toward further gamesmanship and further war mentality. There are so many men and women in Congress that are there with a heart for public service, with a heart for the common good, with a heart for serving their constituents.

But there are a lot of folks that want to win at all costs and public service is probably not that high up on the list of what they're doing and why they're there. When our margins have been so narrow and we have seen party control flipping of these chambers fairly often because they're going in lockstep within the parties, they have made the decision, we're going to make sure that we win at all costs and that the other party gets nothing that can even be remotely seen as a win or a benefit. Its all for us all against them. We don't want to work with them because they are the enemy and we don't want the enemy to win. That's a very common mindset right now in Washington.

Again, not everyone feels this way, but there is that piece. You have to amplify it through all of the different forms of communication that we have. There are a lot of passionate voters out there. There are also a lot of not so sure sometimes they show up to vote they don't. Those are often the ones that decide our presidential elections, but those passionate voters that you compromise because you're compromising your values, even though they may not understand the nuance of what they're having to say, those kinds of voters are the ones that show up in primary elections. Those are the ones that show up in the first step of our process, who pick the party's candidate. So a lot of our politicians have just decided we're going to play to our base. We're going to play to those primary voters and we do whatever they ask.

Primary voters in both parties tend to be more ideologically extreme. They tend to be the least likely to be interested in compromise and they have a sense of ideological purity thats motivating them. If we add all this together, it becomes a big giant game. I play fantasy football. I love professional sports. I think there's a lot of room for some fun and games, but I think we've moved too far from what is the purpose of representative democracy and what is the role of our elected officials?

They are here as our representatives to try to do what they think is best for their constituents and their country, to make hard choices, to use the extra knowledge and wisdom that they're going to gain by being in Washington. Just trying to move us toward the common good. I don't think we're there right now.

Are there some members who act that way? Some senators who are animated that way? Absolutely. But that is not the norm and what we've found is that when current members of Congress go in that direction, the parties can slap them down so fast and you find that sometimes the penalty from the party is just too much.

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In what ways have you observed Christians making it challenging for Christian leaders, politicians, and other church leaders as well to compromise?

Amy Black: One of the things that have happened is that a lot of people, Christians, and of course, people outside of the Christian faith as well have moralized lots of political issues that aren't necessarily about underlying questions of right and wrong and so there are battles in politics.

It's not just a battle, but it's a battle that we're fighting for all that is good and we're fighting against evil, and who wants to compromise with evil, who wants to work with those who are evil? Those phrases are some of the things we've already been discussing in this conversation.

The posture right now for so many and I think well-meaning, it's true in the sense of this is what God wants and I want to be on God's side, and they forget the means and ends here. They forget that the way that we conduct ourselves in public and in private is important to God.

They forget the call to Christian character. Fruits of the Spirit are out of the way they're just at war. How does this make it challenging for other Christian leaders? If people are telling you, you can't compromise or you are somehow not a good Christian, if that's the message that's being sent and it's being sent powerfully, it's hard for pastors and other Christian leaders to try to seek dialogue across differences, to hold a more nuanced view. They're demonized, they get death threats, this is real. If Christians in the name of their religion are sending death threats to another Christian with whom they disagree, we've gotten off the rails here.

We can get far off course when we're in that all-or-nothing good versus evil mindset. So, I think what we need to do is we need to walk back our rhetoric. We have to approach politics with more humility. We have to see that those who disagree with us are image-bearers of God, too, that they deserve our respect.

Even if we think they're our enemies, they're still people we're called to love and they're also still people made in the image of God. I think there are a lot of Christians on both sides that just abandoning biblical principles when it comes to political engagement because it doesn't matter how I just need to win and then we'll get this end goal and God will be happy at the end goal.

So, they're angry. They're bitter, they're prideful, they're hateful and somehow this is okay. I think because they think they're on God's side, but that's not what God calls us to do. That's not what Jesus modeled for us in his life and ministry on earth. We have to model the fruits of the Spirit and what they do.

It's so hard for pastors. It's so hard for Christian leaders when they are just feeling, they're not just feeling under attack, they are under attack and so we have to pull ourselves out of this destructive mindset and I think there is a pretty easy way to do that.

It comes from Jesus himself. We need to just look at the golden rule if we would do unto others, as we would have them do unto us. If that was the way we approached our politics, our rhetoric, and our social media, this would be a completely different environment. It would be a better environment for us as Christians. It'd be a better environment for our Christian witness. It would put much less pressure on our pastors and our leaders who are trying to navigate these incredibly difficult political waters.
Christian actor sues for religious discrimination after firing from Broadway play

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A 2010 Tony Award nominee filed a lawsuit claiming discrimination following his firing from the Broadway show Come From Away after he voiced his objection to a state mandate prohibiting singing in worship settings and questions were raised about his beliefs.

Actor Chad Kimball, nominated for a Tony for his role in the Broadway show Memphis, filed a lawsuit late last month in New York state court against Kiss The Cod Broadway and its management company, Alchemy Production Group. He claims he was let go from the Come From Away production over his religious beliefs.

Kimball had been a cast member of Come From Away since its origin in 2016. The lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by The Christian Post, alleges that Kiss the Cod Broadway and Alchemy Production Group unlawfully terminated Kimball wholly or partly because Kimballs religious beliefs made them uncomfortable.

Kimball is seeking compensatory damages and lost wages.

Kimball took to social media on Oct. 25 to voice his thoughts on the lawsuit.

The Broadway musical Come From Away is a story about a small town welcoming people from around the world on 9/11, regardless of creed, race or religion. However, as the complaint I have filed alleges, some associated with the show have lost sight of that message and have not shown me the same kindness, Kimball argued in an Instagram post.

I hope those at the show who are not a party to this discrimination will understand that I cannot stand by and allow the violation of my protected civil rights go unchallenged: By Gods grace, Everyone of us has worth.

In response to Kimballs allegations, the producers of Come From Away issued a statement to The Christian Post calling his lawsuit unfounded.

Chads allegations are completely unfounded. This very show is built on the power of diversity and we celebrate every voice. We cannot comment further given HR privacy rules, and we wish Chad all the best in his future endeavors.

Kimball told The New York Post that Jesus never commanded us to not defend ourselves.

As Christians, we are commanded to seek out justice, truth and restoration, he contends. The law gives us opportunities to do all of those things.

The lawsuit argues that Kimball was terminated following a tweet he posted last November voicing his distaste for a COVID-19 mandate enacted by Gov. Jay Inslee in his home state of Washington.

The mandate limited religious services and prohibited singing in worship settings in Washington.

Respectfully, I will never allow a Governor, or anyone, to stop me from SINGING, let alone sing in worship to my God, Kimball wrote in the November tweet. Folks, absolute POWER corrupts ABSOLUTELY. This is not about safety. Its about POWER. I will respectfully disobey these unlawful orders.

The actors lawsuit, filed by attorney Lawrence Spasojevich of the firm Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, claims that Kimball was terminated after questions were raised by staff and crew about Kimballs conservative Christian beliefs.

In a phone call on Jan. 18, Producer Susan Frost allegedly expressed concern that the conservative Christian movement was somehow connected to the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol but expressed a desire for reconciliation. But on Jan. 22, Kimball was informed that he was terminated from the show.

Kimball told The New York Post that he felt the Washington state worship restrictions were taking a part of myself from me.

It is not easy for me to not sing, he said. I am commanded to sing. I want to sing. It is my faith.

Spasojevich told the newspaper that that decisions made by the defendants were discriminatory and based on Chads religion.

The lawsuit states that Kimball is a devout Christian. After suffering an injury while serving his role in Memphis, the lawsuit says that Kimball credits his recovery to God. Since then, he has been more outspoken about his beliefs. In October 2016, Kimball was cast in the role of Kevin T. for Come From Away.

The New York Post notes that Kimball attended the Boston Conservatory before traveling to Manhattan to pursue a theatre career. He said Broadway and the Church tend to clash and that Christians can sometimes be looked down upon in the theater world.

Kimballs November tweet was shared by many online, and it had become viral with many negative reactions.

It was obvious that a large swath of people thought I was anti-mask, anti-social distancing and anti-safety, said Kimball to The Post, adding that he had no problem with wearing masks or limiting the number of congregants.

I just wanted to be able to sing in church while wearing a mask and being socially distanced.

In an attempt to explain himself to the Twitter crowd, Kimball sent another tweet to offer clarification.

To be clear: Nobody is going maskless, he had written. The overreach  in my opinion!  is not being able to sing even WITH a mask ON. Everyone will continue wearing masks. With respect and with hope and with care.

Despite his follow-up Tweet, the minds of many Twitter users were not changed. And Kimball said he was confused why so many people were vitriolic in their responses.

Following heated tensions on Twitter, Kimball reportedly reached out to Producer Frost through email.

I told Sue that I tweeted something that caused controversy, Kimball said.

I thought it was an opportunity for [Frost] to say that my place in the show is important and that they would defend me, Kimball said. I started to wonder if I was in jeopardy.

The court document further outlines a discussion between Kimball and the shows director, Christopher Ashley, in February. Kimball asked if the termination was due to the feeling among the cast or because of his religious beliefs. Ashley reportedly told Kimball that it was everything.

The lawsuit contends that as a result of the termination, Kimball suffered economic and professional harm in addition to emotional trauma, depression and illness.
Christian social media influencer gives away her belongings after hearing command from God

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On the eve of her Nov. 3 birthday, outspoken Christian social media influencer Khafi Ekpata of London was in the middle of taking a shower and thinking of ways to celebrate her special day when she believes she heard the voice of God tell her: Just give everything away.

That same day, on Nov. 2, the now 32-year-old host of Premier Gospels Naked Love Podcast posted a video on Instagram announcing her decision to celebrate her birthday in obedience to Gods instruction by offering to give away all of her belongings except for her baby boy.

And she decided to keep only essential items needed to survive.

In the video, Ekpata told her 1.4 million followers to send her a direct message on Instagram if they live in London and are interested in receiving a time and location to receive her items for free.

She said she received close to 200 messages from people interested in receiving some of her belongings.

She told The Christian Post that she gave away electronics, including multiple cameras and tripods. She also gave away makeup, furniture, clothing, kitchen supplies, toaster, microwave and various books.

Over the weekend, she planned to continue her generosity by donating bathroom and cosmetic items, a sofa and more. She kept her bed, oven and washing machine as essentials.

I just felt such peace in my spirit while I was giving things away and I have no plans to replace anything immediately because I want to see how long I can go without non-essentials, Ekpata told CP in an interview.

There were some things that I had to take a deep breath and say nope, give it away because I felt a bit panicked at first about how I can do this. But it felt incredibly liberating and freeing, and I just did it. I kept things I absolutely needed and I gave away non-essentials. God can replace anything. Just give.

Ekpata said she finds that people tend to avoid donating their belongings by making excuses about why they shouldnt  which is something that she had to work through in her own mind.

I think sometimes people dont give away their things because a lot of the times people think they dont have enough or what they have isnt great enough, she said.

Jesus was able to multiply fish and bread. And at first, I was wondering if people would find my stuff useful. And I was very surprised that so many people found my things helpful. God will multiply and magnify what we give. And this is not just tangible items, but Im also referring to sharing physical gifts and talents to glorify God, etc.

When Ekpata first decided she would give away her things, she called her church asking for help to distribute the items. She said that she was told by the church not to give away all your items.

I wanted to be obedient. But oftentimes, our thoughts and the thoughts of others can hinder our obedience to Christ because we often shy away out of fear of what could happen if we take a leap of faith, Ekpata stated, noting that many of the clothing items that she gave away still had tags on them because they were never used.

Ekpata said one factor that encouraged her generosity was watching a sermon by Pastor Michael Todd of Transformation Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which she said was about sowing seeds in all areas of life.

Michael Todd said to bless people with things, and his sermon opened my spirit more to giving to others despite me wrestling with the question: Did God really tell me to give away everything or am I just crazy? she recalled.

Giving to others to fulfill a duty to God was not always Ekpatas priority.

She did not surrender her life fully to Christ until her late teens. She was raised by a Muslim father and a Christian mother.

As a teenager, she did not find herself connected to any religious practice, despite attending many functions either in a church or mosque. But at 17 years old, an encounter with Christ led her to become a Christian.

I was at a function with a group of people, when out of nowhere, I felt a wave of intense loneliness wash over me. And I wondered, how can I be so alone when I am with so many people, Ekpata recounted.

And then I felt the voice of God say: Its Me that youre missing. And I knew it was the God of the Bible talking to me. I responded to God by saying, If thats the case, then I want to know You. And the next day, I went to buy a Bible from a bookshop. And later, I found a church and got planted. And just like that, my faith started up, she continued.

In addition to God and Todds sermon, Ekpata said her baby son also inspired her to do the giveaway.

Its interesting when you have a child because I realized my child is a gift from God, and that brings me to the Bible verse: Freely you have received, freely you should give, Ekpata said. My son makes me want to give away more to others. Obviously, I would never want to give my son away, but he inspires me to give back to others. And I feel like now that I have given so much away, God is now making way for the new to come into my life.

She assured, however, that she does not give for the blessings but to help others and bring God glory.

Ekpata also took to social media on her birthday to share her view on the importance of gratitude in life.

On her Instagram page, she shared a picture of a letter she once wrote at age 13 titled: How I see myself in ten years time. The letter was about what she hoped she would see happen in her life within the decade.

In the letter, the 13-year-old Ekpata viewed herself as stingy and hoped that shed become a more generous person over time.

She also wished that in 10 years, she would be able to say to people that she is helpful, loving and very nice.

Sometimes you need to look back and realize that you prayed for the things you have now, Ekpata wrote on Instagram.

I wrote this when I was 13-years-old. And everything has come true, and more.  Another ten years on and the terrain is bigger and wider and God still isnt through with me yet. Can you imagine?

In the post, Ekpata further detailed how she used to mope around on her birthdays because it reminded her of what she hadnt yet achieved or done. But over time, she said she has learned how to have more gratitude.

[T]his is the first birthday in a while that I am soooo HAPPY, she wrote. Im not looking at what I dont have, but what I do and I give thanks today on my birthday and I will forever more.
'The Gospel of Christ is at stake': Finnish bishop facing prosecution over Christian values

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WASHINGTON  A Finnish religious leader facing prosecution for publishing a booklet promoting Christian teachings about marriage and sexuality is warning that the Gospel of Christ is at stake as Western governments liken such beliefs to hate speech.

The Rev. Juhana Pohjola, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, spoke at the Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious liberty law firm, Wednesday to discuss the prosecution he faces for publishing a booklet titled Male and Female He Created Them: Homosexual relationships challenge the Christian concept of humanity.

Paivi Rasanen, a Finnish member of parliament and medical doctor, wrote the booklet in 2004 when Finland was passing laws treating same-sex relationships as equivalent to heterosexual relationships under the law. The booklet concluded that the recognition of same-sex relationships had a detrimental effect on society. At the time of the booklets publication, the Finnish government was considering legislation that would enable same-sex couples to adopt children.

In his address at Alliance Defending Freedom, Pohjola warned that his prosecution illustrates that the Gospel of Christ is at stake because of postmodernism and its accompanying cancel culture and hate speech laws, which he believes have been unfairly used against him: When postmodernism first swept over Western countries, its basic core was denial of absolute truth. The only truth was that you must allow everyone to have his or her own subjective truth.

This hyper-individualism continues, but it has now a different tone. If you are against LGBTQ+ ideology, so-called diversity, equality and inclusiveness, you are not only considered to be old-fashioned  but rejected as morally evil. This is what the prosecutor general understands her duty to be, to protect fragile citizens and victims from the intolerant and hateful Christians.

After expressing concern about the development of cancel culture in Europe and Finland, he said he agreed with political commentators in the U.S. about soft totalitarianism in Western countries when all aspects of life, media, business, education, culture, courts, army and church parties are taken over by the same ideology that suppresses freedom of speech and suffocates differing opinions and viewpoints.

Pohjola devoted most of his speech to detailing the legal challenge he's embroiled in. He recalled that on April 29, "the prosecutor general of Finland decided to bring charges against me and  a member of parliament, Mrs. Paivi Rasanen.

The indictment accused them of incitement to hatred against a group which falls under the section of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Pohjola read aloud the description of his offense, which stated that he made and maintained available to the public opinions and allegations defaming and insulting homosexuals as a group on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Previously, the Helsinki Police Department pressed charges against me and Mrs. Rasanen arguing that the pamphlet found on our webpage was discriminatory toward homosexuals in August 2019. While the police in charge decided to drop the case, it ended up on the table of the general prosecutors office. Pohjola added that on Reformation Day, Oct. 31, 2019, "the prosecutor general of Finland announced that she had ordered a preliminary investigation on the subject matter.

We were suspected of being guilty of incitement to hatred against a group, he said. The Helsinki Police Department interrogated Pohjola on Feb. 11, 2020. He noted that the interrogation took over five hours and described the questioning as cordial but tough. When asked if he was willing to take the pamphlet away from your website in two weeks, Pohjola said no. He told the audience that If I had said yes, the case  probably would have been settled.

The booklet was one of several published by Pohjola in conjunction with the Detroit-based Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Other books in the pamphlet series discussed issues such as worship, the Lords Supper and sanctification. While the booklet did not generate any media interest at the time as it was just one booklet among the other booklets, it received renewed attention in recent years as the Evangelical Mission Diocese faced scrutiny for declining to embrace the ordination of women" and what he described as "other unbiblical practices.

The series [of pamphlets] was later put on our webpage without any fuss, Pohjola asserted in his remarks. We handed out this Christian teaching on marriage even to all the members in the parliament.

When the prosecutor general has  publicly said that she will give special attention to the hate speech cases when she steps into the office, she, of course, wants to maintain classical Western liberal freedoms of speech and religion grounded on our constitution, he maintained. But she interprets these rights in the light of [the] Equality and Discrimination Act.

Pohjola lamented that the tendency is to interpret more broadly  vague terms like defaming and insulting speech. And the more broadly you interpret them, you do it at the expense of the freedom of speech.

She will take the case if needed through as many appeals through higher courts, even on European Union level, because at [the] European Union level, European Union legislation affects also the national legislation. So we are prepared for it as well and the judgment is important due to [the] precedent that it sets for the future free speech cases.

Prosecutor general has taken out of the context one line from there and one from here, he concluded. In the police investigation  I tried to draw the big picture of the pamphlet, which consists of basic points of Christian teaching, which is clearly all found in this pamphlet.

Pohjola emphasized to government officials that the booklet was based on the premises that We are all created in the image of God, we are all equal and share the inherent equality, We are all part of [the] fallen human race and therefore we are all sinners, homosexuals are not greater sinners than all the others, but nevertheless it is sinful to live in a homosexual relationship according to our faith, and according to the Christian view, sexual life is made to be in the confines of marriage between one man and woman.

While Pohjola stressed that We have again and again said that we confess the God-given dignity, value and human rights of those who we identify them as homosexuals, we also call homosexual acts sinful and in discordance with the created order and the will of God as found in the Bible. He believed that the prosecutor general did not accept this distinction since sexuality is so deeply rooted in the identity of a person.

According to the prosecutor generals line of thinking, If we call the homosexual living style sinful, we deny the dignity of homosexuals. In other words, to reject homosexuality is to deny their human value as human beings and thus degrading their intrinsic worth and thus insulting them and thus defaming them. If you follow this argument to its logical conclusion, the [ramifications] for Christian teaching and religious freedom are severe.

Pohjola attributed his prosecution and the widespread acceptance of the aforementioned line of thinking to the rapid decline in religiosity that has come to define his country: Finland is a modern, safe, clean, wealthy country but on the other hand, it is committing demographical suicide and is under enormous pressure to take more and more immigrants. It is secular and it has lost its Christian and Lutheran roots and families arent doing well, he explained.

This case is only a faint echo of the cultural eruption that is taking place in Western countries, he explained. Although we still have the blue cross in our flag, Finland is not a Christian nation anymore. Church attendance is about 1% and maybe less. The less people know about the basic Christian teaching, the less they understand it and tolerate Christian teaching in the public square.

Pohjola vowed that despite the legal headwinds and consequences he may face, he would hold on to this truth and publicly teach it no matter what the cost is not because we want to wage a cultural war in the society but to call people to repentance and through faith in Christ, receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

When Pohjola finished speaking, Sean Nelson, legal counsel on ADF Internationals Global Religious Freedom Team, discussed the legal implications of this case. Nelson reported that in many third-world and authoritarian countries, We regularly see criminal prosecutions and convictions for blasphemy and so-called religious offense laws in these countries against many different religious minority groups including but not exclusive to Christians.

What we see in many authoritarian countries [is] the use of blasphemy, apostasy and anti-conversion laws to force religious minorities to hide in the shadows in fear of fully practicing their faith, Nelson lamented. Dozens of countries are still regularly enforcing their blasphemy laws in favor of majority beliefs and against minorities. He highlighted ADFs mission to support those charged with blasphemy and seek the worldwide repeal of such laws.

Nelson characterized hate speech laws that have gathered steam in Western countries as secular versions of blasphemy laws. According to Nelson, Both laws are justified by the alleged harm that minority views, very often religious views cause to the majority, that the offense causes emotional and societal harm, even when the speaker is only sharing their genuinely held beliefs. They both work to marginalize certain views and exclude people from government and positions of influence.

They both use broad, ambiguous language and definitions that make it impossible to know precisely what is prohibited and that open the door for arbitrary and biased enforcement and theyre used to coerce others to change their views so that they arent punished, he added.

These are also terrible precedents internationally as they provide cover to dozens of authoritarian governments that say, If the west has no problem criminally prosecuting controversial speech, then whats wrong with us doing that?

Pohjolas speech at the ADF came on the same day that six Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to Nadine Maenza, the chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, urging her to take the Finnish governments actions into consideration when recommending which countries should be added to the State Departments Special Watch List, which consists of countries that are hostile to religious freedom.
Parents sue Florida school district over colluding with daughter to change her gender identity

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Parents in Leon County, Florida, are suing the school district for holding a meeting with their teenage daughter about her chosen gender identity without their knowledge or consent. The parents have warned that the districts LGBT policies create a wedge between students and their parents.

January and Jeffrey Littlejohn filed a lawsuit against the school board, Superintendent of Schools Rocky Hanna and Assistant Superintendent, Equity Officer and Title IX Compliance Coordinator Kathleen Rodgers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on Oct. 18.

In the lawsuit, the Littlejohns accuse the defendants of violating their substantive due process right to direct the education and upbringing of their children under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and other rights guaranteed to them by state and federal law by excluding them from a meeting with school officials discussing their 13-year-old daughters gender identity.

Vernadette Broyles of the Child and Parental Rights Campaign, a legal organization created two-and-a-half years ago specifically to stand with and help parents who are in some way or the other  seeking to protect the well-being  of their child from gender identity ideology, is one of the attorneys representing the Littlejohns in the litigation.

In an interview with The Christian Post, January Littlejohn and Broyles elaborated on the lawsuit and the events that led up to it.

Littlejohn explained that her daughter, who is now a high school student, began undergoing treatment for gender confusion in the summer before the start of the 2020-'21 school year. She attributed her daughters gender confusion to peer pressure from her friend group because three other children in that same friend group had come out as nonbinary or transgender within the previous six months.

While Littlejohn told one of her daughters teachers at Deer Lake Middle School that she was seeking mental health counseling and she was experiencing distress that we werent affirming her at home because we didnt feel like it was in her best interest, she did not expect the school to begin referring to her daughter using they/them pronouns and give her the option to sleep in the same quarters as her male classmates on an overnight school field trip.

Littlejohn only found out that the school had taken such action because her daughter revealed to her that she'd had a meeting about her nickname, with the concerned parent telling CP that thats kind of what we refer to it as.

She said her daughter then asked, 'isnt it funny that they asked me what restroom I wanted to use?'

My daughter has ADHD ... and so to her, this seemed like the silliest thing in the world that they asked her which restroom she preferred to use. That was my first indication that the school had met with her without  notifying my husband or myself, she said.

I immediately called her guidance counselor. The guidance counselor said she needed to call me back. She called me back with the assistant principal on the line. So right then and there, I knew something  felt different about the situation because I had spoken to the guidance counselor multiple times in the past because of my daughters 504 plan  for her ADHD.

Littlejohn accused the school of colluding with my daughter to deceive us so that we would never have known she was going by an alternate name.

The concerned mother also insisted that she "absolutely should have been at that meeting and expressed disbelief that the school that she volunteered at did not partner with them. I was volunteer of the year at that school. It wasnt like I was an unknown parent.

Littlejohn recalled the detrimental impact of the schools decision to hold meetings with her daughter about her gender identity confusion without her knowledge or consent, saying: It created a huge wedge between our daughter and us, as her parents. We have worked very hard over the past year-and-a-half to stabilize the situation through counseling, and I do feel like shes on a better path at this time.

Broyles told CP that the purpose of the lawsuit was to get the school district to rescind the guidance  that was in place that  basically instructed school officials not to inform parents when a child begins to indicate a transgender or LGBTQ+ identity. The attorney expressed particular concern that the guidance implied that outing a student to their parents could be dangerous to a students well-being.

Every time I think about this lawsuit, it really hits me: The district guidance had the message to parents that you dont have the best interests of your child in mind. It sends the message that children need to  be protected from parents rather than by parents, and that is an earth-shattering message that cannot stand, Broyles asserted.

Specifically, the guidance, part of the "LCS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming and Questioning Support Guide," warned that Outing a student, especially to parents, can be very dangerous to the [students] health and well-being because some students are not able to be out at home because their parents are unaccepting of LGBTQ+ people out.

The guidance maintains that as many as 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ+, many of whom have been rejected by their families for being LGBTQ+, suggesting that outing students to their parents can literally make them homeless.

We are seeking that guidance to be permanently removed and replaced with new guidance that complies with the Parents Bill of Rights there in Florida as well as the Florida and United States Constitution that honors the parents right to make decisions for their children, Broyles added. Its really important to recognize that affirming a childs discordant gender identity  involves a significant mental health decision that affects the well-being of children  and with potentially lifelong consequences.

The lawsuit, as summarized by Broyles, is asking the school district to implement new guidance requiring school officials to notify parents whenever their child expresses gender discordance, gender confusion, a different identity other than their physical, biological sex and new policies that provide public notice and a public hearing regarding the new guidance through the school board. Additionally, the Littlejohns are seeking some sort of monetary damages for the  pain and suffering and  the impacts this has had on their family.

Broyles stressed that the situation facing the Littlejohns is not unique: This violation of parental rights is driving a wedge between parents and their children by school officials.  It affects parents  all throughout the political spectrum on both political parties or independents, whether its Christians, Jews, Muslims, atheists, agnostics.  Weve spoken to almost virtually every stripe of parent.

The attorney maintained that the Child and Parental Rights Campaign is working on several similar cases: We hear almost weekly from parents who have  something similar happening to them and their children.

This same guidance I described to you is present on the websites of at least 11 other school districts throughout Florida, Broyles said. She further noted that the Transgender/Gender Nonconforming Student Support Plan included in the "LCS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Gender Nonconforming and Questioning Support Guide" is also on the ACLU's website.

A lot of these documents are already out there and school boards, based on what Ive been told, simply adopt those and put their name on them, Broyles added.

Thats why there seems to be the exact same guidance in multiple counties in the state of Florida and all over the country in all 50 states.

Littlejohn told CP that she's aware of other parents in Leon County that have found themselves in the same situation as herself.

A lot of the parents are really scared to speak out or they dont feel like they can speak out because it would jeopardize the very fragile relationship they have with their child whos experiencing distress related to their gender. She added that she speaks to other families almost weekly to try to help them understand the situation at hand and help them get resources.

She also pushed back on the claim that the school was conducting a benign intervention: Its the first step toward medical transitioning, which is why it is so imperative that parents be included [in] any discussion with their child that could impact the short-term and long-term mental and physical well-being of their child, whether its this issue or any issue. So fundamentally, this is about parental rights and what the schools can and cannot do  without their permission.

Littlejohn emphasized that despite the harm this experience has caused to her and her family, its made our faith grow as Christians. She seconded Broyles assertion that this issue affects all kinds of families and people of all faiths including atheists.

In the time since officials at Deer Lake Middle School first met with Littlejohns daughter to discuss her gender identity, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed the Parents Bill of Rights into law. The measure mandates that important information relating to a child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposely, from his or her parent, including information relating to the minor childs health, well-being, and education, while the minor child is in the custody of the school district.

Additionally, the law directs school districts to work with parents, teachers and administrators to develop and adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school system.

Superintendent Hanna reacted to the Littlejohns lawsuit in a statement to news outlet WCTV: We certainly want to include parents, and with the Parental Bill of Rights, I understand and respect that, but we also have to respect the rights of the individuals, safety of the children we care for each and every day because while the children are under our care we act in loco parentis, on behalf of a parent while theyre under our care.

The lawsuit follows a year of unsuccessful efforts to convince the school district to change its policy. Littlejohn insisted that We tried to do this without filing a lawsuit, which was never our intention.

While the complaint mentions that the district removed the guide from the publicly accessible portion of its website, it alleges that the district did not comply with the Littlejohns request to publish on the Website a written statement that parents would be notified when their child/children express a discordant gender identity and included in meetings or discussions with their child/children regarding their gender identity.

The complaint contends that there is no indication on the website or otherwise that the Guide has been rescinded, only a notation that it is being revised. Additionally, it states that no revised guidance regarding parental notification has been published or provided to Plaintiffs. The website of the Leon County Schools Equity and Diversity Department has a section devoted to the LCS LGBTQ+ Support Guide, which informs visitors that [the] Guide is currently being reviewed and is under revision.

The lawsuit against Leon County Schools comes at a time when parents have expressed an increasing amount of unease with some of the material their children are exposed to in school. In recent weeks, outraged parents and community members in several states have descended on school board meetings to condemn the inclusion of sexually explicit material in books available to students in school libraries and writing prompts in a textbook used in a college-level English class.
Walmart now using fully driverless trucks as automation speeds up in wake of pandemic

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Two years after partnering with autonomous vehicle startup Gatik AI to get goods delivered using autonomous vehicles, multinational retail giant Walmart Inc. said it is beginning to use fully driverless trucks to deliver online grocery orders in Arkansas.

Gatik, founded in 2017 by veterans of the autonomous technology industry with established offices in Palo Alto, California, and Toronto, Ontario, is on a mission is to deliver goods safely and efficiently using autonomous vehicles, according to its website. The companys focus is on short-haul, business to business logistics for the retail industry.

In 2019, after receiving approval from the Arkansas Highway Commissioners office to launch a commercial service, the company began shuttling goods for Walmart in Bentonville using two self-driving box trucks with a safety operator behind the wheel.

In a first for the autonomous vehicle industry, Walmart and Gatik announced Monday that the trucks are now operating without a safety driver.

Were thrilled to be working with Gatik to achieve this industry-first, driverless milestone, Walmart Senior Vice President Tom Ward said in a statement. Through our work with Gatik, weve identified that autonomous box trucks offer an efficient, safe and sustainable solution for transporting goods on repeatable routes between our stores.

Gatik CEO Gautam Narang told CNBC that taking the driver out is the holy grail of this technology.

Having the trust from the worlds largest retailer has been a massive boost for what we do and is a validation for our technology, our solution, our progress, Narang stressed.

Since Gatik began moving goods for Walmart in Arkansas and Louisiana and Loblaw Companies Limited in Ontario, it has expanded into Texas following a Series B fundraising round of $85 million, according to Tech Crunch.

The company now has a fleet of 25 self-driving trucks operating in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, California and Canada.

Gatik began its driverless operations in August, according to TechCrunch. The company has five self-driving trucks operating in Arkansas for Walmart, including the two fully driverless vehicles, which operate seven days per week. The trucks run a 7.1-mile route between a Walmart fulfillment center and a neighborhood market.

However, the company still keeps an employee in the passenger seat of the driverless trucks as a safeguard, and they only operate in fair weather conditions.

It took us about 24 months since our commercial launch to get to a point where we could safely take the driver out, Narang, who says his goal is to scale fully driverless operations across its other sites at a faster pace, told TechCrunch. That time to unmanned will be reducing over time. Basically, getting to fully driverless operations in new markets and in new routes will become faster.

The technological breakthrough comes just three years after 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang warned in his 2018 book, The War on Normal People, that America is careening toward a dystopian future without jobs due to increased automation and technological advances.

Yang, who proposed giving every adult citizen $1,000 a month in universal basic income to blunt the blow from automation, noted at the time that more than 4 million jobs had already been destroyed by robots, software, artificial intelligence, and a third of all American workers were at risk of permanent unemployment.

And this time, the jobs will not come back, he warned.

Among the industries he predicted would be hardest hit is trucking.

The Government Accountability Office released a report in 2019 outlining how federal agencies were not doing enough to prepare for the eventual automation of the trucking industry as consulting firm McKinsey and Company estimated that some 50% of all work activities will be automated by 2055 or sooner.

We are confident that between 2 million and 3 million Americans who drive vehicles for a living will lose their jobs in the next 10 to 15 years. Driving a truck is the most common occupation in 29 states, Yang wrote in his book.

Self-driving vehicles are one of the most obvious job-destroying technologies, but there are similar innovations ahead that will displace cashiers, fast food workers, customer service representatives, administrative assistants, and even well-paid white-collar jobs like wealth managers, lawyers, and insurance agents, he added.

Our economic engine is stalling out in many places, and automation is eliminating livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable Americans in regions across the country. New jobs are less numerous, are most often created in towns located far from those most hard hit, and require far different skills than the ones that are being lost."
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After his active duty with the Air Force, my father then served as a recruitertalking to young people who were considering enlisting. He worked full-time elsewherebut as he told me oncethe Air Force helped him get started in life and he wanted to help others do the same. Each Veterans Day, he was involved in our local event and knew most of the people who had served.

Honoring veterans became part of my life, too. So, during my freshman year of college, I happily told Dad I was going to a campus Veterans Day event. I was surprised to see so many students already filling the lecture hall. I found a seat in the back.

With military precision, the event started right on time. Despite his age and the crutches clipped to his arms, the vet stood tall. The stage lights reflected off the shiny buttons on his Army uniform. He scanned the crowd. Then he told a story from the frontlinesa battle I visualized through his gruesome details. It had cost him his right leg, and some of his young friends had died that day.

Here was a veteran who had lived through something none of us would hopefully ever see. The room was quiet. While the vets vivid recall gave me shivers, the crowd facing him didnt seem to care. Didnt it matter that his battle wounds helped our nation or that his Army buddies had died?

Then I heard a voice behind me shouting out an anti-war curse. Emboldened, others added their voices to the chorus. I looked around and saw bitter smirks and heard obnoxious jeers. It became louder and more mean-spirited. It had become a protest not an honorable event. The old veteran turned to the side as if wishing someone, anyone, would silence the crowd. No one did.

He lifted his arm, trying to say more, but he could tell no one cared. Hed been our age onceand unlike those in the audience, hed volunteered to serve his country. Hed been proud to make it back home since home was worth fighting for.

The young crowd kept chanting. The veteran looked at us and shook his head sadly. I will never forget his expression. He slowly walked away. The Army soldier hadnt been defeated on a battlefield overseas; defeat had come on a leftist college campus in the nation hed served.

I was ashamed, even if no one else was. I quickly made my own exit. I wish I had tried to find him and apologize. But I wasnt nearly as brave as he had been. But on that bitter Veterans Day, I made a promise to always thank vets for their service. They chose to serve, so I could enjoy my freedom. I was 18 then. Now Im in my 60s. Those students who were shouting out in that campus lecture hall went on to have careers and freedomhave they appreciated it? Or did they just expect to keep those freedoms?

I wish I could say our nation has learned to appreciate those who choose to serve in our Armed Forces. If we hope to remain a beacon of light in a world that has some evil leaders, we cant be weak, weary, or unprepared.

Theres a Bible verse in Isaiah 2 predicting a future time: Nation will not lift up a sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.

That time is not yet here. Until then, God only knows where any of us would be without the sacrifice of our brave military.

Thank you, veterans, you deserve respect and honor.
Biblical archeology sheds light on ordinary people and extraordinary Jesus

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If you believe in the doctrine of the incarnation and in the Trinity, you believe that Jesus lived in a specific place, at a specific time, for specific reasons, and that His humanity is an essential part of His nature. Within our generation, archaeology has unearthed a lot about the part of the world and the time Jesus lived in. If we don't take into account as much as we can about that context, we're ignoring important dimensions to understanding the gospels.

Someone who's furthering that archaeological work is Professor David Fiensy, one of the most accomplished scholars on the archaeology of the Holy Land, especially in Galilee. Professor Fiensy has written many fascinating books about his work, including several focused on his findings on the economics of Galilee. His newest book is The Archaeology of Daily Life: Ordinary Persons in Late Second Temple Israel, and my recent discussion with Professor Fiensy on Christian Post's Business in the Kingdom podcast focused on exactly that: the incredible insights you get when you look into the ordinary.

Here are a few excerpts of our conversation, edited lightly for length and clarity:

The elite archaeological darlings were not Jesus' audience

Jerry: "Why ordinary? That's an emphasis in the book, what's the point of that?"

David: "This is a very incarnational-type of investigation. If Christ were not in flesh, we wouldn't need to study Greek and Aramaic and Hebrew and read Josephus and look at the material remains in the soil. But He didn't just come to speak to Herod the Great and Herod Antipas, the rich and famous. He came to minister to the ordinary person. In the past, our investigations have kind of focused on the lifestyles of the rich and famous, but that didn't really touch on the ordinary person's life. We're seeing in the historical investigation of the time of Jesus a kind of revolution. We're not just looking at the artworks, monuments, cities, magnificent constructions, but we're looking at things that were passed over by previous generations of historians and archaeologists.

"Here's an example: the great Israeli historian and archaeologist Tal Ilan said that in the past, they would discover ossuaries, boxes for holding bones of relatives. Archaeologists used to throw away the bones and examine the artwork on the ossuary, and in her book she points out how that seems backwards. Aren't you interested in the people? They can discover so many things about the person whose bones are in that box! There are pathologists that can look at those bones and tell you what diseases they had, how long they lived, whether they were male or female, if they died a violent or natural death. These are the ordinary people that you can't read about in historical works because the historians talk about the politicians and the wealthy people. We can meet these people in other ways by looking at things in the soil or tombs that were passed over in previous generations.

"Now, nothing is wasted. It's like the difference between what the American Indians did when they kill buffalo and what the white people did: White people shot the buffalo and let them lie there to rot, and the Indians used every part of the buffalo."

Jerry: "So Biblical archaeologists are starting to become Indians and use every part of the dig!"

David: "That's right, we're learning! There's nothing that is superfluous or irrelevant. Ask questions of everything."

Jerry: "Jesus hardly said anything to Pontius Pilate and as I recall, I don't think there's any record of Him ever saying a thing to Herod Antipas. He pointedly refused to speak to him! He did speak to the rich young ruler so I'm not saying he only talked to the people, but he certainly hung out in Bethany which is probably a lower-class town. 'What did you go out into the wilderness to see? [...] A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings palaces.' Jesus had his own bias away from the people who had monuments built around them. For a long time I think archaeology was biased towards the people that Jesus didn't spend much time with, and away from the people that Jesus spent most of His time with."

David: "Yes, archaeology was following the ancient historians. Josephus, who is a Jewish historian, didn't have much good to say about the ordinary person. He's kind of a snob, and when he talks about them he puts them down. He talked about people like himself - an aristocrat, a Roman conqueror. Archaeologists tend to follow the ancient historians. Now, I think there's a kind of a revolution both in archaeology and historical studies. The teachings of Jesus were given to the average, working-class man and woman. Wouldn't we want to know about them?"

Jesus' education is a "tremendous, mysterious question"

David: "[The people of Galilee] were working hard to get their food, their daily bread. Let's not pretend they're white collar, these are working-class people. The bones show that these people worked hard."

Jerry: "The bones are thick or bent. If someone's carrying heavy loads their whole life, you can see that in the spine."



David: "Yeah, I saw a guy live to be 65, which is a pretty good age but his structure was completely deformed. He had enough food to live to be 65, but he had to work hard. So you've got to have all hands on deck. You can't send kids to school until they're 16 or 21, that's just not going to happen in this culture. But somebody who has amazing capabilities is going to learn to read the Torah."



Jerry: "Well Jesus read, He appears to have been literate. He read from the Torah scroll."



David: "It makes tremendous mysterious questions."

Jerry: "Who taught Jesus to read?"



David: "To read, and not just that but to argue with the rabbi. He has rabbinic arguments! He probably had to do midrash."

Jerry: "Have you read Chris Keith on this, Jesus Against the Scribal Elite?"

David: "I haven't read that, no."

Jerry: "He kind of decodes these confrontations with the Pharisees and shows how they're following established rabbinical forms. So maybe Jesus was super unusual in that. I don't know who taught him. Probably not Joseph, he doesn't seem to have been around long enough. Could it have been Mary, who might have been from Sepphoris and more educated? I love this stuff, and I also need to hold it loosely."

David: "I don't think we know, but He's not just an ordinary carpenter. He's not just a guy that makes yokes and plows, he's had special training. It doesn't offend my trinitarian view of incarnation to say he had special educational training."

Jerry: "Of course not! You have to be a docetist to rule out the idea that he learned things, you have to deny the human nature."

David: "Yeah. [Perhaps He learned from] some rabbi. I think that's part of the providential nature of His early life. He's not just some guy from Galilee arguing with these scribes. He went toe-to-toe. That's not easy to do!"

Jerry: "Yes! He knows His stuff. Look at His parables, they're financially sophisticated."

David: "Yeah, they're very artistically-narrated parables. He's a master at telling a story. You raise a great question: He doesn't start His ministry until He was 30, why? Why wait until 30?"

Jerry: "He's learning."

David: "He's in an academy somewhere, like Paul, or some version of that. He may not be in Jerusalem with Gamaliel, but some version of that. He's learning, and at age 30 He's ready to go."
'Depart Haiti now, US govt tells Americans; evangelical pastor shot, child killed

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The U.S. State Department urged Americans to depart Haiti now before not even the government is able to help them leave as widespread fuel shortages triggered by growing violence in the Caribbean nation continued while 17 missionaries, including 16 Americans, were still being held hostage by a local gang demanding a $17 million ransom.

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to make plans to depart Haiti now via commercial means. U.S. citizens should carefully consider the risks of traveling to or remaining in Haiti in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges, a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti said Wednesday.

Widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options. The U.S. Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist U.S. citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable, the government warned. Seats on commercial flights currently remain available.

The Evangelical Theological Seminary of Port-au-Prince said its student coordinator, identified as Pastor Stanis Stifinson, was traveling home through Croix-des-Bouquets with his family Saturday when their vehicle was attacked by gunmen. One of his children was killed in the attack while the pastor and his older son are recovering from gunshot wounds, the Miami Herald reported.

A group of the large family of the UEBH met [on Nov. 8] at the STEP extension campus for a special moment of prayer. We have interceded before God for the country that is plunging into unprecedented instability, for the victims of atrocities that Haitian families know, and especially for the family of the Step Student Affairs Coordinator, the seminary wrote in a statement on its Facebook page Monday. The latter and his entire family were victims of an armed attack while they were returning home.

The attack on the pastor and his family comes some three weeks after 16 American missionaries, one Canadian and a local driver working with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang.

It also comes just days after the United Nations urged its employees to stock up on emergency supplies on Oct. 28.

The U.N. can confirm that a message was sent to all U.N. staff on [Oct. 28] strongly advising them, due to the prevailing security and fuel situation, to stock at least 14 days of emergency supplies of water, food and necessities, Daniel Dickinson, a spokesperson for the U.N.s political office in Port-au-Prince, told The Miami Herald. This advice is in line with the U.N.s security and contingency planning.

Officials at Christian Aid Ministries who continue to pray for the safe return of their workers said earlier that nearly half the country is now under the control of gangs. They also urged prayers for the millions of Haitians trapped in the ongoing upheaval.

The kidnapping took place on October 16 and we are still waiting and praying for the group of 17 to be released, if God so wills. We request continued prayer for the kidnappers, that God would soften their hearts and that they would experience His love and goodness, CAM wrote in a statement Wednesday. As you pray, remember the millions of Haitians who are suffering through a time of serious upheaval and unrest. We desire that God would be their refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble Psalm 46:1.
Pastor John MacArthur rejects online worship, says Zoom is 'not Church

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Grace Community Church pastor and theologian John MacArthur has stated that worship held online does not count as genuine Church, as it goes against the biblical definition of proper worship.

In an episode of Grace to You posted online on Oct. 31, MacArthur was asked his opinion of worship or Bible study held online.

Zoom church is not Church, responded MacArthur. Its not Church. Its watching TV. Theres nothing about that that fulfills the biblical definition of coming together, stimulating one another to love and good works, coming together.

The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day of the week. They worshiped the Lord, they prayed.  It was fellowship and it was the breaking of bread in the Lords supper.

MacArthur stated that Church involves coming together and that it doesnt even function unless people are mutually using their spiritual gifts for one another.

We are only the Church when we are together, he continued. The Church is the Church when it corporately worships, when it corporately prays, when it corporately hears preaching of the Word of God.

He contrasted the concept of Church with parachurch, seeing that as an aid to the Church. The pastor cited his Grace to You broadcast as an example of a parachurch ministry that should not take the place of corporate worship.

Last year, the vast majority of churches in the United States halted in-person worship due to government lockdown measures implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

During that time, most congregations moved their services online, live-streaming worship from most empty sanctuaries via Zoom or other online platforms.

MacArthur and his Sun Valley, Calif.-based congregation garnered controversy when they refused to close down in-person worship during the coronavirus pandemic and defied state orders.

As MacArthur later acknowledged in an August sermon, COVID-19 spread throughout his congregation last winter, as Grace Community did not adhere to public safety guidelines.

After months of legal battles with state and local authorities over the decision to remain open, Grace Community eventually reached a settlement with Los Angeles County and California, in which officials paid $800,000 in legal fees.

After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that some public health safety measures could not apply to houses of worship, resolving this litigation is the responsible and appropriate thing to do, stated a county representative, as quoted by the Los Angeles Daily News.

From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Angeles County has been committed to protecting the health and safety of its residents. We are grateful to the countys faith organizations for their continued partnership to keep their congregants and the entire community safe and protected from COVID-19.
Top US Catholic bishop calls 'wokeness,' social justice movement 'pseudo-religions'

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A top Catholic bishop is slamming wokeness and social justice movements as pseudo-religions that directly contradict the teachings of Christianity.

Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, addressed the Congress of Catholics and Public Life in a video message Thursday.

The Congress of Catholics and Public Life is an annual event spearheaded by the Catholic Association of Propagandists, a Spanish group, and the San Pablo CEU Foundation in Madrid, Spain.

The annual gathering is designed to provide a forum for people to meet and reflect on how to adapt society to humankind and all its dimensions and promote participation in the public forum, so that faith is not relegated to the private sphere only.

Gomez opened his remarks, which were delivered a week before the 2021 conference, saying that he was asked to talk about the rise of new secular ideologies and movements for social change in the United States and the implications for the Church.

Gomez characterized the new social justice movements sweeping the United States and western civilization as pseudo-religions, and even replacements and rivals to traditional Christian beliefs.

He said those new movements include wokeness, identity politics, intersectionality and successor ideology.

He warned that, like Christianity, these ideologies provide people with an explanation for events and conditions in the world and offer a sense of meaning, a purpose for living, and the feeling of belonging to a community.

The archbishop expressed particular concern that these new movements tell their own story of salvation. To illustrate his point, he contrasted the Christian story of salvation with that of the ascendant pseudo-religions.

Under the Christian story of salvation, he said that people are created in the image of God and called to a blessed life in union with him and our neighbors.

Human life has a God-given telos, an intention and direction, he stated. Through our sin, we are alienated from God and from one another, and we live in the shadow of our own death.

By the mercy of God and His love for each of us, we are saved through the dying and rising of Jesus Christ, he continued. Jesus reconciles us to God and our neighbors, gives us the grace to be transformed in His image, and calls us to follow him in faith, loving God and our neighbor, working to build His Kingdom on earth, all in confident hope that we will have eternal life with him in the world to come.

By contrast, the story of salvation as proclaimed in the pseudo-religions asserts that we cannot know where we came from, but we are aware that we have interests in common with those who share our skin color or position in society.

We are also painfully aware that our group is suffering and alienated, through no fault of their own, Gomez added of the pseudo-religion ideology.

The archbishop further argued that the story of salvation embraced by the pseudo-religions also teaches that the cause of our unhappiness is that we are victims of oppression by other groups in society.

We are liberated and find redemption through our constant struggle against our oppressors, by waging a battle for political and cultural power in the name of creating a society of equity, he remarked.

Gomez elaborated on how the critical theories and ideologies are profoundly atheistic, specifically alleging that they deny the soul, the spiritual, transcendent dimension of human nature; or they think that it is irrelevant to human happiness.

They reduce what it means to be human to essentially physical qualities  the color of our skin, our sex, our notions of gender, our ethnic background, or our position in society, he maintained.

The church leader compared the movements to some of the heresies that we find in Church history that see the world as a struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil, reject creation and the body and believe that redemption can be accomplished through our own human efforts, without God.

According to Gomez, the leaders of these movements seem to really believe that we can create a kind of Heaven on earth, a perfectly just society, through our own political efforts.

The Catholic leader argued that those movements have had the opposite effect.

Because these movements deny the human person, no matter how well-intentioned they are, they cannot promote authentic human flourishing, he contends. In fact, as we are witnessing in my country, these strictly secular movements are causing new forms of social division, discrimination, intolerance, and injustice.

Gomez attributed the rise of pseudo-religions to the secularization and de-Christianization of the U.S. and the world.

With the breakdown of the Judeo-Christian worldview and the rise of secularism, political belief systems based on social justice or personal identity have come to fill the space that Christian belief and practice once occupied.

The archbishop concluded his remarks by declaring that the world does not need a new secular religion to replace Christianity. Instead, he believes the world needs you and me to be better witnesses.

We are at risk right now of sliding into a new tribalism, a pre-Christian idea of humanity as divided into competing groups and factions, he concluded. We need to live and proclaim the Gospel as the true path to liberation from every slavery and injustice, spiritual and material. In our preachings and practice, and especially in our love for our neighbors, we need to bear witness to Gods beautiful vision of our common humanity  our common origin and common destiny in God.

Gomez insisted that we should not be intimidated by these new religions of social justice and political identity because the Gospel remains the most powerful force for social change that the world has ever seen. He suggested that the Church has been antiracist from the beginning because all are included in her message of salvation.

Gomez lamented the deliberate effort in Europe and America to erase the Christian roots of society and to suppress any remaining Christian influences. He cited the conferences concern about cancel culture and political correctness, noting that often what is being canceled and corrected are perspectives rooted in Christian beliefs  about human life and the human person, about marriage, the family, and more.

In your society and mine, the space that the Church and believing Christians are permitted to occupy is shrinking, he warned. Church institutions and Christian-owned businesses are increasingly challenged and harassed. The same is true for Christians working in education, health care, government and other sectors. Holding Christian beliefs is said to be a threat to the freedoms, and even to the safety, of other groups in our societies.
USCIRF urges US gov't to add 4 countries to list of worst religious freedom violators

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The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has urged the State Department to add India, Russia, Syria and Vietnam to its list of countries designated as the worst religious freedom violators.

The State Department is expected this month to decide which countries should be designated as a Country of Particular Concern or placed on its Special Watchlist based on religious freedom conditions as per the USCIRFs latest annual report.

In a press release, the commission, a congressionally mandated body of independent experts tasked with advising the federal government on religious freedom issues, says it's reiterating that it has recommended four countries for CPC status that the State Department did not previously designate.

Countries subject to the State Departments CPC designation face negative consequences, including the possibility of crippling sanctions.

The additional countries USCIRF recommends for CPC designation include India, Russia, Syria and Vietnam, the press release says. The additional countries USCIRF recommends for the SWL include Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

In recent years, Christians in India have faced escalating persecution that has seemingly coincided with the rise to power of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The country is ranked by Open Doors USA as the 10th-worst in the world regarding the severity of Christian persecution.

However, allies of the Indian government have worked to pressure the USCIRF to reverse its recommendation that the State Department label India as a CPC.

Indian American Christians are deeply concerned about a campaign run by a foreign Hindu nationalist government through its proxies in Washington to reverse the USCIRF recommendation on India, John Prabhudoss, the chairman of the Washington, D.C.-based Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, said at a panel event in April to discuss Indias Designation as CPC hosted by International Christian Concern.

While the USCIRF included India on its list of countries of particular concern in its 2020 annual report, the U.S. State Department never acted on that recommendation. USCIRF cited the implementation of national-level policies violating religious freedom across India as a cause for particular concern. However, the Indian government rejected the reports findings as biased.

Human rights groups in India said last month they had documented over 300 incidents of Christian persecution in just the first nine months of 2021, warning that this year might be the worst in terms of the number of such incidents in the countrys history.

About Russia, the USCIRF said in its report: For years, the Russian government has conducted a purge of non-traditional religions  Russian courts continue to deliver harsher and more numerous prison sentences for Jehovahs Witnesses seeking to practice their faith. Those on the governments expansive extremism and terrorism list include many who have not been convicted of a crime. Individuals remain on the list even after serving out sentences, with their finances frozen or restricted as a consequence, and their right to participate in religious activity prohibited.

About Syria, the report noted: In 2020 and 2021, both the Syrian government as controlled by President Bashar al-Assad and a variety of non-state actors such as Turkish-backed Islamist groups have perpetrated violations of religious freedom. While in regime-controlled areas the government did not crack down on religious minorities if they had no specific record of political opposition, President Assad continued to progressively co-opt religious authority.

The USCIRF said it continued to receive reports that local authorities in Vietnam carried out physical assaults, detention, imprisonment, forcible confiscation of church properties and assets, and other abuses against members of Hmong and Montagnard Christian communities, including efforts to force these Christians to renounce their faith.
Nashville pastor saves congregants from gunman who attacked during prayer

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A potential massacre at Nashville Light Mission Pentecostal in Nashville, Tennessee, was averted Sunday when the congregations pastor tackled a man who pointed a gun at the congregation from the pulpit while they were in prayer.

He wanted to kill, thats what first came to my mind, Pastor Ezekiel Ndikumana told WKRN about the attack through his interpreter, Nzojibugami Noe.

A 55-second surveillance video shows the tense moments when the gunman police later identified as Dezire Baganda, 26, is tackled by the quick-thinking pastor before he could do any damage in the 10 a.m. service.

The video shows Baganda, who was sitting in the front pew of the church next to the musicians, getting up and pulling a gun from his person with his right hand while holding what appears to be a Bible in his left hand.

He then quickly moved to the pulpit, where he began to wave and point the gun at the congregation.

Police say Baganda told worshipers to get up as he waved the gun at them until Pastor Ndikumana was shown to slip from under his watch. The pastor then used the opportunity to go around the podium to tackle Baganda from behind.

In the video, a few congregants quickly joined the pastor in subduing Baganda as others rushed to the exit.

The gunman was held at the church until police arrived.

The Nashville Tennessean reports that Baganda faces 57 counts of aggravated assault. He is jailed in Davidson County on a $375,000 bond.

He was standing in the front of almost everybody. No one was behind him yet, so he could have done anything, Noe told WKRN.

Pastor Ndikumana strongly believes God used him to save his church.

I would say that God used me because I felt like I was going to use the back door as an example as going on by trying to go behind him. And then I felt the feeling that I would go and grab him and thats what happened, he said.

And his congregants agreed.

We were so shocked seeing him come in the front and pull out a gun, the whole church was calm, church member Akimana Charite told News Channel 5. [W]e thank God if we started panicking, he may have started shooting around. But we all stayed calm.

Thats when one of the pastors, I would say its God using him, he went around on both sides, Charite said. [T]he guy with the gun was not paying attention to him. So he went around. And thats when... he jumped on top of him and put him on the ground.

The pastor told WKRN that while Baganda was not a church member, he had visited before. Baganda was asked not to come back to the church last February because he kept interrupting the sermons. He was never, however, known to be violent.

An affidavit cited by WKRN said Baganda claimed to be Jesus as he was being arrested and declared that there should be mass shootings at all schools and churches. God had other plans, Ndikumana said.

God wanted to show that hes a powerful God, Ndikumana told WRKN. One main thing I said, we had faith.
Pennsylvania church deacon accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl

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A Pennsylvania church deacon has been charged with assaulting an underage girl and authorities believe he might have also victimized others.

Jeronimo Maisonet, a 45-year-old Monroe County deacon at Church of God Holy Ground, was arrested on Sunday and charged with unlawful contact with a minor, indecent assault of a person younger than 16 years old, and corruption of minors, according to lehighvalleylive.com.

The state police investigation into Maisonet began on Oct. 18, with authorities believing that the abuse of the girl began in 2018 when she was 14 years old.

Police believe that other minor children may have been victimized by Maisonet and they are requesting anyone with additional information to come forward, the news outlet added.

According to the unnamed accuser, Maisonet first met her when she attended the church as a freshman in high school and became increasingly interested in her.

The teenager told police that the deacon was extremely close with all of the children who attended and would say things like, 'You belong to me,'" according to the Pocono Record.

Maisonet allegedly told the teenager that when she turned 18, he was going to leave his wife, and they would be together, the Record reported.

The alleged abuse included forcing the teen to sit on his lap during worship while he had an erection and taking the teen to a secluded part of the church to kiss and grope her.

On Saturday, police wiretapped a phone call between Maisonet and the teenager he allegedly abused, with the church deacon appearing to confess to the sexual abuse.

"He began stating that his life is a mess," authorities said, as reported by the Record. "He continually stated that he was 'sorry' and didn't mean to hurt [the victim].
At least some of 17 missionaries kidnapped in Haiti still alive, US official says

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At least some of the 17 missionaries kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti, whose leader Wilson Joseph has threatened to kill them if he is not paid a $17 million in ransom, have been confirmed alive, a senior official in the Biden administration says.

An unnamed official told Reuters that the U.S. government had seen proof that at least some of the 16 Americans and one Canadian are still alive some three weeks after being kidnapped while serving with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries.

The statement comes in the wake of the Ministry of Defense in Haitis neighboring Dominican Republic confirming last Thursday that five U.S. helicopters likely on their way to Haiti on a humanitarian mission landed in Puerto Plata province to refuel and rest.

The Dominican Today reports that the helicopters caused a stir on social media due to the political crisis in Haiti that has been exacerbated by the missionaries kidnappings.

In their most recent statement on the kidnapping of the missionaries, Christian Aid Ministries said dealing with the situation has been intense." The group of missionaries includes five children, the youngest being less than a year old.

It is now the 21st day since the kidnapping in Haiti took place. The past three weeks have been an intense journey, but God has faithfully carried us and the families of the hostages. We trust He has been carrying the hostages as well, the international aid ministry said Friday.

Though the hostages face difficult circumstances, we pray that God will give them joy and reminders of His faithfulness and goodness.

The ministry added that it has no way of communicating with the hostages and wishes them the hope-filled encouragement of Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The organization further noted that if it could communicate with the kidnapped missionaries, it would assure them they are constantly in our thoughts and prayers.

We are working for their return, and many believers around the world are remembering them, the CAM statement reads.

Last month, a video of Joseph, which recently began circulating on social media, showed the crime boss wasnt pleased with the pace of negotiations for the release of the missionaries.

I swear by thunder that if I dont get what Im asking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans, Joseph threatened, according to a translation cited by Bloomberg Quicktake.

The gang leader further threatened Haitis Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the chief of Haitis National Police, Leon Charles. Bloomberg noted that Josephs speech was made in front of open coffins that apparently held several members of his gang who were recently killed.

You guys make me cry. I cry water. But Im going to make you guys cry blood, he said.

Christian Aid Ministries noted in an update last week that nearly half of Haiti is now under the control of gangs.

The leader of the G9 Family and Allies federation of nine gangs that control parts of Port-au-Prince, Jimmy Barbecue Cherizier, urged the United States and United Nations last week to cut its ties with the government to liberate citizens. Chaos continues to unfold over three months after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.

We take this opportunity to invite the United Nations in general and the so-called friendly countries of Haiti, in particular the United States of America, to register in this page of history as loyal allies who want the well-being of the Haitian people by divorcing the status quo, Cherizier said at a press conference Wednesday.
Captain Mitsuo Fuchida was more excited than usual as he awoke that morning. As general commander of the air squadron, he made some last-minute checks on intelligence information, then went to warm up his plane.

Three hundred and sixty Japanese planes, led by Captain Fuchida, headed towards Hawaii. He knew the goal of this mission: to surprise and cripple the American naval force in the Pacific.

He left a trail of destruction. Twenty naval vessels were hit, including eight enormous battleships, and over two hundred planes were destroyed. The human cost was terrible: over 2000 military personnel and civilians were killed, and more than 1000 were injured.

Fuchida was the first over the target and the last to leave. It was his voice that sent the aircraft carrier the message Tora! Tora! Tora! (Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!); his way of declaring the missions success.

This was the same commander who later led the first of two attacks in one day on Darwin. At the end of that day, two hundred and forty-three civilians and servicemen were dead, and more than four hundred had been injured.

After Pearl Habour

After Pearl Harbor, Fuchida had many close brushes with death, including six crashes into the sea. At one point, he was recovering on a ship after having his appendix removed when the ship was bombed, both his legs were broken, and he was thrown into the sea.

Not everyone Fuchida served with was this fortunate. He discovered that, of the seven Air Commanders and the thirty-two Squadron Leaders who had taken part in the Pearl Harbor attack, he was the sole survivor.

But it was not until the war was over that he realised why God had kept him from death on so many occasions.

After Japan surrendered and the war ended, Fuchidas military career was over. He became depressed, and this was made even worse when he was called to be a witness at the trials of some Japanese countrymen accused of committing war crimes.

He didnt know it yet, but his life was about to change. As he got off the train one day on his way to give evidence at one of these trials, he was handed a leaflet entitled I was a Prisoner of Japan.

A leaflet

The leaflet, produced by the Pocket Testament League, told of the experience of an American, Jake DeShazer, who had been held in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Jake described how he had been cruelly treated. He told of his violent hatred for the Japanese guards.

But Jake also told of how, one day, the prisoners in the camp were given Bibles. As Jake read his Bible, he came to understand that the book was more than an historical story. Its message of love, grace and forgiveness became relevant to him, right there in the camp. He believed what the Bible said about Jesus and became his follower.

Jakes life changed  and his entire attitude toward his captors changed, too. His hatred turned to love and concern, and he made a decision: if the war ended and he was freed, he would someday return to Japan to introduce others to this life-changing Bible. Jake DeShazer was true to his word; he returned to Japan after the war as a missionary.

Now Fuchida, on his way to give evidence at a war crimes trial, held Jakes story, printed in leaflet form, in his hand. It spoke of a forgiveness and a peace he wanted to understand. Because the American in the leaflet had found this forgiveness and peace in the Bible, Fuchida decided to purchase a Bible for himself.

He read the Bible eagerly, and asked a representative from the Pocket Testament League for help in understanding it. He learned the Bibles message about the love of Jesus, the meaning of Jesus life, death and resurrection, about peace and forgiveness.

Mitsuo Fuchidas actions at Pearl Harbor could not be changed; but now he held a new understanding of why he had survived his many close encounters with death. He believed that his new purpose in life was to tell others how they could overcome hatred in their hearts and minds.

Fuchida had seen how Jesus was the answer to Jake DeShazers tormented life as a prisoner of war; and he now knew Jesus was the only one powerful enough to help him and others leave hatred behind.

Source: Tim White, Pocket Testament League
Phenomenally rare: one of only 16 complete Ming dragon carpets known to exist

This superbly preserved 16th-century carpet  offered in the Exceptional Sale in Paris on 23 November  would have been placed beneath the emperors throne in Beijings Forbidden City

In 1901, after the subjugation of the Boxer Rebellion, a group of Japanese academics from the Imperial University of Tokyo travelled to Beijing to make a study of the secret royal complex known as the Forbidden City. Accompanying the scholars was Kazumasa Ogawa, a pioneering photographer tasked with documenting the Imperial Palace and its grounds, which had been jealously kept from public sight. Over the next few weeks, Ogawa took 170 stills of the magnificent, 180-acre palace complex  a citadel so beautiful that, in the words of the 13th-century explorer Marco Polo, no man on Earth could design anything superior to it.

The Forbidden City, Beijing, North Gate. Photo: Alamy

The photographs revealed the clandestine world of Chinas autocratic elite  one that was not without its comforts. What surprised many was that the entire palace, including the walls, floors and columns, was wrapped in carpets, says Louise Broadhurst, international head of Oriental Rugs and Carpets at Christies. Made from very thick pile to retain the heat in the bitter winter months, the carpets were a key feature of the Forbidden City. Most dated from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and had been cut to fit the architectural details of each room after being created in one of the Imperial Palace workshops.

One of Kazumasa Ogawas photographs of the Forbidden City, showing the interior of the Cheng-He Hall with a dragon carpet displayed on the kang (throne platform)

By the mid-20th century, many of these carpets had disappeared. Some had been bought by wealthy Western collectors, among them the banker JP Morgan and the designer Louis Comfort Tiffany. Others were thought to have perished during years of political turmoil. In 2000, however, museum officials discovered 46 imperial carpets in various states of preservation carefully hidden in one of the great halls of the Forbidden City. It was an extraordinary find, and one that confirmed the accuracy of Ogawas photographs. Today they are held in the Imperial Palace collection. Only 16 complete imperial dragon carpets are known to exist, nine of which remain in the Beijing Palace Museum. Just seven are in Western collections, among them the magnificent example being offered by Christies in the Exceptional Sale in Paris.





Broadhurst explains that this particular carpet is one of the most complete in existence: It is in amazing condition  its rare to find one that hasnt been cut in some way. There is also very little wear, due to courtiers only having walked on the carpet while wearing silk slippers. Bought by an American couple on their honeymoon in 1920, the carpet was made specifically for a raised, heated platform known as a kang, where the emperor would sit  as illustrated in a painting of the 15th-century Ming ruler Hongzhi, below.

Portrait of the Hongzhi Emperor (r. 1488-1505), in which his throne rests on an imperial Ming carpet with dragon and lotus patterns against a deep red background. Hanging scroll, ink and colours on silk. National Palace Museum, Taipei

The pattern on the carpet has a compelling narrative: it depicts two five-clawed dragons chasing a flaming pearl, with scrolling clouds above and rolling waves beneath. Dragons have been linked with Chinese emperors since as far back as 2597 BC, when the Yellow Emperor Huangdi was said to have transformed into a dragon as he ascended into paradise.

A recreation of how the carpet might have looked before its red brazilwood dye faded

The flaming pearl symbolises perfection and prosperity, while clouds and waves represent the celestial heavens and the Earth respectively. The emperors throne was placed in the centre of the carpet, asserting his position as heavens representative on Earth. Like all Ming carpets, this was once a dark imperial red which has now faded to a golden yellow. The wool would first have been dyed yellow using safflowers, says Broadhurst, then made red with brazilwood dye, which has oxidised and disappeared over the centuries.

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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  The withered carcasses of livestock are reminders that drought has descended yet again in northern Kenya, the latest in a series of climate shocks rippling through the Horn of Africa.

As world leaders address a global climate summit in Glasgow, pastoralists watch their beloved animals suffer from lack of water and food. Yusuf Abdullahi says he has lost 40 goats.

If they die, we all die, he says.

Kenyas government has declared a national disaster in 10 of its 47 counties. The United Nations says more than 2 million people are severely food insecure. And with people trekking farther in search of food and water, observers warn that tensions among communities could sharpen.

Wildlife have begun to die, too, says the chair of the Subuli Wildlife Conservancy, Mohamed Sharmarke.

The heat on the ground tells you the sign of starvation were facing, he says.

Experts warn that such climate shocks will become more common across Africa, which contributes the least to global warming, but will suffer from it most.

We do not have a spare planet in which we will seek refuge once we have succeeded in destroying this one, the executive director of East Africas Intergovernmental Authority on Development, Workneh Gebeyehu, said last month while opening a regional early warning climate center in Kenyas capital, Nairobi.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta agreed.

Africa, while currently responsible for a negligible amount of total global greenhouse gas emissions, is under significant threat from climate change, he said at the centers opening. The continent is responsible for just 4% of global emissions.

Kenyatta was among the African leaders speaking at the global climate summit as they urged more attention and billions of dollars in financial support for the African continent.

___

Follow AP's climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  John Kerry is everywhere and on the move at a fateful U.N. climate summit.

President Joe Bidens envoy at the talks in Glasgow, Kerry steams from side talks with U.S. rivals China and Russia that painstakingly probe for common ground on climate to news conferences extolling progress. Kerry pops into project launches, rewarding CEOs and bankers for emissions-cutting efforts with high-level face time and praise. The lanky envoy smiles for a photo with Indigenous women from Brazil, their feather headdresses barely reaching his chin.

Toward the end of the U.N. climate summit's first of two weeks, Kerrys voice grew hoarse from his mission of rallying global climate efforts that are threatening to hit a wall at home.

The alternative is you dont do anything, you dont say anything" on climate, Kerry told reporters at the summit. You dont have any promises, you dont have any commitments. And youre sitting there, waiting for the deluge.

He was speaking of a climate fight growing more urgent, as global warming from the burning of fossil fuel intensifies, and more fraught, as the United States' own wildly swinging seesaw politics imperil Biden's climate efforts and again threaten global momentum on the matter.

With the summit underway, the U.S. House on Friday finally passed a stalled infrastructure bill that contains some important measures to cut U.S. emissions.

But Bidens lagging political support, and Republican upsets in off-year elections last week, are heightening uncertainty that the U.S. administration can deliver on some of Biden's biggest climate promises.

Kerry, President Barack Obama's secretary of state and a former senator, came back post-President Donald Trump to serve as Biden's climate envoy.

The job has entailed apologizing for the global disruption that Trump, who mocks the science behind climate change, wreaked when he pulled the United States out of the 2015 Paris climate accord, which Kerry helped to negotiate. Scientists say the ground lost during the Trump administration leaves this decade a last chance to keep the Earth from warming to more catastrophic levels.

Kerry's job now is part diplomat, part cheerleader. At the Glasgow climate conference, as in the months before, Kerry negotiates to nail down every possible bit of new climate effort from countries and businesses  then pushes for more. While the U.S. return to global climate negotiations has helped push allies to some deeper cuts on emissions, the world's other big polluters besides the United States  China, Russia, India and others  are short on emission promises, at best.

At 77, Kerry is waging only the latest of his campaigns in a decades-long personal battle to curb the fossil fuel emissions heating Earth.

Kerry brings a deep knowledge of what's at stake," said Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International, and a veteran of climate talks. He brings long-term relationships to these talks, and the spirit of collaboration. Yet, she adds, he "gets limited by what is happening at home.

If there's not a credible U.S. plan to meet the targets and phase out fossil fuels, there's only so much, only so far, he can get here," Morgan said.

Conservative groups single out Kerry online, making social media memes out of his wealth  at Glasgow he introduced a speaker as his neighbor on Martha's Vineyard  and supposed love for jetting around the world.

Kerry's intentness on diplomacy to try to push and pull coal-loving China into faster emission cuts also brings him into public contrast with Biden and some of Biden's top officials, who have become vocally critical of China. China is currently the world's top climate polluter. The U.S. is No. 2 at the moment, and the world's worst carbon polluter over time.

Biden's parting words as he left the Glasgow summit this past week after joining more than 100 other world leaders here were that Chinese President Xi Jinping had made a big mistake in not attending.

Theyve lost an ability to influence people around the world, Biden said.

Veteran observers of global climate talks speak favorably of Kerry's quieter work as climate envoy.

Thom Woodroofe, a researcher on U.S.-China climate diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Biden's appointment of the former secretary of state made countries such as China really sit up and take notice with just how significant ... how much importance the Biden administration was going to place on diplomacy and their climate action at home.

While Chinese leaders publicly scold and snub members of the Biden administration, China's own veteran climate diplomat, Xie Zhenha, told reporters at Glasgow he calculated he had talked to Kerry 23 times in Kerry's current position.

When a news site ran a caricature showing an exaggeratedly chinned Kerry with one hand on the shoulder of the equally exaggerated round-faced Xie, and the other hand cupping the Earth and its future, Kerry had the cartoon framed and presented it to Xie.

At the climate summit, Kerry's height makes him an easy spot among the thousands of climate advocates, government officials and reporters at the summit site, which sprawls for more than a half-mile (close to a kilometer). It's a mix of permanent and temporary structures along Glasgows River Clyde that feels like an airport terminal flanked by a military forward-operating base.

Kerry appears patient and polite with the random advocates and reporters from around the world who approach him at the summit.

Before the summit, climate activists carrying out a hunger strike at the White House gates filmed another Biden administration official impatiently thumbing his phone when they approached him on the need for climate action.

Kerry, by contrast, went out and talked to the young climate strikers, telling them about his own environmental activism when he was young.

Kerry's first cause after returning from fighting in the Vietnam War was activism for the first Earth Day, in 1970, he says. His wife, Teresa Heinz, says they met at a later Earth Day, in 1990.

In 2015, his work in climate negotiations, and the trust Xie seemed to place in Obama negotiators including Kerry, helped seal a global climate deal in which more than 190 nations committed to taking action to cut climate emissions.

The irreversible damage being wrought by global warming was even more obvious to all by November 2016, when Kerry made one of his last trips as Obama's secretary of state, becoming the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Antarctica.

The U.S. presidential election had just handed victory to Trump, who already had pledged to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord and would soon be rolling back U.S. climate efforts in office.

Kerry crunched in boots over a frozen sea, faced off with a curious penguin and talked with U.S. scientists there.

The South Pole had the purest air in the world, but it, too, was heavily polluted with coal and petroleum waste, scientists told him. The West Antarctic ice sheet was melting from below in the warming waters, breaking off and floating out to sea.

It was some of the most stunning wilderness," Kerry recalled last month to The Associated Press, and it was mixed with the negative impacts of human beings.

___

Follow AP's coverage of climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
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A group congressional Democrats are calling for the censure of Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) for posting a bizarre animated video that depicted himself violently attacking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and President Biden.

For a member of Congress to post a manipulated video on his social media accounts depicting himself killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Biden is a clear cut case for censure, the members said in a statement announcing their intent to introduce a censure resolution. For that Member to post such a video on his official Instagram account and use his official congressional resources in the House of Representatives to further violence against elected officials goes beyond the pale.

The Democratic members calling for censure include Reps. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.), Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.), Sylva Garcia (D-Texas), Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Nikema Williams (D-Ga), and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.).

Gosar posted the video to his social media accounts on Sunday. It portrayed himself and other extremist Republican politicians as anime heroes defending the country from immigrants. Any anime fans out there? Gosar said in the tweet. Twitter put a warning on the video, and the video no longer appears on the congressmans social media channels.

Defending the video, a Gosar spokesperson said, It is a symbolic cartoon. It is not real life. Congressman Gosar cannot fly. The hero of the cartoon goes after the monster, the policy monster of open borders. I will always fight to defend the rule of law, securing our borders, and the America First agenda.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has called for investigations into Gosars actions by the House Ethics Committee and law enforcement. She additionally urged House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to condemn the video. Thus far, McCarthy has not spoken publicly about it.

As the events of January 6th have shown, such vicious and vulgar messaging can and does foment actual violence, the Democrats wrote. Violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon meant to silence women and discourage them from seeking positions of authority and participating in public life, with women of color disproportionately impacted. Minority Leader McCarthys silence is tacit approval and just as dangerous.

In her response to the video, Ocasio-Cortez called Gosar a collection of wet toothpicks and a creepy member who fundraises for Neo-Nazi groups. She also called out the GOP for allowing its members to harass her without consequence. Remember when Yoho accosted me on the the Capitol and called me a fing b, she wrote. Remember when Greene ran after me a few months ago screaming and reaching. Remember when she stalked my office the 1st time w/ insurrectionists & ppl locked inside. All at my job & nothing ever happens.
TOKYO (AP)  Jakucho Setouchi, a Buddhist nun and one of Japan's best-known authors known for novels depicting passionate women and her translation of The Tale of Genji, a 1,000-year-old classic, into modern language, has died. She was 99.

Setouchi was already an established novelist before she shaved her head and became a nun at age 51. She was mostly based at a small temple in Kyoto, where she wrote hundreds of books from biographical novels to romance, often depicting women defying traditional roles.

Even in her late 90s, she was active in writing and giving talks, but her health declined recently and she had been treated at a hospital in Kyoto, where she died on Tuesday of heart failure, according to her temple, Jakuan.

Born Harumi Setouchi in 1922 in the city of Tokushima on the southwestern main island of Shikoku, she debuted in 1957 and has since published more than 400 books. Many of her stories of independent and somewhat rebellious women won many female readers.

Setouchi brought The Tale of Genji back to life with her 1998 translation into modern, easy-to-read Japanese, gaining new fans to an ancient story. It took her six years to finish.

Setouchi said the works appeal to readers today is largely because of author Murasaki Shikibus examination of the main character Genjis passions and of relationships between men and women. The Tale of Genji chronicles the life of the Shining Prince, who was the son of an emperor, and one of his concubines.

Its been 1,000 years since the book was written, but relations between the sexes havent changed all that much, Setouchi said in an interview with The Associated Press. For women today, the book is a good lesson in what men like and dont like. For men, its still a good primer in how to seduce women.

Her edition sold 2.5 million copies.

She maintained her curiosity well into her 80s when she wrote a novel on her cellphone under a penname Purple, after the name of the author of The Tale of Genij, Murasaki, or purple in Japanese. She also used social media to communicate with her young fans.

Setouchi's own life resembled a character in one of her stories. At age 25 and married to a scholar, she fell in love with her husband's student and left him and their 3-year-old daughter, saying she would be a novelist.

Her earlier book, A flower Aflame, was criticized for its sexual scenes, unusual for novels written by a female author in a male-dominated world of literature then.

After she entered Buddhism and became a nun in 1973, she established her base in the ancient capital of Kyoto and regularly gave religious talks there and around the country. Her events were always packed with fans of all ages, including many women seeking her advise about life and relationships.

Setouchi was also pacifist and anti-nuclear activist.

She fasted at her Kyoto temple to protest the 1991 Gulf War and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

She also joined disaster-hit residents in anti-nuclear rallies in Fukushima after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Her last novel, which she finished at age 95, was Life."

If I'm reborn, I want to be a novelist, and a woman," she wrote.
Frank Augstein/AP

LONDON (AP)  Queen Elizabeth II, who has canceled recent public appearances on her doctors advice, will attend a national service of remembrance for Britains war dead this weekend, Buckingham Palace confirmed Thursday.

The palace said the 95-year-old monarch will watch the somber ceremony at the Cenotaph memorial in central London from a balcony, as she has for several years.
The homicide trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the 18-year-old who last summer shot and killed two people in Wisconsin, saw its most eventful day yet on Wednesday, with Rittenhouse breaking into tears on the stand and Judge Bruce Schroeder berating the prosecution.

Rittenhouse has been charged with homicide and attempted homicide for shooting and killing Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, last August during the unrest in Kenosha after Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot in the back seven times by police. Rittenhouse, then 17, traveled to Kenosha from his home in Illinois with an AR-15 a friend bought for him. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in January, and his defense teams argument rests on the idea that he was acting in self defense.

Heres whats court records and video footage indicate happened on the night in question: At one point during the unrest Rosenbaum began to chase Rittenhouse, who had been brandishing an AR-15. Rosenbaum tried to engage Rittenhouse, leading Rittenhouse to shoot him four times, killing him. Others then pursued Rittenhouse, who tripped and fell. While Rittenhouse was on the ground, Huber struck him with a skateboard and tried to grab Rittenhouses rifle, leading Rittenhouse to shoot him once in the chest, killing him. Rittenhouse also shot the arm of 26-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz after Grosskreutz  who had been filming the unrest  approached him with a pistol drawn. Grosskreutz testified for the prosecution earlier this week that he believed Rittenhouse was an active shooter and that he feared for his life.

The trial now appears to be drawing near to conclusion. Jurors will have to decide whether they buy the defenses claim that Rittenhouse, who brought a semiautomatic rifle to a protest of police killing of Blake, was acting in self defense when he killed two people and shot a third. The trial might not even get that far, however. The defense asked for a mistrial toward the end of the chaotic day in court, a request Judge Schroeder said he will consider.

Heres what happened on Wednesday:

Rittenhouse took the stand for the first time  and broke into tears

Rittenhouse took the stand to give his version of the events in Kenosha, breaking down in tears while describing the moments leading up when he killed Rosenbaum and, later, Huber.

Kyle Rittenhouse cries while testifying pic.twitter.com/ZyIn1pt6Za  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 10, 2021

The testimony was the most intense moment thus far of the trial, which began last week. Rittenhouse maintained that he was merely defending himself from Rosenbaum, who was coming at me. He claimed Rosenbaum grabbed his gun, but admitted he never physically touched him. He also admitted he knew Rosenbaum was unarmed when he shot him. Rittenhouse said that after he shot Rosenbaum he ran toward the police because I didnt do anything wrong. He said Huber struck him with his skateboard while he was on the ground and then grabbed his gun, at which point Rittenhouse shot him. Rittenhouse said he shot Grosskreutz when Grosskreutz came at him with his pistol pointed directly at my head.

I did what I had to do to stop the person who was attacking me, Rittenhouse said before admitting he intentionally used deadly force against the three men he shot.

Rittenhouses breakdown grew so intense that Judge Schroeder called for the court to take a 10-minute break.

Rittenhouse says he illegally obtained the AR-15 used to kill Rosenbaum and Huber because it looked cool

The AR-15 Rittenhouse used to kill Rosenbaum and Huber was purchased for him by a friend, as Rittenhouse, then 17, could not have legally done so. When asked why he picked out an AR-15 as opposed to a pistol, Rittenhouse said he opted for the long gun because he thought it looked cool.

Rittenhouse added that he brought the gun to the protests to protect myself and said that he would have instead brought a handgun if it were legal for him to posses one in the state of Wisconsin.

Judge Schroeder spent the day tearing into the prosecution

Judge Schroeder was not happy with Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, the lead prosecutor. Schroeder twice asked the jury to leave the courtroom so he could berate Binger. The first time was after Binger questioned Rittenhouse about remaining silent following his arrest. I was astonished when you began your examination by commenting on the defendants post-arrest silence, Schroeder said. Thats basic law. Its basic law in this country for 40 or 50 years.

The problem is this is a grave constitutional violation for you to talk about the defendants silence, he added. Youre right on the borderline, and you may be over, but it better stop.

The second talking-to came after Binger raised comments Rittenhouse made weeks before the incident in Kenosha that Schroeder previously said was off limits. Binger tried to explain himself, but Schroeder wasnt having it. Dont get brazen with me! the judge barked. You know very well that an attorney cant go into these types of areas when the judge has already ruled, without asking outside the presence of the jury to do so. So dont give me that!

Schroeder admonished Binger again later in the day. Youre an experienced trial attorney, and youre telling me that when the judge says, Im excluding this, you just take it upon yourself to put it in because you think that you found a way around it? he said. Come on.

Rittenhouses defense asked for a mistrial with prejudice

Describing Bingers questioning as prosecutorial overreach, Rittenhouse defense attorney Corey Chirafisi asked for a mistrial later on Wednesday. I think the court has to make some findings as it relates to the bad faith on the part of the prosecution, and if the court makes a finding that the actions that I had talked about were done in bad faith, Chirafasi said.

Judge Schroeder said he would take the request under advisement, but seemed to make clear that he did believe Binger was acting in bad faith. When you say that you were acting in good faith, I dont believe that, OK? Schroeder said. He also issued a warning to Binger: There better not be another incident.

If Schroeder were to grant a mistrial with prejudice, as Chirafisi requested, prosecutors would be unable to re-try the case.

Judge Schroeders ringtone appears to be Lee Greenwoods God Bless the U.S.A.

Judge Schroeders phone at one point started blaring what appeared to be Lee Greenwoods 1984 ballad Gold Bless the U.S.A. The song has recently become a MAGA anthem. Its played at the top of former President Trumps rallies, and Greenwood even sang the song live at Trumps inauguration in 2017.

Coming back from lunch, Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team argues that the prosecution is purposely aiming for a mistrial. Meanwhile, the judge's phone rings. The ringtone is Lee Greenwood's patriotic anthem "God Bless the U.S.A" pic.twitter.com/xGY3dJd4e4  Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) November 10, 2021

Schroeder, 75, the longest-serving circuit court judge in Wisconsin, is known as a strict judge. Hes also come under scrutiny throughout his career, including in the run-up to the Rittenhouse trial. In setting the rules for the trial, Schroeder prohibited the use of the word victim  or even alleged victim  to describe those killed by Rittenhouse. He said they could, however, be referred to as rioters, looters, or arsonists, so long as the defense could offer up evidence they did those things.

Binger objected to Schroeders guidelines. The terms that Im identifying here, such as rioter, looter and arsonist, are as loaded, if not more loaded, than the term victim,' Binger told the court ahead of the trial, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The trial adjourned on Wednesday a little before 5 p.m. It will resume Thursday morning. Schroeder told the jury he expects the trial to wrap up early next week. I have just discussed the matter with the lawyers, and Im very confident that we will finish by Tuesday as I asked you about a couple of weeks ago, he said. And there is a bare chance, I dont want to get your hopes up, but there is a chance we can finish on Monday. And thats the best of my information. It isnt a promise, but I think thats very realistic.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, last month added his voice to a bullish chorus predicting $100-a-barrel oil  double the price at the start of the year. He may have been showing restraint: Some traders are betting on an unprecedented $200 a barrel by the end of 2022. The return of a frenzied oil market is conjuring up unwelcome memories of a global petroleum goliath with the power to influence Western geostrategy and roil societies everywhere.

Yet this is the old story. We now stand at the precipice of the age of batteries and electric vehicles, technologies likely to steamroll fossil-fuel companies and petro states. From a few thousand fully electric cars sold around the world in the late aughts, consumers are on track to buy four million of them this year.

So far, the United States appears to be little more than a spectator to this revolution. While its battery and automakers are poised to produce cutting-edge batteries and popular electric vehicles, they will rely almost entirely on a supply chain controlled by China. Over the past decade, China has built up most of the worlds capacity to process the metals that make lithium-ion batteries  the heart of the electric vehicle revolution  work. It is this capacity that puts China in the catbird seat in the race for the future while America falls farther and farther behind.

Following the financial crash of 2008, the United States and China, along with Japan, South Korea and other countries, began an undeclared race to create and reap the dividends of the E.V. industry, including associated businesses such as battery production. This led the United States and China to inject stout public funding into battery and E.V. start-ups and established companies, in hopes of kick-starting an economic recovery.

In the United States, initially buoyant public and political support for President Barack Obamas strategy eroded within just a couple of years, following accusations of squandered public funds in a government-backed loan to Solyndra, a California solar panel company that fell victim to cheap Chinese imports.

In China, by contrast, state-backed companies have secured a reliable supply of the raw metals and elements behind E.V. batteries. In the last three and a half years alone, Chinese companies have been the biggest international buyers of additional lithium assets amid soaring prices for the metal.

By 2018, Chinese companies also owned half of the largest cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the source of most of the worlds supply of the metal. Government funding for Chinas electric vehicle sector during the past decade amounted to more than $100 billion, according to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Even more important, China supported companies that would process these materials into the electrodes that go into battery cells. This is the more crucial part of the battery supply chain: After the labor-intensive, often dirty extracting of the metals comes the refining of nickel, cobalt and manganese into sulfates, then into precursors used to produce the cathodes that go into battery cells.

Chinas decision a decade ago to knit all the pieces of its battery supply chain together into a comprehensively controlled, globe-spanning industry has yielded it genuine strategic power. Turning ore into electrodes is far trickier than extracting minerals. It has taken China much of the decade to stand up an industry that, according to Wood Mackenzie, an energy research and consulting firm, now possesses about 90 percent of global capacity to process raw lithium, about 70 percent of cobalt and 40 percent of nickel. China also has almost all the manganese- and graphite-refining capacity.

Chinas buildup continues to this day. Just a few weeks ago, Contemporary Amperex Technology, Chinas largest battery manufacturer, said it would invest up to $4.96 billion on a plant to recycle used E.V. batteries. That was on top of the companys $297 million acquisition of Canadas Millennial Lithium Corp., which was announced in September.

Can the United States hope to ever catch up? In recent months, General Motors, Stellantis and Toyota have each announced plans to build massive battery factories in North America. Ford said it and its South Korean partner will build three U.S. battery plants by 2025 with enough capacity to equip one million E.V.s a year. But no one seems to know exactly how the battery supply chain will come together and where they will obtain each of the necessary precursors, like cobalt and manganese.

In an interview last month, Darren Palmer, Fords general manager for battery electric vehicles, told me that the global semiconductor shortage had helped put the vulnerability of the battery supply chain hugely on the minds of company executives. He suggested they were attending to the problem. We buy something like 4,000 parts of a vehicle and assemble them into a vehicle every 40 seconds and build millions of them, he said. This is part of what the automobile industry does best. I was unconvinced, especially after rewatching a September event in which Robert Schilp, a purchasing director at Ford, showed great angst about getting control of battery-metals processing.

Some in the battery industry seem to believe that because battery plants have been announced, materials suppliers will somehow appear to service them. For now, there is no evidence to buttress this argument. Others may be waiting to see whether Washington will help to pay for a supply-chain build-out similar to Chinas.

In fact, the Biden administration, which released its National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries in June, signaled a readiness to allocate $174 billion to encourage Americans to buy electric cars and trucks. But only around $7 billion for the supply chain for batteries made it into the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed by Congress last week, small bore for a battery-metals processing industry that will require tens of billions of dollars to stand up.

With so much uncertainty, it seems likely that for the 2020s and well into the 2030s the United States will remain reliant on Chinese supplies. Will China keep the supply lines open to America? Perhaps it will. But we dont know.

So for the United States, the best hope is to get a grip on its own supply chain. If we want a 100 percent reliable battery supply chain here in the U.S., Bob Galyen, a battery consultant and former chief technology officer for Contemporary Amperex Technology, a Chinese battery company, told me, its going to take us a decade to do it.

The message for policymakers and automakers alike: Its time to get moving.

Steve LeVine is the editor of The Electric. His most recent book is The Powerhouse: America, China and the Great Battery War.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)  A thousand pounds of rainbow trout will be released into streams in West Virginia this week.

The Kanawha County Commission and Indian Lake Fish Hatchery will release the fish into the Elk River and Blue Creek on Friday.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Three fraternities at the University of Central Florida have been put on an interim suspension following a brawl at a homecoming tailgate party last weekend.

The UCF Office of Student Conduct is reviewing what happened among members of Phi Beta Sigma, Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Si Phi fraternity groups, assistant vice president of communications Chad Binette told Orlando television station WKMG on Thursday.
AP

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  Five Republican Oklahoma lawmakers urged GOP Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday to grant clemency to death row inmate Julius Jones, who is scheduled to be executed next week.

Among the five are two state House members who represent parts of the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond, where Paul Howell was shot to death during a carjacking in 1999. Jones was convicted of Howells killing and sentenced to death.
VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP)  Community groups are calling for the U.S. Department of Justice to open a civil rights investigation into the largest law enforcement agencies in southwest Washington over alleged excessive force and discriminatory policing.

The move comes after the fatal shootings of eight people by Vancouver Police Department officers or Clark County Sheriffs Office deputies since February 2019, The Columbian reported.

Three of the men killed were Black and two were Pacific Islanders. Others were in mental health crisis or suicidal, according to a letter the groups sent to the Justice Department.

The fatal shootings by the two agencies over the two and a half years mark the highest rate of deadly force by law enforcement in Washington state, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington and the NAACP in Vancouver.

The ACLU and NAACP allege the two agencies treat people of color differently compared to members of far-right extremist groups active in the area.

There is a dire need to bring to light whether there is a persistent pattern of misconduct and remedy any systemic deficiencies, their letter says.

Joining the ACLU and NAACP are people whose relatives have been killed by officers.

The letter said Vancouver police failed to respond in October 2020 when members of the far-right Patriot Prayer and the Proud Boys extremist groups drove trucks through a vigil where people had gathered in memory of Kevin Peterson Jr., a young Black man who was fatally shot by Clark County deputies.

We come together to mourn, and were attacked by extremists. We come together to protest inequality and were attacked, and the police look the other way, said Nickeia Hunter, whose brother Carlos Hunter was shot and killed by Vancouver police in 2019.

The organizations are asking the Justice Department to investigate under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.

Federal intervention is necessary for all residents in Clark County to receive equal and fair treatment, constitutional policing, and to feel safe in their communities, Enoka Herat, police practices and immigration counsel at the ACLU of Washington, said in a statement.

The Justice Department confirmed receipt of the letter.

We will review the information provided, Aryele N. Bradford, a department spokesman based in Washington, D.C., told The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.

Law enforcement agencies didn't immediately respond to messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The federal government recently started broad investigations into the policies and conduct of police departments in Minneapolis and Louisville, where police killings of Black residents last year sparked nationwide protests, as well as in Phoenix, where federal officials said special attention would be paid to how police treated people experiencing homelessness.

Nearby, Portlands Police Bureau has been under Justice Department oversight since the city signed a settlement in 2014 that calls for policy, training and other reforms after federal investigators found officers used excessive force against people with mental health issues.

The letter to the Justice Department cites eight fatal shootings by officers or deputies from February 2019 to October of this year. Excluding the most recent shooting in Vancouver on Oct. 17, a prosecuting attorney found the officers involved acted lawfully in each.

In its letter to the federal government, the civil rights groups also cited concerns about the Clark County criminal justice systems treatment of people of color.

They referenced a Clark County judges derogatory remarks about Peterson, who was shot and killed by deputies in 2020 after he ran from an undercover drug bust with a gun.

Days later, Zimmerman apologized and soon after, he retired.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Cambodia on Thursday dismissed as politically motivated sanctions imposed by the United States on two senior defense officials over allegations of graft, accompanied by a broader warning of systemic corruption in the Southeast Asian nation.

Government spokesman Phay Siphan said Cambodia had not been told in advance about the sanctions, which are related to construction financing at the Ream Naval Base  a project that has raised U.S. concerns over China's involvement. He said Cambodia did not intend to respond to Washington.

The sanctions imposed by the U.S. government were made unilaterally and their decision was not based on the rule of law  it is an injustice for Cambodia, he told The Associated Press.

These sanctions were politically motivated, and it is not the position of Cambodia to talk with the U.S. on this matter," he said.

The U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh would not comment on whether Cambodia had been in contact regarding the sanctions but said that the move would not have come as a surprise.

U.S. officials have regularly raised concerns with Cambodia's officials about systemic corruption, transnational organized crime and human rights abuses, embassy spokesman Chad Roedemeier said.

Regrettably there have been no meaningful changes, he added.

The sanctions, announced by the U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday, target Chau Phirun, the director general of the Defense Ministrys material and technical services department, and Tea Vinh, the commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy and brother of Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh.

The Treasury Department alleged that in 2020 and 2021, Chau conspired with Tea and other Cambodian officials to inflate costs of the Ream Naval Base construction project and then planned to use the funds for their own benefit.

Chau and Tea were involved in corrupt acts that undermined the rule of law and the Cambodian publics faith in their government institutions and public processes, including by using their political influence and official power for personal benefit, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

Neither the Cambodian Defense Ministry nor the Royal Cambodian Navy could immediately be reached for comment.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin defended what he called equal and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Cambodia on the project and accused the U.S. of interfering in Cambodias affairs by levying sanctions.

China has always opposed unilateral sanctions and the so-called long-arm jurisdiction of the U.S., as well as its gross interference in other countries internal affairs, he said at a daily briefing in Beijing.

The sanctions render Chau, Tea and their immediate family members ineligible for entry into the U.S., and freeze any assets in the U.S. that they hold. The Treasury Department did not detail whether either individual or their immediate families had financial interests in the U.S.

In addition to the sanctions, the Treasury Department, State Department and Commerce Department issued a business advisory cautioning U.S. firms "to be mindful of interactions with entities involved in corrupt business practices, criminal activities and human rights abuses.

It identified two primary areas of risk: illegal financial activities in the financial, real estate, casino and infrastructure sectors, and entities involved in the trafficking of humans, wildlife and narcotics and related risks in some areas of the manufacturing and timber sectors.

American relations with the government of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in office for 36 years, have long been frosty over concerns about the country's poor record on human and political rights.

In recent months, the U.S. has expressed further worries about ties between Cambodia and China, and has urged the leaders of Cambodia, which frequently supports Beijing's positions, to maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy.

New tensions have focused partly on Chinas construction of facilities at the Ream Naval Base, and the possibility its military could seek future basing rights there. Hun Sen has strongly denied reports that Cambodia would allow China to set up a military outpost there, saying such an agreement would be forbidden by Cambodia's constitution.

The base faces the Gulf of Thailand, which lies adjacent to the South China Sea, and holding basing rights in Cambodia would extend Beijings strategic military profile considerably.

In a meeting with Hun Sen in June, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman expressed concern about Chinas construction of new facilities at Ream.

She also sought clarification about the demolition of two U.S.-funded buildings at Ream without notification or explanation, and observed that a (Chinese) military base in Cambodia would undermine its sovereignty, threaten regional security and negatively impact U.S.-Cambodia relations, according to the State Department.

____

Rising reported from Bangkok. Associated Press journalist Sam McNeil in Beijing contributed to this report.
FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP)  A Casa Grande man has been convicted of attempted second-degree murder in the 2018 shooting of his pregnant girlfriend.

Prosecutors said jurors also found 27-year-old Javier Figueroa guilty of aggravated assault, child abuse and tampering with evidence.

Figueroa was accused of shooting his girlfriend while their other child was in the room with them and then trying to cover up the shooting as a possible burglary.

The Casa Grande Dispatch reported that Figueroas trial started last week and jurors returned the verdicts Tuesday.

Jurors also found aggravating factors involved in the charges of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault and child abuse.

Prosecutors said the factors include whether Figueroa knew that his actions would cause serious injuries to the victim, if he used a deadly weapon, whether his actions caused physical, emotional or financial harm to the victim or their family, if a child was present during the incident and whether he knew his girlfriend was pregnant at the time.

Prosecutors said the aggravating factors could increase the prison time Figueroa could serve.

It was unclear Wednesday if Figueroa had a sentencing date yet.

___

This story deletes an incorrect reference in the slug line to the victim being killed, deletes an incorrect reference in the headline to the defendant being convicted of murder and corrects the summary and body of the story to reflect that aggravating factors were found in charges that included attempted second-degree murder, not second-degree murder.
GAUTIER, Miss. (AP)  A Mississippi city has completed the $5 million purchase of a former shopping mall site, with plans to create a performing arts center.

The former Singing River mall in Gautier was demolished in February 2014. Plans for new development were stifled for years due to its large size and a changing retail environment.
DENVER (AP)  A Colorado appeals court panel on Wednesday reinstated a lawsuit filed by Republican lawmakers and a Colorado gun rights group challenging a red flag law that allows courts to order firearms taken away from people who pose a danger to themselves or others.

The lawsuit, filed in 2019, argues that majority Democrats in the House denied Republican lawmakers their constitutional right to have the red flag legislation be read in its entirety during debate. The bill was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, and the law took effect in 2020.

When one GOP lawmaker requested a reading, multiple clerks read sections of the bill simultaneously, the plaintiffs said. A second representatives request that the bill be read was denied, they said. Democrats countered that the bill was being read on the floor at the subsequent request of a Republican lawmaker until he withdrew that request.

Colorado Politics reports that a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals overturned a Denver district court judge's ruling that the judiciary should not intrude on the prerogatives of the Legislature or other branches of government. The panel cited a Supreme Court ruling in an unrelated case that the courts can consider whether the Legislature has complied with the constitutional mandate for the reading of bills.

The panel said Republican Rep. Dave Williams and former Republican Rep. Lori Saine, now a Weld County commissioner, can pursue the case. It sent the case back to the lower court.

Colorados law allows family, household members or law enforcement to petition a court to have guns seized or surrendered. If a court grants the petition, a subsequent court hearing could extend a gun seizure up to 364 days.

The law places the burden of proof on the gun owner to get the firearms back by showing that they no longer pose a risk. Gun rights activists and Republicans objected to that condition and unsuccessfully tried to shift the burden of proof to the petitioner.

The advocacy group Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, along with then-House Minority Leader Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock, filed the lawsuit with Saine and Williams. The appellate judges found Wednesday that Rocky Mountain Gun Owners didn't have standing to sue as a taxpayer. Saine and Williams could sue as lawmakers, they said.

This just makes my point all along: Essentially an unconstitutional bill was passed unconstitutionally, Saine said Wednesday. If theyre willing to abuse my constitutional rights as a state legislator, they will almost certainly abuse citizens rights with the red flag law.

In a statement, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners Executive Director Taylor Rhodes said that "we are hopeful that we will win in the lower court and once and for all rid Colorado of this disastrous piece of legislation.

The law is named after Zackari Parrish, a Douglas County sheriffs deputy who was killed in a 2017 shooting by a man who had exhibited increasingly erratic behavior.
DALLAS (AP)  In a story published May 16, 2019, about a Dallas man previously arrested in the death of an 81-year-old woman who was charged with killing at least 11 more elderly women, The Associated Press erroneously reported that Billy Chemirmir was in the U.S. illegally. He was a permanent U.S. resident. The AP also incorrectly referred to a jewelry box being stolen from a 91-year-old woman.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  An investigation has concluded that between 1970 and 2010 a culture of sexual misconduct, occasions of heavy drinking and incidents of bullying were common at the Danish Radio Girls Choir, made up of teenagers and young women.

The report, whose findings were published Wednesday, were based on interviews with 129 former choir members. The choir's members are between 15 and 22 years of age.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP)  Combined patrols of soldiers and police fanned out across El Salvador's capital Thursday after a spate of killings left about 30 people dead in two days.

El Salvadors homicide rate had dropped sharply from the violent days of the mid-2010s, when 15 or 20 killings a day were routine in the Central American country of 6.5 million people.

President Nayib Bukele ordered troops into the streets of San Salvador, where they used armored cars to block the exits of some poor neighborhoods, while police went door to door searching for members of the country's notorious street gangs.

Bukele wrote in his Twitter account that we know there are dark forces who are working to return us to the past, but this administration is not going to allow it.

El Salvadors homicides have declined sharply since 2015, when more than 6,000 people were killed. But the country continues to have one of the worlds highest homicide rates, in large part due to gang violence.

Prior to this week, El Salvador had been averaging 3.8 homicides a a day. Before Bukele took office in 2018, the average was 9.2 killings a day.

Congresswoman Anabel Belloso of the leftist FMLN party said Bukele's administration lacked a plan to deal with the violence and called the government's security actions pure public relations.

The leader of Bukele's New Ideas party in Congress, Rep. Christian Guevara, said in an interview with state-run television that the gangs and dark powers were angry about Bukele's proposed foreign agents law.

That law would ban foreign donations or funding for any non-governmental groups carrying out political activity in El Salvador. Bukele sent the bill this week to Congress, where his New Ideas party is dominant and is expected to pass the law.

The president accuses civic groups of helping organize protest marches against his government.

Groups that promote government transparency and accountability say Bukele has drawn the protests on himself by weakening democracy and the separation of powers.

Under the law, civic groups responding to the interests, being controlled or financed, directly or indirectly by a foreign principal would have to register as a foreign agent, report their donations and activities and pay a 40% tax on funds received from abroad.

Nonprofit organizations in El Salvador are already required to report all of their donations to the government.

Bukele said the legislation is modeled on the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act.
Early Thursday morning, Illinois State Police issued an Endangered Missing Person Advisory for 1-year-old Jaclyn "Angel" Dobbs of Wheeling, Ill.

Her mother, Ja'nya Murphy, was found dead with her balcony door unlocked on Tuesday, police reported. Officers had received a missing person report for 21-year-old Ja'nya after she hadn't shown up for work or contacted her family since Monday.

Police are asking for the public's help in finding Dobbs, who is believed to be in danger. Police have reported they believe Dobbs was in a maroon 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan with Illinois license plates, and the vehicle was later found without the child present in Missouri.

"At this time we are seeking the public's assistance in locating Angel," Wheeling police said in a statement.

Police stated they are working with the Northwest Suburban Major Crimes Assistance Team to secure the safe return of Dobbs and to identify and apprehend those responsible.

Dobbs is a Black child, 2 feet tall and 24 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on Angel's whereabouts is urged to call police at 847-459-2690.

UPDATE: Dobbs was found dead in an Indiana reserve pond on Thursday by construction workers, according to the Associated Press. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday. Wheeling Police stated that Missouri authorities had arrested a person of interest in the western part of the state.
CHICAGO (AP)  A federal appeals court appeared unlikely to disturb a 2018 Indiana Supreme Court ruling that held that the shoreline of Lake Michigan is, and always has been, owned by the state for the public's use.

Judges on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago seemed unpersuaded during oral arguments Wednesday on behalf of three lakefront property owners in the town of Porter who are looking to limit public access to beaches, The (Northwest Indiana) Times reported.

Attorney Chris Kieser argued that land deeds and tax records held by his clients show they own the beach in front of their homes to the waters edge, making them entitled to keep the public from accessing that portion of the shoreline near the Indiana Dunes National Park.

That claim conflicts with an Indiana Supreme Court ruling in 2018 that Indiana owns  and has since becoming a state in 1816  both the land under Lake Michigan and the adjacent shoreline up to the ordinary high-water mark. The U.S. Supreme Court declined in 2019 to consider overturning that decision.

A federal judge in March ruled against the property owners lawsuit, and Appeals Court Judge Diane Wood questioned whether the federal courts should intervene.

The state courts have addressed precisely the issue that youre talking about, and you just dont like the answer they gave as far as I can tell, Wood said.

Kieser argued that by changing the property line, the state Supreme Court took his clients property without compensation and an injunction is needed to restore their deeds.

Kieser asked for a court order barring Indiana from enforcing the state court decision on his clients, which would have the effect of restoring their private beach on Lake Michigan.

Appeals Court Judge Michael Scudder raised doubts on the case by pointing out that the state officials named in the lawsuit lack the authority to transfer title to the properties to Kiesers clients.

Deputy Indiana Attorney General Benjamin Jones said the state court ruling established that the property owners never owned the Lake Michigan shoreline in the first place.

They needed to have clearly established title to this land to show a judicial taking if its a real thing, Jones said. And they dont have that.

The Indiana Legislature approved a 2020 law stemming from the state Supreme Court decision, confirming the public's right to use the Lake Michigan shoreline for walking, fishing, boating, swimming and other recreational purposes.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  A company Iowa hired to review state prison security problems didn't disclose that a subsidiary settled a Mississippi lawsuit alleging a questionable relationship with a consultant and a corrections official imprisoned over corruption allegations.

That's prompted criticism from a watchdog group and the top Democrat on the legislative subcommittee that oversees the Department of Corrections' budget, the Des Moines Register reports.
NEW DELHI (AP)  At least 14 people have died in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu during days of heavy rains, officials said Thursday.

Several districts in the state are on high alert, bracing for more torrents as a depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal was set to cross northern Tamil Nadu on Thursday evening. The Indian Meteorological Department warned of intense rains in isolated places.

The heavy rains first struck over the weekend, hitting the capital, Chennai. Photos and videos from the city showed residents wading through knee-deep waters and vehicles nearly submerged in the heavily flooded roads.

Two people died in the last 24 hours, said N Subbaiyan, the director of the states disaster management, adding that the other 12 were killed over the past few days.

At least 800 huts have been destroyed this past week by the rains, said Kumar Jayant of the state's revenue department.

Multiple teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed to help local authorities with rescue efforts.

In Chennai, which is among the worst hit, officials have evacuated hundreds of people from vulnerable areas. Authorities have also set up over 100 relief centers and distributed free food, local media reported.

Flights into Chennai have been suspended.

The rains this week are among the heaviest to hit the city since 2015.

Experts have warned that more heavy rains can trigger further flooding and devastation.

The public should not go out, Greater Chennai Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi told New Delhi Television on Wednesday. He said authorities had managed to drain the majority of the floodwaters, but cautioned that low-lying areas could once again get inundated.

Rains at this time in Tamil Nadu are not unusual, but experts have warned that climate change has exacerbated the problem, making the downpours more intense and frequent.

Last month, flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains killed at least 28 people in neighboring Kerala state.
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP)  This kind of battle was good news for the impoverished, sometimes violent Cidade de Deus favela in Rio de Janeiro: a rap duel in a local bar held for the first time since the pandemic hit early last year.

Ten local rappers took turns at the microphones as an audience of several dozen cheered and waved their arms to the beat Wednesday night.

It was a sign of a gradual return to normality after almost two years of restrictions meant to slow the spread of COVID-19, a chance to finally celebrate a bit in the City of God, a favela made famous by a movie of the same name.

Many were at home, depressed, and they came here to let it out," said Fabio de Oliveira, who owns the open-air bar where the contest was held. He said people tell him it "saved my life because I was depressed. Now I come here, I chat, I have friends, I have a family.

It's a very local affair. Winners usually get a voucher for a free pizza from the little restaurant next door.

Rap music has an uneasy association with gangsterism in Brazil, with some accusing the rappers of glorifying criminals and illegal activity, but the City of God rappers said they just want sing about their daily struggles and hope for a better future.

Twenty-three-year-old rapper Lucas dos Santos argued the music is a way to draw people away from illegal activity.

"More young people connected to art, more young people connected to culture, less young people involved in crime, said dos Santos, known as Roque CDD  the initials of Cidade de Deus.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Republican lawmakers succeeded Thursday in forcing a Thanksgiving-week special session of the Kansas Legislature to consider financially protecting workers who refuse to comply with federal vaccine mandates.

GOP legislative leaders announced that all Republicans in both the House and the Senate have signed a petition demanding a special session starting Nov. 22. Governors call special sessions, but the Kansas Constitution requires them to do it if two-thirds of both chambers demand it  the GOP holds more than enough seats.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  The Kellogg Co. has filed a lawsuit against its local union in Omaha complaining that striking workers are blocking entrances to its cereal plant and intimidating replacement workers as they enter the plant.

The company based in Battle Creek, Michigan, asked a judge to order the Omaha chapter of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union to stop interfering with its business while workers picket outside the plant. The workers in Omaha and at Kellogg's three other U.S. cereal plants have been on strike since Oct. 5.

We respect the right of employees to lawfully communicate their position in this matter. We sought a temporary restraining order to help ensure the safety of all individuals in the vicinity of the plant, including the picketers themselves, company spokeswoman Kris Bahner said Thursday.

The president of the Omaha union declined to comment on the lawsuit Thursday.

Kellogg's lawsuit comes after a vehicle struck and killed a United Auto Workers member last as he was walking to a picket line to join striking workers outside a John Deere distribution plant in northwest Illinois. An Iowa judge issued a temporary restraining order against Deere workers in Davenport limiting their demonstrations to four picketers at a time.

Kellogg's said in its lawsuit that union members have been physically blocking the entrance to the plant as semitrucks and buses try to enter and leave.

The company also said in the lawsuit that people picketing outside the plant have threatened the lives of people working at the plant including threatening that an individuals wife and young children will be assaulted (including sexually) while he is away from home working with Kellogg.

Two days of contract talks earlier this month failed to produce an agreement. Earlier this week, Kellogg's launched a PR campaign trying to sell workers on its latest offer because the union declined to put the deal up to a vote. But the company said Thursday that its offer to the union had now expired, and no additional talks have been scheduled.

Ken Hurley, the head of labor relations at Kellogg's, said in a video the company posted on its website that Kellogg's has tried to address the union's main concerns about its two-tiered pay system, wages and benefits in its offer.

We have made every attempt to build a bridge toward a new agreement, but those efforts are met with rejections and more unrealistic demands, Hurley said in the video. We urge the union to reconsider its approach and agree to engage in real bargaining for a contract to get our employees back to work and back to their lives.

Union officials told workers after those contract talks that they couldn't recommend Kellogg's offer because it was full of concessions.

The Kelloggs strike includes roughly 1,400 workers four plants in Battle Creek; Omaha; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee, that make all of Kelloggs brands of cereal, including Frosted Flakes and Apple Jacks.

The company has said that it has restarted production at all of the plants with salaried employees and outside workers, and it is now hiring new employees at the plants. CEO Steven Cahillane also told investors earlier this month when the company reported a $307 million quarterly profit that Kelloggs stockpiled cereal beforehand to help weather the strike.

Workers at Kellogg's and other companies feel emboldened this year to strike in the hope of obtaining a better offer because of the ongoing worker shortages.

Besides the Kellogg's strike, more than 10,000 Deere workers remain on strike after rejecting two different offers from the tractor maker.

Employees are also less willing to compromise this year after working long hours during the coronavirus pandemic to keep up with demand over the past 18 months.

Earlier this year, about 600 food workers also went on strike at a Frito-Lay plant in Topeka, Kansas and 1,000 others walked off the job at five Nabisco plants across the U.S. At meatpacking plants across the country labor unions have been successfully negotiating significant raises for employees.
DALLAS (AP)  Lawsuits allege a Dallas man already charged in the deaths of 12 elderly women also killed six other elderly people, which would bring the victim total to 18.

The six lawsuits filed Tuesday in Dallas County accuse The Tradition-Prestonwood, an independent living facility in Dallas, of failing to keep residents safe and hiding suspicious circumstances surrounding deaths. The lawsuits filed on behalf of family members and advocates of the alleged additional victims say plaintiffs anticipate 46-year-old Billy Chemirmir will soon be indicted in the deaths of the five women and one man.

A Dallas County district attorneys office spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Dallas police had no comment Wednesday. An attorney for Chemirmir did not immediately return a call for comment.

Chemirmir, who is from Kenya and is a permanent U.S. resident, has been in custody since March 2018 , when he was arrested in the death of 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris in Dallas. Last month he was charged in the deaths of 11 more elderly women. Authorities have said Chemirmir posed as a maintenance worker or health care provider, and that he stole jewelry and other valuables from his victims.

Two of the people Chemirmir is already charged with killing also lived at The Tradition. The lawsuits say the deaths of those two people and the six alleged additional victims were unexpected, and in most cases valuables were missing from their apartments. The lawsuits say those eight deaths at the independent living facility occurred in a four-month span in 2016.

The lawsuits say one of the alleged additional victims, an 87-year-old woman, told her daughter several times in the weeks before her death that she was uneasy because a lot of otherwise healthy people had unexpectedly died at the facility. The woman, who had gone dancing the night before her death, even mentioned that she should maybe move during a conversation with a friend.

The lawsuits say the woman and her family did not know everything The Tradition knew, and so she stayed at the ultimate cost.

Unimaginably, at no point in time during the string of murders and robberies does The Tradition share plainly relevant information with the families of the victims, the residents who are still in danger, or the police who were viewing each death through a skewed, incomplete lens due to The Traditions failure to disclose, the lawsuits say.

The Tradition in a statement called the deaths a true tragedy, and added that it had relied on the investigations of police and other officials. The facility said any death was investigated by police and the Dallas County medical examiners office and had been attributed to natural causes. In two cases, it said, autopsies confirmed the people died of natural causes.

The facility said those rulings stood for more than 27 months.

The Tradition added that it cooperated with authorities and that its CEO did not withhold information.

The lawsuits also note that at one point before Chemirmirs arrest on murder charges, he was merely escorted off the premises at The Tradition and asked not to come back.

Dave Wishnew, one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, said the families want accountability.

If you are going to promise to provide exceptional, state-of-the-art safety and security to the most vulnerable people in our community  the elderly  then you have to fulfill those promises, Wishnew said.

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This story was first published on June 26, 2019, and was updated on Nov. 11, 2021, to correct Billy Chemirmirs immigration status. He was a permanent U.S. resident.
PARIS (AP)  Internet giants, including social media apps Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, joined several world leaders to issue a global call to better protect children online at a Paris summit on Thursday.

The call, initiated by France and the U.N. child protection agency UNICEF, acknowledges that in the digital environment, children can come across harmful and violent content and manipulation of information. Just like adults, children have rights to privacy, which should be respected.

The text also listed threats amplified by technology including cyber bullying, sexual abuse, prostitution, human trafficking, sexual and gender-based violence or violent online radicalization.

We call upon all governments, online service providers and relevant organizations to stand up for childrens rights in the digital environment, it said.

Signatories include Amazon, Google and YouTube, Facebook and Instagrams parent company Meta, Microsoft, Snapchat and Twitter. The call has also been joined by eight nations including France, Italy, Argentina, Jordan and Morocco  although not the United States.

About 30 heads of state and government and U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris were participating in the Paris Peace Forum that opened Thursday. The summit, organized both in person and online, brings together world leaders, CEOs, NGOs and others to discuss global issues such as climate, the COVID-19 pandemic and digital transition.

Macron chaired the session about childrens rights in the presence of YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki.

We must regulate contents and authorization tools so that an 8-year-old, a 10-year-old, a 15-year-old child ... cannot be exposed to all contents without rules, Macron said. That must go via parental control installed by default on some tools, he said. He also insisted on the need for educating children about the risks of social media.

Macron, Harris, EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also participated in another roundtable on regulating the digital domain, along with Microsoft president Brad Smith. Harris announced that the U.S. is joining the Paris Call launched in 2018 to improve security and better regulate cyberspace.

Children's rights advocates have for years urged internet giants to take action to better protect children.

Revelations last month from whistleblower Frances Haugen about internal Facebook studies on the harm of Instagram on teenagers intensified parents' concerns about the popular photo sharing app.

Justine Atlan, head of E-Enfance, a group advocating the protection of children on the internet, participated in the Paris Peace Forum.

We can build a lot of tools ... but all these functionalities are useless because children lie about their age. For me, this is the big issue, she said. Thats why I think we all need to work together and find solutions.

Nora Fraisse, head of a French association fighting school bullying, praised a key moment that puts international pressure on internet giants.

Fraisse founded Marion La Main Tendue (Marion The Outstretched Hand) after her daughter, Marion, committed suicide at the age of 13 because she was being harassed at school.

Those who are spreading hatred via their pipes hold some responsibility, she said about popular social media apps like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. Cyberbullying and bullying at school are often interconnected.

Fraisse said social media companies should request proof of identity as a first step and have better control over published content.

Social media companies have generally banned kids under 13 from signing up for their services, although its been widely documented that kids sign up anyway, with or without their parents permission.

Fraisse, who speaks in schools about online risks, also called for better educating children and parents on these issues.

She cited a nationwide study her association commissioned this year that showed the proportion of those who attempted suicide is higher among children bullied at school (12%) than in the general population (7%).
DALLAS (AP)  A Dallas man previously arrested in the death of an 81-year-old woman has been charged with killing at least 11 more elderly women whose jewelry and other valuables he stole, authorities said Thursday.

Kim Leach, a spokeswoman for the Dallas County district attorneys office, said 46-year-old Billy Chemirmir was indicted Tuesday on six more counts of capital murder in the deaths of women ranging in age from 76 to 94.

Chemirmir, who is from Kenya and is a permanent U.S. resident, also is charged in nearby Collin County with two counts of attempted capital murder for similar attacks there, according to county court records.

A Collin County grand jury also returned five capital murder indictments against Chemirmir on Tuesday.

Chemirmir has been in custody since March 2018 in the death of the 81-year-old Dallas woman, Lu Thi Harris. Police in Plano were investigating Chemirmir in connection with suspicious death and suspicious person calls at a senior apartment complex in that Dallas suburb and found evidence linking him to Harris death in Dallas, authorities said. Plano is in Collin County.

The break in the case came when Chemirmir forced his way into the Plano apartment of a 91-year-old woman that March, telling her to go to bed. Dont fight me, according to an arrest affidavit filed in Collin County. The woman was smothered with a pillow into unconsciousness and robbed. However, paramedics revived her and she told investigators that her attacker had stolen her jewelry. Police identified Chemirmir from a license plate number and were able to find and tail him days later, when they watched him throw a jewelry box into a trash bin. They traced the box to Harris, according to the affidavit.

Plano police Chief Gregory Rushin said at the time that Chemirmir used his health care experience to his advantage in targeting and exploiting seniors, some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Police said then that investigators were reviewing about 750 unattended deaths of elderly women for possible links.

Chemirmirs attorney, Phillip Hayes, said Thursday that this weeks charges were a surprise and that he hadnt had time to review them yet.

These cases came out of the blue and I dont have any information on them yet, he said.

But he noted that Chemirmir has denied it since Day 1 that he played any role in Harris death. They have circumstantial evidence that puts him in the area but thats as far as the evidence goes, Hayes said.

In addition to the murder charges, jail records had an immigration detainer for Chemirmir.

___

Follow David Warren on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WarrenJourno

___

This story was first published on May 16, 2019, and was updated on Nov. 11, 2021, to correct that Billy Chemirmir was not in the country illegally. He was a permanent U.S. resident. It was also updated to remove an incorrect reference to a jewelry box being stolen from the 91-year-old woman.
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP)  A motorist who crashed through the Indiana State Prisons main gate has been been charged with drunken driving and criminal trespass, state police said.

Robert D. Merriman, 62, of Winamac was arrested Tuesday after police said he drove a pickup truck through the gate at the prison, located in Michigan City. Authorities eventually stopped the vehicle and state troopers were called to the scene, police said.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  Nevada health officials said Wednesday they are encouraged by initial demand for COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-11 and local pediatricians are reporting strong interest.

But some logistical issues and technical glitches in the states scheduling platform have slowed the rollout of the doses at county and community health clinics, they said.

Experts also expressed concerns that a recent uptick in new coronavirus cases statewide could signal a similar trend as last November when the pandemic began a climb to its most serious level in December 2020.

Theyre hopeful the addition of the 277,000 Nevadans aged 5-11 to those eligible for vaccination will put the state in a better position than last year to combat the spread of the virus.

Certainly the demand is out there, said Dr. Terrence McAllister, a Las Vegas pediatrician who joined state officials for a weekly update for reporters on Wednesday.

James English, regional COVID-19 operations chief for Washoe County's health district, said a line started forming outside the Reno Livestock Events Center for Saturdays first walk-up doses for younger kids well before 6:45 a.m., so its obvious there is demand and there are a lot of people who support this vaccination.

A lot of excited kids. A lot of relieved parents," he said.

State health officials estimated Wednesday that 4,300 Nevada children aged 5-11 have received a first dose, but the numbers are lagging a day or two as they input them in the system.

Washoe County health officials said the state estimates 300 doses have been children aged 5-11 in the county but they believe the real number is more like 700 to 1,000 because of a 36-hour delay or longer in reporting.

The biggest hurdle has been that the states vaccine scheduling site was having a problem allowing young children to sign up, an issue that also cropped up when adult boosters first came out. That problem is expected to be fixed soon.

In the meantime, most health districts are providing only walk-up shots without appointments. In Washoe County theyre capped at 100 per day.

Its really a scheduling and staffing hang-up for us. Thats really whats hindering our operation and being able to ramp up, English said. He noted there now are three different doses of four types of vaccines for children or adults, including boosters.

Officials are encouraging parents to seek vaccinations from their pediatricians or one of the other more than 230 providers statewide including pharmacies that have enrolled in the state program.

Karissa Loper, chief of the Nevada Bureau of Children, Family and Community Wellness, said the initial does delivered to the state were required to be in increments of a minimum of 300, which created storage issues for some, but this week theyve been allowed to order them in 100-dose lots.

I think the doses are available. I think counties are working through all the logistic and operational challenges of adding this new group of individuals who get a different dose, they get a different size of dose.... theres a need to be stored differently, she said Wednesday.

Among Nevadans aged 12 and older, 65.7% have received a first dose and 56.6% are fully vaccinated.

The statewide positivity test rate, which had remained below 7% since Oct. 25, has climbed from 6.6% to 7.1% over the last week, the state website showed Wednesday. Its risen to 9.8% in Washoe County, 6.2% in Clark County and 9.4% in rural counties outside Reno, Las Vegas and Carson City.

Overall, our trend has been upward, Washoe County Health District Officer Kevin Dick said Wednesday. This is the time of year last year we saw a dramatic rise in new cases.
TRENTON, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey Republicans added to the GOP's positive election results across the country, picking up at least four seats in the Assembly and netting one new seat in the Senate, according to Associated Press race calls made Thursday in the Nov. 2 election.

The Associated Press declared winners in a handful of races, cementing what will be a GOP pickup of at least four seats in the lower chamber of the Legislature. Two Assembly seats remain uncalled, with the Republican candidates holding narrow leads. Democrats will remain in control of the chamber, but with a majority diminished from 52-28.

Republicans netted only one new seat in the Senate, despite winning two because Democrats won a GOP-held seat. The slight movement in the Senate hardly tempered the sting for Democrats, though, whose Senate president, Steve Sweeney, was among those defeated. In the Senate, Democrats will keep control as well, but their majority will fall from 25-15 to 24-16.

New Jersey counties have continued to count their ballots since election night, including provisional ballots, results from some precincts that had not yet reported their results, and mail ballots. Ballots cast by mail could be counted as long as they arrived by Nov. 8, if postmarked by the day of the election.

Republicans and some Democrats are viewing the GOP pickups as a repudiation of the governor's left-leaning policies as well as frustration over delays in the payment of jobless benefits and complaints about lines at Motor Vehicles.

People are frustrated with labor shortages and a state government that cant deliver basic services like getting an unemployment check or scheduling an appointment with the MVC, despite paying nation-high taxes," said incoming Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio.

He added: "If Democrats didnt get the message ... Republicans will personally deliver it every step of the way.

Democratic Assemblyman John Burzichelli, who was Sweeney's running mate in their suburban Philadelphia southern New Jersey district, said he could see the lack of enthusiasm in Democratic voters' eyes while he was campaigning. He laid the defeat at the lack of local news coverage and the nationalization of state and local politics, which he said meant that people were focused on President Joe Biden, whose approval ratings have been dropping.

There was a mood of indifference, he said. "I almost don't feel people voted against us or for the other side. We ended up running against something we couldn't see or touch, which is this underlying current or mood.

This was clearly an emotional vote influenced by the news out of Washington because theres no local news.

In the Assembly, Republicans picked up seats in the 2nd and 3rd districts in the southern part of the state. In the 11th District in Monmouth County, GOP candidates led narrowly.

Joining the Assembly when the new session begins in January will be former Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian and his running mate attorney Claire Swift in the Atlantic County-based 2nd District.

In the 3rd District, Republicans Beth Sawyer, a real estate broker, and firefighter/EMT Bethanne McArthy Patrick will head to the Assembly.

In the 11th District, nutrition and fitness professional Marilyn Piperno and Shrewsbury Borough Councilwoman Kimberly Eulner had narrow leads over incumbent Democratic Assembly members Joann Downey and Eric Houghtaling.

In the Senate, Republican Edward Durr ousted Sweeney and Republican Assembly member Jean Stanfield defeated Democratic incumbent Dawn Addiego. Addiego made headlines in 2019 when she left the GOP to join Democrats.

Stanfield said in an phone interview that voters told her they were angry over Democratic spending programs.

I think people are just fed up and disgusted with what they see in Trenton and what they see at the national level, she said.

Democratic Assembly member Andrew Zwicker won his state Senate contest in the 16th District over former Republican U.S. Rep. Michael Pappas. Republicans had held the seat, but incumbent Christopher Kip Bateman retired, giving Democrats an opening.


WALLA WALLA, Wash. (AP)  About 13,000 pounds of marijuana valued at around $3 million was destroyed this week outside of three adjoining Touchet, Washington, cannabis farms accused of growing more than allowed by state law.

The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin reports Evergreen Nirvana, Black Diamond Cannabis and Green Volcano were each notified recently by the state Liquor and Cannabis Board that they were growing significantly more than their allotted space.

But owners of the farms argue they are being suddenly and unfairly penalized by regulators in response to complaints made by competitors in the legal cannabis industry.

Though the sites have each long since been growing cannabis on more than 30,000 square feet of land, the growers did not believe they had run afoul of regulations, said Michael Rothwell, an attorney representing the growers. That is because the actual canopy of their plants, which are grown outdoors, is under the 30,000 square feet limit, and that the remaining land is simply empty space between plants.

The trio of farms are the only pot-producers in Walla Walla County, which banned all recreational cannabis farms in 2014.

The growers had established their operations as a legal land use before the county adopted a moratorium on medical marijuana operations at the end of June 2016. Before that, the county ban covered recreational marijuana production, processing and sale, but not medical cannabis.

The farms had previously been able to successfully argue in court that they were a medical marijuana grow operation, and growers have been steadily building up their farms ever since, said Craig VanZandt, a part owner of Black Diamond Cannabis.

But in October, just as harvest of the years crop was underway, the farms were sent a notice from the LCB informing them that around half of that crop was going to be destroyed in the coming weeks, VanZandt said.

The marijuana was destroyed on Wednesday.

Our best understanding is that theyve been operating in a non-compliant fashion in this entire time and it was a lack of understanding of the officer that previously looked at it, said Cpt. Jeremy Wissing, who oversees cannabis production with the LCB for the east side of Washington state.
ALBANY, Ore. (AP)  Police said Thursday that law enforcement seized about $2.2 million in marijuana found stuffed in plastic bags in a U-Haul truck on Interstate 5 near Albany, Oregon.

On Nov. 3, a detective with the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team was traveling south on I-5 when he encountered a 26-foot (8-meter) U-Haul box truck and became aware of a strong odor of marijuana, according to a news release from Albany Police.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Prosecutors are supporting a push by the Tennessee Innocence Project to reopen a post-conviction appeal for two people in the rape and slaying of a 4-year-old child more than 30 years ago.

Attorneys from the Tennessee Innocence Project filed a motion Wednesday asking a Nashville judge to reopen the case of Joyce Watkins and Charles Dunn, the Tennessean reported. Watkins and Dunn were convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated rape and sentenced in 1988 life in prison.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syria signed a contract Thursday with a group of companies from the United Arab Emirates to build a solar power station in a Damascus suburb, the government announced. It was the latest indication that the Arab world is willing to re-engage with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Earlier this week, UAE's Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Assad in Damascus, the first such visit since the Syrian conflict started a decade ago. Assads office said they discussed ways of developing cooperation and investment opportunities during the meeting Tuesday.

Syrian government forces now control much of the country, thanks to allies Russia and Iran, which have helped tip the balance of power in Assad's favor. The civil war that began in 2011 has killed hundreds of thousands of people, displaced half the countrys population and left large parts of Syria destroyed.

There has been speculation that the Emirati overtures may be seeking to pull Damascus away from Tehran's influence. However, Irans state TV reported Thursday that Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian in a phone conversation with his Emirati counterpart said bilateral relations were of special importance for both countries.

We are confident that a good trend in improving relations will lead to the full development of relations between the two countries, Iran's top diplomat was quoted as saying. He also expressed hopes for trade relations between the two.

The report described the visit of Sheikh Abdullah to Syria as a positive step. It also said the UAE foreign minister invited Amirabdullahian to visit the federation and that his Iranian counterpart in return invited him to visit Tehran.

According to Syrian state media, the solar power station will be constructed in the eastern Damascus suburb of Widyan al-Rabie. It would take two years to build and it will produce 300 megawatts at peak rates. The reports did not say how much it would cost, only that it would save 125,000 tons of fuel annually.

It was not immediately clear if the project will be exempted from U.S. sanctions on Syria. The United States has allowed Lebanon, struggling with a major electricity crisis, to receive Egyptian gas and electricity from Jordan through Syria.

Last month, Syrias electricity ministry signed a $115 million contract with an Iranian company to rebuild a power station in a central province in Syria.

The UAE, which initially supported those trying to topple Assad, reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2018 but relations have remained chilly. Last month, the UAEs Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed received a telephone call from Assad in which the two discussed strengthening relations and cooperation.
WHEELING, Ill. (AP)  Police said Thursday that they had identified a person of interest in the killing of a suburban Chicago woman found dead in her apartment and the disappearance of her 1-year-old daughter.

Family members became concerned Tuesday when Janya Murphy hadnt been to work and had not been in touch. After a wellbeing check, authorities found the Wheeling apartment's balcony door unlocked and the 21-year-old mother's body inside. Her daughter Jaclyn Angel Dobbs was missing, prompting Illinois State Police to issue an advisory.
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (AP)  The Tennessee distillery producing Jack Daniels whiskey is teaming with a military support group to help service members and their families get home for the holidays.

More than 1,700 service members and relatives will head home through Operation Ride Home, organizers said. It's the most participants in program history.
DILLON, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina troopers are looking for the driver of a tractor trailer that struck and killed a tow truck operator from North Carolina on the side of Interstate 95.

Steven Bullard was hit near mile marker 195 on I-95 in Dillon County as he was loading a vehicle on his tow truck around 11:30 p.m. Sunday and the driver of the 18-wheeler did not stop, the South Carolina Highway Patrol said.
RENO, Nev. (AP)  A U.S. federal judge has ruled that additional historical accounts two Native American tribes submitted to prove their claim a lithium mine is on sacred lands where their ancestors were massacred in 1865 still falls short of evidence necessary to temporarily block any digging.

U.S. District Judge Miranda Du refused the request by the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony and the Oregon-based Burns Paiute Tribe to reconsider her Sept. 6 ruling denying their bid to halt completion of an archaeological survey required before construction of the mine can begin near the Nevada-Oregon line.

While the court agrees (the) additional evidence further highlights the shameful history of the treatment of Native Americans by federal and state governments, it does not persuade the court that it should reconsider, Du wrote in her ruling issued on Monday.

She said the newly discovered evidence is too speculative to warrant a temporary injunction blocking collection of cultural artifacts.

Lithium Nevada Corp.s construction is scheduled to begin earlier next year at Thacker Pass, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) northeast of Reno.

It would be the largest lithium mine in the nation. Lithium is a key component in electric vehicle batteries. Demand for the mineral is expected to triple over the next five years.

The company plans to have a contractor dig trenches to gather samples for the archaeological survey across about a quarter of an acre (a tenth of a hectare) and has pledged to halt all operations if any human remains are found.

The tribes have accused the U.S. Bureau of Land Management of violating historic preservation laws by failing to consult with them about an Historic Properties Treatment Plan guiding the initial archaeological dig required before mine construction can begin.

They argue the sacred lands could be irreparably harmed," which Judge Du said they had failed to prove when she ruled against them in September in federal court in Reno.

The new evidence the tribes submitted Oct. 1 included an 1865 newspaper report in The Owyhee Avalanche and two eyewitness accounts of how at least 31 Paiute men, women and children were murdered by federal soldiers at Thacker Pass.

The accounts were in an autobiography first published in 1929 by Bill Haywood, a well-known American labor organizer. One was from a cavalry volunteer who said he participated in the slaughter and the other by a tribal member who survived it.

Du wrote in her ruling that the new evidence does not definitely establish that a massacre occurred within the project area.

She said that previous digging in the area in recent years never uncovered any human remains and there are plans in place to address the discovery of human remains in any event.

Lithium Nevada said the governments review of the plans has included substantial consultation with local tribes, including the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone tribe, that had no objections to the archaeological dig.

As the specialists complete the cultural mitigation work, we are committed to working closely with the Fort McDermitt Paiute Shoshone tribe who will monitor the work and ensure artifacts are protected and preserved in a way most suitable to tribal interests," the company said Thursday in a statement emailed to The Associated Press.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the mining company's name is Lithium Nevada Corp., not Nevada Lithium Corp.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP)  A Utah doctor is accused of lying about ill patients in his climbing party to get a high-altitude government helicopter to rescue him off the tallest mountain in North America after a failed summit and of destroying evidence.

Dr. Jason Lance, who is a radiologist in Ogden, Utah, was charged Tuesday with three misdemeanors from his May attempt to summit Denali, a 20,310-foot (6,190 meters) peak located about 180 miles (290 kilometers) north of Anchorage.

Lance declined comment to The Associated Press on Thursday when reached at his Ogden practice. His virtual arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 6 through the U.S. District Court in Fairbanks.

Lance and another man named in the court documents as A.R. decided to become a team on May 24 at a camp at the 14,200-foot (4,300-meter) level to begin their summit along the West Buttress, described in court papers as the most popular climbing route on Denali.

Somewhere below the 19,200-foot (5,850-meter) level, Lance saw his partner begin to exhibit symptoms of altitude sickness. Lance decided his partner was too ill to continue the summit and left him with another group of climbers and continued alone to the peak, according to court documents. He also took the mans satellite communication device, authorities said.

The other climbers abandoned their own summit attempt to help the ill man descend.

Later, the court documents say Lance abandoned his own summit attempt and rejoined the other three men on the descent as they were nearing Denali Pass at 18,200 feet (5,550 meters).

The four began to descend with Lance in the lead, A.R. behind him and then the other team. Lance and A.R. were not roped together.

Then A.R. fell from the top of Denali Pass, plummeting about 1,000 feet (305 meters). Lance triggered the satellite communication device and reported the fall.

Denali National Park and Preserves high-altitude helicopter responded and took A.R. to waiting paramedics in the nearby town of Talkeetna.

After A.R. was off the mountain, the court documents say Lance used the communications device to send this message to the manufacturers emergency response center: No injuries. Stuck without equipment after climber fall. Request assisst (sic) for evac. The center responded, advising him to contact Denali National Park directly.

Nearly an hour later, park officials told him if he had a rope, he should rope up and begin descending. He responded by saying they could not safely descend.

The park told him the helicopter was no longer flying that night and the only option was to descend.

After receiving that message, Lance responded 21 minutes later: Cant descend safely. Patients in shock. Early hypothermia. Cant you land east of pass?

Given that medical news, the helicopter launched but hadnt informed Lance. Shortly after launching, it abandoned the mission when guides at the nearby high base camp reported the three climbers were climbing down.

In later interviews, neither member of the other climbing team reported they suffered from medical shock or hypothermia at any time. They also said they spent hours trying to convince Lance to descend with them the 1,000 feet (305 meters) to the 17,200-foot (5,240-meter) high base camp.

Lance insisted they stay put, and that the National Park Service was obligated to rescue them because weve paid our fee, according to court documents.

The other team finally convinced him to descend, which they did without incident.

The next day Denali Mountaineering Ranger Chris Erickson, who is also a law enforcement officer, interviewed Lance at base camp. Erickson said he was to safeguard all of A.R.s equipment, including his satellite communication device. According to court documents, Lance refused to hand over the device.

Though Erickson ordered him not to delete any messages off the device, authorities allege he zipped himself inside his tent alone for up to five minutes before handing it over.

In a follow-up interview on May 26, Erickson told Lance the other climbers in the party denied suffering from shock or hypothermia.

Lance responded he was a licensed and trained physician and would recognize early hypothermia better than a climber. He added he didnt need to be lectured on hypothermia, the court documents say.

When he initially received it, Erickson said the satellite communication device contained multiple messages Lance sent to park officials, claiming medical necessity for a transport. However, deleted messages obtained through a search warrant served on the manufacturer showed multiple additional messages between Lance and the manufacturers rescue center. Among them were Lances proclamation that there were no injuries and they simply lacked the proper equipment to descend, court documents say.

Lance faces three counts, interfering with and violating the order of a government employee and for filing a false report.
CHICAGO (AP)  In Kansas City, Kansas, educators are opening an after-school mental health clinic staffed with school counselors and social workers. Schools in Paterson, New Jersey, have set up social emotional learning teams to identify students dealing with crises. Chicago is staffing up care teams with the mission of helping struggling students on its 500-plus campuses.

With a windfall of federal coronavirus relief money at hand, schools across the U.S. are using portions to quickly expand their capacity to address students struggles with mental health.

While school districts have broad latitude on how to spend the aid money, the urgency of the problem has been driven home by absenteeism, behavioral issues, and quieter signs of distress as many students have returned to school buildings this fall for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit.

For some school systems, the money has boosted long-standing work to help students cope with trauma. Others have launched new efforts to screen, counsel and treat students. All told, the investments put public schools more than ever at the center of efforts to attend to students overall well-being.

In the last recession, with the last big chunk of recovery money, this conversation wasnt happening, said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant director of the American School Counselor Association. Now, the tone across the country is very focused on the well-being of students.

Last month, three major pediatric groups said the state of childrens mental health should be considered a national emergency. The U.S. Education Department has pointed to the distribution of the relief money as an opportunity to rethink how schools provide mental health support. Mental well-being, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has said, needs to be the foundation for the recovery from the pandemic.

The pandemic relief to schools totals $190 billion, more than four times the amount the Education Department typically spends on K-12 schools annually. Mental health investments have gone into staff training, wellness screenings and curriculum dedicated to social-emotional learning.

Still, questions remain over how schools will find ways to make the benefits last beyond the one-time infusion of money, handle privacy concerns, and track the effectiveness of their efforts. The implementation worries Katie Dockweiler, a school psychologist in Nevada who sits on the state board of education.

Not all programs are created equal, she said. It really comes down to how its implemented, school by school. And theres great variability there.

She said districts should develop ways of tracking the impact on students: Otherwise, were just throwing our money away.

At the top of the list for many districts has been hiring new mental health specialists. When the National Association of School Psychologists surveyed members this fall, more than half of respondents said their districts intended to add social workers, psychologists, or counselors, according to policy director Kelly Vaillancourt Strobach.

With $9.5 million from federal relief funding and outside grant money, Paterson schools added five behavioral analysts, two substance abuse coordinators, and the teams to spot students going through crises.

In Paterson, one of the lowest-income parts of New Jersey, many of the 25,000 students faced food insecurity before the pandemic and struggled after family members lost jobs, Superintendent Eileen Shafer said.

We wanted to make sure before we try to teach anything new, that were able to deal with where our children are right now based on what theyve been through, she said.

In rural Ellicottville, New York, where school psychologist Joe Prior is seeing more anxiety and a significant increase in panic attacks, the district wants to use rescue funds to hire a counselor to connect students with psychological help. But the position remains unfilled, as few expressed interest.

I have more students just looking me in the eye and saying Im completely overwhelmed and Im not sure how to handle it, Ellicottville high school principal Erich Ploetz said.

Its not the only district where ambitions for hiring have outstripped the number of available professionals. Some districts have turned to outside vendors to help fill mental health positions, while others are training existing staff.

The Kansas City, Kansas, school system is using some of the $918,000 in relief money dedicated to mental health to pay social workers and counselors already on staff to work at the new after-school clinic. The district also has added staff and mental health screenings.

Angela Dunn, who leads the 22,000-student district's mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, said the mental health team has responded to 27 student deaths and 16 staff deaths since the pandemic started, double what is typical during that period. She said a handful of staff members died of COVID-19, but many of the others were homicides, suicides and overdoses.

The investments by schools in student mental health services have raised some privacy concerns, especially where schools are now monitoring student computers for distress signals or administering mental health screenings to all students. But the idea that its not the place of schools to involve themselves at all has receded.

We just recognized that students are comfortable seeking help in a school setting, Dunn said.

Chicago, the nations third-largest school district, unveiled a healing plan for students, using $24 million of its $2.6 billion in stimulus funds.

Over three years, the district will expand care teams  building staff who serve as the frontline response for struggling students  to each campus. The goal is to reach 200 schools by spring.

High school principal Angelica Altamirano used some of that funding to open a space outfitted with cozy furniture and a hand-me-down air hockey table. Already, the campus center has offered grief groups for students whose family members or friends have died and helped teachers dealing with burnout.

In Topeka, Kansas, $100,000 was budgeted for calming items and staff for sensory rooms, including one at Quincy Elementary. When students get so frustrated that they put their heads down on their desk, or wander into the hallway or cry, teachers can send them to the Roadrunner Room. There, they can climb into a tent and snuggle under a weighted blanket, put a puzzle together, play with sand or build with Legos.

Dean of students Andrea Keck has watched the room become a go-to place for one student to work out frustrations.

She can journal it, get her hair put up, whatever she needs, and then she is successful the rest of the day, said Keck, who oversees the room.

In Detroit, the district is spending $34 million on mental health initiatives, including screening students, expanding help from outside mental health providers, and offering extra support to parents.

On a recent Wednesday, that meant an hourlong meditation session for parents at a local coffee shop. One attendee worried her own stress was affecting her sons ability to learn.

As a community we have all been through something, said Sharlonda Buckman, an assistant superintendent who participated in the session. Part of recovery has to be some intentional work in spaces like this, so we can be there for our kids.

___

Thompson reported from Ellicottville, New York, and Hollingsworth from Mission, Kansas. Chalkbeat writers Catherine Carrera in Newark, New Jersey, Cassie Walker Burke in Chicago, and Lori Higgins in Detroit, and Associated Press writer Collin Binkley in Boston contributed to this report.
HOUSTON  Rice Universitys board of trustees has selected Reginald DesRoches, who is now serving as school provost, to be the universitys next president.

DesRoches, born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is the first immigrant, first Black man and first engineer to lead the private research university. An internationally recognized structural engineer and earthquake resilience expert, DesRoches will succeed President David Leebron, who previously announced his plan to step down next summer after the academic year ends.

I am deeply honored to be named the next president of Rice University, DesRoches said in a written statement. The past 4 years at Rice have been among the most rewarding in my professional career and I look forward to building on the tradition of excellence established by President Leebron and those who served before him.

DesRoches will take over as the universitys eighth president on July 1.

When President Leebron told us he was stepping down, we knew we wanted to build upon what he has accomplished these last 18 years, Robert Ladd, chair of the board of trustees, said in a written statement. We embarked on a search for a proven leader who will be transformational, who will lead Rice to even greater stature and national recognition. We have found a leader who is inspirational and universally respected, a leader who is visionary, strategic and kind. We are proud to welcome Reginald DesRoches as our universitys next president.

Rice, in Houston, was established after William Willy Rice set aside money before he died that helped start the school in 1912 with the stipulation that it only serve white Texans.

Throughout the pandemic, Rice students demanded removal of a campus monument of Willy Rice, a slaveholder. The push from students was part of widespread protests across the state and nation condemning the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and students called for an end to racial injustice.

At Rice, 7% of students are Black or African American.

DesRoches has already begun addressing race issues at Rice. As chief academic officer, he established the office of diversity, equity and inclusion. DesRoches has also led the universitys academic, research, scholarly and creative activities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

DesRoches arrived at Rice in 2017 as dean of engineering at the George R. Brown School of Engineering. During DesRoches time as dean, the department underwent significant growth in research programs, including new efforts in the areas of neuroengineering and synthetic biology. He also led the establishment of the schools first-of-its-kind collaborative research center in India with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.

Before joining Rice, DesRoches was chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech. His work there stemmed from his studies at the University of California, Berkeley. As an undergraduate student, DesRoches witnessed the damage wrought by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. That experience led him to focus on earthquake resiliency as he pursued his masters and doctoral degrees at Berkeley.

Since then, DesRoches has become a nationally recognized expert on earthquake resilience who has testified before committees of the U.S. House and Senate. He chairs the National Construction Safety Team, an agency within the U.S. Commerce Department that is overseeing an investigation of the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominiums in Surfside, Florida. He previously served on the advisory committee for the engineering directorate for the National Science Foundation.

Reggie DesRoches is an outstanding choice as Rices next president, Leebron said in a statement. I have had the privilege of working closely with Reggie over the last 4 years, first in his capacity of dean of engineering and then as provost, and observed firsthand his extraordinary leadership, values, thoughtfulness and ambition for Rice. I am confident he will fully achieve the aspirations of our Be Bold campaign, and take Rice to new heights of achievement and impact.

Disclosure: Rice University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

The man former Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West admitted he engaged with in a physical altercation at the Dallas Fort-Worth Airport on Nov. 3 is claiming the 2022 gubernatorial hopeful hit him in the face while tearing off his mask, according to Michael Williams of the Dallas Morning News.

In a DWF Airport police report obtained by the Dallas Morning News, the man, identified as Lawrence Eric Stern, was standing at the airport's Terminal B on Nov. 3 when he saw West, who was arriving from a flight from Tallahassee, Fla., walking through the terminal maskless. Stern told West to the put his mask on and called him an idiot, the report said. West then approached Stern and asked him to repeat himself, and Stern again told West to put a mask on.
A. A sales tax would have meant visitors contributed to repaving.

B. We already are taxed too much.

C. Money for repaving should be put into the county's annual operational budget.

C. The road resurfacing program is behind schedule so the county needs to act ASAP.

Vote

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Andi Friedman is the co-founder of a number of tech startups, including mobile data collection company Mobenzi and food-ordering platform Yumbi, whose focus on connecting restaurants with their customers has fueled online growth for a range of well-known brands including Steers, Burger King and Debonairs Pizza.

Yumbi offers a 'white label' software suite of electronic payment, analytics and marketing software, on top of which restaurants and food services can build food-ordering sites labeled with their own brands.

Andi has a degree in computer engineering from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and is widely regarded as an authority on the use of mobile technology in health and other areas. Andi has also served as the President of the Cape Town chapter of Entrepreneurs Organisation  a network of more than 12,000 successful entrepreneurs worldwide.

Yumbi has been shaking up the digital ordering landscape since 2009. We sat down with Andi to ask him about the IT challenges to online ordering, home delivery and customer relationship management, as well as the future of food ordering in Africa.

CIO Africa: Yumbi has been working on home delivery software solutions long before the COVID-19 lockdown happened. How did your systems cope during the pandemic, and what was the key technology you used to cope with that surge in demand?

Thankfully, we invested in building scalable infrastructure long before lockdown hit. Its true that online order volumes surged once restaurants reopened after the first hard-lockdown, but we didnt need to change much, as our AWS-based infrastructure is elastic and has been architected to respond dynamically to demand.

Over the years, weve developed our own messaging, queueing and workflow systems that allow us to process significant concurrent users and orders. We also have direct integrations with the leading point-of-sale providers that allow us to process higher volumes than other solutions that rely on manual capturing by restaurant staff (e.g. via a tablet placed in-store).

CIO Africa: How viable and sustainable is restaurant home delivery as a healthy, growth area for African entrepreneurs, and how do you see the long-term prospects of this sector in Africa?

Assuming we follow similar trends to the rest of the world, online ordering in Africa has a steep growth path ahead of it. Of course, Africa has its own unique challenges compared to more established markets. For example, in many places there arent formal addresses making home delivery more challenging. Connectivity and bandwidth are other common challenges which impact how you architect apps and solutions. But the prospects are very exciting.

Outside of South Africa, we currently have restaurants using our platform in Namibia, Botswana and will be live in Kenya before the end of the year, with Zambia coming online early next year.

CIO Africa: What are the benefits of white labelling for a CTO in a small business that is looking to home delivery for customers in South Africa?

White-labelling has many benefits, but until recently, it has been more appropriate for larger chains who have their own delivery fleets. The only real option for independent restaurants and smaller chains has been to list with an aggregator.

Using aggregators exclusively to transact with your customer poses significant risks to restaurant owners  your customer essentially becomes the aggregators customer and the direct relationship you had is lost. Aside from the disintermediation risk, the commissions charged by aggregators can be untenable for many restaurants who operate on thin margins.

From a Yumbi perspective, our solution gives restaurants the ability to operate their own online ordering experiences (including branded websites, mobile apps, call centre) and then decide whether they want to fulfil delivery orders themselves (if they have a vehicle/fleet) or outsource delivery to another party (e.g. during peak periods).

We now offer integrations with UberDirect and OrderIn (with more on the way) which means that restaurants can retain control over ordering experience and the relationship with their customer, whilst outsourcing the delivery component  something that we believe is a game changer for the industry.

CIO Africa: What makes food and restaurants so unique as a business challenge? Can your systems be used for other industries?

Part of the reason our solution has been a success is that we have focused on solving challenges that are fairly unique to the restaurant industry. The fact that orders need to be handled in real-time makes our solution quite different from your more traditional e-commerce offering. Other key differences are the complexity of food menus and the level of customisation that they require. For example, building your own pizza from scratch, or making changes to one of the available options is beyond the capability of what most generic ecommerce systems can handle elegantly.

Although we have focused exclusively on the restaurant industry until now, what we offer is essentially a platform for real-time ecommerce and we are now in the process of exploring applications in other verticals that need similar capabilities.

CIO Africa: What areas or touchpoints are the hardest for online systems to integrate with the real world?

Some point-of-sale providers either dont offer APIs that allow you to integrate easily or make the integration very expensive to force the restaurant into using the online ordering solution that the POS provider offers. Call-in orders also still make up a significant portion of orders that restaurants receive. To bring these into the same workflow, we offer restaurants a solution that allows calls to be routed to their own (or an outsourced) call centre. The software picks up the callers customer profile and presents this to an agent via a purpose-built interface who can then capture and submit the order digitally to the restaurant on the customers behalf. This allows in-store staff to focus on walk-in and dine-in customers.

CIO Africa: What is the value of all the reporting/customer insights that CMS platforms generate?

Restaurants are beginning to realise that understanding their customer more deeply is critical to success and being able to communicate directly using these insights is essential. This data is fundamental to understanding and optimising customer acquisition, behaviour, retention, loyalty and satisfaction. From an operations perspective, having this data allows restaurants to identify and address process inefficiencies, plan more effectively and improve margins. By identifying trends (e.g. delivery heat maps) data can also guide strategic decisions about new market and product opportunities (e.g. where to open new stores).

Unlocking the value contained in the raw data requires expert storage, processing, modelling and visualisation so that insights can be surfaced to business stakeholders in a simple, understandable and useful way.

CIO Africa: Do you have any advice for CTOs who are trying to move into the home delivery space in an African context?

Home delivery has become a very competitive space with billions being invested and, generally speaking, it requires economies of scale to operate sustainably. There are a number of large aggregators already active on the continent who would be very difficult to compete with head-on as they have such deep pockets that allow them to subsidise the real costs to gain market share. Our view is that, for restaurants, its not an either / or decision. We recommend that restaurants list with an aggregator, but you need to have your own direct channel to the customer too.

We believe that the food tech industry is eventually going to mature into an 'ecosystem' which hopefully means there will be more opportunities for a wider variety of players who can integrate and add value. This is clearly an exciting opportunity for new solutions.
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Population in 2010: 503.

Males: 271 (53.9%) Females: 232 (46.1%)

Median resident age: 28.3 years Pennsylvania median age: 40.8 years

Zip codes: 17002.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $51,617

Allensville: $51,617 PA: $63,463

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $26,546



Allensville CDP income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $126,013 Allensville: $126,013 PA: $192,600

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $279,231; detached houses: $233,551; townhouses or other attached units: $548,861 $51,617$26,546$126,013$279,231;$233,551;$548,861

Median gross rent in 2019: $472.

March 2019 cost of living index in Allensville: 92.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 16.6%

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... Based on 2000-2020 data Loading data...

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454 97.8% White alone 5 1.1% Black alone

Races in Allensville detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Pennsylvania and other state lists, there were 2 registered sex offenders living in Allensville, Pennsylvania as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Allensville is 239 to 1.





Ancestries: German (30.1%), Pennsylvania German (29.2%), American (7.1%), Scotch-Irish (5.8%), English (5.3%), Swedish (5.3%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 973 feet

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $2,446 (1.4%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $2,458 (1.8%)



Latitude: 40.54 N, Longitude: 77.82 W

Area code: 717

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 6.2% Pennsylvania: 6.1%

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI NO 2 SO 2 Ozone PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 74.7. This is about average. City: 74.7 U.S.: 74.2

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 2.31. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 19.3 miles away from the city center. City: 2.31 U.S.: 5.56

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.105. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 19.3 miles away from the city center. City: 0.105 U.S.: 1.789

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 26.9. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 18.7 miles away from the city center. City: 26.9 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 8.74. This is about average. Closest monitor was 19.3 miles away from the city center. City: 8.74 U.S.: 8.46

Tornado activity: Allensville-area historical tornado activity is slightly below Pennsylvania state average. It is 34% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 11/20/1989, a category F2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado 5.8 miles away from the Allensville place center caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages. On 4/16/1961, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 37.1 miles away from the place center caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Allensville-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Pennsylvania state average. It is 62% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 181.8 miles away from the city center

On 9/25/1998 at 19:52:52, a magnitude 5.2 (4.8 MB, 4.3 MS, 5.2 LG, 4.5 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 149.9 miles away from Allensville center

On 1/16/1994 at 01:49:16, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MB, 4.6 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 94.8 miles away from the city center

On 1/31/1986 at 16:46:43, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB) earthquake occurred 189.3 miles away from the city center

On 10/7/1983 at 10:18:46, a magnitude 5.3 (5.1 MB, 5.3 LG, 5.1 ML) earthquake occurred 295.8 miles away from Allensville center

On 1/16/1994 at 00:42:43, a magnitude 4.2 (4.2 MB, 4.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 96.4 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Mifflin County (15) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 11

Emergencies Declared: 4



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 3, Hurricanes: 3, Storms: 3, Tropical Storms: 3, Winter Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Snowfall: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Tropical Depression: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Allensville: VALLEY VIEW HAVEN, INC (Nursing Home, about 9 miles away; BELLEVILLE, PA)

MALTA HOME (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; GRANVILLE, PA)

WESTMINSTER WOODS AT HUNTINGDO (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; HUNTINGDON, PA)

US RENAL CARE HUNTINGDON (Dialysis Facility, about 11 miles away; HUNTINGDON, PA)

J C BLAIR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL Acute Care Hospitals (about 11 miles away; HUNTINGDON, PA)

Acute Care Hospitals GOLDEN LIVINGCENTER-WILLIAM PENN (Nursing Home, about 15 miles away; LEWISTOWN, PA)

LEWISTOWN HOSPITAL Acute Care Hospitals (about 15 miles away; LEWISTOWN, PA)

Amtrak stations near Allensville: 11 miles: HUNTINGDON (402 ALLEGHENY ST.) . Services: enclosed waiting area, public payphones, snack bar.

HUNTINGDON (402 ALLEGHENY ST.) . enclosed waiting area, public payphones, snack bar. 14 miles: LEWISTON (LEWISTOWN, HELEN ST.) . Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Allensville: Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus ( about 19 miles; University Park, PA ; Full-time enrollment: 45,483)

19 ; 45,483) Pennsylvania State University-World Campus ( about 21 miles; University Park, PA ; FT enrollment: 4,893)

21 ; 4,893) Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona ( about 32 miles; Altoona, PA ; FT enrollment: 3,656)

32 ; 3,656) Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania ( about 37 miles; Shippensburg, PA ; FT enrollment: 7,051)

37 ; 7,051) Dickinson College ( about 40 miles; Carlisle, PA ; FT enrollment: 2,505)

40 ; 2,505) Saint Francis University ( about 44 miles; Loretto, PA ; FT enrollment: 2,636)

44 ; 2,636) Lock Haven University (about 46 miles; Lock Haven, PA; FT enrollment: 5,184) Private elementary/middle schools in Allensville: SHADY GROVE SCHOOL (HUEY ST) ( Students: 29, Location: 67 HUEY ST, Grades: 1-8)

( 29, 67 HUEY ST, 1-8) COUNTY LINE SCHOOL ( Students: 28, Location: 228 SHARPSBURG RD, Grades: 1-8)

( 28, 228 SHARPSBURG RD, 1-8) ORCHARD SIDE SCHOOL (Students: 27, Location: 693 FRONT MOUNTAIN RD, Grades: 1-8)

Mifflin County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Allensville and their reported violations in the past: ALLENSVILLE MUNI AUTH (Population served: 305, Surface water): Past monitoring violations: Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JAN-2014 and MAR-2014 , Contaminant: Chlorine . Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAR-15-2014)

JAN-2014 MAR-2014 Chlorine St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAR-15-2014) Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) - In JAN-2014 . Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAR-15-2014)

JAN-2014 St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAR-15-2014) Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) - In NOV-2011 . Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (APR-02-2013), St Public Notif received (SEP-25-2013), St Compliance achieved (SEP-25-2013)

NOV-2011 St Formal NOV issued (APR-02-2013), St Public Notif received (SEP-25-2013), St Compliance achieved (SEP-25-2013) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between OCT-2011 and DEC-2011 , Contaminant: Chlorine . Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (APR-02-2013), St Public Notif received (AUG-15-2013), St Compliance achieved (AUG-15-2013)

OCT-2011 DEC-2011 Chlorine St Formal NOV issued (APR-02-2013), St Public Notif received (AUG-15-2013), St Compliance achieved (AUG-15-2013) Monitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) - In SEP-2011 . Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-02-2012), St Compliance achieved (JUL-02-2012)

SEP-2011 St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-02-2012), St Compliance achieved (JUL-02-2012) One routine major monitoring violation

32 regular monitoring violations

41 other older monitoring violations ALLENSVILLE MUNI AUTH (305Surface water):

Average household size: This place: 3.3 people Pennsylvania: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This place: 79.9% Whole state: 65.0%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 1.3% Whole state: 6.6%



No gay or lesbian households reported





For population 15 years and over in Allensville: Never married: 29.3%

29.3% Now married: 58.3%

58.3% Separated: 2.4%

2.4% Widowed: 5.1%

5.1% Divorced: 4.9%

For population 25 years and over in Allensville: High school or higher: 56.3%

56.3% Bachelor's degree or higher: 6.5%

6.5% Graduate or professional degree: 4.6%

4.6% Mean travel time to work (commute): 21.0 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 15.3 Pennsylvania average: 11.3



Religion statistics for Allensville, PA (based on Mifflin County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 11,010 67 Mainline Protestant 9,888 45 Catholic 1,190 1 Black Protestant 73 1 Other 1 1 None 24,520 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 17 Mifflin County : 3.69 / 10,000 pop. Pennsylvania : 2.04 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 1 This county : 0.22 / 10,000 pop. State : 0.09 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 4 Mifflin County : 0.87 / 10,000 pop. Pennsylvania : 0.88 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 18 Mifflin County : 3.91 / 10,000 pop. State : 2.52 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 29 Here : 6.30 / 10,000 pop. State : 7.12 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: This county : 9.1% Pennsylvania : 9.1% Adult obesity rate: Mifflin County : 27.5% Pennsylvania : 27.2% Low-income preschool obesity rate: This county : 11.0% State : 11.5%

3.22% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($37,627 average adjusted gross income) Here: 3.22% Pennsylvania average: 4.58% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Huntingdon County, PA 0.65% ($29,983 average AGI) from Juniata County, PA 0.40% ($35,254) from Centre County, PA 0.38% ($37,348)



3.69% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($41,522 average adjusted gross income) Here: 3.69% Pennsylvania average: 4.96% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Huntingdon County, PA 0.44% ($37,949 average AGI) to Juniata County, PA 0.44% ($30,734) to Centre County, PA 0.34% ($57,919)

Businesses in Allensville, PA MasterBrand Cabinets: 1

1 True Value: 1

Strongest AM radio stations in Allensville: WIEZ (670 AM; daytime; 5 kW; LEWISTOWN, PA; Owner: FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC)

FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC) WHUN (1150 AM; 5 kW; HUNTINGDON, PA; Owner: MEGAHERTZ LICENSES, LLC)

MEGAHERTZ LICENSES, LLC) WCBM (680 AM; 50 kW; BALTIMORE, MD; Owner: WCBM MARYLAND, INC.)

WCBM MARYLAND, INC.) WKVA (920 AM; 1 kW; LEWISTOWN, PA; Owner: WVNW, INC.)

WVNW, INC.) WBAL (1090 AM; 50 kW; BALTIMORE, MD; Owner: HEARST RADIO, INC.)

HEARST RADIO, INC.) WMET (1150 AM; 50 kW; GAITHERSBURG, MD; Owner: BELTWAY ACQUISITION CORPORATION)

BELTWAY ACQUISITION CORPORATION) WZSK (1040 AM; daytime; 10 kW; EVERETT, PA; Owner: NEW MILLENNIUM COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.)

NEW MILLENNIUM COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.) WFBG (1290 AM; 5 kW; ALTOONA, PA; Owner: FOREVER OF PA, LLC)

FOREVER OF PA, LLC) WPHB (1260 AM; 5 kW; PHILIPSBURG, PA)

WWJZ (640 AM; 50 kW; MOUNT HOLLY, NJ; Owner: ABC, INC.)

ABC, INC.) KDKA (1020 AM; 50 kW; PITTSBURGH, PA; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)

INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.) WGOP (700 AM; daytime; 25 kW; WALKERSVILLE, MD; Owner: BIRACH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

BIRACH BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WVAM (1430 AM; 5 kW; ALTOONA, PA; Owner: VITAL LICENSES, LLC) Strongest FM radio stations in Allensville: WXMJ (99.5 FM; MOUNT UNION, PA; Owner: MEGAHERTZ LICENSES, LLC)

MEGAHERTZ LICENSES, LLC) WVNW (96.7 FM; BURNHAM, PA; Owner: WVNW, INC.)

WVNW, INC.) WLAK (103.5 FM; HUNTINGDON, PA; Owner: FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC)

FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC) WWLY (106.3 FM; HUNTINGDON, PA; Owner: MEGAHERTZ LICENSES,LLC)

MEGAHERTZ LICENSES,LLC) WBUS (93.7 FM; BOALSBURG, PA; Owner: DAME BROADCASTING, LLC)

DAME BROADCASTING, LLC) WQJU (107.1 FM; MIFFLINTOWN, PA; Owner: CENTRAL PA CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, INC.)

CENTRAL PA CHRISTIAN INSTITUTE, INC.) WJRC (90.9 FM; LEWISTOWN, PA; Owner: SALT AND LIGHT MEDIA MINISTRIES, INC)

SALT AND LIGHT MEDIA MINISTRIES, INC) W270AG (101.9 FM; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: SALT & LIGHT MEDIA MINISTRIES, INC.)

SALT & LIGHT MEDIA MINISTRIES, INC.) WBHV (103.1 FM; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: FOREVER BROADCASTING, LLC)

FOREVER BROADCASTING, LLC) WCHX (105.5 FM; LEWISTOWN, PA; Owner: MIFFLIN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

MIFFLIN COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) WJHT (107.9 FM; PORT MATILDA, PA; Owner: DAME BROADCASTING, LLC)

DAME BROADCASTING, LLC) WJUN-FM (92.5 FM; MEXICO, PA; Owner: STARVIEW MEDIA, INC.)

STARVIEW MEDIA, INC.) WMAJ-FM (104.9 FM; HOLLIDAYSBURG, PA; Owner: FOREVER OF PA, LLC)

FOREVER OF PA, LLC) W294AE (106.7 FM; ALTOONA, PA; Owner: THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY)

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY) W267AC (101.3 FM; ALTOONA, PA; Owner: ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN NETWORK)

ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN NETWORK) WPSU-FM (91.5 FM; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY)

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY) WGMR (101.1 FM; TYRONE, PA; Owner: CARY H. SIMPSON DBA ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN NETWORK)

CARY H. SIMPSON DBA ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN NETWORK) WMRF-FM (95.7 FM; LEWISTOWN, PA; Owner: FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC)

FIRST MEDIA RADIO, LLC) WLTS (94.5 FM; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: FOREVER OF PA, LLC)

FOREVER OF PA, LLC) WLZS (106.1 FM; BEAVER SPRINGS, PA; Owner: STARVIEW MEDIA, INC) TV broadcast stations around Allensville: W13BY ( Channel 13; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: GEORGE W. KIMBLE)

13; STATE COLLEGE, PA; GEORGE W. KIMBLE) W36BE ( Channel 36; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: NEW YORK TIMES MANAGEMENT SERVICES)

36; STATE COLLEGE, PA; NEW YORK TIMES MANAGEMENT SERVICES) W39BE ( Channel 39; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: NEW YORK TIMES MANAGEMENT SERVICES)

39; STATE COLLEGE, PA; NEW YORK TIMES MANAGEMENT SERVICES) W07CD (Channel 7; STATE COLLEGE, PA; Owner: WPXI-TV HOLDINGS, INC.)

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

2 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 10ft / 2.5m Total length

Total length 2,035 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 238 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 1,860 Total future (year 2032) average daily traffic



FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 7 Sean M Boylan, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) ( Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: 79.2, Structure height: 42087 m, Overall height: 77.7 m, Registrant: Stc Towers, LLC, Sboylan@stc-Towers.Com, , Warsa-w, Phone: (574) 269-4444

40.540417 -77.806972), 79.2, 42087 m, 77.7 m, Stc Towers, LLC, Sboylan@stc-Towers.Com, , Warsa-w, (574) 269-4444 Sean M Boylan, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) ( Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: 79.2, Structure height: 42087 m, Overall height: 77.7 m, Registrant: Stc Towers, LLC, Sboylan@stc-Towers.Com, , Warsa-w, Phone: (574) 269-4444

40.540417 -77.806972), 79.2, 42087 m, 77.7 m, Stc Towers, LLC, Sboylan@stc-Towers.Com, , Warsa-w, (574) 269-4444 Sean M Boylan, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) ( Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: 79.2, Structure height: 42087 m, Overall height: 77.7 m, Registrant: Stc Towers, LLC, Sboylan@stc-Towers.Com, , Warsa-w, Phone: (574) 269-4444

40.540417 -77.806972), 79.2, 42087 m, 77.7 m, Stc Towers, LLC, Sboylan@stc-Towers.Com, , Warsa-w, (574) 269-4444 RHODA CASTANEDA, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) ( Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: 79.2, Structure height: 42087 m, Overall height: 77.7 m, Registrant: Vb Acquisition 2018, LLC., Fcc-Faa@verticalbridge.Com, Suite 200, Boca -Raton, Phone: (561) 406-4015

40.540417 -77.806972), 79.2, 42087 m, 77.7 m, Vb Acquisition 2018, LLC., Fcc-Faa@verticalbridge.Com, Suite 200, Boca -Raton, (561) 406-4015 RHODA CASTANEDA, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) ( Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: 79.2, Structure height: 42087 m, Overall height: 77.7 m, Licensee ID: L, Registrant: Vertical Bridge Development, LLC, Fcc-Faa@verticalbridge.Com, Suite 200, Boca -Raton, Phone: (561) 406-4015

40.540417 -77.806972), 79.2, 42087 m, 77.7 m, L, Vertical Bridge Development, LLC, Fcc-Faa@verticalbridge.Com, Suite 200, Boca -Raton, (561) 406-4015 RHODA CASTANEDA, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) ( Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: 79.2, Structure height: 42087 m, Overall height: 77.7 m, Registrant: Vertical Bridge Development, LLC, Fcc-Faa@verticalbridge.Com, Suite 200, Boca -Raton, Phone: (561) 406-4015

40.540417 -77.806972), 79.2, 42087 m, 77.7 m, Vertical Bridge Development, LLC, Fcc-Faa@verticalbridge.Com, Suite 200, Boca -Raton, (561) 406-4015 Dawn L Keniley, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) (Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: 79.2, Structure height: 42087 m, Overall height: 77.7 m, Registrant: Vertical Bridge Development, LLC, Fcc-Faa@verticalbridge.Com, Suite 200, Boca -Raton, Phone: (561) 406-4015

FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 6 WLAK HOP SITE, St Rt 4007 At Int Oliver Menno Twp ( Lat: 40.544389 Lon: -77.756444), Type: Ltower, Structure height: 34.4 m, Call Sign: WMV592,

Assigned Frequencies: 944.875 MHz, 945.125 MHz, Grant Date: 04/10/1995, Expiration Date: 08/01/2022, Registrant: First Media Radio, 306 Port Street, Easton, MD 21601, Phone: (410) 822-3301, Email:

40.544389 -77.756444), Ltower, 34.4 m, WMV592, 944.875 MHz, 945.125 MHz, 04/10/1995, 08/01/2022, First Media Radio, 306 Port Street, Easton, MD 21601, (410) 822-3301, STATION, St Rt 4007 At Oliver & Menno Township Line ( Lat: 40.545889 Lon: -77.754694), Overall height: 34.4 m, Call Sign: WNTJ861,

Assigned Frequencies: 2188.80 MHz, Grant Date: 05/13/2011, Expiration Date: 07/31/2021, Cancellation Date: 06/07/2012, Registrant: Office Of Public Safety, 20 N. Wayne St., Lewistown, PA 17044, Phone: (717) 248-9645, Fax: (717) 248-0300, Email:

40.545889 -77.754694), 34.4 m, WNTJ861, 2188.80 MHz, 05/13/2011, 07/31/2021, 06/07/2012, Office Of Public Safety, 20 N. Wayne St., Lewistown, PA 17044, (717) 248-9645, (717) 248-0300, MIFF03, Off Allensville Mountain Road ( Lat: 40.568972 Lon: -77.828472), Type: Tower, Structure height: 54.9 m, Overall height: 59.4 m, Call Sign: WPRR403,

Assigned Frequencies: 6595.00 MHz, 6645.00 MHz, Grant Date: 12/22/2000, Expiration Date: 12/22/2010, Cancellation Date: 12/18/2001, Certifier: Donald R Appleby Jr., Registrant: Rcc Consultants, Inc, 2000 Linglestown Rd. , Suite 304, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9347, Phone: (717) 651-3304, Fax: (717) 671-0200

40.568972 -77.828472), Tower, 54.9 m, 59.4 m, WPRR403, 6595.00 MHz, 6645.00 MHz, 12/22/2000, 12/22/2010, 12/18/2001, Donald R Appleby Jr., Rcc Consultants, Inc, 2000 Linglestown Rd. , Suite 304, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9347, (717) 651-3304, (717) 671-0200 ALLENSVILLE, Sr 4007 At The Oliver/Menno Twp. Line ( Lat: 40.544389 Lon: -77.756444), Type: Ltower, Structure height: 34.4 m, Call Sign: WQFR264,

Assigned Frequencies: 10835.0 MHz, 10835.0 MHz, Grant Date: 06/25/2016, Expiration Date: 09/14/2026, Certifier: Phil Lucas, Registrant: Mcm Consulting Group, Inc., 107 Kathy Ann Court, Mcmurray, PA 15317, Phone: (412) 995-8196, Email:

40.544389 -77.756444), Ltower, 34.4 m, WQFR264, 10835.0 MHz, 10835.0 MHz, 06/25/2016, 09/14/2026, Phil Lucas, Mcm Consulting Group, Inc., 107 Kathy Ann Court, Mcmurray, PA 15317, (412) 995-8196, ALLENSVILLE, Sr 4007 At The Oliver/Menno Twp. Line ( Lat: 40.546944 Lon: -77.751944), Type: Ltower, Structure height: 34.4 m, Call Sign: WRAK756,

Assigned Frequencies: 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 11485.0 MHz, 11485.0 MHz... (+6 more), Grant Date: 12/18/2017, Expiration Date: 12/18/2027, Certifier: Phil Lucas, Registrant: Compros, Inc., 400 Highland Ave, Altoona, PA 16602, Phone: (814) 942-7064, Fax: (814) 942-7064, Email:

40.546944 -77.751944), Ltower, 34.4 m, WRAK756, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 5945.20 MHz, 11485.0 MHz, 11485.0 MHz... (+6 more), 12/18/2017, 12/18/2027, Phil Lucas, Compros, Inc., 400 Highland Ave, Altoona, PA 16602, (814) 942-7064, (814) 942-7064, ALLENSVILLE, 100 School House Rd (Stc178-Pa) (Lat: 40.540417 Lon: -77.806972), Type: Ltower, Structure height: 77.7 m, Overall height: 79.2 m, Call Sign: WRJZ958, Licensee ID: L02365730,

Assigned Frequencies: 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz, 11075.0 MHz... (+10 more), Grant Date: 11/28/2020, Expiration Date: 11/28/2030, Certifier: Tim Beiler, Registrant: Upward Broadband, 3105 Lincoln Hwy, East Paradise, PA 17562, Phone: (717) 869-0968, Email:

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 1 Call Sign: KB3BOH, Licensee ID: L00173448, Grant Date: 04/05/2016, Expiration Date: 04/11/2026, Registrant: Timothy L Yoder, 139 E. Main St., Allensville, PA 17002

FAA Registered Aircraft: 1 Aircraft: CESSNA 172M (Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 108 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (4 Cycle)

N-Number: 4313R, N4313R, N-4313R, Serial Number: 17263066, Year manufactured: 1974, Airworthiness Date: 05/22/1990, Certificate Issue Date: 04/18/2017

Registrant (Individual): Lynn A Fleming, 95 W Gap Ln, Allensville, PA 17002



Houses and condos Apartments 46.3% Wood

24.1% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

23.1% Electricity

4.6% Utility gas

1.9% Other fuel 62.1% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

37.9% Wood





Allensville compared to Pennsylvania state average: Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age significantly below state average.

significantly below Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Number of rooms per house above state average.

above Number of college students significantly below state average.

significantly below Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state average.




Bison, Kansas

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Population in 2019: 233 (0% urban, 100% rural).

Population change since 2000: -0.9%

233 (0% urban, 100% rural).-0.9%

Males: 129 (55.7%) Females: 104 (44.3%)

Median resident age: 53.3 years Kansas median age: 37.2 years

Zip codes: 67520.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $41,346 (it was $33,333 in 2000)

Bison: $41,346 KS: $62,087

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $21,411 (it was $23,122 in 2000)



Bison city income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $56,406 (it was $30,300 in 2000) Bison: $56,406 KS: $163,200

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $66,021; detached houses: $65,418 $41,346 ($33,333$21,411 ($23,122$56,406 ($30,300$66,021;$65,418

Median gross rent in 2019: $498.

March 2019 cost of living index in Bison: 77.3 (low, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 14.4%

(11.3% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 75.0% for Hispanic or Latino residents)

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... Based on 2000-2020 data Loading data...

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158 94.6% White alone 8 4.8% Hispanic

Races in Bison detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Kansas and other state lists, there were 2 registered sex offenders living in Bison, Kansas as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Bison is 109 to 1.







Latest news from Bison, KS collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: German (54.8%), English (11.3%), American (8.1%), Scottish (4.8%), European (3.2%), French Canadian (3.2%).

Current Local Time: CST time zone

Elevation: 2011 feet

Land area: 0.26 square miles. Population density: 903 people per square mile (low).

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $1,405 (2.0%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $1,039 (2.0%)



Latitude: 38.52 N, Longitude: 99.20 W

Area code: 785

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 3.8% Kansas: 5.3%

Most common industries in Bison, KS (%) Both Males Females

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (12.3%)

Health care (12.3%)

Construction (9.6%)

Finance & insurance (8.8%)

Educational services (7.9%)

Machinery (7.0%)

Administrative & support & waste management services (4.4%)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (22.2%)

Construction (11.1%)

Machinery (9.5%)

Administrative & support & waste management services (7.9%)

Machinery, equipment, supplies merchant wholesalers (6.3%)

Utilities (6.3%)

Finance & insurance (6.3%)

Health care (23.5%)

Educational services (17.6%)

Finance & insurance (11.8%)

Construction (7.8%)

Miscellaneous nondurable goods merchant wholesalers (3.9%)

Department & other general merchandise stores (3.9%)

Farm product raw materials merchant wholesalers (3.9%) Most common occupations in Bison, KS (%) Both Males Females

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (8.8%)

Farmers and farm managers (7.0%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (7.0%)

Top executives (5.3%)

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (5.3%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5.3%)

Metal workers and plastic workers (5.3%)

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (12.7%)

Farmers and farm managers (12.7%)

Top executives (9.5%)

Metal workers and plastic workers (9.5%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (9.5%)

Laborers and material movers, hand (7.9%)

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (6.3%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (15.7%)

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (11.8%)

Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (9.8%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (7.8%)

Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers (3.9%)

Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (3.9%)

Legal support workers (3.9%)

Average climate in Bison, Kansas Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Tornado activity: Bison-area historical tornado activity is near Kansas state average. It is 105% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 4/21/2001, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 22.6 miles away from the Bison city center killed one person and injured 28 people and caused $43 million in damages. On 5/4/1950, a category F4 tornado 23.1 miles away from the city center injured one person and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Bison-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Kansas state average. It is 678% greater than the overall U.S. average.



On 9/3/2016 at 12:02:44, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.5 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 191.1 miles away from the city center

On 11/6/2011 at 03:53:10, a magnitude 5.7 (5.7 MW, Depth: 3.2 mi) earthquake occurred 246.5 miles away from the city center

On 2/13/2016 at 17:07:06, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 5.2 mi) earthquake occurred 143.0 miles away from Bison center

On 6/22/2019 at 08:50:24, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MW, Depth: 1.9 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 49.6 miles away from Bison center

On 11/12/2014 at 21:40:00, a magnitude 4.9 (4.9 MW, Depth: 2.5 mi) earthquake occurred 122.0 miles away from Bison center

On 1/19/2020 at 19:08:42, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 74.8 miles away from Bison center

Magnitude types: moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Rush County (16) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 11

Emergencies Declared: 2



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 8, Storms: 8, Tornadoes: 6, Winter Storms: 5, Winds: 3, Hurricane: 1, Landslide: 1, Mudslide: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Bison: LOCUST GROVE VILLAGE (Nursing Home, about 6 miles away; LA CROSSE, KS)

RUSH COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LTCU (Nursing Home, about 7 miles away; LA CROSSE, KS)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Bison: Fort Hays State University ( about 26 miles; Hays, KS ; Full-time enrollment: 8,728)

26 ; 8,728) Barton County Community College ( about 27 miles; Great Bend, KS ; FT enrollment: 4,108)

27 ; 4,108) Hutchinson Community College ( about 77 miles; Hutchinson, KS ; FT enrollment: 4,174)

77 ; 4,174) Newman University ( about 116 miles; Wichita, KS ; FT enrollment: 2,066)

116 ; 2,066) Friends University ( about 116 miles; Wichita, KS ; FT enrollment: 2,024)

116 ; 2,024) Wichita Technical Institute ( about 116 miles; Wichita, KS ; FT enrollment: 2,015)

116 ; 2,015) Wichita State University (about 118 miles; Wichita, KS; FT enrollment: 11,743)

Library in Bison: BISON COMMUNITY LIBRARY (Operating income: $15,050; Location: 202 MAIN; 5,335 books; 90 audio materials; 254 video materials; 30 state licensed databases)

Points of interest: Click to draw/clear city borders Notable locations in Bison: Mid - State Farmers Co - Operative Grain Elevator Number 3 (A) , Rush County Fire District 5 Bison (B) , Bison Community Library (C) , Bison City Hall (D) . Display/hide their locations on the map Church in Bison: Bison United Methodist Church (A) . Display/hide its location on the map

Rush County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Bison and their reported violations in the past: BISON, CITY OF (Population served: 249, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 2 minor monitoring violations BISON, CITY OF (249Groundwater):

Average household size: This city: 2.5 people Kansas: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This city: 69.2% Whole state: 66.0%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This city: 8.7% Whole state: 5.8%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 1.0% of all households

1.0% Gay men: 0.0% of all households

Banks with branches in Bison (2011 data): Bison State Bank: at 223 Main Street, branch established on 1901/01/01. Info updated 2006/11/03: Bank assets: $10.1 mil, Deposits: $9.0 mil, local headquarters, positive income, Agricultural Specialization, 1 total offices

For population 15 years and over in Bison: Never married: 15.1%

15.1% Now married: 60.7%

60.7% Separated: 4.6%

4.6% Widowed: 5.4%

5.4% Divorced: 14.2%

For population 25 years and over in Bison: High school or higher: 90.1%

90.1% Bachelor's degree or higher: 18.2%

18.2% Graduate or professional degree: 1.7%

1.7% Mean travel time to work (commute): 18.9 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 7.4 Kansas average: 11.1



Religion statistics for Bison, KS (based on Rush County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Catholic 1,178 3 Mainline Protestant 1,111 9 Evangelical Protestant 240 3 None 778 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of convenience stores (with gas): 2 Rush County : 6.24 / 10,000 pop. State : 3.84 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 3 Here : 9.37 / 10,000 pop. Kansas : 7.33 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: This county : 10.2% Kansas : 8.1% Adult obesity rate: Here : 28.2% Kansas : 27.9%

Local government employment and payroll (March 2017) Function Full-time employees Monthly full-time payroll Average yearly full-time wage Part-time employees Monthly part-time payroll Streets and Highways 1 $2,802 $33,624 0 $0 Financial Administration 0 $0 1 $190 Other Government Administration 0 $0 9 $1,312 Other and Unallocable 0 $0 2 $2,176 Totals for Government 1 $2,802 $33,624 12 $3,678

Expenditure Revenue Bison government finances - Expenditure in 2017 (per resident): Current Operations - General - Other: $90,000 ($386.27) Solid Waste Management: $18,000 ($77.25) Central Staff Services: $17,000 ($72.96) Sewerage: $11,000 ($47.21) Water Utilities: $10,000 ($42.92) Financial Administration: $9,000 ($38.63) Libraries: $6,000 ($25.75) Regular Highways: $4,000 ($17.17) Judicial and Legal Services: $1,000 ($4.29)

$90,000 ($386.27) Total Salaries and Wages: $41,000 ($175.97) Bison government finances - Revenue in 2017 (per resident): Charges - Sewerage: $29,000 ($124.46) Solid Waste Management: $18,000 ($77.25)

$29,000 ($124.46) Miscellaneous - Interest Earnings: $1,000 ($4.29)

$1,000 ($4.29) Revenue - Water Utilities: $42,000 ($180.26)

$42,000 ($180.26) State Intergovernmental - Highways: $5,000 ($21.46) General Local Government Support: $2,000 ($8.58)

$5,000 ($21.46) Tax - Property: $59,000 ($253.22) Public Utilities Sales: $18,000 ($77.25) Bison government finances - Cash and Securities in 2017 (per resident): Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $156,000 ($669.53)

Strongest AM radio stations in Bison: KVGB (1590 AM; 5 kW; GREAT BEND, KS; Owner: EAGLE RADIO INC.)

EAGLE RADIO INC.) KRVN (880 AM; 50 kW; LEXINGTON, NE; Owner: NEBRASKA RURAL RADIO ASSOCIATION)

NEBRASKA RURAL RADIO ASSOCIATION) KGYN (1210 AM; 50 kW; GUYMON, OK; Owner: TELNS BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)

TELNS BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.) KRMG (740 AM; 50 kW; TULSA, OK; Owner: CXR HOLDINGS, INC.)

CXR HOLDINGS, INC.) KNNS (1510 AM; daytime; 1 kW; LARNED, KS; Owner: WAITT RADIO, INC.)

WAITT RADIO, INC.) KAYS (1400 AM; 1 kW; HAYS, KS; Owner: EAGLE RADIO, INC.)

EAGLE RADIO, INC.) WHB (810 AM; 50 kW; KANSAS CITY, MO; Owner: UNION BROADCASTING, INC.)

UNION BROADCASTING, INC.) KWLS (1290 AM; 5 kW; PRATT, KS; Owner: WAITT RADIO, INC.)

WAITT RADIO, INC.) KOIL (1020 AM; 50 kW; PLATTSMOUTH, NE; Owner: WAITT RADIO, INC.)

WAITT RADIO, INC.) KFRM (550 AM; 5 kW; SALINA, KS; Owner: TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

TAYLOR COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) KFAB (1110 AM; 50 kW; OMAHA, NE; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) KLTT (670 AM; 50 kW; COMMERCE CITY, CO; Owner: KLZ RADIO, INC.)

KLZ RADIO, INC.) KGNO (1370 AM; 5 kW; DODGE CITY, KS; Owner: WAITT RADIO, INC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Bison: KBGL (106.9 FM; LARNED, KS; Owner: HULL BROADCASTING, INC.)

HULL BROADCASTING, INC.) KHCT (90.9 FM; GREAT BEND, KS; Owner: HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE)

HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY COLLEGE) KHOK (100.7 FM; HOISINGTON, KS; Owner: EAGLE RADIO, INC.)

EAGLE RADIO, INC.) KVGB-FM (104.3 FM; GREAT BEND, KS; Owner: EAGLE RADIO, INC.)

EAGLE RADIO, INC.) KZLS (107.9 FM; GREAT BEND, KS; Owner: WAITT RADIO, INC.)

WAITT RADIO, INC.) KJLS (103.3 FM; HAYS, KS; Owner: EAGLE RADIO, INC)

EAGLE RADIO, INC) KKQY (101.9 FM; HILL CITY, KS; Owner: EAGLE RADIO, INC)

EAGLE RADIO, INC) KPRD (88.9 FM; HAYS, KS; Owner: THE PRAISE NETWORK INC.)

THE PRAISE NETWORK INC.) KHAZ (99.5 FM; HAYS, KS; Owner: EAGLE RADIO, INC.) TV broadcast stations around Bison: KOOD ( Channel 9; HAYS, KS; Owner: SMOKY HILLS PUBLIC TELEVISION CORP.)

9; HAYS, KS; SMOKY HILLS PUBLIC TELEVISION CORP.) KSNC ( Channel 2; GREAT BEND, KS; Owner: EMMIS TELEVISION LICENSE CORPORATION OF WICHITA)

2; GREAT BEND, KS; EMMIS TELEVISION LICENSE CORPORATION OF WICHITA) KBSH-TV ( Channel 7; HAYS, KS; Owner: MEDIA GENERAL BROADCASTING OF SO. CAROLINA HOLDINGS, INC.)

7; HAYS, KS; MEDIA GENERAL BROADCASTING OF SO. CAROLINA HOLDINGS, INC.) KBDK ( Channel 14; HOISINGTON, KS; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

14; HOISINGTON, KS; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) KSCC-LP (Channel 14; GREAT BEND, KS; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

10 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 62ft / 18.8m Total length

Total length $283,000 Total costs

Total costs 6,505 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 1,198 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 8,101 Total future (year 2037) average daily traffic

New bridges - historical statistics

7 1940-1949

1 1950-1959

2 1980-1989 See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for Bison, KS



FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers: 1 600 Ft E Of Main St (Lat: 38.522500 Lon: -99.196222), Type: Tank, Structure height: 42 m, Overall height: 46 m, Call Sign: KNNQ356,

Assigned Frequencies: 935.387 MHz, 935.400 MHz, 935.412 MHz, 935.425 MHz, Grant Date: 04/17/2001, Expiration Date: 04/12/2011, Cancellation Date: 02/04/2011, Certifier: Richard S Stegelman, Registrant: Western Resources, 818 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66601, Phone: (785) 575-1199, Fax: (785) 575-8446, Email:



Most common first names in Bison, KS among deceased individuals Name Count Lived (average) John 10 77.2 years Helen 4 84.3 years William 4 78.7 years Mary 4 83.2 years Mollie 4 93.5 years Adam 3 86.7 years Ben 3 82.0 years Herman 3 77.6 years Jacob 3 70.1 years Bertha 3 85.6 years Most common last names in Bison, KS among deceased individuals Last name Count Lived (average) Seuser 10 84.4 years Scheuerman 9 79.5 years Schwartzkopf 6 82.5 years Reinhardt 6 90.2 years Bieber 6 84.7 years Hanhardt 6 83.6 years Crotinger 6 86.0 years Urban 6 81.9 years Stegman 5 81.4 years Ochs 5 84.2 years

Houses and condos Apartments 88.9% Utility gas

6.3% Wood

3.2% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

1.6% Electricity 50.0% Utility gas

50.0% Electricity





Bison compared to Kansas state average: Median household income below state average.

below Median house value significantly below state average.

significantly below Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age significantly above state average.

significantly above Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage below state average.

below Length of stay since moving in below state average.

below House age significantly above state average.

significantly above Number of college students significantly below state average.




Drummonds, Tennessee

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Population in July 2007: 5,705.

Males: 2,817 (49.4%) Females: 2,888 (50.6%)

Median resident age: 34.9 years Tennessee median age: 35.9 years

Zip code: 38023

Estimated median household income in 2019: $66,920 (it was $43,458 in 2000)

Drummonds: $66,920 TN: $56,071

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $30,520 (it was $18,412 in 2000)



Drummonds CCD income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $145,961 (it was $74,100 in 2000) Drummonds: $145,961 TN: $191,900 $66,920 ($43,458$30,520 ($18,412$145,961 ($74,100

March 2019 cost of living index in Drummonds: 82.3 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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4,125 81.0% White alone 834 16.4% Black alone 52 1.0% Two or more races 51 1.0% Hispanic 18 0.4% American Indian alone 11 0.2% Asian alone 2 0.04% Native Hawaiian and Other

Pacific Islander alone 1 0.02% Other race alone

Races in Drummonds detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Tennessee and other state lists, there were 17 registered sex offenders living in Drummonds, Tennessee as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Drummonds is 336 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is near the state average.





Current Local Time: CST time zone

Elevation: 436 feet

Land area: 93.0 square miles. Population density: 61 people per square mile (very low).

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: Drummonds CCD: 0.7% ($552) Tennessee: 0.8% ($715)

Latitude: 35.47 N, Longitude: 89.99 W

Area code: 901

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.3% Tennessee: 5.0%

Most common industries in Drummonds, TN (%) Both Males Females

Construction (9.8%)

Health care (7.1%)

Truck transportation (6.2%)

Public administration (5.5%)

Accommodation & food services (5.0%)

Educational services (4.8%)

Administrative & support & waste management services (4.5%)

Construction (15.7%)

Truck transportation (8.7%)

Administrative & support & waste management services (4.8%)

Accommodation & food services (4.8%)

Public administration (4.7%)

Metal & metal products (4.3%)

Motor vehicle & parts dealers (3.9%)

Health care (14.7%)

Educational services (8.0%)

Public administration (6.6%)

Accommodation & food services (5.3%)

Food & beverage stores (4.2%)

Administrative & support & waste management services (4.1%)

Miscellaneous manufacturing (3.9%) Most common occupations in Drummonds, TN (%) Both Males Females

Other production occupations, including supervisors (5.7%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (5.3%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (4.6%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (4.6%)

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (4.5%)

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (4.3%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (3.0%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (8.8%)

Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (7.4%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (6.7%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (4.8%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (4.7%)

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (4.2%)

Construction traders workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (4.0%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (10.7%)

Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (5.7%)

Cashiers (5.2%)

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (4.9%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (4.3%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (4.3%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (4.2%)

Average climate in Drummonds, Tennessee Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI CO NO 2 SO 2 Ozone PM 10 PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 71.8. This is about average. City: 71.8 U.S.: 74.2

Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2018 was 0.237. This is about average. Closest monitor was 17.5 miles away from the city center. City: 0.237 U.S.: 0.267

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 8.64. This is significantly worse than average. Closest monitor was 17.5 miles away from the city center. City: 8.64 U.S.: 5.56

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.395. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 15.6 miles away from the city center. City: 0.395 U.S.: 1.789

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 26.8. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 17.0 miles away from the city center. City: 26.8 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 19.0. This is about average. Closest monitor was 20.6 miles away from the city center. City: 19.0 U.S.: 19.6

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 8.44. This is about average. Closest monitor was 11.0 miles away from the city center. City: 8.44 U.S.: 8.46

Tornado activity: Drummonds-area historical tornado activity is above Tennessee state average. It is 112% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 3/1/1997, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 23.2 miles away from the Drummonds place center caused $30,000 in damages. On 4/16/1998, a category F4 tornado 29.6 miles away from the place center killed 2 people and injured 12 people and caused $350,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Drummonds-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Tennessee state average. It is 395% greater than the overall U.S. average.



On 3/25/1976 at 00:41:20, a magnitude 5.0 (4.9 MB, 5.0 LG, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 22.0 miles away from Drummonds center

On 5/4/1991 at 01:18:54, a magnitude 5.0 (4.4 MB, 4.6 LG, 5.0 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 76.3 miles away from the city center

On 4/27/1989 at 16:47:49, a magnitude 4.7 (4.6 MB, 4.7 LG, 4.3 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 39.2 miles away from the city center

On 9/26/1990 at 13:18:51, a magnitude 5.0 (4.7 MB, 4.8 LG, 5.0 LG, Depth: 7.7 mi) earthquake occurred 120.1 miles away from the city center

On 3/25/1976 at 01:00:11, a magnitude 4.5 (4.1 MB, 4.5 LG) earthquake occurred 29.0 miles away from Drummonds center

On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW) earthquake occurred 236.9 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Tipton County (15) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 12

Emergencies Declared: 1



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 11, Storms: 11, Tornadoes: 6, Winds: 4, Winter Storms: 2, Flash Flood: 1, Hurricane: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Landslide: 1, Mudslide: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Drummonds: DAVITA MILLINGTON (Dialysis Facility, about 8 miles away; MILLINGTON, TN)

MILLINGTON HEALTHCARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; MILLINGTON, TN)

FMC MILLINGTON (Dialysis Facility, about 11 miles away; MILLINGTON, TN)

FMC TIPTON COUNTY (Dialysis Facility, about 16 miles away; COVINGTON, TN)

BAPTIST HOME CARE AND HOSPICE - COVINGTON (Home Health Center, about 16 miles away; COVINGTON, TN)

BAPTIST MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TIPTON Acute Care Hospitals (about 16 miles away; COVINGTON, TN)

Acute Care Hospitals LEGACY HOSPICE, INC (Hospital, about 16 miles away; OSCEOLA, AR)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Drummonds: Rhodes College ( about 22 miles; Memphis, TN ; Full-time enrollment: 2,052)

22 ; 2,052) Southwest Tennessee Community College ( about 24 miles; Memphis, TN ; FT enrollment: 8,043)

24 ; 8,043) University of Memphis ( about 25 miles; Memphis, TN ; FT enrollment: 17,427)

25 ; 17,427) Arkansas State University-Main Campus ( about 47 miles; Jonesboro, AR ; FT enrollment: 12,323)

47 ; 12,323) Dyersburg State Community College ( about 53 miles; Dyersburg, TN ; FT enrollment: 2,211)

53 ; 2,211) Northwest Mississippi Community College ( about 59 miles; Senatobia, MS ; FT enrollment: 6,607)

59 ; 6,607) Union University (about 66 miles; Jackson, TN; FT enrollment: 4,051) Public elementary/middle school in Drummonds: DRUMMONDS ELEMENTARY (Students: 804, Location: 5068 DRUMMONDS RD, Grades: PK-5) See full list of schools located in Drummonds

Tipton County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Low Potential

Average household size: This place: 3.0 people Tennessee: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This place: 70.5% Whole state: 69.8%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 4.1% Whole state: 4.2%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.2% of all households

0.2% Gay men: 0.4% of all households Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:

This place: 10.4% Whole state: 13.5% Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:

This place: 4.3% Whole state: 5.8%

For population 15 years and over in Drummonds: Never married: 19.5%

19.5% Now married: 65.7%

65.7% Separated: 2.2%

2.2% Widowed: 6.1%

6.1% Divorced: 8.7%

For population 25 years and over in Drummonds: High school or higher: 75.5%

75.5% Bachelor's degree or higher: 8.4%

8.4% Graduate or professional degree: 2.5%

2.5% Unemployed: 7.0%

7.0% Mean travel time to work (commute): 36.2 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 10.1 Tennessee average: 13.3



Religion statistics for Drummonds, TN (based on Tipton County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 17,792 76 Mainline Protestant 4,172 20 Black Protestant 3,196 18 Catholic 450 1 Other 4 1 None 35,467 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 9 This county : 1.56 / 10,000 pop. Tennessee : 1.99 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 5 This county : 0.87 / 10,000 pop. Tennessee : 0.65 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 29 Tipton County : 5.03 / 10,000 pop. Tennessee : 5.16 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 22 Here : 3.82 / 10,000 pop. Tennessee : 6.56 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Here : 10.8% Tennessee : 11.4% Adult obesity rate: Tipton County : 33.2% State : 30.2% Low-income preschool obesity rate: Tipton County : 11.1% Tennessee : 13.5%

5.97% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($41,151 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.97% Tennessee average: 7.15% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Shelby County, TN 2.97% ($39,819 average AGI) from Lauderdale County, TN 0.29% ($40,188) from DeSoto County, MS 0.19% ($48,220)



6.56% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($40,891 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.56% Tennessee average: 6.65% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Shelby County, TN 2.79% ($35,592 average AGI) to Lauderdale County, TN 0.40% ($25,693) to DeSoto County, MS 0.17% ($53,737)

Strongest AM radio stations in Drummonds: WDIA (1070 AM; 50 kW; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WGSF (1030 AM; 50 kW; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WMQM (1600 AM; 50 kW; LAKELAND, TN; Owner: WMQM, INC.)

WMQM, INC.) WCRV (640 AM; 50 kW; COLLIERVILLE, TN; Owner: BOTT BROADCASTING COMPANY/TENNESSEE)

BOTT BROADCASTING COMPANY/TENNESSEE) WJCE (680 AM; 10 kW; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: ENTERCOM MEMPHIS LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM MEMPHIS LICENSE, LLC) WHBQ (560 AM; 5 kW; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) KWAM (990 AM; 10 kW; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CONCORD MEDIA GROUP, INC.)

CONCORD MEDIA GROUP, INC.) WREC (600 AM; 5 kW; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WLRM (1380 AM; 3 kW; MILLINGTON, TN; Owner: WORLD OVERCOMERS OUTREACH MINISTRIES)

WORLD OVERCOMERS OUTREACH MINISTRIES) WMC (790 AM; 5 kW; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) KLCN (910 AM; 5 kW; BLYTHEVILLE, AR; Owner: SUDBURY SERVICES, INC.)

SUDBURY SERVICES, INC.) KOSE (860 AM; 1 kW; WILSON, AR; Owner: NEWPORT BROADCASTING COMPANY)

NEWPORT BROADCASTING COMPANY) WPLX (1170 AM; 10 kW; GERMANTOWN, TN; Owner: EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION) Strongest FM radio stations in Drummonds: WYPL (89.3 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: MEMPHIS/SHELBY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY & INFO CNTR.)

MEMPHIS/SHELBY COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY & INFO CNTR.) WEGR (102.7 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WSRR-FM (98.1 FM; MILLINGTON, TN; Owner: KOOL BROADCASTING, INC.)

KOOL BROADCASTING, INC.) WMC-FM (99.7 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) WGKX (105.9 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: KIX BROADCASTING, INC.)

KIX BROADCASTING, INC.) WRVR-FM (104.5 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: ENTERCOM MEMPHIS LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM MEMPHIS LICENSE, LLC) WHRK (97.1 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WKNO-FM (91.1 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: MID-SOUTH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION)

MID-SOUTH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION) KJMS (101.1 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WJZN (98.9 FM; MUNFORD, TN; Owner: MEMPHIS III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

MEMPHIS III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) KXHT (107.1 FM; MARION, AR; Owner: FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WMFS (92.9 FM; BARTLETT, TN; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING CORP. OF ILLINOIS)

INFINITY BROADCASTING CORP. OF ILLINOIS) WQOX (88.5 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS)

MEMPHIS CITY SCHOOLS) WUMR (91.7 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS)

THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS) KQDD (107.3 FM; OSCEOLA, AR; Owner: PHOENIX BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.)

PHOENIX BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.) WMPS (107.5 FM; GERMANTOWN, TN; Owner: FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WKBQ (93.5 FM; COVINGTON, TN; Owner: COVINGTON BROADCASTING, INC.)

COVINGTON BROADCASTING, INC.) KKLV (94.7 FM; TURRELL, AR; Owner: EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION)

EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION) WEVL (89.9 FM; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: SOUTHERN COMMUNICATION VOLUNTEERS, INC.)

SOUTHERN COMMUNICATION VOLUNTEERS, INC.) KAMJ (93.9 FM; GOSNELL, AR; Owner: PHOENIX BROADCASTING GROUP, INC.) TV broadcast stations around Drummonds: WMC-TV ( Channel 5; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: RAYCOM AMERICA, INC.)

5; MEMPHIS, TN; RAYCOM AMERICA, INC.) WLMT ( Channel 30; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

30; MEMPHIS, TN; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WPTY-TV ( Channel 24; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

24; MEMPHIS, TN; CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WREG-TV ( Channel 3; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: NEW YORK TIMES MANAGEMENT SERVICES)

3; MEMPHIS, TN; NEW YORK TIMES MANAGEMENT SERVICES) W67CV ( Channel 67; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: GEORGE S. FLINN, JR.)

67; MEMPHIS, TN; GEORGE S. FLINN, JR.) WPXX-TV ( Channel 50; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

50; MEMPHIS, TN; FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WHBQ-TV ( Channel 13; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, INC.)

13; MEMPHIS, TN; FOX TELEVISION STATIONS, INC.) WKNO ( Channel 10; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: MID-SOUTH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION)

10; MEMPHIS, TN; MID-SOUTH PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS FOUNDATION) W57CG ( Channel 57; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: GEORGE S. FLINN, JR.)

57; MEMPHIS, TN; GEORGE S. FLINN, JR.) KVTJ ( Channel 48; JONESBORO, AR; Owner: AGAPE CHURCH, INC.)

48; JONESBORO, AR; AGAPE CHURCH, INC.) WJRJ-LP ( Channel 59; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.)

59; MEMPHIS, TN; WORD OF GOD FELLOWSHIP, INC.) WBXP-CA ( Channel 44; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: THE BOX WORLDWIDE LLC)

44; MEMPHIS, TN; THE BOX WORLDWIDE LLC) W42BY (Channel 42; MEMPHIS, TN; Owner: THREE ANGELS BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC,)

Drummonds fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2019



Drummonds fatal accident list: Jun 17, 1987 08:15 PM, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 2, Fatalities: 2, Drunk persons involved: 1

Dec 18, 1982 11:15 PM, 0209010127, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 4, Fatalities: 1



FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 31 (



FCC Registered Private Land Mobile Towers: 4 Pryor Rd ( Lat: 35.477583 Lon: -89.949528), Structure height: 109 m, Call Sign: WPFK260,

Assigned Frequencies: 929.287 MHz, 929.562 MHz, 929.612 MHz, Grant Date: 07/22/1999, Expiration Date: 07/22/2009, Cancellation Date: 04/27/2001, Registrant: 1500 International Pkwy, Suite 300, Richardson, TX 75081, Phone: (972) 801-0304, Fax: (972) 801-0330

35.477583 -89.949528), 109 m, WPFK260, 929.287 MHz, 929.562 MHz, 929.612 MHz, 07/22/1999, 07/22/2009, 04/27/2001, 1500 International Pkwy, Suite 300, Richardson, TX 75081, (972) 801-0304, (972) 801-0330 Pryor Rd ( Lat: 35.477583 Lon: -89.949528), Structure height: 109 m, Call Sign: WPFN508,

Assigned Frequencies: 929.962 MHz, Grant Date: 08/08/1999, Expiration Date: 08/08/2009, Cancellation Date: 04/27/2001, Registrant: 1500 International Pkwy, Suite 300, Richardson, TX 75081, Phone: (972) 801-0304, Fax: (972) 801-0330

35.477583 -89.949528), 109 m, WPFN508, 929.962 MHz, 08/08/1999, 08/08/2009, 04/27/2001, 1500 International Pkwy, Suite 300, Richardson, TX 75081, (972) 801-0304, (972) 801-0330 Bluff Rd S Of Richardson ( Lat: 35.477583 Lon: -89.949528), Type: Tower, Structure height: 112 m, Call Sign: WPKF430,

Assigned Frequencies: 929.762 MHz, Grant Date: 02/06/1997, Expiration Date: 02/06/2007, Cancellation Date: 11/09/2004, Certifier: Stan F Sech, Registrant: Venable LLP, 575 7th Street Nw, Washington, DC 20004, Phone: (202) 344-4653, Fax: (202) 344-8300, Email:

35.477583 -89.949528), Tower, 112 m, WPKF430, 929.762 MHz, 02/06/1997, 02/06/2007, 11/09/2004, Stan F Sech, Venable LLP, 575 7th Street Nw, Washington, DC 20004, (202) 344-4653, (202) 344-8300, 532 Pryor Road (009074 / Memphis North / I-55) (Lat: 35.477333 Lon: -89.949333), Type: Tower, Structure height: 106.6 m, Overall height: 116.4 m, Call Sign: WPWN757,

Assigned Frequencies: 157.740 MHz, Grant Date: 12/27/2002, Expiration Date: 12/27/2012, Cancellation Date: 02/16/2013, Certifier: Sanford L Green, Registrant: Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP, 2120 L Street, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20037, Phone: (202) 659-0830, Fax: (202) 828-5568

FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 2 DRUMMONDS, 3025 Dolan Road ( Lat: 35.466778 Lon: -89.904944), Type: Ltower, Structure height: 85.6 m, Overall height: 87.7 m, Call Sign: WQUI213,

Assigned Frequencies: 10955.0 MHz, 11035.0 MHz, Grant Date: 07/15/2014, Expiration Date: 07/15/2024, Certifier: Gregory M Romano, Registrant: Verizon, 1300 I St Nw - Suite 500 East, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: (202) 515-2453, Email:

35.466778 -89.904944), Ltower, 85.6 m, 87.7 m, WQUI213, 10955.0 MHz, 11035.0 MHz, 07/15/2014, 07/15/2024, Gregory M Romano, Verizon, 1300 I St Nw - Suite 500 East, Washington, DC 20005, (202) 515-2453, STATION, 2.8 Mi Nw Of (Lat: 35.479500 Lon: -89.948417), Overall height: 92 m, Call Sign: KIS25,

Assigned Frequencies: 6675.00 MHz, 6695.00 MHz, Grant Date: 10/24/2002, Expiration Date: 10/22/2012, Cancellation Date: 12/06/2011, Phone: (708) 206-6739

FCC Registered Paging Towers: 2 Bluff Rd. ( Lat: 35.477556 Lon: -89.949528), Overall height: 112.2 m, Call Sign: KNKG823,

Assigned Frequencies: 931.512 MHz, Expiration Date: 01/19/2005, Cancellation Date: 09/25/2002, Certifier: Paul H Kuzia, Registrant: Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, 2300 N Street, N.W., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20037, Phone: (202) 783-4141, Fax: (202) 783-5851, Email:

35.477556 -89.949528), 112.2 m, KNKG823, 931.512 MHz, 01/19/2005, 09/25/2002, Paul H Kuzia, Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, 2300 N Street, N.W., 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20037, (202) 783-4141, (202) 783-5851, 3 Miles Nw Of (Lat: 35.477556 Lon: -89.949528), Overall height: 112.2 m, Call Sign: WXR906,

Assigned Frequencies: 152.840 MHz, Expiration Date: 07/01/2008, Cancellation Date: 11/15/2004, Certifier: Kenneth Goldstein, Registrant: Alston & Bird LLP, 601 Pennsylvania Ave., Nw, North Building, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20004, Phone: (202) 756-3376, Fax: (202) 756-3333, Email:

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 17 (



FAA Registered Aircraft: 4 Aircraft: ZENAIR LTD CH 2000 ( Category: Land, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 27ZA, N27ZA, N-27ZA, Serial Number: 200027, Airworthiness Date: 05/08/1997

Registrant (Individual): Pending Registration, 541 Susan Cir, Drummonds, TN 38023

ZENAIR LTD CH 2000 ( Land, Up to 12,499 Pounds), LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 HP) (Reciprocating) 27ZA, N27ZA, N-27ZA, 200027, 05/08/1997 Pending Registration, 541 Susan Cir, Drummonds, TN 38023 Aircraft: CESSNA 172N ( Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 105 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 4894D, N4894D, N-4894D, Serial Number: 17272388, Year manufactured: 1979, Airworthiness Date: 03/05/1979, Certificate Issue Date: 08/14/2014

Registrant (Individual): Christopher P Bomar, 601 Glen Springs Rd, Drummonds, TN 38023

CESSNA 172N ( Land, 4, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 105 mph), LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (Reciprocating) 4894D, N4894D, N-4894D, 17272388, 1979, 03/05/1979, 08/14/2014 Christopher P Bomar, 601 Glen Springs Rd, Drummonds, TN 38023 Aircraft: DESTINY DESTINY 2000/1B0155 ( Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: ROTAX 582DCDI (65 HP) (2 Cycle)

N-Number: 5506V, N5506V, N-5506V, Serial Number: 5381809, Airworthiness Date: 09/24/2007, Certificate Issue Date: 11/07/2018

Registrant (Individual): Ramon Berrios, 810 Wilkinsville Rd, Drummonds, TN 38023

DESTINY DESTINY 2000/1B0155 ( Land, 2, Up to 12,499 Pounds), ROTAX 582DCDI (65 HP) (2 Cycle) 5506V, N5506V, N-5506V, 5381809, 09/24/2007, 11/07/2018 Ramon Berrios, 810 Wilkinsville Rd, Drummonds, TN 38023 Aircraft: DESTINY DESTINY 2000 (Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: ROTAX 582DCDI (65 HP) (2 Cycle)

N-Number: 747RG, N747RG, N-747RG, Serial Number: 3C0464, Year manufactured: 2002, Airworthiness Date: 12/05/2007, Certificate Issue Date: 08/28/2014

Registrant (Individual): Curtis E Damien, 39 Amy Leigh Dr E, Drummonds, TN 38023

31 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Antenna Towers in Drummonds 17 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in Drummonds

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents According to the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 19. The highest number of fires - 35 took place in 2013, and the least - 4 in 2002. The data has an increasing trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Drummonds, TN



200 60.8% Structure Fires



104 31.6% Outside Fires



15 4.6% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



10 3.0% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (60.8%), and Outside Fires (31.6%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Drummonds, TN

Houses and condos Apartments 47.6% Utility gas

32.5% Electricity

15.8% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

4.1% Wood 39.5% Electricity

35.4% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

25.1% Utility gas





Drummonds compared to Tennessee state average: Unemployed percentage below state average.

below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age below state average.

below Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.

significantly above Number of rooms per house significantly below state average.

significantly below House age significantly below state average.

significantly below Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state average.

Drummonds on our top lists: #2 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers (population 5,000+)"

#4 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: truck transportation (population 5,000+)"

#5 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: occupational and physical therapist assistants and aides (population 5,000+)"

#5 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: farm supplies merchant wholesalers (population 5,000+)"

#9 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: drugs, sundries, and chemical and allied products merchant wholesalers (population 5,000+)"

#9 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: motor vehicle and parts dealers (population 5,000+)"

#13 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: truck transportation (population 5,000+)"

#23 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations (population 5,000+)"

#29 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: secretaries and administrative assistants (population 5,000+)"

#31 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: construction laborers (population 5,000+)"

#31 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (population 5,000+)"

#37 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: miscellaneous nondurable goods merchant wholesalers (population 5,000+)"

#38 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (population 5,000+)"

#40 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (population 5,000+)"

#42 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: miscellaneous manufacturing (population 5,000+)"

#43 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: furniture and related product manufacturing (population 5,000+)"

#43 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: sewing, needlework, and piece goods stores (population 5,000+)"

#51 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: furniture and home furnishings, and household appliance stores (population 5,000+)"

#59 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: recyclable material merchant wholesalers (population 5,000+)"

#68 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores (population 5,000+)"

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Elon, North Carolina

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Population in 2019: 12,232 (100% urban, 0% rural).

Males: 5,021 (41.1%) Females: 7,211 (58.9%)

Median resident age: 21.7 years North Carolina median age: 39.1 years

Estimated median household income in 2019: $58,490

Elon: $58,490 NC: $57,341

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $28,330



Elon town income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $166,500 Elon: $166,500 NC: $193,200

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $267,199; detached houses: $299,824; townhouses or other attached units: $189,199; in 5-or-more-unit structures: $290,225; mobile homes: $45,358 $58,490$28,330$166,500$267,199;$299,824;$189,199;$290,225;$45,358

Median gross rent in 2019: $1,260.

March 2019 cost of living index in Elon: 93.9 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 22.7%

(22.4% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 9.4% for Black residents, 48.0% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 86.0% for other race residents)

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... 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9,539 81.1% White alone 844 7.2% Black alone 745 6.3% Hispanic 373 3.2% Asian alone 221 1.9% Two or more races 4 0.03% American Indian alone

Races in Elon detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of North Carolina and other state lists, there were 15 registered sex offenders living in Elon, North Carolina as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Elon is 666 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is lower than the state average.





Crime rates in Elon by year Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2019 Murders

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Rapes

(per 100,000) 2

(27.6) 2

(27.9) 2

(28.6) 4

(56.4) 1

(13.9) 2

(21.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) N/A 1

(8.2) Robberies

(per 100,000) 3

(41.4) 0

(0.0) 2

(28.6) 1

(14.1) 3

(41.7) 4

(41.9) 1

(10.4) 1

(10.4) 2

(21.0) 0

(0.0) 2

(19.4) 3

(24.6) Assaults

(per 100,000) 6

(82.9) 7

(97.6) 10

(143.1) 4

(56.4) 16

(222.3) 11

(115.3) 3

(31.2) 1

(10.4) 1

(10.5) 3

(29.6) 4

(38.9) 4

(32.7) Burglaries

(per 100,000) 32

(441.9) 40

(557.6) 32

(458.1) 35

(493.5) 41

(569.6) 59

(618.6) 22

(228.9) 27

(280.5) 36

(377.5) 28

(275.9) 19

(184.8) 34

(278.4) Thefts

(per 100,000) 82

(1,132) 90

(1,255) 88

(1,260) 74

(1,043) 90

(1,250) 89

(933.1) 75

(780.4) 55

(571.3) 64

(671.1) 53

(522.2) 32

(311.2) 44

(360.2) Auto thefts

(per 100,000) 1

(13.8) 1

(13.9) 0

(0.0) 2

(28.2) 6

(83.4) 1

(10.5) 0

(0.0) 3

(31.2) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(9.7) 4

(32.7) Arson

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 2

(28.2) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(10.5) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) City-Data.com crime index 128.4 132.2 142.6 139.2 164.6 133.9 56.6 50.2 61.7 46.1 39.8 57.0 The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. Click on a table row to update graph

Crime rate in Elon detailed stats: murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, arson



Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 20 (19 officers).

Officers per 1,000 residents here: 1.56 North Carolina average: 2.29

Ancestries: English (23.2%), German (8.3%), American (6.2%), Italian (3.9%), Irish (3.6%), European (2.3%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 710 feet

677 residents are foreign born (1.4% Europe, 1.3% Latin America). This town: 5.7% North Carolina: 8.0%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $2,316 (0.8%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $2,680 (1.0%)



Latitude: 36.10 N, Longitude: 79.51 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 336

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.9% North Carolina: 6.1%

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI CO SO 2 Ozone PM 10 PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 67.7. This is about average. City: 67.7 U.S.: 74.2

Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2008 was 0.415. This is significantly worse than average. Closest monitor was 14.3 miles away from the city center. City: 0.415 U.S.: 0.267

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2017 was 0.443. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 5.1 miles away from the city center. City: 0.443 U.S.: 1.789

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 31.3. This is about average. Closest monitor was 11.0 miles away from the city center. City: 31.3 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 16.7. This is about average. Closest monitor was 5.6 miles away from the city center. City: 16.7 U.S.: 19.6

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 7.39. This is about average. Closest monitor was 5.6 miles away from the city center. City: 7.39 U.S.: 8.46

Tornado activity: Elon-area historical tornado activity is slightly below North Carolina state average. It is 25% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 11/23/1992, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 18.3 miles away from the Elon town center killed 2 people and injured 10 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages. On 11/28/1988, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 45.3 miles away from the town center killed 4 people and injured 154 people and caused between $50,000,000 and $500,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Elon-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above North Carolina state average. It is 37% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 152.1 miles away from the city center

On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi) earthquake occurred 92.1 miles away from the city center

On 12/9/2003 at 20:59:14, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MB, 4.5 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 135.7 miles away from Elon center

On 12/9/2003 at 20:59:18, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 ML, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 139.3 miles away from the city center

On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 284.5 miles away from the city center

On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 228.8 miles away from Elon center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Alamance County (18) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 9

Emergencies Declared: 6



Causes of natural disasters: Hurricanes: 7, Winter Storms: 3, Droughts: 2, Ice Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Flood: 1, Freeze: 1, Snowfall: 1, Storm: 1, Tornado: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Elon: TWIN LAKES COMMUNITY MEMORY CARE (Nursing Home, about 2 miles away; BURLINGTON, NC)

TWIN LAKES CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 2 miles away; BURLINGTON, NC)

TWIN LAKES COMMUNITY (Nursing Home, about 2 miles away; BURLINGTON, NC)

LIBERTY COMMONS NANDR ALAMANCE (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; BURLINGTON, NC)

BMA OF BURLINGTON INC (Dialysis Facility, about 3 miles away; BURLINGTON, NC)

ADVANCED HOME CARE (Home Health Center, about 3 miles away; BURLINGTON, NC)

BURLINGTON REGIONAL DIALYSIS (Dialysis Facility, about 4 miles away; BURLINGTON, NC)

Amtrak stations near Elon: 4 miles: BURLINGTON (110 E. WEBB ST.) . Services: public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service, public transit connection.

BURLINGTON (110 E. WEBB ST.) . public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service, public transit connection. 19 miles: GREENSBORO (2603 OAKLAND AVE.) . Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, vending machines, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service.

Local government website: WWW.ELONNC.COM

Points of interest: Click to draw/clear town borders Tourist attraction: Central Amusement Company (Amusement & Theme Parks; 4172 Altamahaw Race Track).

Alamance County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Low Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Elon and their reported violations in the past: FRIENDSHIP BAPT CH & SCHOOL (Population served: 234, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In DEC-2008 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (DEC-16-2008) , St Formal NOV issued (DEC-16-2008) , St Compliance achieved (SEP-02-2010)

DEC-2008 Coliform St Public Notif requested (DEC-16-2008) St Formal NOV issued (DEC-16-2008) St Compliance achieved (SEP-02-2010) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - Between OCT-2008 and DEC-2008, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (NOV-27-2008), St Formal NOV issued (NOV-27-2008), St Compliance achieved (SEP-02-2010), St Public Notif received (FEB-14-2011) Past monitoring violations: Monitoring, Repeat Major (TCR) - In AUG-2005 , Contaminant: Coliform (TCR) . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (SEP-26-2005), St Formal NOV issued (OCT-05-2005), St AO (w/penalty) issued (JAN-22-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-11-2010), St Intentional no-action (JUN-11-2010)

AUG-2005 Coliform (TCR) St Public Notif requested (SEP-26-2005), St Formal NOV issued (OCT-05-2005), St AO (w/penalty) issued (JAN-22-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-11-2010), St Intentional no-action (JUN-11-2010) One routine major monitoring violation

One minor monitoring violation COUNTRY CLUB MHP (Population served: 200, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JAN-2011 and DEC-2013 , Contaminant: TTHM . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (DEC-20-2013), St Public Notif requested (DEC-20-2013), St Formal NOV issued (DEC-20-2013)

JAN-2011 DEC-2013 TTHM St AO (w/o penalty) issued (DEC-20-2013), St Public Notif requested (DEC-20-2013), St Formal NOV issued (DEC-20-2013) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JAN-2011 and DEC-2013 , Contaminant: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (DEC-20-2013), St Public Notif requested (DEC-20-2013), St Formal NOV issued (DEC-20-2013)

JAN-2011 DEC-2013 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) St AO (w/o penalty) issued (DEC-20-2013), St Public Notif requested (DEC-20-2013), St Formal NOV issued (DEC-20-2013) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JAN-2010 and MAR-2010 , Contaminant: Chlorine . Follow-up actions: St Formal NOV issued (APR-28-2010), St Public Notif requested (APR-28-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-01-2010), St Public Notif received (OCT-24-2011)

JAN-2010 MAR-2010 Chlorine St Formal NOV issued (APR-28-2010), St Public Notif requested (APR-28-2010), St Compliance achieved (JUN-01-2010), St Public Notif received (OCT-24-2011) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between APR-2009 and JUN-2009 , Contaminant: Chlorine . Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JUL-21-2009)

APR-2009 JUN-2009 Chlorine St Compliance achieved (JUL-21-2009) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JAN-2009 and MAR-2009 , Contaminant: Chlorine . Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JUL-21-2009)

JAN-2009 MAR-2009 Chlorine St Compliance achieved (JUL-21-2009) One minor monitoring violation

2 regular monitoring violations

13 other older monitoring violations HURSEY`S BBQ-DAIRY CASTLE (Population served: 200, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: One routine major monitoring violation FRIENDSHIP BAPT CH & SCHOOL (234Groundwater):COUNTRY CLUB MHP (200Groundwater):HURSEY`S BBQ-DAIRY CASTLE (200Groundwater):

Average household size: This town: 2.4 people North Carolina: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This town: 48.6% Whole state: 66.7%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This town: 2.7% Whole state: 5.9%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.5% of all households

0.5% Gay men: 0.2% of all households

People in group quarters in Elon in 2010: 2,755 people in college/university student housing

82 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities

22 people in group homes intended for adults

For population 15 years and over in Elon: Never married: 57.0%

57.0% Now married: 32.7%

32.7% Separated: 0.5%

0.5% Widowed: 7.0%

7.0% Divorced: 2.8%

For population 25 years and over in Elon: High school or higher: 95.6%

95.6% Bachelor's degree or higher: 54.1%

54.1% Graduate or professional degree: 21.6%

21.6% Mean travel time to work (commute): 19.6 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 10.7 North Carolina average: 11.8



Religion statistics for Elon, NC (based on Alamance County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 33,181 139 Mainline Protestant 22,314 68 Black Protestant 3,453 21 Catholic 3,068 1 Other 1,368 8 Orthodox 109 2 None 87,638 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 23 Alamance County : 1.59 / 10,000 pop. North Carolina : 2.05 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 2 Here : 0.14 / 10,000 pop. North Carolina : 0.14 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 14 This county : 0.97 / 10,000 pop. North Carolina : 0.92 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 76 Alamance County : 5.25 / 10,000 pop. North Carolina : 4.75 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 116 Here : 8.01 / 10,000 pop. North Carolina : 7.57 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Alamance County : 9.9% North Carolina : 9.8% Adult obesity rate: This county : 28.8% State : 28.3% Low-income preschool obesity rate: Here : 16.3% North Carolina : 15.6%

Local government employment and payroll (March 2017) Function Full-time employees Monthly full-time payroll Average yearly full-time wage Part-time employees Monthly part-time payroll Police Protection - Officers 16 $76,714 $57,536 0 $0 Firefighters 15 $61,827 $49,462 4 $1,723 Other and Unallocable 9 $36,024 $48,032 0 $0 Financial Administration 4 $17,225 $51,675 0 $0 Other Government Administration 4 $24,661 $73,983 6 $2,675 Parks and Recreation 1 $4,661 $55,932 1 $166 Police - Other 1 $4,298 $51,576 2 $3,857 Totals for Government 50 $225,410 $54,098 13 $8,422

Expenditure Revenue Debt Elon government finances - Expenditure in 2002 (per resident): Construction - Water Utilities: $466,000 ($38.10) Transit Utilities: $122,000 ($9.97) Fire Protection: $8,000 ($0.65)

$466,000 ($38.10) Current Operations - Water Utilities: $2,820,000 ($230.54) Local Fire Protection: $1,870,000 ($152.88) Police Protection: $1,730,000 ($141.43) Regular Highways: $1,384,000 ($113.15) Financial Administration: $857,000 ($70.06) Police Protection: $711,000 ($58.13) Sewerage: $652,000 ($53.30) General - Other: $481,000 ($39.32) Central Staff Services: $458,000 ($37.44) Fire Protection: $407,000 ($33.27) Regular Highways: $308,000 ($25.18) Water Utilities: $279,000 ($22.81) Solid Waste Management: $234,000 ($19.13) Parks and Recreation: $221,000 ($18.07) General - Other: $77,000 ($6.29) Judicial and Legal Services: $25,000 ($2.04) Sewerage: $24,000 ($1.96) Parks and Recreation: $22,000 ($1.80) General Public Buildings: $18,000 ($1.47) Financial Administration: $12,000 ($0.98) Miscellaneous Commercial Activities - Other: $6,000 ($0.49)

$2,820,000 ($230.54) General - Interest on Debt: $59,000 ($4.82)

$59,000 ($4.82) Other Capital Outlay - Fire Protection: $45,000 ($3.68) Police Protection: $42,000 ($3.43) Central Staff: $36,000 ($2.94) Regular Highways: $30,000 ($2.45) Water Utilities: $2,000 ($0.16)

$45,000 ($3.68) Total Salaries and Wages: $1,086,000 ($88.78)

$1,086,000 ($88.78) Water Utilities - Interest on Debt: $8,000 ($0.65) Elon government finances - Revenue in 2002 (per resident): Charges - Sewerage: $2,087,000 ($170.62) Other: $361,000 ($29.51) Solid Waste Management: $185,000 ($15.12) Miscellaneous Commercial Activities: $105,000 ($8.58) Solid Waste Management: $51,000 ($4.17) Parking Facilities: $17,000 ($1.39) Parks and Recreation: $17,000 ($1.39)

$2,087,000 ($170.62) Federal Intergovernmental - Other: $23,000 ($1.88)

$23,000 ($1.88) Local Intergovernmental - General Support: $829,000 ($67.77) Other: $4,000 ($0.33)

$829,000 ($67.77) Miscellaneous - General Revenue - Other: $1,120,000 ($91.56) Sale of Property: $94,000 ($7.68) Interest Earnings: $88,000 ($7.19) Special Assessments: $3,000 ($0.25) Interest Earnings: $0 ($0.00)

$1,120,000 ($91.56) Revenue - Water Utilities: $1,409,000 ($115.19)

$1,409,000 ($115.19) State Intergovernmental - General Support: $470,000 ($38.42) Highways: $252,000 ($20.60) Other: $94,000 ($7.68)

$470,000 ($38.42) Tax - Property: $2,682,000 ($219.26) General Sales and Gross Receipts: $2,457,000 ($200.87) Property: $1,217,000 ($99.49) Other: $56,000 ($4.58) Other License: $7,000 ($0.57) Elon government finances - Debt in 2002 (per resident): Long Term Debt - Beginning Outstanding - Other: $984,000 ($80.44) Outstanding Nonguaranteed - Other - Other: $796,000 ($65.08) Beginning Outstanding - Water Utilities: $132,000 ($10.79) Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $102,000 ($8.34) Retired Unspecified - Other - Other: $100,000 ($8.18) Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $94,000 ($7.68) Outstanding - Full Faith and Credit - Other - Other: $88,000 ($7.19) Outstanding - Full Faith and Credit - Water Utilities: $87,000 ($7.11) Retired Unspecified - Water Utilities: $45,000 ($3.68) Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $7,000 ($0.57) Elon government finances - Cash and Securities in 2002 (per resident): Other Funds - Cash and Deposits: $3,935,000 ($321.70)

6.36% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($46,809 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.36% North Carolina average: 7.88% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Guilford County, NC 1.13% ($47,921 average AGI) from Orange County, NC 0.85% ($44,283) from Durham County, NC 0.56% ($57,988)



5.61% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($43,953 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.61% North Carolina average: 7.23% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Guilford County, NC 1.29% ($38,768 average AGI) to Orange County, NC 0.56% ($40,019) to Wake County, NC 0.36% ($54,771)

Businesses in Elon, NC U-Haul: 1

Strongest AM radio stations in Elon: WPCM (920 AM; 5 kW; BURLINGTON-GRAHAM, NC; Owner: CAROLINA RADIO GROUP, INC.)

CAROLINA RADIO GROUP, INC.) WSML (1200 AM; 10 kW; GRAHAM, NC; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) WBAG (1150 AM; 1 kW; BURLINGTON-GRAHAM, NC)

WTRU (830 AM; 50 kW; KERNERSVILLE, NC; Owner: TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WPTF (680 AM; 50 kW; RALEIGH, NC; Owner: FIRST STATE COMMUNICATIONS)

FIRST STATE COMMUNICATIONS) WFTK (1030 AM; daytime; 50 kW; WAKE FOREST, NC; Owner: POSITIVE RADIO GROUP, INC.)

POSITIVE RADIO GROUP, INC.) WWBG (1470 AM; 10 kW; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: TRUTH BROADCASTING COPORATION)

TRUTH BROADCASTING COPORATION) WDNC (620 AM; 5 kW; DURHAM, NC)

WRTP (1530 AM; daytime; 10 kW; CHAPEL HILL, NC; Owner: RADIO TRAINING NETWORK, INC.)

RADIO TRAINING NETWORK, INC.) WCOG (1320 AM; 5 kW; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WRBZ (850 AM; 10 kW; RALEIGH, NC; Owner: ALCHEMY COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP #1)

ALCHEMY COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP #1) WGSB (1060 AM; daytime; 1 kW; MEBANE, NC; Owner: RADIO TRAINING NETWORK, INC.)

RADIO TRAINING NETWORK, INC.) WCHL (1360 AM; 5 kW; CHAPEL HILL, NC; Owner: WCHL-WDNC, INC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Elon: WSOE (89.3 FM; ELON COLLEGE, NC; Owner: ELON COLLEGE)

ELON COLLEGE) WKXU (101.1 FM; BURLINGTON, NC; Owner: CAROLINA RADIO GROUP, INC.)

CAROLINA RADIO GROUP, INC.) WOZN (98.7 FM; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC) WMAG (99.5 FM; HIGH POINT, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WVBZ (100.3 FM; HIGH POINT, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WQMG-FM (97.1 FM; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC) WRSN (93.9 FM; BURLINGTON, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WUNC (91.5 FM; CHAPEL HILL, NC; Owner: BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNIVERSITY OF NC AT CHAPEL HILL)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNIVERSITY OF NC AT CHAPEL HILL) WKRR (92.3 FM; ASHEBORO, NC; Owner: DICK BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC. OF TENNESSEE)

DICK BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC. OF TENNESSEE) WJMH (102.1 FM; REIDSVILLE, NC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC) WDCG (105.1 FM; DURHAM, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WMQX-FM (93.1 FM; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM GREENSBORO LICENSE, LLC) WNAA (90.1 FM; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: NC AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY)

NC AGRICULTURAL & TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY) WGBT (94.5 FM; EDEN, NC; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WFDD (88.5 FM; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; Owner: WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY)

WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY) WQDR (94.7 FM; RALEIGH, NC; Owner: CAROLINA MEDIA GROUP, INC.)

CAROLINA MEDIA GROUP, INC.) WKZL (107.5 FM; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; Owner: DICK BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC. OF TENNESSEE)

DICK BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC. OF TENNESSEE) W243AL (96.5 FM; BROWNS SUMMIT, NC; Owner: CALVARY CHAPEL OF TWIN FALLS, INC.)

CALVARY CHAPEL OF TWIN FALLS, INC.) WTQR (104.1 FM; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WUAG (103.1 FM; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: U. OF NORTH CAROLINA AT GREENSBORO) TV broadcast stations around Elon: WFMY-TV ( Channel 2; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: WFMY TELEVISION CORPORATION)

2; GREENSBORO, NC; WFMY TELEVISION CORPORATION) WUPN-TV ( Channel 48; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: WUPN LICENSEE, LLC)

48; GREENSBORO, NC; WUPN LICENSEE, LLC) WXLV-TV ( Channel 45; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; Owner: WXLV LICENSEE, LLC)

45; WINSTON-SALEM, NC; WXLV LICENSEE, LLC) WTWB-TV ( Channel 20; LEXINGTON, NC; Owner: WTWB OF THE TRIAD, LLC)

20; LEXINGTON, NC; WTWB OF THE TRIAD, LLC) WLXI-TV ( Channel 61; GREENSBORO, NC; Owner: TRI-STATE CHRISTIAN TV, INC.)

61; GREENSBORO, NC; TRI-STATE CHRISTIAN TV, INC.) WGPX ( Channel 16; BURLINGTON, NC; Owner: PAXSON GREENSBORO LICENSE, INC.)

16; BURLINGTON, NC; PAXSON GREENSBORO LICENSE, INC.) WUNC-TV ( Channel 4; CHAPEL HILL, NC; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA)

4; CHAPEL HILL, NC; UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA) WGHP ( Channel 8; HIGH POINT, NC; Owner: WGHP LICENSE, INC.)

8; HIGH POINT, NC; WGHP LICENSE, INC.) WRAZ ( Channel 50; RALEIGH, NC; Owner: WRAZ-TV, INC.)

50; RALEIGH, NC; WRAZ-TV, INC.) WTVD ( Channel 11; DURHAM, NC; Owner: ABC, INC.)

11; DURHAM, NC; ABC, INC.) WRAL-TV ( Channel 5; RALEIGH, NC; Owner: CAPITOL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)

5; RALEIGH, NC; CAPITOL BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.) WUVC ( Channel 40; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; Owner: CAPITAL BROADCASTING PARTNERS)

40; FAYETTEVILLE, NC; CAPITAL BROADCASTING PARTNERS) WDRL-TV ( Channel 24; DANVILLE, VA; Owner: DANVILLE TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP)

24; DANVILLE, VA; DANVILLE TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP) WXIV-LP (Channel 14; REIDSVILLE, NC; Owner: CAROLINA BLUE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

8 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 92ft / 27.9m Total length

Total length 37,850 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 2,271 Total average daily truck traffic

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents Based on the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 60. The highest number of fires - 94 took place in 2011, and the least - 21 in 2002. The data has an increasing trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Elon, NC



479 47.1% Structure Fires



369 36.3% Outside Fires



124 12.2% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



44 4.3% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (47.1%), and Outside Fires (36.3%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Elon, NC

Houses and condos Apartments 67.0% Utility gas

30.4% Electricity

1.4% Other fuel

0.6% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

0.5% Wood 71.2% Electricity

26.5% Utility gas

2.3% Bottled, tank, or LP gas





Elon compared to North Carolina state average: Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage below state average.

below Median age significantly below state average.

significantly below House age below state average.

below Number of college students significantly above state average.

significantly above Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly above state average.

Elon on our top lists: #5 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the lowest number of auto thefts per 100,000 residents (population 5,000+)"

#7 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the smallest city-data.com crime index per police officer (population 5,000+)"

#12 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the lowest city-data.com crime index (population 5,000+)"

#13 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the largest city-data.com crime index decrease from 2011 to 2012 (population 5,000+)"

#32 on the list of "Top 100 cities with the largest percentage of females (pop. 5,000+)"

#34 on the list of "Top 100 cities with youngest residents (pop. 5,000+)"

#63 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the smallest percentage of divorced people (15+ years)(population 5,000+)"

#69 on the list of "Top 100 cities with highest percentage of college students (pop. 5,000+)" #24 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating to foreign countries in 2011"

#63 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest percentage of residents relocating from foreign countries between 2010 and 2011 (pop. 50,000+)"

#80 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest ground withdrawal of fresh water for public supply (pop. 50,000+)"

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Fair Play, South Carolina

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Population in 2010: 687.

Males: 398 (58.0%) Females: 289 (42.0%)

Median resident age: 54.7 years South Carolina median age: 39.9 years

Zip codes: 29643.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $48,204

Fair Play: $48,204 SC: $56,227

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $30,668



Fair Play CDP income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $166,300 Fair Play: $166,300 SC: $179,800

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $404,345; detached houses: $518,229; mobile homes: $182,675 $48,204$30,668$166,300$404,345;$518,229;$182,675

March 2019 cost of living index in Fair Play: 79.2 (low, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 0.0%

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... Based on 2000-2020 data Loading data...

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445 91.6% White alone 41 8.4% American Indian alone

Races in Fair Play detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of South Carolina and other state lists, there was 1 registered sex offender living in Fair Play, South Carolina as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Fair Play is 642 to 1.





Ancestries: American (46.2%), French (17.0%), Slovak (11.3%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 816 feet

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $2,362 (0.7%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $1,381 (0.4%)



Latitude: 34.51 N, Longitude: 82.99 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 706

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 3.2% South Carolina: 4.1%

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI SO 2 Ozone PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 57.5. This is better than average. City: 57.5 U.S.: 74.2

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.0993. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 14.3 miles away from the city center. City: 0.0993 U.S.: 1.7894

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 28.9. This is about average. Closest monitor was 12.9 miles away from the city center. City: 28.9 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 5.69. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 24.9 miles away from the city center. City: 5.69 U.S.: 8.46

Tornado activity: Fair Play-area historical tornado activity is near South Carolina state average. It is 17% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 4/8/1974, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 14.8 miles away from the Fair Play place center caused between $500 and $5000 in damages. On 3/31/1973, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 38.1 miles away from the place center killed 7 people and injured 30 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Fair Play-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above South Carolina state average. It is 27% greater than the overall U.S. average.



On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 52.6 miles away from Fair Play center

On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 172.7 miles away from the city center

On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML) earthquake occurred 104.8 miles away from Fair Play center

On 4/29/2003 at 08:59:39, a magnitude 4.9 (4.4 MB, 4.6 MW, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 150.7 miles away from the city center

On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi) earthquake occurred 366.9 miles away from Fair Play center

On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 261.0 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Oconee County (12) is smaller than the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 3

Emergencies Declared: 5



Causes of natural disasters: Hurricanes: 3, Storms: 3, Floods: 2, Ice Storms: 2, Tornadoes: 2, Winds: 2, Drought: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Winter Storm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Fair Play: TUGALOO HOME HEALTH AGENCY, AN AMEDISYS COMPANY (Home Health Center, about 9 miles away; LAVONIA, GA)

TY COBB REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, LLC Acute Care Hospitals (about 10 miles away; LAVONIA, GA)

Acute Care Hospitals SENECA HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; SENECA, SC)

LAKE HARTWELL KIDNEY CENTER (Dialysis Facility, about 12 miles away; HARTWELL, GA)

FMC OCONEE DIALYSIS CLINIC INC (Dialysis Facility, about 12 miles away; SENECA, SC)

HARTWELL HEALTH CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 12 miles away; HARTWELL, GA)

HERITAGE INN OF HARTWELL (Nursing Home, about 12 miles away; HARTWELL, GA)

Amtrak station near Fair Play: 16 miles: CLEMSON (U.S. 123 & STATE HWY. 133) . Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking.

Operable nuclear power plants near Fair Play: 13 miles: Oconee 1 and 2 in Seneca, SC.



Oconee 1 and 2 in Seneca, SC. 13 miles: Oconee 3 in Seneca, SC.



Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Fair Play: Tri-County Technical College ( about 15 miles; Pendleton, SC ; Full-time enrollment: 5,174)

15 ; 5,174) Clemson University ( about 15 miles; Clemson, SC ; FT enrollment: 20,131)

15 ; 20,131) Anderson University ( about 20 miles; Anderson, SC ; FT enrollment: 2,510)

20 ; 2,510) Piedmont College ( about 33 miles; Demorest, GA ; FT enrollment: 2,251)

33 ; 2,251) Greenville Technical College ( about 42 miles; Greenville, SC ; FT enrollment: 9,859)

42 ; 9,859) Athens Technical College ( about 42 miles; Athens, GA ; FT enrollment: 3,204)

42 ; 3,204) Furman University (about 42 miles; Greenville, SC; FT enrollment: 2,988) Private high school in Fair Play: FOOTHILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 56, Location: 104 FELTMAN RD, Grades: 1-12)

Oconee County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

Average household size: This place: 2.4 people South Carolina: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This place: 77.0% Whole state: 67.5%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 3.8% Whole state: 6.0%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.0% of all households

0.0% Gay men: 0.7% of all households

For population 15 years and over in Fair Play: Never married: 28.5%

28.5% Now married: 61.7%

61.7% Separated: 0.0%

0.0% Widowed: 2.6%

2.6% Divorced: 7.2%

For population 25 years and over in Fair Play: High school or higher: 95.3%

95.3% Bachelor's degree or higher: 27.5%

27.5% Graduate or professional degree: 9.6%

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 9.1 South Carolina average: 11.4



Religion statistics for Fair Play, SC (based on Oconee County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 34,998 142 Mainline Protestant 3,996 22 Catholic 2,491 2 Other 818 4 Black Protestant 358 4 None 31,612 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 13 This county : 1.84 / 10,000 pop. State : 1.99 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 1 Oconee County : 0.14 / 10,000 pop. South Carolina : 0.15 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 9 Here : 1.27 / 10,000 pop. State : 0.85 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 31 Here : 4.39 / 10,000 pop. South Carolina : 5.38 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 46 Here : 6.51 / 10,000 pop. South Carolina : 7.75 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: This county : 11.1% South Carolina : 10.6% Adult obesity rate: Oconee County : 28.6% State : 29.4% Low-income preschool obesity rate: Here : 16.7% South Carolina : 13.4%

6.35% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($68,256 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.35% South Carolina average: 7.95% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Pickens County, SC 0.96% ($49,603 average AGI) from Anderson County, SC 0.67% ($42,519) from Greenville County, SC 0.46% ($84,452)



5.49% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($58,383 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.49% South Carolina average: 6.98% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Pickens County, SC 0.95% ($57,460 average AGI) to Anderson County, SC 0.81% ($43,431) to Greenville County, SC 0.53% ($59,021)

Businesses in Fair Play, SC Arby's: 1

Strongest AM radio stations in Fair Play: WLFJ (660 AM; daytime; 50 kW; GREENVILLE, SC; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WCSZ (1070 AM; 50 kW; SANS SOUCI, SC; Owner: WHYZ RADIO, L.P.)

WHYZ RADIO, L.P.) WRIX (1020 AM; daytime; 10 kW; HOMELAND PARK, SC; Owner: AM 1020 INCORPORATED)

AM 1020 INCORPORATED) WANS (1280 AM; 5 kW; ANDERSON, SC; Owner: FM 103 INC.)

FM 103 INC.) WCNN (680 AM; 50 kW; NORTH ATLANTA, GA; Owner: DICKEY BROADCASTING COMPANY)

DICKEY BROADCASTING COMPANY) WLET (1420 AM; 5 kW; TOCCOA, GA; Owner: TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE)

TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE) WKLY (980 AM; 1 kW; HARTWELL, GA; Owner: JAMES E. HICKS & BILLIE F. HICKS, PARTNERS)

JAMES E. HICKS & BILLIE F. HICKS, PARTNERS) WSB (750 AM; 50 kW; ATLANTA, GA; Owner: CXR HOLDINGS, INC.)

CXR HOLDINGS, INC.) WTBI (1540 AM; daytime; 10 kW; PICKENS, SC; Owner: TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS)

TABERNACLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS) WGST (640 AM; 50 kW; ATLANTA, GA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) WDUN (550 AM; 10 kW; GAINESVILLE, GA; Owner: JWJ PROPERTIRS, INC.)

JWJ PROPERTIRS, INC.) WFGW (1010 AM; 50 kW; BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC; Owner: BLUE RIDGE BROADCASTING CORP.)

BLUE RIDGE BROADCASTING CORP.) WBCU (1460 AM; 50 kW; UNION, SC) Strongest FM radio stations in Fair Play: WHZT (98.1 FM; SENECA, SC; Owner: CXR HOLDINGS, INC.)

CXR HOLDINGS, INC.) WBTS (95.5 FM; ATHENS, GA; Owner: CXR HOLDINGS, INC.)

CXR HOLDINGS, INC.) WJMZ-FM (107.3 FM; ANDERSON, SC; Owner: CXR HOLDINGS, INC.)

CXR HOLDINGS, INC.) WESC-FM (92.5 FM; GREENVILLE, SC; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WRBN (104.1 FM; CLAYTON, GA; Owner: SUTTON RADIOCASTING CORPORATION)

SUTTON RADIOCASTING CORPORATION) WFQS (91.3 FM; FRANKLIN, NC; Owner: WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO)

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO) WROQ (101.1 FM; ANDERSON, SC; Owner: OBC BROADCASTING, INC.)

OBC BROADCASTING, INC.) WKSF (99.9 FM; ASHEVILLE, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WNGC (106.1 FM; TOCCOA, GA; Owner: SOUTHERN BROADCASTING OF PENSACOLA, INC)

SOUTHERN BROADCASTING OF PENSACOLA, INC) W269AY (101.7 FM; HIGHLANDS, NC; Owner: WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO)

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO) WRAF (90.9 FM; TOCCOA FALLS, GA; Owner: TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE)

TOCCOA FALLS COLLEGE) W237AR (95.3 FM; HAZELWOOD, ETC., NC; Owner: WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO)

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO) WMYI (102.5 FM; HENDERSONVILLE, NC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WHLC (104.5 FM; HIGHLANDS, NC; Owner: CHARISMA RADIO CORP.)

CHARISMA RADIO CORP.) WSSL-FM (100.5 FM; GRAY COURT, SC; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) W220CD (91.9 FM; ENKA, NC; Owner: CALVARY CHAPEL OF TWIN FALLS, INC.)

CALVARY CHAPEL OF TWIN FALLS, INC.) W277AL (103.3 FM; HIGHLANDS, NC; Owner: CHARISMA RADIO CORPORATION)

CHARISMA RADIO CORPORATION) WSPA-FM (98.9 FM; SPARTANBURG, SC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENVILLE LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM GREENVILLE LICENSE, LLC) WFBC-FM (93.7 FM; GREENVILLE, SC; Owner: ENTERCOM GREENVILLE LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM GREENVILLE LICENSE, LLC) WMUU-FM (94.5 FM; GREENVILLE, SC; Owner: WMUU, INC.) TV broadcast stations around Fair Play: W22AC ( Channel 22; HARTWELL & ROYSTON, GA; Owner: GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION)

22; HARTWELL & ROYSTON, GA; GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION) W50AB ( Channel 50; HIAWASSEE, GA; Owner: GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION)

50; HIAWASSEE, GA; GEORGIA PUBLIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION) WHNS ( Channel 21; ASHEVILLE, NC; Owner: MEREDITH CORPORATION)

21; ASHEVILLE, NC; MEREDITH CORPORATION) WBSC-TV ( Channel 40; ANDERSON, SC; Owner: ANDERSON (WFBC-TV) LICENSEE, INC.)

40; ANDERSON, SC; ANDERSON (WFBC-TV) LICENSEE, INC.) WNEG-TV (Channel 32; TOCCOA, GA; Owner: MEDIA GENERAL BROADCASTING OF SO. CAROLINA HOLDINGS, INC.)

Fair Play, South Carolina

Fatal accident count 13

Vehicles involved in fatal accidents 27

Fatal accidents involving drunk persons: 3

Fatalities 15

Persons involved in fatal accidents 37

Pedestrians involved in fatal accidents 2 South Carolina average

Fatal accident count 9919

Vehicles involved in fatal accidents 14635

Fatal accidents involving drunk persons 3657

Fatalities 10798

Persons involved in fatal accidents 23258

Pedestrians involved in fatal accidents 1666 See more detailed statistics of Fair Play fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2019 here

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

31 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 525ft / 160m Total length

Total length $12,954,000 Total costs

Total costs 369,946 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 64,042 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 262,653 Total future (year 2037) average daily traffic

New bridges - historical statistics

2 1940-1949

2 1950-1959

17 1960-1969

3 1970-1979

4 1980-1989

3 2000-2009 See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for Fair Play, SC

FCC Registered Cell Phone Towers: 1 (

FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 20 (



FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers: 1 Hwy 59 At Hwy 182 Int (Lat: 34.516222 Lon: -82.983472), Call Sign: KLP777,

Assigned Frequencies: 154.130 MHz, Grant Date: 04/24/2012, Expiration Date: 06/08/2022, Registrant: Oconee County Sheriff\'s Office, 415 South Pine Street, Walhalla, SC 29691, Phone: (864) 718-1010, Fax: (864) 638-4434, Email:

FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 1 Tokeena Fair, Off Durham Rd (Lat: 34.504500 Lon: -82.980500), Type: Ltower, Structure height: 47.2 m, Call Sign: WQJA451,

Assigned Frequencies: 11525.0 MHz, 11445.0 MHz, 11365.0 MHz, 11405.0 MHz, Grant Date: 08/28/2018, Expiration Date: 07/03/2028, Certifier: Christopher L Harris, Registrant: Conterra Ultra Broadband, LLC, 2101 Rexford Rd, Ste 200e, Charlotte, NC 28211, Phone: (704) 936-1801, Fax: (704) 936-1801, Email:

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 20 (



FAA Registered Aircraft Manufacturers and Dealers: 2 STOL-IT AIRCRAFT INC, 675 Taylor Made Ln, Fair Play, SC 29643

Certificate: D006532 (Corporation), Certificate Issue Date: 10/23/2020, Expiration Date: 10/22/2021

D006532 (Corporation), 10/23/2020, 10/22/2021 STAL-IT AIRCRAFT INC, 675 Taylor Made Ln, Fair Play, SC 29643

Certificate: D007664 (Corporation), Certificate Issue Date: 09/24/2020, Expiration Date: 09/23/2021

FAA Registered Aircraft: 4 Aircraft: CESSNA 182J ( Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 119 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 2876F, N2876F, N-2876F, Serial Number: 18256976, Year manufactured: 1966, Airworthiness Date: 02/11/1966, Certificate Issue Date: 06/17/2020

Registrant (Co-Owned): Jeffrey J Webb, 180 Parkview Dr, Fair Play, SC 29643, Other Owners: Connie A Webb

CESSNA 182J ( Land, 4, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 119 mph), CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 HP) (Reciprocating) 2876F, N2876F, N-2876F, 18256976, 1966, 02/11/1966, 06/17/2020 Jeffrey J Webb, 180 Parkview Dr, Fair Play, SC 29643, Connie A Webb Aircraft: BEECH A36 ( Category: Land, Seats: 6, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 138 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES (300 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 36VM, N36VM, N-36VM, Serial Number: E-2411, Year manufactured: 1988, Airworthiness Date: 03/10/1988, Certificate Issue Date: 12/09/2020

Registrant (Individual): Harley E Yoder, 740 W Pine Grove Rd, Fair Play, SC 29643

BEECH A36 ( Land, 6, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 138 mph), CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES (300 HP) (Reciprocating) 36VM, N36VM, N-36VM, E-2411, 1988, 03/10/1988, 12/09/2020 Harley E Yoder, 740 W Pine Grove Rd, Fair Play, SC 29643 Aircraft: KECK DAVID HELICYCLE ( Category: Land, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 571DK, N571DK, N-571DK, Serial Number: 2-16, Year manufactured: 2003, Airworthiness Date: 03/16/2004

Registrant (Individual): Pending Registration, 400 Seminole Pt Rd, Fair Play, SC 29643

KECK DAVID HELICYCLE ( Land, Up to 12,499 Pounds), AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG (Reciprocating) 571DK, N571DK, N-571DK, 2-16, 2003, 03/16/2004 Pending Registration, 400 Seminole Pt Rd, Fair Play, SC 29643 Aircraft: MOONEY M20E (Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 127 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 9372V, N9372V, N-9372V, Serial Number: 700013, Airworthiness Date: 11/07/1969, Certificate Issue Date: 05/24/2018

Registrant (Individual): Bobby G Fendley, 901 Sanders Cv, Fair Play, SC 29643

1 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Cell Phone Towers in Fair Play 20 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Antenna Towers 20 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in Fair Play

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents Based on the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 38. The highest number of fires - 89 took place in 2016, and the least - 12 in 2012. The data has a decreasing trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Fair Play, SC



231 36.0% Outside Fires



173 26.9% Structure Fires



121 18.8% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



117 18.2% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most incidents belonged to: Outside Fires (36.0%), and Structure Fires (26.9%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Fair Play, SC

86.8% Electricity

13.2% Utility gas





Fair Play compared to South Carolina state average: Median house value above state average.

above Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age significantly above state average.

significantly above Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Number of rooms per house above state average.

above House age below state average.

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Freedom, New Hampshire

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Population in 2010: 1,489.

Population change since 2000: +14.3%

1,489.+14.3%

Males: 750 (50.4%) Females: 739 (49.6%)

Median resident age: 53.1 years New Hampshire median age: 43.9 years

Zip codes: 03836.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $64,429 (it was $40,188 in 2000)

Freedom: $64,429 NH: $77,933

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $40,598 (it was $23,036 in 2000)



Freedom town income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $307,841 (it was $138,900 in 2000) Freedom: $307,841 NH: $281,400

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $353,918; detached houses: $379,039; townhouses or other attached units: $417,310; in 2-unit structures: $399,549; in 3-to-4-unit structures: $335,357; in 5-or-more-unit structures: $152,567; mobile homes: $83,212 $64,429 ($40,188$40,598 ($23,036$307,841 ($138,900$353,918;$379,039;$417,310;$399,549;$335,357;$152,567;$83,212

March 2019 cost of living index in Freedom: 108.0 (more than average, U.S. average is 100)

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1,467 98.5% White alone 8 0.5% Two or more races 8 0.5% Hispanic 4 0.3% Asian alone 2 0.1% Black alone

Races in Freedom detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of New Hampshire and other state lists, there was 1 registered sex offender living in Freedom, New Hampshire as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Freedom is 1,489 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is much lower than the state average.





Crime rates in Freedom by year Type 2006 2008 2009 2010 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Murders

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Rapes

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(67.4) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Robberies

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Assaults

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(67.3) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Burglaries

(per 100,000) 18

(1,247) 8

(552.9) 6

(414.4) 6

(415.8) 3

(202.3) 10

(672.5) 1

(67.3) 1

(67.2) 4

(261.1) 0

(0.0) Thefts

(per 100,000) 10

(692.5) 11

(760.2) 17

(1,174) 10

(693.0) 3

(202.3) 7

(470.7) 4

(269.2) 1

(67.2) 1

(65.3) 3

(192.1) Auto thefts

(per 100,000) 2

(138.5) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(67.4) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(67.2) 4

(261.1) 0

(0.0) Arson

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 1

(69.1) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) City-Data.com crime index 126.0 69.1 76.0 56.8 81.6 65.9 28.9 12.8 41.8 7.7 The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. Click on a table row to update graph

Crime rate in Freedom detailed stats: murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, arson



Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 2 (2 officers).

Officers per 1,000 residents here: 1.28 New Hampshire average: 2.05



Latest news from Freedom, NH collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: English (28.2%), Irish (26.3%), German (9.4%), Scottish (9.2%), French (8.1%), United States (7.4%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 452 feet

Land area: 34.6 square miles. Population density: 43 people per square mile (very low).

32 residents are foreign born (1.5% Europe, 0.5% North America, 0.3% Asia). This town: 2.5% New Hampshire: 4.4%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: Freedom town: 1.2% ($1,655) New Hampshire: 2.3% ($2,946)

Latitude: 43.81 N, Longitude: 71.08 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 603

Single-family new house construction building permits: 1997: 18 buildings , average cost: $84,100

18 $84,100 1998: 11 buildings , average cost: $88,200

11 $88,200 1999: 11 buildings , average cost: $88,200

11 $88,200 2000: 24 buildings , average cost: $180,000

24 $180,000 2001: 27 buildings , average cost: $180,000

27 $180,000 2002: 32 buildings , average cost: $136,300

32 $136,300 2003: 28 buildings , average cost: $58,800

28 $58,800 2004: 31 buildings , average cost: $30,600

31 $30,600 2005: 36 buildings , average cost: $88,000

36 $88,000 2006: 19 buildings , average cost: $140,600

19 $140,600 2007: 15 buildings , average cost: $237,800

15 $237,800 2008: 9 buildings , average cost: $203,900

9 $203,900 2009: 10 buildings , average cost: $171,500

10 $171,500 2010: 12 buildings , average cost: $192,100

12 $192,100 2011: 5 buildings , average cost: $242,000

5 $242,000 2012: 12 buildings , average cost: $195,600

12 $195,600 2013: 11 buildings , average cost: $183,200

11 $183,200 2014: 9 buildings , average cost: $160,800

9 $160,800 2015: 11 buildings , average cost: $229,600

11 $229,600 2016: 32 buildings , average cost: $125,000

32 $125,000 2017: 14 buildings , average cost: $42,900

14 $42,900 2018: 17 buildings , average cost: $352,900

17 $352,900 2019: 10 buildings, average cost: $30,000

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 4.7% New Hampshire: 3.5%

Most common industries in Freedom, NH (%) Both Males Females

Construction (12.0%)

Accommodation & food services (11.1%)

Educational services (10.8%)

Health care (6.9%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (6.5%)

Public administration (5.3%)

Social assistance (3.6%)

Construction (22.2%)

Accommodation & food services (9.0%)

Educational services (5.7%)

Public administration (5.7%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (5.1%)

Social assistance (3.9%)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (3.3%)

Educational services (16.8%)

Accommodation & food services (13.6%)

Health care (11.9%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (8.0%)

Public administration (4.9%)

Department & other general merchandise stores (3.1%)

Social assistance (3.1%) Most common occupations in Freedom, NH (%) Both Males Females

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (6.9%)

Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (5.3%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (4.7%)

Carpenters (4.0%)

Top executives (3.7%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (3.4%)

Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (3.1%)

Carpenters (7.5%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (7.2%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (6.3%)

Top executives (5.7%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (5.4%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (4.5%)

Supervisors, construction and extraction workers (3.9%)

Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (7.7%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (6.6%)

Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (6.6%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (5.9%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (5.2%)

Retail sales workers, except cashiers (3.8%)

Cooks and food preparation workers (3.5%)

Average climate in Freedom, New Hampshire Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI Ozone

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 54.7. This is better than average. City: 54.7 U.S.: 74.2

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 29.9. This is about average. Closest monitor was 11.8 miles away from the city center. City: 29.9 U.S.: 33.3

Tornado activity: Freedom-area historical tornado activity is below New Hampshire state average. It is 71% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 7/18/1963, a category F2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado 15.9 miles away from the Freedom town center caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages. On 6/22/1981, a category F2 tornado 26.8 miles away from the town center caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Freedom-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above New Hampshire state average. It is 73% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.3 (5.3 ML, Depth: 3.0 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 138.6 miles away from Freedom center

On 10/16/2012 at 23:12:25, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 ML, Depth: 10.0 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 25.9 miles away from Freedom center

On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MB, 4.2 MS, 5.2 MW, 5.0 MW) earthquake occurred 139.0 miles away from the city center

On 1/19/1982 at 00:14:42, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 MD, 4.5 LG) earthquake occurred 33.8 miles away from the city center

On 10/7/1983 at 10:18:46, a magnitude 5.3 (5.1 MB, 5.3 LG, 5.1 ML) earthquake occurred 162.9 miles away from Freedom center

On 8/21/1996 at 07:54:14, a magnitude 3.8 (3.8 LG, 3.6 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 29.0 miles away from Freedom center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Carroll County (29) is a lot greater than the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 17

Emergencies Declared: 9



Causes of natural disasters: Storms: 12, Floods: 11, Winter Storms: 5, Hurricanes: 4, Snows: 4, Snowstorms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Snowfall: 1, Tornado: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Wind: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Freedom: MOUNTAIN VIEW NURSING HOME (Nursing Home, about 9 miles away; OSSIPEE, NH)

MERRIMAN HOUSE (Nursing Home, about 13 miles away; NORTH CONWAY, NH)

MINERAL SPRINGS OF NORTH CONWAY CARE AND REHABILIT (Nursing Home, about 13 miles away; NORTH CONWAY, NH)

HICKS NURSING HOME (Nursing Home, about 15 miles away; FRYEBURG, ME)

FRYEBURG HEALTH CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 16 miles away; FRYEBURG, ME)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Freedom: Saint Joseph's College of Maine ( about 30 miles; Standish, ME ; Full-time enrollment: 2,010)

30 ; 2,010) Plymouth State University ( about 31 miles; Plymouth, NH ; FT enrollment: 4,838)

31 ; 4,838) University of Southern Maine ( about 42 miles; Portland, ME ; FT enrollment: 6,647)

42 ; 6,647) University of New England ( about 43 miles; Biddeford, ME ; FT enrollment: 4,539)

43 ; 4,539) Southern Maine Community College ( about 45 miles; South Portland, ME ; FT enrollment: 4,666)

45 ; 4,666) NHTI-Concord's Community College ( about 47 miles; Concord, NH ; FT enrollment: 2,865)

47 ; 2,865) University of New Hampshire-Main Campus (about 48 miles; Durham, NH; FT enrollment: 15,243) Public elementary/middle school in Freedom: FREEDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 88, Location: 40 LOON LAKE RD., Grades: PK-6) See full list of schools located in Freedom

Library in Freedom: FREEDOM PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $67,713; Location: 38 OLD PORTLAND ROAD; 14,916 books; 314 audio materials; 936 video materials; 1 local licensed databases; 22 state licensed databases; 27 print serial subscriptions)

Carroll County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Freedom and their reported violations in the past: OSSIPEE MOUNTAINS ESTATES (Population served: 255, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 3 routine major monitoring violations

21 regular monitoring violations PINE LANDING CONDOS (Population served: 50, Groundwater): Past health violations: OCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation - In JUL-01-2007, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-08-2007), St Formal NOV issued (NOV-14-2007), St Compliance achieved (MAY-08-2008) Past monitoring violations: Water Quality Parameter M/R - In JAN-01-2007, Contaminant: Lead and Copper Rule. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (MAY-22-2007), St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAY-22-2007), St Compliance achieved (AUG-08-2007), St Public Notif received (OCT-17-2007) Drinking water stations with addresses in Freedom that have no violations reported: FREEDOM VILLAGE WATER PRECINCT (Population served: 163, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater) OSSIPEE MOUNTAINS ESTATES (255Groundwater):PINE LANDING CONDOS (50Groundwater):

Average household size: This town: 2.1 people New Hampshire: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This town: 65.4% Whole state: 66.3%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This town: 5.4% Whole state: 8.3%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.4% of all households

0.4% Gay men: 0.0% of all households Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 6.8% Whole state: 6.5% Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 4.0% Whole state: 2.8%

5 people in group homes intended for adults in 2010

5 people in residential treatment centers for adults in 2010

6 people in other noninstitutional group quarters in 2000

For population 15 years and over in Freedom: Never married: 15.4%

15.4% Now married: 66.3%

66.3% Separated: 0.3%

0.3% Widowed: 7.8%

7.8% Divorced: 10.3%

For population 25 years and over in Freedom: High school or higher: 92.1%

92.1% Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.2%

31.2% Graduate or professional degree: 12.0%

12.0% Unemployed: 3.7%

3.7% Mean travel time to work (commute): 32.8 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 10.5 New Hampshire average: 10.9



Religion statistics for Freedom, NH (based on Carroll County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Catholic 4,304 2 Mainline Protestant 4,266 30 Evangelical Protestant 1,241 14 Other 366 5 None 37,641 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 20 Carroll County : 4.23 / 10,000 pop. New Hampshire : 2.14 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 12 Carroll County : 2.54 / 10,000 pop. New Hampshire : 1.78 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 40 Here : 8.47 / 10,000 pop. State : 4.02 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 114 This county : 24.13 / 10,000 pop. New Hampshire : 9.70 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Carroll County : 8.8% New Hampshire : 7.6% Adult obesity rate: Carroll County : 21.2% New Hampshire : 24.4% Low-income preschool obesity rate: This county : 16.9% New Hampshire : 15.9%

6.65% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($75,215 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.65% New Hampshire average: 6.87% 0.09% of residents moved from foreign countries ($486 average AGI) Carroll County: 0.09% New Hampshire average: 0.04%

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Strafford County, NH 0.71% ($48,471 average AGI) from Belknap County, NH 0.53% ($41,867) from Rockingham County, NH 0.46% ($72,404)



6.48% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($70,102 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.48% New Hampshire average: 6.70% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Strafford County, NH 0.75% ($37,119 average AGI) to Belknap County, NH 0.46% ($58,343) to Rockingham County, NH 0.36% ($65,532)

Businesses in Freedom, NH YMCA: 1

Strongest AM radio stations in Freedom: WASR (1420 AM; 5 kW; WOLFEBORO, NH; Owner: RADIO WOLFEBORO, INC.)

RADIO WOLFEBORO, INC.) WMTW (870 AM; 10 kW; GORHAM, ME; Owner: RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.)

RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.) WRKO (680 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WGIN (930 AM; 10 kW; ROCHESTER, NH; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WBNC (1050 AM; 1 kW; CONWAY, NH; Owner: MT. WASHINGTON RADIO & GRAMOPHONE, L.L.C.)

MT. WASHINGTON RADIO & GRAMOPHONE, L.L.C.) WGAN (560 AM; 5 kW; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)

SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) WEEI (850 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WCRN (830 AM; 50 kW; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WBZ (1030 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)

INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.) WEZS (1350 AM; 5 kW; LACONIA, NH; Owner: GARY W. HAMMOND)

GARY W. HAMMOND) WPNH (1300 AM; 5 kW; PLYMOUTH, NH; Owner: NORTHEAST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)

NORTHEAST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION) WTME (780 AM; 10 kW; RUMFORD, ME; Owner: MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.)

MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.) WNNZ (640 AM; 50 kW; WESTFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Freedom: WSCY (106.9 FM; MOULTONBOROUGH, NH; Owner: NORTHEAST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)

NORTHEAST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION) WMEA (90.1 FM; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WPKQ (103.7 FM; NORTH CONWAY, NH; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WHOM (94.9 FM; MT. WASHINGTON, NH; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WVFM (105.7 FM; CAMPTON, NH; Owner: DEVON BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.)

DEVON BROADCASTING COMPANY, INC.) WVMJ (104.5 FM; CONWAY, NH; Owner: MT. WASHINGTON RADIO & GRAMOPHONE, L.L.C.)

MT. WASHINGTON RADIO & GRAMOPHONE, L.L.C.) WMWV (93.5 FM; CONWAY, NH; Owner: MT. WASHINGTON RADIO & GRAMOPHONE, L.L.C.)

MT. WASHINGTON RADIO & GRAMOPHONE, L.L.C.) WLKZ (104.9 FM; WOLFEBORO, NH; Owner: TELE-MEDIA COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, L.L.C.)

TELE-MEDIA COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, L.L.C.) WBLM (102.9 FM; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WPNH-FM (100.1 FM; PLYMOUTH, NH; Owner: NORTHEAST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION)

NORTHEAST COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION) WMEX (106.5 FM; FARMINGTON, NH; Owner: WIMMEX, LLC)

WIMMEX, LLC) WNHI (93.3 FM; BELMONT, NH; Owner: CONCORD BROADCASTING, L.L.C.)

CONCORD BROADCASTING, L.L.C.) WJBQ (97.9 FM; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WMTK (106.3 FM; LITTLETON, NH; Owner: VERMONT BROADCAST ASSOCIATES, INC.)

VERMONT BROADCAST ASSOCIATES, INC.) WTHT (107.5 FM; LEWISTON, ME; Owner: RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.)

RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.) WPHX-FM (92.1 FM; SANFORD, ME; Owner: FNX BROADCASTING LLC)

FNX BROADCASTING LLC) WSEW (88.5 FM; SANFORD, ME; Owner: WORD RADIO EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION)

WORD RADIO EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION) WLNH-FM (98.3 FM; LACONIA, NH; Owner: WLNH RADIO, INC) TV broadcast stations around Freedom: WMTW-TV ( Channel 8; POLAND SPRING, ME; Owner: WMTW BROADCAST GROUP, LLC)

8; POLAND SPRING, ME; WMTW BROADCAST GROUP, LLC) WCSH ( Channel 6; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: PACIFIC AND SOUTHERN COMPANY, INC.)

6; PORTLAND, ME; PACIFIC AND SOUTHERN COMPANY, INC.) WMEA-TV ( Channel 26; BIDDEFORD, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.)

26; BIDDEFORD, ME; MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.) WGME-TV (Channel 13; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: WGME LICENSEE, LLC)

Freedom fatal accident list: May 8, 2016 06:57 AM, Ossipee Lake Road, Lat: 43.819858, Lon: -71.159281, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 2, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1

Jul 20, 2016 10:56 PM, Sr-153, Lat: 43.828522, Lon: -71.075994, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 2, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1

Jul 17, 2005 00:15 AM, Huckins Rd, Kenison Rd, Lat: 43.811110, Lon: -71.111400, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 1, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1

Jun 12, 2002 04:25 PM, Ossipee Lake Road, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 4, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1

Jun 28, 1997 11:45 PM, 25, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 4, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1

Jan 28, 1989 10:05 PM, 30854, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 1, Fatalities: 1

Sep 26, 1987 08:35 AM, 3084100000, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 1, Fatalities: 1



National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

3 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 7ft / 2.2m Total length

Total length $9,426,000 Total costs

Total costs 4,990 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 418 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 7,385 Total future (year 2038) average daily traffic

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 12 (



FAA Registered Aircraft: 1 Aircraft: CESSNA 182P (Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 120 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR O-470 SERIES (230 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 4725K, N4725K, N-4725K, Serial Number: 18263724, Year manufactured: 1975, Airworthiness Date: 03/21/1975, Certificate Issue Date: 01/12/2007

Registrant (Individual): Michael E Dewitt, 74 Pauli Point Rd, Freedom, NH 03836

12 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in Freedom

2004 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents Based on the data from the years 2004 - 2018 the average number of fire incidents per year is 8. The highest number of fires - 16 took place in 2015, and the least - 2 in 2006. The data has a rising trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Freedom, NH



72 58.1% Structure Fires



28 22.6% Outside Fires



21 16.9% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



3 2.4% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (58.1%), and Outside Fires (22.6%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Freedom, NH

Houses and condos Apartments 73.2% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

11.8% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

9.6% Wood

5.1% Electricity

0.4% Utility gas 61.8% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

19.1% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

11.8% Wood

7.4% Electricity





Freedom compared to New Hampshire state average: Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age significantly above state average.

significantly above Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage below state average.

below Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.

significantly above Number of rooms per house significantly below state average.

significantly below House age significantly below state average.

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Hancock, Maine

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Population in 2010: 2,394.

Population change since 2000: +11.5%

2,394.+11.5%

Males: 1,167 (48.7%) Females: 1,227 (51.3%)

Median resident age: 44.0 years Maine median age: 43.0 years

Zip codes: 04640.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $53,244 (it was $32,778 in 2000)

Hancock: $53,244 ME: $58,924

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $31,404 (it was $17,339 in 2000)



Hancock town income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $185,863 (it was $86,300 in 2000) Hancock: $185,863 ME: $200,500 $53,244 ($32,778$31,404 ($17,339$185,863 ($86,300

March 2019 cost of living index in Hancock: 92.6 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

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2,291 95.7% White alone 32 1.3% Two or more races 32 1.3% Hispanic 17 0.7% Asian alone 11 0.5% Black alone 9 0.4% American Indian alone 2 0.08% Other race alone

Races in Hancock detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Maine and other state lists, there were 4 registered sex offenders living in Hancock, Maine as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Hancock is 599 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is near the state average.







Latest news from Hancock, ME collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Hancock, ME City Guides: Hancock, ME Guides 3

Ancestries: English (23.1%), Irish (18.6%), United States (11.8%), German (8.4%), French (6.4%), Scottish (5.5%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 30 feet

Land area: 29.8 square miles. Population density: 80 people per square mile (very low).

57 residents are foreign born (1.2% Europe, 0.6% North America, 0.5% Asia). This town: 2.7% Maine: 2.9%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: Hancock town: 1.1% ($937) Maine: 1.5% ($1,417)

Latitude: 44.52 N, Longitude: 68.28 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 207

Single-family new house construction building permits: 1997: 10 buildings , average cost: $91,700

10 $91,700 1998: 10 buildings , average cost: $91,600

10 $91,600 1999: 13 buildings , average cost: $179,100

13 $179,100 2000: 18 buildings , average cost: $118,000

18 $118,000 2001: 21 buildings , average cost: $121,200

21 $121,200 2002: 24 buildings , average cost: $129,500

24 $129,500 2003: 21 buildings , average cost: $147,800

21 $147,800 2004: 28 buildings , average cost: $145,800

28 $145,800 2005: 26 buildings , average cost: $156,100

26 $156,100 2006: 27 buildings , average cost: $153,800

27 $153,800 2007: 12 buildings , average cost: $182,600

12 $182,600 2008: 6 buildings , average cost: $206,700

6 $206,700 2009: 1 building , cost: $220,000

1 $220,000 2010: 6 buildings , average cost: $234,500

6 $234,500 2011: 5 buildings , average cost: $148,600

5 $148,600 2012: 8 buildings , average cost: $127,500

8 $127,500 2013: 7 buildings , average cost: $155,800

7 $155,800 2014: 2 buildings , average cost: $178,500

2 $178,500 2015: 8 buildings , average cost: $218,800

8 $218,800 2016: 4 buildings , average cost: $160,700

4 $160,700 2017: 1 building , cost: $250,000

1 $250,000 2018: 13 buildings , average cost: $251,000

13 $251,000 2019: 8 buildings, average cost: $239,200

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.3% Maine: 4.7%

Most common industries in Hancock, ME (%) Both Males Females

Construction (12.0%)

Health care (11.7%)

Accommodation & food services (7.7%)

Educational services (5.9%)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (5.7%)

Public administration (4.3%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (4.1%)

Construction (20.7%)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (10.3%)

Motor vehicle & parts dealers (5.1%)

Accommodation & food services (4.9%)

Repair & maintenance (4.7%)

Educational services (4.4%)

Transportation equipment (4.0%)

Health care (20.3%)

Accommodation & food services (10.7%)

Educational services (7.6%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (5.8%)

Finance & insurance (5.5%)

Food & beverage stores (4.9%)

Public administration (4.9%) Most common occupations in Hancock, ME (%) Both Males Females

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (5.2%)

Carpenters (4.4%)

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (3.9%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (3.9%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (3.6%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (3.6%)

Fishing, hunting, and forestry occupations (3.5%)

Carpenters (8.5%)

Fishing, hunting, and forestry occupations (6.7%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (6.5%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (6.0%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5.4%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (4.9%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (4.5%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (5.7%)

Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (5.5%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (4.7%)

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (4.5%)

Registered nurses (4.5%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (4.3%)

Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4.1%)

Average climate in Hancock, Maine Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI CO NO 2 SO 2 Ozone PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 58.4. This is better than average. City: 58.4 U.S.: 74.2

Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2018 was 0.157. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 10.3 miles away from the city center. City: 0.157 U.S.: 0.267



Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.0337. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 10.3 miles away from the city center. City: 0.0337 U.S.: 1.7894

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 35.3. This is about average. Closest monitor was 10.3 miles away from the city center. City: 35.3 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 3.46. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 10.3 miles away from the city center. City: 3.46 U.S.: 8.46

Earthquake activity: Hancock-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Maine state average. It is 81% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 10/16/2012 at 23:12:25, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 ML, Depth: 10.0 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 134.2 miles away from the city center

On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.3 (5.3 ML, Depth: 3.0 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 267.0 miles away from the city center

On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MB, 4.2 MS, 5.2 MW, 5.0 MW) earthquake occurred 268.1 miles away from the city center

On 1/19/1982 at 00:14:42, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 MD, 4.5 LG) earthquake occurred 179.6 miles away from the city center

On 10/7/1983 at 10:18:46, a magnitude 5.3 (5.1 MB, 5.3 LG, 5.1 ML) earthquake occurred 302.8 miles away from Hancock center

On 10/3/2006 at 00:07:38, a magnitude 3.7 (3.7 MD, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 12.8 miles away from Hancock center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Hancock County (18) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 11

Emergencies Declared: 6



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 9, Storms: 8, Snows: 5, Blizzard: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Landslide: 1, Snowfall: 1, Wind: 1, Winter Storm: 1, Other: 2 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Hancock: BIRCHWOOD LIVING CENTER (Hospital, about 7 miles away; ELLSWORTH, ME)

COLLIER'S REHAB AND NURSING CTR (Nursing Home, about 8 miles away; ELLSWORTH, ME)

COURTLAND REHAB AND LIVING CENTER (Nursing Home, about 8 miles away; ELLSWORTH, ME)

SONOGEE ESTATES (Nursing Home, about 9 miles away; BAR HARBOR, ME)

SONOGEE REHABILITATION AND LIVING CENTER (Nursing Home, about 9 miles away; BAR HARBOR, ME)

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL Critical Access Hospitals (about 11 miles away; BAR HARBOR, ME)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hancock: University of Maine ( about 33 miles; Orono, ME ; Full-time enrollment: 8,931)

33 ; 8,931) Husson University ( about 33 miles; Bangor, ME ; FT enrollment: 2,421)

33 ; 2,421) University of Maine at Augusta ( about 76 miles; Augusta, ME ; FT enrollment: 3,204)

76 ; 3,204) University of Maine at Farmington ( about 93 miles; Farmington, ME ; FT enrollment: 2,036)

93 ; 2,036) Southern Maine Community College ( about 115 miles; South Portland, ME ; FT enrollment: 4,666)

115 ; 4,666) University of Southern Maine ( about 116 miles; Portland, ME ; FT enrollment: 6,647)

116 ; 6,647) Saint Joseph's College of Maine (about 120 miles; Standish, ME; FT enrollment: 2,010) Public elementary/middle school in Hancock: HANCOCK GRAMMAR SCHOOL (Location: NO PHYSICAL LOCATION AVAILABLE, Grades: KG-8) See full list of schools located in Hancock

Hancock County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Hancock and their reported violations in the past: LE DOMAINE RESTAURANT (Population served: 190, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 7 routine major monitoring violations CROCKER HOUSE COUNTRY INN INC (Population served: 157, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 8 routine major monitoring violations

6 regular monitoring violations CHIPPERS RESTAURANT DELI (Population served: 126, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: Monitoring, Check/Repeat/Confirmation - In OCT-2005 , Contaminant: Nitrate . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JAN-23-2006), St Violation/Reminder Notice (JAN-23-2006), St Public Notif received (JUN-07-2006), St Compliance achieved (JAN-29-2007), St BCA signed (MAR-29-2007)

OCT-2005 Nitrate St Public Notif requested (JAN-23-2006), St Violation/Reminder Notice (JAN-23-2006), St Public Notif received (JUN-07-2006), St Compliance achieved (JAN-29-2007), St BCA signed (MAR-29-2007) 18 routine major monitoring violations

23 regular monitoring violations SALT BOX (Population served: 103, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In MAR-2010 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) , St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) , St Public Notif requested (APR-05-2010) , St Formal NOV issued (APR-05-2010) , St Intentional no-action (APR-04-2011) , St Other (APR-14-2011) , St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011)

MAR-2010 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) St Public Notif requested (APR-05-2010) St Formal NOV issued (APR-05-2010) St Intentional no-action (APR-04-2011) St Other (APR-14-2011) St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In FEB-2010 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) , St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) , St Public Notif requested (MAR-01-2010) , St Formal NOV issued (MAR-01-2010) , St Intentional no-action (APR-04-2011) , St Other (APR-14-2011) , St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011)

FEB-2010 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) St Public Notif requested (MAR-01-2010) St Formal NOV issued (MAR-01-2010) St Intentional no-action (APR-04-2011) St Other (APR-14-2011) St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JAN-2010 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) , St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) , St Public Notif requested (JAN-13-2010) , St Formal NOV issued (JAN-13-2010) , St Public Notif received (JAN-27-2010) , St Other (APR-14-2011) , St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011)

JAN-2010 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) St Public Notif requested (JAN-13-2010) St Formal NOV issued (JAN-13-2010) St Public Notif received (JAN-27-2010) St Other (APR-14-2011) St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In DEC-2009 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) , St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) , St Public Notif requested (DEC-31-2009) , St Formal NOV issued (DEC-31-2009) , St Public Notif received (JAN-14-2010) , St Other (APR-14-2011) , St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011)

DEC-2009 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-29-2008) St Admin Penalty assessed (MAR-25-2009) St Public Notif requested (DEC-31-2009) St Formal NOV issued (DEC-31-2009) St Public Notif received (JAN-14-2010) St Other (APR-14-2011) St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In FEB-2007, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (MAR-09-2007), St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAR-09-2007), St Public Notif received (2 times from MAR-26-2007 to MAR-26-2007), St Compliance achieved (AUG-26-2011) Past monitoring violations: 39 routine major monitoring violations

One minor monitoring violation

13 regular monitoring violations RUTH & WIMPYS RESTAURANT INC (Population served: 96, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 18 routine major monitoring violations

7 regular monitoring violations LE DOMAINE RESTAURANT (190Groundwater):CROCKER HOUSE COUNTRY INN INC (157Groundwater):CHIPPERS RESTAURANT DELI (126Groundwater):SALT BOX (103Groundwater):RUTH & WIMPYS RESTAURANT INC (96Groundwater):

Average household size: This town: 2.3 people Maine: 2.3 people

Percentage of family households: This town: 64.2% Whole state: 62.9%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This town: 11.8% Whole state: 9.4%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.7% of all households

0.7% Gay men: 0.5% of all households Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 9.9% Whole state: 10.9% Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 2.9% Whole state: 4.1%

12 people in group homes intended for adults in 2010

7 people in other noninstitutional group quarters in 2000

For population 15 years and over in Hancock: Never married: 17.9%

17.9% Now married: 57.4%

57.4% Separated: 2.3%

2.3% Widowed: 7.4%

7.4% Divorced: 15.0%

For population 25 years and over in Hancock: High school or higher: 86.6%

86.6% Bachelor's degree or higher: 21.8%

21.8% Graduate or professional degree: 7.4%

7.4% Unemployed: 5.8%

5.8% Mean travel time to work (commute): 22.0 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 10.2 Maine average: 11.2



Religion statistics for Hancock, ME (based on Hancock County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Mainline Protestant 4,691 58 Catholic 2,523 9 Evangelical Protestant 1,288 23 Other 820 11 None 45,096 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 32 This county : 6.01 / 10,000 pop. State : 2.80 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 9 Hancock County : 1.69 / 10,000 pop. Maine : 2.20 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 26 This county : 4.89 / 10,000 pop. State : 5.75 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 115 Hancock County : 21.61 / 10,000 pop. State : 11.02 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: This county : 7.4% State : 8.2% Adult obesity rate: Hancock County : 25.4% Maine : 25.0%

5.41% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($65,377 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.41% Maine average: 5.91% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Penobscot County, ME 1.08% ($64,636 average AGI) from Waldo County, ME 0.26% ($34,712) from Cumberland County, ME 0.22% ($62,686)



5.12% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($50,554 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.12% Maine average: 5.73% 0.10% of residents moved to foreign countries ($758 average AGI) Hancock County: 0.10% Maine average: 0.06%

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Penobscot County, ME 1.13% ($39,233 average AGI) to Cumberland County, ME 0.41% ($56,269) to Waldo County, ME 0.23% ($48,585)

Businesses in Hancock, ME Knights Inn: 1

1 MasterBrand Cabinets: 3

Strongest AM radio stations in Hancock: WDEA (1370 AM; 5 kW; ELLSWORTH, ME; Owner: CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.)

CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.) WZON (620 AM; 5 kW; BANGOR, ME; Owner: THE ZONE CORPORATION)

THE ZONE CORPORATION) WABI (910 AM; 5 kW; BANGOR, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WSKW (1160 AM; 10 kW; SKOWHEGAN, ME; Owner: MOUNTAIN WIRELESS, INCORPORATED)

MOUNTAIN WIRELESS, INCORPORATED) WRKO (680 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WEEI (850 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WBZ (1030 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)

INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.) WTME (780 AM; 10 kW; RUMFORD, ME; Owner: MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.)

MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.) WCRN (830 AM; 50 kW; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WNNZ (640 AM; 50 kW; WESTFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WKOX (1200 AM; 50 kW; FRAMINGHAM, MA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WNZS (1340 AM; 1 kW; VEAZIE, ME; Owner: WATERFRONT COMMUNICATIONS INC.)

WATERFRONT COMMUNICATIONS INC.) WALE (990 AM; 50 kW; GREENVILLE, RI; Owner: NORTH AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO., INC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Hancock: WLKE (99.1 FM; BAR HARBOR, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WNSX (97.7 FM; WINTER HARBOR, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WBQI (107.7 FM; BAR HARBOR, ME; Owner: MARINER BROADCASTING, L.P.)

MARINER BROADCASTING, L.P.) WERU-FM (89.9 FM; BLUE HILL, ME; Owner: SALT POND COMMUNITY B/C COMPANY)

SALT POND COMMUNITY B/C COMPANY) WWMJ (95.7 FM; ELLSWORTH, ME; Owner: CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.)

CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.) WMEH (90.9 FM; BANGOR, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WEZQ (92.9 FM; BANGOR, ME; Owner: CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.)

CUMULUS LICENSING CORP.) WKIT-FM (100.3 FM; BREWER, ME; Owner: THE ZONE CORPORATION)

THE ZONE CORPORATION) WBFB (104.7 FM; BELFAST, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WHCF (88.5 FM; BANGOR, ME; Owner: BANGOR BAPTIST CHURCH)

BANGOR BAPTIST CHURCH) WFZX (101.7 FM; SEARSPORT, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WVOM (103.9 FM; HOWLAND, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WWBX (97.1 FM; BANGOR, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WMEP (90.5 FM; CAMDEN, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.)

MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.) WQSS (102.5 FM; CAMDEN, ME; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) TV broadcast stations around Hancock: WMEB-TV ( Channel 12; ORONO, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

12; ORONO, ME; MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WCKD-LP ( Channel 30; BANGOR/DEDHAM, ME; Owner: J. MCLEOD, ME FAMILY B/CING., INC.)

30; BANGOR/DEDHAM, ME; J. MCLEOD, ME FAMILY B/CING., INC.) W66CL (Channel 66; BANGOR, ME; Owner: MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC)

Hancock fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2019

See more detailed statistics of Hancock fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2019 here

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

3 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 108ft / 33.4m Total length

Total length 29,404 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 1,470 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 41,166 Total future (year 2036) average daily traffic

Houses and condos Apartments 77.2% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

11.1% Wood

8.9% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

2.5% Electricity

0.3% Coal or coke 71.3% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

15.7% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

7.3% Electricity

3.9% Wood

1.7% No fuel used





Hancock compared to Maine state average: Unemployed percentage below state average.

below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.

significantly above Number of rooms per house significantly below state average.

significantly below House age significantly below state average.

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Harrogate, Tennessee

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Population in 2019: 4,348 (79% urban, 21% rural).

Males: 2,208 (50.8%) Females: 2,140 (49.2%)

Median resident age: 38.8 years Tennessee median age: 39.0 years

Estimated median household income in 2019: $38,735

Harrogate: $38,735 TN: $56,071

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $22,552



Harrogate city income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $126,250 Harrogate: $126,250 TN: $191,900

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $197,194; detached houses: $206,194; mobile homes: $60,642 $38,735$22,552$126,250$197,194;$206,194;$60,642

Median gross rent in 2019: $753.

March 2019 cost of living index in Harrogate: 81.7 (low, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 12.5%

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... 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123 Hide US histogram



3,978 90.3% White alone 127 2.9% Black alone 105 2.4% Hispanic 93 2.1% Asian alone 78 1.8% Two or more races 10 0.2% American Indian alone

Races in Harrogate detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Tennessee and other state lists, there were 12 registered sex offenders living in Harrogate, Tennessee as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Harrogate is 369 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is near the state average.





Ancestries: American (37.9%), English (10.2%), Irish (4.9%), Scottish (4.6%), European (3.3%), Scotch-Irish (3.3%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 1340 feet

116 residents are foreign born (0.8% Europe, 0.5% Latin America). This city: 2.6% Tennessee: 5.1%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $798 (0.5%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $819 (0.5%)



Latitude: 36.58 N, Longitude: 83.66 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 423

Single-family new house construction building permits: 2002: 6 buildings , average cost: $71,700

6 $71,700 2003: 9 buildings , average cost: $105,400

9 $105,400 2004: 7 buildings , average cost: $133,900

7 $133,900 2005: 15 buildings , average cost: $118,000

15 $118,000 2006: 16 buildings , average cost: $142,400

16 $142,400 2007: 17 buildings , average cost: $119,100

17 $119,100 2008: 10 buildings , average cost: $178,200

10 $178,200 2009: 2 buildings , average cost: $160,000

2 $160,000 2010: 11 buildings , average cost: $142,300

11 $142,300 2011: 4 buildings , average cost: $179,500

4 $179,500 2012: 7 buildings , average cost: $102,000

7 $102,000 2013: 5 buildings , average cost: $169,200

5 $169,200 2014: 6 buildings , average cost: $119,300

6 $119,300 2015: 4 buildings , average cost: $90,300

4 $90,300 2016: 9 buildings , average cost: $111,400

9 $111,400 2017: 15 buildings , average cost: $129,400

15 $129,400 2018: 8 buildings , average cost: $142,100

8 $142,100 2019: 3 buildings, average cost: $321,700

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.0% Tennessee: 5.0%

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI CO Ozone PM 10

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 51.5. This is significantly better than average. City: 51.5 U.S.: 74.2

Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2000 was 0.127. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 3.7 miles away from the city center. City: 0.127 U.S.: 0.267

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 27.2. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 4.8 miles away from the city center. City: 27.2 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) [g/m3] level in 2015 was 26.0. This is worse than average. Closest monitor was 4.8 miles away from the city center. City: 26.0 U.S.: 19.6

Tornado activity: Harrogate-area historical tornado activity is significantly below Tennessee state average. It is 44% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 5/9/1988, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 1.3 miles away from the Harrogate city center killed one person and injured 15 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages. On 3/12/1967, a category F3 tornado 26.4 miles away from the city center .

Earthquake activity: Harrogate-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Tennessee state average. It is 64% greater than the overall U.S. average.



On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 113.3 miles away from Harrogate center

On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 56.8 miles away from the city center

On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi) earthquake occurred 142.7 miles away from the city center

On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi) earthquake occurred 328.0 miles away from the city center

On 4/18/2008 at 09:36:59, a magnitude 5.4 (5.1 MB, 4.8 MS, 5.4 MW, 5.2 MW) earthquake occurred 265.6 miles away from the city center

On 9/7/1988 at 02:28:09, a magnitude 4.6 (4.5 MB, 4.6 LG) earthquake occurred 108.6 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Claiborne County (15) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 11

Emergencies Declared: 2



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 11, Storms: 9, Tornadoes: 4, Winds: 3, Winter Storms: 3, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Landslide: 1, Mudslide: 1, Snowfall: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers in Harrogate: TRI STATE HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER (600 SHAWANEE RD)

TRI STATE MANOR (SHAWANEE ROAD) Other hospitals and medical centers near Harrogate: AMEDISYS HOME HEALTH CARE (Home Health Center, about 4 miles away; MIDDLESBORO, KY)

MIDDLESBORO ARH HOME HEALTH AGENCY (Home Health Center, about 4 miles away; MIDDLESBORO, KY)

MIDDLESBORO APPALACHIAN REGIONAL HEALTHCARE HOSPIT Acute Care Hospitals (about 5 miles away; MIDDLESBORO, KY)

Acute Care Hospitals MIDDLESBORO HEALTH CARE FACILITY (Nursing Home, about 6 miles away; MIDDLESBORO, KY)

LAUREL MANOR HEALTH CARE (Nursing Home, about 10 miles away; NEW TAZEWELL, TN)

CLAIBORNE COUNTY HOSPITAL Acute Care Hospitals (about 11 miles away; TAZEWELL, TN)

Acute Care Hospitals AMEDISYS HOME HEALTH OF TENNESSEE (Home Health Center, about 11 miles away; TAZEWELL, TN)

Claiborne County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Harrogate and their reported violations in the past: ARTHUR-SHAWANEE UTILITY DISTRI (Population served: 9,332, Surface water): Past monitoring violations: Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JUL-2011 and SEP-2011 , Contaminant: CARBON, TOTAL . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (NOV-03-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-03-2011), St Compliance achieved (DEC-31-2011)

JUL-2011 SEP-2011 CARBON, TOTAL St Public Notif requested (NOV-03-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-03-2011), St Compliance achieved (DEC-31-2011) Monitoring, Source Water (LT2) - In JUL-01-2008, Contaminant: LT2ESWTR. Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (JUL-17-2008), St Violation/Reminder Notice (AUG-05-2008) LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY (Population served: 1,950, Groundwater under infl of surface water): Past monitoring violations: Record Keeping - In JAN-03-2012 , Contaminant: IESWTR . Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (FEB-10-2012)

JAN-03-2012 IESWTR St Violation/Reminder Notice (FEB-10-2012) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JUL-2011 and SEP-2011 , Contaminant: Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) . Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (OCT-24-2011), St Public Notif requested (NOV-02-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-02-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011)

JUL-2011 SEP-2011 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) St Compliance achieved (OCT-24-2011), St Public Notif requested (NOV-02-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-02-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JUL-2011 and SEP-2011 , Contaminant: Chlorine . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (NOV-01-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-01-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011), St Compliance achieved (DEC-31-2011), St Public Notif received (JUN-01-2012)

JUL-2011 SEP-2011 Chlorine St Public Notif requested (NOV-01-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-01-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011), St Compliance achieved (DEC-31-2011), St Public Notif received (JUN-01-2012) Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JUL-2011 and SEP-2011 , Contaminant: TTHM . Follow-up actions: St Compliance achieved (OCT-24-2011), St Public Notif requested (NOV-02-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-02-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011)

JUL-2011 SEP-2011 TTHM St Compliance achieved (OCT-24-2011), St Public Notif requested (NOV-02-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-02-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011) Monitoring, Source Water (LT2) - In FEB-2011 , Contaminant: E. COLI . Follow-up actions: St Civil Case under development (MAR-31-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAR-31-2011), St Public Notif requested (MAR-31-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011), St AO (w/penalty) issued (MAR-29-2012), St Public Notif received (AUG-15-2013)

FEB-2011 E. COLI St Civil Case under development (MAR-31-2011), St Violation/Reminder Notice (MAR-31-2011), St Public Notif requested (MAR-31-2011), St Civil Case under development (DEC-19-2011), St AO (w/penalty) issued (MAR-29-2012), St Public Notif received (AUG-15-2013) One minor monitoring violation

One regular monitoring violation

19 other older monitoring violations ARTHUR-SHAWANEE UTILITY DISTRI (9,332Surface water):LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY (1,950Groundwater under infl of surface water):

Average household size: This city: 2.4 people Tennessee: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This city: 70.5% Whole state: 67.3%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This city: 4.9% Whole state: 5.8%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.4% of all households

0.4% Gay men: 0.2% of all households

610 people in college/university student housing in 2010

107 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities in 2010

Banks with branches in Harrogate (2011 data): Commercial Bank: at 6710 Cumberland Gap Parkway , branch established on 1976/11/01 . Info updated 2008/09/25: Bank assets: $807.9 mil , Deposits: $626.4 mil , local headquarters , positive income , Commercial Lending Specialization , 20 total offices , Holding Company: Unified Shares, Llc

6710 Cumberland Gap Parkway 1976/11/01 2008/09/25: $807.9 mil $626.4 mil , Commercial Lending Specialization 20 Unified Shares, Llc First Century Bank: Harrogate Branch at 6946 Cumberland Gap Parkway , branch established on 1983/01/24 . Info updated 2007/08/28: Bank assets: $255.4 mil , Deposits: $222.1 mil , headquarters in Tazewell, TN , negative income in the last year , Commercial Lending Specialization , 9 total offices , Holding Company: Claiborne Holding Company, Inc.

6946 Cumberland Gap Parkway 1983/01/24 2007/08/28: $255.4 mil $222.1 mil Tazewell, TN , Commercial Lending Specialization 9 Claiborne Holding Company, Inc. Citizens Bank: Harrogate Branch at 7100 Cumberland Gap Highway , branch established on 1953/11/27 . Info updated 2010/07/08: Bank assets: $152.6 mil , Deposits: $138.3 mil , headquarters in New Tazewell, TN , positive income , Commercial Lending Specialization , 6 total offices , Holding Company: Citizens Bancorp, Inc.

7100 Cumberland Gap Highway 1953/11/27 2010/07/08: $152.6 mil $138.3 mil New Tazewell, TN , Commercial Lending Specialization 6 Citizens Bancorp, Inc. Home Federal Bank Corporation: Harrogate Tn Branch at 111 Washington Avenue, branch established on 2010/08/23. Info updated 2006/11/03: Bank assets: $347.7 mil, Deposits: $267.1 mil, headquarters in Middlesboro, KY, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 6 total offices, Holding Company: Hfb Financial Corporation

For population 15 years and over in Harrogate: Never married: 37.6%

37.6% Now married: 43.8%

43.8% Separated: 0.5%

0.5% Widowed: 6.7%

6.7% Divorced: 11.4%

For population 25 years and over in Harrogate: High school or higher: 87.2%

87.2% Bachelor's degree or higher: 35.1%

35.1% Graduate or professional degree: 14.8%

14.8% Mean travel time to work (commute): 19.6 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 12.6 Tennessee average: 11.6



Religion statistics for Harrogate, TN (based on Claiborne County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 18,142 81 Mainline Protestant 860 9 Other 452 2 Catholic 110 1 None 12,649 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 7 Claiborne County : 2.24 / 10,000 pop. Tennessee : 1.99 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 2 This county : 0.64 / 10,000 pop. State : 0.65 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 10 Claiborne County : 3.21 / 10,000 pop. Tennessee : 5.16 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 9 Claiborne County : 2.89 / 10,000 pop. Tennessee : 6.56 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Here : 11.2% Tennessee : 11.4% Adult obesity rate: Here : 30.0% State : 30.2% Low-income preschool obesity rate: This county : 16.4% Tennessee : 13.5%

Local government employment and payroll (March 2017) Function Full-time employees Monthly full-time payroll Average yearly full-time wage Part-time employees Monthly part-time payroll Streets and Highways 2 $5,403 $32,418 0 $0 Other Government Administration 1 $4,694 $56,328 0 $0 Fire - Other 1 $645 $7,740 0 $0 Financial Administration 1 $2,850 $34,200 0 $0 Sewerage 0 $0 1 $1,850 Local Libraries 0 $0 2 $1,085 Other and Unallocable 0 $0 1 $833 Totals for Government 5 $13,592 $32,621 4 $3,767

Expenditure Revenue Harrogate government finances - Expenditure in 2017 (per resident): Construction - Sewerage: $727,000 ($167.20) Parks and Recreation: $214,000 ($49.22) Libraries: $26,000 ($5.98) Sewerage: $18,000 ($4.14) General Public Buildings: $2,000 ($0.46)

$727,000 ($167.20) Current Operations - General - Other: $374,000 ($86.02) Sewerage: $329,000 ($75.67) Regular Highways: $208,000 ($47.84) Police Protection: $126,000 ($28.98) Local Fire Protection: $75,000 ($17.25) Parks and Recreation: $67,000 ($15.41) Financial Administration: $51,000 ($11.73) Parks and Recreation: $42,000 ($9.66) Central Staff Services: $24,000 ($5.52) Judicial and Legal Services: $16,000 ($3.68) Fire Protection: $15,000 ($3.45) Libraries: $12,000 ($2.76) General - Other: $10,000 ($2.30) Protective Inspection and Regulation - Other: $9,000 ($2.07)

$374,000 ($86.02) General - Interest on Debt: $86,000 ($19.78)

$86,000 ($19.78) Other Capital Outlay - Fire Protection: $46,000 ($10.58) Financial Administration: $6,000 ($1.38)

$46,000 ($10.58) Total Salaries and Wages: $202,000 ($46.46) Harrogate government finances - Revenue in 2017 (per resident): Charges - Sewerage: $629,000 ($144.66)

$629,000 ($144.66) Federal Intergovernmental - Sewerage: $84,000 ($19.32) Other: $5,000 ($1.15)

$84,000 ($19.32) Local Intergovernmental - General Support: $171,000 ($39.33)

$171,000 ($39.33) Miscellaneous - Interest Earnings: $28,000 ($6.44) General Revenue - Other: $11,000 ($2.53) Donations From Private Sources: $7,000 ($1.61) Interest Earnings: $6,000 ($1.38) General Revenue - Other: $2,000 ($0.46)

$28,000 ($6.44) State Intergovernmental - General Local Government Support: $456,000 ($104.88) General Support: $322,000 ($74.06) Other: $135,000 ($31.05) Highways: $132,000 ($30.36)

$456,000 ($104.88) Tax - General Sales and Gross Receipts: $246,000 ($56.58) Alcoholic Beverage Sales: $74,000 ($17.02) Other License: $16,000 ($3.68) Other: $1,000 ($0.23) Harrogate government finances - Debt in 2017 (per resident): Long Term Debt - Beginning Outstanding - Unspecified Public Purpose: $2,145,000 ($493.33) Outstanding Unspecified Public Purpose: $2,094,000 ($481.60) Retired Unspecified Public Purpose: $51,000 ($11.73) Harrogate government finances - Cash and Securities in 2002 (per resident): Other Funds - Cash and Securities: $1,896,000 ($436.06) Cash and Deposits: $721,000 ($165.82)

6.55% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($38,209 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.55% Tennessee average: 7.15% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Bell County, KY 0.98% ($30,800 average AGI) from Knox County, TN 0.33% ($36,000) from Lee County, VA 0.26% ($35,815)

Businesses in Harrogate, TN Name Count Name Count Hardee's 1 U-Haul 1 Subway 1 U.S. Cellular 1

Strongest AM radio stations in Harrogate: WRWB (740 AM; 1 kW; HARROGATE, TN; Owner: PINE HILLS OF TENNESSEE, INC.)

PINE HILLS OF TENNESSEE, INC.) WMIK (560 AM; 3 kW; MIDDLESBORO, KY; Owner: GATEWAY BROADCASTING, INC.)

GATEWAY BROADCASTING, INC.) WFXY (1490 AM; 1 kW; MIDDLESBORO, KY; Owner: COUNTRY WIDE BROADCASTERS, INC.)

COUNTRY WIDE BROADCASTERS, INC.) WKVL (850 AM; daytime; 50 kW; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: HORNE RADIO, LLC)

HORNE RADIO, LLC) WFSR (970 AM; 5 kW; HARLAN, KY; Owner: EASTERN BROADCASTING COMPAY)

EASTERN BROADCASTING COMPAY) WHLN (1410 AM; 5 kW; HARLAN, KY)

WNOX (990 AM; 10 kW; KNOXVILLE, TN)

WEKC (710 AM; daytime; 4 kW; WILLIAMSBURG, KY; Owner: GERALD PARKS)

GERALD PARKS) WQBB (1040 AM; daytime; 10 kW; POWELL, TN; Owner: JOURNAL BROADCAST CORPORATION)

JOURNAL BROADCAST CORPORATION) WFGW (1010 AM; 50 kW; BLACK MOUNTAIN, NC; Owner: BLUE RIDGE BROADCASTING CORP.)

BLUE RIDGE BROADCASTING CORP.) WVLZ (1180 AM; daytime; 10 kW; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: KIRKLAND WIRELESS BROADCASTERS, INC.)

KIRKLAND WIRELESS BROADCASTERS, INC.) WANO (1230 AM; 1 kW; PINEVILLE, KY; Owner: CUMBERLAND MEDIA GROUP, INC.)

CUMBERLAND MEDIA GROUP, INC.) WCRK (1150 AM; 5 kW; MORRISTOWN, TN; Owner: RADIO ACQUISITION CORP.) Strongest FM radio stations in Harrogate: WLMU (91.3 FM; HARROGATE, TN; Owner: LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY)

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY) WMIK-FM (92.7 FM; MIDDLESBORO, KY; Owner: GATEWAY BROADCASTING, INC.)

GATEWAY BROADCASTING, INC.) WCTU (105.9 FM; TAZEWELL, TN; Owner: STAIR COMPANY, INC)

STAIR COMPANY, INC) WXJB (96.5 FM; HARROGATE, TN; Owner: JBD INCORPORATED)

JBD INCORPORATED) WRIL (106.3 FM; PINEVILLE, KY; Owner: PINE HILLS BROADCASTING, INC.)

PINE HILLS BROADCASTING, INC.) WIMZ-FM (103.5 FM; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: SOUTH CENTRAL COMM., CORP.)

SOUTH CENTRAL COMM., CORP.) WDVX (89.9 FM; CLINTON, TN; Owner: CUMBERLAND COMMUNITIES COMMUNI CORP.)

CUMBERLAND COMMUNITIES COMMUNI CORP.) WBGQ (100.7 FM; BULLS GAP, TN; Owner: CHEROKEE BROADCASTING)

CHEROKEE BROADCASTING) WJDT (106.5 FM; ROGERSVILLE, TN; Owner: C & S BROADCASTING)

C & S BROADCASTING) WOKI-FM (100.3 FM; OAK RIDGE, TN; Owner: OAK RIDGE FM, INC.)

OAK RIDGE FM, INC.) WTUK (105.1 FM; HARLAN, KY; Owner: EASTERN BROADCASTING COMPANY)

EASTERN BROADCASTING COMPANY) WSEH (102.7 FM; CUMBERLAND, KY; Owner: CUMBERLAND CITY BROADCASTING, INC.)

CUMBERLAND CITY BROADCASTING, INC.) WUOT (91.9 FM; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE)

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE) WAXM (93.5 FM; BIG STONE GAP, VA; Owner: VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.)

VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.) WIVK-FM (107.7 FM; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WEKX (102.7 FM; JELLICO, TN; Owner: WHITLEY BROADCASTING CO., INC.)

WHITLEY BROADCASTING CO., INC.) WWST (102.1 FM; SEVIERVILLE, TN; Owner: JOURNAL BROADCAST CORPORATION)

JOURNAL BROADCAST CORPORATION) WTFM (98.5 FM; KINGSPORT, TN; Owner: HOLSTON VALLEY BROADCASTING CORP.)

HOLSTON VALLEY BROADCASTING CORP.) WJXB-FM (97.5 FM; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: SOUTH CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.)

SOUTH CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS CORP.) WMXK (94.1 FM; MORRISTOWN, TN; Owner: HORNE RADIO, LLC) TV broadcast stations around Harrogate: W14AQ ( Channel 14; HARROGATE, TN; Owner: LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY)

14; HARROGATE, TN; LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY) W18AN ( Channel 18; HARROGATE, TN; Owner: LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY)

18; HARROGATE, TN; LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY) WKOP-TV ( Channel 15; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: EAST TENNESSEE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS CORP.)

15; KNOXVILLE, TN; EAST TENNESSEE PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS CORP.) WBIR-TV ( Channel 10; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: GANNETT PACIFIC CORPORATION)

10; KNOXVILLE, TN; GANNETT PACIFIC CORPORATION) WVLT-TV ( Channel 8; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: WVLT LICENSEE CORP.)

8; KNOXVILLE, TN; WVLT LICENSEE CORP.) WATE-TV ( Channel 6; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: WATE, G.P.)

6; KNOXVILLE, TN; WATE, G.P.) WTNZ ( Channel 43; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: RAYCOM AMERICA, INC.)

43; KNOXVILLE, TN; RAYCOM AMERICA, INC.) WAGV ( Channel 44; HARLAN, KY; Owner: LIVING FAITH MINISTRIES, INC.)

44; HARLAN, KY; LIVING FAITH MINISTRIES, INC.) WEEE-LP ( Channel 32; KNOXVILLE, TN; Owner: TIGER EYE BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

32; KNOXVILLE, TN; TIGER EYE BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WVLR (Channel 48; TAZEWELL, TN; Owner: VOLUNTEER CHRISTIAN TELEVISION, INC.)

Harrogate fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2019

See more detailed statistics of Harrogate fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2019 here

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

20 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 167ft / 50.8m Total length

Total length $13,565,000 Total costs

Total costs 64,280 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 5,932 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 94,656 Total future (year 2034) average daily traffic

New bridges - historical statistics

1 1940-1949

1 1960-1969

4 1970-1979

8 1980-1989

4 1990-1999

1 2000-2009

1 2010-2018 See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for Harrogate, TN

2006 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents According to the data from the years 2006 - 2018 the average number of fire incidents per year is 24. The highest number of fire incidents - 41 took place in 2007, and the least - 5 in 2012. The data has a dropping trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Harrogate, TN



136 43.2% Structure Fires



115 36.5% Outside Fires



38 12.1% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



26 8.3% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (43.2%), and Outside Fires (36.5%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Harrogate, TN

Houses and condos Apartments 92.7% Electricity

4.0% Utility gas

1.8% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

0.9% Other fuel

0.6% Wood 100.0% Electricity





Harrogate compared to Tennessee state average: Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage below state average.

below Foreign-born population percentage below state average.

below Number of college students above state average.

above Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher above state average.

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Hester, Louisiana

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Population in 2010: 498.

Males: 246 (49.5%) Females: 252 (50.5%)

Median resident age: 51.0 years Louisiana median age: 37.7 years

Zip codes: 70743.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $43,469

Hester: $43,469 LA: $51,073

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $22,227



Hester CDP income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $98,132 Hester: $98,132 LA: $172,100

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $331,807; detached houses: $330,607 $43,469$22,227$98,132$331,807;$330,607

March 2019 cost of living index in Hester: 79.3 (low, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 2.1%

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... 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According to our research of Louisiana and other state lists, there was 1 registered sex offender living in Hester, Louisiana as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Hester is 375 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is near the state average.





Ancestries: American (33.2%), French Canadian (21.6%), German (20.1%), French (15.1%), Italian (5.0%).

Current Local Time: CST time zone

Elevation: 82 feet

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $2,731 (0.5%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $1,034 (0.4%)



Latitude: 31.74 N, Longitude: 92.33 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 318

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 8.1% Louisiana: 8.1%

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI Ozone

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2005 was 66.2. This is about average. City: 66.2 U.S.: 74.2

Ozone [ppb] level in 2005 was 30.9. This is about average. Closest monitor was 18.1 miles away from the city center. City: 30.9 U.S.: 33.3

Tornado activity: Hester-area historical tornado activity is near Louisiana state average. It is 65% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On 12/3/1953, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 5.6 miles away from the Hester place center killed 9 people and injured 50 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages. On 5/19/1983, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 9.2 miles away from the place center killed one person and injured 35 people and caused between $5,000,000 and $50,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Hester-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Louisiana state average. It is 238% greater than the overall U.S. average.



On 5/17/2012 at 08:12:00, a magnitude 4.8 (4.8 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 120.6 miles away from the city center

On 11/6/2011 at 03:53:10, a magnitude 5.7 (5.7 MW, Depth: 3.2 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 366.1 miles away from Hester center

On 9/2/2013 at 23:51:15, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MW, Depth: 2.9 mi) earthquake occurred 123.9 miles away from the city center

On 9/3/2016 at 12:02:44, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.5 mi) earthquake occurred 417.6 miles away from the city center

On 9/2/2013 at 21:52:38, a magnitude 4.2 (4.2 MW, Depth: 3.0 mi) earthquake occurred 130.0 miles away from Hester center

On 1/25/2013 at 07:01:19, a magnitude 4.1 (4.1 MB, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 116.1 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in La Salle Parish (21) is greater than the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 15

Emergencies Declared: 4



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 12, Hurricanes: 7, Storms: 7, Tornadoes: 3, Drought: 1, Freeze: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Hester: FIRST CHOICE HOSPICE, INC (Hospital, about 13 miles away; OLLA, LA)

HARDTNER MEDICAL CENTER Critical Access Hospitals (about 13 miles away; OLLA, LA)

Critical Access Hospitals HICKORY STREET COMMUNITY HOME (Hospital, about 13 miles away; JENA, LA)

JENA NURSING AND REHABILITATION CENTER, LLC (Nursing Home, about 14 miles away; JENA, LA)

WOODS HAVEN SR CITIZENS HOME (Nursing Home, about 16 miles away; POLLOCK, LA)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hester: Northwestern State University of Louisiana ( about 46 miles; Natchitoches, LA ; Full-time enrollment: 7,700)

46 ; 7,700) Louisiana Delta Community College ( about 56 miles; Monroe, LA ; FT enrollment: 3,168)

56 ; 3,168) University of Louisiana at Monroe ( about 57 miles; Monroe, LA ; FT enrollment: 6,764)

57 ; 6,764) Louisiana Tech University ( about 58 miles; Ruston, LA ; FT enrollment: 5,874)

58 ; 5,874) Grambling State University ( about 59 miles; Grambling, LA ; FT enrollment: 4,885)

59 ; 4,885) Alcorn State University ( about 71 miles; Alcorn State, MS ; FT enrollment: 3,479)

71 ; 3,479) Louisiana State University-Shreveport (about 94 miles; Shreveport, LA; FT enrollment: 3,159)

Points of interest: Click to draw/clear place borders Notable locations in Hester: Welham Plantation (A) , Hester Plantation (B) , Paulina Grand Point Belmont Volunteer Fire Department Hester Station (C) . Display/hide their locations on the map Tourist attraction: Carnaggio Camille LBR (Cultural Attractions- Events- & Facilities; 4185 Kahn Street).

La Salle Parish has a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Low Potential

Average household size: This place: 2.9 people Louisiana: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This place: 78.5% Whole state: 67.1%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 5.2% Whole state: 6.8%



No gay or lesbian households reported





For population 15 years and over in Hester: Never married: 22.1%

22.1% Now married: 68.4%

68.4% Separated: 3.1%

3.1% Widowed: 4.5%

4.5% Divorced: 1.9%

For population 25 years and over in Hester: High school or higher: 100.0%

100.0% Bachelor's degree or higher: 17.3%

17.3% Graduate or professional degree: 11.5%

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 7.6 Louisiana average: 11.7



Religion statistics for Hester, LA (based on La Salle Parish data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 8,242 45 Mainline Protestant 672 6 Black Protestant 368 2 Catholic 90 2 Other - 1 None 5,518 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 3 Here : 2.14 / 10,000 pop. Louisiana : 2.56 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 6 La Salle Parish : 4.27 / 10,000 pop. Louisiana : 1.29 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 8 Here : 5.70 / 10,000 pop. State : 4.49 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 2 La Salle Parish : 1.42 / 10,000 pop. Louisiana : 5.92 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Here : 11.1% Louisiana : 10.9% Adult obesity rate: This county : 28.6% State : 29.2% Low-income preschool obesity rate: This county : 13.2% State : 13.7%

4.67% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($47,995 average adjusted gross income) Here: 4.67% Louisiana average: 6.26% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Rapides Parish, LA 0.57% ($49,480 average AGI) from Ouachita Parish, LA 0.55% ($36,542) from Catahoula Parish, LA 0.52% ($29,609)

Strongest AM radio stations in Hester: KWDF (840 AM; daytime; 8 kW; BALL, LA; Owner: BALL BROADCASTING CO.)

BALL BROADCASTING CO.) KJMJ (580 AM; 5 kW; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: RADIO MARIA, INC.)

RADIO MARIA, INC.) KEEL (710 AM; 50 kW; SHREVEPORT, LA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) KWKH (1130 AM; 50 kW; SHREVEPORT, LA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) KNOE (540 AM; 5 kW; MONROE, LA; Owner: NOE CORP., LLC)

NOE CORP., LLC) WSJC (810 AM; 50 kW; MAGEE, MS; Owner: FAMILY TALK RADIO)

FAMILY TALK RADIO) KTTP (1110 AM; daytime; 2 kW; PINEVILLE, LA; Owner: PEOPLES BROADCAST NETWORK LLC)

PEOPLES BROADCAST NETWORK LLC) WJNT (1180 AM; 50 kW; PEARL, MS; Owner: BUCHANAN BROADCASTING CO., INC.)

BUCHANAN BROADCASTING CO., INC.) KRJO (1680 AM; 10 kW; MONROE, LA; Owner: NEW SOUTH COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

NEW SOUTH COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) KTRH (740 AM; 50 kW; HOUSTON, TX; Owner: AMFM TEXAS LICENSES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

AMFM TEXAS LICENSES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WWL (870 AM; 50 kW; NEW ORLEANS, LA; Owner: ENTERCOM NEW ORLEANS LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM NEW ORLEANS LICENSE, LLC) KMBS (1310 AM; 5 kW; WEST MONROE, LA; Owner: RED BEAR BROADCASTING)

RED BEAR BROADCASTING) WOMN (1110 AM; daytime; 30 kW; FRANKLINTON, LA; Owner: PITTMAN BROADCASTING SERVICES, LLC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Hester: KQID-FM (93.1 FM; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: CENLA B/C CO INC.)

CENLA B/C CO INC.) KLSA (90.7 FM; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: BD OF SUPV OF LA ST U & A&M COLLEGE)

BD OF SUPV OF LA ST U & A&M COLLEGE) KAYT (88.1 FM; JENA, LA; Owner: BLACK MEDIA WORKS, INC.)

BLACK MEDIA WORKS, INC.) KNOE-FM (101.9 FM; MONROE, LA; Owner: NOE CORP., LLC)

NOE CORP., LLC) KRRV-FM (100.3 FM; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) KLAA (103.5 FM; TIOGA, LA; Owner: CAJUN COMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS, INC.)

CAJUN COMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS, INC.) KJNA-FM (102.7 FM; JENA, LA; Owner: LITTLE RIVER RADIO CO.)

LITTLE RIVER RADIO CO.) WQNZ (95.1 FM; NATCHEZ, MS; Owner: FIRST NATCHEZ CORPORATION)

FIRST NATCHEZ CORPORATION) KVDP (89.1 FM; DRY PRONG, LA; Owner: DRY PRONG EDUC B/C FOUNDATION)

DRY PRONG EDUC B/C FOUNDATION) KZMZ (96.9 FM; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) KEDG (106.9 FM; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

FLINN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) KHFX (105.5 FM; BALL, LA; Owner: CAJUN COMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS, INC.)

CAJUN COMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS, INC.) KCIJ (106.5 FM; ATLANTA, LA; Owner: NORTH FACE BROADCASTING, L.L.C.) TV broadcast stations around Hester: KAQY ( Channel 11; COLUMBIA, LA; Owner: MONROE BROADCASTING, INC.)

11; COLUMBIA, LA; MONROE BROADCASTING, INC.) KLAX-TV ( Channel 31; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: POLLACK/BELZ COMMUNICATIONS CO., INC)

31; ALEXANDRIA, LA; POLLACK/BELZ COMMUNICATIONS CO., INC) KLPA-TV ( Channel 25; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: LOUISIANA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION AUTHORITY)

25; ALEXANDRIA, LA; LOUISIANA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION AUTHORITY) KALB-TV ( Channel 5; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: MEDIA GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

5; ALEXANDRIA, LA; MEDIA GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) KNOE-TV ( Channel 8; MONROE, LA; Owner: NOE CORP., LLC)

8; MONROE, LA; NOE CORP., LLC) KLTM-TV ( Channel 13; MONROE, LA; Owner: LOUISIANA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION AUTHORITY)

13; MONROE, LA; LOUISIANA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION AUTHORITY) K60GE ( Channel 60; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC)

60; ALEXANDRIA, LA; MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC) KARD ( Channel 14; WEST MONROE, LA; Owner: QUORUM OF LOUISIANA LICENSE, LLC)

14; WEST MONROE, LA; QUORUM OF LOUISIANA LICENSE, LLC) KCDH-LP ( Channel 4; WINNFIELD, LA; Owner: CRANFORD L. JORDAN)

4; WINNFIELD, LA; CRANFORD L. JORDAN) K36DS ( Channel 36; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: POLLACK/BELZ COMMUNICATION COMPANY, INC.)

36; ALEXANDRIA, LA; POLLACK/BELZ COMMUNICATION COMPANY, INC.) K16DK ( Channel 16; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC)

16; ALEXANDRIA, LA; MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC) K23DZ ( Channel 23; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC)

23; ALEXANDRIA, LA; MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC) K38EG ( Channel 38; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC)

38; ALEXANDRIA, LA; MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC) K55GT (Channel 55; ALEXANDRIA, LA; Owner: MS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC)

Hester fatal accident list: Nov 17, 2012 02:32 AM, Sr-3125, Lat: 30.042389, Lon: -90.770231, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 3, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1



National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

1 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 10ft / 3.0m Total length

Total length 12,300 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 1,968 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 7,200 Total future (year 2036) average daily traffic





FAA Registered Aircraft: 2 Aircraft: DJI PHANTOM 3 PROFESSION ( Category: Land, Engines: 4), Engine: Electric

N-Number: 785RJ, N785RJ, N-785RJ, Serial Number: P78DDC31071104, Certificate Issue Date: 11/09/2016

Registrant (LLC): Hummingbird Drone Services LLC, 4202 Belmont Ln, Hester, LA 70743

Deregistered: Cancel Date: 02/28/2020

DJI PHANTOM 3 PROFESSION ( Land, 4), Electric 785RJ, N785RJ, N-785RJ, P78DDC31071104, 11/09/2016 Hummingbird Drone Services LLC, 4202 Belmont Ln, Hester, LA 70743 02/28/2020 Aircraft: DJI PHANTOM 3 PROFESSION (Category: Land, Engines: 4), Engine: Electric

N-Number: 744ER, N744ER, N-744ER, Serial Number: P78DDB27070213, Certificate Issue Date: 08/16/2016

Registrant (Individual): Jerry P Accardo, Po Box 103, Hester, LA 70743

Deregistered: Cancel Date: 11/29/2019



Houses and condos Apartments 53.0% Electricity

47.0% Utility gas 100.0% Utility gas





Hester compared to Louisiana state average: Median house value above state average.

above Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age below state average.

below Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Number of rooms per house above state average.

above House age significantly below state average.

significantly below Number of college students significantly below state average.




Horntown, Virginia

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Population in 2010: 574.

Males: 172 (30.1%) Females: 402 (69.9%)

Median resident age: 46.9 years Virginia median age: 38.5 years

Zip codes: 23395.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $47,460

Horntown: $47,460 VA: $76,456

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $26,917



Horntown CDP income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $181,676 Horntown: $181,676 VA: $288,800

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $152,179; detached houses: $214,578; mobile homes: $106,630 $47,460$26,917$181,676$152,179;$214,578;$106,630

March 2019 cost of living index in Horntown: 83.6 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 0.0%

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... Based on 2000-2020 data Loading data...

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346 65.4% White alone 181 34.2% Black alone

Races in Horntown detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Virginia and other state lists, there were 4 registered sex offenders living in Horntown, Virginia as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Horntown is 113 to 1.





Ancestries: American (72.7%), Northern European (21.8%), Swiss (3.1%), Irish (2.5%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 32 feet

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $813 (0.5%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $619 (0.8%)



Latitude: 37.97 N, Longitude: 75.46 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 757

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 4.4% Virginia: 4.6%

Tornado activity: Horntown-area historical tornado activity is significantly below Virginia state average. It is 70% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 4/28/2002, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 32.7 miles away from the Horntown place center caused $150,000 in damages. On 10/2/1973, a category F2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado 24.3 miles away from the place center .

Earthquake activity: Horntown-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Virginia state average. It is 66% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 134.9 miles away from Horntown center

On 1/15/2019 at 23:30:48, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MW, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 143.9 miles away from the city center

On 12/9/2003 at 20:59:14, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MB, 4.5 LG) earthquake occurred 135.9 miles away from the city center

On 8/25/2011 at 05:07:52, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 ML, Depth: 4.2 mi) earthquake occurred 136.5 miles away from Horntown center

On 12/9/2003 at 20:59:18, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 ML, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 144.5 miles away from Horntown center

On 1/16/1994 at 01:49:16, a magnitude 4.6 (4.6 MB, 4.6 LG, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 166.1 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Accomack County (15) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 10

Emergencies Declared: 5



Causes of natural disasters: Hurricanes: 8, Floods: 2, Storms: 2, Winter Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Tropical Depression: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Horntown: HARTLEY HALL NURSING AND REHABILITATION (Nursing Home, about 9 miles away; POCOMOKE CITY, MD)

SNOW HILL NURSING AND REHAB CTR (Nursing Home, about 15 miles away; SNOW HILL, MD)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Horntown: University of Maryland Eastern Shore ( about 21 miles; Princess Anne, MD ; Full-time enrollment: 3,902)

21 ; 3,902) Salisbury University ( about 28 miles; Salisbury, MD ; FT enrollment: 8,375)

28 ; 8,375) Wor-Wic Community College ( about 29 miles; Salisbury, MD ; FT enrollment: 2,256)

29 ; 2,256) Delaware Technical Community College-Owens ( about 51 miles; Georgetown, DE ; FT enrollment: 3,159)

51 ; 3,159) Hampton University ( about 82 miles; Hampton, VA ; FT enrollment: 4,494)

82 ; 4,494) Thomas Nelson Community College ( about 82 miles; Hampton, VA ; FT enrollment: 7,056)

82 ; 7,056) College of William and Mary (about 84 miles; Williamsburg, VA; FT enrollment: 7,617)

Accomack County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Low Potential

Average household size: This place: 2.0 people Virginia: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This place: 60.1% Whole state: 67.0%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 5.0% Whole state: 5.7%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 1.4% of all households

1.4% Gay men: 1.1% of all households

For population 15 years and over in Horntown: Never married: 21.0%

21.0% Now married: 61.5%

61.5% Separated: 10.3%

10.3% Widowed: 7.3%

7.3% Divorced: 0.0%

For population 25 years and over in Horntown: High school or higher: 70.5%

70.5% Bachelor's degree or higher: 31.4%

31.4% Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 14.1 Virginia average: 12.1



Religion statistics for Horntown, VA (based on Accomack County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Mainline Protestant 6,781 52 Evangelical Protestant 5,254 34 Black Protestant 896 6 Catholic 817 2 Other 226 2 None 19,190 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 9 Accomack County : 2.35 / 10,000 pop. Virginia : 2.03 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 6 This county : 1.56 / 10,000 pop. State : 1.43 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 28 Accomack County : 7.30 / 10,000 pop. State : 4.03 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 37 Here : 9.64 / 10,000 pop. Virginia : 7.65 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: This county : 10.7% State : 9.3% Adult obesity rate: Here : 30.2% Virginia : 26.7% Low-income preschool obesity rate: Accomack County : 23.7% State : 18.6%

4.93% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($46,999 average adjusted gross income) Here: 4.93% Virginia average: 9.50% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Northampton County, VA 0.64% ($25,540 average AGI) from Wicomico County, MD 0.24% ($35,469) from Worcester County, MD 0.22% ($39,700)



5.23% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($40,501 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.23% Virginia average: 9.76% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Wicomico County, MD 0.46% ($30,857 average AGI) to Worcester County, MD 0.43% ($36,466) to Northampton County, VA 0.43% ($36,862)

Strongest AM radio stations in Horntown: WDMV (540 AM; 1 kW; POCOMOKE CITY, MD; Owner: BIRACH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

BIRACH BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WTGM (960 AM; 10 kW; SALISBURY, MD; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WESR (1330 AM; 5 kW; ONLEY-ONANCOCK, VA; Owner: EASTERN SHORE RADIO, INC.)

EASTERN SHORE RADIO, INC.) WWGB (1030 AM; daytime; 50 kW; INDIAN HEAD, MD; Owner: GOOD BODY MEDIA, LLC)

GOOD BODY MEDIA, LLC) WTAR (850 AM; 50 kW; NORFOLK, VA; Owner: SINCLAIR COMMUNICATIONS)

SINCLAIR COMMUNICATIONS) WBIS (1190 AM; 50 kW; ANNAPOLIS, MD; Owner: NATIONS RADIO, LLC)

NATIONS RADIO, LLC) WCKO (1110 AM; daytime; 50 kW; NORFOLK, VA; Owner: WORD BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC.)

WORD BROADCASTING NETWORK, INC.) WCBM (680 AM; 50 kW; BALTIMORE, MD; Owner: WCBM MARYLAND, INC.)

WCBM MARYLAND, INC.) WTEM (980 AM; 50 kW; WASHINGTON, DC; Owner: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.)

AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.) WJWL (900 AM; 11 kW; GEORGETOWN, DE; Owner: GREAT SCOTT BROADCASTING)

GREAT SCOTT BROADCASTING) WVCH (740 AM; 50 kW; CHESTER, PA; Owner: WVCH COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

WVCH COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) WRVA (1140 AM; 50 kW; RICHMOND, VA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WJDY (1470 AM; 5 kW; SALISBURY, MD; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) Strongest FM radio stations in Horntown: WKHW (106.5 FM; POCOMOKE CITY, MD; Owner: GREAT SCOTT BROADCASTING)

GREAT SCOTT BROADCASTING) WOLC (102.5 FM; PRINCESS ANNE, MD; Owner: MARANATHA, INC.)

MARANATHA, INC.) WXMD (92.5 FM; POCOMOKE CITY, MD; Owner: DELMARVA BROADCASTING COMPANY)

DELMARVA BROADCASTING COMPANY) WVES (99.3 FM; ACCOMAC, VA; Owner: CHINCOTEAGUE BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

CHINCOTEAGUE BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WESM (91.3 FM; PRINCESS ANNE, MD; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, EASTERN SHORE)

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, EASTERN SHORE) WBEY (96.9 FM; CRISFIELD, MD; Owner: BAY BROADCASTING, INC.)

BAY BROADCASTING, INC.) WQHQ (104.7 FM; OCEAN CITY-SALISBURY, MD; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WESR-FM (103.3 FM; ONLEY-ONANCOCK, VA; Owner: EASTERN SHORE RADIO, INC.)

EASTERN SHORE RADIO, INC.) WKHI (107.5 FM; FRUITLAND, MD; Owner: GREAT SCOTT BROADCASTING)

GREAT SCOTT BROADCASTING) WSBY-FM (98.9 FM; SALISBURY, MD; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) TV broadcast stations around Horntown: WPMC-CA ( Channel 36; MAPPSVILLE, VA; Owner: WAVY BROADCASTING, LLC)

36; MAPPSVILLE, VA; WAVY BROADCASTING, LLC) WBOC-TV ( Channel 16; SALISBURY, MD; Owner: WBOC, INC.)

16; SALISBURY, MD; WBOC, INC.) WMDT ( Channel 47; SALISBURY, MD; Owner: DELMARVA BROADCAST SERVICE GENERAL PARTNERSHIP)

47; SALISBURY, MD; DELMARVA BROADCAST SERVICE GENERAL PARTNERSHIP) WCPB (Channel 28; SALISBURY, MD; Owner: MARYLAND PUBLIC BROADCASTING COMMISSION)

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

12 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 115ft / 35.0m Total length

Total length $1,749,000 Total costs

Total costs 76,573 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 2,638 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 108,161 Total future (year 2027) average daily traffic

New bridges - historical statistics

1 1940-1949

1 1970-1979

9 1990-1999

1 2010-2018 See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for Horntown, VA

FCC Registered Cell Phone Towers: 1 (

FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 11 (



FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 1 Winders Neck, Fleming Road & Dublin Farm Rd. (273173) (Lat: 37.987167 Lon: -75.458417), Type: Mtower, Structure height: 57.6 m, Overall height: 58.8 m, Call Sign: WRDI899,

Assigned Frequencies: 11485.0 MHz, 11485.0 MHz, 11485.0 MHz, 11485.0 MHz, 11485.0 MHz, Grant Date: 05/08/2019, Expiration Date: 05/08/2029, Certifier: Vincent G Sabathier, Registrant: Intelpath, Hinsdale, IL 60522, Phone: (312) 841-9188, Email:

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 3 Call Sign: AA3JT, Previous Call Sign: N3RRS, Licensee ID: L00279415, Grant Date: 02/12/2014, Expiration Date: 03/29/2024, Certifier: Gerald H Smith Iii, Registrant: Gerald H Smith Iii, 6064 Bay Breeze Drive, Horntown, VA 23395

AA3JT, N3RRS, L00279415, 02/12/2014, 03/29/2024, Gerald H Smith Iii, Gerald H Smith Iii, 6064 Bay Breeze Drive, Horntown, VA 23395 Call Sign: N3XR, Licensee ID: L01210845, Grant Date: 09/29/2016, Expiration Date: 11/26/2026, Certifier: Richard Kromer, Registrant: Richard Kromer, 6163 Nautilus Dr, Horntown, VA 23395

N3XR, L01210845, 09/29/2016, 11/26/2026, Richard Kromer, Richard Kromer, 6163 Nautilus Dr, Horntown, VA 23395 Call Sign: KB3IJZ, Licensee ID: L00551372, Grant Date: 05/10/2012, Expiration Date: 07/29/2022, Certifier: James J Milwid, Registrant: James J Milwid, 35015 Warbler Ct., Horntown, VA 23395

1 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Cell Phone Towers in Horntown 11 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Antenna Towers

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents Based on the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 15. The highest number of reported fires - 28 took place in 2005, and the least - 2 in 2018. The data has a dropping trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Horntown, VA



148 59.0% Structure Fires



59 23.5% Outside Fires



24 9.6% Other



20 8.0% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires When looking into fire subcategories, the most incidents belonged to: Structure Fires (59.0%), and Outside Fires (23.5%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Horntown, VA

39.8% Electricity

33.1% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

27.1% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.





Horntown compared to Virginia state average: Median household income below state average.

below Median house value significantly below state average.

significantly below Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age significantly above state average.

significantly above Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage below state average.

below House age below state average.

below Number of college students significantly below state average.

Horntown on our top lists: #30 on the list of "Top 100 cities with smallest houses" #11 (23395) on the list of "Top 101 zip codes with the largest percentage of United States first ancestries"




Livermore, Maine

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Population in 2010: 2,095.

Population change since 2000: -0.5%

2,095.-0.5%

Males: 1,062 (50.7%) Females: 1,033 (49.3%)

Median resident age: 44.4 years Maine median age: 43.0 years

Zip codes: 04253.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $69,263 (it was $38,850 in 2000)

Livermore: $69,263 ME: $58,924

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $30,564 (it was $17,706 in 2000)



Livermore town income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $159,275 (it was $79,500 in 2000) Livermore: $159,275 ME: $200,500

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $191,801; detached houses: $197,638; townhouses or other attached units: $196,106; in 2-unit structures: $229,076; in 3-to-4-unit structures: $116,610; in 5-or-more-unit structures: $241,762; mobile homes: $155,403 $69,263 ($38,850$30,564 ($17,706$159,275 ($79,500$191,801;$197,638;$196,106;$229,076;$116,610;$241,762;$155,403

March 2019 cost of living index in Livermore: 89.9 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

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2,051 97.9% White alone 20 1.0% Hispanic 14 0.7% Two or more races 5 0.2% American Indian alone 2 0.10% Black alone 2 0.10% Asian alone 1 0.05% Other race alone

Races in Livermore detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Maine and other state lists, there were 5 registered sex offenders living in Livermore, Maine as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Livermore is 419 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is near the state average.







Latest news from Livermore, ME collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: English (23.2%), French (16.9%), United States (11.7%), French Canadian (10.8%), Irish (10.7%), Italian (6.2%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 412 feet

Land area: 37.7 square miles. Population density: 56 people per square mile (very low).

15 residents are foreign born This town: 0.7% Maine: 2.9%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: Livermore town: 1.4% ($1,107) Maine: 1.5% ($1,417)

Latitude: 44.41 N, Longitude: 70.22 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 207

Single-family new house construction building permits: 1997: 2 buildings , average cost: $70,000

2 $70,000 1998: 8 buildings , average cost: $75,000

8 $75,000 1999: 5 buildings , average cost: $97,400

5 $97,400 2000: 8 buildings , average cost: $67,000

8 $67,000 2001: 9 buildings , average cost: $73,900

9 $73,900 2002: 12 buildings , average cost: $89,400

12 $89,400 2003: 14 buildings , average cost: $118,200

14 $118,200 2004: 11 buildings , average cost: $172,700

11 $172,700 2005: 11 buildings , average cost: $159,800

11 $159,800 2006: 15 buildings , average cost: $140,100

15 $140,100 2007: 10 buildings , average cost: $152,300

10 $152,300 2008: 6 buildings , average cost: $124,500

6 $124,500 2009: 6 buildings , average cost: $124,200

6 $124,200 2010: 6 buildings , average cost: $112,200

6 $112,200 2011: 2 buildings , average cost: $90,500

2 $90,500 2012: 4 buildings , average cost: $130,500

4 $130,500 2013: 8 buildings , average cost: $148,500

8 $148,500 2014: 8 buildings , average cost: $159,800

8 $159,800 2015: 4 buildings , average cost: $162,500

4 $162,500 2016: 7 buildings , average cost: $169,400

7 $169,400 2017: 9 buildings , average cost: $181,100

9 $181,100 2018: 5 buildings , average cost: $112,600

5 $112,600 2019: 9 buildings, average cost: $142,700

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.5% Maine: 4.7%

Most common industries in Livermore, ME (%) Both Males Females

Health care (15.0%)

Paper (14.2%)

Construction (9.3%)

Educational services (5.9%)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (5.8%)

Finance & insurance (3.1%)

Textile mills & textile products (2.9%)

Paper (19.4%)

Construction (14.8%)

Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting (8.1%)

Health care (7.5%)

Educational services (4.6%)

Textile mills & textile products (4.3%)

Administrative & support & waste management services (3.8%)

Health care (26.8%)

Educational services (7.9%)

Finance & insurance (7.2%)

Paper (6.0%)

Public administration (5.5%)

Food & beverage stores (5.2%)

Department & other general merchandise stores (4.0%) Most common occupations in Livermore, ME (%) Both Males Females

Other production occupations, including supervisors (7.8%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (7.5%)

Other material moving workers, except laborers (5.0%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (3.5%)

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (3.5%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (3.1%)

Fishing, hunting, and forestry occupations (3.0%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (11.1%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (11.0%)

Other material moving workers, except laborers (8.3%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (5.7%)

Fishing, hunting, and forestry occupations (4.9%)

Plant and system operators (3.8%)

Other protective service workers, including supervisors (3.2%)

Registered nurses (7.4%)

Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (7.4%)

Information and record clerks, except customer service representatives (6.5%)

Cashiers (6.0%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (6.0%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (6.0%)

Other healthcare support occupations (5.2%)

Average climate in Livermore, Maine Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI NO 2 SO 2 PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 51.1. This is significantly better than average. City: 51.1 U.S.: 74.2

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 3.28. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 4.2 miles away from the city center. City: 3.28 U.S.: 5.56

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.402. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 4.2 miles away from the city center. City: 0.402 U.S.: 1.789

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 5.18. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 18.4 miles away from the city center. City: 5.18 U.S.: 8.46

Earthquake activity: Livermore-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Maine state average. It is 76% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.3 (5.3 ML, Depth: 3.0 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 171.6 miles away from the city center

On 10/16/2012 at 23:12:25, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 ML, Depth: 10.0 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 60.1 miles away from Livermore center

On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MB, 4.2 MS, 5.2 MW, 5.0 MW) earthquake occurred 172.6 miles away from the city center

On 10/7/1983 at 10:18:46, a magnitude 5.3 (5.1 MB, 5.3 LG, 5.1 ML) earthquake occurred 206.6 miles away from the city center

On 1/19/1982 at 00:14:42, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 MD, 4.5 LG) earthquake occurred 92.9 miles away from the city center

On 2/26/1999 at 03:38:43, a magnitude 3.8 (3.8 LG, Depth: 2.0 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 35.1 miles away from Livermore center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Androscoggin County (28) is a lot greater than the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 21

Emergencies Declared: 7



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 17, Storms: 12, Snows: 7, Winter Storms: 4, Hurricanes: 3, Heavy Rains: 2, Blizzard: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Mudslide: 1, Snowfall: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Tornado: 1, Wind: 1, Other: 2 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Livermore: VICTORIAN VILLA NURSING HOME (Nursing Home, about 6 miles away; CANTON, ME)

HERITAGE REHAB AND LIVING CTR (Nursing Home, about 15 miles away; WINTHROP, ME)

DIXFIELD HEALTH CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 15 miles away; DIXFIELD, ME)

SANDY RIVER CENTER (Nursing Home, about 15 miles away; FARMINGTON, ME)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Livermore: University of Maine at Farmington ( about 19 miles; Farmington, ME ; Full-time enrollment: 2,036)

19 ; 2,036) University of Maine at Augusta ( about 22 miles; Augusta, ME ; FT enrollment: 3,204)

22 ; 3,204) Saint Joseph's College of Maine ( about 43 miles; Standish, ME ; FT enrollment: 2,010)

43 ; 2,010) University of Southern Maine ( about 52 miles; Portland, ME ; FT enrollment: 6,647)

52 ; 6,647) Southern Maine Community College ( about 53 miles; South Portland, ME ; FT enrollment: 4,666)

53 ; 4,666) University of New England ( about 67 miles; Biddeford, ME ; FT enrollment: 4,539)

67 ; 4,539) Husson University (about 77 miles; Bangor, ME; FT enrollment: 2,421) Public elementary/middle school in Livermore: LIVERMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Location: 107 GIBBS MILL ROAD, Grades: PK-5) See full list of schools located in Livermore

Library in Livermore: LIVERMORE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $23,389; Location: 22 CHURCH STREET; 11,776 books; 364 audio materials; 63 video materials; 52 other licensed databases)

Birthplace of: Cadwallader C. Washburn - General Mills founder and politician, Elihu B. Washburne - Politician and diplomat, Eugene L. Norton - Politician, William D. Washburn - Politician, Israel Washburn, Jr. - Politician, Timothy O. Howe - Politician, Dorilus Morrison - Politician.

Androscoggin County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Highest Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Livermore and their reported violations in the past: TAVERN AT MAPLE LANE (Population served: 650, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 15 routine major monitoring violations CARRIAGE HOUSE CAFE (Population served: 375, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 4 routine major monitoring violations

9 regular monitoring violations NORLANDS LIVING HISTORY CENTER (Population served: 158, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 3 routine major monitoring violations Drinking water stations with addresses in Livermore that have no violations reported: BRIGHT IDEAS CHILD CARE CENTER (Population served: 68, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater) TAVERN AT MAPLE LANE (650Groundwater):CARRIAGE HOUSE CAFE (375Groundwater):NORLANDS LIVING HISTORY CENTER (158Groundwater):

Average household size: This town: 2.4 people Maine: 2.3 people

Percentage of family households: This town: 69.7% Whole state: 62.9%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This town: 8.7% Whole state: 9.4%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.2% of all households

0.2% Gay men: 0.0% of all households Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 5.1% Whole state: 10.9% Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 0.3% Whole state: 4.1%

For population 15 years and over in Livermore: Never married: 17.4%

17.4% Now married: 64.0%

64.0% Separated: 1.0%

1.0% Widowed: 6.3%

6.3% Divorced: 11.3%

For population 25 years and over in Livermore: High school or higher: 88.3%

88.3% Bachelor's degree or higher: 11.2%

11.2% Graduate or professional degree: 3.3%

3.3% Unemployed: 4.9%

4.9% Mean travel time to work (commute): 30.5 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 8.8 Maine average: 11.2



Religion statistics for Livermore, ME (based on Androscoggin County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Catholic 24,480 6 Evangelical Protestant 6,383 37 Mainline Protestant 5,082 27 Other 1,097 8 Orthodox 225 1 Black Protestant 182 1 None 70,253 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 18 This county : 1.69 / 10,000 pop. Maine : 2.80 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 2 This county : 0.19 / 10,000 pop. Maine : 0.14 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 21 This county : 1.97 / 10,000 pop. State : 2.20 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 63 Androscoggin County : 5.90 / 10,000 pop. Maine : 5.75 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 84 Androscoggin County : 7.87 / 10,000 pop. Maine : 11.02 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Here : 8.0% Maine : 8.2% Adult obesity rate: Here : 27.9% Maine : 25.0%

5.77% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($41,393 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.77% Maine average: 5.91% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Cumberland County, ME 1.65% ($42,263 average AGI) from Oxford County, ME 0.62% ($36,929) from Kennebec County, ME 0.58% ($36,402)



5.77% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($44,439 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.77% Maine average: 5.73% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Cumberland County, ME 1.20% ($52,487 average AGI) to Kennebec County, ME 0.72% ($41,631) to Oxford County, ME 0.63% ($32,764)

Businesses in Livermore, ME Ace Hardware: 1

1 Decora Cabinetry: 2

2 MasterBrand Cabinets: 2

Strongest AM radio stations in Livermore: WTME (780 AM; 10 kW; RUMFORD, ME; Owner: MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.)

MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.) WFAU (1280 AM; 5 kW; GARDINER, ME; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WSKW (1160 AM; 10 kW; SKOWHEGAN, ME; Owner: MOUNTAIN WIRELESS, INCORPORATED)

MOUNTAIN WIRELESS, INCORPORATED) WLAM (1470 AM; 5 kW; LEWISTON, ME; Owner: RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.)

RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.) WMTW (870 AM; 10 kW; GORHAM, ME; Owner: RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.)

RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.) WRKO (680 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WGAN (560 AM; 5 kW; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)

SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) WEEI (850 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WBZ (1030 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)

INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.) WCRN (830 AM; 50 kW; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WCNM (1240 AM; 1 kW; LEWISTON, ME; Owner: CHRISTIAN FAMILY RADIO, INC.)

CHRISTIAN FAMILY RADIO, INC.) WNNZ (640 AM; 50 kW; WESTFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WKTQ (1450 AM; 1 kW; SOUTH PARIS, ME; Owner: PENNESSEEWASSEE BROADCASTING CO INC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Livermore: WLOB-FM (96.3 FM; RUMFORD, ME; Owner: ATLANTIC COAST RADIO, LLC)

ATLANTIC COAST RADIO, LLC) WTBM (100.7 FM; MEXICO, ME; Owner: MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.)

MOUNTAIN VALLEY BROADCASTING, INC.) WPKQ (103.7 FM; NORTH CONWAY, NH; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WHOM (94.9 FM; MT. WASHINGTON, NH; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WTOS-FM (105.1 FM; SKOWHEGAN, ME; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WBLM (102.9 FM; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WMEA (90.1 FM; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WCYI (93.9 FM; LEWISTON, ME; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WTHT (107.5 FM; LEWISTON, ME; Owner: RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.)

RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.) WKTJ-FM (99.3 FM; FARMINGTON, ME; Owner: FRANKLIN BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

FRANKLIN BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WWWA (95.3 FM; WINSLOW, ME; Owner: LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES, INC.)

LIGHT OF LIFE MINISTRIES, INC.) WJBQ (97.9 FM; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WHQO (107.9 FM; SKOWHEGAN, ME; Owner: MOUNTAIN WIRELESS, INC.)

MOUNTAIN WIRELESS, INC.) WABK-FM (104.3 FM; GARDINER, ME; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WMEK-FM (99.9 FM; AUBURN, ME; Owner: RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.)

RADIO PARTNERS OF MAINE, L.P.) WMME-FM (92.3 FM; AUGUSTA, ME; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WOXO-FM (92.7 FM; NORWAY, ME; Owner: TRI-COUNTY BROADCASTING, INC.)

TRI-COUNTY BROADCASTING, INC.) WBCI (105.9 FM; BATH, ME; Owner: BLOUNT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

BLOUNT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) WKCG (101.3 FM; AUGUSTA, ME; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) TV broadcast stations around Livermore: WGME-TV ( Channel 13; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: WGME LICENSEE, LLC)

13; PORTLAND, ME; WGME LICENSEE, LLC) WPFO ( Channel 23; WATERVILLE, ME; Owner: CMCG PORTLAND LICENSE LLC)

23; WATERVILLE, ME; CMCG PORTLAND LICENSE LLC) WCBB ( Channel 10; AUGUSTA, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.)

10; AUGUSTA, ME; MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.) WMTW-TV ( Channel 8; POLAND SPRING, ME; Owner: WMTW BROADCAST GROUP, LLC)

8; POLAND SPRING, ME; WMTW BROADCAST GROUP, LLC) WCSH ( Channel 6; PORTLAND, ME; Owner: PACIFIC AND SOUTHERN COMPANY, INC.)

6; PORTLAND, ME; PACIFIC AND SOUTHERN COMPANY, INC.) W21BI (Channel 21; FARMINGTON, ME; Owner: TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK)

Livermore fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2019

See more detailed statistics of Livermore fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2019 here

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

3 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 49ft / 14.8m Total length

Total length 17,187 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 858 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 24,062 Total future (year 2036) average daily traffic



FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 3 Richard Houde, 203 Waters Hill Road ( Lat: 44.415694 Lon: -70.212639), Type: 59.7, Overall height: 57.9 m, Registrant: Holland & Knight LLP, Pconnolly@hklaw.Com, , Washi-ngton, Phone: (202) 862-5989

44.415694 -70.212639), 59.7, 57.9 m, Holland & Knight LLP, Pconnolly@hklaw.Com, , Washi-ngton, (202) 862-5989 Erik Brooks, 203 Waters Hill Road ( Lat: 44.415694 Lon: -70.212639), Type: 59.7, Overall height: 57.9 m, Registrant: Holland & Knight LLP, Pconnolly@hklaw.Com, , Washi-ngton, Phone: (202) 862-5989

44.415694 -70.212639), 59.7, 57.9 m, Holland & Knight LLP, Pconnolly@hklaw.Com, , Washi-ngton, (202) 862-5989 Moose Hill (Lat: 44.483333 Lon: -70.132500), Type: 18.3, Overall height: 6.6 m, Registrant: Yankee Microwave Inc, Microwave@maine.Com, , 1260 Naple-s, Phone: (207) 647-2208

FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers: 2 10 Crash Rd .16 Km Off Rt 4 ( Lat: 44.441167 Lon: -70.217000), Type: Pipe, Structure height: 7 m, Overall height: 10 m, Call Sign: WNAJ921,

Assigned Frequencies: 154.265 MHz, 154.310 MHz, Grant Date: 02/02/2015, Expiration Date: 12/30/2024, Registrant: County Of Androscoggin, 2 College Street, Lewiston, ME 04240-7101, Phone: (207) 784-0147, Fax: (207) 795-8983, Email:

44.441167 -70.217000), Pipe, 7 m, 10 m, WNAJ921, 154.265 MHz, 154.310 MHz, 02/02/2015, 12/30/2024, County Of Androscoggin, 2 College Street, Lewiston, ME 04240-7101, (207) 784-0147, (207) 795-8983, 10 Crash Road .16 Km Off Rte 4 (Lat: 44.441167 Lon: -70.217000), Type: Pipe, Structure height: 7 m, Overall height: 10 m, Call Sign: KNIQ363,

Assigned Frequencies: 154.115 MHz, Grant Date: 07/29/2014, Expiration Date: 06/01/2024, Certifier: Peter Van Gagnon, Registrant: County Of Androscoggin, 2 College Street, Lewiston, ME 04240-7101, Phone: (207) 784-0147, Fax: (207) 795-8983, Email:

FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 2 MOOSE HILL, Moose Hill Rd ( Lat: 44.483389 Lon: -70.132556), Type: Tower, Structure height: 23 m, Call Sign: WQAA832,

Assigned Frequencies: 6887.50 MHz, Grant Date: 04/23/2004, Expiration Date: 04/01/2007, Cancellation Date: 09/16/2005, Certifier: Jack Conner, Registrant: Wmtw Broadcast Group, LLC, 99 Danville Corner Rd, Auburn, ME 04210, Phone: (207) 782-1800, Fax: (207) 783-7371, Email:

44.483389 -70.132556), Tower, 23 m, WQAA832, 6887.50 MHz, 04/23/2004, 04/01/2007, 09/16/2005, Jack Conner, Wmtw Broadcast Group, LLC, 99 Danville Corner Rd, Auburn, ME 04210, (207) 782-1800, (207) 783-7371, Livermore, 203 Waters Hill Road (Lat: 44.415694 Lon: -70.212639), Type: Ltower, Structure height: 58.2 m, Overall height: 59.4 m, Call Sign: WQSC968,

Assigned Frequencies: 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, 11225.0 MHz, Grant Date: 09/04/2013, Expiration Date: 09/04/2023, Cancellation Date: 04/15/2020, Certifier: Jessica B Lyons, Registrant: At&t Services, Inc., 208 S. Akard Street, Room 2100, Dallas, TX 75202, Phone: (855) 699-7073, Email:

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 7 Call Sign: N1MUA, Licensee ID: L00139570, Grant Date: 01/16/2013, Expiration Date: 03/23/2023, Certifier: Dwayne H Bilodeau, Registrant: Dwayne H Bilodeau, 144 Sanders Rd, Livermore, ME 04253

N1MUA, L00139570, 01/16/2013, 03/23/2023, Dwayne H Bilodeau, Dwayne H Bilodeau, 144 Sanders Rd, Livermore, ME 04253 Call Sign: N1NXM, Licensee ID: L00648268, Grant Date: 02/22/2013, Expiration Date: 03/05/2023, Certifier: Arnold W Bryant, Registrant: Arnold W Bryant, 501 Canton Road, Livermore, ME 04253-3632

N1NXM, L00648268, 02/22/2013, 03/05/2023, Arnold W Bryant, Arnold W Bryant, 501 Canton Road, Livermore, ME 04253-3632 Call Sign: N1VLZ, Licensee ID: L00451880, Grant Date: 06/09/2015, Expiration Date: 06/29/2025, Certifier: Brian M Martin, Registrant: Brian M Martin, 56 Old Leavitt Road, Livermore, ME 04253

N1VLZ, L00451880, 06/09/2015, 06/29/2025, Brian M Martin, Brian M Martin, 56 Old Leavitt Road, Livermore, ME 04253 Call Sign: W4RCO, Licensee ID: L00447544, Grant Date: 07/29/2004, Expiration Date: 10/18/2014, Cancellation Date: 10/19/2016, Registrant: Leslie D Haskell, 204 Robinson Rd, Livermore, ME 04253

W4RCO, L00447544, 07/29/2004, 10/18/2014, 10/19/2016, Leslie D Haskell, 204 Robinson Rd, Livermore, ME 04253 Call Sign: WY1P, Licensee ID: L00408412, Grant Date: 09/21/2011, Expiration Date: 11/12/2021, Registrant: Aaron J Barefoot, 354 Sanders Rd, Livermore, ME 04253

WY1P, L00408412, 09/21/2011, 11/12/2021, Aaron J Barefoot, 354 Sanders Rd, Livermore, ME 04253 Call Sign: KB1JMZ, Licensee ID: L00648617, Grant Date: 03/04/2003, Expiration Date: 03/04/2013, Cancellation Date: 03/05/2015, Certifier: Robert C Allen, Registrant: Robert C Allen, 52 Old Leavitt Rd, Livermore, ME 04253

KB1JMZ, L00648617, 03/04/2003, 03/04/2013, 03/05/2015, Robert C Allen, Robert C Allen, 52 Old Leavitt Rd, Livermore, ME 04253 Call Sign: WT1A, Previous Call Sign: AA1UT, Licensee ID: L00137205, Grant Date: 01/24/2014, Expiration Date: 01/24/2024, Certifier: Timothy L Bubier, Registrant: Timothy L Bubier, 494 Sanders Road, Livermore, ME 04253

FAA Registered Aircraft: 1 Aircraft: CESSNA 175A (Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 105 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR GO-300 SERIES (175 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 175JT, N175JT, N-175JT, Serial Number: 56372, Year manufactured: 1959, Airworthiness Date: 12/07/1959, Certificate Issue Date: 03/03/2010

Registrant (Individual): James D Timberlake, Po Box 476, Livermore, ME 04253



2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents According to the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 13. The highest number of reported fire incidents - 40 took place in 2016, and the least - 0 in 2011. The data has an increasing trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Livermore, ME



146 64.9% Structure Fires



50 22.2% Outside Fires



25 11.1% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



4 1.8% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most incidents belonged to: Structure Fires (64.9%), and Outside Fires (22.2%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Livermore, ME

Houses and condos Apartments 78.4% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

17.8% Wood

2.8% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

1.1% Electricity 78.5% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

10.8% Electricity

5.4% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

5.4% Wood





Livermore compared to Maine state average: Unemployed percentage below state average.

below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage below state average.

below Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage below state average.

below Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.

significantly above Number of rooms per house significantly below state average.

significantly below House age significantly below state average.

significantly below Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher below state average.

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Montvale, Virginia

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Population in 2010: 698.

Males: 345 (49.5%) Females: 353 (50.5%)

Median resident age: 58.2 years Virginia median age: 38.5 years

Zip codes: 24122.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $69,125

Montvale: $69,125 VA: $76,456

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $36,405



Montvale CDP income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $211,900 Montvale: $211,900 VA: $288,800

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $134,997; detached houses: $174,931; mobile homes: $45,886 $69,125$36,405$211,900$134,997;$174,931;$45,886

March 2019 cost of living index in Montvale: 83.6 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 11.2%

(11.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 11.1% for Black residents)

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... Based on 2000-2020 data Loading data...

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552 90.0% White alone 55 9.0% Black alone

Races in Montvale detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Virginia and other state lists, there were 2 registered sex offenders living in Montvale, Virginia as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Montvale is 250 to 1.





Ancestries: American (46.5%), European (23.0%), English (12.0%), Irish (2.8%), German (1.4%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 1012 feet

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $600 (0.6%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $762 (0.4%)



Latitude: 37.38 N, Longitude: 79.73 W

Area code: 540

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 3.8% Virginia: 4.6%

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI CO NO 2 SO 2 Ozone PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 59.0. This is better than average. City: 59.0 U.S.: 74.2

Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2018 was 0.228. This is about average. Closest monitor was 10.9 miles away from the city center. City: 0.228 U.S.: 0.267

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 5.24. This is about average. Closest monitor was 10.9 miles away from the city center. City: 5.24 U.S.: 5.56

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.283. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 8.2 miles away from the city center. City: 0.283 U.S.: 1.789

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 29.2. This is about average. Closest monitor was 10.9 miles away from the city center. City: 29.2 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 6.99. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 10.9 miles away from the city center. City: 6.99 U.S.: 8.46

Tornado activity: Montvale-area historical tornado activity is significantly below Virginia state average. It is 68% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 9/17/2004, a category F2 (max. wind speeds 113-157 mph) tornado 7.5 miles away from the Montvale place center . On 7/15/1996, a category F2 tornado 9.2 miles away from the place center caused $140,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Montvale-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Virginia state average. It is 34% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 104.8 miles away from the city center

On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi) earthquake occurred 98.1 miles away from Montvale center

On 12/9/2003 at 20:59:18, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 ML, Depth: 6.2 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 93.4 miles away from Montvale center

On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 237.1 miles away from Montvale center

On 12/9/2003 at 20:59:14, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 MB, 4.5 LG) earthquake occurred 101.3 miles away from Montvale center

On 8/25/2011 at 05:07:52, a magnitude 4.5 (4.5 ML, Depth: 4.2 mi) earthquake occurred 104.1 miles away from Montvale center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Bedford County (20) is greater than the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 16

Emergencies Declared: 4



Causes of natural disasters: Storms: 9, Floods: 6, Winter Storms: 4, Hurricanes: 3, Droughts: 2, Ice Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Snowstorm: 1, Tornado: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Wind: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Montvale: CARRINGTON PLACE AT BOTETOURT COMMONS (Nursing Home, about 10 miles away; DALEVILLE, VA)

GLEBE, THE (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; DALEVILLE, VA)

BMA - BLUE RIDGE (Dialysis Facility, about 11 miles away; BEDFORD, VA)

SPRINGTREE HEALTHCARE AND REHAB CENTER (Nursing Home, about 11 miles away; ROANOKE, VA)

BERKSHIRE HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER (Nursing Home, about 12 miles away; VINTON, VA)

BERKSHIRE HEALTH CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 12 miles away; VINTON, VA)

BEDFORD HOSPICE CARE (Hospital, about 12 miles away; BEDFORD, VA)

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Montvale: Virginia Western Community College ( about 17 miles; Roanoke, VA ; Full-time enrollment: 4,762)

17 ; 4,762) American National University ( about 18 miles; Salem, VA ; FT enrollment: 2,297)

18 ; 2,297) Roanoke College ( about 19 miles; Salem, VA ; FT enrollment: 2,316)

19 ; 2,316) Lynchburg College ( about 31 miles; Lynchburg, VA ; FT enrollment: 2,456)

31 ; 2,456) Central Virginia Community College ( about 31 miles; Lynchburg, VA ; FT enrollment: 2,759)

31 ; 2,759) Liberty University ( about 31 miles; Lynchburg, VA ; FT enrollment: 61,625)

31 ; 61,625) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (about 40 miles; Blacksburg, VA; FT enrollment: 30,984) Public elementary/middle school in Montvale: MONTVALE ELEM (Location: ONE LITTLE PATRIOT DR, Grades: PK-6) See full list of schools located in Montvale

Bedford County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Montvale and their reported violations in the past: NANA`S HOMECOOKING RESTAURANT (Population served: 200, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 9 routine major monitoring violations

3 regular monitoring violations NANA`S HOMECOOKING RESTAURANT (200Groundwater):

Average household size: This place: 2.4 people Virginia: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This place: 65.7% Whole state: 67.0%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 10.1% Whole state: 5.7%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.7% of all households

0.7% Gay men: 0.3% of all households

For population 15 years and over in Montvale: Never married: 35.3%

35.3% Now married: 48.1%

48.1% Separated: 0.0%

0.0% Widowed: 8.8%

8.8% Divorced: 7.8%

For population 25 years and over in Montvale: High school or higher: 72.3%

72.3% Bachelor's degree or higher: 7.2%

7.2% Graduate or professional degree: 0.0%

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 9.0 Virginia average: 12.1



Religion statistics for Montvale, VA (based on Bedford County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 20,822 64 Mainline Protestant 5,052 40 Catholic 2,119 2 Other 13 - None 40,670 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 7 Bedford County : 1.05 / 10,000 pop. Virginia : 2.03 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 1 This county : 0.15 / 10,000 pop. State : 0.17 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 7 Bedford County : 1.05 / 10,000 pop. Virginia : 1.43 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 18 This county : 2.70 / 10,000 pop. State : 4.03 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 28 Bedford County : 4.21 / 10,000 pop. State : 7.65 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Bedford County : 8.6% State : 9.3% Adult obesity rate: Bedford County : 27.1% State : 26.7%

7.79% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($53,779 average adjusted gross income) Here: 7.79% Virginia average: 9.50% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Lynchburg city, VA 1.59% ($57,044 average AGI) from Campbell County, VA 0.89% ($48,235) from Roanoke County, VA 0.69% ($43,673)



6.91% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($53,213 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.91% Virginia average: 9.76% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Lynchburg city, VA 1.14% ($46,738 average AGI) to Campbell County, VA 0.74% ($40,384) to Roanoke city, VA 0.62% ($30,984)

Businesses in Montvale, VA Circle K: 1

Strongest AM radio stations in Montvale: WKBA (1550 AM; daytime; 10 kW; VINTON, VA; Owner: TINKER CREEK BROADCASTERS, INC.)

TINKER CREEK BROADCASTERS, INC.) WVBE (610 AM; 5 kW; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: MEL WHEELER, INC.)

MEL WHEELER, INC.) WFIR (960 AM; 5 kW; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: MEL WHEELER, INC.)

MEL WHEELER, INC.) WRIS (1410 AM; 5 kW; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: WRIS INC.)

WRIS INC.) WLLL (930 AM; 10 kW; LYNCHBURG, VA; Owner: HUBBARD'S ADVERTISING AGENCY, INC.)

HUBBARD'S ADVERTISING AGENCY, INC.) WLVA (590 AM; 5 kW; LYNCHBURG, VA)

WFNR (710 AM; daytime; 10 kW; BLACKSBURG, VA; Owner: PERCEPTION MEDIA GROUP, INC.)

PERCEPTION MEDIA GROUP, INC.) WTOY (1480 AM; 5 kW; SALEM, VA; Owner: WARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

WARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WTRU (830 AM; 50 kW; KERNERSVILLE, NC; Owner: TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

TRUTH BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WWWR (910 AM; 1 kW; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: PERCEPTION MEDIA GROUP, INC.)

PERCEPTION MEDIA GROUP, INC.) WBLT (1350 AM; 1 kW; BEDFORD, VA; Owner: WBLT, INC.)

WBLT, INC.) WFTK (1030 AM; daytime; 50 kW; WAKE FOREST, NC; Owner: POSITIVE RADIO GROUP, INC.)

POSITIVE RADIO GROUP, INC.) WPTF (680 AM; 50 kW; RALEIGH, NC; Owner: FIRST STATE COMMUNICATIONS) Strongest FM radio stations in Montvale: WRXT (90.3 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.)

POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.) WBWR (106.9 FM; BEDFORD, VA; Owner: BEDFORD RADIO PARTNERS, LLC)

BEDFORD RADIO PARTNERS, LLC) WZZI (101.5 FM; VINTON, VA; Owner: TRAVIS MEDIA, L.L.C.)

TRAVIS MEDIA, L.L.C.) WMGR-FM (104.9 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WYYD-FM1 (107.9 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: WYYD LICENSE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

WYYD LICENSE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WPAR (91.3 FM; SALEM, VA; Owner: POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.)

POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.) WYYD (107.9 FM; AMHERST, VA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WROV-FM (96.3 FM; MARTINSVILLE, VA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WXLK (92.3 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: MEL WHEELER, INC.)

MEL WHEELER, INC.) WVTF (89.1 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC)

VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC) WSLC-FM (94.9 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: MEL WHEELER, INC.)

MEL WHEELER, INC.) WSLQ (99.1 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: MEL WHEELER, INC.)

MEL WHEELER, INC.) WJJS-FM (106.1 FM; VINTON, VA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WXCF-FM (103.9 FM; CLIFTON FORGE, VA; Owner: IMPACT BROADCASTING, INC.)

IMPACT BROADCASTING, INC.) WNRS-FM (89.9 FM; SWEET BRIAR, VA; Owner: SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE)

SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE) WZZU (97.9 FM; LYNCHBURG, VA; Owner: TRAVIS MEDIA L.L.C.)

TRAVIS MEDIA L.L.C.) KHPR (88.1 FM; HONOLULU, HI; Owner: HAWAII PUBLIC RADIO)

HAWAII PUBLIC RADIO) WRVL (88.3 FM; LYNCHBURG, VA; Owner: LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, INC.)

LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, INC.) W279AC (103.7 FM; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.)

POSITIVE ALTERNATIVE RADIO, INC.) WIQO-FM (100.9 FM; COVINGTON, VA; Owner: WKEY, INC.) TV broadcast stations around Montvale: WSET-TV ( Channel 13; LYNCHBURG, VA; Owner: WSET INCORPORATED)

13; LYNCHBURG, VA; WSET INCORPORATED) WJPR ( Channel 21; LYNCHBURG, VA; Owner: GRANT BROADCASTING SYSTEMS II, INC.)

21; LYNCHBURG, VA; GRANT BROADCASTING SYSTEMS II, INC.) W34CU ( Channel 34; ROANOKE, VA; Owner: VENTANA TELEVISION, INC.)

34; ROANOKE, VA; VENTANA TELEVISION, INC.) WTLU-CA (Channel 19; LYNCHBURG, VA; Owner: LIBERTY UNIVERSITY, INC.)

Montvale fatal accident list: Dec 17, 2017 02:30 AM, Us-460, Lat: 37.387239, Lon: -79.738381, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 1, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1

Jun 3, 2012 08:05 PM, Cr-695, Lat: 37.390186, Lon: -79.724569, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 3, Fatalities: 1, Drunk persons involved: 1



National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

9 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 72ft / 22.0m Total length

Total length $16,563,000 Total costs

Total costs 19,930 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 1,720 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 36,625 Total future (year 2035) average daily traffic

2003 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents According to the data from the years 2003 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 14. The highest number of reported fires - 30 took place in 2008, and the least - 2 in 2011. The data has a dropping trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Montvale, VA



98 45.2% Structure Fires



72 33.2% Outside Fires



38 17.5% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



9 4.1% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most incidents belonged to: Structure Fires (45.2%), and Outside Fires (33.2%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Montvale, VA

55.3% Electricity

30.0% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

9.1% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

3.2% Utility gas

2.4% Other fuel





Montvale compared to Virginia state average: Median house value below state average.

below Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage below state average.

below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age significantly above state average.

significantly above Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage below state average.

below Number of college students significantly below state average.

significantly below Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state average.

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Plaistow, New Hampshire

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Population in 2010: 7,609.

Population change since 2000: -1.8%

7,609.-1.8%

Males: 3,749 (49.3%) Females: 3,860 (50.7%)

Median resident age: 41.6 years New Hampshire median age: 43.9 years

Zip codes: 03865.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $96,831 (it was $61,707 in 2000)

Plaistow: $96,831 NH: $77,933

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $47,341 (it was $25,255 in 2000)



Plaistow town income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $355,718 (it was $156,200 in 2000) Plaistow: $355,718 NH: $281,400

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $389,306; detached houses: $426,651; townhouses or other attached units: $310,390; in 2-unit structures: $460,741; in 3-to-4-unit structures: $419,218; in 5-or-more-unit structures: $243,946; mobile homes: $98,803 $96,831 ($61,707$47,341 ($25,255$355,718 ($156,200$389,306;$426,651;$310,390;$460,741;$419,218;$243,946;$98,803

March 2019 cost of living index in Plaistow: 142.7 (very high, U.S. average is 100)

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7,292 95.8% White alone 175 2.3% Hispanic 44 0.6% Asian alone 41 0.5% Black alone 38 0.5% Two or more races 10 0.1% American Indian alone 9 0.1% Other race alone

Races in Plaistow detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of New Hampshire and other state lists, there were 6 registered sex offenders living in Plaistow, New Hampshire as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Plaistow is 1,268 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is much lower than the state average.





Crime rates in Plaistow by year Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Murders

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Rapes

(per 100,000) 1

(12.8) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(13.1) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(13.1) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(13.1) 1

(13.1) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Robberies

(per 100,000) 3

(38.5) 2

(26.0) 2

(26.2) 1

(13.1) 3

(39.9) 1

(13.1) 0

(0.0) 2

(26.2) 1

(13.1) 1

(13.1) 1

(13.1) 8

(104.0) 5

(64.3) 0

(0.0) Assaults

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(13.1) 3

(39.4) 1

(13.3) 2

(26.3) 0

(0.0) 3

(39.4) 1

(13.1) 1

(13.1) 1

(13.1) 1

(13.0) 2

(25.7) 4

(51.7) Burglaries

(per 100,000) 17

(218.0) 17

(220.7) 12

(157.0) 12

(157.7) 13

(172.8) 13

(170.6) 22

(287.5) 16

(210.0) 22

(288.1) 23

(301.0) 16

(210.2) 8

(104.0) 6

(77.2) 5

(64.6) Thefts

(per 100,000) 147

(1,885) 129

(1,675) 142

(1,858) 160

(2,103) 183

(2,433) 146

(1,916) 185

(2,418) 151

(1,982) 142

(1,860) 130

(1,702) 80

(1,051) 129

(1,676) 168

(2,161) 87

(1,125) Auto thefts

(per 100,000) 20

(256.5) 12

(155.8) 14

(183.2) 10

(131.5) 21

(279.2) 5

(65.6) 5

(65.4) 15

(196.9) 11

(144.1) 6

(78.5) 3

(39.4) 8

(104.0) 4

(51.5) 5

(64.6) Arson

(per 100,000) 1

(12.8) 1

(13.0) 1

(13.1) 1

(13.1) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(13.1) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(12.9) City-Data.com crime index 133.0 102.7 110.4 128.0 146.4 103.0 132.5 125.5 112.6 112.4 77.0 116.4 120.4 65.0 The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. Click on a table row to update graph

Crime rate in Plaistow detailed stats: murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, arson



Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 22 (15 officers).

Officers per 1,000 residents here: 1.94 New Hampshire average: 2.05



Latest news from Plaistow, NH collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

Ancestries: Irish (26.8%), English (20.8%), Italian (17.0%), French (15.7%), French Canadian (6.6%), German (5.1%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 104 feet

Land area: 10.6 square miles. Population density: 716 people per square mile (low).

225 residents are foreign born (1.0% Europe, 0.6% North America, 0.5% Africa, 0.5% Asia, 0.4% Latin America). This town: 2.9% New Hampshire: 4.4%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: Plaistow town: 1.9% ($2,939) New Hampshire: 2.3% ($2,946)

Latitude: 42.84 N, Longitude: 71.09 W

Area code: 603

Single-family new house construction building permits: 1997: 54 buildings , average cost: $96,300

54 $96,300 1998: 17 buildings , average cost: $111,300

17 $111,300 1999: 22 buildings , average cost: $120,200

22 $120,200 2000: 16 buildings , average cost: $179,500

16 $179,500 2001: 16 buildings , average cost: $168,000

16 $168,000 2002: 23 buildings , average cost: $148,500

23 $148,500 2003: 6 buildings , average cost: $154,500

6 $154,500 2004: 6 buildings , average cost: $161,800

6 $161,800 2005: 6 buildings , average cost: $160,600

6 $160,600 2006: 3 buildings , average cost: $145,300

3 $145,300 2007: 2 buildings , average cost: $145,300

2 $145,300 2011: 1 building , cost: $150,000

1 $150,000 2012: 4 buildings , average cost: $80,000

4 $80,000 2013: 9 buildings , average cost: $163,700

9 $163,700 2014: 6 buildings , average cost: $163,700

6 $163,700 2015: 33 buildings , average cost: $173,100

33 $173,100 2016: 13 buildings , average cost: $166,800

13 $166,800 2017: 7 buildings , average cost: $175,300

7 $175,300 2018: 10 buildings , average cost: $176,100

10 $176,100 2019: 8 buildings, average cost: $231,900

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.7% New Hampshire: 3.5%

Most common industries in Plaistow, NH (%) Both Males Females

Health care (11.5%)

Computer & electronic products (8.3%)

Construction (6.6%)

Educational services (6.4%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (5.0%)

Food & beverage stores (4.1%)

Finance & insurance (3.6%)

Construction (11.0%)

Computer & electronic products (9.4%)

Health care (5.2%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (5.0%)

Food & beverage stores (4.0%)

Administrative & support & waste management services (3.8%)

Repair & maintenance (3.6%)

Health care (19.4%)

Educational services (10.0%)

Computer & electronic products (7.0%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (4.9%)

Public administration (4.4%)

Food & beverage stores (4.3%)

Finance & insurance (4.2%) Most common occupations in Plaistow, NH (%) Both Males Females

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (6.2%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (5.5%)

Computer specialists (5.4%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (4.8%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (4.1%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (3.9%)

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (3.7%)

Computer specialists (7.7%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (6.4%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (6.1%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (5.0%)

Engineers (4.9%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (4.7%)

Retail sales workers, except cashiers (4.5%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (9.1%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (6.5%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (6.2%)

Registered nurses (5.6%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (4.4%)

Health technologists and technicians (3.7%)

Preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school teachers (3.4%)

Average climate in Plaistow, New Hampshire Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI CO NO 2 SO 2 Ozone PM 10 PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 62.9. This is about average. City: 62.9 U.S.: 74.2

Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2018 was 0.179. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 14.6 miles away from the city center. City: 0.179 U.S.: 0.267

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 3.74. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 4.2 miles away from the city center. City: 3.74 U.S.: 5.56

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.804. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 4.2 miles away from the city center. City: 0.804 U.S.: 1.789

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 26.6. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 4.6 miles away from the city center. City: 26.6 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 9.96. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 9.2 miles away from the city center. City: 9.96 U.S.: 19.64

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 5.33. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 4.6 miles away from the city center. City: 5.33 U.S.: 8.46

Tornado activity: Plaistow-area historical tornado activity is slightly above New Hampshire state average. It is 43% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 6/9/1953, a category F3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado 11.1 miles away from the Plaistow town center injured 5 people and caused between $5000 and $50,000 in damages. On 9/29/1974, a category F3 tornado 16.0 miles away from the town center injured one person and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: Plaistow-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above New Hampshire state average. It is 73% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.3 (5.3 ML, Depth: 3.0 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 174.3 miles away from Plaistow center

On 1/19/1982 at 00:14:42, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 MD, 4.5 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 52.5 miles away from Plaistow center

On 10/7/1983 at 10:18:46, a magnitude 5.3 (5.1 MB, 5.3 LG, 5.1 ML) earthquake occurred 180.5 miles away from Plaistow center

On 10/16/2012 at 23:12:25, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 ML, Depth: 10.0 mi) earthquake occurred 57.0 miles away from Plaistow center

On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MB, 4.2 MS, 5.2 MW, 5.0 MW) earthquake occurred 173.9 miles away from Plaistow center

On 8/22/1992 at 12:20:32, a magnitude 4.8 (4.8 MB, 3.8 MS, 4.7 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 261.2 miles away from Plaistow center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Rockingham County (26) is a lot greater than the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 17

Emergencies Declared: 9



Causes of natural disasters: Storms: 12, Floods: 9, Winter Storms: 5, Hurricanes: 4, Snowstorms: 4, Snows: 2, Winds: 2, Blizzard: 1, Snowfall: 1, Tornado: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Plaistow: LENOX NH INC (Nursing Home, about 2 miles away; HAVERHILL, MA)

KENOZA HILLCREST NURSING HOME (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; HAVERHILL, MA)

KENOZA MANOR CONV HOME (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; HAVERHILL, MA)

WINGATE AT HAVERHILL REHAB AND SKILLED NURSING RESID (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; HAVERHILL, MA)

OXFORD MANOR NURSING HOME (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; HAVERHILL, MA)

OXFORD, THE (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; HAVERHILL, MA)

HAVERHILL MANOR (Nursing Home, about 4 miles away; HAVERHILL, MA)

Amtrak stations near Plaistow: 5 miles: HAVERHILL (WASHINGTON ST. @ RAILROAD SQUARE) . Services: ticket office.

HAVERHILL (WASHINGTON ST. @ RAILROAD SQUARE) . ticket office. 13 miles: EXETER (60 LINCOLN ST.) . Services: ticket office.

Operable nuclear power plant near Plaistow: 13 miles: Seabrook in Seabrook, NH.



Local government website: www.plaistow.com

Library in Plaistow: PLAISTOW PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $441,437; Location: 85 MAIN STREET; 42,863 books; 1,358 audio materials; 1,591 video materials; 3 local licensed databases; 22 state licensed databases; 75 print serial subscriptions)

Rockingham County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Plaistow and their reported violations in the past: GOLDEN HILL (Population served: 110, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JUN-2012, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JUN-18-2012), St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUN-18-2012), St Public Notif received (JUL-16-2012), St Compliance achieved (JAN-18-2013) Past monitoring violations: Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JUL-01-2010 and OCT-01-2010, Contaminant: Chlorine. Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-29-2010), St Compliance achieved (MAR-16-2011) GREENFIELD HILL ESTATES (Population served: 80, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JUN-2011 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JUL-07-2011) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-07-2011) , St Public Notif received (JUL-21-2011) , St Compliance achieved (FEB-24-2012)

JUN-2011 Coliform St Public Notif requested (JUL-07-2011) St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-07-2011) St Public Notif received (JUL-21-2011) St Compliance achieved (FEB-24-2012) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2007 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (OCT-16-2007) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-16-2007) , St Public Notif received (DEC-13-2007) , St Compliance achieved (MAY-29-2008)

OCT-2007 Coliform St Public Notif requested (OCT-16-2007) St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-16-2007) St Public Notif received (DEC-13-2007) St Compliance achieved (MAY-29-2008) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In SEP-2007 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (SEP-25-2007) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-25-2007) , St Formal NOV issued (OCT-11-2007) , St Public Notif received (OCT-16-2007) , St Compliance achieved (MAY-29-2008)

SEP-2007 Coliform St Public Notif requested (SEP-25-2007) St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-25-2007) St Formal NOV issued (OCT-11-2007) St Public Notif received (OCT-16-2007) St Compliance achieved (MAY-29-2008) MCL, Acute (TCR) - In NOV-2006 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif received (NOV-22-2006) , St Public Notif requested (NOV-28-2006) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-28-2006) , St Compliance achieved (MAY-10-2007)

NOV-2006 Coliform St Public Notif received (NOV-22-2006) St Public Notif requested (NOV-28-2006) St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-28-2006) St Compliance achieved (MAY-10-2007) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2006 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (OCT-25-2006) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-25-2006) , St Public Notif received (DEC-21-2006) , St Compliance achieved (MAY-10-2007)

OCT-2006 Coliform St Public Notif requested (OCT-25-2006) St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-25-2006) St Public Notif received (DEC-21-2006) St Compliance achieved (MAY-10-2007) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In SEP-2006 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (SEP-22-2006) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-22-2006) , St Public Notif received (OCT-17-2006) , St Compliance achieved (MAY-10-2007)

SEP-2006 Coliform St Public Notif requested (SEP-22-2006) St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-22-2006) St Public Notif received (OCT-17-2006) St Compliance achieved (MAY-10-2007) 3 other older health violations CROSS RIDGE ESTATES (Population served: 73, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: Monitoring and Reporting (DBP) - Between JUL-01-2010 and OCT-01-2010, Contaminant: Chlorine. Follow-up actions: St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-29-2010), St Compliance achieved (MAR-16-2011) FORREST STREET CONDOS (Population served: 70, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Average - Between APR-2007 and JUN-2007 , Contaminant: Arsenic . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JUL-06-2007) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-06-2007) , St Public Notif received (AUG-20-2007) , St Compliance achieved (FEB-15-2008)

APR-2007 JUN-2007 Arsenic St Public Notif requested (JUL-06-2007) St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-06-2007) St Public Notif received (AUG-20-2007) St Compliance achieved (FEB-15-2008) MCL, Average - Between JAN-2007 and MAR-2007, Contaminant: Arsenic. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (APR-10-2007), St Violation/Reminder Notice (APR-10-2007), St Public Notif received (APR-26-2007), St Compliance achieved (FEB-15-2008) Past monitoring violations: One routine major monitoring violation VIC GEARY SENIOR CENTER (Population served: 40, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: 2 regular monitoring violations 26 CHANDLER AVE CONDOS (Population served: 33, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2008 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (NOV-06-2008) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-06-2008) , St Public Notif received (NOV-17-2008) , St Formal NOV issued (NOV-20-2008) , St Compliance achieved (APR-30-2009)

OCT-2008 Coliform St Public Notif requested (NOV-06-2008) St Violation/Reminder Notice (NOV-06-2008) St Public Notif received (NOV-17-2008) St Formal NOV issued (NOV-20-2008) St Compliance achieved (APR-30-2009) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In SEP-2008 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (SEP-29-2008) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-29-2008) , St Public Notif received (OCT-21-2008) , St Formal NOV issued (NOV-20-2008) , St Compliance achieved (APR-30-2009)

SEP-2008 Coliform St Public Notif requested (SEP-29-2008) St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-29-2008) St Public Notif received (OCT-21-2008) St Formal NOV issued (NOV-20-2008) St Compliance achieved (APR-30-2009) MCL, Average - Between JAN-2008 and MAR-2008 , Contaminant: Arsenic . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JAN-29-2008) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (JAN-29-2008) , St Public Notif received (FEB-29-2008) , St Compliance achieved (JAN-09-2009)

JAN-2008 MAR-2008 Arsenic St Public Notif requested (JAN-29-2008) St Violation/Reminder Notice (JAN-29-2008) St Public Notif received (FEB-29-2008) St Compliance achieved (JAN-09-2009) MCL, Average - Between OCT-2007 and DEC-2007 , Contaminant: Arsenic . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (DEC-28-2007) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (DEC-28-2007) , St Public Notif received (JAN-07-2008) , St Compliance achieved (JAN-09-2009)

OCT-2007 DEC-2007 Arsenic St Public Notif requested (DEC-28-2007) St Violation/Reminder Notice (DEC-28-2007) St Public Notif received (JAN-07-2008) St Compliance achieved (JAN-09-2009) MCL, Average - Between JUL-2007 and SEP-2007 , Contaminant: Arsenic . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (SEP-07-2007) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-07-2007) , St Public Notif received (SEP-24-2007) , St Formal NOV issued (OCT-09-2007) , St Compliance achieved (JAN-09-2009)

JUL-2007 SEP-2007 Arsenic St Public Notif requested (SEP-07-2007) St Violation/Reminder Notice (SEP-07-2007) St Public Notif received (SEP-24-2007) St Formal NOV issued (OCT-09-2007) St Compliance achieved (JAN-09-2009) MCL, Average - Between APR-2007 and JUN-2007, Contaminant: Arsenic. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (APR-19-2007), St Violation/Reminder Notice (APR-19-2007), St Public Notif received (APR-23-2007), St Formal NOV issued (OCT-09-2007), St Compliance achieved (JAN-09-2009) CHANDLER TERRACE (Population served: 30, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JUN-2008 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JUN-30-2008) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUN-30-2008) , St Public Notif received (SEP-15-2008) , St Compliance achieved (JAN-05-2009)

JUN-2008 Coliform St Public Notif requested (JUN-30-2008) St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUN-30-2008) St Public Notif received (SEP-15-2008) St Compliance achieved (JAN-05-2009) MCL, Average - Between JUL-2006 and SEP-2006 , Contaminant: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (OCT-31-2006) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-31-2006) , St Public Notif received (NOV-17-2006) , St Compliance achieved (AUG-04-2008)

JUL-2006 SEP-2006 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U St Public Notif requested (OCT-31-2006) St Violation/Reminder Notice (OCT-31-2006) St Public Notif received (NOV-17-2006) St Compliance achieved (AUG-04-2008) MCL, Average - Between APR-2006 and JUN-2006 , Contaminant: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U . Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (JUL-14-2006) , St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-14-2006) , St Intentional no-action (NOV-02-2007)

APR-2006 JUN-2006 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U St Public Notif requested (JUL-14-2006) St Violation/Reminder Notice (JUL-14-2006) St Intentional no-action (NOV-02-2007) MCL, Average - Between OCT-2005 and DEC-2005, Contaminant: Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U. Follow-up actions: St Public Notif requested (FEB-28-2006), St Formal NOV issued (FEB-28-2006), St Public Notif received (MAR-14-2006), St Compliance achieved (AUG-04-2008) Past monitoring violations: 2 regular monitoring violations Drinking water stations with addresses in Plaistow that have no violations reported: ROCKINGHAM CHURCH (Address: 3 EVANS AVE , Population served: 250, Primary Water Source Type: Groundwater) GOLDEN HILL (110Groundwater):GREENFIELD HILL ESTATES (80Groundwater):CROSS RIDGE ESTATES (73Groundwater):FORREST STREET CONDOS (70Groundwater):VIC GEARY SENIOR CENTER (40Groundwater):26 CHANDLER AVE CONDOS (33Groundwater):CHANDLER TERRACE (30Groundwater):

Average household size: This town: 2.6 people New Hampshire: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This town: 72.2% Whole state: 66.3%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This town: 8.1% Whole state: 8.3%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.5% of all households

0.5% Gay men: 0.2% of all households Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 3.2% Whole state: 6.5% Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 1.9% Whole state: 2.8%

3 people in workers' group living quarters and job corps centers in 2010

2 people in other noninstitutional facilities in 2010

10 people in other group homes in 2000

Banks with branches in Plaistow (2011 data): TD Bank, National Association: Route 125 Branch at 47 Plaistow Rd , branch established on 1967/10/09 . Info updated 2010/10/04: Bank assets: $188,912.6 mil , Deposits: $153,149.8 mil , headquarters in Wilmington, DE , positive income , 1314 total offices , Holding Company: Toronto-Dominion Bank, The

47 Plaistow Rd 1967/10/09 2010/10/04: $188,912.6 mil $153,149.8 mil Wilmington, DE 1314 Toronto-Dominion Bank, The Sovereign Bank, National Association: Plaistow Branch at 58 Plaistow Road , branch established on 1987/02/02 . Info updated 2012/01/31: Bank assets: $78,146.9 mil , Deposits: $48,042.9 mil , headquarters in Wilmington, DE , positive income , Commercial Lending Specialization , 718 total offices , Holding Company: Banco Santander, S.A.

58 Plaistow Road 1987/02/02 2012/01/31: $78,146.9 mil $48,042.9 mil Wilmington, DE , Commercial Lending Specialization 718 Banco Santander, S.A. Bank of America, National Association: Plaistow Branch at Route 125 / 31 Plaistow Road , branch established on 1917/01/01 . Info updated 2009/11/18: Bank assets: $1,451,969.3 mil , Deposits: $1,077,176.8 mil , headquarters in Charlotte, NC , positive income , 5782 total offices , Holding Company: Bank Of America Corporation

Route 125 / 31 Plaistow Road 1917/01/01 2009/11/18: $1,451,969.3 mil $1,077,176.8 mil Charlotte, NC 5782 Bank Of America Corporation People's United Bank: Plaistow Branch at 76 Main Street, branch established on 1996/08/12. Info updated 2012/02/16: Bank assets: $27,319.3 mil, Deposits: $20,835.4 mil, headquarters in Bridgeport, CT, positive income, Commercial Lending Specialization, 374 total offices

For population 15 years and over in Plaistow: Never married: 22.6%

22.6% Now married: 60.9%

60.9% Separated: 1.6%

1.6% Widowed: 5.4%

5.4% Divorced: 9.4%

For population 25 years and over in Plaistow: High school or higher: 91.0%

91.0% Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.1%

24.1% Graduate or professional degree: 7.0%

7.0% Unemployed: 3.1%

3.1% Mean travel time to work (commute): 29.0 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 8.9 New Hampshire average: 10.9



Religion statistics for Plaistow, NH (based on Rockingham County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Catholic 84,697 24 Mainline Protestant 19,072 78 Evangelical Protestant 7,456 61 Other 3,490 20 Orthodox 200 1 None 180,308 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 47 Rockingham County : 1.59 / 10,000 pop. New Hampshire : 2.14 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 5 Here : 0.17 / 10,000 pop. New Hampshire : 0.15 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 55 Here : 1.86 / 10,000 pop. State : 1.78 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 98 Rockingham County : 3.31 / 10,000 pop. State : 4.02 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 283 Rockingham County : 9.56 / 10,000 pop. New Hampshire : 9.70 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: This county : 7.6% State : 7.6% Adult obesity rate: Rockingham County : 23.3% New Hampshire : 24.4% Low-income preschool obesity rate: This county : 16.8% New Hampshire : 15.9%

7.23% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($84,203 average adjusted gross income) Here: 7.23% New Hampshire average: 6.87% 0.04% of residents moved from foreign countries ($696 average AGI) Rockingham County: 0.04% New Hampshire average: 0.04%

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Essex County, MA 1.37% ($74,166 average AGI) from Hillsborough County, NH 1.32% ($68,726) from Middlesex County, MA 0.75% ($85,602)



6.92% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($74,046 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.92% New Hampshire average: 6.70% 0.06% of residents moved to foreign countries ($512 average AGI) Rockingham County: 0.06% New Hampshire average: 0.06%

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Hillsborough County, NH 1.37% ($54,619 average AGI) to Strafford County, NH 0.88% ($52,198) to Essex County, MA 0.74% ($57,814)

Businesses in Plaistow, NH Name Count Name Count AT&T 1 RadioShack 1 Ace Hardware 1 Rite Aid 1 AutoZone 1 SAS Shoes 1 Bed Bath & Beyond 1 Shaw's 1 CVS 1 Staples 1 Dunkin Donuts 3 Subaru 1 FedEx 3 Subway 2 GNC 1 T-Mobile 3 GameStop 1 T.J.Maxx 1 H&R Block 1 The Room Place 1 Home Depot 1 True Value 1 Kohl's 1 U-Haul 1 MasterBrand Cabinets 7 UPS 5 New Balance 1 Vans 1 Nike 2 Walmart 1

Strongest AM radio stations in Plaistow: WRKO (680 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WDER (1320 AM; 10 kW; DERRY, NH; Owner: BLOUNT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. OF NH)

BLOUNT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. OF NH) WCEC (1110 AM; daytime; 5 kW; SALEM, NH; Owner: COSTA-EAGLE RADIO VENTURES LTD PARTNERSHIP)

COSTA-EAGLE RADIO VENTURES LTD PARTNERSHIP) WEEI (850 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WCCM (1490 AM; 1 kW; HAVERHILL, MA; Owner: COSTA-EAGLE RADIO VENTURES LTD P/SHI)

COSTA-EAGLE RADIO VENTURES LTD P/SHI) WWZN (1510 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ROSE CITY RADIO CORPORATION)

ROSE CITY RADIO CORPORATION) WBZ (1030 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.)

INFINITY BROADCASTING OPERATIONS, INC.) WKOX (1200 AM; 50 kW; FRAMINGHAM, MA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WBIX (1060 AM; 40 kW; NATICK, MA; Owner: LANGER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

LANGER BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WGIP (1540 AM; 5 kW; EXETER, NH; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WCRN (830 AM; 50 kW; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WRCA (1330 AM; 25 kW; WALTHAM, MA; Owner: WRCA LICENSE, LLC)

WRCA LICENSE, LLC) WCAP (980 AM; 5 kW; LOWELL, MA; Owner: NORTHEAST RADIO, INC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Plaistow: WXRV (92.5 FM; HAVERHILL, MA; Owner: BEANPOT BROADCASTING CORP.)

BEANPOT BROADCASTING CORP.) WNEF (91.7 FM; NEWBURYPORT, MA; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS)

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS) WKLB-FM (99.5 FM; LOWELL, MA; Owner: GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.)

GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.) W227AM (93.3 FM; ANDOVER, MA; Owner: GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.)

GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.) WSAK (102.1 FM; HAMPTON, NH; Owner: CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY)

CITADEL BROADCASTING COMPANY) WGIR-FM (101.1 FM; MANCHESTER, NH; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WHOB (106.3 FM; NASHUA, NH; Owner: TELE-MEDIA COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, L.L.C.)

TELE-MEDIA COMPANY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, L.L.C.) WQLL (96.5 FM; BEDFORD, NH; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)

SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) WLMW (90.7 FM; MANCHESTER, NH; Owner: KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE)

KNOWLEDGE FOR LIFE) WZID (95.7 FM; MANCHESTER, NH; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)

SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) WXKS-FM (107.9 FM; MEDFORD, MA; Owner: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.)

AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.) WQSX (93.7 FM; LAWRENCE, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WMJX (106.7 FM; BOSTON, MA; Owner: GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.)

GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.) WFEX (92.1 FM; PETERBOROUGH, NH; Owner: FNX BROADCASTING OF NEW HAMPSHIRE LLC)

FNX BROADCASTING OF NEW HAMPSHIRE LLC) WBMX (98.5 FM; BOSTON, MA; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) WJMN (94.5 FM; BOSTON, MA; Owner: AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.)

AMFM RADIO LICENSES, L.L.C.) WCRB (102.5 FM; WALTHAM, MA; Owner: CHARLES RIVER BROADCASTING WCRB LICE)

CHARLES RIVER BROADCASTING WCRB LICE) WTKK (96.9 FM; BOSTON, MA; Owner: GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.)

GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.) WROR-FM (105.7 FM; FRAMINGHAM, MA; Owner: GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.)

GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.) WBOS (92.9 FM; BROOKLINE, MA; Owner: GREATER BOSTON RADIO, INC.) TV broadcast stations around Plaistow: WFXZ-CA ( Channel 24; BOSTON, MA; Owner: BOSTON BROADCASTING CORP.)

24; BOSTON, MA; BOSTON BROADCASTING CORP.) WHDN-LP ( Channel 26; BOSTON, MA; Owner: GUENTER MARKSTEINER)

26; BOSTON, MA; GUENTER MARKSTEINER) WCVB-TV ( Channel 5; BOSTON, MA; Owner: WCVB HEARST-ARGYLE TV, INC.)

5; BOSTON, MA; WCVB HEARST-ARGYLE TV, INC.) WGBH-TV ( Channel 2; BOSTON, MA; Owner: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION)

2; BOSTON, MA; WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION) WNDS ( Channel 50; DERRY, NH; Owner: CTV OF DERRY, INC)

50; DERRY, NH; CTV OF DERRY, INC) WHDH-TV ( Channel 7; BOSTON, MA; Owner: WHDH-TV)

7; BOSTON, MA; WHDH-TV) WMEA-TV ( Channel 26; BIDDEFORD, ME; Owner: MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.)

26; BIDDEFORD, ME; MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP.) WMFP ( Channel 62; LAWRENCE, MA; Owner: WSAH LICENSE, INC.)

62; LAWRENCE, MA; WSAH LICENSE, INC.) WBZ-TV ( Channel 4; BOSTON, MA; Owner: VIACOM INC.)

4; BOSTON, MA; VIACOM INC.) WGBX-TV ( Channel 44; BOSTON, MA; Owner: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION)

44; BOSTON, MA; WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION) WSBK-TV ( Channel 38; BOSTON, MA; Owner: VIACOM INC.)

38; BOSTON, MA; VIACOM INC.) WLVI-TV ( Channel 56; CAMBRIDGE, MA; Owner: WLVI, INC.)

56; CAMBRIDGE, MA; WLVI, INC.) WUTF ( Channel 66; MARLBOROUGH, MA; Owner: TELEFUTURA BOSTON LLC)

66; MARLBOROUGH, MA; TELEFUTURA BOSTON LLC) WFXT ( Channel 25; BOSTON, MA; Owner: FOX TELEVISION STATIONS INC.)

25; BOSTON, MA; FOX TELEVISION STATIONS INC.) WBPX ( Channel 68; BOSTON, MA; Owner: PAXSON BOSTON-68 LICENSE, INC.)

68; BOSTON, MA; PAXSON BOSTON-68 LICENSE, INC.) WENH-TV ( Channel 11; DURHAM, NH; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE)

11; DURHAM, NH; UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE) WUNI ( Channel 27; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC)

27; WORCESTER, MA; ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC) WTMU-LP ( Channel 32; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ZGS BOSTON, INC.)

32; BOSTON, MA; ZGS BOSTON, INC.) WCEA-LP ( Channel 58; BOSTON, MA; Owner: CHANNEL 19 TV CORPORATION)

58; BOSTON, MA; CHANNEL 19 TV CORPORATION) W40BO (Channel 40; BOSTON, MA; Owner: PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS LPTV, INC.)

Medal of Honor Recipients Medal of Honor Recipient born in Plaistow: Daniel G. George.

Plaistow fatal accident statistics for 1975 - 2019

See more detailed statistics of Plaistow fatal car crashes and road traffic accidents for 1975 - 2019 here

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

6 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 62ft / 18.7m Total length

Total length $18,852,000 Total costs

Total costs 55,800 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 3,040 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 82,584 Total future (year 2038) average daily traffic

2003 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents According to the data from the years 2003 - 2018 the average number of fires per year is 29. The highest number of reported fire incidents - 49 took place in 2015, and the least - 2 in 2005. The data has a decreasing trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Plaistow, NH



205 44.9% Outside Fires



159 34.8% Structure Fires



70 15.3% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



23 5.0% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most incidents belonged to: Outside Fires (44.9%), and Structure Fires (34.8%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Plaistow, NH

Houses and condos Apartments 70.4% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

22.3% Utility gas

3.1% Electricity

3.1% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

1.1% Wood 46.3% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

30.1% Utility gas

14.7% Electricity

8.9% Bottled, tank, or LP gas





Plaistow compared to New Hampshire state average: Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage below state average.

below Hispanic race population percentage below state average.

below Foreign-born population percentage below state average.

below Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.

significantly above Number of rooms per house significantly below state average.

significantly below House age significantly below state average.

Plaistow on our top lists: #8 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: used merchandise, gift, novelty, and souvenir, and other miscellaneous stores (population 5,000+)"

#9 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: mathematical science occupations (population 5,000+)"

#13 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: retail florists (population 5,000+)"

#23 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: customer service representatives (population 5,000+)"

#24 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: computer and electronic products (population 5,000+)"

#34 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: warehousing and storage (population 5,000+)"

#41 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: health and personal care, except drug, stores (population 5,000+)"

#42 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: computer and electronic products (population 5,000+)"

#43 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: furniture and home furnishings, and household appliance stores (population 5,000+)"

#48 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: financial managers (population 5,000+)"

#48 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: radio, tv, and computer stores (population 5,000+)"

#53 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: computer specialists (population 5,000+)"

#55 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: personal appearance workers (population 5,000+)"

#55 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: printing and related support activities (population 5,000+)"

#58 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: leather and allied products (population 5,000+)"

#62 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: retail sales workers except cashiers (population 5,000+)"

#69 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: miscellaneous manufacturing (population 5,000+)"

#70 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: book stores and news dealers (population 5,000+)"

#79 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers (population 5,000+)"

#80 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: plastics and rubber products (population 5,000+)" #93 (03865) on the list of "Top 101 zip codes with the largest percentage of French first ancestries (pop 5,000+)" #9 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the largest decrease in the number of births per 1000 residents 2000-2006 to 2007-2013 (pop 50,000+)"

#14 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the best general health status score of residents (1-5), 3 years of data"

#16 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest number of births per 1000 residents 2007-2013"

#22 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (g/m 3 )"

#36 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that visited a dentist within the past year"

Cost of Living Calculator Your current salary: State of origin: Choose state Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Destination state: Choose state Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming




South Hadley, Massachusetts

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Population in 2010: 17,514.

Population change since 2000: +1.8%

17,514.+1.8%

Males: 7,176 (41.0%) Females: 10,338 (59.0%)

Median resident age: 40.6 years Massachusetts median age: 39.2 years

Zip codes: 01075.

Estimated median household income in 2019: $75,719 (it was $46,678 in 2000)

South Hadley: $75,719 MA: $85,843

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $37,570 (it was $22,732 in 2000)



South Hadley town income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $274,345 (it was $134,300 in 2000) South Hadley: $274,345 MA: $418,600

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $306,368; detached houses: $317,117; townhouses or other attached units: $248,994; in 2-unit structures: $281,305; in 3-to-4-unit structures: $334,043; in 5-or-more-unit structures: $212,278; mobile homes: $72,097 $75,719 ($46,678$37,570 ($22,732$274,345 ($134,300$306,368;$317,117;$248,994;$281,305;$334,043;$212,278;$72,097

March 2019 cost of living index in South Hadley: 114.5 (more than average, U.S. average is 100)

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15,308 87.4% White alone 753 4.3% Hispanic 701 4.0% Asian alone 368 2.1% Black alone 322 1.8% Two or more races 33 0.2% Other race alone 20 0.1% American Indian alone 9 0.05% Native Hawaiian and Other

Pacific Islander alone

Races in South Hadley detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Massachusetts and other state lists, there were 6 registered sex offenders living in South Hadley, Massachusetts as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in South Hadley is 2,919 to 1.

The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is lower than the state average.





Crime rates in South Hadley by year Type 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Murders

(per 100,000) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 1

(5.7) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) 0

(0.0) Rapes

(per 100,000) 8

(46.6) 0

(0.0) 3

(17.7) 1

(5.8) 1

(5.8) 4

(22.7) 10

(56.7) 4

(22.5) 7

(39.4) 6

(33.9) 1

(5.6) 2

(11.2) 1

(5.6) 4

(22.5) Robberies

(per 100,000) 1

(5.8) 0

(0.0) 7

(41.4) 5

(29.0) 6

(35.0) 9

(51.1) 2

(11.3) 4

(22.5) 4

(22.5) 3

(17.0) 5

(28.2) 4

(22.5) 3

(16.9) 0

(0.0) Assaults

(per 100,000) 22

(128.2) 27

(158.7) 23

(135.9) 23

(133.2) 30

(175.0) 32

(181.6) 29

(164.4) 30

(168.6) 21

(118.3) 31

(175.3) 17

(95.8) 21

(118.0) 20

(112.4) 23

(129.1) Burglaries

(per 100,000) 66

(384.5) 93

(546.7) 66

(390.0) 66

(382.2) 73

(426.0) 65

(368.9) 90

(510.1) 97

(545.1) 66

(371.9) 75

(424.1) 123

(693.0) 95

(533.6) 78

(438.2) 28

(157.2) Thefts

(per 100,000) 190

(1,107) 154

(905.3) 185

(1,093) 168

(973.0) 198

(1,155) 199

(1,129) 235

(1,332) 167

(938.5) 159

(895.9) 189

(1,069) 122

(687.4) 148

(831.3) 160

(898.9) 120

(673.6) Auto thefts

(per 100,000) 13

(75.7) 19

(111.7) 6

(35.5) 19

(110.0) 17

(99.2) 10

(56.8) 9

(51.0) 12

(67.4) 12

(67.6) 12

(67.9) 8

(45.1) 8

(44.9) 13

(73.0) 8

(44.9) Arson

(per 100,000) 3

(17.5) 1

(5.9) 2

(11.8) 1

(5.8) 4

(23.3) 3

(17.0) 2

(11.3) 1

(5.6) 2

(11.3) 2

(11.3) 1

(5.6) 1

(5.6) 0

(0.0) 3

(16.8) City-Data.com crime index 141.9 115.2 127.7 114.4 134.1 145.3 186.0 139.5 129.3 145.2 111.7 113.5 104.5 85.3 The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities. Click on a table row to update graph

Crime rate in South Hadley detailed stats: murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, arson



Full-time law enforcement employees in 2018, including police officers: 33 (27 officers).

Officers per 1,000 residents here: 1.52 Massachusetts average: 2.42



Latest news from South Hadley, MA collected exclusively by city-data.com from local newspapers, TV, and radio stations

South Hadley, MA City Guides: South Hadley, MA Guides 1

Ancestries: Irish (19.7%), French (15.6%), Polish (14.8%), English (13.7%), French Canadian (12.0%), German (11.4%).

Current Local Time: EST time zone

Elevation: 257 feet

Land area: 17.7 square miles. Population density: 989 people per square mile (low).

1,170 residents are foreign born (2.8% Europe, 2.0% Asia, 1.1% North America). This town: 6.8% Massachusetts: 12.2%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: South Hadley town: 1.7% ($2,288) Massachusetts: 1.3% ($2,336)

Latitude: 42.23 N, Longitude: 72.58 W

Area code commonly used in this area: 413

Single-family new house construction building permits: 1997: 43 buildings , average cost: $136,700

43 $136,700 1998: 38 buildings , average cost: $152,000

38 $152,000 1999: 31 buildings , average cost: $209,000

31 $209,000 2000: 26 buildings , average cost: $201,400

26 $201,400 2001: 17 buildings , average cost: $245,600

17 $245,600 2002: 40 buildings , average cost: $233,900

40 $233,900 2003: 28 buildings , average cost: $270,600

28 $270,600 2004: 36 buildings , average cost: $275,300

36 $275,300 2005: 30 buildings , average cost: $275,600

30 $275,600 2006: 32 buildings , average cost: $242,400

32 $242,400 2007: 23 buildings , average cost: $207,600

23 $207,600 2008: 18 buildings , average cost: $245,600

18 $245,600 2009: 22 buildings , average cost: $215,100

22 $215,100 2010: 29 buildings , average cost: $193,000

29 $193,000 2011: 12 buildings , average cost: $237,700

12 $237,700 2012: 13 buildings , average cost: $209,800

13 $209,800 2013: 12 buildings , average cost: $176,400

12 $176,400 2014: 13 buildings , average cost: $182,000

13 $182,000 2015: 26 buildings , average cost: $146,800

26 $146,800 2016: 19 buildings , average cost: $183,200

19 $183,200 2017: 12 buildings , average cost: $186,800

12 $186,800 2018: 12 buildings , average cost: $252,000

12 $252,000 2019: 4 buildings, average cost: $295,900

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.5% Massachusetts: 6.2%

Most common industries in South Hadley, MA (%) Both Males Females

Educational services (23.4%)

Health care (11.2%)

Accommodation & food services (5.7%)

Construction (4.9%)

Public administration (4.0%)

Finance & insurance (4.0%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (3.1%)

Educational services (11.0%)

Construction (9.0%)

Public administration (5.8%)

Health care (5.8%)

Accommodation & food services (5.5%)

Metal & metal products (4.1%)

Paper (3.7%)

Educational services (33.1%)

Health care (15.4%)

Accommodation & food services (6.0%)

Finance & insurance (4.5%)

Social assistance (2.9%)

Professional, scientific, technical services (2.7%)

Public administration (2.6%) Most common occupations in South Hadley, MA (%) Both Males Females

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (4.9%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (4.9%)

Postsecondary teachers (4.5%)

Other food preparation and serving workers, including supervisors (3.7%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (3.6%)

Registered nurses (2.7%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (2.7%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (5.0%)

Top executives (4.8%)

Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (4.3%)

Other production occupations, including supervisors (4.2%)

Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (3.6%)

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair workers, including supervisors (3.6%)

Other sales and related occupations, including supervisors (3.3%)

Other office and administrative support workers, including supervisors (7.4%)

Postsecondary teachers (5.9%)

Other management occupations, except farmers and farm managers (4.8%)

Secretaries and administrative assistants (4.8%)

Other food preparation and serving workers, including supervisors (4.7%)

Registered nurses (4.3%)

Other teachers, instructors, education, training, and library occupations (3.6%)

Average climate in South Hadley, Massachusetts Based on data reported by over 4,000 weather stations

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI CO NO 2 SO 2 Ozone PM 2.5

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 72.4. This is about average. City: 72.4 U.S.: 74.2

Carbon Monoxide (CO) [ppm] level in 2018 was 0.318. This is about average. Closest monitor was 3.3 miles away from the city center. City: 0.318 U.S.: 0.267

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2001 was 9.70. This is significantly worse than average. Closest monitor was 2.9 miles away from the city center. City: 9.70 U.S.: 5.56

Sulfur Dioxide (SO 2 ) [ppb] level in 2018 was 0.526. This is significantly better than average. Closest monitor was 0.8 miles away from the city center. City: 0.526 U.S.: 1.789

Ozone [ppb] level in 2018 was 28.7. This is about average. Closest monitor was 3.1 miles away from the city center. City: 28.7 U.S.: 33.3

Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 6.31. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 3.1 miles away from the city center. City: 6.31 U.S.: 8.46

Tornado activity: South Hadley-area historical tornado activity is above Massachusetts state average. It is 8% smaller than the overall U.S. average.

On 10/3/1979, a category F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 14.1 miles away from the South Hadley town center killed 3 people and injured 500 people and caused between $50,000,000 and $500,000,000 in damages. On 6/9/1953, a category F4 tornado 26.6 miles away from the town center killed 90 people and injured 1228 people and caused between $50,000,000 and $500,000,000 in damages.

Earthquake activity: South Hadley-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Massachusetts state average. It is 70% smaller than the overall U.S. average.



On 10/7/1983 at 10:18:46, a magnitude 5.3 (5.1 MB, 5.3 LG, 5.1 ML, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 148.4 miles away from the city center

On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.3 (5.3 ML, Depth: 3.0 mi) earthquake occurred 167.2 miles away from South Hadley center

On 4/20/2002 at 10:50:47, a magnitude 5.2 (5.2 MB, 4.2 MS, 5.2 MW, 5.0 MW) earthquake occurred 165.9 miles away from the city center

On 1/19/1982 at 00:14:42, a magnitude 4.7 (4.5 MB, 4.7 MD, 4.5 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 100.7 miles away from South Hadley center

On 10/16/2012 at 23:12:25, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 ML, Depth: 10.0 mi) earthquake occurred 135.7 miles away from the city center

On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi) earthquake occurred 411.9 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Hampshire County (21) is greater than the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 10

Emergencies Declared: 10



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 5, Snowstorms: 5, Storms: 5, Hurricanes: 4, Winter Storms: 4, Blizzards: 2, Snows: 2, Snowfall: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Wind: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers in South Hadley: WINGATE AT SOUTH HADLEY REHAB AND SKILLED NURSING (573 GRANBY ROAD) Other hospitals and medical centers near South Hadley: FALLS NURSING HOME (Nursing Home, about 2 miles away; SOUTH HADLEY FALLS, MA)

HOLYOKE VISITING NURSE ASSOC (Home Health Center, about 3 miles away; HOLYOKE, MA)

RENAISSANCE MANOR ON CABOT (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; HOLYOKE, MA)

HOLYOKE HEALTH CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 3 miles away; HOLYOKE, MA)

HOLYOKE REHABILITATION CENTER (Nursing Home, about 4 miles away; HOLYOKE, MA)

OAK MANOR NURSING HOME (Nursing Home, about 4 miles away; HOLYOKE, MA)

HOLYOKE MEDICAL CENTER Acute Care Hospitals (about 4 miles away; HOLYOKE, MA)

Amtrak stations near South Hadley: 9 miles: SPRINGFIELD (66 LYMAN ST.) . Services: ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, full-service food facilities, snack bar, vending machines, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, intercity bus service, public transit connection.

SPRINGFIELD (66 LYMAN ST.) . ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, full-service food facilities, snack bar, vending machines, ATM, paid short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, taxi stand, intercity bus service, public transit connection. 11 miles: AMHERST (RAILROAD ST.) . Services: enclosed waiting area, public payphones, free short-term parking, paid long-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service, public transit connection.

Local government website: www.southhadley.org

Libraries in South Hadley: SOUTH HADLEY PUBLIC LIBRARY ( Operating income: $551,215; Location: 27 BARDWELL ST.; 35,562 books ; 930 e-books ; 5,673 audio materials ; 5,023 video materials ; 6 local licensed databases ; 30 state licensed databases ; 132 print serial subscriptions )

( $551,215; 27 BARDWELL ST.; 35,562 ; 930 ; 5,673 ; 5,023 ; 6 ; 30 ; 132 ) GAYLORD MEMORIAL LIBRARY (Operating income: $48,976; Location: 47 COLLEGE STREET; 11,180 books; 505 audio materials; 1,069 video materials; 30 state licensed databases; 25 print serial subscriptions)

Birthplace of: George Herbert Mead - Philosopher, Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge - Colonel in the Massachusetts militia, Ralph W. Ellis - Politician, Edwin White - Painter, Pamela Stewart - Poet, Winthrop H. Smith - Financial businessman.

Hampshire County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in South Hadley and their reported violations in the past: SOUTH HADLEY FD #1 (MWRA) (Population served: 14,000, Purch surface water): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In NOV-2013 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (2 times from MAR-12-2013 to DEC-13-2013)

NOV-2013 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (2 MAR-12-2013 to DEC-13-2013) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In SEP-2013 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (2 times from MAR-12-2013 to OCT-18-2013)

SEP-2013 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (2 MAR-12-2013 to OCT-18-2013) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2012 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (MAR-12-2013)

OCT-2012 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (MAR-12-2013) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In JUL-2012 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JUL-25-2012) , St Compliance achieved (SEP-26-2012) , St AO (w/o penalty) issued (MAR-12-2013)

JUL-2012 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JUL-25-2012) St Compliance achieved (SEP-26-2012) St AO (w/o penalty) issued (MAR-12-2013) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2009 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (NOV-27-2009)

OCT-2009 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (NOV-27-2009) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In NOV-2005, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (DEC-21-2005) SOUTH HADLEY FD #2 (Population served: 4,000, Groundwater): Past health violations: MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In DEC-2011 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JAN-05-2012)

DEC-2011 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (JAN-05-2012) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In AUG-2011 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-09-2011) , St Compliance achieved (SEP-09-2011)

AUG-2011 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-09-2011) St Compliance achieved (SEP-09-2011) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In AUG-2010 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-13-2010)

AUG-2010 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (SEP-13-2010) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In NOV-2009 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (DEC-17-2009)

NOV-2009 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (DEC-17-2009) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In AUG-2009 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (2 times from SEP-28-2009 to DEC-17-2009)

AUG-2009 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (2 SEP-28-2009 to DEC-17-2009) MCL, Acute (TCR) - In AUG-2008 , Contaminant: Coliform . Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (AUG-13-2008)

AUG-2008 Coliform St AO (w/o penalty) issued (AUG-13-2008) MCL, Monthly (TCR) - In OCT-2006, Contaminant: Coliform. Follow-up actions: St AO (w/o penalty) issued (NOV-27-2006) SOUTH HADLEY FD #1 (MWRA) (14,000Purch surface water):SOUTH HADLEY FD #2 (4,000Groundwater):

Average household size: This town: 2.3 people Massachusetts: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This town: 61.2% Whole state: 63.0%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This town: 7.2% Whole state: 7.0%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 1.0% of all households

1.0% Gay men: 0.3% of all households Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 5.9% Whole state: 9.3% Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:

This town: 1.7% Whole state: 4.4%

People in group quarters in South Hadley in 2010: 2,049 people in college/university student housing

118 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities

21 people in residential schools for people with disabilities

7 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles

3 people in group homes intended for adults People in group quarters in South Hadley in 2000: 1,720 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)

114 people in nursing homes

8 people in homes for the mentally retarded

3 people in religious group quarters

2 people in other noninstitutional group quarters

Banks with branches in South Hadley (2011 data): PeoplesBank: South Hadley Branch at 494 Newton Street , branch established on 1993/04/26; College Street Branch at 7 College Street , branch established on 2006/08/28 . Info updated 2007/02/12: Bank assets: $1,653.1 mil , Deposits: $1,224.2 mil , headquarters in Holyoke, MA , positive income , Commercial Lending Specialization , 18 total offices , Holding Company: Peoplesbancorp, Mhc

494 Newton Street 1993/04/26; College Street Branch 7 College Street 2006/08/28 2007/02/12: $1,653.1 mil $1,224.2 mil Holyoke, MA , Commercial Lending Specialization 18 Peoplesbancorp, Mhc Berkshire Bank: South Hadley Branch at 74 Lamb Street, Route 116 , branch established on 1993/01/11 . Info updated 2011/08/24: Bank assets: $3,955.6 mil , Deposits: $3,176.2 mil , headquarters in Pittsfield, MA , positive income , Commercial Lending Specialization , 64 total offices

74 Lamb Street, Route 116 1993/01/11 2011/08/24: $3,955.6 mil $3,176.2 mil Pittsfield, MA , Commercial Lending Specialization 64 TD Bank, National Association: South Hadley/Newton Branch at 460 Newton Street , branch established on 1996/08/28 . Info updated 2010/10/04: Bank assets: $188,912.6 mil , Deposits: $153,149.8 mil , headquarters in Wilmington, DE , positive income , 1314 total offices , Holding Company: Toronto-Dominion Bank, The

460 Newton Street 1996/08/28 2010/10/04: $188,912.6 mil $153,149.8 mil Wilmington, DE 1314 Toronto-Dominion Bank, The Chicopee Savings Bank: South Hadley Branch at 32 Willimansett Street , branch established on 2008/11/19 . Info updated 2012/04/03: Bank assets: $615.4 mil , Deposits: $459.7 mil , headquarters in Chicopee, MA , positive income , Commercial Lending Specialization , 8 total offices , Holding Company: Chicopee Bancorp, Inc.

32 Willimansett Street 2008/11/19 2012/04/03: $615.4 mil $459.7 mil Chicopee, MA , Commercial Lending Specialization 8 Chicopee Bancorp, Inc. Bank of America, National Association: South Hadley Branch at 487 Newton Street , branch established on 1968/09/05 . Info updated 2009/11/18: Bank assets: $1,451,969.3 mil , Deposits: $1,077,176.8 mil , headquarters in Charlotte, NC , positive income , 5782 total offices , Holding Company: Bank Of America Corporation

487 Newton Street 1968/09/05 2009/11/18: $1,451,969.3 mil $1,077,176.8 mil Charlotte, NC 5782 Bank Of America Corporation Easthampton Savings Bank: Granby Road Branch at 605 Granby Road, branch established on 2002/01/29. Info updated 2008/10/14: Bank assets: $939.2 mil, Deposits: $757.1 mil, headquarters in Easthampton, MA, positive income, Mortgage Lending Specialization, 9 total offices, Holding Company: Esb Bancorp Mhc

For population 15 years and over in South Hadley: Never married: 29.7%

29.7% Now married: 51.0%

51.0% Separated: 1.6%

1.6% Widowed: 8.0%

8.0% Divorced: 9.7%

For population 25 years and over in South Hadley: High school or higher: 89.4%

89.4% Bachelor's degree or higher: 32.9%

32.9% Graduate or professional degree: 13.6%

13.6% Unemployed: 5.2%

5.2% Mean travel time to work (commute): 19.4 minutes

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 11.6 Massachusetts average: 13.1



Religion statistics for South Hadley, MA (based on Hampshire County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Catholic 50,643 22 Mainline Protestant 8,454 45 Other 4,722 27 Evangelical Protestant 3,128 22 Black Protestant 29 1 None 91,104 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 32 Here : 2.07 / 10,000 pop. State : 1.98 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 1 Hampshire County : 0.06 / 10,000 pop. State : 0.05 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 24 This county : 1.55 / 10,000 pop. Massachusetts : 2.22 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 30 Hampshire County : 1.94 / 10,000 pop. State : 1.77 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 158 Hampshire County : 10.22 / 10,000 pop. Massachusetts : 8.76 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Hampshire County : 7.3% Massachusetts : 8.1% Adult obesity rate: Here : 21.7% Massachusetts : 22.5% Low-income preschool obesity rate: This county : 12.3% Massachusetts : 16.5%

6.79% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($53,297 average adjusted gross income) Here: 6.79% Massachusetts average: 5.79% 0.04% of residents moved from foreign countries ($304 average AGI) Hampshire County: 0.04% Massachusetts average: 0.05%

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Hampden County, MA 2.24% ($46,371 average AGI) from Franklin County, MA 0.70% ($42,432) from Worcester County, MA 0.34% ($47,054)



7.39% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($51,927 average adjusted gross income) Here: 7.39% Massachusetts average: 6.31% 0.06% of residents moved to foreign countries ($333 average AGI) Hampshire County: 0.06% Massachusetts average: 0.08%

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Hampden County, MA 2.14% ($44,170 average AGI) to Franklin County, MA 0.79% ($43,790) to Middlesex County, MA 0.34% ($45,114)

Businesses in South Hadley, MA Name Count Name Count 7-Eleven 1 New Balance 1 Ace Hardware 1 Subway 1 Dunkin Donuts 1 U-Haul 2 FedEx 3 UPS 6

Strongest AM radio stations in South Hadley: WNNZ (640 AM; 50 kW; WESTFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WACE (730 AM; 5 kW; CHICOPEE, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORP.)

CARTER BROADCASTING CORP.) WHYN (560 AM; 5 kW; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WCRN (830 AM; 50 kW; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION)

CARTER BROADCASTING CORPORATION) WVNE (760 AM; daytime; 25 kW; LEICESTER, MA; Owner: BLOUNT MASSCOM, INC.)

BLOUNT MASSCOM, INC.) WSPR (1270 AM; 5 kW; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: ANTONIO F. AND HELENA R. GOIS, TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY)

ANTONIO F. AND HELENA R. GOIS, TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETY) WTIC (1080 AM; 50 kW; HARTFORD, CT; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) WPNI (1430 AM; 5 kW; AMHERST, MA; Owner: WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS RADIO COMPANY)

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS RADIO COMPANY) WALE (990 AM; 50 kW; GREENVILLE, RI; Owner: NORTH AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO., INC.)

NORTH AMERICAN BROADCASTING CO., INC.) WRKO (680 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WHMP (1400 AM; 1 kW; NORTHAMPTON, MA; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)

SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) WEEI (850 AM; 50 kW; BOSTON, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WHNP (1600 AM; 3 kW; EAST LONGMEADOW, MA; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) Strongest FM radio stations in South Hadley: WHYN-FM (93.1 FM; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.)

CLEAR CHANNEL BROADCASTING LICENSES, INC.) WRNX (100.9 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS RADIO COMPANY)

WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS RADIO COMPANY) WCCH (103.5 FM; HOLYOKE, MA; Owner: HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE)

HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE) WFCR (88.5 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS)

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS) WAQY (102.1 FM; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)

SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) W246AM (97.1 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, LLC)

GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, LLC) WAMH (89.3 FM; AMHERST, MA; Owner: TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE)

TRUSTEES OF AMHERST COLLEGE) WMHC (91.5 FM; SOUTH HADLEY, MA; Owner: TRUSTEES OF MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE)

TRUSTEES OF MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE) WPKX (97.9 FM; ENFIELD, CT; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WLZX (99.3 FM; NORTHAMPTON, MA; Owner: SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC)

SAGA COMMUNICATIONS OF NEW ENGLAND, LLC) WAMC-FM (90.3 FM; ALBANY, NY; Owner: WAMC)

WAMC) WEIB (106.3 FM; NORTHAMPTON, MA; Owner: CUTTING EDGE BROADCASTING, INC.)

CUTTING EDGE BROADCASTING, INC.) WMAS-FM (94.7 FM; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: LAPPIN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

LAPPIN COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) WRCH (100.5 FM; NEW BRITAIN, CT; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) WAAF (107.3 FM; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM BOSTON LICENSE, LLC) WEQX (102.7 FM; MANCHESTER, VT; Owner: NORTHSHIRE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.)

NORTHSHIRE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.) WPVQ (95.3 FM; GREENFIELD, MA; Owner: GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, L.L.C.)

GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, L.L.C.) WSRS (96.1 FM; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP)

CAPSTAR TX LIMITED PARTNERSHIP) WVAY (100.7 FM; WILMINGTON, VT; Owner: GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, L.L.C.)

GREAT NORTHERN RADIO, L.L.C.) WTIC-FM (96.5 FM; HARTFORD, CT; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) TV broadcast stations around South Hadley: WGBY-TV ( Channel 57; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION)

57; SPRINGFIELD, MA; WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION) WGGB-TV ( Channel 40; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: WGGB LICENSEE, LLC)

40; SPRINGFIELD, MA; WGGB LICENSEE, LLC) WYDN ( Channel 48; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC TV CORPORATION)

48; WORCESTER, MA; EDUCATIONAL PUBLIC TV CORPORATION) W67DF ( Channel 67; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK)

67; SPRINGFIELD, MA; TRINITY BROADCASTING NETWORK) WWLP ( Channel 22; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: WWLP BROADCASTING, LLC)

22; SPRINGFIELD, MA; WWLP BROADCASTING, LLC) WTIC-TV ( Channel 61; HARTFORD, CT; Owner: TRIBUNE TELEVISION COMPANY)

61; HARTFORD, CT; TRIBUNE TELEVISION COMPANY) W11BJ ( Channel 11; HARTFORD, CT; Owner: COMMUNICATIONS SITE MANAGEMENT LLC)

11; HARTFORD, CT; COMMUNICATIONS SITE MANAGEMENT LLC) WUVN ( Channel 18; HARTFORD, CT; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC)

18; HARTFORD, CT; ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC) WTXX ( Channel 20; WATERBURY, CT; Owner: WTXX INC.)

20; WATERBURY, CT; WTXX INC.) WVIT ( Channel 30; NEW BRITAIN, CT; Owner: OUTLET BROADCASTING, INC)

30; NEW BRITAIN, CT; OUTLET BROADCASTING, INC) WUNI ( Channel 27; WORCESTER, MA; Owner: ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC)

27; WORCESTER, MA; ENTRAVISION HOLDINGS, LLC) WEDH ( Channel 24; HARTFORD, CT; Owner: CONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING, INC.)

24; HARTFORD, CT; CONNECTICUT PUBLIC BROADCASTING, INC.) WDMR-LP ( Channel 65; SPRINGFIELD, MA; Owner: ZGS HARTFORD, INC.)

65; SPRINGFIELD, MA; ZGS HARTFORD, INC.) W12CL (Channel 12; GRANBY, CT; Owner: SALVATORE MINNITI)

National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

11 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 59ft / 17.8m Total length

Total length $7,202,000 Total costs

Total costs 106,129 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 7,765 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 163,877 Total future (year 2031) average daily traffic

New bridges - historical statistics

1 1940-1949

7 1950-1959

1 1970-1979

1 1990-1999

1 2000-2009 See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for South Hadley, MA



FCC Registered Antenna Towers: 4 Michael J Umano, Off Hadley Street ( Lat: 42.277028 Lon: -72.590472), Type: 42.6, Structure height: 25015 m, Overall height: 42.6 m, Registrant: Industrial Tower And Wireless, LLC, Kevin.Delaney@induscom.Com, , Marsh-field, Phone: (781) 319-1011

42.277028 -72.590472), 42.6, 25015 m, 42.6 m, Industrial Tower And Wireless, LLC, Kevin.Delaney@induscom.Com, , Marsh-field, (781) 319-1011 Michael J Umano, Off Hadley Street ( Lat: 42.277028 Lon: -72.590472), Type: 42.6, Structure height: 25015 m, Overall height: 42.6 m, Registrant: Industrial Tower And Wireless, LLC, Kevin.Delaney@induscom.Com, , Marsh-field, Phone: (781) 319-1011

42.277028 -72.590472), 42.6, 25015 m, 42.6 m, Industrial Tower And Wireless, LLC, Kevin.Delaney@induscom.Com, , Marsh-field, (781) 319-1011 Michael J Umano, Off Hadley Street ( Lat: 42.277028 Lon: -72.590472), Type: 42.6, Structure height: 25015 m, Overall height: 42.6 m, Registrant: Industrial Tower And Wireless, LLC, Kevin.Delaney@induscom.Com, , Marsh-field, Phone: (781) 319-1011

42.277028 -72.590472), 42.6, 25015 m, 42.6 m, Industrial Tower And Wireless, LLC, Kevin.Delaney@induscom.Com, , Marsh-field, (781) 319-1011 Michael J Umano, Off Hadley Street (Lat: 42.277028 Lon: -72.590472), Type: 42.6, Structure height: 25015 m, Overall height: 42.6 m, Registrant: Industrial Tower And Wireless, LLC, Kevin.Delaney@induscom.Com, , Marsh-field, Phone: (781) 319-1011

FCC Registered Commercial Land Mobile Towers: 1 (

FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers: 8 (



FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 2 Various Locations ( Lat: 42.233417 Lon: -72.652583), Overall height: 6.1 m, Call Sign: WPOQ711,

Assigned Frequencies: 956.443 MHz, Grant Date: 10/18/2018, Expiration Date: 11/09/2028, Registrant: Water Department - Fire District No.1, 438 Granby Road, South Hadley, MA 01075, Phone: (413) 532-0666, Fax: (413) 532-0666, Email:

42.233417 -72.652583), 6.1 m, WPOQ711, 956.443 MHz, 10/18/2018, 11/09/2028, Water Department - Fire District No.1, 438 Granby Road, South Hadley, MA 01075, (413) 532-0666, (413) 532-0666, CT03XC229, 14 Mulligan Dr. (Lat: 42.244139 Lon: -72.599389), Type: Tank, Structure height: 41.1 m, Overall height: 41.8 m, Call Sign: WQPU414,

Assigned Frequencies: 11265.0 MHz, 11265.0 MHz, 11265.0 MHz, Grant Date: 08/16/2012, Expiration Date: 08/16/2022, Certifier: David Werblow, Registrant: Dla Piper LLP, 500 8th Street, Nw, Washington, DC 20004, Phone: (202) 799-4216, Fax: (202) 799-5616, Email:

FCC Registered Maritime Coast & Aviation Ground Towers: 1 1 Alvord St (Lat: 42.271750 Lon: -72.605639), Type: Building, Overall height: 5 m, Call Sign: WHU829, Licensee ID: L00874595,

Assigned Frequencies: 156.450 MHz, 156.575 MHz, 156.800 MHz, Grant Date: 06/09/2004, Expiration Date: 08/16/2014, Cancellation Date: 10/18/2014, Registrant: Brunelle Inc, 1 Alvord St, South Hadley, MA 01075

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 82 (



FAA Registered Aircraft: 7 Aircraft: CESSNA 172H ( Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 105 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 2887L, N2887L, N-2887L, Serial Number: 17256087, Year manufactured: 1967, Certificate Issue Date: 05/20/1999

Registrant (Individual): Edward W Maziarz, 54 Lyman Ter, South Hadley, MA 01075

CESSNA 172H ( Land, 4, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 105 mph), CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 HP) (Reciprocating) 2887L, N2887L, N-2887L, 17256087, 1967, 05/20/1999 Edward W Maziarz, 54 Lyman Ter, South Hadley, MA 01075 Aircraft: PIPER PA-17 ( Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 75 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 5003H, N5003H, N-5003H, Serial Number: 17-203, Year manufactured: 1948, Airworthiness Date: 09/15/1959, Certificate Issue Date: 04/28/2011

Registrant (Individual): Donald H Bradley, 88 Alvord St, South Hadley, MA 01075

PIPER PA-17 ( Land, 2, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 75 mph), CONT MOTOR A&C65 SERIES (65 HP) (Reciprocating) 5003H, N5003H, N-5003H, 17-203, 1948, 09/15/1959, 04/28/2011 Donald H Bradley, 88 Alvord St, South Hadley, MA 01075 Aircraft: BEECH D55 ( Category: Land, Engines: 2, Seats: 6, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 165 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 500AC, N500AC, N-500AC, Serial Number: TE-732, Year manufactured: 1969, Airworthiness Date: 06/09/1969, Certificate Issue Date: 08/23/1989

Registrant (Individual): John R Easter, 50 E Red Bridge Ln, South Hadley, MA 01075

BEECH D55 ( Land, 2, 6, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 165 mph), CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 HP) (Reciprocating) 500AC, N500AC, N-500AC, TE-732, 1969, 06/09/1969, 08/23/1989 John R Easter, 50 E Red Bridge Ln, South Hadley, MA 01075 Aircraft: BEECHCRAFT CORP G58 ( Category: Land, Engines: 2, Seats: 6, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES (300 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 707DK, N707DK, N-707DK, Serial Number: TH-2374, Year manufactured: 2013, Airworthiness Date: 02/15/2015, Certificate Issue Date: 08/25/2015

Registrant (LLC): 51 Uniform LLC, 30 Ashton Ln, South Hadley, MA 01075

BEECHCRAFT CORP G58 ( Land, 2, 6, Up to 12,499 Pounds), CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES (300 HP) (Reciprocating) 707DK, N707DK, N-707DK, TH-2374, 2013, 02/15/2015, 08/25/2015 51 Uniform LLC, 30 Ashton Ln, South Hadley, MA 01075 Aircraft: CESSNA 172 ( Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 105 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 8548B, N8548B, N-8548B, Serial Number: 36248, Airworthiness Date: 11/18/1957, Certificate Issue Date: 09/04/2019

Registrant (Co-Owned): Kevin Godbout, 14 Titan Pier Rd, South Hadley, MA 01075, Other Owners: Carl Bezo

CESSNA 172 ( Land, 4, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 105 mph), CONT MOTOR 0-300 SER (145 HP) (Reciprocating) 8548B, N8548B, N-8548B, 36248, 11/18/1957, 09/04/2019 Kevin Godbout, 14 Titan Pier Rd, South Hadley, MA 01075, Carl Bezo Aircraft: PIPER PA-28R-200 ( Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 107 mph), Engine: Reciprocating

N-Number: 8828C, N8828C, N-8828C, Serial Number: 28R-7635183, Year manufactured: 1976, Airworthiness Date: 02/10/1976, Certificate Issue Date: 08/08/2002

Registrant (Individual): Dennis E Hogan, 10 Ashton Ln, South Hadley, MA 01075

PIPER PA-28R-200 ( Land, 4, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 107 mph), Reciprocating 8828C, N8828C, N-8828C, 28R-7635183, 1976, 02/10/1976, 08/08/2002 Dennis E Hogan, 10 Ashton Ln, South Hadley, MA 01075 Aircraft: TAYLORCRAFT BCS12-D (Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 78 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 96755, N96755, N-96755, Serial Number: 9055, Airworthiness Date: 10/14/1987, Certificate Issue Date: 03/12/2020

Registrant (Individual): Kevin P Godbout, 14 Titan Pier Rd, South Hadley, MA 01075

Deregistered: Cancel Date: 05/23/2013

1 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Commercial Land Mobile Towers in South Hadley, MA 8 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers 82 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in South Hadley

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents Based on the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fire incidents per year is 58. The highest number of reported fire incidents - 101 took place in 2009, and the least - 4 in 2002. The data has a growing trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in South Hadley, MA



668 68.3% Structure Fires



207 21.2% Outside Fires



54 5.5% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires



49 5.0% Other When looking into fire subcategories, the most reports belonged to: Structure Fires (68.3%), and Outside Fires (21.2%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for South Hadley, MA

Houses and condos Apartments 45.0% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

41.3% Utility gas

10.5% Electricity

1.4% Wood

1.0% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

0.5% Coal or coke

0.2% Other fuel

0.2% Solar energy 38.8% Electricity

36.2% Utility gas

21.7% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.

2.9% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

0.4% Wood





South Hadley compared to Massachusetts state average: Median house value below state average.

below Unemployed percentage below state average.

below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage below state average.

below Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Length of stay since moving in significantly above state average.

significantly above Number of rooms per house significantly below state average.

significantly below House age significantly below state average.

South Hadley on our top lists: #5 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: other food preparation and serving workers including supervisors (population 5,000+)"

#6 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: postsecondary teachers (population 5,000+)"

#22 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: paper (population 5,000+)"

#38 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in occupations: librarians, curators, and archivists (population 5,000+)"

#56 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: mathematical science occupations (population 5,000+)"

#57 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: paper (population 5,000+)"

#58 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: postsecondary teachers (population 5,000+)"

#59 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the largest percentage of likely lesbian couples (counted as self-reported female-female unmarried-partner households) (population 5,000+)"

#62 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in occupations: therapists (population 5,000+)"

#64 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: u. s. postal service (population 5,000+)"

#66 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of males in industries: machinery, equipment, and supplies merchant wholesalers (population 5,000+)"

#80 on the list of "Top 100 cities with the largest percentage of females"

#82 on the list of "Top 101 cities with largest percentage of females in industries: educational services (population 5,000+)"

#93 on the list of "Top 100 high-educated but low-earning cities" #2 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest number of births per 1000 residents 2007-2013"

#9 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Particulate Matter (PM 10 ) Annual air pollution readings in 2012 (g/m 3 )"

#19 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest average weight of females"

#30 on the list of "Top 101 counties with highest percentage of residents voting for 3rd party candidates in the 2012 Presidential Election (pop. 50,000+)"

#41 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the highest percentage of residents that exercised in the past month"

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Warren, Oregon

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Population in 2010: 1,787.

Males: 939 (52.6%) Females: 848 (47.4%)

Median resident age: 45.8 years Oregon median age: 39.7 years

Estimated median household income in 2019: $66,459

Warren: $66,459 OR: $67,058

Estimated per capita income in 2019: $33,553



Warren CDP income, earnings, and wages data



Estimated median house or condo value in 2019: $300,876 Warren: $300,876 OR: $354,600

Mean prices in 2019: all housing units: $603,915; detached houses: $633,524; mobile homes: $288,212 $66,459$33,553$300,876$603,915;$633,524;$288,212

Median gross rent in 2019: $1,259.

March 2019 cost of living index in Warren: 92.8 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2019: 11.0%

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Most recent value % change since 2k Data: Median household income ($) Median household income (% change since 2000) Household income diversity Ratio of average income to average house value (%) Ratio of average income to average rent Median household income ($) - White Median household income ($) - Black or African American Median household income ($) - Asian Median household income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median household income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median household income ($) - Multirace Median household income ($) - Other Race Median household income for houses/condos with a mortgage ($) Median household income for apartments without a mortgage ($) Races - White alone (%) Races - White alone (% change since 2000) Races - Black alone (%) Races - Black alone (% change since 2000) Races - American Indian alone (%) Races - American Indian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Asian alone (%) Races - Asian alone (% change since 2000) Races - Hispanic (%) Races - Hispanic (% change since 2000) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (%) Races - Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone (% change since 2000) Races - Two or more races (%) Races - Two or more races (% change since 2000) Races - Other race alone (%) Races - Other race alone (% change since 2000) Racial diversity Unemployment (%) Unemployment (% change since 2000) Unemployment (%) - White Unemployment (%) - Black or African American Unemployment (%) - Asian Unemployment (%) - Hispanic or Latino Unemployment (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Unemployment (%) - Multirace Unemployment (%) - Other Race Population density (people per square mile) Population - Males (%) Population - Females (%) Population - Males (%) - White Population - Males (%) - Black or African American Population - Males (%) - Asian Population - Males (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Males (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Males (%) - Multirace Population - Males (%) - Other Race Population - Females (%) - White Population - Females (%) - Black or African American Population - Females (%) - Asian Population - Females (%) - Hispanic or Latino Population - Females (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Population - Females (%) - Multirace Population - Females (%) - Other Race Coronavirus confirmed cases (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (Nov 21, 2021) Coronavirus confirmed cases (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Deaths caused by coronavirus (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) Daily increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Weekly increase in number of cases (Nov 21, 2021) Cases doubled (in days) (Nov 21, 2021) Hospitalized patients (Nov 21, 2021) Negative test results (Nov 21, 2021) Total test results (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (per 100k population) (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses distributed (Nov 21, 2021) COVID Vaccine doses administered (Nov 21, 2021) Likely homosexual households (%) Likely homosexual households (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (%) Likely homosexual households - Lesbian couples (% change since 2000) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (%) Likely homosexual households - Gay men (% change since 2000) Cost of living index Median gross rent ($) Median contract rent ($) Median monthly housing costs ($) Median house or condo value ($) Median house or condo value ($ change since 2000) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, detached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 1, attached ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 2 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure by units in structure - 3 or 4 ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - 5 or more ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Boat, RV, van, etc. ($) Mean house or condo value by units in structure - Mobile home ($) Median house or condo value ($) - White Median house or condo value ($) - Black or African American Median house or condo value ($) - Asian Median house or condo value ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median house or condo value ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median house or condo value ($) - Multirace Median house or condo value ($) - Other Race Median resident age Resident age diversity Median resident age - Males Median resident age - Females Median resident age - White Median resident age - Black or African American Median resident age - Asian Median resident age - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Multirace Median resident age - Other Race Median resident age - Males - White Median resident age - Males - Black or African American Median resident age - Males - Asian Median resident age - Males - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Males - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Males - Multirace Median resident age - Males - Other Race Median resident age - Females - White Median resident age - Females - Black or African American Median resident age - Females - Asian Median resident age - Females - Hispanic or Latino Median resident age - Females - American Indian and Alaska Native Median resident age - Females - Multirace Median resident age - Females - Other Race Commute - mean travel time to work (minutes) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (%) Travel time to work - Less than 5 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 5 to 9 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 10 to 19 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 20 to 29 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 30 to 39 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 40 to 59 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (%) Travel time to work - 60 to 89 minutes (% change since 2000) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (%) Travel time to work - 90 or more minutes (% change since 2000) Marital status - Never married (%) Marital status - Now married (%) Marital status - Separated (%) Marital status - Widowed (%) Marital status - Divorced (%) Median family income ($) Median family income (% change since 2000) Median non-family income ($) Median non-family income (% change since 2000) Median per capita income ($) Median per capita income (% change since 2000) Median family income ($) - White Median family income ($) - Black or African American Median family income ($) - Asian Median family income ($) - Hispanic or Latino Median family income ($) - American Indian and Alaska Native Median family income ($) - Multirace Median family income ($) - Other Race Median year house/condo built Median year apartment built Year house built - Built 2005 or later (%) Year house built - Built 2000 to 2004 (%) Year house built - Built 1990 to 1999 (%) Year house built - Built 1980 to 1989 (%) Year house built - Built 1970 to 1979 (%) Year house built - Built 1960 to 1969 (%) Year house built - Built 1950 to 1959 (%) Year house built - Built 1940 to 1949 (%) Year house built - Built 1939 or earlier (%) Average household size Household density (households per square mile) Average household size - White Average household size - Black or African American Average household size - Asian Average household size - Hispanic or Latino Average household size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average household size - Multirace Average household size - Other Race Occupied housing units (%) Vacant housing units (%) Owner occupied housing units (%) Renter occupied housing units (%) Vacancy status - For rent (%) Vacancy status - For sale only (%) Vacancy status - Rented or sold, not occupied (%) Vacancy status - For seasonal, recreational, or occasional use (%) Vacancy status - For migrant workers (%) Vacancy status - Other vacant (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (%) Children below poverty level (%) Poor families by family type - Married-couple family (%) Poor families by family type - Male, no wife present (%) Poor families by family type - Female, no husband present (%) Poverty status for native-born residents (%) Poverty status for foreign-born residents (%) Poverty among high school graduates not in families (%) Poverty among people who did not graduate high school not in families (%) Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - White Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Black or African American Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Asian Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Hispanic or Latino Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - American Indian and Alaska Native Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Multirace Residents with income below the poverty level (%) - Other Race Air pollution - Air Quality Index (AQI) Air pollution - CO Air pollution - NO2 Air pollution - SO2 Air pollution - Ozone Air pollution - PM10 Air pollution - PM25 Air pollution - Pb Crime - Murders per 100,000 population Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population Crime - Arson per 100,000 population Crime - City-data.com crime index Crime - Violent crime index Crime - Property crime index Crime - Murders per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Rapes per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Robberies per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Assaults per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Burglaries per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Auto thefts per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - Arson per 100,000 population (5 year average) Crime - City-data.com crime index (5 year average) Crime - Violent crime index (5 year average) Crime - Property crime index (5 year average) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Dole) 1996 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Gore) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2000 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Kerry) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Bush) 2004 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (McCain) 2008 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Obama) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Romney) 2012 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Clinton) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2016 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Democratic Party (Biden) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Republican Party (Trump) 2020 Presidential Elections Results (%) - Other Ancestries Reported - Arab (%) Ancestries Reported - Czech (%) Ancestries Reported - Danish (%) Ancestries Reported - Dutch (%) Ancestries Reported - English (%) Ancestries Reported - French (%) Ancestries Reported - French Canadian (%) Ancestries Reported - German (%) Ancestries Reported - Greek (%) Ancestries Reported - Hungarian (%) Ancestries Reported - Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Italian (%) Ancestries Reported - Lithuanian (%) Ancestries Reported - Norwegian (%) Ancestries Reported - Polish (%) Ancestries Reported - Portuguese (%) Ancestries Reported - Russian (%) Ancestries Reported - Scotch-Irish (%) Ancestries Reported - Scottish (%) Ancestries Reported - Slovak (%) Ancestries Reported - Subsaharan African (%) Ancestries Reported - Swedish (%) Ancestries Reported - Swiss (%) Ancestries Reported - Ukrainian (%) Ancestries Reported - United States (%) Ancestries Reported - Welsh (%) Ancestries Reported - West Indian (%) Ancestries Reported - Other (%) Educational Attainment - No schooling completed (%) Educational Attainment - Less than high school (%) Educational Attainment - High school or equivalent (%) Educational Attainment - Less than 1 year of college (%) Educational Attainment - 1 or more years of college (%) Educational Attainment - Associate degree (%) Educational Attainment - Bachelor's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Master's degree (%) Educational Attainment - Professional school degree (%) Educational Attainment - Doctorate degree (%) School Enrollment - Nursery, preschool (%) School Enrollment - Kindergarten (%) School Enrollment - Grade 1 to 4 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 5 to 8 (%) School Enrollment - Grade 9 to 12 (%) School Enrollment - College undergrad (%) School Enrollment - Graduate or professional (%) School Enrollment - Not enrolled in school (%) School enrollment - Public schools (%) School enrollment - Private schools (%) School enrollment - Not enrolled (%) Median number of rooms in houses and condos Median number of rooms in apartments Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities (%) Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities (%) Density of houses Urban houses (%) Rural houses (%) Households with people 60 years and over (%) Households with people 65 years and over (%) Households with people 75 years and over (%) Households with one or more nonrelatives (%) Households with no nonrelatives (%) Population in households (%) Family households (%) Nonfamily households (%) Population in families (%) Family households with own children (%) Median number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in owner occupied houses Median number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Mean number of bedrooms in renter occupied houses Median number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in owner occupied houses Median number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mean number of vehichles in renter occupied houses Mortgage status - with mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with second mortgage (%) Mortgage status - with home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - with both second mortgage and home equity loan (%) Mortgage status - without a mortgage (%) Average family size Average family size - White Average family size - Black or African American Average family size - Asian Average family size - Hispanic or Latino Average family size - American Indian and Alaska Native Average family size - Multirace Average family size - Other Race Geographical mobility - Same house 1 year ago (%) Geographical mobility - Moved within same county (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different county within same state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from different state (%) Geographical mobility - Moved from abroad (%) Place of birth - Born in state of residence (%) Place of birth - Born in other state (%) Place of birth - Native, outside of US (%) Place of birth - Foreign born (%) Housing units in structures - 1, detached (%) Housing units in structures - 1, attached (%) Housing units in structures - 2 (%) Housing units in structures - 3 or 4 (%) Housing units in structures - 5 to 9 (%) Housing units in structures - 10 to 19 (%) Housing units in structures - 20 to 49 (%) Housing units in structures - 50 or more (%) Housing units in structures - Mobile home (%) Housing units in structures - Boat, RV, van, etc. (%) House/condo owner moved in on average (years ago) Renter moved in on average (years ago) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1999 to March 2000 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1995 to 1998 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1990 to 1994 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1980 to 1989 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1970 to 1979 (%) Year householder moved into unit - Moved in 1969 or earlier (%) Means of transportation to work - Drove car alone (%) Means of transportation to work - Carpooled (%) Means of transportation to work - Public transportation (%) Means of transportation to work - Bus or trolley bus (%) Means of transportation to work - Streetcar or trolley car (%) Means of transportation to work - Subway or elevated (%) Means of transportation to work - Railroad (%) Means of transportation to work - Ferryboat (%) Means of transportation to work - Taxicab (%) Means of transportation to work - Motorcycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Bicycle (%) Means of transportation to work - Walked (%) Means of transportation to work - Other means (%) Working at home (%) Industry diversity Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, and mining (%) Most Common Industries - Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (%) Most Common Industries - Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (%) Most Common Industries - Construction (%) Most Common Industries - Manufacturing (%) Most Common Industries - Wholesale trade (%) Most Common Industries - Retail trade (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing, and utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Transportation and warehousing (%) Most Common Industries - Utilities (%) Most Common Industries - Information (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance, and real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Finance and insurance (%) Most Common Industries - Real estate and rental and leasing (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and management, and administrative and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Professional, scientific, and technical services (%) Most Common Industries - Management of companies and enterprises (%) Most Common Industries - Administrative and support and waste management services (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services, and health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Educational services (%) Most Common Industries - Health care and social assistance (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation, and accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Arts, entertainment, and recreation (%) Most Common Industries - Accommodation and food services (%) Most Common Industries - Other services, except public administration (%) Most Common Industries - Public administration (%) Occupation diversity Most Common Occupations - Management, business, science, and arts occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management, business, and financial occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Management occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Business and financial operations occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer, engineering, and science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Computer and mathematical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Architecture and engineering occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Life, physical, and social science occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, legal, community service, arts, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Community and social service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Legal occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Education, training, and library occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Health technologists and technicians (%) Most Common Occupations - Service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Healthcare support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Protective service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Fire fighting and prevention, and other protective service workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Law enforcement workers including supervisors (%) Most Common Occupations - Food preparation and serving related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Personal care and service occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and office occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Sales and related occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Office and administrative support occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Construction and extraction occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production, transportation, and material moving occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Production occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Transportation occupations (%) Most Common Occupations - Material moving occupations (%) People in Group quarters - Institutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - Correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Federal prisons and detention centers (%) People in Group quarters - Halfway houses (%) People in Group quarters - Local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups) (%) People in Group quarters - Military disciplinary barracks (%) People in Group quarters - State prisons (%) People in Group quarters - Other types of correctional institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Nursing homes (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards, hospices, and schools for the handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals/wards and hospices for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospices or homes for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Military hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Other hospitals or wards for chronically ill (%) People in Group quarters - Hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Mental (Psychiatric) hospitals or wards (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Schools, hospitals, or wards for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the deaf (%) People in Group quarters - Institutions for the blind (%) People in Group quarters - Orthopedic wards and institutions for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Wards in military hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere (%) People in Group quarters - Juvenile institutions (%) People in Group quarters - Long-term care (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children (%) People in Group quarters - Residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed children (%) People in Group quarters - Training schools for juvenile delinquents (%) People in Group quarters - Short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children (%) People in Group quarters - Type of juvenile institution unknown (%) People in Group quarters - Noninstitutionalized population (%) People in Group quarters - College dormitories (includes college quarters off campus) (%) People in Group quarters - Military quarters (%) People in Group quarters - On base (%) People in Group quarters - Barracks, unaccompanied personnel housing (UPH), (Enlisted/Officer), ;and similar group living quarters for military personnel (%) People in Group quarters - Transient quarters for temporary residents (%) People in Group quarters - Military ships (%) People in Group quarters - Group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally ill (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the mentally retarded (%) People in Group quarters - Homes for the physically handicapped (%) People in Group quarters - Other group homes (%) People in Group quarters - Religious group quarters (%) People in Group quarters - Dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Agriculture workers' dormitories on farms (%) People in Group quarters - Job Corps and vocational training facilities (%) People in Group quarters - Other workers' dormitories (%) People in Group quarters - Crews of maritime vessels (%) People in Group quarters - Other nonhousehold living situations (%) People in Group quarters - Other noninstitutional group quarters (%) Residents speaking English at home (%) Residents speaking English at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking English at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking English at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking Spanish at home - Foreign born (%) Residents speaking other language at home (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Born in the United States (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Native, born elsewhere (%) Residents speaking other language at home - Foreign born (%) Class of Workers - Employee of private company (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed in own incorporated business (%) Class of Workers - Private not-for-profit wage and salary workers (%) Class of Workers - Local government workers (%) Class of Workers - State government workers (%) Class of Workers - Federal government workers (%) Class of Workers - Self-employed workers in own not incorporated business and Unpaid family workers (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in houses and condos - No fuel used (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Utility gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Bottled, tank, or LP gas (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Electricity (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Coal or coke (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Wood (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Solar energy (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - Other fuel (%) House heating fuel used in apartments - No fuel used (%) Armed forces status - In Armed Forces (%) Armed forces status - Civilian (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Veteran (%) Armed forces status - Civilian - Nonveteran (%) Fatal accidents locations in years 2005-2019 Fatal accidents locations in 2005 Fatal accidents locations in 2006 Fatal accidents locations in 2007 Fatal accidents locations in 2008 Fatal accidents locations in 2009 Fatal accidents locations in 2010 Fatal accidents locations in 2011 Fatal accidents locations in 2012 Fatal accidents locations in 2013 Fatal accidents locations in 2014 Fatal accidents locations in 2015 Fatal accidents locations in 2016 Fatal accidents locations in 2017 Fatal accidents locations in 2018 Fatal accidents locations in 2019 Alcohol use - People drinking some alcohol every month (%) Alcohol use - People not drinking at all (%) Alcohol use - Average days/month drinking alcohol Alcohol use - Average drinks/week Alcohol use - Average days/year people drink much Audiometry - Average condition of hearing (%) Audiometry - People that can hear a whisper from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - People that can hear normal voice from across a quiet room (%) Audiometry - Ears ringing, roaring, buzzing (%) Audiometry - Had a job exposure to loud noise (%) Audiometry - Had off-work exposure to loud noise (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high blood pressure (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Checking blood pressure at home (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Frequently checking blood cholesterol (%) Blood Pressure & Cholesterol - Has high cholesterol level (%) Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at supermarket/grocery store Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on food at other stores Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on eating out Consumer Behavior - Money monthly spent on carryout/delivered foods Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at supermarket/grocery store (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on food at other stores (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on eating out (%) Consumer Behavior - Income spent on carryout/delivered foods (%) Current Health Status - General health condition (%) Current Health Status - Blood donors (%) Current Health Status - Has blood ever tested for HIV virus (%) Current Health Status - Left-handed people (%) Dermatology - People using sunscreen (%) Diabetes - Diabetics (%) Diabetes - Had a blood test for high blood sugar (%) Diabetes - People taking insulin (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Diet health (%) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Milk product consumption (# of products/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals not home prepared (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Meals from fast food or pizza place (#/week) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Ready-to-eat foods (#/month) Diet Behavior & Nutrition - Frozen meals/pizza (#/month) Drug Use - People that ever used marijuana or hashish (%) Drug Use - Ever used hard drugs (%) Drug Use - Ever used any form of cocaine (%) Drug Use - Ever used heroin (%) Drug Use - Ever used methamphetamine (%) Health Insurance - People covered by health insurance (%) Kidney Conditions-Urology - Avg. # of times urinating at night Medical Conditions - People with asthma (%) Medical Conditions - People with anemia (%) Medical Conditions - People with psoriasis (%) Medical Conditions - People with overweight (%) Medical Conditions - Elderly people having difficulties in thinking or remembering (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever received blood transfusion (%) Medical Conditions - People having trouble seeing even with glass/contacts (%) Medical Conditions - People with arthritis (%) Medical Conditions - People with gout (%) Medical Conditions - People with congestive heart failure (%) Medical Conditions - People with coronary heart disease (%) Medical Conditions - People with angina pectoris (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had heart attack (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had stroke (%) Medical Conditions - People with emphysema (%) Medical Conditions - People with thyroid problem (%) Medical Conditions - People with chronic bronchitis (%) Medical Conditions - People with any liver condition (%) Medical Conditions - People who ever had cancer or malignancy (%) Mental Health - People who have little interest in doing things (%) Mental Health - People feeling down, depressed, or hopeless (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble sleeping or sleeping too much (%) Mental Health - People feeling tired or having little energy (%) Mental Health - People with poor appetite or overeating (%) Mental Health - People feeling bad about themself (%) Mental Health - People who have trouble concentrating on things (%) Mental Health - People moving or speaking slowly or too fast (%) Mental Health - People having thoughts they would be better off dead (%) Oral Health - Average years since last visit a dentist Oral Health - People embarrassed because of mouth (%) Oral Health - People with gum disease (%) Oral Health - General health of teeth and gums (%) Oral Health - Average days a week using dental floss/device Oral Health - Average days a week using mouthwash for dental problem Oral Health - Average number of teeth Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to control insects (%) Pesticide Use - Households using pesticides to kill weeds (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity work activities (%) Physical Activity - People walking or bicycling (%) Physical Activity - People doing vigorous-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - People doing moderate-intensity recreational activities (%) Physical Activity - Average hours a day doing sedentary activities Physical Activity - Average hours a day watching TV or videos Physical Activity - Average hours a day using computer Physical Functioning - People having limitations keeping them from working (%) Physical Functioning - People limited in amount of work they can do (%) Physical Functioning - People that need special equipment to walk (%) Physical Functioning - People experiencing confusion/memory problems (%) Physical Functioning - People requiring special healthcare equipment (%) Prescription Medications - Average number of prescription medicines taking Preventive Aspirin Use - Adults 40+ taking low-dose aspirin (%) Reproductive Health - Vaginal deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Cesarean deliveries (%) Reproductive Health - Deliveries resulted in a live birth (%) Reproductive Health - Pregnancies resulted in a delivery (%) Reproductive Health - Women breastfeeding newborns (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had a hysterectomy (%) Reproductive Health - Women that had both ovaries removed (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever taken birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women taking birth control pills (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used Depo-Provera or injectables (%) Reproductive Health - Women that have ever used female hormones (%) Sexual Behavior - People 18+ that ever had sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had anal sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Males 18+ that ever had any sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had vaginal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever performed oral sex on a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had anal sex with a man (%) Sexual Behavior - Females 18+ that ever had any kind of sex with a woman (%) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first had sex Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female vaginal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a woman (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of woman performed oral sex on in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male anal sex partners in lifetime (males 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average age people first performed oral sex on a man (18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male oral sex partners in lifetime (18+) Sexual Behavior - People using protection when performing oral sex (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of times people have vaginal or anal sex a year Sexual Behavior - People having sex without condom (%) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of male vaginal sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Average number of female sex partners in lifetime (females 18+) Sexual Behavior - Circumcised males 18+ (%) Sleep Disorders - Average hours sleeping at night Sleep Disorders - People that has trouble sleeping (%) Smoking-Cigarette Use - People smoking cigarettes (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with smell (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ having problems with taste (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had wisdom teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had tonsils teeth removed (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a loss of consciousness because of a head injury (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull (%) Taste & Smell - People 40+ that ever had two or more sinus infections (%) Weight - Average height (inches) Weight - Average weight (pounds) Weight - Average BMI Weight - People that are obese (%) Weight - People that ever were obese (%) Weight - People trying to lose weight (%) Settings Get link Loading data... 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1,894 95.5% White alone 53 2.7% Hispanic 18 0.9% Two or more races

Races in Warren detailed stats: ancestries, foreign born residents, place of birth





According to our research of Oregon and other state lists, there was 1 registered sex offender living in Warren, Oregon as of November 21, 2021.

The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Warren is 1,962 to 1.





Ancestries: Irish (21.6%), German (13.9%), Norwegian (9.2%), Swedish (8.3%), American (6.8%), Scandinavian (5.3%).

Current Local Time: PST time zone

Elevation: 49 feet

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2019: $3,093 (0.8%)

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2019: $3,227 (0.8%)



Latitude: 45.82 N, Longitude: 122.85 W

Unemployment in November 2020:

Here: 5.9% Oregon: 5.5%

Air pollution and air quality trends

(lower is better) AQI Ozone PM 2.5 Pb

Air Quality Index (AQI) level in 2018 was 74.4. This is about average. City: 74.4 U.S.: 74.2



Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) [g/m3] level in 2018 was 6.31. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 5.1 miles away from the city center. City: 6.31 U.S.: 8.46

Lead (Pb) [g/m3] level in 2003 was 0.00810. This is better than average. Closest monitor was 3.6 miles away from the city center. City: 0.00810 U.S.: 0.00984

Earthquake activity: Warren-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Oregon state average. It is 1473% greater than the overall U.S. average.



On 4/13/1949 at 19:55:42, a magnitude 7.0 (7.0 UK, Class: Major, Intensity: VIII - XII) earthquake occurred 100.3 miles away from the city center, causing $80,000,000 total damage

On 2/28/2001 at 18:54:32, a magnitude 6.8 (6.5 MB, 6.6 MS, 6.8 MW, Class: Strong, Intensity: VII - IX) earthquake occurred 88.8 miles away from the city center, causing $2,000,000,000 total damage and $305,000,000 insured losses

On 2/28/2001 at 18:54:32, a magnitude 6.8 (6.8 MD, Depth: 32.2 mi) earthquake occurred 92.2 miles away from the city center

On 4/29/1965 at 15:28:43, a magnitude 6.6 (6.6 UK) earthquake occurred 106.5 miles away from Warren center, causing $28,000,000 total damage

On 1/31/1922 at 13:17:28, a magnitude 7.6 (7.6 UK) earthquake occurred 379.3 miles away from Warren center

On 8/17/1991 at 22:17:14, a magnitude 7.1 (6.2 MB, 7.1 MS, 7.1 MW, 6.8 ML, Depth: 8.4 mi) earthquake occurred 313.0 miles away from the city center

Magnitude types: body-wave magnitude (MB), duration magnitude (MD), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)

Natural disasters: The number of natural disasters in Columbia County (15) is near the US average (15).

Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 12

Emergencies Declared: 1



Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 9, Landslides: 6, Mudslides: 6, Winter Storms: 6, Storms: 5, Winds: 3, Snows: 2, Fire: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Hurricane: 1, Other: 1 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).

Hospitals and medical centers near Warren: MEADOW PARK HEALTH AND SPECIALTY (Nursing Home, about 4 miles away; SAINT HELENS, OR)

PNRS ST HELENS DIALYSIS (Dialysis Facility, about 4 miles away; SAINT HELENS, OR)

ST HELENS HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CENTER (Hospital, about 4 miles away; SAINT HELENS, OR)

COLUMBIA CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 5 miles away; SCAPPOOSE, OR)

RIDGEFIELD CARE FACILITY (Nursing Home, about 6 miles away; RIDGEFIELD, WA)

MOOREHAVEN CARE CENTER (Nursing Home, about 9 miles away; LA CENTER, WA)

LEGACY SALMON CREEK MEDICAL CENTER Acute Care Hospitals (about 12 miles away; VANCOUVER, WA)

Amtrak station near Warren: 16 miles: VANCOUVER (FOOT OF W. 11TH ST.) . Services: ticket office, fully wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, vending machines, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Warren: Clark College ( about 16 miles; Vancouver, WA ; Full-time enrollment: 9,330)

16 ; 9,330) University of Portland ( about 19 miles; Portland, OR ; FT enrollment: 4,030)

19 ; 4,030) Concordia University-Portland ( about 21 miles; Portland, OR ; FT enrollment: 3,996)

21 ; 3,996) Portland State University ( about 23 miles; Portland, OR ; FT enrollment: 21,450)

23 ; 21,450) Lower Columbia College ( about 23 miles; Longview, WA ; FT enrollment: 2,595)

23 ; 2,595) Pacific University ( about 25 miles; Forest Grove, OR ; FT enrollment: 2,967)

25 ; 2,967) Lewis & Clark College (about 27 miles; Portland, OR; FT enrollment: 2,864) Private high school in Warren: COLUMBIA COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 67, Location: 56523 COLUMBIA RIVER HWY, Grades: KG-9) Public elementary/middle schools in Warren: WARREN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ( Students: 176, Location: 34555 BERG RD, Grades: KG-3)

( 176, 34555 BERG RD, KG-3) SOUTH COLUMBIA FAMILY SCHOOL (Location: 34555 BERG RD, Grades: KG-8, Charter school) See full list of schools located in Warren

Columbia County has a predicted average indoor radon screening level between 2 and 4 pCi/L (pico curies per liter) - Moderate Potential

Drinking water stations with addresses in Warren and their reported violations in the past: MAPLE TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK (Population served: 50, Groundwater): Past monitoring violations: One routine major monitoring violation MAPLE TERRACE MOBILE HOME PARK (50Groundwater):

Average household size: This place: 2.5 people Oregon: 2.5 people

Percentage of family households: This place: 78.2% Whole state: 63.4%

Percentage of households with unmarried partners: This place: 5.5% Whole state: 8.0%



Likely homosexual households (counted as self-reported same-sex unmarried-partner households) Lesbian couples: 0.6% of all households

0.6% Gay men: 0.3% of all households

For population 15 years and over in Warren: Never married: 21.2%

21.2% Now married: 63.6%

63.6% Separated: 0.0%

0.0% Widowed: 6.2%

6.2% Divorced: 8.9%

For population 25 years and over in Warren: High school or higher: 97.4%

97.4% Bachelor's degree or higher: 25.7%

25.7% Graduate or professional degree: 5.8%

Education Gini index (Inequality in education) Here: 7.3 Oregon average: 11.2



Religion statistics for Warren, OR (based on Columbia County data) Religion Adherents Congregations Evangelical Protestant 4,269 47 Other 2,835 11 Catholic 1,377 4 Mainline Protestant 1,342 9 None 39,528 - Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center. Graphs represent county-level data

Food Environment Statistics: Number of grocery stores: 9 This county : 1.84 / 10,000 pop. Oregon : 2.03 / 10,000 pop. Number of supercenters and club stores: 1 This county : 0.20 / 10,000 pop. Oregon : 0.33 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (no gas): 5 Columbia County : 1.02 / 10,000 pop. State : 2.01 / 10,000 pop. Number of convenience stores (with gas): 15 Columbia County : 3.07 / 10,000 pop. Oregon : 1.69 / 10,000 pop. Number of full-service restaurants: 32 Columbia County : 6.54 / 10,000 pop. Oregon : 9.93 / 10,000 pop. Adult diabetes rate: Columbia County : 8.1% State : 7.4% Adult obesity rate: Here : 30.4% Oregon : 25.6% Low-income preschool obesity rate: Columbia County : 19.7% State : 14.2%

8.49% of this county's 2016 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2015 ($51,130 average adjusted gross income) Here: 8.49% Oregon average: 8.52% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2015 and 2016:

from Washington County, OR 2.30% ($56,125 average AGI) from Multnomah County, OR 1.89% ($52,876) from Clackamas County, OR 0.48% ($48,560)



5.65% of this county's 2015 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2016 ($47,403 average adjusted gross income) Here: 5.65% Oregon average: 7.23% 10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries between 2015 and 2016.

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2015 and 2016:

to Washington County, OR 1.05% ($51,396 average AGI) to Multnomah County, OR 0.76% ($42,239) to Cowlitz County, WA 0.58% ($44,849)

Strongest AM radio stations in Warren: KPAM (860 AM; 50 kW; TROUTDALE, OR; Owner: PAMPLIN BROADCASTING-OREGON, INC.)

PAMPLIN BROADCASTING-OREGON, INC.) KOHI (1600 AM; 1 kW; ST. HELENS, OR)

KKAD (1550 AM; 50 kW; VANCOUVER, WA; Owner: PAMPLIN BROADCASTING-WASHINGTON, INC)

PAMPLIN BROADCASTING-WASHINGTON, INC) KPOJ (620 AM; 50 kW; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) KOTK (1080 AM; 50 kW; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: FISHER BROADCASTING - PORTLAND RADIO, L.L.C.)

FISHER BROADCASTING - PORTLAND RADIO, L.L.C.) KXL (750 AM; 50 kW; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: ROSE CITY RADIO CORPORATION)

ROSE CITY RADIO CORPORATION) KEX (1190 AM; 50 kW; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) KKSN (1520 AM; 50 kW; OREGON CITY, OR; Owner: ENTERCOM PORTLAND LICENSE, LLC)

ENTERCOM PORTLAND LICENSE, LLC) KFXX (910 AM; 10 kW; VANCOUVER, WA; Owner: ENTERCOM PORTLAND LICENSE, LLC (DE))

ENTERCOM PORTLAND LICENSE, LLC (DE)) KKGT (1150 AM; 5 kW; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: WESTERN BROADCASTING COMPANY)

WESTERN BROADCASTING COMPANY) KUPL (970 AM; 5 kW; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) KKSL (1290 AM; 10 kW; LAKE OSWEGO, OR; Owner: ABC, INC.)

ABC, INC.) KDZR (1640 AM; 10 kW; LAKE OSWEGO, OR; Owner: ABC, INC.) Strongest FM radio stations in Warren: K273AI (102.5 FM; ARIEL, WA; Owner: CALVARY CHAPEL OF TWIN FALLS, INC.)

CALVARY CHAPEL OF TWIN FALLS, INC.) KRVO (105.9 FM; VANCOUVER, WA; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) KINK (101.9 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) KKCW (103.3 FM; BEAVERTON, OR; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) KPDQ-FM (93.7 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: SALEM MEDIA OF OREGON, INC.)

SALEM MEDIA OF OREGON, INC.) KOPB-FM (91.5 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING)

OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING) KKRZ (100.3 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.)

CITICASTERS LICENSES, L.P.) KMHD (89.1 FM; GRESHAM, OR; Owner: MT. HOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT)

MT. HOOD COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT) KVMX (107.5 FM; BANKS, OR; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) KLTH (106.7 FM; LAKE OSWEGO, OR; Owner: INIFINITY RADIO OF PORTLAND INC.)

INIFINITY RADIO OF PORTLAND INC.) KUPL-FM (98.7 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OF PORTLAND INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OF PORTLAND INC.) KUFO-FM (101.1 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.)

INFINITY RADIO OPERATIONS INC.) KBVM (88.3 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: CATHOLIC BROADCASTING NORTHWEST, INC)

CATHOLIC BROADCASTING NORTHWEST, INC) KBPS-FM (89.9 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: SCHOOL DISTRICT #1, MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR)

SCHOOL DISTRICT #1, MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OR) KNRK (94.7 FM; CAMAS, WA; Owner: ENTERCOM PORTLAND LICENSE, LLC (DE))

ENTERCOM PORTLAND LICENSE, LLC (DE)) K216DH (91.1 FM; CATHLAMET, WA; Owner: TILLICUM FOUNDATION)

TILLICUM FOUNDATION) KJVH (89.5 FM; LONGVIEW, WA; Owner: FAMILY STATIONS, INC.)

FAMILY STATIONS, INC.) KFIS (104.1 FM; SCAPPOOSE, OR; Owner: CARON BROADCASTING, INC.)

CARON BROADCASTING, INC.) KBOO (90.7 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: THE KBOO FOUNDATION)

THE KBOO FOUNDATION) KWJJ-FM (99.5 FM; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: FISHER BROADCASTING - PORTLAND RADIO, L.L.C.) TV broadcast stations around Warren: KATU ( Channel 2; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: FISHER BROADCASTING - PORTLAND TV, L.L.C.)

2; PORTLAND, OR; FISHER BROADCASTING - PORTLAND TV, L.L.C.) KPDX ( Channel 49; VANCOUVER, WA; Owner: MEREDITH CORPORATION)

49; VANCOUVER, WA; MEREDITH CORPORATION) KPTV ( Channel 12; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: MEREDITH CORPORATION)

12; PORTLAND, OR; MEREDITH CORPORATION) K57IF ( Channel 57; SALEM, OR; Owner: LaGRANDE BROADCASTING, INC.)

57; SALEM, OR; LaGRANDE BROADCASTING, INC.) KOIN ( Channel 6; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: EMMIS TELEVISION LICENSE CORPORATION)

6; PORTLAND, OR; EMMIS TELEVISION LICENSE CORPORATION) KNMT ( Channel 24; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: NATIONAL MINORITY T.V., INC.)

24; PORTLAND, OR; NATIONAL MINORITY T.V., INC.) KGW ( Channel 8; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: KING BROADCASTING COMPANY)

8; PORTLAND, OR; KING BROADCASTING COMPANY) KOPB-TV ( Channel 10; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING)

10; PORTLAND, OR; OREGON PUBLIC BROADCASTING) KPXG-LP ( Channel 54; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS LICENSE COMPANY, LLC)

54; PORTLAND, OR; PAXSON COMMUNICATIONS LICENSE COMPANY, LLC) K14HN ( Channel 14; VANCOUVER/CAMAS, WA; Owner: MEREDITH CORPORATION)

14; VANCOUVER/CAMAS, WA; MEREDITH CORPORATION) KWBP-LP (Channel 4; PORTLAND, OR; Owner: TRIBUNE BROADCASTING HOLDINGS, INC.)

Warren fatal accident list: Mar 6, 2012 10:55 PM, Us-30 (Odot 92), Lat: 45.789289, Lon: -122.870608, Vehicles: 1, Persons: 1, Pedestrians: 1, Fatalities: 1

Jul 22, 2010 05:29 AM, Us-30 (Odot 92), Bennett Rd, Lat: 45.823250, Lon: -122.846206, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 3, Fatalities: 1

May 7, 2008 02:26 PM, Us-30 (Odot 92), Lat: 45.800380, Lon: -122.863840, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 4, Fatalities: 1

Aug 25, 2008 09:02 AM, Us-30 (Odot 92), Bennett Rd, Lat: 45.823250, Lon: -122.846200, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 3, Fatalities: 1

Aug 22, 2006 05:08 PM, Us-30 (Odot 92), Lat: 45.803540, Lon: -122.860370, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 4, Fatalities: 2

Sep 25, 2005 07:25 PM, Us-30 (Odot 92), Berg Rd, Lat: 45.811680, Lon: -122.854330, Vehicles: 2, Persons: 3, Fatalities: 1



National Bridge Inventory (NBI) Statistics

12 Number of bridges

Number of bridges 85ft / 26.2m Total length

Total length $809,000 Total costs

Total costs 35,133 Total average daily traffic

Total average daily traffic 2,550 Total average daily truck traffic

Total average daily truck traffic 45,474 Total future (year 2030) average daily traffic

New bridges - historical statistics

1 1910-1919

1 1920-1929

5 1950-1959

2 1970-1979

1 1980-1989

2 2000-2009 See full National Bridge Inventory statistics for Warren, OR



FCC Registered Broadcast Land Mobile Towers: 5 Church Reservoir 1.8 Mi W Church Rd From Hwy 30 ( Lat: 45.819833 Lon: -122.886500), Structure height: 12 m, Call Sign: WGZ795,

Assigned Frequencies: 173.312 MHz, Grant Date: 08/01/2012, Expiration Date: 06/19/2022, Registrant: Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, Phone: (503) 397-3280, Fax: (503) 397-1051, Email:

45.819833 -122.886500), 12 m, WGZ795, 173.312 MHz, 08/01/2012, 06/19/2022, Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, (503) 397-3280, (503) 397-1051, Panorama Reservoir Oester Rd ( Lat: 45.801222 Lon: -122.893444), Structure height: 12 m, Call Sign: WGZ796,

Assigned Frequencies: 173.312 MHz, Grant Date: 08/01/2012, Expiration Date: 06/26/2022, Registrant: Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, Phone: (503) 397-3280, Fax: (503) 397-1051, Email:

45.801222 -122.893444), 12 m, WGZ796, 173.312 MHz, 08/01/2012, 06/26/2022, Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, (503) 397-3280, (503) 397-1051, Warren Well Off Church Rd 1/2 Mi N Hazen ( Lat: 45.821500 Lon: -122.877333), Structure height: 3 m, Call Sign: WGZ797,

Assigned Frequencies: 173.312 MHz, Grant Date: 08/01/2012, Expiration Date: 06/26/2022, Registrant: Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, Phone: (503) 397-3280, Fax: (503) 397-1051, Email:

45.821500 -122.877333), 3 m, WGZ797, 173.312 MHz, 08/01/2012, 06/26/2022, Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, (503) 397-3280, (503) 397-1051, Gorin Well Off Hwy 30 .7 Mi W Berg Rd ( Lat: 45.813167 Lon: -122.866778), Structure height: 2 m, Call Sign: WGZ798,

Assigned Frequencies: 173.312 MHz, Grant Date: 08/01/2012, Expiration Date: 06/26/2022, Registrant: Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, Phone: (503) 397-3280, Fax: (503) 397-1051, Email:

45.813167 -122.866778), 2 m, WGZ798, 173.312 MHz, 08/01/2012, 06/26/2022, Warren Water Association, St. Helens, OR 97051, (503) 397-3280, (503) 397-1051, Crown Point, Crown Point Road (Lat: 45.838333 Lon: -122.879694), Type: Pole, Structure height: 9.1 m, Call Sign: WQSK502,

Assigned Frequencies: 458.950 MHz, Grant Date: 10/18/2013, Expiration Date: 10/18/2023, Certifier: Andy R Tinhess, Registrant: Mcnulty Water Pud, St Helens, OR 97051, Phone: (503) 397-1301, Fax: (503) 366-5616, Email:

FCC Registered Microwave Towers: 1 MCNULTY, 57251 Old Portland Rd (Lat: 45.826639 Lon: -122.843333), Type: Mtower, Structure height: 36.6 m, Call Sign: WQYM697,

Assigned Frequencies: 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, 11425.0 MHz, Grant Date: 11/09/2016, Expiration Date: 11/09/2026, Certifier: Gregory M Romano, Registrant: Verizon, 1300 I St Nw - Suite 500 East, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: (202) 515-2453, Email:

FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses: 49 (



FAA Registered Aircraft: 7 Aircraft: VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12 ( Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES (100 HP) (4 Cycle)

N-Number: 223HD, N223HD, N-223HD, Serial Number: 120606, Year manufactured: 2015, Airworthiness Date: 11/16/2015, Certificate Issue Date: 10/21/2015

Registrant (Individual): Harmon C Lange, 33094 Church Rd, Warren, OR 97053

VANS AIRCRAFT INC RV-12 ( Land, 2, Up to 12,499 Pounds), ROTAX 912ULS SERIES (100 HP) (4 Cycle) 223HD, N223HD, N-223HD, 120606, 2015, 11/16/2015, 10/21/2015 Harmon C Lange, 33094 Church Rd, Warren, OR 97053 Aircraft: CESSNA 210D ( Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 141 mph), Engine: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 3960Y, N3960Y, N-3960Y, Serial Number: 21058460, Year manufactured: 1964, Airworthiness Date: 08/26/1964, Certificate Issue Date: 07/08/2005

Registrant (Individual): Clinton F Seals, 58458 Ross Rd, Warren, OR 97053

CESSNA 210D ( Land, 4, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 141 mph), CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES (285 HP) (Reciprocating) 3960Y, N3960Y, N-3960Y, 21058460, 1964, 08/26/1964, 07/08/2005 Clinton F Seals, 58458 Ross Rd, Warren, OR 97053 Aircraft: LANGE H/LANGE M RV-8A ( Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 468HC, N468HC, N-468HC, Serial Number: 80419, Year manufactured: 2002, Airworthiness Date: 11/15/2002, Certificate Issue Date: 12/01/2005

Registrant (Individual): Harmon C Trustee Lange, 33094 Church Rd, Warren, OR 97053

LANGE H/LANGE M RV-8A ( Land, 2, Up to 12,499 Pounds), AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG (Reciprocating) 468HC, N468HC, N-468HC, 80419, 2002, 11/15/2002, 12/01/2005 Harmon C Trustee Lange, 33094 Church Rd, Warren, OR 97053 Aircraft: UNREIN PAUL DSA-1 MINI PLANE ( Category: Land, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 47032, N47032, N-47032, Serial Number: 1, Year manufactured: 1984, Airworthiness Date: 02/22/1985, Certificate Issue Date: 07/12/2018

Registrant (Individual): Chuck J Hamm, 34442 Berg Rd, Warren, OR 97053

UNREIN PAUL DSA-1 MINI PLANE ( Land, Up to 12,499 Pounds), CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES (85 HP) (Reciprocating) 47032, N47032, N-47032, 1, 1984, 02/22/1985, 07/12/2018 Chuck J Hamm, 34442 Berg Rd, Warren, OR 97053 Aircraft: CUDNEY DAVID W DL1A ( Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: SUPERIOR IO-360 SER (180 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 554DL, N554DL, N-554DL, Serial Number: 001, Year manufactured: 2008, Airworthiness Date: 09/27/2008, Certificate Issue Date: 03/11/2020

Registrant (Co-Owned): Duane G Pizzo, 34041 Berg Rd, Warren, OR 97053, Other Owners: David A Pizzo

CUDNEY DAVID W DL1A ( Land, 2, Up to 12,499 Pounds), SUPERIOR IO-360 SER (180 HP) (Reciprocating) 554DL, N554DL, N-554DL, 001, 2008, 09/27/2008, 03/11/2020 Duane G Pizzo, 34041 Berg Rd, Warren, OR 97053, David A Pizzo Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-140 ( Category: Land, Seats: 4, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds, Speed: 107 mph), Engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 6162W, N6162W, N-6162W, Serial Number: 28-20180, Year manufactured: 1964, Airworthiness Date: 07/02/1964, Certificate Issue Date: 06/28/2002

Registrant (Co-Owned): Charles J Hamm, 34442 Berg Rd, Warren, OR 97053, Other Owners: Angie M Hamm

PIPER PA-28-140 ( Land, 4, Up to 12,499 Pounds, 107 mph), LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 HP) (Reciprocating) 6162W, N6162W, N-6162W, 28-20180, 1964, 07/02/1964, 06/28/2002 Charles J Hamm, 34442 Berg Rd, Warren, OR 97053, Angie M Hamm Aircraft: PIZZO DA/PIZZO DG RV7A (Category: Land, Seats: 2, Weight: Up to 12,499 Pounds), Engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1A (180 HP) (Reciprocating)

N-Number: 81TT, N81TT, N-81TT, Serial Number: 73057, Year manufactured: 2009, Airworthiness Date: 01/29/2009, Certificate Issue Date: 10/17/2016

Registrant (Co-Owned): David A Pizzo, 34041 Berg Rd, Warren, OR 97053, Other Owners: Duane G Pizzo

49 ( See the full list of FCC Registered Amateur Radio Licenses in Warren

2002 - 2018 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) incidents According to the data from the years 2002 - 2018 the average number of fire incidents per year is 6. The highest number of reported fires - 12 took place in 2007, and the least - 2 in 2003. The data has a dropping trend.



Fire incident types reported to NFIRS in Warren, OR



45 44.1% Structure Fires



31 30.4% Outside Fires



26 25.5% Mobile Property/Vehicle Fires When looking into fire subcategories, the most incidents belonged to: Structure Fires (44.1%), and Outside Fires (30.4%). See full National Fire Incident Reporting System statistics for Warren, OR

43.4% Utility gas

31.9% Electricity

15.3% Wood

7.3% Bottled, tank, or LP gas

2.1% Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.





Warren compared to Oregon state average: Unemployed percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Black race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Hispanic race population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Median age significantly above state average.

significantly above Foreign-born population percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Renting percentage significantly below state average.

significantly below Number of rooms per house above state average.

Warren on our top lists: #16 on the list of "Top 101 cities with the most residents born in Romania (population 500+)" #63 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest Ozone (1-hour) air pollution readings in 2012 (ppm)"

#88 on the list of "Top 101 counties with highest percentage of residents voting for 3rd party candidates in the 2012 Presidential Election"

Cost of Living Calculator Your current salary: State of origin: Choose state Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Destination state: Choose state Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming
Since 2008 the English-language Kyiv Post, under the leadership of editor-in-chief Brian Bonner, has consistently uncovered corruption and cronyism in Ukraines highest circles, despite sometimes ferocious opposition from the oligarchs, officials and politicians on the receiving end of their reporting.

But on Monday, the papers owner, Syrian-born construction mogul Adnan Kivanwho also owns a TV station, Channel 7 in Odessa, where he is basedfired the entire Kyiv Post newsroom. Bonner says he was blindsided by the decision. As was the Ukrainian expat community.

Bonner has a long and colorful history of surviving disaster. In 2011, the New York Times reported on his refusal to kill a story critical of the Ukrainian agriculture minister (said to have been involved in a scandal known as The Great Grain Robbery); upon its publication he was summarily fired by then-owner Mohammad Zahoor. The newsroom went on strike in protest. Its reporters took their laptops to a city park from where they posted reports on the dispute via Facebook. Bonner was eventually reinstated.

In 2014, CJR reported on the Kyiv Post and its independence, citing an editorial in which Bonner had defended telling the truth about corruption and war to a group of angry businessmen. When Ukraine suffers, we suffer Readership has never been higher, because the world is tuning in to the horrors unfolding. A few weeks later, the Kyiv Post won the prestigious Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism. But the editorial cited in the piece by CJRs Oliver Bullough no longer appears on the Kyiv Post website.

On his acquisition of the paper in 2018, Kivan had said he would preserve its editorial independence. But during his first meeting with the newsroom, according to two Kyiv Post reporters, Kivan announced that Silence is golden, which was understandably taken as advice to go easy on the establishment. Clashes familiar to journalists the world over, between management, journalists and the subjects of their reporting, came and went over the succeeding years.

Tensions came to a head some weeks ago, when Channel 7s Olena Rotari announced on Facebook that she would be heading a Ukrainian-language version of the Kyiv Post, with its own staffa decision made entirely without the knowledge or consent of Bonner or anyone in his newsroom. Trust appears to have broken down during subsequent discussions regarding the exact parameters of the Kyiv Posts editorial independence.

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I spoke with Bonner to discuss the state of the Kyiv Post. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

So, what are you going to do?

Theres a lot of moving parts at the moment. Theres a movement afoot to try to get the owner and publisher, Adnan Kivan, to reverse his decision, and reopen the newspaper, or sell it to somebody else, or sell it to a group of journalists in-house who want to form an NGO. But every passing day a newspaper is closed, it makes it so much more difficult to reopen without damage.

How much did the decision to shut down have to do with the interplay between the owner/publisher and the political machine in Ukraine?

Owning media is not easy in Ukraine. There are very few, if any, independent news media outlets that are both commercially and editorially successful. We tried to be the combination of both. We didnt succeed; on a commercial basis, weve been unprofitable since 2009. So that is one factor.

The other factor is that most of the [media] ownership in Ukraine is oligarch, and they use their media outlets as political weaponsto reward friends, punish enemies, and wield influence. Theyre not interested in free speech, theyre not interested in profits; theyre interested in influence. And they dominate the sector.

Then theres a smaller sector of editorially independent but government-funded media. US-funded, Radio Liberty, different investigative programsor grant funded, which is also a dangerous way to live. We got about half our money from commercial sources, and half from the owner, a significant amount of money. Were still a small newspaper, with a $1.2 million budget and fifty employees. But were proud that we are commercial, and were proud that we strive to be, and have been, editorially independent, and the owner has supported that up to the end.

Weve gone after presidents, prime ministers, general prosecutors, CEOs, oligarchs. We gave them tough coveragewe believe fair, but they often didntand they would complain. But in Ukraine, because theres such a custom that owners control, or should control, everything their journalists do, they often go to the owner. So people would complain to Kivan directly.

I think he got tired of it, or it caused him problems. And this is not his main business; I think he saw that there are threats to his [main] business; he tells me thats not the reason, but I believe that all these things are factors.

He never told me, dont do this, or dont touch this person. He just said what I think publishers all over the world say: Be careful, get your facts straight, be fair, if you made a mistake, correct it if somebody feels theyve been treated unfairly, or wants an op-ed, publish them. All these things are what journalists should do anyway, I think.

But because media was not his main business, I dont think he anticipated the blowback of having a truly editorially independent newspaper under his ownership.

Your guys told me a story that when Kivan first came on board he told them that Silence is golden, which struck me as a pretty bizarre thing to tell a roomful of journalists.

Well it may be golden, but thats not the way we operate as journalists. Were a megaphone.

Kivan owns a TV station, Channel 7 in Odessa, and I think theyre fine people but theyre not editorially independent, or even remotely commercially independent. So yeahwe had, as you can see, a fundamental disagreement about our role.

I know he views journalists as saints, as an important profession. Hes Syrian, he was kicked out of Syria by Assad the senior, so he hates dictators, he hates Russiathe Kremlinhates what Russia has done to Syria, and what Russia has done to Ukraine, so were all on the same page there. Hes for democracy, you knowhe was trying to promote Ukraine because hes a businessman, and he wanted this to be a successful, democratic, European Union country, and he viewed the free press as indispensable to that.

He also understood the way the power structure works here, which is: If you attack me, I fight back. And thats I think what he was trying to convey to us, with his warnings.

And then there is the whole issue of expanding into the Ukraine-language edition, launching into this without consulting you.

Theres a backstory there. I have been here fourteen years, Im 62 and coming to the end of my tenure very soon. We tried a Ukrainian-language version ten years ago, and it was a flop. We did everything wrong. It lasted for two years, and by the time we started to figure out what we were doing, the then-owner didnt want to fund the project anymore.

Every owner, and there have been only three, has wanted to make the Kyiv Post accessible to Ukrainian and Russian-language audiences. Its understandable. And this owner was no different; he wanted us to be bigger, because he thought that it would be forever, or a long time, before this became an English-speaking nation.

But because of my past experience, I dragged my feet. And then, he also wanted a TV station. Well, this market is oversaturated with TV stations. Were about the same age, Kivan is about 60, Im 62. And I said, this is just not the way to go, because its not like the old days where we sit around and watch the eight oclock news. Everyone wants video news on demand, and thats where we should put the money.

So he had talked about this, that we were going to expand, hire a hundred journalists, were going to go into Ukrainian language, were going to go on TV, et cetera, and I had said Welllll, lets talk about this. So I think he got tired of me dragging my feet, and he issued an announcement suddenly, without my knowledge.

There was a post by his top journalist at Channel 7, announcing herself as the chief editor of the Ukrainian-language version of the Kyiv Post, with a separate team and separate content, all unbeknownst to me completely. Blindsided everybody. It was a rough thing.

So I tried to smooth it out, not offend him, not offend Olena Rotari, the journalist hed appointed, and not offend my staff. I ended up offending all three.

It seems to me just from this brief contact that your staff are ready to keep on, that you have a lot of goodwill there.

Thats good to know. Its been contentious. So there was a big kerfuffle, and you know the way news works; todays big story can be forgotten in two weeks. So I waited until everybody sort of forgot about this, stopped writing about it, and I went down to Odessa.

And I explained to our sister colleaguesI said we should try to help them, and they should try to help us, but I explained that this is a toxic way to go about it; this is not a collegial way to go about it. Theres no such thing as two Kyiv Post brands; we have one brand, we have one set of standards, and our hiring is independent; you have to go through the process.

They were disappointed, and I explained this to our owner almost at the same time, and he said he accepted it, but I dont think he did, and he was very unhappy with the situation.

All this is combined with the very serious health issues that he is facing. Also his family never wanted him to be in media assets, because owning media costs money and causes trouble, and nobody appreciates you. And so why do it?

Wed been all set to go for the expansion. But if were editorially independent, as we are at our current size, do you really want to put Kyiv Post on steroids? And instead of two investigative reporters, four? The logical conclusion, for him, was that he wanted to take a pausebut it is very damaging.

All these factors went into his decision, which I dont agree with. Ive decided that if hes not going to keep it open, I am leaving on my own terms, and maybe its time. But Im concerned about my staff. I hope it is not over for them, or for the Kyiv Post. I am doing what I can to salvage this situation, encouraging the owner to sell, or find a new owner.

I regret that this has happened because Kivan has actually invested the most, and interfered the least, of any of the three publishers of the Kyiv Post, and I knew and worked for all three. Ive talked to him recently, and he feels under attack, defensive. I dont think thats the way to approach this. I think we should thank him for what he did, for investinghe invested seven million dollars in this place, whichthere is no possibility of him getting a return financially. He didnt do it for those reasons. We have a studio now where we can do TV production, we have all these things that we never had before, and it would be a shame if it went away.

What is the best-case scenario for the Kyiv Post?

Sometimes Ukraine is the hot news story, but we are a small publication. My life right now is talking to media, and Im grateful for all the attention. Im talking to deeply concerned ambassadors, who want to know what they can do; Im talking to potential investors, and there are some, thankfully; Ill be talking to government officials, including the presidents chief of staff, on Friday. And I think the best thing that they can do from a government perspective is to really ensure that media owners are not harassed for what their outlets publish.

I think that message, from the president on down, would be a very helpful signal.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Maria Bustillos is the founding editor of Popula, an alternative news and culture magazine. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, Harpers, and The Guardian.
GLASGOW  Yesterday, instead of going into the COP26 conference center, I headed to a different type of meeting: the Peoples Summit. Organized by the COP26 Coalitiona collective of well over a hundred NGOs, unions, Indigenous movements, and other groups united by the belief that justice wont be handed to us by world leaders or delivered by corporationsthe Peoples Summit ran from Sunday through yesterday; it wasnt a single thing in a single place, but rather a flurry of workshops, assemblies, performances, and other events spread over more than ten physical locations and the internet. Yesterday, I showed up at a church hall midway through a panel on feminist climate justice. I sat in one of several curved wooden pews along an upper balcony decorated with banners bearing climate-justice messages in blocky letters. The panel was conducted in English and Spanish, with translation accessible via an app and earbuds.

I dont think I saw any other press present; then again, I probably didnt look like press: I needed a ticket and a negative COVID test to get in, but not the media lanyard and vetted credentials demanded at COP itself. The Peoples Summit piqued some media interest, including from international outlets, especially those based in Europe; more broadly, Coalition representatives have been quoted by outlets including the New York Times, Reuters, and CNBC, particularly around the massive marches that it organized over the weekend in Glasgow and hundreds of other locations worldwide. Those demonstrations drove a lot of coverage, Mim Black, a press officer for the Coalition, told mebut mainstream news organizations, she said, didnt dig into the substance of the Peoples Summit with the same energy. (She namechecked alternative outlets such as gal-dem, an independent magazine that tells the stories of people of color from marginalized genders, as having done a better job.) The media are looking for big news stories and flashy protests, Black said. A Peoples Summit thats a convergence space for movements to strategize and learn isnt their priority, and I think thats been quite clear.

Previously at COP26: The unequal representation of global media at COP

Climate-justice movements (like many other social-justice movements) have historically been marginalized and/or infantilized by swathes of the mainstream mediain the UK as in the US and elsewhereand members of those movements have long criticized such coverage, while casting corporate media, in particular, as complicit in climate silence and denial. In recent years, youth climate movements have increasingly attracted media attention, especially when Greta Thunberg has been involved, but this coverage has not been without its problems; early last year, to cite one example, the Associated Press cropped Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan activist, out of a photo that it distributed to its partners, leaving only white activists (including Thunberg) in shot. (The AP apologized for an error in judgment.) Ahead of COP, Thunberg and Nakate implored the media to do better in an open letter that ran in Time. No one else has the possibility and the opportunity to reach as many people in the extremely short timeframe we have, they wrote. You have the resources and possibilities to change the story overnight. Whether or not you choose to rise to that challenge is up to you. Either way, history will judge you.

Since its formation in 2018, Extinction Rebellion, a climate movement dedicated to non-violent civil disobedience, has taken the fight to the media more directly. In June 2019, XRs New York City chapter orchestrated a die-in outside the Timess newsroom in midtown Manhattan to demand more intensive climate coverage; seventy people were arrested. (Days later, youth climate activists around the world followed that up by striking against news outlets in their countries; one of their number, Alexandria Villasenor, wrote about the strike for CJR.) Last year, XR activists in the UK blocked roads outside printing hubs, stalling weekend deliveries of papers including the Daily Mail and the Murdoch-owned Sun. (5 CROOKS CONTROL OUR NEWS, one XR banner read). This summer, XR activists dumped seven tons of manure outside the London offices that house the Mail and other papers. They tried to do likewise outside the offices of the Telegraph (where Prime Minister Boris Johnson used to work) but police stopped them.

Still, Extinction Rebellion UK has also sought more traditional engagement with the British press to get its message out, and has even offered (qualified) praise for right-wing newspapers when it feels praise is warranted. Weve always tried to have good relationships with journalists, Nuala Lam, XR UKs press coordinator, told me this morning. Theres people in the movement who previously worked in PR and different things and very much dont have what you might think is a more typical activist attitude to the media, and actually want to reach them as people and help them do their job. (When XR launched, Lam recalls, activists convened a news conference to announce their intention to break the law en masse and there were comments from journalists like, This is amazingweve never been let in like this to activist groups.) While right-wing British publications, in particular, have continued to demonize XRs tactics, Lam said that she feels the movement is being taken increasingly seriously by mainstream mediaa shift she believes may be attributable to public opinion in the UK, recent flooding in London, and a dire United Nations climate report published this summer. In the wake of the latter, the BBC invited XR onto an evening news showthe first time it had done so, Lam said, without the immediate peg of the groups direct action.

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Yesterday, I left the Peoples Summit to get a cup of tea in the gathering dusk when I heard chanting down the hill. I walked toward the noise, and found that it was coming from an XR march that had started outside the Glasgow offices of JP Morgan and was heading down toward the COP conference venue, flanked by a sizable police escort. I joined the procession and asked some of the marchers how they felt about media coverage both of XR and of COP, and its attendant climate activism. Many of the things they had to say were sharply critical: an activist called Tim, who works as an IT consultant and declined to give his last name, told me that the press is generally letting the side down when it comes to climate coverage, adding that hed struggled to find a live feed of the COP proceedings on any British news website. (The UN is doing better journalism, he concluded, after finding the official livestream.)

Others I spoke to, however, echoed Lams point that the mainstream media, on the whole, is doing a better job than it used to. Everyone I spoke to (including Tim) singled out The Guardians climate coverage for praise without me prompting them. As the march came to a stop on the narrow street outside COPs outer perimeter, I spoke to Melanie Nazareth, a lawyer and XR activist who told me that shed helped organize an activist walk from London to Glasgow for the conference (it took nearly two months) and that shed found many journalistsfrom big national outlets, but also from local ones along the routeto be both interested in the endeavor and broadly sympathetic toward it, even if some of them, she said, seemed to feel constrained in what they could say about it. Like Lam, Nazareth said that shed noticed some improvements in broader climate coverage since the UN report came out, much of it pegged to COP. When you actually begin to quote the activists, she said, the message starts to get through.

Nazareth and others told me that climate coverage still has a long way to go and remains an order of magnitude less urgent than it ought to be; she also noted that the walk to Glasgow was intentionally non-disruptive, which perhaps made it a more comfortable story for the mainstream press. Optics, ultimately, are a reliable driver of media attention, but the story of climate activism cannot be reduced to that. Black, of the COP26 Coalition, told me that many in the media seem to have treated the protests in Glasgow almost like color for the conference without always engaging with activists demands or expertiseand especially in British media, she said, theres a focus on Global North voices and white faces that isnt actually representative of whos here and whos demanding change. The climate crisis, ultimately, is the story. If it wasnt necessary for us to be covered, Lam, of XR, told me this morning, we wouldnt mind.



Other notable stories, by Mathew Ingram:

The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission have opened investigations into Ozy Media, according to a report from the New York Times. Federal prosecutors with the Eastern District of New York have in recent weeks been in contact with at least one company that had dealings with Ozy, the paper said. In the parallel civil inquiry, SEC investigators have contacted at least two companies that discussed investing in Ozy, according to two people with knowledge of the commissions efforts. While the specific focus of the investigations hasnt been revealed, the Times noted that a lawsuit filed against the company last month accused Ozy of misleading potential investors about the health of its business and its future growth prospects.

Politico has reached an agreement to voluntarily recognize a union of its employees, according to a report from Bloomberg. The news service said that Politicos editor-in-chief, Matt Kaminski, told staff in an email on Tuesday that the NewsGuild had presented management with enough union cards to suggest there was overwhelming support for organizing. According to Bloomberg, Kaminski added that because the unionization effort was such an important decision for our company, and because we want to roll up our sleeves and begin to work collectively now, we wanted to voluntarily recognize the union quickly and move ahead. German publisher Axel Springer acquired Politico last month for one billion dollars.

Lauren Harris writes for CJR about an off-Broadway play called A Turtle on a Fence Post, written by Hank Morris, a former political consultant who was prosecuted by then-Attorney General Andrew Cuomo for taking kickbacks, and spent two years in prison. Much of the play is a commentary on how the case was handled by journalists, but Morris claims he has nothing against the media. Look, I dont think the professions monolithic, and I think there are a lot of fantastic people, Morris says of his disposition toward the press. But I think theres a lot of groupthink. And he believes hes something of an expert. During the apex of Morriss career as a political consultant, he says, I used to talk to twenty of you a day.

Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge, writes that the publication has updated its policy on when it will allow comments from sources to be on background, because of widespread misuse of this process in the technology industry. Were doing this because big tech companies in particular have hired a dizzying array of communications staff who routinely push the boundaries of acceptable sourcing in an effort to deflect accountability, pass the burden of truth to the media, and generally control the narratives around the companies they work for while being annoying as hell to deal with, Patel wrote. Brian Merchant wrote about tech journalisms on background scourge for CJR in 2019.

Twitter and ViacomCBS announced a global partnership in which the social media platform will stream content from various ViacomCBS news, sports, and entertainment brands, including content from live events, according to a report from TechCrunch. In addition, ViacomCBS-owned streaming service Paramount+ will also host three Twitter Watch Parties designed to capitalize on Twitters ability to serve as a second screen and a home to fan communities and conversations, the site reported. The companies did not specify which Paramount+ shows would be hosted as Watch Parties, but said they would be original.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Facebook has allowed plagiarized content to flourish on its platform, according to the companys own researchers. About 40% of the traffic to Facebook pages at one point in 2018 went to pages that stole or repurposed most of their content, according to a research report that year by Facebook senior data scientist Jeff Allen, the paper reported, based on internal communications that it was given access to. The researchers also said that Facebook has been slow to crack down on copyright infringement for fear of opening itself to legal liability: Mr. Allen, who left Facebook in late 2019, wrote that Facebook pages seeking big followings simply had to ask one question of the content they were considering recirculating: Has it gone viral in the past?

Brian Williams, the long-time MSNBC anchor who rose to the heights of network television before being sidelined for fabricating an anecdote about Iraq, said Wednesday that he is stepping down from his position as host of an 11pm news show, and will leave NBC News by the end of the year, when his contract runs out. After being put on unpaid leave for six months after the lying incident became public in 2015, Williams returned to the network and built a following for his news and commentary show, The 11th Hour. It debuted at the height of the 2016 presidential election and quickly found an audience, said the New York Times. Left-leaning viewers shocked by the election of Donald J. Trump as president were flocking to MSNBC, and they seemed to forgive Mr. Williamss past transgressions.

A new company called Workweek launched on Wednesday and plans to give creators of business-to-business content full-time support to work independently, Axios reports. The startup plans to focus on content that would traditionally exist in white papers or behind paywalls at trade outlets, Axios says, and will pay writers a salary plus benefits such as full health insurance, paid time off, parental leave, a 401(k) matching plan, and a stipend for office equipment. The company has raised one and a half million dollars in funding so far and has hired ten employees, Axios reports, and is launching with creators across a handful of topics, including healthcare, cannabis, money and financial tech.

Related: Climate crisis coverage in the first person

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

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.


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The rough draft first paragraph of Gwens review of the musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street was typed out on her computer just before she left her near west side efficiency apartment for downtown Clevelands Hedley Theatre. It read:

All of us deserve to die. So sings the homicidal [or deranged, perhaps unhinged] title character in Sweeney Todd, which reinforces the pitch-black theme that drives this remarkably angry, bleak, and brilliant musical. Set in grimy [or grungy or decaying] 19th century London, we find the barber avenging his wrongful imprisonment and the senseless destruction of his fledgling family by whittling away at his clueless clientele and turning the fruits of his labor into meat pies to be sold in the shop below.

The paragraph was to be revised and the review fleshed out with astute observations, carefully honed opinions, and clever writing upon her return from the standing-room only opening night show, just as I had taught her to do. The driven and ever-opportunistic arts journalism intern was asked to review the show during my temporary leave as the theater critic for the Cleveland Jewish Chronicle, so I could be in the show and write about the experience.

After its completion, the review would then be posted in time for tomorrow mornings deadline and published in the next issue of the paper. Instead, it was recovered from Gwens laptop by the police.

The small spiral notepad she used while watching the North Coast Theater production was no doubt filled with insightful reflections about this evenings performance  the acting choices, the rendering of Sweeneys decrepit Fleet Street dwelling, and the goth-inspired costuming. But very little was legible because of the blood.
Beachwood, OH (44122)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low near 30F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Higher wind gusts possible.
Clifford Chance advises CDPQ on landmark US$2.7 billion acquisition and holdco financing in Taiwans offshore wind farm

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised global investment group Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) on the approximately US$2.7 billion co-investment in the Greater Changhua 1 offshore wind farm and associated holdco financing. This transaction marks the first time holdco financing, which is more common in Europes offshore wind market, is deployed in Asia Pacifics offshore wind market.

In December 2020, CDPQ, together with minority local investor Cathay PE, entered into a share purchase agreement to acquire 50% of Greater Changhua 1 from rsted, a leading Danish multinational power company. rsted will continue to own the remaining 50%, while also contracting with the project company to construct and operate the project.

The 50-50 partnership is the first of its kind in the Asia Pacific offshore wind sector. It also represents CDPQs first direct investment in Taiwan through its Infrastructure team, which has a long track-record in the renewable energy sector.

Upon approval of the investment by Taiwanese authorities, completion of the share sale and financial close under the holdco financing occurred in early November 2021. Proceeds of the holdco financing are used by the investors to pay the consideration for the share purchase and fund their portion of construction and development costs.

The funding was provided to Mercury Taiwan Holdings (CDPQ and Cathay PE's joint investment vehicle) by 17 international and Taiwanese commercial banks and life insurers, along with Export Development Canada (participating in its first offshore wind financing in Taiwan). The commercial banks and life insurers benefit for a portion of the financing cover from EKF, K-SURE, Atradius and UK Export Finance.

The 605MW offshore wind farm, which is located off the coast of Changhua County in Taiwan, will be supplying clean power to over 650,000 Taiwanese families. Construction is underway and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

The Clifford Chance team was led by partner Ross Howard (Singapore), supported by lead associates Jordan Knowles (Singapore), Dominik Kepinski (Perth) and Swati Gupta (Perth). Corporate team was led by partner Valerie Kong (Singapore). Senior associates Leonhard Rudolph (London) and Irina Steinberg (London) advised on the construction and operations aspects of the project. Partner Paul Landless (Singapore), together with counsel Miles Binney (Singapore) and senior associate Mae Yen Teoh (Singapore) advised on hedging matters.

Ross commented, We are delighted to have advised CDPQ on this strategically important investment. Following on from the market-shaping Formosa 1 and Formosa 2 projects, we have once again demonstrated our ability to take products and approaches previously only used in the European offshore wind market and adapt them to local requirements. It feels very appropriate that we should have reached completion during COP26  we look forward to continuing to operate at the forefront of market developments as the energy transition gathers pace.

Clifford Chance regularly advises on market-leading renewables and energy transition transactions around the world including the world's first commercial scale carbon dioxide direct air capture (DAC) project, financing for Vietnam's largest single operating solar power plant, Taiwan's landmark Formosa 1 and Formosa 2 offshore wind farms, OTPP's US$1.25 billion investment in renewable energy developer Equis, Iberdrola on its Swedish offshore wind partnership and entry into the Japan offshore wind market, and Blue Elephant Energy's acquisition and financing of four photovoltaic parks in the Netherlands.
Daniel Mutisya promoted to Director and Co-Head of the East Africa practice

International law firm Clifford Chance announced today that Daniel (Danny) Mutisya has been promoted to the position of Director of Africa, and Co-Head of East Africa, performing that role alongside London corporate partner Jennifer Mbaluto.

Danny, who is dual qualified in England & Wales and Kenya, has been a key member of the firm's private equity team since 2014. He has a wealth of experience advising financial investors on cross border M&A transactions, with a particular focus on Africa, key clients including Actis, Alterra Capital Partners and 8 Miles.

Nigel Wellings, Co-Head of London Corporate and Africa Private Equity practice leader said:

"We are delighted Danny is taking on this role, to help drive our leading African private equity practice forward. With the market returning strongly from the impact of the pandemic, we are keen to continue to grow our practice and support our clients' successes".

Anthony Giustini, Regional Managing Partner for Africa, said:

"A key element of the strategy of our Africa Group is to attract, develop, retain and promote African Clifford Chance lawyers, and Danny's much-deserved promotion is a further demonstration of this commitment. We are proud to be bringing through the next generation of leaders in the African legal market."

Danny Mutisya said:

"I am delighted to take on this new role and am grateful for the confidence placed in me to contribute to the firm's success in Africa alongside a dedicated team of colleagues from across the Clifford Chance fraternity."

Clifford Chance has a top-ranked Africa private equity practice and regularly advises international and pan-African clients on some of the most complex and high profile mandates on the continent.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) - Cebu City has joined other areas easing rules on the use of face shields as the local government now only requires residents to wear them in medical facilities and air-conditioned public utility vehicles.

The new directive, signed by acting Cebu City mayor Michael Rama on Nov. 9 and released on Wednesday, limits the use of face shields to hospitals, clinics, diagnostic laboratories, and other medical facilities.

Commuters must also wear a face shield while in public utility vehicles, except in traditional jeepneys where there are open windows and good ventilation.

The local government said the decision was made after the city's multi-sectoral convergence group met to discuss observations "on the manner people utilized face shields in various settings."

"It was confirmed that face shields were usually not properly worn but just fashionably displayed as head gear for compliance purposes," the order stated.

The change in rules also came following the clamor among residents to scrap the policy in malls, among other areas. Rama himself described the wearing of face shields as "preposterous."

Last week, Davao City issued an order making the use of face shields optional. Earlier this week, Manila City also scrapped the requirement except in hospital settings.

However, the Department of Health has urged local governments to wait for the Inter-Agency Task Force's official recommendation on the matter.

CNN Philippines' Cebu-based Correspondent Dale Israel contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  An independent group monitoring the COVID-19 situation on Thursday tagged Navotas, Caloocan, and Malabon cities as very low risk for infection, and the rest of Metro Manila as low risk.

"Fourteen of the LGUs (local government units) are classified as low risk, but three are classified as very low risk," OCTA Research fellow Guido David said in an online briefing.

David earlier said OCTA's metrics to assess a location's risk level are based on indicators from the U.S. nonprofit Covid Act Now and the Department of Health.

Navotas is averaging one case per day in the past week, the data expert said. Caloocan has a seven-day case average of 22 while Malabon has six, he said. Their average daily attack rate is 0.37, 1.28, and 1.51 respectively, he added.

Officials earlier said the higher the daily average attack rate in an area -- defined as the number of infected people per 100,000 population -- the higher a person's risk of getting the infectious disease.

David noted the low COVID-19 bed occupancy rates in Navotas (20% occupied), Caloocan (18% used), Malabon (34% utilized).

The capital region is under Alert Level 2 until Nov. 21. Under this alert status, intrazonal and interzonal movement of all people is allowed and recreational establishments are permitted to operate up to 50% of their indoor capacity and 70% of their outdoor capacity.

David said OCTA supports the call to increase operational capacity in establishments in Metro Manila as the region's COVID-19 situation has improved compared to last year. He also said the overall classification of Metro Manila is low risk, and its new cases may further decline with higher vaccine rollout.

OCTA fellow Nicanor Austriaco noted the need to administer booster shots in the first or second quarter of 2022. "Otherwise, the risk for a Delta re-surge will increase," he said in the same briefing
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  The late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot has moved a step toward sainthood.

The Archdiocese of Cebu announced on Wednesday that the Vatican's Theological Commission of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints gave a "unanimous affirmative vote to the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Archbishop Teofilo Camomot."

This now leaves the commission of bishops and cardinals to further study the proposal to declare him as saint. The cause will then be submitted to Pope Francis for approval before Camomot could be declared "venerable."

Venerable, which is two steps away from sainthood, is given to a deceased person formally recognized by the Pope "as having lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life."

If a candidate acquired one miracle through their intercession, they may be declared "blessed" through beatification. If a second miracle could be attributed to them, they may become "saint" through the process of canonization.

The Pope, however, may waive these requirements, and a miracle may not be required prior to beatification, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Camomot, who hails from Carcar in Cebu, was described as someone who "lived a simple and austere life. Before celebrating mass, he visited all the sick parishioners while attending to their needs."

Camomot was ordained a priest in 1941. He became bishop in 1955, and co-adjutor archbishop of Cagayan de Oro and parish priest of Sta. Rita, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental in 1959.

In 1970, Camomot went back to Cebu and became auxiliary of Julio Cardinal Rosales. He was named parish priest of Carcar in 1976.

The late archbishop died in a vehicular accident in 1988 in San Fernando, Cebu.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to hold a debate for presidential bets as early as January next year.

In a media conference Thursday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body is eyeing to mount up to seven debates for both presidential and vice presidential candidates  including a "primary" event in the first month of 2022.

"We're looking at one primary debate, three presidential debates, and three vice presidential debates," Jimenez said, adding officials are looking at different ways to roll out the debates as compared to previous years.

Jimenez said Comelec is considering a "hybrid" setup, where candidates can attend in-person while the audience would stay at home and watch virtually.

The Comelec official earlier told CNN Philippines they were eyeing at least three hybrid debates for the upcoming elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asked about the campaign guidelines, Jimenez stressed that the poll body will first come up with a "classification system"  with rules that would depend on an area's alert level status.

CNN Philippines' Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has raised Alert Level 4 in Ethiopia "due to the continued and intensifying conflict" in the East African nation.

In a statement, the department said "there is large-scale internal conflict or full-blown external attack," as fighting between Tigray forces and Ethiopian troops escalated.

There are about 800 Filipinos in Ethiopia, and the Philippine government will implement mandatory evacuation procedures, the DFA added.

Ethiopia declared a state of emergency last week as Tigray forces approached the capital Addis Ababa.

The DFA urged Filipinos not to travel to Ethiopia for now. Those in areas under Alert Level 4 are advised to limit non-essential movements, avoid public places, and prepare for evacuation.

Filipinos who need assistance may contact the Philippine Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, through (+202) 252-13062, or through its Facebook Page. They can also reach out to the Philippine Honorary Consul in Addis Ababa via email: hc.philippines.aa@gmail.com, or through (+251) 118 648 752.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday asked for a re-examination of the Philippine National Police's anti-insurgency fund spending after it reported figures which the senator found suspicious.

Citing PNP data, Senator Sonny Angara said the police force has spent 766 million since the start of the year for different anti-communism activities, totaling 13 million.

"Dalawampu't apat na taon na po ako sa Senado, ngayon ko lang narinig ang report na merong ginastusan na 13 million activities in a span of one year or less than one year," Drilon said during deliberations on the proposed 2022 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government  the PNP's parent agency.

[Translation: I've been in the Senate for 24 years and this is the first time I've heard of a report that expenses were made for 13 million activities in a span of one year or less than a year.]

Going by this number, Drilon said it would mean over 43,000 were conducted daily, "which, on its surface, is immediately difficult to believe."

Angara said PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has explained that these millions of activities were performed by 12 different clusters, and included counter mobilization efforts, law enforcement operations, and intensified monitoring of communist terrorist groups.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  President Rodrigo Duterte told world economic leaders there is a need to promote digital literacy to include rural communities, and support for developing countries to adapt to, and mitigate climate change.

During the 2021 APEC Business Advisory Council Dialogue, Duterte called for "greater public-private collaboration" in addressing challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of climate change.

He emphasized the importance of "digital inclusion" that would include vulnerable groups.

"This will help increase the economic productivity of marginalized groups under the new normal," he said during the event, according to his office's statement.

For this to happen, the President said there should be infrastructure for accessible, stable, and affordable energy supply in remote areas.

Duterte also touted a national Social Protection Floor, which will guarantee social security benefits that will also cover those from the informal sector and the gig economy.

The digital divide was made evident during the pandemic, when students and workers were forced to turn to distance learning and teleconferencing. Appeals for provisions such as internet load and devices continued even after a year since the health crisis had sprung.

As for battling climate change, Duterte called on developed countries to help developing nations by providing "sustainable, scaled-up and predictable support" in the form of climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building.

"In the interest of climate justice, we need these to transition to climate-smart development and adapt to and mitigate the worsening effects of climate change," the President said.

He made the exact same appeal in his speech at the 76th United Nations General Assembly in September.

The call comes amid the last few days of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland. Environment groups have also highlighted the need for more funds to fight the climate crisis.
Botolan, Zambales (CNN Philippines, November 11)  The campaign season has yet to begin, but presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno continued making the rounds north of his bailiwick as part of what his campaign team dubbed as "listening tours."

Among his promises: a bridge connecting Bataan to other provinces, and reinforcing the country's military alliances with the United States.

During a chance interview with reporters after his visit to fisherfolk of Botolan, Zambales, Moreno said that he will "reinforce" the Philippines' Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States.

"Palalakihin ko pa yung sakop nila, ng kanilang pagtetrainingan para mas maraming matrain na Filipino uniformed personnel. Why not? Especially I need a lot of strategic planning or some materials that protects the shores all across from Tawi-Tawi to Batanes," Moreno said.

[Translation: I'll expand the areas where they train so more Filipino personnel can be trained. Why not? Especially I need a lot of strategic planning or some materials that protects the shores all across from Tawi-Tawi to Batanes.]

In true Moreno fashion, he said, "bakit ba hindi, lalo na kung "T.Y.," a slang for getting things for free.

[Translation: Why not, as long as it's for a thank you.]

Moreno also said if elected, he will help modernize the Philippine Air Force "so that we will continue to monitor movements (in the West Philippine Sea) in real time." This is addition to his earlier promise to modernize the Navy and Coast Guard.

Under the backdrop of a symbolic banca push along the Botolan coast with his slate to assert that the waters belong to the Philippines, the Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer claimed he will be "fearless" in defending the country's sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea by insisting on implementing the Philippines' arbitral win against China over the West Philippine Sea.

"We will be faithful to our farmers and fisherfolks. Ang mga mangingisda, dapat makapangisda sa loob ng ating teritoryo sa dagat. At iyon ang magaganap: undeterred, peaceful, and productive fishing opportunities under our rules," Moreno said.

[Translation: We will be faithful to our farmers and fisherfolks. Fishermen should be able to cast their nets in our sea territories. And that's what will happen: undeterred, peaceful, and productive fishing opportunities under our rules.]

A day earlier, Moreno visited three places in Bataan: the capital city, Balanga, and the towns of Pilar and Mariveles.

In Balanga, Moreno promised an inter-island bridge connecting Bataan to nearby provinces if elected president - drawing inspiration from the Cebu-Cordova Bridge which he visited the week before.

"Pwede pala, kaya pala. Kaya sa inyo, hindi na kayo mata-trapik sa Metro Manila kung pupunta kayo sa Batangas, pupunta kayo ng Cavite, kahit dito na lang kayo sa Mariveles road, dire-dire-direstso lang kayo," Moreno said.

[Translation: It can be done. So you won't be stuck in traffic in Metro Manila when going to Batangas, going to Cavite, even when you're here in Mariveles road, it's just straight.]

Moreno was referring to a proposed expansion of the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge, also known as the Manila Bay bridge. Once completed, the bridge will reduce travel time from Bataan to Cavite from five hours to 40 minutes.

The project is currently being built under the Duterte government's Build, Build, Build (BBB) program - which Moreno himself wants to continue, but with a renewed focus on schools and hospitals.

As of 2019, Bataan has 545,507 registered voters, while Zambales 515,724 registered voters based on COMELEC's data.

Weeks earlier, Moreno also visited Tarlac and Pampanga, where he promised to shlash oil and power taxes by as much as 50 percent. He was joined in these Central Luzon visits by his running mate Doctor Willie Ong, and Aksyon's senate aspirants Jopet Sison, Samira Gutoc, and Carl Balita.

With the deadline for the filing of substitutions and withdrawals fast approaching, Moreno also said that he is open to having more candidates join Aksyon Demokratiko, but believes that if ever they join him, they should be "exclusive," jokingly asking reporters if they want their content shown on other networks.

"Welcome po kayo sa amin pero you have to state that you believe in us ni Doc Willie. Gusto mo ba (Paolo), yung balita mo, ilabas ko sa ABS-CBN? Kita mo pawis mo, tapos yung content mo ilabas ko sa TV5? So you don't like that," Moreno said.

[Translation: You are welcome to join us but you have to state that you believe in Doc Willie and me. Do you want me to release your report to ABS-CBN? You sweat over it, then your content will be released to TV5? So, you don't like that.]
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11) Presidential aspirants Manny Pacquiao and Bongbong Marcos on Thursday said they will push through with their candidacies amid speculations on their plans for the 2022 polls.

Walang atrasan. Tuloy ang laban, Pacquiao said in a statement, addressing questions on his recent meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

Hindi nagbabago ang paninindigan ko sa pagtakbo bilang Pangulo, he added.

[Translation: Theres no backing out. The fight continues. My intention to run as president does not change.]

After months of word war, Pacquiao and Duterte met in Malacanang on Tuesday to hold what both camps labeled as a friendly discussion. Netizens, however, raised speculations on possible changes in the boxer-turned-senators election plans.

Both Pacquiao and the Palace said the meeting did not involve political talks, but rather focused on certain issues concerning Mindanao.

Duterte and Pacquiao also earlier figured in an infighting within the ruling PDP-Laban party, with their separate factions both asserting legality.

In a separate event, Marcos also said he will continue to seek the presidency next year.

I have nowhere else to go, the former senator told reporters.

The statement comes amid talks that he may give way to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who earlier withdrew from the mayoralty race.

The presidential daughter has yet to announce her plans for next years polls, but supporters have repeatedly expressed hope she would vie for a national position.

READ: Sara Duterte ally on COC withdrawal, possible national run: 'This is not scripted'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  An ally of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte defended the withdrawal of her reelection candidacy from criticisms of a possible repeat of her father's political strategy in 2016 that eventually secured him the presidency.

Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Thursday, Danilo Dayanghirang, a Davao City councilor and Sara All Philippines co-convenor, denied that the mayor's latest move was part of a bigger scheme to eventually seek a national post ahead of the November 15 political substitution deadline. However, the presidential daughter acknowledges the public clamor for her to seek the country's highest post, he said.

"This is not scripted. Mayor Sara is definitely different from her father. They have their own strategy," Dayanghirang said.

He admitted, however, that after Mayor Duterte withdrew her candidacy on Tuesday, she seemed to be "caught in the middle of a storm" about her next plans.

"Noong nag-usap kami after withdrawing, sabi niya, 'For the meantime Sir Danny dito lang tayo,'" he said. "Parang nasa gitna siya ng storm, ng napakalaking unos na she's trying to navigate between the pressure of the people, different big political parties, and of course the political developments."

[Translation: When we talked after her withdrawal, she told me, 'For the meantime Sir Danny, this is where we are.' She seemed to be in the middle of a storm, in a catastrophe and she's trying to navigate between the pressure of the people, different big political parties, and of course the political developments.]

"If you are in the shoes of Mayor Sara, you can imagine na nag-file ka na ng (you already filed your) candidacy for mayor and there are people who won't stop calling her to run," he added. "Very winnable. Parating nagta-top sa survey (She always tops surveys)."

Dayanghirang did not directly confirm whether Duterte will attempt to succeed her father, but said his group and other supporters do not want her to become a "spare tire" by settling for the vice presidency. They also believe she is the best candidate for president, he added.

So far, Duterte has not yet publicly stated her next steps but Deputy Speaker Joey Salceda, another ally, believes she will gun for the presidency and would likely become the standard bearer of LAKAS-CMD, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's party.

Salceda also noted that the Davao mayor will likely announce her political plans on or before Nov. 15.

READ: Sara Duterte likely to run for president, VP not an option  Salceda
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 11)  The Senate has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to challenge the legality of President Rodrigo Dutertes order barring executive officials from attending the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings.

The petition cited the Senate v. Ermita case wherein the Supreme Court ruled that the Executive branch should not issue directives that would frustrate the power of Congress to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation.

The upper chamber argued that the memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea obstructs and interferes with the processes of the Legislative department.

The Executive departments actions defy constitutional order, and subvert the rule of law by: (a) flouting an established ruling by the honorable court; and (b) making compliance with validly issued processes and writs subject to confirmation by the executive branch, the petition said.

It added that the memorandum deprives the people of their right to information.

The Senate on Tuesday adopted a resolution to back the petition filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III as well as Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Minority Leader, Franklin Drilon, and Blue Ribbon Committee chairperson Richard Gordon.

Since the memorandum was issued, Cabinet officials snubbed the hearings into the alleged misuse of billions of pesos worth of pandemic response funds for the procurement of overpriced face masks and face shields.

The senators also pointed out that the memorandum suffers even graver badges of unconstitutionality because it does not qualify which officials are prohibited from attending and it selectively targets a set of hearings led by senators whom the President personally attacked.

The Executive Departments actions undermine the foundations of our system of writs, processes, and warrants, the petition read. For one, it essentially makes compliance with these commands subject to the Executive Branchs confirmation and sows doubt as to their binding nature.

The Executive Departments actions are as much a threat to the legitimacy of every governmental body that issues them, and not just to the Senate, it added.

The Blue Ribbon Committee will resume its hearing on November 25.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 12)  The Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives has approved a bill seeking to suspend and reduce excise taxes on petroleum products amid soaring global oil prices.

The proposed measure aims to suspend excise taxes on diesel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas for six months. It also seeks to reduce tax on low-octane gasoline used primarily by tricycle drivers, but it will retain tax on premium gasoline.

Committee chairman Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said rates will be reverted back to prevailing levels once global price of oil normalizes or goes back to $65 per barrel.

Republic Act No. 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, requires an excise tax of 6 per liter of diesel, 10 per liter of gas, 5 per liter of kerosene, and 3 per kilo of LPG.

Should the imposition of excise taxes be suspended for six months, the government will lose 45 billion.

Salceda said the lower chamber will prioritize the bill, so it could be turned over to the Senate before the end of the month.

He earlier filed House Bill No. 10438 that intends to suspend the imposition of excise taxes on diesel and kerosene from Dec. 1, 2021 to June 1, 2022, and slash the taxes on gasoline by 3 per liter.

Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe recently filed Senate Bill no. 2445 that seeks automatic suspension of excise taxes on regular gasoline, unleaded premium gasoline and diesel. It will amend section 148 of the National Internal Revenue Code.

CNN Philippines correspondent Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report.
Staff Reporter

Kerin majored in journalism at Ohio University and has worked as an editor and reporter for monthly, daily and weekly publications in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Delaware since 1983. A native of Baltimore, Md., she has lived in Ocean View since 1996.
While Bethany Beach's town trolley costs riders 25 cents per one-way trip, it only transports riders within the town. Outside communities wishing to drop off passengers inside the town must pay for a shuttle license, in addition to the cost of the equipment, maintenance and drivers. Ocean View's proposed beach shuttle has been put on hold, with costs expected to mean $8 or more in fares per rider, each way.
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At Step 3: Login using your Name exactly as it appears on your mailing label and the account number needs to be input without the leading zeros.
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.
As an Iranian artist, Kiana Honarmand said her exhibit Altar is meant to acknowledge the Iranian and Middle Eastern communities at Penn State.

The exhibit is on display at the HUB-Robeson Center at Penn State now through Jan. 30. Its located on the same floor as the HUB Galleries, across from the restroom area.

Art Curator and Senior Gallery Manager Lindsey Landfried and other members of the HUB Galleries staff selected the exhibit during an open call for artists to consider the term commonwealth as it relates to our university, larger histories of colonialism and generally what wealth we hold common.

Honarmand answered this call through the design of Altar  bringing visibility through decoration to one of our large international communities here at Penn State, Landfried said.

Honarmand, who received a masters of fine arts in art from Penn State in 2014, said Penn State was her first home after moving to the United States.

I remember my first days of walking through campus, missing home and looking for any familiarity or any sense of belonging, Honarmand said.

With the HUB being one of the busiest parts of campus, Honarmand said she is interested in creating a sense of home and familiarity for these members of the Penn State community.

Using Persian calligraphy, Altar features text from news articles, propaganda, feminist poetry and the poem Gift by Iranian feminist poet Forough Farrokhzad to create a design similar to stained-glass windows.

Growing up in Iran, I saw many beautiful stained-glass windows in historical buildings, Honarmand said. I was inspired by how those colors interacted with light and affected the mood and atmosphere of the space.

Honarmand said the feminist texts invoke the message of the exhbit, which is to commemorate all womens rights activists in Iran and around the globe that fight for our freedom and equality every day.

As the United States just recently passed the 100th anniversary of womens right to vote, it is important to acknowledge that even though we have made progress, we still have a long way ahead of us, Honarmand said.

Student Paige Bish said she was intrigued by the message and detail of the art exhibit when she saw Altar displayed at the HUB.

Its really cool that Persian calligraphy is integrated with the piece, Bish (sophomore-graphic design) said. I think its important to see pieces from other cultures here on campus.

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For Penn State student Alissa Beason, National Native American Heritage Month is a way to show others that Indigenous peoples are more than their stereotypes.

And for other students and faculty, National Native American Heritage Month is a time for education, acknowledgement and correcting cultural misconceptions.

It's an opportunity for the community that has been portrayed a certain way for so long to demonstrate it to the rest of the populace. that we're not always what our stereotypes are, Beason (senior-animal science) said. Were usually not what our stereotypes are, and our culture is a lot more intricate than the media portrays it to be.

Member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Beason said one way she celebrates her culture is through paying homage and sharing the history of her ancestors tribes, what theyve gone through and their triumphs.

Since Beason, a general body member of Penn States Indigenous Peoples Student Association, didnt grow up near the tribe, she said she joined IPSA to learn more about other tribes and their traditions.

I just wanted to network with other people who are similar to me, Beason said. I wanted to experience other cultures but also get a chance to experience part of my culture.

Though Beason said people view Native Americans as closed off, uneducated and aggressive, she said she wants outsiders to know this isnt accurate, and rather, the culture is huge on community and respect for one another.

Instead of searching online, Beason said if someone has a question about Native American heritage, its best to reach out to community members or the tribe itself, since the internet can portray Native Americans the wrong way.

Tracy Peterson, director of student transitions and pre-college programs in the College of Engineerings Center for Engineering Outreach and Inclusion, adviser of IPSA and member of the Dine Nation, said when he thinks of this month, the idea of the U.S. government taking time to recognize the culture, the heritage and the epistemologies of the people comes to mind.

I think that's important that despite the small number of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, it's really important to celebrate the fact that these peoples are still around, right? Peterson said. They still exist. And I think for me, that's what Native American heritage stands for.

American culture is a splice of different cultural aspects, and theres not one unique identity, Peterson said.

There's [Asian Pacific American Heritage Month], African American [History Month], [National Hispanic Heritage Month], and sometimes I feel like things get misconstrued, Peterson said. That we become objects of fabrication, objects of speculation and that were meant to be celebrated, and we get conditioned, right? Its kind of like Christmas.

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE

Peterson said he believes the most common stereotype about Indigenous people is they are lost in the past, primitive and they dont exist anymore.

To Peterson, education is the biggest part of National Native American Heritage Month.

We may not all be at the same level in terms of education and knowledge, Peterson said, but that doesn't mean that I cant engage in discourse with students and share that knowledge.

Peterson said he wants outsiders to know Indigenous people are open to collaborating, learning and engaging in dialogue about culture  not just at University Park  but all Penn State commonwealth campuses, too.

I want people to know that there are Indigenous students at Penn State. They are here, Peterson said. Even though the numbers are very, very small, there are Indigenous students on this campus, and there are Indigenous faculty and staff members at this university.

This month is a time for acknowledgement, said Tim Benally, a Residence Life Coordinator in Eastview Terrace and 2021 graduate from Penn States College of the Liberal Arts.

Growing up in the public school system  that wasnt something we celebrated whatsoever, Benally said. It wasn't something we grew up learning or valuing in ourselves.

However, through research and understanding, Benally said he realized its not his fault he never learned to value himself and his culture, rather it was his education which enabled him to feel this way.

When looking at the systemic racism in America, you understand history has only been told from one perspective, Benally said. Seeing Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month finally recognized  was a statement.

Its been a struggle for recognition and acknowledgement in Indigenous peoples communities, Benally said.

Founder of IPSA and member of the Dine Nation, Benally said when he first came to Penn State, there were very few Native American students.

We're in a fight for the preservation of our culture and keeping our cultural knowledge alive, Benally said. We're human, and we're navigating the brevity of that [and] understanding that our people were very much wronged in both unethical and unlawful ways.

Benally said he started IPSA in fall 2019 informally, and it was later instituted as a student organization last fall  as a way to build a community along with a place to laugh, vent [and] be human with other people who shared cultural experiences.

One aspect Benally said he wanted people to know about Indigenous culture is how in touch the people are with their culture.

I think a lot of people like to think of us as deeply spiritual [and] deeply cultural people who once existed, but rather, we still exist, Benally said. We're still here. We are doctors, lawyers, residence life coordinators, and were still people.

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Palmer Museum of Art to celebrate its 50th year anniversary in 2022 The Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State announced it will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2
As part of Penn State's celebration of National Native American Heritage Month, the Indigenous Peoples' Student Association hosted a panel at 7 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom on how to become a good ally for the Indigenous community.

The panel attracted 39 viewers who listened to speakers Wayne Wapeemukwa, graduate student in the department of philosophy and part of the Metis Nation, Hollie Kulago, associate professor in Penn State's College of Education and part of the Dine Nation, Nicole Peterson, assistant teaching professor in Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and of the Menominee Tribe, Ashley Patterson, assistant professor in Penn State's College of Education, Paul Guernsey from Lafayette College and Georgia Ennis from Penn State's Center for Humanities and Information.

Starting off the panel, Patterson, who identifies as African American, said she finds that being an ally carries various components, but the first thing that comes to mind is not self-identifying as an ally. She said she also believes allyship is born through self-education and educating others.

A part of education for me is humility, Patterson said. So, that means being able to do things wrong and learn from those mistakes so that youre not repeating the same types of mistakes Just knowing more gives us [an] opportunity to do better.

Wapeemukwa echoed Pattersons thoughts and said he sees allyship as the practice of understanding, learning about and respecting the land that an individual resides or exists on.

The panel also addressed issues like the lack of education around Indigenous people. Guernsey said after a lesson, a Native American student shared that they never heard a professor talk about Indigenous people prior to his class that day.

Kulago said Guernseys actions of educating others is something all allies can do, adding that educators can empower students through knowledge by informing them of historical truths.

Anybody [who] is always telling those truthful histories and always including all perspectives  not only Indigenous, but various perspectives  are always helping, Kulago said. It seems so simple, but it goes a long way with our students.

Panelists listed literature works and resources for attendees to look into to find out what land individuals reside on or for further education on topics like the Sixties Scoop  where Canadian welfare authorities removed Indigenous children from their families and communities.

When approaching barriers, panelists said building relationships is key to tackling issues like education, climate change, broken trust, lack of tribe recognition and inherent whiteness.

What we ought to do as allies is always try to find ways to exceed those walls to get into relationships with other people and to support them in any way, shape or form that we materially can, Wapeemukwa said.

Sharing similar thoughts, Ennis said she finds building trust and relationships is one of the most important and practical things an ally can do.

Earlier during the event, the group focused on decentering themselves and encouraged allies to do the same when approaching issues regarding Indigenous people, and the concept resurfaced during the discussion about whiteness.

Ennis said she believes whiteness isnt about skin color or nationality but the subconscious power structure that white people carry within them.

The sense that we should be in leadership positions or kind of carrying the way forward or saving people [is] this idea of white saviorism, Ennis said. We also have to really decenter ourselves and think through what whiteness means and how it's organized our life.

Patterson cycled back to her previous point about building relationships. She said, from personal experience, the environment to facilitate discussion and education is different when questioned by someone she knows, adding that the conversation doesnt carry the same burden as others, knowing the speakers are in a reciprocal exchange of care.

Lead with the intentionality of building meaningful connections instead of sucking information away."

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Penn State's College of Information Sciences and Technology hosted a virtual webinar made up of first-generation panelists Wednesday as a part of the IST Alumni Identity Talks series.

The panelists first described the challenges they faced as first-generation students upon entering college.

Joel Gill, now a technology manager and management consultant for Grant Thornton LLP, said dealing with the immense pressure of his family who expected him to have not just one but two degrees was his biggest challenge.

As a freshman, Ill be honest, I wanted to have fun, Gill said. I was away from my parents. I wanted to play games all day and study later, but you always hear them calling you and telling you, Don't forget, you need to study hard. Were not putting this money forth so you can play around.

Steve Pipino, now a cloud cyber security expert at Salesforce, said his first semester was challenging because he couldnt have conversations with his family about what to expect," which led him to prioritize his social life during his first semester  impacting his GPA.

The panelists also discussed what resources they utilized as first-generation students.

All said they werent aware there were resources available to first-generation students at the time, so they tried to develop their own collegiate plans and essentially wing it.

Gill said he relied on friendships, counselors and mentors for guidance.

Michelle Ngo, now product marketing strategy lead at JPMorgan Chase, said she utilized free tutoring the most since she needed a lot of help coming from an inner city school in Philadelphia.

Sometimes being at a large university is very overwhelming, Ngo said. There are a lot of resources out there, but its just about getting in touch and finding them.

Pipino said to look for local scholarships and resources in addition to university resources.

The panelists then discussed the importance of internships during undergrad, as well as how their internship experience benefitted them.

Gill said he only had one internship in college because he didnt realize how important internships were until graduation.

Try everything, Gill said. If you can start interning as a rising sophomore, do it.

Gill said having several internships will help build your resume and help you gain experience while discovering what you like to do.

Ngo said to set yourself up for success by getting internships early  even if they're unpaid.

I needed money, so if I saw it was unpaid, I wouldn't take it,  Ngo said. "That wasn't the right approach. Figure out what you can get out of the situation.

The webinar ended with the panelists discussing what prevented them from taking advantage of IST support.

Pepino said not utilizing the support from IST was his own doing. He said he had a near-term focus and did not make two-, five- or 10-year goals until after he graduated.

I think its not something that comes natural to you when youre younger, Pipino said.

Ngo said she did not ask for feedback when opportunities did not pan out as hoped.

Definitely make sure you ask for that feedback, and make sure youre open enough to improve on it."

MORE CAMPUS COVERAGE
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Apple is continuing its campaign to explain why sideloading on Apples devices is a bad idea.

Apple Software Vice President Craig Federighi appeared at Web Summit 2021 to passionately defend his companys approach to platform security on iPhones. He was speaking against a clause in the EUs Digital Markets Act that would force the company to support app sideloading on iPhones.

There are four primary reasons people want Apple to do this:

For commercial reasons, such as to sell products created using Apples APIs to people on Apples platforms without paying for the chance to do so.

For consumer choice, so it becomes possible to install and use apps that are not made available on the App Store.

For devious reasons, such as avoiding the App Store app review process to continue tracking users without consent or for other forms of surveillance.

For criminal purpose, such as creating fake app stores to spread malware, ransomware, and more.

Its perfectly acceptable to try to seek commercial advantage, and weve seen before how the open beats closed mantra is often used to undermine consumer interest. Google used it when it went up against Apple with Android, though years later Android has become a great deal more closed.

Show your face

However, I think much of the energy behind the current campaign comes from a loosely coalesced set of interests working to undermine Apples privacy and security for their own benefit. The group has allies, too, equally committed to making their fortunes in the so-called "metaverse," which many see as a virtual world we can still enjoy once climate change renders the real world too toxic.

As I see it, when a company that can afford to hire a voter-rejected former UK deputy prime minister as its lobbyist complains about something, it is probably going to reflect its own self-interest. In this case, it wants to undermine Apples privacy protections to protect its business and wants to create a bulwark against the incoming war over augmented and virtual reality.

Protecting Metas business model is the root of the company's motivation. Thats why it accuses Apple of the same thing. And a recent move to create its own internal marketplace that contravenes Apples own App Store guidelines shows how far it will go.

An even bigger business model

But there are others with a commercial interest in undermining Apples platform security: criminals who want to break into your digital lives.

The problem is that they are good at what they do. They are smart, sophisticated, and quite capable of setting the scene to get innocent users to make mistakes. Who hasnt clicked a bad link in an email at least once?

They also dont work in isolation. Online crime is a richly financed industry, it isnt just lone geeks in basements. Its banks of computers in legitimate-seeming office spaces paid for by state and non-state sponsored groups. Cybercrime is expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion per year by 2025, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. A single successful ransomware attack has an estimated cost of around $9 million to a US company if it succeeds, according to IBM.

With this kind of money at stake, its trivial for criminals to create bogus apps and app stores in an attempt to inject malware into devices. A little social engineering and some targeted phishing scams and they may be able to create stores that target locations, individuals, businesses, or government agencies.

Even if you have no intention of sideloading, people are routinely coerced or tricked into doing it, Federighi points out. The impact of such attacks is vast in terms of revenue, business continuity and reputation.

Humans are vulnerable

In all these cases, the challenge is that humans are vulnerable. In all my years writing security advice for users, Ive encountered this. Many argue that they dont need to worry about security when using a Mac (they do); others will make a case that they can download what they like, and no one else will be affected. Thats not true either  you can be used as a conduit to infect others.

Think about those annoying messages we all receive from friends in the event their online address book is hacked. I think we have all seen a few. Or consider those vast troves of data regularly stolen from companies, including a shock leak of data concerning half a million people in the UK this week.

All that information can be weaponized.

Now, imagine if that weapon relied on mining these data stats to detect particular groups of people, and then creating attractive sounding software products that can be distributed to those folks via your own malware-infested app store.

A person who downloads malware can end up leaking all the information they hold about you. On a corporate level, this is much worse. As an attack at Target showed, security vulnerability in a relatively low-level system can be used as a route into your overall enterprise technology stack.

Federighi put it this way: The fact is one compromised device, including a mobile phone, can pose a threat to an entire network. Malware from sideloaded apps can jeopardize government systems, infect enterprise networks, public utilities.

But what about?

There are two arguments routinely rolled out to undermine Apples position: That few people sideload on Android, which allows it. And that Macs do permit users to install apps from other sources.

I have found no proof of the first claim. I have found some reports that point out that sideloading of apps is more popular in the APAC region than in the US. I have also seen a report (from Google) to suggest that sideloading apps does indeed create risk. But Ive found no evidence one way that shows few people sideload on Android. So, it probably isnt appropriate to argue that this is the case.

And when it comes to the second claim, even Apple admits Mac security isnt as solid as it would like, despite it being the most secure PC platform around.

Ultimately, a move to force sideloading on Apple devices will not deliver any significant benefit to most users, but may have costs and consequences across most businesses and individuals that far outweigh the dubious benefits.

Consumers already have a choice they can take if sideloading matters to them. The argument that this is about choice ironically denies choice by removing the option of a secured system.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
Snasti.com.ua scored 41 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 12 May 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the snasti homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if snasti has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the snasti homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the snasti homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the snasti homepage on Twitter + the total number of snasti followers (if snasti has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the snasti homepage on Delicious.

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PAGE TITLE . -   Snasti.com.ua - DESCRIPTION  - .    ,        ,   KEYWORDS , , , , , , , , ,  OTHER KEYWORDS shimano, shimano speedmaster, shimano, shimano speedmaster, shimano, shimano speedmaster, speedmaster



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Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE Russian WINDOWS-1251Russian DETECTED LANGUAGE Russian Russian SERVER Apache/2.2.10 (Unix) (PHP/5.2.13) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. The language of snasti.com.ua as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for snasti.com.ua by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

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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
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Senior U.S. and South Korean diplomats discussed how to restart stalled talks with North Korea on Thursday, days after the North conducted artillery firing drills in its latest weapons tests.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink was in Seoul for talks on security issues including North Korea, economic cooperation and other matters.
NEW LONDON  Six months since he was named a person of interest in a Rosemary Street arson that happened hours after his infant son was fatally attacked by a family dog, city police say Timothy Settles has been taken into custody.

Settles, 33, of Merchant Street in Norwich, was charged Monday with first-degree arson, first-degree reckless endangerment and first-degree criminal mischief, police said. He appeared in state Superior Court in New London on Tuesday and was ordered held on $500,000 bond, records show.

New London police did not explain how Settles was apprehended, but said officers, assisted by Norwich police, took him into custody without incident.

Settles was identified as a person of interest in a fire that was intentionally set at a home on Rosemary Street in May, authorities said. Investigators were looking to question Settles, but could not immediately locate him.

Seven hours before the fire was reported, a dog mauled Settles 1-year-old son in his apartment in Norwich, according to authorities. The boy, identified by police as Carter Settles, died from his injuries.

Firefighters were called to the fire around 4 a.m. on May 11, according to officials. The fire started on the homes porch before spreading to the first floor.

Police and the citys fire marshals office determined the fire was an arson. Those inside were able to get out safely and no one was injured in the fire.

At the time of the fire, police said Settles was the last person seen at home aside from those living there.

In the months that investigators searched for Settles, they obtained a warrant charging him with setting the fire, police said.

Authorities have still not said how Settles was connected to the New London home.

About 8:40 p.m. on May 10, Norwich police officers were called to a home on McKinley Avenue on reports that an infant had been attacked by a dog, officials said.

Investigators learned that a family member had been holding the child when the dog, described as a male pit bull mix, started to jump up and bite the child, according to police.

The Norwich Police Department quarantined the dog and then followed the state Department of Agricultures guidelines on handling a dog involved in an attack.

It was unclear what happened to the dog. A Norwich police spokesman was not immediately available to comment.
FAIRFIELD  A recount of last weeks election for three Representative Town Meeting districts showed slightly different vote tallies with the same end results.

Democrats will control the town legislative body with 23 members, while Republicans will be the minority party with 17.

The recount looked at close races in districts 2, 6, and 9. While some results changed from what was originally reported by a handful of votes, the resulting winners remained the same.

In District 2, Republicans Karen McCormack and Jeff Steele got the two highest followed by Democrat Cindy Perham. Democrat Hal Schwartz got the fourth highest with 683, but only by one vote.

The closest race, District 6 saw all candidates receiving between 411 and 477 votes. The recount found Democrats Lisa Havey, Steve Berecz and Andrew Graceffa and Republican Hannah Gale got the most.

District 9 was split with Democrats Dru Georgiadis, Christine Brown and Margaret Horton and Republican Kelly Scinto getting elected to the positions.

The slight Democratic majority comes after the RTM spent approximately a year with a 20-20 split in terms of party membership  the first time such a thing had happened in recent memory. The split happened when two Democrats changed their party affiliation to Republican.

First, Gale changed her party membership in late December of 2020. At the time, she said the switch was a result of the Connecticut Democratic Partys push for legislation to remove the states religious exemption for vaccination mandates.

Gale recently faced criticism when she retweeted a meme depicting a swastika that compared the vaccine rollout with Nazi Germany.

Tameisha Powell-Dunmore followed two weeks later on Jan. 11. She said she changed parties because she was berated by some Democrats for posts she made on Facebook about the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and for supporting the first selectwomans Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program.

Powell-Dunmore, who also resides in District 6, did not win a seat  receiving 411 votes in last weeks election.

Jill Vergara, the Democratic caucus leader for the RTM, was not immediately available for comment.

Reached by phone on Wednesday, Republican Caucus Leader Pam Iocono said the party affiliation split is only one different than it was when Democrats had a two seat majority after the last election. She said she does not think this election had any resounding messages.

Iacono said she hopes this term will bring a true effort on behalf of both parties to legislate in a bipartisan fashion.

Iacono said Republicans will likely continue to support First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchicks initiatives to transform and modernize town government while making it more efficient.

We want to look at being able to keep the tax rate low or near flat  the same goals that we had the last term that we were able to achieve, she said. We want to maintain that. We want to maintain the quality services that we have but we want to do it at a minimal price for the tax payer.

Iacono said there are challenges the town will face this coming term. Specifically, she pointed to issues with the Penfield Pavilion, which was not built to federal standards, and continuing fallout from the towns fill pile scandal.

Right there it puts a wrinkle into how were going to balance this all out on the backs of the citizens of Fairfield, which is really unfortunate, she said. Those are going to be our biggest challenges. How do you manage these massive costs, due to this huge scandal that we are all dealing with, and still maintain the level of service quality that we want at a reasonable tax rate?

joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com
BRIDGEPORT  A former Easton EMT and volunteer firefighter, who pleaded guilty to driving drunk and killing a young woman who was walking her dog in Fairfield last year before speeding away, was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison.

I would like to express my deepest apologies for the tragedy that I committed, 24-year-old Declan Kot told a courtroom packed with grim-faced family and friends of the victim. I cant bring your daughter back, there is nothing I can do to change what happened.

But Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton said she was not swayed.

I understand you made bad decisions to drink and drive but for me it is not so much that crime but the coverup, the judge told him. As an EMT your job is to conserve life, alleviate suffering, promote health and do no harm  thats the motto for an EMT. You admitted you saw (the victim) and you hit her. If you had stopped and gotten out I think everybody would have thought differently. I cannot get over the horrible decisions you made.

The judge then sentenced Kot, who previously pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility in a death and tampering with evidence, to 20 years, suspended after he serves seven years in prison and followed by five years probation. She also ordered Kot to do 500 hours of community service when he is released.

Marileidy Morel-Araujo, 32, of Pennsylvania, had been visiting her fiances family on Redding Road in Fairfield, on July 4, 2020, when police said Morel-Araujo decided to take a walk with her dog Coal.

Police said Morel-Araujo was struck from behind as she walked with her dog along Redding Road by a white pickup truck with a large American flag waving on the back. The truck did not stop after the collision, police said.

Police said Kot later admitted he had consumed six alcoholic drinks before getting behind the wheel of his truck. Police said he subsequently got his truck repaired to hide evidence of the crash.

During a very emotional hearing, the victims family played a video of photographs of the young woman.

Morel-Araujos fiance, Daniel Fernandez, told the judge how Morel-Araujo had nursed him back to health after he was severely struck with COVID-19. But he said his memories of her are overshadowed by the sight of her being pushed into an ambulance after being struck by Kot.

The emergency crew was trying to do everything they could for her but it was too late, Fernandez said, his voice cracking with emotion.

The oath of every first responder is to do no wrong but he (Kot) did everything wrong that day, Senior Assistant States Attorney Tiffany Lockshier told the judge. Mr. Kot was drunk and chose to drive. If he had just stopped after hitting Mari we would be have a very different proceeding today but it was only after many hours of questioning by investigators that he admitted hitting her.

Three days after the fatal crash, Fairfield Police Officer Virgil Procaccini was on routine patrol when he spotted a pickup matching the description of the one that hit the victim and pulled it over, according to police. The driver, Kot, agreed to go to police headquarters.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Kot admitted he had been driving his pickup after consuming six alcoholic drinks.

He drove off the road near some bushes/trees and heard a loud bang on the side of his vehicle which startled him; he thought he hit a tree branch at the time, police stated in the affidavit, noting the area of the collision does not have any shrubbery or trees.

The affidavit states that Kot said when he got home, he noticed missing pieces on his passenger side mirror and replaced the mirror.

During this interview, Kot began to cry. Then, police said, Kot admitted seeing the victim on the side of the road.

Lockshier told the judge that they increased the charge to manslaughter after police discovered Kot had a dash camera on his truck that she said recorded him hitting the victim.

She said the dash cam, which had audio, recorded Kot stating he was hammered before driving his truck. Lockshier said the camera then recorded Kot nearly driving head on into another vehicle shortly before he struck Morel-Araujo.

After the crash, the prosecutor said the dash cam recorded Kot saying, She probably didnt deserve that.

Kots lawyer, John R. Gulash, told the judge that only time will tell whether his client truly understands the extent of what he did and makes a decision to become a better person.

There is remorse, there is empathy, there is a feeling of shame, Gulash said of Kot.
Like all health care and residential facilities, the states veterans home has coped with illness and death through the COVID-19 global pandemic.

There have been 75 infections among residents and patients, and 66 staff members have contracted the illness, at the residential and health care facilities in Rocky Hill run by the state Department of Veterans Affairs. Commissioner Thomas Saadi said Tuesday that one resident and four patients have died.

But he said rigorous work continues to keep the veterans his department serves safe. From surveillance and testing to other efforts to stave off the virus, Saadi said he believes Connecticuts state veterans facilities have avoided the worst of what has been seen in other similar places across the country.

This agency was very much in favor of robust testing as early as possible for early detection, and then strict cohorting and quarantining. Even though it did have a mental health impact, both on veterans and staff, the quarantining, the restrictions on travel, the isolation units people had to be placed in at times, in the long run, it helped us to keep this facility and our veteran residents and patients relatively safe, Saadi said.

No residents have contracted COVID-19 in seven months, despite the surge in infections brought on by the highly transmissible delta variant. Saadi said 99.9 percent of all residents are fully vaccinated and most of the staff are as well. The last death was in January 2021, near the peak of COVID-19 activity in the state.

On Wednesday, the state reported a positivity rate of 3.03 percent for new COVID-19 tests. Hospitalizations statewide increased by two patients for a total of 234.

As COVID conditions have improved, Saadi is looking forward to fewer restrictions on Thursday when they celebrate Veterans Day at the vets cemetery in Middletown.

People are coming out and coming back to be a part of it in person, and I anticipate we will have a good turn out for Veterans Day in Middletown, Saadi said. No matter how many people show up, its important that we do it.

Since March 2020, when the pandemic first hit Connecticut, the Department of Veterans Affairs has served 268 veterans between its health care and residential facilities, about one-third tested positive or retested positive for COVID, the department said. Of the staff members that became ill, all have since returned to their jobs.

We took an early approach, utilizing the emergency management approach where we created an emergency operations center at the agency and began really planning, Saadi, a lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve, said of the initial efforts to address COVID-19. We had great support from the administration, from the governor, the lieutenant governor, from other state agencies. There was very good coordination among state agencies. And the support from the Connecticut National Guard was very important, as well.

COVID-19 disrupted many state services, often those hinging on in-person contact. Saadi said the Department of Veterans Affairs never had to scale back services, but needed to adjust how people applied for them, which in turn led to some increased success.

Many people in the past came to the campus just to drop off paperwork. We had to work with them to do it through the mail, or do it by email or other virtual means, Saadi said. It did at first slow down the processing for certain program and recognition of benefits. We quickly worked through that and our numbers increased through the summer and fall of last year, veterans in the community we were providing services and outreach.

Reflecting on the 21 months of the pandemic, Saadi said the biggest loss was not being able to have in-person events where we are connecting with veterans in the community.

He said outreach is still an issue they are trying to overcome, especially with undeserved or urban communities, that may not have the best connectivity and access to IT platforms.

It was among that group, Saadi said, that DVA saw a drop in the ability to connect veterans with programs and services.

But a diminished ability to hold in-person events and gatherings had a much greater impact. Saadi said gatherings and ceremonies serve an important role for veterans to connect with their peers  a relatively small group of people who have shared in serving in the armed forces.

For veterans, losing that ability, at least for a period of time, to meet in person, to go to support groups in person, to be at in-person ceremonies and memorial services, had a significant impact on them, Saadi said.

But now many restrictions are lifted and these crucial gatherings are returning.

Older veterans being able to sit down for coffee with their brother and sister veterans, going to events where a memorial wreath is laid, hearing taps being played, that is really helping to rebuild their morale, Saadi said.
Gov. Ned Lamont on Wednesday named Claire Coleman as the state consumer counsel, filling a job vacated more than two years ago.

I think its overdue, and were glad to see it, said Nora Duncan, the state director of the AARP, which lobbies on behalf of consumers. Weve worked with Claire in the past and had really good interactions.

Coleman, the undersecretary of legal affairs in the state Office of Policy and Management, will take over leadership of the Office of Consumer Counsel on Dec. 3, an interim appointment until confirmed by the General Assembly.

The office represents the interests of consumers before utility regulators and the courts on issues involving electricity, natural gas, telecommunications and water.

Coleman joined the Lamont administration in April, becoming the top lawyer at OPM two months before Elin Swanson Katz resigned as consumer counsel. She previously worked for two years on climate and energy issues at Save the Sound, three years at Wiggin & Dana and four years on the legal staff of the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Claires expertise in energy law, investigations and regulatory reform makes her a great fit to effectively advocate for the interests of all customers of electricity, gas, water, telephone and cable services, Lamont said.

Lamonts announcement was not unexpected. He said last week he had made a choice for consumer counsel, but the person was in a position he needed to fill. Colemans name had been rumored as a likely choice.

The acting consumer counsel has been Richard E. Sobolewski, the supervisor of technical analysis in the office for nearly two decades.

Max Reiss, the governors communications director, defended the delay in finding a permanent successor to Katz, saying the administration had to resume a candidate search after at least one applicant declined the post. It is not clear when Coleman became a candidate.

Reiss said the governor believed that the staff at the Office of Consumer Counsel had confidence in Sobolewski.

Coleman, who lives in Woodbridge, has a bachelors degree from Cornell and a law degree from Northwestern.

I am looking forward to joining the Office of Consumer Counsel and advocating on behalf of Connecticut consumers by working with state leaders, regulators, and stakeholders on innovative, equitable, and inclusive solutions that will improve the affordability, sustainability, and performance of our energy, water, and telecommunications utility infrastructure to the benefit of all consumers, she said.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  South Carolina's rapidly growing coastal and suburban population means there could be five House districts and one Senate district in the 2022 election where lawmakers are placing two incumbents, according to maps released by each chamber.

Three of those House races involve Democrats, including the House's second-longest-serving member. The potential Senate race also involves Democrats and the Senate's longest-serving member.

The new maps would likely not significantly change the Republicans 81-43 advantage over Democrats in the House and 30-16 advantage in the Senate.

Rep. Jerry Govan, first elected in 1992, said Wednesday that being put in a district with fellow Democratic Rep. Russel Ott won't keep him from running again in 2022 if his family and faith agree. The district now all of Calhoun County and part of Orangeburg and Lexington counties.

Govan said the new maps, which still must be approved by a committee, the full House and survive any legal challenges, obliterate his minority district by moving it to well-off Tega Cay, in the rapidly growing area near Charlotte, North Carolina.

Govan has tangled with both Republican leaders and people in his own party in his 30 years in the Legislature. The House plan didn't put the House's longest-serving member, Democratic Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, with an incumbent. She and Govan had a confrontation four years ago that the Speaker's Office investigated.

It also kept Rep. Justin Bamberg, a Democrat elected in 2014, alone in his district. He is on the House redistricting committee.

I know this process a lot better than some of the people sitting up there," Govan said.

During a break at Wednesday's public hearing, Govan spoke to several people unhappy with the ways the districts in and around Orangeburg County were drawn.

The new districts are drawn with 2020 U.S. Census numbers. South Carolina grew by 10.7% to more than 5.1 million people. But that growth was lopsided, with many more of the 500,000 new people moving to areas along the coast, the South Carolina suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, or around Greenville.

That meant collapsing some districts that were up to 20% under the population needed to make House districts equal. Along with the new Tega Cay district, a rural Richland County is now in Mount Pleasant and a Florence County district is now in Conway, according to the proposal by the House redistricting committee.

Tough decisions have to be made. This General Assembly cant control growth patterns," said Rep. Jason Elliott, a Republican from Greenville.

Both the House and Senate districts must be approved by a committee and then by each chamber, likely in a December special session. There could be changes before then.

And lawmakers are under a time crunch. The House districts must be approved and any significant legal challenges resolved before filing for the 2022 elections begin in mid-March.

Both chambers also must approve new U.S. House districts. Neither chamber has proposed new maps for the 2022 elections yet.

The Senate committee handling redistricting released its proposed maps last week. They moved a Columbia district to Charleston and put Democratic Sens. Nikki Setzler and Dick Harpootlian in the same district, anchored by downtown Columbia and the areas just west of the Congaree River.

Setzler entered the Senate in 1977.

The other House Democrats being pitted against each other are Reps. Roger Kirby and Lucas Atkinson in a district that includes all of Marion County, part of Williamsburg County and snakes back to Kirby's home near Lake City and Reps. Wendy Brawley and Jermaine Johnson in a rural Richland County district southeast of Columbia.

Republican Reps. Brandon Newton and Vic Dabney are drawn into the same district in Lancaster and Kershaw counties and GOP Reps. Richie Yow and Sandy McGarry are now in the same district that includes much of Chesterfield County and part of Lancaster County.

The leader of the House redistricting committee said several times during Wednesday's meeting that his chamber's maps are still a work in progress. But Republican Rep. Jay Jordan of Florence also warned there are no easy fixes.

For every action, there is a reaction that reverberates across the entire map, Jordan said.

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP)  Oregon State University says it has a record number of students enrolled this fall, meaning it continues to be the states largest university, with 34,108 students enrolled.

Thats a more than 2% increase from last year, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
FAIRFIELD  A school bus crash on Tuesday resulted in two students and the driver being taken to the hospital, officials say.

Around 2:30 p.m., a school bus containing four school students hit a tree on Mountain Laurel Road near Stroll Rock Common in Fairfield, police Lt. Edward Weihe said.

Two of the students suffered facial lacerations and the bus driver also had non-life threatening injuries, according to Weihe and the Fairfield Fire Department.

While Weihe said he did not know what school the students were from, Patrick Higgins, the principal of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School confirmed the students attended the elementary and middle school. Higgins declined to comment on the status of the students and driver, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Higgins said he communicated with parents within an hour after the incident, adding no parents had concerns.

Management of First Student Inc., the bus company that St. Thomas contracts for student transportation, was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.

The Fairfield Fire Department said the front of the bus had major damage after hitting the tree. The bus engine compartment also caught fire in the crash. Police used portable fire extinguishes before fire units arrived and put out the fire, according to the fire department.

Police are investigating the cause of the accident.
BRIDGEPORT  For a group of seventh and eighth graders who met at the Barnum School this week to discuss gun violence, the topic was personal.

Can you all raise your hands if you have lost someone to gun violence? asked Jocelyn Kaoutzanis from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. How about if you know someone whos been shot or shot at? And how about if you have heard gun shots?

Most, if not all, hands were raised by the last question.

Thats not normal, its not right, its not the case if you go down the street to Fairfield or Westport or Trumbull, said Kaoutzanis.

Barnum is the sixth Bridgeport school the U.S. Attorneys Office and its partners have visited to present FED-UP: Working Together For A Safer Community, a school-based anti-gun violence program.

More than 550 students have sat for the presentations so far, according to Tom Carson, a spokesperson for the office.

The group met in the school library, where signs read: Its a great day to learn something new, and Books keep you on track.

But the lesson plan on Thursday morning was an altogether different kind from those on other school days.

Kaoutzanis and her colleagues presented local statistics on gun violence in Bridgeport, including the disproportionate impact on young Black men and increased incidents over the past year.

Approximately 56 percent of the states gun homicide victims are Black, while only 10 percent of the population is Black, said Kaoutzanis.

Also present was a registered nurse from the Bridgeport Hospital trauma department, who described the impact on the victims, the trauma room, and statistics on death and survival. The hospital encounters gun shot wounds on average every three days, she said, compared to every seven days about a year and a half ago.

Two local moms who founded anti-gun violence nonprofits  Nicole Matthews of Tears of Triumph, and Thayer Ebron-Barkley, of Sisters at the Shore  spoke about the loss and fear that inspires their work.

You know how you guys are all looking forward to Christmas and Thanksgiving with your families? said Matthews, whose son Shaahyid was 18 years old when he was shot and killed in Wentfield Park.

I dont have that, she said. Its very hard for me. I have two other sons, and its very hard for them as well.

Ebron-Barkleys group meets at Seaside Park on Sunday mornings to silently pray for an end to the violence.

Harold Dimbo, the director of the anti-gun violence group Project Longevity and a former Bridgeport police officer for 26 years, offered local resources.

He also invited a formerly incarcerated person to talk about how his actions as an 18-year-old and being influenced by his peers impact his adult life today.

Theres a reason why we go to this age group  this is the age group where you can make the changes, said Dimbo.

We can make a change right here today, but we cant make it without your help, he said.

The program ended with anonymous questions by students:

Why dont all guns in Bridgeport get shipped somewhere else? asked one student.

How come some young people are able to own a gun, and I feel they shouldnt own them? posed another.

Why are there so many gun shots at night? another asked.

Students also have the opportunity to continue contributing to the conversation on gun violence through an essay contest with a $100 prize.

Presentations are scheduled in other Bridgeport schools through the spring.

FED-UP will also be made available to schools in Hartford, New Haven and Waterbury, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice, in the near future.
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Students catch their bus near Ambridge Area Senior High School, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, in Ambridge, Pa. Pennsylvania school districts will soon be allowed to modify or end the mask mandate for K-12 students in January, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 saying it is time to prepare for a transition back to a more normal setting.
Events, dear boy, etc. There comes a moment in every Prime Minister's tenure when the real world rises up and bites them on the backside.

Life doesn't always read the script. The best-laid plans and so on, and so on, and scooby dooby dooby.

Tony Blair's state visit to Japan in 2003 was turned upside down when he got off the plane in Tokyo to learn that Dr David Kelly, Britain's Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction inspector, had been found dead with his wrists slashed in an Oxfordshire forest.

At his subsequent set-piece press conference with the Japanese PM, the Boys In The Bubble weren't the slightest bit interested in discussing Anglo-Nippon relations. All they wanted to know was whether Blair had blood on his hands.

During the 2010 election campaign, Gordon Brown turned up on Jeremy Vine's excellent Radio 2 lunchtime show to talk about how he'd saved the world from financial meltdown, only to be ambushed with a recording of his 'bigoted woman' remarks directed at Rochdale pensioner Gillian Duffy, who had confronted him over immigration.

Events, dear boy, etc. There comes a moment in every Prime Minister's tenure when the real world rises up and bites them on the backside. Life doesn't always read the script

In similar vein, Boris Johnson returned to Glasgow this week with every intention of delivering a triumphant bulletin on the progress made at Cop26 in the battle against global warming.

The hacks on the spot had other ideas. Tell us about Geoffrey Cox, the former Tory Attorney General who has trousered more than five million quid working as a lawyer while he was supposed to be an MP.

What was Cox doing in the British Virgin Islands during the Covid lockdown?

Er, sorry chaps, I've got a train to catch, said Boris. Everybody back in the buffet car.

At least this time Boris took the rattler, rather than chartering a private plane. But scuttling away from scrutiny was not a good look. Nor did it do him any favours lingering furtively on the concourse at King's Cross station earlier in the week to avoid having to face the Commons over the Owen Paterson scandal.

Sticking up for your mates is commendable. Defending the indefensible is not.

Paterson was bang to rights and should have been made to walk the plank sooner. As for Cox, where do we start? Since 2009, he's spent an astonishing 10,700 hours moonlighting from the House.

As for Cox, where do we start? Since 2009, he's spent an astonishing 10,700 hours moonlighting from the House

During Covid, he was to be found living the Death In Paradise dream, working on a Caribbean government corruption inquiry. It's one thing topping up your Parliamentary salary with the odd speech or newspaper column, provided it doesn't interfere with the day job. It's quite another filling your boots with lucrative refreshers in a Cayman Islands courtroom.

Hilariously, Cox is reported to have grumbled that the 18 months or so he spent as Attorney General under Mother Theresa actually cost him money, despite pocketing a salary of around 150,000 a year.

That might be chicken-feed in the legal world, but it's a king's ransom to most voters in the Red/Blue Wall who put the Tories into office with a thumping 80-seat majority.

So, too, is the 500,000 Owen Paterson banked working as a consultant on top of his MP's wages.

Look, if Cox wants to play at being Rumpole of the Caymans, good luck to him. But he can't do it while drawing a parliamentary salary at the same time.

And this is where it gets really grubby. It transpires that Cox is also renting out his London home while claiming 1,900 a month from taxpayers for a second property. He even claimed 3,800 while he was in the West Indies.

For an allegedly bright barrister, how stupid is he? He's been around Westminster long enough to know that perception is all.

Claiming for one property, while renting out another takes us straight back to the expenses scandal of 2009. We're talking Jackboots Jacqui Smith here, the former Labour home secretary and MP for Redditch who tried to pretend that her sister's spare bedroom in South London was her 'main residence'.

Some 'honourable members' went to prison after their various scams were exposed. That should have been a warning to them all.

How long before we discover that Cox has been claiming for a duck house and moat cleaning?

Boris is, of course, no stranger himself to creative accounting  what we used to call in Fleet Street 'Old Spanish Customs'. No matter how much he earns, he always seems to be a shilling short of balancing the books. The cost of refurbishing the Carrie Cave in Downing Street, revealed by our own Simon Walters, is still under investigation.

Owen Paterson's persecutor, standards gauleiter Kathryn Stone, is currently sticking her nose into Boris's holiday at Zac Goldsmith's drum in Marbella.

Frankly, most of us couldn't give a monkey's if Boris stays with an old friend. It's not like Tony and Cherie Blair turning up on Cliff Richard's doorstep or freeloading off Silvio Berlusconi or one of the Bee Gees.

What does cut through, however, is the stench of what we have learned to call 'Tory sleaze', the idea that the rules don't apply to them.

Cox has legitimate questions to answer. Not least: Is he really only 61? In which case there's hope for us all. But Boris should pull the rug from under him, right now.

Some of us have supported BoJo since he ran for London mayor and saved us from the Red Ken terror. He battered Corbyn and Got Brexit Done, after a fashion.

So he enjoys a residue of goodwill, even in those Northern seats where the natives are getting restless.

He has an uncanny ability to paint himself into a corner and walk out over the paint. But there is a growing feeling that he may be reaching the tipping point where even his most trenchant backers decide he has delighted us too long.

It's instructive that his fiercest critics lately have been proper Conservatives, whose patience he has exhausted.

There's mutiny in the ranks, too, as evidenced yesterday when his Chancellor, the ultra-ambitious Rishi Sunak, put the boot in on the wireless.

Prime ministers always find themselves in trouble when the lower orders are no longer frightened to rebel. It's blood-letting time, Bojo. Starting with Cox and maybe even Sunak, pour encourager les autres.

Stop the greenwash posturing, the pseudo-socialist, tax-hiking, big statism and remember why you went into politics in the first place, as a free-booting libertarian.

At the moment, Boris is dancing in the dark. It's time he took charge of, rather than cowering in the face of, events, dear boy, events. Right now, it's his backside on the line.

A cornucopia of creepy-crawly stuff for Gary to get his teeth into today.

At Cop26 they've been banging on about cutting down on meat because of the methane created by cows.

Turns out they're well wide of the mark. It's caterpillars, not cattle, pumping out the poisonous gases.

Scientists at Cambridge University say that gypsy moths and forest tent caterpillar moths are responsible for creating more nitrogen-rich CO2 emissions than cows.

I like the sound of forest tent caterpillars  right up there with our old faves the depressed river mussel and the oak processionary moths.

Apparently, they munch through so many leaves that they produce vast amounts of excrement, causing 'defoliator outbreaks' to be released from lakes. We're talking 'dissolved carbon' here. As Eric Morecambe used to say: There's no answer to that!

And I haven't even mentioned the spurdog and starry-smooth-hound sharks which have just turned up in the River Thames.

Fill yer boots, Gary!

The Lookalikely Lass

Mail reader Dave Smith writes to say Amanda Staveley is the spitting image of the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard Of Oz

Amanda Staveley, the woman fronting for the Saudis at Newcastle United, has finally got her man.

Ex-Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe has agreed to take the poisoned chalice at whatever St James's Park calls itself these days.

Mail reader Dave Smith writes from Marske-by-the-Sea, Redcar, to say: 'I wondered who Amanda Staveley reminds me of . . . and then I realised!'

She's the spitting image of the Cowardly Lion from The Wizard Of Oz.

Howay the lads!
An 18-year-old who fled an extremist Jewish cult called Lev Tahor has recounted his horrific upbringing in the group - revealing that his father died after the leaders refused to let him see a doctor.

Mendy Levy, who was born in Canada in 2003, recalled being forced to swim in freezing cold, snake-filled water and eat hot pepper if he told a lie. When he was 15 years old, he was told he had to marry his 12 year old cousin, and that was the last straw for him.

Mendy said the group, which was founded by Shlomo Helbrans in the 1980s, was about 'total control.'

'You can't do anything without permission. And if they ask you do something, you have to do it,' he recalled to Insider.

'They don't want people to see the outside world. No one is able to go anywhere without the leader's permission.'

Mendy recalled a time when a woman, who was allergic to sesame seeds, was told she had to eat them after to prove 'her faith' to the rabbi.

'Two hours later, she died,' he said. 'As she was suffering from the allergic reaction, they didn't let her call an ambulance. They don't allow doctors in Lev Tahor without the rabbi's permission. They told us to trust the rabbi.'

Something similar happened to his father - who developed an infection in 2016 and needed to go to the hospital.

Mendy Levy, 18, who fled an extremist Jewish cult called Lev Tahor has recounted his horrific upbringing in the group, and how his father died after they refused to let him see a doctor

Mendy said the group, which was started by Shlomo Helbrans in the 1980s, was about 'total control' and that you 'couldn't do anything without permission' (pictured: unnamed members of Lev Tahor in 2014)

'The rabbi said no,' Mendy explained. 'My father wasn't eating. He wasn't walking. He got sicker and sicker over a week and a half. And that's how it ended. He died on October 25, 2016.'

During his days at Lev Tahor, Mendy said he woke up at 5:30 in the morning every day. After attending shul (synagogue), all the boys were forced to go into a freezing cold river that was filled with snakes for a ritual called mikvah.

After that, it was back to shul for morning prayer, also called Shacharis - which would last three hours. Then, they were required to listen to the rabbi's speech, which sometimes lasted six or seven hours.

The rest of the day was spent either in shul or in class. But school was different than you'd expect - there was no science, English or math class. Mendy explained that Shlomo had written all of his own books, and that he wanted everyone to know them by heart, so the kids were required to spend all of their free time studying them - and nothing else.

'We didn't even know what the word "science" meant. We didn't speak a word of English. No reading,' he said.

'If you write "ABC" in Lev Tahor, you get a punishment. We don't know what Trump is. We don't know what Biden is. I barely knew what the Holocaust was at the time. No iPhone, no computers, nothing like that unless you were one of the leaders.'

When it came to eating, Mendy said he was forced to skip meals all the time. He also recalled being 'physically and mentally abused.'

He said, 'There's the hitting, the beating up. If someone says a lie - even a small child - they would take hot pepper, the powder, and make them swallow it. After getting hit or beaten, you had to kiss the hand of whoever just hit you and thank him.'

He also said that there was no affection allowed in Lev Tahor, which was made up of about 60 families in total. Parents weren't allowed to hug their kids - and if they were ever caught having a positive connection with them, the children would be 'taken away and placed in a different house.'

'Why? Because they want everyone to believe, listen, and trust only them. If a leader hits you, they don't want you to go to your mother crying. So they cut off the connection between you and your parents,' he added.

Mendy called Shlomo a 'genius' due to his ability to 'brainwash and control a few hundred people for years.'

'People would believe him and follow his society,' Mendy explained. 'They made us look at the outside world like it was the worst and we're the only ones who are the best.

He recalled being 'physically and mentally abused.' He said he was forced to swim in freezing cold, snake-infested water and eat hot pepper if he told a lie

In 2017, Shlomo drowned and his son, Nachman Helbrans, took over. And Mendy said that things got even worse after that

When he was 15 years old, Mendy was told he had to marry his 12 year old cousin, and that was the last straw for him

'They made us believe Lev Tahor is the only authentic form of Judaism in the world, and that it's better to die than to leave.

The 18-year-old said that after the group moved from Canada to Guatemala in 2014, he had a nervous breakdown.

'My brain just stopped working because of all this pain. I was thinking of committing suicide. I just exploded,' he recalled.

'I was in the hospital for about half a year. Until then, I didn't understand the things around me were wrong. Most kids wouldn't understand it was wrong.

'But in the hospital, I started thinking differently. I got a different perspective from everyone else in the cult. It was then I started thinking about how I could leave Lev Tahor.'

In 2017, Shlomo drowned in a river during a trip to Mexico, and his son, Nachman Helbrans, took over. According to Mendy, life in the group got even worse after that.

The final straw for him was when Nachman announced that there was a new rule - 'everyone had to get married at 12 or 13 years old.'

'That was the main reason I said, "Enough is enough." I was 15 years old. They wanted to force me to marry a 12-year-old girl, who was also my first cousin,' he said.

'I didn't want to and she didn't want to, so I had to get myself out of there.'

In 2018, he went to the Canadian embassy in Guatemala and got a passport. The process took several months, but on October 14, 2018, he flew to Canada and was taken in by child protective services.

In the years that followed, Mendy was placed with four or five different foster families. In January of this year, he was adopted by a couple named Lavi and Bryndel Klein. He said his new family 'invested a lot of time in school and education and therapy,' which taught him 'life skills and how the world works.'

'Now, I feel like I could take on anything. If anything happens, whatever challenges, I wouldn't feel it as much because I'm used to it. I've been through worse,' he said.

Nachman, as well as another Lev Tahor leader named Mayer Rosner, was arrested in late 2018 and 2021. And on Wednesday, they were convicted of child sexual exploitation and kidnapping by a federal court in New York.

The Times of Israel reported that they face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison for the conviction.

'Nachman Helbrans and Mayer Rosner brazenly kidnapped two children from their mother in the middle of the night to return a 14-year-old girl to an illegal sexual relationship with an adult man. Todays verdict makes clear that our Office  and our law enforcement partners  will not be deterred from achieving justice for victims of child sexual exploitation,' said US Attorney Damian Williams.

Several others have reportedly been arrested and charged in the case.

He was able to flee to Canada and was taken in by child protective services. He was eventually adopted and is now an aspiring photographer

He was recently able to re-connect with his brother (left), who was thankfully able to escape the cult too. He has no communication with his other nine siblings or his mom

Mendy is now an aspiring photographer. He said: 'I'm trying different things. I borrowed someone's camera and became inspired to become a photographer. I do a lot of family pictures and portraits.'

He said he also likes to share his story on social media, and many people have reached out to him with positive responses.

'I try to inspire them with confidence. If someone was making fun of me, let him do that. I'm sorry he's having a bad day that he has nothing better to do. If that makes him happy, let him be happy with that,' he said.

Back in Guatemala, he unfortunately doesn't have any information on what his seven brothers, three sisters, and mom are doing. But he was able to connect with one of his brothers, who was thankfully able to escape too.

'No one knows any information from inside. It's just so closed. There are no phones,' he explained.

'But what I do know is I have one brother out in Israel. He works in a pharmacy. I was able to meet with him for the first time since leaving Lev Tahor in October.'
Original 1960s Playboy Bunnies have revealed what it was really like to pose for the famous magazine and work at the brand's clubs, sharing everything from memories of Hugh Hefner to the strict grooming rules they were made to follow.

Revealing what it was really like during the early days of the brand, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Jaki Nett; Playmate Jeannie Bell and the daughter of the first Playboy centrefold have shared their experiences in a new podcast The Power: Hugh Hefner.

Despite strict rules on being 'bunny perfect' and models pouring club soda inside their three-inch heels to numb the pain during eight-hour shifts, one of the interviewees described working for the private members club as 'nirvana'.

Meanwhile Bell, one of the first black women to appear in Playboy Magazine, said despite Hefner showing off his spinning, vibrating bed during a tour of the mansion, he was a 'nice, great guy'.

The podcast also explores how Janet Pilgrim, whose real name was Charlaine Edith Karalus, helped the Playboy founder create an empire worth millions - despite only being paid around $200.

Hugh Hefner is pictured surrounded by 50 Playboy Bunnies in 1966 who were set to work at his new club on Park Lane, London

The Power: Hugh Hefner, explores how Janet Pilgrim, whose real name was Charlaine Edith Karalus, helped the Playboy founder create an empire worth millions - despite only being paid around $200. Pictured, Pilgrim on the cover of Playboy in the 60s

Pictured, Janet Pilgrim with Barbi Benton (Right) in 1995 before Charlaine's death in 2017

At 22, Charlaine Karalus became the first centrefold and non-professional model to become Playmate of the Month after meeting Hefner while working at Playboy's corporate office as a subscriptions manager.

'She and Hef were very good friends, obviously more than friends,' said Charlaine's daughter Linda.

'They were kind of hanging out and he looked over to her and said "Why don't you be in the picture?". This magazine became what it is because of her, I think'.

However, Linda said that Charlene needed some persuading, explaining: 'This could take off or this could be really bad. Who knew what would happen with these pictures? I believe he had to convince her many times to do it'.

Revealing what it was really like during the early days of the brand, 1960s Playboy Bunny Kathryn Leigh Scott (left) and Playmate Jeannie Bell (right) have shared their experiences in a new Podcast

Hugh Hefner arrives at London Airport from Chicago with an entourage of Playboy Bunnies in June 1966 for the opening of the London Playboy Club on Park Lane

Rebranding as Janet Pilgrim, Charlaine became Playboy's original 'girl next door' when photographs of her in Marilyn-style hair and make-up sitting at a typewriter were published in 1955.

'Hef was there for moral support, he is in the background, leaning against the doorway. Obviously it shows her cleavage', said Linda.

'She became very famous in Chicago and everywhere she went people knew her. Men were constantly calling her and I know she liked the attention'.

The beginning of Hugh Hefner: How the notorious publisher founded Playboy Hefner was raised in the the early 50s to a conservative middle-class family in Chicago, going straight from fighting in the Second World War to college and then into marriage with his first wife, Millie. He split from Millie ten years later, discovering days before their wedding that she had an affair while he was fighting in the army. Hefner was raised in the the early 50s to a conservative middle-class family in Chicago, going straight from fighting in the Second World War to college and then into marriage with his first wife, Millie. He split from Millie ten years later, discovering days before their wedding that she had an affair while he was fighting in the army. By the time he was 30 Hefner had began having raucous parties with his friends, playing strip poker and watching porn and had quit his job at Esquire as a copywriter. pose for the famou smagazine While Playboy may conjure up images of blonde models frolicking at pool parties at their California mansion in the 1990s, it all began with the publication of a new men's lifestyle magazine in 1953. After scraping together a bank loan, he launched the first edition of Playboy with unpublished nude photos he had purchased of Marilyn Monroe - the actress he would later pay $75,000 to be buried next to. Advertisement

As Charlaine's profile grew, so did subscriptions to Playboy magazine, and eight years after the magazine launched Hefner said in the interview that his empire was worth $20 million.

The Playmate was paid '$50 for the first and then $75 and then $125' - however Linda insisted that she never begrudged Hefner, leaving the spotlight to become a nurse and start a family.

'She really wanted to be a mom and be out of the spotlight and just be a regular person, and that's what she got', said Linda.

Soon Hefner was wealthy enough to buy the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles and open his first private members club in Chicago, quickly followed by clubs in Los Angeles, Miami and New York.

Jaki Nett arrived in California from Mississippi in 1962 straight after graduating from high school, dreaming of becoming an actress and studying theatre at university.

In need of a job after graduation, she took advice from one of her friends to audition to become a Bunny at the Los Angeles club - but was told she was 'too skinny' and she vowed to gain weight and return.

However when she was leaving the woman hiring noticed the young model was riding a motorcycle and, impressed with her form of transport, gave her another chance at the job.

Nett, who was one of the first black women to be hired as a Playboy bunny, says she was a 'flower child' before her job at the club, but would soon have to adhere to the strict rules.

'When I was hired I was quite innocent,' she said. 'It wasn't that I knew what I was getting into, and and I walked into the bunny room and was looking at these very beautiful girls.

'We were hired for our looks not for our brains. We were hired for an illusion, Playboy was an illusion. Walking down into the club there was the ambience, the lighting, the beautiful bunnies, everything gave this illusion of sexuality.'

Despite struggling to work on the door because of her dyslexia and finding it difficult to remember table orders, the determined model climbed the ranks to eventually become a 'bunny mother' - training new bunnies in LA.

'When they got to know me they would say, "You were so tough, I was so afraid",' she recalled. 'I liked it that way.'

Hugh Hefner making a speech after arriving at Heathrow Airport on his private jet the 'Big Bunny' with 'Jet Bunnies' who were met at the airport by British Bunnies in 1970

Hugh Hefner is pictured with a group of Playboy Bunnies at the grand opening of the Playboy Hotel-Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1981

'One of the things I tell the ladies ,and I call them all ladies, is you are hired for your looks. You make your tips off your looks. If your service is bad you become ugly very quickly.

'You had to be able to walk around in a corset and three-inch heels for eight hours. You don't take your shoes off, because if you take your shoes off and your foot swells, then you can't get your shoes back on.

'So you take a club soda, pour it in your shoes, and you walk around your slushy feet.'

Kathryn Leigh Scott was 19 when she arrived from Minnesota to New York dreaming of becoming an actress. She had a scholarship to a theatre school but 'needed a bread-and-butter job' to pay the rent.

She responded to an advert in the New York Times asking young women to 'step into the spotlight' as a Playboy bunny.

Hugh Hefner arrives at Heathrow Airport on his private jet the 'Big Bunny' with 'Jet Bunnies' who were met at the airport by British Bunnies in 1970. Hefner is pictured with his girlfriend Barbi Benton (right)

Kathryn Leigh Scott (pictured in 1969) was 19 when she arrived from Minnesota to New York dreaming of becoming an actress. Right, Leigh Scott attending a movie premiere in New York in 2017

'You could wait tables, you could be a shop girl, you could be a temporary secretary in an office - but you were earning a minimum wage of $1.35 at the time, she said.

'At Playboy I could earn $150 working part time. That would allow me to go to classes and get tickets to Broadway shows and it was nirvana.'

Claiming to have met both The Beatles and Jack Nicholson, Kathryn said that she's 'lost count' of all the A-listers she encountered, and how many celebrities she 'turned down'.

'When I stuffed the schoolgirl part of me in the locker and put on that costume, I also assumed that glamorous persona,' she recalled. 'I felt like a showgirl, and that was really fun.'

The reality of life in the Playboy mansion: Holly Madison's memoir reveals truth about life in the 90s Holly Madison famously exposed her relationship with the magazine editor in her 2015 memoir Down the Rabbit Hole. In the book, she revealed how young women were given drugs and encouraged to take part in regular orgies with Hefner in exchange for rent at the luxury mansion. (L to R) Playboy bunny Sheila Levell, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and Playboy bunny Holly Madison Madison was Hefner's longest partner after moving to the mansion in 2001 aged just 21, while he was 75. During that time she became one of the stars of Girls Next Door, a reality show revolving around her and Hefner's other two live-in girlfriends, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. Madison was considered his 'main girlfriend', and openly stated she wanted to marry him and have children. However the couple eventually broke up in 2008 after she managed to break free of her self-described 'Stockholm Syndrome'. Behind the scenes in the mansion, Madison said she was enduring a 'living hell' during which she even contemplated suicide. In the book she details first meeting him at Hooters in 2000, when after a night out clubbing with his 'girlfriends', she realised that she was expected to sleep with him. She claimed her first encounter with Hefner was him offering her a Quaalude from a tissue in his pocket. 'Usually I don't approve of drugs, but you know, in the '70s they used to call these pills ''thigh openers'',' she claims Hefner told her. After he brought her home from the club on the first night, she described in her book how Hefner masturbated as bunnies around him play-acted lesbian scenes while hardcore pornography played on two TV screens. She was pushed forward as Hefner was encouraged to try the 'new girl' while the other women were high on the Quaaludes. Hefner also made regular comments about her appearance and would not let her see a therapist when she started to have mental health struggles, leaving her on the point of suicide. Advertisement

Playboy Bunnies working at the clubs had to undergo a rigorous training programme and follow a stringent rule book, written by Hugh's younger brother Keith.

An excerpt of the book reads: The Bunnies' hair, nails, shoes make-up and costumes must be bunny perfect, and no Bunny is permitted to be working unless specifications are met. Demerits may be issued for carelessness in this regard.

'Good grooming starts with a daily bath and good deodorant, regular use of bath lotion will keep your skin soft and pretty. Bunnies may dance with patrons provided there is no close physical contact.'

But actress Kathryn enjoyed her time at the club, insisting: 'It taught me how to send the right signals as to how I wanted to be treated in the workplace.'

Several of these strict rules were uncovered in feminist campaigner Gloria Steinem's month long undercover investigation into the club.

Her investigation found that bunnies would have to pay for their costumes and make-up including mandatory fake eyelashes, were docked pay for messy hair, were investigated by undercover detectives in the club and required an internal examination for STIs.

But several of the Bunnies asked in the first episodes of the podcast have dismissed the narrative that they were being exploited.

Those who say they worked in the club at the same time as Steinem view their time there in a very different way.

'She worked in a very different world in what we saw,' said Kathryn. 'We were there at the same time, we experienced the same things at the same time. I can only tell you that we viewed it very differently.'

In October 1969, Jeannie became the second black Playboy Playmate to appear in the centerfold of the magazine, the first being Jennifer Jackson, in March 1965. Jeannie later became the first black woman on the cover.

She had been recruited after becoming the first black woman to participate in the Miss Texas Pageant, which is part of the Miss Universe competition, where she was recruited by a photogaher.

'I said, "Playboy has never had a black woman in there, they're not going to pick me'',' she said.

'He said: "They want you to be in the magazine", I didn't believe him. I said: "I'll believe it when I see it".

'I was telling all my friends in Texas, "I'm going to be in the Playboy magazine" and nobody would believe me because they'd never had a black woman in the magazine'.

Jeannie recalled visiting the Playboy mansion in LA after her shoot, where she was given a special tour by Hefner himself. 'I remember him in a robe and I questioned myself "Why is he in a robe?",' she recalled.

'He took me and showed me his bedroom and I thought, "That's interesting". So he showed me he had this round mattress and he would push buttons on the headboard and the bed would rotate around.

'Sometimes it would vibrate and I said "I've never seen a bed like this before", he said, "This is one of a kind" and I started walking away from the room, I didn't want to be there.'

When asked whether she thought he might be trying to have sex with her, she said: 'I have no idea, I didn't want to wait and see. But he was very nice, he was a great guy.'

Jeanie went on to have a high flying career as an actress and model, posing nude again for Playboy in the December 1979 pictorial Playmates Forever.
Remember that time in maths class you thought 'I won't ever use this in the real world?' Well think again.

British online maths programme, Smartick created a quiz to see how well you remember your school days ahead of Maths Week.

To get a perfect score, you'll need to answer the ten following maths problems correctly, and your skills at logic, calculation, algebra and geometry to the test.

The questions vary in difficulty, but all are challenges that a child at school today would have to tackle.

Javier Arroyo, Co-founder of Smartick, said: 'For many people, answering the questions may be difficult, no matter what age you are.

'Rest assured, that's nothing to be ashamed of. Like anything, maths requires practice and for those of us who don't regularly use it in our daily lives or jobs, it's easy to lose the skill.'

Scroll down to take the test and find out how much you remember from your school days.

British online maths programme, Smartick created a quiz to see how well you remember your school days ahead of Math Week (stock image)

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The Duchess of Cornwall complimented a veteran sporting a kilt before putting the finishing touches to a Remembrance wreath ahead of Armistice Day.

Camilla, who is patron of The Poppy Factory, visited the charity's new facilities in Richmond-upon-Thames, south-west London, on Tuesday and added a final poppy to the wreath her husband - the Prince of Wales - will lay at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

Wearing a Bruce Oldfield red wool crepe dress, she also completed a custom-made Remembrance cross which she will place at the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday to mark Armistice Day - the day in 1918 when the agreement to end fighting in the First World War came into effect.

The Duchess of Cornwall complimented a veteran sporting a kilt before putting the finishing touches to a Remembrance wreath ahead of Armistice Day

Camilla, who is patron of The Poppy Factory, visited the charity's new facilities in Richmond-upon-Thames, south-west London, on Tuesday

The royal added a final poppy to the wreath her husband - the Prince of Wales - will lay at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday

Standing in front of a replica of the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, Camilla spoke to navy kilt-wearing veteran Kris Darling, who served with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 43-year-old, who has opened his own veteran group called Ravens Halls in Gosport, said: 'The duchess said it was nice to see someone wearing a kilt.'

Working all year round to make 120,000 royal and regimental wreaths, the duchess was greeted by the longest serving employee of The Poppy Factory, 62-year-old George Forbes.

Camilla said: 'It is your 43rd year my goodness me, there is nothing you don't know about the place.'

Working all year round to make 120,000 royal and regimental wreaths, the duchess was greeted by the longest serving employee of The Poppy Factory, 62-year-old George Forbes

The Duchess opted for a vibrant red dress as she arrived at the engagement today, which she paired with black leather gloves and a cape

Meanwhile she also spoke with royal wreath makers during the outing in London earlier today ahead of Remembrance Sunday

After shaking her hand, Mr Forbes - whose father served with the RAF in the Second World War - told the duchess he could make around five wreaths an hour, using 28 poppies per wreath.

Speaking with deaf specialist royal wreath makers Paul Hammerton and Peter Wills - who had an interpreter - the duchess said they had made a 'beautiful wreath' before she added the final poppy and received a round of applause.

Shaking hands with the duchess, 44-year-old RAF veteran Andrew Jones, who had served for 14 years, revealed how he had found himself in a 'very dark place' before receiving career support from The Poppy Factory.

In the poppy making area, the duchess added a petal to the custom-made cross adorned with her royal crest, which she will lay at the opening of the 93rd Field of Remembrance alongside 70,000 others.

Ahead of The Poppy Factory's centenary in 2022, Camilla unveiled a stone plaque to commemorate the opening of the building.

In the poppy making area, the duchess added a petal to the custom-made cross adorned with her royal crest, which she will lay at the opening of the 93rd Field of Remembrance alongside 70,000 others

Shaking hands with the duchess, 44-year-old RAF veteran Andrew Jones, who had served for 14 years, revealed how he had found himself in a 'very dark place' before receiving career support from The Poppy Factory

The Duchess wore her blonde locks in a gentle low dry for the occasion and opted to wear a glittering red poppy pin

She was in good spirits during the visit to the organisation earlier today, leaning in to speak to wreath makers

She added: 'I think you do a fantastic job between you and it is just so important that we look after the veterans after the service they give this country.'

At the service on Thursday, Camilla will place her cross before the Last Post will sound moments before a two-minute silence.

In a nod to tradition and following in the footsteps of the late Duke of Edinburgh, the duchess will then lay flowers at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.

It comes amid a busy period for the Duchess, who yesterday posed with care home residents and children at the Royal Geographical Society in London today.

Speaking with deaf specialist royal wreath makers Paul Hammerton and Peter Wills - who had an interpreter - the duchess said they had made a 'beautiful wreath'

Camilla added the final poppy to the wreath alongside the royal wreath makers, and was met with a round of applause for her efforts

At the service on Thursday, Camilla will place her cross before the Last Post will sound moments before a two-minute silence

In a nod to tradition and following in the footsteps of the late Duke of Edinburgh, the duchess will then lay flowers at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior

Camilla was pictured cutting a Victoria Sponge cake guarded by two little chefs as she joined them for a 'Poetry Together' recital and tea party.

Taking a leaf out of the Queen's book, Camilla wore a golden brooch on her blue checked blazer, which she teamed with a pleated black maxi skirt.

It comes after a busy few weeks for the Duchess, who earlier this month visited the set of ITV's adaptation of Grace in West Sussex.

Camilla was in chilly Shoreham-by-Sea where she joined the crew and stars including John Simm, who plays the troubled Brighton policeman, as well as the writer of the best-selling Roy Grace series, Peter James.

And last week she joined Prince Charles in Glasgow to attend the Cop26 summit, at which the Prince of Wales demanded 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'.

During her outing today, Camilla could be seen chatting with staff members who were working on the poppies

Ahead of The Poppy Factory's centenary in 2022, Camilla unveiled a stone plaque to commemorate the opening of the building
Beauty vlogger Chloe Morello has revealed the hairbrush she swears by for sleek, silky locks - and it will only set you back $39.95.

The Australian YouTuber, 30, calls the 'Scream-Free Detangling Brush' from Adelaide brand Ugly Swan the 'best' she has ever used.

In a recent TikTok video, the mum-of-one - who in June welcomed son Santino with her dancer husband, Sebastian Mecha - says it 'doesn't tug or pull your hair' even when it's wet or knotted after a shower.

Scroll down for video

Beauty vlogger Chloe Morello (left) has revealed the hairbrush (right) she swears by for sleek, silky locks - and it will only set you back $39.95

Developed by mums Marissa, Annette and Marisa who all have daughters with sensory issues, the revolutionary brush promises to gently detangle hair even on the most sensitive scalps.

The brush is made with natural boar bristles that tease your natural scalp oils out to condition your hair, while soft, large-dipped nylon pins detangle tresses without scratching or pulling on the scalp.

Chloe's endorsement, which has racked up 118,900 views since it was uploaded online on Monday, sparked a wave of excitement with many saying they had ordered the brush immediately after watching.

Developed by three Adelaide mums who have daughters with sensory issues, the revolutionary brush (pictured) promises to gently detangle hair even on the most sensitive scalps

'Definitely need to try this,' one woman wrote.

'I bought a similar brush off Facebook and it's amazing,' said a second, while a third added: 'I have this and use it on my little girls, I love it!'

Chloe is regarded as one of Australia's leading authorities on beauty and self-care.

Earlier this week, the founder of Face Halo shared a glimpse inside her envy-inducing skincare cabinet after reorganising her vast collection which includes a staggering 91 products from luxury brands such as La Mer and Eve Lom.

Chloe Morello's envy-inducing skincare cabinet (pictured) which contains 91 products from luxury brands including La Mer, Eve Lom and Lancome

Chloe colour coordinated each of the four shelves, putting pink products on top followed by blue, gold and silver.

She acknowledged the extravagance of her elaborate cupboard, writing: 'This is absolutely not practical. But it's pretty and very satisfying.'

Among the most expensive items are a $455 Lancome face cream infused with gold and a $169 Eve Lom cleanser, as well as a $265 moisturiser and a $300 serum from La Mer.

The Australian YouTuber (pictured) to Instagram to showcase her elaborate collection

Chloe also keeps a stash of pricey Dermalogica treatments, Caudalie cleansers and reusable makeup removers from her own brand, Face Halo.

Her aesthetic organisation, which has racked up 11,850 'likes' since it was uploaded online on Sunday, sparked a wave of envious praise.

'Wish my cabinet looked like that,' one woman replied, while a second said: 'Too satisfying, wish I had your collection!'

A third added: 'Ok this is happening to my bathroom cabinet.'

Earlier this year Chloe celebrated the biggest milestone of her life so far when she welcomed her first child, son Santino, with husband Sebastian 'Seba' Mecha.

Earlier this year Chloe celebrated the biggest milestone of her life so far when she welcomed her first child, a son named Santino (pictured), with husband Sebastian 'Seba' Mecha

The influencer revealed her bub's name was inspired by her love of the Francis Ford Coppola-directed film, The Godfather.

Chloe said Santino will go by the name Sonny for short.

In the hit 1972 blockbuster, there is a fictional character named Santino 'Sonny' Corleone, who is the son of mobster Don Vito Corleone.

The influencer (pictured) revealed her bub's name was inspired by her love of the Francis Ford Coppola-directed film, The Godfather

Chloe said she won't be sharing too much about her son online for the sake of his privacy, but explained: 'I didn't necessarily see the need in sharing his name but I don't want to worry and always have to be always cautious about slipping up So I am excited to tell you our beautiful son's name is Santino!'

'I've always wanted a son with this name, and YES it's from the Godfather lol,' she said.

'I have loved it since I was a teenager after reading the books and seeing the movie often with my Dad. Luckily Seba loves it too, and the nickname 'Sonny'' is adorable.'
A leading recruitment specialist has shared her hot tips for creating the perfect resume to land the job of your dreams.

Roxanne Calder is the founder of top Sydney recruitment agency EST10 with more than 20 experience in the field and author of Employable: 7 Attributes to Assure Your Working Future.

Many Aussies are on the job hunt right now with the Australian Bureau of Statistic reporting a jump in unemployment from 4.6 percent in September to 5.2 percent in October.

Leading Aussie recruitment specialist Roxanne Calder has shared her hot tips for creating the perfect resume to land the job of your dreams

The purpose of a CV is to connect as quickly as possible with employers, Ms Calder said, so it's important to think like a hiring manager to make an on-point resume that will end your job hunt.

Ms Calder shares her seven top tips to create a stand-out resume that will impress any employer.

1. Create a Master CV

Ms Calder suggests putting together a master CV containing all your information including education, previous roles, voluntary work, work experience, projects, interests, potential references, skills, achievements, strengths, and more.

This way you can cherry pick the information to make a unique resume tailored to each job you apply for.

A Master CV can make application times quicker and ensures you won't forget to include any important details.

A Master CV is a great tool for interview prep and a handy reminder of all your achievements.

The purpose of a CV is to connect as quickly as possible with employers, Ms Calder said so it's important to think like a hiring manager to make an on-point resume that will end your job hunt

2. First impressions count

To stand out for the right reasons, Ms Calder said to make sure your resume is easy to read and visually balanced with consistent font, formatting and spacing.

She also suggests checking a hundred times for any spelling and grammar mistakes as one slip up could see your CV getting skipped by employers altogether.

3. Consider your audience

Sending the same CV to each job application is a recipe for failure so it's wise to create a resume with the reader in mind.

She advises using your Master CV to choose the most appropriate skills, achievements and experience to match the job advertisement.

Use key words from the position description in your resume as the automated systems employers use to scan applications to pick up certain criteria, words and phrases.

'While a different CV for each job can be time consuming, it is time well spent and can see your application attract some much wanted,' she said.

To stand out for the right reasons, Ms Calder said to make sure your resume is easy to read and visually balanced with consistent font, formatting and spacing.

Buzz words to avoid on your resume Go-getter Detail-oriented Results-driven Proactive Hard-worker Team player Self-motivated Source: Indeed.com Advertisement

4. Avoid buzz words

Subjective terms and cliches like 'team player', 'go-getter', 'think outside the box', 'hard worker' that might have your CV standing out for all the wrong reasons, according to Ms Calder.

These buzz words can send inconsistent messages that may not fit in with other parts of your resume and don't convey the facts.

It's best to show your actual results instead of saying you're 'results driven'.

5. Quantify your duties and responsibilities

Ms Calder recommends using a condensed version of the STAR method, which stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result, rather than just listing your responsibilities from a previous job.

For each of your relevant roles, explain a situation or challenge you found yourself in, what you had to achieve, what you did and the result of your actions.

The STAR method helps you to clearly explain your knowledge, duties, and achievements capabilities to potential employers and prepare you for those difficult interview questions.

Subjective terms and cliches like 'team player', 'go-getter', 'think outside the box', 'hard worker' that might have your CV standing out for all the wrong reasons

6. Aim for two or three pages maximum

If you have a long list of previous jobs, Ms Calder said to focus on the last ten years' experience, briefly summarise earlier roles or give employers an option to view your earlier career by including a line like 'Full resume upon request'.

You should also use full dates, months and years and it is very important to explain career gaps.

7. Make sure your LinkedIn is up to date

Check that your LinkedIn profile, including job titles, matches the information on your resume.

Ms Calder said most employers will look at your LinkedIn profile at some stage during the hiring process so it's important not to try and paint your experiences a certain way if your LinkedIn tells a different story.

For more information and career advice, head to the Est10 website here.
A woman has revealed that her first date tried to call her a 'c**t' behind her back  but accidentally sent the crude text to her instead of his friend.

TikTok user Molly Hair, believed to be from Kansas, posted a screenshot of the conversation in her viral video, which was ironically set to an audio clip Ava Watson's song 'I Found a Guy Told Me I Was a Star.'

'Chivalry is alive #firstdatefail,' Molly captioned the clip, which has been viewed more than 4.5 million times since it was posted over the weekend.

Big mistake! TikTok user Molly Hair has revealed her first date tried calling her a 'c**t' behind her back, but accidentally sent her the lewd text message

The mystery man was waiting for her to arrive for their first meetup when he texted his friend: 'Waiting on this c**t. I took a pinch for confidence.'

He caught his mistake before Molly did and immediately apologized, writing: 'Omg I was joking with a buddy I'm just going to leave.' He added two face-palm emojis for good measure.

'What? Am I the c**t?' Molly asked when she realized what had happened.

Her date tried to backtrack, claiming it was just a 'joke.'

'Omg I don't really think that at all I joke too much I say s**t like that just to say it,' he insisted. 'I completely understand if this is over.'

Molly agreed that their relationship was over before it had even started.

Awkward: The mystery man was waiting for her to arrive for their first meetup when he texted: 'Waiting on this c**t.' He caught his mistake before Molly did and immediately apologized

'Yeah to be honest I'm not really comfortable meeting anymore,' she replied. 'I just don't really feel like it's okay to call women that even as a joke and I kind of see it as a red flag sorry! I'm sorry sorry sorry but I get it.'

Molly posted the conversation using the app's green-screen effect, and a number of commenters were desperate for her to get her head out of the way so they could read the rest of the texts.

'Ma'am respectfully. Move,' one person wrote, while another added: 'Molly... Move.'

'Hi Molly, you seem really nice! I don't [mean] to be rude here but can you PLEASE move your head?!?' someone else asked. 'Thank you!!!'

In her follow-up video featuring the full screenshot, Molly admitted that she didn't expect the post to 'blow up the way that it did.'

Called out: Molly also shared screenshots of his follow-up texts in which he begged her to give him another chance

Moving on: The man continued to apologize and tried to get Molly to change her mind, but she thought his derogatory language and persistence were both red flags

'So this is before a first date,' she explained. 'I was parking. I was getting ready to go in when I got those first messages. At first, I was confused and I didn't really understand what he was saying, and when I realized what was going on, I immediately started driving away.'

Molly said the guy tried calling her, which is when she sent him a text telling him she wasn't going to meet him on their date.

'So he did continue to try to reach out to me. I was probably way too nice in rejecting him,' she admitted. 'The social worker in me just wants to help people to learn and grow from their mistakes. I probably should have just ignored him.'

Molly also shared screenshots of his follow-up texts in which he begged her to give him another chance.

'I did finally just start ignoring him when he wasn't getting that message,' she said. 'I see that persistence as also a red flag.'
A mother says she's happily married to her gay husband - and they keep their relationship on track with weekly sex feedback sessions.

Brynn Embley, 35, from Ypsilanti, Michigan, describes herself as straight while her husband Matthew Nielson, 33, identifies as gay or pansexual, and says he is 'more attracted to men than women.'

The couple have been dating since 2017 and share two daughters: Amandine, two and Guinevere, one.

The pair are members of the of Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints - a faith which doesn't condone same sex relationships - and Matthew admits the idea of being single and celibate forever was a strong motivating factor for dating women.

He dated men and women before he committed to Brynn - but had never had sex with anyone, including her, before they tied the knot.

The unconventional pair keep their relationship on track with therapy and weekly sex discussions calendared in for every Thursday, where they offer each other feedback and tips.

Brynn Embled, 35 and Matthew Nielson, 33, from Ypsilanti, Michigan, have been together since 2017 and have two daughters, in spite of the fact Matthew is more attracted to men rather than women. Pictured with their daughter Amandine, two

Brynn said: 'We enjoyed kissing, and hoped everything else would at least be okay.

'I think that many more people are gay, bi, pan, or other, than have made that known openly.

'A lot of my previous relationships revolved around that chemical attraction, not having that be the driving force was refreshing.

'I think that liking and matching with a person is so much more central to a long-term relationship.

The couple, pictured, belong to the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints, which does not condone gay marriage

'And it turns out that the sex thing works great, so it all worked out!'

Matthew added: 'I had never had sex before, with a man or a woman.

'I didn't even really know myself how strong my orientation to one gender or another might be.

'While I was more attracted to men, in general, there had been a few women to whom I was really attracted.

'I had a strong motivation to try really hard to make it work with a woman so that I didn't have to be lonely and celibate for the rest of my life.

'Obviously, not a great place for me or most of the women that I was dating.

'I've heard gay men say that they can't even imagine trying to be sexual with a woman, and I have never felt that way.

Matthew, pictured, said he identifies partly as pansexual, meaning he is attracted to people regardless of their gender, however, he admitted he is more attracted to men than women, pictured with Brynn

'It is still not the strongest part of our relationship, it is easy for me to wonder about what I might be missing if I were in a relationship with a man.

'But that being said, we do enjoy having sex and being together in that way, which is a relief!'

Brynn met Matthew for the first time at church in early 2016 and just a few dates in, he revealed he was gay.

Matthew had known he was attracted to men since he was a teenager, but the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints does not encourage homosexual relationships.

He dated women throughout his twenties while being honest about his orientation which received mixed responses, so he was nervous about what Brynn would think.

However, to his surprise, she shrugged it off.

The couple split up once early in their relationship because Matthew, pictured, had strong feelings for another man. However, he got back together with Brynn, also pictured, and they got married

The happy couple have two daughters, pictured, and have sex feedback sessions once a week to discuss their sexual needs

The mother-of-two said: 'He looked straight at me and said "Brynn, I'm gay".

'I remember it because he seemed so serious - or like he was looking for some sort of reaction from me.

'It just wasn't a huge deal, he was with me, his choice - what else mattered?

'I already knew that we didn't have a strong chemical attraction like I had experienced with other boyfriends, but it didn't really matter to me.

'I know he thinks I'm attractive, and I know he's drawn to me, and his sexual orientation didn't negate those things.

'I was really happy that I had a relationship where the selling point was liking and respecting each other as people.'

They dated for a few months before he ended their relationship, partly because Matthew had strong feelings about a man.

He said: 'I don't think that I actually had a lot of emotional bandwidth at that time because I was still trying to deal with my strong feelings about another guy.

'It didn't feel fair to either of us to keep up the relationship if I wasn't sure about that basic attraction.'

Mormonism explained - from why missionaries go door-to-door to its polygamous beliefs Mormonism is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement of Restorationist Christianity, founded by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s.

Mormons dedicate large amounts of time and resources to serving in their church, and many young Mormons choose to work full-time as converts, going door-to-door.

Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, coffee, tea, and other addictive substances are forbidden.

Sex before marriage and homosexual relationships are also forbidden.

Tattoos and body piercings, except for one pair of earrings on women, are discouraged.

In the 19th century, a minority of Mormons openly practiced plural marriage, a form of religious polygamy.

The center of Mormon cultural influence is in Utah, and North America has more Mormons than any other continent. Advertisement

They remained friends, but even Brynn's then boyfriend said they had chemistry, and they started dating again in September 2017.

Matthew, a postdoctoral researcher in psychology, said: 'It was definitely a leap of faith, because I still wasn't certain what sex with Brynn, or any woman, would look like.

'But we trusted that the other elements of our relationship were there and if that part was more difficult, we could work on it together.'

Brynn said: 'There was this mutual feeling of complete and utter happiness - like he was my person.'

Matthew added: 'I still was uncertain about the strength of our sexual connection.

'I tried to be as open as I could that I wasn't sure whether I would even enjoy sex with her or with any woman.

Matthew admitted he is still uncertain about the strength of the sexual connection he has with Brynn (pictured with their daughters)

'But I think we both felt reassured that we enjoyed cuddling, holding hands, and kissing.'

They went to Manti, Utah to finally tie the knot on December 27 2017, and were finally able to be intimate with each other.

Brynn said: 'For a while I would get stressed out if we weren't having sex a certain number of times each week, because I thought it meant that Matthew wasn't enjoying it enough.

'That's not the case, and I try to remember that if we both feel satisfied sexually that's all that matters.'

Pansexuality: the sexual orientation that doesn't care about gender Pansexuality defines a sexual orientation that doesn't care about gender. People who are pansexual say they feel a sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people that is not based on the gender they identify as. Pansexuality is considered a sexual orientation in its own right, like straight or gay. Some people also draw a parallel with bisexuality, however, bisexuality recognizes the existence of two genders, whereas pansexuality doesn not. Advertisement

They even have weekly sex discussions calendared in for every Thursday.

Brynn said: 'We share whether we need more, if there's anything the other can do to help make that a better part of our marriage, and so forth.'

While Brynn is a straight woman, Matthew's sexuality isn't linear and he has identified as gay, pansexual and bisexual.

He said: 'Pansexual is probably the most accurate - but it doesn't feel all the way right because I am still mostly attracted to men.'

The unusual couple are now four years into their relationship, are happy and monogamous, and have two daughters - Guinevere, one, and two-year-old Amandine.

Brynn said: 'Our religion teaches that marriage is only between a man and a woman, but we also want our children to be happy and secure in who they are and what or who they choose and are drawn to.

'Our goal is to support them whatever that looks like.

'There are also people who assume things about our relationship that are just plain wrong,

'I really try not to focus on the negative or let negative comments get me down - but they do, and one way I combat that is by sharing.

'We are so happy in this quirky, unique, sublime relationship.'
A friend of the first Briton to die from AIDS, whose name was finally revealed after 40 years in a new documentary, has said Princess Diana shaking hands with a gay man dying of the disease was a 'momentous moment' that left him in tears.

Ken Dee appeared on Good Morning Britain today to speak about his friend John Eaddie, who has been named as the UK's first AIDS victim following an investigation by ITV's Tonight programme, which airs this evening.

When speaking about the stigma surrounding the illness at the time of Mr Eaddie's death on October 29, 1981, GMB co-presenter Susanna Reid asked Mr Dee how it was impacted by Princess Diana shaking hands with a gay man dying of AIDS in 1987.

He replied: 'I think that was a momentous moment when that happened because I think a lot of people then realised that it couldn't be transmitted just through touching.

'I think for the gay community it went so much further than anything else had possibly done when that happened. I remember seeing it at the time and crying, thinking this is amazing.'

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Ken Dee (pictured) appeared on Good Morning Britain today to speak about his friend John Eaddie, who has been named as the UK's first AIDS victim following an investigation by ITV's Tonight programme, which airs this evening

When speaking about the stigma surrounding the illness at the time of Mr Eaddie's death on October 29, 1981, GMB co-presenter Susanna Reid asked Mr Dee how it was impacted by Princess Diana (pictured left) shaking hands with a gay man dying of AIDS in 1987

The first man in the UK to die from AIDS has been revealed as John Eaddie after 40 years as emotional family and friends finally pay tribute to 'Patient Zero'

Princess Diana was famously the first member of the Royal Family to touch someone with AIDS.

In April 1987, the Princess of Wales opened the UK's first purpose built HIV/AIDS unit that exclusively cared for patients infected with the virus, at London Middlesex Hospital.

She was photographed shaking hands with an unidentified man suffering with the illness without wearing gloves, publicly challenging the notion that HIV/AIDS was passed from person to person by touch.

Mr Dee was on Good Morning Britain today to discuss his friend Mr Eaddie, who ran a guesthouse in Bournemouth in the 1970s and died on October 29, 1981 at the Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea.

His cause of death was recorded as pneumocystis pneumonia - which would later be recognised as a deadly sign of HIV/AIDS.

The only trace of his death had been a brief entry in The Lancet medical journal in December 1981, which described a 'known homosexual' who had travelled to Miami and was suspected to have died of the same mystery illness sweeping much of the gay community in the US.

Mr Dee (pictured left) replied: 'I think that was a momentous moment when that happened because I think a lot of people then realised that it couldn't be transmitted just through touching'

Princess Diana (pictured right) was famously the first member of the Royal Family to touch someone with AIDS

An investigation by ITV's Tonight programme has now named Mr Eaddie as the UK's first AIDS victim. By tracing his family and friends and unearthing his medical records, his story can be told properly for the first time and his loved ones can finally pay tribute to him.

Speaking this morning, Mr Dee said: 'We heard that he was sick... he was breathless... but we presumed it was a cold. It all happened quite quickly.'

'He was a charming host, he'd remember you and remember your name,' he added about Mr Eaddie.

He told Tonight: 'We went through such a terrible time in our lives. But what John did was set up some place that was really safe. And that's something we will always remember.'

Mr Dee was on Good Morning Britain today to discuss his friend Mr Eaddie, who ran a guesthouse in Bournemouth in the 1970s and died on October 29, 1981 at the Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea. Pictured, Susanna Reid

By the time Mr Eaddie was diagnosed, his life expectancy would have been just months or even weeks.

Shortly after his death, Professor Jonathan Weber began a study of 400 gay men in London exhibiting early symptoms of AIDS. He told Tonight that of those, 399 subsequently died.

'We had nothing for the underlying disease. And indeed we still didn't know what the disease was,' he said.

'We had no idea what it was until 1984. The power of this virus to kill people without intervention is quite extraordinary.'

The first AIDS patient to be publicly identified in the UK was Terrence Higgins, who died in 1982.

The ITV Tonight programme 'Searching for Patient Zero: Britain's AIDS Tragedy' will air at 19.30 on Thursday 11th November on ITV.
Princess Charlene of Monaco may not live in her husband Albert's palace following her return home and does not plan to immediately resume public engagements, MailOnline has learned.

Chantell Wittstock, Charlene's sister-in-law and PR for her charitable Foundation in South Africa, said not only that it is 'unclear' whether the princess will be living full-time in the Palace, but also that her return to formal duties is dependent on her recovery from a mystery illness.

Before she left in January, Charlene had raised eyebrows in Monaco by living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the 12th Century Palace itself. It is thought she could return to living at the property.

Asked whether the Princess would now return to the arm's-length arrangement the couple had before her departure, Ms Wittstock, married to Charlene's brother Sean, who is on the board of her charitable foundation, said: 'Oh, we don't know yet. She'll probably be commuting between the two, wherever she's comfortable.

'And none of that is clear yet where she'll be settling or anything like that. I mean, she only just arrived back, so it's everybody finding their feet. The Princess is very excited to see her kids and they're very excited to see their mom again.

'So we'll see where she'll be settling. But it will be with her husband and her children.

Ms Wittstock, asked about media stories focusing on the state of her sister-in-law's marriage to Prince Albert, added: 'It is absolutely not something I can comment on. But what I can say is the princess is back in Monaco with her husband and children that should say it all.'

The claims will inevitably cast a shadow of doubt over the staged photocall earlier this week when Charlene was reunited with Albert, 63, and their children after a 10-month absence from Monaco.

Charlene spent months without her family in her native South Africa while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip earlier this year.

Happy families? Princess Charlene of Monaco may not live in her husband's Palace following her return home, nor even resume her public engagements, MailOnline has learned. Pictured, Charlene with her husband and their children on Monday after her return following 10 months away. The reunion was met with scepticism by French commentators

Separate lives? Before she left in January, Charlene had raised eyebrows by living in a modest two-bedroom apartment above an old chocolate factory about 300m away, rather than in the Palace itself, as illustrated. There is debate over whether she might return to the property

Low-key: Instead of enjoying palatial rooms overlooking the Mediterranean, and a domestic staff including butlers and cooks, the apartment, pictured, is a pared back apartment

The reunion, shared on Instagram, was eyed with scepticism by French commentators amid feverish speculation about the state of the Grimaldis' marriage.

Charlene's time away followed fresh allegations last December that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, were already in a relationship.

Grand return: Charlene spent months without her family in her native South Africa while she recovered from surgery following a sinus infection she contracted during a solo charity trip earlier this year. Pictured, the princess arriving in Monaco on Monday

Carefully choreographed: Albert, 63, was waiting for her at the Monte Carlo helipad, along with their six-year-old twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. The family were joined by a hand-picked photographer inside the Palace walls for the 'reunion' photos, pictured

Hidden message? Posting a snap of the reunion on Instagram, Charlene wrote: 'Happy day today. Thankyou all for keeping me strong,' but did not name check her husband

Delighted to be reunited: Charlene's sister-in-law said she is thrilled to be back with her children. Pictured, Charlene with her son Jacques on her return to Monaco on Monday

On the question of Charlene's return to public engagements, she sounded equally equivocal, saying: 'She absolutely will - if everything goes well, if she is definitely still healing and recovering.

'That doesn't just happen overnight. She's definitely going to be taking it easy. And yeah, her main focus right now will be spending time with her children and her family.

How Charlene and Albert made solo outings in South Africa and Monaco during nine months apart January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa August 31 - Speculation mounts in the media about couple's relationship

September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco Advertisement

'All we can say right now is all of her procedures in South Africa were a success. So medically the doctors have cleared her to fly back. And that's why she's obviously back in Monaco with her kids.'

She said the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which promotes water safety and wildlife conservation in Africa, would soon expand to cover the whole continent.

'The main reason for coming to Africa in the first place was to launch more Foundation projects, which is when she fell ill and the Foundation team in South Africa absolutely carried on with all of those, making sure that everything happened exactly the way she wanted it.

'Even during recovery, in between procedures, the princess still tried to be completely hands-on and on the ground and work with us. The foundation will also be expanding into the whole of Africa as of next year.

'As far as Charlene goes. The outlook is is positive and you know she's going to get back to full strength and be full steam ahead. It's not going to happen overnight.'

The new development will certainly add fuel to the intense speculation over the future of the marriage of Charlene and Albert.

Monday's photos were greeted with a hefty dose of scepticism by the French media.

Albert was waiting for her at the Monte Carlo helipad, along with their six-year-old twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. The family were joined by a hand-picked photographer inside the Palace walls for the 'reunion' photos.

But there was already doubt cast over the couple's living arrangements.

'Reunion of Albert and Charlene of Monaco: but where exactly do they sleep?' was the headline question in the respected French celebrity outlet Gala on Tuesday.

And Voici  another popular magazine read widely across Monaco and France  ran with: 'Charlene of Monaco back: the Princess breaks the silence and forgets to mention her husband'.

This was a reference to Charlene using a social media video to thank everybody who had helped her through months of ill-health, without name-checking Albert at all.

In the streets in the shadow of the 12th century Prince's Palace, people could not conceal their concern for Charlene this week, having seen the photos of her looking so obviously frail.

'We are glad to have her back, but she doesn't look well and it feels we don't yet have the full picture,' said one cafe owner on the Rock, in his 50s, who asked not to be named.

He admitted that in years past, he like many Monegasques, had expressed frustration at the way Charlene has been less visible than other royals.

'There was a while when there was a sense that she was a reluctant princess,' he said, 'but this is different - there's obviously something not quite right either with her or the marriage and for whatever reason we're not being told what.'

There certainly appears to be a wall of silence around Charlene, especially since she retreated behind the ramparts of the Palace, at least for the time being.

Her Palace press officer said she could not return calls from MailOnline and did not reply to a list of questions we sent her.

Doubts about the central relationship of Monaco's royal family are not new of course. Several residents living in the narrow medieval alleys of Monaco Ville confirmed to MailOnline that before she left for South Africa Charlene was spending most of her time outside the Palace at the Chocolate factory apartment.

'We often saw her outside the Palace and she would usually be alone or with a bodyguard,' said one source, 'but she was never with Albert - it was obvious she chose to spend most of her time in the apartment rather than the palace.'

Another Monte Carlo source who knows the couple well told MailOnline: 'The way to stop all the friction and put an end to the speculation about their marriage is for Charlene to proudly move back into the Palace and start living like a proper Princess.

'That's what the people of Monaco want, because they love their Royals, and don't want them living separate lives.'

Charlene came in for criticism before she travelled to South Africa for dividing her time between several properties outside the Palais, the official residence of the Sovereign, Albert II.

Instead of enjoying palatial rooms overlooking the Mediterranean, and a domestic staff including butlers and cooks, Charlene chose the Chocolate Factory.

Charlene, who wed Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2011, has been living in her home country of South Africa for much of this year, and the extended stay has stoked speculation that the royal couple may be headed for divorce. Albert took their children to visit in August

Last Monaco outing together before her departure: Charlene and Albert were last pictured together at an official event together in January at the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco

It only had two bedrooms, and had been used in the past by Albert's sister, Princess Stephanie.

Stephanie, 56, led an extremely turbulent personal life herself that included two divorces and high-profile affairs with security guards and an elephant trainer.

Princess Charlene's trials and tribulations in the Monaco royal family 1987 - Bea Fiedler, a German topless model, claims her son Daniel was the prince's son. 1992 - An American national files a paternity lawsuit against the Prince, claiming that he was the father of her daughter, Jazmin Grace. 2000 - Princess Charlene meets Prince Albert at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo 2005 - In May, a former flight attendant claims that her youngest son, whom she named Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, was Prince Albert's child. She states that his parentage had been proven by DNA tests requested by the Monegasque government. On 6 July, a few days before he was enthroned on 12 July, the Prince officially confirms via his lawyer Lacoste that Alexandre was his biological son. 2006 - After a DNA test confirmed the child's parentage, Albert admitted, via statement from his lawyer, that he is Jazmin Grace's father. 2010 - Princess Charlene and Prince Albert announce their engagement 2011 - Princess Charlene was said to have bolted two days before the royal wedding after hearing Prince Albert had a third love child during their relationship. It was alleged that Charlene tried to flee home to South Africa three times before her 'arranged marriage', at one point taking refuge inside her country's embassy in Paris. Monaco officials were said to have coaxed her back by brokering a deal between the Prince and his reluctant bride that she provide him with a legitimate heir. After that she would be free to leave of her own free will. During the wedding, Charlene was in floods of tears, while her husband looked on impassively. Later in the year, Princess Charlene confessed she felt 'very lonely' in Monaco 2012 - Princess Charlene was reported to be 'depressed' at her failure to provide her husband with a legitimate heir. 2014 - Pregnancy was announced in May. In December Charlene gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and heir to the throne Prince Jacques. 2017 - Princess Charlene visits Africa, tells media: 'I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. It's in my heart and in my veins.' 2019 - In a rare interview, Princess Charlene confessed it is 'sometimes hard to smile' and said the year had been 'very painful'In another interview, she said she found motherhood 'exhausting' 2020 - Charlene debuts a shocking half-shaved hairstyle. It is announced Prince Albert of Monaco will appear in court in the new year to fight explosive claims he fathered a third love child with a secret girlfriend before marrying his now wife Princess Charlene. 2021 - January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. It is the last time she has been seen in Monaco this year. Advertisement

Charlene also escaped Royal protocol by staying at Roc Agel, a mountain retreat on the outskirts of Monaco originally restored for Albert's late mother, the Hollywood star Grace Kelly who became Princess Grace before her tragic death in a car crash on the treacherously steep road approaching Roc Agel.

Charlene was also a frequent visitor to a holiday home owned by friends on the Mediterranean island of Corsica.

Paris Match, the celeb bible, has always had particularly close ties with the Grimaldis  the ancient dynasty now headed by Albert and Charlene.

'Charlene and Albert on the Verge of Breaking Up?' was the lead headline in an edition of Match in August.

'There will be no photo for their 10th anniversary wedding anniversary,' it noted.

All the high-end French publications  the kind that Albert and Charlene would normally grant fawning interviews to  concurred.

The upmarket and very conservative Madame Figaro ran with the stark headline: 'Are Charlene and Albert II of Monaco on the verge of divorce?'

Historian and author Philippe Delorme told the magazine: 'Lots of people got the impression it was an arranged marriage, it's true.

'Albert chose a wife who resembled his mother and Charlene clearly felt very ill at ease in this Grace Kelly role they wanted her to play.

'As Karl Marx put it: History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.'

The 2011 wedding itself was an ostentatious three-day event featuring a concert by the Eagles. But onlookers were concerned by photos of the bride in tears with her husband appearing distant, but Charlene insisted later she was just emotional.

Charlene has been notable by her absence from every single flagship event in the tax haven principality this year.

They have included the Monaco Grand Prix on May 23, and the Fashion Awards hosted by the Princess's own charitable foundation on May 18.

Charlene infamously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker last December.

This was seen as the first public sign of a worsening crisis that could end in a multi-million pound divorce.

Charlene's exile in South Africa began a month after it emerged last December that Albert was facing yet another paternity suit.

A Brazilian woman who cannot be named for legal reasons said her 15-year-old daughter was the result of an affair with Albert in 2004.

Albert and Charlene were not yet engaged at this time, but they had known each over for four years after meeting at a swimming gala in Monaco in 2000.

Lawyers for the claimant were scheduled to demand a DNA test from Albert at a court in Milan earlier this year, while his own counsel branded the action 'a hoax'.

Neither party is now commenting, suggesting some kind of generous settlement may have been reached, as happened with Albert's earlier love children.

They are Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert's affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 17, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess.

Both children were struck off Monaco's line of succession in return for vast financial settlements.
The Royal Family changed their social media profile photos to mark Armistice Day.

Instagram accounts for the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, all swapped smiling snaps for sombre poppy photos.

It comes as Camilla today led Britain in a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day as the nation was finally able to gather together again following the relaxation of Covid rules.

Tribute: Instagram accounts for the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, all swapped smiling snaps for sombre poppy photos. The Queen opted for a photo taken on Remembrance Day in 2004 (seen above)

Smiling: The Royal Family profile picture was previously this one of the Queen, taken during a visit to the headquarters of MI5 at Thames House in London, in February 2020

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall previously used a portrait released in 2019 to mark Wales Week. The image shows the couple smiling outside their official Welsh residence of Llwynywormwoo in Myddfai.

It was replaced earlier this week with a photo of the couple from the launch of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal in October.

Meanwhile the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge swapped their light-hearted profile snap, taken on a visit to Ireland, with a close-up of a poppy.

Royal aides managing the Queen's Instagram account took down the photo of Her Majesty taken at MI5 in February 2020, in favour of one from a Remembrance Sunday event in 2004.

The Queen also shared an Instagram post, with the caption: 'On the 'eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month' in 1918 the Armistice was signed. Today the nation falls silent at 11:00 in an act of Remembrance of all those who have served and sacrificed.'

Simple: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge opted for a close-up shot of a poppy, pictured

Candid: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been using this sweet snap, taken during a clifftop walk in Ireland in March 2020

The Royal Family occasionally change their profile photos to mark important events. It was last done following the death of the Duke of Edinburgh in April.

The Queen is not attending any events today but is expected to lead tributes at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.

The mantle was taken up by the Duchess of Cornwall.

On a still, crisp autumn morning outside Westminster Abbey, Camilla led commemorations at the 93rd Field of Remembrance, which has been held since November 1928.

After a bugler played the Last Post, Camilla and hundreds of veterans from past conflicts stood motionless as the chimes of Big Ben rang out. Everyone observed two minutes of silence as London traffic rolled past.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall's picture was replaced earlier this week with a photo of the couple from the launch of the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal in October

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall previously used a portrait released in 2019 to mark Wales Week. The image shows the couple smiling outside their official Welsh residence

It comes as Camilla today led Britain in a two-minute silence to mark Armistice Day as the nation was finally able to gather together again following the relaxation of Covid rules

In Staffordshire, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended a service of remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum, featuring readings, musical performances and wreath laying.

The two-minute silence was also marked by COP26 President Alok Sharma at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow. In Edinburgh, a single gun sounded from the castle ramparts.

In London, a service took place by the Cenotaph - the traditional focus of commemoration - and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer marked the moment at a war memorial by Euston station.

And at England's training ground in Burton on Trent, Gareth Southgate and Harry Kane stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the squad in front of a St George's Cross flown at half mask.
James Middleton has shared his joy after his pet start-up Ella& Co won the Pet Professional of the Year prize last night.

The Duchess of Cambridge's brother, 34, launched his health and wellbeing company for dogs in June 2020, inspired by his own furry friends, and shares health advice as well as selling pet food on the website Ella & Co.

And last night the health and wellbeing company scooped up a Pet Industry Federation award, as well as being shortlisted as a finalist for Online Business of the Year 2021.

The entrepreneur, who has been frank about his struggles with mental health in an effort to raise awareness around the topic, has nine dogs - Golden Retriever Mabel, a black Labrador, two Cocker Spaniels, and five black Spaniels called Rafa, Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna -who he has credited with helping him through tough times.

'Grateful and humbled': James Middleton has shared his joy after his pet start-up Ella& Co won the Pet Professional of the Year prize last night

Posing with the company's namesake, his pet dog Ella, and the award, he wrote: 'From dog dad to Award-Winning dog dad.

'My dogs are, I think, completely unaware of their gift to me, but every day I want to tell them how deeply I appreciate the power of their unconditional love and companionship, so I have made it my mission to give back to them, and to be recognised for that is wonderful.

'I am so grateful and humbled to have been the recipient of Pet Industry Federations Pet Professional of the year award and for Ella & Co to be a finalist for Online Business of the Year 2021'.

The Duchess of Cambridge's brother, 34, launched his health and wellbeing company for dogs in June 2020, inspired by his own furry friends, and shares health advice as well as selling pet food on the website Ella & Co

James wrote: 'I am so grateful and humbled to have been the recipient of Pet Industry Federations Pet Professional of the year award and for Ella & Co to be a finalist for Online Business of the Year 2021'

The brother to the Duchess of Cambridge, has been frank about his struggles with mental health in an effort to raise awareness around the topic.

In June 2019 James also shared his first picture alongside French financial expert Alizee Thevenet, who he has also credited to bringing happiness to his life.

The pair were pictured holidaying in St Barts with Pippa Middleton, her husband James Matthews, brother-in-law Spencer Matthews, and his wife Vogue Williams at the beginning of the year.

Later that year he proposed to French girlfriend Alizee privately with a sapphire ring while in the Lake District, before the pair married in a private ceremony in France this year.

The entrepreneur, who has been frank about his struggles with mental health in an effort to raise awareness around the topic, has nine dogs - Golden Retriever Mabel, a black Labrador, two Cocker Spaniels, and five black Spaniels called Rafa, Ella, Zulu, Inka and Luna (seen) -who he has credited with helping him through tough times
A father-of-two who nearly had his ventilator switched off when doctors described him as 'one of the sickest Covid patients' has been sent home after nearly a year in a London hospital.

Andrew Watts, 40, from Bexley, began to feel unwell and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Woolwich, with Covid-19 pneumonia on Christmas Day 2020.

In February, after a five-week induced coma and a life-threatening lung collapse, doctors called his family to tell them they were considering switching off his ventilator.

However Andrew was able to make a recovery and, after eight months in intensive care and two months on a ward, was able to go home after 300 days in the hospital.

Being on a ventilator for months meant that Andrew had to learn to talk and walk again, telling MyLondon: 'I kept thinking, "Why me?" It was very hard to stay positive.'

Andrew Watts, 40, from Bexley, who nearly had his ventilator switched off when doctors described him as 'one of the sickest Covid patients' has been sent home after nearly a year in a London hospital (pictured with his wife Hayley)

However Andrew was able to make a recovery and, after eight months in intensive care and two months on a ward, was able to go home after 300 days in the hospital (pictured)

The father-of-two was initially devastated in October 2019, when he was diagnosed with lymph cancer in October 2019.

He spent much of 2020 carefully shielding due to being classed as vulnerable, and his chemotherapy treatment had been successful.

He was on the mend a year later, with doctors telling him he was in remission.

However weeks before Christmas, the father-of-two began to feel unwell, with little appetite.

He began to feel unwell and was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Woolwich, with Covid-19 pneumonia on Christmas Day 2020 (pictured with his wife Hayley)

He said he was 'losing weight' but thought it was 'just anxiety getting to me.'

His health deteriorated and he was admitted into hospital but he initially responded well to treatment.

However his oxygen levels began to drop and he was taken for a CT scan, where he was told he had a pneuomothorax, which is a split on the lung.

He said: 'I was on my own as this was the height of Covid, with no visitors allowed, so it was a lot to take in.

Andrew was placed in induced comas on several occasions, with his family being told he was gravely ill (pictured, with Hayley and their sons Jack and Joshua)

It was only in June 2021 that Andrew's wife Hayley and sons Jack, six, and Joshua, three, were able to visit him in hospital

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'By this point I was crying my eyes out, on the phone to my sister Hannah and my wife Hayley, but I didn't want to tell my mum or my dad. I couldn't bring myself to tell them.'

He was placed in a coma for over a month, with medical staff calling his family to tell them he was gravely ill.

The father-of-two pulled through but remained on a ventilator, with doctors warning his family weeks later that they might have to turn the machine off.

However after a second lung collapse, Andrew's health began to improve and he was able to come off the ventilator in June 2021.

It was only then that his wife Hayley and sons Jack, six, and Joshua, three, were able to visit him in hospital.

However due to being on a ventilator for so long, Andrew was forced to learn to walk and talk again, communicating with his family by pointing a stick at letters on a board.

He was slowly getting better when suddenly his left and right lung collapsed again, and he was placed in another induced coma.

He said: 'I came around with tubes down my throat again. I was so upset. I'd been doping so well and it seemed like it was all for nothing.

After eight months on ICU, he was moved onto a ward, where he spent two further months recovering.

Two weeks before he was scheduled to go home, his occupational therapist accompanied him for a trip back to the house, something he confessed he was feeling 'very nervous' about.

The father-of-two said he hopes to continue his recovery and is aiming to be able to walk to his son's school and back by Christmas this year

When he was discharged, medical staff, including doctors, nurses, physios and speech and language therapists turned out to say goodbye on October 21.

Hospital staff lined the corridor in Ward 23 to say an emotional goodbye to him.

He said he aims to be able to walk to his son's school and back by Christmas this year.

Meanwhile Dr Dan Harding, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine, explained: ''He was one of the sickest Covid patients we've seen, so to see him walking out of the hospital with his family was a very happy and emotional day for me and all the other staff involved in his care.
A Florida woman gave birth to her second child a week  to the minute  after her husband died in a tragic accident.

Gabriel 'Gabe' Alvarez, 43, was working a construction job in Miami on October 25 when a heavy piece of equipment fell on top of him, killing him at the scene.

Exactly a week later, his wife, Grace Sotolongo-Alvarez, 33, welcomed their son while a photo of her husband watched over them.

A Florida woman gave birth to her second child a week after her husband died in a tragic accident

Gabriel Alvarez, 43, was working a construction job in Miami on October 25 when a piece of equipment killed him. His wife, Grace Sotolongo-Alvarez, 33, welcomed their son a week later

Gabe was excited to have a little boy. He and Grace already shared a five-year-old daughter, and he also had a 12-year-old daughter from a previous marriage

Grace was just a week away from her scheduled C-section when tragedy struck.

'Today I lost the love of my life... the only person I loved arguing with and laughing after, the father of my children, and the man that made me feel whole and secure,' Grace wrote on Facebook.

'Today is the worse day of my life and for the first time ever I had to break my 5-year-old daughter's heart and help her process that daddy won't be coming home today.

'My son will never get to meet his dad who has prayed for him and wanted him so much,' she went on.

'I know you will give me strength and I know that at this moment, you are meeting our son before he makes his grand entrance. I love you. I forever will love you and I will make sure our kids always know you and know all of the dreams and hopes you had for them. You've taken a piece of my heart and soul with you.'

'Today I lost the love of my life... the only person I loved arguing with and laughing after, the father of my children, and the man that made me feel whole and secure,' Grace wrote

'My son will never get to meet his dad who has prayed for him and wanted him so much,' she said

'I know he's been with me the entire time. Gabriel looks just like him,' said Grace

Grace had a photo of her late husband on hand in the delivery room, plastered up near her head. It was taken at the birth of their five-year-old daughter, Gracie

A week later, she shared photos of baby Gabriel's birth.

'A week ago today, at 1:05 PM, you took your last breath my love. Today, exactly at 1:05 PM, our son, #GabrielTomasAlvarez, took his first breath,' she wrote. 'Everything about today has been filled with signs that you are here with us.'

The timing seemed important to Grace.

'As a "Believer," I see no coincidence,' she told People. 'I know he's been with me the entire time. Gabriel looks just like him. I will make sure he knows what an incredible husband, father, brother, son and friend he was, and I will do my best to raise him in the manner Gabe would have wanted.'

Grace had a photo of her late husband on hand in the delivery room, plastered up near her head. It was taken at the birth of their five-year-old daughter, Gracie. Gabe also had a 12-year-old daughter, Gianna, from a previous marriage.

'It was my idea. I had to be "calm" and try to be at peace to bring Gabriel Tomas into the world,' she told People. 'The image was for me to be able to look up and see the face I adore, who has always been my ride or die.

'I will make sure he knows what an incredible husband, father, brother, son and friend he was, and I will do my best to raise him in the manner Gabe would have wanted,' Grace said

'I forever will love you and I will make sure our kids always know you and know all of the dreams and hopes you had for them,' Grace said

'He would've been there if he hadn't been taken from us, so I had to make sure I could "see him."'

Grace has continued to share updates, including a photo of the baby wearing a Lion King Simba onesie and cap. She explained that she and her husband had joked that he would hold him up like Mufasa did in the movie.

'These photos were supposed to be so different,' she said.

Liza Santana-Pineres, a friend of the couple, told Today that Gave was 'overjoyed' about having a son.

'Gabe just really wanted that experience,' she said. 'The whole family was over the moon.'

Bringing the baby home has been 'surreal,' said Grace.

'Under the circumstances, I'm holding baby Gabriel and Gracie as much as I can,' she said

Grace has continued to share updates, including a photo of the baby wearing a Lion King Simba onesie and cap

She explained that she and her husband had joked that he would hold him up like Mufasa did in the movie

'I have moments where I feel I have to be strong and accept it because I am a mother and can't fall apart,' she said.

'But others, I can't bear my reality. The love of my life was taken from me in an instant... A piece of me is gone.

'Under the circumstances, I'm holding baby Gabriel and Gracie as much as I can,' she added.

'They are keeping me going. I know my husband, the love of my life, will live on through his children and I hope to find peace and healing as they both grow up.'
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The brave pets who mucked in to help during war have been showcased in a series of colourised snaps.

Tom Marshall, who lives close to the Defence Animal Training Regiment base near Melton Mowbray, has transformed the black-and-white images for PhotograFix.

He decided to recolour the pictures to honour the memories of the animals who gave their lives in human wars, and urged people to wear a purple poppy commemorating animal sacrifices alongside their red ones this Remembrance Sunday.

Among the images he has bought to life is one from July 1944, showing Jasper, a mine-detecting dog, having his ear bandaged by a sergeant of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Bayeaux, France.

Another of the pictures is of Simon, ships cat for the Royal Navys HMS Amethyst, who is the only cat to have been awarded the Dickin Medal as of 2021.

The brave pets who mucked in to help during war have been showcased in a series of colourised snaps (pictured, Jasper, a mine-detecting dog, having his ear bandaged by a sergeant of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Bayeaux, France)

Meanwhile another image taken in 1917 shows an unnamed British Royal Artillery soldier sitting for a portrait while wearing his uniform alongside his tiny white kitten

These two kittens lived aboard HMS Hawkins, a heavy cruiser built by the Royal Navy during the First World War, though not completed until 1919. The kittens are pictured inside the barrel of a 7.5 inch gun

Pictured: Venus the bulldog, mascot of the destroyer HMS Vansittart, taken in a photograph in 1941

Simon was adept at catching and killing rats on the lower decks. He rapidly gained a reputation for cheekiness, leaving presents of dead rats in sailors' beds, and sleeping in the captain's cap.

In 1949, during the Yangtze Incident, he received the PDSA's Dickin Medal after surviving injuries from a cannon shell which tore through the captains cabin seriously wounding Simon and killing the captain.

The badly wounded cat crawled onto deck, and was rushed to the medical bay, where the ship's surviving medical staff cleaned his burns, and removed four pieces of shrapnel. He was not expected to last the night.

He managed to survive, however, and after a period of recovery, returned to his former duties catching rats.

Another of the pictures is Aircrew was a young cat adopted by the Royal Australian Air Force Flying Training School, Cressy, Victoria, Australia (left) and Simon, ships cat for the Royal Navys HMS Amethyst, who is the only cat to have been awarded the Dickin Medal as of 2021 (right)

Rip was a mixed breed terrier awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in 1945. He was found as a stray in Poplar, London, in 1940 by an Air Raid Warden, Mr. E King, and became the service's first search and rescue dog

Pictured left: A Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps Captain and horse c.1916. Pictured right: HMS Stork's mascot, on board ship, Liverpool, 18th May 1941

Another feline to be brought to life by Tom in the images was Aircrew, a young cat adopted by the Royal Australian Air Force Flying Training School, Cressy, Victoria, Australia.

Meanwhile another image taken in 1917 shows an unnamed British Royal Artillery soldier sitting for a portrait while wearing his uniform alongside his tiny white kitten.

Like Simon, mixed breed terrier Rip was awarded the Dickin Medal for bravery in 1945.

He was found as a stray in Poplar, London, in 1940 by an Air Raid Warden, Mr. E King, and became the service's first search and rescue dog. He is credited with saving the lives of over 100 people.

This picture postcard was sent by William Field (1890 -1917) to his brother Harry, postmark dated December 1909, from Aldershot barracks in Hampshire. William is stood third from the left with bridles in his arms. The original post card is still owned by Harry's daughter Margaret. William served with the 7th Queens Own Hussars at West Cavalry Barracks, Wellington Lines, but he died in action serving for the Kings Own Hussar's in WW1. He laid to rest at Monchy British Cemetery, Monchy-Le-Preux, Pas de Calais, France

Horses pull makeshift sleds through the mud of the First World War. Horses, due to their reliability and ability to travel over most terrains were crucial to transportation during World War I

Rip was not trained for search and rescue work, but took to it instinctively and his success has been held partially responsible for prompting the authorities to train search and rescue dogs towards the end of World War II.

Another image shows Venus the bulldog, mascot of the destroyer HMS Vansittart, leaning out of the ship in 1941 while another brings to life HMS Storks mascot who was on board ship in Liverpool in May 1941.

But it wasn't all cats and dogs who helped out in the war. The photographs also show horses pulling makeshift sleds through the mud of the First World War.

A horse and soldier transporting boots along a path which is inches deep in wet mud. The horse is absolutely laden with rubber trench waders

A B-type bus converted into a pigeon loft enabling messages to be sent from the front line back to headquarters. Over 100,000 carrier pigeons were used as messengers throughout WW1 and records show they delivered 95 per cent of their messages correctly

The paths were inches deep in wet mud, but horses, due to their reliability and ability to travel over most terrains were crucial to transportation during World War I.

Meanwhile another photograph shows a Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps Captain atop his horse in 1916.

And birds were also involved with the war efforts during the period.

A B-type bus converted into a pigeon loft enabling messages to be sent from the front line back to headquarters.

Over 100,000 carrier pigeons were used as messengers throughout WW1 and records show they delivered 95% of their messages correctly.
A new Ebola vaccine that was developed by the Oxford University team that made the AstraZeneca Covid jab is being trialled in humans for the first time today.

The jab  currently known as ChAdOx1 biEBOV  uses the same technology as the breakthrough coronavirus shot.

It has been designed to tackle the Zaire and Sudan strains of Ebola, the two most common and deadly types.

The trial will see 26 people between the ages of 18 and 55 given the jab and monitored over a six-month period in Oxford. Another trial is due to start in Tanzania by the end of the year.

Patients will begin to be vaccinated from this morning and results are expected in the second half of 2022.

The phase one study will test the safety, side effects, best dose, and timing of the new jab. Later trials will see how it performs against Ebola in the real world.

Other Ebola vaccines do exist based on the Zaire species, but Oxford researchers hope the new jab will have a wider reach.

Oxford University scientists have started human trial on a new vaccine they hope will help prevent deaths from the Ebola virus. The deadly disease can kill up to 90 per cent of people it infects and the last major outbreak of the disease killed 11,000 people worldwide.

There are four species of Ebola virus that have been known to cause disease in humans.

Of these, the Zaire species is the most lethal, causing death in 70 per cent to 90 per cent of cases if left untreated.

The Zaire species is responsible for most outbreaks, including the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak and the 2018 outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where more than 32,000 people were infected and more than 13,600 died.

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The vaccine is based on the ChAdOx1 virus, a weakened version of a chimpanzee common cold virus that has been genetically modified so that it is impossible for it to replicate in humans.

This method has already been used successfully in the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine.

Teresa Lambe, associate professor at the Jenner Institute and lead scientific investigator at the University of Oxford, said: 'Sporadic Ebolavirus outbreaks still occur in affected countries, putting the lives of individuals  especially frontline health workers  at risk. We need more vaccines to tackle this devastating disease.'

Dr Daniel Jenkin, principal investigator of the trial at the Jenner Institute, said: 'Recent advances have led to the approval of vaccines against one of the viruses that causes Ebola virus disease.'

'However, this disease can be caused by several different species of virus and each of these may require a targeted immune response to offer protection.'

'We have designed our new vaccine to target the two species of virus that have caused nearly all Ebolavirus outbreaks and deaths, and now look forward to testing this in Phase I clinical trials.'

Volunteers interested in enrolling on the study can do so online via the university.

A further trial for the vaccine is due to start in Tanzania by the end of the year.

Ebola killed at least 11,000 across the world in the last major outbreak of the virus and decimated West Africa in 2014-2016.

The Ebola virus is transmitted to people from wild animals, such as bats, porcupines and primates and then spreads between humans through direct contact with bodily fluids and materials such as clothing and bedding.

There is currently a vaccine called Ervebo has been shown to be effective in protecting people from the Zaire species of Ebola.

Another vaccine called Zabdeno-and-Mvabea was approved for use in May 2020 and consists of two doses delivered eight weeks apart.

There is an ongoing outbreak of Ebola ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo which began on October 8.

The development of an Ebola jab is a strange circle for Oxford University who began work on how to develop vaccines rapidly after the devastating Ebola outbreak in 2014-2016.

Researchers from Oxford University were hailed as heroes in December last year for helping to vaccinate the world against Covid after developing a jab that only cost 2 to produce.

The jab was later restricted to the over 40s in the UK and in other European nations after it was discovered there was a tiny risk of developing blood-clots.

Britain has donated 30.6million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to poorer countries as part of the UN's COVAX vaccine global vaccine sharing scheme and has plans to donate 20million more.
A French Covid vaccine manufacturer today demanded the Government apologises for Sajid Javid claiming its jab would not get approved.

Valneva, which has a factory in Livingston, Scotland, had a 1.2billion deal to provide up to 190million doses torn up by No10 in September.

The Health Secretary told MPs the contract was cancelled over 'commercial reasons' and because the jab would not get the go-ahead from the regulator.

But the drug company, visited by Boris Johnson in January, has since been cleared to supply tens of millions of doses across Europe.

David Lawrence, Valneva's chief financial officer, told BBC Radio Scotland Mr Javids comments caused reputational damage, had financial implications for the company, and 'put a question mark next to our vaccine'.

Mr Lawrence said the pharmaceutical firm was still deciding whether or not to sue the Government over Mr Javids comments.

French pharmaceutical firm Valneva has demanded a apology from Health Secretary Sajid Javid after he told MPs last month the company's jab wouldn't be approved in the UK

Mr Javid (pictured today) told MPs in September that the Valneva jab wouldn't get approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency but later corrected his comments to state the vaccine 'has not yet gained' clearance

Valneva says its jab triggers a stronger immune response than AstraZeneca's Valneva says its vaccine produced a stronger antibody response than AstraZeneca's rival jab when trialled on thousands of Britons. It also induced a strong T-cell response and triggered few side effects. No serious cases of Covid were spotted among recipients given the jab. Ministers last month pulled out of its 1.2billion deal for 190m doses of the vaccine citing a 'breach of obligations'. Valneva 'strenuously' denied the accusation. Health Secretary Sajid Javid later said the contract was cancelled over 'commercial reasons' and because the jab would not have been approved by the UK's medicines watchdog. But Professor Adam Finn, trial chief investigator and member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises No10 on the vaccine rollout, said the results suggest the jab 'is on track to play an important role in overcoming the pandemic'. And he said Valneva is 'cautiously optimistic' the vaccine will be approved in the UK by the end of the year, and it is not clear why Mr Javid said it would not be. The biotech firm has been manufacturing the vaccine at its plant in Livingston, West Lothian, which Boris Johnson visited in January. Advertisement

'A lot of people had lost confidence in our vaccine following the Health Secretarys comments in Parliament,' he said.

'We had to do a lot of work to restore confidence in the vaccine.'

Mr Lawrence said the Health Secretary was 'very clearly wrong' to state the vaccine would not secure approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

'We would love to hear an apology from him,' Mr Lawrence added.

'The damage he did to our company and our commercial discussions was quite significant and were still awaiting an apology for those remarks.'

He said: 'We havent ruled out any of our options yet.'

Mr Javid originally told MPs the company 'would not get approval' by the regulator, but later amended Hansard, the official parliamentary record, to state the vaccine 'has not yet gained' clearance.

Asked for its response to Mr Lawrences comments, and whether an apology would be forthcoming, the Department of Health and Social Care said: 'Clinical trials for the Valneva candidate vaccine have not yet been completed.'

'As such, our independent medicines regulator  the MHRA  has not approved the Valneva candidate vaccine for use in the UK.'

Ministers last month pulled out of a 1.2billion deal for 190million doses of the Valneva vaccine citing a 'breach of obligations'.

The company has 'strenuously' denied the accusations.

Mr Javid later said the contract was cancelled over 'commercial reasons' and because the jab would not have been approved by the UK's medicines watchdog.

Results from Valneva vaccine trails have been promising with the company reporting last month that its jab produced a stronger antibody response than the Oxford-AstraZeneca's jab when trialled on thousands of Britons.

Valneva's factory in Livingston, Scotland which produces some of the company's already approved vaccines was visited by Boris Johnson in January before the pharmaceutical firm and the government fell out

It also induced a strong T-cell response and triggered few side effects. No serious cases of Covid were spotted among recipients given the jab.

The Cov-Compare trial involved 4,012 18 to 55-year-olds across the UK who were given Covid vaccines in two doses four weeks apart.

Around two-thirds were given the French-made injection, while the others were given AstraZeneca.

Blood samples were taken from participants two weeks after their second jab.

When releasing the results , Valneva said its vaccine 'demonstrated superiority' over AstraZeneca by triggering 39 per cent more neutralising antibodies.

The company said its vaccine induced broad T-cell responses, a part of the immune system believed to be involved in long-term immunity.

The side effects from the injection were 'significantly more favourable' that the comparator vaccine, with less people reporting a sore arm and other reactions.

Around one in 10 people will suffer from side effects after the AstraZeneca jab, such as a sore arm, tiredness and headache.

The number of Covid cases were similar between those given AstraZeneca or Valneva, suggesting they were just as effective.

And the 'complete absence' of any severe Covid cases in the group suggest both vaccines offer protection against currently circulating variants, the company said.

Under an agreement with the MHRA Valneva has to prove its vaccine is more effective than the currently approved Oxford-AstraZeneca.

This graph shows the antibody levels  known scientifically as the geometric mean titre (GMT)  triggered by Valneva's vaccine (left), compared to AstraZeneca's jab (right) on day one (dark blue bar) and two weeks after the second dose is administered (light blue bar). Trials of 4,012 Britons found the French-made vaccine on average produced 39 per cent more antibodies among those who received it than those injected with AstraZeneca
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is maintaining its position in a patent dispute over Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine - and may be prepared to take legal action if necessary.

'Clearly this is something that legal authorities are going to have to figure out,' NIH director Dr Francis Collins said in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday.

After a years-long collaboration on the technology underlying Moderna's Covid vaccine, the NIH and the company disagree on whether NIH scientists should be included as co-inventors on the technology's patent.

A potential legal battle could end in the U.S. government taking ownership of the vaccine and selling it to manufacturers in other countries, thus increasing global vaccine supply.

Dr Francis Collins, director of the NIH, maintains that NIH scientists have a claim to inventing Moderna's Covid vaccine. Pictured: Collins holds up a model of the coronavirus as he testifies on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, May 2021

Moderna maintains that only its own scientists were involved in inventing the vaccine. Pictured: Vials of Moderna's vaccine, photographed at a clinic in Connecticut, April 2021

For years prior to the Covid pandemic, NIH scientists worked with Moderna on developing potential messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.

The company - which had not brought a commercial product to market prior to 2020 - received billions of dollars in funding from the federal government for vaccine research and production.

This includes about $1.4 billion to develop and test the vaccine and $8.1 billion to provide the U.S. government with millions of doses.

mRNA, a type of genetic material, can be used to teach the human immune system how to respond to a particular virus.

Before the pandemic, NIH scientists helped Moderna with addressing key challenges of mRNA vaccines.

Three NIH scientists at the Vaccine Research Center were particularly crucial to the collaboration, the agency has said.

According to the agency, these scientists - Dr John Mascola, Dr Barney Graham and Dr Kizzmekia Corbett - worked on key aspects of the vaccine's design, including identifying the genetic material for the coronavirus' spike protein.

And these scientists should be named on Moderna's patent application for the vaccine technology, the NIH says.

Yet Moderna maintains that only its own scientists should be listed as inventors of the vaccine.

This dispute - first reported by the New York Times on Tuesday - has garnered national attention, as the vaccine's ownership could have global ramifications.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Collins made it clear that the agency is not backing down.

Moderna has made over $15 billion from vaccine sales in 2021, and is set to make even more next year. Pictured: Moderna's headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, May 2020

'I think Moderna has made a serious mistake here in not providing the kind of co-inventorship credit to people who played a major role in the development of the vaccine that they're now making a fair amount of money off of,' Collins told Reuters.

Indeed, Moderna anticipates that it will make over $15 billion in sales from its Covid vaccine this year, and over $20 billion in 2022.

The company's founders and CEO have become billionaires during the pandemic.

For over a year, NIH has been working with Moderna to resolve the dispute - yet Moderna filed a patent application earlier in 2021 which only listed its own scientists.

'But we are not done,' Collins told Reuters. '

'Clearly this is something that legal authorities are going to have to figure out.'

Collins was referring to government authorities when he said 'legal authorities,' a NIH spokesperson told the New York Times.

Still, the NIH director's statements make clear that the agency is prepared to take further action in order to preserve its claim over the vaccine.

'It's not a good idea to file a patent when you leave out important inventors, and so this is going to get sorted as people look harder at this,' Collins told Reuters.

'I did not expect that to be the outcome from what had been a very friendly, collaborative effort between scientists at NIH and Moderna over many years.'

Moderna responded to the comments in a statement emailed to Reuters, reiterating the company's claim that NIH scientists were not co-inventors of the vaccine.

'We do not agree that NIAID scientists co-invented claims to the mRNA-1273 sequence itself. Only Moderna's scientists came up with the sequence for the mRNA used in our vaccine,' Moderna's statement said.

If NIH scientists are listed on the patent - or if a court eventually decides that the federal agency has a claim to the vaccine - the government could licence the vaccine to manufacturers in other countries.

Such licensing would increase supplies of Moderna's vaccine around the world.

Currently, Moderna maintains full control of its vaccine production and primarily sells doses to wealthy nations.

NIH could also make money from licensing the patent, to potentially fund further research.
Health officials in Germany are warning young people not to get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine due to the risk of rare heart inflammation.

The German Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) said on Wednesday that people under age 30 who receive the Moderna jab are at an increased risk of developing myocarditis, and instead recommend opting for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

The same recommendation was made for pregnant women in Germany as well.

Data from the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), a German medical regulator body, shows the increased risk of heart inflammation is more than doubled among Moderna recipients.

Germany is now the seventh European nation to take this type of action due to concerns about the jab's side effects in young adults.

Germany's advisory committee has recommended people under age 30 not get the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine (pictured), and instead opt for the Pfizer jab. Six other European nations have taken similar action in recent weeks

Concerns about the Moderna vaccine causing myocarditis, and particularly in young males, have been raised worldwide in recent weeks. Pictured: A boy in Kiel, Germany, received a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine on August 19, 2021

The PEI data found 11.71 out of every 100,000 men aged 29 or younger who receive the Moderna jab develop heart inflammation.

For comparison, less than half of that, 4.81 out of every 100,000 men that age, develop heart inflammation after receiving the Pfizer vaccine.

The recommendation by STIKO is not binding - and anyone who wants to can still receive the Moderna vaccine - but it carries enough weight in the nation to deter younger people from getting that shot.

Many European countries are beginning to lose confidence in the Moderna jab's safety in younger people.

Last month, Swedish health officials reviewed data finding the shot causes an increased risk of heart inflammation.

In response, they suspended use of the shot in anyone born after 1990.

The data from Sweden has not been published, but officials note the risk of heart inflammation from the Moderna shot is still very low.

The Swedish decision set off a chain across Scandinavia.

Denmark followed Sweden's lead shortly after, and stopped offering the jab to anyone under the age of 18.

Finland was next, with health officials in the Nordic nation deciding they would no longer offer the Moderna vaccine to males under the age of 30.

Iceland took the most drastic action, suspending all use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in the small island nation.

Norweigan and French officials also reviewed the same data, and agreed that younger people should receive the Pfizer vaccine instead.

Like Germany, the countries did not suspend use of the jab, but instead just made a recommendation.

A Moderna spokesperson responded to the restrictions on the company's vaccine in an email to Reuters last month.

'These are typically mild cases and individuals tend to recover within a short time following standard treatment and rest,' they wrote.

'The risk of myocarditis is substantially increased for those who contract COVID-19, and vaccination is the best way to protect against this.'

Myocarditis has long been acknowledged by American health officials as a common, but sometimes significant, side effect of the vaccine.

In June, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning that young males were at an increased risk of myocarditis after receiving the vaccine.

Last month, data on the Moderna vaccine's likelihood to cause heart inflammation was presented to a CDC advisory panel.

Males under the age of 29 who receive the Pfizer (left) or Moderna (right) vaccine are at an increased risk of developing myocarditis after the second dose

Females do not share the same risk of developing heart inflammation as males do, even among the younger age groups

Researchers found that in both males and females, the risk of myocarditis is higher in people that receive the Moderna vaccine than the Pfizer. There are approximately 13.3 excess cases of heart inflammation per every one million shots of the Moderna vaccine than there are of the Pfizer shot

The presentation showed that males were much more likely to develop the condition than females - with those aged 18 to 24 at most risk, and the 25 to 29 group at risk as well.

The second dose of the vaccine is also the one that usually causes the condition.

Myocarditis risk falls off after age 30, though.

Despite this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stands by its authorization of the Moderna vaccine, as the risk of developing myocarditis from the jab still remains lower than it does from Covid itself.

The vaccine has been administered 165 million times in the U.S., the second most of the three available jabs in America.

A study last month from Kaiser Permanente Southern California found that around seven out of every one million people that receive a two-shot COVID-19 vaccine will develop myocarditis.

The same study found that 47.5 out of every one million Covid patients experience heart inflammation.

People who receive the Covid vaccine are seven times as likely to develop heart inflamation after the second dose of the jab when compared to the first, finds a recent study by KPSC. Those who are unvaccinated are significantly more likely to develop myocarditis, however

While myocarditis will often resolve itself, it can be dangerous.

Heart inflammation can often lead to fatigue, shortness of breath and chest pain for patients.

People with inflamed hearts are at a higher risk for heart failure, heart attacks and strokes.

Attempting strenuous physical activity with an inflamed heart could also potentially lead to sudden cardiac arrest, or even death.
MEMOIR

TROUBLE BREWING IN THE LOIRE

by Tommy Barnes (Muswell Press 12.99, 234 pp)

What does the future hold when you didnt quite make it as a stand-up comedian and youve just been made redundant as a graphic designer? Six years ago Tommy Barnes decided to move to a small village in the Loire valley to become a microbrewer.

Thats right, in a part of France that is renowned the world over for its wines, he decided to make beer.

He bought a small brewery from a man in Wales, as you do, and set it up in a scruffy, cobwebbed outbuilding at the home he shared with his wife, Rose, small son, Albert, and a menagerie of animals that wouldnt look out of place in a particularly eccentric episode of All Creatures Great And Small.

Tommy Barnes, who moved to a small village in the Loire valley to become a microbrewer six years ago has penned a book about the challenges of his profession (file image)

Trouble Brewing In The Loire is the follow-up to an earlier book, A Beer In The Loire. As you might guess from the title, Tommys new career is not going entirely well. Luckily, as we know from Clarksons Farm, chaos and failure are nearly always more entertaining than success.

Even Tommys rare successes are chaotic. He decides to make a new, ruddy-coloured beer, Sang de Braslou (Braslou is his home village). He starts the brewing process, but then gets a call from the village mayor to say that Twinkle, the familys miniature goat, has escaped and taken refuge in the mairie.

Tommy, the mayor, and the mayors secretary attempt to catch Twinkle, helped by a growing crowd. Eventually there are 15 people pursuing one small goat, who is eventually cornered in a neighbours garage. By some miracle, Tommy gets home just in time to start the next part of the brewing process.

There is a steady but small trade in Braslou beer at local markets, but Tommy begins to struggle financially. His bottle supplier is threatening to send the bailiffs in, and as if that werent enough his beer begins to taste sour.

TROUBLE BREWING IN THE LOIRE by Tommy Barnes (Muswell Press 12.99, 234 pp)

On the advice of a neighbouring micro-brewer, he improves his cleaning regime (all his neighbours, even rival brewers, are a wonderful advertisement for Anglo-French relations) and there is such an improvement that hypermarkets and a local hotel begin to take interest.

And then comes Le Containment, which is French for lockdown.

Tommy starts a home delivery service and gets some help from the government, but the family  who now have a baby daughter  are really struggling.

It is at this point that the book becomes a little darker. Tommy begins to feel that his ramshackle brewery, so unlike the neat and tidy operation of his friend, Benoit, is a reflection of his personality. It was sad and broken and ashamed of itself and there was no care to it, he says. No order. No care taken. No love given to it.

It is Rose who eventually puts the family out of its misery. She says shes had enough of struggling in the Loire, and wants to move to Cornwall to be near her parents.

On the upside, it should be much easier to sell beer in Cornwall. And if its not, well, at least there should be enough material for a third book.
WALLIS IN LOVE by Andrew Morton (Michael OMara 9.99, 400 pp)

WALLIS IN LOVE

by Andrew Morton (Michael OMara 9.99, 400 pp)

She was the American divorcee who cost a King his throne and caused an irreparable rift within the Royal Family. But the story of Wallis Simpson has usually been told from a British perspective.

Walliss own journey is less well known. By the time she met Edward, then a bored, unhappy 37-year-old Prince of Wales with a penchant for affairs with married women, Wallis was a woman with a steely ability to rewrite her own story.

Royal biographer Andrew Morton explores the character behind the couture clothes and rigidly lacquered hair. The result is a portrait of an enigmatic and difficult woman, who almost certainly did the Royal Family a favour when Edward renounced his throne for love of her.

LIFE SUPPORT by Jim Down (Viking 9.99, 240 pp)

LIFE SUPPORT

by Jim Down (Viking 9.99, 240 pp)

During lockdown, people showed their gratitude to the NHS by clapping for carers. But what was the daily experience of the doctors and nurses on the front line of the Covid crisis?

Dr Jim Down is a critical care consultant at University College Hospital in central London and his remarkable book documents his and his colleagues experience of work during the pandemic. He outlines the uncertainty in March 2020 of trying to plan for a surge of admissions, while outside life continued as normal.

As more desperately sick people began to arrive at the unit, Jim describes the decisions his team had to make at high speed, the tragedy of losing patients and the exhilaration when very unwell individuals responded to innovative treatment. Humane and deeply moving, Jims book questions the future of healthcare in Britain.

THE WESTERN FRONT

THE WESTERN FRONT by Nick Lloyd (Penguin 12.99, 688 pp)

by Nick Lloyd (Penguin 12.99, 688 pp)

Although the Great War has passed from living memory into history, its carnage remains unforgettable.

Nick Lloyds history of the Western Front, where the majority of British soldiers fell, opens with the declaration of war, ending with the signing of the Armistice and the German Kaisers humiliating renunciation of his imperial throne.

Chronicling the problems of waging war on an industrial scale never experienced before, amid fast-moving technological innovation encompassing horses, tanks and aircraft, Lloyd offers penetrating insights into the minds of the senior commanders of the French, British, American and German armies.

His readable history is the first of a trilogy, whose later volumes will consider the Eastern Front and the war in other theatres, such as the Middle East.
Avivas army of half a million small investors could be in line for a bonus dividend payment next year as it looks to return billions to shareholders.

The FTSE 100 insurance giant is in the process of distributing 4billion to investors following the sale of its international businesses that were considered excess fat.

So far this is being done in the form of a 750million share buyback. But the Mail can reveal Aviva is planning a special dividend, which will go straight into small shareholders pockets.

Feeling flush: Aviva has accumulated 7.5bn in excess cash after selling off eight businesses under chief executive Amanda Blanc (pictured)

It is not known how much the special dividend is worth but once the buyback is complete, Aviva still has 3.25billion in the pot to redistribute.

Neil Wilson, an analyst at Markets.com, said: Share buybacks help boost the share price but dividends go straight into the small investors pockets. Every ordinary investor wants a special dividend.

Aviva has one of the largest small shareholder bases on the FTSE 100 after it merged with Norwich Union in 2000.

At the time Norwich Union had an astonishing 2.1m retail investors having previously been a mutual with members who were handed shares when it listed on the stock market three years before the tie-up with Aviva.

More than a quarter of them  over 500,000  still own shares in Aviva.

A spokesman said: We are delivering our commitment to return at least 4billion of capital to shareholders, with 450million of the 750million share buyback already successfully completed.

A number of different options are being considered, including a special dividend. Further details will be provided at the full year results in March 2022.

Aviva has accumulated 7.5billion in excess cash after selling eight businesses under chief executive Amanda Blanc.

Blanc joined in July last year and has spent the time streamlining the insurer and focusing the business on the UK, Ireland and Canada.

But she has come under pressure of late after hedge fund Cevian snapped up a 5 per cent stake in June. Cevian, whose boss Christer Gardell has been dubbed the Butcher, has called for the return of 5billion of excess cash to shareholders by next year.

Under Blanc, Aviva has been on a roll and in the first nine months this year, it attracted record inflows into its savings and retirement division of 7.3billion, a 1.3billion increase on the previous year.

The spokesman for the insurance group said: We have seen an uptick in the savings and retirement division as customers saved more cash during the pandemic. People are living longer, they need to save more for retirement.
Hyundai's autonomous electric flying taxi will make its first passenger flight in 2028, with the Korean car maker announcing an entire new brand that will lead its project.

It has launched a new company called Supernal, based in the US, and will look to launch a ride-hailing service using the vehicles during the 2030s.

Back in June, bosses at the auto firm said flying cars will be 'part of our future' and will help to reduce congestion on roads.

Flying electric taxis are coming: Hyundai's has announced a new brand to spearhead its eVTOL ride hailing project. Called Supernal, it will look to launch the maiden passenger flight in 2028

The company is developing a family of electric air vehicles, which are likely to be based on the S-A1 concept Hyundai first revealed in 2020.

It is an eVTOL, which means it is an electric-powered vehicle that is capable of vertical take-off and landing - similar to the Harrier Jump Jet used by the RAF from 1969 to 2010.

S-A1 will be 100 per cent electric, utilising distributed electric propulsion and during peak hours will require about five to seven minutes for recharging.

The electric source powers rotors and propellers around the airframe to increase safety by decreasing any single point of failure.

Having several, smaller rotors also reduces noise relative to large rotor helicopters with combustion engines, which is very important to cities.

The S-A1 can be piloted but Hyundai - and partner for the concept, Uber - originally said they wanted the air taxis to be autonomous.

The cabin is designed with four passenger seats, allowing riders to board and disembark easily and avoid the dreaded middle seat with enough space for a personal bag or backpack.

The S-A1 eVTOL was first revealed in conjunction with Uber at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in 2020. 'VTOL' means it is capable of vertical take-off and landing

Hyundai in 2019 pledged to invest 1.8 trillion won ($1.5billion) in what it called 'urban air mobility' by 2025

A landing pad design revealed by Hyundai in 2019 for use by its S-A1 flying taxi that's being co-developed with ride hailing giant, Uber

Not seen as a replacement for a commercial planes, the vehicles will specifically be used for 'urban and urban-adjacent routes', flying short distances between pop-up airports in and around cities.

It is designed to fly on trips of up to 60 miles and has a cruising speed of up to 180mph and can be used at altitudes between 1,000 to 2,000 feet.

It is aiming for its first vehicle to receive US certification by 2024 - and first commercial flight some four years later.

Announcing the creation of the new brand this week, Jaiwon Shin, chief executive of Supernal and president of Hyundai Motor Group, said: 'In adding a new dimension to mobility, we are on a mission to transform how people and society move, connect, and live.

'We have bold ambitions at Supernal but being first to market is not one of them.

'We are working to build the right product and the right integrated market, and we will leverage Hyundai Motor Group's scaled manufacturing expertise to ensure AAM reaches the right price point and is accessible to the masses.'

Supernal will look to work alongside partners to ramp-up efforts to commercialise flying taxis by the 2030s

The concept vehicle revealed in 2020 is designed for a cruising speed up to 180mph flying at an altitude of around 1,000 to 2,000 feet above ground

Part of Supernal's wider objective is to not only develop eVTOL vehicles but work with private and public stakeholders to bring Advanced Air Mobility technology to the market.

Earlier this year, Hyundai partnered with UK start-up Urban-Air Port, which plans to open its eVTOL landing hub - called 'Air-One' - in Coventry next year.

Experts say the so-called 'urban air mobility' revolution is estimated to be worth almost 1trillion over the next 20 years as companies and authorities invest in eVTOL aircraft and the infrastructure required.

Ben Diachun, Chief Technology Officer, at Supernal, explained: 'We're developing a commercially viable Advanced Air Mobility product from the start, designing and manufacturing our vehicle to the highest safety, noise, efficiency, and affordability standards.

'Our growing team, which includes veterans of aerospace, automotive, and other deep-tech industries, is engineering sustainable vehicles that have the potential to evolve how we live, work, and play. '

The front seat is for the pilot if needed, though both Uber and Hyundai are in agreement that it wants to create autonomous air taxis in the future

Flight hailing: The S-A1 concept electric air taxi isn't designed to replace short- or long-haul air travel, providing only short journeys between cities

A model of the Hyundai and Uber Elevate urban air taxi concept S-A1 was displayed during the Hyundai press conference at the 2020 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas

Vertical take off and landing means the S-A1 would be able to collect people from a variety of locations

Plans for pop-up airport for flying taxis in Coventry revealed earlier this year

British firm Urban Air Port and Hyundai in January revealed plans for the world's first pop-up mobile airport for flying vehicles located in the heart of the West Midlands city, which it said could be completed by 'early 2022'.

Called Air-One, it can be installed in a matter of days and is set to become the smallest airport ever.

It has been designed with ultra-compact dimensions so it can be implemented in towns and cities to allow electric air taxis and drones to land and charge their batteries.

Designers say the temporary sites will help to 'reduce congestion, cut air pollution, and contribute to a zero-carbon future'.

The Air-One pop-up airport is planned to be located in a former overflow car park on the other side of the A444 next to the Ricoh Arena 32,609-seater stadium

The airport itself has a landing pad that's 14 metres in diameter that, when a vehicle touches down on it, drops into a hanger where it can be charged or take on passengers

Coventry City Council and MPs backed the proposals for the zero-emissions airport, which will be located next to the city's Ricoh Arena, with the project receiving a 1.2million government grant.

Air-One can be operated off-grid and can also be integrated with electric vehicles and sustainable public transport, the group of UK based design and 'deeptech' companies behind it claim.

As well as taking just days to put up, the design allows the airport to be easily dismantled and moved to alternative sites, as the air-mobility sector develops.

The Coventry site is designed to be located in a former overflow car park off the A444 next to the Ricoh Arena 32,609-seater stadium.

The airport itself has a landing pad that's 14 metres in diameter. That's bigger than a traditional helipad, so means it can accommodate helicopters and all eVTOLs.

It features an elevated platform. Once a vehicle has landed on it, the pad then moves down into the hanger.

Vehicles can then be pushed to different parts of the site, where they can be charged, cleaned, checked over for maintenance purposes and take on passengers.

There's also a small lit runway.

Designers say the integrated hanger could also feature a book shop or a cafe.

During the unveiling of the plans for the Coventry site earlier this year, Pamela Cohn, chief operating officer for the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group, said: 'As we advance our eVTOL aircraft programme, development of supporting infrastructure is imperative.

Coventry's pop-up airport for flying cars, air taxis and delivery drones: The West Midlands city is set to be the first in the world to get a new site specifically designed for electric flying vehicles to land, charge and pick up passengers

'Air-One is a unique project that is set to help lead the way in developing a robust, accessible and intermodal infrastructure network for future mobility.

'We are excited to be part of this partnership in the UK and look forward to working together to create community impact and opportunity through safe, affordable, and human-centred mobility solutions.'

The airport  which is around 60 per cent smaller than a conventional heliport - will be the first of more than 200 zero emission sites Urban Air Port plans to install worldwide over the next five years.

Initially, the Coventry site will be used to help the public understand the new technology, with Malloy Aeronautics, a UK-based drone developer, demonstrating the use of large cargo drones at the airport.

As well as providing solutions for reducing congestion and emissions in urban environments, the design has been developed with disaster emergency management in mind.

The airports will become a hub for rapid deployment drones and eVTOLs that, when called upon, can quickly collect and transport emergency supplies, equipment and people where needed.
Robert MacLeod, chief executive of Johnson Matthey (JM), has been striving for some time to convince shareholders that when its big earning catalytic converter tips over a precipice, investment in a key chemical for batteries would take up the slack.

As Cop 26 winds down in Glasgow, Johnson Matthey admits it is dumping its investment in complex compounds for EV fuel cells, as well as MacLeod.

The spin is that the two events are unconnected. But everyone who has been indoctrinated with JMs greenwash will have a contrary view.

Out of juice: As Cop-26 winds down in Glasgow, Johnson Matthey admits it is dumping its investment in complex compounds for EV fuel cells as well as MacLeod

In an update just six months ago, MacLeod was telling the world that an agreement with Russian counterpart Nornickel was an important milestone on our journey to developing a sustainable battery ecosystem. More accurately, he might have described it as a journey to nowhere.

The broader significance of JMs decision to pull the plug on Elno, created from nickel, cobalt and lithium to be deployed in the cathodes for advanced batteries, is that it is extraordinarily hard for even a market leader in current car technology to get traction in electric vehicles.

The Government can talk until it is green in the gills about the UKs carbon-free future. But when it comes to turning great new technologies into global opportunities, the UK is not even at the races.

The science may be brilliant, but if you are competing with behemoths such as Chinas 190billion Contemporary Amperex Technology, which is focusing on European markets, UK companies will struggle to compete.

The big question for Johnson Matthey is what comes next. MacLeod seems to think the fresh frontier is hydrogen.

One wonders if JM has noticed that a far larger British outfit Ineos has moved into this space, as have the UK oil majors.

Car maker Toyota has been running a fleet of experimental hydrogen cars in Tokyo for years. Why JM should think it has capacity to compete in this space defies analysis.

What JM does have is a reputation for remaking itself over a 204-year history in which it engaged in everything from banking (a disaster) to gold and other metal trading.

It still has core skills in nickel and other key rare metals. MacLeods replacement Liam Condon, transferred from rival Bayer, draws the short straw of weaning the group onto greener technologies.

It would be a tragedy if a valuable climate change experiment were to render one of Britains oldest industrial groups vulnerable to an overseas or private equity bid. But after a 19 per cent thumping for the share price anything goes.

Extra special

Amanda Blanc moved with noteworthy speed to reshape Aviva after taking the helm at Britains largest insurer 15 months ago.

It has not been an easy ride, with Swedish hedge fund Cevian snapping at her heels demanding ever faster action on disposals and cost cutting. Proceeds from the latest piece of the sales programme, the 1.7billion Polish transfer, have still to arrive.

Once it has all happened, there should be between 4billion to 5billion of excess funds of which some 750m has already been committed in share buybacks.

So what to do with the cash? Big battalion investors prefer buybacks for tax reasons. It is easily forgotten that Aviva has an unusually large base of 500,000 private investors, remnants of the merger with demutualised Norwich Union in 2000. Buybacks are fine but can take years to accrue value.

Smaller investors generally prefer cash in hand through a special dividend, and Aviva is very conscious of that.

Followers of the LV saga ought to be more than aware that if the 1.2m policyholders vanish into the jaws of Bain Capital, it will be private equity barons and their investors who will pocket most of the uplift in value rather than a broader group of stakeholders.

The savings stampede during the pandemic saw net flows into Avivas investment products soar by 21 per cent.

Blanc is earmarking some of the overflowing resources to push deeper into financial advice. Transforming acquisitions is not on the cards. But never say never.

Electric force

Aim-quoted newcomer Saietta is turning the tables on Beijing. The maker of electric engines for scooters and the like has snapped up Chinas e-Traction from the fast-dismembering Evergrande empire for a modest 1.7million.

Nice to see two-way traffic speeding down the cycle lanes.
The democratisation of finance has been one of the key investment narratives of the last year, as investors flock to DIY platforms and apps with a big appetite for growth shares.

But while investors may want a slice of the tech sector, by the time many exciting companies come to list on the stock market they may have missed out on some of their most explosive growth periods.

Venture capital trusts, however, are an opportunity for investors to back companies at their earliest stages and get the benefit of some tasty tax breaks, including 30 per cent income tax relief.

The tax breaks reflect that this is high risk investing though. And for every successful name, such as Depop or Cazoo - two firms held by popular VCT Octopus Titan, there are many others that don't make it.

Titan VCT invested in Depop's Series B round back in 2018 and exited earlier this year after it was sold to Etsy

VCTs are publicly listed companies which raise money to invest in young, usually privately-owned companies not listed on the stock market.

Investors can claim up to 30 per cent income tax relief on the amount they have invested in a VCT, provided they hold the investment for at least five years.

British start-ups, Depop, recently bought by Etsy for $1.6billion, and Cazoo, which listed in the US this year, are often held up as examples of how well VCT investment works.

Both achieved valuations of more than $1billion while still unlisted, earning them the label of 'unicorns'.

And both companies were also backed by Titan VCT, which has become the poster child of mainstream venture capital investing.

Two other portfolio companies - Zoopla and pet insurtech company Bought By Many - have also in the past racked up the coveted unicorn status.

Part of Octopus Ventures and the largest VCT in the UK, Titan VCT is now opening for new investment.

Fund manager Jo Oliver speaks to This Is Money about why the UK is a good place to invest, how the fund has nurtured its small herd of unicorns and why not all centure capital investments go to plan.

Star investment wins have boosted Titan's returns

Titan is the UKs largest VCT with an investment mandate to invest in hyper growth, early stage tech and tech-enabled businesses.

It has a portfolio of 92 companies, spread across its five specialist areas: consumer, health, fintech, deeptech and B2B software.

This broad spread helped total revenues across the portfolio increase by 126 per cent from 2019 to the end of 2020, while its top 10 holdings by value saw revenue growth of 179 per cent.

We deliberately picked big [sectors] because we didnt want to become a specialist fund where youre at risk, frankly, of picking the wrong sector and/or being exposed to a sector cycle and seeing returns go up and down over a five or three year period, says manager Jo Oliver.

Its one of the advantages of VCTs generally and Titan given that evergreen nature you can take a slightly longer term view on the return timings.

Titan VCT fund manager Jo Oliver shares how the trust has reported strong returns this year

Indeed, Titan has proved the model can work to provide returns for its shareholders - in the 12 months to 30 June the fund delivered 32.9 per cent total returns after a string of large exits.

These included Etsys $1.6billion acquisition of Depop, Snaps $500million plus acquisition of WaveOptics, and Carlyle Groups acquisition of funds network Calastone.

This is on top of the $7billion plus listing of used-car company Cazoo, which Titan VCT was an early investor in and still held most of its original shareholding at listing. DMG Media's venture capital arm DMG Ventures was also a major early Cazoo investor.

Titan has also had a number of smaller but material exits over the course of 2021, which should generate over 200million of cash proceeds back into the fund.

How early stage investing can pay off

How to invest in a VCT VCTs raise funds periodically by issuing new shares through an offer for subscription. Investors can buy shares in new offers through a specialist broker like Wealth Club, or invest directly through an online discount broker or financial adviser. As VCTs are listed companies, investors can also buy shares on the open market through a broker. But it is vital to realise that second-hand VCT shares do not offer the same upfront income tax relief that is available with new shares. Investors can still take advantage of any tax-free income and growth. Last month Titan VCT launched its 125million fundraise, which will be open until 20 October 2022 but may close earlier if fully subscribed. The minimum investment is 3,000 while the maximum investment qualifying for tax relief is 200,000. Dividends paid from VCTs are tax free, which can make them an attractive source of income, particularly for higher rate taxpayers. Octopus is unusual as it offers an ISA wrapper on its VCTs, which lets investors transfer any existing ISA funds (from previous tax years of 2020/2021 or prior) to a new Titan VCT VCT ISA.

These large exits are partly a result of companies staying private for longer.

The nature of VC investing means just a fraction of the portfolio will achieve success while the others will simply fail, making it a higher risk investment.

However, if you manage to invest in one of these success stories and they stay private for a long period, you could enjoy strong returns.

For VCT investors, all returns tend to be paid out as dividends.

Titan invested 8.76million into Depop in 2018 and 2019 and then received 97.36million exit proceeds when it was acquired in June.

It has consistently paid out 5 pence per annum in dividends and following its string of exits this year it will pay a special dividend of 6 pence, bringing the total to 11 pence for 2021.

Most of the returns from VCTs come from dividends paid out rather than share price growth.

Typically the businesses that are really successful continue to be really successful and you get a compounding effect if you can keep them longer you will get compounding returns in the VCTs, says Oliver.

UK entrepreneurs for a combination of reasons have been possibly selling out a little bit early, so the ability to maintain yourselves privately for your winners should enhance returns.

Now investors have the opportunity to get a seat at the table with Titans new 125million fund raise, which opened last month.

It is likely to garner a lot of interest given the funds recent performance, and the opportunity to invest in the next unicorn is a compelling one.

But investors must also remember that many VCT investments won't become unicorns or even go on to be successful and that returns for funds and their investors can be lumpy if things don't pay off.

Despite their higher risk nature, VCTs have become much more of a mainstream investment product.

The total invested in VCTs has risen from around 350million annually a decade ago to 685million a year, data from the Association of Investment Companies data shows.

While a main driver has been changes to pension rules, managers have reported VCT investors are getting younger. Many are indubitably attracted both to the tax relief on offer but trusts' backing of unlisted early-stage companies is also becoming more interesting.

The average age of investors across Octopus VCTs is 56.

As we emerge from the pandemic, however, how will Titans investment priorities change and will there be one sector which could outperform the others?

Were probably going to have a broadly even spread across these areas over the next 12 to 18 months, and thats in part because we want diversification and in part because we see great opportunities in each of the sectors, Oliver says.

That said, the team is keen to invest more in deep tech, which covers everything from AI to quantum computing.

It has already secured an exit in the sector after selling augmented reality company WaveOptics to Snapchat owner Snap.

Deep tech is an area that actually the UK excels in for a range of reasons. Its got an amazing pedigree historically its got amazing talent across its universities as well and that has spawned out into amazing success in lots of different areas, whether thats drones or AI or quantum computing or robotics, he says.

But it is an area which is probably under capitalised versus the opportunity. That goes in part, at least, back to the fact that you have to be a patient investor in deep tech and you need to have a lot of expertise to really understand what youre investing in.

What is Titans secret to the success rate?

Not all portfolio companies are going to be the next big thing but its clear Titan VCT has a strong success rate.

Names like Cazoo and Depop may make headlines but Oliver and his team have also overseen sizable follow-on funding rounds this year, such as pet insurtech business Bought By Many which is now valued at $2billion.

Oliver also tips digital addiction treatment company QuitGenius to be the next unicorn in the portfolio.

When we look at an investment opportunity, were really asking ourselves, does this have the ability to grow into a business worth billions of pounds and the number of businesses that are out there that can achieve that and have achieved that have grown by an order of magnitude over the last 10 years or so, says Oliver.

Titan VCT backed Zoopla and Lovefilm founder Alex Chesterman more than a decade ago before backing Cazoo in November 2018

But what is its secret when it comes to picking out and nurturing businesses to reach unicorn status and beyond?

Where diversification has been key for returns, its go-to specialists in each of the five areas has been transformational for its portfolio companies, according to Oliver.

We have venture partners who are specialists in particular areas. If you break down a tech company it is fundamentally Have you got a good product? Can you sell it? Can you sell it well? Weve got an ex Paypal head of product who works for us and helps our companies finesse and optimise their product roadmaps.'

'Weve also got two go-to-market experts  who are helping businesses work out which markets they should be addressing, how they should be positioning their product, how they should organise their sales Ive sat on a few boards where Ive seen that input be absolutely transformational.

Titan VCT also has its own talent team of four, which focus solely on recruiting for its portfolio companies.

Typically focused on C-suite hires, it is a resource provided to all of its companies for free.

A lot of people have got great ideas but actually its not the idea that matters, its the execution of that idea that makes the difference taking a business from mediocre to a unicorn and maybe even a decacorn, worth tens of billions... its the people you can attract and retain.

The last piece of the puzzle is Titans support to help its portfolio companies efforts to crack America.

Through collective experience we recognise that actually having people on the ground in the US to help our companies understand the US market and all the nuances of it [is helpful], says Oliver.

Everyone thinks of the US as one market and actually its 50 or so smaller markets. [We help to] build up a network and a playbook of how and when - and when not to - enter the US. Building up introductions to potential customers and funders over there has been a very big part of how we add value to the portfolio.
BAE Systems has struck a deal to buy a software group that uses computer and virtual reality battlefield simulations to train soldiers.

The defence giant has taken over Bohemia Interactive Simulations, which is based in Florida and has 325 employees.

The US military is its biggest customer, but it has also worked with the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

War games: BAE Systems has taken over Florida-based software group Bohemia Interactive Simulations which uses computer and virtual reality simulations to train soldiers

The group says it can create and run any imaginable military training scenario on any type of terrain.

BAE did not say how much the deal would be worth but it will need to get the sign-off from regulators.

The FTSE 100 group already works in simulation training and in September it won MoD contracts to train Typhoon fighter jet pilots.

It is the companys latest move into the US, where last year it bought two firms for 1.7billion.

The takeover announcement came as fellow UK defence firm Qinetiq took a 14.5million writedown after it ran into a number of obstacles with a complex contract.
Burberry brought back its dividend as sales returned to pre-pandemic levels despite Covid restrictions hitting demand in parts of the world.

The British luxury fashion house will return 47.3million to shareholders through an 11.6p per share dividend and will buy back 150million of shares.

The company is also rolling out a new kind of store aimed at bringing in big-spending customers. It has opened 15 of the stores  with one on Londons Sloane Street  and will have 50 of them worldwide by the end of March.

Payouts: Burberry will return 47.3m to shareholders through an 11.6p per share dividend  above pre-pandemic levels  and will buy back 150m of shares

The London store features a gallery-like ground floor acting as a backdrop for its clothing collections.

As well as targeting the higher-spending customers with its new store design it is moving away from discount sales.

The expansion plans came as Burberry reported a 38 per cent rise in half-year revenues to 1.2billion with profits of 196million.

That was in the same region as the 1.3billion of revenues and 203million of profits it made in the six months before the pandemic.

Chairman Gerry Murphy hailed strong progress in the six months to September 25, with sales accelerating in countries with fewer Covid restrictions.

Burberry said growth over the six months in America, China and South Korea was up significantly.

China saw sales for the half year 30 per cent above their pre-pandemic levels  despite a knock from travel restrictions in August. In North and South America sales were up 38 per cent and in South Korea they were up 40 per cent.

But elsewhere it was hit hard by low tourist levels amid a resurgence of Covid including in Japan, which is still under heavy travel restrictions.

In Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa sales were 31 per cent below pre-pandemic levels. Tourists usually account for half of sales in these areas. Shares fell 5.4 per cent, or 105.5p, to 1861.5p.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said its recovery from the pandemic had been uneven because of difficulties in China and travel.

It is heavily reliant on Asian tourists buying items while travelling at airport stores or in fashion hotspots.

Mould said: With travel still restricted and some people reluctant to jet off in the same way they used to, this part of Burberrys business is really struggling.

Murphy thanked outgoing boss Marco Gobbetti for leading the companys transformation.

He said replacement Jonathan Akeroyd, 54, who was poached from Versace and will take over in April, would accelerate growth.

Akeroyd  who ran Alexander McQueen for 12 years before taking over at Versace in 2016  could scoop 11million in his first year in charge.
The return of international travel has put WH Smith on course to return to meaningful profit.

Chief executive Carl Cowling said yesterday the retailer has seen a significant improvement in trade since the start of its financial year in September.

There was a particular boom in travel around the October half-term and its travel stores  in airports and train stations  returned to 84 per cent of pre-Covid sales for the month.

Sales up: There was a particular boom in travel around the October half-term and WH Smith's travel stores  in airports and train stations  returned to 84% of pre-Covid sales for the month

This was boosted further by this weeks reopening of trans-atlantic flights between the US and the UK, Cowling said.

The boss of the 229-year-old retailer said the business was now well positioned for the future having racked up losses over the past two years.

Cowling said: We are now in a strong position to grow our business as our markets continue to recover, returning to meaningful profitability in the current financial year.

WH Smith has taken over 30 former Dixons Travel stores closed in UK airports this year.

It will operate them under its US In Motion brand and sell everything from iPads and bluetooth speakers to headphones and phone chargers.

The company is planning to open more than 100 stores worldwide including 58 in North America over the next three years.

AJ Bell analyst Danni Hewson said it is only fair Cowling should big up the business.

She said: It has been battered and the achingly slow return of passengers, both to airports and train stations, has meant the pain has lasted longer for WH Smiths than for many of its High Street compatriots.

Its travel business has always been the retailers crowning glory and the fact its poised to fill in some of the gaps left by Dixons Travel suggests this is a business with a sound, long-term strategy.

Cowling brushed off widely reported supply chain woes ahead of Christmas. WH Smiths in-store Christmas card sales are already running around a fifth higher than 2019, he said.

The upbeat outlook came after the retailer was hammered by travel restrictions in the year to August 31.

Travel shops make up 560 of its 1,365 stores worldwide. Its travel arm racked up losses of 39million in the year, more than the 33million loss it made in the previous 12 months.

The High Street stores and online business fared better but total annual losses across WH Smith totalled 55million compared with 69million a year earlier.

Analysts expect it to report a 70million profit in the current year.
A routine repair job has uncovered the 'discovery of a lifetime', revealing wall-to-wall Tudor paintings inspired by Nero's Golden Villa.

Calverley Old Hall, in North Yorkshire, is undergoing a major renovation programme funded by The Landmark Trust, which has owned the building and runs part of it as a holiday let since 1981.

The find was made in the bedroom of the 'unremarkable' parlour block, where the walls had been painted peach in the 1970s.

Behind the 19th-century plaster, a complete scheme of mid-16th century paintings was discovered, across three walls of the original chamber.

The Landmark Trust Director Anna Keay said: 'There, on all three walls before me, was a revelation.

'Floor to ceiling, wall to wall, a complete, highly decorated Tudor chamber, stripped with black and red and white and ochre. Mythical creatures and twining vines, classical columns and roaring griffins.'

A routine repair job has uncovered the 'discovery of a lifetime', revealing wall-to-wall Tudor paintings inspired by Nero's Golden Villa

Calverley Old Hall, in North Yorkshire, is undergoing a major renovation programme funded by The Landmark Trust , which has owned the building and runs part of it as a holiday let since 1981. The find was made in the bedroom of the 'unremarkable' parlour block, where the walls had been painted peach in the 1970s

To add to the excitement, the Calverley scheme is so-called Grotesque work, making it a great deal more sophisticated than almost any other surviving domestic wall paintings in the country.

Landmark Historian Caroline Stanford described the discovery as 'a time machine to the age of the Reformation and the Virgin Queen'.

She said: 'Suddenly, we are transported from a dusty, dilapidated building into the rich and cultured world of the Elizabethan Calverleys, a well-educated family keen to display their learning and wealth by demonstrating their appreciation of Renaissance culture.

'The Calverley paintings are very carefully planned, in a vertical design that uses the timber studwork as a framework.

A complete scheme of mid-16th century paintings were discovered across three walls of the original chamber

The Landmark Trust Director Anna Keay described the find of the mid-16th century paintings as a 'revelation'

A close-up of the 'floor to ceiling, wall to wall' paintings that have been discovered in the old house

Landmark Historian Caroline Stanford described the discovery as 'a time machine to the age of the Reformation and the Virgin Queen'

The remains of Nero's Domus Auerea, or Golden Villa, are seen in Rome

The remnants of the designs inside Nero's palace can still be seen by visitors today

'Teethed birds laugh in profile; the torsos of little men in triangular hats sit on vases or balustrades.'

The Grotesque style refers to the Italian word 'grotteschi', meaning 'from the grotto'.

In the 1480s, a young man exploring a hillside in Rome, tumbled down a cleft, falling into what he believed to be a grotto.

Exploring further by torchlight, he and his friends discovered not a grotto but the glittering interiors of Emperor Nero's buried Golden Villa, built in the 1st century CE.

So infamous was this emperor that his successors buried his summer palace, as part of their attempts to blot out the memories of his excesses.

The wonder can be visited today in Rome - though hard hats are a necessity.

The Tudor paintings are 'very carefully planned' and are in a vertical design that uses the timber studwork as a framework

The wall-to-wall, ceiling-high Tudor paintings are said to have been inspired by Nero's Golden Villa

The Calverley scheme is so-called Grotesque work, which makes it more sophisticated than almost any other surviving domestic wall paintings

The historic paintings reach from the floor of the bedroom up to its ceiling and spread across three walls

The painting is in the Grotesque style, which refers to the Italian word 'grotteschi', meaning 'from the grotto'

Landmark has launched an appeal to raise 94,000 to preserve and hopefully display the paintings

Upon the discovery, the fantastical designs inside the villa soon became popular in the houses of the educated elite across Italy.

By the 16th-century, the Renaissance design had found its way to Britain courtesy of printed books from the Low Countries and Germany.

It is likely that the unknown painter who decorated the wall at Calverley was inspired by such print books, the trust speculated.

Ms Stanford added: 'The most likely person to have commissioned the painted chamber seems to be Sir William Calverley. He was knighted in 1548, and became Sheriff of York in 1549, a man of high estate and important affairs.

'We believe that the painted chamber was only ever reached at first floor level from the family's private rooms and had its own private access directly onto the gallery of the family chapel.

'Perhaps it was Sir William's privy chamber, where he entertained only his closest friends and associates. Or perhaps it was his second wife, Elizabeth Sneyd's private parlour, a refuge from vigorous Sir William's seventeen offspring.'

Landmark has launched an appeal to raise 94,000 to preserve and hopefully display the miraculous Tudor paintings.
Bradford has the worst rail connections of any British city - with the rest of the bottom six all in the North or Midlands, a new study has found.

Researchers analysed more than 3,000 real-life train journeys between Britain's 20 largest urban centres, and found London was the best connected while four out of the remaining top six are all in the south or Scotland.

The top six cities for connectivity - in descending order after the capital - were Edinburgh, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow and Brighton. The bottom six were Bradford, Nottingham, Hull, Coventry, Liverpool and Leicester.

The rankings - compiled by the People, Places, Policy and Data Unit - were based on the number of services available to other cities and the speed of the links. Both are crucial statistics for determining the ease of commuting.

Researchers analysed more than 3,000 real-life train journeys between Britain's 20 largest urban centres

Today MPs said the findings proved the urgent need to improve rail services in the regions if the government is to achieve its levelling up ambitions.

It comes ahead of the publication of the Government's Integrated Rail Plan, which will set out how HS2 and two other projects dubbed Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Engine will improve services outside London.

The study used route plans from Google Maps to calculate the speed, in miles per hour, that someone would have to drive to keep pace with inter-city train services on journeys between major cities.

Bradford - despite being Britain's seventh biggest city, and enjoying a central position on the UK map - finished bottom of the pile due to a lack of direct routes and slow connections on its underinvested lines.

It has just four direct trains to London per day.

In the case of journeys from Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, Nottingham, Stoke, someone driving to Bradford could keep pace with 'fast' early-morning train services by travelling at less than 40mph.

Northern leaders have been lobbying for the Northern Powerhouse Rail route to go through Bradford to slash journey times to Manchester by two-thirds to 20 minutes and to Leeds by more than half to ten minutes.

Analysis by global infrastructure consultants Arup found that the station would bring 6.7 million people and an area of over 167bn of annual economic output within a 35-minute journey of central Bradford, boost the city's economy by almost 30bn over a decade and create 27,000 new jobs.

Worst connected: BRADFORD. despite being Britain's seventh biggest city, and enjoying a central position on the UK map, Bradford finished bottom of the pile

The study also issues east-west connectivity across the north, with both Liverpool and Hull among the five worst connected.

London, not surprisingly, emerged as the best-connected city. For a majority of the other cities, a motorist would have to drive in excess of 80mph - often well in excess - to keep pace with a London-bound train.

Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, said: 'Northern Powerhouse Rail is absolutely vital for the economy of the North and to deliver on the Government's levelling up agenda.

'A station on the NPR line in Bradford is also crucial for the local economy in the Bradford district.

'A city the size of Bradford needs much better rail connections and this is the perfect opportunity to address this  and ensure the Bradford district can thrive economically in the future.'

Labour MP for Bradford South, Judith Cummins said: 'This research proves that Bradford has the worst rail connections of any major city in the country. It really is time for the government to realise that they cannot level up the North without connecting Bradford.

Source: Be the Best Communications, using data from Trainline and Google Maps

'It is time for the government to finally act and invest in our transport infrastructure in Bradford and across the North, which must include Northern Powerhouse Rail with a city centre stop in Bradford.'

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, added: 'It's a huge economic failure that Bradford, despite being sandwiched between the north's two biggest cities, remains cut off from opportunities and growth due to its poor transport connectivity.

'Bradford has all ingredients for a thriving city: a young, diverse population, world-class universities on its doorstep and ambitious local leadership - but its productivity stands at around 70% of the national average. Cities like Manchester need their talent in order to grow a labour market to match that of London and the south east.

'The Integrated Rail Plan is the government's chance to change that and to deliver on its promises to level up the north.

'We need a stop in Bradford on the new Northern Powerhouse Rail line between Manchester and Leeds, as well as full delivery of HS2, including the Eastern Leg, to bring jobs, investment and opportunities to people here.'
A woman has been charged after she allegedly tried to bribe a pharmacist to pretend to give her a Covid vaccine.

Police in Geraldton, Western Australia, charged the 34-year-old woman with attempted fraud after the incident on November 8.

The woman allegedly attended a scheduled appointment at a pharmacy in Geraldton at about 3.25pm on that day to receive a Covid-19 vaccine.

After she was escorted her to the pharmacy's consult room, the woman from Kalbarri, north of Geraldton, allegedly asked the pharmacist to pretend to administer the vaccine for an unspecified amount of money.

After she was escorted to the pharmacy's consult room, it's alleged the 34-year-old woman asked the pharmacist to pretend to administer the vaccine for an unspecified amount of money

The pharmacist refused and the woman left the premises.

The woman was granted bail and is due to appear before the Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday, November 18.

The case follows another in WA where nurse Christina Hartmann Benz, 51, is alleged to have faked giving a Covid jab to a 15-year-old boy.

The 'anti-vax' nurse clashed with reporters outside a Perth court on Tuesday after being granted bail with strict conditions.

The Geraldton case follows another in WA where nurse Christina Hartmann Benz, 51, (pictured) is alleged to have faked giving a Covid jab to a 15-year-old boy

It's alleged she stuck the needle in the teen's arm but then failed to inject the vaccine.

A doctor contacted police after noticing Mz Hartmann Benz always closed her door while giving out Covid-19 vaccinations and had a huge influx in patients, the court heard.

Perth Magistrates Court heard on Monday that up to 25 people allegedly requested Ms Hartmann Benz personally administer their dose behind closed doors after she started working at the clinic on November 2.

A doctor who thought something was wrong insisted on being in the room to oversee the registered nurse administering a jab.

The court was told she tried to obscure the doctor's view and threw the needle in the medical bin with the vaccine dose still inside.
A 'kind-hearted' teenage boy is fighting for life after falling 15m off a cliff during a family trip to a popular tourist spot, moments after taking a selfie with his devastated mum.

Tarj Baxter, 12, and his mother Stacy drove to Gerringong Falls, south of Sydney, on October 30 to meet his grandparents for a day of mountain bike riding, hiking, and swimming.

But their 'beautiful family day out' quickly descended into a nightmare as they prepared to make their way back home to Shellharbour.

Hiking back up the falls, Tarj lost his footing and tumbled down the ravine, eventually reaching the cliff and falling 15m over the edge to the ground.

His mother and grandparents quickly climbed down through the rugged terrain to find Tarj's unconscious, holding him for three hours until help arrived.

'It would have felt like forever,' Stacy's cousin, Emily Chapman, told Daily Mail Australia.

Tarj Baxter, 12, is fighting for life after suffering severe brain injuries after falling 15 metres of a cliff while hiking with family. He is pictured with his mother Stacy at Gerringong Falls on the day on the tragedy

'Imagine seeing your 12-year-old son lying there in such a state. No parent should have to endure that. The trauma of that is beyond belief.'

Tarj was flown to Randwick Children's Hospital where he had emergency surgery to relieve the swelling and pressure on his brain.

He suffered severe brain injuries with bleeds in three places, two leg fractures, a fractured eye socket in three places, and significant bruising to his body.

He was placed into a medically induced coma in the ICU, in a critical but stable condition.

Ms Chapman said Tarj was walking behind the adults as the group made their way back up the steep valley when the tragedy unfolded.

'Tarj was chatting away with his uncle, when his uncle heard a wail turned to see Tarj falling down the ravine,' she said.

'He yelled out "he has gone over" then everyone rushed to find reception to call emergency services.'

Ms Chapman said Tarj is a 'caring' and 'gentle' boy who loves motorbike riding, playing PlayStation, and his beloved French bulldogs

Due to Tarj's condition being unstable, doctors were unable to run further tests to determine the extent of his brain injuries or if he suffered any neck or spinal damage.

After spending weeks waiting in limbo, Stacy and Tarj's dad Darren were given more clarity about their son's state on Monday after doctors were finally able to do an MRI.

Tests ruled out neck and spinal injuries, the results showed the Year 7 student had suffered significant brain damage to both the left and right sides of his brain.

'His parents were distraught. I received a call from Tarjs grandmother. She was absolutely beside herself. It is just devastating.'

At this stage, doctors are unable to predict how Tarj's injuries will impact his functioning in the future.

He is out of a coma but is still sedated, with doctors telling his parents it is now just a 'waiting game' to see if he wakes up.

Ms Chapman, who calls Tarj her 'fourth child' said he is a caring and gentle-natured boy who enjoys motorbike riding and fishing with his dad, his French bulldogs, and his PlayStation.

Tarj is currently fighting for life at Randwick Children's Hospital in Sydney's eastern suburbs

Her son Archie and Tarj, an only child, were born just four weeks apart and grew up together like brothers.

'Tarj is his parents world. They are absolutely distraught,' she said.

'This tragedy has changed Tarj and all of our families lives forever and we are all absolutely devastated and feeling more helpless than ever.'

Stacy, who works in insurance, and Darren, a truck driver, dropped everything to be by their only child's side in Sydney as they hope and pray he will pull through.

As they brace for the long and difficult recovery journey ahead, Ms Chapman and Stacy's sister Jaimi Colquhoun launched a GoFundMe to help the family financially.

So far, the fundraiser has raised $63,450, which will go towards supporting the family while Tarj is in hospital and assist in any modifications or care that may be required in the future.

'Stacy and Darren will be remaining in Sydney by Tarjs side until he can come home so we are raising money to keep them afloat during this horrific time,' the page reads.

Relatives have launched a fundraiser to help Tarj's devastated parents Stacy and Darren (pictured together) as they stay by their only child's hospital bed

'Donations will be used to cover accommodation expenses, out of pocket medical expenses, potential rehabilitation expenses, and day to day costs that wages would normally cover.

'Given the expected timeframe, they will likely be on little to no income for the duration.'

More than 600 people have also joined a Facebook group set up to share updates about Tarj's health progress.

Despite the bad news about Tarj's injuries, his loved ones are staying positive and have vowed to 'not give up hope'.

However, they hope the tragedy will remind others to take stock of the important things in life.

'Let this be a reminder that life is precious,' Ms Chapman said.

'Appreciate your loved ones and hug them that little bit tighter because you never know when a freak accident is going to happen and change everything in an instant.'
A potential cold case murder in Victoria is under investigation after unconfirmed reports a man was killed in Ballarat in 2016.

Victoria Police's Missing Persons Squad is appealing for the public's help to corroborate the anonymous tip-offs.

The unconfirmed reports were received in the past two years and suggest an unidentified male was murdered in the region in early 2016.

The man's body was reportedly disposed of according to the tip-offs.

Investigators have made countless inquiries and searched state and national databases.

Victoria Police is investigating a potential murder in Ballarat (pictured) in 2016 after several unconfirmed reports a man was killed and his body disposed of.

However, authorities have so far been unable to identify any person whose disappearance matches the information provided.

Detective Sergeant Maurice Ryan urged anyone with information on the possible murder, or a person from the region who has not been seen or heard from since 2016, to come forward.

'Though this is quite an unusual case, unfortunately it is not unheard of for somebody to go missing and never be reported,' he said in a statement.

'There can be varying reasons for this, but when information like this is received it is our responsibility to ensure we investigate fully and do all we can to establish if there is any truth to the information.

'For this reason, we're asking anyone with any information on a possible murder in Ballarat in early 2016 to come forward and contact police.'

Police are also encouraging anyone with information on the possible murder of a man in Ballarat in 2016 to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or go to the Crime Stoppers website.
Queensland is set to re-open to fully vaccinated domestic visitors as early as Sunday but there are so many catches that travellers will virtually be under house arrest for a fortnight.

Visitors can enter the Sunshine State when 70 per cent of locals have had two Covid-19 vaccine jabs, which could be as early as this weekend with the figure currently sitting at 68.3 per cent.

But conditions on travel and arrival in Queensland mean visitors are restricted in their movements from the moment they land and are not free to go where they please.

Queensland closed its border with New South Wales on July 22 as Sydney's Delta outbreak began to escalate.

The first big hurdle for eligible southern visitors to get back to Queensland this month is that they must have had their second dose at least 14 days ago, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath confirmed.

That means if your second Covid-19 vaccination happened less than 14 days ago you can't go to Queensland - even if you are fully vaccinated.

Trips to the beach, partying with friends and scenic road trips are also out of the question until you've gone through a tough 14 day home quarantine stint.

Those freedoms will be possible right away when the state reaches its next big milestone next month of 80 per cent.

Queensland is set to re-open to fully vaccinated domestic visitors as early as Sunday - but visiting the beach, partying with mates or a road trip is out of the question for at least two weeks after landing

Sunbaking on a Queensland beach is a rite of passage for most Aussies, but interstate visitors allowed back to the Sunshine State when it hits 70 per cent fully vaxxed won't be allowed to leave their quarantine rooms for two weeks

The first big hurdle people hoping to visit Queensland this month must face is that they must have had their second Covid-19 jab at least two weeks before flying - any less and they can't go

Fully-vaccinated visitors who qualify must home quarantine for 14 days in appropriate accommodation, within a two-hour drive of where they landed.

They cannot leave quarantine for exercise during that period.

Upon their arrival, travellers driving from the airport must use a private car, a hire car with contactless pick-up, or a lift booked with an endorsed transport provider nominated by Queensland police.

That means no public transport, no courtesy mini-bus to a hostel or ordinary cab.

Any family member or friend who collects you at the airport would have to also self-isolate for 14 days.

The accommodation must have 'direct fresh-air access to the front door' - such as a stand-alone house, townhouse or unit with its own front door.

Rules for visiting Queensland With 70% of Queensland fully-vaxxed (could be from this weekend): - Interstate visitors only allowed - You must have received a negative test within 3 days of your flight - You must be fully vaccinated and have had your 2nd Covid-19 vaccination at least 14 days before your flight - You cannot cross the Queensland border by road - You must undergo 14 day 'home' quarantine in a dwelling with 'fresh air to the front door'. Accommodation where you reach your door through shared corridors and lifts is not acceptable - Your transport to home quarantine must be in an approved vehicle - You must reply to daily a Queensland Health SMS with geolocation on, within 10 minutes - You must undergo Covid testing while in quarantine With 80% of Queensland vaxxed (December 17 or sooner): - Same as above but: - You can arrive by road - Quarantine not required With 90% of Queensland vaccinated (likely to be early 2022): - International travellers can enter - Most restrictions ended * Unvaccinated travellers must undergo 14 day quarantine at government approved facility until further notice. Advertisement

You cannot quarantine in a building where the only access to your room is via a shared corridor and shared lifts - including most rooms in big hotels or big apartment blocks.

Queensland Health requires people in home quarantine to confirm their location each day by geolocation - within 10 minutes of receiving a text message.

They must also be re-tested for Covid-19 during home quarantine - and return a negative test.

Also, visitors cannot drive in. They must fly in - and only after they have received a negative PCR test at least 72 hours prior to take-off.

Anyone who cannot meet these conditions will need to quarantine in a government-nominated facility under supervision.

Visitors to Queensland cannot enter by road, only by air - and only if they have received a negative Covid test within 72 hours of flying

Ms D'Ath says people in NSW, ACT and Victoria hot spots can 'start booking flights' if they meet their criteria after confirming home quarantine eligibility had been expanded.

Even those from Covid hotspots can come - so long as they are eligible.

'People who meet this criteria will have the certainty to now start booking flights to come back to Queensland,' Ms D'Ath said.

You cannot drive into Queensland until after the state reaches the 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone.

That is expected to occur by December 17.

Once 90 per cent of eligible Queenslanders are vaccinated quarantine will also be scrapped for fully jabbed international travellers who test negative to Covid.

Previously, the state government planned to allow home quarantine for fully vaccinated domestic travellers who tested negative from November 19, and only for people in the south-east.

But they expanded it after a successful trial last month.

'More than 1000 people in eight local government areas in southeast Queensland took part in the trial and their feedback has been very positive,' Ms D'Ath said.

Visitors to Queensland cannot get out and about for at least a fortnight - but they will have the freedom to go where they choose once the state reaches the milestone of being 80 per cent fully vaccinated

'This trial has helped shape a new approach to home quarantine that will make the process more comfortable and accessible for all returning Queenslanders, not just those in the south-east ... (and) eligible domestic travellers also.

'This is great news for people interstate. It's a great step forward for Queensland in opening up.'

The health minister urged Queenslanders to get fully vaccinated, saying opening the state to 'thousands' of visitors from as early as this weekend would come with a risk.

'This is the right thing to do. It is a balanced, reasonable approach to let people come into Queensland but it does come with a risk,' she said.

'Thousands of people will be able to come into Queensland from... hot spots.

'This means there is more reason than ever for people to come out and get vaccinated today to get the protection that they need because this virus is going to come into our community.'

Queensland Health opted not to make a statement, but confirmed the details of quarantine for vaccinated interstate visitors.
Victoria's top barristers have called for Daniel Andrews to delay and wind back 'extreme' proposed laws that would give him sweeping powers to manage pandemics.

The laws, which have passed Victoria's lower house and will be debated in the upper house next week, would give the premier the power to declare a pandemic for an unlimited period of time even if there are no cases of a virus.

The move would let the health minister make 'any order' he deems reasonably necessary' which could include lockdowns, vaccine mandates, enforced mask-wearing and much more.

Protesters march against the new laws through the streets of Melbourne on Tuesday

The laws would give broad powers to the health minister to make orders and the police (pictured last month in Melbourne) to enforce them

Victorian Bar president Christopher Blanden QC previously called the proposed laws 'extreme' and said the Stasi, the secret police in communist East Germany from 1950 to 1990, would be happy with the powers.

On Wednesday the Bar - made up of hundreds of top barristers - published a submission to the Department of Health which listed several problems with the laws and demanded changes.

What are the main concerns with the Bill? No definition of a pandemic Broad powers to the Health Minister to make 'any order' Reasons for detaining someone not defined 'Breathtakingly broad' powers to public officials to enforce laws Allows orders such as lockdowns to apply to people based on political views or association Health advice does not have to be published until 14 days after decision Rules that breach human rights laws may not be invalidated and overturned Source: Victorian Bar Advertisement

It came as Mr Andrews was forced to cancel a press conference outside Bendigo TAFE on Wednesday on police advice because angry protesters unhappy with the laws were gathered outside.

In its submission, the Bar said it wants a definition of a 'pandemic disease' to be spelled out and the health minister's power to be limited to specific actions.

The lawyers want the minister to have to consider the 'harm and inconvenience' his orders may cause before he makes them.

The Bar said the law gives 'breathtakingly broad' powers to public officials who would be able to 'take any action or give any direction' - except detain someone - to enforce pandemic orders and wants these powers to have a time limit.

The laws would also allow the health minister to order someone be detained. The lawyers want the reasons for possible detention spelled out and an independent review process to oversee this.

The Bar has also raised concerns the laws allow orders such as lockdowns to be applied to people based on attributes protected by the Equal Opportunity Act such as race, gender and political association.

'The Victorian Bar is particularly concerned about the inclusion of an express power to make pandemic orders that apply to a person by reference to their political belief, industrial activity or personal association with others,' the submissions said.

'The Victorian Bar recommends that the Bill be amended to exclude differentiation based on attributes that are of no obvious relevance to a person's health risk profile.'

The lawyers said 'serious concerns' had been raised and want the Bill to be delayed.

Mr Andrews relies on three crossbenchers to get the laws through. Reason Party MP Fiona Patten has said 'there will be amendments' after listening to concerns of lawyers and human rights advocates.

Mr Andrews (pictured) relies on three crossbenchers to get the laws through parliament

Huge fines and jail

The new laws state a person can be fined up to $21,909 for breaching a pandemic order.

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.

The new law will allow the health minister to make 'any order' he deems 'reasonably necessary' including lockdowns, vaccine mandates and enforced mask-wearing. Pictured: Melbourne in lockdown in October

In addition, there is a new aggravated offence for breaches that 'cause a serious risk to the health of another individual'.

These can be punished with a $90,870 fine and two years in jail. An example given in the bill is someone going to work when they are infectious and should be isolating.

Businesses can also be guilty of an aggravated offence, with a maximum fine of $454,350 if, for example, they refuse to obey a lockdown and encourage customers to also flout the rules.

What are the fines in Daniel Andrews' new law? $21,909: This fine is for breaching a pandemic order such as not wearing a mask, breaking a movement limit, attending an illegal protest or a gathering, refusing to get tested or failing to show ID. $90,870: This fine is for an aggravated offence for breaches that 'cause a serious risk to the health of another individual' such as going to work when infectious. $109,044: This fine is for businesses breaking rules which may include failing to make sure customers check-in or show proof of vaccine status. $454,350: This fine is for an 'aggravated' offence by a business such as encouraging customers to flout lockdown rules . Advertisement

Power to the premier

Under the new laws the premier would be able to declare a pandemic for three months an unlimited number of times.

The current state of emergency laws require a parliamentary vote to extend them every 12 months - but the new laws have no time limit.

The health minister will be able to sign off on public health orders instead of the Chief Health Officer, a role currently held by Brett Sutton.

This gives the health minister the power to enforce lockdowns, shut down businesses, restrict movement, require masks, ban public gatherings, and enforce quarantine and isolation - powers currently held by the unelected CHO.

These powers can be implemented regardless of the number of disease cases or severity.

The bill will also extend the mandatory payment for hotel quarantine beyond 31 December.

Vaccine mandates and lockdowns for anti-vaxxers

The bill states that a pandemic order such as a lockdown or a vaccine mandate 'may apply to, differentiate between or vary in its application to persons or classes of person'.

This allows the Government to select who it wants to apply the order to, including people who have been at a certain event, who live in a certain area or who have a certain type of job.

The Government can discriminate based on 'presence in a pandemic management area; participation at an event; an activity they have undertaken; their characteristics, attributes or circumstances,' the bill says.

It also allows the Government to lockdown unvaccinated people only.

Under the new laws the premier would be able to shut down businesses, restrict movement and ban public gatherings even if there were no disease cases in Victoria. Pictured: A protester is arrested by police at a protest in St Kilda in October

The bill says the Government can discriminate based on attributes defined in the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 which include race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status and political views.

The group of lawyers against the bill warned a future health minister could target people based on their 'political beliefs or activities that involve questioning or opposing the government public health measures.'

But Health Minister Martin Foley said those factors would not be taken into account.

'Any suggestion that those other considerations of the public health processes, that is just really mischief making. These are recommendations that come forward on clinical and epidemiological grounds. Not those kinds of characteristics,' he said.

Professor Brett Sutton said attributes and characteristics could refer to 'intimate partners having the opportunity to see other individuals... people normally resident in regional Victoria... children under 16 years of age because they haven't had a vaccination opportunity... vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals in a vaccinated economy.

'You need the agility to spread to those characteristics and attributes that might exclude someone from a public health order and that might be directed at someone,' he said.

Tiered fines system

In a small win for disadvantaged people, the bill will allow disadvantaged people to apply for a 'concessional' fine.

Greens leader Samantha Ratnam negotiated this in discussions with the Government.

She said: 'I'm pleased that the Greens have been able to make sure these new laws have more transparency and are fairer for all Victorians, especially those facing disadvantage.'

Barista Maelys is seen at work at Cafe Chez Mademoiselle in Prahran, Melbourne, in October

Make health advice public

The Victorian Government has faced constant criticism for not releasing the health advice that its lockdown decisions are based on.

The bill will require the publication of the reasons for the Chief Health Officer recommending a pandemic order.

It will also establish an Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee to scrutinise Government decisions and health advice.

Under the new laws the premier would be able to declare a pandemic for an unlimited time, with an extension required every three months. Pictured: Victoria Police in October

QR safeguards

The new laws will ensure stronger safeguards to stop unlawful access to QR code check-in or contact tracing data, with a new offence in place.

It means police can only get hold of the data if there is an 'imminent threat' to someone's life.

Officers must acquire a Supreme Court order to access the data.

This comes after it was revealed in June that police failed three times to get access to QR code data.

Reaction to the law

Opposition leader Matthew Guy said he would throw out the laws if he won the November 2022 election.

'I've never seen such an attack on Australian democracy as rules like this' where 'one man can rule by decree,' he said.

The existing power of Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton (left) to make special public health orders would be passed over to health minister Martin Foley (right) under the new laws

The Opposition will propose a 60 per cent majority in both houses of parliament be required before a pandemic or an extended state of emergency can be declared.

Under the proposed alternative, the state of emergency powers and the need for them would have to be re-examined and voted on every 30 days.

But Greens leader Samantha Ratnam backs the laws because she says they are better than the current state of emergency powers.

'I'm pleased that the Greens have been able to make sure these new laws have more transparency and are fairer for all Victorians, especially those facing disadvantage,' she said.
Shankar Hangud, 55, confessed to killing his family members over the span of several days across two Northern California counties in October 2019

A Northern California man who confessed to killing his wife and three children was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole.

Investigators in Placer County said Shankar Hangud, 55, confessed to killing his family members over the span of several days across two Northern California counties in October 2019, saying he couldn't provide for them financially, KCRA-TV reported. His children were aged 13, 16 and 20.

Hangud was arrested shortly after the killings when he drove to a police station in Mount Shasta, more than 200 miles from his home, with the body of his oldest son in his car and confessed to all four murders, prosecutors said.

After the confession, the bodies of the three other victims were found inside the familys apartment in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento, police said.

Placer County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Penney called it a 'horrific crime' where no victims were alive to speak as he sentenced Hangud to three life prison terms.

The district attorneys office said that because Hangud had killed more than one person he had no possibility of parole.

Prosecutors said Hangud claimed to be in despair after losing his IT job and dealing with a marriage that was falling apart.

Hangud pleaded guilty in September to three counts of first-degree murder for his children and one count of deliberately aiding his wife to die by suicide.

'It's hard to reconcile with the facts that this tragedy could happen because someone couldnt get employed,' Placer County prosecutor David Tellman said.

'But its an old-world, patriarchal thought pattern where if he cant be a provider, he doesnt want his family to have nothing. So he kills his family.'

Hangud was an unemployed data specialist. His LinkedIn profile showed he had worked for several companies in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.
A US federal judge has approved a $626 million payout to Flint residents whose water supply was poisoned by lead.

The water poisoning came after the disastrous 2014 decision by Michigan's then-governor, Republican Rick Snyder, to switch the city's water source from Lake Huron to Flint River, with the city failing to swiftly acknowledge the problem.

Most of the money - $600 million - is coming from the state of Michigan, which was accused of repeatedly overlooking the risks of using the Flint River without properly treating the water.

Flint resident Melissa Mays, a 43-year-old social worker, said her three sons have had medical problems and learning challenges due to lead.

'Hopefully itll be enough to help kids with tutors and getting the medical care they need to help them recover from this,' Mays said of the payout. 'A lot of this isnt covered by insurance. These additional needs, they cost money.'

She considers the settlement a 'win.'

Attorneys are seeking as much as $200 million in legal fees from the overall settlement. Levy left that issue for another day.

The deal makes money available to up to 20,000 Flint children who were exposed to the water, adults who can show an injury, certain business owners and anyone who paid water bills.

About 80 percent of what's left after legal fees is earmarked for children.

Pictured: A file photo shows the Flint River in Flint, Mich. A judge on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, approved a $626 million settlement for Flint residents and others who were exposed to lead-contaminated water

U.S. District Judge Judith Levy said in a 178-page opinion: 'The settlement reached here is a remarkable achievement for many reasons, not the least of which is that it sets forth a comprehensive compensation program and timeline that is consistent for every qualifying participant.'

The tragedy and Flint became a symbol of social injustice in the United States, and led to both a state and federal emergency being declared in Genesee County.

Some critics said the disaster in the predominantly Black city was an example of environmental racism.

It is believed that anywhere between 6,000 and 12,000 children were exposed to drinking water with high levels of lead due to corrosion of the water distribution system's pipes, with some suggesting as many as 20,000 were exposed.

Some 18,000 to 20,000 children lived in Flint at the time. The lead poisoning of thousands of the city's children threatens to have catastrophic health consequences lasting for decades.

In total, some 100,000 Flint water customers fell ill, prompting several lawsuits and neglect charges to be brought against Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

In total, some 100,000 Flint water customers fell ill, prompting several lawsuits and neglect charges to be brought against Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (pictured in 2018 delivering his State of the State address at the state Capitol in Lansing, file photo)

Corey Stern, another key lawyer in the case, said he represented 'many brave kids who did not deserve the tragedy put on them.'

Children are particularly susceptible to the long-term risks of lead poisoning, which can result in a reduction in intellectual functioning IQ and an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. The water poisoning was also linked to a possible outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in the country, that killed 12 people.

'This is a historic and momentous day for the residents of Flint, who will finally begin to see justice served,' said Ted Leopold, one of the lead attorneys in the litigation.

In a money-saving move, Flint managers appointed by then-Gov. Rick Snyder and regulators in his administration allowed the city to use the Flint River in 2014-15 while another pipeline was being built from Lake Huron.

But the river water wasn't treated to reduce corrosion. Lead in old pipes broke off and flowed to homes as a result.

There is no safe level of lead. It can harm a child's brain development and cause attention and behavior problems.

Flint switched back to a Detroit regional water agency in fall 2015 after Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha publicly reported elevated lead levels in children.

Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards shows the difference in water quality between Detroit and Flint after testing, giving evidence after more than 270 samples were sent in from Flint that show high levels of lead during a news conference on Sept. 15, 2015

In this March 21, 2016 file photo, the Flint Water Plant water tower is seen in Flint, Mich. A judge on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, approved a $626 million settlement for Flint residents and others who were exposed to lead-contaminated water

Flint is paying $20 million toward the settlement, while McLaren Health is paying $5 million and an engineering firm, Rowe Professional Services, is paying $1.25 million.

Lawsuits still are pending against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, McLaren and other engineering firms.

The deal was announced in August 2020 by Attorney General Dana Nessel and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, both Democrats, who were elected in 2018 while the litigation was in state and federal courts.

The judge said it was 'remarkable' that more than half of Flint's 81,000 residents have signed up for a share of the settlement.

It's not clear just how much each child will receive.

A claims process is next with families required to show records, such as blood tests or neurological results, and other evidence of injury.

Flint resident Gladyes Williamson holds a sign for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder's resignation alongside a jug of her tap discolored tap water and a bag containing hair she has lost as more than 50 people protest in front of City Hall in downtown Flint, Mich. on April 25, 2016

What are the health implications of lead poisoning? Lead poisoning occurs when the metal builds up in the body. Children younger than six years old are particularly vulnerable as such poisoning can damage their mental and physical development. In severe cases, lead poisoning can be fatal. Lead poisoning is often caused by exposure to contaminated paint and dust in water, air and soil. Symptoms include learning difficulties, irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, constipation, seizures and hearing loss. Aside from removing the source of contamination, treatment includes medication that encourages lead removal via urine. Blood lead levels higher than five micrograms is considered abnormal in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of 2018, some 535,000 children in the US were thought to have at least levels this high, the CDC adds. Source: Mayo Clinic Advertisement

'We've made history,' Mays said, 'and hopefully it sets a precedent to maybe dont poison people. It costs more in the long run.'

The Flint saga isn't over. Nine people, including Snyder, have been charged with crimes. They've pleaded not guilty and their cases are pending.

The state last week agreed to pay $300,000 to the former head of the drinking water division. An arbitrator said Liane Shekter Smith was wrongly fired for what happened in Flint.

So far, the only person to be convicted in relation to the Flint Water Crisis is Corinne Miller from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, who was sentenced to a year of probation, 300 hours of community service and fined $1,200.

Many residents of the city continue to drink bottled water to this day, even though the water system is once again fed from the lake and the lead pipes have been mostly replaced.

For many, the Flint water scandal came to symbolize the country's 'environmental racism,' a term that refers to the disproportionate exposure of African Americans to pollutants in the air, water or soil.

Some 57 percent of Flint's 100,000 residents are Black, and more than a third live below the poverty line.

News of the payout came a month after another Michigan city - Benton Harbor - was gridlocked by residents rushing to get free bottled water after they were warned not to cook or brush with their tap water after vast amounts of lead were detected.

Officials in Benton Harbor sent out notices, distributed fliers and tried to improve the water system since high levels of lead were first detected in 2018, the New York Times reports, but state officials told residents in October not to use it at all.

Katia Kenney, 18 of Flint, Mich., volunteers as she loads cases of water into vehicles as non-profit Pack Your Back distributes more than 37,000 bottles of water on Monday, April 22, 2019, at Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Michigan

Instead, they handed out bottled water at sites throughout the community, causing long lines and jamming traffic in the city of 9,100 residents.

'People can bathe in it,' Elizabeth Hertel, director of the department told Fox last month. 'We advise that they don't drink it, or cook with it, or use it to brush their teeth. As long as they're not ingesting it right now, that's what we're advising.'

Residents of the city say the water system in the city, 85 per cent of whose residents are black, has been contaminated for years.

In 2018, they said, tests started to show the lead level in the water well above the federal action level of 15 parts per billion in 10 percent of samples.
Hilarious footage captured the moment peaceful anti-vaxxer demonstrators politely put back up metal barriers after they were knocked down by another protester.

Authorities in New Zealand's capital Wellington set up a ring of steel around the country's parliament on Tuesday as thousands of unmasked protesters rallied against Covid vaccination mandates.

One protester was filmed knocking down a barricade as he gestured angrily at security guards blocking access to the parliament building.

The man followed his act of civil defiance by shouting 'f**k you' at officers, but saw his work quickly undone by three other protesters who put the metal barrier back up again.

Police were out in force for the Freedom and Rights Coalition protest in Wellington, New Zealand on Tuesday

Police had blocked off all but two entrances to the country's parliament building - known colloquially as the Beehive - as protesters marched through Wellington's CBD.

Demonstrators held messages such as 'Kiwis are not lab rats' and 'coercion is not consent' as they called for an end to compulsory vaccination orders and continuing social distancing restrictions.

Placards showing support to former US President Donald Trump and slamming the media as 'fake' and lying were also displayed.

'I will not be coerced and I will not be forced into taking something I don't want in my body,' one protester said outside parliament.

'I'm asking (the government) to give us back 2018. Simple as that. I want my freedoms back.'

New Zealand has struggled to fight off a highly infectious outbreak of the Delta variant this year, forcing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to move from a strategy of elimination through lockdowns to living with the virus with higher vaccinations.

One protester metal barrier knocked down a metal barrier at the protest, but it was quickly put up again by a group of polite demonstrators

Ardern last month said the country would require teachers and workers in the health and disability sectors to be fully vaccinated against Covid, inviting criticism from people calling for more freedoms and for ending mandatory vaccine requirements.

'Treat us like people!' another protester exclaimed when asked about the government's stance on mandating the vaccine.

'I'm here for freedom. The government, what they're doing, is anti-freedom.'

Speaking to reporters inside parliament, Ardern said: 'What we saw today was not representative of the vast bulk of New Zealanders.'

A group of anti-vaxxers were seen performing a traditional haka during the Freedom and Rights Coalition protest in Wellington

This protestor felt forced vaccines were a form of modern day fascism in New Zealand

The protest was described as peaceful, with many protesters marching through central Wellington and congregating outside parliament

But the prime minister has been facing growing political pressure and public protests to ease pandemic measures ahead of the Christmas holidays.

She plans to travel to Auckland on Wednesday when the lockdown measures enforced on the city nearly three months ago eases. She is expected to face more protests during her visit.

New Zealand still has among the lowest Covid-19 cases in the world with under 8,000 cases reported so far and 32 deaths.

It reported 125 new cases on Tuesday and its total double-dose vaccination rate had reached nearly 80 per cent of its eligible population.
Video has emerged of President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Saule Omarova, saying she wants oil and gas companies to go 'bankrupt.'

'We want them to go bankrupt if we want to tackle climate change, right?' the Soviet-born Omarova said in a clip that was shared online by the conservative-leaning American Accountability Foundation.

She made the comments in February when appearing at the Jain Family Institute's Social Wealth Seminar, where she was making the case for a National Investment Authority, which would pull resources from the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve to allocate public and private capital for green infrastructure projects.

The resurfaced clip could hinder Omarova's ability to get all 50 Democrats to support her nomination, as every Republican is expected to vote against the Cornell University law professor.

Video has emerged of President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Saule Omarova (pictured), saying she wants oil and gas companies to go 'bankrupt'

President Joe Biden, pictured speaking Wednesday in Baltimore, could see defections from his own party over Omarova's nomination, Axios reported Sunday

Axios reported Sunday that at least three Senate Democrats have aired concerns about her nomination - moderate Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia.

Manchin, in particular, has not been supportive in the past of comments made about the demise of the fossil fuel industry, looking out for West Virginia's coal industry.

The Senate Banking Committee's ranking member, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, told Axios, 'Republicans will overwhelmingly oppose this self-described radical.'

Last month, Toomey demanded she turn over a copy of her university thesis  in both English and the original Russian  for review by the committee as it discusses Marxism and revolution.

Biden nominee Saule Omarova saying the quiet part out loud. On the oil, coal and gas industries:



"We want them to go bankrupt if we want to tackle climate change." pic.twitter.com/luMR2HEMK9  BidenNoms, A Project of AAF (@bidennoms) November 9, 2021

DailyMail.com reported that a top Russian university destroyed its only copy of Omarova's thesis on Marxism.

Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee expressed outrage that Omarova refused to turn over her Moscow State University dissertation.

And DailyMail.com has been told that there is no longer a copy in the institution's archives.

'It was destroyed long ago,' said a university official.

'We do not have a copy.'

Moscow State University only keeps such works for five years, said the official.

Saule Omarova, a Cornell Law School professor, has been nominated to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

An exclusive new photograph shows Omarova as a proud 'Young Pioneer' - the Communist youth mass movement - at her Soviet school number 21 in Uralsk, now Oral, in Kazakhstan. She is wearing the red scarf of the movement in a picture dating from 1979-80

It was titled: 'Karl Marx's Economic Analysis and the Theory of Revolution in The Capital'.

But she ignored a deadline he set, and appears unlikely to hand it over.

It is assumed she has her own copy of the thesis even if her old university no longer possesses one.

'Ms. Omarova has time to attack Republicans in an interview with the Financial Times, but she can't be bothered to comply with a Banking Committee requirement that nominees - regardless of their political party or ideology - submit copies of their writings,' said Amanda Gonzalez Thompson, spokesperson for Senate Banking Committee Republicans.

'We certainly hope she reconsiders so senators have the information necessary to fulfill their constitutional duty to advise and consent on appointments.'

Omarova did not respond to requests for comment.

DailyMail.com has obtained pictures of Omarova from her time in the Soviet education system.

An exclusive new photograph shows her as a proud 'Young Pioneer' - the Communist youth mass movement - at her Soviet school number 21 in Uralsk, now Oral, in Kazakhstan.

It was taken in the year 1979-1980, and she wears the red scarf of a movement dedicated to Vladimir Lenin.

Pictures obtained by DailyMail.com show Omarova growing up in the communist education system. This one shows her around grade nine in about 982-83

Omarova graduated from school in 1984 en route to Moscow State University. She was already a member of the Komsomol, or Young Communists, as she graduated with a gold medal

Another image shows her in class, believed to be in Grade 9, in 1982-83.

One more is a picture from 1984 of her school graduation when she was already an enthusiastic member of the Komsomol, or Young Communists as she left to study at prestigious Moscow State University.

She graduated with a rare gold medal, signifying her academic achievements, and opening the door to her move to the prestigious Moscow university.

Omarova recently denied having Communist sympathies and said that in the USSR there was 'no academic freedom,' making it unfair to judge her by what she wrote as a Soviet undergraduate student.

She told the Financial Times: 'I was in the Soviet Union, where there was no academic freedom, and this was a mandatory assigned topic.

'What I wrote in that paper has nothing to do with what I believed in then or in what I believe in now.'

She said: 'My grandmother was orphaned because Stalin sent her entire family to Siberia and they died there.

Saule Omarova (circled) is photographed during her studies at Moscow State University, in Russia in 1988 when Mikhail Gorbachev was president of the Soviet Union. She studied under a scholarship named after Vladimir Lenin and wrote a thesis on Karl Marx

Omarova has previously called Wall Street's hedge funds a 'quintessential a**hole industry' in the documentary A**holes: A Theory (pictured here). She has offered other controversial opinions such as opposing private banking and praised the Soviet Union's financial system

'Her family was destroyed because they were educated Kazakhs who didn't join the party.

'I was really lucky to get to Moscow State University . . . I was 18, and within a year I became an anti-communist like most of my classmates.

'We were reading stuff that was prohibited.

'We were listening to Pink Floyd, which was illegal, we were talking about Solzhenitsyn [the author and Soviet dissident].'

Former school classmate Elena Samokisha said: 'I remember her as a kind and nice person.

'I was her classmate beginning from Grade 7.

'She is really a cool person. and I am happy the fate brought us together. I would love to wish her luck.'

In announcing her as Biden's pick for Comptroller of the Currency last month, the White House said: 'She is one of the countrys leading academic experts on issues related to regulation of systemic risk and structural trends in financial markets.'

The job involves regulating and supervising all national banks and savings institutions as well as foreign banks in the United States.
Year 12 students who struggled to understand the meaning of key words on their final English exams were supplied translation sheets in a move that has divided educators.

The words 'latent' and 'foisted' were included in the 2021 HSC exam which NSW students sat on Tuesday.

Teachers say it is common practice for definitions to unusual words to be provided but others say it is an example of the dumbing down of the English curriculum.

NSW students (stock image) stumped by words 'latent' and 'foisted' on their HSC exam which were given to more than 30,000 students on Tuesday were handed a translation sheet in a move critics say was the 'dumbing down' of the curriculum

'Foisted' means to have imposed an unwelcome or unnecessary person or thing on someone else.

'Latent' means (of a quality or state) existing but not yet developed or manifest; hidden or concealed.

Australian Catholic University researcher Kevin Donnelly said the current crop of students had been 'deprived' of advanced literature in their early high school years.

'Last year I looked at the English exams that were coming out of China in Shanghai and Beijing  what they had to do was really our university level. Our Year 12 students would be incapable of doing it,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

New South Wales One Nation leader Mark Latham, who chairs the Education Committee, said giving students translation sheets reduced the exam's integrity.

'It's dumbing down the English exam,' he said.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Education Standards Authority said it was not uncommon for definitions to be provided for some words on the HSC exam because it needs 'to be accessible to approximately 30,000 students'.

NSW students were also asked to write a creative or figurative piece to an illustration (pictured) of a pencil drawing footprints through a fence

Students were also thrown something of a curveball in this years' HSC exams.

They were asked to write a figurative piece based on an illustration of a pencil drawing footprints through a chain-link fence.

Brian McMahon from tutoring company Matrix Education said the illustration may have also added to the 'dumbing down' of the English curriculum in NSW schools.

'Someone who was less creative in their response and was simply going to write a description  and had missed the memo about this being an exercise in the use of figurative language, they would do less well,' he said.
Evergrande's collapse could be worse than expected and spark a slowdown in China unseen since the end of the Cultural Revolution 45 years ago with huge ramifications for Australia.

China's second-biggest apartment developer has debts of more than $400 billion and Oxford Economics fears the crisis could spark a sharp slowdown.

This would cause China, Australia's biggest trading partner, to significantly cut back on its need for iron ore, the commodity used to make steel, as tens of millions of apartments remain empty.

Economists Louis Kuijs and Tommy Wu modelled several scenarios, including one where China's annual growth rate plunged to just one per cent.

This would be the weakest gross domestic product expansion since 1976, the year China's Cultural Revolution ended with the death of Communist dictator Mao Zedong.

Evergrande's collapse could be worse than expected and spark a slowdown in China unseen since the end of the Cultural Revolution 45 years ago with huge ramifications for Australia. China's second biggest apartment developer has debts of more than $400 billion and Oxford Economics fears the crisis could spark a sharp slowdown

'According to our modelling, a more severe housing market downturn in China than we currently expect would slow China's growth markedly and have a major impact on global growth,' it said.

China in 2020 was the only major world economy to avoid sinking into recession, managing growth of 2.3 per cent despite harsh lockdowns.

Evergrande missed another annual interest payment deadline to bondholders on November 6, triggering another 30-day grace period.

The building giant, founded by billionaire Xu Jiayin in 1996, previously missed three other deadlines in September and October and the Reserve Bank of Australia fears it could miss more deadlines in 2022, leading to a potential collapse.

While the world's second-biggest economy weathered Covid, Oxford Economics is concerned China would be in trouble if it experienced a property downturn similar to what the US and Spain had during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008.

'Our baseline is that China's property downturn will be significant but contained, due to a low stock of unsold housing, room for policy easing, continuing urbanization, and significant income growth,' it said.

'But, with shifting demographics, high numbers of empty apartments, and some big property developers being heavily over-leveraged, China's huge property sector could crash more heavily.'

Australia, being heavily dependent on iron ore exports, would be particularly at risk.

Economists Louis Kuijs and Tommy Wu have modelled several scenarios, including one where China's annual growth rate plunged to just one per cent. This would be the weakest gross domestic product expansion since 1976, the year China's Cultural Revolution ended with the death of Communist dictator Mao Zedong (picture is a man on an electric bicycle in Guangzhou)

'As China's commodities imports plunge, industrial metal prices would tank,' Oxford Economics said.

'The worst hit countries would be those for whom exports to China are particularly important and commodity exporters.'

Though 130 countries have China as their biggest trading partner, Australia is particularly reliant on shipping minerals overseas with iron ore by far the biggest export.

In September, Australia had a trade surplus for the 45th month in a row with annual exports to China hitting an all-time high of $182.3 billion, a CommSec analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed.

But weaker iron ore prices caused a 6.4 per cent slump in exports during the month.

Australia, being heavily dependent on iron ore exports, would be particularly at risk (pictured is Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Fortescue Metals Group chairman Andrew Forrest in Western Australia's Pilbara region)

In September, $15.4 billion worth of iron ore was exported but this was 15.9 per cent lower than the $18.3 billion in August.

China has already dramatically cut back on steel production, causing the spot price of iron ore to fall to $US87 a tonne, the lowest since May 2020.

As recently as July, the commodity used to make steel was worth more than $US200 a tonne.

China already has 65 million empty apartments or enough vacant accommodation to house 90 million people in a nation of 1.4 billion.

Evergrande's debts of $420 billion are also the equivalent of two per cent of China's gross domestic product, the Reserve Bank of Australia calculated.

This is occurring amid a 21 per cent annual cut to Chinese steel production as part of the Communist government's drive to meet net zero by 2060 climate change targets.
Annastacia Palaszczuk has hinted the Gold Coast could be plunged back into lockdown if Covid cases surge in the next '24 to 48 hours'.

The Queensland premier's dire warning came after the state recorded two new community-acquired Covid-19 cases on Thursday.

One of those cases, a male Uber driver in his 50s from Carrara on the Gold Coast, was fully-vaccinated and infectious in the community for three days.

A further community case is a young woman in her teens from Beaudesert who Ms Palaszczuk said was 'not of concern'.

She is a close contact of a case from the Moree cluster in NSW.

'She tested positive in home quarantine. She spent a couple days infectious in the community in Warwick and half a day infectious in Beaudesert,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

Ms Palaszczuk warned that 'further restrictions' would be imposed on the Gold Coast if further cases of unlinked transmission were discovered.

'If we see more unlinked community transmission on the Gold Coast in the next 24 - 48 hours, we may have to put in place some further restrictions.'

Ms Palaszczuk warned that 'further restrictions' would be imposed on the Gold Coast in the next 24-48 hours if further cases of unlinked Covid transmission were discovered

It's believed the Uber driver from Carrara on the Gold Coast, who was fully vaccinated, was infectious in the community for three days

The infected Uber driver is currently in the Gold Coast University Hospital and contact tracing is underway.

Ms Palaszczuk urged people on the Gold Coast to check-in on the government app when using rideshare services to enable fast contact tracing.

Gold Coast residents with symptoms were encouraged to come forward for testing.

'I would not like to see multiple unlinked community cases over the next few days,' Ms Palaszczuk responded when asked how many new cases would be required to trigger a new lockdown.

'If you remember [the situation] in Goondiwindi, they had very, very high vaccination rates, 97 per cent first dose and over 80 per cent double dose.

'We don't have that on the Gold Coast.'

She said the vaccination rate on the Gold Coast was nearly at 80 per cent of residents with one dose of a vaccine.

Just over 80 per cent of Queenslanders had now received a first dose of Covid vaccine, while 68.31 per cent are now fully vaccinated.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed that mask-wearing in 11 LGAs in south-eastern Queensland was no longer required now that 80 per cent of the state had received one dose of a Covid vaccine

The premier confirmed that mask-wearing in 11 LGAs in south-eastern Queensland was no longer required now that 80 per cent of the state had received one dose of a Covid vaccine.

It followed yesterday's announcement that Queensland residents will be allowed to quarantine at home as soon as 70 per cent of state residents are fully vaccinated.

Previously, the state government planned to allow home quarantine for fully vaccinated domestic travellers who tested negative on November 19, and only for people in the southeast.

Applicants must be fully vaccinated, fly into Queensland two weeks after their final dose and have a negative PCR test 72 hours before travel.

'People who meet this criteria will have the certainty to now start booking flights to come back to Queensland,' Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said.

'If you meet this criteria you will be able to fly in from November 19 and it's possible we will hit the 70 per cent double dose earlier than that.'

The new Gold Coast case echoes recent fears in the city when rideshare driver Duran Raman (pictured), who acquired Covid after a trip to Sydney and Melbourne before returning to Queensland, was hospitalised with the virus

The new Gold Coast case echoes recent fears in the city when rideshare driver Duran Raman, who acquired Covid after a trip to Sydney and Melbourne before returning to Queensland, was hospitalised with the virus.

He was living in a Broadbeach resort complex when it was discovered he was infectious.

No new community cases were caused by Mr Raman and he subsequently denied he was as sick as then chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young claimed.

Ms Palaszczuk was asked if she had regrets about the number of Queenslanders who had been prevented from returning home due to border restrictions.

'The exemptions unit have tried their hardest, everybody is human, they wanted to make sure Queenslanders are protected,' she said.

'You have to look at the statistics, too, to see how well Queenslanders have done. These decisions have not been easy, they've been very hard, but now as our vaccination rates go up it's going to be a lot easier for people.

'The home quarantine system for fully vaccinated people has worked extremely well. We've only seen in our trial, one person test positive and there has been a very, very high degree of compliance.

'That means we can expand it once we hit that 70 per cent double dose.'

Today's announcement followed a positive case discovered at Pacific Pines, at the northern end of the Gold Coast, on Wednesday.

A number of exposure sites visited by 32-year-old man were listed by Queensland Health, included major Gold Coast shopping centre Robina Town Centre on Sunday, November 7, and a Coles and a Chempro at Coomera City Centre on Monday, November 8.
Eurocrats are planning a 5,000-strong EU army that could be activated without unanimous support from member states.

Controversial proposals in draft documents outline the creation of a military force by 2025 that could be sent into battle without the approval of all 27 EU governments.

Officials would be able to swiftly deploy a modular force of up to 5,000 troops, including land, air and maritime components, said a document seen by the Daily Mail.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said soldiers could be sent into war zones without the backing of all member states

It said the force could respond to imminent threats or quickly react to a crisis situation, for example, a rescue and evacuation mission or a stabilisation operation in a hostile environment.

But in a move likely to spark a backlash today, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said soldiers could be sent into war zones without the backing of all member states, potentially breaching the blocs own founding treaty.

Mr Borrell said smaller groups of countries could choose to take action because we cannot decide by unanimity every step of the process.

He said he was not asking to abolish the unanimity rule but added: What I believe is that this institutional setting can be flexibilised in order to act quicker and better.

The plan would give EU members the power to enable willing and capable European-led coalitions.

Brexit has opened up the possibility of Brussels creating an EU army.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, left, and European High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell pose for a photograph during the G7 foreign ministers meeting in London in May this year

Britain vehemently opposed any such plan during its membership, arguing it would undermine Nato.

The EUs draft documents for the Strategic Compass plan were produced after European nations were humiliated by the hasty US pullout from Afghanistan this summer, which they said left them incapable of acting alone.

French President Emmanuel Macron wants to make Europe less reliant on US firepower, with a stronger and more capable European defence.

Mr Borrell wrote in the briefing document that the bloc must start learning the language of power.

The draft plan will be presented to foreign and defence ministers on Monday. It is not expected to be fully approved until 2023.
A new documentary has made the explosive claim that senior US Army officials lied to the public and the families of four special forces soldiers about the circumstances of their deaths in an ISIS ambush in Niger.

The ABC News film, 3212 Un-Redacted, is set to be released on Thursday through Hulu, offering an in-depth investigation of the October 4, 2017 massacre near the village of Tongo Tongo.

Killed in the overwhelming ambush by scores of ISIS fighters were four members of Operation Detachment Alpha Squad 3212: Sergeant La David Johnson, Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson, Staff Sergeant Bryan Black, and Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright.

Top military brass including General Thomas D. Waldhauser, then head of US Africa Command, claimed that the squad had gone rogue and conducted an unauthorized capture-kill mission targeting an ISIS subcommander, while claiming they were conducting simple reconnaissance.

But documents and interviews revealed in the new documentary suggest that in fact, Squad 3212 was following direct orders, and that military leaders appear to have been covering their own tracks, according to a review of the film by Rolling Stone.

'The Army let me down. They let my son down, and then they lied about it,' said Wright's grieving father in a trailer for the film.

The grieving father of Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright (above) said in a new documentary: 'The Army let me down. They let my son down, and then they lied about it.'

Killed in the overwhelming ambush on October 4, 2017 in Niger were Sergeant La David Johnson (left) and Staff Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson (right)

Staff Sergeant Bryan Black (left) and Staff Sergeant Dustin Wright (right) were also killed

In footage of the ambush, US soldiers use a Landcruiser for cover as they drive it toward colored smoke that has been deployed to obscure their retreat and signal air support

The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com on Wednesday evening.

The ambush occurred one day after US soldiers and Nigerien forces attempted to locate and capture or kill Doundou Chefou, an ISIS subcommander in the region.

After two failed attempts to locate the insurgent, the convoy was returning to base when partner Nigeriens insisted on stopping in Tongo Tongo to eat and meet with village leaders. The meetings dragged out, leading the US soldiers to suspect that they were being stalled and delayed.

After leaving Tongo Tongo, the unarmored convoy fell into a trap and the Nigerien supporting forces melted away. In a chaotic confrontation, outnumbered three to one and without air support, the US forces lost four soldiers.

In a press conference discussing the findings of an AFRICOM investigation, General Waldhauser claimed that Squad 3212 lied about its stated mission and never disclosed it was seeking Chenfou.

But, according to the documentary, even a redacted AFRICOM report contained information contradicting that version of events.

General Waldhauser claimed that Squad 3212 lied about its stated mission and never disclosed it was seeking Chenfou, a claim that the documentary disputes as false

The ABC News film, 3212 Un-Redacted , is set to be released on Thursday through Hulu

According to the report, 3212 was headed back to base when the unit received orders to head northwest toward the border of Mali, where officials had detected a cell-phone signal that suggested Chenfou was in the area.

ODA 3212 Captain Mike Perozeni is on record vigorously objecting to the new objective, requiring his team to forge off into the desert at night.

Nonetheless, his commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel David Painter demanded ODA 3212 adhere to these new directives.

Perozeni's protest over the order to pursue Chenfou flies in the face of the claim that the team was on a rogue mission to capture the insurgent -- a discrepancy that has never been explained.

The documentary also portrays interviews with family members of the fallen soldiers, who say that the Pentagon's falsehoods and inconsistencies about the incident were present from the beginning.

The Wright family, for example, was told that he died in mortar fire, but his brother states that the body showed no signs of that and he clearly perished from small arms fire.

Myeshia Johnson kisses her husband La David Johnson's casket at his funeral in Hollywood, Florida, on October 21, 2017. She says the Army lied about how he was killed

And La David Johnsons wife was originally informed that he had been fatally thrown from the back of a moving vehicle.

Graphic video included in the documentary, which was first reviewed by DailyMail.com in 2018, clearly reveals that La David Johnson was driving the unarmored SUV, however, and later perished in a hail of machine-gun fire as he fled on foot.

While some of these discrepancies can be chalked up to early confusion in the fog of combat, the documentary makes the case that military leaders intentionally obfuscated facts in order to protect Painter and his boss, Colonel Brad Moses.

The film proposes that Squad 3212 was sent, ill-equipped and without proper support, on a foolish, dangerous mission, and then was set up to take the blame in order to protect military brass.

The attack raised questions about the US military's role in Niger, where about 800 US military personnel are stationed to train local forces and operate drones.

Across Africa, the US military maintains a network of 29 bases, according to a declassified map from 2019.

Some two-thirds of the approximately 6,000 U.S. troops in Africa are stationed at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti City.
Accused drug lord Mostafa Baluch is on his way back to Sydney after a Queensland court approved his extradition to NSW.

Baluch's bid for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes concealed in a shipping container being transported on the back of a truck.

The fugitive had been on the run from police when he was nabbed during a botched bid to cross the Queensland border on Wednesday morning.

Sixteen days earlier, he cut off an ankle monitor while on bail and sparked 'one of the largest fugitive hunts in the country'.

Baluch's bid for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes concealed in a shipping container being transported on the back of a truck

The fugitive had been on the run from police when he was nabbed during a botched bid to cross the Queensland border on Wednesday morning

Police allege he was planning to flee overseas from Queensland.

Queensland officers searched dozens of trucks over the past few days, zeroing in on the transport after noticing the container wasn't properly secured.

After a night in the Southport Watchhouse, Baluch's extradition hearing was held on Thursday.

Unvaccinated for COVID-19, Baluch remained in isolation and unable to appear in court so listened to the proceedings by phone.

Lawyer Nicholas Andrews consented to the extradition application without objection, with Baluch expected to return to Sydney later in the day.

He is expected to return to NSW under police escort to Sydney Central Court.

Baluch was last seen in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches on October 25, days after being granted bail.

He was released on strict conditions, including $4 million surety on his waterfront home at Bayview.

Baluch pictured outside his home in Mona Vale on October 25, just hours before the alleged international drug lord disappeared

Baluch is charged with a string of drug offences related to a 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia that had a street value of $270 million but will also face charges over his breach of bail.

The man who was driving the truck in which Baluch was found - who police say owns a transport company - was also arrested.

The 46-year-old has been charged with doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice and denied bail.
A doctor accused of faking Covid vaccine records for anti-vaxxers has been raided by health authorities and his medical documents seized.

Mark Hobart's North Sunshine Surgery, in Melbourne's west, was stormed by Victorian Health Department officials on Wednesday afternoon.

They were investigating claims he falsified Covid records by either handing out fraudulent exemptions or fake vaccine certificates.

Videos posted online by the GP's supporters showed officials talking to Dr Hobart as they scoured his office.

'We've got authorised officers inside, they're giving Dr Hobart a hard time, ' Jonas said in a Facebook livestream.

Dr Mark Hobart (pictured) is under investigation by the Victorian Department of Health over allegations he distributed fake Covid vaccine exemptions

'[He is] an asset to our community, a family doctor of three decades. This is just absolutely disgraceful what is happening in our country.'

Mr Jonas heckled officials as they carried out their duties, calling out 'are you proud of yourselves?' as he followed them around the surgery.

Once the officials left, Dr Hobart complained about the 'intimidating' raid.

'I've just been invaded by seven authorised officers and they have seized my confidential patient files, appointment book, and various other documents,' he said.

'They say they are going to give me an itemised list of what they have taken. It was quite an intimidating experience.'

The Health Department said they were collected to pass on to the federal medical watchdog, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

'Victorian Authorised Officers attended a medical clinic in North Sunshine yesterday to carry out investigations under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008,' it told Daily Mail Australia.

A video posted online shows officials seizing medical documents from North Sunshine Surgery on Wednesday

'Evidence gathered from those investigations will be passed on to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and Victoria Police.'

Daily Mail Australia made several calls to the clinic on Thursday, which all rang out to a voice message saying the surgery would be closed for several days.

Photos posted online show a sign erected on the front door, reading: 'The Victorian Government has banned patients from entering this surgery because Dr Hobart refused to surrender your private and confidential patient files'.

Daily Mail Australia also contacted North Sunshine surgery by email but is yet to receive a response.

The investigation is one of several which have been launched by the Health Department amid reports a small number of GPs issuing false vaccination certificates.

There is strict criteria for Covid vaccine exemptions, which doctors are expected to ensure are met before issuing them for patients.

Vaccine exemptions can only be issued on specific medical grounds, including a severe reaction to a Covid-19 vaccine or a severe acute medical illness that allows for a temporary delay in vaccination.
A bird likened to a jet fighter for its aerodynamic shape has beaten his own world record for non-stop avian flight with a journey of 8,108 miles.

The bar-tailed godwit, carrying a tiny solar-powered satellite tracker, left Alaska on September 17 and flew for 239 hours on its epic journey, arriving in Australia on September 27.

The male bird, known as 4BBRW, had been heading for its summer grounds in New Zealand but winds over the Pacific forced it to take a detour. The bird has now left Australia and flown across the Tasman Sea.

A bar-tailed godwit, likened to a jet fighter for its aerodynamic shape, has beaten his own world record for non-stop avian flight with a journey of 8,108 miles

Last year the same godwit beat the previous 13-year record set by a female of the species when it flew 7,500 miles non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand.

Males weigh up to 14oz (around 400g) and gorge on molluscs, worms and insects before long flights, often doubling in size. They can shrink their internal organs to lighten their load.

They are likened by some experts to a jet fighter because of their long, pointed wings and sleek shape.

Last year the same godwit beat the previous 13-year record set by a female of the species when it flew 7,500 miles non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand

Bar-tailed godwits breed in Alaska but spend the Austral summer in New Zealand and Australia, making the journey there and back every year of its 22 year expected lifespan.

Around 325,000 godwits make the trip annually, typically completing it in two stages - moving from Alaska to the Yellow Sea between mainland China and the Korean peninsula and then onto its summer home.

Prior to the flight, their fat reserves generally constitute more than half of their body weight.
Ghislaine Maxwell lost her bid to exclude a psychologist who specializes in treating sexual abuse victims from testifying at her sex-trafficking trial.

Psychologist Lisa Rocchio was called in by prosecutors as a witness during a pretrial hearing in Manhattan Federal Court on Wednesday.

Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to charges that she had groomed underage girls for her late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein.

The trial is set to begin on November 29 with jury selection currently underway.

Ghislaine Maxwell, 59, lost her bid to exclude a psychologist from her upcoming trial that specializes in treating sexual abuse victims

Psychologist Lisa Rocchio was called in by prosecutors as a witness to the trial on November 29

During the hearing, Rocchio said adolescents were particularly likely to disclose sexual abuse later in life.

She said false allegations of sexual abuse can occur, but that they represent a 'very small minority' of accusations.

Lawyers for the British socialite had said Rocchio's opinions are inadmissible, arguing they were based mainly on her personal experience as a practitioner and lacked scientific backing.

One of Maxwell's attorneys, Jeffrey Pagliuca, said the defense intends to question the credibility of witnesses based on any prior histories of substance abuse or failures to disclose their accusations against Maxwell promptly.

Following questioning, U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan said she would largely allow Rocchio's testimony, in a blow to Maxwell's defense.

Assistant US attorney Lara Pomerantz questions Lisa Rocchio during a hearing to discuss which expert witnesses will be able to testify at Maxwell's upcoming trial

Lisa Rocchio sits in the witness box as she is questioned by Pomerantz

Maxwell is escorted into the courtroom by US marshalls during her hearing

Maxwell had allegedly proposed calling in psychologist Elizabeth Loftus, 77, for her trial as a witness to play the 'false memory card.'

Loftus, a psychology professor and writer, had previously represented big-name celebrities in former trials such as Harvey Weinstein, Ted Bundy and OJ Simpson.

She has spent years researching the malleability of human memory and often claims in court that memories are wrong or distorted.

'The world is full of people who support accusers,' Loftus said in a 2020 interview with the Los Angeles Times.

'I think people who are accused deserve some modicum of support as well.'

The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn where Ghislaine Maxwell, the alleged accomplice of the late financier, is awaiting trial

Maxwell was also denied bail for the fourth time by Nathan on Tuesday, saying her 'ability to flee' made it impossible to allow her to await trial at home rather than a detention center.

The two-page order, which rejected Maxwell's request, added that she would be transported from her cell at the Manhattan Detention Center to the trial 'in a way that is humane (and) proper.'

Maxwell's legal team also rehashed claims about her alleged mistreatment behind bars (Maxwell pictured earlier this year with 'a black eye')

Her family claimed last week that she was experiencing physical abuse at the hands of her guards

Her brother Ian Maxwell told interviewers that he thinks his sister has experienced 'physical abuse at the hands of her guards.'

'I don't see Ghislaine administering a black eye to herself,' he told Sky News. 'I think she has suffered some occasional physical abuse at the hands of her guards.'

He also said his sister's applications for pre-trial release have been constantly denied, despite her losing 15 pounds and incarceration making it harder for her to prepare a defense.

'It's designed to break her,' he told Sky News. 'That is just unjust. It's a fundamental abuse of human rights. And I find that quite shocking.'

She also claimed recently that during a hearing this week, a guard waited until he was alone with her and became verbally threatening.

The guard allegedly said: You think you are special? You are not special. Remember you are in custody and the judge doesnt care about you.'

Maxwell's former boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein, 66, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019

Her lawyer claimed that her disturbing treatment meant she should be released immediately.

Maxwell is charged with three counts of conspiracy-related charges including, enticing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

She faces up to 80 years if convicted of the charges, which she has consistently denied.

Her late boyfriend Epstein, who counted former President Bill Clinton and Britain's Prince Andrew among his associates, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 at the age of 66 while awaiting his own trial on sex crimes charges.
The former attorney general is thought to have used a loophole in lockdown laws to fly to the Caribbean in late April when almost all foreign travel was banned.

Sir Geoffrey Cox has so far refused to clarify exactly when he was in the British Virgin Islands to work on his lucrative second job.

But local reports suggest he arrived on April 26, three weeks before the British Government lifted the ban on international travel. There were limited exemptions for those deemed to be on essential business.

Sun seeking: Sir Geoffrey in Devon in May, days after being in the British Virgin Islands

Court documents state Sir Geoffrey was at an inquiry in the islands capital Tortola on May 13 and May 18. Nine days later he posted pictures on Twitter opening a new social centre at Hartford Bridge Park in Devon.

At the time, the British Virgin Islands were on the UKs amber travel list, meaning anyone returning had to isolate at home for ten days. But a Whitehall source pointed out that the Government had introduced a test and release scheme.

This saw very limited exemptions for crown servants, foreign diplomats and essential workers to avoid quarantine after as little as five days if they had a negative PCR test.

Sir Geoffrey did not respond to questions yesterday about when he travelled, or what quarantine arrangements he undertook.

Court documents state Sir Geoffrey was at an inquiry in the islands capital Tortola on May 13 and May 18 (file image)

He made a second visit to the Caribbean islands the following month. He is advising the government of the BVI, a tax haven accused of corruption, in an inquiry ordered by the British Foreign Office. Reporters were told this week that Sir Geoffrey is abroad.

His wife Jeanie arrived at their Devon home alone in her black Land Rover but refused to answer the Daily Mails enquiry about the whereabouts of her husband. She said: No. I have nothing to say to you. I dont care what you want to know.
Sir Geoffrey Cox earned up to 110,000 defending the controversial former premier of the Cayman Islands in a high profile corruption trial.

The Tory MP is at the centre of the row over second jobs after this paper revealed he used Covid rules to vote in Parliament from the British Virgin Islands.

It has now emerged Sir Geoffrey, 61, was paid 355 an hour for eight weeks work for the Cayman Islands law firm that represented then opposition leader McKeeva Bush.

In the periods he was paid by Travers, Thorp, Alberga, he made one speech of just 46 words in the Commons, bolstering critics claims that he is an absentee MP.

In total Sir Geoffrey (pictured) earned 820,000 between December 2012 and October 2014 for 1,552 hours of work as a barrister  equivalent to almost ten months of work

In the 2014 trial, Sir Geoffrey successfully defended Bush against claims he used his government credit card to withdraw $50,000 in casinos in the US and the Bahamas.

Bush had been charged with 11 counts of official misconduct and breach of public trust, and had been removed from office. But he was acquitted after Sir Geoffrey argued he was the subject of a cynical plot of breathtaking proportions at the hands of a British-appointed official pursuing a personal vendetta.

The MPs register of interests showed Sir Geoffrey earned 110,000 working for the firm between July and August 2013, and July and October 2014. It is not known whether all 310 hours were devoted to Bushs case, but the payments all fall within the period between Bush being charged in March 2013 and his acquittal in October 2014.

In total Sir Geoffrey earned 820,000 between December 2012 and October 2014 for 1,552 hours of work as a barrister  equivalent to almost ten months of work.

It has now emerged Sir Geoffrey, 61, was paid 355 an hour for eight weeks work for the Cayman Islands law firm that represented then opposition leader McKeeva Bush (pictured)

He faced harsh criticism in 2018 for defending tax havens without declaring that he had earned thousands working for law firms in the Cayman Islands.

Bush has faced a litany of allegations of corruption, assault and sexual assault. Last December he was handed a suspended sentence for a shameful drunken assault on a woman, captured on CCTV. It led to calls for him to resign as speaker of the Caymanian parliament.

In 2017 he was investigated for battery after allegedly groping a female employee at a Florida casino.

The charges were later dropped.

In a statement yesterday Sir Geoffrey said he regularly works 70-hour weeks and always ensures his constituents casework is given primary importance and fully carried out.
Alexa-Leigh Blakemore, six, rushed to hospital after accident on September 10

The parents of a girl crushed by a falling fireplace while playing in her living room say they complained to their landlord about the hazard but nothing was done.

Alexa-Leigh Blakemore, six, was rushed to hospital in Liverpool after suffering serious head injuries from the accident on September 10.

The primary school pupil was placed in an induced coma, from which she has now awoken, and has been in intensive care ever since.

Alexa-Leigh, nicknamed 'Lexi' by her parents, sustained a bruise on the brain, lost hearing in one ear and is now blind in one eye.

Doctors cannot tell whether she will walk again or the severity of her brain damage.

Her parents Keiran Blakemore and Elle Williams say they had complained to their landlord about the loose fireplace in their living room but nothing was done.

The pair opened up about their anger and devastation in an interview with ITV News, saying their daughter has been 'robbed of her life'.

It comes as a report by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) reveals that substandard housing is costing the NHS 1.4billion a year.

Alexa-Leigh Blakemore (pictured), six, nicknamed 'Lexi' by her parents, was rushed to hospital in Liverpool after sustaining serious head injuries from the accident on September 10

Lexi's father Keiran Blakemore speaking to ITV News Political Correspondent Daniel Hewitt. He said: 'The landlord didnt do the job and now, 8 months later, my daughters pulled it on herself'

Lexi's mother, Elle, said: 'It was horrible, thats all I can say. Its heartbreaking.

'I'm angry. Im angry and Im hurting, my daughters now been robbed of her life. She had a completely normal life and shell never be normal again.'

Elle's partner and Lexi's father, Keiran, claims she tripped and reached for the fireplace to gain her balance, causing it to come off the wall.

He said: 'I'm annoyed that I reported it in April.

'The landlord just didnt do the job and now, eight months later, my daughters pulled it on herself and injured herself to the point where shes got brain damage and will never be the same again.'

Keiran continued: 'She was a happy, normal little girl, who had a following on social media, and now I'll never see her dance again.'

Merseyside Police said the accident is being investigated and no criminal charges have been made.

Meanwhile, a report by the BRE shows approximately 857million is spent by the NHS on health problems caused by overly cold homes.

Lexi's mother Elle Williams said: 'I'm angry. Im angry and Im hurting, my daughters now been robbed of her life. She had a completely normal life and shell never be normal again'

Lexi with mother Elle, father Keiran and little sister Luna-Rae. Keiran said: 'She was a happy, normal little girl, who had a following on social media, and now I'll never see her dance again'

The fireplace which fell on Lexi. Her father Keiran claims she tripped and reached for the fireplace to gain her balance, causing it to come off the wall

Around 374 million is spent treating injuries from falls brought about by dangerous conditions, and roughly 38million is contributed towards residents suffering from the effects of damp.

Referring to the report, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'We have a housing challenge in this country - it's been longstanding over many years - I was previously the Housing Secretary.

'We've put in place many ways to try and help with that housing challenge. In some parts of the country it's particularly acute, in London and Cornwall for example.

'And I think the fact that we're investing a record amount in affordable homes, the changes to the planning system that have been made, the Help to Buy scheme - this is all part of doing what can be done to help people to have a home, whether they're renting it or buying it.'
People aged over 65 could be barred from cafes, restaurants and long-distance trains if they can't show a valid proof they've had the booster jab, the health secretary has warned.

Sajid Javid said he would not rule out following France's regime of requiring health passes for the over-65s and warned vaccine immunity was warning.

He added: 'In due course we will have to look at what constitutes vaccination.'

It could mean Britons need three doses to be classed as 'fully vaccinated', with those who have received fewer denied entry to crowded places and restricted from travelling.

France announced this week that over-65s will need a booster to access restaurants, trains and planes from the middle of next month.

Asked if the UK could follow suit, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'We're not looking at that yet. We are very focused on our booster programme, as you would imagine.

Sajid Javid (pictured) said he would not rule out following France's regime of requiring health passes for the over-65s and warned vaccine immunity was warning

'Over 10.6 million boosters, I think, throughout the UK so far already, a record number of bookings, many people coming forward.

'In due course, we will have to look at what constitutes vaccination.

'But at this point, the most important thing is that anyone that's eligible gets out there and gets their booster.'

Asked if that meant the policy could be introduced in the future, Mr Javid added: 'I can't rule that out. And I think that we know now that the vaccines do wane and it is important that... people get a top-up.'

Everyone over the age of 50 and high-risk groups are eligible for a booster vaccine in the UK six months after their second dose.

Anyone travelling to the UK without two doses is required to self-isolate for ten days on arrival. Some countries do not allow access to those who are not fully vaccinated.

Boris Johnson has previously said Covid vaccine passports could be required to enter crowded venues this winter if the virus gets out of control.

There has been some concern that the public are not coming forward for their booster as quickly as they did for their first and second shots. And many have reported difficulties trying to book a convenient time and place for their jab.

Everyone over the age of 50 and high-risk groups are eligible for a booster vaccine in the UK six months after their second dose (file image)

Speaking when the booster programme was announced in September, Professor Jonathan van Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, said there was 'no current consideration of Covid certification in terms of the boosters'.

Asked if he would consider people fully vaccinated if they had not received all three jabs, he said: 'I would consider they don't have the optimal protection on board, as a scientist.

'Whether there will be a ministerial decision about what constitutes Covid certification or not for boosters is something that ministers will need to decide on in the future.

'But that's a long way off because you can't put in those kinds of rules until everyone's had the opportunity to be brought forward and offered the vaccine in the first place.'

The Government is on track to fall far short of its target of offering boosters to the 32million most vulnerable, including all over-50s, by Christmas Day.

At the current rate, of about 300,000 doses a day, nearly ten million at-risk Britons will still be unprotected over the festive period.

Ministers are under pressure to deliver 500,000 boosters a day to tackle waning immunity and stop a surge in hospital admissions.
A full-time fireman who also has a keen interest in manicured lawns was blown away when he spotted the 'best kept' front yard he'd ever seen in Sydney, sharing footage of it online with his social media followers.

Tim Parker, who has a prolific following on TikTok and YouTube, made his way to the home of Carthic Mundiyolanda in Schofields to inspect the green grass.

Mr Parker, known as Tim the Lawnmower Man online, told Daily Mail Australia he 'couldn't believe' the magnificent appearance of the lawn, which resembled fake grass.

Social media sensation Tim Parker (pictured) loved using the Scott Bonnar roller mower in Sydney's north-west recently

Carthic Mundiyolanda, the lawn enthusiast, also uses rotary scissors (pictured) to clip his hedges

'Carthic got in touch online and invited me over for a look myself,' he said.

'I was very impressed, he clearly takes pride in how his lawn looks.'

The secret to Mr Mundiyolanda's lawn - which leaves his neighbours green with envy - is a Scott Bonnar Cylinder Reel Roller mower.

'They don't come cheap, some can retail between $2000 and $3000,' Mr Parker said.

'Carthic also goes the extra yard by using rotary scissors for his edges.

'The end result tells the story, the lawn looks amazing.'

Mr Parker's highlight after meeting Mr Mundiyolanda was having a brief turn of the Scott Bonnar mower.

'I've got one at home in the shed, but I don't use it much,' he explained in the TikTok clip.

'It was great to have a little go of that mower, it just glides across the grass.'

When he isn't on duty as a fireman, Mr Parker runs his hobby business specialising in mowing and hedging in Sydney's north-west and western suburbs.

Mr Mundiyolanda gave a quick demonstration before Mr Parker himself saw firsthand the smooth work of the Scott Bonnar mower
A prized collection of antique gold snuff boxes stolen from a stately home has been found decades after it vanished.

Seven of the 24 so-called Fulford Thefts  worth more than 100,000 and dating back to 1770  have been returned to their rightful home after being stolen in 1981.

The boxes, a mix of French, Swiss and German craftsmanship, have been given back to Temple Newsam House in Leeds.

The Art Loss Register discovered the treasures at auction  however, they had changed hands so many times it was impossible to identify the thief.

A prized collection of antique gold snuff boxes stolen from a stately home has been found decades after it vanished

After conservation work the collection will go on display next year.

Adam Toole, keeper at Temple Newsam House, said: Were absolutely thrilled to see the boxes return home.

He added: The disappearance of these beautiful boxes was a great loss to Temple Newsam and to the city, so were delighted that these treasures are in our collection once more.

Its extremely rare to find objects which have such a captivating combination of classic artistry and modern-day intrigue and we cant wait to share this remarkable story with our visitors.

Seven of the 24 so-called Fulford Thefts  worth more than 100,000 and dating back to 1770  have been returned to their rightful home after being stolen in 1981

The boxes, a mix of French, Swiss and German craftsmanship, have been given back to Temple Newsam House in Leeds

James Ratcliffe, director of recoveries and general counsel at the Art Loss Register said: It is fantastic to see these seven gold boxes returned to Temple Newsam, more than 40 years since they were stolen.

Originally displayed in Temple Newsams stunning Chinese Drawing Room, the boxes were stolen, along with a number of other items, probably by a thief pretending to be a tourist viewing the homes many antiquities.

The boxes had joined the houses collection at the outbreak of the Second World War, when they were part of a generous donation by noted local art collector, entrepreneur and laxative magnate Frank Fulford.

The Tudor Jacobean mansion dates back to the 16th Century. It was the largest house of its day in Yorkshire and was seized by King Henry V111 after he beheaded Lord Thomas Darcy, who built the house.

Lord Henry Darnley was born in the mansion, but the house was seized for a second time by Queen Elizabeth 1 when he married Mary Queen of Scots.
US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has given a thumbs-up to Scotland's other national drink Irn-Bru.

The 32-year-old Bronx Representative, the bete noire for the American right, said the orange soft drink reminded her of Kola Champagne - another 'soda' popular in Latin America.

The Democrat, who arrived at the UN climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday, filmed an Instagram video of herself drinking her first can of Irn-Bru in a 'moment of truth'.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez said: 'Oh my God, love it, love it. This tastes just like the Latino soda Kola Champagne. I love it. Irn-Bru, count me in.'

US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has given a thumbs up to Scotland's national drink Irn-Bru

The Democrat, who arrived at the UN climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday, filmed an Instagram video of herself drinking her first can of Irn-Bru in a 'moment of truth'

'I was so shocked at having something in Glasgow that tasted like home,' she added in a caption. 'However Irn-Bru is also very unique on its own. It's got pizazz. I like it!

'Will bring some cans home to New York for sure!'

Ms Ocasio-Cortez had earlier said she wanted to try Irn-Bru, Scotland's other national drink after whisky, during her visit to Glasgow for the COP26 conference but had been too busy to get any.

'I am trying to get my hands on some!,' she said. 'So far it's been non-stop work with no real independent time so I am hoping for a window to find some.

'The schedule has us leave early and get back late. Where do I find it??'

Luckily Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was on hand and tweeted a photo of herself and Ms Ocasio-Cortez posing with a can.

Luckily Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was on hand and tweeted a photo of herself and Ms Ocasio-Cortez posing with a can

Sturgeon wrote: 'Amidst all the serious business at Cop26 today, I'm pleased to also report that @AOC now has a supply of Irn-Bru.'

Ms Ocasio-Cortez responded: 'Talk about Scottish hospitality! Thank you for the (very special) delivery, Madam first minister.'

On Tuesday, the congresswoman spoke at a press conference at the climate summit and later spoke at an event about how climate change affects women and gender equality, where she also called for the US to get back the 'moral authority' it lost under Donald Trump.

A spokesman for Irn-Bru said: 'It's phenomenal that Scotland's ginger nectar has made such a splash with delegates from across the globe.'
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sold more than $5 billion worth of stock in the electric car maker after his much-publicized Twitter poll criticizing President Joe Biden's proposed 'billionaire's tax' on capital gains.

In his first share sale since 2016, Musk's trust sold nearly 3.6 million shares in Tesla, worth around $4 billion, while he also sold another 934,000 shares for $1.1 billion to cover tax withholding obligations after exercising options to acquire nearly 2.2 million shares.

The $1.1 billion block of shares, sold on Monday, was part of a pre-arranged trading plan that was put in place on September 14, well before he posted the Twitter poll on Saturday, SEC disclosures show.

But the subsequent $4 billion sell-off on Tuesday and Wednesday does not reference the pre-arranged plan and appears to be in response to the Twitter poll, in which his followers voted in favor of him reducing his stake in the company.

The 4.5 million shares sold equate to about 3 percent of his total holdings in the electric vehicle manufacturer, which makes up the vast majority of his estimated $281.6 billion fortune, according to Forbes.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sold some of his stake in the electric car maker to satisfy tax obligations related to exercising stock options

The electric car maker's stock rose 2 percent after the bell on the news

Musk posted the poll in protest of Biden's proposed tax on unrealized stock gains, saying that he had no cash to pay taxes on the rising value of his assets if such a levy were put in place.

Now, Musk will pay massive capital gains taxes on the proceeds from the sale of stock, which is currently how investments are taxed.

Tesla's stock rose 2 percent after the bell on the news of Musk's trades, helping to offset a multiday sell-off that had endangered the company's position in the $1 trillion club.

It comes after Musk on Saturday polled Twitter users about selling 10 percent of his stake to cover President Joe Biden's proposed tax on unrealized gains, setting off worries that such a sale could hurt Tesla's share price.

Unrealized gains refer to the rising value of stocks before they are sold. Current law allows for profits to be taxed only when they are realized upon the sale of stock or similar assets.

Musk vowed to abide by the result of the Twitter poll, in which 58 percent voted in favor of him selling the shares.

In Wednesday's trading session Tesla recovered 4.3 percent to $1,067.95 after shares dropped sharply over the Twitter poll.

'Following the bizarre Twitter poll Musk put out over the weekend on his 10 percent ownership stake to be sold, it appears Musk walked the walk and thus has started selling Tesla shares into year-end,' said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in a research note obtained by DailyMail.com.

'The question will be for investors if he sells his full 10 percent ownership stake over the coming months or is it done piece by piece heading during 2022,' he added.

Ives remains bullish on Tesla with an outperform rating, saying it would be better for Musk to 'rip the band-aid off now and sell this portion of stock rather than it lingering over the next year.'

In its filing, Tesla said Musk sold shares on Monday to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to exercising stock options to purchase 2,154,572 shares.

Musk, 50, poised a question to his horde of 63.1 million Twitter followers on Saturday asking if he should sell 10 percent of his $250 billion stake in the company

After the results indicated users were in favor of the billionaire selling off some of his Tesla shares, Musk since said he was 'prepared to accept either outcome'

The sell-off does not represent a full 10 percent liquidation of Musk stake in the company, which would be worth about $20 billion.

While Tesla has lost close to $150 billion in market value this week, retail investors have been net buyers of the stock.

Some 58 percent of Tesla trade orders on Fidelity's brokerage website on Wednesday have been for purchases, rather than sales.

Retail investors made net purchases of $157 million on Monday and Tuesday, according to Vanda Research.

Tesla is now up more than 51 percent in 2021, thanks largely to an October rally that was fueled by an agreement to sell 100,000 vehicles to rental car company Hertz.

'The company itself is on fire, with strong results,' said Tim Ghriskey, a senior portfolio strategist at New York-based investment management firm Ingalls and Snyder. 'That is not going to fade quickly.'

Bullish sentiment returned to Tesla's options on Wednesday, with about 1.1 calls traded for every put. Calls are typically used for bullish trades, while buying puts shows a bearish bias.

The company's options accounted for about $109 billion in premium changing hands over the last two weeks, or about one in every three dollars traded in the U.S.-listed options market, according to a Reuters analysis of Trade Alert data.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been forced to flee a press conference in a country town under police guard after a mob started chanting 'kill the bill' and 'sack Dan Andrews'.

The Labor leader was visiting the regional town of Bendigo on Wednesday to cut the ribbon at a new TAFE college but instead was met by an angry group of demonstrators.

Police had been assessing the situation throughout the morning and advised him to leave as he arrived to hold the press conference, before ushering Mr Andrews away.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has been forced to flee a press conference in a country town under police guard after a mob started chanting 'kill the bill' and 'sack Dan Andrews'

The Labor leader was visiting the regional town of Bendigo on Wednesday to cut the ribbon at a new TAFE college but instead was met by an angry group of demonstrators

Mr Andrews speaks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a Remembrance Day event at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne

Footage of the confrontation has circulated on social media, with angry protesters chanting as he rushes inside a white Volkswagen four-wheel-drive.

The small number of angry demonstrators are holding placards as they chant slogans at the premier.

Police can be seen standing between the protesters and the premier as he is quickly ushered down the steps of the TAFE and into his car.

The rally appears to be aimed at the state's jab mandates, with several anti-vax signs visible at the scene.

Mr Andrews is believed to have left Bendigo after the incident and travelled back to Melbourne.

Police can be seen standing between the protesters and the premier as he is quickly ushered down the steps of the TAFE and into his car

Anti-vax and anti-lockdown protests have been ongoing in Victoria for months, with groups calling for Mr Andrews to be sacked

On Wednesday the state's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar were verbally abused on the steps of Victorian Parliament

The anger comes after the government announced it would bring in new pandemic legislation to replace the state-of-emergency laws that expire in December.

The new mandate would give Premier Dan Andrews the power to declare a pandemic and give enhanced control to the health minister.

Victoria's Minister for Tourism Martin Pakula said the treatment of officials was 'absolutely appalling'.

'The way they targetted public health officials was absolutely appalling,' he told reporters Wednesday.

'Members of Parliament should be able to participate in that debate without threats of violence and abuse.'

Mr Morrison and Mr Andrews attend the event on Thursday morning at the Shrine of Remembrance

The anger comes after the government announced it would bring in new pandemic legislation to replace the state-of-emergency laws that expire in December

On Wednesday the state's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar were verbally abused on the steps of Victorian Parliament.

The pair were called 'rat dogs' and 'scumbags' by the small group in attendance as they headed in to the building.

One woman even attempted to approach Mr Weimar before police quickly moved in to protect the officials.

'Brett Sutton, I don't think you will ever walk a Melbourne street alone,' one man was heard shouting.

Victoria have just moved above 80 per cent vaccination rates, with the hard border to NSW now coming down.
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Scott Morrison and Daniel Andrews awkwardly sat together in solidarity at a Remembrance Day service after publicly criticising each other over the past 18 months.

The Prime Minister and Victoria Premier greeted each other at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance before sitting together for the service to honour Australia's fallen soldiers.

The encounter came just a day after Mr Morrison blasted Mr Andrews' Covid-19 lockdowns as 'extreme' and declared freedom 'must never be taken from us again'.

But despite their disagreements, a source said the meeting was amicable. 'They caught up, it was cordial, as you would expect for a state leader and a Prime Minister, and the occasion,' the source said.

Awkward! Scott Morrison and Daniel Andrews sat together at a Remembrance Day service after publicly criticising each other over the past 18 months

Mr Morrison and Mr Andrews greeted each other at Melbourne 's Shrine of Remembrance before sitting together

The pair were pictured sitting in front of two men wearing shades who appeared to be their close protection officers

Prime Minister Scott Morrison shakes hands with Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews during the Remembrance Day service

At one point during the service to remember Australia's war dead, Mr Morrison leaned in to Mr Andrews as they exchanged words

Despite publicly criticising each other during the course of the Covid pandemic, the pair appeared to get on well at the service

Mr Morrison and Mr Andrews both wore navy blue suits for the occasion to commemorate the end of the First World War and honour fallen soldiers

The two leaders were sitting in the front row for the service which took place in Melbourne on Thursday morning

The pair have clashed throughout the pandemic over restrictions and the vaccination programme.

In September Mr Andrews slammed the Prime Minister for not ordering more vaccines in 2020, saying: 'Maybe if they'd been ordered last year, they'd be in arms already.'

He also called Mr Morrison 'the Prime Minster for New South Wales' after the state was given extra financial support during its lockdown in July.

'Victorians are rightly sick and tired of having to beg for every scrap of support from the federal government,' he said in a furious statement.

At times during the service at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance both men sat with their legs crossed and their hands clasped

The two leaders put on a united front for the cameras, smiling and walking to the service side by side despite their public disagreements

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (second left) and Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews (left) arrive ahead of the Remembrance Day service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne on November 11

The encounter came just a day after Mr Morrison blasted Mr Andrews' Covid-19 lockdowns as 'extreme' and declared freedom 'must never be taken from us again'. Pictured: The pair walk towards the service

Mr Morrison has sought to play down tensions between the pair, previously telling 3AW radio: 'We get on just fine'. Pictured: The pair arrive for the service

The Remembrance service was briefly disrupted by a protester who had to be detained by several police officers. It's not clear what he was protesting about

Mr Morrison has sought to play down tensions between the pair, telling 3AW radio: 'We get on just fine.'

He has largely left it to senior ministers including Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to attack Mr Andrews over his stringent lockdowns.

But in October 2020, at the end of Victoria's four-month lockdown, he criticised Mr Andrews for not opening up faster.

The Victoria Premier called Mr Morrison (pictured together on Thursday) 'the Prime Minster for New South Wales' after the state was given extra financial support during its lockdown in July

In September Mr Andrews slammed the Prime Minister (pictured together at the Remembrance Service) for not ordering more vaccines in 2020, saying: 'Maybe if they'd been ordered last year, they'd be in arms already'

Mr Morrison laid a wreath at the shrine as he attended the service to honour Australia's fallen soldiers on Remembrance Day

The Prime Minister wore a large red poppy underneath his customary Australia flag badge as he place his wreath during the service

The Royal Australian Navy guard are seen during the Remembrance Day 2021 Service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne

One man flew the Australian flag as tradies in high-vis clothing watched the service at the Shine of Remembrance

He described the slow re-opening as a 'profound disappointment' and said: 'At some point, you have to move forward and put your public health systems to work in a bid to reclaim the jobs that have been lost.'

On Wednesday Mr Morrison attacked harder than ever before, branding Victoria's Covid policies as 'extreme'.

Five million Melbourne residents were last month released from the longest cumulative lockdown in the world, having been confined to their homes for 262 days, or nearly nine months, since March 2020.

Premier Andrews imposed some of the toughest restrictions across the globe including a one-hour-a-day exercise limit, a 5km movement restriction and an 8pm curfew.

Mr Morrison also mingled with Victorian Liberal Leader Matthew Guy (centre) and his deputy David Southwick (right) as well as Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (left)

Earlier on Thursday morning Mr Morrison served members breakfast during a visit to Doncaster RSL in Melbourne

In a message to struggling small businesses, he said: 'You're the ones who've managed the heartache, complexity and frustration of extreme lockdowns and restrictions and staying Covid safe.

'And you are the ones who are now opening your doors again.'

'I also want to thank the people of Victoria,' he added.

'You have had to endure what no-one else in this country has had to endure.'

The Prime Minister said his national re-opening plan, which progressively removes restrictions once vaccination thresholds are met, allows Australia to avoid future lockdowns as long as premiers abide by it.

'The human face of reopening, recovery and renewal is everywhere to see,' he said.

'You see it in the smiles on the faces of small business people, as they pull up the shutters in the morning on their deli, their newsagent or their coffee shop.

'You see it in the hugs at airports, as families reunite across geographies and across generations.

'And you see it in the simplest of pleasures. Friends catching up. Having a beer. Going to restaurants. Strolling around the shops.'

Melbourne was heavily policed during its lengthy lockdowns. Pictured: Police make arrests at a protest in the city in October 2021

And in a stark sentence that appeared to blame premiers for taking away Australians' freedoms - even though he prevented them from leaving their own country for 18 months - he added: 'The taste of freedom. It must never be taken from us again.'

'That is why I put the national plan together. A plan based on the best possible medical science and economics to ensure we open safely and stay safely open.

'Australians have kept their side of this deal by getting vaccinated.

'Governments must now keep theirs and return to Australians their freedoms.'

It comes after Mr Morrison criticised Western Australia premier Mark McGowan who has vowed to keep his state border closed until 90 per cent of over 12s are fully vaccinated, expected in late January or early February.

The Prime Minister is furious the rouge Labor leader is not adhering to the National Plan which calls for states to do away with border closures once the jab rate hits 80 per cent.

'The modelling done by the Doherty Institute makes it very clear, and that was what was agreed in the National Plan, not just once but twice, and that is once you reach 80 per cent vaccination rates, then you're able to move forward,' Mr Morrison said on Monday.

'The advice we have from the Secretary of Treasury from Dr Kennedy is once you go over 80 per cent and you keep things locked down, you are doing more harm than good to your economy.

'You are actually putting a price on Australians, when you continue to put heavy restrictions on your economy, once you get 80 per cent vaccination rates.'
Greg Abbott has demanded an investigation into 'pornographic books' at school libraries in Texas amid a growing anger over sexually explicit novels being made available to children across the country.

In a letter on Wednesday, the Texas governor called on the state's education agency to notify him of any 'instance of pornography being provided to minors under the age of 18 for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.'

It came after Abbott warned in previous letter, sent on Monday, that Texas parents were 'rightfully outraged' about the availability of inappropriate books in schools, citing both Gender Queer: A Memoir and In The Dream House, which he said contain 'pornographic drawings' and descriptions of 'overtly sexual acts' respectively.

Gender Queer was removed from school libraries by a Fort Worth school district last week following complaints by parents that it was obscene.

The same novel sparked fury in Florida last month when a man was removed from a school board meeting when he began reading vulgar extracts - including graphic descriptions of sex, masturbation and strap-ons.

A growing movement is seeing parents across the country demand the removal of sexually explicit novels from school libraries, leading to verbal clashes at school board meetings and the National School Boards Association (NSBA) to compare the protestors to domestic terrorists - for which it was forced to apologize.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has called on the state's Education Agency to launch an investigation and notify him of any 'instance of pornography being provided to minors under the age of 18 for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law' (Pictured: Abbott at a National Rifle Association rally in 2018)

It comes after a suburban Fort Worth school district said last week that it had removed the controversial book Gender Queer: A Memoir (pictured), from its school library following complaints by parents that it was obscene

In a previous letter sent on Monday, Governor Abbott cited In The Dream House (pictured), by Carmen Maria Machado, which chronicles an abusive same-sex relationship, as an example of a novel of concern

Joe Biden's Attorney General Merrick Garland also came under fire last month when he instructed Justice Department divisions to coordinate with local law enforcement to protect school board members from 'violence and threats of violence' amid the growing uproar.

In the letter addressed to Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath on Wednesday, Abbott wrote: 'I am directing the Texas Education Agency to investigate any criminal activity in our public schools involving the availability of pornography.'

He added: 'The presence of pornography in schools is not only inappropriate, but it is also against the law.

'In Texas, it is illegal to provide pornography to anyone under the age of 18 according to Section 43.24 of the Texas Penal Code.

'The fact that pornographic material that serves no educational purpose has been made available to students in Texas public schools is a clear violation of the law.'

In the previous letter to the TEA on Monday, Abbott ordered the education agency, along with the State Library and Archives Commission and the state Board of Education, to immediately develop standards 'to ensure no child is exposed to pornography' in schools.

He cited both Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe, and In The Dream House, by Carmen Maria Machado, which chronicles an abusive same-sex relationship, as examples of concern.

Gender Queer, he noted, was removed from schools in the Keller Independent School District due to its 'pornographic drawings', while In The Dream House was one of several to be removed by the Leander Independent School District for its 'overtly sexual and pornographic acts'.

He warned that a growing number of parents of Texas students are 'rightfully outraged about highly inappropriate books and other content in public school libraries.'

He wrote: 'The most disturbing cases include material that is clearly pornographic, which has absolutely no place in the Texas public education system.'

The governor demanded better standards be adopted when choosing reading materials for students.

'These standards must ensure transparency about the materials being taught in the classroom and offered in school libraries,' he said.

'They must also ensure that our schools have an appropriate and transparent process, which includes parents and community members, to vet school and library materials before they are used.'

Abbott's latest intervention comes as he faces re-election next year, where he will be challenged by more conservative candidates.

The Texas Education Agency told Reuters, after receiving Abbott's first letter on Monday, that it takes his complaints seriously and that it would comply.

The state's Library and Archives Commission said it looked forward to working with the education agency and board of education 'to support our students and their families.'

Dailymail.com has contacted the TEA for comment.

In an opinion piece in the Washington Post last month, Kobabe, author of Gender Queer: A Memoir, noted the book had been targeted by school districts in a number of states.

She wrote: 'Removing or restricting queer books in libraries and schools is like cutting a lifeline for queer youth, who might not yet even know what terms to ask Google to find out more about their own identities, bodies and health.'

It comes after journalist and Inforwars collaborator Jacob Engel, 27, was removed from a meeting of the Orange County School Board in Florida on October 27 when he began reading vulgar snippets from Kobabe's book.

In a video shared online, chair of the board Teresa Jacobs is heard instructing police officers to remove Engel.

'I'm going to read a passage of a book that's floating around in your schools that has been banned from many other schools,' Engels begins saying.

'As a member of the LGBT community, the fact that this is floating around for children as young as ninth grade is concerning,' he added.

He then reads from the book: 'Fast forward, we've been dating for two months. We've made out. We've had sex. We moved down the sex thing at work...'

Engel goes on to read an explicit part of the text that discusses 'strap-ons' and other sexual devices and imagery.

'Sir, I appreciate...' Jacobs says in an attempt to make Engels stop reading.

'I'd like to continue reading,' Engel replies and keeps on reading an even more detailed sexual account from the book.

'Mr. Engels, you're out of order. Remove him from the chambers,' Jacobs says as other attendees protest.

Engels is eventually removed from the meeting.

Alicia Farrant, a member of Moms For Liberty and the person who recorded the video, is heard saying: 'No way.'

Jacob Engel, 27 was removed from the board meeting after he read an excerpt from 'Gender Queer: A memoir'

Four copies of the 'Gender Queer' by Maia Kobabe were in three of the Orange County School Board's 22 high schools

Journalist and Inforwars collaborator Jacob Engel (right), 27, was removed from a meeting of the Orange County School Board in Florida on October 27 when he began reading vulgar snippets of Kobabe's book

She adds that the problem is precisely that school officials don't know the content made available for children when Jacobs tries to defend herself saying she had never heard of the book.

'I understand the contradiction here. This is the first time I've heard of this and the board has heard of this. We will look into it, and I do hope the book is removed. OK?' Jacobs said.

'And if not, we'll be back here having this conversation again, but I can guarantee you, I did not know that book was in the library,' she added.

Four copies of the book were in three of the board's 22 high schools.

OCPS Director of Media Relations Shari Bobinski said in a statement that the book was removed from the schools' libraries, FOX reported.

Bobinski wrote: 'The School Board was unaware this book was available in school media centers. At this time, the book is not on library shelves and is under review.

'If anyone has a concern about materials or books found in our media centers or in our classrooms, Orange County Public Schools has a process in place for parents or guardians to submit a form to the school principal to address a concern.'

That same week, mother-of-six Stacey Langton, who is leading the fight against pornographic novels in schools, claimed to Fox News Fox & Friends that federal agents and unmarked law enforcement vehicles were seen outside a board meeting of the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia a week earlier.

Langton claimed that there was a heavy federal law enforcement presence just days after she and others protested outside the Department of Justice in Washington, DC.

She made the allegation as Attorney General Garland was accused of treating Fairfax County parents protesting aspects of the school curriculum as 'domestic terrorists'.

The Biden administrations top prosecutor came under fire over a directive the Justice Department issued in early October promising more law enforcement resources for schools amid a rise in tensions and threats at school board meetings over matters like critical race theory, coronavirus precautions and transgender bathroom policies.

Sen. Tom Cotton (left) questioned AG Merrick Garland (right) last month over a DOJ memo promising to address a 'rise in crime' at school board meetings

In his memo Garland said there had been 'a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nations public schools.'

While Garland never mentioned or referred to parents as terrorists, his memo came after the National School Boards Association sent a letter to Biden asking for help.

The letter claimed that clashes between the school board and parents could amount to 'domestic terrorism'.

Langton, however, believes she and other parents are being targeted by the feds and says she has received death threats in response to the protests.

'I have threats against my children by name, I have been followed in my car with my children, they have my vehicle, they know where I live, and I dont know who's putting somebody up to this, but it's obviously meant to intimidate me,' said Langton.

'I'm not getting a lot of sleep right now, nobodys sleeping in my house because we cant be sure that were safe,' she said.

'So, I understand Merrick Garland is actually testifying today at the Senate and hes gonna talk about mobilizing the FBI against parents.

'Maybe he should mobilize the FBI into whos threatening my family.'

Langton posted a tweet on Friday showing a marked Department of Homeland Security vehicle that was operated by the DHSs Federal Protective Service, the agency unit responsible for safeguarding federal properties.

'Went to @fcpsnews (Fairfax County Public Schools) #schoolboardmeeting last night,' Langton wrote in the caption of a tweet.

'Heavy #Fed presence. Unmarked fed vehicles, @DHSgov vehicles, even helicopter circling overhead with spotlight on Moms & Dads.

'All on the night #DOJ Merrick Garland testifies. A little over the top, no?'

Other internet users, however, claimed that the photo Langton posted was of Gallows Road, a busy intersection in Fairfax County, and that it was not of parked cars outside the school board meeting.

Langton claimed that federal agents and unmarked law enforcement vehicles were seen outside a board meeting of the Fairfax County Public Schools. Langton said that there was a heavy federal law enforcement presence just days after she and others protested outside the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. But the image that she posted appears to show flowing traffic near where the school board meeting was held

Social media users also noted that northern Virginia is home to several federal buildings, and it is not uncommon to see federal law enforcement personnel driving by.

The school board meetings are usually held in a location on Gallows Road, but the image Langton posted appears to be that of flowing traffic, and not a parking lot as she suggested.

'This is something that is incredible in America and its ridiculously un-American,' Langton told Fox & Friends of the alleged law enforcement presence.

DailyMail.com reached out to Langton, the Fairfax County Public Schools, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice seeking comment.

Langton last month forced FCPS to remove two books from school libraries, including an illustrated memoir that contains explicit illustrations of sexual encounters involving children.

She questioned the school board at a public meeting in September about the books availability in high school libraries.

As she quoted from explicit passages in the book, a school board member interrupted her and chastised her for using explicit language.

Another school board member defended the books by saying they are available only in high school libraries, not in grade schools.

The school system then announced that it was pulling Gender Queer: A Memoir and Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison from circulation pending a more detailed review.

Gender Queer, an illustrated memoir, contains explicit illustrations of oral sex and masturbation.

The novel Lawn Boy contains graphic descriptions of sex between men and children.

Both books were previous winners of the American Library Association's Alex Awards, which each year recognize 'ten books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults ages 12 through 18.'

The controversy is the latest to befuddle Fairfax County's school board, and other across Virginia and the country as conservative parents object to masks in schools, anti-racism curriculum, and policy changes requiring transgender students be referred to by their preferred pronouns.

Republicans say Garland went too far in instructing Justice Department divisions to coordinate with local law enforcement.

An accompanying news release had mentioned the FBI, the departments criminal division, national security division, civil rights division and other departments.

'The obligation of the Justice Department is to protect the American people against violence and threats of violence and that particularly includes public officials,' Garland said.

Meanwhile, the NSBA has since apologized for comparing parents to domestic terrorists.

'As you all know, there has been extensive media and other attention recently around our letter to President Biden regarding threats and acts of violence against school board members,' the NSBA wrote in a memo.

'We wanted to write to you directly to address this matter.'

'On behalf of NSBA, we regret and apologize for the letter,' the NSBA said, noting that 'there was no justification for some of the language included in the letter.'

The NSBA had called for the use of measures like the PATRIOT Act, which is typically used to address terrorism.

Sen. Tom Cotton tore into Garland during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the end of October, telling him to 'resign in disgrace.'

'Thank God you are not on the Supreme Court,' the Arkansas Republican said, bringing up the touchy subject of Garland's failed confirmation to the high court in 2016. President Obama appointed him and then-Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked his confirmation because it was an election year.
Hundreds of companies which started trading after the furlough scheme was set up have claimed up to 26.6million from the taxpayer, it was reported last night.

Around 340 firms registered to just five addresses in London are said to have been established on or after March 1 last year, when furlough came into force, prompting fraud fears.

A new HMRC team tasked with recovering 1billion in fraudulent or incorrect claims is likely to scrutinise such firms.

Three of the most used addresses are linked to formation agents  specialist firms that set up and organise new businesses on behalf of directors, according to The Times.

Around 340 firms registered to just five addresses in London are said to have been established on or after March 1 last year, when furlough came into force, prompting fraud fears

These formation specialists have previously been linked to organised crime and money laundering as they provide legitimate addresses and credible company names, making it easier for rogue firms to gain the trust of victims.

However, there are legitimate reasons to use a formation agent  and so many of the claims are likely to be lawful.

In total, 7,000 companies registered to only five London addresses claimed up to 473million between them from last December to June.

Furlough helped pay the wages of 11.6million workers at a cost of almost 70billion before stopping in September.

But HMRC estimates that more than 6billion has been lost to fraud and error.
Ulrika Jonsson has slammed her son's school for calling her to ask whether her 13-year-old son was home when two 'strange' men slept over.

The star, 54, said it made her 'blood boil' when a safeguarding officer phoned her following a boozy night out at the weekend.

She took to Instagram Sunday to share details of a raucous night on the town with her daughter Bo, 21, and admitted 'there are two men sleeping in my house, don't know who they are'.

The mother-of-four also showed off a 'bruised, swollen, sore wrist' and said: 'There's so much I don't remember'.

But in her column for The Sun she revealed her son Malcolm's school rang her after looking through her social media.

She said she was accused of endangering her child after she let the men, who were her daughter's friends, stay the night.

'Had I been a dad bringing two women back to my home, would I have received a phone call? Methinks not,' she added.

Ulrika Jonsson, 54, said it made her 'blood boil' when a safeguarding officer phoned her following a boozy night out at the weekend. Pictured, she revealed two men slept over

Jonsson revealed on Instagram that she enjoyed a boozy night out with her daughter Bo on Saturday night that resulted in her being kicked out of a club

In her column for The Sun she revealed her son Malcolm's school rang her after looking through her social media. She said the school accused her of endangering her child after she let the men stay the night. Pictured, Jonsson with her four children

'To suggest that, as a woman, I couldnt have strange men to my house because I need to protect myself  rather than us continuing to implore men to learn to behave appropriately around women  is sexism.'

Addressing her fans from the comfort of her front room on Sunday, Ulrika said: 'About last night. There's just so much I don't remember.

'I've come home with a bruised, swollen, sore wrist, with scratches on it. I also have a really sore a**e from falling over.'

She explained: 'Bo and I went for a drink and bumped into a group of girls I've never met, and hi-jacked their evening, [I] apologise.

'And then [we] drank and danced, and then I fell over three times. I got barged out by security and I'm barred I think.'

The presenter added that she has woken up to find two male strangers asleep in her home and her wrist was 'bruised, swollen and sore'

Ulrika added: 'I'm thinking this is a good result for a 54-year-old. It shows I've still got a bit of life in me'

Ulrika added: 'I'm thinking this is a good result for a 54-year-old. It shows I've still got a bit of life in me. Also I think we got a McDonalds on the way back home, and there are two men sleeping upstairs.'

It comes after she enjoyed a quieter weekend with her children last week.

Seven days earlier, Ulrika posted a gorgeous snap of her children Cameron, 27, Bo, 21, Martha, 17 and Malcolm, 13.

She went on: 'Also I think we got a McDonalds on the way back home, and there are two men sleeping upstairs'

It comes after Ulrika posted a cute snap of her children, Malcolm, 13, Martha, 17, Cameron, 27, and Bo, 21, as they enjoyed a family lunch a week earlier

'Here's four I made earlier,' she captioned the sweet post, showing off all four of her children's stunning resemblance to their mum.

The father of Ulrika's son Cameron is John Turnbull, who she was married to between 1990-1995.

She shares daughter Bo with Markus Kempen, who she split from shortly after Bo was born in 2000.

The father of Ulrika's son Cameron is John Turnbull, who she was married to between 1990-1995.

She then wed Brian Monet in 2008 and they share son Malcolm. In 2014, Brian also adopted her daughter Bo from the presenter's relationship with German hotel boss Markus Kempen.
Have you or someone you know been affected by this? Email tips@dailymail.com

A care worker who lost his job due to the decision to make vaccines mandatory for staff has said he feels 'betrayed' and 'shunned' as the ban comes into force today.

From today, all carers in England must have had two Covid vaccines to keep their jobs or they will be sacked. Estimates suggest up to 60,000 workers will not get the jabs by that deadline.

Unions have claimed hundreds of homes may be forced to close their doors for good because of staffing shortages.

The sector was already short of 100,000 workers before the pandemic struck.

Dave Kelly, 32, started working for a care home in the North West after coming back to the UK at the start of the pandemic.

The Merseyside native said he took the job to 'do my bit of good for people', and has only had three weeks off.

Pictured: 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 ahead of the deadline

HAVE YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW BEEN AFFECTED BY THE 'NO JAB, NO JOB' BAN? Tell us your story. Email us on tips@dailymail.com Advertisement

However, he has lost his job due to the Government's deadline for all care home staff in England to be doubled jabbed, unless medically exempt.

He said he worried for the future of the care sector.

'How I feel today: let down, abandoned, betrayed, shunned, disbelief, anger, panic that we are the first but won't be the last, concern that this system will collapse under Tory failures,' he said.

'Most importantly, I feel dread for the millions of people who will now have to live or work in a crippled care sector.'

Mr Kelly said he had become close with the residents and families that use the care home, and had received cards and gifts from them.

'I previously worked as a guide over in Asia but now I am sitting in front of gifts and thank you cards from over 40 families I helped this last two years and still take out family members who have lost a loved one in our care,' he said.

He added that he was 'most annoyed' at being forced to leave the service now when he had worked through the pandemic without PPE.

'I am most annoyed at how we have been allowed to work the front lines with little to no protection the entire time, yet as of tomorrow we are now an instant danger?' he said.

Meanwhile, a Bristol care worker of 15 years told how she now works in Lidl after she had to quit her job because she refused to have the Covid vaccine.

Ruslana Mironova also said there would be a staffing crisis in the care industry and in the NHS because of the rule.

Care workers were given a couple of months to get their jabs when the enforcement was announced in September, but Ruslana said she resigned her position on the day back in September when that order came in.

The 46-year-old worked through the pandemic and for the past year at Badminton Place, a luxury 10m 'all-inclusive' care home that opened in Patchway on September 1, 2020.

Bristol care worker Ruslana Mironova (pictured), who pre-emptively left her job to work at Aldi, said there would be staffing crises in the care industry and in the NHS because of the rule

'I'm very disappointed, it's very sad,' said Ruslana. 'I've worked as a carer for 15 years and it is a job that I love. It should be our choice whether to have the vaccination or not.

'I worked through the pandemic when at the start they were sending patients out of hospitals without testing them and they had Covid and we weren't given the right PPE, and the Government didn't think much about the safety of patients or carers then.

'I care about the people I care for, and I'm really disappointed with the Government, not with my managers - they have no choice either,' she added.

Since leaving the job in September, Ruslana said she looked for work in the NHS before taking a job at Lidl.

'It was difficult - what could I say when asked why I left care work after 15 years? So I have change my career by 360 degrees.

'I am not afraid of speaking out on this. It's not fair for the 30,000 carers who have left their job and it's not fair for the people being cared for - there is already a shortage of carers and NHS staff and now the Government is creating an even bigger problem,' she added.

The Government said the science indicates having the Covid-19 vaccination reduces the risk of catching and transmitting the virus, so reduces the risk of staff passing the virus on to residents and patients in care homes or care settings.

The rules were announced first in June this year for carers, who had to be double vaccinated by September, ahead of the enforcement, which begins today, and the rules for NHS staff announced yesterday come into force on April 1.

The requirement only covers workers in England while health authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have not indicated they plan similar regulations, something which Ruslana says questions the whole scheme.

'I am not an anti-vaxxer. I have had all the other vaccines all my life. I have the flu jab every year. That's a vaccine that has been developed over many years and is shown to be safe.

'The Covid vaccine has been made so quickly and I don't want to be an experimental mouse. The time is too small to know the long-term effects of this vaccine,' she said.

All the health authorities and medical experts in the UK have confirmed that the various Covid-19 vaccinations licensed to be used in Britain are safe for use, provide people with protection from catching and transmitting Covid, and drastically reduce the chances, if a vaccinated person does catch Covid-19 of the virus leading to hospitalisation or death.

The Health Secretary said the same rule that mandates the Covid vaccine for NHS workers has had an effect with care home workers - since it was announced in June, with a September cut-off, the numbers of unvaccinated care staff in England has dropped from 88,000 to 32,000, he told Parliament.

Yesterday, Javid defended his 'no jab, no job' policy for the NHS, which was announced this week, saying it was the 'duty' of NHS workers to get the jab in order to protect patients, and insisted that he does 'not want to see anyone have to walk away from their job'.

'This is all about patient safety, we know vaccines work, we know that they reduce the risk of you being infected, so it reduces the spread of an infection,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'People whether they are in care homes or a hospital bed, they are particularly vulnerable to this virus, it could be fatal. It is our duty to everything we can to protect them.'

Care boss urges No10 to delay 'no jab, no job' policy until April over fears exodus of 60,000 unvaccinated staff will backfire and KILL elderly residents

Mike Padgham called on ministers to push back the deadline for workers to be double-jabbed to next spring

He said this would bring it into line with that for frontline NHS workers, who don't need to be jabbed until April

He warned some elderly residents could die because homes would be left with 'unsafe' staffing levels

Care boss Niccii Gillett said today she was left 'heartbroken' by leaving notes from unvaccinated staff. She said their Surrey home had lost six of 36 employees

BY LUKE ANDREWS FOR MAILONLINE

No10 was today urged to delay its controversial 'no jab, no job' policy for care home workers until April over fears the plans could backfire and kill elderly residents.

From tomorrow, all carers in England must have had two Covid vaccines to keep their jobs or they will be sacked. Estimates suggest up to 60,000 workers will not get the jabs by that deadline.

Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, which represents providers in Yorkshire, has called on ministers to push back the deadline to next spring, which is when NHS workers are legally required to have both of their vaccines.

He warned mandating the jabs could kill vulnerable residents because homes would be left with 'unsafe' staffing levels.

Niccii Gillett, a care home manager in Surrey, said she was left 'heartbroken' by leaving notes from employees who chose to resign rather than get the Covid vaccine.

The 37-year-old revealed they had lost six out of 36 employees at the home she manages in Woking, two of which had been working there for more than seven years. Every letter said they wanted to stay in their jobs.

The plea came after it was announced yesterday that NHS workers will have until April 1 to get their two doses. The Government originally planned to make vaccination mandatory in the health sector this winter but delayed the plans after being there could be a mass exodus. Some 103,000 are still yet to receive one dose.

Mr Padgham told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the delay was needed to help the sector through the winter, and to match the timeline set yesterday for the NHS.

Unions have already claimed hundreds of care homes may be forced to close their doors for good from tomorrow because of staffing shortages. The sector was already short of 100,000 workers before the pandemic struck.

But ministers say the policy will ensure vulnerable residents are 'properly protected'. A care home near Preston received an award today for getting every staff member double-jabbed against the virus.

Sajid Javid dismissed fears tomorrow's deadline would cause elderly residents to die, however. The Health Secretary insisted the policy was 'manageable' for the sector.

Mike Padgham (left), chair of the Independent Care Group which represents providers in Yorkshire, has called on ministers to push back the deadline to next April in order to match the NHS. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said care home employees had had five months to get the Covid vaccine

The above chart is from the Government assessment of the impact of mandating double-vaccination in the NHS (second column) and in social care (fourth column). It shows the Government expects 38,000 social care workers to leave their roles when it is mandated. But unions say the number will be closer to 60,000

Care bosses have repeatedly pleaded with ministers to delay the vaccine mandate for the sector. It is feared the plans will spark a mass exodus forcing home to limit their beds or close completely.

Some 38,000 social care workers are expected to refuse to get the vaccine and be asked to leave the sector, according to the Government's estimates.

But unions have suggested as many as 60,000 could lose their jobs when the mandate kicks in.

Sajid Javid defends 'no jab, no job' policy for frontline NHS workers despite unions warning of mass staff exodus Health Secretary Sajid Javid has defended what he claimed was the 'perfectly reasonable' no jab no job policy for NHS staff, despite official estimates showing it will only convince one in six unvaccinated NHS workers to get the vaccine. His defense this morning came as care industry leaders warned the midnight Covid vaccine deadline for their sector will put patient lives at risk. Some of the 100,000 unvaccinated NHS staff have vowed to leave the health service if Government presses ahead with making being fully vaccinated a condition of deployment in the NHS. One trainee nurse told MailOnline he'll quit and become a dog trainer if vaccines are made compulsory for NHS staff by the Government's April deadline. But Mr Javid told Radio 4 this morning it was NHS staff's 'duty' to get the jab in order to protect patients. 'This is all about patient safety, we know vaccines work, we know that they reduce the risk of you being infected, so it reduces the spread of an infection,' he said. 'People whether they are in care homes or a hospital bed, they are particularly vulnerable to this virus, it could be fatal.' 'It is our duty to everything we can to protect them.' Advertisement

Mr Javid yesterday extended the 'no jab, no job' policy to frontline NHS staff  including doctors, nurses, receptionists and cleaners.

But he said it would not come into force until April, after health chiefs urged him not to impose the requirement over the 'very, very' difficult winter.

Critics have blasted the plans as neither 'necessary nor proportionate', pointing out that more than nine in ten care home workers and NHS staff are already double-jabbed.

But ministers argue that all patients in hospitals or homes deserve to be 'properly protected'.

Care homes were disproportionately affected by Covid during the pandemic after infected patients were discharged to them from hospital.

Official figures show some 43,000 care home residents have died from the virus since the pandemic began.

Calling for the care home mandate to be delayed, Mr Padgham told the Today programme: 'I would appeal to them to match the deadline for the health service which it brought in for April.

'We need that time to get through the winter to make sure we can provide care safely.'

He added: 'We need to delay it because we want to give people the right level of care and it's a tough winter ahead, it's a tough winter for the health service, it's a tough winter for us, and we need to work together.'

Asked whether the policy would trigger deaths, he said: 'Yes, I do believe that because I think that it is incredibly important that care homes have the right level of staffing.

'We just don't have any answers as to what do we do if we run out of staff? Facilities might have to reduce the number of people they look after or even, in some cases, close.

'There's no room to go into hospital, no room in the community, we've got the Government who won't allow temporary visas for staff to come in for social care either, so all roads to try and make things work seem to be blocked.'

Ms Gillett is a manager at just one home of hundreds that is seeing staff leave because of the Covid vaccination mandate.

She said: 'The sad thing is none of them wanted to leave. And reading their resignation letters was heartbreaking.

'They're so grateful for the opportunities and the first one that left, we gave gifts.

'It was such an emotional afternoon and for days afterwards my residents were heartbroken because they saw this person as one of them, and even a resident, they have said 'I wish she could come back, I don't care that she's not vaccinated'.'

Of the staff she has lost, she said two are double jabbed but had reactions to the vaccine and are nervous that the Government will make booster jabs mandatory.

The above map shows the five areas where more than one in five care home employees are still yet to get two doses of the Covid vaccine

Miss Gillett said there is anger and frustration among staff who had wished to remain in the jobs, adding: 'What has really aggravated people is with our residents, everything is about choice, it's about consent  keywords that are drummed into you as soon as you enter the profession, but that choice has been taken away from my staff.'

Miss Gillett has managed to recruit four full-time staff but is still looking for part-time workers to cover weekend and evening shifts but that her home is 'one of those luckier ones'.

60,000 more Brits than usual have died at home during pandemic, official data shows More than 60,000 extra deaths have occurred in private homes since the start of the Covid pandemic, official data shows as experts call for an investigation into the trend. An Office of National Statistics (ONS) report published today found that there have been 252,486 deaths in private homes between January 2020 and June 2021. The number of deaths at home in the England and Wales has steadily risen since 2005, with thousands more people choosing to die in the comfort of their home rather than a hospital bed. But the proportion leapt nearly 30 per cent in 2020 compared to the year before, as Britons were told to 'stay home, protect the NHS, save lives' when Covid struck. The ONS data shows there were about 41,000 more at-home deaths from all reasons in 2020 compared to 2019, with the number of people dying at home peaking in May. However, figures for 2021, which go up to June, show there were nearly 25,000 more deaths at home than the five-year-average for this period, casting doubt over lockdown being the sole reason for the rise. While Britain was still in its third lockdown at the start of 2021, the Government toned down its 'stay home' messaging and the NHS was told to continue treating non-Covid patients. There has been serious debate over the merit of the lockdowns and if they did more harm than good for the nation's health with it leading to people avoiding seeking medical help out of fear of the virus and disrupted tests and scans for illnesses such as cancer. Advertisement

She added: 'I think there's a lot of anguish, I think people are really hanging on as long as they can. And I know larger homes are losing a much higher percentage of the workforce and just looking in our local area there's much advertising going on.

'It's constant and it's not just one or two positions, they're advertising double figures because it is such an issue in care homes.

When the claim that people might die due to staffing shortages was put to Mr Javid, he denied the policy would trigger deaths.

He said: 'I think certainly from everything that we've seen while this will be challenging for the sector, ultimately it is manageable and will make it a safer place.

'If we did not have this policy it would mean that you would still have thousands of people that care for people that are very vulnerable that are more likely than otherwise to be infected by this virus.

'It's still out there  and they would be passing that on potentially to people that are so vulnerable that it could be fatal. I think that should not be accepted.'

Ministers were criticised when they brought in the policy for failing to publish an impact assessment  which would have laid out plans for managing a staffing crisis.

There were some 76,000 employees in older adult care homes who had not been jabbed when the policy was announced in June.

This has since fallen to 25,000, but care sources say making jabs compulsory had only a 'little' effect on uptake because there was no sudden jump in inoculations in the five months leading up to the deadline.

The up to 60,000 unvaccinated employees figure is based on all care homes  including those for younger adults  which were not included in the statistics.

An impact assessment published on plans to get all frontline NHS staff to be double jabbed estimates only 20,000 out of 125,000 unvaccinated employees will be spurred on to get the jab.

It also shows that ministers expect 73,000 not to come forward for the vaccines and by default lose their job. The remaining 30,000 are medically exempt.

Mr Javid said the 'scales clearly tipped to one side' in favour of compulsory jabs, but critics say they are unnecessary given that 90 per cent of staff are already fully jabbed and 93 per cent have had their first dose.

But unvaccinated NHS staff have reacted angrily to the policy.

A trainee GP has said she would rather give up her training than get inoculated against the virus.

Dr Reamika West told the BBC: 'I have not had the jab.

'I have had Covid so I know that I've got excellent immunity from having recently had Covid. I am also happy to be regularly tested if I am going to see patients.

'It's just at the end of the day it's unethical to force anyone to have a medical procedure.

'If they're decided for various reasons to not have this medical procedure, it should not be up to the Government to force me to or to say I'm going to lose my job.'
Melbourne Cup punters have given their grim verdict on the likelihood of Dan Andrew sending Victoria back into lockdown.

TikTok comedian Jon-Bernard Kairouz, who rose to fame by correctly predicting the daily NSW Covid tally, spoke to racegoers at Flemington on November 2.

In a clip shared to his 276,000 followers, Mr Kairouz asked Melburnians how much they would gamble on Victoria entering into another Covid lockdown.

'I'm not going into another lockdown,' one woman responded to Mr Kairouz at Flemington Racecourse

'If I told you that Victoria is paying $2 to go into another lockdown, how much would you put on it?' Mr Kairouz asked race-goers.

'My house and kids,' one punter responded.

'Put the f***ing mortgage on it,' said another.

'Everything in my bank account, so about 200 bucks,' another man joked.

'I'd get a Nimble loan out for as much as I can,' one punter claimed.

The video ended with a couple of those interviewed providing colourful appraisals of Victorian Premier Dan Andrews.

'Dan is not the man,' one punter said.

'I'm not going into another lockdown,' one woman responded.

Mr Kairouz pivoted from his over-the-top Covid case prediction videos in July when he fronted an anti-lockdown march in Sydney and declared himself 'the people's premier'.

The 24-year-old was then fined $1000 by NSW Police for attending the protest.

It remains unclear how Mr Kairouz managed to accurately predict the Covid case numbers for five days in a row, ahead of then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian's press conferences

In July Mr Kaizrouz fronted an anti-lockdown march in Sydney and declared himself 'the people's premier'

In September Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Kairouz was is in a Covid-19 ward at St George Hospital in Kogarah, Sydney's south.

His father Richard Kairouz was also battling the disease at the same facility.

It remains unclear how Mr Kairouz managed to accurately predict the Covid case numbers for five days in a row, ahead of then-Premier Gladys Berejiklian's press conferences.

At the time, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard denied that a 'trap' had been set for Mr Kairouz where false information was supplied to his source.

Mr Kairouz enjoyed his case numbers stardom, telling reporters prior to the police charges that he was 'having a ball'.

'It's been a whirlwind,' he added.
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Kamala Harris has been mocked for appearing to put on a French accent to speak to scientists at a COVID lab in Paris during the vice president's visit to mend fences with France.

Harris on Tuesday visited the Institut Pasteur science lab, where Americans are working alongside Europeans to tackle COVID-19 and where her Indian-born mother researched breast cancer.

Harris began her program in Paris on Tuesday as the highest-ranking member of the Biden administration to visit France while a USA TODAY/Suffolk poll last week showed her approval rating at a dire 28 percent.

The five-day trip is aimed at undoing some of the damage caused by a series of blunders the White House made in its dealings with the French, including the AUKUS submarine deal.

Harris spoke about her love of science, and her dismay at how politics could not be as methodical and logical as their experiments.

'In government, we campaign with 'The Plan,' Harris said, with what some said was a French accent to discuss 'the plan'.

'Uppercase T, uppercase P, 'The Plan!

'And then the environment is such we're expected to defend 'The Plan' even when the first time we roll it out there may be some glitches and it's time to reevaluate and then do it again.'

Mike Pompeo, Donald Trump's Secretary of State, said Harris was humiliating the United States.

'The clip from Vice President Harris is more than embarrassing on the world stage,' he told Fox News' Sean Hannity on Wednesday night.

'Our adversaries watch that and see weakness. They see people who aren't serious, they see people who aren't determined - precisely the opposite of what we did for four years.'

Kamala Harris on Tuesday visited the Institut Pasteur laboratory in Paris, as part of her five-day trip to try and rebuild bridges with France

Kamala Harris today joined French President Emmanuel Macron at the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate Armistice Day as part of her four-day charm offensive tour to repair soured relations after the $9billion submarine deal with Australia

Harris donned a blue cornflower - known as a Bleuet de France - traditionally worn in France on November 11 in remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, similar to the UK's red poppy

Harris and Macron are seen on Wednesday at the Elysee Palace in Paris

The Quebec-educated vice president, who speaks some French, spoke on Tuesday of her love for scientific principals - but was mocked for appearing to put on a French accent

Harris moved to Montreal, Canada, when she was 12 and attended a French-speaking school for several years. But her apparent efforts at a French accent stirred outrage on social media, where she was accused of talking down to the scientists and embarrassing the country.

Republican researcher Jake Schneider tweeted the clip, saying: 'Kamala 'Cringe' Harris visits a group of French scientists and speaks to them as if they're toddlers, lamenting that people expect their elected officials to keep their promises.'

Abigail Marone, the press secretary for Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, tweeted: 'Is she using a FRENCH ACCENT?! I love this episode of Veep.'

Becket Adams, a commentator with the Washington Examiner, joked: 'I thought we cancelled pepe lepew.'

TV commentator Joe Concha said: 'There really are no words anymore #AuRevoir'

One man said: 'OMG! I am so embarrassed! God help the USA!'

'Wow,' said another. 'And she wonders why her approval rating is in the 20's.'

Another added: 'Why is she pandering to them? Feel bad about the sub deal? Will they be allowed to vote in our next election? Just like Joe, she's doing her part to make the Carter Mondale years not look so bad.'

France briefly withdrew its ambassador to the U.S. in September after the Biden administration struck a secret deal with Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines, blindsiding France.

As a result of the U.S. deal, Australia canceled its own $65 billion contract to buy French-made submarines.

Her visit is seen as a bid to rebuild bridges.

On Wednesday evening, she met with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace for nearly two hours.

Harris and Macron held talks for around two hours, which their aides described as constructive

AOC gives a thumbs-up after tasting a can of Scotland's other national drink Irn-Bru during the COP26 conference AOC has given a thumbs up to Scotland's national drink Irn-Bru US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has given a thumbs-up to Scotland's other national drink Irn-Bru. The 32-year-old Bronx Representative, the bete noire for the American right, said the orange soft drink reminded her of Kola Champagne - another 'soda' popular in Latin America. The Democrat, who arrived at the UN climate summit in Glasgow on Tuesday, filmed an Instagram video of herself drinking her first can of Irn-Bru in a 'moment of truth'. Ms Ocasio-Cortez said: 'Oh my God, love it, love it. This tastes just like the Latino soda Kola Champagne. I love it. Irn-Bru, count me in.' 'I was so shocked at having something in Glasgow that tasted like home,' she added in a caption. 'However Irn-Bru is also very unique on its own. It's got pizazz. I like it! 'Will bring some cans home to New York for sure!' Ms Ocasio-Cortez had earlier said she wanted to try Irn-Bru, Scotland's other national drink after whisky, during her visit to Glasgow for the COP26 conference but had been too busy to get any. Advertisement

Both leaders told reporters that they agreed it was the 'the beginning of a new era' that required working together.

Harris and Macron were also expected to discuss global health, space and other issues.

Harris is set to deliver a Thursday speech at the annual Paris Peace Forum and attend Veterans' Day ceremonies. On Friday she is expected to participate in the Paris Conference on Libya.

The latest gaff comes as Harris' team is trying to revive her poor poll numbers.

The former California senator's unpopularity has reached a historic level, with only 28 per cent thinking she is doing a good job.

Biden's approval rating hit yet another a new low, this time at 38 per cent, according to the USA Today/Suffolk poll, out on November 8.

A 51 per cent majority of respondents said they disapprove of the job Harris is doing as vice president.

At this early stage of a modern presidency, Harris' numbers in the USA Today/Suffolk poll are unprecedented.

The closest comparison  which involves slightly different methodology and margins of error  would be former Vice President Dick Cheney, the most unpopular US vice president in polling history.

He bottomed out at 30 per cent in Gallup's tracking survey, but that wasn't until the end of former President George W. Bush's second term in 2007.

And her Paris lab gaffe came after she was widely mocked last month for hiring paid child actors to take part in her Space Week video.

The 'Get Curious with Vice President Harris' video was filmed in August and tweeted out by the Vice President on October 7 to celebrate World Space Week.

It appeared to viewers that the children she was with were all normal kids.

However it has now been revealed that they are paid actors who auditioned by sending in a monologue and three questions they would ask a world leader.

Critics of Harris have leapt on the video, with the mockery compounded by the revelation that it was produced by Canadian company named 'Sinking Ship Entertainment'.

The video was shot at the Naval Observatory, Harris' residence, from August 11 to August 13.

A NASA video featuring Vice President Kamala Harris included child actors

During that time the Taliban were making rapid advances across Afghanistan and were closing in on Kabul during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal.

After the name of the production company was revealed by the Washington Examiner, many were quick to poke fun at the vice president.

'This just keeps getting better,' former Trump 2020 communications director Tim Murtaugh, posted on Twitter.

'The company producing Kamala Harris' video featuring professional child actors, which is called *Sinking Ship Entertainment'is based in Canada.'

Christopher Cadelago, a reporter for Politico who covers the White House and Harris, wrote: 'Not the point, but an unfortunate name to throw around politicians.'
Dramatic footage has captured the moment a militant vegan activist clashed with a seafood restaurant owner after accusing his diners of being animal abusers and supporting 'an animal holocaust'.

Notorious animal rights extremist Tash Peterson was ordered to leave by staff after storming into the Bathers Beach House in Fremantle, Perth last week.

Ms Peterson - an Only Fans star who claims to earn $40,000 a month - stood on a table as she and her fellow activists accused customers of being complicit 'in the largest holocaust in human history'.

'This is an emergency - the whole ocean is under threat. Fish are ripped from the ocean and brutally murdered,' she told stunned diners inside the restaurant.

The bearded hotelier accused the 27-year-old of trespassing before approaching her cameraman and escorting him out onto the boardwalk.

'You've been asked to leave. I've asked nicely and now it's time to go - you're on my property,' he said.

The cameraman said repeatedly 'don't touch me' as the owner walked directly towards him with his arms raised in an attempt to make the group leave.

The protesters moved out onto a footpath next to the restaurant, where they chanted 'animal abusers' and 'fish feel pain, fish want to live' while unfurling a banner that urged people to watch the Netflix documentary Seaspiracy.

'This is all about you - this is about nothing else but you,' the owner said.

'No this is about the largest holocaust in history,' Ms Peterson shouted back.

The group left the restaurant after almost five minutes and constant pleas for them to go home from frustrated diners and staff.

Well-known animal rights extremist Tash Peterson has staged her latest animal rights demonstration at a Perth seafood restaurant

The video emerged after Ms Peterson was slammed for comparing the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith to baby cows being taken from their mothers.

The belligerent animal rights extremist accused the Australian public of hypocrisy for celebrating Cleo's rescue from a locked home in Carnarvon, Western Australia.

The four-year-old was returned to mum Ellie and stepdad Jake Gliddon 18 days after she was kidnapped from a remote campsite during a family holiday.

Ms Peterson claimed abducting a child was no morally different to taking baby animals in the meat and dairy industry.

Ms Peterson last week compared the abduction of four-year-old Cleo Smith to baby animals who are taken from their mothers for milk and beef production

'Whilst Australia celebrates the rescue of Cleo... the majority of the nation pay people to steal babies from their mothers and shoot them in the head on dairy farms,' she captioned an image of a young cow.

'This is an image of a five-day-old baby awaiting his murder in a slaughterhouse in Tasmania.

'Males born in the dairy industry are often murdered just days old because they don't produce milk.'

Little Cleo (pictured) was miraculously returned to her grateful parents 18 days after she mysteriously vanished from the Blowholes Campsite in remote WA

The militant vegan went on to claim people who bought dairy products supported the 'rape, slavery, abuse, murder and the abduction of babies'.

'One day this heinous crime towards non humans will be illegal just like it is amongst humans. Be on the right side of history, live vegan.'

Some commenters agreed with the comparison that 'every mother is a mother', but even some of her most loyal supporters said she had gone too far.

Her statement on Facebook (pictured) came soon after it was announced police had freed little Cleo from a locked home in Carnarvon

The militant vegan - also known online as @vganbootyy said the abduction of a child is no morally different to the abduction of babies in the dairy industry

'You cannot be serious? The nation is in tears of relief about this precious little girl being found safe and you're using her already to feed your agenda?' one wrote.

'Can count on you to make something as sweet as little Cleo's story all about you and your 'cause',' a second wrote.

'I have been following you Tash and respected what you do and getting your point out but this is majorly next level and quite frankly wrong!' another fan commented.

In one of her latest protests the social media influencer marched into the designer store in Perth wearing only a nude G-string, with red paint daubed from her chest down to her crotch

'This young girl should not be used to gain your 'likes' and 'followers'.'

Despite the online backlash, the controversial plant-based campaigner doubled down on her claims and lashed out at her critics.

'Its fascinating witnessing the cognitive dissonance and how challenged people are feeling from a statement that I made which points out the blatant hypocrisy within our society,' she wrote.

'Triggered animal abusers can't even figure out that they pay for abuse, torture, slavery and murder' the activist replied to comments slamming the comparison

'The purpose of my post was to highlight the engrained anthropocentrism and speciesism within our society, it meant no disrespect to Cleo.

'People are accusing me of being iniquitous and offensive for drawing comparisons between the abduction of a human and the abduction of a non human, with no consideration of the fact that we are all animals who feel pain and suffering.

'All animals (human and non human) are mothers, fathers, children and babies with families with emotional connections.'

Anthropocentrism is the belief that humans are the only, or primary, holders of moral standing, and are separate from and superior to nature.

Ms Peterson claimed the majority of the people who disagreed with her post were 'actively paying for people to abduct babies from their mothers'.

She said those who labelled the comparison as distasteful needed a 'reality check' and should be outraged by the 'animal holocaust' they were contributing to.

The plant-based public figure (right) recently protested against horse racing at Ascot Racecourse in Perth and was seen being escorted away by police

'What is abhorrent, barbaric and outright shameful is supporting the dairy industry and other animal industries,' she concluded.

The 27-year-old has become known for her shock-tactic demonstrations performed in food courts, butchers, meat isles in supermarkets and busy restaurants.

She recently uploaded footage of police escorting her out of the Ascot Racecourse in Perth as she protested horse racing in front of a crowd of bemused punters.

She has also dressed in bloodied aprons and stormed into restaurants and supermarkets like McDonald's, KFC and Coles.
A judge ordered a halt to the mask mandate ban in Texas schools on Wednesday, ruling that Governor Greg Abbott's executive order violated the federal law protecting disabled children.

US District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in the ruling that the ban violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which has allowed state school districts to decide if they want to impose a mandate.

The nonprofit Disabled Rights Texas argued that Abbott's July order had prohibited accommodations for disabled children that were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19.

The ruling also prohibited Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from suing school districts that require students to wear masks as a safety measure.

Paxton already had sued 15 school districts to overturn those local mask mandates.

A judge ordered a halt to Governor Greg Abbott's mask mandate ban on Wednesday as they claimed it violated a federal law protecting disabled children

Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in a 29-page ruling that the ban had violated the Americans with Disabilities Act that allowed school districts to decide if they wanted a mandate or not. Students are seen wearing masks as they enter Holland Elementary School in Dallas on August 2

Nonprofit advocacy group Disability Rights Texas and other families with students that had disabilities filed an August lawsuit as the mandate had prohibited accommodations for disabled students that were susceptible to COVID

'The spread of COVID-19 poses an even greater risk for children with special health needs,' Yeakel said in the 29-page ruling.

'Children with certain underlying conditions who contract COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe acute biological effects and to require admission to a hospital and the hospitals intensive-care unit.'

Yeakel also added that the order violated the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prevents discrimination against disabled people, and the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed this year to help with economic and health recovery related to COVID.

The new rescue plan supplied $121 billion to help schools return safely with $11 billion given to Texas schools for health and safety needs.

'It cannot be more clear that Congress intends that the local school district receiving ARP Act funds be the ultimate decider of the requirements of the safe return to in-person instruction of students,' Yeakel wrote.

The ruling also prohibited Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from suing school districts that required students to wear masks

A lawsuit was filed in August by families of students with disabilities and Disability Rights Texas.

'Governor Abbotts executive order clearly violates federal law, and Attorney General Paxtons enforcement of the order against school districts is now stopped,' Kym Davis Johnson of Disability Rights Texas said in a statement.

'As the court found, Texas is not above federal law, and state officials cannot prevent school districts from providing accommodations to students who are especially vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19.

'We are thankful that school districts can now take the steps necessary to protect these students.

'No student should be forced to make the choice of forfeiting their education or risking their health, and now they wont have to.'

Dallas lawyer Tom Melsheimer, who represented the students and families, was also ecstatic about the ruling.

'Going forward, school districts all over the state will be free to follow sound medical science and common sense to protect the most vulnerable among us. Who can reasonably object to such a result?' Melsheimer told the Austin-American Statesman.

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel also added that the order violated the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prevents discrimination against disabled people, and the American Rescue Plan Act, which was signed this year to help with economic and health recovery related to COVID

After the Wednesday ruling, Paxton had tweeted that he disagreed with the outcome.

'My Agency is considering all legal avenues to challenge this decision,' Paxton said.

The Department of Justice had also filed a statement of interest for the case in September.

'The serious adverse consequences on students with certain disabilities is readily foreseeable,' the department wrote.

'Some parents of children at heightened COVID-19 risk will likely keep their children at homeeven though the children could safely attend school if mask protocols could be put in place.'

According to a poll from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune, data showed that 57 percent of voters supported mask requirements in indoor spaces and 58 percent supported requirements for students and staff in public schools.

Texas children between the ages of 5 to 11 will now be able to receive their first vaccination shots after the CDC approved the use of Pfizer for emergency situations

In addition, 40 percent opposed the requirements for indoor public places and 39 percent opposed the requirements in schools.

Texas children between the ages of 5 to 11 will also be receiving their first COVID vaccination shots after the CDC approved the use of Pfizer for emergency situations for that particular age group.

Abbott had signed the executive order in late July to prevent masks and COVID-vaccination mandates.

He announced the order hours after President Biden had called on more states to incentivize the vaccine.

'Today's executive order will provide clarity and uniformity in the Lone Star State's continued fight against COVID-19,' Abbott said.

'The new Executive Order emphasizes that the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates.
With much of Australia learning how to live with Covid-19, many businesses are concerned not only with protecting their staff and customers from the virus, but also themselves from being sued.

There have already been 2,623 Covid-related workers compensation claims made across Australia and the amount paid out is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars.

Most of these have been in the two states that have suffered most from the pandemic - 1298 cases in and Victoria and 1225 in NSW.

There were 51 compensation claims in Tasmania, 25 in Queensland, 12 in South Australia, 12 in, Western Australia, and five in the ACT.

Alexi Boyd (pictured) of the Council of Small Businesses Organisations Australia is very concerned about its members' Work Cover premiums rising as Covid case claims are paid out

No Covid-related workers compensation claims have been made in the Northern Territory.

Victoria is set to pay out $127m and NSW $33.4m, but across the country the amount paid is budgeted to be $638m by the end of 2022.

Employers have a legal duty of care to keep their workplace safe as far as is reasonably practicable.

An employee who catches Covid-19 at work can make a claim for workers compensation under state-based Work Cover schemes, which operate under a no-fault principle.

Workers who believe it was their employer's fault they were infected, either deliberately or by negligence, could sue their boss in court for damages.

The Council of Small Businesses Organisations Australia (CSBOA) is very concerned about its members' Work Cover premiums rising as Covid case claims are paid out.

Alexi Boyd, the chief executive of CSBOA, said small businesses need legislation to help keep Covid cases, and therefore claims, as low as possible.

'What small businesses are really relying on is public health orders,' she told ABC television.

At Mark Stapleton's suburban Sydney butcher shop staff have to wear masks, be vaccinated and sign a daily declaration that they are not sick and haven't been in contact with anyone who has Covid-19.

'We have to consider our staff going home to their family and their children and their elderly parents,' he said.

With Australia opening back up for business after long lockdowns, many employers are worried about staff catching Covid and making compensation claims

But he also wants to protect himself from being sued if a staff member does catch Covid.

'If a staff member did get quite ill and ended up hospitalised it is a concern that they would have some sort of a comeback,' he said.

Lawyers say workers compensation case numbers will rise as restrictions ease and workers returns to in-office working.

'I think to avoid liability [employers] have to show that they were aware of the risks and took the right measures,' said Giri Savaraman, a lawyer at Maurice Blackburn.

Lawyer Giri Savaraman says employers will have to show that they took the right measures to prevent Covid cases in their businesses

Workplaces that fail to take precautions could be sued for being negligent if employees get Covid.

'What employer in Australia is going to be able to say "We weren't aware of Covid and the risks it poses to us?"' he said.

Disability advocate Samantha Connor, who is disabled herself, is concerned about people returning to offices and coming into contact with unvaccinated people.

'We're talking about discrimination. What does it mean if you go to work and you may possibly die because you're going to be more at risk.

'Clearly this is a risk for a lot of people. We're not just talking about people with disability, it's chronic illness as well,' she said.

As well as Covid claims made by people who have survived, ABC reports that here have also been workers compensation claims related to death, three in Victoria and two in NSW.

More than $800,000 was awarded to the widow of a NSW man who died after contracting Covid on a business trip to the US.
The Pentagon's chief spokesman said that the climate crisis and China are 'equally important' threats to the US.

After the Biden administration warned of the serious national security China poses to the US, Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday that the current climate crisis is an equal priority.

Kirby made the comment after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed the US military is a 'larger polluter than 140 countries combined' during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Scotland this week.

When Kirby was asked on Wednesday whether China or climate change was a bigger threat to the US, Kirby said they both present challenges.

'I think we get paid to examine all threats to our national security,' Kirby said. 'You have heard the secretary talk about the climate as a real and existential national security threat, and it is not just to the United States, but to countries all over the world.'

'And we consider China as the number one facing challenge for the department,' he continued, but adding 'Both are equally important,'

US Department of Defense press secretary John Kirby told reporters on Wednesday that the current climate crisis an equal priority

This comes as China and the US announced they would work together to tackle climate change In the final days of the COP26 (President Xi Jinping pictured)

China recently caught Washington by surprise by launching a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile that circled the earth back in August leading US officials to announce they would be setting up their own version of the 'Iron Dome' on the Pacific Ocean island of Guam and begin testing the missile-defense system.

When pressed by FOX News reporter Lucas Tomlinson about which is a bigger threat between the two, Kirby refused to elaborate further.

'Lucas, I think I answered your question,' Kirby answered.

The Pentagon's statement comes as China and the US announced In the final days of the COP26 that they would work together to tackle climate change.

Few details were immediately available about the 'Declaration for Enhanced Climate Action in the 2020s,' but China's climate envoy Xie Zhenhua said the two countries would reiterate their commitment to limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.

He said China and the US, the world's first and second biggest emitters respectively, would work on emissions reporting regulations and developing rules for the carbon market.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, during a press conference at the Cop26 summit

The Pentagon this month issued a report saying China is expanding its nuclear force much faster than U.S. officials predicted just a year ago

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

The deal also called for a stronger emissions cuts goal, and China promised to follow the US' lead on cracking down on methane.

'The United States and China have no shortage of differences,' climate envoy John Kerry said after the deal was announced. 'But on climate, cooperation is the only way to get this job done.'

China's commitment came as a welcome surprise to COP26's organizers, as Chinese President Xi Jinping did not fly to Glasgow to attend the conference, citing coronavirus concerns.

The deal could be discussed at Biden's virtual summit with Xi, reportedly set for next week.

The deal came as Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that allied nations would be prepared to 'take action' if China attacks Taiwan, after back and forth messaging out of the White House.

'There are many countries both in the region and beyond that would see any unilateral action to use force to disrupt the status quo as a significant threat to peace and security,' Blinken said at the New York Times Dealbook conference Wednesday, first reported by Bloomberg. 'And they too, would take action in the event that happened.'

Weapons race: A comparison of the most advanced (columns from left) missiles, aircraft carriers, tanks and aircraft possessed by China, the US and Russia

China's growing threat was underscored further as satellite pictures emerged of mock-ups of a US aircraft carrier and destroyer in its northwestern desert, believed to be used in wargames amid rising tensions between the nuclear-armed nations.

The Pentagon this month issued a report saying China is expanding its nuclear force much faster than U.S. officials predicted just a year ago.

That appears designed to enable Beijing to match or surpass U.S. global power by mid-century, the report said.

The Biden administration has warned of the 'reality [China] has rapidly become more assertive.'

It also admitted that China is capable of 'combining its economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to mount a sustained challenge to a stable and open international system.'
Police have secured a restraining order to protect the wife of a former federal MP who defended him when he was found guilty of using trade union funds to pay for prostitutes.

Zoe Arnold was expecting her first child with Craig Thomson when the allegations were made against her husband in 2009 and later stood by him in court.

Mr Thomson, the onetime Labor member for Dobell, was found guilty of misusing funds while national secretary of the Health Services Union between 2002 and 2007.

A four-year investigation by Fair Work Australia revealed he had used his union credit card for personal gain including paying for brothel visits and escorts.

Police have secured a restraining order to protect Zoe Arnold from her politician husband Craig Thomson who she defended when he was found guilty of using trade union funds to pay for prostitutes. The couple is pictured leaving Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2013

Mr Thomson was found guilty of misusing funds while national secretary of the Health Services Union between 2002 and 2007. An investigation by Fair Work Australia revealed he had used his union credit card for personal gain including paying for brothel visits and escorts

Ms Arnold gave a character reference for Mr Thomson in March 2014 ahead of his sentencing in the Melbourne Magistrates Court.

'My husband is a good man,' the journalist wrote. 'Craig has been a devoted husband, partner and friend to me.

'He supports, encourages and loves me every day. I know I am lucky to have him and will continue to support him, just as he always supports me.'

Ms Arnold was Mr Thomson's third wife and by the time he was sentenced they had two daughters.

'He is beloved by our children who constantly ask where he is if he's not home,' she wrote in the reference. 'They adore there daddy who in turn dotes on them.'

Police were granted an apprehended violence order on Ms Arnold's behalf at Gosford Local Court on the New South Wales Central Coast on Monday.

The two-year AVO prevents 57-year-old Mr Thomson going anywhere Ms Arnold lives, works or to other places listed in the order.

She is called Zoe Thomson in court documents.

Ms Arnold gave a character reference for Mr Thomson ahead of his sentencing over theft charges in March 2014. 'My husband is a good man,' the journalist told Melbourne Magistrates Court. 'Craig has been a devoted husband, partner and friend to me'

Mr Thomson, who was not in court, is banned from assaulting, threatening, stalking or intimidating Ms Arnold, harming any pet she owns or damaging her property.

In her 2014 reference Ms Arnold said the media scrutiny of her husband during the credit card scandal had severely impacted their family life.

'The media coverage has bordered on harassment,' she wrote. 'We have felt like prisoners in our own home.'

Mr Thomson was sorry for the hurt he had caused his family, friends and colleagues, his wife told the court.

'Craig is a man who is devote to his family, his daughters and me,' Ms Arnold said in her reference.

'He has worked very hard every day as a private politician and as a private citizen, genuinely trying to make a positive impact on the local community.'

Mr Thomson (at rear) was elected the member for Dobell on the New South Wales Central Coast in 2007. He moved to the cross bench in April 2012 amid the credit card allegations

Mr Thomson was originally found guilty of 65 charges of fraud and theft for using Health Services Union funds for personal benefits, including the services of prostitutes.

Upon appeal to the County Court of Victoria he was convicted of 13 charges of theft and fined $25,000.

Judge Carolyn Douglas heard Mr Thomson had spent more than $400,000 defending himself and found he had misused union funds of less than $5,000.

'It's none of my business if he had a sex worker, but it is my business if he used someone else's money,' Judge Douglas said.

Mr Thomson was elected the member for Dobell on the Central Coast in 2007, taking the seat from the Liberal Party's Ken Ticehurst.

He moved to the cross bench in April 2012 after the credit card allegations arose but continued to protest his innocence.

Three months later Ms Arnold told the Australian Women's Weekly she remained convinced her husband had not used his union credit card to pay for prostitutes.

Ms Arnold admitted in 2012 she initially assumed the accusations against her husband were true and she had encouraged him to confess to what he had done

She told the magazine that while people saw Mr Thomson as a 'philanderer, a man who's loose with his money and his morals' he was in fact a good husband.

He brought a cup of tea every morning in bed, doted on their children and told her every day how much he loved her.

Ms Arnold admitted she initially assumed the accusations against Mr Thomson were true and she had encouraged him to confess to what he had done.

'Craig looked me straight in the eye and said, 'But I didn't do it', a statement he has repeated publicly and privately again and again.'

Ms Arnold said the strain of the scandal had made her worry her sanity would crack and that being married to Mr Thomson might life a 'red mark next to my name.'

'I love my husband,' she said. 'This will all end one day and then we will still have each other.'

Mr Thomson contested the 2013 federal election but lost his seat to the Liberals' Karen McNamara. The following year he was expelled from the NSW branch of the Labor Party.

Mr Thomson married Ms Arnold, a radio newsreader and media advisor, in January 2011 and their daughters are aged 10 and 12.
An accused drug lord who was found hiding in the back of a truck during a dramatic border arrest has returned to Sydney in shackles after his brief stint as a fugitive.

Mostafa Baluch's desperate bid for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes in a shipping container at the Queensland/ NSW border on Wednesday morning.

Baluch - dubbed 'Australia's Pablo Escobar' - allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor while on bail and sparking 'one of the largest fugitive hunts in the country'.

Baluch finally left the Southport watchhouse around 1pm on Thursday under heavy police guard for his long-awaited return to NSW.

He scowled as he was escorted onto a waiting police plane, shoeless, in shackles and wearing green prison-issue clothing.

Mostafa Baluch was seen for the first time since her was caught hiding in a shipping container on the Queensland border. He was believed to be attempting to flee Australia but is now headed to Sydney to face a series of major drug charges

Fugitive Baluch was escorted, in shackles, to a plane by Tactical Police Officers at Gold Coast Airport before being returned to NSW

Baluch is seen leaving the Southport Watchhouse on the Gold Coast on Thursday. He was the subject of a nationwide police manhunt after feeling Sydney and was understood to be arranging plans to escape overseas

He was escorted to Coolangatta Airport by Tactical Police Officers and flown by PolAir6  a Cessna Grand Caravan  to Bankstown Airport.

Baluch will be transferred to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre where he will face further charges by Organised Crime Squad detectives.

He is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday

He is accused of attempting to import more than 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia with a street value of $270million.

The alleged kingpin appeared sullen as he was driven from the Southport Watchhouse in handcuffs after being extradited from Queensland to NSW.

An officer holding a clear bag of his belongings revealed Baluch had packed a Colgate toothbrush, a Nivea moisturiser, deodorant and a few disposable razors.

A piece of Adidas clothing with the $59.99 tag still attached was also in the bag, as well as his drivers license and bizarrely, a pack of Maggi noodles.

A scrawled note on the side of the clear bag read: 'Watch and cash in safe'.

An officer holding a clear bag of his belongings revealed Baluch had packed a Colgate toothbrush, a Nivea moisturiser, deodorant and a few disposable razors (pictured)

Baluch was loaded into PolAir6  a Cessna Grand Caravan  for his flight to Bankstown Airport. From there he will be transferred to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre and further questioned

Baluch's desperate dash for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes concealed in a shipping container being transported on the back of a truck

He is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday.

Before his arrest on Wednesday, he was last seen in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches on October 25, days after being granted bail.

He was released on strict conditions, including $4 million surety on his waterfront home at Bayview.

Queensland officers searched dozens of trucks in the days leading up to the arrest, zeroing in on the transport after noticing the container wasn't properly secured.

As he is unvaccinated against Covid, Baluch remained in isolation for his extradition hearing on Thursday and listened to the proceedings by speakerphone.

The only words he said during the hearing were 'yes, I can hear you' when asked to confirm he was there, NCA NewsWire reported.

Lawyer Nicholas Andrews consented to the extradition application without objection, with Baluch expected to return to Sydney later in the day.

'I've spoken to him only very briefly,' Mr Andrews told Daily Mail Australia.

'He seems to be in good spirits and doing about as well as anyone who finds themselves in this sort of situation.'

Baluch allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor while on bail

Baluch will also face charges over his alleged breach of bail.

The man who was driving the truck in which Baluch was found - who police say owns a transport company - was also arrested.

The 46-year-old has been charged with doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice and denied bail.

A photo released by police shows Baluch dressed in a T-shirt and shorts sitting on the side of the road moments after his dramatic arrest.

Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Rob Crichlow paid tribute to investigators who have spent the last two weeks working around the clock to track Baluch down.

'He had a lot of help but there were a lot of people against him,' Det Supt Crichlow said.

'The community have turned the criminal element against him. He attracted a lot of attention and it's caused impacts for people he knows.

The fugitive had been on the run from police when he was nabbed during a botched bid to cross the Queensland border on Wednesday morning

Baluch pictured outside his home in Mona Vale on October 25, just hours before the alleged international drug lord disappeared

'We will look at everybody he knows and everybody he talks to and we have and we've achieved excellent results. We'll continue with that.'

Police left no stone unturned in their quest to ensure Baluch didn't flee the country.

'We didn't want to leave any opportunities for this man to flee,' Det Supt Crichlow said.

'We knew people overseas were waiting for him to come and join with them. That was a great concern. As the commander said, high-end targets live overseas and that causes enormous harm to Australians. So we were determined he wouldn't leave Australia.'

Baluch was found in the boot of this grey Mercedes (pictured) in a shipping container on the back of a truck crossing the NSW/Queensland border at Tweed Heads
Bob Carr has doubled down on his comment that anti-vaxxers should be stripped of their Medicare reimbursements if they need Covid treatment.

The former NSW premier said Australia should follow Singapore which announced it will stop paying coronavirus medical bills for those who are unvaccinated by choice from next month.

His tweet sparked outrage and was slammed by Scott Morrison who said anti-vaxxers should not be demonised for making 'their own choices'.

Bob Carr has doubled down on his comment that anti-vaxxers should be stripped of their Medicare reimbursements if they need Covid treatment

Mr Carr said anti-vaxxers, who are 20 times more likely to spread Covid, put others at risk

Mr Carr posted a follow-up tweet to explain his position in more detail, saying anti-vaxxers put others at risk.

'Here's the deal: For many this virus will be a death sentence. A pig-headed view that one has the perfect right to be unvaccinated without medical justification is a violation (potentially fatal) of the rights of others to life and health,' he wrote.

'This should be enforced as we enforce smoke-free work environments or no driving while drunk'.

Unvaccinated people are roughly 20 times more likely to spread Covid than vaccinated people, according to University of Melbourne professors Christopher Baker and Andrew Robinson.

But Mr Morrison said Mr Carr's proposal was heavy handed, telling Seven's Sunrise on Thursday morning: 'We don't have a mandatory vaccine policy as a Federal Government. It's not something we've done, we respect people's choices.'

Protesters participate in a 'Reclaim The Line' rally against vaccination mandates along the Parramatta River in Sydney on Sunday

A total of 81.5 per cent of Aussies over 16 are fully vaccinated and 89.7 per cent have had at least one dose.

Several states such as NSW and Victoria have mandated vaccines to go to work or enter retail and hospitality venues while others including WA require vaccinations for entry to the state.

'Of course we want people to get vaccinated and they have been getting vaccinated under these policies, the Prime Minister said.

'We live in a country where we are not going to go around demonising those who want to make their own choices. It think that's very important. That's not how my Government sees it.

'Of course we want people to get vaccinated but we are not going to take that heavy-handed approach which the Labor party always seems to like doing, whether it's Bob Carr or many of the others who have come down with those types of views.

'It's not our approach'.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison serves members breakfast during a visit to Doncaster RSL in Melbourne on Thursday

Bob Carr wants 'stupid' people who refuse a Covid-19 vaccine to pay for their own medical care if they get sick from the disease

Mr Carr's original tweet on Tuesday immediately sparked outrage and condemnation from Twitter users and prominent doctors, who baulked at the idea that Medicare would be suspended based on a medical or lifestyle choice.

'Covid has had some bad takes, but this is right up there. Unbelievable,' wrote Greg Dore, a UNSW infectious diseases expert.

Poll Should anti-vaxxers pay for their Covid medical care? Yes No Undecided Should anti-vaxxers pay for their Covid medical care? Yes 558 votes

No 1144 votes

Undecided 31 votes Now share your opinion





Others compared the idea to suspending funded care for cancer patients who smoked, diabetes patients who ate too much sugar or motorcyclists who suffered head injuries.

'No way Bob. Diabetes is a far bigger problem caused by lifestyle issues. Would you also refuse to treat people with diabetes who eat Pizza,' one commenter wrote.

La Trobe University mathematician Dr Joel Miller said the policy would only make Covid outbreaks worse.

'Predictable outcome: People who aren't vaccinated don't seek testing or treatment. Consequence: a higher proportion of cases becoming severe, and more transmission,' he wrote.

Only a tiny number of commenters agreed with Mr Carr.

'Yes. A Medicare levy for the unvaxxed. They should pay a bit more for their riskier lifestyle. There is one for not having private health cover, so why not,' wrote one.

The Tweet immediately sparked outrage and condemnation from Twitter users and prominent doctors

Only a tiny number of commenters agreed with Mr Carr's controversial opinion

Singapore made its announcement on Tuesday as a fierce outbreak puts the city-state's healthcare system under strain.

Mr Carr, a Labor heavyweight, was NSW premier from 1995 to 2005 and later served as foreign minister in Julian Gillard's federal government.

It comes after Queensland introduced plans to exclude unvaccinated people from venues when the state reaches 80 per cent fully vaccinated.

The Prime Minister said immunisation rates continue to grow at a rapid pace.

'NSW is now 90 per cent double-dose, Victoria will soon be there and we have other states that have had less Covid now 80 per cent... when it comes to their first dose,' Mr Morrison said.

'We will hit 90 per cent first dose this weekend for the whole country and we got there because we trusted Australians.'

Meanwhile, Australia's medical regulator granted a provisional determination to Moderna for its vaccine for children between six and 11.

Currently, the Moderna vaccine is eligible only for people 12 and over.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is also examining data from manufacturer Pfizer to approve its vaccine for children.

US regulators have already approved the jab for children.

On Wednesday there were 1,003 new cases in Victoria, with 14 deaths.

NSW registered 216 infections and three fatalities while there were nine cases in the ACT.

There were three cases detected in Queensland, one with no known links on the Gold Coast, while the other was associated with a cluster that started over the NSW border in Moree.

With AAP
Nearly 40,000 people took to the streets of Belgium's capital Brussels on Sunday to protest against new anti-Covid measures banning the unvaccinated from entering restaurants and bars (pictured). Some protesters were seen throwing projectiles at police officers and in response, police fired water cannon and tear gas at the group. The protest came just hours after it emerged Germany is set to follow Austria's example in making vaccinations compulsory with ministers admitting that the move is 'unavoidable' amid a fourth wave of the pandemic which is crippling the country's hospitals. Last night also saw similar demonstrations against virus restrictions take place in Austria, Switzerland, Croatia, Italy, Northern Ireland, Austria and North Macedonia on Saturday, a day after Dutch police opened fire on protesters and seven people were injured in rioting that erupted in Rotterdam. Europe has become the epicentre of the pandemic once again, with the World Health Organisation warning that the Continent was the only region in the world where deaths had increased as Covid-related fatalities spiked by five per cent just this week. In Belgium, cases have been surging, with infections reaching 13,836 on Sunday. In response, the government has introduced restrictions including a ban on the unvaccinated from venues such as restaurants and bars. Police said 35,000 protesters marched from the North Station in Brussels on Sunday afternoon against a fresh round of Covid measures announced by the government on Wednesday. The demonstration, called 'Together for Freedom', saw some protestors clash with riot police near the Belgian capital's EU and government district. Many of the protestors caught up in the clash were wearing hoods and carried Flemish nationalist flags.
Footy legend Johnathan Thurston has written an emotional and impassioned letter to the Yarrabah community pleading with them to get vaccinated

Footy legend Johnathan Thurston has written an emotional and impassioned letter to a regional indigenous community pleading with them to get vaccinated against Covid.

Thurston, an Aboriginal NRL icon, penned the message to the Yarrabah community on Thursday begging them to up their incredibly low vaccination rates.

The area, just 50km east of Cairns, has a disastrously low rate of just 29.8 per cent vaccinated in an extremely vulnerable demographic - something Thurston said must change.

'I am reaching out to the Yarrabah community as I am concerned about the low Covid-19 vaccination rates in your community,' he said.

'With the borders opening up in December and Yarrabah's close proximity to Cairns, I'm worried about the health and safety of your community.'

The area, sitting just 50kilometres east of Cairns, has a disastrously low rate of just 29.8 per cent double vaccinated in an extremely vulnerable demographic

The Yarrabah community is home to about 2,500 indigenous Australians, and given its close proximity to Darwin, is an at-risk region.

Residents woke up to the letter from the North Queensland Cowboys legend on Thursday, promising to a huge funding package to the local rugby league team, the Yarrabah Seahawks, on the day they hit 70 per cent vaccinated.

'When your community hits the 70 per cent double vaccinated rate, the JT Academy will provide a generous sponsorship package to the men's and women's Seahawks rugby league teams,' he said.

'I will also put on my Seahawks jersey and pledge to be your number one fan for the 2022 season.'

'With the borders opening up in December and Yarrabah's close proximity to Cairns, I'm worried about the health and safety of your community,' Thurston said

Yarrabah has less than 30 per cent of its residents fully protected, with only 50 per cent having one dose.

Thurston has set a timer on his promise, saying they must hit the figure before December 1 as he looks to set an example for the community.

'I know in my heart the best way to protect your community is to be vaccinated. I have a close connection with your community and many across Yarrabah,' he said.

'The JT Academy team members, the young women who participate in our academy, and I care about you all and want you to stay safe.'

The footy great said he would stay in touch with Yarrabah Mayor Ross Andrews over the progress of the area and will appear in person should they keep up their end of the bargain.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been mocked as a 'coconut head' by legendary former Australian leader Paul Keating.

Mr Keating, who was PM Down Under in 1991-96, ridiculed Britain's ability to make any substantial military contribution to containing the rise of China.

He was asked in a Q&A with the National Press Club if he could see Britain 'coming to Australia's rescue' in the Asia-Pacific.

'Look, poor old coconut head Johnson,' Mr Keating replied dismissively, in reference to the British prime minister.

British Prime Minister Boring Johnson has been mocked as a 'coconut head' by a legendary former Australian leader

'Talk about fantasies, Britain took its major battleships out of East Asia in 1904. The idea that the British could have any important role here is...

'Well, the Chinese have 63 submarines, how long do you think that aircraft carrier of theirs would have lasted in a real dust-up? Can Britain help us here? No.

'The one state that was able to help us was France and we rudely turned out back on them.'

In another part of his speech, Mr Keating again took a shot at 'you know, our old friend the British prime minister', before he was reminded of Mr Johnson's name.

'Britain is like an old theme park sliding into the Atlantic compared to modern China. China is going to be huge,' he said.

Mr Keating also blasted current Australian PM Scott Morrison over the decision to build nuclear submarines, saying they will be impotent compared with Chinese naval power by the time they are ready in about 2040.

He said the boats will be so outdated that using them would be like throwing toothpicks at a mountain.

'Eight submarines against China when we get the submarines in 20 years' time, it'll be like throwing a handful of toothpicks at a mountain,' he said.

Former prime minister Paul Keating appears virtually to address the National Press Club

In September, Mr Morrison cancelled a contract with France for 12 conventional submarines in favour of a new partnership with the US and UK known as AUKUS which will give Australia the technology to build nuclear boats for the first time.

But Mr Keating said they will take too long to arrive and pale in comparison to China's navy which already has six nuclear-powered subs and more than 50 diesel-powered subs.

Mr Keating, who led Australia as a Labor Prime Minister between 1991 and 1996, said the eight US-style nuclear submarines would have no impact militarily.

'These Virginia-class submarines were designed in the 1990s  by the time we have half a dozen of them it'll be 2045 or 2050  they'll be 50 or 60 years old.

'In other words, our new submarines will be old tech  it'll be like buying an old 747.

'And here we are, we're going to wait 20 odd years to get the first one and 35 to 40 years to get the lot. For what will be then very old boats.'

Mr Keating said instead of partnering with the UK and US, Australia should have asked the French about nuclear-powered submarines.

'If we were unhappy with diesels, the obvious choice was the most modern submarine in the drawing board, which is the French nuclear submarine,' he said.

Australia is now set to acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines to present a counter-balance to Beijing's growing navy, and will also be sharing other advanced military technologies with Washington and London

Britain and America are to help Australia build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines as part of an unprecedented partnership known as AUKUS (pictured, a British Astute-class nuclear sub which is likely to mirror the Australian design)

Mr Keating said Australia was falling in line with the US strategy to use nuclear 'hunter killer' submarines to contain China.

'The whole point of these hunter killer submarines is to round up the Chinese nuclear submarines and keep them in the shallow waters of the Chinese continental shelf before they get to the Mariana Trench and become invisible,' he said.

'To stop them having nuclear capability towards the United States.'

The 77-year-old insisted that China has no desire to expand its territory in the east and said Australia should be focussing on its own defence with conventional subs.

'[Former Deputy Prime Minister] Kim Beazley and I built the Collins [class submarines]. I built the Anzac frigates, they were built for the defence of Australia. Their range was to stop any incoming vessels, military vessels against us,' he said.

But 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.

Mr Keating also blasted the Morrison Government over its April 2020 call for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19, which was identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The call infuriated China which imposed huge tariffs on Australian imports such as barley and wine and severed ministerial contact.

Mr Keating accused Mr Morrison of 'wantonly leading Australia into a strategic dead end by its needless provocations against China'.

Instead, he said Australia should show China respect for the way it has brought millions of people out of poverty with rapid economic growth over the past few decades.

China has inflamed tensions in the South China Sea in recent years by expanding its claimed territory, to the objection of its neighbours in the Asia-Pacific

'I think what the Chinese want is the acknowledgement of validity of what they have done and what they have created,' he said.

Mr Keating, who has frequently defended the Chinese Government, said Beijing does not represent a threat to Australia despite its military build up in the south and east china seas and its sweeping territorial claims in the region.

'China does not represent a contiguous threat to Australia,' he said, insisting it is not like the Soviet Union which wanted communism to spread across the world after the Second World War.

'China is not about turning over the existing world order. It only wants to reform it, and it wants to reform it because of its only scale,' he said.

'It signed up to the World Trade Organisation, it signed up to the International Monetary Fund, it signed up to the World Bank, it signed up to the World Health Organisation.'

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the G20 Leaders' Summit via video link in Beijing on October 31

Mr Keating also said Australia should make Asia the focus of its diplomacy rather than the Anglosphere.

'Here we are running to Cornwall to find our security in Asia. I mean, really,' he said in reference to the G7 summit in the UK in June where the AUKUS pact was finalised.

'We are at odds with our geography and we have lost our way.'

Mr Keating said China was too big to ignore or contain and called for a peaceful co-existence.

'We have to deal with them because their power will be so profoundly big in this part of the world,' he said.

The former Prime Minister also said Australia should not get involved in Taiwan.

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to take it by force if necessary while Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend its freedoms and democracy.

'Taiwan is not a vital Australian interest,' he said.

'We have no alliance with Taipei, none. Australia should not be drawn in my view into a military engagement over Taiwan, US-sponsored or otherwise.'

Last month Taiwan reported 148 Chinese air force planes had flown over its air defence zone (pictured) over a four day period beginning on the same day China marked a key patriotic holiday, National Day

The latest criticism of Australia's submarine program comes after French ambassador Jean-Pierre Thebault accused the Government of stabbing France in the back for the way it failed to tell Paris about AUKUS.

Mr Morrison denies lying to President Emmanuel Macron before the announcement and claims France should have realised the $90billion deal was on the rocks - but Mr Thebault said this was 'fiction' and used an example to prove that France was deceived.

He referred to a joint statement released on August 30 after a video conference between French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly and their Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton.

The statement said the ministers discussed the importance of the submarine deal - but at the same time Australian officials were planning to scrap the agreement and announce a new partnership with the US and UK.

An awkward handshake in Rome between Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and French President Emmanuel Macron (left) at the G20 summit this week

A joint statement (above) released on August 30 said Australia and France had discussed the importance of the submarine deal. Just two weeks later it was scrapped

'What is a hard fact is that still on August 30, French and Australian ministers of foreign affairs and defence had a dialogue, and they agreed a joint communique,' Mr Thebault said.

'It was available to the public and widely acclaimed for its ambition. It agreed the following sentence, ''the two countries underline the importance of the Future Submarine program''.

The deceit was intentional... the way it was handled was plainly a stab in the back Ambassador Jean-Pierre Thebault

'Do you agree on such a communique when there's the slightest doubt on something so massive as the official backbone of your co-operation? Maybe on Mars, but not that I know on this planet,' he said.

Mr Thebault insisted his leader was 'misled' and this amounted to a lie among allies.

'Was the president lied to? Yes, he was,' he said.

'Maybe there's a difference between misleading and lying. But, you know, among heads of states and governments, when you mislead a friend and an aIly, you lie to him.'

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

In a bid to prove he did not lie to President Macron, Mr Morrison's office leaked a personal text between the leaders to show the French President knew the agreement was on shaky ground.

President Macron wrote: 'Should I expect good or bad news for our joint submarines ambitions?'

Quizzed by reporters in Dubai - on his way back from the Glasgow climate summit - Mr Morrison did not deny leaking the text.

'Claims had been made and those claims were refuted,' he said.

Mr Morrison had conceded Mr Macron was not aware of negotiations with the US and the UK, but said the French leader was told as early as June that Australia was consulting on other options for submarines.
A beloved family cat named Mittens who became a late-night socialite and local legend on the streets of Wellington is moving to a new city, to live a quieter life.

Dubbed the 'King Floof of Cuba' Mittens gained celebrity status for wandering the streets of New Zealand's capital.

Born in 2010, the Norwegian forest cat originally lived a low-key lifestyle in Auckland until his move to Wellington where he garnered local legend status for his late night jaunts.

An established feature in the city's nightlife, he once paid a visit to a strip club and earned his nickname from sitting on the counter of the Cuba St bar until 2am.

His concerned owners are now packing up and heading back to Auckland.

Mittens the cat, famous for wandering the streets of Wellington's CBD is packing up his bags and moving to Auckland (pictured)

His late night exploits made him a familiar face in the CBD with locals eager to snap a selfie with the city's most famous feline.

Also known as His Royal Floofiness, his celebrity status even earned him the Key to the City in a mayoral ceremony and a nomination for New Zealander of the Year.

But Mittens' record hasn't always been so squeaky clean after he was detained by police for strolling into traffic near the city's library.

He was brought in by police for questioning, but after having his details checked he was released without charge and let off with a warning.

Another indiscretion involved Mittens attempting to enter a Covid-19 isolation facility in Wellington with security guards at the entrance forced to shoo him away.

In February Mittens made headlines after an attempted 'cat napping'.

Mittens was once handed the Key to the City for his contribution to Wellington's nightlife (pictured)

An excited group of individuals who encountered the famous feline on the street picked him up and drove away with him.

Mittens was taken in an 'error of misjudgment' and later returned home unharmed.

Owner Silvio Bruinsma said Mittens had 'a social life most of us would aspire to'.

The shock move was confirmed to Mittens' 70,000 followers on Facebook, posting the family will be moving to Auckland over the holiday period.

'This is for personal reasons and is the right move for our family but I do appreciate this will come as a shock to some of you,' Bruinsma wrote.

'Mittens is now 64 in cat years (he is a 12 years old) and some of you may have noticed he has slowed down a bit which is certainly well earned. He is as inquisitive, caring and a great companion as always.'

Owner Silvio Bruinsma, confirmed the devastating news via Mittens' Facebook page saying the family were moving over the holiday period

Mayor Andy Foster confirmed Wellington council has been made aware of the move.

'I think everybody is going to be really sad to see our favourite feline heading off for new adventures and he's obviously brought a lot of people a lot of joy over the time he and his family have been in Wellington,' Foster told The NZ Herald.

'He does have the Key to the City so he's welcome back at any time.'

Last year Mr Mittens was awarded city's highest honour in a small ceremony where he was presented with the Key to the City.

Mr Foster confirmed Mittens would be able to keep the key as a memento of something that was 'quite special'.
The governor of Florida has accused Joe Biden of having blood on his hands for flying undocumented migrants to his state after one them lied to stay in the country and then murdered a man in Jacksonville.

Yery Noel Medina Ulloa, 24, told immigration officials that he was 17. As a result, he was allowed to stay in the country.

On October 7 he was arrested in Jacksonville, having arrived in Florida around two months earlier, and charged with the murder of 46-year-old Francisco Javier Cuellar, with whom he lived.

Ulloa called Cuellar his uncle, although it is unclear if they were biologically related.

It was also unclear how Ulloa got to Florida, but Ron DeSantis, the governor, has suggested that Ulloa was brought to the state on a controversial migrant flight, sending immigrants away from the border and inland into the country.

'They don't tell us when these flights are coming in,' said DeSantis, speaking on Wednesday night to Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, on Wednesday held Biden responsible for the death of a man murdered in his state by an illegal immigrant

DeSantis on Wednesday told Hannity: 'That individual who died would be alive had Biden not been doing this'

'These are the flights coming in at 2am.

'Unfortunately there was a tragic situation.

'One of the illegals that Biden flew in committed a murder in Florida recently.

'That individual who died would be alive had Biden not been doing this.

'So this is really serious stuff.'

Yery Noel Medina Ulloa, 24, was arrested on October 7 in Jacksonville, Florida, and charged with murdering the 46-year-old man with whom he lived

Earlier on Wednesday DeSantis tore into Biden's 'clandestine' flights reportedly bringing undocumented migrants to Florida and threatened to send those people to Biden's home state of Delaware.

He also condemned Biden's 'absurd' double standard in raising concern over the recent migrant crisis on the border between Poland and Belarus while staying silent on the US's own southwest border, in a separate statement to DailyMail.com.

Reports that migrants are being flown in to Jacksonville, Florida and other US destinations in the middle of the night surfaced last month on the city's local News 4 Jax.

'So, here's what happens with these flights - there's no notification to the state of Florida. They're done mostly in the middle of the night, and it's clandestine, and we really have no say into it,' DeSantis said on Wednesday at his press conference.

The Republican governor warned: 'My view would be, if they're going to come here, you know, we'll provide buses and provide them. I will send them to Delaware.

'If [Biden's] not going to support the border being secured, then he should be able to have everyone there.'

He claimed the flights began as early as May and are still continuing.

'You have an open border in violation of US law. The president has said that basically they even want to pay reparations to people that came illegally,' he added referencing recent reports that the Biden administration is looking at paying $450,000 to migrants separated at the border under Donald Trump.

The Florida governor said 'If [Biden's] not going to support the border being secured, then he should be able to have everyone' in Delaware

'The fact of the matter is, this border should be secured. We know what to do because it was working prior to Biden seeking office,' DeSantis said.

'But we're going to work with the folks in Jacksonville.'

Over the last year there have been 1.7 million migrants encountered at the southwest border, a troubling record for an administration that promised a more 'humane' approach to the border compared to Trump's more severe policies.

DeSantis accused Biden (pictured being greeted by Baltimore's mayor on Wednesday) of a double standard over his reactions to the Belarusian border and the US's own border crisis

'Biden has responded by using our tax dollars to subsidize their charter flights and bus rides throughout the US, and to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to illegal migrants who violated our borders under the previous administration,' DeSantis' office told DailyMail.com.

'Without the Biden Administrations open-border policy and consequent record-breaking influx of illegal migration this year, Ulloa might not have been so easily able to stroll across an international border under a fake name posing as a minor,' DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw told DailyMail.com.

Pushaw said Ulloa 'arrived on a Biden Administration flight using a fake name and birth date, pretending to be an unaccompanied minor, though he is in fact 24 years old.'

DeSantis also accused Biden of a double standard in his comparably responsive reaction to a burgeoning crisis thousands of miles away in Eastern Europe.

A migrant pushes a shopping cart with his daughter as he walks along a road in a caravan heading to the northern border, in Santo Domingo Zanatepec, Mexico. More than 1.7 million migrants have been encountered at the southern border in the 12 month period ending in October

Irregular migrants continue to wait at the Polish-Belarusian border on November 10, hoping to cross into the European Union. Western countries have accused Belarus's strongman president of luring desperate people to the area to generate a crisis in retaliation for the EU's sanctions

A humanitarian crisis has developed between Belarus and the European Union as reports of both Polish and Belarusian soldiers attacking migrants, mostly from Middle Eastern and African countries, emerged along with horrifying videos of bloodshed.

Western governments in the EU and NATO accused Belarusian strongman dictator Alexander Lukashenko of luring migrants to his country and sending them to cross into Poland in retaliation for sanctions. The authoritarian ruler has denied the claims.

After a lengthy meeting with Biden in the Oval Office, EU Commission President Ursula van der Leyer told reporters that she and Biden 'absolutely share the opinion that this is a hybrid attack of an authoritarian regime to try and de-stabilize Democratic neighbors.'

She also indicated the US would be supportive of the EU widening its existing sanctions against Belarus levied over human rights abuses.

DeSantis' office accused Biden's administration of 'refus[ing] to enforce Americas immigration laws.'

'It is absurd that Biden can express concern about a border halfway across the world, while he turns a blind eye to the illegal migration crisis in our own backyard.'
Covid cases have suddenly risen in the ACT after a raging Halloween party for school kids turned into a super-spreader event.

Nine new locally acquired cases were recorded on Wednesday as ACT Health noted that at least 33 cases have been connected to an illegal house party on October 30 at a home in Wanniassa.

ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said that health authorities confirmed the cases linked to the event on Tuesday and ACT Policing is now investigating it.

Anecdotal reports [are] of a very large house party that clearly would have been in breach of Covid-19 rules, Ms Stephen-Smith told ABC Radio Canberra.

Nine new locally acquired cases were recorded in the ACT on Wednesday as a Halloween party for school kids has turned into a 'super-spreader event' (Pictured: Residents wait outside a Covid testing centre in Canberra)

I understand from ACT Policing that one person has received an infringement notice in relation to that event, and that police investigations around that are still going.

Covid-19 restrictions only permitted ten people at another household at any one time on the night of the illegal party filled with school kids.

An ACT Policing spokesperson said that police were alerted to the illegal gathering after a report of an assault at the private residence at about 11.40pm on October 30.

Upon arriving at the location, officers observed a large number of teenagers there. They closed the party and directed the young people present to leave.

Police were alerted to illegal gathering after a report of an assault at the private residence in Wanniassa at 11.40pm on October 30 and the homeowner has been fined for Covid breaches (stock image)

Police also took a young person into protective custody due to being under the influence of an intoxicating substance.

The homeowner, as the adult responsible for the residence, who was present at the gathering, has been issued with a Criminal Infringement Notice for non-compliance with ACT Public Health Directions and fined $1000, the spokesperson added.

Police have continued investigating the incident to identify attendees at the party and other potential offences.

16 schools in the ACT have now been listed as Covid exposure sites after Mawson Primary School and Alfred Deakin High School were recorded as sites on Tuesday.

16 schools in the ACT have now been listed as Covid exposure sites and authorities are still to determine what schools are linked to the cases from the illegal house party (Pictured: Canberra Girls Grammar School, which was listed as an exposure site last week)

Authorities are still to determine what schools are linked to the cases from the illegal Halloween house party.

But, the ACTs Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said at a press conference on Tuesday that a lot of students have contracted the virus away from the school environment and have brought it to the school grounds.

With many young people that have contracted the virus, [they are] doing so at gatherings outside of school and then attending school while infectious, Dr Coleman said.

The Chief Health Officer said that the number of school children contracting the virus would continue to rise until those age groups can receive the vaccine.

As we have discussed before, an easing of social restrictions and a return to on-campus learning, combined with the fact that the population under 12 years of age remains ineligible for vaccination at this point in time, means that we have to expect that cases will occur in this group of people.

The ACT has recorded 1,178 Covid cases during the most recent outbreak, while 95.8 per cent of residents have received two doses of a Covid vaccine.
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There have been more than 22,000 migrant crossings this year, with at least 100 sailing across the Channel overnight and 695 making the perilous journey yesterday.

Home Office figures show that nearly 1,200 migrants have landed on the shores of the UK in two days, following a daily record of 853 migrants who sailed from northern France in 25 boats last Wednesday as they take advantage of calmer seas.

More than 22,300 migrants have crossed by boat this year - up from 8,400 last year - after at least 100 landed overnight. This morning, two boats containing around 50 migrants were brought into Dover Marina by the RNLI before dawn. Another 30 landed at 8.30am.

Border Force chiefs had been planning for 2,000 crossings in November, with a source telling The Telegraph: 'Officers have told clandestine threat command repeatedly there is no basis for believing the surge in numbers would fall away over winter.'

The surge is likely to deepen tensions between London and Paris after Emmanuel Macron's government promised to stop migrants leaving their beaches through increased patrols in return for 54million.

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, approved the first installment of the sum last week following assurances from her French counterpart Gerald Darmanin that 100 per cent of the boats would be intercepted if the UK pays the full amount. However, fewer than half of the migrants have been stopped by French authorities, The Times reported. And France has raised the prospect of ending checks on migrants unless Britain backs down in the ongoing post-Brexit dispute over fishing licences.

A furious Government source warned: 'The French have serious questions to answer.'

Dan O'Mahoney, Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, said: 'Migrants making these dangerous crossings are putting their lives at risk and it is vital we do everything we can to prevent them and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people. As part of our response it is important we have a maritime deterrent in the channel and Border Force officers are authorised to use safe and legal options for stopping small boats.'

The Mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, previously branded the UK an 'Eldorado' for illegal migrants and 'lacks the courage' to tighten its laws to deter Channel crossings in a call for showdown talks between the Prime Minister and the French President.

It comes as documents leaked to The Guardian suggested Miss Patel is likely to lose a legal challenge if she implements her controversial 'pushback' policy for Channel migrants.

Two boats containing around 50 migrants were brought into Dover Marina by the RNLI before dawn. Another 30 landed at 8.30am on Thursday, November 11

More than 22,300 migrants have crossed by boat this year - up from 8,400 last year - after at least 100 landed overnight

Almost 3,000 migrants have already crossed the Channel this month. Pictured, migrants landing in Dungeness

Home Office figures show that nearly 1,200 migrants have landed on the shores of southern England in two days. Pictured, migrants landing in Dungeness

Border Force chiefs had been planning for 2,000 crossings in November. Pictured, migrants landing in Dungeness

The group included a little girl wearing a pink coat holding the hands of a man and woman as she walked up the beach

Left, Home Secretary Priti Patel. Right, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin leaves the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris

The surge is likely to deepen tensions between the UK and France after Paris promised to stop migrants leaving their beaches through increased patrols in return for a 54million sum

Government lawyers have told the Home Secretary that the odds of successfully defending a challenge in the courts against the lawfulness of plans to send vessels carrying people back to France is 'less than 30 per cent', according to internal Home Office papers.

A Government source told the paper a leak inquiry had been launched amid concerns 'there is someone who thinks leaking advice from the attorney general with the intent to damage government'.

The documents also show that the Attorney General's office has told the Home Office that it should expect a legal challenge on the 'turnaround' tactic. It said any challenge could be 'reputationally damaging' and force the policy to be suspended for months.

'Whilst confirmation that the tactics are lawful would be very welcome, legal advice is that a ruling against the government is the more likely outcome in relation to vires. Counsel has advised that the prospect of successfully defending a claim on vires is less than 30 per cent,' it said.

It added: 'The Attorney General said the Government should expect a legal challenge on the tactic. A challenge could be brought by the representatives of any migrant subject to the tactic or by a migrant pressure group to the policy itself.

'While the prospects of successful challenge are highest in relation to vires, a challenge would likely be brought on grounds relating to proportionality and compliance with the Government's obligations under the Human Rights Act.'

On Wednesday, more than 500 migrants crossed the Channel by boat as Border Force were called to rescue 504 people in 16 incidents.

French authorities also stopped 307 migrants attempting the treacherous trip in eight boats. It was another busy day for search and rescue services with calm seas and good visibility across the 21-mile Dover Strait.

It was another busy day for search and rescue services with calm seas and good visibility across the 21-mile Dover Strait

The first arrivals came in to Dover Marina, Kent, at around 3am under the cover of darkness

A Royal National Lifeboat Institution vessel collects dozens more migrants from the water around Dover, Kent

The first arrivals came in to Dover Marina, Kent, at around 3am under the cover of darkness. They were followed by dozens more on board Border Force vessel Hunter shortly before 7am.

Many were huddling red blankets for warmth and carried bin bags full of possessions as they were escorted up the gangway for processing by Immigration Enforcement.

The RNLI's Dover Lifeboat was also involved with rescue missions and transported around 40 to the harbour. One man could be seen saluting for the cameras before around 14 more people were brought to safety.

The Dungeness Lifeboat was also busy rescuing around 40 migrants and bringing them on to the shingle.

The group included a little girl wearing a pink coat holding the hands of a man and woman as she walked up the beach. And one man was seen kneeling down and appearing to kiss the pebbles in celebration of making the dangerous trip.

Rough seas and extreme weather conditions have made the journey all the more dangerous but people-smuggling gangs continue to operate.

This was exposed on Monday morning when a fishing ship discovered a body adrift off Octeville-sur-Mer. The person, who has not been confirmed to be a migrant, was taken to the port of Le Havre and confirmed dead by a doctor. Le Havre prosecutor's office has opened an investigation, which was entrusted to the maritime gendarmerie.

It comes after four migrants were known to have died in the past fortnight with others believed to be missing and presumed dead. So far in November, 2,348 migrants have arrived in 59 boats.
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A SpaceX rocket carried four astronauts into orbit Wednesday night, including the 600th person to reach space in the 60-year history of human space travel.

The SpaceX-built launch vehicle, consisting of a Crew Dragon capsule and a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 9pm, with a reddish fireball lighting up the night sky as its nine Merlin engines roared to life.

The launch sent a veteran spacewalker, two younger crewmates chosen for future lunar missions and a German materials scientist on their way to the International Space Station.

The liftoff of the Dragon spacecraft, named Endurance by the crew, was aired live from Cape Canaveral on NASA TV, punctuated by the sound of cheers and applause from mission controllers.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches NASA's third crew to the International Space Station at 9:03 PM from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Wednesday

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission to the ISS with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer onboard

NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission is the third crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program

A long exposure shows the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon capsule, as it is launched carrying three NASA and one ESA astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida

Intermittent rain and clouds over the Cape earlier in the day had cast doubt on launch prospects, but the weather cleared by flight time, NASA said.

The mission had been confounded by a string of weather delays since its original launch window on October 31.

One postponement earlier this month was attributed to an astronaut's unspecified medical issue, although NASA said the problem was later resolved.

Live video footage webcast by NASA showed the four crew members strapped into the pressurized cabin of their capsule and seated calmly in their helmeted white-and-black flight suits moments after a launch that appeared to go flawlessly.

Within 10 minutes of liftoff, the rocket's upper stage had delivered the crew capsule into orbit, according to launch commentators.

Meanwhile, the rocket's reusable lower stage, having detached from the rest of the spacecraft, flew itself back to Earth and successfully touched down on a landing platform floating on a drone vessel in the Atlantic.

As the Dragon separated from the upper rocket stage moments later, a launch engineer on the ground radioed to the crew: 'Welcome to orbit. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Dragon will take you from here. Safe travels.'

The three American astronauts and their European Space Agency crewmate were due to arrive at the space station, orbiting some 250 miles above the Earth, on Thursday evening following a flight of about 22 hours.

Members of Crew-3 (left to right), NASA Astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron wave to media and family as they walk out from the Neil Armstrong O&C Building for a ride to Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is being prepared for launching NASA's third crew to the International Space Station

The SpaceX Crew-3 mission lifts off on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center

Chari, Marshburn, Barron, Maurer launched at 9:03 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center

The flight marks the third 'operational' space station crew sent to orbit aboard a Dragon capsule since NASA and SpaceX teamed up to resume space launches from American soil last year, following a nine-year hiatus at the end of the U.S. space shuttle program in 2011.

'Crew 3' includes two members of NASA's latest graduating class of astronauts - Raja Chari, 44, a U.S. Air Force combat jet and test pilot serving as mission commander, and mission specialist Kayla Barron, 34, a U.S. Navy submarine officer and nuclear engineer.

The team's designated pilot and second-in-command is veteran astronaut Tom Marshburn, 61, a medical doctor and former NASA flight surgeon who has logged two previous spaceflights to the space station and four spacewalks.

Rounding out the crew is European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer, 51, of Germany, a materials science engineer.

Chari, Maurer and Barron were all making their debut spaceflights with Wednesday's launch, becoming the 599th, 600th and 601st humans in space.

Both Chari and Barron also are among the first group of 18 astronauts selected for NASA's upcoming Artemis missions, aimed at returning humans to the moon later this decade, over a half century after the Apollo lunar program ended.

From left: European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer of Germany, and NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Raja Chari, and Kayla Barron at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida

Pictured is a map showing the location of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida

The three NASA astronauts and their one European Space Agency (ESA) crewmate will arrive about 22 hours later and dock with the space station 250 miles above the Earth to begin a six-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory

NASA has extolled space station missions in low-Earth orbit as critical training grounds and incubators for technologies that will help achieve the goals of a sustainable lunar presence and eventual human flights to Mars.

With the Crew Dragon flying autonomously through space at more than 17,000 miles per hour, the four astronauts were expected to have a meal and get some sleep before arriving at the space station to begin a six-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The launch stands as SpaceX's fifth crewed flight overall in 17 months, and the fourth under NASA's public-private partnership with the rocket company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of electric car maker Tesla Inc

The first was a two-astronaut trial run to the space station in May 2020, followed by the maiden NASA-SpaceX operational 'Crew 1' in November of that year.

'Crew 2' flew to the space station in April of this year, and just returned safely to Earth on Monday night with a splash-down capping a record 199 days in orbit.

The latest mission also follows a flurry of recent high-profile astro-tourism flights, including the SpaceX launch in September of 'Inspiration 4,' the first all-civilian crew sent to orbit without a professional astronaut on board.

The 'Crew 3' team, on arriving at the space station, will be welcomed aboard by its three current occupants - two cosmonauts from Russia and Belarus and a U.S. astronaut who shared a Soyuz flight to orbit earlier this year.
Companies struggling to retain staff have been forced to proposition workers with incredible benefits such as extra long weekends, bonuses and a guaranteed pay rise.

New data has revealed up to one in five organisations across Australia have been left floundering as more employees up and leave, causing serious turnover issues.

A staggering 43 per cent of Aussie companies are having difficulty hiring and keeping staff according to research from asset management firm Mercer.

Flighty workers have forced bosses to brainstorm how they can sweeten the deal with perks like more days off, lucrative sign-on bonuses and even heartbreak leave.

New data has revealed up to one in five organisations across Australia have been left floundering as more employees up and leave (pictured, pedestrians in Sydney's CBD)

Some hospitality firms are even offering $10,000 for the right candidates to fill managerial positions.

On top of the benefits, more than 93 per cent of Australian companies plan on rewarding their employees with a pay rise of three per cent in 2022.

This figure has skyrocketed from 0.5 per cent in 2021, according to data from Mercer's annual Total Remuneration Survey.

Tech-savvy Aussies who work in User Experience Design are in an unprecedented position of being able to request salaries 10.5 per cent higher.

Entry-level roles in digital marketing can expect a staggering 9.5 per cent increase while veteran data science or data mining workers can predict an eight per cent rise.

Professionals who work in IT can also expect a salary boost of about eight per cent in the new year as companies look to retain those with essential skills.

Flighty workers have forced employers to brainstorm how they can sweeten the deal with perks like free long weekends to give workers time to recharge (pictured, Sydney bar-goers)

Media professionals, construction workers and people who make a living in life sciences are set to enjoy a three per cent pay rise, while employees in consumer goods will reap a 2.8 per cent boost.

INDUSTRIES SET TO GET A PAYRISE UXD: 10.5 per cent IT: 8 per cent Media: 3 per cent Construction: 3 per cent Digital marketing: 9.5 per cent Data science or mining: 8 per cent Life sciences: 3 per cent Consumer goods: 2.8 per cent Source: Mercer Advertisement

Chi Tran, head of market insights and data at Mercer's workforce consulting practice told news.com.au the pandemic was responsible for the huge benefits.

'Much has been made of the talent shortage, with hiring and retaining top talent more competitive than ever. It's generating higher-than-market pay, sign-on bonuses and premiums to hire those with critical skills,' she said.

Ms Tran also noted that following a preference for online shopping fostered during the pandemic, roles in the consumer goods industry and logistics were exploding.

However, employers will have to work a little harder to keep their staff satisfied.

On top of a better salary, Aussie workers are now being tempted by recruiters with roles that promise more leave, six free long weekends and better conditions for parental leave.

Ms Tran explained workers were seeking a more 'personalised' work experience that will provide flexibility and align with their personal values.

She said organisations that are looking to retain and inspire their staff should ensure company benefits resonate with the 'needs and preferences' of employees.

Andrew Walsh, the executive director at global financial technology company Iress, has pioneered the sweet incentive of six long weekends a year off.

On top of a better salary, workers are now being tempted by recruiters with promises of more leave, six free long weekends and better conditions for parental leave (stock image)

Regardless of how long they have worked for the organisation, Iress employees (pictured) can take six extra long weekends to recharge with no impact on their annual leave or pay

Regardless of how long they have worked for the organisation, staff can take the extra leave to recharge with no impact on their annual leave or pay.

Iress - which has offices in both Sydney and Melbourne - also offers employees who have a child making the transition to primary school reduced hours at full pay.

Zip, a buy now pay later scheme similar to Afterpay, has offered staff mental health support as well as family and domestic violence leave.

Impacted workers are afforded ten paid days of leave which can be extended, with the company also offering a $299 fixed sum that can be spent on personal interests.

Zip, a buy now pay later scheme similar to Afterpay, (pictured) has offered staff mental health support as well as family and domestic violence leave

It comes as Australia's unemployment rate has unexpectedly surged to 5.2 per cent despite the end of lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne.

The October jobless rate marked a sharp rise from 4.6 per cent in September and was the steepest monthly increase since May 2020, new Australian Bureau of Statistics data has revealed.

Australia's unemployment rate is at the highest level since April when 5.5 per cent of the labour force was without work, calling into question the phenomenon of the 'Great Resignation' where workers have more power to find another job.

Australians who work in real estate, hospitality, and retail are more likely to get a pay rise before Christmas, major bank Westpac has predicted (pictured, a waitress in Sydney)

The Australian Capital Territory's jobless rate surged to a 23-year high of 6.6 per cent while Victoria among the states had the highest unemployment of 5.6 per cent, compared with 5.4 per cent in NSW.

Meanwhile, Australians who work in real estate, hospitality, and retail are more likely to get a pay rise before Christmas, major bank Westpac has predicted.

The end of lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne have made consumers want to go out and spend again, creating staff shortages.

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said Australians were keener to spend money on services instead of just goods after months of stay-at-home orders.

'We are likely to see a significant rebalancing in spending from goods back towards services and experiences  a view that also looks to be supported by the responses to our question on Christmas spending plans,' he said.
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The coffin of Dennis Hutchings was carried by serving British Army soldiers at his funeral today as bikers paid tribute to the Northern Ireland veteran after his death aged 80 by driving down the M5 motorway in convoy.

Mr Hutchings died alone in hospital in Belfast on October 18 after contracting Covid-19 while on trial in the city over a fatal shooting in County Tyrone in 1974 amid concerns that the case was allowed to proceed. Mr Hutchings had himself spoken out about stopping 'witch-hunt trials against guys who were just doing a b****y job'.

The funeral for the former member of the Life Guards Regiment from Cornwall took place this afternoon at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, from 1pm  with a large crowd of ex-servicemen gathered outside. Many relatives were also present, with Mr Hutchings leaving behind 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His coffin was carried by serving British Army soldiers following a U-turn by Ministry of Defence officials, and the service was broadcast on screens outside the church on what was Remembrance Day, as well as live on YouTube.

Mr Hutchings's partner Kim Devonshire and his son John Hutchings led the mourners along with his friend and local Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, himself an Army veteran, who accompanied Mr Hutchings to Belfast.

Bikers organised by Rolling Thunder UK joined the cortege on its journey to Plymouth, which was the final leg of a 110-mile route which began at the Gordano services at junction 19 of the M5 near Bristol at 8.45am today.

The group travelled south down the motorway through junctions for Weston Super Mare, Burnham on Sea and Bridgwater and then Taunton Deane services - before arriving at junction 27 for Sampford Peveril at 9.40am.

They then moved onto the A380 and A38 which took them towards Plymouth on an eastern approach. After meeting at Marsh Mills in the east of the city at 12pm, they then drove towards the church with the cortege.

It came on the day that Britain fell silent to honour those who lost their lives in conflict. A two-minute silence took place across the country at 11am, marking 102 years since the first two-minute silence was observed on Armistice Day, November 11 1919. Each year, the two-minute silence marks the end of the four-year conflict in 1918 where an agreement between Germany and the Allies was made 'on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month'.

The Duchess of Cornwall was at the 93rd Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, which has been held in the grounds of the Abbey since November 1928. The Field of Remembrance fell silent at 11am with Camilla and hundreds of veterans from past conflicts standing motionless as the chimes of Big Ben rang out. Everyone observed two minutes of silence as London traffic rolled past, shortly after the Last Post was sounded.

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Family members arrive for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings today who died last month after contracting Covid-19

Johnny Mercer MP embraces Dennis Hutching's partner Kim Devonshire outside St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Bikers from Rolling Thunder UK join the cortege towards St Andrew's Church in Plymouth this afternoon

Relatives leave today the Plymouth funeral of Dennis Hutchings, who died after contracting Covid-19 while he was in Belfast

The funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrews Church in Plymouth, Devon, takes place today

Dennis Hutchings waves as he arrives at Laganside Court in Belfast on October 4 this year. He died on October 18

Sharon Hutchings, the daughter of Dennis Hutchings, arrives for his funeral at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Family members at the funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth this afternoon

A woman wipes away a tear at the funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

The funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Mourners applaud at the funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Family members applaud outside the funeral of Dennis Hutchings which is taking place in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Family members applaud outside the funeral of former British soldier Mr Hutchings at St Andrews Church in Plymouth today

A woman becomes emotional at the funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Family at the funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, this afternoon

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Flags were permitted outside the funeral but the family requested no political slogans, speeches or banners.

People were seen dressed in military clothing and holding flags and wreaths at the church, and Rolling Thunder UK said on its website that it was 'very proud' to have been asked to organise the escort for the funeral cortege.

Route taken by the bikers Bikers joined the cortege for Dennis Hutchings on its journey to Plymouth today, after meeting at the Gordano Services on the M5 near Bristol. Here were the rough timings from organisers Rolling Thunder UK: M5 J19 Gordano Services 8.45am

8.45am M5 J21 Weston Super Mare 9am

9am M5 J22 Burnham on Sea 9.10am

9.10am M5 J23 Bridgwater 9.15am

9.15am M5 Taunton Deane Services 9.30am

9.30am M5 J27 Sampford Peveril l 9.40am

l 9.40am A380 Shell, Telegraph Hill 10am

10am A38 Tesco Lee Mill (Arrival) 10.30am

(Arrival) 10.30am A38 Tesco Lee Mill (Depart) 11.15am

(Depart) 11.15am A38 Coypool Retail Park (RV) 12pm

(RV) 12pm St Andrew's Church 12.30pm Advertisement

Former veterans minister Johnny Mercer greeted friends and family who began to enter the church at 12pm before the service was opened by Reverend Joe Dent.

Mr Mercer said the military service of Mr Hutchings is 'remembered and respected' by the nation. He told the funeral: 'We gather today to remember a great man - I want to pay him a fulsome tribute.

'I want to pay tribute to his family, I want to remember and pay tribute to his service to this nation and I want to pay tribute to what he represented both in his life and in his passing.'

The Plymouth MP went on to say to Mr Hutchings' family: 'I know the last few years has at times felt lonely, I do not intend to speak about why that was.

'But let me ask you to look around you today, look at what Dennis meant, look at the efforts of those who are gathered here today from across this country to remember a great man.

'Look at these things and know how much Dennis is loved, how much his service was remembered and respected and feel the love of a grateful nation.'

Mr Hutchings had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Cunningham, and his solicitor Philip Barden said he had wanted to clear his name.

The case had become the focus of attention in recent years as a number of other prosecutions were announced against veterans over deaths which took place during Northern Ireland's Troubles.

Mr Mercer went on to say: 'I must tell you that I'm not proud of how we currently remember those who served in that appalling conflict, trying to prevent a bloody civil war.

Members of the military acting as the bearer party carry the coffin from the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

The trumpeter plays during the service of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church on Thursday, as mourners gathered to pay their respects to the veteran

Mourners including Johnny Mercer leave the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth this afternoon

Mourners leave the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth this afternoon

The funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, this morning

Members of the military acting as the bearer party carry the coffin from the funeral of Dennis Hutchings today

Mourners leave the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth this afternoon

Members of the military acting as the bearer party carry the coffin from the funeral of Dennis Hutchings today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

The funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth, Devon, this morning

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Kim Devonshire, partner of Dennis Hutchings led the mourners as she arrived at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth for the veteran's funeral on Thursday

The funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Kim Devonshire, partner of Dennis Hutchings, led mourners into the church on Thursday. Her 80-year-old husband died after contracting Covid-19 while he was in court in Belfast

Relatives of Dennis Hutchings broke down in tears and consoled each other as they attended the funeral service in Plymouth

The coffin of Dennis Hutchings, which was covered with a Union Jack flag, is seen during a funeral service at St Andrew's Church on November 11

The coffin of Dennis Hutchings, who died after contracting Covid-19 while he was in court in Belfast, is seen during a funeral service at St Andrew's Church on November 11

The coffin of Dennis Hutchings leaves St Andrew's Church being carried by military personnel after the funeral service

A crowd gathers outside St Andrew's Church as people paid their respects during a funeral service for Dennis Hutchings on Thursday

Kim Devonshire, partner of Dennis Hutchings is consoled by Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View, after a funeral service at St Andrew's Church

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Members of the military acting as the bearer party carry the coffin from the funeral of Dennis Hutchings, who died after contracting Covid-19 while he was in Belfast to face trial over a fatal shooting incident in Co Tyrone in 1974

The coffin of Dennis Hutchings arrives at St Andrew's Church on November 11. The 80-year-old Northern Ireland veteran died after contracting Covid-19

Wellwishers at St Andrew's Church during a funeral service for Dennis Hutchings on November 11, 2021 in Plymouth

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Johnny Mercer MP at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Johnny Mercer, Conservative MP, pays his respects to Dennis Hutchings at the church service in Plymouth today

The coffin of Dennis Hutchings arrives at the church in Plymouth this afternoon

The service of Dennis Hutchings at the church in Plymouth today, with a Newcastle United-themed floral arrangement

Mr Hutchings (pictured in 1978) said he was determined to clear his name over the incident

'We can be too quick to forget or indeed cower by the rewriting of history into some misplaced shame - the awesome sacrifice and service of our veterans in trying to keep the peace in Northern Ireland.

'I know these feelings can intensify when we see the grotesque spectacle of what happened to Dennis in a Belfast courtroom.'

Written in the order of service was the message: 'Dennis's family wish to express their sincere thanks to all those who have sent cards and messages of condolence, and for your presence at the funeral service today.'

Hundreds of mourners lined a road and applauded, cheered and saluted as the coffin arrived, escorted by bikers. Police blocked off a nearby road to allow the hearse and bikers draped in military flags to pass.

Bikers revved and sounded their horns as they arrived. The coffin then made its way through a pathway lined with flags before it was carried by military pallbearers into the church to the sounds of The Life Guards Slow March.

Riders from Rolling Thunder UK join the cortege towards St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

The coffin of Dennis Hutchings arrives at the church in Plymouth this afternoon

Riders from Rolling Thunder UK join the cortege towards St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

The coffin of Dennis Hutchings arrives in Plymouth this afternoon following his death aged 80 last month

Riders from Rolling Thunder UK join the cortege towards St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

The funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

The funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth this afternoon

Johnny Mercer MP at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Members of the military act as the bearer party at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

It was decorated withh a Union Flag, flowers and a military hat. A crowd, some with berets and medals, applauded and saluted again - before the funeral service got under way.

How Dennis Hutchings would have told trial that he fired 'air shots' Dennis Hutchings was due to face trial in Belfast over a fatal shooting incident in County Tyrone in 1974. The former member of the Life Guards Regiment from Cornwall had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of 27-year-old John Pat Cunningham. Mr Cunningham was shot dead as he ran away from an Army patrol across a field near Benburb in 1974. People who knew him said he had the mental age of a child and was known to have a deep fear of soldiers. Mr Hutchings's case had become the focus of attention in recent years as a number of other prosecutions were announced against veterans over deaths which took place during Northern Ireland's Troubles. Mr Hutchings had been suffering from kidney disease and the court had been sitting only three days a week to enable him to undergo dialysis treatment between hearings. His solicitor Philip Barden said that had Mr Hutchings given evidence at his trial, he would have said that he did not shoot Mr Cunningham, but that he had fired 'air shots'. Mr Hutchings was in the British Army for 26 years. He served five tours of Northern Ireland when the Troubles were at their worst. The former corporal major was cleared twice over the events which took place in the mid-1970s. Despite no fresh evidence, no witnesses and no new forensic leads, the retired soldier was accused again of attempted murder. He died at the Mater Hospital while in Belfast for the trial. Hours earlier, the case had been adjourned for three weeks in light of his health. Advertisement

After the service, some of Mr Hutchings's family will be heading for a drink locally, before returning to a private event in the Cornish village of Cawsand.

Members of his family join in the applause as they were left amazed at the turn out for their father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Earlier they said Mr Hutchings, who served 26 years in the Army, was representing more than 200 soldiers who could still face prosecution over their service in Northern Ireland.

There was anger that Mr Hutchings had been singled out for prosecution - one which friends said he knew would kill him.

Roy Brinkley became friends with Mr Hutchings and formed the Justice for Northern Ireland veterans group which is 24,000 strong.

He said before the service: 'I spoke to Dennis on many occasions and he knew the outcome to this. He was either going to be found not guilty or die trying.

'Sinn Fein and the IRA wanted him dead. Dennis was a strong character and he said he fully understood the buggers wanted to kill me. He did not just want justice for himself but to stop the prosecutions for those lined up behind him.

'He was the last survivor of that patrol. He knew who killed the chap but he was not going to name him, he was a very proud man. But in the end they got what they wanted.'

Frank Keenan, 66, is a native of Northern Ireland who served in Ulster at the same time as Mr Hutchings.

The former Royal Horse Artilleryman said: 'We are here to support Dennis on his last journey.

'It was wrong and unjust. No one thought of the troops. We want to be in solidarity with all the others here. Dennis fought the fight. There were all sorts of amnesties that took place playing into the hands of the Devil, but we were left to one side.

'How many politicians and senior officers have been put on trial? Only the rank and file.'

Mr Keenan's wife Di Keenan also served in Belfast in 1974 as a searcher and said: 'He was terminally ill and they should have let him be an OAP. He had been found innocent twice before.'

Malcolm Wells, 82, who had a 30 year old military career with 29 Commando, said: 'The Brtish Government let Dennis down. He was found innocent twice. But today this is family.'

The death of Mr Hutchings, who was from Cawsand, prompted questions by unionist politicians over the decision to prosecute him almost 50 years later.

Mourners applaud at the funeral of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth this afternoon

People applaud during the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

People line Royal Parade as the cortege passes during the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Johnny Mercer MP at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

People line Royal Parade as the cortege passes during the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

People line Royal Parade as the cortege passes during the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

People line Royal Parade as the cortege passes during the funeral of Dennis Hutchings in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Johnny Mercer MP at the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

Mourners gather for the funeral of Dennis Hutchings at St Andrew's Church in Plymouth today

He had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of John Pat Cunningham, 27.

Camilla leads Britain in honouring the fallen The Duchess of Cornwall at Field of Remembrance today at Westminster Abbey in London The nation has fallen silent today to honour those who lost their lives in conflict. A two-minute silence took place across the country at 11am, marking 102 years since the first two-minute silence was observed on Armistice Day, November 11 1919. Each year, the two-minute silence marks the end of the four-year conflict in 1918 where an agreement between Germany and the Allies was made 'on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month'. The Duchess of Cornwall was at the 93rd Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, which has been held in the grounds of the Abbey since November 1928. The Field of Remembrance fell silent at 11am with Camilla and hundreds of veterans from past conflicts standing motionless as the chimes of Big Ben rang out. Everyone observed two minutes of silence as London traffic rolled past. Moments before, the Dean of Westminster Dr David Hoyle had said prayers before those gathered and the Last Post sounded. Advertisement

Mr Hutchings had been suffering from kidney disease and the court had been sitting only three days a week so he could undergo dialysis treatment between hearings.

His case had become the focus of attention in recent years as a number of other prosecutions were announced against veterans over deaths which took place during Northern Ireland's Troubles.

His solicitor Philip Barden, from law firm Devonshires, said he had wanted to clear his name.

Mr Barden also called for the Government to enact a statute of limitations on Troubles prosecutions in Northern Ireland, and said this should be known as 'Dennis's Law'.

Mr Barden said that had Mr Hutchings given evidence at his trial, he would have said that he did not shoot Mr Cunningham, but that he had fired 'air shots'.

Mr Hutchings died at the Mater Hospital while in Belfast for the trial.

Hours earlier, the case had been adjourned for three weeks in light of his health.

At the funeral, there were originally no plans for regimental pallbearers because the MoD does not provide them for retired service personnel unless there is a formal request.

But veterans are entitled to a regimental trumpeter  and his relatives lodged a formal request for members of his former regiment, the Life Guards, to attend.

An Army spokesman said on Wednesday of last week: 'Mr Hutchings served for many years with great dignity, diligence and courage.

'His passing is a personal tragedy for his family, regimental family and his friends, and we extend our sincere condolences to all that knew and cared for him.

'The Army was formally approached to provide a bearer party for the funeral on Friday (October 29); this request was actioned in line with policy.

'As a mark of respect to Mr Hutchings his service and his family, the decision was made today (November 3) by the Army to support the request.

'His former regiment will provide a bearer party and trumpeter at his funeral.'

A convoy of bikers from Rolling Thunder UK head down the M5 motorway near Bristol today

A convoy of bikers from Rolling Thunder UK travel along the M5 motorway near Bristol today

The Rolling Thunder UK bikes are paying tribute to Mr Hutchings with a run along the M5 today

Relatives of Dennis Hutchings arrive at the church prior to a funeral service on November 11

Conservative MP Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View, before a funeral service for Dennis Hutchins on November 11

A convoy of bikers from Rolling Thunder UK travel along the M5 motorway near Bristol today

A convoy of bikers from Rolling Thunder UK travel along the M5 motorway near Bristol today

The bikers travel in convoy on the M5 today as they pay tribute to the Northern Ireland veteran

A convoy of bikers from Rolling Thunder UK travel along the M5 motorway near Bristol today

The bikers from Rolling Thunder UK pay their respects to Mr Hutchings on the M5 today

Bikers are expected to join the cortege on its journey to Plymouth, with the rendezvous point at Marsh Mills, east of the port city on the A38, at 12pm. The church service begins at 1pm

The family have said all are welcome to attend the church service but have requested that there is no political messaging.

Calls for 'Dennis's Law' on historical prosecutions The solicitor for Army veteran Dennis Hutchings called on the Government to halt the historical prosecution of veterans following his client's death while on trial for attempted murder. Mr Hutchings's solicitor Philip Barden said he hopes the Government will now enact a statute of limitations on Troubles prosecutions in Northern Ireland, and said this should be known as 'Dennis' Law'. Mr Barden, from law firm Devonshires, added: 'I had the honour to look after Dennis Hutchings for 10 years. I was with him on Monday shortly before he passed away. What follows is what he wanted me to say on his behalf. 'I hope that the Government will now enact a statute of limitation that will end the shameful pursuit of Army veterans in Northern Ireland. This should be known as Dennis' Law as it is the cause that he fought and died for.' In July, the Government announced plans for a statute of limitations that would end all prosecutions for Troubles incidents up to April 1998. Advertisement

They said in a statement on October 27: 'The family are aware of the great deal of interest from those who supported Dennis in attending his funeral.

'The family are grateful for all the incredible support over many years and are looking forward to welcoming as many people as can make it to Plymouth on November 11.

'All are welcome. Flags are permitted, banners are not. The family have specifically requested no political slogans, speeches or banners on the day.'

On October 19, Northern Ireland's Public Prosecution Service defended the decision to prosecute Mr Hutchings over the shooting.

It came as Democratic Unionist Party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson challenged the prosecution service over what new and compelling evidence led to the trial.

But deputy director of public prosecutions Michael Agnew said: 'The PPS decision to prosecute Mr Hutchings for attempted murder was taken after an impartial and independent application of the test for prosecution.

'The test for prosecution requires a consideration of whether the available evidence provides a reasonable prospect of conviction and, if it does, whether prosecution is in the public interest.

'Whilst a review of a previous no prosecution decision does not require the existence of new evidence, the police investigation in this case resulted in a file being submitted to the PPS which included certain evidence not previously available.

'In the course of the proceedings there were rulings by High Court judges that the evidence was sufficient to put Mr Hutchings on trial and also that the proceedings were not an abuse of process.'

Mr Agnew said the PPS recognised the 'concerns in some quarters' in relation to the decision to bring the prosecution.

Mr Hutchings is pictured attending Royal Ascot with his partner of 25 years, Kim Devonshire

Mr Hutchings's supporters stand with a banner outside Belfast Crown Court on October 18

British Army veteran Dennis Hutchings is pictured far right in this photo in Germany in 1960

He added: 'We would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr Hutchings, and acknowledge their painful loss.

Military funeral granted for Troubles veteran Dennis Hutchings The Ministry of Defence U-turned last week 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. And on November 1, the MoD caved into pressure and agreed to provide military pallbearers, saying Mr Hutchings had served 'with great dignity, diligence and courage'. 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. He was a good man who served his country proudly in Northern Ireland.' Mr Hutchings's son John, 48, said: 'I am absolutely over the moon and delighted that the Life Guards are providing these pallbearers.' Advertisement

'However, where a charge is as serious as attempted murder, it will generally be in the public interest to prosecute.'

'Our thoughts are also with the family of John Pat Cunningham who have waited for many decades in the hope of seeing due process take its course.'

Mr Cunningham was shot dead as he ran away from an Army patrol across a field near Benburb in Co Tyrone in 1974.

People who knew him said he had the mental age of a child and was known to have a deep fear of soldiers.

His family responded to the death of Mr Hutchings saying they wished to acknowledge that this is a difficult time for the family, adding that they should be given time to grieve.

'When the time is judged appropriate, the family will respond in more detail to the issues surrounding the prosecution of Dennis Hutchings,' they said.

Former veterans minister Johnny Mercer tweeted last month that he was 'devastated by the death of my dear friend'.

Mr Mercer, who accompanied Mr Hutchings to court on several days of the trial, said he 'remains fiercely proud of him'.

Downing Street said the 'tragic' case illustrated the problems of pursuing historical allegations through the courts.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Our sincere condolences go to the family, friends and loved ones of Dennis Hutchings.

'The Ministry of Defence supported Mr Hutchings throughout his trial with legal representation and pastoral care, and that will continue to be offered to his family.'

The spokesman said 'it's not for me to comment on the court proceedings', but added: 'This tragic case highlights that the criminal justice approach broadly is no longer working and that is why we are committed to introducing new legislation to bring greater certainty for all communities, including the veterans and families of victims.'

In July, the Government announced plans for a statute of limitations that would end all prosecutions for Troubles incidents up to April 1998.
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He is remembered as the 'donkey' who led millions of heroic 'lions' to their deaths in seas of mud on the Western Front.

Britain's Field Marshall Douglas Haig was condemned in his lifetime as the 'boy butcher' and was held responsible for the horrendous casualties in the First World War.

The then Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, even cuttingly described him as being 'brilliant to the top of his army boots'.

But historian Nick Lloyd, whose recent book The Western Front - A History of the First World War has been praised by critics, argues in a powerful piece for MailOnline as Britain marks Armistice Day today that Haig deserves more sympathy.

He says that nothing could have prepared the experienced general for the 'scale and intensity' of the fighting on the Western Front, which - due to unprecedented advances in technology - was a 'theatre of war' which produced 'industrial' levels of casualties.

In Britain, the First World War remains the 'Great War'.

The cemeteries that lie across the Western Front, that 350-mile scar that runs between the North Sea and the Swiss border, have become eternal symbols of horror and slaughter.

As King George V asked when he visited Flanders in 1922, could there be 'more potent advocates of peace upon earth through the years to come than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war'?

The shadow of the Great War still falls heavily across Armistice Day, when we remember the moment the guns fell silent at 11am on November 11, 1918.

When we think of the war, we associate it with trenches and barbed wire, poetry and poppies, and more often than not, with 'lions and donkeys'.

In Britain, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (1915-18), remains the focus of much popular discontent.

He is remembered as the 'donkey' who led millions of heroic 'lions' to their deaths in seas of mud on the Western Front. Britain's Field Marshall Douglas Haig was condemned in his lifetime as the 'boy butcher' and was held responsible for the horrendous casualties in the First World War. But historian NICK LLOYD, whose recent book The Western Front has been praised by critics, argues in a piece for MailOnline as Britain marks Armistice Day today that Haig deserves more sympathy

Like almost all his contemporaries, nothing had prepared Haig for the scale and intensity of the fighting on the Western Front where three (and later four) great powers met. Pictured: Troops 'going over the top' at the Somme in 1916

He was the 'boy butcher' and the chief 'donkey' who supposedly condemned millions of men to their deaths; 'brilliant to the top of his army boots' being the verdict of the wartime Prime Minister, David Lloyd George.

This popular condemnation of Haig is certainly understandable.

It helps to explain the terrible casualties and the awful offensives that went on and on, allowing us to apportion blame and assign culpability.

Yet this process misses out so much of the context of the war and the nature of military operations between 1914-18.

Like almost all his contemporaries, nothing had prepared Haig for the scale and intensity of the fighting on the Western Front where three (and later four) great powers met.

It was a theatre of war that sucked in millions of men and produced industrial levels of casualties. It also posed an almost uniquely difficult challenge for commanders.

In his final despatch, written in 1919, Haig argued that all the battles of the war should be 'viewed as forming part of one great and continuous engagement' and had the British been more prepared for war in 1914, then perhaps the end would have come sooner.

It was a theatre of war that sucked in millions of men and produced industrial levels of casualties. It also posed an almost uniquely difficult challenge for commanders. Above: Artillery guns in action on the Somme in 1916

The problem that all commanders faced was how to utilise the weapons and manpower at their disposal to achieve their objectives: to take ground and defeat the enemy. Pictured:

Moreover, they had no choice but to support their ally, France, by attacking on the Western Front before they were ready.

The 'military situation compelled us, particularly during the first portion of the war, to make great efforts before we had developed our full strength in the field or properly equipped and trained our armies', Haig wrote.

These efforts may have been expensive in men, but they could not be avoided.

'The only alternative was to do nothing and see our French Allies overwhelmed by the enemy's superior numbers.'

The problem that all commanders faced was how to utilise the weapons and manpower at their disposal to achieve their objectives: to take ground and defeat the enemy.

But in the first half of the war, at least until 1917, most Allied offensives struggled to liberate more than a few kilometres of territory (and even then with an exorbitant cost in blood).

The combination of firepower  rifles, machine-guns and quick-firing artillery  and defensive works  trenches, barbed wire and concrete dug-outs  meant that attacks were usually stopped in no-man's-land or were only able to achieve relatively narrow penetrations.

HM King George V, on Wytschaete Ridge in Belgium on 4 July 1917 during a tour of the Western Front. When he visited Flanders in 1922, he asked if there could be 'more potent advocates of peace upon earth through the years to come than this massed multitude of silent witnesses to the desolation of war'

Photograph of gas-masked men of the British Machine Gun Corps with a Vickers machine gun during the first battle of the Somme, 1916

In his final despatch, written in 1919, Haig argued that all the battles of the war should be 'viewed as forming part of one great and continuous engagement' and had the British been more prepared for war in 1914, then perhaps the end would have come sooner. Above: His statue on Whitehall

Even if gains were made the lack of safe and reliable communication between the forward troops and the headquarters in the rear made it almost impossible to move reserves and reinforcements to where they were needed.

This great problem sparked off a revolution in warfare that is only now being fully appreciated by historians.

Haig and other generals could issue orders and direct their armies, but success rested upon a combination of new tactics and weaponry that would take years to mature.

The answer, at least in the early days, was to mass more and more manpower and to stockpile as many artillery shells as possible to punch a hole in the enemy defences.

This was done with impressive speed. At Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the British fired over 60,000 shells  more than had been used in the entire South African War (1899-1902)  in just 35-minutes.

The British developed the first tanks, which were first deployed on the Somme in September 1916, and also relied extensively upon the Royal Flying Corps to map the battlefield from the air and to plot the fall of shell, helping to improve accuracy. Above: A tank on the Somme in 1916

The combination of firepower  rifles, machine-guns and quick-firing artillery  and defensive works  trenches, barbed wire and concrete dug-outs  meant that attacks were usually stopped in no-man's-land or were only able to achieve relatively narrow penetrations. Above: French anti-aircraft guns at teh Somme

British artillerymen loading a gun at the Somme in 1916 with a shell on which the message 'A busting time this Christmas' has been painted

By the Somme in the summer of 1916, over a million shells were fired in a seven-day preliminary bombardment, but it was not until 1918 that munitions were available in almost unlimited quantities (with the British regularly firing a million shells per day in support of attacks by the last year of the war).

The reliance upon artillery was only the first stage in a new method of combined arms that would come to fruition in the final phase of the conflict.

The British developed the first tanks, which were first deployed on the Somme in September 1916, and also relied extensively upon the Royal Flying Corps to map the battlefield from the air and to plot the fall of shell, helping to improve accuracy.

A photograph of British soldiers eating their rations, taken by an unknown photographer in France in around 1915

The problem that all commanders faced was how to utilise the weapons and manpower at their disposal to achieve their objectives: to take ground and defeat the enemy. Above seized German artillery weapons on the Somme in 1916

Men of the 1st Lancashire Fusiliers fixing bayonets before their assault on Beaumont-Hamel, the Somme, Picardy, northern France. 1st July 191

The French were also known for their innovation, and they led the way in issuing their men with steel helmets and experimenting with infiltration tactics, which were debuted at the Second Battle of Artois in May 1915.

This was the true story of the Western Front  a constant process of transformation that changed history and ushered in the modern style of fighting.

Haig made mistakes. He interfered when he did not need to and sometimes left subordinates to flounder when he should have provided more guidance.

He continued to see the war in terms of breakthrough and manoeuvre when most of his contemporaries increasingly emphasized the importance of firepower and limited attacks.

But these judgements must be made within the context of the time. Haig, for all his faults, was a strong and reliable figure who was able to work, and continue to work, under enormous pressure  to carry on when others would have given up.

The generals on the Western Front were not automatons immune from the cost of battle.

Many were killed or became seriously wounded. Many more lost sons or brothers in battles that they themselves directed.

Nick Lloyd is Professor of Modern Warfare at King's College London, based at the Defence Academy UK in Shrivenham, Wiltshire. His recent book, The Western Front: A History of the First World War, is published by Penguin

Although Haig was fortunate not to suffer these personal tragedies, he lost his trusted Chief of Staff, Johnnie Gough, to sniper fire in 1915.

When we fall silent on Armistice Day, we should remember the First World War not in the stereotypical scenes from Blackadder Goes Forth or Oh! What a Lovely War.

We should remember it in all its messy complexity and reflect upon the enormous changes that it ushered in and the great challenges that it posed.

We can see this most clearly on the Western Front. The story of what happened in France and Belgium between 1914-18 is not one of futility or endless, meaningless slaughter.

On the contrary, for the Allies it was an astonishing triumph of innovation and courage, and it deserves better recognition.

Nick Lloyd is Professor of Modern Warfare at King's College London, based at the Defence Academy UK in Shrivenham, Wiltshire.

He is the author of The Western Front: A History of the First World War (Penguin, 2021).
Starving prisoners line up to face another day of gruelling forced labour in rare photos of inmates at a North Korean prison camp.

Satellite images of T'osong-ni, a labour camp only a few miles from the Chinese border, reveal the shambling figures of prisoners, standing in formation alongside stacks of grain.

Another photo appears to show inmates in a yard flanked by industrial workshops.

Kim Doohyun, who escaped North Korea and has knowledge of the camp, said the prisoners photographed faced punishing forced labour.

Satellite images of T'osong-ni, a labour camp only a few miles from the Chinese border, reveal the shambling figures of prisoners, standing in formation

The prisoners are flanked by industrial workshops and warehouses

Another photo shows the prisoners standing beside stacks of grain in trailers as a flatbed truck stands by

He said: 'Sometimes prisoners are mobilised to help nearby farms.

'They have to line up and walk like the images show when they go to work or back from work.

'Also, their uniforms are grey and they wear the same colour hats  and you can see that the top of their heads looks a little bit white in the image.

'The image of the prisoners shows clearly that T'osong-ni is still operating.'

Prisoners who aren't sent food by their families face a battle for survival, Mr Kim added.

He said: 'Families can support prisoners with food, but of course not all the food you send will go to your family in prison, some is taken by officers.

'If prisoners don't have family or are not supported by families, life in prison is much more difficult to survive.'

An estimated 2,500 people are imprisoned within T'osong-ni.

According to Anti-Slavery International, prisoners in North Korea begin work as early as 4am and continue as late as midnight, with 12-hour shifts and no rest days being typical.

The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), which released the pictures, detailed T'osong-ni in a new report.

It describes how the prisoners not only toil in nearby farms, but also manufacture uniforms, winter coats, hats, boots and bicycles for North Korea's security services.

The T'osong-ni labour camp is just a few miles from the Chinese border

A diagram showing the layout of the labour camp, with guard posts, fences and trucks to ship out the stacks of grain

Executive director Greg Scarlatoiu said: 'Prisoners at this and other North Korean detention facilities are subjected to a relentless vicious cycle of forced labour and induced malnutrition.

'Conditions are terrible and we have documented the use of forced labour at the camp.'

As brutal as it is, T'osong-ni is one of the less severe camps.

The facility is a kyo-hwa-so or reeducation camp, used to punish lesser offences.

The most serious crimes  political crimes  are punished at 'kwan-li-so' camps, which the regime denies exist.

Mr Kim's father was sentenced to eight years in prison and the family had requested he be transferred to T'osong-ni, which was local to them.

However he was already too weak to work and was refused by the guards, even when a bribe was offered.

Mr Kim recalled: 'They didn't accept my father because they believed he would die very soon.

The facility is one of the most notorious gulags in North Korea

Red triangles mark out the guard towers along the perimeter, while green dots represent gates to the jail

'It was true that my father was almost dying because of the torture he got in the detention centre.

'He was down to 66lbs and the kyo-hwa-so didn't want to dispose of the body.'

Mr Kim's father died two years into his sentence.

Mr Scarlatoiu credited improvements in satellite imagery for the fact we could now see the prisoners themselves.

He said: 'It is not the technology itself that has improved.

'Rather, for national security reasons, the resolution of open source imagery is not as good as that of classified imagery.

'That said, the resolution available in the public domain has continued to improve, and this trend is certain to continue.'

The report's lead author, North Korea expert Joseph Bermudez, said there were implications for justice now that satellite images were available with enough detail to reveal human beings.

A wider angle shows where the grain loading area of the prison is located

He said: 'This is evidence that can be brought into a court of law and used.

'When we combine it with the interviews with former detainees, it provides powerful evidence that can be used to bring those who have perpetrated these issues to justice.

'That is what we intend to do.'

Mr Kim warned that the prisoners in the photo were only the tip of the iceberg.

'My story is not unique and it didn't happen 100 or 200 years ago,' he said.

'At this very moment there are thousands of people in North Korea like my father and our family suffering from this kind of oppression and human rights violations.'
Have you or someone you know been fired because of the new rule? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk

As many as 57,000 thought to have been sacked overnight as the controversial new rule kicked in

Said it 'very difficult' knowing she is 'putting many of them into poverty'  after policy kicked in at midnight

Theresa  who runs a home for the elderly in the Midlands - broke down today after letting six staffers go

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Have you or someone you know been fired because of the new rule? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk Advertisement

A care home manager broke down today after being forced to sack six staff members who refused to get vaccinated against Covid  as she pleaded with Boris Johnson to 'give us a break'.

Theresa Ingram-Gettins  who runs the Boldmere Court Care Home in Birmingham  said it was 'very difficult' to have to let staff go, knowing that she is sending some of them 'into poverty'. Ms Ingram-Gettins told how one relative of an elderly resident was left 'sobbing' in her arms because her mother's 'special' carer had been let go.

She claimed England's controversial new 'no jab, no job' policy was 'affecting people's mental health' after it kicked in at midnight and forced up to 60,000 carers out of work.

The care boss added that staff still in employment were now being forced to work extra hours to make up for the vacancies, which was taking a toll on their 'physical wellbeing'.

She told Good Morning Britain: 'We're tired, we're worn out, we've just come through a pandemic  give us a break Boris.'

All care home workers in England, including cleaners and receptionists, are now legally required to have had both of their Covid vaccines. Boldmere, which is home to 60 residents, is one of nearly 18,000 care homes affected by the move.

It's thought that as many as 57,000 care home staff failed to hit the jab deadline today, which care bosses say will create dangerous staffing levels that puts residents' lives at risk. The sector was already short of 100,000 workers before the pandemic struck.

Unions have warned that the new rule was like 'taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut', given that 90 per cent of the workforce was already vaccinated. One facility in Liverpool revealed that it had lost seven per cent of its staff overnight.

Nadra Ahmed, chairwoman of the National Care Association, told MailOnline that morale had crashed within the sector this morning as it woke up to tens of thousands of vacancies.

She added: 'And there are families with very real concerns that care homes just haven't got enough staff to care for their relatives properly.'

But other care home bosses welcomed the move. Lucy Craig, who operates three residential and dementia sites in Newcastle and Northumberland, lost three staff because of the policy but said being vaccinated is part of the role of caring for residents.

Theresa  who runs a home for the elderly in the Midlands  broke down today after being forced to sack six staff members who refused to get vaccinated

Ms Ingram-Gettins  a manager at the Boldmere Court Care Home in Birmingham  said it was 'very difficult' to have to let staff go, knowing that she is sending some of them 'into poverty'. Boldmere, which is home to 60 residents, is one of nearly 18,000 care homes affected by the move

Surrey-based care boss Niccii Gillett (left) said she had been left 'heartbroken' by the leaving letters from unvaccinated staff. Former care worker Ruslana Mironova said she has ended up with a job in Lidl after refusing to get the jab

Helen Ormandy, who runs St Joseph's care home in Liverpool, said today they had lost about seven per cent of their staff because of the vaccine mandate. But she added they would still be able to operate safely

Pictured: 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 is up to October 31, the latest date available

The above map shows the five areas where more than one in five care home employees are still yet to get two doses of the Covid vaccine

Anita Waterson, 55, who manages the Beechside Residential Care Home in Liverpool, revealed she had to sack five members of staff today because of the new policy.

She told MailOnline: 'It's ridiculous because family don't have to have the vaccine to come and visit their loved ones, so if you wanted to come in and visit mum or dad you could come in here without the vaccine.

'If you asked the same to all the care homes in Liverpool, they would likely the say the same thing, they'd rather have more staff.

'There have been staff that have said straight away that they wouldn't be getting the vaccine from the off, so we saw it coming.'

She said that the new mandate was tearing her workforce apart, who see each other as 'a family'.

'The sector already has too much pressure on it, this was an unwarranted move,' she added.

What are the rules for care home staff and NHS workers? A new law came into force today requiring anyone working in care homes to have had both doses of the Covid vaccine, unless they are medically exempt. Care homes managers have the responsibility of ensuring workers are vaccinated, and will have to keep records. They will face sanctions from the Care Quality Commission if they employ anyone who is unvaccinated. How many staff are losing their jobs? Latest data shows around 32,000 care home staff were completely unvaccinated at the start of November. Another 30,000 had yet to receive their second dose but had had their first. Only around 5,000 are thought to be medically exempt. Therefore, in total up to 57,000 were banned from working in homes from today. What impact is this having on care homes? It has exacerbated existing staffing shortages and put hundreds of homes on the brink of closure. There were already more than 100,000 vacancies across the social care sector in England before ministers confirmed the controversial 'no jab, no job' policy. Research by the Institute of Health and Social Care Management suggests eight in ten care homes will lose at least one member of staff. Some 43 per cent of homes will lose three or more staff. They say this will make it hard to care for patients, and mean some will have to be looked after in NHS hospitals instead. Care homes are urging ministers to extend the mandatory jabs deadline until April to bring care homes into line with the NHS. What are the rules for NHS staff? From April 1 the compulsory jabs rule will also apply to all staff across the NHS and social care, a total of around 2.3million people in England. Anyone who comes into contact with patients, including volunteers, receptionists and cleaners on top of doctors in nurses, must be fully vaccinated or face losing their jobs. What does the Government say? Health Secretary Sajid Javid yesterday ruled out delaying the mandatory jabs deadline for care home staff until April. The Department of Health has acknowledged the policy this will trigger a mass exodus from health and social care, but say it is needed to protect vulnerable patients. The Government's own impact assessment suggests 126,000 healthcare staff  across the NHS and social care sector  are likely to be sacked next April when the rule is enforced. Advertisement

'We have no support and when topics like this arise, they never get talked about or pushed far enough.'

Jak Devlin, 30, an office manager at the Beechside facility, told MailOnline that he knew of other care homes in the city that had 'over 14 staff leave' overnight.

'I've spoken to a few family members over the past couple of weeks, and they've all said the same thing, that they'd rather have a someone looking after their mum and dad who doesn't have the vaccine, rather than nobody at all.

'Some staff are working well over 48-hour weeks and some pull full days into full night shifts as they don't want to leave co-workers to struggle.'

Sharon Scholes, 41, manager of private care home Lumb Valley Care Home in Rossendale, Lancashire, had to sack her unvaccinated cook and fears more staff will depart if boosters are needed in six months.

She said: 'We've lost one lady  a very good cook. She hasn't had any vaccinations, and unfortunately, we have had to part company, and we're really upset about it.

'She has worked all the way through the pandemic, right from day one.

'She cooks everything from scratch for 22 residents. She knows them individually. She's worked all the way through, and she's really, really trained.

She added: 'At the minute the booster isn't mandatory, but I know some of the staff are saying, 'I'm not having the booster if it comes around every six month or every year  it makes me ill.'

Mrs Scholes said despite the vaccine deadline, the care home was 'busier than ever' with a waiting list for people, particular with dementia, to enter the care home.

She said: 'Dementia doesn't go out of fashion, does it? Old age doesn't go out of fashion?'

Business minister Paul Scully defended the mandate, saying care workers had 'plenty of time' to book for their vaccines. He urged staff to 'reconsider' getting their jabs.

Alka Sahnan, 50, manager of the Prince of Wales Nursing Home in Shirley, Birmingham, said it was unfair to sting the care sector with the mandate now but give the NHS until April to get jabbed.

'Since the new guidelines have come into place, we have had three members of staff who have had to leave their jobs,' she told MailOnline.

'To me, if they were going to bring this new law in, it should have been uniform across the health care system: social care and NHS altogether. As soon as the guidance came in, I know a lot of people went to apply to work for the NHS.

'Don't get me wrong, it is good for our residents, it is good to safeguard them  but this policy should have been put in across the board.

'We used to have space for 20 patients but have recently extended during the covid pandemic  now we have 27 patients. I have been here nearly 15 years, since 2007.

'After the covid pandemic, we suspected something like this may come into force, we thought ahead and put contingency plans in place and we have made them work  being a small family run home, we all chip in to help.

'It is a great team here; we have been working really hard to make sure we are okay. But ultimately, I agree with the decision that the government has made, despite losing three members of staff.'

Claire McNeela, a manager of four years at the Lane House Care Home, in Tamworth, Staffordshire. She said: 'Me myself, I do not agree with the no jab, no job policy. I was one of the people who was affected by it.

'I don't have vaccinations  I rarely have done. I have a lot of allergies, last time I had to have to flu jab I ended up really poorly. So, I was really reluctant to have any type of vaccine, when this policy came in it was really upsetting for myself.

'I have reluctantly taken the jab so I can stay in the job I love. But I am not happy. On the inoculation form I have written that I am being forced to take the jab, and that I am not taking it off my own free will.

'We lost one member of staff this week. It has affected recruitment, big time. I have been trying to get a night staff member for months and I have had no luck.

'We even tried to replace the girl that we have lost  again nothing. It is ridiculous at the moment, especially when recruitment is at an all-time low.

'We have 48 members of staff here and 33 patients when we are full, so we would should be okay for the winter months.

'My company have been supportive and they have been left upset by what is going on.'

Anne Randall, 51, a care worker of three years at Lane House, added: 'I too don't agree with this move by the government.

'The problem will be recruitment, all over the country we have a shortage of care home workers.

'When they do want a job, they are not vaccinated because they believe the Covid vaccine could cause fertility issues.

'This job comes with a lot of stress, we don't need the added stress of no jab, no job  it is really horrible. I normally love coming into work, but at the minute I dread coming into work.

'We families coming into their family members here, which is understandable. But don't go giving us grief over this, I haven't seen my grandson, who has cancer, for two years now.

'It is stressful and upsetting. My argument is that families that come and visit the care home and they don't have to show us their covid passport or certificates.

'Joe Bloggs can come and visit and we haven't got a clue where they have been and who they have seen. We lost a member of staff because she didn't want her jab  which was her choice.

The above chart is from the Government assessment of the impact of mandating double-vaccination in the NHS (second column) and in social care (fourth column). It shows the Government expects 38,000 social care workers to leave their roles when the mandate comes into force. But unions say the number will be closer to 60,000

It comes ahead of all frontline NHS staff being required to get the vaccine from April. Some 100,000 are yet to get vaccinated, figures show. Above are the proportion who have got a first dose (blue line) and second dose (orange line)

The above map shows the 20 hospital trusts with the lowest proportion of staff fully jabbed in England. The data is up to September 30, the latest available

'I hope I'm around when Boris Johnson needs his backside washed and needs care staff  this is my view, I am so angry about it.'

Elsewhere, unvaccinated staff members said they felt 'let down' to be suddenly labelled as an 'instant danger' to the residents they have cared for for years.

Jonathan Van-Tam says Britain's Covid crisis will be a 'lot calmer' after Easter... but gloomy scientist says we should prepare for another EIGHT years of misery Britain's Covid crisis is set to become 'a lot calmer' after Easter, Jonathan Van-Tam predicted today  but other scientists warned it could drag on another eight years. England's deputy chief medical officer warned there will be some 'twists and bumps' along the way and admitted that the situation was becoming harder to forecast. But he told a medical conference today: 'I think, generally speaking, waters will be quite a lot calmer after Easter.' Professor Van-Tam warned this was dependent on the successful roll out of the booster doses, which are being offered to all over-50s. His words were in stark contrast to eminent epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector, who warned that it could take years to become a manageable, seasonal virus. 'We need to be thinking in terms of time scales  it is not in months, it is not by next Christmas, it is a question as to whether it will be three years or eight years,' he said. It came as Britain's daily coronavirus cases rose for the first time in over a week today but hospital and death rates continued to fall. There were 42,408 new infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Government's Covid dashboard, which marked a 14 per cent rise on last week. Cases had been in freefall since late October  believed to be due to growing immunity in children  except for one blip on November 1, when they rose by around 9 per cent. Advertisement

One care worker who lost his job after refusing to get the vaccine said he was left feeling 'abandoned' and 'betrayed' by the decision.

Dave Kelly, 32, who asked not to be pictured, started working at a home in Merseyside to 'do my bit of good for people'.

He said after signing up at the start of the pandemic a year-and-a-half ago he had only taken three weeks off.

He said: 'I previously worked as a guide over in Asia but now I am sitting in front of gifts and thank you cards from over 40 families I helped this last two years and still take out family members who have lost a loved one in our care.

'How do I feel today? Let down, abandoned, betrayed, shunned, disbelief, anger, panic that we are the first but won't be the last, concern that this system will collapse under Tory failures.

'Most importantly, I feel dread for the millions of people who will now have to live or work in a crippled care sector.'

Mr Kelly said he felt 'most annoyed' to have been allowed to work on the front lines with little to no protection initially, but was now considered an 'instant danger'.

He did not explain why he had decided not to get the Covid jab.

An unvaccinated care worker from Bristol revealed she was now working in Lidl because of the Covid jab mandate.

Ruslana Mironova, 46, had worked at luxury 10million care home Badminton Place in Bristol but resigned as soon as vaccines were made compulsory.

'I'm very disappointed, it's very sad [to have left],' she said.

'I've worked as a carer for 15 years and it is a job that I love. It should be our choice whether to have the vaccination or not.

'I care about the people I care for, and I'm really disappointed with the Government, not with my managers  they have no choice either.

'I am not afraid to speak out on this. It's not fair for the 30,000 carers who have left their job and it's not fair for the people being cared for  there is already a shortage of carers and NHS staff and now the Government is creating an even bigger problem.'

Ms Mironova said she initially looked for work in the NHS, but found it difficult to explain why she had left the care sector after so many years.

The former carer had got all her traditional jabs, but had steered clear of the Covid shot because it had been 'made so quickly'.

She was also concerned about potential long-term effects.

A care boss in Liverpool revealed today that she had lost seven per cent of her staff because of the vaccine mandate.

Helen Ormandy, who runs St Joseph's care home near the city centre, told Sky News these employees would have been helping to bathe and wash residents.

She had worked hard to get them 'up to date' information on the vaccines to 'promote and encourage' them to get jabbed.

But she added: 'Ultimately, we do have to accept that decision that they've made that is right for them.'

She said that the home was currently still at safe staffing levels, and was recruiting more workers to help plug the gaps.

A care boss revealed yesterday how she had been left 'heartbroken' by leaving letters from unvaccinated members of staff.

Niccii Gillett, 37, who manages Elmfield House Residential Home in Woking, Surrey, said they had lost six out of 36 employees because of the mandate. Two had been at the home for more than seven years.

She said: 'The sad thing is none of them wanted to leave. And reading their resignation letters was heartbreaking.

'They're so grateful for the opportunities and the first one that left, we gave gifts.

'It was such an emotional afternoon and for days afterwards my residents were heartbroken because they saw this person as one of them, and even a resident, they have said 'I wish she could come back, I don't care that she's not vaccinated'.

She said two of the staff that resigned were double-jabbed but had reactions to the vaccine and were nervous they would be asked to get boosters.

She added there was anger and frustration in the home about the redundancies, with choice 'taken away' from employees.

Miss Gillett said she had employed four full-time staff members to replace those that had been lost, but was looking for more to cover weekend and evening shifts.

She added: 'I know larger homes are losing a much higher percentage of the workforce and just looking in our local area there's much advertising going on.

'It's constant and it's not just one or two positions, they're advertising double figures because it is such an issue in care homes.'

An unvaccinated mother-of-three in Devon who had been in the care sector for 30 years revealed today that she had also left her post.

Suzanne Cooper, 52, told the Mirror: 'I've never taken a stand against anything but I feel so strongly about it. I don't think there has been enough testing done on the vaccine.'

The GMB's national officer, Rachel Harrison, slammed the policy as like 'taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut'.

She said: 'It's cruel and has caused unnecessary heartache and has contributed to care's potentially catastrophic staffing black hole.

'Instead of vilifying our care workforce, they deserve to be treated like the trained professionals they are and paid no less than 15 an hour.'

She said a small proportion of unvaccinated staff were remaining in homes until their exemption from the compulsory vaccines had been considered.

Staff can apply for this if they have a medical reason not to be jabbed or had a reaction to the jab until December 23.

The chief executive of the National Care Forum, Vic Rayner, warned the 'no jab, no job' policy was leaving people who need care 'unable to get it'.

She told BBC Breakfast: 'You are also seeing organisations who are saying, unfortunately, they're no longer able to provide the care for people they have been doing.'

She added: 'What it feels like for the care home sector is that we've been sort of guinea pigs around the implementation and rollout of this policy.'

Business minister Paul Scully has defended the policy in a round of interviews this morning, telling Sky News they had all been left with 12 weeks to get their jabs.

'I would hope and expect that those people would have that duty of care to the people they are there to serve and protect,' he said.

'Those people, the most vulnerable in our society, the people who are most likely to be hospitalised and, I'm afraid, die of Covid.

'That's what that measure has been all about and that's why we're determined to make sure that continues.'

He told LBC: 'I'd hope that people would, if they hadn't had their vaccination, go back and reconsider and get that vaccination done if they want to continue working with those vulnerable people.'

He added: 'I think there is little point in having people have care of people who may unfortunately help to transmit the disease and send them to hospital.

'So it is a slight circular discussion and we want to make sure that people who are receiving care can be as safe as possible.'

More than nine in ten care home workers have received two doses of the Covid vaccine, official figures suggest.

When the policy was first announced in June some 141,000 workers in older adult care homes had not got two doses of the vaccine.

But by October 31, the latest date available, this had fallen to less than 50,000.

These figures do not include workers in younger adult care homes, who will also be required to get two doses of the vaccine.

This has led unions to suggest that up to 60,000 people may still not be double-jabbed and will lose their jobs.

Ministers own estimates suggest some 38,000 workers  or seven per cent of the workforce  likely did not get two doses of the jab before the deadline.
The US has warned Russia against making a 'serious mistake' in Ukraine after satellite images revealed President Putin is massing troops along the border.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he is 'concerned' by 'unusual Russian activity' near the border amid fears Putin could march into the country in an attempt to annex more territory, as he did with Crimea in 2014.

Blinken, speaking in Washington alongside Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, said that would be a 'serious mistake' - adding that America's 'commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, to its independence, to its territorial integrity is ironclad.'

America has warned Russia against making a 'serious mistake' by trying to annex more Ukrainian territory after troops were spotted massing on the border (pictured)

Ukraine says there are now around 90,000 Russian troops near its border with tanks and artillery pieces spotted in camps near Yelnya, Bryansk and Kursk

'We don't have clarity into Moscow's intentions, but we do know its playbook,' Blinken told a joint news conference.

'Our concern is that Russia may make the serious mistake of attempting to rehash what it undertook back in 2014 when it amassed forces along the border, crossed into sovereign Ukrainian territory and did so claiming falsely that it was provoked.

'Our commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, to its independence, to its territorial integrity is ironclad, and the international community will see through any Russian effort to resort to its previous tactics.'

Ukraine has been ensnared in a deadly war with pro-Moscow separatists in its largely Russian-speaking east since 2014 when Russia seized the Crimea peninsula.

Russia took action after mass protests led to the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych, a close ally of Moscow who had tried to backtrack on moves to join the European Union.

Fearing that Ukraine was about to slip out of Russian control - taking with it important military assets including the port of Sevastopol in Crimea - Putin marched troops into the country and seized territory.

Crimea is now occupied by Russian troops. Moscow claims it as part of its territory after holding a referendum which showed overwhelming support for joining Russia.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said America's 'commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, to its independence, to its territorial integrity is ironclad'

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country will be working with the US to step up its defences, while denying the country will attack anyone

But Western leaders say the poll - carried out under the watchful eye of Russian troops - is illegitimate and calls the peninsula 'Russian-occupied Ukraine'.

Putin's regime was hit by sanctions, many of which remain in place, as a result of the move which has soured Russian relations with the West ever since.

There were fears that Putin was about to stage another invasion of Ukraine early this year when more than 100,000 troops, tanks and artillery pieces massed on the border without warning in April.

Putin insisted he was merely testing the military's readiness before pulling some of the troops back, though NATO says many of the forces remained in place.

Ukraine warned earlier this month that Russian troops near the border now number around 90,000 including airborne units that recently held drills in the area and have remained behind after the exercise was complete.

Satellite images shared with Politico also showed a build-up of tanks and artillery pieces near the towns of Yelnya, Bryansk and Kursk.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Ukraine was looking to work with the United States to step up its defenses and 'does not intend to attack anyone.'

Putin marched troops into Ukraine and annexed Crimea in 2014 after the Moscow-friendly government was toppled in a revolution, leading to sanctions against his regime

'The best way to deter an aggressive Russia is to make it clear for the Kremlin that Ukraine is strong, but also that it has strong allies that will not leave it on its own in the face of Moscow's ever increasing aggressiveness,' Kuleba said.

'Russian aggression against Ukraine will end on the day Ukraine's place as part of the West is institutionalized and undoubted,' he said.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that the movement by Russia was 'unusual in its size and scope.'

'We urge Russia to be clear about their intentions and to abide by their Minsk agreements,' he said, referring to agreements to try to halt the fighting inside Ukraine.

The comments followed a rare visit to Moscow last week by the director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, William Burns, who spoke on the phone with President Vladimir Putin.

CNN reported that President Joe Biden deployed Burns, the former US ambassador to Moscow, to raise the issue of the Russian troop surge directly with the Kremlin.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has slammed actor Matthew McConaughey for opposing a vaccine mandate for kids and claimed 'Covid is not harmless in our children'.

Dr. Murthy hit back saying it was important to vaccinate children as 'many kids have died' or 'been hospitalized' with the virus.

It comes after McConaughey came out against vaccine mandates for children on Tuesday, and said he does not want his kids - aged 13, 11 and 8 - to have the jab.

'I couldn't mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids. I still want to find out more information,' McConaughey, 52, said, explaining that he and his wife have had both jabs.

The actor made his comments days after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 last week - becoming one of the first states to sanction jabs for the age group with most countries, including the UK, only offering vaccines to children 12 and older.

The decision has caused a storm of controversy with opponents pointing to the fact there is little evidence to suggest vaccinating children is necessary. Data shows Covid poses a low risk to the age group, with children accounting for less than 0.1 percent of virus deaths in America.

There have been 680 children under the age 18 who have died from Covid-19 during the pandemic as of November 3 and 63,000 who have been hospitalized as of October 10, according to the CDC. Many of those had underlying health issues.

But Covid-19 accounts for only a fraction of kids deaths nationally - with most dying as a result of various accidents, including car crashes, drowning, and from being shot.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has slammed actor Matthew McConaughey for opposing a vaccine mandate for kids and claimed 'Covid is not harmless in our children'

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy responds to Matthew McConaughey saying he doesnt want to vaccinate his children just yet:



COVID is not harmless in our children ... [vaccines] are remarkably safe, as well. pic.twitter.com/d8WKwratNy  The Recount (@therecount) November 10, 2021

Matthew McConaughey, shown with his wife three kids and his mother, said he's not convinced vaccine mandates are necessary for children

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer shot for emergency use by children aged 5 to 11

Murthy responded to McConaughey on CNN on Tuesday, encouraging parents the vaccines are safe for children and warning that 'thousands [of kids] have been hospitalized' with the virus.

'Many kids have died. Sadly, hundreds of children. Thousands have been hospitalized, and as a dad of a child who has been hospitalized several years ago for another illness, I would never wish upon any parent they have a child that ends up in the hospital,' he said.

'And the vaccines have shown in these trials for children 5 through 11 they are more than 90 per cent effective in protecting our kids from symptomatic infection, and they are remarkably safe as well.'

The row started after McConaughey told writer Andrew Ross Sorkin that vaccinations should be about personal choice in an interview on Tuesday.

'I'm vaccinated. My wife's vaccinated. I didn't do it because someone told me I had to  [I] chose to do it,' he said.

'Do I think that there's any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no. We all got to get off that narrative. There's not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines.'

But he added that 'right now' he won't vaccinate his three children against the virus.

Virus deaths account for only a small proportion of kid's deaths in the US. A total of 3,343 children 19 and under lost their lives in traffic accidents in 2019, while there is an estimate of almost 4,000 children dying of fatal accidental drownings every year.

Poisoning accidents kill 730 children every year in the country and seventy-nine children 19 and under died due to bike-related accidents.

The CDC reports that more than 12,000 children die every year due to injuries including drownings, falls, burns, and road traffic injuries - equating to around 33 children a day.

Childhood COVID deaths, pictured in red, have totaled 498 since May 2020. The other causes of childhood death in this chart are figures for a single year

Although the CDC has given approval to the Pfizer vaccine for children 12 and up, many parents are still holding off from vaccinating their kids

Anti-vaccine protesters stage a protest outside of the San Diego Unified School District office to protest a forced vaccination mandate for students on September 28

McConaughey also said his family quarantined fairly extensively during 2020 and made use of a 'heavy amount' of tests for the virus.

'I'm in a position though where I can do that, and I understand that not everyone can do that,' he said.

In McConaughey's home state, 61.9 per cent of Texans have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine and 53.8 per cent were fully vaccinated. Nationally, around 67.5 per cent of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky signed off on a unanimous 14-0 vote to approve the jab for children last week, making approximately 28 million children in the US eligible for the shots.

It was the final step in the process that will allow injections in young children to begin this week in the United States following weeks of controversy over the vote.

President Joe Biden last week said the decision was 'a turning point' in the battle against Covid-19 and said the administration had secured enough vaccines for every child in America.

Actor Matthew McConaughey said that he was against vaccine mandates for younger kids Tuesday

Around 67.5 percent of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine

By approving vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds, America becomes one of the first countries in the world to begin vaccinating young children.

China has reportedly started rolling out its own vaccines to three-year-old children, and Chile is vaccinating children aged six and older. Israel, meanwhile, is expected to follow the US' lead now the CDC has approved the jabs.

However, these countries are currently the exception, with countries still weighing up the risks and benefits of the decision. Most are only vaccinating children aged 12 and upwards.

In Britain, scientists have warned against officials 'blindly' recommending the jabs to young children without weighing up the risks 'extremely carefully'.

Professor David Livermore, a medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia told MailOnline in October: 'Vaccinating children to protect adults via herd immunity is ethically dubious and is scientifically weak.'

There are also still fears about myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation detected in children, mostly boys, in around one in 10,000 cases after vaccination.

Critics say children are better off catching Covid and getting protection naturally because the risk of being admitted to ICU is about one in 500,000.

A ten year old child high fives Pharmacist Colleen Teevan after he received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut

Because of the low risk of severe illness, only a third of parents have said they would get their children vaccinated 'right away', with a further third saying they would 'wait and see'. Five percent said they would 'only if required,' while 30 percent said 'definitely not'

There are signs that natural immunity in British youngsters is already slowing the epidemic. But some studies have suggested myocarditis is even more common after Covid infection itself, which complicates the matter further.

While most cases of myocarditis after the Covid jab are mild and treatable, the UK Government's scientific advisers say the long-term effects of the inflammation is not understood.

Data used to justify the FDA panel's decision showed nearly 180 children would be expected to suffer from myocarditis for every death the vaccine would prevent if the rollout went ahead.

But the side effect would not be expected to cause any deaths.

The rollout would stop over 200 hospitalizations and a handful of deaths over a six-month period, by comparison.

And the data showed it could stop tens of thousands of infections in the same time.

The Pfizer dose for children is only one-third of the original vaccine for adults and is given in two doses, three weeks apart.

The lower dose was chosen to minimize side effects and still produce strong immunity, Pfizer says, and studies showed that it is about 91 per cent effective against Covid.

The caps on the children's vials will also be orange, making them easily recognizable compared to the purple caps on the vials for older groups.
A woman says Asda workers tried to kick her out of a supermarket because she was 'basically naked and shouldn't be there'.

The shopper, a 22-year-old student named Jaiah, was at the store on the Isle of Dogs, east London, on Tuesday when she was approached by an employee.

In a video he can be heard telling her 'we can see your body almost, the manager is coming right now'.

At the time she was wearing a hoodie, crop top and jogging bottoms - a far from risque outfit considering what shoppers are frequently seen wearing at supermarkets.

The shopper, a 22-year-old student named Jaiah, was at the store on the Isle of Dogs, east London, on Tuesday when she was approached by an employee (left). On the right she shows the camera what she is wearing

Jaiah posted video footage of the shocking incident on social media, calling it 'the most disgusting behaviour.'

In the footage she can be heard claiming that the employee was suggesting she 'didn't respect herself.

He can be heard replying: 'It's not because you don't respect yourself, we have a policy in ASDA.'

She shared the incident on Twitter with the caption: 'So tonight in ASDA, Isle of Dogs, I was told by an employee that I wasn't wearing enough clothes, I wasn't respecting myself, that I'm basically naked and I shouldn't be in there.

Jaiah posted video footage of the shocking incident on social media, calling it 'the most disgusting behaviour'

'Honestly the most disgusting behaviour.'

Asda responded on Twitter: 'Hi Jaiah, thanks for bringing this to our attention.

'This is not a recognised policy at Asda and we are really sorry for the service you received.

'I've spoken to the store manager who is addressing this incident and I would be happy to discuss how we can put it right for you?'

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'As soon as we were made aware of this incident we launched an investigation within the store.

'We have been in contact with Jaiah to explain that this is not our policy and to apologise for the negative experience they had on this occasion.'
An angry mob that targeted Israel's ambassador at the London School of Economics racially harassed and threatened students who hosted her, witnesses claim.

Pro-Palestine protesters were accused of hunting down leaders of LSESU Debate Society after they held a talk with Tzipi Hotovely in Holborn on Tuesday.

A bystander revealed last night how the thugs followed the event organisers and said they would attack them - yelling: 'I will f*** you up p****holes'.

It comes after the group of brazen demonstrators claimed they were the victims and alleged it was the police who 'incited violence'.

LSE For Palestine hit out at the Met for protecting Ms Hotovely and also attacked the university for allowing law enforcement on campus to steward the mob.

Last night the diplomat revealed the extent of the rage directed at her by the yobs, saying they tried to silence her by 'shouting and screaming' but will not succeed.

She was harassed by the angry students after delivering a lecture to the student union debating society.

Beating drums and chanting, they booed her and shouted: 'Aren't you ashamed' as her bodyguards bundled her into a waiting Jaguar.

Before the event, a group called LSE Class War urged to storm the building and 'make her shake', adding: 'Whoever smashes the Ambassador car window gets pints.'

Amazing.



Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely was forced to flee Londons LSE university after students protested her presence and refused to give her a platform. This is how colonial war criminals must be treated everywhere. #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/SuInl4tna0  Hadi Nasrallah (@HadiNasrallah) November 9, 2021

Pro-Palestine protesters were accused of hunting down leaders of LSESU Debate Society after they held a talk with Tzipi Hotovely in Holborn on Tuesday

A bystander revealed last night how they followed the event organisers and said they would attack them - yelling: 'I will f*** you up p****holes'

At one point a member of the ambassador's security detail was forced to restrain a protester who made is through the police line while the ambassador was bundled into her car

Ms Hotovely is pictured during the debate at London School of Economics - which the Embassy described as peaceful - ahead of the chaos when she left

It comes after the group of brazen demonstrators claimed they were the victims and alleged it was the police who 'incited violence'. Pictured: The diplomat at the event on Tuesday

LSESU releases job ad for an advice manager hours after the protest LSE's Students' Union has released an advert for an advice manager just hours after a Pro-Palestine protest turned ugly. The union called for 'an expert in the various areas of advice and support' to join their team for 32,443 per year. The ad goes on: 'The manager will also be expected to provide 1:1 student advice and to hold a regular caseload, as well as providing strategic leadership of the department and overseeing case supervision. 'In addition to reacting to student demand, we are also a proactive service that produces regular blogs and manages two social media accounts. The successful candidate will therefore be responsible for setting and overseeing the Service's communication and engagement strategy with a view to increasing stakeholder awareness, improving service accessibility, and delivering regular, proactive and useful information to students.' Applications opened today and closes on December 6. Advertisement

A student revealed members of the mob had followed him and his friends from the debating society when they left.

He said: 'I stand in solidarity with the protests and the people of Palestine but I am embarrassed about the racial and violent harassment of the event organisers.

'At the end of the talk I waited for my friends to leave the premises so that I could walk with them.

'As they left they were met with chants of 'shame' and certain individuals called them ''war criminals''.'

He continued: 'More worryingly four to five individuals began to follow us as we walked down Lincoln park and these individuals in particular began to verbally harass the organisers by saying the ''Kashmiri people are ashamed of you'' and that ''you are war criminals''.

'One individual in particular began to physically threaten the organisers by saying ''I will f*** you up, p****holes'' and ''come on, fight me, p****holes''.'

He added: 'This is an unacceptable form of protest and physical and verbal harassment go against the guidelines set out by the organisers of the protest.'

The Kashmiris are a group of people that live mostly in the Kashmir Valley in the disputed part of India.

Shocking footage emerged on Tuesday showing Ms Hotovely being rushed into her car by bodyguards and raced away after protesters screamed and tried to grab her.

The 42-year-old carried flowers while thugs yelled 'aren't you ashamed' and branded her country a 'terrorist state' as they set upon her car at around 7.30pm.

But organisers remained unrepentant and last night doubled down on the aims of the hateful protest and blasted the police and the university.

Ms Hotovely, the Israeli ambassador (pictured), has branded hard-Left activists 'shameful' after they tried to intimidate her following a lecture at the London School of Economics

An Instagram handle called LSE Class War appeared to take credit for the chaos but calling for students to 'smash her car window' and 'storm the building'

Religious right-winger Tzipi Hotovley supports expanding Israeli settlements on West Bank and opposes Jewish-Muslim marriage Tzipi Hotovley is the Israeli Ambassador to the UK. She is on the right wing of Israeli politics and supports expanding Israeli settlements on the West Bank as well as opposing Jewish-Muslim marriages. The Orthodox Jew describes herself as a 'religious right-winger' and was born and raised in Rehovot, near Tel Aviv. Pro-Palestinians and left-wing Israelis fiercely oppose her support for the expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, rejection of a two-state Israeli-Palestinian peace deal and support for a 'greater Israel'. She has said before: 'This land is ours. All of it is ours. We did not come here to apologise for that.' Her family have roots in what was the ex-Soviet republic Georgia, with her parents Gabriel and Roziko Hotovely immigrating to Israel before she was born. After leaving school Ms Hotovley did two years Sherut Leumi, which is what some religious women do instead of National Service in the army. Ms Hotovely was a controversial choice as Israel's Ambassador to the UK, having been appointed by former PM Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured together) and a member of his Likud party In 2008 she joined Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and became a member of the Knesset. Critics on the left opposed Ms Hotovely's appointment as Israel's Ambassador to the UK, after she was first appointed as settlements minister by former PM Benjamin Netanyahu and a member of his Likud party. A petition was set up last year to ban her from becoming ambassador, which read: 'Hotovely has an appalling record of racist and inflammatory behavior from throughout her political career. 'As British Jews we are clear: Tzipi Hotovely's values and politics have no place in the UK. It is crucial that the UK government sends a message that her views are unacceptable, and rejects her nomination as ambassador.' Ms Hotovely was also deputy foreign minister from 2015 to 2020, a move panned by some for her views on Israel's settlement movement and rejection of the two-state solution. Ms Hotovely is pictured centre at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on October 5 She found herself in hot water in 2017 for suggesting American Jews lack patriotism because most 'don't have children in the US military'. She questioned whether 'people that never send their children to fight for their country' could understand the 'complexity' of the Middle East. 'Most of the Jews don't have children serving as soldiers, going to the Marines, going to Afghanistan or to Iraq,' she said on i24 TV news. 'They don't feel how it feels to be attacked by rockets, and I think part of it is to actually experience what Israel is dealing with on a daily basis,' said Ms Hotovely. Advertisement

LSE For Palestine, which has 853 followers on Instagram, claimed officers 'incited violence' against them during the event.

This is despite video footage showing demonstrators trying to force their way past the Met's line shielding Ms Hotovely from danger.

The statement claimed: 'Contrary to false reports, Hotovely did not ''flee'' the university; students maintained a peaceful protest throughout the evening and it was the police who incited violence.

'At the beginning of the protest we made our protest guidelines and safe space policy clear, stating that we would not tolerate speech, behaviour or displays that incited any sort of prejudice or discrimination.'

It also made another passing shot at LSE, saying: 'In light of the apartheid-free motion that was overwhelmingly passed by the LSE student body last summer and the recent protest, it is overwhelmingly evident that the LSESU only pays lip service to their commitments to anti-racism and democracy.'

The Met has been approached for comment.

When asked about the protest, one demonstrator told Iran state-affiliated media Press TV: 'The students at this university are deeply ashamed.

'This university has failed the recognise and represent the student body. If Palestinians are not recognised we will not stop debating.'

Another said: 'Someone like this person doesn't really deserve the right to speak. She's made comments dehumanising an entire people.

'If she can dehumanise people and refuse their right to speak, why should she have any...

'Her appointment as ambassador is evidence enough of the attitude of the current government of Israel and the current attitude of our own government.

'But we provide... training to Israel more effectively bomb a population that has already suffered enough.'



Mrs Hotovely, 42, was at the university on Tuesday for an event called Israel's Perspective: A New Era in the Middle East.

She told the Mail she spoke successfully for 90 minutes to a room of 50 students, with 100 more listening on Zoom.

She said LSE made sure her 'freedom of speech wouldn't be hurt' and she was able to 'reach out' to students.

She said: 'The protesters were shouting and screaming throughout the event but they didn't disturb [it] because the British police and my security made it clear that the event would take place.

'They were trying to put on a lot of pressure and basically intimidating us.' She said she felt 'very protected' by her security team and by the police.

But she added: 'I do think it's shameful that people are trying to silence diplomats from a democratic country.

'Even expressions about hurting my vehicle are unacceptable. It's an incitement to violence.'

She added on Times Radio: 'What we're seeing here is, this is anti-Israel, but it's also antisemitic.'

She said antisemitism needs to be treated as a serious issue.

She said: 'I'm actually going to do even more conferences than I was planning because I can see how much the problem is serious.

'Some people don't understand what campuses are for; campuses are for dialogue and debate, not for silencing people.'

Mrs Hotovely, a lawyer, a married mother of three daughters and a practising Orthodox Jew, said: 'I will continue to speak in every British campus. I will not allow those radical groups to shape the discourse in academia.

'Those groups are really against this very basic value of dialogue [and] freedom of speech.'

Earlier video appeared to show Ms Hotovely speaking to students during a calm question and answer forum inside the building.

The diplomat was sat at the front of a lecture hall next to the host while youngsters sat on either side and listened on.

She said: 'It's as simple as that. IDF never targets civilians period. IDF will target civilian places where rockets are being launched from.

'Because according to international law you're allowed to target places that are the infrastructure of a terror organisation.

'But IDF never, and I can stand behind this, IDF never targets civilians. Terrorists organisations are targeting civilians. When Hamas...'

The video cuts out before Ms Hotovely finished her sentence.

Another clip, which appeared to have been posted before the rioting, showed hundreds of youngsters waving Palestine flags outside the building shouting: 'LSE shame on you'

Reem Ibrahim, 19, who is studying government at the university, posted the footage online with the caption: 'Anyone who thinks that shutting down open discussions will help Palestinian people are deluded'

How LSE became hotbed for Left-wing activism: From its founding fathers to current students, the London university always had ties with radicalism London School of Economics has been tied to left-wing radicalism since it was founded in 1895. One of its founding fathers, George Bernard Shaw, wrote What Socialism Is in 1890, delving into the issues of private property, labour, poverty, education, and the dominance of the rich, upper classes in government. He wrote: 'Poverty and riches together mean the perversion of our capital and industry to the production of frippery and luxury whilst the nation is rotting for want of good food, thorough instruction, and wholesome clothes and dwellings for the masses. 'Socialism means equal rights and opportunities for all', and sets out the Fabian vision for nationalisation (i.e. government control and ownership) of 'land and machinery'  or, in other words, property, including housing and industry, such as the railways.' In later years, the university was attended by the sociologist Ralph Miliband, father of the politicians Ed and David. The Marxist writer gave a series of public lectures at the institution in what has been described by some there as the 'golden age' of LSE. London School of Economics has been tied to left-wing radicalism since it was founded in 1895 Miliband went on to teach at the school for 20 years, publishing books including: The state in capitalist society, Marxism and Politics, Class War Conservatism and Socialism for a Sceptical Age. In more recent years, LSE has attracted left wing students who appear set on 'no platforming' academics, speakers and societies which do not hold their views. In July a group of activists released a radical manifesto calling for the university to ban all private school students. LSE Class War demanded the institution becomes 'gradually' free from anyone educated at an independent school. They said bosses must eradicate a student society to the free market economist Friedrich Hayek because it is 'oppressive to the working class'. LSE Class War backed no platforming speakers it claims 'are harmful to marginalised students'. And it said the university has to bring in minority quotas for staff, saying there is only one full time black professor there. Advertisement

The toxic aftermath was blasted by government ministers, other MPs and the Israeli Embassy.

Priti Patel tweeted: 'Disgusted by the treatment of the Israeli Ambassador at LSE last night. Antisemitism has no place in our universities or our country.

'I will continue to do everything possible to keep the Jewish community safe from intimidation, harassment & abuse.

'I have been in touch with @TzipiHotovely and the police have my full backing in investigating this appalling incident.'

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi posted on Twitter: 'This is deeply disturbing, I am so sorry Ambassador Hotovely.'

He later added: 'Last night the Israeli ambassador was subjected to unacceptable intimidation.

'This is not disagreement or free speech and it will have deeply shaken Jewish students both at LSE and across the country.

'I have invited Jewish students from LSE to a meeting to hear directly from them and offer any support that I can.

'Only yesterday I visited Auschwitz, and that experience has left me even more determined to ensure that the evil of antisemitism is driven out of our campuses and classrooms. Education is our vaccine against anti-Jewish hate.'

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: 'We in Britain believe in freedom of speech. The treatment of Israeli Ambassador @TzipiHotovely last night and the attempt to silence her was unacceptable.'

A spokesman for the Israeli Embassy added: 'Ambassador Hotovely was invited to speak with students at The LSE titled the ''New Era in the Middle East''.

'It was a successful, open and fruitful discussion that went ahead as planned. Outside the venue, there was a demonstration organised by Palestinian and Islamic societies across London universities.

'British police maintained order at the scene. The violence we witnessed when the ambassador left the premises after the talk will not deter Israeli diplomats from engaging in meaningful dialogue with all parts of the British society.'



Ms Hotovely was a controversial choice as Israel's Ambassador to the UK, having been appointed by former PM Benjamin Netanyahu and a member of his Likud party.

She took up the role in London last year - provoking uproar among left-wing British Jews after serving as settlements minister back home.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tried to oust her from the position when Mr Netanyahu fell earlier this year, but she refused due to her three-year contract.

A petition was set up last year to ban her from becoming ambassador, which read: 'Hotovely has an appalling record of racist and inflammatory behavior from throughout her political career.

'As British Jews we are clear: Tzipi Hotovely's values and politics have no place in the UK. It is crucial that the UK government sends a message that her views are unacceptable, and rejects her nomination as ambassador.'

Ms Hotovely was also deputy foreign minister from 2015 to 2020, a move panned by some for her views on Israel's settlement movement and rejection of the two-state solution.

Anti-Jewish sentiment has erupted across Britain this year, with huge marches condemning the nation and promoting Palestinian views.

Some have turned ugly as protesters clashes in London, while others burned the flag of Israel and on one occasion a group drove a convoy through a Jewish neighbourhood shouting for their girls to be raped.

The demonstrations stemmed from renewed violence between Israel and Gaza earlier this year, which saw rockets fired into both territories.

There were fears of all-out war in the Middle East as military figures on both sides were killed and threats of escalation flung at each other.

But tensions died down and a ceasefire was eventually agreed by Israel and Hama on May 20, with few reports of fighting since then.

LSESU Debate Society, which hosted Ms Hotovely, said: 'The LSE SU Debate Society aims to make diverse voices available in order to promote discourse on topical issues.

'As such, we have invited both the Israeli and Palestinian ambassadors to discuss issues that have amassed global attention.

'We invite ambassadors not in their personal capacity, but as policymakers who have the authority to represent and be challenged on the views of their respective governments.

'We consulted relevant stakeholders before and during our event in order to assess any concerns they may have and subsequently incorporated their feedback into our safety and equity policies.

'To echo our aim of promoting discourse, we respect and affirm the right of people to protest at our events but condemn all forms of threats and aggression.

'Our events have thus far proceeded as planned, and we invite members of the public to follow our public pages to participate in our future events.'

It was due to host Head of the Palestinian Mission to the UK Husam Zomlot today but he dropped out.

LSESU Debate Society got panned on Instagram for announcing it would host Israel's Ambassador to the UK in London on Tuesday

This was despite the fact it is planning on having the Palestine Ambassador to the UK speak as part of the same series of events today, before he pulled out

LSE said: 'On Tuesday 9 November, the LSESU Debate Society hosted the Israeli Ambassador to the UK for an event on the LSE campus.

'The event, which attracted some protest outside, lasted approximately 90 minutes, with the Ambassador speaking, taking questions from the audience and leaving on schedule.

'Free speech and freedom of expression underpins everything we do at LSE. Students, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to discuss and debate the most pressing issues around the world, but this must be in a mutually respectful manner. Intimidation or threats of violence are completely unacceptable.

'We are aware of some threats of violence made on social media around this event. Any LSE students identified as being involved in making such threats will face disciplinary action.

'We will be reviewing the processes around this event to inform future planning.'

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'Police were in attendance for a protest in Houghton Street, WC2 on Tuesday, 9 November. There were no arrests.'
Dozens of terrified children were left trapped when their school bus crashed into a ditch this morning.

Pictures taken at the scene in North Hykeham, near Lincoln, show the packed double-decker Stagecoach bus leaning at an almost 45 degree angle after it careered off the road.

It had been carrying dozens of pupils to Sir Robert Pattinson Academy and North Kesteven School in North Hykeham.

Witnesses told how they watched as the bus ploughed into a ditch, leaving the 60 children who were passengers 'screaming' in terror.

One child suffered a broken arm and has been taken to hospital, Lincolnshire Police confirmed.

Pictures taken at the scene in North Hykeham, near Lincoln, show the packed double-decker Stagecoach bus leaning at an almost 45 degree angle after it careered off the road

Emergency services are attending reports of an overturned school bus in North Hykeham, near Lincoln, Lincolnshire Police said

Adam Marsden, 30, said he was travelling behind the bus shortly before it crashed.

He said: 'I was travelling through the area at around half eight this morning.

'It looked like the bus just veered off the road - I took the photo at 8.33am.

'Emergency services were really quick and passersby were helping to extract the kids.

'I don't know how many were on the bus, but it was pretty full, though - kids on upstairs too.'

One side of the Stagecoach bus's windscreen and other windows appeared to have smashed in the crash.

In a statement, Stagecoach East Midlands said: 'Our immediate thoughts are with the children involved and their families.

'We are giving the police our full support in helping to investigate and establish the circumstances of the incident.'

East Midlands Ambulance Service said: 'Currently two patients have been taken to Lincoln County Hospital via double-crewed ambulances and we are currently still on scene.'

Another motorist added: 'I was about five cars back and I knew something was wrong because I could see the top of the bus weaving all over the place.

'It must have skidded on something, maybe some oil or he was trying to avoid another car, because the driver was really struggling to keep it on the road.

'The bus almost collided into another car but the driver managed to steer it into the ditch. I thought it was going to topple over.

'All the cars stopped and I got out, it was pretty scary because all you could hear were the kids screaming for help.

'Thankfully all of them were dragged out with just a few bruises.'

A school bus is towed away after it overturned in Meadow Lane, North Hykeham, near Lincoln

Witnesses told how they watched as the bus ploughed into a ditch, leaving the 60 children who were passengers 'screaming' in terror. Pictured: Meadow Lane remains closed with emergency services at the scene

Parents were urged to go to St Christopher's School rather than the scene but police initially said there were no injuries reported.

Paramedics are understood to be in attendance and work is underway to remove the vehicle.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: 'Emergency services are currently attending reports of an overturned school bus on Meadow Lane, North Hykeham. The road is closed.

'Thankfully there are no injuries reported. Parents are advised against travelling to the scene and instead to travel to St Christopher's School on Hykeham Road. Brant Road and Meadow Lane remain closed.'
A Black Lives Matter leader has threatened 'riots' and 'bloodshed' in the streets of New York City if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates the NYPD's anti-crime units - a vow Adams later doubled down on the following day.

The comments came from New York BLM co-founder Hawk Newsome after debating Adams during a contentious closed-door sit-down event Wednesday with the incoming Democrat leader.

While Adams was able to make headway with the activists on his plans to fight poverty in the black community when he takes office, the former NYPD captain vowed to bring back the controversial anti-crime units composed of about 600 plainclothes officers that target violent crimes - something BLM was angry about.

The mayor-elect doubled down on his promise Thursday, saying: 'This is what I'm going to do. That was my promise and I'm going to keep it.'

Adams and Newsome also clashed about accountability on Wednesday, with the mayor-elect hitting back at the activist and saying he, too, needs to be held accountable - not just sit back and make demands.

The soon-to-be-mayor also shot back at the group during their closed-door meeting: 'You're on the ground: Stop the violence in my community. I'm holding you accountable.

'Don't hold me accountable,' Adams went on. 'Being the mayor, being the borough president, being the state senator - I put my body on the line for my community, so I'm not here for folks to come and say, "Eric, we're gonna hold you accountable."'

Scroll down for video

Newsome, a controversial New York figure who has labeled members of the U.S. government 'terrorists' because the 'government goes and pillages different countries,' on Wednesday slammed the mayor-elect's hard-nosed approach to bring back the units, which were disbanded in 2020 at the height of the violent BLM protests.

When the BLM leader asked during their sit-down if the stop-and-frisk is coming back, the mayor-elect responded: 'Stop-and-frisk never went away, brother.'

'Its about bringing back a sense of protection in our city and not the disorder we feel at this time,' Adams had said earlier this month prior to being elected, regarding his plan to clean up the city streets - which have seen an influx of violent crime since the start of the pandemic.

New York BLM co-founder Hawk Newsome, pictured during an NYC press conference in September 2021, has threatened 'riots' and 'bloodshed' in the streets if Mayor-elect Eric Adams reinstates the NYPD's anti-crime units

Newsome told attendees outside Brooklyn Borough Hall on Wednesday that if Adams brings back the axed units, history will be doomed to repeat itself.

'If they think they are going back to the old ways of policing, then we're going to take to the streets again,' Newsome said. 'There will be riots. There will be fire, and there will be bloodshed.'

Speaking after the sit-down to the New York Post, Newsome said: 'To ignore that history and say you're bringing it back means that he's tone deaf.'

He also told the New York Daily News: 'There is no way that he is going to let some Gestapo come in here and harm our people. We pray for peace but ... prepare for the worst.'

Adams, a moderate candidate, defeated progressive rivals in June's Democratic primary on a law-and-order ticket, pledging to crack down on violent crime that has soared in New York City since the coronavirus pandemic.

However, on the campaign trail last year, he was criticized by progressive candidates for vowing to reinstate the anti-crime unit.

Chivona Newsome, a BLM co-founder and sister of Hawk Newsome, made similar threats should the unit be brought back.

'We will shut the city down. We will shut down City Hall, and we will give him hell and make it a nightmare,' she said.

Mayor-elect Eric Adams (pictured delivering his victory speech on November 2), a moderate candidate, defeated progressive rivals in June's Democratic primary on a law-and-order ticket, pledging to crack down on violent crime that soared in New York City during the pandemic

At the closed-door event on Wednesday, Adams told leaders that as the city's second black mayor, he was the best-equipped to usher in meaningful socioeconomic and educational change to New York's communities.

'There's one thing that we do agree on, that we need to change conditions that people are living in, historical conditions. And the conditions have not changed,' Adams said during the discussion, which was live-streamed on Instagram.

And as the citys second black mayor - after Democrat David Dinkins, who was elected in the early 90s as New York dealt with instances of racial unrest, crime and fiscal turmoil eerily similar to what the city is currently facing amid fallout from the pandemic - he was the person best-suited to bring positive change to the community, Adams said.

'What I know for sure, is there is no one in this city thats going to deal with this issue as the mayor of this city better than Im going to,' he said.

But Adams and the BLM representatives got into a shouting match as they argued over police policies, with the mayor-elect becoming incensed when Hawk Newsome told him the organization would hold him accountable for future NYPD misconduct.

Adams responded: 'You're on the ground: Stop the violence in my community. I'm holding you accountable.

'Don't hold me accountable,' Adams went on. 'Being the mayor, being the borough president, being the state senator  I put my body on the line for my community, so I'm not here for folks to come and say, "Eric, we're gonna hold you accountable."

'No, it's us. We need to do this together.'

Adam's comments prompted Chivona Newsome to retort: 'You're the mayor of New York! Theres only so much we can do.'

Adams said he disagreed, but Chivona Newsome pressed on, telling him that she believes public safety would improve in the city if the mayor creates better jobs and education. 'That's a government issue,' she said.

'You need to be corrected,' Adams interjected. 'You need to be corrected based on what youre saying. Dont tell me, "I need to do this"  say, "We need to do this."'

Hawk Newsome: BLM co-founder who stands 6-foot-6 and walks around NYC in a bullet proof vest Hawk Newsome Hawk Newsome, 44, a black activist and co-founder of Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, heads one of the most prominent BLM organizations not affiliated with the original network, the Black Lives Matter Global Group. He founded the group with his sister, Chivona Newsome. In a statement released on June 25, 2020, the Black Lives Matter Global Group distanced themselves from Newsome, who stands at an imposing 6-foot-6 and regularly walks around the city wearing a bulletproof vest. Hawk Newsome has no relation to the Black Lives Matter Global Network (BLM) founded by Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi  and is not the president of BLM or any of its chapters, BLM Global Network Managing Director Kailee Scales said in the bulletin. Newsome currently lives in the South Bronx with Chivona, their mother, Doris, and his 18-year-old son, William. He also has a daughter, Assata, 3, who lives with her mother. In June 2020, Newsome waged war on the New York Police Department, saying the Black Lives Matter of Greater New York group is 'mobilizing' its base and aims to develop a highly-trained 'military' arm to challenge police brutality head on. He also detailed plans to release a blueprint for change that involves Black Panther-style armed 'patrols' monitoring the behavior of officers on the streets. 'We want liberation,' Newsome told DailyMail.com exclusively at the time. 'We want the power to determine our own destiny. We want freedom from an oppressive government, and we want the immediate end of government sanctioned murder by the police. And we are prepared to stop these government sanctioned murders by any means necessary.' 'We are preparing and training our people to defend our communities.' The brazen statement infuriated many Americans amid increasingly violent BLM protests in recent years that have sparked violence and destruction across the U.S. Newsome went on to add that he believes his group can lead the 'war on police. When asked about the comments he made to DailyMail.com by Fox News Channel's Martha MacCallum later that month, the BLM New York leader threatened to dismantle the U.S. government and 'burn down this system' if officials didn't pander to the requests made by his group. 'If this country doesn't give us what we want, then we will burn down this system and replace it,' he said at the time, before cryptically adding: 'I could be speaking figuratively. I could be speaking literally. It's a matter of interpretation.' Newsome added that his chapter was raising a 'war chest' and plans to build a headquarters in an unused New York church, as hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of cities across the country, calling for police reforms after the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis on May 25 of that year. Despite the fact that many of these protests devolved into violence, with several instances of looting and arson, the activist said the protests were getting positive results, and that he did not condemn them. 'Let's observe the history of the 1960s, when Black people were rioting,' he told the right-leaning network. 'We had the highest growth in wealth, in property ownership. 'Think about the last few weeks since we started protesting. 'There have been eight cops fired across the country. 'I don't condone nor do I condemn rioting. 'But I'm just telling you what I observed.' Then-President Donald Trump labelled Newsome's comments as 'treason, sedition, insurrection.' In another interview that summer with MacCallum, Newsome equated members of the U.S. government to 'terrorists,' while defending the protestors and leaders, after former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani implored Trump to declare Black Lives Matter a 'domestic terrorist organization.' 'He's talking about black people and white people who are out there fighting for the rights of every human being - for equity, for human rights - and he's calling us terrorists?' Newsome said in August in response to Giuliani's comments. 'OK, so when America goes and steals diamonds and oils, who's calling us terrorists? When the American government goes and pillages different countries, who's calling us terrorists?' Newsome asked MacCallum, as the interview devolved into a shouting match between the two. Newsome further declared that any criticism of the looters was a byproduct of white supremacy. Newsome's group has since seen a flood of donations from celebrities and high worth individuals supporting his contentious call to arms. Advertisement

After the meeting, the activists were furious, with Hawk Newsome saying he heard nothing from Adams to suggest he will try to fundamentally reform the NYPD.

It was the first time Hawk Newsome has met the incoming mayor, and told the New York Post that he had refused offers to meet from Mayor Bill de Blasios administration, calling the outgoing mayor a 'buffoon.'

The controversial BLM leader even went as far to take credit for Adams' election victory, claiming the movement allowed him to 'achieve power.'

'At least with Eric Adams, we have a clean slate,' Hawk Newsome said, adding that he still plans to work with the mayor-elect on 'anti-violence programs and food programs.'

But Hawk said he was concerned that Adams 'didn't offer a comment on police reform... he wouldn't offer us anything concrete.'

'We will be at his front door, we will be at Gracie Mansion, we will be in the streets, if he allows these police to abuse us,' Newsome told the Post. 'I am not threatening anyone. I am just saying that its a natural response to aggressive oppression, people will react.'

Adams said he thought there was 'no reason we cannot have both safe streets and racial justice in our city,' saying, 'If black lives truly matter, then we must address violence in our communities while we address bias in policing.

'Yelling and not listening gets us nowhere.'

Adams' election comes as New York City has been crippled by increasing crime.

Shootings soared across the city last summer after Mayor Bill de Blasio did away with the plainclothes unit in June 2020, after an outpour of anti-police sentiment following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis and the 'defund the police' movement.

Violent crime has since continued to escalate in New York City, with total crime up 2.6% in September 2021 compared to September 2020.

Pictured: Black Lives Matter protesters scuffle with New York City police officers outside the Met Gala on Fifth Avenue on September 13, 2021

Violent crime has since continued to escalate in New York City

According to NYPD crime data, the city has had 1,526 shooting victims this year through October 17, nearly double the amount of gun violence victims through the same time as 2019, which had 760. There were 1,507 shooting victims through October 17, 2020.

The data recorded 89 shooting victims 17 years old and younger from January 1 to September 26 of this year. In 2019, there were 45 shooting victims in that age group during the same time period.

Of those injured in shootings, 16 young people were killed by gun violence between January 1 and September 26, 2021 - an increase of more than 136 percent compared with the same time period in 2019, when three children or teens were killed.

According to the NYPD's latest monthly numbers, overall crime was up 1.73 percent last month compared with November 2020. Felony assault was up by 8.3 percent and robbery rose by 2.1 percent.

As recently as Wednesday morning, a 62-year-old man was brutally attacked by a group of teenagers near Times Square at around 5:30 am - just days after international travel restrictions were lifted across the U.S., with tourists set to once again flock to the city ahead of the holiday season.

Video of the incident released by the NYPD shows the man being struck on the head from behind by one attacker, before being slashed in the face and stabbed in the neck by six additional assailants as he lay helplessly on the ground.

Violent crime has continued to escalate in New York City, with total crime up 2.6% in September 2021 compared to September 2020

A map showing the New York City boroughs where crime has increased (in red) and decreased (in green) in September 2021 compared to the same month last year

Adams opposes defunding the police and has vowed to spend the city's almost $100 billion budget to bolster the force, which has come under fire amid the city's recent string of violent crimes and protests.

'This campaign was for those who have been betrayed by their government,' he said. There is a covenant between government and the people of our city: you pay your taxes, we deliver your tax dollars through goods and services. We have failed to provide those goods and services - January 1, that stops. That stops!' Adam said after being elected - beating out his Republican challenger Curtis Sliwa.

'Were going to go after the violent crimes were witnessing, particularly the over-proliferation of handguns. Im going to put in place an anti-gun unit, plainclothes, and were going to do precision policing and go after those gangs and gun users,' Adams said.

The mayor-elect - who grew up in abject poverty in Brownsville, Brooklyn - may have his work cut out for him, however, as the heads of the five major unions representing members of the NYPD warned that as many as 10,000 unvaccinated police officers were 'set to be pulled from [the] streets' earlier this month, after the city's November 1 vaccine mandate deadline for New York City employees came and went.

So far, 34 officers have been pulled from active duty and put on unpaid leave.

De Blasio has recently - and carelessly, critics say - touted a 'small' decrease in the murder rate while ignoring an 11 percent jump in overall crime, claiming he has been successful in reducing crime.

Hizzoner focused in the drop in murders in to 37, compared to 41 in October 2020, saying the minor reduction of 9.8 percent 'says a lot.'

However, both counts are higher than the number of citywide murders in October 2019 (29) and October 2018 (18).

The spike in overall lawlessness comes as the city grapples with an increase in visible, violent crime, including horrific subway and street attacks that have left New Yorkers terrified.

Last month, a man wearing a grinning mask inspired by the film The Purge attacked a stranger on the street with an ax. The 51-year-old victim was taken to a nearby hospital with a deep cut in his arm.

And on October 30, a man threw a Molotov cocktail into a Brooklyn bodega after an argument with employees. The workers escaped as the arsonist was about to throw a second one, but he was stopped by a witness.

De Blasio also said shootings are down in Queens and Staten Island compared to last year, and emphasized the decline in shootings in Brooklyn, which are down 20 percent from last year. There have been 445 shootings in Brooklyn so far this year, down from 557 at this point in the year in 2020 - but up significantly from 248 in 2019, before the COVID pandemic.

Shootings continue to climb in other parts of the city. 'The Bronx is still a challenge - lots of resources being poured in to address Manhattan North as well,' the mayor admitted.

De Blasio said shootings were down in other boroughs thanks to community and precision policing, which depend on deep ties with the community, according to the Manhattan Institute.

Adams has routinely vocalized his disapproval of de Blasio and took steps to distance himself from the city's leader during his campaign.

He previously accused the progressive Democrat of not being 'committed and dedicated to the city.' Adams also said New York needs to move away from de Blasio's policies which made it 'a city of disorder' and an 'enemy of business.'

Adams vowed to enforce laws against less serious crimes during the Wednesday meeting with BLM leaders. 'Were going to look at the quality of life issues - theres far too many open use of drugs on our streets such as heroin,' he said.

'Were seeing some of the petty crimes of stealing in our stores that are going unaccounted for.'

The new mayor is slated to assume leadership of America's largest city on January 1.
Killjoy MPs are now attempting to tell families where and when they can put up their own Christmas lights in the latest chapter of nanny state meddling.

A cross-party selection of Scrooge politicians say those with large festive illuminations - often displayed to raise charity funds - should think about switching them off.

MPs think people celebrating Christmas should follow their advice over their own instincts on how best to mark the occasion.

The chairman of the Dark Skies All Party Parliamentary Group Andrew Griffith said some displays were so bright if they had been in Bethlehem the three wise men would never have found baby Jesus.

Light pollution issues and electricity waste are real environmental concerns and the Energy Saving Trust say the UK could fill 15,500 hot air balloons with the carbon dioxide produced by our Christmas lighting each year.

But after a torrid 18 months dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions imposed by Boris Johnson's government, many will be asking if MPs trying to curb the nation's festive inclinations is wise.

Helen and John Attlesey's Christmas decorations at their home in Soham, Cambridgeshire, is adorned with thousands of eco-friendly LED lights for charity.

Last year it raised over 25,000 for charities including Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, who saved their grandson's life after he developed epilepsy aged six.

Helen and John Attlesey have decorated their house in Soham every year for almost a decade to raise money for three charities

The retired couple, who have put on their dazzling light display for almost a decade, raise money for East Anglia Children's Hospices, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and Dreamflight

MPs Andrew Griffith and Barry Gardiner are among those calling for less Christmas lighting

Mrs Attlesey, 70, who said they caused a huge monthly power bill for them, said they did it to help the community and good causes.

She said: 'Cop26 has put the issue of climate change in people's minds, and I'm very proud to have always used LED lights on my house because they're more environmentally friendly.

'I would advise anyone else with Christmas lights to use the same as us. People are unlikely to scale back on what they buy, but they should use LEDs where possible.

Mrs Attlesey added: 'People understand why we do it so early - they love it. We're trying to help people, we're not just doing it for us,' she added to the Telegraph.

MPs have different ideas and joined environmental campaigners in urging restraint.

Helen and John Attlesey's Christmas decorations are all LED powered so are better than many bulbs for the environment

The bright lights are enjoyed by neighbours and children who donate money to good causes

The designs feature Christmas figures including reindeers and of course Father Christmas

The size of the house means there is a large canvas for the couple to illuminate each year

What ARE the real environmental costs of Christmas lights? Impressive displays raise the spirits but can have environmental impacts. Light pollution can wash out stars in the sky and it it is said to also disrupts ecosystems of some nocturnal wildlife animals. There is also a CO2 issue as well that of energy wastage. Carbon Footprint.com advises: 'Put your indoor and outside Christmas lights on a timer so that they arent wasting electricity when you forget to turn them off after a couple of sherries. 'Choose LED lighting in your house normally and for Christmas decorations to save money on your energy bill. LEDs can save up to 90% of lighting energy costs: using a standard 100W light bulb for 4 hours a day costs you 14.60/year but a low energy light bulb costs only 2.63/year and saves 52kg CO per bulb.' Advertisement

Andrew Griffith MP, Conservative chairman of the Dark Skies All Party Parliamentary Group, said: 'Whilst we all need some festive cheer, much exterior lighting is unnecessarily bright. Had it been in place in Bethlehem, the three wise men would never have seen the stars let alone be guided to the baby Jesus by them.

'A good compromise would be for homeowners to use timers so that they do not stay blazing all night, confusing wildlife and causing glare and distress to neighbours.'

Philip Dunne, a Conservative MP, said: 'I would strongly encourage those people looking to decorate their homes over Christmas to look at using LED lighting where possible to minimise the environmental impact and to ensure their neighbours are not disturbed.'

Barry Gardiner, a Labour MP who sits on Parliament's environment committee, called on people to 'consider our own individual behaviours'.

'I hope that when they think about other people, they think about their contribution to reducing energy consumption.'

Shailesh Vara, the Conservative MP for North West Cambridgeshire and former member of the environmental audit committee, told the Telegrpah: 'It is time for serious action if we are to ensure a safe and better planet for the generations to follow. That does mean that all of us need to reflect on what changes we can make in the way we live our lives, and then make those changes.'

And a Green Party spokesperson said: 'We've got to weigh up the effect on our planet against having lots of lights above our doors,
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Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of a British-Iranian mother who was detained in Iran, said he felt 'depressed'

The husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has described a meeting with a Foreign Office minister as 'depressing' after he was told there was 'no hope'.

Richard Ratcliffe's meeting with James Cleverly followed talks between UK Government officials and Iran's deputy foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani.

Mr Ratcliffe has previously questioned why the UK is refusing to pay a 400million debt it owes Tehran over tanks ordered before the 1979 revolution.

Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who is living under house-arrest in Tehran, was jailed for five years in 2016 on trumped-up charges of plotting to overthrow the Iranian government. On release, the 43-year-old charity worker was sentenced to another year's confinement in April on charges of 'spreading propaganda'. She strongly denies all the allegations.

But concerns have been raised that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe may now be sent back to Evin Prison, where political prisoners are usually tortured.

The meetings on Thursday came as Mr Ratcliffe endured his 19th day on hunger strike outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London.

Mr Ratcliffe began his demonstration last month after his wife lost her latest appeal in Iran, saying his family is 'caught in a dispute between two states'.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Mr Cleverly, Mr Ratcliffe said: 'If I'm honest, quite a depressing meeting. In terms of what we got told, well, not much.'

Iranian authorities have told her she was being incarcerated because of the UK's failure to pay its debt. In 2008 an international arbitration process ruled that Britain owes Iran the debt. But since then London has failed to repay it, with talks between the countries breaking down over the summer.

Mr Ratcliffe has previously questioned why the UK is refusing to pay a 400million debt it owes Tehran over tanks ordered before the 1979 revolution

Mr Ratcliffe sits outside the Foreign Office with his daughter Gabriella, in London on November 5

Mr Ratcliffe is also protesting the Government's handling of the case, and earlier blasted Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his 'cold decision' to allow the regime to keep 'arbitrarily' detaining British nationals

Mr Ratcliffe said Mr Cleverly wanted to emphasise that the meeting with the Iranian delegation had been 'cordial'

Non-profit organisation Redress said that, while Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has not yet been summoned to prison, it is unclear whether she will be returned to prison or whether she will be 'left in limbo in Iran indefinitely'.

Ali Bagheri Kani, the Iranian deputy foreign minister, has come to the UK to meet Foreign Office officials to discuss a range of issues including the terms for the American return to the nuclear agreement abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018. Mr Ratcliffe will meet Foreign Office minister James Cleverly afterwards.

Mr Ratcliffe said Mr Cleverly wanted to emphasise that the meeting with the Iranian delegation had been 'cordial'.

He added: 'He'd raised Nazanin's case, the case of the others (detainees). He said that was a good step. Couldn't give a timeline on when things were going to move forwards.'

He told reporters he would continue his hunger strike outside the FCDO 'this evening', but said he was nearing the end of it 'as a strategy'.

Asked if he was going to carry on, Mr Ratcliffe said: 'For this evening, yes. I think there's a basic medical limit on how long you do a hunger strike for. I made a promise to Nazanin, I made a promise to my family, mum in particular, and to the family doctors, that I won't take it too far.

'But yeah, I don't think we walk away head held high feeling like it's all been sorted.'

Asked how he would break the news to his daughter, Gabriella, he said: 'Well, she probably doesn't think in terms of ministerial meetings, she's just asked when mummy's coming home. I'm a little bit more deflated today than I was this time yesterday.'

Mr Ratcliffe said his family is 'stuck in the same status quo' after the meeting. 'If I'm honest, it felt like, you know, perfectly nice, sincere, caring, everyone in the room was caring. But you know we're still stuck in the same status quo. We're still stuck in the same problems that led us to end up on hunger strike.

'I don't feel they've given a clear enough message to Iran that hostage-taking is wrong. I don't think there are any consequences to Iran at present for its continuing taking hostages of British citizens and using them.

'There was acknowledgement that clearly Nazanin is being held as leverage. No readiness to change course,' he said. Mr Ratcliffe said he was 'pretty irritable' in the meeting.

'I said to him (Mr Cleverly) at the end, "I come away with no hope. I felt that in your strategy it's all carrots to Iran. There's no stick". I can't see what's stopping them from continuing to play games with Nazanin.

'I think by being here, Nazanin is probably safe for a few weeks. But what's to stop them threatening to put her in prison again?'

Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of detained charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, continues with his hunger strike outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London

Jeremy Hunt, right, told Radio 4's Today programme that London should pay its debt to Tehran because the Iranians 'link' the money to the case of Mr Ratcliffe's wife. Left, Mr Ratcliffe outside the Foreign Office

Iranian deputy foreign minister Bagheri Kani arrives at the Foreign Office in Westminster

Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national, has been in custody in Iran since 2016 after being accused of plotting to overthrow the government.

She was taking the couple's daughter, Gabriella, to see her family when she was arrested and sentenced to five years in jail, spending four years in Evin Prison and one under house arrest.

According to her family, she was told by Iranian authorities that she was being detained because of the UK's failure to pay an outstanding 400 million debt to Iran.

Mr Ratcliffe said the Government 'clammed up' and would not talk about the debt to Iran, adding: 'We asked about the debt and they wouldn't talk about it, I mean really clammed up.

'He (Mr Cleverly) said "our position is well known", and we said "well, look, frankly it's not well known, you haven't told us. I don't know if you've told anyone else but we've never heard it".'

Mr Ratcliffe told reporters: 'I had hoped there would have been some kind of a breakthrough and recognition in the meeting with Iran - maybe that will be happening away from us, but I don't have any hopes.'

Asked how he would give the news to his wife, he said: 'I will probably wait a few hours and calm down. I think probably my expectations were higher than hers.'

He added: 'I think things either move forwards or they move backwards. I don't feel they moved forwards today. It may be that there are parts of the conversation I am not privy to and there are parts the minister shares down the line.'

Jeremy Hunt also called on the UK to settle its 400million debt to Iran in order to secure Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's release. The former Foreign Secretary called Iran 'an absolutely despicable regime that sponsors terrorism across the Middle East', but said Tehran 'links' the money to her case and said practicalities, not principles, were holding back the repayment.

Mr Ratcliffe told Radio 4's Today programme: 'Our case is associated with the wider manoeuvrings. We are a bargaining chip about the debt, but it is part of a much wider piece about Iran ending sanctions and everyone trying to get the Iran nuclear deal revived. That has got many more moving parts and so is more complicated.'

He went on: 'The Prime Minister back in the day when he was Foreign Secretary promised he would pay it. He also, when we met him behind closed doors a couple of years back now, was certainly keen to try and get Nazanin home and said we'll leave no stone unturned.

The Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe crisis explained Why is Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe being detained? Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was taking her daughter Gabriella to see her family in Tehran in 2016 when she was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. She spent four years in Evin Prison and the final year of her sentence under house-arrest, but after her release this year she was then convicted of 'spreading propaganda against the regime'. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her family were told by Iranian authorities she is being detained because of the UK's failure to pay an outstanding 400million debt to Iran. She is one of several people with British or dual-British nationality detained in Iran. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe, their local MP Tulip Siddiq and Amnesty International have been campaigning for her release for several years. What does the debt have to do with it? The UK and Iran had close relations before the 1979 revolution, with London offering support to Tehran in exchange for concessions in sectors such as oil. Though the relationship was at times strained - such as the 1953 CIA coup against Mohammad Mosaddegh after he nationalised the oil industry - the Shah was considered an ally and suitable for arms sales. From 1971 to 1976, the Shah was faced with the rise of Arab nationalists in Iraq and elsewhere and ordered 1,500 Chieftain battle tanks and 250 repair vehicles from the UK. The total cost 650million, and the Shah paid it upfront rather than on delivery. The UK delivered 185 tanks before the revolution, when the Shah fled the country and Ayatollah Khomeini established his theocratic state. Britain suspended all diplomatic relations, and - following the hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran - refused to send the tanks Iran had bought. The Iranians then asked for money back, which Britain ignored. A legal battle lasting 40 years then ensued, leading to a decision in 2008 that Britain should repay the money. But since then London has failed to repay it, with talks between the countries breaking down over the summer. So why hasn't the money been paid? International Military Services Ltd, the state-owned company that made the deal with Iran, and the British Treasury agreed to deposit the balance with the High Courts as far back as 2002. But the money never made its way to Tehran, sitting instead in an independent trust in the UK. This is because the UK is bound by international sanctions on Iran. Though some of these were lifted by Barack Obama's nuclear deal, sending money to Tehran would be a breach of the united front shown by global powers including France, Germany and Russia. But with ongoing negotiations with Iran centring on the terms of the American return to the nuclear agreement, it may become easier for the UK to settle the debt. Why's Richard Ratcliffe on hunger strike? Richard Ratcliffe, Nazanin's husband, is on hunger strike outside the Foreign Office in Whitehall in an attempt to persuade it to pay the debt. He is also protesting the Government's handling of the case, and earlier blasted the Prime Minister for his 'cold decision' to allow the regime to keep 'arbitrarily' detaining UK nationals. Mr Ratcliffe told Sky News his list of demands includes that the UK pay Iran the money. 'I think that the UK should repay the debt - that's why Nazanin was taken,' he said. 'We have lost five-and-a-half years to unpaid debt, others have been taken since.' But he added the UK must also take a tougher stance towards Iran holding British citizens prisoner. Advertisement

'I've had clear conversations with the Foreign Secretary, had letters from the Defence Secretary, so there is a sort of a head scratching as to ''well, how come it's not been solved?'' We asked Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary, but she wouldn't say to us.

'My fear is that the Iranians are not persuaded and are willing to show their claws. I am looking for some kind of a breakthrough. The point of a hunger strike is to hope to shake things up and move things forward.'

Ahead of Thursday's meeting, a Foreign Office spokesman said: 'We will urge Iran to take the opportunity to swiftly conclude the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) deal on the table.

'We will also be using this opportunity to again press firmly for the immediate release of our unfairly detained British nationals.'

Mr Hunt said it is 'practically challenging' to pay the money to Iran due to sanctions in place, and said there were 'political considerations'.

The former Foreign Secretary told the Today programme: 'We have contracts with countries all over the world, some of them nicer, some of them nastier, and we are a country that pays our debts.

'If this was ransom money I would be saying we should not pay it, and I've said that to Richard, however painful that sounds, because you just encourage more hostage-taking.

'But this is not ransom money. This is a debt. An international court has said so. The Defence Secretary has said so. We should pay it because it is an irritant to relations and whether or not it should be linked to Nazanin's case, the Iranians certainly do make that linkage.'

He added: 'There are practical issues with sanctions, but those are things that you can sometimes get around, if you, for example, gave 400million worth of medicines or something like that.

'There are also political considerations, you know, the reactions of people like the United States, but given that President Obama did pay America's debts to Iran in exactly the same situation, I think it's unlikely that we would have the same objections from President Biden than we might have had from President Trump.'

Mr Ratcliffe previously said that the rejection of his wife's appeal was the Iranians 'signalling they're not prepared to wait forever and they will do what they need to do'.

'Is this going to be a wake-up call for the Government? Maybe, maybe not,' he said.

'One of the challenges I find with this Government is that it doesn't deal with problems until they become crises. This is Iran threatening a crisis. One hopes that the Government takes it seriously.'

On Monday, he told ITV's Good Morning Britain: 'I'm definitely looking rougher and feeling rougher. I don't feel hungry but I do feel the cold more. It's a short-term tactic. You can't take it too long or you end up in a coma.'

He added he will have to listen to his body when deciding when to end his hunger strike.

'At this point I will have to start listening to my body,' he said. 'Over the weekend I spent most of the day sitting down. The batteries were really flat. One of the things with a hunger strike is you get more stubborn the longer things go on, so you become less able to flexibly let go.'

Mr Ratcliffe told Sky News his list of demands includes that the UK pay Iran the money.

Before the 1979 revolution, the UK and Iran had close relations, with London offering support to Tehran in exchange for concessions in sectors such as oil.

Though the relationship was at times strained - such as the 1953 CIA coup against Mohammad Mosaddegh after he nationalised the oil industry - the Shah was considered an ally and suitable for arms sales.

From 1971 to 1976, the Shah was faced with the rise of Arab nationalists in Iraq and elsewhere and ordered 1,500 Chieftain battle tanks and 250 repair vehicles from the UK. The total cost 650million, and the Shah paid it upfront rather than on delivery.

The UK delivered 185 tanks before the revolution, when the Shah fled the country and Ayatollah Khomeini established his theocratic state.

Britain suspended all diplomatic relations, and - following the hostage crisis at the US Embassy in Tehran - refused to send the tanks Iran had bought. The Iranians then asked for money back, which Britain ignored.

A legal battle lasting 40 years then ensued, leading to a decision in 2008 that Britain should repay the money. But since then London has failed to repay it, with talks between the countries breaking down over the summer.

International Military Services Ltd, the state-owned company that made the deal with Iran, and the British Treasury agreed to deposit the balance with the High Courts as far back as 2002.

But the money never made its way to Tehran, sitting instead in an independent trust in the UK because London is bound by international sanctions on Iran.

Though some of these were lifted by Barack Obama's nuclear deal, sending money to Tehran would be a breach of the united front shown by global powers including France, Germany and Russia.

The Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, said earlier this year that it was 'absolutely right' that 'we should honour that debt'. Speaking about the case, he told Times Radio: 'What we've said very clearly is that we comply with law and the rule of law... we should honour that debt and we should find ways to return it to Iran.

'Of course, since then Iran has clearly indulged in hostage-taking diplomacy with a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, which makes life much harder for many people.

Richard Ratcliffe, husband of detained charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, continues his hunger strike outside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London

He has been demonstrating on Whitehall for 16 days over the government's handling of his wife's (pictured) incarceration in Iran

In 2008 an international arbitration process ruled that the UK owes Iran the debt. Pictured: The ground where Mr Ratcliffe camps

Labour leader Keir Starmer (left) and Labour MP Tulip Siddiq (right) meet with Mr Ratcliffe

Claudia Winkleman and Victoria Coren Mitchell as they meet and talk to Mr Ratcliffe

'Also there are sanctions in place. There are rules of law governing the sanctions. You wouldn't expect me to break sanctions in order to deal with that issue.

'We have to find a way of upholding our obligations, legally, on the debt but also complying with sanctions. I think that is really important.'

Mr Ratcliffe said: 'I think that the UK should repay the debt - that's why Nazanin was taken. We have lost five-and-a-half years to unpaid debt, others have been taken since.'

But he added the UK must also take a tougher stance towards Iran holding British citizens prisoner.

'They do need to be tougher with Iran on hostage-taking,' he said. 'For example, this week the Iranian vice president is being hosted up in Glasgow and being wined and dined. Really it should be challenged, that it is not OK that when UK citizens have been taken hostage that the Iranian state carries on as normal.'

'I don't think that the Government's approach to hostage-taking is effective, five-and-a-half years shows that,' he added.

Presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell was outside the Foreign Office on Monday, supporting Mr Ratcliffe on the his strike.

She said 'we cannot just ignore this' and described Mr Ratcliffe as a 'hero', adding: 'Someone in the current Government could be the one to bring Nazanin back while Gabriella still has a childhood.

'She's not the only one, there are other hostages. I know the family a bit, Gabriella is a wonderful, perfect child. But she needs her mother.

'Nazanin is a totally innocent woman who needs to come home to her family.'
Peloton has blocked users from using the #LetsGoBrandon tag on its platforms because it 'does not meet guidelines'.

The fitness company, famous for its spin bikes, gives members access to a Peloton App where they can post their workout along with tags to connect with other Peloton users with similar interests.

However, Peloton has banned the use of the tag #LetsGoBrandon and sends an error message when the anti-Biden hashtag is used on their app, according to screenshots from PJ Media.

The phrase Let's Go Brandon was sparked after a reporter mistook chants of 'f*** Joe Biden' at a NASCAR rally in October for the more benign phrase, and it has since become a running joke among Biden critics, and used to mock the president.

Peloton has blocked the use of #LetsGoBrandon tag on its platforms because it 'does not meet guidelines'

The screenshot from the Peloton app shows that when the phrase is typed in, it returns the words: 'This tag does not meet our guidelines.'

It is not clear how #LetsGoBrandon violates Peloton's community guidelines as other political hashtags critical of President Biden such as #ImpeachBiden and #WomenForTrump are permitted on the platform along with left-wing tags including #BlackLivesMatter and #DefundThePolice.

In recent figures, Peloton reported 2.49 million connected fitness subscribers, or those who own a Peloton product and pay a monthly fee to access the company's digital workout content.

MailOnline has reached out to Peloton for comment.

The fitness company sends an error message saying that the tag 'does not meet our guidelines' when the anti-Biden hashtag is used, as seen in screenshots from their app

Peloton customers were not impressed when they discovered the use of the 'Let's Go Brandon' tag was blocked on the app, with some saying they had canceled their subscription as a result.

One woman wrote: 'My husband canceled our Peloton subscription because they banned the use of the tag 'Lets go Brandon'... Thats fine I love running.'

Another Twitter user named Mike slammed the Peloton ban, writing: '@onepeloton Banning freedom of expression, not a smart move, I guess thats why your stock tanked, another easy decision for me, wont be purchasing your product.. Lets Go Brandon!'

The 'Let's Go Brandon!' phrase became an internet sensation last month and references an incident on October 2 where NASCAR fans chanted 'F**k Joe Biden'.

NBC reporter Kelli Stavast was interviewing driver Brandon Brown when she allegedly misheard the crowd and said they were yelling 'Let's Go Brandon!' - however, Biden critics believed the reporter purposely tried to censor the crowd.

Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert tweeted a picture of her with former President Donald Trump last week (left), wearing a dress with the words 'Let's Go Brandon', mocking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's now-infamous 'Tax the Rich' Met Gala dress (right)

Since the NASCAR incident, 'Let's Go Brandon!' has become shorthand for 'F**k Joe Biden' on social media, with many using the hashtag #LetsGoBrandon to criticize the President.

The phrase has gained viral cultural status with three versions of a song titled 'Let's Go Brandon' entering the iTunes top 10 charts last month, and two taking the top spots.

Conservative rapper Bryson Grays 'Lets Go Brandon' made it to number one in October, despite being banned by YouTube for spreading 'harmful false information' about Covid, and rapper Loza Alexanders version came in at number two.

The popularity of the phrase as an internet meme and as a number one song on iTunes, by Conservative rapper Bryson Gray (pictured), show the level of anti-Biden sentiment growing in the US

Conservative rapper Bryson Grays 'Lets Go Brandon' made it to number one on the iTunes charts in October and rapper Loza Alexanders version came in at number two

Its popularity as an internet meme and as a number one song show the level of anti-Biden sentiment growing in the US.

Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert tweeted a picture of her with former President Donald Trump last week, wearing a dress with the words 'Let's Go Brandon' on the back.

She captioned the photo: 'It's not a phrase, it's a movement!'.

The style of the dress and where the phrase was placed mocked Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs now-infamous 'Tax the Rich' dress that the New York Democrat and Squad member wore to the Met Gala in September.
The husband of a fit and healthy mother-of-two who died from an aggressive cancer has begged Australians to stay vigilant for crucial signs something could be wrong, such as a change in bowel movements.

NSW woman Karen Chorazyczewski, 36, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer just weeks after giving birth to her second son on September 20, 2018.

Baby Harrison's crib was placed next to his mother's as she began treatment for the disease, which would eventually claim her life exactly three years later.

In heartbreaking clips from Karen's hospital bed her tiny sons George and Harrison snuggle into their fragile mother's arms as they tell her they love her.

'I love you too darling. Mummy loves you,' she replies.

NSW woman Karen Chorazyczewski, 36, (pictured with her sons George and Harrison) was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in September, 2018

On Karen's request, her heartbroken partner Janek continues to encourage Australians to remain vigilant for crucial symptoms his wife initially missed.

He has urged people of all ages to monitor any changes in their bowel, gut health or general sense of wellbeing and to get tested for colorectal cancer.

The Central Coast paramedic says he wants to change the perception that bowel cancer only affects the elderly and says early detection is key.

'I get so infuriated when I hear people joke about throwing the screening kits in the bin that get sent to the over 50s,' he told A Current Affair.

Karen's mother Cheryl echoed her son-in-law's sentiments and encouraged Australians not to take their good health for granted.

'Her biggest wish was to get the message out,' she said.

Baby Harrison's crib was placed next to his mother's as she began treatment for the disease that would eventually claim her life exactly three years later (pictured, Karen and Harrison)

On Karen's request, her heartbroken partner Janek (left) continues to encourage Australians to remain vigilant for the subtle signs something could be wrong

'Just get yourself tested if you have any doubt at all that you have a problem. Don't let your doctor tell you that "because you're young, you can't get it".'

The grieving grandmother said the pain of losing her daughter at the tender age of 36 would remain with her forever.

'It never goes away, it's just like a weight on your heart,' she said.

Janek admitted he was still coming to terms with raising his two young sons without his wife who had planned to take time off work before the boys started school.

Several GoFundMe campaigns set up by friends of the family have raised more than $20,000 for Janek and his broken family.

Karen (pictured) has been described as a devoted mother who was planning on taking time off work to spend more time with her sons before they started school

The NSW Central Coast community has rallied around the family and raised enough funds to allow Janek (pictured with wife Karen) to take time off work to spend time with his two sons

The funds will allow the single parent to spend more time with his little boys, who are still too young to fully process the absence of their devoted mother.

The single dad took to Facebook on September 30 to give friends and family the details of Karen's funeral, which could only be attended by ten people due to Covid-19.

'This sucks and is just so unfair. Karen is amazing and this all cannot be real,' he said.

'Thank you to everyone for the kind thoughts and memories being shared. So many people have contacted me sharing how Karen has touched their lives.

'Karen deserves a send off that fits how loved she is. If I had my way, we would be packing out a church bigger than St Marys Cathedral.'

'Trust your gut instinct, get checked and hold on to your loved ones with all youve got, there is never enough time,' Janek said (pictured with wife Karen)

Janek also shared a powerful message with Daily Mail Australia, revealing he's taking it one day at a time just six weeks after the passing of his beloved wife.

'Trust your gut instinct, get checked and hold on to your loved ones with all youve got, there is never enough time,' he said.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in Australia, with 293 people receiving a diagnosis every week.

It affects the colon or rectum located at the lower end of the digestive tract with the chance of surviving the cancer for at least five years at 70 per cent.
Passengers flying from Heathrow Airport have more than doubled compared to this time last year, figures have revealed.

An estimated 3million travellers flew out of the west London airport last month compared with 1.2 million in October 2020 but passenger numbers remain down by 56 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels.

It is the first time Heathrow has reached over 3million passengers since March 2020, when the country entered its first lockdown.

On October 2019, passenger numbers at the London hub were at a record high of nearly 7million.

Relaxed rules for travellers have helped the airport slowly recover from a difficult year, which saw passengers number fall by up to 90 percent in the months before June.

Passengers arriving arriving at Heathrow Airport yesterday faced queues of up to two hours after problems with national 'egate' outage at border control. Similar problems were reported at Luton and Stansted Airports.

THE NEW TRAVEL RULES - WHO CAN COME TO AMERICA Travellers from any country are permitted entry to the US if they are; 1) Fully vaccinated 2) Have a negative COVID-19 test taken within 3 days of arriving in the US Who is exempt from having to be vaccinated? Children Under-18s do not need to be vaccinated but those over the age of two must have a negative test taken within 3 days of arrival Children under two do not need to be vaccinated or have a negative test Exempted countries A limited number of travelers from countries where vaccination is less than 10 percent can enter but they have to get vaccinated if they're still in America within 60 days The countries include; Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Armenia, Myanmar, Iraq, Nicaragua, Senegal, Uganda, Libya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Yemen, Haiti, Chad and Madagascar Advertisement

By August, this drop had reduced considerably as the airport recorded a milestone of well over 2million travellers.

The London hub was Europe's busiest runway before Covid-19 and has reported losses of 500million this summer.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow's chief executive, has urged to government to step up its commitments to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The airport has suggested this should be done by ensuring price stability to promote use of SAF and requiring airlines to use SAF for 10% of their fuel by the end of the decade.

Mr Holland-Kaye has listed 'carbon' as the airport's biggest challenge, as consumers become increasingly aware of the impact of climate change across the globe.

He said: 'As the journey to recovery accelerates, aviation's ambitions to decarbonise must keep pace.

'We need to keep our foot to the pedal, working to make air travel guilt-free and Government must act with a mandate for 10% sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 and a price stability mechanism to upscale SAF usage, if we are to tackle the industry's biggest challenge  carbon.'

SAF is produced with materials other than crude oil, and produces up to 80% less carbon emissions than traditional jet fuel.

Relaxation of travel rules ahead of half-term 'unleashed pent up demand', Heathrow said.

A traffic light system made of green, amber and red list countries was scrapped on October 4 and replaced with a simpler system of red list countries. All countries were removed from the red list on October 28.

John Holland-Kaye, Heathrow's chief executive, has urged to government to step up its commitments to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

On November 8, the US finally opened its doors to foreign travellers for the first time since March 12, 2020, on a day which saw 10,000 passengers fly from London to New York.

They were among the first to enter the US along with visitors from China, India and Brazil.

Three of London's key airports - Heathrow, Luton and Stansted - were fraught with irate passengers yesterday morning, after an 'eGate' outage used by border control led to queues of over two hours.

Many of those queuing shared their experiences on social media, describing the situation as 'bizarre' and a 'complete shower'.

The eGates are managed by the Home Office's 372million central UK-wide security database  known as Border Crossing  which was rushed into use in June when it was already more than three years overdue.

The Home Office later apologised to travellers but the disruption eased throughout the day.

In the UK, passengers arriving from other countries must be fully vaccinated or have taken a pre-departure test before boarding a UK-bound flight.

Upon arrival, foreign travellers must take a lateral flow test on or before the second day after their arrival.

Heathrow has urged ministers to 'reassess' the testing requirements for fully vaccinated travellers arriving in the UK.

The airport has noted that while its passenger levels remain 56% down on pre-pandemic levels, air travel is recovering quicker for its European rivals.
The unmarried 'widow' of a millionaire buy-to-let boss has won a 400,000 share of his fortune in a court fight with his children.

But in a stunning turn of events, Cindy Jassal, 57, could be stripped of hundreds of thousands of pounds - and face jail - after her own evidence in court revealed that she is a benefits cheat.

London's High court heard that Fiaz Ali Shah, 64, died in April 2020 as the UK lurched into lockdown, leaving behind a property portfolio and 1.1 million in the bank.

His last will from 2018 bequeathed all his wealth to his son, leaving his cash-strapped widow without a penny.

Cindy had been married to Mr Shah in an Islamic ceremony more than 20 years ago, but the couple never underwent a civil marriage and so were not legally bound as husband-and-wife.

She sued for a payout from his 1million estate following his death, insisting they had lived together as spouses and she was entitled to be supported despite being cut out of his will.

A judge at the High Court ruled in her favour, accepting her evidence that the couple had lived together as 'husband and wife' and handing her a 385,000 payout.

But he went on to find Cindy had committed 'very serious' fraud by pretending to her local authority that she and Mr Shah were not co-habiting in order to fraudulently claim housing benefit, meaning she could face time behind bars.

Srendarjit Kaur Jassal (pictured), 57, the 'widow' of a millionaire buy-to-let boss has won a 400,000 share of his fortune in a court fight with his children

Judge Marsh ordered that a transcript of the judgment and Cindy's own evidence, in which she admitted housing benefit fraud, should be sent to the authorities for investigation.

Ruling on the case this week, he ordered that details of her 'very serious' dishonesty be passed on to her local council, the DWP and HMRC for investigation.

And he ordered that 200,000 of her payout be held back to give the authorities the chance to make a claim against her to recoup any wrongly paid benefits.

The court heard Mr Shah, whose real name was Faiz Ali Shah but was known as 'Alan', made his money through buy-to-lets and property maintenance.

He and Ms Jassal, whose real name is Srendarjit but goes by the name 'Cindy', were married in an Islamic ceremony in 2003, after she converted to Islam.

In 2006, they moved to a house he had earlier bought in Sussex Close, Slough.

They briefly parted in 2012, but she said they were back living together as if they were a married couple when he died.

However, his last will, dated 2018, left his entire estate, including a string of properties and 427,000 cash, to his son.

Cindy sued for 'reasonable provision' from Mr Shah's fortune, claiming they had lived together at Sussex Close as 'husband and wife' in the years before he died.

But the son, backed by his sisters Sabrina, Sofia and Shabana, claimed that their dad and Cindy were not truly in a marriage-like relationship after 2012.

At that point, she had moved out of their Sussex Close home and into another property in his name in nearby Salt Hill Mansions, which was paid for with housing benefits.

But Cindy claimed the move was a sham, that she part-owned the other property, and that she had in fact gone back to Sussex Close after only a short time away.

'She relies upon her fraudulent conduct in making a housing benefit claim and receiving housing benefit over an extended period,' said the judge in his ruling.

'She positively asserts that her claim to Slough Council for housing benefit, resulting in payment of more than 60,000 by way of rent, was fraudulent.

'She does so in order to demonstrate that her connection to the address for which benefit was paid was not a real one.

'There is no way of dressing up this conduct. It was dishonest and knowingly dishonest and it was part of a pattern of dishonest conduct.'

The property developer's three daughters Sabrina (right), Sofia (left) and Shabana (second left, with brother Sajad Ali Shah) were not named as beneficiaries in his 2018 last will. But the children said he set up a 'secret trust' to cover their needs

Cindy put forward evidence from three neighbours who confirmed that 'Alan and Cindy Shah' had lived together as husband and wife in Sussex Close.

And she showed the judge more than 600 text messages between them, highlighting the mundane aspects of a couple sharing a life together under the same roof.

She also pointed to a Valentine's card, sent by Mr Shah months before he died, in which he said: 'But I still love you, no one can love you like me.'

Ruling, the judge said Cindy's case had hinged on her own and her partner's 'pattern of dishonesty' over many years.

Cindy had in 2007 been granted a 'clearly fictional' tenancy over the Sussex Close house in order to make it look like she lived alone.

She had then been granted another tenancy over the Salt Hill Mansions flat from 2013, when she in fact jointly owned it with Mr Shah and did not even live there.

It had allowed claims to be made for benefits, while she also had asserted in claims for jobseekers' allowance, income support and incapacity benefits that she was single.

That meant her partner's savings were not disclosed, despite the fact he had 427,000 in cash to his name by the time he died, said the judge.

Cindy had 'without doubt misled Slough Borough Council' in her housing benefit claim, showing a 'consistent pattern of dishonesty' by the couple, he continued.

He ordered that a transcript of the judgment and Cindy's own evidence, in which she admitted housing benefit fraud, should be sent to the authorities for investigation.

In her witness statement, she had written: 'I accept that I did make a false claim for housing benefit from 2013 until the death of Fiaz. However, I didn't live at this property at any time during my relationship with Fiaz.'

But the judge said that the evidence showed that she was right in her claim that she and Mr Shah had lived together in the years up to his death as though they were married, and so was entitled to money from his estate.

'The evidence of the neighbours is not perfect, but it has not been challenged,' he said.

'It points to a settled long-term relationship, akin to a marriage, between the claimant and Fiaz in the same household.'

The 660 text messages between the couple - in which she referred to him as 'hubby' and discussed food in the fridge and other mundane aspects of life - also backed her case.

'Taken overall, the messages point to much more than a casual girlfriend-boyfriend relationship or an on-off relationship,' he said.

'I am satisfied that the claimant and Fiaz were living in the last two years of his life in the same household as if they were husband and wife.'

He awarded her 385,000 from the estate, but said 200,000 of that would be held back to give the authorities a chance to bring proceedings against her in relation to benefit fraud.
Cabinet tensions over sleaze burst into the open today as Rishi Sunak swiped at Boris Johnson over the sleaze chaos.

The Chancellor delivered a rebuke to the PM saying the government 'needs to do better' following the aborted bid to save ex-minister Owen Paterson from punishment for lobbying.

Mr Johnson gathered his senior team for five-hour crunch talks in Downing Street this evening to take stock of the crisis amid persistent rumours of friction with Mr Sunak - who notably did not vote on the key amendment last week.

Meanwhile, the stakes in the discussions were underlined by a poll showing that the Conservatives have slumped behind Labour for the first time in a year.

Despite increasing alarm on the Tory benches, the PM again stubbornly refused to apologise for triggering the sleaze meltdown as he was grilled during a press conference at the COP26 summit in Glasgow last night.

The Cabinet meeting was ostensibly focusing on the Levelling Up agenda, with ministers due to lay out how their department is contributing to the drive. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey arrived armed with an A3 map seemingly to help get her message across.

However, the political discussion is believed to have also addressed to how to quell the rising tide of criticism about second jobs, conflicting interests and cronyism among MPs.

In an interview with Sky News this morning after new GDP figures were released, Mr Sunak struck a starkly different tone to the premier, saying he was 'reflecting on recent events'.

'People will have different motivations for doing what they do, the pay is set by an independent body, that's absolutely right,' he said.

'And with regard to second jobs, there's an independent process that we have that's set by Parliament that governs all of those things. And it's absolutely right that that process is followed to the letter.

'Now look, on the broader point  and reflecting over recent events  I think for us as a Government, it's fair to say that we need to do better than we did last week, and we know that.'

Unlike Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak has not declared any extra earnings since becoming an MP in 2015. He is reputed to be one of the richest MPs in the Commons, partly due to his previous career in the city but also due to the multi-billion wealth of his wife's family.

Rishi Sunak risked inflaming internal tensions over the wave of allegations that followed the aborted bid to save ex-minister Owen Paterson from punishment for lobbying

Boris Johnson (pictured observing a silence on Remembrance Day today) has been struggling to contain rising alarm over sleaze allegations

Michael Gove departs 10 Downing Street after five-hour long crunch talks with senior Government officials

Health Secretary Sajid Javid smiles as he exits Downing Street after the mammoth five-hour talks

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Simon Clarke took part in the discussions on how to stamp out sleaze

The damage from the sleaze rows was underlined by a poll showing that the Conservatives have slumped behind Labour for the first time in a year

Dominic Raab (left) seemed to be watching the clock as he arrived for Cabinet today. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries (right) was also at the meeting

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (left) and Housing Secretary Michael Gove in Downing St today

Mr Johnson stubbornly refused to apologise for triggering the sleaze meltdown as he was repeatedly grilled during a press conference at the COP26 summit in Glasgow last night

Standards chief calls for action on MPs' second jobs and ministers' interests The head of a sleaze watchdog today heaped pressure on Boris Johnson to bolster rules on MPs' outside interests. Lord Evans, former head of MI5 and now chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, also delivered a thinly-veiled rebuke to politicians who are more focused on second jobs than Commons duties. The peer's committee has called for changes including more transparency around lobbying and stronger oversight of ministerial behaviour. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme about his committee's 2018 recommendations on MPs' external work, the peer said: 'We said that the critical thing was that nothing that an MP does should get in the way of their ability to work in support of their constituents  so the amount of work they do, the sort of work, needs to be judged against that. 'If somebody is spending a huge amount of their time on a second job, then they can't be maintaining support for their constituents.' Asked whether it matters more about how much time an MP spends on their outside work rather than how much they are earning, Lord Evans replied: 'I don't think it is ultimately a matter of how much, I think it is a matter of is it clear that the MP who has been elected by their constituents, that their main focus, their main priority is on being the best MP that they can be? 'And that takes time and that takes concentration.' Advertisement

The Tory misery showed no sign of easing today, with more allegations against MPs and growing signs of infighting.

A poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found the Tories have dropped one point since Monday to 36 per cent.

At the same time Labour was up two on 38 per cent.

It is the first time the firm has shown a lead for the Opposition since November last year.

Relations between No10 and No11 have been prickly for a while, with suspicion that Mr Sunak is on manoeuvres with his glossy PR output.

One flashpoint came when the PM unveiled his strategy for decarbonising Britain by 2050.

The Treasury released a stark assessment alongside the plan warning that the government cannot borrow to fund the costs of the transition.

It cautioned that tax rises would be needed to underwrite state investment - and that a way will have to be found to fill the black hole left as 37billion of revenue from fuel duty disappears.

The message contrasted sharply with the PM's bullish comments that there will be no need for 'hair shirt' measures.

There were also reports the Treasury assessment had been 'scrubbed' to remove the most alarming predictions - and originally was even tougher.

It was the latest sign of tensions between the Chancellor and Mr Johnson over the government finances - although the premier appeared to come out on top with the Budget last month splashing the cash.

Nicola Sturgeon also gleefully seized on the sleaze chaos today to further her Scottish independence drive.

She claimed there is a 'sense of corruption at the heart of the Westminster system'.

'It has also shone a light, and perhaps this is a good thing, on some of the other issues that need to be resolved around politics, and Westminster politics in particular,' she told journalists at the COP26 summit.

'There is a real concern - I certainly don't use this word lightly - about a sense of corruption at the heart of the Westminster system, and that has to be rooted out.'

Former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox is facing fresh questions after it emerged he took out a 3,900 loan from the taxpayer to cover the deposit on renting a London flat - at the same time as renting out his own property in the capital.

In 2017 the Torridge & West Devon MP moved out of his own property in London, and started claiming around 1,900 a month on expenses for another flat in the capital.

The arrangement does not break any rules, but Sir Geoffrey is reported to be renting his Battersea property out for around 1,000 a week.

MailOnline can also reveal that Sir Geoffrey received a 3,900 loan from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) in 2017 to pay the deposit on his new accommodation.

Again, there is no suggestion rules were breached, but the manoeuvre came as Sir Geoffrey was pocketing huge sums from his legal practice. He has earned more than 5million since becoming an MP in 2005.

Lord Evans, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said that if an MP is spending a 'huge amount of time' on a second job, they will not be able to fulfil their duties to constituents.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme about his committee's 2018 recommendations on MPs' external work, the peer said: 'We said that the critical thing was that nothing that an MP does should get in the way of their ability to work in support of their constituents  so the amount of work they do, the sort of work, needs to be judged against that.

'If somebody is spending a huge amount of their time on a second job, then they can't be maintaining support for their constituents.'

Asked whether it matters more about how much time an MP spends on their outside work rather than how much they are earning, Lord Evans replied: 'I don't think it is ultimately a matter of how much, I think it is a matter of is it clear that the MP who has been elected by their constituents, that their main focus, their main priority is on being the best MP that they can be?

'And that takes time and that takes concentration.'

At the press conference last night, An awkward-looking Mr Johnson insisted MPs' second jobs 'strengthen democracy' saying that for 'hundreds of years' politicians had been able to do outside work.

But he swiped at Sir Geoffrey, who has been criticised for his 1million-a-year legal sideline, saying they 'must put your job as an MP first', as well as stressing that paid lobbying is never acceptable.

On a stage where he had hoped to keep media focus on plans to limit climate change he was forced to defend Britain's political system, saying: 'I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country, nor do I believe that our institutions are corrupt.'

And Mr Johnson seemed in a hurry to escape, bringing the proceedings to an abrupt halt as he looked as his watch and said he needed to go and catch 'climate-friendly transport' - the train - back to London.

Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey was loaded up with equipment as she arrived in Downing Street for Cabinet

Sir Geoffrey Cox has been referred to the Commons standards tsar over claims he broke Commons rules by using his parliamentary office to offer legal advice to the British Virgin Islands

Geoffrey Cox got 3,900 taxpayer loan for deposit to rent London flat... as he rented out his own property in the capital Geoffrey Cox is facing fresh questions today after it emerged he took out a 3,900 loan from the taxpayer to cover the deposit on renting a London flat - at the same time as renting out his own property in the capital. The former Attorney General is under more pressure over his accommodation arrangements, after sounding defiance over earning millions of pounds from his legal 'sideline'. In 2017 the Torridge & West Devon MP moved out of his own property in London, and started claiming around 1,900 a month on expenses for another flat in the capital. The arrangement does not break any rules, but Sir Geoffrey is reported to be renting his Battersea property out for around 1,000 a week. MailOnline can also reveal that Sir Geoffrey received a 3,900 loan from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) in 2017 to pay the deposit on his new accommodation. Again, there is no suggestion rules were breached, but the manoeuvre came as Sir Geoffrey was pocketing huge sums from his legal practice. He has earned more than 5million since becoming an MP in 2005. The eminent QC is also likely to have received a deposit from the tenants of his Battersea property. The accommodation loan from Ipsa will be due for repayment when the MP ends his rental agreement. Sir Geoffrey did not respond to a request for comment this morning. There are claims he has been in Mauritius while the furore has been unfolding. However, he issued a bullish statement defending his outside earnings yesterday. Advertisement

The premier had made a dash to Scotland in a bid to reinvigorate the UN summit negotiations over a deal to tackle climate change, but found himself taken to task over the sleaze crisis.

'On second jobs, I would say that for hundreds of years MPs have gone to Parliament and also done work as doctors, lawyers or soldiers or firefighters or writers, or all sorts of other trades and callings,' he said.

'And on the whole, the UK population has understood that that has actually strengthened our democracy, because people basically feel that parliamentarians do need to have some experience of the world.

'But, if that system is going to continue today, then it is crucial that MPs follow the rules.

'And the rules say two crucial things: you must put your job as an MP first and you must devote yourself primarily and above all to your constituents and the people who send you to Westminster, to Parliament.

'And they also say that you should not use your position as an MP to lobby or otherwise intervene on behalf of any outside commercial interest. And it is not only that you have to register those interests  you can't lobby or make representation while an MP on behalf of those interests.

'Those are the rules and they must be enforced and those who don't obey them should of course face sanctions.'

Sir Geoffrey sounded defiance yesterday after footage emerged appearing to show him representing the British Virgin Islands at a fraud commission by video-link from his Commons office.

Labour has demanded a standards probe, while ministers have admitted that using parliamentary facilities for work is against the rules. He denies any breach.

Meanwhile, Andrew Bowie, tipped as a rising star, has stepped back from his role as a Conservative vice-chair role. He insisted he wants to focus on his Scottish constituency, but has reportedly told friends he is 'unable to support the government' in the wake of the Paterson row.

Ministers have been desperately trying to pour cold water on the idea of full ban on MPs having second jobs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid suggested some politicians would opt to leave parliament, and stressed that the Commons benefits from people being connected to the outside world.

Labour has accused Mr Johnson of using the day-trip to Scotland as a 'distraction' from the sleaze row. Many had expected him to go towards the end of the week when talks are at a crunch point.

He has also dropped plans for a Cabinet away-day at Chequers tomorrow and will meet ministers in Downing Street instead.
A roofer who sold his 'Beast' dog which killed a schoolboy has been quizzed by police - and insists he is not to blame for the tragedy, telling them he had 'nothing to do with it'.

Lee Jenkins, 34, called the dog 'Beast' in an online ad on Facebook saying he was selling it because it 'does not like other dogs' but reassuring potential buyers it was great with people.

But just two weeks later the powerful eight-stone dog savaged schoolboy Jack Lis, 10, to death as he visited his friend's home.

A woman, 28, who took the 15-month-old dog has been arrested - and Jenkins is one of two men interviewed by police over the horror attack.

He said: 'I am not the owner of that dog. I told the police everything I know. They know I have nothing to do with it. It's not my dog and it's since been re-homed from me.'

His advertisement for the hulking animal was posted on Facebook on October 29 and claimed the animal was 'grate with people.'

Lee Jenkins, pictured left, sold the American pitbull-type dog, right, which mauled a 10-year-old boy to death. Jenkins sold the dog online via a Facebook ad

Jenkins posted this advert online where he claimed his pet was a threat to his other dogs

Pictured: Jack Lis, the 10-year-old killed by an American Pitbull-style dog in South Wales while playing with a friend

The ad said the American pitbull-style animal was 15-months-old but 'unfortunately does not like other dogs'.

It said the dog needed to be rehomed saying 'I've tried my best with him, I have other dogs and cannot put them at risk.

'He needs someone with time.'

The ad called the dog 'Beast' and described it as height 24ttw - about the same as a labrador - and weighing 115lbs.

The dog was taken in by the family of one of Jack's friends - and he was killed by the raging dog in Penyrheol, Caerphilly, South Wales, on Monday afternoon after calling in after school.

Armed officers shot the powerful brown and white beast seven times after it launched a horror attack on schoolboy Jack.

Neighbours described the animal as having 'huge muscles' protruding from its shoulders as they saw it moments after Jack's death.

Police say a dog legislation expert has now been brought in to examine its features to see if it is a breed allowed in the UK.

Tests could be carried out to check the animal's DNA along with its owners and breeders being quizzed by officers.

Jenkins' ad called the dog 'Beast' and described it as height 24ttw - about the same as a labrador - and weighing 115lbs.

Three people have been questioned in relation to Monday's incident

The dog was described as an 'American bulldog or a pitbull' by neighbours - but may be a cross-breed with the banned Pit Bull Terrier.

Chief Superintendent Mark Hobrough said experts will 'look at the character traits of the dog' to see if it is a banned breed.

He said: 'We are looking at all potential offences and all potential actions that need to come as a result of this investigation.'

Jack lives in a neighbouring street to the scene of the attack but had stopped at his friend's house on the way home from Cwm Ifor Primary School.

The dog had previously been spotted aggressively growling at passers-by while pulling on its owner's leads.

Wayne David, the Labour MP for Caerphilly, said: 'There needs to be an examination of the Dangerous Dogs Act to see if the law needs to be strengthened.'

He added 'lessons must be learned' following Jack's tragic death.

Three people have been questioned by detectives investigating the death.

Police said a 28-year-old woman from Caerphilly was held on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death. She was later released on conditional bail.

Two men - Jenkins, from South Wales, and a 19-year-old from the Caerphilly area - voluntarily attended a police station and were also quizzed on suspicion of the same offence before being released.

Jack was killed by the 'powerful' and 'aggressive' animal while playing at a friend's house in Caerphilly after school on Monday afternoon, Gwent Police said

Labour MP for Caerphilly Wayne David (right) called for an urgent review into dangerous dog laws. Jack's mother Emma Whitfield (left) paid tribute to her 'sweet, sweet boy' in an emotional Facebook post yesterday

Police officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy has died after reportedly being attacked by a dog in Caerphilly on November 9, 2021

This maps shows Caerphilly in South Wales, where Jack Lis was mauled to death by an American pitbull-type dog

Dangerous dog legislation in the UK What is the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991? The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 bans or restricts certain types of dogs and makes it an offence to allow a dog of any breed to be dangerously out of control. It was introduced 30 years ago by Home Secretary Kenneth Baker 'to rid the country of the menace of these fighting dogs' after a string of attacks. Which dogs are banned in the UK? It is illegal to own four breeds of dogs without an exemption from a court. They are: American pitbull terriers;

Japanese tosas

Dogo Argentinos;

Fila Brazileiro The law also criminalises cross-breeds of the above four types of dog - meaning that whether a dog is prohibited will depend on a judgement about its physical characteristics, and whether they match the description of a prohibited 'type'. What happens if there's a dog attack? You can get an unlimited fine or be sent to prison for up to six months if your dog is dangerously out of control. You may not be allowed to own a dog in the future and your dog may be destroyed. If you let your dog injure someone you can be sent to prison for up to five years or fined. If you deliberately use your dog to injure someone you could be charged with 'malicious wounding'. And if you allow your dog to kill someone you can be sent to prison for up to 14 years or get an unlimited fine. Why has the Act been criticised? Both the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the British Veterinary Association have protested against the ban, insisting there is no scientific evidence that all individuals of a breed are dangerous. However, Met Police data suggests that in incidents involving 'dangerously out of control dogs', banned breeds account for about a fifth of offences. Advertisement

On Wednesday residents spent time outside the home where the boy was killed and laid flowers, teddies and balloons in tribute to Jack.

One tribute read: 'Taken way too soon. Rest in peace, little man.'

Another said: 'Jack, what a handsome and well-mannered boy. Thinking of your family at this heartbreaking time. So sad, sleep tight.'

And another read: 'Fly high little man, rest in peace.'

Those living on the street say they have been appalled by the incident. Ricky Willis, 70, said: 'The first I heard of it my neighbour knocked on my door, it's a big shock. I've lived on this road for 46 years and I've never seen anything like this happen.'

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, described the scene as 'chaos'.

While another said: 'I feel sick to my stomach thinking about what happened to that boy. We went out to see what was going on but the police asked us to go back inside while they put the child in the ambulance. So we did, out of respect.'

Neighbour Tracey Lawrence said the alarm was raised by tragic Jack's friend who ran out of the house as the animal attacked in the hallway.

She said: 'The little boy that lives there ran over to the neighbour and said: 'My dog has killed my friend.' My neighbour went and tried to push the door open but the dog had latched on to the boy's leg.

'Everyone was out on the street crying. It was awful here. Everyone was upset.'

The dog was about 15 months old - and described as being 'trouble' by other villagers. Tracey said: 'The boys were very young to be home alone. Especially with a dog like that.

'Last time I saw the dog it was only a small puppy but seeing him yesterday it was like: 'Oh my God.'

'The police were distracting the dog to get it away from the boy and it was up on the sink with huge muscles in his shoulders.'

Neighbour Kirk Wiegold battled to pull the dog off little Jack - but described the animal as 'just being too fierce to do anything.'

A family member said: 'He just wishes he could have done more but thinks it was too late. He's feeling really upset about it - it was horrible thing to see.'

One mother on the school run said: 'It was an American bulldog. It had snapped at neighbours before and had been seen running down the street. The little boy didn't live there. He had just been on the school bus and had gone to visit his friend. I couldn't live with that knowing somebody else's child has died in my care.'

School head Gareth Rees held special talks with 'shocked' staff and pupils over the tragedy. He said: 'It is a very difficult day.'

The dog was shot by police marksmen and it's owner is being interviewed by police. Neighbours said the dog was 'known to be trouble' - and rumoured to have bitten another man and killed a cat in recent weeks.

One mother, who lives just a few doors away from the scene, said: 'I had no idea what happened until I came home and saw the police. I can't imagine what the family are going through.'

Cllr Lindsay Whittle, chairman of governors at Cwm Ifor Primary School, said: 'It is just too tragic for words. I'm in tears just thinking about what happened. I've spoken to the head and it is going to be very difficult to tell all his friends and classmates what has happened.

Today residents spent time outside the home where the boy was killed and laid flowers, teddies and balloons

Floral tributes were laid for ten-year-old Jack Lis who was killed by the 'powerful' 7st animal while playing at a friend's house

Residents laid flowers on the street in tribute to the ten-year-old child and one message read: 'Fly high little man, rest in peace'

Police at the scene in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly. Armed police killed the dog after the attack

Flowers left outside a house where a 10-year-old boy died after being attacked by a dog on November 9, 2021

Crime officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy was killed by a dog. Police are conducting house-to-house inquiries

Crime officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy was killed by a dog. Police confirmed Jack was not killed in his own house

'This is an entire village in shock. I'm heartbroken for his poor parents and we are all devastated.'

A Gwent Police spokesman said: 'We were called to an address in Pentwyn, Penyrhoel, Caerphilly at around 3.55pm on Monday 8 November, following reports of a dog attack.

'Officers attended, including specially-trained firearms officers, alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, who confirmed that a 10-year-old boy had died at the scene.

'The dog was destroyed by firearms officers and no other animals were involved in the attack.'

Crime officers at the scene where a 10-year-old boy was killed by a dog. Jack was described as 'fun-loving and full of life' by shocked parents and residents

Flowers left outside the house in Pentwyn, Penyrheol, near Caerphilly where Jack was mauled to death

Police standing outside a home in Penrhyl, Caerphilly after Jack Lis was mauled to death by a dog

A 10-year-old boy died after being attacked by a dog at an address in Caerphilly yesterday

A cordon remained in place around several houses in Caerphilly late on Monday evening

Police said investigations into the incident were continuing.

Cllr Steve Skivens said: 'Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the young man who has lost his life. We would also like to extend our thoughts to all the emergency services who attended the incident. Unfortunately an animal had to be put down

'We await the details from the police. It's a tragic, tragic loss of a young life.'

Forensics officers were at the scene late into Monday evening, with another police car also present and several houses cordoned off as officers controlled access to the scene.
The next 24 to 48 hours will determine if tighter COVID-19 restrictions are needed on the Gold Coast after an Uber driver tested positive having been infectious for three days.

The fully-vaccinated man in his 50s is one of two new cases reported on Thursday, with a teenager from the Scenic Rim town of Beaudesert - linked to an existing cluster - also testing positive.

Authorities are concerned about the Gold Coast driver because the source of his infection is a mystery, and the case follows another unlinked infection in the region recorded this week.

Contact tracers are working to find any passengers potentially exposed over the three days he was infectious in the community.

A man claiming to have been a weekend customer said the Gold Coast Uber driver was not wearing a mask during their trip (pictured, Burleigh Heads)

'If we see more unlinked community transmission on the Gold Coast in the next 24 to 48 hours, we may have to put in place some further restrictions,' Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Thursday.

There has been concern about the vaccination rate in the region, and Ms Palaszczuk said residents should consider wearing masks where social distancing isn't possible.

Her advice comes less than a day after the state reached the 80 per cent target for first vaccine doses, and mask restrictions relaxed as a result.

The developing situation differs from previous cases in the southern town of Goondiwindi, where vaccination rates were among the highest in the state.

'They had very, very high vaccination rates... we don't have that on the Gold Coast, so I am concerned,' Ms Palaszczuk said.

'If we see more unlinked community transmission on the Gold Coast in the next 24 to 48 hours, we may have to put in place some further restrictions,' Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured said on Thursday

The Gold Coast region is nearly at 80 per cent of first doses for eligible residents, she said.

A man claiming to have been a weekend customer said the Gold Coast Uber driver was not wearing a mask during their trip.

The man said he was notified by Queensland Health on Wednesday that he had been identified as a close contact due to the weekend fare.

'I noticed he wasn't wearing a mask - that's from picking us up to dropping us off,' the man told 4BC radio.

'I noticed him coughing a few times as well.'

Uber said in a statement later on Thursday: 'We have processes in place to temporarily remove an individual's access to the Uber app if authorities report an infection.

'We may also limit other individuals' access to the app if health authorities advise there is a risk.

The Gold Coast region is nearly at 80 per cent of first doses for eligible residents (pictured, Surfers Paradise)

'To help protect the health and safety of everyone, we are advising anyone riding or driving with Uber in Queensland to wear a mask, unless exempt by law.'

Queensland Health later listed two new casual contact exposure sites at Robina on the Gold Coast - a coffee shop and a JB Hi-Fi - on Sunday.

Across the state, the first-dose vaccination rate is 80.55 per cent, while 68.84 per cent are fully vaccinated.

The second case reported on Thursday was also infectious for two days in the town of Warwick and less than a day in Beaudesert, and is linked to a cluster in Moree, NSW.

The state recorded one additional case in hotel quarantine.
South Korean police said Thursday they're pushing to investigate a U.S. diplomat to find if he intentionally fled following a traffic accident in Seoul.

The diplomat's car rear-ended a taxi in South Korea's capital on Wednesday but kept moving without stopping, the Seoul Yongsan Police Station said, citing an analysis of footage recorded by the taxi's camera.

The taxi chased the diplomat's car until it stopped close to the gate of a nearby U.S. military base in Seoul.

Police officers dispatched to the site tried to identify the diplomat, but he refused to comply with any inquiry, police officers said, requesting anonymity because of department rules.

His car later moved into the U.S. base, where the residences of some of the U.S. diplomats based in Seoul are located, the police officers said.

If the driver was aware of the collision and deliberately fled, his behavior constitutes a criminal offense.

Even if he failed to recognize the accident and didn't flee intentionally, he still has to pay repair costs for the taxi's damaged bumper, according to police.

Police said the taxi driver and a passenger didn't immediately report injuries. Police said they don't know if anyone aboard the U.S. diplomat's car was hurt.

Pictured: The U.S. Flag flies near the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, March 5, 2015. South Korean police said Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, they're pushing to investigate a U.S. diplomat to find if he intentionally fled following a traffic accident in Seoul

The diplomat, reported by The Korea Herald to be the second secretary of the US Embassy, allegedly fled the scene of the accident to drive to Yongsan Garrison while the taxi driver chased him.

The unnamed diplomat and the three other passengers reportedly refused to cooperate with the police, who attempted to verify the driver's identity and check whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

However, the car was able to enter the territory of the US Army bases, which is off-limits to South Korea's legal authorities.

On Thursday, police sent official letters to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and South Korea's Foreign Ministry to ask for cooperation in their investigation and check if the diplomat would exercise his immunity.

The Foreign Ministry later told police that there were four U.S. diplomats in the car, including the driver, and they all belong to the embassy, according to police.

The Ministry said that it would strictly deal with the incident.

If the driver of the car that crashed into the tax was aware of the collision and deliberately fled, his behavior constitutes a criminal offense in South Korea. Pictured: Police officers on the streets of Seoul (stock image)

The U.S. Embassy in a statement disputed the account of the accident reported in the press, without elaborating which parts of the media reports it refers to.

'We trust that the competent (South Korean) law enforcement authorities will conduct a thorough and fair investigation of the matter, and we will refrain for providing further comment until that investigation has been completed,' it said.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it was consulting with authorities. Spokesman Choi Young-sam said South Korea has been sternly dealing with crimes committed by foreign diplomats in Seoul.

Spokesperson Choi Young-sam said: 'We would like to say, clearly, that we have always responded sternly to misconduct by the diplomatic corps in South Korea.'

Choi declined to give further details related to the work government departments are doing in response to the incident.

South Korea is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, which grants diplomats and their families protection against criminal prosecution, although the immunity can be voluntarily waived.

Pictured: A general view of Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea in a file photo from 2020

Earlier this year, the Foreign Ministry said there had been no cases in the past five years of foreign diplomats being prosecuted after waiving immunity.

The United States is South Korea's chief security ally.

About 28,500 U.S. troops are deployed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea.

The incident bears comparison to an incident in the UK which saw the wife of a CIA operative hit 19-year-old Harry Dunn in her car, killing him.

Dunn was riding his motorcycle near RAF Croughton in 2019 when he was struck by Anne Sacoolas, who left the country and cited diplomatic immunity.

In September, it was reported that the family of Dunn had reached a resolution with Ms Sacoolas, who was charged in December 2019 by Britain's Crown Prosecution Service with causing death by dangerous driving,
A former Tory defence procurement minister was facing questions today for demanding greater UK military spending in Parliament without revealing his links to a jet engine firm paying him 425-an-hour.

Philip Dunne, who was in Government under David Cameron and Theresa May, criticised 'the stop-start nature of political decision making on multi-year projects' in defence in a debate last November.

He followed it up with interventions in debates in December and again in March. But at the time, the Ludlow MP, 63, now a senior backbencher, was a non-executive director of Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines.

The firm is involved in making super-fast hypersonic propulsion systems, a technology that has interested space agencies and has military applications.

It has paid him 3,400 a month for eight hours' work since July 2020, according to the Register of MPs Financial Interests.

In July it received a 3.9 million grant from the UK Space Agency to 'support the development' of its Sabre hypersonic engines 'enabling low-carbon air-breathing space access propulsion technology to be applied more widely in the space sector and beyond'.

Labour deputy Leader Angela Rayner said: 'The public have a right to know what role, if any, Philip Dunne played in the awarding of contracts to Reaction Engines so the details of all correspondence and meetings between the company, Dunne and ministers must be published in full.'

Philip Dunne (above), who was in Government under David Cameron and Theresa May, criticised the 'the stop-start nature of political decision making on multi-year projects' in defence in a debate a year ago (below)

But at the time, the Ludlow MP, 63, was a non-executive director of Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines.

In July it received a 3.9 million grant from the UK Space Agency to 'support the development' of its Sabre hypersonic engines 'enabling low-carbon air-breathing space access propulsion technology to be applied more widely in the space sector and beyond'.

Mr Dunne, who has represented his Shropshire seat since 2005, was a defence procurement minister under Mr Cameron between 2012 and 2016.

He later became a health minister under Theresa May until 2018. He now chairs the Environmental Audit Committee.

In a Commons debate in November last year he 'warmly welcomed' an increase in UK military spending, adding: 'A significant challenge in defence budgeting is the stop-start nature of political decision making on multi-year projects, so this statement will help to modernise the equipment plan and get it back on track, which is welcome.'

'Does the Prime Minister agree that the United Kingdom can now fully take into account the UK prosperity impact of defence procurement, and will he do what he can to ensure that state aid issues and the opportunity cost of making in the UK are fully recognised by the Treasury?'

In December he again raised military spending in the chamber, asking the Treasury to 'accept that a pound spent on defence in the UK is worth more than a multiplier of 1 in the levelling-up impact on the UK economy.'

And in March this year he again spoke on defence spending and the Government's industrial strategy, saying: 'Key to gaining public and cross-governmental support for increasing defence expenditure is measuring the impact of that spend on the economy, especially the regional impact in helping to level up Britain.

'That requires a good handle on data, which is why I recommended establishing defence economics as a valuable tool for the MOD, Defence Equipment and Support, and the defence industry, to help to assess the merits of competing investment proposals when allocating spend.'

MailOnline has approached Mr Dunne for comment.

In a statement to the Times, Reaction Engines said: 'Reaction Engines is a UK-headquartered technology company and has received research and development funding from both private and public sources as well as revenue from civilian commercial customers. All funding received from UK government sources has followed strict due diligence procedures.

'Philip Dunne has been employed as a non-executive director at Reaction Engines since July 2020 and has not arranged or attended any meetings with ministers, nor has he been involved in any of Reaction Engines' discussions with ministers or officials related to government contracts or investment decisions.'
Germany's one-day Covid case toll has topped 50,000 for the first time as politicians meet to discuss the possibility of winter lockdown measures.

The Robert Koch Institute registered 50,196 new cases on Thursday, up from 33,949 daily cases a week earlier, just hours after one of the country's top virologists warned of 100,000 deaths over winter if no action is taken.

Christian Drosten, of the Charite University Hospital in Berlin, said the country's vaccination rate needs to quickly increase to prevent catastrophe as hospitals cancel routine operations to focus on Covid patients.

Meanwhile Olaf Scholz, who is expected to be the country's next Chancellor, said he will hold a meeting of state leaders today to discuss new Covid restrictions.

Pictured: Graphs showing the seven-day average new coronavirus cases (top) and deaths (bottom) in Germany since the start of the pandemic. The 39,676 cases registered by the Robert Koch Institute on Wednesday surpassed the previous daily record of 37,120 new cases reported Friday. The seven-day average cases is now higher than at any point in the pandemic

Germany's national disease control centre today reported a record-high number of daily Covid-19 cases (pictured: a doctor administers a Covid vaccine to a 13-year-old boy in Berlin, Germany, November 2, 2021)

'What we need now is for the country to pull together in one direction,' said Scholz.

'It is very, very important that we take every measure to ensure that we can protect the health of the citizens of our country.'

Germany has fully vaccinated around 67 per cent of its population against Covid, about the same percentage as the UK.

However, the country is lagging far behind with its booster shots. The UK is offering boosters to everyone aged 50 and over, and has administered 11million doses so-far.

Germany, meanwhile, is only offering the shots to those aged 60 and over and has administered just 3million shots - despite having a larger overall population.

Health Minister Jens Spahn said this week that boosters will eventually be made available to everyone, but has yet to give a timetable for a roll-out.

Meanwhile Scholz has come in for criticism for his relative silence on Germany's growing outbreak, with detractors saying he was focused on his party's bid to form a government rather than getting a grip on the crisis.

Underlining the urgency of the situation, Drosten on Wednesday highlighted the strain already being felt by the nation's hospitals.

'We have a real emergency situation now,' he said. 'We need to do something immediately.'

Since the start of the pandemic, 96,963 people have died with Covid-19 in Germany, according to official figures.

Drosten said he expects 'a very strenuous winter' if vaccinations do not pick up quickly, and said the German government would need to consider measures 'that we actually hoped to have behind us'.

'We probably need to control infection activity again through contact measures - not probably, but certainly,' he said.

Would-be Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured today) said he would meet with state leaders to discuss a set of new restrictions to 'get through the winter' amid the rise in cases.

Christian Drosten, head of virology at Berlin's Charite University Hospital (pictured, file photo) warned yesterday that Germany could see 100,000 new deaths from Covid-19 if the government does not impose new contact restrictions to stem the spread of the virus

Unlike some other European countries, Germany has baulked at making vaccinations mandatory for certain categories of workers.

Yet the country has struggled to find ways to persuade more people to get shots voluntarily.

'We're in a bad situation, we have 15 million people who could have been vaccinated and should have been vaccinated,' Drosten said.

Germany has a caretaker national government following a September federal election.

The parties that are expected to form the next government plan to introduce legislation this week that would allow a declaration since March 2020 of an 'epidemic situation of national scope' to expire at the end of the month and provide a new legal framework for instituting coronavirus measures.

As during other periods of the pandemic, the country has a patchwork of regional rules.

Most places restrict access to many indoor facilities and events to people who have been vaccinated against the virus, have recovered from Covid-19 or recently received negative test results - with the latter category now excluded in some areas.

However, the rules are often laxly enforced.

Several hospitals have said in recent days that they are again working at their limits and have intensive care units so full of Covid patients that they cannot admit new patients at the moment.

The Charite hospital said Tuesday it had to cancel planned surgeries due to the number of staff members caring for people with Covid. Authorities have said most of the latest patients are unvaccinated.

Drosten admitted that sweeping national Covid restrictions could face problems in court, and that he believes people getting booster vaccinations - jabbed three times in total - is the best long-term solution.

Pictured: A woman passes a coronavirus test center in Berlin, November 9 2021. The 39,676 cases registered by Germany's Robert Koch Institute surpassed the previous daily record of 37,120 new cases reported Friday

'You could go for booster vaccinations instead of contact restrictions,' Drosten said. 'That's something I really believe in, too.'

He also raised doubts about entry rules into venues, known as 2G and 3G in Germany. 3G allows vaccinated (geimpft), recovered (genesen) and negative tested people (getestet) entry into venues such as restaurants and bars.

However, Drosten said that 3G could lead to an unvaccinated person catching the virus from a vaccinated person.

The more restrictive 2G option - vaccinated (geimpft) and recovered (genesen) - could close the door to the 'back door' testing option, he said, but as vaccinated people are still able to pass on the virus, 'the virus will simply come into the home.'

The virologist also criticised plans by the government-in-waiting to bring back free testing as a means to avoid new lockdowns.

'Tests are being put forward as an emergency brake to break the wave,' he said. 'But that won't be enough.' He added that the only way to 'close the gaps' was to reach those that have not yet been vaccinated.
North Dakota lawmaker Jeff Hoverson, who announced he was recovering from Covid on Sunday ahead of a anti-vaccine mandate rally he had organised for Monday

North Dakota lawmaker Jeff Hoverson organized an anti-vaccine mandate rally this week, but failed to show up after becoming infected with coronavirus.

Republican Rep. Hoverson posted on Facebook Sunday that he was 'quarantining and each day is getting better.'

However, the Minot lawmaker said he is taking the deworming drug ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment, and has not checked into a hospital.

Ivermectin is not an approved Covid-19 treatment, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issuing warnings over the potential risks in using it as such.

'Covid is real and like a really bad flu,' Hoverson wrote.

Hoverson, a pastor, told The Associated Press that was diagnosed last week.

'I'm feeling rough,' he said on Monday. 'But this ivermectin is keeping me out of the hospital.'

Ivermectin is designed to fight parasitic infections but conservative commentators have promoted it as a treatment for COVID-19, despite a lack of conclusive evidence that it helps. 'It's making me better,' Hoverson said.

The North Dakota Legislature returned to Bismarck Monday for a special five-day session during which a bill to prevent vaccine mandates will almost certainly gain approval.

House Majority Leader Chet Pollert said Hoverson could participate remotely.

North Dakota's Republican leadership and GOP Gov. Doug Burgum have said they oppose such mandates and the state has joined a federal lawsuit challenging President Joe Biden's COVID-19 vaccine rules.

Although Hoverson will not attend the rally at North Dakota's statehouse, he said three of his teenage children will be there. It is unclear whether they attended.

Hoverson is among the most far-right legislators in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

He introduced legislation last session to repeal mask mandates and he sponsored failed legislation that would have made it a felony to help women access abortions.

Last month, he was barred from boarding a flight at Minot International Airport after a run-in with a security agent.

Writing on Facebook (pictured), Hoverson said: 'Thank you, brave soul, for getting me Ivermectin, which now with covid, I am able to stay out of the hospital'. Ivermectin is not approved by either the FDA or the CDC to treat Covid-19

Pictured: People attend a 'We the People' rally held on the grounds of the state Capitol in Bismarck, North Dakota on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. North Dakota lawmaker Jeff Hoverson organised the rally, but couldn't attend after falling to Covid-19

And as a freshman legislator two years ago, Hoverson protested a prayer by a Hindu cleric, saying he didn't 'want to be compelled to pray for a false god.'

Hoverson is the latest public figure to have tested positive for the virus after railing against mask or vaccine mandates.

At least four conservative radio talk-show hosts who shared anti-vaccine and anti-mask sentiments died of the virus in August.

These included 65-year-old Marc Bernier who was self-described as 'Mr. Anti-Vax'.

Others were Phil Valentine, 61, who was a popular radio host in Tennessee, Jimmy DeYoung, 81, a Christian preacher also based in Tennessee and Dick Farrel, 65, who had worked for a number of radio stations in Miami and Palm Beach, Florida.

In September, popular podcast host Joe Rogan, who has also downplayed the need for coronavirus vaccines and touted ivermectin as a treatment, also announced he had tested positive for Covid-19.

Writing on Facebook, Hoverson said: 'Thank you, brave soul, for getting me Ivermectin, which now with covid, I am able to stay out of the hospital.' He did not identify who gave him the drug.

In recent month, the FDA and other public health agencies have roundly urged people to avoid taking the unproven treatment after being touted by the liked of Rogan, whose Spotify podcast has millions of listeners.

Authorities have warned taking the drug could be 'dangerous' and potentially fatal, with neither the FDA or the CDC approving the drug as a Covid treatment.

Last month, CNN refused to apologize to podcaster Joe Rogan for their claims that he took 'horse dewormer' ivermectin for his COVID-19 infection, even after the network's own doctor Sanjay Gupta groveled over the incident on Rogan's podcast.

Rogan's key complaint against CNN is that they did not explain that there were two types of ivermectin: one that's meant for people that Rogan took, left, and one for livestock

In a statement to the Washington Post, the media network wrote, 'The only thing CNN did wrong here was bruise the ego of a popular podcaster who pushed dangerous conspiracy theories and risked the lives of millions of people in doing so.'

CNN had gone after Rogan for promoting the anti-parasitic medication, along with other treatments prescribed by doctors, to fight the COVID infection he caught in September.

Rogan had fired back at the news outlet for not specifying that he took the version of ivermectin prescribed for human use rather, than the version used for livestock.

Studies have shown that Ivermectin decreases viral loads and may prevent COVID deaths, but the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control recommend against using it for COVID, saying further studies are needed.

The FDA went so far as to send out a tweet telling people: 'You are not a horse, you are not a cow. Seriously, y'all, stop it'.

That came amid reports of livestock stores being cleared of the drug, and warnings that the dosages given to animals were far too high for humans to take safely.

Gupta seemed to compare his CNN colleagues' assertions to the above tweet by the FDA

Rogan's promotion of the medicine came at a time when Americans were promoting the drug during the deadly Delta spike at the end of August and early September.

Calls for ivermectin poisoning saw a 163 per cent increase to a total of 1,143 throughout the US this year, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

At the end of August, there were a total of 459 calls regarding ivermectin to poison control centers.

CNN's medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner has said that what Rogan had done was dangerous.

'He's promoting, kind of a crazy jumble of, you know, sort of folk remedies and internet-prescribed drugs,' Reiner said . 'He should have more sense.'

Rogan has made controversial comments criticizing vaccines and coronavirus lockdown measures

Rogan has previously railed against vaccines and vaccine mandates, saying that young and healthy people don't need to be jabbed. On Wednesday, he also revealed that he was nearly vaccinated in Las Vegas a few months ago but missed his appointment, according to Newsweek.

Ivermectin was discovered from soil samples collected in Japan by microbiologist Satoshi Omura in 1970, according to the journal Trends in Parasitology.

Omura won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2015 along with American biologist William C. Campbell, of the pharmaceutical company Merck.

The Nobel committee wrote: 'Its impact on improving the overall health and welfare of hundreds of millions of men, women and children, mostly in poor and impoverished communities, remains unmatched.

'It continues to defy many preconceived concepts, with no drug resistance developing in humans despite years of extensive monotherapy. Tis has led to it being included on the World Health Organization's 'List of Essential Medicines,' a compilation of the most important medications needed in any basic health system.'

An August 21 article in the American Journal of Therapeutics concluded that 'using ivermectin early in the clinical course may reduce numbers progressing to severe disease. The apparent safety and low cost suggest that ivermectin is likely to have a significant impact on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic globally.'

The CDC says more 'adequately sized, well-designed, and well-conducted clinical trials are needed' before recommending Ivermectin for coronavirus.
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The migrant crisis at the Belarusian border could descend into all-out war, neighbouring countries warned today as Ukraine sent 8,500 reinforcements to its frontier with the Kremlin-backed state.

Tyrant Alexander Lukashenko earlier threatened to cut off Europe's gas supply after Brussels said it would slap Minsk with fresh sanctions for 'weaponising' migrants at the Polish border.

Thousands of desperate refugees from the Middle East and North Africa have been ferried to the Belarus-Poland border this week by Lukashenko's security forces, prompting Poland to deploy 15,000 troops along the line.

Belarusian soldiers have been cutting holes in the barbed wire fence and some 400 migrants, mostly from Syria and Iraq, poured across the frontier last night, a police source told MailOnline.

EU members Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia released a joint statement warning that the 'hybrid attack' using migrants risked 'serious incidents that could also spill over into the military domain.'

Non-EU member Ukraine was equally wary, announcing massive drills along its border with Belarus to the south with thousands more troops to reinforce the border contingent, including 15 more helicopters.

As tensions mounted over the crisis, Vladimir Putin lent fresh support to Lukashenko today by sending two nuclear bombers to carry out drills in Belarusian airspace for the second day running.

Lukashenko turned the screw again today as he warned: 'If [the EU] impose additional sanctions on us ... we must respond.'

'We are warming Europe, and they are threatening us,' Lukashenko said, pointing out that Russia's Yamal-Europe pipeline passes through Belarus to Poland.

The dictator asked: 'And what if we halt natural gas supplies?'

'I would recommend the Poles, Lithuanians and other brainless people to think before they talk,' he said in a scathing remark.

The Yamal-Europe is one of three major Russian pipelines into Europe and represents around 20 per cent of Russia's supplying capacity. Russia supplies around 50 per cent of the EU's natural gas imports. Unlike much of Europe, the UK is not reliant on Russia for its gas supply. Although Britain imports most of its gas, less than 5 per cent comes from Russia (which Gazprom delivers through the BBL Pipeline from the Netherlands, as shown on map). Most of the gas Britain imports comes from Norway.

A wailing child at the Belarusian-Poland border on Thursday. Belarus is accused of 'weaponising' migrants by flying them in from the Middle East and North Africa and taking them to the EU border

A group of migrants were seen violently clashing with one and other as food supplies were handed out by an aid organisation on Thursday

A crying boy is squeezed amongst a pack of adults scrumming around the border on Thursday as bitter winter temperatures set in

Children touch the barbed wire fence as Polish guards look on. Around 15,000 Polish soldiers have been deployed on the border. Warsaw has promised to defend itself and the rest of Europe from what it calls an 'invasion'

A Russian Tu-160 supersonic strategic missile-carrying bomber over Belarus today

Two Russian nuclear bombers were flying over Belarus on Thursday amid soaring tensions at the EU border over the migrant crisis

A mother feeds a young child in frigid conditions at the Belarus-Poland border on Thursday. Temperatures are plunging below freezing at night, making camping at the frontier increasingly perilous

A young boy and a group of men behind me looking stony-faced at the Polish border on Thursday

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) has been accused of weaponising migration by deliberately flying in would-be refugees from the Middle East and north Africa and sending them across the border into Poland

The Yamal-Europe is one of three major Russian pipelines to the Continent and represents around 20 per cent of Russia's supplying capacity. Russia supplies roughly half of the EU's natural gas imports.

Fortunately Britain relies on Russia for less than five per cent of its gas imports. The UK, which imports most of its gas, pipes around three-quarters of it in from Norway.

Putin has promised Moscow will try to help Europe weather an energy crunch and is hoping that German authorities will soon certify the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that will carry more Russian gas to Germany.

European ministers on Wednesday stunned Brussels when they admitted they were considering a Trump-style wall to end the migrant crisis, as well as a raft of new sanctions including asset freezes and travel bans to further squeeze Lukashenko.

Amid the dispute, some 4,000 desperate refugees from war-torn countries are camped at the border in makeshift camps with limited supplies of food and water and temperatures plunging below freezing at night.

Refugees from Iraq and Syria have told how the Belarus authorities are doing 'everything they can' to help them reach Western Europe.

A local welfare volunteer told MailOnline: 'Belarusian soldiers cut holes in fence to help the refugees get through, the refugees have told me.

'This is happening every night. They use wire cutters and then leave on the ground for anyone to see.

'There are so many refugees trying to get into Europe.

'They have no choice. They are from Syria and Iraq and are fleeing for their lives.

'We, the people in Bialowieza, do what we can to help them. But now most of the refugees are detained by the army and are forced back over the border.

'The soldiers make them get into a truck, take the refugees to a crossing point and make them go back to Belarus.

'The refugees have a right to apply for asylum in Poland but this government does not follow the law.'

Amid the dispute, some 4,000 desperate refugees from war-torn countries are camped at the border in makeshift camps with limited supplies of food and water and temperatures plunging below freezing at night

Migrants warm themselves on their camp at the Belarus-Polish border in the Grodno region, not far from the checkpoint Bruzgi, Belarus, on Thursday night

Migrants on the border have set up makeshift camps as they huddle around the fires to try to keep warm amid freezing temperatures

A migrant carries food from Belarusian militaries at the camp at the Belarus-Polish border on Thursday

Paramedics take an injured refugee to an ambulance as police and border guards officers detain refugees near Hajnowk on Thursday

Paramedics take an injured refugee to an ambulance as police and border guards officers detain refugees near Hajnowka on Thursday

The volunteer added that dozens of migrants have perished trying to make it to Poland.

She said: 'There are bodies of refugees lying in the woods. Nobody know how many people have died.

'But as the temporary goes below zero at night we are not surprised to hear that people are freezing to death.'

A police source today confirmed that 400 migrants crossed the border near Bialowieza last night.

The village has been sealed off to everyone who does not live there including aid workers and journalists.

The source told MailOnline: 'Last night 400 crossed the border illegally into Poland. The night before it was 200.

'The Belarus army is helping them of course.'

Lukashenko today also claimed that migrants on the border had been receiving weapons and explosives from conflict-riven eastern Ukraine for the past two days.

'Why are weapons coming here? They want to stage a provocation,' Lukashenko said, adding that the Belarusian military should be vigilant.

Countries bordering Belarus on Thursday warned the migrant crisis on the European Union's eastern borders could escalate into a military confrontation.

Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia said Belarus posed serious threats to European security by deliberately escalating its 'hybrid attack' using migrants to retaliate for EU sanctions.

'This increases the possibility of provocations and serious incidents that could also spill over into the military domain,' a joint statement by the countries' defence ministers said.

In the south, Ukraine said it was deploying another 8,500 soldiers and policemen, as well as 15 helicopters, to guards its border with Belarus as it aims to prevent attempts by migrants to breach the frontier.

While not an EU member, Ukraine is wary of becoming another front in the migrant crisis.

A toddler is carried by its mother, swaddled in blankets to protect her from the harsh Belarusian November chill at the border

Children, one of whom appears to be injured, are pictured crowded together at a tent camp on the Belarusian-Polish border on Thursday

A family sit around a camp fire at the Polish-Belarus border on Thursday. As the nights draw in and temperatures become colder, Belarus is playing a perilous game with their fates to force Europe's hand

Small children are wrapped in warm clothing at the border where temperatures today were around 41F, or 5C

A group of migrants stand in line waiting to fill up bottles at a water tank in the Grodno border region

A photo provided by the Belarusian state shows migrants camped at the border with Poland on Wednesday. Thousands have flocked to the frontier after being granted visas to travel into Belarus from the Middle East and North Africa

A young migrant family stands beside a barbed-wire fence a the Polish border

Police officers stand in the forest near Hajnowka, on Thursday night as they stand guard by the border

Migrants try to sleep on makeshift mats with little cover as they brace the freezing temperatures at their camp at the Belarus-Polish border in the Grodno region on Thursday

Polish soldiers stay on guard at the border between Poland and Belarus near Kuznica, Poland, on Thursday

A little girl cries as she is surrounded by a crowd of migrants who are gathered to get humanitarian aid from Belarusian militaries on Thursday

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy said the new forces would include 3,000 border guard servicemen, 3,500 servicemen of the National Guard and 2,000 police officers.

'Aviation (from) the interior ministry will also be on duty, in particular 15 helicopters, which will ensure mobility and, if necessary, will transfer our forces to the border,' he said.

Monastyrskiy said earlier on Thursday that Ukrainian border guards, police and the national guard would hold drills on the border with Belarus.

The EU announced it is considering sanctions on Belarus' main airport in a bid to make it more difficult for airlines to bring in migrants and exacerbate a crisis on the bloc's borders, two diplomats said on Thursday.

The bloc is also considering a sixth package of asset freezes and travel bans, which could include orders to stop EU firms supplying Minsk National airport, two other diplomats told Reuters.

Lukashenko, already under international sanctions for cracking down on protests, has threatened to retaliate against any new measures, including by shutting down the transit of natural gas via Belarus.

An extraordinary EU summit of the bloc's 27 leaders is under consideration, while the bloc is also debating whether to use its common funding mechanisms to build border fencing, according to one of the diplomats who was briefed on a closed-door EU meeting that took place on Wednesday.

One senior diplomat said the sanctions on Minsk airport could choke off EU financing, supplies and equipment. Germany's Lufthansa Cargo is a ground and cargo handler at Minsk National, according to its website.

European Council president Charles Michel stunned Brussels on Wednesday when he said a Trump-style wall could help shore up defences.

It would mark an extraordinary about-face for senior EU officials, who lambasted former US president Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for advocating similar policies.

Lukashenko said there were a lot of children and pregnant women among the refugees, adding they should receive necessary help.

'There are a lot of women who are eight or nine months pregnant,' he said. 'When they are due of course we'll take them to the hospital and look after them further.'

Lukashenko is accused of luring them to Belarus with visas and using the Russian flag-carrier Aeroflot to transport them from the Middle East and North Africa via Moscow.

Migrant children gather near the fence on the Poland/Belarus border near Kuznica, Poland

Migrants continue to wait at the Polish-Belarusian border on November 11, 2021 in Belarus

A toddler is sat in her babygrow at a makeshift camp in the forest by the Polish-Belarusian border on Thursday

The Kremlin called suggestions it is involved in the dispute 'crazy' but Putin lent more support today by dispatching two Tu-160 'White Swan' jets to carry out drills for the second day running.

The Belarus defence ministry said: 'At present two Tu-160 supersonic strategic missile-carrying bombers are practising a number of combat training missions, including simulating bombing at the Ruzhansky air range without using airborne weapons.

The Belarus air force was providing 'escort' to the Tu-160s over the country.

Russia's state-owned Aeroflot airline is accused of jetting thousands of migrants into Belarus via Moscow.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the EU was discussing targeting Aeroflot as part of a new sanctions package, citing an official from the bloc familiar with the plans.

Aeroflot shares were down 1.24 per cent at 10.35am in London.

Aeroflot AFLT.MM earlier on Thursday denied any involvement in organising mass transportation of migrants to Belarus.

'Information about the threat of imposing sanctions may have a material negative impact on the operating and financial activities of the company, and its capitalization,' the airline said.

'Aeroflot intends to protect the interests of the company and its shareholders in all possible legal ways, including the right to defend the interests of the company in court.'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov questioned whether there really was such an idea to sanction Aeroflot and said he hoped it would not be realised in any case.

He told reporters on a conference call that Russia was concerned by rising tensions on the Belarus-Poland border where he said there were heavily armed people on both sides.

A migrant family sit around a camp fire near the Polish border. Temperatures have been around 41F or 5C during the daytime but are plunging below freezing at night

The EU could build a border wall on the bloc's frontier with Belarus to keep migrants out. Pictured: Migrants are seen at a tent camp on the Belarusian-Polish border. According to the Polish Border Guard, several thousand migrants have been approaching the Polish border since November 8, 2021

Irregular migrants continue to wait at the Polish-Belarusian border on Thursday as they warm themselves by a fire

Warsaw estimates that 4,000 migrants are camped on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland

European Council president Michel, speaking at a ceremony to mark the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, said that Brussels could help build a border fence to prevent asylum-seekers from entering.

'We have opened the debate on the EU financing of physical border infrastructure,' he told a stunned audience today in the German capital, which was divided for nearly three decades. 'This must be settled rapidly.'

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's president, only last month insisted 'there will be no funding of barbed wire and walls'.

Lukashenko, dubbed Europe's last dictator, denies orchestrating what Michel called a 'brutal, hybrid attack' on the EU.

Warsaw estimates that 4,000 migrants are camped on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland. Russian state media claimed that many want to reach Britain. But Polish officials said most who have already crossed want to claim asylum in Germany or the Netherlands.

Migrants carry wood for their camp at the Belarus-Polish border in the Grodno region, Belarus, on Thursday

Migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere warm up at the fire gathering at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus

Poland's defence ministry released a video allegedly showing a Belarusian soldier firing a shot into the air to intimidate migrants as more tried to cross at night.

It shows a crowd of migrants screaming after the shot is fired.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to 'exert his influence on the regime in Minsk'. Belarus is a former Soviet republic.

Pawel Jablonski, a deputy Polish foreign minister, told the Daily Mail that Putin and Lukashenko wanted to 'destabilise the EU as a whole'. He accused Lukashenko of 'seeking revenge' for EU sanctions imposed on 166 individuals tied to the Belarusian regime last year.

The measures were brought in after Lukashenko's crackdown on opponents following disputed elections in 2020.

EU ambassadors today agreed to broaden sanctions against Belarus for what Poland said was 'state terrorism', to include another 30 individuals and entities. Their assets will be frozen and individuals will be added to a travel blacklist.

Russia took the rare step of dispatching two nuclear-capable strategic bombers to patrol Belarusian airspace yesterday to show support for its ally.

The UN warned the EU not to 'enter a race to the bottom'. UN high commissioner for refugees, Filippo Grandi, said: 'These challenges simply do not justify the knee-jerk reaction we have seen in some places  the irresponsible xenophobic discourse, the walls and barbed wire, the violent push-backs that include the beating of refugees and migrants.'
Send us your child's funniest school pictures Email bhvishya.patel@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

A mother was unable to contain her laughter when she saw her five-year-old son's 'Chandler Bing smile' on his school photograph.

Clare Southern, 33, described how she 'burst out laughing' when she was handed her son Jacob's school photograph by his teacher at Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester on November 9.

The five-year-old was snapped pulling an effortless smile and showing all of his teeth for his first ever Year One school photo.

But the schoolboy's mother soon spotted her son's comical resemblance to the Friends character Chandler Bing, played by actor Matthew Perry, who in one iconic episode is known for pulling a similar face when posing for his engagement picture.

Ms Southern, who later took to social media to share Jacob's comical grimace with others, said she was still not sure if her son was 'terrified in the photo' or 'genuinely giving his best grin'.

Five-year-old Jacob was snapped pulling off a 'Chandler Bing' smile for his first ever Year One photo at Willows Primary School in Wythenshawe, Manchester

Mother Clare Southern (pictured with son Jacob), 33, described how she 'burst out laughing' when she was handed her son's school photograph

She said she had bought a copy to proudly show off on her mantelpiece - and bring out for all to see when her son turned 18.

The craft business owner said: 'Yesterday was our first day out of isolation as we have all had Covid so to say it cheered us all up would be an understatement.

'Jacob came out of school chuffed to bits with his photo.

'We could see his teacher laughing at the door so I knew it was going to be a funny one and when he handed it over to myself and his nanna, we just burst out laughing.

'Our first thought was Chandler Bing from Friends.'

She added: 'We still aren't sure if he is terrified in the photo as it's his first ever school one, or if he is genuinely giving his best grin.

'He is usually an extremely cheeky little boy and has been known for his dirty grins in the past.

'We don't ever buy school pictures as they can be quite pricey, but this one is getting framed on the mantelpiece and definitely one to keep for his 18th.'

This week Ms Southern shared her son's comical photograph with others on social media and wrote: 'I don't usually buy school photos, but this has cheered me up so much today. Definitely one for his 18th.'

The post has received more than 5,600 likes from Facebook users, with one saying the image had 'made their day'.

One user wrote: 'Definitely looks like a grimace to me.'

While another person added: 'These threads and pics are my favourites, absolutely hilarious.

'My middle son's school photos somehow always manage to look nothing at all like him.

Ms Southern said she was still not sure if her son was 'terrified in the photo' or 'genuinely giving his best grin'

The schoolboy's mother spotted her son's comical resemblance to the Friends character Chandler Bing, played by actor Matthew Perry

Jacob's mother took to social media to share the comical photograph with others and said it was 'definitely one for his 18th'

Social media users shared their amusement, with one saying it was a 'must have' for the mantlepiece

'I'm not even sure how that's possible, it's every single time. I always buy them anyway.'

Another social media user commented: 'Can't help but smile. This little man has made by day.'

Meanwhile another said: 'Must have for the mantlepiece.'

One person wrote: 'One for his 18th birthday!'

Send your child's funniest school pictures. Email bhvishya.patel@mailonline.co.uk
A cyber-flashing victim has backed a campaign to make sending explicit images without consent illegal after a stranger sent her explicit images on Instagram.

Karen Whybro, 42, from Chelmsford, Essex, said she was sent an explicit photograph of a man's genitals from a stranger on Instagram a few weeks ago.

Cyber-flashing is when a person is sent an unsolicited sexual image on their mobile device by a stranger nearby through social media, messages or other sharing functions.

There is currently no law which directly addresses cyber-flashing in England and Wales, despite the act being made illegal in Scotland 12 years ago.

The mother-of-one said she was thankful that her daughter Nancy, five, had not been sitting next to her at the time and did not see the message.

Karen Whybro (pictured), 42, from Chelmsford, Essex, has called for cyber-flashing to be made illegal after she was sent an explicit photograph of a man's genitals on Instagram

She explained: 'I opened a message request on Instagram to find it was an explicit photograph.

'Thankfully my five-year-old daughter, Nancy, wasn't sitting next to me at the time.

'I use social media for my business and personal life and I opened the message instantly.

'I will be honest it knocked me off my feet. I deleted it but I'd be lying if I said it didn't affect me.

'The attitude some men have is that you would want to see it. There is a real arrogance to it but it is an issue of consent.'

The feminist safety campaigner has called on the English Government to do more to stop stranger's sending unwanted explicit images which violates people's privacy.

Ms Whybro, who owns bridal boutique Rock The Frock, also said she felt 'intimidated' when a stranger on the London underground sent her message requests earlier this year.

She said that the man sitting opposite her on the Tube sent her multiple messages via the AirDrop function on his iPhone despite her repeatedly deleted his requests.

The feminist safety campaigner (pictured) has called on the Government to do more to stop stranger's sending unwanted explicit images which violates people's privacy

She said: 'I received several unwanted images via AirDrop and when I looked up I could see it was the guy sat opposite me.

'He kept looking down at his phone, sending image share requests and then looking at me again. To say I felt uncomfortable is an understatement.

'I found it very intimidating in public even at my age.'

Her first experience of receiving an unwanted message happened a few years ago whilst she was out shopping.

Ms Whybro said receiving an unsolicited sexual photograph shocked her more than she thought it would.

She added: 'I was surprised by my own reaction as it shocked me more than I would've thought.

'I'm not a prude but to receive something like that without warning is very unsettling.

'It is creepy and unacceptable to be subjected to something like this.'

Her first experience of receiving an unwanted message happened a few years ago whilst she was out shopping.

She explained: 'A request to share a note via AirDrop landed on my phone. This was back when cyber flashing wasn't really heard of.

'I didn't think anything of it and clicked open to find several aubergine emojis followed by 'find me on Snapchat' and then his handle.

'It's worrying that a stranger in a crowded street was watching me as I opened an unwanted message from them. It's very disconcerting.

'They could see me, I couldn't see them, that's the power trip they get, watching your reaction.'

The mother-of-one said she was thankful that her daughter Nancy, five, (both pictured) had not been sitting next to her at the time and did not see the explicit message

After her own experiences with cyber-flashing, Ms Whybro is backing a campaign by Bumble to criminalise sending unsolicited sexual images in England.

She said: 'Bumble are highlighting the need for a law change and have the technology in place as a deterrent, but they need the government's support.'

'It is so important to raise awareness of just how widespread this problem is - and the impact it has on victims.'

Ms Whybro wants to encourage other victims to speak out about their experience and also advised people to secure their mobile and social apps.

She said: 'I've updated my phone settings and updated my phone identity from 'Karen's iPhone' to something more obscure to try and deter people actively seeking to sexually assault women in this intrusive way.

'If you are dating online, use an app with safety measures in place.'

What is cyber-flashing and is it illegal? Cyber-flashing is the act of someone deliberately sending a stranger an unsolicited sexual image using the AirDrop feature on an iPhone. These images are typically of male genitalia. AirDrop, which is specific to iOS devices such as iPads and iPhones, as well as Apple Macs, uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect over a short range to other devices. People are often targeted by cyber-flashing through AirDrop on public transport due to the technology's short range. There is currently no law which directly addresses cyber-flashing in England and Wales, despite the act being made illegal in Scotland 12 years ago. Cyber-flashing was criminalised in Scotland under Section 6 of the Sexual Offence in 2009, while a similar measure was also passed in the Texas Senate unanimously in May 2019. Police investigated the first ever case of cyber-flashing in 2015 after an unwanted graphic picture popped up on a shocked London commuter's iPhone. There were three cases reported in 2016 and 15 in 2017. Advertisement

Research by YouGov found that four in ten millennial women have been sent a picture of a man's genitals without consent, while data by Bumble suggested that this figure could be even higher.

Findings from the dating website revealed that 48 per cent of those aged 18 to 24 have received an unsolicited sexual photograph in the last year alone.

Bumble found that women are disproportionally recipients of the explicit photographs, which are sent on social media, messaging apps, Bluetooth, AirDrop and WiFi.

Speaking about the research, Ms Whybro said she does not believe that the statistics show the true extent of the problem, as she said it is not talked about.

She added: 'Girls as young as 12 are getting these messages and don't want to have this conversation with their parents or the police.

'Even at my age I was embarrassed about it so it will be hard to truly quantify just how much this happens.'

While some may argue that if the pictures are unwanted, the recipient can simply delete them, Ms Whybro said she believes it is a violation of privacy.

She said: 'It needs to be taken as seriously as physical flashing in the street, they want the same reaction as when someone is flashed in person. It is creepy and not ok.

'Digital flashing is flashing and it's time the government stepped up to protect victims.

'It was criminalised in 2009 in Scotland. Why is our Government so far behind in protecting women?

'Women don't feel they will be taken seriously because the government has not put laws in place to ensure victims are taken seriously.

'It is a huge invasion of someone's personal and private space. It is about consent.

'We need stronger laws to show this is not ok.'

Bumble began cross-party Parliamentary consultations on November 2 alongside UN Women UK and the United Nations' gender equality arm.

It comes after similar measures have been passed in other countries, including Scotland and areas in the US, with Bumble calling for England to also criminalise cyber-flashing.

Cyber-flashing was criminalised in Scotland under Section 6 of the Sexual Offence in 2009, while a similar measure was also passed in the Texas Senate unanimously in May 2019.

The House Bill 2789 came into force on September 1, 2019, and ruled that sending a lewd photograph without consent was punishable by a fine of up to $500.

After her own experiences with cyber-flashing, Ms Whybro is backing a campaign by Bumble to to criminalise sending unsolicited sexual images in England

Earlier this year, a Conservative MP called for cyber-flashing to be made a criminal offence to stop Britons sending X-rated snaps to strangers using the AirDrop function on their iPhones.

Fay Jones, 35, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, has called for 'digital flashing' to be made a criminal offence.

She told MPs in January: 'The scourge of cyber-flashing - where unwanted and unsolicited indecent photographs are distributed to mobile devices - needs to be made a criminal offence.'

Responding, Home Office minister Victoria Atkins said: 'We are running a call for evidence at the moment on producing a new violence against women and girls strategy,' adding: 'I am very, very aware of the offence about which she speaks and I very much want those sorts of 21st century online crimes to be dealt with.'

Later, Labour MP Liz Twist said: 'Will the minister look again at introducing a statutory duty on public authorities to train frontline staff to recognise the signs of domestic abuse?'

Ms Atkins replied: 'I see this as very much part of our overall efforts to ensure that people understand what domestic abuse is, the many forms it can take, and how it is everyone's business.'

Police investigated the first ever case of cyber-flashing in 2015 after an unwanted graphic picture popped up on a shocked London commuter's iPhone.

There were three cases reported in 2016 and 15 in 2017.

Figures published by the British Transport Police show there were another 35 offences recorded in the first half of 2019 compared to 34 for the whole of 2018.

The number of reported cases is also thought to be much lower than the actual number of instances, partly due to the fact that cyber-flashing is not in itself a crime.

Some cases can be investigated under current public decency laws, or the Malicious Communications Act, but there are currently no specific provisions for cyber-flashing.

Professor McGlynn, an expert in the legal regulation of pornography, image-based sexual abuse and sexual violence, says that the Ministry of Justice 'so far just keep refusing to act' despite a number of reports and calls for change in legislation.

She argued that, regardless of the 'tangible impact' of cyber-flashing, it remains a 'breach of civil liberties'.

She said: 'The bottom line is we shouldn't have to deal with this sort of thing. We shouldn't have to change our AirDrop settings to private, or chastise ourselves for not doing so in the first place...

'Cyber-flashing infringes our right to everyday life, a life without looking over our shoulder, worrying what's around the corner.'

AirDrop, which is specific to iOS devices such as iPads and iPhones, as well as Apple Macs, uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect over a short range to other devices.

Its default setting is for 'contacts only', which means only people you know can see you.

But to share information with other people, users can make a change to the settings and change it to 'everyone'.

The setting allows anyone to send an image to that device where - unlike other messages apps such as WhatsApp or SMS - the photograph automatically appears on the screen.

It is then up to the user to choose to 'accept' the image, although they will have already seen a preview.
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Britain's daily Covid cases fell by almost a fifth last week in the biggest weekly drop since the summer, according to the country's largest symptom-tracking study.

King's College London scientists estimated 72,546 people were falling ill with the virus every day in the week to November 5, down from 88,592 the week before. This marked the sharpest fall since the end of July, when there was a 22 per cent fall.

Britain is believed to be enjoying a spell of increased natural immunity following weeks of extremely high Covid transmission rates, triggered by the return of schoolchildren. Scientists believe the country's booster vaccine roll-out is also playing some role.

Under-18s were thought to have seen the sharpest drop in cases last week after their first week of term, the study found, falling from about 30,000 to 26,000 a day.

Schools returned from half-term last week, but some SAGE scientists say so many now have immunity from the virus because of past infection that this is unlikely to spark an uptick.

Infections were also predicted to have fallen among 35 to 55 year olds, and levelled off in older age groups which are eligible for booster doses. Only adults in their 20s saw a rise in cases.

Professor Tim Spector, who leads the study, said despite the drop, infections were still 'high' and levels of deaths and hospitalisations were 'worrying'.

The Government's dashboard shows there are 165 deaths and 938 hospitalisations from the disease a day on average, compared to 360 and 1,653 at the same time last year.

Professor Spector added that they were also spotting 'outbreaks' of colds as the country heads into the winter, and that the vaccines had made 'knowing the difference between the two harder than ever'.

It comes after Britain's daily Covid cases dropped nine days in a row and have fallen for every single day except one since October 24. Yesterday some 39,329 cases were recorded, down five per cent on last Wednesday. Deaths and hospitalisations also fell week-on-week.

King's College London scientists estimated Britain's Covid cases fell by 18 per cent last week, in the biggest drop since July. SAGE scientists had suggested that cases would fall as so many people had immunity against the virus

The above graph shows Covid cases are falling among both double-jabbed people and the whole population. Vaccines cut the risk of someone catching the virus, but slash their risk of serious illness and death

Figures showed under-18s had the sharpest drop in Covid cases last week, seven days after schools returned. There was also a fall among 35 to 55-year-olds, and they levelled off in older age groups. There was a slight rise among adults in their 20s

Across England, Covid cases have fallen in every region figures showed. They also dipped in Wales, but remained flat in Scotland

 Slide me  Covid infection rates fell in all but 10 per cent of areas in England during the half-term week, data from the UK Health and Security Agency's weekly Flu and Covid Surveillance Report shows

Daily Covid cases fall for NINTH day in row with infections down five per cent in a week Daily Covid infections in Britain dropped by five per cent yesterday, marking the ninth day in a row cases have trended downwards. Department of Health bosses posted another 39,329 cases, a drop of 5 per cent on the 41,299 positive tests recorded last Wednesday. And deaths and hospitalisations were down week-on-week, with a further 214 fatalities recorded (down 1 per cent) and 823 Covid-infected Britons seeking NHS care (down 7 per cent). Both measurements lag two to three weeks behind the trend in cases due to a delay between a person catching Covid and becoming severely unwell. Cases started falling naturally on October 24  around two and a half weeks ago, before half-term for the majority of schoolchildren in England. Some 79.8 per cent of over-12s across the UK are now double jabbed, while 10.9million people have had a booster injection. Department of Health data showed 31,541 cases were recorded in England and 3,852 were registered in Scotland, while 2,171 people tested positive in Wales and 1,765 were confirmed in Northern Ireland. Advertisement

The study  also run by data science company ZOE  relies on daily reports from more than 750,000 Britons on whether they are suffering any symptoms, with those who are unwell asked to test themselves for Covid.

It relies on self-reporting and does not ask participants to provide evidence of their symptoms. The latest estimates also used 40,000 tests for the virus in the latest fortnight.

Professor Spector said: 'As we head into the colder months, were seeing a lot of sickness in the population with widespread outbreaks of colds and still high levels of Covid.

'Knowing the difference between the two is harder than ever, as cases in the vaccinated are mild and include symptoms like sneezing, headache and a runny nose and can be easily transmitted to family members or work colleagues.

'To keep numbers down its crucial for everyone eligible to get their booster jabs, even if they have recently had a Covid infection, as weve shown natural infections do not always produce an immune response and protection.

'We know from our research that the vaccines (given in three doses) provide the greatest possible protection against contracting the virus, and being admitted to hospital with more serious symptoms.'

The app also estimated cases among double-vaccinated people. It suggested that they also fell last week by a tenth to 24,766 a day.

There are Covid cases among the double-jabbed because vaccination does not always stop an infection, although it does slash the risk by more than 60 per cent compared to those who are unvaccinated.

Evidence shows the jabs do, however, slash the risk of serious disease and death in almost every case.

There is concern that immunity from vaccines is waning over time, however, with people who got their second dose more than six months ago now asked to get a booster shot.

The study does not estimate cases in people who have only got one jab or have not been vaccinated because the app now has very few contributors that fall into this category.

Wales currently has the highest infection rate in Great Britain with one in 47 people thought to have the virus, it said.

This was followed by England  where one in 57 are estimated to be infected  and Scotland  where one in 84 have the virus. Across England, all regions saw a downturn in cases.

Department of Health bosses said yesterday that cases, hospitalisations and deaths had dropped week on week.

It registered a further 214 fatalities, down a percentage point on last week, and 823 Covid admissions, down seven per cent.

Official data shows Covid cases fell on November 5 in every age group except the under-4s compared to the same time the previous week.

Cases have also more than halved in 10 to 14-year-olds since the week before half term started, when they first began to fall. At this time their infection rate was around 1,900 cases per 100,000 people, but this has now plummeted to below 800.

It comes as the NHS waiting list hit another record high today reaching 5.83million people, the eleventh month in a row it has hit a new high.

NHS England data shows 1.6million more Britons were waiting for elective surgery  such as hip and keen operations  at the end of September compared to the start of the pandemic.

The Covid-fuelled backlog forced hospitals to cancel thousands of operations during the darkest days of the crisis to make room for the infected.

The NHS waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has reached 5.83million, official data revealed today marking the eleventh month in a row that the figure has hit a record high. Some 1.6million more Britons were waiting for elective surgery  such as hip and keen operations  at the end of September compared to the start of the pandemic

NHS bosses today warned the treating thousand of hospitalised Covid patients, winter pressures and pent-up demand from the pandemic means the health service is now facing 'unsustainable' pressure.

But official figures show Covid infections and hospitalisation rates are trending downwards. And around 7,000 patients were in hospitals in England on any given day in the last week, compared to 12,000 at the same time last year.

Social care bosses have warned that 'no jab, no job' policy introduced today for care home works will increase pressures on hospitals, because there sector has less capacity to take on patients coming out of hospitals.

And the same mandate, which will apply to all frontline NHS workers from spring, is expected to pile even more pressure on the health service.

Meanwhile, a record number of Britons made 999 calls and waited more than 12 hours at A&E.
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Kamala Harris today joined French President Emmanuel Macron at the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate Armistice Day as part of her four-day charm offensive tour to repair soured relations after the $9billion submarine deal with Australia.

The vice president stood with French Prime Minister Jean Castex and Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo ahead of the ceremony marking the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 armistice - known as Veteran's Day in the US.

Harris donned a blue cornflower - known as a Bleuet de France - traditionally worn in France on November 11 in remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, similar to the UK's red poppy.

The pair last night met at the Elysee presidential palace for talks in which they agreed their countries are ready to work together again after the diplomatic row surrounding the AUKUS submarine deal that put their relationship at a historic low.

Macron today marking the armistice anniversary by paying homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the flag draped coffin of Hubert Germain - the last surviving member of the Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes, who died on October 12 - placed nearby.

Harris yesterday paid her respects to Americans who died in the two world wars and are buried in a cemetery overlooking the Paris skyline, laying a wreath in their honor. Among the more than 1,500 graves was that of Inez Crittenden, a World War I switchboard operator from Harris' hometown of Oakland.

Noting that was 'one of the few jobs women could have' at the time, Harris said, 'We're very proud of her memory and her service.' Crittenden died on Armistice Day - November 11, 1918 - from pneumonia, likely caused by the flu pandemic of the era.

The vice president is today set to deliver a speech at the annual Paris Peace Forum following the Armistice Day ceremonies and ahead of a conference on Libya on Friday. She made the trip to France after a poll showed her approval rating at just 28 percent and was accused of speaking in a fake accent during an event at a COVID lab on her first day.

Kamala Harris today joined French President Emmanuel Macron at the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate Armistice Day as part of her four-day charm offensive tour to repair soured relations after the $9billion submarine deal with Australia

Harris donned a blue cornflower - known as a Bleuet de France - traditionally worn in France on November 11 in remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, similar to the UK's red poppy

Kamala Harris stood with French Prime Minister Jean Castex (center) and Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo (right) for the ceremony marking the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 Armistice

Emmanuel Macron paid homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the flag draped coffin of Hubert Germain - the last surviving member of the Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes - placed nearby

What is the Bleuet de France? The Bleuet de France is a blue cornflower traditionally worn in France on November 11 as a symbol of remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans. It was chosen because cornflowers continued to grow on land devastated by thousands of shells and were the only visible sign of life among the muddy trenches. The name 'Bleuet' was also used in 1895 to describe young soldiers given blue uniforms when they were conscripted into the French army. The uniforms were a distinct contrast to the red outfits give to older soldiers. Advertisement

Harris met with US military service members at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial on Wednesday as she marked the somber holiday, known as Veteran's Day in the US.

The day, one of the nation's 12 federal holidays designated by Congress, honors all those - dead and alive - who have served in the US Armed Forces.

The day was initially known as Armistice Day, as in Europe, but was renamed in 1953 when a cobbler who had lost a nephew in the Second World War petitioned Kansas city to use the day to honor all those who have died serving in the US armed forces.

Alvin J. King argued the holiday had become outdated because thousands of soldiers had died in subsequent conflicts - the Second World War and Korean War.

It was marked as Veteran's Day for the first time in 1953 and the name change became official in 1954.

Harris and Macron later met for talks at the Elysee presidential palace as part of a weeks-long effort by Washington to mend relations with France, America's oldest ally.

The vice president's four-day trip to Paris comes after President Joe Biden told Macron the US had been 'clumsy' in handling the submarine issue, during a meeting in Rome, Italy on October 29.

Biden didn't formally apologize to Macron, but conceded the US should not have caught its oldest ally by surprise.

The secretly negotiated US-British submarine deal with Australia led to a prior deal with France being scrapped.

Vice President Harris joined Macron to mark Armistice Day as part of her four-day charm offensive tour to repair soured relations after the $9billion submarine deal with Australia

Harris talked animatedly with French Senate President Gerard Larcher during a ceremony to mark the 103rd anniversary of the armistice

Harris poses for a selfie with fellow attendees at a ceremony commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the armistice in Paris today

Members of the French armed forces stood to attention at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe during the remembrance day ceremony

Macron stood to attention as the coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of the French Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to WW2 heroes, who died on October 12, was brought to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

French President Macron looked sombre as he watched the coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes

Macron on Wednesday said he had had 'a very fruitful meeting' with Biden. 'We do share the view that we are at the beginning of a new era and our cooperation is absolutely critical for this one,' he said.

Echoing the French president's comments, Harris said: 'I think we share this belief that we are at the beginning of a new era, which presents us with many challenges, but also many opportunities.'

'Building on the great conversation that you and President Biden had, I look forward to the next few days. We'll work together and renew the focus that we've always had on a partnership,' she added.

She said that they were to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, cooperation on space and climate change, amid other topics, before participating in the Paris Conference on Libya on Friday.

Harris and Macron spoke ahead of a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to mark the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 armistice that ended the First World War

Harris, wearing a blue cornflower known as a Bleuet de France,, traditionally worn in France on November 11 in remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, spoke with French Prime Minister Jean Castex ahead of commemorations

Harris appeared in high spirits as she spoke to French Prime Minister Jean Castex and Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo ahead of a ceremony to mark the 103rd anniversary of the WW1 armistice

Sombre officials gathered at the Arc de Triomphe with President Macron on Thursday to mark the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 armistice that ended the First World War

French President Macron looked sombre as he looked on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech during a ceremony to mark the 103rd Anniversary of Armistice Day at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

The coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes, was driven to the Arc de Triomphe on an armored military vehicle ahead of a remembrance ceremony

Harris and Macron agreed Wednesday that their countries are ready to work together again, after a diplomatic drama surrounding a submarine deal that put the relationship at a historic low

Harris met with Macron in the evening at the Elysee presidential palace, as part of a weeks-long effort by Washington to mend relations with France, America's oldest ally

The breakthrough came after Harris on Tuesday visited the Institut Pasteur science lab, where Americans are working alongside Europeans to tackle Covid-19 and where her mother researched breast cancer.

The vice president was mocked over the visit after she seemed to put on a French accent while talking to staff about her love of science, and her dismay at how politics could not be as methodical and logical as their experiments.

Harris moved to Montreal, Canada, when she was 12 and attended a French-speaking school for several years. But her apparent efforts at a French accent stirred outrage on social media media, where she was accused of talking down to the scientists and embarrassing the country.

The latest gaff comes as Harris' team is trying to revive her poor poll numbers. The former California senator's unpopularity has reached a historic level, with only 28 per cent thinking she is doing a good job.

Biden's approval rating hit yet another a new low, this time at 38 per cent, according to the USA Today/Suffolk poll, out on November 8. And a 51 per cent majority of respondents said they disapprove of the job Harris is doing as vice president.

At this early stage of a modern presidency, Harris' numbers in the USA Today/Suffolk poll are unprecedented.

The closest comparison  which involves slightly different methodology and margins of error  would be former Vice President Dick Cheney, the most unpopular US vice president in polling history.

He bottomed out at 30 per cent in Gallup's tracking survey, but that wasn't until the end of former President George W. Bush's second term in 2007.
A Liverpool church has revealed that it leaves its gates open at night in the full knowledge that its grounds are used for sex work.

The Kensington area of Liverpool is well known locally for the number of sex workers operating in the vicinity, with many using the car park of All Saints Church as their place of business.

Responding to complaints from local residents including anger over used condoms and drugs paraphernalia left on its grounds, All Saints Church said it has taken the decision to leave its gates open based on its beliefs and values and its mission to help vulnerable people.

The church which said it had 'thought carefully and prayerfully' over the risks and benefits of keeping its gates said it recognised the women involved were more than sex workers, should not be judged for engaging in sex work and leaving the car park open offered them a modicum of protection.

A church spokesperson told the Liverpool Echo: 'All Saints Church Kensington believes all people are equal before God and wish to be a place of sanctuary for those in need. For many years the church community has engaged with sex workers in the community to offer support, God's love and to try and offer an alternative path in life.

Residents near All Saints Church in Kensington, Liverpool, pictured, have complained that the car park is being used at night by sex workers with the permission of authorities

Among the complaints from residents is the rubbish left behind by sex workers and their clients which includes used condoms and drug paraphernalia

The church said it is their mission to help vulnerable people living and working in the community

'That's why, alongside offering food and emotional support, we work with agencies like Armistead and Addaction to provide professional support to this vulnerable community. This works. We have seen many women move from sex work to rehabilitation in recent years.'

The church accepted that the process of building trust takes time and part of this is 'offering safe, non-judgemental places.'

It added: 'The church has thought carefully and prayerfully over the benefits and risks of keeping our gates open.

'We recognise that offering a place of safety comes with risk and we know that some in the community are upset and offended by this approach.

'We work hard with our partner agencies to prevent our land being misused and we are always willing to listen to the concerns of the community and to work with our neighbours.'

The church added: 'We always remember the women involved are human beings and recognise they are often so much more than sex workers but mothers and sisters and friends wrestling with a particular part of their lives but not to be judged by that activity.'

One resident contacted the local media to complain about the nuisance caused by the sex workers.

The neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, said: 'I live at the back of all Saint church off Sheil road Liverpool.

'There is an ongoing problem with sex work and drugs in the area and unfortunately All Saints Church are leaving their gates open of a night for the girls to use the grounds.

'I have complained to the church about what is happening and what the children sleeping in the back bedrooms of the houses are listening to and seeing at night and they are not interested. The response was that the gates will never be locked.'

Others in the community had mixed views, with some opposing the church's stance while others supporting the decision.

On Facebook, Michelle Walsh said: 'Well done to this church. These girls would go into the park otherwise and working with Addaction is definitely beneficial to these vulnerable women

Jessica Renee agreed, stating: 'I'm an atheist but can see the good in this church.'

But others were less sure about the move.

Brian Comer said: 'How is this loving behaviour? I think it's the contrary! You're making a problem worse!'

And on Twitter, local resident Peter Bradley added: 'It's alright for these people allowing this, probably don't live here.'

But overall there were more readers who could see the positive side of what the church was doing and the human element to its decision.

Paula Newnes offered a balanced opinion, stating: 'The church wouldn't need to do this if there were safe places for these girls to go.

'Yes this isn't great for the community but just think how desperate these poor girls must be to put themselves in such danger.

'They are either trying to feed an addiction, earn money for their families or being made to do it by controlling 'people' usually men.

'Giving them somewhere safe might even get more of them out of the situation they are in.'
A blind woman has slammed British Airways after she claimed that her guide dog was left crammed in the gap between rows at the back of the plane.

Inger Stokke, has criticised the airline after being sat on row 30 at the back of a British Airways plane with her service dog Billie, which she claimed was 'not safe'.

Ms Stokke claimed the gap between the seats was too 'narrow' for her dog and said it was difficult to get Billie all the way to the back of the aircraft, which is believed to have flown from London Heathrow.

She said she felt like she was being the 'difficult blind lady' complaining about the situation on her flight this week.

Inger Stokke, has criticised British Airways after being sat on row 30 at the back of a plane with her service dog Billie (pictured), which she claimed was 'not safe'

Posting her frustration on a BA Facebook page, she said: 'Row 30!!!!! All the way at the back of the plane, not easy.

'It's so narrow it's almost possible for Billy to get in and safety wise...?!?

'Security today was really strange because they denied me to do what I've done for last 12,13 years with a guide dog.

'Removing harness and leash, using home and go through. Easy. But NOT this time!'

A BA spokesperson said Ms Stokke was given 'more space than usual' as she was moved to an empty row of six seats at the back of the plane. Normally, passengers with an assistance dog are allocated an extra seat free of charge.

Ms Stokke shared two photographs showing Billie standing up in the gap between the rows of seats, which are of a standard width on economy flights.

Ms Stokke, who is a frequent flier and travelled almost weekly before Covid struck, said she had complained to BA about the situation on Wednesday.

Posting on Facebook, She said she felt like she was being the 'difficult blind lady' complaining about the =flight, which was understood to have departed from London Heathrow this week

Ms Stokke (pictured with Billie), who is a frequent flier and travelled almost weekly before Covid struck, said she had complained to BA about the situation on Wednesday

She said she has never had so many difficulties flying as when she made the short trip with her dog this week.

One Facebook user expressed their concerns about Billie being unable to 'move freely' in case of an evacuation, to which Ms Stokke replied: 'But they won't hear. I'm being the difficult blind lady.'

She added that the crew did 'their very best' and said she had 'no complaints there', but said she felt 'strongly' that Billie wasn't safe despite being given three seats.

A short blurb on BA's website claims to treat every pet that flies with them 'like a VIP'.

It reads: 'If you're travelling with a recognised assistance dog, it can travel with you free of charge in the cabin of your British Airways flight.

'This service cannot be booked online and we might need to limit the number of dogs we can carry in the cabin.'

A British Airways spokesperson said: 'We're pleased to offer anyone flying with an assistance dog additional space by allocating an extra seat free of charge.

'On this occasion we were able to offer an entire row of six seats towards the rear of the aircraft, to provide even more space than usual.'
The BBC's decision to withdraw from a diversity scheme run by an LGBT charity was due to the 'risk of a perception of bias', one of the corporation's bosses has said.

Director of Nations Rhodri Talfan Davies said public trust that the BBC can approach 'very complex areas' with complete impartiality is 'the absolute bedrock' of its decision-making.

The organisation said in a statement on Wednesday that it would not be renewing its participation in the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme but will continue to work with a range of organisations to support its LGBT staff.

Mr Talfan Davies told Women's Hour on Thursday the BBC is trying to create an inclusive working environment, while ensuring it remains balanced with its output.

Director of Nations Rhodri Talfan Davies said public trust that the BBC can approach 'very complex areas' with complete impartiality is 'the absolute bedrock' of its decision-making

This image, which was presented to employees as part of an internal BBC course set up in conjunction with the lobby group, depicts sex as a spectrum and defines gender identity as 'how you think about yourself'

Big Stonewell scheme quitters so far Equality and Human Rights Commission

Ofsted

Ofcom

Cabinet Office

Channel 4

Department of Health

BBC

Ministry of Justice At least eight major organisations have left the Stonewall group's controversial scheme Advertisement

He said the issues of transgender and women's rights are 'highly polarised debates'.

'The key thing for the BBC, as a broadcaster utterly committed to impartiality, is to ensure that audiences have trust in us to come into these very complex areas dispassionately and fairly,' he said.

'In the case of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Programme, it had led to questions about whether the BBC could be truly impartial when reporting on public policy debates like this, given that Stonewall has an active campaigning role in this space.

'For that reason we believe it's the right time to step back from that programme.'

He added: 'Since coming in as director, Tim Davie has been focusing on the impartiality of the organisation really as the foundation stone of everything that we do... that that audience trust is the absolute bedrock.'

Asked if he believes involvement with Stonewall has influenced the BBC's operations, Mr Talfan Davies, who sits on the corporation's executive committee, said: 'We do not believe our relationship with Stonewall has compromised our journalism.

'We are taking a step, given the risk of a perception of bias, to step away from the Diversity Champions Programme, we think it's the right time to do it.'

Mr Talfan Davies acknowledged that the withdrawal from the scheme may have caused 'tension and discomfort' for some LGBT employees but said work will be done with certain groups to explain the reasoning behind the decision.

Stonewall's Nancy Kelley claimed 'gender critical' beliefs were like anti-Semitism

Stonewall's Diversity Champions is a programme where companies sign up and pay for advice from Stonewall on how to create an inclusive environment for LGBT workers

'For some staff this will have been an uncomfortable moment... we are utterly committed to creating a working environment that is inclusive, where people feel valued and respected,' he said.

'The key thing is to engage with those staff groups to discuss our thinking and our reasoning and to listen to their responses.'

Part of the BBC statement on its decision said: 'The BBC is fully committed to being an industry-leading employer on LGBTQ+ inclusion.

'We are proud of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans colleagues and we support them to have fulfilling careers at the BBC.

'Along with many other UK employers, the BBC has participated in Stonewall's Diversity Champions Programme to support our objective to create a fully inclusive workplace.

'However, over time, our participation in the programme has led some to question whether the BBC can be impartial when reporting on public policy debates where Stonewall is taking an active role.'

More than 900 organisations in the UK have signed up to the scheme, which aims to promote inclusion in the workplace.

It is described by Stonewall as 'the leading employers' programme for ensuring all LGBTQ+ staff are free to be themselves in the workplace'.

Following the announcement, Stonewall said the BBC's decision was 'a shame'.
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Three beach huts worth 350,000 each have risen from the ashes after they were set alight and destroyed in an arson attack this year.

The trio of luxury wooden cabins, which sit side-by-side at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset, have undergone a complete transformation and been repaired after they were torched by thugs in February this year amid a spate of burglaries and arson attacks in the region.

Sitting just a stone's throw away from Hengistbury Head Beach in Bournemouth, one of the renovated huts can sleep six people, with four beds in the loft area of the cabin and two more in the lounge.

It also has solar panels to provide electric lights and power for a fridge and plug sockets and even a cooker that is connected to a gas bottle.

 Slide me  The three beach huts (left after renovation and right before) worth 350,000, which sit side-by-side at Mudeford Spit in Christchurch, Dorset, have undergone a complete transformation

The wooden cabins were torched by thugs in February this year amid a spate of targeted burglaries and arson attacks in the region

 Slide me  One of the huts (left after undergoing repair work and right after it was set alight) can sleep six people was repaired by carpenter David Thomas

The huts in Mudeford Spit, which is home to the most expensive beach huts in Britain, have been built from scratch.

Offering uninterrupted views of the Isle of Wight, the cabins are among 360 huts along the Mudeford sandbank.

Ordinarily, the local authority bans renovation work on the beach huts at Mudeford during the busy summer months so as not to disturb the peace of the other 'hutters' but an exception was made for the owners of the fire ravaged huts.

Carpenter David Thomas has worked on one of the three cabins and has turned it into a modern, luxury bolthole.

The hut owner, who has asked not be named, said Mr Thomas did a 'fantastic job' and was a 'real craftsman'.

They said: 'It was a dream come true when we bought our beach hut a few years ago, so it was a terrible shock to get a phone call to say that it had been destroyed by fire.

'We visited a few days later to see a blackened shell and everything inside ruined. It was a very sad sight.

'The beach hut community were very supportive. Within days we had messages from other hut owners with the generous offer to use their hut while ours was replaced and we were grateful to the council who gave permission for us to rebuild during the summer months which is not usually allowed.

'It did affect our neighbours peace and quiet but they were very stoic about it.

'Dave has done a fantastic job on our new hut and nothing was too much trouble. He is a real craftsman.'

 Slide me  Sitting just a stone's throw away from Hengistbury Head Beach, the renovated huts are among 360 huts along the Mudeford sandbank. Pictured: The three huts after undergoing repair work (left) and the cabins just after they were destroyed in an arson attack (right)

A step inside on to the renovated huts at Mudeford Spit reveals a seating area, kitchen and stairs leading up to the loft

The luxury cabin, which was among the fire ravaged cabins, comes with a stove, sink and a number of cupboards. It also has solar panels to provide electric lights and power for a fridge and plug sockets and a cooker that is connected to a gas bottle

 Slide me  The local authority usually bans renovation work on the beach huts at Mudeford during the busy summer months but an exception was made for the owners of the fire ravaged huts. Pictured: The cabins now (left) and just after they were targetted in arson attack (right)

 Slide me  Carpenter David Thomas, who worked on one of the three cabins (left before renovation and right after) said he turned it into a luxury bolthole

The property was renovated over the summer months and now sleeps up to six people and comes with solar panels

Cars are banned from the Mudeford Spit and there is no running water in the huts which means owners share a communal shower block. Pictured: The view from inside one of the recently renovated huts

Cars are banned from the Mudeford Spit which can only be reached by a 30-minute walk, a ride on a novelty land train or a short ferry crossing.

There is no running water in the huts and owners share a communal shower block.

They are allowed to sleep in their huts from March to October but can visit any time of year.

In February, residents were left horrified when the three Dorset beach huts were set alight and 30 more were broken into in a spate of targeted burglaries and arson attacks.

Dorset Police were alerted to a report that three beach huts were on fire at 2.40am by the fire service on February 6.

Speaking at the time Detective Inspector Andrew Kennard, of Bournemouth CID, said: 'There has been considerable damage caused to a large number of beach huts and I would like to reassure the community that we are carrying out detailed inquiries into the incident.

'I am appealing to anyone who was in the area and either witnessed what happened or saw any suspicious activity to please get in touch.'

Two teenagers were arrested in connection with the fire and remain on bail while police continue their investigations.
Google's argument over third party cookies which it used to win its Supreme Court case contradicts another ongoing case on its 'Privacy Sandbox', it was alleged today.

An alliance of tech businesses, advertisers and publishers known as 'Movement for an Open Web' has claimed that Google said in the first case that third party cookies were no threat to privacy - but, in the second case, it says they are.

It comes after the UK's highest court yesterday blocked a 3billion lawsuit against the US tech firm over claims it secretly tracked millions of iPhone users' web activity.

If the case had been successful, more than four million Britons would have received damages of up to 750 each for alleged breaches of the Data Protection Act.

But the Supreme Court ruled former Which? director Richard Lloyd had failed to prove that 'material damage or distress' had been caused to individuals as a result.

Now, Movement for an Open Web. also known as MOW, has claimed yesterday's outcome at the Supreme Court was 'not quite the triumph Google might claim'.

Google is planning to replace so-called third party cookies with a new 'Privacy Sandbox'. The company's headquarters at Mountain View in California are pictured

It said the court held that a mere collection of data is not an invasion of privacy - so the mass claim could not proceed, in a finding that might look to benefit Google.

However, in reaching its decision, the UK's highest court found Mr Lloyd had failed to prove an infringement of privacy law arising from the mere collection of data.

And a MOW spokesman said today: 'Put simply - it wasn't clear that the setting of third-party cookies by Google involved any invasion of privacy contrary to law.'

MOW said Google want to claim that third party cookies invade privacy to force businesses to use its own controversial technology under the Privacy Sandbox.

Google is planning to replace third party cookies with a new 'Privacy Sandbox'. It means that instead of these traditional cookies, where advertisers can track individuals across the websites they visit, users will be split into cohorts.

But MOW claims this would restrict open web competition by reducing the amount of information other tech, advertising and publishing firms can gather on users.

The Supreme Court yesterday ruled that claimant, former Which? director Richard Lloyd, had failed to prove that material damage or distress had been caused to individuals

MOW said the 'Privacy Sandbox' will impair independent analytics, advertising, fraud detection, data services, performance optimisation and other open web features.

It said the Californian firm will also increase the value of data it gets from sources uniquely available to it through integrated services such as search functions.

And the MOW spokesman added: 'Google is just trying to rig the system to its own benefit against its competitors.'

In September, MOW lodged a formal complaint with the European Union over Google's next generation of its 'Privacy Sandbox' system.

MOW claims the new system is hugely anti-competitive. And its spokesman said today: 'The company's 'Privacy Sandbox' software seeks to block third party cookies.

'This doesn't reduce Google's data collection but simply requires businesses that rely on data for advertising to obtain it via Google.

'Increased dependence on Google is good for Google but restricts competition.'

The 'Privacy Sandbox' will be a major overhaul of how ads work on Google's Chrome browser

James Rosewell, director of MOW, added: 'The court's verdict has found there is nothing intrinsically bad about businesses collecting data.

'It also brings into question Google's justifications for the Privacy Sandbox.'

MOW added that it was increasingly confident of moves by competition regulators in different jurisdictions to stop Google and other 'big tech' to control the web being upheld by the courts.

It pointed to the Google loss, also yesterday, of its challenge against a separate landmark decision taken by the European Commission in 2017.

The company was found to have 'abused its dominant position' by favouring its own price-comparison shopping service over smaller European rivals.

Mr Rosewell said: 'This should force Google to reconsider what it's doing, and work to create a genuine level playing field for all. We're here to help them.'

The matter could be challenged again, however, if Google decides to turn to the EU's highest court, the European Court of Justice, for a final say.

Google is facing further anti-trust lawsuits in the EU and US. In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority is this month finalising an investigation and recommendations regarding the 'Privacy Sandbox', following a complaint last year from MOW.

A Google spokesman has been contacted for comment by MailOnline today.
MPs who spend 'a huge amount of time' on second jobs outside politics are not working hard enough for their constituents, a distinguished sleaze watchdog said today.

Lord Evans, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said that sitting in Parliament 'takes time and concentration' amid the fallout from the extra-parliamentary activities of Geoffrey Cox.

The former attorney general is under fire for spending weeks working as a high-ranking lawyer in the Caribbean while Parliament has been sitting, apparently with the approval of the Tory Party.

Sir Geoffrey voted in Parliament remotely from the Caribbean while advising the government of the British Virgin Islands, a tax haven accused of corruption.

He has also been referred to Parliament's sleaze watchdog after appearing to use his Commons office for a hearting via Zoom.

Lord Evans, the former head of MI5, declined to mention specific cases when talking to the BBC today.

But he said: 'If somebody is spending a huge amount of their time on a second job, then they can't be maintaining support for their constituents.'

Lord Evans, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said that sitting in Parliament 'takes time and concentration' amid the fallout from the extra-parliamentary activities of Geoffrey Cox.

The former attorney general is under fire for spending weeks working as a high-ranking lawyer in the Caribbean while Parliament has been sitting, apparently with the approval of the Tory Party.

Asked whether it matters more about how much time an MP spends on their outside work rather than how much they are earning, Lord Evans replied: 'I don't think it is ultimately a matter of how much, I think it is a matter of is it clear that the MP who has been elected by their constituents, that their main focus, their main priority is on being the best MP that they can be?

'And that takes time and that takes concentration.'

It came as a Government minister refused to defend Sir Geoffrey for voting by proxy from the British Virgin Islands.

Business minister Paul Scully told Sky News: 'I'm not going to defend Geoffrey or say anything - that's up to Geoffrey, it is between him and his voters.'

Asked whether he could see that the 'optics were not good' in relation to the second jobs debate, Mr Scully replied: 'Absolutely, I can see how it looks.

'It is really regrettable that we've got to this situation.'

Pressed on what was regrettable about the situation, he added: 'That we've got in a position that, first of all, last week we allowed the situation for one individual (Owen Paterson) to be conflated with the standards procedures, which do need looking at, they do need an appeals process, but in order to do that we need a cross-party consensus.

'Then, as I say, for a number of other issues to be conflated which we need to tackle, but we need to tackle in a level-headed way and certainly not to get into a party political bun fight.'

Mr Scully later told LBC MPs should be able to have second jobs but 'paid advocacy and the like ... needs to be absolutely stamped out'.

Last night Boris Johnson said MPs who broke the rules should be punished. And in a sign of concern that the sleaze row is damaging Britains international reputation, he told the UN-sponsored climate summit in Glasgow that the UK is not a remotely corrupt country, and nor do I believe our institutions are corrupt.

But the PM backed the right of MPs to continue taking paid second jobs, saying they had actually strengthened our democracy over centuries.

His effort to bring MPs back into line was undermined by a defiant statement from Sir Geoffrey, in which he claimed his work trip to the Caribbean during lockdown in April had been sanctioned by the Governments chief whip Mark Spencer.

Last night it was claimed Sir Geoffrey was in another tax haven  Mauritius  for business this week.

The Daily Mirror reported that the MP was on a short business trip on the island nation where he met quite a few people for meetings.

A government source told the Mail they did not know where Sir Geoffrey was, but they expected he would be back in Parliament next week.
The January 6 committee has said it is interested in at least five people from former Vice President Mike Pence's inner circle - including his national security adviser Keith Kellogg.

Kellogg, who was reportedly in a meeting where then-President Donald Trump pushed Pence not to certify the election on January 6, was on Tuesday subpoenaed by the House select committee.

Some of the five, who besides Kellogg have not been identified, are understood to be willing to provide information wanted by the committee either voluntarily or under subpoena, CNN reported, citing sources.

Chairman Bennie Thompson said the committee had reached out to several persons of interest and received mixed responses. 'Yes and no,' he said. 'There have been some people who have clearly said no. We've had people on both sides.'

Sources told the US broadcaster among those approached were former chief counsel Greg Jacob and former chief of staff Marc Short, as well as former chief of staff Nick Ayers, former legislative affairs director Chris Hodgson, political adviser Marty Obst, and former special assistant Zach Bauer.

It comes after a US federal judge in DC ruled on Tuesday the committee could access some of Trump's White House records in a blow to the former President's efforts to keep the documents secret. The committee has said it needs the requested materials to understand the role Trump may have played in fomenting the riot.

The January 6 committee has said it is interested in at least five people from former Vice President Mike Pence's inner circle - including his national security adviser Keith Kellogg

A mob of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump fight with members of law enforcement at a door they broke open as they storm the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6

Former national security adviser Keith Kellogg, who was with the then-President Donald Trump as the Capitol riot unfolded, has been subpoenaed by the investigating committee

It comes after a US federal judge in DC ruled on Tuesday the committee could access some of former President Donald Trump's White House records.

Obama-appointed US District Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected an argument by Trump's lawyers that telephone records, visitor logs and other White House documents should be withheld from the House select committee.

'Presidents are not kings,' Chutkan wrote in her decision: 'And Plaintiff is not President.' She also ruled that President Biden and not former 'occupants of the office' are the determining factor in privilege claims.

Trump had argued that the materials requested by the House of Representatives panel were covered by a legal doctrine known as executive privilege that protects the confidentiality of some White House communications.

He requested an injunction blocking the National Archives, a federal agency that holds his White House records, from complying with the committee's document requests. If he does not appeal or it fails, he will have to hand over the documents.

Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected Trump's claim of executive privilege

The committee has said it needs the requested materials to understand the role Trump may have played in fomenting the riot.

Trump gave an incendiary speech before the assault on the Capitol, repeating his false claims that the November 2020 election was stolen from him through widespread voting fraud and urging his supporters to go to the Capitol and 'fight like hell' to 'stop the steal.'

His supporters stormed the Capitol in a failed bid to prevent Congress from certifying now-President Joe Biden's election victory. Biden, a Democrat, took office on January 20.

About 700 people face criminal charges stemming from the riot.

Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters, with one wielding a Confederate battle flag that reads 'Come and Take It,' during clashes with Capitol police on January 6

Also on Tuesday, the House committee issued 10 new subpoenas that included former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller.

'The Select Committee wants to learn every detail of what went on in the White House on January 6th and in the days beforehand.

'We need to know precisely what role the former President and his aides played in efforts to stop the counting of the electoral votes and if they were in touch with anyone outside the White House attempting to overturn the outcome of the election,' Chairman Bennie Thompson wrote announcing the fresh subpoenas.

He said the 10 witnesses in the announcement had 'relevant information' to aid the Congressional investigation.

Jan 6 committee's new Trump targets: Democrats subpoena new list of aides working in the White House on January 6 Nicholas Luna: Trump's personal assistant who was reportedly in the Oval Office on the morning of January 6. Molly Michael: Trump personal assistant who was also in the Oval Office that morning, according to reports. Ben Williamson: Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor to Chief of Staff Mark Meadows who urged Trump to issue a statement condemning the violence. Christopher Liddell: Deputy Chief of Staff who considered resigning on January 6, but stayed on after a 'great deal of persuasion'. John McEntee: Trump's White House Personnel Director, was reportedly present in the Oval Office when Rudolph Giuliani, Justin Clark, the former President, and former Vice President Pence discussed the audit process in Georgia Keith Kellogg: Vice President Pence's National Security Advisor, who reportedly took part in January meeting with Trump and Pat Cipollone urging Pence not to certify the election results. Kayleigh McEnany: Trump's White House Press Secretary, made multiple public statements from the White House and elsewhere about purported fraud in the November 2020 election, according to the committee. Stephen Miller: Trump Senior Advisor the committee claims 'participated in efforts to spread false information about alleged voter fraud'. Cassidy Hutchinson: Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, reportedly was at the White House on January 6th and was with the former President when he spoke at the 'Stop the Steal' rally Kenneth Klukowski: Former Senior Counsel to Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark, was involved in drafting a letter that urged legislatures in certain states to delay certification of the election, according to a congressional report. Advertisement

McEnany is a person of interest because she pushed false election fraud claims from the White House podium and was with the former president for parts of January 6, the select committee said.

The committee said it's interested in hearing from Miller because he 'by his own account participated in efforts to spread false information about alleged voter fraud in the November 2020 election.'

Miller also encouraged Republican state legislators to alter their states' election results by appointing alternate slates of electors to the Electoral College. And Miller was with Trump when he spoke at the 'Stop the Steal' rally, the morning of January 6.

Beyond the household names of Miller and McEnany, the committee also wants to hear from Nicholas Luna, former President Donald Trump's personal assistant, Molly Michael, the Oval Office Operations Coordinator, as well as Ben Williamson, who worked under White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

The select committee said Williamson was reportedly contacted by a former White House official during the attack who urged him and Meadows to encourage Trump to issue a statement condemning the violence - which the president did not.

The committee also subpoenaed Christopher Liddell, who reportedly tried to resign over January 6, but stayed on 'after a great deal of persuasion.'

Personnel Director John McEntee's testimony is also wanted by the committee.

Lawmakers believe McEntee was privy to an Oval Office meeting in which Rudy Giuliani suggested seizing Dominion voting machine in a move to prove there was election fraud.

'McEntee was also reportedly involved in communications with officials in various federal agencies regarding loyalty to President Trump and specifically discouraged a number of individuals from seeking employment after the election as it would appear to be a concession of President Trump's defeat,' the release from the January 6 select committee said.

Other subpoenas went to Cassidy Hutchinson, who served as Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, and Kenneth Klukowski, former Senior Counsel to Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Clark.

Trump sent out a statement shortly after the subpoena announcement, grumbling about the committee.

'The Unselect Committee of politically ambitious hacks continues to subpoena people wanting to know about those protesting, on January 6th, the insurrection which took place during the Presidential Election of November 3rd,' Trump said.

He has been saying that the real 'insurrection' was the November 3 election, as he continues to peddle the so-called 'big lie.'

'There is so much proof, but the Fake News Media refuses to print it or show it in any way, shape, or form,' Trump continued.

'Just read the findings of the Arizona report, or look at what's happening in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and numerous other States.'

'That's right, the Committee is studying the PROTEST when it should be studying the Fraudulent Election that led to the protest,' the ex-president added.

'As the LameStream Media knows, the facts are there for all to see!'

The January 6 House select committee issued 10 new subpoenas on Tuesday including for former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany (left) and former President Donald Trump's senior adviser Stephen Miller (right)

Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany (left) stands in the White House driveway alongside former President Donald Trump (right) in September 2020

The panel subpoenaed former Trump aide Jason Miller, former campaign manager William Stepien, pardoned former national security advisor Michael Flynn, Angela McCallum, Trump lawyer John Eastman and former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik.

'These six individuals include staff members of the former President's campaign and individuals associated with the so-called 'war room' that drove efforts to halt the counting of electoral votes in the run-up to the violence of January 6th,' the committee wrote in announcing the subpoenas.

'In the days before the January 6th attack, the former President's closest allies and advisors drove a campaign of misinformation about the election and planned ways to stop the count of Electoral College votes,' wrote panel chair Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi.

He added: 'The Select Committee needs to know every detail about their efforts to overturn the election, including who they were talking to in the White House and in Congress, what connections they had with rallies that escalated into a riot, and who paid for it all.'

The Trump team appeared to be anticipating an adverse ruling.

Judge Chutkan in a hearing last week sounded skeptical when Trump's lawyers argued the House committee lacked jurisdiction requiring it to obtain documents related to January 6.

'The January 6 riot happened in the Capitol. That is literally Congress' house,' Judge Chutkan said.

Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to the former president, has been subpoenaed over the fact that he encouraged Republican state legislators to alter their states' election results by appointing alternate slates of electors to the Electoral College

Personnel Director John McEntee's testimony is also wanted by the committee. Lawmakers believe McEntee was privy to an Oval Office meeting in which Rudy Giuliani suggested seizing Dominion voting machine in a move to prove there was election fraud
A pair of drug dealers who filmed themselves tossing money around while bragging they are so rich that they 'throw fivers in the bin' are now facing prison.

Shakeel Amin, 29, and Zain Mushtaq, 22, were caught on camera laughing as they discarded 5 notes while counting cash in a bedroom.

During the short video, Mushtaq is heard asking Amin: 'Shakeel, what do we do with fivers? We stash them in the bin.'

The video was shown to a jury during a six-week long trial at Derby Crown Court involving nine people, including Amin and Mushtaq, as part of a drugs conspiracy.

The court heard how police seizing a single phone became the catalyst for detectives to launch an investigation into a gang supplying class A and B drugs across Nottinghamshire.

Officers found messages between the group on Mushtaq's phone which implicated them in being concerned in the supply of large quantities of drugs.

Analysis of the phone also resulted in the discovery of an apparent drugs lists and further videos showing Mushtaq boasting about designer jewellery and clothing.

Pictures of large wads of cash and cannabis packaged on a large mat into blue bags were also recovered.

The court heard that police began a covert surveillance operation focusing on Amin on May 4, 2019.

Officers witnessed four drug deals, which were witnessed and logged, before the group were found to be renting two standalone garages in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

Mushtaq, meanwhile, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply controlled drugs after attending St Anns Police Station for a separate matter.

Following his arrest, his car was searched and a bag containing his phone, cannabis, cash, his ID, bank cards and an exclusive gym pass was seized.

Later the same day, plain clothed officers watched Amin attend the stash garage in West Bridgford.

A raid of the site resulted in the seizure of a significant amount of cocaine, MDMA, cannabis and 10 kilograms of Boric Acid - a cutting agent used to bulk out cocaine.

Further warrants were then conducted at multiple addresses in the area, where more class A and B drugs were recovered.

Police discovered that Amin's brother, 31-year-old Jamil, was the ringleader of the gang.

Shakeel Amin and Zain Mushtaq filmed themselves bragging about throwing 5 notes in the bin while counting cash in a bedroom

Amin is seen laughing as he sits on a bed counting money. He is one of nine gang members now facing prison

The short video was shown to a jury during a six-week-trial at Derby Crown Court. Three men who denied being involved in the supply of drugs have been convicted

Amin was seen covering his face during one part of the short video as he and Mushtaq callously laughed together

Their cousin, Rabeena Kausser, also had her phone seized as part of the investigation.

Analysis showed she had allowed them to use her address to package and store drugs since 2018.

A further probe into conversations led officers to search for Saad Essa who was located and arrested in London on October 3, 2019.

Last year, officers finalised the 18-month investigation when they made their final arrests.

Three members of the gang denied their involvement in the supply of class A and class B drugs, but were found guilty following the trial.

Jamil Amin, of Aspley Park Drive, Beechdale; Essa, 24, of Briar Road, Harrow and Kieran Neilson, 22, of Colchester Road, Aspley, were convicted by a jury on Wednesday.

The remaining six gang members pleaded guilty to drugs offences prior to trial.

Shakeel Amin, of Beechdale, Nottingham, and Mushtaq, of Mapperly, Nottingham, admitted conspiracy to supply controlled drugs alongside four other defendants.

Ben Jones, 26, and Shamus Gulfraz, of no fixed address; Rabeena Kausser, 34, of The Meadows, Nottingham and Heather McCrory, 27, of Bulwell, Nottinghamshire, also pleaded guilty.

They will all be sentenced at Derby Crown Court on December 16.

Detective Constable Steven Fenyn, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'This was a lengthy but ultimately worthwhile investigation, involving many complex operations, warrants and covert tactics to bring the entire group to justice.

'One phone being seized led to an entire drugs conspiracy to be exposed, and it was important to remain patient and strike at the right moment to ensure we had the evidence we needed and the ability to bring all nine members of the group into custody.

"The number of not guilty pleas certainly presented a challenge to us, but we were ultimately able to prove their involvement to the courts during the trial.

"I am very pleased with the verdict that has come out of this - it is a testament to the team and their dedication to the operation.'
A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester dubbed 'Captain America' because he carried a replica of the superhero's shield at marches has been jailed.

Ma Chun-man, a 31-year-old takeaway driver, was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison today for 'inciting secession' under China's draconian security law.

Ma is the second person to be convicted under the law, and his case was seen as a legal bellwether because he is the first non-violent protester to be convicted.

In delivering his verdict, Judge Stanley Chan - who was drafted in by Beijing to try national security cases - said it was irrelevant that Ma's protest was non-violent.

Ma Chun-man, a 31-year-old takeaway driver known as Captain America 2.0 for carrying the superhero's shield at Hong Kong pro-democracy protests (pictured), has been jailed

'Whether he used violence, whether he defied the law enforcers, whether his ideas got others' recognition - all these are not important,' Chan said.

'The defendant was incited by some politician and he eventually became an instigator himself.

'In this context, it's hard to guarantee there won't be other Ma Chun-mans.'

Ma had pleaded not guilty to the charges and did not testify, though did write a letter to the judge in which he said he has 'no regret' for his actions.

'On my road to democracy and freedom, I can't afford to be a coward,' he added.

The slogans Ma is said to have chanted included 'liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times' and 'Hong Kong independence, the only way out'.

Beijing imposed the national security law on Hong Kong in June last year, effectively ending the biggest and longest pro-democracy protests the semi-autonomous former British colony has faced since returning to Chinese rule in 1997.

The law punishes anything China sees as subversion, secession, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces with up to life in prison and has been widely criticised as a tool to purge political opponents and crush individual freedoms.

Beijing maintains rule of law, and all rights and freedoms remain intact and says the legislation was needed to plug loopholes in national security and end the often-violent unrest, which it says was fomented by foreign forces.

The first to be convicted was former waiter Tong Ying-kit who was jailed for nine years for riding a motorbike into a group of policemen.

Tong was flying banners from the bike reading 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,' which the court said was incitement to secession.

Ma was jailed for five years and nine months for 'inciting secession', with his case viewed as a legal bellwether because he is the first non-violent protester to be convicted

But, unlike Ma, Tong was also convicted of terrorism offences for using his motorbike as a weapon. He is appealing the ruling.

Amnesty International called Ma's sentence 'outrageous' and said restrictions on freedom of expression in Hong Kong were 'dangerously disproportionate'.

, was jailed for nine years. He had ridden a motorcycle into a group of policemen, displaying the slogan 'Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times,' which the court ruled was 'capable of inciting secession'.

Tong, who was also convicted of terrorism for allegedly using his motorcycle as a weapon, is appealing.

Amnesty International called the sentence 'outrageous' and said restrictions on freedom of expression in Hong Kong were 'dangerously disproportionate'.

Deputy Secretary General Kyle Ward said: 'In the warped political landscape of post-national security law Hong Kong, peacefully expressing a political stance and trying to get support from others is interpreted as "inciting subversion" and punishable by years in jail.

'It is outrageous that Ma Chun-man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison simply for chanting slogans and sharing his political views online. The Hong Kong government must stop criminalising mere acts of expression without any demonstrated connection to the use of force or imminent violence.

'This conviction and sentencing clearly shows that restrictions on the right to freedom of expression in Hong Kong are dangerously disproportionate. The two verdicts handed down in national security law cases have not paid due regard to the human rights safeguards the Hong Kong authorities claim exist in the law.

'The Hong Kong government must stop endlessly expanding its definition of 'endangering national security' as a means of locking up people who express views it doesn't like.'

More than 100 people, including many of the city's most prominent opposition politicians and activists, have been charged under the security law.

Like Ma, most are accused of non-violent crimes. Most have been denied bail.
Mining giant BHP has stood down dozens of workers without pay after they refused to get vaccinated against Covid.

The company announced in August staff would need to be double-dosed by January 31 and have received their first dose on Wednesday or face the sack.

About 80 workers were banned from attending the Mt Arthur thermal coal mine in the New South Wales Hunter Valley on Thursday after failing to prove they'd had the jab.

That number later dropped to about 50 when more workers eventually came forward with a proof of vaccine certificate.

Mining giant BHP has stood down dozens of workers without pay after they refused to get vaccinated against Covid

Poll DO YOU AGREE WITH MANDATORY VACCINES FOR SOME WORKERS? Yes - for health care, aged care and hotel quarantine staff Yes - for all workers No - no one should have to DO YOU AGREE WITH MANDATORY VACCINES FOR SOME WORKERS? Yes - for health care, aged care and hotel quarantine staff 974 votes

Yes - for all workers 1835 votes

No - no one should have to 5657 votes Now share your opinion





'The science is clear that widespread vaccination saves lives,' BHP said in a statement.

'This is a necessary health and safety control to help protect our people, their families and communities  including remote Indigenous communities  while continuing to safely run our operations.'

Miners on the other side of the country will also face a shut out if they refuse to roll up their sleeves.

In Western Australia, the state government has introduced mandatory vaccine mandates for all resource workers.

It means BHP workers at its flagship iron ore and nickel operations will need to have their first dose by December 1 and be double vaccinated by January 1.

Chief executive Mike Henry said at an annual general meeting on Thursday the vast majority of the employee base understand the importance of getting vaccinated.

In Western Australia, the state government has introduced mandatory vaccine mandates for all resource workers (pictured, a student being vaccinated in Sydney)

Mr Henry was confident almost all workers would be vaccinated by the WA government's deadline (stock image)

'And not only are they getting themselves vaccinated in line with broader community expectations, they know specifically in the case of the workplace that we have,' he said.

'That's going to be important in order to keep their colleagues safe and to ensure that the BHP site doesn't become a transmission zone into local communities.'

While Mr Henry said the final number of vaccinated workers is unknown, he is confident that the mining giant will be able to operate.

He is also certain that almost all employees will have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine by the WA government's deadline.

Contractors are also subject to the same vaccine mandate.

The largest union representing miners is currently fighting vaccine mandate after lodging a motion to the Fair Work Commission.

The CFMEU argue the forced vaccines are 'unlawful'.

A ruling is set to be made on the matter on November 24.
Boris Johnson urged world leaders to 'deliver an ambitious outcome for the planet' today as the end of the Cop26 climate summit approaches.

He spoke out amid fears the UN global conference could break up tomorrow without a significant deal to tackle global temperature increases.

The US and China increased hopes last night with the surprise announcement that the economic adversaries will work together on enhancing emissions-cutting action in the 2020s.

Leaders of the two global superpowers said they would meet the goals of the Paris climate accord to limit global warming to 'well below' 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C.

It came as the green credentials of the event in Glasgow, which has attracted thousands of politicians, delegates, lobbyists, businesses and journalists.

A new report found that it is expected to have a carbon footprint twice as large as Cop25, making it the most carbon-intensive summit of its kind.

A preliminary report for the UK Government by consultants Arup states 102,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) is due to be released by the summit in Glasgow.

Around 60 per cent of this comes from international flights taken by world leaders and business leaders including Amazon's Jeff Bezos.

His 48million Gulf Stream led a 400-strong parade of private jets into COP26 a fortnight ago, including those belonging to 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.

This afternoon Cop president Alok Sharma echoed the PM saying: 'We still have a monumental challenge ahead of us, but collectively we have no choice but to rise to that challenge and strain every sinew to achieve a timely outcome that we can all be proud of.

'Because ultimately, this outcome, whatever it is, will belong to all of us.'

Boris Johnson urged world leaders to 'deliver an ambitious outcome for the planet' today as the end of the Cop26 climate summit approaches.

The US and China increased hopes last night with the surprise announcement that the economic adversaries will work together on enhancing emissions-cutting action in the 2020s.

Amazon airways: Jeff Bezos' Gulfstream private jet - which reportedly cost him 48million - arrives at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow

Voters following green talks - but don't trust politicians to do a deal Almost half of Britons are following the Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow, but only 20 per cent trust politicians to deliver an agreement to stave off runaway global warming, new polling has found. Some 46 per cent of Britons have been following the summit, with about one in 10 saying they are following it closely. The UK public had the most faith in experts to ensure the negotiations reach a viable agreement, with four in 10 saying scientists were best-placed to achieve this, according to research by Ipsos Mori. As the talks enter their final phase, less than one in five think politicians will get the job done, with only 17 per cent saying they trust UK policy-makers, and only 14 per cent having faith in those from other countries. Out of a sample of 1,016 adults aged 16 to 75, more had faith in climate activists than politicians, with 24 per cent saying they could successfully force an agreement over the line. Some 15 per cent of respondents said none of the delegates at the summit would be able to make the talks a success, with six per cent saying they did not think an agreement should be reached. China and India were perceived as dragging their feet - with around 50 per cent of those polled saying they could be doing more in the fight against climate change. Half of Britons said India's commitment to be carbon neutral by 2070 was not ambitious enough while 48 per cent said the same of China's pledge to be carbon neutral by 2060. The pledge by more than 100 countries to end deforestation by 2030 which was announced early on in the conference was the most popular, with 41 per cent saying the target was about right. Nearly a third - 29 per cent - say it is not ambitious enough while only 17 per cent say it is too ambitious. Advertisement

This morning the Prime Minister: 'I welcome the strong show of commitment from China and the US last night to step up climate action this decade and keep 1.5C in reach.

'This is a boost to negotiations as we go into the final days of COP26 and continue working to deliver an ambitious outcome for the planet.'

His brief visit to Cop26 last night came after the UK Cop presidency published a first draft of a deal that could be struck in Glasgow, which urged countries to bring forward more ambitious plans for cutting emissions up to 2030 in the next year.

The draft also calls for long term 'net zero' plans, as well as action on climate finance, helping poorer countries adapt to the impacts of global warming and to address the loss and damage they will inevitably suffer.

And it calls for an acceleration of phasing out coal and subsidies for fossil fuels, a first for such a UN text,although that is likely to be getting major pushback from some quarters as negotiating teams consider the draft, and will likely be lost from the final text.

On Thursday Denmark and Costa Rica are set to announce an alliance focused on phasing out oil and gas.

Scientists have warned that keeping temperature rises to 1.5C requires global emissions to be cut by 45 per cent by 2030, and to zero overall by mid-century but countries' plans for this decade leave the world well off track.

New analysis this week warned existing plans up to 2030 put the world on track for 2.4C of warming, well above the goals internationally agreed in the Paris accord to curb temperature rises to 'well below' 2C and try to limit them to 1.5C.

With Glasgow failing to close the gap, the pressure is now on countries to agree a deal that will ensure they take more action in the 2020s and keep the 1.5C goal within reach.

Cop26 is nearing the end of its second full week in Glasgow, with more than 30,000 people expected to attend the conference.

Madrid hosted Cop25 in 2019, which produced 51,101 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e).

The UK Government said this year's summit is the largest climate change conference so far, and the Arup report includes emissions from both the blue and green zones.

The Arup report said its figure of 102,500 tCO2e represented 'the best working assessment of the emissions from the event'.

Commenting on the report, Dr Doug Parr of Greenpeace UK said: 'The meeting in Glasgow is not supposed to be a demonstration of sustainable lifestyles, and it shouldn't be judged in those terms.

'But the failure to reach any meaningful agreement about limiting aviation's vast carbon emissions - at a conference where 60% of their emissions came from aviation, with a backing chorus of media outrage at the private jet hypocrisy of the elites - really highlights the lack of equity in these talks.

'Creating loopholes for the use of the rich not only maintains their disproportionately high emissions, but makes it so much harder to persuade anyone else to cut.'

Delegates have been asked to consider low-carbon methods of travel to Cop26.

A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: 'As official UNFCCC figures show, Cop26 is a substantially bigger event than other recent Cops, with over 39,000 participants as against nearly 27,000 at Cop25.

'Cop26 will be a carbon neutral event and will be the first Cop to demonstrate carbon neutrality validation through PAS2060, the internationally recognised standard on carbon neutrality.

'As part of its analysis, the Government has for the first time included both the full blue and green zone impacts, giving a fuller and more accurate picture of emissions from the site.'

The Government said the Arup report is a baseline assessment which would not fully reflect many of the emission-reduction measures, while final emissions will be confirmed following the event.
A Hawaiian couple have been charged with murdering their six-year-old adopted daughter a month in August, a month before they reported her missing, claiming she 'wandered off' in the middle of the night.

Lehua Kalua, 45, and her husband 52-year-old Isaac Sonny Kalua have been charged with killing their daughter Isabella 'Ariel' Kalua, who they reported missing on September 13.

Honolulu Police Department say the couple killed her a month earlier, sometime in mid-August, then pretended she had vanished.

Her body has not been found but police and the FBI are searching the family's home and Pearl Harbor Shipyard, where the father works. The Navy, which operates the shipyard, has not yet commented.

Ariel was adopted by the couple just two years ago out of foster care. She was removed from her biological family when she was one.

In the two years since she has lived with the couple, she has suffered two serious injuries but in both cases, the Department of Child Services ruled no foul play had taken place, Hawaii News Now reports.

In October 2019, she suffered a broken finger which the couple claimed came from her slamming her hand in a door. Four months later, she returned to the hospital with a broken leg, which her parents said was from a trampoline injury.

The parents of Isabella 'Ariel' Kalua have been charged with her murder. The girl was reported missing on September 13 but police say she'd been dead for a month. The cause of death is unclear and her body has not been found

Lehua Kalua and her husband Isaac Sonny Kalua have been charged with killing their daughter Isabella 'Ariel' Kalua, who they reported missing on September 13

The Kaluas told police on September 13 that she had left their home in the middle of the night and that she often slept outside.

Police say that was a lie and that the girl had been dead for a month, but they have not revealed what evidence they have that points to that conclusion.

It's unclear how Ariel died or what kind of evidence police have against the pair, but detectives say they are confident the evidence points 'to them and no one else'.

The couple have other daughters who are now in the custody of the authorities. It's unclear if those children are also adopted, or if they are the couple's biological kids.

Lehua Kalua was arrested at her home on Honolulu on Wednesday morning. Her husband was arrested at work

Dozens of police raided the family's home in Honolulu yesterday to arrest the girl's mother

The girl's biological aunts still live on the island and have been organizing community searches for her

'At the onset there was a lot of questions Some things just weren't adding up for us in the last week to ten days some evidence has come to light,' said Honolulu Police Department Interim Chief Rade Vanic at a press conference on Tuesday.

The girl's biological aunts had been campaigning on Facebook and in the community for police to do more to question the adoptive parents sooner.

They said they were convinced all along that the couple had something to do with her disappearance.

The adoptive parents are being held in custody without bond.

Child Welfare Services has not commented yet on their arrests.

These are recent photos of Ariel, taken after she went to live with her adoptive parents two years ago
A court in Hungary has ruled that a man who lost both of his legs after being run over by a train had put himself in its path so that he could then claim over 2.4million in compensation.

The defendant, who due to strict Hungarian privacy laws is named only as Sandor Cs., 54, has faced scrutiny from the authorities since July 30, 2014 when both of his legs were run over by a train in the Hungarian village of Nyircsaszari.

The Pest Central District Court ruled on November 9, that Cs. had climbed onto the tracks with the intention of having both of his legs run over so that he could make a large insurance claim totalling to over 2.4 million, according to local media outlet Blikk.

With his payout refused and a future appeal unclear, Cs. claims that his injuries and trial have bankrupted him

Suspicion surrounding the incident was sparked when the authorities were informed of the fact that the defendant had taken out 14 high-risk life insurances policies in the year building up to the incident.

Cs, who was wheelchair bound after the incident and now uses prosthetic limbs, claimed that he took out the policies after receiving financial advice telling him returns are better on insurance policies than savings accounts.

His wife filed the insurance claims directly after the incident, but they refused to pay up on grounds that they suspected Cs. had inflicted the injury on himself.

Cs. claimed he was walking near the track when he stood on a shard of glass, causing him to fall in front of the train. The train's conductor would later claim the man threw himself onto the tracks on purpose.

Cs. maintains his innocence and claims that he stepped on a shard of glass which resulted in him losing his balance and falling in front of the train that was just departing the station.

The incident resulted in Cs. having both of his legs amputated from the knee down.

The investigation, which has now been ongoing for seven years, was complicated by the fact that the train conductor changed his story.

The defendant appears before the courtroom via video call with his face hidden from the media due to strict local privacy laws

Initially, the conductor stated that Cs. fell but later claimed that he threw himself in front of the train on purpose.

The case concluded with Cs. receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence and an order to cover 4,725 in legal costs.

'I find the ruling very peculiar, naturally it isn't what I expected, I am disappointed.' Cs. told local news outlet 'Blikk' after the hearing had concluded.

'I need to see this through to the end because, as is, this is not right, and the court must feel the same way.'

Prior to the incident, Cs. worked in the thermal energy sector and installed boilers at home and abroad, but his career ended when he lost his legs. He claims the injury and the legal case have bankrupted him.

Cs. said that he is now studying law and hopes to one day help people who have been abused by big companies.

Cs. still has several insurance claims pending, but in light of the court's decision, they are unlikely to pay up.

It is not clear if Cs. will be able to appeal the decision.
Ilhan Omar and Eric Swalwell said Wednesday they were two of the three lawmakers who received a call from a Florida man who was convicted of threatening to kill and behead members of Congress.

Frank Anthony Pezzuto, 73, was found guilty on Wednesday by a federal jury of sending 'three separate threatening communications to injure certain members of Congress,' according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Middle District of Florida.

'The use of violent rhetoric in political speech is incitement & is definitely creating an environment where members of Congress are receiving constant death threats. Enough!' the progressive Democratic representative from Minnesota tweeted.

'Today, Florida man who left this chilling message with my staff was convicted,' she added.

Swalwell tweeted: Thank you to prosecution team at @DOJCrimDiv for convicting Anthony Pezzuto, who threatened to kill me & 2 of my colleagues. Too many people today are choosing violence over voting to enact political change. We must hold all to account.'

Pezzuto faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison following the conviction  a sentencing date has not been set.

A February 3, 2020 call presented as evidence in the case was to a congresswoman identified as I.O., Omar's initials.

Pezzuto, who was concealing his number on all three calls, told the person who answered the phone in Omar's office: 'Tell her I'm going to kill her today.'

Democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar (left) and Eric Swalwell (right) confirmed Wednesday they were two of the lawmakers who received a call from a Florida man convicted of threatening members of Congress

Omar said Frank Anthony Pezzuto, 73, left a 'chilling message' with her staff after he called her office February 3, 2020 and said: 'Tell her I'm going to kill her today'

Omar is a far-left lawmakers part of the progressive 'squad,' which includes the likes of Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.

The other two lawmakers threatened by the Florida man were identified in the case as congressmen E.S.  Eric Swalwell  and A.S.

Pezzuto called Swalwell's office on January 25, 2020 and said he was coming to kill him, according to evidence presented during the trial.

On January 30, 2020, he called A.S.'s office claiming he was a gang member of MS-13 and said they were coming to cut off the congressman's head.

The calls were made from Pezzuto's Florida home from his cell phone, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

The case was investigated by Capitol Police, who were able to identify Pezzuto as the caller despite him concealing his number.

Swalwell said people are 'choosing violence over voting' to try and get political change in the U.S.

In May 2021, then-Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said death threats against members of Congress doubled this year  following the January 6 Capitol attack.

Other members of both parties have reported receiving death threats and violent messages.

Staffers who work for Republican representatives who voted for the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal last Friday told Business Insider that their offices received threatening and abusive calls this week.

Representative Fred Upton, a GOP member who also voted for the bill last week, said his office this week received a voicemail filled with expletives and wishing death upon his family and staff.

Brendan Hunt, a Trump supporter from New York, was convicted in April of threatening to kill lawmakers. In January, he posted a video titled 'KILL YOUR SENATORS: Slaughter them all' where he threatened to go to Joe Biden's inauguration and 'shoot them and kill them.'

The issue of threatening lawmakers has already garnered additional attention this week after Arizona Republican Representative Paul Gosar posted an anime video Monday of his face superimposed on a character killing another character with the face of Ocasio-Cortez.

Lawmakers condemned the video, but Gosar said people are being sensitive, claiming it's 'just a cartoon.'

Representative Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, tweeted: 'There was a time when making light of murdering a colleague would elicit unified outrage. But not in McCarthy's GOP.'
Pro-choice protesters were filmed verbally abusing pro-life campaigners while destroying a cross-shaped monument to 800,000 aborted fetuses at a Catholic university.

Student Nick Baker, who identifies himself as a community organizer for Greater St. Louis Students for Life, shared video of the memorial being destroyed at Saint Louis University on Monday. He also filmed his tense confrontation with one of the same students a few days later.

During the clip shot Monday, two angry female students hectored him for 'shaming' women with the college-approved memorial, containing 800 crosses. Each one is designed to symbolize 1,000 abortions, with the memorial saying they represent the 826,320 fetuses terminated in the U.S. in 2017.

Student Fiorella Michelis was recorded dismantling the memorial and later going on an aggressive rant at Baker aggressively stating: 'I'll keep killing f*****g babies!'

During Monday's confrontation, filmed by Baker, Michelis and her friend Olivia Jarrell were both filmed kicking the flag display, yanking them out, and stomping their way through it.

Baker began recording when he saw the memorial being taken down within the first few hours of it being displayed and approached the women when one of them, who later identifies herself as Jarrell, says: 'So you just love disrespecting women.'

When asked if he put the flags up he confirms that him and his fellow Students for Life members created the memorial.

Two pro-choice protestors Fiorella Michelis (left) and Olivia Jarrell (right) were recorded destroying an approved pro-life memorial on the Saint Louis University campus on Monday

Michelis and Jarrell ripped the flags out of the ground and repeatedly stomped on the memorial as they angrily hurled insults at the man recording them who identified himself as part of the student group of erected the memorial

'Yeah, a man who has absolutely no right telling women what to do with their bodies or trying to shame them or trying to make them feel guilty about their decisions that they have absolutely all the right to do,' the other woman, later identified as Michelis, chimes in.

Two other students approach the commotion when the second male asks the pro-choice protestors: 'Would you please just let them have their thing?'

'Why can't you just leave women alone?' Michelis quips back. Baker is also told that the memorial will 'shame' anyone walking past who has previously had a termination.

The second male student tries to explain that the memorial: 'helped us remember the people who were aborted' and ask that the women 'respect the free speech of these people.'

On Wednesday, Baker shared another clip of a confrontation with Michelis when she approached him on the sidewalk two days after she was recorded destroying the memorial.

All clips were filmed at St Louis University, which pro-life students say 'is an echo-chamber for left wing ideas', despite being a Jesuit Catholic college.

Baker named Michelis, a sophomore, on his clip. Her identity has been confirmed by DailyMail.com.

'People hate you. You're a disgusting misogynist and you know karma is going to f**king get you. You'll see that when you die, and hopefully you f**king go to hell,' she says in the clip shot Wednesday.

Michelis approached Students for Life community organizer, Nick Baker, days later going off on an expletive filled rant

The memorial designed by Students for Life made a cross out of 1,000 red flags stuck into the ground on part of the campus green with each flag equaling 800 abortions

'You can see my pictures, you can see how pretty I am, how good of a life I have. And what do you have? You're a f**king loser, and you think you can tell other people what to do with their f**king bodies' she continued.

Michelis goes on to accuse him of harassing another student group and says: 'Do you really think anything is going to happen to us when you're so clearly a douche bag?'

'That's not very nice,' Baker replies to which the woman quickly replies: 'I don't care about your feelings.'

When he warns her that she will be contacted by the school she questions: 'What does that help you? Obviously you don't care about the lives of other people. You lack any sort of empathy and you're really just trying to hide behind this because you're not a f**king free thinker at all and you're just a f**king loser who wants to f**king control women.'

Baker goes to note that most of the members of Students for Life are women.

Michelis ends her rant: 'You just really enjoy your life, cause I'll enjoy mine. And I'll f**king keep killing babies.' She blows him a kiss before marching off.

Baker confirmed to DailyMail.com that Michelis is one of the women he filmed damaging the memorial and the woman who'd roared at him on Wednesday, and bragged that she'd 'keep killing babies.'

He said: 'When she started yelling her head off, I recognized that it was the girl from the display vandalism.'

'She approached me and began the angry confrontation. I figured it would be best to respond to her criticism with a calm demeanor,' Baker said.

Later that night around 9pm more students were caught on camera destroying the memorial when Isabelle Hotard, president of the Saint Louis University Students for Life chapter approached them and asked: 'Can you guys please not touch these? These aren't your property. I'm cleaning them up anyways, just leave them on the ground.'

The group of about five students drop the red flags on the ground and walk away without interacting.

As the memorial continued to be destroyed, Hotard decided to take the memorial down each night and replace it in the the morning during the three days the student group planned to maintain it. Members of Students for Life sat guard and watched over the memorial on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

The pro-life memorial was destroyed again later that night when Students for Life president Isabelle Hotard arrived to take the controversial memorial down

Hotard described the Catholic university as a 'left-leaning' 'echo-chamber.' The school confirmed they are investigating the destruction of the memorial

Hotard told Fox News that despite being a Catholic university the campus is 'extremely left leaning.'

'It is a bit of an echo chamber on [Saint Louis University's] campus, our entire campus is extremely left leaning, so you just find a lot of people, particularly among the students in positions of authority, who will be far more tolerant of left-leaning beliefs rather than right-leaning beliefs,' Hotard said.

A spokesperson for the university confirmed an investigation into the destruction of the memorial is currently underway. The spokesperson said the school takes 'seriously any alleged violation of our Community Standards, and has policies and processes in place to address concerns when they are reported.'

The school's investigation is underway but administrators told students that the outcome of the case will not be shared.

Abortion is currently legal in Missouri but a highly-controversial law seeking to ban most abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest, has led to a legal battle in the courts.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Missouri Attorney Generals appeal to reinstate an eight-week abortion ban, first passed by the Legislature in 2019, because the case currently being considered by the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Missouri case is one of several abortion battles across the nation as more states introduce restrictive abortion laws following the passage of Senate Bill 8 in Texas.

Senate Bill 8, or the Heartbeat Bill, amounts to a near complete ban on abortion in the state as opponents state that most women are unaware of their pregnancy within the first six weeks, the small time frame women are legally allowed to seek an abortion according to the law.
'Desperate times call for desperate measures.'

That's the quotation that comes to mind after observing the prosecutor's behavior in court during the cross examination of Kyle Rittenhouse.

The 18-year-old is on trial for shooting and killing 2 men and wounding a third during a night of violent riots and protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin following the police shooting of Jacob Blake and in the wake of George Floyd's death.

Why else would the prosecutor intentionally risk committing a 'grave constitutional violation,' according to the judge, and then ignore a court order and inform jurors of evidence that had previously been ruled inadmissible?

'You're right on the borderline and you may be over, and it better stop,' warned Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder (right) to Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger (left)

In the first instance, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger questioned Rittenhouse's constitutional right to remain silent prior to trial, earning him a stinging rebuke from the bench.

'You're right on the borderline and you may be over, and it better stop,' warned Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder, after sending the jury out of the courtroom. 'This is not permitted.'

A short time later in cross examination, Binger referenced a video purportedly filmed weeks before the August 2020 Kenosha killings, allegedly showing Rittenhouse saying he wanted to shoot shoplifters.

It was evidence that the judge had told Binger not to introduce.

The defense team erupted and accused Binger of trying to sabotage the trial.

'He's an experienced attorney and he knows better,' shouted Defense Attorney Mark Richards.

Rittenhouse dramatically broke down on the stand, appearing to sob uncontrollably, when describing the events that led to his shooting and killing of one of two man. (Above: Rittenhouse in Kenosha prior to the August 2020 shootings)

'He was chasing me, I was alone, he threatened to kill me earlier that night,' testified Rittenhouse at trial, 'I didn't want to have to shoot him.' (Above: Rittenhouse on the ground in Kenosha as shots were fired)

In a murder trial focused largely on the issue of justifiable use of force, I understand Binger's desire for jurors to hear that the teen defendant had commented on social media about wishing he had his AR-15 so that he could shoot criminals. However, what he chose to do reeks of desperation and bad faith.

In defying the court order, the prosecutor jeopardized the entire case since the judge may grant the defendant's pending motion for mistrial, with prejudice.

If granted, the trial ends with no opportunity for a retrial. Rittenhouse would walk free.

If the judge doesn't grant the motion for mistrial, I think that the defense would have strong grounds for an appeal, assuming he's ever convicted.

I think the prosecutor knows that an acquittal is likely.

His key witness even admitted under cross-examination that Rittenhouse only shot him after he pointed his gun at the teen. A detail that the witness had neglected to initially tell police.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger (center) makes his way into the courtroom for jury selection at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis, on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021.

Key prosecution witness, Gaige Grosskreutz, admitted that Rittenhouse only shot him after he pointed his gun at the teen. (Above: Grosskreutz demonstrating how he was holding his handgun, when he was shot by Rittenhouse)

So, in desperation, and belief that he has nothing to lose, he blatantly defied a court ruling.

Binger's hopelessness increased as the 18-year-old defendant performed brilliantly on the stand.

He stuck to his position that he reasonably feared death or great bodily harm and had no alternative but to use deadly force.

'He was chasing me, I was alone, he threatened to kill me earlier that night,' testified Rittenhouse, 'I didn't want to have to shoot him.'

The prosecutor's attempt to rattle him proved futile.

At one point, Rittenhouse dramatically broke down on the stand, appearing to sob uncontrollably, when describing the events that led to his shooting and killing of one of two men, who died that night.

The prosecutor knew his case was weak from the start.

Because of that, I think it's fair to question why charges were brought to begin with.

I understand that this is an extremely high-profile case. That means that the prosecutor is under immense pressure with the eyes of the world watching his every move.

Even then-presidential candidate Joe Biden waded into the case, when a campaign video that he tweeted, showed an image of Rittenhouse as the audio referenced 'white supremacists and militia groups.'

Attorneys for Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse (left) have accused Joe Biden of defaming the teenager after he was portrayed as a white supremacist in a video shared by the then-presidential nominee

However, the prosecutor has an obligation to seek the truth.

Prior to trial, the prosecutor would have interviewed all potential witnesses and should have known he cannot prove that the defendant's actions were not in self-defense.

While it would have been a very tough move and likely a very unpopular decision with many, the prosecutor should have announced that his chances of success were extremely low and remote.

I don't think it's too early to wonder whether this trial is a gross waste of taxpayer dollars and precious judicial resources.
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Jason Knauf, the former communications secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Meghan Markle's former communications chief at Kensington Palace came forward with her texts and emails in her privacy case against the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline after he was said to have 'regretted' not giving evidence when she won at the High Court without a trial, the Court of Appeal has been told.

Jason Knauf disclosed bombshell messages that contradict her 'false' claims that a letter sent to her father after the royal wedding was private and that she never co-operated with the writing of the Sussexes' Finding Freedom biography, it was said in court.

Mr Knauf, who now works for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was said to have changed his mind because he had been deprived of the chance to give evidence at a trial after she won a summary judgment earlier this year.

The royal aides decision to intervene emerged at the appeal by the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline against a ruling earlier this year that it unlawfully breached Meghans privacy by publishing extracts from her letter to Thomas Markle.

Meghan told Mr Knauf in texts that she had been meticulous about every word of the letter sent to her estranged father with the 'understanding it could be leaked' and chose to call him 'daddy' to 'pull at the heart strings' if it became public.

Emails from the Duchess of Sussex also raised questions about her 'credibility' and exposed her 'hypocrisy' including briefing two journalists about her half-sister and a private meeting with the Queen before her wedding to Prince Harry about the tiara she wanted to wear, the Court of Appeal was told.

After Mr Knauf's statement was filed to the court, the Duchess of Sussex was forced to apologise, claiming she had 'forgot' her correspondence with Mr Knauf over three months in 2018 and telling judges in a written statement: 'I had absolutely no wish or intention to mislead'.

A written statement by a solicitor representing Associated Newspapers [ANL], released today, said Mr Knauf and other Kensington Palace staff who worked for Meghan had decided to remain 'neutral' during the initial High Court case - but he had then changed his stance after her High Court wins in February and then May.

Keith Mathieson, a partner at Reynolds Porter Chamberlain, said a 'confidential source' told ANL in July that 'Mr Knauf now regretted not providing a witness statement to us'.

He said: 'It did indeed turn out that, since the summary judgment had deprived Mr Knauf of the opportunity to provide evidence at a trial, he now wished to provide a witness statement to the parties so that his evidence could be considered as part of the appeal'.

ANL have appealed and claim the former actress wrote it with 'public consumption in mind'. ANL has also said that new evidence from the Duchess of Sussex's former royal communications chief Jason Knauf (pictured left behind the couple) who now works for Harry's brother Prince William, 'contradicts' the pleadings before the judge when he ruled in her favour earlier this year

Meghan Markle sued Associated Newspapers Limited [ANL] over a series of articles which reproduced parts of the letter she sent to Thomas Markle (pictured together) in August 2018

Andrew Caldecott QC, representing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), said Meghan's father Thomas Markle faced 'nasty and untrue' allegations in an article published by People magazine in the US and there was a public interest in correcting them.

How Meghan gave details of private meeting with the Queen about 'tiara incident' to authors of Finding Freedom The publisher argues that Meghan co-operated with the authors of the book 'Finding Freedom', citing evidence from her former aide Jason Knauf The Duchess of Sussex briefed the authors of Finding Freedom about a private meeting with the Queen and when she started dating Prince Harry, the court heard yesterday. Texts and emails disclosed by Jason Knauf have raised questions about Meghan's 'credibility', Andrew Caldecott QC has said. Mr Caldecott says Mr Knauf claims the Duchess of Sussex emailed him with a 'number of headings she evidently wants to be discussed at the meeting between Mr Knauf and the authors', he said. Her email, which is said to run to two pages, said: 'Please let me know if you want me to fill in any other blanks'. 'Mr Knauf says he had multiple conversations with her about this book at the time', Mr Caldecott said, saying the evidence showed Meghan was 'not shy about giving private information to the authors' and referring to information she gave about her relationship with her half-sister Samantha, which he declined to read aloud. 'There is an element of hypocrisy here', Mr Caldecott said, adding that Meghan also gave details of a private meeting with the Queen about the 'tiara incident', a reference to claims in the media that Meghan reportedly wanted to wear an emerald tiara, but the Queen had selected a diamond tiara that had been worn by her grandmother, Queen Mary, in 1932. The Duchess of Sussex was said to have had her 'heart set' on a tiara containing emeralds but was told she couldn't wear it because the green stones might have come from Russia. A royal insider told the newspaper that the Queen stepped in and told Harry: 'She gets what tiara she's given by me.' Advertisement

Describing the allegations, he said: 'In the teeth of his daughter being always dutiful and supporting him throughout with incredible generosity, first he cold-shouldered her at the wedding, in one of the most important parts of her life.

'He gave a cynical and self-interested response ignoring her pleas for reconciliation in a loving letter.'

He added that the letter to Mr Markle from Meghan was 'not a loving letter, not a generous letter', contrary to how it was presented in the People article.

The barrister continued: 'When we come to the very first allegation about cold-shouldering her at the wedding... this allegation is demonstrably false, we say.'

Mr Caldecott QC said the People magazine article about the Duchess of Sussex 'presents a wholly misleading gloss on the letter' she sent to her father.

He continued: 'Either we believe in freedom of expression or we don't. Thomas Markle has been royally attacked in the People magazine... and this is his reply.

'If you read the People article we don't know to what extent the allegations were authorised by the claimant or not.

'It is perfectly reasonable for Mr Markle to assume that the claimant was responsible'.

It came after the former Suits star's QC claimed that the bombshell messages she sent to Jason Knauf actually helped her case and called on the judges to throw the appeal out.

Her lawyer, Justin Rushbrooke QC, told the court that Meghan's letter was 'private' and had become public without her consent. He said the contents of the texts and emails to Mr Knauf didn't change this.

He said of her texts: 'They show that she regards the letter as confidential. There is no real prospect that the evidence the defendant now relies on show anything other than that she regarded it as a possibility [it would be released]. It can't transform their case. All it shows that is that she acknowledges that it was a possibility that her father could leak the letter. This strengthens her case because it undermines any claim she wanted it released'.

Meghan, who previously insisted she and Prince Harry did not cooperate with the writers of the gushing biography, said she had 'forgotten' providing the aide details of what to reveal 'when you sit down with them' in a series of emails over three months.

It emerged she had emailed Mr Knauf, her then communications secretary who now works for William and Kate, a detailed briefing note on December 10, 2018, including some 'helpful' background 'reminders' about her estranged family and her version of events of a tiara incident involving the Queen.

Mr Rushbrooke said: 'A great song and dance was made of this, but what is striking is how little information information she was willing to give about her father - and there's nothing about the letter. She's simply not prepared to go there. Every single aspect of those points provided were anodyne and already in the public domain.

'The entire case about her working with the authors falls flat. Mr Knauf was paid to deal with media inquiries. They [the Sussexes] were happy to provide him with background information. But nothing at all on the letter. This was the perfect opportunity to share detail - but they didn't'.

Meghan Markle texted a senior royal aide to say she wrote every word of a letter to her father Thomas with the 'understanding it could be leaked' and chose to call him 'daddy' to 'pull at the heart strings' if it became public, the Court of Appeal heard yesterday.

Jason Knauf's bombshell texts and emails with the Duchess of Sussex raise questions about her 'credibility' and expose her 'hypocrisy' including briefing two journalists about her half-sister and a private meeting with the Queen before her wedding to Prince Harry about the tiara she wanted to wear, her privacy trial with the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline was told.

But in her written evidence to the Court of Appeal, also published yesterday, Meghan denied she thought it likely that Thomas Markle would leak the document, but had prepared for the possibility. She said: 'To be clear, I did not want any of it to be published'.

The Sussexes' former Kensington Palace spokesman, who now works for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, also shared emails Prince Harry he sent to him saying his former actress wife was '100% supportive' of briefing the authors of the book Finding Freedom.

Five friends had decided to 'help' by giving interviews anonymously to People magazine, which has 35million readers worldwide. Meghan insists she knew nothing about it

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have repeatedly denied contributing to the book - but emails revealed that Harry told Mr Knauf that briefing the authors would 'help to get some truths out there... especially around the Markle wedding stuff'.

The Duchess of Sussex had shared a draft of the letter with senior aides at Kensington Palace before it was sent shortly after she and Prince Harry got married in May 2018, the court heard.

In one text to Mr Knauf in August 2018, Meghan told him: 'Everything I have drafted is with the understanding it could be leaked, so I have been meticulous in my word choice. But please do let me know if anything stands out for you as a liability'.

She then told him: 'Given I have only ever called him daddy, it may it make sense to open as such despite him being less than paternal. And in the unfortunate event it leaked it would pull at the heart strings. The rest is in the spirit of facts rather than seeming orchestrated or litigious. Simply an appeal for peace and a reminder of what is actually happened'.

In a fourth text she said: 'Trust me - toiled over every detail', to which Mr Knauf replied: 'Leave nothing to chance, that's the only way through this'.

Mr Knauf said in his written evidence: 'She asked a specific question regarding addressing Mr Markle as 'daddy' in the letter, saying 'given I've only ever called him daddy it may make sense to open as such (despite him being less than paternal), and in the unfortunate event that it leaked it would pull at the heartstrings'.'

Mr Knauf said Meghan had 'deliberately ended each page part way through a sentence so that no page could be falsely presented as the end of the letter'.

'In the event that it was leaked she wanted the full narrative as set out in the letter to be understood and shared,' he continued.

He added: 'She said she felt 'fantastic' after writing it and added that 'And if he leaks it then that's on his conscious (sic) but at least the world will know the truth. Words I could never voice publicly'.'

Mr Knauf's evidence also contradicts the duchess's repeated denials that she co-operated with the authors of the controversial biography Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. Their controversial biography unleashed a new wave of revelations about the Sussexes' strained relationship with the Royal Family and Megxit.

Mr Knauf has handed over messages that show Meghan gave him briefing notes in advance of a meeting with authors, including a a number of subjects she would be willing to help them on.

Meghan wrote: 'Given we are being asked to cooperate with this evidently authoritative biography, I need to share. I will not be comfortable doing so if this person is considered an authority and is tweeting the below [reference to a screengrab]. Can we set up a chat? I feel he needs to be back-briefed as soon as possible if there is any conversation about working with them moving forward.'

After Mr Knauf set up the meeting with Scobie and Durand, he emailed Harry to say: 'Morning sir. Please see attached the topic areas Omid and Carolyn want to discuss. Please can you decide if you would like to share these with the Duchess. Let me know what you think. I will see them this week to help them with factual accuracy and context'.

Harry then replied: 'I think definitely share this with the Duchess and make the suggestion to her that you have here. She will be 100% supportive and I totally agree that we have to be able to say we didn't have anything to do with it. Equally you have the right context and background and help to get some truths out there. The truth is very much needed and would be appreciated, especially around the Markle wedding stuff but at the same time we can't put them directly in touch with her friends'.

The Sussexes are pictured in New York in September

Meghan then emailed Mr Knauf with a 'number of headings she evidently wants to be discussed at the meeting between Mr Knauf and the authors', ANL's QC Mr Caldecott said.

Her email, which is said to run to two pages, said: 'Please let me know if you want me to fill in any other blanks'.

'Mr Knauf says he had multiple conversations with her about this book at the time', Mr Caldecott said, saying the evidence showed Meghan was 'not shy about giving private information to the authors' and referring to information she gave about her relationship with her half sister Samantha, which he declined to read aloud.

'There is an element of hypocrisy here', Mr Caldecott said, adding that Meghan also gave details of a private meeting with the Queen about the 'tiara incident', a reference to claims in the media that Meghan reportedly wanted to wear an emerald tiara, but the Queen had selected a diamond tiara that had been worn by her grandmother, Queen Mary, in 1932.

Harry and Meghan 'ignored pleas of senior royals to fly to the US and speak to her father'

Meghan won her claim that the Mail on Sunday breached her privacy by publishing extracts from a letter she sent her estranged father Thomas Markle

Senior royals urged Harry and Meghan to fly to the US to bury the hatchet with Thomas Markle, but they refused, according to a witness statement filed at Court.

Jason Knauf said Meghan decided to write the letter later given to the Mail on Sunday by her estranged father, in part to placate her husband's family.

In his written evidence Mr Knauf said: 'The Duchess sent me a series of text messages on 22 August 2018 about a letter she had decided to write to her father.

'In the messages, she referred to conversations that The Duke was having with other members of his family who seemed to support taking a more direct approach in speaking to Mr Markle and going to visit him. The Duke and Duchess did not support this.

In one message to her aide she said: 'The catalyst for my doing this is seeing how much pain this is causing H' - H is a reference to Harry.

Mr Knauf said: 'This was different to the motivations around possible communication with her father in earlier conversations she had been having with me and senior Royal household staff who were attempting to support her on these issues.

'The Duchess said she was writing the letter in part to allow The Duke to demonstrate to his family that some action was being taken by the couple to stop Mr Markle from continuing to engage with the media. She added that 'while unlikely perhaps it will also give my father a moment to pause'.

Meghan touched on these claims in her own statement. She said: 'Senior members of the family and their advisers expressed their concern over the public attacks, and expressed their desire to have them stopped.

'I was especially sensitive to this as I had very recently married into the family and was eager to please them.

'It is correct that (as I said in my texts to Mr Knauf) the situation was putting significant pressure on my husband (both externally and by his family), and I felt strongly that I needed to do something about it.

'I felt that, even if my attempt to stop my father talking to the media failed, at least my husband would be able to say to his family that I had done everything I could to stop it'.

Meghan says sorry to court: Duchess apologises for not disclosing how she helped her aide brief Finding Freedom authors

Meghan Markle has apologised to the Court of Appeal for failing to disclose discussions helping Jason Knauf to brief the authors of Finding Freedom.

But in her latest witness statement, published yesterday, the Duchess of Sussex insisted she couldn't remember the emails - or find them during her own searches.

The signed document also claims Mr Knauf's emails actually help her case.

She wrote: 'I did not have the benefit of seeing these emails and I apologise to the Court for the fact that I had not remembered these exchanges at the time.

'I had absolutely no wish or intention to mislead the Defendant or the Court. In fact, had I been aware of these exchanges at the time of serving the Re-Amended Reply, I would have been more than happy to refer to them as I feel they strongly support my case'.

She added: 'Not only do I refer to the background information shared with Mr Knauf as 'reminders', as much of it was information that he had already requested of me dating back to 2016 when he had asked me for a timeline relating to my family to enable him to engage with the media on enquiries, It is also a far cry from the very detailed personal information that the Defendant alleges that I wanted or permitted to put into the public domain'.

In her written statement the Duchess of Sussex also insisted she did not think her estranged father would leak a handwritten letter from her 'because it would not put him in a good light'.

In her written evidence to the Court of Appeal, Meghan denied she thought it likely that Thomas Markle would leak the document, but had prepared for the possibility.

She said: 'While we had to recognize that anything was possible in the extraordinary circumstances in which we were living and therefore the need to mitigate against the risks of disclosure of the letter's contents, I did not think that my father would sell or leak the letter, primarily because it would not put him in a good light.'

She later added: 'I had not heard from him since the week leading up to our wedding, but it seemed incredibly unlikely that he would disclose the contents because they contained unpalatable truths and would thereby negate the falsehoods the media had attributed to him.

'The main purpose of the letter was to encourage my father to stop talking to the press.

'To be clear, I did not want any of it to be published, and wanted to ensure that the risk of it being manipulated or misleadingly edited was minimised, were it to be exploited.'

Mr Knauf was communications secretary to both the Cambridges and Sussexes at Kensington Palace when the letter was sent in 2018. He is now head of The Royal Foundation, the Cambridges' main charitable organisation, but is set to leave this post at the end of the year.

The Court of Appeal is being urged to overturn Mr Justice Warby's summary judgment and send the case to a full trial, at which the duchess would be expected to be cross-examined.

Meghan's legal team is opposing the appeal and argues that the High Court judge reached the right conclusions on the evidence before him. It also objects to the introduction of Mr Knauf's new evidence and says that, if the court accepts his statement, Meghan will also wish to put forward new evidence. She has produced a 23-page statement, the court heard.

Her lawyers said her letter to Mr Markle had been 'self-evidently intended to be kept private' and that Mr Justice Warby had 'meticulously assessed the factors' and was 'fully entitled to reach the conclusions that he did'. The case continues until Thursday, with a decision expected at a later date.

'If you aren't planning on telling them, can I?': Prince Harry asked aide if he could brief Finding Freedom authors

Prince Harry asked Jason Knauf if he could personally brief the authors of Finding Freedom, according to a witness statement filed at Court.

According to Mr Knauf's statement, the Duke of Sussex emailed him with pointers ahead of a two-hour meeting with authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand.

He said: 'Are u planning on giving them a rough idea of what she's been through over the last 2yrs? Media onslaught, cyber bullying on a different scale, puppeteering Thomas Markle etc etc etc. Even if they choose not to use it, they should hear what it was like from someone who was in the thick of it. So if you aren't planning on telling them, can I ?!'

Mr Knauf said he replied by saying 'Of course  I've never stopped!' to which Harry replied: 'Oh how I hope they report on it properly. Good luck!'
A devastated mother has blamed 'overworked. tearful, squabbling' hospital staff after her baby suffered a stroke that has left her with suspected cerebral palsy.

Emma Dixon, 29, began suffering agonising stomach cramps 34 weeks into her pregnancy due to pre-eclampsia, which she claims doctors missed.

She says that, as a result, her 6lb 11oz daughter suffered a stroke before she was delivered at 36 weeks.

Baby Isabelle has been left with developmental problems and suspected cerebral palsy, which her mother believes could have been prevented.

Ms Dixon said she repeatedly told hospital staff at Worcestershire Royal Hospital that she feared she had pre-eclampsia, from which she has suffered during previous pregnancies, but claims to have been ignored.

Now she had said hospital staff were so exhausted that some burst into tears during their shifts.

Emma Dixon and daughter Isabelle. Ms Dixon has criticised 'overworked, tearful, squabbling' staff at Worcestershire Royal Hospital

Baby Isabelle, who is now three months, suffered a stroke which has left her with suspected cerebral palsy

The mother also claims staff were openly arguing in front of patients.

She said: 'My paediatrician believed Isabelle suffered a stroke in the womb.

'She said to me that if I had been induced the minute that it was found I had pre-eclampsia, life would be so much different.

'Isabelle is three-months-old. She doesnt hold her head up, shes like a new-born baby.

'Shes got a huge development delay and shes actually being tested for cerebral palsy now.

'My daughter could suffer from issues for the rest of her life because of the lack of care in that hospital.'

Ms Dixon, from Redditch, Worcestershire, was initially rushed to hospital in July after suffering stomach pain, fearing it was pre-eclampsia - a condition potentially fatal to both mother and baby.

She added: 'You can tell that there is a problem at the hospital. There were midwives there shouting and crying. I was told I had pre-eclampsia, only then to be told, "you havent got it".

'I was being passed from pillar to post by overworked staff who were all squabbling with each other.

'I asked what was going on. I was told I definitely had pre-eclampsia. The nurse had to argue with consultants that I had in fact been diagnosed with it.

'Other women on the ward were witness to this too - it is just not fair that in my time of need all I could hear was arguing over whether I had a serious condition.

'I was kept in for five days. The pain was excruciating.'

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has issued an apology saying Ms Dixon's care fell below its standards

Ms Dixon said her blood pressure was 'off the scale' before she was told she was not suffering from pre-eclampsia.

She described the care she received at the hospital as 'horrendous', adding that she was 'waiting for someone to die' on the ward.

The mother said: 'I thought "this is how I die" - I will die trying to have my last baby and all my kids are going to be without a mum.

'I couldnt sleep, walk or eat. And all I heard midwives and consultants arguing. It wasnt nice at all.

'The midwives were trying to stick up their patients and the consultants were batting them down.'

Ms Dixon was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her hospital stay and was shocked to find she had been served foods high in sugar.

The mother, who has four other children with partner Nick Gardner, 29, a postman, added: 'The food was horrific, all I was offered was sugar, chocolate, potato and bread - a big no for those on diabetes.'

She also claims '90 per cent' of her care was done by inexperienced student midwives.

Ms Dixon recalled buzzing for help due to excruciating back pain, which was followed by a student saying he would get her a doctor.

However, she claims she was simply told to 'drink more water'.

Since giving birth to Isabelle, Ms Dixon says her daughter is still unable to hold her head up and has been tested for cerebral palsy.

She has now lodged a complaint with Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which has issued an apology.

Justine Jeffery, Director of Midwifery at the hospital trust, said: 'While we would not comment in detail on a patients case, we have looked into the concerns that Ms Watson has raised with us, and written back to her with a comprehensive and detailed response.

'We set ourselves high standards of patient care and have apologised to her for any part of her experience which fell below this, and we have also tried to provide reassurance and clarification regarding the treatment she received.

'An opportunity to meet with one of our obstetric consultants to discuss her care and experience face to face has also been offered.'
A South Carolina preacher gave a live sermon as he filmed his house burning on Sunday, reminding his followers that 'God is good.'

'Apostle' Sammy Smith, 64, founder of the Grace Cathedral Ministries in Piedmont, South Carolina, live-streamed his burning home on Facebook on November 7 saying he never lost faith - just his razor.

Despite watching flames engulf his house, the chipper preacher still said 'I'm doing church this morning. I can't shave, I thought I could shave. Looks like I might not be able to shave much this morning.

'But I just wanted everyone to know that God is good. He is blessing us. Everything gonna be alright. I always say He will make a way and sometimes we don't understand and as I've been saying recently, God might not put the blessing in your hand, but in your reach.'

'Apostle' Sammy Smith, 64, live-streamed his burning house on Facebook on November 7

The preacher watched as his beautiful house in Piedmont, South Carolina, became engulfed in flames. Smith reminded his followers that 'God is good' and 'everything gonna be alright'

Sammy suspected the fire at his house started due to a heating device or electronics. It started in an upstairs bedroom and appeared to be contained to the top floor. No one was hurt and the whole family made it out of the house

Smith shared the video to his Facebook page showing the large, dark plumes of smoke billowing from the top of his house as flames engulf the top floor.

His two neighbors used their lawn hoses to spray water on the upstairs windows where the fire started until the Simpsonville Fire Department arrived with a much bigger and more powerful hose.

Even after the fire department arrived, his valiant neighbors still helped spray the house down. Other neighbors also joined the preacher in his front yard to offer support.

'My house is on fire,' the preacher is heard saying several times in the video. 'Right now, it's upstairs. I hope it don't get downstairs. My house is on fire.'

God is good. He is blessing us. Everything gonna be alright. I always say He will make a way and sometimes we don't understand and as I've been saying recently, God might not put the blessing in your hand, but in your reach.

The 64-year-old preacher admitted in a later Facebook live that he has 'never seen a house burn.'

'The house is probably pretty much destroyed,' he said. 'But God got us out. And, you know, God's will always has to be done. Sometimes we don't understand His will.'

Although the cause of the fire remains unclear, Sammy suspected it was due to a heating unit or electronics, he told WYFF.

His daughter and godson, whose bedrooms are upstairs, lost all their belongings, but no one was injured in the fire.

The 'apostle' also thanked his community for their support.

'They were bringing up donations and putting them in my hand, And I felt their love. And I when I felt their love I became a crybaby,' Smith said.

His valiant neighbors (pictured) helped contain the fire as much as they could with their lawn hoses until Simpsonville Fire Department arrived

The fire department arrived shortly after the preacher began filming the video and with the help of the neighbors, the team of three was able to get the fire put out

Although it appears Smith's home suffered little structurally on the outside, the upstairs was charred black and the windows were blown out

'And it was something not about the house, not about any of that stuff not about the clothes that were lost, not about the stuff - their love moved me.'

A few days after the fire, a Bible study group at the church celebrated that no lives were lost.

'Knowing that God had saved their lives, preserved their lives that was what was important to us as a church family - for us to still have them here,' church member Thomas Bell said.

'We could be mourning now, but instead of mourning we can rejoice because we know God saved he preserved.'

The church's Facebook page also went live to show the damages to Sammy's home.

It is unclear who shot the video for Grace Cathedral.

The five-and-a-half-minute video shows the charred middle peak of the mostly brick house. The roof all around the home show black debris and grit on the outside siding near it, and the upstairs middle window was blown out in the fire.

The house remains standing and structurally suffered little damaged from the outside.

The preacher is the founder of the Grace Cathedral Ministries and preaches at the Upstate location
An Afghan refugee who fled Kabul after the Taliban takeover was forced to give birth in a hotel room without a doctor present, as campaigners have raised concerns over the lack of medical care for evacuees.

Melanie Clark, an RAF veteran who works as a nurse, delivered the baby of an Afghan refugee when she arrived at a London hotel to hand out supplies because an ambulance did not arrive in time for the birth.

Ms Clark had been setting up a donations with fellow veteran Matt Simmons as part of Ems4Afghans, a community organisation from Emsworth, Hampshire, when her colleague told her that a pregnant woman was in pain.

She explained: 'We went up to the room, I thought I would be maybe reassuring someone and making sure an ambulance was on its way.'

Campaigners have raised concerns about the medical care of refugees who fled Kabul, with aid charities claiming they are 'living in limbo' as they shed light on the 'cold reality' of the delays faced by many families evacuated to the UK.

Nurse Melanie Clark delivered the baby (both pictured) of an Afghan refugee when she arrived at a London hotel to hand out supplies because an ambulance did not arrive in time

Ms Clark, who works at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, West Sussex, said neither the expectant mother or her husband spoke much English, but another volunteer was able to translate.

Questions had to be relayed from the ambulance control room to Ms Clark and her colleague and then translated for the husband and wife, and vice versa.

Questions and answers had to be relayed from the ambulance control room to Ms Clark and her colleague and then translated for the husband and wife, and back again.

At some point, Ms Clark said, it became clear that paramedics would not arrive in time and that she would be delivering the baby - for the first time in her life.

She explained: 'I am a nurse but midwifery didn't come in our nurse training. Before the baby arrived, before its head came out, it was scary.

'It was scary and nerve-wracking about whether this was going to turn out OK.'

Without knowing the mother's medical history, Ms Clark was conscious that there could be issues she was not aware of.

Thankfully, the baby boy - the mother's sixth child - was born healthily, safety and swiftly, 20 minutes later and was wrapped up in hotel towels after the delivery.

Campaigners have raised concerns about the medical care of the refugees who fled Kabul. Pictured: Afghan refugees arrive at Heathrow Airport on August 26

Almost three months after the airlift, the Home Office said the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is 'not yet open'. Pictured: Afghan refugees at Heathrow on August 26

Ms Clark, who served in Iraq with the RAF, said it raises questions about the level of medical care available for refugees in the UK.

She said: 'They are registered with a GP but the level of support they have had and the knowledge of their pregnancies is very, very limited.

'I just thought, I am sure it will happen again.'

She said that more needs to be done to help the refugees who were evacuated from Afghanistan this summer after the Taliban seized control of the country following the withdrawal of US and UK troops.

She continued: 'We can't just stand by... just bringing them into this country is not enough because they are traumatised and they need some kind of future... they need to know what's happening next.

'I went to Iraq. I have seen the difficulties people face and the effects of war on people.'

Volunteer groups have sprung up in the weeks since the huge evacuation effort, providing food and clothing to refugees while they wait for the system to find them a home.

Almost three months on from the airlift, the Home Office said the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) is 'not yet open' and that more information will be provided in due course.

Louise Calvey, head of services and safeguarding at the charity Refugee Action, said people brought to the UK during the Kabul airlift were 'living in limbo'.

She added: 'We'd like to offer our congratulations to the family. We hope they can build safe and happy lives in the UK.

'But it's appalling that three months after the evacuation of Kabul thousands of Afghan refugees are still living in limbo in hotels with no settled access to employment, healthcare or education.

Ms Clark said more needs to be done to help the 8,000 refugees who were evacuated from Afghanistan this summer. Pictured: An Afghan refugee arrives at Heathrow on August 26

Thousands of Afghans fled Kabul in August after the Taliban took control of the country. Pictured: UK and US military engage in the evacuation in Kabul as part of Operation Pitting

The UK has evacuated more than 15,000 people from Afghanistan since August 13. Pictured: Evacuees boarding a C-17 Globemaster III during an evacuation at Kabul on August 18

'Rather than the warm welcome people were promised, they're seeing the cold reality of our refugee protection system.

'Ministers must move quicker to get people out of hotels and integrated into our communities, where they can start to properly rebuild their lives.'

The UK has already evacuated more than 15,000 people from Afghanistan since August 13, including 8,000 Afghans who had worked with UK armed forces.

But more than 7,000 Afghan refugees remain in hotel rooms and have not been given guidance about when their permanent homes will arrive, the Guardian reported.

Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, told the publication that finding long-term accommodation for the evacuees should be possible.

Mr Solomon said half of the UK's 343 local authorities could offer housing for 60 people, adding: 'That's just 12 homes each  that should be doable, shouldn't it?'

Plans for the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) were announced in August shortly after Taliban forces took control of the country's capital city Kabul.

The scheme is set to prioritise those who have assisted the UK efforts in Afghanistan and stood up for values such as democracy, women's rights, freedom of speech, and the rule of law.

It will also focus on evacuating vulnerable people, including women, girls and members of minority groups at risk.

But, almost three months on, the Home Office said the scheme is 'not yet open' and that more information will be provided in due course.

The ACRS is separate to the existing Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap), which is already operating and offers priority relocation to the UK for current or former locally employed staff who have been assessed to be under serious threat to life.





Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: 'The situation in Afghanistan remains extremely dangerous with many people at risk of persecution.

Afghan citizens granted refuge by Britain disembark an RAF C-17 transport plane in Dubai on August 19, before boarding a civilian transport plane to take them to the UK

Volunteer groups including Ems4Afghans have sprung up since the huge evacuation effort, providing food and clothing to refugees while they wait for the system to find them a home

In this handout photo provided by the Ministry of Defence, UK military personnel climb onboard a A400M aircraft departing Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 28

'We are dismayed this government has still not formally opened the Afghan Citizens' Resettlement Scheme, months after it committed to this vital lifeline for thousands in grave danger.

'The government needs to provide urgent clarification on when we can expect the scheme to open.'

Louise Calvey, head of services and safeguarding at Refugee Action, said: 'It's indefensible that ministers are still dawdling over the details of its Afghan resettlement scheme, three months after the fall of Kabul.'

In August, Home Secretary Priti Patel defended the plans for the scheme after the Government was accused of not moving quickly enough when it confirmed it would take up to 20,000 refugees, with as many as 5,000 in the first year.

At the time, Ms Patel insisted the Government was working 'quickly' but that it would 'take time' to get the scheme up and running and it would not be 'straight forward'.

It is understood the Government hopes to open the scheme by the end of the year.

Thousands of Afghans fled Kabul in August after the Taliban - a hard-line Islamist group - took control of the country following the withdrawal of US and other Western forces in the war-torn country.

The UK evacuated many of those looking to flee the country on planes in the Kabul Airlift, that saw planes fly people out between August 15 and August 30.

They left behind hundreds of citizens and Afghan allies desperate to flee the country in the hands of the Taliban.

The UK helped fly some 15,000 people to safety but stories emerged of interpreters who helped the armed forces over the last 20 years left stranded.

It is not known precisely how many people who were promised sanctuary in the UK were left behind.
Footage released by the ministry purports to show the plane soaring above the Black Sea while being followed by the Su-30

The statement said the plane was forced to divert by a Russian Su-30 fighter

The Moscow Defence Ministry announced that a British RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft 'tried to approach the state border of the Russian Federation' in Crimea

Russia claimed today that one of its fighter jets chases away a British spy plane which was approaching annexed Crimea.

The Moscow Defence Ministry announced that a British RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft 'tried to approach the state border of the Russian Federation in southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula,' before it was forced to divert by a Russian Su-30 fighter.

Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the ministry, said: 'About 19 miles from the Russian Federation state border, the Su-30 approached the reconnaissance aircraft, after which the British plane changed course away from the Russian border.'

Footage released this morning purports to show the incident in which the RAF Boeing aircraft was intercepted over the Black Sea south of the Crimea peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

It comes after the Kremlin had warned that the West was 'playing with fire' and vowed to bomb any warships that sail too close to the Crimea when British destroyer HMS Defender engaged in a dramatic stand-off with Russian vessels in the Black Sea in June.

Western nations, including the US, maintain that Crimea is occupied Ukrainian territory - an assertion that continues to be a point of geopolitical tension.

The MOD has been contacted for comment.

The British spy plane can be seen at the top of this image taken from the on-board camera of the Russian Su-30 fighter jet

The Russian Ministry of Defence said the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft 'tried to approach the state border of the Russian Federation in southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula' over the Black Sea before it was intercepted

Major General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for the ministry, said the incident took place 'about 19 miles from the Russian Federation state border'

The Ministry also declared it had observed an 'increase in the military activity of the United States and its NATO allies in the Black Sea region.

The ministry described the unscheduled drills as 'aggressive US actions posing a threat to regional security and strategic stability.'

In 24 hours, four NATO reconnaissance planes were detected and escorted by the Russian anti-aircraft missile forces, the ministry noted.

Earlier this year, Moscow boasted that a Su-24 dropped four bombs in the path of HMS Defender and fired warning shots from a patrol ship after the British vessel was ordered to change course for sailing too close to Crimean shores.

The Royal Navy meanwhile insisted the 'freedom of navigation patrol' took it through international waters, and that Russia is trying to illegally claim ocean beyond its 12-mile territorial waters.

The MOD later claimed that no warning shots had been fired by Russian vessels.

The UK's cabinet minister George Eustice told Sky News: 'Under international law you can take the closest, fastest route from one point to another. HMS Defender was passing through Ukrainian waters, I think on the way to Georgia, and that was the logical route for it to take.

'This is a very normal thing, it's quite common actually. What was actually going on is the Russians were doing a gunnery exercise, they had given prior notice of that, they often do in that area.

'So, I think it's important people don't get carried away.'

The stand-off was the first time since the Cold War that Moscow said it had used live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting the growing risk of military incidents amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West.

Many Western countries do not accept Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea by military force as being legitimate in law.

The interception of the spy plane (pictured) comes after the Kremlin had warned that the West was 'playing with fire' and vowed to bomb any warships that sail too close to the Crimea when British destroyer HMS Defender engaged in a dramatic stand-off with Russian vessels in the Black Sea in June

Moscow said a Su-24 dropped four bombs in the path of Britain's HMS Defender (pictured) earlier this year after warning shots were fired when the vessel sailed close to Crimean shores

Russia released footage filmed from one of its Su-24M attack jets which purportedly showed HMS Defender sailing off Crimea - but not the moment it alleges shots were fired and four bombs were dropped. Britain meanwhile maintained that said no such warning shots were fired

Then in October, a several US aircraft were buzzed by Russian fighter jets in another tense encounter over the Black Sea after the Kremlin announced Russian radar had detected 'air targets approaching Russia's state border'.

The incident, of which footage was released by the Kremlin's defence ministry, appeared to show two US B-1B bombers and two KC-135 tanker planes that were refuelling them mid-air.

Russia said its planes 'turned away' the American aircraft from their border, before returning safely to base.

That encounter came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a huge set of war games around Crimea, involving simulated beach landings and bombing drills using jets.
An eight-day-old baby was killed in an early morning pit bull attack that took place inside a North Carolina home Wednesday.

The female dog was seized by Johnston County Animal Control and will be euthanized after a 72-hour hold.

Kenly Police Chief Josh Gibson called the death an accident and issued his condolences to the infant's family.

'First and foremost, we offer our sincere condolences to the family and their friends during this difficult time,' Chief Gibson told the Johnston County Report.

It remains unclear at this time if anyone will be held accountable for the attack.

An eight-day-old baby was killed in a pit bull attack inside this home in the 200 block of N. Church Street around 5am Wednesday

The female dog was seized by Johnston County Animal Control and will be euthanized after a 72-hour hold

Kenly Police Chief Josh Gibson (pictured) called the death an accident and issued his condolences to the infant's family

Authorities responded to the 200 block of N. Church Street around 5am Wednesday after the infant was attacked inside the home.

The residents declined to speak about the incident to local media and the Kenly Police Department did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

However, neighborhood resident Michael Street, describing to incident to WRAL, said: 'It is pretty painful to a young baby, the baby had no defense for itself.'

The fire department first responders, paramedics, police and the 911 dispatchers who responded to the attack have been offered counseling services in wake of the tragic incident.

Unfortunately, dog attacks have become quite prevalent in North Carolina.

Neighborhood resident Michael Street said: 'It is pretty painful to a young baby, the baby had no defense for itself'

In May, 10-month-old Malia Scott Winberry, of Johnston County, was attacked and killed by two family Rottweilers while her father had briefly stepped outside.

In September, 7-year-old Jayden Henderson, of Garner - also in Johnston County - was attacked and killed by two pit bulls belonging to a neighbor.

Authorities say they have seen a recent increase in the number of reported dog bites in the state.

In June and July, the city of Raleigh alone reported 65 bites which is more than any time period since January 2019.

Orange County has reported 83 dog bites this year.

In May, 10-month-old Malia Scott Winberry, of Johnston County, was attacked and killed by two family Rottweilers while her father had briefly stepped outside

In September, 7-year-old Jayden Henderson, of Garner - also in Johnston County - was attacked and killed by two pit bulls belonging to a neighbor

Nationally, in the 16-year period of 2005 through 2020, 568 Americans have been killed in canine attacks, DogBites.org reported.

Pit bulls contributed to 67 percent of deaths.

During the same period, 72 infants were killed in dog attacks nationwide.

Pit bulls reportedly accounted for 49 percent of deaths, followed by huskies, Rottweilers and German shepherds at 13, 10 and 8 percent respectively.
The body of a deceased elderly woman who died in 2018 was dismembered and buried in the backyard of her Las Vegas home by at least two squatters who sold her car and lived off her wealth before being caught by police this spring, authorities said.

Lucille Payne, 82, passed away while sitting in a chair and remained there for three years inside her $435,000 Northwest Valley home before squatters mutilated her mummified body and dug up a shallow grave to bury her, according to police.

'After finding her, the decision was made between several people that they were going to dismember her body and bury her and then basically drain her finances and sell off her belongings, fraudulently,' Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Ray Spencer said.

Payne's death had initially been ruled a homicide by blunt force trauma after investigators received a tip about two people seen digging, and authorities later found her body buried at the Shore Breeze Drive home in April.

Further investigation concluded the cause of Payne's death was 'undetermined,' Metro Police said.

Payne had no close relatives and had set her bills to autopay, which partly explains why her death went unnoticed for so long.

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Lucille Payne, 82, was found buried in pieces in a shallow grave at her Las Vegas home

Police arrived at the property after receiving a tip about two people - believed to be squatters who lived off her wealth - seen digging on premises. The shallow grave is pictured

'The plastic, it was a blue plastic. But it was small. It was not a full body, I don't think,' Laurence, a neighbor of Payne, said after police removed the body from the grave

The squatters - whose names have yet to be released and who are not currently under arrest - will likely be charged for selling Payne's valuables and for improper burial.

After receiving a tip of two people digging outside the address, police went to Payne's property and quickly noticed the shallow grave with her remains.

'She was not buried very deeply, and an officer started to move the dirt and found her arm inside a very shallow grave in the backyard,' Spencer said.

Payne had purchased the property near Lake Mead and Rampart boulevards in 1999, the 8 News Now I-team reported.

Neighbors of Payne told 8 News Now in April that they had not seen her and the house appeared vacant for a long time before the gruesome discovery.

'The plastic, it was a blue plastic. But it was small. It was not a full body, I don't think,' Laurence, a neighbor of Payne's who only gave her first name, told the outlet after police removed the body from the grave.

Police believe Payne died in the summer of 2018 but have not released details surrounding her death.

'There's been so much work to do to make sure we uncovered every potential possibility that had occurred,' Spencer said.

Metro Police have not indicated that they'll pursue a homicide investigation and would be charging the squatters - who have yet to be identified - for selling Payne's valuables and for improper burial

'After finding her, the decision was made between several people that they were going to dismember her body and bury her and then basically drain her finances and sell off her belongings, fraudulently,' Metro Lt. Ray Spencer said

Metro Police have not indicated that they'll pursue a homicide investigation, despite initially telling the public that Payne's death had been caused by blunt force trauma and sharp force injuries before retracting this week.

DailyMail.com reached out to the police department for comment.

A lawyer for her estate will now be in charge of selling the home.
Seattle has become so dangerous that the city can no longer protect its own employees, with security guards now escorting them after they finish work.

King County's new 'walking bus' will debut on November 15, and see council workers based in Downtown Seattle and nearby Pioneer Square escorted to a nearby train station and ferry terminal each evening before being left to continue their commute home.

An announcement on King County's official website says: 'King County is launching a 'Walking Bus' pilot program where county employees can join their colleagues and a Facilities Management Division (FMD) Security Escort each evening walking to the King Street Station and the Coleman Dock from the downtown campus.'

No provision has been made for private sector workers also based in the same area.

The walking bus announcement also makes no mention of spiraling crime in the Pacific Northwest county, which has seen a recent 35 per cent spike in shootings this year compared to last, and a 76 per cent increase compared to 2019. So far in 2021, 73 people have been killed and another 283 have been injured by shootings in the county.

But the danger the county fears its workers are in is further underlined at the bottom of the announcement.

It states: 'The Walking Bus pilot program is in addition to security escorts offered by FMD Security Officers, who can escort you for several blocks from the building you work in, from downtown buildings to Goat Hill Garage or immediate vicinity bus stops.'

King County staff will now have an extra layer of protection on their commute home from security guards with the Facilities Management Division. Any city workers employed outside of King County or private sector workers in the area will still be left to fend for themselves on their commutes home

It is unclear how the guards have been instructed to defend themselves and city workers in the event of an attack.

King County security staff are issued pepper spray and bulletproof vests as standard, having had batons and handcuffs they were once permitted to carry removed several years ago.

News of the walking bus hit the headlines a day after the Seattle City Council announced it was cutting $10 million from the city police department's $400m budget.

That has outraged both pro-police advocates and defund the police campaigners, after the city vowed to hack 50 per cent off its policing budget in the immediate aftermath of George Floyd's murder.

Meanwhile, the city's former top police officer Carmen Best - the first black woman to hold the job - said the push to defund cops is losing steam, even in the woke Washington city that was home to the infamous 'CHAZ' cop-free zone in summer 2020.

This map shows where the walking bus starts off - King County Courthouse - and the two different spots people who use it can be dropped off at by security guards

Best resigned in September 2020 after the City Council slashed the department by 100 officers following pressure from Black Lives Matter protests.

Since then, she said, most people have wanted to see a greater police presence throughout the city  especially after a summer of violent crime that saw shootings in Seattle spike by 35% since the previous year.

Speaking with Fox News, she said, 'You don't hear it as much about defunding the police department. Because people want safety. It doesn't matter what race they are, they want to be able to call 911 and know if they're a victim of a crime that someone is going to show up and try to resolve it.'

King County employees will now have security guards escort them to their cars or public transportation hubs each evening after work amid a spike in crime. The move comes as Seattle's former police chief Carmen Best said that residents are eager to see more cops on the streets

Best resigned in September 2020 after the City Council slashed the department by 100 officers following pressure from Black Lives Matter protests

Unlike Seattle police, however, security guards with the county's Facilities Management Division are only allowed to carry pepper spray and wear a bulletproof vest while on patrol. Police above are patrolling during a Black Lives Matter protest in summer 2020

The Seattle City Council slashed the department by 100 officers following pressure from Black Lives Matter protests last summer. Above, police are patrolling a protest at the time

The Walking Bus program is one of the steps local officials have taken to approach the city's spike in crime, though Best said that moves to reduce police enforcement have far outweighed measures to boost public safety.

When she resigned from her post over a year ago, she said that the city council's budget cuts had left in a 'position destined to fail.' The city cut 100 positions at the time and the force has since lost 250 more, 100 of which were due to a Covid-19 vaccine mandate that forced employees to leave their jobs if they didn't have the jab by October 18.

The city also slashed her salary, which she told Fox News was 'attack on me personally because I was disagreeing with the policies that they were putting out about defunding the department; laying off officers so arbitrarily.'

She added, however, 'that's not the reason I ultimately left. It was that I just couldn't stay there in an organization where they were going to strip so many officers of their jobs.'

Best said that she values the important of recognizing issues in policing and learning from past 'transgressions' that spurred the Black Lives Matter movement, like the killing of George Floyd in May 2020. However, she said that taking officers off the streets is not the answer.

In one of the most recent crimes to shake the city, a hair salon in Seattle was robbed at gunpoint by three men wearing masks from the horror film Scream

She said, 'Of course, you need to work out some of the issues and make sure they're a fair and just response for everybody, but people do want a police response. So I think now we're looking at how we can utilize other services to augment maybe some of the issues that are happening  but certainly not defunding the police department.'

She added, 'Of course we need our cops. But we can acknowledge the transgressions in the past and past history because acknowledging it is part of the step moving forward. We know that wrongs happened and now it's time to look at policies and procedures and practices to help us to make sure that we have fair and just practices for everybody and having more people who represent the communities that we're serving engaged and involved in policing.'

Shootings are up in Seattle by 35% this year to date  as opposed to 10% in Chicago, 18% in Atlanta and 22% in Los Angeles, according to Fox News.

In one of the most recent crimes to shake the city, a hair salon in Seattle was robbed at gunpoint by three men wearing masks from the horror film Scream.

Security footage, captured in the store in the Rainier Valley, showed the masked individuals entering the store at around 6.30pm on October 17. Janny Lam, the daughter of the store's owner, said that money, car keys and wallets were all stolen in the raid - but that nobody was injured.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan issued an executive order last month offering $25,000 hiring bonuses for 911 dispatchers and police in an attempt to entice more recruits amid the loss of 350 officers

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, who did not seek reelection and is being replaced by moderate Mayor-elect Bruce Harrell, issued an executive order last month offering $25,000 hiring bonuses for 911 dispatchers and police in an attempt to entice more recruits amid the loss of 350 officers.

But the union representing 1,300 police officers and sergeants said the move is too little, too late, particularly after Durkan sided with demands from activists and city lawmakers to defund the police.

The police union head accused Durkan of 'politically betraying' the police force by siding with those who called to defund the department after the death of George Floyd last year.

'The result of this betrayal has caused 350 police officers to flee Seattle since the riots,' Mike Solan said.

'Many of these former police employees left for lower paying agencies just to escape Seattle's toxic political climate. We also have another 100 officers now off the street due to the Mayor's COVID-19 vaccination mandate and another 130 officers currently unavailable for service who are out on extended leave,' Solan said in a statement.

'When totaled, that is just under half the department gone/unavailable in almost two years. Seattle's current police staffing crisis was caused by our current politicians and sadly it all could've been avoided. This political betrayal will forever be their legacy.'

Police officers were particularly incensed by Durkan's handling of the so-called 'CHOP/CHAZ' - the 'autonomous zone' set up by Black Lives Matter protesters after the ransacking of one of the Seattle Police Department's precincts downtown last year

Police officers were particularly incensed by Durkan's handling of the so-called 'CHOP/CHAZ' - the 'autonomous zone' set up by Black Lives Matter protesters after the ransacking of one of the Seattle Police Department's precincts downtown.

The mayor referred to the events of last year as a 'summer of love' - a comment that did not sit well with police officers who felt under siege from the prevailing political climate. The autonomous zone was eventually cleared after a series of shootings in the area.

Durkan's 'civil emergency order' acknowledges 'emergent staffing shortages' affecting the Seattle Police Department.

The order states that the city is 'experiencing a year-to-date 35 percent increase' in shots fired incidents and a 76 percent jump in shots fired incidents compared to 2019.

There has also been a 29% increase in the number of non-fatal shootings this year compared to last year, according to the mayor.

According to the mayor, the SPD's current level of deployable police officers stands at 1,015 - down from 1,325 in 2019. She said the staffing shortages have caused response times to increase.

The staffing shortage is so acute that the SPD is sending detectives and non-patrol officers to respond to emergency calls.

The union president said he 'would like to suggest to our current and soon to be newly elected politicians that if you want to hire new and lateral police officers, we suggest you also take care of your current officers.'

'These officers worked during the pandemic, are feeling the impacts of dangerous staffing levels and are without a union contract.

'SPOG is looking forward to working with our new mayor and the current/new city council members to remedy our city's issues.

'Seattle deserves public safety, and is worth saving.'
Police say this man could have information relevant to their investigation

Police are attempting to track down a thief who stole a 40,000 bassoon accidentally left behind on a train by a professional musician.

A fellow passenger lifted the highly prized instrument after the owner, Stuart Russell, mistakenly left the carriage without taking it with him.

British Transport Police have released images of a man they want to question regarding the theft of the woodwind piece on the Lewes to Brighton service in East Sussex on October 19.

Mr Russell had placed the classical instrument in the overhead luggage compartment but he forgot to retrieve it when he left the train at Brighton just after 2pm.

As he walked away, he realised his mistake and rushed back to the platform but the train had already departed back to Lewes, police said.

Another passenger, who noticed it had been left behind, lifted the bassoon and got off at Southwick, West Sussex.

Mr Russell posted on Instagram: 'The bassoon is an unusual instrument. It is a custom-made professional gentleman model bassoon made by Ben Bell (Canada) in 2013.

'[It has] serial number 116 and is stamped 'made In Canada' on the joints.

'It was in a gentleman's model black Bonna backpack case containing Vonk leg rest attachment, 2 crooks and two reed cases and other bassoon accessories.

'This is a precious and personal instrument to me. Any knowledge of its whereabouts please contact me.'

Owner Stuart Russell has shared images of the highly prized classical instrument on Instagram in an effort to track it down

Police want to interview this man, who they believe could hold vital clues to their investigation

CCTV images taken from the train were released yesterday by the British Transport Police as part of their investigation.

Officers believe the man in the pictures may have information that could assist with the investigation.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: 'Officers investigating the theft of a bassoon, worth up to 40,000, on a service from Lewes to Brighton are releasing CCTV images in connection.

'On Tuesday, October 19, a man boarded the 2.04pm service from Lewes to Brighton and placed his bassoon in the overhead luggage hold.

'As he alighted the train, he left the instrument behind and the train had departed when he returned to the platform.

'Further enquiries show that the instrument was stolen by another passenger who then boarded a service towards Hastings and alighted at Southwick station.

'Officers believe the man in the CCTV images may have information which could help their investigation.'

A fellow passenger lifted the highly prized instrument after the owner, Stuart Russell (pictured) mistakenly left the carriage without taking it with him

Anyone who recognises the man or has information about the incident can contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 405040 - quoting reference 2100079515. Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
The January 6th committee wants to talk to at least five members of Vice President Mike Pence's inner circle.

CNN reported Wednesday evening that those close to Pence may be willing to talk voluntarily or with the push of a 'friendly subpoena,' to provide information on how former President Donald Trump pressured his VP to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Sources told CNN that Pence aides have been more forthcoming with information than was previously reported.

The January 6th committee wants to talk to at least five members of Vice President Mike Pence's inner circle. Pence is photographed certifying the results of the election after the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021

Pence is seen being evacuated from the Capitol Building on January 6th. Video of the vice president being rushed out was shared during Trump's Senate impeachment trial in February

On Tuesday, Pence's national security adviser Keith Kellogg was subpoenaed alongside former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller.

Kellogg's testimony was requested because he reportedly participated in a January 2021 meeting with Trump and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone in which the now ex-president pushed Pence not to certify the election.

On January 6, the vice president chairs the joint session of Congress where the electoral college votes are counted.

Kellogg was at the White House on January 6, Congressional investigators said, and watched the president's reaction to the Capitol attack.

He met with Trump before the president's appearance at the 'stop the steal' rally and then afterward he encouraged Trump to send out a tweet to supporters to help control the crowd.

CNN reported that other Pence staffers that committee is interested in include Pence's former chiefs of staff Marc Short and Nick Ayers, chief counsel Greg Jacob, legislative affairs director Chris Hodgson, political adviser Marty Obst and special assistant Zach Bauer.

Keith Kellogg (right), seen shaking hands with the former president at Mar-a-Lago in 2017, served as Pence's national security adviser and was subpoenaed by the January 6th committee on Tuesday

CNN reported that the January 6th committee is interested in hearing from Greg Jacob (pictured), Pence's former chief counsel, who received an email from Trump's lawyer John Eastman during the Capitol attack blaming Pence's inaction for the violence

Alyssa Farah, who was promoted to White House communications director, but had also been Pence's press secretary, voluntarily met with Republicans serving on the committee, CNN previously reported.

Obst told CNN he hadn't had 'any contact with the January 6th committee to this point and no one has reached out to me.'

Chairman Bennie Thompson told CNN last week that the January 6 committee has been in the process of reaching out to the former vice president's associates - but not all have agreed to speak to lawmakers.

'Well, yes and no,' Thompson said. 'I don't want to just say yes, when there have been some people who clearly have said no. So we've had, you know, people on both sides.'

The committee is interested in speaking to Jacob, CNN said, because he countered efforts - including by fringe legal scholar John Eastman - to have Pence overturn the results of the election.

Pence's Chief of Staff Marc Short (left) is among the people in the ex-VP's inner circle that the January 6th committee would like to speak to

Nick Ayers (right), who also served as Pence's chief of staff, was also among those CNN said the January 6th committee is interested in speaking with

The Washington Post reported that Eastman had emailed Jacob during the Capitol attack, saying Pence's inaction caused the violence.

'The "siege" is because YOU and your boss did not do what was necessary to allow this to be aired in a public way so that the American people can see for themselves what happened,' Eastman wrote to Jacob.

Afterward, Jacob had drafted an op-ed about Trump's outside legal team, which included Eastman, but never had it published.

The Washington Post obtained a copy.

Jacob wrote that by sending the email Eastman 'displayed a shocking lack of awareness of how those practical implications were playing out in real time.'

Pence was hiding from the MAGA mob when the email came in - as some were chanting that he should be hung.

Eastman has been subpoenaed by the committee.

Pence's political moves signal he's still interested in a presidential run in 2024, which means his inner circle can't look too engaged with the January 6th committee, which is comprised of Democrats and two Republicans who backed Trump's second impeachments - Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

Last week at an event in Iowa, Pence both affirmed the 2020 election had been won by President Joe Biden, but also brought up election 'irregularities' and said he was supportive of his party's efforts to 'improve voter integrity.'

Pence told a crowd of college students it was 'James Madison' who told him to go ahead and certify Biden's election win.

Pence appeared at a Young America's Foundation event at the University of Iowa and firled a question from an audience member who suggested the then vice president had been ready to toss the results out - until someone at the White House got to him.

'On January 5th, you were convinced that the election was correctly stolen,' a young man 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.'

'On the night of the 5th or the morning of the 6th, someone in the White House convinced you that it would destroy your hopes of becoming president if you sent it back to the states,' the young man continued. 'My question is what is the name of the person who told you to buck President Trump's plan and certify the votes?'

Pence gave the name of the father of the Constitution, Madison and received applause from the audience.

'Virtually everything you recited relative to me is false,' Pence also said.

He recieved more applause.

'Look I said earlier, Psalm 15 says he who keeps his oath even when it hurts,' he continued.

'You know on that day in January I wrote a letter to Congress I recommend everyone here read,' Pence said. 'I expressed my concern about irregularities that took place in the election in a number of states. And I continue to share those concerns, and I support efforts in states to improve voter integrity as has been done in Georgia and Arizona and elsewhere.'

Pence said the Constitution makes '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,' Pence explained to the crowd.

By the time Pence presided over Congress on January 6th - the day of the Capitol attack - every state had certified its count.

'Now, I understand the disappointment in the election,' he added. 'You might remember I was on the ballot.'

'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 that you're going to do your duty in that time as well,' he told the young audience members.

He also thanked them for showing support - as Pence has been booed at previous engagements for his role in certifying Biden's win.

'And I appreciate your affirmations of support tonight, it means a lot to me, it truly does, thank you,' Pence said.
Donald Trump sent out on Thursday morning a pre-recorded video honoring those who served in the U.S. armed forces, where he took a swipe at President Joe Biden for putting veterans 'through a lot.'

'We will come back,' Trump vowed in his 39-second Veterans Day message sent just after 7:00 a.m. and posted to Rumble, a Canadian online video platform.

'Our country has gone through a lot,' the former president continued. 'The last period of time has been very, very tough  watching what you had to watch. But our country will be back and we'll be stronger than ever. Happy Veterans Day.'

Trump's message to veterans took aim at Biden's actions since taking office  including the bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan, which resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. servicemembers in a suicide bombing outside the Kabul airport.

Many veterans of the 20-year war in the Middle East were enraged that the withdrawal was so mishandled and immediately led to the Taliban takeover and collapse of the Afghan government that U.S. forces helped put in place.

Donald Trump took a hit at Joe Biden's withdraw from Afghanistan in a Veterans Day message saying: 'We will come back. Our country has gone through a lot. The last period of time has been very, very tough  watching what you had to watch'

The video was sent early Thursday morning, beating the White House to the punch  but Vice President Kamala Harris was already celebrating the occasion by attending Armistice Day ceremonies at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris during her third day of a charm offensive to France.

To commemorate Veterans Day, Biden hosted veterans and military members at the White House Thursday morning before heading to Arlington National Cemetery where he and first lady Jill Biden will participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Biden will then make remarks for the Presidential National Veterans Day Observance at the Memorial Amphitheater.

'For generations, Americans have answered the call to servetaking the sacred oath to defend our ideals of liberty and democracy,' Biden posted from his POTUS account. 'These patriots represent the best of us. On Veterans Day, we honor their service, dedication, and valor and are forever grateful for their sacrifice.'

The president's late son Beau Biden served in the Army and National Guard, deploying to Iraq in October 2008 for a year-long stint.

Veterans Day and Armistice Day, the European remembrance of the end of World War I, are celebrated on the same day every year  November 11.

'On this Veterans Day, I'd like to pay tribute to all of those incredible people  and you are indeed incredible people  who serve so well and so strong and so powerfully in the United States Armed Forces,' the 45th president said.

He added: 'We love you, our nation respects you.'

Other former presidents also posted their own Veterans Day messages.

Obama posted an image Thursday of him at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during his time as president

George W. Bush assured in a video tribute: 'Nothing that has followed  nothing  can tarnish your honor or diminish your accomplishments'

George W. Bush posted a 53-second video saluting former troops and ensuring them nothing can diminish their service.

'We owe each of you that have served a lifelong debt of gratitude,' Bush Jr. said in a video posted to the George W. Bush Presidential Center account. 'The cause you pursued at the call of duty is the nobelist America has to offer. You have shielded your fellow citizens from danger, you have defended the beliefs of your country and advanced the rights of the downtrodden. You have been the face of hope and mercy in dark places and a force for good in the world.'

'Nothing that has followed  nothing  can tarnish your honor or diminish your accomplishments,' he said.

Barack Obama tweeted an image of himself from a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier when he was president with the caption: 'To every veteran and their family, we thank you for your service and sacrifice to our country.'

Bill Clinton posted to his Twitter: Thank you to all who have ever worn the uniform of our country in war or in peace. America is grateful for your sacrifices and service.
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Belarusian soldiers are cutting holes in Poland's wire border fence to allow migrants to sneak through, MailOnline has been told.

Troops approach the fence at night before using cutters to make gaps that people can then sneak through, a local aid worker has claimed.

That has allowed hundreds of people to illegally enter the EU since Monday, with a police source saying 400 made the crossing last night alone.

Refugees from Iraq and Syria said Belarus's troops are doing 'everything they can' to help them reach Western Europe, but aid workers added that 'dozens' have still frozen to death in woods waiting to cross.

Hundreds of migrants are making it across each night with Belarus doing 'everything it can' to help them, refugees claimed (pictured, a woman at the border)

Despite the crossings, aid workers claim that 'dozens' of people have frozen to death while waiting to cross (pictured, a child in a camp on the Belarus side of the border)

Pictured: Huge crowds of the migrants are seen having gathered around a lorry, from which humanitarian aid is being handed out

Desperate parents cling onto their children at a tented camp at the Poland-Belarus border earlier today as law enforcement officers enter the area

Poland says it has arrested hundreds of the migrants and is hunting for others, adding that it has an 'obligation' to protect the EU's eastern border.

Thousands of migrants are currently camped along the border, in what the EU says is a calculated plot by Belarus to destabilise the bloc.

European leaders accuse dictator Alexander Lukashenko of luring vulnerable people to his country on the promise of passage to Europe, before forcing them to the border and preventing them from returning to Belarus.

Blocked by Polish border guards, the migrants are left in a freezing no-man's land with little food or water.

The EU says the plot is revenge for sanctions imposed on Lukashenko's regime and for supporting pro-democracy protests against him.

Speaking to MailOnline about the situation on the ground, a welfare officer said: 'Belarus soldiers cut holes in fence to help the refugees get through, the refugees have told me.

'This is happening every night. They use wire cutters and then leave on the ground for anyone to see.'

She added that dozens of migrants have perished trying to make it to Poland.

She said: 'There are bodies of refugees lying in the woods. Nobody know how many people have died.

'But as the temperature goes below zero at night we are not surprised to hear that people are freezing to death.'

A police source today confirmed that 400 migrants crossed the border near Bialowieza between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Belarus soldiers are cutting through Poland's wire border fence at night to allow migrants to cross, aid workers have claimed (pictured, Polish guards fix the fence)

Pictured: Migrants sit huddled in winter clothing in the middle of a makeshift camp at the Belarus-Poland border

Two migrants are seen sitting on the ground next to each other in a camp at the Poland and Belarus border, holding their hands over a small fire for warmth

Migrants waiting on the Belarus side of the border inspect Polish razor-wire fences preventing them from getting across and into Europe

The village has been sealed off to everyone who does not live there including aid workers and journalists.

The source told MailOnline: 'Last night 400 crossed the border illegally into Poland. The night before it was 200. The Belarus army is helping them of course.'

Lukashenko, with the backing of Moscow, denies orchestrating any kind of plot and says the migrants are legitimate asylum seekers who should be allowed through.

On Thursday, he threatened to shut off the gas supply to Europe if the EU threatened fresh sanctions against his regime.

Meanwhile Putin has shown support for his ally by flying nuclear-capable bombers over Belarus for a second day in a row.

Both Putin and Lukashenko say they are 'concerned' by Polish troop movements near the border, with Warsaw saying there are now 15,000 soldiers stationed there.

Lukashenko has warned the situation could easily escalate into a direct confrontation, with Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer saying that Moscow would likely send its forces into Belarus in the event of a conflict.

Meanwhile western countries would be compelled to defend Poland if it was deemed to be under attack, because the country is in NATO whose members have a mutual defence pact.

The defence minister of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia - also NATO countries - issued a joint statement today warning that the situation risks boiling over.

Thousands of migrants are now camped out on the border between Poland and Belarus, with the EU saying they were forcibly sent there by the Lukashenko regime

Women and children are pictured sitting around a campfire in freezing conditions in woodland separating the two countries

A pregnant woman is seen in this image taken by Belarusian border guards

Referencing the migrant crisis, they said: 'It increases the possibility of provocations and serious incidents that could also spill over into the military domain.'

Meanwhile Ukraine, which it not a NATO or EU member, rushed thousands more troops to its border fearing it could also become a target for migrants.

Ukraine will deploy another 8,500 troops and police officers, and 15 helicopters, to guard its border with Belarus, the interior minister said today.

Denys Monastyrskiy said the new forces would include 3,000 border guard servicemen, 3,500 servicemen of the National Guard and 2,000 police officers.

'Interior ministry aviation will also be on duty, in particular 15 helicopters, which will ensure mobility and, if necessary, will transfer our forces to the border,' he said.

Monastyrskiy said earlier on Thursday that Ukrainian border guards, police and the national guard would hold drills on the border with Belarus.

Europe says the migrants were lured to Belarus on the false promise of passage to the EU, then dumped in freezing cold woods with no route forwards or back

Migrants are being forced to scratch out a living in woods with barely any food or water, in freezing cold conditions (pictured)

Polish border guards search vehicles near the frontier for stowaway migrants, with locals facing fines or prison terms for helping them

'In order to counter the potential crisis with migrants, we will involve all five structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs without exception,' the minister was quoted as saying in the statement.

Ukraine is already fighting a proxy war with Russian-backed separatists on its eastern border, and has warned that Putin is massing troops close by.

Meanwhile the EU began outlining a fifth wave of sanctions against Lukashenko's regime today which would target top-ranking officials and the state airline Belavia which ministers say is being used to bring migrants into the country.

A follow-up sixth sanctions package could then be used to ban EU supplies from being used at Minsk National airport, while including assets freezes and travel bans for more members of the regime.

One senior diplomat said the sanctions on Minsk airport could choke off EU financing, supplies and equipment. Germany's Lufthansa Cargo is a ground and cargo handler at Minsk National, according to its website.

An extraordinary EU summit of the bloc's 27 leaders is under consideration, while the bloc is also debating whether to use its common funding mechanisms to build more border fencing.
The defense in the Kyle Rittenhouse's trial has rested its case after two and a half days of explosive testimony and high courtroom drama that may yet see the case tossed with a mistrial.

Judge Schroeder dismissed the jury for the day Thursday afternoon with the words, 'We're in the final stretch.'

The attorneys will be back in court Friday to finalize charges and agree on jury instructions but the jurors will not be back until Monday when closing arguments and jury instructions will take place. Names will be drawn to pick the 12 jurors who will deliberate.

Judge Schroeder has informed both the defense and the prosecution that they must limit their closing arguments and rebuttal statements to no more than two and a half hours.

He had originally put a cap of one and a half hours on arguments but relented on Binger's request with the warning, 'I will be tough. I may tell you to sit down mid-sentence if you keep going and I did it to one of the DAs [recently].'

Earlier he had quoted a former US District Judge who said, 'The brain cannot absorb what the seat cannot endure.'

He added, 'And if you don't like that advice President Roosevelt one of the renowned speakers of the 30s and 40s when asked by his son for some advice on speaking said, 'Be sincere. Be brief. And be seated.'

The defense in Kyle Rittenhouse's trial rested its case it its eighth day Thursday

Kyle Rittenhouse and defense attorneys Natalie Wisco and Corey Chirafisi, talk during Rittenhouse's trial

Early this morning Judge Bruce Schroeder revealed that the court has been inundated with communications from members of the public during the trial  many in the form of offensive emails, some calling the judge a racist

Early this morning Judge Bruce Schroeder revealed that the court has been inundated with communications from members of the public during the trial  many in the form of offensive emails, some calling the judge a racist. The attorneys have also been recipients of hateful messages.

Speaking ahead of the start of testimony, Judge Schroeder said he would deal with all such things adding, 'I wouldn't want to be those people.'

What's next in the Kenosha shooter trial? TODAY Details of charges will be finalized between Judge Schroeder and attorneys. The jury will not be present during these proceedings when the state is expected to inform the judge if they intend to ask for lesser charges to be considered on any counts. MONDAY Closing arguments begin and Judge Schroeder will instruct the jury on the law and how they are to apply it on each charge. The judge has placed a cap of two and a half hours on closing arguments for both sides, time which is to include any rebuttal they should wish to make. THE JURY The jury will not return to the courthouse until Monday when names will be drawn to determine the 12 who will deliberate. Eighteen of the original 20 jurors remain after one was excused on medical grounds and another was removed having made a racial joke to a court deputy. THE CHARGES As it stands 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse is charged on six counts: First Degree Reckless Homicide, Use of a Dangerous Weapon in the death of Joseph Rosenbaum, First Degree Intentional Homicide, First Degree Attempted Intentional Homicide, Use of a Dangerous Weapon in the shootings of both Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz, First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety in the case of Richie McGinniss who was all but in the line of fire when Rosenbaum was shot and 'jump-kick man'  the unidentified male at whom Rittenhouse shot twice  and one count of Possession of a Dangerous Weapon by a Person Under 18. A seventh curfew violation was dismissed earlier in the week. POSSIBLE SENTENCES The most serious charges, first-degree intentional homicide, carries a mandatory life sentence, while attempted first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree reckless homicide, are both punishable by up to 60 years in prison. First-degree reckless endangerment carries a maximum prison term of 12 years and requires prosecutors to show that Rittenhouse put someone in harm's way by showing an utter disregard for life.

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The defense started the day by bringing use of force expert witness, John Black to the stand. Black, a veteran and former police officer is also a specialist in intelligence and video analysis and through his testimony the defense hopes to show the jury just how quickly events that the prosecution has 'stretched out' happened on the night of August 25, 2020.

The time between Rittenhouse shouting 'Friendly! Friendly! Friendly!' as he was walked through crowds pelting police vehicles with rocks to the moment he surrendered himself to police was just two minutes 55 seconds.

The furious pace at which the entire episode unfolded, from the first shot to Rittenhouse trying to surrender, was further underlined as the jury heard that the time that elapsed between the first and final shot fired by Rittenhouse at Rosenbaum was just three-quarters of a second.

During their case, the state presented the fact that Rittenhouse shot four times as tantamount to him having made four conscious decisions to keep shooting even after, they contend, any perception of threat must have been gone.

But today the court heard how the shots were fired all but instantaneously.

Taking the first shot as time zero, Black told the court, 'The time between the second shot and shot one was 0.263 seconds. Between the second and third shot, 0.247seconds, between the third and fourth shots 0.229 seconds. The total of those shots fired occurred in approximately 0.739 seconds.'

The court then watched footage of the night unfold as Rittenhouse fled and an unknown person ran at him and knocked his hat from his head. This, Black testified, was just 28 seconds after he had fired his last shot at Rosenbaum.

Dismantling the notion forwarded by the state that Rittenhouse had shot in a calculated fashion, Richards took his witness methodically through footage of Rittenhouse being attacked first by 'jump kick man' at whom he fired twice, then Antony Huber at whom he fired once and Gaige Grosskreutz at whom he fired once.

The state had shown these events as stills, broken down and studied in painstaking detail.

Today Black told the court that the images shown would have taken place as action that lasted less than half a second.

Indeed, the entire interaction from jump-kick man to Grosskreutz happened across just 5.468 seconds: 0.602 seconds elapsed between the two shots fired at 'jump-kick man.'

Rittenhouse fired on Huber just 1.933 seconds later and then at Grosskreutz as he came at him 2.933 seconds after that.

Addressing the jury, he explained that video 'absolutely had the benefit of helping us objectively understand what happened.'

The defense's aim was to put Rittenhouse's actions in context, bolstering their claim of self-defense by highlighting the speed under which his decisions were made.

Binger rose to object as Richards methodically questioned Black about his methods before getting into the meat of the video sequences and the events of the night. He began with the moment Rittenhouse shouted 'Friendly! Friendly! Friendly!'

Black had been allowed to testify only on condition that his testimony was limited to timing of events that, Binger argued this meant only the timing of the shots.

The defense has arguably already played their biggest card putting Kyle Rittenhouse on the stand yesterday to give his own powerful account of the night he shot two men dead and wounded another.

Black had been ready to testify Wednesday. Instead the wheels very nearly came off the trial entirely with the defense moving for a mistrial with prejudice and accusing Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger of 'prosecutorial misconduct' and 'over-reach.'

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum (left), 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 (right), 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin

Today the defense started the day by bringing use of force expert witness, John Black to the stand

With the jury out of the room, Assistant District Attorney James Kraus, Judge Schroeder, and defense attorney Corey Chirafisi look over a video monitor to examine photographic evidence during a dispute over the reliability of enlarged digital images during Kyle Rittenhouse's tria

Judge Schroeder could call a mistrial at any time should he decide that Binger has over-stepped in any way.

Armed with a fire extinguisher, his medical bag and his AR-15, Rittenhouse said, 'I started running towards the Car Source number three to put out fires, pausing occasionally to catch my breath and walk

The defense is moving rapidly towards the conclusion of its case and could rest today. It has just three witnesses left to call with all three expected today and the state set to then mount a rebuttal.

Rittenhouse's attorney, Mark Richards, won in his bid to have a use of force expert take the stand in October on the condition that his testimony is limited to the timing of events, including when the teen got to the area, began shooting and surrendered to police.

Again the prosecutor clashed with the judge as he argued his point after the jury had been sent out.

Judge Schroeder told Binger, 'It certainly was my intention that we were talking about video of the entire episode.'

Binger pulled a face that drew an irritated Judge Schroeder to ask, 'Is there something that I'm saying that draws the face that you're making?'

Binger replied, 'Yesterday I was the target of your ire for disregarding your order. Today the defense is disregarding your order.'

Judge Schroeder was unconvinced prompting Binger to re-iterate, 'Yesterday I was under the court's ire. If I'm being held to obey the court's orders I'm asking that the defense be held to [the same standard].'

Once again Binger had crossed a line as far as the judge was concerned. Judge Schroeder interrupted him, 'I'm going to let you talk, but I was talking yesterday about the constitution of the United States and how the Supreme Court has interpreted it for 50 years.

'That is not what we're talking about here today.'

Judge Schroeder accepted only one of Binger's objections that some of the language on Black's expert report was 'conclusory' and 'to be avoided.'

Binger gave as an example a point on the video pin-pointed by Black as 'JR [Jospeh Rosenbaum] Change in elevation-lunge decision point.'

The judge agreed he would have to find a way to express the time point without using such language.

Ed Lasiowski protests outside the Kenosha County Courthouse during Kyle Rittenhouse's trial on Thursday

Kenosha Police Officer Brittni Bray was the defense's penultimate witness and testified briefly. She told the court that she had collected rifle shell casings from the scene of Huber and Grosskreutz's shootings

Bray also confirmed that she had taken collection of Grosskreutz Glock along with loaded magazine containing nine bullets and an unfired .40 caliber round

Kenosha Police Officer Brittni Bray was the defense's penultimate witness and testified briefly. She told the court that she had collected rifle shell casings from the scene of Huber and Grosskreutz's shootings.

She also confirmed that she had taken collection of Grosskreutz Glock along with loaded magazine containing nine bullets and an unfired .40 caliber round.

These last items had been collected by former marine Jason Lackowski on the night of the shootings.

Gaige Grosskreutz was shot by Kyle Rittenhouse on August 25, 2020 and his right bicep was almost entirely blown away. Grosskreutz, the state's star witness, took the stand Monday morning

When he testified he told jurors how he picked up Grosskreutz's firearm and made it safe by emptying the chamber which was armed with one round and dropping the magazine from the weapon.

Prosecutors did not call an eye-witness with whom they had contact who saw Rosenbaum 'charging Kyle Rittenhouse from behind' and 'lunge towards him very clearly,' before Rittenhouse shot him.

Videographer Frank Andrew Hernandez is the last witness called by the defense and today testified that he not only witnessed these events with his own eyes, but recorded using body-camera and cell-phone footage.

He told the court that he had handed between 80 to 100 videos over to both prosecutors and the defense. Yet the prosecution never reached back out to him or called him as a witness.

As footage was shown to the court Hernandez told the court that he had seen both Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum across the night of August 25, 2020.

He said, 'The first time I saw he actually de-escalated [a] situation.'

Hernandez told the court that he witnessed Rittenhouse pacifying a group of 'rioters who initiated conflict' outside of the Car Source property he was protecting.

In stark contrast he recalled the first time he saw Rosenbaum he was 'pushing a flaming dumpster on fire into police officers and human beings.'

Right after, he said, Rosenbaum appeared 'triggered and physically aggressive' towards people attempting to put the fire out.

He said later he then watched as Rosenbaum 'led the charge' into the Ultimate Gas Station and again attempt to start altercations.

In more video shown to the court Rosenbaum, now wearing a T-shirt over his face, can be seen attempting to 'light a trash can on fired.'

Kyle Rittenhouse could be tried again if judge declares mistrial - but not if it's mistrial with prejudice Kyle Rittenhouse's trial is now being conducted under the specter of a possible mistrial. The defense has requested one to be declared with prejudice on the grounds of 'prosecutorial impropriety.' If granted this would mean that the case would be tossed and could not be brought again  a highly unusual move but applicable under such circumstances. The judge has taken the defense's request for a mistrial with prejudice under consideration, meaning should he feel it necessary, he can now call a mistrial at any moment with no need for further arguments in court or in camera. Lead attorney Mark Richards accused prosecutor Thomas Binger of behaving in bad faith and of behavior designed to provoke a mistrial. A simple mistrial would mean the case could be tried again. He accused him of doing this to 'throw' the trial that is going badly for the state, prevent it from ending with an acquittal and open the possibility of 'another kick of the cat.' The prosecutor was admonished on three occasions by Judge Bruce Schroeder shortly after beginning his cross examination. He was twice admonished for questioning Rittenhouse's right to remain silent post being charged  a move deemed a 'grave constitutional violation' by the judge who first reprimanded him in front of the jury and then sent the jury out to read him the riot act a second time. Binger also attempted to bring into evidence information that the judge had specifically excluded in pre-trial motions. As an experienced trial attorney Binger's actions 'astonished' both the defense team and the judge neither of whom accept that he was acting in good faith. Essentially, he stands accused of doing things that he knows will see the trial thrown out of court and the defense has therefore called for a mistrial of their own on terms that would prohibit the state from prosecuting Rittenhouse again. Corey Chirafisi set out the defense's stance. He said, 'Normally a mistrial does not preclude a retrial [unless] a defendant's motion is necessitated by a prosecutorial impropriety designed to avoid an acquittal.' But, he continued, 'What has happened is two times the state commented on Mr Rittenhouse's right to remain silent. 'The first time he was admonished by the court. The second time the judge had the jury leave, and he was re-admonished.' As far as bringing in the excluded material Chirafisi said, 'The prosecutor's actions must be intentional[with] an awareness that his activity would be prejudicial. 'You had warned him. You had told him prior to Mr Rittenhouse testifying. 'You had warned him about the infringement of his constitutional right to remain silent. He did it again. 'The second one says that the prosecutor's actions were designed to allow another chance to convict, to provoke a mistrial to get another kick at the cat because the first trial is going badly.' Addressing Binger, Judge Schroeder said, 'You're an experienced trial attorney and you're telling me when the judge says, 'I'm excluding this' you decide to bring it in because you think you've found a way around it. Come on!' 'When you say you were acting in good faith, I don't believe you.' Advertisement

In the background, Corey Chirafisi pointed to, 'This person holding a fire extinguisher [who] has purple gloves on his hand.'

As Rittenhouse walked Rosenbaum was initially seen ahead of him but later, Chirafisi pointed out, 'he appears to be behind him.'

Hernandez testified that he heard somebody say 'F*** you' though did not know who. He then testified, 'I was at the corner of Car Source, Rosenbaum was charging Kyle Rittenhouse and as he's charging him a firearm goes off.

He continued, 'As the firearm goes off Rosenbaum is already charging Kyle from behind. He attempts to throw a bag at him and Kyle is right at the corner. He turns around and Rosenbaum is lunging towards him very clearly.'

Hernandez said he both videoed and 'saw this with his [own] eyes.'

Standing to cross-examine Binger attempted to undermine Hernandez by suggesting he was bias. Questioning him as to his place of work Hernandez said he was a commentator for right wing website Real America's Voice.

Chirafisi objected and once again Binger drew Schroeder's ire who told him, 'This is not a political trial and I don't know how you would isolate a person's particular politics and determine that that person is going to evaluate the evidence one way or another.'

Videographer Frank Andrew Hernandez is the last witness called by the defense and today testified that he not only witnessed these events with his own eyes, but recorded using body-camera and cell-phone footage

Rittenhouse's attorneys Mark Richards and Corey Chirafisi began making their case Tuesday afternoon and quickly played their biggest card  bringing Kyle Rittenhouse to the stand Wednesday morning.

Rittenhouse, 18, broke down and sobbed on the witness stand as he recounted the events of the night of August 25, 2020 when he shot dead two men and gravely wounded a third.

He said he did not want to shoot anyone that night but did so because he was 'ambushed and attacked.'

Rittenhouse recalled how Joseph Rosenbaum chased and lunged at him, and voiced his belief that if Rosenbaum had managed to get his gun he would have killed him and probably a lot more people that night.

He said that he shot Anthony Huber as he felt the man pulling his gun from his body and Gaige Grosskreutz because he came at him with his own firearm, a Glock 27, pointed at him.

As Rittenhouse spoke his mother Wendy wept uncontrollably in the public gallery.

But it was Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger who brought the highest drama of the day when he was accused by both Richards and Judge Schroeder of acting 'in bad faith' and attempting to provoke a mistrial.

Binger was eviscerated by the judge for questioning Rittenhouse's right to remain silent after charges were brought.

He did this twice before the jury who the judge ultimately sent out before laying into the prosecutor and accusing him of a 'grave constitutional violation.'

Later Binger attempted to bring in evidence that had already been excluded in a pre-trial motion. The evidence was from Rittenhouse's social media and a post in which he commented about wishing he had his AR-15 so he could 'shoot some shoplifters.'

Incandescent with rage Judge Schroeder laid into Binger. When the prosecutor said he had been 'acting in good faith,' Schroeder snapped, 'I don't believe you.'

The defense has requested a mistrial based on this 'prosecutorial misconduct' and 'over-reach.' They argue that Binger was trying to provoke a mistrial to avoid the case ending in acquittal and so as to, 'have another kick at the cat' and bring a fresh prosecution.

Judge Schroeder has taken their request for a mistrial with prejudice  meaning that the case could NOT be re-tried  under consideration and has yet to make a final ruling on it.

Kyle Rittenhouse broke down on the witness stand as recalled the moment he was 'ambushed' by Joseph Rosenbaum the night he shot him dead

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger brought the highest drama of Wednesday when he was accused by both Richards and Judge Schroeder of acting 'in bad faith' and attempting to provoke a mistrial

Shortly before the defense rested the judge heard arguments concerning an expert that the state planned to recall as part of their rebuttal.

Judge Schroeder called forensic imaging expert James Armstrong to explain the algorithms used to enlarge and enhance FBI surveillance footage entered into evidence by the state.

The state argued that they should be able to enter enlarged drone footage images entered into evidence that, they claim, show Rittenhouse pointing a gun at people before he was chased by Rosenbaum.

The defense objected on grounds that the images had been altered and were not therefore accurate depictions of the original footage.

As testimony dwelt on software and pixels Judge Schroeder shook his head and joked, 'I'm still using watercolors.'

Assistant District Attorney James Kraus said that the defense's argument was 'a canard' and a 'dishonest argument.'

He said, 'With respect your honor I think the defense is trying to take advantage of your lack of technical knowledge which you've already expressed.'

He said that their attempt to present this as 'voodoo magic' was 'preposterous.'

Judge Schroeder snapped back, 'You have the burden of proof not them. The witness was just here and when he's asked what does [the software do] he says, 'I don't know.'

'This is the person who's providing your information to support your claim that it is an accurate depiction.'

The judge added, 'I will tell you that I totally agree with our comment about my lack of familiarity with these concepts although I have some logical skills. The fact that I can accurately blow something up on my phone doesn't mean that the particular crime lab is doing an accurate [job].

'What does peer review mean to me? You haven't presented any evidence as to the science or the algorithm.'

After scrutinizing the images himself Judge Schroeder allowed the evidence and said that the jury could draw their own conclusions.
Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott called out President Joe Biden on Wednesday evening for turning 'a blind eye' to the growing problems on the United States southern border while showing concern for the refugee crisis along the Belarusian-Polish border in Eastern Europe.

'President Bidens concern for other nations borders, while he turns a blind eye to the United States borders that he swore to protect and defend, is appalling,' Abbott's Press Secretary Renae Eze told DailyMail.com.

'His reckless open border policies have created an ongoing crisis along our southern border, leading to a 61-year record-high number of illegal immigrants surging into our state.'

Nearly 1.7 million people were encountered trying to cross the US southwest border in the 12 month period that ended in October, US Customs and Border Protection announced.

The record-shattering number of migrants has overwhelmed state and local officials who have been pleading for help from the Biden administration and spurred further concern over the spread of COVID-19.

Abbott's press secretary claims the Lone Star state was forced to 'step up' to secure the border while Biden's government was 'absent.'

'Texas continues stepping up to secure our southern border and protect Texans in the federal governments absence,' Eze said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott accused President Joe Biden of a double-standard in a statement to DailyMail.com on Wednesday evening

'Since Governor Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March, the National Guard and DPS have apprehended over 76,000 migrants and arrested over 8,800 who committed a state or federal crime, including smugglers and human traffickers, to crack down on illegal crossings of migrants coming from over 150 countries around the world.'

Responding to a request for comment from DailyMail.com, a White House National Security Council official condemned the situation in Belarus and said the Biden administration would be adding 'follow-up sanctions' to punish the autocratic regime.

'We are deeply concerned by the Lukashenka regimes inhumane actions and strongly condemn their callous exploitation and coercion of vulnerable people,' the official said.

'We are preparing follow up sanctions in close coordination with the EU and other partners and Allies that hold the Lukashenka regime accountable for its ongoing attacks on democracy, human rights, and international norms.'

The official added that while the situations in Belarus and the United States are different, the Biden administration has been consistent on its condemnation of human trafficking across the world.

And the White House has tried to take steps to clean up crime at the border, such as releasing a blueprint in July for expanding legal immigration and beefing up enforcement on human smuggling operations.

But border encounters also hit a 21-year high in July, with 213,593 people intercepted by immigration officials.

Though the number has gone down somewhat to 192,001 in September, the most recent data available, it's still significantly higher than the roughly 52,000 migrants encountered during the same period in 2020.

Meanwhile Biden has yet to visit the southern border and Vice President Kamala Harris, who he dubbed his border czar, hasn't been there since June.

The president acknowledged his absence in late October at a CNN town hall, stating 'I guess I should go down.'

By contrast he appears to be taking swift action on the migrant crisis aggravating tensions between the European Union and Belarus's authoritarian government.

Migrants walk along a road in a caravan heading to the northern border, in Santo Domingo Zanatepec, Mexico November 10

Abbott said Texas' government was working to secure the border without the Biden administration's help

Western governments in the EU and NATO accused Belarusian strongman dictator Alexander Lukashenko of luring migrants to his country and sending them to cross into Poland in retaliation for sanctions over his government's human rights abuses.

Those migrants, primarily from the Middle East and Africa, are hoping to cross into the European Union through Poland but subjected to brutal treatment by Belarusian troops and violence from Polish forces as well.

Russian President Vladimir Putin lent fresh support to Lukashenko today by sending nuclear bombers to carry out drills in Belarusian airspace for the second day in a row.

The European Union is preparing to widen the existing sanctions over what it called an 'attack' on western democracies.

Lukashenko hit back with threats to cut off Europe's gas supply.

Migrants in a tent camp on the Belarusian-Polish border on November 11

Migrants from the Middle East and elsewhere warm up at the fire gathering at the Belarus-Poland border near Grodno, Belarus, Thursday. The Biden administration announced it's preparing to possibly sanction Belarus for weaponizing desperate migrants

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Biden at the White House for a wide-ranging discussion that included the recent crisis.

After the meeting she told reporters that they both 'share the opinion that this is a hybrid attack of an authoritarian regime to try and de-stabilize Democratic neighbors.'

'This will not succeed. We will protect our democracies,' von der Leyen said.

Part of their agreement on the matter was to reach out to the countries the refugees are coming from to caution them 'to not fall into the trap of the Lukashenko regime.'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis similarly pointed out a double standard between Biden's swift response to Europe's crisis and relative silence domestically.

DeSantis' office accused Biden's administration of 'refus[ing] to enforce Americas immigration laws' on Wednesday.

'It is absurd that Biden can express concern about a border halfway across the world, while he turns a blind eye to the illegal migration crisis in our own backyard,' DeSantis Press Secretary Christina Pushaw told DailyMail.com.
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Britain's daily coronavirus cases rose for the first time in over a week today but hospital and death rates continued to fall.

There were 42,408 new infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Government's Covid dashboard, which marked a 14 per cent rise on last week.

Cases had been in freefall since late October  believed to be due to growing immunity in children  except for one blip on November 1, when they rose by around 9 per cent.

Latest hospital data shows there were 868 Covid admissions on November 7 which was nearly 14 per cent lower than the figure the previous week.

Another 195 coronavirus deaths were also registered today in a 9 per cent decrease compared to the toll last Thursday.

Hospitalisations and deaths  which are both lagging indicators  have been falling for six and three days in a row, respectively.

It came as the country's largest symptom-tracking study found that symptomatic cases fell by almost a fifth last week in the biggest weekly drop since summer.

Meanwhile, care homes in England were thrust into chaos today as the Government's new 'no jab, no job' policy came into force.

Theresa Ingram-Gettins  who runs the Boldmere Court Care Home in Birmingham  broke down as she detailed having to sack six staff members who refused to get vaccinated against Covid.

NHS waiting list hits ANOTHER record-high with 5.83MILLION patients in need of routine operations A record 5.83million patients are now on NHS waiting lists for routine treatment in England, official data revealed today as hospital bosses warned they are already under 'unsustainable' pressure heading into winter. The mammoth figure  which has snowballed since Covid struck  includes 10,000 patients who have spent two years in the queue for elective surgery, such as hip and knee replacements. Hospitals were forced to cancel thousands of operations during the darkest days of the pandemic to make room for the infected, leaving lives 'on hold' for thousands of patients battling milder conditions. Doctors today warned the build-up was 'concerning' because winter pressures and staffing absences have yet to hit peak levels, describing the health service as being 'on its knees'. A poll of NHS bosses found nine in 10 felt the current situation  dealing with the pandemic-induced the backlog and Covid  is 'unsustainable' and patient care is being compromised. Meanwhile, Labour slammed the 'dangerously lengthy' waiting times and warned the 'coming weeks are set to be the most challenging in history for the NHS'. Advertisement

It comes as:

Care homes in England were thrust into chaos as the Government's new 'no jab, no job' policy came into force;

One care boss broke down in tears after having to sack six members of staff over No10's vaccine requirement and pleaded with Boris Johnson to 'give us a break';

Britain's biggest symptom-tracking study found Covid cases fell 18 per cent in biggest weekly drop since summer with 72,000 falling ill every day;

The NHS England data showed the backlog in September was the highest recorded since records began in 2007;

Ambulance response times soared three times higher than NHS target in October, with heart attack and stroke patients waiting 55 minutes before being treated.

Ms Ingram-Gettins said the new policy was 'affecting people's mental health' after it kicked in at midnight, and forced up to 60,000 carers out of work.

The care boss added that staff still in employment were now being forced to work extra hours to make up for the vacancies, which was taking a toll on their 'physical wellbeing'.

She told Good Morning Britain: 'We're tired, we're worn out, we've just come through a pandemic  give us a break Boris.'

All care home workers in England, including cleaners and receptionists, are now legally required to have had both of their Covid vaccines. Boldmere, which is home to 60 residents, is one of nearly 18,000 care homes affected by the move.

It's thought that as many as 57,000 care home staff failed to hit the jab deadline today, which care bosses say will create dangerous staffing levels that puts residents' lives at risk. The sector was already short of 100,000 workers before the pandemic struck.

Unions have warned that the new rule was like 'taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut', given that 90 per cent of the workforce was already vaccinated. One facility in Liverpool revealed that it had lost seven per cent of its staff overnight.

Nadra Ahmed, chairwoman of the National Care Association, told MailOnline that morale had crashed within the sector this morning as it woke up to tens of thousands of vacancies.

 Slide me  Covid infection rates fell in all but 10 per cent of areas in England during the half-term week, data from the UK Health and Security Agency's weekly Flu and Covid Surveillance Report shows

The NHS waiting list for routine hospital treatment in England has reached 5.83million, official data revealed today marking the eleventh month in a row that the figure has hit a record high. Some 1.6million more Britons were waiting for elective surgery  such as hip and keen operations  at the end of September compared to the start of the pandemic

Despite the total A&E admissions in England being just two per cent more than one month earlier and equal to the number of people who came forward during the same month in 2019, 7,059 patients were forced to wait more than 12 hours to be seen at A&E. The record-high figure is 40 per cent more than the 5,024 forced to wait that long one month earlier. It is also five times bigger than in September 2020 and ten times more than the same month in 2019

Care home boss breaks down in tears after having to sack SIX members of staff over No10's 'no jab, no job' policy Theresa  who runs a home for the elderly in the Midlands  broke down today after being forced to sack six staff members who refused to get vaccinated A care home manager broke down today after being forced to sack six staff members who refused to get vaccinated against Covid  as she pleaded with Boris Johnson to 'give us a break'. Theresa Ingram-Gettins  who runs the Boldmere Court Care Home in Birmingham  said it was 'very difficult' to have to let staff go, knowing that she is sending some of them 'into poverty'. She claimed England's controversial new 'no jab, no job' policy was 'affecting people's mental health' after it kicked in at midnight and forced up to 60,000 carers out of work. The care boss added that staff still in employment were now being forced to work extra hours to make up for the vacancies, which was taking a toll on their 'physical wellbeing'. She told Good Morning Britain: 'We're tired, we're worn out, we've just come through a pandemic  give us a break Boris.' All care home workers in England, including cleaners and receptionists, are now legally required to have had both of their Covid vaccines. Boldmere, which is home to 60 residents, is one of nearly 18,000 care homes affected by the move. It's thought that as many as 57,000 care home staff failed to hit the jab deadline today, which care bosses say will create dangerous staffing levels that puts residents' lives at risk. The sector was already short of 100,000 workers before the pandemic struck. Unions have warned that the new rule was like 'taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut', given that 90 per cent of the workforce was already vaccinated. One facility in Liverpool revealed that it had lost seven per cent of its staff overnight. Advertisement

She added: 'And there are families with very real concerns that care homes just haven't got enough staff to care for their relatives properly.'

It came as a record 5.83million patients are now on NHS waiting lists for routine treatment in England, official data revealed today as hospital bosses warned they are already under 'unsustainable' pressure heading into winter.

The mammoth figure  which has snowballed since Covid struck  includes 10,000 patients who have spent two years in the queue for elective surgery, such as hip and knee replacements.

Hospitals were forced to cancel thousands of operations during the darkest days of the pandemic to make room for the infected, leaving lives 'on hold' for thousands of patients battling milder conditions.

Doctors today warned the build-up was 'concerning' because winter pressures and staffing absences have yet to hit peak levels, describing the health service as being 'on its knees'.

A poll of NHS bosses found nine in 10 felt the current situation  dealing with the pandemic-induced the backlog and Covid  is 'unsustainable' and patient care is being compromised.

Meanwhile, Labour slammed the 'dangerously lengthy' waiting times and warned the 'coming weeks are set to be the most challenging in history for the NHS'.

Social care bosses have warned No10's controversial 'no jab, no job' policy introduced today for care home staff will only pile more pressure on NHS wards because the sector has less capacity to take on patients needing to be discharged from hospitals.

There are fears the same mandate, which will apply to all frontline NHS workers from spring, will lead to an exodus of staff just as the health service comes out of a tough winter and starts to tackle the backlog.

One sign of hope is that Covid appears to be shrinking, with hospital and death rates starting to fall in line with cases now.

The NHS England data shows the backlog in September is the highest recorded since records began in 2007.

And the number of Britons waiting more than a year for treatment has soared to more than 300,000, accounting for one in 20 people on the list.

For comparison, in September 2019  before the pandemic hit  just 1,305 patients were forced to wait more than 52 weeks for treatment  less than one per cent of the waiting list.

And A&E data shows 2.1million people turned up for emergency care in October - the most ever.

But despite the total A&E admissions in England being just two per cent more than one month earlier and equal to the number of people who came forward during the same month in 2019, 7,059 patients were forced to wait more than 12 hours to be seen at A&E.

The record-high figure is 40 per cent more than the 5,024 forced to wait that long one month earlier.

It is also five times bigger than in September 2020 and ten times more than the same month in 2019.

NHS guidelines say patients must be seen within four hours.

Meanwhile, nearly 370,000 patients in England were waiting more than six weeks for a key diagnostic test in September.

A total of 369,207 patients were waiting for one of 15 standard tests, including an MRI scan, non-obstetric ultrasound or gastroscopy  used to spot tumours, digestive conditions and other illnesses.

The UK Health Security Agency's weekly Covid and flu surveillance report showed 82 people in the cohort per 100,000 tested positive in the week up to November 7. The figure is the lowest recorded since August 8, when the figure was 70.4 per 100,000. In the most recent peak, infection rates reached a high of 134.5 per 100,000 on October 24, before falling for the most recent two weeks

Covid cases in over-80s plunge to lowest level since start of AUGUST Covid infections among over-80s in England have fallen to their lowest level in three months, official figures revealed today in more evidence of the 'booster effect'. The UK Health Security Agency's weekly Covid and flu surveillance report showed 82 people in the cohort per 100,000 tested positive in the week up to November 7. The figure is the lowest recorded since August 8, when it stood at 70.4 per 100,000. In the most recent peak, infection rates reached a high of 134.5 per 100,000 on October 24, before falling for the most recent two weeks. For comparison, the infection number among the oldest Britons soared to 620 per 100,000 during the peak of the second wave in January. It comes as more than 70 per cent of over-80s have had their booster dose. The top-up jabs are a key part of the Government's plan to control infections, hospitalisations and deaths over the winter. Infection rates also fell among all other age groups, apart from children aged four and younger. Some 159 per 100,000 tested positive in the most recent seven-day period, compared to 157 per 100,000 one week earlier. Advertisement

The equivalent number waiting for more than six weeks in September 2020 was 419,841, while pre-pandemic in September 2019 there were 38,802.

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said a survey of more than 450 leaders across all parts of the health service found nine out of 10 said the situation they now face is 'unsustainable' and patient care is being compromised.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme: 'We've still got thousands of people in hospital with Covid. Hospitalisation rates have started to fall in the last few days, that's good, but there are still many patients in hospital.

'Then we've got the normal winter pressures, and then you add the huge amount of pent-up demand that has built up during the pandemic.

'You put those three things together and you've got a situation which almost every leader in the health service now says is unsustainable.'

Asked what 'unsustainable' means, Mr Taylor said it means the quality of care and patient safety is 'compromised', and also means it is very difficult for hospitals to make inroads into the 'huge' elective care backlog.

Mr Taylor said people are turning up at emergency departments with quite advanced diseases, adding there is 'overwhelming demand'.

Meanwhile, some 231,421 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in England in September, up 15 per cent from the 201,013 reported in September last year. The equivalent figure for September 2019, a non-pandemic year, was 195,196.

Urgent referrals where breast cancer symptoms were present  though not initially suspected  were up from 11,122 in September last year to 12,088 in September 2021. But the proportion of cancer patients starting treatment within a month has fallen to the lowest level since records began in 2009.

The health service's own standards set out that 96 per cent of people should begin treatment, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, within 30 days of the patient and doctor deciding to proceed with it.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Thursday holed up in a nuclear blast-proof bunker in a Covid-19 'war game' to simulate an outbreak of a lethal new strain.

Bennett, who is taking part in the simulation with his senior aides, described the day-long 'Omega Drill', named after a fictitious virus strain, as a precaution to ensure Israel was prepared for 'any scenario'.

The nuclear blast-proof complex in the Jerusalem hills, known as the 'National Management Centre', was also used to coordinate initial responses to the new coronavirus in March 2020.

Israel imposed lockdowns to try to tame three waves of Covid-19 but has kept the economy and schools open since a fourth wave hit in June, relying on measures including vaccinations, booster shots and protective masks.

Naftali Bennett (pictured visiting an IDF Homefront drill last year) described the day-long 'Omega Drill', named after a fictitious virus strain, as a precaution to ensure Israel was prepared for 'any scenario'

The drill involves civilian and military leaders being subjected to mass testing, hospital admissions and curfews, Bennett's office said in a statement. Findings from the exercise will be shared with foreign partners.

'Israel is safe and protected. In order to maintain this, and to safeguard the continuity of normal life, we must continue to closely monitor the situation and prepare for any scenario,' the statement quoted him as saying.

Bennett added: 'While it is possible to wait and see what will be and to hope for the best, the right thing to do is to prepare for any scenario, and make sure that all government ministries are ready,

'That hospitals know how to deal with extreme scenarios and that the scientists are carefully monitoring every variant that appears in the world while it is still small.'

The statement said nothing to indicate the government believed a lethal new coronavirus strain was imminent.

It also did not mention any potential flare-up in fighting with enemies among the scenarios for the drill.

The bunker was built more than a decade ago because of concern about Iran's nuclear programme and missile exchanges with Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
A mother whose baby died with Covid after she refused to be vaccinated has spoken for the first time - and said she does not regret the decision to not get the jab.

Little Ivy-Rose Court tested positive for coronavirus when she was born 14 weeks premature at the Royal Preston Hospital weighing just 2lb 30z.

Speaking for the first time, her mother Katie Leeming, 22, of Blackpool, Lancashire, said she did not get vaccinated after hearing 'horror stories' about the effects of the jab on pregnancy forums online.

After catching Covid, she was so sick that she had to give birth at just 26 weeks.

Experts have repeatedly said the jabs are safe for mothers-to-be and their babies.

But Katie said she had no regrets as she quoted the fact her double-jabbed partner caught Covid and believes there has been 'too little' research into the long-term effects on pregnancies.

Katie Leeming, 22, of Blackpool, Lancashire said she had no regrets as she quoted the fact her double-jabbed partner caught Covid and believes there has been 'too little' research into the long-term effects on pregnancies

The mother-of-three said: 'I had read about the Covid-19 vaccination on pregnancy groups.

'One lady said she had received the vaccination and that her baby was stillborn the week after.

'There obviously could have been other reasons for this, and the vaccine might not have caused it, but it scared me and put me off.

'Just hearing the horror stories about women having miscarriages made me not want to take the risk.

'I don't know if it would have made a difference or not. I had thoughts in my mind about it - what if I'd had it? Would she still be here today? What if it's my fault?

'But my midwife told me I can't afford to think like that.

'I could have still caught Covid-19 after the vaccination, or worse, if I did have it and something happened anyway, I would have blamed the vaccine.'

Katie came down with cold-like symptoms in early October and a PCR test confirmed she had caught Covid-19.

She said initially she felt 'absolutely fine', but after a week she began feeling palpitations in her chest and her heart rate soared.

'That day, I didn't feel the baby move at all, and that's why I decided to get in touch with the hospital,' she explained.

'It was there they said that the baby's heart rate wasn't as it should have been, and they had to deliver her there and then.

'I have had two other premature children, so I knew what I was expecting, and what the risks were.

'But I was trying to be as positive as I could, knowing how my other children survived. It wasn't until five days later, when she caught Covid, that she started deteriorating.

'On October 21, she started going down quickly. They told us to go in and be with her, because they weren't sure she was going to make it through the night.'

Ivy-Rose Court tested positive for coronavirus when she was born 14 weeks premature at the Royal Preston Hospital weighing just 2lb 30z

Katie, a bakery assistant who lives with her partner Lee Court and sons Alfie, four, and Charlie, three, said she was 'shocked' by Ivy-Rose's rapid decline, as her daughter had appeared 'stable' just 24 hours before.

But doctors at the Royal Preston Hospital neonatal unit, where she was transferred after being born at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, said the infant's heart rate and oxygen levels had severely declined.

She continued to deteriorate, and the heartbreaking decision was made to switch off her life support in the early hours of October 22.

Katie added: 'By 11pm, they said too much damage had been done, and the kindest thing to do would be to let her go.

'But they gave us a few hours to hold her and be with her.

'Every hour is different. I have been through all the stages of grief and back again.

'I've gone from feeling completely numb, feeling as if nothing has happened and expecting to feel the baby's movements - because I should still be pregnant with her - to completely heartbroken about how it all happened. I'm devastated.'

Katie and Lee are now hoping to prepare a spectacular send-off for their daughter, with flowers and a horse-drawn carriage.

Katie's friend Simone Threlfall, 25, set up a fundaiser to help with funeral costs.

She said: 'You don't expect to have to pay for your child's funeral. There's nothing that anyone can do to prepare for such a terrible thing.

'There's nothing we can do to make it right. All we can do is help. Katie would never ask for help, but when I told her about the fundraiser she was relieved; it was like a weight had been lifted. It's something so small, but it can mean a lot.'

A spokesman for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust added: 'We are deeply saddened about the death of Ivy-Rose and all our thoughts are with her family at this incredibly sad time.'
Virginia voters chose not to rehire Terry McAuliffe, but the former governor could find a spot in the Biden administration.

The Biden White House is considering bringing on the well-connected McAuliffe, who talked up the Biden agenda in his ultimately unsuccessful run against Republican Glenn Youngkin.

McAuliffe has spent decades at top levels of Democratic politics, only to be turned out by voters in a state Biden won by 10 percentage points in 2020.

But he has skills and connections, plus experience as a purple state governor, that make him attractive to the Biden team.

President Joe Biden's administration is interested in 'finding a spot' for former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who lost his race to Republican Glenn Youngkin this month

There seems to be an effort to identify a spot for him, rather than consider McAuliffe for an existing position. There aren't currently any cabinet-level spots to fill. The administration is 'interested in finding a spot somewhere' for McAuliffe, Punchbowl reported.

McAuliffe nationalized the race in part by repeatedly seeking to link Youngkin to Donald Trump, who continues to rail repeatedly against Biden and could run against him in 2024.

He also called for Congress to act on Biden's infrastructure agenda at a time when Democratic bickering and delays were hurting both Biden's approval and, in his assessment, McAuliffe's own campaign.

The former governor suffered disappointment on election night

Next step? McAuliffe danced on the campaign trail during his run

The Biden administration wants to hire McAuliffe, who was defeated by Republican Glenn Youngkin in his bid to return to the governor's mansion

Republican Glenn Youngkin kept some distance from Donald Trump and talked about education and Critical Race Theory in his successful campaign

Glenn Youngkin responds to reports of his 17 year old son trying to vote. He is frustrated that the media is paying so much attention to this. pic.twitter.com/uQO2luHgwx  PatriotTakes  (@patriottakes) November 10, 2021

He called on leaders to 'get their act together' three weeks before Election Day. But it wasn't until days after McAuliffe's defeat, along with a close shave for New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, that the House finally voted out the bill. Biden plans to sign it on Monday.

He made some stumbles in the race, including a comment about education at a debate, where he said 'I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.'

There were other signs this week the Virginia governor's contest is still reverberating. Youngkin responded publicly to reports his 17-year old son twice tried to vote, but was turned away.

'It was silliness, I think,' he told reporters. 'There's real confusion on where a 17-year-old can vote or not. And so he had a friend who suggested that he might be able to vote. He went up and asked ... And when they said he couldn't vote he said okay and he went to school.'

'I am a little frustrated that the media paid so much attention to it, it's my 17-year-old son and I'd really like everybody to leave my family alone.

Biden has been limited in his ability to bring on current elected officials by the 50-50 Senate and the razor-thin House Democratic majority.
Health bosses have warned hospital staff over ultrasound gel after patients have fallen seriously ill from contaminated products.

A new Patient Safety Alert has been sent to NHS hospitals by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) stating a firm link has been identified between outbreaks of a bug and the use of non-sterile ultrasound gel.

The bug, Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia), is a group of bacteria found in soil and water.

It can cause serious respiratory infections in patients who are vulnerable to illness, with symptoms including a fever, cough, congestion, shortness of breath and wheezing.

UKHSA has recorded 144 cases of the bug since 2010 linked to ultrasound gel.

The body told hospitals that, to date, cases have 'spanned a wide age range' and were 'predominantly hospitalised patients in England'.

A stock picture of a female doctor carrying out an ultrasound on a pregnant woman. A new Patient Safety Alert was sent to NHS hospitals by the UK Health Security Agency today

This has also included patients 'cared for in critical care settings'.

The warning said: 'The nature of samples and available information indicated that there were a range of clinical presentations, including some cases with serious illness.

'Although we are not aware of deaths attributed to B. cepacia infection in this outbreak, it is possible that it may have been a contributory factor for some patients.'

The bug was recovered from multiple samples of a single brand of ultrasound gel used by NHS trusts across the UK.

It has now been removed from central NHS stocks.

In the alert, UKHSA added that hospitals must ensure only sterile ultrasound gel in single-use containers is used for many procedures.

These include invasive procedures, ultrasound within 24 hours of an invasive procedure and during childbirth where a Caesarean may be needed or the baby may need an instrumental delivery.

Sterile gel must also be used for severely immunocompromised patients and all procedures in high-dependency or intensive care settings, including neonatal intensive care units.

In the event a non-sterile gel is used, it must be from a pre-filled disposable bottle or single-use sachet.

Hospitals have also been told they must stop using large containers of ultrasound gel intended for decanting and dispose of any containers still in use.

Dr James Elston, consultant in public health at UKHSA, said: 'A UKHSA investigation has previously linked contaminated ultrasound gel to cases of Burkholderia cepacia in hospital patients.

'In order to prevent further cases of this infection, we are reminding healthcare professionals to follow guidelines on the safe use of ultrasound gel.'
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President Joe Biden paid tribute to his son Beau, the 'great negro' baseball player Satchel Paige, the troops killed in Afghanistan and Colin Powell during his Veterans Day address at Arlington National Cemetery.

'Each of our veterans is a link in a chain of patriots that has stood in defense of our country,' Biden said, remarking how his own son, Beau, had called him to tell him he would be serving in Iraq. 'I said, "What in the heck have you done,"' the president recalled.

Biden paid tribute to a number of veterans alive and dead during his speech at the Memorial Amphitheater, which took place after he and First Lady Jill Biden attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which turned 100 years old on Thursday.

Biden is the first president since President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s to have had a child who served in an active conflict.

The late Beau Biden was a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was deplayed to Iraq in 2008 as an Army lawyer. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015.

The president has suggested that burn pits in Iraq could have played a role in his son developing the fatal disease. During his remarks, Biden pledged that veterans' care would be expanded to include diseases caused by Agent Orange and burn pit exposure.

It's been historically rare for a president's child to see battle, but Quentin Roosevelt, the son of President Teddy Roosevelt, was killed in action during World War I in 1918, nearly a decade after the president left office.

President Joe Biden attends a wreath laying ceremony to mark Veterans Day and the centennial anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

President Joe Biden speaks at Arlington National Cemetery to mark Veterans Day on Thursday

Troops evoked the original 1921 funderal procession of a World War I unknown soldier as part of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

President Joe Biden participates in a wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to mark Veterans Day on Thursday

Biden told an anecdote about Satchel Paige (pictured) as he gave a shout-out to 95-year-old Donald Blinken, the secretary of state's father who was on hand. Biden used the Paige story to joke about their advanced ages

Biden gave a shout-out to 95-year-old Donald Blinken, the father of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, ex-U.S. ambassador and a World War II veteran.

Veterans Day also marked the senior Blinken's birthday.

Biden made a joke about them getting up in age by telling an anecdote about baseball player Satchel Paige.

'I know that you're a little younger than I am, but I've adopted the attitude of the great negro - at the time - pitcher in the negro leagues, went on to become a great pitcher in the pros and Major League Baseball after Jackie Robinson, his name was Satchel Paige. And Satchel Paige on his 47th birthday pitched a win against Chicago,' Biden said.

Reporters asked Paige how he felt about being 47.

'He said boys that's not how I look at it. I look at it this way, how old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?' Paige replied, according to Biden.

'I'm 50 years old - and the ambassador's 47,' Biden joked.

Biden told the same anecdote when he visited with Pope Francis in Vatican City last month.

First Lady Jill Biden arrives at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday

First Lady Jill Biden attends a Veterans Day event at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary

Biden does the sign of the cross in front of the wreath during Thursday's Veterans Day ceremony

On Veterans Day, Biden (right) spoke of his own son's Beau Biden's (left) service in Iraq. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015

Blackhawk helicopters fly over the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery

Biden speaks in the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery marking Veterans Day on Thursday

Biden (right) also paid tribute to the late Colin Powell (left), who died last month due to complications with COVID-19

Taking a more serious tone, Biden spoke of three prominent veterans the nation has lost in recent weeks.

'I've lost, like many of you, three friends in the last month,' Biden told the dignitaries on hand.

Biden described Powell - who died last month due to complications with COVID-19 - as a 'friend, but who earned the universal respect of the American people for his leadership in uniform and out.'

Biden also paid tribute to Gen. Ray Odierno, who led troops during the Iraq War.

'It was an honor that my son Major Biden served under his command at the time,' the president said.

He also spoke about Vietnam veteran, the late Sen. Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in battle.

'He knew the cost of war as well an anyone could ever know it and went on to champion the dignity and care of Americans and wounded veterans throughout his life,' Biden said.

'We lost all three of these incredible veterans in the last several weeks and our hearts go out to their families,' Biden continued. 'These are stories that inspire generation after generation of Americans to step forward and defend our nation.'

President Joe Biden places a wreath during a centennial ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday

First Lady Jill Biden is captured arriving at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Thursday

Biden (left) stands alongside Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough (center) and Major General Allan Pepin (right)

Biden has been criticized for the U.S.'s frenzied exit from Afghanistan, especially after an August terror attack killed 13 servicemembers (pictured) outside of Kabul's airport

Biden talked about the costs of serving, when looking at the modern conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

'For two decades the lives of our servicemembers and their families and veterans have been shaped by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 9/11 hundreds of thousands of Americans have served. So many are still serving today in harm's way and we cannot forget them,' he said.

'But in fulfilling their mission, so many veterans and their families and caregivers have been through hell,' the president noted.

His speech touched on themes that he had preached when he justified the U.S.'s quick pull-out from Afghanistan earlier this year.

The Afghanistan withdrawal has been widely condemned, especially after 13 American servicemembers were killed in August in an ISIS-K terror attack outside the airport in Kabul, where a mass evacuation was taking place after the Afghan government fell.

'Folks, on Veterans Day we have to remember that there's nothing low risk or low cost about war,' he said.

He spoke of the 7,074 Americans who gave their lives in these wars.

And noted how 'untold thousands more returned home, as our secretary can tell you, with unseen psychological wounds of war.'

'These are the costs of war - what carries a nation for decades to come,' Biden said.

'To all veterans, servicemembers, their families, caregivers, survivors, I want you to know that our administration is going to meet the sacred obligation we owe you,' he added.

General Mark Milley (center), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, salutes as service members pass him during a full honors procession honoring the centennial anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

This year marks the centennial anniversary for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery

Troops march during a full honors procession commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on Veterans Day on Thursday

Earlier at the wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the first lady, wearing a navy suit, entered the first.

The president stood alongside Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough and Major General Allan Pepin for a playing of the Star Spangled Banner.

Biden approached the wreath alone, making the sign of the cross across his chest.

Taps then played.

Biden attended the ceremony alongside Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The marble coffin at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - which was filled with the remains of an unidentified servicemember killed in France during World War I - was sealed on November 11, 1921.

To mark the centennial, visitors were allowed to place flowers at the base of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for two days - the first time this was allowed since 1925.

Thursday morning Biden held a private reception at the White House for veterans and members of the military community.

A year ago, Biden visited the Korean War Memorial in Philadelphia on Veterans Day as president-elect of the United States. He ran his presidential transition out of nearby Wilmington, Delaware.

Former President Donald Trump went to Arlington, taking a break from challenging the election result.



Pallbearers carry the coffin of the 'Unknown Soldier' of World War I down the steps of the Capitol on November 11, 1921

100 years ago on Nov. 11, 1921, the Unknown Soldier was placed on this horse-drawn caisson and carried in a procession through Washington, D.C.

President Harding places a wreath of flowers on the casket of the Unknown Soldier in rotunda of the Capitol, November 9, 1921
Ahmaud Arbery (pictured) was chased and shot Feb. 23, 2020, after he was spotted running in the suburban neighborhood of Satilla Shores, located just outside the port city of Brunswick

Grainy video footage of Ahmaud Arbery roaming around a partly-constructed house at night five months before he was shot dead was played in front of the jury Thursday as the trial over his death entered its fifth day.

It is the same home the 25-year-old was later spotted wandering into that sparked the deadly chase by ex-cop Gregory McMichael, 65, and son Travis, 35, through the predominantly white neighborhood of Satilla Shores in the coastal city of Brunswick, Georgia on February 23, 2020.

Jurors were shown the footage as they watched a four-hour recorded deposition by construction boss Larry English, 51, who was building a 'dream second home' two houses away from the McMichaels.

The property owner said he had installed eight security cameras at the site in 2019 after reports of people entering. They were tripped remotely by motion sensors with images relayed to English's cell phone.

Arbery was captured on camera visiting the partly-constructed detached waterfront house on five occasions in the months leading to his death.

He was first seen at the property on October 25, 2019 before visiting again on November 18, December 17, and on February 11, 2020.

He was spotted at the home a final time during the day almost two weeks later on February 23 when he was chased and killed.

Grainy video footage of Ahmaud Arbery roaming around a partly-constructed home on five occasions in the months before he was shot dead last year was played in front of the jury Thursday

The 25-year-old is seen above at the same home on February 23, 2020 - the day he was chased and killed

A 45-second clip from October 25 (pictured) showed him wandering around near the back of the house at night. Larry English, who was constructing his 'dream second home', called 911 to report a 'trespasser' who he suspected was 'maybe drunk or on drugs'

English had called 911 on Arbery's first visit and on the other occasions, apart from February 23, the jury heard.

A 45-second clip from October 25 showed him wandering around near the back of the house at night.

Arbery, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, strolls around the rear of the waterfront property and is last seen heading on to a metal boat ramp. There is a boat nearby and a tool box, but he does not take anything.

Prosecutor Paul Camarillo, who had conducted the deposition, played a recording of the 911 call English placed after he became aware of a possible trespasser.

'I have a house under construction I got a camera system there. I got a trespasser there. He's a colored guy, tattooed down both arms. And he's just kind of wandering around,' he says.

'Send someone out for me please. He's got curly messed up hair. He's maybe drunk or on drugs.' Arbery was identified in the deposition by Camarillo.

English agreed that there was no evidence Arbery was drunk and that he could have been feeling his way through the dark.

But Arbery was not the only nocturnal visitor to the house, the court was shown.

On November 17, a white couple was caught on English's cameras approaching the front of the home, although there was no footage of them inside. The property owner called 911.

The jury watched a four-hour recorded deposition from English (right) who was quizzed by prosecutor Paul Camarillo (left). He confirmed he never saw Arbery steal anything from the property and agreed that there was no evidence Arbery was drunk

In the November 18 footage, Arbery is seen walking around the garage section of the home

In this December 17 video, is also seen heading out of the front, strolling on to the patch of grass near the road and then running off in shorts and a t-shirt

In none of the videos is Arbery seen taking anything or interfering with anything.

English told the court he did not believe anything was stolen during the young black man's visits.

In the November 18 footage, Arbery is seen walking around the garage section of the home, the same place he was spotted in the December 17 video. The house did not have any panels for walls, just upright timbers.

In the December 17 video, is also seen heading out of the front, strolling on to the patch of grass near the road and then running off in shorts and a t-shirt.

In the February 11 footage he again just wanders around inside the house framework. The jury saw him on the day he was killed in much clearer images.

Arbery walks in, wearing a white t-shirt, gray looking shorts and with a green bandana around his neck.

There is a white truck in a driveway and Arbery is seen walking up to the front of the property and past a security camera on the outside of the building.

Internal cameras then pick him up strolling around inside in an area English identified to the jury as his RV garage. He then goes into the car garage.

English told the jury he bought the house site as a vacant lot four or five years ago to build a 'dream home' because he has a terminal illness.

He kept a camper there for when he stayed and the site was full of tools and building materials plus a boat. None of this was disturbed by Arbery.

Travis McMichael (left), Gregory McMichael (center) and William Bryan Jr. (right) have all pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, aggravated assault and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment

Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski shows a video of Ahmaud Arbery walking through a house under construction during testimony on Tuesday

Later in the proceeding, the defense appealed to the judge to have firebrand civil rights campaigner Rev Al Sharpton banned from the court in the racially-charged case  comparing it to white people 'dressed as Colonel Sanders'.

Kevin Gough, who represents William 'Roddie' Bryan, argued that having high profile members of the black community present could 'intimidate' the jury.

His move came a day after Rev Sharpton and leading civil rights lawyer Ben Crump and joined Arbery's family in court.

Gough told the judge before the jury arrived for the afternoon session: 'If we're going to start a precedent, starting yesterday where we're going to bring high-profile members of the African-American community into the courtroom to sit with the family during the trial in the presence of the jury.. I believe it's intimidating, that's an attempt to pressure or influence.

He added: 'There's only so many pastors they can have. If their pastor is Al Sharpton right now that's fine. But that's it.

'We don't want any more black pastors in here.

'I think people can understand my concern about bringing people in who don't have any ties to this case apart from political interests.

'We want to keep politics out of this case. So I am asking the court to take appropriate steps to make sure the gallery isn't being utilized for a purpose that could be viewed as improper.

'If a bunch of folks came in here dressed at Colonel Sanders with white masks sitting in the back...

Judge Timothy Walmsley dismissed the move, saying: 'I am not going to blanketly exclude members of the public from this courtroom.'

The judge said that he hadn't heard of 'any distraction whatsoever' yesterday adding: 'From what I've here is that nobody was even aware that he (Sharpton) was in here'.

The latest development came a day after Arbery's mother Wanda Cooper-Jones launched a blistering court steps attack on the lead detective sent to investigate her son's death.

After fifth day of trial wrapped, Cooper-Jones denounced Gough's argument for a ban on high profile African-Americans being in the courtroom  while demanding life in jail for the defendants.

Speaking outside the Glynn County Superior courthouse at the end of the day, she said: 'I don't think that anything can sway the jury. I think if the jury takes the evidence that is presented that we will get justice for Ahmaud.

'For every one that played a part in the killing of Ahmaud, they get sentenced to jail for ever.'

The mom also referenced the testimony of Larry English, saying other people went on his property but they did not seem a problem, only her son.

'It was just a problem when it was Ahmaud. Ahmaud was the one paid most attention to,' she said.

'They didn't have problems with other people on the property, only Ahmaud.'

Mark McGuire, a lawyer assisting Cooper-Jones, said of the English testimony and related videos: 'All that it revealed was that Ahmaud had been on that property and never committed a crime, he had never destroyed anything, never taken anything or done anything to justify any of the brutal response that they saw that occurred on February 23.'

On Wednesday Cooper-Jones said Stephan Lowrie, who took the stand earlier that day, told the nearly all-white jury only half the story - and called testimony of her boy being trapped like a rat 'disturbing.'

'Investigator Lowrie was the individual who called me on that Sunday afternoon about 6:30pm and told me that Ahmaud had committed a burglary,' she said.

'He told me that Ahmaud had committed a burglary, he was confronted by the homeowner and Ahmaud was killed. I listened to investigator Lowrie today for about three hours. He did not tell the court that Ahmaud had committed a burglary. In fact he said nothing about a burglary.

'But instead he called me, and told me that my son (was) deceased because he had committed a burglary. That was not acceptable.'

The grieving mom went on to say: 'Ahmaud ran, Ahmaud was chased, Ahmaud was killed and then Ahmaud was lied on.'

Former cop Gregory McMichael described to Detective Sgt Rod Nohilly the young black man's tragic final moments while running through the predominantly white Satilla Shores neighborhood of the small coastal city of Brunswick, southern Georgia.

Bryan angled his truck three times to cut off Arbery, but denied striking the running man (Pictured: Image from Twitter video purporting to show Ahmaud Arbery stumbling and falling to the ground after being shot by Travis McMichael)

Gregory McMichael (left) allegedly told police that he, his son (right) and their neighbor had Ahmaud Arbery (pictured on the pavement) 'trapped like a rat,' noting that the jogger 'knew he wasn't going to get away'

Detective Nohilly told the court he interviewed McMichael after the shooting. In a transcript read out to the court, McMichael told the officer: 'He was trapped like a rat. I think he was wanting to flee and he realized that something, you know, he was not going to get away.'

The McMichael's had grabbed guns and chased 25-year-old Arbery in their white pick-up truck because they believed the jogger might have been responsible for local break-ins, their defense has said.

Accused neighbor William 'Roddie' Bryan also gave chase in his Chevrolet Silverado truck  and filmed the shocking video footage on his iPhone8 of Arbery being shot, allegedly by Travis.

Gregory McMichael, 65, has said he and Travis had shouted for Arbery to stop. He told trial witness Detective Nohilly: 'He was much faster than Travis would ever be.

'He had opportunity to flee further you know. We had chased him around the neighborhood a bit but he wasn't winded at all. I mean this guy was, he was in good shape.'

The pair began their pursuit after Arbery was spotted in a partially-constructed house on their street  which had been the subject of thefts and in which a black man had been there videoed before.

Arbery was inside the house for a short while before resuming his run in the direction of the McMichael home on the same street.

Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton (pictured Wednesday with attorney Ben Crump, Arbery's parents and their lawyers) led a prayer vigil outside the courthouse demanding justice for the jogger in a killing he described as a 'lynching in the 21st century'

Arbery's devastated mother Wanda Cooper-Jones (pictured) emerged from court later Wednesday after the trial convened for the day and branded the earlier testimony of her son being trapped like a rat as 'disturbing'

Gregory McMichael told Nohilly during an interview shortly after Arbery was shot dead: 'When he came past my house. He met the description of the video I had seen being in there (the house).

'White t-shirt, short pants plus he was hauling ass. And you know this, he was running like people don't run normally. He wasn't out for a Sunday jog. He was getting the hell out of there.

'And there was no hesitation on his part when he came to Travis. I mean, I think he was, his intention was to grab that gun and probably shoot Travis. In my mind, that's what I saw.

'And with that in mind, if he had gotten that shotgun, and there was any separation between Travis and him I was the one to cap his **s.'

Earlier, the court heard a 911 call made by a breathless Travis on the evening of February 11, 2021 - 12 days before Arbery was killed.

McMichael was breathing heavily throughout the six-minute call after telling the operator he had 'caught a guy running into a house being built' who he believed could be armed.

He said he saw the man and 'when I turned around he took off into the house'.

Panting heavily as he spoke, he continued: 'Black male, red shirt. He is in the house.

'I am sitting right across the street in my truck watching the house. He reached into his picket. I don't know whether he is armed or not. It looked like he was acting like he was. Be mindful of that.'

Travis stayed outside the house until police arrived, according to the taped call. It was not disclosed in court what happened after that  and Arbery's name was not mentioned in relation to the call in court.

Accused William 'Roddie' Bryan (pictured in court Tuesday) told police he wished he had struck Ahmaud Arbery with his pickup truck because it 'might have took him out and not get him shot,' his murder trial heard Wednesday

Former Glynn County investigator Stephan Lowrie testifies Wednesday at Arbery trial

Bryan told police he wished he had struck Arbery with his pickup truck because it 'might have took him out and not get him shot,' the trial heard yesterday.

He said he angled his truck three times to cut off Arbery, alleging that the jogger had tried to open the door but denied striking the running man.

'I probably got passed him a little bit and he comes up on me and I could see him in my mirror and he was coming for the door - and I see his hands on right behind the door,' Bryan, 52, said, according to an interview transcript former Glynn County Police investigator Stephan Lowrie read in court.

He continued: 'I didn't hit him. Wish I would have. Might have took him out and not get him shot.'

The jury of 11 white people and one black person heard Bryan describe the last few moments of 'confronted' Arbery's life, as recorded in his interview with Lowrie.

Bryan 'joined in' the chase of the young black man after spotting him running while he was working on his porch at around 1pm, the court heard.

Gregory McMichael (pictured in court Tuesday) also claimed Arbery could have out run Travis

'I was on the front porch of the house, looked up and see a black guy running down the road,' he said.

The former investigator told the court that Bryan told him he saw a truck following Arbery. After that 'he said Ya'll got him?, like a question', added Lowrie.

Asked by prosecutor Larissa Ollivierre if he said that to the 'black guy' or the truck, Lowrie said: 'To the truck.'

Lowrie said Bryan then 'went to his truck to assist and kind of joined in'. The former cop added: 'He sat there and kind of assessed and waited for Mr Arbery to come back towards him.'

Bryan angled his truck at Arbery three times during the pursuit, the court was told. But Arbery continued to run and gave Bryan the slip.

'At this point I got turned round good,' said Bryan in the interview with Lowrie, according to the transcript the former officer read in court. Bryan said he rounded a corner 'enough to see the black guy was right there, but really wasn't running any more.

'It looked like at this point, I'd say he'd just had enough of the running. He was confronted.'

The defendants' lawyers have said their clients were trying to make a lawful citizens arrest by chasing Arbery.

However, Lowrie told the court Bryan did not say anything in his interview about seeing Arbery committing a crime before he jumped in his truck.

Ms Ollivierre asked the former officer: 'What if anything did Mr Bryan say about arresting or telling Ahmaud he was under arrest for criminal trespass?'

Lowrie replied: 'He didn't.'

The ex-cop also said Bryan did not mention anything in his interview about telling Arbery he was under arrest for loitering or burglary.

Ms Ollivierre asked Lowrie: 'Did Mr Bryan ever tell Ahmaud during that chase that he was under arrest for anything?' Lowrie replied: 'No, not that I was made aware of.'

The court also heard Gregory McMichael's recount of Arbery's final moments, as described to Detective Sgt. Rod Nohilly during an interview conducted at police headquarters a few hours after the shooting.

Matt Albenze, a neighbor of the McMichaels, told the court Wednesday morning that he was outside his home chopping wood when he spotted Arbery in the partially-finished house.

The owner Larry English had previously shown him security video before of a black man on the property at night, but there was no confirmation this was Arbery.

'I noticed Mr. Arbery standing in the front yard of that house, just looking around,' he told the court.

'What came to mind was Mr. English's video. He then spotted Arbery through a window of the house.

Albenze said he grabbed a 9mm pistol and went into the street, then called the local non-emergency police line for assistance.

On the call, Albenze explained he had seen a man on the construction site and added 'he's running around here'. The operator said she was sending assistance.

The neighbor then walked in the direction of McMichaels' home a short distance away and told the court he said 'there he goes' while making a forward arm motion. But he added this was a general reaction, not a communication to the two accused.

Albenze said he then walked home. But added: 'After a few minutes I heard gunshots. I got my bicycle and rode down to the corner. I saw a police car, I saw Mr. Arbery laying on the street, I saw Greg and Travis there. It was a kind of shocking scene.

Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton - joined by attorney Ben Crump, Arbery's parents and their lawyers - led a prayer vigil outside the courthouse Wednesday demanding justice for the jogger in a killing he described as a 'lynching in the 21st century.'

He also criticized the jury seated for the racially-charged trial, echoing prosecutors' claims that it was disproportionately white.

'It's an insult to the intelligence of the American people,' Sharpton said. 'If you can count to 12 and only get to one that's black, you know something's wrong.'

Gregory McMichael - an ex-Glynn County cop and former investigator with the local district attorney's office  35-year-old Travis McMichael and William 'Roddie' Bryan, 52, all face nine charges from the killing on February 23 last year. These are malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment, and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. All have pleaded not guilty.
An alleged cartel member involved in smuggling humans across the United States-Mexico border was dragged out of the Rio Grande after he attempted to swim to Mexico to escape Texas cops who were trying to arrest him.

Jose Francisco Paz-Ruiz, who officials identified as a member of the Northeast Cartel, was spotted by officers from the Webb County Constables Office Precinct 2 outside a home and boarding a pickup truck in Laredo on Tuesday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in statement.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle near an intersection to execute the warrant, but the driver, who was not identified, did not comply and drove off.

He subsequently led cops on a high speed chase as a Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations aircraft joined the pursuit through downtown Laredo.

Jose Francisco Paz-Ruiz is known to be part of a human smuggling organization linked to the Northeast Cartel

Jose Francisco Paz-Ruiz is escorted from the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas, after he attempted to escape from Laredo police officers who were trying to arrest him on a warrant Tuesday. Paz-Ruiz, who has been identified as a member of the Northeast Cartel, tried to swim to Mexico along with another individual who remains at large

Jose Francisco Paz-Ruiz is escorted by officers with the Webb County Constables Office Precinct 2 in Laredo, Texas, moments after he was stopped from swimming to Mexico via the Rio Grande on Tuesday

The driver abandoned the vehicle under the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, where he and Paz-Ruiz jumped out and ran towards the Rio Grande as border agents and officers chased after them.

The driver was able to swim back to Mexico, but Paz-Ruiz was nabbed in the river and escorted back to the U.S. side of the Rio Grande.

CBP said that Webb County Constables Office Precinct 2 took Paz-Ruiz into custody and confiscated the vehicle.

The Webb County Constables Office Precinct 2 confirmed to DailyMail.com that he was wanted on two outstanding warrants for a hit-and-run accident and resisting arrest.

Border agents and cops pull Jose Francisco Paz-Ruiz from the Rio Grande on Tuesday moments after he attempted to swim back to Mexico and avoid being arrested by local authorities from Laredo, Texas

The precinct said that the man who was accompanying Paz-Ruiz and who swam back was not wanted for any previous crimes.

Paz-Ruiz is known to be part of a human smuggling organization linked to the Northeast Cartel.

The transnational criminal organization was created by former members of the notorious Zetas Cartel. The Zetas Cartel - which today is known as the Northeast Cartel - once was the Gulf Cartel's armed wing before splitting away in 2010.

Juan Gerardo Trevino reportedly took over as leader of the Northeast Cartel after the DEA apprehended Juan Francisco Trevino in September 2016 in Houston.

The cartel operates in the state of Tamaulipas, and has been involved in multiple conflicts with its main rival, the Gulf Cartel, as well as the Sinaloa Cartel.

According to the DEA's 2020 National Drug Threat Assessment, the cartel is one of the top nine criminal organizations from Mexico who traffic narcotics to the United States.
A motorcyclist turned private detective to track down his stolen bike after seeing it advertised on Facebook - in Romania.

Kelston Chorley, 47, was forced to embark on his own investigation after police closed his case with 'little interest' in recovering his beloved vehicle.

He was furious when his AJP PR7 bike was stolen from his garage and reported it to Thames Valley Police - but said all they did was 'log the crime' without ever looking into it.

It was then flown out of the country by thieves and ended up on the streets of a small village north of the capital Bucharest - 1,700 miles from his home in Oxford.

But after seeing it for sale on social media, Kelston jumped straight on a flight to try and get it back.

And with the help of local police in Romania, he has now been reunited with it and is in the process of getting it transported back home.

Kelston said afterwards he felt the police in Romania were similar to what Britain had 'in the 1970's'.

He said: 'I spoke to the police over here and they weren't interested, I spoke to my insurance company and they weren't interested.

Kelston Chorley, 47, had his motorbike stolen from his home garage in Oxford by crooks

He discovered it up for sale on Facebook in Romania 1,700 miles away and enlisted local force

He located the bike and it is on its way back to him at his home and its owner at last

'So basically people can nick bikes, ship them off to Eastern Europe and no one really is going to bother doing anything about it.

'When I got to the main Romanian police station in the capital they said that the best people to handle it would be the local police stations, and they were absolutely right.

'It's like the UK was in the 70's - you had a bobby on the beat and he knew what was around.

'So when I arrived at this local police station and looked at the website to see where it was, they said they could get it all nailed down and they did - they had it sorted in less than 24 hours'.

The bike, which remains in Romania but is now in storage, was previously used by Kelston to ride across the Atacama Desert.

It was stolen in July last year but Kelston has now documented his journey to Romania last month to retrieve it on a YouTube video - which has now garnered more than 25,000 views.

He added: 'I do miss those days when Britain was like that, which is why I asked in the video 'who cares?' It's a sort of racket, a bike gets stolen, the insurance gets paid out, the owner gets a new bike - that keeps the juggernaut running.

'Nobody really cares, the system is just set up to manage it. But actually for some people, their motorbike is quite precious'.

Motorbiker Kelston Chorley at home in Oxford with a similar bike to the one stolen from him

On a mission to find the culprit responsible, Kelston hopped on a flight to Bucharest within 24 hours of seeing the post.

He eventually managed to get to the police station in a small town called Matca which is where he believed the bike to be.

To Kelston's surprise, in less than a day the Romanian police tracked the motorbike down and recovered it.

Kelston said: 'I couldn't wish for more helpful policemen. They went out of their way to help, maybe because they realised I had come a very long way.

'The question you've got to ask yourselves, having come back, is if I were a Romanian and I turned up at Oxford Police Station and say there's some guy over here selling a bike nicked from Romania and I've come to find it, what would they have done?

'If you turned everything around on its head, how would they have responded? I don't think they would have been as helpful.'

Kelston, a retired osteopath and keen biker, said he was amazed that he ended up finding the bike at all, let alone getting it back.

He added: 'I expected it to be an eventful journey but not necessarily with a happy ending. I didn't expect to find it.

'I thought I'd get to the place - which I knew would be a pretty small place - and they'd try and find this person and reach a dead end or the person wasn't there, or they'd pull the advert off the site and it would come to nothing.

'Once they worked out who the man who had the bike was, they just went over there and there was the bike'.

Kelston said he even met the man who had the bike, which he said was 'really weird'.

He added: 'We shook hands and he said he'd like to buy the bike off me. I said, 'well that's not going to happen'.

'He was generally quite open and chatty and to be honest. I'm not sure if the police actually charged him. I think the arrangement was, come and bring the bike and we'll call it quits.

'He was very surprised to get caught out - I have to say - he was not expecting that.'

Kelston now has to try and arrange for the bike to be shipped back to the UK.

What Kelston says he has learnt from the extraordinary experience is that recovering a vehicle once it has been stolen is a very difficult task.

'It's a very complicated process, that is the issue. I'm not quite sure what the bottom line is going to be.

'Recovering a stolen vehicle that used to belong to you is not a simple or easy matter, It's hard enough in this country and it seems to be pretty rare that you recover it.

'When I spoke to the insurers the response seems to be that they don't really know how to deal with it because it's not something they normally come across.

'People don't usually go chasing after their stolen vehicles and find them.'

Thames Valley Police have been contacted for comment.
A married man allegedly sexually assaulted a sleeping woman after he left his wife at home to attend a friend's wedding, a court was told.

Ben Benson, 34, of Haslemere, Surrey, went to a nightclub after attending the wedding and then stayed overnight at a flat in north London, on December 15, 2018, where the alleged assault took place.

Benson stayed in the same bed as the woman, who cannot be named, telling her friend that he was concerned that she might choke on her own vomit as she was intoxicated.

But Benson allegedly sexually assaulted the woman while she was sleeping in the bed beside him. He denies sexual assault and assault by penetration.

Benson's wife had stayed at home while he attended the wedding alone because their children hadn't been sleeping well, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The complainant told jurors: 'I just remember lying on the bed and him standing over me fully clothed and smiling and saying goodbye. I have no memory of him being there.

'It's like snapshots - the night, the venue, the street, the toilet, the bed, the bed later on.'

Ben Benson, 34, of Haslemere, went to a nightclub after attending a wedding and returned to a flat in north London, on December 15, 2018, Snaresbrook Crown Court (pictured) heard

The complainant said she woke up in the middle of what she could only describe as a 'sex dream' and that she felt aroused.

Ruth Becker, defending Benson, asked if it was possible she was awake while he was touching her.

The woman said: 'No because when I woke up I was aroused. Being so sick and drunk as I was I could not imagine waking up had I not been being touched.

'When I woke up it was already happening. I think having being so sick I couldn't have had capacity to consent anyway.'

Another witness, who cannot be named, said she had earlier attended a West End nightclub with Benson and others, who had also been to the wedding earlier that day.

She told the court: 'I saw Ben when I arrived and obviously I knew Ben was married.

'He said that the kids weren't sleeping very well and so she [his wife] didn't come along.

'The club closed at 2am and people were leaving in various dribs and drabs.

'At the end of the night [the complainant] took a tumble, fell to the floor, she was picked back up and put on the sofa.

'It was at this point she had her head down and proceeded to vomit all down herself. She was definitely slumped, very not with it.'

The witness said she decided to take the complainant back to her flat, while Benson also returned to the flat after asking if he could stay there overnight.

She said the complainant 'felt very strange' and said she 'could not feel her legs', so she put her to bed in her spare bedroom.

She continued: 'I got her into bed and she went to sleep straight away.

'He [Benson] asked if he could stay to which I said "yes of course you can", I said "I'll make you a bed on our sofa".

'He said "no I'll just sleep in the bed with [the complainant]" which is a double bed.

'I said that obviously [the complainant] was passed out asleep and I said I wasn't sure because she wasn't able to say that she was comfortable with that to which [Benson] suggested that he was worried about her choking on her own vomit in her sleep.

'So at this point I assumed he had the best intentions.'

The witness said she later discussed the alleged incident with the complainant, who described him as 'very handsy' and claimed he had 'put his fingers inside of her'.

She continued: 'She [the complainant] said that he had put his fingers inside of her. She said he was very handsy.

'She said that she wasn't sure that it was happening at first because she obviously hadn't been with it during the night.

'But she felt she couldn't stop it because she felt that she couldn't move her legs.'

Benson denies sexual assault and assault by penetration.

The trial continues.
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Mesmerising images providing a glimpse of Britain's rolling countryside and picturesque coastlines and cities have been captured from the air using drones.

The series of stunning aerial shots show the nation's majestic sites in all its glory, from the spectacular agricultural views of Somerset to the jaw-dropping beauty of rural Scotland.

The photographs are all entries in the Shot On My Drone competition by the Civila Aviation Authority (CAA) which aims to both highlight the incredible images the devices can capture and also educate people about drone safely.

Among the incredible images is one showing the setting sun over a beach in St Ives, Cornwall, and another of the White Cliffs of Dover.

The thousand-year-old Corfe Castle rising above an atmospheric mist on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset is also among the fascinating images.

Sitting just a stone's throw away from Harland Moor National Nature Reserve, the ancient castle built by William the Conqueror and dating back to the early 12th century stands on the top of a 180ft-high hill and can be seen from miles around.

Among the incredible images was one of a beautiful sunset over Loch Duich which is located on the western coat of Scotland in the Highlands

One of the incredible images shows the bright turquoise sea surrounding the L'Etacquerel Fort in Jersey. Built in the mid-19th Century on a cliff side overlooking Bouley Bay, the fort offers views of Jersey's rugged north coast

A view from above a picturesque beach in St Ives, Cornwall, is among the incredible images that have been submitted to the Shot On My Drone competition

Another mesmerising image shows the sun's rays bouncing off the White Cliffs of Dover, which form part of the North Downs. The cliffs are one of this country's most spectacular natural features and official icon of Britain

The sun setting over the rolling hills and greenery in Killiecrankie, a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, is among the incredible images

Elsewhere another another sunrise photo captures the woodland beauty of the Forest of Dean bathed in morning light.

While another image shows the bright turquoise sea surrounding the mid-19th century L'Etacwuerel Fort in Jersey.

And another shows the historical Ashton Memorial in Lancaster which was commissioned by Lancaster industrialist Lord Ashton.

More than 300,000 Britons fly drones and model aircraft, although research by the CAA found 20 per cent of them and half of the general public are unaware that the organisation's approval is usually needed to fly one in a town or city.

The survey also showed that two-thirds of drone users would prefer to capture images in the countryside and of those 31 per cent would choose to take the shot over hills or mountains.

More than 28 per cent said they would prefer to capture drone footage near the coast, while 19 per cent said they would capture images of a lake or river.

The new competition aims to educate people on the drone permissions required to fly across towns, cities, and the UK countryside and the categories include; urban night, urban day and countryside.

Another images shows the historical Ashton Memorial in Lancaster which was commissioned by Lancaster industrialist Lord Ashton as a tribute to his late wife Jessy

A drone was able to capture the Slapton Sands and Torcross Beach which is located in the coastal resort of Devon

The picturesque St Ninians Isle is a small tied island within Scotland which is also part of the civil parish of Dunrossness on the South Mainland

Lake Windermere in Cumbria's Lake District National Park is around ten miles long and 220 feet deep and is the largest natural lake in both the Lake District and in England

Another image shows the sunset at the thousand-year-old Corfe Castle in Dorset which was built by William the Conqueror and dates back to the early 12th century

A shot of the sunrise, mist and shadows at Abbotskerswell in Devon was also among the incredible images captured by drone

A picture of the Whitby Harbour in North Yorkshire is also among the mesmerising images that have been submitted into this year's competition

One image shows the Ouse Valley Viaduct in Sussex which is located between Haywards Heath and Balcombe and was originally built in 1838 to carry the London-Brighton line over the River Ouse

The Orwell Bridge in Suffolk is a concrete box girder bridge that opened to road traffic in 1982 and carries the A14 the A45 over the River Orwell

One incredible shot submitted to judges for the drone photography competition shows the Brighton Marina in East Sussex, illuminated at night

St Nicholas Church, in Basildon, Essex, was built in the 13th century and the chancel and south aisle were added in the 14th century

This image captures Autumn by the waterside in Ambleside, Cumbria, as mist begins to make its way in the background

Those who take part in the competition must have varying levels of approval to enter.

The lucky winner will receive a DJI Mavic Air drone while other prizes include special backpacks designed to carry drones.

The CAA's assistant communications chief Jonathan Nicholson said: 'The launch of #ShotOnMyDrone aims to showcase some of the stunning images that UK drone users take while also reminding everyone that whether they're flying in a town, city, or the countryside, they must comply with our Dronecode and stay safe when flying a drone.'

The winners in each category will have their images placed on display at the prestigious London headquarters of the UK Royal Aeronautical Society.

The competition is open until January 31, 2022 and can be entered at caa-dronecomp.uk.

Glen Cova is one of five such narrow valleys in Angus, Scotland, and proffers jaw-dropping views of the glaciated landscape

A set of four merged structures in the Aust Viaduct, the Severn Bridge, the Beachley Viaduct and the Wye Bridge, the Severn Bridge connects England and Wales and was built in the 1960s

Photographer Steve Valentine captured this gorgeous shot of sunlight bursting through the clouds above an ochre field of hay bales in Somerset

Burrow Mump and its eighteenth century ruined church of St Michael watches over Southlake Moor in the village of Burrowbridge within the English county of Somerset, as it rises above atmospheric mist

The advantage of a drone's agility meant this vantage point could be achieved, producing a fine image of the bridge over the River Wear in Bishop Aukland, County Durham

This mysterious crop circle was first spotted in 2018 near Sixpenny Handley in Dorset and has become a regular feature of the surrounding area

A rather wonderful winter shot of rust-coloured bushes on an emerald and yellow hill along the Ridgeway path in Oxfordshire

The Clifton Suspension Bridge has perhaps never looked more beautiful as it does from more than 340 ft in the air, which is within the CAA's Dronecode regulation cap of 400ft

Glen Doll sits at the top of Glen Cova in the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, with this low-flying drone shot offering a view of the mountains from just above the top of surrounding trees

The Mendip Hills of Somerset rise up, bathed in golden light as the sun beats down from the heavens above the south west of England

There is unlikely a more peaceful sight in Britain than the serene scene of snow-crested hilltops and fields in the ancient pathway of the Ridgeway

Drones don't only allow for amazing photoraphs of nature but feats of human engineering too. Here, rows of solar panels soak up the sun's energy and convert it into electricity in Somerset

Sunset over the Lake District's Derwent Water in Cumbria was pictured offering its last throws of warmth on a set of boats for hire on the beach and piers of north west England

This rocky beach formation on the coast of Scotland has the uncanny trait of looking like a slightly speckled azure eye from above

The hooked curl of the River Tweed in Melrose on the Scottish Borders may one day become an oxbow lake if it's wide meander is ever cut off by years of erosion

Brookwood Military Cemetery (pictured) is the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission war cemetery in the United Kingdom with more than 5,800 graves

The Mendip Hills (pictured) separate the Somerset Levels from the north Somerset Levels, which are a set of marine clay 'levels' at the coast and inland peat-based 'moors'
Police forces across America are preparing for civil unrest in reaction to the looming verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse case that is growing increasingly likely to be a mistrial or an acquittal.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for murdering two white BLM protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last August. The teenage gunman claims he was defending his hometown from an angry mob, but his critics say he embodies the systemic racism the victims were protesting against.

Closing arguments are expected next week but the case has already been thrown into chaos, with many expecting it will either end in acquittal or mistrial.

Rittenhouse's lawyers have asked for a mistrial because prosecutors introduced banned evidence. Some legal experts have now suggested it was a deliberate move to throw the trial as their chances of convicting grew narrower.

Court is now back in session, but the heat surrounding the case is increasing and police forces across the country are among those watching closely as to how it will play out.

Early this morning, the judge revealed that the court has been inundated with 'communications from members of the public' including offensive emails.

The judge was branded a racist in some of them, and attorneys on both sides have also been targeted.

Chicago PD sent a memo to officers this week notifying them that one of their days off this weekend had been canceled, claiming it was due to 'current crime patterns' in the city. Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara claims it is in anticipation of 'upheaval' from the Rittenhouse trial.

Teenage Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse is on trial for first degree reckless homicide for killing two white BLM protesters last summer. The trial is expected to come to a close either this week or next week

Chicago PD has canceled officers days off this weekend to 'enhance public safety' and police unions say it is to do with the Rittenhouse verdict looming

He said in a video posted on YouTube on Monday, he fumed at the canceled time-off, and said: 'They do not get to keep saying we need manpower just in case a verdict doesn't go positive, and all of a sudden there's upheaval.'

The police department is now refusing to confirm or deny his claims, or whether they anticipate uprising this weekend or next week.

All they will say is: 'To enhance public safety and to address current crime patterns, all full-duty sworn members will have one regular day off cancelled this upcoming weekend between November 12, 2021 through November 14, 2021.'

Other departments in major cities are also being tight-lipped on whether they anticipate trouble, and what they are doing - if anything - to offset it.

The LAPD refused to reveal whether or not any special preparations had been made because of the trial when contacted by DailyMail.com on Thursday morning.

All a spokesman would say was: 'The Los Angeles Police Department will have sufficient amount of officers in an event if anything arises.'

There was silence from the NYPD, LA County Sheriff, DC Metro Police, Minneapolis Police and Philadelphia PD.

Now youve got what could be violent nights ahead, vax mandates where police officers are being sent home by the hundreds if not thousands... we could have some trouble brewing Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith, National Police Association

Portland Police Department, which was almost disbanded entirely by BLM and now only has 788 officers, told DailyMail.com it was 'monitoring' the situation but hadn't yet deployed any extra resources.

'PPB is monitoring the situation and will deploy resources if needed based on information available,' a spokesman said.

Washington DC Metropolitan Police said: 'MPD closely monitors leading events across the country and across the world.

'MPD maintains a level of preparation that would allow it to respond appropriately to any emerging concerns that may arise should it become necessary.'

Sergeant Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesman for the National Police Association and a retired cop who worked in the Chicago area for decades, said forces will not want to disclose exactly what they are doing for fear of alerting protesters who can then circumvent them.

'Id guess that perhaps theyre just trying to be prepared without too much being known to potential protesters. A lot of jurisdictions will be doing that.

'One of the things, when we go back to George Floyd riots and others, some departments were caught unawares of hw bad the situation was going to be.

'Law enforcement has learned from recent history...they're going to try to be prepared,' Sgt. Brantner Smith told DailyMal.com on Thursday.

She said there was potential for things to turn 'ugly' in Kenosha, Madison and Milwaukee.

'Im sure Kenosha are preparing for riots. That was one of the things  when Jacob Blake shooting happened that led to the Kenosha riots, it was because the city leadership in Kenosha did not get a handle on it.

'Theyre going to have to make preparations for the safety of the jurors, everyone involved in the trial.

'Madison, there may be some issues there, Milwaukee  a large, large city. Im sure theres preparations being made there.'

One potential problem, she said, would be police staff shortages that have been compounded by COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

'With cities like Portland and Chicago- there are staffing shortages already and then lets add the vax mandates, and the shortages caused from that.

'Now youve got what could be violent nights ahead, vax mandates where police officers are being sent home by the hundreds and thousands, we could have some trouble brewing,' she said.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 President John Catanzara claims it is in anticipation of 'upheaval' from the Rittenhouse trial.

Riots raged throughout the summer last year and some rose again in April after the killing of Daunte Wright, a black man killed by cops in summer. Police forces say they will be 'ready' for any uprising that comes from the Kenosha verdict next week

In Kenosha, where the trial is ongoing, shopkeepers still have boards on their windows from last year's protests.

The police department there will not discuss what is being done to offset any potential uproar, but it appears officers are on high alert.

'KPD wants our community to know that our priority during the upcoming trial is the safety of our community and every person that calls Kenosha home or visits our city,' the police department said at the start of the trial.

The Wisconsin National Guard will neither confirm nor deny if troops are being put on high alert.

Police across the US are bracing for uproar as Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse's trial draws to a close.

Rittenhouse was 17 when he shot and killed two white BLM protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last August using an AR-15 at the height of civil unrest across America.

The case divided America; some viewed him as a patriotic vigilante who was defending his town from an angry mob.

At the same time as the Rittenhouse trial, the men charged with killing Ahmaud Arbery are on trial in Georgia

Others said he embodied the systemic racism that sent thousands onto the streets to protest police brutality, especially because Rittenhouse, a young white man, was treated with a soft touch by law enforcement before eventually being arrested.

Whether he is acquitted or convicted, outrage is guaranteed.

There is also the possibility that the judge may declare a mistrial, given the prosecution's decision to introduce evidence that had been specifically banned earlier this week.

Rittenhouse's lawyers asked for a mistrial with prejudice yesterday.

If the judge grants it, it means the teenager cannot be retried on the same charges.

There are also concerns that a trial verdict may be reached around the same time as a jury reaches a verdict in the killing of black jogger Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia.

Arbery was shot dead in February 2020 by three white men who claimed they thought he was a burglar. They are on trial for murder as a hate crime in Brunswick.
Joe Biden, whose son was an Iraqi war veteran, will on Thursday use his first Veterans Days address as president to announce a push to better look after troops who suffered ill health after exposure to hazardous materials.

Biden himself has long contended that his son Beau's brain tumor was linked to burn pits used by troops to dispose of garbage.

Senior White House officials said the plans would make it easier for veterans to prove that they were exposed to hazardous materials and would include efforts to find links between exposure and potentially deadly diseases.

The issue is intensely personal for Biden.

The younger Biden deployed from October 2008 until September 2009 as a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard.

In 2013, he was diagnosed with a tumor, and he died two years later at age 46.

'He volunteered to join the National Guard at age 32 because he thought he had an obligation to go,' said Biden in 2019.

'And because of exposure to burn pits, in my view, I can't prove it yet, he came back with stage four glioblastoma.'

President Biden's son Beau died in 2015 from a brain tumor after serving in Iraq. Biden has said he believes the tumor was linked to exposure to burn pits, used to dispose of garbage

The plans will make it easier for veterans to prove they were exposed to hazardous materials and would include efforts to find links between exposure and potentially deadly diseases

Master Sgt. Darryl Sterling, 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron equipment manager, tosses unserviceable uniform items into a burn pit in Iraq. But the practise has frequently raised concerns that troops were being exposed to toxic fumes

The pits were used at U.S. military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Everything from human waste to dangerous items, such as batteries and plastics, were doused in fuel and set alight sending toxic fumes into the air.

'We're discovering there is a whole host of lung conditions related to deployment,' said Dr. Richard Meehan, an immunologist and rheumatologist at the Denver-based National Jewish Health Center of Excellence on Deployment-Related Lung Disease.

The new effort will center on lung problems suffered by troops who breathe in toxins and the potential connection between rare cancers and time spent overseas breathing poor air, according to senior White House officials.

Federal officials plan to start by examining lung and breathing problems but say they will expand the effort as science identifies potential new connections.

The new rules will allow veterans to make claims within 10 years of service, and the government has changed how it determines what symptoms count and why.

Proposals will also include establishing a network of specialized providers and call centers.

Biden is due to travel to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on Thursday to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony and deliver remarks.

The U.S. military has been aware for years of health risks associated with open-air burn pits.

In 2013, federal investigators found a military camp in Afghanistan was operating a pit for more than five years, nearly four times longer than Pentagon rules allowed.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough told NBC News that the U.S. must do more for personnel exposed to burn pits since the start of the first Gulf War in 1991

The Defense Department has said burn pits should be used only as a temporary last resort when no other alternative trash disposal method is feasible, still they have persisted for years.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said the U.S. must do more for personnel exposed to burn pits since the start of the first Gulf War in 1991.

'I have said I consider it a failing of the United States government, until now, during those 30 years, that it's only now under President Biden that we've even begun to cover [some of those] conditions,' he told NBC News.

'The biggest challenge there is proving the scientific connection between those chemicals and that cancer.

'And I'm duty-bound by the law to have a firm connection there. So that's the biggest challenge.'
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Moving images show how thousands gathered across the US to honor the nation's fallen, as well as veterans and active-duty service members, on Veterans Day with a series of festive parades, ceremonies at various memorials and moments of silence for the fallen on Thursday, also the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

A procession including members of the military took place along the streets of Arlington, Virginia, to honor those who have served, with soldiers dressed in uniforms from previous wars and in military formations.

Big cities like New York, Nashville, and Milwaukee hosted parades, while San Diego has brought back the beloved boat parade.

Nashville's parade set off into the rainy weather with a police motorcade, an array of patriotic flags, and more.

New York City set off its 102nd parade this year and will host the largest ceremony in the country.

The large display featured more than 25,000 marchers in 300 units - including active-duty members, veterans groups and JROTC members - 30 floats and more than 150 military vehicles.

A retired WWII veteran of the US Army Air Corp, Walter Rybarczik, 100, takes part in a memorial service in New York City. He wore a sash that said 'Greatest Generation' and a hat honoring his time in the war

A group of people holding a large American flag pass by 36th street in Manhattan during the parade

A group of servicemembers walk with flags through the streets of New York during the parade on November 11

The large parade went through downtown Manhattan, starting at 25th and Fifth and going up to 42nd Street

Active duty service members also participated in the ceremony. A Vietnam veteran salutes and waves as he takes part in New York City's Veterans' Day parade

Army Infantry veteran Jose Rodriguez, 105, was one of the spectators of the parade. The wheelchair-bound veteran was surrounded by family and an old photograph of him in uniform and his wife

A veteran has an American flag stuck in his hate as he watched the memorial parade in St. Louis

A woman carries a bouquet of flowers and wears a shirt with a loved one face on it who died in Afghanistan

Servicemembers line up in formation as they prepare to march through NYC

Two children stand in the back of a military Jeep with waving American flags as two soldiers drive down the streets of NYC

Members of the Army pay respect to the fallen during the minutes of silence at the memorial service ahead of the parade in Madison Square Park in New York City

New York Governor Kathy Hochul attended the New York City parade - the largest in the nation. It featured more than 300 marching units - including active-duty members, veterans groups, and JROTC members - 25,000 marches, 30 floats and over 150 military vehicles

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio looked emotional has he held his hand over his heart at a memorial service at Madison Square Park in Manhattan

De Blasio, who appeared emotional earlier in the day, was smiling brightly as he walked along with a military band

New York City Mayor-Elect Eric Adams joined the parade and shook hands with some of the NYPD

New York Attorney General and Governor hopeful Letita James and Curtis Sliwa, who lost the NYC mayoral race against Eric Adams also attended the parade

Tulsa, Oklahoma, hosted its 103rd parade with an array of dancers, cars, music, and flags. The theme was Never Forget in honor of it being 20 years since 9/11.

San Diego will unleash a large fleet of boats later this afternoon that are decked out in patriotic designs and colors. Sixty pleasure boats, as well as the Vietnam-era Swift Boat PCF 816 and the Tall Ship Californian, will also be sailing. The boats will carry active-duty members and their families on board.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and other world leaders paid respects by participating in an moment of silence.

A group of military members and politicians gathered at a invite-only ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

This year's ceremony was designed to model the original internment of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from 100 years ago.

It is also the first time tourists could pay their respects up close, according to Roll Call. The public was invited to place flowers near the Tomb, which was blocked off on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the Thursday ceremony.

A large memorial of flowers were displayed in New York City's Madison Square Park where one service member saluted his fallen comrades

A large US flag was carried through the streets of Manhattan with several people of all ages helping to carry its weight

A Republic of Korea Marine Mun Kim, who fought alongside in the war, paid his respects at the Korean War Memorial

A woman visited the Vietnam War Memorial to touch her brother's name on the wall

US Army veteran Sergeant Samuel Perry, 78, participates in the 17th annual Marietta Veterans Day Parade in Marietta, Georgia. Perry served two tours in the Vietnam War

It was the first time in 96 years the public has been allowed to lay flowers in front of the Tomb.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the final resting place for three unidentified American service members, dating back to 1921.

President Joe Biden placed a wreath in front of the Tomb before quietly saying a prayer and making the sign of the cross at the 11 a.m. ceremony.

Biden attended the ceremony alongside Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dressed in a somber black suit and tie, and donning a face mask, the president and his wife Jill attended the ceremony in Virginia to mark the 100th anniversary of the Unknown Solider.

Biden also announced his new health care plan for veterans. The effort centers on lung problems suffered by troops who breathe in toxins and the potential connection between rare cancers and time spent overseas breathing poor air, according to the White House.

The new plan holds a special place in the president and first lady's hearts as the couple's son Beau, who died of a brain tumor in 2015, was an Iraq War veteran. Beau was a member of the Delaware Army National Guard and was deployed to Iraq as a lawyer.

Biden is the first president since Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s to have had a child who served in an active conflict.

The president has said previously that he suspected Beau's exposure to burn pits in Iraq contributed to his death from cancer.

Two ladies hold signs saying 'we [heart] our veterans' and 'we can't all be heroes' signs in New York City as the parade passed by them

A large crowd of people stand against the barricades to watch the parade, which was spectator-less last year due to COVID-19

A mom hugs her daughter and dog at a ceremony in Tom Kaiser Park in Boynton Beach in Florida

A soldier stands in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Solider on Veterans Days to honor those who have fallen

A wreath of beautiful, brightly colored flowers surrounds the tomb as soldiers pay their respects

President Biden placed the wreath in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before saying a silent prayer for the fallen

Veterans Day holds a special in President Joe Biden's heart. His son (pictured), who died in 2015, was deployed to Iraq. Biden announced a new veteran healthcare plan to include health problems that occur due to being exposed to toxic air. Biden has said he believes Beau's death could have been partially caused by the burn pits he was exposed to

Troops march through the streets on the centennial anniversary of the Tomb in Arlington

A crowd gathers to watch the procession and and honor active duty, retired and fallen US service members in Arlington

A flyover took place over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arrington

Soldiers watch the flyover in Arlington, Virginia, ahead of the wreath-laying ceremony

'Because of his exposure to burn pits, in my view - I can't prove it yet - he came back with stage four glioblastoma,' Biden said in 2019, according to ABC 7. 'Eighteen months he lived, knowing he was going to die.

'Anybody who was anywhere near those burn pits, that's all they have to show and they get covered, they get all their health care covered.'

Biden also mentioned how he lost 'three good friends' in the 'last several weeks' during his speech at Arlington National Ceremony.

Sparkly dancers cheered on the crowd as they danced through routines in the parade

Milwaukee, Wisconsin posted a parade. A group of women carried a banner that read 'blue star mother' and waved flags

A Navy veteran stands by a submarine and an American flag and a striped flag that read 'don't tread on me' with a figure of a snake

A color guard, out of Berrien Springs, Michigan, stands in a steady rain during a Veterans Day ceremony

'I must say to you that a single greatest honor I've been afforded as president is to stand before so many of you Medal of Honor [recipients] out there,' Biden said when starting his speech at the ceremony.

'To all our veterans past and present, we thank and honor you and we remember always what you've done for us.'

He also said 'to be a veteran' it means enduring the challenges 'most Americans will never know.'

'You are the spine of the country. All of us - all of us - own you,' the president said. 'And every day we honor that great debt.'

Biden also said it's a 'lifetime sacred commitment, it never expires' and that it was a 'personal issue' to take care of veterans both while they are active duty and retired.

'I learned what it was like to pray every day for someone you love to come home, some of you have done that.'

The VA is now testing the pilot program and Biden has told the agency to provide recommendations on the new presumptive conditions - constrictive bronchiolitis, lung cancers and rare respiratory cancers.

The Biden administration will add to the list of presumptive conditions, including mental health and LGBT+ programs, within 90 days.
Only six healthy children died of Covid during England's first year of the pandemic, an analysis of NHS data has found.

Experts found a total of 25 youngsters died from the virus between March 2020 and February 2021. But the majority had underlying health conditions which made them vulnerable to the virus.

Of the six healthy children which died four were killed by the virus itself, while two succumbed to the Kawasaki-like disease called Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally (PIMS-TS).

Considering the 12million children in England, the researchers say this gives healthy children a one in 500,000 chance of dying from the virus.

This roughly the same as their odds of being admitted to intensive care if they catch the virus.

The latest data casts doubt on arguments to vaccinate children to protect them from the virus and of shutting schools, with the authors noting the dangers of depriving children from education and social activities could be greater than the virus itself.

This chart shows the number of children who have died over the course of the pandemic between March 2020 and February 2021

A total of 25 children were found to have died, with 19 of these having an underlying condition and six being healthy

Study author Professor Russell Viner, an expert in child and adolescent health from University College London, said the findings demonstrated the comparatively small risk Covid posed to children.

'There were only 25 deaths in this age-group from Covid in the year, compared with over 100,000 amongst adults,' he said.

'Any death of a child is one too many  but we sadly must recognise there are over 3,000 deaths of children and young people in England in ordinary years.'

Professor Viner also said the majority of the children that did die from Covid were vulnerable to similar diseases that circulate during the year.

One in SIX children have a mental health problem and two-thirds say their lives were worse in lockdown One in six children now have a mental health problem and rates of eating disorders have nearly doubled in young people since 2017, a major NHS study has warned. It found the Covid pandemic may have exacerbated the mental health crisis in young people, with two-thirds of children saying their lives were worse in lockdown. The report estimated 17.4 per cent of children aged six to 16 had a 'probable' mental disorder now, compared to 11.6 per cent, or one in nine, in 2017. In older teens, the prevalence of mental health issues is believed to have risen from one in 10 to one in six, according to the survey of more than 3,600 youngsters. Two-thirds of under-16s claimed lockdowns had made their lives worse, with social isolation and school closures to blame. Meanwhile, the proportion of youngsters with eating problems has almost doubled since 2017 to 13 per cent. Nearly one in six older teens were suspected of having an eating disorder, which could include anorexia and bulimia in extreme cases. Professor Dame Til Wykes, a clinical psychologist at King's College London, said the rises 'may have been accelerated by the pandemic'. She told MailOnline: 'But it seems part of a longer term progression and recognition of mental health difficulties in the young.' Advertisement

'The great majority of those who died were children and young people we know are sadly at much higher risk of death due to other serious medical conditions,' he said.

'I emphasise that this doesnt mean children with allergies or asthma but those very small groups who were vulnerable to winter viruses in any previous year.'

Of the 25 children that died the majority (72 per cent) were over 10, with 15 having a life-limiting condition and 16 having two or more comorbidities.

While 61 children in total were recorded as having died of Covid in the initial analysis of data, the researchers found the virus had only contributed to the death in 25.

The data also found children from Asian and Black ethnicities were over represented in the Covid deaths compared to other causes.

Asian ethnicity children made up 36 per cent of the Covid deaths and Black children made up 20 per cent, compared to 16 per cent and 8 per cent of total deaths.

In total, the study found Covid contributed to 0.8 per cent of total deaths of children in the timeframe of the study.

In comparison, 124 children died from suicide and there 268 deaths from trauma.

The study does have limitations, with the impact of the Delta variant which took hold in the UK in May this year and of schools reopening in March, not being included in the data.

But the authors, who published their findings in the journal Nature, say they expect their findings to still be relevant to the current pandemic situation.

The study adds weight to research showing Covid poses a vanishingly small threat to children, compared to adults.

According to the latest Government data 10-14-year-olds account for the majority of Covid cases in England, with 751,159 cases. But children are tested regularly because of virus-fighting schemes adopted in schools.

No10's vaccine advisory panel, the JCVI, has said the risk of Covid death in a healthy child is around one in 2million.

Earlier this year it claimed immunising 12-15-year-olds would only provide 'marginal' benefit to their health, which was not enough to advise a mass rollout.

Children between 10-14-years-of-age account for largest number of Covid cases by age demographic since the start of the pandemic

In September the JCVI said it could not recommend Covid jabs for healthy 12 to 15-year-olds because the direct benefit to their health was only marginal. It also looked at the risk of health inflammation - known as myocarditis - in young people given the Pfizer vaccine, which was still very small but slightly more common after a second dose

But the experts recommended ministers sought the advice of Professor Chris Whitty and the chief medical officers in the devolved nations.

They came down in favour of expanding the inoculation drive after weighing up the wider benefits to children, claiming that hundreds of thousands of school absences could be prevented.

There have also been concerns children are being put at risk of heart inflammation, also called myocarditis, a rare complication of the Pfizer Covid vaccine.

While rare, only happening in up 12 to 34 million cases on the second dose of the jab the prospect was concerning considering children themselves gain little benefit from being vaccinated against Covid.
Texas Border Patrol agents found 67 migrants hiding behind a makeshift plywood wall erected inside a cargo truck - with a rapist and two other felons among them.

Agents assigned to the Big Bend Sector's Alpine Border Patrol Station were manning a checkpoint on Highway 118 south of Alpine on Tuesday when they stopped the box-style truck driven by a U.S. citizen, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.

The border patrol officers found the group, including a 17-year-old who was unaccompanied, concealed in the rear part if the cargo box behind two makeshift walls made out of plywood panels.

Border Patrol agents assigned to Big Bend Sector's Alpine Border Patrol Station were manning a checkpoint on Highway 118 south of Alpine on Tuesday and stopped a U.S. citizen who was driving a truck with 67 migrants hiding inside. Three of the individuals had been convicted for felonies and deported from the United States

CBP said migrant group consisted of 41 Mexicans, 19 Guatemalans, four Hondurans and three Salvadorans

The migrants were transferred to the Alpine Border Patrol Station where a criminal background check revealed that three individuals had been convicted on aggravated felony charges that included rape, possession with intent to distribute narcotics and other crimes.

Those felons have not been named, and further details of when and where their crimes were committed have also been withheld.

'Immigration checkpoints are an essential tool in the U.S. Border Patrol's missing to protect our nation's borders,' Big Bend Sector chief patrol agent Sean McGoffin said. 'Transnational criminal organizations put profit over human life often with devastating consequences.'

The group consisted of 41 Mexicans, 19 Guatemalans, four Hondurans and three Salvadorans. All were processed according to immigration guidelines.

It's unknown if the migrants had been smuggled directly from Mexico or if they were being moved to another city.

The truck driver, who has not been named, is facing charges of transporting undocumented migrants and transporting a previously convicted felon.

'That unscrupulous smugglers put lives in danger to support their criminal activity is reprehensible,' said Taekuk Cho, Homeland Security Investigations' acting special agent in charge in El Paso, Texas. 'Homeland Security Investigations continues to collaborate with our special law enforcement partners to prevent Transnational criminal organizations from putting greed and profit before human life.'

Data released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in late October showed that U.S. Border Patrol agents reported 1.7 million encounters with migrants who unlawfully crossed the United States-Mexico border in fiscal year 2021, the highest since 1986.

As many as 146,925 unaccompanied children were interdicted at the southwestern border.
Indonesia's religious council has declared cryptocurrency forbidden for Muslims.

The National Ulema Council (MUI) said today trading in virtual monies is haram, or forbidden, under Islam because it involves elements of 'uncertainty, wagering and harm'.

MUI's head of religious decrees Asrorun Niam Sholeh confirmed the news and said the council would only be able to endorse cryptocurrency trading if it shows a 'clear benefit' and follows Sharia tenets.

The council's East Java branch made the same ruling last month but it was not confirmed nationally until today.

The decision follows a surge of interest in cryptocurrencies in Indonesia in 2021 with 6.5million new investors and a 1,772 per cent increase in national engagement with articles on the topic.

Indonesia, which boasts the world's largest Muslim population, uses the rupiah as its sole currency and virtual monies are not considered legal tender.

Indonesia's religious council has today declared cryptocurrency haram, or forbidden, for Muslims

The MUI is Indonesia's highest authority on Islamic finance and is consulted by both the finance ministry and central bank on compliance issues.

However, the decision is unlikely to end all cryptocurrency trading in Indonesia - the industry tallied $26billion in transactions in the first five months of 2021 - though it may lead to a decline in investments in virtual currencies by many Muslims.

Other Muslim-majority states have allowed some form of cryptocurrency trading - the United Arab Emirates allows trading in Dubai's free zone while Bahrain backs crypto assets.

It comes after El Salvador in September became the world's first nation to approve Bitcoin as legal tender after the country's congress voted to approve it in law in June.

The Central American country made history when it bought its first 200 bitcoins, becoming the first known nation to do so.

The US dollar had been the countrys official currency for the past two decades.

It later bought an additional 200 bitcoins, bringing its total investment Monday to about $21million based on its value at the time of the acquisition.

Bitcoin is now mandated as an accepted payment in the Central American country, and Salvadorans can use it for all purchases.
An accused drug lord who was found hiding in the back of a truck during a dramatic border arrest has been hit with a new outstanding arrest warrant charge after returning to Sydney in shackles.

Mostafa Baluch's desperate bid for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes in a shipping container at the Queensland/ NSW border on Wednesday morning.

Baluch - who is facing charges over a 900kg haul of cocaine - allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor while on bail and sparking 'one of the largest fugitive hunts in the country'.

NSW Police have since charged Baluch - who is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday - with an outstanding arrest warrant.

Baluch finally left the Southport watchhouse around 1pm on Thursday under heavy police guard for his long-awaited return to NSW.

He scowled as he was escorted onto a waiting police plane, shoeless and wearing green prison-issue clothing.

The accused drug lord then landed in a small PolAir6  a Cessna Grand Caravan - at Bankstown Airport on Thursday evening, with images from the runway showing him being led off the plane in shackles.

Baluch was believed to be attempting to flee Australia but has now arrived in Sydney to face a series of major drug charges

Baluch - dubbed 'Australia's Pablo Escobar' - allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor (pictured at Bankstown Airport on Thursday evening)

He was escorted to Coolangatta Airport by Tactical Police Officers and then flown to Bankstown Airport.

Baluch has sine been transferred to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre where he will face further charges by Organised Crime Squad detectives.

He is accused of attempting to import more than 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia with a street value of $270million.

The alleged kingpin appeared sullen as he was driven from the Southport Watchhouse in handcuffs after being extradited from Queensland to NSW.

An officer holding a clear bag of his belongings revealed Baluch had packed a Colgate toothbrush, a Nivea moisturiser, deodorant and a few disposable razors.

A piece of Adidas clothing with the $59.99 tag still attached was also in the bag, as well as his drivers license and bizarrely, a pack of Maggi noodles.

A scrawled note on the side of the clear bag read: 'Watch and cash in safe'.

He is accused of attempting to import more than 900kg shipment of cocaine into Australia with a street value of $270million (pictured, disembarking a plane at Bankstown Airport)

An officer holding a clear bag of his belongings revealed Baluch had packed a Colgate toothbrush, a Nivea moisturiser, deodorant and a few disposable razors (pictured)

Baluch was loaded into PolAir6  a Cessna Grand Caravan  for his flight to Bankstown Airport

Baluch's desperate dash for freedom ended when he was found hiding in a grey Mercedes concealed in a shipping container being transported on the back of a truck

He is expected to face Sydney's Central Local Court on Friday.

Before his arrest on Wednesday, he was last seen in Bayview on Sydney's northern beaches on October 25, days after being granted bail.

He was released on strict conditions, including $4 million surety on his waterfront home at Bayview.

Queensland officers searched dozens of trucks in the days leading up to the arrest, zeroing in on the transport after noticing the container wasn't properly secured.

As he is unvaccinated against Covid, Baluch remained in isolation for his extradition hearing on Thursday and listened to the proceedings by speakerphone.

The only words he said during the hearing were 'yes, I can hear you' when asked to confirm he was there, NCA NewsWire reported.

Lawyer Nicholas Andrews consented to the extradition application without objection, with Baluch expected to return to Sydney later in the day.

'I've spoken to him only very briefly,' Mr Andrews told Daily Mail Australia.

'He seems to be in good spirits and doing about as well as anyone who finds themselves in this sort of situation.'

Baluch allegedly went on the run from police for 16 days after cutting off his ankle monitor while on bail

Baluch will also face charges over his alleged breach of bail.

The man who was driving the truck in which Baluch was found - who police say owns a transport company - was also arrested.

The 46-year-old has been charged with doing an act intended to pervert the course of justice and denied bail.

A photo released by police shows Baluch dressed in a T-shirt and shorts sitting on the side of the road moments after his dramatic arrest.

Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Rob Crichlow paid tribute to investigators who have spent the last two weeks working around the clock to track Baluch down.

'He had a lot of help but there were a lot of people against him,' Det Supt Crichlow said.

'The community have turned the criminal element against him. He attracted a lot of attention and it's caused impacts for people he knows.

The fugitive had been on the run from police when he was nabbed during a botched bid to cross the Queensland border on Wednesday morning

Baluch pictured outside his home in Mona Vale on October 25, just hours before the alleged international drug lord disappeared

'We will look at everybody he knows and everybody he talks to and we have and we've achieved excellent results. We'll continue with that.'

Police left no stone unturned in their quest to ensure Baluch didn't flee the country.

'We didn't want to leave any opportunities for this man to flee,' Det Supt Crichlow said.

'We knew people overseas were waiting for him to come and join with them. That was a great concern. As the commander said, high-end targets live overseas and that causes enormous harm to Australians. So we were determined he wouldn't leave Australia.'

Baluch was found in the boot of this grey Mercedes (pictured) in a shipping container on the back of a truck crossing the NSW/Queensland border at Tweed Heads
The EU will warn Britain tomorrow that a deal to ease post-Brexit tensions over Northern Ireland will fail unless Boris Johnson drops one of his key demands.

Brexit Minister Lord Frost will host his European Commission counterpart Maros Sefcovic in London tomorrow as both sides seek a resolution to the impasse over checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea.

But Brussels is reportedly planning to use the talks to demand that the UK drop a key ask that the European Court of Justice is removed from its agreed role as the final arbiter of trade disputes.

Mr Sefcovic will tell Frost tomorrow that the UK demand is 'unattainable' and risks dooming the wider hopes of an agreement, the Guardian reported.

It comes against a backdrop of threats and counter threats over the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit Agreement negotiated by Lord Frost last year.

The Government has given the EU a December deadline to find a solution. Britain has said it will trigger Article 16 of the protocol, allowing it to unilaterally suspend the goods checks, if its demands are not met.

That sparked EU plans to retaliate, which could include throttling cross-Channel trade in the run-up to Christmas.

Brexit Minister Lord Frost will host his European Commission counterpart Maros Sefcovic in London tomorrow as both sides seek a resolution to the impasse over checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea.

The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as a way to sidestep the major obstacle in the Brexit divorce talks - the Irish land border.

Britain argues that the ECJ should not have a role in trade disputes as it is an internal body of the EU rather than an independent third party.

Boris Johnson and Lord Frost have made its removal an increasingly pivotal pre-requisite for a deal on trade with Northern Ireland in recent weeks.

However an EU official told the Guardian: 'We think that the objectives set out by the UK are unattainable.

'The UK position is that the role of the EU's institution needs to go  As long as that remains the UK position, I don't see what we can do.'

The Northern Ireland Protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as a way to sidestep the major obstacle in the Brexit divorce talks - the Irish land border.

It achieved that by shifting regulatory and customs checks and processes to the Irish Sea.

But the arrangements have created new economic barriers on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

This has caused disruption to many businesses in Northern Ireland and has also created a major political headache for the Government, as unionists and loyalists are furious at what they perceive as a weakening of the Union.

Yesterday Lord Frost warned the EU to 'stay calm and keep things in proportion' as he sought to calm tensions over the UK threat to trigger Article 16.

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin today said it should not be assumed that the British will trigger Article 16, calling for extensive engagement on both sides to avoid the situation coming to pass.

He told the Dail: 'Discussions are still ongoing. I would just sound a note of caution that we don't automatically assume that anything is going to be triggered.

'I think that's important. We don't want a kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy either.

'My views are very strong and I don't think there's a need to trigger Article 16. I believe it would be wrong to do so.'

He warned that the move would impact Northern Ireland's dual access to European and UK markets provided under the protocol.

Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin today said it should not be assumed that the British will trigger Article 16, calling for extensive engagement on both sides to avoid the situation coming to pass.

Labour's shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh today used a speech in Belfast to caution against the dangers of a 'damaging trade dispute' between the UK and the EU.

Speaking at the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen's University, she said: 'If reports are to be believed, (Prime Minister) Boris Johnson is about to take another huge risk with stability.

'With tension rising in Northern Ireland and a cost of living crisis across the rest of the UK, the last thing that is needed is more poisonous instability and the prospect of a damaging trade dispute with our nearest trading partners.

'We've seen the damage this approach is doing. It is bringing the poison of division back to Northern Ireland. Corralling people to take sides.

'We know the dangers of that path. And that will never be the path to a sustainable solution

'That's why jobs, stability and livelihoods in Northern Ireland depend on the EU and UK finding a deal in the days and weeks ahead.'
Britain's Covid crisis is set to become 'a lot calmer' after Easter, Jonathan Van-Tam predicted today  but other scientists warned it could drag on another eight years.

England's deputy chief medical officer warned there will be some 'twists and bumps' along the way and admitted that the situation was becoming harder to forecast.

But he told a medical conference today: 'I think, generally speaking, waters will be quite a lot calmer after Easter.'

Professor Van-Tam warned this was dependent on the successful roll out of the booster doses, which are being offered to all over-50s.

His words were in stark contrast to eminent epidemiologist Professor Tim Spector, who warned that it could take years to become a manageable, seasonal virus.

'We need to be thinking in terms of time scales  it is not in months, it is not by next Christmas, it is a question as to whether it will be three years or eight years,' he said.

It came as Britain's daily coronavirus cases rose for the first time in over a week today but hospital and death rates continued to fall.

There were 42,408 new infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Government's Covid dashboard, which marked a 14 per cent rise on last week.

Cases had been in freefall since late October  believed to be due to growing immunity in children  except for one blip on November 1, when they rose by around 9 per cent.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam (left) said the Covid pandemic would likely be 'a lot calmer' by Easter. But Professor Tim Spector (right) who runs a Covid symptom study said it could take eight years before the virus finally fades into the background

Speaking at an annual Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicines conference, Professor Van-Tam said that he was asked hundreds of times each week about when the Covid crisis might come to an end.

He added: 'My answer to that is I think we have to be very cautious at the moment.

Every Brit should be offered third Covid jab, says Spector All Britons should be offered a booster dose of the Covid vaccine, Professor Tim Spector has said today. Currently the top-up jabs are being offered to over-50s who had their second jab at least six months ago. But the top epidemiologist  who runs a study monitoring Covid  said the third dose should also be given to younger age groups once they have waited as long. He told the Royal Society of Medicines' Covid series: 'We should extend the vaccination programme to include three shots. 'We know that two only last properly for three or four months then start to fade. 'But once they've got that third shot  and we see it in Israel  their immunity is better.' He called on the Government to stop referring to the third dose as a booster, and instead call it 'completing the course'. He said: 'Finish the course should be the message, not you're getting a little bit more.' Advertisement

'The epidemiology [Covid situation] is rather uncertain, it could turn for the better, it could also turn for the worst.

'And even if it turns for the better in the next couple of weeks, thats a different question to will it stay for the better between now and the spring.'

He added: 'I think we can expect some bumps and twists and turns, but I think right now it is hard to predict them.

'I think how big those twists and turns and unsettling points will be will be very very contingent upon the continued success of the vaccine rollout and particularly the booster programme.

'We are already seeing very very positive data from Israel in light of their booster programme.'

Professor Van-Tam also warned, however, that should a variant emerge that could escape vaccine-triggered immunity this would be a 'major setback' and derail the timeline.

Speaking today at a Royal Society of Medicines conference earlier in the day, Professor Spector was also asked when the pandemic might be over.

His assessment was more downbeat, drawing comparisons with the Spanish flu pandemic.

'We need to be thinking in terms of time scales  it is not in months, it is not by next Christmas, it is a question as to whether it will be three years or eight years.

'We are all hoping it will continue to mutate to get more transmissible but milder.

'Hopefully, it'll be fading out and it won't be all bad for the next five to seven years.'

He added: 'It will be just like having some sort of permanent flu outbreak that we have to deal with.'

The Spanish flu killed some 50million people globally, while Covid has been linked to 5million deaths so far.

Britain's Covid cases have been trending downwards since the week before half-term  when scientists said enough immunity may have built up to curb transmission of the virus.
Tory MP Nick Fletcher has been caught out posting the same selfie for the third time to publicise a constituency visit after residents spotted Christmas trees in the background.

The MP for Don Valley in South Yorkshire posted a picture on his Facebook page that claimed was taken in the small town of Thorne, near Doncaster.

However, constituents quickly spotted Christmas trees and festive lights in the back of the photo, despite decorations not yet having been erected in the town this year.

The selfie, showing the MP smiling, is actually an old picture that he has posted to his social media on two previous occasions within the last year - leading to residents accusing him of faking the visit.

The selfie posted by Tory MP Nick Fletcher, 39, with Christmas trees and festive lights in the background

The MP apologised after constituents realised he posted the same selfie in December 2020 and September earlier this year

Mr Fletcher, 49, quickly apologised for the error claiming he had 'forgotten' to take a photo during the visit so, instead, used an older one.

The MP, who won the seat from Labour in 2019, posted the picture on Wednesday with the caption: 'Great to spend the afternoon in Thorne. It is good to see it thriving again after a tough year.'

It showed him posing outside a row of shops in the town centre with Christmas trees visible

However, Mr Fletcher had posted the photo in December 2020 and again in September.

Constituents were quick to pick up on his error.

Dan Cosgrove wrote: 'When you like a selfie so much youve used the same picture three times...'

Josephine Mckeague replied to the post: 'Obviously not brightest lamp in street (pun intended)? Christmas lights still on from last year then Nick?'

Another resident posted: 'How come Xmas trees are up when not putting them up till after 12th?'

In a brief statement, the MP apologised to confused constituents.

Mr Fletcher said: 'Having spent the afternoon walking round Thorne with a local business man and calling at a local cafe for a coffee, I forgot to take a photo.

'This is not the first time I have reused a photo when forgetting to take one and I am sure it will not be the last.'

He also amended his Facebook post, writing: 'Apologies, forgot to take a photo on my walk about.

'Will make sure I take one when Im back again next week. Look forward to seeing you all soon.'
An illegal logger who chopped down a prized maple tree and sparked a huge wildfire while doing so has been convicted thanks to the first ever courtroom use of tree DNA.

Justin Andrew Wilke, 39, was sentenced to 20 weeks jail earlier this week for hacking down the bigleaf maple tree that stood in the Elk Lake area of Olympic National Park in Washington in August 2018.

The tree, prized for wood that's used to make musical instruments including violins and guitars, led cops back to Wilkes after they matched DNA from its stump to that of wood he was trying to sell.

Shockingly, Wilke triggered a 3,300 wildfire during the same logging incident, when he tried to destroy a wasp's nest at the base of the bigleaf maple by pouring gasoline onto it.

The ensuing blaze, dubbed the Maple Fire, cost $4.2 million to extinguish, although Wilkes avoided a conviction over the inferno after agreeing to admit to chopping down the bigleaf maple during a July 2021 court hearing.

Wilke (pictured) was the head of an illegal operation to steal maple trees from the Olympic National Forest. He has been sentenced to 20 months in prison

During the illegal logging operation, Wilkes also triggered this blaze, dubbed the Maple Fire, which destroyed 3,300 acres of forest and cost $4.2m to extinguish

That saw him admit conspiracy, theft of public property, depredation of public property, trafficking in unlawfully harvested timber, and attempting to traffic in unlawfully harvested timber.

According to records filed in the case, between April and August 2018, Wilke conducted an illegal logging operation in the Elk Lake area of the Olympic National Forest, near Hood Canal, in Washington.

Wilke and a crew of associates removed maple trees from the National Forest and transported it to a mill in Tumwater, Washington. Wilke used forged permits to sell the wood.

Tree DNA was used to convict Wilke, who chopped down precious maple woods in Washington state in 2018, which resulted in a wildfire that cost $4.2 million to contain

At the trial, a Research Geneticist for the USDA Forest Service, testified that the prestigious wood Wilke sold was a genetic match to the remains of three poached maple trees investigators had discovered in the Elk Lake area.

The DNA analysis was so precise that it found the probability of the match being coincidental was approximately one in one undecillion (one followed by 36 zeroes).

Based on this evidence, the jury concluded that the wood Wilke sold the mill had been stolen.

The DNA evidence also concluded that Wilke had unlawfully harvested and sold wood from seven additional maple trees  but the precise locations of those trees have not been determined.

On August 3, 2018, Wilke led a group of two other unnamed individuals in deciding to cut a maple tree that contained a wasps nest near the base of the tree.

To remove the nest, the group sprayed insecticide and likely gasoline on the nest and then lit the nest on fire. The group failed to extinguish the fire, which developed into a wildfire later named the 'Maple Fire.'

The other two members of the poaching group testified at trial that Wilke was standing next to the nest when it was lit on fire, and therefore appeared to have set the fire. They made no effort to try and extinguish it themselves.

The red highlights the land scorched by the Maple Fire, which was more than 3,000 acres

The blazing fire that tore through Washington state's Olympic National Forest in 2018 scorched 3,300 acres of land and destroyed dozens of valuable bigleaf maple trees. Pictured: a view of the 2018 maple fire

Firefighters approach the Maple Fire in Mason County as a helicopter in the distant sky drops water on it. In a first for a federal criminal trial, prosecutors used tree DNA to prove the remains matched that of the timber the men sold to local mills

However, because the fire was set at night, they were not able to see his exact actions, and testified that they did not know exactly how the fire started.

And although the jury did not convict Wilke of the two federal counts related to the forest fire: setting timber afire and using fire in furtherance of a felon, it did convict Wilke of attempting to cut down the tree where the fire was set on the night of the fire.

Initially, prosecutors recommended a 36-month sentence, noting that Wilke led the three-person tree-poaching ring that indisputably started the fire, and that Wilke likely set the fire himself based on the testimony at trial.

At sentencing, trial Judge Benjamin H. Settle concluded that the evidence was clear and convincing that Wilke was present when the fire was set, that a member of Wilkes poaching crew set the fire, and that Wilke more likely than not personally set or directed one of his crew to set the fire.

But Judge Settle noted that Wilke had made positive strides while on pretrial release, and that prison time is more difficult during the COVID pandemic. Therefore, Wilke was given a less harsh prison sentence of 20-months.

Wilke was also ordered to forfeit the earnings of his illegal poaching.

He will also be required to pay restitution to the United States Forest Service.

The exact amount will be determined at a later hearing.
The U.S. government is urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti because of the country's deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools and banks. Gas stations remained closed on Thursday.

The rare warning from the U.S. State Department comes as Haiti's government and police are struggling to control gangs that have blocked fuel distribution terminals for several weeks, months after the island's president was assassinated.

'Widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options,' the State Department warned on Wednesday. 'The U.S. Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist U.S. citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable.'

It's unclear how many U.S. citizens currently live in Haiti. A State Department official told The Associated Press that it does not provide those statistics and U.S. citizens are not required to register their travel to a foreign country.

Despite the assassination of President Jovenel Moise at his private home in Port-au-Prince on July 7 and the August 14 earthquake in Las Cayes that killed more than 2,200 people, the United States government said it was not planning on deploying troops to help Haitian authorities contain lawlessness.

Canada also issued a similar warning on Wednesday: 'If you're in Haiti and your presence isn't essential, consider leaving if you can do so safely.'

People walk past a closed gas station in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday. The U.S. government on Thursday said it was urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti given the country's deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools and banks

A man stands outside a closed bank in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Thursday. The State Department on Wednesday warned U.S. citizens in the country that 'widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options'

A vendor carries his bags of clothing for several blocks to his market stall, instead of using a bus due to a fuel shortage, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Thursday

The warnings comes as U.S. and Haitian authorities are trying to secure the safe release of 17 members of a missionary group from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries who were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on October 16.

There are five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian. Their Haitian driver also was abducted.

'We request continued prayer for the kidnappers, that God would soften their hearts,' the organization said in a statement on Wednesday. 'As you pray, remember the millions of Haitians who are suffering through a time of serious upheaval and unrest.'

On Tuesday, top Haitian government officials acknowledged the widespread lack of fuel during a news conference and said they were working to resolve the situation, although they provided no details.

A police officer advances with his weapon outside a gas station as police shoot into the air to disperse a crowd threatening to burn down the gas station because the crowd believed the station was withholding gas, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 23

An armed security guard stands at a gas station as a tanker truck brings fuel to the gas station in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 31

Drivers wait in hopes of filling their tanks at one of the few remaining open gas stations in the Haiti capital of Port-au-Prince on October 31

Haitian President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in an attack on his private residence on July 7

Defense Minister Enold Joseph said the government is investigating why 30 fuel tanks sent to Haiti's southern region went missing, adding that he has observed gasoline being sold on the black market.

Le Nouvelliste newspaper reported Thursday that truck drivers have been kidnapped and fuel trucks hijacked.

'30 tankers were filled at the Thor oil terminal at Carrefour to supply the South,' Minister of Defense Enold Joseph said in a press conference Tuesday. 'None of these trucks arrived at the gas stations. They were all sold on the black market.'

'Everything is upside down,' said Pierre Alex, a 35-year-old who works at a factory that makes clothes hangers. He said his son isn't able to go to school but can't work at home either because there is no power and no internet. 'I don't know what saints to call upon to come help me.'

Residents search through the rubble following the August 14 earthquake in Les Cayes, Haiti, that left more than 2,200 people dead

People gather at a gas station in hopes of filling their tanks, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 31

Motorcyclists unable to buy gas to fill their tanks ride headed to the Port-au-Prince, Haiti, home of acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry on October 19

Barbecue, the leader of the 'G9 and Family' gang, sits on garbage to call attention to the conditions people live in as he leads a protest march against kidnappings through La Saline neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 22

The fuel shortage also has threatened Haiti's water supply, which depends on generators, and hospitals in Port-au-Prince and beyond.

Marc Edson Augustin, director of St. Luke Hospital, said he can only care for 50 patients with COVID-19 despite having 120 beds set aside for them because the company that provides oxygen to the institution has been hit by the lack of fuel.

On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders warned that the shortages have forced it to reduce medical care since last week, with staff treating only patients with life-threatening conditions. The aid group said that its hospital and emergency center will run out of fuel for generators in three weeks or less if new supplies don't arrive.

'As tensions and armed conflict escalate in Haiti's capital, shortages of fuel, public transportation and drinking water are putting medical facilities and patients at risk,' the aid group said. 'Nearly all public and private health facilities in Port-au-Prince have stopped or limited admissions to only acute cases or closed their doors due to similar problems.'

People wrangle over a gas pump as they try to get their tanks filled at a gas station, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on November 4. U.S. government on Wednesday urged U.S. citizens to leave Haiti given the country's deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools and banks

The aid group said that one patient with respiratory distress was recently refused at four different medical centers because the lack of fuel forced them to halt admissions. A fifth facility took her in, officials said.

Doctors Without Borders also said that the lack of fuel is preventing staff from reaching the hospital because of the scarcity of public transportation. It's a problem seen elsewhere, with parents unable to send their children to school and some employees unable to go to work.

The situation also has led to a spike in food prices in a country of more than 11 million people where more than 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day. Meanwhile, a gallon of gasoline, when available, currently costs $15.

A healthcare worker places an an intravenous line in the arm of a baby at the La Paix Hospital illuminated with a cellphone flashlight, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 26. Doctors Without Borders has warned that fuel shortages in the country is preventing hospitals from functioning at 100 percent

People sit in a hospital room on October 26 that was empty because it lacks electricity at the La Paix Hospital, amid severe fuel shortages in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A normally busy intersection remains free of traffic due to fuel shortages, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on October 23
An armed man who was shot by Kyle Rittenhouse but survived has likened the Kenosha shooter's courtroom tears to those of a child, before backtracking on his own courtroom testimony.

Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, also told Good Morning America that he was convinced Rittenhouse, 18, is only upset about being caught and put on trial for the alleged murder of two protesters in the riot-ravaged Wisconsin city during August 2020.

Grosskruetz, who was shot in the arm by Rittenhouse after confronting him for killing Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber during a Black Lives Matter protest last year, told Good Morning America that the teen 'seemed like a child whod just gotten caught doing something he wasnt supposed to.'

'More upset that he was caught and less upset about what he had done and what he had taken and the numerous lives that he affected through his actions that night,' Grosskruetz said.

The paramedic, who claimed to have been in Kenosha to provide medical assistance on his free time, has himself faced questions over his motives and truthfulness in recent days. He falsely claimed that his Glock fell out of its holder, even though photos showed him pointing the weapon at Rittenhouse.

Grosskreutz has further admitted that he did not have a permit to conceal his weapon, even though he was doing so on the night of the shootings. And he denied a request by cops in September 2020 to interview him about the shootings.

During Thursday's appearance, the paramedic backtracked from his own courtroom testimony, where he admitted he pointed a gun at Rittenhouse, instead telling GMA that it was impossible for him to have aimed his weapon at the teen.

Gaige Grosskruetz said that Kyle Rittenhouse 'seemed like a child whod just gotten caught doing something he wasnt supposed to,' when the teen began sobbing during the trial

'My arm was being vaporized as I was allegedly pointing my weapon at the defendant,' Grosskruetz said, implying that it was impossible for him to have actually aimed his gun at Rittenhouse.

He and his lawyer, Kimberly Motely, have called Rittenhouse's testimony 'inconsistent' and said Grosskruetz had not been threatening the teen.

His comments come as the defense plans to move for a mistrial on grounds of prosecutorial misconduct after the teen's breakdown.

There is increasing speculation a mistrial will be declared, after trial judge Bruce Schroeder blasted Thomas Binger over his criticism of Rittenhouse's prior silence.

Kyle Rittenhouse broke down on the witness stand as he recalled the moment he was 'ambushed' by Joseph Rosenbaum the night he shot him dead

Rittenhouse had taken the stand in his own defense to tell the court that Rosembaum threatened to kill him twice and that a crowd ambushed him after he shot the man

Grosskruetz, who was armed when he encountered Rittenhouse, said he did not point the weapon at him despite testifying to the contrary in court

EXCLUSIVE: To me, he seemed like a child  more upset that he was caught and less upset about what he had done ... and the numerous lives that he affected.  Gage Grosskreutz, the sole survivor shot by Kyle Rittenhouse, reacts to his testimony. https://t.co/DRURCHHX5R pic.twitter.com/wIKHjbVyH1  Good Morning America (@GMA) November 11, 2021 Twitter Privacy Policy

The case could also collapse over Binger's decision to bring up information about the teen's rifle that had been previously barred from court during Rittenhouse's cross examination.

Judge Bruce Schroeder chastised Binger for his conduct, and Rittenhouse's defense attorney Corey Chirafisi accused Binger of purposefully trying to trigger a mistrial to 'get another kick at the cat because the first trial is going badly.'

Binger also questioned Rittenhouse's decision to remain silent during cross-examination despite it being his Fifth Amendment right.

After he began sobbing on Wednesday when he recounted the fatal shootings of Rosenbaum and Huber in the 2020 Kenosha protests, Rittenhouse testified about his encounter with Grosskruetz.

According to Rittenhouse, he was being chased and attacked by a crowd after he killed Rosenbaum, and he shot at an unknown man who kicked him in the head and knocked him to the ground.

In his daze, he shot and killed Huber, who was attempting to take away Rittenhouse's AR-15 rifle.

Struggling to get up he said he saw Grosskreutz coming towards him, initially with his hands up. He said that he lowered his weapon and looked down but, he added, 'Mr. Grosskreutz lunges at me with his pistol pointed directly at my head.'

Grosskruetz testified before the court about how Rittenhouse shot him

In his own tearful testimony, Grosskruetz said he had feared for his live

He recalled, 'He is standing  what I remember is our feet were touching

My rifle is down, his hands are up. His pistol is in his hand and then Mr. Grosskreutz looks at me and that's when Mr. Grosskreutz brings his arm downwith me on the ground and his pistol is pointed at me and that's when I shoot him. Once.'

Surrounded by chaos and potential threats he said, 'I start walking towards the police line to turn myself into the police.

Grosskruetz had given his own tearful testimony on Monday when he told the jury how he pulled his own gun because he thought Rittenhouse was an 'active shooter' having witnessed him shoot at two men in front of him  killing one  and on learning that he had already shot another man.

But in the moments before he was shot, he said he raised his arms in surrender only for Rittenhouse to 're-wrack' his AR-15 and fire on him.

During a fierce cross examination, defense attorney Corey Chirafisi claimed Grosskreutz lied to police officers in his statement by omitting the fact that he had a Glock in his hand when he was shot by Rittenhouse.

This was one of several allegations made by defense Chirafisi as he attempted to undermine the star witness's credibility.

Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi said Grosskreutz lied to police officers in his statement by omitting the fact that he had a Glock in his hand when he was shot

Rittenhouse fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum (left), 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 (right), 26, a protester from Silver Lake, Wisconsin

Chirafisi revealed to the court that Grosskreutz has filed a civil suit against Kenosha City for $10million as well as a federal lawsuit and that he fails to mention that he himself was carrying a firearm in either document.

'You stand a better chance of getting $10million bucks if Mr. Rittenhouse is convicted don't you?' Chirafisi hectored.

Reading from Grosskreutz's original police statement made on August 26, Chirafisi said, 'You said, 'I told multiple officers that I dropped my firearm.' You didn't drop your firearm. You were chasing Mr Rittenhouse with your gun [drawn] right?'

Throughout direct examination Grosskreutz had been portrayed as a non-partisan participant, there only to administer medical aid.

Under cross-examination Chirafisi drew an admission that he has affiliations with a group called The People's Revolution and played footage during which Grosskreutz can be heard telling Rittenhouse and his fellow 'militia' medics, 'You can go home. F***ing stooge.'

The court was shown images of the shooting that clearly showed Grosskreutz grimacing and screaming in agony while he cradled his right arm

Images of Grosskreutz's injuries on the night of the riot were shown to the jury on Monday

Grosskreutz claimed that he did not 'purposefully' omit the information that he was armed and blamed it on the fact that he had just come out of surgery, had been sedated, was on pain medication and had just undergone 'the most traumatic experience' of his life 'physically and emotionally.'

Questioned by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger, Grosskreutz recalled, 'I thought I was going to die,' and told how he watched Rittenhouse re-wrack his weapon and take aim at him as he approached him.

He said, 'I put my hands up and then the defendant essentially re-wrackedin my mind it meant that the defendant had pulled the trigger while my hands were in the air, but the gun didn't fire so he was re-wracking.'

Moments earlier Grosskreutz who had been livestreaming events had jogged alongside Rittenhouse, drawn to the commotion and gunshots.

'What did you do?' he asked the younger man. Grosskreutz told the court that he misheard Rittenhouse's response thinking he said, 'I'm working with the police. I didn't do anything.'

In fact, Rittenhouse had said, 'I'm going to the police.'

Grosskreutz said, 'I found it odd and noteworthyI thought the defendant was an active shooter.'

Asked why he didn't shoot first when faced with Rittenhouse taking aim, Grosskreutz said, 'I was trying to preserve my own life but doing so while taking the life of another is not something that I'm capable of comfortable of doing.

'It goes against my lifelong ethical code that I've lived by in regard to medicine.

'That's not the kind of person that I am. That's not why I was there. It's not somebody I would want to become.'
Nicola Sturgeon gleefully seized on the sleaze chaos today to further her Scottish independence drive.

The SNP leader lashed out at a 'sense of corruption at the heart of the Westminster system' as Boris Johnson struggled to contain the fallout.

The intervention came as Cabinet tensions broke into the open, with Rishi Sunak warning the PM that the government 'needs to do better' following the aborted bid to save ex-minister Owen Paterson from punishment for lobbying.

Speaking to journalists at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Ms Sturgeon insisted the ensuing barrage of allegations had 'shone a light, and perhaps this is a good thing, on some of the other issues that need to be resolved around politics, and Westminster politics in particular'.

'There is a real concern - I certainly don't use this word lightly - about a sense of corruption at the heart of the Westminster system, and that has to be rooted out,' she added.

The incendiary comments are bound to infuriate the government and unionists.

Ms Sturgeon has already sparked anger that she is exploiting the COP summit for her separatist purposes, taking out a series of high-profile adverts describing Scotland as a 'nation in waiting'.

Nicola Sturgeon (right) lashed out at a 'sense of corruption at the heart of the Westminster system' as Boris Johnson (left) struggled to contain the fallout

The damage from the sleaze rows was underlined by a poll showing that the Conservatives have slumped behind Labour for the first time in a year

Standards chief calls for action on MPs' second jobs and ministers' interests The head of a sleaze watchdog today heaped pressure on Boris Johnson to bolster rules on MPs' outside interests. Lord Evans, former head of MI5 and now chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, also delivered a thinly-veiled rebuke to politicians who are more focused on second jobs than Commons duties. The peer's committee has called for changes including more transparency around lobbying and stronger oversight of ministerial behaviour. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme about his committee's 2018 recommendations on MPs' external work, the peer said: 'We said that the critical thing was that nothing that an MP does should get in the way of their ability to work in support of their constituents  so the amount of work they do, the sort of work, needs to be judged against that. 'If somebody is spending a huge amount of their time on a second job, then they can't be maintaining support for their constituents.' Asked whether it matters more about how much time an MP spends on their outside work rather than how much they are earning, Lord Evans replied: 'I don't think it is ultimately a matter of how much, I think it is a matter of is it clear that the MP who has been elected by their constituents, that their main focus, their main priority is on being the best MP that they can be? 'And that takes time and that takes concentration.' Advertisement

The barb came as Mr Johnson gathered his senior team in Downing Street to take stock of the crisis amid persistent rumours of friction with Mr Sunak - who notably did not vote on the key amendment last week.

Meanwhile, the stakes in the discussions were underlined by a poll showing that the Conservatives have slumped behind Labour for the first time in a year.

Despite increasing alarm on the Tory benches, the PM again stubbornly refused to apologise for triggering the sleaze meltdown as he was grilled during a press conference at the COP26 summit in Glasgow last night.

The Cabinet ostensibly focused on the Levelling Up agenda, with ministers laying out how their department is contributing to the drive. Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey arrived armed with an A3 map seemingly to help get her message across.

However, the hot topic was expected to be how to quell the rising tide of criticism about second jobs, conflicting interests and cronyism among MPs.

In an interview with Sky News this morning after new GDP figures were released, Mr Sunak struck a starkly different tone to the premier, saying he was 'reflecting on recent events'.

'People will have different motivations for doing what they do, the pay is set by an independent body, that's absolutely right,' he said.

'And with regard to second jobs, there's an independent process that we have that's set by Parliament that governs all of those things. And it's absolutely right that that process is followed to the letter.

'Now look, on the broader point  and reflecting over recent events  I think for us as a Government, it's fair to say that we need to do better than we did last week, and we know that.'

Unlike Mr Johnson, Mr Sunak has not declared any extra earnings since becoming an MP in 2015. He is reputed to be one of the richest MPs in the Commons, partly due to his previous career in the city but also due to the multi-billion wealth of his wife's family.

The Tory misery showed no sign of easing today, with more allegations against MPs and growing signs of infighting.

A poll by Redfield & Wilton Strategies found the Tories have dropped one point since Monday to 36 per cent.

At the same time Labour was up two on 38 per cent.

It is the first time the firm has shown a lead for the Opposition since November last year.

Rishi Sunak risked inflaming internal tensions over the wave of allegations that followed the aborted bid to save ex-minister Owen Paterson from punishment for lobbying

Boris Johnson (pictured observing a silence on Remembrance Day today) has been struggling to contain rising alarm over sleaze allegations

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (left) and Housing Secretary Michael Gove in Downing St today

Relations between No10 and No11 have been prickly for a while, with suspicion that Mr Sunak is on manoeuvres with his glossy PR output.

One flashpoint came when the PM unveiled his strategy for decarbonising Britain by 2050.

The Treasury released a stark assessment alongside the plan warning that the government cannot borrow to fund the costs of the transition.

It cautioned that tax rises would be needed to underwrite state investment - and that a way will have to be found to fill the black hole left as 37billion of revenue from fuel duty disappears.

The message contrasted sharply with the PM's bullish comments that there will be no need for 'hair shirt' measures.

There were also reports the Treasury assessment had been 'scrubbed' to remove the most alarming predictions - and originally was even tougher.

It was the latest sign of tensions between the Chancellor and Mr Johnson over the government finances - although the premier appeared to come out on top with the Budget last month splashing the cash.

Former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox is facing fresh questions after it emerged he took out a 3,900 loan from the taxpayer to cover the deposit on renting a London flat - at the same time as renting out his own property in the capital.

In 2017 the Torridge & West Devon MP moved out of his own property in London, and started claiming around 1,900 a month on expenses for another flat in the capital.

The arrangement does not break any rules, but Sir Geoffrey is reported to be renting his Battersea property out for around 1,000 a week.

MailOnline can also reveal that Sir Geoffrey received a 3,900 loan from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) in 2017 to pay the deposit on his new accommodation.

Again, there is no suggestion rules were breached, but the manoeuvre came as Sir Geoffrey was pocketing huge sums from his legal practice. He has earned more than 5million since becoming an MP in 2005.

Lord Evans, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said that if an MP is spending a 'huge amount of time' on a second job, they will not be able to fulfil their duties to constituents.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme about his committee's 2018 recommendations on MPs' external work, the peer said: 'We said that the critical thing was that nothing that an MP does should get in the way of their ability to work in support of their constituents  so the amount of work they do, the sort of work, needs to be judged against that.

'If somebody is spending a huge amount of their time on a second job, then they can't be maintaining support for their constituents.'

Asked whether it matters more about how much time an MP spends on their outside work rather than how much they are earning, Lord Evans replied: 'I don't think it is ultimately a matter of how much, I think it is a matter of is it clear that the MP who has been elected by their constituents, that their main focus, their main priority is on being the best MP that they can be?

'And that takes time and that takes concentration.'

At the press conference last night, An awkward-looking Mr Johnson insisted MPs' second jobs 'strengthen democracy' saying that for 'hundreds of years' politicians had been able to do outside work.

But he swiped at Sir Geoffrey, who has been criticised for his 1million-a-year legal sideline, saying they 'must put your job as an MP first', as well as stressing that paid lobbying is never acceptable.

On a stage where he had hoped to keep media focus on plans to limit climate change he was forced to defend Britain's political system, saying: 'I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a corrupt country, nor do I believe that our institutions are corrupt.'

And Mr Johnson seemed in a hurry to escape, bringing the proceedings to an abrupt halt as he looked as his watch and said he needed to go and catch 'climate-friendly transport' - the train - back to London.

Sir Geoffrey Cox has been referred to the Commons standards tsar over claims he broke Commons rules by using his parliamentary office to offer legal advice to the British Virgin Islands

Geoffrey Cox got 3,900 taxpayer loan for deposit to rent London flat... as he rented out his own property in the capital Geoffrey Cox is facing fresh questions today after it emerged he took out a 3,900 loan from the taxpayer to cover the deposit on renting a London flat - at the same time as renting out his own property in the capital. The former Attorney General is under more pressure over his accommodation arrangements, after sounding defiance over earning millions of pounds from his legal 'sideline'. In 2017 the Torridge & West Devon MP moved out of his own property in London, and started claiming around 1,900 a month on expenses for another flat in the capital. The arrangement does not break any rules, but Sir Geoffrey is reported to be renting his Battersea property out for around 1,000 a week. MailOnline can also reveal that Sir Geoffrey received a 3,900 loan from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) in 2017 to pay the deposit on his new accommodation. Again, there is no suggestion rules were breached, but the manoeuvre came as Sir Geoffrey was pocketing huge sums from his legal practice. He has earned more than 5million since becoming an MP in 2005. The eminent QC is also likely to have received a deposit from the tenants of his Battersea property. The accommodation loan from Ipsa will be due for repayment when the MP ends his rental agreement. Sir Geoffrey did not respond to a request for comment this morning. There are claims he has been in Mauritius while the furore has been unfolding. However, he issued a bullish statement defending his outside earnings yesterday. Advertisement

The premier had made a dash to Scotland in a bid to reinvigorate the UN summit negotiations over a deal to tackle climate change, but found himself taken to task over the sleaze crisis.

'On second jobs, I would say that for hundreds of years MPs have gone to Parliament and also done work as doctors, lawyers or soldiers or firefighters or writers, or all sorts of other trades and callings,' he said.

'And on the whole, the UK population has understood that that has actually strengthened our democracy, because people basically feel that parliamentarians do need to have some experience of the world.

'But, if that system is going to continue today, then it is crucial that MPs follow the rules.

'And the rules say two crucial things: you must put your job as an MP first and you must devote yourself primarily and above all to your constituents and the people who send you to Westminster, to Parliament.

'And they also say that you should not use your position as an MP to lobby or otherwise intervene on behalf of any outside commercial interest. And it is not only that you have to register those interests  you can't lobby or make representation while an MP on behalf of those interests.

'Those are the rules and they must be enforced and those who don't obey them should of course face sanctions.'

Sir Geoffrey sounded defiance yesterday after footage emerged appearing to show him representing the British Virgin Islands at a fraud commission by video-link from his Commons office.

Labour has demanded a standards probe, while ministers have admitted that using parliamentary facilities for work is against the rules. He denies any breach.

Meanwhile, Andrew Bowie, tipped as a rising star, has stepped back from his role as a Conservative vice-chair role. He insisted he wants to focus on his Scottish constituency, but has reportedly told friends he is 'unable to support the government' in the wake of the Paterson row.

Ministers have been desperately trying to pour cold water on the idea of full ban on MPs having second jobs. Health Secretary Sajid Javid suggested some politicians would opt to leave parliament, and stressed that the Commons benefits from people being connected to the outside world.

Labour has accused Mr Johnson of using the day-trip to Scotland as a 'distraction' from the sleaze row. Many had expected him to go towards the end of the week when talks are at a crunch point.

He has also dropped plans for a Cabinet away-day at Chequers tomorrow and will meet ministers in Downing Street instead.
Haitian migration to the U.S. fell by more than 90 per cent in October after the Biden administration ramped up deportation flights in September, according to new data revealed Thursday.

Customs and Border Protection data obtained by The Washington Post showed 1,000 Haitian migrants were taken into custody crossing from Mexico into the U.S. last month compared to the 17,638 who were apprehended the month before.

The massive spike in September came as a huge caravan of Haitian migrants crossed from Mexico into the U.S. and set up a makeshift encampment of around 15,000 people near the international bridge in Del Rio, Texas.

To break up the camp and further deter this mass migration in the midst of a prevailing humanitarian and immigration crisis at the southern border, President Joe Biden started aggressively sending out deportation flights.

More than 8,500 of these migrants were sent back to Haiti using Title 42, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provision used to 'expel' migrants from the U.S. in the midst of a public health emergency, like the coronavirus pandemic.

At the height of deportation in September, the U.S. was sending as many as seven flights per day from Texas to Haiti, which was denounced by Democrats and immigrant advocacy groups. Complaints flooded in from those pointing out that Haitians were being deported at higher rates than migrants from other nations.

Haitian apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border has decreased by more than 90 per cent from September's 17,638 to October's 1,000 as the Biden administration aggressively started deporting them back to Haiti

Despite the massive decline in Haitian arrivals there were increases in migrants crossing from other countries, including more than 13,000 Venezuelans taken into CBP custody along the southern border in October, which was up 20 per cent from September and more than double the August figures.

Under Title 42, less than 100 Venezuelan migrants were expelled due to Washington's increased tensions with the Maduro regime limiting the ability to send return flights there.

Mexico does not have a visa requirement for Venezuelans to visit, so many have been flying there and walking across the U.S. border in Yuma, Arizona.

Since the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, the U.S. has expelled more than 1.3 million migrants using Title 42.

Many Haitian migrants said they finally felt they could flee to the U.S. following years of living in Chile, Brazil and other South American nations after leaving their impoverished island nation filled with political and economic turmoil only exacerbated by the pandemic.

These Haitians heard that Biden was allowing migrants to enter and that there were jobs available to them in the U.S.

Conditions in Haiti continue to deplete as armed gangs began seizing control of neighborhoods and highways and have cut off deliveries of food and fuel.

'The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to make plans to depart Haiti now,' the Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti said in a security alert Wednesday as it warned of high risk of kidnapping.

The president has faced harsh backlash from Republicans who insist he is ignoring the southern border crisis as record numbers of apprehensions and illegal crossings have come each month of his presidency.

August saw the first ever decline in CBP apprehensions at the southern border since Biden took office, going down to 209,840 from a record high 213,593 in July.

In September, the number dipped further to 192,001.

Return flights ramped up after a makeshift encampment of 15,000 Haitian migrants popped up at the Del Rio International Bridge earlier this fall (pictured on September 21, 2021)

The deportations led to thousands of migrants going back to Mexico to avoid being sent back to Haiti

At some points last month, the administration was sending seven flights per day out of the U.S. Haitians who were deported from the U.S. deplane at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, in Port au Prince, Haiti on September 19

A record setting 1.7 million plus migrants were taken into CBP custody in fiscal year 2021, which ended in September.

Republicans say that Biden's 'open border' policies have led to migrants feeling emboldened to illegally cross because they don't think the current administration will kick them out of the U.S. while their asylum claim is being processed.

After return flights started taking Haitians back to their home country after a long and strenuous journey to the U.S., about half of those who arrived at the Del Rio camp in September chose to cross back into Mexico.

Officials at the United Nations and other U.S. authorities say several thousand Haitians who originally planned to cross into the U.S. have now opted to wait in Mexico or seek asylum there over fears they will be returned to Haiti if they try to cross into the U.S.

'The Biden administration has pivoted to a clear, definite position on how it'll be treating arrival of Haitian migrants,' said Cris Ramon, an immigration policy analyst. 'By leaning heavily on expulsions, it's making people think twice.'

Biden's team says they are committed to creating pathways for Haitians migrants to come to the U.S. legally, and on Monday added Haiti to the list of countries eligible for temporary farm labor and other visas for seasonal work programs.
This is the moment a woman pretended to help a heavily intoxicated stranger and then snatched his $10,000 Rolex watch.

The thief was caught on the man's home CCTV footage as she help him down the stairs to his Staten Island apartment in New York City last month.

The woman met the drunk man at about 4.30am near Pinewood Avenue and Wilder Avenue in Richmond on October 24, according to police.

This is the moment a woman pretended to help a drunk stranger down the stairs to his Staten Island apartment in New York City last month, only to steal his $10,000 Rolex watch

Video footage of the incident shows her helping the man, who could barely stand, down the stairs to his home as he leaned heavily on her.

When he reached the bottom step, he sat down and the woman turned her back to the camera.

She appears to fiddle around with a flashlight before she brazenly undos the luxury Rolex Submariner watch, worth about $10,000, from his wrist and pockets it.

The thief was caught on the man's home CCTV footage and shows her helping the man, who could barely stand, down the stairs as he leaned heavily on her at about 4.30am October 24

When he reached the bottom step, he sat down and the woman turned her back to the camera and appears to fiddle around with a flashlight

The Rolex thief did not enter the drunk mans apartment but instead she fled the scene, police sources said.

Police released the footage in an attempt to identify the woman, who was still being sought by police on November 9.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is urged to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS.
Xi Jinping has tightened his grip on power in China with the passage of an 'historic resolution', exulting his leadership and all-but guaranteeing a third term in office.



The resolution, passed by the country's Central Committee today, puts Xi on a par with Mao Zedong and enshrines his ideology as the 'essence of Chinese culture'.

Xi, 68, will still have to wait until next year to find out if his apparatchiks will grant him an historic third term in power, but their approval now seems beyond doubt.

China removed presidential term limits in 2018, paving the way for Xi to rule for life.

Xi Jinping has secured an 'historic resolution' from China's top politicians, a document which exults his leadership and entwines his ideology with the future of the country (file)

It is only the third time in the 100-year history of China's Communist Party that such a resolution has passed, and puts Xi on par with Mao Zedong (left) and Deng Xiaoping (right)

It is just the third time that China's Communist Party has passed an 'historic resolution' in its 100-year history.

Aside from Xi, the only two leaders to amass enough political clout to get the resolution through were Mao, the founding father of the People's Republic, and Deng Xiaoping, known as the father of modern China.

The resolution states that Xi's leadership has been of 'decisive significance' for what it called 'the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation'.

'The party central committee called on the entire party, the entire army and people of all ethnic groups to unite more closely around the party central committee with comrade Xi Jinping as the core,' the resolution said.

It also called on the country 'to fully implement Xi Jinpings new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics'.

The resolution was passed during a closed-door session involving 370 of the country's most-senior politicians, the last before next year's national congress during which Xi is expected to be granted another term.

Xi, the son of one of Mao's generals, has ruled China for nearly a decade during which he has taken down rivals in anti-corruption probes and overseen the rapid expansion of his country's economy and military.

China is now expected to overtake the US as the world's economic superpower before 2030, while its military is now the world's second-largest.

Xi has used that extra might to take an increasingly assertive stance on the world stage - bringing Hong Kong under tight control, menacing Taiwan, and asserting a claim to the whole of the South China Sea.

He is also overseeing a rapid expansion of the country's nuclear stockpile which Washington estimates could hit 1,000 warheads by the end of the decade.

And over the summer, China tested a new kind of hypersonic space craft which the US fears could be used to carry a nuclear weapon.

Analysts said the 'weapon' is unlike any capability the US has and appears to 'defy the laws of physics'.

Free speech and opposition politics have been severely curtailed in the semi-autonomous southern city of Hong Kong under Xi Jinping's rule (pictured: Chinese police officers violently detain a man during a protest in Hong Kong in December 2019)

Religious groups and human rights activists in China have been harshly repressed, with more than a million members of Muslim minority groups, particularly Uighurs, shipped off to the nation's 're-education centres' which are widely believed to be internment and concentration camps in recent years (pictured: Uighurs decorate a grave in Xinjiang, China, 2019)

'Chairman' Mao was the head of the Communist party in China from 1935 until his death in 1976 and helped to build China into a world superpower, but was responsible for the deaths of tens of millions who were starved, imprisoned and executed under his autocratic regime.

Deng Xiaoping was Mao's successor and is seen as one of China's most influential leaders. He brought in a wave of of economic reforms and is also known for ordering the army to fire on student protesters in the Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.

The party has only issued two previous evaluations of its history: in 1945, as it was prepared to seize power from the Nationalist party, and in 1981 as Deng led an assessment of Mao's tumultuous 1966-76 Cultural Revolution.

Despite China's rapid economic growth, consolidation of military power and increasing presence on the world stage under Xi, concerns around the nation's human rights record and aggression in neighbouring territories have grown in equal measure.

Religious groups and human rights activists in China have been harshly repressed, and recent months have seen more than a million members of Muslim minority groups, particularly Uighurs, shipped off to the nation's 're-education centres' which are widely believed to be internment and concentration camps.

Free speech and opposition politics have also been severely curtailed in the semi-autonomous southern city of Hong Kong, while military threats against self-governing Taiwan have rapidly increased in recent weeks.

China says such measures are necessary to safeguard stability and national sovereignty, but the moves have been widely condemned by world leaders.

Beijing and Washington are currently at loggerheads over the issue of Taiwan in particular - an island China has vowed to 'reunify' despite Biden saying he is willing to defend it - with tensions further growing in the South China Sea.

In the meantime, China has built mock-ups of US ships on what appears to be a military firing range, adding to fears that the country is gearing up for a confrontation with America.

China has initiated a rapid development of new nukes, battleships, jet fighters, tanks and missiles in the past few years, and has tested a number of cutting-edge missiles in recent weeks. (US satellite image of a mock-up US battleship, rail terminus and storage facility on Chinese firing range, dated Sunday, November 7)

Satellite images captured by Colorado-based satellite imagery company Maxar Technologies on Sunday show China has built targets shaped like a US Ford-class aircraft carrier and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer.

The mock-ups are located in Ruoqiang, in China's northwestern desert region of Xinjiang, on what US analysts believe is a military firing range - suggesting they will be used for target practice.

A Pentagon report issued last month said China is expanding its nuclear force much faster than US officials predicted just a year ago.

It added China 'continued its efforts to advance its overall development' in spite of challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic, and said Beijing was able to steady its economic growth, strengthen its armed forces, and take a 'more assertive role in global affairs'.

Responding to the report, James Inhofe, a Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member, said the US was in 'the most endangered position our country has ever been in terms of what is demonstrating, clearly, what they have the capability of doing.'

Meanwhile Representative Mike Rogers, a ranking member of the House Armed Services committee, warned the US military needs to modernise to counter China.

He said the report included details that have 'been self-evident for some time - that China poses a real and imminent threat'.

'Kicking the can down the road for our own military modernisation is no longer an option,' he said.
A nightclub in Cardiff says it made a mistake to charge customers for drink covers that stop people from getting spiked.

Pryzm on Greyfriars Road in Cardiff, south Wales, sparked anger by charging 20p for their drink covers, when in recent months there has been a spate of spiking reports in bars and nightclubs across the UK.

The venue says this was a 'mistake' and it is now offering the covers for free.

A one-night boycott of clubs was held last month by the Big Night In Cardiff group in protest at spiking, as part of a national campaign.

Pryzm Cardiff, on Greyfriars Road, sparked anger by charging 20p for their drink covers, which student Peter Thomas, 21, pictured, drew attention to on social media

Spiking often refers to putting drugs in someone's drink without their knowledge, but there have also been recent reports of spiking by injection.

South Wales Police received 18 reports of potential needle spiking in September and October.

Cardiff nightclubs Popworld, Walkabout, Be At One, Story, Metros, Mary's and Revolution are offering them for free.

Pulse is trialling them and has no intention of charging.

The Moon bar said there had been supply issues, but it will be providing free covers.

Attention was drawn to Pryzm's charge last week by Peter Thomas, a Cardiff University student who posted on social media about his experience of visiting the club.

Cardiff university student, Peter Thomas, 21, drew attention to the nightclub's charge when posted his experience on social media.

The psychology student told WalesOnline: 'I was out with a group of girls from my course on the Monday [November 1].

'I thought we should do something to make sure we're not spiked, and when we got to Pryzm, I realised that would be a lot more difficult than I'd thought.

'I wasn't offered a cover myself, which felt a bit selective, but they were offering them to the girls and asking for 20p per lid.

'Who's going to remember to ask for that each time they get a drink?

'Who wants to pay that each time they get a drink?

'It felt like they were using it as a business opportunity.

'It came across as cashing in on spiking when this could literally save a life.

Pryzm says the charge was an attempt to encourage people to reuse the plastic covers, but Mr Thomas believes this could be problematic: 'If you're dancing and the lid gets squashed a bit, it's difficult to reuse from a safety perspective.'

'The girls I was with were a bit gobsmacked.'

Pryzm says the charge was an attempt to encourage people to reuse the plastic covers, but Mr Thomas believes this could be problematic.

The student, of Cathays, said: 'If you're dancing and the lid gets squashed a bit, it's difficult to reuse from a safety perspective.

'They also ran out during the night, and I thought, "Oh my God, surely a club network of that size should be able to source something,".

'It's not the frontline staff's fault.

'Charging has probably got them more abuse, when those staff probably don't want to be charging in the first place.'

The experience prompted Mr Thomas to write on Facebook the following day about his anger over Pryzm's policy, in a post which gained more than 500 likes.

'I know a lot of people have stopped going out now, and don't feel safe in Cardiff anymore,' he said.

'I've been here four years, and it's the first time it's felt like this.'

Cardiff Students' Union has been providing free covers at its bar for at least three weeks.

It stocks both drink and urine testing kits, which students can use if they think they may have been spiked.

Debbie Beadle of Cardiff Women's Aid said: 'It's nightclubs' responsibility to make sure they are doing everything in their power to make an environment where it's unacceptable to have this behaviour.

'Women are scared to go out. We are now seeing women staying at home. Is that the society we want?

'It's more than just putting covers on drinks.

'That's not stopping injections happening. It's about training staff to be more vigilant, making sure they are covering areas where it could happen.

'Whether that means staffing clubs more, that's what they should be doing.

'It's a growing concern. This is having an impact on young women's lives, especially after Covid and the impact on being able to go out, and this builds into that anxiety.'

She said the charge was 'not acceptable' and welcomed the u-turn, adding: 'The emphasis shouldn't be put on women and victims of abuse to make themselves safe.'

The National Police Chiefs' Council said on October 25 that there had been around 140 confirmed reports of spiking that month and in September, and another 24 reports of 'some form of injection'.

South Wales Police received 18 reports of potential needle spiking in September and October. Pictured, Pryzm nightclub in Cardiff

There were both male and female victims, but the majority were young women.

A Pryzm spokeswoman said: 'Keeping our guests safe is our number one priority. We've listened to our guests and accept we made a mistake and are not charging for drink spiking devices.'

The club chain says its staff are 'fully trained' on spiking and what to look out for.

It is searching all customers on entry, with ID scanners and metal detector arches. Its security staff wear bodycams and it has medics in its venues.

A spokesman for Cardiff Students' Union said: 'We sometimes run out with the current supply issues [with lids], which I predict towards the end of November for a week or two again.

'When this happens, we offer to decant bottles into the cup with lids.

'We have private medical staff at club nights with a minimum of one paramedic level. We have also been using drug dogs on entry for the last two weeks and will continue for one more week to help with entry.'

South Wales Police say they are aware of 'public concern' around spiking reports, as well as 'some concern at the possibility that people are being 'spiked' by needles or syringes containing drugs'.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Gilmer said: 'We have received reports from people who believe [needle spiking] might have happened to them and these are currently under investigation.

'The 18 reports [in September and October] range from the person reporting feeling a pin-prick or experiencing soreness or a mark to the arm.

'Our officers are working with licensed premises to alert them to spiking methods and asking them to be extra vigilant at this time.

'We take all reports seriously and encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of spiking in any form to contact us.

'South Wales Police has an excellent history of partnership working and we provide training to staff at city centre licensed premises to help them identify and safeguard vulnerable people and we regularly see examples of where this training has paid off.'

A Senedd debate was held on Wednesday over potential measures to clamp down on spiking.

Ideas included free drug test strips at all Welsh venues, better staff access to training on spiking, and tougher sentences for those found guilty of spiking.
The US embassy compound in Yemen has been overrun by Iran-backed Houthi rebels who also took at least 25 Yemeni employees there hostage, the State Department confirmed on Thursday.

Biden administration officials are demanding the insurgents release all the staff they took prisoner there as well as the equipment they took and that they vacate the property immediately.

'We are concerned that Yemeni staff of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa continue to be detained without explanation and we call for their immediate release. The United States has been unceasing in its diplomatic efforts to secure their release,' a State Department spokesperson told DailyMail.com.

The official said the majority of them have already been set free but that 'the Houthis continue to detain additional Yemeni employees of the Embassy.'

'We are also concerned about the breach of the compound that had been used by our Embassy prior to our suspension of operations in 2015. We call on the Houthis to immediately vacate it and return all seized property,' they said.

'The U.S. government will continue its diplomatic efforts to secure the release of our staff and the vacating of our compound, including through our international partners.'

Middle Eastern outlets first reported that three Yemeni nationals linked to the US embassy were taken from one of their homes in Sana'a on November 5, according to a translation from the Middle East Media Research Institute.

Three weeks prior 22 people who primarily 'worked on the security staff guarding the embassy grounds' were also kidnapped.

Twenty-two employees of the US Embassy in Yemen (pictured), mostly security forces, were kidnapped by Houthi rebels this month. The embassy has been shut since 2015 over security concerns as the country was just beginning to plunge into a devastating civil war

A man holds stands near a machine gun on a vehicle as Houthi rebels and their supporters gather for a celebration marking the anniversary of the birth of Islam's Prophet Muhammad in Sana'a last month

Houthi rebels and their supporters hold flags and posters of Shiite Houthi movement's leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi during the celebration

On Wednesday Houthi rebels took 'large quantities of equipment and materials' from the embassy, MEMRI's translation of independent Yemeni media reports claim.

State Department spokesman Ned Price briefly addressed the ongoing hostage situation in a briefing earlier this week, before officials confirmed their rescue efforts.

'We are extremely concerned by reports of detentions of some of our local Yemeni employees in Sana'a, and we call for their immediate release,' Price said. 'We have been unceasing in our behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to secure their release.'

'Weve seen some progress and were continuing to work this critical issue. The majority of those who have been detained are no longer in custody.

'We are committed to ensuring the safety of those who serve the U.S. Government overseas, and that is why we are so actively engaged on this matter, including through our international partners.'

According to the regional reports, three of the hostages are a former embassy employee who worked for the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative, an economic official there and an employee of the United States Agency for International Development.

A Yemeni pro-government fighter is pictured during fighting with Huthi rebels on the south frontline of Marib, the last remaining government stronghold in northern Yemen, on November 10

The US Embassy in Yemen was shut in 2015 over the unpredictable security situation in the conflict-ridden country.

Since then US diplomacy for the region has been conducted out of the Yemen Affairs Unit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Yemeni embassy in Washington, DC for comment.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen, now in its seventh year, pushed the small nation into a humanitarian crisis that has cost tens of thousands of lives and forced millions of people onto the brink of starvation.

The coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intervened in 2015 after Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim Houthi forces ousted the internationally recognized government from the capital city of Sana'a.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was in power for more than two decades, saw his dictatorial regime toppled in 2012 during the Arab Spring protests.

He then sided with the Houthi rebels who ousted the country's democratic government before being killed by the same insurgents who accused him of being a traitor.

The last remaining government stronghold, Marib in northern Yemen, has been roiled by conflict that killed 28 fighters from the pro-government Obaida tribe and seven government forces over the 24-hour period ending on Wednesday.

Images shared on Twitter depict members of the pro-government Yemeni military celebrating a destroyed American drone
Cop26 chief Alok Sharma made an unlikely attempt to channel Barack Obama's inner cool today as he told delegates at the green summit to keep calm in search of a global temperature deal.

The former business secretary claimed he was sometimes called 'no drama Sharma' in his latest light-hearted comment from the stage of the UN conference in Glasgow.

The same nickname was given to the former US president - who attended Cop26 this week - due to his ability to stay calm under pressure while in office between 2008 and 2016.

Last week Mr Sharma attracted attention and criticism after he told the conference that company CEOs and politicians are 'all Swampys now', a reference to the notorious subterranean eco-warrior.

The former business secretary claimed he was sometimes called 'no drama Sharma' in his latest joke from the stage of the UN conference in Glasgow.

The same nickname was given to the former US president - who attended Cop26 this week (pictured) - due to his ability to stay calm under pressure while in office between 2008 and 2016.

Last week Mr Sharma attracted attention and criticism after he told the conference that company CEOs and politicians are 'all Swampys now', a reference to the notorious subterranean eco-warrior (pictured)

Sharma-Obama ding dong: How the two men compare Barack Obama Age: 60 Born: Hawaii, United States Family: Wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha Job: 44th president of the United States 2008 - 2016 Trained as: a lawyer Known for: Being the first non-white president of the United States Nickname: No Drama Obama Alok Sharma Age: 54 Born: Agra, India Family: Wife Ingela and daughters Isabella and Charlotta Job: Cop26 president Trained as: an accountant Known for: Avoiding quarantine while travelling the world ahead of Cop26 Nickname: No Drama Sharma Advertisement

Mr Sharma has said delegates have 'no choice but to strain every sinew' to make the climate summit a success.

Speaking at a press conference on the penultimate day of the talks, Me Sharma said: 'Time is running out and, as I speak, my ministerial co-facilitators, other ministers and negotiators are rolling up their sleeves and working hard to find solutions to some of the most intractable issues - solutions which so far have eluded us for six years.'

Mr Sharma said the last phase of the talks is focusing on finding 'ways forward' on finance and carbon markets, adding: 'Negotiations on finance really need to accelerate and they need to accelerate now.'

Asked about delays in coming to an agreement he added: 'I think people have sometimes described me as ''No drama, Sharma''.'

Mr Obama on Monday blasted leaders playing politics with climate change during a speech in Glasgow in which he condemned his successor Donald Trump for pulling out of the Paris agreement.

Obama called out Russia and China for their lack of action at the same time as he criticized Republican politicians at home.

He issued a call to arms while expressing his anger at the way partisan politics had got in the way of tackling climate change.

He said he and President Joe Biden had been 'constrained in large part by the fact that one of our two major parties has decided not only to sit on the sidelines but express active hostility toward climate science and make climate change a partisan issue.

'For those listening back home in the U.S., let me say this: It doesn't matter if you're a Republican or a Democrat if your Florida house is flooded by rising seas, or your crops fail in the Dakotas or your California house is burning down.'

Obama's foray into politics and appearance at a global summit was unusual for a former president.

His speech followed Biden's appearance last week, when he explicitly apologized for Trump's exit from the Paris accords.

Kicking off the summit's Finance Day last week Mr Sharma recalled the climate protests of the 1990s.

He compared financiers and politicians to Dan Hooper, nicknamed Swampy, who became a household name in 1996 after his fierce campaigning to stop new road projects.

Mr Sharma said: 'When I started my career in finance in the 1990 in the city, there was a guy called Swampy, some of you may recall him?

'He spent his time occupying trees and tunnels and he was the main face of climate action in the United Kingdom.'

He continued: 'But today, the Swampys of the world are all around us, in boardrooms, in government departments, in multilateral development banks and trading floors all around the world - you my friends are the new Swampys, so be proud.

'That means finance is increasingly flowing to climate action. Delivering the Paris Agreement requires nothing short of aligning all financial flows with clean and resilient development, and of course we know that the devastation caused by the pandemic makes this all the more urgent.'

The son of middle-class Berkshire parents Peter and Jill, Swampy became the poster boy for environmentalism after he became involved in the protests against the A34 Newbury by-pass in 1996.

He later spent seven days and nights living in a tunnel dug by campaigners attempting to stop the A30 dual carriageway in Devon in 1997.

Swampy is currently in a tunnel in Wendover, Buckinghamshire, in an effort to block the progress of the HS2 rail project, and was unavailable for comment.

However, fellow campaigner Dr Larch Maxey said: 'To say we are all Swampys is appropriation, it is attempting to take resistance, to take the truth and commercialise it and commodify it for the corporate agenda.'
It is alleged he siphoned money from customer to buy holidays and three BMWs

A dinner lady has denied knowingly holding criminal cash in a bank account under her name for her chauffer boss husband who allegedly scammed his client out of 120,000 and splashed out on flights, holidays and cars.

Jacqueline Bleazard, 51, said she did not know where the money came from and that she was drunk at the time, a court heard.

Her husband Russell Bleazard, 50, an airport taxi boss, is alleged to have bought three BMWs, a 4,000 Japanese self-cleaning toilet and a 1,500 sewing machine using the debit card details of a client without their knowledge.

He obtained the bank details of Thomas Kremer, then executive of toy company Seven Towns, legally when taking payment for chauffeuring.

However, he then went on to use the card details to transfer 85,000 to his own chauffeuring business' bank account, Regency Cars 4 Airports, before also purchasing more than 35,000 of goods and services for his family.

This is alleged to have included the self-cleaning toilet and bathroom fittings, as well as flights and holidays to South Africa, Spain and Cyprus.

The chauffeur is also alleged to have used the funds to replace or service his fleet of vehicles, including a Mercedes S-Class and BMWs.

Jacqueline Bleazard, of Budshead Road, Whitleigh, is standing trial at Plymouth Crown Court charged with laundering the cash through her husband's firm, as the operator of the business account.

Her husband Russell Bleazard, of the same address, is also standing trial charged with two counts of fraud between January and August 2017.

Jacqueline Bleazard, 51, said she did not know where the money came from and that she was drunk at the time, a court heard. Pictured: Jacqueline Bleazard leaving the Plymouth Crown Court on November 9

Russell Bleazard, 50, an airport taxi boss, is alleged to have bought three BMWs, a 4,000 Japanese self-cleaning toilet and a 1,500 sewing machine using the debit card details of a client without their knowledge. Pictured: Bleazard leaving Plymouth Crown Court on November 9

The court heard how Mr Kremer, whose company developed and marketed several well-known toys including the Rubik's Cube, died aged 89 in June 2017.

The allegedly unauthorised payments were discovered by his son, David, when looking back through the toy company's bank statements following the death.

Jacqueline Bleazard admitted that she opened an account in the name of Regency Cars 4 Airports on behalf of her husband - who was bankrupt.

But she said that Russell Bleazard had day to day control of the business and she did not even look at the bank statements.

Jacqueline Bleazard said she only ever used the account to buy food shopping with the consent of her husband when there was no money in their joint account.

She added that she had met Tom Kremer and described him as a 'lovely man'.

But she said that she knew nothing about any financial arrangement between the businessman and her husband, save for a loan to buy a single car for the fleet.

Mrs Bleazard, a former dinner lady who has battled alcoholism, told the court: 'I just thought it was nice enough that he lent the money for the car for the business.'

She said that she never knew at the time that Russell Bleazard was using a bank card connected to Seven Towns to make purchases.

The defendant added that she believed he was using his own card.

The husband and wife are standing trial at Plymouth Crown Court charged with fraud offences dating back to 2017

The court heard that Jacqueline Bleazard set up a furniture business and will be three years sober in February.

Under cross-examination, she said: 'He (Russell) asked me to open up a bank account for his business but I had nothing to do with it.'

Prosecutor Tom Bradnock said: 'By the end of 2016, the business was struggling, wasn't it?'

Jacqueline Bleazard said: 'I don't know, I was drunk a lot around that time.'

He pointed out that the couple had gone to Barcelona and South Africa and installed a new bathroom in 2017.

Mr Bradnock said: 'Would it be fair to say that there had been a sudden turnaround in the business in that year?'

The witness replied: 'I don't know, I had nothing to do with the business.'

Jacqueline Bleazard said that she was drunk a lot of the time in South Africa, when they were on safari.

Mr Bradnock said: 'Isn't it the case that you knew where the money was coming from and you suspected Russell was up to no good?'

Jacqueline Bleazard replied: 'No, I trusted Russell and I believed what he told me.'

Russell Bleazard has admitted using the card to fund, at least in part, trips abroad with his family.

The chauffeur, though, says every payment was made with Mr Kremer's permission.

He claims the toy boss was a 'philanthropist' who used to insist that he spend the money on his family and business.

Russell Bleazard sat outside the Plymouth Crown Court on November 9. He denies two counts of fraud

On Tuesday, prosecutor Tom Bradnock said in his opening statement that Mr Kremer used Russell Bleazard and his employed drivers to take him from his home near Honiton, Devon, to London and around the country - paying for the service using the debit card.

Having obtained the card details properly, Russell Bleazard then transferred money to his own company without their permission, the court heard.

Giving evidence in his own trial, Russell Bleazard said he met Thomas Kremer in 2014 and the pair had become friendly during long trips to London.

He told the court: 'Tom was just very inquisitive, he wanted to know about our family, he just wanted to help. He was just a very kind philanthropist.'

The defendant said Mr Kremer asked to help the business after two cars broke down on a trip taking him to the Lake District.

He told his customer about the costs of maintaining and replacing vehicles for the business, to which he claims Mr Kremer said he wanted to support him.

Russell Bleazard added: 'I kept saying no at first but he was insistent. He was adamant that nobody else was to know, not even Jacqueline.'

He also claimed the toy boss agreed to help fund a trip to Cyprus to visit his stepdaughter when he mentioned she was working there.

Being questioned about the self-cleaning toilet, Russell Bleazard said Mr Kremer had wanted one and purchased the Japanese lavatory from Amazon.

When it arrived at Bleazard's house in Plymouth, though, he said Mr Kremer changed his mind and insisted he keep it for himself.

The defendant said he did not know the card he was using was in the name of Mr Kremer, despite it drawing upon the same company account.

He also said he was not aware how much money he had taken from the account at the time.

Russell Bleazard, of Budshead Road, Whitleigh, denies two counts of fraud between January and August 2017.

Jacqueline Bleazard, of the same address, has pleaded not guilty to a single count of money laundering over the same period.

The trial continues.
RMT union bosses have targeted Christmas parties with a series of strikes planned across the festive season.

Drivers on London Underground's Night Tube were today told not to go to work on a number of dates later this month in a dispute over staffing.

The strikes were planned even before the Night Tube fully reopened since coronavirus lockdowns saw the service temporarily scrapped.

The RMT today told drivers on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria not to work overnight from November 26 to November 27.

It said operators on the Central and Victoria lines should additionally not work the night shifts on November 27 and 28, December 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 17 and 18.

Meanwhile those on Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria were told not to turn up on the evenings of December 18 and 19.

The latest fallout between the RMT and Tube was blamed on what the union branded 'unacceptable and intolerable demands on staff'.

It said the reopening of the Night Tube will 'wreck work life balance by bulldozing through additional night and weekend working'.

The Central and Victoria lines - which were the two busiest services before lockdown, will reopen on November 27

RMT calls drivers strikes as Night Tube FINALLY set to reopen The RMT today told drivers on the Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria not to work overnight from November 26 to November 27. It said operators on the Central and Victoria lines should additionally not work the night shifts on November 27 and 28, December 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 17 and 18. Meanwhile those on Central, Jubilee, Northern, Piccadilly and Victoria were told not to turn up on the evenings of December 18 and 19. Advertisement

General Secretary Mick Lynch said: 'No one has worked harder to ensure a safe environment for women on London Underground than the RMT.

'While Tube bosses have axed staff and left stations routinely unstaffed, with all of the obvious risks, we have campaigned relentlessly for the front line, physical presence of visible staff on stations and platforms.

'We are now being repaid by the imposition of working arrangements that would wreck the work-life balance of our members.

'All of this was avoidable if the Tube management hadn't axed dedicated Night Tube staff and perfectly workable arrangements in order to cut staffing numbers and costs. It's that action which has led us to make today's announcement.

'RMT supports the reintroduction of the Night Tube but we know full well that prior to its suspension during the pandemic it was a magnet for violent, abusive and anti-social behaviour.

'The Mayor and his officials cannot ignore that fact and the hard reality that it's RMT members who made it a success in the first place. They now feel totally betrayed.

'We warned months ago that slashing two hundred Night Tube Train Driver positions would create a staffing nightmare and LU need to start facing up to that reality. The union remains available for talks.'

Drivers on London Underground's Night Tube are to stage a series of strikes from later this month in a dispute over staffing, the RMT union announced

Last month it was announced the Night Tube will finally resume from the end of November after being suspended since March 2020 due to Covid.



Transport for London said services on the Central and Victoria lines will run through the night on Fridays and Saturdays from November 27.

Tens of thousands of people signed a petition calling for the Night Tube to resume to help protect women and girls after Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa were killed.

According to TfL, service levels on the two lines will be the same frequency as pre-pandemic. The Victoria line will be a ten minute service (six trains per hour).

The Central will be every 10 mins in the central section between White City and Leytonstone, and every 20 minutes extending from Leytonstone to Loughton and Leytonstone via Newbury Park to Hainault in the east, and from White City to Ealing Broadway in the west.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: 'The reason why I was so keen to be the first mayor in London's history to start the Night Tube in 2016, and to restart it now, after the Covid pause, is because I know how important this is to London's thriving night-time economy, to London's recovery and to the confidence and safety of everyone travelling home at night, particularly women and girls.

'I am determined to make our city as safe as possible for all Londoners.

'That's why I'm delighted to see the return of the Victoria and Central Night Tube lines next month, which will make a huge difference to people travelling around our city at night and making their way home, offering them an additional safe, reliable transport option.

'I will continue to work with TfL and the Government to do everything we can to bring back the full Night Tube network as soon as possible.'

Almost 140,000 people signed a petition urging the Mayor to resume the vital night time service.

Services on the Central and Victoria lines will run throughout the night on Fridays and Saturdays from November 27.

The service has been suspended since March 2020 due to the pandemic, and tens of thousands of people signed the petition calling for it to resume.

The Central and Victoria lines were the two busiest lines during the original Night Tube service.

TfL said it was running as many services as possible 'while seeking to secure the long-term, sustainable Government funding needed to go on supporting London.

TfL said: 'The Night Tube offers a safe, low crime environment. More than 2,500 police and police community support officers and 500 TfL enforcement officers patrol London's transport network, while thousands of frontline transport staff support customers and an extensive CCTV network is in place across the Tube.'

Off-peak leisure travel has recovered from the pandemic more quickly than other types of journey.

Night Tube services are expected to resume on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines as soon as they have trained enough drivers and completed engineering and operational works.

Night Czar for London, Amy Lame, said: 'I've been working closely with TfL and the industry to bring the Night Tube back as soon as possible, and its return will be hugely welcome news to the capital's night-time businesses which have been hit so hard by the pandemic.

'It's fantastic to see London getting its buzz back, and the Night Tube offers a safe, quick way to travel across the city at night, whether you're out enjoying the capital's world-leading culture and hospitality, or one of the 1.6 million people that regularly work at night making your way home.

'I look forward to seeing the Victoria and Central lines back in action next month, with the rest of the Night Tube to follow.'

The Night Tube is returning to service from the end of November with trains running on Friday and Saturday on the Victoria and Central Lines

Ros Morgan, Chief Executive, Heart of London Business Alliance, said: 'London's night-time economy plays a vital role in promoting London as a global destination and should be celebrated.

'We support TfL's objectives to keep service levels running at pre-pandemic levels and look forward to the full reopening of the Night Tube which will ensure that people will be incentivised to support London's night-time economy businesses.'

Conservative London Assembly Member Emma Best criticised the announcement claiming reopening two lines was not good enough.

She said: 'I've witnessed, heard stories, and experienced inappropriate sexual behaviour at night on London's streets, in taxis and at bus stops. Sadly, a lot of women have.

'While most bus journeys are uneventful and the vast majority of taxi drivers are lovely and professional, it's easy to see why many women and girls want a better-lit transport option at night.

'The Night Tube provides not only a safe route home but a safe haven for women and girls at night. And it's essential for shift workers and the vulnerable.

'So I welcome your announcement to open two lines but over 125,000 Londoners have signed a petition asking you to reopen the Night Tube in its entirety. Two out of five lines isn't good enough.'

Ms Best added: 'It's beggars belief that the Mayor will blame government funding only to not ask for cash to reopen the Night Tube in his wish list. I would urge the Mayor to listen to women and girls across London and make reopening the service his priority.'
A 'bullied' Lance Corporal in Prince Harry's former regiment took his own life in his barracks upon returning from a night out after he was passed over for a promotion, an inquest has heard.

Joel Robinson, who served with The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, also known as the Blues and Royals, was found by colleagues hanging in a room at Combermere Barracks in Windsor at 3am on March 25, 2019.

A coroner ruled today he died of suicide as she blasted the Army for not doing enough to stop the wave of self-inflicted deaths among its troops.

LCpl Joel Robinson had joined the army straight from school in 2010

Lance Corporal Joel Robinson (pictured) had been serving with The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment based at Combermere Barracks

The inquest into his death heard that the 24-year-old felt he had been bullied by one of his superiors in the elite Life Guards regiment while also being passed over for promotion, despite the fact he garnered consistently glowing reports.

Earlier, L/Cpl Robinson's mother, Angela and her barrister, Adam Payter, told the coroner: 'In messages [to his mother] Joel described a number of occasions from 2017 onwards that his boss, L/Cpl Joyce, was "literally bullying" him and that he would "fly off the handle at him" and threaten him.

'He made references to "surviving" this process.'

The coroner said the young man's cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging

The inquest in Reading, Berkshire, was told that L/Cpl Robinson, whose family home is in Penrith, Cumbria, had attempted to make a formal service complaint about his superior's behaviour whilst serving in Germany but it had been repeatedly rebuffed and never formally lodged it, even when he returned to the UK.

Today Senior Berkshire Coroner, Heidi Connor, said: 'There was little by way of supervision and the chain of command was not as strong as it should have been.'

The coroner also said that the poor handling on the complaint was a risk factor for L/Cpl Robinson's mental health that should have been identified by his superiors.

She said: 'The service complaint was very significant in the conversation about L/Cpl Robinson's risk factors. After L/Cpl Robinson's return to the UK, he felt overlooked for promotion and that other less deserving soldiers were promoted.

'He felt this may have been because of the complaint raised in Germany. Major Chambers gave evidence that the reasons were nothing to do with the service complaint, but it was clear that this impression was a source of distress to L/Cpl Robinson.'

A coroner ruled today he died of suicide as she blasted the Army for not doing enough to stop the wave of self-inflicted deaths among its troops

The inquest had earlier heard that on the night before the soldier was found hanged, L/Cpl Robinson had been out drinking together with civilian friend Gareth Williams, who had dropped him off at the barracks in Windsor before texting him saying 'thanks for a great night.'

Mr Williams added: 'We would often sing together until the very late hours and often until we could no longer keep our eyes open.

'He did mention that he was using anti-depressants. He mentioned on a few occasions that all was not well at the barracks. He didn't want to be at the barracks.

'He wanted to leave but didn't know what to do when he got out.'

But at 3am that morning, L/Cpl Robinson was found hanging by one of his colleagues. Despite their best efforts, he was declared dead soon after.

Earlier, the inquest had heard that his family and friends had not had any concerns about L/Cpl Robinson's mental health before his death.

Prince Harry marches for the presentation of Afghanistan war campaign medals to officers and soldiers of the Household Cavalry Regiment at Combermere Barracks on May 5, 2008

LCpl Robinson had joined the army in 2010 straight out of school and his mother, who is herself an army veteran, thought it was a safe place for him to have a career.

Reaching her conclusion, Ms Connor slammed the Army's rules in dealing with suicides, saying: 'The Army's approach appears to be a passive one and a soldier would need to raise their hand to say they are struggling rather than having a process that actively looks at risk factors.

'Sadly I have seen that there are clearly more suicides in the Army than other armed forces.'

The coroner told the hearing she would write the most senior officer in the British Army with her recommendations, including that the Army start to pro-actively screen its soldiers' mental health.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Ms Connor told L/Cpl Robinson's family: 'I really like the sound of Joel and I rather wish I had known him during his life.

Combermere Barracks at Windsor where both LCpl Robinson and Prince Harry served

'I hope that after this conclusion you will be able to go away and remember some happier memories of Joel.'

After the coroner's conclusion, she read a touching pen portrait of L/Cpl Robinson, written by his mother Angela.

She said: 'Joel was a lovely warm, loyal, sociable, intelligent and energetic young man. He had a big heart, an infectious winning smile and a charismatic personality.

'We are very proud of so many things he achieved in his life. Latterly, his sheer commitment to succeed and achieve his goals in the Army. His glowing annual reports described him as professional, popular and hugely talented.

'In honour of those memories and as a lasting tribute to Joel and as a celebration of his short life, his name will be added to the side of a new RNLI all-weather lifeboat which will be launched in 2022 at Wells-nest-the-Sea, Norfolk.

'In some small way, this will enable Joel to continue helping people, keeping them safe, just as he did during his own life.'
Cop26 is expected to have a carbon footprint twice as large as the last conference on climate change, making it the most carbon-intensive summit of its kind.

A preliminary report for the UK Government by consultants Arup states 102,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) is due to be released by the summit in Glasgow.

This comes in comparison to 51,101 tCO2e from Cop25 in Madrid in 2019.

Around 60 per cent is produced by international flights taken by world leaders and business magnates including Amazon's Jeff Bezos, said The Scotsman newspaper.

His 48million Gulf Stream led a 400-strong parade of private jets into Cop26 a fortnight ago, including those belonging to Prince Albert of Monaco, scores of royals and dozens of 'green' CEOs.

The findings come as Cop26 nears the end of its second full week in Glasgow, with more than 30,000 people expected to attend the conference.

US President Joe Biden is pictured boarding Air Force One at Edinburgh Airport after attending the UN Climate Change Conference Cop26 on November 2

Boris Johnson, who was condemned after returning to London last Tuesday via private jet, is pictured arriving at the Cop26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow on November 10

The UK Government said this year's summit is the largest climate change conference so far, and the Arup report includes emissions from both the blue and green zones.

The Arup report said its figure of 102,500 tCO2e represented 'the best working assessment of the emissions from the event'.

Commenting on the report, Greenpeace UK's Dr Doug Parr said: 'The meeting in Glasgow is not supposed to be a demonstration of sustainable lifestyles, and it shouldn't be judged in those terms.

'But the failure to reach any meaningful agreement about limiting aviation's vast carbon emissions - at a conference where 60% of their emissions came from aviation, with a backing chorus of media outrage at the private jet hypocrisy of the elites - really highlights the lack of equity in these talks.

'Creating loopholes for the use of the rich not only maintains their disproportionately high emissions, but makes it so much harder to persuade anyone else to cut.'

The total greenhouse gas emissions for Cop25, which was held in Madrid in 2019, stood at 51,101 tCO2e, while at Cop21 in Paris in 2015 the figure was 43,000 tCO2e.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives in Edinburgh, Scotland, to attend COP26 on November 1. Delegates have been asked to consider low-carbon methods of travel to Cop26

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives for Cop26 in Glasgow on November 1. A definitive total of the events carbon footprint is expected to be published in coming months

Jeff Bezos' Gulfstream private jet - which reportedly cost him 48million - arrives at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow on October 31

Jeff Bezos is accused of being a hypocrite for lecturing COP26 about cutting emissions after flying in on his 48million private jet Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos was 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 superyacht off the coast of Turkey. Billionaire Mr Bezos, who earlier this year made a short journey to space in the first crewed flight of his rocket ship, New Shepard, has 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, calling him a 'hypocrite' and writing: 'Amazon has a carbon footprint larger than most countries.' Advertisement

Cop15 in Copenhagen in 2009 produced around 26,000 tCO2e of emissions.

Arup's seven-page executive summary of the Cop26 carbon management plan notes the 102,500 tCO2e total includes: business travel during pre-event planning; energy, waste, and water use in the accommodation for all blue zone attendees; and operational emissions from emergency service vehicles.

Arup said the figure represented 'the best working assessment of the emissions from the event,' based on planning parameters, carbon reporting for previous Cops, and lessons learnt from the foot-printing of previous similar events.

Flight radar data also shows that some jets have been flying from Glasgow Airport in Paisley, Renfrewshire, to Glasgow Prestwick Airport in South Ayrshire in order to park - a journey of less than 30 miles.

Delegates have been asked to consider low-carbon methods of travel to Cop26.

Mr Johnson was condemned after returning to London from Glasgow last Tuesday via private jet to reportedly attend a function at a men-only private members' club.

Downing Street said the journey was taken with consideration of 'time restraints', but Anneliese Dodds, the Labour party chair, accused Mr Johnson of 'staggering hypocrisy'. When the Prime Minister returned to Glasgow on Wednesday, he did so by train.

Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour's spokeswoman for net zero, energy, and transport, said at the time: 'If Cop26 is to deliver the bold change needed, then those involved should lead by example.

'Travel emissions were always going to be inevitable, but this stark rise will no doubt raise some eyebrows.

'We all have a responsibility to do our part and those setting the rules must be willing to play by them.

'Warm words will ring hollow if they're not matched with action.'

The UK Government has pledged COP26 will be carbon neutral, a promise it aims to uphold via the purchase of UNFCCC-recognised offsets such as certified emission reductions.

It says that Glasgow will be the first COP to achieve validation using the PAS2060 international standard on carbon neutrality, and the 'key priority' of its carbon management plan was to 'reduce and avoid emissions'.

A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: 'As official UNFCCC figures show, Cop26 is a substantially bigger event than other recent Cops, with over 39,000 participants as against nearly 27,000 at Cop25.

MailOnline observed 41 private jets leave in total on November 2 between 2pm and 11pm  the majority of them rental services making it hard to identify who was on board

The US President seen boarding Air Force One at Edinburgh Airport after attending the UN Climate Change Conference Cop26 on November 2

'Cop26 will be a carbon neutral event and will be the first Cop to demonstrate carbon neutrality validation through PAS2060, the internationally recognised standard on carbon neutrality.

'As part of its analysis, the Government has for the first time included both the full blue and green zone impacts, giving a fuller and more accurate picture of emissions from the site.'

The Government said the Arup report is a baseline assessment which would not fully reflect many of the emission-reduction measures, while final emissions will be confirmed following the event.

A definitive total of the events carbon footprint is expected to be published in coming months, once the data has been received and analysed.
A woman who struck an American Airlines flight attendant on a plane from Dallas to Aspen earlier this year was fined $23,000 by the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday, amid a recent spike in assaults on airline employees by unruly passengers.

The woman, who was not named, was angered by the fact that her seat did not recline, spurring her to attack the staffer during the March 11 altercation, according to the air safety agency.

The federal body's marked response comes as airlines deal with unprecedented numbers of unruly passengers this year after the U.S. introduced a mask mandate on airplanes and in airports as of February 1, prompting the agency to announce Wednesday more than $201,000 worth of fines on such passengers - including the aforementioned woman.

The fines announced Wednesday ranged from $9,000 to $32,000, and totaled to $201,287. The FAA does not identify passengers against which it has sought penalties.

While the 'unruly passenger trend' has declined in the past week, the agency said Tuesday in a tweet prior to its announcement, the number of incidents is 'still too high.' The rate of incidents involving violent or unruly passengers has declined in recent months by nearly 50 percent - since all-time-highs in early 2021, after the FAA first introduced its Zero Tolerance policy against unruly passengers.

The agency does not have the authority to prosecute violators, but is able to impose fines of up to $37,000 per violation. They can also impose multiple violations per incident.

While the 'unruly passenger trend' has declined in the past week, the agency said Tuesday in a tweet prior to its announcement, the number of incidents is 'still too high'

A woman who struck an American Airlines staffer on a flight from Dallas to Aspen earlier this year was fined $23,000 by the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday, amid a spike in assaults on airline employees by unruly passengers

The FAA said Wednesday that it has received more than 5,000 complaints of unruly passengers this year alone, and 73 percent were mask-related.

More than 100 of the reported incidents were violent in nature, including the 10 announced by the agency.

An FAA spokesman issued a warning last week amid the uptick in violence on flight crews, stating that the agency has already initiated 227 enforcement cases and referred 37 to the FBI for review.

'Let this serve both as a warning and a deterrent: If you disrupt a flight, you risk not just fines from the FAA but federal criminal prosecution as well,' FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said in a joint statement with the FBI on November 4.

The FAA made good on that threat Wednesday, announcing hefty fines for violations ranging from physical violence to an instance where a passenger threw trash at a flight staffer and stole cookies from a fellow passenger.

According to the agency, the March incident involving the female passenger transpired after the woman 'verbally abused flight attendants after she realized her assigned seat would not recline' and proceeded to refuse to switch seats with multiple passengers when prompted by attendants attempting to accommodate her.

The FAA said the woman 'kept yelling at flight attendants' and refused to comply with federal face mask requirements.

The disorderly woman eventually switched seats, but she continued to verbally attack multiple flight attendants, the agency said.

'She then struck a flight attendant on the right forearm, and attempted to do so again.'

Law enforcement personnel were waiting to arrest the woman when the flight disembarked.

Another one of the ten incidents cited by the agency Wednesday detailed a January altercation, also on an American Airlines flight, where a woman shoved a flight attendant in the chest while being escorted off the plane for refusing to wear a mask. She received a $24,000 fine.

A third incident, on a Horizon Air flight from Austin to San Francisco in May, involved a woman who 'threw trash at a flight attendant, and snatched cookies from a nearby passenger.' It garnered the biggest fine, a $32,000 penalty.

According to the FAA, the woman refused to follow instructions to buckle her seatbelt, punched and screamed at her husband and son and distracted flight attendants.

While it was not included on the FAA's list, another incident as of late was an alleged attack on another American Airlines employee by 20-year-old Brian Hsu in October.

During the encounter, a female American Airlines staffer, whose identity has not been released, was allegedly punched twice in the face by Hsu after mistakenly bumping into the first-class passenger, and she suffered multiple broken bones as a result.

Brian Hsu, 20, (pictured) allegedly punched a female American Airlines staffer, whose identity has not been released, twice in the face in October

Hsu, who was arrested after the incident and released on a $10,000 bond, claimed that the attendant 'charged' at him first and ran into his outstretched palm.

After the incident, the head of American Airlines, Doug Parker, called the attack 'one of the worst displays of unruly behavior we've ever witnessed.'

There have been several other instances, often captured on video, of airline assaults or disruptive anti-maskers on planes over the past year.

A California woman who allegedly punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant in the face and knocked out two of her teeth, as well as pulled her hair, has been charged with felony assault in federal court.

Vyvianna Quinonez, 28, was also charged with interfering with a flight crew, a felony. She appeared in court in San Diego on September 17.

The attendant on the Southwest Airlines plane, identified in court documents only as S.L., lost two teeth and suffered other injuries to her face after instructing the suspect to fasten her seatbelt and wear her face mask properly on the May 23 flight from Sacramento to San Diego, California, prosecutors said.

A Florida woman was arrested and forced off a Delta flight after allegedly refusing to wear a mask and spitting at other passengers, which was caught on camera.

In yet another incident, cellphone footage captured the moment Adelaide Schrowang, 23, was escorted off the plane at Southwest Florida International Airport on July 7 when a captain ordered she be removed from the flight.

The federal mask mandate is set to remain in effect until at least January 18.

A viral video shows a passenger identified as Vyvianna Quinonez punching the crew member in the face with a closed fist and pulling her hair (pictured)
A federal appeals court panel on Thursday afternoon granted a request by former President Donald Trump to stay a lower court judge's ruling requiring the National Archives to hand over documents to the House Jan. 6th committee.

The stay is intended to give the court time to consider Trumps arguments against release of the documents, which was otherwise scheduled for Friday without a court order.

But the temporary stay has a short fuse: the appeals court set arguments in the case for Nov. 30.

A three-judge panel issued the administration injunction. It said it did so 'to protect the courts jurisdiction' to address Trump's claim of executive privilege, while specifying its decision 'should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits.'

It has the effect of stopping the National Archives from handing over White House memos, documents, and schedules that the select House committee on Jan. 6th wants to obtain as it probes the riot, which occurred on the day Congress met to count the electoral votes for president.

The handover of government documents was set to begin Friday  in a case where the former president is asserting privilege, even as President Joe Biden is waiving privilege on documents the Jan. 6th committee wants to review.

Trump on Thursday in a filing asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for the temporary stay.

'If no administrative injunction issues from this Court, then the records at issue will be produced on November 12, at 6:00 p.m,' according to the emergency filing by Trump's lawyers.

'Put simply, this motion seeks only a brief pause in the production; it will not prejudice the other arguments or requests to be made by the parties in this important appeal.'

Former President Donald Trump wants a federal appeals court to grant a temporary stay that will stop the National Archives from turning over administration documents to a House Jan. 6th committee

The pause would allow the legal battles to go forward.

Barring a court order, the National Archives is expected on Friday to turn over Trump's call logs, draft speeches and other documents related to the riot. Trump's lawyers asked the court to set a schedule for the case that would delay any decision until next week.

Congress has sought the records to better understand the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, in which rioters ransacked the building and forced into hiding lawmakers who were certifying Trump's election loss to President Joe Biden.

Biden waived executive privilege on the documents. Trump then went to court arguing that as a former president, he still had the right to exert privilege over the records and that releasing them would damage the presidency in the future.

Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected Trump's claim of executive privilege

Obama-appointed U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan on Tuesday rejected an argument by Trump's lawyers that telephone records, visitor logs and other White House documents should be withheld from the House select committee.

'Presidents are not kings,' Chutkan wrote in her decision: 'And Plaintiff is not President.' She also ruled that President Biden and not former 'occupants of the office' are the determining factor in privilege claims.

Trump had argued that the materials requested by the House of Representatives panel were covered by a legal doctrine known as executive privilege that protects the confidentiality of some White House communications.

In their filing to the appeals court, Trumps lawyers wrote that without a stay, the former president would 'suffer irreparable harm through the effective denial of a constitutional and statutory right to be fully heard on a serious disagreement between the former and incumbent President.'

Violent insurrectionists loyal to President Donald Trump stand outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. A federal judge is questioning Donald Trump's efforts to withhold documents from Congress related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Judge Tanya Chutkan was skeptical Thursday, Nov. 4, of attorneys for the former president who asked her to block the handover of documents to a House committee

FILE - President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. A federal judge is questioning Donald Trump's efforts to withhold documents from Congress related to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Judge Tanya Chutkan was skeptical Thursday, Nov. 4, of attorneys for the former president who asked her to block the handover of documents to a House committee. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

The White House on Thursday also notified a lawyer for Mark Meadows, Trump's former chief of staff, that Biden would waive any executive privilege that would prevent Meadows from cooperating with the committee, according to a letter obtained by the AP.

The committee has subpoenaed Meadows and more than two dozen other people as part of its investigation.
A teenager accused of hacking a disabled teenager to death said he called his younger friend the next day and told him to hand himself in.

Nicola Leighton, 36, her son Tyreese Ulysses, 19, together with two 15-year-old boys and a third aged 17, are charged with the murder of 17-year-old Levi Ernest-Morrison, in Sydenham, southeast London.

Leighton and the four teenagers all deny murdering Levi on April 10.

The day after the attack, Leighton contacted the 17-year-old and said he should try to get in contact with one of the 15-year-old boys because the young boy wanted to hand himself in', a jury heard.

Levi Ernest-Morrison (pictured) was killed on April 10 in Sydenham, southeast London. A 36-year-old woman and four teenagers deny murdering him

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, told the Old Bailey: I think he kind of understood that he was responsible.

I know now it doesnt work like that, but I think [Ulysses] was hoping that his mum would get released.'

Leighton is said to have rounded up four youths including her son to kill Levi.

She drove them to Sydenham Road and encouraged them to chase after Levi and his friend, the court has heard.

But giving evidence earlier Leighton told the court she had no idea of what was going on.

Jurors heard the 17-year-old had a machete but it has never been recovered.

Did you still have it with you when you found out Levi was the boy that was stabbed and had died, his barrister, Christopher Henley QC, asked him.

Yes, he replied.

I spoke to my mum about what happened. I explained to her my role in it.

Another family member came into the room as my mum was pretty upset.

They said I shouldnt have that in my house so they disposed of it.

Mr Henley asked: Have you ever said to anyone that you stabbed Levi?

The 17-year-old replied: No never.

He insisted he is not lying and trying to shift blame onto his 15-year-old friend.

The teenager (right) had autism and nerve damage which gave him drop foot, meaning he needed to walk with a crutch

Although he pleaded guilty to possession of a machete, he said he did not use it or inflict any injury with it, nor did he intend to.

The prosecution case is that, as Levi lay defenceless on the ground, you came over and pushed your machete into him, causing a fatal wound. Did you do this? asked Mr Henley.

No I didnt, the teenager replied.

On April 11, the 17-year-old had met up with two friends and they smoked cannabis together, the court heard.

I was just taking a video of myself smoking, he said.

Prosecutors say Leighton then drove the four youths to Sydenham Road where Levi was killed.

Leighton, of Lockwood Close, Sydenham, and one of the 15 year-old boys, deny murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

Ulysses, of Catford, and the other two youths, deny murder.

The trial continues.
Some of the 13 House Republicans who voted for President Joe Biden's infrastructure bill are expressing confidence they will not be punished by their party for their vote.

The backlash against them was swift and immediate after they helped Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democrats send the president a major legislative victory with the $1.2 trillion legislation that will fund traditional infrastructure projects like roads and bridges along with improving broadband internet.

Former President Donald Trump slammed the Republican House members and senators as as 'RINOs' - Republicans in name only - who should be 'ashamed of themselves' for their vote.

And fellow GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted their office numbers to her social media accounts, resulting in a tidal wave of calls with criticism and threats against the lawmakers.

And Republican leadership was weighing stronger action against the 13, including the possiblity of removing them from their committee assignments, Punchbowl News reported. Without a committee assignment, a lawmaker is virtually powerless in the House.

The 13 Republicans have been vocal in defending their vote, pointing out how it will help their districts. And they don't seem worried about losing their committee slots.

'Our office is confident that this will never happen,' Natalie Baldassarre, communications director for New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, told DailyMail.com.

New York Rep. Nicole Malliotakis and Michigan Rep. Fred Upton both voted for the infrastructure bills

And Nebraska Rep. Don Bacon said the complaints about his 'yes' vote were coming from a small group of conservatives in the House.

'This is a small group of members who are making loud noises, and it's falling deaf ears. I'm not concerned about it,' Bacon said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. 'I voted for what is best for our district - a district that went for Joe Biden by almost 8%. Most GOP members understand that.'

But those conservative voices have rang loud in the past for the heads of Republicans they see as betraying the former president. It was that group that started the movement that resulted in Rep. Liz Cheney being removed from House GOP leadership for voting to impeach Trump over his role in the January 6th insurrection.

The 13 Republicans who voted 'yes' on infrastructure bill Here are the 13 Republican members of the House that voted for President Joe Biden's $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill: Andrew Garbarino of New York John Katko of New York Nicole Malliotakis of New York Tom Reed of New York Chris Smith of New Jersey Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey Don Bacon of Nebraska Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio Adam Kinzinger of Illinois David McKinley of West Virginia Fred Upton of Michigan Don Young of Alaska Advertisement

But Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan told the Detroit News that the infrastructure bill was needed and would be good for the state.

He pointed out, as part of his defense of his vote, Trump supported infrastructure as president.

'Remember: This is a bipartisan bill that one of (former President Donald) Trump's best friends, his best buddy Lindsey Graham, voted for in the Senate,' Upton said.

'Former President Trump said, 'Wait til '24 and I'll get you a better deal.' You know what? We can't wait. We can't wait. We need this now. We have a crumbling infrastructure. We need broadband.'

Upton stressed he is against the Build Back Better Act, a $1.75 trillion package of social safety net programs. The infrastructure bill got caught up in the Democrats' intra-party battle over what provisions should be in the other legislation.

'I'm against it. But we're weeks away from seeing how this concludes, I hope it never gets to the finish line,' Upton said. 'But no longer are they connected, which is one of the arguments that was being used to oppose this.'

Rep. Malliotakis told CNN that passing the infrastructure bill undermined liberals' attempts to pass a bigger social saftey ntet bill.

'I think actually by passing this bipartisan infrastructure bill that we've actually undermined Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the socialist wing of the Democratic Party from being able to hold infrastructure hostage. And now they have lost their leverage. And I think that's an important thing to say,' she said.

Conservatives, in particular, have been targeting GOP Rep. John Katko, the ranking Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee who also voted for Trump's second impeachment.

Katko is earning fury because he voted for the bill before Democrats reached the 218 votes needed for passage, while some of the other Republicans waited until the Democrats reached the threshold before voting yes.

'In my view, there's a difference between the ones who broke their word to the whip and voted 'yes' before they reached 218 and those that kept their word and waited,' one House Republican member told CNN. 'Katko is the worst offender.'

Rep. Fred Upton of Michigan is a crucial swing district for Republicans

The infrastructure bill was a win for President Joe Biden and Donald Trump criticized the Republicans who voted for it as RINOs

But House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy is close to Katko and McCarthy's political committee has helped Katko's re-election bid. The leader's PAC also has supported Upton.

Some of those Republicans - such as Bacon, Katko, and Upton - are in key swing districts where there are fears that, if a more conservative candidate wins the primary, the GOP could lose the general election and thus harm their chances of winning control of the House next year.

Other Republicans who voted for the infrastructure bill are retiring from public office - including Reps. Anthony Gonzalez and Adam Kinzinger. Both men have been targets of Trump's ire for supporting his second impeachment.

Republican Rep. Don Young of Alaska said action on infrastructure was more important than no action.

'Was this bill perfect?,' he said in a statement. 'No, but truthfully, few pieces of legislation are. However, I firmly believe that we cannot sacrifice the good for the perfect. Very frankly, inaction on infrastructure risks our nation's fundamental economic independence and strength.'

And Young also retweeted a tweet from White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, who wrote: 'Grateful to @repdonyoung for his early encouragement and advice on putting together the bipartisan infrastructure bill -- he was one of the @POTUS ' earliest consultations when this process was getting started.'
Horrific surveillance video footage shows the moment a 63-year-old business owner bled as he was attacked by a 26-year-old man who hit him in the head with a hatchet in broad daylight in Argentina.

The victim, who identified himself as Juan Jose, was on his way purchase a lottery ticket when the suspect dropped his bike in the middle of the street. He walked up to Juan Jose and hit him on the left side of face before tumbling towards the sidewalk.

The attacker, whose name was not released to the press, towered over Juan Jose who tried to fight him off by kicking at him several times.

The suspect tried hit with the axe on three occasions before connecting on the fourth attempt, striking him above the right side of the temple.

Juan Jose, a produce shop owner in Rosario, Argentina, survived a hatchet attack from 26-year-old a supermarket delivery worker on Tuesday. He was struck one on the right side of the temple and required 10 stitches. The suspect was due in court Thursday to be arraigned on an attempted murder charge

Juan Jose lies on the ground and tries to defend himself against his attacker, a 26-year-old man who works as a delivery worker at the supermarket in Rosario, Argentina, where he operates a produce shop

Juan Jose told Argentine station El Tres TV he did not recognize the hatchet swinging man until he asked, 'Do you remember me?'

The father-of-three immediately picked up the mad man's voice, connecting it to the delivery worker who works at the supermarket where he runs a produce stand.

'If I did not defend myself, I would not be talking to you today, I would be covered with nylon in the morgue,' Juan Jose said in an interview with Radio 2.

The attacker backed away from Juan Jose as bystanders approached them.

Argentine news channel Todo Noticias reported the suspect returned to the apartment he rented and cooked a meal before authorities apprehended him.

The 26-year-old suspects stands over 62-year-old Juan Jose moments before he struck him on the head with a hatchet Tuesday in Rosario, Argentina

Juan Jose tries to kick his attacker, who attempted three times to hit him with the hatchet before he struck him on the fourth try

Juan Jose walks away under his own power Tuesday afternoon after a delivery worker employed at the Rosario, Argentina, supermarket where he operates a produce shop approached him in the middle of a street and struck him with a hatchet

Juan Jose is seen in the video walking away behind a trail of blood. He was rushed to a Clemente Alvarez Emergency Hospital, where he received 10 stitches.

While Juan Jose relationship with the attacker was kept to cordial greetings at worker, he revealed that his sons had been physically assaulted by the suspect. However, his children opted against filing complaints because they did not believe authorities would pursue the matter with any seriousness.

'I'm terrified. I'm going to have to look everywhere every time I leave my house,' he said.

The suspect was scheduled to appear before a court judge for arraignment on an attempted murder charge.
The White House mocked former President Trump for claiming to deploy his 'envoy ambassador' to tout his Serbia-Kosovo agreement, bypassing about the current administration.

Trump named Grenell his special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo peace relations in 2019, at the same time he served as ambassador to Germany. Grenell was named acting director of national intelligence in 2020.

Trump said he'd sent the former ambassador on the foreign policy mission, but Grenell made clear he was there as a 'private citizen.'

'The great people of Serbia and Kosovo have overcome tremendous obstacles in their pursuit of economic normalization. The agreements my administration brokered are historic and should not be abandoned, many lives are at stake,' Trump said in a statement.

'The region is too important and the people have waited too long for this work to be cast aside. Today, my Envoy Ambassador Ric Grenell visited the Kosovo-Serbia border to highlight this important agreement.'

'Outside of his very active imagination, Donald Trump is no longer President and doesn't have any 'envoy ambassadors' representing the United States,' a White House official told reporters in response.

Grenell has been an active critic of President Biden's policies, including in the Balkan region.

'People of the Western Balkans deserve American leadership,' Grenell said during a press conference at the Merdare border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo

Pictured is a map showing Kosovo and its neighboring countries

Grenell posted a photo of himself on Twitter walking over the Kosovo-Serbia border at Merdare

'People of the Western Balkans deserve American leadership,' Grenell said to The Pavlovic Today after a press conference at the Merdare border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo.

He said that Biden owed the region more than 'lip service' for economic agreement.

Kosovo and Serbia signed a pair of economic agreements on Sept. 4, 2020 in the presence of Trump, even though Serbia does not recognize Kosovo's sovereignty since the country declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

The agreements stipulated that Serbia, for one year, would suspend its efforts to encourage other nations not to recognize Kosovo. The two sides also agreed to open operations on their rail links and to work together on fighting international crime.

'Now that I'm outside government I'm trying to do what I can by bringing the private sector here,' Grenell said in the press conference. 'We want to see young people stay in this region and have really good paying jobs.'

Grenell pictured mingling with Trump and First Lady Melania on Nov. 6

Kosovo and Serbia signed a pair of economic agreements on Sept. 4, 2020 in the presence of Trump, brokered by Grenell

Grenell said that in light of the agreement, he's seen 'very little movement.' 'That's what makes us frustrated'

Grenell said that in light of the agreement, he's seen 'very little movement.' 'That's what makes us frustrated.'

'We have to have open borders,' he said of Kosovo and Serbia.

'I think the Biden administration has to be much more aggressive on leadership. They don't have an ambassador in Kosovo they don't have a presidential envoy for the region. There are not a lot of talks going on.'

Kosovo declared its independence a decade after a brutal 1998-1999 war between separatist ethnic Albanian rebels and Serb forces. The war ended after a 78-day NATO air campaign drove Serb troops out and a peacekeeping force moved in.

Many western states now recognize Kosovo, but Serbia and its allies Russia and China do not.

Grenell posted photos from his time in Pristina, the Capital of Kosovo
EU citizens and families were asked to apply by June 30 to live and work in UK

More than 230,000 EU citizens applied to live and work in the UK after the deadline passed in June, new figures suggest.

EU citizens and their families were asked to apply by June 30 in order to carry on living and working in the UK after freedom of movement ended following the Brexit transition period.

A total 236,840 applications were received after the deadline and up to the end of October, according to provisional Home Office figures.

Since the scheme launched in March 2019, more than six million applications (6,287,700) have been submitted.

More than three million (3,068,700) of those were granted settled status, allowing them permanent leave to remain.

The figures follow an Oxford University researcher saying the number of EU citizens in Britain could be 400,000 higher than the Office for National Statistics figure.

A total 236,840 applications were received after the June 30 deadline and up to the end of October, according to provisional Home Office figures (file photo)

A further 2.4million (2,460,900) have been permitted pre-settled status, meaning they need to reapply after living in the country for five years to gain permanent residence.

The Home Office said eight per cent of the applications were from 'repeat applicants', suggesting an estimated 5.5million people had applied to the scheme before the deadline.

Some 180,500 applications were refused, 103,900 were withdrawn or void, and 94,000 were deemed invalid - where the Home Office decides someone is not eligible to apply or has failed to provide sufficient proof of residence.

The applications received after June 30 will include a mix of late submissions, those from family members, and requests to move from pre-settled to settled status, the Government department said.

It is not known how many people in the UK are eligible for the scheme but could remain in the country undocumented.

Anyone who is yet to apply effectively lost their lawful immigration status after the deadline. This could prevent them getting a new job or moving house until their status is confirmed.

The Home Office said eight per cent of the applications were from 'repeat applicants', suggesting an estimated 5.5million people had applied to the scheme before the deadline

There are limited reasonable grounds for submitting late applications, including where parents, guardians or councils have failed to apply on behalf of a child; those with serious medical conditions preventing them from applying in time; or 'compelling or compassionate reasons' in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Government said there is no cut-off point for submitting late applications and insisted that those who applied by the deadline but have yet to receive a decision will have their existing rights protected, subject to the outcome of the application and any appeal.

But those who do not apply and continue to live in the UK without being able to prove their immigration status have been warned they could face enforcement action.

Meanwhile, ONS figures found there were an estimated 3.6million European migrants in the UK in 2019, but new research from demographer Francesco Rampazzo suggests the real figure was more likely to be around 4million.

His study questions the Government's methods of recording EU migration and compares their estimates to the total suggested by his analysis of Facebook's advertising platform, the Labour Force Survey and country-specific information on unemployment and economic output.

The Facebook advertising data is in blue, the Labour Force Survey data is in yellow, the settled status application data is in red, and the model estimates are in green. The graphic shows that the model estimates are higher than the official LFS estimates

This graphic shows variables from three of the researchers' data sources in thousands. These are the migrant variable and language variable from Facebook's advertising platform, and estimates of migrant stocks by country of birth from the Labour Force Survey

Mr Rampazzo shared this graphic, showing how his research team had repurposed the 'Integrated Model of European Migration' theorised at the UK-based Centre for Population Change to combine traditional data and digital traces

The study, which also involved a team from the University of Southampton and was published in the journal Demography, added that in 2018 there were likely to have been 25 per cent more than ONS figures suggested.

Speaking about his research, Mr Rampazzo said: 'In 2019, on ONS figures there were an estimated 3.6million European migrants in the UK. But this research suggests the real figure was more likely to be around 4million.

'Calculating migration is always going to be complicated. But the reason for the underestimate is the lack of quality of the official migration data. What is striking is our study reveals the underestimate is big.

'This is important because decision-makers require accurate evidence-based information to produce effective policies that affect people's lives.'

He added: 'Knowing the number of migrants in a region is important for planning.for example for schools and transport.

'The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of knowing the number of residents in the UK for producing reliable estimates of vaccinated people.'
Flash flooding and thunderstorms have battered New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria with more wild weather on the way for the eastern states of the country.

Heavy rainfall has hit regional NSW the hardest with minor flooding in Bathurst, in the Central Tablelands, and Nanami, in the Central West region.

South-west and south-east Queensland has also been inundated with parts of the state recording their highest daily November rainfall on record.

Victoria has been issued with warnings of flash flooding and strong winds.

Weatherzone meteorologist Tom Hough told Daily Mail Australia the wet weather would intensify on Friday before conditions began to calm over the weekend.

Heavy rainfall has hit regional NSW the hardest with minor flooding in Bathurst, in the Central Tablelands, and Nanami, in the Central West region (pictured, state's north hit by heavy rainfall and floods)

Flash flooding and thunderstorms have battered New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria with more wild weather on the way for the eastern states of the country

'Looking like through to today we will certainly see those showers and rains continuing in NSW,' he said.

'Queensland will have a continuation of showers and thunderstorms and Victoria will have some fairly widespread showers across the state.'

Up to 100mm of rain has been recorded in the Hunter and Newcastle regions in NSW, up to 50mm in the eastern part of the state and up to 25mm on the far south-coast.

Maitlands received 54mm, Bathurst 53mm, Nobby's Head 71mm, Lake Macquarie 57mm and Southern Highland 44mm.

Moderate flood warnings have been issued for the McIntyre River with a minor flood warning for the Dumaresq and Weir rivers.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central West Slopes and Plains, South West Slopes and Riverina Forecast Districts.

'Rains through south-east of NSW should continue into this evening,' Mr Hough said.

'Tomorrow is looking like lighter falls. We will see a continuation through southern parts of the state, continuing tomorrow and then on Sunday a few light showers.'

Flash flooding and strong winds are set to batter parts of Victoria.

Storm warnings have been issued for Central and North Central Forecast District and East Gippsland, West and South Gippsland and parts of North East Forecast Districts.

Parts of the state are expected to receive up to 80mm with Morwell, Traralgon, Sale, Moe, Bairnsdale and Orbost to be hit the hardest.

A warning has also been issued for damaging winds with gusts up to 50 to 60km/h set to hit parts of central and north central Victoria, including Kyneton, Daylesford and Bacchus Marsh.

'Victoria have some fairly widespread showers across the state,' Mr Houghs said.

Weatherzone meteorologist Tom Hough told Daily Mail Australia the wet weather would intensify on Friday before conditions began to calm over the weekend

'Tomorrow that will be confined to central and eastern parts of the state. A bit of a respite for late Saturday and early hours of Sunday morning.

'During the day we will start to see more showers developing across the state.'

Several minor flood warnings have also been issued for Queensland after the Sunshine State recorded its highest daily November rainfall.

Stanthorpe received 91mm while 164mm was recorded just east of Biloela, in Central Queensland.

'Queensland today a continuation of showers and thunderstorms particularly in the east,' Mr Hough said.

'Tomorrow, aside from far north in Cape York, it is looking much clearer tomorrow, and similar on Sunday.'

The wet weather carries on from a week of heavy rain with most of Queensland, parts of NSW and Victoria hit with a 'phenomenal amount of rainfall' according to meteorologist Jonathon How.

Wet and stormy weather continues to batter large parts of the country with meteorologists issuing a late-night warning conditions will deteriorate further (pictured, Sydney weather)

WHAT'S CAUSING THE WILD WEATHER? The extreme weather bringing heavy rainfall, flash flooding and unseasonably cool temperatures is being driven by a large tropical air mass over warm waters in Indonesia and Northern Australia. Senior meteorologist Jane Golding at the Bureau of Meteorology said at the same time there is also a 'very deep low pressure system over South Australia that's tracking towards NSW'. 'The combination of these two systems will bring wet and stormy weather to NSW and we're expecting some very intense rainfall in some areas and potentially some very cold air to follow it,' she explained. Advertisement

The wild weather caused chaos for commuters across the east coast with the State Emergency Service reporting 130 calls for help on Wednesday.

He said more than 300mm of rain has hit north of Rockhampton in Queensland and 100mm in Alice Springs - the highest daily total recorded in more than 20 years.

'Storms will continue into Thursday with a low pressure system from South Australia to become a focus for southern NSW, ACT and Victoria as it dives south,' he said.

'This low will being heavy rain and strong winds on Friday, and strong easterly winds may generate impacts for residents in Victoria.'

Severe weather warnings were issued for South Australia, inland northern NSW, the Riverina and Queensland's Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

A home in Roma, in Queensland's Maranoa Region has been lashed with heavy rain, with one unlucky homeowner losing their roof to the extreme conditions earlier in the week (pictured)

Residents in the suburb of Goodna, west of Brisbane, are battling flash flooding (pictured)

'Conditions are expected to worsen tomorrow (Thursday) and could cause dangerous flash flooding and riverine flooding,' the Bureau of Meteorology has warned

Temperatures will remain unseasonably cold with the mercury lagging 16 degrees below average for 'days on end', said Mr How.

'In addition, thunderstorm warnings will be issued in coming days and some storms may have the potential to produce life threatening flash flooding and damaging to destructive winds.

'Expected rain will lead to riverine flooding and flood watches are current for the interior and towards the coast.'

The NSW coastline was gripped with thunderstorms causing flooding in the Riverina and a whopping 44mm of rain to fall in the state's centre on Wednesday.

An immense rain bomb will continue to hit NSW as residents prepare to be soaked with more than a months worth of rain in just 72 hours (pictured, heavy rain in Sydney's CBD)

Northern NSW and Queensland are already on flood watch, with the heaviest downfalls expected around the state border areas today (pictured, predicted rainfall patterns)

Those who live in areas such as Tamworth, Moree, Inverell, and Narrabri were warned to expect very heavy rainfall.

The heavy rain trapped an empty school bus and three 4WD between two fast-rising creeks near Narrabri on Wednesday afternoon, however the SES was 'heartened' to see they called for assistance and did not try to drive through the floodwaters.

In Bingara, the SES ferried stranded holidaymakers out of a flooded caravan park

Tibooburra, near the NSW, South Australia and Queensland borders, was hit with a 104km/h wind gust shortly after midday on Thursday, which also brought an intense torrent that dumped 13mm of rain in 20 minutes.

Queensland's Maranoa Region was lashed with heavy rain and widespread power outages reported in Roma, in the state's southwest.

Brisbane (pictured) is predicted to receive 30mm of rain on Thursday and 25mm on Friday

Ergon Energy estimated at least 3,500 homes lost power in the thunderstorms while one unlucky homeowner received significant damage to their roof.

Flash flooding forced the closure of the major Bruce Highway with showers in the Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded a staggering 340.8mm of rain in Samuel Hill on Queensland's Capricorn Coast on Wednesday.

Other areas received their highest rainfall totals in a decade with predictions the worst will hit in a three-day rain event.

Vast tracts are set for a downpour, stretching from the Eastern Desert areas in Western Australia into the Northern Territory, South Australia's north-west, and the North-East Pastoral Districts (pictured)

The Sunshine State has been put on high alert for major flooding as an extreme weather system is due to deliver weeks worth of rain in just a few days

People have been urged to check the weather warnings in their area before taking to the roads (pictured, pedestrians in rainy Circular Quay)

The Bureau of Meteorology is expected to declare a La Nina event for Australia this year, making it back to back La Ninas after similar rainy weather patterns last year.

The cyclical weather event means Australia could face another six months of the cool, wet weather with dangerous storms, potentially unleashing more tornados.

Rainfall is typically 20 per cent higher over Eastern Australia during a La Nina.
The White House announced Thursday that President Joe Biden would travel to New Hampshire on Tuesday and Detroit, Michigan on Wednesday with the aim of selling the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law to Americans.

Biden will sign the package at the White House on Monday and then head to Woodstock, New Hampshire, the next day - where he'll deliver remarks at the site of a bridge, as the bill funds hard infrastructure projects like bridges, roadways and the expansion of broadband internet.

New Hampshire - the site of the nation's first presidential primary - could also be a trouble spot for Democrats next year, with Sen. Maggie Hassan facing re-election, and Republicans targeting both Democratic House members, Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas.

The White House announced Thursday that President Joe Biden would travel to New Hampshire on Tuesday and Detroit, Michigan on Wednesday with the aim of selling the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law to Americans

Last week's election results - which will put Republican and political newbie Glenn Youngkin in the Virginia governor's mansion over the commonwealth's former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe - emboldened the GOP, with National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Emmer adding Kuster to the party's 2022 target list.

That list was increased from 57 seats to 70.

'In a cycle like this, no Democrat is safe,' Emmer said in a statement. 'Voters are rejecting Democrat policies that have caused massive price increases, opened our borders, and spurred a nationwide crime wave.'

New Hampshire Democrats received some good news this week when the state's Republican Gov. Chris Sununu decided to run for re-election instead of taking on Hassan in the Senate race.

New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan is up for re-election next year, in what could be a close race. However, the state's GOP Gov. Chris Sununu opted to run for re-election instead of trying for Hassan's Senate seat

After the GOP win in the Virginia governor's race, Republicans announced they would be targeting New Hampshire Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster's (left) seat. They were already planning to try to take Rep. Chris Pappas (right), also of New Hampshire, out

In Detroit, Biden will tour General Motors Factory ZERO electric vehicle assembly plant.

The infrastructure law contains funding to expand electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S., as Biden, more broadly, is trying to combat climate change.

While Detroit is blue, Republicans are trying to take out three Democratic House members in the state of Michigan: Reps. Dan Kildee, Elissa Slotkin and Haley Stevens.

Biden traveled to Slotkin's district in early October to tour a union training facility in Howell, Michigan.
Northern Territory workers have one day to get their first COVID-19 vaccine dose or face losing their jobs.

The new health directive makes it mandatory for most workers who interact with the public to have their first jab by midnight Friday.

If not vaccinated, workers won't be permitted to go to their workplace unless a new role can be found for them.

The new health directive makes it mandatory for most workers who interact with the public to have their first jab by midnight Friday

If they do work, they could be fined $5000 for failing to comply with a mandated health directive. Some workers are expected to lose their jobs.

Second doses will need to be complete by December 24.

Employees who must be vaccinated under NT law include those who come into contact with people at risk of severe illness from the virus, such as medically vulnerable Indigenous people.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner has previously said the mandate applies to almost every worker in the NT.

It includes retail and hospitality workers, barbers, hairdressers, beauty therapists, receptionists and bank staff.

It also applies to essential infrastructure, security, transport and logistics workers.

The new rules allow employers to demand proof of vaccination from staff and to keep information on those who have had the jab.

The directive also acknowledges a booster vaccine will be required in 2022.

Some exemptions will be permissible.
Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have joined forces to ask Americans to support building a museum to recognize Medal of Honor recipients.

The former presidents took part in a new public service announcement to push for a national museum in Arlington, Texas, to honor recipients of the nation's highest military honor.

'We salute these extraordinary Americans. We will never forget their sacrifices. We will always be inspired by their heroism,' Clinton said.

'Let's all come together to build a museum in their honor,' Obama urged.

Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama have joined forces to ask Americans to support building a museum to recognize Medal of Honor recipients

Presented to roughly 3,500 recipients since its founding during the Civil War, the medal of honor symbolizes the timeless American ideals of courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment, according to the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.

The former presidents have all presented a medal of honor at one point in their presidency.

'The President of the United States meets with so many extraordinary individuals,' Bush noted in the PSA.

The museum will highlight the stories of Americans awarded the Medal of Honor. It will also include an education center, a leadership institute and a theater for events.

Barack Obama presents a Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to Army Captain Florent A. Groberg (Ret.) during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 12, 2015

A rendering of what the museum will look like from the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation

President Bill Clinton awards the now-late Senator Daniel Inouye with the Medal of Honor at the White House in Washinton, June 21, 2000

All three former presidents are Honorary Directors on the museum's board of directors. All former living commander-in-chiefs are listed on the website as honor directors except for Donald Trump.

An official with the foundation told DailyMail.com that Trump is not involved as he is still a potential presidential candidate - Trump has not ruled out running for president again in 2024 - and the foundation doesn't get involved in political races.

Other members of the board of directors include author Brad Meltzer, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and retired General David Petraeus. Documentary maker Ken Burns is listed as an adviser.

To date, the foundation has raised $100 million for the two-track project - which includes the museum in Texas and a monument to medal winners in Washington D.C., according to the foundation.

The PSA first aired during the NFL's Sunday game between the Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, which is close to the proposed site for the museum.

The National Medal of Honor Museum is set to break ground early in 2022 and hopes to finish its work by 2024.
BET host Terence Jenkins has become the latest victim of LA robbery gangs who follow their wealthy victims home before striking.

Jenkins was targeted early Wednesday, weeks after Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley's home was invaded by an armed gang as her kids slept.

The most recent robbery saw Jenkins targeted as he arrived back at his Sherman Oaks home in the early hours of Wednesday. The gang tried to block him with their SUV, but Jenkins managed to escape unharmed.

Jenkins was met with gunfire when returning to his mansion at 3am PST, when an SUV with masked men blocked him in, according to FOX LA, citing the police.

Police say one of the alleged perpetrators ordered Jenkins, 39, out of the vehicle at gunpoint, however he ended up being able to flee in his car. The Think Like A Man actor was then followed by the suspects, and at least one of the alleged perpetrators fired shots at his car.

Terrence J was allegedly the victim of a follow-home robbery in Sherman Oaks early Wednesday morning. His car was shot at as he escaped from perpetrators

Former BET host Terrence Jenkins (left) and Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley (right) have been some of the high-profile victims of a recent string of armed 'follow-home' robberies suspected to be conducted by multiple crews

The former BET host flagged down a California Highway Patrol Car, who alerted the LAPD to the situation, according to TMZ.

There have been no injuries reported. The suspects have been described as four black men whom were all wearing black and driving a silver Jeep Cherokee.

Jenkins' attempted robbery came two weeks after Kemsley's traumatic night on October 27.

LAPD Capt. Jonathan Tippet, who runs the Robbery Homicide Division, said officers believe multiple robbery crews are behind the series of crimes targeting affluent areas.

The community alert warned of the 'ongoing crime trend' where suspects have been followed from places like Melrose Avenue, the Jewelry District, nightclubs, and high-end restaurants and chosen based on their vehicle. The robbers have been targeting expensive jewelry and purses, and are armed.

Two weeks ago, Kemsley was held at gunpoint inside her Beverly Hills home and robbed of her while her jewelry and handbags while her children slept.

Violent crime is up across the nation but wealthy neighborhoods in LA are outpacing other parts of the country.

In September, LAPD data showed the Wilshire and nearby Hollywood divisions have seen a nearly 75% jump in robberies with guns in the last year.

The October 27 attack on Kemsley's home saw men broke into the residence just before 11pm while she was asleep, a source close to Kemsley told DailyMail.com.

Kemsley had only just returned from a trip to London, where she attended her nephew's wedding alongside her husband, PK Kemsley, who was still abroad at the time of the attack.

She recently opened up about the terrifying night. 'First of all, I was completely taken off guard,' she explained. 'They were surprised to see me at home When they did, they pushed me to the ground.'

The men then asked her who else was with her in the house as her son Jagger, seven, and daughter Phoenix, five, slept on, totally unaware of the horror unfolding just feet away.

According to Kemsley, one of the men suggested just killing her to tie up loose ends.

'There was someone else who said, "Just kill her, just kill her already, just kill her," and all I could think of, "I have to save those babies." I begged them, I begged for my life, and begged for their life,' she said.

She urged the men holding her at gunpoint to take whatever they wanted in exchange for leaving her family unharmed.

'I said, "I dont care about any of it, take it all. You can have it all. Please, Im a mother of babies. Please, they need me. Please dont hurt me,"' she recounted.

Kemsley added that she tried to keep her cool to prevent the robbers from losing theirs.

'I stayed very calm because I knew they were very panicked and if I didnt, the situation could have gone a lot worse.'

Kemsley was home with only her two children when she robbed of all of her jewelry and handbags. She has detailed how the armed robbers discussed killing her

The glass door at the back of the house used by the robbers' as a point of entry reportedly leads to the children's classroom

LAPD released surveillance footage capturing robbers breaking and entering Kemsley's home on October 27 before holding her at gunpoint as her children slept

She added: 'I fought for mine and my kids lives, and I got lucky My kids didnt wake up and they dont know anything about it.'

Although Kemsley and her young children escaped the worst possible outcome, she said she's still dealing with the psychological scars of the home invasion.

'The panic attacks are coming' she said as she wondered how she could move on from her trauma.

'And feeling safe? How am I ever going to feel safe again? How do I protect my children? Im going through all of that,' she explained.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Department released security footage taken from Kemsley's home showing robbers breaking a glass door to enter her home.

The men were seen again leaving the home after about 20 minutes, while carrying their loot wrapped in bedding.

Only two men were seen on camera breaking into her home, but they met up with a third man after leaving and drove away in a black four-door pickup truck.

During the ordeal, the robbers reportedly didn't enter the children's bedrooms.
Thousands of bees have miraculously survived after being buried under volcanic ash for 50 days at the edge of a volcano in La Palma.

Since Cumbre Vieja Volcano first began erupting on September 19, the hives, located only 600 metres away from the volcano, were buried under a layer of ash.

But despite the conditions, the hives managed to stay alive for 50 days.

The bee hives were covered in ashes from Cumbre Vieja Volcano in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain

The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to erupt on November 11, 2021 in La Palma, Spain. The volcano has been erupting since September 19

The bee rescue took place on Saturday where officers from El Paso's Local Police, the Military Emergency Unit and the Guardia Civil went under the ash to save the hives.

One of the local police officers is also a beekeeper.

Elias Gonzalez, president of the Agrupacion de Defensa Sanitaria (ADS) Apicultores de La Palma, told EFE that five of the six hives discovered remained intact.

The sixth hive did not survive, but Mr Gonzalez says that the bees may have died 'not because of the volcano, but because they were already weak.'

He added that the bees were able to survive because of the type of ash that fell on top of the hives, and that it's also possible they survived living off their food reserves.

From a total of six hives, five of them survived and were rescued on November 6 by local police and the Military Emergency Unity

Some officers were stung during the rescue mission as they had to dig to locate some of the hives, which were 600 metres away from the volcano

There has been millions of Euros worth of damage done to properties and businesses in La Palma as a result of the continued eruptions of the Cumbre Vieja volcano in La Palma

The owner of the beehives had not yet removed the summer honey.

Three of the hives were completely buried under the ash while the other three were partially visible.

Some of the officers were stung during the rescue mission as they had to dig to locate the hives.

Hives can hold between 30,000 to 40,000 bees in the spring, and with fewer flowers in the area in the colder seasons, they can have around 20,000 to 25,000 bees.
A New Jersey trucker who shot to a shock victory in the state's senatorial elections has told of his shock at winning, as he met with Muslim leaders to apologize for a 2019 tweet calling the Prophet Mohammed a 'pedophile.'

Ed Durr, 58, who claimed to have spent less than $200 on a campaign that ousted one of the most powerful political figures in New Jersey politics, spoke to reporters after Democrat favorite and incumbent Steve Sweeney conceded the race on Wednesday.

Durr, who is a Republican, said, 'I feel like I'm about to throw up. This is all new to me. It's all overwhelming, but I am very happy that the voters selected me. I'm going to earn that vote and I'm going to prove them right.'

Even before being sworn in, however, Durr had some explaining to do over a series of inflammatory social media posts, specifically one from 2019 that read, 'Mohammed [sic] was a pedophile! Islam is a false religion! Only fools follow muslim teachings! It is a cult of hate!'

Ed Durr, the GOP truck driver who unseated Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney, admitted to feeling overwhelmed as he prepares to take office

Durr met with local Muslim leaders over a tweet from 2019 calling the prophet Muhammad a 'pedophile.' Above, he is with Selaedin Maksut, of CAIR New Jersey

Incumbent Steve Sweeney pauses to take questions during a news conference Wednesday where he conceded to his opponent

After the tweet surfaced following his election win, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on Durr to either denounce Islamophobia or resign as senator. Durr met with leaders from CAIR's New Jersey chapter on Wednesday night for two hours, after which he addressed his tweet in a news conference, ABC 6 reported.

'I stand against Islamophobia and all forms of hate and do commit to that,' he said. Asked what he was thinking when he made the tweet, Durr said 'I could not recall. I don't even remember what I had for dinner last week.'

Durr and CAIR leaders appeared to have progress during their talk, as Durr added, 'We got to get the sense of each other. I think that's the real key to everything. As long as you know someone it's hard to hate someone.'

Selaedin Maksut, of CAIR New Jersey, accepted Durr's commitment before adding, 'Hate speech is that which leads to violence and that has to end. That type of rhetoric cannot come from someone who has such a high responsibility.'

Durr and CAIR leaders appeared to have progress during their talk, as Durr added, 'We got to get the sense of each other. I think that's the real key to everything. As long as you know someone it's hard to hate someone'

Durr acknowledged his social media posts in a news conference following Sweeney's concession and said, 'You get behind the keyboard, you don't see a person and you don't consider the other person. I just wrote something that I don't mean to offend anybody.'

He also released a statement last Friday that read, 'I'm a passionate guy and I sometimes say things in the heat of the moment. If I said things in the past that hurt anybody's feelings, I sincerely apologize.'

He continued, 'I support everybody's right to worship in any manner they choose and to worship the God of their choice. I support all people and I support everybody's rights. That's what I am here to do, work for the people and support their rights,'

Gloucester County GOP Chairwoman Jacci Vigilante also defended Durr in a new conference and said, 'I never thought he had a social media history. Those tweets, when they were made public yesterday, they were out there. Ed is a passionate guy. He was a little bit of a keyboard warrior at the time.'

She added, 'Certainly he's made an apology. He didn't intend to offend anyone's religion and certainly believes that everyone has the right to practice their religion of their choice...He is a big defender of the First Amendment and the Constitution of the United States. So you know, has he made a mistake in the past? Absolutely. Does it define who he is? Absolutely not.'

Reporters asked about a series of other tweets and Facebook posts, including one that downplayed the January 6 riot in Washington as 'not being an insurrection' and another comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. He was also branded transphobic after referring to transgender former Wikileaks prisoner Chelsea Manning as 'she/him...shim'.

Vigilante denied that Durr, himself, made the comparison, but said that he only shared a photo drawing similarities between vaccine mandates and the genocide of the Jewish people.

'He commented on the picture, he didn't make the comparison,' she said of the post, adding that he has a right to feel the way he does about the January 6 riot. 'He's not apologizing for the way he felt about January 6. A lot of people who feel that that was not the insurrection it was described as in the press.'

Twitter showed Friday that Durr's account had been suspended, though it is not clear if Durr himself deactivated or deleted the account or if the social media company removed him from it.

Ed Durr, 58 claimed to have spent less than $200 on a campaign that ousted one of the most powerful political figures in New Jersey politics

Durr accepted his opponent's concession, and said his differences with Sweeney were 'political not personal'

Durr posted a photo of himself to social media going to vote on Tuesday, before his surprise victory

Meanwhile, Sweeney conceded the race Wednesday at the statehouse capitol and said, 'I of course accept the results. I want to congratulate Mr. Durr and wish him the best of luck.'

Sweeney, who lost by about 2,000 votes, said his loss was due to overwhelming GOP turnout in the evenly split suburban Philadelphia district, adding 'It was a red wave.'

Durr claimed to have spent just $153 on his campaign, $66 of which was on Dunkin' Donuts, though financial records show he spent a still-modest $2,200 to Sweeney's $490,000.

He said the 'secret' to his win came down to two words: 'Phil Murphy.'

''The voters have spoken. They don't want government rule by a dangerous guy armed with a bunch of executive orders.'

The outgoing Senate president was responsible for pushing through Murphy's agenda, which included phased-in $15 an hour minimum wage, paid sick and family leave and recreational marijuana legalization.

On Fox News Tuesday night Durr said he didn't even have any plans for when he gets to the state capital of Trenton.

'I really don't know,' he said when asked about what he'll do his first day.

'That's the key factor. I don't know what I don't know, but I will learn what I need to know, and I'm going to guarantee one thing - I will be the voice and people will hear me because if there is one thing people will learn about me, I got a big mouth and I don't shut up when I want to be heard. I'm going to be heard.'

Durr, 58, grew up in South Jersey and has three children and six grandchildren. He's never held elected office but said in a past interview that he was spurred to run in his blue collar and predominantly white area by being unable to get a concealed carry permit.

The trucker launched a failed bid for New Jersey's lower house in 2019.

Durr was asked what he'd do on his first day in office and he said he doesn't know

Durr's winning campaign is emblematic of Americans' nationwide dissatisfaction with Democrats

Durr's campaign video, which he appears to have shot himself, paints Sweeney as complacent to Governor Murphy's actions leading the state through the COVID-19 pandemic and its high property taxes.

'In 2020, my opponent sat by and watched as Governor Murphy forced nursing homes to take in COVID-19 patients, resulting in the death of over 8,000 of our seniors,' Durr says while walking through a cemetery in broad daylight.

'He remained silent as Governor Murphy, with his lockdown and mandates, forced the closing of over one third of our small businesses costing New Jersey families thousands of jobs.'

'He has done nothing, as seven out of every ten moves are leaving the state, placing a heavier burden on those of us who remain. The Senate president has spent 20 years in Trenton - higher taxes, increasing debt and a rising cost of living. We deserve better. New Jersey, it's time for a change.'

Durr described himself to Politico as a 'constitutional conservative' who has backed cutting an array of different taxes for 'businesses to grow' and supports federal legislation to ban abortion.

Sweeney, an Ironworks union official and one of the most powerful politicians in the state, has been a state senator for nearly two decades. He became Senate President in 2010.

He was also floated as a possible 2024 gubernatorial candidate, before facing a possible loss now.

Sweeney's defeat is part of a wider rebellion of suburban and working-class Americans against Democrats. The incumbent Democratic Governor Phil Murphy just barely crawled to victory ahead of his Republican challenger in a race that polls had indicated would be a blue landslide.

Sweeney said he won't be withdrawing from public life, although he stopped short of saying whether he would seek election to the Senate again or run for governor in 2025. He said he'll continue to focus on 'the things that are important to the people of this state.'

'What the voters said in this election is New Jersey is a state filled with hardworking people who want to provide for their families and as leaders we need to speak directly to the concerns of all voters,' he said. 'I plan to keep speaking to those concerns.'

His loss unfolded in a politically competitive district that includes parts of Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem counties, which split their votes between Democrats and Republicans in the presidential elections in 2016 and again in 2020. It also coincided with boosted GOP turnout in an off-year election that saw Republicans win across the state. Durr's victory, which The Associated Press declared Thursday, netted about 3% more votes than Sweeney did in 2017 in unofficial returns.

Sweeney originally disputed the results and claims more ballots were 'found' last week.

'The results from Tuesday's election continue to come in, for instance there were 12,000 ballots recently found in one county,' the veteran lawmaker told Politico.

'While I am currently trailing in the race, we want to make sure every vote is counted. Our voters deserve that, and we will wait for the final results.'

Sweeney did not end up demanding a recount, which would have to have been finance by his party. He said the votes 'have been fairly counted.'
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan has lifted the lid on how he vaulted from the political margins to Trump world insider, all thanks to the power of television.

In his new memoir he describes how he realized that then President Trump was an avid viewer and how to take advantage of the fact.

'Every time we were on TV, we werent just talking to people in the television audience; we were talking to POTUS,' Jordan writes, according to excerpts from 'Do What You Said You Would Do: Fighting for Freedom in the Swamp' obtained by Cleveland.com.

'We didnt necessarily need to schedule a phone call with the president or try to arrange a meeting. We could talk to him directly through Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC.'

Jordan, a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he had been operating on the periphery of politics.

But things changed quickly when he paid his first visit to the White House after Trump's 2017 inauguration for a bill signing.

Rep. Jim Jordan developed a close relationship with President Trump after he realized he could communicate with the president through the medium of television, he writes in a new book

Jordan said he realized the power of television when Trump complimented him on a CNN appearance during his first visit to the White House in 2017

Jordan and other key figures in the House Freedom Caucus, such as Mark Meadows, scheduled their TV appearances with eye on the president, says Jordan in his book

Jim Jordan's new book is published on November 23, by Post Hill Press

The president took Jordan aside to compliment him on a recent CNN appearance when he sparred with host Chris Cuomo.

From that point on, he and his fellow Freedom Caucus members developed a media strategy that meant pursuing cable news bookings that they knew would attract the attention of the viewer-in-chief as they sought to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Trump reportedly watched as much as seven hours of television a day while he was at the White House, although he always denied the claims.

'I dont watch very much TV. Nobody knows what I do,' he said last year.

'I work very long hours, actually, very long hours, probably longer than just about anybody. And I think more importantly, I think I work effectively.'

Either way, the media strategy paid off. Jordan and fellow Freedom Caucus member Mark Meadows became regular guests at the White House.

On one occasion, he asked them to stick around after their meeting ended so they could rejoin the president once he had got another meeting out of the way.

Jordan appeared on stage with Trump at his campaign-style rallies and he was eventually awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor

'Mark, Jim, I need you,' he told them.

The House Freedom Caucus was invited two weeks later to continue discussions about repealing Obamacare, although the effort was ultimately unsuccessful.

'It was at that first White House meeting that we saw what we so appreciate about President Trump,' Jordan writes.

'Donald Trump is real. He is fun to be around.

'There is an energy, a charisma about the president that is contagious. Since that first meeting, in almost every speech I give, I tell people that I wish every American could spend time with the president.

'Because when you meet him, you cant help but like him.'

Meadows went on to become White House chief of staff, and Jordan was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
Two women were sexually assaulted in Upper Manhattan within 45 minutes of each other, a day after a 13-year-old girl was raped in the Bronx, police said.

The New York Police Department said a jogger in her 20s was knocked to the ground, choked and molested while running through Central Park at 7:20am on Thursday.

She passed out during the attack, and reported it to police after coming around.

Around 45 minutes later, at 8:05am, a second woman was assaulted on a footpath near 103rd Street and FDR Drive on the Upper East Side.

A suspect was arrested over that assault, although police have yet to identify him, or say whether the two incidents are connected.

The assaults come hours after a 13 year-old girl was raped in the Bronx's Crotona Park as she was heading home from school.

Police are also looking for the suspect in the Bronx case, who was captured on video before the assault.

The jogger was running down Swan Lake at 7:20 a.m. when a man dressed in all black attacked

New York Police officers responded to a sexual assault that took place in Central Park on November 11, a day after a 13-year-old girl was raped in the Bronx

Police are still on the lookout for the man who raped a teen in Crotona Park. They released this image and CCTV footage of their suspect

Officials said the jogger was running on a foot-path near Swan Lake at 7:20 a.m. when a man dressed in all black, possibly in his 20s, attacked and sexually assaulted her.

The victim was able to get away from the man quickly and got help from others to call 911. She was taken to a nearby hospital, CBS reported.

About 45 minutes later, another woman was walking on a foot path near 103rd street and FDR Drive when she was attacked.

The Bronx incident occurred on Wednesday, at 2:35 p.m., when an unknown man approached the 13-year-old girl and threw her to the ground.

After the assault, he stole her cell phone and ran off. The teen was taken to a nearby hospital.

The assaults come as New York City continues to experience a surge in crime this year.

Police were stationed around the foot path in Central Park where the jogger was assaulted

All three sexual assaults occurred within 18 hours in New York City. Cops are pictured in Central Park in the wake of the attack

Overall crime in New York City continues to steadily grow

So far this year, the city has seen 1,216 rapes, about 2.5 percent more than had been recorded at the same point of 2020.

Felony assaults also went up from 17,910 last year, to 19,392 this year, and robbery has gone up from 11,104 to 11,340.

While murders dropped from 397 to 407 and shootings fell from 1,632 to 1,610, overall crime is still up 1.73 per cent from last year.

The investigation regarding the three sexual assault cases are still on-going.

Shocking moment man, 62, is brutally attacked near Times Square after he's clobbered from behind before being slashed and stabbed by a group of teens

This is the shocking moment a 62-year-old man was brutally attacked by a group of teenagers near Times Square early on Wednesday morning - two days after international tourists returned to New York City for the first time in 20 months.

Shocking video footage of the assault was released by police in an attempt to identify the attackers, and shows the man being struck on the head from behind before being slashed and stabbed by six other teens as he lay helplessly on the ground.

The violent incident took place in front of 315 West 44 Street and near Port Authority Bus Terminal in Midtown Manhattan at 5.37am on November 10.

The motive of the attack is not yet known but the area has seen a number of attacks in recent months. It comes as the Big Apple attempts to lure office workers and tourists back to the sights of Midtown Manhattan.

A survey by the Partnership of New York City released Wednesday said safety concerns are deterring many workers from returning to their offices, with those figures set to spark concerns among tourism bosses desperately trying to entice foreign visitors back.

This is the shocking moment a 62-year-old man was hit over the head from behind and then brutally attacked by a group of teenagers near Times Square early on Wednesday morning

The video shows the victim walking alone down a sidewalk at at 5.37am on November 10, when an unidentified male struck him over the head with an object, making him fall to the ground

Wednesday's video shows the victim walking alone down a sidewalk when an unidentified male strikes him over the head with an object, making him fall to the ground.

A group of six additional unidentified males then run towards the man as he struggles to get up and begin 'stabbing and slashing' him.

He was slashed in the face and stabbed in the neck during the attack, according to police.

Emergency services responded to the incident and transported the man to a Manhattan hospital in what police described as stable condition, reported Pix 11 News.

A group of six additional unidentified males then run towards the man as he struggles to get up and begin 'stabbing and slashing' him

The motive of the attack is not yet known and following the attack, the suspects fled to the Times Square subway station

Following the attack, the suspects fled to the Times Square subway station, using the entrance at West 44th Street and Eighth Avenue, for the A, C and E lines, officials said, but it was unclear if they headed uptown or downtown.

Images of the suspects wearing hoodies and smiling were released by police on Twitter and no arrests had been made, as of Wednesday morning.

Anyone with information on the attack has been asked to contact NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or direct message @NYPDTips on Twitter for a reward up to $3500.
Officer Keith Pool (pictured) has filed a discrimination charge against the City of Sheffield Lake Division of Police after he was allegedly the victim of the former police chief's race-based harassment

The black Ohio police officer who received Ku Klux Klan notes from his white boss has filed a discrimination charge against his employer.

Officer Keith Pool filed a the charge - an initial step for preparing a lawsuit - with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission on Thursday alleging that former Sheffield Lake Police Chief Anthony Campo harassed him on an 'ongoing basis' because of his race and that other superior officers with knowledge of the incidents refused to step in.

Pool alleges that Campo created 'racially offensive images mocking me' and then shared them with other employees and on department bulletin boards, citing one image where his face was photoshopped on the Grim Reaper's body that Campo captioned 'the raccoon reaper'.

Campo stepped retired over the summer after he was caught on surveillance video placing a small note reading 'Ku Klux Klan' over the 'police' label on a raincoat that was on Pool's desk.

The former police chief also made a 'pointy Ku Klux Klan hat' and wore it in front of Pool and other employees, the complaint states. Campo also told Pool he had to wear the hat during his shift.

In addition to the discrimination charge, Pool's attorneys have filed a petition with the Ohio Supreme Court compelling the Cleveland-suburb police department to provide public records that they say will demonstrate Campo's alleged pattern of race-based harassment.

Pool alleges that Campo created 'racially offensive images mocking me' and then shared them with other employees and on department bulletin boards, citing one image where his face was photoshopped on the Grim Reaper's body that Campo captioned 'the raccoon reaper'

On July 25, 2021, Campo was recorded placing the KKK note and hat on Pool's raincoat.

The video from the Sheffield Lake police station, which did not include sound, shows Campo standing at a department printer, then carrying the note over and deliberately placing it on the jacket.

When the officer entered the room and sees the display, he looks in the direction of Campo's office. Video then shows the two talking briefly.

Pool removes the note from the coat, but then puts it back to show two of his colleagues, both white.

'It was not funny to them,' Pool told NBC News Thursday - the first time he has ever spoken publicly about the surveillance footage and alleged harassment.

'They walked away from it.'

He added: 'It was so demeaning. It was so disrespectful to me.'

A note saying 'Ku Klux Klan' is laying atop a raincoat arranged to resemble a KKK robe and hood on Pool's desk at the Sheffield Lake Police Department in Ohio

Video from June 25 shows Campo, seen in an orange shirt, printing the note and placing it on Pool's police raincoat

Pool, who had been with the department for just nine months at the time, was away from his desk at the time

At the time of the incident, Campo told Sheffield Lake Mayor Dennis Bring said Campo, it was supposed to be a prank. Bring called it 'embarrassing and disgusting.'

Meanwhile, Pool's attorney Ashlie Case Sletvold released the following statement to DailyMail.com Thursday: 'The brave men and women like Officer Pool who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities should not have to endure racial harassment at work.

'We will hold the City, its officials, and the former chief accountable for this shocking misconduct.'

Pool, 57, was hired with Sheffield Lake police in September 2020 after having been courted by Mayor Bring in 2019. He was the first black officer to be hired with the department, which has 14 officers.

'There was no African Americans applying there,' Pool said.

Officer Keith Pool filed a the charge - an initial step for preparing a lawsuit - with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission outlining the alleged harassment (above)

However, he claims Campo originally tried blocking his employment.

'He told a detective 'absolutely not,'' Pool explained. 'He didn't want me over there in the first place.'

The officer also alleges that Campo's racially-based targeting began before his first day on the force.

'Other police division employees have told me that before I was hired, Mr. Campo interfered with my application and recruitment process and said in the presence of multiple employees that he would never 'hire a n****r,'' Pool wrote in the discrimination complaint.

Then upon his hiring, Campo sent him a photo of a vehicle with 20-inch wheel rims and tinted windows instead of a photo of his new squad car, according to Pool.

'It said 'Officer Pool, SRO,' he told the news outlet. 'It threw me. What is he talking about? What is this about?'

The complaint also claims that Campo targeted the division's only Latino officer, citing an instance where he attached a image of the officer's face to a salsa logo

He then received the 'raccoon reaper' note around Halloween, the officer alleges.

'I didn't understand that either,' he said.

Pool claims that Campo also targeted the second black officer hired at the department when the pair was sitting in a patrol car.

Campo allegedly approached them and said, according to Pool: 'It looked like y'all's windows are tinted.'

'The windows were open,' Pool explained.

The complaint also claims that Campo targeted the division's only Latino officer, citing an instance where he attached a image of the officer's face to a salsa logo.

Additionally, Pool claims that several department members knew about the alleged harassment and failed to intervene.

'A lot of people knew about him,' Pool said. 'Nothing was done.'

The City of Sheffield Lake did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.
Aides to former President Donald Trump believe they're responsible for the death of Herman Cain, who rose to political prominance after running for the GOP nomination in 2012.

In journalist Jonathan Karl's forthcoming book, Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, one senior Trump staffer told ABC News' Will Steakin, 'We killed Herman Cain,' according to an excerpt in Vanity Fair.

The 74-year-old Cain had attended Trump's June 20, 2020 indoor rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, before succumbing to COVID-19 on July 30.

Cain, who led the Black Voices for Trump coalition, was photographed at the indoor rally unmasked, surrounded by people.

In the run-up to the disastrous rally - which was plagued by low attendance and a controversy over the campaign's original plan to hold it on Juneteenth, in a city known for the country's worst episode of racial violence - a number of campaign staff and Secret Service tested positive for the virus.

Aides to former President Donald Trump believe they're responsible for the death of Herman Cain (center), after the 74-year-old former GOP presidential hopeful died of COVID, after being spotted maskless at Trump's June 2020 Tulsa, Oklahoma indoor rally

New details about Trump's disastrous Tulsa rally (pictured) are included in journalist Jonathan Karl's forthcoming book, Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, including that eight staffers tested positive for the virus the morning of the event

It would be months before any Americans were vaccinated against the disease.

While NBC News reported that six members of staff tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of the rally, Karl's book puts that number at eight individuals.

After that, Karl wrote, the campaign demanded that aides stop getting tested, for fear even bigger numbers would be reported to the press.

Additionally, Karl reported that Trump's staff had partied together the night before the rally at the restaurant bar at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Tulsa.

'Nobody bothered to keep their distance or wear masks,' the veteran ABC White House correspondent wrote. 'As it turned out, the virus wasn't just spreading across the country - it was also spreading among the Trump campaign staff.'

Those who tested positive were told to return to Washington, D.C. in rental cars - as opposed to quarantining for two weeks.

'There was a car of three staffers who had tested positive that drove all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Washington, D.C.,' one senior Trump adviser told Karl. 'We called it a COVID-mobile.'

Another staffer, Karl reported, became seriously ill from exposure in Tulsa.

A tweet from Herman Cain showed the former GOP presidential hopeful unmasked and not practicing social distancing at Trump's June 20, 2020 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Cain died on July 30

While Trump paid tribute to Cain, he responded, 'no, I don't think he did,' when asked if he was concerned Cain caught COVID-19 at the rally a day after the prominent supporter's death

Trump is photographed returning to the White House after the Tulsa rally, which was plagued by low turnout and a controversy over the campaign's original plan to hold it on Juneteenth, in a city known for the country's worst episode of racial violence

Infections spread to the Secret Service too, as dozens of agents were forced to quarantine after coming into contact with two agents who worked the rally and who tested positive.

Trump, however, denied having a hand in Cain's death.

'No, I don't think he did,' the then president replied when asked if he was concerned Cain caught COVID-19 at the rally a day after the prominent supporter's death.

Then White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said she would not 'politicize Herman Cain's passing.'

'I would just note the great contributions he's made to our society. We'll always remember him, and his legacy will stand,' she said instead.

Dan Calabrese, the editor of Cain's website, also refused to connect the dots.

'I realize people will speculate about the Tulsa rally, but Herman did a lot of traveling the past week,' Calabrese said. 'I dont think theres any way to trace this to one specific contact that caused the infection. Well never know.'

Trump aides, according to Karl, were devasted by Cain's death, as they did believe they were responsible.

Trump would go on to hold rally after rally in the run-up to the 2020 election, which he lost, in part, for his handling of the coronavirus spread.

He mocked now President Joe Biden for playing by the COVID rules, and holding drive-in rallies with small group of supporters.

Trump's campaign manager Brad Parscale, who got demoted from the top spot in July 2020, had floated smaller, safer events as a way for the president to campaign.

Karl reported that before the Tulsa event, Parscale suggested a drive-in rally in Tampa, Florida and an outdoor boat rally surrounding Mar-a-Lago, which is located on Palm Beach.

Trump ally, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, asked the campaign not to hold a large gatherings in his state.

Tulsa was picked because the state's governor and the city's mayor were Republicans who didn't implement strict COVID rules.
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Russia could be about to invade Ukraine, the US has warned its European allies, as Vladimir Putin builds up his forces on the border while NATO and the EU deal with the migrant crisis between Belarus and Poland.

American intelligence sources have briefed their European counterparts of a possible Kremlin military operation in Ukraine's east to annex territory similar to the 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

The US has refused to share exactly what intel it has of an imminent attack, but the warning comes after satelite images revealed a build-up of tens of thousands of Russian troops, tanks and artillery pieces close to the border.

Ukraine - which has been fighting a proxy-war against Russian-backed separatists in its eastern regions for years - has moved 8,500 more troops to the border in response.

Meanwhile, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have also been warning of the risk of conflict between Belarus - a close ally of Moscow - and Poland amid a migrant crisis on their shared border.

The EU accuses Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko of forcing migrants to make illegal crossings into Poland in a cynical attempt to destabilise the bloc using vulnerable people as his weapon.

In response, Poland has moved 15,000 troops to the region - a move that has 'concerned' both Lukashenko and Putin. Russia has taken to flying nuclear-capable bombers over Belarus as a show of rival strength.

On Thursday, Lukashenko himself warned of the risk of a conflict and accused armed groups in the Donbas region of Ukraine of trying to ship weapons to the migrants on the Polish border in order to spark fighting.

'They are Kurds, and the Kurds are militant,' he said according to Polish newspaper Wyborcza. 'When Poles beat them, cut them, torment them, etc., they become desperate. One rifle, one gun, and armed conflict is ready.'

Lukashenko has also threatened to cut off natural gas supplies running from Russia and through his country into Europe - though that threat was angrily slapped down by Moscow today.

America has warned its European allies that Russia could be preparing for an invasion of Ukraine in an attempt to annex territory on its eastern border, amid tensions between Poland and Belarus over migrants

Washington's warning comes as Putin masses his forces close to Ukrainian territory, with satellite images taken in the last few weeks showing large camps of tanks and artillery pieces in the region

Ukraine warns there are now some 90,000 Russian soldiers near its border, where it has been fighting a years-long insurgency in its eastern regions by Russian-backed separatists

Amid the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Belarus is pressuring Europe over migrants and has threatened to cut off gas supplies to the continent by shutting the Yamal-Europe pipeline which runs through its territory (pictured)

Dmitry Peskov, Putin's spokesman, said Lukashenko had not coordinated with Moscow before making the remark and added that Russian pledged to fulfil gas contracts are 'beyond doubt'.

It came after Lukashenko spoke out at a meeting of government officials on Thursday, musing: 'We are heating Europe and they are threatening us... What if we cut off their natural gas?

'I would recommend the Polish and Lithuanian authorities to think before they speak up.'

Russia's Yamal-Europe pipeline runs through Belarus and into Poland, representing about 20 per cent of the country's total gas-carrying capacity into Europe.

The continent relies on natural gas for around a quarter of its energy needs, more than half of which is piped in from Russia - which sits on top of the world's largest gas reserves.

Just weeks ago, European leaders were trying to negotiate with Russia to increase supplies as stockpiles of gas ran low due to surging demand as economies reopen post-Covid.

The EU accused Putin of throttling the flow of gas as a political bargaining tool to try and get a new gas pipeline - the multi-billion dollar Nord Stream 2 - opened. He denied the allegations.

Concerns about Russian troops on Ukraine's border have been ongoing since at least April this year, when Putin moved around 100,000 soldiers, tanks and artillery pieces to the region without warning.

He later said the exercise was to test 'military readiness' and pulled some of the units back, but NATO warned that many of them had remained at the front even after the 'exercise' was over.

Russia then held more military drills around the Crimean peninsula and Ukraine's eastern border over the summer, with yet more troops moved to the region.

The drills were closely watched by western powers with tensions almost spilling over into confrontation, including an episode in which Russian warships fired warning shots at a British vessel.

More troop and tank movements spotted via satellite in recent weeks spooked Washington even further, and prompted this week's warning to European leaders about a confrontation.

CIA Director Bill Burns even flew to Moscow and have a rare one-on-one with President Vladimir Putin.

There he shared the US's 'serious' concerns over the military buildup, sources told CNN.

DailyMail.com reached out to the State Department for comment but was referred to comments made on Wednesday by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, when he echoed similar concerns in a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

'Were concerned by reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine. Were monitoring the region very closely, as we always do, well continue to consult closely as well with allies and partners on this issue,' Blinken told reporters.

'And as weve made clear, any escalatory or aggressive actions would be of great concern to the United States. We continue to support de-escalation in the region and diplomatic resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.'

The report comes as fighting between Russian-backed groups and Ukrainian forces heats up. It began in 2014 after Russia illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula following a revolution that overthrew Ukraine's former president who was widely seen as another mouthpiece of Putin's.

Poland has moved some 15,000 troops to its border with Belarus to help contain a migrant crisis that the EU accuses Lukashenko of engineering, amid warnings that situation could also spill over into conflict

Polish troops have accused their Belarusian counterparts of inflaming tensions by firing blank rounds and pushing migrants through the border fence in an attempt to provoke a confrontation

Russia has been flying nuclear-capable bombers over Belarus - its close ally - in a show of strength amidst the crisis

Belarus denies engineering the crisis and has warned that armed groups in Ukraine are trying to give weapons to the migrants to spark a conflict (pictured, Belarusian troops marshal thousands of migrants near the border)

The Biden administration is reportedly warning European allies of the possibility of an imminent attack by Russia on Ukraine, though Russia denied the accusations

Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation, a militarized force created in 2018 to defend the country in the ongoing conflict in the Donbas region, accused Russia of violating the ceasefire agreement five times over a 24-hour period on Monday.

In a statement posted to Facebook the JFO accused Russia of 'armed aggression,' though the Kremlin has consistently denied involvement in the conflict.

Tensions in Europe have been inflamed by a gas shortage, with Russian company Gazprom, the continent's top energy supplier, having decreased its daily outflow in October in order to meet the needs of Putin's domestic replenishment campaign.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of intentionally engineering the gas crisis and urged western Europe to act swiftly with punishment.

But Gazprom increased its output to Europe earlier this week after Russia' stockpile was deemed full.

But the burgeoning refugee crisis on the border between Poland and Russia's neighbor Belarus is threatening to further complicate the situation, which could grow more dire going into winter.

Much of Russia's oil supply to Europe runs through Belarus and Poland.

Over the last week western democracies have accused Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko of 'weaponizing' migrants from Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East by enabling them to fly to his country before seeking to break into the EU.

Devastating scenes have emerged from the region of desperate migrants getting brutal treatment from soldiers on both sides. Some even froze to death in the harsh Eastern European climate this time of year.

In response to threats of expanded sanctions, Lukashenko threatened to shut down the oil supply coming in from Russia to the rest of Europe.

Migrants gather for getting humanitarian aid spread by Belarusian militaries at the camp at the Belarus-Polish border on November 11. Belarus's strongman dictator threatened to choke off Europe's gas supply from Russia if the west follows through on its promise of sanctions over the growing refugee crisis in the region

Russia has also been accused of helping engineer the crisis, which the West has called a 'hybrid attack'

'I would recommend the leadership of Poland, Lithuanians and other empty-headed people to think before speaking,' he said.

Among the countries vowing sanctions over the conflict are NATO and EU member states, as well as the US.

Russia has also been accused of escalating the crisis, and the EU is reportedly in talks to target national airline Aeroflot as part of a new sanctions package.

The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia had nothing to do with the migrant crisis on the Belarus-Poland border and rejected the suggestion as 'crazy.'

It instead blamed the EU itself, claiming the international body was trying to 'strangle' Belarus.

However, two supersonic Tu-22M3 nuclear bombers were seen performing 'tasks of combat alert for air defense' in support of the Belarus leader, the Russian defense ministry said in response to the rising tensions on the border.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told a joint news conference with his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Makei that he hoped responsible Europeans would 'not allow themselves to be drawn into a spiral that is fairly dangerous'.
Julian Assange has been given permission to marry his fiancee Stella Moris inside Britain's highest security prison.

The Wikileaks founder is fighting extradition to the US from Belmarsh Prison where he has been held since 2019.

He applied for permission to wed Ms Morris, 38, the mother of his two children, last month.

South African-born lawyer Stella Morris (right) and Assange (left) began dating in 2015 after she helped work on a legal bid to halt his extraditions

Gabriel, three, and his brother Max, one, were conceived while Assange was hiding out in the Ecuadorian embassy in London

Assange could now marry the lawyer as early as next month but they will only be allowed a handful of guests including two witnesses.

The couple are paying for the service themselves, a source told The Sun.

Ms Moris told the PA news agency: 'I am relieved that reason prevailed and I hope there will be no further interference with our marriage.'

A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Mr Assange's application was received, considered and processed in the usual way by the prison governor, as for any other prisoner.'

The couple have been engaged for a number of years and have been trying to get married despite the legal action.

Their sons Gabriel, four, and Max, two, are British citizens.

The couple were taking legal action against the prison governor and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, accusing them of preventing a wedding being held.

The Wikileaks founder is fighting extradition to the US from Belmarsh Prison where he has been held since 2019

The 50-year-old is wanted in the US on allegations of a conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information following WikiLeaks's publication of hundreds of thousands of leaked documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

It comes after a court heard that a psychiatrist withheld evidence from Assange's first extradition hearing that he had fathered two children while in the Ecuadorean embassy.

Michael Kopelman, of King's College London, was accused of failing to reveal Assange had babies with his Ms Moris in the Ecuadorean Embassy.

Lawyers for the Assange told the High Court he spoke to defence solicitor Gareth Peirce, 80, about identifying Ms Moris and the children.

Edward Fitzgerald, QC, said: 'Ms Peirce indicated that she believed that such identification be temporarily postponed.'

He said the psychiatrist, who gave key evidence on Assange's mental state, had admitted withholding details to protect the family's privacy.

But the US government claims a district judge who blocked the extradition should have ruled out Kepelman's evidence after it emerged he had misled her.

Michael Kopelman (pictured), of King's College London, was accused of failing to reveal Assange had babies with his lawyer Stella Moris in the Ecuadorean Embassy

Lawyers for the Assange (pictured in a court sketch) told the High Court he spoke to defence solicitor Gareth Peirce, 80, about identifying Ms Moris and the children

Edward Fitzgerald, QC, said: 'Ms Peirce indicated that she believed that such identification be temporarily postponed.' Pictured: Ms Moris

Assange must wait to discover whether senior judges will overturn a decision not to extradite him to the US following a two-day hearing at the High Court.

US authorities are challenging a January ruling by then-district judge Vanessa Baraitser that Assange should not be sent to the US, in which she cited a real and 'oppressive' risk of suicide.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, sitting with Lord Justice Holroyde, said lawyers had given them 'much to think about' and that they would 'take time to consider our decision' at the end of legal arguments on Thursday.

Supporters of Mr Assange, who only joined the hearing via video-link from Belmarsh prison on Wednesday, demonstrated outside the Royal Courts of Justice throughout the court proceedings.

The court was told that blocking Assange's removal to the US due to his mental health risks 'rewarding fugitives for their flight'.

Assange is pictured peeking out of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London in a photograph from 2016

Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London

James Lewis QC, for the US, said the district judge based her decision on Assange's 'intellectual ability to circumvent suicide preventative measures', which risked becoming a 'trump card' for anyone who wanted to oppose their extradition regardless of any resources the other state might have.

He told the court the district judge 'entirely based her decision' on the risk Assange would be submitted to special administrative measures (SAMs) and detained at the ADX Florence Supermax jail, if extradited.

However, he said four 'binding' diplomatic assurances had been made, including that it would consent to him being transferred to Australia to serve any prison sentence he may be given, which 'fundamentally change the factual basis' of her judgment.

Mr Lewis argued the assurances could not have been given in advance, saying they were a 'reactive' and 'responsible' step in response to the district judge's findings.

He said they were a 'solemn matter' and 'are not dished out like smarties'.

The US authorities have also argued Assange is well enough to be extradited, with Mr Lewis telling the court his mental illness 'does not even come close' to being severe enough to prevent being sent to the US.

But lawyers for Assange who opposed the US's bid to overturn the block to his extradition, argued that the assurances over the WikiLeaks founder's potential treatment were 'meaningless' and 'vague'.

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn leaves after a brief appearance outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London

Mr Fitzgerald QC said the 'qualified and conditional assurances' were produced 'too late to be properly tested' and 'do not undermine the principal findings' of the district judge who applied the law 'strictly and entirely properly'.

He said the district judge had produced a 'carefully considered and fully reasoned judgment', adding it was 'clear' she had 'scrupulously applied the test for oppression in cases of mental disorder'.

He told the court: 'It is perfectly reasonable to find it oppressive to extradite a mentally disordered person because his extradition is likely to result in his death', adding that a court must be able to use its power to 'protect people from extradition to a foreign state where we have no control over what will be done to them'.

He added the district judge's conclusion was 'justified' because Assange 'would be driven by his disorder to find a way to commit suicide whatever preventative steps were taken'.

Mr Fitzgerald dismissed the assurances as 'caveated, vague, or simply ineffective', adding that 'none offer any concession or assurance against the application of existing US practice'.

Stella Moris (right), partner of Assange, and WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson (left) arrive at the court

He added that assurances not to impose special administrative measures (SAMs) on Assange or hold him at the ADX Florence Supermax jail pre-trial or post-conviction do not remove the risk of 'conditions of administrative isolation'.

The court also heard that Assange had faced a 'menacing, threatening and frightening' situation while under surveillance when he lived at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Mr Fitzgerald argued in written submissions that claims of 'extreme measures of surveillance', alongside subsequent 'recent disclosures about CIA plans from the same period in time to seriously harm Julian Assange', justified earlier concerns for the safety and privacy of his partner Stella Moris.

Mark Summers QC, also representing Assange, said there needed to be an examination of the 'trustworthiness' of the US assurances, highlighting that there was 'credible evidence of US governmental plans developed at some length to do serious harm to Mr Assange'.

Assange has been held in Belmarsh Prison since 2019 after he was carried out of the Ecuadorian embassy by police before being arrested for breaching his bail conditions.

He had entered the building in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face sex offence allegations, which he has always denied and were eventually dropped.
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Two SNP MPs accused of drinking heavily on a flight to Gibraltar reportedly refused to take Covid tests on landing and told staff: 'We will get you into trouble with His Excellency.'

David Linden and Drew Hendry told health workers they were double jabbed and did not need to be swabbed, according to a witness.

The pair, whose vaccine QR codes apparently stopped working, were 'rude' towards staff and warned they will 'get them into trouble' when urged to take a test.

Under current regulations, anyone arriving in Gibraltar is required to take a test in a booth outside the airport and provide proof of any vaccinations.

However, after initially refusing, the pair eventually took the tests before leaving with Ministry of Defence (MoD) staff, it is reported.

The duo, alongside Labour's Charlotte Nichols, were accused of drinking heavily before arriving in the British Overseas Territory with the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme - with one apparently having to be taken out of the airport in a wheelchair.

But Ms Nichols, who said she had fewer than five drinks, blamed her medication after she was said to be too incapacitated to attend the welcome party on arrival. She has since returned home two days early.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace slated the trio for showing a 'lack of respect' after the 'drunken' display.

One witness told The Sun: 'Two of the group were very rude and disrespectful. To me, they appeared to have been drinking. One said they had an event to get to and that he would have a word with "His Excellency". I think he meant "Governor".

'They both took the tests in the end and left with the military people who were with them.'

Meanwhile, Bury South's Christian Wakeford and another Conservative on the trip were accused of carousing into the early hours on a visit to UK armed forces in the Mediterranean enclave.

But a Tory source tonight said: 'This is quite clearly a desperate attempt by those involved in the flight incident to deflect attention away from their behaviour.'

And the Scottish nationalist pair accused ministers of a 'bizarre smear campaign' and 'shameless attempt to divert attention from the Tory corruption scandal'.

It follows fresh accusations being laid against Mr Wakeford, with a source telling the Manchester Evening News: 'People are staggered by the hypocrisy of Ben Wallace and his ill-advised attempts to drag the armed forces into political game playing.

'It was a serious error of judgement on his behalf, which has spectacularly backfired, given two Conservative MPs were out on the lash in Gibraltar until the early hours.

SNP's David Linden and Drew Hendry (pictured circled left and right respectively) told health workers they were double jabbed and did not need to be swabbed, according to a witness

Bury South's Christian Wakeford and another Conservative on the trip were accused of carousing into the early hours on a visit to UK armed forces in the Mediterranean enclave

Labour's Charlotte Nichols (pictured during the reopening of pubs this year) required the use of a wheelchair after drinking on a flight to Gibraltar, it has been claimed

The row erupted with claims that the SNP/Labour trio were 'quite clearly drunk' when they boarded their flight, and continued drinking on the plane.

Witnesses were reported to have described the two SNP MPs as 'lairy' and 'rude' with airport officials and needing military staff to calm them down.

Ms Nichols required a wheelchair to make her way from the baggage claim to a military minibus, according to The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Wallace said the trio's conduct risked 'undermining respect for Parliament'.

But Warrington North MP Ms Nichols, who is also the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pubs, said she had been affected by medication.

'Everyone had had a few drinks on the flight,' she said in a statement to The Sun. 'The issue for me is the medication I am taking. That affected my tolerance. I had the same amount to drink as the others. I do not know how many drinks I had  I wasn't counting. It was less than five.'

Both Mr Hendry and Mr Linden hit back at the claims about their behaviour, branding it a 'bizarre Tory smear campaign'

The SNP's David Linden (left) and Drew Hendry (right) were accused of showing a 'lack of respect' for the Armed Forces

The trio of MPs received a dressing down from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) after drinking 'heavily' en route to an official visit to troops in Gibraltar

The three were among 14 MPs travelling to see the military in Gibraltar as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme.

The flight also included Ministry of Defence staff and members of the public.

James Gray, a Tory MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, told The Times: 'These three, as I understand it, were in a British Airways lounge in Heathrow and made full use of the facilities.'

He said that by the time they got to the airport the three MPs were 'pretty well-oiled'.

The two SNP men were reportedly 'lairy' and 'rude' when their coronavirus passes did not work at the airport gates, and it is claimed that military staff needed to intervene to calm them down.

It is claimed MoD bosses received reports of the MPs' conduct from military escorts on board the flight.

However, posting a picture with troops in Gibraltar, Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Mr Hendry said on social media: 'It's deeply disappointing that Tory MPs have made false claims in a shameless attempt to divert attention from the Tory corruption scandal engulfing Westminster.

'That is a matter for their conscience. I'll focus on doing my job and respecting our troops as we mark Armistice Day.'

Glasgow East MP Mr Linden tweeted: 'Incredibly disappointed by what appears to be a bizarre Tory smear campaign in the media tonight but I'll leave the politics to others.'

An SNP spokesman repeated that the suggestions of impropriety were 'false', adding: 'Drew Hendry MP and David Linden MP were honoured to be invited to this important event and attended all engagements, including the welcome meeting and dinner shortly after landing.

'Instead of trying to divert attention from the Tory corruption scandal engulfing Westminster, Ben Wallace should be apologising for his role in it, including voting to get Owen Paterson off the hook.'

James Gray, a Tory MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for the Armed Forces, told The Times: 'These three, as I understand it, were in a British Airways lounge in Heathrow and made full use of the facilities'

Speaking to journalists at the Cop26 summit, Nicola Sturgeon also waded into the row.

'I think there have been allegations made against two of my MPs that they say are completely false and unfounded, and some may say is an attempt by Conservatives to distract attention from their own travails,' she said.

'I know Drew and David well, they say these allegations are unfounded and that is something I've got confidence in.'

She said she had not spoken directly to the MPs, adding: 'The allegations are false, Drew and David have made that clear.

'I think the question is perhaps for Conservatives why they are choosing to make allegations like this on Remembrance Day, given the nature of what Drew and David have been doing.

'I know both Drew and David extremely well and if they say these allegations are false I have confidence in that.'

Mr Gray said if the three had been at an officers' mess dinner he would have thrown them off the scheme but he decided to have strong words with them instead.

A retired lieutenant colonel and a serving major were on the flight as 'minders' and saw the three MPs drinking, it has been claimed.

Mr Wallace will now write to the leaders of Labour and the SNP to complain. The Defence Secretary said: 'This type of behaviour shows a lack of respect for the enduring work of our Armed Forces.

'The Armed Forces scheme is an opportunity for both Parliamentarians and the military to understand each other.

This behaviour puts military personnel in a difficult position and risks undermining respect for Parliament.'

The MPs were visiting troops in Gibraltar (pictured) as part of Remembrance Day

A source claimed to The Daily Telegraph that the MPs were 'quite clearly drunk when they were checking in and going through the process of boarding', then 'drank heavily on the plane'.

They claimed Ms Nichols became 'incapacitated through drink on the flight across to Gibraltar to the point where she had to be moved to the transport by wheelchair'. She was then taken to a hotel 'for her own safety', it was claimed.

The Times reported that the Labour MP was returning to the UK two days early after speaking to party whips.

The two SNP MPs attended the welcome meeting and have made every appointment in Gibraltar.

All three said they were not drunk on the plane but did not deny they had been drinking.

** Were you on the flight? Please email: tips@dailymail.com or katie.weston@mailonline.co.uk **
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Vice President Kamala Harris continued her charm offensive with the French on Thursday night, joining President Emmanuel Macron for a posh dinner at the presidential palace.

Both leaders brought their spouses - second gentleman Doug Emhoff and french first lady Brigitte Macron - with them for the event. The two couples greeted each other with smiles and warm embraces. Harris and Brigitte Macron shared a hug.

Harris sported a black pants suit with a white blouse underneath. Brigitte Macron wore a black and white dress.

Actor Forest Whitaker was spotted arriving for the dinner along with other VIPs, including World Health Organization director-general Tedros Adhanom.

The dinner was at the Elysee Presidential Palace, the ornate building completed in 1722 that survived the French Revolution to become the seat of the French government.

The VIP event was part of the 'Paris Peace Forum,' which Harris attended on behalf of the United States. Several other European leaders were in attendance at the dinner, including King Felipe of Spain.

Harris is in Paris to double down on America's friendship with its oldest ally after French fury in the wake of a submarine deal between the United States and Australia caused France to lose out on a $90 billion contract.

France claimed it had no warning of the deal and recalled its ambassador to the United States in the aftermath.

President Joe Biden offered his personal words of contrition to Macron during a G20 meeting in Rome, when he said the announcement was 'clumsy' and 'without grace.'

Harris was dispatched to Paris to help make nice with the French. She and Macron have met, held hands, waved to the crowds and presented a show of force during her stop.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff arrive at the Elysee Palace for dinner as part of the Paris Peace Forum

Vice President Kamala Harris is in Frace as part of a charm offensive; she and husband Doug Emhoff joined French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron for dinner at the Elysee President Palace

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks as Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff listen during the dinner

World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Spain's King Felipe VI were among the dinner guests

Actor Forest Whitaker was also at the dinner

Vice President Kamala Harris greets French first lady Brigitte Macron as French President Emmanuel Macron and second gentleman Doug Emhoff look on

French President Emmanuel Macron speaks as his wife Brigitte Macron and King Felipe VI of Spain listen during a dinner on the first day of the Paris Peace Forum

The vice president addressed the Paris Peace Forum earlier in the day, where she said the COVID pandemic had presented an opportunity for world leaders to better see where inequality exists.

'As we recover from this pandemic, from the crisis, we must challenge the status quo and build something better,' Harris said during a speech that focused on global inequality and called for world leaders not to stand by as wealth and equality gaps widen.

'To get at the root of this challenge we must look critically at the longstanding systems that are fractured,' she added.

Harris also joined President Macron at the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate Armistice Day as part of her four-day charm offensive.

The vice president stood with French Prime Minister Jean Castex and Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo ahead of the ceremony marking the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 armistice - known as Veteran's Day in the US.

Harris donned a blue cornflower - known as a Bleuet de France - traditionally worn in France on November 11 in remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, similar to the UK's red poppy.

The pair met Wednesday night at the Elysee presidential palace for talks in which they agreed their countries are ready to work together again after the diplomatic row surrounding the AUKUS submarine deal that put their relationship at a historic low.

Macron today marking the armistice anniversary by paying homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the flag draped coffin of Hubert Germain - the last surviving member of the Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes, who died on October 12 - placed nearby.

Harris on Wednesday paid her respects to Americans who died in the two world wars and are buried in a cemetery overlooking the Paris skyline, laying a wreath in their honor. Among the more than 1,500 graves was that of Inez Crittenden, a World War I switchboard operator from Harris' hometown of Oakland.

Noting that was 'one of the few jobs women could have' at the time, Harris said, 'We're very proud of her memory and her service.' Crittenden died on Armistice Day - November 11, 1918 - from pneumonia, likely caused by the flu pandemic of the era.

The vice president made the trip to France after a poll showed her approval rating at just 28 percent and was accused of speaking in a fake accent during an event at a COVID lab on her first day.

Kamala Harris today joined French President Emmanuel Macron at the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate Armistice Day as part of her four-day charm offensive tour to repair soured relations after the $9billion submarine deal with Australia

Harris donned a blue cornflower - known as a Bleuet de France - traditionally worn in France on November 11 in remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, similar to the UK's red poppy

Kamala Harris stood with French Prime Minister Jean Castex (center) and Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo (right) for the ceremony marking the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 Armistice

Emmanuel Macron paid homage at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with the flag draped coffin of Hubert Germain - the last surviving member of the Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes - placed nearby

What is the Bleuet de France? The Bleuet de France is a blue cornflower traditionally worn in France on November 11 as a symbol of remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans. It was chosen because cornflowers continued to grow on land devastated by thousands of shells and were the only visible sign of life among the muddy trenches. The name 'Bleuet' was also used in 1895 to describe young soldiers given blue uniforms when they were conscripted into the French army. The uniforms were a distinct contrast to the red outfits give to older soldiers. Advertisement

Harris met with US military service members at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial on Wednesday as she marked the somber holiday, known as Veteran's Day in the US.

The day, one of the nation's 12 federal holidays designated by Congress, honors all those - dead and alive - who have served in the US Armed Forces.

The day was initially known as Armistice Day, as in Europe, but was renamed in 1953 when a cobbler who had lost a nephew in the Second World War petitioned Kansas city to use the day to honor all those who have died serving in the US armed forces.

Alvin J. King argued the holiday had become outdated because thousands of soldiers had died in subsequent conflicts - the Second World War and Korean War.

It was marked as Veteran's Day for the first time in 1953 and the name change became official in 1954.

Harris and Macron later met for talks at the Elysee presidential palace as part of a weeks-long effort by Washington to mend relations with France, America's oldest ally.

The vice president's four-day trip to Paris comes after President Joe Biden told Macron the US had been 'clumsy' in handling the submarine issue, during a meeting in Rome, Italy on October 29.

Biden didn't formally apologize to Macron, but conceded the US should not have caught its oldest ally by surprise.

The secretly negotiated US-British submarine deal with Australia led to a prior deal with France being scrapped.

Vice President Harris joined Macron to mark Armistice Day as part of her four-day charm offensive tour to repair soured relations after the $9billion submarine deal with Australia

Harris talked animatedly with French Senate President Gerard Larcher during a ceremony to mark the 103rd anniversary of the armistice

Harris poses for a selfie with fellow attendees at a ceremony commemorating the 103rd anniversary of the armistice in Paris today

Members of the French armed forces stood to attention at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arc de Triomphe during the remembrance day ceremony

Macron stood to attention as the coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of the French Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to WW2 heroes, who died on October 12, was brought to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

French President Macron looked sombre as he watched the coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes

Macron on Wednesday said he had had 'a very fruitful meeting' with Biden. 'We do share the view that we are at the beginning of a new era and our cooperation is absolutely critical for this one,' he said.

Echoing the French president's comments, Harris said: 'I think we share this belief that we are at the beginning of a new era, which presents us with many challenges, but also many opportunities.'

'Building on the great conversation that you and President Biden had, I look forward to the next few days. We'll work together and renew the focus that we've always had on a partnership,' she added.

She said that they were to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, cooperation on space and climate change, amid other topics, before participating in the Paris Conference on Libya on Friday.

Harris and Macron spoke ahead of a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to mark the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 armistice that ended the First World War

Harris, wearing a blue cornflower known as a Bleuet de France,, traditionally worn in France on November 11 in remembrance of veterans, victims of war, widows and orphans, spoke with French Prime Minister Jean Castex ahead of commemorations

Harris appeared in high spirits as she spoke to French Prime Minister Jean Castex and Paris' Mayor Anne Hidalgo ahead of a ceremony to mark the 103rd anniversary of the WW1 armistice

Sombre officials gathered at the Arc de Triomphe with President Macron on Thursday to mark the 103rd anniversary of the November 11, 1918 armistice that ended the First World War

French President Macron looked sombre as he looked on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a speech during a ceremony to mark the 103rd Anniversary of Armistice Day at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris

The coffin of Hubert Germain, the last surviving member of Companion of the Order of Liberation, an honor awarded to French WW2 heroes, was driven to the Arc de Triomphe on an armored military vehicle ahead of a remembrance ceremony

Harris and Macron agreed Wednesday that their countries are ready to work together again, after a diplomatic drama surrounding a submarine deal that put the relationship at a historic low

Harris met with Macron in the evening at the Elysee presidential palace, as part of a weeks-long effort by Washington to mend relations with France, America's oldest ally

The breakthrough came after Harris on Tuesday visited the Institut Pasteur science lab, where Americans are working alongside Europeans to tackle Covid-19 and where her mother researched breast cancer.

The vice president was mocked over the visit after she seemed to put on a French accent while talking to staff about her love of science, and her dismay at how politics could not be as methodical and logical as their experiments.

Harris moved to Montreal, Canada, when she was 12 and attended a French-speaking school for several years. But her apparent efforts at a French accent stirred outrage on social media media, where she was accused of talking down to the scientists and embarrassing the country.

The latest gaff comes as Harris' team is trying to revive her poor poll numbers. The former California senator's unpopularity has reached a historic level, with only 28 per cent thinking she is doing a good job.

Biden's approval rating hit yet another a new low, this time at 38 per cent, according to the USA Today/Suffolk poll, out on November 8. And a 51 per cent majority of respondents said they disapprove of the job Harris is doing as vice president.

At this early stage of a modern presidency, Harris' numbers in the USA Today/Suffolk poll are unprecedented.

The closest comparison  which involves slightly different methodology and margins of error  would be former Vice President Dick Cheney, the most unpopular US vice president in polling history.

He bottomed out at 30 per cent in Gallup's tracking survey, but that wasn't until the end of former President George W. Bush's second term in 2007.
A Reddit post about 'hot' Bunnings workers uniforms has sparked a heated debate on social media.

The male shopper took to Reddit on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the hardware store attire, declaring: 'Bunnings uniforms are hot'.

In the post, he said he preferred to see a woman in the uniform - which consists of a red polo shirt, shorts, apron and 'chunky' tradie boots - than in a dress, skirt or jeans.

Bunnings uniforms consist of a red polo shirt, shorts, apron and 'chunky' tradie boots (pictured, a Bunnings worker)

'Whenever I, a hetero man, go to Bunnings I'm always surprised by how flattering the stubbie shorts and tradie boots are on the lady employees,' he wrote.

'I'd take a woman in the Bunnings get-up over a woman in many of the regular jeans or dress or skirt outfits I see out there.

'It makes me understand why women sometimes have a thing for firefighters. I think the chunky boots accentuate the legs and make them look slimmer or something.'

Social media users agreed there was an unexplained attraction about the Bunnings uniforms adding men also looked good in the get-up.

'I think tradie boots are attractive on everyone,' one person wrote.

'And the men in those outfits! I agree something about the boots accentuates the mens calves and they look so thick, sturdy and strong,' commented another.

Reddit users agreed saying there was something 'flattering' about the Bunnings uniform on both male and female workers

'Yeah, I get you. It looks like they are strong and hard working - you can relate to them. I like men in uniform, the way they stand, the poise in their chins,' added a third.

But one Reddit user felt the post was inappropriate for commenting on the way employees and especially female workers look.

'Thank god you've shared this opinion not on any employees competence or ability to do their job but instead on how pleasing they are to your eye as you do your hardware shopping,' the user wrote.

'Without your sartorial advice and critique they may have just enjoyed a day at work without being reminded that everywhere they go, even their workspace, they exist basically only for men to ogle.'

Another user replied to the comment pointing out if they would feel the same if the post was written by a woman.

'Be honest with us for a moment here, would you have reacted the same way to this post if it was from a hetero woman commenting on men?' Challenged one user.

But the Redditer only doubled down on their comments:

'I'd still find it f****g weird for someone to be so focused on someone's aesthetic appeal at their retail job that they needed to go online and make a post about how well the uniform accentuates their legs.'
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Boris Johnson has urged France to 'close off' the flow of migrants crossing into their country to stop them from sailing to the UK after a record 1,185 migrants crossed the Channel yesterday and three who fell from kayaks are feared dead.

The Prime Minister, 57, hit out at Emmanuel Macron's Government for not policing their beaches to stop migrants from sailing to Britain on small boats, arguing it is difficult for UK Border Force to turn migrants back safely in the English Channel as he defended Priti Patel's border policies.

Speaking at a vaccination centre in Old Bexley and Sidcup, south east London, Mr Johnson insisted that the UK was dealing with the migrant crisis in the 'most effective' way, as he called on France to shut their borders to 'close off' the flow of migrants arriving in the country with the purpose of sailing across the Channel to reach the UK.

He told Sky News: 'They are coming from France. In the end, if the French authorities will not or cannot control those departures it is very difficult for us to turn them back at sea. We want to do that in a safe and in a humane way but it's very difficult.

'You have to work with the French and you have to try to persuade them to police the beaches that are sending these people over to us.'

His comments came after a record 1,185 reached the UK by sailing across the English Channel yesterday, while three migrants are feared dead after they were reported missing as they tried to cross the Channel on kayaks in the early hours of this morning.

Whitehall sources blasted France for 'ceding sovereign territory to people smugglers' in an incendiary attack on Emmanuel Macron's government as a record daily number of migrants crossed the English Channel.

The Prime Minister, 57, defended the Government's policy on migrants and instead hit out at the French president, 43, arguing that France need to shut their borders to prevent migrants from sailing across the English Channel to reach the UK

Speaking at a vaccination centre in Old Bexley and Sidcup, London, Mr Johnson hit out at Emmanuel Macron's government (pictured) for not policing their beaches, arguing it is difficult for UK Border Force to turn migrants back safely at sea

The Prime Minister went on to hit out at France for not closing down their borders or policing their beaches, arguing that migrants are arriving in France with the purpose of sailing across the English Channel.

He said: 'We are working all the time with our French colleagues, the whole of Europe faces a migration crisis as you can see with what is happening in Belarus and elsewhere, but we need to focus on those French beaches.

'What I would say to our French friends is if you close off the door to the corridor at the far end, then people won't come into the corridor at the other end.

'We need to close down that movement from the French beaches to the UK, if you want to stop people coming into France to come to the UK.'

Mr Johnson also defended Priti Patel's controversial new borders bill, which aims to deter illegal entry into the UK and could see people arriving by an illegal route, such as by sailing across the Channel, could have their claim ruled as inadmissible and receive a jail sentence of up to four years.

He said that the law could make a distinction 'between those who arrive here legally, and those who come here illegally', arguing that it will make an 'important difference' in the migrant crisis.

He continued: 'It won't be the end of the story but it will make an important difference in the way that we are able to treat people who arrive here illegally.'

Meanwhile, three migrants are feared dead after they were reported missing as they tried to cross the English Channel on kayaks in the early hours of this morning.

French coastguard officers said they were alerted to the two vessels found adrift off the coast of Calais and picked up two while three others remained lost as a search was called off.

France was blasted for 'ceding sovereign territory to people smugglers' in an incendiary attack on Emmanuel Macron's government as a record daily number of migrants crossed the English Channel.

A record 1,000 people reached the UK in a single day after risking their lives in small boats in the English Channel - taking the November total soaring past 3,000 (pictured yesterday)

A young girl wrapped in a red jacket was carried ashore in Dover on Thursday, one of the masses brought into the Kent port after being picked up at sea

Whitehall sources blasted the president for letting 'hundreds of people set sail to their death' while they 'only stop a couple of boats'.

The insiders revealed threats to cut off the 54million being drip fed to the French to boost patrols and stop the 'armada' of migrants leaving their beaches.

Ministers are concerned the row has become wrapped up in fighting over fishing rights, the Northern Ireland Protocol and the submarine deal between Britain, the US and Australia.

The latest war of words comes after a staggering 1,185 reached the UK on small boats by sailing across the English Channel yesterday, smashing the daily record.

A young girl wrapped in a red jacket was carried ashore in Dover on Thursday, one of the masses brought into the Kent port after being picked up at sea.

Lifeboat crews and Border Force boats were busy well into the evening after spending hours intercepting boats in the Dover Straight throughout the day.

Thursday's total surpassed the previous single-day record for the current crisis of 853 set earlier this month as the November figure soars past 3,000.

As of lunchtime on Friday no migrants had been spotted entering Britain amid rough seas, huge downpours and strong winds.

Lifeboat crews and Border Force boats were busy well into the evening after spending hours intercepting boats in the Dover Straight throughout the day

Thursday's total surpasses the previous single-day record for the current crisis of 853 set earlier this month

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, by Coastguard officers yesterday

A spokesman for the French Prefecture Maritime revealed this morning three migrants were missing and feared dead in the Channel.

They said: 'We were also informed in the early morning that two kayaks had been found adrift, off Calais, by the national gendarmerie.

'Two shipwrecked were recovered by the boat Eulimene of the national gendarmerie and deposited in Calais. Unfortunately the castaways indicated that three people were missing.

'Despite the resources deployed, the three people could not be found and the search was suspended at the end of the day.'

Insiders last night revealed how seething Whitehall is with Mr Macron over his continued failure to handle the spiralling migrant crisis.

The source said: 'They let hundreds of people potentially set sail to their death whilst only stopping a couple of boats. They appear to have ceded sovereign territory to criminal people smugglers.

'This abject failure will be raised in the strongest possible terms with Gerald Darmanin [France's minister of the interior].'

They accused France of stopping less than a third of boats leaving the coast this week and slammed the country for 'failing in its duty to protect life'.

But sources inside Border Force blasted the Home Office for leaving it 'completely under-resourced and under-staffed' because it only expected 2,000 migrants in the whole of November.

Officials were busy well into Thursday evening in Dover as they worked to process the many arrivals that continued to flood in.

Children wrapped in jackets and blankets against the autumn chill, some carried in the arms of adults, were among being helped onto the quayside throughout the day.

Further along the coast, more people were reportedly seen arriving on Hastings beach after being picked up by the RNLI.

Volunteers from the organisation told the Telegraph they were at 'breaking point' after being constantly chasing down migrant boats.

They said: 'Our employers are starting to ask why we are never at work. This should really be a job for the Government not the RNLI.'

They added: 'What happens when there's an emergency somewhere else? To be honest we are all completely knackered.'

Two people have lost their lives attempting the perilous crossing and more are feared missing at sea in recent weeks. Yesterday's 1,000 means the figure for this year is almost 24,000  close to three times as many as in 2020.

On Wednesday, UK authorities intercepted or rescued 695 people from 22 boats, while French officials stopped just 255 from seven vessels.

Border officials were busy well into Thursday evening in Dover as they worked to process the many arrivals

Children wrapped in jackets and blankets against the autumn chill, some carried in the arms of adults, were among being helped onto the quayside throughout the day

Further along the coast, more people were reportedly seen arriving on Hastings beach after being picked up by the RNLI

Yesterday's 1,000 arrivals mean the figure for this year is almost 24,000  close to three times as many as in 2020

Despite visibility dropping in the morning and weather deteriorating at sea, around 40 people were seen disembarking from the Dover lifeboat shortly before 8am

Despite visibility dropping in the morning and weather deteriorating at sea, around 40 people were seen disembarking from the Dover lifeboat shortly before 8am.

Thirty more were brought into harbour around 9.30am on board Border Force cutter Hunter. Around 490 brought in on Wednesday were had to sleep on the floor at the Tug Haven reception due to pressure on Border Force.

A source said: 'The conditions are vile, we can't even get the cleaners in because there are so many migrants arriving.

'They're not covered by the risk assessments. There are only two toilets and we can't get them cleaned. Border Force is suffering yet again from the historical inadequate funding.'

Yesterday, two boats were seen arriving before 5am while RNLI's Dungeness lifeboat The Morrell brought around 50 migrants into Dover Marina before dawn. It returned with 30 more at 8.30am.

The RNLI dispatched lifeboats from Ramsgate, Dover, Dungeness, all in Kent, and Hastings, East Sussex. Around 50 migrants disembarked from one lifeboat on the beach at Hastings at 12.30pm.

Among those seen clambering up the shingle were young girls wearing thick winter coats wrapped in foil blankets.

One group of migrants was prevented from landing by rescue services after drifting dangerously close to the MoD firing range at Lydd, Kent.

Thirty more were brought into the harbour around 9.30am on board Border Force cutter Hunter

Around 490 brought in on Wednesday were had to sleep on the floor at the Tug Haven reception due to pressure on Border Force (pictured yesterday)

Among those seen clambering up the shingle were young girls wearing thick winter coats wrapped in foil blankets

It comes after 853 migrants sailed from Europe in 25 boats on Wednesday last week on what was the record daily figure. It led government sources to accuse the French of 'lamentable inaction'.

The numbers have seen tensions rise between London and Paris as it was revealed fewer than half of the migrants have been stopped by French authorities.

Dan O'Mahoney, the UK's Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, warned: 'Migrants making these dangerous crossings are putting their lives at risk.

'It is vital we do everything we can to prevent them and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people.'

The UK has started paying 54million in smaller chunks to France to help fund them holding back the migrants. The monthly total for November so far has passed 3,500, compared with 757 over the same period last year.

Border Force chiefs had been planning for just 2,000 crossings over the whole of the month. Mr Macron's government promised to stop migrants leaving French beaches through increased patrols in return for 54 million from the UK.

Priti Patel approved the first instalment of the sum last week following assurances from her opposite number, Mr Darmanin, that 100 per cent of the boats would be intercepted if the UK pays the full amount.

A Home Office spokesman said yesterday: 'The number of illegal migrants we have seen departing from France today is unacceptable.

'The British public have had enough of seeing people die in the Channel while ruthless criminal gangs profit from their misery and our New Plan for Immigration will fix the broken system which encourages migrants to make this lethal journey.'

A Border Force officer secures a boat in Dover which was used by people thought to be migrants following a small boat incident in the Channel

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard a Border Force vessel, as small boat incidents in the Channel continue into the evening
The shocking truth behind child murderer Colin Pitchforks recall to jail can be revealed tonight. In an alarming string of incidents, the freed sex killer  who raped and strangled two 15-year-old girls in the 1980s  had been approaching teenage women in the street. Sources said the 61-year-old had appeared to be trying to establish a connection with them. Tonight the mother of one of his victims said it proved there was no way the psychopath would be cured of his lust for young females. The revelations sparked calls for urgent reforms to the Parole Board, which controversially released Pitchfork despite warnings he remained a danger to the public. Pitchfork was freed from jail in September and was living at a bail hostel. But he was dramatically arrested on Friday for sidling up to young women  in their later teens and early 20s  on multiple occasions while on daily walks from his hostel. Although he did not commit any new offences, the concerning behaviour was deemed so troubling that Pitchfork was sent back to jail for breaching the terms of his release on licence. Barbara Ashworth, whose daughter Dawn was murdered by Pitchfork in 1986, said: It is worrying that he is approaching young women in this manner. It just goes to show that a leopard never changes its spots. As well as families of his victims, former justice secretary Robert Buckland called for drastic changes to be made to the parole system. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab was last night said to be looking closely at further reforms to the Parole Board, which has been under fire over a series of decisions to free dangerous offenders. He could announce changes within weeks, sources said.
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The Prince of Wales' right-hand man dramatically quit last night over the 'cash for honours' inquiry.

Michael Fawcett has resigned from his post as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation, with friends saying he is 'heartbroken' and 'shattered' by events.

He has also had his private contract to organise events for Charles severed, it can be revealed. It follows reports he offered to help a billionaire Saudi donor to the prince's charity secure a knighthood and British citizenship.

The Daily Mail understands the prince's former valet, who rose to become one of the most powerful and influential figures in the future king's court, is not seeking to preempt an official investigation into the claims, which has yet to report back.

Friends say the scandal  which broke in early September  has had a devastating effect on Mr Fawcett, 59, and he has only now felt well enough to make a decision about his future.

The friend said: Michael has resigned and he will never be coming back. He has lost five stone in weight and is a shadow of his former self.

A spokesman for The Princes Foundation confirmed: Michael Fawcett has resigned from his post as CEO of The Princes Foundation.

Michael Fawcett (pictured outside his South West London home on Sunday) has resigned from his post as chief executive of The Prince's Foundation, with friends saying he is 'heartbroken' and 'shattered' by events

For the best part of four decades, Mr Fawcett was the man Charles famously could not live without. Pictured together during a royal tour

Earlier this autumn, questions were raised over Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz (pictured), who received an honorary CBE personally from Charles in 2016

Footman to top man: The rise and fall of Prince Charles' aide Michael Fawcett 1981: As a teenager, Michael Fawcett lands a job as junior footman to the Queen at Buckingham Palace. He later moves to Kensington Palace as assistant valet to Prince Charles, who is setting up home with Diana. 1990: He is reportedly trusted to squeeze toothpaste on to Charless brush when the prince broke an arm playing polo. 1992: When the royal couple separate, Diana has the locks of the marital apartment changed to keep out Fawcett, who pinned his loyalties to Charles. 1998: Three members of palace staff go to the prince to complain about Fawcetts allegedly overbearing and bullying manner, and he quits. But his resignation leaves Charles in tears and he is reinstated and promoted within a week. 2000: Fawcett is appointed a Member of the Victorian Order by the Prince in the New Years Honours  an honour normally reserved for Royal Household members. 2003: He is again forced out for supposedly selling on behalf of Charles gifts the prince did not want. An internal inquiry clears him of any financial misconduct. He resigns but the prince rewards him with a 500,000 severance packet. Fawcett sets up a private events company, Premier Mode. 2005: Premier Mode organises Charles and Camillas wedding party. 2017: Fawcett joins the board of A G Carrick, a company Charles set up to sell mementoes at his Highgrove shop. Fawcett also runs the trust set up to run Prince Charless pet project, Dumfries House. 2018: Fawcett is appointed to a 95,000-a-year role as chief executive of Charless charity, The Princes Foundation. 2021: It is alleged that Fawcett fixed a CBE for a Saudi billionaire who had donated more than 1.5 million to royal charities. Fawcett resigns for the third time. Advertisement

Clarence House told the Mail it was cutting ties with Mr Fawcett on a personal basis and would not work with his events company, Premier Mode, again, sealing his catastrophic fall from grace. A spokesman said: Michael Fawcett and Premier Mode will not be providing services to us in the future. We have all agreed to end these arrangements.

For the best part of four decades, Mr Fawcett was the man Charles famously could not live without.

But he was dogged by controversy and was twice forced to resign after being accused of bullying staff and selling unwanted royal gifts.

On both occasions he was reinstated and Premier Mode was later awarded a lucrative contract by the prince to organise most of his official and private entertaining.

In 2007, Mr Fawcett was made chief executive of Scotlands Dumfries House, a stately home Charles helped save for the nation which has since been turned into a community facility and hub for his considerable charitable activities.

In 2018, following a reorganisation of those charities, Mr Fawcett was appointed as 95,000-a-year chief executive of the newly created The Princes Foundation, much to the surprise  and concern  of some current and former household staff.

Mr Fawcett set about becoming a fundraiser extraordinaire, raising millions to support the princes philanthropic work every year.

However, it was his success in drumming up multi-million-pound donations which led to his downfall.

Earlier this autumn, questions were raised over Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, who received an honorary CBE personally from Charles in 2016.

He had donated 1.5 million, spent mostly on renovating two of Charless Scottish properties, where parts of the grounds are named after him. It was alleged that he paid tens of thousands to fixers with links to the prince who had told him they could secure him an honour. Mr Mahfouz denies any wrongdoing.

Significantly, a letter emerged which Mr Fawcett wrote to Mr Mahfouz in 2017, in which he said: In light of the ongoing and most recent generosity of His Excellency Sheikh Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, I am happy to confirm to you, in confidence, that we are willing and happy to support and contribute to the application for citizenship.

I can further confirm we are willing to make an application to increase His Excellencys honour from Honorary CBE to that of KBE in accordance with Her Majestys Honours Committee. Sources said Prince Charles was not aware of any link between donations to the foundation and honours and was deeply shocked.

Mr Fawcett set about becoming a fundraiser extraordinaire, raising millions to support the princes philanthropic work every year. Pictured, Prince Charles with Mr Fawcett at Sandringham in 1990

Prince Charles with Mr Fawcett on the Christmas Shoot at Sandringham in Norfolk in December 1992

Prince Charles is pictured with Mr Fawcett. Mr Fawcetts departure will be seen by his enemies  who viewed him as a pernicious influence on the royal household  as long overdue. And it will certainly provide the Prince of Wales with a clean sheet when he becomes king

Some royal insiders have questioned how the heir to the throne will manage to keep his charitable ventures  including Dumfries House  afloat without Mr Fawcett (pictured) to rattle the cans

In 2007, Mr Fawcett was made chief executive of Scotlands Dumfries House, a stately home Charles helped save for the nation which has since been turned into a community facility and hub for his considerable charitable activities

The Princes Foundation said it took the allegations seriously and immediately ordered an investigation.

Mr Fawcett announced he would temporarily step down from his post while the matter was probed. Now he has decided to make that decision permanent, even before the findings have been revealed.

A friend said that despite his many mis-steps over the years, Mr Fawcett had been a loyal and faithful servant to the prince and had played a crucial role in his philanthropic efforts, helping Charles to raise more than 120 million for charity each year. Some royal insiders have questioned how the heir to the throne will manage to keep his charitable ventures  including Dumfries House  afloat without Mr Fawcett to rattle the cans.

A source said: Michael will have no more dealings with either His Royal Highness or Clarence House from now on. That is absolutely clear. Hes not coming back in any way, shape or form, that cannot be stressed enough.

The report hasnt been finished yet. It is his decision and his decision alone, and he is not pre-empting anything that may or may not be found.

A friend said that despite his many mis-steps over the years, Mr Fawcett had been a loyal and faithful servant to the prince and had played a crucial role in his philanthropic efforts. Pictured, Mr Fawcett with the Prince of Wales and Lord Thurso during a tour in 2019

This really is the earliest he has felt able to make any sort of decision about his future.

The friend said the pressure of the scandal had had a shattering effect on Mr Fawcetts health. Michael isnt a well man  he has lost lots of weight and has shrunken into himself. No one is seeking sympathy, its a fact. He has been shattered by this.

He has made this decision because he needs time to get through this crisis. And he wants more than anything to be left alone while he goes through this difficult time.

Mr Fawcetts departure will be seen by his enemies  who viewed him as a pernicious influence on the royal household  as long overdue. And it will certainly provide the Prince of Wales with a clean sheet when he becomes king.

There were some who had feared that at this point, Mr Fawcett could even be promoted to Master of the Household at Buckingham Palace.

It has been claimed that one of those who will not be upset to see the back of him is the Duchess of Cornwall, once a supporter of Mr Fawcett but who now feels her husband can start a new chapter.

The Prince of Wales is said to have been told about Mr Fawcetts decision, which will be made public by officials today. He feels sadness about the way things have ended, but accepts it.

As well as The Princes Foundation, Scotlands charity regulator is also investigating the claims against Mr Fawcett.

A Clarence House spokesman said previously: The Prince of Wales fully supports the investigation now under way at the foundation.

For Prince Charles it's a bitter loss - and this time there is no way back: Twice Michael Fawcett has had to leave royal service... and twice he's been re-hired. The reason? He was 'indispensable'. Not any more, writes RICHARD KAY

by Richard Kay for The Daily Mail

This time there will be no reprieve, no last-minute appeal for clemency and most certainly no gathering of land-owning grandees offering to make a special plea for his salvation.

For the first time in 40 years, the man from nowhere is back where he started.

The story of the rise and fall of Michael Fawcett is a tragedy in two parts.

For Fawcett it is about being raised to a status that was unimaginable when he first arrived at Buckingham Palace as a lowly footman  and then flying too high.

For the Prince of Wales it is about losing the one man whose service and loyalty he prized above all others, and of whom he once said: I can manage without just about anyone except for Michael.

Eighteen years ago, when Fawcetts name was linked to unsavoury allegations concerning the disposal of royal gifts, a report exonerated him of wrongdoing. He was made the scapegoat nonetheless yet, through an adroit piece of royal manoeuvring, Fawcett not only survived but prospered. Just as he had five years earlier when rival staff, tired of his bullying and overbearing manner, plotted to oust him  only for well-connected royal friends to come racing to his rescue.

Mr Fawcett, the Prince of Wales and Camilla are pictured together in 2018. The Daily Mails revelation that the prince has accepted the resignation of the man who had been with him through thick and thin  and once seemed unsackable  is tinged not with triumph but sadness and sorrow

But this time the claims against him were of an altogether graver nature. Mired in allegations that he had helped secure honours and British citizenship for a wealthy Saudi tycoon who had bankrolled Charless charities, it has been a question of not if Fawcett would depart, but when.

The Daily Mails revelation that the prince has accepted the resignation of the man who had been with him through thick and thin  and once seemed unsackable  is tinged not with triumph but sadness and sorrow.

Technically, the high-flyer whose life began in a modest bungalow resigned from the Princes Foundation, of which he was chief executive. But his exit would not have been sanctioned without the endorsement of Prince Charles.

This time there will be no cosy return once the dust has settled. For the man with the spit-and-polished tasselled loafers, Turnbull & Asser shirts and hand-tailored suits  a style epitomised by the prince he served with such devotion  is severing every royal connection.

He has relinquished his role at Dumfries House, the Scottish treasure Charles saved from destruction and which, even his enemies would agree, Fawcett has overseen with a forensic eye for detail.

And perhaps most significantly of all, Fawcetts private company Premier Mode, the events business he established after a previous sacking, has severed its links with Clarence House.

Technically, the high-flyer whose life began in a modest bungalow resigned from the Princes Foundation, of which he was chief executive. But his exit would not have been sanctioned without the endorsement of Prince Charles. Pictured, Mr Fawcett with his wife Debbie

This means it is not only the end of the royal road for Fawcett but also his wife Debbie. She too was a symbol of selfless service, having completed her final task this week  purchasing the presents on the princes Christmas list.

As brutal as only a Palace coup can be, Fawcetts departure represents the most significant transition for Charles from Prince of Wales to king-inwaiting.

Courtiers who have long viewed Fawcett as a negative presence in the princes life are understood to view his leaving as a vital and necessary step.

Not so long ago, Fawcett was being talked of as a future Master of the Household under King Charles  a position of considerable influence.

There was talk too of a knighthood, which would be the ultimate honour for the son of a cashier and a district nurse brought up in suburban Bexley, Kent. He repeatedly bounced back because of the seemingly unbreakable bond between the master and his indispensable servant, forged in the acrimony of the royal marriage break-up. But not this time.

Fawcett might once have escaped this uproar over cash for access. But with the prince nearing the throne, the taint of wrong-doing, however well-intentioned, was simply too toxic to tolerate any longer.

The writing was on the wall when, instead of backing him as she always had in the past, the Duchess of Cornwall withdrew her support. This was a pivotal moment in the fallout from the scandal.

Years ago, first in 1998 and later in 2003, it was the then Mrs Parker Bowles who was the most vociferous of Fawcetts defenders. But two months ago it was revealed that Fawcett, who was appointed head of The Princes Foundation in 2018, had helped to fix a CBE for a Saudi tycoon who donated 1.5million to royal charities.

He also accepted a six-figure donation from a controversial Russian businessman who Charles later thanked and offered to meet.

In a third incident he is reported to have offered to help secure a knighthood  and British citizenship  for another foreign donor.

The writing was on the wall when, instead of backing him as she always had in the past, the Duchess of Cornwall withdrew her support. This was a pivotal moment in the fallout from the scandal. Pictured, Prince Charles, Diana and Mr Fawcett in 1990

The disclosures shone a light on an unseemly world of favours and royal backscratching.

Fawcett stood down from his 90,000-a-year role while an independent inquiry investigated.

I understand that he has not had sight of the inquirys report  which has not yet been completed in any case  but yesterdays dramatic move indicates that Fawcett fears its findings will be damning.

What is beyond doubt is that he has been shattered by the fallout from the revelations, which has had a significant effect on his health and wellbeing.

A friend who has seen the father of two, who married a former Palace maid, says he has lost five stone. He tells me: Michael has always been an incredibly positive and confident fellow but he is causing concern.

He has been receiving professional help and he is heartbroken at the turn of events.

Another insider says: Michael has given the prince the ultimate gift  his resignation, thus avoiding any unpleasantness later on.

The bond of trust between the two men dates back more than four decades.

Fawcett has been an unwavering constant in the princes life  as non-negotiable as Camilla used to be, observes a Palace aide  while others in his household, some far more senior, have come and gone. No one understood the princes moods and eccentricities quite like Michael  and no one had his skill in dealing with them, says an old friend.

We are not just talking about his petty foibles, how he likes his napkins folded or just how little vermouth should go in to his dry martini... Michael has trained others to do that. Its that he gets his sensibilities and understands him aesthetically, philosophically and commercially. They are powerful assets and it is easy to see why the prince is so reliant on him.

Using the same silky skills he once used to sell off unwanted royal gifts from foreign dignitaries on the princes behalf (a practice which led to him being nicknamed Fawcett the fence), he was the vital link between the prince and wealthy donors

Certainly there was no clearer indication of that dependence than when Charles put Fawcett  the man who squeezed his toothpaste for him after he broke his arm playing polo in 1990  in charge of his beloved Dumfries House, the Palladian mansion which he saved for the nation.

The costly restoration has been a labour of love for the prince, who gambled on securing the fundraising to make it all happen.

Fawcetts role in turning the historic Scottish house into a busy venue for weddings and conferences, while employing as many local people as possible, was crucial. From the beginning he was there three or four days a week. It was the next best thing to having the Prince of Wales do the job himself, one figure from those days recalled.

Using the same silky skills he once used to sell off unwanted royal gifts from foreign dignitaries on the princes behalf (a practice which led to him being nicknamed Fawcett the fence), he was the vital link between the prince and wealthy donors.

For a man of modest beginnings he was a master at making the rich and powerful feel as though all their demands were the most normal thing in the world.

In return, they gladly opened their wallets.

Michael was not just securing the money... he was also the impresario arranging all the extravagant events where the pampered guests would get out their chequebooks, says a former aide. Hes persuasive in a very charming manner.

But this was also how the seeds of his destruction were sown.

Image was crucial, hence those polished loafers, the silk pochette he wore in his breast pocket, and the way he liked to touch his shirt cuffs and stand with hands clasped behind his back  an affectation he copied from the prince.

All the same, his was an extraordinary rise for someone who not so long ago also held down a Saturday job in a Jermyn Street menswear shop (where he was in the habit of securing discounted clothing).

There are scarcely any below-stairs retainers still at Buckingham Palace who can recall Michael David Fawcett arriving in 1981. He came straight out of catering college to start work as one of the Queens footmen, wearing a polyester pullover. Those sweaters later became something of a Fawcett in-joke. When a new police bodyguard arrived in the mid-1990s, he sniggered: Youre a walking fire risk, dear.

Former staff remember him as a Billy Liar figure who embellished a modest background, claiming he was the son of a wealthy accountant. At one point he grandly styled himself Buxton-Fawcett  Buxton was his mothers maiden name  but fellow staff were unimpressed and took to addressing him as Sir Michael.

Taken under the patronage of the Queen Mothers staff at Clarence House, he was a fast learner and rose to become sergeant footman. This gave him authority over the very people who had been mocking him  and also brought him to the notice of the Prince of Wales, who invited him to become his assistant valet.

When the newlyweds Charles and Diana set up home in Kensington Palace, Fawcett went too. He and Diana, just a year his senior, got on well at first but their easy friendship did not last. As the royal marriage disintegrated, Fawcett was firmly on Charless team.

When the royal couple separated in 1992, Diana had the locks of the marital apartment changed not just to keep out Charles but the interfering Fawcett too.

In the years that followed, Fawcetts influence grew and he was promoted from valet to personal assistant. By now increasingly overbearing, he became the subject of a complaint from other servants. Fawcett resigned  only to be reinstated after Camilla intervened on his behalf.

Five years later Fawcett stepped down again, after an internal inquiry found he had broken regulations by accepting and selling gifts that Charles did not want. Crucially, the investigation cleared him of any financial wrongdoing, and he was soon back at the princes side.

His emotional intelligence, attention to detail and ability to override everything if he thought it was in the princes interests endeared him to both Charles and Camilla... but even their patience has now been exhausted. Michael became too high maintenance, says one courtier.

For Prince Charles, this is likely to have been the most difficult parting since his divorce from Princess Diana. It may, however, ensure that  as king  his reign will not be tarnished by a man whose capacity for trouble was simply no longer worth his support.
This time there will be no reprieve, no last-minute appeal for clemency and most certainly no gathering of land-owning grandees offering to make a special plea for his salvation.

For the first time in 40 years, the man from nowhere is back where he started.

The story of the rise and fall of Michael Fawcett is a tragedy in two parts.

For Fawcett it is about being raised to a status that was unimaginable when he first arrived at Buckingham Palace as a lowly footman  and then flying too high.

End of the royal road: Fawcett with wife Debbie, who spent this week buying Charless Christmas gifts

For the Prince of Wales it is about losing the one man whose service and loyalty he prized above all others, and of whom he once said: I can manage without just about anyone except for Michael.

Eighteen years ago, when Fawcetts name was linked to unsavoury allegations concerning the disposal of royal gifts, a report exonerated him of wrongdoing. He was made the scapegoat nonetheless yet, through an adroit piece of royal manoeuvring, Fawcett not only survived but prospered. Just as he had five years earlier when rival staff, tired of his bullying and overbearing manner, plotted to oust him  only for well-connected royal friends to come racing to his rescue.

But this time the claims against him were of an altogether graver nature. Mired in allegations that he had helped secure honours and British citizenship for a wealthy Saudi tycoon who had bankrolled Charless charities, it has been a question of not if Fawcett would depart, but when.

The Daily Mails revelation that the prince has accepted the resignation of the man who had been with him through thick and thin  and once seemed unsackable  is tinged not with triumph but sadness and sorrow.

Technically, the high-flyer whose life began in a modest bungalow resigned from the Princes Foundation, of which he was chief executive. But his exit would not have been sanctioned without the endorsement of Prince Charles.

Bag carrier: With royal luggage

This time there will be no cosy return once the dust has settled. For the man with the spit-and-polished tasselled loafers, Turnbull & Asser shirts and hand-tailored suits  a style epitomised by the prince he served with such devotion  is severing every royal connection.

He has relinquished his role at Dumfries House, the Scottish treasure Charles saved from destruction and which, even his enemies would agree, Fawcett has overseen with a forensic eye for detail.

And perhaps most significantly of all, Fawcetts private company Premier Mode, the events business he established after a previous sacking, has severed its links with Clarence House.

This means it is not only the end of the royal road for Fawcett but also his wife Debbie. She too was a symbol of selfless service, having completed her final task this week  purchasing the presents on the princes Christmas list.

As brutal as only a Palace coup can be, Fawcetts departure represents the most significant transition for Charles from Prince of Wales to king-inwaiting.

Courtiers who have long viewed Fawcett as a negative presence in the princes life are understood to view his leaving as a vital and necessary step.

Not so long ago, Fawcett was being talked of as a future Master of the Household under King Charles  a position of considerable influence.

There was talk too of a knighthood, which would be the ultimate honour for the son of a cashier and a district nurse brought up in suburban Bexley, Kent. He repeatedly bounced back because of the seemingly unbreakable bond between the master and his indispensable servant, forged in the acrimony of the royal marriage break-up. But not this time.

Fawcett might once have escaped this uproar over cash for access. But with the prince nearing the throne, the taint of wrongdoing, however well-intentioned, was simply too toxic to tolerate any longer.

The writing was on the wall when, instead of backing him as she always had in the past, the Duchess of Cornwall withdrew her support. This was a pivotal moment in the fallout from the scandal.

Years ago, first in 1998 and later in 2003, it was the then Mrs Parker Bowles who was the most vociferous of Fawcetts defenders. But two months ago it was revealed that Fawcett, who was appointed head of The Princes Foundation in 2018, had helped to fix a CBE for a Saudi tycoon who donated 1.5million to royal charities.

He also accepted a six-figure donation from a controversial Russian businessman who Charles later thanked and offered to meet.

Trouble and strife: Diana changed the locks after marriage split to keep out Charles... and Fawcett

In a third incident he is reported to have offered to help secure a knighthood  and British citizenship  for another foreign donor.

The disclosures shone a light on an unseemly world of favours and royal backscratching.

Fawcett stood down from his 90,000-a-year role while an independent inquiry investigated.

I understand that he has not had sight of the inquirys report  which has not yet been completed in any case  but yesterdays dramatic move indicates that Fawcett fears its findings will be damning.

What is beyond doubt is that he has been shattered by the fallout from the revelations, which has had a significant effect on his health and wellbeing.

A friend who has seen the father of two, who married a former Palace maid, says he has lost five stone. He tells me: Michael has always been an incredibly positive and confident fellow but he is causing concern.

He has been receiving professional help and he is heartbroken at the turn of events.

Deserted by the duchess: Camillas withdrawal of support for Fawcett, left, was the final straw

Another insider says: Michael has given the prince the ultimate gift  his resignation, thus avoiding any unpleasantness later on.

The bond of trust between the two men dates back more than four decades.

Fawcett has been an unwavering constant in the princes life  as non-negotiable as Camilla used to be, observes a Palace aide  while others in his household, some far more senior, have come and gone. No one understood the princes moods and eccentricities quite like Michael  and no one had his skill in dealing with them, says an old friend.

We are not just talking about his petty foibles, how he likes his napkins folded or just how little vermouth should go in to his dry martini... Michael has trained others to do that. Its that he gets his sensibilities and understands him aesthetically, philosophically and commercially. They are powerful assets and it is easy to see why the prince is so reliant on him.

Certainly there was no clearer indication of that dependence than when Charles put Fawcett  the man who squeezed his toothpaste for him after he broke his arm playing polo in 1990  in charge of his beloved Dumfries House, the Palladian mansion which he saved for the nation.

The costly restoration has been a labour of love for the prince, who gambled on securing the fundraising to make it all happen.

Fawcetts role in turning the historic Scottish house into a busy venue for weddings and conferences, while employing as many local people as possible, was crucial. From the beginning he was there three or four days a week. It was the next best thing to having the Prince of Wales do the job himself, one figure from those days recalled.

Using the same silky skills he once used to sell off unwanted royal gifts from foreign dignitaries on the princes behalf (a practice which led to him being nicknamed Fawcett the fence), he was the vital link between the prince and wealthy donors.

For a man of modest beginnings he was a master at making the rich and powerful feel as though all their demands were the most normal thing in the world.

In return, they gladly opened their wallets.

Michael was not just securing the money... he was also the impresario arranging all the extravagant events where the pampered guests would get out their chequebooks, says a former aide. Hes persuasive in a very charming manner.

But this was also how the seeds of his destruction were sown.

Image was crucial, hence those polished loafers, the silk pochette he wore in his breast pocket, and the way he liked to touch his shirt cuffs and stand with hands clasped behind his back  an affectation he copied from the prince.

All the same, his was an extraordinary rise for someone who not so long ago also held down a Saturday job in a Jermyn Street menswear shop (where he was in the habit of securing discounted clothing).

There are scarcely any below-stairs retainers still at Buckingham Palace who can recall Michael David Fawcett arriving in 1981. He came straight out of catering college to start work as one of the Queens footmen, wearing a polyester pullover. Those sweaters later became something of a Fawcett in-joke. When a new police bodyguard arrived in the mid-1990s, he sniggered: Youre a walking fire risk, dear.

Former staff remember him as a Billy Liar figure who embellished a modest background, claiming he was the son of a wealthy accountant. At one point he grandly styled himself Buxton-Fawcett  Buxton was his mothers maiden name  but fellow staff were unimpressed and took to addressing him as Sir Michael.

Taken under the patronage of the Queen Mothers staff at Clarence House, he was a fast learner and rose to become sergeant footman. This gave him authority over the very people who had been mocking him  and also brought him to the notice of the Prince of Wales, who invited him to become his assistant valet.

When the newlyweds Charles and Diana set up home in Kensington Palace, Fawcett went too. He and Diana, just a year his senior, got on well at first but their easy friendship did not last. As the royal marriage disintegrated, Fawcett was firmly on Charless team.

When the royal couple separated in 1992, Diana had the locks of the marital apartment changed not just to keep out Charles but the interfering Fawcett too.

In the years that followed, Fawcetts influence grew and he was promoted from valet to personal assistant. By now increasingly overbearing, he became the subject of a complaint from other servants. Fawcett resigned  only to be reinstated after Camilla intervened on his behalf.

Five years later Fawcett stepped down again, after an internal inquiry found he had broken regulations by accepting and selling gifts that Charles did not want. Crucially, the investigation cleared him of any financial wrongdoing, and he was soon back at the princes side.

His emotional intelligence, attention to detail and ability to override everything if he thought it was in the princes interests endeared him to both Charles and Camilla... but even their patience has now been exhausted. Michael became too high maintenance, says one courtier.

For Prince Charles, this is likely to have been the most difficult parting since his divorce from Princess Diana. It may, however, ensure that  as king  his reign will not be tarnished by a man whose capacity for trouble was simply no longer worth his support.
Mireille Knoll, 85, suffered from Parkinson's disease and could not move unassisted

A French court on Wednesday sentenced the killer of an elderly Jewish woman to life imprisonment, with no possibility of parole for 22 years, over the 2018 murder which caused an outcry over anti-Semitism in France.

Yacine Mihoub, 32, was convicted of the murder of Mireille Knoll, 85, who was stabbed 11 times and whose body was partly burned after her Paris apartment was set alight on March 23, 2018.

The man's accomplice Alex Carrimbacus, 25, was jailed for 15 years for robbery, motivated by anti-Semitism.

Carrimbacus claimed that Mihoub, who had multiple convictions for violence, shouted 'Allahu akbar' ('God is greatest') while stabbing her.

President Emmanuel Macron attended the funeral of Knoll, who had survived a notorious 1942 roundup of Jews in Paris during World War II by fleeing with her mother to Portugal.

Mihoub, the son of one of Kroll's neighbours who described her as being like a 'surrogate grandmother' to him, denied any hand in her death, blaming Carrimbacus instead.

Knoll's murder caused added repugnance because she was suffering from Parkinson's disease and could not move unassisted.

Knoll's son Daniel told the court that when his mother let Mihoub, who had done odd jobs for her for years, into her home 'she never expected that the person she had protected for years would become her executioner.'

In his final statement to the court on Wednesday, Carrimbacus told Knoll's family he regretted not preventing an attack described by the prosecution as 'particularly savage.'

Mihoub (left) was overheard by his accomplice yelling 'Allahu Akbar' during the brutal killing. He will now serve a life sentence with no chance of parole.

The attack was classified as anti-Semitic after Carrimbacus told investigators he overheard Mihoub arguing with Kroll on the day of her death 'about Jews' money and their wealth.'

Prosecutors also pointed to messages glorifying jihadist attacks found in Mihoub's prison cell as proof of his alleged anti-Semitism.

France's 500,000-strong Jewish community, the biggest in Europe, has been rocked by a series of attacks in recent years by radical Islamists that have targeted Jews.

Silent marches in memory of Mireille Knoll took place across France with tens of thousands in attendance

In March 2011, gunman Mohamed Merah shot dead a teacher and three children at Jewish school in the city of Toulouse in March 2011.

Four years later, four people were killed in a hostage-taking at a Jewish supermarket in Paris by an accomplice of the two brothers who had massacred a group of cartoonists over Mohammed caricatures a few days earlier.

An estimated 30,000 people took part in a silent march in Knoll's memory in March 2018 that was attended by government ministers and the heads of France's political parties.

Heartfelt tributes were made following the death of Knoll. Her death shocked the French Jewish community, the largest in Europe, to its very core.

The case drew parallels with the killing in 2017 of an Orthodox Jewish woman in her sixties, Sarah Halimi, who was thrown out of the window of her Paris apartment by a neighbour shouting 'Allahu akbar' ('God is greatest').

France's highest court ruled in April that the killer in that case, Kobili Traore, was not criminally responsible after succumbing to a 'delirious fit' under the influence of drugs and could not be put on trial.

That ruling infuriated the victim's family as well as Jewish groups, and prompted Macron to urge a change in French law to ensure people face responsibility for violent crimes while under the influence of drugs.
Korea tensions over claims that warship was sunk by torpedo



A South Korean navy ship was sunk yesterday in what was feared to have been a torpedo attack by a North Korean submarine.

Several of the 104 crew were killed and others were missing last night.

The drama, close to the disputed sea border between the two Koreas, raised concern that growing tensions between them could escalate into conflict.

Torpedo strike: A South Korean naval coast defence ship patrols the country's northern coast (file picture)

North Korea had earlier threatened ' unprecedented strikes', including nuclear attacks, against its neighbour and the U.S., claiming they were planning to topple the regime of Kim Jong-il.

Relations between the two have also come under strain recently with disputes over cross-border tourism and a joint economic zone.

There are fears in the South that the North is becoming increasingly erratic and dangerous.

As ships and helicopters searched the scene of the sinking for survivors last night, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak convened an emergency meeting of security ministers in Seoul.

The incident happened in the Yellow Sea near Baeknyeong Island, the westernmost point of South Korea and a key military post.

The South Korean ship, the 1,200-ton corvette Cheonan, was on a routine patrol when it was hit by an explosion close to its stern.

There were reports that it had earlier fired warning shots at an object to the north.

But South Korean officials played down the initial reports of military action, saying they had no evidence of North Korean forces in the area.

They said the Cheonan could have fired its warning shots at a distant flock of birds which had produced an image on its radar.

Senior government officials later told South Korean media the ship could have struck a rock or been hit by an explosion on board.

Six naval ships and two coastguard vessels rushed to the scene and the defence ministry said later that 58 of the corvette's crew had been rescued. Two had to be airlifted for emergency medical treatment.

North Korea warned recently that it was increasing its defences in response to joint South Korean-US military exercises earlier this month. It had declared four naval firing zones near the sea border, deploying multiple rocket launchers. Two of the zones are in the Yellow Sea.

Action: South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, centre, talks with officials today after the sinking of one of the country's naval ships



North Korea has never recognised the sea border drawn unilaterally by the U.S.-led United Nations Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.

The Yellow Sea was the scene of naval battles in 1999 - when 17 North Korean sailors died - and 2002 when four South Korean sailors and at least 30 North Koreans died.

Last November the two navies fought a brief gun battle that left one North Korean sailor dead and three others wounded. A North Korean ship was left in flames.

In January North Korea fired artillery into the disputed zones at a time of mounting international pressure to re-start talks over its nuclear ambitions. Some analysts say the firing zones - and recent escalation of military activity - may be a way of strengthening its hand in any talks.

In 2002, the then U.S. President George Bush named North Korea in an 'axis of evil' alongside Iraq and Iran. But the Pyongyang regime was defiant and the following year claimed it had enough plutonium for nuclear bombs.



In 2006 North Korea test-fired a long-range missile and last year claimed it had carried out an underground nuclear test, prompting protests from the U.S., Russia and China.



North Korean leader Kim Jong-il visits the Daeheungsan Machinery Factory in North Korea yesterday

KOREA, HALF A CENTURY OF CONFLICT

At the end of the Second World War, Korea was a united country under Japanese occupation.



But after Japan's defeat, the island was effectively split with Soviet troops occupying the north and American forces in the south.



The stage was set for a long-running and bitter confrontation between the capitalist west and the communist forces of Russia.

In 1948, leaders in the north proclaimed the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Soviets withdrew. Two years later, the south declared independence. North Korea invaded.



The ensuing war lasted three years, left two million dead and laid waste to the country's economy and infrastructure.



Hostilities finally ceased when the two sides agreed to a three-mile buffer zone between the two states.



But despite the ceasefire, sporadic hostilities continued , the two tiny countries fighting a bitter offshoot of the Cold War in a remote and neglected corner of the world.

The south - propped up by the Americans - thrived. However, the north has had a far rockier history.

Originally ruled by Kim Il-song, the country's supreme leader is now his son Kim Jong-il.

Whereas his father had abided by the terms of the 1953 ceasefire, his successor reneged.

In 1996, against a backdrop of devastating famine, Kim Jong-il announced he was sending troops into the demilitarised zone

In 2002, George W Bush named North Korea as part of an 'axis of evil' alongside other 'rogue' states such as Iraq and Iran.



But Kim Jong-il was not deterred. Instead, Pyongyang made regular announcements on its arsenal and in July 2003 claimed it had enough plutonium to start making nuclear bombs.



In 2006, North Korea test-fired a long-range missile. Relations with the West deteriorated again last year when neighbours accused the country of carrying out another long-range missile test.



Pyongyang, however, claimed the rocket under scrutiny was carrying a communications satellite.



Later last year, the country admitted it had carried out its second underground nuclear test, prompting protest from the US, China and Russia.

And while the nuclear brinkmanship continued, there were regular spats with South Korea over border incursions and hostile intent.

The sea boundary has been the cause of particular tension in the last few months. South Korea claims the north has designated four areas as military firing zone and deployed four rocket launchers close to the sea in response.



Although South Korea still recognises the Northern Limit Line, which was drawn up in 1953, the north has never accepted the boundary.














Intern makes incredible discovery of unknown papers written by Abraham Lincoln in 1844



Discovery: A university student stumbled across unknown papers written by Abraham Lincoln

University student David Spriegel was in his second week of a summer internship when he made the discovery of a lifetime.

The 21-year-old, who just finished his junior year at St. Marys University in Minnesota, was preparing a stack of old papers to be logged in a database and put into storage.

As he was examining the documents at the aptly named Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois he noticed a tiny inscription that had been previously overlooked.



It read: 'The above memorandum is in the inscription of Abraham Lincoln.  M. Hay'.

The 167-year-old documents are handwritten memos detailing parcels of land being bought and sold in Springfield, dating from the future president's days as a lawyer in that city.

The intended recipient, Milton Hay, a clerk in the Stuart and Lincoln office, would have recognized his handwriting.

Experts have now confirmed that the documents are authentic Lincolns, and will join the over 1,800 other original manuscripts by the president at the museum.

Memorabilia relating to the 16th president of the United States can fetch thousands of dollars and even items relating to Lincoln's dog Fido are snapped up by enthusiasts.

Lincoln, who was assassinated by well-known actor John Wilkes Booth on April 15 1865, was the first Republican president when he was elected in 1860.

A spokesman told American newspaper the Daily Herald that such a find is very unusual indeed, especially for someone as green as Spriegel.

'Theyre a rare find, to be sure  one or two such documents might pop up every year or so', said museum spokesman David Blanchette.

'That kind of discovery is seldom made by an inexperienced intern.
Scot Suzanne Cassidy was sucked into the propeller blades of a speedboat which had just pulled her through the water on an inflatable doughnut ring.

The 26-year-old nursery worker only survived by grabbing on to the side of the boat and twisting her body round as the razor-sharp blades hacked into her leg.

Lucky escape: Suzanne Cassidy was sucked into the propellers of a pleasure boat in Ibiza. She said she is lucky to be alive



Friends saved her life by pulling her aboard and helping her get to hospital as she started haemorrhaging blood from a wound near her knee which required several stitches. She also suffered a badly broken leg.

She is recovering after an emergency operation at Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza Town.

Her tibia was left sticking out of her right leg in the accident and the broken bone had to be pinned back together.



Suzanne, from Glasgow, only arrived in Ibiza 11 weeks ago to start a summer job in a bar.

She said: 'I'm just glad to be alive. I really thought I was going to die.

'I knew immediately the danger I was in when I felt my leg being sucked towards the propellers by the force of the engine.



'Somehow I found the strength in my upper body to twist myself around and away from danger.



'My friends pulled me back on board the boat and that's when I saw the blood.



'I could feel the throbbing in my leg where it was broken but I was running on adrenaline by that point and I didn't want to look at it so I only found out the bone had been sticking out of my leg after I came to from the operation.



'It was a four-and-a-half-hour operation. Friends have asked me how many pins and stitches they've put in my leg but I just don't know.'

Accident: Suzanne was saved by friends who pulled her aboard the boat in the party resort of San Antonio and got her to hospital quickly



The accident happened around 4pm on Sunday in a pretty cove near the party resort of San Antonio called Cala Conta.



Suzanne had jumped into the water to swim to a bigger boat anchored nearby after being dragged through the sea in an inflatable ring with friends.



She said: 'We'd gone out as part of celebrations for a friend's 30th birthday party with other pals and my boss at the bar I'm working at.



'Five of us had just finished our turn on the ring and we were doing a changeover with other friends who were waiting in the bigger boat so they could go out for their turn.



'It all happened so quickly. I don't know if our boat moved or I jumped into the sea too near the engine but I don't remember hearing any warning.



'I've been told I'll be in hospital for another four or five days and I won't be able to fly for a while.



'I'll probably head back to Scotland at the end of September when I was due to fly back anyway.

'The doctors have told me I'll walk again without a limp. And I love dancing so with time I'll be looking forward to dancing again."



Local Civil Guard officers have launched an investigation into the incident.



The owners of the boat involved in the accident were not available for comment.

Suzanne, who is working in Ibiza for the summer, was enjoying birthday celebrations on the island when the accident happened
Distraught mother speaks of devastation after 15-year-old son is stabbed to death in Spanish shopping centre

A British teenager has been stabbed to death in a Spanish holiday resort.



Andrew Milroy died from a single stab wound to the chest in Lloret de Mar during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Police are thought to be hunting a gang of French youths of north African origin Andrew is said to have had an altercation with.

The killing happened in the shopping centre of Lloret de Mar during the early hours of Sunday morning

His mother Jackie, originally from Richmond, Surrey, has spoken of her devastation.

She runs American diner, called Route 66, in the Costa Brave resort with her husband, Andy.

Mrs Milroy, who emigrated to Spain 26-years-ago, said: 'I can't think straight at all, I'm just in so much shock.

'We haven't spoken to the police yet so we don't really know what happened.

'I'm hoping things will become a bit clearer later.

'All we do know they're still looking for the person who killed my son.'

Andrew, who was born in Spain, was attacked around 4am in Lloret's central shopping district.

A nearby hotel security guard called police after being alerted by the boy's friends.

Ambulance workers found him lying in a pool of blood in an alleyway by a clothes shop.

He died after being rushed to Sant Jaume Hospital in the nearby town of Blanes, 40 minutes drive north of Barcelona.

A post-mortem was due to be carried out later today.

A spokesman for the Mossos d'Esquadra, the local police force investigating the crime, said: 'An investigating judge has imposed a secrecy order over the case which prevents us from going into detail about what happened.

'All we can confirm is that a British 15-year-old who lives in Lloret de Mar was stabbed to death in the town around 4am on Sunday morning.

'An investigation is underway. There have been no arrests yet.'

A spokesman for the British Embassy in Madrid added: 'We are aware of the death of a British national in Lloret de Mar and we are offering consular assistance to his family.'

Tragic Andrew was born in Spain and attended a local school called Inmalucada Concepcion.

A friend left a Twitter message which read simply, 'Rest in peace Andrew.'

His parents used to run a pub popular with ex-pats and holidaymakers in the resort called Sergeant Peppers Fun Pub.

They also had a bar called Braveheart's International Pub before opening their current business.

The stabbing was the third involving a British youngsters in the past week in Spain.
Motorcyclist dies after being dragged for quarter of a mile under truck of illegal immigrant 'drink driver'

Matthew Denice was riding his motorbike when he was hit by a truck and became trapped under the wheel arch

A motorcyclist was killed after being dragged for over a quarter of a mile trapped under the truck of a suspected drink driver.



Horrified witnesses banged on the driver's window in an attempt to get him to stop.

Others chased the vehicle along the road screaming at its driver Nicholas Guaman to stop.



Police said the 23 year old victim Matthew Denice was still alive when he became trapped in the wheel arch of Guaman's truck.



But he died from massive injuries from being dragged along the road.



Guaman, a 34 year old illegal immigrant from Ecuador, showed no emotion when he was told the motorcyclist he hit was dead.



He failed a roadside breath test after being stopped by police.



The horrific accident took place as allegedly Guaman jumped a red light in Milford, Massachusetts.



He hit Denice but failed to stop.



Families grilling outside and sitting on their porches heard the crash and about a half dozen people chased the pick-up truck on foot and banged on the door trying to get the driver to stop," said Milford Police Sgt. Mike Pighetti.



The victim's body was dragged for over quarter of a mile before Guaman ran off the road and the body dropped from the wheel arch.



Witnesses said Guaman, who had his six year old son in the Ford pick up truck, then backed up over the body.



Guaman attempted to flee from the scene was but arrested by police.



Denice was alive when Guaman dragged him with his truck, said Worcester County District Attorney spokesman Paul Jarvey.



He had recently graduated from Framingham State University with a computer degree and hoped to work in law enforcement



His mother Maureen Maloney said he son had his whole life ahead of him.



Asked if she was angry, she said: "I can't have anger. I'm just so broken-hearted to not have my son."



Denice's stepfather, Michael Maloney, called the incident a "murder" and said Denice was a "great all-American kid."



The family said they want Guaman to be prosecuted in the US and receive a lengthy sentence, rather than simply being deported.



Milford Police Chief Thomas O'Loughlin said Guaman told police he was in the country illegally. Homeland Security is investigating and has issued a detainer warrant, which would become activated when the court process is completed.



He could face up to 15 years in jail if he is found guilty of the vehicular homicide charge.


Pilot on Boeing 757 dies of heart attack mid-flight with 239 passengers on board

A pilot onboard a plane flying from Bangkok to Novosibirsk in western Siberia died from a heart attack, transportation prosecutors said Friday.

Sergei Golev, 44, suffered the attack in the cockpit and died despite all attempts at resuscitation - e ven a cardiologist, who was among passengers on the flight, failed to revive him.

Fortunately the 239 passengers onboard t he UTair Boeing 757 landed safely in Novosibirsk despite Golev's death.

Death in the air: Pilto Sergei Golev passed away onboard a UTair Boeing 757 from Bangkok to Novosibirsk

The captain attempted an emergency landing in the Chinese city of Chengdu, but abandoned it because Golev died before the jet touched down.

Senior investigator Anastasia Utochkina told Life News : 'The co-pilot died at 12.25am, Novosibirsk Time (5.25pm GMT), three hours after takeoff.

'The captain made a decision to descend, while the crew called over the tannoy for a female physician who happened to be among the passengers.



'However, her attempts to revive the man, who was lying on the cockpit floor, failed.'

Safe landing: 239 passengers were taken to the final destination of Novosibirisk airport despite Golev's death

Airport officials insist that the co-pilot was merely traveling as a passenger and in no way and at no point was in control of the aircraft.



Irina Levit, a press officer at Novosibirsk airport: ' The deceased pilot was traveling as an ordinary passenger.

'The aircraft belongs to UTair airline, where Sergey Golev was employed. There was no threat to passengers.'

Golev was a crew member  a reserve pilot, tasked, ironically, with replacing a crew member in case they fall ill.
Scientists behind Armageddon flu virus suspend their research because it 'could put world at risk of catastrophic pandemic'

Suspension: Ron Fouchier is among a team of scientists who have ceased their controversial avian flu studies

Researchers studying a potentially more lethal, airborne version of bird flu have suspended their studies because of concerns the mutant virus they have created could be used as a devastating form of bioterrorism or accidentally escape the lab.

In a letter published in the journals Nature and Science on Friday, 39 scientists defended the research as crucial to public health efforts.



But they are bowing to fear that has become widespread since media reports discussed the studies, and their possible fallout, in December.

Fears were raised that the engineered viruses may escape from the laboratories - not unlike the frightful scenario in the 1971 science fiction movie The Andromeda Strain - or possibly be used to create a bioterror weapon.

Among the scientists who signed the letter were leaders of the two teams that have spearheaded the research, at Erasmus Medical College in the Netherlands and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as well as influenza experts at institutions ranging from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the University of Hong Kong.

For the full letter, see below or click HERE .

Fears: Worries that the avian flu could escape from laboratories and cause a pandemic or be used in bio-terrorism have led to the halt in research

The decision to suspend the research for 60 days "was totally voluntarily," virologist Ron Fouchier of Erasmus told Reuters.



The pause in their is meant to allow global health agencies and governments to weigh up the benefits of the research and agree on ways to minimize its risk.

'It is the right thing to do, given the controversies in the US,' Fouchier said.



Terror: If it did escape, the mutant virus created by scientists could cause disaster on a global scale

The US National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity in December had asked Science and Nature to censor details of the research from the Erasmus and Wisconsin teams that was submitted for publication.



Biosecurity experts fear that a form of the virus that is transmissible through airborne droplets - which the Erasmus and Wisconsin teams independently created - could spark a pandemic worse than the 1918-19 outbreak of Spanish flu that killed up to 40 million people.

'There is obviously a controversy here over the right balance between risk and benefit,' said virologist Daniel Perez of the University of Maryland, who signed the letter supporting the moratorium.



'I strongly believe that this research needs to continue, but that doesn't mean you can't call a time out.'



The full open letter

Below is the full open letter from Ron A. M. Fouchier, Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, Yoshihiro Kawaoka and 36 co-authors published in the journals Nature and Science on Friday .

'The continuous threat of an influenza pandemic represents one of the biggest challenges in public health. Influenza pandemics are known to be caused by viruses that evolve from animal reservoirs, such as birds and pigs, and can acquire genetic changes that increase their ability to transmit in humans. Pandemic preparedness plans have been implemented worldwide to mitigate the impact of influenza pandemics.



A major obstacle in preventing influenza pandemics is that little is known regarding what makes an influenza virus transmissible in humans. As a consequence, the potential pandemic risk associated with the many different influenza viruses of animals cannot be assessed with any certainty.

Recent research breakthroughs identified specific determinants of transmission of H5N1 influenza viruses in ferrets. Responsible research on influenza virus transmission using different animal models is conducted by multiple laboratories in the world using the highest international standards of biosafety and biosecurity practices that effectively prevent the release of transmissible viruses from the laboratory. These standards are regulated and monitored closely by the relevant authorities. This statement is being made by the principal investigators of these laboratories.



In two independent studies conducted in two leading influenza laboratories at the University of WisconsinMadison and Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, investigators have proved that viruses possessing a haemagglutinin (HA) protein from highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza viruses can become transmissible in ferrets.



This is critical information that advances our understanding of influenza transmission. However, more research is needed to determine how influenza viruses in nature become human pandemic threats, so that they can be contained before they acquire the ability to transmit from human to human, or so that appropriate countermeasures can be deployed if adaptation to humans occurs.



Despite the positive public-health benefits these studies sought to provide, a perceived fear that the ferret-transmissible H5 HA viruses may escape from the laboratories has generated intense public debate in the media on the benefits and potential harm of this type of research. We would like to assure the public that these experiments have been conducted with appropriate regulatory oversight in secure containment facilities by highly trained and responsible personnel to minimize any risk of accidental release. Whether the ferret-adapted influenza viruses have the ability to transmit from human to human cannot be tested.



We recognize that we and the rest of the scientific community need to clearly explain the benefits of this important research and the measures taken to minimize its possible risks. We propose to do so in an international forum in which the scientific community comes together to discuss and debate these issues. We realize that organizations and governments around the world need time to find the best solutions for opportunities and challenges that stem from the work.


Grocery worker who handed out samples of semen-tainted yoghurt gets two years in prison

Anthony Garcia has been jailed for two years for contaminating yoghurt with his semen and giving it to an unsuspecting customer to taste

A man has been jailed for two years for contaminating food with semen.

Anthony Garcia admitted adding a sample of the bodily fluid to a sample of yoghurt while working at a grocery story in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He then approached a female customer and offered her a sample of the yogurt.

According to the court, the customer accepted the sample, tasted it, immediately spat it, and asked to speak to the store's manager.

Garcia then threw the yogurt sample into the store's trash compactor.

The 32-year-old admitted to charged of adulterating food and making false statements during a criminal investigation.

He admitting lying to investigators by telling them he didn't know that the spoon he put into the yoghurt contain semen.

The incident happened in January last year.

Along with the jail term Garcia will be on supervised release for three years after completing his sentence.

He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim of his criminal conduct.

According to court filings, the investigation revealed that Garcia targeted at least four other women in a similar way.

In imposing sentence, the judge described Garcia's conduct as 'heinous'.

Several customers at the supermarket where Garcia worked were targeted by the 32-year-old

US Attorney Gonzales said: 'This conduct at issue in this case is not a joke, and it is not funny. It is criminal, and the sentence imposed on Garcia should serve as a warning to those who deliberately adulterate food for the purpose of causing harm to innocent consumers, or as malicious pranks, or for deviant sexual gratification.

'My Office will continue to work with the FDA to vigorously investigate and prosecute this type of criminal conduct.'

Patrick J. Holland, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations, said: ' This sentence aptly reflects the seriousness of this crime.'
A flock goes into shock! Photographer captures the moment 5,000 birds create an exclamation mark formation in the sky

A flock of birds cried fowl in spectacular fashion when a predator swooped in for the kill - forcing them to form the shape of an exclamation mark.



Photographer Nuray Gonulalan was amazed when she looked up and saw the familiar punctuation symbol - often associated with shock or panic - hovering above her.



She grabbed her camera and captured the pack of birds in their striking formation as they desperately attempted to escape in Mogan Lake, Ankara, Turkey.



'Like a cartoon': Photographer Nuray Gonulalan captured a flock of birds who formed an exclamation mark as they were attacked by a predator in Mogan Lake, Ankara, Turkey

Whipped into shape: The flock of birds also formed a tornado-esque shape in the sky

Astounded: Photographer Nuray Gonulalan

Ms Gonulalan said: 'It was an incredible once-in-a-lifetime chance to catch the sign, which is recognised by everyone.



'It was my lucky day, I got plenty of photos of this event. Nature was very generous to me that day.'



Nuray had been patiently laying in wait hoping to photograph a rare bird when she spotted the swooping flock out of the corner of her eye.

But after being distracted by the group's astonishing shape she quickly turned her attentions to the flock which comprised around 5,000 birds.



She said: 'It was almost like they were crying for help - just like you would see in a cartoon.



'There was between 4,000-5,000 Sturnus Vulgaris birds present who define their flying direction by the sun. When the predator moved in, they began making interesting shapes and flying formations in order to avoid it.



'It was an incredible sight - I will never forget it. it was a visual feast that kept changing every second. I could not stop watching until the end.'






Furious father bites off six-year-old son's penis in China before spitting it out

Passers-by were left horrified when a 'mentally-ill' father bit off his six-year-old son's penis and spat it out.



Witnesses in Shenzhen, in the Guangdong province of China, said the 32-year-old father was walking with his naked son and four-year-old daughter on the street when he commanded the boy to lick his penis.

When the boy refused, he then attacked him using his teeth to remove his son's genitals.

Despicable: A picture of the six-year-old boy whose father bit off his penis in Shenzhen in the Guangdong province of China

A shocking picture in the City Post newspaper shows the youngster laying on a hospital bed with the area bandaged.



Editors at the paper obscured the boy's face to protect his identity.

The paper reports doctors were able to successfully reattach the boy's genitalia, however it is too early to tell whether he will have normal use of the appendage.

Shenzhen, China

Police said the father is likely to have a mental illness as he was recently seen pretending to strangle his son on their balcony, according to witnesses.



Investigations also found that the man, who was only identified by the surname Yu, was severely in debt after a failed business venture and was often seen gambling.

Relatives will now care for the six-year-old boy and his sister.




Britons urged to leave Mali as rebel gunmen attack northern city of Gao ten days after claiming capital

British citizens currently in Mali, in west Africa are being urged to leave.

The Foreign Office has changed its travel advice, urging all but those who have urgent business there to leave.

The new advice follows an attempted coup last week and specifically warns those in the capital, Bamako, to be cautious.

The new advice follows an attempted coup last week and specifically warns those in the capital, Bamako, to be cautious

In a statement, the Foreign Office said: 'We advise against all travel to Mali and you should leave if you have no pressing need to remain.'

It said a curfew that had been imposed from 6pm to 6am had now been lifted, but added: 'We continue to advise British nationals in Bamako to exercise caution and stay away from crowds and demonstrations when travelling around the city.

'There have been reports of some shops beginning to run low on supplies and of long queues forming outside some banks.

Soldiers walk through the looted presidential palace days after mutinous soldiers claimed power in a coup, in Bamako

'Given ongoing instability in the country, and now that the airport has re-opened, you should leave if you have no pressing need to remain.'

Rebels have already attacked Mali's strategic northern city of Gao, a day after they took the provincial capital of Kidal .

The two towns are major prizes for the Tuareg rebels, who launched an insurgency in January that was fueled by the flow of arms from the fall of neighboring Libya, where many of the rebels had been on the payroll of ex-Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.

A curfew that had been imposed from 6pm to 6am has now been lifted

If Gao falls, the only other major city in Mali's north in government hands is Timbuktu.

A soldier based in a military camp on the outskirts of Gao said he could hear the sound of heavy weapons being fired on Saturday.

A resident in Gao said that he had seen the Tuareg fighters in the city and that there were brief gunbattles in the town. He said people had barricaded themselves at home.



Rebels have already attacked Mali's strategic northern city of Gao, a day after they took the provincial capital of Kidal

The soldier and the resident requested anonymity because they feared retribution.

Mali is now facing severe economic sanctions over the coup.



A representative of the military junta that seized control of Mali in a coup last week says the group is confident they will find a solution to the crisis after meeting with Burkina Faso's president.

Col. Moussa Coulibaly told reporters after Saturday's meeting in Burkina Faso that the junta delegation is 'leaving feeling confident, and we hope that in the briefest possible period that we will reach a consensus on how to restore the institutions of the state in a way that will be acceptable to the world.l

Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore is one of five regional leaders actively involved in trying to mediate a return to constitutional order after the March 21 coup.
Radio journalist set alight live on air after men burst into studio and pour petrol over him

Three men arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack

One studio technician also harmed in incident which may have been politically motivated

A Bolivian radio presenter was set on fire by four masked men while hosting his show in the southern city of Yacuiba.

Radio Popular journalist Fernando Vidal, 78, is being treated for burns after his attackers broke into the studio, poured petrol over him and set him alight.

Studio technician Karen Anza was also injured in the attack which some eyewitnesses claim involved Molotov cocktails.

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Ranch riders: Two farmers in Yacuiba, southern Bolivia, which was the scene of the shocking attack

His son-in-law, Esteban Farfan says Mr Vidal has suffered burns to his face, arms and chest.

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the attack, report the BBC.



According to relatives Mr Vidal was reporting on smuggling in the border area when the attack occured - Yacuiba is less than two miles from the Argentina.

Mr Vidal and other journalists had recently been criticising an increase in smuggling, with particular regard to liquid petroleum gas.

Smuggling issue: Yacuiba is only two miles from the border with Argentina

Mr Farfan believes the attack was politically motivated although the police have not commented.

He said Mr Vidal had spoken out against the provincial government live on air.



The interior ministry of Bolivia told AFP they will be carrying out an 'accelerated and rigorous investigation'.



This is not the first time a Bolivian radio station has come under fire in previous months.



In June three dynamite attacks on local stations were made, at Radio Emisora Bolivia, Radio Vanguardia and Radio Cumbre.

Video: Journalist set alight speaks after being taken to hospital




Will global warming bring storm barriers to New York Harbor? Bloomberg and Cuomo blame Hurricane Sandy on climate change

Governor Cuomo makes unprecedented suggestion of a possible levee being built for the city

Despite a chorus of support for the climate change link, some experts deny there is sufficient evidence to blame global warming for the storm

Hurricane Sandy may have seemed uniquely damaging to those caught in its path, but some have suggested that global warming could bring even more devastating storms to the U.S. in coming years.



New York governor Andrew Cuomo and mayor Michael Bloomberg both pointed to climate change as the culprit for Sandy's ravages as they addressed the scale of the destruction on Tuesday morning.



And Cuomo even raised the possibility of a levee being built in New York Harbor, an unprecedented move to protect the 400-year-old city.



Both Andrew Cuomo (left) and Michael Bloomberg agree that climate change is a cause of the superstorm



Many observers have pointed out that it is almost impossible to pinpoint climate change as the cause of specific weather events.



Moreover, the U.S. has long been subject to hurricanes and other damaging storms which have been just as violent as Sandy.



But the terrors wrought by Sandy, combined with last year's destructive Hurricane Irene, have led New York's top officials to raise the spectre of global warming.



At a press conference in Manhattan on Tuesday, Cuomo said he had told President Obama that 'we have a 100-year flood every two years now'.



He added: 'There has been a series of extreme weather incidents. That is not a political statement. That is a factual statement.



'Anyone who says there's not a dramatic change in weather patterns, I think is denying reality.'



Bloomberg echoed the sentiment, saying: 'What is clear is that the storms we've experienced in the last year or so around this country and around the world are much more severe than before.

'Whether that's global warming or what, I don't know, but we'll have to address those issues.'



When the governor was asked if officials were contemplating building a levee in the city's harbour, he replied: 'It is something we're going to have to start thinking about.



'The construction of this city did not anticipate these kinds of situations. We are only a few feet above sea level.'

Since New York City's foundation in the early 17th century, the lower tip of Manhattan has been at the heart of metropolitan life - despite its vulnerability to flooding from the harbour.

Al Gore predictably joined the climate-change chorus on Tuesday, describing the hurricane as 'a disturbing sign of things to come' in a post on his blog.



'We must heed this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis,' the former Vice President added.



Two possible links between global warming and the damage wrought by Sandy are the raised sea levels which make it easier for the coast to flood, and warm air in the Atlantic Ocean increasing the fierceness of the storm.



However, many experts have denied that climate change was behind Hurricane Sandy - Houston Chronicle science reporter Eric Bergen wrote that the connection was 'a stretch that is just not supported by science at this time.'



The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has previously said that there is little evidence global warming worsens tropical storms and hurricanes.

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Hurricane Sandy: Michael Bloomberg and Andrew Cuomo blame hurricane on climate change

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More than 120 people trapped on remote New York island after refusing to evacuate during Superstorm Sandy

Rescue services have saved 14 people in aerial evacuation and are trying to work out how to save other stranded households



12 houses have been washed away and 80 per cent of remaining homes on the island damaged by storm

Coastal service said the devastation was the worst since a 1938 hurricane



Dunes have been flattened, beaches wiped out and coastline may have been permanently breached

Power lines are down and water is several feet deep with another high tide expected this afternoon

People are using canoes to get around



At least 120 people remain trapped on an island off the coast of New York with no power and contaminated water after ignoring the mandatory order to evacuate before Superstorm Sandy hit.



Twelve oceanfront houses were swept away and officials said there was damage to 80 per cent of the remaining homes on Fire Island, off the south shore of Long Island.



There are no reports of injuries from the narrow barrier island, but its tiny population faces the worst devastation since Long Island Express hurricane pounded the Northeast in 1938.

With rescuers unable to land because the island's marinas have been destroyed, the defiant residents of the popular summer resort are counting themselves lucky they survived the storm which has so far killed 50 people.



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Devastation: A house is ripped from its foundations after Superstorm Sandy washed over the community of Atlantique on Fire Island

Wreckage: The damage wreaked on a house on the one-mile island, where 120 residents refused to evacuate

Shellshocked: Households on the tiny island are struggling to repair the damage and 14 have been rescued by helicopter

'We still have residents on Fire Island,' said Anthony Senft, a local Islp councilman. 'We know that we've lost some houses. All of the town docks are underwater at this point.'



The Coast Guard has flown over the island to assess the damage and fire departments were planning how to take the stranded residents off.



A spokesman for the U.S. National Parks Service said rangers are still trying to assess the damage but fear radical changes to the island's geography after sand dunes were leveled and beaches wiped out.



Fire Island News' Facebook page reported today: 'Damage is extensive. Power lines are down. Houses are flooded. Standing water is several feet deep on every walk. There is still one high tide expected this afternoon.

Violent storm: Men pass through a flooded walkway on Fire Island, assessing damage from fallen trees, overturned cars and downed power lines

Abandoned: Residents are using canoes to escape their homes and get around the flooded island

'No one will really know the actual mount of damage until the water recedes enough to get around. Right now some folks are using canoes.'



One of the residents who ignored the order to evacuate and remain with their property said she does not regret the decision to stay on.



'The winds were wild,' said Karen Boss. 'My house was rocking, we did head up towards the ocean - the waves were extremely high.



'When the high tide came into the bay, water gushed over the boardwalk.'

By yesterday morning, rescuers had helped 14 people off the island, which is south of Long Island, said Vanessa Baird-Streeter, director of communications for Suffolk County.



Permanent damage: The shoreline has been breached, with dunes flattened, beaches wiped out and coast eroded

The superstorm has devastated the Eastern Seaboard and four immediate 'washovers' crashed across Fire Island.



The Atlantic Ocean swell covered the Great South Bay and smashed across the island, which is less than one mile wide and had a population of just 310 in the 2000 census.



Suffolk County fire and emergency services commissioner Joe Williams said it looked like most of the beaches and dunes were gone.



Southampton councilman Chris Nuzzi said there was two to six feet of sand along one main road because dunes had been pushed back and flattened, and others were littered with debris.



Much of the shoreline has been badly eroded, according to Newsday , but could come back in the spring as part of a natural cycle.



Television footage surveys the havoc wreaked on the coast of Fire Island

'This is probably the worst one on my list in the extent of damage,' said Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, who is 63 and has lived in town all his life. 'It's overwhelming. It's absolutely devastating.



'For the first time ever, we've had to have town personnel perform search and rescue missions to take people to higher ground.'



In the village of Mastic Beach on Brookhaven's south shore, the air reeked of oil, a result of tanks that flooded as storm surge from Narrow Bay inundated area houses. In Long Beach, sewer systems were overwhelmed and officials were bringing in portable toilets for city residents.



Kings Point saw a storm tide of more than 14 feet, third highest of all time.

Flood damage on Fire Island: Helicopter teams plan to rescue trapped residents

While authorities have still to assess the damage caused by the washovers, at least one was so deep that it may have permanently breached the island, causing an opening between the ocean and the bay.



U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Chris Gardner said local officials may call on his team for help if they are unable to repair one of the breaches.



The Suffolk County Fire and Rescue team and the Air National Guard were flying helicopters over the island to assess the damage.



The helicopter teams also will determine the best method for eventually removing the people from the island.


Could Sandy postpone next week's presidential election? Yes, in theory

White House still unsure about how the storm will affect next week's election

The President doesn't set the date for elections, Congress does



States must decide their own polling strategies in emergencies according to election regulations

Contingency plans could lead to legal squabbles over final results in some states

Some of the most competitive states, such as Ohio and Virginia have felt the impact of Sandy

One week before a close election, superstorm Sandy has confounded the presidential race, halted early voting in many areas and led some to ponder whether the election might even be postponed.



It could take days to restore electricity to more than 8 million homes and businesses that lost power when the storm pummeled the East Coast -leading experts to question whether the election can be put back from November 6th.



While the answer is of course yes in theory, the probability of the choice between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama being postponed is unlikely despite the devastating effect superstorm Sandy had on 60 million people across the north-east, or one-sixth of the population.



U.S. President Barack Obama speaks about preparations for Hurricane Sandy during a briefing at the White House

But as the storm left its trail of destruction behind, even some of those intimately involved in the election seemed in the dark about what options are available to cope with the storm.



Asked Monday whether President Barack Obama had the power to reschedule the election, White House press secretary Jay Carney said he wasn't sure.



However, constitutionally, the President doesn't set the date for the election, Congress does.



Congress could act within the next week to change the date, but that would be tough because lawmakers are on recess and back home in their districts campaigning for re-election.



Ground Zero: New Yorkers begin the clean-up after the devastation of Sandy

Plus, it's likely that would mean changing the date for the entire country, not just those affected by the storm.



What's more, Congress only selects the date for federal elections, so changing the date would wreak havoc for state and local elections also scheduled for Nov. 6.



'For those states that don't already have an election emergency process in place, any departure from the established election process could easily give rise to court challenges about the legitimacy of the election,' said Steven Huefner, professor at Ohio State's Moritz College of Law to ABC News.



'Even states with an emergency plan might find themselves facing litigation over specific ways in which they've implemented their emergency plan.'

Some have asked if it is likely for the election to go ahead but to allow New Jersey and New York to vote at a different time afterwards.



That is possible, but the legal issues get tricky. States, by and large, are in charge of their own elections.



U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney accepts relief supplies for people affected by Hurricane Sandy

Each state has its own laws dealing with what to do if an emergency jeopardizes voting and who can make the call.



Federal law says that if a state fails to conduct an election for federal races on the day Congress chooses, the state legislature can pick a later date.



Nevertheless, experts told ABC News that even minor contingency arrangements, like keeping polls open longer in some precincts or moving polling locations, will probably lead to legal challenges and more provisional voting, which can delay election results.



But state and federal laws don't always jive perfectly. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has said his state's laws don't grant him authority to reschedule the presidential election.



Despite no presidential election ever being postponed, some are pointing to past precedents where voting has been delayed.

New York City was holding its mayoral primary when terrorists struck on Sept. 11, 2001, and the city rescheduled the election.



After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louisiana's governor postponed municipal elections in New Orleans after elections officials said polling places wouldn't be ready.



However, what is most likley is a compromise for those affected by the havoc caused by the storm.



Voting hours could be extended at various locations and in places where electronic voting machines are in use, paper ballots could be used instead.



Some areas also might choose to move polling locations if existing ones are damaged, inaccessible or won't have power on Election Day.



But even amending election day to accommodate the affected would create problems in themselves.



If poll hours are extended, under a 2002 law passed by Congress in response to the disputed 2000 presidential election, any voters who show up outside of regular hours must use provisional ballots, which are counted later and could be challenged.



Crucial swing states such as Ohio have felt the impact of Sandy and could make all the difference in the election next week





Sandy's impact was felt in some of the most competitive states in the presidential race, including Virginia and Ohio.



The more provisional ballots that are cast, the greater the chances are that the winner won't be known until days or even weeks after the election.

There's another issue if poll hours are extended in some areas - such as counties with the worst storm damage - and not in others.



That could prompt lawsuits under the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause, said Edward Foley, an election law expert at The Ohio State University.



Relocating polling places is also risky because it could drive down turnout, said Neil Malhotra, a political economist at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.



'If you disrupt their routine and the polling place they've always been going to, even if you don't move it very far, they vote less,' he said.



The Federal Emergency Management Agency's administrator, Craig Fugate, said Monday he anticipated the storm's impact could linger into next week and affect the election.



He said FEMA would look at what support it could provide to states before the election.



'This will be led by the states,' he said.




'You're going to heaven tonight': Last words babysitter said to son before stabbing him 100 times and killing girl, 5, and two dogs before fleeing to local church



Victims, 5 and 7, stabbed dozens of times in Naperville, Illinois before murderer fled to church



Police say babysitter Elzbieta M. Plackowska, 40, killed her son Justin and Olivia Dworakowski and left them in a pool of blood



Two dogs were also found slain at suburban home



Before she killed her son and the little girl she was supposed to be babysitting, prosecutors say that Elzbieta M. Plackowska, 40, told them they were going to heaven and to get down on their knees and pray.

Police found Plackowska covered in blood inside a suburban Naperville, Illinois, home and after extensive questioning, she allegedly told police that she murdered her son Justin, 7, and his friend Olivia Dworakowski because they 'had evil inside of them.'



Prosecutors before a judge this morning said that Plackowska was fighting with her husband and felt unappreciated as a babysitter, so she murdered the children in a fit of rage.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Murder charge: Elzbieta Plackowska and her son Justin (right), who was stabbed to death



Justin was found stabbed 100 times. Olivia was stabbed 50 times. Plackowska was denied bail.

'She told Justin he was going to heaven tonight as she repeatedly stabbed him,' DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said to the court, according to the Daily Herald.

'He begged her to stop and said he loved her.'

Mr Berlin described the scene that unfolded before the grisly murder, saying that the two children were jumping on their beds in Olivia's home, where Plackowska was meant to be babysitting her.

The babysitter then ordered them to get down on the floor and pray before bed.

'The children had evil inside of them,' Plackowska allegedly told police.

Mr Berlin said she 'was trying to drive the evil out of them. She said the devil was inside them.'

Both children's throats were slit and Justin was found in a bed, Olivia on the floor.

Prosecutors say that after Plackowska killed the innocents, she started frantically calling a local church, leaving numerous messages.

Crime scene: The gruesome discovery of the bloody murders was made at this suburban home in Illinois She then went to a friend's house and claimed someone had robbed her. Her friend was suspicious of the story because the details kept changing, Mr Berlin said. Meanwhile, Olivia's mother Marta Dworakowski, a nurse, called police because when she returned home from her night shift, Plackowska's car wasn't there and she could not get into the house. Police were able to get inside the suburban home on Quin Court just after 10pm and found blood all over the hallway, leading them to the children's bedroom. 'Both victims had been stabbed numerous times,' Mr Berlin said. 'It appeared to police both victims' throats had been slashed.' Officers also found that the family's two dogs were also stabbed to death. When questioned by police, Plackowska told them several stories, including one in which a stalker attacked her own wrists. Eventually, they said, she admitted to killing the children. She told them that she had been fighting with her husband Artur, a truck driver, about his work schedule and felt taken advantage of as a babysitter. The pair has a college age son as well who has not been named. Sources told the Daily Herald that Plackowska had been stressed for several days following the death of her father and she was anxious to return to Poland, a decision her husband objected to. Olivia was a kindergartner from Brookdale Elementary School and Justin attended Scott School in Naperville District 203. Police say that Plackowska is on suicide watch at the jail after she was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. 'In all my years in law enforcement, this was the most horrific and gruesome crime scene I have seen,' Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall said after the hearing today to the Chicago Tribune. The tragedy comes less than a week after a New York City baby sitter allegedly stabbed to death two young children who were in her care before slashing her own throat and wrists in an attempt to take her life.

Police discovered the victims dead at Naperville home during a well-being check

Local residents described their community as a safe and peaceful place to live





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Police task force begins hunt for sniper suspect tied to 22 car shootings in two weeks

 Police are pursuing a male sniper suspect for nearly two dozen cars

shootings in Michigan that began October 16

 More than 100 local officers, sheriff's deputies, state troopers and

federal agents are involved in the investigation

 Investigators and state police are pulling over local drivers and

questioning them for details

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Police are hunting a sniper in Michigan tied to 22 car shootings in two weeks, which have caused one injury so far.

A task force of investigators has started questioning drivers in four Michigan counties in hopes of catching a man suspected of shooting at other highway motorists head-on. Police investigators are searching for anything out of the norm during their traffic stops in Oakland, Livingston, Ingham and Shiawassee counties.

More than 100 local officers, sheriff's deputies, state troopers and federal agents are now involved in the investigation, which began with reported shootings in Wixom, about 25 miles northwest of Detroit on October 16.

Artist's impression: Police arrested the 43-year-old man on suspicion of being the sniper, pictured, who shot at random cars in four Michigan counties in two weeks

More than a hundred officers, deputies, state troopers and agents are on the hunt for the shooter

A local male was shot in the behind Saturday while heading east along Interstate 96 in Livingston County, causing a nearby school to go into lockdown, according to United Press International .

That victim has been the only person injured so far, but the suspect is believed to be shooting at people and not just their vehicles, said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard on Tuesday.

'It's been more of the grace of God than the guy intentionally missing people,' said Bouchard. 'We've had people who have been missed (by) inches. One bullet was lodged in a driver's seat.'

'The suspect is believed to be shooting at vehicles approaching from the opposite direction,' said Michigan State Police lieutenant Michael Shaw.



'Some motorists had not realized that their vehicles had been hit until they had driven a quarter-mile or more,' he said.

The investigative task force has received more than 800 tips so far and has increased the reward money for any information that leads to an arrest to $102,000 from $12,000.

Witnesses have described the suspect's vehicle as resembling a dark

1998 Oldsmobile Alero or a 1998 Toyota Camry. Those initial descriptions may not be correct, said Shaw.

The I-96 Highway where the shootings took place

On Monday police stopped the driver of a dark-colored Chevy Cavalier after a woman reported that something hit her car on U.S. 23 near Brighton, Michigan at 9.05am.

No arrests have been made.

Local officials say it's a must that they catch the suspect not only to protect lives, but also to stop the spread of fear among citizens in the area.

'For Halloween, we are going to do special patrols in each of our subdivisions so kids can have a normal Halloween,' said Clarence Goodlein, Wixom's public safety director.



'We're not going to be in the business of letting a thug and hoodlum bully us and change the course of our lives.'





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Low politics as congressman is linked to child molester in TV ad put out by rival

House Republicans launch TV ad linking Democratic Rep David Cicilline to a child molester, murderer and predator

Cicilline worked as a defense lawyer twenty years ago, defending hardened criminals



Ad designed to boost GOP hopeful Brendan Doherty, formerly head of state police, as he makes his first run for office

What do a child molester, murderer and predator have in common?



Democratic Rep David Cicilline, according to House Republicans who this week released a TV ad in Rhode Island linking them.



The ad refers to the freshman's time as a lawyer two decades ago when he defended hardened criminals and is designed to boost GOP hopeful Brendan Doherty.



Still from the advert linking David Cicilline with child molesters

Formerly the head of the state police, Doherty is making his first run for office.



The ad echoes an attack at Doherty's own campaign launched last week that shows a photo of Cicilline on-screen alongside the words 'rapists, pedophiles and murderers.'



Nationally, Democrats are not expected to win back control of the House in Tuesday's elections. But Cicilline's seat in tiny, liberal-leaning Rhode Island would be a victory for Republicans, who haven't won a House seat representing the state since 1992.



The GOP sees this year as their best shot since then, and both national parties have poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into TV ads in the final week of the race.



Republican congressional candidate Brendan Doherty, left, and incumbent U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., right, participate in a televised debate

The NRCC ad is 'one of the harshest ads I've ever seen in Rhode Island politics,' said former Democratic congressman Bob Weygand.



He said defense attorneys don't necessarily like their clients, but their job is to defend them, and that shouldn't reflect on them personally.



The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee called the ad 'the worst kind of gutter politics,' while Cicilline Campaign Manager Eric Hyers said voters deserve a debate on the issues.



The Cicilline campaign put out an ad Wednesday focusing on the Republican ads and saying Doherty 'doesn't want to talk about his agenda.'

Asked about the fairness of an ad attacking an attorney for defending those charged with crimes, NRCC spokesman Nat Sillin criticized Cicilline for choosing to 'fight for violent criminals' over victims.



'David Cicilline chose to represent convicted child molesters and murders. He chose to make a career out of doing that,' he said.



It is 'one of the harshest ads I've ever seen in Rhode Island politics,' former Democratic congressman Bob Weygand told the Washington Post, adding that Cicilline's job shouldn't reflect on him personally.




Chaos as Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital is evacuated amid mass floods

The hospital lost power as Sandy hit and has not had full power since the superstorm struck

150 members of the National Guard took part in the evacuation procedure

Millions of gallons had flooded the hospital basement

Soldiers and rescue service workers had to carry children and patients to safety

The National Guard was called in to help evacuate hundreds of patients and staff from New York's Bellevue Hospital on Wednesday as the flooded medical center in Manhattan struggled to operate while the power outage continued.

The public hospital lost power when Hurricane Sandy hit on Monday and electricity was spotty as the facility relied on generators, with members of the Army National Guard hiking up to the hospital's roof with fuel throughout the week to power the generators.



A chaotic rescue scene unfolded on Wednesday, as the medical staff carried infants down the stairs and soldiers took patients out on gurneys while the strong odor of fuel filled the air and emergency lights provided intermittent lighting to the rescue crews, according to local media reports.



Chaotic: Hundreds of patients and staff were evacuated from Bellevue Hospital as the facility struggled to operate during the power blackout that continued to plague New York City

Urgent transfer: The most critical patients were moved to nearby medical centers and other patients were discharged

'It's Katrina-esque in there,' a Bellevue nurse told ABC News about the conditions.



One hundred and fifty members of the National Guard assisted in Wednesday's rescue effort to move the most critical patients to nearby medical centers, according to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Millions of gallons of water had flooded into the basement of the hospital, located near the East River on 1st Avenue and 27th Street.



Always Ready, Always There: The National Guard was on hand to carry patients out of the flooded medical center in lower Manhattan

Bellevue is the second Manhattan hospital forced to evacuate patients in the aftermath of the superstorm. NYU's Langone Medical Center had to move patients because the hospital's backup generators failed to kick in when the building lost electricity as the storm pounded the East Coast on Monday night.




The hunter becomes the hunted: 'Dead' bear shot with a rifle springs up and attacks its would-be killer



Alex Machavo, 22, was attacked and repeatedly bitten by a bear after shooting it

Machavo and the animal wrestled down a hill

The hunter's injuries did not appear to be life-threatening





A hunter has been viciously mauled after a miss-shot failed to kill a bear.



Alex Machavo, of Medford, Oregon, was attacked by the injured animal near Shady Cove on Thursday.



According to Andrea Carlson, a local sheriff's spokeswoman, t he hunter and his wounded target rolled down a 50-ft embankment with the bear biting 22-year-old Machavo all the way down.



Black Bears number about 30,000 in Oregon and are North America's most common bear

A second hunter, 24-year-old Nathan Shinn of Phoenix, Oregon, was eventually able to shoot and kill the wounded animal.



Responding deputies found Machavo on a forest road and had him rushed to a Medford hospital.

Machavo's condition wasn't available but Carlson says his injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.



Shinn was unhurt. Carlson says the hunters had a tag that allowed them to shoot the bear legally.




Hope she knows what she's letting herself in for! Sex-shame DSK takes new partner on vacation

Former IMF did not wait long after a recent split with his wife Anne Sinclair

The couple have already been seen traveling the Mediterranean

Myriam Aouffir is 21 years younger than scandal-hit DSK

Disgraced former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been spotted with his new girlfriend at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

Myriam Aouffir, 43, is a high-profile press officer for French television.

She has already been seen with her new boyfriend on the Mediterranean island of Corsica but now the couple have been pictured lapping up the sun in the holy city.

Dominique Strauss-Khan seen with his new partner Myriam Aouffir spotted at Jerusalem's Wailing Wall

The couple have been together only a matter of months

DSK and his new girlfriend have already been spotted traveling in Corsica

In May 2011, Strauss-Khan, 64, was arrested for assaulting a maid at the Sofitel, a midtown Manhattan hotel. Charges were later dropped but it led to revelations about the former IMF chief's sex life, in which he admitted attending swingers' parties.

Anne Sinclair, Strauss-Khan's former partner, confirmed she has split from her scandal-hit husband at the end of last month.

Ms Sinclair, 64, originally stuck by Mr Strauss-Kahn after he was embroiled in a catalogue of scandals last year.

What is she letting herself in for? Disgraced Strauss-Khan's wife left him after a string of sex-scandals



But the multi-millionaire heiress finally kicked her husband out of their Paris apartment in June, before immersing herself in a new job running an internet site in the French capital.

The new relationship between Strauss-Khan and Ms Aouffir has been high profile even though they have been together less than a year.

Like Mr Strauss-Kahn, Myriam Aouffir comes from a Moroccan background, and is also believed to be estranged from her husband, with whom she has two children.

Ms Aouffir, who studied at Montpellier University, has been seeing Mr Strauss-Kahn for a number of months, according to close friends of the couple.




Teacher duct tapes 11-year-old student's mouth shut for more than a half hour

Clarence Williams, a Texas middle school math teacher, allegedly duct-taped his students mouth shut for 30 to 45 minutes

Williams has been placed on paid leave for a week while the local

school district reviews the incident

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Devin Ortiz (right) had his mouth and nose taped shut by teacher

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A Texas middle school teacher allegedly duct-taped his 11-year-old student's mouth shut for 30 to 45 minutes, making it hard for him to breath.

Clarence Williams, of Palo Alto Middle School in Killeen, Texas, has been placed on paid leave for a week while the local school district reviews a report of the incident.



School officials did not provide details on what prompted the teacher to allegedly tape the boy's mouth shut on October 23.



The incident is just one of thousands of such cases being reported across the US.



Ernesto Ortiz, the student's father, is making sure the public hear the family's side. He told a local news channe l that it took the nurse about an hour to remove the tape with ice and Vaseline.



Ortiz's son, Devin, said, 'Mr. Williams called me up to the classroom. I said, 'What Happened?' He said, 'It's not what's happening, it's what's gonna happen to you.'



So then he grabs out the duct tape and tapes twice across my mouth and then once up here to my nose.'



Yesterday it was announced that Tracy Drayton, a physical education teacher in Albany, Geogria., will keep her job after a 30-day unpaid suspension following surveillance footage that shows her slapping a student.



The school board's unanimous decision to suspend was in line with a recommendation by Turner Elementary School Principal Gail Solomon, but against the superintendent's suggestion to terminate Drayton, according to WALB.



The teacher will be required to attend an anger management course before being sent to another school on probationary reassignment.

This is just one of a spate of incidents of teacher physicality across the country.



Special education teacher Willie Swindle, named 2011 educator of the year in California's North Bay school district, was recently allowed to teach in the same classroom allegations that he physically struck Santa Rosa High School student Michael Delgado.



Swindle reportedly would 'flick,' 'pinch' and 'pull' Delgado's ears. The teacher has denied the allegations.



A Palo Alto Middle School where the duct tape incident occurred

In Texas, Springtown High School student Taylor Santos received a spanking leaving her bruised and blistered.



The process violated the school's corporal punishment policy, which dictates that the teacher giving the paddling must be the same sex as the student.



Rather than issuing an apology, the district expanded its policy to allow opposite-sex paddling. Texas is one of 19 states allowing educators to spank students, but 97 of the nation's 100 largest school districts have banned corporal punishment.

In recent months 8-year-old special needs child who allegedly suffered physical and mental abuse at the hands of his teacher in Mingo County.



The reported cases of disabled children being allegedly abused inside the classrooms are skyrocketing across the nation, with many more falling through the cracks that are not brought to light.



In 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that barred untrained teachers from using restraints or other techniques that could cause physical harm to children.



The legislation follows a 2009 report from the General Accounting Office, which found thousands of instances where teachers allegedly injured disabled students by using inappropriate restraining techniques, abusive seclusion or striking the child with their hand or another instrument.



GAO investigators found 84,354 instances of nationwide reported abuse in the classroom during the school year of 2010-2011 alone that included reports of inappropriate restraint, seclusion or what was defined by teachers and aids as other means of emergency interventions.













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Man, 43, arrested in hunt for Michigan sniper who fired at random cars in four counties in two-week campaign of terror



Suspect arrested in Wixom, the Detroit suburb where shootings began

Targets in 24 incidents were mostly cars on roads near Interstate 96



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A man has been arrested on suspicion of being the sniper who shot at random cars in four Michigan counties in two weeks.



The 43-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Monday night in Wixom, the Detroit suburb where the shootings began.



Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth called the attacks, which wounded one person, 'domestic terrorism'.



He said: 'Why did he do it? I don't know. I don't know if we'll ever know.'

Artist's impression: Police arrested the 43-year-old man on suspicion of being the sniper, pictured, who shot at random cars in four Michigan counties in two weeks Sheriff Wriggelsworth said a tip - one of close to 3,000 that have come in - led authorities to the man's home. He declined to disclose what the suspect told investigators.

Police said the man drove a vehicle that matched the description of the suspect's car provided by a shooting victim. Authorities also seized potential evidence at his home, detectives said.

At least one gun was seized, said Donald Dawkins, Detroit spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Lawyer slaughters five of his colleagues as his... Gunman who executed two co-workers before killing himself at... Share this article Share The man had not been charged by last night, and it was not clear when charges might be filed. Local and federal authorities were discussing whether the case should be pursued in state court or federal court. Sheriff Wriggelsworth said he wanted federal prosecutors to take the case. The shootings began on October 16 and stretched from Oakland County west to Ingham County.

The targets in the 24 reported incidents were mostly cars traveling on roads near Interstate 96. Only a handful of shootings actually occurred on the interstate. Stalking ground: The targets in the 24 reported incidents were mostly cars traveling on roads near Interstate 96 (pictured)

Janice Schumacher, 43, was pumping gas in Wixom when she heard that a suspect was in custody.



'I hope this is the guy,' said the Commerce Township resident who for the past several weeks has been using alternate routes to run personal errands and shuttle her three children to and from school

'For weeks, I haven't been able to breathe while driving with my kids in the car. If they finally got this guy, that would be a major relief.'

Before the arrest, clues appeared to be few - slugs and bullet fragments embedded in cars, metal casings on roadways, a simple black-and-white sketch of the shooter - a man believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s - and vague descriptions of the dark car he drove.



The crime scene where the shootings took place is 100 miles long and slices through suburbia, shopping malls and farm pastures.

Shootings have occurred during the day, at night, on weekdays and on weekends. Police say the shooter would drive along roadways and fire at vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Only one person was wounded.



Initial reports of shootings stirred panic. Wixom schools restricted recess and other activities that would take students outdoors. Drivers avoided main thoroughfares where they might be exposed and stuck to side streets.



But police have been working hard to maintain calm. In Wixom - where ten shootings have been reported - police had special Halloween patrols to protect trick-or-treaters.

From Oakland County, northwest of Detroit, to Shiawassee County, northeast of Lansing, authorities stopped cars resembling the shooter's vehicle. A $102,000 reward was offered.



'I've always felt safe here. But this has been very shocking,' said Karen Adams, 51, who lives one street away from the suspect.





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Eight-year-old girl who died 'after being tortured by her father was forced to eat her own faeces when his mistress locked her in toilet'

Father and mistress charged with with torturing and imprisoning the girl and her sister

Mistress admits to using hot irons to punish girls for being 'disobedient'



Couple used metal bars and wires to systematically torture two daughters

Police found stun guns and sticks in the flat where the children were abandoned





An eight-year-old girl who died after being tortured with stun guns and hot irons was forced to eat her own faeces after her father and his mistress left her to starve in a locked toilet, a Dubai court heard.



Wadeema al Sherawi had been deprived of food and was locked up as punishment for being 'naughty' on the night she died - and in desperation, she ate her own waste before vomiting as a result.



Her father Hamad Saoud al Sherawi, 29, and his mistress Al Anood al Ameri, 27, have been charged with torturing and imprisoning Wadeema and her seven-year-old sister Mira, killing Wadeema and burying her illegally.



A Dubai court heard how a father and his mistress tortured and abused the man's daughters and left them to starve

The Emirati couple are said to have beaten the girls with electrical wires and metal bars, poured boiling water on them and burned them with hot irons and cigarettes.



A policeman told Dubai Court of First Instance that Wadeema and Mira - who survived the abuse but was left with a permanent disability - were often left unfed and sometimes ate their own faeces.



Emirati police officer Essam Obaid, 35, told the court: 'The girl and her younger sister were left unfed in the flat.



'On the night [Wadeema] died, she vomited a lot because she ate her own faeces.



'She and her sister used to eat mouldy food and sometimes their own faeces.'



' They left her until 5am in the toilet and when they went to check on her, she was dead. She vomited because she ate her own excrement.'

A second witness in the trial, police corporal Mubarak Ahmed Taleb, 34, said the studio apartment where the couple lived with the two girls was filthy and 'not fit for humans to live in'.



He told the court it reeked of stale urine: 'It smelled really bad and was dirty. There was only one bed and the furniture was turned upside down. The girls' clothes stank and there was mess everywhere.



'The fridge was full of food which was out of date. No one could live in it.'

He said when his investigation team searched the flat, they found two irons with brown marks on them and said: 'They had used them to burn the girls.'

He added they found some of the implements of torture, including metal bars, sticks and stun guns.



Al Sherawi and Al Ameri, who have just had a baby boy called Saoud while being held separately in captivity, stood in court while judge Maher Salameh heard the case against them.



Al Ameri clutched her sleeping newborn baby to her chest wrapped in a blue checked blanket.



The pair were arrested after the girls' uncle visited the flat in International City, Dubai, and was told by Mira of the abuse.



Al Sherawi and his mistress have been charged with torturing and imprisoning Wadeema and her seven-year-old sister Mira, and killing and burying Wadeema

He initially blamed both of them for Wadeema's death but later changed his story, saying Al Sherawi was 'a great father who loved his children'.



Al Sherawi has denied all the charges and only admits burying Wadeema in the desert while his mistress has pleaded guilty to all the allegations.



Mr Obaid said today: 'When I questioned Al Anood, she claimed she saw Wadeema vomiting heavily and was very sick that evening so she called Hamad and asked him to come to the flat.



'They left her until 5am in the toilet and when they went to check on her, she was dead. She vomited because she ate her own excrement.



'Al Anood admitted heating the irons and torturing the girls. She said Wadeema was tortured because she did not listen and was disobedient.'

The judge said: 'Was there no other way she could teach her children?'



Mr Obaid said Al Anood told him they had washed and dressed Wadeema before burying her in the desert.



He said he had not interviewed Mira. The little girl gave evidence in court yesterday but after Al Sherawi, who was clean-shaven for the first time in the trial, refused to carry on with proceedings unless reporters were banned, the trial was heard in chambers.



Wadeema's body was found in June but was so badly decomposed, forensic experts could not tell how she had died.



The girls' natural mother Salma Obaid had to give them up in November 2011 after losing custody and had not seen them for six months when Wadeema died.



She married Al Sherawi in 2002 and divorced him in 2006. She previously told the court she tried to convince him to let her see the girls but was forbidden contact with them.



A forensics expert said Mira had been lucky not to die from her injuries. The case was adjourned until November 25.




Is this the Michigan Sniper? Far-right activist who bragged about carrying a gun every day is arrested for shooting at TWO DOZEN cars

Suspect arrested in Wixom, the Detroit suburb where shootings began

Targets in 24 incidents were mostly cars on roads near Interstate 96



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Plea: Raulie Casteel, 43, has pleaded not guilty to eight counts of attempted murder on Friday after two dozens cars were shot on a Michigan highway

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The man accused of terrifying suburban Detroit, Michigan, for two weeks by shooting at two dozen cars on the highway ranted about far-right-wing politics for months before the attacks.



Raulie Wayne Casteel, 43, bragged on his Twitter feed about carrying a handgun everyday and said President Obama should be arrested by the military and 'marched out of the White House in handcuffs.'

Police arrested him Sunday night at his home in Wixom, Michigan, near the epicenter of the seemingly random shootings.



His mother, who lives in Florida, has she her son is mentally ill and that she had tried and failed to get him help, but she never believed he would resort to violence.



Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth called the attacks, which wounded one person, 'domestic terrorism'.



He said: 'Why did he do it? I don't know. I don't know if we'll ever know.'

Sheriff Wriggelsworth said a tip - one of close to 3,000 that have come in - led authorities to the man's home. He declined to disclose what the suspect told investigators.

The shootings began on October 16 and stretched from Oakland County west to Ingham County.



The targets in the 24 reported incidents were mostly cars traveling on roads near Interstate 96. Only a handful of shootings actually occurred on the interstate.

The crime scene where the shootings took place is 100 miles long and slices through suburbia, shopping malls and farm pastures.

Shootings have occurred during the day, at night, on weekdays and on weekends. Police say the shooter would drive along roadways and fire at vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Only one person was wounded.



Scott Arnold, 46, from Kalamazoo, shot in the buttocks as he drove along eastbound I-96 on October 27, heading to a World Series game in Detroit. He was rushed to the hospital, but did not suffer a life-threatening wound.



Initial reports of shootings stirred panic. Wixom schools restricted recess and other activities that would take students outdoors. Drivers avoided main thoroughfares where they might be exposed and stuck to side streets.

Janice Schumacher, 43, was pumping gas in Wixom when she heard that a suspect was in custody.



'I hope this is the guy,' said the Commerce Township resident who for the past several weeks has been using alternate routes to run personal errands and shuttle her three children to and from school.

Stalking ground: The targets in the 24 reported incidents were mostly cars traveling on roads near Interstate 96 (pictured)

'For weeks, I haven't been able to breathe while driving with my kids in the car. If they finally got this guy, that would be a major relief.'

Before the arrest, clues appeared to be few - slugs and bullet fragments embedded in cars, metal casings on roadways, a simple black-and-white sketch of the shooter and vague descriptions of the dark car he drove.

Michigan State Police Lt Michael Shaw told Mail Online investigators have not been able to determine a motive because Casteel requested a lawyer shortly after his arrested.



However, he said, detectives are looking into a possible connection between the shootings and his political posts on Twitter.



' It is something we are looking at as a possible part of the investigation were not sure whether that has any connection with the case or not, but it is something were aware of,' he said.

Casteel began making frequent posts about politics on his Twitter account in April. He frequently cited conservative pundits, but other more right-wing sources, as well.



Casteel, a married father, said he believed drivers were part of a government conspiracy against him

He also talked about 'open carry,' the practice of carrying a non-concealed handgun.



'The 2nd Amend is an absolute - absolutely no compromises - I carry everwhere I go!' he wrote on September 28.



He also frequently posted about the need to impeach the President.



'I want the arrest and impeachment of Barack Obamo. I've given the military the option of marching him out of the W.H. in handcuffs,' he wrote October 1.

He also said he had purchased a book called 'Hostile Takeover: Resisting Centralized Governments Stranglehold on America' by Tea Party activist William Morrow.

Lt Shaw said officers seized a 9mm pistol from Casteel's home. Pistol-caliber bullets were used in the highway shootings, though he could not confirm whether the bullets recovered were fire from Casteel's gun.

Lana Hunt, 62, who lives in Florida, told the Detroit Free Press that her son is mentally ill.



'He trusted me, but I could not get him to see a doctor,' she said.



Artist's impression: Police arrested the 43-year-old man on suspicion of being the sniper, pictured, who shot at random cars in four Michigan counties in two weeks







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Parents of woman who died when Irish doctors refused to perform abortion meet with Indian government to demand justice

Savita Halappanavar, 31, was found to be miscarrying when she was admitted to Galway University Hospital

The dentist, who was 17 weeks pregnant, was denied a medical termination, and died from septicaemia on October 28

Indian officials have promised parents Anadappa and Akka Mahadevi Yalgi all possible help

Pro-choice campaigners plan mass rallies in Ireland calling for abortion to be legalised



A tragic loss: Savita's parents have installed a shrine to her in their home, in accordance with Hindu tradition

The parents of an Indian woman who died of blood poisoning after Irish doctors refused her an abortion have met officials to demand justice for their daughter.



Savita Halappanavar, 31, was 17 weeks pregnant when she began miscarrying, and died of septicaemia a week later.



Her husband Praveen Halappanavar, 34, has told how he begged doctors at Galway University Hospital to terminate the pregnancy, but they refused to do so because she was 'in a Catholic country' and the foetus's heartbeat was still present.



The tragedy has provoked soul searching in the Republic of Ireland, where abortion is illegal, as well as considerable anger in some quarters.



Campaigners are demanding a change in the law to allow abortion in the case where the mother's life is in danger.

Savita's parents Anadappa Yalgi, 62, and his wife Akka Mahadevi Yalgi, 54, met with municipal government officials late on Friday afternoon at the family home in Belgaum, South West India.



The grieving couple asked Belgaum's Deputy Commissioner, Anbu Kumar, to help ensure every possible assistance from the Indian government.



Mr Kumar said of the encounter: 'I visited the house and offered our government's help where possible.'

Seeking justice: Belgaum's deputy commissioner, Anbu Kumar (left) promised Savita's father Anadappa Yalgi all possible help

Paying respects: The deputy commissioner paused for a moment of reflection before Savita's shrine

Savita's mother, left, had asked her daughter to return to Belgaum to give birth, but Savita felt she would be safer in Ireland

A photo of Savita now hangs in the family home covered in a garland, as is traditional in India's Hindu community after the death of a loved one.

Echoing comments made by her parents, India's ambassador to Ireland said today that Mrs Halappanavar might still be alive today if she had been treated in India.



Debashish Chakravarti told RTE radio that he hoped the Irish government would take steps to ensure the circumstances which led to her death never arose again.



Abortion is not illegal in India when the mother's life is at risk, the ambassador noted.

Meanwhile Ireland's ambassador to India, Feilim McLaughlin, was officially summoned by the Delhi government on Friday to discuss an inquiry into Mrs Halappanavar's death.



Madhusudan Ganapathi, secretary (west) in the external affairs ministry, told the Irish envoy he hoped the inquiry into the tragedy would be independent.



He also conveyed the sadness felt by people in India as 'a young life had come to an untimely end'.



India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said of the tragedy: "Saving the life of the mother is of prime importance, if you can't save the life of the child."

Devastated: Praveen Halappanavar (pictured with his wife Savita at their home in Galway) says he watched helplessly as she died from blood poisoning from a miscarriage after doctors refused to perform an abortion

Savita Halappanavar, 31, died at Galway University Hospital, where doctors refused to perform a medical termination because she was 'in a Catholic country' and the foetus's heartbeat was still present

Mr Halappanavar, Savita's husband, has described how he held her hand as she died.



Reliving her final moments, he said: 'In the night, at around one o'clock, the nurse came running, as I was standing outside ICU.



'She just told me to be brave, and she took me near Savita, and she said: Will you be OK to be there, living her last minutes?



'I said: Yes, I want to. I was holding her hand, they were trying to pump her heart, there was a big team around. The doctor just told me they lost her.'



Mr Halappanavar, who works as an engineer at Boston Scientific in Galway, came to Ireland from India with his wife four years ago to start a new life together. She had a job in Westport, Co Mayo and the pair lived in Galway city.

Public outcry: The tragedy has provoked a huge amount of soul searching in the Republic of Ireland, where campaigners are demanding a change in the law to allow abortions when the mother's life is in danger

Happy couple: Savita and her husband Praveen dancing at 2010 Diwali festival in Galway, video from YouTube

They were so excited about the expected birth of their first child, which was due on March 20, that they had an early baby shower in recent weeks when Mrs Halappanavars parents were visiting.



Pro-choice activists in Ireland have turned to social media networks to organise a mass protest against the country's abortion laws on Saturday.



A rally in central Dublin is expected to attract several thousand demonstrators, and follows similar rallies on Thursday night in Belfast and on Friday in Derry.
Looking for someone to hang out with: Parents peg details of their children on a washing line in bid to find them a partner

Singletons in China are being hung out to dry by their matchmaking parents, who are advertising details about them on a washing-line in a bid to marry them off.



The bizarre dating ritual takes place at People's Park in Shanghai, where parents peg out information about their grown-up sons and daughters in the hope of finding them an eligible life partner.



The adverts include details such as their child's age, height, educational background, profession and income.



Good on paper: Parents in Shanghai are drawing up laminated adverts to promote their sons and daughters to potential partners

Young wives' tales: Parents seeking the daughter-in-law of their dreams will find a selection of potential spouses on display

With some of the adverts attached to small packages, it seems some parents find it hard to keep their child's qualities to just one sheet of A4

The typical requirement of a prospective groom is that he be a 'responsible man with stable income' or someone 'who owns an apartment and a car'.



Women, meanwhile, are required to be 'kind, have a stable job and preferably hold a bachelor's degree'.

The keen parents then scan the dating adverts and chat to other parents in an attempt to match their son or daughter with a potential spouse.

Something for the weekend? The matchmaking parents gather on Saturdays and Sundays to survey the city's singletons

High expectations: The advertisers generally want wives who are 'kind, have a stable job and preferably hold a bachelor's degree'

When it comes to husbands, the ideal candidate is a 'responsible man with stable income' or someone 'who owns an apartment and a car'

Narrowing the options: Keen mothers and fathers reckon they can help their child find a life partner by chatting to like-minded parents

Vital statistics: The adverts include thoughtful details such as the son or daughter's height, job...and salary

One parent, Ma Jianhua, 55, who was attempting to find his son a wife, told China Daily: 'I first came here six months ago after reading about the park's matchmaking activities in the newspaper.



'Since then I have been coming here almost every weekend. On days that I can't make it, my wife steps in for me.



'My son is too busy to date girls, so I am here on his behalf.



'Although my son and I have different tastes, I can at least narrow down some of the girls who meet his requirements, by speaking to the girl's parents. After all, a woman's manner and character are often influenced by their parents. '

Love letters: The parents don't have much to go on, but as one father put it, 'it's a good platform'

Well, it's cheaper than a personal ad: The park's green spaces provide an healthy environment for partner-hunting

Ma said his 28-year-old son was looking for a caring girl aged between 24 and 26, with a bachelor's degree.



He hasn't had any luck so far, as while he has introduced his son to several girls, none have made the cut.



He said: 'I will not give up, as a father, I will not feel comfortable if I don't do something for my son.



'I know very well that there are all kinds of people here, but it's a good platform. Nowhere else in the city can you find so many candidates.



'Besides, I believe matchmaking works. Some of the parents I used to see are no longer here. I think they must have found someone.'

Stiff competition: The number of singletons may be high, but for these parents, that's an advantage




My snakes are so charming - I could cuddle them all day! Man wraps himself in Burmese Pythons



This reveler gets a little tied up at celebrations in Manila to mark the coming of the Chinese Year of the Snake.

The man is pictured dangerously cavorting with pythons, including the renowned Albino Burmese Python.

These constrictors are recognised by their iconic patterned skin, and are a native species in the grassy marshes throughout Southeast Asia.



Knot fun: Filipino reveler flirts with danger as he plays with Burmese Pythons

Tight spot: The Burmese Pythons are known to grow as long 23 feet and grow girths as large as telephone poles

Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes on Earth, and have been known to reach 23 feet or more in length. They can weigh up to 200 pounds with a girths the size of telephone poles.

The snakes start their lives mainly as the inhabitants of trees. As they grow into fully fledged adults, however, they become ground-dwellers. They are naturally excellent swimmers, sometimes able to stay under water for as long at 30 minutes.

Burmese constrictors feed largely on small mammals and birds. With poor eyesight, they rely on chemical receptors in their tongues and heat sensors in their jaws in order to track their prey.


Tens of thousands of wild horses face mass slaughter after mustangs breed too fast on the great plains

Iconic horse of the American west threatens natural ecosystems

Around 37, 000 mustangs roam the US ranges over ten states

Another 50,000 held in temporary pastures



Officials say populations have hit a 'critical mass'

They are an icon of the American West and a symbol of the country's frontier history, but now hundreds of mustang horses face slaughter due to overpopulation.

Under existing laws the government pays ranchers to take in thousands of these 'wild' horses a year in order to keep population numbers down. Mustangs are not an indigenous species to America and are known to have an adverse affect on natural ecosystems.

The current system of managing these threats has been in place since 1971 but now rising feed costs has resulted in a growing number of American ranchers refusing to take on mustangs.

Mustangs are regarded as a symbol of the frontier history of the American West

The Government uses helicopters to trap mustangs and thin populations

Campaigners say that helicopter herding is cruel and does not distinguish the fit horses from the old and young populations

Pregnant mares and young foals are sometimes stampeded across miles and miles of rugged terrain, according to activists

Officials have warned that the government's own holding pastures and short-term corrals are themselves reaching over capacity.



The result could mean that thousands of this treasured breed will be slaughtered in order to contain overpopulation.

Across ten western states in the US an estimated 37,000 wild horses and feral donkeys roam the ranges.



Officials say this is 11,000 more than the manageable population, and it is expected that figures will double every four years.

There are around 50,000 wild horses and donkeys currently held in temporary pastures, three times the amount held a decade ago.

Despite the crisis in overpopulation, and the known effects of wild hoses on natural habitats of other native animals, activists continue to battle with the government over its management of mustangs in particular.



To thin the populations of wild herds helicopters are used to chase mustangs into traps. Some campaigners think this is cruel and damaging to a species they think America should be protecting.



Suzanne Roy of the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign said that pregnant mares and foals are stampeded by helicopters over miles of rugged terrain.

'Helicopter's aren't discerning,' she said. 'They stampede the very old and the very young with the fit.'

Authorities have been accused of managing mustangs into extinction. However, only 99 out of the 11,000 gathered from the plains last year died. That's less than 1%.

Officials are now beginning to recognise that slaughter might be the only solution to contain the population.

Government legislation has been criticised for favouring ranchers who prefer land to be freed of wild horses to make way for cattle

Officials estimate that just under 50,000 wild horses are held in temporary pasture

There remains a controversy over whether the mustang can be considered an indigenous animal in North America

Ms Roy denies this and she questions the wisdom surrounding the belief that America's land cannot support mustang populations.



She claims that the legislation is weighted heavily in favour of the ranchers who need the land freed up for cattle.

The problem could be better addressed through contraceptive measures using fertility drugs.



Tom Gorey, of the Bureau of Land Management, denied that this would provide an adequate alternative.



He said: 'Logistically, [contraception] is very hard. It has not been demonstrated to be a magical solution.'

The US Congress has recognised the mustang as ' a living symbol of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West.'

The first Mustangs descended from Iberian horses brought to Mexico and Florida from Spain during the settlement of North America.



Most of these horses were of Andalusian, Arabian and Barb ancestry and were domesticated animals tamed for human use.

This has led to a dispute over whterh it is entirely accurate to call the mustang 'wild' since it is the descendent of a domestic breed which is not native to the natural habitat.



Native Americans quickly adopted the horse as a primary means of transportation. They were also used in battles, trade, and hunts, particularly bison hunts.

Some environmentalist claim that the mustang should be classed as indigenous because there is evidence that horses roamed North America in per-historic times.



More than half of all Mustangs in North America are found in Nevada , with other significant populations in Montana, Wyoming and Oregon.

The government says that the total manageable population in the wild should be 26,000 a figure that is significantly lower than the reality.



'We are reaching a critical mass,' Tom Gorey added. 'And we don't see any instant solution.'














Mystery wolf slayer who leaves the dead animals displayed in Tuscan villages has shot seven of them and STRANGLED one in bizarre vendetta

Eight endangered wolves found dead since the beginning of November

Killers left carcasses in village piazzas and on the steps of a theatre

Sheep farmers thought to be behind the slaughters



Decimated sheep flocks have ruined many farmers in the area



Since being reintroduced, Tuscany's wolf population has grown to 230



Deaths have sparked a row between conservation groups and local farmers

Repopulation: Wolves were reintroduced to Tuscany from the mountains of the Abruzzo in the 1990s, using EU funding

Its medieval hilltowns, scorched valleys and free-flowing Chianti have made Tuscany a hit with British expats and tourists. But in recent weeks the peaceful vales have been rocked by a predatory serial killer.



Eight endangered native wolves have been found dead since the beginning of November, with three fresh corpses emerging in the last week alone.



In an apparently political gesture, the vigilante killer, or killers, have displayed the carcasses where they will be widely seen, in village piazzas, and, in one case, on the steps of a theatre.



All but one of the protected animals was shot, while the others were strangled. The slaughters are thought to be the work of an exasperated sheep farmer carrying out a personal vendetta after attacks on his flock.



Vet Marco Aloisi, director of a local wildlife recovery centre, said that placing the wolves' bodies on public display appeared to be 'a protest'.



Wolves were reintroduced to Tuscany from the mountains of the Abruzzo in the 1990s, using EU funding.



MFI furniture millionaire Paul Lister has similar plans to reintroduce wolves to his estate in Alladale, Scotland, despite the fact that they became extinct in the UK in the 17th century.



Wolves in Italy have been growing in numbers, as illegal hunting by farmers has become less common, and there are now an estimated 230 in Tuscany.



The packs usually live high in the Apennine mountains, but are driven down to farmland by cold weather or when they are unable to find enough prey.

In the past two years they have ventured lower than ever before. Wolves were responsible for 1000 attacks on sheep, cattle and horses in 2012, according to official figures.

Since then, a surge in the marauding attacks has decimated flocks in the coastal Maremma district.



Growing problem: Wolves in Italy have been growing in numbers, as illegal hunting by farmers has become less common, and there are now an estimated 230 in Tuscany

Activism: Conservation groups have organised protests, calling for swift justice for those behind the killings

In some areas production has halved, bringing farmers to the brink of ruin.



Regional projects to limit damage caused by wolves, including traps and specially trained dogs have largely failed.



Many sympathise with the farmers' frustration.



Local MP Luca Sani, chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Lower House of Parliament, said: 'Killing wolves is a matter of great concern. However, it would be irresponsible to put our heads in the sand and not recognise that this action is a worrying sign of the exasperation felt by our farmers.'



Conservation groups have organised protests, calling for swift justice. James Bottinelli, spokesman for the A law Against Vivisection group in Grosseto, said: 'Anyone who kills an animal is a criminal and must be stopped, but particularly in a case like this, where we are dealing with a serial killer.'


Man who shot his wife to death in front of their children in a crowded park found dead after Florida manhunt



Mr Paris, 54, died from a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head



He had been on the run since Wednesday for killing his wife in Florida



His wife Liza, 34, called police just hours before her death



The couple had been separated for a month before the murder



Dead: Police were searching for Julian Paris, 54, who allegedly shot dead his wife at a crowded park in Florida

The dead body of a man wanted by police in Florida for allegedly murdering his wife in front of their kids has been found.

Julian Paris, 54, was wanted by police after he callously shot his wife Liza Nicole Adderly, 34, dead at Dr. Phillips Community Park in Orlando in front of their three children.

However, Orange County officers confirmed that Mr Paris had been found dead by family members from a self-inflected gunshot wound, next to his late son's grave at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Mr Paris had been on the run since May 7 after

investigators said he fatally shot his wife at 4.20pm in broad daylight.



Ms Adderly had taken her three children to a play date with another family when Paris showed up, officers said.

He then shot and killed his wife in front of their shocked children who were standing next to their mother and are aged four, 13 and 15.

Eyewitnesses said the suspect fled from the park in a white Kia Spectra compact hatchback, with the Florida number plate K259IV.

The couples three children watched as their dad sped away from the parking lot wearing a red fedora and red T-shirt, according to a witness.

Shocked onlookers along with the couple's children were among the first to dial 911 for emergency services to get help after the horror at the park unfolded.



Murder scene: Police were searching for a Florida man who brazenly shot his wife to death at a crowded park in Orlando but he was later found dead

Sheriffs spokesman Jeff Williamson said: 'It shows how brazen he was to come here in broad daylight and shoot this woman in broad daylight in front of multiple witnesses, including juveniles.'

'I think it says a lot about the person and the crime itself. Its heinous,' he added.



Mr Paris had several aliases, but his given name was Rick Adderly, according to his family.

The couple had a history of domestic abuse and officers were called out to an incident between the pair two hours before Mrs Adderly was killed.

On Wednesday, the 34-year-old mother of three was shoved by Mr Paris during a meeting at his job as an irrigation worker, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office.

Ms Adderly was so distraught that she went back to her car, screaming for help, say police officers.



She was shot to death just a few hours later.



Orange County police officers launched a widespread manhunt for the 54-year-old but his daughter found him dead at 7.20p.m. on May 8.

Investigators are still trying to determine why he killed himself.



In happier times: Rick Adderly (also known as Julian Paris), his wife Liza Nicole Adderly and their children pose together in a group shot at the beach

Police line: Julian Paris, 54, had fled the park in a white Kia Spectra watched by his three kids

After more than 16 years of marriage, the couple separated a month before the killing.

Relatives said that the graveside where Mr Paris was found dead belonged to their 17-year-old son - who was their eldest - but had been hit by a car and killed in January 2012.



Jane Watrel of the Orange County Sheriff's Office said: ' You all know that he was going through a separation, but we do not know why he took this extreme drastic measure.

'We got the call around 7:25 p.m [from] family who called saying they found the body of Mr Paris at his son's grave.'

The tragic couple married in 1998, when she was 18 and her husband 38.

Deputies are still looking for the deceased man's car.

Adrianna Adderlini, 23, a relative through marriage told The Orlando Sentinel: 'This is very surprising because they've been so good after the death of their son  just holding their family strong.'
Five Saudi men sentenced to 32 years in prison and 4,500 lashes for holding a Valentines Day party with unrelated women, drinking and dancing

The men were arrested by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice

All five have admitted to the charges of illicit seclusion with unrelated women, dancing and drinking

A judge will decide the fate of the six women caught with the men

Five Saudi men have been sentenced to 32 years in prison and 4,500 lashes by a criminal court in Saudi Arabia - for holding a Valentine's Day party.



The law breaking men were caught at a rented rest house in the Al-Farouq area of Buraidah Qassim province and accused of holding a party with women who were unrelated to them, drinking and dancing.



Police from the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice ( CPVPV ) rounded up the men with the help of security patrols for their offences along with six women on February 14 .

Banned: Saudi men were banned from using camera phones for a time over fears that men would use them to secretly photograph women and publish them on the Internet without the consent of the subjects

The men have all admitted to the charges, which include illicit seclusion with unrelated women, dancing and drinking.



A judge will decide the fate of the six women.

The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is the Saudi Arabian government's agency's religious police or mutaween (meaning pious) to enforce Sharia Law within the Islamic nation.

Altogether, it has 3,500 to 4,000 police officers who enforce a strict religious code among citizens.



Members patrol the streets checking dress code, strict separation of men and women, salat prayer by Muslims during prayer times, and other behavior it believes to be commanded by Islam.



The mutaween ( CPVPV ) are known for having full beards and wearing their headscarves (ghutrah or shemagh) loose without an agal and often come from Saudi Arabia's lower classes.



The body has widespread powers to detain and berate offenders and shut down businesses an d are employed directly by the King. The organization's 2013 budget was the equivalent of US$390million.

In a separate case, Raif Badawi , a Saudi blogger recently fell foul of the authorities and faces ten years in jail, a thousand lashes and a million riyal fine for 'insulting Islam'.

Mr Badawi' was arrested in June 2012 and charged with cyber crime and disobeying his father - a crime in Saudi Arabia - in relation to his Saudi Liberal Network website..

The site included articles that were critical of senior religious figures such as Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, according to Human Rights Watch.

He had originally faced seven years in jail and 600 lashes, but an appeal court overturned that sentence and ordered a retrial.



Amnesty International called the new sentence 'outrageous' and said Badawi is a 'prisoner of conscience'. His website has been closed since his first trial.



King Abdullah: The King employs a religious police to enforce behaviour that goes against strict Islamic rule and this has even hit bloggers like Raif Badawi, right, who faces ten years in jail for insulting Islam



Citizens of Saudi Arabia are constantly encouraged to inform on others who break the law.



Punishment for many offenses is severe, often involving beatings and humiliation and foreigners are not excluded from arrest.

THE STRICT SHARIA LAW THAT MUST NOT BE BROKEN IN SAUDI ARABIA

T he government-backed mutaween patrol the country to ensure that laws are upheld: T hey prevent the population from engaging in 'frivolous' Western customs such as Valentine's Day



They ensure that drugs including alcohol are not being traded

They check that women wear the abaya, a traditional all-enveloping black cloak

They make sure that men and women who are spotted together in public are related

They ensure women do not smoke in public

A ban on camera phones was enacted in 2004 but later overturned that same year



Middle East ally: David Cameron receives a, honour from King Abdullah. Human Rights Watch says Saudi Arabia, a staunch ally of the West in the Middle East, has a long history of suppressing free expression

Philip Luther, director of the Middle East and North Africa programme at Amnesty International, urged Saudi authorities to quash blogger Badawi's conviction.

'The decision to sentence Raif Badawi to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes is outrageous,' he said.


It was an accident, we had a fight: Girlfriend arrested after chilling note is found next to police officer's body

Tiniko Thompson, 46, is alleged to have killed her boyfriend Carl Patrick, 53,



Mr Patrick was a 25-year veteran of the Miami police force

Officers found his body under burned bedding in his Florida home

They also found a note in the kitchen saying 'It was an accident...'



Ms Thompson has appeared in court on second-degree murder charges

She claims that Mr P atrick shot himself but a medical examiner said his injuries were not consistent with that assertion

Police rev eal that they found another note in her car similar to the one left



Suspect: Tiniko Thompson, 46, is alleged to have killed her boyfriend Carl Patrick, 53, a Miami police officer in his Pembroke Pines, Florida home on May 9

The girlfriend of a Miami police officer who was found shot to death in his home has been arrested.

Tiniko Thompson, 46, is alleged to have killed her boyfriend Carl Patrick, 53, in his Pembroke Pines, Florida home on May 9.

Police officers found a chilling note along with the body, reading, 'It was an accident, we had a fight.'

According to officers, Mr Patricks' body was found earlier this month in his bedroom under burned bedding.

They described the scene as being 'consistent with something being lit on fire' and reveal he was still dressed in his police uniform.

Mr Patrick's former girlfriend, Ms Thompson has been arrested in connection with the murder, according to police.



She made her first appearance in court on Thursday on second-degree murder charges.

Ms Thompson is alleged to have killed Mr Patrick and left him to die at home while he fled the scene stealing his mobile phone and fleeing.

Two days later, her mother reported her to the police after she threatened to commit suicide.

It was then that Patrick's body was discovered in his Pembroke Pines home.

When officers examined the house, they found a note in the kitchen that read, 'It was an accident, we had a fight.'



However, it is not clear how Mr Patrick would have been able to shoot himself.

The medical examiner determined that the bullet-wound didn't match up with how he would have shot a gun at himself, as he would have used his right-hand to fire the gun.

Ms Thompson said she had left the scene and went to live in her car for the next several days.



But police said that they found another note in her vehicle like the one found in the kitchen, which told how she was too scared to call police after what happened.



According to a medial examiner, Mr Patrick's life could have been saved if he had received immediate medical attention.

His death has been ruled a murder (homicide.)



Arrested: Ms Thompson said that Mr Patrick had shot himself - she described him as abusive and said that she was scared of him








Two teenage boys reportedly stabbed a third to death after arguing about their mobile phones - then killed four girl pals they were with so they couldn't tell police about the murder.

Sergey Burkaev, 16, and Konstantin Surkov, 17, are said to have raped their last victim before slitting her throat.

The vodka-fuelled duo doused all five bodies in petrol and set them alight at a flat in south-west Russia, according to prosecutors.

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Accused of murder and rape: Sergey Burkaev, 16 (left) and Konstantin Surkov, 17, could be jailed for life

Slain at a party: Russian police released pixellated images of some of the victims, who were aged 16 to 22

The baby-faced pair apparently fled in a stolen car but were arrested by traffic officers, who saw the vehicle being driven erratically.

If convicted, Surkov and Burkaev face life in jail.

The police who quizzed them say both teenagers have confessed to the murders and rape. The only reason they have given for the carnage was that they were drunk, the officers added.

The horrific crimes reportedly took place at a house party in the small town of Kumertau in Bashkortostan on Friday night.

A friend of party-goers - 17-year-old Svetlana Frolova - said: 'I just can't believe this has happened. They were all so friendly with each other and always hanging out together.

'I had been invited (to the party) too, and had really wanted to go, but my mum said I had to stay in to do my homework. I'm so glad I did. I can't understand why they did this.'

Arrested: One of the youths is told to lean face down on a police car after being stopped in a 'stolen' vehicle

Boozed-up Surkov and Burkaev are said to have accused fellow party guest Sidor Fokine, 22, of stealing their mobile phones.

When he denied it, they flew into a rage and pulled out their knives. Then they knifed him in front of the other guests - who were all female.

But they feared that the young women would identify them as the killers. So they knifed them too, including 16-year-old Maria Sorokina, in whose flat they were partying, and her 17-year-old friend Anastasia Selezneva.

Scene of carnage: Police officers at the apartment block in Kumertau where five young people were killed

The other victims were aged 21 and 22. Anastasia was the last to be murdered - and she was raped before her brutal death. The five bodies were set on fire in the apartment.

A police spokesman said of Surkov and Burkaev: 'They were apprehended while trying to escape in a stolen car. They were covered in blood and still drunk.
It should be a photograph filled with happy childhood memories, but instead it tells the tragedy of a community torn apart by horrific child abuse.

The picture shows the 1973 Grade 4 class of St Alipius Christian Brothers School in Ballarat. In the second row from the front, standing fourth from the right with his head tilted is Philip Nagle.

As he looks at the image today, instead of bringing a smile to his face, it only stirs up feelings of sorrow and rage, as he claims 12 out of the 33 pupils pictured went on to commit suicide because of the sexual and physical abuse that took place at the school.

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Philip Nagle (circled) claims 12 out of the 33 of pupils in the photograph went on to commit suicide because of the sexual abuse that took place at the school

But Mr Nagle believes that what happened to his dead classmates will not be forgotten.

The 50-year-old was the first person called on Tuesday at the opening of the Royal Commission on Institutional Child Sex Abuse a paedophile ring involving Catholic clergy in Ballarat in the 1960s, '70s and '80s.

At the end of his testimony he asked for a minute's silence to honour his 12 fellow classmates. His only hope now is that more people will go public about the heinous crimes that took place at St Alipius so that justice can still be done.

If more of my classmates come forward, the less of them will commit suicide (in the future). Because the ones not coming forward are the ones who are killing themselves. Twelve in my class committed suicide, Mr Nagle told Daily Mail Australia.

Mr Nagle said that some did it indirectly after years of alcoholism and drug use, because they couldn't deal with what was done to them.

Mr Nagle, 50, was the first person called on Tuesday at the opening of the Royal Commission on Institutional Child Sex Abuse

Some of them didnt even make it to 50 years of age, some didnt even make it to 40. They reach a breaking point and can't handle it anymore,' he says.

Some of Australia's most notorious abusers, including Gerald Ridsdale, Robert Best and Edward Dowlan, were part of a paedophile ring operating at St Alipius and St Patrick's College.

Mr Nagle, 50, was repeatedly sexually assaulted by disgraced Stephen Farrell who was a Christian Brother at the school.

He was our teacher at the time. Because Risdale and others were such serial offenders the likes of Farrell flew under the radar,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Gerald Ridsdale was part of a paedophile ring operating at St Alipius and St Patrick's College

Only three victims of Farrell have come forward  myself, my brother and another victim. From this he has 10 convictions. But because the likes of Risdale and Best had many victims who came forward and Farrell didn't, he got off lightly.'

Farrell didnt even go to jail. He was given a two years and three months suspended sentence for his offences.

'The likes of Ridsdale got much more because his offences were so bad and more people came forward. But Farrell was part of the paedophile ring too,' says Mr Nagle.

He knows other victims of Farrell but he was warned by the police not to go victim hunting and is not allowed to name them.

Ridsdale was jailed on paedophile charges in 1994 for molesting children between 1967 and 1987

Ive spoken to a few of them but theyre not ready to do anything about it, he says.

What he had to endure at St Alipius is branded into his psyche. Nothing can erase the horrific ordeal he had to go through at the hands of Farrell.

'He was too strong for me. I was just a nine-year-old boy. Hed just get you alone, wrestle you down and sexually assault you,' Mr Nagle told Daily Mail Australia.

Youve got to realise we were just little kids and they were full grown adults, so we had no chance.

They were supposedly men of God in their black robes. Priests and Christian Brothers were held in higher esteem that your parents back in those days, they were beyond reproach.

It all happened over a 12-month period. We were terrified. It ruined our lives.

Gordon Hill told the inquiry he was taken to the St Joseph's Home in Ballarat in 1946 and was initially abused by a priest when only five years old

He is still devastated that Farrell didnt go to jail, and believes that suspended sentences for these types of crime are just unacceptable.

His comments came as Gordon Hill, 72, told the inquiry on Wednesday he was taken to the St Joseph's Home in Ballarat as a three-year-old in the 1946, and was initially abused by a priest at age five, in a place called 'the horror rooms'.

But Nagle's struggle for justice still goes on.

I dont know what the inquiry will achieve unless they start getting some of these perpetrators to take the stand, but I was very happy with the process,' he says.
Cardinal George Pell refutes allegations that he attempted to bribe a victim of pedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale.

David Ridsdale, the nephew of Australia's worst pedophile priest, said at a royal commission hearing into child sex abuse on Wednesday that he told Cardinal Pell in 1993 about the abuse at the hands of his uncle.

However, Cardinal Pell, who is a family friend, released a statement later that evening, denying that such a conversation ever took place and expresses his regret for the misunderstanding between the pair.

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Cardinal George Pell (pictured) allegedly bribed the nephew of Australia's worst paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale

Mr Ridsdale told the inquiry that Cardinal Pell asked him: 'I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet.'

Mr Ridsdale said Cardinal Pell then started talking about his growing family and that he may soon have to buy a car or house.

He said his response was 'f*** you George and everything you stand for'.

Cardinal Pell said the matter required an immediate response as it was important to correct the record, particularly given 'the false and misleading headlines.'

'At no time did I attempt to bribe David Ridsdale or his family or offer any financial inducements for him to be silent,' the statement said.

'At the time of our discussion the police were already aware of allegations against Gerald Ridsdale and were investigating. Then, and now, I supported these police investigations.'

'I was and remain extremely sympathetic to David Ridsdale who because of his uncle suffered horrible abuse,' he said.

'I continue to regret the misunderstanding between us.'

The royal commission uncovered church documents that reveal Cardinal Pell helped move Ridsdale between parishes at the height of his reign of terror.

But Cardinal Pell inisted that he never moved Ridsdale anywhere.

'I would never have condoned or participated in a decision to transfer Gerard Ridsdale in the knowledge that he had abused children, and I did not do so," he said.

David Ridsdale (pictured) said at the royal commission on Wednessay that he told Cardinal Pell over the phone in 1993 that his uncle abused him from a young age

Cardinal Pell allegedly said to David Risdale : 'I want to know what it will take to keep you quiet' when he told him that he was abused by his uncle Gerard Risdale (left)

After he hung up, Mr Ridsdale said he told his sisters about the phone conversation.

'I remember saying to both my sisters: `the bastard just tried to bribe me',' Mr Ridsdale told the royal commission hearing in Ballarat.

'I have never stated that Pell offered me anything specific or tangible in our conversation, only that his attempts to direct the conversation down a particular path made me extremely suspicious of his motivations and what he was insinuating.'

Following this phone conversation, Mr Ridsdale decided to phone the Bentleigh police station, the ABC reported.

'They said someone would return my call ... about an hour later, the police returned my call and said: "Are you aware your uncle was to be charged later today?",' he said.

He said he told the police he wasn't aware and then he to the station for a long and 'ultra-specific' interview about his traumatic childhood ordeal.

The following day, Gerald Ridsdale was charged with indecently assaulting David Ridsdale and several other boys.

Commission chair Justice Peter McClellan says Cardinal Pell will be required to make a statement about the allegations.

Church counsel Peter Gray SC said Cardinal Pell has publicly and repeatedly said his recollection of the conversation with Mr Ridsdale is quite different.

Justice McClellan said he expected the commissioners would make a finding about what Cardinal Pell was told.

Mr Ridsdale said Cardinal Pell (pictured) started talking about his growing family and that he may soon have to buy a car or house

Mr Ridsdale described the years of abuse that began when he was 11 years old at a parishioner's farm in Edenhope during the school holidays.

He said from that point on his uncle 'took every opportunity to initiate sexual interaction with me' up until he was 15 years old.

He then went onto explain the the 'charismatic' priest was deemed the 'shining light' on his father's side of the family.

'As a priest, Gerald held an almost supernatural level of power in our family and exerted a great deal of control over the family,' he said.

'He was treated as being better than his siblings and took almost full advantage of his exalted status.'

David (pictured) said his response to Cardinal Pell was 'f*** you George and everything you stand for'

Another abuse victim, BAV, told the commission that after he had been abused by Ridsdale in a bedroom at the Ballarat presbytery, Cardinal Pell, who also lived there, arrived home.

'I saw the back of Father Pell but did not know if he saw me and Father Ridsdale or not,' BAV said.

Cardinal Pell has previously denied Mr Green told him about the abuse, after the claims were made in the media.

Cardinal Pell said in 2002: ' At a distance of 28 years, I have no recollection of any such conversation. If I was approached and thought the stories plausible I would have informed the Christian Brothers. '

Dowlan , 65, was in March ordered to serve at least three years of a six-year prison sentence for indecently assaulting 20 boys under his care at Victorian schools in the 1970s and 1980s.

The royal commission uncovered church documents that reveal Cardinal Pell helped move Ridsdale (pictured) between parishes at the height of his reign of terror

Cardinal Pell has been mentioned at the commission this week by several witnesses who claim he knew about the widespread abuse in Ballarat while he was a priest in the city in the 1970s.

One abuse victim told the commission Pell ignored him and walked out after being told a Christian Brother was molesting children.

Timothy Green, 53, said he told then Father Pell that Brother Edward Vernon Dowlan was abusing boys at Ballarat's St Patrick's College in late 1974.

'I said Brother Dowlan is touching little boys,' Mr Green said on Wednesday.

'Father Pell said `don't be ridiculous' and walked out.' Mr Green, who said he was 12 or 13 when he told Cardinal Pell, was himself a victim of Dowlan .

'Father Pell didn't ask any questions. He didn't say what do you mean or how could you say that,' he said.

'He just dismissed it and walked out.

'His reaction gave me the impression that he knew about Brother Dowlan but couldn't or wouldn't do anything about it.'

'I remember saying to both my sisters: `the bastard just tried to bribe me',' Mr Ridsdale told the royal commission hearing in Ballarat

The former Archbishop of Melbourne, who is now based in The Vatican where he oversees the Catholic Churchs finances, was involved in at least one decision to move the pervert priest, the inquiry heard.

Then Ballarat Bishop Ronald Mulkearns knew Ridsdale had abused boys 'so he was taken out of there' and again moved to another parish, the abuse royal commission heard on the opening day of three weeks of hearings in the city devastated by decades of abuse.

Cardinal Pell supported Ridsdale at his first court appearance on child sex offences in 1993, but he has repeatedly denied knowing that any children at all were abused in Ballarat parish when he was working there.

Senior counsel assisting the commission Gail Furness SC said relocating Ridsdale from a Ballarat parish was discussed at a meeting of the bishop's advisers - the College of Consultors - in September 1982, where Cardinal Pell was present.

The meeting minutes say the bishop advised it had become necessary for Ridsdale to move from Mortlake parish, but do not disclose what reasons Bishop Mulkearns gave.

'There will be evidence that Bishop Mulkearns knew it was because Ridsdale had abused boys in Mortlake, and that he had offended in this manner in 1975,' Ms Furness said.

'I remember saying to both my sisters: `the bastard just tried to bribe me',' Mr Ridsdale told the royal commission hearing in Ballarat

Cardinal Pell has been mentioned at the commission this week by several witnesses who claim he knew about the widespread abuse in Ballarat while he was a priest in the city in the 1970s

Ridsdale will give evidence via videolink from jail during the three-week Ballarat hearing, while a nephew he abused will be one of 17 victims testifying.

It was not until June 1988 that Ridsdale was suspended for 12 months, 13 years after the Bishop Mulkearns first knew that he was sexually abusing boys he met during his work as a priest.

Ridsdale had been at nine parishes and other church locations during that time and abused more than 50 children, Ms Furness said.

In May 1993 Ridsdale was charged on summons with 30 counts of indecent assault against nine boys between 1974 and 1980. He was found guilty and sentenced to 12 months jail.

After he was found guilty, he was almost immediately put on trial again for the sexual abuse of 20 boys and one girl.

He was found guilty of 46 charges and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment with a minimum of 15 years to be served cumulatively with the previous sentence.

In 2006, Ridsdale pleaded guilty to 35 charges relating to indecent assault against 10 boys. In 2013, he pleaded guilty to 29 new charges after being charged with 84 offences.
This is the moment a drug dealer was arrested while sitting on the loo as police raided his home in Peru.

The accused, identified as Jose Spencer Bilbao Rivers, was apprehended by police while he was sitting relieving himself in a small white bucket.

Police had raided his home in the capital city of Lima, Peru, where they discovered large quantities of Class A drug cocaine.

This is the moment a drug dealer was arrested while sitting on the loo as police raided his home in Peru

The man, who is known by the alias Old Toad, 39, was discovered on the first floor of his home.

He claimed that he was suffering from diarrhoea and did not know there were drugs being prepared for sale in his property.

The man pleaded ignorance despite the fact that police had been recording him allegedly selling drugs.

Cops claim he was preparing bags of cocaine on the ground floor and only fled upstairs when he heard them breaking in.

Police had obtained a search warrant for the premises.

At first, the accused denied that the drugs belonged to him, then he admitted to only selling what is left over from his personal use.

He then finally admitted that he has been selling it for several months but claimed that for each bag he makes little more than 4.2 PEN (1 GBP).

It is not known what exact charges the man is facing.
An ultra-Orthadox Jewish grandmother has given birth to her 20th child in Jerusalem - but she still has a way to go before she beats the Guinness World Record.

The unnamed 42-year-old was rushed to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem after going into labour on Wednesday.

Nurses were left open-mouthed when the unassuming woman revealed she was already a mother to 20 and this was her 19th pregnancy.

The grandmother has spent a total of 14 years of her life expecting and has given birth 19 times, including to one set of twins.

An ultra-Orthadox Jewish grandmother has given birth to her 20th child in Jerusalem - but she still has a way to go before she beats the Guinness World Record (stock image)

But she still has a long way to go if she wishes to beat the current world record which is held by an 18th century Russian peasant woman.

The wife of Feodor Vassilyev (b. 1707c1782), a peasant from Shuya, Russia gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets.

However this Jewish grandmother is giving her a run for her money, having already spent 14 years of her life pregnant.

Speaking to hospital staff, she admitted her eldest children were now beginning to start families of their own.

Midwife Aliza Altmark told The Times of Israel the woman in preparation for the birth when the mother revealed that she already had 19 children  including one set of twins  from 18 previous births.

The unnamed 42-year-old was rushed to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem (above) after going into labour on Wednesday

Altmark said the mother was calm and relaxed and the labor took a few hours, longer than the woman's previous births.

'She was very excited about every birth, every child, even the 19th and the 20th,' Altmark told the newspaper. 'It also gave me a good feeling. She has sons- and daughters-in-law, and of course she has a lot of help at home.'

The hospital said the baby boy was born naturally and without complications.

The most prolific mother according to the Guinness World Record website was Mrs. Vassilyeva, an 18th-century Russian peasant woman who produced 69 children.

During 27 labors the Vassilyeva gave birth to a remarkable 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets and four sets of quadruplets.
A portrait of inaugural poet Amanda Gorman has been donated to Harvard University's permanent collection.

Rising Ghanaian artist Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne painted the work inspired by 22-year-old Gormans poem delivered on January 20 at the inauguration of President Joe Biden in Washington.

The acrylic on canvas was purchased by womens rights and LGBT+ activist Amar Singh who has donated the painting to Harvard.

A portrait of Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman has been donated to Harvard University's permanent collection [pictured at the inauguration of President Joe Biden on January 20]

Rising Ghanaian artist, Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne, painted the work inspired by Gormans poem delivered on January 20

Mayne, 38, is a graduate of the Ghanatta College of Art and Design. He completed the work in just five days.

The painting is described as 'a visceral assemblage of diverse facets of Ghanaian and African sociocultural experiences evoking political, emotional and practically psychoanalytical connections and cut-aways weaving private and public space realities unbound by time'.

Singh, 31, said of the donation: 'This work must be in an Institution, it is a celebration of women, a celebration of Black women, a celebration of hope.

'It is especially meaningful to donate it to Harvard as that is Amanda Gormans Alma Mater.'

At Harvard University the work will be housed at the Hutchins Center, headed by Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr, another champion of Black artists and voices who along with his teaching hosts PBS Finding Your Roots and appeared in recent documentaries The 13th and John Lewis: Good Trouble.

Singh, a member of the erstwhile Kapurthala Royal Family of India, through his activism helped legalise homosexuality in India and has highlighted womens rights issues throughout the country.

Owner of Amar Gallery in London, Singh acquired the work from celebrated curator Destinee Ross-Sutton via her newly opened Ross-Sutton Gallery, a space dedicated to primarily Black artists and the underrepresented.

Ross-Sutton told artnet news in 2020: 'In the many instances where others attempt to deny us simple pleasures, we are encouraged to deny ourselves.'

The acrylic on canvas was purchased by womens rights and LGBT+ activist Amar Singh who donated the painting to Harvard [pictured L with India's only openly gay royal Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil]

Mayne, 38, is a graduate of the Ghanatta College of Art and Design

Ross-Suttons current exhibition, BLACK VOICES: Friend Of My Mind, features the work of Mayne. It celebrates images of Black figures through rest, wellness, self-love and introspection.

National Youth Poet Laureate Gorman - who is also the youngest-ever Inaugural poet - became an overnight sensation after performing her original piece The Hill We Climb at President Biden's inauguration.

She received a standing ovation from the President, Vice President, and First Lady at the ceremony - as well as a slew of praise online from A-listers including Oprah Winfrey, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and John Legend.

Gorman wears a bird cage ring in the portrait, as she did when reciting the poem. The ring was sent to her as a gift by Oprah. It is a nod to poet Maya Angelou.

National Youth Poet Laureate Gorman - who is also the youngest-ever Inaugural poet - became an overnight sensation after performing her original piece The Hill We Climb at President Biden's inauguration

Angelou recited her own poem at President Bill Clintons inauguration in 1993 - the now-famed I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.

Shortly after the ceremony, Harvard sociology graduate Gorman took part in numerous TV interviews, during which she spoke out about how she overcame a lifelong speech impediment, while also opening up about how she formed a friendship with Oprah in the lead-up to the inauguration.

Much like President Biden, who has been open about his battle with a stutter, Amanda said she could not have faced the challenging performance without the inspiration of the newly-elected leader that she performed in honor of.

'President Biden has been super open about his stutter,' she told Good Morning America last week. 'My speech impediment wasn't a stutter but it was dropping several letters that I just could not say for years.

Shortly after the ceremony, the Harvard graduate did numerous TV interviews, during which she spoke out about how she overcame a lifelong speech impediment

'Most specifically the R sound. It took until I was 20 to say it. [Which meant] that I couldn't say words like 'poetry' or even 'Gorman' which is my last name. I had to really work at it and practice to get to where I am today.'

The poem that Amanda so ably performed at the inauguration was testament to her hard work; the piece featured 'rise' several times, a word that the poet was unable to utter just a few short years ago.

'I was kind of like why on the world did I put "rise" in my poem about five times,' she joked. 'But also it was this amazing full circle moment for me because if I'd written this poem three years ago, I wouldn't have been able to say it. So it was me rising as well as the country at that time.'

She has even gone on since to sign with elite modeling agency IMG this week.
You may use them dozens of times a day, but most staircases tend to be simply functional rather than a standout style feature of a property.

Here, we reveal seven homes for sale where that idea is turned upside down and the staircases have been transformed into a unique area of their own.

They include bespoke staircases, such as the timber spiral one at a two-bedroom flat in East London, which is featured in our list.

We reveal seven homes for sale with feature staircases, including this two-bed flat with a timber spiral staircase (scroll down for further details)

And then there are the staircases with a dual purpose, such as the space underneath the staircase in a six-bedroom home in Dartmouth that is used as a wine cellar and is complete with a wine fridge.

Other homes in our list include staircases that help illuminate features around them, such as stained glass windows in a converted church or a glass floor at the base of the staircase at a 15million home in Essex.

Here are the seven homes for sale with unusual staircases

1. Six-bed townhouse, Dartmouth, (price on application)

This Grade II listed Georgian property in Dartmouth has six bedrooms and is being sold by Millards estate agents

The stairs at the townhouse have a dual purpose, doubling up as a wine cellar with its own wine fridge

The stairs at this six-bedroom townhouse in Dartmouth have a dual purpose. As well as providing access to the basement, it doubles up as a wine cellar with its own wine fridge.

The Grade II listed Georgian property is called The Mission House and it boasts stunning views across the River Dart to Kingswear. It is being sold by Millards estate agents.

2. Five-bed detached house, Chigwell, Essex, 15m

This five-bedroom luxury home in Chigwell, Essex, it is on the market for 15million via Keller Williams estate agents

A section of the floor at the bottom of the staircase is made out of toughened glass, revealing the a swimming pool on the lower ground floor

At the bottom of the staircase at this five-bedroom luxury home in Chigwell, Essex, is a rather revealing feature.

A section of the floor is made out of toughened glass, revealing the a swimming pool on the lower ground floor.

The property is called Aspen House and it is on the market for 15million via Keller Williams estate agents.

3. Two-bed flat, East London, 665,000

This flat is in a gated community in Bethnal Green and is being sold for 665,000 via estate agents Purplebricks

A striking custom-made timber staircase sits in the heart of this two-bedroom flat in East London

A striking custom-made timber staircase sits in the heart of this two-bedroom flat in East London.

The unusual feature links the two levels of this property, which is in a gated community in Bethnal Green. The property is being sold for 665,000 via estate agents Purplebricks.

4. Four-bed converted church, London, 5.95m

St Jude's Church in the heart of West London has been converted into a four-bedroom home that is currently on the market for 5.95million via estate agents Rokstone

The spiral staircase in the converted church is illuminated by light flooding through a magnificent stained glass window

This spiral staircase in a converted church - St Jude's Church in the heart of West London - is illuminated by plenty of light flooding through a magnificent stained glass window.

The property in Kensal Green is now a four-bedroom home and is being sold for 5.95million via estate agents Rokstone.

5. Eight-bed house, Scotland, 499,000

This detached house in Scotland's Dunoon is for sale for 499,000 via estate agents Robb Residential

The staircase may not look out of the ordinary, but on closer inspection, you can see a 'neat under stairs bar'

The staircase at this eight-bedroom property in Scotland may not look out of the ordinary, but on closer inspection, you can see that the owners have created a relaxing seated bar area.

The detached house in Dunoon is for sale for 499,000 via estate agents Robb Residential, which described the welcoming feature as a 'neat under stairs bar'.

6. Five-bed semi-detached house, East London, 1m

This semi-detached property has five bedrooms and is on the market for 1million via Peter Andrews estate agents

The compact under-the-stairs area features wood panelled walls and enough space for a chair

This five-bedroom house in East London also has a 'neat under stairs' feature. But there is no bar, just a single chair to relax in - which is surrounded by wood panelling on the walls.

The semi-detached property is on the market for 1million via Peter Andrews estate agents.

7. Seven-bed townhouse, London, 6.5million

This seven-bedroom London townhouse is on the market for 6.5million via estate agents Savills

An impressive chandelier hangs in the centre of the large staircase that spans across four floors

This seven-bedroom London townhouse has a large staircase across four floors where a long - and expensive - chandelier hangs in the centre. The property is on the market for 6.5million via estate agents Savills.
A 'small' black hole has been discovered in a star cluster 160,000 light years away from Earth, scientists report.

The newly-found black hole was spotted in NGC 1850, a cluster of thousands of stars roughly 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighbour galaxy of the Milky Way.

Astronomers used Very Large Telescope (VLT), located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, to find the black hole, which, despite being described as small, is roughly 11 times the mass of our Sun.

Black holes are regions of spacetime where gravity pulls so much that even light can not get out. They act as intense sources of gravity that hoover up surrounding dust and gas.

This artist's impression shows a compact black hole 11 times as massive as the Sun and the five-solar-mass star orbiting it. The two objects are located in NGC 1850, a cluster of thousands of stars roughly 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a Milky Way neighbour. The distortion of the star's shape is due to the strong gravitational force exerted by the black hole. Not only does the black hole's gravitational force distort the shape of the star, but it also influences its orbit

BLACK HOLES HAVE A GRAVITATIONAL PULL SO STRONG NOT EVEN LIGHT CAN ESCAPE Black holes are so dense and their gravitational pull is so strong that no form of radiation can escape them - not even light. They act as intense sources of gravity which hoover up dust and gas around them. Their intense gravitational pull is thought to be what stars in galaxies orbit around. How they are formed is still poorly understood. Astronomers believe they may form when a large cloud of gas up to 100,000 times bigger than the sun, collapses into a black hole. Many of these black hole seeds then merge to form much larger supermassive black holes, which are found at the centre of every known massive galaxy. Alternatively, a supermassive black hole seed could come from a giant star, about 100 times the sun's mass, that ultimately forms into a black hole after it runs out of fuel and collapses. When these giant stars die, they also go 'supernova', a huge explosion that expels the matter from the outer layers of the star into deep space. Advertisement

The description of the newly-found black hole as 'small' refers to its mass, not diameter, which can't be measured.

At just 11 solar masses, this is barely anything compared to supermassive black holes, which range in size from 1 million to 10 billion times the mass of our Sun.

The research has been led by Dr Sara Saracino from the Astrophysics Research Institute of Liverpool John Moores University.

The team discovered the black hole by looking at how it influences the motion of a star in its close vicinity. It's the first time this detection method has been used to reveal the presence of a black hole outside of our galaxy.

The method could be key to unveiling hidden black holes in the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, and shedding light on how they form and evolve.

'Similar to Sherlock Holmes tracking down a criminal gang from their missteps, we are looking at every single star in this cluster with a magnifying glass in one hand trying to find some evidence for the presence of black holes but without seeing them directly,' Dr Saracino said.

'The result shown here represents just one of the wanted criminals, but when you have found one, you are well on your way to discovering many others, in different clusters.'

As the name suggests, star clusters are groups of hundreds to millions of stars that share a common origin, all gravitationally bound for as long as several billions of years.

There are two types of star clusters  open and globular. Globular clusters are dense balls of about one million ancient stars, all bound by gravity. Open clusters are much younger and smaller than globular clusters.

According to experts at Penn State University, open clusters are usually a few tens of millions or hundreds of millions of years old, while globular clusters are typically about 12 billion to 13 billion years old.

An incredible shot of star cluster NGC 1850, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. NGC 1850 was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop in 1826

SUPERMASSIVE BLACK HOLES ARE AT THE HEART OF GALAXIES Supermassive black holes are objects found at the heart of most galaxies. They have a mass millions to billions of times the mass of the Sun and allow nothing to escape, not even light. In the Milky Way the supermassive black hole is known as Sagittarius A*. There is also a class of ultramassive black holes, with a mass of at least 10 billion times the mass of the son. Even larger ones, with 100 billion times the mass of the sun have been dubbed stupendously large black holes. Advertisement

NGC 1850, discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop in 1826, is defined as a super star cluster, meaning it's an open cluster that's set to become a globular cluster.

The detection in NGC 1850 marks the first time a black hole has been found in a young cluster of stars. NGC 1850 is only around 100 million years old, a blink of an eye on astronomical scales.

'We can't say for sure it is the youngest black hole that has been ever detected as it is very difficult to date black holes detected in the field,' Dr Saracino told MailOnline.

'With its mass of 11 times the mass of the Sun, it is well within the range of possible masses for this type of objects. In other words, it is not extreme.'

To carry out their search of NGC 1850, the team used data collected over two years with the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) mounted at VLT.

'MUSE allowed us to observe very crowded areas, like the innermost regions of stellar clusters, analysing the light of every single star in the vicinity,' said co-author Sebastian Kamann, also at Liverpool's Astrophysics Research Institute.

'The net result is information about thousands of stars in one shot, at least 10 times more than with any other instrument.'

Astronomers were alerted to the presence of a black hole in NGC 1850 by its gravitational influence on a star orbiting it with five times the mass of our Sun  what they call the 'smoking gun'.

The star's 'peculiar motion' signalled the presence of the black hole.

Data from the University of Warsaws Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment and from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope enabled them to measure the mass of the black hole and confirm their findings.

Pictured, instruments that form the Very Large Telescope in the remote, sparsely populated Atacama Desert in northern Chile

Astronomers have previously spotted such small, 'stellar-mass' black holes in other galaxies by picking up the X-ray glow emitted as they swallow matter, or from the gravitational waves generated as black holes collide with one another or with neutron stars  the collapsed cores of giant stars.

However, most stellar-mass black holes dont give away their presence through X-rays or gravitational waves.

'The vast majority can only be unveiled dynamically,' said study co-author Stefan Dreizler at the University of Gottingen, Germany.

'When they form a system with a star, they will affect its motion in a subtle but detectable way, so we can find them with sophisticated instruments.'

ESO's Extremely Large Telescope in Chile, set to start operating later this decade, will allow astronomers to find even more hidden black holes.

'The ELT will definitely revolutionise this field,' said Saracino.

'It will allow us to observe stars considerably fainter in the same field of view, as well as to look for black holes in globular clusters located at much greater distances.'

The finding has been detailed further in a paper published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
It's often thought that dogs are much more interested in their owners than cats are.

But a new study suggests that may not be the case, after finding that felines appear to track humans as they move about the house and are surprised if they turn up somewhere they're not expecting them.

Researchers recorded what happened when 50 domestic cats were individually shut inside a room and played either their owner's voices or a stranger's voice calling the animal's name from one of two speakers.

Keen interest: Research has found cats appear to track their owners as they move about the house and are surprised if they turn up somewhere they're not expecting them (stock image)

Researchers recorded what happened when 50 domestic cats were individually shut inside a room and played their owner's voices calling the animal's name from one of two speakers

THE 'CAT' GUIDELINES Based on a study of interactions between humans and 100 felines in the Battersea Cats & Dogs Home cattery, Dr Finka and colleagues came up with the 'CAT' guidelines: C: Give your cats choice and control over whether or not to interact.

Give your cats and over whether or not to interact. A: Pay attention to your pet's behaviour and body language.

Pay to your pet's behaviour and body language. T: Think about where on your cat's body you are touching . Advertisement

Another group of people, who were not animal behaviour experts, rated the cats' level of surprise from a scale of 0 to 4, based on certain ear and head movements.

The team from Japan then played the sound on another speaker further away, which seemed to surprise the cats, showing that the animals appeared to have a mental representation of where their owner was and were taken aback when they appeared to move.

'It is said that cats are not as interested in their owners as dogs are, but we had doubts about this point,' said lead author Dr Saho Takagi at the University of Kyoto.

'This study shows that cats can mentally map their location based on their owners voice.

'[It suggests] that cats have the ability to picture the invisible in their minds. Cats [may] have a more profound mind than is thought.'

The authors added that their research indicates a 'previously unidentified socio-spatial cognitive ability' in cats.

'Socio-spatial cognition appears strongly related to object permanence, the facility which allows children to eventually hold a representation of an object that goes out of sight,' they added.

'Cats succeed in "visible displacement" tasks where they maintain a representation of an object that was previously in sight but no longer is.

'We found that cats show a similar ability using only auditory information; they maintain a representation of their unseen owner from her voice.

Another group of people, who were not animal behaviour experts, rated the cats' level of surprise from a scale of 0 to 4, based on certain ear and head movements

'We cannot conclude that cats understand "invisible displacement" from our results because it is unclear whether cats were surprised by owner's presence in an unexpected location or by her apparent absence in the expected location.'

Roger Tabor, a biologist and presenter of the BBC TV series Cats, said the findings were not surprising given that tracking things they cannot see is 'critical to a cat's survival'.

'A lot of what a cat has to interpret in its territory is an awareness of where other cats are,' he told the Guardian.

'It is said that cats are not as interested in their owners as dogs are, but we had doubts about this point,' said lead author Dr Saho Takagi at the University of Kyoto (stock image)

'It is also important for hunting: how could a cat catch a field vole moving around beneath the grass if it couldn't use clues, such as the occasional rustle, to see in its minds eye, where they are?

'A cat's owner is extremely significant in its life as a source of food and security, so where we are is very important.'

The study was published in the journal PLOS One.
Giant, human-sized ammonites  extinct relatives of cuttlefish and squid with coiled shells and tentacles  lived on both sides of the Atlantic 80 million years ago.

This is the conclusion of experts led from Heidelberg University, who found fossils of the gargantuan species Parapuzosia seppenradensis in both England and Mexico.

Unearthed near the German town of Ludinghausen in 1895, the type specimen of P. seppenradensis is the largest ammonite known, with a shell 5.7 feet (1.7 m) across.

Few specimens of this scale had been discovered in the last century, leaving unanswered questions about how the species evolved to such an impressive size.

However, the team found P. seppenradensis and its smaller cousin, P. leptophylla, on both sides of the Atlantic, with widths ranging from 0.34.8 feet (0.11.48 m).

Both species have a distinct, five-stage growth cycle, explaining the range of sizes, the team said, with P. seppenradensis likely having evolved from P. leptophylla.

Giant, human-sized ammonites  extinct relatives of cuttlefish and squid with coiled shells and tentacles  lived on both sides of the Atlantic 80 million years ago. Pictured: the type specimen of Parapuzosia seppenradensis, seen here on display in the Westphalian Museum of Natural History in Munster, Germany. The fossil is a whopping 5.7 feet across.

Few specimens of P. seppenradensis' scale had been discovered in the last century, leaving unanswered questions about how the species evolved to such an impressive size. Pictured: an artist's impression of an ammonite, cephalopods which lived from 40965 million years ago

However, experts led from Heidelberg University found P. seppenradensis and its smaller cousin, P. leptophylla, on both sides of the Atlantic, with widths ranging from 0.34.8 feet (0.11.48 m). Pictured: the team found the ammonites in Tepeyac, Mexico (top left) as well as southern England (bottom right). P. seppenradensis was first found in the German town of Ludinghausen in 1895 (far right)

THE LARGEST-KNOWN AMMONITE SPECIES Parapuzosia seppenradensis is the largest known species of ammonite. It lived during the Santonian and Campanian ages (86.372.1 million years ago), within the Late Cretaceous. It was first discovered in the German town of Ludinghausen in 1895, and is now displayed in the Westphalian Museum of Natural History in Munster. The massive marine mollusc's shell alone was 5.7 feet (1.7 metres) across  and the complete creature may have even reached up to 11 feet (3.5 metres). It likely weighed in at some 3,208 pounds (1,455 kilograms). Advertisement

In their study, geologist Andy Gale of the University of Portsmouth and colleagues examined a total of 154 ammonite specimens  some from existing museum collections, but mostly newfound fossils recovered from England and Mexico.

Sixty-six Mexican specimens were unearthed from a dry riverbed near Tepeyac, a village 25 miles north of Piedras Negras.

Dating the fossils based on the sediment layers, the team found P. leptophylla to come from the late Santonian age (86.383.6 million years ago)  while reaching up to 3.2 feet (1 metres) wide.

In contrast, the P. seppenradensis specimens were all younger, hailing from later still in the Santonian and early in the Campanian age (83.6 million to 72.1 million years ago) that followed it.

The oldest of the P. seppenradensis fossils only reached 3.2 feet in width  like P. leptophylla  but, the team noted, larger sizes began to appear in the fossil record by the middle early Campanian.

The researchers said that they were surprised to find both Parapuzosia species on both sides of the Atlantic.

The specimens unearthed in the UK came from Peacehaven, on the East Sussex coast  and from the chalk cliffs of east Kent, specifically at Kingsgate Bay, Minnis Bay and Palm Bay.

Parapuzosia fossils, Professor Gale explained, are 'commonly found in the chalk on the foreshore at Peacehaven in East Sussex, where erosion by the sea has exposed moulds of the shells.'

'The largest specimens are females, which probably spawned once and subsequently died.

'The chambered shells were buoyant, and floated in the chalk sea for a long time before finally sinking to the bottom, where they have been preserved for millions of years,' he added.

Both species have a distinct, five-stage growth cycle (depicted  in which new chambers would have been added onto the whorl as the creature's soft body expanded), explaining the range of sizes, the team said, with P. seppenradensis likely having evolved from P. leptophylla

Unearthed near the German town of Ludinghausen in 1895, the type specimen of P. seppenradensis (pictured) is the largest ammonite known, with a shell 5.7 feet (1.7 m) across

'These giants occur, apparently, at more or less the same time on both sides of the Atlantic,' said paper author and palaeontologist Christina Ifrim of the Heidelberg University told Live Science.

'There must have been a connection between the populations of both sides, because they show the same evolution, the same timing.'

The researchers believe that the fossil-rich locations in England and Mexico likely represent ammonite mating or hatching sites.

Here, the large cephalopods may have completed their reproductive cycles before perishing shortly afterwards  a behaviour seen in some cuttlefish and squid today.

It remains unclear, however, exactly how both species ended up on opposite sides of the Atlantic, especially given that ammonites are thought to be relatively slow swimmers, much like their present-day lookalikes, the nautiloids.

Perhaps, Dr Ifrim speculated, giant ammonites may have been able to move around faster than their smaller counterparts. Alternatively, it could be that the cephalopods were more easily swept along by ocean currents in their smaller, juvenile stages.

Dating the fossils based on the sediment layers, the team found P. leptophylla to come from the late Santonian age (86.383.6 million years ago)  while reaching up to 3.2 feet (1 metres) wide. In contrast, the P. seppenradensis specimens were all younger, hailing from later still in the Santonian and early in the Campanian age (83.6 million to 72.1 million years ago) that followed it. The oldest of the P. seppenradensis fossils only reached 3.2 feet in width  like P. leptophylla  but, the team noted, larger sizes began to appear in the fossil record by the middle early Campanian. Pictured: Parapuzosia distribution from the SantonianEarly Campanian. The size of the dots reflects specimen abundance. Locations highlighted include Europe's Cretaceous Basins (CB), the Gulf of Mexio (GM) and Western Interior Seaway (WIS)

It remains unclear exactly how both P. seppenradensis and P. leptophylla ended up on opposite sides of the Atlantic, especially given that ammonites are thought to be relatively slow swimmers, much like their present-day lookalikes, the nautiloids (pictured)

The research has highlighted a possible evolutionary path from the more modestly sized P. leptophylla to the larger and more recent P. seppenradensis  helping to explain how the record-breaking giants first evolved.

Exactly why they evolved so big, meanwhile, is still a subject for debate. One theory suggests that it was a response to the emergence of larger predators.

'The gigantisms shown by the two species studied here may be a coevolution to the size increase in mosasaurs,' the researchers wrote in their paper.

'These are known to have predated upon ammonoids and considerably increase in size during the Santonian-early Campanian parallel to Parapuzosia.

'However, the subsequent [shrinking] of Parapuzosia from the late early Campanian on is clearly unrelated to the further increase in size of mosasaurs.'

Furthermore, Dr Ifrim told Live Science, there is no direct evidence that mosasaurs interacted with P. seppenradensis specifically.

The full findings of the study were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The research has highlighted a possible evolutionary path from the more modestly sized P. leptophylla to the larger and more recent P. seppenradensis  helping to explain how the record-breaking giants first evolved. Exactly why they evolved so big, meanwhile, is still a subject for debate. One theory suggests that it was a response to the emergence of larger predators. 'The gigantisms shown by the two species studied here may be a coevolution to the size increase in mosasaurs,' the researchers wrote in their paper. Pictured: a mosasaur
It is known as Earth's evil twin and has largely been ignored by NASA for the past 30 years because many scientists believed it to be a 'dead' planet.

But now the US space agency is planning to send two new $500million (352m) probes to Venus and has shared a fascinating video of what will happen when one of them plummets to its surface in the early 2030s.

It allows viewers to take a ride through the planet's acrid atmosphere to see what science experiments the DAVINCI+ spacecraft will carry out on its way to landing on the hellish world.

Earlier this year NASA administrator Bill Nelson revealed that both missions to the second planet from the sun that are expected to launch within the next 10 years.

Exploration: NASA is planning to send two new $500million (352m) probes to Venus and has shared a video of what will happen when one of them plummets to its surface in the 2030s

Parachuting in: The video allows viewers to take a ride through the planet's acrid atmosphere to see what science experiments the DAVINCI+ probe will carry out before landing

The probe (pictured in the animation) will also aim to determine whether Venus  which is the hottest planet in the solar system with a surface temperature of 500C  ever had an ocean

VENUS: THE BASICS Venus, the second planet from the sun, is a rocky world about the same size and mass as the Earth. However, its atmosphere is radically different to ours - being 96 per cent carbon dioxide and having a surface temperature of 867F (464C) and pressure 92 times that of on the Earth. The inhospitable planet is swaddled in clouds of sulphuric acid that make the surface impossible to glimpse. In the past, it has been suggested that Venus likely had oceans similar to Earth's - but these would have vaporised as it underwent a runaway greenhouse effect. The surface of Venus is a dry desertscape, which is periodically changed by volcanic activity. Facts and Figures Orbital period: 225 days Surface area: 460.2 million km Distance from Sun: 108.2 million km Length of day: 116d 18h 0m Radius: 6,051.8 km Mass: 4.867  10^24 kg (0.815 M) Advertisement

One, dubbed VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy), will orbit Venus and peer through its thick clouds to map the surface.

The aim is to understand the planet's geological history and investigate why it developed so differently to Earth. It could also discover whether volcanoes and earthquakes are still happening on Venus.

But DAVINCI+ (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging), will go one step further by actually landing on the hothouse world.

As it drops to the surface the high-tech probe will measure the planet's acrid atmosphere to understand how it formed and evolved.

It will also aim to determine whether Venus  which is the hottest planet in the solar system with a surface temperature of 900F (500C)  ever had an ocean.

NASA has now released a new video to illustrate the science DAVINCI+ will carry out on our twin world.

'Venus is waiting for us all, and DAVINCI+ is ready to take us there and ignite a new Venus renaissance,' said Giada Arney, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

DAVINCI+ is scheduled to launch to Venus in 2029, a year after VERITAS, and has two main phases of its mission.

First, the spacecraft will carry out two flybys of the planet to study its atmosphere and the nightside surface.

It will observe how the clouds change over time and attempt to identify a mysterious chemical that absorbs ultraviolet light.

It will also look for noble gases  such as helium, neon, argon and krypton  in the atmosphere and find out why Venus is a 'runaway hothouse' when compared to Earth.

During its nightside work, when the planet releases its absorbed heat, the probe will map the surface in infrared light in an effort to understand how the world's odd highlands formed.

Seven months after the two flybys, the craft will make a one-hour descent through the clouds, beaming back data all the way down to its landing site Alpha Regio.

Incoming: As it drops to the surface, the DAVINCI+ probe will measure Venus' atmosphere to understand how it formed and evolved. It will then take high resolution images before landing

DAVINCI+ is scheduled to launch to Venus in 2029 and has two main phases of its mission

First, the spacecraft will carry out two flybys of the planet to study its atmosphere and the nightside surface

It will observe how the clouds change over time and attempt to identify a mysterious chemical that absorbs ultraviolet light

WHAT ARE NASA'S TWO NEW MISSIONS TO VENUS? In June NASA announced that it is sending two new missions to Venus to examine the planet's atmosphere and geological features. They will be the first US probes sent to explore the hellish world in 30 years. The missions, which have each been awarded $500million (352m) in funding, are: DAVINCI+ Pictured: The Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging probe (DAVINCI+) that will carry out flybys of Venus and land on its surface What does it stand for? Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry, and Imaging What will it do? As it drops to the surface the high-tech probe will measure Venus' acrid atmosphere to understand how it formed and evolved. It will also aim to determine whether Venus  which is the hottest planet in the solar system with a surface temperature of 500C  ever had an ocean. As it heads toward the surface, DAVINCI+ is expected to return the first high resolution images of the planet's 'tesserae' geological features in Alpha Regio. Scientists believe these features could be comparable to continents on Earth and may possibly suggest that Venus has plate tectonics. When will it launch? 2029 When will its scientific experiments begin? The spacecraft will carry out two flybys of the planet in 2030 to study its atmosphere and the nightside surface. Seven months after the two flybys, the craft will make a one-hour descent through the clouds, beaming back data all the way down to its landing site Alpha Regio. What could its big discovery be? Whether Venus ever had an ocean. VERITAS Pictured: The Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy (VERITAS) probe that will orbit Venus and peer through its clouds to map the surface What does it stand for? Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy What will it do? VERITAS will orbit Venus and peer through its thick clouds to map the surface. The aim is to understand the planet's geological history and investigate why it developed so much differently than Earth. When will it launch? 2028 What could its big discovery be? Whether volcanoes and earthquakes are still happening on Venus. Advertisement

It will detect the composition, temperatures, pressures and winds present at each layer of the Venusian atmosphere.

As it heads toward the surface, DAVINCI+ is expected to return the first high resolution images of the planet's 'tesserae' geological features in Alpha Regio.

Scientists believe these features could be comparable to continents on Earth and may possibly suggest that Venus has plate tectonics.

With its mission the probe will show humans 'what it might be like to stand on the Venus surface,' Arney said.

'The discoveries that emerge from this diverse data set will tell us whether Venus was truly habitable.'

In June, James Garvin, the principal investigator for DAVINCI+ at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said: 'Venus is a "Rosetta stone" for reading the record books of climate change, the evolution of habitability, and what happens when a planet loses a long period of surface oceans.

'But Venus is "hard" since every clue is hidden behind the curtain of a massive opaque atmosphere with inhospitable conditions for surface exploration, so we have to be clever and bring our best "tools of science" to Venus in innovative ways with missions like DAVINCI+.

The high-tech probe will measure the planet's acrid atmosphere to understand how it formed

As it heads toward the surface, DAVINCI+ is expected to return the first high resolution images of the planet's 'tesserae' geological features in Alpha Regio

The probe will also aim to determine whether Venus ever had an ocean in its distant past

NASA is returning to Venus for the first time in 30 years, launching two $500million missions

'That is why we named our mission DAVINCI+ after Leonardo da Vinci's inspired and visionary Renaissance thinking that went beyond science to connect to engineering, technology, and even art.'

NASA has sent two missions to Venus in recent memory: the Pioneer-Venus project in 1978 and Magellan.

Magellan, which returned to the planet in August 1990, spent more than four years observing Venus until radio contact was lost on October 12, 1994.

Japan's Akatsuki is the only spacecraft currently orbiting the planet.

In 2019, researchers said Venus may have had stable temperatures in its past and could have had 'liquid water' for 2 to 3 billion years.

Approximately 700 million years ago, it underwent a 'dramatic transformation' possibly due to volcanic eruptions  that completely altered the planet.

Venus presently has a surface temperature of 864 degrees Fahrenheit (462C).
Scientists have developed an environmentally-friendly 'vegan' glitter from cellulose  the main building block of cell walls in plants, fruits and vegetables.

The biodegradable glitter, developed at the University of Cambridge, is made from cellulose nanocrystals, which can bend light in such a way to create various vivid colours.

It's just as sparkly as regular glitter and due to its natural plant-based origins can be used to jazz up food and drink, like a glass of champagne on special occasions.

The colour of the vegan glitter particles can also be changed depending on how much water they come into contact with.

Although further work on the manufacturing process is still needed, the researchers are hoping to form a spin-out company to make their glitter commercially available in the coming years.

Blue and gold 'vegan' glitter prepared from peeled large scale films. The particles are biodegradable, plastic-free and non-toxic

Close-up of the vegan flakes, which will be available in different colours. It could completely replace regular glitter, which is made from plastic and can poison wildlife

THE PROBLEM WITH REGULAR GLITTER Glitter particles make their way into water sources, leading scientists to call a complete ban. Because glitter is so small, marine life is mistaking it for food, which in turn is damaging their livers and affecting their behavior functions. And every tiny sparkly bit takes thousands of years to break down. The US and UK have taken steps towards banning glitter, by outlawing cosmetics and care products containing microbeads. Advertisement

Regular glitter is used in school classrooms, nurseries and arts and crafts, as well as make-up popular with teenagers and festival goers alike.

But the problem with it is it's made from tiny pieces of plastic, making it as bad for the environment as the toxic microbeads that have already been banned from cosmetics.

Tiny glitter particles can make their way into water sources, where marine life can mistake them for tiny food particles, blocking their digestive tracts.

It can also damage the eyes  the British Medical Journal has previously urged doctors to look out for patients complaining of swollen eyes and vision loss after a 49-year-old woman was almost blinded by glitter.

'Conventional pigments, like your everyday glitter, are not produced sustainably,' said Professor Silvia Vignolini from Cambridge's Department of Chemistry, senior author of a paper describing the new glitter.

'They get into the soil, the ocean and contribute to an overall level of pollution. Consumers are starting to realise that while glitters are fun, they also have real environmental harms.'

Glitter is a type of very large pigment, which belongs to a category that is referred to as 'effect pigment' in the industry  in essence, a pigment that gives off fancy colours.

Typically, glitter consists of a layer of polymer, a thin coloured layer and a reflective layer often made of aluminum. These are bonded into a thin sheet, then cut into tiny shapes.

But these pieces can't be recycled because it's difficult to break them down into component parts.

Jazzle up your beer or champagne with some environmentally-friendly 'vegan' glitter. Researchers are hoping to form a spin-out company to make their glitter commercially available in the coming years

The photograph shows three vials containing the vegan glitter in three different solvents: water, an ethanol-water mixture and ethanol. The particles are the same in the three vials, but the colour difference between the three vials results from the ability of water to swell the structure of the particles

When they do not use synthetic polymers for their glitter, companies often use mica and titanium dioxide combined into an effect pigment.

However, titanium dioxide has recently been banned in the EU for food application due to its potential cancer-causing effects.

Extraction of mica, meanwhile, often takes place in developing countries that may rely on exploitative practices, including child labour.

'Traditionally, effect pigment minerals have to be heated at temperatures as high as 800C [1,472F] to form pigment particles,' said study author Benjamin Droguet at Cambridge.

'When you consider the quantity of mineral effect pigments that is produced worldwide, you realise that their use is harmful to the planet.'

Regular glitter (pictured) is made from tiny pieces of plastic - making it as bad for the environment as the toxic microbeads that have been banned from cosmetics.

Pictured is the cellulose suspension dried on a 2 coin. It's possible to cast cellulose nanocrystals not only on flat surfaces but also on textured ones

To make their vegan substitute, the researchers start with cellulose nanocrystals  unique nanomaterials derived from the most abundant and almost inexhaustible natural polymer, cellulose.

Cellulose nanocrystals can bend light in such a way to create vivid colours. The same phenomenon produces some of the brightest colours in nature, such as those of butterfly wings and peacock feathers.

Vivid hues given off by cellulose nanocrystals also do not fade, even after a century, according to the researchers.

The team began with a commercially available batch of cellulose nanocrystals extracted from plants such as wood, although they could be extracted from any type of agricultural waste congaing cellulose.

'These nanocrystals have the ability to self-assemble spontaneously upon water removal into structures which reflect light (the colour you see),' Droguet told MailOnline.

'We deposit the cellulose liquid material over a substrate that is moved on an industrial scale machine and let the cellulose liquid material dry over this substrate.

'After complete drying, we retrieve films that reflect a colour. These films can then be ground into particles of different sizes.'

The photo shows several films of cellulose nanocrystal that has been deposited over a plastic web using a roll-to-roll coating process

The glitter is made from cellulose nanocrystals, which can bend light in such a way to create vivid colours through a process called structural colour. The same phenomenon produces some of the brightest colours in nature - such as those of butterfly wings and peacock feathers

Photo shows a film of cellulose nanocrystal that has been deposited and dried over a plastic web being peeled off and carried for subsequent processing, all usng a roll-to-roll machine

Films of cellulose nanocrystals prepared by the team were made at scale using roll-to-roll processes like those used to make paper from wood pulp.

The whole process is far less energy-intensive than conventional methods, but is also compatible with existing industrial-scale machines, the researchers claim.

Vegan glitter could be used to replace plastic glitter particles and tiny mineral effect pigments which are widely used in cosmetics.

In Europe, the cosmetics industry uses about 5,500 tonnes of microplastics every year.

'The technology we developed allows to produce both large coloured particles (that can be used as your everyday glitter) and smaller particles that can be used for a glittery effect such as in make-up,' Droguet told MailOnline.

'"Your everyday glitter is in this context the most well-known effect pigment as it is made of big particles that people see and use for celebratory events.

'People are less aware of smaller "effect pigment particles but the fact is that they encounter them in their daily life without thinking about it.

'For instance, 30 per cent of car paints in Europe contain [the smaller] effect pigments to give the sparkly appearance that customers like.'

The vegan glitter has been detailed further in the study, published in the journal Nature Materials.
An unsuspecting homeowner in Colorado stumbled upon an extremely scarce discovery from the comfort of their own home  a black-footed ferret scurrying about their garage.

The ferret, considered the 'rarest mammal in North America,' was found in an unnamed homeowner's garage late on Monday in Pueblo West, Colorado, about two hours outside Denver, according to a statement from Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

It's unclear how the ferret got into the garage or why it left the colony but the homeowner was able to safely get the animal into a box while waiting for officials to rescue it and return it to safely to the land.

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The home is near Walker Ranch where the government agency has released black-footed ferrets on a prairie dog colony in a conservation effort to restore the mammal's population in North America.

An unsuspecting Colorado homeowner found a black-footed ferret scurrying in their garage

The endangered ferret is the rarest mammal in North America and was found late on Monday in Pueblo West

'We don't know exactly why this black-footed ferret left the colony,' said Ed Schmal, CPW conservation biologist, in a statement.

'We put them into prairie dog burrows but they may not stay. Sometimes they scramble around the colony to find the right home.

'This one might have gotten pushed out by other ferrets and it went looking for a new home. We really don't know.'

Schmal added that CPW has only received one other report of a black-footed ferret leaving the ranch, but this is the first time they have heard of a ferret going into a garage.

'This is extremely rare,' Schmal continued. 'Black-footed ferrets are nocturnal and extremely shy.

It's unclear how the ferret got into the garage, located near Walker Ranch where experts have released the mammals in the past

'For some reason, this one left the colony and was seeking shelter. We're just glad it appeared healthy, not starving or sick, and we were able to capture it and return it to the colony.'

Since 2013, more than 120 black-footed ferrets have been released on the ranch, CPW said in the statement.

In addition, they have monitored the colonies and distributed vaccines in hopes of protecting both the ferrets and prairie dogs, their primary source of food and shelter.

Eventually, the black-footed ferret was brought back to the ranch and re-released into the colony

Two weeks ago, nine ferrets were released on a 1,600 acre prairie dog colony near the ranch, the first time reintroduction efforts resumed since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This was done to help officials protect the endangered mammal from the virus.

The officials scanned the ferret's microchip and determined it was one of the nine that were released on the ranch a few weeks ago.

Upon its return to the colony, the endangered ferret quickly zoomed off into a prairie dog burrow

Eventually, the ferret was brought back to the ranch at night and re-released into the colony, where it quickly zoomed off into a prairie dog burrow, which they use for shelter.

In 2015, scientists used frozen sperm from a ferret known as 'Scarface' in an effort to help keep the species alive.

A year later, 35 black-footed ferrets were reintroduced in Wyoming by biologists after a local dog found the last remaining population.

Earlier this year, a black-footed ferret known a Elizabeth Ann became the first endangered species to be cloned in the U.S.

A Wyoming rancher discovered a small population of ferrets on his ranch in 1981, and animals from this group  including Willa  were used to start a breeding program.

In 1988, Tissue samples from Willa were sent to San Diego Zoo's Frozen Zoo, which maintains a 'catalog' of genetic material from over a thousand endangered species.

That enabled scientists to eventually clone Elizabeth Ann.

Conservationists have fought valiantly to preserve the critically endangered animal for decades: the black-footed ferret was listed as endangered in 1967 and considered extinct in the wild in 1979.

There are now thought to be 400 or 500 in the wild, with numbers rising gradually thanks to conservation efforts by zoos, wildlife organizations and Native American tribes.

The species is still threatened by habitat loss a decrease in the number of prairie dogs, their chief food source, caused by a bacterial infection known as sylvatic plague.
A mass grave of 25 to 30 skeletons has been unearthed in the ancient Peruvian city of Chan Chan, which archaeologists believe is the resting place of the societys elite members.

The remains were discovered in a small space measuring just 107 square feet, roughly 10 feet long and 10 feet wide, located inside what was once the capital of the Chimu empire that reached its height in the 15th century before falling to the Incas in 1470 AD.

Archaeologist Jorge Menese told Reuters that although this ancient society is known for human sacrifices, there is no evidence suggesting that this occurred at the site.

However, researchers plan to conduct tests in the future to determine each of the individuals cause of death.

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A mass grave of 25 to 30 skeletons has been unearthed in the ancient Peruvian city of Chan Chan, which archaeologists believe is the resting place of the societys elite members

The Chimu were a pre-Incan culture that emerged out of the remnants of the Moche culture along the coast of Peru in 900 AD.

These ancient people lived in a strip of desert, 20 to 100 miles, in the South American country, between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes.

It's thought that the Chimu culture peaked in the first half of the 14th century, developing a complex civilization with different levels of social hierarchy.

Most of the mass graves found in and around the ancient city were a result of human sacrifice, but Menese said the position of these 25 to 30 skeletons suggest they were buried shortly after the person had died.

The remains were discovered in a small space measuring just 107 square feet, roughly 10 feet long and 10 feet wide, located inside what was once the capital of the Chimu empire that reached its height in the 15th cent

Archaeologist Jorge Menese told Reuters that although this ancient society is known for human sacrifices, there is no evidence suggesting this at the site that contains skeletons of men, women and children

Archaeologist Sinthya Cueva said in a video shot at the site that although the remains are of men, women and children, most are women no older than 30.

The Chimu empire is famous for human sacrifices, specifically one uncovered in 2019 that is the largest the world has ever seen.

More than 140 children, along with llamas, were found slaughtered in what is thought to be a mass sacrifice to appease the gods of a now extinct religion.

Many of the children and juvenile animals had their hearts cut out during the grisly ritual.

The children ranged in age from five to 14 years old.

Archaeologist Sinthya Cueva said in a video shot at the site that although the remains are of men, women and children, most are women no older than 30

The Chimu were a pre-Incan culture that emerged out of the remnants of the Moche culture along the coast of Peru in 900AD

It is thought a huge El Nino caused major flooding and storms which triggered the bloody sacrifice.

Analysis of the remains of more than 200 juvenile llamas and humans dates it to approximately 1450, during the peak of the Chimu civilization in northern coastal Peru.

More than 140 children, along with llamas, were found slaughtered in what is thought to be a mass sacrifice to appease the gods of a now extinct religion. Many of the children and juvenile animals had their hearts cut out during the grisly ritual

Study author John Verano, professor of anthropology at Tulane University, said: 'This site opens a new chapter on the practice of child sacrifice in the ancient world.

'This archaeological discovery was a surprise to all of us - we had not seen anything like this before, and there was no suggestion from ethnohistoric sources or historic accounts of child or camelid sacrifices being made on such a scale in northern coastal Peru.

'We were fortunate to be able to completely excavate the site and to have a multidisciplinary field and laboratory team to do the excavation and preliminary analysis of the material.'
Instagram is testing a new feature that gives users reminders when theyve spent too long on the app.

The feature, called Take a Break, lets users opt-in to receive prompts to stop using the photo-sharing app  every 10, 20 or 30 minutes.

Take a Break is rolling out as part of a test for a small sample of Instagram users, but all accounts could get it 'in a month or two'.

If it does get a full rollout following user feedback, Take a Break could help cut 'Instagram addiction', which has been linked to harmful effects on mental health.

INSTAGRAM DITCHES ITS SWIPE-UP LINK FEATURE Whether it's a breaking news article or a delicious recipe, there are often times that it's useful to add links to your Stories on Instagram. While the social media app previously had the option to add swipe-up links on Stories, this feature was limited to accounts with more than 10,000 followers. Now, Instagram is ditching the swipe-up link feature in favour of a link sticker, which is available to all accounts. Read more: Instagram ditches swipe-up link feature in favour of a link sticker Advertisement

Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri outlined Take a Break in a video posted to his Twitter account.

'What we're starting to test this week on Instagram is one that I'm actually personally very excited about,' he says in the video.

'It's called Take a Break and it does what you think it does. If you opt-in it encourages you to take a break from Instagram after you spend a certain amount of time on the app  10, 20, 30 minutes.

'You're going to see this, if you're in the test, over the coming days. If you don't see it, you will hopefully get it in a month or two, once we get to a place where we're comfortable enough launching it to everybody on Instagram. So keep an eye out.'

Take a Break comes in the form of a prompt displayed in users' feeds, rather than a pop-up that takes over the entire screen.

The prompt says: 'Want a break? Regular breaks can help you reset. You can now turn on reminders to take breaks when it makes sense for you.'

Users then have the chance to tap 'Turn on' or 'Not now'. If they select 'Turn on', they can choose to get reminders to take a break for either 10, 20 or 30 minutes.

Instagram then offers users helpful suggestions of what they can do instead of scrolling Instagram.

Take a Break comes in the form of a prompt displayed in users' feeds (pictured), rather than a pop-up that takes over the entire screen

These suggestions include 'take a few deep breaths', 'listen to your favourite song' and 'do something on your to-do list'.

Instagram, which is owned by social media giant Meta (formerly Facebook), has recently faced intense scrutiny over how it lures its users to spend excessive amounts of time on its apps.

App algorithms can identify the sort of content that users engage with the most, and then ramp out that particular type of content to keep them hooked.

Last month, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen said 'Instagram may never be safe for 14-year-olds', after the tech giant's own research suggested children are turning into app addicts.

Take a Break could help cut 'Instagram addiction', which has been linked to harmful effects on mental health (stock image)

The former employee said Facebook knew Instagram is dangerous for young people but did not want to act because 'young users are the future of the platform and the earlier they get them the more likely they'll get them hooked'.

Haugen also said the platform was unwilling to sacrifice 'even a slither of profit' for safety improvements.

Also last month, scientists at University of Technology Sydney revealed there are 46 harmful effects linked to the use of social media, and not all of them were mental health related.
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'Prada! In the middle of nowhere?'

So remarks Marge Simpson in an episode of The Simpsons that made a real-life but fake Prada store in Texas even more irresistible as a photo-op pitstop, following a serious boost in its allure by Beyonce, who posted a picture of herself jumping in front of it to Instagram.

The bizarre 'Prada store' sits by the road in the middle of the West Texas desert and contains genuine items from the 2005 Prada collection, including 20 pairs of heels and six handbags. But you can't buy them.

The bizarre fake Prada store in Texas that has proved to be an irresistible photo-op for travellers

The fake Prada store - 'Prada Marfa'- made a cameo on an episode of The Simpsons in 2019

Beyonce posted a picture of herself outside Prada Marfa on Instagram. It's had over 500,000 likes

The store - called Prada Marfa after the nearby town of Marfa in the Chihuahuan desert (although it's technically in Valentine) - is actually a permanent art installation, built in 2005 by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, two Scandinavian artists based in Berlin.

The Art Production Fund (APF) and Ballroom Marfa, a centre of contemporary art and culture, helped finance the project, while head designer of Prada, Miuccia Prada, handpicked the merchandise for the store's interior.

She also gave permission to Elmgreen and Dragset to use the Prada logo.

It was originally built as a protest against the high-priced commercialism that was gentrifying U.S. cities in the 1990s. The artwork was to disappear over time and erode into the landscape before anyone could even notice it.

However, rather than fading away, the fake Prada store has been a runaway success.

Beyonce posted her Instagram picture in 2014, with no comment.

So far, it's had over 500,000 likes.

Prada Marfa's Simpsons cameo came in 2019, with Homer relieving himself around the back of the building after Marge's exclamation, claiming 'it's on the side of the road, so by definition it is a bathroom'.

The store is a permanent art installation, built by Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset, Scandinavian artists based in Berlin

The Art Production Fund (APF) and Ballroom Marfa, a centre of contemporary art and culture, helped finance the project, while head designer of Prada, Miuccia Prada, handpicked the merchandise for the store's interior

The store contains genuine items from the 2005 Prada collection, including 20 pairs of heels and six handbags

The minimalist fake shop sits on U.S. Highway 90 at about 26 miles north of Marfa, waiting for people to take pictures of it standing in front of the West Texan desert, often including a beautiful sunset behind it

Prada Marfa was referenced on Gossip Girl

The producers of Gossip Girl also put the store in the limelight, with a sign orientating directions to it appearing in the penthouse of the Van Der Woodsens.

Today, it's a popular destination for fashionistas, millennials, bloggers, travellers and photographers, with the hashtag #pradamarfa included on more than 72,000 Instagram posts to date.

The minimalist fake shop sits on U.S. Highway 90 at about 26 miles north of Marfa, waiting for people to take pictures of it standing in front of the West Texan desert, often including a beautiful sunset behind it.

It's only 1.4 miles northwest of Valentine, Texas, the closest town to it.

In 2013, the Texas Department of Transportation branded Prada Marfa as 'illegal advertising' - a billboard that didn't fit permitted specifications. To avoid removal, in 2014, the structure was reclassified as a museum, with Prada Marfa as its only exhibit.
One of three men charged with supplying the pills laced with fentanyl that rapper Mac Miller took before his fatal 2018 overdose has agreed to plead guilty to drug distribution, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Wednesday.

Miller, 26, died at his home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City after crushing and snorting the pills on September 7, 2018. An autopsy found he had suffered an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.

Ryan Michael Reavis, who was indicted alongside two other men in the case, will plead guilty in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to a single count of fentanyl possession, a DOJ spokesperson said in a written statement.

The latest: Ryan Michael Reavis, 38, one of three men charged with supplying the pills laced with fentanyl that rapper Mac Miller took before his fatal 2018 overdose, has agreed to plead guilty to drug distribution, authorities said Wednesday. He was snapped in a 2019 mug shot

Reavis, 38, has admitted as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors that he supplied counterfeit oxycodone pills to co-defendant Cameron James Petit, 30.

Petit is accused of selling them to Miller.

Prosecutors say Reavis has admitted he distributed the drugs at the direction of co-defendant Stephen Andrew Walter, 48, knowing that they contained fentanyl.

Reavis lived in Los Angeles at the time but moved to Arizona before his 2019 arrest.

Miller, snapped in NYC in 2016, died at 26 in his home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Studio City after crushing and snorting the pills on September 7, 2018

Miller was snapped performing in NY in October of 2016

Walter has also agreed to plead guilty in the case, according to prosecutors. The case against Petit is still pending. Both men were expected to enter their pleas in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles sometime in the next few weeks.

Reavis faces as many as 20 years in custody and lifetime supervised release, TMZ reported, adding that he would likely get a shorter sentence after accepting a plea deal in the case.

Reavis was arrested in September of 2019 at his Lake Havasu City, Arizona home after authorities with the FBI and DEA found drugs, a doctor's prescription pad and multiple weapons on the property, the outlet reported.

The Pittsburgh-born Miller, born Malcolm James McCormick, won a following as a teenager and topped the Billboard album charts with his 2011 debut album, Blue Slide Park.

He was posthumously nominated for a Grammy for his final album, Swimming.
Former Kyle and Jackie O Show newsreader Geoff Field has sparked concern for his welfare after announcing a sudden hiatus from social media.

The former 2Day FM employee, 61, notified friends and family on Facebook on Wednesday he would be taking a break 'due to private matters'.

But his post had a worrying tone because he told his loved ones 'don't ask why'.

Is everything okay? Former Kyle and Jackie O Show newsreader Geoff Field has sparked concern for his welfare after announcing a sudden hiatus from social media

His Facebook post read: 'Due to private matters, I will be off social media for a while - please don't ask why. Talk soon and take care.'

A spokesperson for KIIS FM, which never employed Field because he'd left The Kyle and Jackie O Show before it moved from 2Day FM, said they 'hope that Geoff's okay'.

It comes several years after Field repaired his relationship with former co-host Kyle Sandilands.

Cryptic: Field told friends on Facebook on Wednesday he'd be taking a break 'due to private matters', but his post had a worrying tone because he told his loved ones 'don't ask why'

The newsreader confessed he would 'never' work with Sandilands or Jackie 'O' Henderson again after walking off their radio show in 2010.

But his six-year feud with his former colleagues ended in 2016 when Field kissed Sandilands while paying a surprise visit to The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Field later told The Sydney Morning Herald: 'All was forgotten. We hugged each other. Kyle and I had a quick kiss. For me, it was closure.'

'All was forgotten': It comes several years after Field repaired his relationship with former co-host Kyle Sandilands. They kissed in 2016 after Field paid a surprise visit to the KIIS FM studios

Field previously worked on the Sydney breakfast show during its run on 2Day FM between 2003 and 2010.

His relationship with Sandilands soured before his departure from the program.

'There was a disagreement. I felt things were getting nasty towards the end,' he said.

Sandilands' on-air ribbing was standard, but tensions escalated when he described Field as 'like a stepchild you can't get rid of' and 'closer to dumb than most people think.'

'Things were getting nasty towards the end': Field previously worked on the Sydney breakfast show during its run on 2Day FM between 2003 and 2010. His relationship with Sandilands soured before his departure from the program

After leaving Kyle and Jackie O, Field moved to the drive-time Hamish and Andy Show, which he said he 'loved'.

He wrote in a 2015 blog post: 'I had five mainly good years on the [Kyle and Jackie O] breakfast show, but in March 2010 things had changed. It wasn't fun anymore.'

He added bluntly: 'I decided never to work with either host again.'

'For me, it was closure': Building bridges with Sandilands and co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (right) after leaving their breakfast show on bad terms seemed to be important to Field

After 18 years reading the news for 2Day FM, Field was sacked in 2015 and replaced by Dancing with the Stars winner Emma Freedman.

'After I was let go from 2Day FM, I was initially angry,' he said at the time.

'In retrospect leaving there was a great thing, because I had almost 19 years with the company, and it's time for me to look at doing something different.

'Being away from the day to day things that go with our industry - like ratings, line-ups, scandals etc - puts things into perspective, where you realise what is really important in life.'
Jackie 'O' Henderson has defended Lisa Wilkinson after Mark Latham slammed her during a parliamentary address for 'always being about the money' following the release of her tell-all memoir, It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This.

NSW One Nation leader Mr Latham, 60, blasted the former Today show host, 61, for 'reinventing herself as a victim of the gender pay gap at Channel Nine' on Wednesday under parliamentary privilege in the state's Upper House.

He also said an old classmate alleged she 'would take the free promotional merchandise' from her days working at Dolly and Cleo 'and sell them at the weekend markets and pocket the funds' - a comment which didn't sit well with Henderson, 46.

Speaking out: Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured) has leapt to the defence of Lisa Wilkinson, after Mark Latham slammed her during a parliamentary address on Wednesday for 'always being about the money' following the release of her tell-all memoir, It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This

She said on The Kyle and Jackie O show on Thursday: 'Big deal! Can I just say something? [Latham] doesn't know for sure that she was editor at this point.

'Lisa could have been just starting out, and when you're working in the magazine world, you're not getting paid a lot of money - especially when you first start.

'She could have been getting paid $10,000 a year, like I was when I first started. And the fact that she's getting freebies and selling them at the market - who cares? Good on her!'

'I know why you're coming to her defence,' her co-host Kyle Sandilands chimed in. 'You don't set up a little store down at the Glebe Markets, but I know you recycle a lot of your...'

Shots fired: NSW One Nation leader Mr Latham (pictured) blasted the former Today show host, 61, for 'reinventing herself as a victim of the gender pay gap at Channel Nine' on Wednesday under parliamentary privilege in the state's Upper House. He also said an old classmate alleged Wilkinson 'would take the free promotional merchandise' from her days working at Dolly and Cleo 'and sell them at the weekend markets and pocket the funds'

'I re-gift stuff,' Henderson admitted. 'Back in the day, if you had to do that to get a bit more money, then good on her.'

She also commented on Mr Latham claiming the same old classmate had said: 'We went to Campbelltown High together and she couldn't get out of here fast enough.'

Henderson, who worked with Lisa Wilkinson for a year on The Morning Shift in 2000, responded: 'And someone saying she "couldn't get out of Campbelltown fast enough" - that's nasty. You don't know. It's just gossiping.'

She then wondered if Wilkinson regretted releasing her memoir in the first place given the amount of controversy it had generated.

'Or is it good? Because people are like, "I've got to get this book God knows what's in it?" Sandilands responded.

'They say any publicity is good publicity...' Henderson said, then confirmed both she and Sandilands had a mention in the book, which she would discuss at a later date.

Defiant: Henderson (pictured with Wilkinson in April 2005) said on Thursday's Kyle and Jackie O Show, 'She could have been getting paid $10,000 a year, like I was when I first started. And the fact that she's getting freebies and selling them at the market - who cares? Good on her!'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative for Lisa Wilkinson for comment.

In his parliamentary address, Mr Latham said publicity surrounding Wilkinson's highly anticipated autobiography had revealed she'd been paid more than her Today show co-host Karl Stefanovic for many years.

'Recently one of Wilkinson's old classmates contacted me to say, "That's Lisa, it's always been about the money,"' the former federal Labor Opposition leader said on Wednesday.

Latham is a renowned advocate for Sydney's west - not only living in the south-west, but having been born and educated in the area. He is also a former Labor leader and represented the seat of Werriwa in Federal Parliament.

Spray: Mr Latham claimed an old classmate of Wilkinson's (pictured) had told him the TV star had 'always been about the money' and sold freebies from her first job to make a profit

'We went to Campbelltown High together and she couldn't get out of here fast enough,' Mr Latham sad Wilkinson's old classmate revealed.

'When she was editor at Dolly and Cleo magazines Wilkinson would take the free promotional merchandise sent to her and sell them at the weekend markets and pocket the funds.

'She's always been as tight as all get out, it's always about the money and the victimhood.'

Wilkinson claims in her new book It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This, that Stefanovic proposed in August 2015 they join forces to renegotiate their Nine contracts.

But she claims he ended up ditching this idea and instead played rival networks Nine and Seven off against each other in order to secure a better deal for himself.

Stefanovic was soon at the centre of a bidding war between Nine and Seven that resulted in him re-signing a five-year deal with Nine worth at least $2million per year.

Past: The classmate also claimed Wilkinson (pictured with her husband Peter) couldn't have left Campbelltown fast enough despite the star saying she holds fond memories of her hometown

Wilkinson's deal was worth significantly less, about $780,000 a year, and was only for two years, with the host describing the resulting pay disparity between them 'so off the charts that no-one would have believed it'.

However, in an article written by political journalist Samantha Maiden, sources at Nine disputed her claims Stefanovic was 'paid double' what she earned.

They claim it was Wilkinson who was paid much more than Stefanovic for 'many years' after the pair first teamed up on Nine's breakfast flagship in 2006.

Mr Latham slammed Wilkinson for having 'a PhD in victimology' and said the TV personality had 'played the victim card' while promoting her book online.

He referred to a lengthy Instagram post Wilkinson uploaded on Monday, where she said the writing process for her book often saw her looking 'puffy' with 'mascara-stained eyes after hours of tears'.

Alongside the caption, the mother-of-three shared a candid photo of herself at home with son Jake, looking deep in thought as she wrote her autobiography.

View: Mr Latham claimed Wilkinson (pictured with her son Jake) was feigning distress and 'playing the victim card' by posting this photo to Instagram on Monday

Bombshell memoir: Wilkinson (right) alleges in her new book Stefanovic (left) proposed in August 2015 they join forces to renegotiate their Nine contracts but later ditched her to forge a better deal

'Ever wondered what writing a book looks like? For me it was often like this: puffy, mascara-stained eyes after hours of tears and many months of a complete crisis of confidence, absolutely convinced I just wasn't up to the task,' she said.

Wilkinson revealed she was 'comforted' by son Jake one night in March, who acted as her editor and 'assured' her she was capable of submitting her finished chapters.

'Boo hoo for her first world problems,' Mr Latham said of the social media post.

'Posting a picture from her Mosman mansion, with smudged mascara, feigning distress, while also carefully - in a classic product placement - posing with copies of Mr Wilkinson's ghostwritten books in front of her.'

Mr Latham said for 'elites' like Wilkinson, feminist and gender pay-gap debate is just 'another way of enriching themselves at the expense of others'.

Blast: Mr Latham slammed Wilkinson (pictured with Karl Stefanovic) for having 'a PhD in victimology' and said the TV personality had 'played the victim card' while promoting her book online

Career: Wilkinson (pictured) was the editor of Dolly magazine by the time she was 21 and the editor at rival magazine Cleo just four years later

'There's never any mention of the plight of migrant woman or poorly-paid factory jobs or sweatshops, there's never any mention of the indigenous women having the life beaten out of them in country NSW hellholes,' he said.

The NSW One Nation leader questioned how 'a millionaire like Wilkinson living the high life in a Mosman mansion' can portray herself like a victim and concluded by stating: 'If this is feminism then God help the women of the world.'

Wilkinson was born in Wollongong but grew up in Campbelltown located in southwest Sydney, where she attended Campbelltown High School.

The budding TV personality was the editor of Dolly magazine by the time she was 21 and the editor at rival magazine Cleo just four years later.

The former editor has previously said she holds fond memories of her hometown, where her family have lived for generations.

Wilkinson Street in Camden is named after one of the TV star's ancestors while her surname can also be found at the Campbelltown Showground.

Growing up: Wilkinson (pictured, right) was born in Wollongong but grew up in Campbelltown in southwest Sydney, where she attended Campbelltown High School

Her late father Ray was the president of the Campbelltown Harlequins Rugby Club and has a stand at the showground named in his honour.

As a teenager, Wilkinson worked at Wrench's shoe store on Queen Street in Campbelltown and claims to have been bullied during high school.

She was sacked from the Today show in October 2017 after The Nine Network was reportedly 'unable to meet her expectations' for equal pay with co-host Stefanovic.

In her tell-all book, Lisa claimed the 47-year-old gave her the cold shoulder in the weeks before she was sacked by Nine.

In January 2018, Wilkinson joined Channel 10's The Project for a rumoured multimillion-dollar pay packet.
She has been living in Australia on and off since March last year when she found herself 'stranded' in the country due to the Covid pandemic.

And more than a year later, American actress Kate Walsh appears to have settled into the relaxed lifestyle of the land Down Under.

The Grey's Anatomy star, 54, ditched her usual Hollywood glamour in favour of a more laid-back look as she attended the premiere of Dune in Perth on Wednesday.

Relaxed: Grey's Anatomy star Kate Walsh ditched her usual Hollywood glamour (left) in favour of a more laid-back look as she attended the premiere of Dune in Perth on Wednesday (right)

Kate, who is also known for her roles in Emily in Paris and The Umbrella Academy, kept things casual in black pants and a singlet.

She added a pop of colour by wearing a purple and white plaid jacket on top.

In an ode to her Hollywood roots, Kate carried a vintage beige Chanel handbag, which retails for about $11,000.

Casual: The American actress, 54, kept things casual in black pants and a singlet, and added a pop of colour by wearing a purple and white plaid jacket on top

Kate opted for natural-look makeup, swept her dark hair back, and accessorised with a pair of silver aviator-style spectacles.

She seemed to be in a good mood at the movie premiere, smiling for photographers as she made her way into the theatre.

Kate first relocated to Western Australia in March last year, right at the start of the Covid pandemic, and quickly fell in love with Perth.

Positive spirits: She seemed to be in a good mood at the movie premiere, smiling for photographers as she made her way into the theatre

She previously told The Daily Telegraph she enjoyed living in Perth so much she didn't want to return to New York City, even when she was able to.

'I didn't really want to go back to New York in the middle of a pandemic when it was pretty gnarly to say the least," she said.

'I couldn't go home initially, and now that I can, I don't really fancy going back. When I have my own mother saying don't come home, my 86-year-old mum we are in a very challenging time!'

Kate jetted off to Paris in June, presumably to shoot the Netflix show Emily in Paris.

She returned to Australia once production wrapped.
Just days after it was reported that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Letitia Wright was injured on set, causing production to be shut down, the sequel may be facing even more delays.

Wright, 28, was injured on the set in Boston back in August, while filming a sequence using a stunt rig, though production wasn't expected to be impacted as the cast and crew filmed around her for two months.

However, it was reported last week that filming will be shut down as Wright recuperates, though a new report from The Hollywood Reporter reveals production may be impacted even further because Wright is not vaccinated from COVID-19.

Delay: Just days after it was reported that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Letitia Wright was injured on set, causing production to be shut down, the sequel may be facing even more delays

Injury: Wright, 28, was injured on the set in Boston back in August, while filming a sequence using a stunt rig, though production wasn't expected to be impacted as the cast and crew filmed around her for two months

After Wright was injured, she went back to her home in London to recuperate, as the production continued around her.

Production has now shifted back to the sequel's home base in Atlanta, with new travel rules put in place that could have a big impact on the shoot when Wright has recovered.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new rules on Monday, stating that all non-immigrant and non-citizen air travelers to the United States be fully vaccinated from COVID-19.

London: After Wright was injured, she went back to her home in London to recuperate, as the production continued around her

Wright, who was born in Guyana and moved to London when she was just seven years old, is not a U.S. citizen.

Director Ryan Coogler is said to have shot all that he can without Wright, with the production hiatus expected to begin Thanksgiving week.

The filmmaker and other production team members are expected to use the hiatus to 'reconfigure' the shoot so they can get back on track for an early 2022 production re-start.

Shoot around: Director Ryan Coogler is said to have shot all that he can without Wright, with the production hiatus expected to begin Thanksgiving week

'Letitia has been recovering in London since September from injuries sustained on the set of Black Panther 2 and is looking forward to returning to work early 2022. Letitia kindly asks that you keep her in your prayers,' the actress' rep said in a statement last week.

The rep did not comment on Wright's vaccination status, and Disney reps declined comment as well.

While Wright's vaccination status is unconfirmed, the reports of her being unvaccinated are not surprising given the backlash she received on social media last December.

Recovering: 'Letitia has been recovering in London since September from injuries sustained on the set of Black Panther 2 and is looking forward to returning to work early 2022. Letitia kindly asks that you keep her in your prayers,' the actress' rep said in a statement last week

Wright tweeted a video that questioned how safe it really is to take the COVID-19 vaccine, which many fans clapped back at.

The video also accused the Chinese of spreading the vaccine while also denying climate change and making transphobic comments.

The video was later removed from YouTube for violating its terms of service, while Wright took to social media shortly thereafter to explain why she posted the video.

Clapped back: Wright tweeted a video that questioned how safe it really is to take the COVID-19 vaccine, which many fans clapped back at

'My intention was not to hurt anyone, my ONLY intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodiesNothing else,' she said.

Wright later deleted her verified Twitter and Instagram accounts shortly after posting the video, with one of her Marvel co-stars, Don Cheadle, taking to Twitter and saying he would, 'never defend anybody posting this,' but he still won't, 'throw her away over it.'

There were also reports in October that, when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever started filming, Wright started to share anti-vaccine statements on the set.

Shortly after that report, Wright returned to Instagram (currently her only form of social media) to deny that report, stating, 'I honestly assert that this was completely untrue.'

Concerns: 'My intention was not to hurt anyone, my ONLY intention of posting the video was it raised my concerns with what the vaccine contains and what we are putting in our bodiesNothing else,' she said
Tammy Hembrow appeared to confirm she has sole custody of the two children she shares with ex-fiance Reece Hawkins during an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday.

The Gold Coast influencer, who shares Saskia, five, and Wolf, six, with Reece, was asked if she looks after her children full-time, after Reece relocated to the U.S. in July to live with his wife London Goheen and their eight-month-old baby Stone.

'Do you look after Wolf and Sass full-time now?' one fan asked, to which Tammy simply responded: 'Yep.'

Q&A: Tammy Hembrow appeared to confirm she has sole custody of the two children she shares with her ex-fiance Reece Hawkins during an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday. 'Do you look after Wolf and Sass full-time now?' one fan asked, to which Tammy simply replied: 'Yep'

Tammy, 27, who is in a long-term relationship with restaurateur Matt Poole, 32, also spoke about raising her two young children.

'My kids are quite a good age, and actually really well-behaved,' she said. 'I'll bring Sass to a lot of my [work] meetings when Wolf is at school as she only goes a couple of days a week.

'Also having family around to help. My mum will help babysit.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Reece and Tammy for further comment.

Family: The Gold Coast influencer shares Saskia, five, and Wolf, six, with Reece

Stateside move: Reece Hawkins has been in the U.S. since July with his wife London Goheen. Pictured when she was pregnant with the couple's first child, Stone, who is now eight months

Plans: In the same Q&A, Tammy also said she wants to get Saskia and Wolf into surfing - a sport her Ironman beau Matt Poole certainly loves. 'Thinking about starting them soon,' she said

In the same Q&A, Tammy also said she wants to get Saskia and Wolf into surfing - a sport her Ironman beau Matt certainly loves.

'Thinking about starting them soon,' she replied to a fan.

When asked if she wants more children, she responded: 'I do, I want all of the babies. All in good time!'

Reece, 26, has been dating American model London since mid-2018, months after announcing his split from Tammy after five years of dating.

The couple have lived together in the U.S. since July this year.

Reece and London revealed their pregnancy news in September 2020, and married several months later.

Making memories: Reece and London are pictured here with their son Stone

Shade: Tammy threw shade at her ex-partner on Father's Day as she praised new boyfriend Matt for 'stepping up' for the sake of her children

Tammy threw shade at her ex-partner on Father's Day in September as she praised her new boyfriend Matt for 'stepping up' for the sake of her children.

She posted a photo on Instagram of Matt with her son and daughter, and thanked him for 'being such an amazing role model'.

'You may not be their father by blood but the bond you have with my babies is something else,' she wrote.

'Thank you for stepping up and being such an amazing role model and support in their life. We love you.'
An Australian influencer has been forced to defend her lavish lifestyle after fans questioned whether she actually has a 'real job'.

Instagram star Madison Woolley courted criticism in recent weeks after she uploaded a string of YouTube videos documenting her back-to-back long lunches at some of Sydney's most expensive restaurants.

Over the course of four lengthy videos, Madison filmed herself clinking glasses and dining with friends at exclusive venues including Catalina, where she spent $210 on food and a bottle of wine.

'I promise I'm still working': Influencer Madison Woolley (pictured) has defended herself after being accused of not having a real job because 'all she does' is go on long lunches with friends

Hours after visiting Catalina, she attended Darling Harbour nightspot Zephyr Bar for drinks and cocktails with a girlfriend, before going out for crab pasta in Bondi with another group of pals.

She also knocked back $36 caviar vodka shots at Mimi's in Coogee, and splurged $40 on a bowl of edamame at an upmarket Japanese restaurant.

In between her lavish meals, Madison treated herself to several beauty treatments, including hair and eyelash extensions and a visit to a nail salon.

Lavish: The Instagram star courted criticism after she uploaded a string of YouTube videos documenting her back-to-back long lunches at some of Sydney's most expensive restaurants

Out of office! Fans criticised her hedonistic lifestyle, prompting Madison to defend herself in a YouTube vlog last week

Fans criticised her hedonistic lifestyle, prompting Madison to defend herself in a YouTube vlog last week.

In the video, Madison insisted her life wasn't as blissful as it seems as she spoke to the camera while driving home from another lunch at Catalina.

'While it may seem like all I'm doing is going out for lunches - and I definitely have been going out for more lunches during the week - but that is not all that's going on behind the scenes,' she said.

Working hard or hardly working? In the video, Madison insisted her life wasn't as blissful as it seems as she spoke to the camera while driving home from another lunch at Catalina

'I promise I'm still working. I feel like a lot of people probably watch this and feel like, "Wow, she actually does nothing with her days, except for go out for lunch," which, granted, I recognise I have been doing a lot of. And I'm very grateful for the opportunity to do that with my job, like, the flexibility of my job.'

Madison insisted that after spending the afternoon wining and dining at Catalina, she intended to put her nose to the grindstone.

'Heading home now, going to finally do some work, so that I don't get people saying that I don't work at all, because I do. You just don't see it right now on the vlogs,' she added, rolling her eyes.

Defence: Madison insisted that after spending the afternoon wining and dining at Catalina, she intended to put her nose to the grindstone. 'Heading home now, going to finally do some work, so that I don't get people saying that I don't work at all, because I do,' she said

She appeared to contradict this elsewhere in the video, however, telling fans she 'hasn't really been doing that much work' since lockdown ended last month.

'My past few vlogs have been, like, lunches and dinners, and I feel like I haven't really been showing my work. But in actual fact, I haven't really been doing [anything],' she said.

Madison also complained she was feeling burned out by her taxing, long-lunch lifestyle, and she craved some alone time.

'I haven't really been doing anything': She appeared to contradict this elsewhere in the video, telling fans she 'hasn't really been doing that much work' since the lockdown ended

'[As incredible as it is] doing all these, like, fun lunches and celebrating and being out and having all these bookings, it is quite draining mentally. Yeah, it's just like emotionally and mentally a little bit draining having, like, back-to-back things and not really spending time with myself,' she lamented.

'And I'm the type of person who, like, really loves my alone time. I love being alone and I like being by myself. So yeah, I feel like I need to schedule in some time at some point to just hang out one-on-one with myself.'

Madison's video has since been heavily criticised by the Outspoken podcast, with hosts Kate, Amy and Sophie Taeuber calling her behaviour 'tone deaf'.

Backlash: Madison's video has since been heavily criticised by the Outspoken podcast, with hosts Kate, Amy and Sophie Taeuber (all pictured) calling her behaviour 'tone deaf'

Flashy: 'I totally understand why people want to get out and about after lockdown, but this does seem a little bit extravagant. She has been out for the past two weeks, it seems, every night,' Kate said of Madison's recent social media activity

'I totally understand why people want to get out and about after lockdown, but this does seem a little bit extravagant. She has been out for the past two weeks, it seems, every night,' Kate said of Madison's recent social media activity.

'I think where she went wrong was where she said it was "taxing and draining" to go to lunches, and trying to persuade the audience that behind the scenes she was doing a lot of work when it was quite evident that she wasn't,' she later said.

The hosts also said Madison's constant, detailed updates about her expensive outings were in poor taste, given that many Australians are barely managing to put dinner on the table after their finances were decimated during the lockdown.
He found a loving partner in Melissa Rawson and together they've started a family.

And as season eight of Married At First Sight Australia is currently airing in the UK, Bryce Ruthven has revealed he and now fiancee Melissa underwent months of therapy after the show.

In an Instagram post on Thursday, he wrote: 'We went through months of therapy after the show because we couldn't deal with the online hate and don't want to see others get to that point too.'

Tough times: Married At First Sight's Bryce Ruthven revealed he and fiancee Melissa Rawson went through 'MONTHS of therapy' after the reality show because they 'couldn't deal with the online hate'

Prior to the revelation, he shared a response from a fan who complimented the couple's relationship and slammed the other contestants for bullying them.

The former radio host agreed and wrote that bullying is 'never acceptable anywhere.'

He continued: 'We have seen how passionate UK fans are with MAFS and you definitely understand reality TV and share your opinions.'

Seeking help: He shared a response from a fan who complimented the couple's relationship and slammed the other contestants for bullying them. Bryce wrote: 'We went through months of therapy after the show because we couldn't deal with the online hate'

Bryce thanked their British fans for the love and support, which he noted was the 'complete opposite' reaction to Australian viewers.

He also cautioned fans to, 'remember you're speaking to real people just like yourself and how it could affect people's mental health.'

'We're certainly not condoning the behaviour of some people on the show. Just reminding you that everyone on the show are human too,' the reality TV star added.

Warning: Bryce also cautioned fans to, 'remember you're speaking to real people just like yourself and how it could affect people's mental health'

The couple copped plenty of backlash from the Australian public after viewers complained to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

Some viewers said Bryce and Melissa's relationship was 'toxic', that Melissa was 'subject to gaslighting' and accused Channel Nine of 'failure of duty of care' towards her.

But last month, an investigation found that the network did not breach the Commercial Television Code of Practice.

In the clear: The couple copped plenty of backlash from the Australian public after viewers complained to the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)

Despite the backlash, Rawson and Ruthven have remained together since the series went off air.

They welcomed twins Levi and Tate, who are currently in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), after they were born 10 weeks premature on October 16.

The couple announced their baby news back in July, and also revealed they are engaged to be married.
She has been a renowned supermodel for years.

And Karlie Kloss demonstrated her style credentials as she sizzled up a storm at the CFDA Fashion Awards at the Grill Room in New York on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old blonde bombshell slid into a backless Manhattan chic black cocktail dress with long sleeves and broad shoulders.

Aglow: Karlie Kloss demonstrated her style credentials as she sizzled up a storm at the CFDA Fashion Awards at the Grill Room in New York on Wednesday

She cinched a black belt around her elegantly draped outfit to emphasize her enviably trim waistline as she posed up a storm for the shutterbugs.

Karlie, who is married to Jared Kushner's brother Joshua, accentuated her screen siren features with makeup and let her wavy hair down.

In an elegant touch she added an understated touch of glitz to her ensemble by clasping on a subtle necklace.

Swanking about: The 29-year-old blonde bombshell slid into a backless Manhattan chic black cocktail dress with long sleeves and broad shoulders

Hello, gorgeous: Karlie, who is married to Jared Kushner's brother Joshua, accentuated her screen siren features with makeup and let her wavy hair down

Showing a bit of leg through the slit in her dress, she balanced expertly on a pair of towering open-toed black stilettos.

Award winners that year included face of the year Anya Taylor-Joy, fashion icon Zendaya and lifetime achievement recipient Dapper Dan.

Just a few weeks ago it emerged Karlie and Joshua are asking a staggering $23.5 million for their sprawling two-story Manhattan penthouse.

On the town: In an elegant touch she added an understated touch of glitz to her ensemble by clasping on a subtle necklace

Last month it was reported they had bought an even larger penthouse listed at $42.5 million in the same historic Puck Building as the home they have just listed.

For north of three decades the Puck Building, designed in the 19th century by the German architect Albert Wagner, has been in the hands of Kushner Companies.

The family grew when Karlie became a mother on March 11 of this year, welcoming her firstborn son Levi Joseph with Joshua.

Strutting her stuff: Showing a bit of leg through the slit in her dress, she balanced expertly on a pair of towering open-toed black stilettos
George Clooney, his wife Amal and their four-year-old twins Ella and Alexander are currently in the Whitsundays as he films his new movie, Ticket To Paradise.

And while it's believed the family are staying at the state-of-the-art Papillon mansion on Hamilton Island, they're also thought to be spending time onboard the incredibly luxurious 82-feet Alani superyacht as the actor travels to and from set.

The jaw-dropping five-star vessel can accommodate up to six guests overnight, and features a sprawling lounge area with a huge TV and a dining setting for eight.

You've yacht to be kidding! George and Amal Clooney are believed to be spending time on this jaw-dropping superyacht alongside their four-year-old twins; daughter Ella and son Alexander

The Alani, which is serviced by a permanent fully-qualified crew at all times, also features a galley, a bar and a huge observation area to watch the sunset.

There's a master cabin with a king-size bed and ensuite, a state cabin with a double bed and a twin cabin with two single beds.

The interior is the epitome of luxury, with comfortable sofas and plenty of space ensuring it's a perfect place to spend time with the family.

There's also a huge kitchen area with a fridge, icemaker, oven and dishwasher, and a whopping waterslide from the deck to the sea.

To rent the charter for five nights or more, it costs $9,000 a night.

Stunning: The jaw-dropping five-star vessel can accommodate up to six guests overnight

Delightful! The Alani, which is serviced by permanent full-qualified crew at all times, also features a galley, a bar and a huge observation area to watch the sunset

While it's not thought to be the Clooney family's main place of residence for their stay Down Under, they are believed to be using the superyacht to travel in style - or to spend time together when George isn't filming.

George, Amal and the twins are said to be staying at Hamilton Island's Papillon house; a seven bedroom, seven bathroom mansion designed by renowned architect Chris Beckingham.

Set on the quiet northern end of the island, Papillon is a short buggy ride to all of the island's key attractions.

Luxurious: The interior is the epitome of luxury, with comfortable sofas and plenty of space - ensuring it's a perfect place to spend time with the family

Somewhere to rest: There's a master cabin with a king-size bed and en-suite (pictured) a cabin with another double bed and a twin cabin with two single beds

Impressive: George, Amal and the twins are said to be staying at Hamilton Island's Papillon house (pictured) a seven bedroom, seven bathroom mansion designed by renowned architect Chris Beckingham

According to Nine News, Amal was spotted in a buggy earlier this week after visiting a day spa on the island.

The vast home is set on 2,661sqm of land - meaning guests can enjoy the ultimate in privacy and seclusion.

Meanwhile, George's co-star Julia Roberts is rumoured to be staying at Qualia on Hamilton Island.

Lush: Set on the quiet northern end of the island, Papillon is a short buggy ride to all of the island's key attractions

Digs: Meanwhile, George's co-star Julia Roberts (right) is rumoured to be staying at Qualia on Hamilton Island

Julia would likely stay at the resort's private north-facing Beach House which boasts private lap pool and secluded location.

The Beach House features a main bedroom and en-suite bathroom, a spacious entertaining area, 10-person dining room and a 12-metre infinity edge private pool.

It also features a well-appointed separate guesthouse for friends or family.

In Ticket to Paradise, George and Julia play a divorced couple who travel to Bali in a desperate bid to stop their daughter, played by Kaitlyn Dever, from getting married.

The movie will be filmed entirely in Queensland, with the picturesque Whitsundays doubling for Bali.
Emily Ratajkowski showed off her abs in a tight and tiny crop top.

The model, 30, wore a long sleeve gray sweater over a light blue button-down shirt, both of which stopped just below her chest.

She finished off her ensemble with a dark blue skirt and a black belt. The iCarly actress held a black purse in her right hand.

Revealing tons of skin: Emily Ratajkowski showed off her abs in a tight and tiny crop top

Ratajkowski parted her hair in the middle and let it fall down to the middle of her back.

The star's appearance at the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards comes just a day after she admitted she still has 'a little bit of extra skin still' after giving birth.

She shared four cute snaps of her eight-month-old son Sylvester Apollo Bear at home on Wednesday.

Looking cute: The model, 30, wore a long sleeve gray sweater over a light blue button-down shirt, both of which stopped just below her chest

A little excess skin: The star's appearance at the CFDA awards comes just a day after she admitted she still has 'a little bit of extra skin still' after giving birth

'Sleepy from book press, I come downstairs this morning to my big boy climbing the stairs to hug me,' the 30-year-old new mother - who boasts 38.6M social media followers - wrote. 'Nothing better.'

She admitted on The Howard Stern Show that, though her body still looks amazing, it's definitely different after having her baby eight months ago.

'And listen, my body is different,' Ratajkowski said. 'I have a little bit of extra skin still.'

She also said that she didn't worry about gaining weight affecting her modeling career and bikini brand.

Not concerned about gaining weight: The star said she wasn't worried about gaining weight during pregnancy even though it could've affected her modeling and bikini brand

'I think that being pregnant helped me appreciate my body in a new way that I had never thought of. I loved being pregnant!' Ratajkowski explained.

The Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 stunner has been hard at work promoting her literary debut My Body, a 256-page nonfiction book of essays, which hit shelves Tuesday.

Emily will next bring her six-date My Body book tour to the Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles this Thursday, which will be moderated by Project Runway judge Elaine Welteroth.

Pushing her nonfiction book: The star has been working hard promoting her literary debut, a book of essays titled My Body
Abbie Chatfield and Martha Kalifatidis are two of Australia's most talked about reality stars.

And on Wednesday, The Bachelor star and the Married At First Sight stunner were spotted filming a project for reality TV streaming service Hayu at a cliffside mansion in Sydney's Coogee.

The were joined by comedian Joel Creasey, who was wearing a Hayu branded bathrobe.

Booked and busy! Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis was spotted filming a project for a streaming service Hayu at a cliffside mansion in Sydney's Coogee on Wednesday

Influencer Martha, 33, captured attention in an oversized black sweatshirt and matching satin slacks.

She accessorised with a chunky gold chain and fiddled with her iPhone.

The Celebrity Apprentice star received the A-list treatment, with a chauffer holding an umbrella over her head as he opened the door to her car.

Meanwhile, Abbie was spotted in a tie-dye crop top and a pair of high-waisted denim jeans.

Style: Influencer Martha, 33, captured attention in an oversized black sweatshirt and matching satin slacks. She accessorised with a chunky gold chain and fiddled with her iPhone

Star power: The Celebrity Apprentice star received the A-list treatment, with a chauffer holding an umbrella over her head as he opened the door to her car

She later slipped into a slinky satin dress and teased her hair into a bouncy blonde perm.

Her appearance comes just days after she spotted kissing Bachelorette frontrunner Konrad Bien-Stephens.

On Friday night, Abbie - who has gushed over how much she fancies the hunky carpenter on her podcast - was spotted sharing a steamy kiss with Brooke Burton's contestant at the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay.

Casual: Meanwhile, Abbie Chatfield was spotted in a tie-dye crop top and a pair of high waisted denim jeans

Safety: The hardcore vaccine advocate wore a cloth mask over her face for safety

In an exclusive video obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Abbie, 26, and Konrad, 31, were spotted at the popular coastal haunt cosily chatting in line for the bar.

Konrad was seen with his arms around Abbie's waist, before she turned around and made a joke - and then leant in for a raunchy make-out session in view of everyone.

Abbie was dressed to impress for the outing, wearing a gorgeous pair of white flared trousers and a matching cropped top.

Bombshell: She later slipped into a slinky satin dress and teased her hair into a bouncy blonde perm

Working hard: The reality star and podcaster was surrounded by crew members as she made her way into a car

All smiles: The former Bachelor contestant appeared to be in good spirits as she smiled

She proceeded to tighten the string detail on her sandals with her bottom in the air, as Konrad - dressed in a black T-shirt and skinny jeans - stood behind her.

He then placed a protective hand around her waist, and helped her up as she struggled with her wardrobe malfunction on the ground.

Konrad couldn't seem to keep his hands off Abbie during the outing, with the kiss confirming he's most certainly not the one to win Brooke Blurton's heart this season.

On set: Comedian Joel Creasey wore a white Hayu branded bathrobe
She juggles her thriving fitness businesses with motherhood.

But on Thursday, Tammy Hembrow took a moment out of her busy schedule to soak up the sun by the pool of her $2.88million mansion on the Gold Coast.

The 27-year-old stripped down to a colourful bikini that drew attention to her ample assets and washboard abs.

Turning up the heat! Tammy Hembrow shared photos of herself on Thursday flaunting her famous assets in a skimpy bikini while soaking up the sun by the pool of her $2.88million Gold Coast mansion

She followed that with another photo, this of herself flaunting her famous derriere in G-string bottoms.

'In the sun is where I'm happiest,' the Instagram influencer captioned her post.

Tammy's skimpy bikini post comes after she appeared to confirm she has sole custody of the two children - Wolf, six, and Saskia, five - she shares with ex-fiance Reece Hawkins.

Bikini babe: She followed that with another photo, this of herself flaunting her famous derriere in G-string bottoms. 'In the sun is where I'm happiest,' the Instagram influencer captioned her post

The Gold Coast influencer was asked if she looks after her children full-time in an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday, after Reece relocated to the U.S. in July.

They fan asked: 'Do you look after Wolf and Sass full-time now?' to which Tammy simply responded: 'Yes.'

Tammy also spoke about raising her two young children, saying: 'My kids are quite a good age, and actually really well-behaved.'

Motherhood: Tammy's skimpy bikini post comes after she appeared to confirm she has sole custody of the two children - Wolf, six, and Saskia, five - she shares with ex-fiance Reece Hawkins in an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday

'I'll bring Sass to a lot of my [work] meetings when Wolf is at school as she only goes a couple of days a week.

'Also having family around to help. My mum will help babysit.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Reece and Tammy for further comment.

Tammy also spoke about raising her two young children, saying: 'My kids are quite a good age, and actually really well-behaved'

New man: Tammy is in a relationship with Ironman Matt Poole, which she first debuted in September 2020

Tammy is in a relationship with Ironman Matt Poole, which she first debuted in September 2020.

Reece began American model London Goheen in mid-2018, just months following his split from Tammy after five years of together.

The couple welcomed their first child together, son Stone, in March and have lived together in the U.S. since July this year.
She's the Balinese princess that lives at the province with her four children.

And on Wednesday, beauty entrepreneur Lindy Klim took her three-year-old daughter Goldie 'snake patting' at the famous Tanah Lot temple.

The 44-year-old model shared the unique adventure with her youngest child in a series of pictures posted to her Instagram Stories.

Special event: Lindy Klim took her three-year-old daughter Goldie 'snake patting' at the Tanah Lot temple in Bali during Galungan

'Selamat Hari Raya Galungan,' Klim captioned the first picture of her daughter, which translates to: 'Happy Hari Raya Galungan'.

The next picture sees Goldie reaching in to pet a snake on the floor of a cave as a woman stands behind her.

'Snake patting,' her mother wrote as she captured the unique moment before adding an embarrassed emoji.

Scary: The picture sees Goldie reaching in to pet a snake on the floor of a cave as a woman stands behind her

Klim's earlier caption refers to Hari Raya Galungan or Galungan, which is an important religious holiday in Bali that celebrates the time the ancestral spirits return to earth.

Local residents decorate the island with religious trinkets and ornaments in commemoration of the event as a ceremony takes place.

The latest Galungan Day began on November 10, which is why Klim marked it in the first image with her daughter.

'Selamat Hari Raya Galungan': Klim's earlier caption refers to Hari Raya Galungan or Galungan, which is an important religious holiday in Bali that celebrates the time the ancestral spirits return to earth

A day out: The last two posts see Goldie with the same woman, assumed to be a relative or family friend of Klim's, outside the temple entrance

The last two posts see Goldie with the same woman, assumed to be a relative or family friend of Klim's, outside the temple entrance.

Lindy is based in Bali with her husband Adam Ellis and her four children, Stella, 15, Rocco, 13, Frankie, nine, and Goldie, three.

The model shares Goldie with British property developer Adam and her older children with ex-husband, retired Olympic swimmer Michael Klim.
Khloe Kardashian on Wednesday put up a lavish Barbie-themed birthday display for her niece Dream, who turned five-years-old.

The reality star, 37, took to Instagram Stories with a series of clips documenting the festive day.

She put up an extensive balloon display that included the message 'Happy Birthday Dream,' flanked by clusters of dozens of pink, purple and red balloons with Mylar balloons of hearts, roller-skates and rainbows interspersed in the eye-catching display.

The latest: Khloe Kardashian, 37, on Wednesday put up a lavish Barbie-themed birthday display for her niece Dream, who turned five-years-old

The reality star also had a life-sized Barbie box set with a massive Barbie dream house sitting on a table in the back of the Calabasas, California home where Rob and Dream reside, formerly featured on Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

She captioned a shot of the display, 'A literal Barbie dream!!!! Thank you @balloonandpaper.'

The Good American entrepreneur posed with Dream in front of the colorful display on the fall day.

In the clip, Khloe donned a patterned olive green outfit with a silver necklace and her blonde locks parted.

The reality star also had a life-sized Barbie box set with a massive Barbie dream house sitting on a table in the back of the Calabasas, California home where Rob and Dream reside, formerly featured on Keeping Up with the Kardashians

The Good American entrepreneur posed with Dream in front of the colorful display on the fall day

The Los Angeles native also had an arts and crafts station set up with glue, trinkets and paint for the child to enjoy on the special day

Dream, the daughter of Rob Kardashian, 34, and Blac Chyna, 33, had her hair pulled back in a ponytail with a large pink bow, with a pink Barbie shirt and silver shorts.

As the Aqua song Barbie Girl played in the background, Khloe set the spirited tone by saying, 'Birthday girl, birthday girl' while holding Dream on her lap.

The Los Angeles native also had an arts and crafts station set up with glue, trinkets and paint for the child to enjoy on the special day.

She put up an extensive balloon display that included the message 'Happy Birthday Dream'

There were clusters of dozens of pink, purple and red balloons with balloons of hearts and rainbows interspersed in the eye-catching display

The reality star also had a life-sized Barbie box set set up in the abode

On Wednesday, Dream's dad Rob took to Instagram with a kind message ahead of the Mattel-inspired bash.

'Today you are five!!!! This is wild!' he wrote. 'You make me laugh every day and I am so Thankful to have you in my Life!! Time to turn up for your Barbie party woohoo.'

In response, Kourtney Kardashian wrote, 'Such a special little girl you're so lucky Bob and she's so lucky to have you too!'

Kim Kardashian wrote to Dream, 'I love you so much! I can't wait to snuggle and love on you! Happy birthday.'
Married At First Sight's Jaimie Gardner and her TV husband Chris Jensen's short-lived romance come to an explosive end shortly after their honeymoon on the show.

And now the blonde beauty has hit back at her former 'ex' after he called her new tell-all podcast 'bullshit'.

'So for those people that may not see it for what it is, for me this is a man absolutely gaslighting a woman's experience,' she began.

Feuding again: Married At First Sight's Jaimie Gardner hit back at 'ex-husband' Chris Jensen on Thursday after he called her tell-all podcast 'bulls**t'

'While my experience on MAFS was quite mild, it impacted me significantly, because it was aired in front of the entire country in a way that was untrue.'

'But this happens to women all the time where we're put into situations where we are treated poorly and then the person just gaslights you and says that's never happened.

'Unfortunately for me that's on a national and now global scale.'

She then asked Chris to own up to his behaviour and apologise for his alleged 'lies'.

Gaslighting? 'So for those people that may not see it for what it is, for me this is a man absolutely gaslighting a woman's experience,' she began. Pictured Chris on Instagram reacting to Jaimie's new podcast

Memories: 'While my experience on MAFS was quite mild, it impacted me significantly, because it was aired in front of the entire country in a way that was untrue,' she wrote

Fans of MAFS will remember Chris was involved in a disastrous union with high-maintenance Bondi brand manager Jaimie on this year's season of the show.

At the time, he stormed out of the experiment soon after he and Jaimie checked into their suite.

A source told Daily Mail Australia he decided to skip the cast reunion because he 'didn't want to put himself in a position' that would lead to more conflict with Jaimie.

Nightmare: Chris was trapped in a disastrous union with high-maintenance Bondi-based brand manager Jaimie Gardner on this year's season of Married At First Sight

'He doesn't want to see her again. He's not the sort of person that likes to purposely walk into confrontation. It's the complete opposite of what he stands for,' they said.

'Jaimie tried to convince him to stay and begged him to stop being too nice to make her attitude and what she was saying about him look okay.'

Following their stint on the show, Chris moved on with his new tattooist girlfriend Tayla Made.

Disaster: He stormed out of the experiment soon after he and Jaimie checked into their suite

No show: A source told Daily Mail Australia he decided to skip the cast reunion because he 'didn't want to put himself in a position' that would lead to more conflict with Jaimie

The pair first met at a photo shoot and 'everything started from there'.

'I found the woman I was looking for on MAFS. Well, she found me,' he told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

'Tayla has a big heart and is incredibly sweet to me and both my daughters.'

'I have found the person that challenges me to be the best version of myself I can be. Tayla has captured my heart through compassion, kindness and love,' he also wrote on Instagram.

Happy in love: It comes just three months after Chris announced that he has found love again with cosmetic tattooist Tayla Made
Just days before his new film Belfast hits theaters around North America, Jamie Dornan is accepting an award for his performance.

The 39-year-old Irish actor, who grew up in the suburbs of Belfast, arrived at the Denver Film Festival on Wednesday to receive the Excellence in Acting Award.

Dornan portrays Pa, the father of newcomer Jude Hill's main character Buddy in the semi-autobiographical film from writer-director Kenneth Branagh.

Award winner: Just days before his new film Belfast hits theaters around North America, Jamie Dornan is accepting an award for his performance

Jamie wins: The 39-year-old Irish actor, who grew up in the suburbs of Belfast, arrived at the Denver Film Festival on Wednesday to receive the Excellence in Acting Award

Dornan arrived at the fest with a brown suede coat with dual zippers over a dark grey sweater.

He wore matching brown pants while sporting the start of a scruffy beard as he hit the red carpet.

The Fifty Shades of Grey star completed his look with white sneakers featuring matching brown soles.

Jamie's look: Dornan arrived at the fest with a brown suede coat with dual zippers over a dark grey sweater

Belfast follows the tale of a young boy named Buddy (Jude Hill) and his working class parents (Dornan and Caitriona Balfe) trying to make their way through the tumultuous late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capitol.

The film also stars Judi Dench and Ciarin Hinds as Buddy's grandparents, with Branagh directing from his own script.

The drama has already taken home several awards on the festival circuit, including the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

New film: Belfast follows the tale of a young boy named Buddy (Jude Hill) and his working class parents (Dornan and Caitriona Balfe) trying to make their way through the tumultuous late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capitol

Dornan is coming off a rare comedy turn in Universal's Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which debuted in February.

He will also return to the small screen in The Tourist for HBO Max, starring alongside Damon Herriman, Olafur Darri Olafsson and Alex Dimitriades.

The show follows a man (Dorman) who finds himself being terrorized by a tanker truck that runs him off the road, and after he wakes up in the hospital, he goes searching for answers.

Small screen: He will also return to the small screen in The Tourist for HBO Max, starring alongside Damon Herriman, Olafur Darri Olafsson and Alex Dimitriades

Comedy: Dornan is coming off a rare comedy turn in Universal's Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, which debuted in February

Dornan also recently opened up about his Irish heritage, revealing on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he never talks about his career when he's back home in Ireland.

'It's funny, I think anyone from the whole island of Ireland... we're not great at... we're quite uncomfortable with success,' Dornan said.

'You don't want to be seen to be achieving too much. It doesn't look well. There's a bit of like, "Who does he think he is? Gone after America," you know and doing well,' he added.

Watch the Stan Original series The Tourist, early next year on Stan in Australia.

Opening up: Dornan also recently opened up about his Irish heritage, revealing on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he never talks about his career when he's back home in Ireland

Uncomfortable: 'It's funny, I think anyone from the whole island of Ireland... we're not great at... we're quite uncomfortable with success,' Dornan said
He was pictured on a dinner date Brooklyn Beckham's ex-girlfriend Hana Cross who is 15 years his junior.

And Scott Disick was seen for the first time since the romantic outing.

The 38-year-old reality star was seen leaving a shopping trip to Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills on Wednesday with a female assistant.

Making moves: Scott Disick was seen leaving a shopping trip to Neiman Marcus in Beverly Hills on Wednesday with a female assistant

Days ago, The 38-year-old reality star was pictured on a dinner date Brooklyn Beckham's ex-girlfriend Hana Cross (seen in West Hollywood last week) who is 15 years his junior

Scott kept it casual in a taupe hoodie with navy blue sweatpants and turquoise sneakers.

He wore shades and black protective face mask while chatting away on his cellphone.

This comes just two days after Disick was seen with Hana, 23, just ahead of him as they both exited celeb hangout Nobu together in Malibu, California on Monday night.

It's the first time the Keeping Up with the Kardashian personality has been linked to British model Hana, who split from David and Victoria Beckham's son Brooklyn, 22, in 2019 after almost a year of dating.

Chill: Scott kept it casual in a taupe hoodie with navy blue sweatpants and turquoise sneakers

Vibes: He wore shades and black protective face mask while chatting away on his cellphone

Scott, who was recently dumped by Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin's daughter Amelia Hamlin, shares three children with his former partner Kourtney Kardashian.

Though it is currently unclear as to the status of their relationship - Hana appeared to be in very high spirits as she sported a beaming smile, while leaving with Scott.

Last month, Lisa Rinna recently claimed how it was Amelia, 20, who broke things off with Scott.

On the prowl: Hana recently shared this steamy bikini snap

Citing the reasons for their breakup, Lisa said Scott's jealous DMs about ex Kourtney Kardashian's new relationship with fiance Travis Barker weren't 'helpful' to his case.

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.

Last month, Scott was linked to 23-year-old model Elizabeth Grace Lindley after DailyMail.com revealed exclusive pictures of the pair together.

The sighting came as his ex Kourtney became engaged to her fiance Travis Barker.

Hana was most recently linked to actor Rafferty Law, 25, just months ago when they were spotted 'kissing and cuddling' at the All Points East festival in East London.

A source told DailyMail.com: 'They are 100% dating. They were in the Hyprr Guest Area at All Points East on Saturday, and despite being with two other friends, were all over each other.'

They added: 'Rafferty was very affectionate with Hana, putting his arm around her, ensuring she had whatever drink she wanted, and generally looking after her.

'They kissed and cuddled and didn't seem to care at all who saw them together.'

Last year, Hana penned a track about her time with her former love Brooklyn, according to The Sun.

In the lyrics, Hana brands Brooklyn 'mean' and suggests he promised they would stay pals after their break-up  but went back on his word.

She sings: 'You broke my heart and said let's be friends but I never heard from you again and that's kind of mean. I saw us as meant to be and you saw me as temporary and that's kind of rough.'

Hana goes on: 'I'm confused and I'm sad, I don't know what I did but you said it wasn't my fault but without reason how can I know?'

She was dumped by Brooklyn after a series of public rows, including one at Glastonbury festival, where he partied with his parents Victoria and David.

Ex-factor: Brooklyn and Hana went red carpet official at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019 (pictured above)

Brooklyn is now engaged to be married to actress Nicola Peltz, and there had been rumors that Victoria and David were not 'fans' of Hana.

Meanwhile, Scott has found himself single again following a year-long relationship with Amelia Hamlin.

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.

Prior to Scott's relationship with Amelia, he dated Lionel Richie's daughter, Sofia, who is 16 years his junior, for two years.
She has earned fame both on the big screen and the catwalk.

So no doubt Cara Delevingne knows how to turn heads.

The 29-year-old English model opted for a very daring look as she attended the CFDA Awards at The Pool And Grill in New York City on Wednesday night.

Wow factor: Cara Delevingne opted for a very daring look as she attended the CFDA Awards at The Pool And Grill in New York City on Wednesday night

She showcased plenty of skin as she went shirtless under a black blazer for the occasion.

Cara teamed the look with a black velvet mini skirt as she showcased her model legs with a pair of black leather lace-up booties.

She accessorized with plenty of gold including hoop earrings and thick necklaces.

Daring: The 29-year-old English model showcased plenty of skin as she went shirtless under a black blazer for the occasion

In the details: Cara teamed the look with a black velvet mini skirt as she showcased her model legs with a pair of black leather lace-up booties

Shining star: She accessorized with plenty of gold including hoop earrings and thick necklaces

Her signature blonde tresses were pulled into a tight ponytail as she accentuated her natural looks with complementary make-up topped off with smokey eye.

The Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. puts together the event which are considered 'The Oscars of fashion' as the gala founded in 1981 honors excellence in fashion design.

The awards were hosted by Emily Blunt, who was hand-picked by CFDA chairman Tom Ford.

'Emily is one of the most talented actresses in the world. Her timeless style and elegance light up any room,' Ford said of the Quiet Place star in an official press release.

Pose down: She stunned in the couture look

Ready for her close-up: Her signature blonde tresses were pulled into a tight ponytail as she accentuated her natural looks with complementary make-up topped off with smokey eye

'The wonderful thing about Emily is that she is both kind and intelligent. I have great admiration for her, and I am so happy to have her as the host of this year's CFDA awards.'

Among the honorees were Fashion Icon Zendaya, Face Of The Year Anya Taylor-Joy, Founder Award winner Aurora James of Brother Vellies.

Dapper Dan was set to be honored with the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award at the event.

A dream in tangerine: The awards were hosted by Emily Blunt, who was hand-picked by CFDA chairman Tom Ford

Ravishing in red: Zendaya was the youngest ever person given the Fashion Icon award

Checkmate: Anya Taylor-Joy was honored with Face Of The Year

Wednesday night's CFDA Awards were a return to in-person celebrations following last year's digital event.

Talking about the 'renewed energy' the soiree would bring CEO Steven Kolb, said in a statement: 'This is an important moment in American fashion.

'There is much excitement about the return of New York City and New York Fashion Week, as well as the top caliber of diverse talent making their mark on the city and the global fashion landscape.'

Ripped: Emily Ratajkowski was one of the attendees as she showed off her ripped abs in a tiny cropped sweater
She's the former Sunrise host who recently announced a new family member.

But on Thursday, Samantha Armytage, 45, showed off her talents as a doting wife.

Posting to her Instagram, the veteran TV presented shared a picture of a mouth-watering chocolate cake she prepared for her husband Richard Lavender.

Sweet gesture: On Thursday, Samantha Armytage showed off her talents as a doting wife. Posting to her Instagram, she shared a picture of a mouth-watering chocolate cake she prepared for husband, Richard Lavender. Both pictured

'How lucky is my husband? Actually this is my piece,' she captioned the picture of the sweet treat.

It appears Sam had baked a rich chocolate cake, topped with a thick layer of decadent icing.

Her heartfelt gesture comes after Sam proudly confirmed she and business husband had welcomed a new family member last week.

'Meet out newest family member,' she gushed alongside a photo of a newly born foal shared to Instagram.

'A gorgeous little filly born this morning to Doncella (& Capitalist),' she continued.

What a treat: 'How lucky is my husband? Actually this is my piece,' she captioned the picture

Something to smile about: Former Sunrise host Samantha Armytage (pictured) shared an exciting family announcement with her legion of fans last week

Sam stamped the image 'hello gorgeous' before sharing another picture of her handsome husband tenderly gazing at the newborn.

'It's really tiring being born,' she captioned the adorable frame, adding a crying and love heart eyes emoji.

Sam's welcome addition to the family follows the announcement she will be returning to television screens in 2022 as a guest judge on Farmer Wants A Wife.

Giddy-up: 'Meet out newest family member,' Sam, 45, proudly gushed alongside a photo of a newly born foal, sharing the image to Instagram

Love at first sight: Sam proudly stamped the image 'hello gorgeous' before sharing another image of her businessman husband tenderly gazing at the newborn

The veteran broadcast journalist will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski.

'I've always been a huge fan of the show and of country people, and I know first-hand that falling in love with a farmer is just about the most wonderful thing you can do,' said Sam in a media statement.

Her guest role will involve hosting a segment called Sam's Choice, where she introduces the farmers to a 'new lady based on her own expertise and experience'.

Career move: Sam's welcome addition to her family follows the announcement she will be returning to television screens in the New Year as a guest judge on Channel Seven's ratings hit, Farmer Wants A Wife. Pictured with husband Richard Lavender

Seven's Director of Programming, Angus Ross, said the network was 'thrilled to welcome Sam back to our screens'.

'Farmer Wants a Wife has been such a hit with audiences because of its heart and Natalie's earnest mission to help farmers find the love of their lives,' Mr Ross said.

'Given Sam's new life on the farm, she's in the perfect position to share a snapshot of what farm life could look like for the ladies.'

Partnership: Sam, who married wealthy farmer Richard late last year, will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski (pictured)

Expertise: A trailer for next year's season of FWAW introduces Sam as someone 'who knows a thing or two' about finding love with a farmer

A trailer for next year's season of FWAW introduces Sam as someone 'who knows a thing or two' about finding love with a farmer.

'I really want to help find the right woman for each of our farmers,' she says, while standing in a paddock wearing a cowboy hat.

'I won't hold back because this is love. This is for the rest of their lives. I really want to help a farmer find a wife. Have you all met Rich?'

Richard then walks on screen and says, 'Every farmer needs love,' to which Sam replies giddily: 'That's lovely, darling!'

Fancy seeing you here! 'I really want to help a farmer find a wife. Have you all met Rich?' she says as her husband walks on screen

Their story: Sam married equestrian businessman Richard, 60, at his country estate in the NSW Southern Highlands on New Year's Eve

Sam married the equestrian businessman, 60, at his country estate in the NSW Southern Highlands on New Year's Eve.

They had announced their engagement in June last year.

Sam went on to quit Sunrise in March and has now moved away from Sydney to live with Richard at his 40-hectare rural property.

The new season of Farmer Wants a Wife premieres on Seven in 2022
He has embraced numerous appearances to adapt to his film roles.

And Zac Efron's latest look saw him rocking a moustache as he continued to shoot scenes for upcoming drama film The Greatest Beer Run Ever.

The 34-year-old actor cut a debonair figure in New York on Wednesday, sporting a green shirt complemented by a maroon tie.

Role: Zac Efron rocked a moustache while filming scenes for upcoming film The Greatest Beer Run Ever in New York on Wednesday

Zac - who is stepping into the role of John 'Chickie' Donohue - also wore a plaid coat, as it appeared he was in the midst of filming protest scenes.

The High School Musical star maintained a solemn stance and expression as his character engaged in what appeared to be serious conversation.

Meanwhile, someone else held a placard reading 'Baby Killers', as peeks of a gathering crowd were shown.

Film: The High School Musical star - who is stepping into the role of John 'Chickie' Donohue - maintained a solemn stance and expression

Serious: The 34-year-old actor cut a debonair figure, sporting a green shirt complemented by a maroon tie

Character: Zac also wore a plaid coat, as it appeared he was in the midst of filming protest scenes

Co-stars: Russell Crowe will also star alongside Zac in the upcoming film, which is adapted from Joanna Molloy's and John 'Chickie' Donahue's book The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A True Story of Friendship Stronger Than War

Russell Crowe will also star alongside Zac in the upcoming film, which is adapted from Joanna Molloy's and John 'Chickie' Donahue's book The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A True Story of Friendship Stronger Than War.

According to Variety the literature is nonfiction and is based on the 'story of Donohue, who left New York in 1967 to track down and share a few beers with his childhood buddies in the army while they were fighting in Vietnam.'

Filming commenced in September 2021, with Thailand serving in place of Vietnam. Shooting locations include the Southeast Asian country and New Jersey.

On set: Filming commenced in September 2021, with shooting locations including Thailand and New Jersey

Latest venture: The project is being directed by Peter Farrelly (Green Book), who also co-wrote the script with Brian Currie and Pete Jones

Plot: The film follows John 'Chickie' Donahue (pictured) who 'left New York in 1967 to track down and share a few beers with his childhood buddies in the army while they were fighting in Vietnam'

The project is being directed by Peter Farrelly (Green Book), who also co-wrote the script with Brian Currie and Pete Jones.

The feature will be available on Apple TV Plus and is being produced by Skydance Media.

Ghostbusters actor Bill Murray has also bagged himself a role, alongside Ruby Ashbourne Serkis, Matt Cook, Omari K. Chancellor and Will Hochman.
Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has clarified his stance after he came out against vaccine mandates for children - even as the father of three revealed he has gotten both shots.

McConaughey, 52, said in a recent interview that while he and his wife are both vaccinated, he doesn't want to mandate the Covid-19 jabs for children, including his kids - aged 13, 11 and 8.

The Dallas Buyers Club actor took to Instagram on Wednesday night to clear up the misunderstanding as he wrote: 'When asked my opinion on the subject of children and vaccination mandates I stated, "I couldn't mandate it for kids just yet."

'What was not clear is that I was referring specifically to the 5-11 year old mandate.'

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has clarified his stance after he came out against vaccine mandates for children - even as the father of three revealed he has gotten both shots

He then revealed that his eldest child with wife Camila Alves has actually received his shots.

McConaughey said: 'What is NOT true, and insinuated with the clickbait headlines since, is that I am against vaccinating children at all. This is false. In fact, our eldest 13-year-old son Levi is fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

'I appreciate the ear and clarity, just keep livin, McConaughey.'

On Tuesday, McConaughey had originally made waves as he said: 'I couldn't mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids. I still want to find out more information.'

The Dallas Buyers Club actor took to Instagram on Wednesday night to clear up the misunderstanding as he wrote: 'When asked my opinion on the subject of children and vaccination mandates I stated, "I couldn't mandate it for kids just yet"

McConaughey made his comments days after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the Pfizer Inc and BioNTech SE Covid-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 last week.

The decision has caused a storm of controversy with opponents pointing to the fact there is little evidence to suggest vaccinating children is necessary.

Data shows Covid poses a low risk to the age group, with children accounting for less than 0.1 percent of virus deaths in America.

The US was one of the first states to officially approve jabs for the 5-11 age group, with most countries, including the UK, only offering vaccines to children 12 and older.

McConaughey, shown with his wife three kids and his mother, said in a recent interview that while he and his wife are both vaccinated, he doesn't want to mandate the Covid-19 jabs for children, including his kids - aged 13, 11 and 8.

On Tuesday, McConaughey had originally made waves as he said: 'I couldn't mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids. I still want to find out more information'

The Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer shot for emergency use by children aged 5 to 11

McConaughey told writer Andrew Ross Sorkin that vaccinations should be about personal choice in an interview on Tuesday.

'I'm vaccinated. My wife's vaccinated. I didn't do it because someone told me I had to  [I] chose to do it,' he said.

'Do I think that there's any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no. We all got to get off that narrative. There's not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines,' he said.

But he added that 'right now' he won't vaccinate his three children against the virus.

McConaughey also said his family quarantined fairly extensively during 2020 and made use of a 'heavy amount' of tests for the virus.

'I'm in a position though where I can do that, and I understand that not everyone can do that,' he said.

There have been 680 children under the age 18 who have died from Covid-19 during the pandemic as of November 3, according to the CDC. Many of those had underlying health issues.

In McConaughey's home state, 61.9 per cent of Texans have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine and 53.8 per cent were fully vaccinated. Nationally, around 67.5 per cent of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy responded to McConaughey on CNN later on Tuesday, saying that vaccinating children was important because 'Covid is not harmless' to them.

'Many kids have died. Sadly, hundreds of children. Thousands have been hospitalized, and as a dad of a child who has been hospitalized several years ago for another illness, I would never wish upon any parent they have a child that ends up in the hospital,' Murthy said.

'And the vaccines have shown in these trials for children 5 through 11 they are more than 90 per cent effective in protecting our kids from symptomatic infection, and they are remarkably safe as well.'

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy responded to McConaughey Thursday, saying vaccines were important for kids because 'Covid is not harmless' to them

Around 67.5 percent of Americans have received at least one dose of the vaccine

CDC director Dr Rochelle Walensky signed off on a unanimous 14-0 vote to approve the jab for children on N, making approximately 28 million children in the US eligible for the shots.

It was the final step in the process that will allow injections in young children to begin this week in the United States following weeks of controversy over the vote.

President Joe Biden last week said the decision was 'a turning point' in the battle against Covid-19 and said the administration had secured enough vaccines for every child in America.

By approving vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds, America becomes one of the first countries in the world to begin vaccinating young children.

China has reportedly started rolling out its own vaccines to three-year-old children, and Chile is vaccinating children aged six and older. Israel, meanwhile, is expected to follow the US' lead now the CDC has approved the jabs.

However, these countries are currently the exception, with countries still weighing up the risks and benefits of the decision. Most are only vaccinating children aged 12 and upwards.

In Britain, scientists have warned against officials 'blindly' recommending the jabs to young children without weighing up the risks 'extremely carefully'.

Professor David Livermore, a medical microbiologist at the University of East Anglia told MailOnline in October: 'Vaccinating children to protect adults via herd immunity is ethically dubious and is scientifically weak.'

There are also still fears about myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation detected in children, mostly boys, in around one in 10,000 cases after vaccination.

Critics say children are better off catching Covid and getting protection naturally because the risk of being admitted to ICU is about one in 500,000.

A ten year old child high fives Pharmacist Colleen Teevan after he received the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 Vaccine for kids at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut

Because of the low risk of severe illness, only a third of parents have said they would get their children vaccinated 'right away', with a further third saying they would 'wait and see'. Five percent said they would 'only if required,' while 30 percent said 'definitely not'

There are signs that natural immunity in British youngsters is already slowing the epidemic. But some studies have suggested myocarditis is even more common after Covid infection itself, which complicates the matter further.

While most cases of myocarditis after the Covid jab are mild and treatable, the UK Government's scientific advisers say the long-term effects of the inflammation is not understood.

Data used to justify the FDA panel's decision showed nearly 180 children would be expected to suffer from myocarditis for every death the vaccine would prevent if the rollout went ahead.

But the side effect would not be expected to cause any deaths.

The rollout would stop over 200 hospitalizations and a handful of deaths over a six-month period, by comparison.

And the data showed it could stop tens of thousands of infections in the same time.

The Pfizer dose for children is only one-third of the original vaccine for adults and is given in two doses, three weeks apart.

The lower dose was chosen to minimize side effects and still produce strong immunity, Pfizer says, and studies showed that it is about 91 per cent effective against Covid.

The caps on the children's vials will also be orange, making them easily recognizable compared to the purple caps on the vials for older groups.
ABBA's latest album Voyage has already smashed a UK record by becoming the fastest selling LP in four years, just six days after going on general release.

The Swedish pop pioneers returned with their ninth and final album on November 5, with sales figures suggesting it has rapidly outsold every other current release - among them Ed Sheeran's = (equals).

Sheeran's fifth mathematically titled LP has been available to buy since October 29 and currently sits at number one in the UK Album Chart, but is expected to be ousted by ABBA when the chart is updated on November 12.

Success: ABBA's latest album Voyage has already smashed a UK record by becoming the fastest selling LP in four years, just six days after going on general release

While = (equals) sold 139,000 copies in just seven days, Voyage - ABBA's first album of original material since 1981 - has sold 181,712 copies over a shorter period of time.

The Swedish pop group delighted fans when they announced they were returning with a revolutionary concert and new album in October.

Immediately after the announcement, Agnetha Faltskog, 71, Bjorn Ulvaeus, 76, Benny Andersson, 74, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 75, released new tracks I Still Have Faith In You and Dont Shut Me Down - which received rave reviews.

Popular: The Swedish pop pioneers returned with their ninth and final album on November 5, with sales figures suggesting it has rapidly outsold every other current release

However, critics were divided by the remaining body of work after the full album was released on Friday morning.

The Guardian's Jude Rogers awarded the album just two stars, noting: 'the glamour promised by this albums two terrific singles goes horribly unfulfilled.'

Rogers added: 'In the past, they excelled when they twisted the sounds of their times in their own way, when they were within glam, disco and electronic pop but also apart from these genres; when their idiosyncrasies elevated them, rather than diminished them.

Top of the tree: Ed Sheeran's fifth mathematically titled LP = (equals) currently sits at number one in the UK Album Chart, but is expected to be ousted by ABBA when the chart is updated on November 12

'If only they had stopped at those two knowing songs, leaving the rest to our dazzling imaginations.'

The Telegraph's Neil McCormick was slightly more generous with a three star rating, but stated the Swedish band had 'drifted a long way from Waterloo'.

Alas the new music didn't match up to their greatest hits, as Neil penned: 'There is nothing here that strikes the pure gold seam of their classic 45s.

'Voyage is weighed down with too many portentous theatrical ballads and schlager-style romps that sound like minor off-cuts from the Seventies.'

He concluded: 'Voyage is a gentle OAP cruise around the backwaters of Abbas reputation. Grandmama Mia! Here we go again.'

Rivals: While = (equals) sold 139,000 copies in just seven days, Voyage - ABBA's first album of original material since 1981 - has sold 181,712 copies over a shorter period of time

NME also awarded three stars as they questioned whether the iconic band's comeback was 'more noteworthy than the music itself?'

The Daily Mail's Adrian Thrills also awarded Voyage four stars, writing: 'The quartet's first album since 1981's The Visitors rekindles the heartfelt storytelling and melodic genius that helped turn the group into one of pop's greatest success stories.'

He concluded: 'Whatever side of Abba takes your fancy, there's something here for you. So, do I like it? I do, I do, I do, I do, I do.'

Old times: ABBA revolutionised pop music during their 1970s and early '80s heyday

THE REVIEWS ARE IN The Guardian Rating: The Telegraph Rating: NME Rating: The Sydney Morning Herald Rating: The Independent Rating: The Times Rating: The Daily Mail Rating: Advertisement

Voyage is ABBA's ninth studio album and the follow-up to The Visitors, which had been the group's final album when it was released in 1984.

The Swedish group released three singles from their new album, I Still Have Faith In You, Don't Shut Me Down and Just A Notion, which was recorded in 1978 but didn't make the cut for their sixth album Voulez-Vous.

ABBA's comeback songs reached numbers nine, fourteen and 59 in the UK Singles Chart - as well as a number one in their native Sweden.

It comes after the four-piece announced they will retire following the release of their album and the completion of their stage residency.

The pop pioneers originally split up in 1982, but reformed earlier this year to record ninth studio album Voyage and unveil plans for an immersive digital stage show, to be held in Stratford next May.

The show will take place in the purpose-built ABBA Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London from May 27, 2022.

ABBA became household names after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with hit single Waterloo.

They went on to release tracks including Mama Mia!, Dancing Queen, Take a Chance On Me and Thank You For The Music before walking away from the music industry.

The group went their separate ways at the height of their career, and during their final years Bjorn divorced bandmate Agnetha whilst Benny and Frida split up, too.

They performed together for the first time in decades in 2016 at a private event, which marked the 50th anniversary of the first meeting between songwriters Bjorn and Benny.

Tickets for the ABBA Voyage concerts are available on abbavoyage.com.
She celebrated her 20th birthday earlier this week.

And Tilly Ramsay looked in high spirits as she shared a cosy snap with her Strictly Come Dancing partner Nikita Kuzmin at a meal to mark the ocassion on Thursday.

The pair looked happier than ever despite finding themselves in the Strictly dance-off last week with Tilly reassuring her fans she was 'all smiles' again.

Celebrate: Tilly Ramsay looked in high spirits as she shared a cosy snap celebrating her 20th birthday with her Strictly Come Dancing partner Nikita Kuzmin on Thursday

Tilly and Nikita beamed as they huddled together for the sweet photo as Tilly pouted with her lips angled towards Nikita's cheek.

The 20-year-old told her followers: 'Its back to all smiles this week for our quickstep!! Ive been loving this dance and cant wait for you all to see it on Saturday.'

Tilly looked stunning in off-duty pics as she posed in a glittering black dress while Nikita opted for his signature unbuttoned shirt.

Gordon Ramsey's daughter looked flawless in the pose as she accentuated her natural beauty with minimal makeup and wore her tresses in a sleek middle parting.

Mwah: The pair beamed as they huddled together for the sweet photo as Tilly pouted with her lips angled towards Nikita's cheek

The outing comes after Tilly is set to follow in her father's footsteps, with Strictly insiders claiming the influencer could bag her own million in only a matter of years with brand endorsement deals.

A source told The Sun: 'Tilly's popularity has soared since she started on Strictly and, if she is clever, she could bank a million over the next couple of years.

'She has had loads of offers for endorsements and brand partnerships because companies can see how much appeal she has  especially because of the graceful way she has dealt with being shamed over her body.

'She has had loads of offers': The outing comes after reports that Tilly is set to bag a million from brand endorsement deals following her Strictly Come Dancing stint (pictured in 2021)

A source told The Sun: 'Tilly's popularity has soared since she started on Strictly and, if she is clever, she could bank a million over the next couple of years.

'She has had loads of offers for endorsements and brand partnerships because companies can see how much appeal she has  especially because of the graceful way she has dealt with being shamed over her body.

'Tilly's TikTok account has also grown since she joined Strictly, along with her profiles on Instagram and Twitter, and she has now got 9.6million followers on TikTok alone.'

They also highlighted that she is currently 'juggling university', where she is studying Psychology, alongside the show so will be 'weighing up her options carefully.

Near miss: Despite finding herself in Sunday night's dance off against Adam Peaty, who bid farewell to the competition, she's certainly found herself a legion of fans (pictured with her on-screen partner Nikita Kuzmin in November 2021)

A representative for Tilly has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

The CBBC presenter recently hit out at LBC's Steve Allen, 67, for calling her a 'chubby little thing' during his radio show last month.

In the post, Tilly revealed she was 'learning to accept' herself but had still been left 'hurt' by the shocking remarks.

Alongside the statement she shared a soundbite from Steve's show, in which he read out a comment from a listener alerting him to the fact Tilly was taking part in Celebrity MasterChef Australia.

Cruel: It comes after she hit out at LBC's Steve Allen, 67, for calling her a 'chubby little thing' during his radio show last month

Steve - who is on air between 4am and 7am - then remarked: 'Is she? Well, she can't blimming well dance!

'I'm bored of her already. She's a chubby little thing isn't she. Have you noticed? Probably her dad's cooking I should imagine.'

In response to the remarks, Tilly penned: 'I try not to read and listen to comments and negativity however recently being called out on a national radio station by a 67-year-old man is a step too far.

'Steve please feel free voice your opinions however I draw the line at commenting on my appearance. It's such a shame that someone is trying to make such a positive experience negative.'

Shock: The CBBC presenter had taken to Instagram to respond to LBC radio presenter Steve fat-shaming her on his radio show

Tilly continued: 'This isn't the first and definitely wont' be the last comment made about my appearance and I accept that and I'm learning to accept myself.

'But please remember that words can hurt. And at the end of the day I am only 19 and I'm so grateful for all the amazing opportunities I have been able to take part in.

'And I understand that being in the public eye obviously comes with it's own repercussions and I've been aware of this from a young age.

'However, I won't tolerate people that think it's okay to publicly comment and scrutinise anyone's weight and appearance. Love Tilly xx'

She captioned the post '#bekind'.
In September, Hollywood actress and entrepreneur Eva Longoria was announced as the official McHappy Day Ambassador for 2021.

And in the lead up to Saturday's McHappy Day, the 46-year-old met with families staying at Ronald McDonald House in Sydney and Melbourne.

Due to travel restrictions, the former Desperate Housewives star was introduced to the Aussie families virtually, where they shared stories of how the House Charities have supported their loved ones.

Hollywood touch: In the lead-up to Saturday's McHappy Day, 2021 ambassador Eva Longoria met with families who are staying at Ronald McDonald House in Sydney and Melbourne

'I was so moved by the families stories as I heard how Ronald McDonald House Charities is helping them stay together and feel supported while their seriously ill or injured child is undergoing treatment,' she began in a statement.

'Family is everything and Ive seen firsthand what a strong support system can do, which is why it is so important that tomorrow on McHappy Day, Aussies give what they can to help raise much-needed funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities.'

This year's McHappy Day will mark the 30th anniversary for the largest annual fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Australia.

The day has helped raise crucial funds to help keep families together and provide them with invaluable support while their seriously ill or injured child is undergoing treatment.

Meeting families: 'I was so moved by the families stories as I heard how Ronald McDonald House Charities is helping them stay together and feel supported while their seriously ill or injured child is undergoing treatment,' she said

Eva joins a long line of celebrities to hold the position for Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia - including Katie Holmes, Eva Mendes, Naomi Watts, Ricki-Lee Coulter, Ada Nicodemou, Benji and Joel Madden and Ryan Kwanten.

Australians can show their support for McHappy Day by picking up a pair of $5 Silly Socks or Helping Hands from their local McDonalds.

Another option is to purchase a Big Mac on McHappy Day from their nearest McDonalds or via McDelivery, with $2 from every Big Mac sold going directly to RMHC.

Big shoes to fill: Eva joins a long line of celebrities to hold the position for Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia

A pair of limited-edition Birdie Silly Socks are also on offer for $20 on Amazon.com.au.

You can also make a donation online by visiting www.rmhc.org.au/give.

McHappy Day takes place on Saturday, November 13 across Australia
She is never shy of sharing revealing snaps on social media.

And on Thursday, Nicola Peltz, 26, sizzled as she slipped into a tiny mini skirt and crop top co-ord for a pair of sexy Instagram snaps.

The actress is currently in London with her fiance Brooklyn Beckham, 22, after celebrating his 1million deal with the fashion Superdry earlier this week.

Wow! Nicola Peltz, 26, sizzled in a tiny black skirt and crop top in a pair of sexy Instagram snaps on Thursday

Posing for the photos Nicola looked incredible in the tiny two piece which consisted of a side split mini skirt and busty square neck cropped top.

She added a pair of black opaque tights to complete her outfit and kept her accessories simple with two delicate gold necklaces.

Styling her platinum blonde locks into a loose shoulder length look, the actress posed up a storm as she looked at the camera with a sultry stare.

Incredible: Posing for the photos Nicola looked incredible in the tiny two piece which consisted of a side split mini skirt and busty square neck cropped top

Nicola captioned the post: 'London' as her beau, the son of David and Victoria Beckham was quick to comment: 'My gorgeous' on the snap.

The couple, who are known to share PDA-packed photos celebrated their two year anniversary last month and are always seen making gushing comments on each others posts.

Both Nicola and Brooklyn shared a series of other loved-up snaps as he captioned the images: 'The past few years have been the best years of my life.'

Sweet: It comes after Nicola posted pictures of herself and Brooklyn in a tight embrace to celebrate their two year anniversary in October

Brooklyn recently revealed he would 'already be married' to his fiancee Nicola Peltz if the coronavirus pandemic 'wasn't a thing'.

Brooklyn, who popped the question to the actress in June last year, spoke to Hello! Magazine about his imminent wedding and revealed his hopes to tie the knot next year - restrictions permitting.

As well as shedding light on his nuptials, Brooklyn revealed he will be spending Christmas away from his famous family, having spent lockdown in America with Nicola's nearest and dearest while the Beckhams resided in the Cotswolds.

On their wedding, he said: 'We've been engaged for a year and if Covid wasn't a thing we'd have liked to have been married already, and it has been a bit difficult...

'You know, I've only just started to travel again, I'm travelling a little bit now but hopefully, it'll be next year.'

Speaking about being away from his family during lockdown, he said: 'No [it wasn't difficult], because I'm marrying my best friend so we kind of have our own little bubble together now and it's just really nice.'
Zayn Malik returned to Instagram for the first time since his split from Gigi Hadid amid a fracas with her mum Yolanda last month.

The former One Direction star, 28, took to the photosharing site on Thursday to post an image to plug his sunglasses collaboration with fashion brand Arnette.

The post is his first since he shared a brooding shot on October 24 - just days before news erupted of his altercation with Yolanda, 57,

He's back: Zayn Malik returned to Instagram for the first time since his split from Gigi Hadid amid a fracas with her mum Yolanda last month

Zayn looked down in the snap while sporting a pair of trendy round sunglasses from the collection and sharing a simple caption promoting the range.

His return to social media comes amid his legal woes with Gigi's family.

Zayn pleaded no contest to four harassment charges against him in October and was sentenced to 360 days probation, an anger management course and told he must have no contact with Yolanda or a security guard who witnessed the fight.

He denied the claims made against him which include him pushing the reality star into a dresser and calling her a 's**t.'

Incident: The post is his first since he shared a brooding shot on October 24 - just days before news erupted of his altercation with Yolanda, 57 (Yolanda and Zayn in 2017)

The incident happened after a fight at the home in Pennsylvania he shares with Gigi Hadid and their daughter Khai. Gigi was modelling in Paris and Yolanda let herself into the couple's home, seemingly without Malik's consent

A fight ensued, in which he allegedly called her a 'f****** Dutch s**t' and said: 'Stay the f*** away from my daughter'

He is then said to have phoned Gigi in Paris and berated her down the phone, screaming: 'Strap on some f*****g balls.'

Way back when: The post is his first since he shared a brooding shot on October 24 - just days before news erupted of his altercation with Yolanda, 57

A security guard witnessed the event and he yelled at him: 'Get the f*** out of my f***ing house copper,'

Zayn posted a statement on social media at the time that confirmed there was an incident, that he pleaded no contest (although it was unclear at the time that he'd been criminally charged) and that he was trying to protect his daughter.

He denied striking Yolanda, as had been reported by TMZ, citing an unnamed source. He said: 'As you all know I am a private person and I very much want to create a safe and private space for my daughter to grow up in.

Invasion of privacy: Malik seemed to claim that the incident arose from an argument caused by an invasion of privacy but did not outright name Yolanda as he said it was a 'family member of my partner's'; Yolanda, Gigi, Zayn pictured

'A place where private family matters aren't thrown on the world stage for all to poke and pick apart.

'In an effort to protect that space for her, I agreed to not contest claims arising from an argument I had with a family member of my partner's who entered our home while my partner was away several weeks ago.'

Gigi and Zayn have now split - it's unclear if that was before the September 29 incident or as a result of it.

Airing it out: Zayn posted a statement on social media at the time that confirmed there was an incident, that he pleaded no contest (although it was unclear at the time that he'd been criminally charged) and that he was trying to protect his daughter

'This was and still should be a private matter but it seems for now there is a divisiveness and despite my efforts to restore us to a peaceful family environment that will allow for me to co-parent my daughter in a manner in which she deserves, this has been 'leaked' to the press.

'I am hopeful though for healing for all involved with the harsh words shared and more importantly I remain vigilant to protect Khai and give her the privacy she deserves.'

The tension between Zayn and Yolanda allegedly began when he suspected her of leaking news of Gigi's pregnancy to the media, according to an unnamed source cited by The Sun.

MailOnline have contacted representatives for Zayn, Yolanda and Gigi for further comment.
Sophia Peschisolido set pulses racing on Thursday as she stripped down to some tiny lingerie.

The model, 24, set tongues wagging online as she posed sexily in the underwear in an Instagram post on Wednesday.

The daughter of Apprentice star Karren Brady slipped into a tiny lacy black two piece set as she struck a sultry pose for her 375,000 followers.

Hot! Karren Brady's daughter Sophia Peschisolido sets pulses racing on her Instagram account on Thursday as she stripped down in some black lacy lingerie showing off her peachy posterior

Sophia looked incredible as she flaunted her impressive abs while striking the sexy pose.

The influencer looked heavenly in the barely-there lingerie set which showcased her peachy posterior and enviable tiny waist.

The brunette beauty sported a full face of makeup, while the heavy contour highlighted her enviable cheekbones.

The model completed her look by styling her long luscious locks into some loose curls.

Peachy: Sophia looked heavenly in the barely there lingerie set which showcased her peachy posterior and enviable tiny waist

The jaw-dropping posts come after Sophia sparked speculation she'd wed boyfriend Frankie Makin as she flashed a huge diamond ring on her wedding finger on last month.

The influencer was taking part in an Instagram Q&A when a fan asked: 'does it matter if you're not married living with your boyfriend in Dubai?'

She responded: 'Who said we weren't married?' and shared a brief clip of her hand with a diamond ring on her wedding finger.

Married? Sophia sparked speculation she'd wed boyfriend Frankie Makin as she flashed a huge diamond ring on her wedding finger last month

Elsewhere in the Q&A, the Instagram star shared a bikini clad snap of herself with Frankie and shot down suggestions she had had bum injections.

She also posed in lingerie for a further sizzling video.

Speaking of her move to Dubai, she wrote: 'Yeah we are loving every minute thank you!!! We were basically renting in London and when our lease ran out we decided we would rather live somewhere hot.'

Couple: The daughter of Baroness Karren Brady set tongues wagging when she hinted at the fact she'd married boyfriend Frankie Makin (pictured together)

'We are young and we love travelling and we are both lucky enough that we can work out here.

'This is also where we first met and mine and @frankiemakin favourite place so we thought f*** it'.

'Not permanently no, trying 6 months but if we like it here we're gonna stay for a year.'
Troubled comedian Andy Dick had another run in with the law when he was arrested Monday for felony domestic battery.

The 55-year-old News Radio actor allegedly hit his boyfriend in the head with a liquor bottle, police sources told TMZ on Thursday.

His arrest is the latest in a string of legal troubles going back decades amid Dick's struggles with alcohol and drug abuse.

More legal troubles: Andy Dick, 55, was arrested Monday for allegedly hitting his boyfriend in the head with a liquor bottle, police sources told TMZ on Thursday; seen in 2016 in LA

According to police, Dick and his boyfriend had been at his home on Monday when they got into a heated argument that quickly turned physical.

After they were called, they determined there was enough evidence to arrest the comedian, as his boyfriend was allegedly bleeding from a sizable wound on his head.

It was a quick trip to jail for Dick, who was released after about three hours after posting a $50,000 bond.

But law enforcement sources say Monday night's altercation was the second time police have been called to his home in two months for alleged domestic violence directed at his boyfriend.

In and out: Police said Dick and his boyfriend got into an argument Monday night at his home that turned physical. He spent three hours in jail before posting his $50,000 bond; Dick's mug shot from 2019

The sources say Dick was previously arrested in October for hitting his partner in the face with a frying pan.

In June of this year, the Ben Stiller Show actor was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly attacking a male partner with a metal chair.

Dick's then-fiancee Elisa Jordana, 33, revealed on her YouTube show Kermit And Friends that the comedian had 'assaulted his lover Lucas,' which police later confirmed.

'He could have killed him,' she said of the injured man, who had to go to the hospital for his injuries. 'I saw pictures, I saw video; it's not good.'

On her podcast, Jordana said that Dick could get 'very aggressive' when he was intoxicated, and she thought he had been spiraling out of control.

'It was getting worse and worse and worse,' she said. 'Every day there was some kind of problem. There were signs something was going to happen.'

Dick also made his $50,000 bail after that altercation, but Jordana suggested he may have had money troubles, as she claimed he called her to a gathering he had with friends at Canter's Deli in Los Angeles after none of the people could pay the bill.

Domestic violence: Source also said Dick was previously arrested in October for hitting his boyfriend in the face with a frying pan; seen in 2019 in Beverly Hills

Dangerous temper: 'He could have killed him,' Dick's former fiancee Elisa Jordana said of a June attack in which he allegedly hit a male lover with a metal chair. 'I saw pictures, I saw video; it's not good'

In 2019, the actor was sentenced to 14 days in jail after being convicted of sexual battery for allegedly squeezing a woman's rear end.

However, he was released after a single night due to jail overcrowding.

The same year, he was seen on video being slammed to the ground after he got into a fight with an Uber Eats driver while seemingly intoxicated.

He previously pleaded not guilty to one count of misdemeanor sexual battery in April 2018 after he allegedly groped an Uber driver's crotch.

Dick's estranged wife Lena Sved received a domestic violence restraining order against him in 2018, which required him to move out of their home and remaining 100 yards away from her and their adult children: Lucas, 33, Jacob, 27, and Meg, 24.

The comedian has a history of inappropriate sexual touching, and he was arrested in 2010 for allegedly grabbing a man's genitals while intoxicated at a West Virginia bar.

Two years earlier, he was arrested for allegedly grabbing a 17-year-old girl's top and pulling it down to expose her breasts.

He was later found with marijuana and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor drug and battery charges, for which he was sentenced to three years of probation.

Downward spiral: 'It was getting worse and worse and worse,' Jordana said. 'Every day there was some kind of problem. There were signs something was going to happen'; seen October 15 in LA

In 2007, Dick grouped Ivanka Trump during an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

She was the second guest after he had already been featured, and he kicked off her segment by asking for a 'big, wet kiss,' the host told Extra.

He escalated his advances by rubbing his hands against her thighs until Kimmel ordered him to stop, but after trying to grab her hair he was pulled off stage by security staff.
Legendary supermodel Carre Otis stepped out for one of fashion's biggest nights in New York on Wednesday for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, hosted by Emily Blunt.

She looked every inch in her icon element sporting a crisp white pantsuit with a black lacy top underneath as she headed into the Oscars of fashion at the Seagram Building on Park Avenue.

Otis, 53, made her first red carpet appearance since filing a suit in August against her former Elite modeling agency boss, Gerald Marie, for rape and sex trafficking which began when she was 17-years-old.

Gorgeous: Legendary supermodel Carre Otis stepped out for one of fashion's biggest nights in New York on Wednesday for the Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards, hosted by Emily Blunt

Otis, who is married to environmental scientist Matthew Sutton, carried a white satin purse by her side and wore black strappy heels.

She slicked back her dark brown hair into a tight ponytail and wore a pair of dangling diamond earrings with a bold swipe of bright red lipstick.

Carre filed the lawsuit against the former modeling executive in August, just hours before the Child Victims Act closed.

Bold and beautiful: She looked every inch in her icon element sporting a crisp white pantsuit with a black lacy top underneath as she headed into the Oscars of fashion at the Seagram Building on Park Avenue

In her suit, she described months of abuse which began when she was sent to Paris by the agency as she 'would have strong appeal in Europe' after struggling to find work in New York.

Otis was told she would be living with Marie, who was 'interested enough in her career success that she could live in his personal residence' as he sat at the helm of Elite's European division.

Carre claimed she was 'raped repeatedly by Marie and later trafficked by Marie to other wealthy men around Europe.'

She also accused Marie of supplying her with vials cocaine 'on the premise that it would allow her to lose weight to become a more successful model.'

Strike a pose: She slicked back her dark brown hair into a tight ponytail and wore a pair of dangling diamond earrings with a bold swipe of bright red lipstick

Otis said she began refusing sex with the executive and was kicked out of his apartment, and was later transferred to Milan, Italy.

Marie has since denied the allegations and his lawyers told The Guardian that he 'intends to actively participate in the manifestation of the truth within the scope of the opened criminal investigation.'

Carre, who was previously married to actor Mickey Rourke, also named former Elite executive Trudi Tapscott as a defendant in the suit.

In her Beauty Disrupted: A Memoir, Carre wrote about being shot in the chest after Mickey stashed a handgun in her bag without letting her know. The bullet hit just two inches from her heart.

'We were on a set in Santa Fe, Mickey was working, and there was a horrific accident,' Carre said. 'There was a gun, his gun, it was in a bag.' Carre threw the bag down and the gun went off.

'I was hit with a .357 bullet,' she said. 'It was about two inches from my heart. It exited through my shoulder. I was really unbelievably lucky that is didnt hit a bone.'
Dorit Kemsley has hit the red carpet for the second time since thugs invaded her Encino, California mansion in late October and threatened to kill her as her two children slept.

On Friday the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star was at co-star Kyle Richards' opening for her luxury loungewear boutique Kyle X Shahida in Palm Desert, California.

And on Wednesday the blonde beauty, 45, was at Sutton Stracke's store event in Los Angeles.

I'm OK: Dorit Kemsley has hit the red carpet for the second time since thugs invaded her Encino, California mansion in late October and threatened to kill her as her two children slept

Showed up: On Wednesday the blonde, 45, was at Sutton Stracke's store event in Los Angeles

She looked happy and relaxed event though she said last week she is suffering from panic attacks after the home invasion.

Dorit showed up in a zebra print skirt that only reached about a third of the way down her thighs. Her top was a long sleeve black button-down shirt.

Her stick-straight dyed, platinum blonde hair stopped at the middle of her chest and was parted down the middle.

The event, titled a A Parisian Night In LA, lived up to its name by sporting some French influencers including fashion designer Alexis Mabille.

Last week she wore a teal dress with a leopard print headband as she told Extra she was 'trying to put one foot in front of the other' since the scary incident.

Blondest! Her stick-straight dyed, platinum blonde hair stopped at the middle of her chest and was parted down the middle

She also admitted that in the wake of the robbery she had been struggling with panic attacks even as she returned to filming RHOBH.

The star gave more details about how physical the intruders got with her after she awoke to them standing at the head of her bed.

'First of all, I was completely taken off guard,' she explained. 'They were surprised to see me at home When they did, they pushed me to the ground.'

The men then asked her who else was with her in the house as her son Jagger, seven, and daughter Phoenix, five, slept on, totally unaware of what was going on.

Wild about the skirt: Dorit showed up in a zebra print skirt that only reached about a third of the way down her thighs. Her top was a long sleeve black button-down shirt

According to Dorit, one of the men suggested just killing her to tie up loose ends.

'There was someone else who said, "Just kill her, just kill her already, just kill her," and all I could think of, "I have to save those babies." I begged them, I begged for my life, and begged for their life,' she said.

She urged the men holding her at gunpoint to take whatever they wanted in exchange for leaving her family unharmed.

'I said, "I dont care about any of it, take it all. You can have it all. Please, Im a mother of babies. Please, they need me. Please dont hurt me,"' she recounted.

Dorit added that she tried to keep her cool to prevent the robbers from losing theirs.

'I stayed very calm because I knew they were very panicked and if I didnt, the situation could have gone a lot worse.'

More to say: On Friday the Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star was at co-star Kyle Richards' opening for her luxury loungewear boutique Kyle X Shahida in Palm Desert, California

Out on the red carpet: Here, from left, are Erika Jayne, Garcelle Beauvais, Sanela Diana Jenkins, Crystal Minkoff, Kyle, Dorit, Sutton Stracke and Lisa Rinna

She added: 'I fought for mine and my kids lives, and I got lucky My kids didnt wake up and they dont know anything about it.'

Although Dorit and her young children escaped the worst possible outcome, she said she's still dealing with the psychological scars of the home invasion.

'The panic attacks are coming' she said as she wondered how she could move on from her trauma.

'And feeling safe? How am I ever going to feel safe again? How do I protect my children? Im going through all of that,' she explained.

Suspect: Police have released a sketch of one of the robbers. Since the break in, Dorit speculated that she might have been targeted because of her lavish social media posts. The star gave more details about how physical the intruders got with her after she awoke to them standing at the head of her bed. 'First of all, I was completely taken off guard,' she explained

Dorit has been back with the cast and crew of RHOBH in recent days, and Teddi asked her how supportive the rest of the cast had been since her return.

'Beyond supportive Theyre with me tracking this process, and its going to be a process, a long one  that, I know,' she said.

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Department released security footage taken from Dorit's home showing robbers breaking a glass door to enter her home just before 11pm on October 27.

Horrifying: The Los Angeles Police Department has released surveillance footage capturing robbers breaking and entering into Dorit's home on October 27 before holding her at gunpoint as her children slept

The men were seen again leaving the home after about 20 minutes, while carrying their loot wrapped in bedding.

Dorit had only just returned home from her nephew's wedding in London, and she was alone with the two children while her husband, PK Kemsley, was still traveling abroad.

Only two men were seen on camera breaking into her home, but they met up with a third man after leaving and drove away in a black four-door pickup truck.

During the ordeal, the robbers reportedly didn't enter the children's bedrooms.
Khloe Kardashian reemerged into society following a battle with a breakthrough case of COVID-19 just last month.

The 37-year-old reality star was pictured for the first time in several weeks as she flaunted her curves in a Fendi X SKIMS catsuit while filming the family's hit Hulu show.

Accompanied by BFF Malika Haqq, the two were seen meeting up at JOEY in the Woodland Hills area on Wednesday afternoon.

Stepping out: Khloe Kardashian reemerged into society following a battle with a breakthrough case of COVID-19, as she filmed the family's Hulu show at JOEY in Woodland Hills

Khloe was seen in a piece from sister Kim Kardashian's recently released Fendi x SKIMS capsule collection as she stepped out of the eatery.

She looked to be her sister's best spokesperson for the tan catsuit, and the luxury collaboration with Fendi's Kim Jones made a whopping $1 Million in the first minute.

The Good American founder accessorized with a suede Fendi belt bag and rounded out the look with a pair of matching tan heeled ankle boots.

She was blinged out with a hefty diamond tag necklace, a diamond timepiece and sizeable diamond studs.

A look: Khloe was seen in a piece from sister Kim Kardashian's recently released Fendi x SKIMS capsule collection as she stepped out of the valley based eatery

Fit physique: The skintight catsuit showed off every inch of the Good American founder's very toned physique and that famous backside

Shrugging it off: The outing comes just days after she was lambasted for being 'tone deaf' and 'uncaring' for sharing a thirst trap series shortly after Travis Scott's Astroworld tragedy

Big day for birthdays: After filming Khloe headed to celebrate brother Rob Kardashian's daughter Dream's birthday

The reality star flashed a smile while wearing oversized brown sunglasses and showed off expert glam with her blonde locks down straight.

After filming a walk-up, she was seen exiting the eatery following lunch where she made her way to her blacked out Rolls Royce Cullinan.

Production personnel seemed to do a quick debrief with Khloe following the scene before she was de-mic'd and headed on her way.

And as her garment was skin-tight it seemed production had to get creative when it came to concealing her mic pack as she was seen unzipping her catsuit from the back.

Back to business: Khloe seemed to jump straight into filming after recovering from a breakthrough case of COVID-19 shortly before Halloween

Glamorous: For her first public outing, Khloe looked totally glamorous and camera ready

Freedom: On October 29, Khloe had tweeted: 'Hi guys I wanted to let you know True and I tested positive for Covid' but looked to be fully recovered as she resumed her filming schedule

After wrapping 20 seasons of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the family have been hard at work filming their new Hulu show which is set to air later this year.

Though the whole family will be involved it is focusing the most on Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian as well as Kris Jenner.

A source told Us Weekly of the new show: 'It's an entirely different concept. It's more chic,' adding that the sisters have liked 'having more control' during filming.

Also pictured at JOEY was her right hand girl Malika, who was seen waiting for her vehicle outside.

The former actress sported a Notorious B.I.G. T-shirt from Daydreamer paired with stylish tan leather trousers from Cultnaked, pairing the ensemble with kitten heels and a Bottega Veneta chain pouch.

Right hand girl: Khloe was joined by her right hand gal Malika Haqq who matched her BFF in the style department for filming

Final things: Production personnel seemed to do a quick debrief with Khloe following the scene as they were seen chasing behind her, before she was de-mic'd and headed on her way

The November 10 outing came on the same day as brother Rob Kardashian's daughter Dream's birthday as well as mom Kris Jenner's longtime beau Corey Gamble's.

Khloe had posted a video of herself cuddling up to Dream, five, after throwing her a celebration at her home with all the small cousins.

She looked overjoyed to be out and about after recovering from COVID-19 alongside daughter True, three, who she shares with on-off beau Tristan Thompson.

On October 29, Khloe had tweeted: 'Hi guys I wanted to let you know True and I tested positive for Covid. I've had to cancel several commitments and I'm sorry I won't be able to make those happen.

'Luckily I have been vaccinated so all will be ok. We will be over here in quarantine and following current guidelines.'

Recovery mode: Despite recovering physically from COVID-19, she recently incurred backlash for posting on Instagram in wake of the Astroworld tragedy without addressing the situation involving sister Kylie Jenner's beau

Dialogue: After growing very close to the Keeping Up With The Kardashians production crew for 20 seasons, the Kardashian bunch were tasked with getting to know a whole new crew for the Hulu show

Up close and personal: One of the audio guys was seen trying to find an expert way to conceal her mic pack in the skin tight garment

But despite having recovered from COVID-19, recently Khloe came under fire for posting a thirst trap series just three days after Travis Scott's Astroworld tragedy in Houston, Texas.

She was lambasted for being 'tone deaf' and 'uncaring' with one person quipping 'People are dead Khloe,' after she seemed to go back to posting as usual in wake of the tragedy.

Additionally people were quick to note that though Kylie Jenner had penned a statement on behalf of she and Travis  understandably being closest to the mass casualty incident which killed eight  none of the other sisters had spoken out.

Following Khloe's public shaming, sister Kim penned an Instagram statement which was then re-posted by the Good American founder, with Kendall Jenner (who was also present at the Houston based festival) also speaking out shortly after.
She's never been afraid to play with her look and revealed a new nose job on season 11 of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

And Kyle Richards turned up the heat wearing kinky leather boots while supporting co-star Sutton Stracke at her Parisian showcase in West Hollywood on Wednesday evening.

The 52-year-old reality star looked effortlessly chic wearing a sexy black blazer dress with a plunging neckline as she joined her friends to view the new SUTTON Collection in Los Angeles.

Lady of the night: Kyle Richards turned up the heat wearing kinky leather boots while supporting co-star Sutton Stracke at her Parisian showcase in West Hollywood on Wednesday

Kyle, who celebrated 25 years of wedded bliss with husband Mauricio Umansky earlier this year, rocked a short black dress with long sleeves.

Her button-down sheath featured a deep neckline and revealed peeks of her lacy bra, and she wrapped a black leather belt around her waist to match a pair of thigh-grazing leather boots.

Richards carried a leather purse in one hand and wore a crescent pendant in addition to sparkling diamond hoop earrings.

Back in black: The 52-year-old reality star looked effortlessly chic wearing a sexy black blazer dress with a plunging neckline as she joined her friends to view the new SUTTON Collection in Los Angeles

Chic in the city: Kyle, who celebrated 25 years of wedded bliss with husband Mauricio Umansky earlier this year, rocked a short black dress with long sleeves

Classic Kyle: Her button-down sheath featured a deep neckline and revealed peeks of her lacy bra, and she wrapped a black leather belt around her waist to match a pair of thigh-grazing leather boots

Her luscious brunette tresses were expertly blown out into soft curls, and her glam was focused on bold brows with a pale peach lip gloss.

Kyle was on hand to support her friend, which included standing by Dorit Kemsley's side as she attempted to regain some sense of normalcy after a traumatic home break-in just last month.

DailyMail.com exclusively revealed that three men broke into Kemsley's $6.4 million Encino Hills home just before 11 p.m. on Thursday while she and her children slept.

During the invasion, the intruders entered the home around by smashing through the children's classroom door. Two of the suspects walked into Kemsley's bedroom while she was sleeping and she woke up to them standing at the end of her bed.

Bold and beautiful: Her luscious brunette tresses were expertly blown out into soft curls, and her glam was focused on bold brows with a pale peach lip gloss

Tough time: Kyle was on hand to support her friend, which included standing by Dorit Kemsley's side as she attempted to regain some sense of normalcy after a traumatic home break-in just last month

'My kids are unaware of what happened, they slept through it and I thank God for keeping my kids and myself from being physically harmed,' Kemsley said on Instagram

They grabbed her as as she begged: 'Don't hurt my babies. Don't kill me. I'm a mother.' To which one of the men responded: 'Kill her.'

Dorit broke her silence days later on Instagram: As you all know by now I have been through a terrifying ordeal, one that no parent or person should ever have to experience...

'My kids are unaware of what happened, they slept through it and I thank God for keeping my kids and myself from being physically harmed.'

Kemsley said she appreciated the outpouring of support she has received and added that her family needed to start the healing process.

She added: 'I have thrown myself straight back into work as I want our family to return to normality as soon as possible.

'With the love and support of my husband, my incredible family, friends, fans and followers, I am confident this is the right thing to do whilst I independently work through the trauma.'
Sorry Kim Kardashian, Jonathan 'FoodGod' Cheban has a new best friend.

For the second time this month the food critic was seen hanging out with home improvement guru Martha Stewart.

The first time was on November 1 at the WSJ. Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York City. And on Wednesday they were side-by-side at the Sony Pictures Classics & The Cinema Society screening of Julia at One Vanderbilt in the same city.

BFFs in NYC: Sorry Kim Kardashian, Jonathan 'FoodGod' Cheban has a new best friend. For the second time this month the food critic was seen hanging out with home improvement guru Martha Stewart

They have a history that dates back to 2016 when she slammed him on Twitter.

On Wednesday, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star - whose new show FoodGod debuts on Sunday on discovery+ - wore a colorful satin Versace bomber jacket while Martha was in a golden beige colored blouse.

Martha held on to Jonathan's arm as they posed with fashion designer Donna Karan.

On November 1, 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.

Pals: They were seen on Wednesday at the Sony Pictures Classics & The Cinema Society screening of Julia at One Vanderbilt in NYC. Pictured with Donna Karan

Rich in color: On Wednesday, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star wore a colorful satin Versace bomber jacket

A leopard print purse was in front of her on the table which saw several glasses and a floral arrangement.

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.

Big time: His new show, titled FoodGod, debuts on Sunday, November 14 on discovery+

Hey Donna: Karan wore all black with her brunette hair down as she smiled for the camera

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.

Food talk: Cheban was talking to Stewart at the WSJ. Magazine 2021 Innovator Awards at the Museum Of Modern Art in New York City on November 1

How do you like your eggs, scrambled? Both are experts at cuisine, though Cheban critiques restaurants and Stewart actually makes the meals

'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.

His cooking show titled FoodGod will debut Sunday on discovery+. And he will join pal Kim on her new Hulu show with her family which launches next year.

Kim was also at the WSJ event. She 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.

Kim, 41, is reportedly dating SNL star Pete Davidson, 27, but has yet to confirm the romance.
Chrishell Stause, 39, and her boss/boyfriend Jason Oppenheim, 44, enjoyed a romantic, PDA packed lunch together in Los Angeles on Monday.

The pair, who is currently filming an all new season of their hit Netflix show Selling Sunset, enjoyed more than a few kisses while dining al fresco in the West Hollywood neighborhood.

This week the streaming giant released a dramatic first look trailer at season four of the real estate reality series which showed co-star Christine Quinn seemingly on the outs with coworkers at The Oppenheim Group.

Love birds: Chrishell Stause, 39, and her boss/boyfriend Jason Oppenheim, 44, enjoyed a romantic, PDA packed lunch together in Los Angeles on Monday

Chrishell was dressed down for a casual lunch wearing a pair of black spandex leggings, an oversized black and white tie-dye sweatshirt and a pair of matching black trainers.

Her long sunkissed hair was left down and tousled, and Chrishell had her beloved dog Gracie in tow.

The luxury realtor was joined for a light lunch by her boyfriend Jason Oppenheim, who along with his twin brother Brett, own and operate a high-end Los Angeles based real estate agency.

Chrishell and Jason previously hid their relationship for months before going public and now that they're out, the couple is flaunting their romance.

Keeping it casual: Chrishell was dressed down for a casual lunch wearing a pair of black spandex leggings, an oversized black and white tie-dye sweatshirt and a pair of matching black trainers

Beauty! Chrishell wore light makeup and rocked tousled sun kissed hair

Appearing to be positively smitten with one another, the pair nuzzled and smooched at the table during lunch.

This week, Netflix released the trailer for the highly-anticipated season four of Selling Sunset and as promised there's no shortage of new girls or drama.

A first look at the upcoming season of the luxury real estate-centered reality show, shows an emotional Christine Quinn on the verge of getting ousted by a new cast member.

'It comes to a point where it's either gonna be me or her,' says newcomer Emma Hernan after it's teased she'll be taking over Quinn's desk.

Day date: The pair, who is currently filming an all new season of their hit Netflix show Selling Sunset, enjoyed more than a few kisses while dining al fresco in the West Hollywood neighborhood

Happy couple: Chrishell and Jason previously hid their relationship for months before going public and now that they're out, the couple is flaunting their romance

Smooches! Jason leaned in quite a few times to nuzzle Chrishell's neck and the pair enjoyed several romantic kisses

The nearly two minute trailer opens with Oppenheim co-founder Jason Oppenheim telling the office that newcomer Vanessa Villela would be filling a vacancy after longtime cast member Davina Potratz leaves the agency for good.

'I've had a lot of experiences where I've worked with women who are competitive, and I know how to deal with that,' Villela, a former Mexican-American soap star says of the intimidating bunch of beauties.

It's later teased in the trailer that Vilella seems to butt heads with veteran castmate Mary Fitzgerald as she is silenced by her repeatedly in a meeting.

But the drama does not stop there as it is revealed that longtime Oppenheim Group agent Emma Hernan (who has not appeared on camera yet) will be taking over some of Christine's listings amid her maternity leave.

New episodes: This week, Netflix released the trailer for the highly-anticipated season four of Selling Sunset and as promised there's no shortage of new girls or drama

Potential problems? The couple's relationship will be featured in the series and could present some issues as Jason is both boss and boyfriend

Changes: The nearly two minute trailer opens with Oppenheim co-founder Jason Oppenheim telling the office that newcomer Vanessa Villela would be filling a vacancy after longtime cast member Davina Potratz leaves the agency for good

Chrishell teases in the trailer that she will not be walked on this season: 'I don't hold a grudge, but I do hold people accountable,' Stause says and later continues to express discontent with her seeming return as she says 'You're coming back to the turf that we've built.'

'I'm here to work and hopefully all this high school drama that I've dealt with for years can stay like Christine  out of mind,' quips Hernan in a confessional.

It's also teased that one of the new ladies  seemingly Hernan  was engaged to Christine's ex two months after they broke up, as she confides in Viella.

A vulnerable Quinn says 'I'm not really sure what I've done wrong,' of her seeming disassociation with the group of ladies  despite being the major source of drama in past seasons.

Chrishell teases in the trailer that she will not be walked on this season. 'I don't hold a grudge, but I do hold people accountable,' Stause says and later continues to express discontent with her seeming return as she says 'You're coming back to the turf that we've built.'

Drama brewing: A first look at Selling Sunset season four sees reigning real estate queen Christine Quinn on the verge of getting ousted by newcomer Emma Hernan as the hit Netflix show returns with new drama and new girls

Her drama with Christine spans back to the end of season one when she implied that Chrishelle was not being honest about her divorce from Justin Hartley.

The whole cast continues to be disenchanted with Quinn after years of toxicity, with Heather Rae Young (who seemed to uninvite her to her recent wedding to Tarek El Moussa) asks 'I don't know why she cares she has a baby and a husband.'

The full cast of ladies and then some are back for season four  which is set to hit Netflix on November 24  and production on season five has been underway for some time.
He's no stranger to turning heads with his quirky fashion choices.

And Jared Leto opted for comfort as he stepped out in his slippers while leaving his hotel in London on Thursday.

The star, 49, who has been promoting House Of Gucci in the UK capital, slipped on cosy furry slippers as he waved at fans and snappers.

Cosy: Jared Leto opted for comfort as he stepped out in his slippers while leaving his hotel in London on Thursday

The star wore a colourful Gucci hoodie paired with joggers as he stepped out.

He slipped on a blue woolen hat and accessorised with a red rucksack.

The star completed his ensemble with stylish shades.

House Of Gucci stars Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in the years after her marriage to Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver) as she hires a hitman to kill him.

Casual cool: The star, 49, who has been promoting House Of Gucci in the UK capital, slipped on cosy furry slippers as he waved at fans and snappers

Casual: The star slipped on slippers once again as he departed his hotel

Fun: Jared looked in good spirits as he walked into the capital

Thumbs up: Jared gave the thumbs up to his fans as he left the hotel

Last month, Gaga showed off a new murderous side as the second official trailer for House Of Gucci was released.

Alongside the clip, New poster images were released to coincide with the latest trailer that show the all-star cast in some of their glamorous ensembles from the film.

Gaga appears severe in a mullet-like hairdo while grimly clasping her hands and wearing a scarlet suit dress with abundant bracelets and a thick beaded necklace.

Driver looks more imposing in a blue double-breasted pinstripe suit, while Leto looks like a trickster in his Paolo makeup and a striking lavender corduroy suit.

Al Pacino - who plays Aldo Gucci - dons aviator sunglasses and looks elegant in a charcoal double-breasted suit.

Jeremy Irons, who plays Rodolfo Gucci and hasn't had a single line in any of the teasers and trailers so far, looked like a dandy with a tan suit, honeycomb-patterned vest and a navy ascot.

The cold-blooded murder of fashion scion Maurizio Gucci in 1995 shocked the world  especially when his glamorous ex-wife Patrizia was found guilty of arranging it.

During the murder trial, which transfixed Italy, Reggiani arrived each day wearing head-to-toe Gucci clothes and accessories.

The court heard how she had ordered the murder of her husband after he offered her $650,000 in a divorce settlement.

Anticipated: House Of Gucci stars Lady Gaga as Patrizia Reggiani in the years after her marriage to Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver) as she hires a hitman to kill him

She was initially sentenced to 29 years in 1998, which was reduced to 26 on appeal. She served 18  with her pet ferret Bambi as a companion for some of the time - before being released in October 2014.

Well-known for her luxury lifestyle, Reggiani once said: 'I'd rather cry in a Rolls than be happy on a bicycle' and turned down the offer of day release while in prison because it would have meant doing 'menial' work.

House of Gucci, directed by Scott from a script by Roberto Bentivegna, based on Sara Gay Forden's book, hits UK cinemas November 26.
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Hailee Steinfeld was the picture of elegance when she attended a special screening for new series Hawkeye in London on Thursday wearing a chic patterned dress over pleated black trousers.

The star, 24, wore her glossy hair swept into a neat bun and slipped her arms into satin opera gloves.

Hailee, who plays Kate Bishop, mingled with crowds and was joined by her co-star Jeremy Renner.

Stars: Hailee Steinfeld was the picture of elegance when she attended a special screening for new series Hawkeye in London on Thursday - joined by co-star Jeremy Renner

Wow: Hailee looked stunning in a chic prom-style dress over black trousers in the UK capital

She accessorised with luxury drop earrings and beamed while working her best angles for photographers ahead of the screening.

Jeremy, 50, teamed a turtleneck with jeans and kept warm beneath a dapper black coat.

He stars as the titular character in the much-anticipated Marvel spin-off.

The pair were also joined by director Rhys Thomas.

The bond Hailee and Jeremy developed during filming was clear, with the actors giggling away at the event.

The new Disney Plus series follows Renner's character Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, as he takes his kids to New York City to watch a Broadway musical about Captain America.

As is often the case with superheroes, plans change quickly as Hawkeye tells his protege Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) about being hunted by dangerous men.

Friendly: Hailee and Jeremy put on a friendly display while posing on the carpet

Crowds: Crowds and photographers were seen filling up the space behind the Marvel actors

Having a blast: Clearly having a blast, Hailee and Jeremy barely stopped smiling

Kind: Hailee sweetly placed her hand on her co-star's arm

Director: The pair were also joined by director Rhys Thomas, who they posed for photos with

Holding hands: The stars affectionally held hands while admiring the festive display

Looking good: Hailee and Jeremy both cut stylish figures

Proud: The actors and director were no doubt filled with pride on Thursday night

The trailer is set to the Andy Williams holiday classic It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, with Barton telling his family over a holiday meal, 'It's gonna be the best Christmas ever.'

He reveals that he took his young children Lila (Ava Russo) and Nathaniel (Cade Woodward) to New York City.

They took in the Broadway play Rogers: The Musical, about the life of former Captain America Steve Rogers, as we see Clint reacting oddly to the production.

Show-stopping: The star made a show-stopping entrance to the Hawkeye blue carpet towards the end of the week

Starlet: Hailee looked every inch the Hollywood starlet

All in the details: She accessorised with luxury drop earrings and beamed while working her best angles for photographers ahead of the screening

Sweet: Hailee mingled with crowds and posed for photographs with excited fans

Beaming: Hailee beamed while chatting away to her devoted fans in the capital on Thursday

He's telling this all to Kate as they ride in a cab, as she says that: 'Sounds pretty cool to me.'

But then Barton revealed, 'people started trying to kill us,' as we see a shot of men throwing a Molotov cocktail into a building, which Clint catches and throws back.

'Actually it's pretty bad when you think about it,' Kate tells her archery mentor, as Barton is seen 'LARPing' (live-action roleplaying) with a big group.

Best angles: Looking back over her shoulder, Hailee effortlessly worked her best angles ahead of the screening

Plot: The new Disney Plus series follows Renner's character Clint Barton, a.k.a. Hawkeye, as he takes his kids to New York City to watch a Broadway musical about Captain America

Striking a pose: Hailee posed with her hand on her hip

Festive: The blue carpet had been dusted with fake snow and Christmas trees adorned with fairylights twinkled in the background

He's also seen talking to his wife Laura, who says, 'Let me guess, you're gonna need another day,' as Barton responds, 'Or two.'

Hawkeye is seen fleeing from gunfire while telling his wife that, 'things have gotten complicated.'

He's also seen squaring off with a group men getting out of a van, as Clint says, 'You probably should've brought more guys,' when more get out and he says, 'Oh, you did.'

The trailer winds down with a number of quick shots including one dramatic shot where Clint and Kate jump off a bridge and pull their bows out.

They're both seen in a car chase as Clint tells Kate they're out of 'regular arrows' and gives her some 'trick arrows.'

Layering up: Fending off the cold, Jeremy layered up

High spirits: The actor was in high spirits and put on a playful display for photographers

Chilly: Jeremy dressed for the chilly London weather

Off she goes: Earlier in the evening, Hailee was seen leaving her luxury London hotel

All smiles: Hailee was all smiles as she went about her evening

Exciting: Hawkeye debuts Wednesday, November 24 with the first two episodes of the six-part holiday event series, only on the Disney Plus streaming service

Stylish: The star was later seen in a purple co-ord as she left and headed back to her hotel

All smiles: She looked in great spirits after the big night

Home time: The star teamed her purple ensemble with silver stilettos

Taxi: She stepped out of the taxi and went to the hotel

Radiant: She opted for a typically glowing makeup look

Smart: Hawkeye director Rhys Thomas was also spotted outside the Corinthia Hotel in London

She fires one at the pursuing van and it explodes, as she looks back at Clint and says, 'There are arrows more dangerous than that one?' but he doesn't answer.

The two are seen standing side by side firing arrows at unseen enemies with the final shot showing Clint saying, 'This is some Christmas.'

While she's not seen in the trailer, Hawkeye also marks the return of Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova from Marvel's Black Widow movie.

Exciting: Jeremy said of Hawkeye during an upcoming appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show: 'It's an exciting form of storytelling for us'

Wow! He added: 'It kind of feels like event television which is great, like a six-hour film if you will'

Adorable: Of finally being able to share a film with his daughter he said: 'This will be the first thing my daughter sees me do. She's 8 years old now. It'll be a special thing for me to share with her'

Jeremy said of Hawkeye during an upcoming appearance on The Jonathan Ross Show: 'It's an exciting form of storytelling for us. It kind of feels like event television which is great, like a six-hour film if you will.'

Of finally being able to share a film with his daughter he said: 'This will be the first thing my daughter sees me do. She's 8 years old now. It'll be a special thing for me to share with her.'

Hailey, who discussed learning archery for the role, added: 'I was so excited. I love that what I do requires me to pick up new skills quite often. This was something I was particularly excited about.

Talented: Hailey, who discussed learning archery for the role, added: 'I was so excited. I love that what I do requires me to pick up new skills quite often. This was something I was particularly excited about'

'The first time we [Jeremy and I] met, I was very excited to meet him. I said about archery, "Any pointers?" and he said: "You're never going to be shooting a real arrow."

'I still took lessons, I fell in love with the sport. Very fun to do it the way that we do. I'm not bad at it.'

Hawkeye debuts Wednesday, November 24 with the first two episodes of the six-part holiday event series, only on the Disney Plus streaming service.
Comedian John Mulaney hired a new legal team in efforts to 'speed up' his divorce from estranged wife Anna Marie Tendler while he awaits the birth of his first child with new girlfriend Olivia Munn.

Sources told Page Six that Mulaney is now being represented by Teitler & Teitler, the firm who previously represented Matt Lauer's ex-wife Annette Roque in addition to a number of powerful Goldman Sachs execs and big-money battles.

'John wants to speed things up and get the divorce done,' one source said. 'He's becoming a father, so he switched to a new law firm with a reputation of being tough and efficient.'

Moving on: Comedian John Mulaney hired a new legal team in efforts to 'speed up' his divorce from estranged wife Anna Marie Tendler while he awaits the birth of his first child with new girlfriend Olivia Munn; seen in 2019

Mulaney filed for divorce from Anna, his wife of six years, in May, following a 60-day treatment program last year for cocaine and alcohol abuse, and was in outpatient services in February.

She hired family law attorney Eleanor Alter, 'who has an equally powerful client roster including Mia Farrow (she represented the actress in her custody battles against Woody Allen), Madonna, Robert De Niro, John Lennon, Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman.'

In the midst of their divorce, Mulaney began dating Munn after meeting in Los Angeles in the spring, and later confirmed she was pregnant while appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

'We talk about the same stuff  which rocker? What type of crib do you put the baby in? What does the baby wear?' Olivia said on the Today show last week.

Baby on board: In the midst of their divorce, Mulaney began dating Munn after meeting in Los Angeles in the spring; seen in 2019

Daddy duty: He confirmed she was pregnant while appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers in September

'Honestly, thank God for Instagram and Facebook and blogs because there's a lot of moms who put out such great information, and that's been a saving grace for me.'

Anna Marie spoke out about her split from the comedian earlier this year: 'I am heartbroken that John has decided to end our marriage. I wish him support and success as he continues his recovery.'

Tendler also reportedly entered rehab for 'emotional and eating' disorders around the same time as her estranged ex.

Tough time: Anna Marie spoke out about their split earlier this year: 'I am heartbroken that John has decided to end our marriage. I wish him support and success as he continues his recovery'

Gossip columnist AJ Benza claimed on his podcast, Fame, Ain't It A B***h, that textile artist Tendler, 35, went to therapy at Silver Hill in Connecticut.

A source then told Page Six: 'Anna Marie was in rehab at Silver Hill for [emotional] and eating disorders.'

They added that Tendler did not talk openly about her husband's issues, stating: 'She didn't talk at all about that, we were all on our own journey of recovery. But it is clear she suffered during their marriage.'

Tendler is out of rehab and 'doing better' while 'focusing on her art.'
His ex-fiancee Tammy Hembrow appeared to confirm she has sole custody of their two children, Wolf, five, and daughter Saskia, four, this week.

And on Friday, Reece Hawkins' new wife London Goheen shared sweet photos of their family, including their son Stone, along with a heartfelt message.

The model, 23, posted a picture of herself locking lips with Reece, 26, as their baby boy played with a balloon.

Sending a message? Model London Goheen defiantly shared a sweet family photos of her baby boy Stone and husband Reece Hawkins after his ex-fiancee Tammy Hembrow revealed she cares full-time for their two children

Other images in the collection showed Stone making adorable faces, playing in the swimming pool with his father and of the three of them asleep together.

London wrote in the caption: 'Heart is full of love & happiness today & everyday.

'Love these two more than anything!!!' the Instagram influencer added.

Memories: Other images in the collection showed Stone smiling and making adorable faces, as well as playing in the swimming pool with his father

Family: The Instagram influencer also shared a photo of the three of them asleep together and wrote in the caption: 'Heart is full of love & happiness today & everyday. Love these two more than anything!!!'

London's gushing images and caption comes after Reece's ex-fiancee Tammy appeared to confirm she has sole custody of their two children.

Tammy and Reece were in a relationship for five years and together welcomed son Wolf, five, and daughter Saskia, four, before splitting up in 2018.

On Thursday, the Gold Coast influencer was asked if she looks after her children full-time in an Instagram Q&A on Wednesday, after Reece relocated to the U.S. in July.

Motherhood: London's gushing images and caption comes after Reece's ex-fiancee Tammy Hembrow appeared to confirm she has sole custody of their two children

Former couple: Tammy and Reece were in a relationship for five years and together welcomed son Wolf, five, and daughter Saskia, four, before splitting up in 2018. Pictured together in August 2017

The fan asked: 'Do you look after Wolf and Sass full-time now?' to which Tammy simply responded: 'Yes.'

The Rich Lister also spoke about raising her two young children, saying: 'My kids are quite a good age, and actually really well-behaved.'

'I'll bring Sass to a lot of my [work] meetings when Wolf is at school as she only goes a couple of days a week.

Single mum: Tammy also spoke about raising her two young children, saying: 'My kids are quite a good age, and actually really well-behaved'

'Also having family around to help. My mum will help babysit.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Reece and Tammy for further comment.

Tammy has since moved on and is now in a relationship with Ironman Matt Poole, which she first debuted in September 2020.
The Real Housewives of Orange County's Kelly Dodd launched a foul-mouthed attack on former co-stars Heather and Terry Dubrow on Wednesday evening, as they were eating dinner at a public restaurant.

The feuding reality stars came to blows earlier this year, when Kelly, 46, claimed she and husband Rick Leventhal had contracted COVID-19 from Heather's 16-year-old son Nicholas, 16.

Finding herself at the same dining establishment as Heather, 52, and Terry, 63, the ex-RHOC star - who was axed from the show this year - began to insult the couple as she filmed them over her shoulder.

On the attack: Axed RHOC star Kelly Dodd heckles Heather and Terry Dubrow at a public restaurant calling them 'f*** faces' in foul-mouthed tirade following their feud

Kelly said in her video that the couple are 'suing' her and alleged they had sent her and husband Rick a cease-and-desist letter, calling them 'f**k faces' as she pointed at them in her Instagram video.

'Should I ask these a**h***s why they're suing me?' Kelly asked in the video. 'Terry and Heather. Why are they suing me? I think [Rick] might ask why they put a cease and desist on us.'

The axed reality star was at dinner with Rick, 61, celebrating her friend Marianne Rabold's birthday - however, when she caught sight of the Dubrow family the mood swiftly changed.

Why: The feuding reality stars came to blows earlier this year, when Kelly, 46, claimed she and husband Rick had contracted COVID-19 from Heather's 16-year-old son Nicholas, 16

Yikes: Kelly launched a foul-mouthed attack on Heather and Terry Dubrow on Wednesday evening, as they were eating dinner at a public restaurant

Giggling: Kelly asks her pals if she interrupt Heather and Terry's dinner

Did someone order beef? At one point, Kelly began to make fun of the couple for sitting at a large table, captioning the video: 'Table of 6 and no friends

She went on to compare Heather to the cartoon character Coraline, and referred to Terry as 'Gomer Pyle ' a character that is played by Jim Nabors from The Andy Griffith Show.

At one point, Kelly began to make fun of the couple for sitting at a large table, captioning the video: 'Table of 6 and no friends.'

In July this year, Kelly posted video to Instagram in which she publicly apologized for claims she made against the Dubrow's son Nicholas.

'So I got this letter from an attorney for the Dubrow family reminding me I made a statement that may sound like truth, when in fact it was a joke and for that, I am offering my sincere apology,' she explained explained.

Not having it: Terry and Heather Dubrow (pictured in 2019) allegedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to Kelly Dodd

Kelly and Rick, who married in October 2020, got the coronavirus in January after ringing in the New Year in Aspen, Colorado.

Holding up the legal letter she had received , the reality star shared: 'I did get COVID at a party New Year's Eve, and Heather Dubrow's son and his friends were all there.

'And while I had information leading us all to believe we could've gotten COVID from them, because we all, like 24 of us, got COVID that night, we obviously have no way of proving or knowing for sure he or his friends were the source of our infection.'

Kelly added: 'And for that, I apologize. I'm going on the record right now to be very clear, Rick and I don't know how we caught the virus, and we're both very very sorry for any trouble we caused the Dubrow family.'

Controversial couple: Kelly and Rick are pictured together last month

Meanwhile, in late June, Dodd's daughter Jolie, 15 also got COVID-19.

Dodd had faced intense backlash last year for her controversial COVID-19 opinions and later toasted to being a 'super-spreader' while at a bar with friends amid strict lockdown and social distancing measures in California.

And on June 16, Variety confirmed that Kelly, along with Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Elizabeth Lyn Vargas, would not be appearing in season 16 of The Real Housewives of Orange County.

At the time, Kelly tweeted: 'The last five years have been an amazing experience. The next five years will be even better. I am so grateful for all the love and support and so excited about the future.'

Ironically, Dubrow was invited back to the Bravo reality show after taking four seasons off following season 11.

More recently both Kelly and her husband Rick landed themselves in hot water for their controversial Halloween costume.

Particularly Rick, who came dresses as Alec Baldwin on the set of Rust.

He would later delete the post 'out of respect' to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins - who tragically lost her life after being accidentally shot by Baldwin.
Former child actor Coronji Calhoun has died at the age of 30 from congestive heart failure and lung problems, it has been reported.

His mother Theresa C. Bailey confirmed to the CBS affiliate in New Orleans that he passed away last month on October 13.

Calhoun was best known for starring alongside Halle Berry in Monster's Ball, for which she became the first African American to take home a Best Actress Oscar.

Tragic: Halle Berry's Monster's Ball co-star Coronji Calhoun dies at 30 from heart failure and lung problems... as actress helps pay for 'sacred celebration' of his life (pictured in the movie)

Berry is said to have helped cover some of the costs for a 'sacred celebration' of his life.

She and filmmaker Lee Daniels are listed with the two largest donations to his family's GoFundMe, both for $3,394.

According to WWL-TV, the fundraiser had an initial goal of $10,000, and Berry and Daniels both split the difference on the remaining amount, though the goal has now been raised to $14,000.

'We are blown away by the outpouring of love the community and Coronjis adopted family has shown during our process of grief,' wrote his mother Theresa C. Bailey on the fundraiser site. 'As we close this chapter, we ask that in your remembrance of him, you remember to love your neighbor as yourself, because that is what Coronji did for his entire community.'

Calhoun was only 10 when he appeared opposite Berry in the dark drama Monster's Ball as her son.

Helping out: Berry and filmmaker Lee Daniels are listed with the two largest donations to his family's GoFundMe, both for $3,394

Berry's character abuses him in the film, while his father, played by Sean 'Diddy' Combs, is on death row.

After his father is put to death, she begins a relationship with a prison guard who assisted in his execution (Billy Bob Thornton).

Berry's searing performance was enough to earn her an Oscar, but she spoke to SF Gate in 2002 about how difficult it was for her to pretend to be abusive to Calhoun on camera.

'It was a lot harder than even the love scene because Coronji was really 10 [years old] and obese,' she explained.

Difficult scenes: Berry worried she would 'damage [Calhoun] emotionally by playing his abusive mother. 'It was a lot harder than even the love scene because Coronji was really 10 [years old] and obese,' she explained; still from Monster's Ball

Standing out from the crowd: Calhoun earned his major part  which would be his sole acting credit  when he attended an open casting call in Louisiana

'I worried that I would somehow damage him emotionally, not just in doing the scene, but down the road. So I talked to him a lot and hugged and kissed him a lot. He said, "You dont have to worry about what you say; it cant be as bad as how they treat me at school."'

'But I hear now hes the most popular kid in his school. So I guess [the movie] helped,' she said at the time.

Calhoun earned his major part  which would be his sole acting credit  when he attended an open casting call in Louisiana, despite having never acted before.

Calhoun, who was one of six siblings, is survived by his mother, 10-year-old son and 13-year-old stepson.
Aaron Sorkin defended his casting of Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman in the upcoming feature Being The Ricardos during a sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter.

The 60-year-old filmmaker discussed numerous aspects of the forthcoming feature, which is centered on the lives of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, best known for their work on the highly influential comedy series I Love Lucy.

The upcoming biopic has been in the works for several years, and it is currently set to be released on December 10, 2021.

Speaking out: Aaron Sorkin defended his casting of Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman in the upcoming feature Being The Ricardos during a sit-down with The Hollywood Reporter; he is seen in 2019

During the sit-down, Sorkin pointed out that, during the casting process, he made a point of looking for an actress that could truly embody Ball.

'I couldn't cast Desi until we had our Lucy. What I needed was someone who absolutely owns it,' he said.

The West Wing creator also expressed that he was not overly concerned about appearance during the process.

'Finding an actress who looked like Lucille Ball wasn't important to me, especially because I was excited by the idea that Lucille Ball doesn't look like Lucille Ball,' he said.

Insight: During the sit-down, Sorkin pointed out that, during the casting process, he made a point of looking for an actress that could truly embody Ball

Artistic license: The West Wing creator also expressed that he was not overly concerned about appearance during the process; Kidman is seen on Wednesday

The filmmaker then remarked that, when he initially put out a call for serious talent, he received offers from numerous performers who ended up being added to the cast.

'This was going to be a kind of tour de force performance. And then when Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem and J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda say they want to do your movie, your casting search is over,' he recalled.

Sorkin also discussed the casting of Bardem, which was seen by many as a slight against actors of Cuban descent, although he noted that the actor's child was fine with the decision.

'Having an actor who was born in Spain playing a character who was born in Cuba was not demeaning. And it wasn't just the casting consultant who agreed, Lucy and Desi's Cuban American daughter didn't have a problem with it,' he said.

Making it clear: Sorkin also discussed the casting of Bardem, which was seen by many as a slight against actors of Cuban descent, although he noted that the actor's child was fine with the decision; the performer is seen in October

The writer expressed that Kidman's performance was especially impressive and that viewers would recognize the quality of her acting.

'As far as audience anticipation, that's something I'm just not worried about. I'm certain that when people see the movie, they'll leave feeling that Nicole has made a very solid case for herself,' he stated.

Sorkin then revealed that he did not ask the cast to embody their characters and that they would be able to creatively interpret the actions of the figures.

'Zooming with Nicole and Javier and everyone else, I'd make it very clear to them that I am not looking for a physical or vocal impersonation of these people,' he said.

Building hype: The writer expressed that Kidman's performance was especially impressive and that viewers would recognize the quality of her acting

Being The Ricardos initially entered the development stage in 2015, and Cate Blanchett was originally set to portray Ball.

The film will follow the performers for a full week as they work on an episode of I Love Lucy.

The performer later exited the project and was replaced by Kidman earlier this year.

Looking back: The writer expressed that Kidman's performance was especially impressive and that viewers would recognize the quality of her acting

Coming soon: Being The Ricardos is currently set to be made available to the public through the Amazon Prime Video streaming service on December 21st

Also set to appear in the forthcoming feature are performers such as J. K. Simmons, Nina Arianda and Alia Shawkat, among others.

Physical production initially commenced this past March and continued for several months before it entered the post-production phase in September.

Being The Ricardos is currently set to be made available to the public through the Amazon Prime Video streaming service on December 21st.
A first look at Season 16 of the Real Housewives of Orange County shows a casting shake up in a big way.

Heather Dubrow is back for more following her franchise exit in 2017, while newcomers include a bisexual housewife named Noella Bergener and a formerly sued cosmetic dermatologist named Jennifer Armstrong.

The explosive nearly two minute trailer shows a whole lot of drama with Bravo bringing in fresh blood after the departures of Kelly Dodd, Braunwyn Windham-Burke and Elizabeth Vargas.

The #RHOC trailer  mainly Heathers instantly iconic entrance  confirmed to me that I will be fully watching this show for the first time this season  pic.twitter.com/xrNFgKNV3b  Gibson Johns (@gibsonoma) November 11, 2021

She's back! Heather Dubrow makes her triumphant return to the Real Housewives of Orange County causing group tensions to flare in explosive trailer for Season 16 of the hit Bravo show

The teaser opens with Dubrow, 52, beckoning 'Hello? I'm back,' while stepping into her 22,000 square foot mansion in Crystal Cove.

As seen in the trailer, Heather quickly becomes the reigning queen of the show and forges an almost instantaneous bond with returning housewife Gina Kirschenheiter, 37.

Received well by seemingly all, housewife Emily Simpson, 45, says 'I love Heather,' while Gina concurs 'She brings me to fancy s**t.'

But Heather and Gina's close friendship seems to spark jealousy in housewife Shannon Beador, 57, who is seemingly hellbent on keeping Dubrow for herself.

Shaking things up: The teaser opens with Dubrow, 52, beckoning 'Hello? I'm back,' while stepping into an ocean-facing mansion in Newport Beach

Lavish: Dubrow quickly becomes the object of the group's affection with returning housewife Shannon Beador seemingly in need of her friendship for validation

Drama brewing: Heather seems to be playing all sides in the trailer as she gets dirt from Beador which she later tells Gina Kirschenheiter and Emily Simpson

'Do you get jealous of Gina's relationship with Heather,' Simpson asks Beador during a dinner scene, before she attempts to assert that she has her 'own relationship with Heather.'

The video then jumps to Beador trying to ring Dubrow on the phone before she quickly gets her call denied. 'That wasn't a decline that was a block,' new housewife Noella Bergener, 36, interjects.

Later in the teaser Heather tells Emily and Gina: 'Shannon told me that the two of you were not to be trusted,' which lays the groundwork for a dramatic confrontation.

Viewers are introduced to Bergener  a wildcard who becomes close friends with Shannon  and is in the midst of an unexpected divorce, following just one year of marriage.

Too far? Bringing her own fair share of drama, new housewife Noella Bergener, 36, is in the midst of a divorce and admits to being bisexual while having a heart to heart with Dubrow's 17-year-old daughter Max

Inappropriate: 'I didn't want to invite you because you gave my daughter pornography as a gift,' she says to shocked newcomer Noella Bergener at the end of the teaser

Biting tongue: 'There's a lot of people in Orange County who look like cat muppets and I think some of them have been in this chair,' new housewife Jennifer Armstrong bitingly says of previous housewives in a confessional

Bringing her own fair share of drama, she confesses to being bisexual while having a heart to heart with Dubrow's 17-year-old daughter Max  who came out last summer.

However what started as a friendly bond, clearly spirals out of control after Heather accuses Noella of giving pornography to her daughter.

'I didn't want to invite you because you gave my daughter pornography as a gift,' she says to a shocked Noella at the end of the teaser.

Though Bergener's husband James filed for divorce first, she is currently seeking legal and physical custody of the couple's two-year-old son, James Jr.

And the second new castmate is Dr. Jennifer Armstrong, a cosmetic dermatologist with a hunky husband named Ryne who she says 'never wears a shirt.'

Back with a bang: Heather, 52, (pictured) quickly becomes the reigning queen of the show just four years after exiting the franchise in 2017

Fresh blood: Viewers will be introduced to Noella Bergener, 36, a wildcard in the midst of a divorce following just one year of marriage, who confesses to being bisexual

Cosmetic wiz: Also joining the franchise is cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Armstrong who has a husband Ryne who 'never wears a shirt,' and swiftly begins to do procedures on her castmates

A friend of ex castmate Braunwyn's, she is well received by the group of plastic surgery aficionados on the show, and swiftly begins to be their go-to for pick-me-up procedures.

'There's a lot of people in Orange County who look like cat muppets and I think some of them have been in this chair,' she bitingly says of previous housewives in a confessional.

Perhaps a bit too close to home though, Armstrong was sued this past summer for battery and medical negligence, after a former patient accused her of screwing up fillers and causing her to become disfigured.

Reportedly she has also faced other lawsuits, including one from her billionaire ex who claimed she wrung him out to dry financially and sued her for $850,000 in 2014.

Right hand girl: Dubrow seems to forge an almost instantaneous bond with returning housewife Gina Kirschenheiter, 37, (pictured) treating her to lavish excursions, with Gina remarking of her generosity 'She brings me to a fancy s**t'

Bent out of shape: Heather and Gina's close friendship seems to spark jealousy in housewife Shannon Beador, 57, (pictured) who is seemingly hellbent on keeping Dubrow for herself but seems to become an afterthought

New and improved: Emily Simpson, 45, returns this season and shows off her renewed look after a couple plastic surgeries  a new jawline and bustline

The upcoming season will feature lavish trips in true Bravo fashion including one to to Cabo San Lucas and New York City.

The series will also feature a newcomer fringe castmate by the name of Nicole James (who makes a brief appearance at the end of the trailer) who was reportedly 'demoted' after a confrontation with Dubrow.

James was said to be ostracized a few weeks into shooting Season 16 after expressing dissatisfaction with a breast augmentation done by Dubrow's husband, Terry Dubrow of Botched fame.

Reportedly James' remarks made their way back to Heather via Shannon, driving a wedge in between the duo as well which is set to play out on camera.

The upcoming season is set to premiere on Bravo December 1.
Sophie Hermann looked sensational as she attended the VIP opening of Il Borro Tuscan Bistro London on Thursday.

The MIC star, 34, wowed in a black puffed sleeve mini dress with vibrant peach and pink ribbon detail.

The dress cinched in at her toned waist and showcased her honed legs as she posed.

Wow: Sophie Hermann looked sensational as she attended the VIP opening of Il Borro Tuscan Bistro London on Thursday

The star boosted her height with pink heels and added a pop of colour with a matching bag.

Her tresses were styled in soft waves and she sported a radiant palette of make-up.

Sophie joined glamorous stars including Lady Amelia Windsor, Emma Weymouth and Mary Charteris at the event.

Last month Sophie revealed a change in direction for her career.

Wow: Sophie joined glamorous stars including Emma Weymouth and Mary Charteris at the event

Chic: Lady Amelia Windsor cut a chic figure in black as she posed

Leggy: Emma showcased her toned legs as she posed up a storm

Duo: Amelia joined Betty Bachz at the glitzy event in London

Leggy: Sophie put on an animated display as she headed home

Style: She looked great in her black dress

The Made In Chelsea star - who has starred on the reality show on and off since its sixth season - has hinted she will leave the show after the current 22nd series and concentrate on a change of direction.

'I am incredibly thrilled to have morphed onto one of my favourite characters of all time,' she told MailOnline. 'I am a real life Carrie Bradshaw now!'

Sophie will give advice as a relationship columnist in Grazia magazine, adding wryly: 'I am beyond honoured that people actually value my opinion!'

Looking good: Lady Amelia was showing off her sense of style

Wrapped up: Charlotte C Carroll looked great in a red dress

Out and about: Claudia Lavender T opted for an all-black ensemble

Handsome: Isaac Carew was all smiles

Night out: Robbie Furze and Mary Charteris left together

Stars: Charlotte C Carroll and Diego Bivero Volpe were there too

Sophie's had her fair share of ups and downs in the love department, keeping her romances off-screen on Made In Chelsea until recently.

As well as the will they/won't they dalliance with Fred Ferrier on the series, she met DJ Tom Zanetti when she took part in this year's Celebs Go Dating, brining him onto MIC for a couple of episodes.

That, however, soon fizzled out.

Sex and the Sophie! Last month Sophie revealed a change in direction for her career

And just like that...: 'I am incredibly thrilled to have morphed onto one of my favourite characters of all time,' she told MailOnline. 'I am a real life Carrie Bradshaw now!'

Always on hand with her witty and telling advice, the German beauty added: 'Never would I have imagined staring a career as a columnist. But it gores well with me finishing Made In Chelsea'

'Even though it's a bit like the blind leading the blind sometimes with me,' Sophie laughed of her new role. 'I'm clearly not a licensed couples therapist or relationship expert! But I am happy to help people!'

Always on hand with her witty and telling advice, the German beauty added: 'Never would I have imagined staring a career as a columnist. But it gores well with me finishing Made In Chelsea.

'I'm ready for a new chapter - the new chapter starts literally with writing!'

Of what readers can expect, she remarked: 'Be prepared for a lot of skeletons to come out of the closet and be taken for a spin!

Pastures new: The Made In Chelsea star has starred on the reality show on and off since its sixth season

Of what readers can expect, she remarked: 'Be prepared for a lot of skeletons to come out of the closet and be taken for a spin!'

'I am, after all, giving my advice by using my own personal experiences. So I imagine a lot of men will be quivering in their boxers!'

As well as asking her for relationship advice, fans continue to bombard the star with questions about her own beauty and lifestyle secrets.

Last Christmas, she stunned fans with a nude snap with her beloved cat Mr Chow - a hairless Sphinx cat.

Showing off her sensational frame, Sophie captioned the snap: 'Hairless whisper!'

She was sure to add that 'Mr Chow and I swear by the Soprano laser at @dmc_aesthetics', giving a glimpse into her regimen - often to be found at the swanky Knightsbridge clinic, a few doors down from Harrods.

Silky smooth: As well as asking her for relationship advice, fans continue to bombard the star with questions about her own beauty and lifestyle secrets [pictured last Christmas with her beloved cat Mr Chow]

Crediting the clinic for her silky smooth skin, Sophie has undergone the treatment at DMC Aesthetics - one of the first clinics in UK to launch the breakthrough Soprano Titanium laser for hair removal.

Sophie also admitted she was self-conscious about her teeth last summer, revealing how she underwent a painful 48 hours of inner braces in 2018 under the ill-advise by an orthodontist who told her her jaw was too small for Invisalign.

Sophie has since fixed the problem, having met Dr. Slaine McGrath, known to help celebrities fix their smiles.

'She was absolutely wonderful, professional and caring,' Sophie explained. 'She attached some freaky reptile-like tracks on my teeth and my journey began.

Pearly whites: Sophie also admitted she was self-conscious about her teeth last summer

Dentist to the stars: Sophie has since fixed the problem, having met Dr. Slaine McGrath, known to help celebrities fix their smiles

'The results are already more than I could ever wish for!'

Dr. Slaine - who speaks out about the trend in reality stars flying to places such as Turkey for cheap, quick-fix treatments that tend to end in disaster - treated Sophie at Ruh Dental in London.

'Smiling with confidence makes you feel great. A beautiful smile is also an important social and professional asset,' Slaine said of her client Sophie, having also treated the likes of fellow MIC stars Sam and Louise Thompson.

'We achieved Sophie's million dollar smile with Invisalign to align the teeth and porcelain veneers to give it that beautiful finish!'

Made In Chelsea continues on Monday at 9PM on E4.
Heading into the match against No. 16 Oregon, the No. 12 Washington womens volleyball team was prepared for a battle. However, thats not exactly what the match turned out to be.
Viktoria Sundqvist / Hearst Connecticut Media

A Rhode Island man admitted his role in a scheme to steal tires and rims from new vehicles at car dealerships across the Northeast and then selling them nationwide, according to federal prosecutors.

Michael Farias, 56, of Providence, pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property before Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford. Farias faces up to 10 years in prison.
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Dr Kannan Vishwanatth was the addresser at IV International Economic Forum in Riga, Europe, at the Latvian Academy of Sciences. He is correlated with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Research Centre. He is also the Director of Hong Kong-based pharmaceutical company Rupus Global Limited.

There were many other keynote orators at IV International Economic Forum in Riga Europe at Latvian Academy of Sciences, included Prof. Dr Juris Binde, President of the Latvijas Mobilais Telefons, Vice-President of the Latvian Association of Information and Communication Technologies, Latvia; Ms Pamela Bernabei, President of the Antonio Meneghetti Scientific and Humanistic Research Foundation, Switzerland / Italy).

Another prominent speaker at the event was Dr.oec. Janis Vanags, Professor at Riga Technical University, a researcher at the Institute of Economics of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Latvia; Prof Dr Tarmo Soomere, President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Estonia and Mr Jekaterina Rojaka, Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation, Lithuania.

The central purpose of the IV Economic Forum was "Globalization Challenges faced by Europe and Baltics in the 21st century". It was to analyse the reasons, consequences and challenges that Baltics and Europe have faced during the globalisation of the 21st century. Also, to examine possible science-based and practical solutions to reach a higher level of welfare in our respective countries. The profitable practice of the I, II and III Economic Forum is commencing again. The Forum serves as a platform for peddling the experience and cooperation of scientists, entrepreneurs, and politicians, stimulating the entry of local and foreign investment and the development of an innovative national economy in the long term.

Dr Kannan Vishwanatth gave a sermon on 'How has COVID changed international business? And talking about pharmaceutical products, vaccines and business opportunities for human wellbeing. Dr Kannan Vishwanatth noted that Fifty years ago, Milton Friedman affirmed that the social accountability of business was only to increase its profits, within the law. This mantra, with its focus on the short term, gained a stronghold on much of business practice and continues to guide leadership decision-making in response to COVID-19.

He also highlighted that the coronavirus catastrophe and its economic effects coincide with the 50th anniversary of Milton Friedmans apparent assertion that the social responsibility of business was only to increase its profits within the law. This mantra has gained a stronghold on much of business practice, focusing on the short term. It is in this context that business leaders will be acknowledging the effects of the coronavirus crisis.

Disclaimer: No Deccan Chronicle journalist was involved in creating this content. The group also takes no responsibility for this content.
The Visakhapatnam DGGI booked cases unearthing nearly 180 fake companies, leading to detection of tax evasion to the tune of Rs 160 crores and arresting five individuals in the process. Representational Image. (PTI)

Vishakhapatanam: Officials from GST Intelligence, Visakhapatnam, have arrested a 34-year-old man from Hyderabad, who allegedly masterminded the Rs 31 crore fake input tax credit racket, He was remanded to judicial custody.

He generated fake invoices to the tune of around Rs 265 crore using 20 fake entities, mostly based in Guntur and Hyderabad. The fake entities allowed them to camouflage fraudulent transactions and thereby avoid detection.

He used the fake invoices to pass on fake tax credits worth Rs 31 crore to real companies, which evade the payment of taxes.

Since November 2020, the finance ministry has started a country-wide special drive against such fake ITC frauds.

The Visakhapatnam DGGI booked cases unearthing nearly 180 fake companies, leading to detection of tax evasion to the tune of Rs 160 crores and arresting five individuals in the process. Recovery of Rs 60 crores was also made during the investigations.
New Delhi: Former Union Minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid is facing legal issues with the release of his book, 'Sunrise over Ayodhya--Nationhood in our times'. Two Delhi lawyers have filed complaints with Delhi Police against Khurshid, for allegedly defaming and comparing Hinduism with terrorism in his book.

Advocate Vivek Garg in his complaint is seeking to file a case against Khurshid.

The complaint alleges that in his new book titled 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times', which is primarily based on Ayodhya verdict and was released last week, Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has compared Hindutva to radical terrorist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram.

Khurshid stated in his new book - "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years," the complaint said.

"This reflects the true mindset of Congress as they try to legitimize the radical elements of ISIS by creating an artificial equivalence with Hindus. His statement printed in his book is itself self-explanatory and clearly discloses his commission of the cognizable offence. The language, intention of the said book authored by the alleged accused, is an open case of sedition, conspiracy to wage the war against India, promoting enmity between Hindus-Muslims, etc," Garg's complaint said.

Meanwhile, Advocate Vineet Jindal in his complaint said that the statement published in the said book is not only instigating and provoking but also stirring emotions among followers of the Hindu religion.

Our constitution provides every citizen with the freedom of speech and expression but the misuse of this right is inexplicable when it threatens the honour and harmony of the country and provokes its citizens based on community and religion and threatens the security of the nation then it is considered as a grave offence. The contents of the statement made by the accused claim Hinduism to be equivalent to ISIS and Boko haram, which are terrorist groups. It is a quite aggravating and defamatory statement for the whole Hindu community and also questions their values and virtues about society. The equivalence of Hinduism to ISIS and Boko haram is perceived as a negative ideology Hindus have been following and Hinduism is violent, inhuman and oppressive, Jindal's complaint read.

The accused by making the above-cited statement in his book has committed offences under Sections153,153A, 298 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) which are cognizable offences and very serious, the lawyer's complaint stated.
New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government over the issue of safety of women, alleging that women are unsafe in the state.

Her attack came after media reports claimed that an officer at Bapu Bhavan in Lucknow has been arrested for allegedly molesting a contractual worker after a video of the incident went viral.

"Be it secretariat, road or any other place: Women are unsafe in Uttar Pradesh. This is the reality of the government's claim on 'women's safety'," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.

"A sister from Uttar Pradesh had to make a video of the incident with her viral due to inaction on her complaint of sexual harassment. How much patience and fighting power would she have had?" the Congress general secretary said.

Gandhi urged women in the state to unite and fight for themselves.

"You are a girl, you can fight. All the women of the country are standing with you," she said.

The Congress has been attacking the state government over the issue of law and order and women's safety, alleging that criminal activities are rampant, a claim denied by the Yogi Adityanath dispensation.
Hyderabad: The ruling TRS would lead an agitation across the state on Friday to step up pressure on the BJP-led government at the Centre to procure paddy from Telangana as is done in Punjab.

Ministers, TRS MLAs, MLCs, MPs and other elected representatives will sit on a four-hour dharna from 10 am to 1 pm in their respective constituencies. TRS leaders said Chief Minister Chandrashekar Rao will sit on dharna in Delhi later, if the Centre failed to procure paddy from Telangana.

They said there was no need for the CM to take part in the dharnas on Friday demanding that the Centre procure paddy from Telangana even during the rabi season, said TRS MLC and Rythu Bandhu Samithi chairman Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and TS civil supplies corporation chairman Mareddy Srinivas Reddy at a press conference at Telangana Bhavan.

TRS working president and IT minister Rama Rao will take part in the dharna in his home constituency Siricilla while finance minister Harish Rao will lead the protest in Siddipet.

Ministers, MLAs, MLCs and other elected representatives from the GHMC limits will sit on dharna at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park. TRS leaders and cadre in all the districts would organise farmers in large numbers for the dharnas.

The ruling party would continue the agitation in various forms until the Centre agreed to procure paddy from Telangana. TRS leaders hit back at BJP for holding dharnas on Thursday on the issue of paddy procurement across the state.

"The BJP government at the Centre issued orders stating it will not procure paddy from Telangana in rabi season. The BJP leaders in Telangana held dharnas today across the state demanding that the Telangana government to procure paddy. People are laughing at these BJP leaders for holding dharnas against the state government while it should rather be done against their government at the Centre. There were no farmers in the BJP dharnas except their party activists. Farmers understood how BJP leaders were cheating them and hence they stayed away from the dharnas today," Rajeshwar Reddy said.

Finance minister Harish Rao asked BJP leaders to stop their 'dramas' in Telangana. "Although the Centre did not clarify on how much paddy they would procure from Telangana in the kharif so far, let alone rabi, KCR garu opened over 6,500 paddy procurement centres in all districts and started paddy procurement on his own. Already 4,000 centres have started purchasing paddy and thousands of crores of rupees has been paid to farmers through online mode.

Can any BJP leader explain why they are holding dharnas against the Telangana government despite the Centre running away from its responsibility," the minister asked.
Hyderabad: Union jal shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday took strong exception to Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Raos remarks accusing the Centre of delaying the resolution on water disputes between Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh for over seven years.

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Shekhawat held Rao responsible for the delay stating that due to a case filed by the Telangana state government in the Supreme Court on Krishna waters dispute in 2015, the Centre could not initiate any steps as the matter was sub judice.

He (Rao) took my name in his press conference. I have the responsibility to clarify his remarks. I wish to understand how the Centre or myself could be held responsible for the seven-year delay. The delay was because he (Rao) chose to file a case in the Supreme Court in 2015 seeking to constitute a fresh tribunal for sharing of Krishna waters among TS, AP and other states. The case was pending for all these years. When the matter is sub judice, how can the Centre initiate steps to resolve disputes among states?" Shekhawat questioned.

The Union minister stated that in fact it was he who had made a beginning to break the deadlock by convening an Apex Council meeting with Chief Ministers of Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh in October 2020.

In the meeting, I told the Telangana state Chief Minister to withdraw the case from the Supreme Court to break the deadlock. He agreed and even promised to withdraw the case within two days. But he took eight months time to withdraw the case. The Supreme Court allowed the Telangana state government to withdraw the case only last month. Only after this, the Centres role in this issue began last month. How could he hold the Centre and myself responsible for seven-year delay? he asked.

Addressing a press conference at Pragathi Bhavan on Monday, Rao had expressed anger at the Centre and named Shekhawat accusing them of taking seven years time just to refer Krishna water sharing issue to a new tribunal. Rao had said that he withdrew the case from the Supreme Court as promised but the Centre failed to resolve waters disputes between Telangana state and Andhra Pradesh even after seven years.

Shekhawat also expressed anger over Rao describing the Centres notification on the jurisdiction of the Krishna River Management Board and the Godavari River Management Board as a big drama.

KRMB and GRMB were constituted as per the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, which was passed by both the Houses of Parliament. Its the law of the land. How can he say its a drama? Shekhawat remarked.
The government would construct new buildings, take up repair works and provide necessary furniture, toilets and other facilities. (DC file photo)

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is likely to make it mandatory for MLAs to contribute 25 per cent of their constituency development fund (CDF) every year to government schools. The aim is to better the education sector in the state.

The government had constituted a four-member cabinet committee headed by education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and comprising ministers Rama Rao, Harish Rao and Dayakar Rao as members to recommend measures to improve the infrastructure facilities in government-run schools. The committee estimated a requirement of Rs 4,000 crore for the purpose in two years.

However, mobilising such a huge amount has become a challenging task for the state government as it is facing financial constraints due also to the Covid19 pandemic. A proposal before the committee was to get MLAs to allocate 25 per cent of their constituency development fund to government schools.

The state government allocates Rs 5 crore to each MLA every year towards constituency development. As per the new plan, each MLA would allocate Rs 1.25 crore per year to government schools. In this way, Rs 148 crore could be mobilised every year from the 119 MLAs.

Education minister Sabitha said the committee will submit the proposal to the government soon and it will be discussed in the next cabinet meeting for approval.

The state government had announced a Rs 4,000 crore scheme in its budget for 2021-22 to upgrade and modernise the schools run by it. While presenting the budget in March this year, finance minister Harish Rao said, "The government has formulated an education scheme to upgrade and modernise the education sector. It would provide basic amenities in all government schools in the next two years."

The government would construct new buildings, take up repair works and provide necessary furniture, toilets and other facilities. Modern technology will be used to put classrooms on the digital platform.
The Supreme Court on Thursday told the Future group not to raise its Rs 24,713-crore merger deal with Reliance Retail at any other fora till the apex court finally takes up the matter on November 23.

A bench presided over Chief Justice N V Ramana said the court will hear the cross-appeals filed by both Amazon and the Future group on November 23.

The court also asked the Future group to file its response to Amazons plea against the September 28 order of the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai, that had initially allowed FRL to convene meetings of its shareholders and creditors for seeking approval to its decision to sell its retail assets to the Mukesh Amabani company.

An appeal filed by Future Retail against the Delhi High Courts order was listed before the court. The High Court had then refused to stay the Singapore arbitration tribunal's Oct 20 order that denied permission to the Future group to go ahead with its merger deal with Reliance Industries firm.

The bench told the Future group counsel that on September 9 the court had already passed a consent order that regulatory authorities will not approve the deal without prior nod from it.

The court also issued notice to Amazon and Future group on an intervention application filed by IDBI Trusteeship Services seeking a direction to de-freeze Future Retail shares pledged to it.

The fight between Future Group and Amazon has been on since October 25, 2020 when the Singapore's Emergency Arbitrator passed an interim order restraining FRL from going ahead with its deal with Reliance Retail. Amazon, which acquired an indirect minority stake in Future Group in 2019 has alleged that Future's sale of its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing businesses to Reliance Retail breached its pre-existing contract, including a right of the first offer and a non-compete clause.

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Toshiba Corp plans to unveil a new business strategy on Friday. The once-storied conglomerate has been battered by accounting scandals, massive writedowns for its US nuclear business, the sale of its prized chip unit and it was also found to have colluded to prevent overseas investors from gaining influence.

Here is a timeline of Toshiba' woes since 2015.

2015 - Toshiba discloses accounting malpractices across multiple divisions, which involved top management. In total, it overstated its pretax profit by 230 billion yen ($2 billion) over seven years.

Also Read | Toshiba to split business into three

December 2016 - Toshiba flags it will take a charge of several billion dollars in relation to a nuclear power plant construction company that its U.S. unit, Westinghouse Electric, had bought a year earlier.

March 2017 - Westinghouse files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to billions of dollars in cost overruns and years-long delays at U.S. power projects. Faced with over $6 billion in liabilities linked to Westinghouse, Toshiba decides to put its prized chip unit, Toshiba Memory, up for sale.

September 2017 - Toshiba agrees to sell the chip unit to a consortium led by Bain Capital for $18 billion, a deal under which Toshiba retains a large stake. Worried it could be delisted for having liabilities exceed assets for a second straight year, Toshiba is desperate to close the deal by the end of the financial year in March. But it is caught up in a prolonged legal dispute with chip joint venture partner Western Digital Corp over the sale and antitrust reviews are expected to take months.

December 2017 - Toshiba secures a $5.4 billion cash injection from 30-plus overseas investors that helps it avoid a delisting but brings in prominent activist shareholders including Elliott Management, Third Point and Farallon. It settles the dispute with Western Digital.

April 2018 - Toshiba seeks to turn a new page by bringing in an outsider - Nobuaki Kurumatani, a former executive at Toshiba's main creditor Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group - as chief executive.

June 2018 - Toshiba completes the sale of Toshiba Memory, renamed Kioxia, to the Bain consortium.

June 2019 - Bowing to pressure from activist investors, Toshiba invites four non-Japanese directors to its board.

January 2020 - Toshiba finds fresh accounting irregularities at a wholly owned subsidiary.

July 2020 - Five director candidates nominated by activist shareholders seeking to improve governance and change strategy are voted down at Toshiba's annual general meeting.

September 2020 - Toshiba discloses more than 1,000 postal voting forms for its AGM went uncounted. The bank that counted the votes, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, later reveals widespread failure to count all valid votes at AGMs of its client firms over the past two decades.

March 2021 - Shareholders approve an independent investigation into allegations that investors were pressured ahead of the previous year's AGM.

April 2021 - CVC Capital Partners makes an unsolicited $21 billion offer to take Toshiba private. A week later, CEO Kurumatani resigns amid controversy over the CVC bid, which was perceived by some within company management as designed to shield him from activist shareholders. Toshiba's subsequent dismissal of the CVC offer, however, angers some activist shareholders.

June 10, 2021 - The shareholder-commissioned investigation concludes Toshiba colluded with Japan's trade ministry - which sees Toshiba as a strategic asset due to its nuclear reactor and defence technology - to block overseas investors from gaining influence at the 2020 shareholders meeting.

June 25, 2021 - Shareholders oust board chairman Osamu Nagayama after critics accuse the board of failing to address the allegations about pressuring overseas investors. Toshiba pledges to undertake a full review of assets and engage with potential investors.

November 12, 2021 - Toshiba to announce a new business strategy. It is considering splitting into three companies focused separately on infrastructure, devices and memory chips, which could address the firm's persistent conglomerate discount.

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Beyond Bengaluru has been one of the most notable initiatives of Karnataka's new IT policy 2020-25. It was aimed at enhancing growth in the IT /ITeS, Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO), Electronic System Design Manufacturing (ESDM), and Telecom sector industries located in the emerging technology clusters of Karnataka.

The government had selected six clusters-- Mangaluru, Tumukuru, Mysuru, Hubli, Shivamogga, and Kalaburagi. The clusters also include surrounding districts respectively.

Within a short span of time, Beyond Bengaluru has received a good response from Information & Technology, Electronics, Telecommunications and allied companies, Dr. C.N Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Electronics, IT, Bio-Technology and Science & Technology said while interacting with reporters at Deccan Herald office, on the sidelines of the upcoming Bengaluru Tech Summit (November 17-19).

Dr. Narayan said that IBM and Glowtouch have set up their Global Delivery Centers in Mysuru, employing 250 and 300 people, respectively.

I-Merit has started operations in Hubbali and employs 300 local people.

Tata Consultancy Services have opened the ITES branch in Dakshina Kannada and has more than 4000 employees. Furthermore, Kaynes Technology India Pvt Ltd has set up a base in Mysuru and has employed 250 people.

Similarly, Ionidea Enterprises Solutions Pvt Ltd has opened an office in Dharwad and has hired around 350 people, Dr. Narayan added.

In Mysuru, Biligiri Enterprises, a manufacturer of Electrical & Electronics components has opened a unit with 75 employees. Rprocess Outsourcing Services Pvt Ltd has set up a base at Nadanahalli, Mysuru with 527 employees.

Last month, the Karnataka government hosted three pre-BTS 2021 events in Hubballi, Mangaluru, and Mysuru. All received good responses from the industry associations such as like IESA, NASSCOM, ASSOCHAM, TiE chapters, CII, and others.

During the events, state-run special purpose entity Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM) signed several Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with multiple companies and educational institutions including Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management, MGR Group (Thrishul), GigVistas, CEOL, IFSCA, and Sapientury private limited, FUEL, Infosys, TiE Hubli, Bherunda Foundation, VMWare and ISAC, to set up skill development centres and companies in Beyond Bengaluru cluster districts.



BTS 2021 logo. Credit: Special arrangement



As per the latest data, the contribution from clusters beyond Bengaluru is said to be less than 2 per cent in terms of IT exports from the state. While the rest of the 98 per cent is coming from the capital city alone.

Dr Narayan said the Karnataka government intends to increase the contribution from Beyond Bengaluru cluster districts to reach $ 5 billion in five years (by 2026) and ensure at least five lakh employment in those regions.

In the next 10 years, it has envisioned to double it both in terms of employment (10 lakh) and technology-related exports ( $10 billion).

Karnataka government is ready to offer incentives in terms of land allocations, and speedy execution of approvals for setting up the units.

Bengaluru Tech Summit is scheduled to kick off on November 17 and will be inaugurated by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

Must read | VP Venkaiah Naidu to inaugurate Bengaluru Tech Summit 2021 next week

Get the latest news on new launches, gadget reviews, apps, cybersecurity, and more on personal technology only on DH Tech.
In a shocking incident, a security guard at an apartment building in HAL police station limits of Bengaluru on Wednesday attacked and killed a flat owner, who had objected to his drinking on duty.

The deceased has been identified as Bhaskar Reddy, 65. The accused security guard is Basanth from Nepal, and he had been handed over to the police.

Reddy had found Basanth in an inebriated state and objected to it, warning him not to consume alcohol while on duty.

He had also complained to the association of the apartments as the guard did not change his habits. There was a verbal duel between the two in this connection.

An engraged Basanth was nursing his grievances, and decided to take revenge. On Wednesday morning, when Reddy was walking near the parking, Basanth attacked him and slit his throat with a knife.

Though, neighbours tried to shift him to hospital, Reddy succumbed to his injuries.

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After the Enforcement Directorate searched multiple premises in Maharashtra in a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal sale of Waqf properties, state Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik on Thursday said the central agency is under the wrong impression that it could scare him with such actions.

Addressing a news conference here, Malik took a dig at the central agency and said it is welcome to probe 30,000 entities under the Waqf Board. The Waqf Board will extend all the necessary cooperation to the ED, he said.

However, it should show the same interest in probing the complaints made by the Shia Waqf Board, Lucknow, as well, the minister said. If the ED thinks such actions (searches) will scare me, then it is under the wrong impression. Such acts will not deter me in continuing our clean-up operation under which central agencies are misused, Malik said.

Also Read | War between Nawab Malik and Devendra Fadnavis escalates

In an apparent reference to the BJP, the NCP minister said he, along with his senior leaders, will send a list of documents of some leaders to the ED and urge the agency to probe them. Malik has been attacking the Modi government for allegedly misusing the central agencies, particularly the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), against BJP's political opponents.

Earlier in the day, the ED searched multiple premises in Pune and adjoining areas in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal sale of Waqf properties in Maharashtra. ED officials said at least seven premises have been covered and the action is being undertaken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Also Read  'Torture, financial loss': Nawab Malik's son-in-law sends legal notice to Fadnavis, demands Rs 5 crore damages

The money laundering case is based on a Maharashtra Police FIR and the subsequent charge sheet, and the agency is collecting more information as part of the raids. Malik said the ED was welcome to probe any case it wants, but it appears that the entire purpose of its current action is to malign his image.

He said that ever since he took over as the Minister for Minority Affairs, the Waqf Board is functioning at its full strength with a full-time Chief Executive Officer. Malik said seven FIRs, too, have been registered by the Waqf Board since he took over to probe alleged irregularities.

We have launched a clean-up operation in the Waqf Board under which past members of the board and some officials may also face action, he said, noting all businesses of the board are planned to be conducted online.

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Marathi films 'Godavari' and 'Me Vasantrao' and Dimasa movie 'Semkhor' are among 15 films chosen for the international competition section at the India International Film Festival starting in Goa on November 20.

The 15 films will compete for Best Film (Golden Peacock) that carries a cash prize of Rs 40 lakh while Best Director (Silver Peacock, certificate and a cash prize of Rs 15 lakh), Best Actor (male and female -- Silver Peacock, Certificate and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh each and a Special Jury Award for a film or an individual.

Directed by Nikhil Mahajan, 'Godavari' is set in present-day Nashik and tells the story of a family that is coping with death while 'Me Vasantrao' directed by Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari is a biopic of late music master Vasantrao Deshpande.

'Semkhor' directed by Aimee Baruah, who also donned the role of the protagonist, depicts a midwife confronted with unthinkable choices. This is also the opening film of the Indian Panorama section of the festival.

Hamy Ramezan's Any Day Now (Finland) is another film, which is loosely based on the director's childhood experience, in the competition section and it tells the story of an Iranian refugee family waiting for a decision of whether they will be granted official asylum status.

Charlotte (Paraguay) directed by Simon Franco deals with the journey of an actress who in the twilight of her career reinventing herself while Intregalde, a film from Romania directed by Radu Muntean, depicts the experiences of a group of people on a humanitarian mission arrive in a remote area of Transylvania.

A political satire set in the near future America that closed its borders and become more insular than ever, Land of Dreams (New Mexico, US) by Shirin Neshat and Shoja Azaria follows an Iranian American woman who is on a journey to discover the core of what it means to be a free American.

Directed by Mohammad Rabby Mridha, the Bangladeshi film No Ground Beneath The Feet is another film in the competition section and it deals with the life of an ambulance driver Saiful and depicts moral decay, murder, deception, and social bashing.

The film from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina 'Once We Were Good For You' by Branko Schmidt is the story of veterans who find that Croatia is not the ideal that they dreamt after 25 years of the Homeland War.

Japanese film 'Ring Wandering' by Masakazu Kaneko is another offering in the competition section that deals with the life of Sosuke, who aspires to be a manga artist while Czech film 'Saving One Who Was Dead' (Director: Vaclav Kadrnka), Russian film The Dorm (Roman Vasyanov), Brazilian movie 'The First Fallen' (Rodrigo de Oliveira), Polish movie Leader (Katia Priwieziencew) and Russian film Moscow Does Not Happen (Dmitry Fedorov) are also competing for honours.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday against letting tensions in the Asia-Pacific region cause a relapse into a Cold War mentality.

His remarks on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum came weeks after the US, Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region which would see Australia build nuclear submarines. China has harshly criticized the deal.

And in a separate illustration of strains within APEC, one Southeast Asian delegate told The Associated Press that the group had so far failed to reach agreement on a US bid to host the 2023 summit due to unmet demands from Russia.

Xi spoke in a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at APEC, which is being hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format. Xi is scheduled to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders including US President Joe Biden on Saturday.

In his speech, Xi said attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would fail. His reference to the Cold War echoes Beijing's oft-stated position that the US should abandon that way of thinking in dealing with China.

The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era, Xi said.

Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalizing trade and investment.

China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development, he said.

The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian delegate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the issue, said Russia had refused to support the US bid unless some of its diplomats were removed from a US blacklist or allowed to enter the US to participate in the APEC meetings.

Also read: Top Chinese Communist Party members pass historic resolution

The delegate said the US is unlikely to agree to Russia's demands because issues involving America's security are considered non-negotiable. The delegate added that China had stayed silent on the US offer.

If the 21 APEC leaders fail to reach a consensus on the US bid by Friday, the delegate said, a paragraph in a draft of the summit communique welcoming the US offer would have to be deleted.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said earlier this week that APEC was founded on consensus and that there was not yet a confirmed host for 2023.

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney also spoke at the CEO summit, saying she believed that liberal democracies could improve global human rights by pressuring autocratic nations. She said businesses also needed to play a role.

If you can't battle evil, you can at least try to tackle apathy, Clooney said. And if you can't rely on liberal governments to solve global issues, you have to try and inspire the private sector to step in."

In all, APEC members account for nearly 3 billion people and about 60% of the world's GDP. But deep tensions run through the unlikely group of 21 nations and territories that include the US, China, Taiwan, Russia, and Australia.

Many of the countries in Asia endeavor to balance Chinese and US influences on the economic and geopolitical fronts.

China claims vast parts of the South China Sea and other areas and has moved to establish a military presence, building islands in some disputed areas as it asserts its historic claims.

Both Taiwan and China have applied to join a Pacific Rim trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Beijing saying it will block Taiwan's bid on the basis that the democratically governed island refuses to accept that it's part of communist-ruled China.

Officials say they have made significant progress during some 340 preliminary meetings leading up to this week's leaders' meeting. APEC members have agreed to reduce or eliminate many tariffs and border holdups on vaccines, masks and other medical products important to fighting the pandemic.

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By Akshat Rathi and Archana Chaudhary

India has named its price in high-stakes climate talks: if the rich countries want it to cut planet-warming emissions, they need to come up with $1 trillion of public cash by the end of the decade.

The demand comes after Indias surprise announcement at the opening of COP26 negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland, that it would set an ambitious new goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2070. In his speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that rich countries should provide as much as $1 trillion in climate finance.

Read | China, US pledge to enhance climate cooperation at COP26

On Wednesday, Indian officials clarified their demands. They want $1 trillion in funds just for India by 2030  ten times more than the unmet $100 billion a year for all poor countries sought under previous deals. Over a decade, that would mean advanced economies have to give India the same amount of funds theyve promised for all poor countries.

India is asking for such a large sum because its also taking into account loss and damage, Environment Secretary Rameshwar Prasad Gupta said in an interview, referring to what poor countries see as a debt owed by nations who are responsible for the bulk of greenhouse gases accumulated in the atmosphere. Rich countries current $100 billion a year target is only meant to fund decarbonization measures and infrastructure that helps protect against more extreme weather events.

Also Read | A pledge that India didnt see coming

Even as 121 countries have submitted their official climate pledges to the UN in documents know as nationally determined contributions, India has held back. Lets be clear, an unnamed delegate told the Hindustan Times, India will not update its NDC till there is clarity on climate finance. The Indians want a clear promise on making the funds available as soon as possible, an official told Bloomberg Green.

India also pushed back on proposed language in the final Glasgow agreement that countries will accelerate the phasing-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels. Gupta said the nation will only move away from the dirtiest fossil fuel if it gets the financial support its asking for.

Read more | Climate talks struggle with gap between rich, poor nations `

US climate envoy John Kerry said after a meeting with the Indian delegation in Glasgow that he wont promise $1 trillion for India, and still needs to look at the details. In the meeting, Kerry committed the US to joining the International Solar Alliance which is headquartered in the Indian city of Gurugram.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been without a political party since 2019, will join the right-wing Liberal Party (PL), it said Wednesday, as Brazil gears up for presidential elections in 2022.

The far-right leader, who quit his previous party less than a year into his term, is required to join another to seek reelection in the October 2022 polls in Brazil, whose laws bar independent candidacies.

Having failed to gather the half-million signatures required to register his own party, Bolsonaro apparently decided on the PL, part of the so-called "centrao," a loose coalition of parties known for their knack for clinging to power and gaining access to government pork.

Bolsonaro "will sign his membership papers on November 22 in a Liberal Party event to be held in Brasilia," the party said in a statement, after its leader met with the president.

Also Read | Brazil's Bolsonaro says he wants to carve up Petrobras

Bolsonaro had said ahead of the meeting he was "99.9 percent" sure to join the PL, but did not officially announce a decision.

Bolsonaro, 66, has gone through eight parties in his more than three-decade political career.

He won the presidency in 2018 with the Social Liberal Party (PSL), but resigned in November 2019 after a power struggle with its leadership.

He then tried to launch his own party, dubbed the Alliance for Brazil, but fell short of the signatures and other requirements needed to register it.

Despite running in 2018 as a maverick outsider opposed to "old-school politics," Bolsonaro has since struck up an alliance with the "centrao," whose votes in Congress have helped him pass legislation and shielded him from the scores of impeachment petitions opponents have filed against him.

The PL "is the face of the 'centrao,'" said political scientist Andre Cesar of consulting firm Hold.

"The most important thing for that party is to be close to power," he told AFP.

Bolsonaro's popularity is at a low of 22 per cent, weighed down by his controversial downplaying of Covid-19 and the stalled economic recovery from the pandemic, which has claimed more than 600,000 lives in Brazil.

Opinion polls place Bolsonaro well behind his political nemesis, leftist ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in next year's vote.

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Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the incumbent Imran Khan-led government opted out of Parliaments joint session as it had "foreseen its defeat", Geo News reported.

Taking to Twitter, Bilawal said "Kaptaan bhag gaya" (the captain ran away), as he shared President Arif Alvi's notification for the postponement of the session.

"Yet another victory for the United opposition in the Parliament today. Government ran away from joint sessions when they saw they would be defeated yet again. Kaptaan Bhag gaya."

Yet another victory for the United opposition in parliament today. Government ran away from joint sessions when they saw they would be defeated yet again. Kaptaan Bagh gaya pic.twitter.com/gyovC6HBw7  BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 10, 2021

He said that they (Opposition) are not asking the government's allies to support them on the no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister now.

"Instead, we are talking only about the government's undemocratic methods and bids to make the election commission controversial."

Bilawal further said that the countdown to the end of PTI's tenure has begun, adding "it's now time for Prime minister Imran Khan to be a bundle of nerves", the Geo News report added.

He said that he still stands firm on his idea to move a no-trust motion against Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar but they will have to make efforts for it separately.

Earlier, while addressing the MNAs at a dinner he hosted at the Senate's banquet hall, Bilawal said that the government had to postpone the Parliament's joint session due to the efforts by the Opposition.

"Due to the opposition's contacts with the government's allies, the government had to retreat and cancel the joint session. Thanks to (Leader of the Opposition) Shehbaz Sharif who gathered the Opposition parties," said Bilawal.

Earlier on Wednesday, the government postponed a joint session of the Parliament that was scheduled for Thursday.

A meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Tuesday had called the session on Thursday at 11pm to pass the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (Amendment) Bill and electoral reforms bill among other legislation items.

Later, President Alvi issued an official notification for the postponement of the joint session.

Bilawal said that the Opposition had decided to ensure their numbers to oppose the National Accountability Bureau Ordinance (Amendment) Bill and electoral reforms bill proposed by the government.

He said that the NAB ordinances being presented one after another are based on "mala fide intent".

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Nepal on Thursday began the once in a decade census with the collection of personal data and information. But officials in Kathmandu were in a fix whether over conducting the survey in the disputed territories with India like Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura.

The former KP Sharma Oli government last year issued a new map incorporating the disputed territories with India that pushed bilateral ties to an all-time low.

This emerged as a major irritant in the Nepal-India relations, with Delhi calling Kathamndu's decision to publish the new map a cartographic assertion.

Nepal's move was prompted by India's announcement that it was building a road link to Kailash Manasarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China via Lipulekh.

Also Read | India-Nepal bus services resume after over a year

The new map was adopted by Parliament through a constitutional amendment. Officials have been wondering for quite a while about how to conduct a census in the region, not because it is remote but because it is controlled by India.

Now there were calls from several quarters to conduct the census in Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura area but officials are still in a fix.

"We are looking forward to using the satellite technology to collect necessary information of the people residing in Kalapani, Lipulek, and Limpiyadhura for the 12th National Population and Household Census," Director General of Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Nabin Lal Shrestha said.

"We have made a request with India through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct the census in those three areas," he said, adding that as of now no permission has been granted from the Indian side.

Also Read | Nepal Army chief on India visit to bolster military-to-military ties

Nepal has been claiming that its boundary to the west-north begins from Limpiyadhura where the river Mahakali originates. In Kalapani, it is currently occupied by the Indian troops and Lipulehk is the tri-juncture between Nepal, India, and China.

The CBS said the government is holding talks with the Indian authorities to carry out the population census of the region.

According to the Bureau, the authority has been considering using satellite means to take the data of households residing in the region.

Shrestha said that the CBS cannot send enumerators to the Kalapani region without talks with India, as it continues to control the area, even though Nepal claims the territory as its own.

Also, since there is no direct road link connecting the region with the rest of the country, people can reach the area via India.

Officials say that the bureau has already collected the data on the population in the region based on India's 2011 census, according to which, there are 363 people in Kuti, 78 in Nabi, and 335 in Gunji the three villages in the region.

CBS officials say they will wait for a response from the Foreign Ministry with regard to their request for diplomatic initiatives with India.

Since India has been nonchalant of late with regards to Nepal's diplomatic requests, it is not clear whether Delhi would respond.

When New Delhi published a new map in November 2019 to update its political map after detailing the boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, it had shown the Kalapani region within Indian borders.

The new map was unveiled after the Indian government on August 5, 2019 rescinded the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for the creation of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Nepal's attempts to hold diplomatic dialogue to resolve the issue went unanswered by India.

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Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat on Thursday said the controversy about the Chinese coming into Indian territory and building a new village is "not true", and that the villages were well within the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

He also asserted that China has not transgressed the Indian "perception" of the LAC.

In its recent report, the US Department of Defence said China built a large village inside disputed territory between its Tibet Autonomous Region and India's Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern sector of the LAC.

Earlier in an official reaction to the US report, the external affairs ministry said India has neither accepted China's "illegal occupation of its territory nor any unjustified Chinese claims".

In a weekly media briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "China has undertaken construction activities in the past several years along the border areas including in the areas that it has illegally occupied over the decades. India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims."

However, Rawat, at 'Times Now Summit 2021', said, "as far as we are concerned, no such village development has taken place on our side of the LAC."

"The present controversy - that has erupted - that the Chinese have come across into our territory and built a new village is not true," he said.

"But what I wish to come out with is that Chinese are building villages possibly for billeting and locating their civilians or for their military in the future all along the LAC, particularly after the recent face-offs that we have had," the CDS added.

Rawat also said both the Indian and Chinese forces have posts on their respective side of the LAC.

"Wherever the Chinese have now developed their posts, we have seen some old dilapidated huts that existed in that area," he said.

So, some of those huts have been broken and newer infrastructure was being built up and modern huts are coming up, he added.

"Yes, maybe a couple of them, the villages, have increased in size. What I would probably feel is that these are to billet the Chinese soldiers and subsequently, they may also be planning to facilitate the arrival of their families once in a while... Our civilians going there, our families visiting forward areas, so they are watching all this," he explained.

Noting that Chinese soldiers are isolated, Rawat said,"he (Chinese soldier) is living thousands of miles away from the mainland. And he sees our people that they are in a much happier state. They get to go home much faster."

The Indian soldiers do get leave to go home from the positions on LAC at least twice a year if not thrice, he said, adding that the Chinese soldiers do not have this luxury.

"They are building this infrastructure, this kind of so-called villages, which are well within their side of the LAC. They have not transgressed anywhere on our perception of the LAC," he said.

He said there are different perceptions of the LAC but the Indian armed forces know where the LAC lies because they have been told that this is your alignment of the LAC and this is the territory you are expected to defend.

"Chinese have a perception and in some areas, we know about it, and in some areas, we don't know about it. Because they have never really explained where the LAC lies according to their perception," he noted.

When asked if he thinks such village development is muscle-flexing on their part, he replied: "Certainly not, I won't call it muscle-flexing. With the development of these villages, they are trying to make sure that they reach out to their border areas, and it is something we should also be doing."

India was also concerned about its border area development and the government has released funds for BADP (Border Area Development Programme) projects, he mentioned.

"In fact, we are encouraging people to go there and stay back in those villages because a large number of villages along the LAC are being vacated. Why are they being vacated? Because people find job opportunities, education, health infrastructure, more in the inner areas," he explained.

Last month, India and China failed to make any headway in resolving the 18-month standoff in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh during the 13th round of military talks between the two countries.

Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector of eastern Ladakh.

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The Uttar Pradesh government dismissed Kafeel Khan, a Gorakhpur-based doctor who was accused in the case of the death of 63 children at Gorakhpur Medical College Hospital in 2017, allegedly owing to the shortage of oxygen.

A senior UP government official said that Khan, who was a pediatrician at the BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur, when the incident happened, had been dismissed from service after being found guilty of laxity in the case.

Khan took to Twitter on Thursday and posted a message confirming that his services had been terminated by the state government.

"63 kids died 'cos the govt didn't pay the O2 suppliers.....8 doctors, employees got suspended-7 reinstated..in spite of getting clean chit on charges of medical negligence & corruption-I got terminated...Parents-Still awaiting justice...justice? Injustice?....U decide," Khan said in the post.

63 kids died 'cos the govt didn't pay the O2 suppliers 8 Doctors,employees got suspended -7 reinstated inspite of getting clean chit on charges of medical negligence & corruption -I got terminated Parents-Still awaiting Justice justice ? Injustice? U decide  pic.twitter.com/t7ZFeU4JYf  Dr Kafeel Khan (@drkafeelkhan) November 11, 2021

He said that he would challenge the termination in the court.

Khan had earlier been arrested in the case and had spent nine months in jail before being enlarged on bail.

Khan had been given a clean chit in the matter by a committee, which was probing the case. The state government had, however, constituted another committee to investigate the matter.

Also Read | Kafeel Khan now 'history-sheeter' in Uttar Pradesh

He had also taken part in the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests in the state. The police had later arrested him on charges of allegedly delivering inflammatory speech and the NSA was also slapped on him. The Allahabad High Court, however, had quashed the NSA saying that "a complete reading of the speech prima facie did not disclose any effort to promote hatred or violence".

The Gorakhpur-based doctor had also written a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) alleging large scale rights 'violations' and 'misuse' of stringent laws to "suppress voice of dissent" in India.

"The government has been misusing stringent laws like NSA and UAPA to suppress the voice of dissent...it will greatly affect the poor and marginalised communities in India," he had said in his letter.
The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to take up a plea against the Tripura Police's decision to invoke the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) against several lawyers, activists and journalists.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice N V Ramana initially asked advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioners, to move the High Court concerned in the matter, but subsequently to agree to list the matter.

Bhushan mentioned the matter before the bench also comprising justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli.

Read | Tripura riots and the misuse of UAPA

He said the petitioners, including Shyam Meera Singh, challenged the constitutional validity of certain widely misused provisions of UAPA and the wide definition of 'unlawful activities'.

The petitioners claimed the petition was filed under Article 32 of the Constitution in relation to what they alleged as "targeted political violence against the Muslim minorities" in Tripura during the second half of the month of October, 2021.

They also questioned the subsequent efforts by the State of Tripura to "monopolise the flow of information and facts emanating from the affected areas by invoking provisions of the UAPA against members of civil society including advocates and journalists who have made the effort to bring facts in relation to the targeted violence in the public domain".

Following the Tripura Police's action against a journalist and other activists for offences punishable under the UAPA, the plea was moved by Mukesh, Ansarul Haq Ansari, and Singh in the top court to quash the FIR lodged against them on November 3 at West Tripura police station and subsequent notices issued against them to join investigation.

Also Read | Tripura violence: Journalists among 102 booked under UAPA for 'distorted and objectionable' posts

The petitioners claimed a report titled as Humanity Under Attack in Tripura #Muslim Lives Matter, published on November 2, by Lawyers for Democracy, has brought on record evidences into the "orchestrated and targeted violence perpetrated by political right wing forces on the minority Muslim community in Tripura in October, purportedly as a counterblast to violence perpetrated on minority Hindu community in Bangladesh, which continued until October 26".

The four member "fact-finding" team comprised of advocates Ehtesham Hashmi and Amit Srivastav, Ansar Indori (National Secretary, NCHRO), and Mukesh, member, PUCL Delhi.

"If the State is allowed to criminalise the very act of fact finding and reporting and that too under the stringent provisions of the UAPA in which anticipatory bail is barred and the idea of bail is a remote possibility then the only facts that will come in the public domain are those that are convenient to the State due to the chilling effect on the freedom of speech and expression of members of civil society," their plea said.

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Days after a Pentagon report said Beijing built a large village in disputed territory in the Arunachal Pradesh sector, India on Thursday said it has neither accepted any illegal occupation of its territory by China nor has it accepted unjustified Chinese claims.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on its security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also said that India too stepped up infrastructure development including construction of roads and bridges in areas along the border with China.

Also Read | China upgrades logistics for winter on India border

Bagchi said India has taken note of the US Department of Defence report to the US Congress that made a reference to construction activities by the Chinese side along with the India-China border areas.

He said China has undertaken construction activities in the past several years along the border areas including in the areas that it has illegally occupied over the decades. "We have taken note of the US Department of Defence' report to US Congress which inter-alia also makes a reference to construction activities by Chinese side along with the India-China border areas particularly in the Eastern sector," he said. Bagchi was replying to a question on the matter.

Also Read | US report claims China has built a village in disputed Arunachal territory

"Reports had also appeared in the media earlier this year on this issue. As we had stated then China has undertaken construction activities in the past several years along the border areas including in the areas that it has illegally occupied over the decades," he said.

"India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims. The government has always conveyed its strong protest to such activities through diplomatic means and will continue to do so in the future," Bagchi said.

Read | 'Army needs broader roads to avoid 1962-like situation'

He said that Indian has also stepped up border infrastructure including the construction of roads, bridges etc, which has provided much-needed connectivity to the local population along the border. "The government remains committed to the objective of creating infrastructure along with the border areas for the improvement of livelihood of its citizens, including in Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

"The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India's security and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Bagchi added.

In its recent report, the US Department of Defence said China built a large 100-home civilian village inside disputed territory between its Tibet Autonomous Region and India's Arunachal Pradesh in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

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Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked him not to bother about the Bitcoin scandal in the state.

After meeting Modi at the Prime Minister's Office, he said that discussion on the Bitcoin scandal did not come up in the meeting. "When I started telling him about the scandal, he cut me short asking me not to bother about all this," he claimed.

Modi asked him to continue serving the people with more dedication and courage, Bommai said.

"The meeting with the Prime Minister went off very well. We discussed a lot of issues. He was especially keen on administration and our decisions during the last 100 days. How things could be made better was also deliberated upon," he said.

Bommai said that he had extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to attend four programmes in December. "The Prime Minister happily agreed for a Karnataka visit. He asked me to split the programmes and assured me that he would visit the state twice," he added.

The Prime Minister has agreed to lay the foundation stone for the Railway Suburban Project, and inaugurate the Ambedkar School of Economics and other projects in Bengaluru.

He said Modi appreciated the scholarship scheme aimed at the farmers' children. He said this project should succeed as Karnataka is the only state which has farmers' data in digital format. He expressed his desire to emulate the scheme in the entire country, he underlined.

The Transparency Act brought by the state government was liked by the Prime Minister who called it a "revolutionary" step. There was also a long discussion on the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), Bommai said.

"On losing Hangal bypoll, the Prime Minister advised to take winning and losing in the same way and asked me to set a target for 2023 general elections and win people's hearts," Bommai said.

Bommai also said he met BJP President J.P. Nadda and discussed upcoming elections in the state. "I also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. It was a brief meeting," he said.

Asked if they discussed the Bitcoin scandal, Bommai said that being the Home Minister, Amit Shah would have more information on the issue than him.

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Tathagata Roy, a veteran in the Bharatiya Janata Party, also a former governor, is in direct confrontation with senior party leaders. His recent tweets, and re-tweets, targeted at the partys national leaders, and state command, have exposed the factionalism within the party. In an exclusive interview with DH's Mohammed Safi Shamsi, Roy claims that the party lacked a strategy for Bengal elections, and its leaders from the Hindi heartland failed to understand, and deliver.

You are in the news for tweets and re-tweets, statements critical of your own colleagues, who represent your partys state and central leadership. Why is this fiasco?

I have been thoroughly exasperated, scandalised and generally very upset about the way the party has squandered this opportunity of coming to power. Even if it could not have come to power in the 2021 elections, it could have had a much better result, been a very solid Opposition, and given the government, run for its money in the assembly, by criticising it. After all, its the function of an Opposition in a parliamentary democracy. Unfortunately, none of these things were done. And that these things were not done, were directly attributable to certain mistakes, or misdeeds; both are possible.

Of the people, who were in charge of running this election process, something that irks me terribly.

I have named leaders (I am not happy with)  the KDSA team, Kailash Vijayvargiya, Dilip Ghosh, Shiv Prakash, and Arvind Menon.

After completing your tenure as governor, you returned to Kolkata, and were looking for an active role in politics. Being a senior leader, do you think you didnt get appropriate responsibilities? Perhaps, you were also eyeing the chief ministerial post?

I wasnt. But yes, I wanted to be actively involved in party politics. As soon as I came over, after being relieved of my responsibilities as a governor, I came and saw all the people, who were leading. After a month, or so, I found that they didnt want me in the process. Occasionally, they respected me but whenever there was a question of any active role (for me), they somehow stayed out of it. After a couple of months, I got a clear message that they dont want me in. I personally think, I would have come in the way of certain things that they intended to do, that they did.

The BJP in Bengal took a great leap in the last Lok Sabha election. The state elections turned out to be a poor show? What do you think are the reasons?

First, we must understand why we did a great show in the last elections. It is primarily because of one person, Narendra Modi. Modi, first as a chief minister of Gujarat, and thereafter as prime minister, has shown himself to be such a superior leader material that people were very impressed with him, and no one else could hold a candle to him. In 2014 when he was fielded as a prime ministerial candidate, I was present in the national executive meeting in Goa where this decision was taken, and the gathering, there, very enthusiastically endorsed him. The persons fielded as alternatives, couldnt hold a candle to him.

By 2019 his stature had increased, and the stature of the Opposition had reduced. Congress was being run in a horrible way. So, with Modi at the front, we got 18 seats, no surprise.

But Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections are different things. When we came to 2021, things were slightly different. Eighteen seats translate into 126 assembly seats, although both elections are different, 126 would have at least become 110. But being reduced to 77, and 70 now, was a real fall. If you ask me the reason for that fall, there are several.

One, the choice of candidates. The choice of candidates was so horrible, and so unreasoned, and so erratic, that voters rejected them in their minds, even before they went to the polling stations. Second, in an election, as I understand, one has to identify issues. No issues were identified. We also have to take into account the mindset of the people in the state and have a nuanced campaign, particularly in West Bengal, because the state has been subjected to the Lefts influence for a very long time.

In fact, I had the impression that the leaders (mentioned earlier) didnt have any idea of what it was like. They imagined that this was possibly just like any Hindi-heartland election and they have got to polarise Hindus against Muslims, and that is the way they are going to win the elections. Even that is understandable, but the choice of candidates is absolutely not understandable. The third reason why we lost was because we could not project any person as the likely chief minister. People started speculating, and once they saw in front of their eyes, they figured that Mamata Banerjee was a much better choice. Fourth, the state was flooded by Hindi-speaking leaders from the Hindi-speaking states. Now, this was a very big mistake.

Mamata Banerjee has projected herself as Bengals own daughter. In general, an impression was created that the BJP is Hindi-speakers party. Disinformation went to such an extent that some people said that if the BJP comes to power, shall we have to eat vegetarian food, shall we have to put tika on our heads all the time. Perception matters. All these put BJP on a bad wicket. The election management team did not understand this.

Given an opportunity to reform, what change would you seek in the party's state units functioning? Is BJP capable of winning Bengal with a thumping majority, ever?

I personally think it is because the kind of mal-administration we have seen in the state during Mamata Banerjees rule and the CPIMs rule, people were looking, and are looking for good administration. Mamata Banerjee is just a copy of the CPIM. She has figured that if the CPIM could survive for 34 years without giving any concrete results, then why can't she do it?

She could also last for 34 years. She also figured that economic opportunity, employment, dont have to be arranged. But, people have to be given a sort of free gifts. And, this is the sort of thing she tried to do through the introduction of programmes for people.

This should have been exposed by the BJP. The BJP didnt have a strategy at all in this election. I have heard speeches that were made. I totally ignored the Hindi speeches. Those turn the people the wrong way. Second, the city people understand Hindi, but outside the city, and women, no one understands Hindi at all.

This present government is very clear that it cant bring any industries here, cant create employment. So, the BJP should have said that we want to create employment. None of these things were projected. The Hindu-Muslim agenda should have been projected in a much more nuanced way. If you say all Muslims are bad thats not going to be accepted over here, in the state, because people have been conditioned in a particular way, and all Muslims are not bad either. The point is that there has been suffering of Hindus at the hands of Muslims in Bangladesh, earlier in East Pakistan. This should have been brought to the forefront. Theres nothing against Indian Muslims, we will drive out Bangladeshi Muslims, and rehabilitate Hindus, this should have been clearly expressed.

On the other hand, some speeches were made that turned people against us.

This is one thing that contributed to the vendetta of the Trinamool against the BJP after they won.

About state leadership in BJP: It has to be founded on merit. It is not founded on merit now. In practical politics there is always some favouritism. Still, there should have been an objective assessment, proper people should have been selected. Instead, no such thing was done.

Who do you think, in the party, are capable of leading Bengal? A party leader hinted that if you dont like the way the party operates, you are free to quit. Whats your take?

To the first part of the question, I would not like to answer.

Second, the leader didnt have to say that. I am free to leave the party, he doesnt have to say. It is also a fact that he cant drive me out. I am not leaving the party. The party has a policy that after 75 no person would be put in a position of active politics. I would have been out, but I could have played a part in advising, deciding policy, using my experience over the last 31 years, I could have contributed. People who were sent out to TV channels, many of them cut a very sorry figure.

What do you want to focus on in the days ahead if you dont get an active role in the party? You have your own supporters in the party. Would you float another party?

No, certainly not. With this party I would like to give it as much of a chance as possible. What is the reason that the BJP was not present strongly before 2014? It was because we were 3rd, or 4th party. Things I would like to put an emphasis on is that the BJP should stand for something. One, economic development and employment generation. Our CM had driven out an automobile factory, which would have created opportunity. No entrepreneur will touch the state, this should have been emphasised in the campaign.

According to Bangladeshs census, it has 8 per cent Hindu population, including a handful of Buddhists and Christians, whereas Muslim population in West Bengal has risen more than 30 per cent. This is something we should have pointed out, without any enmity towards the Muslim population in Bengal. We would have said that numerical superiority in West Bengal was important. Last thing, the Bengali Hindu mind has to be re-engineered. Right from 1930s, the cultural space in Bengali mind has been occupied by Leftists, and they have put certain ideas that have resulted in very undesired qualities in Bengali minds, like unreasoned defiance on any kind of authority, indiscipline, disregard for rules.

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Becoming an office-bearer in Congress may not be easy in the future with the party now mulling to allow only those who attend its training programmes for organisational posts.

For this, sources said, the Congress is likely to amend its Constitution in a plenary session that will be held after the election of a new party president in August-September next year.

The party is also planning a 'Chintan Shivir' in Rajasthan in January next year to take steps to strengthen the party and formulate policies of the party. Congress had earlier held similar exercises in Pachmarhi (1998) and Shimla (2003).

The Congress Working Committee on October 16 has already cleared an "elaborate" and "continuous" training programme, a first-of-its-kind for the Congress, for leaders and workers from "top to bottom".

Also Read | Congress leaders to spend nights in villages, towns as part of protest against price rise in 'Modi-Raj'

The training programme is aimed at equipping leaders and workers on party ideology and policy, expectations from party workers, election management and countering propaganda among others.

This is the first time the Congress is chalking out a national level training programme. The first camp for state-level trainers will be held in Sevagram in Maharashtra's Wardha from November 12 to 15 with specific emphasis on the two-week-long agitation programme 'Jan Jagran Abhiyan'.

Sources said a department on training has been set up a couple of years ago and a close Rahul aide Sachin Rao along with his team has been working on the curriculum for the programme.

In the upcoming organisational election that will culminate in the election of party president next year, they said, the criteria of mandatory participation in party training programmes would not be enforced. However, once the amendment is cleared, this would come into force.

Sources also said the Congress plans to add around six crore new members in the party through the membership drive that started on November 1 and would end on March 31 next year. At present, Congress is expected to have around 3.5 crore members while BJP president JP Nadda recently claimed that his party has 18 crore members.

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After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday it became clear that the state will witness a cabinet reshuffle, accommodating the supporters of former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot.

The Rajasthan rift is likely to take a back seat for the time being but the issue of Chief Ministership will remain. Pilot supporters will be pushing for a leadership change as the former Deputy Chief Minister doesn't want to settle for less than that as the Pilot camp thinks that he has been denied such a post despite being the natural claimant.

Sachin Pilot has also declined the party's offer to move him out of the state at the AICC level. Sources close to him say that he does not want to move out of the state and fall in the trap of Ashok Gehlot who wants his adversaries to move out with assignments at the Central level.

Sachin Pilot, who is pushing his case, has been meeting party leaders and on Wednesday met K C Venugopal ahead if the Gehlot--Priyanka Gandhi meeting. The Gandhi sibling wants the issue to be resolved immediately as she was instrumental in brokering peace when Pilot had revolted against Ashok Gehlot last year.

After the meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot has maintained that he will abide by the decision taken by the leadership and has conveyed everything to her.

Meanwhile, Congress sources confirmed that state Health Minister Raghu Sharma and Revenue Minister Harish Choudhary might be relieved from cabinet portfolios as they have been made party in-charges of Gujarat and Punjab.

Long pending appointments, especially related to the state unit, will be announced following the cabinet expansion. "After the expansion, the announcement of the appointments would also start," a Congress leader said.

Gehlot had met Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, General Secretaries Ajay Maken and K C Venugopal at former party president Rahul Gandhi's residence on Wednesday amid talk of a rejig in the cabinet.

Gehlot is buoyed with the bypoll results and his camp is enthusiastic about the win in Dhariawad, which was a BJP seat since 2013 and was captured by the Congress and Vallabhnagar, which was retained by it. The BJP finished third in Dhariawad and fourth in Vallabhnagar.

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Arrested terrorist Ali Babar (19), a Pakistani national who was captured by the Indian Army from Jammu and Kashmir's Uri sector on September 26, has revealed that Pakistan's notorious Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has been providing support to the ultras in order to sneak them into the Indian territory, sources said on Thursday.

According to the sources, Babar also admitted before the sleuths of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday that more infiltration attempts will be made with the active support of the ISI, as over 200 terrorists are waiting at different 'launch pads' in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) to be pushed into Jammu and Kashmir before the heavy snowfall begins in December.

The Pakistan Army has also been helping the terrorists at the launch pads in POK, he added.

Also Read | Militant gunned down by forces in encounter in J&K's Kulgam

Babar was captured following an operation on September 26 in Uri sector by the Indian Army. During interrogation, Babar has revealed that he had sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 along with five other terrorists.

NIA sleuths are trying to collect more information from Babar, such as the routes he took and the local contacts he made for collecting arms and ammunition etc.

The intelligence agencies have also sounded an alert that infiltration bids will increase from across the border in the next few weeks as this is the last window before heavy snowfall begins in the Valley.

The Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified its patrolling along the Line of Control (LOC), while the Terror Monitor Group (TMG) comprising officials of the central intelligence agencies, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operation Group (SOG) of J&K Police has been keeping an eye on the border areas of Bhimber, which has been used by terrorists in recent past, officials in the security set up said.

The officials also said that the ISI is trying to create a synergy among the terror groups to make coordinated efforts to bleed Jammu and Kashmir. They have identified eight new routes for infiltration, which was revealed after Indian intelligence agencies decoded the intercepted chats between the ISI and the terrorist handlers.

The officials also said that a meeting was held at Lashkar-e-Taiba's new office at Chelabandi in Muzaffarabad, which was attended by the handlers of Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Al-Badre wherein they were clearly instructed to finish the task of pushing terrorists into the Indian territory before December.

All the newly-identified routes originate from Nali, Kotkotera, Nikail, Bantal, Goi, Tarkundi Dabasi and Kuiretta, which are located in POK, and cross through the deep forests till reaching the LOC in J&K, the sources in the security forces said.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested former Punjab MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged drug racket being probed against him and others, officials said.

They said Khaira, 56, was taken into custody by the central probe agency in Punjab under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

He was produced before a special PMLA court in Mohali where the ED will seek his remand.

The agency had raided the premises of Khaira in Chandigarh, his son-in-law Inderveer Singh Johal in Delhi and that of some linked persons in March this year.

The ED has alleged that Khaira is an "associate" of drug case convicts and fake passport racketeers.

The politician has denied any wrongdoing and said he is being targeted by central agencies as he has been vocal against the Centre's three new farm laws. Punjab goes to assembly polls early next year.

He had recently resigned from the state assembly.

Khaira won the assembly election in 2017 from the Bholath Assembly seat in Punjab's Kapurthala district on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket.

He resigned from the primary membership of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP in January 2019 and floated his own outfit, the Punjab Ekta Party. He then re-joined the Congress.

The case against Khaira pertains to the ED probe in a 2015 Fazilka (Punjab) drugs smuggling instance in which 1,800 gms of heroin, 24 gold biscuits, two weapons, 26 live cartridges and two Pakistani SIM cards were seized by security agencies from a gang of international drug smugglers.

The ED had filed the case under criminal sections of the PMLA after studying a Punjab Police FIR.

"The drugs were smuggled through the India-Pakistan border and one of the kingpins of the syndicate is in the UK.... Khaira was actively aiding and supporting the gang of international smugglers and enjoying the proceeds of crime," the agency had alleged.

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Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi expressed concern on Thursday over the incessant rains in Chennai and urged party workers to help in the relief-and-rescue work.

"The incessant rains in Chennai have become a cause for worry. Requesting our brothers and sisters in the state to follow all safety measures. And an appeal to Congress workers - please help in relief and rescue work. Take care, Chennai," he wrote on Twitter.

Also Read | Heavy rains batter Chennai yet again

The incessant rains in Chennai have become a cause for worry.

Requesting our brothers & sisters in the state to follow all safety measures.

And an appeal to Congress workers- please help in relief & rescue work. Take care, #Chennai.  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) November 11, 2021

Most districts in northern Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, an official said, even as the city and its suburbs received sharp showers all through the night and on Thursday morning as well.

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The depression over Bay of Bengal will cross the coast between north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh this evening and the city would witness "strong" winds up to 45 km, the weather office here said on Thursday.

Most districts in northern Tamil Nadu including Chennai are likely to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, S Balachandran said, even as the city and its suburbs received sharp showers all through the night and on Thursday morning as well.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin reviewed the situation and urged the Ministers and officials concerned to expedite relief activities in affected areas. The Depression over southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 21 kmph during past six hours and lay centered at 5.30 AM on Thursday over southwest Bay of Bengal, about 170 km east-southeast of Chennai and 170 km east of Puducherry, the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin issued at 8.30 AM.

Track live updates on Tamil Nadu rains here

"It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu & adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts around Chennai by the evening of today," it added. As a result, Balachandran said, Chennai would witness "strong surface winds" ranging between 40-45 km. "People should not venture out unnecessarily," he told reporters.

Citing latest rainfall data, he said Tambaram (Chengalpet dt) received 232.9 mm, followed by Cholavaram (220 mm) and Ennore at 205 mm. Chennai (Nungambakkam) recorded 158 mm. The system was being constantly monitored, he said in response to a question. Rains continued to lash various parts of the city and its suburbs on Thursday, leading to inundation in many areas like KK Nagar even as a number of subways and roads in many parts of the metro were closed for vehicular traffic.

Police said trees were uprooted in places like Egmore and Perambur. Personnel of Greater Chennai Corporation, police and Fire and Rescue Services were involved in various relief and rescue work, including pumping out stagnant water. The north-east monsoon, which brings the bulk of rainfall to Tamil Nadu, has been active for the past fortnight and many parts have been receiving incessant rainfall since Sunday. Most of the water bodies in the state, including the reservoirs meeting the drinking water needs of Chennai, the Mettur Dam in Salem and others are full and excess water is being released from most of them.

Meanwhile, Stalin spoke to Ministers and Special Officers deputed to manage the rain-related issues in various districts and reviewed the situation with them, an official release said. He directed them to expedite the relief activities and ensure provision of quality food and medical facilities in relief camps. He further wanted the authorities concerned to take steps to prevent crop loss. He also held a review meeting with top state government officials including Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu.

The chief minister also ordered constituting a six-member ministerial panel, headed by Cooperatives Minister I Periyasamy, to assess crop damage, especially in the Cauvery delta region, and submit a report to the government to expedite relief work, the release added.

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BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai drew flak from various corners after he was seen carrying out a photo-op while Chennai was suffering from heavy rains and flooding.

Videos of Annamalai, who visited inundated areas of Chennai on a boat, went viral on social media, with many criticising the former IPS officer-turned-politician.

In one particular video, he was seen asking people wading through the flooded street to move aside as they were appearing in the frame.

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Not just the low-lying areas and those identified as flood-prone, several VVIP roads, subways, hospitals, and posh localities bore the brunt of the incessant rains that lashed Chennai continuously for nearly 16 hours.

Several parts of the city went without power for hours together as electricity supply was snapped as a precautionary measure due to heavy winds, even as residents complained of knee-deep water in many localities, including the VVIP areas like Alwarpet, which houses the residence of Chief Minister M K Stalin. The rains that began Wednesday afternoon continued non-stop till Thursday morning and came back again within a few hours.

Not just north Chennai, several posh localities in the south and central Chennai like the business district of T. Nagar, West Mambalam, Ashok Nagar, Kodambakkam, Alwarpet, Teynampet and Velachery reported the worst flooding as the water did not recede till the time of writing. The rains added further to the woes of many areas in north Chennai which has been reeling under floods since 20 cm of rainfall lashed the city on November 6.

Also Read | Alert Tamil Nadu police inspector gets man to hospital amid Chennai rains, saves his life

Residents of T. Nagar, where the Smart City project was implemented, were put to severe inconvenience as several localities were inundated due to the floods. Questions are being asked about the quality of works executed under the Smart City project.

Personnel of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), who were involved in draining water, said banned plastic had choked the water in more than 300 places and that was cleared. Though GCC said it had deployed over 500 giant motor pumps to drain the rainwater, social media was flooded with SOS messages seeking help in heavily waterlogged areas.

Of the 16 subways in the city, 13 were inundated with water and closed for traffic on Thursday morning, while several roads were also closed for public use due to waterlogging. Rainwater entered government-run hospitals in KK Nagar, Chromepet, and Tambaram forcing the hospitals to shift patients to nearby facilities.

Read | Heavy rains batter Chennai yet again

Residents of Velachery, parts of which were inundated due to the rains that have been lashing Chennai for the past one week, parked their cars on a flyover, learning from the 2015 floods during which thousands of vehicles were damaged as the city was underwater for a few days.

I did not want to take any chances this time. The street I live in doesnt have much water, but you never know when water will enter. So, I decided to park my vehicle on the Velachery flyover. My vehicle is safe at least, Naveen Kumar, a software professional, said.

Though crores of rupees were spent over the years on the stormwater drain, water continued to remain stagnated in many areas where the project was implemented. T. Nagar was projected as a smart city, but the rains have exposed all such claims. Water got choked at many places due to the fault of contractors and officials of the GCC. We have been suffering from flooding for the past few days. How long we should continue to suffer? Arvind from T. Nagar asked.

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Vijayawada-based photojournalist Tamma Srinivasa Reddy has been chosen as the Fellow of Royal Photographic Society, UK, in recognition of his outstanding photo panel on the Covid-19 pandemic. Srinivasa Reddy and another British photographer were the only two chosen for the fellowship in applied photography this year.

He is the 18th Indian so far to receive the honour, according to Andhra Pradesh Photography Akademi president M Ravindranath. The FRPS is considered as the photography Nobel.

Travelling across Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, Srinivasa Reddy captured telling visuals of the pandemic, with focus on the Covid Warriors while treating the infected persons.

This honour is a recognition of the high standards of photojournalism in India. Though several photographers from across the world submitted their entries, the RPS jury chose the photo panel of Srinivasa Reddy, along with another British photographer, Ravindranath told reporters here. .

Srinivasa Reddy, who worked with major media publications like India Today and Dainik Bhaskar, had also been doing freelance work with his passion for nature, wildlife and travel photography.

He has so far received many awards at the national and international levels and was conferred the prestigious Kalaratna award by Andhra Pradesh government in 2016 and lifetime achievement award in photojournalism in 2017. The governments of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh also presented him the Lalit Kala Akademi awards of their states.

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Several localities like Ambattur, Velachery, Valasaravakkam, and Kolathur were inundated causing severe inconvenience to residents even as the MeT Department forecast heavy rains till Thursday evening. So far 12 persons have lost their lives amid incessant rains. Stay tuned to DH for live updates...
The Supreme Court has said a total ban on mining, apart from giving rise to illegal activities, also causes huge loss to the public exchequer.

The top court stressed on balanced approach of sustainable development while ensuring environmental safeguards.

"It also cannot be ignored that when legal mining is banned, it gives rise to mushroom growth of illegal mining, resulting into clashes between sand mafias, criminalisation and at times, loss of human lives," a three-judge bench presided over by Justice L Nageswara Rao said.

The Bihar government approached the court against an NGT's order holding that unless the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) grants approval to the district survey report (DSR), the sand mining cannot be carried out.

Senior advocate Atmaram Nadkarni, representing the Bihar government, contended that the finding of the tribunal was like putting the cart before the horse. The tribunal has grossly erred in holding that the DSRs prepared by the state government were without following the requisite procedure and without considering the relevant factors.

Modifying the tribunal's order, the bench said the exercise of preparation of DSR for the purpose of mining in the state of Bihar in all the districts should be undertaken afresh.

The court also permitted the state government to carry on mining activities through Bihar State Mining Corporation while taking care of all environment concerns and without causing any damage to it.

In its order, the court said, It is also cannot be disputed that sand is required for construction of public infrastructure projects as well as public and private construction activities. A total ban on illegal mining apart from giving rise to illegal mining also causes huge loss.

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Amid fierce attack from opposition BJP and an Enforcement Directorate action concerning the Waqf Board-related endowment trust, Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik on Thursday asserted that he enjoys the full support of NCP President Sharad Pawar and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Maliks statement assumes significance in wake of ED's action in connection Waqf Board's alleged land scam case in Pune.

Malik, who is also the Waqf Minister, clarified that the raids in Pune by the ED were not on the offices of Waqf Board as shown in media but on one endowment trust with regard to certain transactions. There was news that ED will come to my doors.I will welcome themI will extend all cooperation to them, he said.

Earlier in the day, he said that may be fighting alone but he has support and blessings of his party and the Maha Vikas Aghadi.

Read | 'Not scared': Nawab Malik after ED raids in PMLA case

I am not alone Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP President Sharad Pawar, my Cabinet colleagues, the government and the party are standing solidly behind me, Malik said.

The NCP chief spokesperson has taken on NCBs Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, however, in the process, he is facing stiff opposition from the BJP.

I may be fighting alone, but I have the full backing, support and blessings of all the top leaders that gives me the strength. have taken up this responsibility to cleanse up certain things and will continue, he said.

On the ED action, Malik further said that action has already been taken by his ministry against the scam.

An FIR was filed and five people were arrested in connection with the case. Three people have got bailtwo people are still in custody, he said.

It is for the first time that Maharashtra has a full-fledged Waqf Board. We also have a permanent CEO of the Board now.10 members of the board have been appointed, the minister said.

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Employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) continued their strike for the 15th day on Thursday over the demand for merger of the cash-strapped corporation with the state government, despite an appeal from Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to cooperate with the government in its effort to resolve their issues.

All 250 bus depots of the MSRTC remained shut for the second consecutive day, an official said. Lakhs of passengers across the state continue to face hardships with no solution in sight to the issue.

Despite the suspension of over 900 employees, several MSRTC workers are still firm on continuing the agitation until their demand for the merger of the corporation with the state government is met. According to MSRTC officials and union sources, as of now no meeting with government authorities is scheduled on Thursday for resolving the issue of the strike.

Also Read | CM Thackeray appeals to MSRTC employees to cooperate with Maharashtra govt in resolving their woes

A section of the MSRTC employees is scheduled to meet Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray during the day.

"The situation is unchanged today. All 250 depots are shut across the state," an MSRTC official said. The state-run corporation has so far suspended 918 employees from various depots for provoking and participating in the strike. Action is likely to be taken against more employees later in the day.

The indefinite strike started on October 28 and gradually intensified after the Diwali festival concluded last week. On Wednesday, Chief Minister Thackeray appealed to the corporation's employees not to hold the poor people to ransom by continuing their protest.

Also Read | MSRTC is filing contempt petition over employees' strike: Anil Parab

Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab, who is also the chairman of the MSRTC, on Wednesday met a delegation of the Maharashtra ST Employees Joint Action Committee and appealed to the employees to call off their strike, even as the corporation filed a contempt petition in the Bombay High Court.

Hundreds of MSRTC employees from across the state converged in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon and held a rally at the Azad Maidan to press for their demand. Parab said Maharashtra has 56 state-run corporations, and if the MSRTC unions' demand was ceded, other corporations will also demand merger with the government. "While merging a corporation, comprehensive thinking is needed. Explain this to the workers and ask them to get back to work," Parab told the unions.

BJP leader Sadabhau Khot met Parab on Wednesday and said the salaries of MSRTC workers were very low, some had committed suicide, therefore the corporation should be merged with the state government immediately.

Also read: All MSRTC bus depots shut as employees continue strike; Anil Parab to meet labour union leaders

Parab pointed out that the state government has already appointed a committee to study the merger demand. The MSRTC on Wednesday also filed a contempt petition in the HC, saying the unions have continued the strike despite the court declaring it illegal.

The court sought replies from the unions by Friday and posted the matter for hearing to November 15.

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The 2021 Nobel Prize for Physics recognising the research of three climatologists, Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann and Giorgio Parisi has brought under sharp focus the threat of global warming. The Nobel Committee said that it was sending a message with its prize announcement just weeks before the CoP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Britain, as global warming sets off alarm bells around the world.

The International Panel for Climate Change has predicted dramatic changes in climate patterns in the current century and this will inevitably adversely affect food production. If one juxtaposes the global population increase with changes in ambient temperature, a grim scenario emerges. Current projections suggest that global temperature will rise by 1.8-4 degree Celsius even as the global population inches towards 10 billion.

While discussing anthropogenic global warming, one must take into account primarily carbon dioxide, the centrepiece of Manabes research at Princeton University, USA, occurring primarily because of industrial activities, including automobile exhaust. But more insidious is the emission of nitrous oxide, a gaseous product from urea hydrolysis, a chemical process when applied urea molecules react with soil moisture, which contributes to almost 35% global warming.

This gas, commonly known as laughing gas (Dinitrogen monoxide), is a byproduct of unbridled use of urea in ramping up both wheat and rice production. Dinitrogen monoxide is a major scavenger of stratospheric ozone leading to global warming and is 310 times more effective in its heat-trapping capacity compared to carbon dioxide. The average life span of this gas is 120 years. It is a serious environmental hazard that steep ramp-up of nitrous oxide in the stratosphere coincided with the green revolution of the 1960s. A consequence of the unbridled urea use is soil degradation and groundwater pollution due to high residues of nitrates which makes water non-potable.

Of the 328.43 million hectares of Indias geographical area, more than 120.40mha have degraded soils, mostly in Punjab, the cradle of the green revolution. When high food production is targeted through excessive use of N-fertilizers like urea, soil microbes convert N in the fertilizer urea into nitrous oxide at a faster rate than normal. This has been a major factor leading to global warming with all its attendant environmental consequences. The unseasonal rains (like what India experienced in September) is also an offshoot of this phenomenon.

Glasgow meet

The conference delegates, being totally silent on the havoc that carbon dioxide can do to enhance global warming, came forward to propose the Global Methane Pledge on November 2. In this context, one must understand what is methane (CH4  4 subscript please). There was consensus among the delegates that of the three principal Green House Gases(CHG) which can substantially contribute to global warming, the pecking order is as follows  carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O) and (CH4). The Global Methane Pledge is the single biggest pledge the US and European Union governments have made which is expected to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius above the pre-industrial level.

In other words, both the US and EU nations, the two largest natural gas consumers, have agreed to cut the emission of methane, which could reduce global warming by just 0.2 degree Celsius by 2050. Why have they left out the insidious nitrous oxide? The answer is, the pressure of the fertilizer lobby, which propped up modern, highly chemical-centric farming, euphemistically called the green revolution.

Combating the ill effects of the green revolution: Food and food security is of paramount importance to life on earth and which is most threatened by global warming. Future food security will be dependent on a combination of the stresses, both biotic and abiotic, imposed by climate change, variability of weather within the crop-growing season, development of cultivars more suited to different ambient and soil-substrate conditions, intelligent soil management, with specific reference to nutrient (fertiliser) management, and the ability to develop effective adaptation strategies which allow these cultivars to express their genetic potential to the fullest, under changing climate conditions.

These may appear as challenges that may be impossible to address, because of the uncertainty in our ability to predict future climate changes. However, these challenges also provide us the opportunities to enhance our understanding of soil-plant-atmosphere interaction, and how one could utilise this knowledge to enable us to achieve the ultimate goal of enhanced food security across all areas of the globe. It is in this context that we must look at the possibility of utilising Crop Wild Relatives, which offers tremendous scope.

Those plant species which are very closely related to field crops, including their progenitors, have the potential to contribute beneficial traits for crop improvement, such as, resistance to an array of biotic and abiotic stresses, and to enrich the gene pool, leading ultimately to enhanced crop yield, thereby aiding humanitys relentless search for the production of more food to meet the ever-growing needs of a burgeoning population are called Crop Wild Relatives. In fact, CWRs have tremendous potential to sustain and enhance global food security, thereby contributing enormously to humanitys well-being. Therefore, their search, characterisation, and conservation in crop breeding programmes assume great importance.

The global concern over the potentially devastating impacts of climate change on biodiversity and food security, when juxtaposed with the burgeoning global population, implies immediate measures be taken to conserve CWRs and derive from them potentially usable genes to enhance crop yield. CWRs are a key tool to address the limits of genetic variation in domestic crops to adapt them to climate change. However, the extension of their conservation and promotion of more systematic exploitation is hindered by a lack of understanding of their current and potential value, their diversity and practically how they might be conserved and exploited- an important and very urgent task Indian agricultural research fraternity must immediately address.

(The writer is a former Professor, National Science Foundation, The Royal Society, Belgium & Senior Fellow, Alexander von Humboldt Research Foundation, Germany)
The Delta variant caused a fresh wave of Covid-19 infections worldwide, aggravating the global public health catastrophe. The currently available Covid-19 vaccines are effective against the Delta variant, which prompted researchers to evaluate whether booster doses for vaccinated people are necessary and when they should be given. The objective of the booster dose is to extend vaccine efficacy in people already administered with primary vaccination. However, this decision should be taken after careful analysis of the necessity of boosters and their timing. India, however, should refrain from administering booster doses to its population until further studies are done to show its utility.

With the recurring waves of Covid-19, several countries have advocated booster doses. On August 4, 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called for a moratorium on boosters until September. The WHO objected to high-income nations giving their citizens the third round of shots when low-and middle-income countries struggled to provide their first. Around the time it announced the moratorium, 58 per cent of the population had received at least one dose of vaccination in high-income countries. In contrast, the numbers stood at only 1.3 per cent for the low-and middle-income countries.

Also Read | Ideal time for Covid-19 booster is 6 months after 2nd vaccine dose: Bharat Biotech MD

Few studies were recently undertaken to understand the efficacy of booster doses. Studies in Israel showed improvements in the antibody levels in people administered with all three shots of Pfizer-BioNTech. A study published in August 2021 showed that administration of the third dose of the Covid vaccine (Pfizer-Moderna) to organ transplantation recipients showed better immune response than patients who had only two doses of vaccine, and none of these patients reported any cases of Covid-19.

In September 2021, another study on organ transplant recipients, where one group of people was administered the third dose of Covid-19 vaccine (Moderna) while the other group was placebo, showed patients who received the third dose had significantly higher immunogenicity than the patients with placebo. It showed that receiving a booster dose could protect the immunocompromised people than just standard two doses. Countries like the United Kingdom, Israel, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and others have started administering booster doses to their populations. Israel has made booster doses mandatory for a complete Covid passport.

With high-income countries advocating booster doses, there are a few questions we need to ask. First, who needs the booster dosage? According to the WHO, the additional or booster dosage should be administered to people with weakened immune systems. This recommendation comes after a four-day conference of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunisation. The final report is due in December 2021. The US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) list of those who can get the booster includes patients suffering from cancers or HIV, individuals who have had organ transplantation, and those receiving immunosuppressive drugs.

Also Read | DH Deciphers | Covid-19 booster shots gain currency worldwide, but should Indians get them?

India, however, still needs to assess if it wants to consider giving booster doses to its citizens. The Union Health Ministry has currently adopted the "wait-and-watch" policy. Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has maintained that India's top priority is acquiring two doses. India's indigenous vaccine, Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, is currently undergoing trials for booster doses and the results are yet to be published.

A key factor to consider about booster dose for India is the domestic requirement. India recently reached the milestone of vaccinating 100 crore doses in October 2021. According to the Union government, two-thirds of the adult population (66 per cent) was administered one dose, 99 per cent of healthcare workers with at least one dose and 85 per cent with both by September.

India has targeted vaccinating its entire adult population by December 31, 2021. As of October 31, 2021, the US had fully vaccinated 58 per cent of its people, and the UK approximately 80 per cent, which means that developed countries like the US and UK only advocated a booster dose after fully vaccinating at least half of their populations. India, on the other hand, has successfully fully vaccinated only 21.9 per cent of its population. It has currently administered 106.3 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccination, which accounts for a little over half of 187 crore doses it aims to administer by the end of 2021. This indicates that for it to go from 20 per cent to 100 per cent of fully vaccinated adults, India must do what it has done over the past nine months in two months. With such an arduous task at hand, going forward with a parallel administration of booster doses may not be a feasible option at the moment.

Also Read | Why Covid boosters weren't tweaked to better match variants

Other factors need to be considered about booster dosages as well. Vaccination drive for kids in India aged between 2-18 years old hasn't started yet. An expert team reviewing vaccines has recommended Covaxin as one of the two vaccines for kids as young as two years. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved emergency use in minors. However, as of now, Covaxin has not been able to scale up its production. Covaxin's goal in May was to deliver an average of 10 crore monthly doses from June to December. A month later, this goal was brought down by 20 per cent, and as of September, its monthly capacity was significantly lower. With Covishield being the lead vaccine being administered in India, Covaxin needs to scale up its production if India wants to inoculate the majority of the adult population by December 2021, thus ensuring that the current vaccination drive continues smoothly. With such instability in the supply of Covaxin, parallel administration of booster doses is not a sound move.

There has also been an ongoing conversation on whether healthcare workers (HCWs) should be given a booster dose. Healthcare workers were the first to be prioritised when the vaccination drive kick-started in India in January 2021. There is increasing fear among healthcare workers regarding waning antibodies and the possibility of infection. Fortis Healthcare released an evidence-based study in June 2021, which showed that 92 per cent of the fully vaccinated HCWs showed mild symptoms of Covid-19 and did not require any hospitalisation. Most of the current studies on booster doses are focused on restoring the antibodies against the Covid-19 virus and extending the immunity against the disease. However, we will have to wait for studies to conclusively show that these antibodies can protect against the virus for an extended period.

Several vaccination specialists believe the research so far only supports the necessity for booster doses in older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Booster doses are now being administered in several developed countries. However, this administration only began after nearly half of their population was fully vaccinated. India, however, should not consider booster doses as of now.

Also Read | India has no plans for Covid-19 booster dose: NITI Aayog

India should focus on vaccinating its adult population by December 2021 since we are presently at the final quarter of this year. We also need to prioritise vaccinating our kids. Though the concept of the booster vaccine is welcome, the decision for its administration should be strictly evidence-based. If the government were to consider vaccinating the people with booster doses after a thorough study, it should be prioritised, as per the CDC guidelines. Immunocompromised people, healthcare workers, and the elderly should be given priority as they are at a higher risk of infection.

(The writer is a Research Analyst at The Takshashila Institution, Bengaluru, and has an MSc in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine from Manipal University)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.

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BJP leader Prabhakar Kore stirred a controversy on Wednesday, saying that Bitcoin was like a 'matka' (earthen pot) and that there people who 'play it.'

"Bitcoin is like matka. There are people who play it. There may be politicians who play it, I cant deny it," he told reporters in Belagavi in what seemed to be a veiled reference to the crypto scam that has rocked the state.

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Congress party has decided to restart membership drive from November 14 in Bengaluru after a gap of 12 years.

Speaking to media persons, here on Thursday, District Congress Committee President H S Sundaresh said, All India Congress Committee for Karnataka General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala and KPCC President D K Shivakumar will launch Congress membership drive in Bengaluru on November 14 to mark the birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It will be launched in Shivamogga on November 19 to mark the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi. "We have a target of enrolling over two lakh members into the party fold in the district through the drive."

He said, in order to highlight the failures of the Bommai-led government in the state and Modi-led government at the Centre and the adverse impact of rise in prices of essential commodities including fuel on common people, the party will organise padayatra and awareness programmes at gram panchayat level. There is a need to educate people about the role of Congress during the freedom movement and the party's contribution towards the development of India in post Independent era. State and national -level leaders of the party will take out padayatra at panchayat-level in the district in the coming days.

On legislative council polls from local authorities constituency, he said, the sitting MLC R Prasanna Kumar and Congress leader Y H Nagaraj are the aspirants for the coming legislative council polls from Shivamogga district. Both of them have submitted applications with a fee of Rs 1 lakh to avoid more number of aspirants. Randeep Singh Surjewala will hold a meeting with aspirants for the council polls on November 15 at 5:00pm in Bengaluru.

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Although Karnatakas aerospace and defence policy is valid until 2023, the state is planning to push an updated policy into place as early as the end of December.

Speaking at the inaugural session of Lockheed-Martins 8th Annual Suppliers Conference in the city on Wednesday, Large and Medium Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani said the new policy will be introduced as part of the governments proactive approach to update our policy to provide a key push for this important sector.

Officials said that the new policy, which is still in the draft stage, could be unveiled at the end of next month. Although details of the new policy are sketchy, Nirani specified that enhanced incentives will be offered to MSMEs to provide a level playing field and make them competitive as part of the new A&D policy.

He added that the government is also in the process of setting up a 1,200-acre defence and aerospace park in Devanahalli, which may also be officially announced at the end of December.

The new policy would also concentrate on drawing original equipment manufacturers (OEM) to the state, added Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner, Department of Industries and Commerce. We are looking to create clusters not only in Bengaluru but other parts of the state like Tumkuru where the helicopter complex under Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is coming up, Chamarajnagar and even Chitradurga which is turning into an important hub for units of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), she said.

She clarified that OEMs interested in coming to the state will be provided incentives. Moreover, they can choose to carry out manufacturing activities by themselves or work in partnerships, she added.

Dr E V Ramana Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary, Commerce and Industries, noted the updated policy will arrive amid incentives such as a capital subsidy for anchor industries, stamp duty exemption. Moreover, the Karnataka Land Reforms Act was also amended. Earlier, any industry which wanted to purchase land directly there were impediments since several government clearances were required. Now, there is a single window for clearance and the industry can purchase land from private developers. This was done keeping ease of doing business in mind.

Nirani, meanwhile, noted that Karnataka is already leading the realm when it comes to a strong industrial base. Our Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is approximately Rs. 17 lakh cr and accounts for the highest total exports among all states in India, he said.

He also disclosed that Karnataka had secured more than Rs 1 lakh cr-worth of investments since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Karnataka was the [also] first and only state to exempt Aerospace and Defence Sector from lockdown rules during the Covid pandemic and allow manufacturing, he added.

As per data shared by the minister, some 25% of India's aircraft and spacecraft industry is based in Karnataka. More than 67% of all Aircraft and Helicopters manufacturing for Defence services is done in Karnataka and Karnataka contributes to 65% of the country's aerospace related exports from India. We are home to more than 2,000 Small and micro enterprises along with 70% of Indias supplier base which execute subcontracting work for the Defence PSUs, he said.

Officials at the event also noted that the states aerospace and defence sector is complemented by a strong ancillary support ecosystem present with Karnataka being a leader in Machine Tools, Heavy electric machinery, Electronic systems design & manufacturing (ESDM) and Software.

We are first in the production of machine tools with Bengaluru alone producing 60% of the total value of machine tools manufactured in India. Karnataka is the second highest producer of Special purpose and Heavy Electrical machinery in India and with presence of 85+ Chip designing companies, Karnataka is the largest chip design hub in the country, Nirgani said.

We also have an aerospace focused special economic zone by Aequs in Belagavi which has been operational for the last 10+ years with more than 6500 employees working in the campus in various sectors of Aerospace, Defence and engineering products, he added.

The minister noted that Karnataka was the first state to announce the Aerospace and Defence Policy.

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Stetson - Alfred J. Marcotte, Jr., 89, formerly of Derry, NH, died Nov. 8, 2021 in Bangor, ME. He was born March 22, 1932 in Manchester, NH, the son of Alfred J. Marcotte, Sr. and Lila (Bartlett) Marcotte. Alfred lived in Derry until age 55 when he moved to Stetson, ME where he has resided s
Jenna Devine, owner of Devine Scents Ltd in Derry, has witnessed her business grow from strength to strength.

She credits the Council's Business Innovation & Growth programme for helping her grow her business.

Jenna is a qualified herbalist and through her business she develops essential oil products to help with different pains such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Her products have also found favour with parents of autistic children, who have been able to come off melatonin thanks to her products.

Jenna registered for the Council's Business Innovation & Growth programme and is encouraging other businesses in the city and district to get on board.

The idea for Devine Scents began when Jenna was making wax melts for friends and family. The responses were overwhelmingly positive, with loads of people saying how calming the melts were.

Jenna began to use essential oils instead; as these penetrate the skin and go into the brain, benefitting the body in endless ways.

She then enrolled on both a Diploma in Essential Oils for Business and a Herbal Product Making Diploma.

These, coupled with a psychology degree have set Jenna up for success in business.

Jenna initially registered for the programme when she was working from home, but the business was growing rapidly.

She said: "When we first started the business, it was click and collect from my front door. When we began getting queues around the block, we realised that we needed to get premises.

"Our business was beyond the start-up stage, so we weren't eligible for financial grants - the practical advice through the free BIG programme really was a welcome pillar of support.

Small business owners regularly approach me and the advice I always give them is to take advantage of this support."

Jenna had left her job one week before the first lockdown to focus on her business, and with her time taken up keeping the business afloat, she turned to the BIG programme to gain one-to-one support on securing premises, employment rights, contracts and tax.

She continued: "The BIG programme took the pressure off me and allowed me to focus my attention on creating more products and ultimately helping more people.

Not only customers have benefited from the business  I employ two single mothers, and as I'm empathetic to their needs, I am able to exercise more flexibility and understanding to their time constraints than other employers may be able to.

"I developed a strong bond with my mentor Carrie; who was responsive and flexible around my ever-changing schedule. A second set of hands when starting a business is truly invaluable."

The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Alderman Graham Warke said: "It was great to visit Devine Scents and to see how their business has developed first hand.

"Devine Scents is a thriving local business and another success story of the Business Innovation and Growth Programme which seeks to support small businesses and drive innovation and productivity through tailored one-to-one mentor support, workshops and seminars.

"Congratulations to Devine Scents on their continued success and I wish them all the best moving forward."

Jenna hopes to open a second store, with the goal to create more employment in other cities in Northern Ireland.

To register for the BIG programme, or for more information, get in touch with patrick@fullcircle.eu.com or 028 9069 1027 for more information.

You can find Devine Scents at Unit 28, North West Business Complex in Skeoge.
Foyle SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has welcomed steps to tackle perennial parking issues at the Duncreggan Road.

Earlier this month Mr Durkan contacted both the Department for Infrastructure and the Magee College campus of Ulster University to address the problems.

The department confirmed that traffic attendants will be deployed to the area and work is ongoing to extend parkin at the former Foyle College pitch area.

Mr Durkan said: The saga of inconsiderate often dangerous parking along the Duncreggan Road has been a bugbear for many over the years and is an issue which Ive pushed to resolve.

The area in the vicinity of Magee University is a direct route into the city centre and is extremely busy throughout the week.

Both university staff and students regularly use the Duncreggan Road for parking. However, it is clear that parking is causing a great deal of disruption for residents, motorists and pedestrians alike.

Residents have complained that some individuals parking in the area often block the entrance to their driveways, preventing them from leaving their homes.

In addition, this is a long established residential area with a majority of elderly residents; health and safety concerns have been raised that the area is completely inaccessible for emergency services during the day.

Im pleased that steps are now being taken by the department to employ more traffic wardens to the area and that Magee are working to extend parking provision in the area.

"I have also asked Roads Service to consider implementing additional measures, including double yellow lines.

A spokesperson for Ulster University commented: Occupancy figures for the (Magee) Campus car park show that there has only been one day since term began that the Universitys car park has been over subscribed.

"We are aware that some individuals choose to park irresponsibly in the area, and we have recently advised all staff and students to park legally and considerately and reiterated that parking permits are available to provide them with an affordable means to park conveniently and safely on campus.

"We have recently increased car parking capacity and we also continue to work closely with the Council, PSNI and local Residents Association and we understand that they are communicating considerate parking messages to the general public who may also park in the area to travel to work.
People Before Profit councillor, Shaun Harkin, has backed Ulster University staff in their decision to go on strike.

More than 50 universities in the UK were balloted by the University & College Union (UCU) with 68.1 per cent of Ulster University's UCU members voting for strike action.

In a separate ballot asking if members would be in favour of industrial action other than walking out on strike, 88.45 per cent of Ulster University's union members voted a resounding 'yes'.

Queen's University in Belfast saw resounding majorities for both ballots as well with the national UK average for all UCU members being 70.1 per cent in favour of strike action with 84.9 per cent in favour of action other than a walkout.

The dispute is over pay and working conditions. The UCU have demanded a national yearly pay rise of 2500 for all staff as well as an end to race, gender and disability pay injustice; a framework to eliminate zero-hours and other casualised contracts; and meaningful action to tackle unmanageable workloads.

A date for strike action for the Ulster University campuses at Magee College, Coleraine and Jordanstown has yet to be set as negotiations that may prevent a walkout are expected to take place.

Cllr Shaun Harkin said: University bosses need to take stock of the resounding vote by lecturers and staff for strike action over pay, conditions and pensions.

People Before Profit send our solidarity to lecturers and staff at 54 universities, including Ulster University and Queen's, following their overwhelming declaration for strike action over pay, working conditions and pensions.

"People Before Profit fully back the UCU's demands. Wages of university staff has fallen 20 per cent in real terms since 2009.

A recently published report documented a widespread workload and mental health crisis in universities. Nearly a third of staff say they feel emotionally drained from work pressure.

University bosses are acting no differently from private sector bosses. This is about turning universities and education into factories for profit. A university shouldn't be run like a corporation focused primarily on churning out profit.

Cancellation of classes will be entirely down to the belligerence and arrogance of university bosses and their disregard for workers and students.

Cynical university bosses will look for any opportunity to divide and conquer by pitting students against staff.

It needs to be remembered that university bosses didn't lift a finger to help students or staff during the pandemic. This is why solidarity between lecturers, staff and students is key.

We encourage all students to join and support the newly formed 'Students Supporting Industrial Action' network. We'll do everything we can to back the demands of lecturers and staff.

Across every sector of society employers and government are attempting to put the burden of the pandemic onto the shoulders of workers and the least well-off. The most effective way to respond is with people power resistance and solidarity.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added: This result is a clear vote of no confidence in the so-called leaders of our universities, with staff telling them in no uncertain terms that they have had enough of pay and working conditions being run into the ground.

UCU members have yet again beaten the Tory anti-union laws. Alongside our pension ballot result, this means we have a big mandate to take strike action, at a time of our choosing.

It is scandalous that university vice-chancellors on overinflated salaries seem to think doing nothing on pay, casualisation and inequality is acceptable in a sector awash with money.

We truly hope that disruption can be avoided, that is what staff and students alike all want. But this is entirely in the gift of employers who simply need to end their attacks on pensions, pay and working conditions and finally demonstrate they value their staff.

Ulster University has been approached for comment.
Kangana Ranaut says 1947 independence of the India was 'bheek', Shiva Sena demands sedition case, Padma Shri revoked

Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe on Thursday said actor Kangana Ranaut should face a sedition case for terming India's independence as "alms", and her Padma Shri award should be revoked.

The actor is under fire after she said during a recent event organized by a news channel that the country's Independence in 1947 was not freedom but "bheek" (alms). "And we got real freedom in 2014," Ranaut said, apparently referring to the BJP coming to power.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kangana Thalaivii (@kanganaranaut)

Gorhe, who is Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said in a release that the actor made a very irresponsible, baseless and unhistorical statement. She has also insulted all former prime ministers including late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Gorhe said. She should be charged with sedition for her comments. Her Padma award should also be revoked, the Shiv Sena leader added. Earlier in the day, the Aam Aadmi Party submitted an application to Mumbai Police demanding that a case be registered against Ranaut.

The AAP's national executive member Preeti Sharma Menon termed the actor's remarks as seditious and inflammatory".

Ranaut has sparked controversies in the past with her comments and jibes at opposition politicians.
Shrenu Parikh spends birthday on the sets of Ghar Ek Mandir- Kripa Agrasen Maharaj Ki, says she likes 'simple working birthdays'

Shrenu Parikh, currently playing Genda Agarwal in & TV's show Ghar Ek Mandir- Kripa Agrasen Maharaj Ki, is among the most talented television industry actors. The actress is celebrating her birthday on November 11 and is excited to meet her parents after a gap of 5 long months, visiting her in Jaipur. Sharing her birthday plans this year, Shrenu Parikh said, "I will be celebrating my birthday on the sets with my reel and real-life family. I love working birthdays and believe that every birthday I spend on the set is a huge blessing. This year my parents have decided to come on the set and spend the day with me, and I couldn't be more excited as I am meeting them after five months".

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shrenu Parikh (@shrenuparikhofficial)

On revealing her birthday tradition to us, the actress said, "For me, the most important birthday tradition is to start my day by visiting the Mandir and getting blessings from the Almighty and then spending the rest of the day with my near and dear ones." When asked about the gift she has demanded from her parents this year on her birthday, she replies, "I am not big on partying and gifts. I love a simple working birthday, and I am bad at giving and demanding gifts. However, my parents attempt to surprise me every year. This year they had planned to surprise me with an expensive phone, but all attempts were in vain as the delivery of the phone had arrived early and isn't a surprise anymore! For me, the biggest gift of all is my parents visiting Jaipur and spending quality time with me on my special day."

Tune in to watch Shrenu Parikh as Genda Agarwal in Ghar Ek Mandir-Kripa Agrasen Maharaja Ki every Monday to Friday at 8:00 PM only on &TV!
When Rishi Kapoor admitted he hadn't watched Ranbir's films like Rockstar, Tamasha; was scared of son's unconventional choices

Ranbir Kapoor and Imtiaz Alis debut collaboration Rockstar turns a decade old today. The film which earned applause from both the critics and the audiences remains one of the most memorable performances of Ranbirs career of 14 years in Bollywood. But did you know that Rishi Kapoor had once admitted that he had never watched quite a few of Ranbirs films like Anjaana Anjaani, Rockstar and Tamasha.

The actor had said in an interview back in 2019 that he doesnt watch his own films or that of his son Ranbir since he doesnt think hes a good judge of films. I cant watch my films, nor can I watch my son Ranbirs films. I cant judge a film. Neetu [wife] is very practical and she watches every film of both husband and son and gives us feedback. I have not seen Tamasha, Anjaana Anjaani, or Rockstar. I have no perspective on my films and Ranbirs films. I can watch other peoples films, just not my own, he had told Asian Age.

Rishi Kapoor had in his autobiography, Khullam Khulla, too penned his thoughts on Ranbir's career and admitted he was never involved in helping Ranbir in his creative choices even though he felt uncertain at times. What was Ranbir doing in Rockstar? Or Wake up Sid? Rishi wondered in his book while revealing that his sons unconventional choices which make him one of the most loved actors in the country actually scared him.

Ranbir played a struggling musician who gets everything he dreamed of but is left with a shattered heart after his love is not reciprocated by the woman hes in love with.

In another part of the same chapter, he said hes not the right person to judge Ranbirs work. Frankly, I am not the right person to judge Ranbir's work. I see his films, but I don't like any of them, Rishi wrote.

I am always analysing them as an actor and not father and always end up being overcritical. Neetu is far more perceptive. She knows which film will work and which won't. Thankfully, I have been proved wrong time and again, the late actor had further added.
Bigg Boss 15: Shefali Jariwala hails Umar Riaz, Kamya Punjabi seems to be disappointed that he chose Tejasswi because of Karan Kundrra

Bigg Boss 15 had taken a new turn after Salman Khan announced that there would be a VIP zone inside the house and that the race to the finale has begun. The audience already saw an outburst by Afsana Khan, who was shown the door after her violent behaviour. Raqesh Bapat also made an exit due to health reasons. And now, the task to enter into the VIP zone has begun, and the sanchalak is none other than captain Umar Riaz. And looks like while some, including celebs are impressed with him, some are disappointed with his sanchalan.

Shefali Jariwala is one of those celebs who loved Umar Riaz and has become his fan. Taking to Twitter, she wrote, "I quiet like how @realumarriaz is playing ! Keep it up !" See the tweet here:

Others too hailed the doctor, who is also the elder brother of Bigg Boss 13 finalist Asim Riaz. Here are some of the reactions.

I really really hope #UmarRiaz wins the trophy of #BIggBoss15. He's the main reason why I created my twitter account just to support him  #BB15#UmarIsTheBoss  Natasha  (@sprinklelove18) November 10, 2021

But some, including Kamya Punjabi, were left disappointed. Kamya took to Twitter and wrote, "Alright so #Umar said that he had to choose teja bcoz of Karan! Hmmm okay!" See the tweet here:

Alright so #Umar said that he had to choose teja bcoz of Karan! Hmmm okay! @ColorsTV#BIggBoss15  Kamya Shalabh Dang (@iamkamyapunjabi) November 10, 2021

Others too disliked the fact that he was showing bias against Pratik especially! See some of the reactions here:

As a fan of #BiggBoss15 I'm disappointed with the way tasks r designed.First give power to #Umar so that he can choose his master #KK & color's bahu for VIP room. Next day give power to them again to keep #PratikSehajpal away from VIP room. Not fair. VIEWERS CHOICE PRATIK #BB15pic.twitter.com/4VDNm9Efg3  Sona  (@SonamTillani) November 10, 2021

Well, we wonder who would make it to the VIP zone. Who do you think deserves to get an entry into the VIP zone? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Neha Sharma, Piyush Mishra to return with Illegal to come up with Season 2

The second season of courtroom drama series "Illegal", featuring Neha Sharma and Piyush Mishra, is set to premiere on Voot Select by November end. The series will showcase criminal lawyer Niharika Singh (Sharma) tackling new cases alongside her ongoing battle with her former boss and mentor, Janardhan Jaitley, played by Mishra. The show also stars Akshay Oberoi, Satyadeep Misra and Tanuj Virwani.

"The new season, directed by Ashwini Chaudhary and produced by Juggernaut productions, sees the continuation of the intense battle between the former mentor-mentee while dealing with complex cases that question the legal and justice system," the makers said in a note on Thursday.

Sharma said her character Niharika Singh is the definition of the new-age woman, who isn't afraid to stand up against injustice.

"The new season of 'Illegal' on Voot Select will see my character continue her relentless pursuit of standing up against wrongdoings as she juggles between personal and professional conflicts while battling her former mentor. The sheer complexity of the cases that will unfold and the dynamic continuation of the mentor-mentee battle will make Illegal Season 2 a must-watch," Sharma said in a statement.

Mishra said he was touched with the response the first season of the show received upon its release in 2020 and is confident "Illegal" season two will also impress the audience.

"The twists and turns of 'Illegal' season 2 will send viewers on an adrenaline rush and leave them flabbergasted as the story unveils its dramatic turn of events," the "Gangs of Wasseypur" actor said.

Parul Gulati and Achint Kaur are also part of the series.
Statement by Minister Byrne on Belarus

Statement

I am appalled by the escalation of events orchestrated by Lukashenko at the external border of the European Union. His cynical exploitation of migrants for political purposes should cease.

Ireland stands with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in resisting Lukashenkos attempts to provoke a violent confrontation on our external borders. We need to see a peaceful resolution to the current crisis, and we call on the Belarussian regime to stop playing with peoples lives. International aid workers and experts must be allowed to assist migrants trapped on the border. Belarus must also allow people to return to Minsk and subsequently travel back to countries of origin. They should not be holding them hostage, with armed security cutting off their way back.

Ireland is supporting and co-sponsoring a fifth package of sanctions against individuals and entities complicit in Lukashenkos weaponisation of migration and his violations of human rights. We hope the new measures will be introduced in the coming days.

The Irish Government and members of both houses of the Oireachtas have been unwavering in their support for a democratic transition for Belarus. Last month, I met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the opposition Coordination Council, in Vilnius. There, Ms Tsikhanouskaya and much of the rest of the Belarusian opposition lead a campaign-in-exile for the right of the people of Belarus to choose their own leadership. I expressed Irelands support for the oppositions struggle, and our hope that a brighter future is in store for Belarus.

ENDS

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A previously lost track featuring Sir Ringo Starr and the late George Harrison, which was discovered in a loft, is set to be released.

The psychedelic pop song, Radhe Shaam, was penned and produced by legendary radio DJ and journalist Suresh Joshi in 1968.

The former Beatles stars played drums and guitar, respectively, while Aashish Khan provided an Indian instrumental.

Suresh stumbled upon the master tape at his home in Birmingham while sorting out his loft in lockdown.

And yesterday (10.11.21), it received its first play at the Liverpool Beatles Museum and on BBC Radio Merseyside.

The broadcaster told BBC Radio Merseyside's Tony Snell this week: "It was lost and found many times.

"We didn't have the chance to release it."

The recording came as the 'Let it Be' hitmakers - which also included Sir Paul McCartney and the late John Lennon - were working on 'Hey Jude' at Trident Studios in London.

He explained that it never got released at the time because the 'Eleanor Rigby' stars' split in 1970 was looming.

Suresh said: Time had gone on, [then] The Beatles were breaking up and had various problems so no-one wanted to [release the song]."

Producer Suraj Shinh lovingly restored the tape and cut the new mix, and Suresh felt it was the ideal time to release the song with a message of unity amid the global pandemic.

He continued: The song itself revolves around the concept that we are all one, and that the world is our oyster.

[That is] something that we have all realised during this pandemic.

Around 100 lucky people got to hear the song for the first time at the Fab Four museum.

Paul Parry, manager of the Liverpool Beatles Museum, commented: It was quite a moment. It took you somewhere else, he explained. It was unmistakeably Georges guitar [and] it was like almost bringing him back to life. It was unmistakeably Ringos drumming too.

'Radhe Shaam' is expected to be released later today (11.11.21).
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
Transition year students from St Louis secondary school in Dundalk are getting the scoop on Science Week 2021.

The students are producing Science Week Live!, a live-streamed show highlighting the astounding array of activities taking place across Ireland during Science Week, which is running from November 7th to 14th.

The secondary school students aged 15 to 16, are testing their journalism and video production skills as they get the inside scoop on Science Week 2021.

Science communicator Dr. Niamh Shaw recruited the talented St Louis students to get behind, and in front of the camera, to help create the daily magazine style show.

Niamh Shaw said: Science Week is packed full of shows, events, talks and activities - it can be difficult to know where to begin!

"However, fear not, Science Week Live! does all the hard work and will provide a comprehensive summary of each day's programme.

"The students and I will be interviewing special guests, reviewing shows, uncovering behind-the-scenes gossip and sharing news about the best, not-to-be-missed events, stories and science of Science Week 2021.

Working with Niamh to create each days show, the St Louis students have the opportunity to present, produce, and provide support in any aspect of the process that interests them.

Niamh continued: Science Week Live! will be all about collaboration and learning what we can from each other.

"I hope its an opportunity for the students to learn some media and science/climate communication skills from me while Im hoping they will share the inside track about TikTok, SnapChat and the hottest social media trends with me.

"So, together we can reach new audiences and share the very latest in science/climate conversations and all Science Week 2021 has to offer with as many people as possible.

As a platform for TY students to express their ideas about science Science Week Live! aligns with Science Foundation Irelands Creating Our Future initiative - an opportunity for everyone in Ireland to give ideas on how to make our country better for all.

From science, the environment, health and education to poverty, the arts, diversity and inclusion - all ideas are welcome that can inspire researchers to help make a better future for Ireland.

Science Week Live! will air daily Monday to Friday of Science Week at 5-5.30pm on Niamhs Youtube, Facebook and Twitch channels.
A Dundalk IT student helped take her debating team to victory as part of an annual midwifery debate between colleges, which took place virtually last week.

The National Midwifery Student Debate was held virtually last Friday November 5th, with DkIT midwifery student, Caitlyn Murphy, being part of the team that won the debate in 2021.

The event is organised by the Nursery and Midwifery Board of Ireland, with each college that offers undergraduate midwifery courses being invited to send a student to participate in the debate.

Ms Murphy, who is a 3rd year BSc (Hons) in Midwifery student represented DkIT at the competition, working with students from University College Dublin and University College Cork in the debate.

The three students formed the opposition, competing against students from the University of Limerick, National University of Ireland Galway and Trinity College Dublin.

The motion of the debate was: This house believes that midwifery is still not recognised as a separate and distinct profession in the Healthcare Community.

Ms Murphys team opposed the motion.

I am delighted to have represented DkIT and my fellow midwifery students at a national event. I am even more delighted that we won, said Ms Murphy.

Debating creates a perfect opportunity for national midwifery students to get to know one another and build their network and I am really proud to have been a part of something that challenged me.
Louth County Council has said that they will redouble efforts to tackle littering after a disappointing national litter report places Dundalk in 27th place.

In a report by the council on the Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) rankings, the local authority acknowledged that the rankings were disappointing for the town after the efforts of Tidy Town volunteers and council staff.

The IBAL report says that while Dundalk showed improvement over 2020, the town fell short of clean status, despite five of 10 sites achieving the top litter grade.

Multiple areas of town, including Clanbrassil Street and Church Street were praised for their clean pavings and fresh planted flowers, but a wasteground on the N53 behind a clothes bank was a significant detractor.

In response to the IBAL report, the council has said that it has planned actions to improve the town and tackle litter issues, with new solar-powered compacting bins set to be installed.

There will be 31 new compactor bins installed throughout the county, with LCC saying that some will be installed in Dundalk to help tackle litter issues.

LLC have also said that no longer being able to use CCTV to catch and prosecute litterers has been detrimental to their efforts to tackle littering, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Once the law permits, the deployment of CCTV by the Council will once again be considered as an enforcement tool in these areas, reads the report.

The council have also said that the ten areas highlighted by the IBAL report will continue to receive attention from the Dundalk street sweeper, council maintenance staff and litter wardens.

The report added that the worst areas highlighted by IBAL will be receiving more attention to ensure that they are kept clean.

The worst area highlighted by the IBAL report, the wasteground on the N53 behind the clothes bank, was said to be the most heavily littered area of Dundalk, with long-term dumping alongside casual littering present.

In response, LCC said that the site was privately owned so LCC staff were unable to access it. Since the report, however, LCC have liaised with the owner and a fence or hoarding is set to be built.

The council added that it will monitor activity around the clothes bank and will work with the charity operating it to ensure that there is strong maintenance.

The report comes as recent littering fine information was announced at the November meeting of Dundalk Municipal District, with 329 investigations into littering in Dundalk so far in 2021.

Of these investigations, only 59 resulted in fines being handed out to offenders.

Alongside this, there were 10 dog fouling investigations, with only one fine being handed out.

At the meeting, operations administrator with LCC, Willie Walsh said that litter wardens had been active in Dundalk throughout the lockdown and worked to combat littering in the town.
Met Eireann has put out a Status Yellow wind warning for two counties as winds pick up this evening.

Issued just after 1pm today, November 11, the warning will be valid from 4pm this afternoon until 8am on Friday morning for Galway and Mayo.

The national weather forecaster states that during this time south to southwest winds, veering west to southwest, will occasionally reach mean speeds of 45 to 65 km/hr with gusts of 90 to 110 km/hr.

There is already a marine warning in effect until midnight.

The Status Yellow gale warning applies to all coasts of Ireland, as well as the Irish Sea.

Met Eireann's forecast nationally says this afternoon will be cloudy with light rain and drizzle in many areas at first.

It will be become wet and windy through the afternoon and evening as persistent rain spreads eastwards across the country and southerly winds will increase fresh to strong and gusty. Highest temperatures of 12 to 14 degrees are expected.

Conditions are forecast to become wet and windy later in the afternoon and evening as persistent rain spreads eastwards across the country and southerly winds will increase fresh to strong and gusty.
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.

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Increased public confidence in the skills and resources of the Garda specialist sexual violence unit, along with a rise in the reporting of historic cases, has led to a spike in sexual assault cases reported across the three Cork districts, according to members of the force.

Cases of sexual assault (not aggravated) increased across the three districts, with an increase of seven incidents in Cork City from January to October, from 76 in 2020 to 83 in 2021.

In Cork North, the cases went from 19 to 42, an increase of 23; while in West Cork, cases jumped by 10 from 24 in 2020 to 34 in 2021.

While rape reports dropped in North Cork, both West Cork and Cork City saw an increase in cases reported to gardai.

From January to October 2020, there were 37 rape incidents in Cork City, while 41 rapes were reported for the same period this year, an increase of four.

In Cork North, there were 21 rape cases from January to October last year, while there were 14 from January to October 2021, a decrease of seven.

However, in Cork West there was a significant rise in the number of rape cases reported, with less than 10 reported in 2020 (January to October) and 18 in 2021 for the same period.

New Protective Service Units

West Cork Chief Superintendent Con Cadogan said the recently opened Protective Services Units (PSU) had instilled greater confidence in the community of West Cork, resulting in increased reporting.

Speaking from the Cork County perspective, we have two relatively new protective service units set up. They work very closely with a lot of the voluntary and statutory groups, be it Tusla, HSE, West Cork Women Against Violence, Rape Crisis Centre, and many other excellent groups out there. They meet regularly with the PSUs and call in to meet the sergeant and detectives in those, and I suppose that has instilled confidence in people out there in the communities, which I am glad to see.

'No one should be afraid to report a crime'

Chief Supt Cadogan encouraged everyone to report incidents to An Garda Siochana.

I would just emphasise that no one should be afraid to report a crime, or to ring their local station and ask where their nearest protective unit is based. They can visit at any stage, have a conversation, sit down inside, and decide if they want to pursue it.

I think everything is very clearly set out for them, they work with the victims of crime unit and the victim support as well so you have the full suite available to all victims of sexual crime, so there should be no fear there and I think that has certainly led to increased reporting, there is no doubt about that.

Cork City Chief Superintendent Tom Myers spoke on the increased cases in the city and said the vast majority of these cases are historical.

"Some of them are going back many many years," he said.

It is great to see confidence in the Protective Services Unit and we are encouraging all victims of sexual abuse, no matter how long ago it is, that they will get a professional service when they come to us and the matter will be referred to the DPP," he added.
A 27-year-old man has appeared before a special sitting of Fermoy District Court charged in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a woman who was out walking her dog in a park in the county Cork town over the weekend, Vadim Veste of Clancy Street, Fermoy, Co Cork is charged with sexually assaulting a female on the 7th of November last in St Colman's Park, Fermoy.

The charge is contrary to Section 2 of the Criminal Law Rape Amendment Act 1990, as amended by Section 37 of the Sex Offender Act 2000.

The Moldovan national, who also has Romanian citizenship, is also charged that on the 7th of November last at St Colman's Park in Fermoy he assaulted a female causing her harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

Evidence of arrest charge and caution was given by Det Garda David Barry. He said that Veste made no reply when the charges were put to him under caution. Gardai objected to bail arising out of the seriousness of the charges.

Det Garda Barry said that Veste, who is a married man with children, has no ties to the jurisdiction. He expressed concern that Veste could flee the country rather than face trial.

Judge Alec Gabbatt was told that Veste is employed in a meat factory in Cork having moved to Ireland eleven months ago. He resides with his mother in Fermoy.

Det Garda Barry stressed that a file is being prepared for the DPP with the possibility of the defendant facing further more serious charges.

He stated that the woman was sexually assaulted whilst out walking last Sunday evening at 6.40pm in a park in Fermoy.

Her attacker was not known to her.

The middle-aged woman was pulled to the ground from behind into a dark unlit part of the walkway. The victim was punched in the face with her attacker kneeling on her body. A woolly item was placed in her mouth. The attacker sexually assaulted the woman.

Modovan national Vadim Veste pictured at Fermoy District Court, Cork charged with assault causing harm and sexual assault.

The woman kicked and fought back with her attacker placing his hand in her mouth and damaging her mouth and her lips. Det Garda Barry said the woman scraped the face and hands of her attacker. Two members of the public heard her cries for help and the attacker fled the scene.

Mr Veste was arrested in Fermoy on Tuesday. Det Garda Barry claimed that there was strong evidence against Veste as the DNA recovered from the hand of the injured party was a profile match for the Moldovan man. He said that during the Garda interview Veste accepted he was the male involved in the unprovoked assault in the town last weekend.

The court heard that gardai had CCTV footage which allegedly places Veste in the area prior to the assault and that when he was arrested he had a four-inch hunting knife in his possession. Det Garda Barry said that Veste faces up to five years if he is convicted in relation to the charges. Det Garda Barry claimed that Veste was caught red handed and that the evidence against him was very strong.

He said that he feared that Veste would interfere with witnesses to the incident if he was granted bail in the case.

He stated that the victim in the case was traumatised and needed medical attention following the attack. She is finding it hard to sleep since she was assaulted last weekend. Det Garda Barry also said that he feared that Veste would commit offences whilst on bail.

Defence solicitor Daithi ODonnabhain said that his clients passport was in the possession of gardai and that he didnt pose a flight risk. However, Det Garda Barry insisted that he wouldnt be satisfied with Veste receiving bail with even the most stringent of conditions.

Judge Gabbett declined to grant bail in the case given the nature and strength of the evidence against the accused.

Veste was remanded in custody to appear by video link before Cork District Court on the 18th of November next.
THE Covid-19 pandemic and consequent lockdowns have brought with them many challenges. The arts industry has struggled to survive where once it thrived. However, in some cases the past 21 months have brought opportunities to increase accessibility to the arts, without faltering on enjoyment.

Cork-native Laura Wyatt OKeeffe is a renowned writer, performer, facilitator, researcher, collaborator, teacher, and activist  all skills which came together to bring us Vessel.

Vessel by Laura Wyatt O'Keeffe, Produced by Arch 468. Picture: Korey J Ryan

This award-winning play is set in 2018 Ireland. Abortion is illegal. An underage girl has died. Maia, a doctors receptionist, intentionally impregnates herself to stage a public protest for the legalisation of abortion. And, in a world where digital media is king, people and press take notice and divides begin to form.

Initial drafts of the play were first developed back in 2014 at Corcadorcas SHOW festival.

There was campaigning, and marches around abortion rights and healthcare rights for women. But, for me anyway, the idea of abortion being legalised seemed really far away.

[ Vessel] really challenged peoples ideals and opinions, and interrogated the idea of activism, and the binary views of activism, and action versus talk.

Following this successful run of Vessel, Laura set it aside for a time, travelling and working on other projects.

I returned to London in 2018 and knew I wanted to bring the show to Edinburgh.

She sought to do so in August. However, the referendum on abortion had passed in Ireland the previous May. She would be presenting her show in a rather different world.

When that vote went through, I felt really relieved and really proud that the nation had voted to trust women.

"Then I suppose I felt really angry and confused that in the 21st century we had voted on womens bodies. That a whole nation had voted on the right for a woman to choose for herself and for couples to choose for themselves, whats right for them.

Vessel by Laura Wyatt O'Keeffe, Produced by Arch 468. Picture: Korey J Ryan

And I suppose that fuelled me to rewrite the play and rather than acknowledging or documenting what had been happening in Ireland up to this point, I was trying to ask, why? How did we get here? And whats the next step?

She questions the daily inequalities faced by women even still, from the gender pay gap, pink tax and womens safety.

Especially this year, with the Sarah Everard case in the UK, and going to the peaceful protests in London, and the police reaction to those protests. The very danger of living in a female body, in a womans body, of being a woman, became really apparent.

"And this idea of your body being weaponised or your body making you at risk became such a big thing that I couldnt quite understand. And I couldnt settle within myself.

In earlier stagings of the play, Laura herself performed the part of Maia, but since recasting the part to fellow Corkonian, Julie Maguire, she has been able to approach the script with more ferociousness, tackling some of those questions she could not reconcile, and creating a play that undoubtedly starts conversations, difficult as they might be.

Speaking about her friend and colleague, it seems Julie has had a great influence on the final product too.

Julie Maguire as Maia in Vessel by Laura Wyatt O'Keeffe, Produced by Arch 468. Picture: Korey J Ryan

Its been a joy to see [Julie] be part of the project and play the lead and just do incredible work. Shes brought more than I could have imagined and I feel incredibly grateful for that, to have her along this journey with me.

And now, Vessel is available to stream online. The digital broadcast seems a fitting medium as digital media plays such a large part in how the story unfolds.

The pandemic has been incredibly difficult for everyone. We have lost artists and the potential of really incredible work and bodies of work, as well as the usual things, like funding and spaces and venues.

But I think one of the things that has come out of it is it has given access to small companies or artists like myself to be able to create work in a digital way, in a really high-quality way. And that can be shared globally.

Being able to share this work to Ireland, where my family and friends are and where I come from, is really important.

The play is so much about the digital age and how we protest and share stories and have it impact and influence and shape and shift things. Maybe [Vessel] was always supposed to be done digitally.

The world now needs more artists and with growing scope for arts on digital platforms, Laura has words of encouragement.

[Know] that no one will do the work that you do. Your voice is individual and significant. Even if it doesnt feel like that, the world is waiting to hear your stories.

Vessel, winner of Best Performance of the Festival, Theatre Weekly, at the Edinburgh Festival 2018, is presented by Ash 468 and Laura Wyatt OKeeffe and streaming nightly at 8pm from now until Sunday, November 14, inclusive. Tickets are available online at applecartarts.com


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Intuit on Monday announced an agreement to acquire Mailchimp, a global customer engagement and marketing platform for small and mid-market businesses, for $12 billion in cash and stock advances. The purchase could be the linchpin that thrusts the mostly financial software company into solving more fertile mid-market business challenges for its customers.

The planned acquisition is part of Intuit's mission to become an AI-driven expert platform. With the acquisition of Mailchimp, Intuit will accelerate two of its previously-shared strategic big bets: to become the center of small business growth and to disrupt the small business mid-market, said the company in its announcement.

Intuit's acquisition of Mailchimp sends a great message to all entrepreneurs around the globe that venture capital is not always necessary, observed Michael Kawula, co-founder of CBA, a marketing agency for YouTube monetization. Mailchimp is a bootstrapped success story that has not raised any outside venture capital.

"This is a very clever growth strategy for Intuit, who wants to get in front of SMBs, which is difficult and expensive. Similar to HubSpot's recent purchase of The Hustle newsletter, a much smaller acquisition, this also is brilliant," he told the E-Commerce Times.

The acquisition marks a significant impact in industry, according to Osiris Parikh, sales marketing manager at Lilius. He also sees the deal as another reminder that email marketing is not dead -- and data is power.

"Intuit has made a strong move to broaden its portfolio and become a leader in catering to the needs of SMBs. It is also a great story of success during Covid-19," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Deal Basics

Intuit provides a global technology platform that makes TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mint, and Credit Karma. Intuit and Mailchimp will offer an innovative, end-to-end customer growth platform that allows customers to get their business online. It will also enable them to manage marketing, customer relationships, payment processes, and access insights and analytics, along with optimizing their cash flow and staying compliant with experts at their fingertips, according to Intuit.

Key to this process is Intuit's ability to enable businesses to combine their customer data from Mailchimp and QuickBooks' purchase data to get the actionable insights they need to grow and run their businesses with confidence.

"We're focused on powering prosperity around the world for consumers and small businesses. Together, Mailchimp and QuickBooks will help solve small and mid-market businesses' biggest barriers to growth, getting and retaining customers," said Sasan Goodarzi, CEO of Intuit.

Mailchimp brings to Intuit technology at scale along with global customer reach.

Founded in Atlanta, in 2001, Mailchimp began by offering email marketing solutions. The company evolved into offering customer engagement and marketing automation processes fueled by an AI-driven technology stack. Mailchimp's data and technology spans 70 billion contacts and more than 250 rich partner integrations. Its AI-powered automation at scale fuels 2.2 million daily predictions.

"Over the past two decades, we have vastly expanded and evolved Mailchimp's platform to help millions of small businesses around the world start and grow," said Ben Chestnut, CEO and co-founder of Mailchimp.

Why Mailchimp's Worth It

While the email marketing sector is pretty crowded, Mailchimp stands out in terms of size and scope. The company reportedly has 13 million total global users, 2.4 million active monthly users, and 800,000 paid customers, noted Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.

"Plus, half of its customers are outside of the U.S. Additionally, while people tend to focus on the mass/might of large enterprises, small businesses are really the heart and soul of most economies," he told the E-Commerce Times.

The acquisition likely represents a lucrative opportunity for Intuit to integrate Mailchimp data with QuickBooks and provide greater analytical capabilities to customers. The synthesis of financial and marketing data in this case provides valuable and actionable insights about an organization's clients, added Lilus' Parikh.

"It's also a great diversification of offerings to centralize SMB operations through one platform and benefit from Mailchimp's established user base," he said.

Another supporting factor for Intuit's interest in Mailchimp is the renewed stature of email, according to Elice Max, co-owner of EMUCoupon and someone who has been involved in online marketing for eight years.

"Email marketing has made a comeback in recent years. With increased digitization caused by the pandemic, all digital mediums including email have gained a renewed importance," she told the E-Commerce Times.

Email Marketing's Resurgence

Technology giants are looking to build more integrated and holistic solutions. Microsoft recently bought Clipchamp, a video production tool. Both companies are looking to build platforms for the new tech-savvy SMBs, Max Suggested.

"More than anything, it means a renewed confidence in the field. Experts have been talking about the death of email marketing for a while now. But a $12 billion acquisition by a big player like Intuit means email promotion is alive and kicking," she said.

Another factor is Intuit keeping its eye on the ball. It is important to remember the significance of Mailchimp as the pioneer in marketing automation and email marketing in particular.

"Intuit is looking to make a statement that it wants to become more than a financial software company," Max observed.

QuickBooks Synergies

One of the motivations that lies behind Intuit's purchase of Mailchimp is its desire to lead a revolution in the CRM capabilities of SMBs, according to Will Ward, CEO of Translation Equipment HQ . Think about the effect the pandemic has had on the popularity of remote work and the amount of remote SMBs being established.

"You would expect there to be a lot of growth potential here in the next few years. With Mailchimp and QuickBooks, Intuit is providing an end-to-end customer growth platform, and with around $20 billion invested already its belief in SMBs is evident," Ward told the E-Commerce Times.

Like any other system that handles transactions such as orders and payments, you need to work closer to the actual customer channels. With the Intuit e-commerce product, launched about a year ago, this seems like a natural step by adding marketing automation and reaching out with its e-commerce offering to the MailChimp customer base, suggested Johan Liljeros, general manager and senior commerce advisor, North America for Avensia.

"The acquisition has added synergies between the platforms while still being able to operate as independent platforms. Looking at Intuit's offerings, it appears they are moving towards expanding [into] digital transactional experience," he told the E-Commerce Times.

Final Thoughts

Email marketers should be ready for disruption along with other business services providers. Intuit has been both savvy and aggressive in the way it built its business, effectively becoming the 800-pound gorilla of small business accounting and tax solutions, according to Pund-IT's King.

"With that kind of ally behind Mailchimp, life is going to become a whole lot more 'interesting' for other email marketers," he predicted.

The Intuit-Mailchimp deal should offer Intuit customers significant benefits, such as new solutions and services for bolstering their businesses. At the same time, the deal highlights the fact that old technologies can continue to be vital and dynamic.

"For years, many have claimed that email is dead or dying and quickly being replaced by whatever the tech du jour happens to be. Mailchimp -- and now Intuit -- beg to differ," King quipped.

Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open-source technologies. He is an esteemed reviewer of Linux distros and other open-source software. In addition, Jack extensively covers business technology and privacy issues, as well as developments in e-commerce and consumer electronics. Email Jack.




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Business on Amazon is booming for accelerator and aggregator organizations that drive product and seller buyouts.

Doing business on Amazon is now very streamlined. Imagine building a business doing $10 million of revenue with no employees, physical store, or real estate. Some of the biggest success stories involve entrepreneurs with an idea for a product or a brand who instead of selling through their own website, or trying to sell into retail stores, sell their products exclusively through Amazon.

This phenomenon of selling on Amazon for many sellers was little more than a side hustle. But as supplementary income soared, it created an opportunity for Amazon retailers to make $5,000 or more monthly in supplemental income while working only 10 hours a week, according to Chas Woodward, head of business development at Heyday.

Ultimately, some sellers quit their full-time jobs and expanded their e-commerce businesses. Others discovered they lacked the necessary skillsets to run a potentially scalable business and looked for other options, offered Woodward, whose company works with digital marketplace sellers to grow or buy their operations.

Companies like Heyday play in a highly competitive field of aggregators and accelerators. The exact label depends on whether they develop networks of partnering online retailers or acquire the brand entirely. One of their main functions is to build equity. In general, such firms buy very profitable, fast-growing businesses.

"There is a ton of value in those businesses on Amazon. Traditional direct-to-consumer (DTC) websites might be two to three times as expensive to buy as the equivalent on Amazon," Woodward told the E-Commerce Times.

Accelerator vs. Aggregator

Both accelerator and aggregator services greatly impact the broader Amazon economy. Though for entrepreneurs looking to sell their Amazon FBA business, it can be difficult to differentiate between the recent surge of companies entering the FBA aggregator business.

On the surface, aggregate companies become what amounts to sub-stores within the marketplace. Accelerator companies, on the other hand, enable manufacturers to launch brands and innovative products exclusively on Amazon. Often, the goal is for the manufacturer to become an Amazon Private Label supplier.

Some SMBs use Amazon's FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) service to engage with e-commerce by sending their products to Amazon's fulfillment centers where Amazon provides warehouse storage, packing, and shipping operations -- along with handling returns and exchanges -- to sellers lacking a fully staffed infrastructure of their own.

This allows SMB sellers to retain their business ownership without having to deal with fulfillment and billing issues. If successful, at a certain point some SMBs opt to let aggregators take over their business by purchasing it. Depending on the terms of the sale, some aggregators offer a one-time buyout and others oversee the company's continued operation as controlling partners.

But unlike what accelerators do for manufacturers and some prospering SMBs, the goal of an aggregator is often to buy out the seller for the lowest possible price and add the acquisition to a growing stable of brands, noted Woodward.

Hybrid Model Instead

Heyday takes a different approach. This startup seeks to buy, incubate, and grow third-party sellers. The company in essence blends the best of both worlds.

"We don't think of ourselves as an aggregator. We think of ourselves as an accelerator," Woodward clarified.

The reason for that is his company's aggressive business plan that tries to buy immediately if possible. Heyday's strategy is to be extremely selective of finding what are the breakout brand businesses that have launched on Amazon but have the potential to be helpful in growing Heyday's brand, he explained.

In general, an aggregator or competitor will buy a seller's business. The seller goes away to do something else. Or the aggregator will acquire the company and pay the seller to run it. Those two options are mutually exclusive.

"We do both. We take a very different view on what we want to acquire based on brands that have proved their concept a little bit more. They have some sort of very different nuances to them," offered Woodward.

Heyday looks a lot like an aggregator because of the companies it buys. But Heyday tries to accelerate its operation as opposed to aggregate it into an umbrella brand, he added.

The company does more than acquire brands. Its partnership model enables entrepreneurs to grow their businesses inside of Heyday and share in its equity.

This approach gives brands an edge by architecting supply chains to be agile and work with Fulfillment by Amazon, as well as investing in data capabilities.

Impressive Financials

Heyday brings to the table something that many small and developing sellers lack -- access to financial support. The company recently closed a $70 million Series B round of equity financing to fuel its expansion.

Its total funding thus far is $245 million. That is impressive for a company that only launched in August 2020 and emerged from stealth three months later.

Heyday's key premise is the next generation of great consumer brands will be built marketplace first. So along with acquiring leading e-commerce brands, Heyday's strategy centers on brand creation and incubation with a marketplace-first mindset.

Heyday wants to buy, build, and accelerate only the best brands. The company's method revolves around building long lasting relationships with the entrepreneurs. This helps Heyday create value from accelerating the growth of their business.

In return, the company wants to share that benefit. Currently, entrepreneur partners make up the third-largest equity holders. Heyday intends for entrepreneur partners to become the largest segment.

Third-Party Focus

Amazon is a platform for two types of sellers.

First-party retailers sell established brands directly as the manufacturer. For instance, go on Amazon and type in Bounty paper towel. Odds are you are buying that product as a first-party sale. Manufacturers sell their products to Amazon at wholesale prices. Amazon buys that inventory, sticks it in a warehouse, and charges a markup price to consumers, explained Woodward.

Third-party retailers do not sell to Amazon at wholesale. These sellers control their product handling, pricing, and fulfillment directly. Amazon charges the third-party sellers listing and other transactional fees for any product handling or supply storage. If third-party sellers enroll in Amazon's FBA program, they pay Amazon to store and automate their inventory as well as provide order fulfillment and shipping services.

"So when you think about control of product and pricing, Heyday is focused on third-party sellers because we want control. We want to own all that goes in place," said Woodward.

Meeting a Vision

Not every Amazon seller wants to give up his or her dream and sell out to Heyday or to aggregators. Nor does Heyday have an interest in buying up every available business for sale.

Often an Amazon seller comes to Heyday ready to deal. Conversations often reflect these sentiments: It's been five years. I want to exit the business and move on to something different.

"That is totally fine. We also prefer entrepreneurs who say they built their brand, and it has so much more potential," said Woodward.

These entrepreneurs have a vision of where they want to take it. But they do not have the capabilities or the resources to get there. They need a partner with additional capital, resources, and expertise. They no longer can get there on their own.

They want to stay on after the purchase to realize their vision and execute against what he thinks is a real opportunity in most scenarios.

"Generally, we will do both if we want to do whatever is best for the brand. Obviously, we have an arrow for the door in between," he continued. "We will probably not be super thrilled about that process."

In some scenarios, potential business owners are so talented, and the business has such potential, that if they do not want the stay on board, the business becomes less attractive. Heyday believes that no one knows the business better than the entrepreneur who started it.

In those cases, Heyday considers bringing resources and capabilities to the table to help turbocharge the growth. The company does not rely on just one solution -- take it or leave it. Woodward wants to be flexible to win the best brands.

Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open-source technologies. He is an esteemed reviewer of Linux distros and other open-source software. In addition, Jack extensively covers business technology and privacy issues, as well as developments in e-commerce and consumer electronics. Email Jack.


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Washington, MO (63090)

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A few clouds. Low around 25F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

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A few clouds. Low around 25F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Schools and libraries gifted 'Ellyn' art book

Schools and libraries are being gifted copies of a book that collects together art depicting and celebrating our UNESCO Biosphere.



Ellyn: A Tale of Manx Contemporary Art accompanied the recent exhibition, staged by the Isle of Man Arts Council. Ellyn is Manx for art.



UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man and the Arts Council are gifting copies of the book to every school and every public library in the Isle of Man.



Clare Barber MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture said: Under its local strategy, Working Together for a Sustainable Future, UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man encourages us to appreciate all that is special about our Biosphere and celebrate it creatively.



The Ellyn project is a great example of that.



Curating such a vast and varied collection of art was a wonderful achievement by the Isle of Man Arts Council in conjunction with the Biosphere team and it was fascinating to see how our talented artists responded to the challenge and how they depicted our Island and our Biosphere.



The book will enable generations of people to look back on the exhibition, view how it captured the Island at this time, and be inspired by it in their own artistic endeavours.
Athens, AL (35611)

Today

Cloudy with occasional rain...mainly this evening. Thunder is possible early. Low 42F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Cloudy with occasional rain...mainly this evening. Thunder is possible early. Low 42F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
The Biden administration wants to bolster the United States' collaboration on cybersecurity, and that includes forming key partnerships. As Axios reports, Vice President Kamala Harris has revealed the White House will back the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace. The voluntary agreement will see the US work with other countries and hundreds of companies (including Google and Microsoft) to both foster an open internet and strive for better internet security through common goals and laws.

This came on top of existing cooperation, including joint efforts to hold countries accountable for harboring online criminals, a long-awaited revamp of NATO cybersecurity policy and an anti-ransomware alliance formed in October. The State Department is also establishing a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy that will tackle cybersecurity and other technology issues.

The move contrasts sharply with the Trump administration's stance. The US refused to sign the Paris Call in 2018, joining countries like China, Iran and Russia. While the previous White House did boost some cybersecurity efforts, critics accused it of a soft approach in other areas. Trump at one point incorrectly claimed Russia had stopped cyberattacks against the US.

The decision won't necessarily transform security. Wired noted the Paris Call didn't legally bind anyone to honor the agreement's values. This does, however, signal intent  the US wants to show that it will help international cybersecurity initiatives, however well they work in practice.
January 2, 1942 - November 20, 2021 Meron Kay Highfill Burleson went home to her Lord on November 20, 2021. She will be cremated at her request. There will be no memorial service at this time. A private memorial service to celebrate her life and going home will be held at a later date. Meron
With all of the big-budget, CGI hype-fests taking over theaters and streaming services, it is a breath of fresh air to watch a film for a change. Not a blockbuster movie, action riddled flick, or continuation of a comic book property, but a thoughtful, poignant, one film story about coming of age, the power of family, and actual stakes that don't involve capes and super-powered heroes. Belfast is that film.

Director Kenneth Branagh, who lived through something similar in his own life, has crafted a powerful narrative revolving around the turbulent era of 1960's Belfast, Ireland when local scraps between those of Catholic and Protestant faith spilled over into the streets of one small village leading to unrest throughout the country. Seen through the eyes of Buddy (played brilliantly by newcomer Jude Hill), a young Protestant boy living through the turmoil going on in Northern Ireland. His story begins with a normal day of playing with his friends as the camera weaves its way throughout the town in which he lives. Adults standing guard in doorways, keeping an eye on the ins and outs of the local children, much the way I, myself, remember the sort of game of telephone the elders in my neighborhood would play to let us know when our parents wanted us to come in for dinner before the advent of cell phones. Everyone watching out for everyone else. These were truly simpler times.

After a gang of opposing faiths decides to strong-arm the citizens of Belfast through violent means involving firebombs and threats, the film begins to focus on the parents of Buddy. Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe respectively give two of the most powerfully real performances as the embattled couple, who are trying to fight through the bleakness of their situations. Pa, who is forced to leave his family for work out of town, and Ma left behind to raise their family, with the constant threat of violence looming every moment.

Another bright point in the film is the stellar performances by Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds as Buddy's grandparents. The sense of realism brought to the screen by these two legends lends an added elation to the craft of acting. Every line delivered is thoughtful and effective. Truly, this will be one of the front-runners at the Academy Awards no matter who is nominated for what.

The film is mostly in black and white, while elements such as the movies they watch are shown in color. This plays as a powerful juxtaposition in so much of the film's storyline of grim reality, allowing to reflect the escapist aspect these movies are for Buddy and his family. There are moments of wonder when they sit in the audience of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, for example, and experience the effect of the titular car taking flight as they, themselves, move enthrallingly with the action on screen. Bold, colorized scenes reflect off of Judi Dench's oversized spectacles, while she remains in a drab grey tone. These moments, although jarring, give the story beats a time to breathe amongst the harsh world going on outside of the movie house.

In almost a love letter to cinema, Branagh takes his skill for filmmaking and makes it a character in and of itself. Scenes from films such as the Gary Cooper classic western High Noon are used as reflections of Jamie Doran's Pa character when he is left alone to face the violence brought on by his former friends turned enemies to help both Buddy and the audience get a handle on the stakes of the conflict, even going so far as to play the theme song "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling'' when Pa stands against his taunting adversaries.

Even with the initial angst around every corner, Belfast plays as a drama with a light heart when needed. First crushes, trouble-making, and typical issues faced by those moving on to young adulthood are center stage throughout balancing the levity of the piece in a relatable way. There are recollections of similar films such as In America (2002), about a struggling Irish family who upends their life to move to Hell's Kitchen, that feels like almost a companion piece to Belfast. Stories of keeping family first even when the world around them does its best to tear them apart. Bittersweet dramas which evoke as many tears as they do laughs.

With the onslaught of the typical Hollywood blockbusters overshadowing film making of the truest sense, Belfast is a standout in a sea of production notes and test screened fodder made by the committee. Top to bottom, Belfast is a quiet yet bold film that begs to be experienced and delivers its message through all-star performances, a fun Van Morrison soundtrack, and amazing storytelling.

Belfast will plaing in theaters on November 12, 2021.
System Recognized for Comprehensive Remote Patient Monitoring Capabilities and Chronic Conditions Management Addressing Wide Range of Healthcare Needs

HERZLIYA, Israel, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Essence SmartCare, a leader in IoT-based remote care solutions, part of Essence Group, today announced that it has been named a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree for the VitalOn comprehensive remote patient monitoring (RPM) platform. This year's CES Innovation Awards program received a record high number of over 1800 submissions. The announcement was made ahead of CES 2022, the world's most influential technology event, happening Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV and digitally.

The CES Innovation Awards program, owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in 27 consumer technology product categories. Those with the highest rating receive the "Best of Innovation" distinction. An elite panel of industry expert judges, including members of the media, designers, engineers and more, reviewed submissions based on innovation, engineering and functionality, aesthetic and design.

VitalOn is a comprehensive remote patient monitoring platform for seniors and individuals living with chronic conditions. Combining telecare, telehealth and wellness capabilities into a single, connected platform that is always on, it provides round-the-clock monitoring for a wide range of aging-related issues and chronic conditions. The platform continuously monitors wellbeing parameters and vital signs from multiple health and monitoring devices to detect and alert in case of abnormal activity. It addresses conditions, including diabetes, hypertension and congestive heart failure without the need to rely on smartphone or tablet apps.

"VitalOn provides greater peace of mind to active seniors and their families by monitoring their vital health indications and connecting them directly to their care providers, both inside and outside of the home," said Dr. Haim Amir, CEO and Founder of Essence Group. "We are honored to have been recognized by CES for providing a seamless, patient-centric solution that comprehensively monitors the health and general wellbeing of individuals without infringing on their daily lives."

The CES 2022 Innovation Awards honorees, including product descriptions and photos, can be found at CES.tech/innovation. More will be revealed in January. Many honorees will showcase their winning products in the Innovation Awards Showcase at CES 2022.

Owned and produced by CTA, CES 2022, the global stage for innovation, will convene the tech industry in person and digitally, giving global audiences access to major brands and startups, as well as the world's most-influential leaders and industry advocates. Visit CES.tech for all CES 2022 updates, including health protocols and registration.

About Essence SmartCare

Essence SmartCare, part of the Essence Group, develops advanced health and care platforms for market-leading healthcare and senior care providers, enabling smart preventive care and emergency response so seniors can live life to the fullest with total peace of mind. Partnering with Essence SmartCare helps position companies as progressive, forward-thinking and in touch with the need to enable elderly and vulnerable people to lead more independent and safer lives. For more information: www.essencesmartcare.com

Follow Essence Group on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
The European Union accused Belarus of mounting a hybrid attack by pushing migrants across the border into Poland, paving the way for widened sanctions against Minsk in a crisis that threatens to draw in Russia and NATO.
New York, NYScott Shay, author of Conspiracy U: A Case Study, was interviewed on the Dr. Pat Radio Show, hosted by Dr. Pat Baccili. Her show is referred to as Talk Radio to Thrive By!

In a world of fake news and hype, what distinguishes theories from conspiracy theories? Do certain issues and rhetoric, such as anti-Zionism, receive a protected platform on university campuses around the United States? Is there an anti-Jewish bias in academia, and if so, does that create problems in other areas of society? Is there a universal standard by which theories and ideologies can be examined in the quest for truth? In his timely and powerful new book, Conspiracy U: A Case Study, author Scott Shay gives an in-depth analysis demonstrating that both his alma mater and academia in general have sacrificed academic integrity and trustworthy scholarship in favor of conspiracy theories.

Expert Click Radio  Scott Shay, Author of 'Conspiracy U: A Case Study,' Featured on the Dr. Pat Radio Show

"To say something is a conspiracy theory should not be some general rhetorical charge," explains Shay. "Rather, conspiracy theories have definable parameters. They claim to be explanations of political or social phenomena that are the result of a covert conspiracy by powerful and secret actors."

While writing a tribute to his father, a survivor of the Holocaust who educated him on the importance of faith and Jewish values, Shay was disturbed and dismayed to discover the presence of far-right and far-left anti-Zionist professors on the faculty of his alma mater, Northwestern University. As a student of Jewish thought, history, and current events, who has written extensively on contemporary Jewish issues, he was compelled to take a deep dive into the world of anti-Zionist conspiracy theories and academia.

"I learned that Northwestern University, my beloved alma mater and a jewel of American academia, has enabled some of its professors to openly promote conspiracy theories," says Shay. "Sadly, many academics can no longer even identify conspiracy theories. Professorial proponents insist that far from being conspiracy theorists, they are brave truth tellers."

"Conspiracy U is a devastating and clear-minded deep dive into the phenomenon of conspiracy theoriesIt's a Masterclass in identifying and weeding out conspiracy theories wherever they exist." John Kelly, Detroit Free Press, 5-Stars

"Conspiracy U is at once moving and maddening while inviting thinking and motivating actionThis is a must-read not just for those interested in Israel but for anyone trying to understand the broad cross currents that are buffeting society." Mark Mellman, President and CEO, Democratic Majority for Israel

"Powerful, well researched and documented, CONSPIRACY U is a call to action - we all should read, absorb and commit to the changes Shay suggests. Highly recommended." Grady Harp, Amazon Hall of Fame Top 50 Reviewer, 5-Stars

Conspiracy U: A Case Study, 288 pgs, Wicked Son Publishing, October 2021, ISBN 1637580924 available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and quality independent bookstores.

About Scott Shay: Scott A. Shay is a leading businessman, thought leader, and author of two widely read books. Scott is the co-founder and Chairman of Signature Bank, well known as one of the best banks in New York for private business owners and as a leader in the emerging digital currency ecosystem. Scott earned a BA in Economics and a Masters in Management from Northwestern University, a valuable experience due to the commitment of his professors to high academic standards and the ideals of the university's motto.

He is a distinguished leader in the Jewish community and an avid student of religion and its application to the world outside of the synagogue, church, or mosque. These interests are reflected in Conspiracy U, as well as his previous two books, In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism and Getting Our Groove Back: How to Energize American Jewry. Scott lives in New York City, NY.

Learn more about Scott and Conspiracy U: A Case Study at scottshay.com.

Media Contact: For a review copy of Conspiracy U: A Case Study or to arrange an interview with Scott Shay, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Reach Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist
CEO, President, Board members, CFO, CAO, CRO, CMO, COO, CTO, Internal Audit, Investors, Bankers concerned about Compliance, Governance, or Risk

November 11, 2021  Atlanta, Georgia  International sustainable profitable growth expert and speaker Gary W. Patterson asks "Which of These 8 Big Mistakes Are You Making With Compliance?".

And then offers a solution To Fix It, or Them in this white paper/ eBook. Whether your Big Problem is Compliance, Governance, Risk, CGR, Business Continuity or Enterprise Risk Management, how to fix it is probably covered in CCI's Handbook for CEOs and Directors titled "Getting Governance Right: a Handbook for Today's CEOs and the Board of Directors."

Who should review this eBook?

A wide variety of organizations should strongly consider applying this process with applications for profitable growth, risk assessments, business continuity and enterprise risk management (ERM) type issues, inside a value based operational and strategic assessment framework:

Corporate officers and C-suite executives

Corporate board of directors, particularly cyber, risk and audit committee chairs and members

Shareholders, stakeholders, regulators and financing sources

SMB, middle market, global 2000 and NGOs

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Contact me to send you this free book right away -- and refer to it throughout the coming year: Getting Governance Right.

READY TO TALK?

Interested in a No Cost No Risk assessment to free up cash for some of your CAPEX or unfunded or underfunded needs?

I'd love the opportunity to connect and learn how I can help you today! Imagine how much you can benefit. Contact me for a free 15-minute discussion of your situation at 678-319-4739 or http://www.fiscaldoctor.com/contact-us/ .

About Fiscal Doctor Inc.

FiscalDoctor Inc. enables growth through leverage you did not know you had and works with leaders to uncover million-dollar holes to make the best business decisions and dramatically accelerate or free up cashflow. Fund things like deferred cyber and CAPEX projects. http://www.fiscaldoctor.com/contact-us/

About Gary W. Patterson

Gary W. Patterson, president & CEO of FiscalDoctor, works with leaders who want to uncover their blind spot before it finds them, so they can make better decisions. He can also help increase your profitability, providing access to 100 best-of-the-best experts who are often better and cheaper than incumbents. Gary can be reached at 678-319-4739 or gary@FiscalDoctor.com

Key member of 2 successful INC 500 international companies growing rapidly profitably

Honored as published thought leader by the Financial Time's ExecSense service

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Visit his website at http://www.fiscaldoctor.com and "free" fiscal fitness test at http://www.fiscaldoctor.com/fiscal-quiz/ , or call 678-319-4739.

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Usio Inc., the San Antonio-based provider of electronic payment processing services, said it registered another quarter of record revenue and turned a profit for the second consecutive quarter.

The company generated $15.8 million in revenue in the three months ended Sept. 30, a 94 percent increase from a $8.1 million in the same period last year. It earned $141,234, or a penny a share, in the latest quarter, compared with a loss of $936,017, or 6 cents a share, a year ago.

Analysts had expected Usio to lose a penny a share in the most recent quarter.

These are exciting times at Usio, CEO Louis Hoch told analysts on a Thursday conference call. Were well on our way to record a year where we will almost double the size of the business while delivering significant bottom-line improvement.

The third quarter marked the fifth straight quarter of sequential revenue increases, propelled by a doubling of prepaid card services revenue to $2 million from a year ago. Usios top line also got a $3.6 million boost from Usio Output Solutions, a business it acquired nearly seven months ago. It provides bill preparation, presentment and mailing services.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio company accused of stealing $1.8 million from two online businesses

Hoch attributed the quarters results to strong transaction volume. Usio processed $2.1 billion in total dollar volume, up 145 percent from $852 million a year ago. Its three highest quarterly processing volumes all occurred this year, he said.

The publicly traded Usio provides automated clearing house, or ACH, processing, as well as credit and debit card-based processing. Its ACH processing services enable businesses to disburse and collect funds electronically using e-check, which is an electronic debit to a bank checking account that can be initiated at point of sale via the internet, by telephone or through the mail.

Were doubling down here, growing our sales force to capitalize on the growth opportunities before us, and maintaining this strong momentum, Hoch said. As an up-and-coming growth-oriented fintech (financial technology) company, were tracking some of the industrys most talented and experienced sales people.

Usio recently added four salespeople, he said.

Over the last 21 months, Hoch said, Usios prepaid card business has engaged with nearly 200 government, municipal and charitable entities to support various endeavors, including guaranteed income initiatives and COVID-19 incentive programs.

A New York City pandemic incentive program, for instance, has disbursed more than $50 million, well above its original $20 million budget, he said.

SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

Weve become the leader in that arena, added Houston Frost, Usios senior vice president of corporate development and prepaid products. The strong relationships forged with these organizations during the early stages of the pandemic have opened up myriad new opportunities supporting the many other funds disbursement needs they manage.

An analyst asked Hoch to share more about a new project Mastercard Inc. is working on with the San Antonio company. Michael Miebach, the credit card companys CEO, mentioned Usio during an earnings call last week.

I dont want to give too much detail on that yet because they didnt give too much detail, Hoch replied. They definitely reached out to us for engagement, and Mastercard chose us because of our partnership with them.

Meanwhile, Usio disclosed it settled recent litigation filed by two Chicago-based online merchants that accused it of stealing a combined $1.8 million from them.

The terms of the settlement are confidential, but Usio disclosed it received certain risk mitigation payments totaling $156,166 and $15,000 for attorney fees.

Usios shares closed unchanged at $6.02 Thursday. A year ago, the shares were trading at about $1.50.

pdanner@express-news.net
Matthew McConaughey still has not confirmed whether he's running for Texas governor even though he currently leads the polls, but that's not stopping him from speaking publicly on politicized topics.

The award-winning actor and best-selling author has toyed with the possibility since late 2020, but in the meantime has chimed in on his home state's controversial abortion ban, spoken out against gun violence and has criticized state politics as a "broken business" and encouraged an "aggressively centric" mindset to "possibly salvage democracy in America right now.

Now, the latest topic he's tackling is the highly controversial debate on COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

McConaughey made it clear in an interview Tuesday at The New York Times DealBook summit that he does not support a vaccine mandate for kids.

"I couldn't mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids," he told host Andrew Ross Sorkin. "I still want to find out more information."

The actor said he, his wife and his 90-year-old mother who lives with them have all been vaccinated, but it was a personal choice to protect his immunocompromised mom, not because someone told him to do so. He has not however, gotten the shot for his children and currently has no plans to.

He did not provide a direct reason why but said "we go slow on vaccinations anyway even before COVID."

He added that as a family they have "quarantined harder than any of our friends have and still are, two years later," and have been doing a heavy amount of testing and outdoor activities. McConaughey also acknowledged that he's in a position to do so, but understands not everyone is.

MORE ON CRUZ: Ted Cruz calls Big Bird's announcement that he was vaccinated 'government propaganda'

"Do I think that there's any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no, I don't," he said. "No I don't think there's any kind of  We all have to get off that narrative; there's not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines, these are scientists trying to do the right thing."

His comments come on the heels of legislation filed last week by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who is Republican, that would block schools from requiring students to get COVID vaccines.

McConaughey has not confirmed his alignment with any political party should he run for governor, and state voting records show he hasn't voted in a Texas primary election since at least 2012. He also has not made any campaign contributions.

A majority of Texas voters support requiring masks at schools and indoor public places and allowing businesses to require their employees to be vaccinated, according to a new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.

Gov. Greg Abbott has banned vaccine requirements by all Texas entities, including private businesses and health care facilities, as well as mask mandates by local government and state agencies.

Dr. Bhavna Lall, a medical assistant at University of Houston College of Medicine, believes some are missing the point with a vaccine mandate in schools.

"Immunizations requirements are not new to America," she said in September. "Weve had these for years when students go to school they have to submit their immunizations records (polio, marasella). So COVID-19 is part of that."

One Pearland ISD parent said that although her 7th grade child is vaccinated, they made that choice with his pediatrician.

"The vaccinations should be between the parents and their doctors and without any involvement from the school district and the students respective campuses," Jennifer Jones Fernandez wrote on a district Facebook post providing information on local vaccination providers and advising of a collaboration to have clinics at some of its campuses.

Another parent compared it to the district's treatment of other shots.

"The schools DON'T do this for any other shots (not the yearly flu shots, nor the required ones).. you have to take them to the doctor," wrote Heather VertiCal.

"Why should this be any different? Your focus should be education, not medicine."
A signed Robert Indiana poster for HemisFair 68, an enormous elk stage prop designed by Maurice Sendak, a portrait in pencil of ballet legend Rudolf Nureyev  all of it is up for grabs in an auction of items once owned by the late Robert L.B. Tobin.

A total of 385 pieces from the Tobin Theatre Arts Fund will be auctioned on Saturday, including paintings, sculptures and prints. A slew of theater design pieces will be sold as well, including props, drawings and paintings. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of works for the Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts at the McNay Art Museum.

This is definitely special, said Robert Vogt, director of Vogt Auction Galleries, which is conducting the auction. Obviously, Robert L.B. Tobin has a long legacy here in San Antonio, something that seems to be growing even 21 years after his passing. As a San Antonian, to have a small piece of that legacy is a real honor for us as a company and for me personally.

On ExpressNews.com: Giant deer sculpture turning heads on the McNay grounds

Tobin, who died in 2000 at the age of 66, was known for his philanthropy as well as for the vast collection of art and theater design pieces he began amassing as a young man. His New York Times obituary described his treasure trove as one of the most important theater design collections in the country.

Vogt Auction Galleries

Vogt declined to offer an estimate as to how much the collection might fetch, but he expects a few works to generate a lot of interest, including Indianas HemisFair poster and the theater design pieces by Sendak, who may be best known for such childrens books as Where the Wild Things Are.

Vogt anticipates that a 1967 piece by Paul Thek will be the breakout of the auction.

Its a pretty polarizing mixed-media piece of political protest against (President Lyndon Johnson), he said. It does feature some explicit imagery. It came directly from the artist into Robert Tobins hands and now to the public.

On ExpressNews.com: SA priest Father David Garcia collects pandemic homilies in new book

Pieces slated for the auction block can be previewed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Vogt, 7233 Blanco Road. The auction gets started at 1 p.m. Saturday. Bids can be made in person, over the phone, or through the website vogtauction.com, where the auction will be streamed live.

Vogt Auction Galleries

Bids are expected to come in from all over the world, Vogt said. Most of the pieces have never been on the market, and that raises the excitement level for the auction.

To have pieces that came directly from (Tobin), and before that they came directly from the artists, thats a rare thing, he said. In auctions, thats the holy grail.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMarinEN
When Don Mathis, 70, walks into Wonderland of the Americas, its like stepping through the looking glass. A whoosh of the doors, and hes a kid again in 1962, wandering the shiny new shopping center with his parents and Grandma Alice as they joke that shes a literal Alice in Wonderland.

As a middle schooler in 1964, Mathis raced slot cars with his older brother on a giant track in the malls lower level. As a teenager, he was a dishwasher at the malls Piccadilly Cafeteria, a job he ditched in 1969 to catch Led Zeppelin at the Texas International Pop Festival in Dallas.

Its just been a part of my life forever and ever, said Mathis, who visits Wonderland these days for his biannual checkup at one of its three Veterans Affairs clinics or for the occasional food court calzone. I think its just as good as it ever was.

On Sept. 14, 1961  60 years ago today  Wonderland Shopping City opened to fireworks and fanfare on what were then the outskirts of San Antonio. It was once the largest indoor mall in the city. Today, the Balcones Heights fixture is more of a bargain-based community center, a quiet cross section of value shopping, offbeat events and eclectic medical services that include birth doulas, pediatric dentistry and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Yet no matter how much the mall has changed, the mere mention of Wonderland takes Mathis and many other San Antonians back in time.

Wonderland, just listening and talking to a lot of people  its home away from home, said Wonderland marketing director Victoria Hernandez. Its evolved so much, but its still home.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio Zoo's plastic giraffes, gorillas from Mold-A-Rama machines still going after 60 years

The 1960s: The middle of nowhere

San Antonians of a certain age still remember when Wonderland first lit up a relatively barren Northwest Side around Fredericksburg Road and Loop 410.

Martin Delfin

Retiree Cheryl Osborn was 8 when her family made the trek from their South Side home to the malls opening day. She remembers standing in the parking lot with fireworks and big search lights.

At 650,000 square feet, Wonderland opened as the largest shopping center in San Antonio. It even boasted the worlds longest ribbon for an opening ceremony: more than 3,000 feet, tied around the entire two-story mall.

San Antonios first Montgomery Ward department store anchored one end. At the other, a Handy Andy supermarket provided covered and curbside grocery loading. (Handy Andy had opened in 1959 and was incorporated into the new mall.)

Part of the malls commitment to its Wonderland theme was Alice of Wonderland, a guide in a pinafore dress who directed visitors from a central kiosk to more than three dozen stores, including retailers such as Sommers Drugs, Winns, Satels suit store and F.W. Woolworth 5 & 10.

UTSA Special Collections

John Castillo remembers those stores well. As a child, he used to help his father with his maintenance duties, sometimes sitting on his dads floor waxer like a cat on a Roomba to help buff out those stubborn spots. Now Wonderlands chief of engineering, Castillo has been a full-time part of the malls maintenance since 1982.

Castillo recalled going to a mobile petting zoo inside the mall when he was a kid. Other quirky animal promotions during the malls first decade included poodle fashion shows and performances by Skipper the dolphin in a giant tank on Wonderlands fifth anniversary.

Wonderland excelled in both diversions and department store offerings. In 1963, the mall welcomed the Teen Canteen, a hangout for teenagers that took over a lower-level dance studio on weekends. In 1964, Wonderland added a posh Rhodes department store in the space now occupied by Burlington.

On ExpressNews.com: Nogalitos H-E-B opened in 1945 as 'store of tomorrow.' 76 years later, the South Side grocery store still ahead of its time

1970s to early 80s: Welcome, Frost Bros.

Big changes were afoot at Wonderland in the 1970s, and not just with bell bottoms and butterfly collars on the runways of the malls fashion shows. Rhodes left in the late 70s, making way for Frost Bros.

Wonderland of the Americas

The mall changed hands in 1977, when original owner Charles Becker sold to affiliates of the Lehndorff Group of West Germany. Wonderland underwent a $6.6 million overhaul of its interior and exterior.

About that time, Wonderland brought back the teen club experience for a new generation. Jenifer Harris used to dance her junior and high school nights away at Image, a dance club on Wonderlands lower level. Harris said her mother used to go dancing at Wonderlands Teen Canteen back in the day.

When I walk into the mall now ... theres just that feeling of nostalgia, said Harris, now a sales coordinator for a manufacturer. Because even though the stores have changed, the pathways are still the same.

Mid-1980s to early 2000s: Crossroads

In 1986, the Lehndorff Group launched a $28 million renovation that would transform Wonderland into Crossroads of San Antonio. The highlights: a giant outdoor fountain and amphitheater that beckoned shoppers into the Palm Pavilion, a glassy addition with towering palm trees and bright skylights, and a new food court, six-screen movie theater and Stein Mart anchor store.

Wonderland of the Americas

The reborn mall officially was unveiled in 1987, and the comedian Gallagher smashed watermelons with his trademark Sledge-O-Matic from a balcony before a packed amphitheater crowd.

But the revamp and rebranding didnt revitalize the malls fortunes. Frost Bros. filed for bankruptcy in 1988 and closed its Crossroads store the next year. By 1990, nearly half the mall was vacant.

Wonderland of the Americas

In the 1990s, Burlington took over the former Frost Bros. spot and Hobby Lobby moved into what was once Handy Andy. Though the malls amphitheater fountains dont splash like they used to, they have hosted the Balcones Heights Jazz Festival since 1993.

In 1996, the bank that held the loan on the big Crossroads overhaul threatened foreclosure  twice  before taking over the mall. MRO Properties bought Crossroads the next year.

The turn of the century marked the end of another Wonderland era: Montgomery Ward closed in 2001.

Staff file photo

Most of the former Montgomery Ward space was torn down to make room for a Super Target in 2003. The remaining lower-level retail space was replaced by the Norris Conference Center in 2004. The upper portion now houses a Burkes Outlet and Wonderland Jump & Play.

On ExpressNews.com: Remember those VIA Muppet ads from the 80s? They are back!

The 2000s to now

The early 2000s brought an infusion of art house style to the floundering mall. The Regal Cinemas Crossroads Theater, which specialized in indie and foreign films, closed in 2002. It opened less than a year later as Santikos Bijou at Crossroads, a cafe cinema specializing in art house films.

William Luther /Staff

The Wonderland name returned in 2010, when new owner Crossroads Mall Partners rebranded it Wonderland of the Americas  the name by which most longtime San Antonians referred to the mall.

So many people were excited when Crossroads went back to Wonderland, said general manager Denise Bush, who has been with the mall for nearly 30 years. Even today if I tell somebody I worked at Crossroads, theyre like, Where? And Ill say, Wonderland. And theyre like, Oh! I remember that when I was a kid!

The mall has original features to jog memories. Rhodes glass elevator still runs through the heart of the Burlington retail space, which still leads out to the same covered parking beneath the building that was there in the early 60s.

That was the first time I ever rode in a glass elevator, Mathis said. This was like The Jetsons to my teenage mind. It was futuristic. Im so glad theyre still running that elevator.

William Luther / Staff photographer

The slot car track Mathis and others remember from the malls first decade now thrills new generations of drivers at Magnatech Slot Car Raceway, which brought the 180-foot course back to Wonderland in 2004.

Magnatech owner Jim Honeycutt inherited the track in the early 70s, a couple of years after the original Wonderland attraction closed. He likens the eight-lane wonder to the mall itself, a unique piece of history that both defies and exemplifies its age.

Wonderland has actually got some character, even though its not the glorious lady that it used to be in the 60s, Honeycutt said. Its been around so long. ... And the simple fact is, its a survivor.

The return of the Wonderland name didnt mean a return to the shopping city of old. The mall now is a mixed-use development, with an emphasis on budget- and community-friendly products, services and activities.

Hence, more mom-and-pop stores upstairs such as Adrianas Casa de Novias, which specializes in baptism gowns and quinceanera dresses, and geeky vendors such as Action Figure Exchange, Creepy Classics and CD Sam music, which occupy the malls Little Shops at Wonderland.

Wonderland also is one of the largest voting sites in Bexar County. When the mall isnt hosting voters, its hosting quirky conventions and other free events for the public, such as its recent Wonderland UFO Festival and the return of its long-running Monster-Con horror convention later this month.

On ExpressNews.com: At San Antonio's old Alligator Garden on Broadway, kids could ride gators in 1950s

The pivot has paid off. While the so-called retail apocalypse has wiped out malls and anchor stores across the country over the past decade, Wonderland has stayed open and even outlasted San Antonio malls that came after it, such as Central Park Mall, which closed in 2001, and Windsor Park Mall, which closed in 2005.

Various medical services at Wonderland cater to all ages and incomes. This year, University Health turned its mall training space into a COVID-19 vaccination site. Marketing director Hernandez said the mall averaged 5,000 to 7,000 inoculations a day at the height of vaccinations. The site closed in July, but University Health is preparing to provide vaccine booster shots there.

The city of Balcones Heights is negotiating a possible $5 million investment in Wonderland that would give the city 15,000 square feet in the mall and an approximately 45 percent ownership stake in the entire property.

Jessica Phelps /Staff file photo

Wonderland still sees its highs and lows. In 2016, Career Point College abruptly closed when the Education Department cut its access to federal funds, prompting it to file for bankruptcy. Last year, Wonderland lost Stein Mart when the discount department store chain closed its doors nationwide.

Its a little sad, Hernandez said. But you kind of see it like, Well, this place is still going.

Longtime patrons such as Mathis dont mind change  as long as their beloved mall maintains its communal spirit and character.

I enjoy the ambiance of Wonderland, Mathis said. I hope its going to be around for many more years.

Express-News researcher Misty Harris contributed to this report.

rguzman@express-news.net | Twitter: @reneguz
BOSTON (AP)  Acting Mayor Kim Janey  Boston's first woman and first Black resident to serve in the top post  bid farewell to the office Wednesday, ticking off a series of accomplishments during her brief tenure, including helping the city navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite holding the office for less than a year, Janey marked a dramatic pivot in the city's long history  a history she found herself thrust into as an 11-year-old when she was bused to a largely white neighborhood during the second phase of Bostons tumultuous school desegregation era. Rocks and racial slurs were hurled at her bus.

Her rise to the mayor's office, however brief, reflected a changing city where people of color now make up a majority of the population.

Until Janey, only white men had served as mayor.

When I was sworn in, following former Mayor (Marty) Walshs confirmation as U.S. labor secretary, we were in the midst of a global pandemic and a national reckoning on racial injustice, Janey said during the address. It was a time of uncertainty in our country, but Boston stayed strong.

Janey officially steps down on Tuesday, transferring power to incoming mayor-elect and fellow Democrat Michelle Wu.

As mayor, Janey said she focused on two overarching priorities: First, to comfort our city through a time of multiple crises and ensure stability. Second, to lead Boston to become the more equitable, just and resilient city that we all deserve.

Janey ticked off a series of accomplishments, including expanding protections for homeowners and renters with a foreclosure prevention fund; creating a free-bus pilot to help low-income communities of color; establishing mask mandates; supporting asylum-seekers; providing free swimming lessons for children; and providing every public school student with a library card and cancelling all late fees.

What I love most about Boston is her people: from the small business owners to the seniors; from our veterans to our teachers; from our restaurant workers to our public servants; to ordinary people who do extraordinary things every single day, she said.

Janey had been president of the Boston City Council before taking over as mayor. She would attempt to use the status of the office in her run to replace Walsh, but failed to garner enough votes to make it past the preliminary election that whittled the field down to two candidates  city councilors Wu and Annissa Essaibi George.

Wu would go on to win that contest, becoming the first woman and first Asian American elected mayor in the citys long history, a milestone noted by Janey in her farewell.

While I am proud to be Bostons first woman mayor and first mayor of color, I am also very proud to know that I will not be the last, Janey said.

During her short tenure as mayor, Janey confronted a series of challenges.

Faced with navigating the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the city came together to distribute vaccines in the hardest-hit neighborhoods including at churches, parks, YMCAs, senior centers and pop-up clinics, she said.

Janey also announced in August that the citys roughly 18,000 employees would be required to either show proof of vaccination, or submit to regular testing to help slow the spread of the virus. In October, more than 800 city workers were suspended without pay for failing to comply with the mandate.

Because of our tireless efforts, Boston is one of the most vaccinated big cities in America, Janey said Wednesday.

She also fired the citys police commissioner Dennis White after decades-old domestic violence accusations came to light. White had been swiftly elevated to the top police post by Walsh, who later insisted he had no prior knowledge of the accusations and would never have picked White if he did. White called the allegations false.

One of thorniest issues facing Janey was a tent encampment around the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard, known as Mass and Cass. The encampment became the focal point of the region's twin crises of opioid addiction and homelessness.

In October Janey declared addiction and homelessness a public health emergency and said the roughly 150 tents that have been set up in the area would be removed. The city also set up a special court for people arrested at the encampment.

Janey said she approached "the dual opioid- and homelessness-crises with a public health lens,

The move to clear the camp sparked a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. The ACLU argued that the effort is unconstitutional because it doesnt provide viable alternatives to those living there.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico's top economic development officials said Wednesday they are ready to put into action a 20-year strategy for diversifying the economy, saying the state has no time to waste if it wants to make up lost ground from the Great Recession and the coronavirus pandemic.

They announced that the federal government has awarded the state a $1 million grant for the effort. That follows an initial $1.5 million in federal recovery funding that New Mexico used to develop the strategy and to begin hiring economic relief coordinators to help rural communities and small businesses.

The latest grant will be used to implement the strategy, which state Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes outlined for a group of business leaders with the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

Keyes told the group that the pandemic has had an effect on everyone, resulting in lost lives, connections and opportunities. She said her family had its own challenges during the state's lockdown. She talked about planning grocery runs and hoarding water and other supplies and about the low-wage workers who were essential for keeping businesses open.

The whole picture of the economy has been a very real reminder that as a society were intertwined socially and economically, and we heard this over and over again as we were doing this strategic plan, Keyes said. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. The gap is growing.

State officials noted New Mexico's wages and job growth have not been keeping pace with neighboring states, that investment funds are lacking and that higher education offerings are not aligned with what's needed in the job market. They said the problems grew after the Great Recession and that the pandemic made things worse.

Keyes said the new strategy looks at where New Mexico can build the most momentum. She highlighted several industries, including aerospace, cybersecurity, biosciences, film and television, global trade and green energy.

Part of the work will include improving access to capital and recovery resources for businesses and communities. The plan also calls for assessing the availability of incubator and start-up resources and creating an online dashboard to track their impact.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also recently signed an executive order to streamline regulations to boost New Mexico's competitiveness, a request made by the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce after it conducted a study last year that looked at barriers to business.

We don't want this plan to sit on a shelf. We need to take action now and we feel like we're doing that," Keyes said, before making a plea to business owners. "Please join us. This is an all-together thing. We're not going to be able to do it alone.

She said the equation will have to include higher wages, more schedule flexibility for workers and more options for attracting employees.

The state Economic Development Department also plans to ask lawmakers during the next legislative session for more funding to market the state, for job training and for local economic development projects.

Rob Black, president and CEO of the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, said collecting data will help to hold the state accountable as it implements the strategy. He pointed to a number of metrics included in the plan, from tracking unemployment and poverty in rural New Mexico to the percentage of college graduates employed in the state six months after graduation.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korea has rejected refugee status for ethnic Chinese people who have been stateless since they fled North Korea years ago, two of the applicants and an activists group said Wednesday.

Unlike North Korean defectors, who receive citizenship, almost-free apartments and other economic assistance in South Korea, ethnic Chinese from North Korea are denied access to such benefits if they maintained Chinese nationality in North Korea. About 30 of them have been designated as stateless in South Korea after authorities found they were attempting to pose as North Korean nationals and detained them, observers say.

The stateless designation makes it extremely difficult for them to get jobs and receive basic government-provided services. Four of them subsequently applied for refugee status in 2019, saying they wanted better treatment because their families have lived in North Korea for generations and suffered political suppression and economic difficulties similar to what most North Korean citizens face.

Last week, however, South Korea's Justice Ministry notified them that their refugee claims had been turned down, said Kim Yong-hwa, a North Korean defector-turned-activist who helped the four with their refugee applications.

Kims organization provided The Associated Press with a photo of the ministry notification to an applicant surnamed Yoon. According to it, the ministry said he didn't appear "to have experienced threats that amounted to persecution in China and North Korea. It also said the ministry could not help but determine he is a Chinese national based on its review of his testimony and comments by South Koreas spy agency.

Kim said the three other applicants received near-identical notifications.

The Justice Ministry said later Wednesday it won't disclose the results of its review of individual refugee applications because of privacy issues.

The rejections were widely expected because South Korea's acceptance rate for refugee status applications has been less than 2% in recent years.

It totally doesnt make sense to rule that there was (no evidence) that they suffered oppressions in North Korea. They can get killed if they return to North Korea and get caught there, Kim said.

He previously said at least one ethnic Chinese was executed in North Korea after failing to resettle in South Korea and returning home.

Reached by phone, Yoon and another applicant, Cho Guk-gyeong, confirmed the rejections.

I have no hopes at all now as my refugee application was turned down, Cho said in a statement provided by Kim. I have nowhere to return. I want to live with a minimum level of human dignity.

Kim said the ministry has told the four applicants it could improve their alien residential status if they file a petition asking for government help for their settlement in South Korea. Kim said he doesnt understand why they have to file a petition asking for leniency but they planned to check what improvements in their status they could get.

In previous interviews with the AP, Cho and other ethnic Chinese said they considered themselves as North Koreans because they were born and grew up in the North. They said they were allowed to maintain Chinese nationality in North Korea and visit China once or twice a year for cross-border business. They said authorities monitored them more intensely than North Korean nationals.

They said they would face harsh punishment if they returned to North Korea. They also said it would be very difficult to resettle in China because they dont speak Chinese, have lost touch with relatives there and it could take years to get local residence cards in China.

Cho spent one year in prison and Yoon 20 months in a government-run detention center for lying about their nationality in North Korea.

Some experts say 3,000-5,000 ethnic Chinese live in North Korea and are the only foreigners with permanent residency rights among North Koreas 26 million people. About 34,000 North Koreans have fled to South Korea for economic and political reasons since the late 1990s.
BEIRUT (AP)  A visit by the United Arab Emirates' top diplomat this week may have turned a page for Syria's embattled autocratic president, enabling more Arab countries to re-engage with Bashar Assad.

That would be a major shift in a region that for a decade ostracized Assad, supported his adversaries and worked with the U.S. to seek a negotiated settlement of the Syria conflict.

Syria's civil war has displaced half of its population, killed hundreds of thousands and driven the country's economy into the ground.

Following his surprise four-hour trip to Syria's capital of Damascus on Tuesday, the Emirati foreign minister headed to Jordan, which has also reopened channels with Syria after a decade-long rupture.

In Amman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan met Wednesday with Jordan's King Abdullah II and the two discussed efforts to reach political solutions to the crisis in the region," a royal court statement said.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi later told CNN that the kingdom, which had hosted Assad's armed opposition for years, needed to be practical and consider its national interests, at a time when a resolution to the Syria conflict seems elusive.

Jordan has been hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and is experiencing a sharp economic downturn, including rising unemployment. It recently reopened its borders with Syria, exchanged state visits and restored flights between Amman and Damascus.

If such contacts between Syria and some of the Arab nations lead to formal reconciliation, it would be a boon for Syrias struggling economy, including a tanking national currency and dried up government coffers. Syria will also require massive investments in reconstruction.

Rapprochement would also mean an Arab push into Syria, where Iran  the main rival of Arab Gulf nations  has had a presence on the ground through proxy militias for years.

As Washington appears to be disengaging from the region, withdrawing troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and reorienting its focus toward the strategic challenges posed by a rising China, Arab players are stepping up their game in the conflict-ridden region.

Everyone is talking to everyone, said one Arab diplomat based in the Middle East, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. For example, Iraq has been hosting talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, its regional archival.

Now the Emirates' embrace of Syria is a test for whether re-engaging Syrias strongman could possibly lead to some concessions that years of sanctions and boycott have failed to realize.

Bringing Syria back into the Arab fold could reduce Iranian and Turkish influence. Dealing with Assad, whose forces have been blamed for most of the wars atrocities, appears to be a risk worth taking as the Emiratis seek to hedge their bets in the region.

If we can have peace with various countries, Syria should be one of the most significant and important ones in the Middle East, said Amjad Taha, an Emirati analyst. Syria should not be left alone. If the Iranians are there and if the Russians are there, so should the Arabs.

The Emirates are pursuing high-stakes foreign policy, normalizing relations with Israel and taking steps to engage Qatar and Turkey diplomatically after years of a political standoff, vitriol and support for opposing sides in regional conflicts.

Syrias ruling party mouthpiece hailed the visit of the Emirati foreign minister as a genuine pan-Arab step after what it described as years of illusions that Assad and his government could be replaced through war.

The Emirates have been lobbying in international forums such as the World Health Organization for more aid for Syria and could expand such calls. The UAE could also encourage Syrian-Emirati businesses if there are no threats of the use of sanctions to block it.

Arab countries will be watching to see what the Emirates get out of this resumption of relations before rushing in.

There are already Emirati-led efforts to lobby Arab countries to bring Syria back into the Arab League, said Taha, the analyst, calling it a major effort despite few Arab objections. The next summit is in Algeria early next year.

Damascus could offer gestures that indicate a reduction in Iranian influence.

Russia, another major Syrian ally, has already expanded its presence in some areas of Syria at the expense of Iran, either to assuage Israel or the United States but mostly in the interest of improving its grip on affairs in Syria.

The Syria that we knew is over, said Ibrahim Hamidi, a London-based Syrian journalist who covers domestic affairs for the Saudi-based Ashraq al-Awsat newspaper. The Syria that could play a regional role is over. Syria is destroyed and is busy with its own problems.

Syrias opposition and Washington could put a damper on this new direction. Assad himself could also scuttle this new open embrace, by either failing to offer any concessions or by seeking to play different actors against one another.

U.S. sanctions could put a limit on how far everyone can go and could be used as a tool to block investment.

Joel Rayburn, former U.S. envoy to Syria and a fellow at the New America Foundation, said efforts to normalize relations with Syria will always be limited by the U.S.'s unwillingness to see Assad rehabilitated and by Assads permanent unwillingness to do the bare minimum the normalizers require to justify their appeasement.

___

Sarah El Deeb and Bassem Mroue are based in Beirut and have covered the Middle East for more than two decades.
Authorities have finally identified the girl who was found dead in 1980 on the side of an interstate in East Texas

The girl, who was known as "Walker County Jane Doe," was identified as 14-year-old Sherri Ann Jarvis of Stillwater, Minnesota, the Walker County Sheriff's Office said in a news release earlier this week.

Law enforcement officials found her body on the shoulder of Interstate 45, just north of Huntsville, on the morning of Nov. 1, 1980. Her cause of death was ruled as asphyxia due to strangulation, according to the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office.

On ExpressNews.com: Grand jury indicts 7 San Antonio-area men accused of soliciting children on social media

Authorities searched missing persons lists for years but never developed leads. In 2020, forensic DNA testing allowed investigators to build a family tree. Investigators were able to confirm Jarvis' identity after taking DNA sample from some of the six relatives they believed were related to the girl.

According to the news release, Jarvis ran away from home earlier that year at the age of 13.

The family said in statement that she ran away after she was removed from her home by the state of Minnesota for habitual truancy. Her family hired a private investigator, who did not find any information on Jarvis' whereabouts.

"Our parents passed away never knowing what happened to her or having any form of closure, but we are grateful that they never had to endure the pain of knowing her death was so brutal," the statement read.

No suspects have been identified in Jarvis' death.

Malak.Silmi@express-news.net
Were pretty sure that you know more about Boerne than we do. But were betting that at least a few of these tidbits will surprise you.

The man Boerne is named after had never been there: The city was platted by pioneer surveyor and developer John James and Gustav Theissen in 1852.

The pair named the city Boerne after German political writer and satirist Karl Ludwig Borne. Borne, an outspoken critic of the political order in Germany, wrote of peoples rights to search for freedom and encouraged his fellow countrymen to flee Germany to what was then the Republic of Texas.

On the ExpressNews.com: 22 things you probably didn't know about San Antonio

The author died in 1837, never having stepped foot on American soil.

Dont forget the long e: Lets get one thing clear: The city about 45 minutes from San Antonio isnt pronounced Born. Its not burn. Its pronounced with a long e on the end as in Burn-nee.

On ExpressNews.com: Daredevil pilot, after earning medals for crossing the Pacific, pawned them in San Antonio

The city is so often mispronounced that the city of Boerne dedicates the top of its website to instruct people how to say it. The lesson includes an audio component. The Boerne Visitors and Convention Bureau has also put out a promotional video making fun of its unique spelling to attract visitors to the Hill Country community.

Kendall County enslaved Black people: The Germans who settled much of what is now Texas Hill Country were liberal abolitionists who believed in utopian ideals that guaranteed basic human rights for all. So it might come as some surprise that Kendall County enslaved Black people until the end of the Civil War.

Historians at the Hill Country Archeological Association believe that Anglo-American slave owners bought the slaves to the area with them from Southern plantations.

There were 89 enslaved Americans in Kendall County by the end of the war in 1865, according to the HCAA. They made up about 8 percent of Kendall Countys population, but it was far fewer than nearby Bexar County, which had 1,193 enslaved people when the war ended.

On ExpressNews.com: 'People's land is going to have to be taken': Boerne leaders may revive idea of loop to ease traffic

Not much is known about the 89 people freed after the Civil War.

COURTESY OF THE BOERNE PUBLIC LI

Many came out of slavery with little material wealth and many could not read or write because white slave masters forbid them. Racist segregation laws forced Blacks into four freedom colonies spread across Kendall County or into other areas of the country.

One such all-Black colony was known as the Boerne Flats, which was bordered by Theisen, Hosack and School streets and the Cibolo Creek, according to the HCAA.

John Benedict, the past president of the HCAA, has attempted to trace the lives of these freed slaves.

Alex Wren was one such freed slave. He arrived 15 miles north of Boerne in 1852 at 14 years old with his parents. After he was freed, he bought property that was eventually turned into a cemetery where many African Americans are buried.

The Wren family and at least 19 other slaves were brought to the area by slave owner Parson Daniel Rawls, who later established the Methodist Church in Blanco and Kendall Countys first cotton gin.

Today when I drive FM473 and cross Rawls Creek I think about these enslaved families that lived here and wonder what their life was like, Benedict wrote in a recent Journal of the Hill Country. The ruins of Daniel Rawls home and one of the slave cabins are still standing as a reminder of the past.

One of the largest private cemeteries is just north of Boerne: Wren Cemetery is home to over 122 grave sites and represents over 30 different African American families from Kendall and its adjoining counties.

Situated on over 2 acres just north of Boerne, the cemetery has served as a burial ground for the families of freed slaves beginning in the late 1800s. The earliest known burial was 1899 and the most recent was 1999.

The cemetery is named after Alex Wren, a former slave who had acquired the property and lived there. His descendants still manage the cemetery that was recently recognized as a Historic Texas Cemetery by the Texas Historical Commission.

The Boerne Village Band is older than all of your favorite bands: The Rolling Stones might get kudos for being the oldest performing rock band in music history, but the English rockers have nothing on the Boerne Village Band.

Organized in 1860, the band holds the title as the Oldest Continuously Organized German Band in the World outside of Germany itself. Founding member Karl Dienger started the group in Boerne to complement the singing festivals with band music, according to the Texas State Historical Association Handbook of Texas.

JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

The band managed to stay organized and practiced in barns during the Civil War. They also stayed active during World War II. The band even managed to stay together during the pandemic and has performed throughout 2021.

The Boerne Village Band has been recognized by Germany several times and earned the countys most distinguished award for folk music. The Texas House of Representatives honored the band in 1991 for providing the people of the state of Texas with the finest German music and for keeping alive German music as part of our heritage.

Berges Fest started as an ice cream social: Berges Fest is now a three-day event celebrating Boernes German Heritage. But the citys largest Deustch celebration has a delicious origin.

Believe it or not, Berges Fest began as a simple ice cream social, according to the festivals website.

Berges Fest served scoops of ice cream in 1967 as a way for local organizations to raise money. Held annually on Fathers Day weekend, the first Berges Fest was a collaborative effort of the local Lions Club and the Boerne Chamber of Commerce.

COURTESY PHOTO

At the time, Interstate 10 was almost complete and Boernes Main Street was deserted. Many downtown businesses had closed due in part to the bypass created by the new highway. Local organizations wanted an event to draw attention to downtown Boerne and reignite commerce.

The first Berge Fest was a success and festival organizers gradually added the Miss Berges Fest competition, a parade and German folk music.

Boerne won a Supreme Court case: Ruling that Congress overstepped its constitutional bounds, a divided Supreme Court struck down a 1993 law 24 years ago designed to curb government interference with religious beliefs.

According to Express-News archives, the 1993 law was used by the Archdiocese of San Antonio to challenge the city of Boerne's designation of St. Peter's Catholic Church as historic.

The designation became an issue after the city opposed church renovation plans that involved tearing down part of the 74-year- old sanctuary, the newspaper reported.

The archdiocese claimed the law excluded churches from the zoning designation.

RON HEFLIN

Around the nation, organized religion called the Supreme Court ruling a blow to religious protections guaranteed by the Constitution.

The 1993 law was Congress' reaction to a 1990 Supreme Court ruling that Native Americans did not have a constitutional right to take the hallucinogenic drug, peyote. Lawmakers wrote the law to protect all religions from infringement by governments. In doing so, Congress invoked the "equal protections clause" of the 14th Amendment.

Before the 1990 ruling, the Supreme Court used a stiff legal test to determine if government's interference was needed and whether those actions were conducted in the least restrictive way.

After the ruling, organized religion and civil rights groups used their conservative and liberal clout to force Congress to redefine protections under the 14th Amendment.

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act was passed overwhelmingly by Congress in 1993 and signed into law by President Bill Clinton.

Sixteen states joined Boerne in its challenge of the 1993 law, according to the Express-News, citing the disruption of government functions over challenges by groups over questionable and illicit behavior that dealt with narcotics consumption and sexual activities that included masturbation.

Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, reacting to an ongoing Express-News series on family violence in San Antonio, called for increased federal assistance to survivors of abuse and said that as a city, we cannot accept the increase in domestic violence as the new normal.

Castro, a San Antonio Democrat, said Wednesday that the papers investigation underscores the need to hold the criminal justice system accountable.

The Express-News series Nowhere to Hide gives a deeply troubling and tragic account of family violence in San Antonio and shines a necessary light on the need for systemic change to protect people from abuse, the congressman said in a statement.

On ExpressNews.com: I begged him to stop - How the system fails victims of family violence

The Express-News series documented a sharp increase in family violence killings in San Antonio since 2016 and described the justice systems shortcomings in holding abusers accountable and protecting victims. The series began last week and will continue for two more weeks.

The papers analysis of statewide court data found that of Texas major urban counties, Bexar County had the lowest conviction rate and the highest dismissal rate for family violence assault cases from 2011 through 2020.

More Information "Nowhere to hide" COMING SUNDAY: An explosion of family violence cases overwhelms prosecutors, judges. To read previous stories, view interactive graphics and watch a video interrogation of an abuser, go to ExpressNews.com/DomesticViolence. See More Collapse

The series also showed that Bexar County has lagged other population centers in creating so-called high-risk teams, which seek to identify and protect women in danger of being killed by their intimate partners, and in adopting innovative policing strategies to monitor and deter abusers.

A city-county commission created two years ago has marshaled broad political support and funding to study the problem and seek solutions, but progress has been halting.

On ExpressNews.com: Explosion in Bexar County family violence cases leads to plea bargains, probation, dismissals

Castro and Rep. Lloyd Doggett held a town hall on domestic violence in San Antonio in July 2019. On Wednesday, Castro said the Express-News series showed that corrective action is urgently needed.

He called for Congress to pass President Joe Bidens Build Back Better Act, which includes $7.1 billion for housing and supportive services for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking, as well as families who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.

The scourge of domestic violence has plagued our community for far too long, and the pandemic has only exacerbated it, Castro said. I commend the Express-News and the local journalists for their work to share domestic violence victims stories and hold the criminal justice system accountable for protecting the people of San Antonio.

eeaton@express-news.net
It was just five weeks after Charles Lindberghs famous flight across the Atlantic when Lt. Lester Maitland and his navigator climbed aboard an Atlantic-Fokker C-2 airplane and made some history of their own.

They flew the first trans-Pacific flight to Hawaii, a feat some saw as more difficult than Lindberghs because it was the longest yet flown over water  and the precision compass work of Lt. Albert Hagenberger was required to find their island destination in the oceans vast expanse.

The 26-hour, 49-minute flight, made June 28, 1927, was a triumph in aviation circles. Maitland and Hagenberger got the hero treatment in a series of parades. And they won the Mackay Trophy, awarded for the years most meritorious flight by a military organization or individual.

The trophy came with a fine-looking medal. The medal would end up in San Antonio.

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Maitlands fame and celebrity was a form of payback. He had been poised to fly across the Atlantic at the same time Lindbergh did, but was grounded by commanders because of bad weather and missed his chance.

Less heralded than Lindberghs accomplishment  and virtually forgotten today  the flight from San Francisco to Honolulu was something of a harbinger for Maitlands career as a test pilot. As good as he was, hed always be shadowed by others.

Years later, Maitlands destiny changed thanks to the atomic bomb, which prompted a profound religious conversion.

He soared high but plummeted to at least one awful low. Facing hard times during the Great Depression, he hocked his Mackay medal and two others, from San Francisco and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with a San Antonio jeweler, Saul Scharlack.

Scharlack told Maitland he could buy the medals back whenever he wanted. Just how much money Maitland got for them is, like other parts of this story, a blank. Too many years have passed and all the principals have died.

He never intended to sell them, San Antonio public relations executive Jonathan Gurwitz said of Scharlack, his grandfather. He was going to keep them until Maitland came back and got them, and so he held on to them for years.

Maitland never came back for his medals, but 90 years later, Gurwitz returned them to a grandson living in the Chicago area. How that happened is a story of war, peace and the quiet integrity of a local businessman.

Aviation pioneer

A native of Milwaukee, Lester James Maitland was born just before the turn of the century and graduated from high school in 1917. He joined the Army Air Corps three days after the United States entered World War I and was assigned to the School of Military Aeronautics in Austin.

Photo courtesy of Steve Knoop /

He became a flight instructor and one of the Armys first test pilots, spent time at Kelly Field in San Antonio in 1919, and served with the 6th Aero Squadron at Luke Field in Honolulu, according to a Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame biography.

Maitland then became an aide to Gen. Billy Mitchell, flying with him in 1921 for the demonstration bombing of the German battleship Ostfriesland. Some claimed it was unsinkable and Mitchell used the attack to make a point  that his pilots could deep-six any combat vessel.

The Navy then began developing aircraft carriers while the Army sent Mitchell to Fort Sam Houston. Abrasive and confrontational, Mitchell later resigned after being convicted of insubordination, but is considered the father of U.S. air power.

Maitland, meanwhile, made a name for himself in competitions and placed second in the Pulitzer Air Race of 1922. Earlier that day, he flew a Curtiss R-6 plane to 216 mph over a 31-mile course, a speed record for an American pilot.

The following year Maitland broke the world speed record in the same plane, flying just under 244 mph.

Steve Knoop, 65, of suburban Chicago, has done some research about his grandfather and the times. Test pilots were a special breed, and he thinks Maitland, who stood about 6 feet, 3 inches tall, was likely an extroverted character.

He kind of commanded a presence when he walked in. I remember him as a child as a gentle giant, not this World War I, swashbuckling type of guy. But I have a feeling he was that, Knoop said.

Maitland returned to the Alamo City, a hub of American military aviation, with 1st Lt. Harold Clark, an architect who spearheaded the unique design of Randolph Field and its famous Taj Mahal. A flying and gunnery instructor, Maitland was stationed at Randolph and Duncan fields from 1929-33.

On ExpressNews.com: Randolphs Taj a slick disguise

By then the flight to Hawaii had cemented his fame. But by then, the headlines had faded. He needed money and made his transaction at Southern Jewelry on Alamo Plaza.

The spotlight

Maitland and Hagenberger landed at Kelly on their way to San Francisco on June 17, 1927. An Army Air Service newsletter in the Air Education and Training Command history collection described the entire base coming out to greet them.

Curiously, the aviators kept the well-wishers a good distance from their aircraft. Something in the Fokker trimotor was very important, and it sparked Prohibition-era speculation.

Courtesy U.S. Air Force /

They kept the inside of their plane a secret even to their best friends, a man standing by the door at all times to prevent anyone from getting a peek inside, the newsletter reported. We have our suspicions; maybe it wasnt extra gasoline tanks they had.

Maitland was the prime pilot. Hagenberger the navigator, radio operator, engineer and relief pilot. Assistant Secretary of War Frederick Trubee Davison called the flight strictly an Army project, in the works for years, and denied it had anything to do with keeping up with daring feats like Lindberghs trip across the Atlantic.

That the flight came in an era when prizes were given for aviation records was purely a coincidence, he said, and the two fliers were forbidden from collecting cash awards for telling their story.

They were greeted by a cheering throng at Wheeler Field in Oahu. A photo captured the plane banking low overhead. They flew home to large celebrations.

The Air Service newsletter said the cities of Oakland and San Francisco strove to outdo each other in elaborate preparations for the reception which proved to be a mighty affair in the Bay District.

In Milwaukee, Maitlands hometown, 10,000 people jammed their way to the ropes around Hamilton Airport when the trimotored Fokker, a sister ship to the one flown to Hawaii, appeared on the horizon bringing back the man who left as a boy of 18.

Years passed, Maitlands Army Air Corps assignments took him to San Antonio, and then postings far from Texas.

Maitland served at Clark Field in the Philippines, and duty over the skies of Europe flying a B-26 Marauder during World War II. Before the war was over, hed earn more medals  one a Silver Star, the nations third-highest military decoration for valor in combat.

After the war, Maitland left the military. He knocked around doing high-profile civilian jobs, taking the post of Wisconsins first state state aeronautics director in 1947. The Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame said he quit the position two years later over the lack of priority the state gave airports and flying.

Maitland took a similar job with the state of Michigan and became its director of civil defense. He served in the Michigan Air National Guard, retiring in 1955 as a brigadier general to begin studying to become an Episcopal priest.

His initial appointment was as lay-vicar at a parish in Iron River, Mich., but his ministerial career took him to Red Bluff, Calif., and Good Shepherd of the Hills Episcopal Church in Cave Creek, Ariz. He became the first rector there in 1962.

Photo courtesy of Steve Knoop /

At 58, Maitland was ordained into the priesthood on Dec. 23, 1956, at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Iron River. An Associated Press account said the development of the atomic bomb was one of the factors that influenced his change of career.

I made my final decision three years ago, the story quoted Maitland. I watched the A-bomb and felt definitely it could destroy civilization.

Another AP story had Maitland saying, I felt the A-bomb could destroy civilization. The only answer is Christianity.

The July 22, 1957, Time magazine story carried similar quotes.

I feel that in the entire world there is too much Humanism, he said. The only answer is Christianity. The time to pray is now.

The shift from test pilot to priest still captures the imagination of his grandson.

I dont want anyone to steal my idea, but think about his life, Knoop said. Think of a John Wayne-type of character during World War I with a Scarlett OHara-type and then they make John Wayne into a priest. Its a fascinating story.

Left behind

Saul Scharlack ran his downtown jewelry store for decades and always hoped to give Maitlands medals back. When he died in 1976, his daughter, Ruth Jean Gurwitz, reached out to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which opened that year.

Nobody there seemed interested in taking the medals. Knoop said he saw only a small exhibit dedicated to Maitland and Hagenbergers Pacific flight during a visit there in July 2015.

By the time Scharlacks wife, Ethel, died in 1995, the shop he and his brother, Louis, had owned on Alamo Plaza was long shuttered, the medals no longer a memory.

That changed only a few weeks ago when Rachel Gurwitz, the wife of Ruths son Jonathan, uncovered them as the family prepared for an estate sale.

A former San Antonio Express-News editorial columnist, Jonathan Gurwitz scoured the internet for information on Maitland, who died at 91 in 1990. He found a New York Times obituary, and then an obituary for Maitlands daughter, Eileen Knoop.

Gurwitz connected with Steve Knoop, Maitlands grandson, over the phone.

Can I pay you to get them out of hock? a dumbstruck Knoop asked.

The answer was no. Gurwitz said shipping the medals to Knoop last week was a huge relief.

It unloaded a burden for my family. Maitland was a hero. My grandfather always felt very badly that Maitland never returned, that Maitland was not in possession of the medals.

The San Antonio-Chicago connections that bind both families are oddly coincidental. Maitlands wife, Kathleen, was from the Alamo City, but so, too, was Knoops mother, Eileen Maitland. She went to Alamo Heights High School, as did Gurwitz  though in different eras  and married Knoops father, Frank, who grew up in the Chicago area.

Knoop said his grandfathers hard times, like the pawned medals themselves, was completely unknown to the family.

A total shock to me. I didnt know that story, at all, he said. Given all that he did, I know it was the Great Depression, but  could you imagine an athlete pawning off a World Series ring or a Super Bowl ring because hes trying to get by?

I dont know, but youd have to think long and hard before you did that, I would think.

sigc@express-news.net
U.S. Army Sgt. Jason Tabansky was climbing down from a new Chinook helicopter in London when he slipped.

The 5-foot fall in 2015 injured Tabanskys shoulder. Days later, after multiple visits to the emergency room, the Iraq veteran awoke to the feeling of his body slowly going numb. Within hours, he was paralyzed from the chest down.

Through physical therapy, Tabansky, 38, regained control of his hands but is now a paraplegic relying on a wheelchair. He retired in 2016 after more than 15 years in the military and quickly learned that most houses in the San Antonio area arent designed for wounded heroes or their families.

On ExpressNews.com: After dodging bullets and reaching 100, these San Antonio veterans defy time

Tabanskys life changed Thursday when he and his wife, Courtney Brassard, received the keys to a specially adapted smart home in Boerne from the Gary Sinise Foundation.

The nonprofit was started by the Academy Award-nominated actor of the same name. Sinise is likely best known for his role as Lieutenant Dan from the 1994 hit film Forrest Gump.

Through one of the foundations programs, the nonprofit builds mortgage-free houses for seriously wounded veterans and first responders. There are seven such homes in the San Antonio area and each includes a variety of accommodations based on the specific need of each wounded hero.

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

Since its creation in 2011, the foundation has built 75 specially adapted smart homes across the country. The initiative predominantly supports post-9/11 defenders who were either injured in combat operations, performing their duties or during training.

Tabanskys life will be different compared to the one he lived in his North Side home, where he had never been inside the primary bathroom or was able to cook or do laundry. He also needed help to get down the driveway.

Life is so much more bearable when you can actually accomplish those simple, everyday tasks, Tabansky said.

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

Their new home includes wide doorways, no carpets and a cut-out under the sink in the bathroom and kitchen. Tabansky is most excited about being able to cook for himself again.

For Mike Thirtle, the CEO of the foundation, a home is a place to take comfort. But for severely wounded veterans and first responders, life at home can be a constant battle. Small chores, such as getting into the shower, can be insurmountable challenges.

These adapted smart homes offer a chance to reclaim a sense of independence and empowerment, Thirtle said.

Exactly what he wants inside our home

Born in the border city of Brownsville, Tabansky grew up in both Texas and Mexico. He enlisted in the Army at 17-years-old in 2000. Shortly after completing basic training, a pair of hijacked airlines destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York while another crashed into the Pentagon and one in an open field in Pennsylvania.

Tabansky then volunteered to deploy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2002-03. He deployed a second time to Taji, Iraq, for a year in which he served as a helicopter mechanic attached to a flight company.

He then traveled the world and eventually met Brassard, his wife, in Seoul, South Korea, in 2008. At the time, Brassard was on a blind date with somebody else.

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

The other guy was kind of annoying, so Jason was kind of like my knight in shining armor, said Brassard, who was in South Korea teaching English.

The pair spoke in Tabansky's native Spanish language and connected over their love of traveling. His military assignments around the world helped the couple fulfill their travel bug.

Tabansky said that long hours and long days in the military tempered him personally and prepared him to handle the physical pain and exhaustion after his fall.

The toughening of my personality put me in a good place to take on this spinal cord injury in 2015, he said. "I had the right mindset.

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

In 2015, Tabansky was a flight engineer instructor and flight platoon sergeant stationed in Germany when he was called to stage a new Chinook helicopter at a military expo in London.

His job was to babysit the helicopter. It was raining and he was trying to cover the 18-foot helicopter with a tarp when he slipped on a slick surface and fell.

Yanking his right arm in the fall, he tweaked his neck. This caused an infection and eventually led to massive inflammation that compressed his spinal cord.

Tabansky learned about the Gary Sinise Foundation while he was recovering at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Billy Calzada/Staff photographer

He applied for the program in October 2015 and began the long process of vetting that the foundation requires to ensure that the housing goes to the most deserving candidates.

After recovery, Tabansky slowly regained the use of hands and is now an avid hunter, fisherman and competitive archer who has competed on the national level. But finding suitable housing had been a struggle.

Their first home in San Antonio was semi-accessible and built for someone with prosthetics. Showering was almost impossible. He had to brush his teeth facing sideways at the bathroom sink.

That will change with the new home.

Hes going to have the freedom and liberty to do exactly what he wants inside our home, Brassard said. Its going to bring some normalcy back in our life because being married and not being able to share a master bathroom together has really  I dont like those barriers or boundaries.

Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net
City Council members mostly voiced support Wednesday for a $2.5 billion vision to remake the San Antonio International Airport.

The airport is at its limit, pushing the need for the makeover, officials said. A proposed master plan includes a new terminal, more gates and parking and the infrastructure for future international flights.

We need capacity to meet not only todays demands, but future demands, said Jesus Saenz, the citys aviation director.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg told aviation officials they have City Councils cooperation. The master plan wouldnt take any tax dollars from the citys general fund, but would be funded through federal dollars, airport revenue and other methods.

City Council will consider approving the new master plan at its meeting next week. Officials said its a roadmap and guiding document, but it doesnt set certain developments in stone.

It is the future of the airport, but its also the future of the city, Saenz said.

District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez, who represents the Northwest side, said business leaders recognize the potential in San Antonio but say the citys airport makes it irrelevant.

Im sick of losing business to other cities with better airports but not better workforces, he said.

Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, representing District 2 on the East Side, also was glad to see the master plan laid out. Growing up in a military family, he often moved and traveled.

The airport is indeed the first experience they have of San Antonio, he said. The food they eat  the art they see.

Sam Owens /Staff photographer

The existing footprint can accommodate future growth without needing to add acreage or relocate the airport, Saenz said. In fact, the airports proximity to downtown is what makes it attractive to both residents and travelers alike.

In 2019, San Antonios airport experienced record passenger numbers. Then the pandemic hit the airline industry hard.

But officials say travel at the airport is on track to recover some time next year, and it eventually will grow even more.

Were recovering faster than most, Saenz said.

Officials said despite COVID-19s impact, now is still the right time to redevelop the airport.

For one, the city expects to make use of federal infrastructure funds that will soon be available from the bipartisan bill recently passed by Congress and awaiting President Joe Bidens signature. Additionally, recently released U.S. Census data showed that Texas continues to grow.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires the city to create a new master plan every decade. This plan is more than just whats required, though, said Jeff Coyle, assistant city manager. It looks two decades ahead, and its a vision for the future of one of the countrys fastest growing cities.

District 1 Councilman Mario Bravo was one of just a few council members to ask larger questions about the master plan.

I have a different perspective on airports, he said, adding that hes usually trying to get out of an airport as soon as possible to reach his destination.

Bravo didnt move to make any changes to the plan, but said he wanted to understand better what people are looking for in an airport.

Councilman Clayton Perry, representing District 10, also had questions about the investment. He said its ultimately the airlines that will decide whether to add flights and whether theres enough demand.

Its not build it, and they will come, he said.

megan.stringer@express-news.net
There was a sense of renewal for the hundreds who converged Thursday on Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery to observe Veterans Day.

San Antonios big Veterans Day ceremony, a decades-old tradition, was back.

The coronavirus pandemic had scratched it from the calendar last year along with other public events. The Veterans Affairs Department forbade gatherings at national cemeteries. Family members had to watch burials from their cars. Services were later limited to a handful of people wearing masks.

But at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, the 323rd Army Band struck up a serenade of patriotic songs as the crowd, mostly older and many of them regulars, streamed in for a program they knew by heart  opening remarks, singing of the national anthem by the Texas Childrens Choir, presentation of the colors, an invocation and, midway through the event, a favorite: the band playing its medley of service songs.

The keynote speaker, who comes from a family of service members, was reflective.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

My dad wanted so badly to join the military in World War II that he stole his brothers birth certificate and joined the Navy when he was only 16, said retired Air Force Col. Robert West, director of aircraft maintenance for the 12th Flying Training Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

My grandfather went and got him. He eventually joined the Air Force and retired with 28 years of service.

Jerry Lara /San Antonio Express-News

Later in the day, on the East Side, a crowd saluted the Buffalo Soldiers at San Antonio National Cemetery, paying homage to African Americans who served in the 9th, 10th, 24th and 25th Cavalries, as well as the Black Indian Scouts.

It was a chance for speakers to remind the crowd, smaller and younger than the one at Fort Sam, why African Americans in the services today owe so much to the Black soldiers who blazed a hard and rocky path.

The connection runs from Sgt. William H. Barnes, who earned the Medal of Honor at the Battle of New Market Heights in Virginia in 1864, to the late Gen. Colin Powell.

The keynote speaker, Brig. Gen. Shan Bagby, was introduced as commander of the U.S. Army Regional Health Command and 28th chief of the U.S. Army Dental Corps. He also had led Brooke Army Medical Center until late April.

One of the things that I think is really poignant, and the reason why Im glad to be here today and stand before you, what I didnt say is, Im the first African American Army dentist to make general officer, Bagby told the crowd.

What is more important is the fact that just as the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers matters, my history, my pedigree is meaningless in the context of a society that was not ready until fairly recently to recognize someone with my pedigree, Bagby continued. I am certainly not the first African American Army dentist whos qualified, but I appreciate the fact that we live in a country and a society where your history is not necessarily your destiny.

The burial ground where he spoke goes back to 1867 and is the final resting place for 281 identified Buffalo Soldiers. In all, 314 unknown soldiers are buried in a common grave in Section H, marked with a monument inscribed To the Unknown Dead.

Fourteen Medal of Honor recipients are buried here, including Barnes and Pvt. David Bennes Barkley, a World War I soldier. He was the first San Antonian to win the nations highest award for battlefield gallantry, but when the Army brought his body home and it lay in state in the Alamo chapel, a rarely granted honor, no one mentioned his Hispanic roots.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio honored its heroic doughboy - but he remains a mystery

At Fort Sam, six servicemen and servicewomen took the oath of citizenship Thursday, including two soldiers from Vietnam.

Spc. Michael Nguyen said he joined the Army 11 months ago and is studying to be a 68-Alpha biomedical technician. He took on the extra homework of preparing for citizenship along with his regular studies at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, which is home to combat medical training.

Asked why he wanted to be a citizen, Nguyen, 28, said its necessary to be an officer. Its a lot of work, he said, but I still need to do it because this is important to me.

The naturalization ceremony prompted applause and cheers, but for the most part the Fort Sam ceremony was somber. The cemetery has seen 172,000 interments of veterans and eligible dependents since it opened in 1926.

In the 103 years since World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, millions of Americans have fought, in World War II, Korea, Southeast Asia, the Balkans, Afghanistan and the Middle East. The U.S. armed forces are still deployed in Iraq, Syria and Africa.

Wearing a short-sleeved shirt with American flags on it, George Lagleder stood with his wife, Patricia, after the ceremony ended with three rifle volleys, and he thought back to the Korean War.

He was drafted into the Army in 1952.

Gen. MacArthur wanted to go across (the Yalu River) and enter North Korea, he said, but politicians stopped him. And personally, thats how come weve had a lot of conflicts since then, because we didnt try to win that war.

Nearly 40,000 Americans died there, said Lagleder, 89, of La Coste, adding. Basically, what did we accomplish?

On ExpressNews.com: Military City was home to a constellation of stars

When World War I closed, Americans and Europeans remembered it as Armistice Day. The first time Veterans Day was observed was in Birmingham, Ala., in 1947. The idea spread, and President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill in 1954 proclaiming Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.

Eisenhower was once stationed at Fort Sam. San Antonio, which many call Military City, U.S.A. because of its long ties to the Army and Air Force, has been home to other well-known commanders: John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, Jimmy Doolittle and a slew of Civil War generals that included Robert E. Lee, then a U.S. Army cavalry colonel.

At the Buffalo Soldiers ceremony, Bagby charted the history of change from the Civil War through today. He cited the role of Barnes, whose regiment, the 38th U.S. Colored Troops, and other Black units took heavy casualties against veteran Confederates at New Market Heights, the first major battle in which African Americans led an assault.

Others buried at the cemetery, Bagby said, include Friday Bowlegs, a soldier in the Seminole Negro Scouts who served from 1872 to 1885 under Brig. Gen. John Bullis, for whom Camp Bullis is named.

Bullis, too, rests here.

The people Ive mentioned only touch the surface of the historical figures in Texas and U.S. history who are buried in these surrounding grounds, Bagby said. But even with the few Ive mentioned today, we see a great deal of diversity.

People will tell you that diversity is something of a modern construct, something of a feel-good kind of thing. Ill tell you, I personally think diversitys important and adds to the armed services strength, he said. That assertion is borne out by the stories of the people buried right in these hallowed grounds.

sigc@express-news.net
Graciela Tiscareno-Sato was waiting to go on a Univision news show to talk about the murder of Army soldier Vanessa Guillen when she was asked if she could be introduced as the first Latina to be awarded the Air Force Air Medal for her service in combat.

The native Texan who now lives in California declined, saying she didnt know it to be true.

Almost 30 years had passed since that first mission, but she was curious and called Air Force personnel in San Antonio.

She verified its true, though on this Veterans Day she has to tell the story behind that story.

Tiscareno-Sato, 54, was fresh out of flight training, a first lieutenant and graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

She was to navigate a KC-135R, basically serving as the crews mathematician in the highly technical, complex aerial refueling of fighter jets over Baghdad.

The weird, scary operation took place in 1992 aboard a gas station in the sky above Saddam Hussein. Three other crews serving on the same mission got their air medal at Riyadh Air Base, she said.

Delores Holloway, Courtesy

Her crew was denied one. The reason? The crew had a woman on board, and women technically werent allowed to serve in combat, even though women were doing these jobs, she said.

They eventually got their medals, too.

Tiscareno-Sato tells students, who have no idea these kinds of barriers existed, that they may face different obstacles, including some of their own making.

This week she spoke virtually to 14 groups of elementary and middle school students to mark the federal holiday honoring living military veterans.

Nearly 20 million of them are alive today, and this isnt the only day to thank them for that service.

Tiscareno-Sato may still be an anomaly among them.

The native El Pasoan was a first-generation college graduate. Her Mexican-born parents preferred a more traditional role for their daughter.

But they delivered her to Berkeley, where she was an Air Force ROTC cadet. They were there when she graduated and when she earned her wings.

Even then the whole thing was bizarre for them, she said.

They listened, sometimes in dismay, when she called from faraway places and would say, in Spanish, You wont believe where I am.

Her almost 10-year military career took her to four continents and 23 countries.

She supervised a multinational team at NATO battle staff headquarters and conducted air-support operations inside Bosnia-Herzegovina. She served as a military liaison officer at the U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador, leading teams in counter-narcotic operations support.

She was also a senior aviation instructor who boarded a plane for the first time while in college. Immediately afterward, she requested to go to flight school.

She has always combated norms.

Now shes publishing books and conducting branding workshops designed for veterans.

In December or in March, she plans to be in San Antonio to share her story in person.

Tiscareno-Satos publishing company produces her books, which are carried by a book distribution company in keeping with what the book publishing industry does, she said.

That has given her books wider distribution and amplified her bilingual childrens book series Captain Mama, or Capitan Mama, the name her then-toddler son called her when he saw her in a flight suit headed to a deployment.

I love you, Captain Mama, he would say as part of his goodbye. His words set her brain on fire, she says.

Good Night Captain Mama/Buenas Noches Capitan Mama was followed by Captain Mamas Surprise/La Sorpresa de Capitan Mama. The latter received first place in the inspirational childrens picture book category of the International Latino Book Awards. Its about a field trip aboard an airplane.

Shes also author of BRAND Before your Resume: Your Marketing Guide for Veterans and Military Service Members Entering Civilian Life.

She launched her branding workshops after a female Army veteran asked her how to sell herself without bragging.

Tiscareno-Sato estimates she has trained 5,000 veterans who have returned to school or left drug rehabilitation programs. Theyre all reclaiming their value, she said.

She has trained Girl Scouts and librarians, too, though that wasnt her intention.

In 2014, the Obama White House honored her as a Champion of Change for raising educational expectations for young Latinos.

Last month she was featured in a storyteller symposium put on by the San Antonio-based nonprofit Somos Cultura y Mas.

But for Veterans Day, shes also talking about military academies.

Latinos still arent applying to West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, or the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in any great numbers.

Thats a problem, and those mostly likely to apply are children of military officers who already know the pathway.

Thats one of the reasons I do the work I do.

eayala@express-news.net
The sentence is so simple that it seems casual and offhand, but there is nothing casual and offhand in Hemingway.

The trunks of the trees were dusty and the leaves fell early that year and we saw the troops marching along the road and the dust rising and leaves, stirred by the breeze, falling and the soldiers marching and afterward the road bare and white except for the leaves.

You find the sentence in the first chapter of A Farewell to Arms, the classic World War I novel. It is classic Ernest Hemingway, every word solid and pure, declaring nothing, foreshadowing everything. There is no hint of the mayhem to follow, the darkness that will envelop the hero, Frederic Henry. No, the sense of foreboding lies beneath the surface  but it will come.

Our soldiers know the feeling. Unlike most of us, they take on their jobs knowing disaster may come. The threat is not explicit, but it does not have to be; it is part of the job description, and they accept it willingly. As a wise person once said, there would be no land of the free without the home of the brave.

Today, Veterans Day, we honor the men and women who honored us through their service, whether they performed combat or noncombat duties. They protected us, all of them, making this country what it is  a nation where liberty forms the bulwark of our moral and spiritual infrastructure.

There will be parades today, tributes to both veterans and current troops. Thousands will march, and thousands more will watch them in towns throughout the country. Pride will swell with every footfall, and it will be genuine and sincere  the response of a grateful country.

Is it enough to salute them as they march by today? Is it enough to spot them on the street or in a diner and say, Thank you for your service?

No. Gratitude must morph into empathy, into action. If any group of Americans deserves political support, it is our veterans. Thirty-five percent of veterans say they have trouble paying their bills after leaving the military, while 20 percent say they struggle with alcohol or substance abuse, often the result of PTSD, according to the Pew Research Center.

In 2013, investigations discovered thousands of veterans were dying because of long waits and delayed care at veterans hospitals. Subsequent studies found the problems persisted as many as five years later, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs documents. Such scandals should never be allowed to happen.

Every politician expresses support for our veterans, especially on Veterans Day. But the words must translate into action. We can do that if we become their advocates; if every paradegoer appealed to his or her political representative, whether through letters or rallies, it would form the largest lobbying group in the country.

True patriotism isnt cheap, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich once said. Its about taking on a fair share of the burden of keeping American going.

Our veterans have assumed more than their fair share. They have taken on a challenge that would intimidate, if not horrify, most of us. It may be impossible to walk in their boots, but it is possible to honor their sacrifice in a more meaningful way than thank you for your service on Veterans Day.

The coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave but one? Hemingways Catherine asks in the World War I novel. He was probably a coward. He knew a great deal about cowards but nothing about the brave. The brave dies perhaps two thousand deaths if hes intelligent. He simply doesnt mention them. 

We may never understand the bravery it takes to fight for America  or the commitment that inspires it. But we can channel the gratitude we feel into support. Our veterans deserve no less.
Robert and Karen Rickman believed they had found the home where they would live out their twilight years, but they may never spend a single night in it.

The Rickmans paid more than $400,000 for the construction of the house at 24442 Canyon Row in North Central San Antonio, yet the property could be sold to another buyer if they dont convince a court to issue a temporary injunction blocking the sale  set for Wednesday.

San Antonio-based Land Star Builder, which built the home, signed a contract to sell the house to another buyer to lessen the damages from construction delays caused by the Rickmans, according to attorney William Sommers, who represents the contractor and principal Haitham Taleb.

When Mr. Rickman told him (Taleb) back in the summer he didnt want the house, my client mitigated his damages by entering into a contract with someone else to sell it, Sommers said Wednesday.

The Rickmans have disputed Sommers take, saying in a Nov. 1 court filing that the construction contract they signed contemplated they would receive title upon completion of construction. The couple have sued Land Star Builder, Taleb and two of his other companies seeking more than $1 million in damages.

They also want a court to declare they have equitable title to the property.

The defendants argue the feud shouldnt even be in a state District Court in San Antonio given the construction contract has an arbitration clause. On Wednesday, the court is scheduled to take up the defendants motion to compel arbitration, along with the Rickmans temporary injunction application.

Construction delays

In 2017, the Rickmans, both 67, began the search for a home that would become their retirement residence. Some friends suggested they look in their Ridge at Canyon Springs neighborhood where vacant lots were available for single-family home construction.

Matin Tabbakh, the real estate agent representing Land Star Builder, said the contractor intended to build homes on speculation but would build them a custom home on a lot of their choice, their complaint said.

The couple paid $10,000 to Land Star in late 2017 and signed a construction contract in April 2018. The purchase price was almost $439,000.

The contract estimated it would take about eight months to complete construction, their suit said. The city issued a building permit July 24, 2018, so the estimated completion date was March 24, 2019.

But construction moved at a much slower pace, the Rickmans lawsuit stated. Various issues occurred that underscored what appeared to be an ongoing problem with staffing, supervision, unpaid subcontractors, and communication on the project.

Even today, the home is still unfinished  over three years past the date that the building permit was issued, the suit added.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio-area home builders canceling contracts with buyers as construction costs soar

Sommers blamed the Rickmans for the construction delays.

During the course of the project, the owners actively interfered with the contractors ability to get it done on time, and failed to follow the contract with respect to change orders, Sommers said. The contractor actually has incurred several hundred thousand dollars in delay costs (and) in increased finish items.

As an example, the defendants say the Rickmans lack of communication with the cabinetry subcontractor alone delayed the project by at least 10 months.

The Rickmans further disturbed LSBs subcontractors while they worked, frequently visited the site and interjected with instructions that contradicted various obligations under the contract, the defendants said in an Oct. 29 court filing opposing a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction.

Land Star and the other defendants added the Rickmans compelled the contractor to eliminate from the floor plan structural items that already had been installed.

Collateral

Through their own sleuthing in June, the Rickmans discovered that Taleb and another one of his companies, Mustang Eias, borrowed $230,000 from Miami-based Amadco Inc. in August 2020. The loan was secured by the house the Rickmans were under contract to buy, and had already paid $423,000 for, their lawsuit said.

The delays caused by the Rickmans led Taleb to borrow money on the property, Sommers said.

They so eroded the cash operating amount that Land Star Builder was putting into the project, that he borrowed money to be able to defray those costs, Sommers said.

The Rickmans hired attorneys, who in late June gave notice to the defendants of the couples claims against them under the states Deceptive Trade Practices Act and for breach of contract. Matthew Swantner, a lawyer for the couple, declined to comment.

Lawyers representing both sides traded letters but apparently couldnt resolve the fight.

On Oct. 6, the Rickmans said in their complaint, Land Star posted the house for sale with a listing price of $525,900 without consent or notice to them, they said. The couple found the listing on Zillow.

Sommers said he believes selling the home to another buyer is perfectly legal despite the construction contract Land Star entered into with the Rickmans.

Well, when they told my client they didnt want to close and didnt want the property, and then we looked at the demand letter they sent us, it had no indication that they wanted to buy the property, the attorney said. We just thought we better mitigate our loss.

Theres nothing in writing that indicates the Rickmans dont want the house, Sommers said. Rather, it was a comment Robert Rickman made to Taleb.

Asked if that will hold up when the dispute is arbitrated or litigated, the lawyer replied, I believe it will.

Cloud on the title

The Rickmans filed their lawsuit Oct. 22 and three days later recorded a Notice of Lis Pendens with the Bexar County Clerks office. Lis pendens is Latin for suit pending, meaning the outcome of the litigation could affect title to the property.

The defendants want the court to expunge the notice, the third item a judge is slated to take up at Wednesdays court hearing.

The Rickmans have wrongfully interfered with a real estate transaction, the defendants said in an Oct. 28 motion to expunge the notice. The purpose of the lis pendens was to give notice of a nonexistent claim to real estate, creating a cloud on the title.

The defendants added the couple are not seeking title to the property, but instead claim they are entitled to monetary damages based on their various causes of action.

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The Rickmans amended their lawsuit Nov. 1 to include a request for the court to declare that the construction contract they signed contemplated the property would be conveyed to them when construction finished.

Among the Rickmans other claims in their complaint are tortious interference with existing contract, a reference to the $230,000 loan that encumbers the property.

In opposing efforts to expunge the lis pendens, the Rickmans say nowhere in defendants various filings do the defendants refute that they accepted $448,978.80 from the plaintiffs, and then built a home with that money under contract with the plaintiffs.

The Rickmans only paid $421,000 but caused Land Star to expend an additional $200,000 related to the delays and added costs, Sommers countered.

The Rickmans say if the court doesnt issue an injunction preventing the sale of the property, that could render the arbitration meaningless in the event that plaintiffs home is sold off to third parties before an arbitrator is even appointed.

Other litigation

Land Star, Taleb and his two other companies  Mustang Eias and EHL Construction  named in the Rickmans lawsuit are mired in other litigation.

Mustang Eias owned eight lots in the Ridge at Canyon Springs neighborhood, while Sommers said EHL is a commercial construction company.

220 Evergreen, whose managing partner is Matin Tabbakh, the real estate agent for Land Star when the Rickmans entered into the construction contract, sued Taleb and his three companies in March.

In 2018, 220 Evergreen had entered into a contract to buy a Land Star-built house six lots over from the one the Rickmans had selected for their home. The company made a $100,000 down payment on the $270,000 purchase price, court documents show.

The following year, the parties agreed to terminate the deal. Half of the down payment was returned to 220 Evergreen. The defendant (the suit doesnt specify which one) was supposed to pay the other $50,000 plus 50 percent of the net profit from the sale of the property, the complaint said.

The house sold for $435,000 in November 2020, generating a net profit of $135,646, the suit said. But 220 Evergreen said it has yet to receive any of the money it was promised. It seeks more than $250,000 in damages.

In a June court filing, 220 Evergreen alleged Taleb has perpetuated a scheme in Florida and Texas of constructing and selling residential homes to consumers by creating shell companies.

Taleb lures consumers with a Residential Construction Agreement by which he promises to construct a home on a residential lot owned by one of his shell entities, the court filing said. Ironically, the Residential Construction Agreement is lacking any promise to sell the land on which the home is to be constructed.

Talebs misguided dealing using at least 13 shell companies in Florida since the early 2000s resulted in numerous lawsuits, 220 Evergreen alleged. At least two of the lawsuits led to the sale of the properties by court order, it added.

Haroon Rafati, a Katy lawyer representing 220 Evergreen, said the litigation is pending but had no further comment on it. He said Tabbakh terminated his relationship as real estate agent for Taleb in January.

Sommers said his clients dispute 220 Evergreens allegations.

On Nov. 2, Judge Tina Torres granted the Rickmans a temporary restraining order that prevents Taleb or his companies from selling the property the couple contracted to buy. The TRO is in effect until the outcome of Wednesdays court hearing.

Taleb and his companies wanted the judge to require the Rickmans to post a more than $600,000 bond for the TRO but she set it at $500.

If a judge on Wednesday refuses to grant the Rickmans request for the injunction blocking a sale, Sommers is hopeful that the sale of the house at 24442 Canyon Row will go forward that same day.

But if, in fact, it doesnt and we lose the sale because of this lawsuit, were going to be going after the Rickmans for more than $300,000 in damages, Sommers said.

pdanner@express-news.net
The day San Antonio Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper found his missing father in an alley, he found his purpose in life.

It was the spring of 1993. Cooper, 22 years old at the time, had left his hometown of Argyle to study business at the University of Utah, where he was an up-and-coming young entrepreneur who had started several businesses. He was preparing to get married when his father abruptly got a job in Portland, Ore., moved out of state and left his mother and younger siblings behind.

Cooper watched his mother, with no history in the workforce, struggle to put food on the table.

Every time I would help them, I would begrudge my dad leaving them in that bad situation, which then caused me to say, I need to find him and tell him what kind of damage he caused, he said.

Cooper set off for Portland and discovered that his father no longer worked for the company where he had originally gotten a job  and that his apartment lease had expired a year and a half earlier.

Cooper attempted to file a missing persons report but was told he should hire a private investigator instead.

Lacking the funds to do so, he started searching himself, papering the city with flyers.

A woman recognized him and told me, I think he works for that transmission shop, Cooper said.

But when he arrived, the shop was closed.

Jerry Lara /Staff photographer

Seeing the closed sign in the window of this transmission shop after being in the state for a few days and looking and looking, it hit me: What was I thinking? Why did I think that he would even be close? he said.

But then he felt prompted to pray.

I prayed, Hey, please, if Im even on the right track, will you just kind of guide me and help me? Cooper said. For all of us in our lifes journey, were all going to see a closed sign metaphorically. And it rocks your confidence in who you are.

Just then, one of the homeless men sitting in an alleyway next to the shop got up and started walking  and Cooper realized it was his missing father.

He looked up and he just came running, Cooper recalled, and he said, Son, I knew you would come.

Cooper took his father to a restaurant hed passed.

Jerry Lara /Staff photographer

The maitre d looked at my dad and then looked back at me, and said, Would you like a table for one? I was standing there  in the lobby with my dad, who wasnt even going to be acknowledged as a human being.

On ExpressNews.com: Read about other San Antonio Lights

How to help Those interested in volunteering their time or donating monetary or canned goods can find more information at safoodbank.org. See More Collapse

It was a watershed moment for Cooper, who would later discover his father struggled with serious mental illness and had been sleeping in an abandoned trailer behind the transmission repair shop, working odd jobs.

Cooper attempted to convince his father to move in with him, but he wouldnt agree. Though it would take years, Cooper eventually managed to help him obtain mental health services and a more stable life.

No one wants to ask for help, no one wants to take it, Cooper said. Its such a place of vulnerability and the stigma that is just admitting failure.

After that experience, Cooper said, he pivoted from the business world to nonprofit management  specifically managing food banks.

I could no longer see someone in need as a stranger, but saw them as a brother or sister, he said. Well, for me, I saw them as my dad, and wanted to do something about it.

He began volunteering and then accepted a job at the Utah Food Bank, where he worked from 1993-99, graduating with a degree in business from the University of Utah in 1998.

Cooper then moved back to Texas to work at the North Texas Food Bank from 1999 to 2000. In 2001, he became the youngest-ever executive director of the San Antonio Food Bank.

The food bank serves 29 counties in Southwest Texas, although its most populous coverage zone is Bexar County. At the time Cooper arrived, financially it was in a mess, he said. It had gone through four CEOs in two years.

Cooper has a uniquely genius business mind for a nonprofit leader, said Michael Guerra, chief development officer for the San Antonio Food Bank. Guerra is Coopers longest-tenured executive team member and has worked with Cooper on philanthropy and capital building projects for more than a decade.

Hes also warm, smart, curious with an uncanny ability to connect with those he encounters, Guerra added.

Frank Burney, a partner at Martin and Drought law firm in San Antonio, knows Cooper well through business partnerships. Hes worked alongside him as aboard member of Workforce Solutions Alamo. He said Cooper has turned the San Antonio Food Bank into one of the highest-performing such agencies in the country.

Guerra said one of Coopers strengths is that hes never satisfied with the status quo and is constantly implementing new strategies to meet the needs of those facing food insecurity in San Antonio.

Jerry Lara /Staff photographer

He wants to solve hunger, to minimize poverty, to move individuals forward to self-sufficiency and independence, Guerra said. No accolades  matter except moving the needle for our neighbors facing hunger.

On ExpressNews.com: Stephen Lucke champions urban agriculture to weed out food insecurity

We try to take a very holistic approach and frame our work in three areas that we call food for today, food for tomorrow and food for a lifetime, Cooper said.

He explained that food for today involves helping people get groceries or meals immediately through food pantries.

Our food for tomorrow work is about helping families apply for public benefits and programs, things that can bring some household stabilization, Cooper went on. He compared the challenges of applying for the supplemental nutrition assistance program to the challenges of filing taxes  and said the food bank served as the TurboTax of applying for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.

The San Antonio Food Bank also provides monthly food boxes for seniors and after-school meals for children.

Both are often the forgotten faces of food insecurity, Cooper said. Roughly one-third of the people the food bank serves are children and one-third are seniors.

San Antonio is a city of working poor, Cooper said, many of whom cant make a living wage and lack benefit packages from their employers.

San Antonio has one of the highest poverty rates in the country, and were one of the most segregated economically when it comes to the percentage of haves and have-nots, Cooper added. Our wages are low, our educational attainment is low, but our work ethic is high. So it creates a lot of working poor families.

According to the 2019 U.S. census, San Antonio is tied with Miami for the poorest major metropolitan area in the United States, with 13.5 percent of its population living below the poverty line.

The people we serve are working  they just dont make enough, Cooper said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the citys economic divide grew. It pushed all those families over the edge.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the San Antonio Food Bank served about 60,000 people across the 29 counties it serves. When the pandemic hit and lockdowns began, that number doubled  almost overnight, Cooper said.

We always did these parking lot curbside distributions, and they just exploded because that was (the safest) way  (you) could stay in your car and drive through, so that was probably the biggest pivot, he said. The need for home-delivered meals and food boxes also skyrocketed.

But, he said, I think the biggest challenge for me as a leader  was (the) safety of my team and their families.

The nonprofit has nearly 300 employees, and they were deemed essential workers.

(We knew) one of us could contract the virus, but we have to do what we do, Cooper said. There was just this overwhelming call and cry for help, and there was some receding of support from a corporate volunteerism standpoint and our food supply, restaurants, hotel and caterer donors.

At the top of the pandemic, the situation looked dire. Where the food bank had once been fully stocked, the walls of its 210,000-square-foot warehouse were visible amid empty shelves.

We were shipping two truckloads an hour and receiving half a truckload, Cooper said. The food bank was about to be overdrawn.

But then a miracle happened, he said.

In a time when people could be worried about their future and so much uncertainty, they just started to give, and donations just poured in, said Cooper. The volunteers started to show up.

It gave me energy (and) fed my spirit, Cooper said. Seeing our city majorly step up  it gives me hope that we could actually go a little further and solve some of these root causes, systemic issues of poverty.

He helps our community in so many ways, providing leadership and building partnerships to improve our city, Burney said. His efforts and leadership transformed (the) food bank into an agency ready to tackle any challenge  and when COVID devastated our community, Eric led the cure.

He praised Cooper for using his own personal journey finding his father to jump-start his mission for life.

Eric is symbolic of our citys response to COVID and the challenges that COVID caused, Burney said. His entire life was focused on being the right person at the right time to lead our community.
Many ceremonies and special services will be held on Thursday to commemorate Veterans Day and honor those who have served their country.

Heres a look at some of the events scheduled for the area.

Bridgeport

State and local officials will join Veterans Council of Greater Bridgeport, Inc. to honor military service men and women on Veterans Day. Scheduled events include a flag raising to signify appreciation for veterans and a ceremony in remembrance of the Armistice signing resulting in the end of World War I.

The flag raising will be at 9 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park with the ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Colonel Mucci Memorial Plaza at McLevy Hall.

Bridgeport Office of Veterans Affairs and the city are hosting a Celebration of Volunteers from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Italian Community Center, 2500 Park Ave.

Westport

Phil Delgado, of VFW Post 399, announced Westports Veterans Day services will be held on Thursday in the VFWs parking lot at 465 Riverside Ave. The program will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a patriotic concert by the Westport Community Band. The services will begin at 11 a.m. It will move inside if there is inclement weather.

It will also include remarks and a proclamation issued by First Selectman Jim Marpe and VFW Post 399 members will place a memorial wreath.

The public is invited and can use their judgment regarding masks, though non-vaccinated individuals must be masked if the event is moved indoors.

Milford

Milfords annual Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony honoring military veterans will be held in front of City Hall. The event will start at 10:45 a.m. on Nov. 11.

Shelton

The Sarah Riggs Humphreys-Mary Silliman Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, will have a brochure commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Shelton Farmers Market on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, starting at 10 a.m.

The public is invited to come and learn about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which was established in 1921 as the final resting place of an unknown soldier from World War I. Later remains were added from subsequent wars to represent all missing and unknown service members who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Members of the SRH-MS Chapter will be giving out free coffee, provided by Christopher Chuckta, manager at Dunkin Donuts, 733 Bridgeport Ave.

The SRH-MS Chapter also wishes to honor those Revolutionary War patriots at the Huntington Burial Ground by placing a bronze maker. For anyone making a $10 donation or more, hand-painted patriotic rocks will be available.

Fairfield

The annual Fairfield Veterans Day Ceremony, which is sponsored by American Legion Posts 74 and 143, will be held rain or shine at 11 a.m. on Thursday near the Veterans Wall of Honor on the Town Green, 611 Old Post Road.

The Town will be honoring the late Michael J. Daly, U.S. Army Veteran of World War II and life-long resident of Fairfield. Capt. Daly received the Medal of Honor, the U.S. militarys highest decoration for valor, for single handedly eliminating 15 German soldiers including a German patrol, and destroying three machine-gun nests. Recently, the Board of Selectmen voted to have a plaque with Dalys name installed at the base of the flagpole in front of Old Town Hall.

The public is welcome to attend this event.

The dress code for veterans attending the ceremony is blue and gray, and post commanders should bring unit colors and stand.

The Eunice Dennis Burr Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with the assistance of Boy Scout Troop 10, will provide a light lunch for veterans and their families after the ceremony on the lawn in front of the Old Fairfield Academy, at 635 Old Post Road near the Old Town Hall.

For more information, please call 203-256-3030.

Stratford

Stratford will honor the veterans a few days later with a a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the opening of the Stratford Veterans Museum, at 5952 Main Street Putney, at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The Stratford Museums mission is to recognize those veterans from Stratford who have served honorably in war and in peace and to act as a repository for their picture and their history of service. Visit the Museum website at http://www.stfdveteransmuseum.org.

There will be a flag raising by the VFW Post 9460 Honor Guard, an invocation by Father Nicholas Pavia, as well as remarks from Board President Bob Mastroni, Mayor Laura Hoydick and other dignitaries. WWII Veteran, Capt. Jim Morgia, now 99 years old, will sing the National Anthem.

Tours and refreshments will be offered and the open house will run from 1 to 3 p.m.
FAIRFIELD  Early in the morning on April 18, 1945, Lt. Michael Daly lead his company through the wreckage of Nuremberg, Germany when heavy machine gun fire caught his unit in an exposed position.

What he did next resulted in Daly being awarded the countrys highest military decoration  the Medal of Honor.

According to his official Medal of Honor citation, Daly dashed forward alone, and, as bullets whined about him, shot the three-man guncrew with his carbine. He then went on to single handedly eliminate three more groups of German soldiers, taking out two more machine gun nests and a patrol.

But Deirdre Daly, Michael Dalys daughter, said her late father was an incredibly giving person, and very humble. He died in 2008 at the age of 83.

If you would ask him about his service, he would say that The real heroes are people that didnt come back  not me, she said. When he returned from the war, he really dedicated his life to helping people.

The hometown hero and recipient of the nations highest military service award was honored at the towns Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday.

Approximately 100 residents, including town and state officials, scouts and dozens of veterans, gathered around the Veterans Wall of Honor late Thursday morning. Throughout the event, people spoke of what the holiday meant to them.

I believe in the saying Freedom does not come cheap, said Joe Lebinski, the adjutant of VFW 9427 and senior vice commander of American Legion Post 74, pointing to the names on the honor wall as evidence.

Chris DeWitt, the commander of American Legion Post 143 and the vice-chair of the Board of Finance, said it is important to recognize veterans who are still serving and those coming home in need, in addition to older ones.

Dalys name will also be honored with the dedication of the nearby flag pole.

First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said Selectman Tom Flynn presented the dedication idea to her several months ago. She said Daly was the definition of a true American and hometown hero.

Kupchick noted the Board of Selectman voted to have a plaque ordered to place at the base of the flag pole, adding it did not come in time because of supply chain issues.

Throughout the ceremony, everyone who spoke of Daly said he was dedicated to his community. Flynn said he had the pleasure of meeting Daly about 18 years ago when he first ran for public office.

What came across was what a humble man he was, and what an honorable human being he was, and how much he loved our country and how much he loved our town, Flynn said. So, the ability to recognize him as a town and naming the flag pole after him, makes the most sense to me.

Flynn said Daly represents the courage and honor of all of Fairfields veterans.

He was a giant in life, but an incredibly kind, gentle man despite his enormous heroic acts when he was only 19, Daly said of her father. What he was really about was caring for other human beings  all different kinds of people  he was a very grounded, unpretentious person.

She said her father spent many years working with St. Vincents Hospital, which has since named its emergency room after him. She said he was the type of person who went to everyones bedside when they were sick and to everyones funeral.

Her father did not talk much about his service in World War II, Daly said, adding that he found the movie Saving Private Ryan very realistic and had to leave the movie theater.

One interesting fact, Daly said, is that her father was awarded the Medal of Honor because his actions on April 18, and eventually married his wife Margaret Noble Wallace, who had that birthday.

Daly noted the plaque being put at the base of the flag pole is large and draws the eyes upward, inspiring hope  something everyone needs.

I think there is already a plaque near there in honor of John Sullivan, who was the first selectman for so many years, she said. My father and John Sullivan were really close friends. Its meaningful to us to think about the fact that they are going to be next to each other at the bottom of that strong, tall flagpole.

joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com
TOKYO (AP)  The head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Thursday met with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and reaffirmed America's commitment to achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific despite rising tensions amid China's increasingly assertive military actions.

Adm. John C. Aquilino was in Tokyo following a three-day joint session with Chief of Staff Koji Yamazaki that included a trip to Japan's southern islands, where they observed Japan Self-Defense Force exercises in the same region where Chinese warships have been repeatedly spotted.

Aquilino told Kishida he is committed to working with Japan to deliver a free and open Indo-Pacific and peace and stability and prosperity for the region.

He said the U.S.-Japan alliance is strong thanks to Japan and other allies and partners in the region.

The U.S. and Japan have been promoting the goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific to ensure peace, free navigation and rule-based international order in the key international sea lanes, a move also joined by Australia and India in a framework known as the Quad. The strategic dialogue is seen as a move to counter Chinas increasing influence in the region.

Britain and France, as well as some other European nations, have also shifted their attention to the region and recently conducted joint military exercises. Some of these countries are also participating in the United Nations Security Council's surveillance mission in the regional seas to monitor illegal North Korean maritime activities.

Aquilino's trip follows recent visits by top navy officials from Britain and Germany.

Kishida told Aquilino he wants to further promote cooperation with the United States in the region "for the stability of the region and the international community."

Earlier Thursday, Aquilino met with Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and the two discussed recent developments related to North Korea's missile and nuclear development.

China, which claims most of the disputed South China Sea as well as Japanese-held islands in the East China Sea, has defended its growing maritime activities and says it has the right to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

Japanese officials say Chinese vessels routinely violate Japanese territorial waters around the islands in the East China Sea, sometimes threatening fishing boats.
PARIS (AP)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Wednesday that their countries are ready to work together again, after a diplomatic drama surrounding a submarine deal that put the relationship at a historic low.

Harris met with Macron in the evening at the Elysee presidential palace, as part of a weeks-long effort by Washington to mend relations with France, Americas oldest ally.

Harris four-day trip to Paris comes after President Joe Biden told Macron the U.S. had been clumsy in handling the submarine issue, during a meeting in Rome, Italy on Oct. 29. Biden didnt formally apologize to Macron, but conceded the U.S. should not have caught its oldest ally by surprise. The secretly negotiated U.S.-British submarine deal with Australia led to a prior deal with France being scrapped.

Macron on Wednesday said he had had a very fruitful meeting with Biden. We do share the view that we are at the beginning of a new era and our cooperation is absolutely critical for this one, he said.

Echoing the French presidents comments, Harris said: I think we share this belief that we are at the beginning of a new era, which presents us with many challenges, but also many opportunities.

Building on the great conversation that you and President Biden had, I look forward to the next few days. Well work together and renew the focus that weve always had on a partnership, she added.

She said that they were to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, cooperation on space and climate change, amid other topics.

Earlier Wednesday, Harris paid her respects to Americans who died in the two world wars and are buried in a cemetery overlooking the Paris skyline. To the notes of Taps, Harris laid a wreath in their honor and met with U.S. military service members at the Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial.

Among the more than 1,500 graves was that of Inez Crittenden, a World War I switchboard operator from Harris' hometown of Oakland. Noting that was one of the few jobs women could have at the time, Harris said, We're very proud of her memory and her service.

Crittenden died on Armistice Day  Nov. 11, 1918  from pneumonia, likely caused by the flu pandemic of the era. Harris will attend Armistice Day commemorations in France on Thursday.
Part 1 of 2 Articles (Part 2 Here)

Rejection used to be common for medical sociologist Thomas LaVeist when he tried to get his research published on the effects of racism on the health of black people. Now, said the 60-year-old dean of Tulane Universitys School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, I have those same journals asking me to write articles for them.

LaVeists experience illustrates the dramatic transformation in medical research, accelerating in the past few years. While few would dispute that black Americans are more prone to chronic health problems and have shorter life expectancies than whites, the medical community generally sought answers in biology, genetics and lifestyle. Research, like LaVeists, that focused on racism was frowned upon as lacking rigor or relevance, an amateurish detour from serious intellectual inquiry.

Today medical journal editors are clamoring for a racial lens and apologizing for what they call their past moral blindness. In recent years, and especially since Black Lives Matter protests erupted last year, systemic racism has been transformed from a fringe theory to a canonical truth.

Medical researchers are now able to offer a sweeping socio-political explanation for racial health disparities by citing the hundreds of peer-reviewed articles authored by LaVeist and a host of others, thus conferring upon the study of systemic racism the imprimatur of scholarly authority and even settled science.

This year, top officials at the National Institutes of Health issued an apology to all who have suffered from structural racism in biomedical research. The NIH, the nations largest funder of biomedical research, announced that it is dedicating $90 million to the study of health disparities and structural racism, engaging in more than 60 diversity and inclusion initiatives, and committing every tool at our disposal to remediate the chronic problem of structural racism.

In an August special issue dedicated to racial health disparities, the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association stated that systemic racism is a scientific fact beyond dispute, and disagreeing on this point is wrong, misguided and uninformed. Systemic racism is a reality to be assumed in medical research rather than a sociological hypothesis to be tested by skeptical researchers.

Deemed incontestable, systemic racism provides the political rationale for dismantling  in the words of no less an authority than the National Institutes of Health  the social institutions and cultural standards that, according to the frameworks advocates, were constructed and are maintained to uphold white supremacy.

The consequences of ignoring this new prime directive for racially focused research were made abundantly clear this year when the top two editors of JAMA were pressured to resign after the organization ran a podcast that questioned whether systemic racism explains health disparities between blacks and other Americans.

When JAMA sends a call for paper on structural racism, when the NIH director sends out an apology letter for racism in the NIH and when the CDC for the first time uses the term racism, these are highest-level determinants of what research will be done in coming years in this country, said Shervin Assari, an associate professor of family medicine and urban public health at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, one of four historically black medical schools in the nation.

This is the first time the NIH has issued a call for research on structural racism. This is the first time JAMA fires an editor who said something wrong about racism, said Assari, who has published more than 350 papers on race, social determinants and health equity. Now NIH is paying good money to the best researchers in this country who are competing to understand how structural racism works, rather than if it exists.

Systemic racism, generally unseen but known by its perceived effects, doesnt directly cause diabetes, hypertension or depression, but it purportedly creates the living conditions in which chronic conditions opportunistically thrive, advocates say. Such living conditions include unsafe neighborhoods, aggressive policing, substandard schools, discriminatory workplaces, inferior medical care and the resulting stress, despair and self-destructive behavior, the theory states.

To institutionalize its new policy, JAMA is revising its peer review standards and diversifying its ranks to advance health care equity, a term that refers to narrowing or even eliminating racial health disparities in chronic conditions and life expectancies. Similar steps are being adopted throughout the medical profession  by the cluster-hiring of minority applicants, hiring of diversity and equity officers, and training staff on white privilege, implicit bias, microaggressions, and allyship.

A lead editorial in the August special issue, co-signed by 15 people, including JAMAs newly installed executive editor and executive managing editor, along with other JAMA leaders, said all medical journals are morally obligated to assume systemic racism as a fact and document this fact in their research.

At this point in the arc of medicine and scientific publication, JAMA stated, it is crucial for all journals to fulfill renewed editorial and journal missions that include a heightened and appropriate emphasis on equity and publication of information that addresses structural racism with the goal of overcoming its effects in medicine and health care.

This rapid turn of events has blindsided traditional doctors, who are put off by the intense focus on race and the strong rhetoric.

The spectacle of the gatekeepers of medical publications announcing a political blueprint that medical authors must follow  or else  is pretty breathtaking, Thomas Huddle, who retired this year as professor at the medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said by email.

The medical gatekeepers are in the grip of a moral panic, said Huddle, who has published on medical ethics and edited several medical journals. The JAMA convulsion over the podcast was positively Maoist in its fervor for achieving moral correctness and purging the impure.

It's an open secret that some find the systemic explanation to be nothing more than leftist polemic, while others are skeptical it convincingly explains everything it claims to explain. These skeptics worry about the career implications of publicly dissenting from the new orthodoxy, but it's not inconceivable that blaming an entire national culture for racial disparities will prompt independent scholars and conservative think tanks to produce opposing research that explores black-on-black murder, racial disparities in IQ testing and other taboo subjects.

The dramatic transformation sweeping through the health care profession is not happening in a vacuum. It mirrors social justice movements committed to exposing structural racism that allegedly pervades education, criminal justice, the arts, hard sciences and other domains of U.S. society. Activists in those fields, as well as medicine, talk of dismantling white supremacy and other structures that operate by means of race-neutral laws and colorblind norms that cause racial and gender power imbalances and harm non-white groups.

Skeptical physicians say that medical journal editors are essentially replacing the scientific method with a political ideology, namely critical race theory, and leaving little room for alternative explanations  such as personal agency or cultural differences.

Theres a tremendous amount of groupthink, said Stanley Goldfarb, a former dean for curriculum who taught about kidney disease at the University of Pennsylvania medical school before retiring this summer. If you dont agree with all that, youre a bad person.

This is an argument that youre not allowed to have  thats the problem here, said Goldfarb, who has served on the editorial boards of three medical journals and was editor-in-chief of a nephrology journal.

Racial health disparities underlie the four-year gap in black-white life expectancy in the United States. The factors that contribute to this disparity include chronic conditions, unintentional injuries, suicide and homicide, which is the leading cause of death for black males aged 44 and younger. Scholars committed to the systemic racism explanation blame the disproportionately high crime rates in poor black neighborhoods on discrimination, substandard schools and other manifestations of systemic racism.

The body of research into racial health disparities has broken into the mainstream after establishing credibility through the time-honored system of academic citations and referrals. Since LaVeist began his work in the 1990s, a small stream of articles has swelled into a critical mass that now allows medical researchers to assume systemic racism as a proven fact and cite the evidence in footnotes, as established knowledge, instead of arguing the case each time.

When the weight of the evidence becomes so overwhelming that we reach consensus, we no longer continue to question whether or not [it is true], LaVeist said. We dont question gravity anymore because the consensus is that gravity is a thing.

One of the JAMA articles in the August special issue found that the major health care spending disparity is that whites spend more on dental, pharmaceutical, and outpatient care, while blacks spend more on emergency room and inpatient hospital care, suggesting that black people are more likely to be uninsured and otherwise lack access to routine medical care.

Instead of detailing the precise reasons that may explain this gap, the authors invoke previous articles: There are many mechanisms that have already been identified that explain how structural racism shapes health and healthcare.

In a phone interview, the lead author, Joseph Dieleman, associate professor of health metric sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said: These are taken as a given by us. These are not to be debated, or being tested, in our analysis.

Health Affairs, dubbed by a Washington Post columnist as the bible of health policy, is redoubling its focus on systemic racism, anti-racism, and equity, not only in its published content but also in attending to the racial makeup of its published authors and reviewers.

We acknowledge that the dominant voices in our work are those with power and privilege, Editor-in-Chief Alan Weil wrote in January. Even as we have dramatically increased the volume of our content focused on equity, the narrative has primarily been written by those in power. We vow to change this.

Weil, who was trained in critical legal theory, a precursor to critical race theory, as a Harvard law student in the 1980s, said in a phone interview that the concepts of merit and quality are often used to maintain power and privilege, and these structures must be examined for bias.

Were just talking about  forgive the language that is used by the believers  interrogating ourselves, Weil said.

Systemic racism, a core tenet of critical race theory, doesnt have a settled definition but it has broad applicability. One of the peculiar features of systemic racism is that the mechanism is not evident to those who are not initiated into the theory, but ubiquitous to its acolytes.

For best-selling and award-winning author Ibram X. Kendi, whose writings are considered essential reading at some medical schools, any disparity can signify racism. The concept can refer to all manner of disparate outcomes  in murder rates, arrest rates, life expectancies, education levels, school discipline, household income, standardized tests scores and grades  even in the fact that black people are nowhere to be seen in the corridor portraits of medical school dignitaries and are underrepresented in symphony orchestras.

There is no official definition of structural racism, states a recent article in The New England Journal of Medicine. All definitions make clear that racism is not simply the result of private prejudices held by individuals, but is also produced and reproduced by laws, rules, and practices, sanctioned and even implemented by various levels of government, and embedded in the economic system as well as in cultural and societal norms.

One line of attack against the status quo is the movement to eliminate long-accepted practices to promote merit and excellence that, according to activists, operate as colorblind mechanisms to produce unequal outcomes: gifted and talented programs, gifted schools, and admissions tests for elite high schools, as well as standardized test scores for university admission. In medicine, the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination test is changing from a graded score to pass/fail to help minority students, while Northwestern University and its Feinberg School of Medicine are promoting diversity by eliminating a six-decade-old Honors Program in Medical Education.

Still, the concept provides special challenges for medicine. Unlike bacteria, for instance, systemic racism is an invisible force that can only be measured indirectly, by its perceived effects. Nevertheless, LaVeist is convinced that systemic racism is the best explanation for racial health disparities because the correlation of race and health is consistent across numerous studies for multiple chronic conditions.

We cannot make direct causal inferences. The best we can do is look at plausible causality, LaVeist said. What we have is a case where once youve ruled out all of the plausible explanations, the only thing left is systemic racism.

LaVeist and Weil agree that health and other disparities can have other causes than systemic racism, and good scholarship should be cognizant of other potential variables. LaVeist said that without allowing for other factors, people of color would have no free will, but it is important to note that African American culture is also shaped by white racism.

One of LaVeists early co-authored papers that was rejected by several journals before finding a publisher concluded that black people who experience rudeness at the hands of white people have longer life expectancies if they blame systemic racism, or some other external factor, for being treated disrespectfully.

An implication of the study: Even if the rude behavior by the white person isnt caused by racism or an external factor, its strategically beneficial for black people to attribute the rudeness to someone elses racism, boorishness or insensitivity, rather than blaming themselves.

Yes  racism, or some other external attribution, LaVeist said. If you make an external attribution, that is going to be healthier than you thinking, Oh theyre right, I am a bad person, I deserve to be mistreated.

Assari specializes in the study of diminished returns in quality of life and health that black people and other marginalized groups experience as they gain education and income in U.S. society. His research contends that black people reap fewer benefits  such as income and health  as they rise in education, compared to white people, which he attributes to structural racism. He has written half of the 300-some academic papers on that subject cited by the National Library of Medicine.

He makes connections that would not be self-evident to someone who lacks training in his specialty. One of his recent papers, published in the Journal of Health Economics, says that Americans are less likely to smoke as their income level rises. But that rule doesnt hold for high-income Chinese Americans, who are more likely to smoke as they generate more income. So Assari postulates that upwardly mobile Chinese Americans resort to nicotine as a means of coping with the anti-Asian bias they encounter in this countrys elite institutions.

Yet, he also said that even though the anti-racist movement seems invincible now, overweening claims about systemic racism will eventually invite scholarly criticism, especially if equity policies and interventions now being implemented fail to deliver results.

I think there will be a very strong backlash against critical race theory very soon, Assari said. I dont think it is sustainable. And it is falsifiable. So there would be an anti-CRT movement among other group of social scientists.

Nevertheless, Assari said systemic racism is a reliable theoretical framework because it parsimoniously explains the marginalization of many racial groups.

This is one model which explains many of our observations, Assari said.

A theory is [reliable] when an observation or assumption holds regardless of the context, setting, place, population, design, sample. It is replicated many times across a diverse group of settings, age groups, resources, and outcomes.

LaVeist said segregation, much of it rooted in historical practices such as redlining and Jim Crow, is the primary driver of disparities. Poor neighborhoods are generally more polluted, closer to highways and industrial zones, and have less access to quality restaurants, grocery stores, public schools, and green spaces. Such environments tend to breed despair, which leads to crime and an overly aggressive police response.

The constant stress of dealing with these hassles and micro-aggressions wears on the body, research into health disparities says, echoing arguments made by critical race theorists in the 1980s. One medical paper, published in The Lancet in 2017 and cited more than 1,500 times as of November, says that residential segregation is the foundation of structural racism, and notes that growing research is linking interpersonal racism to various biomarkers of disease and well-being, including allostatic load, inflammatory markers, and hormonal dysregulation.

There are those who say the medical establishment is not going far enough in this research direction.

The STAT News health information website reported in September that anti-racism and equity have become so trendy that white scholars are colonizing research on health disparities. According to the STAT investigation, white researchers are caught up in a gold rush mentality and rushing to scoop up grants and publish papers. The white scholars are replicating work done by black researchers without giving sufficient credit, a new form of exploitation practiced by health equity tourists and opportunistic scientific carpetbaggers.

One of the worst offenders: JAMAs August special issue on health disparities. Not one of the five research papers published in the issue included a Black lead or corresponding author, and just one lead author was Hispanic, STAT reported.

Weil sympathizes with these concerns and said Health Affairs is creating a mentorship program to help scholars of color get their papers published in the journal. Weil, who said about 5% of submitted papers are accepted for publication at Health Affairs, is confident that dismantling power and privilege wont necessitate compromising standards of excellence, and he considers such criticisms to be generally false and intentionally inflammatory.

Equitable representation should be the outcome of an equitable process, not the jerry-rigged result of a change of standards for one group  that is not where we want to be, Weil said. So if the fix here is an equitable outcome by lowering standards for a certain group, our readers will notice, and thats not the end point Im looking for.

Weils biggest concern is not that the anti-racist movement in medical research will go too far, but that the momentum and resolve will fizzle out.

I think its very hard to tell where you are on a swinging pendulum when youre in the middle of it, he said. I am much more concerned that this will become a rote exercise where everyone genuflects to anti-racism but does nothing about it, than I am that this is an overcorrection.

jmurawski@realclearinvestigations.com
(The Center Square)  Americans should expect to pay significantly more to heat their homes this winter, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says.

When asked in a Sunday interview on CNN if energy costs would go up, she said, Yes, this is going to happen. It will be more expensive this year than last year. We are in a slightly beneficial position, certainly relative to Europe, because their chokehold of natural gas is significant. Theyll pay five times higher.

Heating prices could increase 50% this winter, the Energy Information Agency warns. We expect that the nearly half of U.S. households that heat primarily with natural gas will spend 30% more than they spent last winter on average  50% more if the winter is 10% colder-than-average and 22% more if the winter is 10% warmer-than-average.

The EIA said it expects the 41% of households that heat primarily with electricity to spend 6% more  15% more in a colder winter and 4% more in a warmer winter.

Likewise, the 5% of households that heat primarily with propane will spend 54% more  94% more in a colder winter and 29% more in a warmer winter, and the 4% of households that heat primarily with heating oil will spend 43% more  59% more in a colder winter and 30% more in a warmer winter.

In a Nov. 5 Bloomberg News interview about the administration not boosting domestic oil production to help lower prices and relying on foreign oil production instead, Granholm laughed.

Bloombergs Tom Keene asked her, "What is the Granholm plan to increase oil production in America?" She laughed, saying, "That is hilarious. Would that I had the magic wand on this."

She added, As you know, of course, oil is a global market. It is controlled by a cartel. That cartel is called OPEC, and they made a decision yesterday that they were not going to increase beyond what they were already planning.

But those in the oil industry argue costs wouldnt be rising so drastically if President Joe Biden hadnt shut down the Keystone XL pipeline construction, or halted domestic production of oil and gas on federal lands, among other regulatory measures hes advanced.

In October and again on Nov. 4, Biden asked OPEC+ to produce more oil, which the Saudi-led alliance rejected twice.

The White House National Security Council recently said in a statement, Our view is that the global recovery should not be imperiled by a mismatch between supply and demand. OPEC+ seems unwilling to use the capacity and power it has now at this critical moment of global recovery for countries around the world, suggesting that Americans rely on foreign production instead of the untapped supply its capable of producing.

Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil & Gas Association, told The Center Square, "Global demand for oil and natural gas continues to increase as economies stabilize and more people are on the move. Supply remains tight globally and we need policies here in the United States that encourage domestic production, not discourage it, to meet our growing energy needs without depending on other nations."

Texas remains the largest producer of oil and gas in the nation, and the world. But energy regulations and proposed taxes in the Democrats budget reconciliation package would make the U.S. further dependent on foreign sources of energy, U.S. groups argue.

Seven Democratic U.S. representatives from Texas called on House and Senate leaders to not target the oil and gas industry in the budget reconciliation bill. Doing so, they argue, has the potential to cost thousands of jobs, stifle economic recovery, increase energy costs for all Americans, strengthen our adversaries, and ultimately impede the transition to a lower carbon future.

The proposed tax changes in the bill will further cut domestic production and endanger domestic refining capacity while increasing demand for oil from OPEC+ countries, they argue.

Twenty-four Republican senators also wrote a letter to Biden saying it was "astonishing that your Administration is now seeking assistance from an international oil cartel when America has sufficient domestic supply and reserves to increase output which would reduce gasoline prices.

"Your Administrations domestic oil and gas development policies are hurting American consumers and workers, are contrary to an America First energy agenda, and reinforce a reliance on foreign oil.

According to a recent economic study from the Wyoming Energy Authority, the cost of Bidens ban on federal leasing will be significant. In his first term, Gross Domestic Product across eight western states is expected to decline by $33.5 billion. An estimated 58,676 jobs will be lost annually, wages would drop by $15 billion, and state tax revenue would plummet by roughly $8.3 billion. Wyoming and New Mexico are expected to be hit hardest.
The U.S. violent crime rate -- an annual, population-adjusted measure of cases of rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and homicide -- climbed by 5% in 2020. The increase was driven by a rise in aggravated assault and, most notably, a historic 29% surge in homicides that made 2020 the deadliest year in the United States since the mid-1990s.

Despite the largest single-year increase in homicides on record, the overall violent crime rate in 2020 remains relatively low by historical standards. There were 1.3 million violent crimes reported in the U.S. in 2020, or 399 for every 100,000 people. For context, the violent crime rate ranged between 523 and 758 incidents per 100,000 throughout the 1990s.

Of course, crime is a local phenomenon influenced by a wide range of factors. As a result, violent crime rates in the U.S. can vary considerably from place to place -- and in some metro areas, rates of violence far exceed the nation-level highs recorded in decades past.

There were 1,152 violent crimes reported in the Billings, Montana, metro area in 2020, or 627 for every 100,000 people. Like much of the country, the area is suffering from a surge in violence. According to the Billings Police Department, domestic violence calls increased by 25% in 2020 and assaults on police officers and assaults with a weapon each increased by 50%.

In response to the rising violence, Billings residents passed a ballot initiative in November 2021 that will allocate $7.1 million to address the rising rates of violence. That money is in addition to the extra $5 million allocated to public safety in 2020.

Metro areas are ranked on their violent crime rate using data from the FBI's 2020 Uniform Crime Report. Additional data on specific crimes are also from the 2020 FBI UCR. Poverty rates are one-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2019 American Community Survey.
BOZEMAN, Mt., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Gravis Law Business Team is pleased to welcome Attorney Christopher Young to the Firm. Mr. Young brings 20+ years of experience and passion defending his clients' civil liberties. Christopher's family has deep roots in Montana, having homesteaded in the late 1800s. His law school years and career brought a diverse set of skills and opportunities on the east coast, from representing Fortune 50 financial institutions as well as individuals. Now returned to the Bozeman area since 2014, Chris joins the growing Gravis Law Montana team with additional offices in Whitefish and Kalispell.

"We're very excited to welcome Chris Young to Gravis Law's Business Team. His 20+ years of experience and broad expertise in civil litigation, civil rights matters, and cannabis regulation and compliance will be a great fit for our innovative business practice," said Jeff Heutmaker, Principal and Senior Business Attorney at Gravis Law. "We're also looking forward to a new presence in Bozeman so that we can deepen Gravis Law's involvement in the Montana startup community. Our Securities Law and Mergers & Acquisitions practice areas are well-suited to serving the growing technology community in Bozeman, throughout the State of Montana, and the Rocky Mountain region."

Chris is excited to join the Gravis Law Team. "Joining Gravis is an amazing opportunity to support the rights of all Montanans and beyond, which has always been my passion," said Chris Young, Senior Attorney. "Together, we can make lasting changes in people's lives." With Young's current practice in litigation, civil rights, cannabis regulation and compliance, and personal injury, Gravis also offers a full suite of legal services in business, bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, consumer protection, tax law, real estate, criminal defense, estate planning, probate, and family law.

Gravis Law PLLC serves people and communities across the nation by providing uncomplicated access to world-class legal services. Since being founded in 2013, Gravis Law has grown from one location in Richland, WA, with five employees to nineteen locations across the country and more than 150 employees. Gravis Law leverages industry-leading technology and a team-based approach to bring exceptional legal solutions to all their markets.

Media Contact

Joshua Penner, Gravis Law, PLLC, +1 3609393080, media@gravislaw.com

Randi L Johnson, Chief Communications Officer, Gravis Law, rjohnson@gravislaw.com

SOURCE Gravis Law, PLLC
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, famously known as The Black Farmer, has launched a new pack of sausages to raise money for Remembrance Day.

Ten pence from every sale of the Poppy Sausage fundraising packs, available in retailers nationally, will go toward charity.

The packs have been designed by former Grenadier Guardsman Dougie Adams, a war veteran who finds comfort in painting following the trauma of war in Afghanistan and a diagnosis of PTSD.

The sausages are available in Pork Tomato & Basil and a Chicken Tomato & Basil, and will help raise funds for the charity The Not Forgotten, which supported Dougie in his recovery.

The Remembrance Day sausages are available in retailers across the UK

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones said: "After hearing Dougies story and many more like his, I figured that the one thing all we humans have in common is food.

"This should be a reminder to us all to put our hands in our pockets and give generously to support those who have given so much for us, not just in November but all the year round.

"Wherever this Poppy Sausage is sold people can be confident that a donation will be going to The Not Forgotten, a charity which has been an important source of support for Dougie in his recovery."

The Not Forgotten have been supporting wounded service personnel and disabled veterans for over 100 years through a programme of social activities, challenges and peer-to-peer events.
A series of roadshow events have commenced aiming to help sheep farmers across the country come to grips with the industry's biggest change in generations.

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is meeting sheep producers this winter to discuss the industry's role in an ever-changing environment.

In a series of face-to-face roadshows, the trade body is seeking to instil confidence following Brexit and the pandemic's impact on the sector.

The UK is also on the cusp of big changes in trade patterns with agreements advanced with Australia and New Zealand, both major sheep producing countries.

Because of these factors, the NSA along with representatives from UK levy boards will share their approaches to farming successfully in the future.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said: NSA is working tirelessly to defend sheep farming, to position it as one of the solutions to many of the worlds challenges, and to take actions to turn opportunities into reality.

"Come along to hear about some of the work being done and also to hear from our members about the route they are taking to succeed in the future.

The UK-wide roadshows are free to attend and will be taking place throughout this month and December.

All roadshows begin at 7pm unless otherwise stated:

 NSA Eastern Region - Thursday 11th November, Heath Court Hotel, Newmarket, CB8 8DY, 6.30pm

 NSA Northern Region  Tuesday 16th November, Darlington Auction Mart, DL2 2XX

 NSA Central Region  Thursday 18th November, Leek Auction Centre, ST13 5PY

 NSA Marches Region  Thursday 2nd December, Worcester Livestock Market, WR4 0SQ

 NSA Northern Ireland Region  Monday 6th December, location TBC

 NSA South West Region - Tuesday 7th December, The Globe, Topsham, EX3 0HR

 NSA Scottish Region  Monday 13th December, Stirling Auction Mart, FK9 4RN

 NSA Cymru / Wales Region  Tuesday 14th December, location TBC

 NSA South East Region  Thursday 16th December, Ashford Cattle Market, TN24 0HB
The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike.

We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve.
What started as a quest to find an affordable commercial kitchen for their growing meal delivery and catering business ended with Hailey Allen and chef Bryan Sparks announcing plans to reopen a beloved Waldo restaurant. The Classic Cookie & Cafe, which the duo will run in conjuction with their meal service company, is now set to open by the end of the year.

After spending the last year renting kitchens all over Kansas City, the married couple decided to find a full-time commercial kitchen where they could prep and cook for Beloved On The Go, a business that they both quit their jobs to start a year into the pandemic. They named the company after their daughter, Esme.

We had both been working in the industry, Allen says. Bryans experience has mostly been with independently owned places, while I have had more corporate dining experience, but we both know our way around the industry. When he started talking about this idea of doing a meal delivery service, it was impossible for me not to want to be a part of it. We started working together on it, and within six weeks, we had designed the menu, found a kitchen and launched the website. Weve been in the kitchen together ever since.

Sparks had heard that The Classic Cookie & Cafe was for sale, and he immediately set up an appointment to see the kitchen. Ellen Klem and Bob Rosson purchased the business from the original owner, Leslie Stockard, who ran it for more than 30 years until she decided to close the cafe last fall. Klem and Rosson tried to get it off the ground again, but they found the business too challenging during such tough times and decided to sell.
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Forza Petroleum achieves fifth consecutive quarterly profit; expects to complete three additional wells before year-end

Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 10, 2021) - Forza Petroleum Limited (TSX: FORZ) ("Forza Petroleum" or the "Corporation") today announces its financial and operational results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. All dollar amounts set forth in this news release are in United States dollars.

Financial Highlights:

Revenue of $48.7 million for Q3 2021, consisting of an average realized sales price of $56.81/barrel of oil ("bbl") on working interest oil sales of 718,500 bbl and $7.9 million in recovery of carried costs

- The Corporation has received full payment in accordance with production sharing contract entitlements for all oil sales into the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline through August 2021, including full recovery of previously deferred receivables relating to November 2019 through February 2020 oil sales

Field production costs, representing the Corporation's working interest share of operating expenses, of $4.7 million ($6.57/bbl) for Q3 2021 versus $4.6 million ($6.57/bbl) for Q3 2020

- Field production costs per bbl are flat versus the comparable period as a 3% increase in production volumes was offset by a 3% increase in absolute costs

Profit of $7.6 million ($0.01 per common share) in Q3 2021 versus profit of $30.1 million in Q3 2020 ($0.05 per common share) which result was boosted by a one-time gain of $26.9 million recorded on the settlement of a loan facility





Net cash generated from operating activities was $13.9 million in Q3 2021 versus $3.6 million in Q3 2020





Net cash used in investing activities during Q3 2021 was $7.7 million, including payments related to drilling and facilities work in the Hawler license area, versus $3.3 million in Q3 2020





$19.5 million of cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2021

Operations Update:

Average gross (100%) oil production of 12,000 bbl/d (working interest 7,800 bbl/d) in Q3 2021, down marginally versus Q2 2021 as a result of shut-ins at the Zey Gawra field during July 2021 to replace leased processing facilities with lower cost facilities and anticipated declines in oil production rates at the Zey Gawra field





Although the Banan-8 and Zey Gawra-6 wells, completed in May 2021 and August 2021, respectively, contributed incremental production during the third quarter, efforts continue to optimize production from the two wells





A horizontal sidetrack of the previously drilled Demir Dagh-2 well targeting the Cretaceous reservoir was completed in September 2021 and is now the second most prolific producer in the Hawler license area, contributing approximately 2,000 bbl/d to gross (100%) export volume





The Corporation mobilized a second drilling rig and, during September 2021, both a Demir Dagh well targeting the Cretaceous reservoir and a Zey Gawra well targeting the Tertiary reservoir were spudded, representing the fifth and sixth wells of an active year for the Corporation





Equipment was mobilized in October 2021 to begin construction of the gathering system to serve the western flank of the Hawler license area





The worldwide outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, including within Iraq, has not significantly impacted operations. The Corporation has taken precautions to protect its employees and contractors but does not at this time expect that the virus outbreak will restrict operations

Q4 2021 Forecasted Capital Expenditures:

Forza Petroleum forecasts $48 million of capital expenditure for 2021, down from $62 million forecast on August 10, 2021, resulting from lower than estimated drilling costs, delays in construction of the West Hawler gathering system, and unscheduled well interventions delaying certain planned activity





For the balance of 2021, the Corporation plans to complete the Demir Dagh-12 and Zey Gawra-7 wells that are currently being drilled, to spud and complete the first well in the Demir Dagh Tertiary reservoir, to complete a workover on the Zey Gawra-6 well completed earlier in the year, and to spud a well targeting the Tertiary reservoir of the Zey Gawra field





The Corporation also plans to complete the installation of the river crossing portion of the West Hawler gathering system flowlines and to undertake other minor facilities and maintenance projects

2022 Budgeted Capital Expenditures:

Forza Petroleum budgeted capital expenditures for 2022 are $81 million and dedicated exclusively to the Hawler license area. Planned investments include:

11 wells including, in no particular order, completion of the Zey Gawra Tertiary well to be spudded in December 2021 and a second well targeting the Zey Gawra Tertiary reservoir, a Zey Gawra Cretaceous well, a well targeting the Cretaceous reservoir in a previously undrilled structure west of the currently developed Zey Gawra field, two side tracks of existing wells targeting the Demir Dagh Cretaceous reservoir, three additional wells targeting the Demir Dagh Cretaceous reservoir, the completion of the Ain Al Safra-2 well that was suspended prior to testing the Triassic reservoir due to the invasion of ISIS in 2014, and a well targeting the Cretaceous reservoir of the Banan field east of the Great Zab river;





processing facilities and pipelines connecting each of the Banan field and the Zey Gawra field to the Hawler production facilities at the Demir Dagh field; and





pads, flowlines and infrastructure modifications needed to accommodate incremental drilling and production and to reduce operating costs.

Liquidity Outlook:

The Corporation expects cash on hand as of September 30, 2021 and cash receipts from net revenues from export sales exclusively through the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline to fund its forecasted capital expenditures and operating and administrative costs through the end of December 2022.

CEO's Comment

Commenting today, Forza Petroleum's Chief Executive Officer, Vance Querio, stated:

"Another quarter of record revenue bolsters our earlier decision to contract a second drilling rig and to accelerate investment in the Hawler license area. We anticipate completing another three wells and increasing production over current rates before the end of the year.

Production rate gains are also anticipated from wells completed earlier this year as well interventions are completed and facilities are optimized to support these wells. The success of the Demir Dagh-2 side track, completed in September, gives us renewed confidence in the potential of the Demir Dagh Cretaceous reservoir, where we have our largest volume of proved plus probable (2P) oil reserves, which will continue to be a focus of our investment plans for 2022.

We have budgeted $81 million of capital expenditure for 2022 exclusively for the Hawler license area. The drilling or completion of eleven wells are planned, including completion of the Ain Al Safra-2 well in the Triassic reservoir and a well targeting an undrilled segment of the Zey Gawra field. We forecast that cash generated from operating activities will be sufficient to fund our most aggressive work program since 2015.

I would like to acknowledge the unsurpassed commitment and efforts of our staff and the support of our board of directors and the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, without which our ambitious plans could not be achieved. With our success in 2021 as a foundation we expect to produce more oil and generate more revenue in 2022 than ever before."

Selected Financial Results

Financial results are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and the reporting currency is US dollars. References in this news release to the "Group" refer to Forza Petroleum and its subsidiaries. The following table summarizes selected financial highlights for Forza Petroleum for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and September 30, 2020, as well as the year ended December 31, 2020.

Three Months

Ended September 30 Nine Months

Ended September 30 Year Ended

December 31 ($ in millions unless otherwise indicated) 2021 2020 2021 2020 2020 Revenue 48.7 22.0 130.1 58.1 82.0 Working Interest (WI) Production (bbl) 717,200 702,000 2,123,400 1,783,000 2,511,500 Average WI Production per day (bbl/d) 7,800 7,600 7,800 6,500 6,900 Working Interest Oil Sales (bbl) 718,500 698,900 2,123,000 1,783,200 2,512,100 Average Realized Sales Price ($/bbl) 56.81 26.35 51.34 28.55 28.23 Operating Expense 7.3 7.1 20.7 18.3 24.8 Field Production Costs ($/bbl)(1) 6.57 6.57 6.35 7.38 6.93 Operating expenses ($/bbl) 10.10 10.11 9.77 10.25 9.87 Profit (Loss) 7.6 30.1 33.1 (223.3 ) (108.7 ) Basic and Diluted Earnings / (Loss)

per Share ($/sh) 0.01 0.05 0.06 (0.40 ) (0.19 ) Net Cash generated from

Operating Activities 13.9 3.6 29.8 13.5 22.1 Net Cash used in Investing Activities (7.7 ) (3.3 ) (18.5 ) (12.4 ) (18.8 ) Capital Expenditure(2) 10.0 2.0 25.3 6.7 18.1 Cash and Cash Equivalents 19.5 11.0 19.5 11.0 13.2 Total Assets 605.8 491.0 605.8 491.0 605.4 Total Liabilities 115.8 149.2 115.8 149.2 149.0 Total Equity 489.9 341.8 489.9 341.8 456.4

(1)Field production costs represent Forza Petroleum's working interest share of gross production costs and exclude the partner share of production costs carried by Forza Petroleum.

(2)Excludes non-cash additions / (credits) relating to the change in estimates used to calculate the decommissioning obligation.

Revenue increased to $48.7 million in Q3 2021 versus $22.0 million in Q3 2020. Revenue from oil sales increased $22.4 million due primarily to a 116% increase in realized average oil sales prices and a 3% increase in oil sales volumes. Gross (working interest) sales of oil in Q3 2021 were 718,500 barrels versus 698,900 barrels for Q3 2020. Sales volumes for the earlier period were impacted by the continuation of a temporary shut-in of Banan field production for the first ten days of July 2020. The average oil sales price realized in Q3 2021 was $56.81 per barrel versus $26.35 for Q3 2020. In addition to oil sales, revenue for Q3 2021 includes the recovery of $7.9 million of carried costs.





Operating expense, which includes the Corporation's carry of partner costs, increased to $7.3 million in Q3 2021 versus $7.1 million in Q3 2020. Some savings accrued during the earlier period from the continuation of a temporary shut-in of Banan field production. Operating expenses on a per barrel basis were flat in Q3 2021 versus Q3 2020. A 3% increase in operating expense was offset by a 3% increase in sales volumes.





General and administration expense decreased to $1.5 million in Q3 2021 versus $3.4 million in Q3 2020 due primarily to lower personnel costs resulting from corporate restructuring activity during 2020. Of this general and administration expense, 54% is forecast to be cost recoverable from the Corporation's oil and gas operations.





Profit for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was $7.6 million compared to $30.1 million for Q3 2020. Profit for the three months ended September 30, 2020 includes a one-time gain of $26.9 million recorded upon settlement of a loan facility.





Sales volumes were 3% higher in Q3 2021 versus Q3 2020 due primarily to incremental production from new wells offset by the continuation of a temporary shut-in of Banan field production for the first ten days of July 2020 and anticipated declines at the Zey Gawra field, and 2% lower versus Q2 2021 as a result of anticipated declines at the Zey Gawra field and periodic shut-in of recently completed wells to undertake interventions and optimize production.





Cash generated from operating activities was $13.9 million in Q3 2021 compared to $3.6 million in Q3 2020. The increase mainly relates to higher crude oil sales revenue received during the period, partially offset by an increase in cash payments to settle operating trade and other payables.





Cash used in investing activities was $7.7 million in Q3 2021 compared to $3.3 million in Q3 2020 when activity was restricted because of global and industry uncertainty.

Capital expenditures in Q3 2021, which excludes non-cash adjustments to decommissioning obligations, totalled $10.0 million compared to $2.0 million in Q3 2020. In Q3 2021, $9.0 million was invested in drilling activities in the Hawler license area at the Demir Dagh and Zey Gawra fields. Q3 2021 capital expenditures also included $0.7 million of facilities expenditures and $0.3 million of directly attributable support costs.





Cash and cash equivalents increased to $19.5 million at September 30, 2021 from $18.2 million at June 30, 2021 reflecting $13.9 million generated from operating activities partially offset by $7.7 million used in investing activities and the $5 million repayment of the credit facility with Zeg Oil and Gas Limited.





The Corporation is obligated to make further payments to the vendor of the Hawler license area contingent upon declaration of a second commercial discovery in the Hawler license area.

- In the event the contingent obligation is triggered, a lump-sum payment of $66.0 million plus accrued interest would be payable. The estimated fair value of the contingent consideration as at September 30, 2021 was $68.6 million. As at September 30, 2021, the total balance of principal and accrued interest potentially owed under the contingent consideration obligation was $76.2 million.

- On July 9, 2021, Forza Petroleum entered into an agreement with the vendor of the Hawler license area which established that no contingent consideration would become due as a result of a second commercial discovery prior to March 31, 2023. The forbearance agreement contemplates that the parties will undertake reasonable best efforts to negotiate a settlement of the outstanding contingent consideration obligation.

As at November 10, 2021, there are outstanding: (i) 584,976,202 common shares, (ii) unvested Long Term Incentive Plan awards which are expected to result in the issuance of up to an additional 20,742,033 common shares upon vesting, and (iii) 39,281,804 warrants that were issued in prior years in connection with amendments to a previous loan agreement that was fully settled in 2020.

Regulatory Filings

This announcement coincides with the filing with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities of Forza Petroleum's audited condensed consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and the related management's discussion and analysis thereon. Copies of these documents filed by Forza Petroleum may be obtained via www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website, www.forzapetroleum.com.

ABOUT FORZA PETROLEUM LIMITED

Forza Petroleum Limited is an international oil exploration, development and production company. The Corporation's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and trade under the symbol "FORZ." Forza Petroleum has a 65% working interest in and operates the Hawler license area in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which has yielded oil discoveries in four areas, three of which are contributing to production while appraisal and development activity continues. Further information about Forza Petroleum is available at www.forzapetroleum.com or under Forza Petroleum's profile at www.sedar.com.

For additional information about Forza Petroleum, please contact:

Kevin McPhee

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Tel.: +41 (0) 58 702 93 00

info@forzapetroleum.com





Reader Advisory Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking information", including statements related to forecast and budgeted work program and capital expenditure, drilling and well workover plans, development plans and schedules and chance of success, future drilling of wells and the reservoirs to be targeted, future facilities work, ultimate recoverability of current and long-term assets, possible commerciality of our projects, future expenditures and sources of financing for such expenditures, expectations that cash on hand as of September 30, 2021 and cash receipts from net revenues from export sales exclusively through the Kurdistan Oil Export Pipeline will fund the Corporation's forecasted capital expenditures and operating and administrative costs through the end of December 2022, expectations regarding future revenue and production, the issuance of shares as a result of the vesting of Long Term Incentive Plan awards and the exercise of warrants, future requirements for additional funding, expectations that the COVID-19 virus outbreak will not restrict operations, estimates for the fair value of the contingent consideration arising from the acquisition of OP Hawler Kurdistan Limited in 2011, the expected timing for settlement of liabilities including the contingent consideration arising from the acquisition of OP Hawler Kurdistan Limited in 2011, and statements that contain words such as "may", "will", "could", "should", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "potentially", "project", or the negative of such expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical fact, constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation.

Although Forza Petroleum believes these statements to be reasonable, the assumptions upon which they are based may prove to be incorrect. For more information about these assumptions and risks facing the Corporation, refer to the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated March 23, 2021 available at www.sedar.com and the Corporation's website at www.forzapetroleum.com. Further, statements including forward-looking information in this news release are made as at the date they are given and, except as required by applicable law, Forza Petroleum does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise. If the Corporation does update one or more statements containing forward-looking information, it is not obligated to, and no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

Reader Advisory Regarding Certain Figures

Unless provided otherwise, all production and capacity figures and volumes cited in this news release are gross (100%) values, indicating that figures (i) have not been adjusted for deductions specified in the production sharing contract applicable to the Hawler license area, and (ii) are attributed to the license area as a whole and do not represent Forza Petroleum's working interest in such production, capacity or volumes.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/102911
Pilot project brings 4x picking efficiency to CEVA Logistics warehouse

MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Geek+, a global AMR leader, is proud to announce the successful deployment of AMRs in CEVA Logistics's Truganina warehouse. CEVA is a global third-party logistics (3PL) provider looking for new and innovative automation solutions to better serve its Australian e-commerce clients. Implemented by Korber Supply Chain, the project greatly improves efficiency and productivity in the warehouse, ensuring smoother order fulfillment for CEVA's customers.

Lit Fung, Geek+'s Managing Director for APAC, UK, and Americas, said: "Today, an accelerated demand for fast order fulfillment has created a challenging scenario for businesses everywhere. In Australia, a booming e-commerce landscape has made 'delivery services' the determining factor of who's going to come out on top. Using smart robot automation, CEVA has turned a challenge into an opportunity that will allow them to set the standard and gain considerable advantages."

With upwards of 500,000 square meters of warehouse space and 1,350 employees, the site in Australia is one of the largest warehouses in the southern hemisphere. When a leading online shoe store experienced rapid growth, CEVA began looking at ways they could help the company meet consumers' demands for speed and cost of delivery. Previously, CEVA would have had to add more employees to an already labor-intensive process, with 12 to 15 employees using radiofrequency picking devices to complete one order. Today, Geek+ autonomous mobile robots intelligently and flexibly move mobile inventory racks and pallets to picking stations, saving employees time that would otherwise be spent walking around finding and picking inventory. The result is an overall improvement in employee comfort and logistical efficiency, as well as considerable savings.

"Thanks to Geek+'s AMR technology, we now have a very fast and efficient picking productivity and throughput solution," said Milton Pimenta, CEVA Logistics's managing director for Australia and New Zealand.

Following the project's seamless implementation, CEVA saw an immediate improvement in key performance indicators, most notably a fourfold increase in picking efficiency. CEVA plans to use the solution to support its wide customer base, securing its leadership position as a first-rate logistics provider.

"CEVA feel that a number of their clients could benefit from AMR technology. As this was the first pilot project for the business, it was extremely important that we delivered on our predictions," said Ravi Nath, Korber Supply Chain's head of automated solutions for Australia and New Zealand.

Geek+ will continue to work closely with Korber to help scale operations across regions and support CEVA with efficient, accurate, and flexible AMR solutions for the company's wide network of global customers.

About Geek+

Geek+ is a global technology company leading the intelligent logistics revolution. We apply advanced robotics and AI technologies to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient solutions for warehouses and supply chain management. Geek+ counts 300 global customers and has deployed more than 20,000 robots worldwide. Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1500 employees and is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in countries and regions like Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. For more information, please visit: www.geekplus.com

About CEVA Logistics

CEVA Logistics is one of the world's leading supply chain management companies with more than 78,000 employees working across ten regional clusters around the world. We provide service across the automotive, consumer and retail, energy, healthcare, industrial and aerospace and technology sectors.

For more information, please visit: www.cevalogistics.com/

About Korber Supply Chain

Korber is an international technology group with about 10,000 employees, more than 100 locations worldwide and a common goal: We turn entrepreneurial thinking into customer success and shape the technological change. In the Business Areas Digital, Pharma, Supply Chain, Tissue and Tobacco, we offer products, solutions and services that inspire. We act fast to customer needs, we execute ideas seamlessly, and with our innovations we create added value for our customers.

For more information, please visit: www.koerber-supplychain.com

For inquiries, please contact:

Fish Yu

Head of Marketing at Geek+ APAC, UK

fish.yu@geekplus.com

Marie Peterson

Director of Global Marketing and Communications

marie.peterson@geekplus.com
PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / November 10, 2021 / The following Aberdeen Standard Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds announced today that the closed end funds in the chart directly below will pay the distributions indicated on a per share basis on November 30, 2021 to all shareholders of record as of November 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date November 18, 2021). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of the Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) which will pay on January 11, 2022 to all shareholders of record as of November 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date November 18, 2021).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ACP NYSE Aberdeen Income Credit Strategies Fund $ 0.10 AGD NYSE Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.065 AOD NYSE Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund $ 0.0575 ASGI NYSE Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund $ 0.1083 AWP NYSE Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund $ 0.04 FAX NYSE American Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.0275 FCO NYSE American Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. $ 0.07 IAF NYSE American Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. $ 0.16

At the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders, which will state the amount and composition of each fund's distributions and provide information with respect to their appropriate tax treatment for the prior calendar year. You should not draw any conclusions about any of these fund's investment performance from the amount of the distributions.

MANAGED DISTRIBUTION POLICY FUNDS

ANNOUNCE DISTRIBUTION PAYMENT DETAILS

Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI")

Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. ("FAX")

Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF")

The above-noted Aberdeen Standard Investments U.S. Closed-End Funds (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds will pay the distributions noted in the chart above on November 30, 2021, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of November 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date November 18, 2021). These dates apply to the Funds listed below with the exception of the Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (IAF) which will pay on January 11, 2022 to all shareholders of record as of November 19, 2021 (ex-dividend date November 18, 2021).

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital in reliance on an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

For the Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF"), this stock distribution will automatically be paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder. Shares of common stock will be issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price. The valuation date for this stock distribution is December 20, 2021. Fractional shares will generally be settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who will have whole and fractional shares added to their account.

Shareholders may request to be paid their quarterly distributions in cash instead of shares of common stock by providing advance notice to the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds their shares if the shares are in "street name," or by filling out in advance an election card received from Computershare Investor Services if the shares are in registered form. To receive the quarterly distribution payable in January 2022 in cash instead of shares of common stock, the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must advise the Depository Trust Company as to the full and fractional shares for which they want the distribution paid in cash by December 17, 2021 and written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must be received by Computershare Investor Services prior to December 17, 2021.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions to be paid as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

Each Fund's estimated sources of the current distributions to be paid and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.1083 - - - - $0.0682 63% $0.0401 37% FAX $0.0275 $0.0149 54% - - - - $0.0126 46% IAF $0.1600 $0.0080 5% $0.1520 95%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2166 - - - - $0.1365 63% $0.0801 37% FAX $0.0275 $0.0149 54% - - - - $0.0126 46% IAF $0.1600 $0.0080 5% $0.1520 95%

*ASGI has a 9/30 fiscal year end; FAX and IAF have a 10/31 fiscal year end.

**includes currency gains

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following table provides the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 10/31/2021  Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV  Cumulative Total Return on NAV  Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV  ASGI 18.10%3 5.66% 3.72% 0.47% FAX 3.31% 7.53% 1.67% 7.53% IAF 12.43% 9.16% 38.09% 9.16%

1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of October 31, 2021.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through October 31, 2021.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., abrdn Australia Limited, abrdn Asia Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

If you If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter/fund-centre/closed-end-funds

For More Information Contact:

Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672258/CORRECTION-Aberdeen-Standard-Investments-US-Closed-End-Funds-Announce-Distribution-Payment-Details
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 10, 2021) - Fission 3.0 Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FISOF) ("Fission 3.0") Saskatchewan is consistently ranked as a top jurisdiction globally for mining investment for a reason. The government and the people of the north support the mining and exploration sector. Fission 3.0 works within Best Practices and makes sure to keep an open dialogue with CRDN and all other rightsholders and stakeholders in the areas that it is active. FUU has communicated with the service providers in La Loche, including the CRDN band member businesses, about its upcoming work programs and kept them informed that FUU fully intends to continue its support with them to build on their local capacity.

About Fission 3.0 Corp.

Fission 3.0 is a uranium project generator and exploration company, focusing on projects in the Athabasca Basin, home to some of world's largest high grade uranium discoveries. Fission 3.0 currently has 14 projects in the Athabasca Basin. Several of Fission 3.0's projects are near large uranium discoveries, including, Arrow, Triple R and Hurricane deposits. Fission 3.0 has recently completed an $8 million funding with Red Cloud Securities and is currently planning a winter exploration/drill program on its PLN project. It is also entertaining JV partners with some of its other projects.

https://twitter.com/Fission3Corp

For more information, investors should review the Company's filings that are available at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Fission 3.0 Corp. Contact Information

Investor Relations

Telephone: 778 484 8030

Email: ir@fission3corp.com

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

Cautionary Statement: Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these 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 state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Fission 3.0 Corp. which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and Fission 3 Corp. disclaim 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 expressly required by applicable securities legislation.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/102962
Service Aims to Reduce the Time to Port Your Cell Number from Your Current Carrier to Less Than 5 Minutes

IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 10, 2021 / Lexvor Wireless ( Lexvor ), today announced the launch of their revolutionary RapidPort service. The aim of this new technology is to reduce the time it takes to port your cell phone number over from your current carrier to Lexvor. Transferring a cell phone number normally takes hours, or even sometimes days, can now be accomplished in minutes. The company hopes to ultimately bring this time down to under five minutes, but it is already much faster than any other wireless carrier.

RapidPort is another feature that sets Lexvor apart from how the rest of the wireless industry does things. No more waiting hours in a wireless store to move your number to a new carrier. The process is all handled online with 3 simple steps, backed by industry leading customer support. Simply check to see if your existing phone is compatible, select a plan, then sign up and transfer your number. If you need a new phone, they have a selection of the newest models. Everything you need to complete the transfer is shipped to your home, including SIM cards and the tool to replace them, phones, and accessories.

In addition to saving you a trip to a wireless store, Lexvor offers plans and phones at a very competitive price . You can choose the value Unlimited plan for that still offer unlimited talk, text, and data at fast 4G speeds, or take advantage of blazing 5G speed with either the Unlimited GO or Unlimited GO Max plans.

Lexvor CEO Mychal Riley is enthusiastic about taking this next step in realizing the Lexvor dream, "Some people will never understand your vision and that's ok because it wasn't meant for them to see. I have always felt that building relationships is more important than earning money. Nothing you think is worth doing is worth only 50 percent effort, it's 100 or nothing. If you don't try you have 0% chance of realizing your dreams. If you do reach for your goals, you have 100% greater chance of success. My dream for Lexvor is about helping others live their best life."

ABOUT LEXVOR WIRELESS

After years of riding the carrier carousel, the Lexvor founders concluded that a solution must exist. After not finding on with other wireless companies, it was time to create one. Lexvor is and always will be the carrier that looks to provide service that they themselves would be pleased with. Life is hard enough already, why should your wireless carrier make it harder? Lexvor maintains their commitment to providing excellent quality service with all their plans and makes every step in the switching process easy. Your switch to excellence is as simple as contacting one of our dedicated team members. Lexvor strives to provide the best quality service and the latest devices with their Unlimited plans. They believe that the service will be remembered long after the price is forgotten. Each Lexvor client will have access to all their rewards and benefits, with no extra fees or payments to have access to our online store, lounges, or future benefits. They value you and respect your time, budget, and lifestyle. This philosophy is why you will never experience long waits or hold times, feel like you are paying more for less, or sacrifice the finer things due to your carrier.

EMAIL: clientservices@lexvor.com

PHONE: 866-996-2281

SOURCE: Lexvor Wireless

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672288/Lexvor-Wireless-Announces-the-Launch-of-Their-Revolutionary-RapidPort-Service
-The non-contact consulting has successfully ended, expecting further meetings between partners in the future.

An official of Mobilefest said, "The participation of Korean digital content companies will become the major turning point of Mobilefest in the future."

On Nov. 11, the Turkey mobile exhibition 'Mobilefest 2021' was opened successfully. The Korean digital content companies that participated online were garnering much attention from the visitors. The event runs until the 13th at Istanbul Congress Center.

Korea's MOIBA Special Hall drew attention with the increasing number of visitors and inquiries on the 10 Korean digital content companies: Korean Edutech companies, Woongjin Thinkbig (CEO, Lee Jaejin), Cellbig (CEO, Lee Sangno), Victoria Productions (CEO, Han Hyeunjung), Visang Education (CEO, Yang Taehoe), and Luxrobo (CEO, Lee Daehwan); NDS Solution (CEO, Kim Namkyo), JoyFun (CEO, Jung Sang-gwon), and Purium (CEO, Nam Hojin) in AI field; AroudEffect (CEO, Baek Jongseok), Extriple (CEO, Noh Jinsong) in XR (VR/AR) field.

From Oct. 25 to 28, non-contact consulting through preliminary business matching between the middle east and overseas VCs, buyers and Korean companies brought expectations for the revitalization of related fields in the future.

An official at Mobilefest said, "Following the non-contact consulting record, a significant achievement, and the interest in Korean digital content companies, further meetings are expected. And the participation of the Korean digital content companies will be the major turning point of Mobilefest in the future. We'll expand the digital content interchange between Korea and countries in the middle east, build various channels to develop the global digital content, and communicate continuously."

Korean digital content companies' participation in the online exhibition was achieved by the Korea Mobile Internet Business Association (MOIBA) in support of the Korea Ministry of Science and ICT to cooperate and promote the exchange with the Middle East countries in the digital content field. And the Mobilefest organizer supports the opening of Korea's MOIBA Special Hall and promotion activity through the local press and official social media.

The detailed information of the Korean digital content companies participating in Mobilefest 2021 can be found on the official homepage: (www.mobilefest.net)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211110005075/en/

Contacts:

Korea Mobile Internet Business Association (MOIBA)

Jay Yang

+82-70-8765-8307

smyang53@moiba.or.kr




(Fornebu, 11 November 2021) Telenor employees across the Nordics and Asia prove they intend to remain at the forefront of upskilling to meet the rapidly changing demands of global customers by setting a new e-learning world record.

Telenor Group has set a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for most users to take an online personal development lesson in 24 hours.

The record attempt started 27 October at 07:00 CET, and by the same time the following day, a total of 4,504 Telenor employees had conducted the online course Growth Mindset. The successful world record attempt was carried out by Telenor to signal its continued strong focus on internal up- and reskilling.

"We believe that the digitalisation of society will enable new solutions capable of solving global challenges of today and tomorrow. However, businesses' ability to utilise the full potential of the digital future depends on how well we facilitate adoption of new and critical skills. Therefore, we have intensified our learning efforts to ensure that we continue to stay at the forefront of up- and reskilling of our employees," says Cecilie Heuch, EVP and Chief People & Sustainability Officer of Telenor Group.





Seeking knowledge: "Through dialogue with our current partners and towards other industries, experimentation, and the review of employee feedback, we are learning how to best achieve continuous up- and reskilling of our employees, for the benefit of our customers and society-at-large" say Cecilie Heuch, EVP and Chief People & Sustainability Officer of Telenor Group.

Growth mindset

The Growth Mindset course that was chosen for the Guinness World Records attempt promotes the benefits of applying a growth mindset in both the employees' business and personal lives. Research indicates that when leaders promote a growth mindset and provide an environment where employees feel safe to fail and make mistakes, there is an increase in creativity, learning, and innovation .

"Having a growth mindset means that you believe your knowledge and abilities can be developed over time. This helps individuals embrace challenges as an opportunity to learn and to try new things. By accepting setbacks as part of the learning process, we focus on how we can improve and be better next time," says Selina Lomholdt, SVP and Head of Global Learning & Development.

Among the Telenor learners who completed the badge was Jo Fan Pang in Digi, Telenor's Malaysian subsidiary, who says the personal development course has helped broaden his horizons.

"Going through the Growth Mindset Badge was a great refresher on how we should be looking at all challenges as new opportunities for breakthrough and that there is always more than one way to solve any particular problem. I'm also excited to have had the experience of being a part of a global world record setting event even while working from home."





Avid learner: Jo Fan Pang, Head of Special Projects in Digi Telecommunication's research arm Digi-X, completed the Growth Mindset Badge during the world record attempt. Thus, he contributed to Telenor becoming a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS titleholder along with more than 4,500 Telenor employees in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, and Malaysia.

Personalising employees' learning journeys

Back in 2018, Sigve Brekke, President and CEO of Telenor Group, challenged all employees to complete at least 40 hours of impactful learning and education each year . The initiative has proved to be a success, and in 2020, a record number of 53.5 hours of upskilling was conducted by Telenor employees on average. The company also hosts its own learning portal called Telenor Academy.

"We want to be the leading company in skills development in our markets, to ensure that we as a company stay future ready and obtain the skills needed to not only exploit the digitalisation, but also shape it," says Brekke.

This year, based on its many years of experience with internal learning processes, Telenor rolled out the 'Telenor U' platform. The online platform is a self-developed learning ecosystem that structures each employees' personal learning journey.

"The introduction of Telenor U is a key to our process of strengthening internal competence and knowledge across all business units and will enable us to more rapidly adopt new competencies. To sum up, continuous learning and upskilling enhance our ability to connect customers to what matters most and empower societies," concludes Lomholdt.





Exploring together: Selina Lomholdt, SVP and Head of Global Learning & Development, and her team organised a "Growth Mindset Day" for employees at Telenor's HQ at Fornebu, outside of Oslo, Norway, during the company's world record attempt 27 October 2021.

Media contact:

Stian Kristoffer Sande, Communications Manager, Telenor Group

Stian-kristoffer.sande@telenor.com | +47 975 39 221
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 2.00 am ET Thursday, the Office for National Statistics releases UK GDP, industrial production and foreign trade reports. The economy is expected to expand 1.5 percent sequentially in the third quarter, slower than the 5.5 percent growth in the second quarter. Ahead of the data, the pound gained against its major counterparts. The pound was worth 152.93 against the yen, 1.2330 against the franc, 1.3425 against the greenback and 0.8552 against the euro as of 1:55 am ET. 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 (dpa-AFX) - Sika AG (SXYAY.PK, SKFOF.PK), on Thursday, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire MBCC Group, the former BASF Construction Chemicals, from an affiliate of Lone Star Funds, a global private equity firm, for a consideration of CHF 5.5 billion (EUR 5.2 billion). The acquisition will complement and broaden Sika's product and solution offerings in four of five core technologies and seven of eight Sika Target Markets and will further strengthen its geographic footprint. The combined business will be a key accelerator in enabling both Sika's and MBCC Group's customers and the construction industry to drive the sustainable transformation further and faster. The company noted that the deal will accelerate Sika's resilient Growth Strategy 2023 and beyond. Sika will expand its product and service offering in construction chemicals and industrial adhesives by adding the highly complementary portfolio of MBCC Group and is set to reach sales in excess of CHF 13 billion in 2023. The combination will lead to a very balanced product portfolio with all of Sika's Target Markets achieving between CHF 1 and 2 billion in sales, Sika said. Further, the company stated that the customers will benefit from an enhanced and more efficient distribution network across all construction markets. 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.
About SciBase and Nevisense SciBase is a global medical technology company headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, that has developed a unique point of care platform for the non-invasive detection of skin cancer and other skin conditions. SciBase is a pioneer within augmented intelligence, combining artificial intelligence with Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to provide objective information that assists dermatologists and others in clinical decision-making. SciBase's products include Nevisense and Nevisense Go and to date the platform addresses the areas of melanoma detection, non-melanoma skin cancer detection and skin barrier assessment. Nevisense is the only FDA-approved device for the detection of melanoma and the only MDR-approved technology for skin cancer detection in Europe. SciBase's technology is based on more than 20 years of academic research at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information please visit www.scibase.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.




Singapore, Nov 11, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Infocus International Group, a global business intelligence provider, has confirmed the new date for its highly recommended LNG Supply, Demand, Pricing & Trading online training. The online training is back with a new agenda and it will be commencing live on 19 January 2022.2021 has been a year of recovery for LNG demand as governments of importing countries have relaxed some of the restrictions imposed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recovery has started. However, the growth in LNG supply has been curtailed by unscheduled maintenance at some of the world's liquefaction plants and by shortfalls in feedgas supply at others. The result has been a tightening of the supply demand balance causing LNG and natural gas prices to surge reaching over $25/MMBtu in September 2021. It is a very different market to 2020, when demand fell because of the pandemic and supply increased as output built up from liquefaction trains commissioned in 2019 and the first half of 2020, which led to LNG and natural gas prices in Asia and Europe declining to $2/MMBtu in the middle of the year. At this level, prices were below the short-run marginal cost of US LNG exports and around 180 US cargoes were cancelled.Energy transition has brought increased demands for the LNG business to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in all parts of the LNG chain from natural gas production through to the combustion of regasified LNG in downstream markets. It raises questions over LNG's role in the long-term energy supply. Will demand increase as natural gas replaces coal in power generation and is used as a back-up fuel for renewables or will natural gas be seen as a fossil fuel whose consumption has to be reduced if targets of net zero carbon emissions are to be met?The online course will, over six sessions, provide an overview of the LNG business in 2022 with a commercial focus but technology and shipping will also be covered. It will consider the outlook for the business over the period to 2040 in terms of markets, sources of supply, pricing and trading and the response to energy transition. It is designed not only for newcomers to LNG but also those who want to refresh their knowledge or who have experience in one part of the business or one region and want to widen their knowledge.Head of Department of Aqualectra shared, "The presenter was very clear and the content was communicated very well with many examples and was really very topical. I learned a lot during these sessions and will pass this on. Thanks again.""Excellent overview of the LNG industry end-to-end. I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about the industry," said Senior Business Analyst of Murphy Exploration and Production.Check out the LNG online course new agenda at www.infocusinternational.com/lng-online.Course Sessions- LNG value chain in 2021-2022- Safety, shipping and current status of the LNG business- LNG markets and terminals- LNG shipping and supply- Acquiring LNG supply and LNG pricing- LNG contracts and LNG spot and short-term tradingBenefits of Attending- Understand LNG chain technologies, costs, economics and safety- Appreciate how the LNG business is changing and the implications for those working in the business- Gain insights into LNG pricing and how it is evolving- Acquire in-depth knowledge of world LNG markets and supply sources- Assess the increasing role of spot and short-term tradingWant to learn more?Simply email emilia[at]infocusevent.com or call +65 6325 0210 to obtain your FREE COPY of the event brochure. For more information, please visit www.infocusinternational.com/lng-online.About Infocus International GroupInfocus International is a global business intelligence provider of strategic information and professional services for diverse business communities.Infocus International recognises clients' needs and responds with innovative and result oriented programmes. All products are founded on high value content in diverse subject areas, and the highest level of quality is ensured through intensive and in-depth market research from local and international insights.Emilia MokTel: +65 6325 0210 | Email: emilia[at]infocusevent.com | Website: www.infocusinternational.comSource: Infocus International GroupCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Johnson Matthey PLC (JMAT.L) said the Group has concluded that the potential returns from Battery Materials business will not be adequate to justify further investment. As a result, the Board has decided to pursue the sale of all or parts of this business with the ultimate intention of exiting. Johnson Matthey announced that Robert MacLeod will step down as Chief Executive and from the Board on 28th February 2022 but will stay on to support the transition process until the AGM on 21st July 2022 when he will retire. Liam Condon will join the Group as Chief Executive on 1st March 2022. He is currently a member of the Board of Bayer AG and President of the Crop Science Division. Johnson Matthey said the trading outlook for the full year ending 31st March 2022 is towards the lower end of market expectations. The Group said this is primarily due to the wide-spread supply chain shortages affecting the automotive industry and the consequential impact on precious metals prices, together with acute labour shortages in the US that are adversely impacting Health business. The Group noted that it will announce first half results on 24th November, which are in-line with market expectations. 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.
Defence Equipment and Support selects LiveContent S1000D to digitise all technical documentation for its fleet of aircraft for future generations of maintenance engineers

RWS, the world's leading provider of technology-enabled language, content management and intellectual property services, is helping the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) to preserve the heritage of its iconic Second World War aircraft by digitising its original paper-based technical documentation.

Based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight maintains a fleet of iconic piston-engined aircraft to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of the United Kingdom, and to promote the RAF and inspire future generations of Service members. This fleet comprises six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a Douglas Dakota and two Chipmunk training aircraft.

Keeping these aircraft airworthy has become increasingly difficult with technicians retiring and the younger generation being only taught to use digital technical information, alongside the challenge of managing the original paper-based maintenance and support documentation.

"Our Second World War aircraft belong to the memory of all those who served for their country," explains Wing Commander Andy March, Deputy Chief Engineer for the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Project Team. "Our role is to ensure that we maintain the integrity of these priceless artefacts to commemorate our fallen heroes, and inspire the next generation of Service members."

The Defence Equipment and Support team (which equips and supports the UK's armed forces) took the decision in 2019 to digitally transform all maintenance manual and illustrated Parts Catalogue data into the ASD S1000D specification, providing technicians and engineers with a new Interactive Electronic Technical Publication Viewing (IETP) solution. This will ensure that future generations of technicians will continue to sustain and maintain the aircraft's suitability for safe flight.

LiveContent S1000D will be help to reduce mean time to repair, facilitate the delivery of maintenance knowledge to the maintainer and keep these invaluable aircraft up-to-date and available.

"The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is taking an innovative approach to protecting and future-proofing its Second World War aircraft," explains Thomas Labarthe, President of RWS's Language Services and Technology division. "We're extremely proud to be involved in this project and look forward to working closely with the organisation to ensure we're supporting its digital future."

RWS's LiveContent product is an industry-proven Interactive Electronic Technical Publication/Manual (IETP/ IETM) solution that delivers interactive, visual maintenance content in real-time to end users. LiveContent surpasses traditional IETPs by supporting S1000D Issue 1.6 and above as well as many other commercial and military data standards all within the same platform.

You can learn more about our solutions for S1000D here.

About RWS

RWS Holdings plc is the world's leading provider of technology-enabled language, content management and intellectual property services. We help our customers to connect with and bring new ideas to people globally by communicating business critical content at scale and enabling the protection and realisation of their innovations.

Our vision is to help organisations interact effectively with people anywhere in the world by solving their language, content and market access challenges through our collective global intelligence, deep expertise and smart technology.

Customers include 90 of the globe's top 100 brands, the top 10 pharmaceutical companies and approximately half of the top 20 patent filers worldwide. Our client base spans Europe, Asia Pacific, and North and South America across the technology, pharmaceutical, medical, legal, chemical, automotive, government and telecommunications sectors, which we serve from offices across five continents.

Founded in 1958, RWS is headquartered in the UK and publicly listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange regulated market (RWS.L).

For further information, please visit: www.rws.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005253/en/

Contacts:

Media:

RWS

Denis Davies

Corporate Communications

ddavies@rws.com

+44 1628 410105
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 11, 2021) - Nano One Materials Corp. (TSX: NANO) (OTC Pink: NNOMF) (FSE: LBMB) ("Nano One") is a clean technology company with patented processes for the low-cost, low-environmental footprint production of high-performance cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. Nano One announces its financial results and operations overview for the third fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021 and is pleased to review the following highlights from Q3 2021.

Q3 Highlights and Headlines

Working capital of ~$54.0 million; cash of ~$54.6 million

MOU with global automotive OEM to evaluate manganese rich cathode materials

Joint development agreement with Euro Manganese for the development of high-purity manganese in lithium-ion battery cathode materials

Completion of SDTC and BC-ICE Milestone 2 and receipt of Milestone 3 funds

Engaged global engineering firm, Hatch, to lead an engineering study for expanded cathode evaluation project with a global automotive company

"Nano One continues to advance opportunities with our partners in the battery supply chain and in this past three months we have added a few more strategic relationships," commented Mr. Dan Blondal, CEO. "We have business dealings on many fronts around the globe, including opportunities to enable low cost integrated domestic supply chains in North America and Europe that with the use of our technologies could increase competitiveness, reduce environmental footprint and add value to critical mineral supplies."

Corporate Updates for Q3 and Post-Q3 2021

Transition in LFP Strategy and Accelerate ZEV Alliance Membership

On November 9, 2021, the Company announced a transition in its LFP cathode material focus towards emerging opportunities in domestic supply chains in North America and Europe, to create a secure, integrated and cost competitive solution that reduces environmental footprint.

Joint Development Agreement signed with Euro Manganese

On October 4, 2021, the Company announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement with Euro Manganese Inc. ("Euro Manganese"), a battery raw materials company developing a significant manganese deposit in the Czech Republic.

The two companies will collaborate on developing economically viable and environmentally sustainable applications of high-purity manganese expected to be produced by Euro Manganese from its proposed Chvaletice Manganese Project. The manganese will be evaluated by Nano One in the formation of its innovative cathode materials including LNMO (lithium nickel manganese oxide) and nickel-rich NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide). LNMO and NMC materials will be prepared using Nano One's patented One-Pot process, coated nanocrystal powders and M2CAM technology, enabling the use of sulfate-free metals and lithium carbonate as lower cost and environmentally more sustainable feedstocks.

Completion of 2019 Cathode Development Project with Global Automotive Company and New Agreement

On September 30, 2021, the Company announced the completion of a project with a global automotive OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), that was first announced on June 20, 2019 and the two parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") to evaluate manganese-rich cathode materials for potential use in automotive scale battery cells.

The completed project successfully demonstrated the synthesis, performance, and improved durability of a proprietary and experimental nickel-rich cathode formulation, using Nano One's patented One-Pot process. The MOU is for the multi-phase development and evaluation of LNMO batteries using cathode materials prepared by Nano One. Work under the MOU will include performance testing, economic feasibility and future potential commercial collaboration for jointly developed battery cells using Nano One's advanced LNMO cathode materials.

Completion of SDTC and BC-ICE Milestone 2 and Receipt of Milestone 3 Funds

On September 9, 2021, the Company announced the achievement of Milestone 2 of the "Scaling Advanced Battery Materials" project jointly funded by SDTC and the British Columbia Innovative Clean Energy (BC-ICE) fund. Consequently, the advance funding for project Milestone 3, in the amount of $1,652,859 in aggregate has been received.

Appointment of new independent Director to the Board

Effective September 7, 2021, Mr. Gordon Kukec was appointed as an independent Director to the Board of the Company.

Industrial Scale Engineering Study Added to Automotive Project

On August 17, 2021, the Company announced that its cathode evaluation program with a global automotive company has expanded in respect of the evaluation of NMC/LNMO cathode materials. The increased scope will include an engineering report that models cathode manufacturing at an automotive scale based on Nano One's patented One-Pot process, coated nanocrystal, and M2CAM technologies.

Nano One has engaged global engineering firm, Hatch Ltd., to lead an engineering study and provide a report to the automotive company. The report will be based on the engineering study being prepared for Nano One, and will include a Front-End Loading level 1 (FEL1) analysis on capital costs, operating costs, and a cost comparison of the Nano One process versus the conventional cathode material manufacturing process. The report will enable the companies to evaluate both the economic and environmental advantages of Nano One's patented One-Pot, M2CAM and coated nanocrystal process technologies at large industrial scale.

Q3 Financial Results and Operational Highlights

Gross expenditures on research activities of ~$1,000,000 (Q2 2021 - $~800,000) (Q3 2020 - ~$600,000)

Purchases and/or deposits on corporate and laboratory equipment of ~$300,000 before allocations of government grant funding as reimbursements

Net use of cash of ~$700,000 (net of cash inflows from investing and financing activities of ~$200,000) to facilitate its operating and strategic efforts (Q2 2021 - increase in cash of ~$25,000,000 driven by short-form prospectus financing during the previous quarter)

Cash inflows from investing and financing activities included exercises of stock options and warrants for total proceeds of ~$145,000, and proceeds from Government assistance programs of approximately ~$1,673,000 which was substantially from Sustainable Development Technology Canada ("SDTC") and primarily attributable to the Milestone 3 advance. Subsequent to September 30, 2021, the Company received proceeds of approximately ~$126,000 through the exercise of an additional 76,750 warrants.

The Company continues significant research efforts towards the Frame Cooperation Agreement ("FCA") executed with CBMM (May 2021 with a term of 27 months through to August 2023), the world's major supplier of niobium, aimed at optimizing Nano One's patented One-Pot process for nickel-rich cathode materials (NMC) using CBMM's niobium as a protective coating.

Additionally, there are significant efforts relating to the Joint Development Agreement signed with an Asian cathode manufacturer (August 2020) which is focused on LNMO cathode materials with work shifting to scale-up considerations, detailed economic analysis, and preliminary planning for commercialization. Significant progress was also made in LNMO scale-up and optimization. Lastly, the Company is also progressing scaling efforts relating to the Cathode Evaluation Agreement (December 2020) with an American based multinational auto manufacturer to jointly evaluate the performance and commercial benefit of Nano One's patented One-Pot process for nickel-rich and cobalt-free cathode materials (NMC) in electric vehicle applications.

For a more detailed discussion of Nano One's third quarter and year to date 2021 results, please refer to the Company's financial statements and management's discussion & analysis, which are available at www.sedar.com.

###

About Nano One

Nano One Materials Corp (Nano One) is a clean technology company with a patented, scalable and low carbon intensity industrial process for the low-cost production of high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode materials. The technology is applicable to electric vehicle, energy storage, consumer electronic and next generation batteries in the global push for a zero-emission future. Nano One's One-Pot process, its coated nanocrystal materials and its Metal to Cathode Active Material (M2CAM) technologies address fundamental performance needs and supply chain constraints while reducing costs and carbon footprint. Nano One has received funding from various government programs and the current "Scaling of Advanced Battery Materials Project" is supported by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund of the Province of British Columbia. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca.

Company Contact:

Paul Guedes

info@nanoone.ca

(604) 420-2041

Media Contact:

Chelsea Nolan

Antenna Group for Nano One

nanoone@antennagroup.com

(646) 854-8721

Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, current and future collaboration projects; the execution of the Company's plans, development of materials, methods of production and study for pre-pilot, pilot and scaled up manufacturing on the path to commercialization which are contingent on such support and awards and the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', 'target', 'goal', 'potential' or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made are not, and cannot be, a guarantee of future results or events. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including but not limited to: any future collaborations that may happen with partners such as Euro Manganese or any others that may occur; the Company's ability to achieve its stated goals; the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents; the execution of the Company's plans, development of materials, methods of production and study for pre-pilot, pilot and scaled up manufacturing on the path to commercialization; and other risk factors as identified in Nano One's MD&A and its Annual Information Form dated March 15, 2021, both for the year ended December 31, 2020, and in recent securities filings for the Company which are available at www.sedar.com. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. 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 forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/102992
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - 3i Group PLC (III.L), on Thursday, announced that Julia Wilson, Group Finance Director, has informed the Board that she intends to retire after the AGM in June 2022. Julia will be succeeded by James Hatchley, who is currently the 3i Group Strategy Director. James will join the Group Board and the Executive Committee effective May 2022. Julia joined 3i Group as Deputy Finance Director in 2006 and was made Group Finance Director and a member of the Executive Committee in 2008. She became a member of the Investment Committee in 2012. James Hatchley joined 3i in 2017 as the Group's Strategy Director and has been a member of the Investment Committee since 2019. Prior to joining 3i, James was Chief Operating Officer of KKR in Europe and, before that, Co-CEO of Avoca Capital. Earlier in his career, James was a corporate finance professional for 20 years, principally with Greenhill & Co. and Schroders, and is a Chartered Accountant. David Hutchison, Chairman of 3i Group, said, '...We are delighted that we have a deep pool of talent within the Company and that James will succeed Julia as Group Finance Director. We very much look forward to his contribution to the Board over the coming years.' 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 (dpa-AFX) - Retailer Burberry Group plc (BRBY.L) reported higher profit and revenues in its first half, and maintained medium term view. The company also resumed dividend, and recommenced share buyback program. The shares were losing around 9 percent in the early morning trading in London. The first-half profit before taxation more than doubled to 191 million pounds from last year's 73 million pounds. Earnings per share were 35.7 pence, up from 12.2 pence a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were 33.5 pence, compared to prior year's 4.6 pence. Revenue for the period climbed 38 percent to 1.21 billion pounds from last year's 878 million pounds. The revenue growth was 45 percent at constant currency rates. The company said revenues are back at pre COVID-19 levels at constant exchange rates. Retail comparable store sales grew 37 percent in the first half, while the growth was 6 percent in the second quarter, compared to 90 percent in the preceding first quarter. Looking ahead, the company maintained medium-term guidance for high single-digit top line growth and meaningful margin accretion. The company also confirmed that it is comfortable with current year market expectations. Further, the company said it has resumed payment of the interim dividend at 11.6p per share, an increase of 3 percent over last year. The company also recommenced the share buyback programme, and expects to complete 150 million pounds buyback in second half of fiscal 2022. In London, Burberry shares were trading at 1,793 pence, down 8.85 percent. 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.
MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PageUp [ https://www.pageuppeople.com/ ] expands its UK footprint through the acquisition of eArcu , a leading UK talent acquisition suite.

PageUp is excited to announce the acquisition of eArcu - a leading UK-based provider of SaaS hiring solutions.

Founded in 2009, eArcu's talent acquisition suite enables well over 100 customers in the UK and around the world to attract, select and hire the best candidates. eArcu simplifies the hiring of great talent on any device: From engaging careers sites through to immersive onboarding portals, integrated video interviewing, assessment and shortlisting tools.

The combination of PageUp and eArcu's market leading talent management offerings will allow the PageUp Group to accelerate its presence in the UK and European markets. It will provide existing and new eArcu customers access to an expanded portfolio of recruitment marketing and talent management solutions.

PageUp CEO Mark Rice said: "We're excited to bring eArcu into the PageUp family. We look forward to working with the team to build on their well-deserved reputation for innovation and world-class customer service."

eArcu CEO Andy Randall said: "After a period of sustained growth, we're thrilled to join forces with PageUp, a major player in the global talent management space. This will be a fantastic time for our clients who will benefit from the synergies between us, and for our team to bring their thought leadership to an ever-growing audience."

About PageUp

The powerful PageUp platform optimises each step of the talent management lifecycle - so everyone can reach their full potential. PageUp Talent Management software enhances HR processes with technology that HR professionals, people leaders and employees love to use. From Recruitment Marketing - including sophisticated content management, marketing automation and candidate relationship management tools - through to Recruitment Management , Onboarding , Learning , Performance , and Succession - all underpinned by Analytics .

Customers love PageUp for its deep functionality and ability to be configured for a range of workflows and industries, all accompanied by outstanding customer service. Used in over 190 countries, PageUp is a truly global solution. PageUp has offices in Melbourne, Sydney, New York, London and Dublin.

PageUp media contact:
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 11, 2021) - Bam Bam Resources Corp. (CSE: BBR) (OTC Pink: NPEZF) (FSE: 4NPB) ("Bam Bam" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the BLM has accepted the second amendment and the required bond is in place for the expanded drilling at the Majuba Hill Copper Project in Pershing County, Nevada.

Additional drill sites are planned to expand the Majuba-Known Copper Oxide and test the Induced Polarization (IP) Resistivity Anomaly that suggests more Deep Porphyry may underly the DeSoto Copper Oxide Target.





Figure 1

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6332/102857_9450cbf054cd9818_001full.jpg.

David Greenway, President and CEO, commented: "The additional permitting is very timely because we have the drill rig on-site. This is an ideal time to drill for a possible westward extension to our Known Copper-Oxide area."

Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") Measures, Chain of Custody

The Company has implemented a QA/QC program using best industry practices at the Majuba Hill Project. The samples are transported from the BBR secure warehouse or directly from the project to the ALS Sample Prep Facility in Reno or Elko, Nevada. ALS then transports the prepared pulps to their analytical lab in Reno, Nevada or Vancouver, B.C. Soil and rock chip samples are transported by the company directly to Elko or Reno, Nevada.

Drill core samples are sawn in half lengthwise and one half is placed in labeled cloth sample bags. All samples are analyzed for copper, gold, silver, and 33 other elements. Gold is determined by ALS method Au-AA23 which is a fire assay with an AAS finish on a 30 gram split. Copper, silver and the remaining 31 elements are determined by ALS method ME-ICP61 which is a four acid digestion and ICP-AES assay. Approximately 5% of the submitted samples are drill duplicates and copper-gold-porphyry commercial standard reference material pulps. The sample rejects and remaining pulps will be retrieved from ALS.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed by E.L. "Buster" Hunsaker III, CPG 8137, a non-independent consulting geologist who is a "Qualified Person" as such term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43- 101").

About Bam Bam Resources Corp.

Bam Bam Resources Corp. (CSE: BBR) (OTC Pink: NPEZF) (FSE: 4NPB) is engaged in the identification, review and acquisition of latter stage copper and copper/silver/gold assets. This is in direct response to the growing worldwide demand and lack of supply for precious metals fueled by the Green New Deal in the US and most other developed nations with similar programs aimed at addressing climate change. Such programs are heavily reliant on silver, gold and especially copper to produce Electric Vehicles and other renewable power sources, as well as building infrastructure to provide clean and affordable electricity.

The flagship project is the Majuba Hill copper, silver and gold District located 156 miles outside Reno, Nevada, USA. Management has been mandated to focus on safe, mining friendly jurisdictions where government regulations are supportive of mining operations.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

On Behalf of the Board of Bam Bam Resources Corp.

"David Greenway"

David C. Greenway

President & CEO

For further information, please contact:

Joel Warawa

VP of Corporate Communications

E: jw@bambamresources.com

P: 1 (855) 475-0745

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Bam Bam Resources Corp. 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. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Bam Bam Resources Corp. management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Bam Bam Resources Corp. undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/102857
Adults with two forms of ultra-rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma living in England and Wales will now have access to an innovative, systemic treatment for their cancers

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published positive guidance, in the form of a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD), confirming that POTELIGEO (mogamulizumab) is recommended as a treatment option for adults in England and Wales with the ultra-rare blood cancers mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sezary syndrome (SS), two forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). The treatment is approved for use after two prior systemic treatments for adults living with MF and after one prior systemic therapy for adults living with SS.1

The FAD comes following a successful appeal lodged by Kyowa Kirin, Lymphoma Action, Leukaemia Care, and the UK Cutaneous Lymphoma Group (UKCLG) in response to a previous appraisal by NICE, published on 4 March 2021, that concluded POTELIGEO would not be made available on the NHS in England and Wales.2

All parties involved in lodging the appeal welcome the new, positive decision by NICE as it represents a distinctive step forward in addressing the high unmet clinical needs of those living with MF and SS. This decision also marks another milestone in the availability of POTELIGEO across the United Kingdom, following the acceptance of POTELIGEO by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) for adults living with MF and SS in Scotland on 7 June 20213

Richard Johnson, Northern Cluster General Manager, responsible for the UK at Kyowa Kirin, said: "This is a momentous day for those living with MF and SS in the UK. By issuing positive guidance for POTELIGEO, NICE has helped ensure that those with MF and SS who have few systemic treatment options available to them are now able to access an innovative therapy. This decision is also testament to the dedication, commitment and long-term efforts of the broader CTCL community in advocating for a wider range of treatment options in the UK for those living with conditions like MF and SS."

Ropinder Gill, Chief Executive at Lymphoma Action, commented: "We're really grateful and delighted with this decision. Mogamulizumab can have a life changing impact for those people affected by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a form of the rare condition skin lymphoma. They have limited treatment options this is a great outcome for them. We were privileged to be part of the process alongside others, and to represent the patient voice with our patient advocate Stan."

Prof Julia Scarisbrick, consultant dermatologist and head of the Cutaneous Lymphoma Service within the Rare Diseases Centre at University Hospital Birmingham, added: "Adults living with CTCL have significant unmet clinical need and a lack of treatment options available to them. There has been a real need to address this for a long time and particularly so for those at the advanced stages of the disease, who have a poorer prognosis and impaired health related quality of life.4 With NICE's decision, adults with MF and SS across the whole UK now have an effective, well tolerated therapy shown to improve quality of life available to them that can provide a welcome alternative to those who need it."

About POTELIGEO (mogamulizumab)

Mogamulizumabis a first-in-class humanised monoclonal antibody (mAb) directed against CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), a protein consistently expressed on cancerous cells seen in both MF and SS;5,6,7 once mogamulizumab binds to CCR4, it increases attraction of immune cells from the immune system to destroy the cancerous cells.8

Mogamulizumab has been shown to offer benefits to many patients with MF and SS.9 The MAVORIC trial compared the efficacy of mogamulizumab with vorinostat in previously treated people with relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides or Sezary syndrome, two types of Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).9 Patients taking mogamulizumab experienced control over their disease for more than twice as long as those taking the comparator treatment, vorinostat*1 (7.7 months vs 3.1 months of median progression free survival), the primary endpoint of the trial.9 Levels of adverse events were similar between the two treatment groups.9 The MAVORIC trial is the largest in CTCL; it enrolled a total of 372 patients across 61 sites in 11 countries (of which 16 sites were in Europe, including three in England).9

About Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sezary Syndrome (SS)

MF and SS are two forms of CTCL,10 which is a serious and potentially life-threatening form of cancer.11 Additionally, there is a significant impact on quality of life for those caring for an individual living with CTCL.12 CTCL is treatable but not curable and there has been a clear unmet need for new treatment options.

MF and SS are characterised by localisation of cancerous white blood cells called T lymphocytes (T cells), to the skin.13,14 These cancerous T cells consistently express a protein called CC-chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4), which enables them to move from the blood to the skin.567When these cancerous T cells move to the skin, they can create a localised inflammatory immune skin response, commonly resulting in visible skin symptoms of red patches or plaques 5,15,16,17,18 which can resemble psoriasis or eczema.13

MF and SS can affect the skin, blood, lymph nodes (part of the body's immune system which is spread throughout the body) and internal organs.19 All four areas of the body are used to assess disease stage20,21 and clinically significant involvement of the blood, particularly in more advanced disease, is linked with increased morbidity and an overall reduction in patient survival.20,22,23

CTCL can take, on average, between 2 and 7 years for individuals to receive a confirmed diagnosis.24 It is critical for doctors to consider CTCL as an early differential diagnosis as the patient's prognosis can be affected if the disease progresses to later stages.25 Whilst most individuals that present with early stage disease do not progress to a more severe stage,26 patients with advanced disease have significantly poorer outcomes with only around half of patients (52%) surviving for just 5 years.20

CTCL is an ultra-rare disease that affects 0.7 per 100,000 patients across the UK.4 The annual incidence of MF in Europe is estimated to be between 1 in 110,000 to 1 in 350,000.27 The annual incidence of SS is 1 in 10,000,000.28 Together they represent approximately 65% of all cases of CTCL.19

About Kyowa Kirin

Kyowa Kirin strives to create and deliver novel medicines with life-changing value. As a Japan based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company with a more than 70-year heritage, the company applies cutting-edge science including an expertise in antibody research and engineering, to address the needs of patients and society across multiple therapeutic areas including Nephrology, Oncology, Immunology/Allergy and Neurology. Across our four regions Japan, Asia Pacific, North America and EMEA/International we focus on our purpose, to make people smile, and are united by our shared values of commitment to life, teamwork/Wa, innovation, and integrity. You can learn more about the business of Kyowa Kirin at: https://international.kyowa-kirin.com/uk/

KKI/UK/MOG/0074

Date of Preparation: November 2021

*1 Vorinostat is a USA FDA-licensed existing treatment for MF and SS and is currently unlicensed in the EU

References

1 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Mogamulizumab for previously treated mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome. Final Appraisal Document (FAD). November 2021. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ta10305/documents/final-appraisal-determination-document-2 Last Accessed: November 2021.

2 NICE FAD on mogamulizumab for treating for previously treated mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome [ID1405] March 2021. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/gid-ta10305/documents/final-appraisal-determination-document. Last Accessed: November 2021.

3 Scottish Medicines Consortium. Advice on new medicines mogamulizumab 4mg/mL concentrate for solution with infusion (POTELIGEO). SMC2336. Available from https://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/medicines-advice/mogamulizumab-poteligeo-full-smc2336/. Last Accessed: November 2021.

4 Gilson, D, et al. British Association of Dermatologists and UK Cutaneous Lymphoma Group Guidelines for the management of primary cutaneous lymphoma. British Journal of Dermatology. 2019. 180. pp.496-526

5 Ferenczi K, Fuhlbrigge RC, Pinkus J, et al. Increased CCR4 expression in cutaneous T cell lymphoma. J Invest Dermatol. 2002;119:1405-10.

6 Yoshie O, et al. Frequent Expression of CCR4 in Adult T-Cell Leukemia and Human T-cell Leukemia Virus Type 1-transformed T cells. Blood. 2002;99(5):1505-11.

7 Ishida T, et al. Clinical Significance of CCR4 Expression in Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma: Its Close Association With Skin Involvement and Unfavorable Outcome. Clin Cancer Res. 2003;9:3625-34.

8 Duvic M, et al. Mogamulizumab for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: recent advances and clinical potential. Ther Adv Hematol. 2016;7(3):171-174.

9 Kim YH, Bagot M, Pinter-Brown L, et al. Mogamulizumab versus vorinostat in previously treated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (MAVORIC): an international, open-label, randomised, controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2018;19(9):1192-1204.

10 European Medicines Agency (EMA). POTELIGEO 4mg/mL, concentrate for solution for infusion product information. Available from https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/11174. Last Accessed: November 2021.

11National Organization for Rare Disorders: Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas. Available from: https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/cutaneous-t-cell-lymphomas/. Last Accessed: November 2021.

12 Williams et al (2020) Health state utilities associated with caring for an individual with CTCL. Journal of Medical Economics. 2020; 23(10):1142-1150.

13 Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, Lymphoma Action and Lymphoma Coalition Europe. Cutaneous lymphoma a patient's guide. 2019. Available from: https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/documents/2019-06/Cutaneous%20lymphoma%20-%20patient%26%23039%3Bs%20guide%20-%20English%20language%20source%20document%20-%20final%20version%20for%20publication%20-%20April%202019.pdf. Last accessed: November 2021.

14 Mariani M, Lang R, Binda E, et al. Dominance of CCL22 over CCL17 in induction of chemokine receptor CCR4 desensitization and internalization on human Th2 cells. Eur J Immunol. 2004;34(1):231-240.

15 Wilcox RA. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: 2016 update on diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management. Am J Hematol. 2016;91(1):151-65.

16 Ni X, Jorgensen JL, Goswami M, et al. Reduction of regulatory T cells by Mogamulizumab, a defucosylated anti-CC chemokine receptor 4 antibody, in patients with aggressive/refractory mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome. Clin Cancer Res. 2014; 21(2):274-85.

17 Kakinuma T, Sugaya M, Nakamura K, et al. Hymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) in mycosis fungoides: serum TARC levels reflect the disease activity of mycosis fungoides. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2003;48(1):23-30.

18 Girardi M, Heald PW, Wilson LD. The Pathogenesis of Mycosis Fungoides. NEJM. 2004;350(19):1978-88.

19 Olsen E, Vonderheid E, Pimpinelli N, et al. Revisions to the staging and classification of mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome: a proposal of the International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas (ISCL) and the cutaneous lymphoma task force of the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Blood. 2007;110(6):1713-22.

20 Scarisbrick JJ, Prince M, Vermeer MH, et al. Cutaneous Lymphoma International Consortium Study of Outcome in Advanced Stages of Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome: Effect of Specific Prognostic Markers on Survival and Development of a Prognostic Model. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(32):3766-3773.

21 Willemze R, Hodak E, Zinzani PL et al. Primary cutaneous lymphomas: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2018;29(4):1-29.

22 Kim EJ, Hess S, Richardson SK, et al. Immunopathogenesis and therapy of cutaneous T cell lymphoma. J Clin Invest. 2005;115(4):798-812.

23 Scarisbrick JJ, Whittaker, S, Evans, AV, et al. Prognostic significance of tumor burden in the blood of patients with erythrodermic primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Blood. 2001;97(3):624-30.

24 CL Foundation: A Patient's Guide. Available from: https://www.clfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2018-04/a_patients_guide.pdf. Last Accessed: November 2021.

25 Agar N, et al. Survival Outcomes and Prognostic Factors in Mycosis Fungoides/Sezary Syndrome: Validation of the Revised International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas/European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Staging Proposal. J Clin Ocol. 2010;28(31):4730-4739.

26 Krejsgaard T, Lindahl LM, Mongan NP, et al. Malignant inflammation in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma-a hostile takeover. Semin Immunopathol. 2017;39(3):269-282.

27 Orphanet: Mycosis Fungoides. Available from: https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Lng=GB&Expert=2584. Last Accessed: November 2021.

28 Orphanet: Sezary syndrome. Available from: https://www.orpha.net/consor/cgi-bin/OC_Exp.php?Expert=3162. Last Accessed: November 2021.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005562/en/

Contacts:

Contacts for Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.:

Media

Victoria Hayes

+ 44 (0)7771107406

Email: victoria.hayes@kyowakirin.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.
Black Veatch has secured the contract to optimise steam generation at Sembcorp Energy UK's (SEUK) 2,000-acre site at Wilton International.

SEUK's site at Wilton International on Teesside sits within a hub of decarbonisation innovation. At the site, SEUK provides energy-intensive industrial businesses with combined heat and power (CHP) via the UK's largest and most diverse private wire electricity network; which supplies electricity generated by gas and biomass.

The engineer, procure, construction management (EpCM) contract encompasses enhancements to both SEUK's 75-megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) and 30MW wood-fired biomass power generation assets.

With the CCGT alone generating up to 140 tonnes of steam per hour, optimisation will ensure a reliable steam supply for SEUK's process industry clients at Wilton International, that is generated on the most efficient and cost-effective basis.

"This is a complex project on a busy, physically constrained site. Ensuring continuity of steam supply to SEUK's clients during the work is paramount," said Youssef Merjaneh, Senior Vice President, Black Veatch Power Europe, Middle East and Africa. "For projects like this an EpCM model offers the most flexibility to meet the owner's requirements and can accommodate changes as the project develops. Final costs are optimised as a result including avoiding premiums for risk transfer, and controlling equipment and materials costs."

Maximising the efficiency of the steam system at Wilton International includes replacing and optimising mechanical and electrical equipment, and control systems, on both the CCGT and biomass plant. Black Veatch's scope encompasses the role of Principal Designer.

"Our UK team has considerable CCGT experience on both utility and industrial sites. They have also proven the worth of EpCM contracting on numerous projects," Merjaneh added. "To provide clients with strength in depth on UK projects like Wilton International, we will be using not just our in-country professionals, but expertise from across our global power business for instance Thai engineering capabilities, and our US plant modernisation team."

"We're pleased to have appointed Black Veatch for this project. Sembcorp Energy UK is committed to lowering the carbon emissions of its assets, and this includes making sure our current assets run as efficiently as possible," commented Dave Thompson, UK Operations Director, Sembcorp Energy UK.

Click here to download an image of Wilton International.

About Black Veatch

Black Veatch is an employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people around the world by addressing the resilience and reliability of our most important infrastructure assets. Our revenues in 2020 exceeded US$3.0 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and on social media.

About Sembcorp Energy UK

Sembcorp Energy UK (SEUK), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries, is a leading provider of sustainable solutions supporting the UK's transition to Net Zero. With an energy generation and battery storage portfolio of nearly 1GW in operation, our expertise helps major energy users and suppliers improve their efficiency, profitability, and sustainability, while supporting the growth of renewables and strengthening the UK's electricity system.

Our Wilton International site on Teesside sits within a hub of decarbonisation innovation. At the site, we provide energy-intensive industrial businesses with combined heat and power (CHP) via our private wire network that supplies electricity generated by gas and biomass.

These services are complemented by our fleet of fast-acting, decentralised power stations and battery storage sites situated throughout England and Wales. Monitored and controlled from our central operations facility in Solihull, these flexible assets deliver electricity to the national grid, helping to balance the UK energy system and ensure reliable power for homes and businesses.

For more information on Sembcorp Energy UK visit www.sembcorpenergy.co.uk LinkedIn Twitter

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005002/en/

Contacts:

MALCOLM HALLSWORTH +44 1483 319287 p +44 7920 701764 m HallsworthM@BV.com

24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE +1 855-999-5991
The dismissal is a win for the Solar Energy Industries Association, which vigorously opposed the request by American Solar Manufacturers Against Chinese Circumvention (A-SMACC) for anti-dumping and anti-circumvention (AD-CVD) tariffsFrom pv magazine USA The U.S. Department of Commerce tossed out a request by an anonymous group of solar companies that sought what could have been crippling tariffs on a handful of companies that import modules from Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The dismissal is a win for the Solar Energy Industries Association, which vigorously opposed the request by American ...

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.
Menlo Park, California, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zenfolio, the leader in creative and business solutions for photographers, announced that it has acquired Format, a major website-building platform and marketplace based in Toronto, Canada, used by professional photographers and artists worldwide. Both companies offer Software as a Service (SaaS) business solutions - Zenfolio since 2006 and Format since 2010. Combined, these two market leaders provide the most comprehensive service offering to photographers and artists, leveraging their respective brands and complementary strengths.

John Loughlin, Zenfolio CEO, shared the rationale for bringing the two companies together. "We deeply respect the Format brand, their employees and community, and the business they have built," he stated. "This combination will expand the capabilities and services offered to our respective customers."

Lukas Dryja, Format CEO and Co-Founder, shared his enthusiasm for the merger. "Since creating Format, we have cared deeply about our community and team," he said. "Partnering with Zenfolio is a tremendous opportunity for both. The Format community will benefit from Zenfolio's extensive technology services while Zenfolio customers will have access to world class tools and designs to showcase their work online."

The Format acquisition continues a strategy launched by Zenfolio three years ago to reimagine the company. Zenfolio recently unveiled a new cloud-based technology platform using artificial intelligence and machine-learning that is redefining the business of photography. Zenfolio leads the industry in workflow automation, helping photographers manage and grow their businesses, while spending more time behind the lens.

"Bringing together two leading platforms for photographers allows us to accelerate the development of new services by taking best in breed features and capabilities and making them available to customers of both companies," Loughlin explained.

The two brands will initially operate in parallel, each retaining its current employee workforce and subscription base. Format will continue to be headquartered in Toronto. Zenfolio headquarters will continue to be located in Menlo Park, California.

About Zenfolio

Zenfolio Inc., a Centre Lane Partners company, offers advanced business solutions enabling photographers to easily show, share and sell their images. For the past 15 years, Zenfolio has proudly served photographers around the globe.

About Format

Format empowers professional photographers and creatives by transforming them into successful entrepreneurs. Founded in 2010 in Toronto, Canada, Format is a proudly self-funded company with a remote team distributed globally.

Vista Point Advisors acted as the exclusive advisor to Format in its sale to Zenfolio.

Attachment
Ninety-one percent of consumers cite a brand's integrity and authenticity as the most important thing when considering a purchase



Download full industry report now

LANCASTER, Pa., Nov. 11, 2021OpSec Security,the leader in fully integrated on-product and online authentication and brand protection, surveyed 2,500 consumers globally to understand what influences consumers' brand trust, their attitudes toward different shopping channels, and their purchasing experiences over the last year.

Despite influencer marketing continuing to dominate across both online and increasingly offline channels, only 6% of consumers globally are swayed by influencers or celebrity endorsements when choosing which retail channel to use when making a purchase. This is according to new research conducted on behalf of OpSec Security, which found that even among 18 - 24-year-olds, the so-called 'digital generation,' influencers only make their mark on 12% of consumers, with the percentage sharply declining with age.

Shoppers are more likely to trust their peers, family, and friends for advice when making a purchasing decision. 71% of consumers rate customer reviews as an effective trust signal, while 72% trust endorsements from family and friends.

This fall from grace for influencers could be linked to the fact that almost a quarter (24%) of the counterfeit products unintentionally purchased by consumers were bought from social media ads, which was second only to counterfeit purchase from online marketplaces (26%).

This growing skepticism is reflected in the finding that links in social media posts are the least trusted method of purchasing goods. Almost half (49%) of consumers consider these channels untrustworthy, and only 38% believe social media ads are trustworthy.

An overwhelming 91% of social media users have concerns about buying goods from social channels. The biggest worry is the quality of goods (53%), followed by payment security (51%) and buying a fake (51%). Conversely, department stores have the highest levels of trust among consumers, with 90% globally saying they are 'trustworthy', followed closely by brand stores (87%) and a brand owner's website (83%).

Bill Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer, OpSec Security, comments, "While influencers have a place in today's marketing mix, it appears they aren't as effective in winning shoppers over as some may have been led to believe and don't necessarily inspire trust in a brand. Rather, consumers seem to place more stock on what the people they know and trust think of brands and products, suggesting that brands would be better placed to focus their attention on protecting their brand from the threat of counterfeiting and maintaining their reputation."

Ninety-one per cent of consumers say the integrity and authenticity of a brand is the most important thing when evaluating who they shop with, while their treatment of employees comes in second (87%). Almost four in five consumers (79%) are more likely to shop with a brand that shares their personal beliefs.

When it comes to increasing trust, almost half of consumers (46%) claim that brands could achieve this by better protecting their personal data, offering good customer support (40%) and providing refunds easily (35%). For nearly a fifth (18%), demonstrating a transparent and ethical supply chain would be the biggest driver of trust.

Alessandra Vercelloni, Sales Director, Europe, OpSec Security, adds, "These findings indicate that brands are at risk of underestimating consumers and what inspires their trust. As much as price and endorsements will play a part in purchase decisions, they are no longer the only factors shoppers consider. Many consumers now want the brands they shop with to align with their values and to take their social corporate responsibility seriously. If brands are to gain consumers' trust and ultimately persuade them to spend their money, they must begin to find ways to demonstrate and substantiate claims that they are ethical or sustainable, for example."

About OpSec Security

OpSec Security is the global market leader in securing and protecting brands. After decades of leadership in brand protection technology, OpSec grew to become the leading provider of fully integrated brand and document security, providing companies and governments with myriad solutions to help our customers ensure brand quality, reputation, and integrity.

OpSec is a leading innovator in online brand and digital content protection, offering our clients end-to-end safeguards against counterfeiting, piracy, and unauthorized usage. We continue to innovate, finding increasingly advanced ways to meet an ever-growing range of threats. Even as the counterfeiters, pirates, and other bad actors employ more sophisticated ways to damage your brand, we never stop getting better at protecting it.

What is missing from your brand protection program? Find out more at opsecsecurity.com

Media Contact

Amanda Hershey

Marketing Communications Manager

Email: media@opsecsecurity.com

Phone: +1

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dad208d0-70f5-439c-b6f1-868458b0bd9c
Operating Profit of 77.5 Million Euro for 9M21 (+176% Over 9M20)

Net Profit of 46.2 Million Euro for 9M21 (+90% Over 9M20)

Net Profit of 18.8 Million Euro in the Third Quarter of 2021

(+26% Compared to 2Q21 and +98% Compared to 3Q20)

Solid and Well-Diversified Revenues, Costs Under Control

Also Including Investments in New Initiatives

Excellent Quality of Existing Business

ROE Climbs to 9% in the Nine Months 2021

Short and Medium-Long Term Targets Confirmed

Resolved to Convene the Shareholder's Meeting to be Held on December 15, 2021 for Integration of the Board, Remuneration Policy and New Long-Term Incentive Plan

Growth Credit Division: the driver behind the rise in the Group's volumes in the quarter, with net customer loans up by 16% over the previous quarter (+70% y/y) to 1.17 billion euro and further revenue diversification, with a positive contribution coming from the initiatives launched at the beginning of the year (capital markets, Ecobonus 1 )

the driver behind the rise in the Group's volumes in the quarter, with net customer loans up by 16% over the previous quarter (+70% y/y) to 1.17 billion euro and further revenue diversification, with a positive contribution coming from the initiatives launched at the beginning of the year (capital markets, Ecobonus ) Distressed Credit Division: confirms itself as the force behind the Group's profitability, thanks also to the dynamic management of its existing portfolio, generating revenues in the first nine months of 2021 exceeding those earned in the whole of 2020. The Division's Cost income ratio remained at excellent levels at 32%

confirms itself as the force behind the Group's profitability, thanks also to the dynamic management of its existing portfolio, generating revenues in the first nine months of 2021 exceeding those earned in the whole of 2020. The Division's Cost income ratio remained at excellent levels at 32% Direct Banking Division: direct retail customer funding rising to ca. 1.3 billion euro and significant advances on the new initiative front. HYPE released its new offer in September and asserted the market leadership with around 1.5 million customers. B-ILTY - the first fully digital direct bank designed for small corporates - confirmed the launch by the first quarter of 2022

direct retail customer funding rising to ca. 1.3 billion euro and significant advances on the new initiative front. HYPE released its new offer in September and asserted the market leadership with around 1.5 million customers. B-ILTY - the first fully digital direct bank designed for small corporates - confirmed the launch by the first quarter of 2022 Liquidity of 1.1 billion euro and a robust capital base with a CET1 Ratio of 20.1% (20.6% pro-forma 2 ) and a Total Capital Ratio of 26.5%

of 1.1 billion euro and a with a CET1 Ratio of 20.1% (20.6% pro-forma ) and a Total Capital Ratio of 26.5% The capital increase reserved to theION Group completed in the third quarter and the licence agreement for illimity's IT architecture gets under way.



MILAN, Italy, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire -- Chaired by Rosalba Casiraghi, the Board of Directors of illimity Bank S.p.A. ("illimity" or "Bank") yesterday approved the illimity Group's results at 30 September 2021.

illimity again reports solid financial and operating performance in the third quarter of 2021: net profit of 18.8 million euro (14.9 million euro in the second quarter of 2021, +26% q/q, and 9.5 million euro in the third quarter of 2020, +98% y/y), taking the net result for the first nine months of the year to 46.2 million euro, up by 90% over the corresponding period in 2020. ROE3 closed at over 9% for the first nine months of 2021 on an annualised basis.

All the new strategic initiatives are running to schedule and the trajectory towards the short and medium-long term targets set in the 2021-25 Strategic Plan presented on 22 June is therefore confirmed.

Specifically:

Revenues in the third quarter rose by 49% over the third quarter of 2020 , driven by the Group's recurring activities and the development of its new initiatives. The strong performance accompanied the gradual balancing of the revenue mix , with the component of income other than net interest income representing around 50% of the total in the first nine months of 2021.

in the third quarter , driven by the Group's recurring activities and the development of its new initiatives. The strong performance accompanied the , with the component of income other than net interest income representing around 50% of the total in the first nine months of 2021. Standing out among revenues is the rise in fees and commissions , which in the third quarter rose by 18% q/q to reach 10.3 million euro - three times the corresponding figure for the previous year - driven by the robust generation of new business volumes in the Growth Credit segment, including Factoring, the solid results of neprix and the rising contribution of the new initiatives.

, which in the third quarter to reach - three times the corresponding figure for the previous year - driven by the robust generation of new business volumes in the Growth Credit segment, including Factoring, the solid results of neprix and the rising contribution of the new initiatives. Revenues for the period include the first income of 5 million euro arising from the licence agreement entered into with the ION Group for the use of the information systems developed by illimity (part of the 90 million euro planned to be received over five years).

arising from the for the use of the information systems developed by illimity (part of the 90 million euro planned to be received over five years). The Distressed Credit Division's performance in managing purchased loans proved once again to be excellent in this quarter, with an extremely good progression in gross cash flows, generating ca. 5.3 million euro of profit from closed positions and other income of ca. 7.2 million euro; overall, the Division produced revenues of 146.1 million euro in the first nine months of 2021.

in managing purchased loans proved once again to be in this quarter, with an extremely good progression in gross cash flows, generating ca. 5.3 million euro of profit from closed positions and other income of ca. 7.2 million euro; overall, the Division produced revenues of 146.1 million euro in the first nine months of 2021. Despite the fact that the Bank continued to invest in new initiatives which have yet to produce revenues, operating costs in the third quarter fell by around 9% over the previous quarter due to seasonal savings on certain staff cost items. This trend, together with the robust performance of revenues, led to a further improvement in the Cost income ratio , which reached 56% in the quarter and 60% in the first nine months of 2021 , a clear-cut improvement over the same period of the previous year (76% in 9M20).

in the third quarter over the previous quarter due to seasonal savings on certain staff cost items. This trend, together with the robust performance of revenues, led to a further , which reached and , a clear-cut improvement over the same period of the previous year (76% in 9M20). As a result of the above dynamics, illimity's operating profit rose to 77.5 million euro in the first nine months of 2021 , nearly three times the figure of 28.0 million euro reported for the same period in 2020 .

rose to , . The Bank's risk profile strengthened further, remaining at the top levels of the system: the CET1 Ratio rose to 20.1% at the end of September 2021 (20.6% pro-forma with the inclusion of the special shares) due to the completion of the capital increase reserved to the ION Group and the profit of the quarter just ended; the ratio between gross doubtful organic loans and total gross organic loans fell to 2.5%; excluding the loan portfolio of the former Banca Interprovinciale, this ratio stands at around 0.5%. Liquidity continued to be abundant at over 1.1 billion euro at the end of September 2021, consistent with the expectation of an acceleration in opportunities in the distressed credit market in the final part of the year.

strengthened further, remaining at the top levels of the system: the at the end of September 2021 (20.6% pro-forma with the inclusion of the special shares) due to the completion of the capital increase reserved to the ION Group and the profit of the quarter just ended; the this ratio stands at continued to be abundant at over at the end of September 2021, consistent with the expectation of an acceleration in opportunities in the distressed credit market in the final part of the year. Lastly, the Bank continued developing the new initiatives outlined in the Strategic Plan in line with the timetable. In September, HYPE launched new services and products on the market, enhancing its offer, with the aim of giving a further thrust to the already robust growth performance of the company, which can currently count on 1.5 million customers, confirming its leadership position among the fintechs that operate in Italy. The development of B-ILTY, the new highly digital direct bank designed for small corporates, ready for launching in the first quarter of 2022, is running to schedule. And in conclusion, the operating activities continued for enabling neprix Sales - the remarketing entity already a leader among platforms for the sale of real estate and capital goods arising from legal procedures - to enter the real estate free market by way of an innovative and digital offer model.

Corrado Passera, CEO and Founder of illimity, commented: "The world served by illimity, that of the small corporates, offers significant opportunities. A growing number of corporates present ambitious projects to enhance their potential and many are on solid paths towards a turnaround. The increase in distressed corporate credit will also accelerate once the banking moratorium ends, and the role of banks such as illimity specialising in this market segment will prove itself fundamental.

The decisions and technology investments we have made in these years will enable us to provide a service model that has shown itself to be competitive in terms of both expertise and efficiency. B-ILTY, the direct bank for small corporates, which will be launched on the market in the first part of the year 2022, will complete the construction of the illimity model and be completely unique, and not only at an Italian level.

The results of the first nine months of 2021 and in particular the third quarter confirm that the path that illimity has taken, has only just begun to bear its fruits for our customers and our shareholders."

For more details view the entire announcement:

https://assets.ctfassets.net/0ei02du1nnrl/2DFTbB9Vt2QYCNcNT7pm5U/bec4c82968049162bac44bf70d39ea0e/illimity_3Q21_9M21_Results.pdf

For further information:

Investor Relations

Silvia Benzi: +39.349.7846537 - +44.7741.464948 - silvia.benzi@illimity.com

Press & Communication illimity Isabella Falautano, Francesca D'Amico Sara Balzarotti, Ad Hoc Communication Advisors +39.340.1989762 press@illimity.com (mailto:press@illimity.com) +39.335.1415584 sara.balzarotti@ahca.it (mailto:sara.balzarotti@ahca.it)

Wire Service Contact:

InvestorWire

212.418.1217 Office

Editor@InvestorWire.com

________________________

1 Purchase of tax credits deriving from energy efficiency interventions, reduction of seismic risk and recovery of the building heritage provided for by the Relaunch Decree (so-called 110% Superbonus and other building bonuses).

2 Including special shares for 14.4 million euro

3 ROE - Return On Equity: calculated as the ratio between annualised net profit for the period and average equity for the nine months (1/1-30/9/2021).




HONG KONG, Nov 11, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Yeahka Limited ("Yeahka" or the "Company", Stock Code: 09923), a leading payment-based technology platform in China, announced today that it has agreed to invest RMB100 million in Dingding Cultural Tourism (Chengdu) Co., Ltd. (the parent company of Qianqianhui, "Qianqianhui") as registered capital and capital reserve of Qianqianhui. Following the acquisition, Yeahka will hold 60% of the enlarged share capital of Qianqianhui, and Qianqianhui will be integrated into Yeahka's in-store e-commerce services solutions segment.Yeahka's strategic investment in Qianqianhui further strengthens the Company's capabilities in its technology-enabled business services segment by deepening the connection between merchants and consumers, and improving the sales performance of merchants. At the same time, consumers will be able to conveniently enjoy local lifestyle benefits such as discounts and promotions.Liu Yingqi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yeahka, said, "Qianqianhui has been a highly competitive player in the local lifestyle services market in China, and our company delivers services to millions of merchants that have expressed a great deal of interest in more local lifestyle service solutions. We look forward to continuously creating value for merchants and consumers, and realizing synergies between our existing businesses."Chen Jiading, Founder of Qianqianhui, said, "Qianqianhui has accumulated extensive experience and capabilities in local lifestyle services, e-commerce services and the distribution through of new media KOL. We are delighted to join the Yeahka family and look forward to writing the next chapter as we roll out our combined capabilities in the local lifestyle services market.Qianqianhui is a highly competitive player in local lifestyle services, delivering a high of nearly RMB100 million in GMV in a single monthEstablished in May 2020, the Qianqianhui platform positions itself as a popular "high-end shopping platform," offering users access to tourist attractions, high-end resorts, buffets, catering, other local lifestyle services and products.In just the half year following its establishment, Qianqianhui achieved breakthroughs in terms of both revenue and business scale. To-date, the platform has served more than 6 million merchants, and its peak monthly GMV has exceeded RMB93 million. Qianqianhui has branches in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, as well as key provincial cities such as Chengdu, Hangzhou, Changsha and Suzhou.As a highly competitive player in the local lifestyle services sector in the post-mobile Internet era, Qianqianhui has emerged as a strong player through its precise product positioning and the extensive experience of its management team.In terms of merchandising, with its high-quality product supply chains and diversified channels, Qianqianhui helps merchants increase exposure and sales, reduce inventory pressure and lower customer acquisition costs while helping consumers obtain products and services with better value-for-money.Qianqianhui's product supply chain business covers more than 200 cities nationwide, but still has strong expansion capabilities. At present, the platform targets selected quality merchants, including five to seven-star hotels, special catering brands and major national catering chains to guarantee a superior user experience.Qianqianhui has also established comprehensive sales channels to improve its penetration and operational capabilities in the consumer space. Currently, Qianqianhui has built a comprehensive communications network covering WeChat official accounts, boasting over 8 million followers, and other mini programs. On the WeChat platform, Qianqianhui also has more than 3 million registered community experts specializing in social network distribution. It is a leader in terms of KOL recommendations and shop-visit operations on Douyin. From July to November 2021 alone, the GMV from short videos on Douyin and live-streaming sales exceeded RMB100 million.Qianqianhui's founder, Chen Jiading, has accumulated years of experience in the local lifestyle services industry. He has managed and operated the LianLian Travel Around project for three years. Other core team members also have years of local lifestyle services experience and are veterans in merchandise product innovation and channel expansion.Yeahka continues to strengthen its local lifestyle services, and evolve its technology-enabled business solutionsTo bolster the Group's development in technology-enabled business solutions, Yeahka has presented its development roadmap for local lifestyle services in the recent years.With a market potential of trillions of dollars, the local lifestyle services sector is not sufficiently connected. According to publicly available data, as at the first half of 2021, Yeahka served over 6.13 million merchants reaching 820 million consumers. Most merchants have expressed strong demand for services that support customer acquisition and sales, while consumers are constantly looking for more offline local lifestyle benefits, discounts and promotions.Yeahka officially entered the local lifestyle services sector after launching its in-store e-commerce solutions business in the second half of 2020. Services such as the "Leshangquan Small Gold Card" and "Leshangquan In-store Services" grew rapidly after their debut. In the first half of 2021, the Company's in-store e-commerce business served nearly 10,000 merchants, and more than 1.42 million paid consumers. The platform's GMV exceeded RMB71 million, and overall revenue nearly reached RMB45 million.For merchants, Yeahka's in-store e-commerce services include guidance from local merchandising experts, design of promotional packages, and support for launching on e-commerce platforms, payment and SaaS sales networks. The Company helps merchants precisely drive consumer traffic and improve direct sales through its omnichannel coverage.For consumers, services such as the "Leshangquan Small Gold Card" and "Leshangquan In-store Services," and the Company's diversified marketing methods can offer customized and cost-effective in-store or to-home lifestyle services.Following the integration of Qianqianhui, Yeahka will not only further consolidate its foundation in the local lifestyle services sector, but also create new growth opportunities for its technology-enabled business service solutions.For Yeahka's in-store e-commerce business, Qianqianhui's strong supply chain, sales and channel operations will create strong synergies after connecting with the brands, traffic and technologies of existing businesses, thus further optimizing the portfolio of its in-store e-commerce business solutions. In addition to the in-store e-commerce sector, Qianqianhui can also generate strong synergies with businesses such as payment and SaaS digital solutions and boost development of their businesses.Source: YEAHKA LIMITEDCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
The Global Advisory Board's first four members are a seasoned Israeli diplomat, a former Treasurer of the United States, a White House veteran, and a celebrated specialist in interpersonal communication

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Diverse international business group, the Libra Group, has appointed the first four members of its new Global Advisory Board to support its Executive Team and Board of Directors. The newly appointed advisors will provide strategic guidance to the group that is active in aviation, energy, hospitality, real estate, shipping, and diversified investments.

There are initially four members of the Global Advisory Board, including Ido Aharoni Aronoff, who serves as a Global Distinguished Professor for International Relations at New York University's Graduate School of Arts and Science. He joins the group of advisors following a long and distinguished career in public service including 25 years in Israel's foreign service where he was the longest serving Israeli Consul-General in New York. He is a public diplomacy specialist and the founder of the Brand Israel Program. He is an advisor to numerous global businesses, Co-Founder of the Genius 100 Visions Community and is Chairman of the Charney Forum for New Diplomacy and of GMFF, one of Israel's leading film funds.

Prior to becoming a Senior Advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Global Advisory Board member Anna Escobedo Cabral served as the 42nd Treasurer of the United States from January 19, 2005 to January 20, 2009. She was previously executive staff director for the U.S. Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs, while also working as deputy staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. She is currently on the Board of Directors for Navient as a Trustee for the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Vice Chair of the Comcast/NBCU Hispanic Diversity Advisory Committee, President of the BBVA Microfinance Foundation Board, and Treasurer of Lideramos, a non-profit that provides leadership training.

Global Advisory Board member Anita McBride is Executive-in-Residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington, DC. Her public service as a White House advisor, chief of staff, and human rights and women's empowerment advocate spans over 30 years. She was previously Assistant to President George W. Bush, Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State. She served as director of White House Personnel under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and as director of the U.S. Speaker's Bureau at the United States Information Agency. She is a strategic consultant to numerous global non-profit organizations and has provided consultancy services to CARE. She co-founded the RAND African First Ladies Initiative and Fellowship program.

Also joining the Global Advisory Board is Joe Navarro, the celebrated specialist in human behaviour, interpersonal communication and body language. For 25 years, he served as an FBI Special Agent in the areas of counterintelligence and behavioural assessment. Joe lectures and consults worldwide with organizations interested in conducting more effective, empathetic communications with an emphasis on better understanding through the applied use of verbal and nonverbal skills. For the last eleven years, Joe Navarro has lectured annually at the Harvard Business School and his WIRED videos dealing with nonverbal communications have been viewed over 40 million times.

Commenting on the creation of the new advisory board, Libra Group's Chairman and CEO, George Logothetis, stated, "We are honoured to have access to the wisdom and experience of this eminent group of global leaders. As a business with assets and operations across 50 countries, insight into diverse cultures, jurisdictions and commercial practices is a critical aspect of our operations. These advisors provide complementary skills that will be invaluable to the strategies and tactical approaches for our many business interests. We look forward to announcing further members of the board in due course."

See https://www.libra.com/en/people/global-advisory-board/

About the Libra Group

The Libra Group is an international business group comprising 35 subsidiaries active across six continents. It is focused on six sectors: aviation, energy, hospitality, real estate, shipping and diversified investments. The group's Social Responsibility division comprises nine programmes that seek to deliver educational opportunity, business opportunity, and acts of humanity towards people who are marginalized or under-served. The Libra Group is owned by the Logothetis family.

www.libra.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1685910/Libra_Group_Global_Advisory_Board.jpg
SIRC Subsidiary Pacific Lighting Energy Management Company Signs Agreement to Install EV Chargers at up to 200 Apartment Buildings Nationally

EL CAJON, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (OTC PINK:SIRC), an integrated, single-source solar power and roofing systems installation company, today announced that subsidiary Pacific Lighting Energy Management Company (PLEMCo) has partnered with Heartland Construction, a national alternative energy developer, to provide electric vehicle (EV) charging station installations for Heartland solar projects.

Heartland's solar projects are primarily constructed on multi-unit residential facilities, with the addition of EV charging stations targeted to enhance the value of the solution to the end-consumer - making their apartment building communities more competitive to the modern consumer. The total near-term opportunity with Heartland spans up to 200 projects - with the initial project in Portland, Oregon spanning 20-50 Level 2 EV charging stations generating expected revenues of at least $250,000.

"PLEMCO has primarily focused attention on the installation of large utility and government EV charging station projects, but as the demand for charging stations grows exponentially, we are expanding our sales initiatives to encompass businesses of all sizes across a national landscape," said David Massey, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. "Heartland Construction's solar projects are primarily being constructed on apartment buildings, and the addition of EV charging stations will further enhance their aim of providing energy efficient solutions for their end-clients. Solar and EV charging together help to set client apartment buildings apart from competing buildings - while concurrently providing clean energy solutions that are quickly becoming a requirement for many renters and homeowners."

"The expected near-term potential addressable opportunity of at least several million dollars is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the revenues we expect from this subsidiary in the coming several quarters. We expect to see further gains as we continue our effort to provide all-inclusive alternative energy solutions for both homeowners and businesses across the country," concluded Massey.

About Solar Integrated Roofing Corp.

Solar Integrated Roofing Corp. (OTC PINK:SIRC), is an integrated, single-source solar power and roofing systems installation platform company specializing in commercial and residential properties throughout the United States. The Company serves communities by delivering the best experience through constant innovation & legacy-focused leadership. The Company's broad array of solutions include sales and installation of solar energy systems, battery backup and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to roofing, HVAC and related electrical contracting work. For more information, please visit the Company's website at www.solarintegratedroofing.com or join us on Twitter , Facebook or Discord .

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements made in this press release which are not historical facts contain certain forward-looking statements; as such term is defined in the Private Security Litigation Reform Act of 1995, concerning potential developments affecting the business, prospects, financial condition and other aspects of the company to which this release pertains. The actual results of the specific items described in this release, and the company's operations generally, may differ materially from what is projected in such forward-looking statements. Although such statements are based upon the best judgments of management of the company as of the date of this release, significant deviations in magnitude, timing and other factors may result from business risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, the company's dependence on third parties, general market and economic conditions, technical factors, the availability of outside capital, receipt of revenues and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the company. The company disclaims any obligation to update the information contained in any forward-looking statement. This press release shall not be deemed a general solicitation.

Investor Relations Contact:

Lucas A. Zimmerman

Director

MZ North America

Main: 949-259-4987

SIRC@mzgroup.us

www.mzgroup.us

SOURCE: Solar Integrated Roof Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672245/Solar-Integrated-Roofing-Corp-Partners-with-Heartland-Construction-for-Electric-Vehicle-Charging-Station-Installations
Independent dermatology research experts at Monasterium Laboratory GmbH will test, analyze and validate various injection parameters using donated human tissue

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / RepliCel Life Sciences Inc. (OTC PINK:REPCF)(TSXV:RP)(FRA:P6P2) ("RepliCel" or the "Company"), a company developing next-generation technologies in aesthetics and orthopedics, announced today it has shipped DermaPreciseTM Injector prototypes and consumables to an independent laboratory in Germany to conduct validation studies of injection parameters in various types of donated human skin tissue*.

"The design of the DermaPreciseTM system is intended to deliver a high level of control and consistent precision over dermal and subcutaneous injections," stated R. Lee Buckler, President and CEO of RepliCel Life Sciences, which developed and owns all rights to the DermaPreciseTM product portfolio and its underlying technologies. "As we continue to prepare for commercial launch of the DermaPreciseTM product line, it is critical we have independent validation of the injection parameters and our ability to deliver best-in-class precision to our end users. Testing with donated human skin samples is a valuable tool in convincing clinicians to evaluate new technologies in real clinical treatment settings."

"As clinicians learn more about the mechanisms and effects of the various types of substances we inject into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue - including neurotoxins, fillers, antibody therapeutics, fat-dissolving enzymes, cell therapies, and other injectables - we are increasingly realizing that precision of depth, dose and/or delivery matters more to efficacy than was often originally believed," stated dermatologist and clinical researcher Dr. Rolf Hoffmann who has been a clinical advisor on the DermaPrecise development.

The pre-clinical simulation testing to be conducted at Monasterium Laboratory Skin & Hair Research Solutions GmbH in Munster Germany, will include testing a wide array of injection depths in various skin tissues to demonstrate the achieved depth and biodistribution of injected substances by way of histological and imaging analysis.

About Monasterium Laboratory GmbH

Monasterium Laboratory GmbH is a fast-growing, independent dermatological research company specialized in preclinical skin, hair, pigmentation, neuroendocrinology, immunology, and wound healing research in the human system.

* Note: All experiments on human tissue are performed according to Helsinki guidelines and samples are collected after written patient consent and ethics approval.

About the DermaPrecise TM Injector Product Line

The DermaPreciseTM Injector platform is an electronic injection system which will bring new levels of control over dermal or subcutaneous injections where precision of depth, dose and/or delivery matters.

About RepliCel Life Sciences

RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company focused on developing cell therapies for aesthetic and orthopedic conditions affecting what the Company believes is approximately one in three people in industrialized nations, including aging/sun-damaged skin, pattern baldness, and chronic tendon degeneration. These conditions, often associated with aging, are caused by a deficit of healthy cells required for normal tissue healing and function. These cell therapy product candidates are based on RepliCel's innovative technology, utilizing cell populations isolated from a patient's healthy hair follicles.

The Company's product pipeline is comprised of RCT-01 for tendon repair, RCS-01 for skin rejuvenation, and RCH-01 for hair restoration. RCH-01 is exclusively licensed in Asia to Shiseido Company Limited. RepliCel maintains the rights to RCH-01 for the rest of the world. RCT-01 and RCS-01 are exclusively licensed in Greater China to YOFOTO (China) Health Company. RepliCel and YOFOTO are currently co-developing these products in China. RepliCel maintains the rights to these products outside of Greater China.

RepliCel has also developed a proprietary injection device, DermaPreciseTM, and related consumables, which is expected to improve the administration of its cell therapy products and certain other injectables. YOFOTO has exclusively licensed the commercial rights for the DermaPreciseTM device and consumables in Greater China for dermatology applications and is expected to first launch the product in Hong Kong upon it being approved for market launch in either the United States or Europe. Please visit www.replicel.com for additional information.

Notable Facts:

RepliCel's three cell therapy products have now been tested in over 100 patients in four countries on three continents.

RepliCel now has key strategic partners in the United States, China, and Japan each of which are now investing heavily in the further clinical testing and development of RepliCel's products for their markets. Data from each of the clinical programs will strengthen the product development initiatives for RepliCel and its other partners worldwide.

For more information, please contact:

Lee Buckler, CEO and President

604-248-8693

info@replicel.com

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: RepliCel Life Sciences, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/671722/RepliCel-Ships-DermaPreciseTM-Injector-Prototypes-and-Consumables-to-Independent-Laboratory-for-Clinical-Simulation-Testing
11 November 2021

Acron Board of Directors Issues Recommendation on Dividend Amount

Acron Board of Directors meeting, which took place on 11 November 2021, issued recommendation to the extraordinary general meeting to be held as absentee voting on 3 December 2021, to pay (declare) dividends on Acron shares for nine months of 2021 in cash at the rate of RUB 720 per share. Thus, the Company will allocate a total of RUB 26,465 million for dividend payment.

The Board of Directors proposed to set a record date for persons entitled to dividends for 14 December 2021.

Media Contacts:

Sergey Dorofeev

Anastasia Gromova

Tatiana Smirnova

Public Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 777-08-65 (ext. 5196)

Investor Contacts:

Ilya Popov

Sergey Smirnov

Strategy and Investor Relations

Phone: +7 (495) 745-77-45 (ext. 5252)

Background Information

Acron Group is a leading vertically integrated mineral fertiliser producer in Russia and globally, with chemical production facilities in Veliky Novgorod (Acron) and Smolensk region (Dorogobuzh). The Group owns and operates a phosphate mine in Murmansk region (North-Western Phosphorous Company, NWPC) and is implementing a potash development project in Perm Krai (Verkhnekamsk Potash Company, VPC). It owns transportation and logistics infrastructure, including three Baltic seaport terminals and distribution networks in Russia and China. Acron subsidiary North Atlantic Potash Inc. (NAP) holds mining leases and an exploration permit for ten parcels of the potassium salt deposit at Prairie Evaporite, Saskatchewan, Canada. Acron also holds a minority stake (19.8%) in Polish Grupa Azoty S.A., one of the largest chemical producers in Europe.

In 2020, the Group sold 7.8 million tonnes of its main products to 74 countries, with Russia, Brazil, Europe and the United States as key markets.

In 2020, the Group posted consolidated IFRS revenue of RUB 119,864 million (USD 1,661 million), with EBITDA of RUB 35,311 million (USD 489 million). Acron's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange and its global depositary receipts are traded at the London Stock Exchange (ticker AKRN). Acron employs over 11,000 people.

For more information about Acron Group, please visit www.acron.ru/en.
Kikitrade, the cryptocurrency social investment platform, announced a joint venture with the UK-based emerging market specialist Oxford Frontier to launch a digital asset trading platform for the Middle Eastern markets.

HONG KONG, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kikitrade raised a total of $12M in 2021 to accelerate its growth in the APAC markets, backed by investors from the likes of British hedge fund billionaire Alan Howard, Dragonfly Capital and blockchain gaming unicorn Animoca Brands. It progresses forward with an aim to popularise digital assets adoption among everyday people, particularly the Generation Z, millennials and non-finance professionals.

Spearheaded by the UAE and Bahrain, the Middle East region is developing increasingly favorable regulatory regimes for digital assets to attract technology talent and enterprises. With the speedy development of Metaverse and broader acceptance, blockchain-based assets will become an important driver of the next wave of financial technology.

Kikitrade aims to provide a cryptocurrency investment platform and to create an "interactive and educationable" in-app community by integrating social and gaming elements to the platform. Whilst Kikitrade will focus the product and technical development for the retail investors in the countries, Oxford Frontier will secure local licenses and localise the platform with its solid knowledge and network in the Middle East, and expertise in the areas of online trading, capital markets, and blockchain. Kikitrade and Oxford Frontier will deeply synergise after the formation of the joint venture.

Muhammad Ali Khwaja, the CEO of Oxford Frontier, said: "We are encouraged by the regulatory initiatives in the Middle East and we think Kikitrade would be the ideal platform, especially for those investors who are new to digital assets, especially the Generation Z. We are delighted with our partnership with Kikitrade. We will be looking to hire a technology and sales team to accelerate its market expansion."

Allen Ng, co-founder of Kikitrade, said: "The Middle East has become that provides an outstanding roster of customers with a friendly regulatory environment for digital assets. Kikitrade will extend its product and technical development expertise to set foot in the Middle Eastern markets. We are excited to join Oxford Frontier in this venture which has deep knowledge of fintech businesses and the Middle Eastern markets."



About Kikitrade

Kikitrade is a social investment platform that allows beginners to purchase and manage digital assets at ease, with a minimum investment amount of just US$1. The company was incubated by Everest Ventures Group (EVG) in 2020, a digital assets group that has participated in many renowned blockchain projects. Kikitrade strives to be the most secure and user-friendly gateway for millennials and first-time investors to start their crypto investments.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1685730/logo_horizontal_01_Logo.jpg
$1.2 billion of Distributable Earnings and $2.7 billion of Net Income

BROOKFIELD, NEWS, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM.A) today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.



Nick Goodman, CFO of Brookfield, stated "We took in record inflows of $34 billion since last quarter. Financial results in the quarter were also very strong, reflecting continued growth and excellent investment performance across the franchise. Strong inflows, supported by closes within our Real Estate and Global Transition flagship funds, stable cash flows from our invested capital, and monetization activity contributed to distributable earnings of $1.2 billion, taking the total generated over the last twelve months to $6.6 billion. Looking forward, we remain focused on executing our growth plan of doubling the size of the business over the next five years."

Operating Results

Unaudited

For the periods ended September 30

(US$ millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months Ended 2021

2020 2021

2020 Net income1 $ 2,722 $ 542 $ 10,742 $ 530 Net income attributable to common shareholders2 $ 797 $ 172 $ 3,491 $ 69 Net income per Brookfield share2 0.47 0.10 2.13 (0.02 ) Funds from operations2,3 $ 1,408 $ 1,039 $ 7,925 $ 4,288 Per Brookfield share2,3 0.85 0.65 4.97 2.70 Distributable earnings $ 1,242 $ 890 $ 6,613 $ 3,375

Consolidated basis - includes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests.

Excludes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests.

See Basis of Presentation on page 8 and a reconciliation of net income to FFO on page 5.

Funds from operations ("FFO") and net income in the quarter were $1.4 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively, both representing significant increases over the prior year period.



Distributable earnings ("DE") were $1.2 billion for the quarter and $6.6 billion over the last twelve months, almost double that of last year. The strong performance in the quarter was a result of higher fee-related earnings given a number of new funds, steady momentum on carried interest realizations, increased distributions from our principal investments, and disposition gains recognized on our principal investments. Before realizations, DE of $873 million for the quarter, was 24% higher than the comparative period.

Regular Dividend Declaration

The Board declared a quarterly dividend of US$0.13 per share, payable on December 31, 2021 to shareholders of record as at the close of business on November 30, 2021. The Board also declared the regular monthly and quarterly dividends on its preferred shares.

Operating Highlights

Fundraising momentum across the business continues to be very strong. This includes over $30 billion for our latest round of flagship funds. Inflows since the end of last quarter totaled $34 billion, including a strong first close for our fourth flagship real estate fund and a founders' close for our Global Transition flagship fund.

We have raised over $9 billion for our fourth flagship strategic real estate fund and with the strong reception from investors, we expect the final fund size to be larger than its predecessor. We also had a $7 billion founders' close in July for the Global Transition fund. We expect a formal first close for this fund imminently. Our opportunistic credit flagship fund has raised $15.8 billion of capital to date and is already 70% invested or committed. We expect a final close in the coming weeks.

We also raised capital across other credit strategies, real estate secondaries strategy and our Special Investments strategy. We launched fundraising for our sixth private equity flagship fund towards the end of September and expect our strong track record from the prior vintage to support a strong fundraising cycle. Our flagship infrastructure fund is approximately 70% invested or committed and we expect to launch the next vintage early next year.

Fee-bearing capital now totals $341 billion, an increase of approximately $52 billion over the last twelve months. This contributed to a 25% increase in fee-related earnings over the prior period.

Fee-related earnings were $451 million in the quarter, a 21% increase over the prior year, and $1.8 billion over the last twelve months, representing a 25% increase over the prior period. We also currently have approximately $35 billion of additional committed but un-invested capital across our strategies that will earn approximately $350 million of fees annually once deployed.

Earnings from realizations were $369 million in the quarter and $3.3 billion over the last twelve months, including contributions from disposition gains from our principal investments and realized carried interest.

These earnings were comprised of $369 million of carried interest and gains.

We generated $1.0 billion of carried interest in the quarter (not recorded in our income statement), through strong investment performance, taking the total accumulated unrealized carried interest balance to $6.9 billion, an increase of 16% in the quarter.

Annualized fee revenues and target carried interest now stand at a run-rate of $7.2 billion annually.

Annualized fee revenues are now $3.6 billion, driven by fee contribution from new products in the market and deployment activity. Gross target carried interest stands at $3.6 billion.

As at September 30, 2021, we had $80 billion of capital available to deploy into new investments.

Deployable capital of $80 billion includes approximately $14 billion of cash, financial assets and undrawn lines of credit in BAM and our affiliates, and $66 billion of uncalled fund commitments available for new transactions. During the quarter, we bolstered our liquidity through the issuance of $850 million long dated bonds, which included a $600 million 10-year green bond and a $250 million reopening of our 30-year bonds. We further added to our liquidity by selling liquid financial assets, generating total proceeds of approximately $370 million during the quarter.





CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Unaudited

(US$ millions)

September 30

December 31 2021 2020 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,343 $ 9,933 Other financial assets 17,646 17,730 Accounts receivable and other 23,746 24,845 Inventory 11,620 10,360 Equity accounted investments 43,267 41,327 Investment properties 103,493 96,782 Property, plant and equipment 107,761 100,009 Intangible assets 26,056 24,658 Goodwill 16,999 14,714 Deferred income tax assets 3,493 3,338 Total Assets $ 365,424 $ 343,696 Liabilities and Equity Corporate borrowings $ 10,309 $ 9,077 Accounts payable and other 53,860 53,041 Non-recourse borrowings in entities that we manage 156,165 139,324 Subsidiary equity obligations 3,790 3,699 Deferred income tax liabilities 17,729 15,913 Equity Preferred equity $ 4,145 $ 4,145 Non-controlling interests in net assets 80,618 86,804 Common equity 38,808 123,571 31,693 122,642 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 365,424 $ 343,696





CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Unaudited

For the periods ended September 30

(US$ millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended 2021 2020 2021 2020 Revenues $ 19,248 $ 16,249 $ 53,944 $ 45,664 Direct costs (14,751 ) (12,372 ) (40,932 ) (34,527 ) Other income and gains 1,123 34 3,078 304 Equity accounted income (loss) 662 139 1,818 (704 ) Expenses Interest (1,899 ) (1,757 ) (5,560 ) (5,324 ) Corporate costs (27 ) (25 ) (86 ) (74 ) Fair value changes 700 (31 ) 3,171 (1,598 ) Depreciation and amortization (1,617 ) (1,470 ) (4,698 ) (4,255 ) Income tax (717 ) (225 ) (1,808 ) (594 ) Net income (loss) $ 2,722 $ 542 $ 8,927 $ (1,108 ) Net income (loss) attributable to: Brookfield shareholders $ 797 $ 172 $ 2,848 $ (777 ) Non-controlling interests 1,925 370 6,079 (331 ) $ 2,722 $ 542 $ 8,927 $ (1,108 ) Net income (loss) per share1 Diluted $ 0.47 $ 0.10 $ 1.72 $ (0.53 ) Basic 0.49 0.10 1.78 (0.53 )

Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split effective April 1, 2020.







SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL RESULTS

RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME TO FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

Unaudited

For the periods ended September 30

(US$ millions)

Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months Ended 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net income $ 2,722 $ 542 $ 10,742 $ 530 Financial statement components not included in FFO: Equity accounted fair value changes and other non-FFO items 307 602 1,300 2,884 Fair value changes (700 ) 31 (3,346 ) 1,594 Depreciation and amortization 1,617 1,470 6,234 5,564 Deferred income taxes 428 21 906 26 Realized disposition gains in fair value changes or prior periods 255 161 3,298 915 Non-controlling interests (3,221 ) (1,788 ) (11,209 ) (7,225 ) Funds from operations1,2 $ 1,408 $ 1,039 $ 7,925 $ 4,288





SEGMENT FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS

Unaudited

For the periods ended September 30

(US$ millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months Ended 2021 2020 2021 2020 Asset management $ 597 $ 399 $ 2,563 $ 1,663 Real estate 147 90 1,064 746 Renewable power and Transition 58 64 1,317 762 Infrastructure 248 244 799 570 Private equity 433 249 2,146 740 Residential 76 37 190 104 Corporate (151 ) (44 ) (154 ) (297 ) Funds from operations1,2 $ 1,408 $ 1,039 $ 7,925 $ 4,288 Per share3,4 $ 0.85 $ 0.65 $ 4.97 $ 2.70

Non-IFRS measure - see Basis of Presentation on page 8. Excludes amounts attributable to non-controlling interests. Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split effective April 1, 2020. Per share amounts are inclusive of dilutive effect of mandatorily redeemable preferred shares held in a consolidated subsidiary.





EARNINGS PER SHARE

Unaudited

For the periods ended September 30

(US$ millions, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months Ended 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net income $ 2,722 $ 542 $ 10,742 $ 530 Non-controlling interests (1,925 ) (370 ) (7,251 ) (461 ) Net income (loss) attributable to shareholders 797 172 3,491 69 Preferred share dividends (36 ) (34 ) (147 ) (144 ) Dilutive effect of conversion of subsidiary preferred shares (1 ) 9 (10 ) 38 Net income (loss) available to common shareholders 760 147 3,334 (37 ) Dilutive impact of exchangeable shares of affiliate 1 - 1 - Net income (loss) available to common shareholders including dilutive impact of exchangeable shares $ 761 $ 147 $ 3,335 $ (37 ) Weighted average shares1 1,552.8 1,511.7 1,523.2 1,505.7 Dilutive effect of conversion of options and escrowed shares using treasury stock method1,2 and exchangeable shares of affiliate 59.6 24.7 41.7 - Shares and share equivalents1 1,612.4 1,536.4 1,564.9 1,505.7 Diluted earnings per share1,3 $ 0.47 $ 0.10 $ 2.13 $ (0.02 )

Adjusted to reflect the three-for-two stock split effective April 1, 2020. Includes management share option plan and escrowed stock plan. Per share amounts are inclusive of dilutive effect of mandatorily redeemable preferred shares held in a consolidated subsidiary.







DISTRIBUTABLE EARNINGS

Unaudited

For the periods ended September 30

(US$ millions)

Three Months Ended Last Twelve Months Ended 2021

2020 2021

2020 Fee-related earnings $ 451 $ 372 $ 1,758 $ 1,411 Perpetual affiliates 509 360 1,678 1,467 Corporate cash and financial assets (29 ) 80 227 236 Other principal investments 92 39 231 (40 ) Distributions from investments 572 479 2,136 1,663 Corporate activities (144 ) (135 ) (584 ) (536 ) Preferred share dividends (39 ) (34 ) (156 ) (144 ) Add back: equity-based compensation 33 23 114 93 Distributable earnings before realizations 873 705 3,268 2,487 Realized carried interest, net 146 27 805 252 Disposition gains from principal investments 223 158 2,540 636 Distributable earnings1 $ 1,242 $ 890 $ 6,613 $ 3,375

Non-IFRS measure - see Basis of Presentation on page 8.





Additional Information

The Letter to Shareholders and the company's Supplemental Information for the three months ended September 30, 2021, contain further information on the company's strategy, operations and financial results. Shareholders are encouraged to read these documents, which are available on the company's website.

The statements contained herein are based primarily on information that has been extracted from our financial statements for the quarter ended September 30, 2021, which have been prepared using IFRS, as issued by the IASB. The amounts have not been audited by Brookfield's external auditor.

Brookfield's Board of Directors have reviewed and approved this document, including the summarized unaudited consolidated financial statements prior to its release.

Information on our dividends can be found on our website under Stock & Distributions/Distribution History.

Quarterly Earnings Call Details

Investors, analysts and other interested parties can access Brookfield Asset Management's 2021 Third Quarter Results as well as the Shareholders' Letter and Supplemental Information on Brookfield's website under the Reports & Filings section at www.brookfield.com (http://www.brookfield.com).

To participate in the Conference Call today at 9:30 a.m. EST, please pre-register at http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/1263307 (http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/1263307). Upon registering, you will be emailed a dial-in number, direct passcode and unique PIN. The Conference Call will also be Webcast live at https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/bamQ3-2021 (https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/bamQ3-2021). For those unable to participate in the Conference Call, the telephone replay will be archived and available until November 25, 2021. To access this rebroadcast, please call 1-855-859-2056 or 1-404-537-3406 (Conference ID: 1263307).

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $650 billion of assets under management across real estate, infrastructure, renewable power, private equity and credit. Brookfield owns and operates long-life assets and businesses, many of which form the backbone of the global economy. Utilizing its global reach, access to large-scale capital and operational expertise, Brookfield offers a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world-including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. Brookfield Asset Management is listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the symbol BAM and BAM.A respectively.

Please note that Brookfield's previous audited annual and unaudited quarterly reports have been filed on EDGAR and SEDAR and can also be found in the investor section of its website at www.brookfield.com (http://www.brookfield.com/). Hard copies of the annual and quarterly reports can be obtained free of charge upon request.

For more information, please visit our website at www.brookfield.com (http://www.brookfield.com) or contact:

Communications & Media:

Kerrie McHugh Hayes

Tel: (212) 618-3469

Email: kerrie.mchugh@brookfield.com (mailto:kerrie.mchugh@brookfield.com) Investor Relations:

Linda Northwood

Tel: (416) 359-8647

Email: linda.northwood@brookfield.com (mailto:linda.northwood@brookfield.com)







Basis of Presentation

This news release and accompanying financial statements are based on International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB"), unless otherwise noted.

We make reference to Funds from Operations ("FFO"). We define FFO as net income attributable to shareholders prior to fair value changes, depreciation and amortization, and deferred income taxes, and includes realized disposition gains that are not recorded in net income as determined under IFRS. FFO also includes the company's share of equity accounted investments' FFO on a fully diluted basis. FFO consists of the following components:

FFO from Operating Activities represents the company's share of revenues less direct costs and interest expenses; excludes realized carried interest and disposition gains, fair value changes, depreciation and amortization and deferred income taxes; and includes our proportionate share of FFO from operating activities recorded by equity accounted investments on a fully diluted basis. We present this measure as we believe it assists in describing our results and variances within FFO.





Realized Carried Interest represents our contractual share of investment gains generated within a private fund after considering our clients minimum return requirements. Realized carried interest is determined on third-party capital that is no longer subject to future investment performance.





Realized Disposition Gains are included in FFO because we consider the purchase and sale of assets to be a normal part of the company's business. Realized disposition gains include gains and losses recorded in net income and equity in the current period, and are adjusted to include fair value changes and revaluation surplus balances recorded in prior periods which were not included in prior period FFO.



We use FFO to assess our operating results and the value of Brookfield's business and believe that many shareholders and analysts also find this measure of value to them.

We note that FFO, its components, and its per share equivalent are non-IFRS measures which do not have any standard meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers and entities.

We make reference to Invested Capital. Invested Capital is defined as the amount of common equity in our segments and underlying businesses within the segments.

We make reference to Distributable Earnings, which is referring to the sum of our Asset Management segment FFO, distributions received from our ownership of investments, and disposition gains from principal investments, net of Corporate Activities FFO, equity-based compensation and preferred share dividends. This provides insight into earnings received by the company that are available for distribution to common shareholders or to be reinvested into the business.

We provide additional information on key terms and non-IFRS measures in our filings available at www.brookfield.com (http://www.brookfield.com).

Notice to Readers

Brookfield is not making any offer or invitation of any kind by communication of this news release and under no circumstance is it to be construed as a prospectus or an advertisement.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and, "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements include statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, include statements which reflect management's expectations regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, strategies and outlook of Brookfield and its subsidiaries, as well as the outlook for North American and international economies for the current fiscal year and subsequent periods, and include words such as "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "seeks," "intends," "targets," "projects," "forecasts" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "may," "will," "should," "would" and "could." In particular, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release include statements referring to the future state of the economy or the securities market and expected future deployment of capital, dispositions and associated realized carried interest, as well as statements regarding future product offerings, and the results of future fundraising efforts and financial earnings.

Where this news release refers to "target carried interest" it is based on an assumption that existing funds meet their target gross returns. Target gross returns are typically ~20% for opportunistic funds; 10% to 15% for value add, credit and core funds. Fee terms vary by investment strategy and may change over time.

Although we believe that our anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Brookfield to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (i) investment returns that are lower than target; (ii) the impact or unanticipated impact of general economic, political and market factors in the countries in which we do business including as a result of COVID-19 and the related global economic shutdown; (iii) the behavior of financial markets, including fluctuations in interest and foreign exchange rates; (iv) global equity and capital markets and the availability of equity and debt financing and refinancing within these markets; (v) strategic actions including dispositions; the ability to complete and effectively integrate acquisitions into existing operations and the ability to attain expected benefits; (vi) changes in accounting policies and methods used to report financial condition (including uncertainties associated with critical accounting assumptions and estimates); (vii) the ability to appropriately manage human capital; (viii) the effect of applying future accounting changes; (ix) business competition; (x) operational and reputational risks; (xi) technological change; (xii) changes in government regulation and legislation within the countries in which we operate; (xiii) governmental investigations; (xiv) litigation; (xv) changes in tax laws; (xvi) ability to collect amounts owed; (xvii) catastrophic events, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and epidemics/pandemics; (xviii) the possible impact of international conflicts and other developments including terrorist acts and cyberterrorism; (xix) the introduction, withdrawal, success and timing of business initiatives and strategies; (xx) the failure of effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting and other risks; (xxi) health, safety and environmental risks; (xxii) the maintenance of adequate insurance coverage; (xxiii) the existence of information barriers between certain businesses within our asset management operations; (xxiv) risks specific to our business segments including our real estate, renewable power, infrastructure, private equity, and other alternatives, including credit; and (xxv) factors detailed from time to time in our documents filed with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States.

We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the foregoing risks, as well as other uncertainties, factors and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether written or oral, that may be as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Past performance is not indicative nor a guarantee of future results. There can be no assurance that comparable results will be achieved in the future, that future investments will be similar to the historic investments discussed herein (because of economic conditions, the availability of investment opportunities or otherwise), that targeted returns, diversification or asset allocations will be met or that an investment strategy or investment objectives will be achieved.

Target returns set forth in this news release are for illustrative and informational purposes only and have been presented based on various assumptions made by Brookfield in relation to the investment strategies being pursued by the funds, any of which may prove to be incorrect. There can be no assurance that targeted returns will be achieved. Due to various risks, uncertainties and changes (including changes in economic, operational, political or other circumstances) beyond Brookfield's control, the actual performance of the funds and the business could differ materially from the target returns set forth herein. In addition, industry experts may disagree with the assumptions used in presenting the target returns. No assurance, representation or warranty is made by any person that the target returns will be achieved, and undue reliance should not be put on them. Prior performance is not indicative of future results and there can be no guarantee that the funds will achieve the target returns or be able to avoid losses.

Certain of the information contained herein is based on or derived from information provided by independent third-party sources. While Brookfield believes that such information is accurate as of the date it was produced and that the sources from which such information has been obtained are reliable, Brookfield makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of any of the information or the assumptions on which such information is based, contained herein, including but not limited to, information obtained from third parties.
Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - November 11, 2021) - Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: BTR) (OTCQX: BONXF) (FSE: 9BR2) ("Bonterra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the upcoming appointment of Mr. Marc-Andre Pelletier as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (the "Appointment") with a targeted effective start date of January 17, 2022 (the "Effective Date"). Mr. Pelletier will succeed Pascal Hamelin, who will be resigning on the Effective Date and will assist the Company through this transition. In addition, Mr. Pelletier has been appointed as a Director of the Company effective immediately.

Marc-Andre is a professional mining engineer with over 25 years of experience, predominantly in underground gold mines. He was most recently the Chief Operating Officer at Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. ("Wesdome") where he was instrumental in the production re-start of the Kiena Mine, only five years after the original discovery of the high-grade Deep Zone. Mr. Pelletier also contributed to the increase of production at the Eagle Mine to near 100,000 ounces per year through optimization works and exploration success. Prior to Marc-Andre's tenure at Wesdome, he was Vice-President of Operations at St Andrew Goldfields Ltd., where he successfully put three underground mines and one open pit mine into production in less than five years until its acquisition by Kirkland Lake Gold in 2016.

The Company also announces that upon joining Bonterra, Mr. Pelletier will be reviewing all ongoing and planned exploration and development activities, including the preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") that is in progress. The Company expects to provide further updates in Q1 2022, after the review has been completed. In connection with this review, the Company has launched a formal search to add an experienced Vice President of Exploration to support Mr. Pelletier.

Cesar Gonzalez, Executive Chairman of Bonterra commented: "On behalf of the Board, I am very pleased to welcome Marc-Andre as the new CEO. He is an experienced executive with a successful track record of building and operating gold mines in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. We are excited that Marc-Andre shares our vision of utilizing Bonterra's significant infrastructure and growing resources to re-start production and look forward to developing and achieving key milestones together. In addition, I would like to thank Mr. Hamelin for his many contributions to Bonterra during his tenure and wish him tremendous success on his future endeavors."

Marc-Andre Pelletier, incoming President, CEO and Director of Bonterra stated: "I am thrilled to be leading Bonterra and working closely with the Board and all of our employees to continue the progress made in the last couple years. My immediate focus will be on reviewing the Company's strategy to better advance our projects toward production while maximizing our shareholder's return. Bonterra owns high-quality assets with high potential of resource expansion in a very prolific region in Quebec."

As part of the Appointment, the Company also announces that it has granted Mr. Pelletier 2,500,000 incentive stock options ("Options"). The Options were granted pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan and each Option entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Company at an exercise price of $1.27 until November 11, 2026. These Options vest as follows: (a) 1/4 of the Options granted on the Effective Date; (b) 1/4 of the Options granted on the first anniversary of the Effective Date; (c) 1/4 of the Options granted on the second anniversary of the Effective Date; and (d) 1/4 of the Options granted, being the remaining amount, on the third anniversary of the Effective Date, subject to a vesting acceleration clause under certain events.

About Bonterra Resources Inc.

Bonterra is a Canadian gold exploration company with a large portfolio of advanced exploration assets anchored by a central milling facility in Quebec, Canada. The Company has four main assets, Gladiator, Barry, Moroy, and Bachelor that collectively have a total of 1.24 million ounces in Measured and Indicated categories, and 1.78 million ounces in Inferred category. Importantly, the Company owns the only permitted and operational gold mill in the region that is currently estimated at 75% through the permitting process to expand from 800 to 2,400 tonnes-per-day. Bonterra is focused on graduating from advanced exploration to a development company over the next 24 months to deliver shareholder value.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Cesar Gonzalez, Executive Chairman

ir@btrgold.com

2872 Sullivan Road, Suite 2, Val d'Or, Quebec J9P 0B9

819-825-8678 | Website: www.btrgold.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.

Cautionary and Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this news release. Any statement that implies predictions, expectations, interpretations, opinions, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often using words such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "in management's opinion", "anticipates", or "plans", "budget", "schedule", "forecasts", statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) is not a statement of historical fact and may constitute forward-looking information and is intended to identify forward-looking information. This news release may contain forward-looking information relating to, among other things, the outlook for the Gladiator, Barry, and Moroy projects; updated mineral resources; the deposit remaining open laterally and at depth; and future drilling. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks associated with the ability of exploration activities (including drilling results) to accurately predict mineralization; the Company's ability to obtain required approvals; the results of exploration activities; risks associated with mining operations; global economic conditions; metal prices; dilution; environmental risks; and community and non-governmental actions. Although the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on assumptions that management believes are reasonable at the time of release, Bonterra cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of the Company's securities that actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking information,

as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither Bonterra nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of forward-looking information. All statements made, other than statements of historical fact, that address the Company's intentions and the events and developments that the Company anticipates, are considered forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ from those in the forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/103005


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - While reporting quarterly results on Thursday, Tapestry, Inc. (TPR) increased its revenue and EPS outlook for the fiscal year, reflecting first quarter performance and strong underlying business trends. Also, the company's Board approved an incremental $1 billion share repurchase program. As a result, the company now expects to return approximately $1.25 billion to shareholders in fiscal 2022, a meaningful increase from the previous outlook.



For fiscal 2022, on a non-GAAP basis, the company now expects earnings per share of $3.45 to $3.50, ahead of the prior guidance for $3.30 to $3.35. Revenue is now projected to approach $6.6 billion, an increase from the prior outlook for $6.4 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report profit per share of $3.36 on revenue of $ 6.42 billion. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.



First quarter non-GAAP net income per share was $0.82 compared to $0.58, last year. On average, 20 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report profit per share of $0.70, for the quarter.



Net income was $227 million on a reported basis, with earnings per share of $0.80, compared to $232 million and earnings per share of $0.83.



Net sales were $1.48 billion compared to $1.17 billion, prior year, a 26% increase. Analysts on average had estimated $1.44 billion in revenue.



The company plans to buy-back $750 million worth of its common stock in the balance of the fiscal year, utilizing the remaining $350 million under its existing authorization and $400 million of newly announced $1 billion program.



The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable on December 27, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on December 3, 2021. The company expects an annual dividend rate of $1.00 per share, or $250 million returned to shareholders in the fiscal year.



Also, Tapestry expects to repay its July 2022 bonds, totaling $400 million, by the end of fiscal 2022.



Shares of Tapestry were up 3% in pre-market trade on Thursday.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

TAPESTRY-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
Company to Showcase its InMotion Robotic Therapy Systems at the World's Largest Medical Industry Event

BIONIK Laboratories Corp. (OTCQB: BNKL) ("BIONIK" or the "Company"), a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and assistive technology solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges from hospital to home, today announced its participation in the MEDICA Trade Show in Dusseldorf, Germany from November 15-18, 2021. MEDICA, the world forum for the medical industry, brings together leaders in medical technologies and equipment. BIONIK will have a booth located at 4H46 Hall 4 Physiotherapy and Orthopedics to showcase its InMotion Robotic Therapy Systems.

At MEDICA, the Company will highlight InMotion's ability to deliver intensive therapy to help patients regain motor function following a stroke and other neurological conditions or injuries. InMotion therapy guides the patient through specific tasks, aiming to improve motor control of the arm and hand by increasing strength, range of motion and coordination, and assisting with the provision of efficient, effective and intensive sensorimotor therapy. While attending the conference, BIONIK will focus on expanding and strengthening global distribution partners for InMotion, specifically within Europe.

"MEDICA is the world's largest medical industry event, attended by thousands of potential buyers of innovative medical technologies. Our presence at MEDICA gives us the opportunity to showcase our industry-leading solutions in front of a global audience of health professionals who can utilize InMotion therapy systems within their organizations," said Richard Russo, Jr., Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of BIONIK. "We look forward to the opportunity to network with the global healthcare technology community, and to further showcase how our solutions provide more optimal patient outcomes while also impacting the bottom line of the healthcare facility where it is in use."

InMotion Robots were developed according to the principles of motor learning and neuro-plasticity, using AI and measuring 200 times a second the position, the speed and the acceleration of the upper limb. Over the last year, BIONIK has seen a 72 percent increase in patient sessions on its robotic devices. The results center around the Company's emphasis on technology adoption with its partner facilities to ensure successful utilization and patient results. Through patient data securely collected from the Company's cloud-based data analytics solution, InMotion Connect, and its approach to hands-on training with clinical staff, BIONIK's partners establish a long-term partnership to continue to improve the lives of patients. The InMotion robotic therapy systems are used regularly in more than 15 countries to help stroke survivors and those with other neurological conditions regain movement by training shoulder protraction/retraction, flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, internal/external rotation and elbow flexion/extension. To learn more, please visit www.bioniklabs.com.

About BIONIK Laboratories Corp.

BIONIK Laboratories is a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and mobility solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges from hospital to home. The Company has a portfolio of products focused on upper and lower extremity rehabilitation for stroke and other mobility-impaired patients, including three products on the market and three products in varying stages of development.

For more information, please visit www.BIONIKlabs.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words "may," "should," "would," "will," "could," "scheduled," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "intend," "seek," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the design, development and commercialization of human exoskeletons and other robotic rehabilitation products, (ii) a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, pipeline of potential sales, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) the Company's future financial performance, (iv) the market and projected market for our existing and planned products and (v) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances, and may not be realized because they are based upon the Company's current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which the Company has no control. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the Company's inability to obtain additional financing, the inability to meet listing standards to uplist to a national stock exchange, the significant length of time and resources associated with the development of our products and related insufficient cash flows and resulting illiquidity, the impact on the Company's business as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Company's inability to expand the Company's business, significant government regulation of medical devices and the healthcare industry, lack of product diversification, volatility in the price of the Company's raw materials, and the Company's failure to implement the Company's business plans or strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005378/en/

Contacts:

Media contact:

Ashley Willis

FischTank PR

Ashley@fischtankpr.com

Investor Relations Contact:

Stephanie Prince

PCG Advisory

sprince@pcgadvisory.com

646.863.6341
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (BAM) on Thursday reported funds from operations of $1.408 billion or $0.85 per share in the third quarter, higher than $1.039 billion or $0.65 per share last year. Net income for the quarter increased to $2.722 billion or $0.47 per share, from $542 million or $0.10 per share in the same quarter a year ago. Revenue for the quarter rose to $19.248 billion from $16.249 billion a year ago. The company's Board declared quarterly dividend of $0.13 per share, payable on December 31, 2021 to shareholders of record as at the close of business on November 30, 2021. Brookfield shares are up more than 2% in pre-market at $62. Wednesday, the stock closed at $60.40, down $1.03, or 1.68%. 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.
As service providers continue to virtualize and containerize network functions, they require a consistent, cloud-native platform for onboarding and managing these workloads across any network and any cloud. Vodafone has selected VMware (NYSE: VMW) as its strategic technology partner to deliver a single platform to automate and orchestrate all workloads running on its core networks across Europe, starting with 5G standalone (5G SA).

Vodafone previously announced its selection of VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure as its Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) platform. Last year, Vodafone completed the rollout of Telco Cloud Infrastructure across all its European business and 21 markets in total. The company saw gains in productivity as it brought network functions online around 40% more quickly, and cost savings of up to 55%*.

Vodafone is now expanding its partnership with VMware to deploy the full VMware Telco Cloud Platform in all European markets. This means that in addition to utilizing Telco Cloud Infrastructure for NFV, Vodafone will leverage VMware Tanzu for Telco and VMware Telco Cloud Automation to orchestrate all network functions and services, regardless of vendor, to run its core networks.

Vodafone's continued partnership with VMware supports the company's technology strategy, Tech 2025. As part of this five-year plan, Vodafone will focus on developing a network platform starting with the rollout of 5G SA that will be then followed by many other digital network features utilizing cloud-native architecture powered by VMware. These include voice over internet and next generation of videoconferencing and virtual/augmented reality, all orchestrated into the correct network slices according to different customer requirements.

Johan Wibergh, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone, said, "We've made great strides in modernizing and virtualizing our core network. Now we must turn our attention to layering in automation, software engineering and cloud-native principles to simplify operations and accelerate how quickly we can deploy new applications. VMware Telco Cloud Platform will help us achieve these goals and reach our Tech 2025 targets faster."

Vodafone has already begun the rollout of VMware Telco Cloud Platform in eight markets Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and U.K. and will expand to all 11 of its European markets over time.

"As service providers modernize their networks to transition to 5G, they require a single platform to automate and streamline delivery of multi-vendor network functions across network core, RAN and edge. VMware Telco Cloud Platform provides this unifying platform to simplify operations, accelerate automation and increase feature velocity across all parts of the network," said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. "Through its partnership with VMware, Vodafone is modernizing its network infrastructure with automation built in, setting them up for long-term success as they roll out 5G services to even more markets in the coming years."

VMware Telco Cloud Platform is a cloud-native platform that enables service providers to rapidly deploy and efficiently operate multi-vendor CNFs and VNFs with agility and scalability across 5G and other networks that span from the core and the edge to the radio access network (RAN). The two fundamental elements of this architecture are VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure and VMware Telco Cloud Automation both of which Vodafone will deploy across its European markets.

Learn more about how VMware is helping service providers modernize their networks at telco.vmware.com.

Additional Resources:

Bookmark the VMware Telco Cloud blog

Get all VMware Telco Cloud updates on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

*Source: Vodafone internal analysis and reporting, March 2021

About VMware

VMware software powers the world's complex digital infrastructure. The company's cloud, app modernization, networking, security, and digital workspace offerings help customers deliver any application on any cloud across any device. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough technology innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html.

VMware and Telco Cloud Platform are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions.

This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005270/en/

Contacts:

Angela Leaf, VMware Global Communications, +1 860 480 3367, aleaf@vmware.com
Zoomd becomes certified by Snapchat to allow marketers using Zoomd's self serve, SaaS products to launch, monitor, and optimize user-acquisition campaigns on Snapchat

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomd Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF) (https://www.zoomd.com) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Zoomd Ltd. (collectively, "Zoomd" or the "Company"), the marketing tech (MarTech) user-acquisition and engagement platform, today reported it has signed a formal marketing partner agreement with Snapchat on November 3, 2021 for becoming Snapchat certified marketing partner.

Since its launch in 2011, Snapchat became known for its "mobile-first" social experience. Snapchat places significant emphasis on users interacting with virtual stickers and augmented reality objects. As of July 2021, according to Snapchat's reports, Snapchat had 293 million daily active users worldwide, a 23% growth over a year.

"We are thrilled to be among the few global tech companies that are certified partners and integrated with Snapchat directly via their API, enabling advertisers to easily run campaigns using Snapchat's special ad formats, technology and capabilities, all under the Zoomd's interface," says Ofer Eitan, Zoomd CEO.

With this new marketing partnership, via Zoomd's self-serve products, subscribed advertisers will be afforded the ability to directly track, measure, automate, and optimize Snapchat user-acquisition campaigns on the Zoomd platform. Advertisers can seamlessly run Snapchat campaigns alongside other multiple campaigns across different social channels including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Apple Search, and Google, all from a single dashboard.

About Zoomd:

Zoomd (TSXV: ZOMD, OTC: ZMDTF), founded in 2012 and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in September 2019, offers a site search engine to publishers, and a mobile app user-acquisition platform, integrated with a majority of global digital media, to advertisers. The platform unifies more than 600 media sources into one unified dashboard. Offering advertisers, a user acquisition control center for managing all new customer acquisition campaigns using a single platform. By unifying all these media sources onto a single platform, Zoomd saves advertisers significant resources that would otherwise be spent consolidating data sources, thereby maximizing data collection and data insights while minimizing the resources spent on the exercise. Further, Zoomd is a performance-based platform that allows advertisers to advertise to the relevant target audiences using a key performance indicator-algorithm that is focused on achieving the advertisers' goals and targets.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

DISCLAIMER IN REGARD TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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 Zoomd's future ability to successfully integrate Snapchat into its platform and provide for a good user experience. Forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections 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, technological, legal, privacy matters, political and social uncertainties (including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic), the extent and duration of which are uncertain at this time on Zoomd's business and general economic and business conditions and markets. There can be no assurance that any of the forward-looking 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 because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Company Media Contacts:

Amit Bohensky

Chairman

Zoomd

ir@zoomd.com

Website: www.zoomd.com



Investor relations:

Lytham Partners, LLC

Ben Shamsian

New York | Phoenix

ZOMD@lythampartners.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1039696/Zoomd_Logo.jpg
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - November 11, 2021) - TrustBIX Inc. (TSXV: TBIX) (OTCQB: TBIXF) ("TrustBIX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, ViewTrak Technologies Inc. (ViewTrak) has successfully commercialized three of its newest modules, the Attributes Module, TV Module and Competition Module (July 7, 2020 Press Release) to its customers across North America. These modules allow ViewTrak customers to modernize their ring and transition away from older LED audience display boards to TV screens that display all the attributes of the animals they are selling.

"After several months of testing in auction markets, we continue to improve these modules adding new features such as the "One Time Attribute" allowing the auction clerk to quickly add an attribute, such as an animal enters the sales in the ring. It's this constant improvement and feedback from our customers that has been a leading driver of sales," says Lee Irvine, General Manager of ViewTrak.

ViewTrak customers have also found value in the new modules. "Our job is to get our customers the most money possible for their animals which means we need to ensure that our buyers know what attributes those animals carry and ViewTrak's modules has made it easy for us to do that," says Brian Danard from Calgary Stockyards Strathmore. Mark Daines from Innisfail Auction Market commented that "Seller's love it, buyers love it and it increase the value we bring to our customers, so everybody wins!"

"If we are truly going to support the price discovery method of selling animals, we need to make sure our customers have innovative tools to do that. These modules are the first step towards our philosophy of supporting price discovery through Innovation and have been part of our success over this last year," says Lee Irvine. ViewTrak is one of the leading providers of Livestock Auction Market Software in North America with its systems in over 400 locations.

About TrustBIX (TSXV: TBIX) (OTCQB: TBIXF)

As an innovative leader in brand promise assurance, TrustBIX provides agri-food traceability and chain of custody value solutions. The Company's goal is to create a world where we trust more, waste less and reward sustainable behaviour by addressing consumer and agri-food business demands. The proprietary platform, BIX (Business InfoXchange system), is designed to create trust without compromising privacy through innovative, blockchain-derived use of technology and data. By leveraging BIX and its unique use of incentive solutions, TrustBIX delivers independent validation of food provenance and sustainable production practices within the supply chain - Gate to Plate.

ViewTrak Technologies Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, provides a suite of hardware and software solutions to the livestock industry in Canada, United States, Mexico and China, such as Auction Master Pro, Market Master, Feedlot Solutions and pork grading probes.

For more information, visit www.trustbix.com, or follow TrustBIX on Twitter @BIXSCdn, LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/bixsco-inc-/ and Facebook at www.facebook.com/BIXSco.

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains certain forward-looking information and reflects the Company's present assumptions regarding future events. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, levels of activity, performance, and/or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Certain statements contained in this document constitute forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. When used in this document, the words "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "intend", "plan", "propose", "anticipate", "believe", "forecast", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions used by any of the Company's management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Company's internal projections, expectations, future growth, performance and business prospects and opportunities and are based on information currently available to the Company. Since they relate to the Company's current views with respect to future events, they are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. 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 statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments except as required by applicable securities legislation, regulations or policies.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Hubert Lau

President and CEO

Telephone: (780) 456-2207

Email: info@trustbix.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange, OTC Markets Group, 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/102929
Activities will include a national educational awareness campaign, health economics research, and clinical studies aimed at earlier detection of testicular, brain, and colorectal cancers

TORONTO, ON and RICHMOND, VA / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd. (TSX:SZLS) (OTCQB:SZLSF) ("StageZero" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated healthcare company devoted to improving the early detection and management of cancer and other chronic diseases through leading-edge molecular diagnostics and clinical interventions, today announced its support for Teen Cancer America ("TCA") to improve detection and treatment of cancer in adolescents and young adults.

In 2021, an estimated 88,000 adolescents and young adults ages 15-39 years will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 9,000 will die from the disease.1 The earlier cancer is detected, the better a person's chance of survival. However, several cancers are often diagnosed at a more advanced stage in adolescents and young adults.2 This is due to a number of reasons, including delays in diagnosis due to the rarity of cancer in this age group and higher prevalence of aggressive disease.2 They also have a high risk of long-term and later effects, including infertility and future cancers.2

Founded by rock icons Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, Teen Cancer America is a national non-profit that develops and funds specialized facilities and services for adolescents and young adults with cancer. TCA partners with hospitals throughout the U.S. to develop specialized, teen-friendly facilities and services. The organization also develops standards for age-targeted care, improves collaboration between pediatric and adult specialists, and enables research to improve outcomes and survival for young people.

StageZero Life Sciences is a healthcare company dedicated to improving quality of life through proven technology and personalized care plans. StageZero helps reduce the risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases by delivering early detection and intervention solutions, allowing people impacted by cancer to take control of their health. The Company's next-generation test, Aristotle, is the first ever mRNA multi-cancer panel for simultaneously screening for multiple cancers from a single sample of blood with high sensitivity and specificity for each cancer.

"Our core mission is to develop specialist programs and facilities for young people with cancer in hospitals throughout the U.S. and to advocate for investment in research that will improve their experience, outcomes, and chances of survival. Tragically, late diagnosis and misdiagnosis are more common in young people than other age groups and we are dedicated to supporting any initiative that will change that narrative. The fact that a company like StageZero is particularly interested in the early detection of the rare cancers that affect young people and is supportive of our mission is vitally important to our cause," said Simon Davies, Executive Director of Teen Cancer America. "This can help us to significantly increase awareness around adolescent and young adult cancer and the challenges that these patients face, while also working to improve the testing, detection, and treatment that could save these young lives."

StageZero and TCA plan several initiatives, including:

A combined educational campaign aimed at generating awareness around the challenges faced by adolescents and young adults with cancer and the need to improve screening and treatment.

Dissemination of TCA's soon to be published health economic research that reveals the true cost of cancer for young people, health systems, and society.

Stage Zero's clinical studies to validate their Aristotle technology in the early detection of testicular, brain, and colorectal cancers in adolescents and young adults.

"Too often, cancer is not found in adolescents and young adults until it is in the later stages of the disease, when it may be very difficult to treat. That is devastating for young patients and their families," said James Howard-Tripp, Chairman and CEO of StageZero Life Sciences. "We are honored to join forces with Teen Cancer America to highlight the unique challenges faced by adolescents and young adults with cancer and to spearhead research to help find cancer earlier and improve outcomes. We're excited to work together to create a healthier future society and help create a better future for America's youth."

References

https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/aya.html https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2020/special-section-cancer-in-adolescents-and-young-adults-2020.pdf

About StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd.

StageZero Life Sciences, Ltd. is a vertically integrated healthcare company dedicated to improving the early detection and management of cancer and other chronic diseases through next-generation diagnostics and a unique telehealth program that provides clinical interventions to help patients reduce the risk of developing late-stage disease (AVRT).

The Company's next generation test, Aristotle, is the first ever mRNA multi-cancer panel for simultaneously screening for multiple cancers from a single sample of blood with high sensitivity and specificity for each cancer. Aristotle uses mRNA technology to identify the molecular signatures of multiple cancer types and is built on the Company's patented technology platform, the Sentinel Principle. This underlying technology has been validated in more than 9,000 patients and used by more than 100,000 patients in North America.

Aristotle, as well as additional cancer diagnostics (ColonSentry, BreastSentry, and the Prostate Health Index) are processed at the Company's clinical laboratory, StageZero Life Sciences, Inc., a CAP accredited and CLIA certified high-complexity reference laboratory in Richmond, Virginia. In addition, the Company is also leveraging its specialty in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to provide COVID-19 PCR testing (swab and saliva) and Antibody Testing (blood analysis).

StageZero Life Sciences trades on the Toronto Stock exchange under the symbol SZLS and on the OTCQB under the symbol SZLSF.

About Teen Cancer America

Teen Cancer America helps hospitals and healthcare professionals bridge the gap between pediatric and adult oncology care by supporting hospitals and outpatient facilities in the development of specialized units and programs for this age group. TCA brings together physicians and allied healthcare professionals in both pediatric and adult oncology. Age-targeted care for this population is necessary for medical and appropriate psychosocial development. Outcomes associated with some cancers that target this age group have not improved in over 30 years. Teens and young adults with cancer are long overdue for an upgrade and TCA can hopefully light the fire in America's health systems. For more information, visit www.teencanceramerica.org.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements identified by words such as "expects", "will" and similar expressions, which reflect the Company's current expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual events to differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should consult the Company's ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Important Safety Information

The Aristotle, ColonSentry, and BreastSentry tests were developed, and their performance characteristics determined, by Stage Zero Life Sciences, Inc. They have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These tests are performed in a CLIA certified laboratory and are intended for clinical purposes. These tests must be ordered by and used only in consultation with a healthcare provider.

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations

Rebecca Greco

1-855-420-7140 ext. 1838

rgreco@stagezerols.com

Media Contact

Kristin Villiotte

SHIFT Communications

kvilliotte@shiftcomm.com

SOURCE: StageZero Life Sciences Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672337/StageZero-Life-Sciences-and-Teen-Cancer-America-Join-Forces-to-Help-Improve-Outcomes-for-Adolescents-and-Young-Adults-with-Cancer


BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Merck KgaA's shares were losing around 2 percent in German trading after the healthcare major reported weak earnings in its third quarter. However, quarterly sales grew strong, and the company raised its fiscal 2021 outlook.



Belen Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck, said, 'The third quarter was another quarter of strong profitable growth for Merck with all three business sectors and all regions contributing. Our Big 3 growth engines, Process Solutions, new Healthcare products and Semiconductor Solutions performed superbly and enabled us to raise our outlook for the full year 2021.'



For fiscal 2021, Merck now expects EBITDA pre, the most important financial indicator, to be 6.0 billion euros to 6.3 billion euros, higher than previously expected 5.6 billion euros to 6.0 billion euros range. Organic increase in EBITDA pre is now expected to 26 percent to 29 percent, while previous view was between 21 percent and 25 percent.



Further, earnings per share pre for the full year will now be in a range of 8.50 euros and 9.00 euros. Previously, it had estimated earnings per share pre in a range of 7.80 euros to 8.50 euros.



For fiscal 2021, Merck increased its net sales forecast to 19.3 billion euros to 19.85 billion euros from previous view between 18.8 billion euros and 19.7 billion euros. The company now expects organic growth of 13 percent to 15 percent. Prior organic growth forecast was between 12 percent and 14 percent.



According to Merck, all business sectors, mainly Life Science, will contribute to organic growth.



Merck also said it plans to join the Science Based Targets initiative as part of its sustainability strategy.



For the third quarter, Net income fell by 5.6 percent to 761 million euros. Earnings per share was 1.75 euros, down 5.4 percent from 1.85 euros last year.



Earnings per share pre was 2.24 euros, compared to 2.34 euros a year ago. Margin declined to 21.1 percent from 26.2 percent a year ago.



Operating result or EBIT declined 10.2 percent from last year to 1.05 billion euros.



Third-quarter EBITDA pre declined 8.7 percent to 1.6 billion euros due to the reversal of a provision in the year-earlier quarter. Excluding this effect, EBITDA pre would have increased 16.2 percent, the company said. Organically, EBITDA pre declined by 10.9 percent



Group net sales increased 11.8 percent to 4.97 billion euros from last year's 4.45 billion euros. Group organic sales growth was 10.9 percent in the third quarter.



In Germany, Merck KgaA shares were losing around 1.7 percent to trade at 202.90 euros.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

MERCK KGAA-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de
The Click-Shift-Drive solution, part of Wipro FullStride Cloud Services, allows automakers and dealers to meet market demands for online shopping, research, loan approval and delivery

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global Information technology, consulting, and business process services company, today unveiled Click-Shift-Drive, a contactless car-buying solution that addresses the complete automobile-buying journey. Scalable, flexible and rapidly deployed, the end-to-end solution enables automakers and dealers to offer everything from research and loan approval to purchase and delivery at a time when 50% of car-buying journeys begin online.

Wipro's Click-Shift-Drive empowers automakers and dealers to quickly adapt to the digital-first demands of the Millennial and Gen Z consumers taking over the car-buying market. With Click-Shift-Drive, automakers and dealers can launch e-commerce solutions and provide a virtual direct-buying experience in just eight weeks. Click-Shift-Drive uniquely incorporates a range of Salesforce technologies so companies can provide an enhanced user experience throughout the customer journey. In addition, Wipro partnered with ThreeKit 3D Augmented Reality to provide an augmented reality component so buyers can visualize a virtual rendering of the automobile in their own driveway.

"Research shows 59% of automotive customers are interested in buying cars entirely online. Click-Shift-Drive, part of Wipro's $1 billion investment in cloud over 3 years, empowers manufacturers and dealers to meet that demand by launching online marketplaces faster and with more features than ever before. As e-commerce gains prominence, Click-Shift-Drive is ideally suited to help industry leaders deliver an enhanced customer and purchasing experience," said Hari Raja, Global Salesforce Practice Head, Wipro Limited.

"The automotive industry has embraced pandemic-driven digital transformation, accelerating it to ensure customers get the best they want. As the Salesforce platform has evolved to provide a 360-degree customer view, augmenting it with mixed reality solutions to drive a next-generation experience that addresses the entire spectrum from buying intent to final car delivery will be critical. With its expanded offering, Wipro is aiming to help automotive enterprises in this next-gen Salesforce-led customer experience journey," said Yugal Joshi, Partner and Head of Enterprise Applications Research, Everest Group.

"Building relationships and knowing your customer is key to the success of any commerce business," said Lidiane Jones, Executive Vice President General Manager, Salesforce Commerce Cloud. "For many customers, this requires a suite of integrations made possible by our partners. With Wipro's Click-Shift-Drive and Commerce Cloud, companies will be able to take customers beyond traditional product catalogues and lead management in the car buying journey to a highly customizable commerce engine."

More information about Wipro's Click-Shift-Drive solution is available at this link.

Salesforce, Commerce Cloud and others are among the trademarks of salesforce.com, Inc.

About Wipro Limited

Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 220,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future.

Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements contained herein represent Wipro's beliefs regarding future events, many of which are by their nature, inherently uncertain and outside Wipro's control. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Wipro's growth prospects, its future financial operating results, and its plans, expectations and intentions. Wipro cautions readers that the forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by such statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, complete proposed corporate actions, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. The conditions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic could decrease technology spending, adversely affect demand for our products, affect the rate of customer spending and could adversely affect our customers' ability or willingness to purchase our offerings, delay prospective customers' purchasing decisions, adversely impact our ability to provide on-site consulting services and our inability to deliver our customers or delay the provisioning of our offerings, all of which could adversely affect our future sales, operating results and overall financial performance. Our operations may also be negatively affected by a range of external factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic that are not within our control. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Annual Reports on Form 20-F. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005716/en/

Contacts:

Sony Shetty

Wipro Limited

sony.shetty@wipro.com
NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- German-headquartered Tradewind Finance is pleased to announce it has extended a USD 5 million revolving receivables finance facility for an American importer and distributor of kitchenware, canning jars and other home goods. The Ohio-based company primarily sells to several big-box retailers across the United States and also exports a variety of products to select major buyers based in Europe.

Driven by a scarcity of vessels and rebounding consumer demand, the company witnessed rising import costs from the Far East and increased freight rates from the port of discharge to the target Eastern US destinations. Alongside this, the need for longer payment terms from buyers resulted in the company requiring additional liquidity through trade credit. While majority of the company's buyers enjoyed 60-day credit terms, Tradewind is able to cater to longer terms where necessary.

Tradewind's non-recourse finance option supported the company with their capital demands for sales based in the United States and abroad. Such a financing program equipped the company to monetize on existing receivables to improve their cash flows and stay on top of demanding delivery schedules. With Tradewind's competitive financing rates and flexible payment structure, the company was able to allocate these funds to secure new inventory from foreign suppliers and to facilitate their appetite to fulfill greater order volumes.

"A healthy cash flow is the lifeblood of any hardworking business. Tradewind's ability to advance funds on invoices with longer payment terms is paramount to importers and distributors, especially in the ever-changing and challenging global economy of 2021," said Kevin Gillespie, Vice President - Sales, Tradewind United States.

Kevin is based in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.

Founded in 2000, Tradewind Finance, an international trade finance company, maintains a network of offices all over the world, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, India, Pakistan, Peru, Turkey, UAE, and USA as well as the headquarters in Germany. Combining financing, credit protection, and collections into a single suite of trade finance products, Tradewind brings streamlined, flexible and best-in-class services to the world's exporters and importers.

Contact:

Tradewind Finance

contact@tradewindfinance.com

https://www.tradewindfinance.com/

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Existing Catalog Bid Leads to Purchase Order

TOCCOA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / Galaxy Next Generation, Inc. (OTCQB:GAXY) ("Galaxy" or the "Company), a provider of interactive learning technology solutions, is pleased to announce it has been awarded a $300,000 purchase order from Aisys Consulting and Mission CISD of Texas. The initial purchase order is under the catalog bid awarded earlier in the year.

Aisys Consulting is a leading Texas-based education technology reseller. With offices in McAllen, El Paso and San Antonio, Aisys Consulting is well positioned to assist Galaxy and its G2 brand in their efforts to scale their education business within the state of Texas.

Mission Consolidated Independent School District is a public school district based in Mission, Texas, in the lower Rio Grande Valley. In addition to most of Mission, the district serves most of Alton and part of Palmhurst, as well as a portion of West Sharyland census-designated place. Mission CISD encompasses 20 schools.

Gary LeCroy, Galaxy's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "This is a great example as to why catalog bids are so important. Because of Aisys Consulting and Galaxy having already gone through the approved vendor process, there was a streamlined purchasing process to receive this order. We look forward to working with Mission ISD of Texas in increasing the use of technology in its classrooms and school buildings."

For additional information on Aisys Consulting, please visit: https://aisysconsulting.com.

For additional information on Mission CISD, please visit: https://www.mcisd.net.

About Galaxy Next Generation, Inc.

Galaxy Next Generation (OTCQB:GAXY) is a provider of interactive learning technology solutions that allows the presenter and participant to engage in a fully collaborative instructional environment. Galaxy's products include Galaxy's own private-label interactive touch screen panel as well as numerous other national and international branded peripheral and communication devices. Galaxy's distribution channel consists of 22+ resellers across the U.S. who primarily sell the Company's products within the commercial and educational market. Galaxy does not control where resellers focus their resell efforts, although generally, the K-12 education market is the largest customer base for Galaxy products - comprising nearly 90% of Galaxy's sales.

For additional information, please visit our website at: www.galaxynext.us

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains 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. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect the company's current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. A more extensive listing of risks and factors that may affect the company's business prospects and cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in the reports and other documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.

Investors Contact:

IR@GalaxyNext.us

P:888-859-1274

SOURCE: Galaxy Next Generation, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672291/Galaxy-Next-Generation-Receives-Initial-300000-Purchase-Order-from-Aisys-Consulting-and-Mission-CISD-of-Texas
Wolters Kluwer appoints Greg Samios as President & CEO of Clinical Effectiveness,

Dr. Peter Bonis as Chief Medical Officer for the Health division

November 11, 2021 -Wolters Kluwer Healthannounces the appointments of Gregory Samios as President & CEO of Clinical Effectiveness and Dr. Peter Bonis as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the division, effective December 1, 2021. The appointments reflect Wolters Kluwer's continued focus on advancinghealthcare technology and growing expert solutions across the continuum of healthcare.

As President and CEO for Clinical Effectiveness, the largest business within Wolters Kluwer's Clinical Solutions group, Samiossucceeds Dr. Denise Basow, who is leaving Wolters Kluwer after 25 years of service. Samios brings decades of experience as a customer-focused executive in the healthcare and legal information sectors. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of Health Learning, Research & Practice (HLRP). Throughout his career, Samios has been passionate about working together with customers to understand their unique challenges and deliver deep impact where it matters most. He employs lean principles to all aspects of business transformation to stimulate innovation and cultivate industry partnerships as vital to building value creation. Samios joined Wolters Kluwer in 2014, serving as President and CEO of the Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S. business before moving to the Health Division to lead HLRP in 2019. Previously, he held executive leadership roles at Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, Reed Elsevier, Excerpta Medica, and Elsevier Health Sciences. Samios earned an MBA at Duke University and graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. and M.S. in Engineering.

Dr. Bonis, who has served as Chief Medical Officer of Clinical Effectiveness since 2015, will now expand his scope to oversee division-wide industry partnerships, research and development initiatives, and deep collaborations with customers and partners. He joined Wolters Kluwer in 2008 as part of the acquisition of UpToDate where he has served since 1998. He was instrumental to the development of UpToDate into the leading clinical decision support tool used by doctors globally and in bringing our drug information and patient engagement products together with UpToDate under Clinical Effectiveness. Dr. Bonis is a graduate of Harvard University and New York University School of Medicine. He was an assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine and is currently an adjunct professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.

"Healthcare technology is rapidly changing the ways patients receive care, how clinicians make better decisions, and even how students learn to practice. I am excited to work with Greg and Peter in their new expanded roles to accelerate the innovation and customer success we deliver across our solutions at such an important time in the industry and global healthcare markets," said Stacey Caywood, Chief Executive Officer, Wolters Kluwer Health.

The Clinical Effectiveness business, which is part of Clinical Solutions, includes our UpToDate clinical decision support solutions, Lexicomp and Medi-Span clinical drug information, and the Emmi patient engagement solutions.

###

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2020 annual revenues of 4.6 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 19,200 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students in effective decision-making and outcomes across healthcare. We support clinical effectiveness, learning and research, clinical surveillance and compliance, as well as data solutions. For more information about our solutions, visit https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/healthand follow us on LinkedInand Twitter @WKHealth.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Media

Andre Rebelo

Sr. Global Public Relations Manager

Wolters Kluwer Health

+1

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Named a Major Player in IDC MarketScape for Worldwide Tax Automation for SMB Category

BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2021, OCTOBER 2021) and IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud Value-Added Tax Software 2021 Vendor Assessment, October 2021). Vertex was also named a Major Player in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Sales and Use Tax Automation Software for Small and Midsize Businesses 2021 Vendor Assessment, OCTOBER 2021). The IDC MarketScape reports highlight the importance of worldwide tax rates, rules, and regulations for businesses seeking to grow in the global economy.



This marks the second time Vertex has been recognized as a Leader by an IDC MarketScape in evaluating indirect tax vendors (doc US43263718 JANUARY 2019).

According to the IDC MarketScape Tax Use Automation for Enterprise, "Companies should consider Vertex if they are looking to address a growing list of global tax determination and need dependable cloud tax software capable of supporting critical tax compliance and regulatory demands."

"Vertex is proud to be recognized for our SaaS-based solutions in the IDC MarketScapes for Tax Use Automation for Enterprise, SMB and VAT reports," said Vertex CEO David DeStefano. "This recognition is a testament to our leadership and deep expertise in indirect tax and cloud technology. We continue to grow our capabilities in the mid-market with Taxamo's e-commerce solutions and our new cloud-based VAT compliance platform, enabling us to support global businesses of all sizes wherever they transact across the end-to-end tax management process."

Vertex differentiates itself in the industry by offering a worldwide tax content database across specific verticals, digital and physical goods, and addresses the complexities of the broadest set of global businesses, commerce platforms and marketplaces.

"Global digital and tax transformation means increased tax complexity, creating a pressing need for automated technology," said Kevin Permenter, IDC research director, financial applications. "Vertex is a leader in the indirect tax space with an enterprise client base. Recent acquisitions reflect enhanced strengths and integrations that are purpose-built to support all types of companies who are grappling with compliance in over 19,000 jurisdictions worldwide."

Learn more about Vertex .

About IDC MarketScape:

IDC MarketScape vendor assessment model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's position within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.

About Vertex

Vertex is a leading global provider of indirect tax software and solutions. The company's mission is to deliver the most trusted tax technology enabling global businesses to transact, comply and grow with confidence. Vertex provides cloud-based and on-premise solutions that can be tailored to specific industries for major lines of indirect tax, including sales and consumer use, value added and payroll. Headquartered in North America, and with offices in South America and Europe, Vertex employs over 1,200 professionals and serves companies across the globe.

For more information, visit www.vertexinc.com or follow on Twitter and LinkedIn .

Copyright  2021 Vertex, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained herein is intended for information purposes only, may change at any time in the future, and is not legal or tax advice. The product direction and potential roadmap information is not a guarantee, may not be incorporated into any contract, and is not a commitment to deliver any material, code, or functionality. This information should not be relied upon in making purchasing, legal, or tax decisions. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for Vertex's products remains at the sole discretion of Vertex, Inc. Any statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties described in Vertex's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Vertex cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which Vertex has no obligation to update and which speak only as of their dates.

Company contact:

Tricia Schafer-Petrecz

Vertex, Inc.

tricia.schafer-petrecz@vertexinc.com

484.595.6142


MILAN, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hovione, the global leader in spray drying and particle engineering, today announced that it is expanding its industrial facilities around the world to support its ambitious growth objectives. The company has been on an expansion track since 2016 in Portugal, Ireland and New Jersey with the aim of continuing to increase its capacity and capabilities to address customer needs.

The announcement of a $170 million investment in Hovione units in Portugal, Ireland, and New Jersey, leading to a global capacity increase of approximately 25%, was made at CPhI Wordwide, in Milan, by Guy Villax, CEO, and Jean-Luc Herbeaux, COO.

These investments will be used to support growth in the company's pharma custom development and manufacturing service business, fueled by strongly growing demand for Hovione's integrated and differentiated services in drug substance manufacturing, particle engineering and most recently drug product manufacturing. The expansion will go hand-in-hand with a build-up of Hovione's global team with the creation of more than 300 new jobs globally. This strategy will allow the company to continue to address difficult-to-meet client needs while reinforcing its commitment to the Hovione values and standard of quality.

In the USA, Hovione will add a 2900m2 building next to its current facility in East Windsor, New Jersey, laying the foundations for a state-of-the-art Hovione Campus. The upcoming cycle of investment will bring additional commercial spray drying capacity online by 2023. Further investments will follow with the aim to solidify the company's integrated offer: API - Particle - Drug Product in the region. This expansion will allow Hovione to accompany existing and new customers favoring US-based manufacturing through their development cycles all the way to commercial.

The capacity and capabilities of Hovione's Cork site in the Republic of Ireland will also be upgraded to enable the production of Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPI) and to facilitate onboarding of Drug Substance Manufacturing projects of all sizes. The investment will create an ecosystem in which large customer projects with unique technologies can find a home by connecting to the existing infrastructure and equipment. The site will also receive a new commercial size spray dryer to support the growing demand for particle engineering services.

In Portugal, Hovione is ready to start operations of its most recent facility with an increase in chemical synthesis capacity for High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPI). The building is also prepared to receive a new commercial spray dryer to respond to the future needs of the global drug market.

"Hovione is in it for life and what better way to manifest this than through expansion of our global capacity and capabilities. Our sustainable organic growth strategy will allow us to keep true to those values that have been guiding us for more than 60 years", says Guy Villax, Chief Executive Officer.

"These investments reinforce our integrated specialized offer globally, providing our clients with a line of sight for their projects. Focus is placed on facilitating and speeding up the drug development cycle and launch, by providing API manufacturing, Particle Engineering and Tableting services in each site. Our strategy continues to be to grow organically via investments in our existing sites, which are designed for purpose. This reduces the complexity associated with the growth journey and allows us to focus our management attention on what counts most, i.e. guaranteeing that our clients go to market with quality, safe and effective medicines for their patients" says Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione's Chief Operation Officer.

About Hovione

Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs including highly potent compounds. For generic pharmaceutical customers the company offers niche API products. Hovione also provides proprietary product development and licensing opportunities for drug products. In the inhalation area, Hovione is the only independent company offering a complete range of services.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1686008/Logo_Hovione_Logo.jpg

Contact

Isabel Pina | Director External Communications

ipina@hovione.com |Tel.: 0035121 982 9362
Jenny Hamilton joins as General Counsel as Exterro Bolsters its Global Plans for Significant Growth and Expansion

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Exterro Inc. - the preferred provider of Legal GRC software specifically designed for in-house legal, privacy, and IT teams at Global 2000 and AmLaw 200 organizations - today announced the addition of legal discovery expert and technologist Jenny Hamilton as its new General Counsel. Her strategic hire furthers Exterro's commitment to building a world-class executive team and solidifies Exterro's position in the legal GRC market as the company continues its strong momentum and advances towards a potential future IPO.



Hamilton previously led John Deere's Global Evidence Team where she tackled the gargantuan task of building the nearly 200-year-old brand's e-discovery, investigations and cross-border discovery practice. During her 14 years at Deere, Hamilton executed on a strategically developed blueprint for the global adoption, deployment and use of advanced technology that would transform the Fortune 100 firm company-wide GRC practices. After exhaustive testing and auditing of several e-Discovery software platforms, Hamilton and her team selected Exterro as Deere's first e-Discovery platform. Part of her team's decision-making process involved not only the capabilities and performance of Exterro's technology, but also the company's deep understanding of Deere's global organization and foresight to help resolve the specific Legal GRC needs of the future. Like Exterro, Hamilton predicted the convergence of e-discovery, privacy and cybersecurity and is thrilled to play a significant role in moving the technology forward to support her corporate peers grappling with the complex challenges of these practice areas.

Hamilton's hire comes on the heels of significant enhancements to Exterro's Review platform, for which she will be integral in providing strategic counsel to help Exterro make an aggressive push into the review market. Available as a stand-alone document review solution or as part of the broader Exterro Orchestrated e-Discovery Suite, the Exterro Review module features some of the most advanced AI and machine learning capabilities in the market, including neural machine translation, smart labeling, and entity recognition. It is suitable for all review use cases (i.e., discovery, breach review, DSAR, FOIA, investigations, etc.) from first-pass review to the most complex multi-year, multifaceted and multi-layered review projects, including second requests.

"Jenny's hire as our new GC comes during a remarkable time of growth at Exterro as we expand our firm's global footprint while developing enhanced functionality throughout our Legal GRC platform that further validates our market leadership position," said Exterro Founder and CEO, Bobby Balachandran. "Representing one of our longest and strongest customer partnerships from a Fortune 100 company, Ms. Hamilton's in-house experience coupled with her keen understanding of our technology will provide Exterro with the foresight and global expertise necessary to grow our world-class operation and expand our Fortune 500 customer base."

Hamilton, an industry trailblazer, has gained world-wide notoriety for an innovative approach to building and orchestrating legal operations and data governance programs like cross-border data discovery and investigations. "As a longtime customer, I watched Exterro build the most advanced and comprehensive e-discovery platform serving not just litigation and internal investigations but each area of data risk for a large organization: data subject access requests, cybersecurity breach review and records information management to name a few," said Jenny Hamilton, General Counsel at Exterro. "I look forward to applying my unique customer and industry experience to enhance our ability to increase overall adoption of Exterro's e-Discovery suite and Review technology, while adding to the firm's overall market share."

Hamilton, who has her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, led John Deere's Discovery team to industry notoriety, hailed by Legal Technology News for its disciplined approach to technology acquisition and implementation. Following Deere, Hamilton served as general counsel and data privacy officer for legal services firm, HaystackID, building out their legal and compliance operations. Now at Exterro, she will oversee the firm's HR and Legal departments while also contributing her industry expertise to the sales and engineering teams.

About Exterro

Exterro empowers legal teams to manage their Legal Governance, Risk and Compliance (Legal GRC) requirements proactively and defensibly. Our Legal GRC software is the only comprehensive platform that automates the complex interconnections of privacy, legal operations, digital investigations, cybersecurity response, compliance, and information governance. Thousands of legal teams in corporations, law firms, government and law enforcement agencies around the world trust our integrated Legal GRC platform to manage their risks and drive successful outcomes at a lower cost. For more information, visit exterro.com

Media Contact

Danielle Kane

Plat4orm - for Exterro
Palm Beach, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - November 11, 2021) - JZZ Technologies, Inc. (OTC Pink: JZZI) is aggressively pursuing its acquisition in the biotechnology and bioscience sector with its first agreement to acquire a new life extension and longevity products venture based in Aliso Viejo, California. Management expects that details of the product lines, research and oversight for the venture will follow immediately.

JZZ Technologies, Inc. will acquire 100% ownership in the new company. The acquisition will include, but is not limited to, exclusive licenses to therapeutic products, novel new compounds and additional novel therapeutics and natural compounds or extracts covered under an Investigational New Drug (IND) research program. The Company will also acquire access to the personnel and human resources required for ongoing development and to aid in research of new products.

The focus of the venture will be the rapid commercialization of therapeutic products. JZZ Technologies will apply its marketing capabilities to ensure well designed market strategies that complement the roll out and ongoing commercial application of all products.

Oversight of the research and product development will be carried out by the research teams and/or scientists responsible for their discovery or development of formulations or products.

Charles Cardona, CEO of JZZ Technologies, Inc., stated, "This new acquisition in the biotechnology and biosciences sector is a launch pad for our ventures in this very lucrative sector. There is a wide array of innovative technologies and breakthrough products that we can tap into in the human life extension and longevity areas. This first acquisition will showcase our ability to create exciting new products for specific markets and use the capabilities of our digital marketing platforms to maximize returns to our company."

"We will be working with world class, leading researchers to develop products that are well suited to our core audience of active individuals age 55+. These will be products that can potentially improve life quality and contribute to longevity. That's a very important area for aging individuals, and we see it as a solid business combination that will offer significant revenues very early on," Cardona added.

About JZZ Technologies, Inc.

JZZ Technologies, Inc. is a diversified technology company rolling up projects and partnerships in two distinct business sectors that operate cohesively; its digital media business includes online media and apps (activelifestylemedia.com), content creation, digital marketing, streaming video content, publishing, and free over-the-air television (EyeOnTV) targeted at active adults 55+. The Company's other business is focused on strategic biotechnology and bioscience acquisitions related to Human Life Extension and Human Longevity that can be immediately leveraged to support improved quality of life for aging populations.

DISCLAIMER and FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking" statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Because such statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and such Forward-Looking Statements are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the viability of the company's business plans, the effect of acquisitions on our profitability, the effectiveness, profitability, and the marketability of the Company's products; the Company's ability to protect its proprietary information; general economic and business conditions; the volatility of the company's operating results and financial condition; and other risks detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates, and projections about the company and the industry. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, management cannot assure the public that their expectations will turn out to be correct. Investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.

Contact:

JZZ Technologies, Inc.

Charles Cardona, CEO

Email: ccardona@jzztechnologies.com

Website: https://www.jzztechnologies.com/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/102961
Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - November 11, 2021) - Northern Graphite Corporation (TSXV: NGC) (OTCQB: NGPHF) (the "Company" or "Northern") is pleased to announce that battery anode material ("BAM") manufactured from its Bissett Creek concentrates demonstrated excellent electrochemical performance during recent battery testing by ProGraphite in Germany. Testing showed that Northern's anode material can be charged to high values which remain stable with high Coulomb efficiency under various discharge conditions. ProGraphite concluded that Northern's anode material is very well suited for the manufacture of high capacity, durable, long-life lithium-ion batteries.

ProGraphite is one of the world's leading graphite R&D laboratories with several decades of professional expertise and experience. Its test results demonstrated that Bissett Creek BAM can be charged to lithiation values above 362 mAh/g which shows that the capacity of the batteries will be excellent. The delithiation (discharging) performance was also excellent as the batteries delivered stable, high values with a very high Coulomb efficiency under various test conditions. Northern's BAM also proved to be very robust. Even after charging/discharging several times at 10C (i.e. complete charging in only six minutes) and after many cycles, the Coulomb efficiency remained at a very high, constant level indicating almost no degradation of the anode material. This performance is better than many commercial natural or synthetic grades.

Northern CEO, Greg Bowes commented that "graphite is generally evaluated based on flake size and purity but when it comes to making batteries, many other factors are critical and not all concentrates are suitable. High bulk density translates into higher capacity batteries, and ease of purification and high yield result in lower costs. Testing by ProGraphite provides independent, third-party validation that Bissett Creek concentrates are of the highest quality."

Electrochemical testing was the third phase in evaluating the use of Northern's concentrates in the manufacture of BAM and follows very successful spheronization and purification testing. ProGraphite demonstrated that material from the Bissett Creek deposit is very suitable for the spheronization process as the tap density is high (0.99 kg/l), particle size distribution relatively steep and the yield was above 50%. All are very desirable qualities (see May 25, 2021 Press Release). Bissett Creek concentrates can also be easily purified to battery standards using either acid or alkaline based processes. Generally, the minimum required carbon content is 99.95% which means a maximum of 500 ppm impurities are allowed. The critical impurities are usually Fe (<30 ppm) and Si (<30 ppm) and often Al ( About Northern Graphite

Northern Graphite is a mineral development and technology company focussed on developing its Bissett Creek graphite deposit and upgrading mine concentrates into high value components used in lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, fuel cells, graphene and other advanced technologies. An independent study estimates that Bissett Creek will have the highest margin of any existing or proposed graphite deposit due to its very favorable location, simple metallurgy and the high quality of its concentrates which the Company believes will provide a competitive advantage in manufacturing products for the green economy.

Bissett Creek is an advanced stage project with a full Feasibility Study and its major mining permit which puts the Company in position to make a construction decision, subject to financing. The Project is located in the southern part of Canada between the cities of North Bay and Ottawa and close to the Trans-Canada highway providing ready access to labour, supplies, equipment, natural gas and markets.

Qualified Person

Gregory Bowes, B.Sc. MBA, P. Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information in this news release.

For additional information

Please visit the Company's website at http://www.northerngraphite.com/investors/presentation/, the Company's profile on www.sedar.com, contact Gregory Bowes, CEO (613) 241-9959 or visit our Social Channels.

LinkedIn

YouTube

Twitter

Facebook

This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "potential", "possible" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "will", "could", or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding, among others; economic and technical studies, graphite prices, project economics, permitting, the development timeline and the graphite market. All such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by management based on their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. However, these statements 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 including, but not limited to, unexpected changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of other parties to perform as agreed; social or labour unrest; changes in commodity prices; unexpected failure or inadequacy of infrastructure and the failure of ongoing and contemplated studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued studies, development or operations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements.

Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based on what management believes are reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Subject to applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news 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/103007
NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / EV Biologics Corp, ("the Company"), OTC PINK:YECO, today confirmed that it has signed an agreement to list its common stock on the INX Securities ATS, a regulated alternative trading system operated by INX Securities, LLC. INX Securities, LLC is the FINRA-member broker-dealer subsidiary of INX Limited.

The Company has completed its due diligence and has been approved to list on the INX Securities ATS.

The Company's shares will be tokenized and will be available for trading on the Ethereum blockchain, where the illegal practice of "naked short selling" is not possible. The Company has been plagued by this phenomenon, thus greatly reducing the value of the Company's stock.

CEO Daniel Mckinney commented: "Our market cap is less than one-third that of our closest listed peer. We believe that it is currently the cheapest listed biotech firm by market cap. Our goal is to continue to build value and become the market cap leader in our space within the next 12-24 months."

Please view the chart at: https://www.evbiologics.com/marketcap/.

Mckinney further elaborated that "the future of stocks and bonds will be on the blockchain. We are thrilled to work with INX Securities to pioneer this transition as we will be among the first such companies to make this leap. We consider INX to be the "NYSE" of blockchain-trading exchanges. On the blockchain, short selling is very difficult, and naked shorting is impossible. It's the level playing field that we have all been looking for."

The Company will announce further information as it becomes available, regarding this transition from traditional shares to digital securities, trading on the INX Securities ATS.

EV Biologics is building a world-class team of exosome biotechnology experts specializing in molecular biology, biochemical engineering, biomanufacturing, cellular biochemistry, bioinformatics and computational biology.

Exosomes

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles that serve as mediators for cell-to-cell communication. With their unique nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids cargo compositions that reflect the characteristics of producer cells, exosomes can be utilized as cell-free therapeutics. - Cells, 2020

The intrinsic properties of exosomes in regulating complex intracellular pathways has advanced their potential utility in the therapeutic control of many diseases, including neurodegenerative conditions and cancer. Exosomes can be engineered to deliver diverse therapeutic payloads, including short interfering RNAs, antisense oligonucleotides, chemotherapeutic agents, and immune modulators, with an ability to direct their delivery to a desired target. - Science, 2020

About INX Limited

INX Limited (INX) owns regulated trading platforms for digital securities and cryptocurrencies, combining traditional markets expertise and an innovative fintech approach. INX's vision is to be the preferred global regulated hub for digital assets on the blockchain. INX's overall mission is to bring communities together and empower them with financial innovation. INX's journey started with its initial public token offering ("IPO") of the INX Token in which it raised US$83 million. INX is shaping the blockchain asset industry through its willingness to work in a regulated environment with oversight from regulators like the SEC and FINRA. www.inx.io

About the Company

EV Biologics (formerly Yulong Eco-Materials Limited) is a Wyoming, USA domiciled Biotechnology Company, intent on developing and enhancing the intrinsic therapeutic activity of mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) secreted factors, as well as targeted delivery of bioactive molecules using engineered exosomes. The company is working to optimize cell lines for production of native bioactive nanoparticles and to establish an exosome engineering platform to enhance specific therapeutic activity. Initially, these novel regenerative products will be produced for preclinical research on a number of clinical indications. Using proprietary and patentable technologies, the Company is creating exclusive IP inherent in these bioengineered products. Further product development will be focused on investigation of novel stem cell-derived biopharmaceuticals designed for specific clinical conditions.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements, particularly as related to, among other things, the business plans of the Company, statements relating to goals, plans and projections regarding the Company's financial position and business strategy. The words or phrases "plans," "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "may result," "are expected to," "will continue," "anticipates," "expects," "estimate," "project," "indicate," "could," "potentially," "should," "believe," "think," "considers" or similar expressions are intended to identify "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements fall within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934 and are subject to the safe harbor created by these sections. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, involve known and unknown risks, a reliance on third parties for information, transactions or orders that may be cancelled, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in our industry, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results include risks and uncertainties related to the fluctuation of local, regional, and global economic conditions, the performance of management and our employees, our ability to obtain financing, competition, general economic conditions and other factors that are detailed in our periodic reports and on documents we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements made herein are as of the date of this press release and should not be relied upon as of any subsequent date, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences, developments, unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statement.

YECO has 7.22 million shares issued and outstanding with a float of 1,016,375 shares.

Contact:

Dennis Burns

Investor Relations

Tel: (567)237-4132

dburns@nvestrain.com

For more information on EV Biologics please visit:

www.evbiologics.com

SOURCE: EV Biologics Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672345/EV-Biologics-Signs-Listing-Agreement-With-INX
Actively preserve Social Media records forever with Preservica v6.4

BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / Preservica, the world leader in active digital preservation software, today announces the launch of v6.4 of their cloud-hosted and on-premise active digital preservation and online discovery software. Developed in collaboration with the Preservica user community, v6.4 further streamlines archival and records management workflows, with the addition of automated capture and active digital preservation of social media accounts - starting in this release with Twitter.

The need to capture and preserve significant social media and website communications forever has become increasingly important over the last 18 months - from the tweets of government elected officials to social media records of world-changing events that will inform future generations.

Retaining permanent and historically valuable Twitter records forever, however, requires a more sophisticated approach than just archiving says Marta Crilly, Archivist for Reference and Outreach at City of Boston "To ensure our public social media records, such as those of our elected officials, remain readable in perpetuity it was important for us to use our active digital preservation platform rather than an archiving solution".

By leveraging Preservica's powerful intelligent archiving connector and the unique way the solution handles complex digital objects, Preservica v6.4 ensures all components of a tweet - the text, metadata, timestamp and embedded images and videos - are all automatically captured directly from Twitter and fully preserved as a single authentic asset.

Preservica ensures these records are stored safely and remain accessible and readable over decades to mitigate against technology obsolescence.

You can learn more about social media preservation here .

Join Preservica's online webinar on 15 December 2021, to explore "How do we keep tweets alive forever?". Register now to reserve your place .

About Preservica

With offices in Boston, Ma. and Abingdon, Oxfordshire (UK), Preservica is changing the way organizations around the world protect and future-proof critical long-term digital information. Available in the cloud (SaaS) or on-premise, our award-winning active digital preservation software has been designed from the ground-up to tackle the unique challenges of ensuring digital information remains accessible and trustworthy over decades. Visit: www.preservica.com and Twitter: @preservica

Media Contact

Kate Forte

YorkIE

kforte@york.ie

SOURCE: Preservica

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672246/Preservica-Adds-Automated-Capture-and-Active-Digital-Preservation-for-Twitter
WAKEFIELD, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / Innovation Pharmaceuticals (OTCQB:IPIX) ("the Company"), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, today reported topline results from the Company's Phase 2 clinical trial of Brilacidin in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19. Brilacidin is being developed for treatment of COVID-19 under FDA Fast Track designation.

Brilacidin did not show a difference compared to placebo in reducing Time to Sustained Recovery Through Day 29, the study's primary endpoint based on clinical status. Clinical status endpoints contain a degree of subjectivity that may impact outcomes of COVID-19 trials. Additional analysis of topline and all study endpoints is ongoing.

"Though disappointed with these topline results, treating moderate-to-severe COVID-19 is an exceptionally difficult patient population," said Leo Ehrlich, Chief Executive Officer at Innovation Pharmaceuticals. "Companies, such as Merck and Regeneron, also did not show clinical benefit in these groups of patients, although both went on to refocus their development efforts in mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and achieve success. Regarding our Brilacidin antiviral program in general, collaborations with NIH scientists and academic researchers to explore Brilacidin's broad-spectrum antiviral activity in different viruses are ongoing. Initial feasibility work to formulate Brilacidin for potential prophylactic use via inhaled delivery, to leverage Brilacidin's unique virucidal and blocking antiviral properties, also is underway. There are many paths to pursue in the antiviral space. We believe Brilacidin holds tremendous promise as a differentiated antiviral drug candidate and plan to continue its development in this area of great opportunity and unmet need."

Topline safety data showed Brilacidin was generally well-tolerated, with frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events similar between study arms. The number of patients who died totaled eight, four each between active and placebo. The overall mortality rate (6.67%) in the trial was approximately one-half of what is typically observed in this patient population.

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (see NCT04784897) evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravenous Brilacidin administered for 3 or 5 days in addition to standard of care. In the trial, 120 patients were treated, with three-fourths receiving 5 days of study drug. Patients were evenly split between male and female, with a majority categorized as experiencing severe COVID-19 at baseline. Most patients were under 65 years old, with an average age of 58.

Alerts

Sign-up for Innovation Pharmaceuticals email alerts is available at:

http://www.ipharminc.com/email-alerts/

About Innovation Pharmaceuticals

Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IPIX) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a world-class portfolio of innovative therapies addressing multiple areas of unmet medical need, including inflammatory diseases, cancer, infectious diseases, and dermatologic diseases.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including, without limitation, statements concerning future drug development plans, statements regarding the antiviral capabilities and therapeutic potential of Brilacidin and its potential impact on SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and other viruses. Other statements regarding future product developments, including with respect to specific indications, and any other statements which are other than statements of historical fact. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause the Company's actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. The Company has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "hopes," "estimates," "looks," "expects," "plans," "intends," "goal," "potential," "may," "suggest," and similar expressions. Among other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements are risks related to conducting pre-clinical studies and clinical trials and seeking regulatory and licensing approvals for Brilacidin and Kevetrin in the United States and other jurisdictions, including without limitation that the Company's compounds may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing, or be granted regulatory approval to be sold and marketed in the United States or elsewhere; prior test results may not be replicated in future studies and trials; the Company's need for, and the availability of, substantial capital in the future to fund its operations and research and development, including the amount and timing of the sale of shares of common stock under securities purchase agreements; and the Company's licensee(s) may not successfully complete pre-clinical or clinical testing and the Company will not receive milestone payments. A more complete description of these and other risk factors is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the information currently available to the Company on the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation.

INVESTOR AND MEDIA CONTACTS:

Innovation Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Leo Ehrlich

info@ipharminc.com

SOURCE: Innovation Pharmaceuticals

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672330/Innovation-Pharmaceuticals-Announces-Topline-Results-from-Phase-2-Clinical-Trial-of-Brilacidin-for-COVID-19
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / Trigon Metals Inc. (TSXV:TM) ("Trigon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that recent drilling has unexpectedly intercepted high-grade mineralization that has the potential to increase both the resource tonnes and deposit grade.

Geotechnical drill testing of the rock conditions around the planned open pits was completed to confirm rock stability for mine design purposes. Core from these holes, outside of the currently designed pit shells, the core in the holes showed visible mineralization and were sent to be assayed.

Four of the geotechnical holes contained significant amounts of copper, representing the potential for an increase of tonnage, of grade and of the life of the open mine.

Highlights of the drill results are as follows:

Hole (GTBH010): 8m intersection of 6.56% Cu which includes 5m of 9.15% Cu @ (66-74m).

Hole (GTBH010): 3m intersection of 1.36% Cu @(89-92m).

Hole (GTBH004): 2m intersections of 1.2% Cu @(57-59m) and 1.4 % Cu @(75-77m).

Hole (GTBH013): 4m intersection of 1.72% Cu which includes 2m of 3.3% Cu @(57-61m).

Hole (BH21-09): 2m intersection of 1.27% Cu @(52-54m).

The holes were completed in September and confirmed the ground stability conditions, this data has been used in the design of our planned open pits. Assays for the holes with visible mineralization have just been received.

Commenting, Jed Richardson, President and CEO of Trigon, said, "These results illustrate the additional potential of the Kombat Mine and represent only a fraction of the 30 kilometres of strike length within the Company's property.

About Kombat Mine

The Kombat Copper Project is the flagship project of Trigon Metals Inc., with the Company's mining and prospecting licence areas covering an area of more than 7,500 ha in the Otavi Mountainlands in Namibia. The Kombat Project is comprised of three mining licences, which produced approximately 12.46 million tonnes of Copper between 1962 and 2008, at a grade of 2.62%. The other two mining licences are within close proximity to Kombat at Gross Otavi and Harasib, which are believed to be highly prospective for Lead and Zinc. In addition, the Company also holds an interest in two exclusive prospecting licences, which represent a potential strike extension of Kombat.

Qualified Person

The technical information presented in this press release has been reviewed and approved for disclosure by Fanie Muller, P.Eng, VP Operations of Trigon, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.

Trigon Metals Inc.

Trigon is a publicly traded Canadian exploration and development company with its core business focused on copper and silver holdings in mine-friendly African jurisdictions. Currently the company has operations in Namibia and Morocco. In Namibia, the Company holds an 80% interest in five mining licences in the Otavi Mountainlands, an area of Namibia widely recognized for its high-grade copper deposits, where the Company is focused on exploration and re-development of the previously producing Kombat mine. In Morocco, the Company is the holder of the Silver Hill project, a highly prospective copper and silver exploration project.

Cautionary Notes

This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements include statements regarding the restart of the Kombat Mine, the results of the current drilling program, the mineralisation of the project, the Company's strategies and the Company's abilities to execute such strategies, the Company's expectations for the Kombat Project, and the Company's future plans and objectives. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statements or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

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.

For further information, contact:

Jed Richardson

+1 647 276 6002

jed.richardson@trigonmetals.com

Website: www.trigonmetals.com

SOURCE: Trigon Metals, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672363/Trigon-Reports-8m-of-656-Copper-Extending-Open-Pit-Mineralization-Namibia
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Hart Consumer Products, Inc. is recalling about 15,700 units of Hart 18-Gauge 2' Brad Nailers for potential risk of serious injury hazard, a statement by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) showed. The company said the contact sensor on the nailer can malfunction and involuntarily discharge a nail, posing a risk of serious injury hazard to the user or bystanders. The company is yet to receive any reports of incidents or injury related to the use of the recalled nailers. The recall involves white, blue, and black color handheld Hart 18-Gauge 2' Brad Nailers with model numbers HPNR01, HPNR01B, HPNR01B-SK, or HPNR01BNCA. It has the name 'HART' white on a black background on the side of the nailer and has '18ga BRAD NAILER' printed in white on a blue background on the side of the nail tray/magazine. The recalled nailers were manufactured in Vietnam by Techtronic Industries Vietnam Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and imported into the United States by Anderson, South Carolina-based Hart Consumer Products Inc. The nailers were sold exclusively at Walmart USA retail stores across the United States and online at www.walmart.com from April 2021 through September 2021 for between $130 and $160. The company has advised consumers to immediately stop using the recalled nailers and return it to any Walmart USA store for a full refund. Consumers can also return items for free by mail via a scheduled pickup from your home. 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.
11 November 2021

ANANDA DEVELOPMENTS PLC

("Ananda" or the "Company")

Shareholder Update

Ananda's ambition is to be a UK grower and provider of carbon neutral, consistent, high quality medical cannabis for the UK and international markets.

Since the Company's update on 6 October 2021, works have continued on schedule at the medical cannabis research growing facility being constructed in the UK by DJT Plants Limited ("DJT Plants"), the Company's 50% owned subsidiary.

Research facility construction

The construction of the research facility is near completion. Security fencing has been installed around the designated perimeter of the project area, the reservoir to hold required water is complete and the interior of the medical cannabis growing rooms is complete. Dr Hadar Less, the project's lead geneticist, spent last week on site to finalise room by room lab requirements, plant nursery growing trollies and other details.

The initial 0.2 hectares of multi-chappelle growing tunnels have been constructed and the design for the plant layout within the units has commenced.

Ananda's plan

As previously communicated to shareholders, Ananda will conduct a medical cannabis breeding and stabilisation programme designed to create a library of proprietary strains which exhibit metabolic profiles which thrive in local growing conditions and which are efficacious in the treatment of indications including epilepsy, neuropathic pain, scleroderma and Parkinsons disease, as well as for other indications. Subject to further licensing from the Home Office, it is intended to use these learnings to grow medical cannabis for commercial purposes.

As a result of the experience gained by Ananda's partner, JEPCO, in growing medical cannabis from 2014-2017 for GW Pharmaceuticals, Ananda intends to grow in natural season with no artificial light or heat. The Directors believe that using the full natural spectrum of light will result in superior medical cannabis flower and enhance the opportunity to garner its full benefit. The plan also requires much lower levels of capital and operating expenditure and, in the opinion of the Directors, enables a more scalable business than would be required by the building of large glass houses with artificial light and heat. In addition, DJT Plants' cannabis growing is expected to be zero carbon.

Ananda's CEO Melissa Sturgess commented "As we look to the North American experience of large facilities with their high capital requirements, high operating costs and businesses which are supply led rather than demand led, we see financial pressures. Ananda's model is clear. We have a low capital, low operating cost model which focuses on patient demand and which we believe will deliver superior medicines with very strong margins."

UK medical cannabis market

According to UK based medical cannabis advisory group, Maple Tree Consultants, there are now approximately 9,500 medical cannabis patients in the UK.Maple Tree predicts that this number will reach around 25,000 by the end of 2022. This growth is in line with the development of international medical cannabis markets which experienced slow growth immediately after legalisation, followed by increased and then rapid growth around year 3. Medical cannabis was legalised in the UK in late 2018. The Directors of Ananda are encouraged by the potential of the industry in the UK and the opportunity for Ananda. They are also greatly heartened to see medical cannabis becoming more widely acceptable and understood as an efficacious treatment for many health indications.

Sale of shareholding in Liberty Herbal Technologies Limited

Ananda has sold the Company's holding of 1,642,857 ordinary shares in Liberty Herbal Technologies Limited ("LHT"), the developer of ready to use cannabis sachets for portable vaporisers. The consideration for the disposal is 100,000 in cash, which has been received by the Company.

The proceeds of the disposal will be used to support the ongoing construction, staffing and operation at the medical cannabis research growing facility being developed in the UK by DJT Plants, which is the focus of Ananda's attention. As announced on 8 June 2021, the Company is in the process of acquiring the remaining 50% of DJT Plants that it does not already own. (https://anandadevelopments.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/08062021-Proposed-100-ownership-of-DJT-Plants-Limited.pdf).

-Ends-

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

ANANDA DEVELOPMENTS PLC

Chief Executive Officer

Melissa Sturgess



Investor Relations

Jeremy Sturgess-Smith +44 (0)7463 686 497

ir@anandadevelopments.com PETERHOUSE CAPITAL LIMITED

Corporate Finance

Mark Anwyl



Corporate Broking

Lucy Williams

Duncan Vasey +44 (0)20 7469 0930

Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

About Ananda Developments

Ananda is an AQSE-listed medical cannabis company creating UK-based operations to grow and provide carbon neutral, consistent, medical cannabis for the UK and international markets.

The UK medical cannabis market is predicted to be worth 450m by 2025 and the European market is predicted to be worth USD4.2bn by 2027.

Ananda, through its 50% owned subsidiary, DJT Plants Limited, was granted a Home Office licence in May 2021 to grow >0.2% THC cannabis in a new research facility to breed and stabilise 65 strains.

For more information, please visit: https://anandadevelopments.com/
BANGALORE, India, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Healthcare 3D Printing Market is Segmented by Type (System/Device, Materials, Services), by Application (Wearable Devices, Implants, Clinical Study Devices). The report covers global opportunity analysis and industry forecasts from 2021 to 2027. It is published in Valuates Reports under Medical Devices & Equipment Category.

The global Healthcare 3D Printing market size is projected to reach USD 4957.1 Million by 2027, from USD 1383.4 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 20.0% during 2021-2027.

Major factors driving the growth of the healthcare 3D Printing market are:

A rise in demand for personalized medical care by providing customized medical devices based on individual needs is expected to drive the growth of the 3D printing market.

Increasing public-private funding for 3D printing activities, high incidence of dental and orthopedic diseases, easy development of customized medical products using 3D printing, growing applications of 3D printing in the healthcare industry, availability of advanced 3D printing materials for dental and medical applications, and the increasing demand for 3D-printed products in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, are the key factors supporting the growth of the market.

Get your sample today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-10O2554/Global_Healthcare_3D_Printing_Market

TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF HEALTHCARE 3D PRINTING MARKET

The expansion of the 3D printing market is predicted to be driven by an increase in demand for personalized medical care by delivering customized medical devices based on individual needs. Additive manufacturing technologies are used to create 3D printed objects. An object is built in an additive technique by laying down successive layers of material until the object is complete. Each of these layers can be viewed as a cross-section of the item that has been lightly cut. It's used in the healthcare industry to make personalized medical equipment and products. External wearable devices, clinical study devices, implants, and other healthcare 3D printing applications are common.

Patient-specific gadgets (such as hearing aids) and implants (such as prosthetic joints, cranial plates, and even heart valves) are increasingly turning to 3D printing because of its ease of customization and speed of production. This in turn is expected to drive the healthcare 3D printing market. Traditionally, heart valves and hearing aids required a full week of rigorous, hand-crafted adjustments by expert workers. From casting to fitting, a hearing aid required nine steps prior to 3D printing. Hearing aids may now be scanned in 3D and printed in one day. There are also design advantages: Silicone heart valves that are 3D printed provide a perfect fit that hard, traditionally made heart valves cannot. 3D printing can provide complex, porous surfaces for implants like titanium prosthetic joints or cranial plates, making them less likely to be rejected by patients' bodies.

3D printing helps in the training of medical professionals and doctors with the help of simulated models of body parts. This factor has led to the increased usage of healthcare 3D printing across the world, thereby driving the growth of the healthcare 3d printing market.

Rising surgical volumes involving surgical implants are expected to further boost the healthcare 3D printing market. Among several factors, the increasing number of road accidents is significantly stimulating the demand for healthcare 3D printing. Precise and custom implants can be developed specifically considering the patient's anatomy.

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HEALTHCARE 3D PRINTING MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS

Based on the type, the device sub-segment is expected to be the most lucrative during the forecast period. The main factor responsible for the growth is the increased adoption of 3D printing technology around the world. The technological advancements in 3D Printing and Software have made the transition much smoother and effective. The increased investments in Research and Development have ensured that technology is getting evolved to cater to the needs of rapidly expanding needy patients.

Based on application, the implants segment held the largest market share of about 60.34% in 2018. The market has grown due to the increase in population and increase in the incidence of various diseases.

Based on region, North America is expected to be the most lucrative segment. Various technological developments, widespread usage of 3D printing technology in the area, an increase in research and development spending, and multiple collaborations between academic and commercial organizations are all contributing to the market's growth in this region.

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MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE HEALTHCARE 3D PRINTING MARKET

Stratasys

Materialise NV

EnvisionTEC

3D Systems Corporations

EOS

Texas Instruments

SLM Solutions Group

Arcam AB

AK Medical

UnionTech.

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SIMILAR REPORTS

- The 3D imaging market generated USD 4,631 Million in 2015 and is expected to reach USD 21,341 Million by 2022, garnering a CAGR of 24.67%.

- The global Healthcare and Medical Simulation market size is projected to reach USD 2882.2 Million by 2027, from USD 1144.8 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 14.1% during 2021-2027.

- The global 3D Technology market size is projected to reach USD 194740 Million by 2027, from USD 106680 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 8.5% during 2021-2027.

- Global 3D-Printed Orthopedic Implants Sales Market Report 2021

- Global 3D Printing for Surgical Procedures Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2027

- Global 3D Printing Medical Implant Key Trends and Opportunities to 2027

- Global 3D Arterial Spin Labeling(3D ASL) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2027

- Global 3D Applications in Healthcare Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2027

- Global 3D Vascular Ultrasound Imaging Sales Market Report 2021

Click here to see related reports on Healthcare 3D Printing Market

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MOU Chia blockchain will provide technical services for development of open-source software to improve transparency and help nations achieve the Paris Agreement goals

Chia Network, Inc., a next generation open-source blockchain and smart transaction platform founded by Bram Cohen, today announced a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") with the Government of Costa Rica. This MOU outlines Chia's technical services in support of Costa Rica's National Climate Change Metrics System (SINAMECC) to use Chia's secure, sustainable, inclusive blockchain technology for immutable data storage.

Costa Rica will lead the development of an open-source software platform that will be shared freely with other nations to improve the management of their climate inventory and operate national registries to manage carbon inventory, climate registry and record bilateral corresponding adjustments with trades occurring to shift credits among countries. The MOU outlines Chia's support of Costa Rica's leadership on climate and deep commitment to transparency.

"The Government of Costa Rica selected Chia as an open-source partner due to both its technical software and open-source expertise, but also the platform's commitment to secure, sustainable, inclusive blockchain technology and immutable data storage," said Andrea Meza Murillo, Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica. "This is a critical step toward robust, transparent cooperation on climate action focused on environmental integrity."

"We are honored to partner with Costa Rica, the recognized leader on climate action and driver behind the Paris Agreement, as another key link to an open-source blockchain as a tool for the greater global good," said Gene Hoffman, President Chief Operating Officer of Chia. "Realizing the platform's potential in partnership with the Government of Costa Rica has been one of our most exciting ventures to date. We hold the Country's leadership in the highest esteem and are committed to continuous management, delivery and access to nations reshaping their climate initiatives."

Chia is committed to being the rails for enabling climate inventory management and is at COP26 in support of its commitment. Chia's co-stewardship on the project will enable a direct connection to a public blockchain-based Climate Warehouse, and ultimate project operationalization in Costa Rica and elsewhere.

Last week, it was announced that Chia Network will develop the next and most functional prototype for the World Bank's Climate Warehouse. The Climate Warehouse was convened by the World Bank and will be launched under international governance as the underlying data architecture that connects all national parties, market participants and service providers to meet and hopefully exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement article 6.

About Chia Network

Chia Network Inc. is a state-of-the-art open-source decentralized blockchain, digital currency and smart transaction platform. Founded by Bram Cohen, inventor of BitTorrent, the Company believes that "digital money" should be easier to use than cash, harder to lose and nearly impossible to steal.

Using the first new secure Nakamoto consensus algorithm invented since Bitcoin, Chia operates an eco-friendly, secure and user-friendly system for cross border payments, issuing and exchanging financial assets, lending, escrow payments, institutional custody and distributed identity. Chia's blockchain is based on "Proof of Space and Time" which has a significantly reduced carbon footprint compared to "Proof of Work," used by all other crypto networks. Built on Chialisp, the company's smart coin language, Chia's blockchain allows its users to build and execute secure "smart coin" transactions.

The Company is funded by leading venture capitalists including Richmond Global Ventures, Slow Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Naval Ravikant, True Ventures, Cygni Capital, Galaxy Digital, Greylock, MetaStable, Stillmark, DCM, and others. Chia's advisors include Dr. Dan Boneh, Research Partner at a16z and Applied Cryptography Professor at Stanford University; David Frazee, Managing Partner at Richmond Global Ventures; Katie Haun, General Partner at a16z; Dr. Krzysztof Pietrzak, Cryptography Professor of IST Austria. For more information, visit chia.net and connect with us on Twitter (@chia_project), Facebook, GitHub, Reddit, and LinkedIn.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005809/en/

Contacts:

Chia Contacts:

FTI Consulting

Antonia Gray/Dan Margolis/Carrie Winans

E: chia@fticonsulting.com

Costa Rica Contact:

Diego Arguedas Ortiz

E: diegoarguedasortiz@gmail.com
Single/Dual 4-Amp isolated gate drivers with high transient immunity for high reliability industrial, military and power applications. SCDs are supported, devices are tested and shipped from Teledyne's certified US production facility

Teledyne e2v HiRel today announced availability of a pair of new isolated gate drivers ideally suited for driving GaN power parts used in a wide variety of power supply, dc/dc converter, battery management systems (BMS), Point-of-Load (POL) modules and motor control applications.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005271/en/

Teledyne e2v HiRel GaN Drivers (Photo: Business Wire)

The TDGD27x isolated gate drivers utilize silicon isolation technology, supporting up to 2.5 kVRMS. This technology enables industry leading common-mode transient immunity (CMTI), tight timing specifications, reduced variation with temperature and age, better part-to-part matching, and 100% AC/DC testing at -55 C to 125 C.

The TDGD271 is a single channel driver with very low jitter, offered in an 8-pin SOIC package. The TDGD274 dual channel driver can be driven with PWM (pulse width modulated) inputs and is offered in a 16-pin SOIC package. The TDGD27x family devices are ideal for a wide range of isolated MOSFET/IGBT and SiC or GaN HEMT gate drive applications, including driving Teledyne HiRel's TDG family of GaN HEMTs. Their small size and wide temperature range (-55 to +125 C) make them unique.

"Many power applications are taking advantage of the reduced size and higher efficiency made possible by wide band-gap (WBG) semiconductors. However, there was a lack of supporting functions suitable for the most demanding high reliability applications," said Mont Taylor, VP of Business Development at Teledyne HiRel. "The TDGD isolated gate drivers are available with 100% screening and from one diffusion lot, making them a natural choice for the most demanding systems."

Devices are available for ordering and shipment today from Teledyne e2v HiRel or an authorized distributor. They are shipped from our DoD Trusted Facility in Milpitas, California.

ABOUT TELEDYNE e2v HIREL ELECTRONICS

Teledyne HiRel's innovations lead developments in space, transportation, defense, and industrial markets. HiRel's unique approach involves listening to the market and application challenges of customers and partnering with them to provide innovative standard, semi-custom or fully-custom solutions, bringing increased value to their systems. For more information, visit http://www.tdehirel.com

ABOUT TELEDYNE DEFENSE ELECTRONICS

Serving Defense, Space and Commercial sectors worldwide, Teledyne Defense Electronics offers a comprehensive portfolio of highly engineered solutions that meet your most demanding requirements in the harshest environments. Manufacturing both custom and off-the-shelf product offerings, our diverse product lines meet emerging needs for key applications for avionics, energetics, electronic warfare, missiles, radar, satcom, space, and test and measurement. www.teledynedefelec.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005271/en/

Contacts:

Sharon Fletcher

Teledyne Defense Electronics

+1 323-241-1623 sharon.fletcher@teledyne.com
Akt.io is building integrated wealth management and payment solutions for the decentralised economy

LONDON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Akt.io, the innovative platform bridging DeFi, wealth management and payment services, announced today its partnership with the HBAR Foundation to support their launch of the first DeFi app on the carbon-negative Hedera Network, the most used, sustainable and enterprise-grade public network for the decentralised economy.

Akt.io has been awarded a grant and will receive organizational support from the HBAR Foundation to fuel its launch and growth on the Hedera Network. Their forthcoming app will enable users to automate investments with intelligent algorithms, generate income with digital assets and be seamlessly connected to the akt.io Wealth Card, an internationally recognized payment card that will allow for direct payments with invested capital.

"We're impressed with akt.io's revolutionary platform and pleased with their choice of the Hedera Network to enable their vision for providing retail investors with a seamless, integrated model that puts their capital to work while enabling the convenience of immediate liquidity that you'd associate with having cash in the bank," said Shayne Higdon, CEO and Executive Director of the HBAR Foundation. "This is the future of banking and the HBAR Foundation is proud to help accelerate its evolution with akt.io."

The HBAR Foundation fuels growth of the Hedera ecosystem by providing grants and resources for technical assistance, marketing and business development to developers, startups and organizations building on the network. Hedera offers 10,000 transactions per second, near real-time settlement, and low fees and bandwidth consumption. Since launching in 2018, the public network has processed over 1.75 billion transactions generated by real-world applications and has over 410k accounts.



"As a company, akt.io is committed to sustainability, enhanced levels of customer transparency and prioritising the best possible price and exchange route for our users. The hashgraph consensus used by Hedera's distributed ledger technology (DLT) provides a more time-, cost- and energy-efficient mechanism to approve transactions than proof-of-work blockchains," says Gael Itier, CEO and Founder of akt.io. "We are so honoured to have the support of the HBAR Foundation in our mission and we're excited to see where this innovative form of decentralised payment technology will take us in the future."

Akt.io's parent company Automata is engaged as a tied agent with regulated payment service providers in the UK and Ireland. This positions the company to quickly move forward in the UK and European markets. Powered by the WealthHub, akt.io's proprietary multi-route exchange technology, akt.io users will have the ability to execute virtually instantaneous asset exchanges directly on the platform. Last month, akt.io launched a public initial coin offering (ICO) in Ireland for early investors in the AKTIO coin. The first version of the akt.io app is expected to launch at the end of the year with basic functionalities like an IBAN account number and the ability to purchase AKTIO coins in the public ICO sale. Other core features, like the payment card, will start to roll out in early 2022.

About the HBAR Foundation

Founded in 2021, the HBAR Foundation fuels the development of the Hedera ecosystem by providing grants and other resources to developers, startups and organizations that seek to launch decentralized applications in DeFi, NFTs, CBDCs, ESGs, gaming and other sectors. In addition to providing funding through a streamlined grant process, the HBAR Foundation acts as an integrated force multiplier through expert support across technical, marketing, business development and other operational functions that are required to scale. For additional information, please visit https://hbarfoundation.org/ or follow the Foundation on twitter @HBAR_foundation.

About akt.io

Brought to you by Automata Group, akt.io aims to transform the world of finance by leveraging cutting edge technology that enables members to make direct payments with invested capital, automate their investing with intelligent algorithms, and earn income with their digital assets, all through a single mobile app. Since its inception in 2017, the company has raised over 10 million and opened offices in Sophia-Antipolis, Paris, London, Dublin and Berlin. For more information, visit www.akt.io or www.launch.akt.io

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MINSK, Belarus, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As an enterprise in CBIP, the New Era Biotechnology Co., Ltd. participated in the fourth edition of the China International Import Expo (CIIE) which opened in Shanghai on November 5, 2021.

Located in Minsk, capital of the Republic of Belarus and a major hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt, CBIP is helping boost cooperation between China and Belarus. In recent years, China and Belarus have carried out fruitful exchanges and cooperation in the field of traditional medicine, and CBIP lately saw new achievements in facilitating cooperation between the two countries in fighting Covid-19 and developing Chinese pure herbal medicine. With the support from the governments of the two countries, CBIP has played an increasing role in promoting regional cooperation and economic and trade exchanges between the two countries, and also serves as a platform for international production capacity cooperation and science and technology innovation along the Belt and Road. Currently, it is home to 80 enterprises.

In March 2021, the Jintai Institute of Culture and Economics of China, led by Dr. Cai Chuanqing, founded the New Era Biotechnology Co., Ltd. in CBIP. It is the 69th company in CBIP, and the first engaged in Chinese pure herbal medicine in it. Belarus' unique folk medicine tradition and rich medicinal plant resources provide broad prospects for the two countries to cooperate in traditional medicine.

In June 2021, Belarus issued a presidential decree on improving the business environment of CBIP. The presidential decree allows enterprises in CIBP to provide medical services using traditional Chinese herbal therapies without mandatory registration with and license from Belarusian authorities.

Contact: Ms. Xing Nizhen

Tel: 0037533-6249999

E-mail: novaerabiotech@mail.ru

YouTube Link:https://youtu.be/48bS1JH9b9E

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New Leaders Represent Global Experience Across Multiple Sectors, Disciplines

Headshots available here

Club Quarters Hotels announces the hiring of a new Global Sales and Marketing leadership team with the addition of five hospitality industry veterans to take Club Quarters and its unique membership model to next level.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005826/en/

Bridget Tran, Corporate Vice President of Marketing (Photo: Business Wire)

The expanded Global Sales and Marketing team includes leadership roles for Suzette Deveau as Vice President of Membership Sales, Bridget Tran as Corporate Vice President of Marketing, Jaclyn Riley as Director of Marketing Communications, Kristin Collett as Director of Digital Marketing, and Angela Molnar as Area Director of Revenue Management. The team was hand-selected given their deep commercial experience and history of delivering systemic structures and strategic results across traditional business and lifestyle sectors with a strong focus on corporate and regional sales, traditional/B2B and digital marketing, and revenue management.

Suzette Deveau brings an extensive commercial background to the team as a strategic leader across corporate and property-based sales teams with Mandarin Oriental, most recently serving as Vice President Sales Marketing for the Americas. She has developed a reputation for sustainable growth and mentorship with a career spanning numerous multinational companies in diverse markets including the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, Singapore, Indonesia, China and Australia.

Bridget Tran has widespread global experience in integrated marketing, digital strategies and innovation for lifestyle hotels, including serving as Vice President of Digital Strategies and Marketing Innovation for Nobu Hospitality, Vice President of Digital Marketing and E-Commerce for Dream Hotel Group and Marketing Director for Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces. She has also served as a fractional Chief Marketing Officer for travel industry start-ups, having founded and sold two digital hospitality ventures.

Jaclyn Riley is a global brand marketing and communications expert in business travel and lifestyle, with accomplishments including overseeing the brand marketing launch of Kimpton Hotels Restaurants in Europe and the UK, setting the launch strategy for a socially conscious private equity-backed hospitality brand, and earning a gold Adrian Award for corporate social responsibility. She founded and sold a boutique brand marketing and PR agency after winning nine industry awards in five years.

Kristin Collett has deep agency experience in digital strategies across business travel, lifestyle, resort and vacation rentals, extended stay/hotel residences and brands, setting strategy, website production and multi-channel campaigns to drive direct website revenue. She is an expert on strategic, always-on digital marketing initiatives that set the stage for long-term brand growth and profitability.

Angela Molnar has spent her career building a reputation for maximizing revenue, including identifying new business opportunities, exploring new revenue streams, reducing costs and implementing efficient tools. She most recently branched into ecommerce with Uline following a strong tenure at Hyatt properties across the South and Midwest.

"We are actively building an expansive sales network, enhancing our core corporate business model by reconnecting with our loyal members, exploring new revenue streams, and expanding our systems to support the coming return to business travel," said Suzette Deveau, Vice President, Membership Sales.

"CQ pioneered the membership model for business travel, and we're using that strong foundation to personalize the brand promise for today's traveler," said Bridget Tran, Corporate Vice President of Marketing. "By tailoring the experience for our loyal guests, focusing on data integration and expanding our platforms, we will continue to add value for members and consumers alike.

"The addition of this strong slate of commercial leaders is a strategic decision for Club Quarters Hotels as we look to the future of business travel and beyond," said CEO John Paul Nichols. "Club Quarters is poised to benefit from a visionary, holistic approach as we drive long-term value for our members, guests and owners."

About CLUB QUARTERS HOTELS

Club Quarters Hotels are full service hotels located in world-class cities in the U.S. and London and known for their visionary membership model. Designed for business and urban travelers, CQ combines top locations with convenient accommodations, amenities and services to make your stay productive, enjoyable, and hassle-free. Learn more at clubquarters.com or follow on social media @ClubQuartersHotels.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005826/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jaclyn Riley, Dir of Marketing Communications

jriley@clubquarters.com

786-769-3576
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. -Le 11 novembre/November 2021)

Golden Independence Mining Corp. (the "Company") has announced the effective date for the previously announced spin-out of Hilo Mining Ltd. ("Hilo") and the distribution of 1,000,000 Hilo common shares ("Spin-Out Share") to shareholders of the company.

Based on the number of current issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, it is anticipated that the Company's shareholders will receive approximately 0.016 of a Spin-Out Share for each common share of the Company.

Please refer to the Company's press release for more information.

_________________________________

Golden Independence Mining Corp. (la  Societe ) a annonce la date d'entree en vigueur de la scission de Hilo Mining Ltd. actionnaires de la societe.

Sur la base du nombre d'actions ordinaires actuellement emises et en circulation de la Societe, il est prevu que les actionnaires de la Societe recevront environ 0,016 d'une action d'essaimage pour chaque action ordinaire de la Societe.

Veuillez vous referer au communique de presse des emetteurs pour plus d'informations.

Symbol(s)/Symbole(s): IGLD Ex-Distribution Date/ Date de distribution: le 10 novembre/November 2021 Record Date/Date d'enregistrement: le 11 novembre/November 2021 Payment Date/ Date de paiement: le 15 novembre/November 2021

If you have any questions or require further information please contact Listings at (416) 367-7340 or E-mail: Listings@thecse.com

Pour toute question, pour obtenir de l'information supplementaire veuillez communiquer avec le service des inscriptions au 416 367-7340 ou par courriel a l'adresse: Listings@thecse.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 11, 2021) - CopAur Minerals Inc. (TSXV: CPAU) ("CopAur" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from its 2021 soil program designed to confirm surface mineralization within the historic T-Bill gold zone, as well as provide reconnaissance sampling of surrounding prospective areas on its 100% owned Williams Copper-Gold Project. As a result of the reconnaissance soil and rock sampling program the Company has discovered a new north-trending zone of surface mineralization that extends ~1000 metres in strike-length and is located ~1.1 kilometres west of historic gold-in-soil anomalies (Figure 1). Within this new north-trending mineralized zone soil samples typically assayed up to 320 ppb gold (Au), with one sample assaying up to 6.88 g/t gold and that the rocks samples along the SE trending anomaly zone away from the drilling match in vein style as the TBILL.

The 2021 reconnaissance assay results remain open for future follow-up exploration and are comparable to high-priority mineralized trends previously identified at the T-Bill target, suggesting there is potential for additional peripheral targets in the area that share similar controls on mineralization. The recent completion of a property-wide VTEM airborne geophysical survey will also provide additional context for identifying new prospective exploration targets throughout the largely underexplored 5159-hectare project. Copaur's flagship Williams Copper-Gold Project is located within the prolific Golden Horseshoe area of north-central British Columbia, Canada.

Jeremy Yasenuik, CEO commented, "Our 2021 soil and rock sampling program has successfully shown that there remains substantial potential to identify new mineralized zones throughout our largely underexplored land package, in addition to testing mineralization beyond the confines of historic exploration programs. With significant potential extensions now being identified at the T-Bill zone together with a new mineralized trend to the west the Company will have a number of priority targets for future follow-up that remain largely untested by drilling."









Figure 1: T-Bill location with soil and rock sample highlights

To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7895/103153_b8157cd4b449cbbd_001full.jpg

Williams Project Exploration Updates (as of November 11th, 2021):

Drilling (Complete)

3150 metres completed at the T-Bill target - assays pending

Rock and Soil Sampling (Complete)

158 rock samples collected

654 soil samples collected

Geophysics (Complete)

Ground-based Induced Polarization (IP) 2021 program completed over the GIC target

Property-wide VTEM airborne geophysical survey - (4 to 6 weeks processing and interpretation)

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Wade Barnes, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

Stock Options

The Company also announces that the board has approved the grant of 203,000 stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants at an exercise price of $1.10 per share for a term of five years from the date of the grant. The stock options were granted in accordance with the Company's Stock Option Plan.

Finder Warrant

Further to the Company's news release of November 9, 2021, the Company advises that it will issue to Roche Securities Ltd. a total of 81,544 finder's warrants, each exercisable for a period of two years to acquire one common share at an exercise price of $1.25, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About CopAur Minerals Inc.

CPAU is an exploration company focused on advancing orogenic gold and copper porphyry targets on the Williams Gold-Copper Project, located within the prolific Golden Horseshoe of northern British Columbia, Canada. CopAur Minerals is ideally situated within the emerging Toodoggone District along the eastern Cordilleran gold belt, composed of the Sheep Creek, Cariboo, and Cassiar orogenic gold districts. The Company is backed by a dynamic team of experienced resource sector professionals, including Benchmark Metals Inc. members on its Advisory Board. The Williams Project represents exceptional shareholder value with significant gold and copper potential.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Jeremy Yaseniuk"

Jeremy Yaseniuk, Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please contact:

Jeremy Yaseniuk

Telephone: +1 (604) 773-1467

Email: jeremy@copaur.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.

This news release may contain certain "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information or future events, or results or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/103153


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Prince Harry has claimed, in a piece of stunning news, that he had informed Twitter, Inc (TWTR) CEO Jack Dorsey that his platform was being used to plan a political coup just a day before the Capitol riots on January 6.



During his appearance in an interview to talk about the dangers of misinformation, the Duke of Wessex said that Dorsey failed to mail him back or follow up in any other method. He said, 'I warned him that his platform was allowing a coup to be staged. That email was sent the day before, then it happened and I have not heard from him since.'



However, Dorsey avoided any responsibility for the matter by simply tweeting a screenshot of his mail account, which shows that it is full.



On January 6, a huge hoard of supporters of former President Donald Trump attacked the Capitol building in order to stop Joe Biden from swearing-in as the president. Republican leaders, including the 45th President, were adamant in claiming that the election process was rigged despite multiple recounts proving otherwise. On the day of the event, Trump addressed his followers to 'fight like hell' to 'stop the steal' leading to a massive insurrection. As many as 700 people have been arrested till now in relation to the events.



Trump has been expelled from Twitter following the event as he has been from all other major social media platforms. Earlier this week, the press secretary of the Trump administration Kayleigh McEnany, Trump's advisor Stephen Miller along with 10 other names were subpoenaed by the investigating committee.



Apart from the Capitol riots, Harry, currently working with Aspen Commission on Information Disorder, also spoke about how his marriage with Meghan Merkel was treated in a racist and misogynistic genre by the British tabloid resulting in the couple leaving the Royal estate and relocating to California.



'Maybe people know this and maybe they don't, but the term Megxit was or is a misogynistic term, and it was created by a troll, amplified by royal correspondents, and it grew and grew and grew into mainstream media. But it began with a troll,' Harry said.



'I learned from a very early age that the incentives of publishing are not necessarily aligned with the incentives of truth, I know this story all too well. I lost my mother to this self-manufactured rabidness and obviously, I'm determined not to lose the mother of my children to the same thing,' added Harry, scathing the spice-lust of media.



The Prince took aim on all social media platforms including Facebook and Youtube for not taking any action against the accounts that are spreading the misinformation and termed it as a 'global humanitarian crisis' that need to be solved.



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MAJURO, Marshall Islands, Nov. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the variety of brokerages supplying online trading services grows, traders have become especially attentive to the benefits offered by each brand. With that in mind, trading house Beneffx.com has recently announced an upgrade to the account selection offered to global traders. As of today, five different account types are available, open to all of Beneffx.com's clients, regardless of their geographical location.

"Our customers know that we are a client-centric company, and that's why they choose to trust us with their hard-earned funds," commented Edward Kenway, spokesperson for Beneffx.com. "It was only natural for us, thus, to spot the need for diversity in the market and provide a solution for it, way before our competitors do. In fact, we hope that they follow in our footsteps and improve their services as well. That's why we're trying to set a new standard of service in the industry."

Versatility is the key to success

Apart from the five account types currently offered - namely Basic, Silver, Gold, Platinum and VIP - Beneffx.com now also offers a demo account, free of charge. This type of account is suitable especially for beginner traders because it allows them to test their capabilities in the markets without risking any funds. Another feature which should be noted is the Islamic account, also available to any trader who prefers it at no extra charge. This account is Halal certified.

"If our traders do not feel 100% comfortable with us and with what we have to offer," added Kenway, "then we have not accomplished anything. For example, we've noticed that more and more people are asking what are indices in trading, so we've also expanded our education resources about that. We'll keep making efforts to get our traders as ready as possible for the markets."

About Beneffx.com

Founded with the goal of taking online trading to a new level, Beneffx.com today is an indices trader in this industry, setting an example for other brands to follow. All of the company's traders enjoy access to over 1,000 different assets. Support is granted by well-trained staff, with whom customers can get in touch via email, phone or the onsite live chat. Trading is possible with all types of devices, as the brand's proprietary platform is both desktop and mobile friendly.


NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - The Virginia Department of Health said on Thursday that a pharmacy in the state wrongly administered Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine shots to 112 children last week.



The CDC had okayed Pfizer vaccine for children aged between 5-11 years last week at a third of the dosage for older age groups. Although Pfizer vaccines are made available in special color-coded vials for younger children to ensure they get the right dosage, employees at a pharmacy in Aldie, Va., on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., administered the doses from the vials meant for 12 years and above.



Commenting on the incident, Dr David Goodfriend, director of the Loudoun County Health Department, told CNBC, 'The pharmacy attempted to provide a proper dose. It appears the pharmacy did, in fact, administer about a third of the adult dose, which should be the correct amount. However, a lower dose is possible if not all of the 0.1 ml was administered into muscle.'



The Virginia health department sent out letters to parents that their wards may have been given a lower dose than recommended. The pharmacy was barred from administering shots and all its Covid vaccine shots were seized by authorities.



Goodfriend said that the health department did not get any complaints of children receiving too much vaccine. The pharmacy administered the wrong doses on November 3 and 4, just after the CDC order.



Kids aged between 5 and 11 years are recommended a two-dose, 10 microgram Covid vaccine regimen, compared to the 30 microgram shots for those 12 and older.



The letter sent out to parents by the Health Department recommended two options for completing their ward's Covid vaccine series- they could either restart the vaccination at least 21 days after the incorrect dose was given or complete the second shot with the proper dosage as scheduled.



Pfizer said that it ships the vaccines meant for kids with orange caps, labels and boxes to distinguish them from the purple packaging of doses for elder people. The shots also contain new instructions and dilution warnings to prevent confusion regarding the shots.



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IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2021 / Industry-leading e-liquid and cannabinoid-infused products manufacturer Savage Enterprises ("Savage") (www.SavageEnterprises.com) is proud to announce the launch of Sugar Extrax, which is a collaboration brand between Savage's hemp-derived cannabinoid brand Delta Extrax, and hemp-derived brand Sugar (www.TrippySugar.com). The Sugar Extrax products are available for purchase at www.DeltaExtrax.com and www.TrippySugar.com and through distributors nationwide.

The Sugar Extrax collaboration comprises three 2000 mg disposable pens enhanced with a proprietary blend of Delta-8 THC, Delta-10 THC, and THC-O. These 2-gram disposable pens are available in three flavors, Lemonade Kush (Hybrid), Pineapple Express (Sativa), and Sour Tsunami (Sativa). Savage Enterprises' latest products can be purchased at a MSRP of $59.99 or in a ten-pack encased in a pop-up display. Savage Enterprises plans on releasing additional product collaborations with popular brands in the cannabis industry throughout 2021 and leading into 2022.

Christopher G. Wheeler, CEO of Savage Enterprises, "We're really excited to navigate this new terrain of collaborating with other successful brands in the cannabinoid industry. With Sugar, we're especially excited to introduce an innovative product that differs from our traditional branding and welcomes a new, intriguing design. We believe this will resonate well with our current demographic but will also bring light to a new venture that demands consumer attention."

Matt Winters, CFO of Savage Enterprises, continued, "We've strategized on these new ventures incredulously over the past couple months and it's exciting to see the progress it's made. The Sugar Extrax collaboration has already shown great potential and we've seen firsthand how excited consumers have become over the announcement. We believe this will be a very exciting launch for both brands and we're excited about our future product releases."

About Savage Enterprises Based in Irvine, California, Savage Enterprises was founded in 2014 by co-owners Christopher G. Wheeler and Matt Winters with the vision of bringing innovation to the counter-culture space. Savage has been committed to improving the community it serves by providing superior, consumer-centered, and cost-effective products that are third-party lab tested with quality assurance, consistency, and traceability. Savage's goal is to create the benchmark for quality and assurance in the industry. Under its flagship Delta Extrax brand and Chronix sub-brand (www.DeltaExtrax.com), Savage Enterprises sells hemp-derived delta-10-THC cartridges, disposables and tinctures, delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC-infused shots, cartridges, concentrates, disposables, edibles, delta-8-THC-infused hemp flower, pods, tinctures, THC-O, HHC, THC-V, and THC-P products. Under Vix (www.ThisIsVix.com), Savage sells male enhancement products. Under Kanna, Savage sells Kanna-infused products. Under Savage CBD (www.SavageCBD.com), Savage sells CBD cartridges, disposables, edibles, tinctures, topicals, vape juice, and CBD for pets. Under its Vape 100 brand, Savage produces nicotine-infused e-liquids. Under its Zen Panda brand, Savage sells various kratom and kava-based products. Savage also sells disposable nicotine vapes. The team at Savage is currently developing at least three other products in the supplement arena, as well as innovative apparatuses for marijuana consumption. Savage Enterprises also owns 46% of MKRC, 51% of RJMC Brands, LLC, 6% of AAA, LLC, and 33% of Remediez. For more information about Savage Enterprises, please visit www.SavageEnterprises.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this document are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such information includes the acquisition, financing, revenue growth, profitability, and product strategies, plans, and expectations of Savage Enterprises, Premier Greens LLC, and MKRC Holdings, LLC. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause or contribute to the actual results of these companies' merger plans, financing plans, operations, or the performance or achievements of these companies differing materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These companies undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain other factors.

CONTACT:

Savage Enterprises

Attn: Brittany Warner

Phone: 714-612-1091

Email: Bwarner@savageenterprises.com

Website: www.SavageEnterprises.com

SOURCE: Savage Enterprises

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/672456/Savage-Enterprises-Launches-Sugar-Extrax-a-Collaboration-with-Popular-Cannabinoid-Brand-Sugar
Vacatia Inc., a Mill Valley, CA-based provider of innovative consumer travel products and business solutions for timeshare resorts, raised $20m in Series B financing.

Backers included a syndicate of high-net-worth individuals, venture funds, and family offices in the real estate, hospitality and travel technology sectors. In connection with Series B Financing, Dustin M. Gillman, a private equity and real estate executive and investor, former principal at Ranch Capital, and an employee and strategic advisor at Berkadia Commercial Mortgage, will be joining Vacatias Board of Directors. In addition, the company has obtained a $60m acquisition and development fund to grow its proven strategy of modernizing independent timeshares with technology and service.

With this financing, Vacatia will continue to develop and adopt new technology solutions for both its B2C and B2B markets as well acquire existing companies where the company can increase profits and enhance customer service.

Along with the Series B Equity Round and Acquisition Fund, Vacatia finalized agreements to acquire Liberte Management Group of Treasure Island, Florida, and serve as the management firm for Gold Point Resort of Breckenridge, Colorado. With these additions, Vacatia now manages 15 resorts with 30,000 owners across seven states.

Founded in 2013 and led by CEO Caroline Shin, Vacatia provides consumer-facing products including resort condominium rentals, subscription-based travel products and timeshare resales. Its B2B solutions, delivered through Vacatia Partner Services, include rental, resale, subscription membership products and property management.

FinSMEs

10/11/2021
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A couple of days back, Samsung Exynos through an Instagram post, said Everything changes on November 19th. When everyone thought that the company will introduce its Exynos chip, the company has confirmed that this has nothing to do with Exynos, and it is not about an event. However, the company said that it has some chances coming to its social account.

Despite the rumors, we dont have any Exynos-related events planned on 11/19, but we do have some changes coming to our social accounts. Stay tuned to the @SamsungDSGlobal account for more!  Samsung Exynos (@SamsungExynos) November 10, 2021

On Samsung Semiconductors Twitter account, it has posted a thread asking people to join in on a thought experiment concerning the contributions of semiconductors.

Continuing with what we said yesterday, as an example, lets try this thought experiment: what if we lived in a world without semiconductors? Some of the immediate effects we could think of would be on a larger scale, like, say, booking flights. Without data  of passengers, routes, etc.  being stored and moved around effortlessly the way it is today, what would travel even look like? Also, how would an average person find their way through New York City  or any major metropolis  without the help of AI to navigate? If AI were stripped from our lives, how would we cope with all its conveniences we practically take for granted? Like calendar scheduling, or reading emails? Imagine the day where every email was a meeting. No data means no AI assistants. Would this mean going back to doing all the thinking by ourselves? How would we run and scale our businesses? Thered be no chatbots either. Imagine the time it would take to personally resolve every simple customer query in person. Would modern businesses survive a landscape without assisted customer service? Taking things further, itd be no exaggeration to say that the planets future would also be at stake. How would we measure and predict natural disasters, for instance? Would we even be able to acquire scientific data to support the fight against climate change? Its a domino effect, but it really goes to show how semiconductors change everything.

We will have to wait for one more week to find out all the details.

Source
UPDATE: Nobody has been charged, but thanks to the power of social media and a post that's been shared more than two thousand times, someone recognized the suspect and came forward with a name. We're told the suspect is from another state.
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.
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Galveston, TX (77553)

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Epic Games and Time Studios (which is affiliated with Time Magazine) have partnered to debut an interactive Fortnite Creative exhibit about the 1963 March on Washington, titled "March Through Time: DC 63."

This march is where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, a recording of which is at the center of the interactive Fortnite exhibit. March Through Time is debuting two days before the 58th anniversary of the march.

The interactive experience, created by Fortnite Creative users ChaseJackman, GQuanoe, XWDFr, and YU7A, features a recreation of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C, as well as an interactive museum that includes more video content on the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

Reactions to the Fortnite exhibit from developers and critics have been mixed. Players entering the exhibit are able to use the various skins and emotes purchased for Fortnites other game modes, so that means images of Halos Master Chief, the Xenomorph from Alien, Rick and Mortys Rick Sanchez, and other licensed characters doing goofy dances while the "I Have A Dream" speech plays have already made their way across social media.

Its tacky, but some developers have admitted if even a few young players use this as a jumping-off point to learn more about Dr. Kings work, the exhibit is achieving its goals.

Others have pointed out that this is still a serious moment in American history, and with Dr. Kings efforts to battle racism and economic inequality still being relevant today, the cartoon characters bouncing around the video may come off as disrespectful.

Its also unclear how much Dr. Kings family was involved in the decision to create this experience. Epic Games says that the Estate of Marthin Luther King Jr. was involved in the process, however Kings daughter Bernice King, who runs The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, says she and the Center were not involved in the creation of March Through Time.

It is notable to see Epic Games take an interest in using its platform and presence to commemorate important events like the 1963 March on Washington. And while its put in the work of touching base with stakeholders like Dr. Kings Estate, its unclear if this effort will be a meaningful moment to connect players with Civil Rights historyor if itll just be compartmentalized as another kind of brand meant to buoy the dream of the Fortnite "metaverse."
The Chinese government has restricted gaming hours for players under the age of 18 to one hour per day from Friday to Sunday, and only between the hours of 8 PM and 9 PM. It has also ordered game companies to ban children from accessing games during the rest of the week, outside of holidays.

According to Reuters, the National Press and Publication Administration told Chinese State Media outlet Xinhua that "protecting the physical and mental health of minors is related to the people's vital interests, and relates to the cultivation of the younger generation in the era of national rejuvenation."

This announcement follows weeks of build-up by Chinese regulators to reign in youth access to online games, and builds on years of regulation in that space. Just recently, for example, Tencent announced it was implementing facial recognition technology to prevent minors from circumventing previous limits (they'd been using fake credentials to create adult accounts).

Even before this latest government restriction, China already had limits on how much and often children could play games. Until now, minors were able to access video games any day of the week for a maximum of 1.5 hours.

Elsewhere, Chinese State Media outlet Economic Information Daily decried video games as "spiritual opium" and calling for more regulation of the video game business.

These regulatory moves have already had ripple effects on the broader world of game development. Analysts recently blamed Krafton's poor South Korean stock market debut on these new regulations due to the company's close relationship with Chinese conglomerate Tencent Holdings. Tencent publishes multiple versions of PUBG: Battlegrounds, including a special version made for China.

This move seems to mark the culmination of a shift in the Chinese Government's strategy for implementing video game regulations. In prior years, regulations were implemented allegedly to present the spread of Myopia (nearsightedness).

The last few weeks however have marked a specific change toward labeling video games and online gaming as addicting. This shift may already be impacting the business plans for large conglomerates like Tencent and Netease, who are already extensively investing in studios outside of China.

China is not the only country concerned with how much time minors are spending playing video gamesbut it is the only one doubling down on state-led restrictions. Last week South Korea announced an end to its limits on video game play for minors, choosing instead to reinforce an opt-in limitation program that can be managed by parents or legal guardians.
NetEase is reportedly in the final stages of hiring Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi away from Sega, according to a report in Bloomberg News.

The high-profile hire would be both a boon for NetEase, which is looking to build more and more financial presence outside of China, and an acknowledgement of how much Nagoshi and the Yakuza franchise have boosted Sega's profile in the last few years.

In January, Nagoshi stepped down from the role of chief creative officer at Sega Sammy, moving into the role of creative director of the Yakuza series. He's been one of the series' key players since it debuted in 2005.

In the last few years, the Yakuza series has enjoyed an explosive growth in popularity outside of Japan, with series spinoff Judgment recently crossing over 1 million units sold. Though its branding might imply that the series is an open-world crime game similar to Grand Theft Auto, it's won legions of fans for its memorable characters, eccentric minigames, and plots that go beyond the world of Japanese gangsters.

Bloomberg's report ties Nagoshi's hiring by NetEase as part of a move by Chinese video game conglomerates to expand their financial influence outside of their home country, which lately has been issuing more and more regulations on the video game industry.

Reporters Takashi Mochizuki and Zheping Huang also write that Japanese studios and developers are more receptive to Chinese investment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on funding. Sega Sammy, Nagoshi's current workplace, recently restructured itself with salary cuts and voluntary employee retirements to adapt to the financial impact of the pandemic.
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RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Martin Communications is launching a new website for its REALTOR client, Jason M. Williamson. After completing a series of branding and marketing analyses, the Raleigh-based digital marketing agency presented the real estate firm with a highly optimized, robust website to better serve its clients in three distinct markets. The new website provides its visitors with an easily navigable experience for their next real estate endeavor, including Multiple Listing Services feeds for buying, selling, or renting where applicable. Williamson is licensed in both North Carolina and Florida, specializing in the housing markets in Raleigh, NC; Charlotte, NC; and Tampa, FL.

"The Martin Communications team provided me with more than just a website," said Jason M. Williamson, REALTOR and owner of JMWRS, Inc. "They helped me to organize my goals, strengthen my brand, and craft my message. I now have a solid direction on how to move forward with growing my company and distributing my message."

Martin Communications also created Jason M. Williamson's new brand logo and will manage his social media accounts at the beginning of 2022.

"We are very excited to add Jason M. Williamson to our list of clients," said Jenny Burke, president of Martin Communications. "His three-pillar vision of growing his client base, growing his team, and educating the public on their financial potential will be at the center of our marketing strategy for him in the future. We are proud of the website we developed for him and look forward to our continued partnership."

###

About Martin Communications

Martin Communications, located in Raleigh, NC, is an award-winning integrated marketing communications firm providing expert strategy, branding and advertising, social media, public relations and website design and development. Our full-service capabilities also include graphic design, copywriting, idea generation, and more. For over a decade, our unique culture and diverse, deep pool of talent has driven us to successfully deliver measurable results for businesses of all sizes in a broad array of industries. With roots in radio, television and newspaper, we know a thing or two about the importance of powerful messaging. For more information, visit us at thinkmartinfirst.com .

About Jason M. Williamson, REALTOR

Choosing to work with Jason Williamson means you value experience, understanding, and professionalism. With more than 21 years in the real estate industry, Jason possesses a vast knowledge of general brokerage, listing, purchasing, and new home construction processes. More importantly, he cares about the goals and welfare of each of his clients, a contributing factor to his high referral rates. Jason has excelled in many roles during his career, including practical listing agent, on-site agent, team leader, and owner of his own firm. A Marine, Gulf War Veteran, and family man, Jason Williamson will bring a pragmatic and honest approach to your next real estate venture, educating and assisting you along the way whether you are a first-time homeowner, move-up buyer/seller, or seasoned investor. Jason is dually licensed in Florida and North Carolina and is highly proficient in both markets.

For more information, visit www.jmwcloses.com

Media Contact

Jenny Burke

President, Martin Communications

919-621-1619

jenny@thinkmartinfirst.com

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Luxembourg, November 11, 2021 - ArcelorMittal (referred to as ArcelorMittal or the Company) (MT (New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Luxembourg), MTS (Madrid)), the worlds leading integrated steel and mining company, today announced results1,2 for the three-months and nine-months period ended September 30, 2021.



Highlights:

Health and safety performance: Protecting the health and wellbeing of employees remains the Companys overarching priority; LTIF rate 3 of 0.76x in 3Q 2021 as compared to 0.89x in 2Q 2021; 0.80x in 9M 2021

of 0.76x in 3Q 2021 as compared to 0.89x in 2Q 2021; 0.80x in 9M 2021 Improved operating results in 3Q 2021, with a positive evolution of steel spreads more than offsetting 8.4% lower steel shipments 17 (vs. 2Q 2021) due to weaker demand (in particular automotive order cancellations) as well as production constraints and order shipment delays which are expected to reverse in 4Q 2021

(vs. 2Q 2021) due to weaker demand (in particular automotive order cancellations) as well as production constraints and order shipment delays which are expected to reverse in 4Q 2021 3Q 2021 operating income of $5.3bn compares to $4.4bn in 2Q 2021

EBITDA of $6.1bn in 3Q 2021, the strongest quarter since 2008 and 19.9% higher than 2Q 2021

Share of JV and associates net income in 3Q 2021 of $0.8bn including solid performance at AMNS India 4 and AMNS Calvert 5

and AMNS Calvert Net income of $4.6bn in 3Q 2021 is the highest level since 2008 (vs. $4.0bn in 2Q 2021) 6

Lower steel shipments and price impacts led to $2.9bn investment in working capital during 3Q 2021

Free cash flow (FCF) 14 of $1.6bn generated in 3Q 2021 ($2.4bn net cash provided by operating activities less capex of $0.7bn less minority dividends $0.2bn); Company expects a working capital release to support higher FCF in 4Q 2021

of $1.6bn generated in 3Q 2021 ($2.4bn net cash provided by operating activities less capex of $0.7bn less minority dividends $0.2bn); Company expects a working capital release to support higher FCF in 4Q 2021 Gross debt declined by $1bn to $8.2bn (vs. $9.2bn as end of 2Q 2021 and $12.3bn as end of 2020); net debt declined to $3.9bn, the lowest level since the merger (vs. $5.0bn as end of 2Q 2021 and $6.4bn as end of 2020)



Strategic update:

Consistently returning capital: Based on strong 3Q 2021 cash flow, share buyback increased by a further $1.0bn, bringing the capital returns announced since September 2020 to $6bn

Continued leadership on decarbonization: Post 2Q 2021 results, ArcelorMittal and the Government of Canada announced a plan to invest CAD$1.8bn in order to reduce CO2 emissions at Dofasco by 2.9Mt; finalizing Government of Canada support and in discussions with Government of Ontario ArcelorMittal Mines Canada (AMMC) to invest CAD$205m in its Port-Cartier pellet plant, enabling this facility to convert its entire 10Mtpa annual pellet production to DRI pellets by the end of 2025 The Company signed a letter of intent with the governments of Belgium and Flanders, supporting 1.1bn investment in decarbonization technologies at its flagship Gent plant ArcelorMittal joined Breakthrough Energys Catalyst program as an anchor partner The Company contributed to the development of the Mission Possible Partnerships Net Zero Steel Strategy, published in October 2021 with Energy Transitions Commission and the Rocky Mountain Institute

Strategic growth: ArcelorMittal has signed on September 10, 2021, with the Government of the Republic of Liberia an amendment to its Mineral Development Agreement which, upon ratification, will lead to the acceleration of construction of the 15Mtpa concentrator plant project ("phase 2 expansion"); with further expansion opportunities to 30Mtpa AMNS India completed construction of a 6Mtpa pellet plant in Odisha taking its pellet capacity up to 20Mtpa and commenced operations at the Ghoraburhani-Sagasahi iron ore mine in Odisha with 7.2Mtpa capacity During the quarter, the Company approved strategic investments to strengthen its Long products businesses in Brazil (Monlevade expansion, previously on hold) and further vertically integrate its Mexico operations through investments at Las Truchas (Mexico) and Serra Azul (Brazil) iron ore mines



Financial highlights (on the basis of IFRS1,2):

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Sales 20,229 19,343 13,266 55,765 39,086 Operating income 5,345 4,432 718 12,418 112 Net income / (loss) attributable to equity holders of the parent 4,621 4,005 (261) 10,911 (1,940) Basic earnings / (loss) per common share (US$) 4.17 3.47 (0.21) 9.52 (1.73) Operating income/ (loss) / tonne (US$/t) 366 276 41 263 2 EBITDA 6,058 5,052 901 14,352 2,575 EBITDA/ tonne (US$/t) 414 314 52 304 50 Crude steel production (Mt) 17.2 17.8 17.2 52.6 52.7 Steel shipments (Mt) 14.6 16.1 17.5 47.2 51.8 Total group iron ore production (Mt) 13.0 11.2 14.8 37.5 42.7 Iron ore production (Mt) (AMMC and Liberia only) 6.8 4.9 7.2 19.0 20.7 Iron ore shipment (Mt) (AMMC and Liberia only) 6.9 4.6 7.2 18.9 20.5 Number of shares outstanding (issued shares less treasury shares) (millions) 971 1,019 1,089 971 1,089

Note: As previously announced, effective 2Q 2021, ArcelorMittal has amended its presentation of reportable segments to report the operations of AMMC and Liberia within the Mining segment. The results of each other mine are accounted for within the steel segments that it primarily supplies; as from 2Q 2021 onwards, ArcelorMittal Italia is deconsolidated and accounted for as a joint venture.

Commenting, Aditya Mittal, ArcelorMittal Chief Executive Officer, said:

Our third quarter results were supported by the continuing strong price environment, resulting in the highest net income and lowest net debt since 2008. However, this success has been outweighed by our safety results. Improving the groups safety performance is of the highest priority. We have already this year significantly strengthened our safety procedures and will be analyzing what further interventions can be introduced to ensure we eliminate all fatalities.

At the beginning of the quarter, we announced an ambitious 2030 CO2 reduction target, backed by plans to invest in various decarbonization initiatives. It is our stated aim to lead the steel industrys important role in ensuring the global economy achieves net zero. That is why we joined Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, are collaborating with the Science Based Targets initiative on a new methodology for the steel sector and are supporting the Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiatives campaign for green public procurement, which was launched at COP26 this week.

Despite the volatility we continue to see as a result of the ongoing presence and repercussions of COVID-19, this has been a very strong year for ArcelorMittal. We have re-positioned our balance sheet, re-set ourselves for the transition to a low-carbon economy, we are growing strategically through high-quality, high-return projects and we are returning capital to shareholders. We are aware of the challenges but excited by the opportunities that will exist for steel in the coming years and beyond.

The outlook remains positive: underlying demand is expected to continue to improve; and, although marginally off the recent record highs, steel prices remain at elevated levels, something which will be reflected in the annual contracts for 2022.

Sustainable development and safety performance

Health and safety - Own personnel and contractors lost time injury frequency rate

Protecting the health and wellbeing of employees remains the Companys overarching priority with ongoing strict adherence to World Health Organization guidelines (in respect of COVID-19), and specific government guidelines have been followed and implemented.

Health and safety performance based on own personnel and contractors lost time injury frequency (LTIF) rate was 0.76x in the third quarter of 2021 ("3Q 2021") as compared to 0.89x for the second quarter of 2021 ("2Q 2021"). Prior period figures have not been recast for the ArcelorMittal USA disposal which took place in December 2020 and exclude ArcelorMittal Italia (which is now accounted for under the equity method) for all periods.

Health and safety performance in the first nine months of 2021 (9M 2021) was 0.80x as compared to 0.60x in the first nine months of 2020 (9M 2020).

The Companys efforts to improve its health and safety record aim to strengthen the safety of its workforce with an absolute focus on eliminating fatalities. A change to the Companys executive remuneration policy has been made to reflect this focus.

Own personnel and contractors - Frequency rate

Lost time injury frequency rate 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 NAFTA 0.48 0.17 0.58 0.45 0.60 Brazil 0.10 0.26 0.35 0.17 0.32 Europe 1.38 1.41 1.02 1.23 0.97 ACIS 0.80 1.03 0.53 0.94 0.64 Mining  0.71 0.36 0.44 0.25 Total 0.76 0.89 0.56 0.80 0.60

Key sustainable development highlights during the quarter:

Further projects announced to meet the Company's 2030 CO 2 reduction target by 2030 ArcelorMittal announced with the Government of Canada its intention for a CAD$1.765 billion investment in decarbonization technologies at ArcelorMittal Dofascos plant in Hamilton. The intended investments would reduce annual CO2 emissions at ArcelorMittals Hamilton, Ontario operations by approximately 3Mt within the next seven years. The Company signed a letter of intent with the Governments of Belgium and Flanders, supporting a 1.1 billion project to build a 2.5Mt direct reduced iron (DRI) plant at its site in Gent, as well as two new electric furnaces. On November 3, 2021, ArcelorMittal and the government of Quebec announced a CAD$205 million investment by AMMC in its Port-Cartier pellet plant, enabling this facility to convert its entire 10Mt annual pellet production to DRI pellets by the end of 2025. The investment, in which the Quebec government will contribute through an electricity rebate of up to CAD$80 million, will enable the Port-Cartier plant to become one of the worlds largest producers of DRI pellets, the raw material feedstock for ironmaking in a DRI furnace. The project will deliver a direct annual CO2e reduction of approximately 200,000 tonnes at AMMCs Port-Cartier pellet plant, equivalent to over 20% of the pellet plants total annual CO2e emissions.

Further investments in the Company's XCarb TM Innovation fund 10 : ArcelorMittal has become an anchor partner in Breakthrough Energys Catalyst program, committing to an equity investment of $100 million over the next five years. Catalyst, launched earlier this year, is a new model for how companies, governments and private philanthropy can finance, produce, and ensure widespread adoption of next-generation clean technologies. The program will initially focus on four decarbonization technologies: direct air capture (DAC); green hydrogen; long-duration energy storage (LDS); and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

ArcelorMittal has become an anchor partner in Breakthrough Energys Catalyst program, committing to an equity investment of $100 million over the next five years. Catalyst, launched earlier this year, is a new model for how companies, governments and private philanthropy can finance, produce, and ensure widespread adoption of next-generation clean technologies. The program will initially focus on four decarbonization technologies: direct air capture (DAC); green hydrogen; long-duration energy storage (LDS); and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Industry recognition for excellence: On October 13, 2021, ArcelorMittal was announced as a Supplier Sustainability Award winner at Ford Motor Companys virtual event. Fords World Excellence Awards recognize companies that exceed expectations and achieve the highest levels of excellence in quality, cost, performance and delivery.

On October 13, 2021, ArcelorMittal was announced as a Supplier Sustainability Award winner at Ford Motor Companys virtual event. Fords World Excellence Awards recognize companies that exceed expectations and achieve the highest levels of excellence in quality, cost, performance and delivery. Net Zero Steel Strategy: as a member of the Energy Transitions Commission, ArcelorMittal participated in the development of the Mission Possible Partnerships Net Zero Steel Strategy, published in October 2021 with Energy Transitions Commission and the Rocky Mountain Institute. The report elaborates two net zero scenarios for steel by 2050, differentiated by the level of coordinated global action to support the transition this decade.





Analysis of results for 3Q 2021 versus 2Q 2021 and 3Q 2020

Total steel shipments in 3Q 2021 were 14.6Mt, 9.0% lower as compared with 16.1Mt in 2Q 2021 due to weaker demand (in particular automotive) as well as production constraints and order shipment delays which are expected to reverse in 4Q 2021. Adjusted for the change in scope (i.e. excluding the shipments of ArcelorMittal Italia11, deconsolidated as from April 14, 2021) steel shipments in 3Q 2021 decreased 8.4% as compared to 2Q 2021: ACIS -15.5%, NAFTA -12.0%, Europe -7.7% (scope adjusted) and Brazil -4.6%.

Adjusted for the change in scope (i.e. excluding the shipments of ArcelorMittal USA, sold to Cleveland Cliffs on December 9, 2020, and ArcelorMittal Italia11, deconsolidated as from April 14, 2021), steel shipments in 3Q 2021 increased 1.6% as compared to 3Q 2020: Brazil +16.6%; Europe +3.2% (scope adjusted); NAFTA +2.3% (scope adjusted); offset in part by ACIS -5.3%.

Sales in 3Q 2021 were $20.2 billion as compared to $19.3 billion for 2Q 2021 and $13.3 billion for 3Q 2020. As compared to 2Q 2021, the 4.6% increase in sales was primarily due to higher realized average steel selling prices (+15.7%) and higher mining revenue primarily due to higher shipment volumes (recovery in ArcelorMittal Mines Canada (AMMC7) following the resolution of labour strike action that had affected operations in 2Q 2021). Sales in 3Q 2021 were +52.5% higher as compared to 3Q 2020 primarily due to significantly higher average steel selling prices (+75.5%) as well as higher iron ore reference prices (+38.4%).

Depreciation for 3Q 2021 was $590 million as compared to $620 million for 2Q 2021, and significantly lower than $739 million in 3Q 2020 (due in part to the deconsolidation of ArcelorMittal Italia as from mid-April 2021 and sale of ArcelorMittal USA from December 2020). The FY 2021 depreciation expense is expected to be approximately $2.6 billion (based on current exchange rate).

There were no impairment items for 3Q 2021 and 2Q 2021. Net impairment gains in 3Q 2020 amounted to $556 million, consisting of the partial reversal of impairment charges recorded following the announced sale of ArcelorMittal USA ($660 million), and an impairment charge of $104 million related to the permanent closure of a blast furnace and steel plant in Krakow (Poland).

Exceptional items for 3Q 2021 of $123 million relate to expected costs for the decommissioning of the dam at the Serra Azul mine in Brazil. There were no exceptional items for 2Q 2021 or 3Q 2020.

Operating income for 3Q 2021 was $5.3 billion as compared to $4.4 billion in 2Q 2021 and $718 million in 3Q 2020 (impacted by the exceptional and impairment items as discussed above). The increased operating income for 3Q 2021 as compared to 2Q 2021 reflects a positive price-cost effect in the steel business which more than offset lower steel shipments, as well as improved Mining segment performance (driven by higher iron ore shipments offset in part by lower iron ore reference prices).

Income from associates, joint ventures and other investments for 3Q 2021 was $778 million as compared to $590 million for 2Q 2021 and $100 million in 3Q 2020. 3Q 2021 is significantly higher on account of improved results from Canadian, Calvert5, and Chinese investees12.

Net interest expense in 3Q 2021 was lower at $62 million as compared to $76 million in 2Q 2021 and $106 million in 3Q 2020, mainly due to savings following the repayment of bonds.

Foreign exchange and other net financing losses in 3Q 2021 were $339 million as compared to losses of $233 million in 2Q 2021 and $150 million in 3Q 2020. 3Q 2021 includes foreign exchange gain of $22 million (compared to $29 million loss in 2Q 2021 and $17m gain in 3Q 2020), and $68 million non-cash mark-to-market loss related to the mandatory convertible bonds call option (gain of $33 million in 2Q 2021). 3Q 2021 additionally includes i) an $82 million charge in connection with a revised valuation of the put option granted to Votorantim18; and ii) a $153 million loss (primarily consisting of interest and indexation charges, with a financial impact net of taxes and expected recoveries of less than $50 million) relating to a legal claim (currently on appeal) at ArcelorMittal Brasil from the Votorantim acquisition18. 2Q 2021 was impacted by early bond redemption premium expenses of $130 million.

ArcelorMittal recorded an income tax expense of $882 million in 3Q 2021 as compared to an income tax expense of $542 million (including deferred tax benefit of $226 million) in 2Q 2021 and $784 million (including deferred tax expense of $580 million) for 3Q 2020.

ArcelorMittal recorded net income for 3Q 2021 of $4,621 million ($4.17 basic earnings per common share), as compared to net income of $4,005 million for 2Q 2021 ($3.47 basic earnings per common share), and a net loss of $261 million for 3Q 2020 ($0.21 basic loss per common share).

Analysis of segment operations2, 15

NAFTA

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Sales 3,423 3,242 3,335 9,201 10,464 Operating income 925 675 629 1,861 177 Depreciation (70) (71) (143) (212) (435) Impairment items   660  660 Exceptional items     (462) EBITDA 995 746 112 2,073 414 Crude steel production (kt) 1,994 2,272 4,432 6,441 13,633 Steel shipments (kt) 2,280 2,590 4,435 7,381 13,768 Average steel selling price (US$/t) 1,303 1,062 701 1,064 698

NAFTA segment crude steel production decreased by 12.2% to 2.0Mt in 3Q 2021, as compared to 2.3Mt in 2Q 2021 primarily due to operational disruptions (including the impact of hurricane Ida) in Mexico. Adjusted for scope (excluding the impact of ArcelorMittal USA which was sold in December 2020), crude steel production declined -0.5% year on year.

Steel shipments in 3Q 2021 decreased by 12.0% to 2.3Mt, as compared to 2.6Mt in 2Q 2021 primarily due to lower production as explained above. Adjusted for scope, steel shipments were +2.3% higher year on year.

Sales in 3Q 2021 increased by 5.6% to $3.4 billion, as compared to $3.2 billion in 2Q 2021, primarily due to a 22.7% increase in average steel selling prices offset in part by a decrease in steel shipments (as discussed above).

Impairments for 3Q 2021 and 2Q 2021 were nil. 3Q 2020 operating income included a $660 million gain related to the partial reversal of impairments recorded in ArcelorMittal USA following the announced sale.

Operating income in 3Q 2021 was $925 million as compared to $675 million in 2Q 2021 and $629 million in 3Q 2020 which was positively impacted by impairment items noted above offset by the COVID-19 pandemic.

EBITDA in 3Q 2021 of $995 million was 33.3% higher as compared to $746 million in 2Q 2021, primarily due to a positive price-cost effect offset in part by lower shipment volumes as noted above. EBITDA in 3Q 2021 was higher as compared to $112 million in 3Q 2020 mainly due to a significant positive price-cost effect.

Brazil

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Sales 3,606 3,263 1,624 9,404 4,431 Operating income 1,164 1,028 209 2,906 481 Depreciation (59) (56) (55) (168) (177) Exceptional items (123)   (123)  EBITDA 1,346 1,084 264 3,197 658 Crude steel production (kt) 3,112 3,150 2,300 9,296 6,671 Steel shipments (kt) 2,829 2,964 2,425 8,661 6,835 Average steel selling price (US$/t) 1,196 1,038 625 1,023 608

Brazil segment crude steel production decreased 1.2% to 3.1Mt in 3Q 2021 as compared to 3.2Mt in 2Q 2021, and was significantly higher as compared to 2.3Mt in 3Q 2020 when production was adapted to match the reduced demand levels driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Steel shipments in 3Q 2021 decreased by 4.6% to 2.8Mt as compared to 3.0Mt in 2Q 2021, primarily due to lower domestic demand not fully offset by export shipments due to order shipment delays at the end of the quarter. Steel shipments were 16.6% higher in 3Q 2021 as compared to 2.4Mt in 3Q 2020 due to higher flat products (+45.4%, driven by higher exports).

Sales in 3Q 2021 increased by 10.5% to $3.6 billion as compared to $3.3 billion in 2Q 2021, following a 15.2% increase in average steel selling prices offset in part by lower steel shipments.

Operating income in 3Q 2021 of $1,164 million was higher as compared to $1,028 million in 2Q 2021 and $209 million in 3Q 2020 (impacted by COVID-19 pandemic). Operating income in 3Q 2021 was impacted by exceptional items of $123 million related to expected costs for the decommissioning of the dam at the Serra Azul mine in Brazil.

EBITDA in 3Q 2021 increased by 24.2% to $1,346 million as compared to $1,084 million in 2Q 2021, primarily due to a positive price-cost effect offset in part by lower steel shipments. EBITDA in 3Q 2021 was significantly higher as compared to $264 million in 3Q 2020 primarily due to a positive price-cost effect and higher steel shipments.

Europe

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Sales 11,228 10,672 7,013 31,255 20,467 Operating income /(loss) 1,925 1,262 (341) 3,786 (995) Depreciation (284) (316) (358) (899) (1,062) Impairment items   (104)  (196) Exceptional items     (191) EBITDA 2,209 1,578 121 4,685 454 Crude steel production (kt) 9,091 9,386 7,908 28,174 24,894 Steel shipments (kt) 7,551 8,293 8,187 24,857 24,304 Average steel selling price (US$/t) 1,098 948 651 945 641

Europe segment crude steel production was 3.1% lower at 9.1Mt in 3Q 2021 as compared to 9.4Mt in 2Q 2021. Following the formation of a public-private partnership between Invitalia and ArcelorMittal Italia renamed Acciaierie dItalia Holding (ArcelorMittals subsidiary party to the lease and purchase agreement for the ILVA business), ArcelorMittal has deconsolidated the assets and liabilities as from mid-April 2021. Adjusted for this change of scope, crude steel production decreased by 1.6% in 3Q 2021 as compared to 2Q 2021 and increased by 26.5% in 3Q 2021 as compared to 3Q 2020.

Steel shipments in 3Q 2021 decreased by 8.9% to 7.6Mt as compared to 8.3Mt in 2Q 2021 ( -7.7% on a scope adjusted basis) and lower as compared to 8.2Mt in 3Q 2020 (+3.2% on a scope adjusted basis). Steel shipments in 3Q 2021 were impacted by weaker demand, including lower automotive sales (driven by the late cancellation of orders), as well as logistic constraints partly linked to the severe floods in Europe in July 2021.

Sales in 3Q 2021 increased 5.2% to $11.2 billion, as compared to $10.7 billion in 2Q 2021, primarily due to 15.8% higher average selling prices (flat products +16.2% and long products +17.0%).

Impairment charges for 3Q 2021 and 2Q 2021 were nil. Impairment charges for 3Q 2020 were $104 million related to the closure of the blast furnace and the steel plant in Krakow (Poland).

Operating income in 3Q 2021 was $1,925 million as compared to $1,262 million in 2Q 2021 and an operating loss of $341 million in 3Q 2020 (impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and impairments discussed above).

EBITDA in 3Q 2021 of $2,209 million was higher as compared to $1,578 million in 2Q 2021, primarily due to a positive price-cost effect offset in part by lower steel shipments. EBITDA in 3Q 2021 increased significantly as compared to $121 million in 3Q 2020 primarily due to a positive price-cost effect.

ACIS

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Sales 2,419 2,768 1,452 7,315 4,184 Operating income / (loss) 808 923 68 2,266 (24) Depreciation (112) (110) (120) (332) (359) Exceptional items     (21) EBITDA 920 1,033 188 2,598 356 Crude steel production (kt) 3,014 2,975 2,544 8,672 7,498 Steel shipments (kt) 2,367 2,801 2,499 7,763 7,508 Average steel selling price (US$/t) 864 806 465 770 449

ACIS segment crude steel production in 3Q 2021 was 1.3% higher at 3.0Mt as compared to 2Q 2021. Crude steel production in 3Q 2021 was 18.5% higher as compared to 2.5Mt in 3Q 2020 primarily due to increased Ukrainian production during 3Q 2021 and COVID-19 related lockdown measures implemented in South Africa during the second and third quarter of 2020.

Steel shipments in 3Q 2021 decreased by 15.5% to 2.4Mt as compared to 2.8Mt as at 2Q 2021, mainly due to lower shipments in Kazakhstan driven by weaker market conditions in the CIS and export order shipment delays at the end of the quarter.

Sales in 3Q 2021 decreased by 12.6% to $2.4 billion as compared to $2.8 billion in 2Q 2021, primarily due to lower steel shipments (-15.5%) offset in part by higher average steel selling prices (+7.2%).

Operating income in 3Q 2021 was $808 million as compared to $923 million in 2Q 2021 and $68 million in 3Q 2020.

EBITDA of $920 million in 3Q 2021 was 10.9% lower as compared to $1,033 million in 2Q 2021, primarily due to lower steel shipments offset in part by a positive price-cost effect. EBITDA in 3Q 2021 was significantly higher as compared to $188 million in 3Q 2020, primarily due to positive price-cost effects offset in part by lower steel shipments.

Mining

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Sales 1,153 889 717 3,221 1,848 Operating income 741 508 330 2,028 745 Depreciation (56) (56) (57) (171) (183) EBITDA 797 564 387 2,199 928 Iron ore production (Mt) 6.8 4.9 7.2 19.0 20.7 Iron ore shipment (Mt) 6.9 4.6 7.2 18.9 20.5

Given the sale of ArcelorMittal USA in December 2020, the Company is no longer presenting coal production and shipments in its earnings releases.

Iron ore production (AMMC and Liberia only) increased in 3Q 2021 by 40.7% to 6.8Mt as compared to 4.9Mt in 2Q 2021 and was 4.2% lower as compared to 3Q 2020. Higher production in 3Q 2021 was primarily due to the recovery to normal operations at AMMC following the impact of a 4 week labour strike action in 2Q 2021, offset in part by lower Liberia production due to the impact of locomotive incidents and heavy seasonal monsoon rains.

Iron ore shipments increased in 3Q 2021 by 53.5% as compared to 2Q 2021, primarily driven by AMMC as discussed above, and decreased by 3.7% as compared to 3Q 2020.

Operating income in 3Q 2021 increased to $741 million as compared to $508 million in 2Q 2021 and $330 million in 3Q 2020.

EBITDA in 3Q 2021 increased by 41.3% to $797 million as compared to $564 million in 2Q 2021, reflecting the positive impact of higher iron ore shipments (+53.5%) offset in part by lower iron ore reference prices (-18.5%) and higher freight costs. EBITDA in 3Q 2021 was significantly higher as compared to $387 million in 3Q 2020, primarily due to higher iron ore reference prices (+38.4%).

Joint ventures

ArcelorMittal has investments in various joint ventures and associate entities globally. The Company considers the Calvert (50% equity interest) and AMNS India (60% equity interest) joint ventures to be of particular strategic importance, warranting more detailed disclosures to improve the understanding of their operational performance and value to the Company.

Calvert

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Production (100% basis) (Mt)* 1,239 1,234 1,102 3,734 2,981 Steel shipments (100% basis) (Mt)** 1,203 1,155 1,012 3,495 2,907 EBITDA (100% basis)*** 397 270 73 821 136

* Production: all production of the hot strip mill including processing of slabs on a hire work basis for ArcelorMittal group entities and third parties, including stainless steel slabs.

** Shipments: all shipments including shipments of finished products processed on a hire work basis for ArcelorMittal group entities and third parties, including stainless steel products.

*** EBITDA of Calvert presented here on a 100% basis as a stand-alone business and in accordance with the Company's policy, applying the weighted average method of accounting for inventory.

Calverts hot strip mill production during 3Q 2021 totaled 1.2Mt as compared to 1.2Mt in 2Q 2021. Hot strip mill reliability and productivity continue to progress with monthly production record achieved in July (455Kt).

EBITDA*** during 3Q 2021 of $397 million (100% basis) was higher as compared to $270 million in 2Q 2021, largely reflecting the improved market prices.

AMNS India4

(USDm) unless otherwise shown 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Crude steel production (100% basis) (Mt) 1,891 1,831 1,767 5,546 4,728 Steel shipments (100% basis) (Mt) 1,765 1,721 1,779 5,191 4,482 EBITDA (100% basis) 551 607 176 1,561 423

Despite the onset of further lockdowns related to a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacting domestic demand, AMNS India was able to maintain robust production levels and utilize its coastal location and divert tonnes from the domestic to the export market. As a result, crude steel production in 3Q 2021 increased to 1.9Mt as compared to 1.8Mt 2Q 2021.

AMNS India EBITDA of $551 million (100% basis) was lower as compared to $607 million in 2Q 2021 primarily due to a negative price-cost impact due to higher iron ore and energy prices.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Net cash provided by operating activities for 3Q 2021 was $2,442 million as compared to $2,312 million in 2Q 2021 and $1,770 million in 3Q 2020. Net cash provided by operating activities in 3Q 2021 includes a working capital investment of $2,896 million due to higher pricing levels and production held in inventory due in part to lower than expected shipments, as compared to a working capital investment of $1,901 million in 2Q 2021 and a working capital release of $1,072 million in 3Q 2020.

Working capital needs in 2021 will be determined by the operating conditions towards the end of the year. Inventory volumes are expected to normalize in 4Q 2021, allowing working capital rotation days to return to levels consistent with the end of 2020 (scope adjusted). This normalization should support a working capital release in 4Q 2021 and support a further reduction in net debt.

Capex of $675 million in 3Q 2021 compares to $569 million in 2Q 2021 and $520 million in 3Q 2020. The FY 2021 capex guidance is maintained at $3.2 billion16.

Net cash provided by other investing activities in 3Q 2021 of $1,184 million as compared to $687 million in 2Q 2021 and $34 million in 3Q 2020. 3Q 2021 cash inflow primarily relates to $1.3 billion cash received from the redemption of preferred shares (the equivalent of 58.3 million common shares) of Cleveland Cliffs following a final review of the notice of the redemption, partially offset by other investments including those as part of the XCarbTM Innovation fund. 2Q 2021 cash inflow primarily relates to $0.7 billion cash received from the sale of 38.2 million Cleveland Cliffs common shares.

Net cash used in financing activities in 3Q 2021 was $2,740 million as compared to $3,780 million in 2Q 2021 and $401 million in 3Q 2020. In 3Q 2021, net cash used in financing activities includes an outflow of $0.8 billion primarily related to an early repayment of a Schuldschein loan of $0.5 billion and $0.2 billion from movement in commercial paper. In 2Q 2021, net cash used in financing activities includes an outflow of $2.2 billion primarily related to various EU and US bond repurchases. Net cash used in financing activities in 3Q 2020 primarily includes bond repayments.

As of September 30, 2021, ArcelorMittal had repurchased 42,299,224 shares for a total value of $1.4 billion out of the total $2.2 billion share buyback program that was announced on July 29, 2021. In addition, $323 million was paid during 3Q 2021 relating to part of the $750 million share buyback commenced on June 18, 2021 and was completed in early July 2021. In 2Q 2021, ArcelorMittal had repurchased 35,100,157 shares.

On November 11, 2021, based on the strong 3Q 2021 cash flow, the Company added $1 billion to its share buyback program under the authorization given by the annual general meeting of shareholders held on June 8, 2021. This brings the total advance as part of its prospective 2022 capital return to shareholders (to be funded from 2021 surplus cash flow under the capital return policy announced February 2021) to $2 billion. The new program (the Program) will be effective as from the date of the publication of the press release announcing the completion of the share buyback program announced on July 29, 2021 and the specific terms and conditions of the Program. The Program is expected to be completed by February 2022, subject to market conditions.

During 3Q 2021, the Company paid total dividends of $185 million of which $28 million was withholding taxes paid on dividends to ArcelorMittal shareholders in 2Q 2021 and $157 million mainly paid to the minority shareholders of ArcelorMittal Mines Canada7 (AMMC) and ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih which compares to $301 million in 2Q 2021 ($284 million was paid to ArcelorMittal shareholders and $17 million paid to minority shareholders), and $55 million to minority shareholders of AMMC and Bekaert (Brazil) in 3Q 2020.

Outflows from lease payments and other financing activities (net) were $46 million in 3Q 2021. Outflows from lease payments and other financing activities (net) were $250 million in 2Q 2021 ($63 million for 3Q 2020) including $199 million related to cash on deconsolidation of ArcelorMittal Italia.

Gross debt decreased by $1.0 billion to $8.2 billion as of September 30, 2021, as compared to $9.2 billion as of June 30, 2021, $12.3 billion as of December 31, 2020. As of September 30, 2021, net debt decreased to $3.9 billion as compared to $5.0 billion as of June 30, 2021, primarily driven by free cash flows.

As of September 30, 2021, the Company had liquidity of $9.9 billion, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of $4.4 billion ($4.2 billion as of June 30, 2021 and $6.0 billion as of December 31, 2020) and $5.5 billion of available credit lines8.

As of September 30, 2021, the average debt maturity was 6.0 years.

Key recent developments

On November 11, 2021, based on the strong 3Q 2021 cash flow, ArcelorMittal added $1 billion to its share buyback program under the authorization given by the annual general meeting of shareholders held on June 8, 2021. This brings the total advance as part of its prospective 2022 capital return to shareholders (to be funded from 2021 surplus cash flow under the capital return policy announced February 2021) to $2 billion. The new program (the Program) will be effective as from the date of the publication of the press release announcing the completion of the share buyback program announced on July 29, 2021 and the specific terms and conditions of the Program. The Program is expected to be completed by February 2022, subject to market conditions.





On November 3, 2021, ArcelorMittal and the government of Quebec announced a CAD$205 million investment by AMMC in its Port-Cartier pellet plant, enabling this facility to convert its entire 10Mt annual pellet production 1 to direct reduced iron (DRI) pellets by the end of 2025. The investment, in which the Quebec government will contribute through an electricity rebate of up to CAD$80 million, will enable the Port-Cartier plant to become one of the worlds largest producers of DRI pellets, the raw material feedstock for ironmaking in a DRI furnace. The project includes the implementation of a flotation system that will enable a significant reduction of silica in the iron ore pellets, facilitating the production of a very high-quality pellet. The project will deliver a direct annual CO2e reduction of approximately 200,000 tonnes at AMMCs Port-Cartier pellet plant, equivalent to over 20% of the pellet plants total annual CO2e emissions. This reduction in CO2e emissions will be achieved through a reduction in the energy required during the pelletizing process. [1] AMMCs pellet plant currently produces 10Mt of pellets annually, of which 7Mt are blast furnace pellets and 3Mt are direct reduced iron pellets.





to direct reduced iron (DRI) pellets by the end of 2025. The investment, in which the Quebec government will contribute through an electricity rebate of up to CAD$80 million, will enable the Port-Cartier plant to become one of the worlds largest producers of DRI pellets, the raw material feedstock for ironmaking in a DRI furnace. The project includes the implementation of a flotation system that will enable a significant reduction of silica in the iron ore pellets, facilitating the production of a very high-quality pellet. The project will deliver a direct annual CO2e reduction of approximately 200,000 tonnes at AMMCs Port-Cartier pellet plant, equivalent to over 20% of the pellet plants total annual CO2e emissions. This reduction in CO2e emissions will be achieved through a reduction in the energy required during the pelletizing process. AMMCs pellet plant currently produces 10Mt of pellets annually, of which 7Mt are blast furnace pellets and 3Mt are direct reduced iron pellets. On September 28, 2021, ArcelorMittal announced that it had signed a letter of intent with the Governments of Belgium and Flanders, supporting a 1.1 billion project to build a 2.5Mt direct reduced iron (DRI) plant at its site in Gent, as well as two new electric furnaces. Project implementation would result in a reduction of around 3Mt of CO2 emissions each year. The support of both the national and the Flanders governments in this project is crucial given the significant cost associated with the transition to carbon-neutral steelmaking.





On September 23, 2021, Fitch Ratings agency upgraded ArcelorMittal S.A.'s (AM) Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (LT IDR) and senior unsecured rating to 'BBB-' from 'BB+'. The Outlook on the LT IDR was Stable.





On September 22, 2021, in line with the authorization granted by the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 8, 2021, the Board of ArcelorMittal decided to cancel 50 million treasury shares to keep the number of treasury shares within appropriate levels. This cancellation takes into account the shares already purchased under the US$2.2 billion share buyback announced on July 29, 2021. As a result of this cancellation, ArcelorMittal has 982,809,772 shares issued (compared to 1,032,809,772 before the cancellation). Details on share buyback programs can be found at: https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/investors/equity-investors/share-buyback-program. This follows the Board's earlier decision on August 4, 2021 to cancel 70 million treasury shares to keep the number of treasury shares within appropriate levels (which had resulted in ArcelorMittal having 1,032,809,772 shares in issue, compared to 1,102,809,772 before this cancellation).





On September 10, 2021, the Government of the Republic of Liberia and ArcelorMittal, signed an amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), for the expansion of the Companys mining and logistics operations in Liberia. Upon ratification, ArcelorMittal Liberia will accelerate construction of the 15Mtpa concentrator plant project ("phase 2 expansion") project and significantly ramp up production of premium iron ore, generating significant new jobs and wider economic benefits for Liberia. The concentrator phase, to be constructed in modules, will transition ArcelorMittal Liberia to a premium product category (high grade concentrate) asset while achieving a low FOB and CIF-China cost position (with the economies of scale projected to more than offset the cost of concentration). The expansion project - which encompasses processing, rail and port facilities - will be one of the largest mining projects in West Africa. The capital required to finalize the project is expected to be approximately $0.8 billion, as it is effectively a brownfield expansion, with the first concentrate expected in late 2023, ultimately ramping up to 15Mtpa. Under the agreement, the Company has further expansion opportunities up to 30Mtpa. Other users may be allowed to invest for additional rail capacity.





On September 9, 2021, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India announced the commencement of operations at the Ghoraburhani- Sagasahi iron ore mine in the district of Sundargarh in Odisha. The captive mine is set to produce 2Mtpa of high-quality iron ore in 2021 and gradually ramp up production to a rated capacity of 7.2 Mtpa. The iron ore will be supplied to the beneficiation plant in Dabuna from where the feed will reach the pellet plant at Paradeep and contribute significantly to meeting AMNS Indias long-term raw material requirements.





On September 7, 2021, the German Federal Government expressed its intention to provide 55 million of funding support towards the construction of ArcelorMittals Hydrogen DRI plant, (which is half of the 110 million total capital expenditure required). The plant will become Germanys first industrial scale hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) plant. The next step is for the European Commission to approve the Federal Government's intention to provide funding before the installation of the new plant can begin. Production is scheduled to start in 2025 with the intention to produce 100,000 tonnes of DRI for steel production using hydrogen as early as 2025.





On September 2, 2021, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AMNS India) announced the commissioning of a second 6Mtpa iron ore pelletizing plant at the port city of Paradeep in Odisha. The plant doubles production capacity at AMNS Indias Paradeep complex to 12Mtpa, making it the largest single-location pelletization complex in India and taking AMNS Indias pelletization capacity to 20Mtpa.





On August 9, 2021, Moody's rating agency upgraded ArcelorMittal's rating to Baa3 from Ba1.





On July 31, 2021, ArcelorMittal announced that ArcelorMittal Tubular Products Jubail (AMTPJ) - its Saudi Arabian joint venture with the Public Investment Fund (PIF) - had completed the acquisition of Jubail Energy Services Company (JESCO) from TAQA Industrialization and Energy Services Company. Jesco has a nameplate capacity of 400ktpa of seamless tubes which will increase AMTPJ's capacity to 1Mtpa following the acquisition. ArcelorMittals shareholding in AMTPJ, which will operate under the joint management control of ArcelorMittal and PIF, will reduce to approximately one-third (from 41%) with PIFs shareholding correspondingly increasing to approximately two-thirds.





On July 30, 2021, ArcelorMittal announced alongside the Government of Canada, its intention to invest CAD$1.765 billion in decarbonization technologies at ArcelorMittal Dofascos plant in Hamilton. The intended investments will reduce annual CO2 emissions at ArcelorMittals Hamilton, Ontario operations by approximately 3Mt, within the next seven years. This means the Hamilton plant will transition away from the blast furnace-basic oxygen furnace steelmaking production route to the Direct Reduced Iron (DRI)  Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) production route, which carries a significantly lower carbon footprint. ArcelorMittal will introduce new manufacturing processes that contribute to a considerable reduction of CO2 emissions and deliver other positive environmental impacts including the elimination of emissions and flaring from coke making and ironmaking operations. On the same day, the Government of Canada announced it will invest CAD$400 million in the project and the Company is in discussions with the Government of Ontario regarding its support.



Outlook

Based on year-to-date growth and the outlook for the remainder of the year, ArcelorMittal expects world ex-China apparent steel consumption (ASC) to grow within the +12% to +13% range presented at the half year results in July 2021.

Due to weakening real demand in China, primarily due to real estate, our China ASC estimate is weaker than previously forecast. ArcelorMittal now expects a slight contraction in Chinese apparent steel demand in 2021. However, the impact on ex-China steel markets is expected to be limited given that strict production constraints are expected to lead to lower Chinese net exports in the second half of 2021 overall as compared to the first half of 2021.

ArcelorMittal Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position1

In millions of U.S. dollars Sept 30,

2021 Jun 30,

2021 Dec 31,

2020 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents and restricted funds 4,381 4,184 5,963 Trade accounts receivable and other 5,572 5,586 3,072 Inventories 18,806 16,286 12,328 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 4,421 3,344 2,281 Asset held for sale9   4,329 Total Current Assets 33,180 29,400 27,973 Goodwill and intangible assets 4,309 4,557 4,312 Property, plant and equipment 29,599 30,229 30,622 Investments in associates and joint ventures 10,134 9,090 6,817 Deferred tax assets 7,787 7,824 7,866 Other assets13 3,082 4,324 4,462 Total Assets 88,091 85,424 82,052 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY Short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt 1,796 2,639 2,507 Trade accounts payable and other 14,108 14,076 11,525 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 7,527 6,201 5,596 Liabilities held for sale9   3,039 Total Current Liabilities 23,431 22,916 22,667 Long-term debt, net of current portion 6,453 6,589 9,815 Deferred tax liabilities 1,953 1,958 1,832 Other long-term liabilities 6,933 7,636 7,501 Total Liabilities 38,770 39,099 41,815 Equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent 47,116 44,165 38,280 Non-controlling interests 2,205 2,160 1,957 Total Equity 49,321 46,325 40,237 Total Liabilities and Shareholders Equity 88,091 85,424 82,052

ArcelorMittal Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations1

Three months ended Nine months ended In millions of U.S. dollars unless otherwise shown Sept 30,

2021 Jun 30,

2021 Sept 30,

2020 Sept 30,

2021 Sept 30,

2020 Sales 20,229 19,343 13,266 55,765 39,086 Depreciation (B) (590) (620) (739) (1,811) (2,249) Impairment items (B)   556  464 Exceptional items (B) (123)   (123) (678) Operating income (A) 5,345 4,432 718 12,418 112 Operating margin % 26.4 % 22.9 % 5.4 % 22.3 % 0.3 % Income from associates, joint ventures and other investments 778 590 100 1,821 227 Net interest expense (62) (76) (106) (229) (333) Foreign exchange and other net financing loss (339) (233) (150) (766) (565) Income / (loss) before taxes and non-controlling interests 5,722 4,713 562 13,244 (559) Current tax expense (938) (768) (204) (2,275) (466) Deferred tax benefit / (expense) 56 226 (580) 447 (842) Income tax expense (882) (542) (784) (1,828) (1,308) Income / (loss) including non-controlling interests 4,840 4,171 (222) 11,416 (1,867) Non-controlling interests income (219) (166) (39) (505) (73) Net income / (loss) attributable to equity holders of the parent 4,621 4,005 (261) 10,911 (1,940) Basic earnings / (loss) per common share ($) 4.17 3.47 (0.21) 9.52 (1.73) Diluted earnings / (loss) per common share ($) 4.16 3.46 (0.21) 9.49 (1.73) Weighted average common shares outstanding (in millions) 1,109 1,154 1,228 1,147 1,120 Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in millions) 1,112 1,157 1,228 1,150 1,120 OTHER INFORMATION EBITDA (C = A-B) 6,058 5,052 901 14,352 2,575 EBITDA Margin % 29.9 % 26.1 % 6.8 % 25.7 % 6.6 % Total group iron ore production (Mt) 13.0 11.2 14.8 37.5 42.7 Crude steel production (Mt) 17.2 17.8 17.2 52.6 52.7 Steel shipments (Mt) 14.6 16.1 17.5 47.2 51.8



ArcelorMittal Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash flows1

Three months ended Nine months ended In millions of U.S. dollars Sept 30,

2021 Jun 30,

2021 Sept 30,

2020 Sept 30,

2021 Sept 30,

2020 Operating activities: Income /(loss) attributable to equity holders of the parent 4,621 4,005 (261) 10,911 (1,940) Adjustments to reconcile net income/ (loss) to net cash provided by operations: Non-controlling interests income 219 166 39 505 73 Depreciation and impairment items 590 620 183 1,811 1,785 Exceptional items 123   123 678 Income from associates, joint ventures and other investments (778) (590) (100) (1,821) (227) Deferred tax (benefit) / expense (56) (226) 580 (447) 842 Change in working capital (2,896) (1,901) 1,072 (6,431) 571 Other operating activities (net) 619 238 257 1,100 884 Net cash provided by operating activities (A) 2,442 2,312 1,770 5,751 2,666 Investing activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangibles (B) (675) (569) (520) (1,863) (1,771) Other investing activities (net) 1,184 687 34 2,758 166 Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities 509 118 (486) 895 (1,605) Financing activities: Net payments relating to payable to banks and long-term debt (806) (2,232) (270) (3,662) (889) Dividends paid to ArcelorMittal shareholders (28) (284)  (312)  Dividends paid to minorities (C) (157) (17) (55) (239) (165) Share buyback (1,703) (997) (13) (3,350) (13) Common share offering     740 Proceeds from Mandatorily Convertible Notes     1,237 Lease payments and other financing activities (net) (46) (250) (63) (345) (181) Net cash (used in) / provided by financing activities (2,740) (3,780) (401) (7,908) 729 Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 211 (1,350) 883 (1,262) 1,790 Cash and cash equivalents transferred from / (to) assets held for sale  10 (70) 3 (70) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (9) 47 73 (68) (71) Change in cash and cash equivalents 202 (1,293) 886 (1,327) 1,649 Free cash flow (D=A+B+C)14 1,610 1,726 1,195 3,649 730

Appendix 1: Product shipments by region(1)

(000'kt) 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Flat 1,613 1,896 3,779 5,331 11,960 Long 770 794 746 2,349 2,077 NAFTA 2,280 2,590 4,435 7,381 13,768 Flat 1,523 1,599 1,047 4,635 3,398 Long 1,325 1,381 1,393 4,076 3,472 Brazil 2,829 2,964 2,425 8,661 6,835 Flat 5,333 5,751 6,025 17,697 17,697 Long 2,121 2,404 2,080 6,815 6,304 Europe 7,551 8,293 8,187 24,857 24,304 CIS 1,684 2,097 1,914 5,816 5,773 Africa 679 703 585 1,942 1,732 ACIS 2,367 2,801 2,499 7,763 7,508

Note: Others and eliminations are not presented in the table

Appendix 2a: Capital expenditures(1,2)

(USDm) 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 NAFTA 118 73 96 265 445 Brazil 102 91 49 241 150 Europe 231 235 222 809 714 ACIS 139 120 102 353 342 Mining 78 43 42 175 94 Total 675 569 520 1,863 1,771

Note: Others are not presented in the table

Appendix 2b: Capital expenditure projects

The following tables summarize the Companys principal growth and optimization projects involving significant capex.

Ongoing projects

Segment Site / unit Project Capacity / details Key date / forecast completion NAFTA Mexico New Hot strip mill Production capacity of 2.5Mt/year 2021 (a) NAFTA ArcelorMittal Dofasco (Canada) Hot strip mill modernization Replace existing three end of life coilers with two state of the art coilers and new runout tables 1H 2022 (b) NAFTA ArcelorMittal Dofasco (Canada) #5 CGL conversion to AluSi Addition of up to 160kt/year Aluminum Silicon (AluSi) coating capability to #5 Hot-Dip Galvanizing Line for the production of Usibor steels 2H 2022 (c) Brazil ArcelorMittal Vega Do Sul Expansion project Increase hot dipped / cold rolled coil capacity and construction of a new 700kt continuous annealing line (CAL) and continuous galvanising line (CGL) combiline 4Q 2023 (d) Mining Liberia mine Phase 2 premium product expansion project Increase production capacity to 15Mt/year 4Q 2023 (e) Mexico Las Truchas mine Revamping and capacity increase to 2.3MT Revamping project with 1Mtpa pellet feed capacity increase (to 2.3 Mt/year) with DRI concentrate grade capability 2H 2023 (f) Brazil Serra Azul mine 4.5Mtpa direct reduction pellet feed plant Facilities to produce 4.5Mt/year DRI quality pellet feed by exploiting compact itabirite

iron ore 2H 2023 (g) Brazil Monlevade Sinter plant, blast furnace and melt shop Increase in liquid steel capacity by 1.0Mt/year; Sinter feed capacity of 2.3Mt/year 2H 2024 (h) Brazil Juiz de Fora Melt shop expansion Increase in melt shop capacity by 0.2Mt/year On hold (i)

a) On September 28, 2017, ArcelorMittal announced a major $1.0 billion investment programme at its Mexican operations, which is focused on building ArcelorMittal Mexicos downstream capabilities, sustaining the competitiveness of its mining operations and modernizing its existing asset base. The programme is designed to enable ArcelorMittal Mexico to meet the anticipated increased demand requirements from domestic customers, realize in full ArcelorMittal Mexicos production capacity of 5.3Mt and significantly enhance the proportion of higher added-value products in its product mix. The main investment will be the construction of a new hot strip mill. Upon completion, the project will enable ArcelorMittal Mexico to produce c.2.5Mt of flat rolled steel, long steel c.1.5Mt and the remainder made up of semi-finished slabs. Coils from the new hot strip mill will be supplied to domestic, non-auto, general industry customers. The hot strip mill project commenced late 4Q 2017 and is expected to be completed at the end of 2021. In addition to the HSM, a push pull pickling line (PPPL) is to be constructed to capture additional domestic volume through hot rolled pickled and oiled products. The PPPL has a capacity of up to 0.75Mtpa, and the first pickled and oiled coils are expected to be produced by 2H 2024.

b) Investment in ArcelorMittal Dofasco (Canada) to modernize the hot strip mill. The project is to install two new state of the art coilers and runout tables to replace three end of life coilers. The strip cooling system will be upgraded and include innovative power cooling technology to improve product capability. The project is expected to be completed in 1H 2022.

c) Investment to replace #5 Hot-Dip Galvanizing Line Galvanneal coating capability with 160kt/year Aluminum Silicon (AluSi) capability for the production of ArcelorMittals patented Usibor Press Hardenable Steel for automotive structural and safety components. With the investment, ArcelorMittal Dofasco will become the only Canadian producer of AluSi coated Usibor. This investment complements additional strategic North America developments, including a new EAF and caster at Calvert in the US and a new hot strip mill in Mexico, and will allow to capitalize on increasing Auto Aluminized PHS demand in North America. The project is expected to be completed in 2022, with the first coil planned for 2H 2022.

d) In February 2021, ArcelorMittal announced the resumption of the Vega Do Sul expansion to provide an additional 700kt of cold-rolled annealed and galvanized capacity to serve the growing domestic market. The ~$0.35 billion investment programme to increase rolling capacity with construction of a new continuous annealing line and CGL combiline (and the option to add a ca. 100kt organic coating line to serve construction and appliance segments), and upon completion, will strengthen ArcelorMittals position in the fast growing automotive and industry markets through Advanced High Strength Steel products. The investments will look to facilitate a wide range of products and applications whilst further optimizing current ArcelorMittal Vega facilities to maximize site capacity and its competitiveness, considering comprehensive digital and automation technology. The project is expected to be completed in 4Q 2023.

e) ArcelorMittal Liberia has been operating a 5Mt direct shipping ore (DSO) since 2011 (Phase 1). In 2013, the Company had started construction of a Phase 2 project that envisaged the construction of 15Mtpa of concentrate sinter fines capacity and associated infrastructure; this project was then suspended due to the onset of Ebola in West Africa and the subsequent force-majeure declaration by the onsite contracting companies. ArcelorMittal has signed on September 10, 2021, with the Government of the Republic of Liberia an amendment to its Mineral Development Agreement which, upon ratification, will lead to the acceleration of construction of the 15Mtpa concentrator plant project ("phase 2 expansion"). Final detailed engineering is in progress, whilst site preparation and tenders for key construction contracts and remaining equipment are underway. Under this project, first concentrate product is expected in late 2023, ramping up to 15Mtpa thereafter. The capex required to conclude the project is expected to total approximately $0.8 billion as the project is effectively a brownfield opportunity given that more than 85% of the procurement and 60% of civil construction had already been completed. Under the agreement, the Company has further expansion opportunities up to 30Mtpa. Other users may be allowed to invest for additional rail capacity.

f) ArcelorMittal Mexico is investing ~$150 million to increase pellet feed production by 1Mtpa to 2.3Mtpa and improve concentrate grade in Las Truchas. This project will enable concentrate production to the blast furnace (BF) route (1.9Mtpa) and direct reduced iron (DRI) route (0.4Mtpa) for a total of 2.3Mtpa. Primary target is to supply ArcelorMittal Mexico steel operations with high quality feed. Production start up expected in 2H 2023.

g) Approximately $350 million investment at Serra Azul (Brazil) to construct facilities to produce 4.5Mtpa of DRI quality pellet feed to primarily supply ArcelorMittal Mexico steel operation. The project will allow to mine the compact itabirite iron ore. Project start up expected in 2H 2023.

h) The Monlevade upstream expansion project consisting of the sinter plant, blast furnace and meltshop is to recommence in 4Q 2021, following the anticipated improvement in Brazil domestic market. The project is expected to be completed in 2H 2024 with capex requirement of approximately $0.5 billion.

i) Although the Juiz de Fora rebar expansion was completed in 2015, the melt shop expansion project is currently on hold.

Appendix 3: Debt repayment schedule as of September 30, 2021

(USD billion) 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 >2025 Total Bonds  0.6 1.3 0.9 1.0 2.0 5.8 Commercial paper 0.5      0.5 Other loans 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 1.9 Total gross debt 1.0 0.9 1.5 1.1 1.2 2.5 8.2

Appendix 4: Reconciliation of gross debt to net debt as of September 30, 2021

(USD million) Sept 30, 2021 Jun 30, 2021 Dec 31, 2020 Gross debt (excluding that held as part of the liabilities held for sale) 8,249 9,228 12,322 Gross debt held as part of the liabilities held for sale   24 Gross debt 8,249 9,228 12,346 Less: Cash and cash equivalents and restricted funds (4,381) (4,184) (5,963) Less: Cash and cash equivalents and restricted funds held as part of the assets held for sale   (3) Net debt (including that held as part of assets and the liabilities held for sale) 3,868 5,044 6,380 Net debt / LTM EBITDA 0.2 0.5 1.5

Appendix 5: Adjusted net income / (loss) as of September 30, 2021

(USD million) 3Q 21 2Q 21 3Q 20 9M 21 9M 20 Net income / (loss) 4,621 4,005 (261) 10,911 (1,940) Impairment items   556  464 Exceptional items (123)   (123) (678) Derecognition of deferred tax assets on disposal of ArcelorMittal USA   (624)  (624) Adjusted net income / (loss) 4,744 4,005 (193) 11,034 (1,102)

Appendix 6: Terms and definitions

Unless indicated otherwise, or the context otherwise requires, references in this earnings release report to the following terms have the meanings set out next to them below:

Adjusted net income / (loss): refers to reported net income/(loss) less impairment items, exceptional items and derecognition of deferred tax assets on disposal of ArcelorMittal USA.

Apparent steel consumption: calculated as the sum of production plus imports minus exports.

Average steel selling prices: calculated as steel sales divided by steel shipments.

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted funds: represents cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, restricted funds and short-term investments.

Capex: represents the purchase of property, plant and equipment and intangibles.

Crude steel production: steel in the first solid state after melting, suitable for further processing or for sale.

EBITDA: operating results plus depreciation, impairment items and exceptional items.

EBITDA/tonne: calculated as EBITDA divided by total steel shipments.

Exceptional items: income / (charges) relate to transactions that are significant, infrequent or unusual and are not representative of the normal course of business of the period.

Foreign exchange and other net financing (loss): include foreign currency exchange impact, bank fees, interest on pensions, impairment of financial assets, revaluation of derivative instruments and other charges that cannot be directly linked to operating results.

Free cash flow (FCF): refers to net cash provided by operating activities less capex less dividends paid to minority shareholders

Gross debt: long-term debt and short-term debt (including that held as part of the liabilities held for sale).

Impairment items: refers to impairment charges net of reversals.

Liquidity: cash and cash equivalents and restricted funds plus available credit lines excluding back-up lines for the commercial paper program.

LTIF: lost time injury frequency rate equals lost time injuries per 1,000,000 worked hours, based on own personnel and contractors.

Mt: refers to million metric tonnes.

Net debt: long-term debt and short-term debt less cash and cash equivalents and restricted funds (including those held as part of assets and liabilities held for sale).

Net debt/LTM EBITDA: refers to Net debt divided by EBITDA (as used in the Companys financial reporting) over the last twelve months.

Net interest expense: includes interest expense less interest income

On-going projects: refer to projects for which construction has begun (excluding various projects that are under development), even if such projects have been placed on hold pending improved operating conditions.

Operating results: refers to operating income/(loss).

Operating segments: NAFTA segment includes the Flat, Long and Tubular operations of Canada, Mexico; and also includes all Mexico mines (for 2020 and 2021 onwards) and Hibbing, Minorca, Princeton mines (for each periods of 2020, as they were included in the ArcelorMittal USA assets sold to Cleveland-Cliffs group in Dec 2020). The Brazil segment includes the Flat, Long and Tubular operations of Brazil and its neighboring countries including Argentina, Costa Rica, Venezuela; and also includes Andrade and Serra Azul captive iron ore mines. The Europe segment includes the Flat, Long and Tubular operations of the European business, as well as Downstream Solutions, and also includes Bosnia and Herzegovina capital iron ore mines. The ACIS segment includes the Flat, Long and Tubular operations of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and South Africa; and also includes the captive iron ore mines in Ukraine and iron ore and coal mines in Kazakhstan). Mining segment includes iron ore operations of ArcelorMittal Mines Canada and ArcelorMittal Liberia.

Own iron ore production: includes total of all finished production of fines, concentrate, pellets and lumps and includes share of production.

Price-cost effect: a lack of correlation or a lag in the corollary relationship between raw material and steel prices, which can either have a positive (i.e., increased spread between steel prices and raw material costs) or negative effect (i.e., a squeeze or decreased spread between steel prices and raw material costs).

Iron ore reference prices: refers to iron ore prices for 62% Fe CFR China.

Shipments: information at segment and group level eliminates intra-segment shipments (which are primarily between Flat/Long plants and Tubular plants) and inter-segment shipments respectively. Shipments of Downstream Solutions are excluded.

Working capital change (working capital investment / release): Movement of change in working capital - trade accounts receivable plus inventories less trade and other accounts payable.

Footnotes

The financial information in this press release has been prepared consistently with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and as adopted by the European Union. The interim financial information included in this announcement has also been prepared in accordance with IFRS applicable to interim periods, however this announcement does not contain sufficient information to constitute an interim financial report as defined in International Accounting Standard 34, Interim Financial Reporting. The numbers in this press release have not been audited. The financial information and certain other information presented in a number of tables in this press release have been rounded to the nearest whole number or the nearest decimal. Therefore, the sum of the numbers in a column may not conform exactly to the total figure given for that column. In addition, certain percentages presented in the tables in this press release reflect calculations based upon the underlying information prior to rounding and, accordingly, may not conform exactly to the percentages that would be derived if the relevant calculations were based upon the rounded numbers. This press release also includes certain non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measures. ArcelorMittal presents EBITDA, and EBITDA/tonne, which are non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measures and calculated as shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations, as additional measures to enhance the understanding of operating performance. ArcelorMittal believes such indicators are relevant to describe trends relating to cash generating activity and provides management and investors with additional information for comparison of the Companys operating results to the operating results of other companies. Segment information presented in this press release is prior to inter-segment eliminations and certain adjustments made to operating result of the segments to reflect corporate costs, income from non-steel operations (e.g., logistics and shipping services) and the elimination of stock margins between the segments. ArcelorMittal also presents net debt and change in working capital as additional measures to enhance the understanding of its financial position, changes to its capital structure and its credit assessment. ArcelorMittal also presents adjusted net income / (loss) as it believes it is a useful measure for the underlying business performance excluding impairment items, exceptional items and derecognition of deferred tax assets on disposal of ArcelorMittal USA. The Companys guidance as to its working capital release (or the change in working capital included in net cash provided by operating activities) for the fourth quarter of 2021 is based on the same accounting policies as those applied in the Companys financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. ArcelorMittal also presents free cash flow (FCF), which is a non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measure calculated as shown in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, because it believes it is a useful supplemental measure for evaluating the strength of its cash generating capacity. The Company has revised the definition of free cash flow to include dividends paid to minority shareholders in order to reflect the measure it will use to determine dividends that will be paid under its new dividend policy. The Company also presents the ratio of net debt to EBITDA for the last twelve-month period, which investors may find useful in understanding the Company's ability to service its debt. Such non-GAAP/alternative performance measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures applied by other companies. Non-GAAP financial/alternative performance measures should be read in conjunction with, and not as an alternative for, ArcelorMittal's financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS. New segmentation reporting: Following the Companys steps to streamline and optimize the business, primary responsibility for captive mining operations have been moved to the Steel segments (which are primary consumers of the mines' output). The Mining segment will retain primary responsibility for the operation of ArcelorMittal Mines Canada (AMMC) and Liberia and will continue to provide technical support to all mining operations within the Company. As a result, effective 2Q 2021, ArcelorMittal has retrospectively amended its presentation of reportable segments to reflect this organizational change, as required by IFRS. Only the operations of AMMC and Liberia are reported within the Mining segment. The results of each other mine are accounted for within the steel segment that it primarily supplies. Summary of changes: NAFTA: all Mexico mines (for 2020 and 2021 onwards) and Hibbing, Minorca, Princeton mines (each quarter of 2020, as they were included in the ArcelorMittal USA assets sold to Cliffs in Dec 2020); Brazil: Andrade and Serra Azul mines; Europe: ArcelorMittal Prijedor mine (Bosnia and Herzegovina); ACIS: Kazakhstan and Ukraine mines; and Mining: only AMMC and Liberia iron ore mines. LTIF figures presented for 3Q 2021 of 0.76x excludes ArcelorMittal Italia (deconsolidated as from 2Q 2021 onwards) and ArcelorMittal USA (no longer in scope as sold to Cleveland Cliffs on December 9, 2020) and compares with 0.89x in 2Q 2021. AMNS India has plans to debottleneck operations (steel shop and rolling parts) and achieve capacity of 8.6Mt per annum, with medium-term plans to expand and grow to 14Mt per annum and then to 18Mt per annum. The Thakurani mines is now operating at full 5.5Mtpa capacity since 1Q 2021, while the second Odisha pellet plant has been commission and started in September 2021, adding 6Mtpa for a total 20Mtpa of pellet capacity. In addition, in September 2021, AMNS India commenced operations at Ghoraburhani - Sagasahi iron ore mine in Odisha. The mine is set to produce 2Mtpa of high-quality iron ore in the current year and gradually ramp up production to a rated capacity of 7.2Mtpa and contribute significantly to meeting AMNS Indias long-term raw material requirements. AMNS India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Odisha to set-up an integrated steel plant with a 12Mtpa capacity in Kendrapara district of state Odisha. Pre-feasibility study report was submitted to the state government in 3Q 2021, and we are currently engaging with them for further studies and clearances. AMNS Calvert (Calvert) has plans to construct a new 1.5Mt EAF and caster to be completed 1H 2023. The joint venture is to invest $775 million. See Appendix 5 for reconciliation of adjusted net income /(loss). ArcelorMittal Mines Canada, otherwise known as ArcelorMittal Mines and Infrastructure Canada. On December 19, 2018, ArcelorMittal signed a $5,500,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility, with a five-year maturity plus two one-year extension options. During the fourth quarter of 2019, ArcelorMittal executed the option to extend the facility to December 19, 2024. The extension was completed for $5.4 billion of the available amount, with the remaining $0.1 billion remaining with a maturity of December 19, 2023. In December 2020, ArcelorMittal executed the second option to extend the facility, and the new maturity is now extended to December 19, 2025. As of September 30, 2021, the $5.5 billion revolving credit facility was fully available. Assets and liabilities held for sale as of December 31, 2020 included the assets and liabilities of ArcelorMittal Italia and heavy plate assets in Europe. XCarb is designed to bring together all of ArcelorMittals reduced, low and zero-carbon products and steelmaking activities, as well as wider initiatives and green innovation projects, into a single effort focused on achieving demonstrable progress towards carbon neutral steel. Alongside the new XCarb brand, we have launched three XCarb initiatives: the XCarb innovation fund, XCarb green steel certificates and XCarb recycled and renewably produced for products made via the Electric Arc Furnace route using scrap. The Company is offering green steel using a system of certificates. These will be issued by an independent auditor to certify tonnes of CO 2 savings achieved through the Companys investment in decarbonization technologies in Europe. Net-zero equivalence is determined by assigning CO 2 savings certificates equivalent to CO 2 per tonne of steel produced in 2018 as the reference. The certificates will relate to the tonnes of CO 2 saved in total, as a direct result of the decarbonization projects being implemented across a number of its European sites. The Investment Agreement stipulates a second equity injection by Invitalia, of up to 680 million, to fund the completion of the purchase of Ilvas business by Acciaierie dItalia, which is expected by May 2022 subject to certain conditions precedent. At this point, Invitalias shareholding in Acciaierie dItalia would increase to 60%, with ArcelorMittal to invest up to 70 million to retain a 40% shareholding and joint control over the company. The conditions precedent include: the amendment of the existing environmental plan to account for changes in the new industrial plan; the lifting of all criminal seizures on the Taranto plant; and the absence of restrictive measures  in the context of criminal proceedings where Ilva is a defendant  being imposed against Acciaierie dItalia Holding or its subsidiaries. In case conditions precedent are not met, then the Acciaierie dItalia Holding would not be required to complete the purchase of Ilvas assets and its capital invested would be returned. In addition to the AMNS India and Calvert joint ventures, the Company has important investments in China that provide valuable dividend streams and growth optionality. VAMA, our 50:50 joint venture with Hunan Valin, is a state-of-the-art facility focused on rolling steel for high-demanding applications in particular automotive. The business is performing well and plans to expand the current capacity by 40% to 2Mtpa over the next 2 years, financed from its own resources. The investment will allow VAMA to broaden its product portfolio and further enhance its competitiveness. This will in turn enable VAMA to meet the growing demand of high value add solutions from the Chinese automotive / new energy vehicle (NEV) market and propel it to be among the top 3 automotive steel players in China by 2025. ArcelorMittal also owns a 37% interest in China Oriental, one of the largest H-Beam producers in China which has recently upgraded its asset portfolio and benefits from a strong balance sheet position. As of September 30, 2021, other assets include these main listed investments of Erdemir (12%) at market value of $792 million. As of June 30, 2021, other assets include these main listed investments of Cleveland Cliffs at market value of $1,258 million (which have since been redeemed) and Erdemir (12%) at market value of $876 million. As of December 31, 2020, other assets included amongst others the listed investment of Cleveland Cliffs (16%) at market value of $1,988 million and Erdemir (12%) at market value of $850 million. The Company has revised the definition of free cash flow to include dividends paid to minority shareholders in order to reflect the measure it will use to determine dividends that will be paid under its new dividend policy. The comparative figures for free cash flow under the prior definition of cash flow from operations less capex were inflows in 3Q 2021 of $1,767 million, $1,743 million for 2Q 2021, $1,250 million for 3Q 2020, $3,888 million for 9M 2021 and $895 million for 9M 2020. Segment Other & eliminations EBITDA result was a loss of $209 million in 3Q 2021 as compared to an income of $47 million in 2Q 2021 and to a loss of $171 million in 3Q 2020 principally due to the increase of the stock margin eliminations driven by the increase of the intra-group stock sales between steel and mining businesses. FY 2021 figures include $0.1 billion capex related to ArcelorMittal Italia which has been deconsolidated from 2Q 2021 onwards). Total steel shipments in 3Q 2021 were 14.6Mt, 9.0% lower as compared with 16.1Mt in 2Q 2021. Adjusted for the change in scope (i.e. excluding the shipments of ArcelorMittal Italia, deconsolidated as from April 14, 2021) steel shipments in 3Q 2021 decreased 8.4% as compared to 2Q 2021. On April 1, 2018, ArcelorMittal completed the acquisition of Votorantim Siderurgia (subsequently renamed ArcelorMittal Sul Fluminense "AMSF"), Votorantim S.A.'s long steel business in Brazil pursuant to which Votorantim Siderurgia became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ArcelorMittal Brasil. The acquisition was completed through the issuance of preferred shares to Votorantim S.A. representing a 2.99% interest in ArcelorMittal Brasil. Pursuant to the shareholders' agreement, such preferred shares are subject to put and call option arrangements exercisable by Votorantim S.A. and ArcelorMittal Brasil between July 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022 and between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024, respectively. The Company determined that it has a present ownership interest in the preferred shares subject to the put option. In 3Q 2021, the Company recognized a $82 million charge in connection with the put option granted to Votorantim, and for which ArcelorMittal recognized a liability corresponding to the net present value of the redemption amount based on past and future EBITDA projections subject to certain adjustments.

Third quarter 2021 earnings analyst conference call

ArcelorMittal management will host a conference call for members of the investment community to present and comment on the three-month period ended September 30, 2021 on: Thursday November 11, 2021 at 9.30am US Eastern time; 14.30pm London time and 15.30pm CET.

The dial in numbers are: Location Toll free dial in numbers Local dial in numbers Participant UK local: 0808 238 0676 +44 (0)203 057 6900 7995055# US local: +1 866 220 1433 +1 347 903 0960 7995055# France: 0805 101 469 +33 1 7070 6079 7995055# Germany: 0800 588 9185 +49 69 2222 2624 7995055# Spain: 900 828 532 +34 914 144 464 7995055# Luxembourg: 800 23 023 +352 2786 0311 7995055#

Join the call via telephone using the participant code 7995055# or alternatively use the live audio webcast link.

https://interface.eviscomedia.com/player/1140/

Please visit the results section on our website to listen to the reply once the event has finished https://corporate.arcelormittal.com/investors/results

Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain forward-looking information and statements about ArcelorMittal and its subsidiaries. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words believe, expect, anticipate, target or similar expressions. Although ArcelorMittals management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and holders of ArcelorMittals securities are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of ArcelorMittal, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the filings with the Luxembourg Stock Market Authority for the Financial Markets (Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier) and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) made or to be made by ArcelorMittal, including ArcelorMittals latest Annual Report on Form 20-F on file with the SEC. ArcelorMittal undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and an industrial footprint in 18 countries. Guided by a philosophy to produce safe, sustainable steel, we are the leading supplier of quality steel in the major global steel markets including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with world-class research and development and outstanding distribution networks.

Through our core values of sustainability, quality and leadership, we operate responsibly with respect to the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors and the communities in which we operate. For us, steel is the fabric of life, as it is at the heart of the modern world from railways to cars and washing machines. We are actively researching and producing steel-based technologies and solutions that make many of the products and components people use in their everyday lives more energy efficient.

We are one of the worlds largest producers of iron ore. With a geographically diversified portfolio of iron ore assets, we are strategically positioned to serve our network of steel plants and the external global market. While our steel operations are important customers, our supply to the external market is increasing as we grow. In 2020, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $53.3 billion and crude steel production of 71.5 million metric tonnes, while own iron ore production reached 58.0 million metric tonnes.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MT), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS). For more information about ArcelorMittal please visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com/



Enquiries

ArcelorMittal investor relations: +44 207 543 1128; Retail: +44 207 543 1156; SRI: +44 207 543 1156 and Bonds/credit: +33 1 71 92 10 26.

ArcelorMittal corporate communications (E-mail: press@arcelormittal.com) +44 207 629 7988. Contact: Paul Weigh +44 203 214 2419

Attachment
New York, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Telemedicine Tools and Software Providers Market: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2021-2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183526/?utm_source=GNW

Moreover, a number of individuals that are required to frequent hospitals for monitoring of their health conditions, such visits cause additional financial burden. The aforementioned concerns can be mitigated by shifting to a home-based care setting. Amidst the recent initiatives in this context, remote patient monitoring (RPM) has emerged as a potent and sought-after alternative in the healthcare industry. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry evolved significantly, due to the need and urgency to treat patients with the aid of telemedicine and digital platforms. RPM technologies enable monitoring of patients virtually for a wide range of diseases from anywhere around the globe. It is worth mentioning that large volumes of health data can be accessed by medical researchers on dedicated cloud servers that have been designed to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. In addition to improved quality of care and better access to the patients, RPM offers ease of implementation, leading to substantial time and cost saving (by eliminating the need for transportation and waiting in queue to meet the physician).



Considering the various advantages offered by RPM, healthcare organizations are gradually becoming more receptive to adopting such software solutions for their regular use. As a matter of fact, the recent surge in demand for remote monitoring amidst the COVID-19 pandemic has served to create a strong case for organizations to shift to the use of remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software. In fact, a recent study stated that over 50% of the healthcare consumers would consider using RPM solutions as a part of their medical treatment, if recommended by their physician. Over the years, telemedicine start-ups have seen a significant growth. These companies are engaged in providing tailored solutions, along with remote access of medical care facilities to the patients. It is worth mentioning that around 90% of the healthcare organizations have either invested or intend to invest in remote patient monitoring systems. , Given the rising trend of remote patient monitoring software solutions in the healthcare industry and the ongoing efforts of software providers to further improve / expand their respective offerings, we believe that the remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software providers market is likely to evolve at a steady pace, till 2030.



SCOPE OF THE REPORT

The Telemedicine Tools and Software Providers Market: Focus on Remote Patient Monitoring, 2021-2030, Distribution by Area of Application (Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure, Body Temperature, Electrocardiogram, Oxygen Saturation, Respiration Rate, and Others), Therapeutic Areas (Cardiovascular Disorders, Infectious Diseases, Metabolic Disorders, Oncological Disorders, Respiratory Disorder, and Others), Product / Software Purpose (Commercial Purpose and Clinical Purpose), Type of Business Model (B2B and B2C), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and MENA) report features an extensive study of the current market landscape and the likely future potential of the remote patient monitoring software providers market, over the next decade. The study also features an in-depth analysis, highlighting the capabilities of various industry stakeholders engaged in this field.



Amongst other elements, the report features:

A detailed overview of the overall market landscape of players engaged in providing remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software, along with the information on several relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, location of headquarters. Further, it highlights a detailed assessment of the overall market landscape of more than 200 consultation tools and software based on several relevant parameters, such as type of software (software as a system and software as a service), area of application (blood glucose, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), oxygen saturation, respiration rate, temperature, and others), therapeutic areas (cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, oncological disorders, respiratory disorder, and other disorders), product / software purpose (commercial purpose and clinical study purpose), type of telemedicine operation (store-and-forward, remote monitoring, and real-time), type of remote patient monitoring service (data collection, transmission, evaluation, and notification), type of business model (B2B and B2C).

Elaborate profiles of prominent players (shortlisted based on number of software being offered by mid-sized and large players established before 2010) engaged in the development of remote patient monitoring software. Each company profile features a brief overview of the company, along with information on year of establishment, number of employees, location of headquarters, key executives, financial details / information (if available), product portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook.

An analysis of the recent partnerships inked between remote patient monitoring software providers, during the period 2015-2021 Additionally, it includes a brief description of the various types of partnerships models (such as product / software integration agreement, service alliance, service agreement, product / software development agreement, full business acquisition, product / software distribution agreement, product / software utlilization agreement, and product portfolio acquisition) that have been adopted by stakeholders engaged in this domain, during the period 2015-2021.

A detailed analysis of various investments made by players engaged in this domain based on several relevant parameters, such as year of investment, number of funding instances, amount invested and type of funding (such as, venture capital, private equity, secondary offerings, debt, initial public offering (IPO), other equity, seed, grant, and others), along with information on the most active players (in terms of number of funding instances and amount raised) and most active investors (in terms of number of funding instances).

An in-depth product competitiveness analysis of remote patient monitoring software based on supplier power (in terms of expertise of the developer) and key product-related specifications (such as status of development, HIPPA compliant, type of software, area(s) of application, number of therapeutic areas, purpose of software, number of patient monitoring related services, type of telemedicine operation, and type of business model).

An insightful analysis highlighting the likely cost saving potential associated with the use of remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software solutions, taking into consideration various parameters, such as number of patient visits (in-patient and out-patient) and increase in efficiency by adoption of remote patient monitoring software solutions.

An elaborate discussion on how the recent COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impact the remote patient monitoring software market, along with information on the key initiatives undertaken by players engaged in this domain to overcome the challenges faced due to the pandemic.

A discussion on affiliated trends, key drivers and challenges, under a SWOT framework, which are likely to impact the industrys evolution, along with a Harvey ball analysis, highlighting the relative effect of each SWOT parameter on the overall remote patient monitoring tools and software providers industry.



One of the key objectives of this report was to evaluate the current opportunity and the future potential associated with the remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software providers market, over the coming decade. We have developed an informed estimate on the likely evolution of the market in the short to mid-term and long term, for the period 2021-2030. Additionally, the report features the likely distribution of the current and forecasted opportunity across [A] area of application (blood glucose, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen saturation, respiration rate, temperature, and others) [B] target therapeutic area (cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, oncological disorders, respiratory disorder, and others), [C] software purpose (commercial purpose and clinical study purpose), [D] type of business model (B2B and B2C), and [E] key geographical regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and MENA (Middle East and North Africa)). In order to account for future uncertainties and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three market forecast scenarios, namely conservative, base and optimistic scenarios, representing different tracks of the industrys growth.



All actual figures have been sourced and analyzed from publicly available information forums and primary research discussions. Financial figures mentioned in this report are in USD, unless otherwise specified.



KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Who are the leading players engaged in the development of remote patient monitoring tools and software?

Which type of software is most commonly offered by remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software providers?

Which kind of partnership models are commonly adopted by stakeholders engaged in this industry?

What is the relative competitiveness of different remote patient monitoring software solutions?

What is the likely cost saving potential associated with the use of remote patient monitoring software?

What are the key challenges currently faced by stakeholders in this industry?

What are the anticipated future trends related to remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software providers?

How is the current and future market opportunity likely to be distributed across key market segments?

What is the likely impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the overall remote patient monitoring market?



RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The data presented in this report has been gathered via secondary and primary research. For all our projects, we have conducted interviews with various experts in this domain (academia, industry, medical practice and other associations) in order to solicit their opinions on emerging trends in the market. This is primarily useful for us to draw out our own opinion on how the market will evolve across different regions and technology segments. Where possible, the available data has been checked for accuracy from multiple sources of information.



The secondary sources of information include

Annual reports

Investor presentations

SEC filings

Industry databases

News releases from company websites

Government policy documents

Industry analysts views



While the focus has been on forecasting the market over the coming 10 years, the report also provides our independent view on various technological and non-commercial trends emerging in the industry. This opinion is solely based on our knowledge, research and understanding of the relevant market gathered from various secondary and primary sources of information.

sources of information.



CHAPTER OUTLINES

Chapter 2 is an executive summary of key insights captured in our research. It offers a high-level view on the current state of remote patient monitoring market and its likely evolution in the mid to long term.



Chapter 3 provides a general introduction to remote patient monitoring tools and software, featuring details related to the current and future trends in the domain. It further includes a brief introduction to the concept of telemedicine and its types, along with information on the need for software systems in this domain, along with the various patient monitoring related services offered by players. Furthermore, it highlights prevalent regulatory guidelines, as well as advantages and risks associated with the use of such tools and software.



Chapter 4 provides a detailed review of the overall market landscape of players engaged in providing remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software, along with the information on several relevant parameters, such as year of establishment, company size, location of headquarters. Further, it highlights a detailed assessment of the overall market landscape of more than 200 consultation tools and software based on several relevant parameters, such as type of software (software as a system and software as a service), area of application (blood glucose, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), oxygen saturation, respiration rate, temperature, and others), therapeutic areas (cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, oncological disorders, respiratory disorder, and other disorders), product / software purpose (commercial purpose and clinical study purpose), type of telemedicine operation (store-and-forward, remote monitoring, and real-time), type of remote patient monitoring service (data collection, transmission, evaluation, and notification), type of business model (B2B and B2C).



Chapter 5 features elaborate profiles of prominent players (shortlisted based on number of software being offered by mid-sized and large players established before 2010) engaged in the development of remote patient monitoring software. Each company profile features a brief overview of the company, along with information on its year of establishment, number of employees, location of headquarters, key executives, financial details / information (if available), product portfolio, recent developments and an informed future outlook.



Chapter 6 features an analysis of the recent partnerships inked between remote patient monitoring software providers, during the period 2015-2021 Additionally, it includes a brief description of the various types of partnerships models (such as product / software integration agreement, service alliance, service agreement, product / software development agreement, full business acquisition, product / software distribution agreement, product / software utlilization agreement, and product portfolio acquisition) that have been adopted by stakeholders engaged in this domain, during the period 2015-2021.



Chapter 7 provides an analysis of various investments made by players engaged in this domain based on several relevant parameters, such as year of investment, number of funding instances, amount invested and type of funding (such as, venture capital, private equity, secondary offerings, debt, initial public offering (IPO), other equity, seed, grant, and others), along with information on the most active players (in terms of number of funding instances and amount raised) and most active investors (in terms of number of funding instances).



Chapter 8 features an in-depth product competitiveness analysis of remote patient monitoring software based on supplier power (in terms of expertise of the developer) and key product-related specifications (such as status of development, HIPPA compliant, type of software, area(s) of application, number of therapeutic areas, purpose of software, number of patient monitoring related services, type of telemedicine operation, and type of business model).



Chapter 9 presents insights from an insightful analysis highlighting the likely cost saving potential associated with the use of remote patient monitoring consultation tools and software solutions, taking into consideration various parameters, such as number of patient visits (in-patient and out-patient) and increase in efficiency by adoption of remote patient monitoring software solutions.



Chapter 10 features a detailed market forecast analysis, highlighting the likely evolution of the market in the short to mid-term and long term, for the period 2021-2030. Additionally, the report features the likely distribution of the current and forecasted opportunity across [A] area of application (blood glucose, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen saturation, respiration rate, temperature, and others) [B] target therapeutic area (cardiovascular disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, oncological disorders, respiratory disorder, and others), [C] software purpose (commercial purpose and clinical study purpose), [D] type of business model (B2B and B2C), and [E] key geographical regions (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and MENA (Middle East and North Africa)). In order to account for future uncertainties and to add robustness to our model, we have provided three market forecast scenarios, namely conservative, base and optimistic scenarios, representing different tracks of the industrys growth.



Chapter 11 features an insightful discussion on how the recent COVID-19 pandemic is likely to impact the remote patient monitoring software market, along with information on the key initiatives undertaken by the developers engaged in this domain to overcome the challenges faced due to the pandemic.



Chapter 12 provides a detailed discussion on affiliated trends, key drivers and challenges, under a SWOT framework, which are likely to impact the industrys evolution, along with a Harvey ball analysis, highlighting the relative effect of each SWOT parameter on the overall remote patient monitoring tools and software providers industry.



Chapter 13 is a summary of the entire report. In this chapter, we have provided a list of key takeaways from the report, and expressed our independent opinion related to the research and analysis described in the previous chapters.



Chapter 14 is a collection of interview transcripts of the discussion(s) that were held key stakeholders in the industry.



Chapter 15 is an appendix, which provides tabulated data and numbers for all the figures included in the report.



Chapter 16 is an appendix, which contains a list of companies and organizations mentioned in this report.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183526/?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.



__________________________
Portland, OR, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global healthcare CRM market generated $9.71 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $37.62 billion by 2030, witnessing a CAGR of 14.1% from 2021 to 2030. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chain, regional landscape, and competitive scenario.

Focus on customer engagement and retention for the healthcare sector and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) within CRM Tools drive the growth of the healthcare CRM market. However, lack of security about customer information, high initial installation cost of CRM Software, and issues related to short-range communication in healthcare CRM software restrain the market growth. On the other hand, adoption of bring your own device (BYOD) ecosystems and high operational efficiency of the CRM software present new opportunities in the coming years.

Download Report Sample- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/11348

Impact of Covid-19 on Healthcare CRM Market-

During the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid surge in number of patients suffering from Covid-19 infection. To ensure proper management of patients along with building efficient healthcare system, there has been increase in demand for healthcare CRM systems.

Owing to closure of a few public clinics to prevent cross-contamination, the deployment of healthcare CRM systems reduced. However, the demand recovered post-lockdown.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Healthcare CRM Market- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/11348?reqfor=covid

The report offers detailed segmentation of the global healthcare CRM market based on component, deployment model, end user, and region.

Based on deployment model, the cloud segment accounted for the highest share in 2020, contributing to more than three-fourths of the total share, and is expected to maintain its lead position during the forecast period. However, the on-premise segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 12.0% from 2021 to 2030.

Based on end user, the healthcare providers segment held the highest share in 2020, contributing to nearly two-thirds of the total share of the global healthcare CRM market, and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. In addition, this segment is expected to witness the largest CAGR of 14.5% from 2021 to 2030. The report also discusses the healthcare payers segment.

For Purchase Inquiry- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/11348

Based on region, North America contributed to the largest share in 2020, accounting for more than two-fifths of the total share, and is projected to maintain its leadership status by 2030. However, Asia-Pacific is projected to portray the largest CAGR of 16.2% during the forecast period.

Leading players of the global healthcare CRM market analyzed in the research include Salesforce.Com Inc., Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Sage Group Plc, Pegasystems Inc., SugarCRM, SAP SE, Cerner Corporation, Zoho Corporation Pvt. Ltd., and Keona Health.

Official Press Release- https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/press-release/healthcare-crm-market.html

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Get an access to the library of reports at any time from any device and anywhere. For more details, follow the link: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access

About Allied Market Research:

Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domains. AMR offers its services across 11 industry verticals including Life Sciences , Consumer Goods, Materials & Chemicals, Construction & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Energy & Power, Semiconductor & Electronics, Automotive & Transportation, ICT & Media, Aerospace & Defense, and BFSI.

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Dublin, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Luxury Fashion Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The luxury fashion market size was valued at USD 110.64 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 153.97 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 5.66%.



The online sales of luxury fashion are expected to witness tremendous growth during the forecast period. The global luxury fashion industry is gaining momentum significantly with the rise in the number of high-net-worth individuals, the growing popularity among the young population belonging to the millennials and Gen Z generation, increasing brand loyalty among customers, and increasing association of luxury brands by the individuals. The rapidly changing technological landscape and the growing adoption of technology such as augmented reality (AR) by the fashion industry, supported by the growing penetration of digital channels across developing markets, provide new growth opportunities to vendors.



The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the luxury fashion market

Leveraging augmented reality

Growing inclination towards sustainable products

Internet shaping purchasing behaviour

Increasing acceptance by millennials & Gen Z population

Growing high net worth individuals

Growth in travel & tourism

Key Highlights

Millennials and the Gen Z population are the key drivers of the luxury fashion industry.This can be attributed to their higher focus on experiences, willingness to pay extra for premium products, and openness to experimentation with new things.

Psycho-graphical and demographical indicators of end-users have changed drastically over the past few years. Factors such as increased internet penetration, strong smartphone adoption, and rising social media users have provided end-users with unmatched access to information on the go, thus helping end-users make informed purchasing decisions.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Research Methodology



2 Research Objectives



3 Research Process



4 Scope & Coverage

4.1 Market Definition

4.2 Base Year

4.3 Scope Of The Study



5 Report Assumptions & Caveats

5.1 Key Caveats

5.2 Currency Conversion

5.3 Market Derivation



6 Market at a Glance



7 Introduction

7.1 Overview

7.2 Influencer Role In Luxury Fashion

7.3 Value Chain Analysis

7.4 Impact Of Covid-19



8 Market Opportunities & Trends

8.1 Leveraging Augmented Reality

8.2 Growing Inclination Toward Sustainability

8.3 Internet Shaping Purchasing Behavior



9 Market Growth Enablers

9.1 Increasing Acceptance By Millennials & Generation Z

9.2 Growing Population Of High-Net-Worth Individuals

9.3 Rise In Travel & Tourism



10 Market Restraints

10.1 Proliferation Of Counterfeit Products

10.2 Availability Of Secondhand Luxury Products



11 Market Landscape

11.1 Market Overview

11.2 Digitalization Supporting Luxury Market

11.3 Demand Insights

11.4 Market Size & Forecast

11.5 Five Forces Analysis



12 Product Type

12.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

12.2 Market Overview

12.3 Apparel

12.4 Footwear

12.5 Accessories



13 End User

13.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

13.2 Market Overview

13.3 Men

13.4 Women

13.5 Children



14 Generational Cohort

14.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

14.2 Market Overview

14.3 Generation X

14.4 Millennial & Generation Z

14.5 Baby Boomer & Silent Generation



15 Distribution Channel

15.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

15.2 Market Overview

15.3 Online Stores

15.4 Mono-Brand Stores

15.5 Specialty Stores

15.6 Departmental Stores

15.7 Off-Price Stores

15.8 Airport Shops



16 Geography

16.1 Market Snapshot & Growth Engine

16.2 Geographic Overview



17 APAC

17.1 Market Overview

17.2 Market Size & Forecast

17.3 Product Type

17.4 End User

17.5 Generational Cohort

17.6 Distribution Channel

17.7 Key Countries



18 Europe

18.1 Market Overview

18.2 Market Size & Forecast

18.3 Product Type

18.4 End User

18.5 Generational Cohort

18.6 Distribution Channel

18.7 Key Countries



19 North America

19.1 Market Overview

19.2 Market Size & Forecast

19.3 Product Type

19.4 End User

19.5 Generational Cohort

19.6 Distribution Channel

19.7 Key Countries



20 Middle East & Africa

20.1 Market Overview

20.2 Market Size & Forecast

20.3 Product Type

20.4 End User

20.5 Generational Cohort

20.6 Distribution Channel

20.7 Key Countries



21 Latin America

21.1 Market Overview

21.2 Market Size & Forecast

21.3 Product Type

21.4 End User

21.5 Generational Cohort

21.6 Distribution Channel

21.7 Key Countries



22 Competitive Landscape

22.1 Competition Overview



23 Key Company Profiles

23.1 ARMANI Group

23.2 BURBERRY

23.3 CHANEL

23.4 HERMES

23.5 KERING

23.6 LVMH

23.7 PRADA GROUP



24 Other Prominent Vendors

24.1 CAPRI HOLDINGS

24.2 DOLCE & GABBANA

24.3 HUGO BOSS

24.4 MAX MARA GROUP

24.5 MCM

24.6 MONCLER

24.7 OSKLEN

24.8 SALVATORE FERRAGAMO

24.9 TAPESTRY

24.10 TOM FORD

24.11 VALENTINO

24.12 ZEGNA



25 Recent Developments

25.1 Merger, Acquisition & Partnerships

25.2 New Product Launches



26 Report Summary

26.1 Key Takeaways

26.2 Strategic Recommendations



27 Quantitative Summary

27.1 Market By Geography

27.2 APAC

27.3 EUROPE

27.4 NORTH AMERICA

27.5 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA

27.6 LATIN AMERICA

27.7 PRODUCT TYPE

27.8 END USER

27.9 GENERATIONAL COHORT

27.10 DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL



28 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cpgbyz
New York, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Europe (Top 5 Markets) Fuel Cards Market Size and Forecast to 2024 - Analysing Markets, Channels, and Key Players" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183626/?utm_source=GNW

Based on research with issuers and fuel retailers it provides commercial (B2B) fuel card volume (split by fleet and CRT), value and market share forecasts to 2024, key data on independent and oil company card issuers and an analysis of fuel card competition in Top 5 European Countries



Fleet card volumes will make up 48% of fuel card volumes in the top five European countries in 2020



The total number of service stations in France decreased by 0.3%, from 11,193 in 2019 to 11,160 in 2020. Fuel card volumes in Germany will rise by 11.1% from 2020 to 2024, reaching 12.6 billion liters in 2024. Fleet card volumes in Italy declined by 2.9%, from 2.7 billion liters in 2019 to 2.6 billion liters in 2020. In 2020, the top three fuel card operators (Repsol, Cepsa, and Galp) in Spain made up 84.9% of fuel card volumes. All Star remained the fuel card market leader in the UK in 2020, retaining its market share from 2019 as 23.9%. Clients are drawn to its large domestic acceptance network



Reasons to Buy

- Plan effective market entry strategies by uncovering current and future volumes and values of the Top 5 European fuel card markets.

- Assess whether you should increase network acceptance of your card and identify potential new merchants by uncovering the position of competitors.

- Whether you are an issuer, a processor, a leasing company or a fuel retailer, make informed pitches to partners by understanding their business.

- Enhance fuel sales at your service stations by identifying which fuel cards you should accept based on their market shares and network acceptance.

- Plan your regional strategy by understanding the Top 5 European markets, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06183626/?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.



__________________________
Dublin, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Market (Value, Volume) - Analysis By Product Type (BEV, PHEV), Vehicle Type (2W and 3W, PV, CV), By Region, By Country (2021 Edition): Market Insights and Forecast with Impact of COVID-19 (2021-2026)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global electric vehicle (EV) market was valued at USD 169.95 Billion in the year 2020. Growth in the Electric Vehicles Market is mainly driven by growing environmental concerns and the active steps taken by various governments towards zero emission laws, thereby reducing the carbon emissions in the environment. Increasing two and three wheeler demand is expected to boost the demand of Electric Vehicles (EVs) but the demand is offset by the slow adaptation in leading countries like Japan. Additionally, the growing efforts by companies to boost production, expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure along with charging points are projected to further drive the market growth. Moreover, rising expenditure by the government, carbon emission regulation policies and investments by leading OEMs is boosting the need for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in the industry, which is, in turn, driving the market demand.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 has affected the global economy of various sectors, including the oil & gas, manufacturing, automotive, and power generation industries in multiple ways. With the new government guidelines during the COVID-19 outbreak, there was a temporary suspension of the production units during the initial days of the lockdown. This led to disruptions in the production facilities and global supply chains as the electric vehicles manufacturers had to make certain adjustments with the volume of production because of the excess inventory which was left idle. Governments started offering subsidies for purchase of Electric Vehicles which was a major push for the market.

Manufacturers in the electric vehicles market are keen on producing zero emission electric driven vehicles that are tailored for reducing the greenhouse gases in the environment. Top players in the market have ramped up their research and development efforts to cater to specialized needs of the market. Such a strategy might help catapult them to a highly competitive pedestal in near future.

Scope of the Report:

The report analyses the Electric Vehicles Market by value (USD Billion).

The report analyses the Electric Vehicles Market by volume (Billion Units).

The report presents the analysis of Electric Vehicles market for the historical period of 2016-2020 and the forecast period of 2021-2026.

The report analyses the Electric Vehicles Market by Propulsion Type (Battery Electric Vehicle, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle).

The report analyses the Electric Vehicles Market by Vehicle Type (2/3-wheelers, Passenger Cars and Commercial Vehicles).

The Global Electric Vehicles Market has been analysed By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, LALAMEA).

The Global Electric Vehicles (EV) Market has been analysed By Country (United States, Canada, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, China, Japan, India and South Korea).

The key insights of the report have been presented through the frameworks of SWOT and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. Also, the attractiveness of the market has been presented by region, by Propulsion Type, by Vehicle Type.

Also, the major opportunities, trends, drivers and challenges of the industry has been analysed in the report.

The report tracks competitive developments, strategies, mergers and acquisitions and new Propulsion development. The companies analysed in the report include Tesla, Inc., Volkswagen AG, BYD Company Limited, BMW AG, Daimler AG, Renault S.A., General Motors Company, AB Volvo, Ford Motors, Nissan Motors Co., Limited.

Key Topics Covered:



1. Report Scope and Methodology

1.1 Scope of the Report

1.2 Research Methodology

1.3 Executive Summary



2. Strategic Recommendations



3. Electric Vehicle (EV) Market: Propulsion Overview



4. Global Electric Vehicle (EV) Market: An Analysis

4.1 Market Size, By Value, Year 2016-2026

4.2 Market Size, By Volume, Year 2016-2026

4.3 Impact of COVID-19 on Electric Vehicle (EV) Market

4.4 Global Electric Vehicles Market: Growth & Forecast



5. Global Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation, By Propulsion Type (Value)

5.1 Global Electric Vehicles Market: Segment Analysis

5.2 Competitive Scenario of Electric Vehicles Market: By Propulsion Type (2020 & 2026)

5.3 By Battery Electric Vehicles- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

5.4 By Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)



6. Global Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation, By Vehicle Type (Value)

6.1 Global Electric Vehicles Market: Segment Analysis

6.2 Competitive Scenario of Global Electric Vehicles Market: By Vehicle Type (2020 & 2026)

6.3 By 2/3-wheelers- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

6.4 By Passenger Cars- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

6.5 By Commercial Vehicle- Market Size and Forecast (2016-2026)



7. Global Electric Vehicles Market: Regional Analysis

7.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Electric Vehicles Market: By Region (2020 & 2026)



8. North America Electric Vehicles Market: An Analysis (2016-2026)

8.1 North America Electric Vehicles Market by value: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

8.2 North America Electric Vehicles Market: Prominent Companies

8.3 Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (Battery Electric Vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles)

8.4 Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2/3-wheelers, Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicle)

8.5 North America Electric Vehicles Market: Country Analysis

8.6 Market Opportunity Chart of North America Electric Vehicles Market - By Country, By Value (Year-2026)

8.7 Competitive Scenario of North America Electric Vehicles Market - By Country (2020 & 2026)

8.8 United States Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

8.9 United States Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

8.10 United States Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

8.11 Canada Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

8.12 Canada Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

8.13 Canada Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)



9. Europe Electric Vehicles Market: An Analysis (2016-2026)

9.1 Europe Electric Vehicles Market by value: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

9.2 Europe Electric Vehicles Market: Prominent Companies

9.3 Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (Battery Electric Vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles)

9.4 Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2/3-wheelers, Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicle)

9.5 Europe Electric Vehicles Market: Country Analysis

9.6 Market Opportunity Chart of Europe Electric Vehicles Market - By Country, By Value (Year-2026)

9.7 Competitive Scenario of Europe Electric Vehicles Market - By Country (2020 & 2026)

9.8 Germany Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

9.9 Germany Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

9.10 Germany Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

9.11 France Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

9.12 France Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

9.13 France Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

9.14 United Kingdom Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

9.15 United Kingdom Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

9.16 United Kingdom Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

9.17 Netherlands Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

9.18 Netherlands Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

9.19 Netherlands Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

9.20 Norway Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

9.21 Norway Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

9.22 Norway Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)



10. Asia Pacific Electric Vehicles Market: An Analysis (2016-2026)

10.1 Asia Pacific Electric Vehicles Market by value: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

10.2 Asia Pacific Electric Vehicles Market: Prominent Companies

10.3 Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (Battery Electric Vehicles, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles)

10.4 Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2/3-wheelers, Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicle)

10.5 Asia Pacific Electric Vehicles Market: Country Analysis

10.6 Market Opportunity Chart of Asia Pacific Electric Vehicles Market - By Country, By Value (Year-2026)

10.7 Competitive Scenario of Asia Pacific Electric Vehicles Market - By Country (2020 & 2026)

10.8 China Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

10.9 China Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

10.10 China Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

10.11 Japan Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

10.12 Japan Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

10.13 Japan Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

10.14 India Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

10.15 India Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

10.16 India Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)

10.17 South Korea Electric Vehicles Market: Size and Forecast (2016-2026)

10.18 South Korea Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Propulsion Type (2016-2026)

10.19 South Korea Electric Vehicles Market Segmentation by Vehicle Type (2016-2026)



11. Global Electric Vehicles Market Dynamics

11.1 Global Electric Vehicles Market Drivers

11.2 Global Electric Vehicles Market Restraints

11.3 Global Electric Vehicles Market Trends



12. Market Attractiveness and Strategic Analysis

12.1 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Electric Vehicles Market - By Propulsion Type (Year 2026)

12.2 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Electric Vehicles Market - By Vehicle Type (Year 2026)

12.3 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Electric Vehicles Market - By Region (Year 2026)



13. Competitive Landscape

13.1 Market Share of global leading companies

13.2 Global major electric vehicles producers

13.3 SWOT Analysis- Global Electric Vehicles Market

13.4 Porter Five Force Analysis- Global Electric Vehicles Market



14. Global Electric Vehicles Market: Merger & Acquisitions



15. Company Profiles

15.1 Tesla, Inc.

15.2 Volkswagen AG

15.3 BYD Company Limited

15.4 BMW AG

15.5 Daimler AG

15.6 Renault S.A.

15.7 General Motors Company

15.8 AB Volvo

15.9 Ford Motor Company

15.10 Nissan Motor Co., Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3vy7uq
Pune, India, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global MRI Equipment Market is anticipated to gain momentum from the rising launch of technologically advanced products by reputed companies across the globe. These products are delivering high quality images and spatial resolution for faster detection of chronic diseases. This information is given by Fortune Business Insights in a recent report, titled, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Strength (Less than 1.5 T, 1.5 T, and More than 1.5 T), By Application (Musculoskeletal, Neurology, Cardiology, Body Imaging, and Others), By End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Diagnostic Centers), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2027. The report further mentions that the MRI equipment market size was USD 7.24 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 11.36 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.2% during the forecast period.





Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-equipment-market-100087





The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic.

We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future.





This Report Answers the Following Questions:

Which companies would generate the largest revenue in the coming years?

Which segment is likely to lead the market by holding the highest share?

What are the growth drivers, barriers, and trends in the market?

Which end user would create the maximum demand for MRI equipment in the coming years?

What are the vital strategies adopted by key companies to gain competitive edge?





Report Scope & Segmentation

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2019 to 2027 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 6.2% 2027 Value Projection USD 11.36 Billion Base Year 2019 Market Size in 2020 USD 7.24 Billion Historical Data for 2016 to 2018 No. of Pages 140 Segments covered Strength, Application, End User Growth Drivers Increasing Prevalence of Chronic and Serious Diseases to Fuel Growth for MRI Equipment Market Technological Advancements to Drive Growth in Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment Market High Costs of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment Coupled with Other Limitations to Limit this Market Growth





Drivers & Restraints-

Rising Cases of Strokes & Cancer to Accelerate Growth

The rising incidence of various forms of cancer is the most crucial driver for the MRI equipment market growth. In 2018, the National Cancer Institute estimated that approximately 1,735,350 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in that very year. Breast cancer, for instance, is the most prevalent type of cancer across the globe that can be smoothly detected and managed by utilizing MRI equipment. They also help in providing high quality images of areas that are specifically affected by strokes. As of January 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that in the U.S., around 795,000 people suffer from strokes every year. However, many developing nations are opting for refurbished MRI systems rather than purchasing new ones as they involve high cost spending. It may obstruct the market growth.





To get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this market.

Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-equipment-market-100087





Segment-

1.5 T Segment to Lead Backed by Their Rising Demand Worldwide

Based on strength, the market is fragmented into more than 1.5 T, 1.5 T, and less than 1.5 T. Out of these, the 1.5 T segment generated 71.3% in terms of MRI equipment market share in 2019. It is set to lead the market in the near future. This growth is attributable to their increasing adoption worldwide. Apart from that, numerous reputed companies, such as Phillips, Siemens, and GE Healthcare possess enhanced product portfolios that are majorly focused on MRI systems of the strength of 1.5 T. They also have wide application areas.





Quick Buy - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment Market https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/100087





Regional Analysis-

North America to Remain at the Forefront Owing to Rising Prevalence of Chronic Diseases

In terms of geography, North America procured USD 1.54 billion in revenue in 2019 and is considered to be one of the largest markets. The region would lead in the forthcoming years owing to the presence of a large number of MRI equipment manufacturers, as well as the rising patient pool. Coupled with this, the ongoing advancements in diagnostics, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, surging imaging procedural volume, and robust healthcare infrastructure would contribute to the growth.

Europe, on the other hand, is anticipated to remain in the second position fuelled by the rising adoption of technologically advanced MRI systems, strong healthcare expenditure, and high medical imaging procedures volume. Asia Pacific would grow significantly by exhibiting the highest CAGR stoked by the increasing cases of serious disorders and strong potential patient population base. In addition to that, the ever-increasing awareness programs to educate the masses regarding the availability of novel diagnostics would propel growth in this region.





Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-equipment-market-100087





Competitive Landscape-

Key Players Aim to Gain Competitive Edge by Launching Unique Products

Several organizations present in the market are introducing state-of-the-art product ranges, such as SIGNA by GE Healthcare. These are available in the strengths of 3.0 T and 1.5 T. Some of the others are expanding their geographic presence by following the mergers and acquisitions strategy. Below are two of the latest industry developments:

November 2019 : Koninklijke Philips N.V., a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Netherlands, announced that its BlueSeal magnet will by launched in India in the beginning of 2020. It is mainly designed to simplify the installation process of MR, as well as reduce costly and lengthy disruptions in the services. The magnet requires only 7 litres of liquid helium and will deliver sustainable operations. This new technology will help the healthcare professionals in attending to every patient with more time and care.

: Koninklijke Philips N.V., a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Netherlands, announced that its BlueSeal magnet will by launched in India in the beginning of 2020. It is mainly designed to simplify the installation process of MR, as well as reduce costly and lengthy disruptions in the services. The magnet requires only 7 litres of liquid helium and will deliver sustainable operations. This new technology will help the healthcare professionals in attending to every patient with more time and care. September 2018: Philips unveiled its latest 1.5T MR named the Ingenia Ambition X. It is a fully-digitized MRI equipment that features a wide range of life cycle and maintenance services, as well as healthcare informatics for integrated solutions. It would provide a simpler, smarter, and faster path to ensure confident diagnosis. It would also help in removing the dependency on a commodity by enabling helium-free operations. Besides, it does not require a vent pipe.





Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/magnetic-resonance-imaging-mri-equipment-market-100087





Fortune Business Insights presents a list of all the MRI equipment manufacturers operating in the market. They are as follows:

General Electric Company (GE Healthcare)

Siemens Healthineers AG

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Canon Medical Systems Corporation

Hitachi, Ltd.

Esaote SpA

Time Medical Holding

Shenzhen Anke Hi-tech Co., Ltd.

Shenzhen Basda Medical Apparatus Co., Ltd.

Fonar Corporation

Others





Table Of Content

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions

Executive Summary

Market Dynamics Market Drivers Market Restraints Market Opportunities

Key Insights Market Size & Forecast (in Volume)  By Key Region, 2016-2027 Cost of MRI Test Procedure (Key Countries) MRI Procedures per year (Key Countries) Technological Developments Region-wise Installed Base MRI System - 2019

Global Magnetic Resonance Imaging Equipment Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2016-2027 Key Findings / Summary Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Strength Less than 1.5T 1.5T More than 1.5T Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Application Musculoskeletal Neurology Cardiology Body Imaging Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By End User Hospitals Ambulatory Surgery Centers Diagnostic Centers Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Region North America Europe Asia pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa



TOC Continue!





About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.





Contact Us:

Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd.

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BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Banknote Corporation (ABCorp), one of the longest-standing manufacturing service providers in the U.S., announced the expansion of their Boston-based Center of Excellence capabilities. ABCorp has added additional HP JF580 full-color 3D Printers to their lineup of cutting-edge technology at the Additive Manufacturing Center (AMC) in Boston, MA.

The AMC is located in ABCorp's secure 125,000-s.f. state-of-the-art facility powered by multiple HP Jet Fusion 5210 industrial systems, Jet Fusion 580 full-color, and Desktop Metal production metal printers. With printing materials of HP 3D High Reusability PA 11, HP 3D High Reusability PA 12, BASF Ultrasint TPU01, HP 3D High Reusability PP enabled by BASF, full-color HP 3D High Reusability CB PA 12, and stainless steels of 174PH and 316L. In addition, ABCorp also offers finishing with AMT's PostPro3D smoothing system.

"ABCorp has a history dating back 225+ years, providing Essential Critical goods & services to world-class companies and federal, state, and local government agencies in 120+ countries worldwide. The need for functional, end-use color 3D printed parts is growing rapidly. Adding additional units of the JF580 machines to our highly secure facility in Boston will complement the expanding business capacity to meet our current and future needs," says Neil Glazebrook, VP of 3D Solutions at ABCorp.

About ABCorp

ABCorp is a unique manufacturing services company. Our roots as a secure printer trace back through American Bank Note Company, over two centuries to 1795 when the newly established First Bank of the United States called upon us to create a counterfeit-resistant currency for a young nation.

We are experts in fraud prevention and are frequently called upon to design manufacturing processes where the tolerance for error is zero, with products & services for the Commercial, FinTech, Government & Not-for-Profit, Healthcare, and Transit sectors.

ABCorp's products and services facilitate millions of transactions around the globe each day. No company has more experience in the areas of authentication, payments, and secure access.

We design, manufacture, and personalize contactless credit cards, 3D-print highly detailed functional prototypes & production parts, and deliver omnichannel content to elevate the customer experience.

For more information about ABCorp's new HP 3D Printing capabilities, please visit: www.ABCorp.com or email at 3D@ABCorp.com

Related Files

ABCorp 3D Press Release - New JF580s.pdf

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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Austin, Texas, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Texas Alliance Oil & Gas PAC announces its enthusiastic endorsement of Wayne Christian to be reelected to the Railroad Commission of Texas.

Chairman Christian led the Railroad Commission during challenging times for this industry and our state. He has worked tirelessly to ensure Texas oil and gas production remains a leader for jobs, tax revenue and environmental stewardship. We are proud to endorse and support Wayne Christian, said Jason Modglin, President of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. When Washington or OPEC+ threatens to shut down U.S. energy production, operators know they can count on Wayne to be in the fight for Texas taxpayers, mineral owners and businesses.

Members of the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers fund an active Texas political action committee that supports efforts to elect state officials who favor the development of the states oil and gas resources. Since 1930, the Alliance represents thousands of members across Texas, focused on advancing independent operators, particularly small and family-run operations, and the standards of the oil and gas industry. For more information, visit https://texasalliance.org/government-relations/texas-alliance-oil-gas-pac/.
London, England, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC Pink: NSAV), a cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset technology company, today formally announced the Native Token for its NSAVDEX Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange https://nsavdex.org/#/home . The NSBC (NSAV Blockchain) Token will be the Native Token for the Companys recently launched DeFi Exchange. The Company believes that the NSBC Native Token is another vitally strategic Milestone in the NSAV ECOsystem. Additional details regarding the token structure will be released in the next week or so. This will include the date of the private pre-sale.

The NSBC Token will serve as a Native Utility Token, with primary functions being Yield Farming and Staking, as well as a variety of other functions. The token will prove to be a valuable token operated under the NSAV ECOsystem. With the NSBC token operating hand in hand with our DeFi community, NSAVDEX will be able to become a significant player in crypto space of DeFi AI Automated Market Makers (AMM).

Uniswaps own native token, (UNI), hit a $140 million market capitalization 7 hours after its launch. On Sunday, the UNI market cap reached $15,950,755,319. https://coinquora.com/uniswap-token-hits-140m-market-cap-at-launch-date/ Uniswap is the worlds leading Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (DEX)

2021 has been a great year for DEX tokens. This is just another reason for all NSAV shareholders to be excited about the upcoming pre-sale and launch of the NSBC Token.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/here-are-6-dex-tokens-that-have-seen-exponential-growth-in-2021

Dato Sri Desmond Lim, Interim CEO and Senior Vice President of Cryptocurrency Operations for NSAV and Silverbear Capital partner stated, Our NSAVDEX Native Token is a very important milestone for the NSAV ECOsystem. NSBC is designed to become a valuable token with a major appreciation capability among our ever-growing NSAV community.

About NSAV:

NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the cryptocurrency, blockchain and digital asset industries. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology.

For further information please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsavtech

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at http://nsavholdinginc.com

The NSAV Premium OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://nsavholdinginc.com/otc-desk/

The NSAV Hong Kong OTC Crypto Trading Desk website can be accessed at https://hkotc.co/

The NSAV Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (DEX) website can be accessed at https://nsavdex.org/#/home

Silverbear Capital Inc. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/ , a leading, global investment banking firm, will be advising NSAV on strategic matters related to this transaction.

Silverbear Capital Inc. (SBC) has a dynamic of disciplines on a broad commercial level and practice. SBC has a strong group of Partners in a wide range of disciplines with seasoned experience in finance, management, and professional practice. https://www.sbcfinancialgroup.com.hk/meet-our-team/ .

Disclaimer: Silverbear Capital Inc. does not constitute investment advice, or an offer or solicitation to sell, or a solicitation to buy, or any other investment product (nor shall any such shares or product be offered or sold to any person) in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities law of that jurisdiction.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

Contact

Net Savings Link, Inc.

info@nsavholdinginc.com

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NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Roberts & Ryan, the first service-disabled Veteran-owned broker dealer, is crewed by a group of Veterans and citizen patriots with the dual mission of doing well - providing great service to their clients, while doing good - supporting this nation's Veterans. With a focus on general wellness, mental health and career transition, Roberts & Ryan donates a portion of revenue to over 30 world-class Veteran-focused nonprofit organizations while maintaining their deep commitment to hiring Veterans either new to Wall Street or early in their career development.

Roberts & Ryan's most recent charitable giving is in partnership with the Robert Irvine Foundation. Some might recognize Robert Irvine (among his many pursuits) as the animated chef-host of Food Network's hit series, Restaurant: Impossible. A recipient of the The Patriot Award (2015), U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award (2016) and the Department of Defense Spirit of Hope Award (2017), Robert launched his Foundation in 2014 and focuses on giving back to military and first responder communities.

The Roberts & Ryan and Robert Irvine Foundation partnership supplies Veterans who lost their mobility in active duty with the IBOT wheelchair. Unlike other wheelchairs, the IBOT offers its user multi-modal mobility experience, including all-terrain accessibility, stair and curb climbing, and an eye-level standing height experience. Thanks to this collaboration, U.S. Army Captain Greg Galeazzi, who lost both of his legs in an IED attack, is the most recent recipient of the IBOT. His story is truly transformational:

https://youtu.be/-njzFoTr-qo

This Veteran's Day, Roberts & Ryan invite you to support our Veterans by remembering the words shared by Robert Irvine: "Thank a Veteran today. You'll never know the battles they've endured and the burdens they carry in service to this nation."

Press Contact - Sadie Millard - smillard@roberts-ryan.com

Related Images











Image 1: Greg Galeazzi





U.S. Army (Ret.) Captain Greg Galeazzi is the most recent recipient of the IBOT wheelchair, made possible by the generous collaborative donation of Roberts & Ryan Investments and the Robert Irvine Foundation.









This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com.

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New York, NY, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NYCxDESIGN, a non-profit committed to supporting, empowering, and growing the citys creative design sector, is proud to launch a special edition of the NYCxDESIGN Festival (November 11-18, 2021). This eight-day hybrid experience will feature hundreds of free events that will safely reconnect NYCs expansive design community with the public, showcasing how design can rebuild, reimagine, and shape the future. The immense talent and diversity of the citys designers, makers, and manufacturers, cutting-edge design businesses and districts, and leading cultural and academic institutions will all be a part of the compelling programming. The inspiring events across the five boroughs will underscore New York City as a destination for world-class design, drawing visitors to do business in New York.

The public is invited to plan their journey for the November 2021 Festival at the events new website, festival.nycxdesign.org. Here, visitors can explore design exhibitions, talks, tours, installations, and more. Curated Itineraries, special event tracks developed by the NYCxDESIGN team and local design leaders, showcase the breadth of talent, districts, and innovation that make New York Citys design community like no other. The public is also invited to attend Self-Guided Journeys LIVE, a series of open studio visits and unique design demonstrations across three of NYCs most vibrant design neighborhoods: SoHo & Tribeca (November 11, 4-8pm), Southwest Brooklyn (November 12, 4-8pm), and Long Island City (November 13, 11am-4pm). Featured tradeshows co-located at Javits Convention Center will include ICFF, WantedDesign Manhattan, and BDNY from November 14 - 15.

The Festival will return to its spring schedule in 2022 for the 10th Anniversary Edition (May 10-20, 2022). Anchor trade shows including ICFF, WantedDesign, and Design Pavilion will also resume their spring schedule in 2022 along with a robust series of programs and activations across the five boroughs of New York City.

For more information and to register for programs, interested attendees can visit festival.nycxdesign.org. The Official Guide to NYCxDESIGN is also a comprehensive resource for learning about The Festival and its programs, finding key events to explore, and discovering new destinations across the citys five boroughs.

About NYCxDESIGN

Design is core to New York Citys identity and creative DNA. At NYCxDESIGN, our mission is to support, empower, and grow the citys incredible design sector. Our internationally renowned Annual Design Festival, established in 2013, showcases the immense talent and diversity of the citys designers, makers, and manufacturers, along with cutting-edge design businesses and districts, and world-class cultural and academic design institutions. The Festival attracts 300,000+ national and international visitors to the city, generating significant economic activity across the boroughs with hundreds of events about design and innovation, creativity, culture, inclusivity, sustainability, and resiliency. As a non-profit organization, NYCxDESIGN also runs an impactful year-round program increasing diversity, equitable opportunity, and inclusion within the citys design professions. We educate the citys young adults about design and inspire them to become the citys designers of tomorrow. With new executive leadership, and recently granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, NYCxDESIGN is catalyzing an exciting and thriving design sector for all of New York City. NYCEDC and SANDOW Design Group are key, ongoing supporters of NYCxDESIGN. The 2021 presenting sponsor of the organization and its programming is Caesarstone, the 2021 November Festival sponsors are Industry City, Glen Gery, and Brooklyn Navy Yard, and this years media partners are Metropolis, Luxe Interiors & Design, Interior Design, The New York Times, The Hearst Design Collection (House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and Veranda), Vox Media, The Architects Newspaper, Sixtysix, Architectural Record, Brownstoner and Design Milk.

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Dublin, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Trodelvy Patent, Sales & Clinical Trials Insight 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

global Trodelvy market is expected to surpass US$ 3 Billion by 2028

Recently, Trodelvy, a novel targeted therapy developed by Gilead Sciences and has been approved for the management of triple negative breast cancer. The drug is antibody drug conjugate directed to Trop-2 receptor, a protein highly expressed on the surface of cancer cell and has crucial role in the development and progression of cancer.

Several factors including increase in geriatric population and subsequent rise in prevalence of cancer, favorable reimbursement policies offered by manufacturers and insurance providers, and rising awareness among population will drive the growth of market.

Geographically, US is expected to maintain dominant position during the forecast period which is mainly attributed to the robust sales of drug, increase in target population, and large number of ongoing clinical trials in the region.

The FDA approval of the drug is supported by clinical studies which have demonstrated statistically significant reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death. In addition, the drug have also shown to extend overall survival rates in patients and enhanced clinical outcomes.

As of now, the drug has been approved in US, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and Switzerland. Apart from this, the drug is present in regulatory view in other regions including Europe, China and Singapore. Recently, European Medicines Agency has recommended the marketing of Trodelvy, indicating that the drug will enter the market in coming months. The rapid approval of drug in different regions will fuel the growth of market in coming years.

The global Trodely market is expected to witness high growth rates owing to its high adoption rates among TNBC patients which is due to lack of other effective therapies, and enhanced efficiency of novel drug in targeting the disease.

In addition to triple negative breast cancer, researchers are also evaluating the role of drug in targeting other cancers including hormone receptor positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, endometrial carcinoma, urothelial cancer, glioblastoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.

In addition, several clinical trials are evaluating Trodelvy in combination with talazoparib, nivolumab, carboplatin, and other cancer therapeutics. The next few years will witness rapid approval of drug as monotherapy or combinational therapy in wide range of cancer which will further boos the growth of market.

Currently, Trodelvy is the only approved Trop-2 targeting drug in market. However, the pipeline of novel drug class is highly crowded and consists of several potential candidates including DS-1062a, RN927C, BAT8003, SKB264, JS108, and others. These are majorly present in phase-I/II clinical trials and are expected to enter market during forecast period.

The major players in Trop-2 targeting drugs market are Daiichi Sankyo, Immunomedics, Gilead Sciences, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and BioThera Solution. The emergence of these drugs will increase the competition to Trodelvy, thus restraining its growth of market. However, increased awareness and favorable reimbursement policies are expected to drive the market.

Trodelvy Patent, Sales & Clinical Trials Insight 2028 Report Analysis & Data Highlights:

Trodelvy Patent Insight: 29 Patents

Trodelvy Dosage & Price

Trodelvy Sales Forecast 2028: > USD 3 Billion

Trodelvy Role in Cancer Therapy

Trodelvy Structure & Pharmacokinetics Properties

Trodelvy Ongoing Clinical Trials: > 30 Clinical Studies

Trodelvy Reimbursement Scenario

Key Topics Covered:

1. Trodelvy (Sacituzumab Govitecan) - First Approved TROP2 Targeting Antibody Drug Conjugate

1.1 Overview

1.2 Approval & Exclusivity

2. Trodelvy Patent Insight

2.1 US Patents

2.2 Other Regions

2.2.1 Japan

2.2.2 Australia

2.2.3 Russia

3. Trodelvy Commercial Information

3.1 Dosage & Price Analysis

3.2 Sales Analysis

4. Trodelvy Description, Chemistry & Pharmacokinetics

5. Trodelvy Mechanism of Action

6. Trodelvy Role in TNBC

7. Role of Trodelvy in Urothelial Carcinoma

8. Role of Trodelvy in Other Cancers

9. Trodelvy Supplementary Information

9.1 Adverse Events

9.2 Immunogenecity & Drug Interaction

9.3 Application in Specific Population

10. Global Trodelvy Market Analysis

10.1 Current Market Scenario

10.2 Future Market Opportunity

11. Trodelvy Sales Forecast 2028

12. Trodelvy Reimbursement Policy

13. Trodelvy Clinical Trial Insight

13.1 By Phase

13.2 By Development Status

13.3 By Region

14. Trodelvy Ongoing Research & Development

15. Competitive Landscape

15.1 Amunix

15.2 ARIUS Research

15.3 AstraZeneca

15.4 Biothera

15.5 Daiichi Sankyo Company

15.6 Gilead

15.7 Immunomedics

15.8 Janux Therapy

15.9 Klus Pharma

15.10 Myeloid therapeutics

15.11 Pfizer

15.12 Shanghai Junshi Bioscience

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nng5ur
All amounts in U.S. dollars

BROOKFIELD, NEWS, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (the Partnership) (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN) and Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE: BIPC; TSX: BIPC) (BIPC, and together with the Partnership, Brookfield Infrastructure) are pleased to provide an update on the concurrent equity offerings announced November 10, 2021 for aggregate gross proceeds of US$600 million (the Offerings) on a bought deal basis by a syndicate of underwriters (the Underwriters) co-led by RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets, CIBC Capital Markets, National Bank Financial Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities Canada, Ltd.

The Offerings are comprised of 8,240,800 Partnership limited partnership units (LP Units) and 1,860,900 BIPC class A exchangeable subordinate voting shares (Exchangeable Shares). The LP Units were sold at a price of US$58.65 per LP Unit (the LP Unit Offering Price), and the Exchangeable Shares were sold at a price of US$62.70 per Exchangeable Share (the Exchangeable Share Offering Price).

Concurrently, a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. (NYSE/TSX: BAM) has agreed to purchase 7,104,300 redeemable partnership units of Brookfield Infrastructure L.P., the Partnerships holding limited partnership, at the LP Unit Offering Price (net of underwriting commissions) (the Concurrent Unit Private Placement) for total gross proceeds of approximately US$400 million.

The aggregate gross proceeds of the LP Unit Offering, the Exchangeable Share Offering, and the Concurrent Unit Private Placement will be approximately US$1 billion.

Brookfield Infrastructure intends to use the net proceeds of the LP Unit Offering and the Exchangeable Share Offering, together with the proceeds of the Concurrent Unit Private Placement to fund an active and advanced pipeline of new investment opportunities, including near-term organic growth capital requirements, and for general working capital purposes.

The LP Unit Offering, the Exchangeable Share Offering, and the Concurrent Unit Private Placement are expected to close on or about November 17, 2021.

The Partnership and BIPC have granted the Underwriters over-allotment options, exercisable in whole or in part for a period of 30 days following closing of the Offerings, to purchase up to approximately 1,236,100 additional LP Units and 279,100 additional Exchangeable Shares at the respective offering prices. If the over-allotment options are exercised in full, the aggregate gross offering size would increase to approximately US$1.09 billion.

Offer Documents

The Partnership and BIPC have filed Registration Statements on Form F-3 (including prospectuses) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) in respect of the LP Unit Offering and the Exchangeable Share Offering. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in the relevant Registration Statement and other documents that the Partnership and BIPC have filed with the SEC for more complete information about Brookfield Infrastructure and the LP Unit Offering and the Exchangeable Share Offering. Each of the Partnership and BIPC will also be filing a prospectus supplement relating to the LP Unit Offering and the Exchangeable Share Offering, respectively, with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. You may get any of these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or via SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Also, the Partnership, BIPC, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the Offerings will arrange to send you the prospectuses or you may request them in the United States from RBC Capital Markets, LLC, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10281-8098, Attention: Equity Syndicate, Phone: 877-822-4089, Email: equityprospectus@rbccm.com, or from BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. at BMO Capital Markets Corp., Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, 151 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036, or by telephone at 1-800-414-3627 or by email at bmoprospectus@bmo.com, or from CIBC World Markets Corp, 425 Lexington Ave, 5th Floor, New York, NY, Phone: (800) 282-0822, Email: USEPROSPECTUS@CIBC.COM, or from National Bank Financial Inc. at National Bank of Canada Financial Inc., 65 East 55th Street, 8th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022, Attention: ECM Syndication, Phone: 212-632-8500, Email: NBF-Syndication@nbc.ca, or from Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 375 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10152, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department, Phone: (800) 326-5897, Email: cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com; or in Canada from RBC Dominion Securities Inc., 180 Wellington Street West, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON M5J 0C2, Attention: Distribution Centre, Phone: (416) 842-5349, Email: Distribution.RBCDS@rbccm.com, or from BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. at BMO Capital Markets, Attention: Brampton Distribution Centre C/O The Data Group of Companies, 9195 Torbram Road, Brampton, Ontario, L6S 6H2, or by telephone at 1-905-791-3151 Ext 4312 or by email at torbramwarehouse@datagroup.ca, or from CIBC World Markets Inc., Attention: Michelene Dougherty, michelene.dougherty@cibc.ca or 416-956-3636, or from National Bank Financial Inc., 130 King Street West, 4th Fl. Podium, Toronto, Ontario, M5X 1J9, Attention: ECM Syndication, Phone: 416-869-6534, Email: NBF-Syndication@nbc.ca, or from Wells Fargo Securities Canada, Ltd., 22 Adelaide St. W., Suite 2200 Toronto ON M5H 4E3, Attention: Akshay Pattni, Phone: 416 775 2954, Email: Akshay.Pattni@Wellsfargo.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of Brookfield Infrastructure in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Brookfield Infrastructure is a leading global infrastructure company that owns and operates high-quality, long-life assets in the utilities, transport, midstream and data sectors across North and South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. We are focused on assets that have contracted and regulated revenues that generate predictable and stable cash flows. Investors can access its portfolio either through Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN), a Bermuda-based limited partnership, or Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BIPC), a Canadian corporation.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is the flagship listed infrastructure company of Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager with US$650 billion of assets under management.

For more information, please contact:

Media:

Sebastien Bouchard

Vice President, Communications

Tel: (416) 943-7937

Email: sebastien.bouchard@brookfield.com Investors:

Kate White

Manager, Investor Relations

Tel: (416) 956-5183

Email: kate.white@brookfield.com

Note: This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The words, will, intend and expect or derivations thereof and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects, and which do not relate to historical matters, identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the LP Unit Offering, the Exchangeable Share Offering and the Concurrent Unit Private Placement, the use of proceeds and closing of the LP Unit Offering, the Exchangeable Share Offering, and the Concurrent Unit Private Placement. Although Brookfield Infrastructure believes that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward-looking statements or information in this news release. The future performance and prospects of Brookfield Infrastructure are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results of Brookfield Infrastructure to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by the statements in this news release are described in the documents filed by Brookfield Infrastructure with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States including under Risk Factors in each of the Partnerships and BIPCs most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and other risks and factors that are described therein and in, or incorporated by reference in, the Partnerships and BIPCs Registration Statements and prospectus supplements. Except as required by law, Brookfield Infrastructure undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Dublin, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Haptics Market 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The publisher has been monitoring the haptics market and it is poised to grow by USD 15.84 billion during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of 15.96% during the forecast period. The report on the haptics market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors.



The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the adoption of HD haptics and increased demand for in-car infotainment services.



The haptics market analysis includes component and application segments and geographic landscape. This study identifies the demand for interactive sensory experience as one of the prime reasons driving the haptics market growth during the next few years.

The report on haptics market covers the following areas:

Haptics market sizing

Haptics market forecast

Haptics market industry analysis

The robust vendor analysis is designed to help clients improve their market position, and in line with this, this report provides a detailed analysis of several leading haptics market vendors that include AAC Technologies Holdings Ltd., Alps Alpine Co. Ltd., Analog Devices Inc., Dongwoon Anatech Co. Ltd., IMAGIS Co. Ltd., Immersion Corp., Infineon Technologies AG, Microchip Technology Inc., SMK Corp., and Texas Instruments Inc. Also, the haptics market analysis report includes information on upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. This is to help companies strategize and leverage all forthcoming growth opportunities.



The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors.



The publisher presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters such as profit, pricing, competition, and promotions. It presents various market facets by identifying the key industry influencers. The data presented is comprehensive, reliable, and a result of extensive research - both primary and secondary. The market research reports provide a complete competitive landscape and an in-depth vendor selection methodology and analysis using qualitative and quantitative research to forecast the accurate market growth.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Executive Summary

Market Overview

2. Market Landscape

Market ecosystem

Value chain analysis

3. Market Sizing

Market definition

Market segment analysis

Market size 2020

Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025

4. Five Forces Analysis

Bargaining power of buyers

Bargaining power of suppliers

Threat of new entrants

Threat of substitutes

Threat of rivalry

Market condition

5. Market Segmentation by Application

Market segments

Comparison by Application

Consumer electronics - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Automotive - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by Application

6. Market Segmentation by Component

Market segments

Comparison by Component

Actuators - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Drivers and controllers - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Software and technology - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Market opportunity by Component

7. Customer landscape

8. Geographic Landscape

Geographic segmentation

Geographic comparison

APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025

Key leading countries

Market opportunity By Geographical Landscape

Market drivers

Market challenges

Market trends

9. Vendor Landscape

Overview

Landscape disruption

10. Vendor Analysis

Vendors covered

Market positioning of vendors

AAC Technologies Holdings Ltd.

Alps Alpine Co. Ltd.

Analog Devices Inc.

Dongwoon Anatech Co. Ltd.

IMAGIS Co. Ltd.

Immersion Corp.

Infineon Technologies AG

Microchip Technology Inc.

SMK Corp.

Texas Instruments Inc.

11. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mma791
VANCOUVER, Wash., Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Across the United States, more than 1.6 million young children will experience some form of homelessness each year. In the Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro areas nearly seven percent of young children experience homelessness or housing instability. It impacts well over 2,100 students in these metropolitan areas, half of them in elementary school. But it only takes one person to make a difference in the lives of these children and Slumberkins , a leading childrens brand based in Vancouver, is empowering everyone to make a difference this November.



November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. To help raise awareness and resources, now through the end of November, every purchase on slumberkins.com will support the donation of a Slumberkins Fox Bundle to homeless children in Portland, Vancouver and Evergreen school districts. Not only does homelessness disrupt normal routines and create a sense of loss of stability and safety, but it also impacts a childs development and education. Experiences of housing instability in early childhood are associated with delays in language, literacy and social-emotional development.

With the communitys support, Slumberkins is partnering with the Family Community Resource Centers in Clark County, Washington and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Program in Portland, OR, to provide resources to children and families experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness is an ever growing crisis in the United States and the extent of this crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic, thus impacting many of our children and youth and disproportionately impacting our communities of color, said Camedra Jefferson, Ed.D. Director of Funded Programs at Portland Public Schools. Each day I see the direct impact this crisis has on a child's access to education and overall wellbeing. As a public educator and member of the Portland community, it is our duty to ensure ALL families are equipped with the resources and support needed to access a high-quality education. We are so grateful to have Slumberkins partnership in this effort.

Slumberkins Fox creature and accompanied storybook provide a resource for caregivers and children coping with big transitions. Foxs story provides guidance and tools to cope with the big feelings and emotions children experience, helping them get through the most difficult parts of change.

Creating positive attachments to the people in their lives that make them feel safe and loved can help to ease anxiety, even when other factors around them are changing, and the Fox creature and story foster those positive feelings, said Kelly Oriard family therapist and co-founder of Slumberkins. By joining us to #GiveAFox, you help us provide these valuable tools to elementary children and support their education and social-emotional development.

Founded by two moms and educators, Slumberkins was created to give parents, caregivers and educators tools to help raise caring, confident and resilient children. Through the #GiveAFox campaign, Slumberkins is working to ensure those who need it most have access to their story books, cuddly creatures and resources to support emotional wellness. To learn more visit slumberkins.com/giveafox.

ABOUT SLUMBERKINS

Slumberkins is a leading educational childrens brand created to promote early emotional learning. Their collections of cuddly creatures and books make the perfect intentional gift, resonating with those looking to take an active role in childrens social development. Founded by two moms and educators, Callie Christensen and Kelly Oriard are on a mission to create a more meaningful childrens product line that is easily implemented into daily routines through the use of affirmations. Every creature and story provides digestible therapeutic techniques and normalizes conversations about big feelings.

Started in 2015 and fueled by an appearance on Shark Tank and an engaged social media presence, Slumberkins has experienced tremendous growth. The company has been named one of Inc. 5000s Fastest-Growing Private Companies two years in a row, Number 6 on Portland Business Journals 2021 Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies, and winner of both Parents Magazine Best Toy Award and Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award. Slumberkins has signed with the Jim Henson Company to co-produce a television show to bring the characters to life, providing an even greater platform to educate children and families on the importance of social-emotional learning. To learn more, visit www.slumberkins.com and follow them on Instagram , Facebook and Pinterest .

Media Inquiries:

Jennifer McFerron Sloan

jenn@commodditiesinc.com



Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0cfccae1-d361-476e-b149-eafc784932e5

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7430433b-83a8-411a-b0f4-f4bd4fb6e4f9
LONDON, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to The Business Research Companys research report on the sugar substitutes market, the development of the fermentation process is a key trend gaining popularity in the sugar substitutes market. The fermentation process is increasingly being used to develop sugar substitute products from the stevia plant. Fermentation is being used by scientists as a unique method for making Rebaudioside M (Reb-M) to sustain the purity and sweetness of sugarcane in natural sugar substitutes similar to regular sugar.

For instance, in 2020, Amyris, a US-based biotechnology company adopted the fermentation method to expand their non-sugar sweetener products and developed zero-calorie sweeteners with a similar taste to regular sugar. The new method allows Amyris to make higher purity, higher quantity, and low-cost sustainable sugar with the best taste.



The main types of sugar substitutes are high-intensity sugar substitutes, low-intensity sugar substitutes, and high fructose syrup. High-intensity sugar substitutes are sweeteners with greater intensity of sweetness compared to regular sugar. High-intensity sugar substitutes are used as sweeteners in food in low quantity and contribute few calories. High-intensity sugar substitutes come in different forms including aspartame, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame, potassium, and advantame. The origin of sugar substitutes is from natural and artificial sources and is available in solid and liquid forms. Sugar substitutes are used in food, beverages, nutrition and supplements, pharmaceuticals, animal feeds, and personal care.

The Business Research Companys report titled Sugar Substitutes Global Market Report 2021 - By Type (High Intensity, Low Intensity, High Fructose Syrup), By Source (Natural Synthetic), By Origin (Natural, Artificial), By Form (Solid, Liquid), By Application (Food, Beverages, Nutrition And Health Supplements, Pharmaceuticals, Animal Feed, Personal Care), COVID-19 Growth And Change cover major sugar substitutes companies, sugar substitutes market share by company, sugar substitutes manufacturers, sugar substitutes market size, and sugar substitutes market forecasts. The report also covers the global sugar substitutes market and its segments.

Request for a sample of the global sugar substitutes market report:

https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/sample.aspx?id=5427&type=smp

The sugar substitutes market consists of sales of sugar substitute products by entities (organization, sole traders, and partnerships) that are chemical or plant-based substances used in food and drinks as additives to enhance sweet flavor. Sugar substitutes provide health benefits due to low calories and can be consumed in a variety of ranges including stevia, aspartame, maltitol, neotame, and others. Sugar substitutes are used in breakfast cereals, pudding, tea, and other sweet beverages.

The global sugar substitute market is expected to grow from $17.57 billion in 2020 to $19.00 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1%. The growth of the sugar substitutes market is mainly due to the companies resuming their operations and adapting to the new normal while recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The sugar substitutes market is expected to reach $23.96 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 6%.

In December 2020, Tate & Lyle, a UK-based company that provides food and beverage ingredients and solutions acquired Sweet Green Fields (SGF) for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, Tate & Lyle will expand its portfolio for stevia products and will gain a fully integrated stevia supply chain, including leaf sourcing, leaf varietal development, established agricultural programs, and cost-effective manufacturing. Sweet Green Fields (SGF) is a US-based company that provides sugar substitute products.

Major players in the sugar substitutes market are DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Tate & Lyle, Cargill Inc., Ingredion Incorporated, Roquette Freres, PureCircle Ltd, Ajinomoto Co. Inc., JK Sucralose Inc., Stevia Corp., Sweetly Stevia, Kerry Group, Biosweet Ventures, Shandong Aojing Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Sunrise Nutrachem Group Co.Ltd, and Hunan Nutramax Inc.

North America was the largest region in the sugar substitutes market in 2020. The Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the sugar substitutes market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa.

Sugar Substitutes Global Market Report 2021  COVID-19 Growth And Change is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provide market overviews, analyze and forecast market size and growth for the whole market, segments and geographies, trends, drivers, restraints, leading competitors revenues, profiles and market shares in over 1,000 industry reports, covering over 2,500 market segments and 60 geographies.

The report also gives an in-depth analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the market. The reports draw on 150,000 datasets, extensive secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. A highly experienced and expert team of analysts and modelers provides market analysis and forecasts. The reports identify top countries and segments for opportunities and strategies based on market trends and leading competitors approaches.

Here Is A List Of Similar Reports By The Business Research Company:

Natural Sweeteners Global Market Report 2021 - By Type (Stevia, Sorbitol, Xylitol, Mannitol, Erythritol, Sweet Proteins), By Application (Bakery Goods, Sweet Spreads, Confectionery And Chewing Gums, Beverages, Dairy Products), By End-User (Food And Beverages, Pharmaceutical, Direct Sales), COVID-19 Growth And Change

Sugar And Confectionery Products Global Market Report 2021 - By Type (Sugar, Confectionery Product), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, E-Commerce), COVID-19 Impact and Recovery

Milk Substitutes (Non Dairy Milk) Global Market Report 2021 - By Type (Soy Milk, Almond Milk, Rice Milk), By Application (Food, Beverages), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets, Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Specialty Stores, Online Retail Stores), By Formulation (Plain-Sweetened, Plain-Unsweetened, Flavored-Sweetened), COVID-19 Growth And Change

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wikisoft Corp. (the "Company," "we," and "our") (OTCQB:WSFT) - The global Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated digital transformation, perhaps, more than any other influence in the last decade. Whilst some businesses have had to adapt or resign from activity altogether, others have seen continual growth. Amongst the companies that have benefitted, some have seen unprecedented growth driven by changing consumer demand.

One area of business that has quickly evolved digitally is how companies hire new workers. This concerns almost all of the steps in the recruitment cycle. In the days of the pre-technology recruitment, the HR function was limited by geological factors along with the lack of resources, now, technology has afforded us an easier way to reach top talent across the globe and platforms for both freelancers and those looking for full-time jobs are increasing in number and popularity. A big player in professional networking, LinkedIn, reported a 25% revenue increase in the last quarter and also reported that they made $3 billion in ad revenue (ending March 2021).

According to this recent Forbes article How the Pandemic Has Forever Changed Hiring, about half the workforce are still working remotely. This opens up a much bigger pool of potential employees. The question is how do employees and employers find each other in this new world and how does technology play its part in hyper accelerating the process?



Wikisoft (OTCQB:WSFT) has seen a frenzy of activity since Carsten Falk the former Dominos CEO took over at the helm. Not surprising, since he took Domino's online sales from 33% to 80% within six months and was awarded twice for best global online sales by Domino's International.

In a recent video interview with San Francisco-based Proactive Group, Falk, Wikisofts CEO, explained how Wikisofts vision is to use the power of big data to create opportunities globally for business professionals and businesses to make informed career and hiring decisions. Wikiprofile.com has a database now exceeding 175 million business profiles. The flagship online platform aims to be the go-to solution with tools and resources for businesses and business professionals to find valid information quickly and easily so that they can make informed career and hiring decisions. By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, Wikisoft processes millions of data elements and refines them into tangible and valuable analytical insights on Wikiprofile.



ABOUT WIKISOFT CORPORATION

In line with increasing globalization, we believe that there is a growing demand for access to credible company and employee information worldwide. Wikisoft's flagship online platform, Wikiprofile.com, aims to be a powerful solution with tools and resources for businesses and business professionals.

Our vision is to create opportunity globally for business people and companies to make informed career and hiring decisions. Manifesting this vision requires scaling information technology with high data validity across the key pillars: business professionals, businesses, job opportunities and professional skills. By pursuing this vision, we believe Wikisoft Corp. can enable users to connect to business opportunities on a global scale. In line with increasing globalization, there is a growing demand for access to credible business and employee information worldwide.



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature about the Company. You can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "is/are likely to," "future" or other similar expressions. The Company has based these forward-looking statements primarily on the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect Company's financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. There is no assurance that the Company's current expectations and projections are accurate. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on the Company's information on the date hereof. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements except as required under applicable law. This press release does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, nor any solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, issue, subscribe for, sell, or otherwise dispose of any securities of the Company. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.



CONTACT

WikiSoft Corp.

315 Montgomery Street, San Francisco,

CA 94104, USA

Phone: +1-800-706-0806

Email: investor@wikisoft.com

Investor site: www.wikisoft.com

SOURCE: WikiSoft Corp.
Newark, NJ, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by Fior Markets, the global sinus dilation devices market is expected to grow from USD 2.2 billion in 2020 to USD 4.5 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 9.4% during the forecast period 2021-2028.

The global sinus dilation devices market is witnessing significant growth from the past years. The growth is attributed to the rising cases of chronic sinusitis are foreseen to provide scope for players present in the market. Apart from this, rapid advancement in technology is helping the manufacturers come up with new devices like balloon sinus dilation systems, which is likely to provide an extra boost to the market growth. Balloon sinus dilation system is expected to be preferred more by physicians as these devices are less invasive and more effective. Growing initiatives by the government of many countries, particularly developing countries, to build healthcare infrastructure also drive market growth. Rise in investment to create new market devices to propel sinus dilation devices market growth.

Sinus is a massive clinical condition wherein the cavities across the nasal passages grow to be inflamed. Acute sinusitis may be brought about with the aid of using allergies or bloodless and can resolve on its own. It may be caused because of the infection or swelling of the tissues lining the sinuses. Sinus dilation devices extend the sinus opening of the nostril during sinus surgeries, thereby treating the drainage problem associated with nasal sinuses. Sinus dilation devices also consist of endoscopes and hand-held devices used to visualize and guide all through sinus dilation procedures.

The global sinus dilation devices market is witnessing a significant growth, owing to the increase in the chronic sinusitis, minimally invasive procedures, rapidly growth in geriatric population, and favorable reimbursement scenario in developed countries. The factors restraining the market growth are the rise in prescription drugs such as decongestants and antibiotics to treat sinusitis is likely to dissuade users from adopting sinus dilation devices.

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Key players operating in the global sinus dilation devices market include Jilin Coronado Medical, Entellus Medical, InAccel, Acclarent, dalENT Medical, Creganna Medical, Medtronic, Meril Life Sciences, SinuSys Corporation, Olympus Corporation, and Intersect ENT. To gain a significant market share in the global sinus dilation devices market, the key players are now focusing on adopting strategies such as product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, recent developments, joint venture, collaborations, and partnership.

Intersect ENT, a significant player in the sinus dilation device market, announced the launch of the SINUVA sinus implant in the year 2019. The company mentioned that this would be a new way of treating nasal polyp disease in adults who already had sinus surgery.

In the year 2018, Stryker Corporation finalized its merger agreement to acquire Entellus Medical, a high-growth global medical technology company, for USD 662 million. The company Entellus Medical focuses on providing minimally invasive solutions for different ear, throat, and nose conditions.

In February 2019, Stryker announced the acquisition of Arrinex, a California-based medical device company to grow the portfolio of Strykers ENT Unit.

In April 2017, the Olympus Corporation entered into a contract to acquire Image Stream Medical, Inc. to improve medical solution assistance to healthcare facilities.

Handheld instruments segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 25.4% in the year 2020

On the basis of product, the global sinus dilation devices market is segmented into sinus implants, sinuscopes, rhinoscopes, handheld instruments, balloon sinus dilation devices. Handheld instruments segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 25.4% in the year 2020. This growth is attributed to the increasing number of sinus patients across the globe.

Hybrid sinus dilation procedures segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 58.7% in the year 2020

On the basis of procedure, the global sinus dilation devices market is segmented into hybrid sinus dilation procedures, standalone sinus dilation procedures. Hybrid sinus dilation procedures segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 58.7% in the year 2020. This growth is attributed to the combination of standalone dilation and endoscopy surgery resulting in greater success rate.

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Hospital segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 48.9% in the year 2020

On the basis of end-use, the global sinus dilation devices market is segmented into physicians office, hospital, ambulatory surgical centres, and others. Hospital segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 48.9% in the year 2020. This growth is due to the rising sinus dilation routine checkups conducted in the hospitals.

Regional Segment of Global Sinus Dilation Devices Market

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan India, Rest of APAC)

South America (Brazil and Rest of South America)

Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)

On the basis of geography, the global sinus dilation devices market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. North America region held the largest market share of 43.2% in the year 2020. This growth is ascertained by the U.S., owing to the advanced technology and the presence of the key manufacturers in the country.

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The global sinus dilation devices market is analysed on the basis of value (USD billion), volume (K Units), export (K Units), and import (K Units). All the segments have been analysed on global, regional and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insights of the market. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, and competitors position grid analysis.

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WESTPORT, Conn., Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HMG Strategy, the Worlds #1 digital platform for enabling technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world, is excited to be hosting its in-person 2021 HMG Live! Charlotte IT Executive Leadership Summit on December 1. HMG Strategys highly interactive events bring together the worlds most distinguished and innovative business technology leaders to discuss the most pressing leadership, strategic, cultural, technology and career challenges and opportunities that they face today  and into the future.



World-class business technology and industry executives at this in-person event, being held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Ayrsley and developed in partnership with the SIM Charlotte Region Chapter, will be focused in part on the steps needed by CIOs and IT leaders to sharpen their leadership competencies and bolster their personal branding to help win the global war for talent. Speakers and attendees will also explore effective techniques for building a resilient global supply chain along with opportunities for maturing cybersecurity frameworks through a blend of people, processes and technology.

The global war for talent is a top priority for CIOs, CISOs and business technology leaders, said Hunter Muller, President and CEO of HMG Strategy. Savvy CIOs who leverage the strength of their personal brands and demonstrate authentic, compassionate and inclusive leadership competencies stand to win in their efforts to recruit, retain and grow the talent needed to power the 21st Century enterprise.

Top-tier CIOs, CISOs and industry executives speaking at the 2021 HMG Live! Charlotte IT Executive Leadership Summit will include:

Lekha Banerjee , Engineering Data Technology Executive, Financial Services

, Engineering Data Technology Executive, Financial Services Shoukat Ali Bhamani , Chief Information and Digital Officer, Schaeffler Group Americas

, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Schaeffler Group Americas Todd Buelow , Principal, Dualboot Partners

, Principal, Dualboot Partners Henry Capello , CISO, Albemarle Corporation

, CISO, Albemarle Corporation Michael Fulton , VP of Commercial Operations and Product Strategy, Expedient

, VP of Commercial Operations and Product Strategy, Expedient Karl Hightower , Chief Data Officer, Novant Health

, Chief Data Officer, Novant Health Amy Kazmierczak , Chief People Officer, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

, Chief People Officer, Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Michael LaVallee , Managing Partner, Jobplex

, Managing Partner, Jobplex Amish Patel , CIO, Aflac

, CIO, Aflac Jaimee Robles , Health Plan Systems Officer, RVP, Centene Corporation

, Health Plan Systems Officer, RVP, Centene Corporation Jeff Stovall , Director, Director, Strategy and Development, North America Government CX Applications, Oracle Corporation

, Director, Director, Strategy and Development, North America Government CX Applications, Oracle Corporation Chris Terhune , SVP Technology Business Management, LPL Financial

, SVP Technology Business Management, LPL Financial Patrick Thompson, CIO, Albemarle Corporation



Valued Partners for the 2021 HMG Live! Charlotte IT Executive Leadership Summit include Akamai, Auth0, BetterCloud, Centene Corporation, Charlotte Area Technology Collaborative, Darktrace, Expedient, Forescout Technologies, Globant, Insight, North Carolina Technology Association, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SIM Charlotte, Singtel, Skybox Security, Zoom and Zscaler.

To learn more about the 2021 HMG Live! Charlotte IT Executive Leadership Summit and to register for this thought-provoking event, click here.

HMG Strategy will also be hosting its flagship 2021 HMG Live! New York CIO Summit of America at The Westin New York at Times Square on December 7. Timely topics to be explored at this in-person event, designed in partnership with SIM New York Metro, will include the bold leadership techniques that are enabling CIOs and technology leaders to innovate and reimagine the business with the CEO and the executive team; fresh cybersecurity strategies that are needed to safeguard the enterprise into the future; along with the evolving role of CIOs, CDOs and technology executives in driving new revenue streams and go-to-market strategies.

World-class CIOs and industry executives speaking at the 2021 HMG Live! New York CIO Summit of America will include:

Jeff Artis , President and CEO, Genesys Works

, President and CEO, Genesys Works Marianne Bachynski , Chief Information Officer, Investments, AIG

, Chief Information Officer, Investments, AIG Christopher Callahan , CISO, The Weichert Companies

, CISO, The Weichert Companies Stephen M.R. Covey , Bestselling Author, The Speed of Trust

, Bestselling Author, The Speed of Trust Richard Entrup , Startup Advisor/Investor and Global Technology Leader, Verizon

, Startup Advisor/Investor and Global Technology Leader, Verizon Lookman Fazal , Chief Information & Digital Officer, NJ Transit

, Chief Information & Digital Officer, NJ Transit Chris Gates , Group CIO and SVP Hosting Services, Allstate

, Group CIO and SVP Hosting Services, Allstate Rocco Grillo , Managing Director, Global Cyber Risk Services & Incident Response Investigation, Alvarez & Marsal

, Managing Director, Global Cyber Risk Services & Incident Response Investigation, Alvarez & Marsal Douglas Hegley , Chief Digital Officer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

, Chief Digital Officer, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Scott Hofmann , Managing Director, Globant

, Managing Director, Globant Stuart Kippelman , CIO, Parsons Corporation

, CIO, Parsons Corporation Warren Kudman , VP & CIO, Turner Construction Company

, VP & CIO, Turner Construction Company Tony Leng , Managing Director, Digital Transformation and CIO Practice Lead, Diversified Search

, Managing Director, Digital Transformation and CIO Practice Lead, Diversified Search Robert Lux , EVP & COO, Cenlar FSB

, EVP & COO, Cenlar FSB David Morris , Founder, Chairman & CEO, HiPER Solutions

, Founder, Chairman & CEO, HiPER Solutions Vipul Nagrath , SVP Product Development, ADP, Inc.

, SVP Product Development, ADP, Inc. Nicholas Parrotta , Chief Digital & Information Officer, HARMAN International

, Chief Digital & Information Officer, HARMAN International Frank Price , SVP & Chief Information Risk Officer, Labcorp

, SVP & Chief Information Risk Officer, Labcorp Scott Sellers , President & CEO, Azul

, President & CEO, Azul Janet Sherlock , CIO, Ralph Lauren Corporation

, CIO, Ralph Lauren Corporation Erik Tomasi , Managing Partner, Symosis Security

, Managing Partner, Symosis Security Rhonda Vetere , EVP & CIO, Herbalife

, EVP & CIO, Herbalife David Walter, EO&T Transformation, Citi



Valued Partners for the 2021 HMG Live! New York CIO Summit of America include Aisera, Akamai, Auth0, Azul, BetterCloud, Darktrace, DataStax, Forescout Technologies, Genesys Works, Globant, NPower, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SIM New York Metro, Skybox Security, Zoom and Zscaler.

To learn more about the 2021 HMG Live! New York Summit of America and to register for the event, click here.

HMG Strategy will also be hosting its in-person 2021 HMG Live! New York CISO Executive Leadership Summit at The Westin New York at Times Square on December 8. World-class CISOs and security leaders attending this custom event will explore the CISOs role in shaping business continuity planning; various ways that the CISO role has and is continuing to evolve; along with expert advice on winning the global war for security talent.

Foremost security leaders speaking at the 2021 HMG Live! New York CISO Executive Leadership Summit on Dec. 8 will include:

Michael Coden , Platinion Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group

, Platinion Managing Director, Boston Consulting Group Mignona Cote , Head of Security AWS Global and Strategic Accounts, Amazon Web Services

, Head of Security AWS Global and Strategic Accounts, Amazon Web Services Stephen M.R. Covey , Bestselling Author, The Speed of Trust

, Bestselling Author, The Speed of Trust Rocco Grillo , Managing Director, Global Cyber Risk Services & Incident Response Investigation, Alvarez & Marsal

, Managing Director, Global Cyber Risk Services & Incident Response Investigation, Alvarez & Marsal John Iannarelli , Former FBI Special Agent and Senior Executive Advisor, FBI

, Former FBI Special Agent and Senior Executive Advisor, FBI Min Kyriannis , CEO, Amyna Systems

, CEO, Amyna Systems Shamla Naidoo , Head of Cloud Strategy, Netskope; Board Director, QBE, SAC and Reference Point

, Head of Cloud Strategy, Netskope; Board Director, QBE, SAC and Reference Point Abe Peled , Chairman, ARMO

, Chairman, ARMO Frank Price, SVP & Chief Information Risk Officer, Labcorp



Valued Partners for the 2021 HMG Live! New York CISO Executive Leadership Summit include Akamai, Auth0, BetterCloud, Citrix, Darktrace, Forescout Technologies, Globant, Insight, Nutanix, Palo Alto Networks, Qnext Corp., RingCentral, SafeGuard Cyber, SIM New York Metro, Skybox Security, Zoom and Zscaler.

To learn more about the 2021 HMG Live! New York CISO Executive Leadership Summit and to register for the event, click here.

To learn about all of HMG Strategys Upcoming CIO & CISO Summits, click here.

About HMG Strategy

HMG Strategy is the world's leading digital platform for connecting technology executives to reimagine the enterprise and reshape the business world. The HMG Strategy global network consists of more than 400,000 CIOs, CTOs, CISOs, CDOs, senior business technology executives, search industry executives, venture capitalists, industry experts and world-class thought leaders. HMG Strategys global media model generates more than 1 million impressions per week, providing vast opportunities for business technology leaders and sponsor partners to promote themselves and their brands.

HMG Strategy was founded in 2008 by Hunter Muller, a leadership expert who has worked side-by-side with Fortune 2000 executives with strategic planning and career ascent for the past 30+ years. HMG Strategys regional and virtual CIO and CISO Executive Leadership Series, authored books and Digital Resource Center deliver unique, peer-driven guidance from CIOs, CISOs, CTOs, CDOs and technology executives on leadership, innovation, transformation and career ascent. HMG Strategy offers a range of peer-led research services such as its CIO & CISO Executive Leadership Alliance (CELA) program which bring together the worlds top CIOs, CISOs and technology executives to brainstorm on the top opportunities and challenges facing them in their roles.

HMG Strategys Research Stack is a unique set of research services that are designed to keep business technology executives up to speed on the latest and global geo-economic trends that are impacting businesses and industries.

HMG Ventures is a venture capital unit thats designed to connect CIOs, CTOs, CISOs and other technology executives with innovative early-stage technology companies from Silicon Valley to Tel Aviv. HMG Ventures provides technology executives with a window into hot emerging technology companies that can help move the needle for their businesses while also offering these executives unparalleled personal investment opportunities. One early-stage investment in an enterprise-level AI-powered service management provider has generated a 100X return.

HMG Strategy also produces the HMG Security Innovation Accelerator Panel, a new webinar series thats designed to connect enterprise technology and security leaders with the most innovative technology and cybersecurity companies from across the world.

To learn more about the 7 Pillars of Trust for HMG Strategy's unique business model, click here.

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AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Uptime.com , a leading website performance monitoring tool, will be releasing its 2021 industry study to help websites and online stories protect against peak shopping surges this holiday season.

The company's whitepaper comes at a critical time for online sellers grappling with significantly accelerated digital growth in 2020. Consumers spent $791.70 billion with U.S. merchants in 2020  an incredible 32.4% year-over-year increase, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce . Expectations for 2021 are at an all-time high. Website conversion rates can drop by nearly 5% for each additional second of load time between zero to five seconds.

Simultaneously, COVID-19 has helped drive massive surges in global digital traffic and engagement forecast to represent 35% of 2021's total sales.

At no time of the year is this surge felt more than Cyber Monday and Black Friday. According to Adobe Analytics , shoppers spent $10.8 billion online during Cyber Monday 2020  a 15.1% year-over-year increase. This not only represented the largest internet shopping day in U.S. history but also the first where 25% of Cyber Monday's total revenue  $2.7 billion  happened over the day's final hours, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. PST.

"The sheer volume of online shopping traffic and transactions seen in 2020 should be a clear wake-up call for online sellers that website performance equals revenue success," said Uptime.com CMO, Yoni Solomon . "Some industries and regions forecast traffic surges greater than 50%  which means website downtime monitoring will make or break successful holiday sales seasons."

Uptime.com's e-commerce website monitoring whitepaper will be free to download and contains best practices for online businesses to:

Use Uptime.com to monitor your website with a 21-day free trial at: https://uptime.com .

About

Uptime.com provides peace of mind to thousands of customers like Apple, Microsoft, IBM, Palo Alto Networks, Kraft and BNP Paribas, who trust the company to monitor the performance, health and downtime of their websites, applications and infrastructure.

The company has been recognized as one of the world's best web monitoring solutions by G2 and TechRadar Pro for several consecutive years, including this one.

Start monitoring in minutes with a 21-day free trial at www.uptime.com .

Contact:

Mike Albanese

mike.albanese@newswire.com

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TORONTO, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Starting November 15, 2021, it will be easier than ever for sun-seekers to head back to the Canadian favourite destination of Cuba with Sunwing. The tour operator has announced that the popular island will be deemed an Easy Entry Destination amid lifted entry restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers right in time for the holiday season. To ensure a frictionless experience, Sunwing is offering flights to Cuba from gateways across Canada in addition to zero change fees, free COVID-19 medical coverage and travel requirements made easy.



To make the process as seamless as possible, fully vaccinated travellers wont need to provide a negative test or quarantine upon arrival in Cuba as of November 15. Passengers will need to provide proof of vaccination, complete the health form provided on board and show proof of COVID-19 insurance upon arrival. Unvaccinated passengers will still be required to provide a negative PCR test taken a maximum of 72 hours before their flight departure, both to board their flight in Canada and to be allowed entry into Cuba.

We resumed flights to Cuba last month and our customers are loving being back in this popular vacation destination, commented Andrew Dawson, President of Tour Operations at Sunwing. From the pristine beaches to the friendly people and beautiful resorts, weve received overwhelmingly positive reviews. We look forward to resuming our Cuba program in full force now that its easier than ever to visit the iconic destination, and were excited to be bringing even more Canadians back to its sunny shores this winter.

Flights will be available from gateways across Canada including Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Bagotville, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Saskatoon to the popular Cuban destinations of Varadero, Cayo Coco, Cayo Santa Maria and Holguin. The full flight schedule can be found at sunwing.ca. More routes and dates are expected to be added in the coming months based on growing customer demand and to align with when additional regional airports gaining clearance for international flight operations.

Customers looking to head south as the weather gets colder and spend the holidays in the tropics can choose from a range of Cuban resorts for every travel style including last-minute packages. Families planning a fun-filled escape will love Memories Flamenco Beach Resort in Cayo Coco, featuring fun-filled activities for everyone in the family. Couples seeking romance can stay at the adults only Sanctuary at Grand Memories Varadero, featuring exclusive resort areas just steps from one of Varaderos world-famous beaches. Royalton Hicacos Resort & Spa is another popular choice for adults with a tranquil ambiance, sprawling pool with a waterfall and upgraded Diamond Club accommodation options.

To help make the return to Cuba as stress-free as possible, Sunwing is offering the ability for customers to change their plans anytime with no fees up to seven days prior to departure and free COVID-19 emergency medical coverage on most all inclusive packages, applicable on new bookings made between September 27 and December 6, 2021 for travel between November 1, 2021 and April 30, 2022.

About Sunwing

The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid.

For more information:

Melanie Anne Filipp

Director, Corporate Communications & Media Relations

Sunwing Travel Group

1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca

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NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Snap Inc. (NYSE: SNAP) resulting from allegations that Snap may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.



SO WHAT: If you purchased Snap 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-2188.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On October 21, 2021, Snap reported its third-quarter 2021 earnings, which missed revenue expectations. Snap cited Apples privacy changes as a source of disruptions to the Companys advertising business.

On this news, Snaps stock price fell $19.97 per share, or 26%, to close at $55.14 per share on October 22, 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 firms 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/.

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Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

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Wood Dale, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AAR (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs and OEMs, announced today that is has earned the 2022 Military Friendly Employer designation by VIQTORY.

The 19th annual list of Military Friendly Employers has been released on www.militaryfriendly.com and AAR will be showcased along with other awardees in the December 2021 issue of G.I. Jobs magazine. Institutions earning the award were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Over a thousand companies participated in the 2022 survey. AAR earned the rankings in the following categories: Military Friendly Employer, Military Spouse Friendly Employer, Military Friendly Supplier Diversity Program, Military Friendly Brand.

We are thrilled to once again be awarded the Military Friendly Employer designation, said Nicholas Gross, AAR Senior Vice President Integrated Solutions. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture that empowers our veterans and their families to be successful. Over 20% of our U.S. employees are veterans and all of our employees support the important work of our active military.

Companies earning the Military Friendly Employers designation create and elevate the standard for military programs across the globe, they have invested in substantive programs to recruit, retain and advance the veterans and service members within their organizations, said Kayla Lopez, Military Friendly Director of Military Partnerships. To them, hiring veterans and servicemembers is more than just the right thing to do, it makes good business sense.

For more information about AARs veteran career options, click here.

# # #

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through two operating segments: Aviation Services and Expeditionary Services. AARs Aviation Services include Parts Supply; OEM Solutions; Integrated Solutions; and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Services. AARs Expeditionary Services include Mobility Systems operations. Additional information can be found at www.aarcorp.com.

About Military Friendly

Military Friendly is the standard that measures an organizations commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 1,500 organizations compete annually for Military Friendly designation. Military Friendly ratings are owned by Viqtory, Inc., a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Viqtory is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly lists and methodology can be found at https://www.militaryfriendly.com/mfcguide/.

About VIQTORY

Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service disabled, veteran owned small business (SDVOSB) that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its owned assets such as Military Spouse Magazine, G.I. Jobs  and Military Friendly  brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not a part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more about VIQTORY at www.Viqtory.com.

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which reflect managements expectations about future conditions. Forward-looking statements may also be identified because they contain words such as anticipate, believe, continue, could, estimate, expect, intend, likely, may, might, plan, potential, predict, project, seek, should, target, will, would, or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to Risk Factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Companys control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

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Duluth, Georgia, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pace-O-Matic, Inc. is pleased to announce key management changes as the company enjoys rapid growth and expansion into new markets.

Pace-O-Matic is one of the leading providers of fun, interactive, and entertaining skill games. Its groundbreaking products provide supplemental revenue to support small businesses, social and fraternal clubs in several markets across the nation.

Paul Goldean, Pace-O-Matics President and Chief Operating Officer, announced that the following employees have been promoted to new positions: Gina Trumm Reinhardt as Chief Marketing Officer, Michael Barley as Chief Public Affairs Officer, and Rick Goodling as Director of National Compliance.

Pace-O-Matic has done a tremendous job of building the right team of experienced, qualified, and driven professionals capable of putting our company in the position to succeed today and in the future, Goldean said. We are proud to empower Gina Trumm Reinhardt, Michael Barley, and Rick Goodling -- and their new positions reflect their importance and contributions to the company.

Before being named Chief Marketing Officer, Gina Trumm Reinhardt served as the Vice President of Marketing for Pace-O-Matic.

In her expanded role, Gina is responsible for the oversight of the marketing and media strategy for the company. Before joining Pace-O-Matic, Gina was a director-level officer with Procter & Gamble.

Michael Barley most recently served as the Vice President of Public Relations for Pace-O-Matic. In his new role, Michael will be responsible for overseeing the government relations and communications for the company. Before joining Pace-O-Matic, Michael served as a government relations and political consultant in Pennsylvania, where he is recognized as one of the top professionals in his field.

Before being elevated to his new role, Rick Goodling most recently served as head of our Director of Compliance in Pennsylvania. Rick is a retired trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police, where he led the Compliance, Auditing, and Gambling Enforcement Unit.

These changes will help Pace-O-Matic as it continues to grow and expand into new markets by improving communications and engagement with employees, distributors, operators, and our dedicated customers utilizing our products across the nation. Pace-O-Matic is an industry leader in providing skill video games and establishing regulatory structures for our growing business.

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Dallas, TX , Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The process of criminal appeals is mysterious and often misunderstood. At Broden & Mickelsen, we are board-certified criminal appeals attorneys with decades of combined experience as federal criminal appeals attorneys, which means that we have extensive insight when it comes to the inner workings of appellate courts and appeals cases.

In this web resource, Broden & Mickelsen criminal appeals lawyers provide answers to frequently asked questions about federal criminal appeals cases and the appeals process covering:

When Can I File An Appeal?

How Soon Do I Have to File an Appeal in Texas?

Can I Appeal If I Accepted a Plea Bargain?

How Long Do Federal Appeals Take?

What Happens if I Win My Appeal?

What Happens if I Lose My Appeal?

Full Resource: Federal Criminal Appeals FAQs





About Dallas Federal Appellate Attorneys  Broden & Mickelsen

If you have been charged with criminal offenses, it is crucial to discuss your case with a criminal defense lawyer who has experience handling federal criminal appeals cases. Broden & Mickelsen provides aggressive and ethical representation to individuals and businesses accused of criminal offenses. The firm accomplishes this through its unique team approach to criminal defense, which involves both partners actively participating in the case.

To achieve a favorable resolution, Broden and Mickelsen evaluate each case individually and utilize all the resources available. The Texas Board of Legal Specialization has certified criminal defense attorneys Clint Broden and Mick Mickelsen as experts in criminal law for trials and appeals.

Call Broden & Mickelsen to discuss the details of your case today: (214) 720-9552.

https://www.brodenmickelsen.com

***ATTORNEY ADVERTISING***

Prior results cannot and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future case.



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LAS VEGAS, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Testimony continued this week in the high-stakes trial in which TeamHealth-affiliated Nevada emergency room clinicians seek millions in alleged underpayments from healthcare giant United. TeamHealth alleges that United, while reaping billions of dollars in profits from its Shared Savings Program, exposed its members to potentially millions of dollars in surprise medical bills. The former head of Uniteds Shared Savings Program, John Haben, returned to the stand yesterday for his fifth day and testified that United paid as little as 20% of the clinicians billed charges under a program which TeamHealth lawyer John Zavitsanos described as having no member protection.

Haben indicated, however, that United would pay surprise balance bills if a member complained about them. Zavitsanos asked Haben whether United had ever publicized that protection to members when it moved those members into the Shared Savings Program that exposed them to balance bills. Haben responded that members get an EOB [explanation of benefits] that says they can call if they have questions on the reimbursement. Zavitsanos pressed Haben, Sir, Im not talking about the fine print that says, call the office if you have a question. My question is, when you cut these rights the way you did, did you notify the membership that if you get balance billed, United will pay for it? Haben replied, Theres a message on the EOB. He later admitted, No. Theres no letter that goes out.

Court is closed today in honor of Veterans Day but will resume Friday. The trial is expected to continue into the week of Thanksgiving. TeamHealths more than 15,000 clinicians continue to watch the trial closely. At stake is the very ability of heroic frontline healthcare providers to get necessary reimbursements from large profitable insurers to cover the cost of the lifesaving care they provide.

For more details, see ProtectingOurHealthcareHeroes.com. To watch the proceedings in real-time, tune in to the livestream (Meeting ID: 541 907 772) from 9:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Pacific Time.

About TeamHealth

At TeamHealth, our purpose is to perfect the practice of medicine, every day, in everything we do. We are proud to be the leading physician practice in the U.S., driven by our commitment to quality and safety and supported by our world-class operating team. To improve the experience of our physicians and advanced practice clinicians, we empower clinicians to act on what they believe is right, free clinicians from distractions so they can focus on patient care, invest in learning and development to promote growth in the clinical field and foster an environment where continuous improvement is a shared priority. Through our more than 15,000 affiliated healthcare professionals and advanced practice clinicians, TeamHealth offers emergency medicine, hospital medicine, critical care, anesthesiology, orthopedic surgery, general surgery, obstetrics, ambulatory care, post-acute care and medical call center solutions to approximately 2,900 acute and post-acute facilities and physician groups nationwide. Join our team; we value and empower clinicians. Partner with us; we deliver on our promises. Learn more at www.teamhealth.com.

The term TeamHealth as used throughout this release includes Team Health Holdings, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates, affiliated medical groups and providers, all of which are part of the TeamHealth organization. Providers are physicians, advanced practice clinicians and other healthcare providers who are employed by or contract with subsidiaries or affiliated entities of Team Health Holdings, Inc. All such providers exercise independent clinical judgment when providing patient care. Team Health Holdings, Inc., does not have any employees, does not contract with providers and does not practice medicine.

The collective term United as used throughout this release references defendants, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company (UHIC), United HealthCare Services, Inc. (UHS), UMR, Inc. (UMR), Sierra Health and Life Insurance Co., Inc. (SHL), and Health Plan of Nevada, Inc. (HPN).

Case Name is Fremont Emergency Services (Mandavia), et al. vs. UnitedHealth Group, Inc et al. Case number is A-19-792978-B.

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ALPHARETTA, Ga., Nov. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Aptean, a global provider of mission-critical enterprise software solutions, announced the opening of its Madurai office. The new location will provide the company with access to top talent from the districts notable concentration of engineering and technology academic institutions and thriving tech community.



Madurai is an ideal district for Apteans next Center of Excellence, said TVN Reddy, CEO of Aptean. The talent pool is rich in highly qualified, recent college graduates and senior level domain experts. Access to a new source of skilled talent further supports Apteans investment in research and development and innovation, making it possible to deliver an exceptional experience for all our customers.

The office opened with 140 employees and is expected to more than double in size by the end of the first quarter of 2022. Apteans Madurai team will focus on expanding operational support, enhancing the customer experience and delivering incremental value for the companys growing customer base. Aptean expects the Madurai Center of Excellence to drive customer retention and facilitate increased customer demand for the security, efficiency and scalability available through cloud migration.

About Aptean

Aptean is one of the worlds leading providers of purpose-built, industry-specific software that helps manufacturers and distributors effectively run and grow their businesses. With both cloud and on-premise deployment options, Apteans products, services and unmatched expertise help businesses of all sizes to be Ready for Whats Next, Now. Aptean is headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia and has offices in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. To learn more about Aptean and the markets we serve, visit www.aptean.com.

Aptean and Ready for Whats Next, Now are Registered Trademarks of Aptean, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.

For Media Inquiries Please Contact

Nicole ORourke

Chief Marketing Officer

Nicole.Orourke@aptean.com

(770) 715-0362
MIAMI, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In an effort to further position the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine as a global leader in the field of urology, the Desai Sethi Family Foundation has made an extraordinary commitment of $20 million to the Miller Schools renowned Department of Urology. The Foundations generosity will help establish a premier Urology Institute within the Miller School, which will accelerate breakthrough advances in research, expand clinical care, and train future generations of urologists.

The Desai Sethi Urology Institute, as it will be known, will attract the brightest minds and recruit the most talented physician-scientists dedicated to the study and treatment of urologic disorders and fund innovative research in the field.

University of Miami President Julio Frenk, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., said, The Desai Sethi Family Foundations generosity propels the University into the upper echelon of institutes dedicated to the discovery and treatment of urologic disease  not just in South Florida, but worldwide. We are grateful for this commitment to the types of advances in health care that are only possible at an academic health system.

The Desai Sethi Family Foundation commitment is part of the University of Miamis recently announced Ever Brighter: The Campaign for our Next Century. The most ambitious in the Universitys history, the campaign has already raised more than $1.6 billion toward its $2.5 billion goal.

The Miller Schools Department of Urology has conducted research that has notably advanced the science of urology, publishing seminal work on the efficacy of robotic surgery, urologic cancers, mens health, endourology, male infertility, and in treating various urologic diseases.

The institutes founding director will be Dipen J. Parekh, M.D., the chief operating officer at the University of Miami Health System, professor and chair of the Department of Urology at the Miller School, the Victor A. Politano, M.D. Endowed Chair in Urology, and one of the worlds most experienced robotic surgeons in urologic oncology. In that role, he works closely with the NCI-designated Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the Miller School.

We are dedicated to exploring the latest discoveries in the laboratory and accelerating the most promising therapies from the lab into our clinics for the best possible treatment for patients, said Dr. Parekh, who is also director of robotic surgery. This generous gift will transform our ability to expand the scope and influence of our work, creating a thriving environment for new discoveries in the field that will benefit patients worldwide.



The Institute will be situated in South Florida, granting access to a multitude of patients from various backgrounds and cultures and will be an international destination for care. Institute researchers will be able to study health disparities in the treatment of both men and women with urological issues.

The creation of the Desai Sethi Urology Institute will be a new crown jewel for our health system, said Stuart Miller, chairman of the UHealth Board of Directors, chair of Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century, and a University of Miami trustee. This is an important milestone in the Universitys Ever Brighter fundraising campaign. This commitment demonstrates that UHealth and the Miller School of Medicine are at the forefront of patient care, research, and innovation and the leading health care system in our community.

Dean and chief academic officer of the Miller School, Henri R. Ford, M.D., M.H.A., described the creation of the Institute as transformative. He added, This is a defining moment that will distinctly elevate the level of groundbreaking research in urologic diseases, ultimately benefiting patients and impacting how we share that knowledge with the next generation of physician-researchers.

Leaders in the field of urology across the country affirm that countless lives can be saved around the world through the Desai Sethi Urology Institutes research, scientific investigation, and innovation under Dr. Parekhs expertise and guidance.

With his singular vision for excellence, superb administrative and organizational skills, and a fierce determination to contribute to global health, Dr. Parekh has built a stellar career spanning academic medicine, clinical practice, and institutional leadership, said Joel Sheinfeld, M.D., Florence and Theodore Baumritter/Enid Ancell Chair of Urologic Cancer, deputy chief of urology services, and director of the urology fellowship program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In leading the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, Dr. Parekh has a unique and well-deserved opportunity to assemble the necessary resources to further enhance innovation and multidisciplinary collaboration and to create unique synergies. This will allow the Institute to fulfill its highest mission of advancing the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of urologic diseases.

Dr. Dipen Parekh's individual abilities and accomplishments as a surgeon and scientist have been amazing and obvious. What he has also demonstrated, though, is visionary leadership, said Joseph A. Smith Jr., M.D., professor at the Department of Urologic Surgery at Vanderbilt University. This incredible gift will permit development of an institute which will launch the University of Miami into a position as one of the premier institutions worldwide in research and clinical care for patients with disorders within the discipline of urology and permit the introduction of new and exciting treatments.

There are only a select few freestanding urology institutes within the United States which makes the commitment from the Desai Sethi Family Foundation all the more impactful.

Dr. Dipen Parekh is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking urologic oncologists in our nation. His work has had a tremendous impact on how cancers of the kidney, prostate, and bladder are treated around the world. I cant think of a better steward of this remarkably generous gift to further the science of urology. I am confident that in the years to come, lives will be saved through the scientific investigations supported by the Institute, said Ian Thompson Jr., M.D., professor emeritus at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

The new urology institute will be named and known as the Desai Sethi Urology Institute. The University of Miami will further honor the donors generosity by naming the Professional Arts Center, located at 1150 N.W. 14th Street, the Desai Sethi Medical Center.

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Around Cape Ann is a column devoted to events happening on Cape Ann and artists from Cape Ann performing elsewhere. If you would like to submit an item, contact reporter Gail McCarthy at 978-675-2706 or gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com at least two weeks in advance.
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
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At COP26 in Glasgow, 23 country governments; 10 governments in emerging markets and developing economies; 40 cities, states and regional governments; 11 automakers; 27 fleet owners and operators or shared mobility platforms; 13 investors with significant shareholdings in automotive manufacturers; 2 financial instituions; and 17 other organizations signed a declaration committing to working together towards all sales of new cars and vans being zero emissions globally by 2040, and by no later than 2035 in leading markets.

The declaration is not legally binding and is focused on a global level.

We will support efforts to achieve the road transport breakthrough announced by world leaders, which aims to make zero emission vehicles the new normal by making them accessible, affordable and sustainable in all regions by 2030.  We will work together to overcome strategic, political, and technical barriers, accelerate the production of zero emission vehicles and increase economies of scale, to make the transition faster, lower cost, and easier for everyone. We will also work together to boost investment, bring down costs and increase the uptake of zero emission vehicles and the many economic, social and environmental benefits it brings. We recognize that alongside the shift to zero emission vehicles, a sustainable future for road transport will require wider system transformation, including support for active travel, public and shared transport, as well as addressing the full value chain impacts from vehicle production, use and disposal. COP 26 Declaration

Signatories by category:

Governments: Austria; Azerbaijan; Cambodia; Canada; Cape Verde; Chile; Croatia; Cyprus; Denmark; El Salvador; Finland; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Poland; Slovenia; Sweden; United Kingdom.

Governments in emerging markets and developing economies: Dominican Republic; Ghana; India  two-wheelers and three-wheelers constitute more than 70% of global sales and more than 80% in India. All governments should also support the transition of these light vehicles to zero emission vehicles; Kenya; Secretariat of Economy, Mexico; Morocco; Paraguay; Rwanda; Turkey; Uruguay.

Cities, states and regional governments: Akureyri; Ann Arbor; Atlanta; Australian Capital Territory; Barcelona; Bologna; Bristol; British Columbia; Buenos Aires; California; Catalonia; Catamarca Province; Charleston; Dallas; Florence; Gangwon Province; Jeju Province; La Paz; Lagos; Los Angeles; New York; New York City; Northern Ireland; Quebec; Reykjavik; Rome; San Diego; San Francisco; Santa Monica; Sao Paolo; Scotland; Seattle; Sejong City; Seoul Metropolitan Government; Government of Sikkim; South Chungcheong Province; Ulsan Metropolitan City; Victoria; Wales; Washington (state).

Automotive manufacturers: Avera Electric Vehicles; BYD Auto; Etrio Automobiles Private Limited; Ford Motor Company; Gayam Motor Works; General Motors; Jaguar Land Rover; Mercedes-Benz; MOBI; Quantum Motors; Volvo Cars.

Fleet owners and operators or shared mobility platforms: ABB; Astra Zeneca; BT Group; Capgemini; Centrica; Danfoss; E.On; EDP; GlaxoSmithKline; Highland Electric Fleets HP Inc.; Iberdrola; Ingka Group/IKEA; LeasePlan Corporation; National Grid; Novo Nordisk; Openreach; Sainsburys; Siemens; SK Networks; Sky UK Limited; SSE; Tesco; Uber Technologies Inc.; Unilever; Vattenfall; Zenith; Zurich.

Investors with significant shareholdings in automotive manufacturers: Adrian Dominican Sisters  Portfolio Advisory Board; AP7; Arabesque Asset Management; Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment of the Presbyterian Church USA; Congregation of St Joseph; Daughters of Charity, Province of St Louise; EOS at Federated Hermes; Impax Asset Management Group; Local Authority Pension Fund Forum; Mercy Investment Services Inc.; NEI Investments; Office of the New York City Comptroller; Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investment.

Financial institutions: Aviva; NatWest.

Other signatories: ADS-TEC Energy GmbH; AMPLY Power; Autovert Technologies Private Limited; Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Drive Electric Campaign; Enzen Global Solutions Private Limited; FIA Foundation; Global EV Drivers Association; Grip Invest Advisors Private Limited; International Council on Clean Transportation; Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change; Indian Chamber of Commerce; International Trade Union Confederation; Ohm Mobility; RMI India; Urban Transport Authority for Lima and Callao; WeaveGrid.
The COP26 pledge by governments, automakers and others to sell only zero-emissions cars and vans from 2035 in leading markets and by 2040 elsewhere (earlier post) needs to be backed up with actual targets set down in law, green NGO Transport & Environment (T&E) said.

With China, the US, Germany and France absent from the declaration, it will take more than a non-binding commitment to make the shift, T&E commented.

The car industrys electrification plans place it ahead of regulators on climate action. But these wont materialize without actual targets to end car emissions by 2035 at the latest. The US and Europe, especially Germany and France, need to lead. Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and e-mobility at T&E

In a separate pledge, the UK announced it would end the sale of all new diesel trucks between 2035 and 2040. T&E said the policy, if implemented, is world-leading and places the UK at the head of the queue for ending the use of fossil fuels in vehicles by 2050.
Twenty airline members of the World Economic Forums Target True Zero initiative committed to utilizing new technologies, such as electric, hydrogen and hybrid aircraft, to address the challenge of climate change. The development and delivery of novel propulsion technologiespowered by sustainable energy sourceswere highlighted as key towards helping the aviation industry minimize its environmental impact.

The adoption of these technologies into the global fleetthrough either new aircraft design or the retrofitting of conventional aircraftcan help reduce the climate impact of our operations while preserving the immense economic and social benefits that aviation brings to the world. Target True Zero statement

The signatory airlinesAero; Air New Zealand; Air Nostrum; Alaska Airlines; Amelia; ASL Aviation Holdings; Braathens Regional Airlines; easyJet; Finistair; Icelandair; Iskwew Air; Loganair; Mokulele; Ravn Alaska; SoundsAir; Southern Airways Express; Surf Air Mobility; Viva Aerobus; Waltzing Matilda Aviation; Xwingoperate more than 800 aircraft and carry more than 177 million passengers on 1.8 million flights a year and hope to use this influence to create market demand for new types of aircraft.

Key commitments:

Short-haul flights first. Shorter range flights were recognized as most likely to employ novel propulsion first. The signatories committed to working towards 30% of aircraft, that serve routes of 750 km or less, that are added to their fleets from 2030 onwards employ novel propulsion technologies.

Scaling the technology in the future. The airlines also committed to decarbonizing longer range aircraft, once this becomes technologically and economically viable.

Partnership. The signatories called on aerospace manufactures to prioritize innovation that will allow them to meet these goals.

Public-private cooperation. The Target True-Zero airlines also urged governments to do their part in supporting the transition to cleaner aviation. Key calls included establishing policies to provide incentives for operators to adopt these technologies and addressing the infrastructure issues needed to support their use in airports across the world.

The Target True Zero initiative will address the role novel propulsion technologies like electric and hydrogen aviation can play in the transition to an aviation system with true zero climate impacts. It will address issues in the areas of technology, industry dynamics, infrastructure and supply chain, regulation, and public acceptance. Timothy Reuter, Head of Aerospace and Drones, of the World Economic Forum

The World Economic Forum launched the Target True Zero Initiative in July 2021. The Initiative aims to develop understanding about how novel propulsion technology can help address aviations climate impacts and how the deployment and scaling of these technologies can be accelerated.
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A Connecticut hospital petitioned the state Wednesday for permission to end its inpatient obstetrics program, citing difficulty recruiting medical professionals and a drop in the number of births.

Hartford HealthCares proposal for its Windham Hospital was met with opposition from community members and public officials during the public comment portion of the meeting. Speakers expressed concerns over access to health care for a rural community, longer travel times, maternal mortality rates, health disparities and the hospitals service suspension without a prior public hearing through the Office of Health Strategy.

As a nonprofit institution, Hartford HealthCare really has to think long and hard about how it is serving the public good, said state Rep. Anne Hughes, a Democrat whose legislative district includes Easton, Redding and Weston.

In this instance, it is putting the burden on expectant mothers to do the traveling in what might be the most difficult time of their pregnancy.

The hospital suspended its inpatient obstetrics program in June 2020 because of staffing challenges that were insurmountable, said Jennifer Fusco, an attorney for Hartford HealthCare.

Theres been a growing nationwide shortage of obstetricians for years. In 2017, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists predicted there would be a shortage of nearly 9,000 obstetricians and gynecologists by 2020.

Earlier this year, the Association of American Medical Colleges predicted there would be a shortage of 15,800 to 30,200 in surgical specialties, including obstetricians and gynecologists, by 2034. Throughout the pandemic, various hospitals across the country have paused their labor and delivery programs because of staffing shortages.

The proposal, at its core, is about patient safety, Fusco said. Its about a need to close a labor and delivery service that can no longer be operated in a safe and consistent manner.

The region has large Black and Hispanic populations, two demographics with higher maternal mortality rates than the non-Hispanic white population, speakers pointed out during Wednesdays hearing.

This is deemed as a civil rights issue and a violation of those civil rights, said Leah Ralls, president of the Windham-Willimantic NAACP branch.   Women have the right to bring life into this world in their own community, safe and sound.

But several staff members of Windham Hospital spoke in favor of the decision.

Melisha Cumberland, chief of medicine at Windham, said the programs end was a result of changes in the community.

Cumberland said the low volume means health care professionals are unable to maintain the skill levels needed, in particular, for difficult births.

With this low level [of births], obstetricians, gynecologists and pediatricians are unable to adequately maintain their skill level to deliver the quality and safety here associated with prenatal obstetrical and medical pediatric care, Cumberland said.

The hospital has seen fewer births in recent years. In fiscal year 2020, there were fewer than 100 births, according to the hospitals certificate of need application.

The hospital has the lowest number of births in the state, at 45 from October to March in fiscal year 2020. The highest number was at Yale New Haven with 3,112.

As the number of births at the hospital have dropped, so has the facilitys ability to recruit obstetricians and other specialty staff, said Donna Handley, president of Hartford HealthCares East Region, which includes Windham and Backus hospitals.

The hospital plans to provide transportation to and from Backus Hospital or other area facilities for patients in labor, Handley said. She also stressed that the hospital would maintain its prenatal and postnatal care programs.

Backus Hospital is about 17 miles away in Norwich.

There is no other choice, Handley said. We cannot fix this.  If there were physicians to be recruited, we would have recruited them.

Staff in the obstetrics unit were moved to other departments and none have lost their jobs, according to a Hartford HealthCare webpage.

Many who spoke in opposition to the closure voiced their concerns prior to Wednesdays hearing through the state Office of Health Strategy.

Among those opposed included state Rep. Susan Johnson, state Sen. Mae Flexer, women who have given birth at the hospital, health care advocates, Willimantic city council member Rodney Alexander, and members of a group called Windham United to Save Our Healthcare. State Rep. Brian Smith and Attorney General William Tong submitted written comments.

Asking these parents to travel an additional 25-45 minutes in order to undergo a major medical procedure at another hospital is not a mere inconvenience, it creates additional burden and risk for an already vulnerable mother and baby, Tong stated in his comments.

To that end, we urge your office to closely examine this application and balance the benefits of ending obstetric services at Windham Hospital with the consequences of doing so and consider what steps might be taken to bolster community-based prenatal and postpartum services for this high need population.

Public comments can be submitted up to seven days after Wednesdays hearing. The Office of Health Strategy then has 60 to 90 days to render a decision, although the hospital will have a chance to request a reconsideration.

Hearing officer Joanne Yandow ordered that the hospital produce 12 additional pieces of evidence in its case over the next couple of weeks, including financial records and maps of routes to the hospital, among other documentation.
BRUSSELS (AP)  Fears that the authoritarian leader of Belarus is using migrants and refugees as a hybrid warfare tactic to undermine the security of the European Union are putting new strains on some of the values and laws in the 27-nation bloc.

The crisis at the eastern frontiers of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia is fueling calls for the EU to finance the construction of something it never wanted to build: fences and walls at the border.

And this idea was voiced this week at a ceremony commemorating the fall of one of Europes most notorious and historic barriers, the Berlin Wall.

The border crisis with Belarus has been simmering for months. Top EU officials say the longtime authoritarian leader of Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko, is luring thousands of migrants and refugees to Minsk with the promise of help to get to western Europe.

Belarus denies it is using them as pawns, but the EU maintains Lukashenko is retaliating for sanctions it imposed on his regime after the president's disputed election to a sixth term last year led to antigovernment protests and a crackdown on internal dissent.

The crisis came to a head after large groups of asylum-seekers recently gathered at a border crossing with Belarus near the village of Kuznica, Poland. Warsaw bolstered security there, sending in riot police to turn back those who tried to cut through a razor-wire fence.

Polish lawmakers introduced a state of emergency and changed the country's asylum laws. Only troops have access to the area, to the dismay of refugee agencies and Polands EU partners. Lithuania is taking similar measures and has begun extending its border fence.

The EUs executive branch, the European Commission, believes walls and barriers are ineffective, and has so far resisted calls to fund them, although it will pay for infrastructure like surveillance cameras and equipment.

In the heightened security climate, that attitude may be changing.

We are facing a brutal, hybrid attack on our EU borders. Belarus is weaponizing migrants distress in a cynical and shocking way, European Council President Charles Michel said at an event in Germany on Tuesday, the 32nd anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

We have opened the debate on the EU financing of physical border infrastructure. This must be settled rapidly because Polish and Baltic borders are EU borders. One for all and all for one, Michel said.

That approach, and other border tactics, are sowing dismay. Addressing EU lawmakers Wednesday, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi called for European leadership and appealed to the bloc to avoid a race to the bottom on migration policy.

These challenges simply do not justify the knee-jerk reaction we have seen in some places: the irresponsible xenophobic discourse; the walls and barbed wire; the violent pushbacks that include the beating of refugees and migrants, sometimes stripping them naked and dumping them in rivers, or leaving them to drown in seas; the attempts to evade asylum obligations by paying other states to take on ones own responsibilities, Grandi said.

The European Union, a union based on rule of law, should and can do better," he said.

About 8,000 migrants have entered from Belarus this year, and border guards have prevented about 28,000 attempted crossings, according to European Commission figures.

Monique Pariat, a senior commission home affairs official, said most are Iraqis or Syrians, flying to Minsk from Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. They pay a lot of money to a state-owned tourist company, which goes into Lukashenkos pockets, she said.

Its the last thing Europeans want to see. The entry in 2015 of well over 1 million people, most fleeing conflict in the Middle East, sparked the EUs most intractable political crisis. They are unable to agree on who should take responsibility for refugees and migrants and whether other EU countries should be obliged to help.

Greece and Italy were on the front line six years ago. Spain has received thousands of asylum-seekers in recent years. Now, its the turn of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Many in the West believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin supports Lukashenko in targeting Europe.

They know very well that this is a subject that divides European Union member states. We must be very aware that it would be playing their game to bicker among ourselves, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, a conservative EU lawmaker from Luxembourg, said.

At a summit late last month, leaders of the bloc ordered the commission to propose any necessary changes to the EUs legal framework and concrete measures underpinned by adequate financial support to ensure an immediate and appropriate response.

A few weeks earlier, 12 member countries - Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia - had demanded that the European Commission bolster the rules governing Europes passport-free travel zone, known as the Schengen area.

They want stronger border protection and new tools to avoid the grave consequences of overburdened migration and asylum systems and exhausted accommodation capacities that might hurt public trust in the EU's ability to act decisively.

The question is whether these tools would constitute pushbacks - the denial of entry to people, often by force, without affording them any opportunity to apply for asylum  which are illegal under international refugee treaties and EU law.

EU officials and U.N. agencies already worry that Poland is denying access to its border area near Belarus, where thousands have been refused entry in circumstances that cannot be independently verified. Eight people have died in the border no mans land.

The commission is also examining recent changes to Polish law on the right to asylum, which seems in this case not to be assured, spokesman Adalbert Jahnz said.

As tensions mount, security is tightening and old methods are again gaining favor.

Europe must protect its external borders, and time has proven that the only effective solution is physical barriers to secure European citizens against the mass arrival of illegal migrants, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban wrote in a letter to the commission last week, seeking reimbursement for funds his government spent on its own border fences.

___

Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
WARSAW, Poland (AP)  Thousands marched in Warsaw on Thursday to mark Polands Independence Day, led by far-right groups calling for strong borders, while its troops blocked hundreds of new attempts by migrants to enter the country illegally from neighboring Belarus in a tense standoff.

Security forces patrolled the capital for the parade, which was peaceful, unlike those in recent years that have seen violence by some extremists.

Today there are not only internal disputes. Today there are also external disputes. Today there is an attack on the Polish border, march leader Robert Bakiewicz said in a speech, adding that all Poles should support those who are protecting the eastern frontier.

The march was overshadowed by events unfolding along Poland's border with Belarus, where thousands of riot police, troops and border guards are turning back migrants, many from the Middle East, who are trying to enter the European Union. Makeshift camps have sprung up in forests on the Belarusian side near a crossing at the Polish town of Kuznica, and with temperatures falling and access to the frontier restricted, there are fears of a humanitarian crisis.

EU officials have accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns in a hybrid attack to retaliate for sanctions imposed on his authoritarian regime for a harsh internal crackdown on dissent.

With the EU weighing more sanctions on Belarus, Lukashenko threatened to cut off Russian natural gas supplies to Europe that pass through a pipeline in his country. I would recommend the Poles, Lithuanians and other brainless people to think before they talk, he said.

The U.N. Security Council discussed the crisis privately but took no action, though six of its Western members condemned the use of human beings whose lives and well-being have been put in danger for political purposes by Belarus and called on the international community to hold Belarus accountable and to stop these inhumane actions.

Russias deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, called the EU members decision to raise the Belarus-Poland issue in the U.N.s most powerful body a total shame. He said Belarus is not to blame that people who came legally to Belarus want to enter EU countries.

Courts and Warsaws liberal Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski had banned the Independence Day march, which celebrates Poland's statehood, but right-wing authorities in the national government overrode the order and gave the gathering the status of a state ceremony.

The government's support for the far-right leaders of the march underlined how Polands right-wing ruling party wants their backing. It also is engaged in a political fight with the EU over changes to Poland's judiciary, seen in Brussels as an erosion of democratic norms, along with rhetoric viewed as discriminatory to LGBT groups.

In 2017, the parade drew tens of thousands and featured white nationalist and antisemitic slogans. The next year, the president, prime minister and other leaders marched the same route as the nationalists.

In seeking to ban the march, Trzaskowski argued that Warsaw, which was razed by Nazi Germany in World War II, is no place for fascist slogans.

Groups marched with Poland's white-and-red flags Thursday, but some also waved the green flags of the National Radical Camp displaying a stylized hand with a sword, a far-right symbol dating to the 1930s.

The standoff near the frontier crossing at Kuznica, 250 kilometers (155 miles) east of Warsaw, was on the minds of many at the march, and one banner in Warsaw read: We Thank the Defenders of Polands Borders.

Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik tweeted that some security forces will go directly from Warsaw to defend our border with Belarus. When marching, remember this!

About 15,000 Polish troops have joined riot police and guards at the border. The Belarusian Defense Ministry accused Poland of an unprecedented military buildup there, saying that migration control didn't warrant such a force.

The Polish Defense Ministry said the migrants made a number of attempts to cross the border since Wednesday, as they have all week.

Near the village of Bialowieza, where a few hundred migrants threw debris across the razor-wire fence at Polish troops and then tried to destroy it, shots were fired in the air to deter them, the ministry said. Near the village of Szudzialowo, migrants attacked a soldier in the chest with a tree branch, but he fired two warning shots in the air and was unhurt, the ministry said, adding that the attackers fled deeper into Belarus.

Since the start of the year, there have been 33,000 attempts to cross the border illegally, with 17,000 in October alone, the border guard service said.

At least eight migrants have died, officials said, and conditions have been getting worse with freezing nighttime temperatures. Video from Russian state media Thursday showed hundreds of migrants pushing and scrambling to get aid that was delivered to them, along with a woman being treated for what the report said was hypothermia.

Mulusew Mamo, a UNHCR representative in Belarus who visited the migrants, called the situation there catastrophic.

And in a day, it will be more catastrophic, I think," Mamo said, adding that aid is being distributed via the Red Cross and will continue for several days.

The crisis has been brewing since summer, with migrants trying to cross from Belarus to Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Many want to head for Germany, but Finland also is a destination.

Warsaw has taken a hard line, depicting the migrants as dangerous criminals and changing its law to allow the arbitrary rejection of asylum applications, something condemned by the U.N. refugee agency.

But Poland has largely gotten support on the border issue from Europe, facing only mild criticism for pushing the migrants back.

The problem is not Poland," said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. "The problem is Lukashenko and Belarus and its regime, and so Poland has earned our European solidarity in this situation.

But Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said it was shocking to see Europes inability to properly handle such a relatively low number of migrants at the Poland-Belarus border.

A few thousand people at Europes Polish border, many of whom have fled some of the worst crises in the world, is a drop in the ocean compared to the number of people displaced to countries that are much poorer elsewhere, he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko's main ally, for the second time in as many days. The Kremlin said they discussed the Poland-Belarus border and the importance of a quick settlement along international humanitarian norms.

Merkel's office said she stressed the crisis was brought about by the Belarusian regime, which is using defenseless people in a hybrid attack against the European Union.

Moscow and Minsk have close political and military ties, and Russia sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus for a second straight day in a strong show of support.

Lukashenko has emphasized the need to boost military cooperation in the face of what he has described as aggressive actions by NATO, which includes Poland.

The EU is looking at the role some airlines have played in carrying migrants and asylum-seekers to the bloc's doorstep, and there are reports that it is mulling sanctions against them.

Russias national carrier Aeroflot strongly denied any involvement, saying it isn't conducting any regular or charter flights to Iraq or Syria and didnt have any between Istanbul and Minsk.

A Turkish official with direct knowledge of the issue said Turkish Airlines would halt selling tickets to Iraqi and Syrian nationals for flights to Minsk as part of measures being considered by Turkey to help resolve the crisis. The official spoke on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the issue and because he was not authorized to announce company policy.

Iraq's Deputy Migration Minister Karim al-Nuri told the Russian state news agency Sputnik that his country will help its citizens who want to return from Belarus, working through its embassy in Russia because it doesn't have one in Belarus.

___

Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin, Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Vladimir Isachenkov and Daria Litvinova in Moscow, and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed.

___

Follow AP's migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
Instagram head Mr. Adam Mosseri announced that the company has started testing a new feature called "Take a Break" to help users curb their Instagram addiction and encourage them to take a break after spending a certain amount of time on the app.

It's an opt-in feature, which, after being turned on, will allow you to set in-app reminders to take a break from the Instagram app after continuously using it for 10, 20, or 30 minutes.



Instagram's "Take a Break" feature reminds you take a break from using the app

Mr. Mosseri said that the "Take a Break" feature is developed as a "part of the broader effort to try and give people more control over their experience of Instagram" and that we'll see "more ideas like this coming in the future too."

Instagram worked with third-party experts to develop the "Take a Break" feature, and it will begin rolling out to a small percentage of users over the coming days. The company plans to launch it sometime in December and if the testing goes smooth, "Take a Break" will be available to all users in a month or two.
Samsung pushed its fourth One UI 4 beta for the Galaxy S21 series last week, and today a company representative revealed it was the final one. The next firmware for the 2021 flagship will be the stable update but we still have no ETA.

The Community Manager on Beta operations revealed any issues with the fourth Beta will be fixed with the new package, which will be the official firmware. So barring the discovery of any major last-minute issues the next time an update notification arrives it should be for the Android 12-based One UI 4 stable version.

The Galaxy S21 smartphones will be the first to get the stable One UI 4, while Galaxy S20, Z Fold3, Z Flip3 and Note20 are next in line for the package. We expect the Galaxy S21 FE, scheduled for a launch in early 2022 to be the first phone to run the Android 12-based UI out of the box.

Via
The Venue in Hagatna is one of those rare bars where everybody really does know your name  and they can make you cocktails youd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else on the island.

Owner Phil Roberto and bartender Jun Piolo, known affectionately as Juntender, are passionate about the quality of their work while remaining remarkably down to earth. The way they see it, The Venue is a neighborhood bar, and everyone is welcome.

Its the local bar. And its everyone, its not a specific crowd. You know, I hear a lot of people say that Venue is this or its that  Venue is everything  We have the fundraiser crowd all the way down to the manamkos, thats pretty cool. But then you also get the happy hour crowd, everyone that just gets off from work, you do get the kids  You get the entire island, Piolo said.

Dealers choice

The semi-hidden secret, however, is that the drinks available arent limited to what meets the eye. Bottles and cans of beer, wine by the glass, and other basic standbys are readily available, but talking to your bartender and revealing a desire for something more complex will be met with untold riches.

I dont think we have a specific menu. Its almost like a dealers choice type. With Jun, and the rest of the staff, theyve trained, and they do a whole host of classic cocktails. They do excellent Old Fashioneds here, excellent martinis, great whiskey sour, New York sours, you know, to mention some of the classics, Roberto said.

But then, the staff, they talk, they engage with clients and say, What are you feeling tonight? And from that interaction, they have the ability to mix up something incredible.

Gathering inspiration at home and abroad

Roberto and Piolo travel often, both before and after the restrictive nature of travel during COVID-19. Pre-pandemic, they regularly attended festivals all over Asia geared toward industry professionals, soaking up all the latest trends in the international cocktail scene and products from brands the world over.

Piolo uses those trips as a launchpad for exercises in ingenuity.

I take every opportunity I can to travel. And the ingredients that I see with recipes for cocktails that I want to make, that we dont have on Guam, I try them. I go to the bars when Im in another country or in the states, and then talk to the bartenders. And then I try the liquors by themselves, and then I figure out the flavor profiles from there, Piolo said.

And then, you know, when I come back to Guam, I try to think of local ingredients or just ingredients that we have in any of the supermarkets and see how I can make something similar with local flavors.

Hard to find liqueurs

Upon their return, they come bearing inspiration from abroad as well as an array of ingredients otherwise impossible to source on Guam. Vermouths, amaros, liqueurs, and more make their way from overseas and into Piolos masterful craft cocktails.

Catching sight of ingredients like Cocchi Americano, Chartreuse, creme de violette, and more behind the bar is extremely exciting on Guam, where they are rarely stocked due to issues with distribution. On a recent visit to The Venue I sampled three craft cocktails, each of which featured something rare to celebrate.

Taste testing

The Paper Plane cocktail is a modern classic, developed by craft cocktail leaders Sasha Petraske and Sam Ross in the early 2000s. Bar lore sometimes cites the drink as a bitter riff on a whiskey sour, and sometimes as a bourbon riff on the classic gin cocktail, The Last Word. Wherever the idea came from, it was a good one.

While supplies last, Piolo and his team are offering their own twist on the twist  a mezcal Paper Plane. The ingredients include equal parts aperol, lemon juice, Amaro Nonino, and quality mezcal, all of which are vigorously shaken with ice and poured out in a stream of bright orange wonder.

A single sip is a journey of its own, beginning with the smoky mezcal and ending at sweet citrus, all of it tempered by the smooth herbal and orange elements of the amaro. It tastes the way sunset feels when you know the night holds an adventure.

One imperative of craft cocktails is that the ingredients be fresh, which often means theyre concocted by the bartenders themselves. Piolo takes this seriously, and makes a range of syrups and other ingredients himself. Nowhere is this more impressive than his Pickled Papaya Martini.

Piolo created the drink as a twist on a dirty martini, and counts it as one of his signature cocktails. In it, he swaps out olive brine in favor of a local flavor, pickled papaya brine. The result is delicious chaos.

If cartoon thought bubbles had appeared above my head during my first sip of this drink, I would have looked straight out of a Batman comic. In my notes, I actually wrote the word, Pow! to describe the taste.

Each sip is a firework, though they lessen with intensity as your mouth becomes accustomed to the tang of the vinegar. Holding the drink for a moment in your mouth allows it to mellow further, bringing out the sweeter notes of the brine, followed up by peppery pops along your throat as you swallow it down. Its sour, its spicy, and its the perfect drink with which to take your time.

Finishing out my tasting was The Venues Moscow mule, featuring Piolos handcrafted ginger syrup  made from cold pressed ginger  in place of the more typical ginger beer. It is, hands down, the cleanest Moscow mule to ever cross my lips.

There are no lingering shades of chemically enhanced gingery substitute, just pure ginger heaven. Ice cold and served in the requisite copper mug, this is the perfect drink to demonstrate how handcrafted ingredients elevate everything they touch.

Pay a visit to The Venue, and youll find yourself at the intersection of things a good bar does best  building a genuinely warm community, educating patrons on the finer points of cocktail magic, and slinging some of the best drinks on Guam.
The Guam Environmental Protection Agency issued advisories for nine beaches after taking water samples.

In Hagat, Bangi Beach, Nimitz Beach and Togcha Beach-Cemetery were polluted.

Asan Bay Beach in Asan was polluted.

Hagatna Bayside Park was polluted.

Inalahan Bay was polluted.

Piti Bay and Santos Memorial Park in Piti were polluted.

Talofofo Bay was polluted.

In addition, Guam EPA advisd that no harvesting or consumption of seaweed, fish or marine organisms is allowed at Tanguisson Beach.

Swimming, fishing or playing in unsafe waters may result in minor illnesses like sore throats or diarrhea, or it could lead to serious illnesses like meningitis, encephalitis and severe gastroenteritis.

Guam EPAs Environmental Monitoring and Analytical Services Division conducts weekly sampling and monitoring of Guams recreational beaches.
A confrontation in a parking lot led to charges of criminal mischief and resisting arrest, according to a magistrates complaint filed in the Superior Court of Guam.

Steven Anthony McCollum Jr., 31, was accused of damaging a car and hitting a police officer, the complaint stated.

Police were called to the parking lot of a Tamuning dental office on Tuesday, where a man told them McCollum approached his car and yelled at him to slow down as he was leaving. He said McCollum became increasingly aggressive toward him, and as he began to leave, McCollum began punching the rear left side brake light, the complaint stated.

The man said a woman also came out of a nearby house and also began yelling at him.

McCollum started gathering up rocks. The man was afraid he was going to throw them at him, so he drove away and called police, the complaint stated.

He gave police a detailed description of McCollum, and officers were able to locate him.

As one of the officers tried to make an arrest, McCollum tensed up, and a woman came and tried to remove a sling pouch that McCollum was wearing.

Another officer told her not to touch the pouch, because police did not know what it contained. McCollum swore, removed the pouch and threw it on the houses rooftop, the complaint stated.

McCollum used his left elbow to strike one of the officers in the arm, and then resisted when other officers tried to put him in handcuffs, according to the complaint.

He was charged with criminal mischief as a misdemeanor and resisting arrest as a misdemeanor.
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Haiti - FLASH: 2 Haitians arrested in Florida supplied with weapons the Gang 400 Mawozo





The FBI has filed a criminal complaint against three residents of South Florida 2 Haitians and an American citizen, arrested accused of conspiracy, smuggling of illegal weapons and ammunition to Haiti They are : Eiliane Tunis (American citizen, residing in Florida), Jocelyn Dor (Haitian citizen residing in the Orlando area) and Walder St. Louis (Haitian citizen living in Florida).



The complaint, filed in the United States District Court in Washington DC, indicates that the 3 suspects purchased weapons and ammunition at the request and on behalf of the Haitian gang "400 Mawozo" of which at least one of the suspects was member, as evidenced by a WhatsApp message cited in the complaint.



The three traffickers would take arms orders from the Haitian gang, then roam Florida, including Orlando, to purchase pistols, assault rifles, and even a semi-automatic .50 caliber Barrett rifle (a snipper weapon) as well as ammunition informed the FBI. The weapons and ammunition were then concealed in barrels under clothing and various household items before their shipments in September and October 2021 (using false documents and collusion).



To be continued...



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Release of the 4 tanker truck drivers

Wednesday November 10, the 4 tanker drivers kidnapped on November 1 in Martissant https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35145-haiti-insecurity-4-tanker-drivers-kidnapped-in-martissant.html , were released against ransom, said Thursday Marc Andre Derisphonse the President of the National Association of Service Station Owners (ANAPROSS). The bandits, however, refuse to return the 10 hijacked tankers.



Hijacking of a bus and its passengers

Mehu Changeux the President of the Association of Owners and Drivers of Haiti (APCH) confirms the hijacking of a bus and its passengers from Les Cayes bound for Port-au-Prince. The incident took place at midday on Wednesday, at Martissant 7. About 50 passengers were in the vehicle. Some were stripped of their belongings and then released, the others are being held hostage. The kidnappers demand $500,000 for the release of the hostages...



Access to Thor's oil terminal suspended

Frantz Elbe, Director General a.i. of the Haitian National Police (PNH) informs that access to the Thor oil terminal is temporarily suspended due to the situation in Martissant.



Who's telling the truth ?

Marc-Andre Deriphonse, the President of the National Association of Service Station Owners (ANAPROSS) formally denies the statements of Defense Minister Erol Joseph according to which 30 trucks filled with gasoline intended to supply the South were diverted to be sold on the black market https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35208-haiti-fuel-shortage-the-pnh-rejects-the-responsibility-on-the-transporters.html



The drivers do not trust the PNH

Jean Jacquelin Dupre, the spokesperson for the Association of Petroleum Product Drivers of Haiti (ACPPH) said to distance himself from the statements of the Minister of Defense Henold Joseph https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35208-haiti-fuel-shortage-the-pnh-rejects-the-responsibility-on-the-transporters.html reaffirms that drivers do not go to the Varreux terminal because they do not trust the security corridor established by the PNH https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35145-haiti-insecurity-4-tanker-drivers-kidnapped-in-martissant.html



USA : Haiti Embassy closing dates

The Embassy of Haiti in the USA. announces that it will be closed this Thursday, November 11 for Veterans Day, November 18 for the Battle of Vertieres and November 25 and 26 for Thanksgiving.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2021/11/10 | Source

Kang Young-seok is starring in the new drama "Military Prosecutor Doberman".

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The new tvN drama "Military Prosecutor Doberman" tells the story of Do Bae-man, who became a military prosecutor for money, and Cha Woo-in, who became a military prosecutor for revenge, meeting and breaking down the black and rotten evil in the military and growing into a real military prosecutor.

Kang Young-seok takes on the role of Kang Ha-joon, a representative of Gunsu Industrial Bonds who helps Cha Woo-in, a chaebol daughter who is out for revenge,

Kang Young-seok made impressive performances in the dramas, "Undercover" and "When My Love Blooms".

"Military Prosecutor Doberman" is expected to broadcast on tvN in 2022.
Korean Movie | 2017

 Drama

Directed by Lim Kyeong-taek ()

Written by Kim Min-III ()

94min | Release date in South Korea: 2019/01/01

Crank in : 2016/06/13

Formely known as "Midsummer" (, o-nyu-wol)

Synopsis

In-ae, who was falsely charged, is released from prison. Eun-hye, her younger sister, is an 18-year-old high school student with the mental age of a ten-year-old. She adores her sister, who means the world to her. They get together for a small reunion party, and hope for nothing but happiness for them in the future.

Next day, however, Eun-hye doesnt return from school. In-ae reports her missing to the police and asks her teacher for help, but no one seems to care about Eun-hyes whereabouts. Devastated by this tragedy, and by the society that doesnt care for the weak, In-ae embarks on an investigation all by herself.

She finds out that her sister suffered violence and sexual abuse from school bullies. Not only that, Eun-hye has been passed on from a loan shark, to a massage parlor, then to someone else. In-ae is hot on the trail and will not give up her quest to bring back Eun-hye, but the path leads her to even more shocking secrets from her past: the owners of a convenience store, photo studio, and car repair shop all raped her a few years ago.

Now, its payback time! To console her sister, to find her, and to survive In-aes brutal revenge begins.

Source
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Published on 2021/11/10 | Source

Actor Lee Kyu-han expressed his position on the fact that he was sent to prosecution over an assault.

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Lee Kyu-han posted on his Instagram on the 8th, saying, "I'm heavy-hearted to tell you a bad news".

"What happened in August 2020 has been bothering me for a year and three months", he said. "What I can say now is that I can swear on my life that I didn't commit assault or verbal abuse".

"Many reporters are calling me because I don't have an agency right now, but I'm unable to respond one by one due to the severe panic disorder caused by this. I'm so sorry about that", he said.

Finally, he said, "After being cleared of the charges as soon as possible and recovering my health, if anyone still wants to know, I'll tell you everything that has been going on".

On the same day, the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul announced that it sent Lee Kyu-han to the prosecution on the 2nd on charges of assaulting a man somewhere in Gangnam in August last year.

A police official said, "We cannot confirm the exact name of the charges or the details of the incident", adding, "The investigation took a long time because there were no CCTVs filming the situation at the time and the arguments of the two sides were completely mixed".

Earlier, Lee Kyu-han dropped out of the SBS drama "Again My Life" and JTBC drama "Green Mothers Club" for 'personal reasons' according to the broadcasters.
Hannibal, MO (63401)

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Mostly cloudy skies. Low 27F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.
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The usual system for grading students is, bit by bit, going by the wayside in favo
From Montana State University

Situated on 29 acres east of Corvallis, the Montana State University Western Agricultural Research Center is investing in new research and educational facilities with the funding approved by the Montana State Legislature this spring and kicking off the fundraising drive with donations from the Advisory Committee.

During the 2021 Montana State Legislature, $1.2 million in funding was approved to build a new office, lab and education facility to replace the current buildings that are outdated, unsafe and undersized. Montana State University has pledged to raise $300,000 in donations from individuals and industry to support the new facilities.

How to successfully grow the best tasting, most nutritious and reliable fruits and vegetables and how to manage pests and diseases on small, local, and organic farms and at home has been the mission for the MSU-WARC for over 108 years. Meanwhile interest in supporting small farms and producers has exploded over the last decade and the demand for this research is expanding also. Research at the center has helped pioneer development of new agricultural opportunities for farmers based on growing high-value, small-acres horticulture crops such as vegetables, grapes, apples and berries. It remains as the states only research center focused on horticulture and corresponding vital extension education.

To ensure success and a return on this investment, fruit and vegetable growers need to know that what theyre planting will be productive and profitable, MSU-WARC Director Zach Miller said.

MSU-WARC helps growers identify which types of specialty crops can thrive in Montanas varied climates and how to manage these crops and their pests successfully. The Western Ag Research Center partners with MSU Extension faculty and professors from across MSU and the country meet these find solutions and share them with growers across the region. And, they support current and future farmers build more profitable farm enterprises and healthy rural communities.

The unique asset of having an MSU Agricultural Research Station right here in western Montana is why we on the advisory board have all joined together to pledge financial support to the fund drive for critical long-term improvements to the station, said Mike Pflieger, Advisory Committee member and owner of Lakeland Feed and Supply in Hamilton and Dillon. The stations focus on high-dollar specialty crops should have everyone in Montana excited to support this effort.

The advisory committee consists of farmers, ranchers and local residents dedicated to supporting the agricultural industry, both large and small.

Donations checks can be made out to MSU Alumni Foundation and have 93627  Western Ag Research Center Improvements written in the notes of the check. The mailing address is MSU Alumni Foundation, PO Box 172750, Bozeman, MT 59717.

The online donation link is https://www.msuaf.org/give-warc.
Chippewa Cree Police Chief Larry Bernard talks during his retirement ceremony Tuesday at the Chippewa Cree Police Department. Bernard served as a law enforcement officer for 43 years, including as chief of police at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation since 2016.

Staff and wire report

Tuesday, the Chippewa Cree Police Department at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation bid farewell to its chief of police, Larry Bernard, who served as a law enforcement officer for more than 43 years before deciding to take off the badge.

He was widely known amongst police officers, having served in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana, and was a highly respected man in the field, his niece Kirstin Russell said.

Festivities began at noon in the recreation room in the Chipeewa Cree Police Department with Rocky Boy Police Lt. Sean Richardson letting everyone in room know they were there to honor the career of Bernard, saying there was not enough time in the day to speak of Bernard's great accomplishments and the lives that Bernard had influenced or saved in his many years of law enforcement. Bernard became the chief of police for the Chipeewa Cree Police Department in 2016 and was an accomplished firearms instructor.

Richardson is taking over as acting chief of police while a search is conducted for a permanent chief.

Speakers at the event also included Law and Order Board and Business Committee members Calvin Jilot and Loni Taylor, Business Committee members Richard Morsette and Theodore Russette, and many of Bernard's law enforcement officers and staff from other tribal departments.

"It was clear that Bernard had impacted and touched the lives of so many," Russell said.

Bernard was presented with a Pendleton blanket, an American Flag, his now-retired badge, and other gifts of appreciation before he took to the podium to say a few words.

He started by saying he had not prepared a speech, but he wanted to speak to those in attendance from the heart. He went on to say he started in law enforcement July 10, 1975, and that in that time he had worked for many other chiefs of police and alongside many other officers, some of whom lost their lives in the line of duty. He continued by saying he often wondered why he was left behind and that he now knows it was to serve a purpose.

Russell said Bernard did serve a purpose in this field. The amount of respect, integrity and leadership that he has shown and earned over his 43 years as an officer can only be matched by the dedication and passion he has given to serving the community and the department he represents.

Courtesy photo Retiring Rocky Boy Police Chief Larry Bernard calls "10-10" - off duty - at the end of a retirement ceremony Tuesday. Bernard served as a law enforcement officer for 43 years, including as chief of police at Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation since 2016.

After the speeches ended, those in attendance enjoyed stories, laughing and visiting until the time came for Bernard to go 10-10 - off duty - for his final time. Officers, staff and visitors gathered outside the police department doors to watch Bernard climb into his police unit one more time to address dispatch.

"You could feel all the emotions in the air as Bernard called out '760, 35, I'm 10-10,' and the dispatcher cleared the radio to address Chief Bernard one last time, letting him know 'We have the line from here and we will hold it strong.'" Russell said.

As he was being driven home in his unit, his police officers had one final tribute to the man who had been their leader for so long. For that long stretch of road being travelled, Bernard had every officer behind him with lights and sirens, letting him know they would always stand behind him.

The day ended with Bernard's family in blue lining up outside of his residence to salute their chief a final time.
(The Center Square)  With the Kentucky General Assembly 2022 session starting in less than two months, the states leading business organization has come out with a list of legislative priorities to make the state more competitive economically.

The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce identified seven areas of focus for its agenda. Business leaders want lawmakers to support legislation that gives Kentucky a competitive tax system, solves the ongoing workforce crisis, invests in infrastructure, protects the rights of employers, safeguards business liability protections, enacts criminal justice reforms and spurs growth within the states signature industries.

In a statement, Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts said that the COVID-19 recovery gives Kentucky a chance to outcompete other states for the new jobs that are emerging.

The economy is changing: new technologies are emerging, workforce trends are evolving, and businesses and industries are pivoting and restructuring, Watts said. Public policy in Kentucky must change as well in order for the Commonwealth to compete in todays shifting economic landscape.

One obstacle to the states competitiveness is a complex tax code that relies on income and production. The chamber said that puts the state at a disadvantage when competing against other states for economic development projects.

Business leaders want to see lawmakers build on reforms passed in the 2018 and 2019 sessions, but they warn that tax cuts alone arent the answer.

Kentucky cannot simply cut or reform its way out of current funding challenges and should improve Kentuckys competitiveness while producing net new revenue to support education, workforce development, and many other needs, the chamber states in a 29-page report detailing its agenda.

Part of the solution, the report states, is moving from income-based taxes to consumption-based taxes, provided business-to-business services are not taxed. That would hinder job creation, business leaders said.

The states infrastructure is a point of emphasis for the chamber, especially the roadways. The report points out that 8% of Kentuckys roads are poor, with 16% of major urban roads in poor shape.

Chamber leaders say they back legislation in Frankfort and Washington D.C. that would create new and sustainable funding streams for maintenance of existing roads and the development of a modern transportation system.

Several business issues also are priorities heading into the new session.

The agenda includes calling for lawmakers to protect employers abilities to use all available tools to keep workers, customers, and others safe from COVID-19. That includes the right to require vaccination or masks on premises. However, the chamber also said that governments should not try to intervene and apply universal prohibitions.

Workforce issues are also a concern, especially since the chamber released a report noting that Kentucky has one of the lowest workforce participation rates in the nation. Business leaders have offered lawmakers several recommendations in their agenda to increase the number of people in the workforce.

From a criminal justice standpoint, the business community calls for a modernization of the states system. That includes making drug possession charges misdemeanors, providing non-violent, non-sexual offense criminals with job training and licensure opportunities that would allow them to enter the workforce upon their release.

The chamber also wants to dissuade lawmakers from filing or passing bills in the name of religious freedom that could deter individuals from moving to Kentucky or establishing a business in the state.

To flourish, Kentucky companies must develop and retain a diverse, inclusive, and skilled workforce, the agenda states. With such goals in mind, the Kentucky Chamber works tirelessly for pro-growth policies that will attract and retain employers and talent for our state.

The chambers full 2022 agenda can be found here.
County Judge Robert Kelly addressed speakers at the county workshop about ARPA funds, trying to explain the county's options and the rules for spending the funds.
A PRIZE-WINNING shire horse had to be restrained after a fireworks display left him shaking in terror.

Bruce Honey, from Dunsden, had to use two ropes to prevent Mileaway Prince Harry from bolting from his barn.

He stayed with him during a fireworks display at Abbey Rugby Club in Emmer Green on Saturday night.

Mr Honey had to call on seven helpers to calm his nine horses and 25 cattle during the Musical Fireworks Spectacular, which the club described as bigger and better than ever.

The event began at 6pm with the fireworks display at 8pm.

Mr Honey, who has been looking after horses for 40 years, said the fireworks were excessively noisy and the club was the wrong location for a display.

He said Mileaway, who was supreme champion shire horse at this years Henley Farm & Country Show, was shaking in terror.

Having a firework display of that size in a location set between a livery yard, a rare breeds farm and more cattle and horses behind is totally inappropriate to say the least, said Mr Honey.

Abbey have been repeatedly asked to reduce the noise of the display. Its unsafe to run a display of that size in that location. The environmental impact on wildlife and livestock is not acceptable.

Mr Honey estimated that there were up to 80 horses kept in fields close to the rugby club and that neighbouring landowners would have also been affected.

He said: We have repeatedly asked them to tone down the fireworks as it scares the animals and I had to move my animals as far away as I could.

We had to stay with them the whole evening to make sure they were not getting hurt and we were worried about what might happen.

I am in agony after hanging on to a shire horse. He pushed me through the doorway because he was so scared. Ive never seen anything like that and I know this horse very well.

I cant see how it is acceptable to treat animals like this and its time something was done about it. They need to have a bit more respect and tone them down  no one should want to see animals that scared. A spokesman from the rugby club said the fireworks display had been running for years and it warned nearby residents of the date in advance.

He added: The club is fortunately in a fairly remote location, some distance away from any residential areas. The display itself is always fairly short and held early in the evening.

Meanwhile, author Amanda Jennings, from Binfield Heath, has called for fireworks displays to be kept to Bonfire Night only in order to avoid unnecessary stress to animals.

On Sunday night she tweeted a picture of her two rescue dogs curled around her leg for comfort with the message: Its Sunday night. Bonfire Night is done. Saturday fireworks displays are finished. Put the matches down and snuggle up on the sofa. Please. For the love of God.

Mrs Jennings told the Henley Standard that she loved fireworks and has taken her children to watch displays this year but called for a middle ground when it came to a whole weekend of noise and disturbance.

She said: Its horrible to watch my dogs being scared  they stayed by my leg until the noise had finished. Multiple displays and for a few nights in a row are wearing for dogs, horses and other animals.

I dont want to ruin other peoples enjoyment, especially as there has not been much cause for fireworks in the last 18 months, but Im not convinced it is safe for animals or humans and it should be on peoples radar a lot more.

Henley town councillor Donna Crook, who has two rescue dogs, complained on Facebook about fireworks being let off from Gillotts Corner Field, saying this was not allowed on the land, which belongs to the council.

Elsewhere, a firework display took place at the Culden Faw Estate in Hambleden on Friday, causing heavy traffic before and after the event through the Hambleden Valley and on the A4155 as far as Medmenham, the outskirts of Henley and on Remenham Hill. The event, which was organised by Xplosive Events, was advertised as the UKs largest low-noise display choreographed to music.

Director Karl Mitchell-Shead said: We did not anticipate the events popularity, with some 2,000 additional attendees arriving without tickets and that was combined with the Friday rush hour.

We will be capping the capacity in future and the event will be prepaid-sale only. We have had a meeting with our traffic management company and have identified simple changes that will alleviate any disruption.

The display featured only specialist low-noise fireworks, taking into consideration animals and noise-sensitive visitors.

There were some normal fireworks being used in the surrounding area, but our display was designed with the Ban the Bangs campaign in mind following feedback from last years fireworks.
A GIANT remembrance poppy made of stones has been created in the grounds of Shiplake College.

The stones were painted red by year 7 and 8 pupils and some displaying the names of the fallen from the village.

Teacher Rebecca Goulden worked with the children on the project during their art club sessions.

She said: We wanted to create something really poignant for remembrance this year. It was lovely to see the pride the pupils put into creating something so special.

The artwork has been placed in a prominent position for all to see on the front drive. The college will hold a remembrance service on Sunday with preacher Rev Hannah Bucks, padre to 4 Royal Logistics Corps, with pupils, parents and staff in attendance.

Elsewhere in the village, a service will be held at St Peter and St Pauls Church at 10.50am and will be live-streamed on its YouTube channel. This will be followed by a remembrance service at the war memorial in Lower Shiplake at noon.

In Henley, a fly-past will be performed by RAF Benson at 10.46am, weather permitting. Then Mayor Sarah Miller, fellow town councillors and town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward will gather on the town hall steps for a remembrance service led by Rev Jeremy Tayler, rector of Henley with Remenham.

There be will a reading by Anne Evans, chairman of the Henley and Peppard branch of the Royal British Legion, before the Last Post is sounded at 11am before a two-minute silence and then Reveille.

Mrs Evans will then read the Kohima Epitaph by John Maxwell Edmonds before prayers and the singing of Jerusalem.

Councillor Miller will address the congregation before readings by

Mr Jacklin-Edward and the Mayors cadet, Cpl Grace Iveson. Wreaths will then be laid by the Mayor, Lady Hall, deputy lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Councillor Stefan Gawrysiak on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council and representatives from South Oxfordshire District Council and the Royal British Legion followed by local organisations and members of the public.

After the service, participants will parade around Market Place before a reception in the Mayors parlour.

In Benson, a parade will take place at 10.30am, which will go along High Street to the war memorial led by the personnel from RAF Benson, members of the Royal British Legion, veterans, scouts, cubs, guides and brownies.

After the parade reaches the memorial, the names of servicemen from the parish who died in the world wars and those who died while serving at RAF Benson post-1945 will be read out.

The ceremony will includesthe sounding of the Last Post, a two-minute silence and Reveille before poppy wreaths are laid.

Roads around the memorial will be closed to traffic during the service. There will not be a Remembrance service at St Helens Church.

At the churches of St Peter and St John in Caversham there will be a 9.30am service to remember those who have died in war. At St Margarets in Mapledurham, the service will begin at 10.50am, with a brief ceremony at the war memorial gates. There will not be a ceremony at the riverside war memorial this year.

A service will be held at St Peters and St Pauls Church in Checkendon at 10.55am, conducted by Rev Canon Kevin Davies.

An act of remembrance will take place on Dunsden Green from 10.15am to 10.45am.

At St Barnabas Church in Emmer Green, there will be a service at 9.30am with an act of remembrance and then wreath- laying at the churchs war memorial, which is in the porch.

This will be followed by a communion service, which will be screened online.

A service will be held at St Margarets Church in Harpsden from 10.15am to 11.15am.

In Kidmore End a service will be held at the war memorial in Wood Lane. People are asked to assemble at 10.50am. Afterwards there will be a continuation of the service at St John the Baptist Church.

In Nettlebed, residents are invited to join members of the villages branch of the Royal British Legion at 10.30am in a walk from the village green to the village memorial at St Bartholomews Church, where there will be a short act of remembrance. This will be followed by the service in the church.

A service for residents of Peppard and Rotherfield Greys will be held at All Saints Church in Peppard from 10.50am following a reading of the roll of honour at the war memorial and two-minute silence.

A remembrance event will take place at the village hall in Sonning Common, which will be open from 10.45am to noon with a two-minute silence at 11am.

Falklands war veteran Alex Manning will then make a speech and a poppy wreath will be hung on the wall in memory of Francis Slough, Cyrus Thatcher and Barry Weston.

The three men were all former pupils of Chiltern Edge School, now Maiden Erlergh Chiltern Edge School, in Reades Lane.

Tea and coffee will be available at the event and organisers are encouraging people to observe coronavirus safety guidelines.

In Stoke Row, prayers of remembrance will be said at St John the Evangelist Church from 9.30am.

In Wargrave, the usual remembrance parade will not be held but there will be a remembrance service at St Marys Church at 10am led by Rev John Cook.

Another service will follow at the war memorial on Mill Green at 10.45am.

There will be a two-minute silence, the laying of wreaths and the reading of the names on the memorial.

Social distancing is encouraged and there will be limited participation by village groups, such as the scouts and guides.

Sixty-nine poppy crosses will be planted to honour those villagers who have given their lives.

In Watlington, a parade and wreath-laying service will take place.

The participants, who will be accompanied by the Watlington Concert Band, will walk from the town hall to the memorial in High Street, starting at 10.45am.

Residents of Whitchurch and Whitchurch Hill are invited to attend a remembrance service at St Johns Church in Whitchurch Hill at 9.30am followed by an act of remembrance at the war memorial in High Street, Whitchurch, at 10.45am.

In Woodcote there will be a service at 11.15am in St Leonards Church.
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St. Joseph, MI (49085)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 29F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 29F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
Uniontown, PA (15401)

Today

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 36F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 36F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
(JNS)  Long well-documented on college campuses, pro-BDS and anti-Semitic sentiments are now gaining traction in kindergarten through 12th-grade public-school systems.

The United Educators of San Francisco in May became the first teachers union in the country to pass a resolution supporting BDS. In September, while United Teachers Los Angeles voted to postpone a pro-BDS resolution, San Diegos American Federation of Teachers Guild stated that condemning Israel for its ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, occupation, apartheid and war crimes is not anti-Semitism. Audio leaked in October revealed a school-district administrator in Texas telling teachers to balance Holocaust-related books with opposing views.

There is a rise in anti-Semitism in America, especially in the education system, Noa Peri-Jensch, national senior director of strategy for the Israeli-American Council (IAC), told JNS. We are seeing committees and teachers unions that I personally think, after two years of COVID, would have so much urgency about how to overcome learning gaps, how to take care of domestic abuse, and all kinds of issues students are facing. But out of all these burning issues, what we are seeing in some places is that the top priority is how to turn the teachers union into a BDS-supporting union. Why? Where is that all coming from?

One of the IACs responses to this phenomenon is a recently launched pilot program for educators that aims to dispel misinformation and deepen understanding about Israel. The initiative, which the IAC aims to expand nationally, held its first event on Oct. 17, a symposium for Nevada educators featuring sessions on Israels contributions to innovation, technology, science and culture. Presenters included David Brog, executive director of the Maccabee Task Force; Jake Bennett, IAC for Actions director of policy and legislative affairs; Idan Udi Edry, an Israeli serial entrepreneur; Karin Hochman, a professor of music and Hebrew at University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and Alexandra Emtsova, owner of the Burnt Offerings kosher restaurant in Las Vegas.

We wanted to bring the teachers to the room and give them a positive way of looking at Israelnot so much showing the conflict, and instead, giving them tools that they can take into the classroom and teach about Israel in a positive way, to look at Israel as a place of innovation and technology, of literature and art, said the IACs Las Vegas region director Ofra Etzion. We know that when you educate the next generation, they are going to take it forward. They are going to be our ambassadors when they go to college.

Bennetts session covered inclusion and diversity in Israel.

To understand Israels internal diversity and inclusion, people need to be presented with truth and facts to counter the lies and distortion of the BDS hate movement, he told JNS. I started by sharing a number of photos of Israeli daily lifefor instance, pictures showing Jewish, ultra-Orthodox and Muslim individuals sitting side by side at a cafe, in a university lecture or on a public bus. This negates the libel of anti-Israel hate groups that Israel is an apartheid state. I then showed some photos of Israeli Arabs, Druze and Bedouin who serve in the police, military, government, courts and hospitals, again to dispel the myth of apartheid and government-sanctioned discrimination.

Bennett proceeded to define the words Zionism and indigeneity for the educators with the goal of dispelling the myth of Israeli colonialism.

Zionism is the self-determination movement of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland. Indigeneity is defined by ethnogenesis, the origin of a people, followed by continuous links of language, history, blood, culture and spirituality to a place, he explained. Everything about the Jewish peoplewhatever each familys pathway during the long diasporaties us to the land of Israel.

Both Etzion and Peri-Jensch said their children have witnessed far different narratives on Israel taking root in Nevada schools, including when one of Peri-Jenschs daughters wore an Israel Defense Forces T-shirt and was accused by fellow students of supporting a military that kills babies.

There is so much more to our story

Yet another classroom incident gave Peri-Jensch hope, as well as the motivation to launch the IAC educators initiative. Four years ago, her older daughters teacher told students that everyone had paid attention to Kim Kardashians outfit, but none of you know that Israel attacked Syria last night. Her daughter wrote to the teacher about how those comments made her feel, and that there is more nuance to the news report on Israel and Syria. The teacher acknowledged that Peri-Jenschs daughter opened my mind about the issue. Four years later, when Peri-Jenschs younger daughter took a class with the same teacher, the educator encouraged her to speak up when anything discussed in the classroom might be offensive or misleading.

It made me think that there are so many teachers who want to know more, but they dont have the opportunity, said Peri-Jensch. Israel is a fascinating subject, but it has become very controversial in the school setting. We wanted not to become the experts on the conflict or who rules Israel. But if we are able to develop for educators a positive relationship to Israel through science and innovation and arts and history, and show how some things can be misunderstood, then next time theres a military operation in Gaza and social media is flourishing with hate and bias, those teachers will have that moment where they say, Hold on, it doesnt all sound true. Let me look into that before I go to class and say, Israel bombed Syria last night. 

Forty-five educators registered for the recent Nevada symposiuma room divided into thirds between educators with very little knowledge about Israel, those with some knowledge but not enough and those who attended mainly for the social networking aspect of the experience, according to Peri-Jensch.

Bennett said a number of teachers requested copies of his presentation.

Based on a few of those conversations, I think what attracted them was the big-picture context I provided that filled in some gaps for them, buttressed with the granular details, photos and maps, he said. I gather that many adults, educators included, are walking around with an overly simplified, Euro-centric narrative about the re-establishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel that starts either with Herzl or the Holocaust and ends with U.N. recognition and Israels War of Independence. But there is so much more to our story than that.

He added that the Jewish, Israeli and Zionist story is full of complexity, both ancient and modern at the same time, and encompasses a vast civilization, including various streams and traditions of music, culture, foods from far-flung lands, Torah-learning, God, film, fine arts, science, business, outdoor adventure, nature, geography, archeology, history, debate, politics, military and civil defense, romanticism and cynicism. Our teachers and our children need to be taught Israels beauty and complexity in order to appreciate it.

The symposium was particularly important, Bennett noted, in light of the recent pro-BDS initiatives promoted among teachers unions and other entities in California and across the nation.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, he said. The BDS hate movements lies could not take root if educators had a basic foundation in the history of the Jewish people and the Middle East region. Lacking that, anti-Israel libels of colonialism, apartheid and racism are able to achieve their aim: playing off peoples general ignorance, demonizing Israel, and creating anti-Israel sentiment and activism.
(JNS) - Part of a 140-member Israeli delegation to Glasgow, Scotland, to attend the 26th U.N. Climate Change Convention, Environment Minister Tamar Zandberg tells JNS how she assesses the role that the Jewish state can play in the global effort, and the environmental and economic benefits it will bring to the country.

Q: Israelis generally don't take environmental issues seriously. There is litter and illegal dumping. Water sources are dirty. Air quality is often poor. Why start addressing the environment on a global level, before tackling it on a local one?

A: Where the climate is concerned, that which is global is also local. What we pollute on the ground affects the atmosphere. It affects the air we breathe, the land we walk on and the water we drink. And vice versa. The technologies we develop, the environmental awareness we create and the policies we establish to clean the beaches, the water, the air and the land will also help fight climate and weather changes.

Q: The new governmental focus on climate appears to Israelis to have developed very quickly. How did that happen?

A: First of all, Glasgow has been an anchor and a target that we have sought. Also, I think the summer of 2021 has kind of been a wake-up call, due to all of the climate disasters that have happened all over the world, including in Europe, the United States and even in Israel.

We recently saw the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report demonstrating that we have already crossed the irreversible point at which the climate will suffer irreparably. We can certainly mitigate some of the damage, but we cannot prevent an increase in global warming over the next several decades.

Q: What climate disasters, in particular, have occurred in Israel?

A: This year we had more wildfires than ever. There are predictions of floods. The rate of temperature increases is now three times higher than they have been in the last three decades.

Q: Are the fires attributable to climate change? Or are they a product of negligence and, in many cases, arson?

A: The climate doesn't light these fires; there's always the match that ignites the chain reaction. But the severity of the damage, how long it takes to put out a fire, and how dry the land is when a fire starts are questions of climate change. So, if at the end of the day, someone doesn't completely extinguish the coals of his barbecue, or carelessly throws a cigarette into the brush, or even intentionally sets a fire - it is just the match on the top of the haystack. But the outcome of the fire is determined by the pre-conditions.

Q: How much of the climate change agenda is about the environment, how much about global finance, and how much is about a melding of the two?

A: If you follow what is happening around the world economically -I f you follow the OECD Forum - you see that the world economy is changing to address the challenge of the climate. You see investments; you see new tax policies; you see economic regulations that generate money.

Q: How does the new climate economy affect Israel?

A: Simply put: It has to. This is a directive that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has given to the current government. Israel is positioned very well to become a leader in the innovation of green technologies. We already are leaders in food-tech, agrotech, water treatment and solar energy. And we are in a very good position to become world leaders in energy storage. This is an issue that we are going to focus a lot of attention on over the next several months.

Q: Over the past decade, Israel has become energy independent through the exploration and discovery of natural gas. Just a few years after this major source of energy emerged, why would the country want to begin a shift away from it?

A: Yes, we now have natural gas. But the reality of the climate is that we need to shift away from fossil fuels and natural gas to renewable energy. Currently, we have enough natural gas to sustain ourselves for the next few years. But now we need to invest heavily in renewables, so we will be positioned well to adapt to the global changes taking place.

Q: Was it a mistake for Israel to invest in natural gas?

A: No, those investments were right for the time. Ten years have passed since we started, and we have many years to use the gas that we've already have explored, found and utilized. But now we need to go to the next stage, which is renewables.

Q: Why is the current Israeli government taking climate change more seriously than its predecessor?

A: Because it's 2021. The world is changing. Listen to the scientists. Read what the world economists are saying. Israel cannot afford to be left behind.

Q: The previous Israeli government was working alongside a U.S. administration that withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement. How has U.S. President Joe Biden's reentry into that accord affected Israel's calculations?

A: It hasn't just affected Israel; it has affected nations globally. The United States is a world leader, and its decisions in this regard have affected everybody.

Q: How much money can the global shift to a climate-centered economy bring to Israel via investments in local technologies?

A: I really cannot tell you. I see the presentations of economists, and their graphs show an exponential curve in revenues - one that looks similar to the curve of COVID-19.
(New York Jewish Week via JTA)  New York States state pension fund will divest its holdings in Unilever in response to the July decision by the conglomerates affiliate Ben & Jerrys to restrict ice cream sales in the West Bank.

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapolis announcement Thursday makes New York the fourth state to move to sanction the Ben & Jerrys corporate parent over its Israel stance, following New Jersey, Arizona and Florida. At least four other states have launched reviews investigating whether the Ben & Jerrys decision could result in sanctions on the company under state laws meant to combat the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement targeting Israel.

Our review of the activities of the company, and its subsidiary Ben & Jerrys, found they engaged in BDS activities under our pension funds policy, DiNapoli, who manages New Yorks $268 billion retirement fund, said in a statement to the New York Post.

The New York state pension fund currently holds $111 million in shares of Unilever.

Marc Stern, chief legal officer of the American Jewish Committee, praised the decision. Comptroller DiNapoli has demonstrated that boycotting Israel has consequences. Unilevers failure to undo Ben & Jerrys misguided decision to stop selling its ice cream in the West Bank contravenes state government laws across the United States, he said in a press release.

Congratulations and thanks to the State of New York for responding to our request and withdrawing $111 million from its investments in Ben & Jerrys due to the boycott of Israel, wrote Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in a statement on Twitter. We will continue to fight BDS and anti-Semitism everywhere and without hesitation, he said.

In July, DiNapoli wrote to Unilever CEO Alan Jope saying that he was troubled and concerned that Ben & Jerrys would no longer sell ice cream in what the company called Occupied Palestinian Territory.

If the company fails to respond or fails to demonstrate that it has not engaged in BDS activities, the Funds investment in Unilever will be subject to a detailed review and staff recommendation, which may include investment restrictions, in accordance with the Funds BDS policy, the letter said.

In 2016, the fund adopted a policy saying there will be consequences for companies engaged in BDS activities that would put the funds investments in Israel at risk.

Unilever has said that, owing to its unique ownership arrangement with the Ben & Jerrys board, the conglomerate has no ability to influence the ice cream makers independent business decisions. Ben & Jerrys has said that removing its products from the West Bank is not boycotting Israel.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited the Vatican on Thursday where he had a private audience with Pope Francis.

A Vatican press release described the talks as cordial and called for renewed peace talks towards a two-state solution.

With regard to the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, it was stressed that it is absolutely necessary to reactivate direct dialogue in order to achieve a two-state solution, also with the help of more vigorous effort on the part of the international community, the statement said.

Lastly, it was reiterated that Jerusalem must be recognised by all as a place of encounter and not of conflict, and that its status must preserve its identity and universal value as a Holy City for all three Abrahamic religions, also through a special internationally guaranteed status, it added.

According to the official PA-run Wafa News, Abbas briefed the pope on what what was described as Israeli efforts to seize Palestinian and church property including through fraudulent sales, particularly in the Old City of Jerusalem. Wafa did not elaborate further.

The Vatican recognized The State of Palestine in 2013. Later that year, Abbas made waves during a Christmas message when he insisted that Jesus was a Palestinian. While Israel criticized Abbas remarks, church officials were strangely silent.

Since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, the Palestinian Christian community under PA jurisdiction has dwindled. Palestinian Christians complain of Muslim land theft, harassment of Christian women, Christian businesses being forced to pay protection money and discriminatory taxes, and frequent robberies and vandalization of churches. Christians also face kidnapping and forced conversions. They also accuse the PA justice system of providing no legal recourse.

Western medias indifference to the plight of Palestinian Christians makes life a silent struggle.

The situation has led to a Christian exodus from the Holy Land, particularly in the town of Bethlehem. Before the PA was established in 1994, Christians were the majority of the population. Today, they number less than 20 percent.

The PA chiefs itinerary in Rome also included a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Dear Editor,

Ive never lived under a dictatorship before so I have no experience in describing what it was like or what we could expect.

I dont believe a benign dictatorship exists and the only ones Im familiar with are: China, Russia, N. Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Cuba, Pakistan possibly, PLA under Abbas, Syria, Somalia, Turkey, and Afghanistan.

There was a time in modern history that Germany, Italy, Hungary, and several Eastern European nations turned into fascist dictatorships. Other than meeting several people with tattoos on their arms indicating that they were in Nazi concentration camps I have no direct experience till now in America.

We are in the midst of Americas destruction by a very well-planned blueprint design to change America forever into a Democratic dictatorship beginning with the brainwashing of our children from infants until adulthood.

Americans are being divided by race as never before under Jim Crow, and supposedly intelligent elected officials are the ones pushing Critical Race Theory  all the time denying that there is such a theory.

We have witnessed the destruction of statues of founders of our nation and Civil War heroes and those of Christopher Columbus all lumped together as racists. Theyd like to destroy the Jefferson Memorial or the Washington Monument.

The most glaring monument or tribute to America is the White House and yet no one has demanded its destruction or repainting a less offensive color or perhaps a divided White House such as 1/3 White, 1/3 Black and 1/3 Brown/Asian.

Whats worse is I am certain that Joe Bidens non-stop executive orders and opening our southern borders to millions of illegal aliens from all over the globe  including terrorists  and the defeat of the American armed forces in Afghanistan are all part of this plan to turn America into a Marxist/Progressive nation ruled by the Democratic Party.

That Democratic Party will not tolerate any dissension and it will be a one-party rule.

Does anyone with the IQ of a root vegetable really believe that Uncle Joe, like Uncle Joe Stalin is really in charge?

He has committed so many criminal actions including allowing his son Hunter to act as his proxy and extort millions from the Ukraine, Russia, China and who knows where else.

He has allowed a Chinese Communist compromised congressman, Eric Swalwell of California, to sit on the most sensitive committee in the House where he could pass along Americas plans and confidential info thanks to Nancy Pelosi.

And yet there is no whimper of protest like leaving billions of dollars of our finest weaponry and our assets like Americans and Afghans and not saying a word more about them.

I just read that Afghanistan is facing a famine of major proportions and before we send billions of humanitarian aid lets make a deal for getting our weapons all back to the last bullet.

I know when the dictatorship will be complete when you never hear from me again.

William. J. Levy

Ormond Beach, Fla.
Lebanon is the little Arab brother that reluctantly got into its big brothers fight with Israel.

Lebanon won its formal independence in 1943 with the termination of the French Mandate established by the League of Nations. It became truly independent with the withdrawal of the French army in 1946. During WWII Lebanon was under the control of the French Vichy regime.

Post WWII Lebanon became quite prosperous as Beirut soon became the banking center for the oil-rich Gulf States including Saudi Arabia. It was considered the Switzerland of the Middle East.

Having created a government model that recognized each of the main ethnic and religious groups making up the population, Lebanons constitution assured each group representation within the government scheme. Legislative seats were apportioned among the Shiite and Sunni Muslims, as well as the Christian Arabs. It was the perfect governmental model for a successful and prosperous country at peace internally and with all its neighbors.

Unfortunately, it did not last. When Israel declared its independence in 1948, Lebanon, a member of the Arab League, joined the coalition of Arab states in the war to destroy the nascent Jewish State.

It drank the Kool-Aide of antisemitic hate and swallowed the poison pill of anti-Zionism, even though it had no security or other national interest that was threatened by the creation of Israel; not even a border dispute at that time.

There was a glimmer of hope that Lebanon might break away from the influence of the belligerent Arab states when Israel partially occupied southern Lebanon in aid of the Free Christian Army during the Lebanon Civil War.

The Syrian Army had invaded Lebanon and the Shiite Muslims in Lebanon had established Hezbollah, a separate militia funded by Iran. These developments were a direct threat to Israels security, which necessitated Israels invasion of southern Lebanon.

Israel actually entered into a peace treaty with Lebanon in May of 1983, brokered by the United States, wherein the nations would mutually recognize one another. Under the treaty, Israel would withdraw from southern Lebanon on a step-by-step basis with concomitant steps of withdrawal by the Syrian army along with a number of other reciprocal obligations to be taken by each side as assurance of creating mutual respect and security.

Unfortunately, the treaty provisions were never implemented. A weak Lebanese government could not at the time compel Syria to withdraw; and a subsequent Lebanese government, under pressure from Syria and Hezbollah, abrogated the treaty.

Ever since, Lebanon has been on a downhill slide leading to its current status as a failed state. Hezbollah is in control of south Lebanon, with a stronger military than the national Lebanese army, and with a political infrastructure better organized than the Lebanese government.

The Gulf States and Saudi Arabia may have an opportunity to step in and reverse Lebanons situation and remove or weaken Hezbollahs influence.

The tragic explosion in August 2020 caused by Hezbollahs negligent and secretive storage of tons of ammonium nitrate at the port in Beirut which destroyed a significant part of the citys infrastructure, killed hundreds and wounded thousands made it very clear that Hezbollah is the enemy of the Lebanese people.

Hezbollahs attempt to block the investigation as to the cause of the blast is an obvious cover up to avoid responsibility and revealed its only purpose for its existence is to confront Israel at the expense of the safety welfare and security of the Lebanese people.

Lebanon can save itself by stabilizing and restoring its democratic government and by building up its armed forces with the assistance of the Gulf States and Western powers. It must strengthen itself and demilitarize Hezbollah, which has dangerously deployed its rocket launches and arsenal among the civilian population.

The Lebanese people can have a great future of prosperity and stability by joining the other Arab states who have embraced the Abraham Accords; and by recognizing the Jewish State.

A long period of peace, economic prosperity and the restoration of vitality in its national life awaits Lebanon if it takes these steps to normalize relations and engages with its waiting and patient neighbor to the south.

If you wish to comment or respond you can reach me at melpearlman322@gmail.com. Please do so in a rational, thoughtful, respectful and civil manner.

Mel Pearlman holds B.S. & M.S. degrees in physics as well as a J.D. degree and initially came to Florida in 1966 to work on the Gemini and Apollo space programs. He has practiced law in Central Florida since 1972. He has served as president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando; was a charter board member, first vice president and pro-bono legal counsel of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Central Florida, as well as holding many other community leadership positions.
As far as Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid are concerned, this week has brought a perfect storm of circumstances that threaten to complicate their hopes for a better relationship with the United States. Both men, each for their own reasons, see establishing a good rapport with President Joe Biden and his administration as one of the main goals of their coalition government that took office in June.

But blistering criticism was issued by the U.S. State Department on two issues: its renewed commitment to reopening a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem and settlement building in Judea and Samaria. On top of that is the news that Iran is returning to nuclear talks in Vienna. They were body blows to hopes that their ousting of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is viewed by Bidens team as the devil incarnate, would ensure the presidents goodwill and protect them against the kind of hostility that was the hallmark of U.S. attitudes towards Jerusalem the last time Democrats were in power.

Perhaps they knew that the announcement that a few thousand new homes would be built in existing Judea and Samaria settlements, as well as the designation of six Palestinian non-governmental organizations as terror groups, would provoke Washingtons ire. The two are also painfully aware that their attempts have failed to persuade the Americans to back off their determination to renew efforts to appease Iran and bring it back into a nuclear deal that Israelis believe is a disaster. All the sappy rhetoric Bennett and Lapid could muster in public about their affection for Biden and their belief in his friendship for Israel flopped, as did their strong arguments and warnings about the folly of engagement with Iran that they delivered in private.

On top of that the presidents clear determination to reopen a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem to serve as an embassy to the Palestinians, even if he is willing to wait until after the Israeli coalition passes a budget in November, puts their government in peril of collapsing if they fail to stop something that undermines Israels sovereignty over its capital.

However, more important than the longevity of their rickety alliance of right, left, centrist and Arab political parties is something else. The question Bennett and Lapid need to be asking themselves is whether, even without having Netanyahu as their antagonist, this administration is really prepared to return to the situation between the two countries that existed in December 2016. If so, the Jewish state is in for a rough ride in the coming years. And no amount of eyewash about a belief in a bipartisan consensus in America supporting the U.S.-Israel alliance will be enough to cushion the damage that an openly antagonistic administration could do.

The arguments for a worst-case scenario for a rapid and steep decline in amity between the two nations are strong.

The first concerns the personnel in place in the State Department and the White House.

Much was and continues to be made of the warm feelings of Biden Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan for Israel. And as much as the trio has had many disagreements with Israeli leaders over the years, especially during the Obama administration, in which they all served, the claim isnt false. Unlike Obama, all three have a certain degree of affection for the Jewish state, and in Bidens case, the professions of friendship date back to the beginnings of his half-century of public office-holding.

But his friendship has always been conditional. As former Defense Secretary Robert Gates admirably summed up his career, Biden has been wrong about every important foreign-policy issue for 40 years. He always tells listeners how much he loves Israel but also thinks he knows better than its leaders and its people about what is in their best interests. He believes in applying tough love to naughty Israelis who need American guidance. Biden also doesnt take kindly to criticism. His self-esteem is such that he regards challenges to his diktats as insults. Netanyahu learned this when the announcement of home-building in Jerusalem in 2010 during a Biden visit led to a major incident between the two countries because of the then-vice presidents allegedly hurt feelings.

If anything, Biden has grown even more thin-skinned since then as his consistently short-tempered responses to non-sycophantic questions from citizens and journalists alike have shown in the last two years.

Biden and his chief advisers are not complete fantasists, so unlike former President Barack Obama, they dont actually expect to miraculously bring about a two-state solution that the Palestinians dont want. But should Bennett summon up the spine to resist Bidens will on the consulate or find the temerity to publicly challenge him on Iran, the blowback may have serious consequences.

While the three men at the top are conditional friends of Israel who think they should save the Jewish state from itself, Bidens appointments at the next level of authority arent quite so affectionate. Some, like Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Robert Malley, the special envoy for Iran, are veterans of both the Clinton and Obama administrations and have a far less favorable view of the relationship. Sherman was the architect of disastrous nuclear agreements with both North Korea and Iran, and has learned nothing from her mistakes. Malley was, among other things, an apologist for Palestinian leader/terrorist Yasser Arafat and a leading advocate for a rapprochement with Iran.

No less important a factor is Bidens need to be in sync with congressional progressives whose side he has taken on domestic issues. Rather than stand up to the leftist Squad and its antisemitic and pro-BDS members, Biden prefers to court them. This is not so much a matter of ideological affinity as it is of political necessity. He knows the left not only represents the future of his party, but has far more energy and influence with the Democrats cheering sections in the media and pop culture than the aging pro-Israel moderates, even if the latter outnumber them.

That means that any defiance of the administration from Israel will serve to provide an opportunity for the left to become even more assertive in their attacks on Israel under the guise of defending the president.

It makes for a daunting prospect for those in Israel or the United States who hold onto a belief that the coming years wont be a rerun of the nonstop battles between Washington and Jerusalem that characterized the relationship between Obama and Netanyahu from 2009 to 2016.

Yet Bennett and Lapid are not without hope that they can keep the situation from getting out of hand.

First, they can seek to hold Biden to his promise about keeping disputes with Israel private, rather than letting them play out in public as Obama did. If so, even the most bitter of disagreements wont seem quite so bad.

Second, they can hope that Israels enemies will, as they have so often in recent history, overplay their hand and force Bidens team back into Israels corner. Palestinian rejectionism and support for terror, and Irans will to achieve its nuclear ambitions  as well as its assessment that Biden is too weak to stop them from achieving any of their goals  could ultimately prove decisive.

Lastly, they may also count on the dysfunction of the Biden administration. In the past nine months, the Democrats have made a muddle of a host of challenges, including the disaster in Afghanistan, the crisis at the southern border, the collapse of the supply chain for products and economic malaise that, along with the coronavirus pandemic, wont go away.

These issues have sent Bidens polling numbers deep underwater, despite beginning his presidency with a vast store of goodwill and support from those who hoped he represented a calming influence and competence.

Unlike Obama, who had political capital to burn on futile Middle East policies and a pointless feud with Netanyahu, Biden has none to spare. Israelis can only hope that he is wise enough not to waste any on equally foolish spats with whoever is running Israel in the coming years that will do nothing to ensure American security priorities or the political prospects of the Democrats.

Whether such hopes are vindicated is up to Biden and not his Israeli interlocutors.
Dreams of flying take an Illinois farm boy to the dangerous skies of Vietnam
Anchor/Multimedia Journalist

Hello! I am the weekend anchor as well as a reporter for Your News Now! You can reach me with news tips (or just to say hello!) at khonigford@wlio.com.
Now Open

11 November 2021

Following a remarkable three-year renovation, Frankfurt Airport Marriott Hotel (open since 2020) and Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center together become the first European Marriott dual brand hotel operating two Marriott International premium brands, Marriott & Sheraton, under one roof. This exciting development offers travellers two unique brand experiences with a focus on shared distinct culinary moments and exceptional service.

At the forefront of business travel the hotels and conference centre, which will offer guests an impressive host of shared MICE and leisure facilities, are brilliantly located between the check-in counters of Frankfurt Airport Terminal 1 and the AIRrail ICE long-distance train station. A mere 20-minute journey away from Frankfurt city centre, the pioneering destination is one of the largest airport hotels in Europe and will help establish Frankfurt as one of the world's key global travel hubs for both leisure and business travellers.

Since opening its doors in 1975 as Sheraton Frankfurt Airport Hotel & Conference Center, the hotel has evolved over the years and has become an integral part of Frankfurt Airport, as well as the surrounding region. Celebrating over 45 years of history and excellence in hospitality, the hotel, which opened with 555 rooms, and its 300 dedicated members of staff have provided an impeccable service and moments of comfort to its loyal guests and look ahead to a bright future with the new dual brand concept and offering. Under the innovative new dual brand concept, the hotels have a total of 1,012 rooms and suites, over nine floors and three buildings. Each hotel has its own lobby and reception area and its own Club Lounge - The Sheraton Club and M Club, to guarantee guests the respective brand experience and personal touch. With more of a focus on the groups experience, guests will find the renovated Sheraton product now offers 3 Sheraton Club Suites, 7 Junior Suites, and a new modern Sheraton Club Lounge located on the lobby level. The former Sheraton Towers, with the upgraded rooms and lounge on the 9th floor is now part of the new fully renovated Marriott, featuring 233 renovated rooms.

Guests of both hotels can make use of the stylish, recently renovated spaces and public areas, which have been meticulously overhauled by leading international design houses.
Pipeline

11 November 2021

Marriott International, Inc. today announced it has signed an agreement with wasl Hospitality & Leisure LLC, a subsidiary of wasl Asset Management Group, to bring the W Hotels Worldwide brand to Dubai's sought-after Jumeirah Beach coastline. Expected to welcome its first guests in 2022, W Dubai - Mina Seyahi is set to become an iconic addition to Dubai's skyline and a new buzzing, urban escape in the cosmopolitan city.

Located close to Dubai's thriving leisure destinations, such as Dubai Marina and JBR Walk, W Dubai - Mina Seyahi is well-situated to offer guests a vibrant and playful escape. The 31-storey hotel is expected to feature 318 guestrooms, including 26 suites and an Extreme WOW Suite (W's take on a Presidential Suite). The W Lounge (the brand's signature take on the hotel lobby) is anticipated to draw inspiration from a Middle Eastern gathering place and will be a dynamic and lively space, where guests can mix and mingle over crafted cocktails and light bites. Anticipated plans include a new sunset destination experience by the pool overlooking the stunning Mina Seyahi bay, as well as a signature outlet on the 31st floor, with unsurpassed views of Dubai's world-famous Palm Jumeirah Island.

FUEL, the W brand's high-energy, social take on wellness that allows guests to focus on mind and body, will be at the heart of the BAR-B spa, which is expected to feature three treatment rooms and a beauty bar. The FIT Fitness Centre will see UK-born 1Rebel, the ultimate sport-luxe fitness experience, make its debut in the UAE, with a 2500-square-metre, dual-storey studio in the hotel.

Marriott International currently operates six properties and residences under the W Hotels brand across the Middle East. W Dubai - Mina Seyahi is anticipated to be the brand's second property in Dubai.
Press Release

11 November 2021

Profitability has improved across much of the globe as the hotel industry continues its slow recovery. In measuring that recovery, 2019 data is the benchmark, and by indexing with pre-pandemic levels, hoteliers can gain key context for the amount of profitability they are recapturing.

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Building on its initial launch in the U.S., STR now features monthly P&L data reporting in Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and the full Americas region.

In our latest P&L press release focused on the Asia Pacific region, we noted that profitability in the regions hotel markets was well below pre-pandemic levels as of September 2021. In this latest update, we expand to a global perspective to check in on Europe, the Middle East & Africa, and South America.

Global comparison

In the Middle East & Africa, gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) was 68% of September 2019 levels at US$30.04.

South America (US$5.73) came in at 57% using the same time comparison, while Europe GOPPAR was US$57.87 (60% of its 20219 levels).

Much further down the line, Asia Pacific (US$13.21) GOPPAR was just 35% of September 2019 levels, even with improvement after the worlds worst profitability decline in August.

Photo: STR

While looking at specific markets from each region, the Maldives, Qatar, Moscow, and Shanghai recovered better than 80% of 2019 GOPPAR levels.

On the other side of the spectrum, five of 27 key international markets still realized negative profit levels in comparison with September 2019: Bangkok (-31%), Bali (-24%), Kuala Lumpur (-21%), Hong Kong (-9%) and Tokyo (-4%).

Europe on its way to recovery

Although the summer months in Europe could have not reached the highest expectations, there was substantial improvement from the same time last year. September showed a GOPPAR dip for most of Europes top markets after summer highs.

Moscow, which had reached as high as 98% of its comparable 2019 level back in May, led the major European markets with September 2021 GOPPAR of US$36.30 (70% of 2019 comparable). Berlin, which had been at -12% of its 2019 GOPPAR in July returned to a positive level of US$7.79 in September. London showed slow and steady improvement over the summer months but remained at 44% of 2019 GOPPAR in September at US$6.43.

Photo: STR

Strong September for top Middle East markets

After weak summer months, key Middle East and markets reported profitability improvements during a strong September.

Dubai GOPPAR of US$158.68 was 153% of September 2019 levels. Qatar (US$148.64) came in at 89% using the same time comparison, while Saudi Arabias GOPPAR level was US$103.78 (33% of its 2019 levels).

Asia Pacific profitability well below pre-pandemic levels

Beijings 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 territoryTokyo has seen the biggest profitability decline over the past several months.

Photo: STR

Slow, steady improvement in South America

Top South American markets are trending upward in hotel profitability.

Lima, which had fallen to as low as -13% of its comparable 2019 level back in February, led the major South American markets with GOPPAR of US$25.41 (16% of 2019 comparable). Bogota, which had been at 30% of its 2019 GOPPAR in April, returned to a positive level of US$49.75 in September. Rio de Janeiro has shown slow and steady improvement since June but remained at just 75% of 2019 GOPPAR in September at US$63.92.

Industry stakeholders interested in Monthly P&L participation should contact [email protected].
External Article

11 November 2021

CitizenM, a Dutch lodging company, has raised $1 billion in new capital from its existing investors to accelerate its expansion plans as the hotel industry begins to bounce back from the pandemic.

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Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC participated in the round along with Dutch pension fund manager APG Asset Management and citizenM founder Rattan Chadhas KRC Capital.

More than half of the money is earmarked for adding new hotels, Chief Executive Officer Klaas van Lookeren Campagne said in an interview. The balance of the capital will help the company complete existing development projects and make up for revenue lost during the pandemic.

It has not been business as usual, but the long-term strategy with our shareholders is unchanged, van Lookeren Campagne said. We are patient. We have all gone through many crises in the past.

GIC acquired a 25% stake in citizenM in March 2019 at an enterprise value of 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion). When international travel shut down a year later, the company was gearing up for an expansion spree, with plans to open boutique hotels in cities around the globe.

Early in the pandemic, citizenM executives and its investors discussed whether the company should scrap its long-term plans. Instead they decided to look for opportunities.

Labor and supply shortages have increased the cost of developing new hotels in some U.S. cities, van Lookeren Campagne said. Still, the company will have 24 hotels open by the end of this year, and is aiming for 40 or more by the end of 2024.

We pretty quickly came to the conclusion that not much will change, van Lookeren Campagne said. People will travel maybe a little less frequently, but when they travel, theyll travel for longer.
Press Release

11 November 2021

SEATTLE, Wash. - Sustainable travel continues to be an opportunity in the industry and for travelers, with many sensitive to the impact travel can have on local environments, economies and the individuals that call these destinations home. In 2019, Expedia Group partnered with UNESCO and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to launch the first chapter of the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge (hereafter The UNESCO Pledge). Since then, The UNESCO Pledge has quickly expanded, with major chains such as Accor and Iberostar signing on, fostering unique connections across the travel industry to create a travel ecosystem which supports sustainable tourism. The UNESCO Pledge now has 4,200 hotels committed to concrete, transparent and achievable action. Hotels wanting to make their commitment to The UNESCO Pledge can sign up via the newly launched global website.

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With the world gathering at COP26 in Glasgow, travel businesses are taking further responsibility towards sustainable travel. Today, a trio of organizations join The UNESCO Pledge:

Atout France: The French Tourism Development Agency has joined, demonstrating its commitment to protecting the environment, local cultures and the communities that depend on travel to thrive. Atout France strives to ensure that as travelers explore the country, they do so responsibly and sustainably, so that generations to come will also have the same opportunity.

The French Tourism Development Agency has joined, demonstrating its commitment to protecting the environment, local cultures and the communities that depend on travel to thrive. Atout France strives to ensure that as travelers explore the country, they do so responsibly and sustainably, so that generations to come will also have the same opportunity. Consell de Formentera: The localgovernment of the island of Formentera will focus on attracting quality visitors who respect the environment and generate a return for the society of Formentera. It will also focus on promoting sustainability with new and positive experiences in destinations such as the protection of Posidonia, the promotion of sustainable mobility, and reducing the environmental and cultural impacts of travel, including the elimination of plastic bags.

The localgovernment of the island of Formentera will focus on attracting quality visitors who respect the environment and generate a return for the society of Formentera. It will also focus on promoting sustainability with new and positive experiences in destinations such as the protection of Posidonia, the promotion of sustainable mobility, and reducing the environmental and cultural impacts of travel, including the elimination of plastic bags. VisitScotland: Scotlands national tourism organization aims to deliver sustainable and inclusive economic growth throughout the country. VisitScotland works closely with the tourism industry and a wide range of stakeholders to influence the growth of Scotlands visitor economy through our activities domestically and internationally. Responsible tourism is a key focus for the organization. VisitScotland is committed to protecting the natural assets which are vital to Scotlands iconic identity through marketing, advice, and partnerships. Scotlands UNESCO Trail was launched in October, designed specifically to support ambitions to make Scotland a world-leading responsible tourism destination.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Expedia Group have also signed a further MOU extending their strategic partnership to a third year, with promoting sustainable tourism and The UNESCO Pledge as one of the key pillars of cooperation. Nearly 600 hotels in Thailand are currently signed on to The UNESCO Pledge.

We are committed to giving travelers clear information on sustainable travel options and working with our partners across the travel industry to promote sustainability in the areas where it will really make a difference. Its really exciting to see The UNESCO Pledge gather pace with hotel groups, destination marketing organizations and governments alike that all want to be involved in this important mission. Today, we make it easier for hotels to join The UNESCO Pledge through the launch of the Expedia Group and UNESCO global site, said Aditi Mohapatra, VP, Global Social Impact & Sustainability, Expedia Group.

The unique combined credibility of UNESCO and Expedia Group provides travelers with visibility into travel companies committed to sustainability and the ultimate goals of preserving culture and heritage, as well as minimizing the negative effects that travel can have on destinations. Partners participate in direct, hands-on reporting to UNESCO and work together to share existing efforts and devise plans to support ongoing improvement in their local communities. With the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), online education and training will be offered to strengthen commitments.

Since its inception, our collaboration with the Expedia Group has brought together a growing number of committed hotel companies and like-minded organizations to prioritize sustainability and environmental protection, as well as encourage economic and community development and responsible tourism, said Ernesto Ottone R., Assistant Director-General for Culture of UNESCO. The success of the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge underscores the need to provide incentives to rebalance the relationship between tourism and our environment while strengthening the resiliency of our communities by promoting culture and creativity.

For further information on how to proactively incorporate sustainability in the travel industry or to sign the Sustainable Tourism Pledge visit https://unescosustainable.travel/.

About UNESCO

UNESCOs mission is to contribute to the building of a culture of peace, the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCOs mission and activities.
Press Release

11 November 2021

BANGKOK  Ennismore announces the arrival of TRIBE hotels in Southeast Asia, focused on key countries including Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines. TRIBEs growth in Southeast Asia forms part of Ennismores global growth of its lifestyle brands.



Launched in 2019, TRIBE is an alternative lifestyle brand that is shaking up the rules of hospitality to fulfil the wants and needs of the modern traveller, without compromising on sophistication, style or functionality. TRIBE hotels are designed to focus on common areas to create multifunctional spaces that encourage connection between guests while providing that welcoming and familiar feeling. A TRIBE hotel offers far more than just accommodation - it provides collaborative workspaces, decompression zones and social destinations.



Francois Leclerc, Deputy Brand COO at Ennismore said: Were incredibly excited to debut TRIBE in Southeast Asia, bringing a new concept to the region. TRIBE is all about reshaping the traditional hotel experience into something that enables guests to stay, work and socialise in a truly contemporary environment. We know that TRIBE hotels will really excite modern travellers who are looking for simplicity, affordability, and connectivity in a high-end interior environment. Our guests are true explorers  they could be out shopping, experiencing the local neighbourhood or out doing business, however they do want to return to a hotel that is both design driven and social. These diverse modern travellers are connected by a love of contemporary design, a spirit of adventure & a new understanding of what a functional, contemporary hotel should be. The TRIBE brand offers up the perfect solution.



From the music selections to the choice of local coffee roasters, each TRIBE element is meticulously curated. TRIBE collaborates with different creative designers at each location, selecting elements to reflect the brands philosophy and unique vibe, creating an inclusive environment for everyone. Those drawn to TRIBE have a lust for life and are often more comfortable outside the box than in it. Theyre always on the hunt for new experiences and stories to share.



Guest rooms combine style and comfort, with the latest technologies in a user-friendly and welcoming space. The approach to simplicity, complemented by polished interior design, is evident in each private space. The smart rooms feature high quality linens, intuitive connectivity, rain showers, signature robes, and Nespresso coffee machines.



Ennismore has already signed 50 TRIBE hotels and is aiming for rapid expansion with up to 150 to open globally within the next five years, including in Phnom Penh, Bali, Singapore, Phuket and Manila by 2025.
Opinion Article

11 November 2021

Hotel technology systems have come a long way in recent years due to the rise of various innovations like the cloud, the adoption of open APIs, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to everyday business operations. The global pandemic has pushed certain sectors of the hospitality tech industry further into the future. SkiftX spoke with Shijis COO Kevin King to look at Property Management Systems, in particular, and how hotels stand to benefit from this new era of technological innovation.

SkiftX: Shiji has expanded globally over the last few years by growing its portfolio and opening new offices. Whats the strategy behind this?

Kevin King: Our chairman set some milestones on where we should be heading in the coming years. One of those points was to become a truly global company, servicing the hotel industry worldwide. We built a product portfolio that fit the needs of our customers  one that works with existing technology where customers can pick the products that work best for them or could be combined into a complete stack.

Our strategy has really been to listen to the market and the customers and grow our portfolio and offices accordingly. For a technology company, were quite different in that we started as a service company, so service and support are really part of our DNA.

SkiftX: Shiji Has Been Researching The Property Management Space In The Last Few Years To Uncover Whats Top Of Mind For Hoteliers. What Are Some Of The Most Valuable Findings From That Research So Far?

King: In a recent study, we confirmed that cloud migration has been a major influence on hoteliers technology choices. By 2023, it is estimated that the majority of hotel tech infrastructure will be completely cloud-based. As always, the guest experience remains the main motivation with hotel technology, and the need to create a frictionless, guest-first approach is essential.

We also found that while guest messaging solutions are entering their state of technological maturity, they are still pretty much underused in hotel properties. Despite the huge advantage of rapid interaction and service of guest messaging solutions, hotels are still reluctant to adopt them fully. This is an interesting space to keep an eye on.

SkiftX: In General, How Are Enterprise Hotel Companies Thinking About Property Management Systems At The Moment? Has There Been A Mindset Shift Over The Last Few Years, Or Due To The Pandemic?

King: Enterprise hotel companies are looking for connectivity and security. While the two arent mutually exclusive, they pose a real challenge, especially when you consider thousands of hotels in dozens of countries and continents.

Another point were seeing is that in the past, when technology wasnt such a central piece of guests lives, the smartest and best way for hotel chains to implement technology was to build their own. But as technology becomes so much more complex with more connectivity, more security issues, and more data protection issues, many are looking to buy technology that fits their needs.

Touchless solutions will continue to be important, and many of the older solutions cant keep up with such quick and sweeping changes across an entire estate. This is where we come in and try to help.

SkiftX: What Are Some Challenges You Expect Enterprise Hotel Companies Will Have To Increasingly Deal With Over The Next Few Years?

King: One is data security and privacy. An abundance of strict laws have been passed  and more are being written  in Europe, the U.S., Russia, and China, among others. Were seeing what Apple and Google are doing with cookies, and it is clear that if guests cant trust their hotel to keep their data safe, it becomes a critical issue for hotels.

Then come challenges like data sovereignty. Most of the legislation around this hasnt been fully worked out yet, but governments are demanding that data from their citizens doesnt leave their territory. Most systems today arent set up to deal with that.

As a Chinese company, we know how important this is, and we get more scrutiny than probably any other hotel technology company. This is something we welcome, as it forces us to raise the bar in the products we build. We subject our systems to external audits to ensure were in full compliance and beyond to make sure that European citizens data remains in Europe, that U.S. citizens data remains in the U.S., and so on. Our customers value this, but it will become a big challenge for global hotel companies.

Finally, I would say the challenge for hotel technology in general is change management. So many things are changing so fast. The technology solutions that have worked for the past few decades will probably not work for the coming decade.

SkiftX: How Can A Strong Property Management System Help Solve These Issues?

King: I think the property management system is very much still associated with the old on-premise system, which hasnt evolved in many years and is often a risk to the hotels ability to evolve and deal with security.

We would like to change the model from a property management system to a hotels technology platform. The system is the core part of the hotels technology, and other solutions connect to it. If the platforms architecture is strong and well-built, then it becomes easy to adapt to change, new legislation, and connected solutions.

The word platform really illustrates the concept well  even more than hub or system  because it can be the base for layers of technology and connections to be added and removed later. Property management system is still the term that most people use and thats fine, but we want to move beyond that old definition and bring it to the 21st century.

SkiftX: More Hotel Companies Are Beginning To Show A Great Deal Of Interest In Innovation And Keeping Up With New Technologies, But Dont Know Where To Start. What Advice Would You Give Them?

King: Firstly, I would recommend hotels look at guest safety, security, and privacy. These are real issues that need to be addressed. The immediate safety steps are probably done or well underway. For instance, reducing physical touch points as much as possible, such as payments and check-in. Data security and privacy enhancements arent as visually impressive as making a new app, but are much more important. Our industry is about trust. It is a hotels duty to ensure that trust is respected with secure and private systems that do not share data in an indiscriminate manner.

Put your guest first and think about the technology that will provide your guest with a better experience. Guests will have more choice in the short term, so find things that can help you gain a competitive edge.

Note: This article was originally created collaboratively by Shiji and Skifts branded content studio, SkiftX.
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One of Houston's most highly coveted properties and the city's only home designed by the late, iconic architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, left the market last week according to a listing on HAR.com.

After sitting on the market for months at a previous list price of $3.15 million, the estate known as the "William Thaxton House" after a Houston insurance executive, sold to an unnamed buyer on Thursday, Nov. 4 for $2.7 million, CultureMap reported.

OnHoustonChronicle.com: Houston home sales drop in October amid labor, supply shortages

Nestled in Bunker Hill Village at 12020 Tall Oaks St., the contemporary modern home is part of Wrights Usonian homes series and "displays his approach to building focus on natural surroundings, generous overhangs and cantilevered carport," according to the HAR.com listing.

Wright created Usonian homes in response to the Great Depression in 1929 to address the financial crisis and provide affordable housing, according to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

"Wrights Usonians were a simplified approach to residential construction that reflected both economic realities and changing social trends," its description reads.

"In the Usonian houses, Wright was offering a simplified, but beautiful environment for living that Americans could both afford and enjoy. Wright would continue to design Usonian houses for the rest of career, with variations reflecting the diverse client budgets."

PAST COVERAGE: Houston's only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home price slashed by almost $1M since 2013

The mid-century Houston property was built in 1959, just four years before the death of the legendary architect, who is known for creating some of the most innovative spaces in the U.S.

It was renovated in 1995 by Kirksey Architecture and features contemporary, sun filled interiors, a large family room, inviting central courtyard & pool.

Spanning 8,000 square feet on a 1.19 acre lot, the home has a private gate, up to six bedrooms with lofts and an office/study room, six full and one half bathrooms, a kitchen and separate breakfast den, dining room and a guest suite with kitchenette.

This home is one of three Frank Lloyd Wright homes in Texas including one in Dallas and one in Amarillo.
If you take boudin out of Cajun and Creole country, is it still boudin?

Its a question worth asking because, in recent years, boudin has become a cause celebre among Texas pitmasters and sausage makers. What exactly is authentic boudin, and when does it become just a rice-based sausage?

Historically, boudin is a French sausage, usually pork based, either made with pork blood (boudin rouge) or without (boudin blanc). This French delicacy made the jump to America with the arrival of Acadians in southwest Louisiana, where Cajun and Creole boudin traditions flourished in a region where both rice and pork were plentiful.

Making sausage has always been a way to eliminate waste in agricultural production. Most sausage we know today started out as a method to use trimmings and undesirable cuts of meat in a creative and delicious way.

From the earliest days of Texas barbecue, butcher shops would take trimmings of pork and beef, grind them up with spices and herbs, add a filler, and stuff them into a casing made from hog intestines. They would then be smoked or steamed for cooking.

Examples of this technique include the hot gut sausage made famous in the town of Elgin in Central Texas, as well as the all-beef sausages known as garlic bombs that are famous in Beaumont (technically, these are links, based on how they are tied into small loops or links of sausage).

Henderson & Kane 715 Henderson, 281-974-3557 Open daily. See More Collapse

Authentic boudin in Louisiana is essentially the same structure but different ingredients. Like its French counterpart, Cajun boudin mainly uses pork meat trimmings for flavor and texture and, most famously, lots of pork liver and pork fat. The filler is rice, a plentiful and relatively cheap ingredient in this part of Louisiana. Spices include paprika, garlic powder and cayenne. This is stuffed into a hog casing and steamed.

This style of boudin can also be found in Southeast Texas, where Cajun and Creole cooking traditions are an essential part of the culture. Indeed, boudain in this part of the state has its own spelling (with an a) and uses a much higher proportion of rice to trimmings.

But what happens when the recipe for boudin moves farther west, into Central Texas? Rice and pork were never considered native ingredients here, where beef was  and still is  king. The cash crop of this area, cotton, was decidedly not edible.

If a pitmaster makes boudin west of Houston, is it really just a rice-based sausage? Or is there such a thing as Central Texas-style boudin?

It would appear there is now. Though rice is not native to Central Texas, beef is, and several barbecue outlets throughout the state are substituting beef for pork in their boudin recipe. And instead of steaming the boudin, they are smoking it.

For instance, Bill Dumas and John Brotherton of Brothertons Black Iron Barbecue in Pflugerville are making a now-classic brisket-filled boudin, as well as a Cajun-inspired crawfish, shrimp and brisket boudin made with dirty rice and then smoked.

Closer to Houston, Tejas Chocolate & BBQ in Tomball offers various versions of smoked boudin as specials, including brisket and barbacoa.

And if you are looking for a classic, East Texas-style, pork-and-rice boudain, head over to Henderson & Kane in Fourth Ward, where master sausage maker Aaron Lazo Sr. crafts one of the best versions in the city.

jcreid@jcreidtx.com

twitter.com/jcreidtx
Vy Tan Hoang Van wants his students to feel pride for the school they attend. As principal and founder of Van Houston Academy in west Houston, a private school that focuses on community and intrinsic motivation, Van looks to continue to grow the school despite closing last year due to COVID-19.

Before the pandemic, the school started in 2018 with only nine students and grew to 40 in 2020. After reopening in August, the predominately Asian-American school located in a strip center at 13618 Bellaire Blvd. now has 80 students that have largely bought into the schools mission.

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In public school, I really didnt know anyone, and it felt really isolating. Everyone was in their own little groups and I was just there. It felt really lonely, 11th-grader Johnny Nguyen said, who attended public school last year due to the pandemic. Here, everyone knows each other. Its like a family.

Originally from Vietnam and a graduate of Stanford University, Van came to Houston to teach public school. He quickly noticed students felt isolated and showed indifference to their community, which ultimately affected their grades. In Vans experience with Vietnamese public schools, students would stay with the same classmates until they graduate. According to Van, that model created a sense of comradery and motivated students to succeed alongside their classmates, and made them care about one another.

I want to train the kids to be responsible in their community, to know how to care for each other, to know how to love each other and the family and the community around them, Van said.

After Vans stint in public school, he created an SAT prep/afterschool and summer tutoring program in 2016 at the Academys current location. Van realized his efforts werent working because the students didnt understand why they should be learning in the first place.

It didnt matter how many hours I spent with them, they didnt want to do well, they didnt want to do anything, Van said. I could sit with them three hours a day and they go back to school and do squat. I felt like it was going nowhere. I needed more time with them to help them build intrinsic motivation.

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Two years later, Van Houston Academy was created. During his summer and afterschool program, Van had 300 students packing the halls of the makeshift tutoring center, making him enough money to hire full-time teachers and bring students on board for a $6,000 a year tuition.

The schools model abandons standardized tests and focuses more on personal development while still teaching core subjects. The school attempts to teach students compassion, attentiveness, and empathy to both themselves and their peers.

Every Friday, instead of class, the school dedicates the entire day to students participating in any of the numerous clubs of their choosing, including construction club, where they design and build projects from scratch, film club, where students make films, and care club, where the students create campaigns to help poor families in Vietnam.

The school also has a robotics club where their robot, named Van Robo was awarded second place in VIQC Blended Chips Bowl, a statewide competition.

Van Academy was math and science teacher Joshua Wilsons first teaching job out of college and has been with the school since 2017. Wilson says not having to worry about standardized tests allows him to ensure that his students fully understand his lessons.

When I worked at public school it was heres a script, if a kid doesnt understand, move on and just pass them, Wilson said. I dont want to do that because then we have a bunch of doctors that dont know what theyre doing.

I enjoy working here with the flexibility of being able to make sure that no matter what kids, no matter what pace they need to go at, we can make sure that everybody is getting that foundation so that eventually everybody can move at the same pace, Wilson said.

One of the challenges the school has is with outreach. Van did not intend for the school to have a primarily Asian-American population, but being close to Houstons Chinatown, speaking Vietnamese, and knowing what the residents watch and listen to, Van has only been able to spread awareness about the school to those communities.

Being a small school, it is also vulnerable to shutting down due to events like COVID-19. Van said he thought he would go bankrupt during the pandemic while the students were not attending the academy. Luckily for Van, he did not have any problems getting his teachers back once they reopened in August.

Here, we work as long as we need to, Wilson said. When the students see that somebody cares, thats the first step to them being able to say I trust this person, if Im struggling I can talk to this person.

ryan.nickerson@hcnonline.com
DENVER (AP)  A Colorado man accused of fighting against police trying to keep people from entering the U.S. Capitol has been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.

Thomas Patrick Hamner, 48, of Peyton was arrested Tuesday in Colorado Springs. He is charged with engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers with a dangerous weapon, among other crimes.
Montpelier, Vt. (AP)  Advocates for Vermonts homeless population claimed victory Thursday after the state expanded eligibility for who will be able to qualify for emergency housing in hotels and motels this winter.

As a result of the state's decision, announced Wednesday, a handful of advocates ended their 27-night protest in which they slept on the steps of the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier to draw attention to the plight of people who have to sleep outside.

Advocate Brenda Siegel, of Newfane, who spent the 27 nights and 28 days on the Statehouse steps, said their actions helped make people aware of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.

It had to be forced into the public eye for all of us to pay attention, Siegel said during a Thursday news conference on the Statehouse steps. Now that we are all looking we must never look away.

On Wednesday, the Vermont Department for Children and Families announced the Adverse Weather Conditions of the General Assistance Emergency Housing Program, which makes people eligible to stay in hotels or motels during inclement weather, would be in use from Nov. 22 until March 1.

The state says that historically, pre-pandemic, the adverse weather program had been applied on a day-to-day basis depending on weather forecasts and conditions. Before the pandemic, the emergency housing program served about 250 people a year.

A different version of the program currently serves more than 1,500 people.

To be eligible for the expanded program, people must have an urgent need for housing, meet income guidelines and be unable to find housing on their own.

On Thursday, Siegel estimated there are at least 1,000 who exited an earlier version of the program who could meet the eligibility requirements for the expanded program that will be in use this winter.

Siegel said she and other advocates would work to make sure that everyone who wants to take advantage of the program will be able to. During their month on the Statehouse steps they set up a hotline for people to call if they needed help applying for housing assistance.

Siegel also said the owners of the hotels and motels also need to know how the plan will be working so they can make their plans.

We need to know well before March 1 that were keeping people housed until theyre transitioned into long term housing, she said.
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said Wednesday that he did not believe an independent investigation was necessary into the Friday Astroworld concert, which ended with eight deaths.

Just to be clear, HPD homicide investigation will investigate this case, Finner continued. Well take a lead on it.

FESTIVAL CHAOS IMPACT: Gov. Abbott forms panel on concert safety following Astroworld deaths

On Friday night, festivalgoers at the Astroworld festival surged toward the stage about the time Houston-native Travis Scott stepped on stage and began to perform, officials said. Spectators fell or were crushed so hard that many fell ill or became unconscious.

First responders declared a mass casualty incident, transporting 17 to the hospital, eight of whom died. The youngest of the victims was a 14-year-old boy, the oldest, a 27-year-old man. Two victims remain hospitalized in critical condition, authorities said Wednesday.

In the aftermath of the scandal, officials such as Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo have called for an independent investigation.

"The families of those who died and everybody affected deserve answers as to what took place last night, Hidalgo said, previously. Thats why Im calling for an objective, independent investigation as to what went on.

At the news conference, Finner stressed his close relationship with Perrye Turner, the special agent in charge of the FBIs Houston Field Office  and said the two have been in contact since Fridays tragedy.

I'm not against an independent investigation when it's warranted, he said. Its not warranted right now.

Days after the Astroworld festival turned deadly, numerous questions about all facets of the case remain unanswered.

But Finner clarified previous remarks that investigators were looking into the possibility that a security guard had lost consciousness after someone injected him in the neck with an unknown drug.

Finners remarks had gained widespread attention as many wondered if drug overdoses or a bad batch of drugs could have caused so many concertgoers to fall ill. They were fueled by scores of videos and images that spread across social media of concertgoers receiving chest compressions or sprawled on the ground, unconscious.

But in his news conference on Wednesday, Finner said investigators had tracked down the security guard and spoken with him.

His story is not consistent with (being injected)," Finner said. "He says he was struck in the head, he went unconscious. He said no one injected drugs in him.

More from St. John Barned-Smith: Houston firefighters struggled to communicate with medics during Astroworld chaos, union head says

Finner also provided additional information about how many Houston police officers were working security at the concert compared with previous years.

During the 2018 Astroworld festival, about 170 officers worked the event. That grew to 240 in 2019 and about 530 this year. But questions remain about how many private security worked the event, Finner said.

Some of the records are not clear, so I'm not comfortable with laying out a number, he said. Thats going to be a part of the investigation.

Questions also remain over who had jurisdiction over the venue and ultimate authority to shut down the event  particularly after revelations that Scott continued to perform for 37 minutes after Houston firefighters declared a Mass Casualty Incident on Friday evening.

The concert occurred at NRG Park  a county facility  but was staffed by hundreds of Houston police officers. Finner said the ultimate authority to end the show resided with LiveNation and with Scott.

That should be through communication with public safety officials," he said.
Reports of breached barricades, injuries and breathing problems trickled over police radio airwaves in the minutes before authorities realized the depth of the Astroworld Festival chaos during the Travis Scott concert.

At least one Houston police officer  among the hundreds at the NRG stadium event  reported the main stage had been compromised around 9:11 p.m. The command post asked their helicopter above to take a closer look, according to police radio traffic from the Friday night concert. Scott had been onstage for mere minutes and concertgoers reported that some audience members were trying to escape the area closest to the stage at this point.

Theres not a lot we can do, an official stated, saying moments later that the breach was isolated to one section. Stand by for now. Well have to wait, but the concert management will let us know.

Two minutes later, an officer exclaimed into his radio that he could see more people scaling a gate, according to radio traffic obtained by the Chronicle.

Police Chief Troy Finner on Wednesday declined to elaborate on specific timelines of what happened during the concert. Homicide investigators, he said, are reviewing the eight deaths of people in their teens and 20s.

Timelines are a major focus of the investigation right now, Finner said at a news conference. This type of investigation is going to take weeks, possibly months.

FILLING IN THE GAPS: Are you in these photos? We want to hear your Astroworld stories.

The recordings, however, on police tactical channels offer another look at how authorities responded to the mounting problems. Voices of several police officers, dispatchers, police captains, at least one commander and members of the helicopter division can be heard in a review of radio traffic from about 9 to 10:15 p.m.

Authorities kept an eye on the stage and each other as Houston native Scott performed  officers were ordered to stick together in groups of 10 or more. Some officers spotted people leaving the crowd but their voices remained calm through the first half hour.

A scattering of issues popped up in the minutes that followed. A breathing problem was reported at the Yellow Lot around 9:16 p.m. and a caller then warned of an assault near the stadium on Kirby Drive, outside the concert perimeter.

Caller reported that people are getting stepped on  gives no actual location, an official said.

More people started jumping the fence. Another voice in the radio traffic relayed that people were spilling out of the swarm of packed crowd-goers.

Looks like folks are coming out of the crowd complaining of difficulty breathing, crushing-type injuries, an official said around 9:21 p.m. Seems like the crowd is compressing on itself.

CONCERT CULTURE: The culture of Travis Scott is one of devotion - and chaos.

At this point, the third-party medical vendor ParaDocs was referenced and authorities said the companys medics were aware of the injuries. The concert kept going, however, as the crowd crammed together with intensity. A concert-goer recorded footage around this time of an unresponsive man receiving CPR amid the crowd.

The intel were getting is that the barricades might be compromised or is being compromised, an official continued. Moments later, another concertgoer captured video of fans climbing a speaker tower to escape the crushing crowd.

2 1 of 2 Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Jamaal Ellis, Houston Chronicle / Contributor Show More Show Less



The extent of the chaos was not evident until minutes later. Police asked for a drone above the concert to get a better look than what the helicopter had. Someone asked when the concert was supposed to end, the audio continued. Scott was expected to wrap up at 10 p.m. but, an official said, the concert could go longer because of special guests performances. The artist Drake took to the stage after Scott.

Authorities at 9:30 p.m. then heard a panicked female officer aske for others to clear the airwaves.

Im at the medical tent, she said. Theres a lot of people trampled and theyre passed out at the front stage.

Her call-out prompted a Houston Fire Department district chief listening from the distant Orange Lot to self-dispatch first responders from the department to the concert  a rare decision. Authorities fielded reports of people unconscious in the crowd. An officer at the command post urged anyone listening to take care of themselves.

That crowd is super thick, he said, issuing a grave warning that the situation could quickly devolve into an officer rescue situation. Be careful.

Authorities turned their attention to people scaling media equipment to escape the swarm below.

Theres a large group of people that are climbing their media tower that are in front of the stage, an official said. People are about to fall off and their media people at the booth are calling may-day requests to get out and they cant get out. They are deep inside the crowd.

The command post relayed a dire situation at 9:38 p.m., about when the mass casualty incident was declared. Radio traffic became increasingly unintelligible and the command post encouraged law enforcement to take a deep breath before getting on the radio.

Were getting multiple reports of people getting injured, an officer said. We have another report of cardiac situation with CPR by the stage.

FESTIVAL CHAOS: Social media posts show fans begging to stop the Astroworld show

Ray Hunt, Houston Police Officers Unions executive director, said he believes prior to 9:30 p.m., the tone of the radio traffic was similar to other large events, such as a concert or what he heard last year at a George Floyd march.

They did not know the scope of the situation  they only knew what was going on in their individual area, he said, after listening to the radio traffic for the first time.

He noted that the officer at a command post acted as a voice of calm and kept his cool as authorities declared a mass casualty incident.

Authorities gave word around 10:03 p.m. that the concert was in the process of shutting down.

The show has been shut off so please remain where you are, a woman said over the air. The show has been stopped.

Scott and Drake, however, continued performing for more than 10 minutes, witnesses said.

nicole.hensley@chron.com
Chronicle file

In this front page from Nov. 11, 1970, the Post was chasing reports that Roy Hofheinz was going to purchase Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Seems the reporter was having trouble reaching anyone who could confirm the news.

Hofheinz, along with Irvin and Israel Feld, did purchase the circus for $8 million, taking it public two years later. The three sold the circus to Mattel in 1971. The Feld family bought it back in 1982.
Dozens of customers had been groped and sexually assaulted during massages at a storefront spa chain, lawyers said. It was time for someone to hold Massage Heights accountable for neglect of customers safety, they told a Harris County jury this week.

On Friday, the jurors responded. They awarded a customer $3.3 million in damages following a 2017 assault during a 90-minute session at a now-shuttered business in The Woodlands. The licensed therapist who provided the massage is serving an 18-year term in prison.

Massage Heights Franchising knew its customers were getting raped and brutalized and chose to do nothing, said attorney Anjali Nigam, who represents the Woodlands customer, a 53-year-old mother of three. This verdict sends a signal that you must protect your customers from known dangers.

A spokesperson for Massage Heights Franchising said,  We respect the jurys verdict and appreciate the time the jurors spent on this case. While we disagree with the jurys assessment  we are very confident in our attorneys and look forward to the next phase of the legal process.

The companys statement said, We will continue to do everything possible to equip our franchisees with tools and resources to keep guests and members safe. It continued: The safety and well-being of our guests is and always has been our highest priority and we take sexual misconduct very seriously.

A Houston Chronicle investigation this year identified at least 24 reports that Massage Heights therapists across the U.S. had made sexual contact with clients since 2010, including at least nine accusations of unwanted contact at seven out of 24 franchises across the Houston area. Lawyers in the civil suit said they have documented more than 50 allegations of sexual misconduct at Massage Heights businesses across the U.S.

At another Massage Heights spa near the Texas Medical Center, a massage therapist faces trial in two back-to-back sexual assaults of customers. One of those customers, a Harris County elected official named Erica Davis, reached a monetary settlement with Massage Heights and the franchise. Legal agreements like these are typically private, but they do not indicate a company has admitted culpability.

The jury deliberated for about a day before finding Massage Heights culpable of gross negligence for failing to properly train and supervise an employee who is now incarcerated and failing to protect patrons like the woman who trusted the spa enough to pay to lie naked beneath sheets in a windowless room with one of its staffers.

The Houston Chronicle does not name victims of sexual assault.

On the witness stand, the spa chains cofounder and former CEO, Shane Evans, did not dispute the chain had received more than 50 reports of sexual contact with customers.

The Massage Heights therapist, Mario Rubio, was convicted by a Montgomery County jury of digitally penetrating the customer. The civil jury on Friday effectively confirmed the womans contention that the franchise owner, Eric Oliver, and the chain had a history of skirting blame following a string of assaults at its franchises.

Witnesses said the spa company had a pattern of being slow to act when employees at its franchises crossed the line. Evans did not terminate these franchises licenses and continued to sell franchises to Oliver after his spas across the country were cited in a dozen previous sexual assault allegations, according to testimony.

Rubio, a licensed therapist, was retrained on sheet tucking techniques after a previous customer complained that he had made sexual contact with her during a massage, according to witnesses.

This was a time bomb, said Nigams co-counsel, Patrick Scott. Scott told jurors there was no question someone like his client was going to be sexually assaulted.

The companys lawyers said the assault was horrible and theres no question it happened but noted that Olivers Woodlands franchise failed to properly report a prior assault by Rubio. The parent company had no indication Rubio was a problem, lawyers said.

Massage Heights lawyer Forrest Wynn said in his closing argument, Rubio was and remains the elephant in the room. In the companys view, he said, Rubio was the sole proximate cause of the assault.

He said the parent company gives its franchises the tools to run its spas, but executives had no control over Alden Bridge spas day-to-day hiring, firing and training of employees like Rubio.

The jurors found the business and franchise did not do enough to protect the customer from the attack. Scott told the jury in his closing argument that the company was dutybound to discipline employees who violate its well articulated policy of zero tolerance for sexual assault.

The jury determined the parent company in San Antonio should shoulder $1.8 million in punitive damages and 15 percent of another $1.5 million they awarded to the customer for pain and suffering she endured. The once-outgoing woman testified she now has trouble sleeping and trusting people and is afraid to leave her house.

Massage Heights Franchises said following the verdict its brand institutes numerous safety protocols that franchisees are expected to follow, including hiring licensed therapists, checking references and criminal backgrounds and requiring therapists to participate in continuing education training every two years. The parent company said its franchises are now equipped with alert buttons so customers can terminate a massage during a treatment.

Oliver  who owned the Alden Bridge franchise and 12 others where witnesses said there were reports of sexual contact  did not show up for the trial, nor did he send legal representation.

The jury ordered Oliver to cover 35 percent of the womans damages for pain and suffering and Rubio to pay the remaining 50 percent. He will be eligible for parole in 2026 and his anticipated release is in 2035.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com
Galveston already enjoys the Liberty of the Seas, but now the city's port is also home to the Adventure of the Seas - a fellow Royal Caribbean International cruise ship and one of the two "largest cruise ships to sail from Galveston," port authorities said.

Adventure of the Seas, capable of hosting 3,800 guests and nearly 5,000 people in total, will host short, seasonal cruises to Caribbean ports of call, according to a Port of Galveston release.

The ship set sail on its first voyage Monday to Cozumel, Mexico, bringing Galveston's active cruise ships up to six, with three Royal Caribbean ships and three from its rival, Carnival Cruise Line. The start of seasonal cruises onboard the Disney Wonder will round out the port's offerings later in November.

Adventure of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's latest investment in Galveston, where it is building a $125 million cruise terminal to open in 2022. The new terminal will allow Royal Caribbean to relocate its behemoth 6,780-guest Allure of the Seas cruise ship to Galveston.

After the pandemic led the CDC to shut down a COVID-stricken cruise industry in March 2020, the agency this year offered cruise lines two options to resume sailing. Cruise ships must either impose public health measures such as mask requirements and run simulated voyages to prove they can operate without an outbreak, or ensure 95 percent of crew and passengers are vaccinated.

The restrictions, due to expire Nov. 1, were extended in late October to January 2022, with the agency citing concerns about the delta variant. Despite new laws passed in Texas this year to prohibit most other businesses from demanding proof of vaccination, Carnival and Royal Caribbean, Galveston's two year-round cruise lines, still require vaccines for most guests 12 years and older.

RELATED: After passenger from Galveston cruise ship dies of COVID-19, Carnival tightens vaccine policies

Since Carnival resumed voyages on July 3, marking the return of cruises to Galveston, both of the port's perennial cruise lines have faced limited COVID-19 outbreaks onboard that have drawn the CDC's attention. After a Carnival Vista passenger hospitalized for COVID-19 died in late August, Carnival rolled out stronger vaccine and testing policies.

The CDC is currently monitoring coronavirus cases onboard Royal Caribbean's two other Galveston-based ships, Independence of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, although the number of cases hasn't met the agency's threshold for an investigation.

charlie.zong@chron.com
Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

The city this week raised the minimum wage for its employees to $15 per hour.

City Council voted 16-1 on Wednesday to approve the pay hike, which affects nearly 500 of the citys roughly 21,000 workers. Councilmember Greg Travis voted against it.
Three astronauts got their first taste of spaceflight Wednesday evening.

The Crew-3 mission launched from NASAs Kennedy Space Center at 8:03 p.m. CST. The three rookies  and one veteran  will spend six months on the International Space Station.

This mission will provide invaluable space experience to astronauts who could one day walk on the moon. The crew will also welcome two private astronaut missions and conduct a series of spacewalks to outfit the stations power system in preparation for new solar arrays.

UPDATE ON ARTEMIS: Astronauts not expected to walk on moon before 2025, NASA says

Its kind of a dream mission for a rookie flyer, NASA astronaut Kayla Barron said during a news conference. We have a lot of exciting things planned from spacewalks to science experiments to visitors with the private astronaut missions and spaceflight participants.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a Crew Dragon capsule on top, launched Barron, NASA astronaut Raja Chari, NASA astronaut Tom Marshburn and European Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer. Marshburn, the veteran, had previously flown in the space shuttle and Russian Soyuz capsule.

They were the first crew members in this particular spacecraft, so they got to name it. Crew Dragon Endurance is scheduled to dock with the International Space Station on Thursday at 6:10 p.m. CST.

The Crew-3 launch had been delayed multiple times due to weather and a minor medical issue. NASA declined to elaborate on that issue.

And because the weather was moving from west to east, SpaceX and NASA chose to bring home astronauts from the International Space Station before launching the Crew-3 mission. Typically, the astronauts overlap on the ISS.

Bringing astronauts home on Monday provided additional data prior to launching Crew-3. SpaceX and NASA were particularly interested in the parachutes. One of the four chutes opened about 75 seconds late. Ultimately, SpaceX and NASA determined that was within the design criteria.

William Gerstenmaier, vice president of build and flight reliability at SpaceX, said the capsule could land with three parachutes if needed. He described the sluggish parachute as a known condition that can occur.

After the capsule landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, SpaceX and NASA flew two of the parachutes to a hangar to be inspected.

That shows you the level of thoroughness we went through to make sure we are doing everything possible to make sure that Crew-3 is safe, he said during a news conference. Each one of these flights is really a gift for us. Were still learning how to operate these vehicles, were learning how to fly in space, and the way you do that safely is you keep looking at the data and you learn from each and every flight.

Crew-3 is the fifth human spaceflight mission launched by SpaceX. Four of these missions (Demo-2, Crew-1, Crew-2 and Crew-3) were for NASA, and the Inspiration4 mission was privately funded.

I would like to congratulate SpaceX on the recent Inspiration4 mission, Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, said during a news conference. One of the purposes of Commercial Crew is not only to have these very important missions to the space station, but to also further an industry in low-Earth orbit.

SpaceX is part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, where the companies (not NASA) own and operate capsules trusted to carry astronauts to the space station. NASA provided funding and expertise, and it buys seats as a customer.

For the Crew-3 mission, Stich said hes particularly excited to see Chari go into space.

Chari graduated from astronaut training in January 2020 and then worked with the agencys Commercial Crew Program as director of the joint test team. He helped enable testing for items that would involve crew, such as the spacecraft display.

I already knew the SpaceX teams and had been working with the people, Chari said in an interview with the Houston Chronicle. And so that was, I think for me, really exciting and cool to go from knowing them already and now not just talking about the vehicle in a sort of academic or requirement sense but to actually now be sitting in the seat.

Instead of thinking about what should happen when an astronaut pushes a button, he is now pushing those buttons.

Im sitting in the actual cockpit, he said, now the beneficiary  or sometimes wishing I had made a different decision as I was pushing the buttons myself.

Chari is commander of the SpaceX Crew Dragon for this mission. It is the first time since space shuttle mission STS-2 in 1981 that a rookie astronaut has commanded a spacecraft on a NASA mission that went into orbit.

Marshburn, the flights veteran, was able to answer questions about operating in microgravity.

I feel very blessed to be able to be with them to provide whatever I can as a veteran, Marshburn said during a news conference, but otherwise just stay out of their way. Theyre operationally incredibly successful and capable as it is. What they need is an experience with spaceflight.

He said this experience will be very important for NASAs Artemis Program thats seeking to return astronauts to the moon and create a sustainable lunar presence.

Barron and Chari are among the NASA astronauts being considered for these early moon missions. Theyre also the first astronauts from NASAs 2017 astronaut candidate class to go into space.

Their stay on the ISS will coincide with visits from Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa and his production assistant Yozo Hirano  Maezawa has previously announced a trip around the moon with SpaceX  and with Houston-based Axiom Spaces first private astronaut mission.

MORE ON THE AXIOM MISSION: Houston's Axiom Space names three who will pay $55M each to visit the International Space Station

Maezawa and Hirano are scheduled to launch later this year with cosmonaut Alexander Misurkin. The Axiom mission would launch no earlier than Feb. 21 with former NASA astronaut and Axiom vice president Michael Lopez-Alegria, American real estate and technology entrepreneur Larry Connor, Canadian investor Mark Pathy and Israeli impact investor Eytan Stibbe.

The International Space Station was recently visited by a Russian film crew, and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said their visit was a good experience. The film crew stayed with their Russian commander and remained on the Russian side of the space station except for the agreed upon time where they were permitted to film from the cupola, which has big windows looking upon the Earth.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder
DALLAS  A DFW International Airport passenger was fined $23,000 by the Federal Aviation Administration for reportedly striking an American Airlines flight attendant after becoming upset that her seat didnt recline.

The woman, who was not named, verbally abused flight attendants after she realized her assigned seat would not recline and then declined to switch seats with multiple passengers and kept yelling at flight attendants, the air safety agency said Wednesday.

UNWELCOME SURPRISE: A flight attendant suspected human trafficking. It was a mixed race family traveling to a funeral.

The altercation took place March 11 on a flight between DFW Airport and Aspen, Colorado.

The FAA said it has already received more than 5,000 complaints of unruly passengers this year, including more than 100 acts of violence against flight crews. Flight attendants at Fort Worth-based American Airlines and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines have been the alleged victims of high-profile assaults from passengers, each resulting in federal charges.

Among the 10 fines doled out Wednesday, the FAA reported that three took place on American Airlines flights and three more on Southwest Airlines flights.

In the incident with the passenger flying from DFW to Aspen, the woman did switch seats but then continued verbally abusing flight attendants, according to the FAA. She then struck a flight attendant on the right forearm, and attempted to do so again.

The woman also refused to comply with federal face mask requirements.

During a separate encounter in January, a woman shoved an American Airlines flight attendant in the chest while being removed from a plane for refusing to wear a face mask. She was fined $24,000.

On a Horizon Air flight from Austin to San Francisco in May, a woman refused to follow instructions to buckle her seatbelt, punched and screamed at her husband and son and distracted flight attendants.

She threw trash at a flight attendant, and snatched cookies from a nearby passenger, the FAA said in announcing her $32,000 fine.

Bad behavior such as these examples have prompted unions for flight attendants to call for increased arrests and prosecution of passengers who assault flight attendants or attempt to disrupt flights.

Federal regulators have been urging passengers to remain calm on flights since early this year, but lately, authorities have used a stronger tone. Last week, the FAA and the Justice Department said the FBI has referred 37 passengers to federal prosecutors for charges.

Expeditiously referring the most violent, physical assaults against crew members and passengers to the Department of Justice for public prosecution is the most effective way to deter bad actors and put a stop to the spike in disruptive passengers, said Association of Flight Attendants President Sara Nelson in a statement.

Last week, a California man was charged in federal court and faces more than 20 years in prison for allegedly punching an American Airlines flight attendant in the face in October.

House lawmakers held a hearing in September where several called for airlines to share a list of disruptive passengers among one another so that problematic people could be banned from travel across the industry, although the proposal was met with skepticism from some airline officials.

If a passenger physically assaults crew members or other passengers on one airline, they pose a risk to passengers and crew at every airline, Nelson said. They should be banned from flying on all airlines. Period.

_____
A federal judge Wednesday ruled that Gov. Greg Abbotts controversial ban on mask mandates in the state was contrary to federal law, tossing it out and allowing schools across the state to require masks if they choose.

The case, heard by Texas Western District Judge Lee Yeakel, was brought on behalf of a group of disabled children across the state. Lawyers argued that Abbotts mask ban violated the Americans With Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal access to public schools for people with disabilities, as well as other federal laws.

As the court found, Texas is not above federal law, and state officials cannot prevent school districts from providing accommodations to students who are especially vulnerable to the risks of COVID-19. We are thankful that school districts can now take the steps necessary to protect these students, wrote Kym Davis Rogers, an attorney with Disability Rights Texas, which organized the lawsuit, in an emailed statement after Yeakels decision was published. No student should be forced to make the choice of forfeiting their education or risking their health, and now they wont have to.

Abbotts ban didnt allow schools to consider mask mandates as an accommodation for kids with disabilities who were particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, lawyers for the kids argued, which they said violated the law.

They also argued that the law stood in the way of the American Rescue Plan Act, the COVID-19 stimulus package passed last year, which had language in it saying schools would receive funding and could set health policies consistent with federal Centers for Disease Control guidance.

Yeakel declared the law contrary to the ADA and the ARPA and said state Attorney General Ken Paxton was barred from suing school districts, withholding state or federal funds or enforcing Abbotts ban in any way. He also ordered that Paxton pay the court fees for the plaintiffs.

The spread of COVID-19 poses an even greater risk for children with special health needs. Children with certain underlying conditions who contract COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe acute biological effects and to require admission to a hospital and the hospitals intensive-care unit. This includes children with conditions including, Down syndrome, organ transplants, lung conditions, heart conditions, and weakened immune systems, Yeakel wrote. (Abbotts mask mandate ban) conflicts with the ADA ... because it excludes disabled children from participating in and denies them the benefits of public schools programs, services, and activities to which they are entitled.

Paxtons lawyers have said across the roughly 20 cases involving Abbotts mask mandate that the attorney general couldnt be stopped from enforcing the law, as he wasnt doing so in a strict legal sense. This argument was very similar to those made by defenders of Texas new law banning most abortions, which is also pending in federal court.

Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze said the governor is working with Paxton to appeal Yeakels ruling.

As a paraplegic himself, Gov. Abbott cares deeply about the health and safety of disabled students, just as he does for all Texas students, she said. Gov. Abbott continues to advocate for Texans with disabilities through the Texas Governors Committee on People with Disabilities. Nevertheless, he believes the federal district courts decision to be flawed.

The trial was held last month, and throughout the legal process, Yeakel has signaled that he fully expected whoever lost the case to appeal the result to the Fifth Circuit, a conservative-leaning appeals court in New Orleans.

edward.mckinley@chron.com
Texas abortion providers and groups that support their work asked a state district judge on Wednesday to overturn the states new six-week abortion ban, offering the first glimpse into arguments about the merits of the law, now the strictest abortion regulation in the country.

In an eight-hour long hearing, lawyers for Planned Parenthood, doctors, social workers and groups that fund abortion access in Texas said the law violates the right to abortion as established under federal and state court precedent. They raised a host of other issues centered on the laws unprecedented enforcement structure, which authorizes private citizens alone to sue those who help provide an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.

Other courts including the U.S. Supreme Court have recently heard challenges over the law, known as Senate Bill 8, which took effect Sept. 1. But Wednesdays proceedings were the first opportunity for abortion rights proponents to address the laws substance. They have asked for it to be declared unconstitutional and for a permanent injunction against Texas Right to Life, an anti-abortion group that has vowed to enforce the law.

People are free to support abortion access or to not support it, said Julie Murray, a senior staff attorney at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. They're even free to support S.B. 8 and think it's a good law, or to think, as we do, that it is an unconstitutional law that is violating people's rights. What they are not free to do is threaten to enforce an unconstitutional law.

Judge David Peeples, a retired magistrate judge overseeing the litigation, did not issue an immediate ruling but raised concerns over the laws lasting impacts. Lawyers on either side are expected to appeal his decision up to the state Supreme Court.

There could be people all over, again, in later legislatures in Texas as the years go by, who might say those were upheld in the abortion case, so lets use those procedures to take out other businesses we dont like, Peeples said.

I'm just wondering if Pandora's box is getting reopened, said Peeples, echoing concerns raised last week by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in a related case.

AT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT: Justices signal they may intervene in Texas abortion case

Heather Hacker, a lawyer for Texas Right to Life, said the right to have an abortion is different than others because it is not clearly established under the state or federal constitutions, a position that abortion rights lawyers challenged. She noted that the Supreme Court is set to take up a case next month over a Mississippi law that directly challenges Roe v. Wade.

I think under normal circumstances, if the right is clearly established, then I don't think people would reasonably fear being held liable, Hacker said of the threat of a lawsuit under the law. They would be willing to just say, No, I'm going to assert my rights here and have confidence in the fact that case law protects that right.

Murray and other lawyers for abortion rights groups said the threat of private enforcement makes it impossible to provide abortions as currently protected under Roe and other federal court decisions. They said the law also violates federal free speech rights by subjecting those who donate to abortion funds to potential litigation under the law, if the money is used to help someone obtain an abortion after six weeks.

Hacker said the lawsuits brought against Texas Right to Life and its legislative director John Seago, who helped pass Senate Bill 8, should be thrown out because they are not state officials and have not brought any suits under the law. The group established a website early on soliciting whistleblowers and vowed to sue abortion providers if they violate the law.

She added that even if the court grants abortion rights groups an injunction, there are millions of other people who are authorized under the law to sue them.

The plaintiffs have sued the wrong people to get the relief that they want, Hacker said, adding that Seago is just a man who happens to be pro-life.

If Mr. Seago loses, the plaintiffs are asking Mr. Seago to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorneys fees because the state enacted what the plaintiffs state is an unconstitutional law, Hacker said. That's just unfair, your honor.

Abortion providers have made similar arguments about lawsuits brought under Senate Bill 8, noting that the law prohibits them from recouping attorney fees even if they win in court, while making lawyers who represent them personally liable. It also allows anyone to bring a lawsuit regardless of whether they have been directly harmed. The law makes no exceptions for abortions that result from rape or incest.

Murray acknowledged that any relief in this case would be narrow, but said it could set important precedent.

A ruling would help our clients get back to focusing on the work that they do and are trained to do to care for patients in need of abortion, she said.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
JAY JANNER, MBR / TNS

Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton is holding a fundraiser with Donald Trump at the former presidents Mar-a-Lago club in Florida at which a private dinner, reception and photo with the two of them will be available for $50,000 per person or couple.

The invite-only fundraiser for Paxton, who is seeking a third term, is scheduled for Dec. 9. It was first reported by Quorum Report and confirmed by Hearst Newspapers. Paxton landed the highly coveted Trump endorsement in July.
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A great welcome back to HR West!

It is with great excitement and pleasure that we are preparing for HR West in a physical setting once again! Our hybrid offering will ensure that we get the best of both worlds  the effectiveness of face-to-face collaboration and networking, and the ease and accessibility of the virtual world. After what seems like so long, the idea of seeing you all together in a venue, interacting with our attendees and doing business in person is so joyous. At HR.com, we are all so pleased to be helping get our community back to the plate. California, along with the rest of the country, has faced some unprecedented challenges over the past year. Our HR tools and processes have had to flex and change to a radically new landscape  a landscape where our workforces are distributed, physically disconnected, tense, and uncertain. We have had to scramble to reorganize our delivery of core competencies through digital channels. And on top of this, we have had to deal with higher levels of stress, anxiety and emotional need than ever before.

However, it is important that we recognize what an awesome job we have done. Keeping our people from burning out, ensuring that the lights have stayed on and, in many cases, even thriving - these accomplishments should not be underestimated. Lets gather in Oakland at HR West in March, 2022 to celebrate our emerging from the darkness into a new, but lighter, paradigm. Your market needs your services and partnerships more than ever. Join us to drive HR forward, drive your business forward, and to help drive the future of HR. I cannot wait to welcome you to HR West in person or online. So, lets meet old friends, make new ones, celebrate our successes and collaborate around our challenges.
Hudson, NY (12534)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 44F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 44F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
About This Property Lovely setting with a beautiful vista set back off a country road close to Great Barrington, Sheffield and Egremont. Large mudroom, oversized garage, galley kitchen open to dining area, large living room with fireplace and view! Three bedrooms and one full bath all on one level. Many improvements have been made. This is a must see property!



Land Details Community Details Acres Apx: 1.00

Parking Type: Garaged & Off-Street

Lot Description: Paved Drive

Region: Berkshire - South

Elem School: Undermountain

Middle School: Mount Everett

High School: Mount Everett

Exterior Details Interior Details Color: Mint Green

Style: Ranch

Construction: Wood Frame

Exterior: Clapboard,Vinyl

Water: Well

Sewer: Private

Underground Oil Tank: Unk

Views: Distant,Hill/Mountain,Pastoral

Garage: Attached,Auto Opener,Oversized

Total Rooms: 6

Total Full Baths: 1

Fuel: Oil,Propane

Hot Water: Propane

Electric: 100 Amp

Floor: Concrete,Laminate,Linoleum,Wood

Lead Paint: Unk

Heat/Cool: Ceiling Fan,Forced Air,Furnace

Appliances Incl: Dryer,Range/Stove,Refrigerator,Washer,Wtr Treatment-Own

Accessibility: 1st Fl Bdrm,1st Flr Full Bath



Search More Properties With these Features Exterior Lighting Landscaped Privacy Trash Public Bay/Bow Window Cable Avail Fireplace (s)
Lenox Resident Joins the BIC Board of Directors

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Giovanna Fessenden, an attorney at the intellectual property law firm Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds, has been newly elected to the Board of Directors of the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC).

"I am thrilled to be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Berkshire Innovation Center," Fessenden said. "These are exciting times of technological growth, expansion, and innovation in the Berkshires. As an IP attorney, I am fortunate to work at the forefront of technological innovation. As a Berkshire resident, I look forward to working with the Berkshire Innovation Center to help further cultivate a technological renaissance in the Berkshires."

Giovanna is a computer scientist, intellectual property attorney, and blockchain specialist with 17 years of experience advising high tech companies and startups in software patents, software product development, software licensing, open source software licensing compliance, and intellectual property strategy. She helps Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds maintain a presence in western Massachusetts by servicing clients in that area and all over the world.

"We are delighted to have Giovanna join the Board. She is a tremendous asset to the community and her deep knowledge of cutting-edge technologies across a range of sectors make her an ideal addition to our team," said B. Stephen Boyd, Chair of the BIC's Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Boyd Technologies, Inc. "She brings a unique perspective and is committed to our goal of driving economic development here in the Berkshires. It's a great fit."

Since 2018, Giovanna has received the distinction of Best Lawyers in America for her patent law expertise. For the past five years, she has also been ranked a top-rated Intellectual Property Attorney by Super Lawyers, a rating of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Giovanna is the executive producer of TEDx Berkshires and has a TEDx talk on the Blockchain Revolution.

She has a family history of inventions over the last 100 years. Back in January 1938, Giovanna's great-grandfather George R. Fessenden Jr., a botanist, and conservationist, developed and patented a process of preserving animal and plant specimens in clear plastic, which was quickly adopted by the Department of Agriculture. She is also related to prolific inventor Reginald Fessenden, the first to transmit speech by radio (1900) and the first to transmit and receive two-way radio telegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean (1906).

Giovanna is a frequent speaker on the topics of open source, blockchain, non-fungible tokens (nfts), and esports technologies. She frequently speaks on these topics at many national and global events, including as a panelist on medical devices and open source technology at the MIT Enterprise Forum in Cambridge, MA in 2020, blockchain and gaming at the LES Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ in 2019, software patents at the MIP International Women's Leadership Forum in London in 2017, and blockchain payment systems at the Casino Esports Conference (CEC) in Las Vegas, NV in 2019.
State Parks Parking Fees Waived in Honor of Veteran's Day

BOSTON  In honor of Veteran's Day, the Baker-Polito Administration will once again waive parking fees at all Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) state parks throughout the state on Thursday, November 11, 2021.

Additionally, interpretive programming will also be offered at state parks during the upcoming holiday weekend. Furthermore, visitors are encouraged to participate in self-guided walks and hikes within the state parks system, where there are numerous veterans memorials, military forts, and other notable sites. The fee waiver falls in line with a National Park Service initiative that also provides free admission at federal parks nationwide on Veterans Day.

"There are no words or actions that can begin to express the tremendous gratitude we have for those who have or are currently serving in the military, however, we hope that those who have served can take advantage of this opportunity to visit one of our state parks and enjoy the natural beauty of our open spaces throughout the Commonwealth," said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Katherine Theoharides. The Baker-Polito Administration is proud to continue offering free parking in honor of Veterans Day, and hope residents will take time to reflect on the heroism of our men and women in uniform, who have displayed tremendous selflessness and sacrifice in service to our country and the protection of its natural splendor."

The Commonwealth has a military history, and DCR stewards with many notable sites that serve as relics of important moments in time, including Fort Independence at Castle Island, which was used to fortify the areas coast; Fort Warren at Georges Island, which guarded major shipping channels in Boston Harbor during the Civil War; Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial Tower located at the summit of Mount Greylock, which is one of the 100 World War I Centennial Memorials in the nation, and hundreds of roadways, trails, markers, pools, skating rinks, and parks named after noteworthy Massachusetts veterans or military campaigns involving Massachusetts veterans.

"We are grateful to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for waiving these parking fees, which will give veterans and their families an incentive to take advantage of the solace and healing offered through the Commonwealths state parks," said Department of Veterans Services Secretary Cheryl Lussier Poppe. "Today's announcement is one of the many ways we can do our part and thank our veterans who are serving or who have served."
Cold Air Over Midwest Bring Chilly, Rainy Weekend for Berkshires

Enjoy these few days of mild weather because a polar vortex is nipping at the region.

A strong cold front pushing through the Midwest and southern Canada is expected to dump snow to the south and west of the Berkshires.

But, the area will be getting the colder temperatures and heavy rain over the weekend.

According to Accuweather, "as a ripple in the jet stream moves from the eastern Great Lakes into the Northeast on Saturday, spotty showers are likely in much of the region. Outside of the very highest elevations where a few snowflakes may fall, most of the precipitation should still be in the form of rain."

The jet stream will make a large loop from Kentucky and Tennessee up and over New England, pushing a warm front ahead of it and pulling windy and colder weather behind.

The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., is predicting that the heaviest rainfall will be over the northern mid-Atlantic and Northeast, "where high rain rates could lead to isolated instances of runoff and flash flooding." The Weather Prediction Center has issued a "Marginal Risk of Excessive Rainfall" for portions of the Northeast effective Friday morning through Saturday morning.

NWS has also issued a hazardous weather outlook for Western Mass and Southern Vermont with wind gusts of 40 mph possible. Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected Friday and there's a potential for severe thunderstorms in South Berkshire.

Temperatures over the weekend should remain in the 50s and high 40s but are expected to drop slightly on Monday bringing the potential for  wait for it  snow showers.

The rest of the week should be partly sunny with temperatures more usual for November.

The risk for a few strong to severe t-storms has increased for portions of SNE on Friday, mainly south of the Mass Pike. pic.twitter.com/oNK3mQ7kuv  NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) November 11, 2021

Storm menu tomorrow. Fairly quick moving band of showers/downpours with embedded storms. #wbz



- Main window 1-8p

- Expecting 0.5" to 1.5" of rain

- Gusty afternoon, SE 20-45mph

- Isolated severe/tornado risk pic.twitter.com/tyJLQWFnzK  Eric Fisher (@ericfisher) November 11, 2021

After a stormy afternoon/eve tomorrow, another system dives in on Saturday eve



This one looks very potent. Could see some lightning and downpours...and perhaps a mixed bag of things falling from the sky (rain, hail, snowflakes across high terrain to end?) pic.twitter.com/NWBmkopbl1  Eric Fisher (@ericfisher) November 11, 2021
Coronavirus cases continue to slide in Grant County, but will it last?
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A lawsuit in which workers accuse a Hindu organization of human trafficking for luring them from India to build a temple in New Jersey for as little as $1.20 a day has widened to four other states
Amtrak to resume service on bypass 4 years after derailment

Amtrak Cascades will resume service on the Point Defiance bypass between Tacoma and Olympia, nearly four years after a deadly derailment there
The Washington Supreme Court says Gov. Jay Inslee overstepped his veto authority when he cut a sentence that appeared seven times in the 2019 transportation budget
Each Veterans Day, my first call is to my favorite Air Force vet, my Dad, a three-time bootstrapped entrepreneur. My second call is to my favorite Army vet, Phyllis Newhouse, a unicorn entrepreneur and founder of Xtreme Solutions. These people are just two of the reasons why I believe the strongest leaders in the small business space come from the ranks of the 19 million men and women who have served our country . Add in the military spouses who possess the tenacity and flexibility to run a business and keep things moving at home, and we have ourselves an undeniable economic powerhouse.

But their continued success is not guaranteed. At my company, Hello Alice, we recently surveyed 38,000 of these military-connected small business owners regarding their business sentiment as of Q4 2021. The latest data shows that the business outlook among military-connected owners is weakening. In fact, only 54 percent of these owners believed their business would close out 2021 in a better place than last year -- a 23 percent drop since we asked that question a quarter ago. This pessimism among military owners is unique, too, with 68 percent of the general small business population predicting 2021 will end on a positive note.

At the end of the day, the problem boils down to funding. While acquiring capital ranks as a top hurdle for all entrepreneur demographics, military-connected owners report it at even higher levels. As of Q4 2021, 46 percent of military-connected owners cite this as their largest obstacle -- a 28 percent uptick over the previous quarter. We've traditionally observed a Q4 uptick in funding challenges across all demographics, but it's most severe among the military-connected group.

This problem isn't going away, and lack of capital will determine what these entrepreneurs achieve for years to come. When we asked about their long-term business goals, military-connected owners were focused on building a brand (32 percent), acquiring customers (12 percent), and hiring a team (11 percent). None of these goals will be achievable without sufficient cash flow.

If these businesses fail, we all suffer. Our data found that military-connected owners are more likely to include community and social impact as part of their business model. In addition to their core business propositions, military-connected businesses also donate to community causes, host volunteer events and community gatherings, and raise awareness for social missions at a higher rate than the general small business population.

In fact, most military-connected owners run small businesses supporting their communities, and they're important sources of income for their owners and the diverse staff they employ. Fully 73 percent of military-connected owners told us that more than half their team identifies under New Majority demographics -- 10 percentage points higher than among all owners. Supporting these businesses means more good-paying jobs for all stripes of Americans.

I'm hard at work with business leaders solving the systemic problems at play. But for those of you in the military community thinking of starting or strengthening your own business, here are a few things to consider in the coming year:

How will you fund your business -- through loans, private capital, or fundraising? Research business loans for veteran-owned small businesses through SBA and their lenders. Decide early how much of your own money you want to use to start your business.

Research through SBA and their lenders. Decide early how much of your own money you want to use to start your business. Now is the time to build a strategic road map for the next year . Check out this guide to help you think through your 2022 plan .

. Check out . Apply to grants to support your business that offer non-dilutive capital. The Hello Alice Small Business Growth Fund offers $5K grants to make sure 2022 will be the year of your small business.
One of the best things about the iPhone has always been that you could hand one to just about anyone and they'd be able to figure out what to do. The same is mostly true for the iPad. iOS, the operating system that powers both devices, and the touch interface make interacting with the devices intuitive and straightforward.

Using an iPad or iPhone, or even a Mac, is easy. It "just works," as Apple likes to say. On the other hand, it hasn't always been as easy to set up your devices, especially if you have multiple devices for employees.

Small businesses face an additional challenge, in that they usually don't have the luxury of a dedicated information technology (IT) department to handle deploying apps and permissions across dozens, if not hundreds of devices.

Apple, however, has a solution. Starting today, it's rolling out a beta trial of a new program called Business Essentials designed to help. I spoke with Susan Prescott, Apple's vice president of enterprise and education marketing, about the new service.

"It's a brand new service from Apple that combines device management, storage, and support into a single subscription for small businesses, targeted to up to about 500 employees," Prescott told me. "It's designed to make managing Apple's devices, keeping them up and running, as fun as using them--or, at least, as easy as using them"

The idea is that small businesses will be able to create collections of apps and settings for various areas of the company, and easily deploy those onto the devices their employees use. It works whether a company is buying devices to distribute to employees, or when those employees are bringing their own devices to work.

In that case, employees simply log in to their work account under Apple's device management setting. This allows the employee to download apps for work, and have a separate iCloud storage account for work on their personal devices.

The idea, again, is to make it as easy as possible to set up and manage devices, even without an entire IT department. Small businesses have traditionally had to figure this out on their own, since enterprise device management tools are often too complex and unaffordable.

"These companies don't always have IT staffs, nor do they typically have access to the third-party enterprise services that many large organizations leverage to manage their Apple devices," said Tom Mainelli, an analyst and group vice president at IDC. "Many of these companies currently deal with these various challenges in piecemeal fashion, and will welcome the opportunity to address them via Apple's services."

That sentiment was echoed by several of the analysts I spoke to who had been briefed on Apple's plan.

"The SMB market is in fact underserved," Maribel Lopez, the principal analyst with Lopez Research, told me. "Most device management software is geared towards large organizations, with features that aren't necessary or are too complex to use. In my mind, this offering makes Apple devices more appealing because companies will envision it being easier to support these devices."

Apple will also offer a business tier of its AppleCare+ support, which includes onsite repairs. So, in addition to bringing a device to an Apple Store, or sending it in, Apple says it will come to your location in "as little as four hours." That's according to Jeremy Butcher, Apple's manager of product marketing for enterprise and education:

"One of the things it gives you is 24/7 phone support for you as an IT person, but also for your employees," says Butcher. "So you can call in to get help setting up Business Essentials if you need it. Your employees can call in for all sorts of stuff. Maybe it's just, 'How do I scan a document using my iPhone camera?' Instead of calling me, the help desk, I just let you know, 'Hey, call Apple, they can help you with that.'

"Plus, we're actually going on-site to do repairs in as fast as four hours," says Butcher. "So, you know, if you are at your office and something happens, we'll come to you. If you're in a hybrid work environment, we'll still come to you. On-site works either way--you just give us your address and we'll show up as quickly as we can."

That's especially useful, because not every small business has a "help desk" to begin with. That's really the idea: Make it easy for small businesses without the same kind of support infrastructure as large enterprises to manage the devices their employees need to get work done--without a lot of extra work. Small businesses have a lot of challenges. Figuring out how to manage technology for a growing team shouldn't be one of them.
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This article discusses Indias advance pricing agreement (APA) program, the sector-wise distribution of APAs, and their usefulness given the countrys complex transfer pricing regime. This article is part three of a four-part series. See here for the first part, which covers transfer pricing regulations in India and see here for analysis of accepted TP methods and services offered by professional firms.

The question of ascertaining the price at which multinational corporations (MNCs) transact with their associated enterprises in India, called transfer price (TP), is a key area of interest to tax authorities as any profits that are not taxed in India will erode the countrys tax base.

Ever since transfer pricing was introduced in India in 2001, years of audits have also increased the number of tax disputes and litigation, involving major MNCs like Microsoft Corp., Vodafone International Holdings, International Business Machines Corp. etc.

In response, the Indian government decided to launch the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) program through the Finance Act, 2012 through the insertion of sections 92CC and 92CD in the Income Tax Act, 1961 to supplement appeals and other dispute resolution mechanisms provided in the Income Tax Act, 1961 and double taxation avoidance agreements for resolving transfer pricing disputes.

Goals of Indias advance pricing agreement program

Indias APA program is a voluntary program to not only prevent transfer pricing disputes but also address actual or potential disputes and provide tax certainty to MNCs by allowing them to negotiate how profit margins for India operations will be calculated.

The APA program provides an alternate and effective dispute resolution mechanism to bring uniformity in laws dealing with transfer pricing in India, as the existing administrative and judicial institutions fail to address specific questions of law while focusing primarily on the questions of facts.

Through the APA program, India aims to deliver a non-adversarial tax regime for foreign investors. Other benefits of an APA include avoiding rigorous and burdensome audit requirements while delivering the tax outcome on the basis of agreed terms of the agreement.

Over time, APAs can lower compliance costs of MNCs and substantially reduce the cost of administration and litigation incurred by the tax authorities.

Status of advance pricing agreements in India

An APA can be unilateral, bilateral, or multilateral, and is an agreement between a taxpayer and tax authority determining the TP methodology for pricing the taxpayers international transactions for future years. The agreement includes international transactions, agreed transfer pricing policy, determination of arms-length price, including the TP methodology to be applied and critical assumptions and the conditions, within its scope.

The methods prescribed for determining arms-length price include Comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP) Method, Resale Price Method (RPM), Cost Plus Method (CPM), Profit Split Method (PSM), and Transactional Net Margin Method (TNMM).

Almost a decade since its launch, the increasing popularity of the APA program among foreign investors can be seen in the high number of APA applications received and executed. According to Indias Annual APA Report 2018-19, from financial year (FY) 2012-13, through March 2019, India received a total of 1155 APA applications, out of which 271 APAs were successfully executed, as of FY 2018-19.

Subsequently, by September 2019, India had inked a total of 300 APAs and in 2020, additional APAs have been signed though the data for same is not yet available. Moreover, while India was able to conclude 271 APAs in the six-year period from 2012-13 to 2018-19, in contrast, China entered into just 156 APAs in the 14 years between 2005 and 2018.

Through these 271 APAs, India is estimated to have gained an additional income of about INR 100 billion (US$1.35 billion). In the 271 APAs concluded till March 2019, India managed to provide tax certainty for 1779 years to these taxpayers, including 477 years covered under the rollback period.

This translates into an estimate of over 890 scrapped/prevented litigations that India would have otherwise faced in the absence of such APAs, thereby clogging Indian courts and Income Tax Appellate Tribunals (ITATs). This further translates to a tax and interest payment of about INR 36 billion (US$484.98 million) on account of avoiding any possible dispute and subsequent litigation.

Out of the pending 802 applications, 50 applicants have not formally withdrawn but neither are they active participants in the process, as many compliance requirements like furnishing relevant documents have not been fulfilled by them.

The number of APAs signed in 2018-19 was significantly lower at 52, than the preceding years, with the tally peaking in 2016-17 at 88. The reduction in approval to APA applications can be attributed to the increasing complexity of cases in the later APAs, which require more time to analyze the international transactions covered. Additionally, shortage of executive and administrative manpower in the APA teams of Indias tax authority  Central Bureau of Direct Taxes (CBDT)  has slowed down the overall processing time of APA applications.

Duration of processing APAs

One of the most important aspects of an APA is the time taken in processing an application and concluding it. In India, the average time taken to process and approve an application is 32.5 months as calculated on the basis of all the APAs signed till March 31, 2019.

The average time taken for processing bilateral APAs for the same period is 44.32 months. In 2018-19, the average time taken by the CBDT to conclude the 41 unilateral agreements was 45.22 months and to conclude 11 bilateral agreements was 51.82 months.

In contrast, the United States had an average timeline of 35.4 months for unilateral APAs and 47.8 months for bilateral APAs in 2018.

Sectoral distribution of agreements signed

In 2018-19, out of the total 52 APAs signed, 41 were unilateral and 11 were bilateral.

Out of the 41 unilateral APAs, 20 APAs were concluded in the services sector. It was followed by the manufacturing and trading sector, which saw the signing of 14 APAs in 2018-19.

Within these sectors, the industrial distribution of APAs in 2018-19 saw the information technology (IT) industry emerge as the leader, with a total of 11 APAs claiming a 27 percent share. It was followed by the healthcare industry and industrial/commercial goods industry with six (15 percent) and five (12 percent) APAs, respectively.

In case of bilateral APAs too, the services sector led the tally with five signed APAs in 2018-19, followed by four in manufacturing and two in trade. The industrial distribution of these bilateral APAs were the IT industry at 46 percent, followed by the automotive industry (27 percent).

Nature of covered transactions in APAs in 2018-19 and transfer pricing method

Unilateral APAs

Of the total 41 unilateral APAs concluded in 2018-19, a total of 164 transactions were covered, with payment of royalty and receipt of various kinds of support services (intra[1]group services) featuring at the top.

This is a deviation from previous trends where provision of IT-enabled services usually occupied the top spot. It is indicative of the increasing complexity of cases in the incoming APA proposals.

In 2018-19, only three transfer pricing methods were used for the 164 transactions, with TNMM method employed for 132 transactions, followed by CUP method for eight transactions and other unspecified method for 24 transactions.

It is to be noted that the US (29), UK (17), Singapore (16), Germany (14), and China (12) emerged as the top five countries in terms of number of unilateral APAs signed with India.

Bilateral APAs

Of the total 11 bilateral APAs signed in 2018-19, a total of 35 transactions were covered, dominated by service transactions. For bilateral APAs too, the TNMM method continued to the most favored, followed by profit split method and CUP method.

The US, UK, Singapore, and Japan have been the top countries in terms of filing applications for bilateral APAs. In 2018-19, out of the 11 agreements signed, four pertained to Japan, three to Australia, two to Switzerland, and one each to the US and Netherlands.

Conclusion

Ever since its introduction in 2012, Indias APA program has come a long way, equipped to address increasingly complex issues like AMP expenses, payment of royalty, and transfer of intangibles etc., which entail the adoption of transfer pricing methods like profit split and CUP.

By successfully concluding these complex APAs, India is moving forward to adapt to fast evolving realities.

Apart from reducing the compliance requirements as well as forging strategies for dispute prevention, an unplanned positive externality of the program has been assured revenue flow to the Indian treasury, in line with the terms and agreements specified in the APA.

Even though Indias APA program has come a long way, certain loopholes which generate lag and delay in the process need to be tackled.

Outsourcing subject matter experts from the private sector can not only cater to the shortage of manpower but will also bring clarity to the emerging complexities with their expertise. It remains to be seen whether this will become a priority for Indias tax authorities.


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Reiterating the rights of adults in the country, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh high court held that consent of the family, community or clan is not necessary for two adult individuals to enter into wedlock.

When two adults choose each other as life partners, it is a manifestation of their choice which is recognised under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution, and the same has to be given primacy, single-judge Justice Tashi Rabstan said.

What the high court said

"Such right has the sanction of constitutional law and once that is recognised, said right needs to be protected and it cannot succumb to the conception of class honour or group thinking. Consent of family or community or clan is not necessary once two adult individuals agree to enter into wedlock and their consent has to be piously given primacy," read the order.

BCCL

The court made these observations in a case filed by a couple who married against their families wishes.

The court held that Constitutional courts have the obligation to guard the liberty of an individual since the dignified existence of an individual has an inseparable association with liberty.

Right to liberty

"Life and liberty sans dignity and choice is a phenomenon that allows hollowness to enter into the constitutional recognition of the identity of a person. The choice of an individual is an extricable part of dignity," the Court observed.

The judge observed that the right of adults to marry a person of their choice is part of the right to liberty.

Representational Image

"When two adults marry out of their volition, they choose their path; they consummate their relationship; they feel that it is their goal and they have the right to do so. And it can unequivocally be stated that they have the right and any infringement of the said right is a constitutional violation," said the court.

"The writ petition is disposed of with a direction to official respondents to provide adequate security cover to petitioners subject to the condition that official respondents will check and see as to whether parties are major and the marriage has been solemnized in strict accordance with prevalent laws," it added.

The court has directed the state and police authorities to provide security to the petitioners.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.


A huge number of people performed Chhath Puja at Yamuna ghats near ITO and Sonia Vihar in defiance of the DDMA ban, as per PTI.

A throng of devotees with BJP leaders like MPs Manoj Tiwari and Parvesh Verma at the helm made their way despite the city administration resisting them.



Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said parties should not do politics at the festival.



PTI

In October, DDMA had allowed Chhath puja at designated ghats but did not permit it on the Yamuna banks.



Devotees gather despite ban

West Delhi MP Parvesh Verma took part in the celebration at an artificial pond at Yamuna ghat near ITO.



''Jai Chhathi Maiya. All the struggle was for these scenes. Ensured entry of every mother and sister inside the gate, took care of their safety and honour and provided all the facilities,'' Verma tweeted.



Manoj Tiwari performed the rituals at a ghat in Sonia Vihar with his supporters.



PTI

The area SDM and civil defence volunteers tried to prevent them but they did not listen.



The festival sees worshippers offer 'Arghya' to the Sun god and also fast. A Delhi Police officer said adequate police arrangements have been made at 'designated spots'.



Police personnel have been deployed to manage the crowd, he added.

''Personnel have been deployed at the river banks so that no one is allowed to go to the ghats. In case, they do, they will be stopped and dispersed from the spot," he said.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.


The story of Lieutenant Colonel (Retd) Qazi Sajjad Ali Zahir, has mostly stayed hidden in the shadows due to the confidential nature of military operations.

Only until last year, when it was announced that he is among the Padma Shri awardees, the fourth-highest civilian honour in India.

Lt Colonel Zahir stepped onto the podium to receive the Padma Shri at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He is a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation war.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Lt Col Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir (Retd.) for Public Affairs. He is an independent researcher and author on the Bangladesh Liberation War. He joined the War of Liberation and participated in many battles alongside the Indian Army. pic.twitter.com/xhuCupSCto  President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 9, 2021

As a young 20-year-old officer in the Pakistan Army posted in the Sialkot sector, he managed to cross over to India in March 1971 as atrocities in East Pakistan spiraled and genocide was being planned.

Details of the Pakistan Army's deployment and Rs 20 in his pocket were all he had after he crossed over, and ended up being grilled by Indian forces at the border suspecting him of being a Pakistani spy. The Indian Army soon realised that he meant business.

He was later sent to Delhi to stay in a safe house for months before moving to east Pakistan, training the Mukti Bahini in guerilla warfare to take on the Pakistani army.

Death warrant in Pakistan

Lt Colonel Zahir flaunts the death sentence pending in his name for the last 50 years in Pakistan. For him, it's a badge of honour.

On November 9, the 71-year-old veteran was conferred with the Padma Shri.

Pleasure to meet Lt. Col. Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir (Retd.), who was conferred the Padma Shri today.



He is such a powerful symbol of the friendship between India and Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/UehO0trpSh  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 9, 2021

Recalling the reasons for his escape from Pakistan, he told India Today: "Jinnah's Pakistan became a kabristan (graveyard) for us. We were treated like second-class citizens, with no rights. We were a deprived population. We never got a democracy as was promised; we only got martial law. Jinnah said we would have equal rights but we didn't have any. We were treated as servants of Pakistan."

"As a member of Pakistan's elite para-brigade in Sialkot, I was an isolated human being. But then I thought I had three people in me- me, myself, and I. So, I started planning which route to follow. I decided to take the Shakargah route towards Jammu, which was probably least patrolled," he recalled.

The Bangladesh government awarded him the title of Bir Protik for his bravery in the war.
China's crackdown on e-commerce platforms in the country has affected the sales on world's shopping festival known as "Single's Day." In usual circumstances, the festival is a mammoth exercise in competitive prices and record-breaking sales. That has changed after China started going after its homegrown portals like Alibaba.

Every year, e-commerce platforms like Alibaba used to share hourly updates on offers and sales and the shopping spree was celebrated with fervour. This year, there is radio silence from most companies, news agency AFP reported.

iStock

What is Single's Day?

"Single's Day" gets it name from the data 11.11 and first began about 10 years ago and celebrated every year until this year for 24 hours. Owing to the success of this festival, most platforms converted it into an 11-day long festival, running from November 1 to 11.

As major countries crack down on tech giants and platforms that have established market monopoly by virtue of their position, China has begun cracking down on not only foreign companies but also big giants erupting from its own soil. To be fair, unfettered capitalism was never the founding principle of People's Republic of China.

Also read: China Test Fires Gigantic, Futuristic Rocket To Enable Deep Space Exploration

Unsplash

Just last year, Alibaba and JD.com reported whopping combined sales of $115 billion. As opposed to big numbers and figures shared on local social media platforms like Weibo, Alibaba provided no figures this year.

A spokesperson told AFP that the numbers of this year's sales would only be revealed at the end of the sale tonight. Chinese tech giants like Alibaba, JD, and Tencent are facing the direct line of fire as Chinese government observes the consequences of unregulated growth of companies like Amazon and Facebook in the West.

Shared prosperity has no room for tech monopoly

Under the leadership of Xi Jinping, China is now pushing the narrative of shared prosperity, taking direct aim at the super wealthy to prevent a concentration of wealth.

It's no surprise that the crackdown on Chinese tech giants began after Alibaba's Jack Ma openly criticised Chinese regulators. Not much later, a $2.75 billion fine was imposed on the company and its game-changing IPO was delayed.

AP

Also read: China's Built World's Fastest Quantum Computer, 10 Million Times Faster Than Google's



In fact, this year the Chinese government announced a series of guidelines for tech companies in anticipation of "Single's Day" in hopes of quelling over consumption, consumer manipulation, and potential sales of counterfeit products.

What do you think about China's approach at tackling Big Tech? Should companies be allowed to amass as much wealth as they want at the expense of users? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

For the latest in the world of technology and science, don't forget to check Indiatimes.com daily.
Pakistani American Danish Baig, shown here with his fiancee Olivia Swingle, was one of eight people crushed to death Nov. 5 at rapper Travis Scott's Astroworld Festival at NRG Park Stadium in Houston. His brothers, one of whom also attended the concert, said it was a tragedy of negligence, which should never have happened. (Facebook photo)
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If you follow real estate at all, you probably saw the announcement that Zillow is closing its iBuyer program. This is big news, but what does it really mean for Zillow and the real estate industry?

First, lets clarify what is an iBuyer program. Its where deep-pocketed online companies give sellers an instant cash offer on their house (the i in iBuyer is for instant). Usually the sales price is computer-generated (like a Zestimate), and the homes are bought unseen. The buyers are not typically looking to do major renovations and want to resell quickly.

Online buyers have existed for quite a while now, and many have been very successful. Zillows iBuyer program was not national but in a few carefully selected markets with plans to eventually roll out more extensively. Zillow was aggressive in its purchases, relying on the automated price generated. Some buyers were thrilled with their offers, receiving more than they may have expected. In fact, it appears Zillow overpaid for many of the homes and now has a huge inventory that it must sell off, potentially at a loss.

This doesnt speak well for the Zestimate data or technology-based pricing methods. Why not? In large part, because technology cant determine a propertys condition, a major factor in pricing homes.

This is no surprise to real estate agents. Recently, I was trying to price a home and was looking at the neighborhood comps. A home a few doors down that looked wonderful in the pictures had just sold for a fairly low price. I called the listing agent to understand why. According to her, the house had a very unpleasant pet-related odor, and the neighboring house was very cluttered, like a junkyard. These are extenuating circumstances that automated technology cant determine or factor in.

Technology wasnt the only downfall for Zillows iBuyer program. Zillow has not been immune to the global supply chain issues and labor shortages. When time is of the essence, these delays can be very costly for the home improvements sometimes needed. Finally, Zillow determined that the iBuyer business scale needed to be very large in order to be as profitable as was hoped and, in the end, they decided that this was something they did not want to pursue.

Does that mean Zillow is in trouble? In short, no.

Before 2018, when Zillow decided to get into the iBuyer business as well as the mortgage business, it offered consumers a marketplace to sell, buy, or rent properties. It also marketed properties listed by real estate agents where buyers can search properties and reach out to an agent for more information or to schedule a showing. The person they contacted was not always the listing agent, but a Premier Agent who pays fees to Zillow to obtain leads.

This marketing program has mostly produced buyer leads. By getting into the iBuyer program, Zillow was hoping to be able to generate more seller leads for their Premier Agents, therefore hoping to increase the number of Premier Agents and their revenue stream.

While there are many in the real estate industry who fear Zillow is trying to replace the real estate agent, I do not believe this is their model at all. Contrary to popular belief, Zillow does not sell properties directly to the public. For their iBuyer program, they rely on a small group of staff to purchase properties. Once a home purchased through the iBuyer program was ready to sell, they would offer it to a vetted Premier Agent.

Real estate agents, of course, have the advantage for detailed information and acute market knowledge, but we cant offer national searches. We are restricted by our local MLS. Here in the Washington area, we are fortunate to have an expansive area with feeds that include parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. But Zillow saw a gap, and thus an opportunity: give the consumer an opportunity to not be restricted by a single MLS.

Zillow is a fine place to start looking for a home, but it should be the first step, not the full process. Most buyers dont want to wait too long before reaching out to a professional, as we often know about homes not yet listed that are for sale (see my last article Full Market Exposure for more details) or know the nuances of a particular home or market.

For those still interested in searching for an online cash buyer, there are still many online iBuyer programs out there. McEnearney Associates just launched McEnearney Advantage. The McEnearney Advantage offers our sellers the option of seeking iBuyers as a way to market their homes.

I recently had a client who wished to do this. We entered the information and received two viable online offers. The first came from a local flipper. We met at the property and he made an offer. The other was strictly an online offer. The seller wasnt happy with the price offered and decided to move forward by putting his home on the market. The house sold for $38,000 more than the highest iBuyer offer. This isnt surprising to many  it has been proven time and time again that sellers receive a significantly higher price when they list their home on the market versus selling off-market.

The bottom line is that Zillow is here to stay, as are real estate agents and iBuyers. We will all continue to compete for our share of the market, and we will all continue to offer different services to meet the evolving needs and demands of the consumer.

Rebecca McCullough is a licensed real estate agent in Virginia with McEnearney Associates, Inc. in Old Town Alexandria, VA. If you would like more information on selling or buying in todays complex market, contact Rebecca at 571-384-0941 or visit her website RebeccaMcCullough.com.

If you would like a question answered in our weekly column or to set up an appointment with one of our Associates, please email: InsideNoVa@mcenearney.com or call 703.549.9292.

McEnearney Associates Realtors, 109 S. Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. www.McEnearney.com Equal Housing Opportunity. #WeAreMcEnearney
A 20-acre estate on Tucsons east side recently sold for $4,080,000, making it the citys most expensive residential real estate sale on the multiple listing service of southern Arizona since 2007. The property on 1416 N. Smokey Springs is a 8,860 square-foot home with six bedrooms, seven ba
The first Irish Food Writing Awards took place on Wednesday night at a ceremony which took place at Dublin's Fallon & Byrne restaurant followed by a post-ceremony event at The Merrion Hotel.

The leading lights of the Irish food writing world were joined by international chefs and writers including chef and broadcaster Mark Hix, wine critic Fiona Beckett, US food author Adrian Miller and award-winning cookbook author, cookery teacher and chef Charlotte Pike at a ceremony that was positively fizzing with excitement.
A man who allegedly grabbed a woman from behind while she was out walking, dragged her to the ground, stuffed a hat in her mouth and tried to sexually assault her in Fermoy, Co Cork, was caught red handed and has been remanded in custody.

Vadim Veste, aged 27, of 39 Clancy St, Fermoy, appeared in a special sitting of Fermoy District Court this morning charged with sexual assault and assault causing harm following the alleged incident on Sunday evening after 6pm at St Colman's Park.

He was carrying a 4in hunting knife which he had no reasonable excuse to carry at the time of his arrest, Fermoy District Court heard.

Garda Dave Barry, who arrested Mr Veste on Wednesday, said the evidence was very strong" against him.

The injured party, a female in her 50s, was sexually assaulted and assaulted while out walking her dog alone on Sunday evening in St Colmans Park at approximately 6.40pm in an unprovoked attack, he said.

It is alleged that Vadim Veste, who is unknown to the injured party, pulled the female to the ground from behind by placing his hands over her shoulder and her mouth and pulling her backwards into a dark, unlit part of the walkway.

It is alleged that he punched her in the face, held her to the ground and kneeled on her body.

It is alleged that a woolly item, believed to be a hat, was placed in the injured partys mouth.

A garda at one of the entrances to St Colman's College pitches and Health Campus in Fermoy, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

But the injured party fought back and kicked out at the accused, marking his face, neck, and hands.

The assault continued and Mr Veste allegedly placed his hand in the injured partys mouth, causing harm to her gums and lips, the court heard.

Two other walkers heard her cries for help and as they approached, Mr Veste fled the scene, Garda Barry said.

Mr Veste, a Moldovan national, has been in Ireland for less than one year. He arrived in December 2020 and began work locally in April of this year.

He has lived with his mother in Fermoy town just 200m from one entrance to St Colmans Park where the assault is alleged to have occurred.

He also lives close to the injured party, who Garda Barry said has been traumatised and terrified by the attack.

She has been unable to sleep properly and has needed medical attention, he said.

DNA was recovered from under the nails of the injured party which is a profile match of Vadim Veste, Garda Barry said.

The accused also admitted during a garda interview to an altercation that night.

A file is being prepared for the DPP and other serious charges are recommended, Garda Barry said.

Judge Alec Gabbett remanded Mr Veste in custody.

Mr Veste sat silently throughout the proceedings with an interpreter.

As it is a sexual assault case, the identity of the injured party must be protected, Judge Gabbett said.

The State objected to bail.

Garda Barry said that he had serious concerns that the accused, who has a wife and children in Moldova, had no ties to this jurisdiction and would leave the country if released on bail.

He was also concerned that the accused may interfere with a number of witnesses, including the injured party.

Daithi ODonnabhain, defending, argued that the accuseds travel documents  a Moldovan and a Romanian passport  had been taken by gardai so it would not be feasible to leave the country.

He said that his client had co-operated fully with gardai since his arrest and had not come to their attention previously.

Garda Barry said the State was not only objecting to bail on the possibility alone that Mr Veste may leave Ireland.

The seriousness of the charges was another concern.

He said that it was allegedly a "totally unprovoked attack on a woman out for a Sunday walk alone.

If bail was grated, Mr Veste may commit similar offences of a similarly serious nature, Garda Barry said.

"No bail conditions will satisfy me," he said.

"The injured party is very traumatised and in fear."

If convicted, Mr Veste may face up to five years in prison on each of the two charges, the court heard.
Talking about, creating and designing a new Ireland can no longer be seen as subversive, according to the SDLPs Claire Hanna during a BBC special on a united Ireland last week.

The programme joins a growing list of primetime debates, policy documents, and pro-unity groups all engaging on a topic which  even five years ago  would have seemed implausible.

The question of whether or not we are on the path to a referendum on constitutional change has permeated across all facets of society, with terms such as united Ireland, border poll, and reunification becoming embedded into the vernacular on both sides of the border.

To deny that tides have begun to shift is to deny reality.

There now exists a multitude of resources and projects across academia including the newly formed Civic Space from the Institute of Irish Studies at the University of Liverpool, the deliberating Constitutional Futures report from Ulster University, and the working group on Irish unification referendums at University College London.

There are pro-unity groups such as Ireland's Future and pro-union groups such as Uniting UK.

While much of the focus has been placed upon the absence of consistent majority support for a united Ireland in the polls, the fact that consistent polling also hasnt illustrated majority support for remaining in the United Kingdom is equally telling.

A recent Lucid Talk poll for The Observer marked support for the union at 49%, and support for Irish unity at 42%.

However, it also indicated that two-thirds believe there should be a vote on Northern Irelands place in the United Kingdom.

This shifting interest in the constitutional conversation has had a weighty impact on political discourse across the island, exposing deeply entrenched views over partition and highlighting a deep generational gap between Irelands youth and older demographics on the future of this island.

Despite no official reunification campaign in place, 50 and 71% of 18- to 34-year-olds in the North and South respectively would vote in favour of a united Ireland today according to a Lucid Talk poll for BBC Spotlight in April.

Shifting interest in the constitutional conversation has had a weighty impact on political discourse across the island.

This same poll highlighted a significant shift in the Others, also referred to as constitutional neutrals, as a result of the Brexit referendum, with 58% stating they used to support Northern Ireland remaining in the United Kingdom but that they would now support, or possibly support, a united Ireland. This group is widely considered to be the kingmakers in any unity vote.

Those opposed to the speed with which this shift is occurring have leaned into the narrative that Northern Ireland must first reconcile before even entertaining mere discussion of a border poll, however such an argument is more reminiscent of the regions oppressive past than its progressive future, and deliberately ignores the reconciliation which has already taken place.

In the 23 years since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, society in Northern Ireland has been drastically transformed, even in spite of persistent sectarian politics.

This change is evidenced in the growing plurality of the region, with the growth in demand for integrated education, the propagation of cross-community projects, and the growing community of those who do not identify as unionist or nationalist.

Placing an onus on the people of Northern Ireland to do more to reconcile also ignores the role that people in the Republic have to play in order to build better relations with the North.

There remains a gulf in understanding between North and South, with the perpetuation of outdated stereotypes and assumptions complicating relations.

For it isnt only Northern Ireland tasked with promoting reconciliation and understanding, but the island as a whole.

Fianna Fails Jim OCallaghan has said that logic dictates that the future of the island is best served by us coming together and discussing our collective future in terms of a new country.

Earlier this year, the Dublin Bay South TD released a blueprint for a new Ireland which included a proposal for an all-island citizens assembly.

Fine Gaels Neale Richmond has also put forward his vision with a similar proposal, but both are unrealistic and insufficient, lacking concrete clarity as to when this assembly would be formed.

The task of tackling the sheer volume of complex details to be covered when creating a new country with a new constitution cannot be achieved in 12 months via one assembly but would rather necessitate a number of separate citizens assemblies, meeting and debating a wide array of topics including identity, culture, and national symbols, all-island healthcare, and education.

With a constitutional imperative to aspire for reunifying the island, and with the logical understanding and engagement which would expectedly grow from each assembly, the Government should not be so hesitant.

However unlikely it seems, the Government needs to be attuned to the fact that the power to call a border poll lies entirely in the hands of a British government which has already shown itself to be duplicitous and wholly indifferent  if not at times hostile  to Ireland.

There is nothing in the Good Friday Agreement addressing a supposed timeline, nor the conditions for such a referendum, so assuming that a poll would be called with enough time for the Government to hold all-island citizens assemblies, and to formulate a thorough and detailed plan is short-sighted at best, and reckless at worst.

As the old adage goes: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.

Those elected in the next Stormont Assembly will be tasked with overseeing significant milestones in Northern Irelands history with both a vote on the Northern Ireland protocol and the possibility of preparing for a vote on Northern Irelands future.

It is set to be a historic election, with predictions that Sinn Fein will emerge as the largest party and unionist representation will continue to decrease.

If these predictions become reality, and unionisms vote share declines for the third election in a row, then it will become increasingly difficult for both Dublin and Westminster to ignore the trajectory.

It will also invariably impact the positions of parties in the Republic who will be fearful of Sinn Feins sustained position in opinion polls.

Both jurisdictions are plagued by systemic policy failures and the long-term impact of partition.

Northern Ireland would have much to gain from a united Ireland: A return to the EU, and representation increasing from 2.7% in Westminster to 20% in Dublin to name but two.

Citizens in the Republic also have much to gain; potentially an NHS-style healthcare system, and the unlocking of the islands economic potential.

The possibilities and opportunities that such a vote would present for all the inhabitants of this island is increasingly more appealing to large sections of society.

As such, the constitutional question wont go away  not until we have an answer.
TWO Cork landowning families are behind plans lodged with An Bord Pleanala for an ambitious build-to-rent scheme in Cork citys northside suburb of Blackpool.

If the 191 apartment development is given the go-ahead, it will see the conversion of a 230-year-old former distillery building, Hewitts Mill, into apartments, as well as the construction of two nine-storey apartment blocks on wasteland directly opposite the Revenue Commissioners offices on Assumption Road.

Two new apartment blocks planned for wasteland opposite Revenue offices in Blackpool

A third nearby parcel of land, at Shandon Villa, Popes Hill Road, is earmarked for a single apartment block, ranging in height from three to six storeys.

If the development goes ahead, it will be known as the Distillery Quarter.

The land involved has long been in the ownership of the Carey and Sheahan families, since it was bought in the 1970s by developers/estate agents Frank Sheahan and the late Joe Carey.

Planning documents linked to the current application show Box Hedge (Commercial) Ltd as landowners and Eichsfeld Ltd as the developers. Directors of Box Hedge include Alma and Edward Carey, children of the late Joe Carey, while Alma Carey and Frank Sheahan are listed as directors of Eichsfeld, in documents filed with the Companies Registration Office.

The plan was originally to build 229 apartments on a composite of four sites close to each other in Blackpool, but this was amended to 191 apartments after one site - a former furniture store at Nos 11-13 Watercourse Road - was removed from the strategic housing development (SHD) application. A separate application in relation to this site is with Cork City Council.

The 0.44ha Hewitts Mill site adjoins Seana Mhuileann (Old Mill), a 135-apartment Carey/Sheahan scheme dating to the mid noughties. The site of the Revenue Commissioners offices and the Irish Examiner were also previously owned by Carey/Sheahan, before they sold on to developers Ascon, now BAM.

The development now proposed will finish out development on Carey/Sheahan lands in the area, which is characterised by buildings of varied architectural grain, scale and height.

Architects are Wilson Architecture, designers of award-winning Penrose Dock. Peter Heffernan, architect with the firm, said the former Hewitts Mill building, part of the original 19th century Watercourse Distillery, will be conserved and restored, with original timber beams and floors and steel trusses retained. The Mill building will house 11 duplexes and 14 apartments and will remain at its existing height level, with an additional building of four to seven storeys incorporated to the rear, with 69 apartments in total on this site.

Hewitt's Mill in Blackpool

Balconies will be added to the front of the building to let more light in, Mr Heffernan said.

The building was modified in the past to create offices, but has been vacant for some time.

The island site - 0.2ha of leftover land after the construction of the N20 and the Revenue Commissioners offices - is currently overgrown and fenced off. The proposed development on this site includes two nine-storey apartment blocks containing a total of 99 apartments - 59 one-bed and 40 two-bed - with a rooftop amenity terrace, landscaping and public realm.

A derelict house will be removed as part of the development of a single block of 23 apartments (13 one-bed and 10 two-bed) on the 0.15ha Popes Hill Road site, ranging in height from three to six storeys.

The overall development, covering 0.79ha and with a gross residential floor space of 13,185 sq m (142,000 sq ft), will include communal facilities for residents, such as function rooms, residential lounges, gym facilities, a cinema room, plenty of bicycle spaces, but very limited car parking - just 14 spaces at the Hewitts Mill site. The maximum height over ground level across the three sites will be 31.8m (the island site) to parapet level.

The application for the development was lodged with An Bord Pleanala last Friday with a decision due within 16 weeks. It says its a build-to-rent scheme, with this status in place for not less than 15 years with no individual units sold or rented separately within that period. It says the proposed development is intended to augment the housing provision within the northwest and central area of Cork city and support the continued use of warehouse structure by way of residential provision.

Other significant residential developments in the Blackpool area include the recent commencement by housing agency Cluid of its 112-home scheme, a mix of age-friendly housing, on Thomas Davis Street with a completion date of late 2023/early 2024.

Separately, Bellmount Developments Ltd have made an SHD application also to An Bord Pleanala for permission to build 114 build-to-rent apartments in Blackpool with the site of the intended development listed as Millfield Service Station. The board is due to make a decision on the application by January 17.
Russia sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus on Thursday in a show of Moscows support for its ally amid a dispute over migration at the Polish border.

The Belarusian defence ministry said two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers practised bombing runs at the Ruzhansky firing range in Belarus. As part of the joint training, Belarusian fighter jets simulated an intercept, the ministry said.

The missions marked the second time in two days that Russia has sent nuclear-capable bombers into the skies over Belarus.

A Tu-22M3 bomber flies to patrol Belarusian airspace (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

A pair of Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flew a similar patrol on Wednesday, and Belarusian air defence assets practised intercepting them.

The Belarusian defence ministry said that such Russian bomber flights would be conducted on a regular basis.

The Russian military said the bombers spent more than four-and-a-half hours in the air during the mission intended to buttress the countries alliance. It noted that the bomber patrol wasnt aimed against any third countries.

Russia has strongly supported Belarus amid a tense standoff this week as thousands of migrants, most of them from the Middle East, gathered on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland in the hope of crossing into Western Europe.

Polish police and military police stand at a fence as migrants gather at the Belarus/Poland border near Grodno in Belarus (Leonid Shcheglov/BelTA via AP)

The European Union has accused Belarus authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko of encouraging illegal border crossings as a hybrid attack to retaliate against EU sanctions on his government for its crackdown on internal dissent after Mr Lukashenkos disputed 2020 re-election.

Belarus denies the allegations but has said it will no longer stop refugees and migrants from trying to enter the EU.

The Belarusian defence ministry accused Poland on Thursday of an unprecedented military build-up on the border, saying that migration control did not warrant the concentration of 15,000 troops backed by tanks, air defence assets and other weapons.

It looks more like forming a strike group of forces, the ministry said, adding that the Polish military build-up had prompted Belarus to respond with actions both independently and within the existing agreements with our strategic ally  a reference to Russia.

Russia and Belarus have a union agreement envisaging close political and military ties. Mr Lukashenko has stressed the need to boost military co-operation in the face of what he has described as aggressive actions by Nato allies.

Russian president Vladimir Putin attends a Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus meeting via video-link (Mikhail Metzel/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Lukashenko called the Russian bomber flights on Thursday a necessary response to the tensions on the Belarus/Poland border.

Let them scream and squeak. Yes, those are nuclear-capable bombers, but we have no other choice, the president, who has been in office since 1994, said.

Colonel General Retired Leonid Ivashov, former head of the Russian defence ministrys foreign co-operation department, said the Russian bomber flights over Belarus were intended to demonstrate Moscows support for its ally amid soaring tensions.

Military drills and bomber flights are part of training for joint action, Col Gen Ivashov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

Its needed to avert a possible military conflict that could escalate into a big war. Its necessary to demonstrate our readiness.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted the thousands of troops that had been deployed on either side of the Polish/Belarusian border and said its a cause for deep concern of all sober-minded people in Europe.

Asked about German chancellor Angela Merkels request for Mr Putin to exert his influence on Belarus, Mr Peskov responded that Russia, like all other countries, is trying to help resolve the situation.
Burma Junta Cronies Eye Telenors Myanmar Business

A Telenor sales office in Yangon / The Irrawaddy

With Norwegian telecom giant Telenor Groups plan to sell its local business in Myanmar to Lebanese investment company M1 Group mired in uncertainty, businesses owned by military cronies are showing an interest, sources close to them and local telecom operators told The Irrawaddy.

Telenor announced in July that it was selling its local operations to M1 Group for US$105 million. The move prompted criticism from rights groups, who said Telenor had failed to consult civil society stakeholders on the sale, and pointed to M1s business dealings with authoritarian regimes. Telenor confirmed its plans in September, however, saying it could not maintain its presence in Myanmar, as doing so would require it to help the military regime conduct surveillance of its clients.

The military regime is however reluctant to approve the deal with M1, and has indicated it favors at least part-ownership by a local company.

Among the companies that have signaled interest in purchasing Telenor Myanmar are Amara Communications Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of IGE Group owned by U Nay Aung, who is a brother of Myanmar Navy chief Admiral Moe Aung; and KT Group owned by Johnathan Kyaw Thaung, which has partnerships with military-linked businessmen including U Aung Pyae Sone, the son of coup leader Min Aung Hlaing.

Yoma Strategic Holdings, a Myanmar conglomerate owned by tycoon Serge Pun involved in banking and other consumer industries, is also interested in acquiring a stake in Telenor Myanmar, Financial Times reported.

Together with Telenor Group, Yoma Strategic Holdings and Yoma Bankboth of which are affiliated with Serge Punrun the mobile financial services business Wave Money. Telenor has a 51-percent stake in the business with Yoma Strategic Holdings holding 44 percent and Yoma Bank 5 percent.

M1, an investment firm owned by the family of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, is in advanced talks about a partnership with at least one Myanmar company, Shwe Byain Phyu Group, which has interests in petrol stations and gem mining, Reuters has reported.

Swe Byain Phyus chairman, Thein Win Zaw, is a director of Mahar Yoma Public Company, part of a consortium that has a stake in military-owned telecom operator Mytel.

As IGE Group is currently engaged in telecommunications services, it is more interested than other companies in purchasing Telenor Myanmar, a director of a local telecom company told The Irrawaddy.

He suggested a consortium of local businesses rather than a single business is likely to purchase Telenor Myanmar because it needs a huge amount of investment to run a telecommunications service.

Amara Communications Co. Ltd. is interested in acquiring a stake in Telenor Myanmar if the opportunity arises, U Myint Ko Ko, head of legal and regulatory at Amara Communications, told The Irrawaddy.

However, he added, Even if we have a chance to acquire and operate it, we wont if its operation could impact the privacy of the public, or if the concession is not transparent, he told The Irrawaddy.

He said it was currently difficult to confirm whether Amara Communications could buy a stake in Telenor Myanmar, because the Ministry of Transport and Communications has not yet made an official decision.

A person at KT Group who took The Irrawaddys call declined to answer questions.

Telenor said it is waiting for a formal response from the junta-controlled Ministry of Transport and Communications to its request to sell its Myanmar unit to M1. Ministry officials declined to comment when asked by The Irrawaddy if the regime is pressuring the Norwegian telecom operator into selling its Myanmar business to local companies.

There is no existing law in Myanmar regulating what sort of companies a telecom operator can or cannot sell its business to, said a former senior executive from a telecom operator.

They might invite bids just to show that there is transparency in the process. But there are many ways to make the tender under the table, he said.

Telenor Group might come under greater pressure from international human rights agencies if it sells its business to companies with links to Myanmars military, he said.

When Telenor and Qatars Ooredoo were granted telecom operator licenses in 2013, nationalist and anti-Muslim groups called for a boycott of Ooredoo, warning that such a sensitive sector should not be sold to a company based in an Islamic country.

The military regime might prefer a joint venture between a foreign firm and Myanmar companies as it can be technically challenging for local firms to operate telecom services alone.

Apart from Telenor and Ooredoo, two other telecom operators in Myanmar are joint ventures between local and foreign businesses: MPT is a joint venture between state-owned Myanma Posts and Telecommunications and Japanese firms KDDI Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation; and Mytel is a joint venture between Vietnamese military-run Viettel, Myanmar military-run Star High Public Co. Ltd. and Myanmar National Telecom Holding, which is a consortium of 11 local companies.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Clashes With Arakan Army After Years Peace

Arakan Army troops in 2019. / The Irrawaddy

Renewed clashes erupted between Myanmars military and the Arakan Army (AA) in Rakhine State in western Myanmar, the first since November 2020.

Ahead of the November general election last year, Myanmars military and the AA entered an unofficial ceasefire after two years of fierce fighting.

The two sides clashed on Tuesday after junta soldiers entered the AAs territory in the north of Maungdaw, said Khaing Thukha, the spokesman of the Rakhine ethnic armed group which demands autonomy in Rakhine State.

We had an engagement for a few minutes after they entered our territory. I still dont know detailed casualties. The two sides are holding talks through intermediaries regarding the clash, he said.

However, military tensions are running high on the ground as both sides are reinforcing their troops.

The clash happened in a forest near an abandoned village previously occupied by ethnic Mro. A resident from a nearby village said he heard gunshots but did not know any details.

The clash happened about 8km from my village. I heard gunshots in the afternoon and four artillery strikes in the evening, he told The Irrawaddy.

Khaing Thukha said more clashes are likely if junta troops further advance into AA territory.

Political analyst U Maung Maung Soe posted on Facebook that as all troops across Rakhine State are on alert, one clash could spread quickly spread across the state if negotiations fail.



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Burma Myanmar Junta Loses 1,300 Soldiers Killed Over Last Month: NUG

A member of the Loikaw PDF during a firefight with regime forces in Pekon Township, Shan State in early November. / Loikaw PDF

Myanmars military has suffered its heaviest losses yet over the last month, with 1,300 soldiers killed and 463 injured in clashes with civilian resistance groups, according to the countrys shadow National Unity Governments (NUG) Defense Ministry. The juntas casualties are almost double the number the regime suffered in September.

In September, a total of 768 junta troops were killed and 220 injured during 690 incidents including 132 attacks from Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) and 65 attacks by ethnic armed groups.

Between October 7 and November 6, Myanmar reported a total of 668 incidents targeting military regime forces and their associates. They included 83 attacks from ethnic armed groups and 207 from civilian resistance forces, said the NUGs Defense Ministry, which bases its statistics on media reports and its own sources.

At the same time, the number of civilians killed over the last month has almost doubled as well. Some 313 civilians were killed and 63 wounded in 197 acts of junta violence, compared to 164 slain and 109 injured in September in 174 incidents.

Some of those civilian casualties were members of PDFs.

Violence across the country has intensified since Vice Senior General Soe Win, the deputy coup leader, instructed commanders of regime forces to annihilate the PDFs.

In August, around 580 junta soldiers were killed and 190 wounded during 443 firefights, ambushes and assassinations launched by PDFs and ethnic armed groups, according to the NUG.

The regime has mostly not responded to the NUGs figures of Myanmar military casualties, which it issues monthly.

However, the junta did make a rare denial over the burning of Kinma Village in Pauk Township Magwe Region in mid-June, as well as over the bombardment of the Chin State town Thantlang on October 29.

But eyewitnesses and local PDFs said that both Kinma Village and Thantlang were burned down following arson attacks and artillery strikes by regime forces.

Since the NUG declared a nationwide peoples defensive war against the military regime on September 7, there has been an increase in atrocities by junta forces including the arbitrary killing of civilians, using detained civilians as human shields, bombarding residential areas, and looting and burning houses, especially in Magwe and Sagaing regions and Chin, Shan and Kayah states.

Regime forces have gunned down several villagers including women and children and also killed detainees in their raids.

The number of firefights between junta troops and PDFs are reported to have almost doubled in the countrys most restive areas  Magwe and Sagaing regions and Chin State  where civilian fighters mostly armed with traditional and homemade weapons are facing soldiers with heavy weapons and armored cars and the junta has deployed 3,000 reinforcements this month.

Sagaing Region reported the highest number of attacks by PDFs with 108, followed by Chin State and Magwe Region with 25 firefights each between October 7 and November 6.

In September, Sagaing reported 53 firefights and Chin and Magwe reported 17 and 11 firefights respectively.

Myanmars military has also stepped up its use of air power in those areas, conducting air strikes against the PDFs and flying in reinforcements. As well as attacks from PDFs, regime forces are also facing opposition from ethnic armed groups including the Kachin Independence Army, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the armed wings of the Karen National Union and the Karenni National Progressive Party.

In recent days, around 100 junta troops are being killed daily, as civilian resistance groups have escalated their operations including in the countrys major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw.

Since late October, the junta has arrested a group of 28 people including five women and veteran student activist Ko Jimmy, accusing them of being members of PDFs operating in Yangon.

As of Wednesday, 1,252 people have been slain by regime forces and another 9,979, including elected government leaders, have been detained by the junta, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.



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Burma Myanmars Civilian Government Blacklists Junta Conglomerates

Junta troops in Yangon during a crackdown on anti-regime protesters in early March. / The Irrawaddy

Myanmars civilian National Unity Government (NUG) announced that it has blacklisted two junta-controlled conglomerates and their subsidiaries on Wednesday.

The NUG said its Commerce Ministry had found that the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) committed high treason and control numerous businesses by abusing military power and exerting undue influence.

MEHL and MEC control a network of more than 100 businesses, including banking, trade, logistics, construction, mining, agriculture, tourism, tobacco and food and beverages, which generate revenue for the regime.

In late March, the US and UK sanctioned the conglomerates following the regimes deadly crackdown on peaceful demonstrators.

Last month, Indias Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited said it would withdraw investment in the junta-owned Ahlone Port by June 2022 after it came under pressure for doing business with MEC which received US$90-million in rent for leasing land to the Indian port operator.

The NUG on Wednesday urged consumers and businesses not to store, distribute, sell and use MEHL and MEC products and services. Failure to comply would amount to supporting war crimes, it said, warning of punitive action.

The junta must not be provided with access to funds that allow the generals to enrich themselves at the expense of Myanmars people and to continue their acts of terrorism against the people, the NUG said, declaring its economic sanctions.

The NUG also called for the international community to implement stronger and coordinated measures targeting the juntas economic interests, including urgent sanctions on Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise.

The state-owned conglomerate is now under regime control and is the militarys most important financial lifeline.

Public campaigns for boycotting military-linked products continue in Myanmar.

Since the February coup, at least 1,252 civilians have been killed by junta forces and more than 9,900 people have been detained, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners rights group.



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Burma NLD Patron U Win Htein Moved to Prison in Mandalay From Myanmar Capital

U Win Htein in 2017 / EPA

The Myanmar junta on Tuesday moved a leading member of the National League for Democracy (NLD), U Win Htein, to Obo Prison in Mandalay from Naypyitaw, his lawyer told The Irrawaddy.

The NLD patron was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment late last month for high treason for his candid criticism of the Feb. 1 coup.

Uncle Htein [U Win Htein] was taken to Mandalay on 9 October, his lawyer U Myint Thwin said.

U Win Htein, 80, was taken to Obo Prison after testifying as a defense witness in one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis trials in Naypyitaw on Monday. Long-term prisoners are not held in Naypyitaw, so he was taken to Obo Prison in Mandalay.

The junta has filed 11 charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. U Win Htein testified in a case in which the detained State Counselor is charged with violating COVID-19 restrictions by greeting her supporters at an event during the election campaign last year.

The NLD patron, who was present at the campaign event, testified that his party leader complied with the rules, according to his lawyer.

U Win Htein was arrested on Feb. 4 at his home in Yangon after holding a short press briefing in Naypyitaw, where he issued a letter to the public criticizing the coup. Since then he had been detained and tried in Myanmars capital, Naypyitaw.

The former military captain spent more than 20 years in jail under former dictator Than Shwe for his political activities.

He has a cardiac condition and suffers from a number of chronic diseases including diabetes and high blood pressure. He needs a wheelchair to get around and requires supplemental oxygen while sleeping.

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Burma UN Security Council Expresses Deep Concern as Myanmar Violence Worsens

This aerial photo taken on Oct. 29 shows smoke and fire in Thantlang, in Chin State, where more than 160 buildings have been destroyed due to shelling by junta troops. / AFP

The UN Security Council on Wednesday expressed deep concern over the intensifying armed clashes and violence in Myanmar. Showing rare agreement on the crisis in the country, the councils 15 members issued a statement calling for an immediate end to fighting and for the military to exercise utmost restraint.

The Members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at further recent violence across Myanmar. They called for an immediate cessation of violence and to ensure the safety of civilians, the statement reads.

The expression of concern comes amid frequent junta raids and shelling of civilian areas in Sagaing and Magwe regions and Chin State in northwestern Myanmar, and in Kayah State in the southeast. The UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said recently that more than 37,000 people, including women and children, have been newly displaced, and more than 160 homes have been burned, including churches and the offices of a humanitarian organization, in the areas.

In recent raids on the small, picturesque hill town of Thantlang in Chin State, regime forces fired artillery shells and burned down houses, prompting the exodus of the entire civilian population. The junta has blamed the destruction on local civilian resistance forces.

On the ground, sources working for both the Chin Defense Force (CDF) and the Chin National Front (CNF) in Chin State said they have learned that coup leader Min Aung Hlaing and his subordinates held a war room meeting recently in Naypyitaw and ordered field commanders to take over towns in Chin State after shelling them.

He [Min Aung Hlaing] ordered commanders [assigned to Chin State] to create fear and take over the towns, a source said, adding, We will defend them and our Chin land.

The CDF is a local civilian armed resistance group formed after the coup to fight the regime. The CNF is one of eight ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that originally signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) with the U Thein Sein government in October 2015. In May, however, the CNF decided to ally with the National Unity Government (NUG), becoming the first EAO to side with the countrys shadow government formed to topple the military regime.

The UN Security Council statement continues, They encouraged the pursuance of dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar.



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Guest Column Myanmars Transition From Electoral Politics to Gun Politics

Troops deployed near Myanmar's Parliament in Naypyitaw on February 2, the second day of the coup. / The Irrawaddy

The 1874 general election in the United Kingdom marked a major step in the countrys progress to full democracy. Following the 1872 Secret Ballot Act, a secret vote was used for the first time in a general election. That allowed tenants more freedom to vote for their political preferences, as they now faced less of a threat of eviction if they voted against the will of their landlords. Thanks to the secret ballot, the Irish Home Rule League Party won 60 seats in Parliament, wresting control of Irish politics from the previously dominant Conservative and Liberal parties. In mainstream politics, the Liberals, led by William Gladstone, lost to the Conservative Party led by Benjamin Disraeli, who assumed the position of prime minister. However, six years later the Liberal Party won the 1880 general election and Gladstone took back leadership of the government, a position he held twice thereafter.

In a splendidly gilded palace, over 5,000 miles away from London and the center of the British Empire, a despotic king sighed sympathetically upon learning of the defeat of Gladstone in the 1874 election. Then poor Ga-la-sa-tong (Gladstone) is in prison, I suppose. I am sorry for him. This was King Mindon, whom the former Chief Commissioner of British Burma Albert Fytche praised as one of the most enlightened monarchs that has ever sat on the Burmese throne. However, in the eyes of this enlightened king, a defeat in an election and fall from political power meant complete devastation for a politician, and could mean ending up in jail.

The kings statement reflects a zero-sum thinking on politics that is embedded deeply in the political culture of Myanmar and which still persists to this day. Political zero-sum thinking rarely views politics as a developmental process but as a dog-eat-dog game in which a win for one player incurs total losses for another player. Therefore, electoral defeat and the subsequent loss of power is unbearable for political actors.

When the army-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) lost to the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) Party in the 2020 general election, the generals and retired generals of the Myanmar military easily relapsed into that political zero-sum thinking. They believed their nemesis, the NLD, and its repeated electoral victories were tantamount to an irretrievable loss of long-held power that could be reversed only by abolishing the whole political game that they themselves had introduced. Shortly after the election, the military and the defeated USDP disputed the results of the 2020 election with unfounded allegations of electoral fraud. That electoral crisis led to the February 1 coup and the overthrow of the existing political system. This is not the first time in the modern history of Myanmar that the military has disrespected and scrapped election results.

Elections at Gunpoint

In 1947, just prior to the then Burmas independence, veteran politician Dr. Ba Maw prophesied that it is not elections that are going to decide the future of Burma [Myanmar], but the gun. Dr. Ba Maws ominous prophecy proved prescient. The politics of post-independence Myanmar have not been shaped by electoral democracy, but by armed conflicts, army coups and autocratic rule by military strongmen. Brief honeymoon periods of electoral democracy have been gunned down by a military that has assumed a self-proclaimed role of guardianship by the force of arms. In hindsight, the parliamentary elections in post-independence Myanmar were marred by electoral fraud, assassinations and violence. Hugh Tinker wrote in his The Union of Burma that, political gangsterdom was no new factor in the electoral history of Myanmar. Violence had been exploited by politicians from the time of the first elections in 1922, and the [post-independence ruling party] Anti-Fascist Peoples Freedom League (AFPFL) climbed to power through the cultivation of force and unrest.

It was in 1962 that the military first obliterated the electoral democracy of Myanmar. There have been a variety of explanations as to why the army staged their 1962 coup. The militarys official justification was the risk of the country breaking up. In fact, ever since the 1960 election, the idea for a coup was already circulating among senior officers. The late Maung Maung, a retired Brigadier General who played a key role in organizing the election, wrote in his Caretaker Government of 1958-1960 about the fierce resistance of several senior officers against the transfer of power to U Nus victorious Union Party.

Following a split in the ruling AFPFL in 1958, the military temporarily took over power as a caretaker government and then held an election in 1960. Several senior officers who were close to the Stable-AFPFL party led by U Ba Swe and U Kyaw Nyein, political rivals of U Nu, contemplated not transferring power to U Nu should he win the election. According to Maung Maung, army chief Ne Win himself was then in favor of an outright coup detat. The leaders of the military and the political party backing the army were trapped in political zero-sum thinking. Consequently, despite a smooth power transfer after the election, the military launched an outright coup in 1962, and put an end to electoral democracy after less than two years.

In 1990, the military once again disrespected and scrapped the results of an election that it staged. After the 1988 coup, the junta held a general election, the first multi-party election since 1960. The junta chief Saw Maung repeatedly pledged in his speeches that he would transfer power to the winning party, and have the army return to barracks before the poll. The military was highly confident that its proxy National Unity Party (NUP), the successor of the Burmese Socialist Programme Party that ruled the country from 1974 to 1988, would win the election. However, it was badly beaten by the NLD led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi even amidst numerous restrictions and repressions targeting opposition parties, primarily the NLD. The Election Commission formed by the junta officially announced the victory of the NLD on July 1, 1990, but the junta did not honor the results and disgracefully declined to transfer power to the winning party. Now, in 2021, a new generation of military officers are following in the footsteps of their forebears by disregarding the general will of the people and election results by overthrowing the elected civilian government.

Politics as Process

It has been a year since the 2020 general election. Within that year, instead of post-pandemic normalization and economic recovery, the militarys coup has plunged the country into political, economic and social turmoil. The whole country is increasingly inundated with violence and armed conflicts. Bomb blasts, armed fighting and violence are occurring on a daily basis, while the death toll is on the rise nationwide. Myanmar is striding along the path to becoming a failed state, with the resurgence of large-scale armed conflicts, a widening security vacuum, an irrecoverable economic catastrophe, and even the risk of territorial fragmentation. With increasing international pressure and disassociation, the country has rapidly become a pariah state. Despite the countrys extremely devastating situation, the junta has shown no sign of backing down. A die has been cast for the military, and the coup leaders will do everything they can to remain in power. In contrast to the armys historical claim of its role as a stabilizing force in Myanmar, the coup has obviously highlighted, as Andrew Nachesom said, that the Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] is a force of chaos, not stability.

Since independence in 1948, Myanmar has been plagued by a series of bloody civil wars. Consequently, the states monopoly over violence and the states capacity to project centralized power in its entire territory has always been contested. Likewise, as a multi-ethnic country, the people of Myanmar do not share a common sense of national identity. Incomplete state-ness and nation-ness have been key problems in the Myanmar polity, and political elites have failed to establish a consensus on these problems throughout the countrys modern history. That has been exacerbated by military coups and authoritarian rulers who have attempted to impose their absolute control on the country by force of arms in lieu of negotiation and consensus.

Following its prolonged rule, the then military regime loosened its grip on power in 2010 by organizing a sham election that year and initiating a political liberalization process. Indeed, Myanmars political opening had birth defects and, among others, two defects are very conspicuous  hybrid regime and reserved domain of power for the military. The political opening of 2010 was not designed as a march towards full-fledged democracy but rather as a military-dominated hybrid regime. The 2008 constitution structurally set up the hybrid regime, a power-sharing arrangement between the elected civilian authority and a military guardian. Besides, the controversial constitution enshrined several provisions that ensure reserved domains of power for the military.

In this political context, elections alone are not enough to resolve the complicated and deep-rooted problems of Myanmars polity. Nevertheless, competitive elections with democratic qualities could create a legitimate political space in which state-building and nation-building could necessarily be undertaken through a series of negotiations and consensus. It is not a one-stop service, but a sophisticated process that has to be patiently and gradually advanced with agreement and disagreement and flaws and corrections. During the NLDs five-year reign, it is irrefutable that the civilian government had numerous flaws and pitfalls in administering the state. But, with the stability and legitimacy proffered by the election, it is feasible that the political process could progress slowly, if sometimes painfully. The military, with its fixation on political zero-sum thinking has not been willing to go through that political process. They cruelly killed off the political process and rolled back the political space.

Electoral Politics versus Gun Politics

A year after the 2020 election, the Union Election Commission (UEC), formed by the junta, held a three-day meeting with political parties to discuss changing the electoral system from the current First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system to one of proportional representation (PR). Due to the lack of the legitimacy of the junta-appointed UEC, 53 out of some 90 political parties, mostly pro-military parties and small parties, attended the event, but major parties, such as the NLD, Shan National league for Democracy, and Arakan National Party, did not.

In that meeting, the chief of UEC said that the current FPTP system is outdated and unequal, and that the PR system could bring opportunities to minority parties, ethnic parties, women, and individual representatives. The proposal to change the FPTP system to the PR system was rejected by the USDP-controlled Parliament in 2014, and then the Constitutional Tribunal ruled that transformation of the electoral system to PR was unconstitutional. However, after seizing power, the junta began its efforts to change the electoral system. Following the meeting with political parties on February 26, 2021, around three weeks after the coup, the UEC asked the political parties to provide their input on the PR system. The winning party of the 2020 election, NLD, rejected the idea of changing the electoral system, and major ethnic parties agreed with them. In late August, the coup leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, exposed the juntas plan to introduce the PR system, and then the UEC stepped up efforts to switch the electoral system. Under the 2008 constitution, the PR system served to favor the military that already retains 25 per cent of all seats in the national legislatures, and it is definitely one of the militarys principal schemes to sustain its grip on power.

Nevertheless, even if the PR system is introduced, it seems inconceivable for the junta to conduct elections in the time frame it has promised. Despite initially declaring a one-year emergency, the junta chief later said that the provisions of the state of emergency would be accomplished and elections held in August 2023. Within six months of the coup, the junta extended its rule for an extra year and half. The security and stability of the country seriously deteriorated, and it is highly unlikely that Myanmar will return in the near future to a stabilized security environment suitable for organizing successful elections. With the junta currently struggling to run the basic administrative mechanism, managing over 40,000 polling stations across the country would be completely out of question. In addition, the military throughout its history has never loosened its grip on power while in a frail and vulnerable position. The generals believe that only they are capable of getting the country back to normalcy, and, in a volatile situation, transferring power to civilians, even if they were generals who switched their uniforms for civilian attire, would be a nail in their coffins. Therefore, it will be a miracle if the generals keep their promise to conduct an election at the assigned time.

Even if the election is organized, the people would not be willing to participate and so provide legitimacy to polls staged by the military. There is no guarantee that the military will honor the results of the next election. In the past, the generals reiterated that the design of the 2008 constitution and its enshrined prerogatives for the military were the guarantee against a possible coup. However, the military has no compunction about returning to the zero setting if it dislikes the outcome of any election.

Ultimately, the people believed firmly that the military stole their election with the coup. In the protests following the takeover, the people have addressed the military generals with placards stating Respect our vote. But the people have been confronted with bullets for requesting respect for their ballots, and eventually driven to the inevitable conclusion that they also have to take up guns to reclaim their electoral rights. In this way, the militarys coup brought the curtain down on electoral politics. One year after the 2020 elections, gun politics has become the only game in town in Myanmar.

Ye Myo Hein is the executive director of the Tagaung Institute of Political Studies and a fellow with the Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

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As the country honors its veterans today (Nov. 11), its important to remember that veterans are all around us: teachers, doctors, attorneys, police officers, fire fighters, bank tellers -- each now doing a civilian jobs, but all with a history and work ethic that was shaped by their years of service.

Version en espanol

Take, for example, Key Biscayne Village Manager Steve Williamson, the son of an Army veteran who himself served 28 years in the US Army.

Williamsons interest in the military began as a child. Through his father, he had access to all of his dads old uniforms and equipment. I liked to play soldier when I was a kid.

He grew up in the small New York town of Armonk. After graduating from high school Williamson briefly considered applying to the US Naval Academy, but ultimately chose the University of Virginia, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce.

I had always been interested in public service, and the military fascinated me when I was a kid, he recalled, but he realized I did not want to spend a career on a ship.

While At UVa, he had a fortuitous meeting that ultimately led to a career in the Army.

To help pay for college, Williamson worked a variety of jobs, including washing dishes in the school dining facility. After finishing work one cold January morning in 1983, he ran into a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) member. As they walked together back to the dorm, the ROTC officer explained that he didnt need to wash dishes to pay for school.

With his solid grades, Williamson was told he would qualify for a three-year full scholarship. And since it was during the Reagan build-up of the Army, an officer position would be available upon graduation.

Without even talking with his parents, Williamson signed a scholarship that enrolled him in ROTC, and committed him to four years of post-graduate Army service.

It was the best non-decision I ever made, he recalled. Unlike today, where there is constant pressure on young adults to analyze their future, I put together just a few things: They would pay for my school; I would serve my country; I would be part of a team doing something exciting; and I wouldnt have to sit behind a desk.

When he graduated in 1986, Williamson was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Corp of Engineers.

Williamsons father has been called to active duty from the Reserve as during the Berlin Wall Crisis in 1961. As fate would have it, Williamson ended up in Germany two decades later -- placed at the Berlin Wall.

I was stationed just across the border from East Germany, he said. I can remember the last exercise we conducted in 1989. It was the biggest Return of Forces to Germany (REFORGER) in decades. Soon after that exercise in November 1989, the Berlin Wall fell and the borders were open.

He was on vacation in Berlin on November 9, the day the wall came down. He even joined West Germans who were breaking the Wall with sledgehammers, and he still has pieces of the Wall from that event.

The part that was the most heartwarming was to see only months later, the stream of East Germans entering West Germany to reunite with their families, he said.

Williamsons career took him to Kuwait from 1998-99, helping to rebuild the nation after the Iraqi invasion. Another tour was in Egypt patrolling the Sinai Peninsula while the Israelis and Egyptians were continuing their peace treaty agreement, which had been signed in 1981.

He continued his Middle East experiences with a tour in Iraq to help rebuild the countrys war-yorn infrastructure. One helicopter flight, in particular, stuck with him.They flew over the northern Iraq mountains to inspect a dam US forces had built.

We next flew up to Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish region in Iraq, to complete the airfield and the community hospital, he recalled. I will never forget seeing the faces of the families.

Williamsons leadership skills were later put to the test in Afghanistan, where he serves as the Engineer Brigade Executive Officer overseeing all allied engineers, from Korea , France, Poland, Australia and a US Navy Sea-Bee detachment. It was an honor to lead and serve beside our partner nations, he said.

Williamsons last years of service were with the US Southern Command, focusing on counter narcotics and humanitarian assistance in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Belize. Meeting the amazing people of these four countries gave me a true meaning of hard work and an even more appreciation of being an American.

Williamson finished his career as a Colonel. However, he shared that, the best rank was as a Lieutenant...young, dumb and having fun.

The same desire to serve the public tha led Williamson to the armed forces brought him to Key Biscayne as the Village Manager -- To take on the challenge of building the necessary infrastructure to create a stronger, more resilient Key Biscayne.
November 11, 2021



Idaho State University student Gwyneth Donahue's research on the wage gap existing between immigrant and native workers in the United States has earned her the award for Best Undergraduate Paper aat the International Atlantic Economics Society conference.

As part of the award, Donahue's research will be published.

Donahue, a junior studying economics in the College of Business, began her research as an assignment in professor Dr. Iris Buders econometrics course in spring 2021.

Econometrics applies statistical and quantitative methods to analyze business and economic phenomena, Buder said. When Gwyn proposed her research project, I could already see the potential for her idea and she continued to put a lot of effort into developing her theoretical model, which was grounded in her thorough research of the literature. After Gwyn submitted her final research paper for the class, it truly was one of the best undergraduate econometrics papers I had ever read.

Buder suggested that Donahue continue her work on the paper throughout the summer and submit it to the IAES for entry into the contest.

Donahue said her motivation for choosing the topic was to explore the underlying cause of the wage gap and whether or not it can be explained by educational or occupational choices or the potential for discrimination against immigrants.

While education, occupation and other demographic attributes were shown to contribute to the wage gap [between immigrant and native workers in the U.S.], the paper also demonstrates that there remains a portion that is unexplained by these variables, which can likely be attributed to discrimination, said Donahue.

Donahue said that she also found that the wage gap does fade the longer an immigrant is in the U.S. Though this wage convergence is not consistent among every occupation, she said, indicating that immigrants in unskilled occupations have a higher wage gap with natives versus immigrants in skilled occupations.

Throughout the research process, Donahue was able to gain experience using two methods of research including the Ordinary Least Squares Regression analysis (OLS) as well as the Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition which Donahue said attributed to the greatest takeaways of the experience. She was also exposed to a greater understanding of the structure and presentation of academic articles.

[I was able to learn] how to conduct proper research using statistical analysis and how to effectively communicate the findings. I learned how to utilize statistical analysis and statistical software, and how to apply these tools to help answer economic questions, a skill that will undoubtedly be applicable in the future. Donahue said.

After participating in the conference, Donahue said that the experience only enhanced her plans to join academia in the future. She said that the opportunity to compete internationally in addition to publishing her research will be a valuable attribute to add to her Ph.D. program applications once she graduates.

Buder explained that these types of experiences are beneficial to students for a variety of reasons but are especially noteworthy to those planning to pursue graduate school. Buder said that conducting research at the undergraduate level can not only demonstrate a students cognitive and writing skills to graduate schools, but is also a good opportunity to help guide the students toward their ideal graduate program based on their research interests.

Gwyns hard work on this research project paid off in a huge way  getting published as an undergraduate is quite a significant achievement, Buder said.
Huntsville, TX (77320)

Today

Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low around 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Ithaca, NY (14850)

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Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 38F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

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A field of Cannabis growing in Ulysses today. This bushy strain is bred and grown for the extraction of CBD oil and is cultivated in a different manner than the hemp plants of the 1800s.
IDC research today released its findings on how to close the trust gap between businesses and consumers in the digital economy. The findings reveal consumers are on the verge of adopting more advanced forms of ID verification but still require a high standard of secure, straightforward processes from institutions.

IDC research, commissioned by GBG, sought to understand the key digital identity mechanism of the future, how it would be supported by businesses, and how consumers would receive it and be likely to adopt it.

The research revealed a range of acceptable and desirable digital identity verification methods, however also revealed businesses still have work to do in helping educate and guiding customers, as well as assuring their data is safe from leak and misuse.

The research findings were outlined by Michael Araneta, associate vice president, head of advisory and research, IDC Financial Insights Asia Pacific. A panel made up of Carol Chris, regional general manager, ANZ, GBG; Ian Hendley, chief executive officer, thelawstore and live-sign.com; and Steve Shipley, adjunct chief information officer, IDC Financial Insights Asia Pacific, provided greater clarity around these findings.

The research consisted of two surveys, one aimed at Australian consumers and one aimed at Australian businesses, over the third quarter of 2021. Consumer data was split by age and income while business data was split by industry type with 45% being fintechs and payment businesses, 31% being professional and personal services, and 24% being banks and financial services.

The key theme that came out of the research results, Araneta explained, is "more" - that more and more we will see digital fingerprints or voice and facial verifications to onboard new services or log on to existing services. More and more we will see digital identity verification among current and future digital use cases with Australian consumers poised to trust digital services.

The top use cases IDC found for digital identity verification were buy-now/pay-later purchasing scenarios, approving deposit-based financial services, and the instant approval of loans. In each case, IDC found consumers and businesses were aligned in finding these desirable situations for the use of digital identity verification - provided trust is in place, and with the caveat consumers expect digital identity verification to lead to near-instantaneous results.

Continuing with the theme, IDC sees more sign-ups for digital services among key industries, and in fact, massive onboarding on the horizon with increasing demand growing each day.

However, all this said, despite a desire for digital identity verification and the ramifications it means, IDCs research found consumers still prefer face-to-face at this time.

In fact, while IDC found the more that people are experiencing facial biometric and online document identity verification they are preferring it, the research still found 54% of consumers aged 18-44 years old prefer face-to-face, and 67.3% of consumers aged 45 and over prefer face-to-face.

Thus, there is a clear disconnect between the desire to digitally transact and the preference for face-to-face, and IDC found it came down to trust.

In their research, IDC found consumers aged 45 and over are looking to large and reputable organisations, such as government and big banks, to lead the way.

Among the 18-44-year-old cohort, the preference was divided among other factors such as increased education on the security of digital identity verification and how data will be used, and being able to continue accessing and using essential services with the pandemic, among other concerns.

Meanwhile, IDC's research found businesses have much to gain when it comes to digital identity verification due to the prominence of fraud. This fraud includes impersonation, account takeover, spoofing, scams, a stolen identity, and other issues, and Araneta said getting digital identity verification right means businesses can fight fraud where it matters, and they can fight worsening fraud.

Financial institutions have procedures to deal with money laundering, terrorism financing, and similar risks known as KYC - or know your customer. According to IDC's research, 67.4% of fintech and payment organisations reported an estimated monetary loss of over $50K incurred due to fraudulent incidents in their KYC processes during 2020. 49.6% of fintech and payment companies said identity theft makes up 10-20% of fraud, with 20% saying it makes up 20-30% of fraud. Banks and financial services were similar with 37% reporting 10-20%, and 20.5% reporting 20-30%.

Digital identity verification methods can aid institutions in combatting such fraud, as well as provide consumer benefits. However, organisations still need to invest in gaining trust through increased and open communication around how data is stored and secured, and for what purposes it will be used.

IDC's key findings from the research were:

Australian customers on the verge of adopting more advanced digital identity verification

Use is not preference is not trust - that is, using something doesn't imply it's the preference, nor does it imply trust, so simply tracking adoption is not in itself a measure of preference or trust

Biometrics and online digital identity verification are seen as the better way, leading to good customer experiences, speed and trust - and converting customers to this better way will be based on their experience

Customers can quickly change preferences

Businesses want to support the preferences of customers for a better way - but are overwhelmed with options

Regulatory mandates will accelerate the adoption of solutions

New capabilities in biometrics and online digital identity verification have emerged and an end-to-end value proposition is possible now

There is a link between digital identity verification and fraud reduction

The IDC research was commissioned by GDG.
Fujitsu says the vaccination roadmap is part of its continued commitment to the safety of its employees and other people the companys employees work with.

The roadmap includes a proposed policy that all persons entering a Fujitsu workplace (including data centres, warehouses and offices), attending a Fujitsu work-related event or entering other premises to undertake work on Fujitsus behalf will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Fujitsu says the proposed policy will allow for valid exemptions to be managed on a case-by-case basis and it will be consulting with employees regarding the details and implementation of the policy between 10 November and 22 November 2021.

Fujitsu says that unless public health orders come into effect sooner, the proposed policy will commence on 29 November 2021, and the proposed timeline for the effective date of the policy is the 6 January 2022 for a first dose and 11 February 2022 for a second dose,

Graeme Beardsell, Chief Executive Officer at Fujitsu Australia and New Zealand, said, As a business, we have a duty to ensure that our working environment is as safe as reasonably practical for our people. As we enter the next phase of the pandemic and learning to live with COVID-19, we recognise that vaccinations are a key part of helping to keep our people and those of our customers and suppliers safe.

We have been listening to our employees and look forward to engaging them further in a series of consultations on our COVID-19 Vaccination Roadmap to get their feedback on the proposed policy in Australia and New Zealand.

Fujitsu said the proposed policy has been preceded by a detailed risk assessment and a companywide survey to seek employees views on vaccination.

The survey results showed the majority of staff had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination or intend to be vaccinated. About three quarters of the respondents also expressed strong support for work-related vaccination requirements and around three quarters of staff expressed concerns for themselves or others about returning to the workplace if other staff are unvaccinated., Fujitsu said.

Fujitsu says that as part of its COVID-19 Vaccination Roadmap, fully vaccinated employees in Australia and New Zealand are welcome to return to the office on 29 November 2021 (relevant Public Health Orders allowing).

The Fujitsu COVID-19 Vaccination Roadmap relates solely to Australia and New Zealand within Fujitsu and not the broader Fujitsu organisation.
The Australian Government, it appears, does not believe in the old saying, "once bitten, twice shy". After being humiliated by Facebook once, when it tried to act tough over the media content laws which the government was trying to shove through Parliament, one government senator is looking to be shown up again.

Last time it was Treasurer Josh Frydenberg who played the role of Don Quixote. This time, it is an equally intrepid individual, Senator Andrew Bragg, who is out there, issuing threats to anyone who will listen that the government will legally force Facebook to cut deals with news outlets with which it has refused to bargain.

To recap, the government has been put under pressure by the major media organisations in the country to extract some money from Facebook and Google for the alleged losses that they have faced due to the activities of the two American digital giants.

Google played the whole episode quietly, signed up with some companies and generally acted like a good citizen, after some initial objections.

Facebook decided to show the government who was the boss and promptly cut off its news feed to Australia. Frydenberg had to eat humble pie and make additional amendments to the media law before the social media giant agreed to lift the ban.

The government painted this as a victory  but then doesn't it do that with every single thing? Nobody was fooled. The operative part of the media law was that some companies wanted to squeeze some money out of the two American firms. If one were to be realistic, what is being given away is even less than a rounding error for either firm.

But with an election due before May next year, and the government having had one of its worst years to date, every Liberal is trying to put on a cape and act like Superman. Hence Senator Bragg's bold statements about "forcing" Facebook to negotiate.

There is a provision in the media code that companies which refuse to negotiate can be "designated" as recalcitrant and forced to come to the table. If the company in question does not open talks, then it can be fined up to 10% of its Australian revenue.

The Nine newspapers quoted the brave Senator Bragg as saying this morning: "We should seriously consider designating Facebook under the code if they fail to support Australian publishers.

I am not surprised that Facebook has lots of problems at the moment. Their treatment of small and diverse publishers can only improve. Of course, no doubt Senator Bragg understands perfectly the problems that Facebook faces because he has run several similar firms in the past.

Back in September, it was reported that Facebook had refused to deal with SBS and The Conversation when they sought deals under the news media content legislation.

It will be March before Treasury will hold a review to determine whether Facebook and Google have co-operated sufficiently to avoid legal measures being taken. That's how it is on paper.

In reality, Facebook holds the upper hand and it can easily show the government the middle finger again. The company hinted after the last stoush that it would retain the option to go nuclear again.

Facebook's vice-president of global news partnerships Campbell Brown said at the time: Going forward, the government has clarified we will retain the ability to decide if news appears on Facebook so that we wont automatically be subject to a forced negotiation.

It looks like Senator Bragg is on slippery sand with his bold talk, but then perhaps he is drowning out reality in his bid to tangle with the metaverse!
Supported by the Australian Space Agency, the CSIROs Innovate to Grow Space program will support 20-25 small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with mentoring from some of Australias leading space experts, including from CSIRO and the Space Agency, access to world-class research facilities and infrastructure, and support to navigate grant application processes.



Innovate to Grow is a free 10-week training program designed to boost the innovation and take-up of research and development (R&D) by Australian small businesses in industries with high innovation potential, like space, agrifood, plastic waste, net zero, and cybersecurity.



CSIRO Space Research Program Director Dr Kimberley Clayfield said collaboration was key to growing Australias space industry.





CSIRO works with leading global companies, international space agencies and small-to-medium businesses on a variety of space-related activities, Dr Clayfield said.



SMEs have a lot to contribute and when combined with our strong capabilities in Earth observation, robotics, advanced manufacturing and communications, the sky is no limit to what we can achieve together.



Amanda Falconer, Founder of Bestie Kitchen based in Newcastle, NSW, participated in the Agrifood round of Innovate to Grow.



Innovate to Grow really made research accessible. Before the program, I thought there was no way that a tiny company like mine could work with CSIRO or a university. Now it has been demystified! Falconer said.



Following the program, Bestie Kitchen participated in CSIROs Kick-Start program, received Federal Government Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) commercialisation funding, and begun scaled manufacturing from her new factory.



Dr George Feast, CSIRO SME Collaboration Lead said the program built on rich foundations.



Innovate to Grow: Space is another example of how were working to develop innovative technologies and capabilities and support the growth of the Australian space industry, Dr Feast said.



With so many incredible opportunities on offer here and globally, were committed to helping SMEs understand how to best engage with a R&D partner and understand how to get the most benefit for their needs.



Dr Feast said CSIRO has over 75 years of space-related experience and operates a range of facilities, research programs and industry development activities contributing to the Australian space sector - and is growing its space capabilities in a wide variety of areas with the aim of generating new innovations that will benefit the nation and help provide new opportunities for the space sector.



The Australian Space Agency aims to support Australia to significantly grow its domestic sector from around 10,000 jobs and a market size of $3.9 billion to up to another 20,000 jobs and $12 billion by 2030, with further jobs and economy growth from spill over effects.



CSIRO Innovate to Grow is delivered using Practeras online ed-tech platform and facilitation services.



Applications for the Innovate to Grow training program are open until 22 November.

For more information on the Innovate to Grow program click here.
The General Court of the European Union has dismissed an appeal by Google and its parent company Alphabet against a fine of 2.42 billion (US$2.77 billion, A$3.79 billion) levied for abusing its dominant market position for online general search services in 13 EU countries.

The fine was levied on Google in 2017, for abuse of its search engine dominance to give illegal advantage to its own comparison shopping service.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Court said it had dismissed the appeal by Google and its parent company, Alphabet, against the fine.

It said by "favouring its own comparison shopping service on its general results pages through more favourable display and positioning, while relegating the results from competing comparison services in those pages by means of ranking algorithms, Google departed from competition on the merits".

The Court also said that "the promotion on Googles results pages of only one type of specialised result, namely its own, involves a certain form of abnormality".

The 13 countries in question are Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Norway.

The Court said it "finds that Googles differentiated treatment is based on the origin of the results, that is, whether they come from its own comparison shopping service or from competing services".

"The General Court thus rules that, in reality, Google favours its own comparison shopping service over competing services, rather than a better result over another result".

Google also faces a 4.34 billion (US$4.98 billion, A$6.8 billion) EU fine imposed on it in 2018 for allegedly breaching anti-trust rules relevant to Android, claiming the authorities had turned a blind eye to Apple, its sole rival in the smartphone space.

A third fine of 1.49 billion has been imposed by the EU for alleged abusive practices by Google in online advertising.

Google has yet to issue a public statement about the Court's decision.
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Betty Jean Pulley, 95, passed away November 4, 2021, at Windridge Nursing Home, Miami, Oklahoma. Betty was born September 7, 1926, at home in Riverton, Kansas, to Albert Petty Cutright and Alta Elizabeth (Newkirk). She graduated from Riverton High School Class of 1944, and attended Joplin Ju
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly wears an axe pin on her lapel to symbolize her plan to eliminate the state's 6.5% sales tax on groceries during a news conference, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, in the produce section of a Dillons grocery in Topeka, Kan. Kelly is in a strong enough position financially to be able to provide the tax relief.
Michael T. Myers, whose magic act was among his many contributions to the community, recently passed away at the age of 70.
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Susan covers the towns of Somers and Ellington. She joined the JI in May 2021 and graduated from Skidmore College. She recently completed docent training for the Wadsworth Atheneum and hopes to start giving tours some time next year.
FW de Klerk, South Africas last white president, dismantled the apartheid regime that brought him to power when he freed Nelson Mandela from prison and negotiated a path to democracy.

He shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela in 1993 for leading the miracle transition from white rule.

But as the new democracy matured, many inside the country came to see him as a symbol for the failure of white South Africa to acknowledge the full horrors of apartheid and to bring perpetrators to justice.

De Klerk, aged 85, died Thursday after a battle with cancer, his foundation said in a statement.

It is with the deepest sadness that the FW de Klerk Foundation must announce that former president FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer, it said.

Mr De Klerk was 85 years old. He is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan, and his grandchildren.

De Klerk ensured his place in history when on February 2, 1990, he announced Mandelas release from 27 years in jail and lifted the ban on black liberation movements, effectively declaring the death of white-minority rule.

I would hope that history will recognise that I, together will all those who supported me, have shown courage, integrity, honesty at the moment of truth in our history. That we took the right turn, De Klerk said.

Twenty years after that speech, De Klerk said freeing Mandela had prevented a catastrophe.

Frederik Willem de Klerk was born in Johannesburg on March 18, 1936.

His father, Jan de Klerk, was a minister in the National Party (NP) government that instituted apartheid. His uncle, JG Strijdom, was a prime minister notorious for stripping mixed race people of voting rights.

De Klerk followed in their footsteps. After practising law for 11 years, he won a seat in parliament for the NP in 1972 and climbed the political ladder through cabinet until he became the partys leader in February 1989.

Just six months later, after PW Botha was forced to resign, De Klerk became president of South Africa.

When he became head of the National Party, he seemed to be the quintessential party man, nothing more and nothing less, Mandela wrote of him. Nothing in his past seemed to hint at a spirit of reform.

 Negotiated end to apartheid 

Yet Mandela sensed an opening and sent him a letter outlining a negotiated end to apartheid.

Less than two months later, De Klerk announced Mandelas unconditional release and the end of the ban on the African National Congress.

De Klerk helped negotiate a new constitution, transforming South Africa into a non-racial democracy. He served for two years as Mandelas deputy.

Despite relinquishing power and ushering in democracy, De Klerk never moulded to the new South Africa.

He appeared before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, apologising for apartheid. He also stormed out and accused the panel of bias.

As Mandela became a global icon, De Klerk in a 2012 speech insisted: He was by no means the avuncular and saint-like figure so widely depicted today.

In his later years, De Klerk called on the ANC government to take accountability for rampant poverty and joblessness.

But he would bristle at efforts to hold him accountable, and never accepted responsibility for the torture, rapes, and killings committed by the whites-only government.

He tried to make excuses for apartheids network of bantustans, intended to confine black South Africans to supposed ethnic homelands.

And in 2020, he sparked a national furore by refusing to call apartheid a crime against humanity.

He always backtracked, especially if the scandals rippled into international headlines. But even when he found the right words, he was never able to strike the right tone in modern South Africa.

For all he gave the country, what he couldnt give was a sense of remorse.

De Klerk and his first wife, Marike, who married in April 1958, had three adopted children. The couple divorced in 1998 after he admitted to an affair with Elita Georgiades, the wife of a Greek shipping tycoon. De Klerk and Georgiades married the same year.
Key dates in the life of South Africas last white president and Nobel Peace laureate, FW de Klerk, whose time in power marked the end of the racist apartheid regime.

 March 18, 1936: Frederik Willem de Klerk is born in Johannesburg into a family of Afrikaners, a white ethnic group descended mainly from Dutch colonisers. His father is a top senator who serves briefly as interim president.

 1954-1958: Studies law at university; joins the Broederbond, a secret and ethnically exclusive Calvinist male Afrikaner organisation that wields huge influence in South Africa.

 1959: Marries fellow student Marike Willemse, who will be a key ally in his political career and a politician in her own right.

 1972: Elected to parliament as a member of the National Party that promotes Afrikaner interests in South Africa.

 1978-1989: Holds a succession of ministerial posts.

 1989-1994: In office as South Africas president.

 February 2, 1990: Legalises the banned African National Congress and orders the release of its iconic figurehead Nelson Mandela after 27 years in jail.

 1991: Ends the apartheid regime in place since 1948.

 1993: He and Mandela jointly receive the Nobel Peace Prize for their roles in South Africas miracle transition to democracy.

 September 9, 1997: Retires from active politics.

 1998: Divorces Marike de Klerk and marries Elita Georgiades, the wife of a Greek shipping tycoon with whom he had been having an affair.

 2000: Sets up the FW de Klerk Foundation to promote inter-community relations.

 December 4, 2001: Marike de Klerk is brutally murdered by a security guard at her home in Cape Town.

 February 2020: Sparks fury when he denies apartheid was a crime against humanity, retracting his comments days later.

 March 18, 2021: Announces he has cancer.

 November 11, 2021: He dies at his home.
FW de Klerk, South Africas last white president, who freed anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela from jail, died on Thursday aged 85, his foundation announced.

De Klerk and South Africas first black president Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for leading the miracle transition from white rule over the country.

He died after a battle with cancer, his foundation said in a statement.

De Klerk had announced his diagnosis on his 85th birthday, on March 18 this year.

It is with the deepest sadness that the FW de Klerk Foundation must announce that former president FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer, it said.

He is survived by his wife Elita, children Jan and Susan, and grandchildren.

The family will, in due course, make an announcement regarding funeral arrangements, it added.

He is most remembered for his famous speech delivered on February 2, 1990, announcing the lifting of a ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and other liberation movements.

In the same speech he ordered Mandelas release from prison after 27 years in jail.

 Harsh criticism 

But in recent years, he came under harsh criticism for his failure to account for the violence that underpinned apartheid. Several current court cases seeking answers have sought his testimony.

He was born in the economic hub of Johannesburg, into a family of Afrikaners, a white ethnic group descended mainly from Dutch colonisers. His father was a leading apartheid senator who served briefly as interim president.

He studied law, before being elected to parliament as a member of the National Party that instituted apartheid.

De Klerk then held several ministerial positions before he became president in 1989, a position he held until he handed over the reigns to Mandela after the first democratic elections in 1994.

Reaction to his death was slow in coming from officials, as many political leaders were gathering at parliament for a budget speech.

Julius Malema, leader of the leftist Economic Freedom Fighters, tweeted: Thank you God, followed by five dancing emojis.

But former opposition Democratic Alliance leader Tony Leon tweeted: Farewell FW de Klerk. Like Mikhail Gorbachev, he reformed the system he inherited in 1990. And if he had not relinquished power in 1994, likely SA would be Syria or Venezuela today.

De Klerk sparked fury last year when he denied that apartheid was a crime against humanity, despite the UN declaring it such, in an interview with the national broadcaster SABC.

The idea that apartheid was a crime against humanity was and remains an agitprop project initiated by the Soviets and their ANC/SACP allies to stigmatise white South Africans by associating them with genuine crimes against humanity, he said in February.

President Cyril Ramaphosa reacted angrily saying De Klerks denial of racial segregation was tantamount to reason.

Apartheid is a crime against humanity, Ramaphosa, said. I would even go on to say that to deny this in my view is treasonous, he told lawmakers.

De Klerk later apologised and retracted the controversial statement.
Forces of Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar said Thursday 300 foreign mercenaries fighting on their side would leave the country, at the request of France, which will host a conference on Libya.

The announcement, which gave no timeline for their exit, comes on the eve of an international conference in Paris aimed at ensuring Libya sticks to plans to hold elections in December, in a bid to restore stability in the North African country.

The UN estimates that 20,000 mercenaries and foreign fighters are deployed in Libya, including from the Russian private security firm Wagner, as well as from Chad, Sudan and Syria.

Haftar, who has been accused by critics of wanting to establish a military dictatorship in Libya, was backed by the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Russia and France, while Turkey provided military aid to the internationally-backed Tripoli administration.

A first group of 300 mercenaries and foreign fighters are to be repatriated at the request of France, representatives of Haftars east-based forces said in a statement.

It said the decision was taken by the military command of Haftars self-styled Libyan National Army, and the withdrawal of foreign fighters would be coordinated with the UN mission in Libya and the home countries of the fighters.

The nationality of the fighters was not specified.

The statement, a copy of which was received by AFP, was released by pro-Haftar delegates to the so-called 5+5 military commission made up of rival camps in Libyas conflict.

The commission is tasked with implementing a ceasefire brokered by the UN in October last year between the rival eastern and western camps.

 Unilateral gesture 

A UN report released in October revealed that all sides in Libya, including third states, foreign fighters and mercenaries, have violated international humanitarian law and some have also committed war crimes.

Libya has been struggling to move past the violence that has wracked the oil-rich nation since a 2011 NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

The October 2020 ceasefire brought to an end a fierce year-long battle sparked by Haftars bid to seize the capital Tripoli.

It also led to a fragile unity government taking office in March, with a mandate to take the country to elections.

Part of an agreed roadmap backed by the United Nations was to hold presidential and legislative elections in December.

On Monday, Libya opened registration for candidates in the polls, with the presidential vote to take place in December and legislative polls in January.

In Thursdays statement, Haftars faction said the withdrawal of the 300 foreign mercenaries and fighters would be a unilateral gesture, adding they expect nothing in return from the government in Tripoli.

But despite a year of relative peace since the October 2020 ceasefire, a UN-led transition process has been overshadowed by wrangling over the legal bases for upcoming elections and whether the various factions will recognise the results of the polls.

The Paris conference to be hosted Friday by French President Emmanuel Macron will be attended by key players, including US Vice President Kamala Harris and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

The elections are within grasp but there are spoilers who are trying to derail the process, a French presidential official said ahead of the meeting.

Macron also wants the conference to endorse a plan for the departure of all foreign forces and mercenaries, the French presidential official added.
For health insurance companies, this year looks very similar to last year: elderly patients Continue to postpone careThe cost of COVID-19 is a burden, and record profits are the end result.

Reality does not match expectations. Health insurance companies predict that in the first year of the pandemic, a large number of patients who have become ill due to delayed care will rush back.The assumption that medical costs will rise is included Higher premiums This year. But the insurance company guessed wrong, and the utilization rate is still sluggish.

Online, this works well for insurance companies. Lower-than-expected costs often translate into higher profits, despite the Affordable Care Act Medical loss rate rebate Limit the extent to which insurance companies can benefit financially when their premiums are overrun.

Adam Block, a professor of public health at the New York School of Medicine and founder of Charm Economics, said that health insurance companies have seen their windfall gains as a means for new initiatives.

The health plan is studying these [claims] Reduce and switch to telemedicine-a cheaper platform-and consider how to invest savings in improving the health of the population, Bullock said.

Insurance companies are particularly focused on taking care of the lucrative and growing Medicare Advantage population. Elderly giving up care makes it harder for insurance companies to predict their current and future medical needs. Incomplete information may lead to inaccurate risk scores, which may affect medical insurance reimbursement under the risk adjustment plan.

Although patients did not postpone care at the levels reported at this time last year, the surge in COVID-19 and vaccine hesitation has caused a large number of patients to occupy expensive hospital beds. Rick Kes, senior policy analyst for RSM healthcare, said that staff shortages also make it difficult for individuals to schedule medical appointments, causing older people to continue to abandon healthcare.

Kes said that proper modeling of the health and utilization of these members is the biggest business risk faced by the three major medical insurance advantage operators of UnitedHealth Groups UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and CVS Healths Aetna. He said that this risk is driving their investments in 2022 and beyond.

In 2020, many health plans have seen very favorable results, and I think some people are worried,We will see incredible returns on claims, and we will see such a large utilization rate in 21 years, Kay Said. I dont think we saw the watershed moment when everyone returned to the medical office.

Humana, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna declined to allow executives to be interviewed. Humana and UnitedHealthcare mentioned Modern Healthcare in their recent earnings conference call, and Aetna declined to comment.

In Humanas third quarter ended September 30, the company reported that the utilization of Medicare Advantage unrelated to COVID-19 had fallen by 7.7% compared to pre-pandemic levels. At the same time, the hospital care of elderly people with coronavirus is higher than expected. The end result was a 1% drop in the utilization rate of its Medicare Advantage enrollees.

Humana has been focusing on collecting risk scores and collected information on 92% of policyholders that the company believes may affect revenue next year. Unlike competitors that rely on virtual first visits to collect this data, Humana relies on home visits and patient visits to its senior care center to obtain members diagnoses.

wonder if it is or not [telehealth] Will be an alternative, or if we want to motivate highly long-term members to engage in virtual priority interactions from a nursing perspective and our ability to formulate appropriate care plans for a variety of reasons, Humana CEO Bruce Broussard in the companys earnings conference call Tell the analyst.

In the past quarter, Humana has made seven acquisitions, giving it the ownership of 21 other high-end clinics.By the end of this year, the company is expected to operate 200 CenterWell and Conviva offices Nationwide. The insurance company plans to open another 30 clinics focusing on the elderly next year. Humana also recently paid an undisclosed amount to acquire onehome and announced plans to acquire Kindred At Home to strengthen its home care business.

Brad Ellis, senior director of North American Insurance Ratings at Fitch Ratings, said that from a high level, Humanas savings due to fewer selective visits claims were offset by COVID-19 costs. But because the difference was not as large as Humana expected, the insurance company lowered its earnings forecast for this year, but maintained its forecast for 2022.

We are surprised at how delayed care affects the medical loss rate of these companies, Ellis said. When you see a surge in acute COVID-19 cases in the news, people start to postpone care and stop seeing a doctor or going to the hospital.

UnitedHealth Groups Chief Financial Officer John Rex stated on the companys earnings conference call in October that UnitedHealth Group has seen commercial policyholders continue to arrange for selective consultations, while Medicare and Medicaid enrollees are less likely to postpone care. There is an increase. The push-pull effect between these two factors caused the company to raise its profit forecast for the third time this year.

After the surge in visits to the coronavirus in September, United Healthcare believes COVID-19 is the worst endedAt the same time, insurance companies focus on obtaining patient risk scores through face-to-face and virtual interviews.

Rex said UnitedHealthcare included its highest-risk Medicare Advantage and Medicaid members into an intervention plan in which the nursing team monitors patients daily vital signs at home to reduce hospital admissions and mortality.

During these door-to-door visits, our registered nurses will conduct environmental scans, drug reviews and preventive tests on the home, Rex said. Last year, we visited more than 1.7 million people, including more than 200,000 people living in rural areas, and we will complete more than 2 million by 2021.

Optum, the healthcare services arm of the UnitedHealth Group, is conducting virtual visits to all its patients with their primary care physicians and behavioral clinicians, a method that combines traditional and digital care.

This strategy reflects Aetnas focus on combining CVS Pharmacys 10,000 stores with digital care sites as a way to reduce costs while making patients accessible.

They are cheering up,What will happen to the risk score in 2022? Because we will still have a pandemic in 2021, said Deana Bell, Millimans chief actuary. The same problem may existespecially in different local hotspotsif people are too scared to get normal health care services and record these diagnostic codes in their claims, how do you manage it? It is difficult to manage it for Your income next year.
France has persuaded the European Union to postpone the signing of two new trade agreements until after the April presidential election, which has angered other member states who wish to reach an agreement.

The EU had hoped to finalize trade agreements with Chile and New Zealand this year, but Paris has persuaded the European Commission, which negotiates such deals on behalf of the 27 EU member states, to postpone these deals.

EU diplomats said that French President Emmanuel Macron (Emmanuel Macron) is worried that imports of chicken from Chile and lamb from New Zealand will surge. Opposition candidates can use these imports to mobilize farmers and oppose globalization. Group because he is running for re-election.

French officials confirmed that Paris is not ready to accept that the two transactions are complete, on the grounds that agricultural export quotas and the wording of related environmental issues still need to be finalized.

We need to fully consider the issue of sustainable development and agricultural sensitivity, said French Foreign Trade Minister Frank Riester.

The French boycott has raised concerns among other EU countries, which will put pressure on the European Commission at the Brussels Trade Ministers meeting on Thursday.

In the past few weeks, we heard very positive voices about Chile, and then suddenly it disappeared. We hope that the Commission will provide a comprehensive update, an EU diplomat said.

The member states authorize the commission of negotiators to reach a trade agreement, which is then approved by the national parliament. The diplomat said that some member states believe that the committee should reject Frances request.

The agreement with Chile will update a more relaxed joint agreement and make it easier for the EU to obtain a safe supply of lithium to promote its electric vehicle industry and reduce its dependence on China.

An EU official stated that there is a small chance of reaching an agreement with Chile, and negotiations have started in 2017. This is a very good deal, they said. But the French are against some chicken.

The European Union is a net exporter of poultry. It consumed 11.6 million tons in 2020, of which 650,000 tons were imported. Chile, already the EUs fourth largest source of imports, will receive a duty-free quota of 18,000 tons of chicken meat.

Brussels started trade negotiations with New Zealand in 2018, but there are still outstanding issues such as data sharing and European cheese protection. The EU hopes that New Zealand farmers will stop labeling cheese with sheep cheese, Gruyere cheese and other famous brands.

Due to lack of progress, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern postponed his trip to Brussels this month.

Her spokesperson blamed a series of reasons, including the best time to negotiate.

Britain reached an agreement with New Zealand last month.

The committee said: We will not comment on the trade negotiations with the third country until it is over. We also do not comment on comments or speculation.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) are retracting their efforts to pay for more complex services without hospitalization, a move that will weaken the revenues of health systems, which have increased their Investment in outpatient facilities.

The agency announced during the Trump administration that due to the complexity of the procedure, the patients underlying physical condition, or the need for at least 24 hours, it will phase out the list of approximately 1,700 services that medical insurance only pays during hospitalization. Recovery time after surgery. CMS will begin to phase out in 2021 by removing 298 services from the list.

But after a lot of lobbying by hospitals and medical associations on safety issues???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? CMS has also removed most of the more than 260 procedures, which have been added to the list of procedures covered by separate outpatient surgery centers in the 2021 rules.

Delay, as in Final rules of the outpatient expected payment system It was released last week, which represents a significant change in the typical news of CMS. The agency has been proposing regulations to transfer care from high-cost inpatient treatment to outpatient surgery centers and other outpatient facilities.

CMS stated in the 2022 final rule that it realizes that the three-year time frame for phasing out the list is too short, and more time is needed to evaluate whether the services deleted in 2021 should really be deleted from the list.

It seems to be a full 180 degrees, said Susan Maupin, vice president of medical consulting firm Advis. However, whenever a supplier expresses a security issue, CMS should take a step back and reassess whether there are any reasonable issues.

Earlier efforts to move away from hospitalization have contributed to the health system to a certain extent Increase investment in outpatient facilitiesBut as CMS readjusts its methods, these new surgical centers may suffer financial losses.

Advis vice president Monica Hon said: The business plans of those trying to establish ASC will be blown away for a while, but I dont think this will be a permanent change. The regulator took a step back.

Although the Association of Outpatient Surgery Centers Strongly opposed CMS removed most of the services added to the list of programs covered by ASC in 2021, and the organization agreed to the suspension announced by the agency. In its comments on the proposed rules, the group expressed concerns about a complete change in policy direction. Although ASC cannot always immediately execute procedures removed from the inpatient-only list, allowing services to be performed in the hospital outpatient department may be a precursor to its addition to the ASC list.

ASCA requires CMS to keep the three services performed in the ASC of other patient groups out of the inpatient-only list in 2022, and the agency agreed to do so in the final rule.

However, CMS also stated that 131 of the 298 services that were removed from the inpatient-only list in 2021 had one or no OPPS claim before May 21, 2021, indicating that the previous years policy did not affect clinical practice. Practice has too much impact.

One of the obstacles is that if you discourage care in an outpatient setting, there is no incentive to make it a high-quality place, said Dr. Sricharan Chalikonda, Chief Medical Operations Officer of Allegheny Health Network.

Allegheny Health is Keep its plan Transfer more procedures to its evolving network of outpatient surgery centers. Chalikonda said that in 2020, the number of operations for the 11 ASCs of the Pittsburgh Integrated Health System has increased by about 10%.

Each market may not be ready to move to outpatient clinics, but we can only talk about what we are doing. In terms of how we design ASC, moving more things to the inpatient setting is a step back for us, he Say. If anything, I think the biggest impact on quality is quantity.

Despite the CMS suspension, many health systems similar to Allegheny will not slow down investment in outpatient care. Industry observers say that regardless of medical insurance reimbursement, commercial insurance companies will still try to encourage care outside the hospital where appropriate.

Lynn Collins, senior manager of LBMC Consulting, said: Many procedures will still be developed in the direction of outpatient clinics, especially orthopedic services. It will be a challenge initially for ASC.

Federal regulators target hospitals and hospital clinics Facility fee, They charge medical insurance for management fees and personnel costs for certain emergency departments.they have Fighting with the American Hospital Association in court A federal site neutrality policy that eliminates payment differences for evaluation and management services provided in hospital-owned outpatient departments and independent doctors offices.

Although moving more care out of hospitals will reduce medical costs, the warnings from hospitals and medical associations that quality will be affected seem to outweigh concerns about costs.

The Texas Hospital Association wrote in its comments to CMS that the abolition of the inpatient-only list would bring undue safety risks to health insurance beneficiaries, impose administrative burdens on doctors and hospitals, and increase beneficiaries Financial burden and weaken the value of Part A insurance last year.

Although the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health Center generally supports the abolition of the inpatient-only list, it told CMS to remove the operation from the in-patient-only list, and to anaesthetize the same surgery on the list. People are confused.

The New Hampshire-based provider noted that the difference in payment between the inpatient DRG and the outpatient code may be at least $10,000. In addition, the agency wrote in its comments to the agency that a bundled payment plan that shifts from inpatient surgery to outpatient surgery will upset doctors who have honed their treatment options and may lose joint savings.

But industry observers say that apart from administrative ambiguities, the security argument doesnt make much sense.this COVID-19 pandemic They emphasized that outpatient and home care can safely replace many inpatient procedures.

I dont understand the safety argument, said Jeff Goldsmith, founder and president of Health Futures, a healthcare consulting company. Utilization rate of inpatients is further declining, and people are trying to postpone the inevitable. As a patient, I dont believe that outpatient care is not that safe.

Allegheny Health has been improving its preoperative and postoperative care to shorten the length of hospital stay or avoid hospitalization altogether. Chalikonda said that the post-anaesthesia nursing room immediately began to recover, and clinicians regularly conduct virtual visits at home to check up with patients.

We think this is the best for patients. If you build a good support system through virtual health and other resources, I think this is the future, he said. If COVID-19 has any results, we find that the transition from prolonged inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient care has not changed the quality.
Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, warned that crypto assets are providing an alternative payment method for people who want to commit criminal activities.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey believes that cryptocurrencies help criminal activities

The Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey stated in an online question and answer session organized by the Central Bank of the United Kingdom that the rise of cryptocurrencies is encouraging illegal activities. He was quoted as saying:

The emergence of digital payment methods, especially encrypted assets, I am afraid the evidence shows it provides another payment method for people who want to commit criminal activities.

Governor Bailey has repeatedly warned about all aspects of cryptocurrency.he Said May: Frankly, I am skeptical of crypto assets because they are dangerous and people are passionate about it.

he still statement Cryptocurrency has no intrinsic value. However, the Governor of the Bank of England added that this does not mean that people do not value them, noting that they can have external value. Nevertheless, Bailey emphasized: I want to speak bluntly again. Only if you are prepared Buy when you lose all your money.

The Governor of the Bank of England is not the only one worried about cryptocurrency being used for illegal activities. Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Said In May, cryptocurrencies are easy to launder money.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has repeatedly talked about cryptocurrency being used for illegal financing this year.In February, she emphasize The importance of crypto regulation to ensure that Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies are not used for illegal transactions.

In addition, US President Joe Biden Said October: The United States will convene 30 countries to accelerate our cooperation in combating cybercrime, improving law enforcement cooperation, preventing the illegal use of cryptocurrency, and solving these problems diplomatically.

What do you think of the warning from the Governor of the Bank of England? Let us know in the comments section below.

Image Source: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wikimedia Commons
California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that California has begun to place equipment and sign contracts with temporary medical staff to prepare for the possible surge in new coronavirus cases in the winter.

In terms of the number of cases and hospitalization rates, this most populous state in the United States and the rest of the United States are still relatively good. But Newsom warned that Californians should prepare for another severe pandemic winter, even though the state is one of the nations leading states, with 74% of eligible people receiving at least one dose of the vaccine.

Although the number of hospitalizations across the state has fallen by about half since the summer peak at the end of August, in some areas, especially the Central Valley and parts of Southern California, including Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, this number has already begun. rise.

We have seen some signs of concern, Newsom said.

He said California had the lowest case rate in the country earlier this fall, but is now ranked 16th, and after it fell below 1% in June, the positive rate of people tested was 2.3%.

Newsom signed an executive order until March 31 that will continue to allow out-of-state medical staff to treat patients in California, and allow emergency medical technicians and other personnel to continue to vaccinate and provide other related services. It also provides flexibility for healthcare facilities, such as allowing parking lots to be used as vaccination points.

In addition to the upward trend in certain areas of the state, state health officials said they are generally concerned because cold weather keeps people indoors. When the vaccines and natural immunity obtained a few months ago begin to weaken, there will be more holidays mixed together unless more people receive booster shots.

Newsoms health department said in a statement: In the past two years, we have learned that COVID-19 will come into play when we relax our vigilance.

The states own model still predicts the overall decline in hospitalization and intensive care cases next month. The statewide R effective value, which measures the infection rate, also continues to decline, and is now 0.85. Any value below 1 means that the number of infections will decrease.

Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, professor of epidemiology at the University of California, said that the worry is that even those who have been vaccinated may be more susceptible to the highly contagious delta variant unless more people are vaccinated. Vaccines, the current situation is lagging behind. San Francisco.

In addition, Californias vast territory, large geography and population, and the different conditions have also affected the states modeling, because many people are tired of wearing masks and quarantine and other preventive measures, she said.

Bibbins-Domingo said: There are many local models that do show that we have started to see the increase in hospitalizations in the local environment. Its a bit like a game, and it depends in part on a decline in immunity. Will we win, or will we provide boosters for people.

Dr. Lee Riley, head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Vaccines at the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, said this increase may be due to the reopening of businesses and the relaxation of vigilance and complacency, although the number of cases is far less than the surge in the summer.

He said: I think its a good idea to be prepared because weve been burned several times when we didnt do this before, (though) I do feel more optimistic now than before.

Newsom visited a COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine clinic in Los Angeles and urged residents, including newly eligible children aged 5 to 11, to get vaccinated. He also urged bolster injections for eligible people.

Newsom received the booster on October 27. He said that from the experience of other states in Europe and the United States, it is clear that the coronavirus has a seasonal factor that may lead to an increase in infections.

He used the doomsday reminder that surged last winter, officials bought body bags and brought mobile morgues to Southern California, because infections had soared tenfold in eight weeks, and many hospitals were overwhelmed.

He said: Thousands of people have lost their lives. Thousands of people are living on the verge of death. This is why state officials are doing all they can to prepare.

Brian Ferguson, a spokesperson for the Governors Office of Emergency Services, said that since the pandemic began, the states preparations put the state in a better position to withstand any surges that occur this winter.

Ferguson said the state has all the expansion capabilities of mobile field hospitals and supply depots acquired during the pandemic, as well as previously signed contracts to bring in nursing and medical personnel.

Stephanie Roberson, director of government relations for the California Nurses Association, said the Department of Health and Human Services has been working closely with hospitals to ensure they can find staff.

This includes extending the out-of-state staffing exemption and the exemption for the work of the nurse team in the state. Robertson predicts that the state will soon start spending money to help hire temporary employees, just as the hospital reached a tipping point last winter.

Spokesperson Jan Emerson-Shea said that with the increase in cases in parts of California, the California Hospital Association is communicating and cooperating with state health officials on a regular basis.

Bibbins-Domingo said that in some areas, hospital staff shortages have become a problem.

She said: The challenge is that the least vaccinated areas are also the least able to withstand the surge. These areas are usually our rural areas and densely populated and impoverished urban areas. It is wise to plan for this to some extent, because we are more likely to see it happen in the areas where it is the least able to bear it.
Government regulators have pointed to problems with the Department of Veterans Affairs new dispatch platform, which is part of the billions of dollars effort Modernize the institutions electronic health record system.

The new system was built by Cerner as part of the $10 billion contractThe Office of the Inspector General of Virginia stated in a report released on Thursday that although Virginia was aware of significant system and process restrictions, it was introduced at two facilities in Washington State and Ohio last year.

The report reads: These restrictions reduce the effectiveness of the system and may delay patient care.

A modernization effort was launched last year to provide veterans with a comprehensive health record based on the system used by the Department of Defense.

Part of the project aims to make it easier for veterans to schedule care appointments, replacing system Since the 1980s, VA medical institutions have been using it.

The Veterans Health Administration, the Office of Modernization of Electronic Health Records, and Cerner are responsible for implementing the dispatch system, and Cerner trains dispatchers and providers to use it.

According to the report, although Oehrm was aware of performance issues caused by the evaluations that occurred between November 2018 and July 2020, it was not fully resolved before the system went live in Columbus.

According to OIG, the dispatcher encountered problems when changing the appointment type and needed to manually create a new order or ask the provider to submit a new order.

They also cannot automatically mail appointment letter reminders, which is allowed by the old system, and the new system lacks the previous supervisory report that can be used to track and monitor patient waiting time.

OIG stated that VA leaders did not provide dispatchers with sufficient opportunities to determine the limitations of the new system before implementation.

OIG said that after the implementation of the new system in Columbus, there were more problems, but these problems were not resolved before Spokane went live.

The system lacks information about certain clinics, appointment types, and providers, and some dispatchers are unable to schedule appointments.

According to the report, when deployed in Columbus and Spokane, the data from the old VHA system was not accurately or completely transferred to the new dispatch system. Automatic appointment calls provided misleading information and needed to be closed.

The OIG report read: Facilities staff stated that it usually takes more than a week for Cerner to close the help order, which unnecessarily delays the care of some patients.

OIG wrote in its report that VA lacked a mechanism to assess whether Cerner had complied with the timeliness requirements of its contract.

OIG recommends that VA resolve these issues as soon as possible, preferably before deploying more new EHR systems in future facilities.

VA plans to fully implement the new dispatch system in all facilities by December, but future deployments will be March At the same time, conduct a strategic review of the entire plan.

OIG recommends that VA improve scheduling training, better involve dispatchers in testing and improvement, publish guidelines on measuring patient waiting time in the new system, track help sheets that comply with Cerner contract terms, and formulate strategies to solve problems and evaluate patients in a timely manner .

VA agrees with these recommendations.

Cerners senior vice president of government services, Brian Sandager, stated in a written statement to Modern Healthcare that it is implementing changes in accordance with VAs instructions.

Cerner takes our responsibilities to veterans and veterans providers seriously. The new system should help Department of Veterans Affairs staff improve veterans access to care, Sandag said.

The report stated that the dispatcher praised the system for being more user-friendly and emphasized the convenience of arranging video visits. We are still participating in gathering feedback at the Spokane and Columbus sites and implementing changes in accordance with VAs instructions. It is important to do this. One point, we continue to work on this mission, he said.
Indonesias highest Islamic institution, the countrys authority in compliance with Sharia law, According to reports, cryptocurrency holy sites have been declared and Muslims are prohibited from using them under Islamic law. The Ulema Committee of Indonesia explained that cryptocurrencies have uncertainties, stakes and harmful factors.

Indonesian Islamic law prohibits Muslims from using cryptocurrency

Indonesias Ulema Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia or MUI) is the countrys highest Islamic institution and has the authority to comply with Sharia law. It is said that Announcing the use of encryption as a holy place for currency, and Islamic law prohibits Muslims from using it.

According to a Bloomberg report, Asrorun Niam Sholeh, the head of religious laws, explained after an expert hearing on the board of directors on Thursday that cryptocurrencies have elements of uncertainty, stakes, and harm.

However, he pointed out that if cryptocurrency can comply with Islamic teachings and show obvious benefits, then it can be traded as a digital asset or commodity.

Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population, with an estimated 231 million Muslims, accounting for 86.7% of the countrys population.

The Ulema Committee advises the countrys Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank on Islamic finance issues. It includes many Indonesian Muslim groups, including Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Muhammadiyah, and smaller groups such as Syarikat Islam, Perti, Al Washliyah, Mathlaul Anwar, GUPPI, PTDI, DMI, and Al Ittihadiyyah.

The MUI decree is not legally binding and does not mean that cryptocurrencies are banned in Indonesia. However, it may prevent Muslims from investing and preventing local institutions from issuing or providing encrypted asset services.

In October, the provincial branch of Nahdlatul Ulama, one of Indonesias largest Islamic organizations, also Announce A holy place for cryptocurrency under religious law.

However, the Indonesian government stated that the country Will not impose Like China, cryptocurrency is completely banned. In Indonesia, crypto assets can be traded with commodity futures, but cannot be used as currency. At the same time, the government is pushing to establish a cryptocurrency exchange before the end of the year, and Bank Indonesia has been exploring a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

What do you think of Indonesias Ulema Committees announcement of a ban on cryptocurrency for Muslims? Let us know in the comments section below.

Image Source: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wikimedia Commons
A union said that repair and service workers who went on strike at a hospital in West Virginia have stopped providing medical insurance.

Approximately 1,000 members of the International Service Employees Union District in 1999 went on strike at Carbell Huntington Hospital last week after their contract expired.

According to The Herald-Dispatch, the director of union organization Sherri McKinney said in a statement that the report was cut off without informing the striking employees and union retirees.

Molly Frick, the hospitals director of human resources, said in a statement, The union leadership is well aware that the strike will result in a cessation of wages and benefits. Any employee who wishes to return to work will restore all benefits, including medical insurance.

A Kabel County judge issued a preliminary injunction on Wednesday, which was requested by the hospital and prohibits the union from carrying out certain activities outside the hospital.

Flick said these activities include loud noises, including the use of loudspeakers and loud music, which can disturb the patients in the hospital. It also prohibits strikers from honking their horns and encourages drivers to honour their horns, obstruct hospital entrances, interfere with hospital traffic, or make threatening remarks to anyone trying to enter or exit the hospital campus.

Circuit Judge Alfred Ferguson (Alfred Ferguson) said that anyone who violates the order could be seen as contempt of court.

The hospitals recent proposals include an increase in average annual salary of 3%, an increase in shift differences, an increase in uniform allowances, and the continuation of automatic annual contributions to the retirement accounts of eligible employees.

Service personnel are also required to start paying health insurance premiums. According to the latest proposal of the hospital, it will provide more than 90% of the medical care costs for employees and their families.
Health officials said on Wednesday that the US campaign to vaccinate elementary school students is off to a good start, but experts say there are signs that the initial momentum will be difficult to maintain.

The White House stated that approximately 900,000 children between the ages of 5 and 11 will receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine within the first week of their qualification.

Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 coordinator, said at a briefing with reporters: We are off to a very strong start.

Federal regulators approved the final approval for the injection on November 2, and the first injection of the child was started in certain locations the next day.

The estimated increase in vaccinations for primary school-age children appears to be similar to the surge in May, when adolescents between 12 and 15 years of age were eligible for vaccinations.

Nearly 20,000 pharmacies, clinics, and doctors offices are now providing this drug to young children, and the Biden administration estimates that by the end of Wednesday, more than 900,000 childrens drugs will be given. Most importantly, about 700,000 first appointments are planned for the next few days.

Approximately 28 million children between the ages of 5 and 11 are now eligible for the low-dose Pfizer vaccine. Children who receive the first of the two shots before the end of next week will be fully vaccinated before Christmas.

The government encourages schools to open vaccination clinics on site to make it easier for children to get vaccinated. The White House also requires schools to share information from trusted messengers such as doctors and public health officials to combat misinformation about vaccines.

Parents who have been waiting for the opportunity to protect young children, especially before the holidays, are expected to see a surge in demand for vaccines.

In the United States, approximately 3% of newly eligible children receive the first dose in the first week, but vaccination rates vary widely across the country, just like adult vaccines.

The California Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Mark Gurry, said on Wednesday that more than 110,000 Californians between the ages of 5 and 11 received their first coronavirus shots  9% of children of that age in the state.

We are starting to see this rebound, and I am very encouraged by what this means for our state, Gali said.

At the other end of the spectrum, Idaho has only reported 2,257 first injections, accounting for 1.3% of the newly eligible children there.

In Carbell County, West Virginia, high demand has caused local health officials to start setting up vaccination clinics in all public high schools in the county. A spokesperson for the county health department said that in the first few days after vaccinations for children aged 5 to 11 years were approved, there were some vaccines that needed to be queued, but the situation has slowed down since.

Some experts say that across the country, demand may soon start to fade. They pointed out that poll data showed that only a small percentage of parents plan to vaccinate their children immediately, and they suspect that this trend will be the same as when children aged 12 to 15 were vaccinated for the first time earlier this year.

According to a review of federal data by the American Academy of Pediatrics, in the first week after the vaccine in this age group was approved in May, the number of adolescents who received the first shot increased by approximately 900,000. In the following week, it rose further, reaching 1.6 million.

It broke out initially, said Shannon Stockley of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But in the following months, this number has steadily declined, and it was only briefly interrupted in early August, because of the surge in delta variants, parents are preparing to send their children back to school.

Since then, the youth vaccination rate has dropped sharply, with only 32,000 people receiving the first shot last week. Only about half of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 are fully vaccinated, compared with 70% of adults.

Some experts say that the vaccination rate of young children is unlikely to be as high as that of adults-or even adolescents, unless they need to go to school.

They point out that part of the reason is that adults are more likely to develop serious illnesses or die from COVID-19 than children. Stockley, acting deputy director of the CDC Immunization Services Department, said: Parents may think that young children may not be that serious, or they will not spread it.

But according to data from the CDC, since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 2 million COVID cases have been reported among children between the ages of 5 and 11 in the United States, including 66 deaths in the past year. She said: We will have a lot of work to do. It is important to communicate with parents why it is important to vaccinate their children.

Zients said that with the launch of the new clinic, efforts to vaccinate young children are still increasing. He said that government officials expect the number of children vaccinated to continue to increase in the coming days and weeks.

We have just started, he said.

Earlier this year, the White House set  but failed to achieve  the July 4 goal of vaccinating at least a certain percentage of American adults. Officials have not yet announced similar goals for children.

Dr. Lee Savio Beers, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the new figures reassuring and said that in most cases, the rollout seemed to be going well. However, she pointed out that because of the lower dosage and different vials compared to older children, rollout requires more steps, and some states are slower in providing vaccines to providers.

Preliminary data in some regions shows that black children lag behind whites in getting the first dose of vaccine, Beers said, which is cause for concern.

Beers said: It is very important to ensure that vaccines are easily available in various places.
The rock as it stands today. Its name in the Kanza language is I zhuje waxobe (the Big Red Rock).
The Overland Park Police Department offense report just came to light, but was filed by Principal David Ewers on Nov. 8 at 1 p.m., a couple of hours after hundreds of students walked out while holding signs saying things like, "Protect the victims, not the assailants," "It's not a joke," and
These iconic Kdrama OTPs (one true pair) captured the viewers' hearts with their chemsiry, and impressed fans even more with their enticing magazine shoots amid the promotions of their drama team-up. From "W: Two Worlds" stars Lee Jong Suk and Han Hyo Joo to "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" actors Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho, these are the Kdrama couples who slayed as fashion magazine covers!

Han Hyo Joo & Lee Jong Suk

When talking about beauty and simplicity, Han Hyo Joo and Lee Jong Suk are a perfect combo. Clad in classy suits, the "W: Two Worlds" couple looked really perfect for each other. Their oozing chemistry in the 2016 drama even triggered rumors that they were dating in real life.

In the photoshoot, Han Hyo Joo and Lee Jong Suk showcased their overflowing appeal and romantic synergy.

Lee Dong Wook & Jo Bo Ah

"Tale of the Nine-Tailed" couple Lee Dong Wook and Jo Bo Ah joined the circle as they displayed their alluring visuals through a magazine shoot with Dazed Korea.

One of the photos was shot in a bathtub, which left fans floored as the two, while still showcasing chemistry, had their individual identity stand out.

Shin Min Ah & Kim Seon Ho

"Dimple Couple" Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho first teamed up in tvN's primetime drama "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha." With their overwhelming chemistry, the romantic drama gave viewers' a plethora of heart-fluttering moments and the series was named one of the Kdramas in 2021.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Dazed Magazine to Release Special Edition Issue with 'Now, We Are Breaking Up' Stars Jang Ki Yong and Song Hye Kyo on the Cover

In their Elle Korea pictorial, Shin Min Ah and Kim Seon Ho exuded warmth and harmony, just like the overall feels of "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha."

Song Hye Kyo & Jang Ki Yong

The upcoming onscreen couple from "Now, We Are Breaking Up," Song Hye Kyo Kyo and Jang Ki Yong, turned heads as the cover of Dazed Korea's November special issue.

Since their characters are involved in the fashion industry, the two lead stars flawlessly exhibited their sophisticated style and overflowing visuals for the fashion magazine.

Viewers are already excited to see their chemistry in the drama.

Meanwhile, the fashion world also expands by collaborating with various celebrities to promote different brands that coincide with their selected endorses. Through this partnership, both industries raise profit.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: These are the Best and Worst Kdramas in 2018 and 2019, Voted by Experts

For more K-Drama and celebrity updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
ASHLAND, Ore. -- Homelessness is a growing problem throughout Oregon and even here in Southern Oregon. With that being said, Rogue Retreat is working on a new housing campground to be held in Ashland.

We're going with the same model that we've been using in Medford since July of last year  it's a proven model, it works, it will benefit the community, so we're just kind of reaching into Ashland now to help their community, said Liz Adams, Program Director for Rogue Retreat.

The shelter is hoping to house about 49 people.

The urban campground model for providing shelter to the homeless has been steadily picking up steam within the last year. The site in Medford is expanding, Grants Pass has approved the concept while it nails down a site, and this site in Ashland has been making steady progress since it was first announced in April of this year.

The difference is that theres not going to be any tents  its going to be pallet houses and inside the building, but with alleviating the tents were going to add car camping, so theres going to be other opportunities for people to utilize those services out there, Justin Hon, Operations Manager for Rogue Retreat said.

With the development of the new campground, Rogue Retreat is hoping to help out the community of Ashland.

Will be working with the Ashland Police Department just like we do with the [Medford Police] Livability Team, so theyll be one of our support systems out there, Adams added.

Rogue Retreat says the campground should be up and running within the next week or two. They are still looking to add more volunteers as well as services to help out with meals.
WEED, Calif.  Two people from Oregon were arrested in Siskiyou County on Monday after being stopped for speeding when a California Highway Patrol officer realized that they were smuggling large quantities of drugs, according to the agency.

A little after 11 a.m. on Monday, a CHP officer from the Yreka command pulled over the driver of a 2011 Honda Odyssey for speeding. During the stop, CHP said that the officer realized that the driver, 24-year-old Sixtos Ruiz of Hillboro, did not have a license. The passenger, 30-year-old Mariela Delgado of Hillsboro, was also unlicensed.

Because they were driving illegally, CHP said that they impounded the vehicle. While conducting an inventory of the contents of the vehicle, the officer found several "individual plastic bags of white crystal-like and white powdery substance" wedged between the rear seat and rear storage area of the Honda, immediately recognizing it as methamphetamine.

A further search of the vehicle found two bundles believed to contain heroin, and five plastic bags containing a large amount of blue pills  the last also believed to be a narcotic.

CHP called in the North State Major Investigations Team (NSMIT) to assist due to the sheer amount of drugs, later catalogued at 23 pounds of meth, two kilograms of heroin, and about 5,000 blue tablets. NSMIT took over the investigation and seized the drugs. The estimated street value of the drugs was above $450,000, CHP said.

Ruiz and Delgado were arrested and booked into the Siskiyou County Jail on drug trafficking charges.
Analysis by Angela Dewan and Ivana Kottasova, CNN

(CNN) -- After 11 days of climate talks that have included progress on protecting forests, phasing out coal and transitioning to electric cars, the future of our planet has boiled down to one key thing: who's going to pay for the mess we're in?

On Thursday afternoon, the eve of the final day of COP26, huge gaps remain between what different countries want on key issues, including how ambitious the world should be in slashing greenhouse gas emissions, all part of what climate folks call "mitigation."

In what has been the fiercest opposition to the summit's draft agreement published Wednesday, Bolivia's chief negotiator Diego Pacheco said his country and 21 other allied nations -- including major emitters like China, India and Saudi Arabia -- would oppose the entire section on climate change mitigation.

China, India and Saudi Arabia are all part of the Like-Minded Developing Countries group Pacheco was speaking for. None have replied to CNN's request for comment on their stance.

That section contains all of the agreement's language around reducing emissions, including the recognition that the world should aim to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which is what scientists say is necessary to avert the worst climate impacts. The countries' biggest point of contention, Pacheco said, was urging everyone to ratchet up their ambitions on emissions by the end of 2022, for COP27.

He argued developing nations should have the same targets as rich ones who have had a greater historical role in the climate crisis. And he accused rich nations of trying to "transfer responsibility" to the Global South.

"History matters and history is very important to understand and to put in the context in the discussion on ambition," he said. He added that it would be impossible for many countries in the group to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century.

The issue at the heart of this sentiment is money. He made clear that making such a transition would be impossible if rich nations didn't start paying their fair share -- including for developing countries to adapt to the impacts of the crisis. Developing nations have repeatedly complained about so-called climate finance this week, and it and has emerged as the biggest sticking point stalling the talks.

Catherine Abreu, founder of the non-profit Destination Zero, which works on climate justice issues, said that Bolivia's announcement was essentially a negotiation tactic and the underlying issue was more to do with demands for more funds.

"The draft of the text was so mitigation focused, so I think that announcement was a play," Abreau told CNN, saying that the countries' message meant other parts of the agreement would "get held hostage."

The suggestion to delete the mitigation section "is clearly a punch in the face of people suffering from the climate crisis," said Teresa Anderson, a climate policy coordinator for Action Aid International.

Frans Timmermans, the EU Commission's vice president, ridiculed the call as illogical, saying there's "no amount of money on the planet" that could develop adaptation to withstand the extreme temperature rise that would come if mitigation were scrapped.

Rich world still short in funding promise

In a conference that is trying desperately to close gaps, the most important gap is really the one between what humans are willing to do and what's actually required to avert catastrophic climate change.

A report published this week by Climate Action Tracker found that even with all the pledges made at COP26, the world is on track for 2.4 degrees of warming. Closing that gap will require deep and sustained cuts to greenhouse gas emissions over this decade, the latest UN climate science report showed.

But that costs money, and there is good reason for developing nations to be dissatisfied.

More developing countries are on the frontlines of climate change than wealthy ones, and they collectively have had a much smaller role in creating this crisis.

And the money already promised hasn't even flowed in full.

Rich countries agreed more than 10 years ago to transfer $100 billion a year to developing nations to help their transformation to low-carbon economies and to adapt to the climate crisis. Adaptation can involve anything from building sea walls to prevent flooding, to moving communities back from the coast and retrofitting homes to netter withstand extreme weather events.

Not only has the rich world failed to deliver the $100 billion by the 2020 deadline, developing nations say it's nowhere near enough in the first place. They also want a 50-50 split between mitigation -- measures to reduce emissions -- and adaptation. Far more money has flowed to measures focused on cutting emissions.

Anger against the US brews

On top of the money for adaptation, developing countries want new systems to pay for "loss and damage," which essentially involves wealthy countries being held financially liable for the impacts of the climate crisis. It's the idea behind the concept of climate reparations.

A senior US official said one idea being considered is funding the Santiago Network, a UN body set up to give technical assistance to countries trying to rebuild from the impacts of the climate crisis.

But the US is otherwise closed to the idea of a new loss-and-damage fund, which is what many developing nations want. The European Union has said the same thing.

There is growing anger, too, towards the United States. A representative of the Climate Vulnerable Forum -- a group of around 50 nations -- said Thursday that the Biden administration was under-delivering on finance. He praised Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of Scotland, the only country that has committed any money to a loss and damage fund, with 2 million Scottish pounds ($2.7 million). It's a small but symbolic figure that shows such a fund may be possible.

"The true leader that has emerged here at COP26 is not a party to the convention. She is our host, she is the First Minister of Scotland," Saleemul Huq, the forum's expert advisory chair told journalists.

"Just before the COP started she put a million pounds of Scottish money on the table for a new fund on loss and damage and challenged all the other leaders to match it. Yesterday, she doubled the amount. So she is the true leader who is putting money on the table for loss and damage. The US is giving us zero dollars. Europe is giving us zero euros. But Scotland has given us two million."

Behind him was sign picturing Biden with the message "Has the US kept it's $100 billion promise? NOPE!"

'You can't say no to everything'

European lawmaker Bas Eickhout from the Netherlands said that US was not showing flexibility on several matters, and that its fair share on funding for the developing world would be closer to $40 billion than the $11.4 billion pledged.

"The developing countries are coming here with a couple of demands, and climate finance and loss and damage are the most important," he told CNN. "If the US is going to say no to everything, that will be a problem. And this will feed into what China wants. The more there is a battle between developing countries and the developed countries, the more China can sit back and relax."

Eickhout added: "You can't say no to everything. And if you want a review mechanism on accelerating mitigation, then of course, the question will be 'OK, but is finance developing?' And if you then don't deliver on loss and damage, and you haven't delivered your $100 billion, well what are we getting in return?"

Underpinning all of this is humans continued use of fossil fuels. Two sources familiar with the negotiations told CNN that Saudi Arabia, Russia, China and Australia were opposed to an article in the draft agreement calling for the phaseout of coal and fossil fuel subsidies.

Any reference to fossil fuels in the agreement would be a first and a breakthrough for the COP climate process.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world's biggest oil producers, Australia is a major coal producer, and Russia is a big producer of coal, oil and gas. China is the world's biggest producer and consumer of coal.

None of those countries have responded to CNN's request for comment.

China is also unlikely to support the language on fossil fuels, the sources told CNN. Climate envoy Xie Zhenhua was asked by reporters on Wednesday whether it would support the section, but he did not answer directly and simply listed all of China's plans for coal and finance.

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud said on Wednesday that the world should recognize "the diversity of climate solutions ... without any bias towards or against any particular source of energy." Reuters reported that he responded to accusations that his country was blocking process as "lies and fabrications."
MEDFORD, Ore.  The loved ones of a fallen veteran from Medford will not have to worry about paying their mortgage anymore after a Veterans Day gift from the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

According to the foundation, it has fully paid off the mortgages of 35 Gold Star families across the country, including that of US Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew James DeYoung. Sgt. DeYoung was killed in the line of duty on February 18, 2011, by an IED in Halmand Province, Afghanistan. He joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and deployed with "Operation Iraqi Freedom" in 2006 and 2007.

Sgt. Matthew DeYoung, Matthew with Aisha and McKenzy DeYoung (photos courtesy Tunnel to Towers Foundation) Sgt. Matthew DeYoung, Matthew with Aisha and McKenzy DeYoung (photos courtesy Tunnel to Towers Foundation)

Tunnel to Towers said that Sgt. DeYoung was awarded the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Meda. When he passed, he left behind his wife Aisha, and their daughter, McKenzy.

NewsWatch 12 got in contact with Aisha DeYoung on Thursday, and she gave a statement about Matthew and her appreciation for Tunnel to Towers:

Matthew loved his daughter, McKenzy more than anything. He was the best, most attentive father! I know Im definitely biased, but its one of the most memorable traits about Matthew. He was the glue to our family and just as good of a big brother. He loved his friends and loved to bbq on the beach and wrestle around with his friends. He was very close with his dad who lives in PA. He would talk to him on the phone multiple times a day. He was the life of the party, bubbly, witty, charismatic, humble, and level-headed and calm in any type of chaos. His drive and dedication to always be better made me envious.

His daughter is an exact replica of her daddy to this day, not just looks but she is smart and humble and genuine. McKenzy is my best friend! I would give anything for her daddy to be here with us today! My heart will never be whole. Matthew is someone I strive to be like every day even though he is no longer here, he is still my hero and someone I admire EVERYTHING about. I just had to add that when going through pictures that that is what I think of when I reminisce. His smile keeps me afloat on my hardest days. His contagious laugh is my greatest, fondest memory, it is a trait I will never forget. Matthews family (as well as mine) give me strength to be strong for McKenzy. Im blessed beyond words!

What the Tunnels to Towers Foundation does for Gold Star families is beyond helpful. There is no amount of time that could pass that will truly heal the void of our lost heroes. Without getting political I wish there were more help and resources for our Veterans who struggle day to day from being so selfless and serving this country. We need to do better. I appreciate the Tunnels to Towers Foundation for not forgetting the families of the ones who sacrificed everything, no matter the amount of time.

Humbly,

Aisha DeYoung

The foundation said that it is honored to pay off the DeYoung family's home in Medford.

This Veterans Day, were honoring the inspiring Americans who sprang into action to take the fight to our enemies and protect our homeland in the wake of September 11th. Were eternally grateful to the fallen heroes of the Global War on Terror and their families who live every day with the reminder of the sacrifice of their loved one. As a small thank you to the DeYoung family, were paying off their mortgage, ensuring theyll always have a place to call home, said Tunnel to Towers CEO and Chairman Frank Siller.

The announcement was made during the Foundations Veterans Day name-reading ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on Thursday morning.

The Foundation itself was founded in honor of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who died on September 11, 2001. The organization says it works to honor veterans and first responders by providing mortgage-free homes to families.

Tunnel to Towers Foundation said it set a goal to deliver 200 homes this year in honor of its 20th anniversary, but expects to deliver 450 homes by the end of the year across its programs.
EAGLE POINT, Ore.  Law enforcement agencies led by Oregon State Police raided a large illegal marijuana grow north of White City at the end of October, seizing more than 18,000 pounds of marijuana.

On October 28, investigators from the OSP Southwest Region Drug Enforcement Section served a search warrant in the 12000-block of Modoc Road, suspecting that the site was an illegal grow. Officers arrived to find 62 large outdoor grow houses that contained almost 1,200 plants and previously harvested, drying marijuana.

In total, OSP said, investigators found 18,360 gross pounds of marijuana, including all of the plants and processed product on the property. All of it was seized and destroyed. Also seized was more than $80,000 in cash and four guns. Multiple people on the property were detained and interviewed.

The OSP team was assisted by officers from the Josephine Marijuana Enforcement Team (JMET) and the Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) team in Josephine County, as well as support from the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) of the Medford Police Department and Jackson County Sheriffs Office.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP)  A Northern California man who confessed to killing his wife and three children was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Investigators in Placer County said Shankar Hangud confessed to killing his family members over the span of several days across two Northern California counties in October 2019. KCRA-TV reports he says he couldnt provide for them financially. His children were aged 13, 16 and 20.

Hangud was arrested shortly after the killings when he drove to the Mt. Shasta Police Department with the body of his oldest son in his car and confessed to all four murders, prosecutors said.

After the confession, the bodies of the three other victims were found inside the familys apartment in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento.
SALEM, Ore.  Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against pharmaceutical company Endo, alleging that the company deceptively marketed the opioid Opana for more than a decade.

The state's complaint alleges that Endo misrepresented the risks and benefits of Opana, which Rosenblum's office said was an extended-release opioid similar to Purdue Pharma's OxyContin. It was pulled from the market in 2017 at the request of the FDA.

"The link between an opioid prescription, opioid abuse and opioid overdose is, sadly, well documented. Endo was, in essence, copying Purdue Pharmas deceptive playbook with similar devastating results. This is why were suing them today, said Attorney General Rosenblum. Oregon has been hit very hard by the opioid epidemic, and I am determined to make sure that no stone is unturned as we seek justice for the countless Oregonians and their families who have been impacted.

The Oregon Department of Justice began investigating Endo in March of 2016. The next year, Oregon began to lead a multi-state investigation into the company. Rosenblum ultimately decided to move ahead with a complaint on behalf of Oregon alone, issuing a notice of intent to sue on October 4.

Oregon's suit draws parallels between Endo and the cases against Purdue Pharma, alleging that Endo followed in Purdue's footsteps after the success of OxyContin through aggressive marketing.

"Defendants knew that in the aftermath of Purdue and its executives crimes, health care providers would be wary about prescribing Purdues drug, OxyContin. Endo wanted its drug, Opana ER, to be the opioid to replace it, the complaint sates.

In 2007, Oregon and 25 other states settled a multi-state lawsuit against Purdue Pharma. The state sued Purdue again in 2018 for alleged violations of the 2007 agreement, and sued the Sackler family  the owners of Purdue  in 2019.

Purdue has since declared bankruptcy, with an agreement to pay $4.3 billion over nine years to a coalition of plaintiffs, including Oregon. Oregon is notably one of a handful of states that objected to the bankruptcy plan, arguing that it shields the Sackler family from the bulk of liability.
Veteran Phillip Hartman has been a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Westbank for more than 30 years and has held almost every chair at the Westbank Legion.
Ive been a member of the Kenosha Area Vietnam Vets (KAVV) almost since the group began, back in the early 1980s. When Vietnam War veterans returned after their tours of duty were complete, the mood of America was not welcoming. And that unwelcoming attitude included many veterans organizations of the time, including some prominent ones in our town of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Our local VFW, unflinchingly stated that Vietnam Vets were not welcome there. Many hard feelings were created as a result of the treatment we received, not only at the hands of the hippies and neer do wells, but also at the hands of veteran organizations that professed to advocate for veterans, one and all. And it was many years before that negative attitude changed. In response to that treatment, a number of Vietnam Veterans from Southeastern Wisconsin started gathering informally. At first, we met in a local park. After a time, the powers that be at Kemper Center graciously offered us the use of a small building on the eastern most end of their property. And there we met and conducted our business for many years after.

At its peak, the KAVV exceeded 80 members. And our members were active. We participated in the annual Kenosha Fourth of July parade every year and were always welcomed soundly. (We won the blue ribbon quite often). We almost always had a summer picnic, and we donated funds, labor and materials to other local groups in need, including worthy youngsters seeking a college education. We promoted positive activities by Vietnam Veterans and attempted to provide a good example for the public eye. The KAVV fielded a soft ball team for several years. We didnt win all of our games, but we won the hearts of many of the fans and some opponents also. As a result of our experiences in Vietnam, and the negativity we faced at home, we were always a close-knit group. We stick by each other through thick and thin, and always have each others backs. When a member passes, he is mourned by all. When the tide began to turn, and the negative attitude regarding Vietnam Veterans softened, the local VFW sent a contingent to one of our meetings and formally apologized for the treatment we had received at their hands. Some of our members were able to accept their apology, some never will, but many of us thought it was a nice gesture.

As the years have passed, our membership has dwindled. Agent Orange, PTSD related issues, and age have thinned out our ranks. Current meetings rarely draw more than a dozen participants, and fully staffing group officers is difficult. One function of our group, which has flourished, thanks to some very dedicated members is our color guard. Each and every veteran funeral in the Kenosha area is offered the services of our Kenosha Area Vietnam Vets color guard. They deliver a final tribute to the veteran, and provide comfort and pride to his or her family. The dedication of this group cannot be overstated. On many weeks they tend to multiple funerals, sometimes more than one a day. And theyre out there in all kinds of weather, all year long. The color guard accepts donations for their services, which are only used to purchase uniforms and other color guard supplies. They do it for their fellow Veterans. Our annual Christmas party is coming up soon, and its always a great event. We have a DJ, music, raffles, beverages and a fine dinner. But most of all we have each other, and from far and wide we gather, remembering the old times  some good, some not so good. But we persevered through the bad old days and are now enjoying the good new days, when its a great time to be a Veteran. So welcome home, my Nam Vet brothers and sisters, and welcome home to all vets everywhere. And thank you to The Kenosha Area Vietnam Vets, for providing a badly needed port in a storm. Joe Campolo Jr. is a proud Vietnam veteran and the author of the Kansas NCO Trilogy, a series of books about World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Ive been a member of the Kenosha Area Vietnam Vets (KAVV) almost since the group began, back in the early 1980s. When Vietnam War veterans returned after their tours of duty were complete, the mood of America was not welcoming. And that unwelcoming attitude included many veterans organizations of the time, including some prominent ones in our town of Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Our local VFW, unflinchingly stated that Vietnam Vets were not welcome there. Many hard feelings were created as a result of the treatment we received, not only at the hands of the hippies and neer do wells, but also at the hands of veteran organizations that professed to advocate for veterans, one and all. And it was many years before that negative attitude changed.

In response to that treatment, a number of Vietnam Veterans from Southeastern Wisconsin started gathering informally. At first, we met in a local park. After a time, the powers that be at Kemper Center graciously offered us the use of a small building on the eastern most end of their property. And there we met and conducted our business for many years after.

At its peak, the KAVV exceeded 80 members. And our members were active. We participated in the annual Kenosha Fourth of July parade every year and were always welcomed soundly. (We won the blue ribbon quite often). We almost always had a summer picnic, and we donated funds, labor and materials to other local groups in need, including worthy youngsters seeking a college education. We promoted positive activities by Vietnam Veterans and attempted to provide a good example for the public eye.

The KAVV fielded a soft ball team for several years. We didnt win all of our games, but we won the hearts of many of the fans and some opponents also.

As a result of our experiences in Vietnam, and the negativity we faced at home, we were always a close-knit group. We stick by each other through thick and thin, and always have each others backs. When a member passes, he is mourned by all.

When the tide began to turn, and the negative attitude regarding Vietnam Veterans softened, the local VFW sent a contingent to one of our meetings and formally apologized for the treatment we had received at their hands. Some of our members were able to accept their apology, some never will, but many of us thought it was a nice gesture.

As the years have passed, our membership has dwindled. Agent Orange, PTSD related issues, and age have thinned out our ranks. Current meetings rarely draw more than a dozen participants, and fully staffing group officers is difficult.

One function of our group, which has flourished, thanks to some very dedicated members is our color guard. Each and every veteran funeral in the Kenosha area is offered the services of our Kenosha Area Vietnam Vets color guard. They deliver a final tribute to the veteran, and provide comfort and pride to his or her family. The dedication of this group cannot be overstated. On many weeks they tend to multiple funerals, sometimes more than one a day. And theyre out there in all kinds of weather, all year long. The color guard accepts donations for their services, which are only used to purchase uniforms and other color guard supplies. They do it for their fellow Veterans.

Our annual Christmas party is coming up soon, and its always a great event. We have a DJ, music, raffles, beverages and a fine dinner. But most of all we have each other, and from far and wide we gather, remembering the old times  some good, some not so good. But we persevered through the bad old days and are now enjoying the good new days, when its a great time to be a Veteran.

So welcome home, my Nam Vet brothers and sisters, and welcome home to all vets everywhere.

And thank you to The Kenosha Area Vietnam Vets, for providing a badly needed port in a storm.

Joe Campolo Jr. is a proud Vietnam veteran and the author of the Kansas NCO Trilogy, a series of books about World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Joe Campolo Jr. is a proud Vietnam veteran and the author of the Kansas NCO Trilogy, a series of books about World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Joe Campolo Jr. is a proud Vietnam veteran and the author of the Kansas NCO Trilogy, a series of books about World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

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Daniel Weathers, right, pauses at Camp Lejuene in 2002 with fellow platoon members David Tavenner of Virginia, left, and Corey Vendetti of Oklahoma.
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On August 30th Uncle Xi Jinping stepped into many Chinese living rooms and asked hundreds of millions of his nieces and nephews to hand over their video game controllers. Three hours per week is all they get now. According to a press release from Xinhua state news, he promised to give them back on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for an hour each evening.

Now to my ear, that sounds a bit draconian. One hour per day is barely enough to stretch out the carpal tunnel and warm up the thumb muscles. I might have given kids a bit more leeway, even though I understand the avuncular concern and agree that online addiction deserves bureaucratic attention.

Teenagers are the future of our motherland, said an anonymous source representing the NPPA (National Press and Publication Administration). Protecting the physical and mental health of minors is related to the peoples vital interests and relates to the cultivation of the younger generation in the era of national rejuvenation.

Obviously, theres a bit more to the story than pure, paternalistic protection. The Chinese Communist Party has grown trepidatious about the growing influence of mega-cap tech companies and the threat they pose to the partys hold on power. However, that doesnt mean that the online gaming policy wasnt paved with some genuine concern.

Its self-evident to anyone old enough to know what life was like before smart phones and the internet, that this stuff is ridiculously addictive. Although many have been conducted, we do not need the results from PET scan studies to know that these powerful technologies are changing our brains. Perhaps Homo sapiens are not well equipped to turn away from such a readily available dopaminergic teat without a little help, or at least a more obvious warning label.

So, it feels like weve reached an inflection point. Were all grateful that the internet has improved our lives in myriad waysmy love life might be stymied without itbut we can no longer ignore the fact that it carries some insidious dangers especially for young people. Its almost as if some kind of instinctual warning signal for the species has been sounded simultaneously worldwide, and were all just now starting to pay attention to it.

Here in the U.S., there are also some green shoots of progress. Take, for example, Frances Haugens leak of Facebooks internal research that revealed it was aware of the detrimental effects social media can have on young women. Thats a positive development. It might not result in any immediate action by the company or in Congress, but at least its a sign that some of the ethical considerations stirring in the substratum have finally bubbled up to the surface.

How to devise appropriate safeguards to protect against online addiction is a big, hairy, and complicated subject. In a perfect world, careful debate would result in nuanced policy. But practically speaking, the trajectory of cyber-ethics is unlikely to map out in a neat-clean arc.

The Chinese government is not going to start to finesse internet policies; they will continue to wield blunt instruments. Meanwhile, in the U.S., where profit motives are often at odds with ethics, change will only be handed down from boardrooms or courtrooms. Its unlikely any major overhaul will occur without a lawsuit. Who knows, maybe a group of parents will blame an online gaming portal for not providing an automatic shut-off mechanism after an excessive period of time?

Ultimately, morality boils down to action, rather than mere rhetoric. The famous painter Vincent Van Gogh put it quite succinctly when he opined on the subject, Principles are only good when they generate acts. Therefore, I think the Chinese deserve some credit. By implementing strict online gaming limits, they have not only contributed to the conversation but also taken action. That should count for something, even if their motives might not have been completely pure.

Permit me to leave you with this final image. Imagine, if you will, a pantheon of modern oligarchs walking around Silicon Valley discussing the nature of cyber-ethics, much in the same way that morality was debated in Ancient Greece. This contemporary portrait would certainly include members of Congress, Xi Jinping, Tim Cook, the co-CEOs of Samsung (Kim Ki Nam and Kim Hyun Suk), Jack Dorsey, and Mark Zuckerberg. The paint hasnt yet begun to dry, but so far, in its current iteration, Uncle Xi appears to be wearing the noblest robes and laurels around his head.

Eric Dessner is an ophthalmologist.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
EUGENE, Ore. -- As the colder weather starts to creep in, there's growing concern about those who don't have a warm place to sleep.

But St. Vincent de Paul in Eugene is rapidly moving to open another temporary housing option.

Two units arrived in Eugene Wednesday morning. One is a dormitory unit capable of housing six people and another is a community unit with kitchen appliances, laundry services, and a shower. Another dormitory unit capable of holding six people is expected to arrive in Eugene in the coming days.

The plan to bring these units to Eugene started on Monday, according to St. Vincent de Paul's director, Terry McDonald.

"It's really exciting to say look, this is something we can actually do right now to move people out of those tents and into some kind of living situation where they might have a chance to move on from there," McDonald said.

The units will remain in Eugene free of charge until at least the end of the winter, McDonald said. St. Vincent de Paul has not chosen who will move into these units at this time.

"Those that express an interest and have an ability to move on after this are the ones that are most likely to be put into these units," McDonald said.

Before anyone can move into the units, St. Vincent de Paul has to work with city officials to set up electrical services and plumbing, McDonald said. He said he's hoping to have people moved in as quickly as possible.

"I'm hoping that by Christmas people can say we're going to be home for Christmas," McDonald said.

The units were manufactured in Boise, Idaho, by Pacific Housing Partners. Owner Mindy Rex said four sets of units have been created so far. She said each set consists of three shelter buildings, where people sleep, and one community building. She said she originally tried to deploy the units in Portland, but officials there couldn't figure out how to expedite the use of them.

The units are being held at 410 Garfield St. which is anticipated to be the the location of an additional Safe Sleep Site in the future. At that location, officials said they're planning to house 100 people in a warehouse. People camping in tents at Washington-Jefferson Park will be given priority, officials said. Before those people can move into the warehouse, a representative from St. Vincent de Paul said improvements have to be made to the building. That includes adding heat, increasing the warehouse's electrical capabilities and cleaning the interior of the building.

Eugene's first Safe Sleep Site, 310 Garfield St., is located beside it.

"When you're working and you're homeless, it's hard to get sleep at night when you're worried about who's going to break into your stuff, said Kathrine Nodine who lives at 310 Garfield St. "I don't have to worry about that here."

Officials running that site said all 45 RV spaces and 10 spaces for other vehicles are occupied. Additional people are currently on a waitlist. Nodine said she feels safe at the site. Having her vehicle parked there has allowed her to save money so she can get closer to purchasing land.

"Hopefully one day soon, these two spots will belong to somebody else and everything gets going correctly," Nodine said.

Officials at the site said they're now working to get services including case management and housing navigation services to transition people into more stable housing situations.
EUGENE, Ore.  Shots were fired over a parking space dispute in Eugene on Wednesday, police say.

Officers responded to an area near the 1100 block of Willamette Street just after 11:30 a.m. after receiving reports of the incident.

Patrick Terrill, 40, was taken to the Lane County Jail on charges of first-degree attempted assault, menacing and unlawful use of a weapon.

The victim, Two Crows Thomas, said he is a support worker for people with various disabilities and helps them live independently. He said he was waiting in the back alley while his client went into a store nearby when the incident happened. Terrill reportedly asked him to move from the reserved parking spot.

"I'm just going to be here for 10 minutes; if somebody else shows up, I'll gladly move immediately," said Thomas.

But that is when Thomas said Terrill went into the apartment complex and returned, standing behind Thomas' car.

"I'm still on the clock, I'm on the job, so I'm not going to try to get in a fight, and I said, 'Hey man, if I have to leave and you're still standing back there, I've got to go, you're just going to have to walk to the side, that's all there is to it," said Thomas. "And then he kind of smirked, pulled out a gun, and said, 'I fear for my life and I'm scared right now,' and then he pulled out a gun and shot twice at my feet, and then immediately went back inside."

Midus Well is a cook at Viva! Vegetarian Grill, located just a few hundred feet from the crime scene. He said he and his co-worker were asked to leave the food truck while police were investigating. He said he saw a man standing on the second-story balcony.

"We were just standing on the side watching and we saw a guy on the balcony right up there; he was kind of just like looking out, kind of chilling up there and we didn't think much of it. I was standing over there and then a cop comes up and he says yeah, there's a guy on that balcony with a gun," said Well.

Police said officers asked Terrill to come downstairs, and he complied. He was taken to the Lane County Jail. A search warrant was approved by a judge, and officers reportedly found numerous firearms during the investigation.

Thomas said he has his own suspicions as to why the suspect, Terrill, may have been so angry.

"I feel like his anger wasn't about the parking spot. It had to have been about something else, whether that happened today or whether that's just something he has to deal with because it couldn't have been about the parking spot," said Thomas.
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Hospitalizations are decreasing here in Oregon, and things are looking up, especially for one Springfield mom who just went through a parent's worst nightmare.

Amy Cholewinski, a mother of three, said her 11-year-old son, Spencer, spent almost two weeks in two different hospitals battling COVID-19.

She said after the first eight days, he had a fever of about 104 degrees, but then things got worse when his fever spiked to 107 degrees.

RELATED: Oregon reports lowest number of weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations since mid-summer

First, Spencer spent three days at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield. But as his case grew more severe, he was transported to Randall Children's Hospital in Portland.

"As much as you trust doctors to tell you what to do, they didn't know what to do. So it's just an unpredictable thing. So they started to talk about sending him to Portland to the children's hospital. So they sent their transport team down and that's where we went on the 27th," said Cholewinski.

Spencer said his experience was indescribable at times and that he was often overwhelmed.

"It's really exhausting when you have COVID. I don't really know how to explain it," said Spencer. "I kept asking my mom, 'Am I gonna die?'"

According to Dr. Malaika Little, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Randall Children's Hospital, while cases like Spencer's are very rare, each case is very different.

"I can tell you we see everything from kids that are screened and are COVID positive, and it's really kind of only part of the reason that they're in or maybe not even a really clinically important reason for why they're in the hospital, to kids that come in needing the ICU and need a tremendous amount of really what we call multi-system support, so really for their entire body," said Little.

She also said there are a couple of effects after a child gets COVID-19, and they might not happen right away.

"Everything from post-inflammatory syndrome, where they've really cleared their infection but this is a later body effect of having had that virus earlier on, to again, kids that have other health conditions and COVID really complicates their care," said Little.

Even though he is back home safe and sound, Cholewinski said Spencer still has a long road to recovery ahead of him.

"It's all about building endurance; now he has a hard time breathing, even getting up to go to the bathroom can be a challenge, so he still has a way to go," said Cholewinski.

For Spencer, his focus is getting stronger. He said he is eager to get back to school. But in the meantime, he and his mom are counting their blessings, knowing his battle could have been even worse.

"It was a victory for sure," said Cholewinski.
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A Kilkenny woman is one of two Masters students being sponsored by Kerry Group through a new employment-based MSc in Dairy Process Technology in collaboration with University College Cork.

Aine Murphy is a UCC BSc (Hons) Food Science graduate and hails from a farming background in Ballyfoyle, County Kilkenny.

I had always been in love with the idea of Food Science since studying Home Economics and Biology in secondary school, but once I really got into the course in UCC, especially when I carried out my work placement, I realised my real passion was specifically in the area of Dairy Science," says Aine.

"This opportunity to work with such a prestigious company as Kerry Group and gaining invaluable experience in the dairy industry, while also gaining an MSc degree in UCC, is one that I am so grateful to have been given, and Im really looking forward to the next two years.

Commenting on the two students' success, UCCs Dr Seamus OMahony, Academic Programme Director, said: The Dairy sector needs high quality graduates if it is to continue to thrive and we are delighted to partner with Kerry Group, the worlds leading taste and nutrition company, as it provides valuable, real life experience to our graduates as they continue with their studies.

Professor Mairead Kiely, Head of the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences UCC, said: This partnership represents an excellent example of Irelands dairy processing sector working together with the University to invest in the next generation of dairy science leaders. I am delighted that two of the Schools Food Science graduates, Aine Murphy and Maeve Cusack, have been provided with this exceptional opportunity to work and learn with the experts at Kerry Group.

Mr Pat Murphy, CEO of Kerry Dairy said: We are delighted to welcome Aine and Maeve to Kerry Group as we partner with UCC on the new MSc in Dairy Process Technology. Kerry Group recognises that UCCs Food Science and Nutritional Sciences programmes provide top quality graduates for the agri-food-nutrition sector, and by working together to offer career enhancing innovative programmes to graduates, we are helping to secure the future of Irelands position as a world leader in sustainable milk production.
A Kilkenny hairdresser has been shortlisted for a prestigious GLammies by Great Lengths 2021 award.

Lynn Knox, from Street Life hair salon in Kilkenny, is nominated in the Captivating Colour category and the Hair Extension Salon/Freelancer of the Year category. They are two of 16 awards up for grabs on the evening comprised of six creative specialist categories, eight regional awards, Most Charitable Salon of the Year and the most coveted title of the night, the Great Lengths Trophy for Extension Excellence, awarded to an outstanding extensionist.

Now in its 10th year, the GLammies by Great Lengths recognise the UK and Northern Irelands most talented extensionists and celebrate the craft, creativity and business of hair extensions. Judged by some of the industrys most respected names, along with editors from the hairdressing press, the 2021 event will be take place on Monday 7th February.

In addition to a glittering GLammies trophy, winners in each of the sixteen categories will each receive tickets for a tour of the Great Lengths production factory in Rome, with two nights five-star accommodation, meals and internal transfers for two people. The prize package also includes social media coverage and PR opportunities across both trade and local press, ensuring salons and stylists can publicise their recognition as the best in the industry.

"The GLammies by Great Lengths celebrate the very best extensionists in this amazing industry," says Joscelin McCourt, CEO of HB Collective (the home of Great Lengths).

"To be shortlisted for an award, nominees must demonstrate creativity and precision, as well as a talent for their craft which set them apart from the competition. Lynn Knox should feel incredibly proud to be recognised at this level."

Lynn says she is thrilled to have made the finals: "I am passionate about working with extensions and to be recognised alongside such creative stylists is a huge honour. I just hope Ive impressed the judges enough to bring the trophy home to Street Life salon!"
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ROCHESTER, Minn. - On Thursday, we celebrate and remember military veterans.

At the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918, WWI ended.

James Crawley is the commander of Rochester's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 12-15 and also a Marine Corps veteran.

When asked about his time in the service, Crawley said he would do it all again in a heartbeat.

"For me, and I speak for me only, it was the greatest thing in the world," said Crawley. "I have friends now that I never had and I know they'd give their life to me in a heartbeat and I would them. And if I were killed, they'd bring me home."

Crawley's grandfather fought in WWI and was in France to witness the end of the war.

Crawley shared a copy of a letter his grandfather wrote to his grandmother four days after the war ended saying, "We had heard so many rumors. But when it grew dark, there was not any doubt about it as the sky was lit up with skyrockets and great fires, and the blowing of whistles in the distant towns told us the truth."

Crawley's grandfather concluded his letter with the lines: "My dear, I hope to be with you before too many more months go by. Soon or sooner. Goodbye dear, and good luck, my love with it. Your sweetheart, sealed with a kiss."

Crawley said he can remember living with his grandmother when he was 15 and waking up to the smell of bacon and the sound of his grandmother singing WWI songs.

"Veteran's Day is a day to remember," said Crawley. "It's a day to remember my grandfather, it's a day to remember my friends. And hopefully, it will always be there."

Crawley now volunteers to help veterans in hospice care, truly living for something greater than himself.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  A former Iowa State Patrol officer with a history of excessive force allegations has been indicted on a federal charge over a 2017 traffic stop that was captured on video and during which a motorcyclist was injured.

A federal grand jury charged Robert James Smith last week with violating the motorcyclists civil rights by using unreasonable force during the September 25, 2017, stop near West Liberty, which is southeast of Iowa City. The indictment notes that the victim suffered bodily injury during the encounter, which means the charge could carry a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Smith is due in court November 16. He didn't immediately respond to phone messages and court records don't show if he has an attorney.
BLUE EARTH COUNTY, Minn.  Law enforcement says two men are hospitalized after a hammer attack turned into a collision with a semi.

The Blue Earth County Sheriffs Office says deputies were called to rural Good Thunder around 12:30 pm Wednesday. Arnold Duane Lillo, 83, reported being hit in the head with a hammer several times by Brandon Lee McMurtrey, 34 of Evan. Lillo told deputies he drove to a neighbors house for help after McMurtrey left.

Area law enforcement learned McMurtrey was driving a pickup truck and was reportedly armed with a handgun.

Deputies say they found McMurtreys pickup in rural Sleepy Eye near County Roads 11 and 25. McMurtrey allegedly refused to stop for law enforcement and started a pursuit south on Highway 15 at speeds around 100 miles per hour. The Sheriffs Office says McMurtrey crashed head-on into a semi that had pulled over on the shoulder of Highway 15 near 150th Street to yield to emergency vehicles.

McMurtrey had to be extricated from his truck and the Sheriffs Office says he remains hospitalized with serious injuries. Lillo remains hospitalized due to the serious injuries he sustained as a result of the assault but the Sheriffs Office says Lillo is stable at this time.
Today and every day, I want to say thank you to the service men and women who have served our country faithfully. Their honorable service, as well as that of their families, has earned the enduring respect and gratitude of all Iowans. #VeteransDay2021 pic.twitter.com/YCOEgYOJMT  Gov. Kim Reynolds (@IAGovernor) November 11, 2021

#VeteransDay is just one of 365 opportunities we have every year to wake up and honor those whove answered the call to serve this country. May God bless the men and women who servedand continue to servethe United States of America.  pic.twitter.com/MN5k2Ou5JT  Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) November 11, 2021

Its been said that a nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten. We tell the world who we are as a country by how we honor our veterans not just on Veterans Day, but every day.https://t.co/Rs6iILsuwP  Senator Amy Klobuchar (@SenAmyKlobuchar) November 11, 2021

Today, we thank all those who have served our nation. Americas veterans are the best of us, and we wouldnt have the freedoms we do without their service. God bless our veterans and our military. Thank a veteran today! pic.twitter.com/8fs9fobKFr  Ashley Hinson (@hinsonashley) November 11, 2021

Thanks today to Veterans everywhere for your service, committment, and dedication. We appreciate our freedom and your willingness to defend and maintain it. 2701 pic.twitter.com/e9Gn6VEY9V  Mason City Police (@MasonCityPD) November 11, 2021

To those in uniform who have served our great nation, we honor you today and everyday. Our country's greatness is built on the foundation of your courage and sacrifice. Thank you for your service, your bravery and the example you set for us all! #veteransday pic.twitter.com/mnlfgZANhT  Paul Gazelka (@paulgazelka) November 11, 2021

We dont know them all but we owe them all. Today is #VeteransDay. No matter when or where you served, the Olmsted County Sheriff's Office would like to thank and recognize all Veterans of the United States Military for their service and sacrifice.#ThankYou #VeteransDay2021 pic.twitter.com/GyIuVg3Rez  Olmsted Sheriff MN (@OlmstedSheriff) November 11, 2021
OSAGE, Iowa  Limestone Brewers says it has been honored at an international beer tasting competition.

The 2021 Brewski Awards says it is an international tasting competition that brings together experienced beer consumers to taste and judge beers from around the world. The competition maintains the highest and most consistent standards of integrity and professionalism.:

Limestone Brewers say it received a Platinum award for its Big Bin Porter, named after the 250 bushel gravity wagons that were built where the beer is now brewed, as well as a Silver Award for its Pleasant Street Cream Ale.

Not every beer that enters receives an award, says Taproom Manager, Lisamarie Odeen. Were thrilled that others now know what we know in North Iowa...Limestone brews darn good beer!

Both Big Bin Porter and Pleasant Street Cream Ale are available in the taproom at Limestone Brewers and at over 30 local retailers and restaurants throughout North Iowa.

Making a great beer we know people will love is our goal, but more than that, we want people to feel at home here-like youre in my living room, says Limestone co-owner Tony Wynohrad. Limestone Brewers is a little bit about good beer, but its mostly about the people. We couldnt have Limestone Brewers without the people.
CRYSTAL LAKE, Iowa  An investigation is underway into an overnight fire in Hancock County.

The fire in Crystal Lake was reported around 12:15 am Thursday and the Crystal Lake Fire Department, West Hancock Ambulance Service, and Hancock County Sheriffs Office went to the 100 block of East 2nd Street.

The Sheriffs Office says more help was needed for the residential structure fire and the Britt Fire Department, Woden Fire Department, and the Forest City Fire Department responded to a call for mutual assistance.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
THORNTON, Iowa  A seat belt may have saved a mans life when a pickup truck crashed into a combine Wednesday evening.

It happened around 5:45 pm in rural Cerro Gordo County. The Sheriffs Office says Jon Carlson, 51 of Meservey, was driving a combine east on 120th Street while Curt Smith, 85 of Clear Lake, was also eastbound in a pickup. The Sheriffs Office says Smith smashed into the back of the combine near the intersection with Eagle Avenue, causing major damage to both vehicles and blocking the highway.

However, the Sheriffs Office credits Smith wearing his seat belt with saving his life. He suffered only minor injuries and was transported from the scene by Mason City Fire Medics.

Thornton EMTs also assisted with this collision.
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP)  Iowas governor is taking the rare step of rejecting two nominees for an open judgeship, saying a judge who chaired the nominating commission tainted the process by favoring one candidate and opposing others.

Governor Kim Reynolds said in a letter Thursday to the District 2b Judicial Nominating Commission that it's only the second time in Iowa history that a governor has taken such a step. She noted that she is normally required to appoint judges from the list of nominees submitted by the nominating commission within 30 days.

But Reynolds said the commissions chairman, Judge Kurt Stoebe, acted inappropriately October 12 when the commission met to interview several candidates for a district judge vacancy and recommended two nominees. She's ordered the commission to restart the process.
ROCHESTER, Minn. - During the next couple of days, youll have the chance to become part of a community support network to prevent overdose deaths.

Two free in-person training sessions are being hosted in Rochester focused on administering Narcan and Naloxone.

The first training will be held at the Christ United Methodist Church on Thursday from 7pm-8pm with another chance to participate Friday morning.

The sessions are happening in partnership with Zumbro Valley Medical Society and the Steve Rummler Hope Network.

Director of programs Allie Carey says the training sessions are important as they show participants how to administer Narcan/Naloxone to someone who has overdosed as well as help reduce the stigma thats often attached to those experiencing an overdose.

This isn't just an issue of what you're experiencing or even what the people in your circle are experiencing, explained Carey. This is really an issue of public health so regardless of whether or not you see a direct instance of where this might be a useful tool for you personally ultimately the more people who know about naloxone, the more people who have access to training and the access to naloxone itself the more of a safety net we're building for our communities at large.

Carey says even if you dont have someone in your life struggling with addiction  its still valuable information that could help you save a life especially as overdose deaths are being classified as a public health crisis.

She added, We need to be treating the tools we have at our disposal as public health tools. Like an AED or norepinephrine or anything like that where we recognize whether or not you see yourself having direct contact with the issue, we recognize that fundamentally medications exist that can save people from a medical crisis. At the baseline that's what these overdoses are, they're medical crises that we can intervene in as a society.

Carey also says the pandemic has significantly increased opioid overdose deaths. She says recent data shows deaths jumped by 58% in 2020.

A second training will be held on Friday morning from 9-10am at the Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Rochester.

Those who complete the hour-long training will have the opportunity to receive an overdose prevention kit with injectable naloxone.

If youre interested in signing up you can contact Executive Director Beth Kangas at the Zumbro Valley Medical Society.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 23F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 23F. Winds light and variable.
The search for a missing 1-year-old from Illinois is stretching to Missouri after police found the suspect's abandoned van overnight.
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Kokomo, IN (46901)

Today

Clear to partly cloudy. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 23F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Clear to partly cloudy. Gusty winds during the evening. Low 23F. Winds NW at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.
A bevy of lawsuits are being filed in civil court on behalf of those who attended headliner Travis Scott's Astroworld Music Festival. Scott is seen here in Houston on November 5.
VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) - Local advocacy groups in Washington are calling for a federal investigation into the Vancouver Police Department and Clark County Sheriff's Office, accusing the agencies of discriminatory policing against people of color, people experiencing homelessness and those with mental health issues.

The NAACP of Vancouver and the ACLU of Washington, along with 21 other organizations, sent a letter to the Department of Justice on Wednesday asking for an investigation into the agencies' "excessive force and disparate treatment" of certain minority groups.

The groups specifically point to eight deadly officer-involved shooting cases from February of 2019 to October of 2021. According to the ACLU, those eight shootings are the largest concentration of police killings across the state since the end of 2018.

ACLU to file restraining order as federal officers continue to clash with Portland protesters PORTLAND, OR (KPTV)  The presence of federal officers in downtown Portland has been denounced by several government officials and organizatio

"What we have seen stands out," said Enoka Herat, ACLU of Washington Police Practices and Immigration Counsel.

In a news conference held virtually on Wednesday, Herat said VPD, CCSO and the joint agency drug task force have established a pattern of racial disparity that has not been changed despite local efforts.

In the letter to the DOJ, the ACLU said, "Both the city of Vancouver and Clark County have very small Black populations at around 2% each (2.3% in Vancouver and 2.4% in Clark County). Yet three of the eight people recently killed in Clark County were Black, and two were Pacific Islanders  representing 62.5% of the killings."

"In nearly all cases, police justify the use of lethal force with the same narrative- that the person failed to comply," Herat said, "however, many of the cases lack any corroborating evidence from other witnesses - it is simply the word of officers."

The named victims in the letter include Clayton Joseph, Michael Eugene Pierce, Carlos Hunter, William Abbe, Andrew Williams, Kevin Peterson Jr., Jenoah Donald and Kfin Karuo.

Herat also said the agencies show "favoritism" towards known white supremacist extremist groups, saying law enforcement did not intervene when white supremacists harassed and attacked mourning family members gathered for Peterson's vigil.

Initially, the Clark County Sheriff said Peterson fired his gun at deputies while running from them. An independent investigation later found no evidence that Peterson fired any shots at law enforcement.

An external prosecutor's office did find that the deputies' use of force in Peterson's death was justified, saying he pointed a gun at them.

Peterson's father spoke at the news conference, talking about the pain of watching his granddaughter grow up without her dad.

ACLU of Oregon files public records request, calls for widespread testing in prisons PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) - The ACLU of Oregon is pushing local and federal leaders for answers on COVID-19 preparedness in state corrections facilities.

"I shouldn't have to go through that, no family should," Kevin Peterson Sr. said.

The Vancouver Police Department released a statement about the ACLU's letter, saying it "recognizes and respects the value of all human life and dignity without prejudice to anyone," going on to say "The Vancouver Police Department is fully prepared to cooperate with any inquiry or investigation that may stem from this letter."

VPD also pointed to its work with the Community Task Force on Policing over the last year, implementing recommendations from the Police Executive Research Forum's use of force report, which was published in 2019.

The Clark County Sheriff's Office also sent a statement, referring to its national accreditation and that the office is "dedicated to the citizens of Clark County and transparency of the organization."
LEBANON, Ore. (KPTV)  The Lebanon Fire District put out a fire that started in a downtown shopping center on Saturday evening.

The fire district said it responded to the Old Town Mall at 743 Main Street on Saturday evening. An employee in one store reported hearing a loud pop come from another store that shares a wall. The employee went to investigate and saw lights flickering and popping and later saw smoke.

1 person displaced after fire at Vancouver apartment complex VANCOUVER, Wash. (KPTV) - One person was displaced following a fire at an apartment complex in Vancouver Sunday afternoon.

When firefighters arrived, they found smoke filling the main hallway of the building and light smoke coming from the roof where it intersected the exterior walls. They had to force entry into the building, find the source of the fire and then knock it down. There was no fire spread found.

The fire district estimates damage at roughly $50,000, but that number is likely to change after the damage is evaluated by the owners.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Everyone inside the building at the time of the fire was able to escape safely.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)  Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday appointed Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs as the states 16th secretary of state, marking the first time a Democrat will hold the office since the mid-1960s.

He will replace Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who will leave office Nov. 19 to take a key election security job in the Biden administration. Hobbs, who is of Japanese descent, will be the first person of color to head the office, which is one of nine statewide elected positions.

Inslee announced the appointment via a video that was taped in Glasgow, Scotland where he is participating in this year's U.N. climate summit, the Conference of Parties. Hobbs' appointment is effective Nov. 22.

Steve has demonstrated through his career as a senator the ability to act independently, to not to be swayed by any party," Inslee said.

Wyman echoed those statements, saying in a written statement that Hobbs has a demonstrated record of seeking bipartisan solutions to complex problems, which is essential to the position of secretary of state.

Washington state GOP election chief who rejects fraud claims tapped for federal elections job WASHINGTON (AP)  A Republican secretary of state who challenged former President Donald Trump's false claims of election fraud in 2020 will l

"It is imperative the secretary of state  the states chief elections official  serve as a neutral arbiter in order to inspire confidence across the political spectrum in our election processes and results, Wyman wrote.

Hobbs, 51, is considered a centrist in his caucus, which holds a 28-21 majority in the Senate. He had previously sought a statewide office, briefly running for lieutenant governor last year before withdrawing from the race, citing his COVID-19 response work with the National Guard.

This is a tremendous honor and responsibility, Hobbs said in a written statement. There is nothing more sacred than the right to vote. Ive fought for that right overseas and will do everything in my power to protect that right here in Washington.

Caleb Heimlich, head of the state GOP, reacted on Twitter, calling the appointment a crass political move by Inslee. Hobbs, once part of a the so-called roadkill caucus, had opposed parts of Inslees climate agenda, and, along with two other Democrats, voted against a capital gains tax that was ultimately approved by the majority of his caucus.

If @GovInslee truly cared about picking an independent voice, he would have picked an Independent, Hemlich wrote. There are lots of qualified county auditors to choose from. Instead he made the selection based on political benefit to his agenda."

In an interview with reporters after the announcement, Hobbs disputed that as a reason for his appointment, saying that both the Democratic governor and Republicans in the Legislature want a secretary of state that everyone can trust.

I think it would be horrible to have a secretary of state that is too ideologically to the far left or far right to fill this position, he said. I think the governor was thinking about all Washingtonians, on both side of the aisle.

In addition to being the states chief elections officer, the secretary of state also serves as chief corporations officer and supervisor of the state archives and state library.

Hobbs grew up in Snohomish County and has represented the 44th legislative district in the Senate since 2007. He served for decades in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq and Kosovo, and currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Washington State National Guard.

Inslee said that Hobbs service in the National Guard, saying it will be an asset in dealing with the best cybersecurity effort in the United States.

Inslee's office said he spoke to a number of candidates, including current county auditors. Wyman and her predecessor, Sam Reed, both were Thurston County auditors before being elected to statewide office.

Hobbs said that while he doesn't have the county auditor experience that Wyman and Reed had, he pointed to his management and leadership experience in the National Guard and said that he plans to keep most of Wyman's staff. He also plans to meet with county auditors to hear their ideas and concerns.

This is a partnership, he said. We work together.

Hobbs serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and also serves on the Financial Institutions, Economic Development and Trade Committee and the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.

He holds a masters of public administration and a bachelors degree from the University of Washington, and recently completed Defense Information School through the U.S. Department of Defense. He also has additional training for officers from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Wyman, 59, has led elections in Washington state for years, and she was reelected to a third term last November  the lone statewide-elected Republican on the West Coast. She will serve as the election security lead for the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the agency responsible for safeguarding U.S. elections

Unlike vacancies in other partisan offices, like the Legislature or county offices, the governor is not limited to appointing someone from a specific political party, which opened the door to Republicans losing their hold on the office for the first time in more than 50 years.

Hobbs will serve until the general election in November 2022, which will determine who will serve the remainder of Wymans four-year term. He said Wednesday that that he plans to run in that election.

An appointment process to replace Hobbs in the Senate will begin in Snohomish County, and Democratic Rep. John Lovick said Wednesday he is seeking the appointment and has already called precinct committee officers to express his interest. Three names will be ultimately be put forth by Snohomish County Democrats, and the Snohomish County Council will choose who will serve the remainder of Hobbs' term through November 2022.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - The Portland Police Bureau with Crime Stoppers of Oregon is seeking the public help in solving the 2015 homicide of a 26-year-old man in the north Portland Eliot Neighborhood.

Officers first arrived to find Laray William Seamster suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on Nov. 11 at 3:16 p.m.

Following medical personnel arriving to the scene, Seamster was transported to a Portland hospital for treatment but died shortly after arrival.

Portland police asking for publics help to solve multiple armed robberies PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV)  Portland police, in partnership with Crime Stoppers of Oregon, is asking for the publics help to solve multiple armed

Witnesses told police two younger black males were involved in the shooting and ran out of the area, possibly leaving in a silver vehicle.

Crime Stoppers of Oregon offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in any unsolved felony crime and tipsters can remain anonymous.

Anyone wishing to submit a secure and anonymous tip regarding any unsolved felony crime should visit the Crime Stoppers website or visit the App Store and download P3 Tips for your smart phone or tablet.
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP)  The murder case against Kyle Rittenhouse was thrown into jeopardy Wednesday when his lawyers asked for a mistrial over what appeared to be out-of-bounds questions asked of Rittenhouse by the chief prosecutor. The judge did not immediately rule on the request.

The startling turn came after Rittenhouse, in a high-stakes gamble, took the stand and testified that he was under attack when he shot three men, two fatally, during a night of turbulent protests against racial injustice in Kenosha in the summer of 2020.

Kyle Rittenhouse testifies 'I didn't do anything wrong' when he shot Joseph Rosenbaum Kyle Rittenhouse testified Wednesday that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum last year in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in what is likely to be the pivotal testimony of his homicide trial.

I didnt do anything wrong. I defended myself, the 18-year-old said.

In an account largely corroborated by video and the prosecutions own witnesses, Rittenhouse said that the first man cornered him and put a hand on his rifle, the second man hit him with a skateboard, and the third man came at him with a gun of his own.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Thomas Binger asked Rittenhouse about whether it was appropriate to use deadly force to protect property. The prosecutor also posed questions about Rittenhouses silence after his arrest.

At that, the jury was ushered out of the room, and Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder loudly and angrily accused Binger of pursuing an improper line of questioning and trying to introduce testimony that the judge earlier said he was inclined to prohibit.

Rittenhouse lawyer Corey Chirafasi all but suggested prosecutors might be deliberately trying to cause a mistrial because this one is going badly for the prosecution and it wants a do-over. The defense asked for a mistrial with prejudice, meaning that if one is granted, Rittenhouse cannot be retried.

When Binger said he had been acting in good faith, the judge replied: I don't believe that.

Rittenhouse is on trial for the shootings he committed during sometimes-violent protests that erupted in Kenosha over the wounding of a Black man by a white Kenosha police officer. He could get life in prison if convicted of the most serious charges against him.

Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, went to Kenosha with an AR-style semi-automatic weapon and a medic bag in what the former police youth cadet said was an attempt to protect property after rioters had set fires and ransacked businesses on previous nights.

He testified that he fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum after Rosenbaum chased him and put his hand on the barrel of Rittenhouse's rifle. He said he then shot and killed Anthony Huber after Huber struck him in the neck with his skateboard and grabbed his gun.

When a third man, Gaige Grosskreutz, lunges at me with his pistol pointed directly at my head, Rittenhouse shot him, too, wounding him.

I didnt intend to kill them. I intended to stop the people who were attacking me," Rittenhouse said.

During his turn as a witness, Rittenhouse sobbed so hard at one point that the judge declared a break. But otherwise, he was composed on the stand, even as he was being cross-examined aggressively.

The case against Rittenhouse has divided Americans over whether he was a patriot taking a stand against lawlessness or a vigilante. Prosecutors have portrayed him as the instigator that night, while the defense has said he feared for his life, afraid that his gun was going to be taken away and used against him.

Rittenhouses decision to testify carried certain risk  including the possibility of fierce cross-examination from prosecutors  and came despite doubts among some legal experts about the value of putting him on the stand, given the apparent weaknesses in the state's case.

Some of the prosecution's own witnesses bolstered the young mans claim of self-defense.

As he began crying on the stand and appeared unable to speak, his mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, on a bench across the courtroom, sobbed loudly. Someone next to her put an arm around her. After the judge called a recess, jurors walked by Rittenhouse and looked on as he continued to cry.

Much of the testimony Wednesday was centered on the first shooting of the night, since it was Rosenbaum's death that set in motion that bloodshed that followed.

Rittenhouse said he was walking toward a car dealer's lot with a fire extinguisher to put out a blaze when he heard somebody scream, Burn in hell! He said he responded by saying, "Friendly, friendly, friendly!

He said Rosenbaum was running at him from one side and another protester with a gun was in front of him, and I was cornered." He said that was when he began to run. He said another protester, Joshua Ziminski, told Rosenbaum, Get him and kill him.

Rittenhouse said he heard a gunshot directly behind him, and as he turned around, Rosenbaum was coming at him with his arms out in front. I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun," Rittenhouse said.

I shoot him," the defendant recounted. He also said he thought the object Rosenbaum threw during the chase  a plastic hospital bag  was a chain he had seen Rosenbaum carrying earlier.

Rittenhouse said he intended to help the wounded man but was in shock as someone else attended to him. Rittenhouse said he thought the safest option was to turn himself in to police who were nearby.

Asked by his lawyer why he didnt keep running away from Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse said: There was no space for me to continue to run to.

Rittenhouse said that earlier that night, Rosenbaum was holding a chain and had twice threatened to kill him. Apologizing to the court for his language, Rittenhouse quoted Rosenbaum as saying: Im going to cut your (expletive) hearts out!"

As he first took the stand, Rittenhouse was asked by his attorney whether he came to Kenosha looking for trouble, and he responded no.

He testified that he saw videos of violence in downtown Kenosha on the day before the shootings, including a brick being thrown at a police officer's head and cars burning in a Car Source dealership lot.

Rittenhouse said the Car Source owner was happy we were there that night.



This story has been corrected to show that it was the defense attorney, not the judge, who suggested the prosecutor was trying to cause a mistrial.



Bauer reported from Madison, Wisconsin; Foody from Chicago. 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
The minor child has been located and is with law enforcement in Elko Co Nevada. An arrest warrant has been served on the party believed to have kidnapped the minor child. Read more
A crowd objecting to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards' mask mandate for schools shouts in opposition to wearing a face covering at the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Baton Rouge, La.
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Back in 2016, James Parker Shield of the Little Shell Tribe created the National Native American Hall of Fame (NNAHOF) to honor those who have accomplished a lot in their life.

He saw there was a need for the NNAHOF after seeing a hall of fame for almost everything else.

Native Americans are like everybody else. You go past a couple generations and people start forgetting what was done or what was accomplished ahead of them. Right now, the lifestyle and the rights that Native Americans have is owed in great part to the people who were inducted into the hall of fame," said Parker Shield.

On November 6, 2021, there were eight people inducted into the hall with major contributions to the arts, business, medicine, government and more.

Dave Anderson: Choctaw/Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell: Northern Cheyenne Joy Harjo: Muscogee (Creek) Nation Marcella LeBeau: Cheyenne River Sioux Emil Notti: Athabascan Katherine Siva Saubel: Cahuilla/Morongo Band of Mission Indians Ernie Stevens Sr.: Oneida Nation W. Richard West: Southern Cheyenne/Arapaho

To learn more about the inductees, click here.

He says it's not just about their achievements and contributions to Native American communities and culture.

He says it's not just about their achievements and contributions to Native American communities and culture.

It also adds to the fabric of America itself," said Parker Shield.

Since the first induction ceremony in 2018, there have been two Montanans inducted, both from the Blackfeet Nation - Elouise Cobell and Forest Gerard.

But the NNAHOF isn't just about inducting people into the hall.

The second thing weve done is weve developed curriculum around those inductees and lessons plans on each one of them that were making available to schools all over the country. And of course, the third thing that will be happening in the near future is building a facility and weve picked Oklahoma as the location for that facility," said Parker Shield.

To learn more about the NNAHOF, click here.
KALISPELL, Mont. - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is proposing to develop a new archery range at the Big Arm Unit of Flathead Lake State Park near Polson and expand the current range at Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell.

The projects aim to take advantage of grant funding, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, that is aimed at increasing public shooting sport opportunities.

FWP is seeking public input on the projects separately, and the deadline to comment is Dec. 10.

You can find project details, including how to comment, in draft environmental assessments at https://fwp.mt.gov/news/public-notices.

A virtual public information meeting is scheduled for both projects on Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. Login information will be available here.

The new archery range would be located on a parcel of Big Arm State Park that is located on the west side of US Highway 93 directly across from the parks main entrance, FWP wrote in a release.

This parcel is currently utilized for dispersed hiking. But if the archery range project moves forward, you would see a gravel parking lot, entry kiosk with informational and regulatory signage, a precast vault latrine, a 30 x 15 covered firing line and lockable storage for archer lessons and practice.

Up to 12 shooting stations would be developed on an archery range trail in the area. One shooting station would even include an elevated shooting platform.

FWP believes this public archery range would be a valuable amenity in Lake County, as there are currently no public archery ranges in that area. The nearest public range is located 41 miles north at Lone Pine State Park.

In expanding Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell, FWP is proposing to purchase 9.3 acres of property that would add capacity to the parks existing archery range.

The current range offers six shooting stations and has seen a significant increase in use, since it is the only developed, outdoor archery range in the Flathead Valley. Self-registration at the Lone Pine range indicates a 33% increase in use in the past few years.

The subject property is located adjacent to the existing archery range and would provide additional target locations, FWP wrote in a release.

In looking toward future use of the Lone Pine archery range, FWP says schools participating in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) could use the range.
NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apollo (NYSE: APO) today announced that Toby Myerson has been named as a Senior Advisor to Apollo Japan. Myerson is a veteran of the legal and finance industry with a long history of doing business in Japan, including building the Japan practice for Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Myerson joins Apollo as the firm continues to grow its asset management and retirement services business in Japan and the broader Asia Pacific region

The addition of Toby is another step in Apollos recent expansion in Japan. This year Apollos private equity business has completed or announced two significant and complex corporate carveouts in Japan  one with Mitsubishi Chemical and another with Showa Denko  showcasing its ability to help major corporations execute on their corporate objectives. Additionally, the firms strategic partner Athene recently completed two reinsurance transactions with Japanese insurance companies, helping to provide Japanese individuals with safe retirement income products.

Apollo Senior Partner and Vice Chairman of Asia-Pacific Steve Martinez said, As we continue to grow our presence and capabilities in Japan, we are thrilled to welcome Toby to our growing team of Senior Advisors. Toby has spent the better part of his career building businesses in Japan or advising Japanese clients, and hes an expert in financial and complex transactions through his roles as a lawyer, banker and advisor.

Myerson joins an existing team of Apollo Senior Advisors in Japan that include:

Koji Kotaka - former Partner of Goldman Sachs Japan;Seiji Sato - former senior executive of SMBC and former CEO of Tokyo Star Bank; andTatsuo Tanaka - former Deputy President of MUFG who most recently served as Chairman of Citigroup Japan

Japan is an important market for Apollo as our platform is well suited to provide solutions across the capital structure for our corporate clients, deliver good returns for our investors, and apply our expertise in retirement services to help individuals meet their retirement needs. Toby, along with our other Senior Advisors, are key partners in expansion efforts in Japan, added Matt Michelini, Senior Partner and Head of Asia-Pacific for Apollo.

In addition to serving as Senior Advisor to Apollo, Myerson is the CEO and Chairman of Longsight Strategic Advisors, a business advisory firm he founded in 2017. He is a member of the board of directors of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and the lead independent director of MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Previously, Myerson was a Partner, co-Chair of the corporate department and co-Chair of the global mergers and acquisitions practice at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, where he also initiated and oversaw the opening of the law firms Tokyo office. Before that, he was an investment banker and Managing Director at Wasserstein Perella & Co., heading operations for the firm in Japan and Asia. He was also recently a senior advisor to Perella Weinberg Partners. Myerson is a graduate of Yale University and received his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

About Apollo Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. We seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade to private equity with a focus on three business strategies: yield, hybrid and equity. Through our investment activity across our fully integrated platform, we serve the retirement income and financial return needs of our clients, and we offer innovative capital solutions to businesses. Our patient, creative, knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of September 30, 2021, Apollo had approximately $481 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

Apollo Contact Information

For Investors: Noah Gunn Global Head of Investor Relations (212) 822-0540 IR@apollo.com

For Media: Joanna Rose Global Head of Corporate Communications (212) 822-0491 Communications@apollo.com
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?
A book covering the rich history of Williams Bays Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy (KNC) will soon be available for purchase  hopefully in time for Christmas, author Jim Killian said.

Killian spoke about his forthcoming book, Kishwauketoe: A Nature Conservancy for the Children of Tomorrow, on Friday, Nov. 5 at an installment of the Geneva Lake Astrophysics and STEAM (GLAS) Education Friday Afternoon Club. A small group gathered for Killians presentation about this 12-chapter labor of love.

Killian retired just over eight years ago from a long career in healthcare, though his undergraduate studies were in conservation biology.

I always enjoyed (biology), but never had an opportunity to work in the field, he said. So when I retired, I wanted to go back to my roots.

As a new retiree, Killian began volunteering at Kishwauketoe. He is now in his fifth year serving the KNC Board, which he first became familiar with during his time as a Williams Bay village trustee.

For six years, Killian acted as the liaison between KNC and the village board. He completed his third term as a village trustee in January 2020.

When Killian decided it was time to write the book on Kishwauketoe, he knew he needed a partner to take on the project with him.

I needed a bright young person who could complement me with the skills that I was quickly losing, that mostly being technology, he said.

In fall of 2018, Killian reached out to his good friend Jen Schildgen, a professional photographer and graphic artist. Killian would lead the historical research, while Schildgen would tackle the photography and layout.

They worked steadily from October 2018 onwards, driven not by a timetable but by a dedication to the project and a mutual sense of accountability. The team of two met every couple weeks to report on their progress.

We did that until the ugly COVID closed everything down in March of 2020, Killian said.

Killian and Schildgen continued their biweekly meetings via Zoom. And now, in late fall of 2021, they are getting ready to present their three-year long project to readers in the village and beyond.

The 12-chapter book offers a careful balance between imagery and text. Many of the pages feature quotes from other authors and naturalists throughout history.

Book sales will benefit KNC, Killian said.

There is no public funding at all, he said. So 100% of the funds will go toward continuing restoration and maintenance efforts in Kishwauketoe.

A look inside

The book opens with a geologic history of Geneva Lake and the surrounding area, going back about 20,000 years to the Wisconsin glaciation period of the Ice Age. This section pulls from century-old research, as well as articles from Bay Leaves, a newspaper published in Williams Bay from 1947 to 1948.

Amelia Malling, information and research coordinator at GLAS Education, said she appreciated Killians use of historical archives.

They went through the work to get all of those images and documents, she said. That can take a lot of digging to get to.

The first chapters of the book take care to illustrate the history of the Potawatomi people around Geneva Lake, up until the federal governments forced removal of the indigenous peoples in 1836.

The book reveals a true local history, as Killian takes the reader through early European settlement, the monumental railroad construction and beyond.

Killian eventually moves into an examination of the Kishwauketoe site itself, including its early uses as a village dump site, relentless development attempts, and finally, an important decision made by the village board under Harold Friestads leadership in the late 80s.

(Friestad) essentially led a board initiative to purchase the property and conserve it as Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy, Killian said.

The book is dedicated to Friestad, chair of the KNC board for 16 years and counting.

Im so humbled. Friestad said. We all have put so much work into making Kishwauketoe what it is.

Coloring the book from start to finish are stunning moments of nature captured by Schildgen on KNC grounds. The book concludes with a chapter titled Children of Tomorrow, comprised of Schildgens work.

In this section, Schildgens photography takes the reader on a leisurely walk through the conservancy, Killian explained. Schildgens camera reveals expanses of diverse greenery; a pair of adult sandhill cranes with their chick.

And then it concludes with just a couple great photographs of area children, who the park is dedicated for, Killian said.

Coming soon

Supply chain issues have delayed publication, Killian said. Publication was originally scheduled for August, then shifted further back again and again.

Everything is done in parts and pieces, Killian said. For example, the book jacket was printed in Indiana, while the pages were printed in Ohio. Both get shipped to the binder, which is located in Massachusetts.

So every step of the way, when theres shipping involved, thats French for another delay, he said. Because there is a huge shipping issue in this country.

Killian hopes Kishwauketoe: A Nature Conservancy for the Children of Tomorrow will reach shelves in time for Christmas. The book will be available through the Kishwauketoe website, as well as through local retailers like the Green Grocer, Barrett Memorial Library, Daniels Food Sentry in Walworth, Pier 290, the Geneva Lake Museum and more.

GLAS Education has a couple more events scheduled through the end of this year, including the James Webb Space Telescope Launch Event to be hosted at the Abbey Resort this coming weekend, and a free virtual stargazing night on Friday, Nov. 26.

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A Republican 2020 election investigation will now examine allegations from the Racine County sheriff that the Wisconsin Elections Commission failed to follow the law by directing clerks that they did not need to send poll workers into nursing homes to assist with absentee voting after many were turned away amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the lead investigator told lawmakers Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Republican leaders in the state Senate subpoenaed the city of Madison seeking absentee ballot certificates returned in the 2020 election  documents the city refused to hand over to a nonpartisan election audit conducted earlier this year. The subpoena is part of another investigation into the election, specifically related to the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureaus October report.

Also Wednesday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, told a reporter nearly two weeks ago that the Republican-controlled Legislature should bypass the governor and Elections Commission and oversee state elections. Johnson met Wednesday in the state Capitol with Republican lawmakers, but it was unclear what was discussed.

Theres no mention of the governor in the Constitution when it comes to running elections, Johnson told the newspaper. It says state legislatures, and so if I were running the joint  and Im not  I would come out and I would just say, Were reclaiming our authority. Dont listen to WEC anymore. Their guidances are null and void.

Former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired this summer by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, to conduct the GOP-ordered probe, provided few other details about his investigation during an informational hearing Wednesday.

There are going to be times where information should not be shared in real time, he said when asked if he will commit to holding interviews and meetings related to the investigation in a public setting.

Gableman also sidestepped Democratic committee members questions regarding who is working with him on the investigation.

Im not prepared to give you those names at this time, Gableman said.

Rep. Jodi Emerson, D-Eau Claire, said she was very disappointed that Gableman was not willing to share the names of those working on the investigation, which has been allocated $676,000 in taxpayer funds.

I think you owe it to the people of Wisconsin so they know where their taxpayer dollars are going.  To do anything less than that is simply a disgrace, Emerson said.

Accompanying Gableman on Wednesday was attorney Clint Lancaster, who had not previously been known to be a member of Gablemans investigation. Lancaster has a law firm in Arkansas and has litigated over 2,000 cases and received numerous awards and recognition as a result of his direct, straightforward, and no-nonsense litigation tactics and courtroom skills, according to his website.

Gablemans investigation largely focuses on how the 2020 election was carried out, with a specific focus on grants the Center for Tech and Civic Life provided to the states five largest cities. Gableman said Wednesday his investigation also will look into electronic voting machines and the Wisconsin Elections Commissions guidance and handling of the 2020 election.

Its unclear how the addition of allegations made in Racine will affect the investigations overall time frame or cost. Racine County Lt. Michael Luell, who led an investigation into Mount Pleasants Ridgewood Care Center with Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling, also spoke before the committee Wednesday.

Schmaling, a Republican, has called for five members of the state Elections Commission  two Republican and three Democratic appointees  to be charged with crimes for waiving the requirement that special voting deputies be sent to nursing homes during the pandemic last year. The Elections Commission has said the sheriffs claims are misplaced, that no crimes were committed and the policy was discussed and voted on in public meetings.

The commission voted last year not to send the workers to nursing homes after it became clear they would not be allowed in many of the facilities to help voters cast their ballots due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The first vote was 6-0 and two subsequent votes were 5-1.

Despite the sheriffs allegations that as many as eight Ridgewood residents cast ballots in the 2020 election even though their families believed they did not have the capacity to vote, state law does not bar those with cognitive delays or disabilities from voting unless they have been deemed incompetent by a court and had their voting rights removed. Luell said on Wednesday one of those eight Ridgewood residents had been determined to be incompetent to vote.

Over the course of the past several months, Gableman has issued  and later retracted  subpoenas seeking a wide swath of election-related documents from the states five largest cities. He also requested private interviews with mayors and elections clerks in the cities, as well as with the head of the state Elections Commission. Gableman later canceled those interviews but said he was reserving the right to make such a request in the future.

Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has dismissed Gablemans probe as a fake investigation and is seeking a restraining order barring Gableman from seeking interviews outside of a public legislative meeting. A hearing on Kauls lawsuit is scheduled for Dec. 23.

Gableman has said hes not trying to overturn the election results, even though he told Trump supporters last November, without evidence, that he thought the election had been stolen.

A recount and court decisions have affirmed that President Joe Biden defeated former President Donald Trump in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes. Four voters out of roughly 3 million who cast ballots have been charged with fraud.

While Gablemans investigation was originally planned to be finished by the end of October, Vos said last month it may now be completed before the end of the year. Gableman did not answer reporters questions Wednesday as to when the probe might be finished.

Madison subpoenaed

The subpoena issued Wednesday by Senate Republicans is the latest step in a new investigation into last years election being launched by the Senates GOP-led Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics. It requests from Madison all physical absentee ballot certificates returned in the November election, as well as the results of tests conducted by the Madison City Clerks office on electronic voting equipment. Senate GOP leaders authorized the investigation in late October.

That investigation focuses on the Audit Bureaus October report, which did not find any evidence of widespread fraud or abuse in the states 2020 election, but did make 48 recommendations to the Legislature and commission for improvements to how elections are run.

The Audit Bureaus report noted that officials in Madison did not allow auditors to physically handle ballots, citing ballot-security guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Its unfortunate and concerning that a few people running elections think they are more important than the electorate, Senate President Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, who signed the subpoena, said in a statement. I sign this with the full effect of the law behind it. We are not playing games, and there will be consequences if they dont comply.

Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl told the Audit Bureau in late August that she would provide copies of ballots, absentee ballot envelopes and other election-related documents but would not supply the original documents.

Speaking before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee on Tuesday, state auditor Joe Chrisman said physically handling the ballots was crucial to the auditing process. Chrisman said he would review those documents if made available.

At a bare minimum, all local, county and state government officials should respect the legal authority and integrity of the LAB, Senate Elections Committee chair Kathy Bernier said in a statement. All did, with the exception of Madison. That decision cannot and will not stand.

The subpoena notes that Audit Bureau staff will physically handle the requested records in the presence of Madison officials no later than Nov. 24.

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said in a statement the Audit Bureau is welcome to examine copies of election documents, but reiterated that the city stands by its position that federal and state laws require clerks to maintain control over election records.

We do not intend to violate the law simply because Senator Kapenga demands that we do so, Rhodes-Conway said.
Jason Church isnt sure how hes going to feel this Veterans Day.

A combat veteran and Milwaukee resident, Church lost both of his legs from the knee down after he was hit by an improvised bomb in Afghanistan in 2012. Two months after the U.S. pulled out of that war, Church is experiencing a mix of affection for those he served with and anger over the way the conflict ended.

It was very difficult to see what happened in Afghanistan, and then to really understand how that not only affected me but my fellow veterans, Church said. A lot of us ended up asking the question of why was I there? What was I there for if we were willing to just pull out in an instant? What purpose was my sacrifice for?

What did I lose two legs for?

The messy evacuation of Afghanistan, including the deaths of 13 American service members and the evacuation of 130,000 people in the final days, left many veterans disillusioned  as has the speed with which the public appears to have largely moved on from the conflict.

Its not the cool thing trending on the internet or on the nightly news. Its totally forgotten about, veteran Ilene Henderson said of Afghanistan, where she was deployed in the early 2000s. Were still working to get people out. It hasnt stopped.

Baraboo resident and Iraq combat veteran Eric Pizer has been thinking about the Afghans who fell to their deaths after clinging to U.S. jets during the evacuation, the Americans who died helping people escape, and how the country so many Americans bled for is now in chaos after being overrun by the Taliban.

It feels like it was a gigantic waste of time, lives and money, Pizer said of the war in Afghanistan. He blames President Joe Biden, who ended the war but did everything wrong and lost lives in the process.

I think I speak on (behalf of) a greater portion of veterans when I say that were all pretty mad about everything that happened, Pizer said.

Despite their frustrations, local veterans said they are proud of what they were able to accomplish.

For one thing, Church said, there have been no more terrorist attacks in the U.S. originating from Afghanistan. Another is that millions of Afghans had an opportunity for a better life, though much of that work has now been undone since the Taliban are now back in power.

One lesson the country learned is that the U.S. needs to have a clear-cut intention when it goes to war, Church said. That purpose evolved over the years, Church said, from eliminating Afghanistan as a haven for terrorists to nation-building, restoring the countrys civil society and attempting to win over the publics support.

By many accounts, that strategy helped fuel corruption in the country and failed to rout the Taliban, who found refuge in neighboring Pakistan, a U.S. ally. Other tactics like relying on special forces units and drone warfare often killed civilians, undermining the United States stated goals of protecting the population.

Though U.S. public opinion never turned against the war in Afghanistan as it had in Iraq in the mid-2000s, the conflict has helped entrench anti-interventionist views, said Jon Pevehouse, a political science professor at UW-Madison.

It certainly has made (the public) completely unfavorable toward interventions to create democracy or even unseat governments, Pevehouse said. I think history will look back and say, Yes, we could have given it a bigger try, but the checks would have had to been even larger, the deployments even larger. It would have been hard to imagine the political support for that.

Cost of war

Over 20 years, Church said, theres a lot of blood, a lot of sweat and a lot of money spent over there.

The mental health of veterans who returned home from the conflict will also be an enduring legacy of the war.

Madisonian Fran Wiedenhoeft, 61, who served as an Army nurse anesthetist in Afghanistan in 2003, said many veterans shes known have given up trying to get mental health treatment through the Veterans Affairs system after encountering monthslong waits. Veteran suicide rates have only increased, she noted.

This is the cost of war, Wiedenhoeft said. It wasnt just the billions of dollars that you send to fight the war; its the actual taking care of everybody afterward.

Unlike the Vietnam War, which relied on a draft, the war in Afghanistan depended on a volunteer force, Pevehouse said, which led to extended and repeat tours that strained the mental health of soldiers and their families. And while a majority of people in the U.S. say they admire people in the military, fewer and fewer people actually have a family member in the military.

I think people are much more thankful of troops service because they know its voluntary, Pevehouse said. The implication then becomes people keep it an arms-length distance.

Righting wrongs

Two months removed from the pullout, the war is already fading from public discourse. Church said he thinks part of that is a desire from officials to change the topic because the withdrawal made the U.S. government look so bad.

But Church said he hopes citizens keep talking about it and press the government to learn from its mistakes.

One way for Americans to right some of the wrongs of the Afghanistan conflict, Church said, is to treat the Afghans who are here in the U.S. with respect and dignity.

Church said he has been working behind the scenes coordinating with charitable organizations and the military to help get donations to the thousands of Afghans staying at Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin. Hes also helped some Afghans connect with attorneys or file their immigration paperwork.

In interviews, on social media and in individual conversations, Church said he tries to change the perspectives of people who believe the refugees are criminals or terrorists, characterizations he said are just not true.

For Afghanistan veterans Henderson and Michelle Osborne, helping the Afghans at Fort McCoy  some of whom they fought alongside  feels like a responsibility. Henderson, of Illinois, and Osborne, of Indiana, have worked together to get clothes, toys, wagons and other supplies from their states up to Wisconsin. Last month, Henderson drove more than eight hours one way with a truck full of donations she and Osborne had collected for the Afghans.

When (Henderson) reached out to me, I automatically was like, Oh, my god, what can I do to help? Osborne said. I feel like we kind of owe it to them.

Henderson faults the U.S. for the refugees plight.

Part of Army values is  that youll never leave a fallen comrade, Henderson said. These Afghans, I view them as my comrades.  Im not just going to leave them behind.

Madison Veterans Day events 10 a.m. Thursday, Wisconsin State Capitol Building: Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and Madison Veterans Council. Watch live at wiseye.org/live. 1 p.m. Thursday, Main Lounge (2nd floor), Memorial Union: Veterans Day program hosted by The Wisconsin Union and UW-Madison University Veteran Services.

Still Veterans Day

From the frontline soldier to the medic to the cook, Veterans Day is about honoring everyone, Church said.

Its still Veterans Day, so Ill be happy that Im here and the majority of my brothers and sisters have made it home, Osborne said.

This year, Church said he hopes people will forget about politics for a bit and take the time to just thank veterans for their service. The holiday, he said, is a time we come together and celebrate who we are: a group of people willing to sacrifice their lives and limbs for their fellow citizens.

Even though all the things that have occurred with Afghanistan are lingering in the background, I dont think that changes the mentality of the people and the Americans that put on the uniform, Church said. It makes us angry about what happened, certainly. But it doesnt change who we are.
The Pennsylvania Horse Show offered a new look and an expanded field for its 75th anniversary competition. The goal was to give more riders a chance to show.
Phil Gruber is the news editor at Lancaster Farming. He can be reached at 717-721-4427 or pgruber@lancasterfarming.com. Follow him @PhilLancFarming on Twitter.
Agartala (Tripura) [India], November 11 (ANI): Laying emphasis on the importance of connectivity between India and Bangladesh, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Wednesday urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to start direct flights between Tripura and Bangladesh.

Deb mentioned two specific locations-- Chittagong and Dhaka-- to be connected with MBB Airport in Agartala.

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"Had a detailed deliberation on following topics with Union Minister of Civil Aviation @JM_Scindia Ji via video conferencing - 1. Vat reduction on domestic flights 2. Introducing direct International flights between Agartala to Chittagong and Agartala to Dhaka 3. Boosting helicopter tourism in the state 4. Building a boundary wall around the property of airport authority at Kamalpur, Kailashahar and khowai 5. Building a runway in Kailashahar," the Tripura CM tweeted after the virtual meeting.

"He assured full support from the Civil Aviation Ministry for the proposed projects," his tweet added. (ANI)

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Meets Participants of Delhi Security Dialogue, Lays Thrust on Zero-Tolerance Against Misuse of Afghan Territory.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, Nov 11 (PTI) Union minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said the Centre is moving towards creating 'One Nation, One Portal' to redress public grievances.

He said efforts are being made to integrate state grievance portals with the Centre's CPGRAMS (Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System), an online system that mainly allows filing of complaints by people against different central government departments.

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Addressing an event here, Singh said Uttar Pradesh will be the first state in the country to have a district-wise good governance index.

Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel, along with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurated a two-day regional conference on the theme of strengthening the state institutes of public administration here on Thursday.

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Yogi Adityanath, in his address, said it would strengthen the state public administration institutes and empower the state civil servants in bringing development.

Singh announced that the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) shall collaborate with the government of Uttar Pradesh in developing a district good governance index, the first for any state, on the lines of the national good governance index for improving the efficiency of governance across districts.

He said this good governance index for the state can be replicated in other states also as the main mantra of the Modi government is to reach out to the last man in the last queue with all the benefits of welfare schemes, a statement issued by the Union Personnel Ministry said.

The minister also announced that the DARPG will collaborate with the Uttar Pradesh government for integration of the CPGRAMS with the district portal of Uttar Pradesh which will enable citizens to lodge complaints from a single portal, it said.

'One Nation, One Portal' is the goal, and towards this end, integration of CPGRAMS with state grievance portals will play an important role in redressal of grievances, the minister said.

Later speaking to PTI, Singh said the Centre is working towards having One Nation, One Portal for public grievance redressal.

He said the conference is an effort to create a common platform to share experiences in the formulation and implementation of best practices in administrative training, capacity building to facilitate citizen centric governance, improved public service delivery through e-governance, transparent, accountable and citizen-friendly effective administration.

Singh also highlighted the role of training in public administration and said it is essential not only for efficiency of the administration but also for broadening the vision of officials.

V Srinivas, Special Secretary, DARPG, Srinivas R Katikithala, Director of Mussoorie-based Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) and 350 officials from Uttar Pradesh participated in the inaugural session.

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New Delhi, November 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to the country's first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary and called his role in the freedom struggle inspiring.

The Prime Minister added that Azad was passionate about the education sector and worked to further brotherhood in society.

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"Tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his Jayanti. A pathbreaking thinker and intellectual, his role in the freedom struggle is inspiring. He was passionate about the education sector and worked to further brotherhood in society," tweeted PM Modi.

Tributes to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his Jayanti. A pathbreaking thinker and intellectual, his role in the freedom struggle is inspiring. He was passionate about the education sector and worked to further brotherhood in society.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2021

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also paid tribute to Azad on his birth anniversary.

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"Tributes to the first education minister of independent India and Bharat Ratna awardee Maulana Abul Kalam Azad ji on his birth anniversary. Happy National Education Day.#NationalEducationDay," Gadkari tweeted.

The National Education Day or Rashtriya Shiksha Diwas is celebrated every year on November 11 on the birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington [US], November 11 (ANI): NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronaut team led by PIO (Person of India Origin) Raja Chari are in orbit following their launch to the International Space Station on the third commercial crew rotation mission aboard the microgravity laboratory.

The international crew of astronauts lifted off at 9:03 pm EST Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft with NASA astronauts Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, PIO Raja Chari as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, into orbit to begin a six-month science mission on the space station.

Chari is commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Crew-3 mission. He is responsible for all phases of flight, from launch to re-entry. He also will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the station. This will be the first spaceflight for Chari, who was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 2017.

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He was born in Milwaukee, but considers Cedar Falls, Iowa, his hometown. He is a colonel in the US Air Force and joins the mission with extensive experience as a test pilot. He has accumulated more than 2,500 hours of flight time during his career.

Marshburn is the pilot of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and second-in-command for the mission. He is responsible for spacecraft systems and performance. Once aboard station, he will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer, and is scheduled to assume command of station for Expedition 67. Marshburn is a Statesville, North Carolina, native who became an astronaut in 2004.

Prior to serving in the astronaut corps, the medical doctor served as flight surgeon at NASA Johnson and later became medical operations lead for the International Space Station. The Crew-3 mission will be his third visit to the space station, having flown on three different spacecraft, and his second long-duration mission. Marshburn previously served as a crew member of STS-127 in 2009 flying aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour, and Expedition 34/35, which concluded in 2013, using a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Barron is a mission specialist for Crew-3. She will work closely with the commander and pilot to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and re-entry phases of flight. Once aboard the station, she will become a flight engineer for Expedition 66.

Barron was born in Pocatello, Idaho, but considers Richland, Washington, her hometown. She earned a bachelor's degree in systems engineering from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2010, and a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge, in England, in 2011, where she was a Gates Cambridge Scholar.

Barron earned her submarine warfare officer qualification and deployed three times while serving aboard the USS Maine. Her current rank in the US Navy is a Lt Cmdr. At the time of her selection as an astronaut candidate, in 2017, she was serving as the flag aide to the superintendent of the US Naval Academy. Crew-3 will be Barron's first spaceflight.

Maurer also will be a mission specialist for Crew-3, working with the commander and pilot to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and re-entry phases of flight. He also will become a long-duration crew member aboard the space station. Like Chari and Barron, he will be making his first trip to space with the Crew-3 mission. Maurer comes from Sankt Wendel, in the German state of Saarland. Before becoming an astronaut, Maurer held a number of engineering and research roles, both in a university setting and at ESA.

In 2016, Maurer spent 16 days on an undersea mission as part of NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations space analog.

This mission is the first spaceflight for astronauts Chari, Barron, and Maurer, and the third for Marshburn. Marshburn is the sixth person to launch from Earth on three different spacecraft.

During Crew Dragon's flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California, and NASA teams will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"With Raja, Thomas, Kayla, and Mattias on their way to the International Space Station just days after Crew-2's return, we're seeing the power of American ingenuity right before our eyes," Nelson said.

He added, "NASA's partnership with SpaceX is not only critical for cutting-edge research, but also for international collaboration. The space station brings together nations around the world for the benefit of all. Godspeed, Crew-3 - I can't wait to see all that you accomplish."

The Crew Dragon Endurance will dock autonomously to the forward port of the station's Harmony module around 7:10 pm Thursday, November 11. NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website are providing ongoing live coverage through docking, hatch opening, and the ceremony to welcome the crew aboard the orbital outpost.

"Ensuring our crews have safe transportation and continued access to space is an enormous responsibility," said Steve Stich, manager with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. "We know the crew is excited to get on station and settle into their long-duration mission. The NASA and SpaceX team remains vigilant in support of their safe arrival and eventual return to Earth."

Chari, Marshburn, Barron, and Maurer will join the Expedition 66 crew of NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos. Crew-3 is the second commercial crew mission to fly an ESA astronaut.

"It is always thrilling to watch a rocket launch, especially when an international crew of astronauts is sitting atop it. Matthias Maurer is the second ESA astronaut to be launched in a Crew Dragon spacecraft under the US Commercial Crew Program," said Josef Aschbacher, ESA director-general.

He added, "We are delighted to see him fly alongside NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, continuing a long history of international collaboration in space for the benefit of Earth. On behalf of ESA, I'd like to wish all Crew-3 astronauts a productive and enjoyable mission."

The Crew-3 astronauts will spend approximately six months aboard the space station conducting new and exciting scientific research in areas such as materials science, health technologies, and plant science to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth.

The Crew-3 mission continues NASA's efforts to restore and maintain American leadership in human spaceflight. Regular, long-duration commercial crew rotation missions enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the station.

Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars, starting with the agency's Artemis missions, which include landing the first woman and person of colour on the lunar surface. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bujumbura [ Burundi], November 11 (ANI/Xinhua): Security forces on Wednesday morning killed three gunmen and seized their two guns and ammunition in Matongo district in Kayanza Province, north Burundi, the governor of Kayanza told Xinhua by phone on Wednesday afternoon.

"There were clashes at dawn between security forces and a group of armed criminals at Matongo near the National Road Number One (RN1) linking Bujumbura commercial capital to Kayanza town. The gunmen wanted to leave the area and board a car of their collaborators, but security forces were on alert and opened fire on them," the governor of Kayanza province, Colonel Remy Cishahayo said.

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According to him, two gunmen died on the spot and one of them who was seriously injured died in the afternoon after being evacuated to Kayanza hospital. "The fourth one was captured and he is the one who showed us where their two guns and four chargers had been hidden," Cishahayo said.

He added that the dismantled group of criminals had arrived in Matongo on Sunday after being chased from Teza forest reserve.

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The information was confirmed by Burundian security ministry spokesman, Pierre Nkurikiye, who said that a local administration official and a police agent were injured following a grenade blasted by those gunmen.

The district of Matongo in Kayanza Province is close to the Kibira natural forest where gunmen often hide to perpetrate attacks and ambushes on passengers on the National Road Number One. (ANI/Xinhua)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington [US], November 11 (ANI): US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) said that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a historic investment in America's public infrastructure.

"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a historic investment in our nation's public infrastructure. We will rebuild our roads and bridges, provide clean drinking water, expand broadband access, invest in clean energy, and create good-paying jobs across the country," Biden said in a tweet.

Also Read | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $7 Million for COVID-19 Genome Research.

Biden will sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the infrastructure investment and jobs act on Monday, according to the White House.

"The President will be joined by members of Congress who helped write this landmark economic growth bill and by a diverse group of leaders who fought for its passage across the country, ranging from Governors and Mayors of both parties to labour union and business leaders," the statement said.

Also Read | Astroworld Tragedy: Indian Origin Texas Student Bharti Shahani Declared Brain Dead From Injury.

The White House passed the bill last Friday (local time), about three months after it passed the Senate, as Democrats united behind a plan to advance Biden's broader economic agenda following weeks of party infighting, according to The Hill. (ANI)

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Wellington, Nov 11 (AP) Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday against letting tensions in the Indo-Pacific cause a relapse into a Cold War mentality.

His remarks on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum came weeks after the US, Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region which would see Australia build nuclear submarines. China has harshly criticised the deal.

Also Read | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Commits $7 Million for COVID-19 Genome Research.

Xi spoke in a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at APEC, which is being hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format. Xi is scheduled to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders including US President Joe Biden on Saturday.

In his speech, Xi said attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would fail.

Also Read | Astroworld Tragedy: Indian Origin Texas Student Bharti Shahani Declared Brain Dead From Injury.

"The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era," Xi said.

Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalising trade and investment.

"China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development," he said.

The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said.

In all, APEC members account for nearly 3 billion people and about 60 per cent of the world's GDP. But deep tensions run through the unlikely group of 21 nations and territories that include the US, China, Taiwan, Russia and Australia.

China claims vast parts of the South China Sea and other areas and has moved to establish a military presence, building islands in some disputed areas as it asserts its historic claims.

Both Taiwan and China have applied to join a Pacific Rim trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Beijing saying it will block Taiwan's bid on the basis that the democratically governed island refuses to accept that it's part of communist-ruled China.

And it remains unclear whether all APEC members will support a bid by the US to host the 2023 round of APEC meetings.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Wednesday that APEC was founded on consensus and that there was not yet a confirmed host for 2023.

Officials say they have made significant progress during some 340 preliminary meetings leading up to this week's leaders' meeting. APEC members have agreed to reduce or eliminate many tariffs and border holdups on vaccines, masks and other medical products important for fighting the pandemic. (AP)

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Kabul, November 11: Thomas West, US special representative to Afghanistan, and Amir Khan Motaqi, one of the top leaders of the Taliban are intended to meet each other in Islamabad, where they are scheduled to attend Troika Plus meeting, reported Khaama Press.

Motaqi, Foreign Minister in the Taliban government, leading a high-level delegation arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday evening.

Also Read | Yemens Houthi Militia Claim Responsibility for Ballistic Missile Attack on Saudi Military Base.

Pakistan will host senior diplomats from the US, China and Russia in Islamabad to discuss the situation in Afghanistan on Thursday.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and its National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf will chair the 'Troika Plus' meeting.

Also Read | Earthquake in Russia: Quake of Magnitude 5.2 Hits Near Kamchatka Peninsula.

The representative of the four countries will also meet Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Dawn reported. Muttaqi also arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday. It is the first visit to Pakistan by an Afghan minister since the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August.

Pakistani officials have said that the primary aim of Troika Plus will be finding ways to avert the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and to establish an inclusive government.

The US special representative for Afghanistan who is on his first Asian and European tour will also be visiting India and Russia, according to Khaama Press.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Uttar Pradesh, November 11: Chand Miyan, father of Altaf who allegedly ended his life in police custody, has claimed in a handwritten note that his son was suffering from depression and that 'he was withdrawing the case against the police'. The Samajwadi Party has accused the police of trying to hush up the case and has demanded a probe by a sitting high court judge. Five police personnel had been suspended for negligence on Wednesday in the matter. The police said the victim was suffering from depression and that he died by suicide.

Chand Miyan has now given a written declaration that he is withdrawing the charges in the case and 'will not pursue it in the future'. Interestingly, the handwritten note by Chand Miyan, carries his thumb impression instead of signature. The death of a Muslim youth, 22-year-old Altaf, while in custody at the Kasganj police station in in Uttar Pradesh has snowballed into a major controversy with Samajwadi Party demanding high-level inquiry by a sitting high court judge. The party has also demanded that the family of the youth be compensated. Uttar Pradesh Custodial Death Case: 5 Policemen Suspended After Man Dies in Custody.

Altaf, son of Chand Miyan, who was an accused in an elopement case of a minor Hindu girl in village Ahroli, was picked up by the police on Monday night and taken to Kasganj kotwali for interrogation. On Tuesday night, he died in police custody. Altaf, who had been working as a tile layer, was fitting tiles at a house from where a girl went missing on Monday. The family members accused Altaf of being involved in the elopement case and an FIR was registered against him. Kasganj Superintendent of Police Roshan Pramod Botre said that Altaf wanted to go to the toilet and was allowed to use the washroom facility at the police station. But when he did not come out, the cops opened the washroom and found him dead. He was rushed to the district hospital where he died after some time. Allahabad High Court Denies Bail to Policeman Booked for Causing Custodial Death, Says 'Deaths in Jail Always Been a Concern for Civilised Society'.

Altaf's body was handed over to the family members after the post-mortem. The victim's father initially alleged foul play but later backed out. Chand Miyan had told reporters that he had handed over his son on Monday night to the local police who told him that they wanted to interrogate him in connection with the elopement case of a girl belonging to another community. Miyan said Altaf was shifted from the local police station to Kotwali and that he was not allowed to meet his son.

Samajwadi Party spokesman Abdul Hafiz Gandhi, has demanded a high-level inquiry by a sitting high court judge and said, "Is it not unusual that Chand Miyan has submitted a hand written declaration in support of the police but instead of the signature, the latter carries his thumb impression which proves that he is not literate? The whole thing is suspicious."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 11, 2021 10:20 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
#Tehran: Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that the upcoming #Vienna talks on the 2015 nuclear talks must focus on the lifting of the sanctions against the Islamic Republic.



Photo: IANS (File) pic.twitter.com/iJN7zqYBag IANS Tweets (@ians_india) November 11, 2021

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TP Chatram Police Stations inspector E Rajeswari rescued a 28-year-old man who had been presumed dead after a tree branch fell over him on Thursday morning. She can be seen carrying the unconscious man on her shoulder to autorickshaw in a bid to save his life.

#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: TP Chatram Police Station's Inspector Rajeshwari carries an unconscious man, on her shoulders, to an autorickshaw in a bid to rush him to a nearby hospital. Chennai is facing waterlogging due to incessant rainfall here. (Video Source: Police staff) pic.twitter.com/zrMInTqH9f  ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021

Inspector Rajeshwari has done excellent work. She herself lifted an unconscious man who was fighting for life & sent him to a hospital. Treatment is on, he's alright. She has been an excellent officer. All the kudos go to her: Chennai Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal#TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/66QJVBO4Lb  ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
National Education Day 2021 is here! The day marks the birth anniversary of India's first education minister, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who served the country from 1947 to 1958. Since 2008, November 11 is celebrated as National Education Day every year to commemorate his contribution in laying a strong foundation of education system in India. On this day, people celebrate and remember the great educationist on his birth anniversary. See how netizens reacted by sharing greetings, quotes and images to celebrate the memorable day.

Tribute to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Humble tributes to freedom fighter and scholar #MaulanaAbulKalamAzad on his birth anniversary. His invaluable contribution towards building the foundation of a strong education system for modern India will always be remembered.#nationaleducationday pic.twitter.com/hUSYuwvm8H  Nitin ( NicKY )  (@Nitinmudgal_INC) November 11, 2021

Education is Important!

Education is important to all and none of us can survive without it. Knowing it's importance how can we let someone left out without it, the only technique which shapes every brain into a well defined mind. This year let's help those who are unable to get it#NationalEducationDay pic.twitter.com/7IwEAzc1GY  Mamta (@Mamta_25_) November 11, 2021

Happy National Education Day

Education plays a crucial role in everyones life as it enhances the personality of an individual externally as well as internally. Education makes you aware of yourself and your surroundings. Education enables a person to read and write.#NationalEducationDay pic.twitter.com/Xa4x6x4CrJ   Guri Punjabi  (@Guri03733) November 11, 2021

Let Education Reach to Those in Need!

Education is important to all and none of us can survive without it. Knowing it's importance how can we let someone left out without it, the only technique which shapes every brain into a well defined mind. This year let's help those who are unable to get it#NationalEducationDay pic.twitter.com/kPzY9fEfTc  man A++ (@A57960869K) November 11, 2021

Problems of Indian Education to be Highlighted on This Day

Remembering Maulana Abul Kalam Azad for His Important Contribution

Maulana Azad was born on Makkah. Later he came to India and took active part in Indian Freedom Struggle. He was the man who lead the mass during Khilafath Movement. Lets remember this day, as some Fascist Forces are trying to vanish his from the history.#nationaleducationday pic.twitter.com/YfYk2JGvQp  afsarkodlipet (@afsarkodlipet) November 11, 2021

(SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
A former Mixed Martial Arts fighter was sentenced to more than three years of jail time after he punched a police officer during the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Identified as Scott Fairlamb, the 44-year-old former mixed martial artist received 41 months of imprisonment, marking the longest jail time among 32 riot-related sentences handed by the court so far, Associated Press reported.

According to U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth, the sentence he handed down to the former MMA fighter was significant because it was the first one for assaulting a police officer.

Aside from his jail time, Lamberth also said that the former mixed martial artist will pay $2,000 and be "under supervised release" for three years after his jail time, The Daily Mail reported.

Fairlamb was placed under the custody of the authorities on January 22. He was arrested at his home in Stockholm, New Jersey. He pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting an officer.

READ NEXT: Trump Allies John Eastman and Jason Miller Face Subpoena From January 6 Capitol Riot Panel

Ex-MMA Fighter Weeps in the Trial

Before receiving his sentence of 41 months in prison, Fairlamb reportedly wept in the trial court and was sorry for what he did to the officer.

Fairlamb reportedly apologized for disgracing his family's name, as his father was also a veteran who served in the United States military.

"I take full responsibility for what I did that day... That's not who I am. That's not who I was raised to be," Fairlamb underscored.

Prosecutors believe that Fairlamb was one of the first people to breach the Capitol during the riot, New York Post reported.

A video used in the court revealed that Fairlamb - who wore a camouflage jacket, navy blue scarf, and a beanie - yelled at an officer. The video also showed that another police approached the former MMA fighter from behind to calm him down, but Fairlamb shoved the man.

As he left the Capitol building, Fairlamb was also seen harassing a group of officers who tried to control the mob and punch an officer from the Metropolitan Police Department in the head. The officer was not injured but described his experience in the Capitol riot as the "scariest day of his career."

According to reports, Fairlamb also recorded himself in a video shouting, "What [do] patriots do? We f**king disarm them, and then we storm the f**king Capitol.

Prosecutors argued in August that Fairlamb's MMA experience made him "well aware" of the injured he can inflict on the officer.

"His actions and words on that day all indicate a specific intent to obstruct congressional proceeding through fear, intimidation, and violence, including violence against uniformed police officers," the prosecutors said.

Injured Police Officers During the Capitol Riot

Around 140 police officers were attacked during the Capitol riot, and five have since died, including Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was sprayed with a chemical irritant.

Meanwhile, four officers who responded in the Capitol riot reportedly committed suicide. The said officers were identified as Officers Kyle DeFreytag, Gunther Hashida, Howard Liebengood, and Jeffrey Smith.

More than 500 arrests were made in connection to the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

READ NEXT: FBI Confiscates LEGO Set of U.S. Capitol Building From Alleged Riot Leader as More Than 500 Charged

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Capitol Rioter Sentenced to 41 Months for Assaulting Officer - From CBS Evening News
Governor Ron DeSantis has threatened U.S. President Joe Biden that he will send undocumented migrants to his home state Delaware if he won't stop sending them to Florida.

According to a Daily Mail report, the Republican governor also lambasted Biden's "double standard" in raising concern over the recent migrant crisis between the borders of Poland and Belarus. DeSantis said the flights happen without any notification to the state of Florida, adding that those are mostly done in the middle of the night. The Florida governor said that it's clandestine and that they really have no say when it comes to it.

The warning from DeSantis came after the federal government sent 70 planes carrying young undocumented migrants to Jacksonville from the U.S.-Mexico border region undercover this summer.

DeSantis said that if undocumented migrants were to come to Florida, the state will provide buses and will send them to Delaware, according to a New York Post report.

Christina Pushaw, the governor's press secretary, said that the governor's intention to send migrants to Delaware was a reference to Biden. However, she said that the idea to send migrants away from Florida is not a joke.

Pushaw noted that she would not be surprised if legislation to address the matter will be proposed during the next regular session of the Florida Legislature.

READ NEXT: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Supports Florida Girl Suspended 36 Times Over Refusal to Wear Mask, Says It's 'Unacceptable'

Clandestine Flights of Undocumented Migrants to Florida

Larry Keefe, DeSantis's public safety czar, said over 70 air charter flights on jetliner airliners from the southwest border have landed at Jacksonville International Airport. Keefe added that there are 36 passengers on each of these flights on average, according to a Washington Examiner report.

He said they are trying to run an investigation looking at things, such as who is facilitating the travels, the support people behind it, and the sponsors.

In October, there were also reports of similar flights landing in Westchester, New York, throughout the summer. The flights came to light after the state had an incident involving a 24-year-old Honduran man who was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The state is investigating the matter after Yery Noel Medina Ulloa lied to Border Patrol and local Jacksonville Police about his age, claiming he was 17-years-old.

Keefe said the probe wants to look whether Ulloa may have been on one of the night flights as he pretended to be a minor.

Biden on Belarus Migrants Crisis

Meanwhile, Biden has condemned Belarus' authoritarian regime for reportedly using migrants as a weapon against the European Union, according to another Daily Mail report.

A White House spokesperson said that the president will reaffirm his support for the EU as a fundamental partner for the United States.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that they share the opinion with Biden that this is a hybrid attack of an authoritarian regime to try and de-stabilize the Democratic neighbors, adding that it will not succeed and that they will protect their democracies.

READ MORE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces State Will Officially File Lawsuit Against Pres. Joe Biden's COVID Vaccine Mandate

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: 'They're Flying In People Who Came Illegally': DeSantis Blasts Relocation Of Undocumented Immigrants - from Forbes Breaking News






A "Rust" crewmember sued the movie's lead, Alec Baldwin, on Wednesday, over the fatal accidental shooting that claimed the life of the film's director of photography Halyna Hutchins.

Aside from Baldwin, the film's key gaffer Serge Svetnoy also included armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and Assistant Director Dave Halls, claiming that the defendants' "alleged negligence" caused him "severe emotional distress" in the aftermath of the shooting, TMZ reported. According to Breitbart, "Rust" prop master Sarah Zachry was also sued by Svetnoy.

CBS Los Angeles mentioned that the lawsuit by Svetnoy was submitted to the Los Angeles Superior Court, but it was still not processed and filed.

READ NEXT: 'Rust' Armorer Says She's Not Ready To Speak About Alec Baldwin's Accidental Shooting on Set

'Rust' Crewmember Claims Bullet That Killed Hutchins "Nearly" hit Him

According to the lawsuit, the scene of the film in question only requires Baldwin to pull the .45 Colt Revolver from his holster and point the firearm in the general direction of the camera. However, the gun allegedly went off as Baldwin was practicing his moves for the scene.

"The scene did not call for Defendant Baldwin to shoot the Colt, which should not have contained any live ammunition," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also pointed out that Baldwin "owed a duty to the Plaintiff and other crew members and other staff" on the "Rust" set to handle the firearm provided to him by Halls with "reasonable care and diligence" for the safety of everyone in the set. It furthered that Baldwin has the duty to "double-check" the revolver Halls gave him and make sure that it does not have live ammunition.

Svetnoy also alleged that the bullet that struck both Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza "actually zoomed by and nearly hit him. The key gaffer added that he was one of the first people to tend to Hutchins while she was bleeding due to the gunshot, as he attempted to comfort her and keep her conscious.

"Simply put, there was no reason for a live bullet to be placed in that .45 Colt Revolver or to be present anywhere on the 'Rust' set," the lawsuit added.

Svetnoy was reportedly among the "Rust" crewmembers who publicly spoke about the fatal shooting that occurred in New Mexico on October 21.

"Rust" Shooting: Prosecutor Rejects "Sabotage" Claims on Movie's Fatal Incident

Alec Baldwin and Dave halls have not yet commented on the lawsuit slammed against them, but lawyers of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer of the film, suggested that someone "sabotaged" the film by adding a live round in the Colt Revolver.

However, on Wednesday, the prosecutor investigating the fatal incident rejected the claims of Gutierrez-Reed's defense attorney.

In an interview with ABC News, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies was asked if she believed in the possibility of a "sabotage," to which the prosecutor answered "No," The Guardian reported.

"We do not have any proof," Carmack-Altwies added.

During the interview, the prosecutor also noted she knows who loaded the live round into the gun, but she did not mention any more details about her claims.

READ NEXT: Rust Crewmember Says He Expressed Concerns to Alec Baldwin's Producers About AD Dave Halls Safety Issues on Previous Film

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: 'Rust' Crew Member Speaks Out About Set Conditions - From NBC News
The man accused of selling the counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills that killed rapper Mac Miller has agreed to plead guilty to distributing fentanyl, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

Fentanyl Distributor Pleads Guilty in Connection to the Death of Mac Miller

According to CBS News, the 38-year-old, Ryan Reavis, was one of several individuals that were charged with the overdose death of Miller three years ago.

Based on the report from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California, former West Los Angeles resident Reavis pleaded to a single-count superseding information charging him with the distribution of fentanyl.

The accused distributor moved to Arizona in 2019. Officials said that Reavis distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills to co-defendant 30-year-old man Cameron James Pettit, who was a resident of West Hollywood on September 4, 2018.

Also, the Department of Justice stated that Reavis admitted that he knew that the pills contained fentanyl or some other controlled substance.

After Reavis supplied the 30-year-old man from West Hollywood with the fentanyl-laced pills, Pettit gave them to the 26-year-old rapper Mac Miller, whose real name was Malcolm James McCormick.

The then 26-year-old rapper, Mac Miller, got the pills about two days before he suffered the fatal drug overdose on September 7, 2018.

READ MORE: Texas Nightclub King Convicted for Allowing Drug Dealers to Peddle Cocaine in Clubs' Bathrooms

Mac Miller's Overdose Death

Based on the L.A. County coroner's report at the time, Miller died from an accidental overdose. Authorities pointed it out to a combination of alcohol and drugs, including fentanyl.

The rapper was discovered by his personal assistant unresponsive on his bed in his Studio City home. Mac Miller was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Reavis allegedly distributed the counterfeit pills to Pettit at the direction of co-defendant 48-year-old Stephen Andrew Walter, a resident of Westwood. Walter last month agreed to plead guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl.

Both Walter and Reavis were expected to plead guilty in the coming weeks before a U.S. district judge in Los Angeles. On the other hand, the Department of Justice said that the case against Pettit is still pending.

Reavis could face a prison time of up to 20 years, as well as a $1 million fine.

Furthermore, Mac Miller made a name for himself in the independent rap scene in 2010. Miller signed with Warner Records in 2014 after two of his albums hit the charts. Just before his death, Miller released his fifth studio album and was preparing to tour.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration released a report warning the public about the harmful effect of fentanyl. The agency said that fentanyl is considered a synthetic opioid estimated to be 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin.

The agency added that just 2 milligrams of fentanyl could be lethal, depending on a person's body size, tolerance, and past use.

Synthetic opioids like fentanyl are the primary driver of overdose deaths in the country, based on the report of the CDC.

The number of overdose deaths that involved synthetic opioids, mainly illicitly manufactured fentanyl climbed to 55.6% between 2020 and 2021.

READ NEXT: Arizona Public Safety Troopers Intercepted More Than $1.7M in Fentanyl, Heroin, Other Illegal Drugs After I-10 Traffic Stop

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Man to plead guilty to distributing fentanyl in overdose death of Mac Miller - KTLA 5
U.S. President Joe Biden had signed a new bill putting more sanctions and punitive initiatives against Nicaragua's government after Daniel Ortega had secured a fourth consecutive term in office.

Seven presidential candidates were arrested, and others were forced into exile during Nicaragua's elections, according to an Aljazeera report.

Biden signed Reinforcing Nicaragua's Adherence to Conditions for Electoral Reform Act, imposing sanctions on the government of Ortega. The Act restricts multilateral bank lending, as well as targets regime corruption.

U.S. House of Representatives adopted the bill earlier this month, while the Senate approved the Act in August. The RENACER Act calls for sanctions on Nicaraguans that would be found responsible for unfair elections.

U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Democrat Bob Menendez, introduced the bill. He said that the committee is proud to see the U.S. match Ortega's tyrannical strategies with targeted action and uncompromising support for those wanting freedom and basic rights.

The legislation also proposes new efforts aimed at monitoring, reporting on, and addressing Ortega's corruption, corruption from family, and human rights abuses in Nicaragua, according to The Hill report.

READ NEXT: Facebook Accuses Nicaragua Government of Running Internet Troll Farm, Removes Over 1,000 'Fake' Accounts

Nicaragua's Elections

Ortega detained the credible challengers who planned to run against him. He also shut down opposition parties and banned large campaign events, according to The New York Times report.

He also jailed some of the elderly Sandinistas who fought with him to throw out the dictator, Anastasio Somoza.

A wife of one of the jailed opposition leaders, Berta Valle, said that it wasn't an election, describing it as a farce. She added that no one will elect anyone else as the only candidate is Ortega.

Analysts said Ortega's fourth consecutive term in office and near-control of Nicaragua has brought in a new era of repression and terror.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, head of the Americas region for Human Rights Watch, said that it is a turning point toward authoritarianism in the region, calling Ortega's crackdown a "slow-motion horror movie." He added that Ortega is not even trying to preserve some sort of facade of democratic rule.

Biden has called the Nicaragua elections a "sham."

Ortega loyalists have been given the task to monitor elections without any public debates among the five remaining candidates.

Daniel Ortega

Ortega had helped overthrow the anti-communist Somoza in 1979 and first served as president of Nicaragua from 1985 to 1990 before his return to power in 2007, according to another Aljazeera report.

Ortega was arrested in 1967 for his part in a bank robbery and spent the next seven years in jail. He was released in 1974, along with other Sandinista prisoners. He was then exiled to Cuba, where he received several months of guerilla training.

During his first months in the office in 2007, he vowed to implement programs that would eliminate hunger and illiteracy, according to Britannica. However, after his first year in office, many questioned his motives when he started restricting news coverage and denying access to government reports.

He was also associated with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

READ MORE: Clashing Mexican Drug Cartels Leave 2 Police and 7 Others Dead in Mexico

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Nicaragua President Ortega Reelected Despite Worldwide Scrutiny - from NBC News






Vice President Kamala Harris faced criticisms on Wednesday after she went viral for allegedly talking in a "French accent" while speaking at a laboratory in Paris on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, Harris toured the Institut Pasteur and spoke alongside a group of scientists about the U.S.-France Alliance on scientific research, Fox News reported.

In her speech, the vice president then mentioned what politicians do, as she mocked them how they stick to "The Plan" they campaigned for. However, the vice president was noticed to change her dialect whenever she used the said phrase.

Kamala "Cringe" Harris visits a group of French scientists and speaks to them as if they're toddlers, lamenting that people expect their elected officials to keep their promises. pic.twitter.com/93eoZEip4R  Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) November 10, 2021

"In government, we campaign with 'The Plan'... Uppercase T, upper case P, 'The Plan,'" Harris said. The vice president continued that politicians were expected to defend "The Plan" or their promises.

READ NEXT: Kamala Harris Arrives in Vietnam After 3-Hour Delayed Flight From Singapore Over 'Havana Syndrome' Cases

People were quick to criticize Harris for how she spoke during her speech in the Paris laboratory. Senator Josh Hawley's Press Secretary Abigail Marone took to Twitter to ask if the vice president was using a French accent during her speech.

Is she using a FRENCH ACCENT?! I love this episode of Veep. https://t.co/HC0eaq0nsY  Abigail Marone  (@abigailmarone) November 10, 2021

"Is she using FRENCH ACCENT," Marone said, emphasizing the dialect.

Fox News Contributor Joe Concha also reacted to the way Harris spoke, saying that "There are really no words anymore."

I wonder if she practiced accents with her child actor friends. https://t.co/s7lm4bZhY0  Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) November 10, 2021

GOP strategist Matt Whitlock also expressed his wonders if the vice president "practiced accents with her child actor friends."

Aside from speaking about "The Plan," where she was criticized, the vice president also said that politicians must work like scientists.

"One of those things people in politics and government should really take from the approach of scientists - scientists operate with hypothesis," Harris said, contending that hypotheses are well-thought-out and planned and that they update their hypothesis and analyze what went wrong if something failed during the process.

Kamala Harris Visits Paris Laboratory

The laboratory Harris visited on Tuesday was the workplace of her late mother, Shyamala Gopalan, who worked in the Institut Pasteur during the 1980s, People reported.

According to Harris, some of the "most significant discoveries" in science, such as HIV/AIDS, rabies, breast cancer, and mRNA vaccines and pandemics, occurred in the said laboratory in collaboration with the French and American scientists and other scientists from around the world.

The vice president reportedly spoke with a virologist and researcher who studies the symptoms that arise from those diagnosed with COVID-19.

Harris was also reported to privately speak with researchers who worked with her late mother in the 1980s.

Kamala Harris Meets French President Emmanuel Macron

Aside from visiting the Paris Laboratory, Vice President Kamala Harris also met with France's President Emmanuel Macron.

The vice president visited France's chief executive on Wednesday evening, three years after ex-President Donald Trump shunned the European leaders who marched in unity along Champs-Elysees, Los Angeles Times reported.

Both leaders were positive that their meeting marked "the beginning of a new era" that required both countries to work together.

Harris then mentioned that "success" was always the product whenever the United States and France worked together on "challenges and opportunities," noting that both countries have the same values and priorities.

Harris' meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron also came amid a rift between the Biden administration and the French government over an arms deal.

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Written By: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Kamala Harris Arrives in Paris to Ease France-US Tensions - From FRANCE 24 English
Meghan Markle apologized to the Court of Appeal for forgetting that she told a royal aide to brief the authors of the Finding Freedom biography.

Markle and Prince Harry had earlier insisted they did not cooperate with the writers of the book.

Markle said that she had forgotten to tell the aide details of what to reveal when the aide is to meet with them, according to a Daily Mail report.

Markle had emailed her then communications secretary, Jason Knauf, regarding a detailed briefing noted on December 10, 2018, which included some helpful background reminders about her estranged family.

There were also notes of Markle's version of events of a tiara incident involving Queen Elizabeth.

She denied intentionally misleading the High Court after an appeal heard her former communications secretary provide information to the authors of the Finding Freedom autobiography.

Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote the Finding Freedom autobiography.

Knauf said that the book was discussed on a routine basis and was discussed directly with the Duchess of Sussex multiple times in person and over email, according to a BBC News report.

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Finding Freedom Autobiography Discussions

Knauf also discussed that there was planning of meeting with the authors when it comes to providing background information. He added that Markle had given him briefing points to share with them, including information on how she had "very minimal contact" with her half-siblings during her childhood.

There was also evidence included in emails that there was a need to conceal any involvement by Prince Harry and Markle.

Harry reportedly said that he totally agreed to what they have to be able to say that they did not have anything to do with it, according to the former aide.

Knauf said that he advised getting the authors in touch with friends of the duchess, telling Harry that it was not a good idea, according to The Daily Beast report.

Knauf said he emailed Harry that he would meet the authors to help with the factual accuracy and context.

Harry allegedly replied and said that the truth is very much needed and would be appreciated, particularly about the "Markle/wedding stuff."

Knauf said that the briefing points included information on her family, her happiness about moving to Windsor, details surrounding the tiara for her wedding, which had been selected and had been misinterpreted by media.

Knauf said that he also received an email from Harry asking if he was planning to give the writers a rough idea of what Markle has been through over the last through years, citing media onslaught and cyberbullying.

Markle said that he accepted that Knauf provided some information to the authors of the book and did so with her knowledge. However, she said that the extent of the information he shared was unknown to her.

The duchess said that it was not in her intentions to mislead the court nor the defendant.

Markle said that she would have been willing to cite the exchanges with Knauf if she had been aware of it.

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Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: 'Finding Freedom': New book details Harry and Meghan's royal exit - from ABC News






The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has instructed its supervisors to convince their employees to comply with the Biden administration's vaccine mandate or face being fired for insubordination.

The order was the latest move of the CBP that is still grappling with significant pushback internally to the vaccine mandates.

Vaccine Mandate To Be Pushed by CBP Supervisors

In an October 30 email that Fox News obtained, CBP referenced the September 9 executive order by President Joe Biden, which mandates all federal employees to be fully vaccinated by November 22.

According to Fox News, the email noted that pursuant to the vaccination requirement, all CBP supervisors were ordered to have a discussion with each of their employees.

During the said discussions, supervisors were directed to instruct their employees to upload their vaccination status and documentation by November 8.

The email also threatens "consequences" for "non-compliance" to an employee who will fail to submit the required documents.

The supervisors must also tell employees that they must receive their final vaccination shot by November 8 to be fully vaccinated by the deadline.

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CBP Supervisors Could be Fired If They Fail to Discuss Vaccination Requirements

The email said supervisors who will fail to have the required discussions with their employees would be subject to "potential discipline for insubordination, up to removal from federal service."

The email added "discussion points" to avoid missing any needed information and a discussion log that supervisors must submit.

A Border Patrol source told Fox News that supervisors, in the coming weeks, were expected to hold counseling sessions for unvaccinated employees to set up a vaccination timeline. The source said failing to comply will lead to the employee's suspension and start the termination process.

The source also revealed that agents were peppered with multiple emails a day regarding the subject, including videos of CBP or Homeland Security employees affected by the coronavirus.

A CBP spokesperson has declined to comment on alleged leaked information or documents but said the CBP and other federal agencies are "laser-focused on vaccinating their workforce" ahead of the November 22 deadline.

The spokesperson added that the CBP continued to collect vaccination information from employees as they approached the deadline like other federal agencies.

Former acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan told Fox News that the mandate imposed by Biden seemed to have been a "colossal failure across the board" since the agency had to push the supervisors so hard.

Morgan, who served as acting CBP chief during the Trump administration, noted that it was a sure indicator that the policy was way off "when you can't get your subordinate field leadership to comply."

He added that "when you're having to strong-arm your field leadership to force compliance, that's a red flag."

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WATCH: Local Impact of federal vaccine mandate - From KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2
Colombia's President Ivan Duque has high hopes for the medical marijuana industry despite the ongoing drug war in his country and considers it a different story than cocaine.

In an interview with the Associated Press during his visit to Israel, the president of Colombia emphasized on Tuesday that the promotion of cannabis for medical and other purposes was "a different story" than cocaine.

Duque has cited the difference between marijuana and cocaine, especially their effects on the environment.

Colombia's President Ivan Duque Chooses Cannabis Over Cocaine

According to NBC News, the president of Colombia said for drug producers to plant one hectare of coca in Colombia, they have to destroy two hectares of a tropical jungle.

Ivan Duque noted that the production of cocaine has "a very high carbon footprint" and would use a lot of gasoline and cement, and the processed chemicals get dumped in the forest.

In addition to the harmful effects in the environment of cocaine production, there were also concerns over cartel violence and murderous drug kingpins, one of whom was nabbed just last month on a U.S. warrant.

There's also the scattered remnants of the FARC rebel group who have fought on despite a landmark peace agreement reached five years ago.

Duque's stand on cannabis is something new, considering his past actions against drugs. The Colombian president took office, proclaiming that drugs "destroy" families.

Duque also signed a law prohibiting the possession of drugs in public spaces. It challenged a ruling by Colombia's Supreme Court of Justice that allowed individuals to carry small amounts of weed, cocaine, and other drugs.

According to Duque, cannabis is an opportunity for innovation with Israel and Colombia. Israel is a country that allowed marijuana exports in 2019.

Fresh from the U.N. climate summit, Colombia pledged to be carbon-neutral by 2050. The country also opened a Colombian innovation center in Jerusalem.

Duque was keen to discuss how Colombia and Israel, as "self-styled start-up nations," could collaborate to make the world a better place, and one opportunity is reportedly cannabis.

Avi Hasson, the CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, which connects governments and international businesses to Israeli entrepreneurs, said innovation was the best solution to most problems of different countries.

Hasson noted that even those created by innovation would "still need to be solved by innovation."

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Colombia's Opportunities in Cannabis

In July, Colombia lifted an export ban on dried cannabis flowers. The Colombian president said his country is looking to harness derivatives for everything - from medical treatments and food production to cosmetics.

Ivan Duque noted that they were seeing a lot of international investment coming to Colombia because of cannabis.

The country of Israel might be able to lend a hand to Duque because medical marijuana was legalized years ago in the country. More than 100,000 Israelis out of a population of over 9 million were already licensed users. Israel has become the third country to approve marijuana exports.

Israel boasted more than 110 cannabis tech companies, mainly in the health sector, that have attracted nearly $350 million in investment since 2015. According to Start-Up Nation Central, Israel was also among the largest importers of medical cannabis flowers in the world.

Ivan Duque noted that there was a difference between harnessing beneficial components from drugs and removing the prohibition completely.

"We're not using cannabis for recreational purposes. We're using it for medical purposes," the Colombian president added.

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Written by: Jess Smith

WATCH: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett Meets with Colombian President Ivan Duque - From IsraeliPM
Up to 1,000 prisoners and staff at Ireland's biggest jail complex in Laois will have been tested by the end of the week as authorities attempt to quench an Covid-19 outbreak at the jail which is now in double figures.

The Irish Prison Service confirmed on Thursday, November 11 that following mass testing and lockdown of two divisions in the Midlands Prison Portlaoise, 16 positive cases have been returned from the prisoner population.

All are understood to have been confirmed in the G wing but due to the number of positive tests, prison authorities and HSE public health teams have decided to test all staff and inmates in the jail.

The service confirmed that two additional prisoner cases were confirmed on November 11. The first cases during the outbreak emerged on November 4. Staff have also contracted the virus but the IPS cannot disclose details.

"The Irish Prison Service is working closely with HSE Public Health with regard to the management of the current outbreak and are in agreement with the mass testing of prisoners on the A,B,C and D divisions in Midlands Prison," said a statement.

Families who had hoped to visit have been informed that to control the outbreak the entire jail is now in lockdown.

"To help prevent the further spread of infection a more restricted regime has been introduced which may impact on access to video visits and phone calls in the short term for prisoners in precautionary isolation however we are working to ensure that we can continue to facilitate family contact as far as possible," said the IPS.

The Service added that Midlands Prison Outbreak Control Team (OCT) continues to engage with Prison Management to oversee appropriate actions to mitigate against further possible spread of the disease within the prison.

There are nearly 820 prisoners jailed at the Midlands Prison - a 93% occupancy rate.

Laois has one of the highest incidences of the virus in recent weeks with the county recording a level of more than 1,000 per 100,000 population.

The IPS also confirmed on November 11 that it is managing an outbreak of Covid-19 in Cloverhill Prison in Dublin. It said that, to date, a significant number of symptomatic prisoners have undergone testing and are awaiting test results. The Irish Prison Service confirm that one prisoner in the B Division has tested positive for Covid-19.

The IPS has won international recognition for its management of the pandemic.

Nearly nine in ten prisoners in the country's jails have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 recent figures have revealed.

Some 89% of the more than 3,800 inmates in 12 prisons in the state have been inoculated.
A lorry driver rear ended another lorry with animals in it, Portlaoise court heard last week.

Dingzhong Pan, 44, of 8 Liffey View, Liffey Valley Park, Lucan, Dublin was charged with dangerous driving at the M7 Togher on February 17 this year. This was reduced to careless driving.

Sgt JJ Kirby told the court that at the M7 Togher there was a road traffic accident at the M7 Togher on that date. Mr Pan had rear ended another vehicle.

An analysis of his mobile phone had shown there was plenty of activity on it at the time.

The vehicle rear ended was a Mercedes truck.

Defence solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick noted that Mr Pan relied on his licence for his income. There had been an issue with brakes in his vehicle in the past. The brakes had been replaced but the problem had arisen again. The pedal box was crushed. He was saying there was no traction when he stepped on the brakes. There was a transport operative in court.

Ms Fitzpatrick, noted there was stock in the other vehicle. She told Judge Staines that one animal had been injured. The lorry had been taking them to an abattoir at the time.

Judge Staines said it was irrelevant whether they were going to an abattoir. They were sentient beings at the time of the collision, and the animal would have been in a lot of pain.

Ms Fitzpatrick said it was an unhappy set of circumstances. She said that Mr Pan had pleaded guilty early. He was a Chinese national who had been driving full time for the past few years.

Judge Staines said it was a serious injury to the animal. She agreed to reduce it to careless driving.

She fined him 200 and disqualified him for three months.
Salaries, expenses and other costs to fund the 19 Laois County Councillors have risen sharply in the past year.

Laois County Council has increased its 2022 budget spend from 750,000, up to 926,000 to pay the councillors who work to represent local people in decision making at county hall.

If divided evenly, it would mean that each councillor will cost the taxpayer 48,736 next year.

However some councillors earn more than others, with the 13 Fianna Fail and Fine Gael councillors usually taking all of the 42,000 pot for chair and vice chair allowances, as they have the majority vote on who takes those positions.

The basic public representative pay has risen from 336,500 to 488,500, or 25,710 per councillor.

They will also get a rise in annual allowances, from 110,000 up to 145,000 between them.

It was part of a national 9 million payrise and rise in expenses for all 949 public reps in Ireland, agreed by Government last May.

Expenses budgeted for Laois councillors however will fall, from 110,000 to 97,500.

Members' gratuities will remain the same at 65,500. So too will 24,000 listed as 'other expenses' and the 2,000 allocated for conferences abroad.

There is little change to contributions to members' associations at 18,000, and service support costs at 41,500.

The budget is part of Laois County Council's overall 89 million planned to spend running the county in 2022. Read more on how it will be spent below.
Community groups across Laois will be able to apply for a new slice of new tranche of Covid-19 relief funds announced by the Government.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe OBrien TD, have today announced a 9 million fund to support community groups impacted by COVID-19.

The Department of Rural and Community Development says 273,048 is allocated to Laois. It says the Community Activities Fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities.

Groups will also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment.

The once-off fund is allocated under the Departments Community Enhancement Programme and will be administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) under the auspices of Laois County Council.

In order to allow flexibility, the Department says is not setting a national closing date, but will allow each LCDC to set its own, to best suit its area. However, the Department will require that all closing dates are no later than 28 February 2022. Groups should check with their LCDC for further details.

The money was welcomed by Laois Offaly Government politicians, Minister Sean Fleming, Minister Pippa Hackett and Barry Cowen TD.

This funding is about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, which have continued to serve their community during COVID-19," said Minister Humphreys.

These grants may be small in nature, but they help thousands of community organisations, clubs, mens and womens sheds, youth centres and parish halls.

I would encourage all interested groups to get in touch with their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) that administers the programme in their area.

Supporting local communities to shape their future is a key focus of the Governments new rural development policy, Our Rural Future. The funding I am announcing today will ensure that important work can continue to be delivered by communities on the ground and Im delighted that every single county will benefit.

Minister OBrien was also pleased with the funding.

This past year has, once again, shown the importance of a vibrant Community and Voluntary sector. The efforts of local community groups & volunteers throughout the pandemic has been immense and this funding will help to provide practical support to smaller community groups and facilities at a grassroots level across the country.

I hope that this will continue to help foster and grow the community spirit that is so evident across Ireland, he said.
A judge has told a jury that, when considering their verdict, they must ignore the fact that murder accused Stephen Penrose chose to be unrepresented at and declined to attend his trial and that he had "an outburst" in the courtroom.

In his charge to the jury this morning, Mr Justice Alexander Owens also said they must not let their views of Mr Penrose's general character "impinge" on their decision in the case and that his "repeated hiring and firing of solicitors and barristers" was irrelevant.

Mr Penrose (38), of Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Philip Finnegan (24) at Rahin Woods, Rahin, Edenderry, Co Kildare on August 10, 2016.

The trial has heard that Mr Finnegan was missing for just over three weeks before a dog walker and his two pets found his "skeletonised" remains buried in a shallow grave in the Kildare woods on September 2, 2016.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster has testified that the decapitated remains of Mr Finnegan were found in the grave on September 2 and attempts had been made to burn his body. In the expert witness's view, Mr Finnegan's death was caused by multiple stab wounds to the body, including two fatal ones to his liver and aorta.

A forensic scientist told the jury that a DNA profile generated from a bloodied glove discovered near the remains of Mr Finnegan matched the DNA of Mr Penrose.

Beginning his charge to the jury this morning, Mr Justice Owens said they must not let their views of Mr Penrose's general character "impinge" on their decision in this case. "I think Mr Penrose described himself as no angel or no saint, that is irrelevant," he said.

The judge told the jurors that they must also ignore the fact that Mr Penrose has chosen to be unrepresented by legal expertise, that he had "an outburst" in the courtroom and that he had declined to attend the duration of the trial. "His repeated hiring and firing of solicitors and barristers is also irrelevant," he added.

In the first week of the case, the judge warned Mr Penrose that he would be taken to the cells and banned from participating in his own trial, where he is representing himself, if he continued to "abuse" and "ballyrag" witnesses.

Mr Justice Owens said at the time that he would not allow his courtroom to become "a circus" after the defendant Mr Penrose accused a garda Inspector, who he was cross-examining, of lying under oath. "He is telling bullshit about me," Mr Penrose shouted in the courtroom, before demanding that the witness be "dismissed" from his trial as his "word" could not be accepted.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Penrose dispensed with what was his second legal team "once again" and declined to continue attending his trial. The case proceeded in his absence.

The judge also told the 12 jurors today that the accused had no obligation to cross-examine witnesses or give evidence in his own defence.

Furthermore, the judge said the accused had elected not to give a closing speech and the prosecution did not have a right to give a closing speech as Mr Penrose was unrepresented for most of the trial and had not called any witnesses.

Summarising the prosecution case, Mr Justice Owens said it was their contention that the evidence all pointed to the conclusion that Mr Finnegan was murdered and the jury must decide if Mr Penrose was the perpetrator or a perpetrator.

The State's case, he said, is also that the evidence established that Mr Penrose brought Mr Finnegan to Rahin Woods and murdered him somewhere after 4.10pm on August 10, when the accused's cobalt blue Alfa Romeo car passed CCTV cameras at Grangewest in Co Kildare. The same car was next seen on CCTV footage at 5.13pm at Balrinnet in Co Kildare.

"The prosecution case is also that the explanations given by Mr Penrose for that missing hour between 4.10pm and 5.13pm are not believable. The prosecution case is that Mr Penrose gave differing accounts to gardai of an attack by others on Mr Finnegan, which continued on during the course of his interviews," he added.

The accused told gardai in his interviews that he and Mr Finnegan met a number of men in a black car on August 10. Mr Penrose said a man stabbed him in the arm and he also witnessed Mr Finnegan being stabbed in the back during an attack by the group of men. The accused said he then drove off at speed.

The Central Criminal Court jury has heard that Mr Penrose gave different versions throughout his 19 interviews to detectives about where he had last seen Philip Finnegan. In his final interview, the accused told gardai that he and Mr Finnegan got attacked by a group of men at "a forest", having arranged to collect firearms from them.

The judge said the State's case is that the lies and constant changing of accounts by Mr Penrose was because he was trying to distance himself from murdering Mr Finnegan at Rahin Woods and that "this is the only logical explanation for it".

"The prosecution case is that Mr Penrose did not want to disclose the location of where he left Mr Finnegan as this would lead to gardai discovering the body and where he had murdered Mr Finnegan," he continued.

The judge said the prosecution's case is also that the injury to Mr Penrose's left arm was not a defensive injury as he asserted but that the accused had cut himself when he was "knifing" Mr Finnegan to death or when he was trying to cut up the deceased's body.

Referring to the defence case, Mr Justice Owens said that Mr Penrose maintained he was a friend of Mr Finnegan's and that they had met men that day to test firearms. The accused also said the reason he was wearing gloves was to test firearms, that he discarded a glove near a caravan at the entrance to Rahin Woods, that he was not in Rahin Woods when he escaped from the men and that he saw Mr Finnegan run away from the men after being stabbed in the back, he said. "He denied he had anything to do with the killing or had any idea where the body was found and [feared] if he told gardai what had happened then he and his family would be placed in danger," he added.

The judge asked the jury to consider if the only credible explanation for the accused's conduct was that he was trying to put gardai "off the scent" as to where Mr Finnegan's body would be found or if he was "covering up" to protect himself from "the assailants".

Mr Justice Owens said the evidence is that Mr Finnegan was murdered on August 10 and the issue they have to decide is whether the evidence proved that Mr Penrose was the murderer.

"You also have the admission from Mr Penrose that Mr Finnegan was close to a wood or near a caravan when he last saw him," said the judge.

The jury can return two verdicts in relation to the murder charge against Mr Penrose, namely; guilty of murder or not guilty.

Mr Justice Owens will continue his charge to the jury of eight men and four women this afternoon.
A TD is calling on the government to address the "chronic shortage" of refuge places for victims of domestic violence.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald made the comments in the Dail yesterday condemning the lack of refuges, stating, "This is a national crisis."

According to the deputy, there are currently 140 refuge places in the State, despite an obligation by the Istanbul Convention to have 498 available.

Deputy McDonald said, "Between September and December last year, 808 requests for a refuge went unmet. In June, the Taoiseach told the Dail that he was committed to implementing Istanbul and creating more refuge facilities but that has not happened. It is scandalous that the recent budget contained no specific commitment to provide additional refuge places.

"The lack of an exit route sees women and children staying longer in abusive homes. I and others raise this crisis year after year and nothing changes. What urgent action will be taken to ensure every woman who cries out for help is given the protection of refuge?"

Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the deputy that the matter is receiving "the active and ongoing engagement of the ministers, deputies O'Gorman, Darragh O'Brien and McEntee".

He said, "Additional resources were provided in the budget. The working through and the consultations with key stakeholders on the strategy continue. We want to arrive at a situation where in all parts of the country facilities, refuge and supports are provided to victims of domestic violence."

However, Safe Ireland Domestic Violence Services Network responded negatively to the release of Budget 2022, with CEO Mary McDermott calling it "beyond disappointing, indeed offensive".
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Francis Duffy, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, as the new Archbishop of Tuam.

On Wednesday morning, Archbishop-elect Duffy concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tuam, with His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland; and Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam.

Archbishop-elect Duffy's address to the congregation

I thank Archbishop Michael for his very warm welcome. I follow in the footsteps of a true shepherd who has led this diocese with great wisdom, sensitivity, and faithfulness for 27 years as Archbishop.

I thank the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, for his assistance and encouragement over the last while.

I come today as a Cavan man, from Bawnboy in the parish of Templeport, where I was born and raised. I spent over twenty years as a teacher and as a school principal in counties Cavan and Leitrim followed by some years as diocesan secretary in my native diocese of Kilmore and as assistant priest in the parish of Laragh.

The last eight years have been spent in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois as Bishop, based in Longford. Pope Francis has asked me to go further west, to be Archbishop of Tuam, in this beautiful part of the country, stretching from the islands off the west coast to Mountbellew, and on to the island parish of Moore.

I am certainly surprised and humbled to be appointed to this Archdiocese and naturally I am a little sad at leaving my own diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois.

One of the developments in the diocese, which I now leave, is the well advanced plans for a Diocesan Assembly. Led by parishioners, we have spent a lot of time listening and discerning in what is a synodal path.

Part of our Assembly Prayer is: Jesus, give us a heart of flesh to hear and to embrace the prayer of hurt, pain, tears and anger of our people.

To move forward we must listen to all who have been hurt by their experience of Church.

I was particularly struck by what Archbishop Michael said a last month about the Catholic Church in this diocese being already synodal in so many ways. That is true and is a credit to Archbishop Michael, the people of the parishes, the clergy and religious and all involved in those life enhancing and hope filled initiatives that have taken place. It is the Holy Spirit working in and through so many people. As we walk together may the Holy Spirit continue to guide, to challenge and to enlighten us.

I have always thought that for a diocesan priest the clergy form a sort meitheal, a group of support, of encouragement and of assistance for each other. I am really looking forward to joining the priests of this archdiocese, to listen, to learn and to be part of their mission in joyfully spreading the Good News of the Lord Jesus. The caring, moving and hope filled work of clergy is vital. In the words of a very recent correspondent on the declining numbers of clergy, You all are needed more than ever now. Best wishes to all of you. Know that your service is very important to us all. It reflects a heartfelt gratitude and positive view of priests and what they mean to so many people. So this morning I would like to say a special word of greeting to the priests of the archdiocese of Tuam. I have a lot to learn and am looking forward to doing so with their help.

I particularly look forward to meeting with the parishioners, parish pastoral councils and school communities throughout this diocese. I greet the religious, those who have dedicated their lives with great generosity to the mission of the gospel in so many areas of life and continue to do so.

This archdiocese is renowned for the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine at Knock and for Croagh Patrick and also for Ballintubber Abbey and Mamean. I look forward to engaging with the deep spiritual traditions and culture of this area.

Next Sunday I will be at the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine at Knock, with Irish Bishops, to pray for those who died during the pandemic, for those who are bereaved and for all who sacrificed so much during that time. It has been a traumatic time for so many people and it has also been a time when we have witnessed so much selfless goodness and neighbourliness.

To the parishioners, the priests and religious of this Archdiocese, I say that really look forward to meeting with you and working with you in the time to come. I will be on the highways and byways and the boats to visit the people in their parishes as soon as possible. So google maps will be my go to page for some time.

Caithfidh me stopadh anois; ta neart paiceal le deanamh agam i Longfort. Nil uaim anois ach an Spioraid Naomh do mo stiriu agus learscail maith chun me a threoru ar fud na deoise. Go raibh maith agaibh. Buiochas agus Beannacht."

Bishop Francis Duffy appointed new Archbishop of Tuam The diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois is looking for a new church leader following the appointment of Bishop Francis Duffy as the new Archbishop of Tuam.

Life and ministry of Archbishop-elect Francis Duffy

Francis Duffy was born on April 21, 1958 in the parish of Templeport, Co Cavan to parents Mary Catherine Dolan and Frank Duffy.

He attended primary school at Munlough National School, Bawnboy, and completed his post-primary education at Saint Patricks College, Cavan.

Francis studied for the priesthood at Saint Patricks College, Maynooth and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Kilmore on June 20, 1982 in Saint Mogues Church, Bawnboy, Co Cavan by Bishop Francis MacKiernan.

He taught at Saint Patricks College, Cavan, and was appointed principal of Fatima and Felims Secondary School, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim in 1996.

After twelve years as principal Father Francis was appointed Diocesan Secretary and Financial Administrator and Chancellor. During that time he was resident priest in the parish of Laragh, Co Cavan.

On July 17 ,2013 he was appointed Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois with his episcopal ordination taking place on October 6, 2013 at Saint Marys Church, Athlone.

As a member of the Irish Bishops Conference, Bishop Duffy is currently chair of the Council for Liturgy, a member of the Council for Education, as well as a member of the Commission for Worship, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development.
The deadline for lodging an objection against the proposed granting of a prospecting licence for parts of North Leitrim may have passed but local people have vowed to continue the fight against potential mining in the county.

In October, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, published notice of his intention to grant a prospecting licence for silver, gold and base metals to Flintridge Resources across 47 townlands in North Leitrim.

The public had until November 7 to lodge their opposition to the licence.

The Treasure Leitrim action group, set up in opposition to the grant of the prospecting licence, have thanked everyone for their support over the last number of weeks and are encouraging the public to maintain pressure on politicians and asked people to remain vigilant.

The call comes after a hugely successful rally on Saturday opposing the licence in Manorhamilton where calls were made by community campaigners to not let the Trojan Horse of the mining industry into the community.

One of the spokespersons for the group, Jamie Murphy, said It has been a very intensive few weeks for a shocked community having first heard of the plans to grant a licence. However the response from the public has been overwhelming with thousands of objections lodged.

There was another excellent turnout at the rally on Saturday where again the message was clear that this toxic extractive industry is not wanted. However vigilance is important. While we have received huge public support from the public and from local and national political representatives no decision has yet been made by Minister Ryan. We cannot afford to become complacent until the Minister makes clear he will not grant the licence.

Last week the issue was also raised in the Dail, Independent TD, Marian Harkin and Sinn Fein TD, Martin Kenny both spoke on the issue.

Deputy Harkin raised the matter with Minister Ryan and her very strong impression was that he would grant those licence.

I was very disappointed at Minister Ryans stance on this issue. Yes, he spoke of public consultation, but he also made it clear that because we have higher environmental standards and regulations in Ireland than in other parts of the world, we should mine for base metals here in Ireland.

This will come as very bad news to the many people and communities who are very concerned about the possible damage to the environment, to clean air and water and to the landscape of Leitrim, she said.

Sinn Fein TD, Martin Kenny, said the whole concept with a mining licence in Leitrim is being sold to us as a 'jobs at all cost and profit at all cost' scheme. That's what has brought us into this crisis with global warming in the first place.

The Government needs to step back from that and invest in real jobs in rural Ireland, allowing people to live and flourish in their own communities. Going down the direction of mining will certainly not do that and I will continue to oppose it at every opportunity, he said.

Deputy Marc MacSharry also issued a statement noting: The people of North Leitrim must be listened to by Minister Ryan and the Government. They have a vision for their county, one which is sustainable, promotes environmental best practice in farming and the rural economy and one which is very far removed from the blind profitability of multinational prospecting companies.

Last week Leitrim County Council unanimously backed a motion calling for Minister Eamon Ryan not to proceed with the licence and .

This week Cllr Felim Gurn, called on Minister Ryan to rethink his position on the prospecting licence citing a previous occasion reported in a Mayo newspaper in September 2008 where Minister Ryan had refused to grant such licences on the basis of the objection received and in consideration of the importance of tourism to the region.

Is it too much to ask that Minister Ryan apply similar standards when dealing with the people of Leitrim? he asked.



Cllr Des Guckian said he had lodged an objection to the licence noting that Inevitably, such prospecting leads to an invasion of our rights to enjoy our properties and to heavy extractive mining activity which will destroy our environment and help to kill off farming and communities everywhere it occurs.
AN UNINSURED driver who has never held a licence has been jailed over a serious road collision which left another man with catastrophic injuries.

Shane O'Donnell, aged 23, who has an address at Clarina Avenue, Ballinacurra Weston, Limerick had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to Daniel Hennigar on March 8, last.

He had also pleaded guilty to an offence, under Section 106 of the Road Traffic Act, of failing to provide medical assistance to Mr Hennigar.

The 24-year-old, from Dooradoyle, was crossing St Nessans Road  near the Crescent Shopping Centre  shortly after 11.20pm when he was struck by a speeding BMW.

Shocking footage of the incident was played during a sentencing hearing at Limerick Circuit Court this week.

In it, the BMW can be seen striking Mr Hennigar, who was on an e-scooter, as he makes his way across the pedestrian crossing.

He did not stand a chance said Garda Pat Melody.

He told John OSullivan BL, prosecuting, the BMW was being pursued by gardai at the time as they had encountered the vehicle at Childers Road a short time earlier.

Judge Tom ODonnell was told Mr Hennigar sustained multiple life-changing injuries, including a brain bleed. He is currently confined to a wheelchair and is due to be discharged from the National Rehabilitation Centre in Dun Laoghaire next month.

Mr ODonnell, who has more than 50 previous convictions, abandoned the BMW and fled the scene following the impact.

Garda Melody said the BMW was travelling on the wrong side of the road when it struck Mr Hennigar and that prior to the collision, it was being driven at speed and broke a red light.

Mr OSullivan said while the defendant did not intend to injure anyone he bears a high degree of culpability due to his recklessness on the night.

He made a conscious decision to drive in the manner he did, he stated.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Hennigars mother, Amanda, said her familys life changed forever following the collision.

She said her only son was full of life prior to the incident and that she thought he was dead when gardai called to her door on the night.

In her statement, which was read into the court record, she said its a miracle that Daniel survived and that she and her family will not stop until Daniel is in a position to live as independently as he can given his injuries.

We are blessed he is alive and still with us," she said.

Barrister Pat Whyms said his client had met the case front and centre and he asked the court to note his cooperation and early guilty plea.

He didnt intend to hurt anybody. He made a series of stupid decisions, he said, adding he wished to apologise most profusely.

Imposing sentence, Judge ODonnell said Mr Hennigar had been cut down by the criminal and reckless actions of the defendant.

He said the excessive speed and manner of driving were aggravating factors and that Mr ODonnell bore a high level of culpability.

He imposed a four-and-a-half year prison sentence along with a ten year disqualification.
AT the official opening of its research and development hub in Limerick this Thursday, Legato Health Technologies (Legato) announced that it is doubling its Irish workforce to 120 by mid-2022.

The announcement follows the initial 60 jobs committed to in September by Legato Health Technologies, which is committed to transforming healthcare through operational excellence, innovation and digital transformation. The company has 20,000 employees outside of Ireland.

The official opening of the R&D Hub in the National Technology Park, Limerick  the US companys first investment in Europe - was performed today by Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Niall Collins this Thursday morning.

The newly-established Limerick base will be home to 120 high quality jobs across Business Analytics, Data Science, Machine Learning and Product Management. The investment is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

The additional jobs commitment, the company said, reflects growth intentions for the Limerick operations as well as the opportunity for talent to work in a cutting-edge environment focused on enhancing healthcare management and advancing predictive health.

Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD, said: This announcement represents a significant opportunity for the people of Limerick and indeed Ireland. Health tech research and innovation provides us with tools to address key challenges in our society. Research activity attracts and retains high-quality health professionals in the system. New, innovative technologies like the ones that will be developed here will make it possible to deliver better clinical outcomes and improve the quality of life for people.

Speaking at the launch in Limerick today, Rajat Puri, President, Legato Health Technologies, said: Legato is delighted to officially open our new base here in Ireland, a location we chose due to the high levels of talent available. We are looking for highly skilled colleagues to develop cutting edge data science and engineering technologies that can be applied to provide innovation and digital transformation for the healthcare sector. Today is a very important day for the development of our company and we look forward to expanding our Limerick base further over the coming years.

John Shaw, Country Head, Legato Health Technologies Ireland, said, We are well on the way to filling our initial 60 posts announced in September and todays announcement of a further 60 posts reflects the ambition we have for our R&D hub here in Limerick. Legato is all about advancing technology to transform healthcare management and, in the process, improving lives. This is an opportunity for people who want to work on high-impact projects and we are thrilled to open our new R&D Hub here in Limerick. We look forward to working with stakeholders in the Mid-West and nationally as well as welcoming our new colleagues to help build this centre into a world leading innovation hub.

CEO of IDA Ireland Martin Shanahan said: Todays announcement by Legato Health Technologies so soon after its September announcement exemplifies the highly skilled and talented workforce available in the Mid-West and demonstrates the organisation's strong commitment to the region. IDA Ireland remains committed to winning jobs and investments in regional locations. I wish to congratulate Legato on this official opening of its R&D Hub in Limericks National Technology Park and wish them continues success.

Founded in 2017 as a fully owned subsidiary of Anthem Inc, Legato Health Technologies is committed to transforming healthcare through operational excellence, innovation and digital transformation. It has over 20,000 associates worldwide.
JERUSALEM: The CEO-designate of NSO Group has resigned citing the Israeli spyware company's blacklisting by the U.S. Commerce Department last week, Israeli media said on Thursday.

NSO Group declined to comment.

Isaac Benbenisti, an NSO Group co-president, was named for the top role on Oct. 31, but had yet to assume it. Some Israeli media incorrectly described him as already serving as CEO.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.

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A fight to unionize Starbucks Corp. cafes in New York states second-largest city is escalating as workers expand the number of stores they seek to represent, while the coffee chain steps up its campaign against it.

Starbucks workers in Buffalo, N.Y., are slated to vote next month on whether baristas should unionize under Workers United Upstate New York, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union. Ballots for the election overseen by the National Labor Relations Board were sent out to workers Wednesday.

Area employees Tuesday said they were filing new petitions with the NLRB to conduct votes at three additional Buffalo stores in addition to the three already set to weigh in on unionization.

Pro-union workers say that support for their group, called Starbucks Workers United, is growing.

We are incredibly confident," said Michelle Eisen, a Starbucks employee who works in Buffalo, during an event in front of one of the stores that they are petitioning to unionize. Weve only gotten stronger throughout this."

Meanwhile, the coffee chain tried to stop the vote, which currently affects the three stores, and its executives have spent an increasing amount of time in Buffalo making their case.

In a nearly 60-page petition Monday, Starbucks asked the NLRB for a stay of the mailing of the ballots and for the boards Washington, D.C., office to review the votes structure. Starbucks said an NLRB regional director overseeing the case misjudged last month in allowing only three Starbucks stores to hold individual elections. The company wants a vote to take place across its 20 stores in the Buffalo market.

A Starbucks spokesman said the company believes that all employees have the right to vote at once, instead of dividing up the market into units. He said the vote in individual stores doesnt reflect how Starbucks workers frequently travel between different cafes.

An NLRB spokeswoman said the board declined to take action on the stay, and the ballots for the three original stores were mailed out Wednesday. The board will consider the petitions for the three additional stores at a later date, she said. It will also still review Starbuckss request to have the vote take place across all 20 stores.

Starbucks, which owns nearly 9,000 U.S. cafes and licenses 6,500 others, has no unionized stores domestically. An attempt by some New York City Starbucks workers in 2004 to organize failed to translate into a union. Buffalo workers filed petitions to unionize at the end of August, with employees saying they needed better training and resources to do their jobs.

Starbucks has been increasingly focused on the rare unionization drive. The company in meetings and messages to employees has said it can better meet the needs of store employees directly than through an intermediary such as a union. It has pointed to benefits provided to employees that it says are rare among other restaurant chains, including healthcare coverage starting at 20 hours of work a week on average and stock in the company.

The Starbucks fight comes as workers ranging from stagehands to manufacturing-plant employees have become increasingly vocal in the current tight labor market. Unionized workers at Deere Co., Kellogg Co. and Mondelez International Inc. recently have walked off the job over their demands. Companies are taking on higher costs to keep their operations running during the labor battles.

Businesses are increasing pay for workers during the labor shortage to try to increase their ranks, with compensation costs for employees in the leisure and hospitality sector increasing 6.9% in the 12 months ended in September, Labor Department data show. That was the biggest percentage increase of any industry.

Starbucks last month said it was boosting average U.S. employee pay to $17 an hour by the summer of 2022, from roughly $14 an hour currently. That wage increase and two other recent ones constitute overall an additional $1 billion in spending on employees, Starbucks said.

Since Buffalo workers filed union petitions, Starbucks executives have traveled to Buffalo to meet with employees and assess problems, the company has said. In a letter to employees written from Buffalo last month, Rossann Williams, Starbuckss North America president, asked employees there to vote against the union and wrote that the company was best positioned to improve working conditions.

Some stores are well supported, but there are serious gaps in too many others," she wrote.

Starbucks Workers United earlier this month filed a complaint with the NLRB against the company alleging that it was interfering with the union vote. The group alleged that the company had engaged in threats, intimidation and surveillance during the union drive.

The company has denied any claims of interference. A Starbucks spokesman said the company believes that employees across Buffalo deserve the right to a vote and that it is keeping up direct communication with workers there.

Last Saturday, Starbucks invited workers to a city hotel to hear from a guest, with signs advertising that they would be paid for their attendance and receive food and beverages.

Howard Schultz, who built Starbucks from a handful of locations to a global coffee giant, addressed workers in a speech spanning the chains founding and its modern-day operations.

Were not a perfect company. Were not perfect people. Im not a perfect person. Mistakes are made. We learn from them and we try and fix them," said Mr. Schultz, the chains founder and chairman emeritus, according to a transcript of his roughly hourlong address.

As Mr. Schultz concluded, saying that he hoped attendees had learned about the companys 50-year history of trying to do the right thing, he was interrupted by a pro-union worker asking for Starbucks to ensure a fair labor election. Mr. Schultz wrote to workers later that afternoon that direct discussions with employees remains one of the companys hallmarks.

Mr. Schultz wrote: Leaders must learn from what is happening in Buffalo, and I know they are."

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text

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Israel on Thursday began a nationwide drill to test its readiness in the event of an outbreak of a new, more lethal Covid-19 variant. The 'Omega Drill', deemed as the world's first such exercise, will be led by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

The exercise, war-gamed over three sessions to simulate the passage of time after a potential flare-up, will test the resilience of systems that determine lockdown policies, monitor variants, offer economic support for citizens, enforce quarantines and watch border crossings.

"The State of Israel is in an excellent situation. We beat the fourth wave and we are on our way toward exiting the Delta variant. However, at the same time, we are always looking ahead and preparing for the continuation of the campaign, " Bennet said in a statement, adding, "We are not 'closing up shop'. Neither are we closing down the management systems and the order of battle against the virus."

"On the contrary, we are continuing to hold drills and to challenge ourselves. While the situation of coronavirus in the world is deteriorating, Israel is safe and protected. In order to maintain this, and to safeguard the continuity of normal life, we must continue to closely monitor the situation and prepare for any scenario," he further stated.

The drill will be conducted in the format of a war-game and will consist of a senior-level, inter-organizational simulation that tests the national management of a new strain, the 'Omega' strain, that has yet to be discovered in the State of Israel.

The drill will deal with several aspects and will test the professional systems in extreme situations over the stages of the exercise:

 Policy aspects: Restricting gatherings, restricting movement, quarantine policy, event plans (holidays, etc.), selected or nationwide lockdowns/curfews and tourism.

 Health aspects: Monitoring, follow-up, oversight and warnings during the development of a new and dangerous variant, continuity, testing the protection provided by vaccines, epidemiological investigations, tests, hospital capacity, designated procurement, the carrying out of mass-testing, vaccines (booster doses, other vaccines, etc.)

 Legal aspects: Local or regional lockdowns/curfews, restrictions policy, approval of designated regulations

 Economic aspects: Assisting the national effort, economic support for the population

 Public security aspects: Enforcement of quarantines, local lockdowns/curfews, enforcement of regulations

 The education system: Safeguarding the health of pupils, reducing the size of classes, closing schools in outbreak centers, changing education plans (capsules, remote learning)

 Ben-Gurion International Airport and the border crossings: Departure and arrival policy, control, selective closings.

 Public diplomacy and media: Informing the public and increasing transparency, responding to discourse on the internet, simulating the National Public Diplomacy Directorate

The number of seriously ill Israelis suffering from Covid-19 dropped from around 700 at the end of August to 149 on Nov. 10, while the number of daily new infections fell from around 10,000 a day to just under 500.

Israel opened its doors to fully vaccinated tourists this month even as experts called for the implementation of tougher safeguards. Its also preparing to vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds against Covid-19.





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ISLAMABAD : Pakistan will host senior diplomats from the United States, China and Russia in Islamabad to discuss the situation in Afghanistan on Thursday.

The meeting will take place a day after India chairs the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue, which has seen the participation of seven countries - Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - national security chiefs. Both the meetings will focus on Afghanistan.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and its National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf will chair the 'Troika Plus' meeting. The representative of the four countries will also meet Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, Dawn reported.

Muttaqi has arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday. It is the first visit to Pakistan by an Afghan minister since the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August.

"Troika Plus at SRs (special representatives level) will meet with Muttaqi," the Pakistani official said.

The dialogue is taking place at a time when the Taliban is seeking international recognition. However, the international community is not in hurry to give legitimacy to the Taliban interim government unless they fulfil their promises.

"Troika Plus has become an important forum for engagement with Afghan authorities. It will express support for an inclusive government, discuss ways to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as well as the protection of human rights, particularly women's rights," the official said.

This is the first full-fledged meeting of the Troika Plus after the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan.

The last of this format was held in August in Doha, in which the US was represented by the former special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad.

Another meeting was convened by Russia in Moscow on October 19, but the US did not participate citing "logistics".

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Portugals parliament recently introduced new labour law that penalises companies for contacting employees outside office hours. The new labor law provide additional protection for employees who do their job away from company premises.

According to the news agency AP, the new rules are a response to the trend of more staff working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Portugals Socialist government said. It said it sees benefits in working from home but wanted to adapt labor legislation to it.

The regulations bring new penalties for companies that disturb the privacy of staff or their families, and obligate employers to compensate staff for work-related expenses incurred at home.

Companies should avoid contacting workers outside office hours, except under exceptional circumstances, the new rules say.

At least every two months, staff should meet with their superiors to prevent worker isolation.

Also, companies should pay workers for additional personal expenses incurred at home, such as electricity or internet bills.

Lawmakers voted down a measure that would have granted workers the right to turn off professional communication systems when off work.

Companies not complying with the rules will be liable for fines.

Approval of the rules was one of last measures taken by parliament before it is dissolved ahead of a snap election in January, when workers rights are likely to be one of the major issues.

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HOUSTON (AP)  Organizers of the Astroworld music festival have not provided investigators with clear records about private security personnel working the grounds when a massive crowd surge during headliner Travis Scott's set led to at least eight deaths, Houstons police chief said Wednesday.

It was up to Live Nation Entertainment, the show's promoter, to secure two mosh pits in front of the stage Friday night at the sold-out festival of 50,000 people, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at a news conference. He described staffing records handed over by organizers as just not good" but emphasized that he was not placing any blame.

But key questions are still unknown five days after the tragedy, which left hundreds of other concertgoers injured, including at least two who were still in critical condition. Finner said police told organizers to shut down the performance when fans in the crowd were administered CPR. But he repeatedly declined to provide timelines, making it unclear at what point that order came in Scott's roughly hourlong set, and how much longer the show lasted after the directive was given.

When you say authority and ability to end the show, we dont hold the plug. But its always in the plan, its always a discussion of how that would happen, he said. We had those discussions with the promoters.

Scott's attorneys on Wednesday pointed to an operational plan for the event that states only the festival director and executive producers have the authority to stop the show, neither of which is part of Traviss crew.

Investigations should start proceeding over finger-pointing so that together, we can identify exactly what transpired and how we can prevent anything like this from happening again, attorney Edwin F. McPherson said in a statement.

Finner also forcefully defended his department's ability to handle the criminal investigation on its own, rejected calls for an outside probe and said he did not have a close relationship with Scott, who is from Houston and founded the festival.

Finner said he expressed safety concerns to Scott before the Friday night show but did not go into detail. He said he has only ever spoken with Scott twice.

I had no reason to believe that it wasnt going to be safe, Finner said. But Im the kind of chief that I meet with people whenever I can, and that includes him. We had a very respectful, few minute conversation on my concerns.

Speaking to reporters for just the second time since the tragedy, Finner was defensive at times and criticized what he described as rumors and speculation surrounding what happened.

About 530 Houston police officers worked the festival, more than twice as many as when the festival was last held in 2019, according to Finner. He repeatedly cautioned that the investigation was still in the early stages and said he would not cast blame" on any organization.

Todd Mensing, another attorney representing Scott, told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that the artist only found out about injuries and deaths in the crowd after the show.

At least two concertgoers remained in critical condition Wednesday. Officials have not disclosed details about the fans who have been hospitalized since Friday, but the family of a 9-year-old boy who attended the concert with his father has said the child was in a medically induced coma after sustaining injuries to his heart, lungs and brain.

How did this happen? That is a question that remains on all of our minds, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said earlier Wednesday. "How did this happen? Where were the missteps? Where were the failures? Where were the gaps? We owe it to the family members, all of those who attended and quite frankly the city as a whole, to the first responders, all of them, how did this happen?

Turner read the names of the eight people who died before pausing a City Council meeting for a moment of silence. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 27 and came from Texas, Illinois and Washington state, according to authorities.

Finner said there was no evidence that a security guard near the crowd had unknowingly received an injection during the show, despite reports.

The festival grounds and stage where Scott performed have yet to be disassembled as authorities and attorneys representing the injured and their families continued combing the area. The festival was held on a parking lot that is part of NRG Park, a complex consisting of stadiums, an arena and a convention center.

Bernon Blount said his son and 9-year-old grandson, Ezra, attended the festival together but became separated during the crowd surge. He said Tuesday that the child was in a medically induced coma at a Houston hospital.

I'm angry because its disrupted our family, and this could have been avoided if people in positions of power had done the right thing, Blount said.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced the formation of a task force to develop concert safety recommendations, which he said would ensure that the tragedy that occurred at the Astroworld Festival never happens again.

Experts say crowd surge deaths happen because people are packed into a space so tightly that they cant get enough oxygen. Its not usually because theyre being trampled.

___

Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber in Austin, Texas, and Jake Bleiberg in Dallas contributed to this report.
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Musicals are divisive by nature, but they can hit a sweet spot with awards voters with the right cast and crew. Andrew Garfield leads the charge on Lin-Manuel Mirandas directorial debut, Tick, Tick  Boom! With tender vocals and a heartfelt vulnerability, Garfield could emerge as a definitive challenger to the best actor prize that has seemed preordained to Will Smith for King Richard. If achieved, Garfield would be the first leading actor from a musical to win in over 55 years.

Garfields Jonathan Larson is sensitively constructed and harmoniously executed through his sweet arrangements and vocal inflections, especially in the songs Why and Sunday. Either of those two are likely his Oscar clip (which will hopefully be reintroduced back into the ceremony).

Providing a palpable balance and an emotional anchor to the story is Tony nominee Robin de Jesus as Jonathans best friend and roommate Michael. The Latino breakout star could ride a guiding wave into the supporting actor category if the films magic is received warmly.

When it comes to the women, particularly Vanessa Hudgens and Alexandra Shipp (who delivers another decisive turn in George Clooneys The Tender Bar), they each seem one scene short of landing a slam dunk nomination for supporting actress. Hudgens, as the musical actress Karessa, has two pivotal moments that make her a worthy entry. Her take on Therapy, which she shares with Garfield, feels comparable to We Both Reached for the Gun from Chicago (2002), with its playful humor and catchy tune. However, the pivotal number Come to Your Senses, which the whole movie builds towards, differs from the stage production sung. As I was sitting, you could see the bones of an Oscar clip if done differently.

Tick, Tick  Boom! is also emerging as a top contender for the cast ensemble prize at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. But, again, it could be a no-brainer for inclusion with theater and television actors such as a hilarious Judith Light, a songbird like Joshua Henry and a stoic Bradley Whitford as Stephen Sondheim.

Mirandas direction and artisan assembly are remarkable. With a feel of a 90s home movie, thanks to another bombastic outing by cinematographer Alice Brooks (please, Academy, recognize this woman), the directing branch could be enamored with his detailed eye. As weve seen with many first-time feature film directors like Bradley Cooper, Regina King and others, they are a very fickle group and love to make people wait for their turns. However, the DGA first-time director category could have its first solidified frontrunner.

So, can Garfield, once nominated for his turn as a conscientious objector in Hacksaw Ridge (2016), make his way to the Oscar podium?

Netflix has a barrage of awards hopefuls this season, especially in lead actor including Benedict Cumberbatch from The Power of the Dog, Jonathan Majors from The Harder They Fall and an unseen entity in Leonardo DiCaprio from Dont Look Up. The playbook for Garfield could follow Eddie Redmaynes winning run for his turn as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything (2014). That year, Redmayne sat comfortably through the awards season as an excellent secondary option to presumed frontrunner Michael Keaton (Birdman). Pundits and journalists wrote Redmayne off due to his age, relative newcomer status in the awards space and the fact that Keaton was coming in with an impressive body of work that led to his first nomination. It also didnt hurt that his film was also heavily contending for the best picture prize, which Redmaynes film was not.

Fast forward to the evening of the Screen Actors Guild Awards, Redmayne pulled off a stunning upset over Keaton for male actor in a leading role, creating what I like to call the turn that the SAG awards have typically done for late-coming acting winners (i.e., Jean Dujardin for The Artist and Sean Penn for Milk). Going into the SAG Awards, the Golden Globes, which splits its film categories into two genres, had awarded Redmayne with best actor in a drama while Keaton took best actor in a comedy. The pundits didnt think anything of it. It was expected. Once SAG came around, and Redmayne nabbed the home-field advantage at the BAFTA Awards, there was no stopping him on Oscar night. Garfield could pull somewhat of a reverse of this, possibly turning it around for himself at the SAG and/or BAFTA Awards. He does face some historical hurdles.

The last lead actor performance to win an Oscar for a musical was Rex Harrisons turn as Professor Henry Higgins in the best picture winner My Fair Lady (1964). The last man to win any acting category for a musical performance was Joel Grey as the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret (1972). The last two that have been nominated  Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) and Hugh Jackman (Les Miserables)  both didnt come close despite their Globe wins. Coincidentally, both of them lost to a winning Daniel Day-Lewis performance (There Will Be Blood and Lincoln). It should also be noted that Garfield is also campaigning for supporting actor for his turn opposite Jessica Chastain for The Eyes of Tammy Faye, which could siphon some votes.

Tick, Tick  Boom! is distributed by Netflix and will open in theaters on Nov. 12 before releasing on the streaming platform on Nov. 19.

2022 Academy Awards Predictions

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Even when COVID-19 finally, happily and at long last becomes a thing of the past, the distribution shifts it helped usher in across the movie business may be here to stay, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Chapek said on Wednesday.

We know that were in a time of flux, Chapek told analysts on a conference call shortly after the company reported its quarterly results. COVID will be in the rear-view mirror, God willing, [in 2022], but changing consumer behavior is a long-term change that is not going away.

With that in mind, Disney is sticking with our plan of flexibility when it comes to the way it releases movies in theaters. During the worst of COVID-19, Disney sent films like Artemis Fowl and Soul straight to Disney Plus. When it began to lift and vaccines became more available, Disney released other movies such as Black Widow and Jungle Cruise on the streaming service on the same day they debuted in cinemas. More recently, pics like Shang-Chi and Eternals had 45-day exclusive theatrical runs, essentially half the time major movies would play in pre-pandemic times. Disneys movies on schedule through 2021 will play only on the big screen for a period of time before moving to digital platforms. However, the company has not solidified plans for 2022 and beyond.

Were doing that so we can get our films back quicker to Disney Plus, Chapek said.

He added that the company was closely monitoring how its films, particularly those pegged at young audiences, were performing in theaters. It will continue to gather data with Encanto, a musical fantasy with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda thats coming to theaters on Nov. 24, and Steven Spielbergs West Side Story adaptation, which is hitting the big screen on Dec. 10.

What were seeing is some recovery of the theatrical exhibition marketplace, he said. Were watching very carefully how the different components of the demographic of that market comes back. Were watching very carefully our family films to make sure that market comes back to exhibition.  Were still unsure about how the marketplace is going to react when family films come back with a theatrical first exclusive window. 

Well have a fairly short window for those films, the Disney chief pledged.

Chapek noted that many of the companys biggest franchises, from Marvel to Star Wars, began their lives as cinema events. But he also suggested that Disney was going to remain attuned to consumer behavior, even if it came at the expense of that platform.

Were going to do whats best for our shareholders, Chapek said.

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Disney CEO Bob Chapek told investors Wednesday that the company is increasing its multibillion-dollar spending on content for Disney Plus as it adds more local and regional content for worldwide audiences.

Last December, Disney projected it would spend between $8 billion-$9 billion on content for its premiere streaming service in its fiscal year 2024, and Chapek said that amount would now rise.

As you know, we announced at our last Investor Day that we expect our total content expense to be between $8 and $9 billion in fiscal 2024, and we will now be increasing that investment further, with the primary driver being more local and regional content, Chapek said on Disneys fiscal Q4 2021 call.

The Disney chief was eager to put a forward spin on Disney Plus, after the media conglomerate gained just 2.1 million subscribers for its flagship service in the September 2021 quarter  well under Wall Street forecasts and the slowest growth since it launched two years ago.

Currently, Chapek said, there are more than 340 local titles in various stages of development to be released on Disney Plus over the next few years, and he laid out plans to more than double the number of countries where Disney Plus is available by the companys 2023 fiscal year. The emphasis on local and regional content is key as Chapek vowed that Disney Plus would be available in over 120 countries by next year, compared with roughly 60 countries now.

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The service is now available throughout Japan, and were thrilled to be launching it this Friday on Disney Plus Day in South Korea and Taiwan and in Hong Kong on Nov. 16, Chapek said. In just two short years, we are now in over 60 countries and more than 20 languages, and next year we plan to bring Disney Plus to consumers in 50-plus additional countries, including in Central, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. Our goal is to more than double the number of countries that were currently in to over 160 by fiscal year 2023.

As Disney Plus prepares to celebrate its second anniversary on Friday, Chapek said, the COVID pandemic delays have disrupted the planned rate of series and film premieres until the second half of 2022, when the dam will break on the highly anticipated titles revealed at the December 2020 investor day.

In total, we are nearly doubling the amount of original content from the marquee brands Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and National Geographic coming to Disney Plus in fiscal year 2022, with the majority of our highly anticipated titles arriving July through September. This represents the beginning of the surge of new content shared last December at our Investor Conference 2.0, Chapek said.

Chapek highlighted content including Marvels Hawkeye, Star Wars The Book of Boba Fett, Beatles docuseries Get Back and Disneys Encanto as high-profile releases for the end of 2021.

Disney CFO Christine McCarthy warned that costs on the film side are going to spike in this current quarter by at least $300 million because the studio will release nine titles through the end of the year, compared with only two in the year-ago quarter. She cited the the prolonged recovery were seeing in theatrical coupled with higher programming and marketing costs.

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Jacqueline Lentzous arresting and long-awaited feature debut, Moon, 66 Questions, has its national premiere this week at the Thessaloniki Film Festival, after bowing earlier this year in the Berlinales new Encounters competition section.

The film tells the story of a young woman, Artemis (Sofia Kokkali), who decides to return to Athens after a long absence because of her fathers (Lazaros Georgakopoulos) declining health. Though shes expected to take up the responsibility of caring for him, the fractures in their relationship quickly come to the surface. Old battles are revisited and past wounds re-emerge, until the discovery of a long-buried secret offers the two a chance to achieve a kind of catharsis.

Moon, 66 Questions is produced by Fenia Cossovitsa, of Blonde Audiovisual Productions, in co-production with Hedi Zardi and Fiorella Moretti of Luxbox, which is also handling world sales.

Arriving in Thessaloniki straight from the Seville European Film Festival, where Moon continued its busy tour of the international circuit, Lentzou tells Variety that every creative journey for her starts with a question.

Whether I get to the answer  or to an answer  through a poem, a short film, or a feature, its a different story, she says. Here, the core question was why people cease to exist  with the rich definition of existence. What happens when the system fails? What fosters this painful process of degeneration?

For a story she both wrote and directed, those questions led to others, each of which enriched the film in unique ways, she says. They also helped to shape the narrative arc that propels Artemis through her uneasy search for some form of connection, or resolution, with her ailing father. Her journey, subtle and inner, is nothing but a truth hunt, says Lentzou. She wants to know why.

Moon, 66 Questions is the directors latest collaboration with the acclaimed film and stage actress Kokkali (Little England), who starred in Lentzous Locarno short film competition selection The End of Suffering (A Proposal) and her prize-winning Cannes Critics Week short Hector Malot: The Last Day of the Year.

The director says she developed the script with Kokkali in mind, describing their partnership as rooted in friendship and flowy and easy from the first time. Artemiss character could not have been played by any other girl, she adds, and Artemis characters complexity is intertwined with Sofias complexity in itself.

The title and chapter headings of Moon, 66 Questions reference a deck of Tarot cards, and astrology is a recurring motif throughout the film, although Lentzou insists that it has no importance per se, but only [appears] in correlation to the idea of suffering and to different ways of knowing.

Astrology and/or other prediction methods shine within people with a huge need to believe, she adds. Who needs desperately to believe? The one that truly suffers. The one that cannot accept their current reality and looks up into the sky for relief. The one that seeks momentary comfort in the illusion of knowing. Like Artemis.

Along with its central storyline, the film offers a collage of memories and fleeting impressions, told through snippets of grainy home video footage and fragments from Artemis diary heard in voiceover. The interplay between the two, and the ways in which they often disrupt or contradict each other, echoes the disjunction at the heart of Artemis relationship with her father.

In the diary you find incidents that you do not see in the film, and in the film, you see incidents that are never mentioned in the diary. You hear a date, yet you read another date on screen. You listen to her voice, but you watch her fathers personal footage, says Lentzou. Here, a magical meta-space is being created, and it is where father and daughter get connected before they consciously connect in the film.

Its a narrative device that speaks to an underlying truth of how we experience the world, says the director. Our memory is fragmented, our relationships are fragmented, our sense of self is fragmented, our dreams are fragmented, our thoughts are fragmented, she says. If everything is fragmented, so is the path to any resolution for which we strive.

The resolution, too, might ultimately prove to be incomplete. One day we are certain we are over and done with a particular situation, only to discover weeks or months later emotional residue, adds Lentzou. We only think we reached resolution, to revisit, and re-resolve. Its a circle of fragments, until we choose to break it and turn it into a spiral.

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Jay-Z emerged from his legal battle with Parlux Fragrances unscathed on Wednesday. The perfume company had accused him of shirking contractual obligations to promote Gold Jay-Z cologne; the rapper had subsequently countersued. The jury ruled that neither party had successfully argued their case, and awarded no money to either side.

In a statement, Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, said, Id like to express my gratitude to the jury, especially during these difficult times.

In an email, Pat Werblin, vice president of advertising, digital marketing and public relations for Parlux, wrote that the company believes it presented a strong case and is disappointed that the jury rendered a verdict today finding that neither side proved breach by the other. While Werblin emphasized that the jury awarded no damages either on Parluxs claims or on Jay Zs counterclaims, he added that Parlux plans to pursue all legal options available to it.

The perfume company filed a breach of contract suit against Carter back in 2016, claiming he had earned $2 million in royalties but that Parlux had lost many millions more in the cologne collaboration. The company alleged that this was partially because Jay-Z had failed to make a series of appearances to peddle his perfume on Good Morning America and in Womens Wear Daily.

In a lengthy closing argument delivered this week, Carters lawyer, Alex Spiro, told the jury that the whole case was a big misunderstanding, according to court transcripts. (He also told the jury that one character in the saga was the straw that stirred the margarita drink.) Why on Earth would Jay-Z put his name on one product and only one product in his entire career and want that product to fail? Spiro asked.

The defense lawyer noted that the contract required Carter to make a reasonable effort when it came to promoting the perfume, and the rapper is a very busy man. I mean, are they going to suggest that he has to show up on Christmas morning? Spiro wondered. Are they going to suggest that he gives up his career as a musician and artist [to do promotions]?

In his closing statement, one of Parluxs attorneys, Anthony Viola, returned to the contractual minutiae underpinning in the case. The defense want[s] you to focus on sideshow issues, sideshow issues that are irrelevant and a waste of time, because the defendants know that they do not have real defenses to the real claims in this case, he argued.

When [Carter] signed this contract, he had no idea that he personally had obligations under this contract, Viola continued. When he found out that he did have obligations, he decided that he would ignore them. And again, you heard that straight from Jay-Z himself on that witness stand Parlux ended up with a celebrity fragrance line where the celebrity was missing in action.

Considering that this initially seemed to be a dry dispute over a contract, the suit actually became relatively dramatic. Carters legal team hired an ex-cop to shadow a Parlux executive who claimed he was unable to testify in court. In addition to that cloak-and-dagger incident, the rapper made a rare appearance in court last month to testify in the lawsuit.

On the stand, Carter sparred repeatedly with Viola. Traditionally attorneys ask questions in court, but the rapper repeatedly turned that dynamic on its head, quizzing Viola  I had a year to complete these [obligations], correct?  and responding to every lawyer jab with a counter-jab of his own.

It doesnt make any sense to launch [the perfume] at Barclays, Viola said at one point. You cant speak to what makes sense, Carter told him.

On the second day of his testimony, Carter amped up his offense, repeatedly referring to Violas questions as lawyer tricks. He also made it seem as if Parlux was one of many entities that were trying to take advantage of him. These sort of shakedowns happen all the time, Carter told the court.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand in his murder trial Wednesday, testifying about how he shot three men during a protest against police brutality in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year.

Rittenhouse killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz. He faces multiple charges, including intentional homicide. Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, has argued that the men attacked him and he fired in self-defense.

Here's a look at some highlights from his testimony:

NORMAL TEENAGE STUFF

Rittenhouse said he lived in Antioch, Illinois, just across the state line from Kenosha, in August 2020. He enjoyed swimming, going to the beach with his friends and just normal teenage stuff. He was a police explorer for the Grayslake Police Department and a cadet with the Antioch Fire Department. He also was a certified lifeguard trained in CPR, defibrillator use and basic life support. He said his father, grandmother, aunt, uncle and a cousin live in Kenosha  an apparent attempt to push back against the prosecution portrayal of him as an outsider who went there looking for trouble.

WHY DID HE GO TO KENOSHA?

The protests began on Aug. 23, 2020, hours after a white Kenosha police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, during a domestic disturbance. Rittenhouse said he saw video on social media of the unrest.

Two days later, Rittenhouse went to downtown Kenosha and volunteered to clean graffiti off a high school. He met the owners of a car dealership where vehicles had been burned, offered his condolences, and said he wanted to help. He said the owners asked his friend to protect their business, and that he joined his friend and others that night. He took his semi-automatic rifle and first-aid supplies. He gave his bulletproof vest  which he said was issued by the Grayslake Police Department  to a friend. He said he felt he wouldn't need it because I'm going to be helping people.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS ENCOUNTERS WITH ROSENBAUM?

Rittenhouse testified that Rosenbaum threatened his life twice.

He said he had been putting out fires and asking people if they needed medical help when he saw Rosenbaum carrying a steel chain and wearing a mask. Rosenbaum began screaming at him, he said.

He was just mad about something. He's screaming, 'If I catch any of you (expletives) alone I'm going to (expletive) kill you.'

When he encountered Rosenbaum again later, Rosenbaum shouted, I'm going to cut your (expletive) hearts out and kill you, Rittenhouse said.

Later, he was walking with a fire extinguisher after hearing protesters were burning cars at one of the lots his friends were trying to protect. Rittenhouse said he saw a fire in a truck on one of the lots then Joshua Ziminski approached him with a gun. Rosenbaum came out from behind some cars and ambushed him, Rittenhouse testified.

He said he tried to run away but Rosenbaum chased him as Ziminski yelled get him" and kill him. Rittenhouse said Rosenbaum threw a bag at him that he mistook for the chain, and that he pointed his rifle at Rosenbaum but Rosenbaum didn't stop. He heard a gunshot behind him and I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun, Rittenhouse said.

He said he fired four times, went up to Rosenbaum to see if he could help him, then ran away because people were yelling get his ass, get him, get him."

He also said later that he feared that if he let Rosenbaum take his gun, he would have used it and killed me with it and probably killed more people.

WHAT HAPPENED AS HE RAN?

Rittenhouse said Huber hit him in the neck with a skateboard and someone hit him in the back of the head with a rock, causing him to stumble. A man tried to kick him in the face after he went down, he said. He fired twice at that man but missed. Rittenhouse said he feared the man would have stomped my face in.

Huber hit him in the neck again with the skateboard and grabbed his gun, Rittenhouse said.

I can feel the strap coming off my body, he said. I fire one shot.

In the next instant, Grosskreutz ran up to him. He lowered his rifle as Grosskreutz raised his hands in a surrender motion. But Grosskreutz was holding a pistol and as Rittenhouse lowered his weapon Grosskreutz pointed the pistol directly at my head, Rittenhouse said. He fired once, hitting Grosskreutz in the arm.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS INTERACTIONS WITH POLICE?

Rittenhouse testified that after he shot Grosskreutz he approached a line of police vehicles with his hands up.

People were screaming and I'm just trying to get to the police, he said. I didn't do anything wrong. I defended myself."

He walked up to a squad car and told an officer he had just shot somebody. The officer said 'get the (expletive) back or you're going to be pepper sprayed' and go home, go home, go home, he said.

He turned himself in at the Antioch Police Department about an hour later because the Kenosha station was barricaded, he said. He said officers made him sit on a chair and wait for Kenosha detectives to arrive.

I was vomiting and having panic attacks and my head was spinning, he said. I couldn't think clearly.

WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HIS STATE OF MIND?

A defendant's state of mind is crucial in a self-defense case. He must show that he reasonably believed his life was in danger and the amount of force he used was appropriate to win an acquittal. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger pressed Rittenhouse about his intentions during cross-examination, asking him whether he meant to kill the three men.

I didn't intend to kill them. I intended to stop the people who were attacking me," Rittenhouse said.

Defense attorney Mark Richards also asked Rittenhouse at one point why he stopped running from Rosenbaum  relevant in a case where jurors may consider whether he did all he could to move away from danger. There was no space for me to continue to run to, Rittenhouse answered.

DID RITTENHOUSE KEEP HIS COMPOSURE?

His youth shone through, for example when he referred to attorneys as you guys." He gestured often with his arms, simulating how Rosenbaum reached for him, how Grosskreutz held up his hands with the pistol and how he walked toward police with his hands up.

When he was describing how Rosenbaum appeared and chased him, he cried, and Judge Bruce Schroeder called for a recess.

Rittenhouse was composed for most of the rest of his nearly daylong time on the stand, except for another period during the afternoon's cross-examination where his voice thickened as he insisted to Binger that he never wanted to shoot Mr. Rosenbaum.

He was chasing me. I was alone. He threatened to kill me earlier in that night. I didn't want to have to shoot him, he said.

PINCHING, ZOOMING AND LOGARITHMS

The proceedings were slowed in the afternoon as prosecutors prepared to show drone video of the moments leading up to Rittenhouse shooting Rosenbaum. After Binger said the prosecution would be pinching and zooming on an iPad to show events more clearly, defense attorney Mark Richards objected on the grounds that the device's software might not accurately depict what happened when the pinch zoom was used.

Binger responded that it was no different than using a magnifying glass on a picture, but Judge Bruce Schroeder said he would need to bring in an expert to prove that the technology doesn't distort.

After a recess, Binger presented the video without attempting the pinch-and-zoom. When he stopped the action at one point and asked Rittenhouse to confirm that his gun was raised, Rittenhouse responded: I can't see it.

___

Find APs full coverage on the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse at: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Joe Biden saluted the nations military veterans as the spine of America on Thursday as he marked his first Veterans Day as president in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

"There's nothing low risk or low cost about war for the women and men who fight it, said Biden, whose administration earlier in the day announced a federal effort to better understand, identify and treat medical conditions suffered by troops deployed to toxic environments.

That expanded effort centers on lung problems suffered by troops who breathe in toxins and the potential connection between rare cancers and time spent overseas breathing poor air, according to the White House. Federal officials plan to start by examining lung and breathing problems but say they will expand the effort as science identifies potential new connections.

Biden's son Beau served in Iraq, and the president has suggested a potential link between Beau's death from an aggressive brain cancer and his exposure to toxins in the air, particularly around massive pits where the military disposes of waste by burning. Theres no scientific evidence to establish that link.

This year's Veterans Day commemoration comes just two months after Biden ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. It was a chaotic ending to America's longest war, which killed 2,461 American service members over the nearly 20-year conflict.

In his remarks at Arlington, Biden praised generations who have served, declaring they've endured and survived challenges most Americans will never know.

He also paused to remember three high-profile veterans who recently died: Colin Powell, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state; Gen. Ray Odierno, an Army chief of staff and top general in Iraq; and Sen. Max Cleland, a Georgia Democrat who lost three limbs while serving in Vietnam.

You are the very spine of America," Biden said of the nation's veterans.

The new federal effort on toxic exposure is designed to make it easier for veterans to make claims based on their symptoms, to collect more data from troops who are suffering and to give veterans more time to make medical claims after symptoms such as asthma and sinus problems develop.

Were discovering there is a whole host of lung conditions related to deployment, said Dr. Richard Meehan, an immunologist and rheumatologist. The retired U.S. Naval Reserve officer, who served in the Mideast during the 1990s and again in 2008, is co-director of the Denver-based National Jewish Health Center of Excellence on Deployment-Related Lung Disease.

Beau Biden's death was a defining moment for Joe Biden, one he said affected his decision to sit out the 2016 presidential race. The younger Biden deployed from October 2008 until September 2009 as a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard. In 2013, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, and he died two years later at age 46.

Meehan, who along with his colleagues is investigating the role of inhalation exposures among military personnel who were deployed to Southwest Asia, said it isn't only burn pits that are the issue  the air quality in some countries is so poor that troops would not be allowed to work there under civilian federal workplace guidelines. The center receives funding from the Department of Defense, along with private donors.

Meehan has worried that troops who came back with breathing problems are being compared with other Americans to determine whether there is a higher rate of lung illness. But those deployed with the U.S. military are in peak physical condition, stronger and more fit than average Americans. To come back unable to make it up stairs without getting winded or unable to lift anything without breathing heavily is highly unusual.

When you compare them to another group, you have to compare them to another healthy, fit group, Meehan said. Thats one of the problems overlooked in surveys that have shown no higher incidence of cancer."

The new rules will allow veterans to make claims within 10 years of service, and the government has changed how it determines what symptoms count and why.

The U.S. military has been aware for years of health risks associated with open-air burn pits. In 2013, federal investigators found a military camp in Afghanistan was operating a pit for more than five years, nearly four times longer than Pentagon rules allowed. The Defense Department has said burn pits should be used only as a temporary last resort when no other alternative trash disposal method is feasible.

Also in marking Veterans Day, a group of Democratic U.S. members were reviving an effort to pay the families of Black World War II service members for benefits they were denied or prevented from taking full advantage of when they returned home.

A similar Senate bill is to be introduced later this month.

___

This story has been corrected to show that name of hospital is National Jewish Health, not National Jewish Hospital.
A member of the Cartel Del Noreste was arrested as he tried to flee into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico via the Rio Grande, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Early Tuesday, U.S. Border Patrol agents received information regarding a man fitting the description of Jose Francisco Paz-Ruiz, a migrant with multiple outstanding warrants from various agencies. Reports indicated that Paz-Ruiz was seen outside a residence in Laredo.
A woman was sentenced to prison for the smuggling attempt of fentanyl through a Laredo international bridge, according to court documents.

Mayra Yvonne Ramos pleaded guilty to conspire to import fentanyl on March 3. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo sentenced Ramos to 72 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. An importation of heroin charge was dismissed.
HONOLULU (AP)  A 6-year-old Hawaii girl was killed a month before her adoptive parents reported her missing, Honolulu police said Wednesday as they announced the arrests of the parents on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Isaac and Lehua Kalua reported Isabella Kalua missing on the morning of Sept. 13, telling police they last saw her when they put her to bed the night before in their Waimanalo home on the eastern end of Oahu.

But police now believe the Kaluas were lying but won't say how they know the girl is dead. Honolulu Police Maj. Ben Moszkowicz said at a news conference that girls remains have not been located.

Lehua Kalua was arrested at the couple's home Wednesday, while Isaac Kalua was arrested at the Pearl Harbor shipyard where he works, police said.

They were being held without bail on suspicion of second-degree murder. An attorney who has acted as their spokesperson didn't immediately respond to messages seeking comment on their arrests.

The Kaluas adopted the girl in January. She was born Ariel Sellers and the Kaluas legally changed her name, Moszkowicz said.

Unfortunately, what began as a search for a missing girl turned into a murder investigation focused on the Kaluas, Honolulu interim police chief Rade Vanic said.

We believe that the evidence leads to the Kaluas and no one else, Vanic said.

The cause of death is still under investigation, police said.

Police asked anyone who interacted with the girl or her sisters in the months leading up to her disappearance to contact authorities.

A reward that has grown to at least $11,000 is still being offered because the arrests of Kaluas didn't come from any tips, Moszkowicz said.

The Kaluas were initially cooperative with police  until they weren't, said homicide Lt. Deena Thoemmes.

They did open their home initially to us, provided us statements. But then as the weeks passed, there was no call back to us, Thoemmes said.

A state Department of Education spokesperson said previously the girl attended kindergarten at Waimanalo Elementary last school year via distance learning. In June, the adoptive parents filed paperwork to withdraw her to home-school her, said Nanea Kalani, a spokesperson for the department.

The girl's 7th birthday was last weekend.
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss met with Indonesian officials on Thursday and discussed closer cooperation in future technologies, cybersecurity and economic relations as part of British efforts to deepen ties to Southeast Asia after leaving the European Union.

Truss said she and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi discussed a roadmap for closer cooperation.

We need to make sure that technology standards are shaped by the free world. And we want to work together with Indonesia in areas like cyber and also the next generation of technologies, whether thats 5G, 6G or indeed areas like artificial intelligence and quantum, Truss said at a news conference. 5G and 6G are technology standards for new cellular phone networks.

We are also launching a new joint working group on counterterrorism and a cyber dialogue as well, Truss said.

The British foreign secretary also met with President Joko Widodo and discussed closer cooperation in vaccines and biotechnology, the presidential palace said.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, is Truss's last stop in a weeklong visit to Southeast Asia to deepen economic and security relations. She earlier visited Malaysia and Thailand.

Deeper ties are a win-win, delivering jobs and opportunities for British people while ensuring an open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific," she said before her trip. "Working with key Southeast Asia partners will help us promote freedom and democracy across the world.

Marsudi said bilateral trade as well as investment from Britain have been growing despite the coronavirus pandemic.

During her visit to Jakarta, Truss also met with the secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Lim Jock Hoi, to build on the U.K.s recent designation as one of the 10-nation bloc's dialogue partners and to discuss working together on the political crisis in Myanmar since its army seized power in February.

In their talks, Marsudi and Truss said they agreed on the importance of implementing an ASEAN consensus on restoring democracy in Myanmar. Myanmar has refused to cooperate with an envoy appointed by ASEAN to help mediate.
SEATTLE (AP)  Gov. Jay Inslee overstepped his veto authority when he cut a sentence that appeared seven times in the 2019 transportation budget, the Washington Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

The sentence in question would have prevented the Department of Transportation from considering vehicle fuel type when it decided how to hand out grants for transit services. Lawmakers said the sentence would ensure transit agencies unable to make an immediate transition to zero-emission vehicles were not disqualified from getting $200 million in grants offered through the state.

The Legislature sued over the veto, and in a 7-2 decision Wednesday, the court said that while the governor has the authority to veto whole bills, sections of bills or whole appropriation items, he cannot excise parts of an appropriation item unless the Legislature has structured the measure in a way designed to circumvent a veto.

This ruling maintains the delicate balance of power between the legislative and executive branches, Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said in an emailed statement. Checks and balances are essential to a healthy democracy and todays ruling helps further define the governors constitutional limits.

In his arguments to the court, Inslee said that even if his veto was invalid, the court should strike down the language about fuel type anyway, because it impermissibly amended or conflicted with a different state law concerning the administration of transportation grants. The majority rejected that argument.

Tara Lee, a spokeswoman for the governor's office, said in an email only that legal staff were reviewing the ruling.

Inslee, a Democrat, has repeatedly been accused of abusing his veto power. In May, he angered lawmakers when he vetoed parts of a carbon-cap program and a bill on clean-fuels standards.

The vetoes concerned language that said those bills would not take effect until the Legislature approved a new transportation-funding package  part of a grand bargain lawmakers struck to ensure the climate change measures had enough support to pass.

In his veto message for the clean-fuels bill, Inslee said lawmakers had obviously structured the bill in a way to try to preclude him from vetoing the language tying it to the eventual passage of a transportation package  exactly the sort of thing the state Supreme Court has warned the Legislature against, he said.

Billig said the Legislature is planning to challenge that veto in court.
Courtesy /Google Maps

A migrant who had crossed the border illegally was fatally struck by a vehicle along U.S. 83 in south Laredo, according to authorities.

Laredo police officers responded to a fatal auto-pedestrian accident reported at about 9:20 p.m. Tuesday in the 8200 block of U.S. 83 and Mangana-Hein Road.
FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP)  A Massachusetts man was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in the fatal stabbing of a woman in 2018.

Robert Viveiros, 50, a New Bedford resident, was convicted last week of murder in the brutal 2018 stabbing of Chantel Bruno. He was also sentenced to life in prison without parole, The Standard-Times reported Wednesday.
Union Pacific Railroad

A Union Pacific Railroad contractor employee was struck and fatally injured on a construction site near Castroville. An employee with W.T. Byler Company was performing bridge work for the Union Pacific Railroad Company when the incident occurred on September 22.

In a news release on November 10, officials announced that preliminary information indicates the employee was operating the crane with three spans of steel grating measuring approximately 20 feet long by three feet wide, and weighing about 2,200 pounds. He was moving it westward from an open deck bridge to a material staging area, according to the release from Union Pacific.
The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks!

Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics.

The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc.

The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics.

The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates.

Access to college recruiters and advisors  its harder to line up higher education.

Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family.

Vote

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A failure of operational management  within Irish Water is being blamed for the beleaguered State utility's decision to roll out a boil water notice to scores of homes across Co Longford last week.

Longford-Westmeath Sinn Fein TD Sorca Clarke launched a scathing attack this week on the public water company's management, saying the rationale behind the announcement had raised more questions than it had answered.

Senior chiefs last Thursday evening said it was enforcing a boil water notice for the Longford Central Public Water Supply owing to fears a cryptosporidium barrier at its Longford Central Public Water treatment plant had been compromised.

Ms Clarke called on the water services company to issue clarity to the 17,500 people across the county affected by the announcement, adding the grounds behind the decision was especially troubling.

If you are talking about cryptosporidium, this is a waterborne bug and its not the first time there have been issues like this with Irish Water, she said.

We have seen it in Kerry and Wexford and in Tipperary a boil water notice was in place for two and a half years but that cant be a situation that is replicated in Longford where you have 17,500 people affected.

Its not good enough. I met with Irish Water two weeks ago and this was never mentioned as a possible concern and that is deeply disappointing.

The former Westmeath county councillor said the level of shock and exasperation felt locally by the decision was further evidence of the publics distrust of a company which was first set up seven years ago.

This is a failure of operational management and Irish Water has very serious questions to ask, she said.

We all know systems can fail, yet we can see this is a repeated failure not only in Longford, but across the country to ensure the water we drink is safe.

There are people with very young children who are now faced with having to travel to other families and friends in the midst of a pandemic because they dont feel safe bathing their babies or young children with the water that is coming out of their taps.

Those comments were ones which were shared by Longford Sinn Fein representative Tena Keown.

She said it was her Leinster House party colleague who, in fact, informed her of the boil notice, insisting the effectiveness of Irish Waters ability to inform customers had left a lot to be desired.

I thought Irish Water, with all the money that was pumped into them, were going to clean up all of this but it just looks like its more money down the drain, she said.

I didnt get word until 9:22pm on Wednesday night when Sorca rang me from the Dail, but a lot of people arent on social media and wouldnt have known about it until the next morning.

We (Sinn Fein) had loads of messages asking what areas were affected too.

If you dont have access to a computer and are relying on the media, how are people supposed to know?

Its been word of mouth really that the message has got out and its just not good enough.
A significant number of the 450 new gardai passing out of Templemore this year need to be stationed in rural Ireland, specifically counties like Longford, according to local Fianna Fail TD Joe Flaherty.

Speaking at the Dail recently, Deputy Flaherty requested that the Minister for Justice give some figures of personnel in each Garda station in Co Longford.

The Minister will be aware that Garda numbers have fallen for the past five consecutive months and are now at their lowest since January 2020. This is a cause of concern and annoyance within the force but also across rural communities, he explained.

Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne TD stated that, as of September 30, 2021, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 139 gardai assigned to stations in County Longford, an increase of 13% since 2015 when there were 123 Gardai assigned.

He also confirmed that450 gardai will be recruited this year, with another 400 Garda staff to be recruited in 2022 and 800 new Garda recruits in 2022.

The Minister may be aware that an unexpected but very beneficial consequence of the Covid pandemic was that trainee gardai from Templemore were dispatched nationwide to support the Covid policing effort, said Deputy Flaherty.

This was transformative in County Longford because it allowed stations to move from a traditional roster of six ten-hour shifts to a more effective and productive roster of four 12-hour shifts.

It greatly enhanced the visibility of officers on the street. The additional officers deployed in Longford throughout Covid points to the optimum number of officers needed to safely police the county. The number of personnel across County Longford needs to be augmented to approach the number we had when trainee officers were provided throughout Covid.

I hope this can be taken on board by the Commissioner and the Department, he said.

Minister Browne confirmed that we have fallen behind in recruitment due to Covid and the restrictions imposed on the training centre in Templemore.

I am sure, given the additional resources we will have, that more gardai will be assigned to Longford, he said.

Deputy Flaherty said he appreciates the programme for Government has an ambitious target for the growh of Garda numbers.

But Garda strength fell from a high of 14,500 in 2009 to 12,800 in 2014.

It is great that we will have 450 new officers coming out of Templemore this year. I emphasise that a significant number of those new officers need to be deployed in rural Ireland, specifically in counties such as Longford, he concluded.
A man has told a court how he was violently attacked on his own doorstep by another man who called to his home demanding cash under the guise of an unlicensed moneylending operation.

Twenty-nine-year-old Marcin Rosada, 6 Oaklands Dale, Longford town, was found guilty of assaulting Robert Pytel at 21 Clonguish Court, Newtownforbes, Longford on October 10 2020.

The court heard the unemployed father of one had called to the home of the victim to chase up a 150 debt in connection to money he had borrowed from Mr Rosada in the weeks leading up to the incident.

Mr Pytel said he first met the accused through the defendants partners father. He said he met Mr Rosada in Lidl in Longford around five weeks beforehand where he borrowed 100.

Judge Marie Keane was told the accused charged Mr Pytel 25 interest before taking a further sum, monies which Mr Pytel insisted were repaid.

My payments were made in full by September 23, he said, claiming he had postal orders and receipts to back up those assertions.

He said at around 4pm on October 10 last, Mr Rosada knocked on his door with another man, Miroslaw Kondrat.

Within seconds, Mr Pytel said the accused demanded 150 from him, which was immediately turned down by Mr Rosada.

I said: I will not pay you any more and he then punched me in the face with his left hand, so I pushed him back to protect my family and home and we went back and fell on the mud, he said.

It was at that stage, the victim said Mr Kondrat came over and started kicking Mr Pytel as he wrestled with Mr Rosada on the ground.

I was trying to hide my face to prevent being kicked, he said, moments before he and Mr Rosada climbed back to their feet.

In a brief exchange that followed, Mr Pytel said the accused told him: I will break your legs, just as the victims wife emerged from the house to say she would phone the Gardai.

Mr Pytel was taken to Mullingars Midland Regional Hospital as a precautionary measure but returned home with no lasting physical injuries.

Photocopies of cuts and bruises to Mr Pytels face were handed into court by the prosecution as Mr Pytel outlined how the attack left him in fear for several weeks afterwards.

I was stressed out and worrying that when I was away from home, they could come back and harm my wife and kids, he said.

I was calling my wife more often than I usually did and locking the door more than I usually did.

In defence, solicitor Brid Mimnagh implied Mr Pytel had bought a car from her client and had given 500 towards its purchase.

Ms Mimnagh also maintained Mr Rosada and his co-accused were at another location on the day of the alleged incident.

The court also heard from investigating officer Garda Rachel Carlin who said when herself and a colleague arrived at the scene, Mr Pytel told of how both men had beaten him up.

Mr Rosada, who spoke via an interpreter, took to the stand soon after and denied any involvement in the alleged incident.

Under direct questioning from his solicitor, Mr Rosada replied: I cant recall such an incident and replied: No when asked if he had ever been at the victims house and assaulted him.

He claimed he had sold Mr Pytel a 2008 registered Opel Corsa for 2,000 and received around 500  for it.

He also alleged 42 gardai had turned up to his house in January this year for the purposes of arresting him.

The whole road was blocked, he said.

When I asked what they wanted, they were not in a position to tell me why they were there.

Mr Rosada went onto claim he had been with his partner on the day of the alleged incident.

I brought my child to my brothers house and I was spending time with my girlfriend. It doesnt happen very much that I can leave the child with my brother, he added, stating he had notes in a calendar to corroborate those insinuations.

Under cross examination from Inspector Frank Finn, for the State, Mr Rosada was pressed as to how he could not recall selling a car for 2,000 to a man he barely knew.

You have notes about your brother looking after your child but you dont have notes about selling the car? Inspector Finn asked.

Mr Rosada replied, alleging the agreement between himself and Mr Pytel was for monies to be paid via installments but opted against pursuing the issue any further.

He told the court once the charge levelled against him was finalised, he would contact gardai and issue proceedings against Mr Pytel.

Inspector Finn said the version of events put forward by Mr Rosada were at best fanciful, and simply not credible.

I find it very hard to believe there had been a transaction between you and when you say he (My Pytel) didnt repay you, you were going to seek legal recourse by following it up in a number of months, he said.

Three receipts allegedly showing An Post payments were handed into Judge Keane appearing to show monies which had been paid to Mr Rosada by the victim on three separate dates in September last year.

Mr Rosadas alleged accomplice, Mirolsav Konrad told the court how he had pleaded not guilty to also assaulting Mr Pytel on the same date and given a two month prison sentence as a result.

Inspector Finn, however, dismissed those claims by stating Mr Konrad had, in fact, tabled a guilty plea on July 27 2021 and was sentenced to two months in prison.

It later transpired Mr Kondrat had been serving an eight month sentence at the time for an unrelated matter, with the two month term being added to run concurrent to the custodial time he was already incarcerated for.

Despite those revelations, Mr Konrad continued to protest the States findings.

I didnt plead guilty, he said.

There were no witnesses. I was interviewed and brought to court and I got a two month sentence. Nobody told me anything about that case, just the sentence.

Judge Keane, in giving her verdict, alluded to the very clear evidence given by Mr Pytel, saying she had been left in no doubt the accused had told a tissue of lies to the court.

She said Mr Rosada's claim he had parted with a vehicle valued at 2,000 to somebody he hardly knew while recouping only a fraction of its alleged worth simply beggared belief.

She likewise called into question the evidence given by Mr Kondrat as details of Mr Rosada's background and personal circumstances were outlined to the court.

Inspector Finn said Mr Rosada had a number of previous convictions to his name, three of which were recorded in Poland and dated back to 2011.

The most recent conviction in this jurisdiction took place in April 2020, resulting in a one month prison sentence and a five year driving ban for being caught at the wheel without insurance and using a false instrument.

Ms Mimnagh said her client was a father of one who, up until recently, had been in gainful employment.

Judge Keane said the court could not turn a blind eye to the type of violence Mr Pytel was subjected to.

For anyone to call to somebody's house and assault them is totally unacceptable, she said, describing it as an unacceptable act of utter thuggery.

She added: This type of behaviour will not be tolerated, as she sentenced a visibly shocked Mr Rosada to three months in prison.

Ms Mimnagh, swiftly asked for recognisances to be fixed in the event of an appeal.

Judge Keane acceded to that submission by requesting Mr Rosada to provide a 300 independent surety.

The accused subsequently met terms and now goes forward to the Circuit Criminal Court in a bid to reduce the severity of that conviction.
His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Bishop Francis Duffy, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, as the new Archbishop of Tuam.

On Wednesday morning, Archbishop-elect Duffy concelebrated Mass in the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tuam, with His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland; and Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam.

Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois 'open' to debate on married priests The Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, Dr Francis Duffy has said this week that if the Pope were to open up discussions on married priests, he would support the move.

Archbishop-elect Duffy's address to the congregation

I thank Archbishop Michael for his very warm welcome. I follow in the footsteps of a true shepherd who has led this diocese with great wisdom, sensitivity, and faithfulness for 27 years as Archbishop.

I thank the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, for his assistance and encouragement over the last while.

I come today as a Cavan man, from Bawnboy in the parish of Templeport, where I was born and raised. I spent over twenty years as a teacher and as a school principal in counties Cavan and Leitrim followed by some years as diocesan secretary in my native diocese of Kilmore and as assistant priest in the parish of Laragh.

The last eight years have been spent in the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois as Bishop, based in Longford. Pope Francis has asked me to go further west, to be Archbishop of Tuam, in this beautiful part of the country, stretching from the islands off the west coast to Mountbellew, and on to the island parish of Moore.

I am certainly surprised and humbled to be appointed to this Archdiocese and naturally I am a little sad at leaving my own diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois.

One of the developments in the diocese, which I now leave, is the well advanced plans for a Diocesan Assembly. Led by parishioners, we have spent a lot of time listening and discerning in what is a synodal path.

Part of our Assembly Prayer is: Jesus, give us a heart of flesh to hear and to embrace the prayer of hurt, pain, tears and anger of our people.

To move forward we must listen to all who have been hurt by their experience of Church.

I was particularly struck by what Archbishop Michael said a last month about the Catholic Church in this diocese being already synodal in so many ways. That is true and is a credit to Archbishop Michael, the people of the parishes, the clergy and religious and all involved in those life enhancing and hope filled initiatives that have taken place. It is the Holy Spirit working in and through so many people. As we walk together may the Holy Spirit continue to guide, to challenge and to enlighten us.

I have always thought that for a diocesan priest the clergy form a sort meitheal, a group of support, of encouragement and of assistance for each other. I am really looking forward to joining the priests of this archdiocese, to listen, to learn and to be part of their mission in joyfully spreading the Good News of the Lord Jesus. The caring, moving and hope filled work of clergy is vital. In the words of a very recent correspondent on the declining numbers of clergy, You all are needed more than ever now. Best wishes to all of you. Know that your service is very important to us all. It reflects a heartfelt gratitude and positive view of priests and what they mean to so many people. So this morning I would like to say a special word of greeting to the priests of the archdiocese of Tuam. I have a lot to learn and am looking forward to doing so with their help.

I particularly look forward to meeting with the parishioners, parish pastoral councils and school communities throughout this diocese. I greet the religious, those who have dedicated their lives with great generosity to the mission of the gospel in so many areas of life and continue to do so.

This archdiocese is renowned for the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine at Knock and for Croagh Patrick and also for Ballintubber Abbey and Mamean. I look forward to engaging with the deep spiritual traditions and culture of this area.

Next Sunday I will be at the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine at Knock, with Irish Bishops, to pray for those who died during the pandemic, for those who are bereaved and for all who sacrificed so much during that time. It has been a traumatic time for so many people and it has also been a time when we have witnessed so much selfless goodness and neighbourliness.

To the parishioners, the priests and religious of this Archdiocese, I say that really look forward to meeting with you and working with you in the time to come. I will be on the highways and byways and the boats to visit the people in their parishes as soon as possible. So google maps will be my go to page for some time.

Caithfidh me stopadh anois; ta neart paiceal le deanamh agam i Longfort. Nil uaim anois ach an Spioraid Naomh do mo stiriu agus learscail maith chun me a threoru ar fud na deoise. Go raibh maith agaibh. Buiochas agus Beannacht."

Life and ministry of Archbishop-elect Francis Duffy

Francis Duffy was born on April 21, 1958 in the parish of Templeport, Co Cavan to parents Mary Catherine Dolan and Frank Duffy.

He attended primary school at Munlough National School, Bawnboy, and completed his post-primary education at Saint Patricks College, Cavan.

Francis studied for the priesthood at Saint Patricks College, Maynooth and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Kilmore on June 20, 1982 in Saint Mogues Church, Bawnboy, Co Cavan by Bishop Francis MacKiernan.

He taught at Saint Patricks College, Cavan, and was appointed principal of Fatima and Felims Secondary School, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim in 1996.

After twelve years as principal Father Francis was appointed Diocesan Secretary and Financial Administrator and Chancellor. During that time he was resident priest in the parish of Laragh, Co Cavan.

On July 17 ,2013 he was appointed Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois with his episcopal ordination taking place on October 6, 2013 at Saint Marys Church, Athlone.

As a member of the Irish Bishops Conference, Bishop Duffy is currently chair of the Council for Liturgy, a member of the Council for Education, as well as a member of the Commission for Worship, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development.
In April of this year, Irish Water announced it was embarking on upgrade works at the Lough Forbes Water Treatment Plant to safeguard water supply for over 19,000 Longford people.

This week, after nine consecutive days of being subjected to a boil water advisory, frustration is mounting among 17,500 water consumers in the county, even more so since it has been revealed that the boil water notice will likely continue into the new year.

Senator Micheal Carrigy has called on Irish Water 'to prioritise and expedite works to ensure the boil notice is lifted'.

While following a meeting of elected representatives in Longford and Irish Water officials, Deputy Joe Flaherty said 'it is critical that we see a concerted media and public information campaign from Irish Water'.

Deputy Flaherty added, "The purchase of water is putting significant cost and unnecessary pressure on the public  especially the elderly and vulnerable and I would ask that Irish Water to engage with Longford County Council and community groups without delay with a view to providing bottled water. Without delay bottled water needs to be supplied and the cost of this, borne by Irish Water."

In the region of 17,500 customers in #Longford have been told to boil water until further notice. This has been in place for nearly a week @IrishWater need to prioritise and expedite works to ensure boil notice is lifted ASAP.

@Longford_Leader @shannonsidenews @Midlands103 pic.twitter.com/0qiXQMWSfD  Senator Micheal Carrigy (@campaign4carrig) November 10, 2021
Mary Robinson has hit out at world leaders who are not in 'crisis mode' and are not doing enough to tackle the current climate crisis.

She spoke in an emotional interview with Sky News and said: "It is so important. We are talking about having a safe future."

It was in response to the Climate Action Tracker revealing that the world is heading for 2.4c of global warming which is beyond the 1.5c countries were committing to.

The UK's Met Office previously warned that a billion people could be affected by heat and humidity if global warming temperatures soar past 2 degrees.

Ms. Robinson is chair of the independent group of global leaders called The Elders and said they are pressing current world leaders to understand the current crisis.

"You can't negotiate with science, you can't talk about a glass being half full. We have to get it down and we have to be on track for 1.5c. It is doable." she added.

The former president of Ireland said it was 'time to call out' certain countries who are not taking climate change seriously and specifically mentioned Russia, China, Brazil, and Australia.

She said Australia is still in 'fossil fuel mode' and not 'crisis mode'.

She said Saudi Arabia is 'playing dirty games' by 'taking the language out of the text' and are able to do so because 'not enough countries are in the room'.

"They have taken the language out of youth, human rights, and gender equality. Saudi Arabia is always there when it matters and they block things." added Ms. Robinson.
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(Alliance News) - Johnson Matthey PLC on Thursday said annual results will be at the low end of market expectations, while also announcing plans to exit a business and a change in leadership.

Johnson Matthey shares were down 17% at 2,286.00 pence in early trade Thursday, by far the worst FTSE 100 faller.

The speciality chemicals company said that, after a detailed review, it has concluded that the potential returns from its Battery Materials business would not "be adequate to justify further investment".

The Battery Materials unit house Johnson Matthey's eLNO technology. The material is intended to offer more energy density and use less cobalt compared to traditional electric vehicle batteries.

Back in May, Johnson Matthey had said capital expenditure would amount to up to GBP600 million in the financial year, as it sought to ramp up investment in battery materials and hydrogen technology in a bid to serve Europe's growing electric vehicle market.

"Whilst demand for battery materials is accelerating, so is competition from alternative technologies and other manufacturers. Consequently this is rapidly turning into a high volume, commoditised market," it said.

Johnson Matthey said it has decided to pursue the sale of all or parts of the business with the intention of exiting "swiftly".

"This decision will allow us to accelerate our investment and focus on more attractive growth areas, especially where we have leadership positions such as in hydrogen technologies, circularity and the decarbonisation of the chemicals value chain," said Chief Executive Robert MacLeod.

Johnson Matthey also said MacLeod will retire early next year, with Liam Condon hired to succeed him. MacLeod will step down in February after eight years and will stay on until July to help with the transition.

Condon, who will join as CEO March 1, is currently a member of the board of management of Bayer AG and president of its Monheim, Germany-based Crop Science Division, a role he has held for nine years. Condon, who was born in Dublin, also is responsible for the Latin America and Africa regions for Bayer Group.

Johnson Matthey said half-year results - to be released on November 24 - will be in line with market expectations, but full-year results will be at lower end of expectations. It cited supply chain shortages for its auto industry customers and labour shortages in the US hurting its Health business. The company noted that the Health business currently is the subject of a strategic review.

By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
(Alliance News) - WH Smith PLC on Thursday said that the Covid-19 pandemic has continued to hurt business, but it is seeing improved trends in its Travel arm, where it is adding airport locations for its InMotion brand of technology stores.

The books, magazines and stationery retailer said its pretax loss in the financial year that ended August 31 narrowed to GBP116 million from GBP280 million the year before, as revenue decreased by 13% to GBP886 million from GBP1.02 billion. Revenue in the recent year amounted to 62% of pre-pandemic revenue in 2019.

The company said that the pandemic continued to "significantly impact" the business across markets. The Travel arm suffered the most in the past year, recording a trading loss of GBP44 million, widened from GBP27 million in financial 2020. More positively, WH Smith's High Street stores swung to an annual trading profit of GBP36 million from a loss of GBP4 million.

WH Smith adopted a "flexible" approach to operating its stores due to the imposition and then easing of lockdowns and restrictions. The retailer only opened stores when it had "had sufficient customer traffic to generate incremental cash or, in line with government guidelines, remaining open to provide essential products and services to our customers."

As of October 31, WH Smith had 1,540 stores open around the world out of a total portfolio of 1,711 stores.

WH Smith said it won't be paying a dividend for the recent financial year. The company paid a 58.2 pence per share dividend for financial 2019 and hasn't paid one since. It said Thursday that its capital allocation policy remains to prioritise investment in its existing business, followed by re-establishing a dividend, making acquisitions, and, lastly, conducting share buybacks.

WH Smith said that it is making good progress in gaining spaces in travel locations in the UK, North America, and the rest of the world. It noted it won 30 new stores in UK airports for its InMotion brand, including at London Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. This adds to 117 stores under the brand in North America.

WH Smith said it currently is the preferred bidder for two InMotion stores at Dublin Airport.

"We have also made good progress investing in our existing stores, opening new formats and winning new business. We anticipate further growth opportunities across all our markets. All this puts us in a robust position to continue to recover and emerge operationally stronger from the pandemic," WH Smith said.

WH Smith said that it is "optimistic" of its ability to achieve 2019 sales levels in the current financial year. The company recorded GBP1.40 billion in revenue in financial 2019.

Shares were down 2.5% at 1,575.50 pence on Thursday midday in London.

By Abby Amoakuh; abbyamoakuh@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low near 60F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low near 60F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.

Tomorrow

Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 68F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Madison, IN (47250)

Today

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Areas of patchy fog. Low 26F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

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Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Areas of patchy fog. Low 26F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Jefferson, GA (30549)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
Spanish mobile and broadband operator Telefonica plans to cut between 2,000 and 4,000 jobs through voluntary redundancy in the first half of 2022, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Thursday.

The debt-laden company is likely to start negotiations with unions by the end of November, the source said, with redundancy criteria including age and seniority.

"It's true that a part of the workforce wants these packages. Some people have made their calculations and expect to go by a certain age," said Diego Gallart, a spokesman for labour union UGT, which represents a majority of Telefonica staff.

Uptake for previous leaving packages has been about 65-70% of those eligible, he said.

"But the destruction of jobs is always bad news, especially in the telecoms sector, where roles are high-paid and high-value - so losing these employees means losing a driver of economic activity in the country," Gallart added.

Telefonica directly employs 16,000 people in Spain, with nearly 6,000 further employees in associated companies covered by the latest labour covenant. An additional 5,000 people work for Telefonica Tech, a unit dedicated to cloud, AI, data and cyber security services, which is not included in the covenant.

Europe's third-largest telecoms group, which is grappling with intense competition in an increasingly low-cost Spanish market, has been considering job cuts for months under pressure from investors.

Telefonica would be the third major telecoms group to seek job cuts in Spain after Vodafone and Orange took similar steps earlier this year.
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Manchester Center, VT (05254)

Today

Periods of rain. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Periods of rain. Low around 40F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
Manchester Center, VT (05254)

Today

Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 41F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..

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Showers this evening, becoming a steady rain overnight. Low 41F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.
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
Meadville, PA (16335)

Today

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 30%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 30%.
Manoj Bajpayee, the son of a farmer from Bihar, battled all the odds to achieve his dreams and showed the world that he didnt need any godfather to make it big in Bollywood. In an interaction with Humans of Bombay, Manoj had said that he aspired to become an actor since the age of nine. Im a farmers son; I grew up in a village in Bihar with 5 siblingswe went to a hut school. We led a simple life, but whenever we went to the city, wed go to the theatre. I was a Bachchan fan & wanted to be like him. At 9, I knew acting was my destiny, he'd said.

Before shifting to Mumbai, he wanted to do theatre. He applied to NSD but was rejected thrice. He was so heartbroken that he even the thought of suicide crossed his mind. His friends were his backbone and kept him going till he finally cracked NSD. When he finally shifted to Mumbai, Manoj like any other immigrant and an outsider had to face rejections and it was tough to sustain in an expensive city.

Initially, it was toughI rented a chawl with 5 friends & looked for work, but got no roles. Once, an AD tore my photo & Ive lost 3 projects in a day. I was even told to get out after my 1st shot. I didnt fit the ideal hero faceso they thought Id never make it to the big screen. All the while, I struggled to make rent & at times even a vada pav was costly, he said. He went on to add, But the hunger in my stomach couldnt dissuade my hunger to succeed. After 4 years of struggle, I got a role in Mahesh Bhatts TV series. I got Rs.1500 per episodemy first steady income. My work was noticed & I was offered my first Bollywood film & soon, I got my big break with Satya.

Then, there was no looking back for the actor. He has set an example for other struggling actors who come from different cities, while giving them hope that if he could do it without any godfather, even they can. Actors like Pankaj Tripathi have admitted to the fact that they got inspired by Manoj Bajpayee.

Not surprisingly then, Manoj also owns quite a few sets of swanky wheels and it shows how his hard work paid him back.

Here is the list of cars in his expensive collection:

1. Mercedes-Benz GLS 400d 4MATIC

 TOI

It was August 2021 when he purchased the Mercedes-Benz GLS 400d 4MATIC. Prices for the car start at Rs 69 lakh. It comes with cool features such as speech recognition, touch control buttons, a 360-degree camera for parking, and more.



2. Land Cruiser Prado

 Toyota

Manoj Bajpayee is also a proud owner of Land Cruiser Prado, prices for which start at around Rs 96 lakh. With its spacious seven-seat cabin and user-friendly tech features, its a great addition to Manojs collection.



3. BMW 3 Series

 BMW

As per reports, Manoj Bajpayee also owns a BMW 3 series car which he bought for around Rs 41 lakh.



4. Toyota Fortuner and Mahindra Scorpio

 Toyota

 Mahindra

Manoj has also invested in Toyota Fortuner that cost him around Rs 35 lakh. He also owns a Mahindra Scorpio for which he paid around Rs 15 lakh.


In a lot of ways, I believe this movie was both behind and ahead of its time.

Behind, because the movie is literally a sketch of all the gender-biased and patriarchal notions that are wrong with the society and have been for the past few generations.

And ahead because it predicted the impact of a woman falsely accusing a man of sexual assault way before #MeToo came into the picture.

 Mukta Arts

The movie starts with a simple and very stupid confusion, where Priya (Kareena Kapoor) mistakes Raj Malhotra (Akshay Kumar) for a hotshot lawyer, under whom she has come to earn an internship.



At the same time, Raj is awaiting the arrival of a maid, for whom he put an ad out. Of course, Raj of all people recognised early on that Priya is not here for the job of a housekeeper and was actually there by confusion.

 Mukta Arts

Instead of clearing the confusion, Raj decided to pretend to be a lawyer, just so he could keep Priya in his sights and at home. And mind you, none of this borderline psycho and manipulative behaviour was flagged as problematic, but shown to be super romantic. Because according to Bollywood , love ke liye saala kuch bhi karega.



 Mukta Arts

Priya soon figures out that Raj wasn't the barrister Ram Chotrani that she took him to be and confronts him. Instead of getting freaked out and running away which any normal woman would, she giggles and falls in love.



 Mukta Arts

And next thing you know, the ambitious young intern who wanted to make it big in her career in law, settles for being a wife with a child on the way.



 Mukta Arts

Raj is due to now be promoted to the position of CEO and one day while his boss and company chairman Ranjit Roy is meeting with him, he ends up introducing his wife Sonia (Priyanka Chopra) to him. And from there, the plot thickens.



 Mukta Arts

Turns out, Raj and Sonia go way back. 5 years, to be precise.



They had crossed paths in Cape Town, fallen in love and were in a relationship. Sonia was young, ambitious and had big plans for her life. However, shit hit the fan when she found out she was pregnant and not nearly as ready to have a child.

 Mukta Arts

Despite making it clear how her decision to abort the child wasnt a lack of love for Raj, but her own career trajectory and wants at that stage of life, Raj left her not respecting her wish to not bear a child. They consequently broke up and 5 years later, destiny (or actually, karma) crossed their paths once more.



 Mukta Arts

An interesting detail here would be the stark contrast between Priya and Sonia, two women in the movie, out of which one has been painted in a negative light, why? Because she wants to prioritise her career over having a child and is bold, unnerving and unapologetic for her choices.



And the other is Priya, painted in an ideal light because she wears covered clothes, decided to abandon her career in law to get married to a man who lied to her in the first place. The resemblance of how women are perceived in society to how they were in this film, was uncanny!

 Mukta Arts

While drama starts stirring in Rajs life, considering Sonia is still evidently butt-hurt and Raj ignores to share this past secret with his naive wife Priya, Rajs colleague Rakesh tells him about a defect their companys new mobile headset is facing - it calls two people simultaneously, one the intended recipient and another - a random contact from the callers phonebook.



As Raj decides to stop the order for production, Sonia (being the cocky wife of the companys chairman) exerts her powerful position to invite Raj over for a discussion. Obviously, she doesnt talk shop and performs a seductive and terrifying dance solo (which can be a virgins guide on how to still stay a virgin) in front of Raj who is not interested enough to engage, but interested enough to sit through all of it. Nice.

 Mukta Arts

As his moral conscience kicks in (only after a locket with his wifes face pops in front of him), he ups and leaves. Sonia, who gets very offended at now being embraced goes up to her husband and falsely accuses Raj of sexually harassing her, because how dare he, a married man, reject her advances?



 Mukta Arts

A case is filed and Raj asks his friend and barrister Ram Chotrani to take up his case. There is enough evidence against Raj at this point, primarily being the testimony of a crying (and lying) woman. Because who will believe a guy over crocodile tears in this society, right?



 Mukta Arts

Somehow, a tape is recovered that had recorded the entire incident at Sonias place, but Sonia manages to destroy it and continues to enjoy ruining Rajs life, one slick move at a time. As the case proceeds, Ram Chotrani faces an injury and so, Priya decides to take over.



 Mukta Arts

What must be noticed here is the convenience with which Priya is substituted in place of barrister Ram Chotrani, only after he falls sick and only because her husband was facing a trial. At no point before this in her married life, did this formerly ambitious woman be shown to be practising law, but when its your pati parmeshwar, youre all game. Well done on the patriarchy, Bollywood!



 Mukta Arts

Priya manages to expose Raj and Sonias previous relationship and also gets hold of a voice mail sent to Rakesh which exposes the fact that Sonia only married her husband for his money and that she was the one trying to seduce and frame Raj.



 Mukta Arts

Priya and Raj win the case, as Ranjit files for divorce against Sonia. Having lost and feeling exposed, Sonia ends up committing suicide, unwilling to go to prison.



Meanwhile, Raj and Priya have their child and blissfully continue to lead their prejudiced marriage.

The End.
Meridian, MS (39302)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain, some heavy early. Low 52F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain, some heavy early. Low 52F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
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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
'Its always a perfect day to say thank you': County holds three Veterans Day celebrations
Mark Melloy, chairman of the Livermore Trail Town Task Force Merchant Committee, speaks at the Trail Town Merchant and Leader Luncheon on Friday at the McLean County Public Library.
Ambassador of Belarus A.Konyuk meets the Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia

On November 10, 2021, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Armenia Alexander Konyuk met with the Minister of Emergency Situations of Armenia Andranik Piloyan.

During the conversation, the parties discussed issues of expanding cooperation between the relevant ministries of the two countries, including the supply of specialized Belarusian equipment for the needs of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia.

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AG Nessel Urges Congress To Reform Military Justice For Sexual Assault Survivors

AG Nessel Urges Congress To Reform Military Justice For Sexual Assault Survivors

Attorney General

Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746

Public inquiries: 517-335-7622

November 11, 2021

LANSING - Attorney General Dana Nessel today joined a bipartisan coalition of 29 attorneys general led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, calling on Congress to pass the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021. The legislation, which has strong bipartisan support, would reshape the way the United States military investigates and prosecutes sexual assault.

"As we honor our brave service members this Veterans Day, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in urging Congress to pass this Act - one that is long overdue," Nessel said. "While I recognize it will not completely erase the risks of retaliation for reporting an assault, nor can it guarantee that every assault is prosecuted, this legislation properly addresses contributing factors to underreporting and under-prosecuting. Those who risk everything to protect this nation should not also suffer silently in instances of sexual violence. We owe survivors proper channels to report and must strengthen accountability against perpetrators."

In today's letter, the coalition highlights the need to address serious, longstanding problems in underreporting and prosecuting sexual assaults in the military. The Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act would professionalize the military's prosecution of serious crimes like sexual assault. The Act addresses widespread reluctance to report sexual assault due to bias in the military chain of command's power to decide whether cases move forward to a trial. The Act would instead ensure that decisions about whether to prosecute sexual assault or domestic violence crimes are made by independent, trained, professional military prosecutors while leaving uniquely military crimes within the chain of command.

Additionally, the Act requires increased sexual assault prevention training for military personnel, as well as added instruction for prosecutors on the proper conduct, presentation, and handling of sexual assault and domestic violence cases. If passed, the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act would constitute the largest change to the military justice system in the last 70 years.

Each year, thousands of service members experience sexual assault. Of those, only a small percentage ever report their assault - often because they suffer retaliation. In many cases, the assailant is someone in the service member's own chain of command, creating an additional risk of retaliation. Even when sexual assaults are reported, only a handful of perpetrators are held accountable; in fact, only approximately 9% of assaults result in a conviction.

Joining Attorneys General Nessel, Raoul and Peterson in calling on Congress to pass the Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act are the attorneys general of Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

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Gov. Whitmer announces Michigan Strategic Fund support for Allegiant Air's new aircraft and crew base at Bishop International Airport, 88 new jobs in Flint

Gov. Whitmer announces Michigan Strategic Fund support for Allegiant Air's new aircraft and crew base at Bishop International Airport, 88 new jobs in Flint

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2021

Contact: Kathleen Achtenberg achtenbergk@michigan.org

Gov. Whitmer announces Michigan Strategic Fund support for Allegiant Air's new aircraft and crew base at Bishop International Airport, 88 new jobs in Flint

Project will generate private investment of $76.9 million

Airline also adding nonstop service to Phoenix

Location key to company's strategic growth

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Gretchen Whitmer joined the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) today to announce Michigan Strategic Fund support for Allegiant's forthcoming operational base at Flint Bishop International Airport. Allegiant, which serves more than 130 cities across the United States with nonstop flights, plans to begin base operations in Flint in mid-February 2022, generating nearly $77 million in private investment and creating 88 new high-wage jobs in Flint. Michigan was chosen for the project over a number of competing sites across the country.

"Allegiant's investment will create good paying jobs for Flint-area residents as we continue building up Michigan's economy and usher in a new era of prosperity together," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "We are pleased to collaborate with our local partners and support this expansion, which will help us stay laser-focused on growing our economy and will provide more convenient, affordable flight options for Michigan leisure and business travelers."

The project is supported by a $200,000 Jobs Ready Michigan performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund.

Allegiant is one of America's premier ultra-low-cost air carriers, offering nonstop air service to travelers from underserved small- and medium-sized communities to world-class destinations. Allegiant currently serves more than 130 cities across the U.S. and employs 75 people in Michigan.

Allegiant began operating at Bishop International Airport in 2016 and currently offers eight nonstop routes with new flights to Phoenix/Mesa starting in November 2021. In 2019, Allegiant carried nearly 197,000 passengers through Flint.

In an effort to increase route expansion and network growth, Allegiant plans to establish a new aircraft and crew base at Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint. The project will include housing three Airbus A320 aircraft at FNT, affording the opportunity for more nonstop flights to meet consumer demand.

"Congratulations to the team at Allegiant on your tremendous growth and success. We appreciate this continued vote of confidence in our incredible talent and competitive business climate here in Michigan," said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. "Allegiant Air's decision to expand in Flint underscores the strength of our business environment, hospitality industry and talented workforce. We thank Allegiant for expanding at Bishop International Airport and look forward to working with the company as it continues to grow and add jobs in Michigan."

The project will foster high-wage job growth in the regional impact industry of logistics. The jobs created cover all aspects of the airline's locally-based operations, including general and operational managers, pilots, flight attendants, aircraft maintenance technicians, engineers and station staff

"Flint has been a great location for Allegiant, where our presence and success have grown each year," said Keith Hansen, Allegiant's vice president of government affairs. "It makes perfect sense to establish an aircraft and crew base in Flint, further embedding Allegiant in the community as a hometown airline. Having locally-based operations will mean opportunities for expanded hours, as well as more - and more frequent - flight offerings for local residents. We are grateful to our outstanding partners at Flint Bishop International Airport and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for working to make this exciting step in Allegiant's growth a reality."

The Bishop International Airport Authority is supporting the project with facility improvements, discounted rent, and incentives for each new nonstop flight, for a total value of $1.9 million. Allegiant, which employs more than 4,200 team members across the U.S., has already begun hiring personnel to support the operations. Available positions will be posted on Allegiant's careers website, where interested applicants can apply here.

"This announcement is the culmination of a great relationship with Allegiant, our community and the region as a whole," said Nino Sapone, chief executive officer, Flint Bishop International Airport. "Our passengers have proven time and again how much they value the unique brand of travel that Allegiant offers. Allegiant has grown from less than 7 percent of our traffic in 2016, to over 54 percent today. It's an amazing story of growth, commitment and partnership. Opening this base will add a variety of high paying jobs to the region, give our passengers greater access to more nonstop destinations, and the airline a home in Mid-Michigan. We're looking forward to taking this partnership to the next level."

"We are pleased to have partnered with Bishop International Airport and the MEDC on working to land Allegiant Air," said Tyler Rossmaessler, executive director of the Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance. "This investment will not only make the Flint area more accessible to visitors, but it will also play a major role in priming the entire region for future long-term growth."

Map courtesy of Allegiant Air

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state's marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan's economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

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Gov. Whitmer Signs Legislation Putting Michigan Drivers First, Allowing for 2-Year Vehicle Registrations

Gov. Whitmer Signs Legislation Putting Michigan Drivers First, Allowing for 2-Year Vehicle Registrations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2021

Contact: press@michigan.gov

Gov. Whitmer Signs Legislation Putting Michigan Drivers First, Allowing for 2-Year Vehicle Registrations

LANSING, Mich. - Governor Whitmer today signed legislation saving Michigan drivers a trip to the Secretary of State's office or post office. House Bill 4117 allows drivers to choose a 2-year vehicle registration, improving the convenience of Secretary of State services. The governor also signed Senate Bill 220, allowing for no-cost registration renewal for certain agricultural and industrial vehicles, House Bill 4281, ensuring continued funding for police and fire services in Romulus and Harper Woods, and House Bill 4059, which streamlines children's mental health treatment plans.

"Making life easier for Michiganders is one of my top priorities," said Governor Whitmer. "The changes that I signed into law today will give Michigan car owners the opportunity to renew their license every two years instead of annually and will provide options for Michigan businesses to renew their special vehicle registration. These changes will build on the many new convenient services offered by the Secretary of State to put Michigan families and small businesses first."

"The Michigan Department of State has entered a new era of operations and we are providing better and more convenient service than ever before. Our branch offices are open, pandemic operations are finished, and there is abundant availability for office visits across the state," said Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. "HB 4117 will add yet another convenient service to our catalog and, while not implementable as written, SB 220 will be beneficial once the Legislature requires insurance companies to provide the Department with electronic access to their policies for agricultural vehicles."

House Bill 4117 allows drivers the option to request a two-year registration instead of renewing annually. Currently, a vehicle registration is issued annually and expires on the owner's birthday.

House Bill 4117 was sponsored by Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Wayland Twp. and a copy can be found here.

Senate Bill 220 will specifically amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to require the secretary of state to provide a system under which special vehicle registrations related to certain agricultural or wood harvesting operations could be renewed at no additional charge in a branch office, by first-class mail, and online beginning October 1, 2022.

Senate Bill 220 was sponsored by Sen. Lana Thesis, R-Brighton, and a copy can be found here.

House Bill 4281 will ensure that smaller cities with fewer than 15,500 residents can continue receiving critical funding for their emergency services operations to keep people safe. The bill addresses the funding of police and fire protection services by townships, villages, and certain qualified cities, to expand the population threshold to qualified cities with fewer than 15,500 residents and to include the city of Romulus, the location of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. This bill allows the cities of Harper Woods and Romulus to better support their police and fire departments, protecting public safety.

House Bill 4281 was sponsored by Rep. Alex Garza, D-Taylor, and a copy can be found here.

"This bill, in its simplest form, addresses issues of public safety unique to different cities across Michigan," said Rep. Alex Garza, D-Taylor. "With public safety issues that presented themselves in Romulus, a city that I represent, it also became clear that additional police and fire services were necessary in a city that harbors a large international airport. These services are a lifeline to so many, and I am proud to have been able to work closely with Senator Hollier and my colleagues in the House of Representatives to accomplish this win for public safety."

"The Michigan Municipal League was pleased to work with local officials, state legislators, and the administration to help HB 4281 become a reality," said Chris Hackbarth, director of state and federal affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. "This bill will help ensure continued financial support for police and fire protection in communities that rely on this funding and recognizes the limitations that many communities face in funding their essential services."

House Bill 4059 will add a section to the division of the Social Welfare Act that would provide that a child with a confirmed diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) would not be required to have a re-evaluation to determine continued eligibility for behavioral health treatment. Under this new law, a re-evaluation would only be required if it was medically necessary.

House Bill 4059 was sponsored by Rep. Pauline Wendzel, R-Watervliet and a copy can be found here.

"There's so much good we can do for the people we serve when we focus on real issues, and this bill is a perfect example of it," said Rep. Pauline Wendzel, R-Watervliet. "I want to thank my colleagues for their overwhelming support and Director Wier from the LOGAN Center in Benton Harbor for her tireless advocacy. This bill will prevent children from losing access to vital services, save caregivers countless hours, and help more of our kids gain access to these life-changing services. I'm proud we came together and delivered for the children of our state."

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PHOTOS: Governor Whitmer Hosts Veterans Roundtable

PHOTOS: Governor Whitmer Hosts Veterans Roundtable

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2021

Contact: Press@Michigan.gov

PHOTOS: Governor Whitmer Hosts Veterans Roundtable

Governor hears from veterans helping veterans, administers oath of re-enlistment to Command Sergeant Major James Taylor

LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer hosted a roundtable with a group of veterans on the eve of Veteran's Day. The group discussed a range of veterans issues, actions the state has taken to help veterans and their families thrive, and the work that remains to help every Michigander who served in uniform succeed.

"Michigan's veterans answered the call of duty to serve our nation in uniform and made countless sacrifices to keep us all safe," said Governor Whitmer. "Today, I was honored to meet with an incredible group of veterans and state and local leaders who routinely go the extra mile to uplift veterans in our state. Michigan is home to nearly 600,000 veterans and their families. Together, we can ensure they all have a path to pursue their potential right here in Michigan."

"Today's discussion with the Governor and my fellow veterans was a very fitting way to recognize and celebrate Veterans Day," said MVAA Director Zaneta Adams. "Being able to have open and honest dialogue about the needs of veterans and also demonstrating all the great veteran led initiatives occurring here in Michigan is critical as we continue to advocate and serve veterans and their families across the state."

"Veterans Day is a time for us to recognize all of the brave men and women who have answered the call to serve in our Armed Forces," said Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "Michigan is a National Guard state with nearly 11,000 service members actively serving. CSM Taylor's re-enlistment today demonstrates the truly selfless ongoing commitment so many continue to make in service to our state and nation."

Roundtable Participants:

Major General Paul Rogers , Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs ( DMVA )

Zaneta Adams , Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency ( MVAA )

Command S ergean t Major James Taylor, MI Army National Guard Spartan Brigade

Nick Antonucci , Valhalla Management Partners/Operation Valhalla

Mike Wilson , Pro Leader Consulting, LLC

Garth Wootten , President, Michigan Association of County Veteran Counselors

Shelly Rood, Mission Ambition, LLC

Jason Bos , Recruitment Manager of Military, Davenport University

Belinda Coronado, Veterans Upward Bound at GVSU/Councilwoman Ward 3 City of Holland

Michael Hyacinthe , Has Heart - Veterans Artists United

Jena Wilmers , American Legion District 5 Senior Vice Commander, Post 1111 Commander

Sandie Wilson, Vietnam Veterans of America National Board Member & Chair of Agent Orange Committee

Stacey Roberts , Post Commander, VFW LakeView Post 3701

Jessica Wright , Post Adjutant, VFW LakeView Post 3701

Re-Enlistment of Command Sergeant Major James Taylor

Before the roundtable, Governor Whitmer administered the oath of re-enlistment to Command Sergeant Major (CSM) James Taylor of the 63rd Troop Command in the Michigan Army National Guard. Today is CSM Taylor's sixth re-enlistment in the armed forces. It represents a decades-long dedication to the American people and his fellow Michiganders.

CSM Taylor has been an integral part of the Michigan Army National Guard's ongoing COVID-19 response. Before joining the state national guard, CSM Taylor enlisted in the United States Army, where he attended both Ranger and Airborne schools. CSM Taylor deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan and held a number of leadership roles. He is a decorated soldier, having received a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, among other awards.

CSM Taylor is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business Management at Excelsior College. He his wife, Rhonda, have three daughters.

Veterans Day

Originally known as Armistice Day, and designated by Congress in 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill into law on May 26, 1954, naming it Veterans Day ever since. For more information on upcoming events taking place throughout the state in honor of Veterans Day, please visit the events calendar at www.michigan.gov/mvaa.

While there are many ways to celebrate Veterans Day including flying the U.S. flag, volunteering at a local veteran's home or donating to a veteran's charity, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency wants to encourage veterans to apply for VA benefits and volunteer to mentor fellow veterans.

About Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency

Created by Executive Order in 2013, MVAA's mission is to be the central coordinating agency, providing support, care, advocacy and service to veterans and their families. The agency works with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, state departments, county agencies and community and veterans service organizations throughout the state. The agency operates the Michigan Veteran Resource Service Center, a 24/7/365 call center in partnership with Michigan 211. By calling 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838) veterans, family members and service providers can get information and access a comprehensive network of resources and services. Learn more at https://www.michigan.gov/mvaa.

About Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs

The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) synchronizes strategic, legislative and fiscal initiatives to build and sustain military readiness, care and advocacy for veterans and cultivate purposeful partnerships. Branch operations include Michigan Veteran Homes, Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, State Operations, Army National Guard and Air National Guard which stand in support of our mission to serve every member. For more information, please visit: https://www.michigan.gov/dmva.

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LONDON (AP)  The Duchess of Sussex has apologized for misleading a British court about the extent of her cooperation with the authors of a sympathetic book about her and Prince Harry.

The former Meghan Markle, 40, is embroiled in a court battle in London over a British newspapers publication of portions of a letter she wrote to her estranged father after her 2018 marriage to Harry, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II.

She sued the publisher of the Mail on Sunday and the MailOnline website for breach of privacy and copyright. A High Court judge ruled in her favor in February, saying publication of the letter Meghan wrote to her father, Thomas Markle, was manifestly excessive and hence unlawful.

Publisher Associated Newspapers is trying to overturn that decision at the Court of Appeal. The publisher argues that Meghan wrote the letter knowing it might be published, and made private information public by cooperating with Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, authors of Finding Freedom.

The duchess lawyers have previously denied that she or Harry collaborated with the authors. But the couples former communications director, Jason Knauf, said in evidence to the court that he gave the writers information, and discussed it with Harry and Meghan.

In a witness statement, Knauf said the book was discussed directly with the duchess multiple times in person and over email. Emails released as part of Knaufs statement showed he also emailed Harry to discuss the book and to say he would meet the authors.

Knauf said Harry replied: I totally agree that we have to be able to say we didnt have anything to do with it. Equally, you giving the right context and background to them would help get some truths out there.

In a witness statement made public on Wednesday, Meghan accepted that Mr. Knauf did provide some information to the authors for the book and that he did so with my knowledge, for a meeting that he planned for with the authors in his capacity as communications secretary. She added that the extent of the information he shared is unknown to me.

The duchess said she did not remember the discussions with Knauf when she gave evidence earlier in the case, and I apologize to the court for the fact that I had not remembered these exchanges at the time.

I had absolutely no wish or intention to mislead the defendant or the court, she said.

Associated Newspapers says Knaufs evidence also undermines Meghans claim that she did not intend the letter to be seen by anyone but her father.

In his witness statement, Knauf said the duchess asked me to review the text of the letter, saying obviously everything I have drafted is with the understanding that it could be leaked.

Knauf said Meghan asked whether she should address her father in the letter as Daddy, adding that in the unfortunate event that it leaked, it would pull at the heartstrings.

In her own written evidence, Meghan said she had not believed that her father would sell or leak the letter, primarily because it would not put him in a good light.

To be clear, I did not want any of it to be published, and wanted to ensure that the risk of it being manipulated or misleadingly edited was minimized, were it to be exploited, she said.

Lawyers for Meghan told the Court of Appeal Thursday that if she had wanted to put the letter to her father in the public domain, the Finding Freedom book would have been the perfect opportunity to do so.

Defending the newspaper, lawyer Andrew Caldecott also argued that Thomas Markle had the right to publicly rebut misleading claims about his relationship with Meghan that surfaced in a 2019 People magazine interview with five of her close friends.

Thomas Markle has been royally attacked in the People magazine... and this is his reply, he said.

The appeal continues Thursday before three senior judges. A ruling is expected at a later date.

Meghan, a former star of the American TV legal drama Suits, married Harry at Windsor Castle in May 2018.

The couple announced in early 2020 that they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media.

They have settled in Santa Barbara, California, with their two young children.
BEAR LAKE  The Manistee Conservation District was recently awarded three of the 169 grants given to 75 Michigan conservation districts by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Environmental Stewardship Division for implementation of voluntary conservation practices on private lands and privately held forests.

Conservation districts are local government entities working to enhance and conserve soil, water, wildlife and other natural resources in their local communities.

Renee Mallison, MCD executive director, said grant money plays a pivotal role in enabling the conservation district to run.

"The grants that are brought in by the Manistee Conservation District account for more than 65% of our operating budget," she said. "Without receiving those federal, state and private grant funds, the Manistee Conservation District would not be able to support all of the current offerings that we do."

The conservation districts's three grants from MDARD total $191,500. MDARD awarded a total of $9.7 million to state conservation districts.

Michigan is known for our incredible natural resources and robust agricultural sector, said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a news release. Strong investments like this will help our conservation districts continue to work with MDARD to assist Michigan farmers. Together, we will stay laser-focused on growing Michigans economy, creating good-paying jobs, driving down costs and ushering in a new era of prosperity for our families, communities and small businesses in every sector.

MDARD is investing a total of $3 million for conservation district operations, the highest funding levels since 2008, with each district receiving a $40,000 grant.

The purpose of this grant is to provide support for the basic operations of the 75 conservation districts in Michigan to carry out operational duties associated with natural resource management activities consistent with the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451 Part 93, as amended, commonly referred to as Conservation District Law.

"The operations grant is a new funding source for the fiscal year 2022 that was approved by the state of Michigan in the current fiscal budget," Mallison said. "Those funding dollars will go to support base operations for all of the conservation districts in the state."

The MCD received a $73,000 grant for the Forestry Assistance Program, which provides technical assistance to private forestland owners. Conservation district foresters work one-on-one with private forestland owners and private sector foresters to promote sustainable management of the private forest resource.

"The Forestry Assistance Program provides funding that supports a technical resource," Mallison said. "Our forester, Dr. Josh Shields, is on staff and he provides technical resources for forestry-related questions."

Additionally, the MCD was one of six conservation districts to receive a $78,500 grant for the implementation of the Produce Safety Program, which is a cooperative effort between the Food and Drug Administration, MDARD, Michigan State University Extension and local conservation districts to help farms of all sizes voluntarily improve produce safety on the farm.

"The produce safety grant allows for funding that supports a produce safety technician position. The produce safety technician covers a five-county range of Manistee, Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse and Antrim, and supports farms with produce safety rule documentation and expertise."

Gary McDowell, MDARD director, said in a press release the funding will help support and elevate the conservation districts statewide.

"These funds will allow districts to identify and prioritize the most pressing needs in their communities and ensure landowners have access to technical assistance for their farms, he said. Conservation districts are integral to the success of many of MDARDs programs. We partner with conservation districts because they provide trusted expertise and assistance to farmers and landowners. That knowledge is critical for adopting voluntary conservation that protects soil, crops, forests, waterways and wildlife.
Larry Bell, the founder of Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, announced the sale of his company Wednesday, Nov. 10.

The longtime Michigan brewer sold to Lion, an Australian-based brewer that also owns another popular crafter beer brewer in Fort Collins, Colorado  New Belgium.

This decision ultimately came down to two determining factors, Bell said in official release announcing the sale. First, the folks at New Belgium share our ironclad commitment to the craft of brewing and the community-first way weve built our business. Second, this was the right time.

"Ive been doing this for more than 36 years and recently battled some serious health issues," Bell continued. "I want everyone who loves this company like I do to know we have found a partner that truly values our incredible beer, our culture, and the importance of our roots here in Michigan.

Future stewardship to Bell's beer brands and New Belgium's commitment to it played a role in Bell's decision. The dedication to continued success in operation of Bell's location in Comstock and Upper Hand in Escanaba and the opportunity to grow were also factors.

This particular sale joining Bell's beer with New Belgium puts the company at the top of the U.S. craft beer market in sales volume and growth. Bell's joins New Belgium's popular brands such as Fat Tire and Voodoo Ranger  one of many India Pale Ale (IPA) beers that New Belgium produces. Voodoo Ranger is the one of the top IPA brands in the craft beer industry.

Bell established his brewery in 1985 with its initial beers brewed in a 15-gallon soup kettle.

Im so proud of what weve been able to accomplish together, Bell said. From our wonderful fans, to the amazing team that has helped share our beer with the world, to the ways weve been able to invest in causes we believe in  this has been an absolutely incredible journey.
Today, Big Rapids residents are joining millions of Americans in honoring veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day. On Monday, the News Pioneer asked our readers to share pictures of their beloved veterans and active-duty service members. We received nine photo submissions on our Facebook page to be featured in a special collection on our website.

See local veterans by scrolling through the gallery. We thank you for your service.
South Geneva Rd is closed due to power lines across the roadway, according to Midland County's Central Dispatch.

Geneva Road between West Isabella Street and Prairie Road is now open to normal traffic, as of 4:01 p.m. Thursday.
Pioneer File Photo

Many fast food and sit down establishments are showing their appreciation for the countrys veterans and armed forces this Thursday.

Restaurants around the country are offering free meals and discounts for veterans and active-duty members of the service for Veterans Day. Military ID or proof of service is required to redeem these offers.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russian authorities said Thursday they were preparing new restrictions aimed at curbing the unrelenting surge of coronavirus infections that has engulfed the vast country in recent weeks.

The state coronavirus task force announced it was drafting legislation to expand the system of QR codes, already used in many regions to restrict access to certain public places, to include public transport, cafes and shops. The system only allows access to people who have been vaccinated, have recovered from the virus recently or can provide a negative coronavirus test no older than 72 hours.

It wasn't immediately clear when the new measures will be imposed, whether they would be nationwide or when this legislation will be introduced into the parliament.

Shortly after the task force's announcement, officials in the Russian republic of Tatarstan said they would introduce QR codes on the region's public transport.

COVID-19 infections and deaths in Russia remain at all-time highs. The task force on Thursday reported 40,759 new confirmed cases and 1,237 deaths  both numbers only slightly lower than the record daily tallies of 41,335 infections and 1,239 deaths registered earlier this month.

The surge in infections and deaths comes amid low vaccination rates, lax public attitudes toward taking precautions and the governments reluctance to toughen restrictions.

Fewer than 40% of Russias nearly 146 million people have been fully vaccinated, even though the country approved a domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine months before most of the world.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered many Russians last month to stay off work between Oct. 30 and Nov. 7. He authorized regional governments to extend the number of non-working days if necessary, but only five regions have done so.

Other regions have restricted access to restaurants, theaters and other public places under the system of QR codes, which must be obtained from a government website.

Daily tallies of new infections and deaths have remained high throughout the non-working period and after it ended. Around 40,000 cases and over 1,100 deaths have been reported every day since late October.

St. Petersburg, Russias second largest city, and the southern Krasnodar region, home to the popular Black Sea resort of Sochi, have made vaccinations mandatory for those older than 60 and those suffering from chronic illnesses. Residents of the two regions that fall into either of the two categories must get their first shot before mid-December and complete their vaccination before mid-January.

In total, Russias state coronavirus task force has reported more than 8.9 million confirmed infections and over 251,000 deaths  by far the highest death toll in Europe.

Some experts believe the true figure is even higher.

Reports by Russias own statistical service Rosstat, which tally coronavirus-linked deaths retroactively, reveal much higher mortality numbers: 462,000 people with COVID-19 died between April 2020 and September this year.

Russian officials have said the task force only includes deaths for which COVID-19 was the main cause, and uses data from medical facilities. Rosstat uses wider criteria for counting virus-related deaths and takes its numbers from civil registry offices where registering a death is finalized.

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Follow all AP stories on the pandemic at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
Huron County may have started awarding projects some of its allocated American Rescue Plan Act funding, but issues have already risen with how those funds have been awarded.

Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson is taking issue with a perceived double-standard with the Huron County Board of Commissioners awarding premium pay to the countys maintenance department staff, but not the sheriff deputies yet.

The commissioners approved premium pay to the countys maintenance department staff at their meeting this week, which three full-time and two part-time employees were given an extra $10 per hour for the time worked between March 24, 2020 and May 7, 2020, and from between Aug. 3, 2020 and Jan. 12, 2021, amounting to $40,557.15. The five employees had worked a total of 3,767.5 hours in those timeframes.

When project ideas were taken into consideration in August, Hanson submitted a request for premium pay for his sheriffs office employees. He had requested $8 per hour for every hour worked between March 24, 2020 and May 7, 2020 and from between Dec. 7, 2020 and Dec. 19, 2020, which would cost $104,886.

Hanson said the $8 per hour was a number he felt the deputies could work with the commissioners on and the time periods were when the county courthouse was closed for business.

I feel the deputies are deserving because our office was never closed during the crisis and everyone reported to work regularly, just as if there were no crisis, Hanson wrote in a letter to county Commissioner Todd Talaski, the chairman of the personnel committee. I also believe the deputies are entitled to some added respect of extra pay because they werent allowed the option of being compensated for earned vacation while they didnt have to report for work. Nor were they able to benefit from earned seniority and retirement accumulation, as well as other paid days off that other county employees received while not having to report for work.

Talaski said the list of project ideas was passed out each commissioner where they would each rank them 1-20 before combining them together. He said it was up to each commissioner to decide how they felt which projects were most beneficial to the county.

There was no committee meeting, each one of us did our own homework, Talaski said. We did what we felt was most beneficial to the county and employees.

The 34 full-time sheriffs office employees during those two stretches of time worked a total of 12,166 hours, of which 11,519.5 were regular hours and 646.5 were overtime hours. Based on giving an additional $8 per hour, they would receive $97,328. Hanson himself would not be considered for these funds.

The 15 part-time employees worked those same time periods a total of 944.75 hours and would get $7,558.

The sheriff deputies also each received $1,000 each last year through a grant opportunity different from the American Rescue Plan Act. Hanson claimed that Commissioner Mary Babcock, the head of the finance committee, indicated that the deputies had already gotten paid and were not entitled to anymore because of it.

Talaski also feels the sheriff deputies had gotten some forms of payment already and they will likely receive what they requested, they just were not one of the projects they got. Hanson was told that if the deputies were to be awarded premium pay, it would not happen until sometime next year.

As long as funding allows it, Im sure they will, Talaski said about giving the deputies premium pay.

Talaski said he felt that the janitorial staff were in the county building every day, being required to do extensive deep cleaning while the pandemic was going on. During their time working through the pandemic, the federal government did not consider janitorial staff essential workers.

County Commissioners Executive Assistant Jodi Essenmacher said that aside from the sheriffs office and janitorial staff, the Huron County Health Department and the information technology department also submitted requests for premium pay. The Health Department asked for $438,318.90 to go towards 48 employees while the IT departments request has not been figured out yet. Neither have so far been put on the commissioners priority list of projects yet.

Hanson said he has no issue with the custodial staff and he felt they deserve to get premium pay too, but that there is a double standard occurring. Hanson said that had he not applied for premium pay and continued to push the commissioners on it, the deputies would not be considered for it at all. He also took issue with how that on the list of priority projects the commissioners put together, awarding premium pay to the sheriffs office was at number 11, behind other items such as upgrading the jails ventilation, emergency paging, and radio systems, a courthouse/jail generator project, and funding small business recovery grants.

What makes them more important to be considered? Hanson said.

Hanson said that during the pandemic the deputies had to clean the county jail cells themselves along with their patrol cars and had encounters with people who were COVID-19 positive that was not just passing them by.

Hanson said that Huron Countys Sheriffs Office is one of a few across Michigan that has all its full-time positions filled, which he said had to do with deputies being loyal to their county.

Disrespecting those people is not a way to keep the staff full, Hanson said.

Huron County is expected to receive a total of $6 million from the federal $65.1 billion American Rescue Plan Act to fund projects meant to support public health expenditures, address negative economic implications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, replace lost public sector revenue, provide premium pay for essential workers, and invest in sewer, water, and broadband infrastructure.

Huron County received $3 million in May and should receive the remaining $3 million sometime in 2022.

The county has already allocated some of the funding to go towards covering $327,000 for renovations to the friend of court and juvenile court offices, and $86,000 on a sewer system project at the Huron County Fairgrounds.

The county has until Dec. 31, 2024 to figure out how the funds are spent and until Dec. 31, 2026 to spend all the funds. The commissioners set a deadline of Dec. 31, 2021 for receiving project requests, with a second period for requests possible based on fund availability.
PIERRE, S.D. (AP)  South Dakota lawmakers weighing impeachment of the state's attorney general will start their investigation by hiring legal counsel to guide their probe.

The House's investigative committee met for the first time Wednesday as they delve into Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg's conduct surrounding a fatal car crash last year.

Ravnsborg, a Republican who was elected to his first term in 2018, pleaded no contest in August to a pair of misdemeanors in the crash that killed 55-year-old Joseph Boever, who was walking along a rural stretch of highway when Ravnsborg struck him with his car. Ravnsborg has insisted that he did not realize he killed a man until he returned to the scene the next day and discovered his body.

The House's investigation is expected to take months as they look into the crash investigation. During their first meeting, lawmakers reviewed state law on impeachment, but held off on any further action until they could hire an attorney.

We are looking for somebody thats very educated in the constitution ad in state law, said House Speaker Spencer Gosch, the Republican who is overseeing the committee.

Gosch said he wants to hire an attorney quickly, but did not give a timeline for when that would happen.
Smack dab in Americas heartland sits Marceline, Missouri.

Its nestled a little ways south of U.S. 36, often referred to as the avenue of the geniuses. Thats because at the eastern end theres Hannibal, the hometown of Mark Twain, and on the western end is Hamilton, the hometown of J.C. Penney.

But Marceline? Well Marceline is very special. Its the boyhood home of the one and only, Walt Disney.

We tell a story here in Marceline. A story youre not going to get anywhere else, Kaye Malins said.

Malins is the director of the Walt Disney Hometown Museum that operates out of an old Santa Fe Railroad station that was frequented by Disney as a boy because of his immense love of trains. Its full of two levels of Disney family artifacts that tell an amazing story of a family that didnt let any kind of fame separate them.

The museum features 10,000-square-feet of exhibits spread throughout two floors.

We tell our story in Marceline around a lot of the letters the Disney family wrote back and forth to each other, Malins said. Its a real insight as to how close they were. Its the beginning of Walt being famous, and how they remained this very close, very tight family through all of the fame.

More travel: Popeye and friends live in small Illinois town

The train station is significant not only as a monument to American infrastructural history, but also as a testament to Disneys youth and love for Marceline that stayed strong long after he left for Kansas City and eventually California.

Walt loved that building. When we were able to purchase that building, Walts sister contacted me and said she had all the family things, and she wanted us to tell the story of Marceline and so collectively we decided what better place to do it than in this building that Walt loved, Malins said.

His uncle, Mike Martin was an engineer on the Santa Fe railroad," she continued. "He even had a special toot that he did on his steam whistle when he came through town so Walt would know it was Uncle Mike. He would slow the engine down and Walt would run down to the crossing, get in the cab of the train with him and ride it on into the yards.

Disneys love for trains is very much notable at his theme parks in Anaheim, California and Orlando, Florida. A fun fact is that one of the trains at Disneyland, the very train Disney rode in on, is named for a man by the name of E.P. Ripley, a former president of the Santa Fe Railroad. During Ripleys time as president, the Santa Fe donated the land for a Marceline park Disney spent time in as a boy. That park is named in Ripleys honor.

Walt Disney rode in on a steam engine named the E.P. Ripley, and I think its very poignant that it had such a heart connection to him from his childhood in Marceline. He couldve chosen any Santa Fe president, but he chose to ride in on the E.P. Ripley, because of the connection to Marceline.

And Disney never forgot where he came from. He would return to Marceline several times. Most of the time, Malins points out, hed fly into Kansas City, about an hour or so west of Marceline, and then take the train into town.

It was during these visits that Malins got to meet Disney. It was also during these visits Disney put plans in place for an attraction in his hometown, too. Its clear he didnt just want people flocking to California and Florida.

Walts idea was to have a 1900s working farm here in Marceline with Disney educational values, Malins said. When he came back in 56 to dedicate the Walt Disney Swimming Pool and Park here in Marceline  thats when he stayed with my family  they went out to the Disney farm where he had spent the years they lived here and that night theyre sitting in our family room, Walts drinking scotch and my dads drinking bourbon, and he goes, Do you know who owns that farm, and dad said, Yes, I do. And Walt said, You can buy it cheaper than I can, go buy it.

Malins father was a local councilman, and they lived in a new house that featured air conditioning, which was the deciding factor for Disneys overnight stays in Marceline.

The first time I met Walt, he was standing in the living room of my house. And at 8, I was fairly precocious, Malins said, and so I looked at Walt and said, What room are you going to sleep in, and he said, What room should I sleep in, and I said, the pink one.

The pink room was Malins room, and that she says, is her claim to fame with Disney.

The last 10 years of his life is when we knew him the best, Malins said. So there were lots of trips to California for what Walt wanted to do here, and it was not unusual for me to pick up the phone and hear, Hey Kaye, this is Walt, I need to talk to your dad. He was just part of our lives for a long time.

And theres much more Disney things to see and do in Marceline outside of the hometown museum. There are several plaques marking historical moments and locations, several locations around town that Disney frequented as a boy, Walt Disney Elementary School  an encouraged tourist location, the Walt Disney Post Office and the Disney farm.

Main Street USA, the timeless town visitors pass through before getting to the castles in Disney's parks, replicates Marceline  with a small dash of Colorado from the designer  from Disney's childhood.

He was so far ahead of his time in thinking, Malins said of Disneys aspiration for the Disney farm. "He wanted to celebrate and educate the public as to what they did on the farm, and what the potential was. He was already thinking about ethanol. He didnt call it that, but he was already thinking about things like that."

Sadly, Disney died in 1966 before Walt Disney World was completed. With him went many ideas and plans the public never got to see.

After Walt passed away, his brother Roy came out of retirement to open the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World," Malins said. "And then Roys health was not good, so he called my dad and said, Theres two projects were not going to do. One of them is Marceline. So he sold all the land back to my dad.

But just about anyone will tell you that Disney, through his visions, intentions and, yes, magic, lives on for kids and kids at heart throughout the world.

And there are other Disney museums too, including the Disney Family Museum in San Francisco that focuses more on Disney becoming the man he is today and all of his achievements.

Yet, Marceline is where it all began.
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates met with Syrias once widely shunned president in Damascus on Tuesday, sending the clearest signal yet that the Arab world is willing to re-engage with strongman Bashar Assad.

The visit by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the first by an Emirati foreign minister since Syria's civil war erupted in 2011. It comes as some Arab countries are improving ties with Syria. The U.S., a close Emirati partner, promptly criticized the visit, saying it would not support any normalization with Assads government.

The rapprochement, however, could serve both sides.

Syria badly needs to boost relations with oil-rich countries as its economy is being strangled by crippling Western sanctions and it faces the task of post-war reconstruction. The UAE is also home to thousands of Syrians who work in the Gulf nation and send money to their relatives at home.

Most Gulf countries, at odds with regional rival Iran, seek warmer ties with Damascus, hoping to peel it away from Tehran. Iran is a traditional ally of Syria and sent advisers and resources to back Assad during the 10-year war.

Syria was expelled from the 22-member Arab League and boycotted by its neighbors after its civil war erupted in 2011. More than 400,000 people have been killed in the conflict which displaced half of Syria's population. Large parts of Syria have been destroyed and reconstruction would cost tens of billions of dollars.

Arab and Western countries generally blamed Assad for the deadly crackdown on the 2011 protests that evolved into civil war, and supported the opposition in the early days of the conflict.

Several years into the fighting, Iran's backing for Assad, along with that of Russia, helped the Syrian leader push back the insurgents, who are now confined to a small area of northwestern Syria.

Reducing Iran's influence in Syria may be a difficult challenge for Gulf countries, said Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding. It will be almost impossible to shift Irans position in Syria in the short term," he said. Iran is too well embedded.

At best the Syrian regime may start to play Iran and the UAE off against each other in order to obtain some independent room for maneuver, he said. Doyle added that other Arab states, wary of being used by Damascus, will be watching to see how the relationship develops.

Sheikh Abdullah headed a large delegation to Damascus, according to Syrian state TV.

The UAEs state-run WAM news agency said the foreign minister underlined UAEs keenness to ensure the security, stability and unity of Syria and its support for all efforts made to end the Syrian crisis.

Assad's office said the two sides discussed ways of developing cooperation and investment opportunities. It quoted Assad as praising "the objective and wise stances taken by the United Arab Emirates. The UAE always stood by the Syrian people, Assad was quoted as saying.

In Washington, the State Department was quick to object to the visit.

We are concerned by reports of the meeting and the signal it sends," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. This administration will not express any support for efforts to normalize or rehabilitate Bashar al-Assad, who is a brutal dictator. We urge states in the region to carefully consider the atrocities that this regime (and) Bashar Assad himself has perpetrated on the Syrian people over the past decade, as well as the regimes ongoing efforts to deny much of the country access to humanitarian aid and security.

Price said Secretary of State Antony Blinken had registered Washington's disapproval of the trip last week in a meeting with Sheikh Abdullah in Europe.

We will not normalize or upgrade our diplomatic relations with the Assad regime, nor do we support other countries normalizing or upgrading their relations given the atrocities that this regime has inflicted on its own people, he said. He added, however, that "we were not taken by surprise by the visit, suggesting that Blinken's entreaties had fallen flat.

Last month, the UAEs Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed received a telephone call from Assad in which they discussed strengthening relations and cooperation.

The UAE, which initially supported those trying to topple Assad, reopened its embassy in Damascus in December 2018 but relations remained cold.

In September, Assad called King Abdullah II of Jordan for the first time since Syrias conflict began. The two countries also reopened a major border crossing.

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Mroue reported from Beirut.
BANGKOK (AP)  The United Nations Security Council has issued a press statement expressing deep concern about ongoing violence in Myanmar, whose military-installed government is using lethal force against opponents.

The Security Councils action comes as Myanmars army appears to be conducting a major offensive in the countrys northwest amid warnings that the nation's humanitarian situation is sharply deteriorating, with food shortages and a weakened public health system.

A press statement carries less weight than an official resolution, and can serve as a way of achieving consensus among Security Council members that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. The body appears to be constrained from taking more serious action because two of its permanent members, Russia and China, maintain warm relations with Myanmars current government.

Myanmars military seized power in February, ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The takeover met with widespread public protests that were suppressed with deadly force. In response, armed opposition to military rule has arisen, and several U.N. experts have warned that the Southeast Asian nation risks tumbling into civil war.

The Security Council statement, issued late Wednesday in New York, said it underlined the importance of steps to improve the health and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, including to facilitate the equitable, safe and unhindered delivery and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

It also called for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need, and for the full protection, safety and security of humanitarian and medical personnel. The security situation in Myanmar, as well as the difficulties that aid agencies face in getting permission from the government to operate in remote areas, have greatly restricted the flow of assistance.

On Monday, the U.N. humanitarian chief urged Myanmars military leaders to provide unimpeded access to more than 3 million people in need of life-saving assistance because of growing conflict and insecurity, COVID-19 and a failing economy.

Martin Griffiths warned that without an end to violence and a peaceful resolution of Myanmars crisis, this number will only rise."

The councils statement reaffirmed support for Myanmars democratic transition and reiterated its earlier call on the military to exercise utmost restraint. The government blames the violence on opposition groups, some of which it has officially designated terrorist organizations.

The council also reiterated support for the role of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in helping find an end to the violence and the political crisis. It called for a five-point program suggested by ASEAN to be implemented, including a visit to Myanmar by the regional groups special envoy.

A planned initial visit to Myanmar by the envoy was canceled when the government refused to allow him to visit Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the takeover and is being tried on charges her supporters and others say are spurious.

The government said the envoy cannot meet her because of her legal situation. Its failure to allow access resulted in ASEAN not allowing Myanmars leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, to attend a regional summit last month, an unprecedented rebuke to a fellow member of the organization.

Several civic organizations opposed to military rule expressed disappointment with what they said was inadequate action by the Security Council.

Words and statements of concern from the highest authority of the world body disregard the real threats against human security that is experienced by the people of Myanmar at the hands of the junta who continues to slaughter innocent people with total impunity, said Khin Ohmar of Progressive Voice, a research and advocacy organization for human rights and social reform.

The escalating violence in Myanmar is an embarrassment and a testament to the repeated failures of the U.N. system that challenges the relevancy of the U.N. Security Council to maintain international peace and security, she said.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Jake Corman, the ranking Republican in Pennsylvanias state Senate, will run for governor in next year's election, a political adviser said Wednesday, entering a huge and wide-open GOP field of candidates that is unlike anything party officials have seen in at least decades.

For weeks, Corman has been expected to enter the race, and he had planned to make the formal announcement at a Thursday night event, a political adviser with direct knowledge of Cormans plans told The Associated Press.

The political adviser spoke on condition of anonymity because Corman has not publicly confirmed he is running, although Corman has repeatedly hinted that an announcement is coming.

However, the Thursday night event  billed as a special announcement in Cormans hometown of Bellefonte  was canceled after Corman tested positive Wednesday for COVID-19.

He is fully vaccinated and will quarantine at home, the Senate Republican communications office said in a brief statement. Cormans symptoms are mild, it said, but did not elaborate.

Corman will enter a wide-open race for the GOP nomination, swelling an already big field of Republicans to potentially succeed outgoing Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat.

Corman, 57, who represents a swath of central Pennsylvania surrounding Penn States main campus, is the Senates president pro tempore and has served in the chamber since 1999 after taking over the seat his father held.

On the Democratic side, two-term state Attorney General Josh Shapiro is the presumed nominee and has thus far cleared the primary field, having amassed a campaign account of $10 million and won two statewide races.

After last week's municipal election, candidates began burning up the phones of county Republican Party chairs, asking for meetings.

The field is double digits deep, something party officials can't ever remember confronting in a statewide race of such importance.

I was thinking it was getting close to 20," said Cambria County GOP chair Jackie Kulback.

The big field is a sign of strength, not weakness, Kulback said, especially considering that a Republican has replaced every outgoing Democratic governor under Pennsylvania's modern constitution, which allows for two-term governors.

Its a sign of opportunity," Kulback said. It's a sign that Republicans have a leg up on Shapiro.

Candidates will have various tests in front of them to show their strength.

The state party's regional caucuses will begin holding candidate meetings in January, where members typically take a straw poll after a Saturday of meeting privately with candidates to let the candidates know where they stand.

For our committee, its important to actually meet the candidate and just size them up, Kulback said. Like, do they have the personal fortitude to run a statewide campaign? Its not easy.

The next state deadline to report campaign finances is Jan. 31, when candidates must show how much money they have raised.

In February, the state party will hold its winter meeting, where state committee members typically try to vote on endorsements in statewide races.

Youve got so many candidates at this point in time that I dont know how its going to be sorted out, said Dick Stewart, who is co-chair of the state partys central caucus. I would be surprised if somebody can garner enough votes to get an endorsement from the state committee.

After that, the deadline for candidates to submit petitions with enough voter signatures to get on the May 17 primary ballot is in March. Getting the required number of signatures shows a candidate's ability to organize a campaign.

Stewart said the last time the state party had a crowded field for the gubernatorial nomination was in 1978. That year, seven names were on the GOP primary ballot, including Dick Thornburgh and Arlen Specter.

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Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/timelywriter.
HAVANA (AP)  Cubas government said Wednesday that a decision to ban an opposition demonstration wont hurt its image and accused the United States and anti-Castro groups in Florida of instigating next week's planned march.

Reality is what determines image, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez told The Associated Press when asked about the protest that has been organized and discussed widely on social media.

The protest march scheduled for Monday would coincide with the reopening of the country after 20 months of lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic and with the 502nd anniversary of the founding of Havana.

Social networks are a complicated terrain, where along with knowledge and truth, many lies and false news are spread, Rodriguez said. Im sure that it wont be possible to demonize or isolate Cuba internationally.

The protest is being planned by Facebooks Archipielago (Archipelago) initiative. Organizers asked for authorization to hold the march but were denied and are now urging people to take to the streets anyway.

The Foreign Ministry summoned hundreds of foreign diplomats to a meeting Wednesday and accused the U.S. government of instigating the protest as part of a plan to destabilize the country.

The socialist government is intent on preventing a repeat of the largest street protests in two decades that caught officials by surprise in July. They have blamed that unrest partly on U.S. economic sanctions and foes based in the U.S.

In no way will we allow the permanent aggression of the United States ... to generate conditions of internal subversion ... to spoil the party, Rodriguez told the diplomats.

As of Monday, Cuba will drop most restrictions on commercial flights, school attendance, transportation, restaurants and shops. Daily coronavirus cases have dropped dramatically in recent weeks thanks to a mass vaccination program.

Rodriguez called the planned protest an operation by the government and officials of the United States to do away with the Cuban system. He said U.S. sanctions on Cuba seek to suffocate the island, generating social protests and creating the image of a failed state.

No U.S. diplomats attended the meeting. The U.S. Embassy has been open since 2015, but operations were sharply reduced during the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, State Department spokesman Ned Price tweeted: A new generation joins Cubas human rights activists and implores their government to respect human rights. On November 15, the Cuban government can make the right choice  to listen to its people as they peacefully march for their voices to be heard.

The Archipelago group is headed by playwright Yunior Garcia Aguilera, who has denied receiving financing or direction from outside Cuba. He said the march is meant to be peaceful and is to demand that authorities release people arrested on July 11 and 12 and grant more human rights.

Thousands of Cubans took to the streets in July protesting power outages, shortages, high prices and long lines and denouncing the government. The government has not said how many were detained, but some human rights groups said hundreds of people were either arrested or had gone missing after taking part.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Prosecutors in Kyle Rittenhouse's murder trial could ask the jury to consider lesser charges when it gets the case, a move that could secure a conviction for some crime but take a possible life sentence off the table.

Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger has struggled to counter Rittenhouse's self-defense arguments during the Illinois man's trial, raising questions about whether his office overcharged Rittenhouse. Daniel Adams, a former Milwaukee County assistant district attorney who isn't involved in the trial, described Binger's case as incredibly underwhelming.

He's got nothing, Adams said. I just don't understand it. What are we doing here? We're all kind of scratching our heads.

Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz during an August 2020 protest against police brutality in Kenosha, a city in southeastern Wisconsin that's not far from Rittenhouse's hometown of Antioch, Illinois. Rittenhouse was 17 years old at the time.

Binger's office, led by Democratic District Attorney Michael Graveley, charged Rittenhouse with multiple counts less than 48 hours after the shootings.

Rittenhouse faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide in Huber's death, which carries a mandatory life sentence. He also faces one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for wounding Grosskreutz and one count of first-degree reckless homicide in Rosenbaum's death. Both charges are punishable by up to 60 years in prison.

He's also charged with two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment for firing at an unknown man who tried to kick him in the face and allegedly disregarding that a reporter was standing behind Rosenbaum when he shot him. A reckless endangerment charge requires prosecutors to show Rittenhouse put someone in harm's way with an utter disregard for life. It carries a maximum 12-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors also charged Rittenhouse with a misdemeanor count of being a minor in possession of a firearm. That's punishable by up to nine months behind bars.

Prosecutors or defense attorneys can ask Judge Bruce Schroeder to inform jurors as they begin deliberations to consider finding Rittenhouse guilty of lesser charges in lieu of the original counts. The judge would then have to weigh whether the evidence the jury had seen supports those lesser charges before instructing the jury to consider them.

Assistant District Attorney James Kraus told Judge Bruce Schroeder on Thursday that prosecutors were still finalizing their request for lesser included charges. But he said they planned to ask the judge to tell the jury to consider lesser counts in Huber's death and the Grosskreutz shooting.

He said prosecutors were leaning against seeking lesser charges on the reckless endangerment counts and in Rosenbaum's death but might ask Schroeder to include a so-called provocation instruction. Such an instruction would ask the jury to consider whether Rittenhouse provoked the men into attacking him. If the jury finds he did, that would negate self-defense.

But multiple witnesses have described Rosenbaum as angry and out of control that night, saying they heard him threaten to kill Rittenhouse if he got him alone and challenging other armed people at the protest to shoot him. Video shows Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot before Rittenhouse shoots him.

Bystander video of Huber running up to Rittenhouse and hitting him in the head with a skateboard as he apparently reaches for Rittenhouse's gun has also hurt Binger's case.

Binger called Grosskreutz to the stand on Monday. Grosskreutz testified he thought Rittenhouse was going to kill him, but on cross-examination he acknowledged that he ran up to Rittenhouse and pointed a pistol at him a split-second after Rittenhouse shot Huber.

That's a pretty clear case of self-defense, said Paul Bucher, a former Waukesha County district attorney who isn't involved in the case. When he has a handgun (and) was in the process of pointing it, that would give me great pause as to whether I'd even charge that.

Rittenhouse testified Wednesday that Rosenbaum threatened to kill him twice, that Huber hit him with the skateboard twice before he shot him, and that Grosskreutz pointed his pistol at him after first raising his hands in a surrender gesture.

Rittenhouse said he did what he had to do to protect himself. He cried as he began to describe how Rosenbaum chased him down.

Adams said prosecutors most likely will seek second-degree versions of the intentional homicide charges. Such charges could apply if jurors determined that Rittenhouse sincerely believed his life was in danger but used an unreasonable amount of force, University of Wisconsin-Madison criminal law professor Cecelia Klingele said. Second-degree reckless endangerment could apply if jurors found that he put someone in harm's way but did so without showing utter disregard for human life, she said.

Second-degree intentional homicide carries a maximum 60 years in prison. The maximum sentence for second-degree attempted intentional homicide is 30 years. Second-degree reckless endangerment, meanwhile, carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.

A life sentence wouldn't be an option if prosecutors sought convictions on lesser charges, but they would give jurors the flexibility to convict him of something, said Adams.

It gives the jury negotiation room, he said. They think something bad happened but they're not convinced the level of force was necessary. And that gives prosecutors two kicks at the cat.

Bucher said Rittenhouse's team also could ask jurors to consider second-degree versions of the charges in hopes of avoiding a life sentence.

But Binger has already muddled the case with multiple charges and asking jurors to consider even more counts risks confusing jurors further, Bucher said.

As a prosecutor, you charge more counts than necessary because you don't have a strong case, he said. You know the old saying, throw as much as you can against the wall and see what sticks. It's confusing for me. Imagine what it's like for the jury. You almost need a statute book to go through all this.

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Associated Press writer Amy Forliti in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

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Find APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial at https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse and follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (AP)  Two leaders of an extremist Jewish sect were convicted Wednesday of kidnapping and child sexual exploitation crimes, prosecutors said.

In a release, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced the verdict against Nachman Helbrans and Mayer Rosner.

He said the men brazenly kidnapped two children from their mother in the middle of the night to return a 14-year-old girl to an illegal sexual relationship with an adult man.

The charges against the men included conspiring to transport a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.

Lawyers for the men did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Helbrans, 39, and Rosner, 45, both U.S. citizens and both of Guatemala, had leadership roles in Lev Tahor, an extremist Jewish sect with multiple locations including New York, Israel, Canada, Mexico and Guatemala, prosecutors said. They said Helbrans became the sect's leader in 2017 and Rosner was his top lieutenant.

Prosecutors said Helbrans and his leadership team seized tight control of the group and embraced extreme practices including child marriages and underage sex.

The men were among a group that abducted a 14-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother on Dec. 8 from their home in Woodridge in upstate New York and took them to Mexico, prosecutors said.

The FBI has said that the children's mother had been a voluntary member of Lev Tahor but fled the group's community in Guatemala in October 2018 after its leadership became increasingly extreme. Authorities said Helbrans is the brother of the kidnapped childrens mother.

After the mother and her children settled in New York, Helbrans and Rosner devised a plan to return the girl to Guatemala to resume a sexual relationship with her then-20-year-old husband after a supposed marriage that Helbrans had arranged a year earlier, prosecutors said.

In a written ruling, U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Roman ruled for a second time Wednesday that the alleged marriage was invalid.

As part of the plot, the men kidnapped the girl and her brother in December 2018 and took them through various states and into Mexico, prosecutors said.

After a three-week search, the kidnapping victims were found in the Mexican town of Tenango del Aire and were returned to their mother, prosecutors said.

They added that members of Lev Tahor tried to kidnap the children again in March 2019 and March of this year.
AGAREB, Tunisia (AP)  New clashes broke out Wednesday between residents and police in the Tunisian city of Agareb, home to a landfill that has provoked public fury over waste mismanagement.

Agareb hosts the main landfill for nearby Sfax, Tunisias second largest city. Local residents have long advocated the closure of El Qena landfill, citing health and environmental concerns.

Authorities decided to close the landfill in September  but had no alternative plan in place, causing thousands of tons of waste to accumulate in streets and public spaces for over a month. Residents took to the streets last week, saying the government was violating their basic rights.

Then Monday, authorities abruptly reopened the landfill, prompting new protests over mismanagement and the lack of a longer-term solution.

Police fired tear gas and protesters erected barricades. One man was reported to have died after he was hit by a tear gas canister; though Tunisias Interior Ministry said he suffered a fatal heart attack at home.

The Tunisian army was deployed Tuesday to secure government institutions after protesters set a National Guard headquarters on fire. New protests and clashes broke out Wednesday. Local labor unions called a strike.

The mayor has to think in advance of a place to put the garbage and not leave it until it piles up and then say that he did not find a place for it, said resident Mohamed Kefi. We have had more than 40 days of this pollution in the middle of residential neighborhoods.

Environmental activist Salem Cheari pointed at flies swarming round stinking mounds of garbage by the road. Cheari for years advocated the closure of El Qena landfill. However the garbage buildup led him to feel that the landfill should reopen until a solution is found.

We have waited ten years, and there is no shame in waiting for another two months. We must cooperate in taking responsibility. If the state breaks its promises, after two months, I will join the demonstrators, says Cheari.

Tunisias Environment Ministry said in a statement that El Qena had been reopened to reduce health, environmental and economic risks. It promised an immediate cleanup of the streets and restructuring of the waste disposal system.

The latest troubles pose a challenge for President Kais Saieds new government as the country finds itself in the midst of a political crisis. Saied froze parliament in July and took on sweeping executive powers in what his critics have called a coup.

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Francesca Ebel in Tunis contributed.
Domenico Stinellis/AP

ROME (AP)  Pope Francis renewed his call for Europe to welcome and show solidarity with migrants, saying the diversity they're bringing to the continent is renewing European cities as a beautiful mosaic, which should not be scarred or corrupted with prejudices or hatred.

Francis didnt mention the latest migration crisis at Polands eastern border during a meeting with European Catholic missionary groups attending a meeting of the Migrantes foundation of the Italian bishops conference. Hundreds and possibly thousands of asylum-seekers, most from the Middle East, have massed along Belarus border with Poland as a political standoff between the two countries intensifies.
He dutifully patrolled the trenches during World War I, alerting soldiers to incoming artillery long before the high-pitched whine was audible to human ears.

He used his wet nose to detect gas attacks in enough time to have his men safely don their gas masks. He sat by wounded soldiers as they lay dying in the field.

Contributed Photo / West Haven Veteran's Museum and

Even after he was injured by gas and wounded by shrapnel, Stubby persevered.

Not bad for a wayward terrier plucked from life as a vagabond and thrust onto the front lines of battle.

Stubby came from humble beginnings, roaming the streets of New Haven, and was taken in by Pvt. J. Robert Conroy. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship marked by unwavering loyalty, heroism and belly rubs.

"Look at the lives he saved, and the things he did to save those lives," Frank Carrano, a Korean War veteran and history buff from West Haven, told a New Haven Register reporter.

A film based on Stubby's life was released nationwide in 2018, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.

Carrano's eyes lit up when he got a chance to tell Stubby's amazing story to new ears.

And he was eager to show off a prized piece of memorabilia that is now displayed in the West Haven Veterans Museum  a portrait of Stubby painted by Charles Ayer Whipple in 1926.

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

Before its move to the museum, the painting lived at the Terry James Art & Frame gallery in Oxford, where owner Terry Waldron restored the piece.

Someone from Georgetown University, where Stubby briefly served as the Hoyas' mascot, offered to buy the painting and offered any price. But Carrano told him thanks, but no thanks.

"I said, 'The picture's not for sale,'" Carrano recalled.

Stubby's local connection was too great and too important for Carrano to let him go. It would be like letting history slip out of your hands.

Stubby's story starts on the Yale Field on Derby Avenue, where members of the 102nd Infantry, 26th Yankee Division, were preparing for war. Stubby wandered onto the field during training and was adopted by Conroy, who named the dog for his short stump of tail.

Unable to leave the dog behind, Conroy smuggled Stubby onto a train to the coast and hid him in his overcoat as he boarded a ship for Europe.

After being discovered on the vessel, the stowaway dog quickly won over the war-bound soldiers and served as a morale boost during the journey. The men taught Stubby tricks, and before long he was able to salute on command by holding his paw up to his face.

Pat Eaton-Robb / Associated Press

Ann Bausum, the author of two books about Stubby, dug into Stubbys history and found he never received the rank of sergeant, as is frequently stated online. But, she said, the heart of Stubbys tale was true, including its most fantastic elements.

Once in France, Stubby served on the front lines alongside his master and comrades. In 1918, he was injured from exposure to gas, but recovered in the hospital and developed a keen ability to smell the gas.

As the story goes, when Stubby detected an oncoming gas attack, he barked at and bit the soldiers to wake them up and ended up saving many a life.

For Carrano, Stubby's most heroic  and unbelievable  contribution to the war came when the dog darted out of the trenches, spotting and attacking a German soldier in Allied territory.

Stubby's feat may have thwarted a deadly attack by the Germans. Later, he was wounded by shrapnel during an attack and rushed to the field hospital. As Stubby recovered from his wounds, he had the run of the hospital, says Carrano, and spread cheer by visiting the wounded soldiers.

According to historical accounts, Stubby served in 17 battles. When he returned to the United States, still alongside Conroy, he quickly rose to celebrity.

Stubby marched in parades with his military jacket, laden with medals, chevrons and honors bestowed on him by the government. He even had lunch with President Woodrow Wilson.

When Conroy went to Georgetown University to study law, Stubby came along and served as the mascot for the Hoyas.

The many adventures of Stubby the war dog were passed down generation to generation, and Carrano learned some of what he knows about the dog from World War I veterans he used to know.

But the dog-hero's exploits are chronicled in numerous publications as well. His obituary ran in the New York Times on April 4, 1926. Stubby was preserved after his death and is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's Price of Freedom exhibition.

The 1926 portrait was displayed for years in the 102nd Infantry Regiment museum run by Carrano out of the armory in New Haven. When Waldron visited the museum to take a look at the painting, she was stuck by its flaking and fading condition.

"When I saw it, I said, 'My goodness, this has to be restored.' This painting is too special to just let deteriorate," she said.

So Waldron, an artist with a special place in her heart for military dogs, offered to do the work for free. She restored the painting and had it on display in her gallery in Oxford for eight years, awaiting its new home.

Waldron said that she was sad to see Stubby go, but she had painted her own version of the canine hero.

Courtesy Terry James Art & Frame

Carrano says Stubby is not just an unlikely military hero and wartime morale booster, but a symbol of the bravery shown by all soldiers.

"The outcomes of wars past is the freedom that we still enjoy today," he said.

Conroys grandson, Curt Deane, told Connecticut Magazine in 2017 that his grandfather loved recounting tales of Stubby.

It was one of his central talking points; he worshipped the dog, he said.

Conroy died in 1987 at the age of 95.

In all the decades after Stubbys death, Conroy never owned another dog, Deane told Connecticut Magazine.

He said his grandfather told him this was because he and Stubby went through so much together and that Stubby was so loyal and comforting that he never believed another dog could take his place.

This story has been edited to add updated information since it was originally published online. It includes contributed reporting by Erik Ofgang and Martha Shanahan.
Federal prosecutors say two leaders of an extremist Jewish sect have been convicted in White Plains federal court of kidnapping and child sexual exploitation crimes
The Eastbound Theatre, which is a division of the Milford Arts Council, the MAC, has announced auditions for the second show of its 28th season.

The show is titled: One Slight Hitch, and is from the book that is by its author, standup comedian, and playwright, Lewis Black. The show will be directed by its Director Kevin Pelkey.

The performance of the show, will be from Friday, Feb. 4, through Sunday, Feb. 20.

All people, who are over the age of 12, will be required to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus; virus COVID-19 new virus, two weeks out from a second dose of either a Pfizer, or a Moderna vaccine, or two weeks out from the required dose of a Johnson & Johnson vaccine, or have a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entry to attend the event.

People, who are age 11, and under will need a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of entry to attend the event. Patrons will also be expected to be fully masked at all times, amid the coronavirus pandemic, while they are inside the MAC, unless the people are actively eating, or drinking.

Auditions will be held Thursday, Nov. 11, the Veterans Day holiday, from 7 to p.m., at the MAC, which is located at 40 Railroad Ave. South in Milford.

Callbacks for people from the auditions, will be made to the people if they are necessary, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Additionally, interested actors, who may be unable to attend the aforementioned auditions times should contact the director of the show, and Diligent company Solutions Engineer Kevin Pelkey at kpelkey@diligent.com.

All actors, and anyone who would like to work on the production must be fully vaccinated for the coronavirus COVID-19 new virus, and must provide proof of vaccination of having been vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine from the new virus, at the auditions. Actors may also register their vaccination status by using the Clear App to more easily confirm their status.

The synopsis for the play is: The Coleman household is preparing for daughter, Courtneys, wedding. Her mother, Delia, is determined that everything will be perfect. The groom is perfect, the dress is perfect, and the decorations, (assuming they arrive), will be perfect. But when the doorbell rings on the wedding morning, everything goes perfectly awry.

Roles are available for four women, and three men. Actors will be asked to read sides from the script. Actors interested in reviewing the script should contact the director of the show at kpelkey@diligent.com.

The roles available for the show are:

- Doc Coleman: (Male, 50s to 60s) - The father. General practitioner, charming, eccentric conservative. Hides his anger issues with a smile,

- Delia Coleman: (Female 50s to 60s) - The mother. A chronic worrier, a Momzilla in terms of planning for her daughters wedding. Keeps her neurosis just below the surface,

- P.B.: (Female, mid-teens) - Doc and Delias youngest daughter. the storys narrator She is alternately appalled and excited by the craziness of the family, which we see through her eyes,

- Courtney: (Female, late 20s - early 30s) - The bride. Doc and Delias eldest daughter. Freelance writer/artist. Torn between a life of artistic freedom and the security of marriage,

- Melanie: (Female, early to mid-20s) - Doc and Delias middle daughter. A nurse. An attractive party girl that protects a wilder side than her older sister,

- Ryan: (Male, late 20s - early 30s) - The ex-boyfriend of Courtney. A bohemian free spirit. Hoping to write this generations One the Road, and

- Harper: (Male, early to mid-30s) - The groom. Logical and wealthy. Cant help being the good guy even when he knows it puts his relationship at risk.

Email the director at kpelkey@diligent.com with any questions regarding the roles, rehearsal schedule, etc.

For more information contact the Milford Arts Council, the MAC, at 203-878-6647.
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)  Hospitals in northwestern New Mexico were grappling Wednesday with a surge in coronavirus cases that has left only a handful of intensive care beds available and led to a rationing of care.

State health officials said New Mexico's health care system overall remains heavily burdened with high rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations. Hospitals across the state had just eight intensive care beds available Wednesday, making it more difficult to attend to health emergencies such as heart attacks, said David Scrase, the states top health official.

But the situation is particularly concerning in the state's far northwest, where hospital administrators recently invoked crisis standards of care to focus resources on critical patients. Federal and state authorities have dispatched medical and support personnel to shore up services at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington.

Coronavirus patients accounted for 90 out of 169 patients at the hospital Wednesday afternoon, with 15 patients sustained by breathing machines.

Wednesday evening, hospital staff and local government officials held an online town hall meeting, imploring unvaccinated residents to reconsider.

Our crisis right now is a crisis of the unvaccinated, said emergency medical physician Brad Greenberg, noting that vaccinated patients in the area are 10 times less likely to die if infected.

San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari lamented that personal decisions about the vaccine have become politicized. The county is a conservative stronghold where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.

As of right now, its still a personal choice, he said of vaccination. You need to have that conversation with your doctor, decide if thats the right avenue for you. If you choose not to do that, care for your neighbor. ... Wear your mask, wash your hands, dont get out.

State epidemiologist Christine Ross visited the hospital in Farmington last week and said she encountered dedicated health workers that have worked to exhaustion.

They are amazing and they are really, really tired," Ross said during an online news conference.

Hospital facilities are adequate but staff have been struggling to keep up with the demands of coronavirus patients, she said.

The surge staffing that the state was able to send out there, along with the federal team, it's making a real difference," Ross said.

State health officials say the resurgence of the virus corresponds with waning immunity from early rounds of vaccinations, as residents approach or pass the time they need booster shots.

New Mexico vaccinated faster than most states, so we're seeing breakthrough cases earlier than others, Scrase said.

Just over 60% of residents in New Mexico are fully vaccinated, including children. About 4% of eligible children aged 5-11 statewide made vaccine appointments during the first week of eligibility. Scrase said that response is similar to participation when a vaccine was first made available to children aged 12-16.

Local elected leaders, including Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett and San Juan County Commissioner John Beckstead, said there are no plans to extend vaccine mandates to more public employees in their region. New Mexico requires health care employees, teachers and other high risk workers to be immunized with few exceptions.

Sheriff Ferrari and Farmingtons police chief said their agencies dont ticket people for violations of the statewide indoor mask mandate but encourage compliance by example.

Complicating matters in the hard-hit northwest is an an ongoing labor dispute at a county hospital.

In Gallup, a city on the edge of the Navajo Nation, a union representing medical staff at a county-owned hospital has filed a complaint alleging unfair labor practices and retaliation against unionization efforts by doctors and nurses with the National Labor Relations Board, the agency confirmed on Wednesday.

Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital was overwhelmed with coronavirus patients in the early stages of the pandemic in 2020, when Gallup was briefly closed to outside visitors and encircled by police barricades.

This year, medical staff voted to unionize as they expressed concern about the hospitals financial standing and whether it can sustain a high standard of care for patients amid recent layoffs. The hospital's labor and birthing unit reopened in late October after a weekslong shutdown.

Hospital administrators had no immediate response to the complaint filed by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, and have not filed an answer with federal regulators.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  A white Kansas City, Missouri, detective on trial for killing a Black man two years ago testified Wednesday that he believed his actions saved the life of his partner.

Eric DeValkenaere is accused of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the December 2019 death of Cameron Lamb.

Lamb, 26, was parking a pickup truck in his backyard when he was shot. The Kansas City Star reported that DeValkenaere choked back tears as he described the shooting.

DeValkenaere said Lamb had pointed his gun at his partner, Troy Schwalm, after the officers arrived to investigate a red pickup that had earlier chased a purple Ford Mustang.

DeValkenaere said he saw Lamb pull a handgun from his waistband and point it at Schwalm. When asked by defense attorney Molly Hastings if he believed that he saved Schwalms life that day, DeValkenaere responded: Yes.

During the hourlong testimony, DeValkenaere denied planting evidence and denied directing any other officer to alter evidence or change their report of the shooting.

Earlier in the trial, Lamb's roommate testified that the gun found near Lamb's body was normally kept on a staircase. Crime scene technicians also testified they conducted a cursory examination of the body at the scene, but did not find two bullets in Lambs pocket until after his body was taken later to the medical examiner's office.

The case is a rare example of a white officer from the city being criminally accused of killing a Black man. In 1942, two officers were acquitted in a killing, The Kanas City Star reported.

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This story was first published on Nov. 10. It was updated on Nov. 19 to correct that DeValkenaere was not the first white officer in the city to be charged in the death of a Black person. Such a case happened in 1942.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  F.W. de Klerk, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela and as South Africas last apartheid president oversaw the end of the countrys white minority rule, has died aged 85.

Frederik Willem de Klerk died after a battle against cancer at his home in the Fresnaye area of Cape Town, a spokesman for his foundation confirmed Thursday.

De Klerk was a controversial figure in South Africa where many blamed him for violence against Black South Africans and anti-apartheid activists during his time in power, while some white South Africans saw his efforts to end apartheid as a betrayal.

De Klerks legacy is a big one. It is also an uneven one, something South Africans are called to reckon with in this moment, the Mandela Foundation said of his death.

Retired Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu, another towering anti-apartheid activist, issued a similarly guarded statement about de Klerk's death.

De Klerk played an important role in South Africas history ... he recognized the moment for change and demonstrated the will to act on it, said Tutu's foundation.

However, de Klerk tried to avoid responsibility for the enormity of the abuses of apartheid, including in his testimony at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which was chaired by Tutu. At that time, Tutu expressed disappointment that de Klerk did not fully apologize for the evils of apartheid, the statement noted.

Even posthumously, de Klerk sought to address this criticism in a video message in which he said he was sorry for his role in apartheid. His foundation released the video after announcing his death.

Let me today, in the last message repeat: I, without qualification, apologize for the pain and the hurt, and the indignity, and the damage, to Black, brown and Indians in South Africa, said a visibly gaunt and frail de Klerk.

He said his view of apartheid had changed since the early 1980s.

It was as if I had a conversion. And in my heart of hearts, I realized that apartheid was wrong. I realized that we have arrived at a place which was morally unjustifiable.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that de Klerk played a vital role in our transition to democracy in the 1990s ... He took the courageous decision to unban political parties, release political prisoners and enter into negotiations with the liberation movement amid severe pressure to the contrary from many in his political constituency.

It was de Klerk who in a speech to South Africa's parliament on Feb. 2, 1990, announced that Mandela would be released from prison after 27 years. The announcement electrified a country that for decades had been scorned and sanctioned by much of the world for its brutal system of racial discrimination known as apartheid.

With South Africas isolation deepening and its once-solid economy deteriorating, de Klerk, who had been elected president just five months earlier, also announced in the same speech the lifting of a ban on the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid political groups.

Amid gasps, several members of parliament left the chamber as he spoke.

Nine days later, Mandela walked free.

Four years after that, Mandela was elected the countrys first Black president as Black South Africans voted for the first time.

By then, de Klerk and Mandela had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for their often-tense cooperation in moving South Africa away from institutionalized racism and toward democracy.

The country would be, de Klerk told the media after his fateful speech, a new South Africa. But Mandelas release was just the beginning of intense political negotiations on the way forward. Power would shift. A new constitution would be written. Ways of life would be upended.

There is an element of uncertainty, obviously, with regard to everything which lies in the future, de Klerk calmly told reporters on Feb. 10, 1990, after announcing that Mandela would be released the following day.

The toll of the transition was high. As de Klerk said in his Nobel lecture in December 1993, more than 3,000 died in political violence in South Africa that year alone. As he reminded his Nobel audience, he and fellow laureate Mandela remained political opponents, with strong disagreements. But they would move forward because there is no other road to peace and prosperity for the people of our country.

After Mandela became president, de Klerk served as deputy president until 1996, when his party withdrew from the Cabinet. In making history, de Klerk acknowledged that Mandelas release was the culmination of what his predecessor, former President P.W. Botha, had begun by meeting secretly with Mandela shortly before leaving office. In the late 1980s, as protests inside and outside the country continued, the ruling party had begun making some reforms, getting rid of some apartheid laws.

De Klerk also met secretly with Mandela before his release. He later said of their first meeting that Mandela was taller than expected, and he was impressed by his posture and dignity. De Klerk would say he knew he could do business with this man. But not easily. They argued bitterly. Mandela accused de Klerk of allowing the killings of Black South Africans during the political transition. De Klerk said Mandela could be extremely stubborn and unreasonable.

Later in life, after South Africas wrenching political transition, de Klerk said there was no longer any animosity between him and Mandela and that they were friends, having visited each others homes. De Klerk did not seem to fit easily into the role of a Nobel laureate. He remained a target of anger for some white South Africans who saw his actions as a betrayal. Though he publicly apologized for the pain and humiliation that apartheid caused, he was never cheered and embraced as an icon, as Mandela was.

Despite his role in South Africas transformation, de Klerk would continue to defend what his National Party decades ago had declared as the goal of apartheid, the separate development of white and Black South Africans. In practice, however, apartheid forced millions of the countrys Black majority into nominally independent homelands where poverty was widespread, while the white minority held most of South Africas land. Apartheid starved the Black South African education system of resources, criminalized interracial relations, created black slums on the edges of white cities and tore apart families.

De Klerk late in life would acknowledge that separate but equal failed.

F.W. de Klerk was born in Johannesburg in 1936. He earned a law degree and practiced law before turning to politics and being elected to parliament. In 1978, he was appointed to the first of a series of ministerial posts, including Internal Affairs. In the late 1970s and 1980s, South Africa faced violent unrest as the government tried modest reforms to cultivate a Black South African middle class and allow limited political power to the countrys other marginalized groups, mixed race people classified as coloreds and those of Asian and Indian backgrounds.

The moves only increased bitterness over apartheid, while international pressure for more fundamental changes increased. In February 1989, de Klerk was elected the National Party leader and in his first speech called for a South Africa free of domination or oppression in whatever form. He was elected president in September of that year.

After leaving office, de Klerk ran a foundation that promoted his presidential heritage, and he spoke out in concern about white Afrikaaner culture and language as English became dominant among the new South Africas 11 official languages. He also criticized South Africas current ruling party, the African National Congress, telling the Guardian newspaper in a 2010 interview that the ANC, once the champion for racial equality, has regressed into dividing South Africa again along the basis of race and class.

In a speech in Cape Town in early 2016, de Klerk warned that many white South Africans were oblivious of the plight of less advantaged communities and that the attitude of many Blacks toward white South Africans is becoming harsher and more uncompromising. South Africans once again were seeing people as racial stereotypes instead of human beings, de Klerk said, adding: We need to hear Nelson Mandelas call for reconciliation and nation-building again.

His leadership of the apartheid regime dogged de Klerk throughout his life, even though he helped negotiate its end.

Human rights activists and legal experts pointed to documents that they said showed de Klerk being present at meetings where extrajudicial killings of anti-apartheid leaders were ordered.

His assertion in 2020 that apartheid was not a crime against humanity stirred up a furor in South Africa. When de Klerk attended President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address in the South African Parliament that year, opposition members shouted at him and demanded that he leave.

We have a murderer in the House, declared Julius Malema, firebrand leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters party, denouncing de Klerk as an apartheid apologist  with blood on his hands.

Later de Klerk said he accepted that apartheid was a crime against humanity and apologized, but the damage had been done. He was viewed by many in South Africa as the last apartheid ruler, not the leader who helped steer the country away from violent racial oppression.

Dispute continued to swirl around de Klerk upon the news of his death. Opposition leader Malema castigated media reports that said de Klerk was a former president of South Africa. He is a former apartheid President, said Malema in a tweet. Others on social media said de Klerk should not be accorded a state burial.

De Klerk is survived by his wife, Elita, and two children.
Joe Biden had a tremendously successful meeting with Pope Francis recently. The two men talked for 75 minutes, and they were so engrossed with kibitzing that the pope was late for his lunch at Dominos Pizza on Via della Calzone.

The get-together certainly went a lot better than the popes meeting with Donald Trump, which lasted only 30 minutes, and Trump probably did all the talking when he wasnt tweeting. In the official photo, the pope was scowling at the camera and looked like he had hunger pangs. Pope Francis is 84 and Joe Biden is 78, and when two geezers start talking, theres no shutting them up. And at 75 minutes, the conversation must have gone around the same block a few times. Heck, I start to repeat myself after 10 minutes, but I have a wife who reminds me to shut up. The pope doesnt have that luxury.

There are several theories about what happened in the Biden-Bergoglio session, since the Vatican didnt let the media in or release information.

Some insiders have suggested the pope was giving Biden tips on how to run the country, and Biden was giving the pope tips on how to run the Church.

However, Im convinced that Biden, who is a Roman Catholic, was actually going to confession, and although you may think 75 minutes is long for a confession, it depends on how many sins you have to confess. I myself have been known to hit the 45-minute mark, and believe me, it aint fun, especially if the priest is yelling at you and everybody outside is getting an earful.

As a teenager, I often got scolded, but those days are fortunately gone because the priest probably thinks its in bad taste to yell at an old bald guy. Of course, the pope didnt yell at Biden, because hes not that kind of person. Furthermore, the Catholic Church now frowns upon yelling as a spiritual motivational tool.

The other possibility is the meeting was a job interview. You see, the pope looks favorably on Bidens policies  especially that alleged $450,000 payout to migrants, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. Plus, hes always on the lookout for people who think outside the box, which puts Joe Biden in a good position for his next job.

You see, in the Vatican City State, you dont have to run for office because the pope appoints the president. So instead of seeking reelection in 2024, Joe Biden could be the commander-in-chief of Vatican City with the blessing of his Paisano. A Bergoglio-Biden ticket has a certain ring to it.

That would also give the president access to the Vatican Museums, where Hunters paintings could hang alongside Raphaels and Caravaggios.

There must be fierce competition for the job. How else can you explain Nancy Pelosis recent visit to the Vatican? Could Pelosi, another Catholic, be looking for work? With all the criticism about the Church being a patriarchy, the pope would be wise to hire her ... if he can keep her away from the Vatican Bank.

Since Francis and Biden wont meet at Christmas, they exchanged Secret Santa gifts.

Biden gave the pope a historic handwoven liturgical vestment that had been worn by priests celebrating Mass at Holy Trinity Church in Washington, D.C., along with a special challenge coin he gives to leaders and warriors he admires.

You are the most significant warrior for peace Ive ever met, and with your permission, Id like to be able to give you a coin. It has the U.S. seal on the front. ... I know my son would want me to give it to you, Biden said, referring to his son Beau, a National Guardsman who died of cancer. On the back of it, I have the state of Delaware, the 261st Unit my son served with.

The pope gave the president an artistic ceramic tile, some of his writings and a CD titled, Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites, which included her famous rendition of Volare. (Also known as Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu, which either means Lets fly high in the clouds ... or Lets get high and fly in the clouds.)

Later, on Air Force One, there were reports the president was brandishing his Walkman and could be heard singing, Volare, oh oh. Cantare, oh oh oh oh. Lets fly way up to the clouds, away from the maddening crowds!

(Authors note: Portions of this column could appropriately be described as fake news.)

Former Stamford Advocate and Greenwich Time Editor Joe Pisani can be reached at joefpisani@yahoo.com.
Military victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault are often not getting the help of special criminal investigators and prosecutors they're entitled to under federal law, the Defense Department inspector general found in a report released late Wednesday.

The Air Force in particular did not assign prosecutors specially trained to handle those crimes in 94% of sample cases from 2018-2020 the IG found, and it failed to assign certified lead investigators in 66% of cases.

The other services also did poorly in supporting victims, according to the IG. The Army failed to provide specially certified prosecutors in 50% of cases, and the Navy didn't in 59% despite legal and military regulations requiring the services.

Federal law requires that each of the service branches provide uniquely skilled investigators, judge advocates, paralegals and witness assistance staff to handle what are deemed special victim crimes such as sex crimes, child abuse and domestic violence.

"We found that the DoD cannot ensure that all victims of sexual assault are receiving support services available to them," Sean O'Donnell, the acting Defense Department inspector general, said in a press release. "We also found that the DoD cannot ensure that all commanders and investigators are making decisions based on the best possible information because of, among other things, inexperienced or untrained prosecutors."

The shortfalls also increase the risk that victims won't receive needed services such as mental health counseling, the IG said.

Read Next: First Lady, Coalition Vow to Step Up Support for 'Hidden Helpers'

Congress pushed the Pentagon to implement the programs nearly a decade ago. It turned over a plan in 2013 to set up the networks of special victims investigative and legal support, but the efforts have failed to keep up with needs, especially among sexual assault victims.

The number of unrestricted reports of sexual assaults in the military more than doubled from 2,640 to 5,699 between 2011 and 2019, according to the IG investigation.

"However, the services have not provided a corresponding increase in resources and manpower to address the increased workload," the report found.

Lawmakers have become frustrated by the military's lack of progress on reducing sexual assaults despite years of effort and support for a major overhaul of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The call for change has reached a tipping point that all but ensures a series of reforms will be passed in the annual defense authorization bill.

The IG findings also come amid a separate survey this week that found about half of the 68,000 members of the Air Force and Space Force reported experiencing some form of mental or physical abuse in the past two years. The violence included hazing, rape and murder.

The Air Force and Navy said they did not have enough certified investigators to cover all of the special victim cases. The Air Force's investigative arm, the Office of Special Investigations, has requested additional personnel and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is set to receive more support and funding this fiscal year, according to the report.

But the Army Criminal Investigation Division did not respond to the IG about its personnel resources, saying it had trained and certified more than 1,000 special agents to investigate special victim crimes. The IG said it considers the question of whether the Army has the resources it needs unresolved.

Editors Note: After publication, Military.com received the following emailed statement from Ann Stefanek, a spokesperson for the Air Force. The Department of the Air Force was already aware of the issues identified in the DoD IG report and initiated initial corrective actions in 2020, which are still ongoing. The identified limitations did not affect the outcome of cases as validated by multiple internal and independent external reviews over the last several years. The Department is fully committed to providing support to victims, thoroughly investigating all allegations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or domestic violence, and holding perpetrators accountable.

-- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten.

Related: Army to Overhaul Criminal, Sexual Assault Investigations After Vanessa Guillen Murder
Former Navy corpsman Redmond Ramos built a successful career in civilian life and even competed on CBS' "Amazing Race" after losing a leg in Afghanistan. But the sense of mission and being part of a dedicated team he felt in the military was still missing.

"I really was proud of being a realtor, proud of everything I did after the military, but the last time I felt that I was really helping people was when I was a combat medic, when I was a corpsman," Ramos said in an interview Tuesday.

"When I heard about this program, when I heard I'd have an opportunity to save children, I mean it gives me chills now to think that's going to be me," he said. "It's not just that I wanted to do this mission; I felt that I needed to do this mission. It immediately hit my brain and heart that this will allow me to feel that I'm living with a purpose again."

On Friday, Ramos will be one of 23 interns, including nine female veterans, to graduate from HERO Corps, the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative program for wounded, ill or injured service members who will then have "the chance to continue serving their country on a new battlefield -- the fight against child predators," Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Deputy Director Patrick J. Lechleitner said in a press release.

Ramos will be assigned to the ICE/Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Denver to assist field agents using his training in computer forensics to build cases against sex traffickers and rescue the children they prey upon.

Read Next: Military Failing to Provide Required Help for Victims of Sexual Assault and Abuse, Watchdog Finds

Following 13 weeks of initial training, Ramos and the other graduates will continue with one-year internships, including nine months of mentoring by a computer forensics agent at field offices nationwide.

The HERO Corps began as a pilot program in 2013 with recruit referrals mainly from U.S. Special Operations Command. The goal was training forensics specialists in disassembling suspect computers, imaging hard drives, running forensic software to index data, and preparing that data for analysis by investigative agents.

President Barack Obama made the HERO Corps a formal government program by signing the HERO Act in 2015, and Congress strengthened the program through better funding under the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017.

Since its inception in 2013, more than 160 veterans have gone through the HERO program, and about 80% of them are still working for ICE/HSI, said Chris Moore, program manager for HERO Corps.

The program has changed a lot from its beginnings when it essentially relied on referrals from Special Operations Command, Moore said.

"SOCOM would select people that were getting medicaled out" for combat wounds, Moore said, adding that the eligibility rules have changed significantly to allow only applicants with an honorable discharge, no criminal history and a disability rating of any kind from the Department of Veterans Affairs. "It does not have to be a combat injury," he said.

The biggest change has come in terms of pay. Previously, the interns were unsalaried volunteers until they were formally hired. But now, they are paid at the rate of a government employee GS-5 to GS-7, or $30,000 to $37,000, Moore said.

Special Operations Command is still assisting in referrals, and three SOCOM veterans are in the current graduating class -- one from Delta Force, one from Air Force pararescue, and one from Marine Special Operations Command, he said.

Satisfaction of Locking Up Those Who Abuse Kids

As a hospital mate third class, Redmond Ramos was assigned to Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, in the Sangin area of Afghanistan's southwestern Helmand province.

Sangin was one of the deadliest and most heavily mined areas for U.S. and British troops during the war, and it was a place where Marines quickly learned to be careful when they sought cover under fire to avoid the ever-present improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.

On March 26, 2011, "We were on a patrol when a Marine from the same company, different squad, stepped on an IED," Ramos said. "Our squad ran over to give help. Unfortunately, when we were running over to provide assistance to them, I ended up stepping on a separate IED."

The Marines called for a helicopter medevac, "but the helicopter got shot at so we had to wait a while longer. I was saved, and the other Marine was saved. It was a bad day, but it could've been much worse if we didn't have a great team around us," he said.

"Part of me knew right away" that he would probably lose the leg, "but part of me was still shocked when I found out officially," Ramos said. When he was told about the damage he'd suffered, "I opted for amputation. It wasn't healing."

"In the military, I was put in a position where maybe I could save a life," and now he will have the opportunity to rescue children from predators, Ramos said.

There's also the satisfaction of helping to build cases that result in jail terms for sex traffickers, said former Army Special Forces Staff Sgt. Nathan Cruz, 42, one of the first to join the HERO Corps who was honored in Tampa, Florida, at the 2019 Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Awards Ceremony as a "Hispanic Military Hero."

"It's a program that opened doors and helped me get back in society," said Cruz, who joined the HERO Corps in 2013.

"In the Army, you have a target, and you put all your resources on that target," he said. Now, he has multiple targets as he assists in running down the traffickers through computer forensics work.

He told of a case in 2015 when a suspect was arrested on allegations of human trafficking. "We started to do forensics on his computer" and found images of girls aged 14 and 15.

Cruz resolved that "we need to get this guy and put him behind bars."

"We were able to identify more than 14 girls and found all of them in seven different states," he said. The rescued girls provided testimony to back up charges against the trafficker, leading to his guilty plea, Cruz added.

"He will never see daylight again."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Related: These Marines Lost Legs in Afghanistan and Now Hunt Child Predators
Twenty-three years ago, then-Defense Secretary William Cohen publicly pondered whether any American warfighter would ever again need to be buried as an unidentifiable "unknown."

Cohen's rumination came after DNA testing conclusively identified the remains lying in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for the Vietnam War as 1st Lt. Michael Blassie, a 24-year-old Air Force flyer shot down May 11, 1972, in South Vietnam.

"It may be that forensic science has reached a point where there will be no other unknowns in any war," Cohen told reporters during a Pentagon briefing on June 30, 1998.

Almost a quarter-century later, DNA technology has only gotten better, and no American service member killed in action over the past 30 years has been buried as unknown.

But could today's forensic science succeed in the aftermath of a conflict such as World War II, a cataclysm out of which the remains of roughly 8,500 American troops were recovered but deemed unidentifiable?

"Yes and no," said Josh Hyman, director of the DNA sequencing facility at the University of Wisconsin's Biotechnology Center.

"I say yes because the technology is capable of giving us pretty good detail on a genetic level," he said during a phone interview Oct. 28.

Add to that, he said, the Defense Department maintains blood samples taken from inductees into the armed forces over the past 25 years that can be used for flawless DNA comparisons.

"The reason I say probably no is because in a lot of situations it's not that you can't identify something coming from a bone or a tooth," he said. "It's just that -- especially in World War II -- you had mass graves and things got mixed. We have a lot of bones in our body. The difficulty back then and now is that if you ever have a mass grave, if you ever have a mixture and you don't have any way of definitively separating them out to begin with, well, it's simply not feasible to test every single bone to make a decision.

"You try to assemble things and do your best. You have to have someone who can look at the physical bones and say, yeah, these seem to belong together and then you can start testing and test a number of them."

DNA misconceptions

Forensic anthropologist Denise To agrees, touting the advances in DNA technology while offering up similar caveats.

"One of the common misconceptions is that DNA is the end-all be-all of all identifications," said To, who manages the forensic laboratory for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, during a phone interview Oct. 27.

"It's not that simple," she said. "It's complex enough that we require multiple lines of evidence to make an identification, such as dental evidence, forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology."

Today's capacity to identify American war dead stands atop a painful history.

"At Arlington, there are over 4,000 unknown soldiers from the Civil War," said Philip Bigler, a former historian at Arlington National Cemetery and author of "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: A Century of Honor" published in 2019.

Fighters from both North and South sometimes carried little in the way of identification, often not even wearing a uniform or insignia, Bigler said during a phone interview Oct. 19.

"If you were killed on the battlefield, you had a pretty good chance of not being identified during the Civil War, just by the nature of the combat," he said.

U.S. warfighters first began wearing metal identification tags during World War I, a practice that became uniform and widespread during World War II when they were dubbed dog tags.

"But even that system is not particularly foolproof because we have many examples of people holding dog tags in their pockets of either fallen individuals or even living individuals," To said.

In 2009, the lab identified the remains of a World War I soldier who was in possession of dog tags belonging to a fellow soldier who had survived the war and lived until 1972, she said.

Safeguarding medical records

Thorough medical recordkeeping, including detailed dental diagrams and X-rays, were maintained on the vast number of service members during World War II. Those records have been invaluable in identifying unknowns from that war, but they also revealed a weakness in relying on such documentation.

In July 1973, fire broke out at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, which held millions of official military files spanning the 20th century. The massive blaze destroyed the records of about 18 million veterans, including roughly 80% of Army personnel discharged between 1912 and 1960 and 75% of Air Force personnel discharged between 1947 and 1964.

"We learned the lesson that, forensically, you want to keep medical records better," To said.

DNA identification technology emerged in the late 1980s.

In a nutshell, the method compares unique DNA markers in an individual with that of a close relative or descendant. In some cases it is compared to a database of individuals.

The key to the method's success, then, is procuring that comparable sample, but when no relative can be found, the DNA test is of little use.

For example, DPAA recently concluded a multiyear project to exhume and identify 388 sailors and Marines buried as unknowns from the battleship USS Oklahoma, which was destroyed during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.

The agency identified many of the remains -- which had been badly burned and commingled -- through DNA testing. But a handful are slated to be buried once again as unknowns next month because in some cases comparative samples from next of kin could not be found.

Game-changing collection

Congress moved to fix that shortcoming in 1992 by mandating the collection of blood samples from incoming service members. The collection's sole purpose is to maintain "self-reference" DNA samples that will exactly match that of any service member who dies on the battlefield.

As of early 2019, the Armed Forces Repository of Specimen Samples for the Identification of Remains at Dover Air Force Base, Del., held almost 8 million blood samples taken from inductees into the armed services over the past 25 years. The index cards carrying two splotches of blood are vacuum sealed and held for 50 years.

"Identifying the deceased with a self-reference is superior to identifying the deceased through DNA with a comparative sample to a relative," To said. "The self-reference is really important to us, and it is a game-changer in terms of identifying individuals who die now in combat in our wars."

The samples were used to positively identify more than 800 service members who died during Operation Enduring Freedom, the Defense Department said in a 2019 news release.

Still, even DNA science could be stymied by unidentified remains under certain circumstances in future wars.

"For example, right now, we can't really obtain DNA sequences from samples that are heavily burned," To said. "Fire destroys DNA so there could be some remains that have been thermally altered where the DNA cannot be extracted."

Hyman said that even badly burned bodies yield some DNA samples, particularly from the teeth.

"But it's true that if you incinerate things at certain temperatures, then all you have is ash," he said. "There's nothing there to get. I mean, at that point, there aren't any remains, only ashes."

"I could be proven wrong, but it would seem to me that given the state of the art today, it's unlikely that we'll have future unknowns," he said.
MOSCOW -- Russia sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus for a second straight day Thursday in a strong show of Moscow's support for its ally amid a dispute over migration at the Polish border.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry said two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced bombing runs at the Ruzany firing range, located in Belarus about 60 kilometers (just over 37 miles) east of the border with Poland. As part of the joint training, Belarusian fighter jets simulated an intercept, the ministry said.

The missions marked the second time in two days that Russia sent its nuclear-capable bombers into the skies over Belarus.

A pair of Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flew a similar patrol Wednesday, and Belarusian air defense assets practiced intercepting them.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that such Russian bomber flights will be conducted on a regular basis.

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Russia has strongly supported Belarus amid a tense standoff this week as thousands of migrants and refugees, most of them from the Middle East, gathered on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland in the hope of crossing into Western Europe.

The European Union has accused Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko of encouraging illegal border crossings as a "hybrid attack" to retaliate against EU sanctions on his government for its crackdown on internal dissent after Lukashenko's disputed 2020 reelection.

Belarus denies the allegations but has said it will no longer stop refugees and migrants from trying to enter the EU.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry accused Poland on Thursday of an "unprecedented" military buildup on the border, saying that migration control did not warrant the concentration of 15,000 troops backed by tanks, air defense assets and other weapons.

"It looks more like forming a strike group of forces," the ministry said, adding that the Polish military buildup prompted Belarus to respond with actions "both independently and within the existing agreements with our strategic ally," a reference to Russia.

Russia and Belarus have a union agreement envisaging close political and military ties. Lukashenko has stressed the need to boost military cooperation in the face of what he has described as aggressive actions by NATO allies.

Lukashenko on Thursday called the Russian bomber flights a necessary response to the tensions on the Belarus-Poland border.

"Let them scream and squeak. Yes, those are nuclear-capable bombers, but we have no other choice," the president, who has been in office since 1994, said.

Col. Gen. Retired Leonid Ivashov, the former head of the Russian Defense Ministry's foreign cooperation department, said the Russian bomber flights over Belarus were intended to demonstrate Moscow's support for its ally amid soaring tensions.

"Military drills and bomber flights are part of training for joint action," Ivashov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. "It's needed to avert a possible military conflict that could escalate into a big war. It's necessary to demonstrate our readiness."

Amid the tensions on the Belarus-Poland border, Russia has strongly backed Belarus, charging that the West destabilized the Middle East and therefore bears responsibility for migrants and refugees seeking safety in Europe.

At the same time, Moscow angrily rejected Poland's claim that Russia has helped foment a situation with humanitarian as well as political dimensions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted the thousands of troops that have been deployed on either side of the Polish-Belarusian border and said "it's a cause for deep concern of all sober-minded people in Europe."

Asked about German Chancellor Merkel's request for Russian President Vladimir Putin to exert influence on Belarus, Peskov responded that "Russia, like all other countries, is trying to help resolve the situation." He said Putin has remained in contact with Lukashenko, but didn't elaborate.

Russia's national flag carrier, Aeroflot, responded to reports that the EU was mulling sanctions against the airline for its alleged involvement in bringing refugees and migrants to Belarus. Aeroflot strongly rejected the claim.

"The information about Aeroflot's participation or assistance to organizing mass transportation of migrants to the territory of Belarus doesn't conform to reality," the airline said in a statement.

Aeroflot noted that it wasn't conducting any regular or charter flights to Iraq or Syria and didn't have any flights between Istanbul and Minsk.

Asked about the reports of possible EU sanctions against Aeroflot, Kremlin spokesman Peskov pointed to the airline's denial of knowingly transporting Europe-bound asylum seekers.

"Let hope that such mad ideas only exist in those media hoaxes," he said in a conference call with reporters.
The Biden administration is moving to improve the disability claims process for veterans with illnesses linked to toxic exposure, such as respiratory disease and lung cancer, and make it easier for them to connect with specialists who can treat them.

On Thursday, the White House and Department of Veterans Affairs announced several new initiatives for service members and vets affected by burn pits, industrial waste and other sources of toxic chemicals used in combat environments.

Senior administration officials said Wednesday that the issue is "personal" for President Joe Biden.

Biden has said that the brain cancer that killed his son, former Army National Guard Maj. Beau Biden, may have been caused by burn pits -- the open-air sites used to burn military waste in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"We have the sacred obligation to care for our women and men in uniform, especially when they come home with the wounds of war. Exposure to environmental hazards and other contaminants pose major health concerns for veterans of all generations," a senior White House staff member told reporters in a call the day before Veterans Day.

Read Next: 2021 Veterans Day Free Meals and Discounts

The officials asked that they not be identified so they could freely discuss the efforts prior to a formal announcement Thursday.

Veterans with injuries and illnesses connected to their military service are eligible for medical care and disability compensation from the VA.

But unless they have a condition that the VA has listed as officially linked, they must provide documents to support their claim that their illness is tied to serving in the military -- claims that are then compared with recommendations by a national advisory board based on existing, often scant, research.

For many service members, such as Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Wesley Black, the changes come too late. Black, 36, died Sunday of colon cancer that his physicians said was related to exposure to burn pits -- cancer that was misdiagnosed at the VA as irritable bowel syndrome.

Black became an advocate for burn pit victims, working to get legislation passed in his state to raise awareness of the issue. He reached a $3 million settlement with the VA last summer, according to the West Lebanon Valley News.

"He used the tragic hand he was dealt as a platform from which to raise awareness about the harmful effects of burn pit exposure," wrote Dan Perrone, one of Black's attorneys, to the newspaper. "His heroics and advocacy have and undoubtedly will continue to save lives."

As part of the new efforts, the VA may add new conditions to existing lists of service-related illnesses "when the evidence is strong" and also plans to reduce the burden of proof by not only comparing claims with findings by the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, but also with VA research and evidence of prevalence of illnesses among VA patients and veterans receiving disability compensation.

"This is a radically different approach," a senior official said on the call with reporters. "Right now, the current process to evaluate an association for military environmental hazard is based primarily on the [National Academies]. What we are doing is saying that moving forward, we are broadening the aperture."

VA officials said they used the new method to designate asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis as illnesses caused by burn pit and air pollution exposure and therefore eligible for disability pay and health care -- a move it made in August.

According to the VA, the department is particularly interested in using the new process for claims for constrictive bronchiolitis, lung cancers and rare respiratory cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or trachea and salivary gland-type tumors.

The VA also will launch a public awareness campaign, calling attention to a new hotline for veterans and physicians to learn more about military environmental exposures.

VET-HOME, the Veterans Exposure Team-Health Outcomes of Military Exposures line, to be introduced at some point in 2022, will provide information to veterans on the VA's Airborne Hazards and Burn Pit Registry and the claims process.

It also will provide referrals to medical specialists who are experts on pollution-related diseases and serve as a resource for affected veterans' medical providers.

The administration also plans to accelerate the timeline for rolling out a system for tracking service members' exposures throughout their military careers, known as the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, currently slated to start in 2023, although officials did not provide a time frame.

And the administration will ask Congress to extend the period of eligibility for health care for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans from five years after military discharge to 10 years.

The officials noted that many environmental illnesses take years to develop.

More than 240,000 former service members have joined the VA's burn pit registry.

Prior to the announcement on the new presumptive diseases related to burn pits, 49% of veterans' claims for asthma, 55% of claims for sinusitis and 29% of those for rhinitis were rejected, according to the VA.

Nearly 70% of claims for environmental cancers filed by 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War and post-9/11 veterans also have been rejected.

Visiting Arlington National Cemetery with several veterans on Thursday, Biden pledged to take care of veterans after their service.

"Our administration is going to meet the sacred obligations that we owe you. ... That means expanding presumptive conditions for toxic exposure and particulate matter, including burn pits and Agent Orange. We're going to keep pushing to be more nimble and responsive," he said.

-- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime.

Related: Veterans Legal Group to Offer Assistance Filing Burn Pit-Related Disability Claims
In most jobs, making one mistake would be no big deal. For the members of the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) who stand watch at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one mistake might seem like the end of the world.

"It was a hot summer day in Arlington National Cemetery," Ethan Morse said in a video from a new series by AARP. "I was now a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I gave my weapon for the weapons inspection, and as soon as he took it, I could tell that something was wrong. I had just committed one of the biggest mistakes on the most hallowed ground in America."

Morse is a veteran and former guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but today, he is a filmmaker. He sat down with AARP, which is celebrating National Veterans and Military Families Month with its latest series about U.S. military veterans, "Reporting for Duty." Find out what his mistake was in the video at the end of the article.

Growing up on an upstate New York farm, Morse's dream was to make it big in the film industry, but a visit to Arlington National Cemetery changed his idea of what his future could hold. At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, he was overcome watching the tomb guards' perfection.

"I get emotional when I talk about it, because it was something I'd never seen before in my life," the Army veteran said. "Especially not back on the farm."

In March of 1921, Congress honored the sacrifices of World War I veterans who never came home. It decided to bring home the remains of one unidentified American soldier from the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery in France and honor them forever in Arlington National Cemetery's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

After lying in state for two days in the Capitol Rotunda, the soldier was interred in the tomb on what then was called Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1921. President Warren G. Harding officiated the ceremony. Today it is a memorial for every unidentified service member and contains the remains of one unknown from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The unknown from the Vietnam War was later identified and moved out of the tomb.

The dedication ceremony for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in 1921. (Library of Congress)

Tomb sentinels have guarded the tomb every hour of every day since 1948.

When the United States was attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, Morse joined the Army, putting his Hollywood dreams on hold. At basic training, he was recruited to go to Arlington, but he didn't go directly to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He underwent rigorous training to perform the ceremonies expected of The Old Guard.

After more than a year of training and casket-bearing duty, Morse was finally selected to guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Watch and listen as Morse describes the month of training that tomb sentinels undergo in preparation before they can walk the 21 steps behind the tomb. He also talks about the different platoons and elements that perform the ceremonies associated with burying America's fallen.

Finally, he talks about the "dos and don'ts" of visiting the tomb as well as guarding it -- and what happens when a guard fails an inspection.

When it came time for Morse to leave the military, he finally went to California and became the filmmaker he always wanted to be. One of his productions was a documentary series about the lives and mindsets of those who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

AARP provides veterans with free resources, important information, timely programming and access to discounts to meet their unique needs on family caregiving, fraud/scams, work and jobs, and accessing military service benefits. For information on these free resources and more, visit www.AARP.org/Veterans.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Puneet Dikshit, a partner at a global management consulting firm McKinsey & Co, with illegal trading in advance of a corporate acquisition by one of the firms clients in September. Mr Dikshit exploited information about his client The Goldman Sachs Group Incs US$2.2bn (billion), pending takeovers to buy profitable call options in fintech lender GreenSky Inc (GSKY), say reports.

On the day before the GreenSky deal was announced, Mr Dikshit used Google to search: what happens to options when company is acquired and greensky market cap. He also used it to check his brokers web page for information about $10 GreenSky call options. Three weeks later, after news of suspicious trading in GreenSky options, Mr Dikshit used his McKinsey computer to run searches about Rajat Guptas insider trading conviction, says a report from Bloomberg , quoting prosecutors.

According to the report, the SECs complaint, filed in federal district court in Manhattan, alleges that while providing consulting services, Mr Dikshit learned highly confidential information concerning Goldman Sachs impending acquisition of the consumer loan fintech platform, GreenSky.

The report further says, At 3.41pm on 13th September, using an IP address associated with the consulting firm, Mr Dikshit purchased 212 GSKY call option contracts with a $10 strike price and a 17th September expiration date at a cost of approximately $2,100. These highly speculative call option contracts would expire worthless if by 17th September the price of GSKY did not increase approximately 13% from its 13 September 2021 closing price of $8.85 per share to the strike price of $10 per share.

After the pre-market announcement, between 9.34am and 9.35am, Mr Dikshit, using an IP address associated with the consulting firm, placed orders to liquidate the 2,481 GSKY call option contracts he had purchased in his account on 13th September and 14 September 2021, which he had acquired at a cost of approximately $23,100. Those orders were executed between 9.35am and 9.42am for proceeds of $449,128, the report says, quoting the complaint.

According to the SECs complaint, in the days leading up to the acquisition announcement on 15 September 2021, Mr Dikshit used this information to purchase out-of-the-money GreenSky call options that were set to expire just days after the announcement.

The SECs complaint further alleges that Mr Dikshit violated his firms policies by failing to pre-clear these options purchases, which he sold on the morning of the acquisition announcement for illicit profits totalling over US$450,000. According to SEC, Mr Dikshit made his trades using an account in his name and his spouses name.

We allege that Mr Dikshit breached duties to his employer and his client by misusing their confidential information for his financial gain, said Joseph G Sansone, chief of the SEC enforcement divisions market abuse unit. Thanks to our trading analysis tools, we were able to move swiftly to hold him accountable for his actions and protect the fairness of our securities markets.

Mr Dikshit was fired by McKinsey and faces two counts of securities fraud, each with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, says a report from CNBC

Quoting authorities, the report says, Mr Dikshit, who had a lead role advising Goldman Sachs on the deal, dabbled with purchasing small amounts of options in the months ahead of the transaction. It is the latest example of a highly compensated professional allegedly succumbing to the temptation to trade off material nonpublic information. Rajat Gupta, former chief executive (CEO) of McKinsey was convicted of insider trading in 2012 and spent two years in prison.

Quoting people with knowledge of the situation, CNBC says, While Mr Dikshit may be the most high-profile person ensnared in the GreenSky episode, its likely that others had access to deal information and traded off it.

In a statement provided to CNBC, McKinsey says, We have terminated the employment of a partner for a gross violation of our policies and code of conduct. We have zero tolerance for the appalling behaviour described in the complaint, and we will continue cooperating with the authorities.

Goldman told CNBC that it was deeply disappointed by the insider trading allegations and is also cooperating with the investigation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch two innovative customer centric initiatives of the Reserve Bank of India on Friday via video conferencing. These initiatives include the RBI Retail Direct Scheme and the Reserve Bank-Integrated Ombudsman Scheme.

The RBI Retail Direct Scheme is aimed at enhancing access to the government securities market for retail investors. It offers them a new avenue for directly investing in securities issued by the Government of India and the State Governments. Investors will be able to easily open and maintain their government securities account online with the RBI, free of cost.

The Reserve Bank-Integrated Ombudsman Scheme aims to further improve the grievance redress mechanism for resolving customer complaints against entities regulated by RBI. The central theme of the scheme is based on 'One Nation-One Ombudsman' with one portal, one email and one address for the customers to lodge their complaints.

There will be a single point of reference for customers to file their complaints, submit the documents, track status and provide feedback. A multi-lingual toll-free number will provide all relevant information on grievance redress and assistance for filing complaints.

The Union Finance Minister and RBI Governor will also attend the event.

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.
The abrupt transfer of Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, to the Meghalaya High Court is not only controversial, but raises a host of issues, writes V VENKATESAN

In what is widely seen as a punitive decision, the Supreme Court Collegium disclosed on Tuesday, its September 16 recommendation to transfer Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee from the Madras high court to the Meghalaya high court. Justice Banerjee, according to our sources, has apparently paid the price for his independent, outspoken, and unbiased style of functioning.

It is not known whether Justice Banerjee will accept the transfer to a relatively small high court, whose volume of work is comparatively negligible. Although all high courts are equal, realistically it is the senior-most Judges who are appointed to big chartered high courts like that of Madras which, apart from the huge volume of cases it has to deal with, also has a strong district judiciary and the Madurai bench under its jurisdiction.

The Madras high court is the fourth largest high court (after the Allahabad, Bombay and Punjab and Haryana high courts) with a sanctioned strength of 75 judges, of whom 56 are permanent and 19 are additional. On the other hand, the Meghalaya high court is one of the few small high courts, with a sanctioned strength of just four judges  three permanent judges and one additional judge.

Justice Banerjees track record didnt endear him to the current political regime

Justice Banerjee, who did not attend the court on Wednesday, is considered to adopt a no-nonsense approach to hearing cases. He made headlines when he asked why murder charges cannot be filed against the Election Commission for its failure to stop abuse of COVID protocols in election rallies by the political parties. The Supreme Court later termed these remarks harsh and inappropriate.

A bench headed by him recently found the allegation that the BJP in Puducherry accessed voter details from Aadhaar data credible. Another bench presided by him saw no objection in Tamil Nadu government forming a committee to study the impact of NEET. Yet another bench which he presided declined to entertain a PIL which challenged the decision of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of the state government to direct temples to perform pujas in Tamil as well, instead of only in Sanskrit.

These, and other decisions, appear to have earned Justice Banerjee the image of an outspoken critic of rightwing policies, and a staunch defender of the constitutional basis for secularism. Not known to favour the Government or the status quo, Justice Banerjees observations during the court hearings often proved to be uncomfortable to the power elite in Delhi.

The possibility that Justice Banerjee might have earned the wrath of his colleagues on the bench in the high court against whom he initiated discrete inquiries on receipt of specific complaints cannot ruled out as a factor behind his abrupt transfer. The Leaflet, however, has not been able to verify this claim, and therefore, it may be too early to lend credence to it.

Parallels with Justice Tahilramanis transfer

Therefore, whether the transfer can be considered as a humiliation as happened in the case of Justice V.K. Tahilramanis transfer from Madras high court to Meghalaya high court in 2019 during the term of the then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi remains to be seen. Justice Tahilramani resigned in protest against the Supreme Court Collegiums refusal to reconsider its recommendation to transfer her.

Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Madan B.Lokur, had then remarked that the collegiums transfer lacked grace and was ex facie suggestive of humiliation. He said she did well to resign.

As Justice Lokur wrote in one of his columns in 2019, transparency does not end with putting up resolutions of the collegium on the website, or not putting them up or taking them down  it begins from here, in explaining why and how the delay in divulging the transfer of Justice Banerjee happened, nearly two months after the collegium recommended it.

The Supreme Court retorted to Justice Lokurs insinuation in 2019 thus: Though it would not be in the interest of the institution to disclose the reasons for transfer, if found necessary, the collegium will have no hesitation in disclosing the same. Further, each of the recommendations was made after full and complete deliberations and the same were unanimously agreed upon by the collegium.

There is a reason why the Supreme Court, in the Third Judges case in 1998, expanded the size of the Supreme Courts Collegium for transfer of high court Judges, even while keeping its size as the first three Judges in case of appointment of high court Judges.

What the Supreme Court held in its judgments in the Second and Third Judges cases

It may be recalled that in the aftermath of the Supreme Courts judgment in the Second Judges case in 1993, a three-Judge bench considered the issue in K. Ashok Reddy vs. Government of India (1994). In this case, the bench referred to the fact that after the second Judges case, the then Chief Justice of India had constituted a peer committee comprised of the then two senior most puisne Judges of the Supreme Court and two Chief Justices of High Courts to make suggestions for transfers, and the Chief Justice of India was to make his recommendations on that basis and in accordance with the broad guidelines indicated in the second Judges case. There was, therefore, the bench said, no room left for any apprehension of arbitrariness or bias in the transfer of any Judge or Chief Justice of a High Court.

With the peer committee no longer in position, the Supreme Court, in the third Judges case, sought to ensure that the CJI consults a plurality of judges, before recommending the transfer of a Judge thus:

It is to our mind imperative, given the gravity involved in transferring High Courts Judges, that the Chief Justice of India should obtain the views of the Chief Justice of the High Court from which the proposed transfer is to be effected as also the Chief Justice of the High Court to which the transfer is to be effected. This is in accord with the majority judgment in the second Judges case which postulates consultation with the Chief Justice of another High Court. The Chief Justice of India should also take into account the views of one or more Supreme Court Judges who are in a position to provide material which would assist in the process of deciding whether or not a proposed transfer should take place. These views should be expressed in writing and should be considered by the Chief Justice of India and the four seniormost puisne Judges of the Supreme Court. These views and those of each of the four seniormost puisne Judges should be conveyed to the Government of India along with the proposal of transfer. Unless the decision to transfer has been taken in the manner aforestated, it is not decisive and does not bind the Government of India.

Further, the nine-judge Constitutional bench in the Third Judges case observed:

What applies to the transfer of a puisne Judge of a High Court applies a well to the transfer of the Chief Justice of a High Court as Chief Justice of another High Court except that, in this case, only the views of one or more knowledgeable Supreme Court Judges need to be taken into account.

The majority judgment in the second Judges case requires that the personal factors relating to the concerned Judge, and his response to the proposal, including his preference of places of transfer, should be taken into account by the Chief Justice of India before forming his final opinion objectively, on the available material, in the public interest for better administration of justice.

These factors, including the response of the High Court Chief Justice or puisne Judge proposed to be transferred to the proposal to transfer them, should  be placed before the collegium of the Chief Justice of India and his first four puisne Judges to be taken into account by them before reaching a final conclusion on the proposal, the bench held in the third Judges case.

In regard to the justiciability of such transfers, it noted:

Plurality of Judges in the formation of the opinion of the Chief Justice of India, as indicated, is another inbuilt check against the likelihood of arbitrariness or bias  The judicial element being decisive in transfers, as indicated, the need for further judicial review, as in other executive actions, is eliminated.

Except on the ground of a transfer being made without the recommendation of the Chief Justice of India, these matters are not justiciable on any other ground, including that of bias, which in any case is excluded by the element of plurality in the process of decision making, the bench held in the third Judges case.

Executive influence manifest in some recent controversial judges transfers

Interestingly, the Supreme Court, both in the second and third Judges case, didnt consider the possibility of the executives influence over the decision-making by the collegium in the case of transfers. The element of executive influence over the decision-making can be checked only with full transparency, and not merely by plurality in the process of decision-making.

In the case of Justice Tahilramani, the Supreme Courts readiness to disclose the reasons, if necessary, was interpreted to mean that the disclosure was more likely to embarrass her. As the transferee judge alone can challenge the collegiums recommendation to transfer, the Supreme Court probably thought it fit to disclose the reasons, if she challenged it. As she eventually didnt challenge it, the court probably felt vindicated in the court of public opinion.

In 2017, Justice Jayant Patel quit as a judge of the Karnataka high court when he was transferred to the Allahabad high court, where he would have been the third senior most Judge in the hierarchy, as compared to his then No. 2 position in the Karnataka high court. When the then chief justice, Subhro Kamal Mukherjee retired on October 9, 2017, Justice Patel, had he not been transferred, would have become acting chief justice of the court.

Justice Patel, it appeared, paid the price for directing a CBI investigation into the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case when he was the acting chief justice of the Gujarat high court. The CBIs probe in the Ishrat Jahan case led to the arrest and chargesheeting of a large number of senior Gujarat police officers for her cold-blooded killing.

With the coming to power of a single party majority government in 2014, and with the Modi government at the Centre consolidating its gains in the 2019 general elections, there is an inescapable feeling that it has made the primacy of the judiciary vis-a-vis the executive in the process of appointments and transfers more imaginary than real.

Has the SC collegium been unable to safeguard its primacy in the face of executive stubbornness over appointments and transfers of judges?

Justice Tahilramani had upheld the conviction and life imprisonment of 11 accused in the post-Godhra carnage in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, and set aside the acquittal of seven accused, including policemen and doctors in that case. The Supreme Court transferred the case to Maharashtra from Gujarat, fearing that trial in Gujarat would not be free and fair.

The Collegium, it appeared to many, acquiesced to the Centres unstated insistence that she be demoted for her judgment in the Bilkis Bano case. Justice Banerjee, it appears, has had to pay the price for his forthrightness, if not anything as explicit as in the previous cases.

Article 222 of the Constitution of India makes provision for the transfer of a judge (including the Chief Justice) from one high court to another. Even though the Supreme Courts judgment in the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) case had struck down the amendment of this provision, following the creation of the NJAC (which too was struck down in 2015), Article 222, as it stood prior to the amendment, was revived.

The initiation of the proposal for the transfer of a judge should be made by the CJI whose opinion in this regard is determinative. Consent of a judge for his first or subsequent transfer, according to the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) would not be required. All transfers, the MoP makes it clear, are to be made in the public interest, that is, for promoting better administration of justice throughout the country.

The date of retirement of Madras high court chief justice Sanjib Banerjee is November 1, 2023. He was appointed as the CJ on January 4 this year. The date of his initial appointment is June 22, 2006. He has a fair chance of being elevated to the Supreme Court, before his retirement from the high court. His legitimate expectation might have suffered a dent because of this unfair transfer.

The Meghalaya chief justice Ranjit Vasantrao More retired on November 3. Perhaps the Supreme Courts collegium waited for his retirement to divulge the news of Justice Banerjees transfer.

The collegium has recommended the transfer of Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari from Allahabad high court to Madras high court. Justice Bhandari was transferred to Allahabad from Rajasthan high court in early 2019 in the interest of better administration of justice.

But the phrase better administration of justice is a cliche which the MoP does not elaborate on.

Some sections within the Bar claim that Justice Banerjee might have himself sought transfer, but reliable sources indicate to us that there is no basis to this claim, and that he has not been informed of the reasons for his transfer.

(V Venkatesan is the editor of The Leaflet. He has more than three decades of experience in journalism, and has extensively reported and commented on legal issues. The views expressed are personal.)
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August 27, 2020

'Mostly Peaceful' Rioting And Looting Is Helping Trump's Campaign

The Civil War of 2020 continues apace.

2020



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After three months of continuous clashes in Portland between Antifa rioters, who hide behind peaceful protests, and the police, the mayor is finally concerned about the damage:

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler said Wednesday he hasnt done enough to focus on damages caused by some city protests over the last three months and the fallout from coronavirus. He called on the community to help him come up with better solutions to city issues.

During the last months the Magnificent Mile in Chicago was looted - twice. Yesterday new riots and looting occurred in Minneapolis after a rumor of another police killing incited some people:

Police Chief Medaria Arradondo tried to dispel rumors that spread on social media about the death of the unidentified Black man, who was suspected in a Wednesday afternoon homicide and fatally shot himself on the Nicollet Mall as officers approached several hours later. His death, which was captured on city surveillance video and released by police within 90 minutes, nonetheless sparked protests and unrest in the heart of downtown. The video confirmed the police account of what happened and showed the man glancing over his shoulder before pulling out the gun and firing, then collapsing to the ground as a half-dozen witnesses ran away with their hands in the air. The officers, one of whom had his gun drawn, shooed a remaining witness away and kicked the suspects gun away before performing chest compressions.

Last Sunday police in Kenosha, Wisconsin proved to be too incompetent to arrest a man they had already had under control. They shot him 7 times into the back when he was trying to get into his car. Nights of rioting followed. Buildings were burned down and businesses were looted.

Yesterday a white teen with a semi-automatic weapon had the stupid idea to join others in 'protecting the businesses' in Kenosha from further looting. He ended up killing two people and wounding more after he was attacked by some of the rioters. The teen was arrested and he is facing charges but I doubt that he is guilty of more than sheer stupidity and manslaughter in self defense.

The cycle of violence will likely continue. There are too many racist in the police and the level of U.S. police training seems to be abysmal. There is also too much tolerance for violence within the general community.

Politically this plays into Trump's law and order campaign. The Democrats have lauded Black Live Matters and the protests but have hardly spoken out against the rioting and looting that comes with them.

This CNN chyron from yesterday evening is an expression of their position:

'Mostly peaceful protests' are like the 'moderate rebels' in Syria - propaganda constructs that do not exist in the real world. The people who owned the burning cars and whose businesses were destroyed will not be relieved by such phrasing.

Joe Biden's attempt to swing Republican voters to his side has failed. At the same time he has rejected many of the issues progressives favored. This will hurt the election turn out the Democrats will need. Add to that the unrest which plays into Trump's hands. The Democrats who fear that are right:

Theres no doubt its playing into Trumps hands, said Paul Soglin, who served as mayor of Madison, on and off, for more than two decades. Theres a significant number of undecided voters who are not ideological, and they can move very easily from Republican to the Democratic column and back again. They are, in effect, the people who decide elections. And they are very distraught about both the horrendous carnage created by police officers in murdering African Americans, and ... for the safety of their communities. Trump, of course, is positioning himself as the antidote to urban unrest. "So let me be clear: The violence must stop, whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha," Vice President Mike Pence declared in his Republican convention speech Wednesday night, with Trump looking on. "We will have law and order on the streets of this country for every American of every race and creed and color." Republicans had chided Joe Biden and other Democrats for not calling out the violence in the aftermath of the Blake shooting. Biden immediately addressed the shooting, but didnt condemn the ensuing violence until Wednesday in a video posted on social media.

Despite Trump's failure to bring the pandemic under control his job approval rating continues to be high while Biden's lead in the polls is shrinking. The United States seem to have a higher tolerance for avoidable death by guns or viruses than other societies have. It is not the only point that makes it exceptional.

Posted by b on August 27, 2020 at 17:39 UTC | Permalink

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November 11, 2021

Rittenhouse Trial Exposes The Democrats' Reliance On False Narratives

In August 2020 I wrote about the riots in several U.S. cities.

'Mostly Peaceful' Rioting And Looting Is Helping Trump's Campaign

The piece attracted 610 comments which made it the longest Moon of Alabama thread ever.

The immediate starting point of my thoughts had been the riots and shooting in Kenosha:

Last Sunday police in Kenosha, Wisconsin proved to be too incompetent to arrest a man they had already had under control. They shot him 7 times into the back when he was trying to get into his car. Nights of rioting followed. Buildings were burned down and businesses were looted. Yesterday a white teen with a semi-automatic weapon had the stupid idea to join others in 'protecting the businesses' in Kenosha from further looting. He ended up killing two people and wounding more after he was attacked by some of the rioters. The teen was arrested and he is facing charges but I doubt that he is guilty of more than sheer stupidity and manslaughter in self defense.

Many of the regular commentators disagreed with my conclusion.

The white teen, Kyle Rittenhouse, is now standing trial. Of note is that the casualties in this case were all white and had criminal records, something that the media at the time of the incident intentionally neglected to say.

Yesterday Rittenhouse testified and was cross examined by the prosecutor Thomas Binger. I watched a stream of the trial and was not impressed:

The judge seemed to have the same impression:

The Kenosha County, Wis., judge presiding over Kyle Rittenhouses murder trial clashed with the lead prosecutor several times during the teenagers cross-examination on Wednesday, while defense attorneys requested a mistrial alleging prosecutorial misconduct. The defense objected to Bingers questions about Rittenhouses decision to remain silent about the shootings until taking the witness stand Wednesday, arguing that this line of inquiry infringed on Rittenhouses Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate himself. While Binger said he was making the case that Rittenhouse had tailored his testimony based on what other witnesses had said before him, Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder appeared to agree with the defense, ordering the jury out of the room before rebuking the prosecutor. The problem is this is a grave constitutional violation for you to talk about the defendants silence, Schroeder yelled. You're right on the borderline, and you may be over it. But it better stop. Later on in the cross-examination, Schroeder admonished Binger for attempting to question Rittenhouse about evidence that the judge had previously deemed inadmissible.

It was not only that misbehavior by the extremely arrogant prosecutor which caused me to call him ridiculous. It was the way in which he questioned minor decisions Rittenhouse had taken during the incident implying that they showed this or that malicious intention even when that was clearly not the case. A prosecutor should not behave like a child playing gotcha.

I may well be, as the defense implied, that Binger tried to provoke a mistrial. His chances to win the case are by now practically zero.

The videos prove that Rittenhouse was under attack when he fired his gun. The man who had been wounded in the incident, and who was the prosecution's main witness, admitted under cross examination that he had pointed his handgun at Rittenhouse before Rittenhouse aimed and fired at him.

A clear act of self defense:

In an account largely corroborated by video and the prosecutions own witnesses, Rittenhouse said that the first man cornered him and put his hand on the barrel of Rittenhouse's rifle, the second man hit him with a skateboard, and the third man came at him with a gun of his own.

...

Rittenhouse said he didn't want to have to shoot Joseph Rosenbaum, the first man to fall that night, but he said Rosenbaum was chasing him and had threatened to kill him earlier. If I would have let Mr. Rosenbaum take my firearm from me, he would have used it and killed me with it," he said, "and probably killed more people. But Rittenhouse also acknowledged that the strap holding his gun was in place and that he had both hands on the weapon. And Binger suggested that Rosenbaum might have been trying to bat the rifle away.

...

Rittenhouse testified that he then shot and killed protester Anthony Huber after Huber struck him in the neck with his skateboard and grabbed his gun. Then he wounded Gaige Grosskreutz, saying the protester had lunged at him with his pistol pointed directly at my head.

The trial thus confirmed my August 2020 analysis:

The teen was arrested and he is facing charges but I doubt that he is guilty of more than sheer stupidity and manslaughter in self defense.

Some prominent voices are agreeing with me:

Tulsi Gabbard @TulsiGabbard - 0:01 UTC  Nov 11, 2021 The prosecutor in the Rittenhouse trial clearly didnt do due diligence before making the decision to prosecute. This tragedy never would have happened if the government carried out its responsibilities to protect the safety, lives and property of innocent people.

---

Glenn Greenwald @ggreenwald - 19:29 UTC  Nov 10, 2021 I never commented on the Rittenhouse case until I started watching large chunks of the trial, and all I can say is that anyone who has done the same and denies that there's a huge gap between the media narrative about this and what actually happened is not telling the truth.

Greenwald also points to this video report by rising which includes video clips from the trial, including the prosecutor witness admitting that he pointed his gun first.

Rittenhouse is not on trial for bad judgment or offensive behavior. He is on trial under murder charges and will likely be acquitted of them. That will of course cause outrage by the usual suspects.

Michael Tracey @mtracey - 11:38 UTC  Nov 11, 2021 Even if the prosecution fails to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he committed the crimes alleged? Telling statement from the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus Hakeem Jeffries @hakeemjeffries - 21:30 UTC  Nov 10, 2021

Lock up Kyle Rittenhouse and throw away the key.

Jeffries' hypocrisy stinks to high heaven. See this June 2020 tweet by him.

End. Mass. Incarceration.

Defund The Prison Industrial Complex.

The riots in Kenosha were part of the Democrats strategy of tension campaign aimed at increasing the turnout of 'progressive' democrat voters. 'Black life matters', 'abolish the police' and the riots and looting were all part of it. It was what I had earlier sarcastically called the Civil War of 2020.

Begun The Civil Wars Of 2020 Have

The campaign had the obvious but unintended effect of also increasing the turnout of republican voters for Donald Trump's law and order policies. The campaign was not successful. In the end Joe Biden barely won by some 60,000 votes in three swing states.

With Russiagate exposed as fraud, Rittenhouse getting acquitted and with many of the Democrats campaign promises unfulfilled a majority of midterm voters may well conclude that the Democrats are crooks who do not deserve their vote.

Posted by b on November 11, 2021 at 17:20 UTC | Permalink

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Courtesy, United Airlines

United Airlines will stop flying to 11 small-sized cities around the United States indefinitely as the airline industry continues to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Business Insider first reported on the changes to Uniteds regional routes. Per the outlet, here are the 11 cities that the company will no longer serve:
With gasoline prices at levels not seen since 2014 and households facing a surge in the cost of heating their homes this winter, the government is looking for ways to lower energy costs.

Wednesday, a group of 11 senators wrote President Biden asking him to consider all tools available at your disposal to lower gasoline prices, including an oil export ban and a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The news immediately drew consternation from the nations oil and gas producers.

We are glad that members of Congress are finally recognizing the impacts of anti-energy policies, but short-term strategies like depleting the SPR or banning crude exports will likely not yield the benefits Americans deserve, Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, told the Reporter-Telegram by email.

What Americans deserve is a lasting, committed, pro-energy, pro-consumer set of policies that unleash American innovation and production which will return investment into the sector and affordability for Americans, he continued. Furthermore, with energy prices spiking for allies in Europe, this policy could also force our allies into the arms of unfriendly nations and could damage our own national security.

The 11 senators seemed to agree, writing Biden they share his concerns that the decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and others to purposefully manipulate gas prices by constraining supply, as well as the choice of domestic leaseholders and producers to continue to export U.S. petroleum, threaten to send already record prices even higher.

The senators, all Democrats, noted in their letter that the national average price for a gallon of gasoline has risen more than $1 per gallon since last November. While they support US efforts to develop clean and renewable energy over the long term, we must ensure that Americans are able to afford to fill up their cars at the pump in the meantime, they wrote. The high gas prices place an undue burden on families and small businesses trying to make ends meet, they added.

Halting US oil exports could end up having the opposite effect when it comes to the price of crude oil, Daniel Armbruster, corporate spokesperson and community relations with AAA Texas/New Mexico, told the Reporter-Telegram by email.

He explained that since oil is a global commodity, if the US were to stop sharing, and other countries or OPEC did not pump more to fill in the gap, then the price of crude would rise. And since the cost of crude accounts for 50-60 percent of the pump price, we'd simply be raising the cost for US consumers.

Todd Staples, president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, told the Reporter-Telegram by email, Accessing global markets has been a huge catalyst in creating jobs and investment that have benefited every single Texan. The solution to higher energy prices is not to disrupt trade opportunities that have been a driver to more economic gains for our state and nation. We need policies that encourage homegrown energy, not discourage it.

The American Petroleum Institutes Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics and Regulatory Affairs Frank Macchiarola told the Reporter-Telegram by email, Lifting the export ban has been a real driver in enhancing our energy security and economic strength while ensuring access to affordable, reliable energy. We should not step back from the progress this has provided in strengthening US energy leadership around the world.
The Bites

-- Whataburger at 3206 N. Midkiff Road will host a fundraiser for Seek First from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday.

--Shop exclusive wines, furs and cigars Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lions Den at Ally Outdoors. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Head for the Cure. The event is $5. It will give attendees the opportunity to taste highly allocated wines while Rodney Brown with Venge Wines will walk them through each varietal. Furs and accessories are available from Susan Lucas of Souvenirs Boutique and purchase cigars from Gars Cigar Company.

--Tall City Brewing Co. will celebrate its two year anniversary of opening the brewery this weekend. Sam Watson will play from 7 to 9:30 Friday. The brewery will be releasing the 2 Degrees of Separation that was aged in TX Whiskey Bourbon barrels for eight months. There will also be discounts and giveaways.

--Basin Brunch pop-up will be from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday (brunch served till 3 p.m.). The event is 21 and up. Reservations are required. Visit https://m.facebook.com/BasinBrunch/?fref=tag for more information.

--The Midland Downtown Farmers Market starts the winter schedule from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

--Make charcuterie tray and custom board with The Golden Whisk and The Studio by Kidds Canvas. The class will be 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 24 at 3211 W. Wadley Suite #5. Sign up at https://app.getoccasion.com/xp/kW6LS5VH?fbclid=IwAR0RYNUJAy08QuREEcqDOwbHxGiw_rnKK0JZnfjhcQJXZA5bk1vMYcA5TZE.

--Torinos Pizzabar will be hosting the 11th annual toy drive from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 10 for High Sky, Toys for Tots, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Permian Basin and CASA. People can bring a new, unwrapped toy or a $10 donation to support.

--Blue Sky is now offering carryout and to-go orders at their drive-thru. Call in orders and pick it up from the drive-thru.

--The Paleta Bar opened a second location Sunday at the Micro Market.

--Hand Cafe has announced new hours. The coffee shop will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

--Torchys Tacos is offering a $5 bonus gift card when people purchase a $25 gift card. The $5 gift card can be redeemed now through Dec. 28 online or at the Odessa location. Bonus cards are then valid from Jan. 1 to March 31.
BEIJING (AP)  Chinese shoppers spent $139.1 billion during this year's annual Singles' Day shopping extravaganza, breaking last year's record even though spending slowed during the coronavirus pandemic.

Alibaba tallied 540.3 billion yuan ($84.5 billion) in spending over the festival that spanned Nov. 1 to Nov. 11, the company said Thursday, a growth of 14% compared to a nearly 93% increase last year.

Rival JD.com reported 349.1 billion yuan ($54.6 billion) in transactions this year, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 11, about a 28% increase compared to 32% growth in 2020.

The slowdown in growth for the worlds largest online shopping festival, which typically ends on Nov. 11, comes amid reduced marketing hype and a crackdown on the technology industry.

Singles Day has been viewed as the largest online marketing event of the year. In previous years, the festival was heavily advertised for weeks ahead of time with brands and merchants offering deep discounts to attract consumers looking for bargains.

But shoppers say deep discounts of what is also called Double Eleven" are now a thing of the past and experts are predicting lower sales as the economy slows.

This year, Alibaba, the e-commerce platform that pioneered the online shopping festival more than a decade ago, decided not to showcase a running tally of its real-time gross merchandise volume (GMV)  defined as the amount of transactions racked up across its platform  on its site for the shopping festival, taking on a more muted tone compared to previous years of glitzy marketing campaigns.

Chinese regulators have cracked down on technology companies, investigating giants like Alibaba and food delivery firm Meituan over alleged anti-competitive practices.

Earlier this year, Alibaba was fined a record $2.8 billion for violating antitrust rules. Ahead of Singles Day, Alibaba, rival JD.com and Meituan were among companies asked to curb excessive marketing text messages sent to consumers during the festival.

Last week, 16 e-commerce platform operators  some of which are linked to Alibaba and Meituan  were also summoned by regulators in the southern province of Guangdong and warned over unfair competition.

Platforms are also reining in the marketing hype to align themselves with Chinese President Xi Jinping's calls for common prosperity, which includes curbing excess and advocating for more equitable distribution of wealth and resources.

The decision not to publish a live GMV tally suggests Chinas major e-commerce platforms believe this consumption display is incongruent with current 'common prosperity' themes, said Michael Norris, research strategy manager at the Shanghai-based consultancy AgencyChina.

While not publishing a live GMV tally may appease local sensibilities, without careful management, it may spook foreign investors who are already concerned about Alibabas growth prospects, he said.

Online retailer JD.com also did not publicly stream a running tally of sales this year. But it did hold a media event Thursday, where a counter showed that as of 2 p.m. local time shoppers had spent over $48 billion.

Although it was a common to see consumers take advantage of deep discounts in past Singles Day festivals to stock up on daily necessities, consumption habits have changed.

Demand is weaker amid the uncertainties brought on by the pandemic, and Singles Day is now competing with other e-commerce festivals throughout the year.

2021 is a year of troubled times. There is the pandemic and various disasters, economic growth is slow and the stock market is not performing well, said Hua Wei, a Beijing resident.

These make people a little bit panicked. After all, you have a stronger sense of security if you hold onto your money, she said. I think people are also more rational now when it comes to consumption.

Another shopper, Jiang Chen, said that he held back on impulse shopping this year, buying only what he needed.

I dont think its necessary to waste time and energy in order to save a little money, so the things I buy are what I need, he said, such as snacks and fruit.

Jiang seemed happy with a lower key approach to the festival.

I hope that there will be less exaggerated publicity and hype in future (Singles Day) sales, and that the discounts will be bigger, he said.

Meng Xiaolu, a sales manager who lives in the eastern province of Zhejiang, said she spent most of her shopping budget for this month on Singles Day sales of cosmetics and clothes.

Because of the pandemic, I'm not able to travel and take vacations, so all I can do is find some joy in online shopping, she said. I think shopping on Double Eleven has become a habit for young people.

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Photo captions for this story have been corrected to fix the title of the research institute director.

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AP video producer Caroline Chen in Beijing and researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report.
MOSCOW (AP)  Russia sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus for a second straight day on Thursday in a strong show of Moscow's support for its ally amid a dispute over migration at the Polish border.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry said two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced bombing runs at the Ruzany firing range, located in Belarus about 60 kilometers (just over 37 miles) east of the border with Poland. As part of the joint training, Belarusian fighter jets simulated an intercept, the ministry said.

The missions marked the second time in two days that Russia sent its nuclear-capable bombers into the skies over Belarus.

A pair of Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flew a similar patrol on Wednesday, and Belarusian air defense assets practiced intercepting them.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that such Russian bomber flights will be conducted on a regular basis.

The Russian military said the bombers spent over 4 1/2 hours in the air during the mission intended to buttress the countries alliance. It said the bomber patrol wasnt aimed against any third countries.

But Russia's deputy U.N. ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, told reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York that it is a response to a massive build-up on the Polish-Belarusian border

Russia has strongly supported Belarus amid a tense standoff this week as thousands of migrants and refugees, most of them from the Middle East, gathered on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland in the hope of crossing into Western Europe.

Polyansky pointed to the union between Russia and Belarus and said that if there is a build-up of military resources on the border with Belarus, we have to react."

The European Union has accused Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko of encouraging illegal border crossings as a hybrid attack to retaliate against EU sanctions on his government for its crackdown on internal dissent after Lukashenko's disputed 2020 reelection.

Belarus denies the allegations but has said it will no longer stop refugees and migrants from trying to enter the EU.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry accused Poland on Thursday of an unprecedented military buildup on the border, saying that migration control did not warrant the concentration of 15,000 troops backed by tanks, air defense assets and other weapons.

It looks more like forming a strike group of forces, the ministry said, adding that the Polish military buildup prompted Belarus to respond with actions both independently and within the existing agreements with our strategic ally, a reference to Russia.

Russia and Belarus have a union agreement envisaging close political and military ties. Lukashenko has stressed the need to boost military cooperation in the face of what he has described as aggressive actions by NATO allies.

Lukashenko on Thursday called the Russian bomber flights a necessary response to the tensions on the Belarus-Poland border.

Let them scream and squeak. Yes, those are nuclear-capable bombers, but we have no other choice, the president, who has been in office since 1994, said.

Col. Gen. Retired Leonid Ivashov, the former head of the Russian Defense Ministry's foreign cooperation department, said the Russian bomber flights over Belarus were intended to demonstrate Moscow's support for its ally amid soaring tensions.

Military drills and bomber flights are part of training for joint action, Ivashov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. It's needed to avert a possible military conflict that could escalate into a big war. It's necessary to demonstrate our readiness.

Amid the tensions on the Belarus-Poland border, Russia has strongly backed Belarus, charging that the West destabilized the Middle East and therefore bears responsibility for migrants and refugees seeking safety in Europe.

At the same time, Moscow angrily rejected Poland's claim that Russia has helped foment a situation with humanitarian as well as political dimensions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted the thousands of troops that have been deployed on either side of the Polish-Belarusian border and said it's a cause for deep concern of all sober-minded people in Europe.

Asked about German Chancellor Merkels request for Russian President Vladimir Putin to exert his influence on Belarus, Peskov responded that Russia, like all other countries, is trying to help resolve the situation. He said Putin has remained in contact with Lukashenko, but didnt elaborate.

Russia's national flag carrier, Aeroflot, responded to reports that the EU was mulling sanctions against the airline for its alleged involvement in bringing to refugees and migrants to Belarus. Aeroflot strongly rejected the claim.

The information about Aeroflots participation or assistance to organizing mass transportation of migrants to the territory of Belarus doesnt conform to reality, the airline said in a statement.

Aeroflot noted that it wasnt conducting any regular or charter flights to Iraq or Syria and didnt have any flights between Istanbul and Minsk.

Asked about the reports of possible EU sanctions against Aeroflot, Kremlin spokesman Peskov pointed to the airline's denial of knowingly transporting Europe-bound asylum-seekers.

Let hope that such mad ideas only exist in those media hoaxes, he said in a conference call with reporters.

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Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

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Follow AP's migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  The Latest on the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow:

GLASGOW, Scotland  Alok Sharma, the British official presiding over this years U.N. climate talks, has dismissed suggestions that he is trying to ratchet up pressure on negotiators in an effort to get them to seal a deal at the Glasgow meeting.

I think people have sometimes described me as no drama Sharma, he said Thursday, barely cracking a smile.

Sharma said the draft agreements already circulated showed that a lot has been achieved.

But we are still some way away from finalizing those very critical issues which have been outstanding, he added. And I dont think we can overemphasize how difficult this is. If it was easy we would have resolved this over the past six years.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  European Union officials say they will push for a strong signal on financial support for poor countries to cope with global warming, a key sticking point at this years U.N. climate talks.

Frans Timmermans, the EUs vice-president and top climate official, said Thursday that rich countries need to make sure we actually do what was promised on the $100 billion  a sum they pledged to give poor nations each year by 2020 but have so far failed to do.

Peter Liese, a senior member of the European Parliament, said he and fellow lawmakers would push for the $100 billion to be delivered definitely next year.

Timmermans acknowledged poor nations gripes that not enough of the aid is earmarked for them to adapt to climate change, but insisted spending on emissions reduction remains important.

He said the EU attaches huge importance to a reference in the latest draft agreement for the talks to the need to end coal use and fossil fuel subsidies.

But he defended a move by the EUs executive Commission to back numerous natural gas projects that has been strongly criticized by environmental campaigners.

Exiting out of coal, for a number of member states, will have to happen through an intermediary phase using natural gas, he said, adding that the bloc would seek to ensure the pipelines could in future be used for clean fuels such as hydrogen.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Austrias environment minister says she's preparing for another day or two of tough negotiations at the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow, that is officially scheduled to wrap up on Friday evening.

We still have two intense days, and likely also at least one intense night, possibly two, ahead of us, Leonore Gewessler told The Associated Press Thursday.

Negotiators from almost 200 countries are haggling over a series of agreements they hope will keep alive the chance to meet the 2015 Paris accords goals on global warming.

We are now in the phase of the conference where many of the papers are already on the table as proposals, with a lot of different options that still need to be talked through, said Gewessler.

Austria and its EU allies would be pushing for an ambitious agreement, she added. A strong signal on protecting the climate has to be sent from Glasgow.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Five European Union countries on Thursday pushed back against efforts to define nuclear energy as a climate-friendly technology in the 27-nation bloc.

The declaration made on the sidelines of the U.N. climate conference in Glasgow was backed by Austria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg and Portugal.

Nuclear power cannot be a solution in the climate crisis, German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze said.

She argued that nuclear power was too risky, too slow and not sustainable.

The five countries said adding nuclear power to the EU-approved list of climate-friendly technologies risked diverting funds from renewable energies such as wind and solar power.

France and several other EU member nations have said they want to use nuclear energy as part of their efforts to phase out fossil fuel plants that are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Denmark and Costa Rica used U.N. climate talks as the site to launch an international alliance grouping governments that have committed to move their economies away from oil and gas production.

In a statement, Denmark and Costa Rica said they were signing up other nations that were making the transition from climate-damaging oil and gas to cleaner forms of energy.

During the ongoing climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland, numerous countries, including the United States and Russia, have called for climate-saving steps while hesitating on some of the politically and economically delicate steps needed to move more quickly away from fossil fuel production themselves.

Some climate advocates welcomed the new alliance but said the wealthiest economies had to join to make the effort meaningful.

Committing to reach net-zero emissions while continuing to extract and produce fossil fuels is an epic contradiction that must be called out once and for all, Nafkote Dabi, a climate policy official with Oxfam, said.

The new alliance must be led by industrialized countries that have grown rich from decades of extracting and burning fossil fuels, Dabi said.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  Pushing back against the narrative of trying to limit warming to 1.5C (2.7F) put forward by rich countries, a group of developing nations said that rich countries were trying to shift the burden of combating climate change onto poorer nations.

The ongoing climate talks in Glasgow were at a point Thursday where two pathways were possible, according to Bolivias chief negotiator, Diego Pacheco Balanz: One is good for people and the planet, and the other leads to carbon colonialism, he said.

We need to fight the developed countries against the carbon colonialism, Balanz said.

Balanz was speaking on behalf of a negotiating block of developing countries called the Like-Minded Developing Countries or LMDC and includes countries from Africa, Latin America and Asia, including China and India.

He said that rich nations were trying to impose new rules like net-zero targets for all countries without taking into account the historic responsibility that richer nations have for climate change. Balanz said poor countries would be trapped by such targets because only the rich nations would have the finance or technology to meet them.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  The chair of this years U.N. climate conference called on negotiators from almost 200 countries to engage in another gear shift as they try to reach agreement on outstanding issues a day before the talks are scheduled to end.

British official Alok Sharma said Thursday that fresh drafts released overnight on a number of crunch topics represent a significant step further toward the comprehensive, ambitious and balanced set of outcomes, which I hope parties will adopt by consensus at the end of tomorrow.

Sharma said he was under no illusion that the texts being considered would wholly satisfy all countries at this stage but thanked negotiators for the spirit of cooperation and civility they had shown so far.

We are not there yet, he said, adding that he aimed to get a fresh draft of the overarching decision released early Friday.

Today must represent another gear shift when negotiators finalize outstanding, Sharma said. The world is watching us and their willingness to work together and reach consensus. And we know that we cannot afford to fail them

U.N. climate talks have rarely ended on time in the past.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) is on life support as negotiators at a U.N. conference work out the final agreement.

In an exclusive interview Thursday with The Associated Press, Guterres said the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland are in a crucial moment and need to accomplish more than securing a weak deal that participating nations agree to support.

The worst thing would be to reach an agreement at all costs by a minimum common denominator that would not respond to the huge challenges we face, Guterres said.

Thats because the overarching goal of limiting warming since pre-industrial times to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) by the end of the century is still on reach but on life support, Guterres said. The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit), leaving less than a degree before the threshold is hit.

He told the AP that talks in Glasgow so far have not met any of the U.N.s three goals, but he added that until the last moment, hope should be maintained. The conference is set to end on Friday.

A U.S.-China agreement announced Wednesday provided some hope of the negotiations yielding significant progress, he said.

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GLASGOW, Scotland  China and the United States have agreed to redouble efforts to fight climate change with concrete actions, in a joint statement announced Wednesday in climate talks in Glasgow.

The two biggest carbon polluting countries said their deal calls for enhanced climate action in the 2020s using the 2015 Paris climate deals guidelines, including a new stronger emission cuts target in 2025. China promised to follow the U.S. lead and crack down on methane.

The agreement calls for concrete and pragmatic regulations in decarbonization, reducing methane emissions and fighting deforestation.

Both sides recognize that there is a gap between the current effort and the Paris agreement, China chief negotiator Xie Zhenhua said in announcing the agreement. So we will jointly strengthen climate action and cooperation with respect to our respective national situations."

We both see that the challenge of climate change is an existential and severe one, Xie said. We will take our due responsibilities and work together.

Xie said using global carbon markets will be highly helpful in emission cutting, but that involves a negotiating issue that hasnt been solved for six years and still hasnt been settled in talks in Glasgow.

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Follow all AP stories on climate change at https://apnews.com/hub/climate.
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)  U.S. food banks already dealing with increased demand from families sidelined by the pandemic now face a new challenge  surging food prices and supply chain issues walloping the nation.

The higher costs and limited availability mean some families may get smaller servings or substitutions for staples such as peanut butter, which some food banks are buying for nearly double what it cost two years ago. As holidays approach, some food banks worry they wont have enough stuffing and cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

What happens when food prices go up is food insecurity for those who are experiencing it just gets worse, said Katie Fitzgerald, chief operating officer of Feeding America, a nonprofit organization that coordinates the efforts of more than 200 food banks across the country.

Food banks that expanded to meet unprecedented demand brought on by the pandemic wont be able to absorb forever food costs that are two to three times what they used to be, she said.

Supply chain disruptions, lower inventory and labor shortages have all contributed to increased costs for charities on which tens of millions of people in the U.S. rely on for nutrition. Donated food is more expensive to move because transportation costs are up, and bottlenecks at factories and ports make it difficult to get goods of all kinds.

If a food bank has to swap out for smaller sizes of canned tuna or make substitutions in order to stretch their dollars, Fitzgerald said, its like adding insult to injury to a family reeling from uncertainty.

In the prohibitively expensive San Francisco Bay Area, the Alameda County Community Food Bank in Oakland is spending an extra $60,000 a month on food. Combined with increased demand, it is now shelling out $1 million a month to distribute 4.5 million pounds (2 million kilograms) of food, said Michael Altfest, the Oakland food banks director of community engagement.

Pre-pandemic, it was spending a quarter of the money for 2.5 million pounds (1.2 million kilograms) of food.

The cost of canned green beans and peaches is up nearly 9% for them, Altfest said; canned tuna and frozen tilapia up more than 6%; and a case of 5-pound frozen chickens for holiday tables is up 13%. The price for dry oatmeal has climbed 17%.

On Wednesdays, hundreds of people line up outside a church in east Oakland for its weekly food giveaway. Shiloh Mercy House feeds about 300 families on those days, far less than the 1,100 families it was nourishing at the height of the pandemic, said Jason Bautista, the charity's event manager. But he's still seeing new people every week.

And a lot of people are just saying they cant afford food, he said. I mean they have the money to buy certain things, but its just not stretching.

Families can also use a community market Shiloh opened in May. Refrigerators contain cartons of milk and eggs while sacks of hamburger buns and crusty baguettes sit on shelves.

Oakland resident Sonia Lujan-Perez, 45, picked up chicken, celery, onions bread and and potatoes  enough to supplement a Thanksgiving meal for herself, 3-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son. The state of California pays her to care for daughter Melanie, who has special needs, but it's not enough with monthly rent at $2,200 and the cost of milk, citrus, spinach and chicken so high.

"That is wonderful for me because I will save a lot of money, she said, adding that the holiday season is rough with Christmas toys for the children.

Many people also rely on other government aid, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Kate Waters, a spokeswoman for the USDA, which administers the SNAP program, said there were no immediate plans for an emergency boost in SNAP benefits to compensate for the rising food costs. But she said that previous moves by the Biden administration such as the permanent increase in SNAP benefits earlier this year and a fresh wave of funding for food banks should help ease the burden. In addition, Waters said the fact that schools are open and offering free lunches and, in some cases, free breakfast, should also help.

Bryan Nichols, vice president of sales for Transnational Foods Inc., which delivers to more than 100 food banks associated with Feeding America, said canned foods from Asia such as fruit cocktail, pears and mandarin oranges have been stuck overseas because of a lack of shipping container space.

Issues in supply seem to be improving and prices stabilizing, but he expects costs to stay high after so many people got out of the shipping business during the pandemic. An average container coming from Asia prior to COVID would cost about $4,000. Today, that same container is about $18,000, he said.

At the Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado in Colorado Springs, CEO Lynne Telford says the cost for a truckload of peanut butter 40,000 pounds (18,100 kilograms)_has soared 80% from June 2019 to $51,000 in August. Mac and cheese is up 19% from a year ago and the wholesale cost of ground beef has increased 5% in three months. They're spending more money to buy food to make up for waning donations and there's less to choose from.

The upcoming holidays worry her. For one thing, the donation cost to buy a frozen turkey has increased from $10 to $15 per bird.

The other thing is that were not getting enough holiday food, like stuffing and cranberry sauce. So were having to supplement with other kinds of food, which you know, makes us sad," said Telford, whose food bank fed more than 200,000 people last year, distributing 25 million pounds (11.3 million kilograms) of food.

Alameda County Community Food Bank says it is set for Thanksgiving, with cases of canned cranberry and boxes of mashed potatoes among items stacked in its expanded warehouse. Food resourcing director Wilken Louie ordered eight truckloads of frozen 5-pound chickens which translates into more than 60,000 birds to give away free, as well as half-turkeys available at cost.

For that, Martha Hasal is grateful.

Its going to be an expensive Thanksgiving, turkey is not going to cost like the way it was," said Hasal as she loaded up on on cauliflower and onions on behalf of the Bay Area American Indian Council. And theyre not giving out turkey. So thank God theyre giving out the chicken.



AP reporters Terence Chea in Oakland and Ashraf Khalil in Washington contributed to this story.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

In his first formal response to the incidents at Astroworld Festival, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the formation of a task force charged with improving safety standards for large events in the state. Eight people, including two teens, died and hundreds were injured following a deadly crowd surge at the Houston festival headlined by rapper Travis Scott on Friday.

"Live Music is a source of joy, entertainment, and community for so many Texans  and the last thing concertgoers should have to worry about is their safety and security," the Republican leader said in a Wednesday press release. "To ensure that the tragedy at the Astroworld Festival never happens again in the Lone Star State, I am forming the Texas Task Force on Concert Safety."
KEARNEY  Bernie Raye is active in the Smithville American Legion Band and is a member of American Legion Post No. 626 in Gladstone and VFW Post No. 628 in Lawson. That continued dedication to these organizations is part of Rayes military service that began almost 70 years ago.

Raye was a member of the United States Coast Guard. Growing up in Townsend, Massachusetts, the Coast Guard was big for those looking at military service, he said.

I didnt want to be in the Army, he said. My parents gave me permission and I went to enlist in February. I was told then, (the Coast Guard was) full and if I was drafted, they couldnt help me out. I ended up getting the call in September (for the Coast Guard). Needless to say, I didnt look forward to the mail coming during those months.

Raye said eventually six men out of Boston took a train to Cape May, New Jersey, to begin their Coast Guard service in September 1952. After boot camp and other training, volunteers were sought for a two-year cruise.

They were specifically looking for those with electronics experience, he said, adding he studied electronics much of his life. I was young. I figured this would be a way to see the world.

Raye ended up on the Courier, a radio ship described as the strangest ship in the world. The tag was earned due to the ships unusual appearance and its unique role in providing the American government with a floating radio station that could be moved quickly all over the world. There were 80 men and 10 officers on board.

The vessel, operated for the U.S. Information Agency by the Coast Guard, featured radio towers, antennas, transmitters, transformers, generators and recording equipment as well as other electronic devices for broadcasting.

The ship transmitted Voice of America broadcasts, sharing news and stories in many languages. Voice of America began broadcasting in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda.

While the Korean War was going on, the Cold War was also heating up, Raye said. At that time, the Cold War was a war of words. It was propaganda on both sides.

The Courier departed Washington, D.C. in early March 1952, where Raye remembers the ships dedication being given by President Harry S. Truman.

After departure, it was off to Norfolk, Virginia. The vessel also went on to Venezuela, Columbia and through the Panama Canal.

That first run was a shakedown cruise, he said. We did some broadcasting to South America. Then we went back to New York. We all thought we were heading to Korea, but gears shifted and we ended up in the Mediterranean Sea. There was a Voice of America base in Tangiers so we could help out with those broadcasts.

From late August 1952 to late July 1953, the Courier set up near Rhodes, Greece. During that time, Raye had a chance to visit Rome and Naples.

Greece gave us permission to broadcast in 16 languages, he said. We were 19- to 22-year-old kids sharing messages all over Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It was pretty amazing.

In addition to broadcasting transmitters  a 150-kilowatt medium wave transmitter and two, 35-kilowatt short wave transmitters  there was also a five-kilowatt short wave transmitter on board, which could be used for ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications.

We were spoiled, Raye said. The ship had air conditioning. We had regular bunks with good mattresses. We were treated first class. We had hot, quality meals. The electronics technicians worked in three shifts  two operating shifts and one maintenance. It felt a lot like a civilian job as I was on for eight hours a day.

The other impressive feature on the ship came with the helium-filled barrage balloon that supported the medium wave transmitter.

We had to chase the giant balloon into Turkey, he said. There was a storm and it got away. That thing was 69 by 35 feet in size. They had been used in World War II.

Raye stayed in the service through the end of September 1954. Later, he married his wife Norma and ended up working for TWA, which brought him to Gladstone and then Kearney. After a short stint with the airline company installing radar, he then spent 40 years with Wilcox Electric as a field engineer. The job took him to South America, Africa and Europe as well as to air bases in North America.
After days and days of heat in the tobacco fields, farmers saw the real magic happen in the warehouses across Horry County.

Farmers would bring their bales of tobacco, which were lined up and down the warehouse. Auctions began at the end of July and closed in the fall.

We had a hell of a good time, said Jesse Hodges, former owner of the New Farmers Warehouse in Conway.

Buyers were bidding about half-a-million dollars worth of tobacco over a 2-hour period, he said.

Hodges liked to sell 600 piles of tobacco an hour. One pile of tobacco could go up to 250 pounds, but some could be lighter around 100 pounds. And $2 a pound was a very good price, he said.

Hodges never started down a row with an auctioneer if the row was crooked. Each sale depended on several key players: the farmers bringing the bales, the warehouse owner organizing the auction, the buyers from tobacco companies and, arguably the most important, the auctioneer and the ticket marker. The show could not go on without the auctioneer and ticket marker, who kept track of which bales sold for how much and who bought them. The ticket marker had to be sharp.

And fast.

During the battle, it was hot, Hodges said. And not just the temperature in the warehouse.

Ahead of the sale, government graders would place a grade on each pile  a guarantee that the pile would sell for at least that grade, Hodges said. The grades included a number and letter.

As you came up the plant, your quality increased, Hodges said.

The plant is harvested in sections, with the top holding the most nicotine, and therefore the most expensive.

Warehouse owners held tobacco farmers livelihood in their hands.

Hodges referred to his career as a high-speed broker.

Buyers were trying to get the tobacco as cheap as they could. Farmers were trying to sell it as high as they could.

Buyers that would frequent the New Farmers Warehouse were from Imperial, R.J. Reynolds, J.P. Taylor, Philip Morris, Mullins Leaf, W.A. Adams and Export Leaf.

To put into perspective the names behind the brands: R.J. Reynoldss tobacco is used in brands like Camel and Pall Malls and Philip Morris tobacco is used in Marlboro and Virginia Slims, according to the South Carolina Tobacco Directory.

Warehouse auction days in the 1990s, 80s, 70s and well before then were such a production. So much so that the local chamber of commerce would often bus tourists to the warehouse to see the experience.

It was very much a sight for people who had never seen it, Hodges said.

The warehouse days during the height of tobacco in Horry County not only filled the pockets of farmers, but it also paid the merchants in town  some of whom the tobacco farmers had bought items on credit to create a bountiful crop.

I miss everything about it

Those warehouse auctions came to a screeching halt after the 2004 mandatory buyout.

It was a bittersweet time for tobacco growers  each would receive a yearly stipend for 10 years, whether or not they decided to continue to grow. But for warehouse owners, that was it.

It would upset anybody to know somebody was going to take away your living, Hodges said. I miss everything about it.

The Tobacco Transition Payment Program, stemming from the Fair and Equitable Tobacco Reform Act of 2004, ended the tobacco-quota program and caused producers to transition to the free market, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Farmers could continue to crop tobacco  but now had to turn to the private companies under contracts. It ended tobacco farming careers for many farmers, especially those who were already close to retirement age.

The TTPP also ended warehouse auctions,which shifted operations to receiving stations.

Farmers now bring their bales of tobacco during their appointment time and are given market value, instead of a sometimes higher-than-expected price they could have received at an auction.

The risings and declinings

At one point in history, tobacco became the salvation for the region as the price of cotton had fallen low. And before that, tobacco sold for its weight in silver in London.

Tobacco for silver. Measure for measure, said Dr. Eldred Prince, a retired Coastal Carolina University history professor and author.

But then came one expensive crop to grow that nobody else was growing: rice. At the time, mainly adult men were smoking  but everybody ate rice, Prince said. Thats when rice and cotton came into the region, and tobacco took a timeout.

As cotton became the king because it can grow almost anywhere, it actually didnt become a lead crop in Horry County.

Specifically in the county, the area saw the rise and fall of the lumber and turpentine industries. But those industries didnt last forever.

Eventually the tree will die, Prince said.

Around that same time, right before the turn of the twentieth century, cotton prices were falling. In Horry County, the trees being used for timber and turpentine were gone or dead.

And then tobacco was back.

What brought it back to South Carolina: cigarettes.

A new machine to roll cigarettes being made in Virginia, heavy advertising and cigarettes being addictive made the perfect trifecta, Prince said.

It was perfect, he said. There was a need for a new crop.

Tobacco was the perfect crop at the perfect time.

During that time, tobacco was being shipped to Virginia and Durham and was selling for about 40 cents per pound, compared to the fallen prices of cotton at 9 cents per pound, Prince said.

They looked at tobacco like this is going to save us, he said.

In came the warehouses for auctions. All businesses were benefiting from the tobacco industry between about 1890 to 1910.

Christmas in July, Prince said.

Problems began again in the 1920s with overproduction. In many places, the price went down, which was similar to what happened years before with the cotton industry.

Then there was the Great Depression.

And then they are really in trouble, Prince said of tobacco growers.

From vogue to vice

As prices collapsed, the farmers didnt stop growing, which made it worse, Prince said. It was a vicious cycle.

The only way to solve the problem was to balance supply and demand, Prince said, adding that the federal government was the only one that would be successful in that.

President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal helped.

The allotment program took historic production from previous years, averaged it and reduced it by about one third, Prince said. Farmers were then only able to farm the acres they were allotted by the government.

It worked like a miracle, Prince said.

Prices naturally rose afterwards.

It was an excellent program and it saved the tobacco growers, he said. Good times roll.

As farmers began to make money, some doubling their income, their allotments increased because of demand due to the war and more women beginning to smoke.

But then another slow decline began. This time for a new reason: tobaccos links to health problems.

Prince said the medical field was starting to discover that tobacco smoking causes cancer and impacts pregnant women.

At one time, smoking was thought of as like the cool, fashionable thing to do, he said.

By the 1980s, smoking on airplanes and in restaurants began to be restricted.

It devolved from vogue to vice, Prince said.

At the same time, tobacco companies began to foster in other countries like Brazil, Asia and Africa because it could be purchased cheaper.

Both reasons  people quitting smoking and companies buying in other countries  were forces working against American tobacco farmers, Prince said. The decline didnt happen overnight, he said, adding that it took about 20 years. Farmers allotments were cut. There was political pressure. And people began to ask why the federal government should support a crop that harms people, Prince said.

Wheres the morality in that? Prince said.

The final dagger was arguably put into the tobacco industry through the mandatory buyout program in 2004.

Keeping tobacco alive

Since the buyout, the government has been restricted from promoting anything related to tobacco.

In South Carolina, the Tobacco Board aims to support tobacco farmers and keep the industry alive. The seven-member board works with the South Carolina Department of Agriculture to support farmers.

All of those seven members are producers or tobacco growers, said Katherine Helms, tobacco promotion marketing specialist with the SCDA. Their main thing is they are there to support the tobacco industry.

The tobacco board is grower-funded and 30 cents per 100 pounds of tobacco sold goes to the board, Helms said.

With that money we collect, we do research with tobacco, she said, adding much of the research is done through the Clemson Extension. The board funds research that helps the tobacco industry understand better leaf quality, better color and yield, Helms said.

Horry County has been a top tobacco producer in South Carolina. The countys tobacco history can be seen in fields where old pack houses and tobacco barns still sit in the rural parts. And even in the cities where warehouses used to be, though other businesses use the warehouses differently now.

In 1952, according to the SCDAs tobacco report, Horry County had eight warehouses. In Conway were the Big Planters Warehouse, Farmers Warehouse, Spiveys Horry Warehouse, Spiveys No. 2 Warehouse and Wests Warehouse. In Loris: Bells & Farmers Warehouse, Brick Warehouse and Lewis Warehouse.

The industry may have changed through the years.

But one thing remains the same: the sweet smell of tobacco and its unforgettable aroma.

Good, ripe tobacco had a good pungent smell, delightful smell, Hodges said.

To read more stories from the Harvesting History special project by My Horry News, visit www.myhorrynews.com/harvesting_history.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  A SpaceX rocket carried four astronauts into orbit Wednesday night, including the 600th person to reach space in 60 years.

The repeatedly delayed flight occurred just two days after SpaceX brought four other astronauts home from the International Space Station. They should have been up there to welcome the newcomers, but NASA and SpaceX decided to switch the order based on Mondays ideal recovery weather in the Gulf of Mexico and pulled it off.

It was a great ride, better than we imagined," mission commander Raja Chari said shortly after the spacecraft reached orbit.

The launch was just as riveting for spectators at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, as well as along the East Coast, as the Falcon rocket thundered through clouds on its way to space, turning night into day.

Germanys Matthias Maurer claimed the No. 600 position, according to NASA, based on his mission assignment. He and his three NASA crewmates should arrive at the space station in under 24 hours, well over a week late.

One of the astronauts  NASA isnt saying which one  was sidelined last week by an undisclosed medical issue. The crew member is fully recovered, according to NASA. Officials wont say whether it was an illness or injury, but noted it wasnt COVID-19.

Bad weather also contributed to their flight delays. Chari said trying to launch on Halloween left them with "a trick instead of a treat. It was also drizzling Wednesday night when the four astronauts said goodbye to their families for six months  with everyone huddling under umbrellas  but it cleared up by launch time.

Enjoy your holidays among the stars. Well be waving as you fly by," SpaceX launch director Mark Soltys radioed to the crew.

The list of 600 travelers ranges from those who have barely scratched space  like actor William Shatner last month  to U.S. and Russian astronauts who have spent a year or more in orbit. This years surge in space tourists helped push the tally over the 600 mark.

That averages out to 10 people per year since Yuri Gagarins pioneering flight in 1961, Maurer noted.

But I think in a very few years, we will see an exponential rise of that one because now were entering the era of commercial spaceflight, he said after arriving at Kennedy Space Center two weeks ago.

The crew launch marked SpaceXs fourth for NASA and the companys fifth passenger flight overall  including a September charter flight for four that skipped the space station. The Dragon capsules toilet leaked during their three days in orbit, necessitating a quick redesign of the flushing system in the newest capsule, named Endurance by its crew.

A balky parachute during Monday's descent had SpaceX engineers poring over the data, before giving the go-ahead for Wednesdays launch. One of the four chutes opened more than a minute late, a problem seen in testing and well within safety limits, but still being examined, officials said.

As of Wednesday, Elon Musk's company has launched 18 people in 18 months.

Human spaceflight was the reason we were founded, so its incredibly meaningful for the whole team, said Sarah Walker, a SpaceX manager.

The European Space Agency's Mauer is one of three newbies on the crew. The 51-year-old was a finalist when he first applied to be an astronaut. Encouraged, he left his research job at a medical company and joined the space agency as an engineer, and made the astronaut cut in 2015.

Chari, 44, is an Air Force colonel and the first space rookie in decades to lead a mission to orbit for NASA. A test pilot from Cedar Falls, Iowa, Chari accumulated more than 2,500 hours in fighter jets, including combat missions in Iraq.

Also on board:

 Dr. Thomas Marshburn, 61, will be the oldest person to live aboard the space station and perform a spacewalk. Born in Statesville, North Carolina, he pursued a career in emergency medicine, then joined NASA in 1994 as a flight surgeon. This is his third trip to the space station.

 Kayla Barron, 34, a Navy lieutenant commander from Richland, Washington. She was among the first women to serve as submarine warfare officers. Added to the flight in May, shes No. 601 in space.

During their station stay, they will welcome two groups of tourists. A Russian film crew recently spent two weeks at the station, making a movie.

The new crew will be joining three station residents  two Russians and NASA's Mark Vande Hei, who celebrated his 55th birthday on Wednesday.

NASA and @SpaceX are lighting a big candle in the sky for you tonight, NASA tweeted before the launch.

That candle  the first-stage booster  landed upright on an ocean barge.

___

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.
Watertown, SD (57201)

Today

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 17F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 17F. Winds light and variable.
EXPLAINER: Whats behind the crisis at Belarus-Poland border View Photo

Thousands of migrants and refugees have flocked to Belarus border with Poland, hoping to get to Western Europe, Many of them are now stranded at the frontier, setting up makeshift camps as Polish security forces watch them from behind a razor-wire fence and try to prevent them from entering the country. The European Union has accused the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, of aiding illegal border crossings in retaliation for EU sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging migration to Europe.

A look at what led to the standoff:

WHAT IS BEHIND THE CRISIS?

Belarus was rocked by months of massive protests following the August 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office. The opposition and the West rejected the result as a sham.

Belarusian authorities responded to the demonstrations with a fierce crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police.

The European Union and the U.S. reacted by imposing sanctions on Lukashenkos government.

Those restrictions were toughened after an incident in May when a passenger jet flying from Greece to Lithuania was diverted by Belarus to Minsk, where authorities arrested dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich. The EU called it air piracy and barred Belarusian carriers from its skies and cut imports of the countrys top commodities, including petroleum products and potash, an ingredient in fertilizer.

A furious Lukashenko shot back by saying he would no longer abide by an agreement to stem illegal migration, arguing that the EU sanctions deprived his government of funds needed to contain flows of migrants. Planes carrying migrants from Iraq, Syria and other countries began arriving in Belarus, and they soon headed for the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Pavel Latushka, a member of the Belarusian opposition, charged that state-controlled tourist agencies were involved in offering visa support to migrants and helping them drive to the border.

The EU accused Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns in a hybrid attack against the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for the sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging the flow of migrants and said the EU is violating migrants rights by denying them safe passage.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE BY EU COUNTRIES?

During the summer, Lithuania introduced a state of emergency to deal with an influx of migrants and strengthen its border with Belarus. It set up tent camps to accommodate the growing number of migrants.

In previous months, small groups of asylum-seekers tried to sneak into Lithuania, Poland and Latvia at night, using forest paths away from populated areas. This week, much larger groups gathered openly at the Polish border, and some people used shovels and wire cutters to try to break through a razor-wire fence at Polands border.

Authorities in Warsaw estimated the crowds at about 3,000-4,000 and said they prevented hundreds of people from entering the country. Poland deployed riot police and other forces to bolster the border guards. Eight deaths have been confirmed at the Belarus-Poland border,, and temperatures have fallen below freezing at night.

The EU has made a strong show of solidarity with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. EU officials are expected to discuss another round of sanctions against Belarus, and European Council President Charles Michel said for the first time that the bloc would consider the possibility of financing physical infrastructure such as barriers or fences on the border.

Analysts say Lukashenkos heavy-handed approach would likely backfire.

Such brutal tactics would make Belarus toxic and delay the prospect of talks with the EU, said Artyom Shraybman, a Belarusian political analyst who was forced to leave the country under pressure from authorities. European politicians wont engage in talks under pressure.

Pavel Usau, head of the Center for Political Analysis and Prognosis based in Poland, also said Lukashenko is mistaken if he thinks he can force the EU into concessions.

Lukashenko expects the EU to give in to pressure and ask Poland to let migrants cross into Germany, Usau said. But the EU realizes that doing so would allow Lukashenko to emerge as the winner and encourage him to continue to take further such steps, raising the number of migrants to tens of thousands.

The Belarusian opposition has urged the EU to take even tougher measures, including a trade embargo and a ban on transit of cargo via Belarus.

WHAT IS RUSSIAS ROLE?

Belarus has received strong support from its main ally, Russia, which has helped buttress Lukashenkos government with loans and political support.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the migrants flows resulted from the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Western-backed Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. He challenged the EU to offer financial assistance to Belarus to deal with the influx.

At the same time, the Kremlin angrily rejected Polands claim that Russia bears responsibility for the crisis.

Usau said Russia could step in as a mediator in the hope of improving ties with Germany and other EU nations.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Belarus is estimated to host between 5,000 and 20,000 migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Many have run out of money and grown increasingly desperate as the winter approaches. Belarusian residents are uneasy about their presence, raising pressure on the authorities to act.

Some observers expect Lukashenko to escalate the crisis and pressure the EU to ease sanctions.

As a minimum, Lukashenko wants to take revenge against the EU, and as a maximum he aims to soften the European sanctions that have dealt a painful blow to key Belarusian industries, said independent analyst Valery Karbalevich. Belarusian authorities have tried unsuccessfully to persuade the EU to engage in talks and bargaining, and migrants are just an instrument in a hybrid attack by Minsk.

Lukashenko has nothing to lose, he added. Hes no longer worried about his reputation.

___

Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed.

-

Follow APs migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration

By YURAS KARMANAU

Associated Press
Palace: Queen Elizabeth II will attend remembrance service View Photo

LONDON (AP)  Queen Elizabeth II, who has canceled recent public appearances on her doctors advice, will attend a national service of remembrance for Britains war dead this weekend, Buckingham Palace confirmed Thursday.

The palace said the 95-year-old monarch will watch the somber ceremony at the Cenotaph memorial in central London from a balcony, as she has for several years.

It said that mindful of her doctors recent advice, the queen will not attend another engagement, the opening of the Church of Englands governing General Synod on Tuesday.

The queen spent a night in a London hospital last month after being admitted for tests. On Oct. 29, the palace said she had been told to rest for two weeks. She canceled plans to attend the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, but sent a video message.

The palace said at the time that the queen, who served in World War II as an army driver, had a firm intention to attend the Remembrance Sunday service.

The queen has continued to work from home, doing desk-based duties, during her period of rest. She has spent most of the time at Windsor Castle, west of London, and made a weekend visit to Sandringham, the royal familys eastern England estate.

Britains longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch, Elizabeth is due to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee  70 years on the throne  next year.
EU parliamentarians urge stop to genocide denial in Serbia View Photo

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  A group of European parliamentarians on Thursday urged the Serbian president and other government officials to stop glorifying convicted war criminals and denying genocide committed in Bosnia in the 1990s.

Their statement came two days after Serbias police prevented rights activists from painting over a large mural in downtown Belgrade of convicted Bosnian Serb wartime commander Ratko Mladic.

An international war crimes court has sentenced Mladic to life in prison for genocide in the Bosnian enclave of Srebrenica in 1995, when some 8,000 Bosniaks, who are mostly Muslims, were gunned down by his troops during the war in Bosnia, the worst carnage in Europe since World War II.

Serbian officials have persistently denied that genocide was committed in Srebrenica, and the countrys nationalist authorities have tolerated the portrayal of convicted Serb war criminals, including Mladic, as heroes and freedom fighters.

The (police) defense of the mural is another example of what the Government of Serbia and President (Aleksandar) Vucic think regarding reconciliation, the rule of law, democracy and regional cooperation, the statement said.

It is utterly unacceptable for an EU candidate country to deploy its police to protect a mural of convicted war criminal, it added. We urge Serbian authorities to stop denying Srebrenica genocide and glorifying convicted war criminals.

Police in Belgrade cited the need to prevent possible clashes between the activists and right-wing nationalists in banning the gathering at the mural to mark the International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism.

Vucic, a former ultranationalist, said on Thursday that if the police were not deployed, those guys (Mladics supporters) would have run them down.

He rejected EU criticism, saying they literally have nothing else to do but to hate Serbs.

The Mladic mural was restored after being briefly splashed over with white paint. Its being guarded by hooded men in black clothes who activists believe are members of one of several extreme right organizations that have mushroomed in Serbia.
Pakistan hosts US, Russia, China for talks on Afghanistan View Photo

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistan on Thursday hosted talks with special envoys from the United States, Russia and China on the path forward for Afghanistan, where a deepening humanitarian crisis has forced many Afghans to migrate to neighboring countries since the Taliban takeover in August.

The international community has not recognized the government appointed by the Taliban. Afghanistans Taliban-appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, did not attend the meeting but later met with the special envoys in Islamabad.

He also met separately with Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other officials to discuss a range of issues, including how to help Kabul overcome a deepening economic crisis and avoid a refugee crisis.

The meeting released a joint statement appealing for the international community to urgently provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. It also urged the Taliban to form an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans and provides for the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of the Afghan society.

The statement welcomed the Talibans continued commitment to allow for the safe passage of all who wish to travel to and from Afghanistan and encouraged rapid progress, with the onset of winter, on arrangements to establish airports countrywide that can accept commercial air traffic, which are essential to enable the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance.

It also condemned recent deadly attacks in Afghanistan and asked the Taliban to cut ties with all international terrorist groups, dismantle and eliminate them in a decisive manner, and to deny space to any terrorist organization operating inside the country.

Thursdays gathering in Islamabad comes weeks after Russia hosted similar talks on Afghanistan, which Washington did not attend. On Wednesday, India hosted senior security officials from Russia, Iran and five Central Asian countries to discuss the ramifications of the Taliban takeover. Indias archrival Pakistan and its ally China boycotted those talks.

The Taliban seized power in a blitz offensive that captured the capital, Kabul, and most of the country on Aug. 15, ahead of the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

In his remarks at the meeting, Qureshi expressed concerns that an economic collapse in Afghanistan would cause broader instability.

All of us have common concerns related to Afghanistan and also have a shared interest in the countrys peace and stability, he said, and also called for the release of Afghan funds frozen by the world community.

Qureshi urged for an engagement with the new Afghan government to help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space for terrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan, he said.

With international funding dried up, it has become difficult to pay even salaries, let alone pursue development projects, he added. The common man is reeling under the effects of a severe drought. Any further downward slide will severely limit the new administrations capacity to run the government in Afghanistan.

After the meeting, Qureshi said he had told participants the talks would be more productive with the Taliban representative in the room. He said the next meeting of the group was due in Beijing, where the Taliban representative will be invited.

Pakistan has been urging nations to free Afghanistans assets abroad to enable the Taliban to access those funds to avert the deepening crisis. The Taliban-run administration currently does not have access to the Afghan central banks $9 billion in reserves, most of which is held by the New York Federal Reserve.

By MUNIR AHMED

Associated Press
Israeli family seeks to block return of boy to Italy View Photo

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  An Israeli family asked an appeals court on Thursday to halt the planned return of a 6-year-old boy who survived a cable crash in Italy to his relatives there.

There was no immediate ruling in the case surrounding Eitan Biran, who has been at the center of a bitter custody battle between relatives in Italy and Israel. This week, an Italian judge issued an international arrest warrant for the boys grandfather, who whisked Eitan to Israel on a private jet in September.

Eitans parents and younger sibling were among 14 killed in May when a cable car slammed into a mountainside in northern Italy. His maternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal relatives in Italy are both seeking custody.

Last month, an Israeli court ordered the boy to be returned to his relatives in Italy, saying that was the place of his normal residence. It also ordered his grandfather, Shmuel Peleg, who had brought him to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 in expenses and attorney fees.

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Pelegs lawyer, Ronen Dalyahu, said the hearing on Thursday was very meaningful and discussed all of the relevant issues connected to the boys return to Italy. He said the court promised a decision in the coming days.

The judges studied the documents and considered the points, and I hope they will give a ruling that serves the well-being of the child for years, he said.

Lawyers and relatives from the family in Italy left the courthouse without commenting.

The grandfather has defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the childs best interest. He drove Eitan from Italy to Switzerland without the other relatives knowledge before flying him to Israel. He has not commented on the Italian arrest warrant.

Eitans paternal relatives say he was taken without their knowledge and they had filed a legal complaint in Italy seeking his return.

Eitan and his parents were living in Italy at the time of the accident. After his release from a Turin hospital following weeks of treatment, Italian juvenile court officials ruled the child would live with a paternal aunt, Aya Biran, near Pavia, in northern Italy.

In the earlier ruling, the Tel Aviv family court said Eitans residence was in Italy, where his family moved when he was only a month old. She concluded that his relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt.

The judge also called on the family to reconcile, saying it was in the boys interests.
S. Korea police want to probe US diplomat over car accident View Photo

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean police said Thursday theyre pushing to investigate a U.S. diplomat to find if he intentionally fled following a traffic accident in Seoul.

The diplomats car rear-ended a taxi in Seoul on Wednesday but kept moving without stopping, the Seoul Yongsan Police Station said, citing an analysis of footage recorded by the taxis camera.

The taxi chased the diplomats car until it stopped close to the gate of a nearby U.S. military base in Seoul. Police officers dispatched to the site tried to identify the diplomat, but he refused to comply with any inquiry, police officers said, requesting anonymity because of department rules.

His car later moved into the U.S. base, where the residences of some of the U.S. diplomats based in Seoul are located, the police officers said.

Police said the taxi driver and a passenger didnt immediately report injuries. Police said they dont know if anyone aboard the U.S. diplomats car was hurt.

On Thursday, police sent official letters to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and South Koreas Foreign Ministry to ask for cooperation in their investigation and check if the diplomat would exercise his immunity. The Foreign Ministry later told police that there were four U.S. diplomats in the car, including the driver, and they all belong to the embassy, according to police.

If the driver was aware of the collision and deliberately fled, his behavior constitutes a criminal offense. Even if he failed to recognize the accident and didnt flee intentionally, he still has to pay repair costs for the taxis damaged bumper, according to police.

The U.S. Embassy in a statement disputed the account of the accident reported in the press, without elaborating which parts of the media reports it refers to.

We trust that the competent (South Korean) law enforcement authorities will conduct a thorough and fair investigation of the matter, and we will refrain for providing further comment until that investigation has been completed, it said.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it was consulting with authorities. Spokesman Choi Young-sam said South Korea has been sternly dealing with crimes committed by foreign diplomats in Seoul.

South Korea is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, which grants diplomats and their families protection against criminal prosecution, although the immunity can be voluntarily waived. Earlier this year, the Foreign Ministry said there had been no cases in the past five years of foreign diplomats being prosecuted after waiving immunity.

The United States is South Koreas chief security ally. About 28,500 U.S. troops are deployed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea.

By HYUNG-JIN KIM

Associated Press
Man who killed wife, 3 children sentenced to life in prison View Photo

ROSEVILLE, Calif. (AP)  A Northern California man who confessed to killing his wife and three children was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison without parole.

Investigators in Placer County said Shankar Hangud, 55, confessed to killing his family members over the span of several days across two Northern California counties in October 2019, saying he couldnt provide for them financially, KCRA-TV reported. His children were aged 13, 16 and 20.

Hangud was arrested shortly after the killings when he drove to a police station in Mount Shasta, more than 200 miles (320 kilometers) from his home, with the body of his oldest son in his car and confessed to all four murders, prosecutors said. After the confession, the bodies of the three other victims were found inside the familys apartment in Roseville, northeast of Sacramento, police said.

Placer County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Penney called it a horrific crime where no victims were alive to speak as he sentenced Hangud to three life prison terms. The district attorneys office said that because Hangud had killed more than one person he had no possibility of parole.

Prosecutors said Hangud claimed to be in despair after losing his IT job and dealing with a marriage that was falling apart.

Hangud pleaded guilty in September to three counts of first-degree murder for his children and one count of deliberately aiding his wife to die by suicide.

Its hard to reconcile with the facts that this tragedy could happen because someone couldnt get employed, Placer County prosecutor David Tellman said. But its an old-world, patriarchal thought pattern where if he cant be a provider, he doesnt want his family to have nothing. So he kills his family.

Hangud was an unemployed data specialist. His LinkedIn profile showed he had worked for several companies in Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area.
BERLIN (AP)  Carnival revelers in the western Germany city of Cologne were lining up Thursday to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations before they could begin the start of the outdoors celebrations  after a hiatus due to the pandemic last year.

Despite strict pandemic rules, the start of the carnival season was overshadowed by a coronavirus infection of Cologne's official head of celebrations. Carnival Prince Sven I. announced Tuesday that he had tested positive despite being vaccinated and canceled all public appearances including the traditional reception at Cologne's city hall, German news agency dpa reported.
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP)  Sudans top general reappointed himself as head of the army-run interim governing body on Thursday, a sign that he's tightening his grip on the country two weeks after he led a coup against civilian leaders.

The move by Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan  along with other appointments he announced for the Sovereign Council  was expected to anger Sudan's pro-democracy protest movement, sidelined in the coup. Since the Oct. 25 takeover, pro-democracy leaders have demanded the military relinquish power and refuse to be part of any administration in which a military maintains a role.

Thursday's development, announced in a bulletin by Sudans state television, comes amid repeated promises from the military rulers that they will hand over power to civilian authorities. Since the coup, more than 100 government officials and political leaders have been detained, along with a large number of protesters and activists. Almost all remain in custody.

At least 14 anti-coup protesters have been killed due to excessive force used by the countrys security forces, according to Sudanese doctors and the United Nations. The military removed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok who has since been under house arrest in the capital, Khartoum, as Western powers and U.N. diplomats try to mediate a resolution to the crisis.

Sudan's culture and information minister, Hamza Baloul, who was arrested during the coup and later released, condemned the appointments. He described Thursdays announcement of the new council as an extension of the coup" and said pro-democracy protesters are right to refuse to negotiate with military leaders. Along with rejecting internationally backed initiatives to return to a power-sharing arrangement with the military, the protest movement has also called for a nationwide strike.

Were obviously taking a look at these developments. I would say theyre very concerning," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said later Thursday. We want to see a return to the transition as quickly as possible. We want to see the release from house arrest of Prime Minister Hamdok as well as all other politicians and leaders that have been detained.

Sudan has been in the midst of a fragile transition since a 2019 pro-democracy uprising led to the removal of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The 11-member Sovereign Council was first formed in the summer of 2019, after the military signed a power-sharing deal with pro-democracy forces.

A number of other members of the body sat on the previous council that Burhan headed before he dissolved it in the coup. Also reappointed to the body Thursday was the powerful paramilitary leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, as vice-president. And Burhan reappointed as council members another three generals who had served in the previous council.

Three others on the council are leaders of rebel groups who fought Bashir's government for years, but who have moved towards peace with the transitional government. They all also served on the previous council. One of them, Malik Agar, a prominent leader of the Sudan Revolutionary Front, a rebel movement in Sudan's southern Blue Nile States, was one of signees to a historic peace accord with the transitional government in Juba, South Sudan last year.

Five of the members are civilians, only one of whom  Raja Nicola, a Christian lawyer  served on the previous body. She is one of two women appointees.

The agreement under which the council was formed after Bashir's ouster stipulated that the council should include five civilians chosen by activists, five military representatives chosen by the armed forces and one civilian member to be chosen in agreement between civilians and the generals.

The make-up of the new council falls short of the demands of key pro-democracy groups in the African county. The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change, the main group that spearheaded the uprising that culminated in the overthrow of al-Bashir, has said that it would oppose the reappointment of Burhan to the top decision-making position.

Before the coup, the Sovereign Council held ultimate power while Hamdok's government oversaw day-to-day matters.

The coup has been condemned by the United Nations, the United States and the European Union  all of which have urged the generals to restore a military-civilian transitional government. Mediation efforts are ongoing to resolve the crisis.

Dujarric said that U.N. Special Representative for Sudan Volker Perthes met Tuesday with Burhan and also that U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres spoke with Hamdok earlier in the week.

Perthes gave the Security Council a closed-door briefing on the situation later Thursday. Britains U.N. Ambassador Barbara Woodward said he was very frank in his assessment that the window now is closing for dialogue and for peaceful resolution.

Woodward said the Security Council is clear that it is important to resume dialogue, that dialogue is the way forward.

We want to see important freedoms reinstated in Sudan," she said. So we repeat our call for the military to engage in good faith to deliver a settlement that is based on the principle of genuine military-civilian partnership.

Meanwhile, an advocacy group said earlier Thursday that internet access remains largely disrupted in Sudan since last months military coup, despite a court order for providers to restore services.

According to a tweet by NetBlocks, the disruption is now in its eighteenth day and represents an ongoing impediment to democracy and human rights. A Sudanese court ruled on Wednesday, ordering the countrys three main telecommunications providers to restore internet access. However, authorities have not shown any sign yet of carrying out that order.

___

ElHennawy reported from Cairo. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.
LONDON (AP)  The hunger-striking husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been detained for more than five years in Iran, said talks on Thursday between British and Iranian officials appeared to have made little, if any, progress on securing her release.

Richard Ratcliffe, who has been on hunger strike for 19 days outside the Foreign Office in central London in an effort to ratchet up pressure on the British government, said he was nearing the end of it as a strategy."

Ratcliffe was speaking after he met with James Cleverly, a British foreign minister, to hear details of his talks with Irans deputy foreign minister, Ali Bagheri Kani.

If Im honest, quite a depressing meeting," Ratcliffe said of his meeting with Cleverly. I had hoped there would have been some kind of a breakthrough and recognition in the meeting with Iran  maybe that will be happening away from us but I dont have any hopes."

Ratcliffe began his demonstration last month after his wife lost her latest appeal in Iran. He has been sleeping in a tent outside the Foreign Office's main entrance in an effort to pressure the British government to secure the release of his wife and other detained dual British-Iranian nationals.

I think theres a basic medical limit on how long you do a hunger strike for," Ratcliffe said. I made a promise to Nazanin, I made a promise to my family, mum in particular, and to the family doctors, that I wont take it too far.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe served four years in prison and one under house arrest after being taken into custody at Tehrans airport in April 2016 and convicted of plotting the overthrow of Irans government, a charge that she, her supporters and rights groups deny.

In May, she was sentenced to an additional year in prison on charges of spreading propaganda against the system for having participated in a protest outside the Iranian Embassy in London in 2009  a decision upheld this month by an appeals court. The verdict includes a one-year travel ban, meaning she wouldnt be able to leave Iran until 2023.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe was employed by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of the news agency, and was arrested as she was returning home to Britain after visiting family. Rights groups accuse Iran of holding dual-nationals as bargaining chips for money or influence in negotiations with the West, something Tehran denies.

Ratcliffe said his wife is being used as leverage by Tehran, specifically with regard to the U.K.'s failure to pay an outstanding 400 million-pound ($540 million) debt to Iran.

We asked about the debt and they wouldnt talk about it, I mean really clammed up," he said.

Ratcliffe said Cleverly wanted to emphasize that the meeting with the Iranian delegation had been cordial."

But you know were still stuck in the same status quo," he said. I dont feel theyve given a clear enough message to Iran that hostage-taking is wrong. I dont think there are any consequences to Iran at present for its continuing taking hostages of British citizens and using them."

The Foreign Office said British officials had pressed Iran to urgently release Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other detained dual U.K.-Iranian nationals during the meeting with Kani.

It said British officials "continue to work hard to secure the release of all those British nationals unfairly detained in Iran.
ROME (AP)  Pope Francis renewed his call for Europe to welcome and show solidarity with migrants, saying the diversity they're bringing to the continent is renewing European cities as a beautiful mosaic, which should not be scarred or corrupted with prejudices or hatred.

Francis didnt mention the latest migration crisis at Polands eastern border during a meeting with European Catholic missionary groups attending a meeting of the Migrantes foundation of the Italian bishops conference. Hundreds and possibly thousands of asylum-seekers, most from the Middle East, have massed along Belarus border with Poland as a political standoff between the two countries intensifies.
After canceling its major pop culture fan convention this summer, Celebrity Fan Fest is organizing a film festival that will feature an original Ghostbuster. Ernie Hudson, who played Dr. Winston Zeddemore in Ghostbusters,will bust into San Antonio next month.

Celebrity Fan Fest, owned by PMX Events, plans on bringing in Hudson to select EVO cinemas in the San Antonio area from December 9 through December 12. Sponsored by Thomas J. Henry and EVO Entertainment, the festival includes an exclusive Q&A panel with Hudson ahead of watching the Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

The newest member of the franchise comes out on November 19, more than 35 years after the original 1984 Ghostbusters film. It picks up in the future where ghosts have returned to haunt humanity. In a trailer for the movie released, Paul Rudd, who plays a teacher named Mr. Grooberson, comes face-to-face with some of the iconic characters from the original. The film also teases to bring back Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Hudson, according to People.

"This is the first post-COVID appearance Ernie has done with anybody, so we're very happy about him coming from Los Angeles to do this," Bob Wills, CEO of PMX Events, tells MySA. "It's very unique for us to have a celebrity be there before fans see the movie."

Celebrity Fan Fest hosted its inaugural event in 2019, drawing national attention and large crowds to San Antonio, with more than 36,000 fans flocking to the three-day celebration. The fest brought in blockbuster stars like Aquaman Jason Momoa and two-time Oscar nominee Jeremy Renner, who plays Hawkeye in The Avengers films, among other famous folks.

In 2020, the fest was canceled due to the pandemic. The following year, Celebrity Fan Fest hoped to bounce back with an event at Six Flags Fiesta Texas this July. However, after big celebrities  such as Star Wars actors Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen  backed out due to the surge in COVID cases, and the festival was canceled again.

While the sudden cancellation was unfortunate, Wills says he's excited to provide an exclusive opportunity for fans to meet Hudson as guests can get a free photo or autograph with the star when they purchase a $50 gift card in-store.

Fans will also have a special bonus when they visit the EVO location in Schertz. The infamous ECTO-1 from the Ghostbusters films will be appearing at the theater for three weeks starting November 19. For more information on the festival and movie tickets, visit pmxevent.com.

"This is a very fan-friendly opportunity for people to get out," Wills says. "We wanted to do something special for fans with having a star come in while a movie is still airing. It's a special thing."
An attorney for Travis Scott has rebuked what he claims are discrepancies from officials during the ongoing investigation into the events surrounding the Astroworld tragedy. While Scott was performing, there was a massive surge in the crowd that left at least eight people dead and hundreds injured.

There has been multiple finger-pointing, much of which has been by city officials, who have sent inconsistent messages and have backtracked from original statements, Edwin McPherson said in a statement to Rolling Stone. Houston Police Chief Troy Finner was quoted in the New York Times as saying You cannot just close when you got 50,000 and over 50,000 individuals. We have to worry about rioting, riots, when you have a group thats that young. Yet, just a short time later, Chief Finner states the responsibility to stop the show falls on Travis. (A rep for the Houston Police Department declined Rolling Stones request for comment pending the ongoing investigation.)

It was reported that the Operations Plan designated that only the festival director and executive producers have authority to stop the show, neither of which is part of Traviss crew, McPherson added. This also runs afoul of HPDs own previous actions when it shut down the power and sound at this very festival when the performance ran over 5 minutes back in 2019.

As CNN and others reported, the plan laid out a chain of command in the event of an incident, naming the executive producer and festival director as the sole individuals who can stop the concert.

Investigations should start proceeding over finger-pointing so that together, we can identify exactly what transpired and how we can prevent anything like this from happening again, McPherson concluded.

Since the deadly tragedy on Friday, conflicting and unconfirmed narratives have surfaced, which multiple outlets cited. One such narrative involved a story that a security guard had been injected with a mysterious substance while working the event. Police and sources close to Astroworld had previously pushed the injection narrative when the story was beginning to unfold. Several outlets including TMZ had previously cited an Astroworld source.

On Wednesday, Finner walked back the story during a press conference. We did locate that security guard. His story is not consistent with that. He says he was struck in his head, he went unconscious and he woke up in the security tent, Finner said. He says that no one injected drugs into him. So we want to clear that part up.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)  Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday appointed Democratic state Sen. Steve Hobbs as the states 16th secretary of state, marking the first time a Democrat will hold the office since the mid-1960s.

He will replace Republican Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who will leave office Nov. 19 to take a key election security job in the Biden administration. Hobbs, who is of Japanese descent, will be the first person of color to head the office, which is one of nine statewide elected positions.

Inslee announced the appointment via a video that was taped in Glasgow, Scotland where he is participating in this year's U.N. climate summit, the Conference of Parties. Hobbs' appointment is effective Nov. 22.

Steve has demonstrated through his career as a senator the ability to act independently, to not to be swayed by any party," Inslee said.

Wyman echoed those statements, saying in a written statement that Hobbs has a demonstrated record of seeking bipartisan solutions to complex problems, which is essential to the position of secretary of state.

"It is imperative the secretary of state  the states chief elections official  serve as a neutral arbiter in order to inspire confidence across the political spectrum in our election processes and results, Wyman wrote.

Hobbs, 51, is considered a centrist in his caucus, which holds a 28-21 majority in the Senate. He had previously sought a statewide office, briefly running for lieutenant governor last year before withdrawing from the race, citing his COVID-19 response work with the National Guard.

This is a tremendous honor and responsibility, Hobbs said in a written statement. There is nothing more sacred than the right to vote. Ive fought for that right overseas and will do everything in my power to protect that right here in Washington.

Caleb Heimlich, head of the state GOP, reacted on Twitter, calling the appointment a crass political move by Inslee. Hobbs, once part of a the so-called roadkill caucus, had opposed parts of Inslees climate agenda, and, along with two other Democrats, voted against a capital gains tax that was ultimately approved by the majority of his caucus.

If @GovInslee truly cared about picking an independent voice, he would have picked an Independent, Hemlich wrote. There are lots of qualified county auditors to choose from. Instead he made the selection based on political benefit to his agenda."

In an interview with reporters after the announcement, Hobbs disputed that as a reason for his appointment, saying that both the Democratic governor and Republicans in the Legislature want a secretary of state that everyone can trust.

I think it would be horrible to have a secretary of state that is too ideologically to the far left or far right to fill this position, he said. I think the governor was thinking about all Washingtonians, on both side of the aisle.

In addition to being the states chief elections officer, the secretary of state also serves as chief corporations officer and supervisor of the state archives and state library.

Hobbs grew up in Snohomish County and has represented the 44th legislative district in the Senate since 2007. He served for decades in the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq and Kosovo, and currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Washington State National Guard.

Inslee said that Hobbs service in the National Guard, saying it will be an asset in dealing with the best cybersecurity effort in the United States.

Inslee's office said he spoke to a number of candidates, including current county auditors. Wyman and her predecessor, Sam Reed, both were Thurston County auditors before being elected to statewide office.

Hobbs said that while he doesn't have the county auditor experience that Wyman and Reed had, he pointed to his management and leadership experience in the National Guard and said that he plans to keep most of Wyman's staff. He also plans to meet with county auditors to hear their ideas and concerns.

This is a partnership, he said. We work together.

Hobbs serves as chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and also serves on the Financial Institutions, Economic Development and Trade Committee and the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.

He holds a masters of public administration and a bachelors degree from the University of Washington, and recently completed Defense Information School through the U.S. Department of Defense. He also has additional training for officers from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Wyman, 59, has led elections in Washington state for years, and she was reelected to a third term last November  the lone statewide-elected Republican on the West Coast. She will serve as the election security lead for the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the agency responsible for safeguarding U.S. elections

Unlike vacancies in other partisan offices, like the Legislature or county offices, the governor is not limited to appointing someone from a specific political party, which opened the door to Republicans losing their hold on the office for the first time in more than 50 years.

Hobbs will serve until the general election in November 2022, which will determine who will serve the remainder of Wymans four-year term. He said Wednesday that that he plans to run in that election.

An appointment process to replace Hobbs in the Senate will begin in Snohomish County, and Democratic Rep. John Lovick said Wednesday he is seeking the appointment and has already called precinct committee officers to express his interest. Three names will be ultimately be put forth by Snohomish County Democrats, and the Snohomish County Council will choose who will serve the remainder of Hobbs' term through November 2022.
The first Black principal of Colleyville Heritage High School resigned months after taking the job.

Principal James Whitfield submitted his resignation to the school board during a closed session meeting on Monday, November 8, after members voted in September to not renew his contract, MSNBC reports. He was named principal right before the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

Whitfield's resignation comes amid accusations that he was pushing critical race theory (CRT). MSNBC anchor and host of Meet the Press Chuck Todd says Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is mostly white.

CRT is a graduate level framework looks at American history through the lens of racism, according to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. It denotes that systemic racism is embedded in U.S. policies, and still influences education, employment, housing and healthcare.

Whitfield's resignation isn't effective until August 15, 2023, until which he will be on paid administrative leave, NBC DFW reports. He has been suspended from his job since August.

"It has been difficult to be detached from my purpose," Whitfield told MSNBC's Antonio Hylton last month. "That's all I ever wanted to do, is be an educator and serve kids."

Hylton says current school board members were concerned that the people who made the CRT accusations would hold them accountable and push to have them removed from their seats. But there were still students, parents and community members who expressed outrage over the school board's decision they believe was racially motivated and would cast the community in a bad light.

School board members agreed, Hylton reports, that Whitfield never taught or promoted CRT. Whitfield tells MSNBC this sparked over summer 2020 because of how vocal he was over the murder of George Floyd.

"Educators are fighting this battle, and really it's a battle that has been manufactured," Whitfield tells MSNBC. "Because not a single teacher is teaching critical race theory in schools but what they've termed to be critical race theory, which is diverse books."

The GCISD school board has pointed to "deficiencies" in his job like interactions with personnel, email exchanges with parents and comments he has made to defend himself in the wake of the CRT accusations.

Hylton reports that full context was not provided on these deficiencies.
Good morning, San Antonio. An appellate court says Bexar County can uphold its face mask mandate. Here's what you need to know.

Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez with the Fourth Court of Appeals ruled that Texas can't prohibit San Antonio and Bexar County from requiring masks, affirming a lower court's temporary injunction.

The mask mandate requires face masks to be worn indoors for public offices and in area school districts.

The ruling sided with the lower court's ruling because it allowed the city and county to "preserve the status quo," or the current state affairs  communities affected by the pandemic.

Pandemic numbers in the county are falling, so much so that the city and county discontinued its COVID-19 briefings. City officials are still encouraging mask wearing and vaccines to keep numbers low.

There is a trial set for December 13 to argue and ultimately decide what the governor and municipalities can and can't do in these matters.

Here's what else you need to know today.

Openings and closings this Veterans Day

It's Veterans Day today. This means that some businesses and services will be closed.

Here is what's open and what's not.

The mystery of Matthew McConaughey's politics

Texans not knowing how McConaughey would handle political matters could help him win if he decides to run in the upcoming governor's race. His recent comments on the COVID-19 vaccine only help make that picture a little less clear.

The thing is: McConaughey keeps teasing Texas with a run.

Read more here.

Details emerge on contractor killed on railroad

Back in September, a worker with a company contracted with Union Pacific Railroad was found unresponsive and fatally injured sitting inside a crane vehicle on the train tracks near Castroville.

The NTSB has a released preliminary report on the investigation.

Read more here.

A local bike shop is closing its doors

This bicycle shop is selling its inventory after announcing that it will close its doors for good.

Read why this shop is closing.
When Mark Zuckerberg announced ambitious plans to build the "metaverse  a virtual reality construct intended to supplant the internet, merge virtual life with real life and create endless new playgrounds for everyone  he promised that youre going to able to do almost anything you can imagine.

That might not be such a great idea.

Zuckerberg, CEO of the company formerly known as Facebook, even renamed it Meta to underscore the significance of the effort. During his late October presentation, he effused about going to virtual concerts with your friends, fencing with holograms of Olympic athletes and  best of all  joining mixed-reality business meetings where some participants are physically present while others beam in from the metaverse as cartoony avatars.

But its just as easy to imagine dystopian downsides. Suppose the metaverse also enables a vastly larger, yet more personal version of the harassment and hate that Facebook has been slow to deal with on todays internet? Or ends up with the same big tech companies that have tried to control the current internet serving as gatekeepers to its virtual-reality edition? Or evolves into a vast collection of virtual gated communities where every visitor is constantly monitored, analyzed and barraged with advertisements? Or foregoes any attempt to curtail user freedom, allowing scammers, human traffickers and cybergangs to commit crimes with impunity?

Picture an online troll campaign  but one in which the barrage of nasty words you might see on social media is instead a group of angry avatars yelling at you, with your only escape being to switch off the machine, said Amie Stepanovich, executive director of Silicon Flatirons at the University of Colorado.

We approach that differently  having somebody scream at us than having somebody type at us, she said. There is a potential for that harm to be really ramped up.

Thats one reason Meta might not be the best institution to lead us into the metaverse, said Philip Rosedale, founder of the virtual escape Second Life, which was an internet craze 15 years ago and still attracts hundreds of thousands of online inhabitants.

The danger is creating online public spaces that appeal only to a polarized, homogenous group of people, said Rosedale, describing Metas flagship VR product, Horizon, as filled with presumptively male participants and a bullying tone. In a safety tutorial, Meta has advised Horizon users to treat fellow avatars kindly and offers tips for blocking, muting or reporting those who don't, but Rosedale said it's going to take more than a schoolyard monitor approach to avoid a situation that rewards the loudest shouters.

Nobodys going to come to that party, thank goodness, he said. Were not going to move the human creative engine into that sphere.

A better goal, he said, would be to create systems that are welcoming and flexible enough to allow people who dont know each other to get along as well as they might in a real place like New Yorks Central Park. Part of that could rely on systems that help someone build a good reputation and network of trusted acquaintances they can carry across different worlds, he said. In the current web environment, such reputation systems have had a mixed record in curbing toxic behavior.

It's not clear how long it will take Meta, or anyone else investing in the metaverse, to consider such issues. So far, tech giants from Microsoft and Apple to video game makers are still largely focused on debating the metaverses plumbing.

To make the metaverse work, some developers say they are going to have to form a set of industry standards similar to those that coalesced around HTML, the open markup language thats been used to structure websites since the 1990s.

You dont think about that when you go to a website. You just click on the link, said Richard Kerris, who leads the Omniverse platform for graphics chipmaker Nvidia. Were going to get to the same point in the metaverse where going from one world to another world and experiencing things, you wont have to think about, Do I have the right setup?

Nvidias vision for an open standard involves a structure for 3D worlds built by movie-making studio Pixar, which is also used by Apple. Among the basic questions being resolved are how physics will work in the metaverse  will virtual gravity cause someones glass to smash into pieces if they drop it? Will those rules change as you move from place to place?

Bigger disagreements will center on questions of privacy and identity, said Timoni West, vice president of augmented and virtual reality at Unity Technologies, which builds an engine for video game worlds.

Being able to share some things but not share other things is important when youre showing off art in a virtual home but dont want to share the details of your calendar, she said. Theres a whole set of permission layers for digital spaces that the internet could avoid but you really need to have to make this whole thing work.

Some metaverse enthusiasts whove been working on the concept for years welcome the spotlight that could attract curious newcomers, but they also want to make sure Meta doesnt ruin their vision for how this new internet gets built.

The open metaverse is created and owned by all of us, said Ryan Gill, founder and CEO of metaverse-focused startup Crucible. The metaverse that Mark Zuckerberg and his company want is created by everybody but owned by them.

Gill said Metas big splash is a reaction to ideas circulating in grassroots developer communities centered around decentralized technologies like blockchain and non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, that can help people establish and protect their online identity and credentials.

Central to this tech movement, nicknamed Web 3, for a third wave of internet innovation, is that what people create in these online communities belongs to them, a shift away from the Big Tech model of accumulating energy and attention and optimizing it for buying behavior, Gill said.

Evan Greer, an activist with Fight for the Future, said its easy to see Facebooks Meta announcement as a cynical attempt to distance itself from all the scandals the company is facing. But she says Meta's push is actually even scarier.

This is Mark Zuckerberg revealing his end game, which is not just to dominate the internet of today but to control and define the internet that we leave to our children and our childrens children, she said.

The company recently abandoned its use of facial recognition on its Facebook app, but metaverse gadgetry relies on new forms of tracking people's gaits, body movements and expressions to animate their avatars with real-world emotions. And with both Facebook and Microsoft pitching metaverse apps as important work tools, there's a potential for even more invasive workplace monitoring and exhaustion.

Activists are calling for the U.S. to pass a national digital privacy act that would apply not just to todays platforms like Facebook but also those that might exist in the metaverse. Outside of a few such laws in states such as California and Illinois, though, actual online privacy laws remain rare in the U.S.
Jerry Lara, Staff / San Antonio Express-News

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. (AP)  The Tennessee distillery producing Jack Daniels whiskey is teaming with a military support group to help service members and their families get home for the holidays.

More than 1,700 service members and relatives will head home through Operation Ride Home, organizers said. It's the most participants in program history.
The 22-year-old Texas A&M University student who was declared brain dead Tuesday has become the ninth death related to the massive tragedy at the Astroworld Festival that originally left eight dead and hundreds injured last weekend.

According to the Washington Post, attorney James Lassiter said during a news conference Thursday the student Bharti Shahani died Wednesday.

"Bharti was a shining star in the community," Lassiter said. "She was a sister, a daughter, a high-achieving college student about to graduate from Texas A&M University with high, high grades."

Among the injured, a 9-year-old boy is currently in a medically induced come in an attempt to minimize trauma to his brain, according to CNN. His grandfather told the news outlet he was in Houston with his father to see "his favorite artist." The family is "devastated because this was supposed to be a father-son outing for them to bond and it has turned into something horrible and tragic," the grandfather said.

The family has joined the growing number of concertgoers who have filed lawsuits, according to the Houston Chronicle. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced the lawsuit on Tuesday. Houston rapper Travis Scott, his management, and the Astroworld promotors are among the defendants.

San Antonio-based attorney Thomas J. Henry is also now representing 68 victims in a massive lawsuit against Travis Scott, Drake, Live Nation, and NRG stadium.

On Tuesday, Harris County officials released the names of the eight individuals who perished in the crush of people at the music festival. Judge Lina Hidalgo shared a list of the victims' names Monday morning. The youngest individual was 14, the oldest was 27.

In the wake of the Astroworld incident, both Scott and Drake have released statements. Scott has also since said that he will cover the funeral costs and refund all ticket holders, but his efforts haven't stopped lawsuits aimed at the rapper sand Drake.
In October, Ryan Faircloth was arrested and charged after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail into the Travis County Democratic Headquarters in East Austin. Last week, after he was named as the defendant in a lawsuit, court documents revealed that Faircloth is actually a San Antonio resident.

In the early morning hours of September 29, Faircloth was caught on tape allegedly tossing a crude Molotov cocktail into the TCDP headquarters. The crude device sparked a small fire that was put out by employees at a neighboring bar.

Accompanying the incendiary device was a threatening note, the contents of which actually led to Faircloth's arrest. According to the Daily Beast, a Facebook user who read the note saw similarities between it and the suspect's own Facebook posts, leading to a tip to authorities. Faircloth was arrested on October 2 and charged with arson and attempted arson.

Following Faircloth's arrest, Brandon Jennings, captain of the Austin Fire Department's arson and fire investigations, told reporters that "it was one of those things."

"This person was not happy with the current political climate," Jennings continued. "[Faircloth] blamed this office and who they represent for a lot of the issues that he saw as problems with the country. And for that reason, it was an intentional act."

On November 4, Faircloth was named as the defendant in a lawsuit brought by Lorenzco INC, the landlord of the building. In it, they identify the 30-year-old as a Bexar County resident living on the far Westside. The landlord is seeking up $1 million in damages to the building. (As of November 10, the glass door that was shattered by the explosion remained boarded up.)

Faircloth was named as defendant in yet another lawsuit on November 10, this time in a civil suit brought by TCDP. In a statement to Austin-based KVUE, TCDP chair Katie Naranjo, said the suit was an attempt to "hold Ryan accountable" for his actions.

Through his actions, Ryan Faircloth intimidated my staff and voters in Travis County," Naranjo told KVUE. "While we continue to take precautions with our personal safety, and the safety of the office, the threat of radical extremism and violent behavior from the far right persists. We are filing this lawsuit to hold Ryan accountable for his violent acts, and to prevent future domestic terror attacks on our voting institutions."
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 744 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year, and our current goal, bonuses for our guest writers.

Yves here. Its frustrating but also revealing to see yet another set of proposals about Facebook. There are obvious routes for getting into their underwear, starting with busting them for criminal fraud (grotesque exaggeration of their readership; charging advertisers for views they never got and could not have gotten; also charging advertisers and refusing to refund them when Facebook ran ads that were not authorized). You dont need to rely on antitrust litigation, which is a tough road to hoe, as these cases take a long time, and as Microsoft showed, can be won yet lost in the penalty phase. The most likely remedy for a successful Facebook antitrust action would be to make Facebook divest its recent acquisitions.which does nothing to rein in the core Facebook business which so many have come to know and hate.

So an alternative, which in theory would be faster to implement, would be to regulate Facebook like a utility. But that would require a consensus of sorts about what curbs should be imposed. As you can see from this post, ideas are all over the map.

By Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University, Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School, Tufts University and Ryan Calo, Professor of Law, University of Washington. Originally published at The Conversation

Facebook may have changed its corporate name to Meta Platforms, but that wont end its troubles  nor efforts to rein in the social media companys business practices. Lawmakers are pondering new ways to regulate Facebook, whose CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, wrote in 2019 that he welcomed new rules governing the internet. With that in mind, we asked three experts on social media, technology policy and global business to offer one specific action the government could take about Metas Facebook service.

Let Users Control More of Their Data

Anjana Susarla, Professor of Information Systems, Michigan State University

Social media sites like Facebook are designed for constant interaction to engage users attention. To rein in Facebook, lawmakers must first understand the harm that results from algorithmic manipulation on these platforms. One thing Congress could do is make sure Facebook gives users more control over what data the company collects about them and why.

Most people who use Facebook are unaware of how algorithmic recommendations affect their experience of the platform and thereby the information they engage with. For example, political campaigns have reportedly tried to manipulate engagement to get more traction on Facebook.

A key aspect of providing such transparency is giving users greater access to and control over their data, similar to whats proposed in Californias Consumer Privacy Act. This would allow users to see what personal data Facebook collects about them and how the company uses it. Many people dont realize that Meta has the ability to make inferences about their political preferences and attitudes toward society.

A related issue is data portability tools and rights that allow users to take the data, including photos and videos, that they shared on Facebook to other social media services.

Providing users with more control over their data will go a long way in ensuring independent accountability and oversight of Facebooks operations.

Mandating Transparency

Ryan Calo, Professor of Law, University of Washington

In October 2020, Facebook sent a cease-and-desist letter to New York University researchers. The researchers were investigating the spread of misinformation on Facebook through political ads. The company told NYU that scraping its platform violated Facebooks terms of service, and it threatened additional enforcement action should the practice continue. In August 2021, Facebook terminated the accounts of two researchers and cut off NYUs and its partners access to its political ad repository.

Companies like Meta are not exactly forthcoming about the problems on their platforms. The public hears about issues like misinformation and bias largely through the efforts of researchers, journalists and internal whistleblowers.

Congress holds the power to stay Metas hand when it comes to threatening legal action or blocking accountability research. Congress could, for example, add a research exemption to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which would shield researchers from the threat of lawsuits for using data not explicitly authorized by a social media company, or protect employees from retaliation.

Congress could go further still: It could mandate transparency. Nothing about free speech doctrine or platform immunity prohibits the government from imposing auditing or reporting requirements for social media. The Federal Reserve embeds regulators in national banks.

Why shouldnt Meta  a company with a US$900 billion market capitalization and ambitions to spawn a metaverse  have to open its operations to scrutiny?

An Alternative Approach to Making Meta pay

Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Business, The Fletcher School, Tufts University

I have a pragmatic suggestion for what the government might do about Meta.

When New York Times columnist Farhad Manjoo recently posed this question to experts, they came back with numerous solutions. Ultimately, Manjoo concluded that with the deep political divide in Congress, doing nothing may be the likeliest outcome.

I, too, agree its the most plausible scenario. Nevertheless, one fact is incontrovertible: Meta is under pressure right now, and the government can use this leverage to extract immediate benefits for society regardless of what happens down the road.

There is a larger problem than big techs lack of accountability: Almost half of all Americans cannot use the internet at broadband speeds. This is unacceptable in a post-pandemic world, where high-speed internet has proved essential. Broadband internet is also unaffordable for many.

Even the $65 billion earmarked for broadband in the infrastructure bill just approved by Congress isnt enough to close Americas vast digital divide. My Digital Planet research team at Tufts has estimated that the true cost of closing the infrastructure access gap is $240 billion  leaving a $175 billion shortfall.

Lawmakers could use the stick of regulation to get the company to agree to blanket the nation with broadband. Meta already has two programs it could use to close gaps in both rural and urbanareas.

At the same time, Congress could levy a tech tax on digital ads sold by Facebook and other social networks to subsidize telecommunication service in high-cost areas.

By giving more people access to high-speed internet, Meta will benefit by increasing the number of people who could eventually join its metaverse. While that may seem counterproductive, the ills of Facebook are outweighed by the greater ills of large swaths of the U.S. with people unable to use the internet for essential services because we couldnt raise enough money to close the gap.
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By Timothy A. Wise, Senior Advisor at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy and a Senior Research Fellow at Tufts Universitys Global Development and Environment Institute. Originally published at InterPress Service

As world leaders wrap up the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow, new scientific research shows that there is still a great deal of magical thinking about the contribution of fertilizer to global warming.



Philanthropist Bill Gates fed the retreat from science in his book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster earlier this year. To me fertilizer is magical, he confesses, nitrogen fertilizer in particular. Under a photo of a beaming Gates in a Yara fertilizer distribution warehouse in Tanzania, he explains that to grow crops, you want tons of nitrogen  way more than you would ever find in a natural setting [sic]. But nitrogen makes climate change much worse.

That last part, at least, is true, and new research suggests that the climate impacts of excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers is much worse than previously estimated. Researchers estimate that the N-fertilizer supply chain is contributing more than six times the greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by the entire commercial aviation sector.

Nitrogen: A Growing Climate Problem

By all accounts, food and agriculture are barely on the agenda of the UN climate summit, even though food systems contribute about one-third of GHGs. Direct emissions from food production account for about one-third of that, with the principal source being livestock, mostly methane and manure emissions.

But about 10% of direct emissions from come from synthetic nitrogen fertilizer applied to crops. Only a portion of the applied fertilizer is absorbed by plants. Some is turned into nitrous oxide by soil micro-organisms. Some leaches off the soil or volatilizes into gas when it is applied. The cumulative effect is the release of nitrous oxide, a GHG 265 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Three scientists working with Greenpeace, the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, and GRAIN have carried out the first comprehensive lifecycle analysis of N fertilizer emissions. They used improved data on direct field emissions and incorporated emissions from the manufacture and transportation of N fertilizers. Manufacturing, which relies heavily on natural gas, accounts for 35% of total N fertilizer GHGs.

The new estimates, which are preliminary as they undergo peer review, are 20% higher than those previously used by the United Nations. Not surprisingly, the largest emitters are the largest agricultural producers: China, India, North America, and Europe. On a per capita basis, though, the largest emitters are the big agricultural exporters: United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

Taking Africa in the Wrong Direction

Africa is still not a large fertilizer user, with application rates low  about 15 kg/ha  but rising rapidly with the recent Green Revolution campaigns. While Gates essentially dismisses the climate impacts from fertilizer as a necessary evil to achieve the greater good of food security, evidence is growing that the Green Revolution approach is failing on its own terms. My research showed that in AGRAs 13 focus countries, yields were not growing significantly and the number of undernourished people has increased 31%.

The greater good promised by AGRA has not been very good.

According to the new fertilizer research, AGRA is taking Africa in the wrong direction. Globally, the use of nitrogen fertilizer is projected to grow between 50% and 138% by 2050. Africa is projected to see at least a 300% increase in the next 30 years. It will be far greater if Gates has his way.

The climate implications of that development path are worrisome. A 300% increase means 2.7 million tonnes (Mt) more of N fertilizer in Africa. With field emissions estimated at 2.65 tonnes of GHGs per tonne of nitrogen and another 4.35 tonnes from production and transportation, total emissions are more like 7 tonnes of GHGs per tonne of N fertilizer.

By 2050, a 300% increase in Africas fertilizer use would mean adding about 19 Mt of GHGs per year more than it emits now. Because GHGs accumulate in the atmosphere and nitrous oxide persists for more than 100 years, Africa will have contributed an additional 284 Mt of GHGs by 2050 if fertilizer use increases 300%. If Gates and AGRA get their way and Africa approaches current global averages of 137 kg/ha of N fertilizer, Africa would contribute 800% more, an additional 50 Mt in 2050, equivalent to the emissions from deforesting half a million hectares of Amazon rainforest (about 1.2 million acres). Cumulative GHGs would be 750 Mt by 2050.

That is an amount nearly equal to the annual emissions of the entire commercial aviation sector.

Climate-Stupid Agriculture

Bill Gates is just plain wrong when he says the only way to grow food is with synthetic fertilizers. Crops need nitrogen and in many areas they can get most or all of what they need from improved agroecological farming. Globally, with improved nutrient management practices there could be a 48% reduction in synthetic fertilizer use with no reduction in cereal yields, according to one article in Nature.

The scientists who authored the new report make three recommendations to reduce GHGs associated with N fertilizer use. All call into question Gates Green Revolution model for Africa:
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A row over Line 5, an oil pipeline running from Superior, Wisconsin to Sarina, Ontario, is the biggest US climate fight you almost certainly havent heard of. Doomberg has an excellent post on its role and the stakes, which we are mining liberally.

Were featuring this pipeline fight not just for its own importance but also because it illustrates several issues that climate change activists and politicians dont seem willing to consider. First, as we have said repeatedly, that plans serious enough to prevent the worst climate outcome will have to include radical conservation. Second is an unwillingness to look hard at existing conditions and figure out where and to what extent it makes sense to create new green infrastructure, which may be green in carbon cost terms but not necessarily in terms of other environmental costs. Third is that some elements of modern lifestyles like suburbs with detached single family homes, are untenably bad for the environment (even if their energy needs can be met with solar panels, the people who live in them need to provision their houses, drive to doctors and schools and often to work, and a lot more than if they were housed differently) but no one is willing to say bad things about this American mainstay.

For instance, yesterday, OilPrice highlighted Bidens climate hypocrisy:

But what happens when Americans arent ready to move on from oil, and new domestic supplies arent meeting demand? Thats the position we currently find ourselves in. The Biden Administration could respond in one of two ways. They could say High oil prices will speed up the transition to renewable energy  which is certainly how they feel privately. After all, U.S. officials attended the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow this week, where they discussed plans to reduce carbon emissions. They could tell Americans to take their medicine, live with higher gas prices, and then privately hope that hastens the transition to green energy. But people dont like paying higher gasoline prices. So, the first irony is that the Biden Administration asked OPEC to pump more oil, undermining its COP26 messaging of reducing fossil fuel consumption. At the G-20 meeting in Rome, President Biden complained: 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 not right.

Now to the Line 5 case study. Line 5 delivers 540,000 barrels of oil daily, versus US consumption of 18 million barrels a day. It has operated for 70 years with an excellent safety record.

As Doomberg explains:

There are two main problems with Line 5. The first is that for a four-mile stretch it runs under the Straits of Mackinac, which connect Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. Should a catastrophic leak occur, the pipeline could contaminate priceless shorelines and potentially threaten the Great Lakes themselves, which hold some 20% of the total freshwater on earth. The second is that [current operator] Enbridge had a significant (but unrelated) pipeline spill in Michigan back in 2010. Known as the Kalamazoo River oil spill, the incident resulted in significant local environmental damage. For a period of 17 hours, the company struggled to understand that a leak was even occurring, unwilling to believe what its own sensors were indicating. This slow response exacerbated the damage and crushed Enbridges credibility with local authorities. Theres a direct line from that incident to the major push by environmentalists to proactively shutter Line 5 today. Unlike opposition to the Keystone Pipeline, a project which was never completed, Line 5 is a preexisting critical artery of the North American energy infrastructure. This seems like an important precedent in the making.

Doomberg also published Enbridges defense, which is that the pipeline has never had a spill, was built by Bechtel, and was overengineered as well as sited so as to minimize corrosion risk and is intensively monitored.

The wee problem is that even if you initially come down on the side of thinking the pipeline is too risky to be allowed to continue, you are then faced with the fact that the alternatives are worse. People in that part of the world, including Canada, need that oil and related products. If the pipeline were decommissioned, that huge volume of oil would need to be hauled via railroad or truck. Remember the Lac-Megantic rail car explosion, which killed 47? And thats before the fact that delivering oil via an existing pipeline is also greener than running trucks and trains around.

Doomberg uses the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to illustrate the problem. Doomberg has noticed that it has really serious winters, although he uses photos of lake effect snow on the south side of Lake Superior to make the point. They arent quite as bad as Rochester, New York, but most mere mortals would be impressed.

However, having lived a mere 60 miles south of Marquette (the biggest town, on Lake Superior) in Escanaba, on Lake Michigan, that lake effect snow tails off pretty quickly. The real issue is the Upper Peninsula is mighty cold. One January in Escanaba, the temperature never got above zero and the low was 27 below. I learned then that at 5 below, you feel your nose hairs freeze and unfreeze with each breath, and at 15 below, you feel the cold bite in your windpipe. Oh, and most of the winter, we plugged the car in to keep the engine block from freezing overnight.

We still had it soft compared to people in more remote areas. Remember the Upper Peninsula has only 300,000 people and is very low density. Note the white propane tank in the photo below. Thats for heat.

Michigan has a higher proportion of homes using propane for heating than any other state. Doombergs graphic shows use levels across the Upper Peninsula:

And Line 5 supplies half of the material for downstates propane and 2/3 of the Upper Peninsulas supply.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who won by 10 points in 2018, promised to close Line 5 as part of her campaign. Jointly with the Department of Natural Resources, she tried cracking down on the pipeline in November 2020 by revoking its easement to operate under the Straits of Mackinac. Operator Enbridge has not acted on the order and had gotten the Government of Canada to go to bat for them. Again from Doomberg:

The Line 5 story is huge in Canada  but not for reasons you might think, especially not after listening to Trudeaus high-minded speech at COP26. Instead, even Canada is alarmed at the prospect of shuttering the pipeline. Trudeau has gone as far as to invoke Canadas treaty rights under a deal signed with the United States in 1977.

And from a Detroit News story in early October:

The Canadian government on Monday formally invoked a 1977 treaty that the countrys officials say prevents the U.S. government or Michigan from disrupting the operation of Enbridges Line 5 oil pipeline, effectively pulling the Biden administration into the dispute over the pipelines future Gordon Giffin, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada under President Bill Clinton who is now acting ascounsel for the government of Canada, informed U.S. District Judge Janet Neff of the rare invocation of the 1977 transit pipeline treaty in a Monday court filing. Giffin asked the Western District of Michigan judge to pause her consideration of the case during treaty negotiations. In the filing, Canada said it had invoked the treaty provisions through diplomatic channels earlier in the day and made a formal request to begin negotiations with the U.S. The U.S. State Department did not return a request seeking comment. The 1977 agreement between President Jimmy Carter and Trudeaus father, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, put limits on transit pipeline actions that may harm the energy supply in either country. Monday marks the first invocation of the treaty since it was signed. Canadas letter to the judge comes more than two weeks after court filings indicated mediation talks between the state and Line 5 owner Enbridge over the future of Line 5 are largely at a dead end In March, Canadas natural resources minister Seamus ORegan told a parliamentary panel that the continued operation of the pipeline was non-negotiable.

A statement by Enbridge, a Canadian company, thanked Team Canada which is understood to include the provinces of Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec to pressure Whitmer.

This treaty ju-jitsu came as Enbridge had gotten the case against it move from state to Federal court and Michigan was trying to get it back in state court.

Needless to say, it is over my pay grade to assess the remote but clearly disastrous possibility of a pipeline break into the Great Lakes (versus what would seem to be more probable, a break elsewhere that would contaminate groundwater and potentially contributory streams and rivers) versus the ongoing climate costs of shipping the oil above ground.

But as Doomberg indicates, if the Line 5 shutdown advocates prevail, it would represent a major precedent. And just as Biden revealed hes only willing to protect the environment if it wont cost him too many votes, Line 5 opponents can make the same case against Trudeau.
So what is so special about writing for Naked Capitalism? (Hint: since Naked Capitalism is special, please support this fundraiser at the Tip Jar).

Well, heres my story as I approach the end of my first 12 months of writing as a member of the NC team. (You can support the Naked Capitalism team by clicking on the Tip Jar here.) I moved from the UK to live in Barcelona just over 20 years ago and spent the first 10 years working for language schools and engaged in academic translation work. This led to ghostwriting lengthy articles for one of Spains foremost business schools, and setting up my own political and business blog, Raging Bullshit, under the pseudonym Don Quijones.

By then the financial crisis was raging here in Spain and Naked Capitalism had become an authoritative source on how the global economy had devolved into such an ungodly mess. In 2013 I was offered an opportunity to work for Wolf Richter on his celebrated financial blog, Wolf Street (then known as Testosterone Pit). I worked for Wolf for the next 7 years, producing between 8-12 articles a month, some of which were cross-posted on NC. Wolf gave me a crash course on how to research and discuss economic and financial data and trends as well as the importance of backing up assertions with strong evidence and sound data. I will always be grateful to Wolf, who at the end of last year kindly recommended me to Yves.

The move to Naked Capitalism as a team member has given a boost to my own development, allowing me to cover a far wider range of topics of political as well as financial and business interest. When I started writing for Naked Capitalism a year ago, I was both thrilled and rather daunted, maybe even a little intimidated, by the prospect of writing a weekly article, due in part to the high level of specialist knowledge and expertise of its readership and commentariat. A graduate in history and a self-taught pseudo-economist, I am a consummate generalist.

Each article we writers produce always provokes intelligent, informed and sometimes very amusing feedback and insights which keep us on our toes. Its no exaggeration to say that I have learnt something new from comments on every article I have written and have had to eat humble pie on more than one occasion when a commenter unearths an error. I will never forget being caught out by one commenter  and then ribbed by others  for referring to something going off as a damp squid, not squib.

Another critical feature of my development as a writer has been how much Ive benefited from articles posted by my colleagues and, of course, the responses from the commentariat. This is particularly true with regard to issues relating to Covid-19 and the vaccines. Time and again NC has been ahead of the curve on issues such as aerosol transmission, the importance of mask-wearing and ventilation, and the limited efficacy of the vaccines. (If you want to reward NC for being early and right, please click the Tip Jar.) This, I believe, is down to a combination of factors: the open-mindedness, research and critical thinking skills of the writers; the editorial freedom Naked Capitalism provides, allowing its contributors to cover hugely important yet controversial issues that most other left-leaning alternative news websites steer clear of; and the unparalleled insights offered by the brain trusts Yves and Lambert have formed and nurtured over the years. So if you value these important communities as much as I do, please go to the donations page and chip in!

With my UK background, fluency in Spanish, ability to read complex articles in French, and excellent contacts in a number of South American countries, I have been able to research issues across a large part of the globe from original sources. This and Naked Capitalisms encouragement for me to address concerns in different countries provide me with an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of what really is happening under the surface, not just as reported in the traditional media. To be able to write in such depth twice a week for NC and its discerning readership is a huge challenge but, at the same time, a personally rewarding one.

For the past few months, I have been asked to submit articles for two postings per week  an absolute honour for me. This in turn has led a US publishing company to approach me with a commission to write a book about vaccine passports. For me writing my first book is a huge opportunity which I would not have been offered had it not been for NC. It is also evidence of just how wide and varied a readership Naked Capitalism attracts. For many people in important positions, whether in finance, industry, politics, or media, Naked Capitalism is one of their main go-to sites. (Your support ensures that Naked Capitalism will still be a go-to site. Click the Tip Jar here.)

One final and very personal note: I will never forget the concern and support provided by Lambert, Susan and, Jeri-Lynn during my and my Mexican wifes convalescence from Covid-19. Even though I have never met them other than virtually, it was one of the beautiful things about being part of a team rather than just a freelance contributor to a publication. So please help keep Naked Capitalism strong by making a generous donation!
My position with Nashville Post has evolved since 2000 when I began work with the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister pub in 2008 (when I began some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have worked mainly with the Post since late 2011.

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(Natural News) Americas agriculture industry continues to struggle in the face of the ongoing supply chain crisis exacerbated by heavy port congestion.

Ken Ericksen, senior vice president for financial information company IHS Markit, said that a lot of the solutions proposed by the government would only be partial solutions like moving ships away from the West Coast and diverting them to other ports. (Related: Supply chain crisis preventing California farmers from delivering their harvests.)

Other ports have terminals, cranes and capabilities, but no chassis to put those containers on, he said. They dont have chassis because there are regulations around importing some of those, which were hoping to see loosen up.

The sudden uptick in shipments due to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused what Ericksen called an unexpected tidal wave of shipping containers.

Over the past 15 months, over two million loaded shipping containers came off cargo ships and entered the United States. From 2015 to 2019, only six times did we exceed two million loaded containers, noted Ericksen.

According to the port operators in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, agricultural exports out of California are down a whopping 75 percent in Sept. 2021 compared to their 2018 to 2020 averages.

If cargo cant be moved from the ports and to the rest of the country, Ericksen pointed out that the entire economy would be in trouble, not just the agriculture sector. (Related: Efforts to keep ports open 24-7 to reduce cargo ship backlog arent going to work because insane trucking regulations in Dem-controlled California are keeping trucks off the road.)

Agriculture executives call for policy changes

Agriculture executives have pointed out that the current supply chain crisis could cause irreparable harm to the sector.

Mike Durkin, president and CEO of Leprino Foods, recently told the House Committee on Agriculture that the inability of farmers to export their goods may well result in irreparable harm to American agriculture as customers around the world are questioning the U.S. dairy industrys reliability as a supplier.

Freight rates from the U.S. to Asia are now 15 times lower than rates from Asia to the U.S. This has incentivized ships to leave American ports without filling up their entire boat with cargo containers, as it costs time and money to load them. Durkin pointed out that, for this reason, 70 percent of cargo containers return to Asia empty.

According to the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), which also rang in at the committee hearing, there are three things Congress can do to help resolve the situation at the ports.

First, Congress needs to pass the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021. This act, which has gained bipartisan support since its introduction back in August, would be the first major update to federal regulations regarding shipping in over 20 years.

If the act passes, the IDFA hopes the sections that eliminate unnecessary late fees, known in maritime parlance as detention and demurrage charges.

According to the current version of the act, ocean carriers and terminal operators would have to prove that the late fees they charge comply with federal regulations or face penalties.

Dunkin said 99 percent of Leprino Foods ocean shipments have been canceled and rebooked. Of those shipments, one percent were slapped with detention and demurrage fees. He pointed out that, on one account, a single freight was charged with a bill of over $25,000, resulting in costs of $25 million in 2021 alone.

Second, the IDFA wants Congress to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The association specifically wants the part of the act that allows 18- to 20-year-olds with qualified commercial drivers license to be able to drive out of state.

This provision will help resolve the congestion in the ports by putting more truck drivers out into Americas roads.

Finally, the IDFA wants Congress to pass a measure that will increase the gross weight limits on trucks from 80,000 lbs. to 91,000 lbs. with a sixth axle. Such a move would allow trucks to carry more cargo.

These three policy proposals alone will go a long way to solving the congestion at the ports. But Durkin said more is needed, including prohibiting foreign carriers from leaving the U.S. empty. He also wants the government to step in and provide more training for employees of port operators to maximize the efficiency of their 24-7 operating model.

Learn more about how the congestion at Americas ports is severely affecting the agriculture industry by reading the latest articles at Harvest.news.

Sources include:

AgWeb.com

KFGO.com

FarmWeekNow.com
(Natural News) Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan has no clue why hospitals throughout his jurisdiction are becoming overloaded with sick and dying patients who are not testing positive for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Many, if not most, of these patients are fully vaccinated in accordance with Australias mandates. They should be fully protected, right? That is what we were all told about these alleged miracle drugs.

If the injections are safe and effective and everyone is now protected, then what could be the cause of this sudden spike in illnesses and deaths? Health authorities are playing dumb and pretending as though they have no idea.

Our hospitals are under enormous pressure, McGowan stated during a recent press conference, reading from a script. This is the same in [the rest of Australia]. This has been something no one has ever seen before, the growth in demand in our hospitals, why it is, is hard, hard to know.

McGowan went on to talk about the huge numbers of people who are coming through the door at hospitals all across the country. We are doing everything we can to try to manage it, he said.

Jab-induced illness is spreading like wildfire and the government is in denial about it

It is important to note that Western Australia has some of the strictest coronavirus restrictions in all the land. Its borders are heavily guarded to stop the spread, and the jabs have been pushed on pretty much everyone.

The area should be a disease-free utopia  assuming, of course, that Fauci Flu fascism is truly science-based in helping to flatten the curve. With this new mystery outbreak, perhaps it is time to rethink the narrative.

According to the latest data, nearly 66 percent of Western Australia has taken both or more doses of injection from Operation Warp Speed. Nearly 75 percent of the region has taken at least one dose.

Based on the governments official herd immunity standards, this should mean that Western Australia is fully protected against the disease. And yet the opposite is true. (Related: There is no delta variant  no clinical test can diagnose you with delta and the entire narrative is a media-fabricated scam.)

A mystery disease appeared out of nowhere right after most people in the area were forced to take an injection of strange chemicals. And you better not question those injections because they are not to blame, the government says.

If people truly cared about doing the right thing, they would be beating down the doors of these politicians who are telling everyone that they must continue to alter their DNA with messenger RNA (mRNA) needles, even as hospitalizations continue to soar.

It is obvious that the jabs are to blame for this new crisis, but you will be hard-pressed to find any politician, right or left, who is willing to tell the truth about it.

I am a nurse for 25 years and I just had this conversation with my co-worker yesterday, wrote one commenter at Alex Berensons Substack. Why is our hospital so full? Very few COVID cases, not flu season yet, and we are busting at the seams. I have never worked so hard, never seen it like this with no end in sight.

This same person added that something is going on that needs to be talked about, especially since she lives in a blue state that is 90 percent vaccinated.

Elderly are coming in confused, falling, breaking bones. I did have an M.D. tell me last year she was seeing a lot of elderly with sudden onset confusion right after being vaccinated.

Follow ChemicalViolence.com for more news related to coronavirus vaccines.

Sources include:

AlexBerenson.substack.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Please, international friends, hear our cries for help and apply economic and political pressure on our leaders to change the destructive path we are on.

(Article by Amy Mek republished from RairFoundation.com)

Australia, as we once knew it, no longer exists. Australians are no longer young and free. Instead, Australians are discriminated against, pitted against each other, blackmailed, pressured, beaten, and stripped of their rights.

It has become a country where you can no longer move and speak freely. Protesting is prohibited, police officers must enforce controversial measures to keep their jobs, and police shoot protesters in the back as they run away. Doctors and nurses who speak out lose their license to practice medicine, and others lose their jobs if they refuse the jab. More and more children are isolated and attempting suicide.

We Are A Broken Nation

People must show vaccination papers if they want to go shopping and must first ask permission to travel to another state. In addition, Members of Parliament critical of the states measures are censored and vilified. Pregnant women are arrested for social media posts and activists who fight for democracy, end up in jail. Human rights in the most basic way, no longer exist.

Australia can no longer fight for itself, said Monica Smit, founder of Reignite Democracy Australia. They have gagged, attacked, blackmailed, and psychologically damaged us. We are trying to fight this fight alone. The government has instilled so much fear into people that we have lost our vigor to fight. We are a broken nation.

New legislation has been proposed in Victoria that would give its leader ultimate and arbitrary power to imprison political dissenters and even force medical testing and procedures, explains Smit. Elections could be suspended. The country is in distress, and we need your help.



Worldwide Protest

Monica Smit and her organization are organizing a worldwide protest on December 4, This is an official SOS message from my beautiful country. We beg you to heed our cry for help. They are requesting that their government has:

No more lockdowns

No mandatory vaccinations or medical procedures

No fines for businesses or individuals for COVID safe measures

Open reasonable options for International Travel

If the above requests are not honored, they are hoping some countries can offer these solutions to Australians who no longer feel safe here:

Expedite the safe return of your citizens who want to leave Australia.

Extend an offer of asylum to a certain number of Australians.

And although we will never give up, we need your help to continue our fight, Smit begs. We need help from our international friends.

Polish MPs have already spoken out in support of Australia, Smits hope that more countries join them. The Polish leaders condemned Australias treatment of citizens, comparing its radical left-wing policies to that of North Korea.



Read more at: RairFoundation.com
(Natural News) The reconciliation bill working its way through the U.S. House calls on the American taxpayer to subsidize Democrats media allies. The bill provides a special tax cut for the media under the guise of helping local journalists but eligible media companies will receive the funds for up to 1,500 reporters per company.

(Article by John Kartch and Michael Mirsky republished from ATR.org)

This provision would provide a refundable payroll tax credit equal to 50 percent of wages up to $12,500 per quarter per employee for the first four calendar quarters and a 30 percent credit for each calendar quarter thereafter.

On page 1,957 of the 2000+page bill, section 138516 would create a tax credit for news organizations, including newspapers and broadcasters such as radio and television:

The number of local news journalists which may be taken into account under subsection (a) with respect to any eligible local news journalist employer for any calendar quarter shall not exceed 1,500.

The Poynter Institute today bragged that the tax handout would benefit broadcasters, public and commercial in addition to newspapers.

It appears that both NPR and PBS will be eligible to receive this special tax handout. The bill specifically mentions that the credit is not to be applied to the Government of the United States, the government of any State or political subdivision thereof, or any agency or instrumentality of any of the foregoing; however there is an exception for public broadcasting entities as defined in the Communication Act of 1934. These public broadcasting entities are defined as:

the Corporation, any licensee or permittee of a public broadcast station, or any nonprofit institution engaged primarily in the production, acquisition, distribution, or dissemination of educational and cultural television or radio programs.

The progressive group ProPublica, which is trafficking in the stolen personal IRS files of thousands of Americans seems to be eligible as well. The bill disqualifies 501(c) (4) groups but allows 501(c)(3) groups such as ProPublica  to be eligible.

Perhaps not coincidentally, while congressional Democrats push for tax increases, ProPublica publishes stolen private tax information and laments the lavish lifestyles of disfavored, rich Americans.

The bill also appears to be a big-media power play against small, one-person local outfits. The bill specifically excludes journalists who do not have media liability insurance. This could be a cost barrier for many individuals seeking to truly cover local events in their community.

Several large, legacy daily newspapers, tv and radio broadcasting companies also appear eligible for the tax handout. Any newspaper eligible to receive these funds now needs to disclose this fact while editorializing in favor the Democrats reconciliation bill.

Read more at: ATR.org
(Natural News) The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently approved a technology that aims to surveil people via their digital activity and give them scores that define their potential level of superspreading activity. Vaccination will then depend on the scores gathered using the technology.

The patent put forward by attorneys Gal Ehrlich and Maier Fenster of Ehrlich & Fenster proposes collecting a wide range of personal information from different sources, such as mobile devices, apps, social media, web browsing records, payment records, medical records, employment records, the government and other surveillance cameras.

It will also collect highly specific personal information from these sources, including precise location data, length of time spent at locations being visited, ventilation rates of these places, images of people looking at the screen of their mobile phones, sounds from microphones in personal devices and facial recognition data.

The patent also proposes numerous political surveillance applications, which include detecting when people are using public transport by using geolocation and/or start-stop movements that match public transportation profiles. It will monitor when people are washing their hands by analyzing sounds of water running or by smartwatch movement. It will also check whether people are wearing a mask by analyzing images taken out during calls or by looking at the screen of the cellphone.

Upon gathering data, the technology that was outlined in the patent will analyze data and assign scores to electronic devices. This score will predict the potential level of superspreading activities of individuals and will then recommend vaccinations according to scores.

Not only does the patent suggest mass electronic surveillance to create a social credit style score that determines whether or not they should be vaccinated, it also proposes that the technology be deployed as part of a dedicated mandatory app where the government monitor citizens to install the application on their smartphones to help the government with the logistics of the vaccination process. (Related: COVID tracking apps have eerie echoes of Chinese surveillance system.)

The patent also adds that in some embodiments of the system, the app or the smart device is configured to inform about the users location at all times and to communicate with adjacent smart devices to assess interactions between users, their vicinity or movement.

In determining the individuals score, the patent suggests that a persons profession, medical data, nature and type of locations they visit, their frequently visited locations and the length of time they spend at these locations should be used as part of the calculation. People who frequently attend religious or secular events, for instance, can receive a higher score for their involvement in contact events than those who do not engage in such activities.

The patent was approved last August 31 and follows governments around the globe in implementing far-reaching surveillance measures amidst the coronavirus pandemic, such as vaccine passports that aim to exclude people from economic and social activities.

Is real-time surveillance ethical?

To make surveillance ethical, its reason to exist should be reasonable, with publicly accessible records and accountability for those approving and performing the tasks in question.

Many tools, devices and apps have already been put in use to support pandemic surveillance. China, South Korea and Malaysia, for instance, developed some of these platforms early in the pandemic. It showed enhancements in digital technology, mobile phone networks and potential in telehealth systems that could help reshape what healthcare looks like.

In the United Kingdom, the government portal cover the latest daily statistics around known cases, hospitalizations and deaths, while South Korea used mobile phone technology to develop apps that support testing programs. A Ghanaian software company was also able to adapt one of its data platforms to help report and track COVID symptoms across the country.

Data platform Opine was also built to gather information about diseases from diverse sources to provide real-time insights. The aim was to ensure that everyone in the country could participate in disease surveillance, and technology was adapted to ensure it could be used in place despite low internet connectivity.

What is interesting about government surveillance in the U.S. is that it is not held in the same standard of accountability as the Constitution, which protects American citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. Electronic surveillance could be considered more invasive than a physical search, yet it has been made clear that it is in fact easier for the government to perform them.

Read more updates related to COVID-19 at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

BlacklistedNews.com

TheConversation.com

CS.Stanford.edu
(Natural News) A nurse recently spoke out against doctors at her hospital who are wishing for the death of unvaccinated Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) patients.

In the video, the nurse pointed out that shes appalled at how some healthcare workers in the country are behaving.

A couple of years ago, if you would have told me that doctors would be verbally wishing their patients to die based on their vaccination status or choice they made, I wouldnt have believed you, she said. If you would have told me that nurses would no longer be advocating for their patients rights and autonomy, I wouldnt have believed you.

The nurse, who remains unvaccinated herself, said it has become normal for her to hear other healthcare workers wish death upon not just their unvaccinated patients, but everyone who has refused to take the experimental and deadly COVID-19 vaccines.

She remarked that if she knew that these are the kind of people she would end up working with, she would have pursued a different career. I am just so disgusted by the state of the world right now, she said.

The nurse emphasized that it is not for healthcare workers to judge a person based on their health choices.

Im sorry, but do we turn people away with kidney failure because they decided to drink one too many and say, Sucks for you, or do we put them on dialysis? Do we look at people dying from lung cancer and say, Dug your grave. Sucks, not helping you. No? Or how about obese people? Do we say, Hit the treadmill, fatty, theres nothing I can do for you? No, we dont do that because thats disgusting and its wrong, she ranted.

No, as healthcare workers  as a decent human being  we do not wish other people die. We dont do that. Thats not how we roll around here, okay?

By the end of her video, the nurse talked about how she had also been subjected to this kind of treatment.

Im sorry, but Im so bothered at the fact that thats normal. That its normal for me to sit and have a conversation with somebody my age and them tell me they hope Id die because Im not vaccinated, she said.

No, thats not okay.

Unvaccinated nurse speaks out. Stirring and emotional words.pic.twitter.com/ASsIcA4r47  Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) October 29, 2021

Doctors refusing to treat unvaccinated patients

In recent months, doctors all over the country have become notorious for proclaiming that they will refuse to treat anybody who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

In Mobile, Alabama, Dr. Jason Valentine of Diagnostic and Medical Clinic Infirmary Health said that he would no longer meet with unvaccinated patients starting Oct. 1.

If [patients] asked why, I told them COVID is a miserable way to die and I cant watch them die like that, wrote Valentine.

In South Miami, Dr. Linda Marraccini gained notoriety for refusing to provide treatment to unvaccinated patients.

It appears that there is a lack of selflessness and concern for the burden on the health and well-being of our society from our encounters, she wrote in a letter. She stopped seeing unvaccinated patients after Sept. 15.

Those are just two of the dozens of other recorded instances of doctors refusing to treat unvaccinated patients.

But many other doctors have pointed out that it is wrong for doctors to refuse patients for any reason.

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, a critical care and palliative care physician currently practicing at the Ottawa Hospital in Canada, went viral in September for a video speaking out against his peers who are restricting care for unvaccinated patients.

We hustle, we do what we can to serve and get you through your illness, said Kyeremanteng. And to think that we would do anything less because of your vaccine status is atrocious, it is absolutely atrocious. And it would be extremely shameful to even think thats a consideration within our society.

Kyeremanteng stressed that limiting any care for the unvaccinated is not the reason he got into medicine. We are better than this, he said.

Learn more about how healthcare workers are refusing to provide treatment to unvaccinated people by reading the latest articles at Vaccines.news.

Sources include:

CitizenFreePress.com

NBCNews.com

FoxNews.com 1

FoxNews.com 2
(Natural News) Few people know this but back in 2017, rural India implemented a digital biometrics food rationing system called Aadhaar that was thrust upon the country by none other than billionaire eugenicist Bill Gates. And many Indians have since died because of this genocidal tool.

Aadhaar was built by Gates using a social credit scoring model that allots resources, including public services, to people based on their compliance levels with whatever the global capitalists are demanding of them at any given time. It is also riddled with errors that have cost many Indians their lives.

Etwariya Devi, a 67-year-old widow from the rural Indian state of Jharkhand, was starved to death by Gates after her Aadhaar app refused to distribute the 25kg bag of rice she was promised monthly. For whatever reason, the app would not recognize Devis fingerprint, so she was denied food until she eventually died.

Premani Kumar, a 64-year-old woman also from Jharkhand, suffered a similar demise after the Aadhaar system mistakenly awarded her pension payments to another person without her permission. Like Devi, Kumar stopped receiving food and eventually starved to death.

Then we have 11-year-old Santoshi Kumari, also from Jharkhand, whose family stopped receiving food rations for failing to link the government program to their Aadhaar digital ID. Kumari begged in the streets for rice only to eventually starve to death just like the others. (RELATED: Bill Gates is buying up farmland in the United States to do the same thing here.)

With over one billion Indians in its database, Aadhaar is the largest biometric digital ID program ever constructed, reported The Defender.

Besides serving as a portal to government services, it tracks users movements between cities, their employment status and purchasing records. It is a de facto social credit system that serves as the key entry point for accessing services in India.

One of the goals of covid is to usher in a global system of social credit scoring

Using the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic, which he helped plan and create in advance, as an excuse, Gates is now pushing to expand the Aadhaar social credit scoring model to the rest of the world. India, in other words, was just the testing ground.

Since it worked so well to exterminate the lives of people that Gates feels are beneath him, his next endeavor is to partner up with other mass murderers like himself to bring digital ID systems to wealthy countries like the United States.

For those yearning for an end to pandemic-related restrictions, credential programs certifying their vaccination against COVID-19 have been marketed as the key to reopening the economy and restoring their personal freedom, The Defender explains about one of the purposes behind the plandemic.

But the implementation of immunity passports is also accelerating the establishment of a global digital identity infrastructure.

The U.S. military is, of course, also behind this globalist push. NATO contractor Thales admitted that covid vaccine passports are merely a precursor to digital ID wallets, which are soon on the way to put an end to the plandemic.

The evolution of vaccine certificates will actually drive the whole field of digital ID in the future, proudly announced the CEO of iProove, a biometrics ID company that is currently contracted with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

So, therefore, this is not just about covid; this is about something even bigger.

Of course it is about something bigger. It is about total global enslavement of the masses, which are mere fodder for the elites to use and abuse as their own personal playthings until the end of time.

The latest news about Bill Gates can be found at Evil.news.

Sources for this article include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) The Richard Rowe for Congress Facebook is still live, however. The internet is forever, folks. Nothing ever disappears.

(Article republished from TheCOVIDBlog.com)

LYNNE, FLORIDA A 41-year-old truck driver and self-described powerhouse progressive and LGBT former Florida congressional candidate is dead after a final month of life filled with vitriol.

Mr. Richard Ricky Rowe was already, for lack of better term, an unpleasant personality based on his Facebook and Twitter archives. The injections exacerbated it, providing more evidence that these shots change peoples personalities and psychological states of mind.

Mr. Rowe was a truck driver by trade. But he ran for seats in the Florida House Of Representative and the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. He lost in the primaries in the previous and dropped out before the primaries in the latter race. Mr. Rowe was a Democrat who stressed that he was a progressive, not a liberal. His hatred and vitriol towards non-vaxxed people dates back to early 2021.

Exacerbated vitriol

Mr. Rowe received his first Pfizer mRNA injection on August 12, according to his Facebook page. Its unclear when he received the second injection. But Mr. Rowe was very loyal to the vaxx and all things surrounding it. Further, 92% of self-identified LGBT people follow vaxx schedules loyally, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Thus Mr. Rowe likely followed Centers for Disease Control instructions and got the second shot sometime between September 5 and 12.

He wasted no time with the vitriol, declaring himself morally and intellectually superior to all non-vaxxed people the day of his first injection.

His posts got stranger and nastier after August 12. But well pick up in October.

Mr. Rowe promoted indoctrinating kids with homosexual culture, and posted a strange word-salad about pansexual and bisexual.

The rest of October was spent attacking the non-vaxxed at every opportunity. He said, I really dont give a shit what happens to you to all non-vaxxed people on October 7.

Mr. Rowe mocked non-vaxxed nurses and supported firing them for not getting the shots.

Later that day, he said non-vaxxed people better accept being day laborers like illegal immigrants at Home Depot since nobody will hire them.

Mr. Rowe said non-vaxxed people are the bottom of the food chain on October 18.

He then said Fuck em regarding the death of former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The final post well cover here is Mr. Rowe declaring that Joe Biden has the power of a king, can mandate whatever he wants, and everyone must obey.

Death of Ricky Rowe

Mr. Rowes last Facebook post came on October 27, taking digs at Senator Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia. He took his dog for a walk the morning of Thursday, October 29, according to a GoFundMe page that we wont be linking here. Mr. Rowe had an unknown medical episode and was found by the neighbors. He was pronounced dead that morning.

His niece posted an update on his Facebook on November 2, confirming Mr. Rowe passed away unexpectedly last week.

The GoFundMe says, Ricky was that guy who had everyone elses best interest at heart well before his own. One donor wrote, I enjoyed Richard on Facebook. He had a good heart and was a giving person. No funeral arrangements are set as of publishing.

LGBT vitriol and self-deletion

There is a definitive pattern here. Mr. Jason Maurer, the 45-year-old LGBT bartender, is now infamous for his shut up and get your vaccine declaration before he died. Mr. Willie Garson is most famous for playing an LGBT character on television. He called the non-vaxxed fucking idiots, ignorant morons, and a bunch of other stuff. And now theres Richard Rowe, who literally just dropped dead last week.

Once again, you have to wonder why the powers that be appear to care about and love LGBT in the public sphere, while said people are the most likely to receive the lethal injections. Its ironic how the injections are required to do much of anything in 2021, while homosexual culture is required if you want to be involved in anything Hollywood or show business. Acceptance of homosexual culture is also required in the broader corporate sphere.

This blogger worked in radio broadcasting in the 1990s and early 2000s. It was living the dream with low pay as a young man. That day when a top executive tried to hook me up with a man crushed my soul and my dreams. He didnt say it directly. But he implied that sleeping with a man was prerequisite to getting promoted to a morning slot, which never happened.

A few years later, Dave Chappelle said he experienced the same thing in an Oprah Winfrey interview.

Homosexual culture and the injections are inherently linked because both are integral to the depopulation agenda. But if trends keeps moving in the same direction, homosexual culture will be gone in a matter of a few years. Receiving these shots is self-deletion; and LGBT are the most eager to line up for it. And they believe its a noble thing to do.

Theres no more time to be politically correct. Playing along with the homosexual agenda is akin to cooperating with and promoting the vaxx agenda, and thus the depopulation agenda. Which side are you on? Stay vigilant and protect your friends and loved ones.

Read more at: TheCOVIDBlog.com
(Natural News) Victoria, Australia, Premier Dan Andrews has introduced two new bills that would punish any violation of the states Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) safety restrictions with up to two years in prison.

Andrews recently presented the legislation to the states Parliament. The bills are called the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 and the Emergency Powers (Emergency Powers) Safeguards Legislation Amendment Bill 2021.

If passed, the two pieces of legislation would allow Andrews to issue fines of $90,000 to all individuals who intentionally and recklessly violate his public health orders. Business violators would be fined $455,000 a pop.

Law enforcement would also be granted the authority to imprison for up to two years all Aussies who flout whatever Andrews tells them to do in order to keep them safe against the Fauci Flu.

The first bill previously mentioned would empower the Victorian state government to restrict movement, to require the use of face coverings, or to require persons to be subject to detention or quarantine requirements.

The Pandemic Management bills stated purpose is to suppress the most egregious pandemic-related behaviors and body corporate entities [businesses] from non-compliance with heavy penalties when actions are determined to be likely to cause a serious risk to the health of another individual,' reported LifeSiteNews.

It states, The maximum penalty for an individual for this offence is 500 penalty units [exceeding $90,000] for a person or imprisonment up to 2 years. For a body corporate, the maximum penalty is the greater of either 2,500 penalty units [exceeding $454,000] or a fine of up to three times the assessed commercial benefit gained as a result of the non-compliance.'

The real virus is government tyranny

As for what constitutes an egregious behavior under the legislation, the bills define this as any deliberate breaching of quarantine or detention requirements after testing positive, as well as engaging in events that have the potential to spread the virus to others.

The Pandemic Management bill also transfers more power into the hands of Andrews to make a pandemic declaration at whim. This would allow him to become a dictator whenever he feels like it using the excuse of public safety.

The Emergency Powers bill supplements this by granting even more power to Andrews to limit peoples movement, ban social and religious gatherings, shut down businesses, and force people into quarantine. (RELATED: Remember when Dan Andrews lied about there being Fauci Flu germs in sewage pipes in order to impose harsh lockdowns?)

In response to Andrews proposed legislation, Christopher Blanden QC, President of the Victorian Bar, called it appalling. He added that it lacks the appropriate checks and balances to ensure the proper exercise of these powers.

Under the guise of public health, Andrews two bills contain loads of problematic provisions that confer very broad power on authorized officers without effective review or oversight, gathering police power to enter premises without a warrant, and abrogating privilege against self-incrimination.

Ryan Smith, a Member of Parliament (MP), also blasted Andrews two bills, calling them a draconian power grab. Smith and other MPs have vowed to fight against this tyrannical encroachment to restore freedom to the people of Victoria.

They were told last week there would be no more lockdowns, and one week later [here is] legislation that gives [the state government] draconian, unfettered, unshackled power to do it all over again, Smith stated, noting that Victorians were just released from almost 250 days of lockdown.

Well, I say to Victorians  the Liberal Party and the National Party will not stand for this. We will oppose this every step of the way, in this place [the Parliament]  and out on the streets! he added.

More of the latest news about Chinese Virus tyranny can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Patients being brought into hospitals in Canada by ambulance are being subjected to hours-long waits as the countrys publicly funded health system struggles with staffing shortages.

Alberta Health Services Paramedic Don Sharpe recently spoke with RAIR Foundation USA to explain how hospitals there are regularly forcing patients in urgent need of care to wait for hospital admission. There are often several emergency patients waiting in hospital hallways for several hours at a time to get emergency treatment.

But every day, youll see patients lined up in hallways of hospital emergency departments and with the paramedics because the hospital refuses to accept care of these patients, he said.

Although Canada is one of a few countries that allows patients to be removed from the ambulance and brought into the hallway of the hospital while waiting, paramedics say they cannot provide good-quality care to patients in such an environment, and clashes with nursing staff as they advocate for bed assignments can be tense. It also means that privacy and hygiene are being compromised.

Sharpe blames a huge leadership vacuum in Canadian healthcare for the problem. In addition to the dangers it poses to patients in need of emergency care, it ties up ambulances and EMTs, who could be out in the community helping others in need.

12-Hour waits for care in some places

Photos posted on social media of eight ambulances parked outside a New Brunswick emergency room waiting to get inside caused a stir recently, prompting an ambulance spokesperson to confirm the situation. Five of them were late in unloading, which means they were either waiting for nurse supervision or room in the ER. Their wait times ranged from 2 hours and 9 minutes on the short end to a horrifying 12 hours and 29 minutes on the higher end.

In total that day, ambulances experienced more than 61 (61.35) hours in unloading delays in the Emergency Department of the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Center, an Ambulance New Brunswick spokesperson reported. Other area hospitals have also been registering double-digit discharge hours.

Meanwhile, the head of the union that represents paramedics in the Prince Edward Island province, Jason Woodbury, said people are regularly waiting six to eight hours in hospital hallways and ambulance bays due to a lack of emergency room beds. The closures of rural emergency departments due to lack of staff are contributing to these problems.

Queen Elizabeth Hospital emergency room physician Dr. Trevor Jain said the delays have been having a serious impact on the healthcare system. Thats an ambulance off the road that cant be utilized for more calls, he said.

Health P.E.I. acting chief operating officer Corinne Roswell said: A good percentage of it does have to do with staffing. So we know we have staffing shortages in a number of areas, including nurses, our registered nurses, our licensed practical nurses, and RCWs, etc. We know that staffing is a significant issue.

EMTs have offered several possible solutions to the issue over the years to the hospital establishment, but their concerns have been largely brushed aside. Some have even been hosting their own town halls to make the public aware of the problem. Many times, he says, people attend whose loved ones have been negatively impacted by the lengthy response times.

Its hard to accept that so many people suffering medical emergencies are being rushed to hospitals by ambulance only to end up having to wait hours to be allowed to leave the ambulance and go into the emergency room for critical care. Although the problem has been getting worse lately, long wait times throughout the public healthcare system have long been one of Canadians top complaints.

Sources for this article include:

RAIRFoundation.com

TheCanadian.news

CBC.ca
(Natural News) The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is really worried about the latest wave of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) to emerge in mostly-vaccinated Germany.

The United Nations arm expressed grave concern, to quote mainstream news reports, about how quickly the latest variants of the Chinese Virus are supposedly spreading across Europe, including in Germany which just saw its largest daily increase in cases since the start of the plandemic.

We are, once again, at the epicentre, announced WHO Europe director Hans Kluge at a press conference.

Even though nearly 67 percent of Germany is now fully vaccinated for the Fauci Flu, Kluge estimates that another half a million people will die from covid by February.

This is according to one reliable projection, he said, mostly leaving it at that.

Europes most populous country, Germany saw 34,000 new cases of Chinese Germs in one single day, which the Robert Koch Institute health agency claims is an all-time high.

Whether these so-called cases involve symptoms or just a positive test result is unclear.

The jabs are making people sick

Great Britain, meanwhile, recently approved Merck & Co.s new anti-covid pill, which is just ivermectin rebranded in a new patented drug cocktail full of other questionable ingredients.

According to U.K. health minister Sajid Javid, molnupiravir, as Merck is calling it, is a game-changer for the most vulnerable and the immunosuppressed.

These same vulnerable and immunosuppressed would have been just fine had they been allowed access to real ivermectin, which is safe, effective, and inexpensive, seeing as how it is off-patent. But politicians like Javid would not allow that.

Since Big Pharma could not make much money off of ivermectin, it had to be banned alongside hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Consequently, much of the Western world is experiencing skyrocketing disease cases.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn claims that his country now faces a massive pandemic due to the unvaccinated, though this is inaccurate as the sick ones who are flooding hospitals and intensive care units (ICU) tend to be fully vaccinated.

Corona is once again raging with full force, announced the German news outlet Bild. The fourth wave is hitting us hard.

Since the Chinese Virus first appeared back in late 2019, there have been 78 million cases of it reported across the WHOs Europe region, which includes 53 countries and territories along with several countries in Central Asia.

This is more than that of South East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean region, the Western Pacific and Africa combined, the WHO admits. Part of the reason why this is the case is that Africa, for instance, widely adopted the use of ivermectin, as did parts of India.

Government health officials continue to play dumb about all this, though. Many of them are still blaming the unvaccinated and people who do not wear masks for the continued surge of illnesses throughout areas that mostly took the injections.

Based on this narrative, government officials like outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel are expressing support for more restrictions and punishments for people who refuse to take the jabs.

Merkel and others are calling for vaccine passports to be shown prior to entry into stores, for instance. There is also already a push for people to take third and even fourth booster shots in order to be granted the privilege of living.

Mass hypnosis = mass psychosis = mass hysteria = mass deaths = mass depopulation, is how one Natural News commenter summed up the news about Mercks ivermectin rip-off solution to the alleged crisis.

Its nothing but an MSM false flag, wrote another about Mercks new poison. Its the controlled opposition playing into the obvious realization that Merck is thieving the ivermectin blueprint for $$$.

The latest news stories about the Chinese Virus can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

France24.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Peter Navarro, a former trade advisor for President Donald Trump, said that Dr. Anthony Fauci knew from the very beginning that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is a weaponized creation of researchers in the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). According to Navarro, Fauci refused to inform the president or anyone else in the previous administration about the truth.

Navarro made this statement during his appearance on the Nov. 8 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report, hosted by physician and conservative political commentator Dr. Steven Hotze on Brighteon.TV.

Fauci knew that the virus came out within yards of [the WIV], said Navarro. He knew it probably came from the lab. But Doc, he also knew that he had given taxpayer money to that lab and that he has listed the ban on gain-of-function experiments that can turn a harmless bat virus into a human killer. (Related: Oversight on Faucis part allowed gain-of-function experiments in Wuhan to continue.)

He did it behind the back of me and the president, Navarro continued. And he knew, based on an email he got from a scientist, that this virus [that came] out of this lab was genetically engineered.

Navarro pointed out that all of the problems the U.S. is dealing with right now  Bidens illegitimate presidency, the supply chain crisis, the trillion-dollar spending bills of the Democrats  can all be traced back to Faucis lie of omission.

According to Navarro, Fauci should have informed Trump that this virus likely came from this lab and that it was perhaps weaponized right before COVID-19 started spreading across the country in January 2020.

If that had happened, if he had simply come clean at that point, we would have had a completely different strategy in terms of fighting that. And so, everything were talking about today, all of Bidens feckless actions and the fact that that illegitimate president is sitting behind the Resolute desk, it all tracks back to this.

In a different interview, Navarro pointed out that it was Fauci who went behind the back of the Trump White House back in 2017 to remove the ban on gain-of-function experiments.

It was Faucis agency that helped fund and orchestrate such experiments at a bioweapons lab in Wuhan, China, where the pandemic almost certainly originated, said Navarro.

Navarro holds Fauci accountable not just for the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. He also believes Fauci is responsible for the suppression of low-cost therapeutics that could have been used to combat the coronavirus, including ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

According to Navarro, Fauci did this for political reasons, mainly so that Trump would not be seen as the president that saved the country from the coronavirus.

Fauci did not want to impose a travel ban on China

During an interview in early October, Navarro said he twice urged Trump to fire Fauci.

In the interview, Navarro recounted how he and Fauci got into a screaming match within the first few minutes after meeting each other in the situation room. The heated argument was reportedly over Faucis unwillingness to impose a travel ban on China.

Days before this first meeting with Navarro, Fauci had spoken to media outlets about how the coronavirus was a very, very low risk for the United States and that a travel ban on China is not the solution.

You mean to tell me if China is sending us over 20,000 passengers a day, some of whom may have escaped from the ground zero of Wuhan, that there is no risk that some of these passengers will seed and spread the virus? said Navarro, recalling his argument with Fauci.

In my experience, travel restrictions dont work, responded Fauci.

I came out of there thinking, Wow, that guy thinks hes smarter than he is, and two, more importantly, That guys going to hurt us and the president,' said Navarro.

Navarro further stated that he had asked Trump on at least two different occasions to fire Fauci. But he then said he does not blame the president for not taking his advice.

It was a mistake for the republic because that man is evil, he said. Make no mistake about this. He is evil because he was at the American bureaucracy that used taxpayer dollars to pursue gain-of-function research.

Dr. Steven Hotze and Peter Navarro have a lot more to talk about, including how President Joe Bidens infrastructure bill is a poor imitation of Chinese infrastructure plans and how Biden has the reverse Midas Touch, where everything he touches turns to garbage. Watch the entire Nov. 8 episode of The Dr. Hotze Report here:

The Dr. Hotze Report with Dr. Steven Hotze airs every Monday from 5-6 p.m. on Brighteon.TV.

Learn more about how Fauci helped the coronavirus spread in the U.S. by reading the latest articles at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

NYPost.com

FoxNews.com
(Natural News) Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) went against science and approved the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for children aged five to 11.

For most parents, this would mean that they will need to submit their children for vaccination despite studies of healthy children rarely ever getting infected with the disease, or watch as public education and other services are denied to their children.

President Joe Bidens plan of quickly rolling out vaccines to young children is meeting growing resistance as there are many parents who believe inoculation is not necessary for the aforementioned age group. Even parents who have been vaccinated themselves are opposed to vaccinating their children as they worry about long-term side effects.

Colorado began vaccinating children ages five to 11 after the CDC gave its go-ahead. However, as the state launched its campaign to administer shots to nearly 500,000 children in that age group, parents still continue to be wary of giving their consent.

Matthew Daley, a pediatrician and senior investigator for Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research said that parents always want to do the best for their children. They may be more risk-averse about their child, he said.

Colorado public health and medical experts said that the Pfizer COVID-19 shot is safe for children in this age group. The scrutiny these vaccines are under from our regulatory agency is pretty intense. We wouldnt put it out there if we didnt think it was safe and the benefit didnt outweigh the risk. Theres a lot of hope for optimism, said Dr. Lalit Bajaj, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Childrens Hospital Colorado.

The arrival of the vaccine for children comes as COVID-19 cases begin to rise once more, and state officials are concerned that the approaching holidays and flu season could place further pressure on hospitals.

The latest surge in cases began when children returned to school, spurring an increase in infections among adolescents. Children can also spread the virus to others, including people with a higher risk for complications, according to officials.

Getting our children vaccinated now is an important thing we can all do before gathering with our families over the holidays, said Colorado state epidemiologist Rachel Herlihy. (Related: Study: COVID-19 vaccine poses significant risks to childrens health.)

Parents worried about side effects

One-third of American parents plan to wait and see how well the COVID-19 vaccine works before inoculating their younger children, while another 30 percent said they wont get their children vaccinated at all. The remaining 27 percent said that they will let their children be inoculated right away.

Among the leading reasons for this is that they are still unsure about the effects of the vaccine on their children.

A father of an 11-year-old said that he is worried about the size of the Pfizer vaccine trial, which studied the safety of the vaccine in about 3,100 children. He said he feels it wasnt large enough to catch side effects and would prefer to wait until around two million doses have been delivered to see how they work.

The study of Pfizers vaccine found that children in the five to 11 age group were less likely than teens or young adults to immediately experience temporary vaccine side effects, possibly because the childrens dose is lower. However, it still involves two shots, given three weeks apart.

Get more COVID-19 vaccine updates at Pandemic.news.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

DenverPost.com
(Natural News) A medical Apartheid is taking root in the United States of America. Los Angeles Democrats have now turned the city into a discriminatory, two-tiered society that celebrates segregation and the loss of medical privacy and ethics.

No one is allowed to participate in this safe, Democrat utopia unless they are jabbed with the deadly, debilitating mRNA vaccines. No one is allowed to visit theaters, restaurants, shopping malls, gyms, salons, etc. if they do not show proof that they were inoculated by this global experiment.

One jab isnt enough either. Most vaccine programs require a minimum of two shots. Israel now requires three shots and is moving quickly to require a fourth, revoking freedoms for the vaccine compliant every six months.

People who are injured by the first shot cannot medically tolerate a second or a third shot and are therefore barred from society, too. People who are killed or disabled by the second or third shot ultimately lose everything as they try to comply with evil.

Pain, misery, death, segregation and total subservience: the Democrats safe utopia

This experimental gene interference technology encodes lab engineered spike proteins inside the body. In addition to all the other adverse events commonly caused by vaccines (including Guillain Barre syndrome, anaphylaxis and Bells Palsy), these foreign toxins cause blood clots and permanent damage to the recipients cardiovascular system, including damage to their myocardium and pericardium.

Data is beginning to show that the shots also increase ones susceptibility to infection, wiping out critical facets of the innate immune system. This leads to lifelong dependence on mRNA updates, or however many shots it takes to kill a person.

There is no system of accountability to hold these tyrannical Democrats accountable, either. They claim ownership over peoples bodies now, violating the Constitutional order and international treaties like the Nuremberg Code. When people are injured or killed by these experiments, public health authorities and policy makers cant be held liable. The vaccine manufacturers cant be sued for damages.

Democrats now think they can require all people to destroy their cardiovascular system and wipe out their immune system in order to keep their jobs, show up to public venues and participate in commerce. Its modern-day slavery and genocide. Sadly, the Republicans in these cities are too weak to stand up to the psychological, spiritual and physical warfare that are being waged upon their constituents.

The leader of the Republican Party himself, Donald Trump, is still championing his warp speed vaccines and wont dare challenge these unlawful vaccine mandates.

The spirit of the antichrist is alive and well in Los Angeles, requiring bodily subservience for everyone to buy and sell. These are signs of Biblical prophecy, yet even some Christian churches are going along with restrictions, shutdowns and segregation of the unvaccinated.

Los Angeles officials are willing to destroy all liberties for a false sense of security

Los Angeles city officials are giving businesses until November 29 to acclimatize to the new vaccine passport rules. Business inspections will begin in December. Any business that doesnt check for patrons vaccine status will be given a warning first and then a $1,000 fine.

The fines increase with repeated violations. City officials say the rules are all about keeping people safe. These rules are in place to keep Angelenos safe, and help us get the economy back to full strength as quickly as possible, said Harrison Wollman, a spokesperson for Mayor Eric Garcetti.

Ironically, almost every other part of the United States are operating just fine without this system of segregation and subservience.

If a vaccinated person is still afraid of another person, it means that they dont even believe the vaccine protects their health. These people suffer from psychosis and are a threat to the country now. People with psychosis are still trying to dictate what other people do.

Meanwhile, people with comprehensive and durable natural immunity are living vax-free, mask-free and unafraid. And they do not require anyone to do anything to their bodies. These free people have been living well in wide open states like Florida and Texas, where human rights are restored, people gather, dine, worship and do business like free men and women should.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) New tax reporting rules included in President Joe Bidens $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill became a cause for alarm in the cryptocurrency and non-fungible token (NFT) sectors. Individuals and groups in those sectors think the new provisions could impact transactions.

The amendment to section 6050I of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 was quietly inserted in the infrastructure bill as it was passed by the Senate. This provision, which would apply to all Americans who receive any kind of digital asset, has thus far escaped public or congressional scrutiny, a September 2021 report by Abraham Sutherland pointed out.

The proposed amendment seeks to make receiving digital assets  including crypto and NFTs  a felony if they are not disclosed correctly. Any person who receives over $10,000 in digital assets must verify the senders personal information, including [their] Social Security number, and sign and submit a report to the [federal] government within 15 days, Sutherlands report said. Americans who fail to do so will be subject to fines and jail time of up to five years.

Miners, stakers, lenders, decentralized application and marketplace users, traders, businesses and individuals are all at risk of being subject to this reporting requirement  even though in most situations, the person or entity in receipt is not in the position to report the required information, the attorney said. A statute creating felony crimes for users of digital assets should be debated openly, not quietly inserted into a spending bill.

The current version of the law requires people receiving more than $10,000 in cash and equivalents such as cashiers checks and money orders to disclose these transactions. Pertinent details such as the senders name, address and Social Security number must be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), alongside receipts for these amounts.

According to Sutherlands report, the proposal relies on a 1984 law aimed at discouraging in-person cash transfers and encouraging the use of financial institutions for large transactions. It pointed out that including digital assets in the provision makes compliance unduly burdensome as any receipt can prompt the IRS reporting. (Related: IRS now cracking down on Bitcoin with tools that eliminate transaction anonymity.)

Federal government tightens grip on crypto

The provision comes amid governments worldwide trying to keep up with the rapid rise of crypto. They claim that the unregulated sector could be potentially tapped for money laundering.

On the other hand, critics say the new provision could force often-anonymous participants in crypto and NFT trading to disclose information about the people they do business with  which they simply might not have. Crypto industry pundits also warn that decentralized finance (DeFi) operations that rely on automated smart contracts could also be hit by the provision.

Brian Armstrong, CEO of crypto exchange platform Coinbase, tweeted about the amendment: The 6050I provision in the infrastructure bill seems like a disaster if I understand it. [Its a] criminal felony statute that could freeze a lot of healthy crypto behavior, like DeFi.

The amendment also contains a provision expanding the definition of a broker to include cryptocurrency brokers. Currently, brokers are also required to report many transactions to the IRS. The Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI), a group of crypto industry leaders, expressed concern for the provision in a statement.

We are deeply concerned with the passage of problematic language on cryptocurrency in the infrastructure bill. The current reporting structure lacks clarity, and has the potential to harm the very people who strive to develop businesses and support the U.S. economy, the groups statement said.

CCI brought up two concerns in its statement posted on Twitter. First, it pointed out that the broker definition may include entities without customers  such as crypto miners and developers. Second, it noted that the reporting requirement creates an undue financial surveillance that may extend to individuals who are not even customers. Our companies encourage reporting, but this provision places unnecessary burdens on many, including those who are not customers, CCI said. (Related: New infrastructure bill contains Orwellian surveillance provision targeting cryptocurrency users, spelling DOOM for the crypto markets if passed.)

However, some experts said fears over the infrastructure bill appear to be overly exaggerated. William Quigley, co-founder of the Tether cryptocurrency and the blockchain platform WAX, said: I dont think people will notice much. Did everything die in crypto in the U.S. when Coinbase began [issuing] Form 1099s a few years ago? Quigley referred to the crypto exchange platforms 2017 issuance of IRS forms for so-called other sources of income.

Tax attorney James Creech, who specializes in crypto, said: The crypto community got a strong wake-up call that it needs to highlight the benefits rather than let Washington dictate top-down. Once you get identified as the source of the tax gap, you also get identified as something that needs to be cracked down upon.

BitcoinCrash.news has more articles about how the new IRS reporting requirements impact the world of crypto.

Sources include:

FastCompany.com

ProofOfStakeAlliance.org [PDF]

Your.Yale.edu

Twitter.com

Bloomberg.com
(Natural News) An effort by Pennsylvania Acting Health Secretary and Branch Covidian Alison Beam to force all public school students in the Commonwealth to wear a mask all day long has been struck down by a state court judge.

Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon ruled that Beams mask fetish was unlawfully pushed on students without proper review or approval. It was also done in violation of a constitutional amendment passed by Pennsylvania voters that limits the executive branchs authority during a state of emergency.

Leftists like Beam love to claim that they support democracy when it suits their own agenda. But in this case, democracy did not accomplish what Beam personally wanted so she simply tried to override the will of Pennsylvania voters like some kind of petty dictator.

In her decision, Cannon wrote that Pennsylvania law does not give health secretaries like Beam the blanket authority to create new rules and regulations out of whole cloth, provided they are related in some way to the control of disease or can otherwise be characterized as disease control measures.

Cannon also made it clear that she has no opinion regarding the science or efficacy of mask-wearing or the politics underlying the considerable controversy the subject continues to engender so that none of the Branch Covidians could accuse her of taking a political side against science.

Mask tyrants like Alison Beam need to go

The Commonwealth Court as a whole, it turns out, sided 4-1 with the ranking Republican in the state Senate, as well as numerous others, who banded together to sue the state for Beams unlawful mandate, which fictitiously took effect back in early September.

It would seem as though the only people in favor of trampling democracy are public school educators and board members who feel as though their own personal opinions on covid can simply be decreed on a whim as it personally suits them.

This is not how things work, though  or at least it is not how things are supposed to work. Every single Alison Beam out there must be challenged and challenged hard or else they will continue to turn our country into a Fauci Flu dictatorship.

The Alison Beams of the world will also continue to tyrannize our children as long as we let them. If we give them an inch, they will absolutely take a mile and them some, which is why they all need to be cut off from power immediately and permanently.

In a statement, state Rep. Jesse Topper warned that Beams agenda is an end-around (to) the constitutional amendment passed by the people, limiting the executive branchs authority during a state of emergency.

[This is] about the idea of imposing a mandate like this on a healthy population of children outside any of the regulatory process that you would normally have to go through, or any of the legislative process you would normally have to go through.

Politicians, celebrities and other elites, meanwhile, continue to throw awards ceremonies, dinner parties and other large events at which they are routinely seen not wearing a mask or social distancing.

The masking of children is a form of child abuse, wrote one Citizen Free Press commenter. Interfering with a childs breathing is a form of child abuse. This must stop now.

Time to throw the people out who demand the mandates, wrote another.

Many, many others said similar things about how tyrants like Beam have got to go if our country has even the slightest chance of ever again returning back to something that even just resembles normal.

The latest news about Chinese Virus tyranny and the Branch Covidians like Alison Beam who are trying to spread it can be found at Fascism.news.

Sources for this article include:

CitizenFreePress.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Sen. Ted Cruz gets zero credit from the left, but hes actually one of the smartest guys in Congress.

A graduate of Princeton and Harvard universities, the Texas Republican knows the Constitution backward and forward. Whats more, as the third Texas Solicitor General, he successfully argued Lone Star State cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.

So when he makes statements about the integrity of the union as it pertains to the current course of our political direction, he should be listened to and, more importantly, taken seriously.

Though he doesnt favor secession now, Cruz said recently that should remain a distinct option for Texas if the current crop of Democrats in the White House and Congress manage to get their Marxist agenda pushed through Congress.

If the Democrats end the filibuster, if they fundamentally destroy the country, if they pack the Supreme Court, if they make D.C. a state, if they federalize elections, if they massively expand voter fraud, there may come a point where its hopeless, Cruz said while speaking at an event at Texas A&M last month.

Cruz was responding to a question from a student in the crowd asking how he felt about a current movement in Texas to secede.

I think Texas has a responsibility to the country, and Im not ready to give up on America. I love this country, the child of Cuban immigrants said.

The Hill noted further:

He also added that Texas has an added responsibility to the U.S. as it is currently an amazing force keeping America from going off the cliff and keeping America grounded in the values that built this country.

However, he emphasized that the country isnt at that point where Texas would secede and while he doesnt support the movement, he understands the sentiment behind it.

Were not there yet, and if there comes a point where its hopeless, then I think we take NASA, we take the military, we take the oil, Cruz said quipped.

Earlier this year, a state lawmaker kicked off the Texit movement.

Today, I filed HB 1359, the Texas Independence Referendum Act. For decades, the promises of America & our individual liberties have been eroding. Now is the time for the People of Texas to have the right to decide their own future, Republican lawmaker Rep. Kyle Biedermann wrote on Twitter.

The Epoch Times added:

If voters say yes, then a committee would be formed to study the matter and make recommendations regarding the best way to break away from the rest of the country, including advice for how to amend the state Constitution to accommodate the proposed nation and recommendations for issues that would have to be negotiated with the U.S. government such as a common travel agreement.

This Act simply Lets Texans Vote. This decision is too big to be monopolized solely by the power brokers in our Capitol. We need to let Texans voices be heard! Biedermann said in a statement.

Voters of all political persuasions in Texas can agree on one thing: Washington D.C. is and has been broken. Our federal government continuously fails our working families, seniors, taxpayers, veterans and small business owners. For decades, the promises of America and our individual liberties have been eroding. It is now time that the People of Texas are allowed the right to decide their own future. This is not a left or right political issue. Let Texans Vote! he added.

Could the movement actually be successful? Didnt the U.S. Supreme Court actually rule in a Texas case in 1869 that secession was not constitutional?

Yes, says Biedermann, but he adds that his bill isnt secession, per se.

This is not about war, this is not about actually seceding from the United States, he told Newsmax TV earlier in January. This is about the beginning of a process, an act, just like Brexit.

Brexit was a vote of the people and then five years of a process to gradually separate, he added.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

BizPacReview.com

TheEpochTimes.com
Weather Alert

...FREEZING FOG ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM PST MONDAY... * WHAT...Visibility one quarter mile or less in freezing fog. * WHERE...In Washington, Yakima Valley, Lower Columbia Basin of Washington and Foothills of the Blue Mountains of Washington. In Oregon, Lower Columbia Basin of Oregon and Foothills of the Northern Blue Mountains of Oregon. * WHEN...Until 1 PM PST Monday. * IMPACTS...Hazardous driving conditions due to low visibility and potential frost on bridges. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The low stratus cloud deck from earlier in the day has and will continue to drop through Monday morning, especially in areas of varying terrain. Visibilities have already dropped to below 1/4 mile and will continue to degrade as below freezing temperatures become widespread overnight. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you. Also, be alert for frost on bridge decks causing slippery roads. &&
TIRANA, Albania (AP)  An Albanian Appeals Court on Wednesday sentenced the countrys former chief prosecutor to two years in prison for hiding money from illegally-owned properties.

The ex-prosecutor general, Adriatik Llalla, 52, was sentenced for hiding property and giving false information on the asset declarations Albanian officials must submit every year. The sentence also bars Llalla from holding any public post for five years.

Llalla has left the country and was represented by his lawyer who had asked to suspend the sentence claiming health issues. The request was turned down. Authorities have issued an international arrest warrant for Llalla.

Llalla could not account for the money behind his buying and selling some 5.4 acres of land and his purchase of an apartment. He also failed to justify his familys expenses in the United States and Germany.

His lawyer Sokol Hazizaj said the verdict was unfair and said Llalla was under hospital treatment, but did not give details.

Llalla resigned from his role as Albanias most senior prosecutor in December 2017.

In 2018, prosecutors sequestered Llallas apartment in the capital, Tirana, and just over two hectares (5.4 acres) of land belonging to him. The properties had a total value of more than 98 million leks (some $900,000) at the time, according to prosecutors.

Fighting corruption has been post-communist Albanias Achilles heel, strongly affecting the countrys democratic, economic and social development.

Llalla is the first high-ranking person to be sentenced by newly formed judicial institutions that were established to address corruption. Many judges and prosecutors have been dismissed for alleged corruption and illegally earning property and money.

The judicial reform, which was approved in 2016 with the involvement of the United States and the European Union, introduced a vetting process for judges and prosecutors to prove their properties were legally acquired and that they met anti-corruption and professional standards. Hundreds failed the vetting and were fired.

In 2018 the United States barred Llalla from entering because of alleged corruption.

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Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  The fate of a Kansas City man who has been in prison for more than 40 years for a triple murder that a prosecutor and many others believe he did not commit is now up to a judge.

An evidentiary hearing to determine whether enough evidence exists to exonerate Kevin Strickland in the 1978 murders ended Wednesday. Judge James Welsh said he would consider additional paperwork and evidence from the attorneys and make a determination in a "timely fashion.

Strickland told reporters after the hearing that he felt really good about his chances. I'd say about 80% chance of being exonerated, he said.

Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said in closing arguments Wednesday that Strickland was guilty of hanging out with the people who committed the murders but her review of the case convinced her Strickland's conviction in 1979 was a horrible mistake, KSHB-TV reported.

She also noted that Strickland had turned down several offers of plea deals, and risked being sentenced to death, because he refused to plead guilty to something he didn't do.

He turned down multiple deals, two important deals, in this case  and he bet his life on this system. Hes betting his life on this system, still, she said.

An attorney for the Missouri attorney general's office said suggestions that the only survivor of the killings had recanted her identification of Strickland as the shooter were only hearsay. Attorney Gregory Goodwin compared the argument to an REO Speedwagon song.

Heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from another... may have been good enough for REO Speedwagon, but its not good enough for a court of law, Goodwin said.

Strickland, who is now 62, has always maintained he was home watching television on the night of April 25, 1978, when the shootings occurred. In testimony on Monday, he again strongly denied that he was involved in the killings.

I had absolutely nothing to do with these murders. By no means was I anywhere close to that crime scene, Strickland said.

Strickland, a Black man, was convicted in the deaths of Larry Ingram, 21; John Walker, 20; and Sherrie Black, 22, in Kansas City. His first trial ended in a hung jury when the only Black juror held out for acquittal. After his second trial in 1979, he was convicted by an all-white jury of one count of capital murder and two counts of second-degree murder.

Much of the testimony during this week's hearing centered on Cynthia Douglas, who was shot along with the three victims but survived by pretending to be dead.

Douglas testified during Strickland's trial that he was one of four men who committed the crime. But Douglas later realized she had identified the wrong man and spent years trying to get the attention of politicians and legal authorities to recant her statement, according to testimony from several relatives and friends.

Her mother, daughter, sister, ex-husband and a co-worker all testified that Douglas felt guilty and depressed about identifying Strickland for many years before she died in 2015.

Bakers office said Douglas sent an email to the Midwest Innocence Project in 2009 with the subject line, Wrongfully charged.

I am seeking info on how to help someone that was wrongfully accused, the email stated. I was the only eyewitness and things were not clear back then, but now I know more and would like to help this person if I can."

Two other men convicted in the killings later insisted that Strickland wasnt at the crime scene and named two other possible suspects who were never charged, The Kansas City Star reported.

Attorneys for the attorney general's office tried to cast doubt on whether Douglas actually tried to recant her statement and suggested the email she sent to the Innocence Project could have been written by someone else using Douglas' email.

Peters Baker announced in May that she and other legal and political leaders believed Strickland was wrongfully convicted. In August, she used a new state law to seek the evidentiary hearing for Strickland.

The hearing was delayed for months as Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office filed several motions, including one that successfully led to all judges in the 16th Circuit Court in Jackson County being recused from presiding over the hearing because the circuit's presiding judge said he agreed that Strickland should be exonerated.

Schmitt, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate, said Strickland was guilty. Gov. Mike Parson also declined requests for clemency for Strickland.
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo appeared pugilistic and paranoid at times in an 11-hour deposition, made public Wednesday, denying the sexual harassment allegations that forced him from office while ascribing political motives to the people investigating his behavior.

Meanwhile, in their own interviews, his accusers detailed a toxic workplace in the Cuomo administration where they said they were subjected to crude remarks, creepy questions about their sex lives, hazing and bullying.

New York Attorney General Letitia James released hundreds of pages of transcripts Wednesday of interviews a team of independent investigators did earlier this year with 10 of Cuomo's accusers, plus the governor himself.

The interviews, led by former acting U.S. Attorney for Manhattan Joon Kim and employment lawyer Anne Clark, focused mostly on the serious allegations against Cuomo, including a claim that he groped an aide's breast after summoning her to his office in 2020.

But they also produced odd exchanges and offered a window into Cuomo's confrontational style. Here are notable moments from the many hours of testimony:

___

SHOW SOME LEG

Several former employees testified in detail about Cuomo and other men on his staff speaking in a demeaning and disparaging way about women.

Brittany Commisso, the aide who said Cuomo groped her at the executive mansion last year, said the governor would look her up and down and once asked whether she ever had sex with anyone other than her husband.

He would make comments about if I wore a particular thing, how thin I looked, Commisso said. That I looked good for my age and being a mother.

When I wore a dress, he would comment about how its about time that you showed some leg, she said.

When former aide Charlotte Bennett was promoted to be an executive assistant, she bought heels to wear because colleagues made it clear Cuomo expected it.

It felt like we had gone back a few decades, Bennett said.

Cuomo said he may have referred to women on his staff as honey, sweetheart or darling.

You know, one time in my life, honey was a fine thing to say, darling was a fine thing to say, he said. Its not anymore.

Still, asked if he regretted anything hes said to women in the workplace, Cuomo said no.

___

CUOMOS SIGNATURE

In his testimony, Cuomo suggested he'd given his office manager the authority to sign legislation into law on his behalf.

Cuomo said Stephanie Benton could sign "virtually almost any document" that came across his desk. Sometimes she used an autopen machine that replicated Cuomos signature. Or, she just scrawled his name herself.

Im not asking about autosigning, Kim clarified. Im asking about physically signing a document. Has Stephanie Benton physically signed bills for you, legislation?

She may have, Cuomo said.

Hours later, after prompting from his lawyer, Cuomo clarified Benton only used the autopen device when signing legislation.

Cuomo acknowledged he didnt take required sexual harassment training in 2020 or 2021, saying he was focused on the COVID-19 pandemic. That contradicted what Cuomo told reporters in May, when he said he'd taken the training this year.

The issue of his signature came up when he acknowledged it might have been Benton who signed his name on a 2019 form affirming he had completed the states annual, mandatory sexual harassment training.

___

TESTY JABS

Cuomo was confrontational with Kim and Clark, saying their investigation was biased and political."

He complained that James' selection of Kim was a perversion of what he said was his condition that she pick an independent reviewer to lead the probe because as a federal prosecutor Kim investigated Cuomo's administration.

Cuomo also suggested Kim was a puppet for his predecessor as U.S. attorney, Preet Bharara, and his rabbi, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer.

Kim mostly refrained from responding to the attacks, but at one point he asked if Cuomo was looking for negative information about lawyers in the probe.

Well, what are you worried about, Joon? Cuomo said.

Cuomo closed the deposition with another jab at Kim: I would like to say it was a pleasure, Mr. Kim. But Im under oath.

___

TOXIC"

Describing the culture in Cuomos office, former aide Charlotte Bennett said staff dreaded meeting with him and would sometimes be in tears afterward.

It was controlled largely by his temper, and he was surrounded by people who enabled his behavior," Bennett said. ... That mood and that anger, or that fear of him suddenly becoming angry, definitely ruled the office and then trickled down.

The governor allegedly pounded his fist into a door in frustration, lashed out if phone calls wouldnt transfer or if he didnt look good in photos, and one time told a top aide he was lucky he didnt throw him out the window.

It just depended on the day and the mood he was in, but it was not uncommon for me to get in trouble for something ridiculous, a former aide identified only as Kaitlin testified.

___

MEAN GIRLS

Cuomo and several former employees all testified about a nickname used around the office for his top aides: the mean girls," a group that included his hard-driving top adviser, Melissa DeRosa.

Cuomo testified he was aware of the moniker, but dismissed it as a silly gossipy thing that a former male staffer came up with. Cuomo also argued its sexist to portray successful female employees as catty.

Bennett said the mean girls were part of Cuomos efforts to instill division among his employees.

Like his test is setting up someone in a position where theyre being abused by the people around him and not just directly from him, Bennett testified.

___

BRINGING THE RECEIPTS

When she was promoted to executive assistant, Bennett said an outgoing staffer told her she'd be expected to buy Cuomo coffee and not be reimbursed.

Bennett provided investigators with 20 Dunkin Donuts receipts she said she saved because, I was angry and thought it was wrong, and also just wanted a record of how much money I was spending on this endeavor."

Bennett said the receipts, totaling $61.02 from May 2019 to February 2020, reflect just some of the times she bought Cuomo coffee. She said she'd usually hand her credit card to a driver who would go pick up the order.

I had an entry-level salary and I was spending money for the Governor of New York, Bennett told investigators.

___

DO YOU LOVE ME

In his testimony, Cuomo denied Bennetts claim that he once sang The Contours song Do You Love Me to her.

I dont even know that song, Cuomo said in the July deposition.

In August, along with its investigative report on Cuomo, the attorney generals office released a recording of Cuomo singing the song to Bennett.

In the recording, an awkward moment passes before Cuomo realizes that the much-younger Bennett doesnt know the song.

Its like, the '50s," Cuomo said on the recording. "Its before even my time.

___

DEFINITION, PLEASE

Occasionally, Cuomo appeared to give his interrogators a hard time for sport.

Asked if it was true he told a woman in his office she looked like one of his ex-girlfriends, Cuomo went on to debate Kim over four pages of testimony about the definitions of date and "girlfriend.

Do you understand what a girlfriend is? Kim asked.

Well, girlfriend means different things to different people, Cuomo said.

___

Sisak and Beaty reported from New York.

___

On Twitter, follow Marina Villeneuve at twitter.com/ReporterMarina, Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak and Thalia Beaty at twitter.com/tkbeaty and read more of the AP's coverage of the Cuomo investigation at https://apnews.com/hub/andrew-cuomo
About 4 million federal workers, from FBI agents to Bureau of Prisons guards to U.S. Food and Drug Administration workers, are to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 under the presidents executive order aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus
From left, Alaska Senator Josh Revak and Washington Representative Tina Orwall presented two handmade quilts to Allison Fentriss, assistant executive director the Quilts of Valor Foundation, on behalf of NCSL and the Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs.

By Brenda Erickson and Jim Reed | Nov. 10, 2021 | State Legislatures News | Print

The Joy of Quilting Why did I make the quilts? Making quilts brings me joy. Its my creative outletor, as my friends say, my creative obsession. Its my chance to use the other side of my brain. At a class reunion celebration this summer, Quilts of Valor were presented to classmates who were veterans. I saw firsthand how much the quilts meant to the recipients. As I watched through my tears, I thought, Id like to be part of this effort. A month or so later, I was asked to serve on an NCSL team planning a Legislative Summit program to honor veterans. So, I guess youd say, my wish was fulfilled. The Quilts of Valor Foundation, started by a Blue Star mother in 2003, has awarded more than 250,000 quilts to service members and veterans. Its mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor. The organization estimates that at any given moment, they have a backlog of 10,000 to 15,000 requests for quilts. Brenda Erickson

For 45 years, the NCSL Legislative Summit and summer were linked together. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and everything changed. There was no in-person Summit in 2020. And in 2021, the Summit was moved to the fall.

Thats when the NCSL Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs saw an opportunity. The rescheduled conference, set for Nov. 3-5, would take place just one week before Veterans Day. The task forces question became, How can we best mesh our purpose with a celebration of this national holiday? The answer: a general session titled Honoring All Who Served.

This special tribute honored all the military veterans who continue the act of service in state legislatures, as legislators or legislative staff. NCSL had recently identified all the legislators who were military veterans or who were serving in the National Guard or reserves.

Quilts of Valor

At the tribute, Washington Representative Tina Orwall (D) and Alaska Senator Josh Revak (R), the task forces co-chair and vice chair, respectively, presented two quilts made by NCSLs Brenda Erickson to the Quilts of Valor Foundation on behalf of NCSL. Afterward, former U.S. Marine Capt. Vernice FlyGirl Armour, Americas first Black female combat pilot, shared her gutsy story.

Revak, who was wounded by enemy mortar fire during his second tour with the U.S. Army in Iraq, recounted how he received a quilt while recovering in a German hospital. It kept me warm, he said. It lifted my spirits, and most of all, it helped me believe I was not alone. I still have the quilt. It still comforts me and reminds me to help others in need.

The two quilts donated on behalf of NCSL took Erickson about two months to make. I chose patterns that were relatively simple to sew, because I didnt have much time to complete the quilts, said Erickson, who has been quilting for more than 20 years. The first patternthe square star quiltwas somewhat traditional, so I chose a more modern style for the second.

Erickson said quilts represent careful craftmanship, warmth and comfort, adding, I hope a recipient realizes that someone cares, and this brings a sense of well-being.

A square star quilt made by Brenda Erickson

Military and Veterans Task Force

NCSLs Task Force on Military and Veterans Affairs was created in 2007 to address issues affecting military community relations and the health and well-being of veterans. The 46 state legislators and legislative staff representing 24 states and Puerto Rico take on a variety of topics, including veteran employment initiatives and hiring preferences; development near military installations; education programs; mental health and suicide prevention; housing; and benefits for military personnel, veterans and their dependents. Co-chaired by Orwall and Virginia Senator Bryce Reeves (R), the task force allows legislators and legislative staff to share best practices and innovations to assist military service members and veterans in their states and work with nearby military installations on a variety of issues.

NCSL hopes you will join us as we recognize and honor all who served and continue to serve.

Jim Reed is the director of NCSLs Energy, Environment and Transportation Program and serves as staff to the Task Force on Military and Veteran Affairs.

Brenda Erickson is a program principal in NCSLs Legislative Staff Services Program.

Additional Resources


Broadland Christian offers free tech support

A Christian living in Wroxham is offering free technology support to anyone who is retired or disabled through an organisation called AbilityNet. Tony Rothe reports.

Andrew Harding is a volunteer for AbilityNet which offers free technical support on any technology in the home, especially PCs, tablets, smart phones and smart speakers, like Amazons Alexa. Support can be over the phone, online or in person at your home, and is available to anyone one who is retired or is disabled. It would be especially useful for anyone struggling with online church services or Zoom meetings.



Andrew, right, says, Throughout the pandemic I've provided support in our church for people trying to connect on zoom. And I've seen how much the elderly need help. I studied electronics engineering as a career and have used computers all my working life, so I find it relatively easy to support them. And now I'm retired, I want to give something back to the community.



AbilityNet has a fantastic set up - all volunteers are DBS screened. We have the tools to support people remotely if necessary and with more than 350 volunteers networked across the UK, there is a tremendous range of skills, meaning its quite unlikely we will come across a problem we haven't seen before.



Although Andrews primary role with AbilityNet is coordinating volunteers in the Cambridge region, he is happy to provide local support in Norfolk as well, and recently re-united a repaired laptop with its owner in North Walsham.



For more information, visit AbilityNet.org.uk or phone 0800 048 7642.

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, 11/11/2021
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DENVER (AP)  Facing a surge in coronavirus infections that threatens to overwhelm Colorado hospitals, Gov. Jared Polis defied federal guidance on COVID-19 booster shots Thursday by issuing an order allowing all state residents 18 and older to get them.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules allow booster shots for those 18 and over who are at high risk of exposure to the virus. The FDA also permits boosters for people 65 and older, and adults with special medical conditions. Polis order declares all of Colorado at high risk of infection, significantly expanding the number of residents eligible.

Because disease spread is so significant across Colorado, all Coloradans who are 18 years of age and older are at high risk and qualify for a booster shot, the Democratic governor said in his order.

Requests for comment from the FDA were not immediately returned on Thursday, a federal holiday.

But at a White House briefing on Wednesday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the importance of getting boosters to those already eligible under the federal guidelines. She also stressed the importance of vaccinating children ages 5-11.

As you likely know, FDA is currently looking at the data for expanding boosters to all populations, Walensky said.

Pfizer asked U.S. regulators Tuesday to allow boosters of its COVID-19 vaccine for anyone 18 or older, a step that comes amid concern about increased spread of the coronavirus with holiday travel and gatherings.

The Biden administration had originally envisioned boosters for all adults, but FDA scientific advisers in September rejected extra Pfizer doses for everyone. The panel wasnt convinced that young healthy people needed another dose and instead recommended boosters just for certain groups.

People who are fully vaccinated are still strongly protected against hospitalization and death from COVID-19. But immunity against infection can wane over time, and the extra-contagious delta variant is spreading widely. U.S. health authorities want to shore up protection in at-risk people who were vaccinated months ago, though they emphasize that the priority remains getting the unvaccinated their first shots.

Polis has emphasized vaccinations as a top tool in fighting the latest surge that officials worry could overwhelm the states hospital capacity by the end of the year. He's also expressed frustration in the past with the federal government's authorization of vaccines and their distribution.

The Governor has been disappointed with the overly complex message from the CDC and the FDA on boosters and wont allow that to harm Coloradans who want the additional protection," Polis spokesman Conor Cahill said Thursday. "The Governor is confident that this clarification is well within the guidance of the CDC and FDA.

Polis' order allows vaccine providers to give booster shots to everyone who received the double-dose Pfizer or Moderna vaccines at least six months ago. People who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which hasn't proven as effective as its competitors, can get a booster at least two months later. Anyone eligible for a booster doesnt have to stick with their initial vaccination type and can get a different companys vaccine.

About 62% of Colorado residents are fully vaccinated, putting the Rocky Mountain state above the national average and among the top 15 for states with the highest vaccination rate.

Yet Colorado had the seventh-highest COVID-19 diagnosis rate in the country over the last week, with 1 in every 259 people getting the virus, according to John Hopkins University data compiled by The Associated Press. Cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all been on the rise for weeks.

About 1,426 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized in Colorado, and State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said Wednesday the state could hit 2,258 COVID-19 hospitalizations by Jan. 1, a record high for the pandemic.

The delta variant surge combined with hospital staffing shortages has left about 720 total beds available in intensive care and acute care units, according to the Colorado Hospital Association. Some 17% of all beds are occupied by those with COVID or suspected of having it, the state health department said.

Polis put the number of available hospital beds at 623 in his order, and he has repeatedly emphasized that the unvaccinated  28% of state residents, according to state data  account for 80% those hospitalized. Officials said many of the remainder are immunocompromised or older patients more susceptible to the virus.

With an estimated 1 in 67 Coloradans infected, it is likely that nearly all Coloradans are exposed to COVID-19 where they live or work, the governor said in his order. I declare the entire State of Colorado high risk for exposure or transmission of COVID19 and therefore eligible for the safe and highly effective COVID-19 booster shot.

Colorado's seven-day positivity rate  the percentage of people testing positive for the virus out of all who have been tested  reached 9.93% as of Wednesday.

That means for every 100 people tested over that week, nearly 10 of them tested positive. Last year, the highest seven-day positivity rate was 11.21% as of Nov. 20.

More than 700,000 Colorado residents are known to have been infected during the pandemic, and 8,814 people have died.
Former UConn guard and current Atlanta Dream co-owner Renee Montgomery announced she and wife Sirena Grace privately married back in April 2020 through a story published by PEOPLE Thursday afternoon.

Montgomery, who retired from the WNBA in February 2021, met Grace at an Atlanta Hawks game in March 2019. Grace had gone to the game to sing the national anthem and Montgomery says immediately she was taken away when she first saw her.

Its the only game I went to that whole entire season, Montgomery told PEOPLE. And here comes a whole goddess.

The two-time WNBA champion then reached out to Grace, asking if she would be interested in doing a performance for the Dream. The two hit it off and began dating just weeks later.

It just happened very quickly from there, Grace told PEOPLE.

On a trip to France in November 2019, Montgomery proposed to Grace kneeling next to a pile of rose petals which spelled out Merry Me.

I was waiting for her on one knee, playing Marry Me by Train, Montgomery said. I already told her when we first started dating, if you hear this song playing anywhere that Im in the vicinity, you better be ready because Im probably going to be proposing.

Because of the pandemic, the couple held a private wedding at their home in Atlanta on April 20, 2020. They lit their hallway with lights to create a makeshift aisle and had Graces cousin conduct the ceremony virtually via Zoom. Friends and family watched live virtually as Graces son, Angel, was the couples ring bearer, flower guy, best man and man of honor. PEOPLE also reported that Grace wore a wedding dress which she had bought after their trip to France, while Montgomery wore a red suit.

Even though it was a Zoom wedding, and people werent actually in person, it didnt feel any different. I was still crying when I saw her walking down our hallway, Montgomery said. When I saw her walking, it still hit me the same that I think it wouldve hit me if I was standing on an altar. I just didnt know if it was going to feel real or if it was going to feel like it should feel.

The couple told PEOPLE they were waiting for the right time to publicly announce their marriage especially after the pandemic surged through 2020  Montgomery chose to sit out during the WNBAs Wubble season to focus on social justice reform  and 2021 went by fast, with Montgomery taking over co-ownership responsibilities with the Dream.

Montgomery played at UConn from 2005 to 2009 before being drafted with the No. 4 overall pick by Minnesota in the 2009 WNBA Draft. The 2009 Nancy Lieberman Award winner is tied for second on UConns all-time list with 13 assists in a single game (one behind all-time leader and current sophomore Paige Bueckers) and first with 11 steals in a single game.

The 2011 WNBA All-Star played 11 years in the WNBA before officially retiring in 2021. She was named the 2012 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year while with the Connecticut Sun.

maggie.vanoni@hearstmediact.com
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the COVID-19 vaccination rates in Georgia using data from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Click for more.
A DeLand-Weldon school teacher is fighting mandated masks and COVID-19 vaccinations in Piatt County Circuit Court, as well as the weekly testing required for employees who are not vaccinated.
Justin Slade leaves the Piatt County Courthouse after being sentenced to 11 years in prison in a Dec. 30 drunken-driving crash that killed Tristan Brannin.
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Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk).
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Kyle Rittenhouse testified Wednesday that he was under attack when he shot three men during a turbulent night of street protests in Kenosha
Longview, TX (75601)

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Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph..

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Evening clouds will give way to clearing overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Global social medicine is an interdisciplinary field that brings social sciences together with medicine to support the development of effective health policies on an international level.

What is Global Health & Social Medicine? Play

What is social medicine?

By definition, social medicine is a medical field based on the social factors that contribute to health and illness. As compared to the primary focuses on biomedicine today, which include the pharmacological, molecular, and genetic bases of disease and treatments, social medicine instead looks to focus on therapeutic interventions as they relate to various social conditions.

The birth of social medicine is often traced back to the work of German physician and politician Rudolf Virchow. While conducting his work during the 19th century, Virchow urged physicians to go beyond individual explanations of disease and instead consider the social factors that may play a role in the health and illnesses of their patients.

Social medicine was not officially recognized as a medical discipline until the mid-twentieth century. Since then, this medical field has been characterized by the numerous institutional, intellectual, and political efforts that have been made to bring medical equality to all. Several fields have also emerged as branches of social medicine, which include social epidemiology, social psychology, population health, and health economics, to name a few.

Social medicine around the world

Most regions around the world have their own distinct histories of social medicine, all of which emphasize the role that social and cultural factors have in the clinical setting.

Throughout the 1930s in Latin America, for example, several social medicine revolutions based on the teachings of liberation theology took place. The social medicine movement in Brazil during the 1980s, for example, led to the recognition of healthcare as a universal right. Overall, these efforts have allowed for social medicine throughout Latin America to be largely focused on improving the social and political factors that affect health outcomes throughout these nations.

Shortly before India gained independence from Great Britain in 1947, this large country began to recognize how underdeveloped and malnourished communities prevented adequate economic growth for the nation as a whole. Around the same time, the Bhore Committee was established to inquire about the varying health conditions throughout India. This committee, which was largely influenced by advisers who viewed public health as an essential component of a nations socio-economic development, eventually supported movements that led to the establishment of state-supported health services.

In the United Kingdom in the 1940s, John Ryle called for the creation of a new scientific field that would address the ultimate causes of disease. Moreover, Ryle was interested in taking social medical students from the hospitals to the homes, shops, factories, mining townships, docks, and other everyday locations of British citizens.

The work of Ryle has often been considered the foundation for the U.K.s current National Health Service. Similarly, other nations throughout Europe also began to invest in socialized healthcare programs that offered publicly funded healthcare programs.

Although social medicine has been a heavily debated topic for several decades in the United States, free clinics and state-funded community healthcare programs have been developed alongside contemporary civil rights and social justice movements.

Image Credit: FGC/Shutterstock.com

What is global social medicine?

Global social medicine is a branch of social medicine that aims to promote human rights and social justice in medicine while simultaneously recognizing the complex histories that exist throughout many parts of the world. Importantly, the global in global social medicine does not represent a single approach that should be used for medical decisions everywhere but instead looks to analyze how local and regional injustices in healthcare impact translational political economies and wider social determinants.

An additional goal of social medicine is to implement improved local health decisions that could be used to improve healthcare conditions in other parts of the world. In doing so, global social medicine recognizes the roles of local healthcare providers, pre-existing social medicine infrastructures, and various healing approaches in an effort to eliminate the supremacy of certain national healthcare entities over another.

Rather than focus a global health program on expensive biomedical and pharmaceutical technologies, global social medicine instead looks to change international structures that have caused marginalized care for less-developed nations around the world.

References:

Pentecost, M., Adams, V., Baru, R., et al. (2021). Revitalising global social medicine. The Lancet 398(10300); 573-574. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01003-5.

Adams, V., Behague, D., Caduff, C., et al. (2019). Re-imagining global health through social medicine. Global Public Health. doi:10.1080/17441692.2019.1587639.

What is social medicine? [Online]. Available from: https://globalsocialmedicine.org/what-is-social-medicine/

Further Reading
Zoonosis, the transmission of an infectious disease from animals to humans, represents a major public health issue. This is particularly highlighted by the recent coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic and the Ebola virus disease outbreak across Western Africa in 2014  2016, both of which are suspected to have originated in animals.

Reverse zoonosis, in which a disease transmits from humans to animals, also poses threats to animal health as well as public health, due to the potential for animal disease reservoirs to form.

Image Credit: Sohel Parvez Haque/Shutterstock.com

Cross-species diseases

The animal origins of many infectious diseases are well characterized and can range from bacterial, viral, parasitic, or fungal in nature. However, for these diseases to cross the species barrier and persist in a new host population, certain conditions must be met.

Firstly, the contact between the original host and the potential new host must be sufficient for transmission events to occur (interspecific interactions). Secondly, there must be enough compatibility between the pathogen and recipient host to establish an infection and promote ongoing transmission (host-virus interactions). Finally, the network of the recipient species must be structured in such a way as to allow the infection to spread through the population (host-host interactions).

Much of the scientific focus of infectious diseases that cross-species barriers are those that jump from animals to humans. In fact, almost 62% of pathogens affecting humans are estimated to have multi-species infectivity. Because of this, humans also carry the potential to transmit diseases to animals with which they come into close contact.

A recent example of this is reports of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, being detected in domesticated and farmed animals.

From humans to animals

Reverse zoonosis can have a severe impact on the health of the animals affected. In 2020, several mink farms in the Netherlands reported cases of severe respiratory disease. Analysis of those minks that had passed away identified SARS-CoV-2 as the causative pathogen, which was likely introduced into the population after contact with infected farmworkers.

Humans are also able to pass on diseases to their pets. There have been several documented cases of domesticated dogs, cats, and ferrets displaying flu-like symptoms, which were identified as being caused by an influenza A virus that had likely been transmitted from the pets owners. Some of these animals, particularly the cats and ferrets, progressed to severe respiratory distress and even death.

The threat that human-derived pathogens pose to endangered species is also an important topic. In Tanzania, an outbreak of human metapneumovirus led to fatalities in a wild chimpanzee population. The virus was believed to have been transmitted by researchers and visitors to the national park where the chimpanzees resided.

Another potential human-derived emerging disease in an endangered species is caused by the parasite Giardia duodenalis. This parasite has been found in the stool samples of both wild and captive African painted dogs and is thought to have derived from the open defecation of infected humans contaminating the local area.

COVID-19 and the rise of zoonotic infectious diseases Play

Reverse zoonosis and disease reservoirs

A major concern with reverse zoonosis events is the potential for disease reservoirs to form, whereby reintroduction of pathogens into human populations could occur. This can be demonstrated by the incidents at the mink farms in the Netherlands. After the initial reverse zoonotic transmission of COVID-19, the disease then spread mink-to-mink before spilling back over into the human farmworkers.

One of the best-studied reverse zoonoses is that of human-to-pig transmission of influenza A viruses. Farmed pigs are considered an important reservoir and a potential source of an emerging influenza pandemic, due to the fact that they can contract both human and avian influenza viruses. Because of this, there is the possibility for the genetic exchange of viral segments (reassortment) to occur, whereby a new viral strain emerges.

In 2009 there was a global outbreak of an H1N1 influenza A virus subtype (pH1N1), dubbed the swine flu pandemic. Although originating in Mexico due to a pig-to-human zoonosis event, a large-scale reverse zoonosis of pH1N1 back into pigs then occurred globally.

As well as being a concern for swine herd health, the sustained pig-to-pig transmission of the human-origin pH1N1 created the potential for disease reservoirs or genetic reassortment to occur. This was born out in the United States of America when the reassortment of pH1N1 with a human seasonal H3N2 influenza A virus led to sporadic outbreaks of the novel H3N2v influenza from 2011 onwards.

What next?

As globalization and industrialization increase, the likelihood of disease crossing species barriers does also. Trade, free movement of people, and agricultural and urban expansion lead to greater human-to-human and human-to-animal contact. There is therefore a greater possibility of zoonosis and reverse zoonosis manifesting and spreading globally.

This, in turn, poses public health, conservation, and economic risks. Gaining a better understanding of the risk factors associated with reverse zoonosis can help identify potential pathogens and transmission routes and ultimately prevent such events from occurring.

References:

Kuiken, T., et al. (2006) Host species barriers to influenza virus infections. Science. 312(5772):394-7. doi.org/10.1126/science.1122818

Cleaveland, S., Laurenson, MK., Taylor LH. (2001) Diseases of humans and their domestic mammals: pathogen characteristics, host range and the risk of emergence. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 356(1411):991-9. doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2001.0889

Sooksawasdi Na Ayudhya, S., Kuiken, T. (2021) Reverse Zoonosis of COVID-19: Lessons From the 2009 Influenza Pandemic. Vet Pathol. 58(2):234-242. doi.org/10.1177/0300985820979843

Messenger, AM., Barnes, AN., Gray, GC. (2014) Reverse Zoonotic Disease Transmission (Zooanthroponosis): A Systematic Review of Seldom-Documented Human Biological Threats to Animals. PLOS ONE. 9(2): e89055. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089055

Nelson, MI., Vincent, AL. (2015) Reverse zoonosis of influenza to swine: new perspectives on the human-animal interface. Trends Microbiol. 23(3):142-53. doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2014.12.002

Further Reading
The AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG), the largest global HIV research network, today announced the launch of A5362 (CLO-FAST), a clinical trial studying a three-month clofazimine- and high-dose rifapentine-containing treatment regimen for people with drug-susceptible tuberculosis (TB). This is the first TB regimen based on preclinical evidence of effectiveness that is less than four-months long to be studied in a clinical trial. A5362 will evaluate the potential efficacy of clofazimine when combined with treatments that have been proven to be effective against TB.

Clofazimine achieves high tissue concentrations, which may contribute to sustained antimicrobial activity once treatment has ended. While it was first synthesized as an anti-TB drug, it has been primarily used (and well tolerated) in people with lepromatous leprosy over the past 50 years. Preclinical studies suggest that there may be powerful synergies in combining clofazimine with other TB treatments, which could substantively shorten TB treatment.

Shortening the duration of TB treatment remains one of the most important goals in global infectious disease research. For nearly the last half century, standard TB treatment required people to take medication for six months. The ACTG-sponsored A5349 recently demonstrated the potential of a four-month rifapentine-containing treatment regimen, a paradigm-shifting result. A5362 aims to build upon those findings by helping us better understand the activity of clofazimine and whether it may have the potential to further shorten TB treatment to three months." ACTG Chair Judith Currier, M.D., M.Sc., University of California, Los Angeles

A5362 is a phase 2c, open label, randomized study that is evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of adding clofazimine and substituting rifapentine for rifampin, compared to the six-month standard-of-care combination TB therapy. The trial will compare the early efficacy (time needed to convert TB sputum cultures to negative over 12 weeks) of a clofazimine- and rifapentine-containing regimen with the six-month standard TB regimen. It will also identify clinical treatment outcomes that will help determine whether the clofazimine-containing regimen should proceed to be studied in a large phase 3 clinical trial. A5362 will enroll a total of 185 participants and will follow them for 65 weeks. Participants will be randomized to the following groups:

Arm 1 (experimental) will begin with a two-week loading dose of 300 mg of clofazimine and rifapentine (1200 mg/day) + isoniazid + pyrazinamide + ethambutol (PHZE) once a day, followed by six weeks of PHZE plus 100 mg of clofazimine once a day, followed by five weeks of rifapentine + isoniazid + pyrazinamide plus 100 mg of clofazimine once a day (for a total of three months of treatment).

Arm 2 (standard of care) will begin with eight weeks of rifampin + isoniazid + pyrazinamide + ethambutol (RHZE) for 8 weeks, followed by 18 weeks of rifampin + isoniazid (for a total of six months of treatment).

Arm C (subgroup evaluating pharmacokinetics) will replace the first four weeks of standard of care (Arm 2, above) with PHZE plus 100 mg of clofazimine (for a total of six months of treatment).

"Through the novel trial design of A5362, we aim to shed light on key characteristics of clofazimine treatment that we don't yet understand, while piloting an early assessment of a potential three-month treatment regimen for drug-susceptible TB," said protocol chair John Metcalfe, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., University of California, San Francisco. "We are hopeful that pairing it with other TB drugs with potent sterilizing activity will allow for a shorter course of treatment, thereby reducing the burden on the millions of people around the world who require TB treatment."

A5362 is led by Dr. Metcalfe, Samuel Pierre, M.D. (Les Centres Gheskio CRS, Haiti), and Kimberly Scarsi, PharmD, M.S. (University of Nebraska Medical Center). It is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and study drugs are supplied by the Global Drug Facility.
Around the world increasing mental health inequalities between women and men following the COVID-19 pandemic represent a major public health concern. According to a new study, the lockdown measures due to the pandemic profoundly and unequally disrupted the work-family balance for many graduate students, exacerbating mental health problems.

The study, published in Preventive Medicine Report, is one of the first to document gendered stressors and the role of work-family conflict in the context of a pandemic. The study was led by researchers from McGill University, Universite de Montreal, and Universite du Quebec a Chicoutimi.

"Mental health problems are particularly high among graduate students and our research suggests that the pandemic may have exacerbated these issues and some gendered inequalities," says lead author Jaunathan Bilodeau, a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Sociology under the supervision of Professor Amelie Quesnel-Vallee, the Canada Research Chair in Policies and Health Inequalities at McGill University.

Working from home created more conflict with family responsibilities

Higher education was hit hard by lockdown measures in Canada due to COVID-19. Universities and colleges closed their doors, requiring both instructors and students to work from home.

The study shows that the COVID-19 lockdown measures were not gender neutral. For example, women reported more stress related to adapting to new remote teaching methods. This was associated with more depressive symptoms, not only directly, but also indirectly through work interfering with family. Women were also more worried about COVID-19.

The difference between women and men, according to the researchers, could be linked to attitudes toward risk and the care responsibilities generated by the pandemic. "Considering that many women in our survey had a close contact who contracted COVID-19, the mental load or caregiving linked to this concern could have had an unfavorable effect on the ability to reconcile work and family responsibilities among women," says Bilodeau.

Men reported less emotional support during the pandemic

Although women were more worried, they reported more emotional support than men.

Our study highlights the deleterious consequences of the lockdown on men's mental health as well. It invites us to think of mental health through the lens of greatest exposure to specific stressors and lack of resources among men." Professor Amelie Quesnel-Vallee, the Canada Research Chair in Policies and Health Inequalities, McGill University

The study's findings were consistent with other reports identifying lower emotional support among men in Quebec.

The study also shows that men struggled more often with family interfering with work. "A possible explanation could lie in gendered management of boundaries between work and family before and during the pandemic. Before the pandemic, men may have had more segmented family and work roles. When the physical boundary between family and work was effectively abolished by containment, this segmentation may have been more difficult to maintain, contributing to more perceived conflicts between family and work." says Bilodeau.

Improving support for graduate students

Graduate students aspiring to an academic career are at increased risks of work-family conflict generally, as they seek to establish research and publication records in a highly competitive environment while also often being demographically in the early stages of family building, say Quesnel-Vallee. Being in a relationship, having children, being stressed about new teaching methods, and worrying about COVID-19 were all linked to more work-family conflict.

"Our study identifies action levers aimed at mitigating mental health inequalities among graduate students by adapting and extending support for those working from home. These include proactive mental health supports and policies for reconciling work and family," says co-author Nancy Beauregard, a Professor at the School of Industrial Relations of Universite de Montreal. Governments and universities should consider these factors to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms and mental health inequalities during the pandemic, the researchers say.
A German case study recently published in the journal Nature Communications has characterized a long-term severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection dynamics in an immunosuppressed kidney transplant recipient and provided evidence for the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 into potentially harmful immune escape mutants during persistent infections.

Such escape mutants likely serve as the initial seed for emerging variants with enhanced epidemic potential, especially if they overcome impaired viral fitness by further adaptation.

Quest to figure out the origin of virus variants

Continuously emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants pose a global threat due to their increased transmissibility and resistance to neutralizing antibodies. The origin of these virus variants, however, remains unclear.

Reports suggest long-term-infected immunocompromised individuals could be a possible source, as they may allow unhindered viral replication and adaption to the host.

Study involved SARS-CoV-2 positive kidney transplant recipients on immunosuppressants

Immunosuppressed individuals are expected to have an increased risk of developing severe coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) and to suffer from long-term persistent infection with prolonged viral shedding. Therefore, such patients are being closely monitored in Germany during the prevailing pandemic.

The present case study involved one such patient who received a renal transplantation in March 2020, was on immunosuppressant drugs from March until the end of September to prevent the risk of organ rejection, and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 a few days later after transplantation. The infection progressed to persistence, as evident from a positive RT-qPCR on day 140 (from initial positive testing for SARS-CoV-2/day 0). For control purposes, Remdesivir treatment was started for 10 days. Subsequent negative RT-qPCR and no virus isolation until day 189 suggested the resolution of infection.

SARS-CoV-2 genome mutated in later weeks of persistent infection

Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated clustering of viral genome sequences, isolated in initial weeks, with the strains circulating in March in Germany. From day 42 onwards, the acquisition of several mutations occurred. Apart from low-frequency mutations, some mutations accumulated over time, indicative for the selection of distinct variants.

Notably, the day 105 specimen demonstrated in-frame deletions and non-synonymous substitutions in the N-terminal domain (NTD) and the receptor-binding motif (RBM), respectively. Furthermore, the two amino acid deletions in the NTD were associated with specific single amino acid substitutions in the RBM: del141-144 with subF490L and del244-247 with subE484G, suggesting the emergence of at least two variants.

The team suggests that this interlinked coevolution may have been favored by the necessity to preserve the spike protein's functionality or stability and maintain viral fitness. Both deletions, which are located in two adjacent flexible loops of the NTD, are suggested to affect the conformation of this subdomain, a target of neutralizing antibodies.

The spike structure (PDB accession number: 7BNM) with the most prominent mutations in the patient viral sequences is shown in the surface presentation. The NTD is colored in blue and the RBD in red. Close-ups of the single NTD and RBD regions defined by boxes are presented as ribbons. The location of the deletions in the NTD and amino acid substitutions in the RBD are indicated by black residues. Furthermore, the deletions in the NTD are displayed as amino acid alignments at the right.

In addition, the two amino acid substitutions (E484G and F490L) may lead to subtle conformational changes in the RBD, which is the main target of neutralizing antibodies and a known hotspot for mutations conferring escape from neutralizing antibodies.

These mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants found in an immunosuppressed patient are shared with the escape variants of concern from the UK, South Africa, and Brazil.

The team thus speculates that prolonged viral replication in immunosuppressed patients can lead to the emergence of new immune escape variants, such as the alpha, B.1.1.7, the beta, B.1.351, and the gamma variants, P.1 that all share mutations in the same regions of the spike protein as the escape variants described in this study.

SARS-CoV-2 mutations in later weeks of persistent infection did not reduce virulence

To confirm the growth phenotype of day 14 and day 105 virus isolates in vivo, K18-hACE2 mice- encoding the human SARS-CoV-2 receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 (ACE2) was intranasally infected with both the viral isolates.

Severe disease symptoms and weight loss in mice strongly suggested that the mutations in the spike gene and other regions of the day 105 genome caused no decline in viral fitness.

SARS-CoV-2 mutants show escape from neutralizing antibodies

Nucleoprotein (N)-specific antibodies were detected early in infection just after the first positive RT-qPCR result and afterward surged rapidly. In contrast, IgG antibody levels specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (S1) constantly oscillated around the threshold value between days 40 and 123. High levels of S1-specific IgG were detected later around day 140 and persisted at least until day 175.

Only sera collected from the patient after day 123 showed SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing activity in plaque reduction assay, which coincided with the increase of S-specific IgG between days 123 and 140.

Antisera of convalescent COVID-19 patients and of individuals previously vaccinated with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/BioNTech) showed higher neutralizing activity against the day 14 isolate as compared to the day 105 isolate. This suggested that the mutations in the day 105 spike protein caused an escape from neutralizing antibodies.

In a virus pseudotype system, high neutralization titer 50 (NT50) values were observed with the d14 spike protein, compared to the pseudotype virus bearing the d105 spike protein as indicated by an 8.3-fold reduced NT50 value. Additionally, compared to pseudotype virus displaying the parental d14 spike protein, viruses pseudotyped with amino acid deletions del141-144 or del244-247 (but not any substitutions) were significantly less neutralized by a COVID-19 convalescent serum.

A different pattern was observed with immune serum from a person vaccinated with an mRNA-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The virus pseudotyped with the E484G mutant spike was less neutralized than the virus bearing the parental day 14 spike protein. Furthermore, pseudotype virus displaying spike protein containing both the E484G substitution and the del141-144 deletion showed a reduced NT50 value compared to pseudotype viruses containing either E484G or del141-144 alone, suggesting a synergistic effect of these two mutations.

In summary, the amino acid changes del141-144 and del244-247, both located in the NTD, and E484G in the RBD selected during viral persistence, were all found to affect crucial antigenic regions as they allow the escape of SARS-CoV-2 from the immune responses.

"Because these globally emerging viruses show a clear escape from vaccine-induced humoral immunity, our findings might be important for the redesign of future vaccines by introducing combinations of mutations into the spike gene that might broaden the specificity of the antiviral immune response," the team concludes.
Studying mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a method of stem cell transplantation that does not require radiation or chemotherapy. Above, the right panel shows mouse bone marrow after the debilitating effects of radiation followed by an infusion of donor T cells that attack the bone marrow. The left panel shows mouse bone marrow following the newly developed immunotherapeutic approach. In this case, the donor T cells do not damage the recipient's bone marrow.

For hard-to-treat leukemias, lymphomas and other blood cancers, stem cell transplantation is the gold standard of care. The procedure involves replacing a patient's own blood-forming stem cells with a donor's stem cells and, in the process, eradicating cancer cells in the blood, lymph nodes and bone marrow.

But many patients with such deadly blood cancers are too fragile to undergo stem cell transplants. That's because a patient's stem cells first must be destroyed by intensive chemotherapy and sometimes total body radiation before a donor's stem cells are infused. This so-called conditioning regimen makes space for incoming donor stem cells, helps to remove cancer cells remaining in the body, and depletes the patient's immune system so it can't attack the donor's stem cells. However, toxicities and suppression of the immune system caused by conditioning regimens puts patients at high risk of infections, organ damage and other life-threatening side effects.

Now, studying mice, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a method of stem cell transplantation that does not require radiation or chemotherapy. Instead, the strategy takes an immunotherapeutic approach, combining the targeted elimination of blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow with immune-modulating drugs to prevent the immune system from rejecting the new donor stem cells. With the new technique, mice underwent successful stem cell transplants from unrelated mice without evidence of dangerously low blood cell counts that are a hallmark of the traditional procedure. The data also suggested that such stem cell transplants can be effective against leukemia.

The study, available online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, opens the door to safer stem cell transplantation, meaning more patients with various types of blood cancers could receive this potentially curative therapy, and it could be considered as a treatment for other diseases, such as sickle cell anemia or other genetic disorders, that are less life-threatening.

To be able to do a stem cell transplant without having to give radiation or chemotherapy would be transformative. It could eliminate the dangerously low blood cell counts, bleeding complications, organ damage, and infections. It has particular implications for conducting bone marrow transplantation or gene therapy for patients with noncancerous diseases such as sickle cell anemia, where the toxicities of chemotherapy- or radiation-associated conditioning are important to avoid. We have more work to do before we're ready to translate these findings to people, but we're encouraged by the results of this study." John F. DiPersio, MD, PhD, senior author, medical oncologist, the Virginia E. & Sam J. Golman Professor of Medicine and chief of the Division of Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine

As an alternative to high-dose chemotherapy and whole-body radiation, DiPersio, who also directs the Center for Gene & Cellular Immunotherapy, and his colleagues harnessed drugs that are toxic to cells, and attached these drugs to antibodies that target specific surface proteins that are expressed primarily on bone marrow stem cells. Only when these antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) bind to those specific proteins are they then internalized by the stem cells, which leads to release of the drug payload inside the cell and, ultimately, cell death. Using the ricin derivative saporin as the drug payload, the researchers generated two different ADCs to target two specific proteins found on the surface of blood stem cells, which minimizes the potential for them to cause damage to other cell types.

To prevent the recipient's immune system from then rejecting the donor cells, the researchers treated the mice with immunosuppressive compounds called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. In this study, the investigators primarily used baricitinib, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat rheumatoid arthritis. They found that baricitinib prevented the recipient's immune cells, including T cells and natural killer cells, from attacking the donor stem cells.

"By combining the antibody-drug conjugates with JAK inhibitors, we were able to achieve a successful transplant between two completely unrelated strains of mice," said first author Stephen P. Persaud, MD, PhD, an instructor in pathology & immunology. "A successful transplant across such a stringent immunological barrier is promising for eventually being able to harness this technique for patients with leukemia."

The researchers also found that the new technique struck a balance between the donor immune cells attacking leukemia cells  called the graft-versus-leukemia effect  in a common mouse model of leukemia and not attacking the recipient's healthy tissues, a dangerous condition called graft-versus-host disease. The mice in this study did not develop graft-versus-host disease because the immune suppressing drugs prevented it, another unique and significant advantage of this approach, according to the researchers.

"When you give JAK inhibitors from the beginning, there is evidence that they prevent graft-versus-host disease from developing later," said DiPersio, who serves as deputy director of Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. "In addition, unlike a regular transplant using radiation and chemotherapy as transplant conditioning, none of the mice developed any reduction in their blood counts, which is the major life-threatening complication of traditional stem cell transplants. Chemotherapy and radiation destroy all the old cells at once. With the new strategy, the old cells were slowly replaced by donor cells, and so we never saw any drop in the blood cell counts in these mice. The blood cell counts looked normal the whole way, and in the end, we could see that all the blood cells originated from the new donor cells."

After a period of time, the researchers found that they could gradually reduce the JAK inhibitors and, once the donor stem cells totally replaced the original cells, stop the immune suppression altogether.

"We've shown that we can use this relatively simple regimen that is minimally toxic to transplant donor stem cells across immunologic barriers in mice," Persaud said. "We need more research to see if the same strategy will be applicable to humans. We are working to optimize the technique in mice, and then we will likely test it in other animal models of leukemia before we would begin planning a clinical trial to investigate the strategy in patients."
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many children have returned to school in-person this year for the first time in 18 months. The instruction may be the same, but the classrooms look and feel much different with safety measures in place to help prevent spread of the virus. These precautions range from masking to keeping children with runny noses and coughs home from school.

Experts with the Rales Center for the Integration of Health and Education at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, the Johns Hopkins Consortium for School-Based Health Solutions and the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs have been awarded a one-year, $1.47 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to embark on the Parents and Communities as Experts (PACE) study to understand families' perceptions of public health recommendations regarding COVID-19 in schools. The project, which is part of the NIH Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) Return to School Initiative to increase COVID-19 testing access and use for vulnerable and underserved populations, also involves researchers from Morgan State University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Parents are really in a difficult place right now. Most are eager to have their children back in school to support their academic and social development, but COVID-19 is still a risk." Sara Johnson, Ph.D., M.P.H., study lead investigator, director of the Rales Center and associate professor of pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The study will use community conversations, surveys and focus groups to characterize social, ethical and behavioral factors associated with the willingness of parents of students in kindergarten through eighth grade to return their children to in-person school, to keep them in school and to support and comply with public health measures for COVID-19 prevention and control.

"We recognize how critical it is to engage with and learn from families as we navigate the challenges of a safe return to schools," says Megan Collins, M.D., M.P.H., co-director of the Johns Hopkins Consortium for School-Based Health Solutions and an associate professor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute. "One of our goals is to find out how families have adapted to changes at school brought about by COVID-19."

The study focuses on the eight school systems in Maryland, including Baltimore City Public Schools, that have the largest proportion of NIH-defined underserved residents. Researchers created local community advisory boards of English- and Spanish-speaking parents, caregivers, teachers, administrators, school health personnel and students in those areas.

"COVID-19 policies, particularly school return guidelines and mitigation efforts like vaccination and testing, vary across school systems," Johnson says. "We will be able to evaluate these differences and understand what strategies help parents feel most comfortable in the return to in-person school, and why some approaches are more successful than others."

Once data is compiled, researchers will, with input from communities, design and implement a locally tailored public health messaging campaign to address barriers to participating in infection control and prevention measures. The results, both locally and statewide, along with recommendations and community resources, will also be provided to school systems.

"We plan to suggest policies and strategies to clear up misconceptions, make sure families are able to accommodate the policies, and suggest strategies to build parent and stakeholder support that help keep kids in in-person school," Johnson says.
A team of UK-based scientists has recently estimated the prevalence of vaccine breakthrough infections and severe disease in a large number of individuals fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in England. The findings reveal that the majority of vaccine breakthrough cases are mild, with only a very small proportion of individuals developing severe COVID-19. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

Background

The mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 was started in the UK in December 2020. Initially, healthcare and other frontline workers, care home residents, older adults, and high-risk individuals were prioritized for the vaccination. Afterward, the remaining adults received the vaccination in order of decreasing age. By September 2021, about 75% of individuals aged over 16 years were fully vaccinated.

Real-world evidence on vaccine efficacy has suggested that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and severe disease. However, the emergence of vaccine breakthrough cases has highlighted the need for identifying the risk factors responsible for reducing vaccine efficacy.

In the current study, the scientists have estimated the prevalence of vaccine breakthrough cases and COVID-19-related hospitalization and deaths in a large number of fully vaccinated individuals in England.

Study design

The scientists collected vaccination data from the OpenSAFELY-TPP database which contains information of approximately 40% of the England population. A total of 10,782,870 individuals were identified as fully vaccinated. A person was considered fully vaccinated after 14 days of receiving the second vaccine dose. The participants were followed up for an average of 43 days.

The scientists assessed the number of breakthrough infections, hospital admission, and mortality in fully vaccinated participants. The participants were categorized into seven priory groups, including care home residents, older adults aged above 80 years, 70  79 years, and 50  69 years, healthcare/frontline workers, clinically highly vulnerable individuals, and other at-risk individuals.

Important observations

About 0.2% of fully vaccinated individuals were identified to have breakthrough infections. The average duration to have a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result was 23 days. For every 1000 years of patient follow-up time, the corresponding incidence rate was 12.33. Among different priority groups, the highest prevalence of breakthrough infection was observed in clinically vulnerable individuals and lowest in older adults aged above 80 years. After 150 days of study commencement, the overall prevalence was less than 0.01%.

A reduction in vaccine breakthrough infection rate was observed with increasing age. In addition, the prevalence was comparatively higher in females than males and lowered in White individuals than those belonging to other ethnic groups.

Among various comorbidities, renal replacement therapy, organ transplantation, hematological malignancy, and immunosuppression were associated with the highest prevalence of breakthrough infections. Importantly, the highest risk of infection was observed within 4 weeks after full vaccination. However, the risk reduced gradually with time since the last vaccination.

Kaplan-Meir plot for positive SARS-CoV-2 test over time, by priority group

Hospitalization due to severe COVID-19

About 0.01% of fully vaccinated individuals were admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19. The average time to hospitalization was 33 days. Among hospitalized patients, about 73% had a SARS-CoV-2-positive test result in their record. Of these infections, 25% occurred before hospital admission, 21% occurred within two days of admission, 38% occurred between 3 and 29 days after admission, and 16% occurred after 30 days of admission.

An induction in hospitalization rate was observed with increasing age. The risk was 3-fold higher among Asian and Asian British individuals compared to White individuals. Similarly, socioeconomically deprived individuals showed a higher risk of hospitalization.

The comorbidities associated with an increased infection rate were also found to increase the risk of hospitalization. The lowest rate of hospitalization was observed within 4 weeks after full vaccination. The rate increased gradually with time since the last vaccination.

Hospitalization due to severe COVID-19

The mortality rate among fully vaccinated individuals was much less than 0.01%. The average time to death was 40 days. The highest mortality rate was observed among older adults aged over 80 years who lived in care homes. The number of deaths among individuals aged under 60 years was negligible. Importantly, a 5-fold higher mortality rate was observed in the West Midlands compared to the South West.

Among various comorbidities, hematological malignancy, organ transplant, and kidney disease were associated with the highest mortality rate. In addition, immunocompromised and respiratory disease patients exhibited a higher risk of COVID-19 related mortality.

Study significance

The study findings reveal that the majority of vaccine breakthrough cases in England are associated with mild infections. Only a very small fraction of fully vaccinated individuals develop severe or fatal COVID-19.
The current pandemic shows how quickly health misinformation can spread. However, there are tools to debunk misinformation as demonstrated by a new study on health communication strategies from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, published in the journal BMJ Global Health. The study, which focuses on misinformation about typhoid in Sierra Leone, also shows that explicitly addressing falsehoods seems more effective in busting misbeliefs than simply stating scientific facts.

Misinformation, amplified by social media, is a growing public health challenge. It can potentially reduce protective actions, encourage risky behavior and with that, promote the spread of infectious diseases. Fortunately, our study shows that there are effective tools to counter its impact and spread." Maike Winters, researcher, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, and study's corresponding author

The study involved two sets of interventions designed to counter widely held misbeliefs that mosquitoes cause typhoid, and that typhoid always co-occurs with malaria. Although the diseases share symptoms such as fever, they are very different. Typhoid is a bacterial infection that is mainly transmitted via contaminated food and drinking water, while malaria is caused by a parasite that spreads to humans from mosquitos. However, health centers in Sierra Leone often diagnose patients with "typhoid-malaria", partly due to unreliable testing, and thus contribute to spreading the false notion that the diseases are somehow linked.

To bust these myths, the researchers in Sweden and Sierra Leone designed two communication campaigns where they recruited local actors to play physicians and nurses in four-episode narrative audio dramas that were delivered through the messaging platform WhatsApp. The first drama (Group A) explicitly mentioned the misinformation and provided a detailed counterargument, while the second drama (Group B) only focused on providing scientifically correct information but did not discuss the misinformation. A control group received audio messages on breastfeeding that were unrelated to typhoid.

A total of 736 adults in Freetown, Sierra Leone, were randomized into one of the groups and asked to complete a survey on typhoid before and after listening to the series. After the communication campaigns, the share of participants who incorrectly answered that typhoid is caused by mosquitos declined from 50 percent in both groups to 33 percent in Group A (counter argument) and 36 percent in Group B (scientifically correct information only). Participants who wrongly believed that typhoid and malaria always co-occur declined from around 60 percent to 29 percent in Group A and 39 percent in Group B.

The researchers conclude that both interventions significantly reduced beliefs in misinformation, but that the approach of first acknowledging and then debunking misinformation seemed more effective. Compared to the control group, whose survey answers remained largely unchanged, people in the intervention groups also reported taking more preventive measures, such as drinking treated water, to reduce their risk of getting typhoid after the campaigns. Contrary to some previous studies, this study found no evidence to suggest that addressing false information might inadvertently end up spreading it.

"These findings advance our understanding of the effectiveness of public health messaging strategies about a specific health-related myth that is not subject to politicized debate," says Maike Winters. "If the same strategies would work to reduce beliefs in heavily polarized misinformation surrounding COVID-19 remains unknown, but is definitely worth exploring."

The study was funded by the Swedish Research Council.
To date, there have been more than 251 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) recorded so far, and this dreaded infectious disease has claimed over 5 million lives worldwide.

A broad collection of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown that vaccines are extremely effective in preventing COVID-19 disease.

With many countries having fully vaccinated more than half of their population (e.g., the UK), the number of vaccinated people continues to increase. As a result, nations are now shifting their focus towards population-level surveillance methods and further pivoted these methods to monitor the presence and resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern (VOCs).

Although reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing effectively identified new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the restricted availability of these tests and slow laboratory turnaround times limited their effectiveness. Consequently, there was a surge in demand for alternative population-level testing modalities that can detect the presence and resurgence of the virus before an outbreak.

Gathering and assessing the scientific evidence on surveillance and testing methods

Researchers at the University of Calgary Health Technology Assessment Unit investigated scientific evidence on various surveillance and testing methods to monitor the presence of the virus in a vaccinated population.

The authors of this review posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server performed an extensive search for international guidance on surveillance methods of COVID-19. They searched Ovid MEDLINE, including Epub Ahead of Print, Embase, In-Process & Other NonIndexed Citations, EBM Reviews - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

For full-text review, 68 international guidance documents were captured through a comprehensive grey literature search. A total of 26 documents met the inclusion criteria, and they yielded 7 overarching surveillance methods. Most of the 26 guidance documents were not specific to vaccinated populations, but they were included as they reported a surveillance method for COVID-19. A comprehensive search of Google and websites of international government organizations (e.g. WHO) was also conducted.

The researchers also included literature assessing surveillance in a partially vaccinated population to ensure all the relevant literature was captured. They engaged a patient partner during the review of international guidelines and the co-production of a plain-language summary for rapid assessment of primary literature. One document published by Public Health England offered guidance specific to surveillance of vaccinated populations.

Results identified new approaches to monitor post-vaccination COVID-19 cases and emerging VOCs

The study results identified five new surveillance approaches - wastewater surveillance, genomic surveillance, metagenomics, RT-PCR screening and/or a rapid antigen test, and air filter testing on public buses. The observations suggested that genomic sequencing can be used to identify variations and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs, and wastewater surveillance complements other surveillance methods.

Every identified surveillance and testing method in this study serves a distinct objective that remains consistent across jurisdictions. The intensity of the disease and the scale of testing determines the frequency of testing and the selection of the testing method.

Summary of Scientific Evidence on Surveillance Methods

Limitations of the study

One of the study's limitations was that it is almost impossible to search all of the literature thoroughly. Therefore, the captured international guidance might have left out guidance for surveillance from several countries or institutes. Also, the variation in reporting and level of detail in the included documents could have compromised the quality of evidence.

Moreover, the search conducted for the review was limited to the time period Dec' 2020 to June 2021. Therefore, only those COVID-19 surveillance studies published after December 2020 were considered for inclusion and many of them did not specify whether they tested a vaccinated population.

The researchers also observed some limitations during population surveillance, such as varying testing frequencies, poor timing of PCR testing leading to missed infections, and participants losing interest in testing in long follow-up studies.

Conclusion

The study's findings demonstrate that evidence-based guidance on surveillance is limited in a vaccinated population, and more evidence-informed guidance should be gathered on testing and surveillance approaches incorporating all testing modalities.

The study recommends surveillance methods such as PCR testing, serosurveillance, and antigen-testing for monitoring the spread, intensity, and severity of COVID-19. Other common methods that can be used for testing include genomic and wastewater surveillance. Although some new technologies are emerging, they are yet to be applied to real-world scenarios.

*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.
A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* finds improved Fc cross-reactivity against certain severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant of concern (VOCs). Moreover, the researchers found that VOCs differentially trigger Fc effector functions, thus providing important implications for vaccination.

The researchers in the study demonstrated that even while the Beta VOC partially evades Fc effector activity in individuals infected with the original variant, not all functions are equivalently affected. This is suggestive of differential targeting by antibodies mediating distinct Fc functions with significantly improved Fc cross-reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.

Study: A SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern triggers Fc effector function with increased cross-reactivity. Image Credit: Immersion Imagery / Shuterstock.com

Introduction

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the SARS-CoV-2. In the absence of adequate global SARS-CoV-2 vaccine coverage, VOCs continue to emerge. Several VOCs include the Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351/501Y.V2), Gamma (P.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants. These VOCs are generally able to evade neutralizing responses.

While VOCs robustly escape neutralization, several VOCs have been prone to T-cell function and spike antibody functions after both infection and vaccination. In addition to mediating neutralization, antibodies are important in driving several effector functions.

Antibodies are able to engage cellular receptors through their Fc portion. Some of the activities performed by the Fc portion of antibodies include antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), cellular trogocytosis (ADCT), and cell membrane nibbling and complement deposition (ADCD).

Despite the potential lack in neutralizing efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against newer variants, cross-reactivity with the preserved Fc effector function can still allow these antibodies to successfully target VOCs. For example, although infected individuals presented substantially reduced neutralization titers post-Ad26.COV.2S vaccination, they maintained efficacy against severe COVID-19 illness, even as the Beta variant emerged in South Africa.

Fc effector function is also associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality. Thus, the Fc effector function is highly important for disease outcomes.

However, the Fc effector functions in individuals infected with VOCs are not yet investigated. While the neutralizing antibodies triggered by VOCs show varying patterns of breadth against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein of different genotypes, the present study looks at the Fc responses to VOCs.

Study findings

The researchers conducted their study among individuals infected with the original Wuhan D614G SARS-CoV-2 strain in South Africa, where three distinct waves of COVID-19 have occurred since March 2020. The first wave peaked in mid-July 2020, the second in January 2021, and the third in August 2021.

Each wave was dominated by a different variant. Whereas the first wave was caused by the original SARS-CoV-2 strain, the second wave was driven by the Beta variant, and the third wave was almost exclusively Delta.

Using convalescent plasma from the infected individuals, the researchers determined the binding and neutralizing ability against the original (D614G) or Beta lineages from the first and second waves.

Comparison of the binding of antibodies from Wave 1 plasma to the original (D614G) or Beta spikes showed a significant decrease in binding to Beta. In contrast, the wave 2 plasma from Beta infections showed a significant increase in the antibody binding to Beta.

The researchers found similar observations in the neutralization titers. These findings, therefore, confirmed the ability of convalescent plasma to target epitopes beyond the neutralizing epitopes mutated in VOCs.

While the Fc effector function is elicited by the Ad26.COV.2.S vaccine appears to remain largely effective across all VOCs, it is not as cross-reactive as those elicited by the Beta variant. These results were suggestive of the possibility of epitope-specific functional responses.

Moreover, this study illustrated that the Fc effector VOC cross-reactivity is not due to the binding titer. The researchers found preserved Fc effector function but a loss in neutralization against the Beta strain in wave 1 samples. Thus, targeting by the Fc effector function appears to be distinct from that of neutralization.

Significantly, the researchers showed that the SARS-CoV-2 N-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein are targets of the Fc effector function responses (ADCC) in the convalescent plasma. However, mutations in these regions that allow for complete escape during neutralization in individuals infected with the original (D614G) variant only slightly affect ADCC.

The researchers also showed that the Beta-elicited ADCC enhances cross-reactivity against the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta as compared to those elicited by the original SARS-CoV-2 variant and Ad26.COV2.S vaccination.

Conclusion

The current study demonstrated that the Beta variant partially evades several Fc effector functions. However, individuals who were infected with the Beta variant developed Fc effector functions with good cross-reactivity against all VOCs. Vaccine-elicited Fc effector function also appears to be retained across VOCs, though it is not as cross-reactive as Beta-elicited.

Importantly, this study demonstrated that despite waning neutralization effects, Fc effector functions against emerging VOCs persist. The spike sequence of the priming immunogen is therefore the likely cause to determine unique Fc effector function profiles. This observation is key to potential modulation in future vaccine design for a more balanced and broad response.

*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.
Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences are closer to developing a safe and effective non-opioid pain reliever after a study showed that a new compound they created reduces the sensation of pain by regulating a biological channel linked to pain.

Most people experience pain at some point in their lives, and the National Institutes of Health estimates 100 million people in the U.S. suffer from chronic pain. Approximately 21-29% of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them and 8-12% of people using an opioid for chronic pain develop an opioid use disorder, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In 2019, nearly 50,000 people in the U.S. died from opioid-involved overdoses.

Drug discovery for chronic pain is at the forefront of this research, and it's being amplified by the intersection of the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid epidemic. Drug discovery is a very arduous process. Our lab looked at a fundamental mechanism of pain, came up with a way to differentiate it from those before us and found a compound that has the potential as a new non-opioid treatment for pain." Rajesh Khanna, PhD, associate director of the UArizona Health Sciences Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center, professor of pharmacology in the UArizona College of Medicine  Tucson and member of the BIO5 Institute

The paper, "Selective targeting of NaV1.7 via inhibition of the CRMP2-Ubc9 interaction reduces pain in rodents," was published today in Science Translational Medicine.

The biological mechanism at the heart of the research is NaV1.7, a sodium ion channel that previously was linked to the sensation of pain through genetic studies of people with rare pain disorders.

Nerve cells, or neurons, use electrical currents to send signals to the brain and throughout the body, and sodium ion channels are vital to a cell's ability to generate those electrical currents. When a neuron is stimulated, the NaV1.7 channel opens and allows positively charged sodium ions to cross the cell membrane and enter the previously negatively charged cell. The change in charge across the cell membrane generates an electrical current, which increases the excitability of the neuron and sets in motion a cascade of events that leads to pain.

Because NaV1.7 is a human-validated target for pain, multiple attempts have tried to stop pain by using sodium ion channel inhibitors to block NaV1.7. None have been successful. Dr. Khanna and his team took a different approach  rather than block NaV1.7, they wanted to indirectly regulate it.

Using a compound they designed and dubbed 194, the team successfully regulated NaV1.7 activation in the laboratory using nerve cells from four different species, including humans. In animal models, 194 was effective in reversing pain in six different pain models in both sexes.

Researchers also found that 194 also may promote pain relief by activating the body's endogenous, or naturally occurring, opioid system. Once produced, endogenous opioids activate receptors that produce physiological changes such as pain relief. And 194 did so without causing motor performance issues, depressive behaviors or addiction.

Finally, Dr. Khanna and the team observed a synergistic effect when 194 was combined with morphine and gabapentin. This is a promising sign that 194 could also be used in a dose-reduction strategy for painkillers that have negative side effects, including opioids, while maintaining high levels of pain relief.

The science behind 194

Dr. Khanna's prior research identified a protein, collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), and an enzyme, Ubc9, that both play a role in NaV1.7 activation. CRMP2 is a protein that binds to NaV1.7 and transports it to the cell membrane, where sodium ions are then transferred into the cell. Ubc9 is an enzyme that tags CRMP2 with another protein  a small ubiquitin-like modifier protein  to specifically direct control of NaV1.7.

Building on this knowledge, Dr. Khanna and the team set out to determine if they could directly regulate the activity of NaV1.7 by blocking Ubc9 from interacting with CRMP2. Team members including May Khanna, PhD, associate professor of pharmacology and BIO5 Institute member, Vijay Gokhale, PhD, associate research professor in the BIO5 Institute, and Samantha Perez-Miller, PhD, researcher and scientist in the Department of Pharmacology, examined 50,000 existing small molecules to identify the ones with a structure similar to Ubc9.

They selected less than 50 of the closest matches, which were then tested in Dr. Khanna's laboratory to see if their presence would suppress the influx of sodium through NaV1.7. The findings were promising, so the team set their sights on developing a unique, more effective compound.

The result was 194, which UArizona patented and licensed to startup Regulonix LLC through Tech Launch Arizona, the UArizona office that commercializes inventions stemming from university research. Drs. Khanna and Gokhale founded Regulonix LLC in 2016 to address the growing opioid epidemic by developing new, non-addictive ways to treat pain and commercializing those innovations.

While 194 shows great promise for pain relief, Dr. Khanna and the team have been working with the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to optimize the compound. In this case, an NCATS team is primarily focusing on improving 194's half-life  the time it takes for a drug to reduce by half in your body  and its drug-like properties.

It is an important step in optimizing the compound's potential as a pain-relieving drug and advancing to the next stage, where researchers will file for Food and Drug Administration approval to begin clinical trials.
Scientists from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge, UK, have recently proposed and applied a correction to EpiEstim, a statistical method to estimate the time-dependent transmission of infectious disease during an epidemic. Applying the corrected method to simulated and real-world data has improved and more accurate estimation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmissibility. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server.

Study: Refining reproduction number estimates to account for unobserved generations of infection in emerging epidemics. Image Credit: Eakdesign/ Shutterstock

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has caused tremendous damage to many countries' economic and healthcare systems across the globe. The emergence of novel viral variants with higher transmissibility and virulence has resulted in a continuous and sharp rise in new infections globally.

Basic and effective reproduction numbers are vital epidemiological parameters required to estimate the final epidemic size and herd immunity threshold and predict the future infection rate, hospitalization, and mortality. The basic reproduction number represents the average number of secondary infections caused by a single primary infection in a population where everyone is susceptible to the infectious disease. The effective reproduction number represents the average number of secondary infections from a primary infection at a given time in a population of both susceptible and non-susceptible people.

EpiEstim is considered the best method to estimate basic and effective reproduction numbers. However, it often suffers from the systematic overestimation of the basic reproduction number in the initial epidemic phases.

The study

The scientists considered a linear, exponential growth model to assess undetected early generations of infections and applied this correction to EpiEstim. They tested the efficacy of the corrected method using simulated data. Moreover, they used real-world COVID-19 data from the USA and Europe to compare the efficacy of original and corrected EpiEstim methods in estimating basic and effective reproduction numbers.

They specifically focused on the situations where early generations of infections may have been missed due to low testing rates and other pandemic-related emergencies. They considered the best components of the EpiEstim method and corrected its initial bias by utilizing a linear, exponential growth method.

In this method, the exponential growth rate of new infections is used to estimate the basic reproduction number if the generation interval is known. The generation interval represents the average time period taken by a primary infection case to infect and induce a secondary infection case.

The main aim of the corrected method was to include all early infections that remained asymptomatic or took longer than the usual time period to develop symptoms.

Important observations

Considering a reporting rate of 50%, the proposed correction caused a significant reduction in initial bias observed in the data generated by the original EpiEstim method. The mean estimates produced by the corrected method were comparable to those produced by the exponential growth method. A similar trend was observed by considering different reporting rates.

Further analysis with simulated data indicated that the corrected method generates more accurate estimates of basic reproduction numbers than the original method. Moreover, it improves the uncertainty quantification. However, the corrected method did not modify the later estimates of effective reproduction numbers generated by the original EpiEstim method.

Impact of undetected infections

The scientists investigated the impact of missed generations of infections on the estimates produced by the original and corrected EpiEstim methods. The findings revealed that the correction is particularly effective when a large number of initial generations remain undetected. Considering a situation where two generations of infections were missed, the corrected method produced an accurate basic production number and sufficiently compensated the bias of the original EpiEstim method.

Application of corrected EpiEstim method

The scientists applied the corrected method to real-world COVID-19 incidence data obtained from the US and some European countries. The findings revealed that in each country, the initial basic reproduction rate produced by the corrected method is lower than that produced by the original EpiEstim method. This indicates that missed generations of infections at initial pandemic phases can result in overestimating the basic reproduction number of SARS-CoV-2, which can influence the initial estimates of effective reproduction number.

Study significance

The study proposes a corrected EpiEstim method to more accurately estimate the early basic and effective reproduction numbers of SARS-CoV-2. The correction applied to the original EpiEstim method includes utilizing a linear, exponential growth method to capture undetected early generations of infections that may otherwise affect the accuracy of estimates in the initial phases of an epidemic/pandemic.

*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 unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 5 million lives globally since it emerged in Wuhan, China, in late December 2019. The causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), primarily affects the respiratory system, but serious symptoms have also been noted in other organ systems. Patients suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the elderly are more prone to hospitalization due to severe COVID-19.

Due to transformations in the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 since the pandemic, several variants have emerged that increase the seriousness and communicability of the disease and reduce the effectiveness of treatment and preventative measures used worldwide.

A particular variant of concern evolved in India, the Delta variant, which has amplified transmissibility and is capable of eluding vaccine-induced immunity. Thus there is a pressing need for effective treatment against such existing variants of concern as well as variants that may emerge in the future.

Sotrovimab, a human monoclonal antibody isolated during the SARS outbreak in 2003, has proven its ability to neutralize SARS-CoV-2. It targets a specific region in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which does not compete with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding.

Assessing the safety and effectiveness of sotrovimab in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19

In an attempt to study the safety and effectiveness of sotrovimab in more vulnerable patients suffering from mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, a multinational team of researchers conducted the COVID-19 Monoclonal antibody Efficacy Trial-Intent to Care Early (COMET-ICE) trial. It was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multicenter, phase 3 study, with primary, secondary, exploratory, and safety outcomes. This study is published on the medRxiv* preprint server.

The primary outcome was disease progression in terms of the percentage of patients hospitalized due to any reason for 24 hours or more or death by day 29.

Secondary outcomes included the percentage of patients who visited the emergency room, were hospitalized for any period, or death as well as the number of patients developing severe COVID-19 requiring supplemental oxygen.

Exploratory outcomes included the duration of hospital, intensive care unit, or ventilator stay through day 29. Lastly, safety outcomes included all adverse events such as hospitalization and deaths irrespective of COVID-19-related or not.

Study outcomes

Of 1,351 patients screened from August 2020 through March 2021, sotrovimab or placebo was randomly given to 1,057 patients. The primary outcome results showed a 79% reduction in hospitalization due to any reason for over 24 hours or death with sotrovimab treatment.

Secondary outcome results demonstrated a decline of emergency room visits for any reason, hospitalization for any period or death by 66% with sotrovimab.

Additionally, treatment with sotrovimab reduced respiratory complications due to COVID-19 by 74% and decreased the requirement for oxygen and ventilator.

Treatment with sotrovimab reduced the progression of COVID-19 in high-risk patients with mild to moderate disease.

Limitations

There were a few limitations in this phase 3 study. Since only a small number of events were reported in patients with sotrovimab for the primary and secondary outcomes, it was challenging to identify the features of patients or diseases related to COVID-19 development in patients treated with sotrovimab.

Also, the limited size of the study population was a barrier to the detection of unusual adverse events. Finally, since the study enrolled patients for only a limited time period of six months, the long-term effect of sotrovimab on variants of concern was not clear.

Inferences from the study

Although mass vaccination campaigns are ongoing in many countries, a large percentage of the global population is still unvaccinated because they are immunocompromised or due to vaccine hesitancy. Therefore, an alternative is required to reduce hospitalization and deaths due to COVID-19.

The outcome of the COMET-ICE trial showed that sotrovimab reduced the advancement of COVID-19 in vulnerable patients suffering from minor to moderate symptoms. In addition, sotrovimab treatment led to a decrease in the rate of hospitalization and demand for oxygen and improvement in COVID-19 symptoms.

The authors believe that sotrovimab is highly effective and well-tolerated with no safety concerns among patients who are more prone to the complications of COVID-19.

*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.
Finding the best private Medicare drug or medical insurance plan among dozens of choices is tough enough without throwing misleading sales tactics into the mix.

Yet federal officials say complaints are rising from seniors tricked into buying policies  without their consent or lured by questionable information  that may not cover their drugs or include their doctors. In response, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has threatened to penalize private insurance companies selling Medicare Advantage and drug plans if they or agents working on their behalf mislead consumers.

The agency has also revised rules making it easier for beneficiaries to escape plans they didn't sign up for or enrolled in only to discover promised benefits didn't exist or they couldn't see their providers.

The problems are especially prevalent during Medicare's open-enrollment period, which began Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. A common trap begins with a phone call like the one Linda Heimer, an Iowa resident, received in October. She won't answer the phone unless her caller ID displays a number she recognizes, but this call showed the number of the hospital where her doctor works.

The person on the phone said she needed Heimer's Medicare number to make sure it was correct for the new card she would receive. When Heimer hesitated, the woman said, "We're not asking for a Social Security number or bank numbers or anything like that. This is OK."

"I can't believe this, but I gave her my card number," said Heimer. Then the caller asked questions about her medical history and offered to send her a saliva test "absolutely free." That's when Heimer became suspicious and hung up. She contacted the 1-800-MEDICARE helpline to get a new Medicare number and called the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline and the Federal Trade Commission.

But later that morning the phone rang again and this time the caller ID displayed a number matching the toll-free Medicare helpline. When she answered, she recognized the voice of the same woman.

"You're not from Medicare," Heimer told her.

"Yes, yes, yes, we are," the woman insisted. Heimer hung up again.

It's been only two weeks since Heimer disclosed her Medicare number to a stranger and, so far, nothing's gone wrong. But armed with that number, scammers could bill Medicare for services and medical supplies that beneficiaries never receive, and the scammers could sign seniors up for a Medicare Advantage or drug plan without their knowledge.

In California, reports of deceptive sales practices for Medicare Advantage and drug plans have been the top complaints to the state Senior Medicare Patrol for the past two years, said Sandy Morales, a case manager for the group. The patrol is a federally funded program that helps seniors untangle insurance problems.

Nationwide, the Senior Medical Patrol has sent 74% more cases in the first nine months of this year than in all of 2020 to CMS and the Health and Human Services Inspector General for investigation, said Rebecca Kinney, director of the Administration for Community Living's Office of Healthcare Information and Counseling at HHS, which oversees the patrols. She expects more complaints to come in during Medicare's open-enrollment period.

And last month, CMS officials warned the private insurance companies selling Medicare Advantage and drug plans that federal requirements prohibit deceptive sales practices.

Kathryn Coleman, director of CMS' Medicare Drug and Health Plan Contract Administration Group, said in a memo to insurers that the agency is concerned about ads widely promoting Advantage plan benefits that are available only in a limited area or to a restricted number of beneficiaries. CMS has also received complaints about sales information that could be construed as coming from the government and pressure tactics to get seniors to enroll, she noted.

Coleman reminded the companies they are "accountable and responsible for their marketing materials and activities, including marketing completed on a MA plan's behalf" by sales representatives. Companies that violate federal marketing rules can be fined and/or face enrollment suspensions. But a CMS spokesperson could not provide examples of recent violators or their penalties.

If beneficiaries discover a problem before March 31, the date the three-month disenrollment period ends each year, they have one chance to switch to another plan or to original Medicare. (Those who choose the latter may be unable to buy supplemental or Medigap insurance, with rare exceptions, in all but four states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and New York.) After March, they are generally locked into their Advantage or drug plans for the entire year unless they're eligible for one of the rare exceptions to the rule.

CMS this year spelled out another remedy for the first time.

Officials can grant a "special enrollment period" for people who want to leave their plan because of deceptive sales tactics. These include "situations in which a beneficiary provides a verbal or written allegation that his or her enrollment in a MA or Part D plan was based upon misleading or incorrect information  [or] where a beneficiary states that he or she was enrolled into a plan without his or her knowledge," according to the Medicare Managed Care Manual.

"This is a really important safety valve for beneficiaries that clearly goes beyond just the limited opportunity to switch plans when someone feels buyers remorse, said David Lipschutz, associate director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. To use the new option, beneficiaries should contact their state's health insurance assistance program at www.shiphelp.org/.

The option to leave is also available if a significant number of plan members are unable to access the doctors or hospitals that were supposed to be in the provider network.

Nonetheless, the scams continue around the country, experts say.

A misleading television commercial in the San Francisco area has enticed seniors with a host of new benefits including dental, vision, transportation benefits and even "money back into your Social Security account," said Morales. Beneficiaries have told her group that when they called for information they were "erroneously enrolled into a plan that they never gave permission to enroll into," she said.

In August, an Ohio senior received a call from someone telling him Medicare was issuing new cards because of the covid-19 pandemic. When he wouldn't provide his Medicare number, the caller became angry and the beneficiary felt threatened, said Chris Reeg, director of the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program.

Reeg said another senior received a call from a salesperson with bad news: She wasn't getting all the benefits from Medicare she was entitled to. The beneficiary provided her Medicare number and other information but didn't realize the caller was enrolling her in a Medicare Advantage plan. She found out when she visited her doctor, who did not accept her new insurance.

In western New York, the culprit is an official-looking postcard, said Beth Nelson, the state's Senior Medicare Patrol director. "Our records indicate  you may be eligible to receive additional benefits," it says, enticingly. When Nelson's client called the number on the card in September for more details, she provided her Medicare number and later ended up in a Medicare Advantage plan without her consent.

Heimer's scammer was persistent. When the stranger tried to reach her a third time, Heimer said, the caller ID displayed the phone number of another local hospital. She told the woman she had reported the calls to CMS, the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline and the FTC. That finally did the trick  the woman abruptly hung up.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused over five million deaths and has spread to nearly every country in the world. When the disease first emerged, many countries were forced to enact costly and restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the disease, including mandatory face masks in public spaces, social distancing, and even stay-at-home orders and lockdowns. While mass vaccination schemes have led many developed countries to open back up, developing countries still struggle.

Study: Neutralisation of SARS-CoV-2 Delta sub-lineage AY.4.2 and B.1.617.2+E484K by BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine-elicited sera. Image Credit: MIA Studio/ Shutterstock

The rise of dangerous variants of concern has led some to speculate around the re-introduction of restrictions. These variants of concern display several worrying features, including higher transmission rates and the ability to evade both vaccine-induced and natural immunity. The variants tend to show mutations in the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This protein comprises an S1 subunit containing a receptor-binding domain (RBD) that permits viral cell entry and an S2 subunit responsible for membrane fusion. Mutations tend to arise in the RBD, and as the spike protein is the target of most vaccines, this has resulted in significant reductions in the efficacy of the vaccines against some variants.

The AY.2 sublineage of the Delta variant of concern has spread rapidly in recent weeks, rising from 3.8% to 11.3% of new Delta cases in just under a month, and Delta cases already make up 90% of new cases in the UK. Multiple other countries have also reported its presence, with higher lineages seen in some eastern European countries. It appears to have a growth rate of 19% and bears the spike mutation of AY.4 with several additional mutations, known as Y145H and A222V. Researchers are attempting to determine the ability of this new sublineage to avoid neutralization by antibodies elicited from vaccination.

A preprint version of the study is available on the medRxiv* server while the article undergoes peer review.

The study

The researchers assessed the neutralization ability of serum samples that have been vaccinated using the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA vaccines BNT162b2. A total of 14 samples were evaluated, with donors between the age of 26 and 72. Most were female. Donors submitted samples a minimum of 49 days after the second dose of the vaccine. The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein antibodies was determined using a commercially available ELISA assay.

To test the ability of these samples to neutralize the new sublineage, the samples were tested against clinical isolates from Vero E6 cells. The scientists sequenced the virus beforehand to confirm the presence of the mutations found in AY.4.2 and ensure no new mutations had arisen during cell culture. Statistical analyses consisted of the Friedman test for paired measurements to test for statistically significant differences within paired groups and Dunns multiple comparison test, which compares the difference in the sum of ranks.

First, the researchers assessed the ability of the vaccine sera to neutralize AY.4.2 compared to other Delta sublineages, as well as an early pandemic strain. Compared to the early pandemic strain, the AY.4.2 virus showed a 2.3 fold reduction in neutralization ability. This is not unexpected, as most strains that have arisen more recently show significant ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity. Compared to the neutralization titres for the Delta lineage and the parent AY.4 lineage, AY.4.2 showed very little increase in resistance.

The scientists also examined the new lineage compared to a B.1.617.2 (Delta) strain with an E484K mutation in the RBD. This showed a significant reduction in virus neutralization titres compared to both Delta and the AY.4.2 sublineage. The Beta variant also showed more resistance to vaccine sera neutralization than AY.4.2, with a 4.2 fold reduction in virus neutralization compared to an early pandemic strain.

Conclusion

The researchers highlight that the AY.4.2 sublineage does not show a significant reduction in virus neutralization compared to most current strains. This is very likely not the reason for the rapid rise in the percentage of cases. Similar studies support this for the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines, which have resulted in very similar results.

The authors show much more concern over the Delta variant that has acquired the E484K spike mutation, as this shows a significantly higher reduction in virus neutralization titres, suggesting it is much more likely to result in vaccine breakthrough infections. While these are mostly far less severe than COVID-19 infections in unvaccinated individuals, they could still be deadly. This information could be important for future vaccine development and public health policymakers, allowing them to make informed decisions on potential measures to reduce the spread of the virus and determine where to target future vaccines against the disease.

*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 behaviour, or treated as established information
In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr. Mann and Dr. Shah about the Columbia



Thought Leaders Dr. Mann

Dr. Shah Columbia University In this interview, News-Medical talks to Dr. Mann and Dr. Shah about the Columbia Psychiatry Pathways app and its purpose of improving the treatment and monitoring of depression.

Please can you introduce yourself and tell us what led you to create an app for depression?

We wrote a paper reviewing current treatment guidelines for depression and proposed some new ideas for an improved set of guidelines that departed quite a bit from current guidelines and were based on sound clinical evidence.

We considered how we could promulgate these ideas on improved treatment more widely and the idea of an App to assist the clinician was born.

How can the Columbia Psychiatry Pathways app enable clinicians to treat depression more effectively and how can it help monitor patients and their recovery?

Most physicians treating depression are not trained psychiatrists. This leaves them in doubt about what to do in terms of when to increase or decrease the dose of antidepressant medication and what to do when that medication does not work. Too often patients are not treated to get them fully better and treatment efforts stall with the patient only partially better.

This App helps the clinician with choosing the medications for the patient in a logical sequence and treating the patient to maximize benefit. It provides the doctor with a lot of information about each medication to help them use that medication in the correct dose range and anticipate side effects.

Image Credit: Columbia Psychiatry

Why is depression in particular hard for clinicians on the frontline to effectively treat and monitor? How can your app help to alleviate these difficulties?

After two trials of antidepressants only about half of patients will respond robustly. Doctors should expect to have to try more than one medication and need to optimize the benefit from each medication. This App helps them do that.

Depression often comes with comorbidities. How does the app make provisions for this?

The App alerts the doctor to screen for more severely depressed patients, pregnant, and suicidal patients. It then suggests a referral option for such patients.

Tell us about the previous research in suicide prevention Columbia has undertaken and how this has formed some of the basis for this app.

We have published papers reviewing the benefits of training primary care physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of major depression and shown how many studies find that doing this on a broader scale can cut suicide rates by about half.

How could this app improve accessibility to mental health care?

This App means that non-psychiatrist physicians with little training in psychiatry can treat depression more effectively.

How could this approach be applied to other mental health issues?

Similar Apps can be designed to help in the treatment of other psychiatric disorders, and we are in the process of producing such Apps. They will be rolled out soon.

Image Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

The world is becoming more and more digitized, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you think more aspects of healthcare will become digitized like this in the coming years, and what are the benefits and drawbacks of this?

Such tools can be used in all fields of medicine and raise the standard of care being offered. These Apps offer advice and information but leave it to the clinician to determine if that advice and guidance is in the patients interest.

What impact do you hope the Columbia Psychiatry Pathways app will have on the world?

We believe this App to could raise the standard of care for depressed patients all over the planet. It can be used by physicians of every background and it can also be used by patients and their families to help them understand the treatment and treatment options and decisions that are being proposed by their doctor.

What is the next step for the Columbia Psychiatry Pathways app and its team?

We are always seeking feedback on how to improve our App and will be releasing Apps for other psychiatric disorders in the near future.

Where can readers find more information?

https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/pathways

About Dr. Mann

J. John Mann MD, is The Paul Janssen Professor of Translational Neuroscience (in Psychiatry and in Radiology) and a former Vice-Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University. He is Director of Research and Director of Molecular Imaging and the Neuropathology Division at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

Dr. Mann is trained in Psychiatry and Internal Medicine and has a Doctorate in Neurochemistry. His research employs functional brain imaging, neurochemistry, and molecular genetics to probe the causes of depression and suicide. Dr. Mann is the Director of the NIMH Conte Center for the Neuroscience of Mental Disorders, and Past President of the International Academy of Suicide Research.

Dr. Mann has published 458 papers and edited 10 books on the subjects of the biology and treatment of mood disorders, suicidal behavior, and other psychiatric disorders. In private practice, he specializes in the treatment of mood disorders.

About Dr. Shah

Ravi N. Shah, MD, MBA is Chief Innovation Officer at Columbia Psychiatry. Dr. Shah has extensive experience in digital mental health, having worked with several venture-capital-backed mental health startups. He served as Medical Director for the Columbia Psychiatry Faculty Practice from 2017-2021.

Dr. Shah is a Board-certified psychiatrist who sees adult patients for psychotherapy and psychopharmacology in New York City. Ravi completed his combined MD and MBA from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and The Wharton School and his adult psychiatry residency at Columbia University, serving as chief resident in his final year.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Generally clear skies. Areas of patchy fog. Low 29F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Generally clear skies. Areas of patchy fog. Low 29F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Jeffersonville, IN (47130)

Today

Some clouds. Areas of patchy fog. Low 29F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. Areas of patchy fog. Low 29F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
(Newser)  Update: A 32-year-old Paris man has been sentenced to life for the horrific murder of a Holocaust survivor in 2018. Yacine Mihoub was convicted of stabbing 85-year-old Jewish woman Mireille Knoll 11 times during what prosecutors said was a botched robbery fueled by anti-Semitism and the belief that she had "hidden treasures" in her home, the BBC reports. Mihoub, whose mother lived next-door to Knoll, had done odd jobs for the elderly woman for years. A second defendant, Alex Carrimbacus, was acquitted of murder but sentenced to 15 years for theft with anti-Semitic motives, per AFP. He told investigators that Mihoub shouted "Allahu Akbar" as he stabbed Knoll. Our original story from March 26, 2018 follows:

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An 85-year-old Jewish woman who survived the Holocaust was murdered and her body burned in what Paris police are now investigating as a hate crime. Mireille Knoll was stabbed at least 11 times before her Paris apartment was set ablaze Friday, report the Local and the BBC. Two male suspects, aged 22 and 29, were arrested Monday and face possible charges of anti-Semitic murder, aggravated robbery, and destruction of property, reports the Times of Israel. On Facebook, Knoll's granddaughter describes one of the men as "a Muslim neighbor [Knoll] knew well." Knoll's son says she treated the man "like a son." Local media, however, report the man had threatened to set fire to Knoll's home following his release from prison for molesting the 12-year-old daughter of a woman who looked after Knoll.

"We are really in shock," says Knoll's son, noting his mother had "no money" to tempt her alleged killers. Authorities initially said they were "not excluding any hypothesis" regarding the motive of the killing. But on Monday, the Paris prosecutor's office said anti-Semitism was likely to blame. "For the family, it's almost a certainty," French MP Meyer Habib said in a Facebook post after speaking with Knoll's relatives, per the Local. She noted Knoll escaped a roundup of 13,000 Jews in Paris in 1942almost all of whom would later die in Nazi death campsthanks to her mother's Brazilian passport, per the BBC. Many are now pointing out similarities in the case of 66-year-old Jewish woman Sarah Halimi, murdered in Paris last April. In February, the murder was ruled an anti-Semitic crime. (Read more anti-Semitism stories.)
(Newser)  Update: Two men have been convicted in a 2019 laptop robbery at a Bay Area Starbucks that left a research engineer dead. The Mercury News reports a jury on Wednesday found 24-year-old Byron Reed guilty of second-degree murder, and 20-year-old Kejuan Wiggins guilty of voluntary manslaughter, in the Dec. 31, 2019, death of Shuo Zeng, who'd turned 34 that day. Wiggins is said to have been the one to swipe Zeng's laptop while he was working on it, leading Zeng to chase after him. Reed was the driver of the getaway BMW, which ran over Zeng, killing him. The two defendants were also found guilty of robbery. Wiggins faces 12 years behind bars, while Reed faces 15 to 30. Per KGO, they'll be sentenced on Jan. 7. Our original story from January 2020 follows:

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A California man is dead after chasing down a thief who snatched his laptop from a Starbucks on New Year's Eve. The unidentified man was working from the Starbucks in an east Oakland neighborhood around 11:30am when someone grabbed his computer and ran. A woman seated near the victim saw him chase the suspect into a black SUV waiting in the street. "He was really brave," performing a "superman-type dive" into the SUV, the woman tells KGO. But "there was a struggle and I think they pushed him out and then he got dragged."

Another witness had a slightly different take: that the man's head struck a parked car after he grabbed onto a door handle of the fleeing vehicle, reportedly driven by a masked man, per KGO. "He was bleeding only from the head. His face was purple and blue," says the owner of an adjacent flower shop, per CNN, which reports the victim, initially in critical condition, later died at a hospital. Police announced the arrests of two suspects on Wednesday. "No further information will be released at this time. The investigation continues," a statement reads. (Read more California stories.)
(Newser)  The University of Austin, its founders say, will soon rise up from a Texas campus in opposition to the censorship they believe to be pervasive at American colleges. Students and faculty will be free to present unpopular perspectives, the New York Times reports, starting next summer with Forbidden Coursesan inaugural program featuring professors of varied views who will "help students come up with their own opinions and ideas." The school plans to start masters programs after that, then add undergraduate courses in a few years.

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The founders see a need, citing "the illiberalism and censoriousness prevalent in Americas most prestigious universities." Pano Kanelos, the campus president who ran St. Johns College in Annapolis, wrote this week: "So much is broken in America. But higher education might be the most fractured institution of all." Kanelos said the idea sprang from conversations with Bari Weiss, a former Opinion editor for the Times; historian Niall Ferguson; Heather Heying, an evolutionary biologist, and others. Board members include former Harvard President Lawrence Summers and playwright David Mamet. Some of the organizers have distanced themselves from the rhetoric.

"I do not agree other universities are no longer seeking the truth nor do I feel that higher education is irreparably broken," E. Gordon Gee, an advisory board member who's West Virginia University's president, assured his school. Harvard's Steven Pinker said he's just advising, not teaching. An early hire is Kathleen Stock, who resigned from a UK school after she was accused of being transphobic, per the Independent. The project is on its way to raising $250 million, in addition to hiring and picking out a campus. To keep the cost of a liberal arts education below $30,000 a year, the University of Austin plans to go light on administration and amenities. (Read more colleges and universities stories.)
(Newser)  At least 13 former Trump administration officials violated the law by mingling campaigning with their official government duties, according to a new federal investigation, the AP reports. The report from the Office of Special Counsel says the officials broke the law without consequence and with the administration's approval as part of a "willful disregard for the Hatch Act"the law that prohibits government officials from using their official roles to influence elections, including supporting candidates while acting in their official capacities. The report says White House officials were warned of the violations but President Trump did not act; the president is charged with enforcing the law for top officials.

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"The cumulative effect of these repeated and public violations was to undermine public confidence in the nonpartisan operation of government," the report said, adding that "such flagrant and unpunished violations erode the principal foundation of our democratic systemthe rule of law." The office investigated officials' comments in the lead-up to the 2020 presidential election, including at the Republican National Convention, which was held at the White House in a major break from historical norms. The Office of Special Counsel, which released its report Tuesday, concluded that hosting the event at the White House did not itself violate the Hatch Act.

But the report listed other instances in which Trump officials did, mostly by promoting the former president's reelection in interviews while appearing in their official capacity. Among those cited are former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows; Jared Kushner, senior adviser to the president; former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany; Kellyanne Conway, then counselor to the president; Stephen Miller, a Trump senior policy adviser, and Robert O'Brien, former national security adviser. "In each case, the subject official was identified by their official title, discussed administration policies and priorities related to their official duties, and/or spoke from the White House grounds," the report says.

(Read more Hatch Act stories.)
(Newser)  NASA says its return to the moon has been pushed back from 2024 until 2025 at the earliestand a lawsuit from Jeff Bezos' space company is one of the main causes for the delay. "We've lost nearly seven months in litigation, and that likely has pushed the first human landing likely to no earlier than 2025," NASA administrator Bill Nelson told reporters Tuesday, per Ars Technica. NASA was banned from communicating with SpaceX about the Human Landing System while the lawsuit from Blue Origin was pending. A federal court ruled against the Bezos company last week.

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The Trump administration set the 2024 goal in 2019, with Mike Pence saying plans to return to the moon by 2028 were "just not good enough." But a delay was widely expected before Tuesday's announcement due to issues including the pandemic and a funding shortfall as well as the Bezos lawsuit, the BBC reports. Nelson said he spoke with SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell Friday. "This is the first contact we've been able to have about the HLS program, and we both underscored the importance of returning to the Moon as quickly and safely as possible," he said.

NASA said in a press release Tuesday that it is focusing on Artemis I uncrewed and Artemis II crewed flight tests around the moon, which will precede the Artemis III mission to bring astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. "The Artemis II mission includes sending astronauts aboard Orion farther into space than any humans have ever traveled before, roughly 40,000 miles past the moon, before returning home," the agency said.

(Read more NASA stories.)
(Newser)  DNA evidence is now solving crimes against trees as well as crimes against people. Justin Andrew Wilke, ringleader of a group of timber poachers that operated in Washington state's Olympic National Forest, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison earlier this week after the first federal trial to use tree DNA evidence, the New York Times reports. Government research geneticist Dr. Richard Cronn testified that bigleaf maple wood Wilke sold to a mill, using forged permits, was a match so close to the remains of three poached maple trees that the odds of it being a coincidence were 1 in 1 undecillion1 followed by 36 zeroes. He was found guilty of charges including theft of public property and trafficking in unlawfully harvested timber.

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"The type of maple harvested by the defendants is highly prized and used to produce musical instruments," according to a DoJ release. Cronn says researchers built a genetic database of bigwood maple trees in the national forests. Trees have DNA just like other living organisms, which "makes it possible to uniquely distinguish every tree out there if we have the appropriate genetic markers," he tells the Times. One problem, he says, is that separate databases need to be created for different tree species, and poachers target a wide variety of different trees in different parts of the country.

Prosecutors targeted the poaching gang after they burned a wasps' nest at the base of a bigwood maple in August 2018, causing the Maple Fire, which burned some 3,300 acres. A crew member who pleaded guilty to theft of public property and setting timber afire was sentenced to 30 months in 2020, but the jury in Wilke's case acquitted him on fire-related charges. Cronn says researchers have now created a bigwood maple database with samples stretching from the Mexican border to British Columbia, which could help deter timber poachers. "Any time trees are taken in that range can now be investigated," he says. "We will be ready at the next trial." (Read more timber stories.)
(Newser)  The worlds top carbon polluters, China and the United States, agreed Wednesday to increase their cooperation and speed up action to rein in climate-damaging emissions, signaling a mutual effort on global warming at a time of tension over their other disputes. In back-to-back news conferences at UN climate talks in Glasgow, Chinese climate envoy Xie Zhenhua and US counterpart John Kerry said the two countries would work together to accelerate the emissions reductions required to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, the AP reports. "Its beneficial not only to our two countries but the world as a whole that two major powers in the world, China and the US, shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations," Xie told reporters. "We need to think big and be responsible."

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"The steps we're taking ... can answer questions people have about the pace at which China is going, and help China and us to be able to accelerate our efforts," Kerry said. China also agreed for the first time to crack down on methane leaks, following the lead of the Biden administrations efforts to curb the potent greenhouse gas. Beijing and Washington agreed to share technology to reduce emissions. Both sides recognize that there is a gap between efforts taken globally to reduce climate pollution and the goals of the Paris deal, Xie said. "So we will jointly strengthen climate action and cooperation with respect to our respective national situations," he said

A US-China bilateral agreement in 2014 gave a huge push to the creation of the historic Paris accord the following year, but that cooperation stopped with the Trump administration, which pulled the U.S. out of the pact. The Biden administration brought the US back in to that deal, but has clashed with China on other issues such as cybersecurity, human rights, and Chinese territorial claims. "While this is not a gamechanger in the way the 2014 US-China climate deal was, in many ways its just as much of a step forward given the geopolitical state of the relationship," said Thom Woodroofe, an expert in US-China climate talks. "It means the intense level of US-China dialogue on climate can now begin to translate into cooperation."

(Read more climate change stories.)
(Newser)  The chief electrician on the set of Rust didn't name names when he spoke out about a lack of professionalism that set the stage for the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21. But he's naming names now. On Wednesday gaffer Serge Svetnoy, 63, became the first crew member to take legal action against the film's producersincluding the man who fired the bullet, Alec Baldwinwith a negligence suit filed in Los Angeles. It addition to the producers, it names armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed; first assistant director Dave Halls, who may or may not have handed the gun to Baldwin; property master Sarah Zachry; and weapons provider Seth Kenney, per the Los Angeles Times.

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Detectives now know who loaded the bullet that killed Hutchins into a .45 Colt revolver used as a prop, Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies told Good Morning America on Wednesday, though she didn't give a name. But it's still not clear who brought live ammunition onto the New Mexico film set. At a news conference, Svetnoy said he'd seen guns lying "unattended in the sand" days before the shooting. He also said he'd seen Gutierrez Reed with guns under her belt. Her attorney, Jason Bowles, has suggested someone placed a live round inside a box of blanks. "We are convinced that this was sabotage and Hannah is being framed," he said Wednesday. "We believe that the scene was tampered with as well before the police arrived."

Carmack-Altwies said there is no evidence of sabotage. Svetnoy's attorney, Gary Dordick, said that even if it was sabotage, "where was [Gutierrez Reed] when they had the gun? Where was she when they put the bullet in the gun? She failed at her job miserably." Dordick said Svetnov "is not motivated by money" but hopes "to make these kind of unsafe conditions that happen too much on movie sets stop now," per Reuters. Svetnoy noted he was hit with "discharge materials from the blast" and the bullet "narrowly missed him." He then held Hutchins, his friend and fellow immigrant from Ukraine, as she bled from a bullet wound to the chest in a moment that will "haunt him forever," according to the suit. (Read more Alec Baldwin stories.)
(Newser)  A federal judge has ordered a halt to the Texas ban on school mask mandates, saying it violates the rights of students with disabilities. Judge Lee Yeakel, ruling in a lawsuit brought by the nonprofit advocacy group Disability Rights Texas, said Gov. Greg Abbott's order violated the Americans With Disabilities Act, which protects access to education, the New York Times reports. "The spread of COVID-19 poses an even greater risk for children with special health needs," Yeakel said, per the Texas Tribune. "Children with certain underlying conditions who contract COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe acute biological effects and to require admission to a hospital and the hospitals intensive-care unit."

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Yeaker's ruling banned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton from suing school districts that require students to wear masks, the AP reports. Paxtonwho has already sued 15 districts to overturn mandatestweeted Wednesday night that he "strongly disagrees" with the ruling and his office is "considering all legal avenues to challenge this decision." The Texas Supreme Court has repeatedly allowed the ban to remain in place, but the federal ruling is likely to have an impact on similar cases around the country, the Times reports. Kym Davis Rogers, an attorney for Disability Rights Texas, said the ruling shows Texas is not above federal law. (Read more Texas stories.)
(Newser)  "When I talk about the end of apartheid, I prefer not to claim the honor that I have ended it," former South African President FW de Klerk said in 2011. But de Klerk, who has died at age 85, certainly played a major role in the end of white minority rule and the transition to democracy. In reforms announced in a landmark 1990 speech, five months after he was elected, he lifted a ban on the African National Congress and authorized the release of Nelson Mandela and other political prisoners. The FW de Klerk foundation announced early Thursday that he had died peacefully at his Cape Town home after a struggle with mesothelioma cancer, the BBC reports. The foundation announced his diagnosis in June.

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De Klerk, a former education minister, was the country's head of state from 1989, when he replaced defiant apartheid defender PW Botha, until 1994, when Mandela became the country's first Black president after the first election in which the Black majority was allowed to vote, Al Jazeera reports. De Klerk, whose National Party got 20% of the vote in 1994, served as deputy president from 1994 until 1996. Mandela and de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He remained a controversial figure in his homeland, where he was blamed for violence against Black South Africans and anti-apartheid activists during his decades in National Party governments and considered a traitor by many right-wing whites, the AP reports.

The relationship between de Klerk and Mandela was deeply strained as they negotiated the future shape of South Africa's government in the early 1990s, but Mandela praised de Klerk at the Nobel ceremony, the Washington Post reports. "He had the courage to admit that a terrible wrong had been done to our country and people" and "the foresight to understand and accept that all the people of South Africa must, through negotiations and as equal participants, together determine what they want to make of their future," Mandela said. (Read more FW de Klerk stories.)
(Newser)  "I'm not going to get into a back-and-forth with Donald Trump," Chris Christie told Axios this weekalthough taunting the former president for losing last year's election seems like a guaranteed way to get into a back-and-forth with Donald Trump. "What I will say is this: When I ran for reelection in 2013, I got 60% of the vote," the former New Jersey governor said. "When he ran for reelection, he lost to Joe Biden." Christie added: "I'm glad to have that comparison stand up, because that's the one that really matters."

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Last weekend, Christie told a Republican Jewish Coalition conference in Las Vegas that the party needs to move on from the 2020 election. "Winning campaigns are always the campaigns that look forward, not backwards," he said, per the Hill. He said the GOP needs to present a "plan for tomorrow, not a grievance about yesterday." The remarks drew an angry response from Trump, who said in a Monday statement that Christie had been "absolutely massacred by his statements that Republicans have to move on from the past, meaning the 2020 Election Fraud. Everybody remembers that Chris left New Jersey with a less than 9% approval ratinga record low, and they didnt want to hear this from him!"

According to a Rutgers poll, Christie left office in 2018 with a 19% approval rating after several scandals and a failed presidential bid. Christie, who is rumored to be planning a 2024 White House bid, told Axios that he wants to spend his time "combating the policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harrisand trying to help Republicans win governorships and the House and the Senate in 2022." He added that it's "much more productive to fight those policies than to fight with other Republicans." (In September, Christie said Republicans need to "renounce conspiracy theories.")
(Newser)  The Thames River was declared "biologically dead" in the late 1950s. But after decades of cleanup and conservation efforts and investments in sewage treatment, that's no longer the case. Indeed, the 215-mile waterway running through London is now home to hundreds of wildlife species, including seahorses, eels, seals, even venomous sharks, according to a report released Wednesday by the Zoological Society of London. It identifies 92 bird species and 115 fish species, with numerous sharks noted, including tope, starry smooth-hound, and spurdog. Spurdog sharks release venom, which can cause pain and swelling in humans, from spines in front of its dorsal fins, CNN reports.

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The report found a slight decrease in the number of fish species identified in tidal areas of the river since the 1990s. It's not clear why, though the report does reference rising water temperatures due to climate change. Summer temperatures in some parts of the river have risen an average of 0.19 degrees Celsius (0.34 degrees Fahrenheit) annually since 2007, per the Washington Post. This "paints a worrying picture," according to CNN, as such changes can transform the ecosystem and its habitats, the report notes. Water levelswhich the report notes also impact "species' lifecycles and ranges"have been rising in some areas by 0.17 inches per year on average since 1990, the outlet notes.

There are also concerns related to pollutionfrom a mass of wet wipes covering 1,000 square meters, to microplastics flowing downstream at a rate of 94,000 pieces per second, to elevated nitrate levels triggered by industrial runoff and sewage, per the Guardian. "This report has enabled us to really look at how far the Thames has come on its journey to recovery ... and in some cases, set baselines to build from in the future," says the Zoological Society's Alison Debney. Engineers behind the Thames Tideway, a 15-mile underwater sewage tunnel to be completed in 2025, say it will capture 95% of the sewage that overflows from London's sewers before landing in the river. (Read more River Thames stories.)
(Newser)  An Australian senior's day of fishing last week was marred by a crocodile attack, and authorities say it's amazing he's alive. AFP reports the 60-year-old Queensland man headed to a river on his property in the far reaches of the Cape York Peninsula and found a bull occupying the riverbank area. He drove it offto the apparent anger of a croc that may have been targeting the bovine. The unlucky fisherman said he saw the crocodile "seconds before it lunged at him, knocking him over as he was about to cast his fishing rod," Matt Brien of the Queensland state environment department says.

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The man grabbed onto the branch of a mangrove tree to keep himself out of the water, but the croc opened his mouth wide, closed it around the man's boots, and started pulling him in. That's when the man was able to pull out a pocketknife from his belt and repeatedly stab the crocodile in its head. He managed to break from from the grip of the croc, which was between 13 and 15 feet long. "The odds of doing that are about zero," says Brien. The Guardian notes that the man drove himself to a hospital in Cooktown and received treatment in the ER.

He was subsequently transported to a medical center in Cairns and is said to be in stable condition and continuing his recovery. His injuries were mostly to his feet, in addition to the psychological trauma he endured. Environmental officials say they're not going to go after the croc, as the attack took place in a remote location that isn't typically accessible to the public. Brien calls the man's ordeal "the stuff of nightmares," but notes everyone is "grateful" the guy made it through, per the West Australian. "The fact that he's alive is significant, it's quite amazing, it's almost unheard of," Brien notes. (Read more crocodile stories.)
(Newser)  The US government is urging American citizens to leave Haiti because of the countrys deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools, and banks, per the AP. The rare warning from the State Department comes as Haitis government and police are struggling to control gangs that have blocked fuel distribution terminals for several weeks. Its unclear how many US citizens currently live in Haiti. A State Department official told the AP that it does not provide those statistics, and US citizens are not required to register their travel to a foreign country.

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Widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options," the State Department warned, adding that the US embassy would probably not be able to get people out if commercial flights become unavailable. Doctors Without Borders also warned that the shortages have forced it to reduce medical care since last week, with staff treating only patients with life-threatening conditions. (The US warning comes as authorities are trying to secure the release of 17 members of an American missionary group who were kidnapped last month.)
(Newser)  Jonathan Johnson spent weeks on a ventilator battling COVID-19, then decided to get marriedin the hospital. The 28-year-old man surprised his fiancee with the help of hospital staff and arranged a wedding last month in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Council Bluffs, Iowa, tying the knot with 28-year-old Mariah Copeland from his bed, the Omaha World-Herald reported. I didnt want any regrets, Johnson said. After coming off the ventilator, you view a lot of things differently in life. Johnson was diagnosed with COVID-19 in September. He quarantined in the couple's bedroom away from Copeland and their 2-year-old son.

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Copeland also tested positive, but it was Johnson whose condition worsened. He landed in Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital and was on a ventilator for more than three weeks. As soon as Johnson got off the ventilator, he decided the time was right for the wedding. You see a lot of sadness, and sometimes the end isnt always what we wanted, said nurse Jenna Harvey. With Jonathan, this gave us hope and it kind of keeps us going." Legal paperwork lists the wedding date as Oct. 22, the day Johnson was released. He is on the mend at home and still uses oxygen. The couple hope to have another ceremony after he fully recovers.

(Read more uplifting news stories.)
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has started transferring its approach of promoting gender balance to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said Supreme Council for Women (SCW) Secretary-General Hala, Al Ansari.

The step was announced amid Saudi keen interest in promoting the status of women and enhancing their integration into public affairs and the labour market as well as their contribution to development. The Saudi Institute of Public Administration (IPA) has recently unveiled a plan to set a centre for promoting gender balance in Saudi Arabia.

In this regard, the Saudi Institute of Public Administration extended an invitation to the Supreme Council for Women (SCW) to provide an overview of Bahrains national gender balance model.

Al Ansari made the statement during a forum which was held by the Gender Balance Centre, an offset of the Institute of Public Administration, under the theme Bahrains Approach for Womens Advancement and Gender Balance.

The two sides are set to sign a memorandum of understanding in this regard.

An SCW delegation led by Al Ansari took part in the seminar, in the presence of IPA Director-General Dr Bandar bin Asaad Al Sajan and Gender Balance Director-General Dr Sara Jaza Mesfar Al Otaibi.

Other Saudi officials and experts specialised in public administration, gender balance and follow-up of the implementation of the 2030 Saudi Vision also participated in the forum.

The SCW delegation addressed the event, shedding light on Bahrains multi-phased approach of promoting the status of women and achieving gender balance.

Al Ansari stressed the importance of cooperation to exchange expertise between the two countries to further integrate women in reform and modernisation projects and enhance their contribution to development.

She underlined Bahrains strides since the establishment, 20 years ago, of the SCW, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) has announced the top three winners of its Research Summer School  Research Review Competition 2021 and Undergraduate Student Publication Award, held under the guidance of the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research to introduce RCSI Bahrain undergraduates to the world of research.

With research being a core pillar of RCSI Bahrain, all students from the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and Midwifery were invited individually or in groups, to submit a research review on a topic of their choice.

RCSI Bahrain academics, alumni and external academics provided mentorship to support the students.

Training and resources on framing search strategies, finding articles/books, using databases, writing reviews and referencing were provided to students by the RCSI Bahrain Library.

The first-place prize winners for the Research Review 2021 Competition are Mina Iskandar, Faris Solomon Al Madi, Saad Mallah, Andrew Hanna, Mohamed Diab and Tharmegan Tharmaratnam for their review titled Children Are Not Little Adults: A Review of SARS-CoV-2 in the Paediatric Population.

Winners of the second-place prize are Ali Mardini and Seemal Qadir for their review titled Eyeing out the pandemic: A review of the ocular manifestations of COVID-19 and the winners of the third-place are Prianna Menezes, Jayaditya Patil and Alekya Anala for their research review titled The challenges of diagnosing Placenta Accreta.

Can MRI help in management: A case series review.

This year, the university also launched the RCSI Bahrain Student Publication Database and Undergraduate Student Publication Award, in celebration and recognition of RCSI Bahrains undergraduate students achievements in peer-reviewed research journal publication.

The award-winning publications were selected based on different criteria including affiliation, journal metrics and contributing student authorship.

Three publications were selected for this years award and were published between 2020-21.

The winners are Jay Chieh Liu Jr and Ayesha Zaidi for their publication entitled Epidemiology of Paediatric Trauma in the Kingdom of Bahrain: A national paediatric trauma registry pilot study; Saad Mallah, Fathi Moustafa and Michael Naguib for their publication entitled Evidence-based pharmacotherapy for prevention and management of cardiac allograft vasculopathy and Taimur Habib for his publication entitled Nano-clays as Potential Pseudo-antibodies for COVID-19.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

GFH Properties, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GFH Financial Group, has backed a decision to launch Cityscape Bahrain, an offshoot of Cityscape Global, an annual international property and real estate investment event that connects industry professionals and investors, that will launch at the all-new Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre in 2022.

An agreement was signed on 9th November 2021 between InformaMarkets and Bahrains Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) during the 20th edition of Cityscape Global, which took place at Expo 2020 Dubai.

As one of four gold sponsors of the RERA Bahrain Pavilion at Cityscape Global, GFH Properties is supporting the development and promotion of the Kingdoms real estate sector on the global stage.

We are very proud to support the launch of Cityscape Bahrain, which is a major development for the regions real estate sector.

Over the last two decades, Cityscape Global has proved to be a highly valuable industry event for real estate professionals and investors alike, said Eman Al Mannai, Head of Sales at GFH Properties.

Cityscape Bahrain will be a boon to an already thriving real estate sector in the Kingdom and will highlight on a global level the world-class projects and developments taking place in Bahrain currently, including Harbour Heights, The Harbour Row and the soon-to-be-launched Bahrain Harbour.

We hope Cityscape Bahrain will draw further foreign investment into the Kingdoms real estate projects.

Eman Al Mannai added: Cityscape Bahrain will allow us to uncover more opportunities in the regional real estate market, helping us to secure value and returns for shareholders in addition to boosting developments and the real estate sector in the Kingdom.


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Fans of comedic actor Seth Rogen now have the chance to own something handmade by the Pineapple Express star himself.

Stamfords Avon Theatre and Film Center has received a ceramic vase created exclusively by Rogen for its Avon Auction, and it's up for bid, according to a press release. The vase is 6 inches tall with a multicolored design that has a three-dimensional feel, the release notes, as well as a crackled glaze finish on the top. The piece also has his first name signed on the bottom.

Bidding is currently live and the starting bid is listed at $2,500, according to the auction website. Those who want a chance to own the Rogen-made ceramic will have until Nov. 15 to place their bids.

Avon Theatre and Film Center / Contributed Photo

According to the Avon Theatres Director of Development and Marketing, Louisa Greene, the vase was obtained for the auction through a friend that the president of the board of directors for the Avon Theatre shares with Rogen. Greene said in an email that Cohen previously met Rogen in Stamford and had dinner together near the theatre. When he saw the theatre nearby, Greene said Cohen "told him about the mission of the Avon and our challenges to attract audiences during the pandemic."

Having a vase created by the actor part of the theatre's auction might help address some of those concerns, according to Greene.

The donation of this beautiful piece of pottery created by Seth Rogen has already brought the Avon some wonderful publicity, Greene said. The theatre has been hit hard by the pandemic, and Seths donation will help bring awareness not only about the Avons need to raise monies but also remind the community our non-profit cinema is open.

Greene said the non-profit is hoping that the handmade item donated by Rogen will prove beneficial to its fundraising effort.

Seth Rogens handmade ceramic vase is exquisite and truly is priceless, she said. He did donate a slightly larger vase that went for $10,000 in June 2021 in an online auction that benefited the Vancouver Art Gallery. We would love to see this price fetched in the Avon Auction.

The Canadian comedian and philanthropist took to Twitter to urge potential bidders to place a bid on the vase he donated to the Vancouver Art Gallery auction in June, which had a bumpy exterior of orange and brown. According to TMZ, Rogen also signed his first name at the bottom of the one sold at the Vancouver Art Gallery Auction.

While Rogen is largely known for his work in films such as Knocked Up and animated film series Kung Fu Panda, he has developed a penchant for pottery in recent years. In 2019, the actor told GQ Magazine that he and his wife, Lauren Mille Rogen, took pottery classes together and now finds working with clay to be a peaceful hobby.

There's something that's so therapeutic about it, he told GQ. It's like yoga, if you got a thing at the end. If you were doing yoga and then some object was produced at the end of it.

Rogen shows off his pottery-making skills on his social media, often posting his brightly-colored, texture-rich vases on Instagram and Twitter. The ceramics take varying shapes, sizes and heights and use neon and primary colors to create a raised pattern resembling lava.

For Greene, Rogens donation carries on a legacy of celebrity involvement aimed at keeping the theatre up and running.

What better gift to this iconic cinema than a work of art created by Seth Rogen, a beloved actor, comedian and screenwriter? she said. The Avon was blessed to have the patronage and of Gene Wilder for many years. Now the next generation of filmmakers is stepping up to help keep our independent Main Street cinema vital. The Avon salutes Seth Rogen and his wife for their commitment to the arts, which uplift our spirits in difficult times like these.
DANBURY  A crowd of several hundred veterans, supporters and VIPs gathered Thursday  Veterans Day  at the Danbury War Memorial to hear guest speakers thank service members for this blessing of freedom.

It is my great pleasure to celebrate with you today this secular sacrament of Veterans Day, said retired Col. Francis Kelly during a keynote speech outside the War Memorial. It is a day to honor those who have served  those who are the holders of our values and the vanguard of our principles.

The annual ceremony started at 11 a.m. with an observance of Veterans Day in Danbury that included a sold-out recognition dinner Thursday night to honor four veterans with Danbury connections whose military service ranged from Vietnam and Bosnia-Herzegovina to Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.

One of those honorees, Leonard Lenny Esposito, a retired Army major, was the emcee for the War Memorial ceremony.

Guest speaker Thomas Saadi, a Danbury resident and the state commissioner of veterans affairs, told the crowd that the sacrifices of men and women in the armed services has allowed this nation to grow and prosper.

It is our veterans vigilance and their determination that has ensured the American people are the continued beneficiaries of this blessing of freedom, Saadi said. Freedom is a blessing.

Danbury Mayor Joe Cavo said he was encouraged by presence of youth, including the Immaculate High School Inspire Choir, which sang twice.

One thing that impresses me more and more  is that our youth are becoming more involved, Cavo said. I applaud the parents for bringing their kids here to teach them what this country is about and what these men and women have done to preserve our way of life.

Saadi, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, said he was happy to celebrate Veterans Day at home.

Im so proud to be a member of this community  to be able to call Danbury home, Saadi said. Im so thankful to the veterans here who have led the way and shown us the way and never lost faith in this country.

rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342
David Zalubowski/AP

DENVER (AP)  Colorado plans to expand hospital capacity and staffing amid an ongoing surge in COVID-19 hospitalizations that could surpass a record high for the state set in 2020, Gov. Jared Polis told a pandemic task force Wednesday.

Polis said Colorado also is consulting with local governments on vaccination requirements for certain indoor events in hard-hit communities, Colorado Politics reported. His remarks came during a meeting of the Governors Expert Emergency Epidemic Response Committee.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned that a key temperature goal in climate talks is on life support but he still hopes that world governments will step up their pledges to slash emissions of greenhouse gases.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Guterres said the negotiations set to end Friday in Glasgow, Scotland, will very probably not yield the carbon-cutting pledges he has said are needed to keep the planet from warming beyond the 1.5-degree threshold.

Still, the U.N. chief wouldnt say at what point he thinks that goal would have to be abandoned.

When you are on the verge of the abyss, its not important to think too far into the future, he said. Whats important to discuss is what will be your first step. Because if your first step is the wrong step, you will not have the chance to ... make a second or third one.

So far, the talks have not come close to achieving any of the U.N.'s three announced priorities for the annual conference, called COP26. One is cutting carbon emissions by about half by 2030 to reach the goal Guterres alluded to.

The other two are getting rich countries to fulfill a 12-year-old pledge of providing $100 billion a year in financial climate aid to poor nations and ensuring that half of that amount goes to helping them adapt to the worst effects of climate change.

Guterres said the Glasgow talks are in a crucial moment and need to accomplish more than securing a weak deal that participating nations agree to support.

The worst thing would be to reach an agreement at all costs by a minimum common denominator that would not respond to the huge challenges we face, Guterres said.

Thats because the overarching goal of limiting warming since pre-industrial times to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) by the end of the century is still in reach but on life support, Guterres said. The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit).

Less than 36 hours from the scheduled close of the negotiations, Guterres said that if negotiators cant reach ambitious carbon-cutting goals  and very probably it will not happen  then national leaders would need to come up with new pledges next year and in 2023 during high-level meetings.

Guterres later told climate negotiators that promises ring hollow when the fossil fuels industry still receives trillions in subsidies ... or when countries are still building coal plants.

In a separate interview late Thursday, former Irish president Mary Robinson accused Saudi Arabia and Russia of trying to cut out or water down language in a draft agreement that would call for a phase-out of coal and an end to fossil fuel subsidies.

She also blasted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the host of the climate talks, for not taking them seriously enough, not being in crisis mode and sticking around  unlike his French counterpart in 2015.

Guterres said he agreed with youth climate activists  who have been a daily presence protesting in large numbers outside the climate talks, and at times inside  who called for the U.N. to term global warming a climate emergency of a high level.

For me, it is clear it is a climate emergency, Guterres said.

As terrible and tragic as the COVID-19 pandemic is, theres a way climate change is more of an emergency, Guterres said.

The pandemic is reversible. We have the tools and the instruments to stop it, he said. Climate change is a global threat to the planet and to humankind. And for the moment, we have not yet all the tools and the instruments that we need to defeat it.

And much of that comes down to money.

The lack of movement on financial aid to poorer countries troubles Guterres, who later told negotiators the gap was a glaring injustice. He said if he were the leader of a vulnerable small island or other endangered country he would be upset with whats not happening in Glasgow.

Peter Liese, a senior member of the European Parliament, said on Thursday he and fellow lawmakers would push for the $100 billion to be delivered definitely next year.

And that rich-poor split kept cropping up Thursday.

Talks are now at the point where two pathways were possible: one that was good for people and the planet, and the other that led to carbon colonialism, said Bolivias chief negotiator, Diego Pacheco Balanz. We need to fight the developed countries against the carbon colonialism.

Balanz was speaking on behalf of the negotiating block of developing nations that include countries from Africa, Latin America and Asia  with China and India among the latter.

Guterres praised a Wednesday evening agreement between the United States and China to cut emissions this decade as a reason why he still hopes for some semblance of success in Glasgow.

This agreement paves the way for other agreements, Guterres said in a 25-minute AP interview.

The U.N. chief said he hoped that two sticky issues that defied resolution for six years can be solved in Glasgow: creating workable markets for trading carbon credits and transparency that shows that promised pollution-reducing actions are real.

Fresh drafts of the documents on regulating international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the carbon markets section, were released overnight, as were new proposals containing various options for assessing and tracking financial aid for developing countries.

The chair of this years U.N. climate meeting called on negotiators from almost 200 countries to engage in another gear shift as they try to reach agreement on outstanding issues a day before the talks are scheduled to end.

British official Alok Sharma said he was under no illusion that the texts being considered would wholly satisfy all countries at this stage, adding we are not there yet.

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Associated Press writer Aniruddha Ghosal contributed from Glasgow.

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Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate

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Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears and Frank Jordans at @wirereporter

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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.
STAMFORD  It was up to Stamford school principals if they wanted to do a Veterans Day ceremony this year, as COVID-19 protocols still include limitations, but Toquams principal knew early on that she wanted to participate.

Sybil Brooks, who has had the top spot at the school since 2019, hosted a brief ceremony Wednesday morning just outside of the schools walls, with the attendance of students from grades 3-5.

Brooks, who has multiple relatives with long stints in the military, said the event was meant to show students the importance of honoring our veterans.

Even though we wake up every morning and we start our day, we dont know what our soldiers are dealing with on the battlefield, she said. We need to know and they need to know so that we really appreciate everything that they do.

The gathering included two military veteran guests, including Pat Battinelli, a former Marine who served in the Korean War, as well as state Rep. Kimberly Fiorello and Stamford Police Assistant Chief Silas Redd.

Mayor-elect Caroline Simmons was listed on the program for the event, but was not in attendance.

During a brief speech, Brooks thanked veterans for their service.

We thank you for protecting the home of the brave, she said.

Later, music teacher Jessica Stanley, a veteran herself, played The Army Goes Rolling Along, the official song of the United States Army.

Stanley served in the National Guard from January to August, assisting with the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Redd, who served six years in the Marine Corps, said he was privileged to be in the military.

Im honored to have served this country, he said. Im honored to be able to say that I served in the forces which guard our country and afford us to live and have the democracy that we have here.

Fiorello, who grew up in Seoul, South Korea, said her childhood was peaceful thanks in part to the United States military intervention in the region. She specifically thanked Battinelli for his service there.

I benefited directly from people like Mr. Pat, she said.

Fiorello said she attended the United States Military Academy, and encouraged students to consider a career in the armed forces.

As you study hard, and you think about the choices you want to make in your future, you can also serve your country, and one day the distinction of us saying thank you to you can also be yours, she said.

ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com
The creation of this nationwide hub deepens CCS's commitment to cancer prevention and support to better take control of cancer and take action for the nearly half of Canadians who will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. More than 200,000 Canadians are diagnosed with cancer each year and while more are surviving than ever before, over 70% will experience significant physical and emotional challenges after treatment.

"Progress has been steady in diagnosing and treatment cancer but not enough investment is going towards the two ends of the cancer control continuum  preventing cancer before it happens and supporting those with cancer and those who survive. By developing this nationwide hub of researchers, service providers and community partners, we will be able to save and improve more lives across the country," says Andrea Seale, CEO, CCS. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how powerful it can be when researchers come together, and has highlighted the need for innovation in the healthcare system to meet the needs of Canadians. CCPS will help to meet this need and propel progress against cancer."

Through the Centre, CCS will augment funding for cancer prevention and survivorship research, bring researchers together, and connect them with the people and organizations that can bring research to life. CCS will work together with partners to increase awareness of new discoveries, connect evidence producers with evidence users, pilot innovations, and help spread those innovations nationwide. Through CCPS, CCS will also help encourage the development and adoption of new cancer prevention and support products and services that leverage cutting-edge scientific and technological advances. This will give Canadians improved access to new cancer prevention and support programs that improve their physical and mental health.

"To reduce the number of people who have cancer and better support those with cancer and who survive, we have to accelerate progress," says Seale. "We want to see cancer innovations move from the lab to the community more quickly. CCPS will make this possible."

Construction and programming is being supported by CCS donors in the Lower Mainland and all over Canada. Donors are essential to advancing cancer research and to CCS's nationwide support programs.

The Government of British Columbia recognized the promise of the CCPS early on and was the first partner to support the construction of the Centre with $10 million in funding.

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health:

"A cancer diagnosis has touched nearly every family in B.C. and this new facility will help save lives through research leading to enhanced prevention, early diagnosis and supportive care. The centre is bringing together researchers, innovators, clinical support service providers, community partners, cancer patients and survivors to take discoveries from the lab and apply them to life, faster."

George Heyman, MLA for Vancouver-Fairview and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy:

"Our government is committed to improve patients' experience and continue to build upon some of the best cancer outcomes in the country. This facility will benefit so many fellow British Columbians as they get access to the life-changing supports they need."

Selina Robinson, MLA for Coquitlam-Maillardville and Minister of Finance --

"As a cancer survivor, I understand first-hand the sheer toll this disease takes, not only on the patients but on their families and loved ones. With this new centre, thousands of people living with cancer and their loved ones throughout B.C. will be able to access the new patient lodging facility, giving them a comfortable and specialized place to stay while they undergo cancer treatment in Vancouver."

Centre for Cancer Prevention and Support initiatives

There are a number of projects and programs at the CCPS that are already underway or are confirmed to begin imminently. These include:

A $15.6 million grant program for 7 nationwide cancer survivorship research teams has been developed in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research  Institute of Cancer Research, with support from the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Representing the largest initiative in cancer survivorship research in Canada , the goal of these projects is to help people live fuller and healthier lives with and beyond cancer.

grant program for 7 nationwide teams has been developed in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research  Institute of Cancer Research, with support from the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Representing the largest initiative in cancer survivorship research in , the goal of these projects is to help people live fuller and healthier lives with and beyond cancer. In collaboration with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Brain Canada and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, CCS has awarded 27 SPARK grants amounting to $4 million have been awarded to teams leveraging new technologies and interventions to "spark" and accelerate development and/or application of truly novel approaches to cancer prevention and early detection .

and Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, CCS has awarded 27 SPARK grants amounting to have been awarded to teams leveraging new technologies and interventions to "spark" and accelerate development and/or application of truly . A CCS partnership with University Health Network and the Princess Margaret Hospital to conduct a qualitative study to understand the unmet needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer after their treatment has ended. The goal of this partnership is to develop and pilot potential solutions for these unmet needs.

to conduct a qualitative study to understand the unmet needs of adolescents and young adults with cancer after their treatment has ended. The goal of this partnership is to develop and pilot potential solutions for these unmet needs. A partnership with the BC Ministry of Health has been formed to evaluate the impact of new regulations recently introduced to reduce e-cigarette use and sales amongst youth, compare cross-jurisdictional consumer behaviour, record industry changes and effects at the retail level, and identify policy elements most impactful to change behaviour.

To learn more about how a greater focus on prevention and survivorship could have benefitted cancer survivor Kathy Andrews, watch this video (EN, FR). For more information about the CCPS, please visit our website.

About the Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society works tirelessly to save and improve lives. We fund the brightest minds in cancer research. We provide a compassionate support system for all those affected by cancer, from coast to coast and for all types of cancer. As the voice for Canadians who care about cancer, we work with governments to establish health policies to prevent cancer and better support those living with the disease. No other organization does all that we do to improve lives today and to change the future of cancer forever.

Help us make a difference. Call 1-888-939-3333 or visit cancer.ca today.

SOURCE Canadian Cancer Society

For further information: Sheila Dong, [email protected], Director, Strategic Communications, Canadian Cancer Society

Related Links

http://www.cancer.ca


Stone idol of goddess Annapurna, dating back to the 18th century has been, brought back to India from Canada in the national capital on Thursday. Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi offered prayers to the deity today at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. The Uttar Pradesh government will today receive an idol of Goddess Annapurna, stolen from Varanasi about 100 years ago and retrieved from Canada recently. Later in the day, it will now be taken from Delhi to Aligarh. From there it will be taken to Kanauj on November 12 and reach Ayodhya on November 14. 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 release said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will consecrate the idol at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on November 15.



The idol is 17 cm in height, 9 cm in breadth and 4 cm in thickness. According to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, 42 rare heritage artefacts have been returned to the country since 2014 during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Whereas between 1976 and 2013, only 13 rare statues and paintings could be brought to India.



At present, 157 sculptures and paintings have been identified abroad. Discussions are going on with several countries to bring them back to India. Efforts are on to bring idols from Singapore, Australia, Switzerland and Belgium. Efforts are also being made to bring about 100 idols from America.
As per an official release, the Uttar Pradesh government will rehabilitate 63 Hindu Bengali families who came to Kanpur from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, in the year 1970.

The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Wednesday approved the proposal to launch a rehabilitation scheme for Bengali Hindus that migrated from East Pakistan in the 1970s. As per an official release, the Uttar Pradesh government will rehabilitate 63 Hindu Bengali families who came to Kanpur from East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, in the year 1970. These families will be rehabilitated on about 121.41 hectares of land in Kanpur Dehat district allocated to them for agricultural work and housing, the release said. The families will be given 2 acres of land for agriculture and a 200 square metre area for residence on a Re 1 lease for 30 years, which can be extended for another 30 years twice, it added.

The government said these families will also be given Rs 1.2 lakh for the construction of the house. It further informed that earlier, 65 families were earlier given jobs at a mill in Meerut, which shut in 1984. A total of 65 Hindu Bengali families were rehabilitated by giving them jobs at Madan Yarn Mill, in Hastinapur district but due to the closure of this mill on August 8, 1984. Now, among those 65 families, members of two have died. Hence, 63 families are waiting for rehabilitation, the government said.



The government informed that in the year 1970, arrangements were made for the rehabilitation of displaced families from East Pakistan. Under the provisions of The Displaced Persons (Claims) Act, 1950 and The Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act 195, the Central Government provided assistance to 332 families who were rehabilitated by providing residential and agricultural land in Orissa and Badaun.
Urging the international community to continue to engage with the Taliban, Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that engagements will help consolidate peace and stability and promote sustainable economic development in Afghanistan. No one wishes to see a relapse into civil war; no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability. we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis, Ariana News quoted Qureshi as saying during his address at the opening of the Troika Plus meeting here on Thursday. The minister also emphasised that all regional countries have concerns and a shared interest in Afghanistans peace and stability, reported Geo News. Stressing that everyone wants terrorist elements that are operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively, Qureshi said that the meeting reflects the common desire to see a peaceful, stable, unified, sovereign and prosperous Afghanistan. Located next door, we have borne the brunt of four decades of conflict and instability in the shape of refugees, drugs and terrorism, Qureshi said, adding, We see the current situation as an opportunity to end the prolonged conflict.



The meeting, held at Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs here, is being chaired by Qureshi and National Security Advisor Moeed Yusuf. The dialogue is being attended by representatives from the US, Russia, China and a high-level delegation led by the Taliban governments Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The US special representative to Afghanistan Thomas West and participating officials of the other three countries will meet Muttaqi here.



Last year, the previous meeting in this format was held in Doha, where the US was represented by the former special envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad. This is the first full-fledged meeting of the Troika Plus after the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan. The meeting comes a day after India chaired the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, with the participation of seven countries  Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Russian, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Afghan acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan, will discuss Kabul-Islamabad relations, the economy, transit and as well as refugee issues with the Pakistani side, local media reported. Transit and Economic issues will be discussed. Traders problems and as well (de facto) border crossing problems will be addressed, Tolo News quoted Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid as saying. Muttaqi has arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday. It is the first visit to Pakistan by an Afghan minister since the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August.

This comes after Pakistan earlier on Tuesday sent a special invitation to Muttaqi to attend the Troika Plus meeting, the Pakistani media reported. Special Representatives for Afghanistan from the United States, China, Russia and Pakistan will be meeting on Thursday and we hope that Muttaqi will also be able to attend, The News International quoted an official. The meeting is scheduled in Islamabad for November 11. Troika Plus at SRs (special representatives level) will meet with Muttaqi, the Pakistani official said.



The dialogue is taking place at a time when the Taliban is seeking international recognition. However, the international community is not in hurry to give legitimacy to the Taliban interim government unless they fulfil their promises. Troika Plus has become an important forum for engagement with Afghan authorities. It will express support for an inclusive government, discuss ways to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan as well as the protection of human rights, particularly womens rights, the official said. This is the first full-fledged meeting of the Troika Plus after the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan.
The Chinese President also said that at present COVID-19 is still ravaging the world and the journey to global economic recovery remains a difficult and tortuous one, Xinhua reported.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday warned against a return to Cold War-era tensions in the Asia-Pacific. The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era, he said at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation CEO Summit via video, Xinhua reported. The Chinese President also said that at present COVID-19 is still ravaging the world and the journey to global economic recovery remains a difficult and tortuous one, the media outlet reported.



He urged the region to make all-out efforts to fight COVID-19. At this trying time, it is all the more important that we should stay confident, keep a steady hand on the tiller, and forge ahead with determination, Xinhua News Agency reported Xi as saying. China had not attended the COP26 climate change conference last week. The country had also not attended India-convened security dialogue on Afghanistan citing scheduling reasons.



Meanwhile, the bilateral virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to hold on Monday, as per Russian media Sputnik.
As the holiday shopping season ramps up, several Connecticut companies that are vital links in supply chains are accelerating their hiring here and nationwide.

The expanding headcounts at firms such as Greenwich-based GXO Logistics and XPO Logistics and Stamford-based Pitney Bowes reflect the continual growth of e-commerce, with demand through digital channels still surging despite supply-chain disruptions that have flared up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those companies belong to an industry  transportation, warehousing and utilities  that has accounted for much of the hiring in Connecticut since the beginning of the pandemic. About 70,000 people worked in that sector in the state in September, up 10 percent from a year ago, according to the state Department of Labor.

The massive tailwinds of automation, e-commerce and outsourcing remain unabated, and our blue-chip customers rely upon us for our best-in-class solutions and to stand up technology-proficient warehouses with speed, reliability and at scale on a global basis, GXO CEO Malcolm Wilson said last week on the companys quarterly earnings call.

In the third quarter, GXO produced revenues of approximately $2 billion  up 25 percent from the same period in 2020.

GXO, which describes itself as the worlds largest pure-play contract logistics provider, completed in August its spin-off from XPO Logistics. The GXO headquarters are at 2 American Lane, adjacent to XPOs headquarters at 5 American Lane, in Greenwichs northwest corner.

GXO employs operates worldwide with about 94,000, including approximately 25,000 in the U.S. Last month, it announced plans to hire more than 9,000 employees across the U.S., and Canada ahead of the holiday shopping season.

In Connecticut, it is planning to hire about 35 people to work at the headquarters or its facilities in North Haven and Windsor. The company already employs about 400 across those three locations.

Also last month, GXO announced an agreement with Abercrombie & Fitch to open a 715,000-square-foot distribution center in Goodyear, Ariz. Expected to create more than 300 jobs in the Phoenix area, the facility will function as Abercrombie & Fitchs new hub for its West Coast operations.

At the same time, XPO continues to grow the transportation operations that it has kept following the spin-off. They are primarily truck brokerage and less-than-truckload shipping services.

As the No. 190 company on this years Fortune list, XPO recorded third-quarter revenues of about $3.3 billion, up 22 percent from its total a year ago for non-logistics operations.

XPO is hiring for about 30 positions in Connecticut, including about 20 jobs at its headquarters and several openings for drivers, dockworkers and operations managers at its facilities in Bridgeport, Meriden and Windsor.

Nationwide, XPO is aiming to hire about 700 truck drivers.

The company is also expanding its infrastructure. Last month, it opened a 150,000-square-foot less-than-truckload facility in Chicago Heights, Ill. When it is fully operational, the center will employ more than 200.

XPO employs approximately 42,000 employees worldwide, including about 27,000 in the U.S., and around 150 in Connecticut.

Shipping-and-mailing firm Pitney Bowes, which employs about 11,500  including approximately 1,000 in Connecticut  is also hiring. Last week, it announced it would add thousands of seasonal warehouse associates and drivers to meet e-commerce demand for the holiday season.

The No. 664 company on this years Fortune list does not have an e-commerce hub in Connecticut, but it is hiring for about 75 positions in its home state focused on areas, including global e-commerce, marketing and communications, HR and IT.

Facing supply-chain challenges, vaccine mandates

As supply-chain interruptions roil the global economy, Pitney officials expect some headwinds during the holiday season.

Daily headlines talk about the supply-chain disruptions, and larger players are already carrying out an impact on the results or outlook, Pitney CEO and President Marc Lautenbach said on the companys Nov. 3 earnings call. We are not immune to these supply-chain constraints more as it relates to our e-commerce client supply levels and, to a degree, our SendTech products.

While acknowledging the supply-chain uncertainty, Lautenbach said he was encouraged by how the company had responded. This week, Pitney reported revenues of $875 million for the third quarter  down 2 percent from a year ago, but up 11 percent from the third quarter in 2019.

We're looking at pricing to help offset some of the higher costs, particularly as it relates to transportation and labor, Lautenbach said. For example, within e-commerce, we have put in place a surcharge for this peak season and recently announced our annual general rate increase effective for 2022.

GXO, XPO and Pitney Bowes also have to consider pandemic-related labor regulations. Among them are new federal rules requiring those who work at companies with more than 100 employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Jan. 4 or undergo weekly tests. On Saturday, however, a federal appeals court temporarily halted the mandate.

In response to an investment analysts question on the companys quarterly earnings call, XPO CEO and Chairman Bradley Jacobs said, everyone should get vaccinated. I think the evidence is very clear that people who are vaccinated get infected less. And when they do get infected less, they get hospitalized less than non-vaccinated people.

He qualified that endorsement, however, with concerns about requiring vaccinations.

There's a lot of resistance from a lot of people to get vaccinated. And one, the government needs to take into consideration the practical ramifications of policy, he added. And in the trucking industry, in particular, theres probably a little bit higher percentage of people who are anti-vaxxers, so to speak. And if that policy went in right away, it probably would not, short-term at least, have a good effect. You'd see a lot of labor leave the market.

XPO officials were not immediately available to comment in response to an inquiry from Hearst Connecticut Media about how the company planned to respond to the requirements for employers of more than 100.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott
Ben Lambert / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo

HAMDEN  Police went to Hamden High School Thursday morning after hearing that a student possibly had brought a weapon to school.

School administrators reported the incident around 8:45 a.m. Thursday. The Hamden Police Department later determined the student did not have a weapon at school.
NEW HAVEN  Avelo Airlines began its service from Tweed New Haven Regional Airport to a fourth Florida destination Thursday with a 2:30 p.m. departure to Fort Myers.

The addition of Fort Myers service follows Avelos inaugural New Haven flights to Orlando on Nov. 3, Fort Lauderdale on Friday and Tampa on Monday. Routes to Fort Myers Southwest Florida International Airport began Thursday, with service to Palm Beach and Sarasota-Bradenton to follow on Dec. 16 and Jan. 13, respectively.

Tickets for all routes are on sale at www.aveloair.com, with introductory one-way fares starting at $49.

As we continue our East Coast service expansion, we are excited to take flight today for Fort Myers  Avelos fourth popular sun-soaked Florida destination, said Avelo Chairman and CEO Andrew Levy in a release. With our very low introductory fares and the amazing convenience of HVN, getting to Southwest Florida is easier and more affordable than ever.

The Fort Myers service, on Boeing Next Generation 737-700 aircraft, operates Thursdays and Sundays. The flight will depart Tweed at 2:30 p.m. and arrive in Fort Myers at 5:50 p.m. The northbound flight will depart Fort Myers at 6:30 p.m. and arrive in New Haven at 9:25 p.m.

Todays first departure destined for Fort Myers is yet another exciting milestone in our rapidly-growing partnership with Avelo here at HVN, said Tweed-New Haven Airport Authority Executive Director Sean Scanlon. The energy here at the airport and in the community in the last few days has been incredible as we kick off a new and more vibrant era at HVN, he said.

We are very pleased to welcome Avelo Airlines to Southwest Florida International Airport today, said Ben Siegel, executive director of the Lee County Port Authority. It is exciting to have a new air carrier at RSW and our first nonstop service to New Haven, Conn.
NEW HAVEN  The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge, popularly known as the Q Bridge, was lit Thursday morning to honor those who served in the American military on Veterans Day.

Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana shared a photo of the span, lit in red, white and blue, which was taken with one of the citys security cameras.

Thank you to all of our Veterans for their service and for the freedoms we (all) Enjoy, said Fontana in an email.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced that the bridge would be lit Wednesday evening into Thursday morning, as has become tradition.

The bridge, which carries Interstate 95 over the Quinnipiac River, is owned and operated by the state Department of Transportation.

There are nearly 280,000 veterans of the United States Armed Forces who call Connecticut home, and we are indebted to the sacrifices they have made in their lives in order to protect and serve our great country, Lamont said in a statement.

As a society, we have an obligation to support the members of our military upon their return to civilian life, whether it be through good healthcare, education, workforce training, affordable housing, and any other resources needed to live and work outside of the military, Lamont said.

They made good on their promise to serve our nation, and it is our responsibility to be there for them. On this Veterans Day, I urge all Connecticut residents to take a moment and thank the veterans who bravely and honorably served the United States.

There will never be enough words or the right words to express the gratitude we feel toward our Connecticut veterans, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz said.

Returning to civilian life isnt easy, and it is our job to serve our states veterans just as they have served for us. Every day, we should take the opportunity to thank those who served, not just on Veterans Day, Bysiewicz said in the statement.

Its important to remember that we are able to enjoy the freedoms we have today because of their courage, their bravery, and their sacrifice. I encourage everyone, whenever they see someone who is wearing a hat, a pin, please, to say thank you.

Veterans Day was established in 1954, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Previously, Nov. 11 was known as Armistice Day, and marked the end of fighting in World War I, which concluded at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com
WATERBURY  A monthslong investigation led to the arrest of two men accused of trafficking large amounts of crack cocaine in the Waterbury area, according to state police.

From January 2021 to July 2021, state police, along with the Waterbury Police Department, the Wolcott Police Department and other law enforcement task forces, were investigating Wolcott resident Ralph Kendrick, 55, and his brother, Darryl Brown, 61, of Waterbury, police said.

Investigators said they believed the two were trafficking crack cocaine in the Waterbury area.

On July 13, 2021, police arrested Brown and charged him with possession with intent to sell cocaine, operation of a drug factory and criminal possession of a firearm.

That same day, police and several drug detection dogs raided multiple homes in Waterbury and Wolcott. Officers seized nearly 2 pounds of cocaine, 115 grams of crack cocaine, an illegally possessed 9mm pistol and about $290,000 in cash, police said.

Police also found packaging materials for narcotics, digital scales, a money counter and two high-end motor vehicles, according to state police.

Kendrick turned himself into police Monday after learning of an active warrant for his arrest, officials said. He was charged with operating a drug factory, possession with intent to sell more than a half ounce of cocaine and possession with intent to sell more than a half ounce of crack cocaine, according to police.

With these arrests, state police said a Waterbury drug trafficking organization has been dismantled.

Both men were released from custody after posting bail  Kendrick on a $500,000 bond, and Brown on a $400,000 bond. Brown is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning and Kendrick is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 23.

liz.hardaway@hearst.com
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Attorneys for Kyle Rittenhouse have requested a mistrial based on several issues, including claims that prosecutors acted in bad faith and that the state gave them an inferior copy of a video that may be a key piece of evidence in the case.

The defense says some of the issues should result in a mistrial with no chance for a retrial, while another point of contention  the quality of that video  could give prosecutors the option to try Rittenhouse again. Prosecutors say there is no factual or legal basis to declare a mistrial.

Heres a look at the mistrial requests and what they mean:

MISTRIAL WITH PREJUDICE

The defense made its first request for a mistrial last week and followed up on Monday with a written motion, seeking a mistrial with prejudice based on three issues.

Among them, Rittenhouses attorneys argued that prosecutors brought up a prior incident the judge had previously ruled could not be raised at trial. It involved a video that showed Rittenhouse witnessing possible shoplifting and saying if he had a gun he would shoot the people.

Judge Bruce Schroeder admonished prosecutor Thomas Binger when he tried to raise it in front of the jury.

The judge also chided Binger, during cross-examination of Rittenhouse, for a line of questioning that the judge said was a commentary on Rittenhouses constitutional right to invoke silence after his arrest. Binger said he was trying to establish that the testimony Rittenhouse heard during the trial influenced what he said on the stand when telling his story for the first time publicly.

This is a grave constitutional violation for you to talk about the defendants silence, Schroeder told the prosecutor. Youre right on the borderline. And you may be over. But it better stop.

Prosecutors said in a response filed Thursday that there was no harm because the judge did not allow the witnesses to answer the questions in either instance.

The third issue Rittenhouse raised was about drone video that prosecutors say shows Rittenhouse pointing his rifle at protesters before the shooting started. Prosecutors used the video in a bid to undermine Rittenhouses self-defense claim and portray him as the instigator of the bloodshed in Kenosha in the summer of 2020.

Rittenhouses attorneys said prosecutors gave the defense a copy of the video in a lower quality, smaller file that made it less clear than what the state had. They argued the video was the linchpin to the prosecutors case and it was inconceivable that they wouldnt provide the defense with the same quality version.

The failure to provide the same quality footage in this particular case is intentional and clearly prejudices the defendant, they wrote in the motion for a mistrial.

A mistrial with prejudice would mean that prosecutors could not try the case again.

Prosecutors said that the compression was unintentional, that the defense was provided the original uncompressed video and that it was admitted into evidence without the defense objecting to it. It also appears that Rittenhouses former attorney had the video long before the state, prosecutors argued.

MISTRIAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE

Prosecutors said Wednesday that they didnt intentionally provide an inferior video, but that the issue was a technical one. After some back and forth in court, defense attorney Corey Chirafisi made an oral request for a mistrial without prejudice, saying the defense didnt get the same quality of video until after the evidentiary portion of the case was closed. He told the judge that if the defense needs a level, fair playing field, we have to ask for it, and Im asking for it.

Chirafisi said the defense would have done things differently if it had the higher-quality video earlier.

But in prosecutors' response, they noted that the defense has not alleged any specific thing that they would have done differently.

Were talking about a potential life sentence here, Chirafisi said, referencing the sentence Rittenhouse could get if convicted of the most serious charge against him. He said a mistrial on this issue would be without prejudice, meaning the case could be tried again.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

From the defense point of view, to get a mistrial is generally considered a favorable thing, said Ion Meyn, an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. If youre the defense, youre definitely going to be doing this.

Prosecutors could appeal if the judge grants a mistrial with prejudice, he said.

The state would face enormous pressure when deciding whether to pursue a second trial of this magnitude, Meyn said. The state could also decide to bring reduced charges or seek a plea deal, all of which benefit the defense, he said.

The defense seeking the mistrial without prejudice, after initially seeking it with prejudice, is a change in tone, said Milwaukee defense attorney Julius Kim.

They are essentially saying, We just kind of want a new trial at this point, no matter what, Julius said.

Still, they must explain to the judge why what happened hurt Rittenhouse, Meyn said.

You cant just say the state gave me a lower-quality video and therefore I get a mistrial, Meyn said. Thats a losing argument for sure.

The defense has a higher bar to meet in convincing the judge that a mistrial with prejudice is warranted, Meyn said.

Its a pretty big lift, Meyn said.

WHAT NOW?

Its not clear when Schroeder will rule, though he said Wednesday he would address the issue if there is a guilty verdict. If Rittenhouse is acquitted, the issue will be moot. But if he is found guilty, a mistrial ruling would essentially void the verdict.

If one or more guilty verdicts are returned, the judge could delay entering those judgments until after he holds a hearing on the mistrial motions, said Madison defense attorney Chris Van Wagner. Taking that step, rather than dismissing the mistrial motion following a guilty verdict, would be a strong signal that he is inclined to declare a mistrial, Van Wagner said.

The jury has deliberated for two full days without a verdict.

Kim said its a little unusual for a judge to wait for a verdict before ruling on a mistrial request. I think he just kind of wanted to see where the cards fall, because depending on what the verdict is, that may let him off the hook on some of these decisions he has to make.  If hes acquitted of everything, that makes these decisions a lot easier.

IF THERES A NEW TRIAL, WHO WOULD PRESIDE?

If Schroeder declares a mistrial without prejudice, prosecutors may file new charges. If there is no plea, Rittenhouse would wind up right back before the same judge, according to Michael Cicchini, a Kenosha defense attorney not involved in the case.

Schroeders handling of the nearly three-week trial drew scrutiny several times, including when he called for applause for military veterans shortly before a defense witness who had served in the Army  the only veteran in the room  took the stand to testify.

He also had Rittenhouse himself draw juror numbers to determine which 12 jurors would deliberate  something he called a longstanding practice in his courtroom. On Wednesday, Schroeder criticized some media coverage of the case and said he would think long and hard about allowing televised trials in the future.

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Forliti reported from Minneapolis. Todd Richmond also contributed from Madison, Wisconsin.

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Find the APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial: https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse
The Connecticut soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War were fighting for Americas freedom, but some were fighting for their own, as well.

The history of enslaved Americans still is being written, and that history includes those who earned their freedom by serving in the military, those who served in place of their enslavers, and those who, after the war, escaped to Canada or the Caribbean or found themselves back in bondage.

They were the American veterans who often are unremembered.

Its almost like each person has a story and you dont know the story until you delve in, said Ned Benton, a professor of public management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

Benton has been delving into those stories and, with his co-director, Judy-Lynne Peters, has created the Northeast Slavery Records Index (nesri.us), which brings together census records, newspaper advertisements, slave transactions, ship inventories and other sources.

Deep history

Among the tables and charts is a section about enslaved soldiers in the Revolutionary War, listing 3,822 solders who fought for the Colonies and 454 who chose to fight for the British.

The soldiers hometowns, their enslavers names and other details bring the stories of enslaved Americans to light.

Theres a deep history of the lives of enslaved people in the Northeastern states that we are only now coming to appreciate, Benton said.

My agenda is to reveal an important part of our history, so we recognize the stories and the contributions of these people to their localities, he said.

Contributed photo

Connecticut had more enslaved people than any other New England state at the time of the Revolution and there were still people in bondage in the state as late as 1848, according to ConnecticutHistory.org. The Gradual Emancipation Act of 1784 did not emancipate anyone; it only freed those later born into slavery once they turned 25.

The 1774 census listed 5,098 enslaved people in the state, according to the index, including 315 in Fairfield, 262 in New Haven and 158 in Milford. Benton, like other historians, uses the term enslaved person rather than slave.

Were trying to treat them as people and the concept of slave historically has referred to someone who is not a full person, he said.

A compromise between Northern and Southern delegates resulted in the U.S. Constitution counting those who were not free as three-fifths of a person when determining congressional representation. That held until the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868.

Possibility of freedom

Just as each enslaved person has a story, there is more than one reason someone who was considered property would enlist, either on the American or British side, Benton said.

I think theres really two questions here, he said. You have the question of what was the freedom consequence for the enslaved person to enlist, and was that a factor on both sides. There was the possibility of freedom if you enlisted. It wasnt always the case, but it was a possibility.

Rhode Island had a Black infantry of soldiers who earned their freedom by enlisting, he said.

There may also be preferences that people had for the outcome, Benton said. It might be their calculations about who was going to win, and I guess theres also a sense that it might be better to be a soldier than a slave, and it might be true on both sides.

Things didnt always turn out well for the veterans, though.

Contributed photo

One source is the Book of Negroes, which Benton said is a registry of enslaved persons who fought on the side of the Brits in the Revolutionary War who were then allowed to emigrate to Canada.

It lists Peter Cox as formerly enslaved by John Lloyd of Stamford. After the war, Cox left on the Aurora.

However, the book then lists Cox as being in the possession of Thomas Rogers.

Another veteran, Jeffrey Sill, whose enslaver was Samuel Hemenway (or Hemingway), enlisted in 1777 for three years on the condition he would return to Hemenway. Sill was supposed to take Hemenways place in Connecticuts quota of soldiers. However, according to Connecticuts Black Soldiers by David O. White, Sill reenlisted without Hemenways permission.

Hemenway then petitioned the General Assembly to emancipate Sill and compensate him for the loss. He also proposed that as he had already obtained a substitute for himself in the army, to allow Sills enlistment to act as a substitute for another man, Argariah Bradley, who also was enslaved. The General Assembly denied both requests. A promissory note in the Connecticut Historical Society shows Hemenways claim.

Another difficulty was that enslavers could not simply free those who were considered their property, Benton said.

The records at the time werent maintained because they valued the stories of these people. They were maintained because various laws required documentation, he said.

Dennis Culliton, executive director of the Witness Stone Project, which he started in his hometown of Guilford, said enslaved people were freed for specific purposes to fight in the war. A 1777 law allowed enslavers to free their slaves and indemnified them from being responsible for them if the slave came to want.  The enslaved person often took the place of somebody who would have had to fight.

Meghan Friedmann / Heart Connecticut Media file phot /

One example was Gad Asher of Guilford. His enslaver, Linus Bishop, sent him in his place during the war with the promise of freedom and after the war he asked for his freedom and he was told he could gain his freedom if he paid what [Bishop] originally paid for him.

Asher later received his pension for his military service, paid Linus Bishop, freed himself and his family and then moved to North Branford, Culliton said.

But it wasnt a workable law.

The town didnt want to be responsible for the care of a poor person, Benton said. The absurdity of it is theyre freeing people who are 40 years old who are going to be very old at 50. Who is going to take care of them? This is a ridiculous law.

In order to reconstruct the stories of enslaved people, often several records must be consulted, and assumptions made that someone listed in one record is the same as that in another.

Youre trying to connect the dots between various sources of records, Benton said.

But the indexs purpose is to bring as much data as possible together to help others reveal the hidden history of slavery.

Benton said, Ideally I would eventually like to see this project construct more narratives of more people and our vision is, if we just keep throwing records into the basket and have them in a way they can be sorted, then we can connect records about the life of an enslaved person that are not now connected.

There is much about African-American history that has yet to be discovered, Benton said. Its true it is not taught much, but its not known much, he said. I think its because our historical narratives didnt make room for it and were now looking back at our history and seeing things that we didnt notice before.

The project began when Benton began to research enslaved people in his hometown of Mamaroneck, N.Y., then spread to New York state, New Jersey and New England.

More people are interested in learning their communitys total history, including the history of slavery that has been left out of our textbooks and history books, he said.

We see communities trying to reconstruct their records of enslavement, Benton said. We see that all over the place and, as someone who did it for my own town, I know that the research is hard, and our goal was to try and gather the basic research and make it conveniently available to communities.

Were not the last word on their records, he said. Were hoping to be the first word.

edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Cloudy this evening with periods of light rain and snow after midnight. Low 31F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 50%. Higher wind gusts possible..

Tonight

Cloudy this evening with periods of light rain and snow after midnight. Low 31F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precip 50%. Higher wind gusts possible.
Niagara Falls, NY (14301)

Today

Overcast skies and windy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 31F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph..

Tonight

Overcast skies and windy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 31F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has revealed that his ministry, as well as the National Identity Management Commission, has ade...

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has revealed that his ministry, as well as the National Identity Management Commission, has adequate data on all inmates in the country.

This is as he said inmates who escape during jailbreaks can run but cannot hide for long.

Aregbesola said this on Thursday during the ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The Minister also affirmed that the ratio of male to female inmates in all prisons nationwide is 98:2.

He revealed that 69,680 inmates are currently registered in the database of the Nigeria Correctional Service.

Details later
One person has been reportedly killed in an attack on Gidan-Kwano, the host community of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna...

One person has been reportedly killed in an attack on Gidan-Kwano, the host community of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Niger state.





Two persons were also kidnapped in the attack that occurred opposite the main gate of the universitys campus on Wednesday night.

When contacted, Wasiu Abiodun, police public relations officer in Niger state, said two persons were abducted.

On 10/11/2021 at about 2330hrs, some suspected hoodlums attacked a shop at Gidan-Kwano opposite FUT Gate and abducted two children of the shop owner, he said.





Police/vigilante were immediately drafted to the scene for aggressive manhunt of the hoodlums and during stop and search, one of the suspects was intercepted and arrested at Barkuta village.

Abiodun said that investigation is ongoing to rescue the victims.

The north-central state has seen a surge in the activities of gunmen in recent weeks.

In October, some worshippers were killed when gunmen invaded a mosque at Mazukaka village in Mashegu LGA of the state.
The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday disclosed that one fake Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Lawrence Ajojo and 14 others have been arre...





The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday disclosed that one fake Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Lawrence Ajojo and 14 others have been arrested for allegedly invading Justice Mary Odilis residence in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

It was reported that Justice Marys residence was invaded by armed men on October 29, 2021.

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, subsequently ordered an investigation into the invasion, vowing that the perpetrators must be brought to book.

Parading the suspects, on Thursday at the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Garki, Abuja the Spokesperson, Commissioner of Police, CP Frank Mba said the suspects involved in the criminal acts came from different professional backgrounds such as journalism, Banking, law enforcement and law.
An armed group known as the Angry Vipers has given Southeast Governor 21 days ultimatum to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous Peo...





An armed group known as the Angry Vipers has given Southeast Governor 21 days ultimatum to release Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The group vowed to declare all Southeast governors, Senators, traditional rulers, and other political office holders dead if Kanu is not released within 21 days.

Their ultimatum was disclosed in a video of what resembled a ritual where the vipers sang and made incantations.

The video has gone viral online currently.

In the video, the group also called on traditional rulers to ensure Kanus release and that Fulanis vacate the Southeast.

A voice speaking in the video said: We The angry Viper has noticed that Southeast governors, Senators, local government Chairman have concluded to play pranks with the lives of youths of the Eastern region.

We, hereby, give you 21 days ultimatum to ensure that Nnamdi Kanu is released unconditionally and resigns from the opposition without further delays.

Failure to do so, we shall have no other option than to declare you wanted, dead.

All kings and chiefs who have decided to reduce themselves to used sanitary pads and all themselves to be toiled about with by uncircumcised Fulanis due to your idiocy and bribery; we the Angry Vipers are giving you 21 days to leave our land unless Nnamdi Kanu is released.

Kanu is currently locked up by the Department of State Services, DSS, following his rearrest in Kenya and repatriation to Nigeria.

He was brought back to Nigeria and arraigned before Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court.




Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low near 35F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with periods of rain. Low near 35F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
A well-known Baton Rouge rug dealer with an impressive estate in Prairieville is the focus of an upcoming Crescent City Auction Gallery Important Estate Auction.

From Friday to Sunday, Nov. 12-14, 400 items from the estate of Sarkis Kaltakdjian will be auctioned, among over 1100 lots consisting of art, antiques and oriental rugs. Kaltakdjian passed away two years ago at the age of 81. Born in Damascus, Syria, he studied interior design in Paris before heading to the United States and settling in Baton Rouge. He and his wife, Nora Keshishian, owned and operated Sarkis Oriental Rugs for 40 years and built a 3-acre oasis in Prairieville named Palmira.

The estate boasted floor-to-ceiling built-in display cases that housed thousands of collectible items, said gallery founder and President Adam Lambert, who will also serve as one of the auctioneers.

Among the items from Kaltakdjian to be auctioned are:

Continental Three Panel Leather Screen, 18th/19th c. Estimated price: $2,000-$4,000

Fine Antique Persian Kirman Carpet, c. 1910, 9' 6 x 12'9. Estimated price: $1,500-$2,500.

Kawai Carved Mahogany Baby Grand Piano. Estimated price: $1,500-$2,500

A selection of pre-Colombian pottery, estimated at $300-$500 each.

In addition to the Kaltakdjian estate collectibles, the auction will also feature original work by noted artists. A few of the finer examples are:

Oil on canvas by William Tolliver (Miss./La., 1951-2000). Estimate: $8,000-$10,000.

Acrylic on canvas by Noel Rockmore (New Orleans, 1928-1995), titled Bike Chick (1965). Estimate: $2,000-$4,000).

Oil on canvas by James Michalopoulos (New Orleans/Pa., b. 1951). Estimate: $1,500-$2,500).

For information, call (504) 529-5057, or send an email to info@crescentcityauctiongallery.com.

Internet bidding will be provided by liveauctioneers.com, invaluable.com and bidsquare.com.
Whats wrong with this picture? In an 1837 painting, a Black teenager stands beside a trio of White children. A recent historical discovery tells us that the young New Orleanian was an enslaved household servant named Belizaire.

But his image in the painting doesn't exactly telegraph Belizaires subservient station. He stands at a slight distance from the other kids, but is as well-dressed, and has an assertive bearing. On his face one perceives the impatient expression of, well, a 15-year-old. Belizaire was reportedly the victim of the dehumanizing institution of slavery, but in the painting he could be a peer, a sibling even. The color of his skin is the main thing that sets him apart.

Belizaires exact role in the wealthy Royal Street family that held him captive for roughly three decades is a mystery. And its just one of many.

If Belizaire was given such a prominent place in the painting, why was he later painted over, as if someone wished hed never been there? And why did it take so long for someone in the modern era to remove the paint and allow him to be seen again?

Jeremy K. Simien, the owner of the artwork, said its the sort of painting that makes you ask: What the hell is going on here?

Simien is a 36-year-old, Baton Rouge-based recording engineer turned advertising consultant. He said his family has lived in Louisiana for 300 years and he is of African descent. When he began collecting art 10 years ago, he sought out antique furniture, photographs, crafts, and paintings produced by, owned by, or depicting people with a heritage like his.

In 1837 New Orleans was the Souths major metropolis, and the Frey family was flush. Simien said that they lived in an elegant three-story townhouse in the French Quarter on the current site of the Carousel Bar in the Monteleone Hotel. Frederick, the patriarch, was a financier and, perhaps, a foreign diplomat. Coralie, his wife, is descended from a prominent family.

Theyd acquired Belizaire when he was 6. Hed been around the house for almost a decade when the family commissioned an exquisitely talented portraitist to paint their kids  Leontine, Elizabeth and Frederick Jr.  plus the enslaved youth who attended them. The artist may well have been Jacques Amans, a French newcomer to New Orleans who would go on to become the citys premier painter, but its impossible to say for sure.

Louisiana historian Katy Shannon, who helped Simien uncover the backstory of the painting, said that despite the unconscionable realities of slavery, the artist captured a poignant moment of innocence when the three White kids and the Black teen appear to be on equal social footing. The Frey children havent grown up to see themselves as slave holders, she said.

And they wouldnt. Shannon said the two Frey girls would die not long after posing for the portrait, probably from yellow fever, which was rampant at the time. The son would die a few years later. The Freys had a third daughter who was too young to sit for the painting. Only she and Belizaire would live into adulthood.

Shannon said there's no evidence to suggest that Belizaire was included in the family portrait because he was literally part of the Frey family, the product of a liaison between owner and enslaved people somewhere along the line. But it's not impossible. Shannon said that some historical records indicate Belizaire may have been of mixed race.

It's more likely that Belizaire was a particularly charismatic child and a family favorite. Shannon said Belizaire had probably been shadowing the Frey kids for years as a personal servant.

'Important to draw a line'

One way or another, he was an intimate. And that may have been what got him erased from the painting by a subsequent generation. Shannon said that the mixing of races within a household might have been taken for granted in the late 1830s, but 40 years later, things had changed.

After the Civil War, it was more important for White elites to draw a line between races, Shannon said.

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Maybe the Frey descendants felt that the obvious prominence of the Black teen in a portrait of siblings was intolerable. So Belizaire was expunged.

It wasnt long after the paint dried on the portrait that an economic depression seized the Crescent City and the Freys fortunes fell. Shannon said that things got so bad that in 1841 Belizaire was sold to pay off the familys debts, though the Freys soon bought him back. The familys decline continued until 1856, when the Freys were finally forced to sell Belizaire once and for all.

Simien was a novice collector when he spotted the painting of Belizaire and the Frey children online as he hunted for Louisiana subjects. He was enthralled. The painting had passed through several hands by that time and it took years of digging to locate the owner, who agreed to sell the painting to Simien for a price he is unwilling to reveal.

Simien acquired the prized group portrait just a few weeks ago in September and craved more information about the subjects. So he enlisted Shannon, a researcher hed met via a social media site devoted to the history of Creoles, the native-born inhabitants of colonial Louisiana. Simien thought shed be perfect for the job, and he was right.

Making a connection

Shannon is the Head of History and Interpretation at Evergreen plantation, which lies 40 miles west of New Orleans. The one-time sugarcane farm is now a historical education center. Shannon said that as she studied the genealogy of the 1972 owners of the painting and records at NOMA, a lightbulb went off. She recalled that an enslaved person named Belizaire had been sold to the Evergreen owners in the mid-19th century by someone named Frey.

To her amazement, Belizaire seemed to fit the description of the teen in the painting to a T. So she dug deeper, dusting off old ship manifests, a census report, and other documents, to be certain.

Belizaire was the only one who fit all the parameters, she said. He was an enslaved domestic, boy, right age, of mixed race, close to the family, eventually sold away.

All of the boxes were checked, she said.

That Belizaire ended up at the plantation where Shannon worked was an uncanny coincidence. She and Simien agree that, superstitiously speaking, it felt like the long-dead Belizaire had sought them out, not the other way around.

Belizaire disappears from the historic record -- so far anyway  at Evergreen, which became a bustling Union Army camp during the Civil War. But the historical path of the painting continued.

In 1972, a distant descendant of the Freys donated the portrait to the New Orleans Museum of Art. No one knows exactly when Belizaire had been painted over, but he was hidden behind a layer of oil paint by then. Mostly anyway.

Bleeding through?

Reporting on the donation of the painting to NOMA, Times-Picayune arts writer Alberta Collier noted that the outline of Belizaire was still visible.

There is certainly a trace of a fourth and much larger figure bleeding through the background, Collier wrote.

Collier also reported that there was a family legend that explained the ghostly personage, whose sex was unknown at the time.

Tradition says that this canvas originally had another figure  a likeness of the slave charged with the care of the children, Collier wrote. The story goes on to say that the father eventually got angry with the slave, sold him or her, and had the artists remove the figure from the composition.

Apparently, Simien said, NOMAs curators werent terribly intrigued by the 135-year-old painting. It was never cleaned, repaired, or displayed in the 30 years the museum held it, he said, and no one ever sought to uncover the missing enslaved youth.

In 2005, NOMA "deaccessioned" the canvas, or removed it from the collection so it could be sold. The canvas was purchased for $7,000 by an out-of-town dealer. Once again, Belizaire exited New Orleans.

Lisa Rotondo-McCord, NOMAs deputy director of curatorial affairs, said that deaccessioning works of art is a routine part of any museums practice. The painting, she said, was in poor condition, the identities of the artist and subjects were unknown, and there was no one on staff to try to track down such information.

Though the museum has always had a selection of Louisiana art and artifacts on display, in the early 21st century, collecting regional works wasnt a focus. At the time, Rotondo-McCord said, the museum let other institutions such as the State Museum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, and Ogden Museum of Southern Art emphasize locally produced, historical art.

Image of Belizaire is freed

In 2019, Rotondo-McCord said, Simien tipped the museum that the painting, then known as Four Children in a Louisiana Landscape had been restored. NOMA hoped to display the painting, but at that time, the identity of the owner was unknown.

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Sometime in the years after the painting was sold, a conservator finally freed Belizaire from the pigment that had disguised him for, perhaps, the entire 20th century. The restoration of the seemingly self-assured enslaved teen revealed an artwork that, in Simiens view, illustrates the complicated racial interactions that underlay all of Crescent City culture.

Cybele Gontar, an art historian and curator, said shes spent a decade studying paintings by early Louisiana portraitists and plans an upcoming exhibit of works by Jacques Amans. Gontar said she hasnt seen Simiens painting in person, but based on photographs, she believes it could well be by the celebrated and prolific artist.

The eyes of the children seem a little exaggerated, perhaps, but the way the girl in the center holds a book is typical of an Amans composition, she said. But, Gontar said, in her view, Belizaires seemingly intimate position in the painting is not especially mysterious.

This makes sense to me to a degree, she said. He looks almost like an older brother there, but he is set apart, removed by the artist, and that means something.

Gontar said that theres precedent for a family to include a marginalized half-brother or an enslaved servant in a composition, out of some affection.

Simien said that hes still learning the lessons, of the deeply resonant image and hopes someday to put it on display in a place where it will be respected and properly interpreted. Shannon said shes searching for information about the fate of the disappearing, reappearing Belizaire.
Willie Birch, one of New Orleans great painters and sculptors, moved out of his 7th Ward studio not long ago.

Tina Freeman, one of New Orleans great art photographers shot pictures of the place after Birch left, capturing the accidental brush marks on the walls and the worn paths on the floor that recall the artists years of creativity.

Adding some of Birchs big paintings to some of Freemans big photos at the Academy Gallery equals a marvelous artistic duet.

The exhibit, titled Two Versions of the Same Story, isn't a splashy, keyed-up experience, mind you.

There are no dramatic collisions of color anywhere, no movement whatsoever, and  with a couple of important exceptions  no dramatic subject matter. The exhibit, which opened Saturday (Oct. 23), is a hushed, absorbing mind game, like one of those quiet movies that you cant stop thinking about after the credits roll.

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Because there are no people in either Birchs paintings or Freemans photos, the show has a lonely vibe. Which, whether intentional or not, perfectly reflects the isolation and melancholy of the COVID-19 era weve all endured. And the stack of fallen limbs in one of Birchs paintings is a stand-in for the recent hurricane that, after it passed, seemed to bring further torpor to the town.

They say that the decorative woodwork you find on old New Orleans architecture  all the shingle patterns, geometric shapes and filigree  was meant to bring color to homes, before colorful house paint was readily available. Birchs paintings are like that. Theyre purely black and white, but they glow with colorful patterns. Check out the hypnotic chain-link fence, the uncountable clover flowers, the exact clapboards and inexact tree bark. Birchs paintings buzz with a zillion marks.

Whats amazing is how Freemans photos do the same thing. The photographer has taken the mesmerizing patterns of Birchs accumulated errant strokes and smudges and presented them as compositions in their own right. In a way, her photos of the empty studio are as cool and remote as the landscape photos she's taken in the past of Antarctica and Greenland. Yet they are also as intimate as Birch's neighborhood scenes.

Together, the pair of artists sing in a sort of tight harmony unheard since Simon and Garfunkel called it quits.

Birch said he loves the 7th Ward, which is the location of his new studio as well as his old, because it is so redolent with New Orleans history. Like most of New Orleans, its a place where residents have flourished but have also endured inequity. Two of Birch's pieces touch on the racial strife thats recently torn the country.

As loud, attention-grabbing sculptures, the two pieces are outliers in the otherwise still, contemplative exhibit. One assemblage, titled The Activists, No Justice, No Peace" congratulates those who took to the streets of New Orleans during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020. The rough-hewn wooden fists that rise in the piece dramatically capture the splintery outrage of the moment. Another piece, titled Democracy Under Attack, includes a heap of the sort of debris one might have found after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capital building: a Confederate flag. Beer bottles, cellphones, a bludgeon and such.

The two artworks, both presented in large metal boxes, seem like symbolic adversaries. They bring a heated political tension to the otherwise unruffled exhibit.

Two Versions of the Same Story is part of Prospect.5, New Orleans international art festival that has taken place periodically since 2008. The array of more than 50 free exhibits, performances and outdoor displays, opens to the public on Saturday and continues until Jan. 23 at scattered locations.

+3 Prospect.5, a feast of cutting-edge art, arrives in New Orleans in October Be on the lookout: Mind-bending art will materialize around New Orleans this month, as the Oct. 23 opening of the Prospect.5 art festival approaches.

As in past years, the international art festival is divided into two types of exhibits. There are official exhibits selected by the Prospect curators. Plus there are so-called satellite shows that are presented independently, in the same way that nightclubs present special concerts during the run of Jazz Fest. Two Versions of the Same Story is a satellite show.

Birch will also present a suite of works at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art starting in early November, as an official part of Prospect.5.

The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts is located at 5256 Magazine Street. For more information about Two Versions of the Same Story," visit the Academy website. Check out the citywide art festival visit the Prospect website.

+7 In praise of William Shatner, who flew from fiction to reality with aplomb Space travel has a new face, though its not a new face at all. William Shatner, the 90-year-old actor who achieved immortality in the role of
The name might not be too familiar, but Mukbang Seafood & Bar springs from something thats becoming increasingly prominent piece of the New Orleans food scene. Its focus is boiled seafood, through the lens of next-generation Vietnamese American restaurant people bringing their own influences to the table.

At this new restaurant on Oak Street, that takes the form of platters and bowls of boiled and steamed shellfish coated with a tangy, savory tamarind garlic butter, with perhaps some garlic noodles on the side.

Its the latest from Kim Nguyen, who runs the Vietnamese restaurants Magasin and Magasin Kitchen.

Mukbang opened in late October in the former home of Chiba, a Japanese restaurant that closed just before the pandemic in 2020. It shares the block with the Maple Leaf Bar and Jacques-Imos Cafe.

Its also the latest in a string of new restaurant additions along this row. Seafood Sallys, the gently modern seafood joint from the Marjies Grill crew, and 14 Parishes, the expansion of the local Jamaican restaurant, each debuted last spring within a block of each other. Nearby, the Mexican restaurant Mucho Mas is taking shape in the former home of DTB (which was briefly another restaurant, Jazzy Petes Po-Boys).

Seafood Sallys also serves its own version of boiled seafood with garlic butter.

This type of sauced-up boiled seafood, often called Viet-Cajun style, has built a widening niche around New Orleans, after flourishing in other cities with strong Vietnamese restaurant communities. Houston is the prime example.

The new restaurant is a partnership between Nguyen and her sister Thuy Nguyen, who are both from New Orleans, and their respective husbands, Luu Tran and Thai Nguyen, who are both from Texas.

For Mukbang, they fold in some unique touches from the way they prepare boiled and steamed seafood at home.

The addition of tamarind gives another layer of flavor to the butter dressing, and relates back to Southeast Asian tradition, Nguyen explained.

Crawfish are out of season right now of course, but one mixed platter brought shrimp, clams, two different types of mussels, lobster tail and snow crab.

Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

The sides are a little different from the usual, too. You can get peeled, boiled eggs coated in the sauce, and you can get a bowl of garlic noodles to twirl through the butter sauce, too. Theres even fresh Persian cucumbers as a change of pace and palate cleanser, another hack from the familys home feasts.

The menu has a short list of po-boys and fried seafood platters, appetizers like calamari, boudin balls, turkey necks and crab rangoon, and specialties of garlic shrimp fettuccine, oxtail stew and curry tamarind fries with crabmeat.

Now for that name.

Mukbang is a term for performative eating, drawn from the Korean words for eating and broadcast. The mukbang trend found its footing on social media, especially Tiktok, where people try to gain followers by showing themselves eating big spreads of food. Nguyen picked the name for her new restaurant because it reflects the gusto people bring to boiled seafood here in New Orleans.

I like the name because it means this kind of savage eating, just tearing into it, and thats what people do with this kind of food, she said.

Mukbang is applying for a liquor license and in the meantime is BYOB.

Mukbang Seafood & Bar

8312 Oak St., 504-345-2695

Tue.-Fri., 5-9 p.m., Sat. and Sun. noon-8 p.m.

+26 Ian McNulty: Fun and fierce, Uptown restaurant Mister Mao is a mystery wrapped in spice Mister Mao might serve the opposite of comfort food, and yet this restaurant has been giving me a great deal of solace and satisfaction.

+41 Where to eat next around New Orleans? 8 restaurant picks to try in November In that faraway time before the pandemic (or roughly 20 months ago) we ran a monthly round-up of good places to eat at the moment.

+10 Jamaican restaurant 14 Parishes brings the heat, the rum and a fresh spark to Oak Street Jamaican flags are flying high over Oak Street. In the open kitchen, chef Charles Blake is getting down into the roots of his native Jamaican 
Union Parish District Attorney John Belton hadn't yet seen all of the damning body camera footage of Louisiana State Police troopers repeatedly beating and tasing Ronald Greene before his death on a dark roadway in May 2019  but what he viewed was enough for him to call in the feds.

Belton watched the video that September and almost immediately dialed up a federal prosecutor in Shreveport to refer the case for possible civil rights charges against troopers, according to multiple accounts.

Federal authorities declined to answer questions about what happened next, or when the FBI formally opened its investigation. But according to accounts from the Greene family and a State Police investigator, the leader of the FBI field office in Monroe showed little interest and sat on the case for months.

+3 'Awful but lawful': In Ronald Greene case, State Police leaders rejected early arrest of trooper Months after Ronald Greene died following a violent struggle with Louisiana state troopers who brutally beat and repeatedly tased the unarmed 

Greene's mother, Mona Hardin, said that Special Agent Jared Medaries told her in December 2019 that "no one told me to investigate," but that "if you really want me to, I will start investigating."

State Police investigator Albert Paxton, who was assigned to review Greene's death, had told Hardin to contact the local FBI office because the bureau was supposed to be investigating. In his notes, Paxton wrote that Medaries then called State Police to ask who told her that.

Hardin recalled Medaries saying little would get done before the holidays  and nothing did.

Medaries never picked up the State Police investigative file, but in February 2020, Paxton made the short trip to the FBI office in Monroe to deliver it himself, according to his notes.

Three months later, Medaries "brought the thumb drive back with the copy of the case file" and "said the Baton Rouge FBI was taking over the case," Paxton wrote.

Medaries told Paxton then he didn't see much of a case, Paxton wrote. Medaries said "he didn't really look through the case but 'they [troopers] did what they had to do,'" according to the notes.

That was May 2020, the same month that Greene's family filed a federal civil rights complaint over his death.

The slow-footed early response from the FBI has drawn little public notice amid allegations of an attempt by State Police brass to whitewash Greene's death. The apparent lag has raised questions about the role of Medaries, an FBI mainstay in Monroe.

State Police and FBI agents frequently work together, but Medaries has particularly close ties to the state agency and Troop F, the overwhelmingly White unit at the center of a mounting scandal over accusations of excessive force against Black motorists.

Medaries started his law enforcement career two decades ago at Troop F, working with some of the veteran State Police officials, or former ones, now accused of trying to gloss over the details of Greene's arrest.

"This was at best a matter of bad optics, and quite possibly might present some objectivity issues," said Michael McAuliffe, a former federal civil rights prosecutor. "There should be full accounting as to whether the agent did his job professionally."

McAuliffe said the Greene case exemplifies a frequent tension in federal civil rights investigations: relationships between FBI agents and local law enforcement officers accused of misconduct.

Those ties can sometimes benefit an investigation  but they can just as easily have the opposite effect, he said. Particularly in the early stages, allegiances can kill a prosecution before it gets off the ground, McAuliffe said.

"It's an ongoing concern, particularly for prosecutors, that agents may be too close with local law enforcement to do their jobs," he said. "That presents an inherent challenge in these cases."

Critics bemoan discipline for Black trooper who leaked Ronald Greene files, ripped State Police When protests erupted following the 2016 fatal police shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana State Police Trooper Carl Cavalier 

Overlapping careers

Records show Medaries started at the State Police training academy in 1995.

He worked as a Troop F patrolman until 1998, when he joined the Bureau of Detectives, still based in Ouachita Parish. Employment records indicate he left the agency the following year.

After training to become an FBI agent, Medaries moved to Joplin, Missouri, where he worked in the FBI field office.

Years later, Medaries returned to his home base, where he became the supervisory agent over the FBI's small Monroe office.

Experts said the FBI generally avoids sending new agents right back to their home districts, but a move home after several years away is common practice.

Jeff Danik, a retired FBI supervisor who oversaw police corruption investigations in the Palm Beach area, said he would need to know more about the relationship between Medaries and the troopers he was investigating. The mere fact Medaries once worked at Troop F is not necessarily a red flag, he said.

"That's definitely the proper question to ask, but it could have an easy answer," he said.

FBI officials and federal prosecutors declined to comment on the 2020 decision to have agents in Baton Rouge take over, eight months after Belton first referred it to federal authorities.

Since the Baton Rouge office assumed control, the feds have launched investigations into several other alleged beatings of Black motorists by Troop F members.

The first fruit of those broader federal efforts arrived in September in an indictment charging former trooper Jacob Brown with violating the civil rights of Aaron Bowman.

Police reports say Brown beat Bowman 18 times with a flashlight in May 2019, weeks after Greene's death. Brown has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges.

The excessive force allegations now central to the ongoing probe in Greene's case became public only after his family sued State Police. Their federal lawsuit claims the agency initially pushed a narrative that Greene died from a car crash, without any mention of him being beaten by troopers.

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A federal grand jury decision in the case is expected in the coming weeks, which could mean charges against some of the troopers involved in the violent arrest.

Questions about the alleged coverup within State Police  and exactly who was involved  make it difficult to pinpoint whether the FBI was at fault for being slow on the uptake, said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission, a criminal justice watchdog group.

"When you have an agency misrepresenting or withholding information to investigators, it becomes very easy for these mistakes to be made," he said. "I don't assign a sinister motive to the FBI in this.

"Could it have been more quickly ferreted out? Yes, but when you're talking about a coverup like this, it's very hard for a law enforcement agency like the FBI to even comprehend that type of behavior."

During his time at Troop F, Medaries overlapped with prominent State Police official Bob Brown, who later rose through the ranks to become chief of staff under Superintendent Kevin Reeves, another Troop F veteran.

He and Medaries worked together in the small detective bureau in Monroe, after Medaries joined the office in 1998.

Bob Brown retired in December 2020 amid mounting allegations of abuses at Troop F, some involving his son, Jacob.

According to Paxton's notes, Bob Brown was at a meeting a week after Greene's death in May 2019, during which investigators presented their case for arresting Christopher Hollingsworth, a trooper who has since died, for aggravated battery and obstruction of justice in Greene's arrest.

Paxton wrote that the meeting grew "very heated," and that the investigators were told "there was no obstruction and we needed to wait on the autopsy."

Jacob Brown was not involved in Greene's arrest. But he was arrested in three separate excessive force incidents unrelated to that incident, and he resigned from the agency early this year.

In September, Jacob Brown became the first trooper charged amid the ongoing FBI investigation.

Around the time he overlapped with Medaries at the State Police detective bureau, Bob Brown faced accusations of racism that resulted in minor discipline but had little impact on his career. He received a letter of reprimand for making racist comments and hanging a Confederate flag inside his office.

Brown admitted to investigators that the "n-word" was part of his vocabulary, according to the letter.

The investigation was launched after a witness said Brown, discussing a promotional exam, stated "something to the effect of, 'I don't understand how those n****** could pass the test, they're not smarter than us,'" according to his disciplinary letter, signed by former Superintendent Terry Landry.

The letter also accused Brown of being inconsiderate toward other troopers, especially African Americans, by choosing to display the Confederate flag. "You should have been aware that such a display was at least controversial and was not appropriate for a business office," the letter says.

Another 20 years would pass before Troop F officers were accused of routinely using excessive force against Black motorists and covering up their actions, including allegedly concealing and mislabeling bodycam footage.

In the Greene case, the ranking trooper at the scene, Lt. John Clary, allegedly failed to turn over his bodycam footage to investigators immediately afterward, resulting in the evidence being left out of the file turned over to state prosecutors in fall 2019.

The footage was finally discovered several months later. Clary was accused of lying about its existence, but officials said he was recently cleared of wrongdoing and faced no discipline because investigators were unable to prove he acted intentionally.

In Ronald Greene case, internal report details long-missing bodycam footage from ranking trooper For almost two years after Ronald Greene died in Louisiana State Police custody on a winding back road in Union Parish, even State Police inve

Echoes of Danziger

The federal response in some ways echoes the hesitant reaction of federal agents and prosecutors in New Orleans after the most notorious episode of excessive police force in recent times in Louisiana.

The FBI was aware early on of major holes in the New Orleans Police Department's account of officers shooting civilians on the Danziger Bridge in the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Anthony Radosti, a former police detective who was working for the Crime Commission, said the local FBI brushed off allegations of police misconduct even after officers began confiding to Radosti that "there was a problem with the shooting on the bridge."

Radosti said he forwarded information and documents to an FBI contact who "assured me it was a justifiable shooting and it had been fully reviewed," he said.

Radosti said the FBI was echoing what then-NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley told him at a meeting months after the incident, in which two civilians were killed and four others were badly injured.

"The FBI agents in New Orleans were very close to NOPD for obvious reasons. They need them as working partners. But sometimes the relationships stretch over, and they tend to take the word of another law enforcement officer," Radosti said.

"The magnitude of what happened in New Orleans and on the Danziger Bridge was problematic, and in my opinion, in that era, the bureau was too close to the investigators."

Unlike in Greene's case, in which Belton immediately steered the case to federal authorities, the district attorney in New Orleans was the first to wade into the Danziger Bridge case.

Then-U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office and local federal agents kept to the sidelines as then-District Attorney Eddie Jordan's office pursued a state grand jury investigation that led to an indictment against seven officers in December 2006.

It wasn't until 2008, after state prosecutors bungled the matter, that federal civil rights prosecutors from Washington, D.C. and FBI agents from outside the area stepped in to lead a new investigation.

The feds eventually won convictions against 11 officers who pleaded guilty to a range of offenses.
For years as a member of the New Orleans City Council, Jason Williams fought against budget increases requested by former District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, while questioning his leadership and financial stewardship.

Ten months after Williams became district attorney, the tables were turned as he asked the council for $2.2 million more in funding than what the city has proposed.

Williams appearance at a budget hearing Wednesday was a homecoming of sorts for the former at-large council member. But it also included a verbal skirmish against City Councilmember Jay Banks, who questioned why Williams had changed his tune about office funding. Banks is up for re-election Saturday for his District B seat against three opponents, including one endorsed by Williams.

Williams wants $9.3 million for the District Attorneys Office from the city for his 2022 budget, compared to the $7 million allocation proposed by Mayor Latoya Cantrell, which is nearly the same as the city contribution before the pandemic scrambled its finances. He says the extra money will go toward hiring additional prosecutors and investigators, paying settlements for wrongful convictions and other expenses.

+15 Criminal trials are back in New Orleans, but turnover and COVID precautions could snarl pace On Friday evening, Lurline Duncan gathered with loved ones to launch balloons in memory of her son, Gregory Heisser, who was shot to death wit

Either amount would represent a significant step up from the $5.4 million in city funding for the District Attorneys Office that Williams approved in his waning days on the City Council, before his Jan. 11 inauguration as DA. Back then, the pandemic was forcing the city into austerity mode, and Williams was castigating Cannizzaro  who declined to seek re-election  on the campaign trail.

As the citys budget outlook brightened, Williams office received an extra $1.4 million for 2021.

Williams also receives money from the state and federal grants. Overall, he requested a total $15.8 million in revenue next year.

Williams says the extra funds will go toward an office that has undergone a transformation. Williams said hes helped throw out 48 wrongful convictions, stopped using Louisianas harsh habitual offender statute and refused more cases that shouldnt go to trial.

Williams biggest ask is for $1.2 million in confirmed and anticipated settlements for civil lawsuits, including one involving fake subpoenas and several alleging wrongful convictions.

+4 Out of prison but in limbo for 3 years, a New Orleans man is 'free to go' after DA decision After nearly 16 years in prison and three years in legal limbo waiting to see if prosecutors would retry him, Troy Rhodes case was over in se

There are remaining civil lawsuits and liabilities that still pose a constant threat, Williams said.

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Williams is also asking for $419,000 to hire six more prosecutors for his trials division, which has been vexed by turnover. As of earlier this month, the division had 28 assistant district attorneys.

Banks was skeptical of Williams' shift. When you were sitting here, you told your predecessor that there was a tremendous amount of fat to be trimmed, he said. Youre asking for more money now. So does that fat no longer exist?

Williams said that he has gotten rid of overpaid staffers employed by Cannizzaro and boosted the pay of crucial lower-level employees.

When we got here, we found bloated middle management, people making close to $200,000 a year who were not setting foot in court, Williams said. We found an investigations division that was almost larger than the trials division, but was not investigating or closing any cold cases.

The back-and-forth went beyond budget lines. Banks questioned Williams over his transfer of juveniles charged with homicide to adult court, which went against Williams' campaign pledge and has angered progressives. He also asked whether a project to tackle cold-case homicides was better left to police and brought up a Metropolitan Crime Commission report alleging that Williams has dismissed too many cases.

+5 Jay Banks faces off with critics in City Council District B reelection fight Jay Banks is facing three opponents in the race for the District B New Orleans City Council seat, including two critics, Lesli Harris and Rell

Im trying to understand, Banks said. When you dismiss a case, does it mean that the police were negligent?

Williams said his decisions werent a knock on cops. Rather, it could indicate that there wasnt enough evidence for a conviction, a suspect was in the throes of addiction when they committed a crime and was a good candidate for diversion, or a victim in a case didnt want to go forward with prosecution, he said.

From other corners, Williams got a warmer welcome. City Council President Helena Moreno, a political ally, said she looked forward to discussing with Williams and other legal system leaders a comprehensive program to tackle domestic violence.

Williams budget request includes $300,000 for a specialized human trafficking and domestic violence unit, which would include two investigators, two prosecutors, counselors and housing for survivors, according to his budget presentation.
Two state appeals courts reached opposite conclusions this week on whether a ban on non-unanimous jury verdicts should be retroactive under state law, setting up a possible showdown at the Louisiana Supreme Court over the fate of about 1,500 inmates convicted long ago by split juries.

A divided panel of the New Orleans-based 4th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday in favor of making the U.S. Supreme Courts ban retroactive in Louisiana. A panel of the Lake Charles-based 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, meanwhile, rejected the same argument, overturning a district judge in its ruling.

Louisiana voters barred split verdicts in 2018, ending a 120-year-old Jim Crow-era law, and the U.S. Supreme Court followed suit last year, ruling 6-3 that American juries were always meant to be unanimous.

But neither decision applied retroactively, and in a follow-up case this year, the nation's top court refused to turn back the clock.

U.S. Supreme Court refuses to make Louisiana ban on non-unanimous juries retroactive The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to make its recent ban on non-unanimous juries retroactive, denying relief to as many as 1,500 Louisi

The court noted that its ruling applied to cases on federal review, and that Louisiana and Oregon, the only two states to adopt split verdicts, remain free, if they choose, to retroactively apply the jury-unanimity rule as a matter of state law in post-conviction proceedings.

Defense advocates point to provisions in the Louisiana Constitution to argue for applying the ban retroactively.

A 4th Circuit panel took up the invitation in the case of Julio Melendez of Meraux, who was convicted of second-degree murder over the 1986 shooting death of David Cook inside a trailer. Melendez argued that he shot Cook, 19, by accident, but witnesses said the two had bickered all day at a concert in City Park before the fatal gunfire. A St. Bernard Parish jury voted 11-1 to convict Melendez, who is now serving life in prison.

The 2-1 appeals court majority recounted the origins of Louisianas split-jury law at a convention called in 1898 for the explicit purpose of restoring White supremacy in the state. The change to split verdicts had a profound effect on non-White defendants, the opinion noted.

Considering the historically racist motivations behind the adoption of the non-unanimous jury verdict practice, this Court finds the practice, from its inception, was not steeped in fairness, wrote Judge Regina Bartholomew-Woods.

Melendez, who also went by Julio Perez, is Hispanic.

A 2018 analysis of six years of state court trial records by The Advocate found that Black defendants were 30% more likely than White defendants to be convicted by divided juries. The law also had a disproportionate impact on Black jurors, who were more than twice as likely as White jurors to dissent from guilty verdicts.

Bartholomew-Woods was joined by 4th Circuit Judge Roland Belsome in granting Melendez writ in the interest of justice and fundamental fairness. Judge Joy Cossich Lobrano dissented, arguing that the state Supreme Court should settle the retroactivity question first.

Meanwhile, a panel of the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal on Wednesday overturned a Calcasieu Parish judge who had ruled for retroactivity in June, in the case of David Nelson, a Florida man serving 30 years in prison over a fatal punch outside a Sulphur strip club. Nelson is White.

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Louisiana's split-jury ban is retroactive under state law, Calcasieu Parish judge finds A Calcasieu Parish judge on Friday ruled that a ban on non-unanimous jury verdicts is retroactive under state law, in the case of a Florida ma

Judges Elizabeth Pickett, Van Kyzar and Charles Fitzgerald said 14th Judicial District Judge Kendrick Guidry failed to explain how he reached a decision contrary to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that its ban on split juries in Ramos v. Louisiana was not the kind of watershed decision that warranted tossing old convictions.

We cannot fathom any different conclusion than that of the U.S. Supreme Court that Ramos does not satisfy the watershed exception, the panel found.

Hardell Ward, an attorney with the New Orleans-based Promise of Justice Initiative who represents both men, said the 4th Circuit ruling was the first by a state appeals court favoring retroactivity.

I suspect both cases will arrive to the Supreme Court at the exact same time and well actually get arguments on it, Ward said.

Advocates point to the state constitutions equal protection clause, which says that no law shall discriminate against a person because of race or religious ideas, beliefs, or affiliations.

Now that Louisianans know the laws clear racist history and its enduring effect on black defendants and jurors, Ward argued, the state should have no interest in defending it.

I grew up in Louisiana, 38 years old, never realized there was a law still on the books the entire purpose of which was to disenfranchise Black defendants and jurors, Ward said.

When you discover that, you do what Louisiana did. You have to address it. You cant ignore it. These are people. Our argument is simply that it is so fundamentally unfair, justice demands it be (retroactive).

St. Bernard Parish District Attorney Perry Nicosia did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday on the ruling in the Melendez case.

Attorney General Jeff Landrys office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Landrys solicitor general, Liz Murrill, has twice argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in defense of the split-verdict law and the convictions reached by divided juries.

Caddo Parish district attorney revisits some old divided jury cases, offers deals A Confederate monument rests in front of the courthouse in Shreveport, covered by a box and still waiting to be carted off four years after Ca

Murrill, now a candidate to succeed Landry as attorney general, has predicted chaos in the courts if unanimity were to be required retroactively.
At the rate of $1,000 a month, it would take Irvin Mayfield and Ronald Markham nearly 92 years to pay back what they took from the New Orleans Public Library Foundation.

U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey on Nov. 3 ordered Mayfield and Markham to pay $500 a month each as he sentenced them to 18 months in prison for funneling the money from the library foundation to their New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.

But the foundation believes it may have found a quicker way to claw its money back. Late last week, it sued Mayfield, Markham and the musical group they once controlled.

+9 Irvin Mayfield and Ron Markham, a day after being sentenced to prison, return to the stage With the clock ticking on their freedom, Irvin Mayfield and Ronald Markham resumed making music barely 24 hours after learning theyll spend 2

The lawsuit, filed in Orleans Parish Civil District Court, seeks to put NOJO on the hook for the $1.1 million the foundation is owed in restitution.

Specifically, the lawsuit accuses Mayfield, Markham and NOJO of "enrichment without cause" and seeks a judgment ordering them to pay all related damages.

Prosecutors said Mayfield and Markham sent library foundation money to NOJO, which they used for the latter group's operating expenses, their own salaries and splurges like an upscale hotel in New York City.

Mayfield and Markham are headed to federal prison now  they were told to report by Jan. 5  but the non-profit group carries on without them. It owns the sparkling New Orleans Jazz Market building on Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard, and its board is studded with leaders in the New Orleans business and non-profit worlds.

The lawsuit could subject Jazz Orchestra leaders to depositions where they are forced to explain why the board didnt question the money transfers from the library foundation, which happened between 2011 and 2013.

The lawsuit also accuses NOJO of failing to abide by the terms of its 2016 memorandum of understanding to pay the money back, through a mix of cash transfers and in-kind donations. NOJO has missed out on three annual, $96,000 payments in a row, according to the lawsuit.

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Gray Sexton, an attorney representing the library foundation, said the lawsuit was filed in part to restore confidence in the organization, which was badly tarnished by Mayfields time on its board.

NOJO declined to comment on the lawsuit through board member and spokesman Bill Rouselle. However, Rouselle did say that NOJO was under the impression that it had resolved the payment dispute.

+8 Irvin Mayfield sentenced to 18 months in prison after blaming 'ego' for defrauding New Orleans library fund To hear famed trumpeter Irvin Mayfield tell it, greed wasn't the reason he siphoned $1.3 million from the New Orleans Public Library Foundatio

Claude Kelly, the federal public defender who represented Mayfield in the criminal case, won't be involved in the civil litigation. However, Kelly said the lawsuit tracked with issues he raised at Mayfields sentencing about the lack of accountability for NOJO board members.

"From being on the case for four years, it seems like they were complicit or asleep at the wheel. Last time I checked, they had legal fiduciary duties as board members, Kelly said.

Markhams attorney declined comment.

The foundations lawsuit also lists as a defendant the Youth Rescue Initiative, a non-profit group once helmed by James Bernazzani, the former special agent in charge of the FBIs New Orleans office. The group was drawn into Mayfield and Markhams criminal case, as the alleged funnel for some of the money they redirected toward NOJO.

Youth Rescue Initiatives tax forms suggest the group has been defunct for years. It last filed a Form 990 in 2016, in which it reported having raised just under $100,000 in the previous year against expenses of about $90,000. By then, its director Bernazzani had stopped taking a salary, the records indicate.

"The Youth Rescue Initiative doesn't exist anymore," Bernazzani said.

Staff writer Gordon Russell contributed to this report.
A woman earned the unhappy distinction Wednesday night of being the first person handed a guilty verdict by an Orleans Parish jury since the pandemic began and Jason Williams took office as district attorney.

Jurors convicted Destiny Lacourse, 30, of armed robbery in the Sept. 7, 2018 stick-up of the LUSH cosmetics store in the 500 block of Royal Street.

Authorities said Lacourse entered the French Quarter store wearing a silver-gray wig and posing as a customer. She pulled out a gun and demanded money from the store till. The cashier complied. Lacourse left with $706.16.

Lacourse was arrested the next month after police put out surveillance video of the suspect they were seeking. They received several tips.

Cab driver, tipsters help ID wig-wearing French Quarter robbery suspect: warrant A cab driver, Crimestoppers tips and store surveillance footage helped investigators identify a wig-wearing woman suspected of holding up a Fr

After her arrest, Lacourse was freed on bail. Her case remained pending as the coronavirus pandemic and Hurricane Ida halted jury trials. Criminal court judges resumed jury trials last month, and Lacourses case was the third to go before a jury.

The first jury trial in the building was cut short by a plea deal. The second, a domestic violence case, ended with an acquittal.

Opening arguments were delayed Tuesday by Lacourses late arrival. A distressed Lacourse rushed into the courtroom wearing a white dress and peach bow, and apologized to Judge Robin Pittman.

During opening statements, Assistant District Attorney Corbin Bates III said there was little doubt that Lacourse committed the crime. Although there was no surveillance video from the store, a detective was able to trace the robbers movements to another business and recover footage there.

New Orleans jurors acquit man in domestic cutting case, first to reach verdict since pandemic The first jury trial in New Orleans to go to verdict since the pandemic resulted in an acquittal on Wednesday.

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If the wig and glasses the woman wore left any doubt as to her identity, DNA did not, Bates said. Investigators recovered Lacourses DNA from a piece of soap and a bath bomb  items which the robber had touched.

We're asking  check the math, look at it, check our work, said Bates.

However, defense attorney Stavros Panagoulopoulos said during his opening statement that the robber was actually another woman identified by a tipster, who had a long criminal history for burglary and theft. For unclear reasons, police failed to follow up on that woman and focused on his client instead, Panagoulopoulos said.

Theres actually not a single scrap of evidence that takes and places Ms. Lacourse at the scene of the location, he said. Other than her DNA, and someone else's DNA on the same piece of soap that was allegedly touched by the perpetrator.

Deputies booked Lacourse into the New Orleans jail on Wednesday night. She faces a minimum 10-year sentence at a hearing set for Jan. 4.

Panagoulopoulos declined comment.

Williams held a press conference Thursday to recognize Bates and the other rookie prosecutor on the case, Assistant District Attorney Christian Hebert-Pryor. They worked under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Andre Gaudin, with Williams ducking in for parts of the trial.

"It was truly an honor watch these young men really work our craft in such an exceptional way for the people of this city," Williams said.
Three adults and four juveniles from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, were arrested on charges ranging from battery to interfering with police after authorities say a Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputy was knocked off the roof of a sport utility vehicle during a scuffle in Harvey Tuesday morning.

Michael David Range, 39, was booked with second-degree battery, flight from an officer, resisting police by violence, aggravated obstruction of a highway, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and possession of marijuana, said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesperson.

Brianna Range, 20, and Jonathan Range, 18, were booked with resisting arrest, interfering with police officers and aggravated obstruction of a highway. Authorities did not say how the two are related to Michael Range, though Brianna Range called him her father in a Facebook Live video recorded during the encounter.

The juveniles arrested were four boys: two 16-year-olds, a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old, Rivarde said. The Sheriff's Office did not say if or how the boys are related to the adults.

It is Michael Range who is seen in the Facebook Live video arguing with deputies and refusing to come down from the roof of a Lincoln Navigator parked at a Shell station at the intersection of Manhattan Boulevard and the West Bank Expressway in Harvey.

When an unnamed sergeant climbed onto the SUV to arrest Range, Range grabbed and lifted the sergeant's leg, pushing him backward and off of the vehicle, the Sheriff's office said in an arrest report.

In the fall, the sergeant's head hit a tree root, knocking him unconscious for several moments. He was taken to University Medical Center in stable condition.

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The Sheriff's Office received a report around 10 a.m. of children darting in and out of traffic at the intersection, performing music with a speaker and microphone and flagging down vehicles to ask for money, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office had received a similar complaint Monday, but the people were gone by the time deputies arrived, Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said.

+8 Photos: JPSO deputy injured in altercation at Harvey gas station A deputy with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office was injured Tuesday morning, Nov. 9, 2021, in an altercation at a Harvey gas station near 

Deputies on Tuesday asked Michael Range to get the children out of the roadway for their safety, but he refused, an arrest report said. He also allegedly refused to continue speaking with deputies and walked toward his SUV, telling them if they touched him, he'd fight back, according to authorities.

When a deputy grabbed for Michael Range's arm, Range pulled away, got into his SUV and went out the opposite door before climbing onto the roof, according to the Sheriff's Office. After falling to the ground with the injured sergeant, Michael Range allegedly punched and kicked at other deputies who were trying to take him into custody, the Sheriff's Office said.

The 15-year-old boy is accused of hitting the injured deputy while he was still on the ground, Rivarde said. The 15-year-old was booked with battery of a police officer, interfering with police and resisting an officer.

One of the 16-year-olds was booked with battery of a police officer with injury, resisting an officer and interfering with police, Rivarde said. The other 16-year-old and the 13-year-old were booked with interfering with police. The youngest boy was also booked with resisting arrest.

All four juveniles were taken to the Jefferson Parish Juvenile Assessment Center in Harvey. No other information was available.

Michael, Jonathan and Brianna Range were being held Wednesday evening at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. Bond for Michael Range was set at $21,500 while Brianna and Jonathan Range were being held on $6,000 bond.
Relatives of Ja'Quan Benn were already acquainted with the terror that comes with the news that a loved one has been shot.

Benn, 19, was paralyzed from the waist down in March 2020 when someone opened fire on him in Terrytown. Shot in the back, he was critically wounded, physically and emotionally.

"It took us a while to get him back and around, but we still had him here," Benn's aunt, Brandy Henderson, 34, said Wednesday. "We don't have that anymore."

On Oct. 30, Benn was shot in the chest as he sat in his wheelchair in the 600 block of Farmington Place in Terrytown, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office said. He died at the scene.

About a week later, mourners were targeted by gunfire during a Nov. 5 vigil organized by Benn's friends in the 1900 block of Faith Place in Terrytown, according the Sheriff's Office and relatives. A 20-year-old woman was hospitalized with a non-fatal gunshot wound, authorities said.

No arrests have been made in any of the three shootings. Benn's relatives don't know who would have wanted to kill him. But they can't see how anyone would have considered him a threat.

"He was already paralyzed," Henderson said. "I don't understand. There's nothing he could have done."

Born and raised in New Orleans, Benn was one of five siblings. He was the youngest boy in the family and extremely protective of his two sisters, his aunt said. Benn also had a close bond with his mother, who has been devastated by his loss.

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His family and friends called him Fat Man, a nickname from his chunky baby stage, his aunt said. The name followed him into adulthood.

Benn had a humorous nature and loved to trade light-hearted digs with his siblings and cousins, Henderson said.

"He was definitely funny," she said. "He cracked jokes all the time. He was always in good spirits."

Or at least he was until he was shot last year. Benn endured a difficult recovery, Henderson said.

"He was beaten down, at first," she said. "He started to come around, but he would still have his moments."

Henderson said she couldn't proclaim that Benn was a perfect angel who made no mistakes, but he didn't deserve to die.

"At the end of the day, he was a person whose family love him," she said.

Anyone with information about the shooting death of Ja'Quan Benn or the Faith Place shooting in Terrytown on Nov. 5 is asked to call Crimestoppers Inc. at (504) 822-1111 or (877) 903-7867. Callers need not give their names or testify to be eligible for a reward of as much as $2,500 for information that leads to an indictment.
Three New Orleans police districts that encompass neighborhoods such as Lakeview, Gentilly, the 9th Ward and New Orleans East got new commanders Wednesday after the Police Department administered its first test in 18 years for promotion to captain.

The agency gave the test, comprised of a written portion and a subjective evaluation, over the past several weeks after court rulings in recent years struck down as unconstitutional its longstanding, controversial practice of letting its superintendent appoint mid-level commanders at will.

NOPD appointments of commanders at superintendent's discretion shot down by state appeals court In a win for police unions, a Louisiana appeals court has struck down the New Orleans Police Departments controversial practice of letting it

Those who were captains at the time of the test were holding the rank on an essentially interim basis. Seven of them retained their rank in the wake of the promotional exam, having scored among the top 15 of 38 candidates. Another eight officers  including the three new district commanders  attained captain without having the interim rank at the time of the exam.

And five interim captains lost their rank, having scored below the top 15, a situation which Superintendent Shaun Ferguson acknowledged directly during a ceremony publicizing the promotions on Wednesday morning at Gallier Hall.

Usually, when youre taking a promotional exam, you have something to gain, Ferguson said. Unfortunately, this time, there were some individuals who had something to lose.

Nonetheless, Mayor LaToya Cantrell encouraged officers to be motivated by the promotions. The promotions were determined by scores that were half derived from the exams written portion and half calculated by a committee of police brass weighing factors such as officers performance evaluations and disciplinary history.

You should embrace the change and the leadership you have that understands what it means to not only invest in the people, but that they grow and reach their fullest potential, Cantrell said.

The Police Department did not immediately publish a list of assignments for the newly promoted captains or those who had been demoted. But sources familiar with the personnel changes said the shuffling led to new captains commanding the 3rd, 5th and 7th districts:

Capt. Sabrina Richardson took command of the 3rd District, which patrols neighborhoods such as Lakeview and Gentilly. She replaced Ryan Lubrano, who did not score highly enough to retain his provisional appointment as captain and commander of the 3rd.

Capt. Gwen Nolan was handed the reins of the 5th District, with a jurisdiction that includes the 9th Ward and Bywater. She replaced Regina Williams, who also scored outside of the top 15.

Capt. Kevin Stamp became commander of the sprawling 7th District, which encompasses New Orleans East. His predecessor, Capt. Nicholas Gernon, scored highly enough to retain his rank and was made the commander of the homicide investigations section, where hes worked previously, including during the years that the docuseries The First 48 was embedded with that unit.

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Those who scored well enough to retain their captain rank and district commands around the rest of the city, the sources said, were:

LeJon Roberts at the 1st

Eric Gillard at the 2nd

Lawrence Dupree at the 4th

Preston Bax at the 6th

Jeffrey Walls at the 8th.

Capt. Hans Ganthier scored highly enough to retain his role as commander of the training academy.

The remaining captains honored at Wednesdays ceremony at Gallier Hall were all newly minted, the sources said:

Capt. Jonette Williams was headed to the Investigative Services Bureau to lead some specialized units, including those handling cases of sex crimes and child abuse.

Capt. Kendrick Allen was going to the Public Integrity Bureau.

Capt. Christian Hart was commanding Central Evidence and Property

Capt. Precious Banks was leading the Professional Standards and Accountability Bureau, replacing Sandra Contreras, who did not score highly enough to keep her captaincy.

Capt. Michelle Woodfork would take over the Management Services Bureau, succeeding the newly retired Ceasar Ruffin. Woodfork's uncle, Warren Woodfork, was police superintendent in the 1980s.

Besides Contreras, Williams and Lubrano, Frank Young and Bruce Haney did not score highly enough to retain their captain rank, the sources said. Young was at the Criminal Investigations Division, and Haney was commanding the crime laboratory unit.

Years of legal wrangling over promotion between police as well as firefighters unions and City Hall preceded Wednesdays ceremony. The battles particularly intensified after then-Mayor Mitch Landrieus administration overhauled Civil Service rules in 2014 under what was called the Great Place to Work Initiative, which purported to give the police and fire superintendents more flexibility in hiring and promotions.

But passed-over police officers and firefighters have since gone to court and successfully fought to overturn numerous promotions, arguing they were unduly political rather than objective and merit-based. That set the stage for the first Police Department captains' exam since 2003, leading to Wednesdays ceremony.
When St. Tammany Parish residents head to the polls on Saturday they will consider four constitutional amendments, including one that the local levee board says is instrumental in protecting the parish from flooding.

Amendment three would allow levee districts created after 2006, including the one in St. Tammany, to levy an annual property tax of up to five mills.

Any tax would only affect St. Tammany residents living in the coastal zone -- from Interstate 10 and Interstate 12, south to Lake Pontchartrain. The amendment must be approved by voters statewide and in St. Tammany Parish.

The tax would give the local levee board access to federal and state funding and grants that would allow the parish to build infrastructure that would help mitigate future hurricanes, tidewater flooding and saltwater intrusion and aid in coastal conservation, said Suzanne Krieger, chair of the St. Tammany Levee, Drainage and Conservation District.

"People are tired of flooding and they're tired of going through the threat of storm surge every summer and every fall," Krieger said.

A recent U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of the flooding in St. Tammany recommended numerous fixes, including pumps, levees and raising structures. The work would cost around $4 billion. But in order to move forward with the projects, the levee board must prove that local funding would allow the district to maintain and operate the facilities, which is where the tax comes in, Krieger said.

The St. Tammany levee district, a nine-member volunteer board, was created in the 2014 to establish and maintain flood control projects, such as levees, pump stations and flood gates. The board has jurisdiction over the coastal zone in St. Tammany.

St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

We're in a real race against time to provide this flood protection and we really go through a terrible time every summer waiting and waiting. Are we going to get hit with a big storm? How much damage is it going to be and how much is it going to impact our coastline, Krieger said.

The other three constitutional amendments include two pertaining to the way the state collects taxes and one about the amount of dedicated funds allowed to be transferred to fix a state budget deficit.

St. Tammany voters will also weigh a 4/10ths-cent sales tax and the renewal of four school board property taxes that account for a quarter of the school districts budget.

Voting takes place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Williamsport -- For thirteen years in a row, Pennsylvania College of Technology has held a fundraising dinner and auction for student scholarships. This year, the event raised a total of $600,700.

Sponsored by Lycoming Engines, the event auctioned off 49 items (25 silent auction and 24 live auction), including items made or donated by students, alumni and current or retired faculty. Ron Roan, of Roan Inc. Auctioneers & Appraisers, donated professional services, as he has done for many years.

In addition to proceeds from the auction items, the Cunningham Family personally announced a significant pledge during the event to the Legacy Campaign for Penn College in honor of President Davie Jane Gilmour, who has announced she will retire in June 2022.

The gift recognizes the familys long-standing connection to the institution and to Gilmour  all eight of her siblings attended Penn College or its predecessor, and four served as employees of the college.

At the conclusion of the live auction, Penn College advocate and long-time supporter Frank Pellegrino invited the community to join him to help endow the recently created Don E. Waltman Memorial Scholarship. Dozens of community members and businesses united in support, including Larry and Stefanie Allison, who recently purchased Don Waltmans Market House Meats & Deli and announced their plan to reopen it in early 2022.

Support for the memorial scholarship was overwhelming, resulting in more than $200,000 of additional commitments. Items were donated by over 40 individuals and groups.

The strength of community and the value of an applied technology education was clearly affirmed through the generosity of our loyal advocates, Gilmour said of the event. Scholarship funding creates access and transforms lives. Hundreds of students will benefit from the generosity that was demonstrated at the Dinner and Auction. It was overwhelming and inspiring, a night that I will never forget and always cherish. On behalf of our hardworking, innovative students, I share my heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to this meaningful event.

Sponsors of the dinner, auction, and reception included Lycoming Engines, Chief Oil & Gas, Larson Design Group, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, the Mattie Family, McCormick Law Firm, Ed and Linda Alberts, the Kiessling Family, Aubrey Alexander '09, Jay and Juli Alexander, Herman Logue, C&N, Al and Jane Clapps, the Cunningham Family, Fish Real Estate, Fulton Bank, The Hartman Group, Jersey Shore State Bank, the Klingerman Family, Frank Pellegrino, Pennsylvania Skill by Miele Manufacturing, Joe and Barbara Reynolds, Marshall Welch III, Woodlands Bank, and John and Sue Young.

Auction Committee Members were Linda Alberts, Alfreda Baer, John Confer, Brent Fish, Chris Gayman, Jonah Howe, Ray Mattie, Joe Reynolds, John Young and Karen Young.
In October, legislators introduced a bill that would authorize clinical studies of psilocybin, the psychoactive property in "magic mushrooms," as a therapy treatment for mental health patients, particularly those suffering from PTSD. The funding would focus upon treatments for veterans, first responders, and their families.

Psychedelic therapies have received considerable state support recently, but national government policies limit the use of psychedelic-assisted treatment.

According to the legislators who proposed clinical psilocybin studies to the Pennsylvania House in October, the therapy can be a powerful tool to mitigate the opioid crisis in the Commonwealth. However, the industry faces national government hyper-regulation, price hikes, and supply restrictions, claims the legislator's memo on HB1959.

Government resistance to the psychedelic industry began in the counterculture era. According to National Institute of Mental Health (NHMH) research, psychedelic research programs halted in the 1960s in response to political resistance to drugs and subsequent legislative hurdles.

In spite of persistent obstacles, there has been a resurgence of research efforts.

In 2019, the FDA recognized psilocybin research as a "Breakthrough Therapy" for its greater success in treating depression compared to other therapy options, reports PRNewswire.

Psilocybin is not the only psychedelic therapy on the market proving successful for patients with severe mental health conditions. Ketamine, a drug approved for medical use in anesthesia in 1970, is completely legal. Still, the notion of "psychedelic drug" can make people uneasy.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy companies are trying to remove the stigmas attached to psychedelic drugs, as their methods involve a controlled setting, a gradual increase in dosage over time, and the achievement of a "trip" under medical supervision.

Psychedelic-assisted treatment centers and telemedicine companies have been popping up around the U.S. and internationally over the past few years  and as they grow successful, they normalize drug therapy practice.

One such company, TripSitter.Clinic, currently operates ketamine-assisted therapy in thirteen states, including two Pa. border states, Ohio and New York. The company is actively expanding their reach, serving 11 new states as of September 2021.

In a recent interview, TripSitter CEO and clinical forensic psychologist, Dr. John Huber, discussed the benefits of ketamine-assisted therapy and the controversy that continues to surround psychedelic drug use.

Huber has witnessed firsthand the success of ketamine therapy in treating PTSD victims. Working alongside a physician, Huber successfully treated over 80 percent of 400 veterans.

The remaining 20 percent may need a combination treatment, according to Huber. "That's why we need to research on psilocybin and that's why we need to research on ecstasy so we can find out. If it's not working, let's use an even more alternative medication and try x, y, and z."

The unknowns of drug therapy are another reason to support the search for solutions. We can't know the best solution for each individual without supporting the scientific research, according to Huber.

Huber noted the strong hold of politics over scientific research on psychedelics, but tried to separate the two: "we all have someone we're connected to that struggles with mental health." Huber has supervised a variety of patients ranging from sexual assault victims to war veterans, but they all need the same solution: to know their pain exists, but not let it rule their lives.

The greatest distinction between ketamine therapy and standard, over-the-counter psychotropics, like anxiety and depression medications, according to Huber, is the creation of a cognitive level change. A prescription drug numbs pain; ketamine accepts the pain and moves on.

Huber offered another way of explaining this shift in perspective. After breaking his back at 18, Huber suffered through chronic back pain for years, before turning to ketamine. Opioids just made me not care about the pain; but ketamine actually gets rid of the pain," said Huber.

Ketamine is a clinical example of "resilience to medical event," according to Huber. Scientifically speaking, prescription drugs "reset homeostatic mechanisms in your brain that say that chronic pain is now your new normal, but ketamine allows your brain to reboot that specific section of your brain."

For patients, a scientific change in the mind can be explained with metaphor: "Patients walk in with that a-ha moment. They walk in and go, my trauma still happened to me, but when I walk out that door I can leave it boxed up in a suitcase in my back closet and get on with my life," said Huber.




Watsontown, Pa.  An unknown suspect stole more than $6,000 of collectors items out of a storage unit in Delaware Township, Northumberland County.

The victim contacted police on Nov. 3 after they went to the unit on Route 405 and discovered that someone had forced entry into the unit and stole numerous items, according to Pennsylvania State Police at Milton.

Police said the burglary occurred between Oct. 28 and Nov. 3. NASCAR jackets, NASCAR hats, coins, and other collectibles were taken.

Anyone with information may contact PSP Milton at (570) 524-2662.
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Georgia lawmakers pass Republican-backed House redistricting map

HB 1EX Republicans' proposed House Districts for North Georgia.

ATLANTA  The Republican-led Georgia House of Representatives adopted new boundaries for the 180 House districts Wednesday.

After nearly two hours of debate, the House approved a map proposed by GOP leadership 99-79, voting mostly along party lines.

The General Assembly redraws Georgias legislative and congressional district lines each decade to accommodate changes in population reflected in the U.S. Census.

The map crafted by House Republicans keeps House districts as close to equal in population as possible  the goal being 59,511 residents  Rep. Bonnie Rich, chair of the House Legislative & Congressional Reapportionment Committee, told her House colleagues.

The map also creates 49 majority Black House districts, an increase of one district over the current House map lawmakers adopted in 2011, as well as 27 minority-opportunity districts where minority candidates should be competitive, said Rich, R-Suwanee.

The Republican map splits 69 counties, compared to 73 under the current map, Rich said.

Floyd County would still be divided into three House districts. However, instead of a small section being part of a Bartow-based district, a different section would be part of a larger Gordon County district.

House District 5, currently represented by Matt Barton, R-Calhoun, would take in the Shannon area, down to Wayside Road and nearly all of Gordon County. It would be 75.46% White, 3.76% Black and 15.29% Hispanic. The balance would be made up of Asian, American Indian and other races.

With 58,837 people, HD05 would be one of the least populous districts in the state. The ideal population for each of the 180 House districts is 59,511. The GOP proposal has districts ranging from 58,678 to 60,401 people.

House District 12, currently represented by Eddie Lumsden, R-Armuchee, would cover all of Chattooga County and the western and southern part of Floyd, including Cave Spring and Lindale.

It would have 59,300 people, with 78.45% White, 8.61% Black and 7.68% Hispanic.

House District 13, currently represented by Katie Dempsey, R-Rome, would take in the city of Rome and the Silver Creek community, running east to the Bartow County line.

It would have 59,150 people, with 62.24% White, 18.71% Black and 13.52% Hispanic.

House District 14, currently represented by Mitchell Scoggins, R-Cartersville, would be moved out of eastern Floyd County and become a wholly Bartow County district.

Head to head

The new map pairs only eight incumbent House members in four districts, Rich said. The House map Democrats drew in 2001, the last time they held a majority in the chamber, paired 37 Republican incumbents and nine Democratic incumbents, she said.

This is a map that complies with the law, first and foremost, with the Voting Rights Act and the United States Constitution, Rich said. The map is fair to Georgia.

But Democrats complained the map favors Republicans in a state that has evolved into a 50-50 split between the two parties, which is reflected in the outcomes of recent statewide elections.

Georgia has grown more diverse and urban, said Rep. Carolyn Hugley, D-Columbus. This map ignores the fact the Georgia is equally divided politically.

Other Democrats accused Republican leaders of diluting minority voting strength by packing minority voters into certain districts in order to reduce the minority voting-age populations of surrounding districts.

Rep. Winfred Dukes, D-Albany, who is paired in a House district with Rep. Gerald Greene, R-Cuthbert, cited District 153 in the city of Albany adjacent to his redrawn district as an example of such packing.

Rich objected to Dukes characterizing of Republicans strategy as packing.

We didnt have any packing in our map, she said. We have drawn legal districts that comply with the Voting Rights Act.

The Republican maps opponents also repeated complaints over the rushed pace of the special session they have raised frequently during the past week.

Hugley argued the 11 public hearings the committee held across the state during the summer were of little use when they came before the 2020 Census data was released and before the release of any proposed maps.

House Minority Leader James Beverly complained that the final version of the House map Republican leaders proposed was being voted on just two days after its release to the public.

The people of Georgia deserve better, said Beverly, D-Macon. The people demanded a fair and transparent redistricting process. What they got instead was a rushed and secretive process.

But Rich said the 2022 election schedule requires the General Assembly to act without delay.

We have deadlines, she said. The elections officials are going to have to rush to implement this.  We have a job to get done now.

The House map now heads to the state Senate, which approved its new map on Tuesday.

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A OnePlus Nord 2 smartphone has exploded in the pocket of a user in India. Photos posted by the victim clearly show a phone that has suffered an explosive episode and subsequent serious injury to the owner. OnePlus India is said to have stepped up with a refund on the phone along with offering to cover the costs of the medical treatment. [Warning - Graphic Images]

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An owner of the OnePlus Nord 2 in India is recovering in hospital following an explosion of the device while it was in his pocket. According to reports, the teenager was riding his bicycle when the device suddenly exploded setting alight his jeans and also causing severe second-degree burns to his right thigh. Images of the phone clearly show that it has exploded from the left hand side leaving it completely destroyed.

After a Twitter user posted the images to social media tagging OnePlus, the company is said to have offered to refund the cost of the phone as well as cover the teenagers medical expenses. MySmartPrice has been in touch with OnePlus India with a company representative telling it that OnePlus takes these matters very seriously and is investigating the matter further.

Unfortunately for OnePlus, this isnt the first occasion that a OnePlus Nord 2 has exploded. There have been at least two other reported instances of OnePlus Nord 2 devices with the company blaming external damage being at fault in one instance. It remains to be seen what the company concludes in this instance. Naturally, it brings to mind the infamous withdrawal from the market of Samsungs Galaxy Note 7 after it was determined a design flaw put the device at risk of catching fire and exploding.

The OnePlus Nord 2 was launched on July 28, is an upper mid-range phone and features a 4,500 mAh battery that supports 65 W fast charging. Lithium-ion batteries in smartphones have been known to explode from time-to-time, but usually through damage caused by the device being dropped. Sometimes, damage to the battery can be caused by using an unofficial third-party charger. A manufacturing fault in the batteries themselves could also be a possibility. Rarely, however, as in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the issue arises from a design flaw.

The OnePlus Nord 2 has been a popular phone and the company will have sold many thousands of units and thus it is difficult to determine what is the root cause of the latest explosion. We will keep an eye on this story as it continues to develop.

Buy the OnePlus 9 Pro from Amazon unlocked for just US$885, a saving of US$184.
Hal Sharpe, historian and chairman of the house committee for Woodstock American Legion Post #199, sits inside a line of gaming machines inside the social quarters of their home on South Muhlenberg Street. Sharpe, 78, of Edinburg, was recently awarded the posts Legionnaire of the Year award.
The Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority on Wednesday ratified the settlement of a lawsuit involving Honeywell International in a 7-0 vote that came without a description of the settlement's details, which were deemed confidential by the parties involved.

The airport has, however, been plaintiff since 2017 in a lawsuit against Honeywell that claimed the company was financially responsible for environmental remediation work made necessary during the airports runway expansion project, which concluded in 2015.

The suit involved a 4.1-acre site the airport took ownership of in 2013 and which had been used by the Conservation Chemical Co. of Illinois, between 1967 and 1985, to treat and dispose hazardous waste sent to it by its customers, which included Honeywell and a second defendant, UOP, according to case documents filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern Indiana.

The initial suit led to a counterclaim from the companies disputing their degree of responsibility. Mediation led to a settlement agreement earlier this year that the parties, according to the court.

An opinion issued by Judge Joseph Van Bokkelen in October describes an agreement involving a payment by Honeywell to the airport authority.
An Indiana author's latest novel imagines a sister city relationship becoming politicized.

Coffeetown Press recently published author Ian Woollen's novel "Sister City." The book follows concerned citizens in Cave City in southern Indiana and Ciudad de la Gruta, its sister city in the Yucatan in Mexico.

The two communities have a long-established trading relationship that started with indigenous tribes a thousand years earlier.

"Characters such as Delmar and Glodene Butz, Dolores Sanchez, Sheriff Hooker and El Plastico are concerned about the future of the Sister City accord between their two communities," Coffee House Press said in a press release. "The original agreement requires that it be re-approved via public referendum every 20 years. And now, in 2019, what should be a friendly, rubber-stamp matter has become a political hot potato. Sheriff Hooker, running for mayor on an anti-immigrant platform, calls it, 'The worst deal ever made.'"

Woollen is an Indianapolis native and Bloomington resident whose last novel, "Muir Woods or Bust," won an Indies Award for humor. The Yale University graduate's short fiction has appeared in a number of literary journals like The Massachusetts Review, Split Lip, Fiction Southeast, decomP, and The Mid-American Review.
Knauf said Harry replied: I totally agree that we have to be able to say we didnt have anything to do with it. Equally, you giving the right context and background to them would help get some truths out there.

In a witness statement made public on Wednesday, Meghan accepted that Mr. Knauf did provide some information to the authors for the book and that he did so with my knowledge, for a meeting that he planned for with the authors in his capacity as communications secretary. She added that the extent of the information he shared is unknown to me.

The duchess said she did not remember the discussions with Knauf when she gave evidence earlier in the case, and I apologize to the court for the fact that I had not remembered these exchanges at the time.

I had absolutely no wish or intention to mislead the defendant or the court, she said.

Associated Newspapers says Knaufs evidence also undermines Meghans claim that she did not intend the letter to be seen by anyone but her father.

In his witness statement, Knauf said the duchess asked me to review the text of the letter, saying obviously everything I have drafted is with the understanding that it could be leaked.
CROWN POINT  Two men were charged Tuesday in Lake Superior Court with leading Gary police on a pursuit to Oak Lawn on Monday in a vehicle taken in carjacking in Chicago the previous day.

Demarco M. Morrison, 20, of Chicago, and Jalen E. Roberts, 20, of Gary, each were charged with resisting law enforcement and auto theft, both level 6 felonies.

Neither man had entered pleas, because they were awaiting extradition to Lake County from Illinois.

After arresting Morrison and Roberts, police learned both men were wanted on warrants in Lake County, records showed.

A judge issued a warrant Nov. 1 for Roberts for failure to appear in two cases, one of which involved felony charges he led Gary police on a chase Jan. 6 in a stolen GMC Envoy. The second case involved a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle without a license.

Morrison was wanted on warrants for failure to appear on misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Lake Superior Court and refusal to identify self and disorderly conduct in Gary City Court.
The federal appeals court in Chicago appears unlikely to disturb a 2018 Indiana Supreme Court ruling that held the shoreline of Lake Michigan is, and always has been, owned by the state for the enjoyment of all Hoosiers.

During oral arguments Wednesday at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the three-judge panel seemed unpersuaded by the claims attorney Chris Kieser made on behalf of Raymond Cahnman, Randall Pavlock, and Kimberley Pavlock, who own lake-adjacent property in the town of Porter.

Kieser insisted land deeds and tax records held by his clients show they own the beach in front of their homes to the waters edge, and therefore are entitled to keep the general public from accessing or using that portion of the shoreline.

That claim conflicts with the Indiana Supreme Courts Gunderson v. State decision that found, following extensive review of the history of waterside property rights, Indiana owns  and has since becoming a state in 1816  both the land under Lake Michigan and the adjacent shoreline up to the ordinary high-water mark.

The mark is defined as the line on the shore established by the fluctuations of water and indicated by physical characteristics, such as a clear and natural line on the bank, shelving or changes in the soil's character.
CROWN POINT  A new lawsuit would make Hobart Township Trustee Thomas Silich pay the towing fees he incurred when police arrested him on suspicion of impaired driving.

Hobart attorney Michael Deppe amended his suit against Silich this week to correct errors in his original claim he filed last week against the Hobart Township politician.

Now it states the three-member Hobart Township Board, which oversees township governments spending, is seeking $500 from Silich to compensate taxpayers for the cost of towing and impounding the townships Ford F-150 passenger truck, which Silich was driving during his July 20 arrest.

Deppes initial suit had incorrectly stated the office of Hobart Township Trustee was suing Silich.

Deppe said the error was caused by a miscommunication between himself and a member of his staff, assisting him in drawing up the paperwork for the suit.

Lake Station police stopped Silich on suspicion of operating the truck while intoxicated, speeding and unsafe lane movement and failing to signal a turn.
CROWN POINT  A defense attorney for a Merrillville woman accused of staging her boyfriend's homicide as a suicide asked a judge Wednesday to set a trial date, despite ongoing plea negotiations.

Alycia Caparelli, 37, is charged with murder in the shooting death of Timothy Riley, 35, of Hammond, on Dec. 1, 2017, at a residence in the 700 block of West 73rd Avenue in Merrillville.

Caparelli has pleaded not guilty and has been free on a $5,000 cash bond since December 2018.

Defense attorney Michael Woods told Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota he was still negotiating with the Lake County prosecutor's office, which needs to complete additional review and discussions regarding the case.

According to court records, Caparelli called in Riley's death as a suicide. Merrillville police arrived and found her in a room with Riley as he lay on the floor suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.

Caparelli told police she had watched as Riley put a gun to his own head and pulled the trigger, records state.

The Lake County coroner's office determined the fatal shot had been fired from at least 2 feet away and ruled Riley's death a homicide.
BEAVER TOWNSHIP  The search continues for a wanted man who crashed his vehicle in a river and ran away on foot following a chase Tuesday afternoon.

Rich Cantu is described as a 37-year-old white man who is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 262 pounds. Cantu is wanted for resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, criminal confinement and reckless driving, according to Newton County Sheriff's Capt. Shannon Cothran.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact 911 immediately.

The chase was sparked at 3:51 p.m. Tuesday with the Newton County Sheriffs Deputies, the Newton County Drug Task Force and Morocco police pursuing a vehicle through Beaver and Washington townships.

Authorities said they tried to stop Cantu, who was wanted for a warrant out of Jasper County, however he refused to stop and led a pursuit for 11 minutes.

Cantu crashed into the Iroquois River at County Road 700 West at the state line, according to the Newton County Sheriff's Department. A female passenger escaped the wreck without injury and Cantu fled the area.
The two were linked together by (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi, Young said. And if I ended up enabling the passage of a human infrastructure bill, the people of Indiana would be really upset with me.

That second measure, also known as the Build Back Better Framework, still is being negotiated in the Democratic-controlled Congress.

Its likely to squeak through the House by the end of the year, but faces an uncertain fate in the equally divided Senate where two Democrats have objected to its $1.75 trillion price tag.

The latest version of the proposal includes continuation of the $300 per child monthly federal income tax credit, federal assistance for child care expenses, more post-high school education and job training opportunities, expanded Medicare and Medicaid benefits, and incentives to speed the transition to clean energy, among other provisions.

Young said hes confident the people of Indiana wont support those programs, and he especially objects to the child tax credit not being linked to a requirement that the childs parents be working to claim the credit.

It effectively creates a universal basic income and will forever incentivize people to stay out of the labor market, which will be most injurious to people of modest means, Young said.
MERRILLVILLE  Town Councilman Donald Spann was absent from Tuesdays council session, but his recent arrest was a topic of discussion.

Spann, 69, faces charges of domestic battery, interference with reporting a crime, resisting law enforcement, battery and disorderly conduct in connection with an Oct. 31 incident in the 2600 block of West 63rd Avenue.

Spann represents Merrillvilles 1st Ward, and former Councilman Andy Sylwestrowicz on Tuesday said he believes that area is lacking representation after Spanns arrest.

Councilman Leonard White responded, I object to that characterization.

Sylwestrowicz also asked how the council plans to address the situation involving Spanns arrest.

Council President Rick Bella addressed the topic with a prepared statement from the council.

He said the panel is aware of the criminal charges against Spann, and the council views it as a pending criminal matter.
VALPARAISO  Nearly 150 veterans were honored on the eve of Veterans Day during the annual veterans appreciation dinner sponsored by the Valparaiso Kiwanis and Rotary clubs.

Keynote speaker Jim Chancellor, a Vietnam veteran, told not just of his service during the war but also of the bond shared by all those who served.

We are the protectors and the guardians of this great place we call home, he said.

Chancellor told of holding a man in his arms, telling him he was going to make it, even though they both knew it wasnt true.

I laughed with a man that only two weeks earlier was a stranger to me as he showed Chancellor a photo and talked of life back home, he said.

Returning home was difficult. I had a story to tell, but no one really wanted to listen, he said.

One of his friends told him to just let it go. Letting it go was the hardest thing Ive ever tried to do. I was never successful at it.

Chancellor advised Americans to urge veterans to talk about their service to their country.
The school district does have facilities which will accommodate large crowds, Councilman Robert Cotton, D-2nd, said.

Councilman Peter Anderson said Valparaiso Community Schools meets all the metrics for Porter County Health Officer Dr. Maria Stamps recommendations except one  being in the blue level on the state's pandemic scale. Porter County is currently in the yellow advisory level. Were it not for that, Stamps recommendation would be to discontinue to the mandatory mask policy, he said.

Anderson asked why metrics for the entire county are used in the schools. He suggested polling students, parents and teachers to perceive any impact of prolonged use of masks, including their impact on an emotional level and other factors.

Pupillo said VCS should have a clear metric that would indicate when the mask mandate would end.

Remember that the mandate was implemented to keep students in school as much as possible, rather than having to quarantine students exposed to COVID-19, Councilwoman Diana Reed, D-1st, said.

Schmidt bemoaned the lack of communication between residents and the school board.
"When it comes to policy these days, were basically divided into two tribes. And you stick with your tribe and you dont try to help the other tribe, said Glen Bolger, a GOP pollster and strategist.

As president, Trump repeatedly promised his own massive infrastructure plan but never produced one, making the phrase infrastructure week a Washington synonym for pipe dream. But he opposes the current package, and his ability to rally his conservative supporters against those who cross him was a factor as GOP lawmakers decided how to vote.

Even so, hard-right cries for retaliation against the 13 pro-infrastructure Republicans, largely moderates from the Northeast and Midwest, have prompted their own pushback.

"This notion that were going to have people that are on the fringe, in terms of the Marjorie Taylor Greenes of the world and others, imposing some kind of a purity test on substance is lunacy," said Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Cheney has been at war with Trump and the party's far right ever since backing his impeachment early this year.

Cheney opposed the bill, saying it contained clean energy and other provisions that would hurt Wyoming. She said the 13 Republicans who backed it are among some of our very best members who did it because it was the right thing for their districts.
PARIS (AP)  U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Wednesday that their countries are ready to work together again, after a diplomatic drama surrounding a submarine deal that put the relationship at a historic low.

Harris met with Macron in the evening at the Elysee presidential palace, as part of a weeks-long effort by Washington to mend relations with France, Americas oldest ally.

Harris four-day trip to Paris comes after President Joe Biden told Macron the U.S. had been clumsy in handling the submarine issue, during a meeting in Rome, Italy on Oct. 29. Biden didnt formally apologize to Macron, but conceded the U.S. should not have caught its oldest ally by surprise. The secretly negotiated U.S.-British submarine deal with Australia led to a prior deal with France being scrapped.

Macron on Wednesday said he had had a very fruitful meeting with Biden. We do share the view that we are at the beginning of a new era and our cooperation is absolutely critical for this one, he said.

Echoing the French presidents comments, Harris said: I think we share this belief that we are at the beginning of a new era, which presents us with many challenges, but also many opportunities.
Six other people charged after a federal probe of corruption in the Muncie Sanitary District and Tylers administration have reached plea agreements and are awaiting sentencing. Tylers city building commissioner, Craig Nichols, was sentenced to two years in prison in January 2019 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges.

Tylers defense attorney, James Voyles, urged the judge to consider sentencing the former mayor to home detention or community service.

Federal prosecutors, however, sought at least a year in prison for Tyler because of the seriousness of public corruption.

Mr. Tyler chose to serve himself and the interests of insiders who were willing to buy their way into a rigged system, prosecutors said in a court filing. He now joins a dishonorable list of corrupt politicians who have contributed to the growing erosion of public trust and confidence in government.

The judge also ordered three years of supervised release for Tyler following his prison term and that he pay $15,250 in restitution.
How do you thank a veteran?

How do you properly show your respect and appreciation for their service and their sacrifice?

Like any other holiday, Veterans Day has been gobbled up by commercialism from sales to free meals at chain restaurants.

And while those acts may be well-intentioned it doesn't feel like enough.

But there are so many ways big and small to let one veteran or a group know you support and appreciate them.

It can be something like a simple thank you to a veteran in your life. It can be picking up the tab for a veteran at your local coffee shop.

Those random acts of kindness are always appreciated.

But what about if this year, along with those small acts, we took time out to do something greater?

Perhaps choosing to do business with veteran-owned companies or ones that make a point of hiring veterans.

Perhaps it could be reaching out to elected officials to voice support for more programs that help veterans. Especially those programs that help veterans living with PTSD and other mental health issues.

Perhaps it could be volunteering.
The American Government is deeply sensible of this proof of the friendship of the Emperor of the French in asking its cooperation upon a subject doubly important in its relations to order and to humanity. It has been no less favorably impressed with the sentiments which the Emperor Napoleon has expressed in so delicate a manner at St. Petersburgh, and with the appeal which he has made to the noblest of human sympathies. The enlightened and humane character of the Emperor of Russia, which has recently shown itself in the liberation of so large a number of serfs in his domains, gives us the assurance that this appeal will be accepted, and that it will meet at St. Petersburgh with all the good will compatible with the general well-being of the vast States which the Emperor of Russia governs with so much wisdom and moderation.

Nevertheless, notwithstanding the very favorable reception which we are disposed to give to the suggestion of the Emperor of the French, the American Government finds an insurmountable difficulty In associating itself, by any active cooperation, with the Cabinets of Paris, London and Vienna, as it is requested.

Having founded our institutions upon the rights of man, the founders of our Republic have always been regarded as political reformers, and it soon became evident that the revolutionists of all countries counted upon the effective sympathy of the United States, if not upon their active assistance and protection. Our noble Constitution had hardly been established, when it became indispensable for the Government of the United States to examine to what degree it was compatible with our security and well-being to interfere in the political affairs of foreign States, whether by an alliance or any concerted action with foreign Powers, or otherwise. An urgent appeal of this kind was addressed to us with regard to France. This appeal was sanctioned by and acquired new strength from the treaty of alliance and mutual defence which then existed, and without which, it must be confessed to the honor of France, our sovereignty and independence would not have been so promptly secured.

This appeal touched so profoundly the heart of the American people, that it was only the deference felt for the Father of his Country, then at the apogee of his moral greatness, that compelled it to declare that, in view of the condition of the Republic, of the character of its constituent parts, and especially the nature of its exceptional Constitution, the American people must confine itself to advancing the cause of progress in the world by exercising at home a wise power of self-government, but keeping aloof from all foreign alliance, intervention or interference.

It is true that WASHINGTON believed that a time would come when, our institutions being firmly consolidated, and working harmoniously, we might safely take part in the deliberations of foreign Powers, to the general advantage of all nations. Since that time, many occasions have arisen for departing from a rule which, at the first glance might seem to be an inevitable cause of isolation. One was an invitation to join the Congress of the Spanish States of America, then just deliberated. Another was the urgent appeal of Hungary to aid in the recovery of her ancient and Illustrious independence. Still another, the project to guarantee Cuba to Spain, conjointly with France and Great Britain. More recently, the invitation to cooperate with Spain, France and Great Britain in Mexico; and later still, the proposition of some of the Spanish American States to establish an international council for the Republican States of this Continent. All these suggestions were, in succession, declined by our Government, and this decision was each time approved by the American people. Our policy of non-intervention, however rigorous and absolute it may appear to others, has thus become a traditional policy, which ought not to be abandoned, except upon urgent occasions of a manifest necessity. It would be still less wise to deviate from it when a local, though we hope transitory insurrection, deprives our Government of the advice of one part of the American people, to which so grave a deviation from the established policy would be far from being indifferent.
Neither the Russian nor the Chinese producers have applied for a rolling review or a marketing authorization with the European Medicines Agency. But Russian scientists have sought formal scientific advice from the E.U. regulator, a step seen as a precursor to collecting the appropriate data and documentation to request a review.

Sputnik V only this month got its first peer-reviewed feedback in the scientific publication The Lancet, which indicated it was both safe and effective. The Sinopharm vaccine has been approved for use in China, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, but the company has yet to publish detailed results of its Phase 3 trial.

Other E.U. nations have began considering Sputnik V since it received its positive review in The Lancet, E.U. officials say, and that could help its authorization by the bloc. Despite his complaints about the delays in mobilizing vaccines by the European Union, which only became apparent in December, Mr. Orbans strategy was already evident in November, when his foreign minister announced that the government was in talks with Russia about importing, and possibly manufacturing, Sputnik V.

Peter Kreko, the director of Political Capital, a research institute in Budapest, said Mr. Orban was now motivated by a desire to appear quicker and more efficient than the European Union.

While there is a strong desire to get the economy up and running again, Mr. Kreko said, the prime minister is also working to repair the image caused by his administrations bungled handling of the pandemic and Hungarys high mortality figures.
In one hand Manuel Reyes Estrada carried a form and a pencil, in the other a bucket filled with small fish and a plastic Bucanero beer cup. It is like this, he said. We, the health brigade employees, are only allowed to write with pencils. His superiors, he explained, use pens. In the afternoon, the superiors visit the houses where the health brigade employees have worked earlier in the day  to check if we have done our work well.

Manuel stopped for a second on the unpaved road in the Cuban city of Holguin to fill in the house numbers on his otherwise empty form. He swept the sweat away from his face.
Imagine the terror they felt, said Rithy Panh, an award-winning Cambodian documentary filmmaker whose relatives died at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. When the Khmer Rouge photographers took off their blindfolds, the first thing the victims saw was the camera and sometimes the flash of the flashbulb. That is the first act of the killing. From that moment on they were only numbers.

In an interview before he died in 2011, Vann Nath, one of the few survivors of Tuol Sleng, said many of the victims had been starved for a week or beaten before the pictures were taken. Many had never seen a camera before. These expressions that people empathize with are just pure shock from the flash, he said.

When journalists and art critics write about the photographs, they tend to focus on the victims expression as an indictment of Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge, said Mr. Vann Nath. But this is all in their imagination, he said. They have no clue.

Many of the photographs were taken by Nhem En, a village boy who was chosen at the age of 15 to be an official photographer at Tuol Sleng. He was sent to China to learn photographic techniques and many of his pictures are technically beautiful.

After the Khmer Rouge were driven from power by a Vietnamese invasion, the pictures lay moldering and unattended in drawers inside the prison until 1993. That year, two young photographers, Chris Riley and Douglas Niven, cleaned and archived 6,000 negatives in return for the right to publish 100 of them in a book called The Killing Fields.

Although the photographs were intended as identification mug shots to be attached to the biographies of the prisoners, they have since been presented in different guises, as historical artifacts, as legal evidence and as art.
A sudden, sharp rise in coronavirus cases in many parts of Africa could amount to a continental third wave, the World Health Organization warned on Thursday, a portent of deeper trouble for a continent whose immunization drives have been crippled by shortfalls in funding and vaccine doses.

The W.H.O., an arm of the United Nations, said test positivity had risen in 14 African countries over the last seven days, with eight reporting a surge of over 30 percent in new cases. Infections are steadily climbing in South Africa, where four of nine provinces are battling a third wave. There has also been a sharp increase in cases in Uganda, with hospitals overwhelmed with Covid patients and the authorities mulling a lockdown.

The W.H.O. attributed the rise to loose compliance with social restrictions, and increasing travel along with the arrival of the winter season in southern Africa.

Experts also believe the spread of new coronavirus variants  like those first identified in Britain, India and South Africa  is contributing to the surge and the ensuing rise in deaths. While Africa has reported less than 3 percent of global coronavirus cases, the W.H.O. said the continent accounted for 3.7 percent of total deaths. And that is almost certainly a severe undercount, since in the vast majority of countries on the African continent, most deaths are never formally registered.
SEOCHEON, South Korea  On a recent overcast morning, a village on South Koreas west coast showed no sign of human stirring until five older residents slowly emerged through the fog that shrouded lush, green rice paddies.

The group were waiting for what would once have been an unaffordable luxury in this rural corner of the country  a taxi to take them shopping and to doctors appointments in the county seat 20 minutes away.

But even the poorest among them could easily afford this ride. Each passengers share of the total fare would be measured not in dollars but in cents.

Its a godsend, said one of the passengers, Na Jeong-soon, 85.

Their village is in Seocheon County, the birthplace of the Taxi of Hope, better known as the 100-won taxi. A hundred won is about 9 cents.
Troops fired on demonstrators outside the Sudanese army headquarters, killing at least three people and injuring more than 80, according to a doctors group, as pro-democracy protesters flooded into the streets of the capital, Khartoum, on Monday, after the military mounted a coup, detaining the prime minister, suspending the government and declaring a state of emergency.

The casualty figures were reported by the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, and other witnesses reported periodic bursts of gunfire around the city throughout the day. Nazim Sirag, a well-known pro-democracy activist, and Monim El Jak, an adviser to a cabinet minister, said they knew of at least two deaths.

The Sudanese ministry of culture and information said on Facebook that military forces had shot live bullets at protesters rejecting the military coup in Khartoum.

Video and photos posted on social media and broadcast on television stations showed demonstrators barricading roads, waving flags and banners, and burning tires, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. They blocked streets with large stones and barbed wire as their processions grew. Masked protesters beat sticks against jerrycans and drums, brandished tree branches and held their phones to record the unfolding scenes.
Thats a wrap for Day 1 of the DealBook Online Summit. On Day 2 of the event, on Nov. 10, we will hear from more leaders in business, policy and culture about American foreign relations, the prospects for electric cars and how to fight misinformation, among many other consequential topics. Register here to attend.

Here is the lineup (all times Eastern):

10:30 a.m.-11 a.m.

Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State

The nations top diplomat on what the Biden doctrine of foreign affairs means for America abroad.

11 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Ken Griffin of Citadel

The billionaire founder of a hedge fund giant on the shifting market landscape, meme stocks and more.

11:30 a.m.-12 P.m.

Mary Barra of General Motors

The veteran auto executive (and incoming head of the Business Roundtable) on her companys road map for electric vehicles.

12 P.m.-12:30 P.m.

Darren Woods of Exxon Mobil

The head of the countrys biggest oil producer defends his companys commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla, disclosed on Wednesday that he had sold about $5 billion worth of Tesla shares, in part to cover his tax obligations after exercising options on a large tranche of stock.

Mr. Musk sold about 4.5 million shares between Monday and Wednesday, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Teslas stock closed trading on Wednesday at $1,067.95, which would value the shares at about $4.8 billion, but some were sold for slightly higher prices.

In the filings, Mr. Musk said he had sold about a million of the shares solely to cover taxes on 2,154,572 shares he picked up at $6.24 each. Those shares he acquired, for a total of $13.4 million, were instantly worth about $2.3 billion. Later Wednesday, he disclosed the sale of an additional 3.6 million shares, though he did not provide a reason for those divestments.

Mr. Musk still owns nearly 17 percent of Teslas stock, shares worth about $180 billion. Tesla recently passed $1 trillion in market valuation.
The Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission have opened investigations into the embattled Silicon Valley company Ozy Media, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Federal prosecutors with the Eastern District of New York have in recent weeks been in contact with at least one company that had dealings with Ozy, two people with knowledge of the matter said. In the parallel civil inquiry, S.E.C. investigators have contacted at least two companies that discussed investing in Ozy, two people with knowledge of the commissions effort said.

The precise focus of the investigations could not be determined. A lawsuit filed last month accused Ozy of misleading potential investors. Companies statements to investors are often examined in S.E.C. investigations.

Carlos Watson, Ozys chief executive, referred to the investigations in an emailed letter to investors last month. In the email, which was reviewed by The New York Times, Mr. Watson wrote that Ozy had heard from the S.E.C. and the Justice Department, adding that the company had enlisted the law firm Zuckerman Spaeder to help us navigate the investigations.
Over the course of an 11-hour deposition, Andrew M. Cuomo wanted to make a few things clear. He was the type of governor who often showed concern about the well-being of his employees, both male and female, as well as their romantic lives and their health.

He said that yes, he often kissed and hugged staffers, allowing that if any inappropriate touching occurred, it must have been incidental. And he wanted to make sure that the questioners knew that he believed they were carrying out a biased political investigation, and that those leading it had a yearslong vendetta against him.

But an entirely different view of Mr. Cuomo was offered by the multiple women who accused Mr. Cuomo of sexual misconduct. One female state trooper said she felt completely violated after Mr. Cuomo had touched her back and stomach inappropriately. And when Mr. Cuomo offered her a private tour of the Executive Mansion, she sensed a different purpose.

He tried to be flirtatious, the trooper testified. A lot of times, it came off creepy.

The starkly disparate depictions of Mr. Cuomo were revealed on Wednesday in a trove of testimony and documents from a New York State attorney general investigation that eventually concluded that Mr. Cuomo had sexually harassed multiple women.
He offered denials in flurries. He protested, quibbled, digressed or simply could not recall. He taunted his interrogators and reacted furiously to their questions.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was every inch his combative self as he fought for his political life in a July interview with investigators with the New York State attorney generals office. Through 11 hours of questioning under oath on that summer Saturday, Mr. Cuomo was proud, prickly, defiant and dismissive as he tried to cast doubt on the accusations of the women who said he had sexually harassed them.

The interview was the climactic moment in an investigation that toppled one of the countrys most powerful elected Democrats less than a year after he was celebrated as a hero for his response to the coronavirus pandemic. Its transcript was one of a dozen documents, comprising thousands of pages, that the attorney generals office made public on Wednesday.

The documents provided some new details, including the devastating firsthand testimony of an unnamed female state trooper whose descriptions of Mr. Cuomo running his finger down her spine and his hand across her stomach had prompted many state lawmakers to call for the governors resignation. There were also a number of exhibits that shed further light on the response of Mr. Cuomos aides to his early accusers.
His successful campaign was seen as emblematic of a surge of Republican voters coupled with a disenchantment with Democrats that also led to a Republican win for governor in Virginia and an unexpectedly narrow re-election victory for Gov. Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat, in New Jersey.

The statewide races are considered barometers of voter sentiment as Democrats struggle to hold on to a slim majority in Congress during next years midterm elections and illustrates the erosion of support for the party, especially in suburban and rural areas.

Mr. Durrs improbable victory has also led to an immediate shift in the discussion of priorities in Trenton.

I give the voters my promise I will fight the tyranny that Phil Murphy is, beginning on Day 1, he said.

Mr. Durr has spoken about his opposition to Mr. Murphys mandates related to mask-wearing and vaccination, and he would not say whether he had been inoculated against Covid-19.

Before Election Day, Mr. Durr remained largely unvetted and unknown to the general public, and he continued doing damage control on Wednesday for comments he had made on social media, including one reflecting support for both sides of a violent racist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017 and another condemning Islam and disparaging the Prophet Muhammad.

After speaking at the G.O.P. headquarters, he was driven two miles to Al Minhal Academy of Islamic Education, a Muslim masjid in Washington Township, to talk with members of the mosque and leaders of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in New Jersey. The group remained inside for about two hours; Mr. Durr left carrying a paperback copy of the Quran.
Language is extremely powerful.

The stories it tells become our greatest religions, the credos of great nations and the mantras of our greatest wars.

The ways in which we define people and things can be liberating or trammeling; they can advance the cause of liberty and equality or cause societies to regress.

It is for that reason that we battle over language, over who gets to control and define it, over whose stories get told and how. It is for that reason that words that gather power are set upon by those who wish to defang them.

Perhaps no other word of the moment is so under attack as woke, a word born as a simple yet powerful way of saying: Be aware of and alert to how racism is systemic and pervasive and suffuses American life. Wake up from the slumber of ignorance and passive acceptance.
Three rookie astronauts aboard SpaceXs Crew-3 mission for NASA just launched to space for the first time. Theyve tipped the number of people to have gone to space to over 600, according to a tally maintained by NASA.

Matthias Maurer, Crew-3s mission specialist and a German astronaut representing the European Space Agency, will officially be considered the 600th person in space. The superlative was determined by the crews order of mission specialist designations: Raja Chari, a NASA astronaut and Crew-3s commander, will be No. 599; Mr. Maurer has the designation of mission specialist 1, and Kayla Barron, another NASA astronaut, has been designated mission specialist 2.

I actually offered the place to Kayla, Mr. Maurer said during a news conference, because I think she and I will be together, like number 600.

I was the lucky one that got the round number, but, OK, we will all have fun in space, he quipped.
Another crew of four astronauts, Crew-2, splashed down safely in the Gulf of Mexico inside a different Crew Dragon capsule on Monday. A set of four large parachutes were released about four minutes before they landed. Those chutes are designed to fully unfurl almost instantly once the capsule comes within a mile from landing. But one took roughly a minute to inflate, heaping most of the burden of slowing the capsule on the other three chutes.

The capsules rate of descent still looked good, NASA and SpaceX officials said, but the one laggy chute, as described by Kathy Lueders, NASAs space operations chief, was a glitch that demanded close inspection.

NASA officials discussed the chute issue at length with SpaceX engineers during a routine safety review at Kennedy Space Center ahead of Wednesdays launch of the Crew-3 astronauts in another Crew Dragon capsule. When those astronauts return in April, they will need to rely on the same type of parachutes.

After examining flight data from Crew-2s return and the parachutes manufacturing records from the subcontractor that builds them, teams found no issues with the chute that should prevent Crew-3 from heading to space, said Bill Gerstenmaier, a SpaceX official who once oversaw human spaceflight for NASA, on Tuesday night.
Through a spokesman, the N.F.L. said in a statement that the league would review the matter and continue to monitor developments but theres no change to his status as this is a civil complaint.

Cook and Trimble met on a Florida beach in 2018 and soon began a romantic relationship, according to the lawsuit. Trimble said in the suit that she learned Cook had cheated on her in March 2020, while she was being treated in a hospital after miscarrying their child. Trimbles account accused Cook of pushing her in a physical confrontation the following week, and of Cook pushing her to the ground in a later dispute.

According to Trimbles account, Cook assaulted her in an extended confrontation on Nov. 19, 2020, when she tried to collect her belongings from his home in Inver Grove Heights, Minn., a suburb southeast of Minneapolis. Cook became enraged, according the suit, and slung Trimble over a couch, causing her face to hit a coffee table and her nose and forehead to bleed.

By her account, Trimble had been armed with mace upon entering the house and sprayed it into her own face as she tried to defend herself against Cook. Two guests at the house, Cooks cousin and her boyfriend, looked on and the boyfriend gave Trimble his shirt to staunch her bleeding, the suit detailed. A photo of the shirt and pictures of Trimbles injuries were submitted as evidence.

Trimbles account stated that she went upstairs to take a shower, but as she approached a bedroom, Cook picked her up, slammed her to the floor, pinned her down, choked her, and pointed a gun at her while hurling death threats. Hearing the altercation, Cooks cousin entered the room and punched Trimble in the face, according to the suit, as Cook kept her pinned. Trimble later grabbed the gun, she said, and carried it in self-defense as she called a friend. Cook overheard their conversation and continued to threaten her, the lawsuit said.
In a move that shocked the fashion world, and less than a month after holding a much-ballyhooed show in Detroit before an audience that included Mary J. Blige, Lil Kim and Kehlani, Bottega Veneta, the Italian luxury brand known for its signature intrecciato weave, announced it was parting ways with its creative director, Daniel Lee.

Mr. Lee, 35, who started at Bottega as a relative unknown, had been at the brand for just over three years, though in that time he was credited with reviving the formerly staid house and giving it a coolly contemporary veneer. Which made it, of course, very hot.

The news came hours before the Council of Fashion Designers of America awards, where Mr. Lee, who is British, had been nominated in two categories: international womens wear designer of the year and international mens wear designer of the year, and two weeks before the Fashion Awards in London, where Mr. Lee had been nominated as designer of the year.

In a statement, Francois-Henri Pinault, the chief executive of Kering, the luxury group that owns Bottega Veneta, thanked Mr. Lee for the unique chapter he wrote in the brands history.
A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that Gov. Greg Abbotts ban on mask mandates in Texas schools violates the rights of students with disabilities, clearing the path for districts in the state to issue their own rules for face coverings, a decision that could affect more than five million students.

The ruling comes after months of politicized disputes over measures at the state level opposing mask-wearing policies that had been intended to prevent the spread of Covid.

The lawsuit, which sought to overturn the mandate, was filed on behalf of several families of students with disabilities and the organization Disability Rights Texas. They stated that the defendants  the states attorney general, Ken Paxton; the commissioner of the Texas Education Agency, Mike Morath; and the Texas Education Agency  had put students with disabilities at risk through their complete erasure of mask mandates.
KENOSHA, Wis.  Kyle Rittenhouse sobbed and gulped for air on the witness stand as he was asked to describe the moments before he shot three men in the aftermath of demonstrations in Kenosha, Wis. One of them had aggressively chased him into a parking lot, Mr. Rittenhouse testified. The man had lunged at him, he said.

I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun, he testified at one point, after the judge called a recess to allow Mr. Rittenhouse  whose mother was also weeping audibly from her row in the courtroom gallery  to compose himself enough to speak.

For much of Wednesday, though, Mr. Rittenhouse, 18, appeared composed, confident and sometimes quizzical through hours of questioning from lawyers in his trial on six criminal counts, including intentional and reckless homicide, reckless endangerment and illegal possession of a firearm.

It was perhaps the most closely watched day of a divisive case: Mr. Rittenhouse, who has been largely silent for months, gave his first detailed, public version of what happened in downtown Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, as prosecutors raised pointed questions about his credibility and why he had inserted himself into that nights scene at all.
Chesa Boudin, the district attorney of San Francisco, will face a recall election next year after a backlash in one of Americas most liberal cities to his policies aimed at reducing the number of people in jails and prisons.

Elections officials in San Francisco certified this week that recall supporters had gathered enough signatures to force an election in June, when Californians will vote in a statewide primary for governor and congressional seats. The district attorney contest will serve as a test of how far liberal prosecutors can go in changing the justice system at a time of rising concerns about crime.

Mr. Boudin, a former public defender whose story of growing up a son of incarcerated parents was central to his campaign two years ago, is among a number of liberal prosecutors who have recently been elected on promises of reducing incarceration and tackling racial bias within the criminal justice system.

But Mr. Boudin, like other liberal prosecutors in places such as Philadelphia and Los Angeles, has faced sharp pushback from conservative activists, as well as other residents concerned about public safety, who say that he is not taking a hard enough line on crime and that his policies have made San Francisco less safe.
The Liberal Party, or P.L., is known along with other Centrao parties for ideological malleability, often exchanging support for government appointments and earmarks. Mr. Bolsonaro was affiliated with such parties during most of his seven terms as a federal lawmaker, but cast himself as a political outsider during his 2018 presidential campaign. He vowed then not to embrace the horse trading that benefited entrenched actors and enabled corruption.

It is very symbolic how Bolsonaro has started to play the traditional game of Brazilian politics, said Mauricio Santoro, a political science professor at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. The P.L. is helping Bolsonaro survive.

When Mr. Bolsonaro ran in 2018, it was under the banner of the Social Liberal Party, which he left one year after his election victory amid disagreements with its leadership over funding and regional nominations. He set out to forge his own party, but failed to garner enough signatures and has been without a political home since.

The presidential press office didnt respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press to confirm the P.L.s statement. Earlier Wednesday, Mr. Bolsonaro had said in a radio interview that there was a 99.9 percent chance he would join the P.L.

Reports that Mr. Bolsonaro was seeking a Centrao party to sponsor his re-election bid had already generated commentary from analysts that he was departing from his prior anti-establishment stance. As rumors of his agreement with the P.L. intensified this week, comments criticizing Mr. Costa Neto, the party leader, were deleted from the social media accounts of some of Mr. Bolsonaros family members.
Follow our live coverage of the migrant crisis at the Belarus-Poland border.

BRUSSELS  The migration crisis of 2015, when millions of migrants and asylum seekers surged over Europes borders, nearly tore apart the European Union. Many members offered asylum to the refugees; others, like Poland and Hungary, wanted no part of it.

Six years later, the current standoff at the border of Poland and Belarus has echoes of that crisis, but this time, European officials insist that member states are united when it comes to defending Europes borders and that uncontrolled immigration is over.

What is different, the Europeans say, is that this crisis is entirely manufactured by the dictator of Belarus, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, as a response to sanctions that the Europeans imposed on his country in the face of a stolen election and a vicious repression of domestic dissent.
[Follow live updates on the crisis at the Poland and Belarus border.]

SULAIMANIYA, Iraq  Before the Belarus police pushed Hajar, 37, across the border into Lithuania this week, they punched him in the head, he said. But that was just the start of his ordeal.

On the Lithuanian side, the police called for a group of commandos who he said took him and his friends away and started hitting them with sticks and plastic cables and shocking them with stun guns. In a video call from Minsk, he pulled up his shirt to show deep bruises on his side and back.

They said You dont have the right to come here to our country, he said, speaking in Kurdish through an interpreter. They said You make our country dirty.

Hajar, an Iraqi Kurd who is trying desperately to get to the European Union, asked that his surname not be published for fear of repercussions from Belarusian and Lithuanian authorities.
CHICAGO  At the entrance of Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You. the striking, flag-planting new Barbara Kruger retrospective (and elaboration) at the Art Institute of Chicago, youre greeted with one of the artists videos, installed like a blockade. Its of an image being assembled like a jigsaw puzzle, clacking loudly with each new added piece. You stand before it, as if staring into a Las Vegas slot machine  a tractor beam of tsk-tsk propaganda. When complete, the message is delivered with a thump: I shop therefore I am.

Thats familiar Kruger wisdom, deploying the tools of mass communication shepherding to make the sheep think.

On the walls on either side of this work are slates of Kruger copycats  derivative works combining text and found material from media  by mostly anonymous designers and agitators. They co-opt Krugers famous templates (the colors, fonts, phrasings, and so on) for myriad purposes, and are collaged by the artist with abandon: memes, marketing materials, metacritique. A still of Patrick Bateman overlaid with Die Yuppie Scum! A pic of Paris Hilton with the text 100% Natural. An ad for the 2007 French presidential campaign of Segolene Royal. Some scattered phrases jump out: I Am Frivolous. Wage Slave. You Are Not Yourself. iPhone Therefore I Am. Forsaken.
In the first part of the documentary series Always Jane, Jane Noury, a high school student in suburban New Jersey, hangs out with friends, contemplates college  maybe the School of Visual Arts?  and works at the local Panera. She dreams of being a director. Near the end of Part 1, Jane also learns that she will have to miss commencement; it falls on the same day as her gender confirmation surgery.

Theres talk of anti-transgender bullying, but not a lot. In that episode, she also shops for a prom dress and plans a trip to Los Angeles, where she is to compete in an international competition for transgender models  the first of its kind.

Im not saying it was all happy rainbows and everything, Jane said in a recent video interview. But she believed the seriess director, Jonathan Hyde, really wanted to tell a story where a family just shows their love and acceptance of their trans child.
10. And finally, the secret to a better green salad.

Green salads are a lot like broccoli or brussels sprouts: a mediocre experience can turn you off them. But a great version can be mind-altering. Our food columnist Eric Kim spoke to two chefs about how to make the simplest salads shine.

Here are a few of their tips: an essential step to finding the right dressing is to taste the leaves as you go; after washing and drying your greens, pop them in the refrigerator, covered with a tea towel, and keep them chilled until youre ready to dress them; and dont go overboard on the dressing. Try a classic ratio for vinaigrettes: one part vinegar (or citrus juice) to three parts oil. A green salads power can come from its simplicity, Kim writes.

Have a healthy evening.

Eve Edelheit compiled photos for this briefing.

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Until the pandemic, Indias stock market was like another world that Dilip Kumar never had a reason to visit. But like so many other people around the world who were stuck at home, he began to see it as the place to be.

Mr. Kumar, a proposal administrator at an engineering company in New Delhi, set up a free stock trading account through Zerodha, Indias largest online brokerage firm, and plowed some of his savings into Indian Railways as well as a clothing retailer and a cinema chain.

I invested in all the things I was using daily, he said. Since then, hes gotten a big return in quick time  more than doubling his money in a little over a year.

Plenty of others want in on the action.

Indias booming stock market is drawing both local novices and global investors to shares of the financial, industrial and technology companies that dominate its listings. The MSCI India index is up about 30 percent this year  nearly twice the return of the global index  while Indias benchmark 30-share S&P BSE Sensex is up roughly 25 percent. Both have notched a seemingly relentless string of record highs, soaring on factors including simple demographics, governmental and fiscal policy and geopolitical changes.
Mr. Huq, now 69, sat with a can of Irn-bru, the Scottish soda, in his hand under a giant inflated globe in a large auditorium known here as the Action Zone one day this week. A steady stream of people came to consult and talk. At one point, a 10-foot-tall puppet, named Little Amal, walked through the room, to which Mr. Huq appeared oblivious. This is what he likes to do at every summit  plant himself in one spot and have people pay him a visit, he said. He has come to each one since the first climate change convention was negotiated in Rio in 1992.

Loss and damage was first championed by countries in the Pacific Ocean, and then embraced by a widening group of developing world countries. All the while, the real losses and damages kept piling up. Storms washed away crops. Droughts turned farmland to desert. Scientists got better at pinpointing the role of the warming planet in extreme weather.

As negotiators met at the climate summit in 2013 in Warsaw, Super Typhoon Haiyan wiped away homes and farms and killed more than 6,000 people in Southeast Asia.

Loss and damage was acknowledged in the 2015 Paris accord, the agreement among nations to jointly work to limit global warming, but not before the United States included specific language ruling out the prospect of liability and compensation.

The United Nations commissioned reports. A glossary was written to define all the ways that countries were facing irreparable harms, like the loss of territory that requires people to pack up and move or the inundation of vast swaths of farmland that cannot be recovered.

5 Takeaways From the COP26 Climate Summit Card 1 of 5 1. Time for action is running out. The major agreement struck by diplomats established a clear consensus that all nations need to do much more, immediately, to prevent a catastrophic rise in global temperatures. 2. How much each nation needs to cut remains unresolved. Rich countries are disproportionately responsible for global warming, but some leaders have insisted that its the poorer nations who need to accelerate their shift away from fossil fuels. 3. The call for disaster aid increased. One of the biggest fights at the summit revolved around whether  and how  the worlds wealthiest nations should compensate poorer nations for the damage caused by rising temperatures. 4. A surprising emissions-cutting agreement. Among the other notable deals to come out of the summit was a U.S.-China agreement to do more to cut emissions this decade, and China committed for the first time to develop a plan to reduce methane. 5. There was a clear gender and generation gap. Those with the power to make decisions about how much the world warms were mostly old and male. Those who were most fiercely protesting the pace of action were mostly young and female.









A breakthrough came at the Madrid climate summit in 2019: an agreement to set up a technical assistance program. So far that consists of a website but no staff or funding. Yamide Dagnet, who follows climate negotiations at the World Resources Institute, called that insufficient.

A few months later, Mr. Huqs country was pummeled by Cyclone Amphan. The countrys early warning system succeeded in getting millions of people out of harms way. But a year later, Mr. Huq said, researchers from the International Center for Climate Change & Development, where he is the director, found that thousands of people had migrated to Dhaka after the storm leveled their homes. This is loss and damage to the livelihoods of the people, he said.
The remedy in a public nuisance lawsuit is called abatement: A defendant found liable has to take corrective action and must usually pay substantially to prevent future harm. A polluter must clean up a river, for instance. Indeed, the Oklahoma attorney generals office worked up a voluminous allocation proposal that sought to have opioid manufacturers pay for years of addiction treatment and education programs.

What is turning out to be difficult, however, is establishing an incontrovertible link between a public nuisance and the discrete actions of so many types of companies that provide a federally approved medication prescribed by doctors and which are supposed to be monitored by state and federal agencies.

Paul Geller, a plaintiffs lawyer in the opioid litigation who represents local governments including the cities of San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale, as well as the state of Maryland, saw the rulings as a signal to municipalities to sign on to a $26 billion settlement offer from three distributors as well as Johnson & Johnson. He called the Oklahoma and California decisions a stark reminder that there is no such thing as a slam-dunk case  trials involve a degree of risk, and appeals are unpredictable.

Both opinions addressed cases brought against opioid manufacturers, notably Johnson & Johnson, and concluded that public nuisance is an insufficient legal weapon. The Nov. 1 ruling was by Judge Peter Wilson of Orange County Superior Court, who presided in a bench trial in a lawsuit filed by the counties of Santa Clara, Los Angeles and Orange and the city of Oakland.

Tuesdays decision by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the states top appeals court, written by Associate Justice James Winchester, overturned a 2019 ruling by the judge in a bench trial in a suit brought by the state attorney general. That judge had found Johnson & Johnson responsible for $465 million.

Though the California and Oklahoma judges cited their own state statutes and cases, both opinions said that if public nuisance law were stretched to cover a legal product made by a manufacturer that then passed through numerous hands and had both healthy and dangerous effects, there would be no limit on the application of the law. The California ruling also said local governments needed to have drawn a much more taut line connecting the actions of the opioid manufacturers with overdoses and deaths.
The key to doing that is getting the right people in front of the right constituencies, he said.

Decriminalization advocates have made remarkable progress over the past two years. Last month Seattle embraced the decriminalization of psilocybin and other plant-based psychoactive drugs, and Michigan and several other cities across the country are poised to do the same.

State Senator Scott Wiener, a San Francisco Democrat who sponsored Californias psilocybin measure, said he had been surprised by how readily some opponents changed their minds. Veterans are very, very compelling messengers, he said.

But as psychedelics have gained acceptance among mental health professionals, even enthusiastic supporters of decriminalization acknowledge the potential perils of doing so without adequate regulation or professional guidance. Overdoses are rare, and the compounds are not considered addictive, but experts stress the importance of chaperoned drug trips given anecdotal reports about adverse reactions among people with serious disorders like schizophrenia.

At first glance, former military personnel might seem unlikely champions for illegal, mind-altering drugs that many Americans associate with the countercultural peaceniks of the 1960s and 1970s. But veterans have become powerful emissaries for psychedelics across the political spectrum.

Juliana Mercer, a Marine Corps veteran from San Diego who helps connect former service members to psychedelic therapies, says her lobbying efforts are especially useful with Republican legislators who often harbor antidrug attitudes but hold veterans in high esteem.

It helps that Im not some stereotypical hippie doing LSD for fun, she said. But I think our voices are impactful because weve put our lives on the line for our country, and after 20 years of war, we need help healing because nothing has worked so far.

Recent converts include Rick Perry, the former Republican governor of Texas, who earlier this year returned to the State Capitol to join Democratic lawmakers promoting a bill to authorize the clinical study of psilocybin. The bill passed both legislative chambers in June, and became law.
One of the great comforts in life is the assurance that misery can be interesting. Contentment doesnt necessarily provide onlookers (or audiences) with the pleasure of great gossip, drama or insight, and the characters in the idle drama Love Is Love Is Love, directed by Eleanor Coppola, mostly seem like content, happy people.

The film is a collection of three largely unrelated short stories, which are each marked with their own title cards. First there is Two For Dinner, in which a filmmaker (Chris Messina) who is on location in Montana meets his wife (Joanne Whalley) for a remote date over video chat. In Sailing Lesson, Kathy Baker and Marshall Bell play a long-married couple who rekindle the fantasy of romance by playacting as the kind of people who might set sail for a daytime tryst.

The final short story in this modest collection is Late Lunch, which is also the longest sequence of the film. In it, Caroline (Maya Kazan) holds a dinner in remembrance of her late mother, attended by all of her mothers nearest and dearest friends.
This handsome documentary confirms that sentiment repeatedly as the artist-director recounts two decades of his travels. In 2017, JR was half of the delightful tag-team of Faces Places, the Oscar-nominated documentary he and the groundbreaking director Agnes Varda made in the French countryside. Paper & Glue, while not as tender a romp, is a sequel in spirit. Faces and their places continue to matter. JRs always-on sunglasses remain a coy trademark (after all, his own work relies on people showing their faces), but its clear strangers respond to him. The incarcerated men laugh at his stories. The women of Morro da Providencia, a favela outside Rio de Janeiro, make introductions that ease his entry into their community. The French filmmaker Ladj Ly looks to him to help with a school for budding artists in a Paris suburb. A young mother in Tecate, Mexico, allows him to snap photos of her infant. In 2017, an enormous image of the babys beatific face towers above the fence at the United States border with Mexico. Her thoughts about JRs work are so celebratory yet nuanced, she could be his gallerist.

Paper & Glue

Not rated. In English, Portuguese, French and Spanish, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 34 minutes. In theaters.
Hi, Im Rawson Marshall Thurber. Im the writer/director of Red Notice. He knows what hes doing. Red Notice opens with John Hartley, an FBI profiler played by Dwayne Johnson, arriving at the Castle SantAngelo Museum to try to stop Nolan Booth, played by Ryan Reynolds, from stealing a priceless egg. So John Hartley has come in, and hes realized that this egg is probably not the real one. And he decides to prove it by grabbing a nearby soda and pouring it on top of the egg and watching as the egg melts in front of his eyes. And the moment he does, he spots Nolan Booth, Ryan Reynolds, take off. And that begins our chase. I wanted to start the movie off with a bang, and I thought a foot chase through the museum might be a fun way to do it. Because of some of the restrictions put on us from the pandemic, we couldnt leave Atlanta. So we had to build the entire museum on a soundstage in Atlanta. We had an incredible production design team led by Andy Nicholson, Academy Award nominee. And he and his team built the entire museum inside. And if you watch the sequence, Ryan and Dwayne chase each other through hallways. And oftentimes what we would do is have them run through one hallway, and then overnight, we would change it over to look like a different hallway, and theyd run back the other way. And if you didnt know it, you wouldnt know it. Its part of movie magic. So we kept reusing the sets over and over, rebuilding them, redressing them, and got ourselves a pretty cool foot chase to start things off. On top of which, we wanted to add some dynamic camera movement to the opening chase. So not only were we in a handheld mode, but we also added a piece of technology that is not used very often. We used a tiny little camera called a Komodo Cam, created by the Red Digital camera system. And its about the size of a tissue box, and we attached that camera to a race drone. And we chased Ryan and Dwayne through our sets as they ran hither and thither, and it got us some pretty great shots. As youll see, certainly when Ryan comes into the big scaffolding room and he goes running and jumps over the table, the camera that follows him and chases him all the way up onto the scaffolding is our Komodo Cam, our race drone operated by the world renowned Johnny FPV I wanted the chase to be fun. I wanted it to be fast. I wanted to show Ryans character, Nolan Booth, that hes someone who out-thinks problems. He would rather trick you than try to punch you. And so what I liked about the scaffolding sequence is that Nolan Booth never throws a punch. Ryan never throws a punch. Hes bobbing and weaving, ducking and dodging and using his wits to outsmart the security guards trying to chase him. And to me, thats much more fun than simply pulling out a gun and shooting at people. We had a great stunt team that started to design the actual sequence in terms of the pratfalls and the gags. At the end of the sequence, Ryan pulls a final pin, and the entire scaffolding collapses. What we had to do is, of course, shoot every single piece of it before we collapsed the scaffolding. And then overnight, our special effects team and rigging technicians set the scaffolding to blow and fall. And then you set up about eight or nine cameras, because you really only want to do this once. And then everybody gets safe, and on the count of three, they hit the button, and the whole thing collapses. And we got it in one take.
The boards dominance in city affairs had effectively deprived the Council of the power and prestige of other big-city legislatures  relegating it, as one of its members, Henry J. Stern, put it in the 1970s, to less than a rubber stamp, because a rubber stamp at least leaves an impression.

When Mr. Sadowsky retired as a legislator in 1985 to practice law full time, he dismissed the Council as an institution that had played the role of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Shakespeares Hamlet  standing always on the periphery of the action and never quite in it.

His indictment of the Board of Estimate was vindicated in 1989 when the United States Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional. It was abolished under the new City Charter, and most of its powers were diverted to an enlarged City Council.

Mr. Sadowsky, who had pronounced the Council a dud four years earlier, acknowledged that things were getting better even before the changes were fully in effect. The improvement in the quality of the members has been real and evident as it has gotten more power, he said.

He raised his voice for other causes as well. He challenged the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay over its dependence on outside consultants instead of civil servants, and over its creation of top-heavy superagencies intended to streamline the city bureaucracy. In those same years he ferreted out fraud in the Municipal Loan Program, which was intended to rehabilitate slum housing.

Mr. Sadowsky successfully sponsored legislation to create a cultural affairs department and a commission to oversee the taxi industry. He fought to guarantee gay rights more than a decade before the Council finally did so in 1986.
The soldiers and sailors of Mr. Le Vines generation are vanishing quickly now. Nearly 99 percent of the 16 million Americans who served in the war have died, according to the National World War II Museum. There are fewer than 5,000 World War II vets left in New York City.

Mr. Le Vine said that as far as he knew, none of the men he served with are still around. And so, he said, he usually spends Veterans Day doing exactly nothing.

But by Wednesday evening, the tributes had begun. As Mr. Le Vine was taking out the trash, a woman hed never met handed him an envelope with Jack the Hero written on it. I just want to thank you for your service, she said.

Then a man who lives down the block walked up with his two children and handed Mr. Le Vine a thick stack of cards that the children and their classmates had made. Youll be reading these for days, said the man, Chris Polony.
The transcript issued on Wednesday showed Cuomo protesting, quibbling and reacting angrily to questions. He said that yes, he often kissed and hugged staffers, saying that if any inappropriate touching had occurred, it must have been incidental. He said that he showed concern about the well-being of employees, both male and female, including their romantic lives.

And he made sure the investigators knew he believed that they were involved in a biased political investigation and that those in charge of it had a long-running vendetta against him.

The transcript was one of a dozen documents released on Wednesday that offered a view of the investigation that drove Cuomo from office. The material provided a few new details, including a devastating firsthand account from an unnamed state trooper. She said she had felt completely violated after Cuomo touched her inappropriately.

And when he offered her a private tour of the Executive Mansion in Albany, she sensed a different purpose.

He tried to be flirtatious, the trooper said. A lot of times, it came off creepy.

Cuomo was expansive in his answers to some questions. But when asked about his interactions with his accusers, he became terse. Answering questions about whether he had kissed certain staffers on the lips, Cuomo said that it may have happened that he kissed two specific senior staffers, and his former scheduler, that way. But he said flatly that he had not kissed two of his accusers, Lindsey Boylan or Brittany Commisso.
I find some of the more mainstream arguments made in the name of equity about my color group just flat out wrong, including the assertion that Asian Americans are either white or white-adjacent. I dont know more than a handful of rational Asian Americans who think of themselves in that way, but it seems like the only people who feel comfortable publicly pointing this out are anti-C.R.T. evangelists.

So what should I do?

Levitz argues that liberals shouldnt allow ourselves to be silenced on the off chance that the anti-C.R.T. crowd might appropriate some mangled versions of our criticisms to fan the flames of outrage. His intervention, titled When Keeping it Woke Gets Racist, Liberals Should Say So, comes at a time when the entire education debate has been overtaken by what I call binary consensus building. This is when people draw a line in the sand, oftentimes arbitrarily, and say that if you dont align yourself completely with their solution  which in this case is denial that anything has changed in classrooms  you must be sleeping with the enemy.

I agree with Levitz: All those who believe in equity in schools should also feel a personal stake in making sure those programs reflect their purported values. They also shouldnt allow the terms of the conversation to be dictated by fearmongers or those who say that any deviation from unblinking support is tantamount to treason.

Diversity is now a big industry  about $8 billion per year gets spent on diversity trainings in America  and parents might be feeling blindsided by the rapid changes, many of which came after last years George Floyd protests. Telling those parents that theres nothing to see here, and, by extension, not actually defending new, equity-based changes to their schools, will only lead to more confusion and resistance.

At the same time, its important to keep a sense of proportionality about these issues and make sure that were not taking minor concerns and blowing them up into full-on panics. So, how do we actually tell the difference between whats worth criticizing in a meaningful way and whats not?

I propose the following simple rubric for progressives. You can see it as my own curriculum for navigating this C.R.T. mess.

If youre getting mad at an equity or antiracism idea gone wrong, make sure its either an actual policy or part of a curriculum or a training program. This means not getting worked up over singular examples in which a teacher says something in a classroom and then suddenly every woke teacher in America has to answer for it.

Try to disregard ephemera like quotes from random parents and, especially, students.

Do critically engage with school board members, especially in big cities, and, of course, politicians.

As much as possible, try to talk in concrete terms. This goes for both sides. Moral panics feed off ambiguity and confusion.

So, here are some examples of actual policy and curriculum changes that have taken place over the past few years in the state of California, alone.

The state recently made Ethnic Studies a high school graduation requirement, meaning that beginning with the class of 2030, every single public school student in the biggest state in the country must take a course that encourages involvement in social movements. As I wrote in a recent edition of the newsletter, I mostly support this bill, but I also feel like its fine for parents who have concerns about an explicit call for political engagement to express them. (They have, for what its worth.)
David: I totally agree. The opportunity to learn from other places is hugely undertapped.

I mean, in the United States alone, there are over 3,000 counties. The chance that any one of them is struggling with big problems  mental health, addiction, climate change, diabetes, Covid-19, you name it  is pretty much 100 percent. But the odds that any place is actually using one of the most effective approaches to deal with its problems is quite low.

As you know, I used to be a computer programmer, and Im still a stats nerd. With so many issues, there are positive deviants  say, 2 percent or 3 percent of actors who are getting significantly better results than the norm. Finding those outliers, figuring out what theyre doing thats different, and sharing the knowledge can really help. I saw this in my reporting on childhood trauma, chronic homelessness and hospital safety, to name a few areas.

The other big lesson is simply that people genuinely like to be helpful. I was surprised how often stories we did about hard or disturbing issues  bullying, poverty, foster care or depression for instance  showed up on The Timess lists of the most popular or most emailed articles. Readers shared those stories with others, including with family and friends directly affected by those problems. Many of the groups I reported on also told me that after a particular story came out they were contacted by people from other organizations, foundations or government offices who asked to learn more or make a visit. Journalists are often compared to watchdogs, but I began to see that we were sometimes acting like bees, helping to cross-pollinate ideas.

Tina: That connects to another lesson. So many creative solutions rely on people who are otherwise treated by public systems as powerless or even impediments. Our column headlined Teaching Parents to Help Stop the Summer Slide was about Springboard Collaborative, a Philadelphia-based organization that shows parents of all education levels  even those who cant read  how to be effective reading teachers for their children. Schools in low-income communities often treat families as liabilities. Theyre actually assets.

There were other columns that showed the impact of nonexperts, like one titled Building for Real With Digital Blocks, about a program that teaches people Minecraft so they can help plan neighborhood projects. Another, headlined Hi, There. Want to Triple Voter Turnout?, showed that the person most persuasive in bringing a voter to the polls is a friend whos not involved in politics. OK, David, lets talk about journalism. What did you learn from reporting on solutions for 11 years?
In fact, Mr. Reagans welfare reforms just made the poor poorer. When a three-year recession hit in 1980, six million more Americans fell into poverty. By 1989, employment recovered, but a weak social safety net meant that workers were an illness or an accident away from hardship.

Democrats were complicit. In 1992, although he would try (but fail) to pass national health care, Bill Clinton promised to end welfare as we know it. Looking to a second term, he later blasted big government. The bipartisan Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 put mothers to work at low-wage jobs without health care benefits, linked food aid to work, established a five-year lifetime limit on benefits paid by federal money and funded sexual abstinence programs, not reproductive health. By 1999, single mothers on workfare had sunk deeper into poverty.

Progressive Democrats did only marginally better. In 2012, Republicans accused President Barack Obama of unwinding decades of welfare-to-work provisions, with a new system of waivers, work requirements and block grants that states had to follow. And while his Affordable Care Act passed narrowly, under pressure from both parties, he abandoned universal health care.

Today the poverty rate hovers around 11 percent, about where it was in 1973, and economic insecurity now envelops the working poor and middle class. Some economists now argue that the misery caused by decades of failure to support working families paved the way for Donald Trumps presidency.

That may be true. Left to fend for themselves in poorly regulated markets, by default, working Americans do care for themselves  often on credit. Medical debt was recently pegged at $140 billion and student loans at over $1.7 trillion. Thirteen million workers have more than one job.

Americans work hard, but in the United States it costs money even to go to work. Child care, if parents can find it, can cost more than a mortgage payment. Elder care? Even more. Despite the Affordable Care Act, 28 million Americans are left uninsured.

Cutting social programs failed, yet this ethic dogs us to this day. Why? First, since the New Deal, conservatives have promoted the falsehood that universal welfare programs reward Americans for not working. Second, when Great Society programs failed to eliminate poverty, rather than make federal aid more accessible and inclusive, some liberals implicitly tied welfare to work and implied that the inability to make ends meet was a moral problem.
Today, gig workers seem a little bit like the steelworkers in the old days, looking for a job for the day. They have freedom, but not the predictability and protection that comes from being employed. Rexnord was a place that helped its workers access treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction. It paid for you to go back to school if you wanted a degree. If you got into an accident or had a kid in the hospital, co-workers would pass a hat and collect money for you. For Shannon, a female steelworker I followed for the book, the factory was an anchor in an otherwise chaotic life. She knew exactly what time she had to be at work each day and exactly what to do once she got there. After the factory closed, she had a hard time figuring out what to do with her time. She called up an old mentor from the plant and asked him, Will you be my boss? Some people are just not cut out for gig work, which strikes me as much more solitary and devoid of the structure, guidance, training and long-term commitments that many people need to thrive.

Due to the pandemic, the work force has changed dramatically again with labor in the leverage seat and companies struggling to staff up. Some people call it the Great Resignation and others the Great Reassessment. How do you see it?

I think there are several things going on all at once. Some people worked harder than ever during Covid, at great personal risk. Nurses, cashiers, bus drivers, care givers for the elderly. I expect those people are burned out and ready to quit just so they can have a rest. Other people in the knowledge economy continued their jobs from home. Many of them kept getting their paychecks but reduced their expenses to such an extent that they have money in the bank and time to think about what it is they really want to do with their life and whether they really wanted to spend two hours a day going to and from work.

The habit of going to work has been broken. A lot of blue-collar Americans, like Shannon, worked jobs that couldnt be done from home. Many got laid off when the economy slowed down. Shannon made more money from unemployment checks during Covid than she had earned working. Many people who had been living hand-to-mouth now have money in the bank that they didnt have before. According to JPMorgan Chase Institute, the median households checking account balance was 50 percent higher in July of 2021 than in 2019. That means that people actually didnt have too much financial pressure on them to return to work, even in states that cut off the Covid support. I expect that those people will spend down their savings and eventually return to work.

What are some key trends going on in the workplace that we need to pay attention to that may impact the future work force?

We are entering an era of continuous learning. Its not enough to have a college degree from a decade ago. People are going to have to continuously master new skills to remain viable in the workplace. I expect to see more people rely on short technical certification classes than on formal college degrees. A younger friend who grew up in public housing chose to focus on obtaining Microsoft certifications rather than attending college, and shes done well for herself as an office manager and now an entrepreneur. And she has zero regrets about not having a four-year degree. Elite colleges are still going to be a thing, since they are a built-in social network. But many workers and companies are going to continue to find alternatives to traditional college.

What will recent infrastructure commitments and other regulations do to the work economy?

I expect the infrastructure bill recently passed by Congress to produce a lot of good-paying blue-collar jobs, not just in the construction of roads and bridges but also in laying broadband. Bringing broadband to certain parts of the country could be as big a deal as when the New Deal brought electricity to rural America in the 1930s. If people in the knowledge economy can do their jobs from places like Morgantown, W.Va. which is full of mountain-biking trails and beautiful rivers  they might move there instead of paying a gazillion dollars for a house in Oakland, Calif., with no backyard. If well-off employees in the digital economy spread more evenly across the country, then the benefits of that part of the economy could be reaped by blue-collar workers  construction crews, restaurant staff, auto mechanics, maids and babysitters  in the Rust Belt and beyond. That could help cure our political polarization, with is tied to our economic and geographic separation.
Space is vast and lonely. It is perfectly understandable, then, that a little rock would decide to tag along with Earth and the moon on their yearly circumnavigation of the sun.

Said rock, 165 feet long, was discovered in 2016 by Hawaiis Pan-STARRS 1 asteroid-hunting telescope. This eccentric entitys Hawaiian name, (469219) Kamooalewa, means wobbling celestial object. As it repeatedly loops around Earth, this shy body never gets closer than 9 million miles, which is 38 times farther out than the moon. It gets as distant as 25 million miles away before swinging back around for a closer encounter.

Calculations of its orbital waltz indicate that it began trailing our planet in a relatively stable manner about a century ago, and it will continue to pirouette around Earth for several centuries to come. But where did Kamooalewa come from? It is difficult to study the object with telescopes because of its tiny dimensions and its tendency to hide in the shadows.

But in a paper published Thursday in Communications Earth & Environment, a team of scientists reported that they might have solved the mystery. By observing Kamooalewa during brief moments when it was illuminated by the sun, astronomers worked out that it appears to be made of the same sort of frozen magmatic matter found on the lunar surface.
Joseph Lamour, 38, a journalist and illustrator who lives in Washington, said it wasnt until a white boyfriend confronted him about his change in vernacular that he realized he altered his speech.

We were driving to Boston and got a little lost, so I asked a Black person on the corner for directions, said Mr. Lamour, who is Black. When he rolled his cars window back up, Mr. Lamour said his then-boyfriend, a white man, asked why his voice changed when he spoke to the man. I hadnt even noticed I did it, but then he did an impression of it and it all came full circle, he said, and added: Its kind of like a job interview where you sort of make yourself more corporate-sounding in order to seem more standard so that a second date can happen.

Mr. Lamour, who said he mostly dates white men, later realized he code-switches in other ways when meeting someone who isnt Black for the first time. When Im going on a first date, I consciously put on clothes that make me appear to be a Don Lemon-type instead of a 50 Cent-type  even though I have both types of clothing, he said.

For Black people and other minority groups, code-switching is a way of existing within multiple worlds at once by repressing their authentic selves while playing up behavior seen as acceptable by a majority.

While a person of any race may adapt their authentic self to make a good impression on a date, this switch in behavior is often more prominent in interracial or interethnic relationships.

The greater the perceived distance, cultural difference, or racial difference between the two people involved, the more code switching is likely to occur, said Kathleen Gerson, a sociologist and professor at N.Y.U.
IT TAKES NERVE to scorch rice, to get a proper crust at the bottom of the pot, that layer of grains cooked past their time, bronzed and crisped but stopped just shy of burning; to go almost too far. You cant see whats happening. All thats visible if you lift the lid is the soft, yielding rice on top, fluffy and preening. But dont lift the lid, and dont stir. Maybe you tuck a towel around the rim for a tighter seal to catch drips of condensation; maybe you flick the flame up high, lean in to hear the last rustle of water boiling off, then shut down the burner and let the pot be, sitting there ticking in the fading heat. You have to rely on your sense of smell to recognize when the gorgeous scent of roasting is near its peak  when it hits that note of popcorn just bursting to life, kernels turning themselves inside out, or of hot chestnuts from street carts in winter, tossed in woks with tiny black stones and shucked of their sleeves  to save it before it ends in bitterness. Your reward: rices dark side, its alter ego, grains gone hard and sealed together, chewy and crunchy and sublime.

Almost everywhere in the world where rice is eaten, as a staple and an inheritance, people have names for this prized crust, among them xoon, tahdig, com chay, socarrat, pegao, nurungji, hikakeh, graten, kanzo, guoba, concon, cocolon, okoge, raspa, kerak nasi, bun bun, tutong, dukot, cucayo and bay kdaing. Some of these names are derived from, variously, words for the location of the rice (in Farsi, tahdig is literally the bottom of the pot, and in parts of Africa, English has been co-opted into the terms bottom potand underpot), the tenacity with which the rice clings to the vessel (dukot comes from a Cebuano verb meaning to stick around too long) so it must be taken by force (the Cuban raspa is from the Spanish raspar, to scrape) and the act or state of burning (socarrat is believed to have roots in the Basque sukarra, or fever; com chay is commonly translated from the Vietnamese as burned rice).
NEAR MIDNIGHT, AT the top of a lighthouse in Dakar, the westernmost point of the African continent, I sat before a grilled whole fish as long as my forearm and accompanied by a dome of rice. Thiof, a white grouper, is such common Senegalese restaurant fare that the Wolof word itself is slang  a handsome man is also a thiof, a good catch. Id eaten beachside thiof south of Dakar in the vacation area of Saly, and cliffside thiof at breezy restaurants in Les Almadies, the Dakar neighborhood known for its nightlife. This thiof, though rubbed with spices like the others  I tasted ginger, garlic, cardamom, maybe turmeric  was served with a tiny cup of warm tamarind glaze. If there were vegetables on the plate, I have banished them from my memory; only the sauce, fish and rice were in conversation. The skin of the thiof was crisp and juicy, the sauce tangy and rich. The rice was not as long as basmati, nor as short as sticky rice, but a size in between, round through the middle with little adhesion and a firm but pliant texture. If food encapsulates pleasure, innovation and community all at once, then tasting the Platonic ideal of a simple dish can bring a place and its people into focus, even if you encounter that ideal in an unlikely setting  a lighthouse restaurant known for its brunch.

I asked to see the menu again, to verify that I had indeed ordered the same dish Id eaten at so many restaurants in town. It was late June, and being this close to the ocean at such a late hour meant that the steady heat of the day had faded to a light chill. Nearby, along the coast, was Africas tallest statue, the African Renaissance Monument, hulking in the semidark: A cartoonishly muscular man gripped his woman by the waist with one arm and held his child with the other, all three of their colossal copper bodies leaning out over the water. My dinner date, a Senegalese nonprofit executive in town from Paris to co-host a fashion show, read the menu alongside me. Ooh, riz de la vallee, she said. Interesting to see that mentioned. Rice of the valley is a phrase used to refer to rice grown in the Senegal River Valley, one of the countrys main areas of cultivation. It was my first and only time seeing the phrase on a menu, but by then  my final evening in Senegal, which is among the largest consumers of rice in West Africa  I had come to understand that rice, for the Senegalese, is often the subject of interest, and sometimes the subject of debate.
In 2003, those cases, known as Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger, resulted in decisions striking down the colleges system for admitting a more racially diverse student body as too mechanical, but affirming the law schools consideration of race in admissions, allowing affirmative action to continue.

The Supreme Court has tilted more conservative in recent years with the addition of three justices nominated by former President Donald J. Trump. They are considered potentially receptive to arguments against race-conscious admissions practices, emboldening opponents of affirmative action.

But the court has put off a decision on whether to accept the Harvard case until it hears from the Biden administration, whose brief is expected soon. If the justices take the Harvard case, it would make sense for them to consider the North Carolina lawsuit at the same time, some legal experts said  especially as there might be greater public interest in the use of affirmative action at a taxpayer-supported institution.

Its possible that the court would feel more comfortable with a case involving a public university, said Justin Driver, a Yale law professor and expert in constitutional law, adding, I think this can be seen as trying to force the hand of the Supreme Court to issue a decision invalidating affirmative action sooner rather than later.

Ilya Shapiro, a constitutional law expert at the Cato Institute, threw some cold water on the strategy. He said he did not believe it would make any difference whether North Carolina was added to the Harvard case because the court was unlikely to treat public universities differently from private ones that accept federal funds. But he said that if he were in the plaintiffs position, he would probably pursue the same maneuver to remind the court that if it did not review Harvards policy, there was another case coming behind.
On a sunny morning in mid-August, a couple hiked into the Sierra National Forest with their baby daughter and disappeared.

The couple, Ellen Chung, 30, and Jonathan Gerrish, 45, were seasoned hikers who lived in Central California. So when the bodies of the couple and their daughter and dog were found on Aug. 17, less than two miles from their car, and with no obvious injuries, investigators were mystified.

Maybe they drank water poisoned by toxic algae, inhaled fumes from a nearby abandoned mine, were bitten by rattlesnakes, or struck by lightning? The theories were plentiful, but after several months, autopsies revealed another answer.

The family had died from extreme heat.

In some ways the conclusion was less nefarious than the many theories, but in another sense, it was more disturbing: The young family had set out early for an eight-mile hike in mild weather, and somehow had not survived.
The main objective of the Covid vaccine is to prevent severe disease and death, and they are still doing a good job at that, said Melissa Higdon of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who compiles research on Covid vaccine performance.

But the decline in protection against infection will still have an impact.

With true declines in vaccine effectiveness, well likely see more cases overall, Higdon said.

Pfizer and BioNTech asked the F.D.A. this week to authorize boosters for all adults. But experts have been divided over whether booster shots are necessary for those beyond the most vulnerable. Some also worry that a national focus on boosters will serve as a distraction.

Its easy with all the discussion about boosters to lose that really important message that the vaccines are still working, said Eli Rosenberg, the deputy director for science in the Office of Public Health at the New York State Department of Health. Going from an unvaccinated to a vaccinated person is still the critical step.

When schools dont reopen

What does it look like when you keep children out of school for 18 months? Uganda is finding out.

Since the early days of the pandemic, officials there have kept more than 10 million primary and secondary school students at home. And while Ugandas leaders say its the safest option, the effects are stark.
WASHINGTON  President Biden paid homage on Thursday to veterans, calling them the solid steel spine of the United States and the soul of America as he marked the first Veterans Day in two decades without troops engaged in an active war overseas.

For Mr. Biden, who ended the 20-year conflict in Afghanistan this summer, the moment was clearly a personal one as he expressed his gratitude to the thousands of service members and their families who were affected by the fighting in that country.

In short but somber remarks at Arlington National Cemetery, Mr. Biden thanked them for their service and pledged to ensure that those who returned from battle would receive what he called the world-class benefits that theyve earned. He promised to keep pushing to expand services for veterans.

Being president of the United States, you are afforded many opportunities to try to express your love, commitment and admiration for the American people, Mr. Biden said. And I must say to you that the single greatest honor Ive been afforded as president is to stand before so many of you.
While the 40 or so Capitol rioters housed at the jail are only a fraction of the roughly 1,400 inmates being held there altogether, their complaints about the place  which began almost immediately  have received outsize publicity.

In court papers, several have asserted that they have been denied the right to conduct religious services and that their basic hygiene needs have not been met. At public hearings related to their cases, others have protested about roaches in their cells or the length of their detention.

In September, as complaints about the jail increased in volume, a onetime campaign aide for former President Donald J. Trump held a rally in Washington in support of the defendants, billing the event as Justice for J6. But even though many on the right routinely refer to the rioters in custody as political prisoners (and to the section of the jail where they are kept as the patriot wing), few people  and almost no top Republican officials  attended the gathering in their honor.

What set off this latest round of protest was an episode involving Christopher Worrell, a member of the far-right group the Proud Boys, who has been at the jail since his arrest this spring. Mr. Worrell, who has cancer, broke one of his pinkies while in custody (though initial reports said it was his wrist). After several failed attempts to get him treatment for the finger, his lawyer asked a federal judge for help.

The judge, Royce C. Lamberth, tried to get officials at the jail to accelerate the process of providing medical records to Mr. Worrells lawyer and after a number of delays, he angrily held the officials in contempt. As part of his contempt decision, Judge Lamberth recommended that the Justice Department investigate conditions at the jail to determine whether the civil rights of any other Jan. 6 defendants had been violated.
As much of the world moves closer to fully opening schools, at least one nation has stuck to keeping them fully or partly closed: Uganda.

Eighteen months into the pandemic, officials in the country have kept more than 10 million primary and secondary school students at home, with no plans to reopen their classrooms soon. And while Ugandas leaders say that the policy is the safest option, on the ground, the effects of the closures are stark.

The government has not left schools closed to punish you, but rather, to protect you from harm, the education minister, Janet Museveni, who is also the countrys first lady, said on Twitter in September. She said that the government did not want to risk having parents become infected by students, who would become orphans  just like H.I.V./AIDS did to many of our families.

President Yoweri Museveni said in a televised address last month that parents should expect schools to reopen in January, along with other small businesses like bars, hair salons and recreational centers.
There was no immediate reaction from the United States.

The militarys move highlighted the fragility of the democratic hopes that stirred in Sudan in 2019, when massive street protests led to the ouster of the countrys dictator of 30 years, Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

Mr. al-Bashir was thrown in jail and later convicted on corruption charges. But a shaky power-sharing arrangement between civilian and military leaders, which was supposed to steer the country toward free elections as early as 2023, was dogged by tensions and is now in danger of running entirely aground.

Protest groups plan demonstrations on Saturday, the latest in a series of strikes, rallies and civil disobedience campaigns that have paralyzed Sudan in recent weeks. People enraged by the coup have barricaded themselves into Khartoum neighborhoods, hoping to reverse what they have termed as a military power grab.

General al-Burhan says he seized control simply to end squabbling between rival political factions, and has vowed to return power to civilians. He is under immense pressure from Western countries that have threatened to slash economic aid, including tens of billions of dollars in debt relief, as Sudan suffers through a punishing economic crisis.

But Sudans generals are also seeking to protect the sweeping privileges and considerable financial interests they accumulated under three decades of Mr. al-Bashirs rule. And they are backed by several Arab powers, including Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, whose longstanding antipathy toward democracy is matched in Sudan by their strategic interest in outright military rule.

The governing council announced by General al-Burhan on Thursday was effectively a reboot of the civilian-military body that has been running Sudan for the past two years.

The military members named by General al-Burhan remain the same, including his powerful deputy, Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan  an ambitious, ruthless paramilitary commander who many analysts believe is vying to lead the country.
  

Chinas Communist Party delivered Xi Jinping a breakthrough on Thursday that will help secure his political future  by rewriting history.

Senior party officials in a closed-door meeting in Beijing approved a decision reassessing the partys 100-year history and enshrining Mr. Xi in the partys official firmament of era-defining leaders. The move, signaled in an official summary of the meeting, elevated Mr. Xi to a stature alongside Mao Zedong, the founder of the countrys Communist rule, and Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of its economic takeoff.

Under Mr. Xis leadership, China has made historic achievements and undergone a historic transformation, said an official summary, or communique, from the meeting, hailing what the party described as successes in the economy, foreign policy, fighting pollution and containing Covid. Under Mao, Deng and now Mr. Xi, the communique said, China had achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong.

This weeks meeting was the start of a momentous year in Chinese politics. Its announcements will play a big part in the leadership shake-up at a Communist Party congress that is likely to be held in 2022, when Mr. Xi, Chinas most powerful leader in decades, appears on track to secure a third five-year term as the partys general secretary. There is no rival leader or heir apparent in view.
New lockdown restrictions for unvaccinated people in Austria are likely because new coronavirus cases in the country are rising rapidly, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said on Thursday.

Though such restrictions would be a very harsh measure, they appear to be necessary and probably inevitable, the chancellor said at a news conference.

The Austrian national health agency is reporting an average of 760 new coronavirus cases a week for every 100,000 people, a rate that has more than doubled since late October.
As the border crisis along the European Unions eastern flank has intensified, President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko of Belarus has once again turned to his most reliable patron and supporter: President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. The two have met in person at least five times this year, and Moscow has been steadfast despite a storm of criticism from Western leaders.

Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putins spokesman, said on Thursday that Russia was doing all it could to resolve the situation, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. But he also warned of the possibility of a military escalation, given the presence of troops on both sides.

Indeed, the rise in tensions on this border where highly armed people  meaning the military  are present on both sides is a matter of utmost concern to all sober-thinking people in Europe, Mr. Peskov told reporters.

But it was not clear what, if anything, Russia was doing to resolve a crisis that has escalated the tensions between Mr. Lukashenko and the European Union to their highest level yet since the Belarusian strongman claimed a victory in a broadly disputed election last year.
BERLIN  The University Hospital of Giessen, one of Germanys foremost clinics for pulmonary disease, is at capacity. The number of Covid-19 patients has tripled in recent weeks. Nearly half of them are on ventilators.

And every single one is unvaccinated.

I ask every patient: Why didnt you get vaccinated? said Dr. Susanne Herold, head of infectious diseases, after her daily round on the ward on Thursday. Its a mix of people who distrust the vaccine, distrust the state and are often difficult to reach by public information campaigns.

Patients like hers are the main drivers of a fourth wave of Covid-19 cases in Germany that has produced tens of thousands of new daily infections  more than the country has had at any point in the pandemic.
A group of about 14 organizations monitoring the situation on the border, Grupa Granica, has banded together to help.

We have a duty as a state to provide assistance to people exploited by the Lukashenka regime, the groups said in a statement. In the face of the real threat of an escalation of the situation on the border, they appealed to all parties to respect the basic principles of humanitarianism.

For months, as the crisis has escalated, this network of nongovernmental organizations has been doing what it can to bring food, shelter, medicine and clothes to those in need.

While much of the international focus in recent days has been on the area around Kuznica  a border crossing where thousands of migrants hoping to make it to the European Union have been camped and in limbo  the Belarus-Poland border is a vast one that stretches more than 250 miles.

The Polish authorities have restricted access to all but local residents living within two miles of the border. But the forests stretch well past that zone, and it is in those woods that many who have made it past the guards and the razor wire are hiding and waiting for an opportunity to move on.
The escalating standoff over the migrants bivouacked in Belarus and blocked from entering Poland and Lithuania spilled into the United Nations Security Council on Thursday, as the councils Western members accused Belarus of concocting the crisis and Russia dismissed their move as cynical politics.

Britain, Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the United States and an incoming member of the council, Albania, issued a statement at the conclusion of a council meeting, condemning what they called the orchestrated instrumentalization of human beings whose lives and well-being have been put in danger for political purposes by Belarus.

They said the objective of Belaruss authoritarian leader, Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, was destabilizing neighboring countries and the European Unions external border and diverting attention away from its own increasing human rights violations.

The statement, read outside the Security Council chambers by Estonias ambassador, Sven Jurgenson, described Mr. Lukashenkos behavior as unacceptable and said it warranted a strong international reaction and cooperation in order to hold Belarus accountable.
JERUSALEM  A senior Palestinian official said Thursday that the phones of three high-ranking Palestinian diplomats had been hacked by military-grade spyware made by the private Israeli firm NSO Group.

The accusation, which has not been verified by independent hacking experts, has amplified recent scrutiny of NSO, a surveillance company recently blacklisted by the Biden administration for having supplied spyware to governments that use it to hack the phones of activists, journalists and lawyers. The accusation has also raised further questions about whether the Israeli government is using the companys Pegasus spyware itself.

The Palestinian official, Ahmed al-Deek, an assistant foreign minister, accused Israel of having used Pegasus to hack the phones of three senior Palestinian diplomats.

Of course its the Israelis, Mr. al-Deek said in a phone interview. They are the only ones that are capable and interested in doing that. And yes, we do accuse them of this attack.
BEIRUT, Lebanon  Saudi Arabias highest court has overturned the conviction of a Saudi man who was sentenced to death after a lower court found him guilty of robbing a jewelry store and killing a police officer when he was 14 years old, rights groups tracking the case said on Thursday.

The conviction of the man, Abdullah al-Huwaiti, in 2019 drew criticism from rights advocates who said that he had confessed under duress and that the kingdom was violating international conventions that ban executions for crimes committed by minors.

Saudi state news media did not report on the high courts ruling, which was on Wednesday, and a spokesman for the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

But the cases new turn, which at least temporarily removed Mr. al-Huwaiti, now 19, from death row, follows other legal moves by the kingdom to reduce the number of pending executions for crimes committed by minors.
The worlds oldest known wild bird is a Laysan albatross named Wisdom that biologists first identified and banded in 1956. She is now at least 70-years-old and just hatched another chick.

First banded in 1956, by biologist Chandler Robbins, who found her nest near a US navy base on the Midway Atoll that the worlds largest colony of albatross calls home, Wisdom has now outlived the man who discovered her, as well as all her male mates. Although cockatoos in captivity have been known to live nearly 100 years, for wild birds the odds of living over seven decades are extremely slim. Predators, food scarcity and, more recently, plastic waste, are all life-threatening factors that wild albatross deal with on a regular basis. And, yet, despite having the odds stacked against her, Wisdom has managed to live longer than any wild bird known to man.

Photo: Phill Botha/Unsplash

Each year that Wisdom returns, we learn more about how long seabirds can live and raise chicks, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Beth Flint told NPR. Her return not only inspires bird lovers everywhere but helps us better understand how we can protect these graceful seabirds and the habitat they need to survive into the future.

Over the past decade, Wisdom has impressed scientists with her ability to stay alive while flying thousands of miles in search of food and taking care of her hatchlings. Some biologists believe that the albatross has developed a unique set of skills that allow her to avoid predators and be very productive, which played a big part in her longevity.

I think that over the years, shes definitely learned to avoid predators out in the ocean, and shes learned to forage very efficiently and also maybe avoid plastic these days and potentially fishing vessels, Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge biologist John Klavitter said.

Albatrosses only hatch one egg every few years, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) believes that Wisdom has hatched between 30 and 36 hatchlings during her life, the last one earlier this year. The chick was fathered by Akeakamai, her lastest mate, who she has been with since 2010.

We believe Wisdom has had other mates, Dr. Beth Flint said. Though albatross mate for life, they may find new partners if necessary  for example, if they outlive their first mate.

Because albatrosses only nest every couple of years or so, biologists always eagerly await to see if she will return to Midway Atoll, and she hasnt disappointed them yet.
Greta Thunberg

Swedish teenage environmental rock star and party-pooper Greta Thunberg has trashed the COP26 climate change conference as failure and a greenwash festival.

"The COP has turned into a PR event, where leaders are giving beautiful speeches and announcing fancy commitments and targets, while behind the curtains governments of the Global North countries are still refuising to take any drastic climate action," said the 18-year-old.

Publicity hound Thunberg ignores achievements such as slashing methane gas emissions and financing deals to help developing countries cut greenhouse gas emissions.

As she spouts, Amy Poehler, Michael Cain, Amy Schumer and Susan Rockefeller want to punish Edelman for representing ExxonMobil and Shell Oil that are among the worlds worst polluters.

The CleanCreatives group that is committed to exposing Edelmans alleged greenwashing claims it has had several private conversations with the No. 1 firm that have gone nowhere.

It wants Edelman to drop ExxonMobil and other fossil fuel clients.

An Edelman spokesperson said the firm is focused on "helping our clients across all industries advance their own sustainability commitments."

The firm believes it is important for us to have a seat at the table with our clients and that we have an obligation to do morenot lesswork related to climate change, according to a statement provided to O'Dwyer's.

That's great stuff but how does your firm's boss, ExxonMobil, feel about that?

Uh-oh.. Its generally not a good sign when the CEO of a publicly traded company says We are a real company during a conference.

But thats what Rick Dauch, CEO of Workhorse Group, maker of electric vans, told investors during his Nov. 9 call when he broke the news that the Cincinnati-based company reported negative revenue of $576,602 during the third quarter.

Its hard to put a spin on that sad number.

Dauch reported less than zero revenues because Workhorse had to refund customers $1.1M for the recall of Workhorses C-1000 commercial vehicles.

Workhorses sub-zero revenues even overshadowed the companys $81.1M net loss in the third quarter, which was a tad better than the $84.1M for the same period last year.

Loss from operations rose from $9.8M to $25.5M, partly due to a shutdown of the assembly line related to the recall.

To be fair to Dauch, he jumped into the Workhorse drivers seat in July.

Workhorse founder Steve Burns in 2019 agreed to buy a Lordstown, OH, auto plant that was shut down by General Motors.

Then-president Trump hailed the move and Burns left Workhorse to run Lordstown Motors, which has its own financial and operational problems.

Lordstown reports its financials on Nov. 11. There is a connection between the two sorry Ohio vehicle companies. Workhorse reported that "other loss" increased to $77.1M during Q3 compared to zero last year primarily due to the decrease in fair value and the sale of its investment in Lordstown.

Dauch is looking to the future as his company is testing a redesigned C-1000 and expects to unveil a production forecast during Q1 2022.

He is optimistic that Workhorse will be prepared to deliver the best-in-class vehicles for the commercial electric vehicle market starting in 2023.

Theres a big difference between being prepared and actually delivering the C-1000 goods.
Robert Dilenschneider

Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day.  former New York Representative Charles B. Rangel

As we celebrate Veterans Day, let us remember once again the sacrifices that the men and women of our Armed Forces have made, and let us pause to honor all those, living and dead, who have served our nation in war and peace.

The U.S. continues to be the defender of freedom and democracy around the globe, a role it has borne since the end of World War II. Time and again we have stepped forward while others held back or looked to us for leadership and protection. As a part of that global mission, our nations military now has bases in more than 70 countries around the world and troops in dozens more.

Veterans Day, which has been a national holiday since 1938, honors all American veterans, living and dead, those who served in peacetime as well as wartime. That distinguishes it from Memorial Day, which honors all those who died in military service.

Veterans Day was first known as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I. In the U.S. it is celebrated every November 11, for on that day in 1918, WW I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Great Britain, France, Australia and Canada also commemorate the veterans of WW I and WW II on or near November 11: Canada has Remembrance Day, while Britain marks Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday of November.

Throughout our history, those in military service have protected the values and liberties that this nation was built on. And they continue contributing to American society far beyond their time on active duty. They use the lessons theyve learned and the experiences theyve acquired in the military to improve our communities. They become our nations police officers, firefighters, teachers, scientists, entrepreneurs and public servants. They are among the most active volunteers working in local organizations across our country. For them, the call to duty never ends.

And so on this Veterans Day, let us remember the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our Country, especially those now in Veterans Hospitals. We must honor, now more than ever, those who have defended and strengthened the United States of America.

***

Robert L. Dilenschneider is the Founder and CEO of The Dilenschneider Group, an international communications firm that provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions, to crisis communications, to marketing, government affairs and foreign media.
FINN Partners is named PR agency of record for Bolthouse Farms, a leader in growing and distributing fresh carrots, premium branded beverages and refrigerated dressings. FINN oversees all strategic planning and execution for consumer PR efforts, trade PR efforts, corporate communications and earned influencer relations for the company. "We are delighted to be working with FINN Partners, an agency known not only for their standout work in consumer marketing and publicity, but also for their collaborative spirit and core values that align very much with our own," said Bolthouse Farms director, communciations Alan Hilowitz. Bolthouse has also brought on The Many as advertising agency of record.

Ditto adds Purrble, an interactive tool that helps people combat stress, to its client roster. The agency is providing messaging, media training and media relations services to Purrble, focused on raising awareness for the product throughout the holiday gift guide season. Equipped with a dynamic heartbeat and sensors that respond to touch and fidgeting, Purrble's heart races to show emotion. People can hold and pet Purrble to slow their heartbeat into a gentle purr. Ditto is also heading up media relations strategy for Justworks, a software company that provides entrepreneurs and businesses with access to benefits, payroll, HR and compliance support. It will also help the company develop its thought leadership through content creation, speaking engagements and award submissions.

R&J Strategic Communications is selected as PR and digital marketing agency of record for NAI Fennelly, an independent full-service commercial real estate brokerage that operates in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. R&J will leverage its public relations, digital marketing, and social media capabilities to bolster the firm's brand awareness. The agency will also work to further position NAI Fennelly as a thought leader and premier solutions provider throughout their target markets. NAI Fennelly's commercial real estate services include site search and selection, industrial sales and leasing, office sales and leasing, corporate land sales, property disposition and property management.
Brian Papp

FTI Consulting has hired Capitol Hill veteran Brian Papp as a managing director in its strategic communications unit, where he will advise clients on public policy and government relations matters.

Most recently, Papp was staff director on the Senate Finance Committee's subcommittee on international trade, customs and global competitiveness.

Earlier, he served as a senior policy advisor for Delaware Senator Tom Carper, advising him on labor and agriculture issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bryan Zumwalt, head of FTI's government affairs in the Americas unit, expects clients will benefit from Papp's insights on the workings in Washington and from the trusted relationships that he has developed with the Biden administration and senior staff in both the House and Senate.
Mega Jewell, Samuel Anthony Harwit

Bospar bolsters its social media practice with the addition of Mega Jewell as VP and Samuel Anthony Harwit as director. Jewell has run her own communications company, MEGA, since 2017. She has also served as head of messaging and public affairs at the Translational Pulmonary & Immunology Research Center and has worked as a broadcast journalist at outlets including KPTV Fox 12 in Portland, Oregon. Harwit operates lifestyle blog The Frenchy Toast and has served as head of marketing communications at PUBLICpr. Mega and Sam are the ultimate social media mavens, using their extensive experience in communications and media to inform their social media practice. They excel at sharing intentional and impactful stories, especially in the digital and social realms.

Giovanni Salvino-Prada

Xperience Restaurant Group, which owns and operates such Mexican restaurant brands as El Torito, Chevys Fresh Mex, and Las Brisas, names Giovanni Salvino-Prada vice president of marketing. Salvino-Prada joing the company from Pacific Hospitality Group, where he was corporate director of integrated marketing and loyalty. He was previously senior directors of marketing and communications at Patina Restaurant Group. In his new position, he oversees the planning, implementation and evaluation of all marketing activities including brand, social, public relations, customer acquisition and loyalty strategies for all brands under the XRG umbrella. "Hell be instrumental in maintaining the integrity of all the group's brands while implementing new strategies to appeal to a wider audience, said XRG chief executive officer Randy Sharpe.

Talya Mirkin

BMF brings on Talya Mirkin as earned practice lead. Mirkin comes to BMG from The Brand Amp, where she was director of public relations. She has also served as account supervisor at Wagstaff Media & Marketing and was at Konnect Agency and Bread & Butter. She has repped such clients as Patina Restaurant Group's 22 West Coast restaurants, Petrossian, the Creative Arts and Primetime Emmys Governors Ball and the Hollywood Bowl food offerings. Prior to her work in those agencies, Talya held roles within the marketing department at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel for seven years.
A PAY hike for councillors in Offaly has resulted in over 135,000 extra being budgeted for their salaries next year.

Under a pay deal finalised last year, all local authority members are seeing their annual gross income go up from over 18,700 to nearly 26,000  a 38% rise.

The increase was long sought by the country's 949 elected councillors who argued that their workload had increased substantially and better pay was required to attract candidates to local politics.

In Offaly, there are 19 councillors and 490,671 has been set aside for what are described as representational payments in the draft 2022 budget, resulting in a new salary of 25,824 each.

In 2021 the representational payment total included in the budget was 355,414, or 18,706 for each councillor.

Councillors are also paid allowances and expenses and they vary depending on their roles and geographical locations.

While representatives will gain from the salary increase, changes in how expenses are paid will result in some of that extra money being clawed back for a certain number of councillors.

The amounts in next year's Offaly County Council budget for allowances and expenses are slightly less than 2021, with 236,026 provisionally set aside for 2022, compared to 236,478 last year.

A total of 42,042 has been specifically earmarked for the council chair and vice chair.

Last May, when the pay increase was approved by the Government, Cllr Mary Hoade, president of the Association of of Irish Local Government (AILG) said it was a welcome step in recognising the value and important role of councillors.

It is imperative that councillors are provided with a proper salary, at a realistic level, which is vital to not only to attract and sustain new councillors but to also retain existing councillors to serve at local authority level, said Cllr Hoade.

The amount allocated in the 2019 Offaly budget for representational payments was 316,255 and that increased to 350,474 for 2020.

Councillors contended that demands on them increased substantially after a decision to abolish town councils in 2014 and cuts in numbers sitting on county councils.

Offaly previously had 21 county councillors and three town councils, each with nine members in Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry.

Some members served in a dual capacity when they were elected to their own town council as well as the county council, while others sat on one of the authorities only.

Prior to those changes, the work of councillors expanded when the dual mandate was abolished, removing Oireachtas members from council seats.

Traditionally nearly all councillors had parallel paid careers in the private or public sectors but the proportion of full-time local representatives has been increasing.

The draft Offaly council budget for 2022 will be considered by councillors on Monday, November 14 and council chief executive Anna Marie Delaney has said it was prepared in the context of increased service demands, increased budget requirements and ability to provide match funding for projects, together with challenges associated with the decarbonisation agenda and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ms Delaney said: 2021 has been a very challenging year, with all income streams under pressure and we required significant support from Government to enable us to continue to provide essential services.

The Government has provided 1.7 million to the council for 2022 to make up for the county's loss of rates because of the closure of Shannonbridge power station.

A similar amount was granted last year and Ms Delaney said the repeat provision will help to fund front line services in Offaly in the coming year.

But she warned: However, it should be noted that this funding has been recommitted for 2022 only and a permanent solution for this loss of income will be required to ensure the long term financial stability of Offaly County Council.

The draft budget provides for 150,000 to offset loan repayments for the Tullamore Arts Centre, which is currently being constructed and is expected to open by the middle of next year.

Another 100,000 is included in the budget for the operation of the arts centre.

Despite the challenges outlined by the council chief, extra funding is also being provided in other areas, notably 210,000 for county roads.

Spending on pre-letting of council houses is going up by 360,000, and house maintenance and repairs by 248,000.
AFTER many years of worry that the government would scrap it, the future is now looking bright for Offaly commuters travelling on the Limerick/Ballybrophy rail line.

The line is 91kms in length and runs from the city of Limerick to Ballybrophy in Laois, passing through Nenagh, Cloughjordan and Roscrea.

Virginia O'Dowd of the North Tipperary Community Rail Partnership told the Midland Tribune this week that her group has been campaigning for many years to save the line.

"For many years we thought the service was being deliberately neglected and wound down, and was heading towards closure. Now however, the future looks bright. Over the last few years a new continuous welded track has been laid along the whole line and there's only a few miles of this new track to install. There are 3.5 miles being upgraded at present leaving nine miles approximately (mainly between Cloughjordan and Roscrea) in need of upgrading. The slow speed of the trains is still an issue but when the last bit of new track is laid down then the speed of the trains will be able to increase."

Virginia said her group enjoys a good relationship with Irish Rail and has met with Minister Eamon Ryan.

"We are appealing to the Minister," she remarked, "to get the rest of the track installed as quickly as possible. We also need a new timetable because the current one is not fit for purpose."

The councillors of Nenagh Municipal District discussed the line during their recent meeting. They pointed out that while it's been good to see progress, significant problems remain, including an inadequate timetable and a lack of a shuttle bus connection between the train station in Limerick and the third level institutions and houses in the city.

Cllr Ger Darcy pointed out that because of a scarcity of accommodation in Limerick many university students are now taking the 7.30am bus from Nenagh.

The demand for bus tickets has risen considerably. Now you have to pay for a return ticket in advance. I was told that on a couple of occasions people were left behind because there wasn't enough room on the bus for them. I think we should write to Bus Eireann about this and ask them to provide more buses."

Accommodation is a big issue in cities now, commented Cllr Michael O'Meara, and people have to commute long distances from North Tipperary whether they like it or not. He spoke about the European Regional Development Fund. The EU is now saying that rail travel should be given a lot more emphasis. The reality is that North Tipperary is now the home for a lot of people who are commuting to Limerick and they need a better rail service, a better Limerick/Ballybrophy line. I am part of the Regional Assembly and this is a big topic in the Assembly. There is a strong emphasis on improving the rail service all over Munster.

Cllr Darcy said he lives near the Limerick/Ballybrophy line. It was good to see them laying the new track near my area over the last several months. But a lot of people are complaining to me about the lack of a shuttle bus between Limerick station and UL, LIT and Mary Immaculate College.

Cllr Fiona Bonfield said it was disappointing that the Limerick/Ballybrophy line was not mentioned in the National Development Plan.

Marcus O'Connor said the X12 bus from Nenagh to Dublin Airport was a very popular service, which stopped during Covid and hasn't restarted yet. The service to Shannon has stopped as well. He agreed that the train timetable is poor.

Cllr O'Meara said the general mood of our era is for a greater emphasis on public transport which should be good news for the Limerick/Ballybrophy line.

We should meet with our Limerick counterparts to talk about the need for a connecting bus service from the train station to the third level educational institutions in the city."

Virginia O'Dowd said a midday service needs to be added to the timetable as well as an earlier train so people can arrive in Dublin at an earlier time and return on a midday (rather than an evening) train, if they wish.

She said Minister Ryan is thinking of opening a new rail stop at Annacotty in Limerick to serve University of Limerick and the large number of houses in the vicinity.

"We are in discussions at the moment with the Minister and Irish Rail about a new stop/park and ride in Annacotty serving the University, and industrial park.

"Overall, however, the timetable and the connecting service are not people friendly, either for working people or for students." She said Local Link is being considered as a shuttle service for those arriving in Nenagh and Roscrea Stations. She added that a significant sum of funding for rail travel has been included in the National Development Plan.

She pointed out that it looks likely that all of the new track will have been installed at some stage during next year "and then, we think, there should be a big relaunch of the whole line. After many years of campaigning it would be a big moment."
A judge has told a jury that, when considering their verdict, they must ignore the fact that murder accused Stephen Penrose chose to be unrepresented at and declined to attend his trial and that he had "an outburst" in the courtroom.

In his charge to the jury this morning, Mr Justice Alexander Owens also said they must not let their views of Mr Penrose's general character "impinge" on their decision in the case and that his "repeated hiring and firing of solicitors and barristers" was irrelevant.

Mr Penrose (38), of Newtown Court, Malahide Road, Coolock, Dublin 17, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Philip Finnegan (24) at Rahin Woods, Rahin, Edenderry, Co Kildare on August 10, 2016.

The trial has heard that Mr Finnegan was missing for just over three weeks before a dog walker and his two pets found his "skeletonised" remains buried in a shallow grave in the Kildare woods on September 2, 2016.

Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster has testified that the decapitated remains of Mr Finnegan were found in the grave on September 2 and attempts had been made to burn his body. In the expert witness's view, Mr Finnegan's death was caused by multiple stab wounds to the body, including two fatal ones to his liver and aorta.

A forensic scientist told the jury that a DNA profile generated from a bloodied glove discovered near the remains of Mr Finnegan matched the DNA of Mr Penrose.

Beginning his charge to the jury this morning, Mr Justice Owens said they must not let their views of Mr Penrose's general character "impinge" on their decision in this case. "I think Mr Penrose described himself as no angel or no saint, that is irrelevant," he said.

The judge told the jurors that they must also ignore the fact that Mr Penrose has chosen to be unrepresented by legal expertise, that he had "an outburst" in the courtroom and that he had declined to attend the duration of the trial. "His repeated hiring and firing of solicitors and barristers is also irrelevant," he added.

In the first week of the case, the judge warned Mr Penrose that he would be taken to the cells and banned from participating in his own trial, where he is representing himself, if he continued to "abuse" and "ballyrag" witnesses.

Mr Justice Owens said at the time that he would not allow his courtroom to become "a circus" after the defendant Mr Penrose accused a garda Inspector, who he was cross-examining, of lying under oath. "He is telling bullshit about me," Mr Penrose shouted in the courtroom, before demanding that the witness be "dismissed" from his trial as his "word" could not be accepted.

Shortly afterwards, Mr Penrose dispensed with what was his second legal team "once again" and declined to continue attending his trial. The case proceeded in his absence.

The judge also told the 12 jurors today that the accused had no obligation to cross-examine witnesses or give evidence in his own defence.

Furthermore, the judge said the accused had elected not to give a closing speech and the prosecution did not have a right to give a closing speech as Mr Penrose was unrepresented for most of the trial and had not called any witnesses.

Summarising the prosecution case, Mr Justice Owens said it was their contention that the evidence all pointed to the conclusion that Mr Finnegan was murdered and the jury must decide if Mr Penrose was the perpetrator or a perpetrator.

The State's case, he said, is also that the evidence established that Mr Penrose brought Mr Finnegan to Rahin Woods and murdered him somewhere after 4.10pm on August 10, when the accused's cobalt blue Alfa Romeo car passed CCTV cameras at Grangewest in Co Kildare. The same car was next seen on CCTV footage at 5.13pm at Balrinnet in Co Kildare.

"The prosecution case is also that the explanations given by Mr Penrose for that missing hour between 4.10pm and 5.13pm are not believable. The prosecution case is that Mr Penrose gave differing accounts to gardai of an attack by others on Mr Finnegan, which continued on during the course of his interviews," he added.

The accused told gardai in his interviews that he and Mr Finnegan met a number of men in a black car on August 10. Mr Penrose said a man stabbed him in the arm and he also witnessed Mr Finnegan being stabbed in the back during an attack by the group of men. The accused said he then drove off at speed.

The Central Criminal Court jury has heard that Mr Penrose gave different versions throughout his 19 interviews to detectives about where he had last seen Philip Finnegan. In his final interview, the accused told gardai that he and Mr Finnegan got attacked by a group of men at "a forest", having arranged to collect firearms from them.

The judge said the State's case is that the lies and constant changing of accounts by Mr Penrose was because he was trying to distance himself from murdering Mr Finnegan at Rahin Woods and that "this is the only logical explanation for it".

"The prosecution case is that Mr Penrose did not want to disclose the location of where he left Mr Finnegan as this would lead to gardai discovering the body and where he had murdered Mr Finnegan," he continued.

The judge said the prosecution's case is also that the injury to Mr Penrose's left arm was not a defensive injury as he asserted but that the accused had cut himself when he was "knifing" Mr Finnegan to death or when he was trying to cut up the deceased's body.

Referring to the defence case, Mr Justice Owens said that Mr Penrose maintained he was a friend of Mr Finnegan's and that they had met men that day to test firearms. The accused also said the reason he was wearing gloves was to test firearms, that he discarded a glove near a caravan at the entrance to Rahin Woods, that he was not in Rahin Woods when he escaped from the men and that he saw Mr Finnegan run away from the men after being stabbed in the back, he said."He denied he had anything to do with the killing or had any idea where the body was found and [feared] if he told gardai what had happened then he and his family would be placed in danger," he added.

The judge asked the jury to consider if the only credible explanation for the accused's conduct was that he was trying to put gardai "off the scent" as to where Mr Finnegan's body would be found or if he was "covering up" to protect himself from "the assailants".

Mr Justice Owens said the evidence is that Mr Finnegan was murdered on August 10 and the issue they have to decide is whether the evidence proved that Mr Penrose was the murderer.

"You also have the admission from Mr Penrose that Mr Finnegan was close to a wood or near a caravan when he last saw him," said the judge.

The jury can return two verdicts in relation to the murder charge against Mr Penrose, namely; guilty of murder or not guilty.

Mr Justice Owens will continue his charge to the jury of eight men and four women this afternoon.
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Dodging a Bullet? Online Operators Rapidly Return Over $1m in Funds Played by Rogue Doctor

Published November 11, 2021 by Lee R

New PPCA Case reveals online gambling companies do not have to return stolen funds, but its much better if they do.

Some online gambling companies in the UK were recently put upon to repay over 900,000 ($1.2 million) of National Health Service money that was used to gamble at their sites by a rogue doctor who took temporary leave from his senses.

The Rogue Doctor

Senior General Practitioner Dr Rumi Chapia, 45. The Senior General Practitioner was last week to three years and four months in prison by a Portsmouth court after pleading guilty to siphoning 1.2 million (US $1.5 million) from the doctor's surgery network he co-founded: the Portsmouth Primary Care Association (PPCA).

The Problem

The disaster began when Chhapia was placed in control of the organisation's accounts after the regular financial controller went out sick.

The Draining

Over six weeks of madness as Chhapia proceeded to transfer company funds into accounts of his own name, pouring the money into the unnamed online gambling sites, chasing large payouts such as slot machine jackpots and roulette windfalls.

The Cover-Up

After a colleague noticed the dwindling accounts, Chhapia initially insisted PPCA was being defrauded by cybercriminals, and continued siphoning money from the accounts.

Restitution

According to a clearly effective defense lawyer named Stan Reiz QC, after an ultimately remorseful Chhapia saw the error of his ways, the doctor contacted the online gambling to request refunds so Chhapia could repay the lost funds. The companies promptly agreed, with Chhapia further returned the 238,000 ($322,000) of the PPCA funds still in his personal accounts.

The Operator Obligation

The question begs: were the operators legally required to return the funds under UK law?

The answer is, operators are not legally obligated to return the funds, since they were not aware that the proceeds were from criminal activity. However, they chose to honor a prevailing ethical commitment to general due diligence as established in the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 obliging operators to monitor for attempts to use money acquired unlawfully.

Outlook

If the companies were found to be insufficiently diligent, in recognising problem behavior or use of illegally acquired funds, the operators could have been fined or had their licenses revoked. Apparently, they decided to cut their losses in this case with the refunds instead of face further scrutiny.
Oskaloosa, IA (52577)

Today

Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 23F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear skies this evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 23F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2021 file photo, pedestrians walk near a poster asking for the freedom of Colombian businessman and Venezuelan special envoy Alex Saab, and that reads in Spanish "They haven't been able to bend him," in Caracas, Venezuela. Venezuelas government quietly offered in 2020 to release imprisoned Americans, the so-called Citgo 6 along with two former Green Berets tied to a failed cross border raid, in exchange for the U.S. letting go Saab, a key financier of President Nicolas Maduro, who was extradited to Miami in Oct. 2021.
MANISTEE TWP.  When Michael Cnudde, Coldwell Banker professional, was tasked with finding a property for a potential Culvers location, who could have guessed that he would find one that was a 2-minute drive from his office.

A previous News Advocate article had said that it was a rumor with a grain of salt that Culvers is coming to Manistee  and Cnudde wanted to clarify that it is more than a rumor.

They just called and said were looking for some property in Manistee to build a new Culvers restaurant' and they came into the office about a year ago or maybe eight months ago and we started looking, Cnudde said. The best fit for them was close to Meijer.

Cnudde said K-9Burgers9 LLC was looking for a property that had easy access for vehicle traffic and a location that has some growth potential.

We just walked (the potential locations), looked at them, stood out at the street, he said explaining of the process for finding the property. They needed a good sewer and water hookup which was there. They needed a certain amount of road frontage for ingress egress out to the highway. That parcel fit the bill for them.

Cnudde said a purchase agreement for the property at 492 Parkdale Ave., just northeast of Meijer, was signed in July.

The property is about 11.4 acres, according to the county's property records.

So theyve got everything in the works, every step they are going through step by step and theyre hoping to open by summer of (20)22, he said.

According to a previous email from the Manistee Township Zoning Administrator Karen Clouse, interest in the area was expressed, but no official steps had been taken by Culvers as of last week.

Last week, Clouse stated in the email that, There has only been interest expressed via a telephone call from an engineering firm that I am not at liberty to name at this point."

Cnudde said at this point engineers are working through the site plans and store design plans to make sure they are in accordance with Michigan Department of Transportation stipulations and other rules.

The next steps would be for the plans to be presented to the township, permitting applications submitted and a public hearing where information would be presented to the Manistee Township Board of Trustees.

According to the Manistee County property search results, the parcel is listed as a residential improved class with a current assessment of $109,900 as of Oct. 19. Last years taxable value was $53,753.

The owner is listed as a Wellston resident and the section that details property sale information stated that the information was not available for the property.

In most of Michigan, a new Culvers location can only be created by an existing franchise. Cnudde said this franchise has other Michigan properties but he was not familiar with the locations.

In response to the News Advocate's inquiry about a potential Culvers site or interest in Manistee, Culver Franchising System Public Relations and Communications Director Eric Skrum said in an email that each Culver's location is individually owned and operated.



Scrum said in the email that this means location choices are suggested by our owner-operators. We do have an extensive process on how someone can become an owner-operator as well as a process on how an existing owner-operator can open additional locations.



In either case, our operators know their communities better than we do which is why we rely on them to help choose the next location for their restaurant as well as share how we can best serve that particular community, he said.

Cnudde noted that he saw asphalt trucks on the site on Thursday.

Were really happy that theyre coming to town. Theyre excited and want to be open and are working as fast as they can, he said adding that the area has not seen a new franchised business in a number of years.

He said he is also thrilled to see growth in the area and to just to have another option for people for dining.
THORNTON, Colo. (AP)  Navy veteran Jordon Daniel was busy when the United States pulled its last troops out of Afghanistan at the end of August.

More than 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) and a world away, he and a group of fellow veterans were moving furniture, folding towels and sorting silverware in drawers during a hot, dry summer day in the Denver area.

Their mission: To furnish homes for Afghan refugees seeking safety in the United States.

Daniel had just finished furnishing the last of three or four homes for refugees that day when he received an alert on his cellphone that the final U.S. military aircraft had departed Kabul after two decades of war.

I got in my truck and just sat there and was just kind of reflecting," said Daniel, who signed up for the Navy after 9/11 and spent time in Afghanistan on a security detail. You know, 20 years of war, Americas longest war coming to an end. And you know, for me it was kind of coming full circle.

On Wednesday, Daniel and volunteers with the veteran-focused disaster relief organization Team Rubicon were continuing their mission, dubbed Operation Eagle Landing, by furnishing two suburban Denver apartments that will soon house Afghan families that left their home country behind to escape Taliban rule.

The team assembled furniture, washed dishes, lugged heavy couches and dressers up stairs and carefully placed donated backpacks and stuffed animals on children's beds. A family of eight will live in one apartment, and a family of five will live in the other.

Since August, Team Rubicon has helped settle more than 110 Afghan families in Colorado, said Daniel, the Denver city administrator for the group.

Tens of thousands of Afghans have been flown to the U.S. since the war wound down, and most are still living in temporary housing at military bases across the country. Between 1,000 and 2,000 Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in Colorado by the end of the year.

That means Daniel and his team could have their work cut out for them  a task they seem to relish.

For us veterans, service is kind of in our blood. ... The veteran component, it adds that special piece of camaraderie to it, that sense of service, that sense of purpose, Daniel said. He said it's also a rewarding experience to help those who aided coalition forces in Afghanistan during the war.

Its just a chance for us to kind of express our gratitude as well. And just thanking them and welcoming them to the neighborhood.

Team Rubicon was formed in the days following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that caused widespread destruction in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in January 2010, according to the group's website. Haitis government put the death toll at more than 300,000, although an exact accounting was impossible given the widespread devastation.

Two U.S. Marines, Jake Wood and William McNulty, gathered supplies and volunteers before traveling to Haiti in the following days, and Team Rubicon was born. It has since grown into an international nonprofit organization that boasts more than 130,000 volunteers.
Photo provided

The history of vaccination mandates in the U.S., and the public response to them, will be the topic of an event at Delta College.



The colleges Political Forum Committee will host a distinguished panel on Thursday, Nov. 18 for the free event, Mandatory Vaccination and the Workplace: Legality, Labor and Liberty, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Zoom. Registration is required at delta.edu/workplacevaccine.



Lisa Lawrason, chair of the Political Forum Committee and professor of political science, said the purpose of the forum is to give the Delta community diverse perspectives on pressing issues that affect everyday lives.



With the Biden administration's vaccine requirements going into effect soon, people have a lot of questions about such mandates and how its implementation will impact area businesses, Lawrason said. Having perspective and depth on these issues will help us make decisions and contribute to our democracy in the most productive way possible.



Panelists include Lance Gable, professor of law for Wayne State University; James Hitt, professor of philosophy for Saginaw Valley State University; Beth Roszatycki, regional director of the Michigan Small Business Development Center; and Andrew Werhman, professor of history for Central Michigan University. Audra Swarthout, professor of biology for Delta, will moderate the discussion.



The forum will explore the constitutionality of vaccine mandates, including the use of executive power to enact them and the practical impact of mandates on employers and the workforce. The panel will not address or debate the safety of vaccines.



Since 2007, Delta has hosted an annual political forum to engage the community in a dialogue about current events and issues.



To register or learn more, visit delta.edu/workplacevaccine.
The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (MICRC) is still taking public comments on its proposed redistricting maps.

On Wednesday, the commission held a press conference over Zoom and Facebook Live following a slew of public comment meetings. Leaders of the commission also answered questions regarding controversies surrounding maps in Michigan.

Many of the proposed maps for the U.S. Representative and State Senate districts containing the city limits of Midland separate Midland from the rest, or most, of Midland County and its watershed. However, recently revised maps for the State Representative district group the city with the rest of Midland County and parts of Gladwin County.

Many people are worried about representation for Midland after the 2020 mid-Michigan dam failures, while some see the newly proposed districts as an upgrade and as competitive politically.

When asked about the controversy, MICRC Vice-Chair M.C. Rothhorn said he agrees that the proposal to split the city of Midland from Midland County has been controversial, with the public comments being balanced on both sides. However, he said the map came out fair.

We were asked to start with fresh maps, Rothhorn said. We listened to public comments, we used the public comments, and we drew the best maps while trying to compromise (and) trying to understand all the issues. We believe that we have drawn fair maps in a transparent way.

Previously, Midland Mayor Maureen Donker and other Midland city councilors raised concerns at City Council meetings regarding this decision.

We have a major issue that no one else in the state is facing, Donker said in October. What we face is different and I think that has to do with flooding. There are 1,000 dams across the state of Michigan and ours were the first two that were breached. How we respond to that, I think, is critically important.

However, Jennifer Austin, the chairperson of the Midland County Democratic Party, said these proposed districts will make the Midland area and the state more competitive politically.

The community is not just the city of Midland, or just the county of Midland, Austin said in October. It is the entire state of Michigan. You really need to take a step back and look at not only our concerns on a personal level, our concerns on a city level, or our concerns on a county level, but our concerns as citizens of Michigan.

There is still time to make public comments on the maps, with additional public comment meetings planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursdays, Nov. 18, Dec. 2, 16 and 30.

Commissioners are expected to approve the final maps no later than December 30, 2021, with the commission being required to publish the maps within 30 days after approval.

Communications and Outreach Director Edward Woods III said if anyone has concerns with the Midland area maps, they can leave public comments on the interactive maps. They can be accessed at https://bit.ly/3HasdOp.
Before becoming a Michigan State Police Trooper recruits undergo rigorous training to prepare them for their careers protecting and serving. However, that training didn't include how to perform owl rescues  luckily that didn't stop Trooper Brayden Rich.

Rich, who is based out of the MSP Caro Post, was dispatched the morning of Nov. 10 to Wadsworth Road, near Thomas Road in Huron County for an owl that was possibly hit by a vehicle.

"Upon arrival, I found the owl and it appeared injured, as it could not fly away," Rich said. "The owl kept staring at me and did not move."

Rich said he began reaching out to wildlife rescue organizations near the area and he was able to connect with Heart Wildlife Rescue, which gave him the information for Erica Zuhlke. Zuhlke runs a nonprofit organization called Critter Crossing Rehabilitation in Lapeer.

"Erica advised me she could take the owl, but it would be a few hours before she could get there," Rich said. "After being unable to find anybody to secure and transport the owl, I called Erica back. Erica advised me of how to secure the owl properly and safely."

Rich grabbed an emergency blanket from his patrol vehicle, scooped up the own, and secured it in a tote. He was able to meet Erica in Marlette and hand over the owl.

"Erica advised the owl is an adult female great horned owl," Rich said. "The owl sustained head trauma and subcutaneous emphysema injuries. The treatment for the owl consists of oxygen therapy, fluid therapy and medication. When healed up enough, the own will be transported to Wildside Rehabilitation in Eaton Rapids to conduct flight training in their very large flight cage to condition her for release."

Rich said he named the owl Ruffles. Ruffles is expected to make a complete recovery.
The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Andrew Mullin.

Tuesday, Nov. 9:

10:29 p.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Mount Haley Township residence for a suspicious situation. The deputies met with a 34-year-old Mount Haley woman who advised she thought she heard someone outside her residence near the shed. Deputies checked the property and did not locate anything suspicious.

10:13 p.m.  Officers responded to a domestic assault on Dublin Avenue.

7:44 p.m.  Deputies were sent to a Lincoln Township location for reports of a male walking on the shoulder of the roadway wearing dark clothing. Deputies located the male who advised he was homeless and walking to Bay City. Deputies transported the male to the Open Door in the City of Midland until he could make arrangements to get to Bay City in the morning.

6:52 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of West Wheeler Street and Jefferson Avenue.

4:31 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of Eastman Avenue and West Wackerly Street.

3:44 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of Joe Mann Boulevard and Elisenal Drive.

3:13 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on East Sugnet Road.

2:48 p.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of East Haley Street and Virginia Street.

12:58 p.m.  Deputies spoke to a 35-year-old Midland female regarding an aggressive driver. She said to the deputies that an unknown vehicle was tailgating her and driving aggressively on a Lincoln Township roadway. The female advised she wanted the incident documented in case this continues to happen.

11:55 a.m.  Greendale Township deputies responded to an assisted living home in Greendale Township for a death investigation involving an 82-year-old Greendale Township female. The death appeared to be of natural causes and no foul play was suspected. Her body was released to the funeral home. The deputies were assisted by Mid-Michigan Medical Center EMS.

10:19 a.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash on Eastman Avenue.

9:43 a.m.  Deputies were dispatched to a Warren Township residence for a report of suspicious activity. The 57-year-old Warren Township male advised he found two knives on his property within the last few days. The caller wanted this incident documented.

9:41 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Larkin Township residence to assist Animal Control with several large horses.

9:28 a.m.  A 41-year-old requested assistance obtaining property from his daughter. Deputies contacted the 23-year-old daughter, who provided the requested property.

8:15 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the area of E. Stewart Road near South Poseyville Road for the report of a two-vehicle traffic crash. The at-fault driver was issued a citation.

7:38 a.m.  Officers responded to a two-vehicle crash in the area of North Saginaw Road and Wolfe Drive.

7:03 a.m.  A 38-year-old female filed a bond violation report against her 25-year-old boyfriend. Upon further investigation, no violation occurred. The bond order had been canceled.

1:23 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Lee Township. location for a 35-year-old Lee Township female who reported that her 26-year-old Lee Township female friend was pushed by her 32-year-old boyfriend. The deputies spoke with the girlfriend and boyfriend, who both denied that an assault occurred. The parties were separated for the night and a report was forwarded to the Midland County Prosecutors Office for review.
A crowd gathered in front of the Midland Veterans Memorial in Downtown Midland late Thursday morning to honor past and present veterans.

Joe Dufort, commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3651, acted as the master of ceremonies. Dufort welcomed those present and explained the significance of Veterans Day and its ceremonies.

Held every year on Nov. 11, the holiday harkens to the signing of the World War I armistice, formally ending hostilities on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Originally known as Armistice Day, Nov. 11 became known as Veterans Day in 1954.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation, members of local and state police departments, city and state government, and various veterans agencies presented about 30 wreaths at the base of the memorial.

For more than 245 years of independence, patriots have stood and watched over our liberty. From Bunker Hill to Baghdad, we are all the beneficiaries of their grit to uphold the democratic beliefs that are the foundation of our nation, said keynote speaker, retired U.S. Army Col. Rhoda Daniel.

Daniel is an Iraq War veteran who co-owns Bay Area Pilates in Freeland. During her presentation, she commented that she comes from a military family and has served her country for 34 years in the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserves. She considers the military and its members in all branches as a family, each connected by their service.

Daniel remarked on the importance of remembering the efforts of servicemen and servicewomen and preserving their memories by connecting the military and non-military communities. One method of connecting people is for veterans to share their stories.

Daniel shared portions of her story, with more sensitive parts omitted. She talked about how she deployed with the 177th Military Police Brigade out of Taylor, Michigan, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The brigade went through a tough deployment, with two killed in action and several others "broken" by the end, she said.

Daniel praised the fitness she received during training, as it helped her through tough physical, mental and spiritual situations.

Veterans Day isnt just a day for veterans, its a day for all Americans, Daniel said. So we must do what we can to take care of our military community, which means supporting those organizations that in turn support and work with veteran populations.

U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar was the next to speak, specifically noting the contributions of World War II veterans. He also recognized the efforts of Floyd Andrick who cleaned all 358 gravesites of confirmed Civil War veterans in Midland County. Moolenaar also encouraged veterans who need help  whether that is concerning health benefits or obtaining medals that are owed to them  to reach out to the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.

Were all very proud of our veterans as family members, as community members. All of us salute you for your service, Moolenaar said.

State Rep. Annette Glenn spoke last, listing the freedoms that Americans enjoy due to the work and sacrifice of veterans. Her own father served in World War II and encouraged other family members to serve after he returned home.

How you live and how you still serve in the community is something I dont know how to express thanks for, Glenn said. Not only for me, but for my family and generations that will follow, thank you for all that youve done.

The ceremony concluded with a benediction and a 21-gun salute. The Midland VFW Post 3651 hosted a luncheon immediately following.
After a Wednesday night presentation, Army veteran Jordan Kelly of Rhodes is looking forward to riding his new 27-speed Army-green recumbent bicycle with his family.

For me, it gives me something I can do without being in constant pain, said Sgt. Kelly, who returned from Afghanistan in 2013, suffering a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and other physical injuries. This means a lot to me.

While coming home injured after six years in Afghanistan, Kelly said he was lucky because he did come home.

The Blue Star Mothers of Midland County 192 presented Kelly with the Army-green-colored bicycle Wednesday night, on the eve of Veterans Day, at the Sanford American Legion Post 443. Money for the bike was donated via a Community Wishes Holiday Gala and a fundraiser ride by the Legion Riders of the American Legion headed by Tom Talbot.

The Blue Star Mothers then sent Angel Bikes, Inc., a donation for the bicycle to be presented to Kelly.

Angel Bikes was born out of a New York mothers love and heartbreaking grief for the loss of her oldest son, Jerry, according to the organizations Facebook page. The mother deemed her son a mentor who always looked out for his Marines. The bikes from the organization are designed to give a sense of independence and a challenge to wounded warriors, and to give a family of a fallen hero a chance for all to know him or her.

Kelly further said the connection with Angel Bikes really hits home for him. He said while in Afghanistan, he did many "Fallen Angel" missions, where they picked up or rescued many peoples military sons and daughters. Kelly said it was a privilege to do the operations.

The Blue Star Mothers of Midland Chapter President Lori Jackson heard of Kellys plight and suggested the bike donation. At first, Kelly rebuked it, questioning what made him special and suggesting it go to someone more deserving. But Jackson noted that hes the dad of three small children, so why not him?

Knowing what the bike could offer him, including more outside and active time with his three children, helped change Kelly's mind. Kelly and his wife have two sons Trevor, 10, and Trygg, 8, and 4-year-old daughter, Harper.

His wife, Kristin, said her husband once really enjoyed outside adventures, but his ailments made it rough to take advantage of doing such things.

Jackson offered a special thank-you to Army veteran Roy Dunbar, who painted the original red bike to Army green, and to Dean Retzloff of Coleman Auto and Bike, who helped disassemble and assemble the Trident Trike and adjust it specifically for Kelly.

When Retzloff told Kelly about the 27 speeds, Kelly said, 27 speeds? I can zoom in this thing.

Kristin Kelly said this is going to mean so much to her husband, who loves family time. She said this will allow him more of it with his children doing stuff outside.

This will make things better and easier to get outdoors, she said. It will be nice for him to be able to do more of what he loves.

Also attending the event were members of Community Wishes. Casey Mallek said this may be the first presentation the group has been able to attend. They often receive thank-you notes from people theyve given checks to, but it was nice to see things up close on Wednesday and how the checks come to fruition.

This makes all of our hard work worth it, Mallek said. Were all volunteers, and an event like this is our why.

She said its great to see how their work can make a huge difference in peoples lives.

Jackson said anyone with children in the military can join Blue Star Mothers. Member Marcelyn Carney said the group is about extending love and service.

I think this is fantastic and a great way to honor those people that are coming back, said Kellys mother, Cheryl Strode, also of Rhodes. I appreciate everything the Blue Star Mothers have done.
Palestine, TX (75801)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - The Ethiopian authorities say the security forces have arrest offenders of the state of emergency declared by the Cabinet and passed by Parliament last week and confiscated illegal firearms
The first Gulf War was fought in 1990 and 91. Iraq invaded Kuwait, and coalition forces led by the United States drove them out. The Pioneer had coverage of local events related to the war. The editorial page from Feb. 27, 1991 had an editorial, a letter and a cartoon about the war.
John Champagne of Commnet Wireless made a presentation on broadband internet to the La Paz County Board of Supervisors Nov. 1. He said the pandemic has exposed the need for broadband service in rural communities, and offered examples of the funding that is available.
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Last Friday Apple TV+ debuted Tom Hanks film "Finch" and all indicators are that it has set a new audience record for Apple TV+.

Deadline reports that "While Apple isnt generally transparent about audience number specifics, insiders said that the Miguel Sapochnik-directed apocalyptic drama became Apple TV+s most watch film by eclipsing Hanks previous Apple film, the WWII thriller Greyhound. Apple would not divulge specific numbers but sources said that Finch premiered in over 100 countries, more than doubled its opening day audience as the weekend progressed, and generated the largest opening weekend ever on the two-year old Apple TV+.

Finch is the third project partnership with Hanks and Apple. Besides Greyhound and the Amblin/DreamWorks Finch, upcoming is the WWII limited dramatic series Masters of the Air, which is being shot in the UK and is executive produced by Steven Spielberg, and Hanks and his Playtone partner Gary Goetzman for Apple Studios." For more on this, read the full Deadline report.

Archive: Apple TV News
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The iPad app T6 is helping healthcare providers harness the power of real-time information.

Trauma Situation: The call comes in to the emergency line at Cohen Childrens Medical Center in New York City: EMS are on the way with a 7-year-old boy who has been struck by a car. A 12-person Level I trauma team is activated to respond.

As the team assembles and prepares for the patients arrival, theres a new tool in their kit. Its a cutting-edge app called T6 that runs exclusively on iPad and leverages data to give medical professionals real-time feedback as they administer lifesaving trauma care.

Nathan Christopherson is vice president of surgery for Northwell Health, New York States largest healthcare provider, and he oversees all of its trauma centers, including Cohen Childrens Medical Center. Hes also a veteran, having served as a combat medic in the Army for more than a decade, and its that experience that led him to introduce T6 into Northwells emergency care  the first civilian healthcare provider in the US to do so.

"One of the most important parts of trauma care is how a patient moves through a medical system," says Christopherson. "In the military, thats going from managing the situation in the field, to transport, to arrival at a combat support hospital, and then onward  and one of the keys to optimizing that journey is the communication of data. Weve taken those lessons and applied them to the civilian world, and T6 is a big part of helping us with that."

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Nathan Christopherson spent more than a decade as an Army medic before transitioning into healthcare management at Northwell Health.

Trauma surgeon Dr. Morad Hameed is one of T6s co-founders, and he drew on the rich history of military trauma medicine to inform the apps development.

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T6 allows medical teams to input and analyze patient data in real time through iPad. In a hospital setting, data such as vitals and injury details are entered into the app and displayed on a large screen for the entire trauma team to see, along with standard-of-care guidelines and alerts.

In the field, whether thats in an ambulance or medical helicopter, or if T6 is being used by a military team or medic, the iPad app will allow real-time virtual communication between the person administering care and a trauma team in another location.

In addition to its adoption at Northwell Health, T6 has also been used by the US military at Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

T6 gets its name from the concept of the "golden hour," which is the period of time after a traumatic injury where medical intervention will help secure the best outcome. That time frame is commonly thought to be about six hours, based on lessons learned from the battlefield.

"When an unstable patient comes in with traumatic injuries and meets a big, multidisciplinary medical team assembled to treat them, the clock is already ticking," says Hameed. "That point of intersection is a huge source of rich data if we could capture it. T6 was designed to do just that, in sufficient detail and relevance that we can actually improve our performance on the fly, and thats never been done in healthcare."

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Healthcare teams can navigate to over 3,000 fields for data input on T6 with just two to three touches on iPad.

For example, T6 will trigger an alert to give a patient calcium at specific intervals during the course of a massive blood transfusion because that process depletes calcium, which is essential for healthy cardiac function. T6 alerts and guidelines are continually updated to reflect current best practices so that trauma and other acute care teams are always informed on the latest medical treatment protocols.

Igor Muravyov, T6s co-founder: "We wanted to transform the existing treatment model and use data in a new and interactive way. Every piece of information that is entered into T6 is immediately analyzed for clinical decision support. We engineered the app so that you can navigate to over 3,000 data input fields within two to three touches, and that kind of intuitive experience is only possible with iPad.

Apples software development kits, including CloudKit, enable T6 to synchronize patient data and decision support across multiple devices.

Muravyov added: "T6 runs on Apple exclusively for a lot of reasons: security, reliability, ease of use, power, and portability. With Apple, we knew the quality of the hardware was going to be exceptional, and because T6 is being used in hospitals and in the military, security was paramount for us, and theres no higher bar than the Apple ecosystem for data security."

Col. Omar Bholat  a trauma surgeon with Northwell Health  has been in the Army reserves for the last 20 years, deploying on six combat tours. Hes started to receive training on T6 in advance of its launch at the hospital where he practices.

Bholat stated: "Information is power, and T6 is a great tool to improve the accuracy of information transmission throughout the continuum of a patients care. In the military, weve learned how critical that is when it comes to moving severely injured patients from the field. T6 is going to help streamline the flow of data from the point of injury to the ICU and everywhere in between  thats going to be huge for trauma medicine, whether thats civilian or military."

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Col. Omar Bholat is a trauma surgeon with Northwell Health and has been deployed on six combat tours over his 20 years in the US Army reserves.

The T6 app is already in use at two of Northwell Healths Level I trauma centers, with a full rollout scheduled by the end of 2022.

"Were already seeing an increased adherence to trauma guidelines with our teams using the app," says Christopherson. "The future is to continue leveraging this technology in different parts of patient care  not just Level I trauma centers, but Level IIs and IIIs as well  creating pathways for that data to go from point to point seamlessly. I can also see EMS using it at the scene of accidents to capture photos and videos to help inform care, and at rural hospitals for telemedicine  T6 has the power to do all of that."

Back in the emergency department at Cohen Childrens Medical Center, all of the members of the trauma team have assembled. Thats when they learn that the patient theyre about to treat isnt real  its part of a simulation event the hospital runs every month to sharpen and streamline their skills. But that doesnt stop them from responding as if the medical dummy laying on the table in front of them is a boy who has been hit by a car. They enter his vitals and injuries into T6 and watch as the program responds with protocols and alerts. The simulation ends when the team decides the patient needs to be moved to the operating room.

Like so many of the tools Christopherson has brought to bear at Northwell Heath, the simulations trace their roots to his time in the Army.

"I think we can always do better, and in the military, that was the case too  we were always looking at how could we be more effective and save more lives," says Christopherson. "The application of T6 is part of that. At the end of the day, the most important thing is helping people  thats what drives me."
Tesla Inc shares fell 7.5% in premarket trading on Monday as investors prepared for its chief Elon Musk's proposed sale of about a tenth of his holdings in the electric-car maker following his Twitter poll.



Musk, Tesla's chief executive officer and the world's richest person, tweeted on Saturday that he would offload 10% of his stock if users of the social media network approved the proposal.



The electric-vehicle maker's shares (TSLA.O) were down 6.2% at $1,146.43. Shares listed in Frankfurt were down about 7% at 989.10 euros.



The Twitter poll asking Musk's followers if he should sell stock garnered more than 3.5 million votes, and 57.9% of the people voted "Yes". read more



Musk had previously said he would have to exercise a large number of stock options in the next three months, which would create a big tax bill. Selling some of his stock could free up funds to pay the taxes.



"I was prepared to accept either outcome," Musk said, after the voting ended. Market participants expected speculators would try to front-run his selling.



As of June 30, Musk's shareholding in Tesla came to about 170.5 million shares and selling 10% would amount to close to $21 billion based on Friday's close, according to Reuters calculations.



Including stock options, Musk owns a 23% stake in Tesla, the world's most valuable car company.



In the three months to Nov. 4, company insiders at Tesla sold $259.62 million worth of shares, excluding dispositions of indirectly held shares, according to Refinitiv Eikon data.



Musk's straw poll follows a proposal by U.S. Senate Democrats to tax billionaires' stocks and other tradeable assets to help finance President Joe Biden's social spending agenda and fill a loophole that has allowed them to defer capital gains taxes indefinitely.



"The last thing you do when offloading a massive exposure is to reveal your hand," said Chris Weston, head of research at broker Pepperstone in Melbourne.



"The buyers tend to step away when you have an overhang like this, but this is no ordinary story and is Musk's way of getting back at the proposal to tax the elite with gains on unrealized profits."



Tesla breached a trillion dollars in market capitalization last month, becoming the fifth U.S. company to join a club which includes Apple (AAPL.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O), Amazon (AMZN.O) and Alphabet (GOOGL.O).



"The dip isn't going to last too long, because Tesla has had such a phenomenal record of bouncing back from these sort of sell-offs," said David Madden, markets analyst at Equiti Capital in London.



Investors will also be watching for any response from regulators to Musk's Twitter poll. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had ordered Tesla to vet any material public communications Musk made regarding the EV maker, following his 2018 tweet that he had "funding secured" to possibly take Tesla private in a $72 billion transaction.

Source: REUTERS









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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A week into the United Nations' high-profile climate conference in Glasgow, executives and financial analysts said they are optimistic the talks will lead to changes needed for business to play a bigger role in tackling climate change.



The business observers pointed to several steps by world leaders they said could boost sustainable business and investing efforts to mobilize the vast sums of money needed to wean the world off fossil fuels.



These include a pledge by financial firms with a combined $130 trillion in assets to focus on climate change, the creation of a global standards body to scrutinize corporate climate claims, and pledges to cut methane emissions and to save forests. read more



Jefferies managing director Aniket Shah said although many of the steps lacked specific promises, they showed a global consensus forming to tackle climate change that will make it easier to for private investors and governments to put in money and effort.



"There's a certain power of signaling of intentions that can't be dismissed here," Shah said. He pointed to the goal set by India's prime minister, Narenda Modi, on Nov. 1 for his country to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. read more



Although two decades later than what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts, the pledge was still more than India had offered in the past and could be accelerated with financial help from developed nations, Shah said.



Peter Lacy, Accentures global sustainability services lead, said that for investors and companies, the most significant step at the conference was the creation on Nov. 3 of the International Sustainability Standards Board, meant to create a baseline for companies to describe their climate impact. read more



Lacy called it a seismic moment for business and in line with the hopes of CEOs Accenture surveyed ahead of the conference.



The new board, Lacy said, "will give investors and stakeholders a much better understanding of related risks and opportunities and help guide the allocation of the huge amount of capital needed as the world transitions to net zero," he said via email.



LACK OF DETAIL



Critics say many of the conference's key announcements lack specifics and give companies wiggle room. read more For instance, banks, insurers and investors pledged to work to cut emissions to net zero by 2050, but each entity has made its own net zero commitments "with potential overlap across initiatives, institutions and assets," according to the group's press statement.



Leslie Samuelrich, media of Green Century Capital Management in Boston, which does not invest in fossil fuel stocks, said she worries bigger investment firms signed on so quickly to carbon-reduction pledges advertised at Glasgow because their terms might be too easy to meet.



"The speed with which some have adopted this makes me cautious," Samuelrich said.



But other finance executives say it is inevitable businesses will move to cut emissions under pressure from customers and to chase profits. Mark Haefele, chief investment officer for UBS Global Wealth Management, said promising areas include renewable energy, transport and batteries.



Diplomats now must hash out rules on areas like constructing markets to help businesses price carbon and how much developed nations will help poorer ones.[nL8N2RY0GS]



On a call with journalists on Friday, David Waskow, a director of the nonprofit World Resources Institute, said he was more optimistic than a week ago that the attendees would strike meaningful agreements.



"I think the beginning of the week actually did lay good groundwork. Not to say everything is all rosy," he said.

Source: REUTERS









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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Energy Minister, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has met with power producers Lekela on the sidelines of the COP26 Climate Change Conferec currently taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, to engage the company on how they could best align with Ghana's energy sector and economic development plans.



Lekela is Africas largest renewable energy Independent Power Producer (IPP), with more than 1 gigawatt of projects in operation across Africa, including in Egypt, Senegal, and South Africa.



The discussions centered on a business proposal of a 225mw of wind power, on a take-and-pay contract with no government guarantee and with a very competitive energy charge denominated in pesewas.



At the meeting, Dr. Prempeh, who is also the MP for Manhyia South, assured the company of governments eagerness to engage them to conclude an agreement with a local distribution company in Ghana.



On his part, the CEO of Lekela, Chris Antonopoulous said his company brings with it the highest international standards for responsible investing and a comprehensive plan for sustainable investment in the project-affected community and will create hundreds of jobs in the process between construction and operation as well as procure a considerable amount of local content, helping to upskill workers.



He thanked the Minister for the opportunity to meet and looked forward to the development of the project to fit in with Ghana's energy transition agenda, meet Ghana's energy needs and contribute towards the country's renewable energy targets.



Mr. Antonopoulous was joined by the companys Chief Commercial Officer, Bernard Kiernan, with Mr. Paul Akwaboah, Chairman of the UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board in attendance.



In attendance from the Ministry of Energy were the Chief Director, Mr. Lawrence Apaalse and the Director of Legal, Ms Sarah Fafa Kpodo.

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana









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When the elite in Ghanas corporate world met to strut their stuff along the fine halls of Labadi Beach Hotel on Saturday November 6 2021, it was Absa Bank that got the best of the lot in the banking sector category. In what was a night of back-slapping and award-giving at the 32nd National Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIMG) National Marketing Awards, Absa took away the most coveted Bank of the Year honor.



Banks represent the engine of growth and stimulation for any emerging economy, and in Ghana, Absa plays a crucial role in the sustenance and progress of key business sectors.



As a systemically important bank that has supported economic growth for over 100 years, the bank remains solidly anchored in the Ghanaian economy. It plays an enabling role in key sectors of the economy including Oil & Gas, Health, Infrastructure, Telecoms, Agriculture, Manufacturing, Energy, and Education.



With 67 service outlets and about 170 ATMs spread across the country, Absa Ghana also provides a wide range of digital banking solutions such as its Mobile Banking App with fingerprint and facial recognition, iATM with Cash Deposit and Cardless transaction functionality.



Before the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the bank underwent an unprecedented transformation that repositioned its business to better serve its customers.



Led by its Managing Director, Abena Osei-Poku, the bank was one of the foremost leaders in anticipating and structuring plans to better engage its staff and customers during COVID-19. Innovative products aligned to unique digital platforms and the application of new ways of working for staff, ensured that the Bank ended 2020 as one of the most profitable banks in the country. With several industry-firsts in product innovation including Absa Emerge for female entrepreneurs, Absa StartUp Banking and the vertical and contactless debit cards, the bank continues to redefine new ways of banking in a world that is increasingly controlled by technology and creativity.



Managing Director, Abena Osei-Pokus relentless outlook, experience and overall knack for spotting new business opportunities continue to serve the bank well.



Commenting on the CIMG recognition, she said: Our gratitude goes to our customers and stakeholders for sticking with us all these years. As a forward-looking African business with global scale, we are driven by our brand promise and purpose of helping our customers find ways to get things done and bringing possibilities to life. This is backed by a bold growth strategy which prioritizes innovation & digital leadership, strong focus on customers and being an active force for good in society. The CIMG award reflects the hard work we continue to put in to ensure we are the best-in-class and the preferred choice for our current and prospective clients. We continue to lead the way in demonstrating what a bank must stand for in the eyes of its clients, customers, employees and the larger society.



Absa is among the leading banks in Ghana with a significant market share and currently the most profitable in that category. The Banks excellence in strategic marketing from insights through to implementation of marketing mix programmes, is also producing outstanding results by enabling the creation of bespoke solutions to client and customers.



The CIMG Bank of the Year Award truly demonstrates what is possible when a bank decides to align its mandate to the specific needs, aspirations, expectations and deliverables of its clients, customers and stakeholders.

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 founder of the defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien, who has been accused of collapsing the bank, shed tears at the Accra High Court Thursday afternoon as he described the formation and successes of the defunct bank.



Essien who was continuing with his defence, broke into tears when he told the court that Capital Bank would had been a household name if it was still in operation.



There was absolutely no doubt that all that it required was just a matter of time and Capital Bank would have become a household name , he said.



As he spoke the words, Essien's voice became hoarse, and he started wiping his tears.



The presiding judge, Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as a High Court judge, asked his court clerk to offer Essien a tissue and water.



A lawyer in the courtroom stood up and offered a tissue as the court clerk went out to get water for Essien.



Essien described the formation, shareholder structure of Capital Bank as well as some of the innovations initiated by the defunct bank.



He will continue the defence on November 18.



Not guilty



Essien is standing trial with the Managing Director (MD) of the defunct bank, Fitzgerald Odonkor, and the MD of MC Management Services, Tettey Nettey.

MC Management Services is said to be owned by Essien.



The accused persons have pleaded not guilty to all the charges of stealing, abetment to stealing, conspiracy to steal and money laundering.



The prosecution has accused the three people of engaging in various illegal acts that led to the dissipation of the GH620-million liquidity support given to Capital Bank by the BoG between June 2015 and November 2016.



It is the case of the A-G that Essien, with Odonkors aid, transferred the liquidity support to certain companies either controlled by him or in which he had interest.







Source: Daily Graphic









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Vodafone Ghana Foundation, with support from the Human Resource Department of Vodafone Ghana and the cross-functional Vodafone Spirit Team, has presented hospital equipment and essential medical supplies to the Maamobi General Hospital in Accra.



Items donated include wheelchairs and COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as N95 respirators, bleach, anti-bacterial soap, hand sanitisers, surgical face masks, alcohol rub, and tissue.



Speaking at the event, the Human Resource Director, Hannah Ashiokai Akrong, said the gesture is part of the companys efforts to mark Vodafone Spirit Day.



"On Vodafone Spirit Day, we reflect on the beliefs we stand for and the key behaviours that help us make our strategy and purpose a reality. We also connect with the communities in which we operate by embarking on socially impactful initiatives. We are excited to contribute these items to help the Maamobi Hospital deliver quality healthcare. We believe these items will help the hospital protect staff and patients who visit the hospital. "



On behalf of the management of Maamobi General Hospital, Dr Prince Emmanuel Daitey, Clinical Care Coordinator for the Hospital, thanked Vodafone Ghana for the equipment.



"We want to thank Vodafone Ghana for coming to our aid with these PPEs and wheelchairs. They came at an opportune time when we needed these items to help in rendering efficient service delivery. Many organisations focus on the larger hospitals when donating, but we are very grateful that you remembered us. We believe that this is the beginning of a deep relationship between us as you continue your good work in Ghana. "

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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The Hungarian Government has donated 800,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines valued at 1.4 million Euros to Ghana.



Briefing the Ghana News Agency in Accra, on Wednesday, Mr Tamas Endre Feher, the Ambassador of Hungary to Ghana, said the donation was the largest Hungary had ever offered to an international partner.



Ghana is an important partner for Hungary in Sub-Saharan Africa and we hope the donation will contribute to the prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we look forward to deepening our friendly cooperation with Ghana in the years ahead, he said.



Dr Lawrence Tetteh, the Coordinator of Ghana Hungarian Friendship Association, thanked the people of Hungary for the gesture.



In all, Ghana has taken delivery of more than two million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.



The country is targeting to vaccinate about 20 million (70 per cent) of the population to reach a herd immunity threshold.



Ghanas COVID-19 vaccine sensitisation campaign builds on the emergency response awareness campaign conducted from March to December 2020 about COVID-19 risks, prevention, and treatment.



Since the re-opening of the Hungarian Embassy in Accra, in 2016, many projects have been implemented successfully in the water, sanitation, health, agriculture and food sectors, showing the potential and commitment from both countries at the highest levels.



After four successful years, Hungary doubled the quotas for Ghana under the Governmental Scholarship Programme, with the country sending 100 new students each year for various degree programmes.





Source: GNA









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Chieftaincy conflicts in many parts of the country account for 65 per cent of domestic security challenges in Ghana, the Minister for National Security, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, has said.



Apart from unresolved chieftaincy issues, he listed the other domestic security challenges facing the country that make up the remaining 35 per cent as armed robbery, farmer-herdsmen conflicts, cyber crime and the recent secession issue in the Volta Region.



The minister made this known during the opening of a sensitisation workshop on the National Security Strategy (NSS) for the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and the Interior in Accra yesterday.



The workshop, organised by the Ministry of National Security, is part of a series of activities to educate the public on the National Security document which was launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in June 2021.



Security strategy



The NSS document, the first of its kind in the history of the country, has the overarching vision of maintaining Ghana as an open, tolerant, socially cohesive, peace-loving, people-centred, secure, united and prosperous constitutional democracy that upholds the rule of law.



It contains Ghanas strategy to prevent, preempt, protect and, if necessary, respond to security threats.



The document has currently been tabled before Parliament for parliamentary approval and adoption, while the ministry is currently considering the cost of the implementation of the various strategies captured by the document.



Security challenges



Mr Kan-Dapaah, who did not give the exact number of chieftaincy-related cases before the ministry, however, said there is currently a chieftaincy issue in the northern part of the country.



He said Ghana had, over the years, been a relatively peaceful country, even in the absence of a national security document, but security challenges keep changing.



He expressed worry over the increasing rate of cyber crime in especially the banking sector, saying it had gradually become a major security threat.



Additionally, he said, the secession incident recorded in the Volta Region must not be treated as an isolated incident.



It is a new threat and we cannot take it for granted because it is possible it can rear its ugly head in other regions where people are also worried that they are being marginalised and not being given the opportunity to feel they are part of the country, he said.



Multi-agency approach



Mr Kan-Dapaah said terrorism and piracy in the Gulf region was also a security threat in the West African region, to which Ghana was not immune.



He said it was the multiple nature of the security challenge that led to the development of the NSS document, which profiles the security challenges and issues of concern and captures the approach that could be adopted to tackle them.



The best way to manage the security system, he said, was to adopt a multi-agency approach, with government agencies, non-governmental agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), the media and other institutions working together to ensure that Ghanas stability and security were maintained.



In the past, there had been similar policy documents that had been developed in this country, such as Vision 2020, but most of those documents did not stand the test of time due to change of government and other reasons, he indicated.



To make the NSS document stand the test of time, he said, the ministry deliberately involved relevant bodies and individuals, such as security experts in the various political parties, representatives of organised labour and CSOs, to contribute to the development of the policy.



Framework for security



The Vice-Chair of the committee, Mrs Ophelia Mensah Hayford, said the sensitisation would help members of the committee acquire the needed knowledge that would help them consider the document and write a good report that would facilitate debate on the document by all Members of Parliament (MPs).



The Ranking Member of the committee, Mr James Agalga, said Ghana was the first country in the West African sub-region to launch such a strategy document and commended the ministry for the inclusive approach adopted during the development of the document.



The document reflects the aspirations and thinking of all Ghanaians and it is a framework that can ensure that security is effectively dealt with, he said.



He said the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, had referred the document to the committee after it was laid before Parliament two months ago by the Minister for National Security.



So we are hoping that this important document, after it has been adopted, will be fully implemented, and that the committee will still have a role to play so far as its implementation is concerned, he said.









Source: graphiconline.com









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This years Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE) will begin on Monday, 15 November 2021.

The 5-day exam will be written at all 2,158 centres across the country.



In all, 571,894 candidates are expected to take the exam. The management of the Ghana Education Service (GES), in a statement, advised candidates, invigilators, supervisors, school authorities, teachers and parents to desist from any form of examination malpractice.



The statement continued: GES, WAEC and the security services are working jointly to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations at all centres across the country.



It advised supervisors and invigilators to ensure strict adherence to the COVID protocols at all centres.

It further revealed: The school selection process will commence after the BECE, with details communicated in due course.



The management of GES also wished all candidates taking this years exam success and good luck.













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The National Communications Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), George Ayisi says the institution has no immediate plans to construct evacuation centres to assist victims.



He also could not provide specific figures of aid provided to victims of the ravages of Ketu South tidal waves, more than 48 hours after NADMO claimed to have conducted a needs assessment in the area.



Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has asked persons living along the coast as well as other Ghanaians to stop the sand-winning activity in order to halt tidal waves.



He noted that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has blamed the menace of the tidal waves on sand-winning activities.



Therefore, this must stop, he said.



The Member of Parliament for Effutu was speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 9 in connection with the tidal waves that affected Keta and its environs on Saturday, November 6 destroying properties and rendering about 700 people homeless.



He said Former President Rawlings who, by the grace of God, spent twenty years on the seat and was also from Volta region, had good reason to lament some activities including sand-winning at the time that was making the situation worse. I have just read on the internet and recently, the EPA boss, when this situation happened, also had the course to lament that one of the factors making this situation worse is the unfortunate sand winning business.



The Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye has also said that while the government makes all the necessary efforts to avert tidal waves from happening, coastal residents should also avoid practices that expose them to the vagaries of the rising sea levels.



According to him, there have been reported cases of sand winning, uprooting of mangroves along the coastal stretch.



If these continue, he said, the investments by the government cannot yield the needed protection.



Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, November 8, in connection with the tidal waves he said that I must reiterate that the government acknowledges the urgent need to permanently address the devastating effects of tidal waves in the affected towns of Agavedzi, Salakope, and Amutsinu communities in the Ketu South Constituency.



These communities are on the same coastal stretch as Blekusu, also in the Ketu South Constituency. This coastal stretch is characterized by narrow beaches and the effects of tidal waves along the coastal stretch can be very devastating, and consequently result in beach erosion, loss of land, property, and sometimes extensive flooding in the event of wave overtopping.



The erosion of the beaches also impacts negatively on fishing, which is the main source of livelihood of the communities along this coastal stretch.



As part of measures to curb these devastating incidences in these towns, in July 2015, the Ministry of Works and Housing engaged Messrs Amandi Holding Limited to design and construct coastal protection works along this stretch, starting from Blekusu and working towards Agavedzi, Salakope, and Amutsinu under the Blekusu Coastal Protection Project.



The project, which protects 4300 metres (i.e., 4.3 kilometres) of the coastal stretch, had the first phase completed in July 2019 and has since functioned effectively, protecting lives, livelihoods, and properties while reviving fishing activities.



He added The Ministry of Works and Housing (Government) notes the sense of urgency for undertaking the second phase of the project to protect Adina, Agavedzi, Salakope, and Amutsinu communities and others to the east of Blekusu. To this end, the Ministry is commenced urgent steps to implement the second phase of the project.



The Ministry has finalised the Evaluation of the relevant proposal to start the works under the second phase of the project."





Source: 3 news









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Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa says he believes the advice by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) on issues of governance is difficult to sustain.



According to him, people have suffered hardships since time immemorial and will continue with or without any political party.



Buaben Asamoa, reacting to the statement on Okay FM's "Ade Akye Abia", stated that government is continually working to improve the economic condition of Ghanaians.



He stressed that the country was generally being steered in the right direction.



"We respect our Bishop but you cannot say we are not protecting public purse and that is why prostitution is in Ghana...Has prostitution not existed long before this government?'', he asked.



"We dont believe that we have achieved everything, far from it and we dont believe that everything we are managing is complete, far from it. But we believe that we are working very hard towards the public good, we believe we are widening (the) social net and we believe we are moving the economy in the right direction., he added.



What the GCBC President Said



President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, addressing a gathering in Wa in the Upper West Region, spoke in critical terms about issues of governance in the country.



One of the most stinging points was about how the President's pledge to protect the public purse is nothing but an illusion.



Though poverty stares us in the face, it appears lost to those with power. The expressed commitment of the president of the republic to protect the public purse, a promise that citizens welcomed, seems to be an illusion now.



"Are those managing the public purse not concerned about waste and misapplication of resources that belong to all Ghanaians? Can this be referred to as irresponsible use of power or the lack of compassion and empathy?, he queried.



Watch Video Below





Source: Peacefmonline.com









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Former President John Dramani Mahama has stated that creating sustainable jobs requires strategic investment in the agriculture value chain, particularly agro-processing where the country has a huge growth potential.

To achieve that goal, he said it was important for the government to provide an enabling environment for private sector investment.



Speaking on Accra-based Power FM today (November 9) at the start of his Greater Accra Regional Thank You tour, Mr Mahama said, "the opportunities are there if we put our investment in the right places".



One million jobs policy



He said in the interest of national development, the government could tap into the one million jobs initiative in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto for the 2020 elections.



He explained that the one million jobs initiative was more focused on creating sustainable jobs in the agriculture sector through the prioritisation of agro-processing.



Mr Mahama noted that as part of the one million jobs initiative, processing plants were to be set up in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions for the processing of cashew.



He also said more attention had to be given to the oil palm industry to create more jobs.



"We believe that investment in these areas in line with the one million job initiatives will create opportunities for many people to earn a livelihood.



The government can look at it and implement it in the national interest," he said.



Self-inflicted



The former President accused the government of contributing to the unemployment situation in the country through the closure of some indigenous banks that were the main providers of loans for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).



He observed that following the closure of the banks, SMEs found it difficult to access loans from the big banks and financial institutions.



He also blamed the government for what he described as "excessive borrowing".



Mr Mahama said although the public debt had risen from GH120 billion in 2016 to GH375 billion in 2021, the government had failed to invest in infrastructure and only focused on consumption expenditure.



He said it was worrying that while the government borrowed more, it had failed to put the resources to good use.



Corruption



Touching on the fight against corruption, the former President blamed President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for paying lip service to dealing with the menace.



"He appointed a Special Prosecutor and when Mr Martin Amidu (the Special Prosecutor) resigned, he described the President as the mother serpent of corruption.



This is a big indictment on his corruption fight," he said.



Again, he said although some government officials were reported to have been involved in corruption, they were cleared through non-transparent processes.



Mr Mahama said the posture by the President to always insist that whistle blowers brought hard-core evidence against public officials before they were investigated did not paint a good picture of someone who was willing to fight the menace.



"There will be cases of corruption in every government but how you deal with them when they occur is what matters," he stressed.



General hardship



The former President said his tour of the 16 regions this year showed that there was economic hardship in the country.



According to him, the mood across the country was that of despair and disappointment as people had unmet needs because of the government's unfulfilled promises.









Source: graphiconline.com









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The Kadjebi District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Daniel Agbesi-Latsu, has appealed to political party leaders, agents, actors and assigns to help sustain the prevailing peace in the country.

He said the prevailing peace could only be sustained if political elites based their conversations on issues rather than insults and name-calling.



He, therefore, stressed the need for them to be tolerant, patient, fair and respect one anothers fundamental human rights, as those were factors that ensured peaceful co-existence in homes, schools, institutions, communities and the nation as a whole.



Dialogue



Mr Agbesi-Latsu made the call at an Inter-Party Dialogue Committee (IPDC) meeting organised by the NCCE with support from the Ministry of National Security at Kadjebi in the Oti Region.



The political parties that were present included the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the National Democratic Party (NDP), the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and the Peoples National Convention (PNC).



He explained that the IPDC meetings were aimed at reawakening dialogue among political parties and other stakeholders on the collective responsibility of ensuring peaceful co-existence as a cornerstone of national cohesion.



The district director said the meeting also sought to deepen the existing collaboration between the NCCE, political parties, the youth, security agencies, chiefs, civil society and community leaders as important stakeholders of peace and security in Ghana.



If we are to have peace on earth, then our loyalties must transcend our race, tribe, class, and nation and this means we must develop a world perspective.



Development



The Headmaster of Kadjebi-Asato Senior High School, Rev. Fr Daniel Lenwah, said Ghana needed peace to develop.



He said politicians were the cause of all confusion in Ghana, adding that politics was about development and not conflicts.



Rev. Fr Lenwah, who delivered a paper on National cohesion and peaceful co-existence as an important aspect of national development, urged the stakeholders to build on issues but not personalities.



He urged political leaders to provide the necessities for the citizenry as politics was about problem-solving.



Rev. Fr Lenwah said Ghanaians must acknowledge every tribe in Ghana and inter-marry to create and build a peaceful country.



For his part, the Jasikan District Director of the NCCE, Mr Stephen Mensah, called on the participants to be security conscious by reporting suspicious characters to the security agencies for action.



Mr Mensah, who represented the Oti acting Regional Director of NCCE, Mr Robert Nana Boame, said conflicts and terrorist attacks on Ghanas neighbouring countries and research conducted by the Commission had informed its sensitisation to peace and national cohesion.



Discrimination



The Kadjebi District Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Eric Arthur Fynn, called on Ghanaians not to discriminate based on race, gender, socio-economic or political affiliations.



A representative of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Samuel Adjei, charged the participants to help the security agencies to protect the country by reporting those who used unapproved routes to enter the country.



He called on Ghanaians to be vigilant by reporting suspicious characters to the lawful agencies since Ghana was not immune to terrorist attacks.









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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General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, after the party election petition defeat at the Supreme Court challenging the legitimacy of the presidential results and the subsequent winner has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare to probe alleged illegal printing of excess presidential ballot papers in the 2020 general elections.



The General Secretary who had come under constant criticism for performing poorly at the Supreme Court wants to use the police petition to shore up its image, demanding a stiff punishment for any offender.

He says any persons found culpable after the probe should be prosecuted.



However, a section of the public believes this is an eye service to redeem his sinking image as he prepares for another election as he is reported to be eyeing another national executive position in the NDC, especially the chairmanship in the impending party elections.



Portion of the petition stated that I write on behalf of the National Democratic Congress to petition your office to institute criminal investigations into and prosecute persons culpable in the illegal printing of over one million excess presidential ballots meant for the Ashanti Region at Innolink Printing press, one of the seven security printing firms contracted by the Electoral Commission to print election materials for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.



It further claimed that the petition was occasioned because there had not been any update on investigations on electoral malpractices and violence that characterized the election and voter registration exercise.



As you aware, the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections were characterized by various acts of violence before, during, and after elections. Indeed, for the first time in Ghanas electoral history, at least one person lost his life during voter registration and as many as eight others lost their lives in incidents of gun violence involving security personnel with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.



We contend that the failure on the part of the police to deal decisively with such heinous crimes portends clear dangers for Ghanas democracy that all well-meaning Ghanaians and development partners should be concerned about. It is for this reason that we request that the Ghana Police Service provides us updates on the state of investigation and prosecution.



The NDC is claiming on various platforms that there were electoral malpractices in the last general elections.



Last week, the Electoral Commission (EC) called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate claims by former President John Mahama that there was over-voting in the 2020 general elections.



A Deputy Chairperson of the EC in charge of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, disputed the claim and appealed to the police to immediately investigate it.



The former president has said that the EC thumb printed one million ballot papers in favour of the President of the Republic [Nana Akufo-Addo]. This is untrue This is not a matter that should be ignored, and we call on the Ghana Police Service to investigate it This is a great matter that undermines the credibility of the electoral process and should not be ignored. We call on him to provide evidence to support this claim, he stated.

Source: Daily Guide









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has responded to the remarks by the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference in which the Bishops bitterly complain about the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.



The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, speaking at this years plenary assembly of the Association in Wa on Monday, November 8, accused government of not protecting the public purse.



Though poverty stares us in the face, it appears lost to those with power. The expressed commitment of the President of the Republic to protect the public purse, a promise that citizens welcomed, seems to be an illusion now," he said.



He questioned; "Are those managing the public purse not concerned about waste and misapplication of resources that belong to all Ghanaians? Can this be referred to as irresponsible use of power or the lack of compassion and empathy?"



The Most Rev. Philip Naameh further cautioned politicians against taking the will of the electorate for granted, saying those who are entrusted with power that comes from our collective will must know that what they do with that (power) shapes what we all will become in the future.



The Catholic Bishops also bemoaned the economic situation confronting the populace, highlighting challenges in various sectors of the economy with emphasis on education, cyber crime, health, prostitution among others and admonished the government to find a lasting solution to the challenges.



Kwamena Duncan, in reply, finds the Bishops' statements to be baseless as he argued on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' Wednesday morning that the Bishops failed to state the basis for the claims.



Describing the claims as 'omnibus', the former Minister sent a word of caution to the Bishops saying, "if care is not taken, we will get to the point where every politician is quote unquote corrupt. What that means is that then we will be undermining the very governance system and [the consequences] I'm saying that this country cannot be the consequences''.



"This is an omnibus allegation against politicians, and what that means is that you may imperceptibly be causing a certain lack of confidence in politics, in governance and the consequences will not also be good for our country, for democracy and even the church," he stressed.



He, however, noted that he isn't in support of politicians engaging in corrupt practices or any wrong thing but he also wouldn't accept that the Bishops make false accusations.



"Me, I will be part of those who will condemn a politician who does wrong. I will be part. If me, myself, I'm involved in any wrongdoing; look, I submit myself to condemnation. But if I also have no basis, it is unacceptable that I do politics or in my capacity as a politician, Minister, Deputy Minister, President that it's easy that as for politicians, you can accuse them left, right, center and go scot free; then a paramount Pastor, I join the bandwagon. That is not fair. That is not proper.''







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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Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako says Ex-President John Dramani Mahama's call for an independent investigator to probe into his ballot stuffing allegations against the Electoral Commission of Ghana is a complete waste.



Former President John Mahama has accepted the challenge by the Electoral Commission (EC) to the Police to investigate his claims of one million vote fraud in the 2020 elections but says he will only testify before an independent investigator.



Speaking on TV XYZ on Tuesday November 9, he said; That is what I want, they said we should have an investigation, lets have an investigation. But I dont know if the police are the best to do that. I dont know what the police are going to investigate. We want an independent inquiry or lets go to ECOWAS.



"ECOWAS has an electoral body, let them come and investigate Ghanas election of 2020. I will welcome it, I will testify. Under oath, I will swear an oath and testify. I wont run away from the witness box," he added.



But Kweku Baako has rubbished Mr. Mahama's demand as he wonders how the former President is going to trust ECOWAS when their Observer Mission has already declared the 2020 elections free and fair.



Known for his impeccable record-keeping, Mr. Baako pulled out a publication by the Daily Graphic on December 10th last year under the headline 'Emulate Ghanas Election Conduct- ECOWAS Observer Mission Tells African Countries' in which ECOWAS was impressed with the elections.



International Observer Missions' Statements



At a post-election meeting of the Heads of International Election Observation Missions (IEOMs) to Ghanas 2020 elections, the Head of the ECOWAS Observer Mission, Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said; It is pleasing to know that Ghana has lived up to its expectations in the conduct of elections in a free, fair and credible manner.



Mrs Johnson-Sirleaf, who is a former President of Liberia, reportedly advised African countries to emulate Ghana, which, according to her, was a model for Africa, to instill the much-needed confidence in the electoral systems in their various countries, the publication further read.



Also the Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Mr Javier Nart, is quoted as saying voting was well conducted and political party agents were present at all polling stations, where the verification of voters was implemented. Counting was transparent in the presence of party agents, who signed the results and received copies, which is a critical transparency measure.



Fears about violence and vigilantism, fortunately, did not materialise. There were some isolated incidents, even tragic ones, he stressed.



Needless Call



It appears Mr. Mahama has already lost the battle as Kweku Baako wonders how he's going to vindicate himself.



"In the wildest imagination, let's do some hypothesis here. That we have reached this absurd level that ECOWAS has accepted that yes, we are coming to conduct investigations into the generality of the elections, how it was conducted. They will not come minus what their Mission observed."





''Indeed, I think that you should perceive them as people who are already biased. You don't trust Ghana Police because maybe they report to the executive or they are under the executive, so we should go beyond Ghanaian borders. Let's go for ECOWAS electoral body. The electoral body from ECOWAS, already, they've bought into their Mission's report that says the elections were free, fair and credible.''"This is a waste of precious time and space, in my candid opinion. It's a sheer waste of precious time and space. Needless call!'', he exclaimed while discussing the issue on''Kokrokoo''.Mr. Baako also believed the opportunity for Mr. Mahama ''to have sworn an oath and vindicated his case is gone with the winds'' as he explained that the Ex-President lost the opportunity when he allowed the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia to deputize for him during the election petition hearing at the Supreme Court.In his view, he (Mahama) should have personally been in the witness box to defend his case.

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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Presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 elections, John Dramani Mahama, has accused the NPP administration of engaging in spirited linguistic acrobatics to pat itself on the back even when it is crystal clear that the economy is in tatters.



According to him, despite the general lamentations by Ghanaians of worsening economic hardships amidst the unbridled fuel price increment, the Akufo-Addo led government has grown a penchant for singing a chorus of per statistical indicators, the country has strong economic fundamentals and is sure footed.



But "beyond these spirited linguistic acrobatic," the NDC flagbearer sought to point out that, "the plain truth which we all see and feel, is that the Ghanaian economy is in deep crisis."



Wrapping up his nationwide Thank You tour with a public lecture on Wednesday, Mr Mahama indicted the current administration of "bastardisation and politicisation of state institutions, misguided priorities in economic management, heavy-handed governance, mounting corruption" among others.



The lecture, dubbed, ThankGhana, Social Justice and A Sustainable Economy, was held at the Kempinski Gold Coast City Hotel in Accra.



The former President further asserted that the ruling NPP has not only failed to deliver on its numerous promises but has stagnated the growth of the economy through its actions and inactions.



The most pressing problem is the impact of the ailing economy on livelihoods, prospects and dreams. The consequences of misguided priorities in economic management have led to unbearable hardship, high unemployment and the frustration and despair felt by millions of the youth.



The others include the bastardisation and politicisation of state institutions. The mounting corruption, rising insecurity, abuse of power, lack of investment in critical infrastructure and abandonment of projects and heavy-handed governance, he enumerated.

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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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Zesuza Catering Services has been adjudged the Best Supporting Team of the Year award at the just-ended 3rd edition of the 2021 Ghana Event Industry Conference (GEIC) Gala and Awards night held at the Labadi Beach Hotel.



The prestigious award was in recognition of the company's dedication and commitment in building the events industry as well as being a highly respected advocate for best practices in the tourism sector.



Speaking to the media after receiving the award, CEO of Zesuza Catering Services, Soraya Mensah expressed gratitude to the Board and Leadership of the GEIC, her staff and cherish clients for always patronizing them.



This award is for the hard work of her team. She said I am not surprised as my teamwork so hard and have gone through several training and can take up any kind of event be it small or large. Zesuza won best catering service last year and 3 other awards this year.



Soraya Mensah took the opportunity to urge the government to keep investing in the event sector to ensure proper standards in all aspects.



" I want to take this opportunity, to call on government and all stakeholders involved to constantly support the creative art industry so we can bring out the best in our industry ".



This year's Ghana Event Industry Conference (GEIC) organized by the Event Vendors Association of Ghana (EVAG) was on the theme "Resilience, Rethink, Redefine and Recreate", a platform created for operators in the event industry to synergies and pull resources from each other and also promoting high level of ethics within the events industry and management to high standards.



The event was filled with so much fun and excitement as guests enjoyed amazing performances from the Mystro Kojo Antwi, Kuame Eugene, Adina and Kamido.



Zesuza Farms & Catering Services is a well-established catering company with a reputation of second to none. Our Chefs have worked in some of the countrys finest establishments, hotels and restaurants and also with celebrity clients in Ghana. Started in 2010 as a restaurant.



The Company has built an enviable reputation in Ghana. The company's reputation is built on repeatedly delivering innovative menus using the best quality ingredients and providing attentive, friendly and professional customer service.



Whether you are planning a formal, informal dinner, wedding, breakfast, a casual barbecue, succulent spit roast, private party, corporate event or a small private dining experience in your own home, we offer bespoke menu design to suit all budgets and individual specifications without ever compromising quality.



The company has built food stations to suit your event style and theme.



Zesuza has catered for some of the high profile people in ghana. Zesuza also serves to cooperate lunch every day.

Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana









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Dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah popularly known as Shatta Wale created a scene at the Police headquarters in Accra today.

Exhibiting an angry mood, Shatta Wale stormed out of a meeting with the Inspector General of Police (IGP).



The IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare had called a private meeting to interact with people in the creative arts industry.



Since his appointment as the IGP, Dr Dampare and the police management have been meeting with various stakeholders.



Wednesday morning (November 10, 2021) was the turn of the creative arts sector and Shatta Wale was also invited as an artiste.



Shatta Wale breaks protocol

As part of the protocol for the meeting, the media was asked to stay out of the meeting.

There was to be no recording of the meeting.

But Shatta Wale broke protocol and started filming the session.



A police officer reportedly asked him to stop and he got infuriated and reportedly spoke harshly to the police officer in the presence of the IGP and other senior police officers.



An order was reportedly given for him to be detained and some of the people at the meeting pleaded and he was spared.



Graphic Online's Emelia Ennin Abbey who was outside of the meeting room reports from the police headquarters that, Shatta Wale was spotted moving out of the meeting room while the meeting was still in session and exhibiting an angry mood.



Some police officers followed him outside.



Shatta Wale's anger was that, he saw some of his colleagues at the meeting recording the session with their phones.



When he also pulled out his phone, a policeman approached him and asked him to stop and that is why he got angry.



"You called me to come here, I've come here, I'm sitting down, people are taking out their phones, me alone took out my phone, some policeman wanted to talk to me," Shatta Wale said while explaining why he stormed out of the meeting.



















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The Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare held a private meeting with stakeholders in the creative industry on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at the Police Headquarters in Accra.



A cross-section of showbiz personalities from the various arts disciplines raised some security concerns, which were addressed by the IGP.



The meeting was to engage the creatives on their concerns with the Ghana Police Service. some of the celebrities who were spotted at the meeting include, Stonebwoy, Samini, Afia Schwarzenegger, Kwame A Plus, Kidi, Kuami Eugene, Musiga President, Bessa Simons, GHAMRO ex-Chairman, Rex Omar, Agya Koo, Mercy Asiedu, Abeiku Santana, Van Vicker, Shatta Wale, Vicky Zugah, D-Black, Sefa among others.



Koo Fori said that the IGP assured him and his colleagues of giving that everything that was discussed including the protection of celebrities will be tackled by the police.



Addressing the media after the meeting on behalf of the creative artists, Socrate Safo, the Chairman of the Film Classification Committee was thankful to the IGP for giving them the opportunity to interact with the police.



The Director-General of Public Affairs at the Police Service, ASP Kwesi Ofori also briefed the media about the specific issues that were raised at the meeting.



This meeting comes on the back of the trial of popular artistes  Shatta Wale and Medikal  for falling foul of the law.



Shatta Wale was dragged to court over a shooting prank, while Medikal is facing the law for brandishing a gun.



Watch exclusive coverage of the event:

<iframe width="600" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_hNuF8Eimz8" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>





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There is going to be a state burial for the legendary musician, Nana Kwame Ampadu. The veteran musician died on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. aged 76.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has decided to honour Nana Ampadu with the state burial.



The Director of Communication at the Presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin made this known at press briefing at the Jubilee House Thursday morning.



A former General Secretary of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Nana Kwame Ampadu born Patrick Kwame Ampadu was the founder of the famous African Brothers Band, and rose to national prominence in 1967 with his song Ebi Te Yie.



The veteran musician was admired as a master lyricist for great compositions including Getty, Oman Bo Adwo, Kofi Nkrabea, Yaw Berko, Obra, Agartha and Obi Benya Wo.



Ampadus career saw him travel around the world and in 2015, the he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 16th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. In 2017, he was among five Highlife artistes honoured at the MUSIGA Grand Ball where he received a plaque and a cash prize.



Nana Ampadu was a mentor to several musicians including Sam Derchie, Teacher Boateng, Nanaba Amoako, Senior Eddie Donkor and Prince Osei Kofi. More recently, he worked with top artistes including rapper Sarkodie.















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Around the Bluhmin' Town: Honor those individuals who wore the uniform
Paul Butler, a Washington Post contributing columnist, writes on issues at the intersection of criminal justice and race. Butler is the Albert Brick Professor in Law at Georgetown University Law Center and an MSNBC legal analyst.
President Joe Biden signed his $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law Monday on the White House lawn, hailing it as an example of what bipartisanship can achieve.
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2021 WSOP Day 42: Main Event Whittled to 2,362 Players

November 11, 2021 Anthony Thompson Leo Contreras Mike Patrick

Day 42 of the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) saw the tournament areas of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino packed to the rafters with the mammoth-sized WSOP Main Event Day 2cef, the $1,111 Little One for One Drop, and the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo tournaments all taking place.

The Main Event's final Day 2, made up of the survivors from Day 1c, 1e, and 1f combined to make a field of 1,810. Only 922 of those players progressed to Day 3.

2021 WSOP Live Reporting Hub Follow all the live-action as it happens from the 2021 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas! Click Here

Conrad De Armas Claims Main Event Day 2cef Chip Lead

Conrad De Armas

For the past week, the flagship tournament of the 2021 World Series of Poker has witnessed 6,650 players take to the felt in a quest to call themselves poker's champion, and now the Day 3 roster for the WSOP Main Event is finally set.

There were more than 1,800 hopefuls who took to their seats today looking to find a pick slip by day's end, but after another full day of action, only half were able to achieve that goal.

Sitting near the top at the end of the night was Conrad De Armas, who bagged a whopping 744,000, which was good enough to pass Rameez Shahid, who bagged 731,700 in yesterday's Day 2.

Others to bag big were Adam Walton (673,100), nine-time circuit ring winner Daniel Lowery (625,200), Matt Glantz (580,000), and Artan Dedusha (577,100).

Moneymaker Steals the Show of Former Champs In Day 2 Field

Chris Moneymaker

With the Amazon and Pavilion rooms flooded with players looking to make a Day 3 birth, the day may have been highlighted by the seven former Main Event champions who sat in the vast field in the quest for another Main Event title.

The 1998 champ Scotty Nguyen came in with the shortest stack of the seven formers and couldn't get anything going as his Main Event ended shortly after returning from dinner break.

The 2019 champ Hossein Ensan had a rollercoaster of a day after almost building up to a 300K stack to have it all come crashing down after failing to complete his nut flush draw against Neel Choksi's top two-pair.

Joe Hachem started with a healthy 78 big blind stack and was able to run that up for most of the day until running his pocket tens into pocket kings late in the night but still bagged to take into Day 3.

The man who started the poker boom, Chris Moneymaker, took his seat with a little over thirty big blinds and slowly accumulated chips until being moved to a featured table. It was there he started gaining traction after he flopped a set of deuces and cracked aces to soar past 300K. He then was on the right side of a cooler after picking aces against Bryan Reyes' pocket kings to climb past the half-milly mark.

Just like Moneymaker, 2016 champion Qui Nguyen saw his name inching up the chip counts after each level. It started with him out-kicking one opponent to the rail early in the day and ended with his dropping another with cowboys late to finish with 479,100.

While the former winners saw a fluctuation of chips throughout the day, both Scott Blumstein (50,800) and Phil Hellmuth (25,400) coasted with roughly the same stack throughout the entirety until the end.

Qui Nguyen

Not As Fortunate For Some

With many notables in the field, not all were fortunate to make a Day 3 birth, some of which included with nine-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel, 2018 runner-up finisher Tony Miles, along with two-time bracelet winners Brandon Adams and Nathan Gable.

Two-time bracelet winner David "ODB" Baker was also eliminated after he was set up holding a pair of ladies.

Another two-time bracelet winner, Shankar Pillai, was also eliminated brutally after his pocket queens were flushed out by four-time WSOP bracelet winner Robert Mizrachi's pocket jacks.

Day 3 Set

Today's survivors will combine with the 1,400 players that made it through yesterday's Day 2 for Day 3 tomorrow, Thursday, November 11, at 11 am local time.

When the action for Day 3 resumes with blinds starting at 1,200/2,400 with a big ante of 2,400, the prize pool information will be known already, and the money bubble is expected to burst early on Day 4.

Flight Entries Advancing to Day 3 Day 2abd 2,900 1,440 Day 2cef 1,810 915 Totals 4,710 2,355

The 6,650 players Main Event players created a $62,011,250 prize pool that will be paid out to the top 1,000 finishers, with a min-cash being worth $15,000.

Everyone that makes the final table will become a poker millionaire, while the eventual winner will walk away with an $8,000,000 first-place prize.

Here's a look at the final table payouts (click here to see a list of all payouts):

Place Prize 1 $8,000,000 2 $4,300,000 3 $3,000,000 4 $2,300,000 5 $1,800,000 6 $1,400,000 7 $1,225,000 8 $1,100,000 9 $1,000,000

Play resumes at 11 a.m. on November 11th with fewer than 3,000 players remaining. You won't want to miss a single minute of the action, so stay tuned to PokerNews for continued live updates as the Main Event continues.

Event #67: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event Day 2cef Top 10 Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chips 1 Conrad De Armas United States 744,000 2 Adam Walton United States 673,100 3 Keyu Qu United States 664,900 4 Cameron Mitchell United States 642,000 5 Daniel Lowery United States 625,600 6 Jorge Arriola United States 594,200 7 Matt Glantz United States 580,000 8 Artan Dedusha United Kingdom 577,100 9 Aristeidis Moschonas Greece 555,400 10 Daniel Soltys United States 540,700

Don't miss any of the WSOP Main Event action

Oscar Alache Leads the Little One for One Drop; Brian Rast in the Top Three

Brian Rast

Day 1c of Event #68: $1,111 Little One for One Drop is done, and all three Day 1 flights are now completed. A total of 1,823 players registered for todays event with 639 bagging up chips at the end of the night. This brings the total number registered in all three flights to 3,224, with 1,079 players returning for Day 2.

Oscar Alache finished Day 1c with the largest stack in the room; he ended the night with 518,800 chips. Other impressive stacks at the end of the night included Charles Lee (504,400), Thomas Eychenne (429,600), but perhaps the most notable player with a near chip lead is the five-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Rast who bagged an impressive 459,500.

Other notable players progressing to Day 2 include four-time bracelet winner Asi Moshe, bracelet winners Scott Ball (302,600) and Kevin Song (206,500)

Day 2 commences on November 11 with the restart scheduled for 2:00 p.m. The remaining field will play ten hour-long levels, with 15-minute breaks after every two levels and a 60-minute dinner break after the sixth level. Play will resume with Level 11, and the blinds will be 1,000/2,000 and a 2,000 ante.

Event #68: $1,111 Little One for One Drop Day 1c Top 10 Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chips 1 Oscar Alache Chile 518,800 2 Charles Lee United States 504,400 3 Brian Rast United States 459,500 4 Paul Lee United States 443,700 5 Thomas Eychenne France 429,600 6 Idris Ambraisse France 379,400 7 Tomoyato Matsumura Japan 376,800 8 Sunny Wong United States 376,700 9 Peter Cross United States 363,700 10 Liran Betito Israel 322,200

Find all your Little One for One Drop updates here

Jermaine Reid Leads Host of Stars in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo

Jermaine Reid

Following 14 levels of exciting action in Event #69: $1,500 Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better, a litany of star power has advanced to Thursdays Day 2.

Chip Jett (148,000), Shaun Deeb (143,000), Mike Watson (137,000), Matt Savage (126,000), Carol Fuchs (124,000), Ryan Leng (112,500), and Nathan Gamble (105,000) are just some of the names to bag big among the surviving 141 players from the original 372 entries.

While their stacks are impressive, a late charge placed Jermaine Reid of the Bronx, NY atop the leaderboard entering Day 2 with 208,500 chips. Reid is a mixed games player with three previous WSOP cashes to his name, most recently a 35th place finish in this years Event #27: $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. for $3,942.

Reid and many others will enter Day 2 in a solid position to claim the ultimate reward of a WSOP gold bracelet and the top prize of $113,459, which will be awarded Friday, while Thursday will see the top 56 finishers make the money, earning at least a min-cash of $2,433.

Some in the field not fortunate enough to survive the day included Norman Chad, Benny Glaser, Jon Turner, and David Williams.

Plenty of Fun Had Throughout the Day

The mood in the room was boisterous and light throughout the day with one player commenting that he hadnt ever seen so many beers consumed in a tournament before the actual end of night beer level.

Brandon Shack-Harris, who has been known to rock a polar bear costume in tournaments many times was joined by friends Eric Rodawig and Benny Glaser in bear costumes, but only Rodawig was fortunate enough to survive the day.

Eric \"The Bear\" Rodawig

Schedule adjustments

As the tournament began at a delayed 4:00 pm starting time because of the WSOP Main Event, a level was shaved off the day, and Thursdays restart has also been pushed back an hour to 3:00 pm local time, when the players will return to Level 15.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of this and every World Series of Poker event from the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Event #69: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Top 10 Chip Counts

Place Player Country Chips 1 Jermaine Reid United States 208,500 2 James Hoeppner United States 167,000 3 David Martin Spain 166,000 4 Susan Genard United States 165,000 5 Joseph Ranciato United States 156,000 6 Eric Crain United States 153,500 7 Chip Jett United States 148,000 8 Shaun Deeb United States 143,000 9 Mike Watson Canada 137,000 10 Dan Colpoys United States 133,000

Love Stud Hi-Lo? You'll love these updates.
Doyle Brunson Proves He Still Has it Despite WSOP Main Event Exit

November 10, 2021 Jon Sofen

Doyle Brunson isn't going to win the 2021 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. He won't even reach the money as he was eliminated on Day 2abc late Tuesday evening. Even so, the 88-year-old showed the poker world once again that he can still compete at a high level against much younger competition.

"Texas Dolly" was put in difficult spots, multiple times tasked with trying to find a fold with a big hand against a bigger hand. In a more standard spot, he lost a crucial race. Yet, despite all that, he stuck around well into Day 2 when most players likely would have been gone much earlier.

Two-Outer Bad Beat Special

On Day 1, while seated at the PokerGO feature table, Brunson avoided complete disaster in a bad beat hand thanks to his strong instincts. The 10-time bracelet winner had when he and Chau Nguyen, holding , both surprisingly limped for 500.

The flop came and Eliran Yamin, who was in from the blinds, bet 1,000 with his . Brunson and Nguyen called to see the on the turn. Yamin checked and Brunson finally began the aggression with his big hand, betting out 3,500. Yamin got out of the way Nguyen refused to go away and called.

The river was a cruel card for the Poker Hall of Famer. Nguyen, who picked up a full house, checked. Brunson bet 12,000 and was check-raised to 30,000.

Brunson sniffed out the monster hand correctly and found a fold. Instead of losing most of his stack, Doyle still had over 70,000 chips. Some players would jam there given there were no straight or flush possibilities on the board. But not the legendary Texas road gambler.

Brilliant Fold Against Koon

On Day 2, with the blinds at 800/1,600/1,600, the "Godfather of Poker" was put in another sticky situation. He'd built his stack over 130,000 following a rocky start to the day, but a chunk of those chips were about to move over to Jason Koon, a recent bracelet winner and the latest GGPoker ambassador.

Brunson opened to 3,500 with and Koon came along with . The flop came and the preflop raiser bet 7,000 with a gut-shot straight draw, and his opponent called with a flush draw.

When the flipped over on the turn, both players connected in a big way. Brunson, who turned a straight, bet out 15,000. Koon just called and they saw a meaningless on the river. "Texas Dolly" had the proper instincts to just check, and then managed to find a fold when Koon bet 41,000, leaving Doyle with over 100,000 instead of around 60,000.

Even more impressive was the fact that he was holding the in his hand, a card that blocks flushes, making it less likely he was up against a flush.

Costly Race Loss

With Brunson down to under 50,000, he called an all in from a short stack with . Minnesota Poker Hall of Famer Tony Hartman had moved all in for 17,000 with the and was racing for his tournament life.

The blinds were at 1,000/2,000/2,000, so the shove was only 8.5 big blinds. However, Brunson's shot at reaching Day 3 became low when he lost the race as the board ran out , leaving him with just 16 big blinds.

Soon after, Brunson would lose it all when he called an all-in bet with the but was up against . The best hand held up to send the poker legend home before the Day 2abd session concluded. Despite the defeat, Brunson made some incredible plays, proving to the poker community that he isn't chopped liver even deep into his 80's.

It's unclear if we'll see Doyle Brunson ever again compete in the WSOP Main Event, a tournament he won in 1976 and 1977. If this was his curtain call, he went out in style.

Thanks for all the nice things that were tweeted. By the way, I didn't win the 60 million.  Doyle Brunson (@TexDolly)

Check out all of the WSOP Main Event updates
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DALLAS  The Dallas community will have to make up for lost time this Friday at the Dallas Area Chamber of Commerce hosts it 63rd and 64th annual Community Awards on Friday.

Dubbed the Greatest Awards Show on Earth the event will honor recipients from 2019 and 2020 as the awards presentation was canceled last year due to the pandemic.

This year, the event has moved to a new location at BeckenRidge Vineyard, 300 Reuben Boise Road. The event will begin at 6 p.m. with dinner catered by A Covered Affair.

Each year, the DACC selects winners from community nominations in the following categories: Junior First Citizen, First Citizen, Young Pro, Outstanding Organization, Business of the Year and Lifetime Achievement.

The winners are

2019

Michele Stein  Lifetime Achievement

Some Things  Business of the Year

Dallas Food Bank  Outstanding Organization

Synergize Auto  Young Pro Winner

Jon Hess  First Citizen

Piper Gregory  Jr. First Citizen

2020

Joe Flande  Lifetime Acheivement

Willamette Valley Fiber  Business of the Year

Community Clothing Closet  Outstanding Organization

Jordan del Greco  Young Pro Winner

Bev Shein  First Citizen

Megan Fogg  Jr. First Citizen

Tickets are available online on the Dallas Area Chamber of Commerces Facebook page, www.facebook.com/dallasoregonchamber/. Tickets are $50.
DALLAS -- Mayor Brian Dalton is excited about the fireworks display on Thursday, Nov. 11 that were rescheduled from 4th of July to Veterans Day.

We thought it was a little impolitic to have 4th of July fireworks display during a drought, set something on fire. Wasnt quite the right message to send. But its always the right message to send on Veterans Day. To celebrate. Its a natural fit, said Dalton, a retired 21-year veteran himself.

However, looking back, it wasnt always a celebrated profession for Dalton.

After graduating from Dallas High School in 1966, Dalton traveled east to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Colgate University in New York. He returning to the West Coast to complete his masters degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California. But it was at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus where hed signed up for the Armys Recruit Officer Training Corps (ROTC) that that started his military career for the next couple decades.

He actually received his draft notice a few weeks after he joined ROTC, which promises an officers commission after completion. However, Dalton said he joined the military when it was not held in high regard in 1972. For example, service members did not wear their uniform while flying, for fear of being identified as a baby killer during the Vietnam War era. By contrast, flying service members today have their meals paid for, he added.

Ill tell you this. ROTC was not the most popular extracurricular activity on the UCLA campus, he recalled. We drilled early in the morning while all the guys who didnt like us were sleeping in.

He added his unit was not filled with your typical gang of draft dodgers.

We had a very bright bunch of people. Half of us were in masters programs or PhD programs or law school, Dalton said. I was avoiding the draft by joining the service, which I felt was the right thing to do. Several of us became high ranking officers. It was a good experience.

One of its aspects that drew Dalton to the Army was its large medical department. In Germany he was the administer for the largest health clinic in Europe. And with his degree in running the administrative side of military operations, Dalton soon found himself in charge of the program that put 13,000 soldiers a year into the medical field, including special forces medics, doctors and nurses.

I enjoyed it all. I thought I was doing the right thing. I was always around interesting people. Interesting things to do. Helicopter rides. Tough assignments, Dalton said.

As cliche as it sounds, Dalton said the biggest benefit from his years in the military was the teamwork.

Id say, working together as a team to get things done is preferable to individual endeavors. Theres a common language, you know what your skill set is, you wear your rank on your sleeve, literally, Dalton said. It lets (others) know who theyre working for and whos working for you. You put on your uniform; you know what youre going to dress up like every day. Youre proud of it.

Ironically, Dalton was already armed with a masters degree in public administration specializing in city management when he was invited to attend the Armys Command Staff College, where they teach future leaders of the Army, usually infantry and artillery.

I was honored to go there. I learned a lot about administration in that course, including staff work and command, he said.

After 21 years, Dalton retired as a lieutenant colonel to pursue an opportunity too good to pass up with his brother at Dalton Rock, Inc.

A fourth generation Dallas resident, Dalton said the family owned a 125-acre chunk of land that nothing would grow on. Rather, they put two and two together and decided to sell the rocks.

Hes more of an equipment guy, and I was more the administrative type, Dalton said. But I helped load trucks, 14,000 pounds of rock, starting with a little pickup. We ended up with 26 employees and big equipment. Thats what attracted me back. Ended up being good business.

He eventually pursued another endeavor that ran in his familys blood  public service. Dalton said his great grandfather was elected county treasurer and moved into the new courthouse when it was brand new. His grandfather was on city council and was the chair of the Public Works committee that designed and built the city hall. And his father was a First Citizen of Dallas.

So, I guess I was genetically programed to the public sector, he said.

After serving on the City Council for 10 years, Dalton was elected mayor in 2010, where hes served ever since.

Along the way, he married Carol in 2001.

We would have been a good fit, he said of the possibility of their meeting during his active-duty days in the Army. Shes an occupational therapist. I was in hospital administration. She would have easily gone to work with me, anyplace I worked.
DALLAS  On Tuesday, Amanda Warren celebrated the third anniversary of the realization of a lifetime dream of owning her own coffee house where friends could gather and chat over a cup of homemade joe.

Warren is now the sole proprietor of Karma Coffee Bar and Bakery, 1062 Main St. in Dallas, after buying out her mother, Julie Hertel, letting her return to retirement.

Warren admits while it was her lifelong dream, it was her mother who came out of retirement with a plan to help her realize that goal.

When she Warren was six, her stepmother worked at Madam Matildas in Baker City (now Mad Matildas Coffee House), that she considered really cute and that set her dream in motion.

Thats what kind of inspired me to open one, because they just treated everybody like family there and everybody was always so happy in the lobby and enjoyed eating there, Warren said. When I was six, theyd set me up in front of the TV and Id just kinda hang out. Thats where my excitement for coffee came from.

It wasnt until her college years that Warren had her first jobs as a barista, both at the popular Dutch Bros and Starbucks in La Grande. She wanted to learn the different sides of the two successful chains, because I figured theyre both really busy, so they must be doing something right. I took what I could from both, so I could run this place better.

Warrens first vision was opening her own franchise of one of the two businesses. But when she left her coffee job, it was on less than ideal terms that left her soured on pursuing her own franchise.

When she told her mom this, Hertel said, Well I think you should just open one.

Mom, youre nuts. What are you talking about? Warren recalled asking.

You dont have to work for a corporation or franchise, just open something and make it yours, was her moms reply.

Three months later, when Warren came to Dallas to visit her mom, Hertel pulled out a binder with a detailed business plan.

We can do this. We can totally make this happen, she enthused.

Warren, a senior in college at the time, recalled thinking, Well, Ive got nothing else going on, so I might as well give it a shot.

They found and renovated a small home into a retail space a block off the beaten path of Washington Street. Then they went with a nearby coffee brewer, Allen Brothers Coffee out of Albany.

I love it. I just picked it because it tastes good to me and crossed my fingers that people had similar flavor profile, Warren said. I get a lot of comments on our coffee, and I sell a lot of home coffee so thats a good sign. They seem to like it.

Finally, they needed to develop a home-baked goods menu, which Hertel would develop. But that came with one challenge.

My mom has no formal bakery training. Fun fact about her. She just likes to be good at stuff, Warren said.

So, she dove into Pinterest, reading books and asking friends who are good bakers for recipes. Their Texas sheetcake was her grandmas. The scones recipe was generously donated by the owner of Madam Matildas, who inspired Warren in the first place.

So that was pretty cool. Its just a compilation of people who care and want this place to be awesome, she said.

Warren said business was actually going well until the pandemic hit a year after opening.

We have been really, really blessed by people that support us. When the shutdown happened, and couldnt have the lobby open, they said, we will come to your drive through. Make sure you guys stay open, Warren said. We prayed a lot it would work out. We worked through it.

She and her mom powered through the shutdowns, at times the only employees. Luckily, they had a to-go business model designed to succeed during no-contact restrictions.

It has been tough. It has not been fun at times, Warren admitted. I just feel really blessed for the people in this community for accepting us with open arms because neither one of us is from here.

There were times it felt really lonely. Having people inside just makes it a coffee shop to me. It makes that happy atmosphere where people are just enjoying coffee with each other and thats what coffee is created for, community, Warren added. Were starting to get that back which is really exciting.

To help keep the shops interior inviting, Warren posts works from local artists. Craig Downs, her first artist she featured and helped set up the installation system, just hung his latest paintings from his Day of the Dead series. He plans to feature his Christmas paintings in December. Warren said shes always looking to add local artists to the rotation.

Now that her mother has returned to retirement, Warren said shes getting used to being the lone ranger. While plans for expansion are not out of the question, she doesnt want to lose what shes created here at Karma Coffee.

Last night, I was sitting in the back and some of the girls came in because we were painting and they just sat here and talked with us for a half hour, Warren recalled. And thats what I wanted to have, a family where they feel like theyre welcome and accepted. I always wake up and feel grateful that I get to live this life because it could have gone the opposite way, too.
Information for the report comes from law enforcement agencies. Not all calls for service are included. The status of arrests reported may change after further investigation. Individuals arrested or suspected of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Polk County Sheriffs Office

Sunday, Oct. 31

At 3:09 a.m., a report of a reckless driver exceeding 100 mph coming out of Salem. The motorist later merged onto Highway 51 where he crashed and rolled near milepost 1. The driver, who was the sole occupant, was found dead on arrival by Oregon State Patrol.

At 4:28 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 91 mph in a 55-mph zone on Salem Dallas Highway at 50th Avenue.

At 4:43 a.m., a motorist was cited for failing to obey a traffic signal on Highway 22 at Rickreall Road.

At 4:50 a.m., a motorist slammed on her brakes at the site of a motor vehicle accident being investigated by the PCSO on Highway 223 at milepost 6. A deputy contacted the driver, who displayed symptoms of impairment. She performed poorly on a field sobriety test and was arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. She later registered a BAC of .16%.

At 5:53 a.m., a deputy investigated the scene of two hit-and-run incidents at Eola Drive Northwest and Kaley Avenue Northwest.

At 10:40 a.m., one goat and three sheep got loose from the 2100 block of Pioneer Road and wandered onto the complainants property. A deputy located the owner of the goat and sheep and he retrieved the animals.

At 12:55 p.m., a report of a game camera dug up and stolen from Bureau of Land Management property in the Gold Creek Access Road and Neuman Road area.

At 3:14 p.m., a purse was found in the 5900 block of Red Prairie Road. A deputy took possession of the purse and returned it to the owner.

At 4:27 p.m., a resident in Falls City discovered two stray dogs, a gray pit bull and a black pit bull mix, at the Bridgeport School and turned them over to a deputy. The deputy lodged the dogs in the Dallas Dog Pound.

At 4 p.m., a resident in the zero bock of Main Street in Falls City reported a known female subject was stealing his unemployment checks.

At 5:04 p.m., after receiving a complaint about a reckless driver, deputies located the motorist on Highway 99W at milepost 55. The driver was arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

At 8:59 p.m., a 911 hangup call was received with screams and no music/party atmosphere heard in the background. A deputy investigated the origin of the call in the 3300 block of Emerald Drive Northwest and there was a large family gathering with lots of children screaming and playing, but no music. They advised everything was fine. The deputy wished them a happy Halloween.

Monday, Nov. 1

At 1:51 a.m., a single vehicle rollover crash that took out a power pole, road sign and a phone box on Highway 22 at milepost 7. Oregon State Police took over the investigation and arrested the driver for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

At 2:09 a.m., a report of shooting near the rock quarry in the 16600 block of Robb Mill Road.

At 6:58 a.m., a deputy assisted a motorist with a flat tire on Highway 22 near Greenwood Road.

At 7:40 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 77 mph in a 55-mph zone on Highway 22 near Greenwood Road.

At 10:05 a.m., a report of a motorist that swerved to avoid a deer and rolled over off the roadway in the 17900 block of Falls City Road.

At 4:46 p.m., a report of a two-vehicle, t-bone style crash at the intersection of Salem Dallas Highway and Independence Highway.

At 7:23 p.m., a resident in the 28200 block of Andy Riggs Road reported his neighbors dogs keep getting on his property and aggressively chasing him and his nephews and nieces.

At 7:51 p.m., a stray, female brown/white/black mixed breed dog was found in the 13500 block of Sunrise Lane. The dog was lodged in the Dallas Pound.

Tuesday, Nov. 2

At 3:49 a.m., a suspicious person in Hilltop Cemetery on Corvallis Road was only hunting Pokemon, and which he said were found in cemeteries. He also thought that was kinda creepy.

At 7:15 a.m., a report of a single-vehicle accident that ended up in the ditch of the S curves in the 12000 block of Corvallis Road.

At 10:18 a.m., a resident in the 12200 block of Elkins Road reported hearing two gunshots in the nearby Starker Forrest that is closed to rifle hunting.

At 9:25 a.m., a deputy gave a courtesy ride home for a family of six walking away from their car that had broken down in the foggy 11100 block South Kings Valley Highway.

At 9:42 a.m., a white, folding knife was recovered in a parking lot in the 800 block of Main Street.

Wednesday, Nov. 3

At 1:17 a.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 76 mph in a 55-mph zone on Highway 22 at milepost 22. In addition, the driver had no insurance on the vehicle, no plates and didnt have her license on her. She was cited for driving uninsured and her vehicle was towed by BC Towing.

At 5:10 a.m., a female subject was trespassed from the post office at 768 Church St.

At 7:59 a.m., a motorist was turning left from Highway 99W to go east on Hoffman Road, when he lost control and rolled into the ditch. He was later cited for driving uninsured.

At 7:57 a.m., a motorist did not see the stop sign at intersection of Corvallis and Suver roads. He drove through the intersection and hit the berm on the east edge of the road. He was uninjured.

At 8:35 a.m., a report of a two-vehicle, non-blocking, non-injury crash at Pacific Highway and Bethel Road.

At 1:05 p.m., a report of a single-vehicle, non-injury crash where a motorist swerved to miss a deer in the 7600 block of Red Prairie Road, left the roadway and struck a tree.

At 2:42 p.m., a resident in the 4800 block of 4-H Road reported the theft of an industrial grade 50-foot red hose, an industrial grade 75-foot green hose and a hose nozzle, which occurred sometime after Oct. 27. Total loss was valued at $155.

At 2:57 p.m., an abandoned vehicle that was completely stripped of parts was left on the side of the road in the 12300 block of Helmick Road.

At 8 p.m., a report of a motorist distracted by his German shepherd puppy jumping on the dash left the roadway on Monmouth Highway near Smith Road, slipped into the soft embankment on the south side of Highway 194, causing the vehicle to roll. The driver and dog sustained minor injuries.

At 8:16 p.m., a motorist was teaching his daughter how to drive and was waiting at a red light in the 1100 block of Wallace Road. He was watching the wrong set of lights and drove through the intersection while his light was still red. The daughter and the deputy agreed he should not get a ticket and got a written warning instead.

At 9:50 p.m., a semi driver with an empty 53-foot box trailer turned onto Sauerkraut Road from Airlie Road, looked down at his cell phone-based GPS and drove off the road into the ditch as a result.

Thursday, Nov. 4

At 10:34 a.m., someone broke into a machinery shed in the 4000 block of River Bend Road.

At 9:44 a.m., a resident in the 5400 block of Zena Road reported someone removed her field access gate from its hinges and pulled it away by about four feet.

At 11:25 a.m., a male subject walked into the sheriffs office at 850 Main Street and turned himself in on two warrants. He was cited for his Salem Muni and Polk Circuit Warrants.

At 12:56 p.m., a FedEx driver reported delivering packages to a residence in the 9300 block of Wells Landing Road on Nov. 3 when he was bitten in the ankle by a border collie. A resident at the address, who also had two German shepherds, said the border collie was his sisters. However, he was given a citation for failure to license the dogs.

At 2:45 p.m., a report of a vehicle found down the embankment on Valsetz Road near milepost 6.5. A deputy ran the plate and it came back to a stolen vehicle out of Albany.

At 11:04 p.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 87 mph in a 55-mph zone at Main and Birch streets.

Friday, Nov. 5

At 2:54 a.m., a deputy removed a road struck coyote from Highway 22 near Red Prairie Road.

At 9:43 p.m., a resident in the 1800 block of Wallace Road came home to find two unknown vehicles in his driveway. He blocked t hem in, confronted subjects, photographing them and pushing one out of the way to see a license plate. The two subjects were cited and released for Criminal Trespass II. The resident was cited for harassment.

Saturday, Nov. 6

At 11:53 a.m., two male subjects met to fight in the 8400 block of Grande Ronde Road. One was stabbed and eventually went to Salem Hospital with a nicked lung. Deputies are still investigating.

At 12:48 p.m., subjects reported finding some disturbing things inside a vacant house they were looking at buying in the 8700 block of Pacific Highway. A deputy found a chair in the bathroom shower, red splatter, a hammer, duct tape and a black plastic bag. The bathroom also smelled of bleach. There was a saw hanging from the ceiling from upstairs and when the deputy followed the rope upstairs there were photos of a marine on the wall with the eyes crossed out. As the deputy was collecting evidence, the homeowners son called and admitted he gave permission to his friends to use the house to play a prank on another one of their friends.

At 4:51 p.m., a report of a single vehicle crash on Independence Highway on Halls Ferry Road turned out to be a hit and run that got extra convoluted, as there was a wedding happening at the Green Villa Barn that the victims were involved in.

At 6:29 p.m., a motorist was stopped for speeding on Highway 99 at milepost 23. The driver had no identifying paperwork and was cited for no operators license.

At 11:36 p.m., a deputy responded to a report of a single vehicle accident with an intoxicated driver in the 500 block of Pioneer Road. The driver showed several signs of intoxication, performed poorly on a field sobriety test and was arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Sunday, Nov. 7

At 10 a.m., a male subject involved in a domestic dispute in the 100 block of Sheldon Avenue was cited and released for harassment 2.

At 10:42 a.m., a resident was found deceased in the 28100 block of McPherson Road. The resident was known to live in extreme hoarding conditions and was an alcoholic and smoker. Her next of kin in Nevada was notified.

At 1:54 p.m., a PCSO deputy assisted at the scene of a two vehicle, air-bag deployment crash on Red Prairie Road near Highway 18.

At 2:01 p.m., a report of a stop sign broken and pushed over at Clow Corner Road and Rogers Road.

At 4:50 p.m., a stolen truck was found back off the road in the 21100 block of Salmon River Highway. A deputy was able to locate the registered owner and another investigator gave him a ride to the truck.

At 5:26 p.m., a report of a dumped 5th wheel RV abandoned in the 8100 block of Fire Hall Road.

At 9:43 p.m., a deceased subject was found in his residence, who died due to COVID related circumstances mixed with kidney failure, in the 1800 block of Cochrane Lane.

At 9:45 p.m., a motorist was cited for speeding 85 mph in a 55-mph zone on Highway 99 at milepost 69.

At 9:47 p.m., a report of a crash then a wrong way driver on Highway 22 near Greenwood Road. The driver showed several signs of impairment. Oregon State Patrol took the crash and the DUII investigation. The deputy took the dog from inside the car and lodged it at the Dallas Pound. The deputy also had to help restrain the driver who was trying to bite a trooper while being loaded onto a gurney.

At 9:49 p.m., a female subject was arrested for violating a no contact order in the 26300 block of Salmon River Highway.

At 10:54 p.m., a resident in the 18500 block of Oakdale Road reported a vehicle versus power pole crash near her residence. The witness said a second, loud truck stopped at the crash cite, picked up the driver and left.

Independence Police Department

Arrests for Oct. 25  Nov. 1

Sergio Jimenez, 26, a transient, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Jason Jamieson Brown, 35, of Independence, was arrested on two outstanding warrants.

Franque Lorraine Marshall, 52, a transient, was arrested on an outstanding warrant.

Erica Marie Villa, 37, of Albany, was arrested for the unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Mark Anthony Sanner, 50, a transient, was arrested for trespass 2.

Eusebio G. Huerta, 65, of Independence, was arrested for menacing and resisting arrest.

Jeffrey Keith Tackett, 38, of Independence, was arrested for felony driving while suspended and failure to report as a sex offender.
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COLUMBIA  Defense attorneys for Alex Murdaugh have asked the state Supreme Court to overrule a lower judge and release their client from jail as he awaits trial on fraud and theft charges.

The Nov. 10 filing from Columbia lawyers Dick Harpootlian and Jim Griffin comes a day after Circuit Judge Clifton Newman declined  for the second time  to release Murdaugh on bail, deeming the disgraced Hampton County attorney a danger to himself and others.

Newman issued the ruling late Nov. 9 after reviewing a psychiatric evaluation for Murdaugh, who faces criminal charges of staging his own murder in a botched insurance fraud scheme and stealing from the estate of his late housekeeper.

In their appeal, Harpootlian and Griffin wrote that the psychiatrist who evaluated Murdaugh, Dr. Donna Maddox, "did not find that (Murdaugh) is a danger to himself or to the community."

Maddox, a forensic psychiatrist for more than three decades, has experience performing psychiatric evaluations in high-stakes court cases. In 2019 alone, she testified at the sentencing hearings of Lexington County child killer Tim Jones Jr. and Anderson school shooter Jesse Osborne.

After evaluating Murdaugh on Oct. 20 and reviewing his prior medical records, Maddox diagnosed him with "severe opioid use disorder" and recommended he spend another eight to 10 weeks at a residential treatment facility, the lawyers wrote.

In documents attached to their Nov. 10 appeal, Murdaugh's lawyers revealed for the first time that their client's opioid addiction began 20 years ago "when he was prescribed pain killers following knee surgery."

"Since then, he has spent millions of dollars supporting this insidious addiction," they wrote.

Murdaugh's lawyers also argued the state constitution guarantees their client the right to be released before his trial, since he isn't charged with a violent crime, or an offense that carries the death penalty or life in prison.

Still, barring an intervention by the state Supreme Court, Newman's order means Murdaugh, the scion of a wealthy and powerful legal family in South Carolina's Lowcountry, will remain at the Richland County jail while awaiting trial.

Murdaugh, 53, has spent more than three weeks there since his arrest last month on charges he used a fraudulent bank account to steal some $3.4 million that was owed in wrongful-death settlements to the family of his longtime housekeeper, Gloria Satterfield.

Newman initially declined to let Murdaugh out on bail at an Oct. 19 hearing, saying he was worried the suspended attorney's admitted opioid addiction and personal unraveling make him a threat to himself and the public.

Newman asked Murdaugh's attorneys to furnish a psychiatric evaluation of their client. They provided the judge that write-up on Oct. 22, three days after the first bond hearing, according to Newman's order. Newman's ruling didn't disclose the findings of Murdaugh's psychiatric evaluation.

"After considering the arguments of counsel, the evaluation submitted, pending charges and other investigations, and the apparent character and mental condition of the defendant, the Court finds that the Defendant is a danger both to himself and the community," Newman wrote in his two-page order.

Even before filing the appeal late Nov. 10, Murdaugh's attorney, Harpootlian, said he was disappointed by the ruling. He declined to comment on his appeal to the Supreme Court.

"We think that he's entitled to bond under the Constitution and the statutes," Harpootlian said.

Eric Bland and Ronnie Richter, attorneys who are suing Murdaugh on behalf of Satterfield's family, sided with Newman in a written statement.

"The justice system continues to work as intended regarding Alex Murdaugh," Bland said. He said the Satterfield family has confidence that "Murdaugh will no longer be receiving favorable treatment but will be drinking from the same cup of justice as every other charged criminal in the state drinks from."

Newman's ruling punctuated a monthlong reckoning for Murdaugh, a prominent Democrat and former assistant prosecutor who once led the state trial lawyers association. For most of the past century, generations of lawyers in his family ran the 14th Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office, prosecuting cases along the southern tip of South Carolina. The family simultaneously ran the high-powered Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth, Detrick law firm in Hampton that built a reputation for winning huge judgments against railroad companies and other corporations.

But the Murdaugh legacy has come crashing down since Alex Murdaugh's wife, Maggie, and son Paul were found slain at the family's Colleton County hunting lodge in June.

Murdaugh remains a "person of interest" in the State Law Enforcement Division's investigation of those still-unsolved murders, his attorneys have said.

In the meantime, he has become a magnet for criminal investigations and civil lawsuits. He was kicked out of his family's law firm and accused of stealing millions from his clients and law partners.

He was hospitalized after a Labor Day weekend shooting he initially blamed on an unknown assailant who drove past him on a rural Hampton County road. Then he was arrested on insurance fraud charges after telling SLED he not only knew the shooter, but had enlisted the man to kill him as part of a scheme to leave behind a $10 million life insurance payout for his remaining son, Buster. He was released from jail on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond after that arrest.

Murdaugh admitted to a two-decade opioid addiction and checked himself into rehab.

He was sued by the family of his late housekeeper, who accused Murdaugh of concocting a scheme to steal millions they were owed from wrongful-death settlements tied to Satterfield's trip-and-fall at Murdaugh's hunting lodge. Then SLED arrested him in connection with the scheme, and a state prosecutor laid out evidence that Murdaugh used a fraudulent bank account to pocket $3.4 million that was meant for Satterfield's sons.

Even his former law partners, including his brother, sued him over half a million dollars in unpaid debts.

A judge froze Murdaugh's assets after concerns he or his son Buster might try to hide millions of dollars that could be recovered in civil suits against him.

All told, state and federal authorities have opened more than a half-dozen separate investigations involving the Murdaugh family since June.
The price tag for a rail yard and barge system that would serve the Port of Charleston has increased by $94.4 million since the project received initial approval from legislators earlier this year.

But the State Ports Authority said it can reduce the extra costs so taxpayers won't be hit with a bigger bill than originally proposed.

Most of the cost-cutting involves removing a $51 million loan from the budget. The S.C. Commerce Department loaned the money to Palmetto Railways to help pay initial costs for the rail hub, to be built in North Charleston. Repayment of the debt was supposed to come from the project's funding, but it was removed from a budget presented on Nov. 9 to the Joint Bond Review Committee.

The SPA, which is building the rail yard and barge system, did not mention the loan during the presentation and referred questions about it to the Commerce Department. Alex Clark, a spokeswoman for the agency, said the loan has not been repaid. It's not clear from where the funds will come from to repay the money, which Commerce has said is needed for future economic development efforts.

Even without the loan repayment, the project's $593.4 million projected cost has ballooned by $43.4 million in recent months  an amount lawmakers said they are unwilling to pass on to taxpayers.

"I want to be absolutely sure that you have no intentions of asking the General Assembly to fund that $43.4 million," state Sen. Nikki Setzler, a Democrat committee member from Lexington, asked Barbara Melvin, the SPA's chief operations officer.

"No intentions, sir," Melvin replied.

Melvin said the SPA will try to reduce the $43.4 million through "value engineering"  a process in which a developer and contractors seek less-expensive materials and processes without sacrificing functionality.

"We will engage selected contractors to actively provide value engineering solutions, and we are confident that we will be able to deliver value engineering on this project," Melvin said, adding "we feel confident we will be able to do that and stay within" the original $550 million request.

The higher costs are due to rising construction material and labor expenses, Melvin said.

The General Assembly included $200 million toward the rail and barge project in this year's budget and is expected to fund the remaining $350 million in coming years. The reluctance to finance it all at once has pushed the rail yard's opening date back to 2025, Melvin said.

Setzler said legislators in Columbia can't fund the rest until the SPA provides a detailed financial statement for the project. Melvin said the maritime agency plans to submit that information in its next quarterly report.

The rest of the money could come from state revenues or from federal COVID-19 aid South Carolina received this year. Melvin said the SPA is also looking at potential federal grants that could help pay for the barge project.

The rail yard  officially known as the Navy Base Intermodal Facility  will be linked to the new Leatherman Terminal and will give the Norfolk Southern and CSX railroads a place to load and unload cargo containers moved to and from the port by rail cars.

A barge system is also proposed for the SPA's Wando Welch Terminal in Mount Pleasant, where containers would be sent by water to the Leatherman site and then loaded onto trains.

Jim Newsome, the SPA's CEO, has said the projects "are crucial for the continued competitiveness of the Port of Charleston," which seeks on-site rail service like that offered at the Port of Savannah.

The rail yard has already received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration and the Army Corps of Engineers and would round out roughly $2 billion in improvements at the port, including the new terminal, cranes and other equipment, and the deepening of the Charleston Harbor shipping channel so that it can accommodate heavier ships.
Film director James Ivory can spot a sublime setting. His films, which often are screen adaptations of acclaimed works of literature, have such a sense of place that the location is almost a character in an of itself.

Think of the films he's created with Merchant Ivory Productions, among them fin-de-siecle Florence, Italy in the Academy Award-winning "A Room with a View" and Edwardian England in "Maurice." For the 2017 "Call Me By Your Name," Ivory headed back to Italy to Crema, Lombardy, writing the screenplay and coproducing the coming-of-age film based on the 2007 eponymous novel by Andre Aciman.

So it's no surprise that his keen eye would delight in Charleston's architectural bounty, enough to draw him back to the city for the Charleston Literary Festival. There, he talked about his new collection of memoirs, "Solid Ivory," as well as his adaptation of "Call Me By Your Name," along with Aciman.

In this "question-and-author" the Oregon native shares his edited reflections on superior settings, luminous literature and his own process in writing down a singular life.

Have you been to Charleston before?

Yes, several times. The first time I came here I was 26 and I was in the Army. I very much like historic American architecture of any kind and it doesn't necessarily all have to be late 18th century, or early 19th. So when they asked me to come to this festival, I thought this is a lucky thing to get to go to Charleston.

Which houses did you visit?

The Miles Brewton House. I've never been to that house before because it's always been a private home. The one with the great staircase  the Nathaniel Russell House, I've seen at least twice. I went out to the wonderful house in the country that is empty, Drayton Hall. I had been before. That was fascinating.

When you go to these homes, do you look at them as they would be if they were film locations?

Well, I might. That has happened because I've made a couple of films in historic American houses. When I went to see them, I didn't have a film in mind but I remembered them. And it came in very handy when I made the film of "The Europeans," which is set in the 1850s, but which takes place in a couple of early houses, like these houses. But normally, I don't think like that. I'm going to see them because I admire them as architecture or interiors (that) are incredibly interesting and beautiful.

You said at the talk yesterday that when you start realizing your films, location is such an important aspect to them. It seems it's almost a character itself.

That's true. Scenes are acted out in definite spaces that have their uses, with pieces of furniture and stairs and all the rest. That forms the shape of the scene very often.

I think that's a visual mind.

I like to think that film directors always have a visual mind and I suppose most do, but we're not all admirers of old houses. Most films are shot in a studio, the rooms are built to the requirements of the scene. From the our very first movie we (Merchant Ivory Productions) shot in actual rooms that people lived in.

Why did you make that choice?

In the earlier films, it was just a matter of money. It was impossible to build a set in Bombay. I wouldn't have wanted to anyway. It doesn't have the reality about it.

In your memoir, you write of childhood recollections of wanting a doll's house from Santa Claus.

My father actually made me a castle. There weren't any dolls. I don't have any interest in playing with dolls, but I wanted a castle and he made the most wonderful castle for me. I wish it was in the book. When I was six years old, that's what I got. My father also made me a guillotine. I got very interested in 18th-century France and the French Revolution and he made me a wooden box I still have.

With all of the staying put during the pandemic after having been a world traveler, do you have that wanderlust again?

I'm going to go to Mexico City. I have friends there and I haven't been to Mexico since, gosh, 1961. Mexico City is an art. People think about it almost like Paris.

When did you decide to write a memoir?

I wrote most of those pieces long ago, some way back in the 1960s. Some of them I showed to our writer, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, and she enjoyed them and encouraged me to go on. The section that's on Kabul, she was very helpful to me. Then Jonathan Galassi, the publisher of Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, saw some of these chapters and said, 'Well, why don't we do a book?' The only thing they said (was) that I needed to do a portrait of Ismail Merchant. They also wanted me to write about "Call Me By Your Name." So those are the only new ones.

What are you hoping people take away from this?

There are not that many people around anymore of my age who write about what it was like when they were children, in high school, in college or in the Army. It's a life that that goes through two thirds of the last century, almost another third of this century and it's just instructive, I suppose.

Thus far, what do you consider your greatest achievement?

I think the fact that we made that company, Merchant Ivory Productions. We maintained our style and our work and our integrity for more than 45 years. And we made films that aren't like anybody else's, some of which are successful, some of which were dismal failures, but they were ours. We never did something that we didn't want to do, we never, ever compromised on anything, so those films are exactly as we want them.

Are there any filmmakers today that you're particularly drawn to?

The other day I went to see the new Wes Anderson movie ("The French Dispatch"). I hadn't seen a movie in the theater in a year. That I enjoyed very much. I had just had my booster shot, so the whole time I was watching the film my arm was aching. But it's good I was watching this film, it took my mind off my arm and onto the big screen.

Have you read anything recently that's resonated with you?

I read the new one about Thomas Mann ("The Magician" by Colm Toibin, who is also on the festival program). Very interesting book. I'd read almost everything he wrote, at least all the early ones. It's politically very interesting, as a sort of memoir.

Do you get anything out of writing your memoir that you don't from your other artistic endeavors?

I'm not compelled to do it. Other writers, they are compelled to write because that is a profession and their art and sole desire. That was not mine. I just did it because I like to do it, but I didn't have to do it.

Signed copies of books connected with the 2021 Charleston Literary Festival are available while supplies last at Buxton Books by visiting the store at 160 King St. or buy calling 843-723-1670.

For information on the Charleston Literary Festival, visit charlestonliteraryfestival.com.
COLUMBIA  QuikTrip is serious about its plans for the Midlands.

The Oklahoma-headquartered convenience store chain, known as QT for short, now has three projects under construction along the same stretch of Interstate 26 northwest of Columbia.

One construction site is at the corner of Lake Murray Boulevard and College Street in Irmo.

That store, expected to be open next spring, will be one of the company's smaller retail sites, only the third use nationwide for that store design, QT spokeswoman Aisha Jefferson-Smith told The Post and Courier Nov. 10.

A couple exits closer to town, QT is working on a large site at the junction of Piney Grove Road and Jamil Road. That store is expected to be open in the summer of 2022, Jefferson-Smith said.

A third QT, at St. Andrews Road near I-26, is close to completion. That store is expected to open early next year, she said.

The company is at work on the other side of town as well. A QT store is under construction on Fort Jackson Boulevard next to I-77.

That store, expected to open before the end of 2022, will be the 100th QuikTrip location in the Carolinas, Jefferson-Smith said.

Another QT location is planned for the vicinity of Shop and Atlas roads, but that is a longer-term plan, she said.

Already there are three locations for QT open in the Midlands: 8205 Two Notch Road, 10320 Wilson Blvd. in Blythewood and 925 S. Lake Drive in Lexington.

Most QuikTrip locations feature a food counter called QT Kitchen, offering sandwiches, wraps and pizza made to order.

When all its planned locations are open it will have eight stores in the Midlands, a major investment by the company in the market.

The Carolinas have been a successful market for QuikTrip, so it makes sense to find the right sites and continue investing, Jefferson-Smith said.

Tea & Ice Cream in Five Points

Five Points is getting a couple new treats to try.

Gong Cha, a tea place, and Kremo Ice Cream are opening on Nov. 12 at 701 Santee Ave., according to the Five Points Association.

Gong Cha features bubble tea and milk drinks, with added flavors such as chocolate, winter melon and strawberry.

The Gong Cha brand started offering Taiwan-style bubble teas in the Bay area of California in 2013 and since has opened six locations in the Atlanta market.

Kremo is gourmet ice cream that is spread out on a freezing pan, chopped while it freezes and then served as a roll rather than a scoop, according to the company website.

Animal hospital in Irmo

A new animal hospital building has been proposed for Irmo, according to documents on file with the town.

Plans have been submitted for a new, free-standing building at 10737 Broad River Road for Friarsgate Animal Hospital.

Friarsgate has been serving the area since 1993 and currently has an office nearby at 10216 Broad River Road.

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.
COLUMBIA  Columbia mayoral candidates Tameika Isaac Devine and Daniel Rickenmann offered divergent and, at times, clashing views on how they would run South Carolina's second-largest city during a Nov. 10 primetime debate.

The long-serving City Council members tackled familiar campaign issues including public safety and affordable housing, but they sharpened their elbows when talking about their own leadership approaches, the role of race in the election and third-party attack ads.

This race is about Columbias future. Its not about flyers, its not about this, its not about that, Rickenmann said during a debate from WLTX and Post and Courier Columbia days ahead of the Nov. 16 runoff election.

Both have been targeted by direct mailers sent from the states Democratic and Republican parties in the campaigns final stretch  and both also denied any involvement with their production and distribution.

Devine called them a needless distraction that pulled attention from other issues.

I think this campaign is about the future of the city, and whos best to lead the city. I do think our voting records are fair to look at, she said.

Voters will decide which should take control of the capital city in the Nov. 16 runoff.

Over the course of the evening, Devine and Rickenmann found ways to contrast their styles.

If Tameika is the mayor in four years, I think that well see a lot of the same that we see today. Theres a lot of similarities in her stances and where she is with what we have and lets face it, for the last decade weve had 2 percent growth, Rickenmann said.

Devine, whose endorsements include outgoing Mayor Steve Benjamin and U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, said her broad appeal gives her the edge.

Councilman Rickenmann has been endorsed by bar owners, the South Carolina Republican Party and people who dont necessarily look like every person in this city, she said.

Rickenmann captured nearly 44 percent of the vote on Nov. 2, ahead of Devine's 30 percent.

Ive been supported by hundreds of business owners in this town and in every economic status throughout the whole city, and Ive raised 98 percent of all my money here, he said.

If elected, Devine would become Columbia's first female mayor in its 167-year history.

"I have a lived experience as a Black woman. But I'm not just a Black woman. I am a wife and a mom, a small business owner here in this city," she said. "I think we are getting there like lots of other southern cities that recognize we have need to have diversity and those lived experiences in government and the private sector."

Rickenmann played down the racial components of the race.

"At the end of the day, we shouldn't make a decision just based on race or gender. It needs to be based on who's most qualified," he said.

Both found common ground on issues theyve prioritized for months, such as more robust funding for public safety, continued investments for recreation and aggressive business recruitment programs.

It would be my job to be at the Legislature and advocating for sensible gun legislation to empower our law enforcement to do more, Devine said during the afternoon forum. But we also have to give opportunities to our young people. We have to make an environment where theyd rather pick up a book than a gun.

Rickenmann said city officials have seized hundreds of guns over the past five years but added aggressive policing alone isnt enough to ensure a safe city.

Better lighting on sidewalks, upgraded recreational facilities and job opportunities for youth are all areas hed focus on as mayor, he said.

Jobs take bullets away, he said. Kids need to know they have an opportunity.

The candidates said repairing Finlay Park, incentivizing development for workforce and affordable housing and keeping the citys property tax rate in check were all high on their to-do lists, but diverged on just how to make it happen.

Rickenmann suggested a requirement that big projects have affordable housing components. He also wants to see the citys backlog of 1,500 work orders cut down and abandoned buildings put back into use.

As South Carolinas capital city, Devine said she wants to cultivate more partnerships with private entities, creating funding streams that help revitalize portions of the city havent seen much investment.

Also Nov. 10, City Council at-large candidates Tyler Bailey, an attorney, and Aditi Bussells, public health researcher, held a collegial forum sponsored by the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods, where affordable housing and COVID management were dominant talking points.

Bailey said he doesnt support mask or vaccine mandates, but as a councilman would encourage city workers to get inoculated.

If there was a choice between an officer getting a vaccine and getting fired, I would want them to stay working. We need to make smart decisions based off the numbers, he said.

The City Council on Nov. 9 repealed its mask mandate, a move Bussells said she agreed with.

What I do believe is that vaccines are our best course of action to prevent COVID. But I do believe there should be reasonable accommodations for special situations, she said.

While the city doesnt have direct oversight of the Columbia Housing authority, Bussells said local government officials can still ensure their needs are being met through financial support and planning.

It also requires us to think about ways were taking advantage of unique funding sources in the time of the pandemic, she said. We can be advocates for using these sources in a way that provides safe, high-quality housing for our residents.

Bailey pointed to the economic benefit of a healthy low-income housing stock.

Owning a home is the first step toward building wealth and achieving the American dream, he said. One idea I have for that is allowing our civil servants to get home loan programs where they can move and live in the city and get homes up to code.
COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster has requested an investigation into "obscene materials" in public school libraries after parents in Fort Mill expressed concern over the book, "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe.

In a Nov. 10 letter, McMaster requested that Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman and the S.C. Department of Education perform a "comprehensive investigation" into the presence of Kobabe's book and other "obscene" materials in public school libraries. The governor first heard about the book from constituents, who were concerned about the images it depicted.

"If school personnel had performed even a cursory review in this particular instance, it would have revealed that the book contains sexually explicit and pornographic depictions, which easily meet or exceed the statutory definition of obscenity," McMaster wrote in the Nov. 10 letter.

The governor went on to ask that the state department of education look into the issue further as it may identify additional instances "in which inappropriate materials have been introduced into our state's public schools."

McMaster also requested the education department to identify any policies that would allow for "obscene or otherwise inappropriate" materials to appear in school libraries. He also asked that the department or the state board of education implement standards and directives to "prevent pornography and other obscene content from entering our state's public schools and libraries."

Spearman and the education department were informed about the book's presence in a Fort Mill-area high school last week, S.C. Department of Education spokesman Ryan Brown said in an email to The Post and Courier.

The department immediately contacted the Fort Mill School District superintendent, who had already instructed staff to remove the book.

The education department announced Nov. 9 it will conduct its own review of state-funded instructional materials with input from the public. However, that does not include library books, which are not funded by the state and don't go through the state instructional materials process, Brown said.

"This is a fitting time for each district to review their own purchased texts including those used in classrooms, libraries, and media centers to ensure they are age and content appropriate," the department wrote in its announcement about the review. "Schools and districts should not rely solely on publishers vetting. We must work alongside students, families, and educators for this process to be successful.

Brown added it is clear in this instance that "the district failed to properly vet the book in question for adoption."

This isn't the first time "Gender Queer: A Memoir" has caused controversy. School districts across the country have banned the book, which uses a comic style to tell the story of Kobabe's "journey to self-identity" as a nonbinary person, according to its description on Amazon.

The book chronicles Kobabe's experience handling "the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears," according to its Amazon description.

In an opinion piece published by The Washington Post, Kobabe wrote how banning books that tell the stories of young LGBTQ people "is like cutting a lifeline for queer youth, who might not yet even know what terms to ask Google to find out more about their own identities, bodies and health."
This story is being published as part of a collaboration between The Post and Courier and The Hechinger Report. It is part of a broader series on solutions to reading loss children across the country experienced during the pandemic.

HICKORY, N.C.  Mmm, ah, tuh. Maria Creger gestured at the letters on a small whiteboard as two of her second grade students sounded out the word mat.

Normally, she would observe the way their mouths move to form the letters. But this fall, everyone at Viewmont Elementary School is in masks, so she has to listen more intently than usual.

She erased the m and jotted down a p.

Cat, a boy in a Lego shirt said.

Did you just say cuh?  Creger asked him. I heard you say cuh. What sound is this? She pointed to the p again.

Puh, he enunciated. Pat.

Creger was showing the students how to read by using phonics, which teaches children the relationships between letters and sounds. It is a research-based approach that experts say is essential for helping children  especially those who struggle  learn to read.

Some teachers in Hickory Public Schools, where Viewmont Elementary is located, have been focusing more on the science of reading in recent years, spurred in part by the influence of a local education college. It is paying off: Over a five-year span ending in 2019, the number of students reading at grade level in the district grew at a rate that outpaced the state as a whole.

Elsewhere in North Carolina, or in any other state in the nation, if you step into an elementary school, you might find three different classrooms teaching students three different ways to read. For decades, administrators and teacher preparation programs have trained teachers in a patchwork of approaches that experts say is one of the main reasons American students are behind in literacy.

In North Carolina, reading scores barely budged in the five years between 2015 and 2019. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed one-third of fourth graders in the state performing below the basic reading level in 2019.

A new law in North Carolina aims to fix the problem by bringing uniformity to reading instruction. The law, which passed this spring, will require educators in elementary schools and students and faculty in higher education programs to learn how to teach reading the way Maria Creger does.

Hickorys scores improved from 52 percent of students reading at grade level in 2015 to 59 percent in 2019, compared with an increase from 56 percent to 57 percent for the state as a whole.

The state will be retraining teachers with a program called Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), a method used by the one state that saw significant gains on the last NAEP tests: Mississippi.

In 2019, Mississippi made headlines when results from standardized tests showed it was No. 1 in the nation for growth in reading. In 2013, Mississippi passed a law to use science-based instruction to ensure students read at or above grade level by the end of third grade. Students in the state improved year after year after that, even as the nations average reading scores declined.

Legislators are hoping to emulate Mississippis success, at a time when early data shows the school disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have made North Carolinas reading problem worse.

Hank Weddington, dean of the college of education at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, calls the effort a civil rights issue.

Forty percent of Black students and 44 percent of Hispanic students in North Carolina performed at grade level in English language arts and reading in 2019, compared with 70 percent of white students.

We know that African American and Latinx students are performing worse in reading on end-of-grade test measures, Weddington said. That gap still exists here, and one of the reasons we believe the gap exists is because we have not been true to the science of reading.

Teaching students to read is one of the most difficult tasks for an early elementary school teacher.

The latest data shows only 35 percent of fourth graders in the United States were proficient in reading in 2019. After fourth grade, students have a much harder time staying on track in school if they are not reading at grade level, because by that point, they are primarily reading to learn rather than learning to read.

The science of reading is a decades-old approach that says instruction should be extremely explicit because reading is not instinctive, like speech.

Reading experts now widely acknowledge that before students can learn to connect sounds with written symbols, they must learn how to identify and manipulate those sounds with their mouths  an ability called phonemic awareness. Only then can students master phonics. From there, students must learn vocabulary and how to recognize words by sight  called orthographic mapping  as well as comprehend the meaning of the words theyre reading.

It sounds complicated because it is. Educators can be good at teaching and bad at teaching reading, said Kate Walsh, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), an advocacy group that studies teacher preparation.

There are several reasons for this, Walsh said. Some educators think they are teaching science-based approaches when they are not. Others have been taught a different approach, known as whole language, which focuses more on context and meaning and exposing students to books rather than teaching phonics.

More commonly, teachers learn a method called balanced literacy, which combines both approaches. But balanced literacy often lacks enough explicit, rigorous phonemic instruction and can include strategies that hurt struggling readers rather than help them, such as teaching them to use pictures to figure out words they dont know.

Walsh put it this way: In whole language and balanced literacy, a student could see the word horse under a photo and still get the exercise correct by calling it a pony.

When you have entire generations of teachers who have been taught that thats OK, it is no wonder that kids leave third grade still unable to decode a word, Walsh said.

Whether educators can effectively teach reading often depends on how they were taught in college. Its more important than the curriculum they use, said Shawn Clemons, the director of accountability at Hickory Public Schools.

Institutions of higher education dont always teach the students how to teach reading, Clemons said.

Of the roughly 1,100 teacher preparation programs in early reading NCTQ studies, only 18 do it right, according to Walsh. Lenoir-Rhyne University is one of them.

Lenoir-Rhyne, a small school with about 100 undergraduate education students, has been teaching the science of reading for decades, according to Weddington, dean of the college of education.

But in recent years, that focus has expanded. As a result, Lenoir-Rhyne was among the schools receiving the highest mark in 2020 in NCTQs rating system for teacher prep programs in early reading.

Students at Lenoir-Rhyne now spend three semesters learning about the science of reading rather than one, and professors have started teaching the neuroscience behind the research to give students a better understanding of why it is incredibly difficult for many children to learn to read.

It is such a complex task, and for our students to understand why that is so complex and what the brain does is extremely important, said Monica Campbell, who runs the reading program in Lenoir-Rhynes elementary education department.

During the three semesters when Lenoir-Rhyne students get instruction on teaching reading, they are also inside local elementary schools tutoring young children. Administrators said the tutoring  which was going on even before the lab opened  is part of why some schools in Hickory are seeing more success in reading.

Two years ago, the university created a literacy lab at Southwest Primary School, a few miles down the road from Viewmont Elementary in Hickory. Early education juniors and seniors go there twice a week for two of their courses.

Southwest Primary is a diverse school. About 30 percent of students are white, 26 percent are Black, 24 percent are Hispanic and 12 percent are Asian. More than 90 percent of students receive free or reduced-price lunch.

Southwest Primary was an elementary school until 2017, when the district converted it to serve pre-K through second grade students, at the same time turning nearby Longview Elementary into a school for third through fifth grades only. The purpose of the change was to improve dismal reading scores.

At the same time, Southwest started using the science of reading approach, because balanced literacy was not working for its students, said Erin Roberts, a teacher leadership specialist at the school.

What we have learned with our kids is we have to be incredibly explicit with everything we do, Roberts said.

Last year, Lenoir-Rhyne students worked with 14 kindergartners at the school to improve their reading scores. By the end of the tutoring sessions, 12 reached or exceeded grade level on their reading benchmark tests.

Those improvements persist even when the students leave Southwest Primary after second grade and head to Longview Elementary for third grade. Longviews state rating went from a D in 2015 to a B in 2019, during the same time period Southwest started intensifying its reading instruction. Students reading at grade level rose from 44 percent to nearly 55 percent, according to state test results.

A school like Longview, which has a lot of students that are economically disadvantaged, high-needs students, you dont often see those schools with a performance grade that high, said Clemons, the Hickory schools director of accountability. That is a testament to what is done here, and it continues on to that next school.

Campbell, who runs the Lenoir-Rhyne literacy lab, said partnering with local schools does not always work as well as it has with Southwest.

Even in Hickory, not all schools have committed to the science of reading. The districts official approach is balanced literacy.

When Lenoir-Rhyne placed early education students in schools in Hickory and other North Carolina districts in the past, they quickly learned not everyone teaches reading the same way. Thats very confusing when theyre learning something in college, but theyre not seeing it practiced in the schools, Campbell said.

But next year, state law is forcing Hickory and every other district in the state to jettison other ways of teaching reading in favor of science-based methods.

It will not be an easy process.

The law requires all early education teachers, future educators and professors in teacher preparation programs to be retrained in reading instruction grounded in the science of reading.

The training will take between 138 and 168 hours over the span of two years, which will equal a few hours a week. In order to complete the herculean task of retraining thousands of teachers across the state, the initiative is being rolled out in three phases  phase one started this fall. Hickory Public Schools is in phase three, which is set to start next summer.

The mandate comes at a particularly difficult time for schools. With a shortage of teachers, substitutes and bus drivers, districts in the first phase are already reporting challenges with the time-intensive training. Teachers can either complete it during the workday, which is hard when there are not enough substitutes to cover classes, or they can do it at home.

After the pressures teachers experienced from the pandemic, administrators are worried teachers will quit, said Timothy Sims, director of federal programs in Hickory Public Schools.

The training is going to be a good thing for our teachers. Getting through it is going to be really tough, Sims said.

But advocates for the changes believe it will be worth it in the long run for the 35,000 North Carolina third graders who ended last school year reading below grade level, and the thousands of younger children coming up behind them.

Campbell knows it will be a lot of work for schools and universities, but shes hopeful about the end result.

Its going to be a wonderful thing when everyone is on the same page, Campbell said.

This story about the science of reading was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education, as part of the project Reading Remedies, a collaboration with The Christian Science Monitor and the Education Labs at AL.com, The Dallas Morning News, The Fresno Bee, The Post and Courier and The Seattle Times. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter.
GREENVILLE  Seven students at Bob Jones University won a grant for their device that measures carbon storage in soil, one of 23 university teams awarded in the Carbon Renewal Student Competition.

XPRIZE, a nonprofit that creates competition models to solve global challenges, announced the winners on Nov. 10 for creating scalable carbon extraction technologies. The nonprofit received $100 million in total from Elon Musk's Musk Foundation for all of its competitions.

The Bob Jones student team will get $100,000, the highest prize available, of the $5 million allocated for the carbon removal competition. The winners were announced during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Almost 200 proposals from universities around the world were submitted into one of two categories. Bob Jones was one of five winners in the Measurement, Reporting and Verification Technologies category. The other winners were Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University, the University of Miami and the University of Wyoming.

We are proud of how our students and faculty diligently collaborated for months to produce this innovative proposal, said Bob Jones President Steve Pettit in a university issued press release.

At least half of the students on the teams needed to be currently enrolled in an educational institution and have an academic advisor or business leader supporting them to be eligible for the competition. The Bob Jones student team comprised of engineering, science and business majors, with the help of four faculty mentors, met before the start of the fall 2021 semester to meet the deadline.

The team will receive the money in two $50,000 installments. The first will be given immediately and the other after a progress check in June 2022.
A number of events are scheduled to honor military veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, throughout Greenville County.

Greenville County will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at County Square, 301 University Ridge. Congressman William Timmons, R-4th District, will be the guest speaker and music will be provided by the Upstate Senior Band and Miss Liberty Belle. Contact adabney@greenvillecounty.org for more details.

Gov. Henry McMaster will also be in the Upstate to tour a pair of veteran-owned businesses, Tactical Medical Solutions in Anderson and ACL Airshop in Greenville.

The city of Simpsonville will host its Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Veterans Corner, at the intersection of South East Main Street and Richardson Street. The guest speaker will be Rev. Mike Smith of Simpsonville United Methodist Church, a retired U.S. Army chaplain.

Mauldin will host its Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Mauldin Veterans Memorial at the citys outdoor amphitheater, 101 E. Butler Road. It will feature music by the Hillcrest High School choir and Steve Goshorn and a Quilts of Valor presentation by Ken Hinkle.

Fountain Inns Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the citys Activities and Senior Center, 610 Fairview Street. U.S. Air Force veterans Bob Scherer and Candice Matelski-Brady will be the guest speakers. There will also be a Quilts of Valor presentation and a free barbecue lunch.
Inside lanes on Interstate 20 going eastbound and westbound will be closed from Nov. 11 to Nov. 18.

Construction crews will have scheduled paving and temporary barrier wall installations, according to the Georgia Department of Transportation.

The eastbound lane will be closed from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. The westbound lane will be closed from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. All work days may be rescheduled with alternate times on an as-needed basis.

Travel lanes will be impacted during nighttime hours from River Watch Parkway at Exit 200 in Georgia to West Martintown Road at Exit 1 in South Carolina. The work, according to GDOT, is related to an upcoming westbound interstate traffic shift to new construction. The shift date is still undetermined.
Recent articles in military-oriented magazines and daily newspapers attempt to assure war veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan that they should not feel that the hasty, disorganized and unilateral withdrawal from Afghanistan in some way discredited their honorable service in these wars.

Give these veterans more credit; they can take a punch to the gut. There is a lot of preaching to the choir, with the choir being the less than 1% of our population that fights our wars since Vietnam.

Starting with the Korean War, often called The Forgotten War, veterans have realized that adjustments to their battle space and battle plans were being made far above their on-site military senior officers level. The administrations of Presidents Harry Truman, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden often hampered combat operations by injecting political-based decisions into day-to-day, hour-to-hour combat operations.

These political decisions cost lives on the battlefield, whether it was bombing half of a bridge in Korea; ceasefires in Vietnam; a premature ceasefire during Desert Storm that almost saved the enemy's Republican Guard tank force; halting the Marines' attack in Fallujah after they had captured most of the city; firing a tough, never-timid defense secretary who spoke about war from a perspective of 35 years of experience; the unwise withdrawal from Iraq; or the disastrous get-out-of-Dodge-now departure from Afghanistan.

Most war veterans are armed with the fact that we have three factors affecting our conduct and plans on the battlefield: the enemy, our own forces and the American politician. That's why, in these modern times, we all have a little William Eaton skepticism in us. Eaton was the man President Thomas Jefferson ordered to capture Tripoli in 1805; after he had seized the city of Derna and was ready to move on Tripoli, Jefferson changed his mind and ordered a withdrawal.

Truth is, unless attitudes have changed from my days in Vietnam and 26 years of military service, most men (and some women) actually engage in combat, regardless of duties, location, service or backgrounds. They fight for each other, and trust that all members of their team will do their job and protect each other. During their training, and especially during their deployment in a combat zone, they morph into people who will place the lives and well-being of others before their own. Their fellow soldiers, sailors, Marines or airmen become important to them. Some give their lives for their comrades-in-arms. Thats a strong bond.

The strength of our armed forces is not necessarily the weapons, equipment or even the pay scales, even though those are important. Its the attitude of its members.

When you get down to the grunt level, staying alive in order to accomplish the mission sometimes takes second place. These are our young men and women  America's finest  who make up the less-than-1% who fight our wars. They are veterans of the ritual of training and the fires of combat, or preparing for that which never comes their way.

But they also are disappointed by higher-ups who make what they consider stupid decisions. Even so, they know that they served in our armed forces to the best of their abilities, providing faithful and honest service to this nation, and so do their comrades-in-arms and those they love. Sometimes they are one and the same. That is what is most important to them.

For those who have fought for it, life has a meaning the protected will never know. Veterans Day is their day.

Retired Maj. Ralph Stoney Bates served with the Marine Corps in Vietnam. He lives in Mount Pleasant.
COLUMBIA  When the South Carolina Senate's redistricting committee released renderings of its proposed new map earlier in November, the results were met with a collective easy shrug by lawmakers and members of the public alike.

Advocacy groups closely monitoring the process  the American Civil Liberties Union, the South Carolina League of Women Voters  offered little objection. And members of the committee, including Democratic Sen. Dick Harpootlian, whose district would be eliminated by the plan, advanced it out of committee after less than 20 minutes of discussion.

Initial discussions around the House of Representatives' plan, released the afternoon of Nov. 8, would not go so smoothly.

Meeting to discuss the maps for the first time on Nov. 10, the eight members of the House redistricting committee faced several hours of constituent testimony and criticism that the 124 districts  as drawn  discouraged competition, divided communities of interest and were released with insufficient time to allow for informed public comment.

Opposition came from both sides of the political aisle.

Numerous Orangeburg residents testified against the elimination of the historically Black House District 95, a predominantly Democratic district which had been carved off into more rural, conservative districts currently represented by incumbents outside the city's limits.

Conservatives in the adjacent communities of Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell objected as well, concerned the Republican-leaning vote could be diluted with Democratic voters.

Another predominantly minority community in Anderson appeared to have been divided into three separate districts, a questionable decision that could potentially marginalize the vote of the local Black population, others said.

We are basically being eliminated, said Rosa W. Kennerly-Dance, an Orangeburg resident who opposed the plan.

Some of the proposed districts, critics alleged, had been drawn in ways that heavily favored incumbents, occasionally dividing individual precincts into distinct districts to do so. While a proposal by the League of Women Voters split just 82 precincts, the House proposal would divide 371 different precincts statewide  far more than the estimated 123 needed to ensure all individual House districts had equal shares of population.

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In the House plan's effort to keep populations between districts, critics said, the plan could potentially marginalize large minority populations that were undercounted by the census. While the House allowed for deviations of 2.5 percent from the state average, some have pushed for deviations as high as 5 percent, a nod to analyses by groups like the Urban Institute arguing minority populations can often be undercounted at significantly higher proportions than Whites.

On its face, the House proposal represented an extreme gerrymander, S.C. League of Women Voters Vice President Lynn Teague said, with the potential to dilute the votes of approximately 250,000 South Carolinians. Numerous critics of the plan, including Teague, said they had not had enough time to say so authoritatively.

Redistricting this year has been a challenge. South Carolina's population grew nearly 11 percent over the past decade, fueled primarily by lopsided growth along the coast, in the South Carolina suburbs of Charlotte and in the region surrounding Greenville. Due to COVID-19, population numbers for individual precincts were delayed until midsummer, prompting delays in the redistricting process that prompted lawsuits from groups like the ACLU and the South Carolina NAACP.

Other gaffes didn't help the process. After the House released its initial plan online on Nov. 8, the proposal was briefly removed from the committee's website only to be reposted with a different, updated map hours later. Committee chairman Rep. Jay Jordan told attendees the mishap was a technical error. However, several to testify on Nov. 10 said the mishap, paired with the brief amount of time between the map's release and the meeting itself, said they had less than a single business day to develop informed testimony ahead of the hearing.

This was concerning, Teague said, because the House map, as proposed, appeared to be statistically biased, with district borders that seemed to benefit incumbent members. Though the new maps would likely not significantly change the 81-43 Republican advantage over Democrats in the House, according to an analysis by The Associated Press, the plan did little to foster competition, Teague said. Under the House plan, just 12 districts across the state, Teague said, were likely to finish with electoral margins of 5 percent or less, compared with 19 under the League's map.

"What we know is this map was very unlikely to have been designed without a very biased goal," she said.

"Our initial conclusion is that the League would never support this map," she added.

The jury is still out on whether certain plans will benefit or hinder a community's interests. The fast-growing community of Mount Pleasant, for example, shares representation with citizens of Charleston, Hanahan, Isle of Palms and Sullivans Island. The fractures in the map have created a situation where five members of the South Carolina House of Representatives and three members of the Senate count Mount Pleasant residents as constituents. While that dynamic potentially dilutes their influence in the Legislature, it also means more advocates for the towns interests in Columbia.

"In theory, of course Mount Pleasant would benefit from having a state House district comprised entirely of our citizens, Mayor Will Haynie said in an interview. In practice, though, we must look at how the lines are drawn and hear citizen feedback to see if the new configurations make sense for Mount Pleasant neighborhoods."

Ultimately, lawmakers will need more time to figure that out. While the committee unanimously voted to adopt the House plan as a working document on Nov. 10, Chairman Jay Jordan, R-Florence, announced at the end of the meeting he would leave written public comment open until Nov. 15, delaying a formal vote to advance the draft proposal until the next meeting of the House Judiciary Committee. That meeting will likely take place Nov. 16.
SUMMERVILLE  The Dorchester County Republican Party has issued a "censure" message against U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham for his vote in support of the Biden administration's infrastructure package.

The vote by the party's executive committee to condemn Graham, R-S.C., actually took place last month but was released to the media in its full form Nov. 10, county party Chairman Steven Wright said.

Graham's South Carolina office had no comment on the censure.

Dorchester County joins a long list of local parties that have expressed displeasure with the state's senior senator over any perceived slight they see as not adhering to conservative principles, not opposing Joe Biden's White House victory or being weak in the face of COVID mandates, among other issues over time.

Some of the other county parties that have censured Graham recently include Aiken, York, Horry, Orangeburg and Calhoun.

Wright said the Dorchester County party's definition of "censure" is a public voice of displeasure to a position or vote. The three-page letter condemns Graham "for his deliberate violation of our Republican principles."

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It notes the party favors sound fiscal management and warns of the "dire consequences of years of unbalanced budgets and the possibility of national bankruptcy and disapproves of continuing to raise the national debt ceiling."

Additionally, it targets Graham as one of 19 Republican senators who backed Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

One passage, for example, reads that "only $110 Billion of the Act will be spent on roads and bridges, but nothing to secure our borders, while the remainder is dedicated to progressive agenda goals like electric cars, buses and charging stations, subways, western water storage, environmental cleanup, broadband for low income communities, rewarding Democratic constituencies."

The Senate vote on the measure was earlier this summer while the House vote was last week. Graham was the only Republican in the state delegation to support the package, as did Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. South Carolina will get $6 billion in federal dollars from the plan that came in at over $1.2 trillion.

The Dorchester censure passed 20-15. Under party rules, Wright did not vote on the censure, but said he did not agree with it, saying it was better to keep lines of communication open.

Copies of the censure were sent to other local political figures.
In a crisis that is, in some ways, reminiscent of our own disaster at the southern border, Poland is facing what amounts to an invasion across its border with Belarus. The London Times reports:

The EU has accused Belarus of acting like a gangster by luring migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa and helping them to storm the border, which is the EUs eastern edge, into Poland. The Polish government has claimed that Lukashenkos ally, Russia, is behind the provocative operation.

The migrants allegedly have been flown into place on Russias airline, Aeroflot, and are accompanied to the border by Belarussian troops. Gangster seems like a fair characterization:

President Lukashenko of Belarus threatened today to close down a key gas pipeline to Europe if Poland shut its border. We are heating Europe, but they still threaten us with closing the border, Lukashenko, 67, said. But what if we cut off [gas] for the Poles and, for example, for the Germans? What will happen then? We should stop at nothing when defending our sovereignty and our independence.

Left unexplained is how Belarussian sovereignty and independence depend on forcing foreign migrants across the Polish border.

On Monday what had been a trickle of migrants heading to Poland increased dramatically, with hundreds arriving at the border, apparently ushered by Belarusian security forces. About 800 people have camped out in the cold in woods close to the Polish town of Kuznica. Morawiecki has sent about 15,000 soldiers to reinforce the border zone.

Belarus seems to be looking for a provocation:

Incidents on the border have continued to build up. The Polish defence ministry reported this morning that a group of a few hundred migrants had tried to enter the country near Bialowieza by throwing objects at soldiers and attempting to destroy the fence. They then retreated back into the forest, allegedly escorted by Belarusian soldiers.

***

The Belarusian side has also warned of armed escalation. Lukashenko told the state news agency BelTA today that weapons, ammunition and explosives were being delivered to migrants on the border. He said the weapons were mainly coming from Donbas, eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed separatists have formed two breakaway republics.

***

Lukashenko said that he had spoken to President Putin about the issue. He said that many of the people camped near Kuznica were Kurds, whom he described as warriors. With provocation, we will have an armed conflict, Lukashenko said. The Belarusian defence ministry also accused Poland of an unprecedented build-up of military forces on its borders, while state media whipped up anti-Polish sentiment. You are playing with fire! You organised this crisis, this humanitarian catastrophe! America will not fight for you! Did 1939 teach you nothing? said a TV presenter.

Well, she is certainly correct that the Biden administration will not fight for Poland. Belarus would not be engaging in this provocative behavior without Russian sanction or, more likely, instigation. What are the Russians up to? Why do they think it is in their interest to force Middle Eastern and African immigrants into Poland? Are they observing the disaster at our own border, and using similar tactics to weaken Poland? Or are they simply trying to provoke an armed clash that could be the pretext for war in Eastern Europe?

I dont know. But it seems likely that Vladimir Putin sees an opportunity to take advantage of a pitiful U.S. administration to advance Russian interests and undermine the free countries of Eastern Europe.
Today Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand to testify in his own defense. I was glad to see it. Commentators always say how risky it is for a criminal defendant to testify, but not testifying is risky toothe overwhelming majority of criminal defendants who dont testify are convicted. And in my opinion, Rittenhouse had a good story to tell.

Victoria Tate has an account of Rittenhouses direct testimony at PJ Media. It sounds as though the testimony was gripping, and he did well, describing the verbal and physical threats and assaults made against him by the three men whom he shot, he says, in self-defense.

Andrew Branca describes the Assistant District Attorneys cross-examination at Legal Insurrection. It sounds as though the wheels came off: ADA Binger repeatedly behaved improperly, drawing strong rebukes from the judge and the threat of a motion for a mistrial with prejudice (meaning that the state would not be able to re-try Rittenhouse) from the defense.

Based on what I have seen, it appears that the prosecution has more or less collapsed. Assuming the prosecution can limp its way to the finish line, it seems probable that the jury will return a verdict of not guilty. Assuming, of course, that the jurors havent been intimidated by thuggish individuals who have tried to video them so they can be identified and attacked if they acquit Rittenhouse.

Like pretty much everything nowadays, opinion on the Rittenhouse prosecution divides along partisan lines. Rasmussen finds that 59% of Democrats think Rittenhouse should be convicted, while only 22% of Republicans and 25% of Independents agree. Conversely, 50% of Republicans say he should be acquitted, with just 20% of Democrats agreeing. It makes a big difference, though, how closely respondents have followed the case. Of those who say they have followed news about the trial very closely, 55% say Rittenhouse should be acquitted.

All of this reminds us that over a year ago, Facebook banned any expression of support for Rittenhouse, apparently deeming him a mass murderer. Twitter also locked the account of Rittenhouses lawyer, and a police officer was fired for donating to his defense. This incident illustrates, like so many others, the danger of social media behemoths shutting down discussion of matters that should be very much up for debate.
Were still putting together the topical agenda for our live taping of the Three Whisky Happy Hour podcast this afternoon at 5:30 pm Pacific time, but if you want to join us (whisky not mandatory, and yes, Irish whisky is definitely allowed, as is American bourbon whiskey), click on THIS LINK around 5:25 pm or so.

We will be having a poll of listeners about whisky preferences, so your vote can help end the civil war between me and Lucretia.

Cheers!
The Federal Executive Council(FEC) has approved the National Development Plan (NDP) for 2021 to 2025 to succeed the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan(ERGP) which expired in December 2020.

Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after a virtual FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She said the NDP was structured along six clusterseconomic growth and development, infrastructure, public administration, human capital development, social development and regional development.

The minister said that plan had been costed to have an investment size of N348.7 trillion over the five-year period.

The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning presented a memo requesting approval for the NDP for 2021 to 2025, which is a plan that is succeeding the ERGP which expired in Dec. 2020.

This National Development Plan, NDP, is structured along six clusters. The clusters include economic growth and development, infrastructure, public administration, human capital development, social development and regional development.

The plan is underpinned by a macro-economic framework, which projects an average real GDP growth of five per cent per annum over the plan period.

Also, the plan has been costed to have an investment size of N348.7 trillion over the five-year period.

Mrs Ahmed said the investment size will comprise N49.7 trillion from the public sector, representing 14.3 per cent and N 298.3 trillion, representing 85.7 per cent.

According to her, the public sector expenditure component of N49.7 trillion will be contributed by both the federal government and the states.

 he federal government expenditure component is N29.6 trillion, representing 8.5 per cent of the total expenditure size, while the sub-national government, states, will be contributing N20.1 trillion, representing 5.8 per cent.

The funding strategies for the plan have also been identified and these include broadening the tax base, enhancing the capacity of the private sector through creating investment opportunities and deliberate policy engagements and incentives.

There will also be exploring domestic and concessioning financing sources and setting up financial investment vehicles such as growth funds and public private partnership as well as the Nigerian Investment and Growth Fund.

The implementation of the plan requires the establishment of a strong implementation mechanism and framework that promotes performance and accountability, which is necessary for the implementation of the plan.

There will also be a Development Plan Implementation Unit that will report to the National Steering Committee, which will be headed by the vice president with the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning as vice chair.

The minister said the establishment of the Development Plan Implementation Unit would be in the planning arm of the ministry.

She said the coordination of the implementation of the plan would be carried through to ensure that MDAs, state governments, private sector operators, civil society organisations, among others, are all working in a coordinated fashion.

According to her, the plan also has a specific concentration to deliver during the five-year period.

Immediately we get this plan launched we will be continuing work on the longer term plan, which is the Nigeria Agenda 2050.

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This is to make sure that we dont have a vacuum going forward; we have a medium term plans for five years and there is a long term plan which is the Nigeria Agenda 2050.

The long-term plan, the Nigeria Agenda 2050, work will continue immediately we launch this medium term plan.

 Going forward, the national annual budget will be derived from the plan, the details of which have already been costed.

All MDAs will be required to draw their programmes and projects from the detailed plans that they themselves have submitted during this process; the NDP 2021 to 2025 has been approved today by the FEC for implementation as a successor plan to the elapsed EGRP 2017-2020.

On his part, Ministry of State for Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, said that the governance structure of the plan would have Atedo Peterside, as co-Chair from the private sector.

He said the National Steering Committee had 42 members comprising key ministers, representatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, other organs of the private sector and six governors representing the geo-political zones.

(NAN)
Muda Yusuf, an economist and former Director-General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has described the recent hike in price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as inimical to the drive to promote the use of clean energy and protect the environment.

Mr Yusuf said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the continuous increase in LPG (cooking gas) price.

NAN reports that the hike started in April 2021 when gas per kilogramme was sold for between N280 and N300 but the price later rose to N750 per.

Currently 20 tonnes of LPG is sold for more than N9.5 million against N4 million sold before the hike. A 12.5 kg cylinder of gas is sold at N9,300 as against N8,500 two weeks ago.

Mr Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprises, warned that there could be a relapse of accelerated deforestation if the spike was not checked.

He said it was noteworthy that significant progress was made in getting a good percentage of the population to transition from the use of firewood and kerosene to use of LPG.

He said although the campaign had won a lot of converts even in many villages but the spike in LPG price may reverse the gains and it would not augur well for the preservation of the environment.

We may see a relapse of accelerated deforestation if the spike if not checked. The sharp increase in price of LPG also has implication for poverty. This is making access to food more difficult, he said.

It is bad enough that food has become very expensive. Now the cost of cooking the food has become prohibitive. This is a case of double jeopardy for the average citizen.

Gas pricing needs to reflect the reality that we are a gas producing country.

We should leverage the huge gas resources to make gas more accessible to the common man. The huge gas reserves should ordinarily also offer an opportunity for us to leapfrog in our industrialisation drive and environmental protection.

We cannot be exporting gas while there is acute scarcity in the country. There should be some balance in this regard, he said.

NAN gathered that the oil and gas stakeholders recently met with government representatives and regulatory agencies to come up with suitable option to adopt in order to crash the gas prices.

(NAN)
Seven federal government organisations involved in fighting corruption are to get a total of N57.6 billion in 2022, an amount that represents less than one per cent of next years spending estimates submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

At just 0.36 per cent of the proposed N16.4 trillion national budget, the amount nevertheless represents an increase on the cumulative amount voted for the agencies in the current 2021 approved budget.

A breakdown of the figure, however, shows that the increase is to be enjoyed by only six agencies, as the seventh is projected to take a budget cut in the coming year.

The agencies selected based on the exclusivity, significance or broad nature of their anti-corruption mandates include the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), and the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

The others are the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).

PREMIUM TIMES analysis shows that, among the agencies, only the CCB, a perennially underfunded body set up to handle asset declarations of public officers across all levels of government, is billed to take a cut  up to nine per cent from its 2021 budget  in the coming year.

Below are the breakdowns of the proposed budgetary allocations for the seven selected agencies.

EFCC

It is Nigerias flagship anti-corruption agency with about the broadest mandate to fight corruption, financial and economic crimes, including money laundering, cybercrimes, terrorism-financing, tax-related offences, among others.

It has the lions share of the estimates proposed for the anti-corruption agencies in the 2022 proposed budget.

With a N31.4 billion allocation, the agency is given a raise of about 7.1 per cent from the N29. 3 billion budgeted for it in 2021.

Of the proposed estimate, about N10.5 billion is earmarked for salaries and wages; and N1.1billion for the Contributory Pension  Employers Contributions for staff.

While Utilities such as electricity, water, internet, telephone, others is to gulp about N248,765,570, Materials and supplies including books, newspapers, computers, and others, is expected to cost N217,679,369.

For local travel and transport for training, the EFCC plans to spend N81,316,531, while local travels and transport others is expected to gulp N700,201,435.

International travel: training will take N80,752,521, while international travel: others will be at the cost of N58,650,618.

ICPC

The agency, another leading anti-corruption organisation of the federal government, has a proposed budget of N13 billion. It represents about a 5.7 per cent increase from the N12.3 billion allocated to it in the current 2021 budget.

Salaries and Wages is pegged at about N4.7 billion in the agencys proposed 2022 budget.

While N74,113,120 is proposed for local travel and transport for training, local travels and transport others are pegged at N406,387,897.

Utility bills are estimated to cost N91,060,000, and Materials and supplies is estimated to cost N114,216,083.

NFIU

The agency is Nigerias financial intelligence unit supporting relevant domestic and international government agencies with information to combat money laundering, terrorism financing and other financial and economic crimes.

It also represents the country at various international platforms such as Egmont Group and GIABA for the exchange of confidential information to fight crimes.

A N5.5 billion total expenditure has been proposed for the agency in 2022, representing a 5.7 per cent increase from the N5.2 billion allocated to it in the 2021 approved budget.

While about N3.6 billion was earmarked for Salaries and wages, N55.5million for local travel and transport for training, and N78.65 million for local travels and transport others.

Utilities is expected to gulp N39.850million, while Materials and Supplies will take N700.2 million.

While N30 million is earmarked for Residential Rent, N75 million is to be set aside for Security Operations.

CCB

The CCB, an agency that deals with the asset declarations of public officers,s ha a proposed budget of N2.9 billion for 2022. The amount is a decrease of 9.4 per cent from the N3.2 billion appropriated for it in the 2021 budget.

Of this, N1.7 billion is earmarked for Salaries and Wages while N22 million is proposed for Local Travel and Transport for Training, and N120 million for Local Travels and Transport Others.

In the proposed budget of the bureau, Utilities will gulp N15 million, Materials and Supplies is to take N41 million, office rent, N24 million, and refreshment N7 million.

CCT

The tribunal is the body with exclusive power to adjudicate on asset declaration breaches.

With about N969.1 million proposed allocation, the tribunal is set to be the most under-funded among the seven selected agencies in 2022. However, the figure, as meagre as it is, represents an increase of about 4.65 per cent over its 2021 budget.

Over half of the proposed allocation is to be spent on salaries and wages, as a total of N483 million has been earmarked for that.

Also, Local Travel and Transport for Training is to cost N7.5 million and Local Travels and Transport Others will gulp N27 million.

Utilities proposed to cost N18.4 million, Material and Supplies is to get N44.8 million, Office Rent is to take N8.5 million and Fumigations is to get N20.5 million.

NEITI

The agency helps in promoting transparency, accountability, and policy options around crude oil and other extractive resources which underpin Nigerias earnings.

It is planned to have a N2.1 billion expenditure in 2022, amounting to a substantial 40 per cent increase from the N1.5 billion approved for it in the 2021 national budget.

Of this, N846 million is earmarked for Salaries and Wages.

Utilities is also expected to gulp N40 million; while Material and Supplies is planned to take N45 million.

Office Rent under the proposed spending plan will take N17 million.

Also, Fumigation is to take N9 million, Refreshments, N10 million, and Research and Development, N95 million.

BPP

The agency plays a vital role in curbing procurement fraud.

A total of N1.7 billion is allocated to it in the 2022 proposed budget, which represents a 15.7 per cent increase over the N1.9 billion approved for it in the 2021 budget.

Salaries and Wages will gulp N413 million, Refreshment, N28 million, Sitting Allowance, N26 million and Purchase of Vehicles, N33 million.

While Local Travel and Transport for Training is billed to cost N67 million, Local Travels and Transport Others is planned to gulp N122 million.

Utilities is pegged at N41 million, Material and Supplies, N84 million, Security, N16 million and Office Rent N22 million.

Concerns

Without referring to any benchmark, many have described the proposed allocations to the seven agencies as meagre.

Even with the EFCC having the lions share of the anti-corruption votes in the proposed 2022 estimates, two senators, during the agencys budget defence hearing on October 26, said the N31 billion earmarked for it was not enough.

PUNCH newspapers reported that Yusuf Yusuf, the senator representing Taraba Central, and Smart Adeyemi, the Kogi West senator, spoke of the agencys low budget.

Mr Adeyemi said with adequate funding, the agency should set up offices in all senatorial districts, in the minimum, even if it cannot have it in all local governments in the country.

According to him, having offices in all senatorial districts will make it easier for it to get first-hand information.

Activists and development experts say a country that scored 25 out of 100 points in the 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report of Transparency International (TI) should ordinarily be prepared to spend more on fighting corruption.

The country dropped three places from its 146th position in the previous year to 149th in 2020 in the TIs report. Its 25-point performance was also a point lower than the 26 it recorded in the previous year. The Nigerian government has, however, rejected the ranking, describing it as unfair and unacceptable.

To Olanrewaju Suraj, an anti-corruption activist, the proposed anti-corruption spending betrays President Buharis anti-corruption mantra and confirms the business-as-usual philosophy of those serving under him and responsible for budgetary allocation for the anti-corruption agencies.

Mr Suraj, the executive director of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), a civil society group focused on anti-corruption and transparency, added that the 2022 budgetary proposal exposes the lack of this governments genuine commitment to the prevention of corruption and abuse of office.

Another activist, Hassan Soweto, shares a similar belief. The Buhari anti-corruption war only exists in the imagination of the government, its paid and unpaid hirelings, he said.

Samson Itodo, Executive Director, YAIGA Africa, a civil society organisation concerned with democracy, governance and development, similarly expressed doubts about any ongoing anti-corruption war.

Even talking about the fight against corruption itself, are we fighting corruption, especially given the amount of money allocated to institutions that are meant to fight corruption?

A popular #EndSARS campaigner, Olorunrinu Oduala, popularly known as Rinu, similarly expressed concerns about the governments commitment to the fight against corruption.

The question shouldnt be about the amount though. It should be about if this government has shown itself capable of fighting corruption. This government is a cabal of corrupt people claiming to fight corruption.

Another of the commentators concerns is the budget cut the CCB is subjected to at a time many Nigerians are waiting to see it act on the relevant part of Pandora Papers.

PREMIUM TIMES, the only Nigerian media outlet with access to the Papers, has exposed many undeclared asset hidden by some present and former public officials in tax havens.

With this years decrease in the bureaus budget, Buhari and his handlers have confirmed their intention to finally bury the CCB and embolden public officers in escaping with illicit assets, Mr Suraj said.

Corruption impact

Corruption affects all aspects of public life, continues to undermine the social, economic and political development of the country, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) said on its website on the impact of corruption on Nigeria.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), in its 2020 inequality report, the latest in the series, indicated that about 40 per cent of Nigerians were living below the poverty line.

This is partly blamed on corruption, which the UNODC describes as a major obstacle to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Considering its negative impact on Nigerian people, the world body leading the fight against illicit drugs and international crimes said, Corruption remains a priority concern to the Nigerian government and people.

Many observers want to see the expression of the concern taken in decisive action against corruption.
A former South African President, Frederik de Klerk, is dead.

Mr De Klerk, 85, died Thursday, his foundation announced in a statement.

Mr De Klerk was the last white man to rule South Africa, between September 1989 and May 1994.

It was he who released Nelson Mandela from prison before the latter contested and won the South African presidential election.

The statement from his Foundation read: Former President FW de Klerk died peacefully at his home in Fresnaye (Cape Town) earlier this morning following his struggle against mesothelioma cancer.

In March, Mr De Klerk was diagnosed with mesothelioma  a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, but he started a course of immunotherapy. His foundation said then that there was no immediate threat at the time and we are confident that the treatment will be successful.

In February 1990, he announced sweeping reforms that marked the beginning of the negotiated transition from apartheid to democracy.

His actions helped bring an end to apartheid-era South Africa, and he became one of the countrys two deputy presidents after the multi-party elections in 1994 that saw Mr Mandela become president.

Mr Mandela defeated Mr De Klerk in the presidential elections just four years after winning his freedom. But even as Mr Mandela invited Mr De Klerk into his transitional government as second deputy president, Mr De Klerk struggled with his diminished role and eventually quit.

His efforts to remake the National Party that his grandfather helped create, from a white-dominated organization into a multiracial one with the clout of the Action National Party (ANC), fizzled.

Frustrated, Mr De Klerk announced his retirement from politics in 1997.

Earlier in 1993, Mr De Klerk won the Nobel Peace Prize, an award he shared with Mr Mandela, but the relationship of the duo was born out of necessity. according to Mr Mandela.

In his own autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, Mr Mandela, quoted by New York Times, said: To make peace with an enemy one must work with that enemy, and that enemy becomes ones partner.

Despite his seemingly progressive actions, Mr Mandela wrote, Mr De Klerk was by no means the great emancipator. He was a gradualist, a careful pragmatist. He did not make any of his reforms with the intention of putting himself out of power. He made them for precisely the opposite reason: to ensure power for the Afrikaner in a new dispensation.

Mr De Klerk is survived by his wife Elita, his children Jan and Susan and his grandchildren, the foundation said, adding that the family would in due course make an announcements regarding funeral arrangements.
The Nigerian police have arrested a group of 14 persons, including a journalist, who allegedly posed as security personnel and raided the home of Supreme Court justice Mary Odili.

Parading the suspects at the force headquarters annex on Thursday, the police spokesperson, Frank Mba, described the suspects as impostors who were unknown to any of the nations security forces.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mrs Odilis Maitama, Abuja residence, was raided by armed personnel.

Mrs Odili is the wife of Peter Odili, a former governor of Rivers State, who has been having a running battle with the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

The reports earlier suggested that the invasion was carried out by officials of the anti-graft agency, EFCC.

Criminal Mission

According to Mr Mba, the 14 suspects and seven others now at large conspired to raid the residence following information that the Supreme Court Justice was keeping a large sum of money in foreign currencies.

Mr Mba noted that the leader of the illegal operation is a fake chief superintendent of police.

He said the criminals are loose canons and document forgers who were on their own and not hired by any personnel of the ministry of justice.

A journalist identified as Stanley Nkwazeme was also one of those arrested.

The incident drew criticisms from many quarters including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, amongst others.

While commending the resilience and resistance of the security agents attached to the justices house on the day of the incident, the police spokesperson said it could have been the greatest embarrassment to the nation.
In a bid to ensure national security and adequate profiling of prison inmates, the Nigerian government has captured the biometric data of all inmates in Nigerian correctional centres, an official has said.

Rauf Aregbsola, the interior minister, disclosed this in Abuja Thursday during a media briefing organised by the Presidential Media Team at the State House.

Mr Aregbesola said the biometric capture was done before the latest case of a prison break in the country and that it would help in the re-arrest of the fleeing inmates.

I will like to inform Nigerians that we have captured the biometric information of all inmates in the facilities of NCoS, working in partnership with the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

Therefore, we have the capacity and are tracking all escapees from our facilities. In addition, we are working with and have shared the details of escapees with INTERPOL, to check the risks of cross border movements, the minister revealed.

He said about 3,000 inmates who escaped from various prisons in the past year are still at large.

He said 4,860 inmates escaped from various custodial centres from 2020 till date, and out of this, 984 have been recaptured.

The Prison Breaks

PREMIUM TIMES reported how at least four prisons were attacked in the past year leading to the release of the inmates.

The most recent is that of Abolongo Custodial Centre in Oyo State where unidentified gunmen freed hundreds of inmates.

The jailbreak came about a month after a similar incident happened at the Kabba correctional centre in Kogi State. Two security personnel were killed in the process while hundreds of inmates escaped.

Six months earlier, a total of 1,844 prisoners were freed when gunmen suspected to be members of the outlawed Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) attacked another correctional facility in Owerri, Imo State.

At least 2,051 inmates escaped after earlier jailbreaks in Edo and Ondo states while some of the inmates voluntarily returned and turned themselves in.

At least a dozen of security agents in charge of the facilities were killed during the attacks.

Mr Aregbesola said the attacks on correctional facilities reflects the current security challenge Nigeria is facing.

He assured Nigerians that a ministerial task force will soon be inaugurated to enforce the re-arrest of all escapees and their collaborators.

The federal government will pursue not just those who attacked our facility, but those who have escaped lawful custody, he said.

Reforming Prisoners

The minister also spoke of the governments efforts to reform prisoners.

There are various ongoing reformation and education programmes for inmates in our custodial facilities, he said. The Service, in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), has increased the number of Study Centers to 10 across Correctional formations (Abeokuta, Anambra, Enugu, Kaduna, Keffi, Kuje, Lafia, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Umuahia).

There are currently about 465 inmates running various Degree programmes, 85 of the inmates are running Post  Graduate Degree programs, while four are running PhD programmes within the custodial facilities.

A total of 560 inmates have been enrolled for WAEC/NECO Examinations, and 2,300 for Adult Literacy Classes in several Custodial Centers. Additional Borstal Training Institutions for young offenders, male and female, are to be established in each State of the Federation, Mr Aregbesola stated.
The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has recommended the suspension of Ecobank from further collection of customs duties, over infraction in the collection of the duties.

The committee chairman, Leke Abejide, said this at the resumed investigative hearing of the committee on some banks refusal to remit customs duties to the federal governments coffers.

He said that the bank would be suspended until it was able to pay the outstanding of N4.3 billion customs duties the bank refused to pay to the federal government.

Mr Abejide said that the committee had been on the assignment for over a year, stressing that any banks that failed to show the amount collected for customs duties would also be suspended.

He noted that banks like Diamond, Access, Intercontinental, GTB, City Bank and WEMA Bank had submitted full data for their forensic review, while data from First Bank, Union Bank, Stanbic IBTC, were still undergoing reviews.

The lawmaker said at the end of the investigation, all banks that refused to remit their collection of customs duties would be suspended from further collection, until all their outstanding amounts were cleared.

Reacting to the development, Mr Oche Adejoh, the Regional Compliant Manager, Ecobank, said that as of today, the bank had completed all its remittances.

He said that Ecobank currently had no remittances to make, adding that this was why the bank employed an independent entity, KPMG, to do the relevant investigation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other banks that appeared at the investigative hearing included: Keystone bank, Standard Chartered bank, Fidelity bank, Polaris bank.

Meanwhile, the committee has commended Standard Chartered Bank for demonstrating commitment to pay its outstanding balance to the federal government coffers.

The committee stated that it hoped to get the cheque from the bank any moment from now.

Mr Olukorede Adeniran, the representative of the Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank, commended the committee, promising to revert accordingly by remitting the outstanding monies.

(NAN)
One of the survivors of the collapsed 21-storey building in Ikoyi, Lagos, said they were working on a cracked pillar on the first floor of the skyscraper when it crumbled.

The survivor, a labourer at the site, was interviewed in one of the hospitals where he is still recuperating.

PREMIUM TIMES is withholding his identity to avoid him being victimised for speaking to the press. He also said he was warned not to discuss the incident with anyone.

I was working with my colleague. I have been told not to tell anybody. That day, we were working on the first floor, Engineer Kola and Engineer Ola told us there is one pillar on the first floor, the pillar was cracked, the engineers told us to break the pillar so that they could fix another pillar there because the pillar is really big they have confidence that nothing would happen to the pillar if they set another one, he said.

Suddenly we heard a noise, the thing (pillar) started to shake, I and Monday (another labourer) ran when we saw that the pillar was starting to shake. When I was running, I fell down I was struggling to come out.

He said he managed to move out of the building and a gateman helped him onto a motorcycle that took him to the hospital before the arrival of the governments emergency responders.

When I ran outside, the gateman saw me, he now called a bike man. I ran out before the rescue operatives came in. The owner of the house (Femi Osibona) knows (knew) about the pillar, that it was cracked. He told the two engineers to ask us to break it. He was aware, he saw us, he even gave us money for food (breakfast). He saw us there when we were working on it.

He said that Mr Osibona was in a meeting when the building collapsed.

He also said that two members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), whom he identified as Sam and Shola were also trapped under the rubble.

The labourers account provides an insight into what could have caused the high-rise building to collapse last week. At least 44 bodies have been recovered from the rubble and 15 people rescued since rescue operations began at the site on November 1.

Last week, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated a six-man panel to investigate the cause of the collapse.

The governor has also signed an executive bill giving legal backing to the panel.
A Kano Chief Magistrates Court presided over by Hauwa Minjibir has remanded a lawyer, Hashim Hussein, in prison for allegedly abusing the states Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Tahar Adam.

The lawyer was initially arraigned after he released a series of audio recordings in which he faulted the state government for prosecuting a controversial cleric, Abduljabbar Kabara.

The cleric, Mr Kabara, was charged by the government in July for alleged blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad and incitement.

Mr Hussein, who was a defence counsel, argued that the cleric never blasphemed against Prophet Muhammad.

Angered by the lawyers comments, the Chief Imam of Kantin Kwari Jumaat Mosque, Albakari Mikail, dragged Mr Hashim to court for allegedly defaming his character and that of the commissioner in a viral video clip.

In the video clip, Mr Hashim allegedly described the commissioner, Mr Adam, as wicked and a silent killer.

When he was arraigned before the magistrate on October 3, Mr Hussein pleaded not guilty to the charges read against him.

Following the intervention of his colleagues, who trooped to the court in solidarity with him, Mr Hashim was granted bail on the condition that he would not release any new recording related to the matter.

However, after the bail, the lawyer released another video, boasting that he was untouchable and invincible.

He also said in the new video clip that Mr Adam should not have been entrusted with public responsibility and appointed as commissioner in the state.

At the resumption of the trial on Tuesday, counsel to the complainant, Lamido Sorondinki, prayed the court to revoke the bail, alleging that the defendant had breached the conditions.

The magistrate granted the prayer of the counsel of the plaintiff by sending the defendant to the Kurmawa Correctional Centre.

The case was then adjourned to November 30.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it will on Friday present the Certificate of Return to the winner of the just concluded Anambra governorship election, Charles Soludo.

It also said it will address all identified challenges during the election, including the malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), ahead of the FCT election next year.

The commission disclosed this in a statement on Thursday by its spokesperson, Festus Okoye, after a meeting in Abuja.

After the Tuesday supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, the commission on Wednesday, declared Mr Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the election which began on 6 November.

Mr Soludo polled a total of 112,229 votes to defeat Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who scored 53,807 and 43,285 votes, respectively.

At the end of its meeting in Abuja on Thursday, INEC said the certificate of return presentation to Mr Soludo and his deputy, Ibezim Gilbert, will be held at its state office in Awka.

The commission said unlike on Saturday when the glitches of BVAS were rampant thus delaying the exercise in several polling units, the machine performed optimally during the supplementary poll.

However, after the supplementary election in Ihiala Local Government Area on Tuesday 9th November 2021 and before the process was concluded, the Commission commenced a preliminary review of the functionality of systems, particularly the newly introduced Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The system performed two functions on election day. First is the accreditation of voters using both the fingerprint and facial authentication. Secondly, it snaps the polling unit level result sheets and uploads them in real-time to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal. This aspect of the BVAS functionality performed optimally such that by the early hours of Sunday morning, results from 4,987 (88.5%) out of 5,634 polling units had been uploaded for public view.

While still in the field, our ICT team responded to the identified glitches in the accreditation of voters and corrected them. Consequently, in the Ihiala supplementary election, there were no reported incidents of BVAS malfunction, the statement said.

INEC assured that it will examine the system ahead of the FCT election holding in February.

We will carry out an in-depth examination of the system, review reports from accredited observers and the media and respond to all identified challenges ahead of the next major Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held on 12th February 2022, it said.

Despite the controversies generated by the BVAS during the just concluded off-cycle election, the commission reiterated its commitment to technology-driven election processes.
The federal government says it is exploring the possibility of setting up a border security force in the future to secure Nigerias porous border areas.

The National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, a retired major general, disclosed this in Paris at the Nigeria international Partnership Forum held on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event, attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and business moguls from Nigeria and France, was organised to spotlight Nigerias immense trade and investment opportunities.

Mr Monguno noted that Africas porous border had remained a major source of concern as it aided smuggling of prohibited items and irregular migration as well as other trans-national organised crimes and human trafficking.

Nigeria is bordered to the North by Niger Republic, to the East by Chad and Cameroon and to the South by the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean and to the West by Benin Republic.

However, Nigeria excessive land and maritime borders are incredibly porous and poorly managed and this placed further responsibility on the border security agencies.

In this regard, the Nigeria Customs Service had developed the E-Customs strategy while the Nigeria Immigration put in place an integrated border management system.

It is necessary to observe that both strategies place premium on employing technology to complement other existing physical border security arrangements, he said.

The NSA noted that as part of efforts to strengthen border security, a tripartite joint border patrol team comprising Nigeria, Niger and Benin Republic was recently established to curb the increasing scale of smuggling of prohibited items as well as irregular migration across the nations borders

He said the step taken had greatly reduced the scale of nations transnational organised crimes.

Mr Monguno said piracy and sea robbery had been of serious concern in the region and continent at large.

Specifically, he said the Gulf of Guinea had been identified as a very dangerous sea route for merchant, oil tanker operating vessels due to the threat of piracy.

He said the frequency of the incidences had resulted in the negative global assessment of the maritime concerns.

Mr Monguno, however, said the Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with other maritime security agencies, had been able to significantly curb the scale of piracy and sea robbery in the region.

According to the NSA, there had been no case of piracy or sea robbery all through the third quarter of 2021 till date.

He compared the feat to the second quarter of 2021 which recorded only three pirate attacks and one sea robbery incident.

This is largely due to the Nigerias Naval operations which have sustained aggressive anti-piracy patrols leveraging on maritime domain awareness assets mainly the Falcon 1 and wireless capability assets.

The assets have facilitated numerous interception of maritime criminals and by implication improve the security of waterways for commercial activities.

These achievement is further complemented by implementation of harmonised operations procedure for the arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels and persons in Nigeria maritime environment, he said.

Mr Monguno said with the achievement recorded, the International Maritime Bureau global piracy report of July 14 indicated the lowest number of piracy and sea robbery incidence against ships since 27 years.

He said the report was corroborated by the Defence Web, in its October.15 report of maritime security which noted a further decline in reported cases of piracy and armed attacks against ships since President Buhari appointed a new Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo.

This development is achievable by the Nigerian Navys consistent presence at sea and conduct of sea exercises with regional and international partners, particular USA, UK and other countries, to ensure the security of Nigeria maritime environment, he said.

In his presentation, Babagana Kingibe, President Buharis Special Envoy to Chad and Lake Chad Basin, underscored the need for investment in the youth and bridging the gap between the poor and the rich as panacea to the unrest in some parts of Africa.

Mr Kingibe said African leaders and the business community must show commitment to peace and security to attract investment to the continent.

(NAN)
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad, on Thursday, said Nigeria has lost a hardworking, courageous and brilliant jurist in the person of Samuel Oseji who, until his death, was a Justice of the Supreme Court.

Mr Muhammad disclosed this during a special valedictory court session held at the ceremonial hall of the Court of Appeal, Asaba Division in honour of Mr Oseji who died at the age of 67 years.

The CJN who led Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal to the special valedictory court session said the death of Justice Oseji was a big loss not only to the government and people of Delta State but to the Nigerian nation as a whole.

According to him, the late Justice Oseji, in his few months as a Justice of the Supreme Court, made significant contributions to the advancement of the Judiciary in the country.

While commiserating with the wife, children and family members of the deceased jurist, the CJN urged them to take solace in the fact that the sexagenarian judicial officer left a legacy of service, hardwork and humility.

I express gratitude to God Almighty for providing us the opportunity to attend this special valedictory court session.

I sincerely condole the immediate and extended family members of late Justice Oseji as well as the government and the good people of Delta State over the death of their worthy son.

The news of the passing away of Justice Oseji was received with a great shock.

The Nigerian judiciary has lost a hardworking, dedicated, brilliant and courageous jurist in the person of Justice Samuel Oseji, he added.

In a tribute, the Chief Judge (CJ) of Delta State, Theresa Diai who presided over the special valedictory court session said late Justice Oseji came into the legal profession with a sense of mission and a clear vision to serve his fatherland and humanity to the best of his ability.

Justice Diai pointed out that from rendering services to the less privileged as a Legal Aid Officer in the Legal Aid Council, Justice Oseji became a Magistrate and later an administrator, in his capacity as the Chief Registrar of the High Court and then a Judge of the High Court.

According to the number one judicial officer in the state, God granted the late jurist the grace to be elevated to the Court of Appeal and thereafter, to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The CJ pointed out that some of late Justice Osejis invaluable contributions to jurisprudence through erudite judgements and notable judicial pronouncements were documented in a compendium published in his honour by the funeral committee.

Words can not describe the extent of our loss or the grief we feel at the loss of this beautiful soul. When the news of his death reached Delta State, it was greeted with disbelief and shock. Delta State stood still.

He was our shinning star and a worthy ambassador of our dear state wherever he went. He made us proud. Some of us knew he was sick but not the gravity of his ailment.

None of us knew it would take his life. The tears have refused to stop. It is always unbearable when so much hope turns into sorrow, Mrs Diai added.

The valedictory court session was attended by the State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; his Deputy, Kingsley Otuaro; Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal; the Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Sheriff Oborevwori and and High Court Judges.

Others were the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu; top government functionaries including the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Isaiah Bozimo; Senior Advocates of Nigeria, the president and members of Nigeria Bar Association of various branches in the state as well as members of the deceased family.

PRESS UNIT,

GOVT. HOUSE ,Asaba
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has said 250 passports meant for Nigerians living in Kuwait have been handed over to the ministry of foreign affairs for onward delivery to the applicants.

It said work is still ongoing on about 50 others and that they will soon be released to the applicants.

The NIS comptroller general, Isa Idris, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES exclusively on the matter during the week, was reacting to the cry of Nigerians in that country over the delay being experienced in accessing their passports.

Daily Trust had on November 2 reported the frustration of the affected applicants who said they risk being deported over their inability to renew their residence permits.

Mr Idris, while reacting to the development, blamed it on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

He said many missions have had difficulty in coordinating the passport requests from Nigerians due to the pandemic-induced lockdown in various countries.

But let me confirm to you that 250 passports belonging to Nigerians residing in Kuwait have been produced and sent to Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onward transmission to the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait as far back as November 3.

The remaining balance of about 50 were completed two days after.

He said NIS is committed to addressing all the challenges being faced by Nigerians both home and abroad over their quest for passports.

Passports are what represent national identity. Certain integrity tests must be carried out to ensure the sanctity of the documents. COVID-19 really dealt a great blow to so many things globally but we are gradually getting out of the woods. Under our watch, the best will be achieved in the interest of this nation, he added.

Backstory

The affected Nigerians had cried out calling on Nigerian authorities to come to their aid to avoid being deported.

The cry became necessary following the need for the renewal of their residence permits which they said the Kuwait authorities would not grant for passports with less than one year validity.

Some of the residents who spoke with Daily Trust said their means of livelihood had been at risk and that affected students among them could also face similar treatment.

At the moment, we have about 600 Nigerians in Kuwait who are at the risk of being deported with their families. All for no fault of theirs, an unidenified source had told the newspaper.

So, Nigerians here havent been able to seek other alternatives. Residencies here are only renewed if passports have at least one year validity. Most peoples passports are already expired or less than a year, so, effectively they are without valid residencies. Meaning they could be accosted by security officers and deported as illegals, the source added.

The sources, however, disclosed that the NIS sent an official to Kuwait in July to hasten the process.

Daily Trust reported that the consular officer at the Nigerian embassy in Kuwait, Muhammed Ahmed, said the embassy has been trying to help affected persons.

He added that the affected Nigerians who had been visiting the embassy are being assisted with necessary cover notes until their passports are ready.
The photos showed blood-soaked concrete, a gashed open thigh, and an injured protester grimacing in pain on the ground. Taken by photojournalist Eti-Inyene Godwin Akpan on October 20, 2020, the images tell the story of Nigerian forces mass shooting of anti-police brutality protesters at Lagos Lekki Toll Gate, an incident the government continues to deny.

One year after Mr Akpan published the photographs on social media, he planned to display them in Lagos at a museum exhibit marking the anniversary of the protests against police brutality that swept Nigeria late last year. But he postponed the show indefinitely after receiving two calls summoning him, without explanation, to the local offices of Nigerias State Security Services (SSS, also called DSS), a federal security agency.

I now sleep with one eye closed, trying to watch my back every second, Mr Akpan told CPJ in a phone call. They know I know some things and I have some images

The calls came minutes after Mr Akpan gave a live interview on local TV about his work documenting the 2020 protests. Akpan said that he asked the callers for a formal, emailed summons. He feared that without it, the SSS might mistreat him or hold him for a prolonged period without access to a lawyer or his family, the kind of behaviour that CPJ has documented in the past. The calls echoed intimidation tactics he said he faced a year earlier following his posting on social media about the toll gate shooting  tactics that led him to temporarily flee the country.

Reached by CPJ via messaging app, SSS spokesperson Peter Afunanya denied that his agency called Mr Akpan in early October 2021. He also dismissed concerns over the SSS history of detaining journalists.

Right in front of my eyes, I saw dead bodies, reads the caption on Mr Akpans Instagram post from the October 2020 shooting that killed protesters, according to local and international media and rights groups. It was the deadliest incident in last years protests, known as the End SARS movement  a reference to the protesters call to dismantle Nigerias Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit.

Journalists covering the protest movement were beaten, harassed, and fined by law enforcement. One reporter, Onifade Emmanuel Pelumi, was found dead at a mortuary on October 30, 2020; he was last seen alive in police custody after he covered unrest around the protests in Lagos.

Images of the Lekki Toll Gate killings are particularly sensitive, Mr Akpan told CPJ, because they contradict the governments account. In a press conference, Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed marked October 20 this year by calling it the first anniversary of the phantom massacre, which took place without blood or bodies. Last year the Nigerian army admitted it used live rounds at the toll gate, but said its forces only shot into the air.

After Mr Akpan first published the pictures, he told CPJ that anonymous callers pressured him to take down the Instagram post and replace it with one saying the images were fake. He said his bank account was frozen and that SSS agents arrived at his office looking for him, which SSS spokesperson Afunanya denied.

After that, Mr Akpan decided to heed friends advice to leave the country. In the days before he fled, Mr Akpan told CPJ that he believed the images he had captured could contribute to the historical record of the protests. But to protect this evidence for future generations and continue his work, he needed to be safe.

He fled to Ghana by crossing over land through Benin and Togo  a journey of hundreds of miles facilitated by CPJ and Maxime Domegni, an editor with the Global Investigative Journalism Network.

Mr Akpan did not know anyone in Benin or Togo. Nor did he speak the local languages of those two francophone countries. But CPJ introduced him to two local investigative journalists  Igance Sossou in Benin and Ferdinand Ayite in Togo  whose help would prove invaluable.

Messrs Sossou and Ayite have both faced reprisal for their work and told CPJ in separate interviews that they agreed to assist Akpan out of journalistic solidarity.

I understand the risk hanging over journalism in the West African sub-region, Mr Sossou, who was arrested in late 2019, imprisoned for six months, and fined over social media posts, told CPJ via messaging app. If you are a journalist who experienced what I experienced between 2019 and 2020 in Benin, you are necessarily sensitive to the case of Eti-Inyene.

After Mr Akpan slipped across Nigerias western border, he met Mr Sossou in Cotonou, Benins economic capital. Mr Sossou said he assisted Mr Akpan with changing his money into local currency and finding a car and driver to transport him to Togos border, which Mr Akpan crossed on foot before finding a cab to Lome, Togos capital.

Mr Ayite, whose newspaper, LAlternative, has been repeatedly suspended and who continues to face harassment by authorities, told CPJ he met Mr Akpan in Lome. Mr Ayite arranged and paid for Mr Akpans dinner and overnight accommodation as well as a motorcycle driver who could safely navigate the border with Ghana the following morning. Once across, Mr Akpan caught a bus from the Aflao border town to Accra.

We are just journalists and we have no borders. Wherever one of us is threatened, all journalists are concerned, Mr Ayite told CPJ. Solidarity must be the cardinal value of our profession and I think that this is what guided Ignace Sossou and my modest self to come to the aid of [Akpan].

Mr Akpan told CPJ that his travel across Togo and Benin would have been so difficult, if not impossible without this assistance. I would have been attacked or duped, he said. It was an amazing collaboration.

After arriving in Accra, a friend helped Mr Akpan find accommodation. He stayed in hiding for four months but decided to return to Nigeria in February 2021. The stresses of exile, exacerbated by the pandemic, made him struggle with loneliness and depression, he said.

I felt that there was still work for me to do in Nigeria. These stories [of the protests] still need to be told, Mr Akpan said, adding that he initially avoided telling his mother and sisters of his return because it would make them worry. Despite one sisters advice never to set foot back in Nigeria, he felt that the protests had diminished enough to reduce the risk. But the intimidating calls returned this October, as Mr Akpan promoted his photo exhibition.

Mr Akpan told CPJ that the callers claiming to be SSS agents never sent him an emailed summons, as he had requested. After their calls, he received other calls from people asking him questions about his photography. He said the people claimed to be potential clients, but when he requested the callers send their details over email, they never followed up, compounding his fears. He said he now takes extra precautions to secure his communications and store his information.

Yet, Mr Akpan has not stopped trying to record historic events. He went out with his camera on this years October 20 anniversary to photograph a memorial marking the Lekki Toll Gate killings, where journalists were again attacked by police. The solidarity he experienced over the last 12 months has given him courage and strengthened his commitment to speaking the truth, he told CPJ. I rest assured that Im not alone, he said.
On Wednesday, Nigerias total fatality from the coronavirus infection rose to 2,922 from 2,914 earlier reported on Tuesday.

In the last two days, Edo State has recorded a backlog of 16 deaths from the pandemic.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) disclosed this on its Facebook page on Wednesday night, adding that the country recorded 65 new infections across eight states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The disease centre said the latest figure of confirmed cases has increased Nigerias infection toll to 212,894.

Just like it did on Tuesday, the disease centre noted that Edo State reported the new eight fatalities as a backlog. It, however, failed to disclose the specific date the backlog covered.

But on Tuesday, NCDC in its analysis of the report, said the eight fatalities reported by the state was a backlog for November 8.

Meanwhile, the disease centre said the FCT reported 328 discharged cases, including community discharges for November 8. The data raised the total number of discharged cases in the country to 204,675.

Breakdown

The new data revealed that Plateau State in the north-central topped the chart with 22 cases, and is closely followed by the FCT with 21 cases.

According to NCDC, out of the 21 cases reported by the FCT, 10 cases are a backlog for November 8.

Meanwhile, Rivers State in the South-south reported 12 cases while Bauchi State in the North-east reported four cases on Wednesday.

There has been a consistent low figure of new infections from Lagos State which is regarded as the countrys epicentre for the pandemic.

On Wednesday, the state reported only two cases, while four other states of Bayelsa, Edo, Jigawa and Kaduna reported a single case each.

The NCDC noted that Delta and Sokoto states reported no cases on Wednesday.
By Gustavo de Carvalho, Chido Mutangadura and Dawit Yohannes

The African Unions (AU) efforts to rebuild societies divided and damaged by conflict should be reconsidered to match the continents current needs and realities.

The bodys Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) policy adopted 15 years ago signalled a commitment not just to manage disputes but tackle their root causes in the search for sustainable peace. To mark this pledge, the AUs PCRD Awareness Week from 7 to 13 November aims to reflect on and strengthen Africas peacebuilding efforts.

For the AU, putting the 2006 policy into practice has been difficult for three reasons. First, the recurring nature of conflicts on the continent has left little room for peacebuilding, which follows once clashes have ended.

Second, most PCRD work is directed from AU headquarters in Addis Ababa and carried out by several AU liaison offices. These offices have played a key role so far but require more support from the AU and member states. The liaison offices function should be strengthened to enable direct engagement with local, national and regional stakeholders. Sustained financing is needed, along with better coordination of PCRD within the AU. Peacebuilding should also be included in AU-related strategies.

Third, despite the formation by the AU of the African Solidarity Initiative in 2012, funding commitments from member states have been inadequate. The initiative was set up to facilitate intra-African cooperation and mobilise resources for PCRD. It recognised Africas capacity to provide financial and technical support, which would reduce the continents reliance on international funding for peacebuilding.

Perhaps the AUs most innovative approach to PCRD was in The Gambia. In 2019, a 10-member team  the AU Technical Support to The Gambia (AUTSTG)  was deployed in response to government requests for support to the political transition after President Yahya Jammehs fall.

The AUTSTG team was a departure from the usual approach and is worthy of replication in other contexts. In contrast to the AUs relatively large missions, a small group of civilian experts and military personnel was seconded and co-located within government institutions. They mentored and advised officials on effective responses to the post-Jammeh political transition.

This approach gave the team considerable access to implement PCRD initiatives from within the government. Among other tasks, the AUTSTG helped get The Gambias Human Rights Commission working, developed the first National Security Policy, structured the Office of the National Security Adviser, and restructured vital security institutions. These results were achieved despite funding shortages that eventually forced the AU to end the teams deployment.

In considering the AUs role in peacebuilding, there seems to be a mismatch between objectives and outcomes. So, where can the AU provide more value?

There are several opportunities to bring post-conflict reconstruction and development back to the core of the AUs peace and security work. One is the new Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) department that merged the AUs political affairs and peace and security commissions. By linking the AUs work on peace, security, politics and governance, its responses to instability should improve. With a synchronised institutional environment, PCRD policy can be better integrated with AU policy and strategy.

Another opportunity is the new AU Centre for Post-Conflict and Reconstruction and Development that is expected to start work in Cairo in 2022. When the AUs institutional reforms are complete, the centre can link stakeholders in the AU Commission, regional economic communities and African states working on sustainable peace.

The centre will provide a new space, capacity and better positioning for the AU on peacebuilding. Success could hinge on how quickly the division of labour between the centre and PAPS is agreed upon, given their potential duplication of roles. PAPS Commissioner Ambassador Bankole Adeoyes action plan suggests he is confident that the overlapping functions will not present an insurmountable challenge. The plan highlights the full operation of the centre and its role in promoting coordination on PCRD work.

With the spotlight on peacebuilding this week, the AU should consider four steps to increase its impact across the continent. First, it should kick-start a review and alignment of AU PCRD approaches to match the current nature of conflict in Africa, including the growing threat of climate change.

Second, it should revitalise the African Solidarity Initiative. Progress on increasing the contributions to the AU Peace Fund shows a growing appetite among member states to mobilise continental resources. Coordination between governments, regional economic communities, the United Nations and the European Union is also essential.

Third, innovative approaches such as those in The Gambia would prevent the AU from spreading itself too thin and having little impact on the ground. In doing so, the AU should work closely with local and national actors, including civil society organisations, which could spearhead PCRD implementation.

Most fundamentally, the AU and its member states must commit to unravelling the problem of recurring conflicts. This requires going back to the drawing board and adhering to the AUs peace, security and democratic governance norms and principles.

Gustavo de Carvalho, Senior Researcher, Chido Mutangadura, Consultant and Dawit Yohannes, Senior Researcher, Peace Operations and Peacebuilding, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

This ISS Today is published as part of the Training for Peace Programme (TfP), funded by the government of Norway.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
As the global climate conference (COP 26) draws to a close in Glasgow, the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT) has released a statement that securing a worldwide commitment to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 will not be possible without putting the entire tax system to work to support the climate transition.

In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, on Thursday, the commission said there is a need for an ambitious and comprehensive tax action plan to be designed to curb carbon emissions, but the burden should not be borne by average citizens whilst multinationals and the richest in the society do not pay their fair share.

According to the statement, the richest 10 per cent of the global population emits nearly 48 per cent of global emissions, with the top 1 per cent producing 17 per cent of the total, whereas the poorest half of the global population emits 12 per cent of global emissions. The global map of carbon pollution merges perfectly with the map of economic inequality, both within and between countries.

Leonce Ndikumana, a professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, said that with only 4 per cent of global emissions coming from Africa, the continent has contributed very little to global warming but is already suffering the most from its consequences.

Beyond Africa, developing countries are the first victims of the climate change consequences. Rich countries must honour their climate debt, financing developing countries to adapt to climate disasters and to make the transition to less-polluting energy sources.

Experts said even though the decision to tax multinationals is a step in the right direction but the global minimum corporate tax of 15 per cent is very insufficient especially as the world needs to pay attention to redistributing the revenue among rich and less rich countries.

Thomas Piketty, Professor at the Paris School of Economics and a member of ICRICT, said at least a part of the revenues of the most prosperous economic actors on the planet  the multinationals and the billionaires must be shared with the countries of the South, not as aid, but on a rights basis. This is the only way to face the climate challenge.

The commission declared that financing decarbonization in rich countries and helping developing countries to do the same requires funding commitments.

The global tax deal signed in early October by 136 countries could have made an important contribution towards this goal. But by opting for a minimum global corporate tax rate of only 15% and by making rich countries the main beneficiaries of the additional tax resources that will be generated, the world has deprived itself of a valuable source of funding for the ecological transition.

The reform could have delivered more than $250 billion in increased fiscal revenues worldwide with a 21 per cent global minimum tax rate  and these revenues could jump to $500 billion with a 25 per cent rate but will deliver only $150 billion with a 15 per cent tax rate, with the lions share of this additional revenue expected to be received by a small group of rich countries in the Global North.

12 years and the $100 billion a year is still a farce

The commission questions the sincerity of developed economies on the broken promise to mobilise funds for developing countries to adapt to the effect of climate change.

Twelve years ago, at a United Nations climate summit in Copenhagen, rich nations promised to channel $100 billion a year to less wealthy nations by 2020, to help them adapt to climate change and mitigate further rises in temperature. That promise was broken.

Even in 2020, this target was out of reach. A more ambitious global tax deal could have provided resources to meet and even double this pledge. But it would have required the richest countries in the world to side not with multinationals and tax havens but with citizens both in the Global North and in the Global South.

For Jose Antonio Ocampo, a professor at Columbia University, while responding to the G20s agreement to set a global minimum tax rate, the deal will do little to help poorer nations.

By setting the rate at a low rate, 15 per cent, the agreement is akin to throwing a glass of water at a house that is on fire. It is crucial to launch a more inclusive round of negotiations to deliver a new global tax deal for the world, so it has the resources to deal with the climate emergency.

There is still an opportunity

A former member of the European Parliament and a member of ICRICT, Eva Joly, said there is still a window of opportunity to avoid the worst, but this window is closing.

We must urgently and radically decarbonize our economies, reduce our energy consumption and massively develop renewable energies. However, implementing revolution has a cost. The money exists, so we must go and find it where it is: in the accounts of multi-millionaires hidden in tax havens, and especially of those of multinationals which, for decades, have not paid their fair share of taxes.
A witness in the murder trial against Chidinma Ojukwu, the 23-year-old alleged killer of Michael Usifo, the chief executive officer of Super TV, has narrated how different leads point to the defendant as the prime suspect.

Nkechi Mogbo, the witness, is the owner of the short-let apartment at 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki Phase 1, where Mr Usifo was murdered.

Ms Ojukwu and another defendant, Adedapo Quadri, were earlier arraigned on an eight-count charge at the Lagos High Court over the murder of Mr Usifo.

Mrs Mogbo, who was sworn on oath, was presented by Olayinka Adeyemi, the director of Public Prosecution, to assist in the murder trial.

She told the court that because she was new to the property business, she advertises her apartment on property websites like Airbnb for a short stay and have agents on the market that advertise for her.

It is a self-serviced apartment, fully furnished with TV, DSTV subscription, internet, kitchen alliances, 24 hours power supply, and others.

The only time we come to clean is just to take out trash, that happens every two or three days, she said.

Mrs Mogbo said when clients get access through the agents or via the websites, they get direct access to her for booking and possible negotiation.

On June 13, it was on a Sunday, I was at home. About 4 p.m., I got a phone call from a private number, the first I ignored and the second I picked up. Then there was a lady who said she saw the apartment online and enquired as to whether we have the necessary facilities, which I responded yes.

She said she would like to have a look at it and I said she could. She sent a message on WhatsApp with the picture of the apartment obviously indicating where she got it from. I sent her the address and she confirmed she would be on her way to the place.

The apartment owner said she put a call through to the security, Abubakar, explaining that the lady would be coming to see the place.

Upon checking, the lady, who identified herself with the name Jewel, said she would take the apartment for three days.

She asked for payment details, which I forwarded across to her, within a couple of minutes, she sent the proof of payment of N125,000. It contained the initiator of the payment, Michael Usifo, from a GTB account, the time and date of the transaction, and my name as the recipient, she said.

The owner said following the payment, the security man handed her the key to the apartment on the same day.

Two days after, at about 5:30 p.m.  June 15, she was due to check out on June 16, I got a message from the lady that her friend would like to extend for three more days, and that he would be making the payment the next day, which would be on the 16th.

She said at 10 a.m. on June 16, she received a credit notification from the same GTBank account, confirming payment of N50, 000 for two additional days by the same Michael Usifo.

The murder

Hours later, I put a call across to my security man on a different issue, upon which he made a remark that they had noticed a body on the ground of the said apartment.

She told the court she immediately started panicking but asked the whereabouts of the lady because the security man confirmed the deceased was a guy.

He said she left the night before at about 7:30 to 8 p.m. and didnt return. I got off the phone and tried to reach the lady. I put a call across to her but she cut the call, she then sent a message saying she was in a meeting. I didnt want to alert her as to what I was aware of.

I carried on saying the payment which you sent in the morning, unfortunately, wasnt credited, so can you make the payment again because I made a mistake to acknowledge receipt.

She said she would reach her friend for him to make the payment. Couple of minutes after, I got another initiation of payment for the same sum of N50, 000, from the same initiator, the person of Mr Michael.

When she made the payment, I was already on my way to the property to get a proper understanding of what had happened, after which I went straight to the police station, she narrated.

The apartment owner said she sent a message to the lady that she had received the initial N50, 000 which she claimed she didnt receive, and that she had given the security man the cash of the extra N50 000, so she should pick it from him.

I devised the means to lure her to come to the property, after the security had confirmed she left the day before. She sent a message that would like to use the N50, 000 for another two days.

Police Investigation

Mrs Mogbo further narrated that she filed a report at the Maroko police station, and police officers followed her back to the apartment to get photographs and a better understanding of what happened.

I wrote a statement and left around 11 p.m. The police arranged for the body to be taken out to the morgue and took his personal items, car as evidence.

She said she reported back to the police station the next morning, and they went to state CID, Yaba, where she met with the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

I was made to write more statements and was detained for seven days, to assist with the case. During this time, I was interviewed, they collected different evidence.

On the sixth night, I was called by the DCP to his office, there was a young lady present, two older ladies, and a couple of officers. He asked me if I could recognise the young lady and I said no.

She said it was at that point she remembered she had a picture saved on her phone, and that she pulled out her phone and asked the lady if it was her, to which she confirmed yes.

The security man, whom she was in contact with and always calling to put in the generator or pump the water said one day, she mistakenly called him with her number around 2:30 a.m., after which she hung up and called with a private number telling the security man to turn on the generator.

During the investigation, the security man passed the phone number as a possible lead. He saved the number and was able to get the photograph used as the profile picture.

During police investigation, when my phone record was printed, the same number also matched my incoming call number on Sunday 13th June, which the caller tried to hide, but couldnt hide from the network providers, she narrated.

The apartment owner told the court that the suspect, who has now been identified as Chidinma Ojukwu, avoided calling with her phone number as the Whatsapp chat history between them was with a foreign phone number, registered as an American number.

She told the court that she provided all the chats between them and sent to the police by email and also printed a copy while in custody.

Mrs Adeyemi, who led her in evidence, requested to tender the WhatsApp records as evidence in the matter. This was, however, met with objections from the lawyers to the defendants.

Objections

Onwuka Egwu, the lawyer to Ms Ojukwu, opposed the admissibility of the document as evidence in the matter.

The document offends Section 102 subsection B of the Evidence Act. In her evidence, she went to the police to complain and during the investigation, records were printed from her phone. This document has traversed from Maroko to Panti, to the DPP, by virtue of that movement, it has become a public document.

It is not coming from her, it came from the custody. It is a document subject to certification for admissibility purpose, he said, citing the case of FRN vs Danladi.

The lawyer to the second defendant, Babatunde Busari, also aligned himself to the position of the first defendants counsel

He said the document flouted section 84, subsection 2 of the Evidence Act as there was no endorsement from the Commissioner for oath.

The lawyer to the third defendant, A.O Odunsanya, said he had no objection to the documents being admitted as evidence.

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Mrs Adesanya, from the DPP, further argued that the documents are relevant to the case and original to the witness because she printed the documents herself from her phone using the printer of the police.

In her ruling, the judge, Yetunde Adesanya, said the objections of the lawyers to the defendants failed and are accordingly overruled.

Mrs Adesanya said the Evidence Act was clear as to what a public document is and the documents before the court are owned by the witness, who was tendering them and not the police or the DPP.

She admitted the documents as exhibits E1.

The lawyer to the first defendant sought an adjournment to cross-examine the witness, saying Ms Ojukwu has not had the opportunity of looking at the documents as they received them on Tuesday in the open court.

The lawyers to the second and third defendants said they have no cross-examination for the witness, as the totality of the evidence does not touch on their clients.

Mrs Adesanya adjourned the matter till November 15 for further hearing.
The UK government Thursday launched the new Urban Climate Action Programme (UCAP) to support the cities and regions in developing countries most impacted by climate change to accelerate their transition to net zero.

Backed with 27.5 million of new UK government funding as part of the UKs International Climate Finance commitment, the programme will support cities across Africa, Asia and Latin America to take action to tackle climate change and create a sustainable future, by helping them to become carbon neutral by 2050 and prepare low-carbon infrastructure projects.

The programme will help cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpur, and Bogota develop low-emission public transport systems, renewable energy generation, sustainable waste management, new climate-smart buildings codes and climate risk planning.

To date, over 1,000 cities and regions across the world  over a fifth of the global urban population  have committed to slashing their emissions to net zero by 2050 and Lagos is one of them.

With a growing population and as one of the most vulnerable coastal cities, Lagos will receive support to implement its low-carbon, inclusive and climate-resilient urban development plans through UCAP.

Today, as part of the UN COP26 climate summits Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day in Glasgow, the UK has called on cities yet to make commitments to step up and set a net-zero target that will help protect the places where people live and work, future-proofing the world for future generations.

Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan said: From our homes and workplaces to our towns and cities, the buildings we live in are a fundamental part of our daily lives, but also a significant source of global emissions.

Thats why at COP26 today we are calling on cities, regions, governments and businesses to seize the moment and set bold net-zero targets as we work together as a global community to end our contribution to climate change.

The worlds urban buildings, including homes, workplaces, schools and hospitals, are responsible for around 40 per cent of global carbon emissions. By 2050, 1.6 billion people living in cities will be regularly exposed to extremely high temperatures and over 800 million people living in cities across the world will be vulnerable to sea level rises and coastal flooding. Accelerating the transition to net-zero emissions for the worlds cities will therefore be vital to achieving the goal of keeping global warming to close to 1.5.

UKs Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos Ben Llewellyn-Jones said: The population of Lagos is projected to double by 2050, and the speed and scale of urbanisation may lock in high-carbon infrastructure and inequality if we do not act now.

Lagos has continued to drive action at scale to tackle climate change and protect peoples livelihoods. And, I am glad that the UKs new programme will provide invaluable support to the state for sustainable growth, enhance resilience to climate risks, and secure a greener future for generations to come.

UCAP will follow on from the flagship Climate Leadership in Cities programme, which was funded by the UK and successfully supported megacities in Latin America and Asia to develop ambitious climate action plans consistent with the Paris Agreement  including developing pathways to net-zero by 2050 and committing to ambitious interim targets by 2030 to keep 1.5 degrees within reach.

As the first major economy to legislate to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the UK is already taking action to tackle emissions from the built environment sector. As heating for homes and workspaces makes up almost a third of all UK carbon emissions, reducing these emissions is key to achieving the goal of net-zero by 2050. Through the recent Heat and Buildings and Net Zero Strategies, the UK government has set out how the UK will deploy the low-carbon technology needed to decarbonise homes, workplaces and public spaces.

To address emissions from the wider built environment, the UK government is investing 3.9 billion through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme the Home Upgrade Grant scheme, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Heat Network Transformation Programme.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Minister Eddie Hughes said: Net zero provides a real opportunity as we level up across the UK  delivering new green jobs and skills and boosting local economic growth.

Many local areas are already taking action and we continue to work very closely with them to meet our climate change commitments.

We are also taking action to cut the CO2 emissions of all new build homes by at least 75% from 2025 under the Future Homes Standard, and by 31% through an improvement in building standards later this year.

The transition to net-zero will drive levelling up across the country while supporting communities towards a greener future  providing opportunities for economic growth and delivering new green jobs for local people.

Recognising the urgency to tackle climate change by quickly reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on behalf of Lagos State had signed up to the Zero-Emission Vehicles Joint Statement.

He said: Lagos State considers Net Zero an imperative and commits to converting public transport vehicles to electric as well as embracing solar and other clean energy sources. We must go faster.

The UK Government, through its Financial Sector Deepening Africa development Programme and FMDQ, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Government in September 2021, to mobilise green financing via the capital markets to support the state governments initiative to build a sustainable and resilient megacity. The UK is also currently working with the state government to build a pipeline of green infrastructure projects through our portfolio of programmes.

The announcement complements existing technical assistance to promote safe, affordable and sustainable mass transport in Lagos, notably our Future Cities Nigeria programme.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 6 November governorship election in Anambra State, Andy Uba, has rejected the result of the election.

Spokesperson of the Andy Uba Campaign Organisation, Jerry Ugokwe, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, described the election as a charade, saying that the result did not reflect the wishes of the people of Anambra.

Mr Uba came third with a little over 40,000 votes in the election won by a former CBN governor, Charles Soludo of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Our popular candidate, Sen. Andy Uba, is a victim of widespread electoral fraud and manipulation, he said.

Mr Ugokwe alleged that the election was manipulated by INEC, in cohort with the Governor Willie Obiano-led administration and security forces deployed to oversee the exercise.

He further alleged that the election was characterised by widespread irregularities, intimidation and voter suppression to clear the path for the victory of the Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate at the polls.

For instance, in polling units where the Biometric Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) malfunctioned, INEC went ahead with the election manually.

There were numerous cases where votes announced by INEC exceeded the number of accredited voters in polling units.

It is inconceivable that our candidate, who polled over 200,000 votes in the APC primary election, would be allocated a slightly above 43,000 votes by INEC.

It is surprising that APGA, which lost almost 80 per cent of its stalwarts through defection to APC before the election, came out victorious, he said.

Mr Ugokwe recalled that the sitting APGA Deputy Governor, seven members of the House of Representatives, 10 members of the House of Assembly, all defected to APC before the election.

This, he said, was in addition to some APGA Board of Trustees members and several others who joined APC, ahead of the governorship election.

According to him, it is, therefore, ridiculous that APGA emerged victorious at the election despite the defection of its critical stakeholders to APC, ahead of the election.

Mr Ugokwe added that from all indications, the only people remaining in APGA at the time of the election were Governor Obiano and his household as well as a few staffers of the Government House and as Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the partys candidate.

This, he said, was especially so because majority of the electorate in the state had moved to APC.

There was definitely no way the carcass of APGA could have defeated APC without the active collusion and manipulation by INEC and the Obiano-led administration.

What happened on Nov. 6 fell far below the acceptable standard of a free and fair election, and can best be described as an electoral fraud, Mr Ugokwe , a former member of the House of Representatives, said.

He, however, appealed to APC supporters in the state to remain peaceful and calm.

Mr Ugokwe assured that the organisation would not relent in pursuing what he called their stolen electoral mandate through all available constitutional means.

He further stated that the facts on ground did not, in any way, reflect the outcome of the elections, as announced by INEC.

(NAN)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained a former governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, over alleged criminal diversion of public funds to the tune of N1.6 billion.

Top sources with direct knowledge of the case but not permitted to speak publicly on it, said the ex-governor was being grilled by detectives at EFCCs headquarters in Jabi, Abuja.

The former governor reportedly arrived the commissions headquarters around 2p.m. and was still under interrogation as of the time of filing this report.

Shortly after his exit as governor in 2007, Mr Igbinedion was prosecuted by the EFCC and convicted of corruption.

But the new investigation, according to sources is based on fresh evidence that the former governor diverted a loan obtained by the Edo State government to settle the financial indebtedness of a company in which he was said to have an interest.

Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson for the commission, confirmed the invitation of the former governor but declined further comment.

Former conviction

Mr Igbinedion, governor of Edo State from 1999 to 2007, was convicted for embezzling N2.9 billion belong to the state in December 2008.

Following a plea bargain agreement he entered into with the EFCC, the 191 charges were pruned down to only one count to which Mr Igbinedion pleaded guilty.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the Federal High Court in Enugu sentenced him to six months imprisonment with an option of N3.5 million fine.

The judge, Abdu Kafarati, now deceased also ordered the forfeiture of the N500 million, and three properties, including one in Abuja, seized from him.

EFCC had in reaction to the verdict expressed its dissatisfaction with the option of fine given the former governor.
we kindly appeal to Senator Danjuma Goje to let Gombe people live in peace, happiness and harmony as politics is not a do-or-die affair. Gombe people deserve nothing less and much more.

As a humble public policy analyst and loyal citizen of Gombe State, I must make a clean breast that I have been quite distressed by recent events here that make it seem as if the clock of history is reversing itself for the worse, turning back the wheels of progress, and wielding us back inexorably to the dark old days of political thuggery, and mayhem, involving all manners of hoodlums and killers. The price for being vicious here must particularly go to the Kalere variety, whichSenator Danjuma Goje, a former governor has been accused of sponsoring.

Some people were killed a few days ago, when thugs escorting Senator Danjuma Gojes convoy from the airport to Gombe city allegedly attacked innocent bystanders, while properties were destroyed, thus raising undue tensions and, in the process, disrupting the relative peace and tranquility of the State. If one may ask, why does Senator Goje need to move with hundreds of hoodlums attached to him? Are we fighting a war or are we in the midst of a hectic political campaign?

The governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya does not move with even a fraction of this number of persons or security. So why does a serving senator feel he has to throw his weight around like an emperor or tsar of ancient times. The bare truth is that Senator Goje, having failed in his attempt to control the State politically, even abandoned by crucial stakeholders from his zone, is now hell-bent on unleashing chaos and mayhem on the State in order to make it ungovernable, more like the bull in a china shop scenario.

He has done it before when he tried to take over the Dankwanbo administration but was pushed back, to his utter chagrin. This has always been the modus operandi of Senator Gojes political strategy  seek to control and dominate and if all fails, make the polity ungovernable and uncontrollable by any means necessary.

However, Gombe people are wiser and more discerning this time around as the vast majority of citizens and youths have vowed not to buy into or be overawed by the shenanigans of the would-be senator-for-life. It is manifestly clear that Senator Goje does not believe in democracy or its tenets. He sees it as only a vehicle to arrive at the destination of power, where he alights and then abandons the people for good.

Whatever any perceived shortcoming, the Governor Inuwa Yahaya administration has taken bold, sincere and gargantuan steps to deliver critical dividends of democracy to the people and, as a result, Gombe State has one of the fastest growing economies in the North and is Number One in ease of doing business in the country, as well as the most favoured destination for local and foreign direct investment.

Governor Yahayas laudable, inclusive and uniting One Gombe, One Destiny ideology has succeeded in bringing diverse ethnic, religious and linguistic communities together. This has engendered remarkable peace, tolerance, tranquility and stability in the Jewel in the Savannah.

As such, we kindly appeal to Senator Danjuma Goje to let Gombe people live in peace, happiness and harmony as politics is not a do-or-die affair. Gombe people deserve nothing less and much more.

Abdullahi Suleiman, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Herwagana, Gombe State.
Another history was made on Sunday, November 7 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent Gwarimpa, Abuja, when the 52-year-old Most Revd Humphrey Bamishebi Olumakaiye officially became Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.

In July 2018, he was widely celebrated when he became the Bishop of Lagos Diocese after a keenly contested episcopal election. His enthronement ceremony attracted the who-is-who in the top hierarchy of the church as well as dignitaries from all walks of life. Just three years on, he was elevated to the position of Archbishop of the Lagos Province in September this year. This development is not only remarkable in the history of the church but also a testimony of the good hand of the Almighty God upon his life and ministry.

From humble beginnings, Most Revd Olumakaiye has come thus far serving the Lord with the Holy Spirit leading him and having as his first priority one thing that interests God the most on earth, which is dedication to keeping the fire of revival burning in the church thereby turning multitudes to righteousness and seeing them established in the faith as active disciples of Christ. It is therefore not surpising that he has kept on rising in the ministry in confirmation of the word of God in Proverbs 11:30 and Daniel 12:3 that those who turn many to righteousness are wise and they shall shine as the brightness of the heavens and as stars forever and ever.

I first met Most Revd Humphrey Bamishebi Olumakaiye about 30 years ago as a young priest serving his pupilage under the watchful eyes of Most Revd. Ephraim Adebola Ademowo, then the Bishop of Ilesa Diocese of the Anglican Church. Olumakaiyes mien, and dutiful approach to his assignments as well as his willingness to take on additional responsibilities, no matter how tasking indicated that he would go far in his service in the Lords vineyard. Olumakaiye was fresh from the Immanuel College of Theology where he commenced his journey to priesthood.

It was very easy for Archbishop Ademowo to discover in Olumakaiye the devotion and dedication to duty that earned him a place among the retired archbishops favourites. Ademowo became his mentor and spiritual father, leading and guiding him along the path of success. Humphrey Bamishebi Olumakaiye born on January 28th, 1969 to the family of Venerable Theophilus Akinbola and Iyabo Abigail Olumakaiye had his elementary education at Emmanuel Anglican Primary School, Lokoja and completed his Secondary education at St. Michael Anglican School, Lokoja. He was admitted to the University of Ilorin to study Political Science but his father inuenced his decision to attend Immanuel College of Theology where he began his call to ministry in 1988.

By 1991, he had obtained a Diploma in Religious Studies and would have been ordained a priest; but chose to further his education and therefore postponed his ordination. He was admitted into University of Ibadan where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree, and eventually, a Doctor of Philosophy in Church History and Episcopal Matters. He was ordained a priest in 1993, and by 2003 attained the status of a Canon. By the grace of God, Olumakaiye became an Archdeacon four months later at 30 years of age. He became the Dean of St. Matthews Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ijesha and later the pioneer Bishop of Osun North East Diocese in 2009. In February, 2018, he was translated to the Lagos Diocese to take over from his mentor and spiritual father, Most Revd Adebola Ademowo retired.

Meteoric rise

It is important to state that Olumakaiye is a product of the commendable expansion programme commenced by late Primate Abiodun Adetiloye upon which Primate Peter Jasper Akinola and Primate Nicholas Okoh built. An embodiment of humility, Olumakaiye himself so often spoke about the need for Christians to follow the examples of Jesus Christ by being humble in all their ways of life always taught that Christians must imbibe humility for their service to God to become acceptable. He got schooled to realize the challenges of deviations from the voyages totally different from what Christ, the early church fathers and political builders of Nigeria shed their blood to build. He permitted the teaching that serving God without humility would only diminish believers faith and make them deviate from path of the Lord.

The essence of serving the Lord

When Olumakaiye was translated to Lagos, he was determined to among others, glorify God in reciprocation of divine salvation enjoyed by humans and avoid destructive values that could bring down the faith of Christians and draw them away from the presence of the Holy Spirit. He arrived in his new post, according to him, as an apostle for a Spirit-driven 21st Century Anglican Church. That is the major fulcrum upon which his activities rest. He pointed out that: We, as Anglicans concentrate so much on the traditions of liturgy that we often forget to allow the Holy Spirit to lead. This is one of the major reasons many of our youths left the church. Pentecostalism is synonymous to Anglicanism because we are a Bible believing denomination.

He continues: It is my mandate as Bishop to reintroduce this spirituality back into the diocese. On my enthronement on 30th July, 2018, I made it very clear that our ministry will be operating of the 5Ps precept: Pastoral, Priestly, Prophetic, Prayer, and Praise, all of which are centred on being driven and guided by the Holy Spirit. We are encouraging our members to come and use all their God given talent in the Anglican Church, as long as it is Biblical. Gone are the days where biblical principles will be frowned upon because it does not follow tradition. Our diocese exists now to Glorify God, Edify believers, and Multiply disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. An example of the Pastoral concept is the care ministry, under which we have the S.H.E. Platform  Spirituality, Health, and Education. We have an obligation to cater for all areas of needs to the best of our ability  Body, Soul, and Spirit.

Olumakaiye was elevated to the position of Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province Of Lagos, Church Of Nigeria, Anglican Communion on September 25, 2021. This widens the scope of his service as the Diocesan Bishop and Chief Missioner of the Lagos Diocese and Archbishop, Ecclesiastical Province Of Lagos, Church Of Nigeria, Anglican Communion. Olumakaiye was elected after a four-day-long Standing Committee Meeting of the Church, that held in Lagos from 20th to 24th September 2021

It should be noted that Olumakaiye carries Gods aura of favour and grace. No fewer than 62 Bishops representing the hierarchy of the Church of Nigeria attended his enthronement service as the Bishop of Lagos Diocese. His presentation as Archbishop took place on November 7 in Abuja.

Olumakaiye as a revivalist

Olumakaiye is particularly noted for his love for revivals and evangelism and has made his mark in these two areas. He is patriotically concerned about the state of the nation and leads the church to organize frequent revivals to pray for the country. On the state of the nation, he said the country required divine intervention in her quest for the right and enduring solutions to her challenges. He urged Nigerians, both the leaders and the led, to return to God so that the light of God would illuminate the nation thus paving the way for the desired positive changes to manifest. He urges Nigerians not to lose faith in the country but to continue to pray and preach the undiluted gospel that will lead to a positive change of the hearts and attitude of all stakeholders. We should live the talk and allow the light of God to illuminate the hearts of our leaders.

A report published in ThisDay newspapers credited to Folu Olamiti states that, When we have absolute faith in the words of the Lord, there will be a major change in the country. He advised the countrys leaders to lead the country in the path of righteousness, guided by the fear of God. He explained that the revival will target the total man. We will provide for the needs of the people. We will engage in the priestly, prophetic, pastoral, prayer and praise ministries. We shall have diocesan convention ground where we will hold large scale meetings. Our diocese shall exist mainly to exhibit Gods glory. Bishop Olumakaiyes emphasis on the revival and reawakening of the church in Lagos diocese is not a surprise to many people who were familiar with his activities in his previous pastoral postings. He is well known for his uncommon zeal for the spread of the gospel as well as the spiritual development and welfare of both the shepherds and the flock under his watch.

True to his words, the revival in the Lagos diocese has held several times, since the first edition commenced with a spiritually loaded 21-day Fasting and Praying programme that began on Wednesday August 1,2018, two days after the bishops enthronement. It is mandatory for all churches in the diocese and he has vowed to pay unscheduled visits to the various assemblies to ensure compliance. Also in furtherance of the revival, the bishop has inaugurated a healing and charismatic service which is to hold in the evening of every first Sunday of the month at the Cathedral Church of Christ. The first edition took place on Sunday August 5 and according to worshippers. Since that first meeting, Olumakaiye has never looked back with the leading of the Holy Spirit, supported by his wife, Professor Mrs Motunrayo Olumakaiye.

In his inaugural address, Olumakaiye, as reported by The Cable newspapers, acknowledged the good and unforgettable footprints of his predecessors in the diocese and promised to build and improve on their efforts to lift the diocese to the next level. He said he would carry the priests along in this task and would make their welfare a priority. He also recognised the contributions of the various societies in the church and prayed that God would reward them. We should go back to the ancient path of obedience, dignity of labour, honesty, fear of God, love and also being faithful to the things of God. By the time we walk on the path of righteousness, the beauty of holiness will be seen in our lives by everybody and the society will be better for everyone to live. He urged Nigerians not to lose faith in the country but to continue to pray and preach the undiluted gospel that will lead to a positive change of the hearts and attitude of all stakeholders. We should live the talk and allow the light of God to illuminate the hearts of our leaders.

Faith

A strong believer in the application of faith to solve human problems, the archbishop says: When we have absolute faith in the words of the Lord, there will be a major change in the country, He advised the countrys leaders to lead the country in the path of righteousness, guided by the fear of God. Olumakaiye added that: Light brings order where there is disorder. Light and glory are inseparable Quoting from the book of Isaiah 60:1-3, he said: It is time for the light of God to shine in our lives. It is time for us to arise and shine. When the light of God comes, the glory will shine. The intensity of your light will determine your glory and shinning. Unfolding his plans to take the diocese to higher level, Olumakaiye said his top priority would be evangelism and revival of the church, which he noted had been a significant pillar of the evolution of the Anglican Communion since the 18th Century with the emergence of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) that God used to bring revival and awakening to the church.

Projections

Most Revd Olumakaiye while recalling the historic efforts of the early fathers of faith under the CMS who braved all odds, including demonic strongholds to bring the gospel to the dark alleys of Africa said: Our light has come in this diocese. The mission mandate is not a suggestion but a command. When the glory of God appears, deliverance takes place. The church of God is not a club house. It is a place of fulfillment. He explained that the revival will target the total man. We will provide for the needs of the people. We will engage in the priestly, prophetic, pastoral, prayer and praise ministries. We shall have diocesan convention ground where we will hold large-scale meetings. Our diocese shall exist mainly to exhibit Gods glory.

Olumakaiyes emphasis on the revival and reawakening of the church in Lagos diocese is not a surprise to many people who were familiar with his activities in his previous pastoral postings. He is well known for his uncommon zeal for the spread of the gospel as well as the spiritual development and welfare of both the shepherds and the flock under his watch.

Finally, I implore Archbishop Olumakaiye not to be distracted by comments of ill-wishers which would not do the church any good. Please focus on God and your assignment because you will report back to Jesus Christ on your accomplishments particularly concerning the Great Commission that you are prosecuting with vigour in Lagos. Please regard criticisms as rough edges and focus on the Creator to Whom you will finally report in the fullness of time, leading as many souls as possible into heaven. I pray that God may continue to lead you aright and grant you increased unction to function for greater accomplishments.

Lawrence Akinseye writes from Lagos.
The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, and the six South-west governors will, on Friday November 12, 2021, lead discussions at the Odua Investment Company Limited 45th Anniversary Commemorative Lecture.

Scheduled to hold at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, the event which is themed, From Regional Player to Global Powerhouse, will have its keynote address delivered by the Chairman, Governing Board, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, Dotun Sulaiman, MFR.

Owners of the famous Cocoa House and engine room for development of the South Western states of Nigeria, the Odua Investment Company Ltd was founded in 1976 by the three Military Governors of the then Western Region, Major General David Medaiyese Jemibewon (Old Oyo), Group Captain Ita David Ikpeme (Old Ondo) and Major General Saidu Ayodele Balogun (Ogun).

The firm will also at the anniversary event unveil its new business lines.

Speaking on the upcoming tripartite event, the Group Managing Director of the Company, Adewale Raji, said the company is poised to become a world-class conglomerate.

His words, For the 45th anniversary of our company, we would be having a lecture on how we have transitioned from being regional players to becoming a global powerhouse.

Expected at the event are various leaders and captains of industry from Corporate and Social Nigeria. For us, this is a Bold Rebirth and we are ready to move into a new era.

Odua Investment Company has the mandate to be the engine room for the economic development and competitiveness of Western Nigeria. The conglomerates strategy of Sweat, Revive and Create (SRC 2025) is hinged on the strategic pillars of Corporate Governance and Reporting; People and Culture Transformation; Investment Excellence; Growth, Expansion, Profitability and Efficiency.

END

About Odua Investment Company Limited

Odua Investment Company Limited is a conglomerate with substantial investment in Real Estate, Printing and Publishing, Equipment Leasing, Food and Beverages, Agriculture & Agribusiness, Construction and Manufacturing, Hospitality, Financial Services and Oil & Gas. The company has also identified other key sectors such as Energy, Logistics, Health Care and ICT/Digital Telecommunications for potential focus to enable the achievement of her strategic objectives.

The Group is entrusted with delivering sustainable returns to all stakeholders thus enhancing the

legacy for future generations through qualitative and strategic management of its investments.
A man in Enugu State, Nigerias South-east, has been arrested by the police for allegedly killing his son for money rituals.

A pastor in the state has also been arrested in connection with the crime, according to the police.

The police spokesperson in Enugu, Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement on Thursday that the mans seven-year-old son was reported missing on October 22, before it was later discovered he was killed for ritual.

Mr Ndukwe, an assistant superintendent of police, said following receipt of the information on the search for the missing child, police arrested his father, Onyishi Chidi, 36, on November 6 at Coal Camp, Enugu.

Chidi confessed to the crime and led police operatives to arrest a blind pastor, Okeke Eneokwor, 95, whom he fingered as an accomplice.

He also led police operatives and a medical team to a stream at Abakpa-Nike, Enugu, where the decomposing corpse of the minor was exhumed from a shallow grave, he stated.

The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Lawal Abubakar, has ordered a thorough and conclusive investigation into the crime.

The commissioner also directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to expedite action on the investigation to ensure the prosecution of everyone found culpable in the act, he added.

The commissioner of police called on residents of the state to remain vigilant, law-abiding and promptly report criminals and their activities to the nearest police station.

(NAN)
The Traditional Religion Worshippers Association in Osun on Tuesday uged the state government to caution the Oluwo of Iwoland, Abdulrasheed Akanbi, to stop making disparaging comments against their deities.

Its President, Oluseyi Atanda, made the plea at a news conference on Tuesday in Osogbo.

Mr Atanda, on behalf of the worshippers, requested Mr Akanbi to tender public apology to members of the association for always speaking against their deities.

He said the association would embark on a peaceful protest in November for removal of the traditional ruler, if he refused to tender the apology.

Mr Atanda said: Our association is known to respect, honour and work closely with the traditional rulers, more than any other group of people in the society.

But, we have no other choice than to come out publicly to call for the orderly manner of the Oluwo because of his actions.

His installation as Oba ought to be advantageous to Iwo and the entire Yorubaland.

We, therefore, request that Oba Akanbi tender public apology for his unguarded utterances against our Orisa and desist from causing religious crisis in the state, he said.

According to him, the traditional ruler has been conducting himself in a manner that could cause breach of peace in the state.

Mr Atanda also called on the Ministry of Chieftancy Affairs to call the traditional ruler to order for the sake of peace.

Reacting, Alli Ibrahim, the chief press secretary to Mr Akanbi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the allegation of the association was new to him.

It is very new to me, but I think there is only one God and in the process of promoting that God, I dont see any crime, mistake or discussion in promoting one God, said Mr Ibrahim.

If anyone feel offended, I think they can go ahead with whatever they want to do. (NAN)
The people of Imasayi community in Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State have protested against the installation of Olalekan Kuoye as the new Olu of Imasayi.

Two months ago, the Ogun State government presented the staff of office and instrument of appointment to the new monarch, whose coronation has been scheduled to hold on November 13.

On Wednesday, the community people took to the streets to protest the installation, begging the government to reverse its decision.

The protesters, armed with placards with various inscriptions, insisted that Mr Kuoye is neither a native of Imasayi or a member of any of the ruling houses in the town.

The protesters also claimed that people have been dying like fowls in the community because a stranger is sitting on the throne.

In their numbers, the protesters walked round Imasayi community with their placards demanding that Mr Kuoyes installation be reversed.

Speaking with journalists on behalf of the protesters, the Balogun of Imasayi, Timothy Akinleye, said the installation of the new king was against the norms, customs and traditions of the land.

Mr Akinleye said Mr Kuoye was only installed as a chief by the late monarch because they were friends, declaring that he was not entitled to the throne in any way.

He also claimed that the embattled monarch was chosen by uncertified chiefs in the community.

What is actually happening is that we have an age long process, traditions, customs and norms before we appoint anybody as the Oba, but this processes are being eroded and all of a sudden, we heard that the government appointed somebody who is a stranger element. He has no family, no house here, nothing whatsoever here.

At present, we have two ruling houses, Aribiyo ruling house produced the Oba that died. It is the turn of the Oyesoku ruling house and they have not presented any candidate to the Regency Commitee, said Mr Akinleye.

How Kuoye became the Olu of Imasayi is mysterious and unknown to the norms, customs and traditions of Imasayi.

Government has presented letter to Kuoye. We have written so many letters to the government but we have no bigwigs to assist us. Letters were written to the Governors office, to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; we even went ahead to the Governors office to protest two times, we met the Deputy Governor.

But Mr Kuoye insisted he is a native of Imasayi and member of the Oyesoku ruling house.

He noted that there are 11 ruling houses in Imasayi and he has the blessings of eight of them.

I am a son of this land, my family belongs to one of the branches of Oyesoku ruling house. There are 11 families in the Oyesoku ruling house which Kuoye family is one.

I was supported by eight families out of the 11 families that makes up Kuoye ruling house, from there we wrote to the head of the family and the head of the family wrote to the local government and a date is set for the nomination, which was done in an open, well accredited environment.

Nobody was restricted from attending. All the documents were signed by the head of the family and the local government secretary as an observer.

Kuoye is my surname and I have been using it since birth. It is in all my documents since primary school. Kuoye is a direct descendant of Oyesoku ruling family. Whoever that said Kuoye is not an indigene should retrace history.
Following the viral post of a three-year-old girl, who was beaten by a teacher, the Ogun State government has warned schools in the state to desist from using corporal punishment against erring pupils.

A statement issued by the government and shared with PREMIUM TIMES by the chief press secretary to Governor Dapo Abiodun of the state, Kunle Somonrin, noted that the commissioner for education, science and technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, gave the warning in a meeting with the management of the concerned school- Adeoye International Nursery and Primary School, Iyesi-Ota.

Mr Arigbabu, a professor, noted that the government would continue to frown at any corrective action that would inflict injury or pain on any child.

He added that the government would not condone actions that would drag the name of the state in the mud.

He said: I want to say here, as the Commissioner, that I am not happy to hear of this incident and we will not allow any act that would drag the name of the state in the mud. Schools should device effective and humane methods of disciplining a child apart from corporal punishment.

The commissioner was said to have highlighted some of the negative effects of corporal punishment, such as reducing the level of a childs confidence, maiming, death, amongst others.

He also stressed the need for schools to organise seminars and workshops to bring their teachers up to date on modern ways of teaching and to come up with strategies to use in tackling indiscipline in place of corporal punishment.

Suspension

At the meeting with the commissioner, the affected schools delegation, which was led by its executive director, Olu Akinlabi; the headteacher, Ayoola Olusola, and the alleged teacher, Odunola Taiwo, said the development was regrettable.

While apologising for the incident, the school management said it has taken some steps to meet with the parents of the child to tender unreserved apology.

They also confirmed that the school has placed the concerned teacher on suspension.

The teacher, Odunola Taiwo, also recounted what transpired, noting that she did not mean to inflict such punishment on the child. She also apologised to the parents, school and the government, the statement further said.

Background

A mother, Elizabeth Ebere accused a teacher at the Adeoye International School, Iyana-Iyesi, in the Ota area of Ogun State, of assaulting her three-year-old daughter, Chizaram.

Mrs Ebere said the beating of her daughter by the teacher made the three-year-old fall sick, Punch newspaper reported.

She said, I was coming back from the hospital on October 28 when the teacher called me, but I did not pick, so she sent a message to me on Whatsapp that Zara did not want to write so she flogged her and I said okay, thinking she flogged her on the palm.

When my daughter came back from school, she said her teacher flogged her and she showed me her legs. I was shocked to see the marks on her legs. I wondered why she would flog a child that writes on a normal day just because she decided not to write that day, the Punch newspaper quoted her.
The police in Ogun State, on Tuesday, arrested three suspected members of a kidnap syndicate while collecting ransom for kidnap victims.

Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun Police spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The suspects were arrested along Ayetoro road by police operatives in conjunction with men of 35 artillery brigade, Alamala, and men of So Safe Corps, Mr Oyeyemi said.

The suspects, Abubakar Sodiq m 26yrs, Ibrahim Kuaki m 24 yrs and Muhammadu Dio m 22 yrs were arrested following a report lodged at Ilupeju divisional headquarters that two men, who had gone to work at Abule Oba Alamala along Ayetoro road were kidnapped by some gunmen.

Upon the report, the DPO Sabo Ilupeju mobilized his men in collaboration with men of Nigeria army and So Safe Corps and they jointly embarked on aggressive bush combing in search of the victims and the suspects, the statement reads in part.

Mr Oyeyemi said while the exercise was going on, the operatives received information that the suspects had contacted the families of the victims and asked them to bring ransom.

Having received the information, the operatives swiftly moved to the area and laid ambush for the hoodlums. Not quite long, the hoodlums appeared to collect the ransom and the operatives engaged them in gun duel.

Having realized that they were about to be overpowered, they took to their heels but were hotly chased and three amongst them were apprehended, the police said.

Mr Oyeyemi, a deputy superintendent of police, said other members of the gang abandoned the victims and escaped with gunshot injuries.

The victims were rescued unhurt and reunited with their families, he added.

The commissioner of police, Lanre Bankole, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the officers. He ordered the immediate transfer of the suspects to anti-kidnapping unit of the state criminal investigation and intelligence department for discreet investigation.

Mr Bankole also directed that the escaped members of the gang be hunted for and brought to justice. He also appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals, to inform the police if anybody with gunshot injuries is seen in their area.

The police had earlier arrested two suspected kidnappers while trying to collect ransom from the family of a seven-year-old victim.

The suspects, who were arrested on October 3, abducted the boy and contacted his parents for N1 million ransom.
The Imasayi Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State will on Saturday hold the coronation of its new monarch, Olalekan Kuoye.

The event will be held at the Oluaso High School playing ground, according to a statement.

This is coming after the residents of the community protested the installation, demanding that Mr Kuoyes installation as king be reversed.

The coronation

The ceremony will mark the peak of a week-long event, after the conclusion of the traditional seclusion and other rites for Mr Kuoye.

The Ogun State commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Afolabi Afuape, had on August 6 presented the staff of office and instruments to Mr Kuoye at a ceremony.

The chairman of the planning committee, Kunle Olawunmi, in the statement, a copy of which was obtained by this newspaper, assured that the arrangements have been concluded to ensure a peaceful ceremony.

We have waited for this long to present to the world what the people of Imasayi are made of, the statement read.

It is exciting to inform all our invitees, sons and daughters of Imasayi that we are ready to use this coronation to kickstart the development of our ancestral home.

Mr Olawunmi said the ceremony will be attended by the state governor, Dapo Abiodun; his deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; former governor, Gbenga Daniel, and his erstwhile deputy, Salmat Badru, the members of the states executive council and key players in the private sector.

Protest

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that on Wednesday, residents of Imasayi took to the streets to protest the installation, begging the government to reverse its decision.

The protesters had carried placards with various inscriptions, insisted that Mr Kuoye is neither a native of Imasayi or a member of any of the ruling houses in the town.

The protesters also claimed that people have been dying like fowls in the community because a stranger is sitting on the throne.

The Balogun of Imasayi, Timothy Akinleye, also said the installation of the new king was against the norms, customs and traditions of the land.

About the new king

According to the statement, Mr Kuoye was born on April 18, 1970. at Ado-Odo to the family of Kuoye of Imasayi in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

He attended St. Stephens Comprehensive High School, Ado Odo and Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo. He is currently undertaking his doctorate degree in social works at the university.

Mr Kuoye, who once served as a special assistant to the former governor, Mr Daniel, was also the secretary to Ado-Odo/Ota local government and later served as the vice chairman, transition committee of the local government.
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Larry Rock, 76, of Charles Way, passed away on November 17, 2021 at his home. He was born May 17, 1945 the son of Clarence and Rose (Rell) Rock. Services will be private and held at the convenience of the family. Larry will be laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery in Champlain. Arrangements ha
The participants of the Snuffelfiets project, a collaboration with the Province of Utrecht, data specialist Civity, and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), covered approximately 750,000 kilometres and collected 20 gigabytes of air quality data in approximately 18 months. Through thorough examination of the collected data, the RIVM determined that the mobile sensors met its requirements and are considered to be a valuable addition to the existing network of fixed air monitoring stations.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced the innovation in various countries. This prompted SODAQ to develop the prototype further together with Delft University of Technology and the Province of Utrecht. "The more measuring the better. All the users together make up a community of clean air advocates. Our ambition is to expand that community into a global network of cyclists who monitor air quality. Including in places where it is not currently being monitored," says SODAQ CEO Ollie Smeenk.

The new AIR

A smaller, smarter version of the sensor was developed with a new mounting system, making this AIR the most user-friendly model to date. Both mobile and static, the device measures particulate matter (PM2.5,1.0,10), temperature and humidity every ten seconds. Lights on the sensor notify the user of the air quality. This data is transmitted to the global map on an hourly basis via LTM/NB-IoT networks, where both the individual and collective results can be displayed.

To ensure that the AIR also reaches people on an individual level the company is launching the device on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, on November 16th.

Read the entire press release at www.sodaq.com/sodaq-air.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1685809/SODAQ_AIR.jpg

SOURCE SODAQ
Launched in early 2021 by Dina Saman, Talal Tabbaa, and Yazan Barghuthi, CoinMENA was built primarily to address a market gap that existed for easy and safe access to crypto investing. Today, as a fully regulated, onshore crypto exchange licensed by the Central Bank of Bahrain, CoinMENA has not only successfully bridged the gap but also become the go-to exchange, known for its prompt transactions, a wide variety of assets, excellent customer service, and easy-to-use mobile app. Recently, CoinMENA entered into an agreement with the Dubai World Trade Centre to build the next blockchain and crypto hub in the UAE.

Commenting on the investment, CoinMENA's co-founders said, "With growing awareness about crypto assets and their transformative potential, appetite from both retail and institutional investors in the MENA region is growing at a rapid pace. Our strategic capital partnerships provide support for our vision to increase the adoption of crypto assets in the region in a regulated and seamless manner. We believe that this is a positive outlook for the crypto assets sector over the coming years both locally and globally."

Dany Farha, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of BECO Capital, stated, "We had been searching for a while for the combination of the strength of the team and depth of vision that the team at CoinMENA set out to build. We are very excited to partner with this stellar team in delivering financial inclusion, investing, and saving in a crypto native manner, in a hyper-local manner, all whilst being regulated and adhering to the highest levels of governance and compliance for all stakeholders."

Rani Jabban, Managing Director at Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd. commented, "As a pioneering bank in Digital Assets with a strong foothold in the Middle East, we believe that our strategic partnership with CoinMENA will pave the way forward for greater adoption in the region."

Jehan Chu, Founder of Kenetic, said, "CoinMENA is positioned for explosive growth, and Kenetic is excited to lend our extensive experience and deep network to support them as they provide superior crypto liquidity and user experience in a new era of digital finance throughout the MENA region."

CoinMENA's investor BECO Capital is a technology-focused venture capital whose well-known investments include MENA's three unicorns: Swvl, Kitopi, and Careem. Hong Kong's Kenetic is known for its investment into BlockFi, a leading crypto lending platform, and Securitize, a leading digital asset securities firm. Arab Bank (Switzerland) Ltd., the sister company of Arab Bank plc, is a recognized Swiss Bank offering Digital Assets services since 2019. Bunat Ventures is a venture builder and VC firm focused on incubating and investing in promising regional startups. Alameda Research, owned by crypto billionaire Sam-Bankman Fried, is a quantitative cryptocurrency trading firm that provides liquidity in cryptocurrency and digital assets markets.

CoinMENA's sign-up process takes less than a minute and can be performed on its simple, seamless, and highly intuitive mobile app, which is designed for both beginners and professional traders. The exchange's services are currently available to residents of Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman, with a view to expanding to other countries in the MENA region.

About CoinMENA

Headquartered in the Kingdom of Bahrain, CoinMENA is a crypto-assets trading platform, licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB). Through CoinMENA, users can buy, sell, store, and receive crypto assets safely and securely, as well as deposit and withdraw in their local currency.

App Store | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1683355/Cofounders_Dina_Saman_and_Talal_Tabbaa.jpg

SOURCE CoinMENA
NEW YORK, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tradewind recently contributed at a webinar hosted by World Trade Center (WTC) Utah and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. The event, centered on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Utah and beyond, discussed how to maneuver unwieldly capital restrictions to achieve business growth and success.

David Karlbach, Managing Director WTC Utah, commented: "WTC's mission to make Utah the crossroads of the world, one company at a time, is very important to us. Raising capital is critical for companies to grow and it is key that we identify a broad perspective on all the different ways that companies can raise capital."

Key members of the Tradewind Team contributed at the event by discussing how Tradewind's trade-based, credit-insurable offerings may serve as an alternative or even compliment a variety of financing methods available to small and medium-sized businesses in the US.

A link to the recording webinar can be found here: https://youtu.be/F3OaHbFoKuw

Founded in 2000, Tradewind Finance, an international trade finance company, maintains a network of offices all over the world, including Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Iceland, India, Pakistan, Peru, Turkey, UAE, and USA as well as the headquarters in Germany. Combining financing, credit protection, and collections into a single suite of trade finance products, Tradewind brings streamlined, flexible and best-in-class services to the world's exporters and importers.

Contact:

Tradewind Finance

[email protected]

https://www.tradewindfinance.com/

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1024514/Tradewind_Logo.jpg

Related Links

https://www.tradewindfinance.com



SOURCE Tradewind Finance
TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AirEye , the leader in Network Airspace Control and Protection (NACP) solutions, announced today the appointment of Jason Lish, CSO of major telecommunications conglomerate Lumen Technologies Inc. (NYSE: LUMN), to the company's inaugural Advisory Board. Lish is an accomplished senior executive with over 20 years of experience in security and information systems, who joins AirEye as it pioneers the development of the NACP category within the cybersecurity space.

Jason Lish Joins AirEye Advisory Board

"I'm delighted to come on board with a company that is pioneering and defining the emerging market of corporate network airspace as a growing and vulnerable attack surface, and creating a solution for a threat that has long flown under the radar," noted Lish. "It is now essential to address this network security gap and I'm honored by the opportunity to share my insights with such an impressive team that has already achieved so much in the cybersecurity space. I am confident that together, we will continue to improve their cutting-edge products and research."

Wireless-capable devices within the organization act as invisible entry points into the corporate network, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized network access, launch ransomware, and silently exfiltrate data, without leaving forensics or network logs. While other network security solutions are positioned to secure the network at predetermined entry and exit points, today's enterprise wireless assets open a new attack surface. Attackers can directly connect to these assets and bypass the network security stack, using remote and software-only tools.

"We're thrilled to have Jason join our Advisory Board to push forward the world's first NACP offering," added Shlomo Touboul, CEO and co-founder of AirEye. "AirEye is finally closing a gap in network security that is vastly exploited by state attackers and is now used by commercial attackers. With Jason's cybersecurity leadership background, combined with the cybersecurity experience of the AirEye team, we can continue to enhance the product value for our customers. It's not just about controlling and protecting the network airspace, but also about security policy making, business support, actionable data and metrics, as well as ensuring that no work is further added to the CISO's full plate."

Lish is currently the Chief Security Officer of Lumen Technologies, a leading telecommunications company that provides innovative networking, edge cloud, connected security and collaboration solutions to customers worldwide. After beginning his career in the United States Airforce, where he served as a Systems Analyst, Lish went on to hold senior security-oriented leadership positions at several prominent corporations including Advisor Group, Alight Solutions, Charles Schwab, and Honeywell International.

Alongside their primary defense solution, the AirEye Dome  the first and only solution that protects and controls enterprises' corporate network airspace  AirEye is known for their cutting-edge research on wireless threats and network airspace vulnerabilities. In recent months, the AirEye research team has predicted the true threat of iPhone's recent format string bug, exposed the remote possibilities of FragAttacks, and uncovered an entirely new Wi-Fi vulnerability dubbed SSID Stripping.

About AirEye

AirEye is the leader in Network Airspace Control and Protection (NACP). The corporate network may be purposefully or unintentionally compromised by Antenna for HireTM - any wireless device not under the corporate's control, but within its proximity - resulting in unauthorized network access, device hijacking or data leakage. AirEye enforces wireless security policy and prevents attacks that leverage the Antennae for HireTM that are broadcasting in the corporate network airspace.

AirEye's SaaS solution monitors all wireless communications broadcasting in the corporate airspace in real-time, prevents violations of corporate wireless security policy and blocks attacks automatically. Its technology seamlessly complements existing corporate network security infrastructure, without the need for architectural changes or messy integrations.

The solution is deployed in various industries, including finance, banking, telecom, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and aerospace. The company, founded and based in Tel Aviv, was started by veterans of the security and wireless industries, Shlomo Touboul, Ohad Plotnik, Amichai Shulman and Roi Keren.

For more information, visit https://www.aireye.tech .

Media Contact

Sarah Small

Headline Media

[email protected]

SOURCE AirEye

Related Links

https://www.aireye.tech


ST. LOUIS, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While you're sure to see flags waving today to honor U.S. military veterans, companies like Ameren are celebrating and supporting veterans every day by creating long-term career opportunities for them and their families. That's why Ameren has been recognized for the 13th consecutive year as a Military Friendly Employer and received, for the first time, a Military Friendly Supplier Diversity designation.

"Our veteran co-workers bring a depth of experience and skills from their military service and put it to work serving our customers," said Amanda Seward, senior director, talent management for Ameren Corporation. "As Ameren co-workers, our veterans enjoy the benefits of a Fortune 500 company while working alongside a welcoming, connected team of people who truly care about them, their growth and success. Caring is woven into our culture  from our comprehensive total rewards package to our unwavering focus on safety and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, to our many employee resource groups and volunteer opportunities."

As a major participant in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Hiring Our Heroes program, Ameren provides active service members with enhanced training and onboarding sessions during their final six months of active military service. These Fellows are considered for full-time positions at Ameren.

"During my Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship with Ameren, there were many transitioning veterans that reached out to me about the program and my experience," said Chris Arrington, a U.S. Air Force veteran and current Digital Project Manager at Ameren. "I was pleased to share my surprise in interacting with such a diverse workforce and to meet so many people who embraced the concept of teamwork  much like the culture I'd come from. Now, as a full-time Ameren co-worker, my work continues to be exciting and challenging."

Ameren also sponsors the Ameren Military-Veteran Employees (AMVE) group that provides support for military and veteran co-workers and sends care packages to active-duty co-workers and their families.

In addition to earning these prestigious Military Friendly designations, Ameren is widely recognized as a top employer in the industry. Ameren earned a national distinction as a Great Workplace by analysts at Great Place to Work 2021-2022, ranked as a 2021 top utility in the nation for diversity for seven consecutive years by DiversityInc and is a 2021 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion. Ameren also is classified by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a 2021 Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality for the sixth consecutive year.

Opportunities at Ameren

Ameren is an industry-leading and innovative company that is a vital part of the communities it serves, building a sustainable energy future for generations to come. Ameren currently has more than 600 open positions in Missouri and Illinois, including opportunities in IT, supply chain, skilled craft and engineering. Learn more at Ameren.com/careers.

About Ameren Corporation

St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution services, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois operates a rate-regulated electric transmission business in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us on Twitter at @AmerenCorp,Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn.com/company/Ameren.

Military Friendly is the standard that measures an organization's commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 1,500 organizations compete annually for Military Friendly designation. Military Friendly ratings are owned by Viqtory, Inc., a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Viqtory is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly lists and methodology can be found at https://www.militaryfriendly.com/mfcguide/

SOURCE Ameren Corporation

Related Links

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AVENTURA, Fla., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aventura Mall is expanding its selection of retailers with the addition of Blue Nile, Reformation, Ralph Lauren and Azulu, as well as the return of Anne Fontaine and UNOde50.

Blue Nile is a leader in handcrafted engagement rings and extraordinary fine jewelry. The brand was founded in 1999 to revolutionize the industry by offering a smarter way to purchase diamonds, engagement and wedding rings, as well as fine jewelry via in-depth educational materials and unique online tools that place consumers in control of the shopping process. Blue Nile has some of the highest quality standards in the industry and offers thousands of independently certified diamonds and fine jewelry. Its brick and mortar store is a genuine showroom, offering an array of pieces that tell the brand's story. Known for stellar service, Blue Nile is rooted in its team of passionate, non-commissioned experts who put the customer first, participating in their life's joyful occasions and striving to be their jeweler of choice.

Blue Nile is now open on the Upper Level.

Reformation is a revolutionary lifestyle brand merging fashion and sustainability. Founded in 2009, Reformation combines stylish, vintage-inspired designs with sustainable practices, releasing limited-edition collections. Reformation remains at the forefront of innovation in sustainable fashion, running the first sustainable factory in Los Angeles, using deadstock and eco fabrics, tracking and sharing the environmental impact of every product, and investing in the people who make the revolution possible. The Aventura Mall Reformation store offsets 100% of its electricity usage with wind energy and features natural and recycled materials, including vintage furniture, eco-friendly fabrics, hangers and reusable totes. In addition to Reformation's signature dresses, tops and skirts, the Aventura location features eight dressing rooms and a selection of novelty printed denim and Ref Active. This is Reformation's second location in South Florida and the brand's 22nd location nationwide.

Reformation is now open on the Upper Level.

Ralph Lauren is a global leader in the design and distribution of premium lifestyle products in five categories, including apparel, accessories, home, fragrances and hospitality. For more than 50 years, Ralph Lauren's reputation and distinctive American image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands, and international markets. Ralph Lauren's new store at Aventura Mall allows consumers to step into a world well-lived, expressed through timeless style and offering an expanded assortment of apparel, footwear and accessories for men and women. The store will also offer the brand's extended shopping services, including curbside pick-up, styling consultations and virtual shopping appointments.

Ralph Lauren is opening this November on the Lower Level.

Azulu is a modern Colombian brand known for its feminine resort silhouettes with a distinctly Latin flair. Committed to ethicality, sustainability and support of the modern woman, 100% of Azulu's products are produced in small, family-run factories across Bogota, Colombia under the highest standards of quality control. The 4,000 square-foot Aventura Mall boutique, fully designed by CEO Alex Srour and Creative Director Maya Memovic, uses neutral colors, sleek design elements and Colombian inspired materials, contrasting sculptural details with playful, colorful collections to illustrate the brand's signature style: a combination of sharpness and femininity. The majority of the store's furniture and fixtures, sourced personally by the team, are vintage with a focus on Colombian mid-century design and include additional key pieces by designers like Diamantina & la Perla and Verdi. The Aventura store will carry the brand's contemporary women's ready to wear, swim and accessories, alongside a rotating selection of products from other Latinx brands. This is Azulu's first flagship store in the United States.

Azulu is now open on the Upper Level.

Anne Fontaine was launched as a result of the brand's namesake, Anne Fontaine, who took over her husband's family clothing business after discovering an old trunk filled with his white shirts. In 1993, Anne created an entire feminine universe around "The White Shirt," which has become the brand's main staple and signature blank canvas from which to build an elegant and timeless style. Over the years, Anne Fontaine has evolved to include a line of additional ready-to-wear, shoes and accessories. Born to a Brazilian mother and a French-German father in Rio de Janeiro, Anne has made a commitment to the protection of the Brazilian forest Mata Atlantica, located in the state of Bahia, through the creation of the Anne Fontaine Foundation, which she launched in 2011.

Anne Fontaine is now open on the Upper Level.

UNOde50 was born in the late 1990's by a team of artists who sought out to create a style of jewelry that merged tradition and modernity via a handcrafted spirit that reflects exclusivity through design and quality. The Spanish jewelry brand began with the exclusive philosophy of creating 50 units of each design, hence its name. Today, UNOde50 continues to fulfil its promise of exclusivity through one to two limited editions with just 50 pieces made for each collection. The icon of the brand, the small padlock, was designed to symbolize the protection of exclusive, uniquely designed jewelry. UNOde50 is known for its authenticity, bold spirit and 100% hand-crafted "Made in Spain" production process. Miami is home to the brand's first U.S. store.

UNOde50 is opening soon on the Upper Level.

Additional retailers opening soon at Aventura Mall include Aritzia, which will be opening its first Florida store, as well as Anine Bing, Hive & Colony, several luxury brands and more.

ABOUT AVENTURA MALL: Aventura Mall is the premier shopping destination in Miami and South Florida, and one of the top shopping centers in the U.S. Anchored by Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's, the center is highlighted by a mix of over 300 stores, from luxury fashion brands to shopper favorites, including the largest Apple store in Florida, Adidas, Anthropologie, Burberry, Cartier, Givenchy, Gucci, H&M, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, MCM, Sephora, and Zara. Aventura Mall also features more than 50 eateries and restaurants, including Treats Food Hall; The Aventura Farmers Market, which showcases over 75 farmers and artisans; and the experiential Arts Aventura Mall program highlighting 20+ museum-quality pieces in a range of mediums. For hours of operation, visit AventuraMall.com or call (305) 935-1110.

SOURCE Aventura Mall

Related Links

http://aventuramall.com


Matt Garchow, Vehicles Sales Manager at Bill Brown Ford, presented the Founder of Vets Returning Home Sandy Bower with a $10,000 donation today. Sandy Bower, "the support we receive from community partners like Bill Brown Ford is a blessing. It gives us the ability to keep our doors open to serve our Veterans." The non-profit will use the funds for their on-site efforts, including medical assistance, employment readiness training, job placement aid, disability benefit, legal support, and life skills training.

"Through our Bill Brown Cares program, we are committed to supporting local organizations that provide an essential service to residents of our community," commented Matt Garchow. There is no better example of a non-profit making a positive difference for the Veterans in our community than Vets Returning Home. It is truly an honor to support them."

VETS RETURNING HOME

Roseville, MI, non-profit dedicated to ending chronic homelessness in military veterans. Supporting an average of 250 Veterans each year, their 11,000 sq ft facility is the only one of its kind in Oakland and Macomb counties. Along with providing emergency shelter, their program has expanded to include a career closet, food pantry, furniture bank, and a vehicle donation program for local veterans in need.

ABOUT BILL BROWN FORD

Bill Brown Ford is the #1 volume Ford dealership in Michigan and a passionate community partner proudly brightening futures for those at-risk in our community with a dedicated focus on Livonia, MI and Metro Detroit. Through Bill Brown Cares, the dealership extends their future-focused ethos to the community to ensure a successful future for those in need. Specifically, Bill Brown Ford partners with organizations that feed, educate, and improve the health and welfare of our community.

Media Contact

Robert Goodfellow

Digital Marketing Manager, Bill Brown Ford

[email protected]

L: 734.524.2759, M: 734.644.0227

SOURCE CreatorMKT

Related Links

creatormkt.com


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Consulting Solutions (CSI), a nationally recognized leader in technology workforce and consulting services, announced today the expansion of its UKG (formerly Kronos, Inc.) Consulting Practice with the hiring of Christine Hanna, who will serve as Practice Director and lead the continued buildout of the company's UKG service offerings and UKG-certified consultant teams.

CSI assists organizations that are looking to modernize and optimize their workforce management systems and processes, thereby capitalizing on their investment with UKG, a global leader in workforce management and human capital management solutions. CSI's consultants bring decades of experience specific to implementation of UKG Workforce Dimensions (WFD), UKG Workforce Central (WFC), and UKG Human Capital Management (HCM) product suites. CSI consultants stay current in workforce management best practices and focus on mitigating client risk by ensuring that the overall solution design supports regulatory compliance in all areas of U.S. and international labor laws, state and province-specific labor laws, county and municipal labor laws, as well as collective bargaining agreements.

CSI is a UKG Services Partner. Last month, CSI ranked in the top 10 of the fastest-growing U.S. staffing firms compiled by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions.

As Practice Director, Hanna offers more than 18 years of IT consulting and workforce management advisory experience, including eight years as CEO of Workforce Transformation Group, a legacy Kronos Partner. Earlier, she was UKG Practice Director at Healthcare IT Leaders, and a Consulting Manager with the Hackett Group, specializing in UKG implementations.

"While our UKG Consulting Practice is well established, the demand for UKG technology talent continues to rise," said John Moschella, President of CSI. "We're excited to bring someone of Christine's caliber on board to help continue our momentum, manage relationships, and build an even more extensive community of UKG specialists to serve our current and future clients."

"CSI has assembled one of the most comprehensive and experienced teams of UKG specialists and UKG-certified consultants in the market. Our goal is to be the premier UKG Services Partner for both UKG and its customers," said Hanna. "In a crowded field of firms that recruit and place consultants to fill a job opening, our core values and unique culture compel us to invest heavily in a long-term quality of life for our consultants. This is important to us because it allows us to build long-lasting relationships with each other, which makes us better consultants. This deepens the level of trust from UKG, and from our customers. We know that it's important to UKG and to our mutual customers to be able to count on us to be here when they need us for years to come. I look forward to broadening our UKG team's reach within the UKG customer community, guiding them on delivering creative and exceptional solutions for UKG customers, and deepening our valuable partnership with UKG."

Tens of thousands of organizations and more than 40 million people in over 100 countries use UKG solutions for their workforce management and human capital management needs.

CSI will host a happy hour during the UKG Works User Conference in Las Vegas. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 16, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Alibi in the Aria Casino. Registration link: http://evite.me/Pfd2smHw5a.

About Consulting Solutions (CSI)

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Consulting Solutions (www.consultingsolutions.com) is a nationally recognized leader in technology solutions and services. CSI's key practice areas include Agile Development, Application Development, Advanced Analytics, Cloud & Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, Delivery Leadership, and ERP (SAP, Oracle & UKG). Our scalable engagement modelsfrom individual technology consultants to strategic enterprise programsenable clients to tap into world-class talent, expertise, and services to drive technology and enterprise transformation initiatives. CSI was recently named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies and ranked at #7 on SIA's 2021 list of fastest-growing U.S. staffing firms. The company was also recognized as a National Winner for America's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For.

Media Contact:

Kathy Berardi

[email protected]

678.644.4122

SOURCE Consulting Solutions

Related Links

https://www.consultingsolutions.com


NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CureDuchenne and Vintner Chair Bryant Estate hosted the Seventh Annual Napa in Newport Wine Auction on November 6, 2021, at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point. The annual fundraiser raised over $1.5 million to help find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Napa in Newport brought the most acclaimed vintners from Napa Valley together under one roof to serve their finest vintages and offer their best wine experiences to more than 450 of Orange County's top business leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and wine connoisseurs. The event raised funds for CureDuchenne, a global nonprofit committed to finding a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. To date, the event has helped raise more than $7.5 million for CureDuchenne.

"We are so thrilled with the outcome of this year's Napa in Newport gala, connecting passion and purpose to help improve the lives of everyone affected by Duchenne and accelerate a cure for my son and all the individuals living with Duchenne around the world," said CureDuchenne CEO Debra Miller. "With the relentless support of our generous community, our organization is able to drive real change for those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their loved ones."

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a fatal genetic disease. It is the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy, mainly found in young boys. It affects 15,000 children in the United States and 300,000 worldwide with no known cure.

Southern California's premier wine event brought more than 45 of Napa's finest wineries together, offering invitees a grand tasting of coveted rare wines. Guests were treated to vintner-hosted dining tables, an exquisite celebrity chef-designed dinner menu from Chef Chris Shepherd and a spirited live auction featuring collectable wines, exotic getaways and once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

"Napa in Newport was such a wonderful opportunity for the Napa Valley community to come together and support an important cause," said Bettina Bryant, Vintner Chair Bryant Estate. "It was an absolute privilege to serve as the Vintner Chair this year to raise awareness for this devastating disease and help impact the lives of individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy."

Founded in Newport Beach by parents of a son living with Duchenne, CureDuchenne employs an innovative venture philanthropy model to fund groundbreaking research for a cure and support programs for those living with the disease, while advocating for early diagnosis and better access to treatments. For more information, please visit cureduchenne.org.

For more information and to reserve a spot at the 2022 event, please visit thenapawineseries.com.

About CureDuchenne

CureDuchenne is recognized as a global leader in research, patient care, and innovation for improving and extending the lives of those with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As the leading genetic killer of young boys, Duchenne affects more than 300,000 individuals living today. CureDuchenne is dedicated to finding and funding a cure for Duchenne by breaking the traditional charitable mold through an innovative venture philanthropy model that funds groundbreaking research, early diagnosis, and community education. For more information on how to help raise awareness and funds needed for research, please visit cureduchenne.org.

SOURCE CureDuchenne
MIAMI, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DCR, a leading payments provider, has partnered with Veteran Services USA (VSUSA) to bring significant discounts and rewards points to veterans across the United States, bolstered by a revolutionary payment product. VSUSA Prepaid Debit Cards will give cashback to cardholders, among other benefits, including discount prescription savings at over 63,000 participating pharmacies. Members can show their personalized metal cards at pharmacies and receive markdowns to alleviate expenses.

"This partnership is a significant step in founding the VSUSA financial ecosystem supporting our U.S. Veteran's and various forthcoming products," said Charles Everhardt, Principal and Co-Founder of VSUSA. "DCR is a key partner with over 7 million customers and our organizations together are poised to innovate in the affinity debit card market."

VSUSA Prepaid Debit Cards will be supplied by DCR and distributed to program members upon registration. The dual-interface debit cards integrate with the VSUSA Wallet app, where users can view transaction history, load funds, and collect VSUSA Coins with each purchase. Cardholders can also convert coins to cash in real-time to redeem at millions of merchants.

"We are proud to support VSUSA with a product that combines rewards, discounts, and financial services geared towards veterans. This is only the beginning of the program, and we look forward to our collective future," said Diana Fletcher, President of DCR.

The payment program will launch in early 2022, but pre-registration opens on Veterans Daythe November 11th holiday honoring military service. VSUSA and DCR will introduce new promotions and discounts in the new year to continue growing the services offered to our customers. To pre-register for the VSUSA Prepaid Debit Card, visit vsusa.trucash.com.

About DCR

DCR is revolutionizing digital payments and loyalty to help businesses drive growth. Our award-winning payments platform integrates prepaid cards, mobile wallets and APIs with end-to-end customization. With over 30 years of industry experience, we bring flexible payment solutions to leading brands and millions of cardholders worldwide. For more information, visit dcrstrategies.com.

About Veteran Services USA

Veteran Services USA (VSUSA) a non-profit organization that empowers Veterans and Seniors by offering services designed to build successful life transitions with access to workforce and independent housing; health services; and social service programs in communities across the United States. For transitioning Service Members, Veterans & Families, VSUSA seeks to provide educational programs featuring innovative training, counseling, and career connections through robust public-private partnerships, applying proven community and strength-based approaches to building resilience, treating trauma, and preventing suicide. For more information, visit vsusa.org.

SOURCE Veteran Services USA
Delta 8 is a federally legal cannabinoid which offers similar effects to medical cannabis without some of the unwanted side effects of cannabis, which contains Delta 9. Delta 9 is known to be more intoxicating than Delta 8, and it can cause an increase in paranoia and anxiety, along with confusion and a clouded head for some. Consumers, including veterans, have said Delta 8 doesn't have the unwanted side effects while also helping them with their anxiety, PTSD, and chronic pain.

Veterans appreciate the use of Delta 8 for its potential advantages, affordability and legality.

Additionally, several veterans have reported they have an improved quality of life . They are experiencing less pain. Plus, those who take Delta 8 also say they have been able to reduce the amount of opioids they take with the help and guidance of their doctor. Recent studies have shown the same benefits of cannabis. Consumers are using more cannabis and medical cannabis over opioids, leading to less addiction and dependence on opioids during a countrywide epidemic.

Even though the VA says they are still looking into the potential benefit of cannabis for military veterans with PTSD, federal lawmakers are moving things forward. Most recently, House and Senate subcommittees both approved research efforts requiring the VA to take action. A key will be research on medical cannabis for PTSD veterans as a potential alternative to opioids.

In the meantime, veterans appreciate the use of Delta 8 for its potential advantages, affordability and legality.

3Chi is a pioneer in science-based cannabis research and was the first commercial developer of hemp-derived Delta-8 THC. Based in Indiana, the company continues today as an industry leader in emerging cannabis science and innovative hemp-derived products. To learn more, click here: 3Chi.com

For questions and media inquiries, please reach out to: [email protected]

SOURCE 3Chi

Related Links

3chi.com


JERSEY CITY, N.J., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DriveWealth, LLC , a pioneer in fractional investing and embedded finance, today announced a partnership with Chipper Cash , the fastest growing African fintech startup enabling peer-to-peer money transfers and cross-border payments for nearly four million users. DriveWealth's real-time fractional trading technology and API-based brokerage infrastructure will enable the Ugandan population to gain affordable access to investing in U.S. equities for the first time.

Approximately 66% of Sub-Saharan Africa's population did not have access to a bank account in 2020, according to the World Bank. While Africa's large unbanked population has increasingly turned to technology to help create a more inclusive financial system, investing in the U.S. stock markets required high minimums and was only accessible for high networth individuals, leaving much of the Ugandan population without access. Through its partnership with DriveWealth, Chipper Cash is empowering everyday investors in Uganda with safe and affordable access to the U.S. stock market for the first time. Users will now be able to invest on a dollar equivalent basis (i.e. fractional shares) in over 6,000 U.S. securities and ETFs, allowing consumers to invest with no minimum requirements.

"Equipping underserved investors with the tools they need to break down the barriers to investing is a critical step towards democratizing investing worldwide," said Bob Cortright, founder and CEO of DriveWealth. "What Chipper Cash has been able to accomplish in its few short years is helping Africans to access a range of financial services inexpensively from their phones. We're thrilled to partner with Chipper Cash to help investors build long-term wealth by investing in U.S. stocks."

"We are excited to add investing in U.S. equities to our platform to complement our initial offerings of peer-to-peer transactions and cross-border payments," said Ham Serunjogi, CEO of Chipper Cash. "Thanks to our partnership with DriveWealth, the U.S. market is now easily accessible to all members of the Ugandan population. This will enable citizens to improve their financial well being and become owners of their financial futures."

Following the rollout of this offering in Uganda, Chipper Cash plans to provide access to fractional trading in U.S. equities through its partnership with DriveWealth in Nigeria and South Africa.

About DriveWealth

DriveWealth, the pioneer of fractional equities trading and embedded investing, is a visionary technology company that empowers more than 100 partners around the world to engage their customers by placing the markets in the palm of their hand. We believe the future is fractional, transactional and mobile. Every mobile device should be a gateway to accessing investing and savings products, services, advice, and assistance for global citizens of all ages, wealth stages, and levels of financial expertise. DriveWealth's unparalleled consultative support and cloud-based, industrial strength technology platform allow partners to seamlessly offer branded investing experiences to drive customer acquisition, loyalty, retention, and revenue growth. DriveWealth's commitment to continuous evolution and innovation makes it the partner of choice for powering the future of investing. For more information, please visit drivewealth.com or connect with us on Twitter @DriveWealth.

SOURCE DriveWealth
NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per latest industry analysis by Persistence Market Research, the global hydrophobic coatings market is expected to progress at a healthy CAGR of 4.2% and top a valuation of US$ 2.5 Bn 2031.

Increasing construction activities across the globe, especially in developing nations, are anticipated to drive market growth over the coming years. Countries in Asia Pacific such as India, China, and ASEAN countries, are expected to focus on enhancing their infrastructure owing to increasing FDI across these counties. Consistent growth in end-use industries, especially building & construction, is elevating demand for hydrophobic coatings.

Globally, key manufacturers are focusing on stringent government regulations and are indulged in reducing their carbon footprints to increase sustainability in their products. Moreover, market players are investing around 3%-5% of their revenue in research & development activities to enhance coatings so as to emit low volatile organic compounds.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

Globally, East Asia is estimated to hold around one-third market value share and is expected to continue its dominance over the coming years.

is estimated to hold around one-third market value share and is expected to continue its dominance over the coming years. Increasing automotive production and vehicle parts is considered to be one of the key factors driving demand growth of hydrophobic.

Polysiloxanes coatings are estimated to fuel market growth and expected continue their dominance owing to increasing adoption across end-use industries.

Automotive & transportation and building & construction are expected to provide lucrative growth opportunities to hydrophobic coating suppliers.

Request for sample PDF of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16927

"Globally, key players are focusing on backward integration by commissioning new capacity for raw materials to strengthen the value chain and reduce logistics & transportation costs," says a Persistence Market Research analyst.

Competitive Landscape

The global hydrophobic coatings market has been identified as a fairly fragmented space with the presence of local and regional players in the market. Globally, the top ten key players estimated to dominate the market with more than 30%-40% market share.

Some of the key players are PPG Industries, The 3M Company, PPG Industries, Aculon Inc., Master Builders Solutions Admixtures US LLC, NTT Advanced Technology Corporation, NeverWet LLC, NEI Corporation, Abrisa Technologies, AccuCoat Inc., NANOKOTE Pty Ltd, Precision Coatings Co. Inc., Lotus Leaf Coatings Inc., Advanced Nano Tech Lab, Nano-Care Deutschland AG, and COTEC GmbH.

Know the methodology of report by asking an expert: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/ask-an-expert/16927

Conclusion

The building & construction industry along with the automotive industry remains the cornerstone of demand for hydrophobic coatings. The Asia Pacific region is estimated to account for the largest chunk of demand.

Key manufacturers of hydrophobic coatings are focusing on increasing their production capacity of specialty coatings at existing plants to avoid capital investments and simultaneously increase overall market share from the same product lines.

Get full access of report: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/16927

More Valuable Insights on Offer

Persistence Market Research, a research and consulting firm, has published a market research report on the paints and coatings market that contains global industry analysis of 20162020 and opportunity assessment for 20212031. The report provides in-depth analysis of the market through different segments, namely, coating type, substrate type, end use, and region. The report also provides supply and demand trends, along with an overview of the parent market.

Related Reports:

About Persistence Market Research:

Persistence Market Research (PMR), as a 3rd-party research organization, does operate through an exclusive amalgamation of market research and data analytics for helping businesses ride high, irrespective of the turbulence faced on the account of financial/natural crunches.

Overview:

Persistence Market Research is always way ahead of its time. In other words, it tables market solutions by stepping into the companies'/clients' shoes much before they themselves have a sneak pick into the market. The pro-active approach followed by experts at Persistence Market Research helps companies/clients lay their hands on techno-commercial insights beforehand, so that the subsequent course of action could be simplified on their part.

Contact

Rajendra Singh

Persistence Market Research

U.S. Sales Office:

305 Broadway, 7th Floor

New York City, NY 10007

+1-646-568-7751

United States

USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353

Email: [email protected]

Visit Our Website: https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com

SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd.
GAVIAO PEIXOTO, Brazil, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer (B3: EMBR3,NYSE: ERJ) successfully concluded the Hungary Critical Design Review (CDR) and began the structural assembly of its first KC-390 Millennium. A ceremony held at Embraer's Gaviao Peixoto facility, witnessed by Hungarian government and Embraer representatives, marked the start of production of the first KC-390 Millennium for Hungary. In the coming weeks, parts will be assembled to generate the structural panels and frames for the main components of the fuselage and semi-wings. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in 2024.

In November 2020, the Hungarian government signed a contract with Embraer for the acquisition of two C-390 Millennium multi-mission transport aircraft, in its Air-to-Air Refueling (AAR) configuration, designated KC-390. The acquisition is part of the process to strengthen the capabilities of the Hungarian Defence Forces.

The KC-390 for the Hungarian Defence Forces will be the first in the world with the Intensive Care Unit in its configuration, an essential feature to perform humanitarian missions. The aircraft fully meets the requirements of the Hungarian Defence Forces, being able to perform different types of military and civilian missions including Medical Evacuation, Cargo and Troops Transport, Precision Cargo Airdrop, Paratroopers Operations and AAR.

These KC-390 are fully NATO compatible, not only in terms of its hardware but also in its avionics and communications configuration. Furthermore, the KC-390 probe and drogue refueling system means the aircraft is capable of refueling the Hungarian JAS 39 Gripen, as well as other aircraft that use the same technology.

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) existing fleet of KC-390s currently stands at four and these aircraft have exceeded 4,100 flight hours in operation, including its extensive use to transport equipment and medical supplies across the country urgently needed to address the COVID-19 situation in Brazil.

The C-390 is a tactical transport jet aircraft designed to set new standards in its category. Some of the strong aspects of the aircraft are increased mobility, rugged design, higher flexibility, state-of-the-art proven technology and easier maintenance. Flying faster and delivering more cargo, both the C-390 Millennium and the KC-390 variant are the right-sized platform for major deployment scenarios. Minimized interventions and on condition maintenance combined with highly reliable systems and components support the reduced downtime and costs, contributing to outstanding availability levels and low life cycle costs.

Follow us on Twitter: @Embraer

About Embraer

A global aerospace company headquartered in Brazil, Embraer has businesses in Commercial and Executive aviation, Defense & Security and Agricultural Aviation. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets aircraft and systems, providing Services & Support to customers after-sales.

Since it was founded in 1969, Embraer has delivered more than 8,000 aircraft. On average, about every 10 seconds an aircraft manufactured by Embraer takes off somewhere in the world, transporting over 145 million passengers a year.

Embraer is the leading manufacturer of commercial jets up to 150 seats and the main exporter of high value-added goods in Brazil. The company maintains industrial units, offices, service and parts distribution centers, among other activities, across the Americas, Africa, Asia and Europe.

SOURCE Embraer S.A.
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After serving in the U.S. Navy in the wake of September 11, Marina Rabinek was plagued by the post-traumatic stress and anxiety of combat and the loss of fellow soldiers to suicide. While transitioning to civilian life, she turned to mindfulness. Rabinek enrolled in eMindful's M.M.A.P. For Success Program with donated minutes of mindfulness from eMindful's pay-it-forward program The Connection. View her story .

"I knew I needed something to help me overcome the trauma and acclimate to life after serving my country," Rabinek said. "Through the program, I connected with other Veterans and learned to quiet my mind, ease my anxiety, and release the difficult emotions and pain that come with war. These donated minutes of mindfulness helped me heal, and I am grateful for that."

Rabinek is one of many veterans who has turned to the M.M.A.P. Program to overcome the emotional challenges that come with military service. The immersive program was built by Veterans for Veterans and active military to address issues that are unique to their circumstances, including overcoming addictive behaviors, acclimating to civilian life, finding purpose, and searching for a new normal.

More than 20 million living Americans have served our country. Many suffer from the lasting physical and emotional challenges that come with combat. Up to 20 percent experience post-traumatic stress and 22 Veterans a day die from suicide.

In honor of Veteran's Day, eMindful, a Wondr Health Company, will give Veterans and active military free access to the next M.M.A.P. Program, which begins on Monday, Nov. 29. They can click here to register, and organizations can contact [email protected] to learn more about how eMindful can help their Veteran population.

Media Contact:

Zev Suissa

eMindful

772-569-4540

[email protected]

About eMindful

eMindful, a Wondr Health company, provides evidence-based, mindfulness programs for everyday life and chronic conditions by helping individuals make every moment matter.

SOURCE eMindful
This 58-page report provides analysis of proprietary research from 270 fleet organizations to deliver insights to manufacturers and builders on fleet types investing in CEVs, reasons and methods for adoption, applications and perceived challenges. The report also delivers overviews of the top 25 CEV Builders, their progress and current products and Fleet Usage Profiles for two organizations that are leading the way in CEV adoption.

Energy infrastructure / technology providers are eager to understand the growing demand in order to plan for investment.

"Electrification is a very exciting segment for the U.S. economy right now," said Reggie Lawrence, Endeavor's EVP of Energy and Transportation. "We are seeing rapid technology development across commercial vehicles and there is a natural convergence with energy infrastructure. Commercial truck fleets are looking to better understand operating and maintaining CEV's, as well as the infrastructure available for each vehicle application. Energy infrastructure and technology providers are eager to understand the growing demand in order to plan for investment."

The report can be purchased here.

Endeavor Business Intelligence provides specialized intelligence to companies looking to innovate, make informed decisions, and gain a competitive edge.

Endeavor Commercial Vehicle Group is comprised of leading industry brands including FleetOwner, Fleet Maintenance, American Trucker, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter and Trailer|Body Builders. Our audience represents over 600,000 decision making professionals - managers, owners, manufacturers and business professionals responsible for commercial vehicle fleet operations.

ABOUT ENDEAVOR BUSINESS MEDIA

Headquartered in Nashville, TN, Endeavor Business Media, LLC was formed in late 2017 to acquire and operate trade publications, websites, events, and marketing solutions. The company targets U.S. B2B audiences in the accounting, aviation, dental, facilities maintenance, fire & public safety, design engineering, buildings and construction, energy, manufacturing, industrial, technology, medical, securities, laser, lighting, oil & gas, public services, security, construction, vehicle repair, vending, and water & wastewater markets.

For more information, visit www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com

Media Contact: Angie Gates, [email protected]

SOURCE Endeavor Business Media

Related Links

http://www.pennwell.com


KYIV, Ukraine, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The founder of Folderly , Vladislav Podolyako, recently discussed the growth of his startup, which is helping companies solve email deliverability problems.

Founded in 2019, the company has already registered $130,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) and $1,560,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR).

in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) and in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Folderly.com is currently attracting an average of 30 customers monthly.

The SaaS firm boasts hundreds of customers and organizes up to 300 meetings, half of which come from outbound marketing activities.

Podolyako found out that key aspects, such as DNS settings and quality content, play a major role in determining the success of email marketing campaigns. It is also vital that marketers avoid using any spam words and links that trigger automatic filters of most email clients.

This backstory, which unfolded at a sales agency known as Belkins, gave birth to the Folderly platform. At the time, Podolyako and his partner Michael Maximoff managed more than 1,000 mailboxes on behalf of their clients at Belkins.

Although they initially enjoyed a high open rate of up to 70 percent and a replay rate of approximately 25 percent, they later noticed a sharp decline in these impressive figures over time. This change in fortune compelled the duo to examine the source of the decline. As a result, it became clear that many marketers or salespeople struggle with the same issues, and no one provides viable answers to spam challenges.

Folderly Helps Clients Achieve 99 Percent Email Deliverability

High email deliverability underpins Folderly's impressive growth in new customer acquisition and profitability. Businesses' embarking on email marketing campaigns take advantage of the platform's zero spam guarantee to maximize email deliverability.

This capability is useful to businesses of varying sizes battling challenges associated with spam filtering issues. It is no surprise that Folderly has attracted over 100 customers since its formation.

The platform helps companies save a considerable amount of money in email marketing campaigns. In turn, businesses can reduce the cost per lead. With Folderly, companies can optimize email messages and DNS settings to prevent unwanted spam filtering. A highly revolutionary algorithm optimizes the messages to guarantee delivery, boosting open rates and the overall effectiveness of email marketing campaigns.

CEO Vladislav Podolyako believes that the increased competition in email marketing creates the need for companies to improve email deliverability. For this reason, marketers need to perform a spam filtering test.

SOURCE Folderly
WICHITA, Kan., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers announced today it has signed four new multi-unit agreements with new and existing operators to bring more than a dozen new restaurants to New Jersey, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Dakota. Year-to-date, Freddy's has executed a total of 13 multi-unit agreements adding nearly 70 new restaurants to the brand's overall development pipeline. This surge in franchise development is a reflection of the brand's aggressive growth strategy and will continue to accelerate expansion over the next couple of years. With additional openings slated to take place through the end of Q4, the brand is on track to open over 35 locations this year.

"Freddy's commitment to the success of our Franchise Owners coupled with our devotion to creating an unforgettable Guest experience has helped us become a leading franchise opportunity for experienced developers looking to diversify their portfolio," said Andrew Thengvall, CDO of Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. "It's been an exciting time to be part of this brand, and we're looking forward to working with these four groups to further grow our presence in key markets and build upon the momentum we've experienced recently. 2021 has been a remarkable year for Freddy's, and our continued multi-unit development success is a true testament to the wealth of potential of our franchise opportunity."

Four different franchise groups have signed the multi-unit deals to develop 15 new restaurants across six states. The groups spearheading this development and their growth plans include:

Freddy's very first franchisee, Ron Oberg , who operates as TR Hospitality Group , LLC, signed a new agreement to bring three locations to Rapid City, South Dakota . Oberg joined Freddy's in 2004 establishing Epoch Development, Inc, and opening the brand's first franchised restaurant located in Hutchinson, Kansas . Today, Epoch owns and operates 10 locations throughout Kansas , Oklahoma and Texas . While TR Hospitality has 7 locations throughout Nebraska and is currently in the development phase for two locations in Sioux Falls, South Dakota .

, who operates as , LLC, signed a new agreement to bring locations to . Oberg joined Freddy's in 2004 establishing Epoch Development, Inc, and opening the brand's first franchised restaurant located in . Today, Epoch owns and operates 10 locations throughout , and . While TR Hospitality has 7 locations throughout and is currently in the development phase for two locations in . Existing franchisee group Feed Your Face, LLC has agreed to develop five additional units in Indiana , Kentucky and Tennessee . The group currently has two Freddy's locations open in Kentucky as well as another under development and slated to open in Q1 of 2022.

has agreed to develop additional units in , and . The group currently has two Freddy's locations open in as well as another under development and slated to open in Q1 of 2022. TWG Management Co., Inc will be adding Freddy's to its extensive franchisee portfolio, which currently consists of 14 units with franchise brands including Qdoba, Jamba Juice, Wetzel's Pretzels, Charlie's Philly Cheesesteaks and Great American Cookies, as well as independent restaurant concept Capital Craft. TWG Management Co., Inc will develop four Freddy's restaurants in Somerset and Monmouth Counties in New Jersey .

will be adding Freddy's to its extensive franchisee portfolio, which currently consists of 14 units with franchise brands including Qdoba, Jamba Juice, Wetzel's Pretzels, Charlie's Philly Cheesesteaks and Great American Cookies, as well as independent restaurant concept Capital Craft. TWG Management Co., Inc will develop Freddy's restaurants in and Counties in . In Texas, new franchisee group Big Country Custard has agreed to develop three new restaurants in the Abilene and Weatherford areas.

"As multi-unit operators since 1990, we've learned what key differentiators to look for when expanding into new areas of the foodservice industry. Freddy's offers a unique combination of craveable food and genuine hospitality, and the business model continues to excel compared to competitors within its space - not to mention the brand's impressive AUV," said Tom Graziano of TWG Management Co., Inc. "The decision to add Freddy's to our portfolio was simple, and we fully believe there's no better time than now to be part of the brand's monumental period of growth while further expanding its presence in New Jersey."

Fueled by the brand's ongoing success with multi-unit franchise development, 2021 has marked a year of significant growth for Freddy's. In Q3 alone, the rapidly-growing franchise concept opened more than 10 new restaurants, including milestone openings in New Jersey and Wisconsin marking the brand's debut in both states. With more than a dozen additional locations slated to open before the end of the year, Freddy's is continuing to significantly expand its footprint nationwide.

Franchise opportunities remain in areas across the U.S., including the Northeast, Upper Midwest, California, Florida, Oregon, and Washington and large metro areas such as Pittsburgh and many of its surrounding markets.

For more information about development opportunities, contact Mary Coots, Director of Franchise Development, at [email protected] or 316-719-7854, or visit https://freddysfranchising.com.

About Freddy's

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is a leading fast-casual franchise concept with more than 400 locations across 34 states nationwide. Founded in Wichita, Kansas, in 2002, the brand offers a unique combination of cooked-to-order steakburgers, Vienna Beef hot dogs, shoestring fries and other savory items along with freshly churned frozen custard treats. Known for operating the Freddy's Way, Guests experience genuine hospitality and food prepared fresh with premium ingredients. This signature approach has fueled Freddy's ongoing growth throughout the U.S. and garnered national recognition from industry-leading rankings, including being named No. 1 on Forbes Best Franchises to Buy and No. 34 on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500. For more on Freddy's, visit the Newsroom and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information about development opportunities, visit https://freddysfranchising.com/.

Media Contact:

Paige Alonso | Senior Account Executive

[email protected]

954.893.9150

SOURCE Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Related Links

http://www.freddysusa.com


AUSTIN, Minn., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced the recipients of this year's two $10,000 Hormel Heroes Scholarships. The Hormel Heroes Scholarship Program was created by Hormel Foods to support students with military backgrounds pursuing degrees in culinary arts or a foodservice management related program and is administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

"Hormel Foods is honored to support our military members who have given and sacrificed so much for our nation," said Mark Ourada, group vice president of Foodservice at Hormel Foods. "These scholarships are a small way to show our appreciation for students who serve or have served our country and are pursuing careers in the foodservice industry. It's our pleasure to congratulate this year's scholarship recipients, Christina Gilman and Rose Picard. Thank you both for your dedicated service and best of luck in all your future endeavors."

Gilman is a sergeant serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a 3381 foodservice specialist aboard Camp Pendleton. She is in her second year of her bachelor's program at American Public University majoring in hospitality management with a concentration in foodservice and a certificate in restaurant operations.

"My goal is to own property in Virginia, where I will operate a vineyard venue with the vision to create a sustainable long-term family legacy. I envision my family working alongside me and elevating our family name with hard work, passion, dedication, clarity and perseverance," said Gilman. "My first job was working at a family-owned authentic Mexican restaurant, where I started as a hostess at 15. I worked my way up to waitress when I turned 18, graduated high school and moved out independently. I learned the meaning of hard work in this family restaurant, and it set the tone for what I have done as a foodservice specialist in the military.

Picard is a military veteran who served as a sergeant first class in the U.S. Air Army. She is currently in her third year of her bachelor's program at The Culinary Institute of America majoring in baking and pastry arts. She is working toward her goal of being a baking instructor of her own.

"My career goals are to be a baking and pastry instructor at a college or university. I have had the opportunity in the Army to instruct the young soldiers coming up as 92G (foodservice specialists)," Picard said. "I fell in love with teaching when I was an advanced culinary instructor at Fort Lee, Virginia. This scholarship from the prestigious National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation would help me achieve this lifelong goal. I am humbled as I reflect on my life and see myself accepted to the Culinary Institute of America."

"On Veterans Day, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is proud to celebrate our nation's heroes through continued education and training as they transition back to civilian life," said Rob Gifford, president of the NRAEF. "Thanks to our partners at Hormel Foods, we can offer veterans the financial support they need to improve their skills and advance their careers. Congratulations to Christina and Rose  we're proud to have you join us as NRAEF scholars."

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $10 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION (NRAEF)

As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation's mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry's training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Employer and Advance today's and tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart  a high school career and technical educational program; Restaurant Ready  partnering with community-based organizations to provide justice-involved youth with skills and training and job opportunities; Military  helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship Project  a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Foundation (AHLAF) providing a hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry. For more information about the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

Contact: Dean Peters

507-434-6352

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

Related Links

http://www.hormelfoods.com

http://www.hormel.com


NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 10, 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 Independence Holding Company (NYSE: IHC) to Geneve Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the proposed transaction, shareholders of Independence will receive $57.00 in cash for each share of Independence 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-ihc/ 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


DUBLIN, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market Research Report by Voltage, Current, Type, and Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market size was estimated at USD 19.90 billion in 2020, is expected to reach USD 21.30 billion in 2021, and projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.36% reaching USD 30.49 billion by 2026.



Market Statistics

The report provides market sizing and forecast across five major currencies - USD, EUR GBP, JPY, and AUD. It helps organization leaders make better decisions when currency exchange data is readily available. In this report, the years 2018 and 2019 are considered historical years, 2020 as the base year, 2021 as the estimated year, and years from 2022 to 2026 are considered the forecast period.

Competitive Strategic Window

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.



FPNV Positioning Matrix

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.



Market Share Analysis

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.



Competitive Scenario

The Competitive Scenario provides an outlook analysis of the various business growth strategies adopted by the vendors. The news covered in this section deliver valuable thoughts at the different stage while keeping up-to-date with the business and engage stakeholders in the economic debate. The competitive scenario represents press releases or news of the companies categorized into Merger & Acquisition, Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership, New Product Launch & Enhancement, Investment & Funding, and Award, Recognition, & Expansion. All the news collected help vendor to understand the gaps in the marketplace and competitor's strength and weakness thereby, providing insights to enhance product and service.



Company Usability Profiles

The report profoundly explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market, including ABB Ltd., Arteche Group, General Cable Technologies Corporation, Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd, KEC International Ltd, Nanjing Daji Iron Tower Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Nexans S.A., Prysmian S.p.A., Shandong DingChang Tower Co. Ltd., Siemens AG, Southwire Company, Sterling and Wilson Pvt. Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd, and Zhejiang Shengda Steel Tower Co. Ltd.



The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments



The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market?

Key Topics Covered:



1. Preface

2. Research Methodology



3. Executive Summary



4. Market Overview

4.1. Introduction

4.2. Cumulative Impact of COVID-19



5. Market Dynamics

5.1. Introduction

5.2. Drivers

5.2.1. Growing inclusion of renewable power resources

5.2.2. Up-gradation of aging grid infrastructure

5.2.3. Demand for high quality and uninterrupted electricity

5.2.4. High resistance to corrosion and low sagging ability

5.2.5. Advancements in HVDC transmission to transfer power over long distances

5.3. Restraints

5.3.1. Upfront cost of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems

5.3.2. High safety risk as it exposed to surrounding

5.4. Opportunities

5.4.1. Rapid urbanization and industrialization

5.4.2. Grid modernization and the smart grid projects

5.4.3. Rising underground and submarine power transmission

5.5. Challenges

5.5.1. Vulnerable to lightning strikes

5.5.2. Continuous pathways for the line creates obstructions



6. Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market, by Voltage

6.1. Introduction

6.2. 221 kV to 660 kV

6.3. > 660 kV

6.4. 132 kV to 220 kV



7. Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market, by Current

7.1. Introduction

7.2. HVAC

7.3. HVDC



8. Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market, by Type

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Power Transmission Cables

8.3. Power Transmission Towers



9. Americas Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market

9.1. Introduction

9.2. Argentina

9.3. Brazil

9.4. Canada

9.5. Mexico

9.6. United States



10. Asia-Pacific Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market

10.1. Introduction

10.2. Australia

10.3. China

10.4. India

10.5. Indonesia

10.6. Japan

10.7. Malaysia

10.8. Philippines

10.9. Singapore

10.10. South Korea

10.11. Taiwan

10.12. Thailand



11. Europe, Middle East & Africa Power Transmission Towers & Cables Market

11.1. Introduction

11.2. France

11.3. Germany

11.4. Italy

11.5. Netherlands

11.6. Qatar

11.7. Russia

11.8. Saudi Arabia

11.9. South Africa

11.10. Spain

11.11. United Arab Emirates

11.12. United Kingdom



12. Competitive Landscape

12.1. FPNV Positioning Matrix

12.1.1. Quadrants

12.1.2. Business Strategy

12.1.3. Product Satisfaction

12.2. Market Ranking Analysis

12.3. Market Share Analysis, by Key Player

12.4. Competitive Scenario

12.4.1. Merger & Acquisition

12.4.2. Agreement, Collaboration, & Partnership

12.4.3. New Product Launch & Enhancement

12.4.4. Investment & Funding

12.4.5. Award, Recognition, & Expansion



13. Company Usability Profiles

13.1. ABB Ltd.

13.2. Arteche Group

13.3. General Cable Technologies Corporation

13.4. Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd.

13.5. KEC International Ltd.

13.6. Nanjing Daji Iron Tower Manufacturing Co. Ltd.

13.7. Nexans S.A.

13.8. Prysmian S.p.A.

13.9. Shandong DingChang Tower Co. Ltd.

13.10. Siemens AG

13.11. Southwire Company

13.12. Sterling and Wilson Pvt. Ltd.

13.13. Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.

13.14. Zhejiang Shengda Steel Tower Co. Ltd.



14. Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uvlw2t

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

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


"As researchers, our discoveries are ultimately defined by the tools we use to make those discoveries," he says. "My lab is trying to come up with new ways to view biology, so that we can uncover things that were previously inaccessible."

Ramani is now joining Gladstone Institutes as an assistant investigator. He and his team will develop new molecular tools to study gene regulation.

"Vijay is an extremely talented and creative scientist," says Katie Pollard, PhD, director of the Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology. "The technologies developed in his lab are already being used to study various diseases at Gladstone. We're delighted to have such a highly innovative and collaborative colleague on board."

Ramani is also an assistant professor in the department of biochemistry and biophysics at UC San Francisco (UCSF). A rising scientific star, he recently received a coveted NIH Director's New Innovator Award that supports high-risk, high-reward research. In 2020, he was also selected as one of Forbes' "30 under 30" in health care.

Measuring the Unmeasurable

Ramani joins Gladstone after having spent 3 years as a Sandler Fellow at UCSF. This program provides an opportunity for exceptionally promising young researchers who recently completed their graduate studies to run their own lab, skipping the traditional step of first undertaking a years-long postdoctoral fellowship.

Today, his lab is focused on developing new technologies to understand gene regulation, or how cells interpret their DNA.

In each cell in your body, only a fraction of your genes (or segments of DNA) are active at once. The active genes produce proteins, which in turn determine the cell's function. Gene regulation is the process by which a cell determines which genes are active, and which are inactive.

To study this complex process in millions of individual cells, many labs use a technique called single-cell analysis. Ramani began using this tool during his PhD at the University of Washington in the laboratory of single-cell biology pioneer, Jay Shendure, MD, PhD. But he soon began to hope for an even better technology.

"When I started my lab, I wanted to find new ways to effectively measure things that were previously unmeasurable," he says. "So, my team and I started to develop tools that capture another aspect beyond the single-cell resolution: we analyze cells at the level of single molecules."

Ramani conducts large-scale experiments that take advantage of an emerging technology called single-molecule long-read sequencing.

On any single strand of DNA, many molecular events are happening that dictate, for example, whether a gene might be active in bone cells or inactive in skin cells. To identify these events, scientists essentially cut the strand into pieces before running it through a machine known as a sequencer.

This method allows scientists to observe individual molecular events, but not to determine whether two events spaced far apart along the DNA strand are happening simultaneously. For this, they need to average results over many cells, and those averages aren't necessarily an accurate representation of what happens in single cells, Ramani explains.

Instead, the single-molecule analysis used in his lab enables him to look at a long, intact strand of DNA carrying multiple molecular events, and to do so for large numbers of individual cells at once.

"We're increasing the amount of information we can get out of a single experiment," says Ramani. "We can also capture the context in which the molecular events occur, which ends up being really important for understanding how genes are dysregulated in disease."

Using this technology, Ramani is developing new tools to study how genes are regulated, how DNA is packaged in the nucleus of a cell, and ultimately, how all these processes dictate whether a cell is healthy or diseased.

"You would think that we would have a better understanding of how these fundamental processes work, but in many cases, it's still a black box of biology," he says. "That's why we're passionate about uncovering this basic scienceit's such an interesting problem."

It's also important, he adds, to work in models that have a real chance of making an impact on our health. He has so far been focused on cancer, but will expand to other diseases through collaborations with Gladstone scientists, including cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

Ramani is also dedicated to developing methods that can be used by the entire scientific community.

"We want to develop new molecular tools that other researchers can use to discover their own new biology in their own systems," he says.

Pushing the Limits of Technology

Given all the data generated by the single-molecule tools used in Ramani's lab, his team needs to be trained as both wet lab biologists and dry lab biologists.

"We consider ourselves a damp lab," he says. "Everyone needs to have computational expertise and to know how to run experiments on the bench. It makes for a pretty collaborative environment because we're all learning from each other."

This interest in combining disciplines started in college for Ramani. At Princeton University, he took a revolutionary course at the time that brought together chemistry, computer science, biology, and physics.

But his love of science started much earlier, when he was growing up in New Jersey. His father is a computer scientist and computer engineer, with degrees in metallurgical and computer engineering. His mother has a bachelor's degree in chemistry.

"I grew up in a household that was pretty STEM focused," Ramani recalls. "Then in high school, I shadowed a graduate student at Rutgers University, and even submitted a paper to become a semi-finalist at an Intel Science Talent Search competition. That gave me some introduction to research."

Before his PhD, to confirm he truly wanted a career in science, he worked as a research intern at a biotechnology company called Sangamo Biosciences, one of the places where genome editing was pioneered. Working in their technology group got him excited about the potential of genomics, and motivated him to go to graduate school.

"I wanted to try something completely different and think of new measurement technologies," says Ramani. "I had great mentors as a graduate student who were real pioneers in the study of gene regulation, and they encouraged me to keep thinking big and continue to develop methods, so that got me on my current path."

And that path is now taking him to Gladstone, across the street from his previous lab at UCSF's Mission Bay campus.

"Gladstone is equally focused on basic science and on translating that science, and finds ways to support both," says Ramani. "I'm thrilled to join a group of spectacular scientists at the forefront of their field and with world-leading computational expertise. It seems like a perfect place for us, as technologists, to come in and really make a big impact."

At the end of the day, what continues to motivate Ramani is the challenge of finding better ways to solve outstanding scientific puzzles.

"I wake up in the morning thinking about the limitations in our measurement of science, and I try to figure out, 'How can we measure X?'," he says. "Of course, that's tightly linked to why we should measure 'X' in the first place, so we spend a lot of time in the lab discussing why something is still an outstanding question. I think that really excites me, and I hope to get the trainees super excited about it as well."

About Vijay Ramani

Vijay Ramani, PhD, is an assistant investigator at Gladstone Institutes and an assistant professor of biochemistry and biophysics at UC San Francisco (UCSF).

Prior to joining Gladstone, he was a Sandler Faculty Fellow at UCSF. Ramani holds a bachelor's of science and engineering from Princeton University, and a PhD in genome sciences from the University of Washington, where he trained under Jay Shendure, MD, PhD.

His expertise is in genomic technology development, single-cell sequencing, gene regulation, chromatin structure, dosage compensation, and RNA biology. His current goals include single-cell and single-molecule technology development, with the aim to understand the impact of metabolism on pluripotency, cancer, and other diseases.

Ramani received a 2021 NIH Director's New Innovator Award that supports high-risk, high-reward research. He was also selected as one of Forbes' "30 under 30" in health care in 2020.

About Gladstone Institutes

To ensure our work does the greatest good, Gladstone Institutes focuses on conditions with profound medical, economic, and social impactunsolved diseases. Gladstone is an independent, nonprofit life science research organization that uses visionary science and technology to overcome disease. It has an academic affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco.

Media Contact: Julie Langelier, Associate Director, Communications, [email protected], 415.734.5000

SOURCE Gladstone Institutes

Related Links

https://gladstone.org


TEL AVIV, Israel, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MobileODT, an Israeli Digital Health FemTech company that produces the latest innovation in cervical cancer screening, is proud to announce that their EVA cervical screening technology is supporting a national cervical cancer screening project in India. This will be the most comprehensive and largest cervical cancer screening program performed in India, to date.

MobileODT EVA VisualCheck AI Technology for Cervical Cancer Screening

The project will be run by Karkinos Healthcare in strategic collaboration with GenWorks Health, MobileODT's exclusive distributor in India. The partnership will adopt the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA test for early detection of cervical cancer among women followed by standard diagnosis and treatment.

Together, Karkinos Healthcare and GenWorks will provide primary screening through HPV DNA tests, and confirmatory diagnoses through colposcopy at the clinics and hospitals. The colposcopy exam will be performed using the MobileODT EVA device.

"At GenWorks, our partnerships are compelling for connecting the healthcare ecosystem for affordable access with best-in-class solutions that can provide early healthcare services. We believe our partnership with Karkinos and MobileODT truly complements our strategy." said Mr. S Ganesh Prasad, founder, MD and CEO of GenWorks Health

Cervical cancer affects 1 in every 79 Indian women, with India contributing to nearly 1/5th of all cervical cancer cases in the world, according to the GLOBOCAN report published by the International Agency on Cancer Research (IARC).

The tests would be made available to all women between the ages of 30 and 65 years, across India. The collaboration will aim to provide the services in every town in India.

"We are extremely proud that the EVA technology has been selected to be part of this endeavor together with our partner Genworks, in this effort to eliminate cervical cancer in India. This is one of the largest national programs of its kind" says Leon Boston, MobileODT's CEO," our unique algorithm, allows an unprecedented screening at scale, that can be life saving for many women around the world".

About MobileODT:

MobileODT helps clinicians utilize the power of AI on its portable medical devices to enhance women's health. MobileODT's EVA System combines advanced imaging, data and software applications, to expand access to quality care in over 30 countries. The EVA System's smart mobile colposcope is used by clinicians worldwide for colposcopy, general gynecology, telegynecology, and forensic imaging. MobileODT is integrating its AI in approved markets to provide powerful clinical decision support to healthcare providers at the point-of-care. For further info please visit mobileodt.com.

About GenWorks:

GenWorks Health aims to make quality care available across the country. The first start-up of its kind, GenWorks was created to bring the opportunity of quality healthcare to the farthest and remotest corners of the country. In its pursuit to provide accessible, affordable and efficient healthcare GenWorks with its vison 'At work for a healthier India' has created digital platforms to fulfil its core purpose. In addition, it has collaborated with world leaders in healthcare technology to provide solutions to chronic, non-communicable diseases that India is ridden with.

GenWorks has adopted the Care Cycle approach in the pursuit of its vision. This has enabled it to offer solutions from diagnosis to treatment in clinical care segments thereby enabling greater access, affordability, and efficiency.

Contact:

Olga Rosenman

[email protected]

SOURCE MobileODT
"I've had the great pleasure of knowing Jonathan for many years. I have been incredibly impressed by his character, curiosity, intellect, and drive. We are delighted to have Jonathan join Newfront and immediately add to our culture while creating immense value for our Real Estate clients," said Brian Hetherington, President at Newfront. "Jonathan's leadership will enable us to expand in key industry segments while modernizing the brokerage experience."

"I'm very grateful and honored to join the Newfront Insurance team as the leader of the National Real Estate Practice," said Mr. Naranjo. "Newfront is powering the next generation of innovation and improving the client experience through proprietary technology. I am most excited to join because Newfront is a dynamic company that invests in the growth and success of its people while putting company culture first." Mr. Naranjo is based out of San Francisco, California, and serves clients throughout the Nation with a high concentration in California.

About Newfront

Newfront is transforming the delivery of risk management, employee experience, insurance, and retirement solutions by building the modern insurance platform. Transparent data delivered real-time translates into a lower total cost of risk and greater insights. Newfront makes insurance work for you.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Newfront has offices throughout California, Washington, Illinois, and New York and is home to over 600 employees who serve clients across the United States and globally. Learn more about building the Modern Insurance Experience here.

Contact: Alizeh Iqbal, [email protected]

SOURCE Newfront Insurance

Related Links

https://www.newfrontinsurance.com/


VALLETTA, Malta, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On 11 November 2021, Kindred Group plc (Kindred) has signed a new EUR 216.7 million multi-currency revolving credit facility agreement with two Nordic banks. The new credit facility has an uncommitted accordion feature that permits, under certain conditions, an increase in total commitments up to EUR 325 million. The facility is committed for a tenor of three years, with a one-year extension option.

The loan proceeds will be used to refinance the amounts outstanding under Kindred's existing facilities agreement and for the Company's general corporate purposes. The new facility will increase Kindred's financial flexibility and support Kindred's growth initiatives and long-term strategy.

This disclosure contains information that Kindred Group is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU nr 596/2014). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person, on 11-11-2021 12:00 CET.

CONTACT:

For more information:

Patrick Kortman, Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations, +46 723 877 438

Linda Lyth, Investor Relations Manager, +46 767 681 337

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/r/kindred-signs-a-new-eur-216-7-million-revolving-credit-facility,c3451532

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/824/3451532/1494642.pdf Press release - New revolving credit facility https://news.cision.com/kindred-group/i/kindred-,c2978714 Kindred

SOURCE Kindred Group
RESTON, Va., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, was recently awarded a new prime contract to continue supporting the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) within the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families. The single award contract has a maximum value of $76 million and a period of performance of approximately five years if all options are exercised. Work will primarily be performed in Maryland.

"It's a privilege to continue supporting the Office of Child Support Enforcement's work to encourage parental responsibility and support for children," said Liz Porter, Leidos Health Group president. "Our expert team looks forward to providing OCSE with innovative and modernized solutions to enhance their capabilities to ensure that children across the country receive the support they need and deserve."

Through this contract, Leidos will continue to support OCSE's Federal Parent Locater Service (FPLS) with operations and maintenance, continuation of system development and enhancement, data center operations and a disaster recovery center. The FPLS is a national computer matching system that obtains address and employer information, as well as data on child support cases, compares them and returns matches to the appropriate states. This helps state and local child support enforcement agencies locate non-custodial parents and putative fathers for the purposes of establishing custody and visitation rights, establishing and enforcing child support obligations, investigating parental kidnapping, and processing adoption or foster care cases.

Leidos has held a contract to support OCSE since 1996.

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]

Brandon VerVelde

(571) 526-6257

[email protected]

SOURCE Leidos

Related Links

http://www.leidos.com


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Morpheus Space , leading provider of spacecraft electric propulsion systems, today announced the launch of the SPHERE ecosystem, as well as a new proprietary propellant and rebrand. A first-of-its-kind ecosystem, SPHERE was created to power end-to-end autonomous constellation operations.

A natural extension of the devices and systems that brought Morpheus Space to market in 2018, SPHERE will act as a command center for all things propulsion. As the company evolves from a propulsion system manufacturer into an overarching space mobility provider, the team is seeking to lower the barriers of entry into the space industry through its unique pricing model and cutting-edge tech integration. The following products and features have been integrated into Morpheus' platform to make up the SPHERE ecosystem and provide customers with a seamless experience:

SPHERE Go : The world's most scalable and efficient electric propulsion systems, our well known MultiFEEP & NanoFEEP

: The world's most scalable and efficient electric propulsion systems, our well known MultiFEEP & NanoFEEP SPHERE Direct : A plug-and-play platform agnostic autopilot powered by on-demand use

: A plug-and-play platform agnostic autopilot powered by on-demand use SPHERE Flow : A mission design software-as-a-service (SaaS) that enables constellations to become ever-changing to fulfill dynamic objectives

: A mission design software-as-a-service (SaaS) that enables constellations to become ever-changing to fulfill dynamic objectives SPHERE Safe : A cost model that enables on-demand use of active satellite hardware and extra features and hardware-as-a-service (HaaS)

: A cost model that enables on-demand use of active satellite hardware and extra features and hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) SPHERE Gateway: A web application that automates the whole customer journey from first product exposure to satellite operations

"The approach to scalable hardware for the space industry has led us to push for new, innovative ways to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of our customers," said Daniel Bock, CEO and co-founder of Morpheus Space. "Customers kept asking us the same three questions: how do we move in space? Where do we go? How do we get there? To answer those questions, we created SPHERE, expanding on our application as a mobility provider."

To help power SPHERE, Morpheus is unveiling its new proprietary alloy propellant. Completely unique to the industry, the propellant is non-toxic and non-corrosive with absolutely no transport or handling restrictions. There is a 50% improvement in thrust in comparison to the previously used Gallium, resulting in significant upgrade in thrust to power ratio and total impulse. With this new propellant, Morpheus' systems can provide customers continuous thrust for more than five years with unmatched efficiency.

As Morpheus' technology and product offering continues to evolve, its brand is growing in tandem. In addition to the launch of SPHERE, the company will be debuting completely redesigned brand elements at this year's Space Tech Expo Europe, including logos, colors, fonts and a new tagline. The new logo focuses on the horizon, with bolder fonts and colors  designed to stand out, as well as illuminate. The tagline, "Dreams in Motion" is meant to not only inspire candidates in the field but to capture the role Morpheus is striving to play in industry innovation. The website will be going through a complete upgrade by Early 2022, mirroring its dynamic, interconnected brand and pivotal role in the innovation of the New Space sector.

For more information, visit www.morpheus-space.com .

About Morpheus Space:

Morpheus Space is a leading provider of the most scalable and efficient spacecraft electric propulsion systems. Its technology disrupts the New Space industry by introducing Sphere Flow; a fusion between cutting edge electric propulsion and artificial intelligence enabling truly dynamic constellations. The solution package enables satellite service providers to operate entire constellations as one entity by utilizing the world's smallest and most efficient space propulsion system servicing satellites <1Kg to >1000Kg. The Morpheus Space technology enables each satellite to perform countless orbital maneuvers, which allows the possibility of "objective first" mission planning with 100% automation. This provides a never-before-seen flexibility of satellite networks that is exploited by the A.I. to optimize the constellations and fulfill customer objectives. For more information, visit www.morpheus-space.com .

Press contact:

N6A on behalf of Morpheus Space

[email protected]

SOURCE Morpheus Space

Related Links

http://www.morpheus-space.com


WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), the oldest and largest independent kidney patient organization, honors Veterans Day 2021 and National Veterans and Military Families Month by renewing its pledge to expand grassroots efforts in support of greater funding for kidney disease research and policies that accelerate innovations and access to new kidney diagnostics, biologics, and devices for the nation's veterans. AAKP is staunchly committed to making veterans' voices heard in all national kidney care discussions and defends choice and access to the care veterans have earned and are legally entitled to at the VA and elsewhere.

AAKP launched new research and advocacy capacities targeted toward the veteran community in 2017 with the launch of its Veterans Health Initiative (VHI), which was announced at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs' 2017 Kidney Innovation Summit. Through the AAKP Veterans Health Initiative , based within the AAKP Center for Patient Engagement and Advocacy, the VHI monitors and advances policies aimed at safeguarding the highest standards in kidney care, treatment, and consumer care choice for veterans managing kidney diseases both inside and outside the VA medical system.

AAKP membership has a deep representation among veterans across all U.S. Armed Services, including veterans with recent military service during the Global War on Terror and extending back through the Gulf War, Cold War, Vietnam, Korea, and World War II. The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the veteran population is estimated to be 34 percent higher than in the general population due to demographic differences and the existence of significant co-morbidities associated with CKD in the veteran populationdiabetes mellitus and hypertension. It is also estimated that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs currently cares for over 600,000 veterans with kidney disease1. AAKP's VHI offers a number of educational resources for veterans and their families navigating the kidney care ecosystem and other issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic ( Watch OnDemand) .

Edward V. Hickey, III, a USMC veteran and kidney patient who serves as AAKP Vice President and the Chair of AAKP's Veterans Health Initiative stated, "For fifty years, AAKP has been heavily involved in veterans' health in part because of the large numbers of veterans who suffer from multiple chronic conditions like kidney diseases as well as acute kidney injuries. The Veterans Administration has been a leader in kidney care innovation throughout its history, and our Veterans Health Initiative supports veterans and the VA by making certain Congressional funding for research and consistent access to cutting-edge treatments are fully available to every veteran. AAKP is honored to work with VA kidney care leaders Dr. Susan Crowley and Dr. Paul Palevsky and their teams because they consistently place veterans and their families at the center of care decisions and are tireless advocates for elevating kidney patients and their insights into policy and medical deliberations both within the VA and across the national landscape."

AAKP and Mr. Hickey recently hosted a discussion on the VA and kidney care innovation during its 46th Annual National Patient Meeting featuring Dr. Paul Palevsky, Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Deputy Director of the VA Kidney Disease and Dialysis Program. Dr. Palevsky is also President of the National Kidney Foundation. Watch the session entitled "Disease Management: Veterans Affairs Responds to Kidney Disease" here.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently named Hickey to an executive committee overseeing new clinical trials to assess cardiovascular outcomes of veterans on dialysis. He is the son, nephew, brother, and father of military veterans. He held senior staff roles on Capitol Hill and under two presidential administrations and is the Director of Staff Attorneys at the international law firm of O'Melveny & Myers. His work in the federal government included multiple positions that intersected with national security and veteran issues. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Hickey was tapped to serve as the Senior Advisor for Homeland Security for the Director of the Office of Personnel Management under President George W. Bush and had a direct role in the establishment of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. DHS was the largest restructuring of federal agencies since World War II and drew heavily upon the veteran's community for critical staffing needs, especially those with high-level security clearances. As Senior Advisor, Ed was also liaison to Veteran Service Organizations nationwide and worked closely with the Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion to protect veterans from illegal federal hiring discrimination, efforts which won him the Silver Helmet Award from AMVETS. For AAKP, Ed provides ongoing expertise on veterans' health concerns to Executive Branch officials and Congressional leaders and is among a team of AAKP leaders who volunteer as kidney research program analysts in support of the U.S. Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP).

AAKP is nationally and internationally known for its aggressive advocacy on behalf of all kidney patient consumers, including U.S. veterans facing this condition, and an individual's right to treatment care choice in consultation with the doctors they choose to care for them. AAKP defines high-quality kidney care as timely patient access, without interference, to prevention and treatment innovations that empower patients to remain healthy, independent, and fully able to pursue their aspirations, including meaningful work and a career, homeownership, starting and supporting a family, and a secure retirement. AAKP utilizes sophisticated social media and grassroots technologies to engage patients, veterans, allied medical professionals, and the public and to voice their concerns among policymakers.

In 2019, AAKP declared 2020-2030 The Decade of the Kidney to prioritize investments in kidney disease research and to support the development of new diagnostics, devices, and biologics to combat the disease, which impacts nearly 40 million Americans, including 400,000 on dialysis and over 100,000 waiting for a kidney transplant. Since 2018, AAKP has organized the largest non-partisan voter registration drive within the kidney stakeholder community, KidneyVoters , which aims to identify 500,000 KidneyVoters by 2024. Both The Decade of the Kidney and KidneyVoters efforts are designed to encourage elected and appointed leaders nationwide that kidney patients and their families expect major changes to status quo kidney care, which is currently characterized by outdated technologies, in-center kidney care, and high mortality rates.

To learn more about AAKP's VHI, visit https://aakp.org/veterans-health-initiative/ , or if you are a veteran with kidney disease, sign-up to receive VHI alerts at https://bit.ly/AAKPVHIAlerts . You may also make a tax-deductible donation to support the work of the VHI at https://bit.ly/AAKPVHIDonate .

Source:

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Veterans Affairs (VA) Activities: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/advisory-coordinating-committees/kuh-icc/kicc/federal-ckd-matrix/veterans-affairs-va-activities

About the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP): Since 1969, AAKP has been the premier patient-led organization driving policy discussions on kidney patient consumer care choice and treatment innovation. By 1973, AAKP patients had collaborated with the U.S. Congress and White House to begin American dialysis coverage for any person suffering kidney failure, a taxpayer-funded effort that has saved over one million lives. In 2018, AAKP established the largest U.S. kidney voter registration program, KidneyVoters. Over the past decade, AAKP patients have helped gain lifetime transplant drug coverage for kidney transplant recipients (2020); new patient-centered policies via the White House Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health (2019); new job protections for living organ donors from the U.S. Department of Labor (2018); and Congressional legislation allowing HIV positive organ transplants for HIV positive patients (2013). Follow AAKP on social media at @kidneypatient on Facebook, @kidneypatients on Twitter, and @kidneypatients on Instagram, and visit www.aakp.org for more information.

Sources

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Veterans Affairs (VA) Activities - https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/advisory-coordinating-committees/kuh-icc/kicc/federal-ckd-matrix/veterans-affairs-va-activities

CONTACT:

Jennifer Rate

Marketing and Communications Manager

(813) 400-2394

[email protected]

SOURCE American Association of Kidney Patients

Related Links

http://www.aakp.org


The new N1 features Rebeccatech's patented radio-frequency microelectromechanical system (RFMEMS), technology that was developed through a research partnership with the University of California at Irvine and National Science Foundation i-corps program in 2019. The advanced RFMEMS technology uses hundreds of microelectrodes that work together to create an electromagnetic field capable of reaching 2-3 mm beneath the skin, with zero burning, heating or discomfort.

The N1 has 384 independent titanium MICRO-RF dots (128 more than the previous model). The finer MICRO-RF dots allow for more precise delivery of the RF energy in an elliptical egg-shaped energy field that optimizes the polarity of the energy between the top and bottom of the epidermis. The result is better skin tightening, erasing and lightning - achieving clearer jaw lines, nasal folds, crows feet and forehead wrinkles.

Further enhancing the N1's delivery of RF energy to the skin is that all of the MICRO-RF dots have both embedded RF energy and feedback sensors. The dots deliver precise RF energy to the skin at the depth of the corium layer while the feedback sensors can detect and maintain the optimal temperature for the skin, allowing users to keep your skin's natural shield. The ability to maintain a comfortable temperature also allows for sensitive skin users to use the N1 without worry while also allowing busy users to take and use the N1 on the go. Now you can easily keep up with your routine - anywhere, anytime.

The upgraded black enamel RF panel adds increased surface area while providing increased skin comfort and temperature control. The larger surface area of the RF panel contributes to better results for reducing facial edema, lightning under eye bags, shrinking facial pores and even lightening stretch marks - perfect for post pregnancy recovery.

N1 Key Features:

Patented RFMEMS radio frequency delivery

384 Independent titanium MIRCO-RF dots

Ceramic enameled RF panel

120 MHz intelligent chipset for optimal thermal control

Bluetooth connectivity with Nebulyft dedicated Mobile APP (iOS)

Bathroom friendly IP67 water resistance

One-touch button with LED for intelligent treatment control & monitoring

Vibration and sound alerts for easy mode switching & powering on/off

"We are thrilled to release the N1 as it takes us one step closer to our goal to create the ultimate anti-aging solution," says Arthur Zhang, CEO of Nebulyft corporate. "Better results in less time means the N1 delivers professional results at home or on the go, giving our users supreme flexibility and professional results," he added.

The N1 retails for $799 on the Nebulyft website. For more information on the N1 please visit here or connect with Nebulyft on Facebook .

About Rebeccatech

Founded in 2015, when business professionals who aspired to make skincare treatment effective and safe met with scientists and bio-engineers who specialized in radio-frequency microelectromechanical system (RFMEMS) technology at the University of California, Irvine. Traditional high-temperature RF treatments are mainly used at skin care clinics under the supervision of a professional, with "down-time" over two weeks. The Rebeccatech team strives to make a non-invasive solution for everyday use. Supported partially by a National Science Foundation I-corp program, over 300 clinical trials were conducted with successful rejuvenation results. We are changing lives one step at a time, with our small but fierce devices.

CONTACT: Ari Morguelan, [email protected]

SOURCE Nebulyft
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among U.S. Veterans and the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is continuing its long-standing commitment to deliver best-in-class prostate cancer care to Veterans by expanding the VA-PCF New Data Nurse of the Future Pilot Program to nearly all 50 states.

Partnering with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the unique pilot nursing program is a clinical research and training collaboration that focuses on expanding the role of advanced practice registered (APRN) nurses in the genetic services workforce and the delivery of precision oncology patient care.

"As we extend leading-edge precision oncology care to more Veterans through our longstanding partnership with the VA, it's critical to advance the clinical workforce around genetic services," said PCF President and CEO Charles J. Ryan, MD. "Advanced practice nurses completing this new training curriculum will become the unsung heroes of cancer care and play a unique role in the delivery of clinical research and better patient care for Veterans. We remain deeply committed to advancing research, treatment and patient care for America's heroes, and are excited by the growth of this pilot and the potential it holds."

Today's nurses are called to assume more leadership roles, advance their education, and work to the full extent of their license and clinical privileges, and the VA-PCF New Data Nurse of the Future Pilot Program prepares APRNs to integrate cancer genetics into clinical practice, apply advanced practice-level proficiency to cancer risk assessment and case management, and educate and counsel VA patients about genetic testing, targeted therapies and opportunities to participate in precision oncology clinical trials. The pilot will culminate in developing APRNs who will serve Veterans in the VA-PCF network of Centers of Excellence and affiliated sites across the nation. Since its inception a year ago, the VA-PCF New Data Nurse of the Future Pilot Program has enrolled more than 130 nurse registrants from all Veterans Integrated Services Networks in nearly 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In its ongoing commitment to care for Veterans with prostate cancer, PCF is a valuable resource for patients, providing much-needed services, as well as working with the VA in establishing Precision Oncology Centers of Excellence, a dedicated network of centers across the U.S. executing the ambitious mission of improving the care for Veterans by delivering cutting-edge precision treatments to save lives. The goal of precision medicine is to tailor treatments to each patient's cancer based on their unique biology. The precisely targeted treatment reduces toxicities of one-size-fits-all treatments that are unlikely to be effective. Genetic testing, counseling and pioneering clinical trials are among the best care options made possible for Veterans.

An estimated 40,000 patients with prostate cancer will be treated by the VA annually, and with the exponential growth of precision medicine, PCF along with its partner, the VA will tirelessly continue caring for U.S. Veterans with first-rate care.

ABOUT THE PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION: The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research. Founded in 1993 by Mike Milken, PCF has been responsible for raising close to $1 billion in support of cutting-edge research by more than 2,200 research projects at 220 leading cancer centers in 28 countries around the world. Thanks in part to PCF's commitment to ending death and suffering from prostate cancer, the death rate is down by 52 percent and countless more men are alive today as a result. The Prostate Cancer Foundation research now impacts more than 70 forms of human cancer by focusing on immunotherapy, the microbiome, and food as medicine. Learn more at www.pcf.org.

Connect with PCF: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn

SOURCE Prostate Cancer Foundation

Related Links

http://www.pcf.org


"We did it!" said Don Norman, founder of UC San Diego's Design Lab (now retired) and co-founder and Board advisor to the Design Forward Alliance (DFA). "Designers, city officials, and organizations in both the Tijuana and San Diego regions collaborated to make our binational community the World Design Capital for 2024. It shows the power of design as a way of thinking, to address important societal issues, and as a source of innovation for companies, organizations, and educational communities at all levels. We have built a permanent coalition of our communities to address civic and climate challenges, to grow our industrial sectors, and to support a strong culture of cross-border design."

The winning bid is the result of a multi-year effort led by a binational team of designers, innovators and civic leaders to help San Diego-Tijuana showcase its design-driven, innovative culture and economy. The bid campaign, known as HOME 2024 , demonstrates how the San Diego-Tijuana region mobilizes human-centered design to address major global problems like climate change and social inequity through engineering, science, art, architecture and more.

Spearheaded by the Design Forward Alliance (DFA) , UC San Diego Design Lab , and the Burnham Center for Community Advancement (BCCA) , the HOME 2024 bid received broad support from elected officials in the U.S. and Mexico, including the mayors of San Diego and Tijuana.

"The partnership between San Diego and our sister city Tijuana on this effort is indicative of the close relationship between our two cities," San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria said. "Earning this prestigious designation is an opportunity to highlight the unique character of our binational region and gives us the platform to show the world what a border community can do."

The selection by the WDO comes after a rigorous submission and evaluation process. Named a finalist in July 2021, alongside Moscow, Russia, San Diego-Tijuana welcomed the WDO for a three-day site visit in early October 2021 with stops at the UC San Diego's Design and Innovation Building, Balboa Park, Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, Cross Border Express (CBX) and the U.S. Mexico Border, the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT), and several other locations throughout the region.

"In today's socio-economic climate, the WDC designation represents a significant opportunity for us to highlight how cities around the world are leveraging design to reimagine and revitalize their urban spaces post-pandemic," said WDO President Srini Srinivasan. "Through their bid, San Diego-Tijuana presented a culture of cross-border collaboration and the role of both technology and innovation toward building more interconnected communities. These sister cities will provide a unique success story from which city administrations across the world can draw. We are very excited to welcome San Diego-Tijuana into our WDC Network of Cities."

Countless organizations, businesses and volunteers on both sides of the border were instrumental in ensuring San Diego and Tijuana submitted a compelling and thoughtful bid.

"The world knows our two cities as defined by an international border, and the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere," said Tijuana Mayor Montserrat Caballero. "Our designation as a World Design Capital is an opportunity for us to highlight to the world the unique interconnectedness of our region and tell the story of seven million people who live, work, and partner together in exceptional ways."

About the HOME 2024 initiative:

HOME 2024 is the binational initiative by San Diego-Tijuana that won the World Design Capital (WDC) designation for 2024. Centered on the theme of HOME, a community-led team sought to mobilize human-centered design as a way to transform the region, improve quality of life, and bring recognition for the cross-border region as a design-driven, innovation economy.

This multi-year effort is led by a team of designers, innovators, and civic leaders on both sides of the US-Mexico border. The initiative is spearheaded by the Design Forward Alliance , UC San Diego Design Lab , the Burnham Center for Community Advancement and with full support of both governments, including the cities of San Diego and Tijuana. Countless organizations, businesses, and volunteers on both sides of the border have been instrumental in the collaborative effort. For a full list of partners and supporters, please visit the HOME 2024 website .

About World Design Organization

World Design Organization (WDO) is an international non-governmental organization and the international voice for industrial design. We advocate for Design for a Better World, promoting and sharing knowledge of industrial design-driven innovation that enhances the economic, social, cultural, and environmental quality of life. Today, WDO services over 185 member organizations, representing thousands of industrial designers around the world.

About World Design Capital

Designated every two years by the World Design Organization, World Design Capital (WDC) recognizes cities for their effective use of design to drive economic, social, cultural, and environmental development. Through a year-long programme of events, the designated city showcases best practices in sustainable design-led urban policy and innovation that have reinvented their city and improved quality of life. Previous WDCs include Torino (Italy) in 2008, followed by Seoul (South Korea) in 2010, Helsinki (Finland) in 2012, Cape Town (South Africa) in 2014, Taipei (Taiwan, Chinese Taipei) in 2016, Mexico City (Mexico) in 2018 and Lille Metropole (France) in 2020. Valencia (Spain) holds the title for 2022. www.wdo.org/wdc

SOURCE Design Forward Alliance

Related Links

http://www.designforwardsd.com


The New Hires Join to Build Upon Series C Funding and European Expansion to Meet Growing Customer Demand

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sendoso , the leading Sending PlatformTM, today announced it has expanded its C-Suite, leadership, and European HQ team. These key executive hires will support the ongoing expansion of Sendoso's customer and partner base, logistics & supply chain operations, brand, and product innovation. This news comes on the heels of the company's $100 million Series C funding announcement and the opening of its new European headquarters.

"At Sendoso, we embrace those personal touches that go a long way to build valuable relationships with customers and clients," said Kris Rudeegraap, CEO and co-founder of Sendoso. "The momentum we're seeing is exciting, and I am proud to have a team of industry veterans who share our vision for making corporate connections that count and meeting the growing market demand."

The senior executives joining Sendoso are:

Alex Ortiz , Chief Marketing Officer is responsible for global marketing and partner organization and will focus on category leadership, brand strategy, and customer growth. Previously, Ortiz held executive marketing roles at high-growth technology companies including Tray.io, QuanticMind, and Salesforce. He brings more than 20 years of experience in enterprise marketing.

is responsible for global marketing and partner organization and will focus on category leadership, brand strategy, and customer growth. Previously, Ortiz held executive marketing roles at high-growth technology companies including Tray.io, QuanticMind, and Salesforce. He brings more than 20 years of experience in enterprise marketing. Grady Leno , Chief Product Officer comes to the Sendoso team with 25 years of experience. He will drive product strategy and lead product management for the company. Previously, Leno held senior product management roles at companies including goPuff, WorkMarket, Microsoft, and Vonage.

comes to the Sendoso team with 25 years of experience. He will drive product strategy and lead product management for the company. Previously, Leno held senior product management roles at companies including goPuff, WorkMarket, Microsoft, and Vonage. David Ryan , European HQ Lead will lead Sendoso's European expansion and logistics operations, based in Ireland . Prior to joining Sendoso, Ryan spent over 5 years as the Operations, Engineering, and Site lead at Walmart Global Tech based in Dublin . There he scaled the company's e-commerce technology delivery team from the ground up and oversaw its operation. Ryan also held VP positions and was responsible for delivering online services at companies including Jet.com, Electronic Arts, and Orange.

will lead Sendoso's European expansion and logistics operations, based in . Prior to joining Sendoso, Ryan spent over 5 years as the Operations, Engineering, and Site lead at Walmart Global Tech based in . There he scaled the company's e-commerce technology delivery team from the ground up and oversaw its operation. Ryan also held VP positions and was responsible for delivering online services at companies including Jet.com, Electronic Arts, and Orange. Brian Clevenger , Senior Vice President of Corporate Marketing brings over 20 years of leadership experience in building brands, relationships, and entire businesses for both clients and agencies. He will help Ortiz in developing the company's global brand presence and marketing strategy geared towards customer growth and category leadership. Previous to Sendoso, Clevenger was the vice president of corporate marketing at BlackBerry, where he oversaw brand, creative, web, project management and media campaigns. He also held senior creative roles at a number of agencies, including Publicis, Clock Four and Grey Worldwide.

brings over 20 years of leadership experience in building brands, relationships, and entire businesses for both clients and agencies. He will help Ortiz in developing the company's global brand presence and marketing strategy geared towards customer growth and category leadership. Previous to Sendoso, Clevenger was the vice president of corporate marketing at BlackBerry, where he oversaw brand, creative, web, project management and media campaigns. He also held senior creative roles at a number of agencies, including Publicis, Clock Four and Grey Worldwide. William Leeds , Head of Data Science and Data Platform, will lead Sendoso's efforts to evaluate its data, drive adoption of best practices, and develop strategies to enhance and grow the business and its revenue using Data Science and machine learning. Leeds has spent the last ten years leading data teams at Wellio, Stitch Fix, and the Climate Corporation.

Michelle Palleschi , who has been Sendoso's Chief Operating Officer since 2018, as well as Inger Rarick , previously Vice President of Customer Success, have been promoted to President and Senior Vice President, respectively.

Palleschi has been integral to Sendoso's success, helping to build its successful demand generation, account-based, and customer experience programs. Prior to joining the team, Palleschi held senior financial roles at Apple and Cisco for over five and 10 years, respectively. In addition to being a co-founder, Palleschi is also one of the first investors within the company.

Rarick approaches her latest promotion with over 20 years experience in account management, marketing, and customer success with extensive experience in directing strategic operations. She will continue to manage Sendoso's CS team, with a heavy focus on growing and building a world-class customer experience to ensure that Sendoso's customers receive the white glove service they deserve.

Sendoso is a pioneer and a category leader, with more customers (900+), users (20,000+), capital, and employees than any other vendor. It has an acclaimed customer success team that offers consultative advice to businesses on how to build meaningful relationships through personalized engagement strategies. Sendoso customers benefit from the industry's most diverse roster of 30,000 gift options and global warehouses in North America, Europe, and Asia that have handled upwards of 3 million sends in over 165 countries.

About Sendoso

Sendoso, the leading Sending Platform, helps companies stand out by giving them new ways to engage with customers throughout the buyer's journey. By integrating digital and physical sending strategies, companies can increase the effectiveness of their existing go-to-market programs and improve their relationships with customers. Trusted by over 900 companies, Sendoso is an essential part of successful demand generation, account-based, and customer experience programs. Founded in 2016, Sendoso is backed by $152M in venture funding and has a global footprint, with a presence in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Learn more at sendoso.com.

Media Contact:

Gravitate PR for Sendoso

[email protected]

SOURCE Sendoso

Related Links

sendoso.com


View Sample: to know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and how they will impact in coming years.

Vendor Insights

The third-party logistics (3PL) market in Brazil is fragmented in nature due to the presence of several global and regional players. C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., CEVA Logistics AG, DHL International GmbH, DSV Panalpina AS, Kintetsu World Express Inc., Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Nippon Express Co. Ltd., Sankyu Inc., Schenker AG, and Sinotrans Ltd. are some of the dominant vendors featured in the report.

Many global players are entering the 3PL market in Brazil through mergers and acquisitions, which is leading to consolidation in the market. For instance, In March 2020, C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. acquired Prime Distribution Services (Prime), a provider of retail consolidation and value-added warehouse services in North America, from Roadrunner Transportation for USD 225 million.

However, the competition in the 3PL market in Brazil is expected to intensify with the increase in manufacturing and agricultural activities.

Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings. Read Sample Market Research Report .

3PL Market Analysis based on Service

The warehousing segment will provide maximum growth opportunities in the third-party logistics (3PL) market in Brazil during the forecast period. According to our research report, the segment is expected to create maximum revenue in the market through 2025.

The report also offers a detailed analysis of the growth of the market across other service segments such as transportation and others.

Know more about this market's geographical distribution along with the detailed analysis of the top regions. www.technavio.com/report/third-party-logistics-3pl-market-size-in-brazil-industry-analysis

Key Market Trends & Challenges:

The report identifies the introduction of blockchain technology in the logistics industry as the major trend influencing the third-party logistics (3PL) market in Brazil. With the growing need to improve the efficiency and data security in blockchain, 3PL service providers in Brazil are adopting blockchain technology in their operations. The integration of blockchain is also helping them reduce the overhead costs such as the processing of documents significantly. This trend is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of players in the market over the forecast period.

However, the rise in cargo thefts is reducing the growth opportunities for market players in Brazil. Most of the logistics services in Brazil happen through roads, which is increasing the risk of cargo theft. This is compelling 3PL service providers to make significant investments in precautionary safety requirements, such as insurance, which is increasing the overall cost of their services. Also, the fear of cargo thefts is limiting investments in some of the Brazilian states despite the increasing demand.

View free sample for highlights on market Trends & Challenges affecting the third-party logistics (3PL) market.

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3PL Market in US  3PL market in US is segmented by end-user (retail, manufacturing, automotive, food and beverages, and others) and service (transportation, warehousing and distribution, and others).

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Third-Party Logistics Market in Europe  3PL logistics market in Europe is segmented by end-user (manufacturing, retail, consumer goods, healthcare, and others), service (transportation, warehousing and distribution, and others), and geography (Germany, France, UK, Italy, and rest of Europe).

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Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Market In Brazil Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 5.22 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.33 Regional analysis South America and Brazil Performing market contribution Brazil at 100% Key consumer countries Brazil Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc., CEVA Logistics AG, DHL International GmbH, DSV Panalpina AS, Kintetsu World Express Inc., Kuehne + Nagel International AG, Nippon Express Co. Ltd., Sankyu Inc., Schenker AG, and Sinotrans Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, 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.

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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.

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UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Longtime 6abc/WPVI-TV veteran Jim Gardner announced he is dialing back his schedule with Action News and plans to retire at the end of 2022 after more than four decades in broadcast. Earlier today, Gardner informed his colleagues of his decision to reduce his schedule by continuing to anchor the 6 p.m. newscast, with Ducis Rodgers and Meteorologist Cecily Tynan, but no longer anchoring the 11 p.m. newscast. His last late newscast is scheduled for early January. WPVI will announce his replacement in the coming months.

"It's hard to imagine that I have had the opportunity to spend a professional lifetime with colleagues so committed, resourceful and wonderful. They have taught me so much about television journalism and about myself. I am profoundly grateful," said Gardner. "I have spent most of my adult life at Action News, and many of our viewers have grown up and experienced life along with me and the on-air team I've worked side-by-side with. I've been blessed to raise a family here and to be a member of this community over the past 45 years. I feel I have a special relationship with our viewers and the communities we serve, and I plan to continue to enjoy every minute with them over the next year."

Gardner has held the long-tenured position of anchor of Action News at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. since May 11, 1977, after joining WPVI as a reporter and anchor during Noon newscast on June 1, 1976.

Bernie Prazenica, president and general manager of WPVI, shared his thoughts: "For many of us, Jim is the last news voice we hear before ending our day. He has guided us through the good and the bad with calm confidence for more than 40 years, often reassuring us that tomorrow will bring a better day. His presence will be missed by our viewers and by all of us at 6abc. Thankfully, we have another year with him during the 6 p.m. newscast, and we look forward to his continued presence and leadership."

Gardner received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University in 1970. Following his graduation, Gardner worked briefly on the radio at the all-news WINS Radio in New York and later WFAS Radio in White Plains, New York. He began his television broadcast career at WKBW-TV in Buffalo before joining WPVI, where he remained for more than four decades.

About 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia

For over half a century, 6abc/WPVI-TV Philadelphia has been broadcasting to viewers in the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys, an area covering southeastern Pennsylvania, northern and central Delaware and southern New Jersey. As the No. 1 station in Philadelphia for almost 45 years, 6abc Action News delivers local news, information, traffic and weather to more than 3 million homes. Action News captures over half of all Adult 25-54 news viewers on an average day*. In the past year, Action News has won 2,633 out of 2,662 newscasts in Households for a winning percentage of 98.9%.

*Based on April 2020 Nielsen survey

Based on May 2019 - April 2020 Nielsen data

Twitter: https://twitter.com/6abc

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6abcactionnews/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/6abcActionNews/

SOURCE WPVI-TV

Related Links

http://www.wpvi.com


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, November 13th, Haven partnered with Disabled American Veterans Ch. 12, Veterans Cannabis Coalition, and LA NORML to kick off a Veterans Compassion Network at their San Bernardino location.

They will be hosting their first-ever "Veteran Hour" from 8 am-10 am, allowing for participating members to come in during a dedicated time where they can provide them the attention and cannabis education the veteran community deserve. The members will also be awarded free doctors' recommendations in conjunction with Haze.

Haven partnered with Disabled American Veterans Ch. 12, Veterans Cannabis Coalition, and LA NORML to kick off a Veterans Compassion Network at their San Bernardino location. Haven partnered with Veterans Cannabis Coalition and DAV Ch. 12 in San Bernardino to help veterans gain access to medicinal cannabis

This compassion program utilizes California SB-34 cannabis donations to provide medical cannabis to veterans needing treatment. The compassion program will help address the growing crisis of suicide and overdose death amongst veterans while also delivering the necessary alternative medicine needed to tackle the issue of PTSD and chronic pain management.

Additionally, this Veteran Compassion Network is designed to provide cannabis education to its members and allow them access to the vast assortment of cannabis products that they may not have been able to use for treatment otherwise. Haven has always emphasized cannabis education and takes great pride in teaching all of its members and customers about the many benefits of cannabis.

"It was important for Haven to do something impactful for those who have served our great country on Veterans Day weekend," says Mike Cuccia. "The General Manager of our San Bernardino store, Nick, is a veteran himself and is a great representation of how cannabis and our veteran community are such a valuable partnership. We are ecstatic to be able to support our vets on a monthly basis moving forward and make sure that they have continued access to the cannabis education and products that they need."

While this is the first Veteran Hour and is being held in honor of Veteran's Day, Haven believes that our veterans deserve access to this type of program year-round and is committed to running this Compassion Program monthly to continue supporting our veterans and also increase its member count to allow for as many veterans to gain access to cannabis as possible.

The compassion program has turned cannabis donations into an art form. If you're looking for more education information or what strains best suit your needs, visit myhavenstores.com .

About Haven

The Haven dispensaries throughout Southern California are designed to provide a community that connects cannabis customers, patients, retailers, doctors, and brands. The company was established in 2008 and has continually updated to ensure that its partners and customers continuously get exclusive and competitive deals. Additionally, haven provides online orders for pickups and deliveries from all locations, allowing customers to enjoy hundreds of California's leading brands. To learn more about the company, please visit the Haven Cannabis Dispensary.

Mike Cuccia - Community Development

[email protected]

949-791-9055

SOURCE Myhavenstores.com
TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- WWC Global, a federally focused, woman-owned management consulting firm, was recognized by U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh as one of this year's recipients of the HIRE Vets Medallion Award. It was presented as part of a ceremony yesterday, leading up to Veterans Day today.

The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is the only federal award program that recognizes employers who successfully recruit, hire, and retain veterans.

"Our veteran workforce is key to our success as a firm," said Lauren Weiner, CEO of WWC Global. "They are fiercely dedicated to putting good government into practice, our company's motto. On this Veterans Day, we celebrate their contributions, the sacrifices they made while in uniform, and their commitment to our country."

Recipients of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award meet rigorous employment criteria including veteran hiring and retention percentages, availability of veteran-specific resources, leadership programming, and human resource efforts. Approximately 1,400 employers have earned a HIRE Vets Medallion Award since 2018. More information is available here.

With over 300 employees in more than 30 contract locations, spanning four continents and 13 time zones, WWC Global is the largest woman-owned federal management consulting firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida. With over 300 employees in more than 30 contract locations, spanning four continents and 13 time zones, WWC Global is the largest woman-owned federal management consulting firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida. To honor Veterans Day this year, WWC Global has made a financial donation to the USO, a leading charitable organization serving active duty service members, veterans, and military families.

About WWC Global

WWC Global is a federally focused, woman-owned management consulting firm with a wide portfolio of clients including the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of State, U.S. Agency for International Development, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The firm's mission is to help federal agencies put good government principles into practice. Implementing a proven series of program management techniques, carrying out statistical and qualitative analysis, identifying effective metrics, and utilizing performance measurement tools with outcome-based qualitative data, WWC Global provides exemplary client service to surpass mission completion objectives. For more information, visit wwcglobal.com.

About the HIRE Vets Medallion Program

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. The 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Award application period will open to employers on January 31, 2022. For more information about the program and the application process, visit HIREVets.gov. There are different awards for large employers (500-plus employees), medium employers (51-499 employees), and small employers (50 or fewer employees). Additionally, there are two award tiers: platinum and gold.

SOURCE WWC Global

Related Links

http://www.wwcglobal.com


ALBANY, N.Y., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The increasing use of xanthate in the extraction of various minerals or materials such as zinc, lead, metal, sulfur, and others is expected to attract extensive growth opportunities in the xanthate market during the forecast period of 2021-2031. Furthermore, the rising popularity of xanthate in rubber processing and agrochemicals application is projected to ensure promising growth.

Xanthates are water-soluble chemicals prominently used in the mining industry. They are also used for manufacturing of cellulose film and rayon. In addition, they are used as a collector for sulfide minerals extraction. These factors help increase the growth prospects of the xanthate market to a considerable extent.

Transparency Market Research (TMR) has conducted an extensive research on various factors related to the growth of the xanthate market. The analysts at TMR expect the global market for xanthate to expand at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period. The global xanthate market is estimated to cross US$ 874.3 Bn by 2031.

Apart from mining, companies in the xanthate market are striving to expand their business streams in other sectors too. Xanthate is gaining prominence in the manual emission estimation technique for gold ore processing. Furthermore, xanthate is also being used extensively in the inhibition of fertilizer nitrogen transformation and color development for image-recording applications. These factors are adding value to the growth trajectory of the xanthate market. In addition, the demand for sulfur extraction has increased phenomenally over the years. This factor will have a massive impact on the growth of the xanthate market, as it is used as a collector material due to its floating property.

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Key Findings of Report

Mining Industry Ensures Steady Revenue for Xanthate Market

Sodium ethyl xanthate is being used on a large scale in mining activities carried around the world. The use of sodium ethyl xanthate as a floatation agent for recovering copper, nickel, gold, and silver is expected to offer substantial growth to the xanthate market. Furthermore, the use of xanthates, specifically in Australia as a collector for the extraction of sulfide minerals is projected to present an array of growth opportunities for the xanthate market.

Growing Demand for Eco-friendly Xanthate-based Floatation Agents to Emerge as Key Trend

Eco-friendly xanthate-based floatation agents are gaining considerable traction, owing to the growing need for minimizing the harmful impact of xanthate on the environment. Manufacturers in the xanthate market are gaining a robust research base on eco-friendly xanthate-based floatation agents to assure production simplicity, mild reaction, and elimination of byproducts. These factors are increasing the yield of products and driving technological applicability. Thus, these factors are increasing the demand for xanthate market to a great extent.

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Asia Pacific to Emerge as Highly Lucrative Region for Xanthate Market

The Asia Pacific region is prognosticated to emerge as a highly profitable region for the xanthate market. Wide mining base, high raw material availability, and growth of rubber processing and mining sectors are expected to lead to extensive growth of the xanthate market in Asia Pacific.

The Europe xanthate market is also estimated to expand in the upcoming years, mainly due to the expansion of the rubber processing industry in Turkey, Germany, Russia, and France.

Some of the key players operating in the xanthate market are Yantai Humon Chemical Auxiliary Co., Ltd., Vanderbilt Chemicals LLC, QiXia TongDa Flotation Reagent, Orica Limited, Coogee Chemicals, and CTC Mining.

Global Xanthate Market  Growth Drivers

Rising demand for xanthate to support proliferating mineral extraction activities in several parts of the world to fuel xanthate market growth

Increasing application in the chemical sector such as vulcanization of rubber to create opportunities for xanthate market players

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Global Xanthate Market: Segmentation

By Product

Sodium Ethyl Xanthate (SEX)

Sodium Isopropyl Xanthate (SIPX)

Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX)

Potassium Amyl Xanthate (PAX)

Others (including Potassium Ethyl Xanthate)

By Application

Mining

Rubber Processing

Agrochemicals

Others (including Metal Processing)

By Region

North America

Latin America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa

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SOURCE Transparency Market Research
Senior business leaders share similar concerns with 71% indicating they are also reluctant to return.

Employers must understand new employee motivations around workplace to attract, retain and engage top talent. Travel subsidies, satellite offices and an improved workspace more likely to entice employees back

- 78% of employees would like a workspace 5-10 minutes from home

- 75% of employees would prefer employers pay for travel

- 93% would make improvements to their workplace

- There is a clear misalignment between the actions being taken by employers and the needs of employees

LONDON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The majority (67%) of UK and Irish office workers are reluctant to return to the office post-Covid. That's according to a new European study by global workplace creation experts Unispace.

The study  which combined the results of an in-depth survey of 3,000 office workers, 2,750 employers in leadership roles at organisations with 50+ employees, and interviews with global senior leaders in Real Estate, HR and Operations  also revealed that business leaders themselves are concerned about returning to work, with 71% reluctant about going back into the office.

When asked why employees are reluctant to return, the commute was cited as the greatest concern. 41% of respondents welcomed the extra time available when not having to travel to work; 31% stated they did not want to spend extra money returning to the workplace. This concern is reflected in the number of employees looking for employers to pay for their travel costs, with 75% of workers indicating this would encourage them back to the workplace. The data also revealed that having free lunches provided would entice 73% of employees back to the office.

While 41% felt they were more productive in the workplace than at home, almost all - 93% - of UK and Irish office workers would make changes to their current workplace  one of the highest of all countries surveyed. The most popular amends included creating more private spaces (cited by 25% of employees), improving the lay-out (23%) and adding more amenities (22%).

According to the study, the steps being taken by UK and Irish employers to entice employees back into the workplace are not aligned with what employees themselves actually want. Business respondents reported introducing a number of new measures including heightened safety protocols (cited by 40% of respondents), having flexible start times (36%) and separate spaces for collaboration and quiet working (32%), which do not align with the preferences indicated by the office workers themselves.

Lawrence Mohiuddine, CEO EMEA at Unispace, commented:

"The UK and Ireland were two of the few countries polled across Europe where employers were more reluctant to return than their employees. While we can certainly see a clear trend in concerns around the commute for workers in these two locations, the mismatch between the incentives that businesses are implementing and what employees really want to feel encouraged back to the workplace does suggest some employers only understand their workforce at a surface-level."

"With so many employees indicating a desire for workplace improvements, there is clearly a need to re-think workspaces across the UK and Ireland to encourage employees back."

About Unispace

In 2010, Unispace revolutionised the workplace creation model with an industry-leading, end-to-end approach to strategy, change management, design, delivery and construction. Today, we continue to meet the pace of change delivering a breadth of workspace projects from the modern to historic, offices, laboratories, campuses, headquarters, hospitality venues and retail spaces. With 5,500 workplace projects completed across virtually every sector, a presence across 26 countries, and 600+ employees worldwide, Unispace creates workplaces powered by collaborative client partnerships, delivered seamlessly across borders, and enabled by industry-leading intelligence and technology.

Unispace Contact

Ilana Como

Head of Marketing & Communications

[email protected]

PR Contact | BlueSky PR

Head of PR

Vickie Collinge

[email protected]

07957475033

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1685385/UnispaceLogo.jpg

SOURCE Unispace
The success and growth of the company is due in large part to its staff, many of which have served in our armed forces. More than 21 percent of ATI's employees and 60 percent of senior leadership are veterans. These men and women bring leadership skills and technical expertise to companies upon entering the civilian workforce. ATI is one of 849 recipients across the country of either a HIRE Vets Platinum (highest honor) or Gold Medallion.

"Veterans embody the ideals of 'service before self,' carrying the values instilled during their years of service, including: duty, purpose, commitment, courage and discipline. These attributes make them invaluable contributors to the ATI team," said Chris Van Metre, ATI President and CEO and a retired Navy officer. "We're proud to work alongside and learn from these Veterans every day, while managing numerous programs supporting our armed forces."

The Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program is an employer recognition program administered by the Department of Labor. It is the only federal-level veterans' employment award that recognizes a company's or organization's commitment to veteran hiring, retention and professional development. Recipients of HIRE Vets Medallions met rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria, including: veteran hiring and retention percentages; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programming for veterans; dedicated human resource efforts; pay compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans.

SOURCE ATI (Advanced Technology International)

Related Links

https://www.ati.org


TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX: AEM) (NYSE: AEM) ("Agnico Eagle") is pleased to announce that Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS"), a leading independent proxy advisory firm, has recommended that Agnico Eagle shareholders vote " FOR " regarding the matters to be voted on at the special meetings of shareholders in connection with the previously announced merger of equals (the "Merger") with Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (TSX:KL,NYSE:KL, ASX:KLA) ("Kirkland Lake Gold").

Recommendation to Agnico Eagle Shareholders

In recommending that shareholders of Agnico Eagle vote " FOR " the issuance of Agnico Eagle common shares to shareholders of Kirkland Lake Gold pursuant to the Merger, ISS stated, among other things:

"There appears to be sound strategic rationale for a combination between the companies, with the transaction anticipated to confer operational synergies on an annual basis, as well as a number of G&A synergies and strategic optimizations over five- and ten-year time horizons. The addition of members of the [Kirkland Lake Gold] board and management to the combined company should expand the expertise necessary to drive improvements and realize some of the expected synergies under the transaction. Finally, as the majority of the production and reserves of the combined company are located in Canada where both companies have a healthy track record of operations, some of the risks inherent to the achievement of synergies are partially mitigated."

Shareholder Questions and Assistance

If you have any questions regarding the special meeting of Agnico Eagle shareholders, 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].

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.

SOURCE Agnico Eagle Mines Limited

Related Links

http://www.agnicoeagle.com


FRESNO, Calif., Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- aha! powered by veteran ExpressJet Airlines is excited to become part of the Fresno community with its inaugural nonstop flight to Reno on Nov. 10. The inaugural flight begins aha! service between Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Fresno Yosemite International Airport.

Flight Schedule

Flights will operate each Monday, Wednesday and Friday departing Fresno at 4:15 p.m. PT arriving in Reno-Tahoe at 5:18 p.m. PT. Reno to Fresno flights depart at 2:30 p.m. PT and arrive at 3:33 p.m. PT.

aha! has announced 10 destinations across the western U.S. to be served with nonstop flights from its hub and home base at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

"We are pleased to begin service from Reno to Fresno, giving travelers in both markets the ability to put together, for example, a short spontaneous two- or three-night trip using lower week-day hotel rates," said ExpressJet's CEO Subodh Karnik.

Convenient Nonstop Flights + Less Travel Time = More Vacations and Trips

The quick 1 hour and 3-minute flights give travelers more time on the ground to make the most of their vacation time without the hassle of a long drive or multiple airport stops and layovers.

Free Tickets to the first 100 Passengers

aha! Is giving one free ticket to the first 100 Fresno-Reno customers. Travelers can use the promo-code WELCOME2FAT to receive the $0 base fare for travel through Dec. 15, 2021 (available for purchase through 11:59pm on Nov. 12, 2021, while supplies last. Subject to blackout dates. Capacity controls and other restrictions apply).

Special Introductory $49 Fares

aha! is offering an introductory, limited-time launch fare of $49 each way* until Nov. 15. Book at www.flyaha.com or through the aha! contact center 775-439-0888.

About aha!

aha! is a leisure brand of ExpressJet Airlines. aha! seeks to provide travelers in smaller communities, many who have seen air service reduced over the past decade through airline mergers, with convenient, short, nonstop flights to high-quality destinations like the Reno-Lake Tahoe region. In addition to offering value-priced, nonstop flights, aha! will soon partner with resorts, casinos and attractions to "bundle" value-priced vacation packages.

About ExpressJet Airlines

ExpressJet Airlines is the union of Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Continental Express and operates Embraer ERJ145 regional jet aircraft. Over its 35-year history, ExpressJet has operated most Embraer and Bombardier airplanes from bases across the continental United States to cities in North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. ExpressJet is majority owned by KAir Enterprises with United Airlines holding a minority interest.

Introductory Fare Sale

*Introductory, limited time airfare prices are one-way and include taxes, carrier charges & government fees. Must be purchased by November 15, 2021 and travel completed by December 23, 2021. Travel dates and fares are limited. Note that additional fees apply for call center bookings, baggage, etc. Fare rules, routes and schedules are subject to change without notice. Restrictions apply. Not valid on previously purchased itineraries. See www.flyaha.com for full details of fare, restrictions, and charges.

Ticket Giveaway

$0 base fare tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm on November 12, 2021, and travel completed by December 15, 2021. Subject to blackout dates. Capacity controls and other restrictions apply. A total of 100 tickets are available at the $0 fare and the number of seats available on each flight are limited. Customer is responsible for paying government-imposed taxes and fees, such as 9/11 security fee and Passenger Facility Charges (PFC), and well as other service fees such as for checked baggage. Fare rules are subject to change without notice. Not valid on previously purchased itineraries. $0 tickets may only be purchased at www.flyaha.com and are not available when calling the call center.

SOURCE aha!
MELVILLE, N.Y., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- American Veterans Group, a social impact investment bank and Wall Street's first and only public benefit corporation, has provided a grant to a Connecticut non-profit organization that helps underemployed and unemployed U.S. military veterans prepare for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers.

The grant to The WorkPlace will help underwrite the cost of career development services for up to four Connecticut veterans. The grant was made possible by Connecticut State Treasurer Shawn Wooden's decision to appoint American Veterans Group as a co-manager on a bond issue earlier this year.

American Veterans Group dedicates 25% of its earnings to support veterans causes. The firm directs its philanthropy to communities where it and its clients do business. Since its founding in 2018, American Veterans Group has donated $184,000 to 22 non-profit organizations nationwide, directly impacting the lives of more than 1,300 veterans.

"The WorkPlace delivers a vital service to all citizens including military veterans who aspire to have meaningful careers," said Ben Biles, co-founder and CEO of American Veterans Group. "It's important to note, particularly on Veterans Day, that The WorkPlace and American Veterans Group share a common mission of helping veterans become well-educated, well-trained, and self-sufficient so they can confidently compete in today's workforce."

Based in Connecticut, The WorkPlace acts as a convener, catalyst, collaborator and advocate for workforce development throughout Connecticut and the nation.

"In honor of Veteran's Day, I want to express my gratitude by saluting all those who have served our nation," said Connecticut State Treasurer Shawn Wooden. "Given that we're home to so many military veterans, active-duty service members, defense contractors, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, initiatives to support veteran focused non-profits groups, such as this contribution from American Veterans Group, are especially meaningful to our State."

"When my Office updated our bond underwriter pool a year ago, I was proud to add several Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned bond underwriting firms including American Veterans Group," Wooden said. "In addition, I expanded our policy for allocating bond sale commissions to require at least two women-owned, minority-owned or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned firms receive a minimum designation."

American Veterans Group served as a co-manager on the State of Connecticut's nearly $1 billion general obligation bond sale in May 2021.

The WorkPlace collaborates with a wide scope of business leaders, local officials and other stakeholders to develop innovative workforce development plans that identify and address the area's employment needs and interests.

"We understand the unique challenges veterans face re-entering the workforce," said Joseph Carbone, President and CEO, The WorkPlace. "The support from American Veterans Group will help fill the job training gap by supplementing public job training funds and provide additional opportunities for veterans to obtain the skills they need to secure employment."

About American Veterans Group

American Veterans Group, PBC, is a military veteran-owned, social impact-focused broker dealer that delivers value to institutional clients while providing meaningful philanthropic support to the military veteran community. The company reinvests 25% of its earnings in national and local military veteran nonprofit organizations that provide worthy services and support to one of America's most vulnerable, at-risk populations. As Wall Street's only public benefit corporation, American Veterans Group empowers institutional clients to partner in its social mission while enabling them to remain focused on key business objectives and goals. To learn more about American Veterans Group, visit their website at www.americanvetsgroup.com.

About The WorkPlace

The WorkPlace conducts comprehensive planning, and coordinates regional workforce development policy and programs to prepare people for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers. As a national leader in the field, The WorkPlace regularly shares ideas and best practices with lawmakers, foundations, think tanks and other workforce development organizations around the country.

Media Contacts:

For American Veterans Group

Mark Kroeger

The Boldsquare Group

(513) 236-3109

[email protected]

The WorkPlace

Tom Long

SVP Communications

(203) 610-8528

[email protected]

State of Connecticut

Michelle Woods Matthews

Press Secretary

(860) 502-5499

[email protected]

SOURCE American Veterans Group

Related Links

http://www.americanvetsgroup.com


HOUSTON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Apache Industrial Services is honored to announce that the U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh recognized Apache Industrial Services as one of the 849 recipients of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award. Apache Industrial Services was awarded the Large Gold Award. The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans. Recipients of the 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Awards meet rigorous employment and veteran integration assistance criteria. We're proud to be recognized with this elite award, and hope you share in our excitement. As a company, we are proud and honored to serve our veteran community. We invite you to join us in sharing this news with your family, friends, and colleagues. To learn more about the award, visit HIREVets.gov.

About Apache Industrial Services

Apache Industrial Services is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apache Industrial Holdings, a leader in the industrial services industry with an outstanding track record for providing exceptional services to our customers and an industry-leading commitment to safety. Apache is an integrated fabrication, manufacturing, and services business with a 400,000 square-foot fabrication facility and multiple locations across the United States and Canada.

To learn more about Apache Industrial Holdings, visit www.apacheip.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

Annabella Bruzual

[email protected]

SOURCE Apache Industrial Holdings

Related Links

http://www.apacheip.com/


ATLANTA, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Archie L. Jones, Jr., has been named as one of Savoy Magazine's 2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors. Savoy's Most Influential Black Corporate Directors features a list of distinguished leaders spanning industries and actively serving on corporate boards worldwide. The 2021 double issue features Kenneth I. Chenault, former Chairman/CEO, American Express and Kenneth C. Frazier, Executive Chairman of Merck.

Archie L. Jones, Jr. is an Investor, Educator, and Advisor. Archie is a Managing Director of Six Pillars Partners, a private-equity firm investing in high-growth companies and an award-winning Professor at Harvard Business School. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Fleetcor Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FLT), Jobvite, Inc, and as Board Chairman of Project Evident.

"I am blessed and humbled to be included amongst the leaders recognized by Savoy. We are proudly building the next generation of corporate governance.", Archie L. Jones, Jr.

Prior to Six Pillars Partners, Archie held executive positions with both public and private companies including Merrill Lynch, Parthenon Capital, Kenexa, and IBM. With a focus on strategy, private equity, and corporate M&A, Archie led investments across industries and sectors in the US, Asia, and Europe.

As a Professor at Harvard Business School, Archie is the course head for an innovative field course and was awarded HBS's Greenhill Award for bringing innovation to the MBA curriculum and advancing racial equity. Archie educates and mentors future leaders in Finance and Entrepreneurial Management and develops research to advance the field. His research interests include: the evolution of impact investing; investment strategies in domestic US and international emerging markets; inclusive economic empowerment; and governance in social and private enterprises.

Jones is available for in person and virtual speaking and training engagements. Direct all media and speaking engagement inquiries to Miguel Lloyd ([email protected]) of Lloyd Media Group.

SOURCE Archie L. Jones, Jr.
MONTREAL, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Bell Canada ("Bell") announced today that, in connection with its previously announced consent and proxy solicitation (the "Solicitation") seeking approval of proposed amendments (the "Proposed Amendments") to its trust indenture dated as of July 1, 1976 (as amended or supplemented, the "1976 Indenture"), the special meeting (the "Meeting") of holders ("Debentureholders") of outstanding debentures listed below (the "Debentures"), issued under the 1976 Indenture will be held on November 12, 2021.

The Proposed Amendments are described in detail in Bell's consent and proxy solicitation statement dated September 29, 2021 (the "Solicitation Statement"), available on Bell's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com and on BCE Inc.'s website at www.bce.ca.

As previously announced, the Meeting of Debentureholders will take place on November 12, 2021 at 10:00 am Eastern in a virtual-only live webcast format accessible at BCE.ca/DebentureholderMeeting2021 and at BCE.ca/Assembleedetenteursdebentures2021.

Debentureholders holding more than 50% of the outstanding principal amount of Debentures have submitted proxy voting instructions and, accordingly, a quorum will be present for the Meeting. At the Meeting, approval of the Proposed Amendments will require holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the principal amount of Debentures represented and voted at the Meeting (in person or by proxy) to vote in favour of the Proposed Amendments.

Debentures under the 1976 Indenture

Series CUSIP 10% Debentures, Series EH, due November 15, 2041 N/A 9.7% Debentures, Series EJ, due December 15, 2032 078149DK4 9.25% Debentures, Series EO, due May 15, 2053 078149DN8 10% Debentures, Series EU, due December 1, 2054 078149DR9 7% Debentures, Series EZ, due September 24, 2027 078149DW8

This news release is neither a solicitation of consents or proxies nor an offer to purchase Debentures or to sell any securities. The Solicitation is being made solely pursuant to the Solicitation Statement.

BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. acted as the Solicitation Agent for the Solicitation. D.F. King Canada, now part of TMX Group, acted as the Information Agent for the Solicitation.

Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements about certain matters, including the Solicitation, the Meeting, and the Proposed Amendments, that are not historical facts. A statement we make is forward-looking when it uses what we know and expect today to make a statement about the future. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the words assumption, goal, guidance, objective, outlook, project, strategy, target and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as aim, anticipate, believe, could, expect, intend, may, plan, seek, should, strive and will. All such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of applicable Canadian securities laws and of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Unless otherwise indicated by us, forward-looking statements contained in this news release describe Bell's expectations as at the date hereof. Except as may be required by Canadian securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements, by their very nature, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on several assumptions, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that actual results or events could differ materially from our expectations expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement made in this news release will materialize and we caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are provided herein for the purpose of assisting Debentureholders in evaluating the Proposed Amendments. Readers are cautioned, however, that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forward-looking statements made in this news release are based on a number of assumptions that Bell believed were reasonable on the day it made the forward-looking statements, including as to the terms and conditions of the Solicitation and that the Proposed Amendments would be in the form, and have the effects, described in the Solicitation Statement. If our assumptions turn out to be inaccurate, actual results or events could be materially different from what we expect. There is a risk that the Proposed Amendments, if approved and implemented, may not ultimately be in the form described in the Solicitation Statement and/or may not have some or all of the effects anticipated by us.

Important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by Bell's forward-looking statements made in this news release are disclosed in section 9 entitled "Business risks" of BCE's annual MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2020, as such disclosure has been updated in BCE's 2021 First Quarter MD&A dated April 28, 2021, 2021 Second Quarter MD&A dated August 4, 2021, and 2021 Third Quarter MD&A dated November 3, 2021, as filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available on SEDAR at sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available on EDGAR at sec.gov. These documents are also available on BCE's website at bce.ca. Readers are cautioned that the risks referred to above are not the only ones that could affect forward-looking statements made in this news release. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also have a material adverse effect on forward-looking statements made in this news release.

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.

Media Inquiries:

Marie-Eve Francoeur

514-391-5263

[email protected]

Investor Inquiries:

Thane Fotopoulos

514-870-4619

[email protected]

SOURCE Bell Canada

Related Links

https://www.bell.ca/


"At Benson Hill, we have built a category-defining company striving to make a meaningful environmental and social impact in food production by evolving beyond the traditional commodity system," said Matt Crisp , Chief Executive Officer of Benson Hill. "Andres, Trent and Ratna share our bold vision and bring extensive experience and diverse expertise to drive execution and innovation across our company."

As Executive Vice President and General Manager, International, Andres Martin focuses on expanding Benson Hill's customer base and introducing Benson Hill's proprietary, non-GMO soybean portfolio to markets outside the United States. Martin brings over 25 years of experience in supply chain operations and agribusiness, most recently as President of Bunge North America and as Head of Grains and Oilseeds at Bunge. Martin is a member of Benson Hill's Executive Leadership Team reporting to Benson Hill CEO Matt Crisp, and is located in Barcelona, Spain.

"Benson Hill's integrated business model and focus on more nutritious and sustainable food and ingredient options have great appeal for human food, animal feed and aquaculture markets globally," said Andres Martin, Executive Vice President and General Manager, International at Benson Hill. "For instance, a considerable portion of the demand in the growing meat alternative market comes from outside of the United States, including Europe and Asia. As Benson Hill's momentum in the U.S. continues to grow, I'm excited to position the company to penetrate global markets and capitalize on near-term and long-term growth opportunities."





Trent Collins joins the Company as Senior Vice President, Ingredient Operations. Before joining Benson Hill, Collins held various engineering, manufacturing and operational roles during his 28-year tenure with Archer Daniels Midland, most recently as Global Director, Proteins Technology. Collins will report to Bruce Bennett, President of the Company's Ingredients business segment, who joined the company in July 2021.



"We believe Benson Hill's proprietary, non-GMO soybean ingredients portfolio and future innovations in yellow pea are unlike anything available through the traditional commodity system. For food companies, these ingredients check all the boxes, including reduced processing steps, an improved sustainability profile, and the quality attributes consumers are looking for," said Trent Collins, Senior Vice President, Ingredient Operations at Benson Hill. "My team works to ensure operational excellence and efficiency at Benson Hill's facilities, including the recently-acquired soybean crushing facility in Seymour, Indiana, which are critical to our integrated model and ability to scale and commercialize our innovative ingredients."





Ratna Mukherjea, PhD., joins the Company as Senior Director, Food Innovation. Mukherjea has more than 20 years of experience in clinical and translational research at academic institutions and in the food industry, most recently at International Flavors & Fragrances, formerly DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences.

"Benson Hill's innovation platform is designed to continuously iterate our portfolio to better align with the nutritional and sensory preferences of the consumer that are critical for the plant-based protein and other markets," said Ratna Mukherjea, PhD., Senior Director, Food Innovation at Benson Hill. "The through-line in all of this is data insights. Predictive modeling enables my team to link food science outcomes like higher protein, taste and texture back to the genomics of the seed. This is ground-breaking to identify high-quality characteristics and develop ingredients that are better from the beginning compared to traditional undifferentiated commodity ingredients."

About Benson Hill

Benson Hill moves food forward with the CropOS platform, a cutting-edge food innovation engine that combines data science and machine learning with biology and genetics. Benson Hill empowers innovators to unlock nature's genetic diversity from plant to plate, with the purpose of creating nutritious, great-tasting food and ingredient options that are both widely accessible and sustainable. More information can be found at bensonhill.com or on Twitter at @bensonhillinc.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release may be considered "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. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or the Company's future financial or operating performance, and may be identified by words such as "may," "should," "expect," "intend," "will," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "predict," or similar words. These forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions made by the Company as of the date hereof and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our strategy and our plans for growth, and statements regarding the anticipated benefits and capabilities, and expected future performance, of our new senior strategic hires. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks associated with our ability to grow and manage growth profitably, our ability to execute our business plans, our transition to becoming a public company, and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. We expressly disclaim any duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law.

Media Contact

Benson Hill

Melanie Bernds

314-605-6363

[email protected]

Media Kit

SOURCE Benson Hill

Related Links

bensonhill.com


JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE: BKI), a leading provider of integrated software, data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries, announced it has received the U.S. Department of Labor's 2021 HIRE Vets Medallion Award for its dedication to successfully recruiting and employing U.S. veterans. This is the second consecutive year Black Knight has received this prestigious recognition.

As the only federal award program recognizing companies for their support of veterans, the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act (HIRE Vets Act) Medallion Program credits a select group of organizations that provide opportunities for those who have served and protected our country. To win the award, a company must meet certain qualifications related to veteran hiring and retention, providing veteran-specific resources, leadership programming, dedicated human resources and more.

"We are honored to offer our nation's veterans a new career path, and to provide them with the support and growth opportunities that will benefit them and their families," said Melissa Circelli, Black Knight Chief Human Resources Officer. "We're endlessly appreciative of the dedication that our brave service members have shown our country and count ourselves lucky to have their experience and skills in support of our strategic goals."

Black Knight was one of 160 nationwide recipients of this year's HIRE Vets Medallion Award. In addition to showcasing a commitment to hiring veterans, this year's award winners also demonstrated their intention to provide veteran hires with long-term career options that employ their unique military skills, and tuition support for those who want to advance their education while employed.

In addition to the accolades given by the U.S. Department of Labor, the U.S. Department of Defense recognized Black Knight for its commitment to the military and their families through the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) status and support of its Military Spouse Employment Partnership. Black Knight is also one of the underwriting corporate sponsors for The Folded Flag Foundation, a non-profit providing scholarships to spouses and children of fallen service members. Circelli also serves on the board of Operation New Uniform, which gives veterans the tools and preparation they need to translate their military service into a rewarding career.

Black Knight is a proud supporter of the military, veterans and their families, and continues to explore new opportunities to elevate their career goals and post-military lives.

About the HIRE Vets Medallion Award

The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by leading businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting and retaining veterans. The 2022 HIRE Vets Medallion Program will open to employers on Jan. 31, 2022. For more information about the program and the application process, visit www.HIREVets.gov.

About Black Knight

Black Knight, Inc. (NYSE: BKI) is an award-winning software, data and analytics company that drives innovation in the mortgage lending and servicing and real estate industries, as well as the capital and secondary markets. Businesses leverage our robust, integrated solutions across the entire homeownership life cycle to help retain existing customers, gain new customers, mitigate risk and operate more effectively.



Our clients rely on our proven, comprehensive, scalable products and our unwavering commitment to delivering superior client support to achieve their strategic goals and better serve their customers. For more information on Black Knight, please visit www.blackknightinc.com.

For more information:

SOURCE Black Knight, Inc.

Related Links

www.blackknightinc.com


DUBLIN, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Construction Industry in Botswana 2021" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Botswana's construction industry contributed 6.8% of GDP in 2020 and employs over 50,000 people.

This report focuses on Botswana's construction industry, with an emphasis on building construction, civil engineering, and specialised construction activities. It includes information on the state of the sector, key trends and developments and regulations and corporate actions.

There are profiles of 24 companies including Khato Civils Botswana, which partnered with a local company to construct a 100km water pipeline project from Masama to Gaborone and Chinese contractors such as China Civil Engineering Construction Botswana and China State Construction Engineering Corporation.

Profiled local subsidiaries of South African companies include Stefanutti Stocks Botswana and Concor Botswana while locally-owned companies profiled include EH Construction, which is involved in civil construction, major building construction and bulk earthworks.

The sector has over the years experienced numerous challenges including skills, capacity development and lack of competitiveness of local companies and it continues to be dominated by foreign companies, particularly when it comes to major projects. There are signs of recovery in the sector from the effects of the pandemic, and it is expected to play a role in reviving the economy through the creation of jobs.

Trends

The government continues to be the industry's major client, financier, regulator and operator, and public expenditure drives the construction industry.

The primary focus of infrastructure development is the provision of clean water and sanitation, power generation infrastructure, road infrastructure and hospitals and schools. Current projects include three hospitals, two senior secondary schools and a police station. Most of the high-value civil engineering and construction projects in the country are undertaken by foreign-owned construction companies.

Demand for housing and public amenities is high in Gaborone and Francistown, and property developers are increasingly focused on gated communities and estate development. There is a shortage of accommodation for public servants and a shortage of student accommodation.

Key Topics Covered:



1. INTRODUCTION



2. COUNTRY INFORMATION



3. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY

1.1. Industry Value Chain

1.2. Geographic Position



2. SIZE OF THE INDUSTRY



3. STATE OF THE INDUSTRY

3.1. Local

3.1.1. Corporate Actions

3.1.2. Regulations

3.1.3. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development

3.2. Continental

3.3. International



4. INFLUENCING FACTORS

4.1. Coronavirus

4.2. Economic Environment

4.3. Rising Input Costs

4.4. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation

4.5. Government Incentives and Support

4.6. Environmental Concerns

4.7. Labour



5. COMPETITION

5.1. Barriers to Entry



6. SWOT ANALYSIS



7. OUTLOOK



8. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS



9. REFERENCES

9.1. Publications

9.2. Websites

COMPANY PROFILES

Bango Trading (Pty) Ltd

China Civil Engineering Construction ( Botswana ) (Pty) Ltd

) (Pty) Ltd China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd

Concor Botswana (Pty) Ltd

Consolidated Contractors Company

Cpp ( Botswana ) (Pty) Ltd

) (Pty) Ltd Cul De Sac (Pty) Ltd

Eh Construction (Pty) Ltd

Estate Construction (Pty) Ltd

Fluor Daniel Holdings ( Botswana ) (Pty) Ltd

) (Pty) Ltd Image Civil Engineering (Pty) Ltd

Kalcon (Pty) Ltd

Khato Civils Botswana (Pty) Ltd

Otlaadisa Projects (Pty) Ltd

Red East Construction (Pty) Ltd

Stefanutti Stocks Botswana (Pty) Ltd

Team Engineers (Pty) Ltd

Three Boses ( Botswana ) (Pty) Ltd

) (Pty) Ltd Unik Construction Engineering (Pty) Ltd

Universal Builders ( Botswana ) (Pty) Ltd

) (Pty) Ltd Wbho Construction (Pty) Ltd

Wharic Construction (Pty) Ltd

Zac Construction (Pty) Ltd

Zutari Botswana (Pty) Ltd

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/n7hpyn

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

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


PHOENIX, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carsfast, a next-generation digital car dealership, today announced a partnership with One Tree Planted, a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation. As a company that cares deeply about the planet and creating a business that gives back to nature, Carsfast will plant one tree for every vehicle enquiry they receive.

"We're honored to have reforestation through One Tree Planted as an integral part of our business model" said CEO and Founder, Shaun Sumaru and "as the auto industry is slowly moving towards a cleaner future, it's great to have another way to give back and help the environment."

The objectives of this new partnership include:

Supporting global reforestation efforts

Empowering consumers with sustainable actions

Raising awareness about the importance of ecosystem restoration

Planting trees is one of the best ways to combat the damaging effects of climate change. Trees help clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, and provide habitat to over 80 percent of the world's terrestrial biodiversity. Trees also provide tremendous social impacts by providing jobs to over 1.6 billion people, empowering women in underdeveloped nations, and supporting communities devastated by environmental damage.

The partnership is designed to be simple for customers to get involved in global reforestation just by searching for their next car. For every vehicle enquiry, Carsfast will plant 1 tree with One Tree Planted. The trees are planted by local partner organizations and community volunteers in areas where there has been deforestation.

About Carsfast

Carsfast is a next-generation digital car dealership. It exists to offer buyers cars and credit directly from their phone with zero friction. Our proprietary technology combines customers preferences and credit with our broad lender panel and vast inventory. The outcome is a selection of cars that perfectly matches to the buyer's exact profile. To learn more about Carsfast visit carsfast.com

About One Tree Planted

One Tree Planted is a nonprofit on a mission to make it simple for anyone to help the environment by planting trees. Their projects span the globe and are done in partnership with local communities and knowledgeable experts to create an impact for nature, people, and wildlife. Reforestation helps to rebuild forests after fires and floods, provide jobs for social impact, and restore biodiversity. Many projects have overlapping objectives, creating a combination of benefits that contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Media Contact:

Name: Dee Gligorevic

Title: Marketing Director

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +1 6422072433

SOURCE Carsfast
PEORIA, Ill., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- When you think of 3D printing models of organs, heavy equipment maker Caterpillar, based in Illinois, doesn't come to mind. Typically, Caterpillar uses 3D technology to print incredibly detailed parts for new machines and equipment. But some of the company's industrial design engineers volunteered their expertise to Illinois based, OSF Healthcare, to design 3D organs for some of the most complex medical procedures that require extensive pre-surgery planning.

It began with pediatric hearts and now extends to other organs and cases involving cancer. Such was the recent case of Kevin Asbury, a 40 year-old prison worker, whose colon cancer had spread to his liver. Initially, he was given a 20-30% chance of survival. But, today Asbury is cancer free, in part, because of the OSF Innovation Advanced Image Modeling Lab (AIM) located at the Jump Simulation & Education Center and led by Dr. Matthew Bramlet, a faculty member of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Bramlet and his colleagues have perfected the process of converting patient specific CT and MRI images into segmented anatomy that is relevant to the medical decision-making pathway.

The use of advanced virtual reality modeling (VRM) has changed one surgeon's preoperative plans for half of patients eligible. This technology, created in the AIM lab, also increased the surgeon's confidence in the plan 65% of the time.

Organs can be enhanced using virtual reality (VR). The advanced 3D printed model from Caterpillar's Industrial Design engineers is translucent and uses additives that can show tumors and arteries. This offers a better view of anatomy as well as the risks involved in complex surgeries involving vital organs.

Dr. Sonia Orcutt, assistant professor of Surgery, University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria, used such a model to explain to Kevin and Melissa Asbury what was involved with his anatomy and cancerous tumors so they could better understand the risks of the extensive surgery that lasted six hours.

Dr. John Vozenilek, vice president/chief medical officer of OSF Innovation & Digital Health, says the technology is a fantastic way to help patients understand what they're facing.

"I think it relieves anxiety. It creates greater understanding," said Dr. Vozenilek. "It lets them know what's going on fully. I think there's pain in anxiety and our job as clinicians, is to alleviate pain, so let's think about it that way."

Caterpillar Industrial Designer Christian Ritchie, who worked on the model, had a chance to meet the Asburys after a successful surgery, additional chemotherapy, and the clear scans that followed.

"Working on something like this where we can help a single person have a better chance of survival after cancer, is not expected in this job," said Ritchie. "But it is awesome."

And the surgery has given Kevin Asbury hope and a new outlook on life.

"Every day is a blessing," said Asbury. "Every day. Every birthday, every Christmas, every Thanksgiving. People take that for granted until they have something like this going on. I cherish everything now a little more than what I used to."

Dr. Orcutt is documenting all outcomes in which she uses advanced image modeling, currently supported strictly through philanthropy from donors and both Caterpillar and OSF HealthCare. Dr. Vozenilek says without philanthropy, innovation would occur but perhaps not as quickly. The challenge is to expand the offerings to everyone who needs the advanced technology.

"Complex surgeries are happening across the United States and across the world every day," said Dr. Vozenilek. "How can we get this technology, so that surgeons can pre-plan; they can see the anatomy, they can see the complexity, they can make better decisions  pre-op. How do we get that out there and to scale? That's our next great challenge!"

For additional photos, details and audio/video clips, visit the Innovation section of the OSF Newsroom .

OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system owned and operated by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, headquartered in Peoria, Illinois. OSF HealthCare employs nearly 24,000 Mission Partners in 150 locations, including 15 hospitals  10 acute care, five critical access  with 2,089 licensed beds, and two colleges of nursing throughout Illinois and Michigan. The OSF HealthCare physician network employs more than 1,500 primary care, specialist and advanced practice providers. OSF HealthCare, through OSF Home Care Services, operates an extensive network of home health and hospice services. It also owns Pointcore, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. More at osfhealthcare.org.

OSF Innovation, launched in 2016, is the overall umbrella initiative for the planning, structure, goals, and services OSF HealthCare uses to innovate for the improvement and transformation of health care.

More information at osfinnovation.org.

Caterpillar, with 2020 sales and revenues of $41.7 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. Since 1925, we've been driving sustainable progress and helping customers build a better world through innovative products and services. Throughout the product life cycle, we offer services built on cutting-edge technology and decades of product expertise. These products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value to help our customers succeed. We do business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments  Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Energy & Transportation  and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/social-media.

Contact: Colleen Reynolds | Media Relations Coordinator, OSF HealthCare | Cell (309) 825-7255

SOURCE OSF HealthCare
BEIJING, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, has called for sustained efforts to enable more women to receive a quality education that contributes to realizing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals.

Peng, a special envoy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the advancement of girls' and women's education, spoke in an interview with the Courier, a flagship magazine published by UNESCO.

Noting that eliminating poverty and realizing gender equality are the common ideals of humanity and the common aspirations of women worldwide, she said that through unremitting efforts, China had achieved the goal of eradicating absolute poverty, with education a very important vehicle.

"We should be more determined to promote girls' and women's education, work to ensure that more women receive quality education and contribute to the realization of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals," Peng said.

She called on everyone around the world to work together and explore new ways and jointly meet challenges. "As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, it is our common wish that no girl should be left behind," she said.

Peng affirmed the significance of UNESCO's Futures of Education initiative, saying that women are an important force for advancing human civilization and creating a better future for all.

She expressed her hope that governments of all countries, as well as international organizations, and non-governmental organizations, will take active actions to empower women through education, promote greater development of girls' and women's education, and inject new impetus into the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

In 2015, China and UNESCO jointly established the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education. In recent years, the prize has continued to have a positive impact.

As UNESCO Special Envoy for Girls' and Women's Education, Peng expressed her willingness to continue to fulfill her role and that China will continue to work with the UN agency to ensure the success of the second edition of the Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.

This year, as UNESCO marks its 75th anniversary, the Courier is publishing a special issue to highlight the major challenges facing education in the world today and to propose solutions.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-11-10/Peng-Liyuan-urges-advancing-education-for-girls-women-1558G8cnkK4/index.html

SOURCE CGTN

Related Links

www.cgtn.com


CommCan Rehoboth will feature CommCan's family of products including CommCan flower, DRiP concentrates, Bite edibles, SIP sodas and TINQ tinctures and salves. As the sole cultivator of Cookies (the iconic international cannabis and lifestyle brand) CommCan Rehoboth will feature Cookies flower and pre-roll joints as well. The store will also feature other top brands from across Massachusetts.

"I am incredibly excited to expand the CommCan family to Southeastern Massachusetts. The people of Rehoboth have been amazing to work with and we are going to give them something to be proud of." -Marc Rosenfeld, CEO CommCan, Inc.

CommCan Rehoboth brings twenty-six full time jobs to the town, with additional hiring planned for the future. In addition to the standard taxes benefiting the Town, Rehoboth will receive a total of 6% of gross sales through the execution of a Host Community Agreement and taxes applied to the sale of cannabis by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

About CommCan

CommCan, founded and wholly owned by siblings Ellen, Jon and Marc Rosenfeld in 2015, is the first and largest family-owned and operated cannabis company in Massachusetts. CommCan is also the first certified woman owned cannabis company as well as the largest LGBTQ owned cannabis company in Massachusetts. CommCan is the creator of cannabis concentrates brand DRiP, edibles brand Bite, tincture and topical brand TINQ and produces the first recreationally compliant beverage on the East Coast - SIP.

CommCan owns and operates a recreational/medical dispensary in the Town of Millis, a medical dispensary in the Town of Southborough and possesses all necessary local and state permits to construct a medical dispensary in the Town of Mansfield. CommCan's cultivation and production facility in the Town of Medway was the state's first ground up, purpose-built cannabis facility in Massachusetts. At 60,000 square feet, the facility boasts 40,000 square feet of canopy, an extraction lab with c1D1 room, commercial kitchen and soda factory.

CONTACT: Stephano Del Rose, 339-206-6960, [email protected]

SOURCE CommCan

Related Links

www.commcan.com


VANCOUVER, Wash., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ConMet, the industry's leading global manufacturer of wheel hubs, structural plastic, and aluminum casting components for the commercial vehicle industry, is pleased to announce that three of its facilities have been awarded the Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) 2020 Masters of Quality Supplier award  the highest honor the company gives to its suppliers.

"The commitment of all our valued suppliers who deliver for us, and for the fleets who keep the world moving, is appreciated and felt now more than ever," said Jeff Allen, senior vice president of operations and specialty vehicles for DTNA. "We are pleased to recognize this year's Masters of Quality award recipients and are honored by their dedication and partnership.

To ensure only top suppliers receive the award, DTNA carefully tracks the performance of each of their suppliers throughout the year and scores them based on delivery times, technology, value, and overall quality.

"We are honored to receive the Masters of Quality award for three of our ConMet plants," commented Ramesh Ramanathan, chief operations officer of North American operations. "This appreciation from our valued customer, DTNA, shows that outstanding cross-functional teamwork between our plants, supply chain, and multiple support functions can lead to customer satisfaction even during extraordinarily challenging times."

Because of ConMet's exceptional scores and commitment to continuous improvement in 2020, the company was honored with the award at three of its production plants  including its wheel end plant in Monroe, North Carolina, which now has received the award 31 consecutive times. The full list of locations that received the award are listed below.

Plants:

Monroe, North Carolina  31-year recipient

Nuevo Leon, Mexico (metals)  17-year recipient

Nuevo Leon, Mexico (plastics)  2-year recipient

About ConMet

ConMet, a division of Amsted Industries, is a leading global supplier of wheel hubs, aluminum castings, and structural plastics to original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket channels in the commercial vehicle industry. Founded in 1964, ConMet innovation has been critical in designing, engineering, and manufacturing revolutionary technologies for trucks and trailers. Today, ConMet products are standard equipment on most heavy-duty vehicles in North America and have a growing footprint worldwide.

ConMet is committed to creating products and services that align with critical customer needs. The development of more efficient products, processes, and technology that transform the way customers run and maintain their vehicles is central to ConMet's vision.

Media Contact:

Wendi Sheridan, Interdependence Public Relations

(215) 630-5287

[email protected]

Megan Vincent, Marketing Manager, ConMet

(360) 258-3076

[email protected]

SOURCE ConMet
The CES Innovation Awards program, owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) , is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in 27 consumer technology product categories. An elite panel of industry expert judges , including members of the media, designers, engineers and more, reviewed submissions based on innovation, engineering and functionality, aesthetic and design.

AI Studios is a video production tool that makes it easy to produce videos without the need to film or employ the real people. By combining DeepBrain's AI Studios in the form of SaaS and a computer, it's possible to eliminate costly studio, lighting, camera, set staff, and even the video host. Just by typing the script, this enables the AI anchor to naturally speak, use body language and gestures just like a real presenter. Individuals, small & big entities can produce various content videos, such as YouTube, corporate training and news, all without equipment or expertise.

The CEO of DeepBrain AI, Eric Jang commented on this achievement - "This year DeepBrain AI has truly showcased it's technological and commercial capabilities both at home and abroad. Receiving this recognition from CES highlights our efforts during the year, as we are actively expanding into the US market." Eric also added  "In addition to CES Innovation Awards, DeepBrain AI has packed 3 different achievements in 2021, including  'Top AI Startup Company' in South Korea, 'Best Technology Innovation and Service Application' in China, and 'GLOBAL Future Stars' Supernova Challenge' winner in Dubai."

DeepBrain AI will showcase its AI Human technology including its winning product in person at the upcoming CES 2022 conference in Las Vegas. The company is also sponsoring the following NRF 2022 conference held in New York, where it will showcase its technology application in retail industry.

The detailed AI Studios product description and photos can be found at CES.tech/innovation. To schedule a meeting with DeepBrain AI at the upcoming conferences please contact Global Team at [email protected]

DeepBrain AI is an AI Human video synthesis company from South Korea, which has successfully commercialized world's first real-time video synthesis solution in the form of both conversational and non-conversational 'AI Human' technologies. Applicable to various customer-facing and presenter-led industries, DeepBrain AI has stacked top enterprise clients in Banking, Education, Media, Retail, Healthcare and more.

Having local offices in Beijing and Shanghai, China, and California, USA, DeepBrain AI is actively forming business partnerships in several markets. Most recently, the company has signed a supply agreement for its 'AI Human' Announcer technology with two major Chinese broadcasting companies - Qinghai TV and Beijing Broadcasting Station (BTV).

Contact:

Aibek A.

6, Yeoksam-ro 7-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 06240

E-Mail: [email protected]

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepbrain-global



SOURCE Deepbrain AI
"Our commitment to the environment goes beyond our facilities and into our communities. While Ashley Furniture is driven to be the best home furnishings company, we are also committed to being sustainable and efficient for the betterment of our employees, our customers, and our communities," stated Todd Wanek, President and CEO, Ashley Furniture Industries. "Sustainable practices can be simple changes to everyday process, big or small, it all adds up. If we each make an effort, our country and our world will share the benefits."

The company builds their facilities and improves operations with the environment top of mind; including reducing waste, enhancing the products they manufacture, and improving the environment. A few key projects that have propelled Ashley in the direction of long-term sustainability include: facility lighting styles, nation-wide solar panel installations  with nearly 45,000 panels installed to date, tree planting efforts and more.

"For the 19th year, Deloitte is proud to recognize the economic and community impact of the largest 75 private companies in Wisconsin the Wisconsin 75. This year we will not only celebrate the individual successes of each of these organizations, but also the collective impact of private companies in powering Wisconsin's economy and community," said PJ DiStefano, Wisconsin managing partner of Deloitte LLP.

Ashley has been featured on the Wisconsin 75 list 13 times. Additionally, the company achieved a distinguished performer award in the community category in the 2013 Wisconsin 75 awards.

Deloitte's annual Wisconsin 75 list salutes the largest privately held Wisconsin-based companies. These companies play a key role in the state's economy. Wisconsin 75 award winners are selected based on annual sales revenue.

To be eligible for Deloitte's Wisconsin 75 recognition, companies must have a majority ownership by an individual(s), family, employee stock ownership plan, or private equity firm. Public companies are eligible when greater than 50 percent of the value or vote of the shares are owned by individuals, family, an employee stock ownership plan, or private equity. Additionally, companies must have annual sales revenue of at least USD 50,000. The Wisconsin 75 excludes cooperatives and accounting, tax, legal, and consulting service companies.

Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC (Ashley) feels that every person deserves more value for their money. Established in 1945, Ashley is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, and was named one of America's Best Employers by Forbes in 2021. From design through fulfillment, Ashley is committed to delivering the world's best home furnishing values, selection and service, and earning the loyalty and trust of its customers every day. Visit Ashley online at www.ashleyfurnitureindustriesllc.com and "like" Ashley Furniture Industries on Facebook.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as "Deloitte Global") does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the "Deloitte" name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

Media Contact:

Bailey Waldera

W: 608.323.6782

[email protected]

SOURCE Ashley Furniture Industries
This new agreement expands the relationship Discover the World has with Europcar since it represents the company in several other markets such as Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Russia, Slovakia, United Kingdom, and the USA. This partnership showcases the strengths of Discover the World's staff as experts on the Europcar product to support reservation enquiries and customer service.

Europcar International Regional Sales Development Director Gaetan Mondet said, "We are very pleased to partner with Discover the World. They are a strong player in this market and have great recognition for their experience and connections. We know they will make the difference helping Europcar grow its market share in the Netherlands."

Andre van der Sluis, Director of Discover Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg commented, "I am very proud that a well established brand like Europcar has selected Discover the World to be the point of contact for the Dutch travel trade. As international travel is recovering, the demand for rental cars is increasing. With the knowledge that there will be an overall shortage in rental cars worldwide, Europcar will be a good addition for TMC's, travel agencies and tour operators. Europcar will offer a healthy commission and multiple booking options for agencies to get access to the best rates and availability."

Europcar is the European leader of car and light commercial vehicle rental. For more information about Europcar, visit: www.europcar.com.

For more information about Discover the World, visit discovertheworld.com

About Discover the World

Discover the World has earned a reputation as an innovative global sales representation leader in the travel industry through a worldwide network of 85 offices in more than 60 countries. With a portfolio of over 100 clients utilizing its sales, marketing and business process outsourcing services, the work of Discover the World has a direct positive impact on the growth of our clients and trade industry partners every day.

SOURCE Discover the World

Related Links

http://www.discovertheworld.com


TORRANCE, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. (OTCQX: EMMA) a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the treatment of sickle cell disease, today announced a partnership with UpScript IP Holdings, LLC. (UpScript), to offer telehealth solutions to sickle cell disease patients, expanding access to Endari, Emmaus' prescription L-glutamine oral powder for the treatment of sickle cell disease.

The telehealth partnership with UpScript will allow patients to see a doctor without leaving home, thereby eliminating the risk of infection that can occur with hospital visits. Additional benefits to patients include the ability to receive same-day physician authorization and prescription for Endari and to have the prescription delivered directly to their homes within just a few days.

"This partnership with UpScript, a proven, direct-to-consumer telehealth platform, provides us with another key avenue through which we can meaningfully improve sickle cell patient's access to Endari," stated Yutaka Niihara, M.D., M.P.H., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Emmaus. "Indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older, Endari is recognized as an important tool in the management of this debilitating disease. It is convenient and requires no preliminary or follow up blood work monitoring. Endari is well-tolerated and can easily be consumed with water, juice or other liquids. We are proud to partner with UpScript and believe Endari has the potential to become the first choice in treating sickle cell disease patients in the telehealth setting."

George Sekulich, Senior Vice President of Global Commercialization of Emmaus added, "Once deployed, our telehealth services will provide a new, convenient method for patients to receive Endari and improve their overall experience. We plan to launch this critical service over the next few months."

"UpScript looks forward to initiating this partnership and improving the accessibility of Endari to sufferers of sickle cell disease," said Peter Ax, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of UpScript. "Our direct-to-consumer platform allows pharmaceutical companies to reach patients in a convenient, safe and effective manner, improving patient's lives by making medications accessible and more affordable."

About Emmaus Life Sciences

Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc. is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company and leader in the treatment of sickle cell disease. The company currently markets U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Endari (L-glutamine oral powder) indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adults and children 5 years and older. The company is also engaged in the discovery and development of innovative treatments and therapies for certain rare and orphan diseases as well as those affecting larger populations, such as diverticulosis. For more information, please visit www.emmausmedical.com.

About UpScript

UpScript provides a direct-to-consumer telemedicine platform for pharmaceutical companies and consumer products companies allowing for convenient access to high quality health care. In 2002 we were the first company in the US to be licensed to write prescriptions on the internet through an online physician consultation. Since then we've treated more than a million consumers in all fifty states. Learn more at www.UpScriptHealth.com.

About Endari (prescription grade L-glutamine oral powder)

Endari, Emmaus' prescription grade L-glutamine oral powder, was approved by the FDA in July 2017 for treating sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older. Sales of Endari began in the United States in 2018.

Indication

Endari is indicated to reduce the acute complications of sickle cell disease in adult and pediatric patients five years of age and older.

Important Safety Information

The most common adverse reactions (incidence >10 percent) in clinical studies were constipation, nausea, headache, abdominal pain, cough, pain in extremities, back pain, and chest pain.

Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation included one case each of hypersplenism, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, burning sensation, and hot flash.

The safety and efficacy of Endari in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease younger than five years of age has not been established.

For more information, please see full Prescribing Information of Endari at: www.ENDARIrx.com/PI.

About Sickle Cell Disease

There are approximately 100,000 people living with sickle cell disease (SCD) in the United States and millions more globally. The sickle gene is found in every ethnic group, not just among those of African descent; and in the United States an estimated 1-in-365 African Americans and 1-in-16,300 Hispanic Americans are born with SCD.1 The genetic mutation responsible for SCD causes an individual's red blood cells to distort into a "C" or a sickle shape, reducing their ability to transport oxygen throughout the body. These sickled red blood cells break down rapidly, become very sticky, and develop a propensity to clump together, which causes them to become stuck and cause damage within blood vessels. The result is reduced blood flow to distal organs, which leads to physical symptoms of incapacitating pain, tissue and organ damage, and early death.2

1Source: Data & Statistics on Sickle Cell Disease  National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, December 2020.

2Source: Committee on Addressing Sickle Cell Disease  A Strategic Plan and Blueprint for Action -- National Academy of Sciences Press, 2020.

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding possible increased access to Endari available through telemedicine. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties which change over time, including risks inherent in the regulatory approval process and other factors previously disclosed in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on August 10, 2021 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and actual results may differ materially. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Emmaus assumes no duty to update them, except as may be required by law.

SOURCE Emmaus Life Sciences, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.emmausmedical.com


NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has made available 1,000+ company profiles for the advertising services category on its B2B platform. Companies listed in this category are primarily engaged in providing various types of advertising services (such as advertising copywriting, photography, etc.). Companies which manufacture various advertising-related products are also included in the category.

Get Free Access to These 1,000+ Profiles

Snapshot of BizVibe's advertising 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 companies who provide advertising services. 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 Advertising Services Company Profiles:

List of product and service category offerings and primary operating industries

Risk of doing business score across four different metrics

List of key executives and their roles within the company

Company financials and general organizational information

Global, national, and regional competitors

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

Get Started to View Free Company Insights

Advertising Services 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 advertising services on BizVibe, covering 20+ related categories. Each company profile contains detailed insights dedicated to helping procurement and sales teams find trusted suppliers and target sales prospects.

Examples of advertising services profiles that can be discovered on BizVibe include companies that specialize in:

Advertising copywriting services

Advertising photography services

Digital advertising services

Direct mailing services

Aerial advertising services

Get Free Company Profile Access for all Categories

Company Profiles for Buyers and Sellers

BizVibe's modern B2B platform is designed to help both global buyers and sellers. Powered by the latest best-in-class solutions, BizVibe provides outstanding product features for both category managers and sales professionals.

Features for Buyers:

Quickly discover the right suppliers

Create short lists and custom alerts

Mitigate supplier risk and evaluate suppliers

Send RFIs/RFPs

Learn how BizVibe helps buyers: https://www.bizvibe.com/find-suppliers

Features for Sellers:

Target the right sales prospects

Qualify leads

Analyze buyer potential

API integration and data enrichment

Learn how BizVibe helps sellers: https://www.bizvibe.com/sellers

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

Related Links

https://www.bizvibe.com


SEATTLE, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fabric , a headless commerce platform purpose-built for growth, today announced that Chandra Shekar Neti has been appointed the company's first Head of and Vice President of Software Engineering, APAC. Chandra will lead fabric's core software development teams across the APAC region, where he'll direct the design, development and deployment of new API-based solutions for fabric's global customer audience. He will report to Umer Sadiq, fabric's Chief Technology Officer.

Chandra joins fabric after an impressive 14-year career at Amazon in both Seattle and India, where he steered multiple engineering teams as they developed commerce products for the Amazon global sellers that drove billions of dollars in Amazon gross merchandise sales. Additionally, Chandra helped launch Amazon Prime First Reads and Amazon Charts. He also was critical to scaling Amazon's reverse logistics software which now processes millions of transactions each day.

"The commerce industry is going through massive digital transformation, and fabric is at the center of it, helping brands deliver the best digital shopping experience possible," said Chandra. "For the past decade, brands have been held back by the available commerce technology, which wasn't built for modern needs. Fabric's team of commerce operators and technologists built a composable commerce platform with flexible APIs designed to scale a brands' digital experiences. This is the future of online commerce."

Chandra comes to fabric at a time of unprecedented commerce growth and amidst record momentum for the company. U.S. e-commerce is growing at 17% year over year, and global e-commerce is expected to hit a record $910 billion this holiday season alone. In 2021, fabric has:

Achieved YoY revenue growth in excess of 877%

Attracted top talent across the business, growing employee headcount by more than 400%

Earned a net customer retention rate of 230%

Signed leading commerce brands like BarkBox, Bodybuilding.com, GNC and Restoration Hardware as customers

Added to its executive team industry leaders from Amazon, Google, HPE, and Twilio, including Tyler Nemiro as VP of Enterprise Sales, Val Rupp as Chief of People, Krupa Shah as General Counsel and Nevin Shetty as Chief Financial Officer

as VP of Enterprise Sales, as Chief of People, as General Counsel and as Chief Financial Officer Extended its modular, integrated suite of commerce APIs including Product Information Management (PIM), Order Management, Loyalty Management and Subscriptions products, allowing customers the flexibility to transition onto fabric, one or more components at a time

Chandra will play a critical role as fabric positions Asia as a strategic development center in its global expansion strategy. As part of this position, Chandra will grow and lead a technical team in Asia, including directing all employees in software development, quality assurance, software support, and program management.

"The continued advances in digital commerce makes excellence in software engineering an imperative for our business," said Umer Sadiq. "Chandra will lead the development and definition of fabric's software engineering strategy, which includes providing technology direction, driving engineering excellence to build secure, scalable and highly available systems that meet the needs of all our customers across fabric product suite."

Additional Resources:

Join fabric's industry leading team with opportunities for working for fabric Commerce

Learn how fabric is making history with bold innovations to take Modular Commerce To Mainstream

About Fabric

Fabric is the headless commerce platform purpose-built for growth. Customers like BuildDirect, abc carpet & home, GNC, and MSC trust fabric for its open and modular design that allows them to be live within weeks without having to replatform. fabric is a force multiplier on retailers' existing technology investments proven to grow digital revenue by up to 3x. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, fabric is backed by Stripes, B Capital Group, Greycroft, Norwest Venture Partners, Redpoint Ventures, Sierra Ventures, Innovation Global Capital, Ascend Venture Capital, Expa and BC Partners. To learn more, visit https://fabric.inc.

Mission North for fabric

[email protected]

703-795-1928

SOURCE Fabric Inc.

Related Links

https://fabric.inc


NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fixed Income Analysts Society (FIASI) in collaboration with Fordham University's Center for Research in Contemporary Finance and the O'Shea Center for Credit Analysis and Investment are inviting research applications for the 2nd Annual FIASI-Gabelli School Student Research Competition on environmental, social and governance (ESG) focused investments and innovations. This co-branded competition invites undergraduate and graduate students to submit their ongoing original research on the topic of sustainable finance in fixed income or related markets1. Although the primary focus of this competition is to encourage student research on ESG in the fixed income market, research papers on the application of ESG principles in related markets but still relevant for fixed income will also be accepted. The purpose of the competition is to raise awareness of environmental, social and governance-based principles of investing in the fixed income markets as a research area, address challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of ESG in fixed income, promote the further development of ESG in the design of fixed income investments as well as corporate innovations and to gain more visibility for and encourage conversations among students, academics, as well as practitioners.

The competition will recognize up to eight research papers in year 2022, with each winning submission receiving an award of up to $5,000 and recognition at the annual FIASI ESG in Fixed Income conference scheduled to be held on or about April 21, 2022 and April 22, 2022 (Earth Day 2022). Payments will be made directly to the recipients. This grant does not in any way preclude subsequent publication of the research in the journals of the recipients' choice. The recipients should agree to acknowledge this grant in all publications and presentations, and to present the research at a mutually convenient date following the FIASI conference. For reference, last April, three competition winners were announced, each receiving a monetary award in the amount of $2,000, and the winners were invited to present their research papers at a virtual event hosted jointly by FIASI and Fordham.

This year, the Competition is being expanded to include schools with business programs in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area and students in this region are welcome to submit their research for the competition. Examples of student submissions include PhD. dissertations, Masters theses, Honors program theses, or any similar researches. Research papers coauthored between students and faculty are also welcome. Submissions from undergraduate, master, and PhD students will be evaluated in separated pools and awards will be chosen independently from these pools.

All submissions should consist of the following:

A cover page with title, names of authors, addresses and affiliation;

An abstract of up to 150 words;

A research paper;

A copy of (each) researcher's resume.

A review committee will select the winners from the submitted proposals. In making its selections, the committee will seek input from colleagues at both FIASI and the Gabelli School of Business finance area. The review committee will consist of members drawn from the academic community as well as the fixed income industry.

Research papers will be judged on the basis of the originality and relevance of the research question as well as the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the research methodology.

Applicants should submit their proposals to Ms. Pamela Huang ([email protected]) by March 18, 2022. Decisions will be made before on or about April 15, 2022.

The competition is co-funded by the Fixed Income Analysts Society and Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business.

Additional questions or inquiries should be directed to Lauren Nauser, Executive Director, FIASI at [email protected].

1 Submissions from both full-time and part-time students will be accepted. The research should reflect the student's own analysis and should contain a disclaimer that the research is not in any connected to or derives from a previous or current employer.

SOURCE Fixed Income Analysts Society (FIASI)
RAIPUR, India, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stratview Research announces the launch of a new research report on Flame-Retardant Resin Market in the Composites Industry by End-Use Industry Type (Marine, Transportation, Electrical & Electronics, Building & Construction, Aerospace & Defense, Pipe & Tank, and Others), by Resin Type (Epoxy, Phenolic, Polyester, and Others), by Fiber Type (Glass Fiber and Other Fibers), and by Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World), Trend, Forecast, Competitive Analysis, and Growth Opportunity: 2019-2024.

This strategic assessment report, from Stratview Research, provides a comprehensive analysis that reflects the industry realities and future market possibilities of today's FR resin market in composites, for the forecast period of 2021 to 2026. The report segments and analyzes the market in the most detailed manner to provide a panoramic view of the market. The vital data/information provided in the report can play a crucial role for the market participants as well as investors in the identification of low-hanging fruits available in the market as well as formulate growth strategies.

Flame-Retardant (FR) Resin Market in the Composites Industry: Highlights

Flame retardants are substances that are activated by the presence of an ignition source and are designed to control the spread of ignition through a variety of physical and chemical methods. They can be either introduced as a co-polymer during the polymerization process, afterward added to the polymer during the molding or extrusion process or applied as a topical finish. Flame retardancy in resins is of paramount significance, especially where fire, smoke, and toxicity (FST) and high-temperature properties are the primary requirements. It is estimated that FR resin is likely to remain one of the most important resin types in the overall composite resins market in the forthcoming years.

The FR resin market is a unique business with usage in specific applications. The COVID pandemic had different impacts on the demand for FR resins in different applications/industries. For instance, aerospace & defense, transportation, and marine were some of the major markets that recorded hefty declines in 2020. However, the E&E industry, the biggest demand generator for FR resins, registered growth in that trying time, offsetting the declines of other market segments. The FR resin market in the composites industry witnessed a contracted growth of 2% from 2019 to 2020). In the long run, the market is likely to generate a myriad of opportunities for its stakeholders by reaching an unprecedented figure of US$ 7.0 billion in 2026. The primary growth drivers are the stringent fire and safety standards along with the increased need for FR4 laminates in the electronics industry.

Click Here to Browse the Detailed TOC of the Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/toc/197/flame-retardant-resin-market-in-the-composites-ind.html

Based on end-use industry type, the FR resin market in the composites industry is segmented as marine, transportation, electrical & electronics (E&E), building & construction, aerospace & defense, pipe & tank, and others. Over the next five years, E&E is likely to remain the largest market segment, witnessing growth at a significant pace. In the E&E business, the FR resins are largely used in the manufacturing of printed circuit boards (PCB). The PCBs are made with a variety of laminates, including paper, FR-4, CEM, and polyamide. The most prevalent varieties are FR-4 and CEM, both of which predominantly use FR epoxy resins.

Based on the resin type, epoxy is expected to maintain its market dominance during the forecast period. The FR epoxy resins have several superior properties, including strength, adhesiveness, adaptability, moisture absorbency, and minimal volumetric shrinkage, because of which, this resin is gaining popularity in the composites market. The most common application for FR epoxy resins is printed circuit boards (PCBs).

In terms of fiber type, glass fiber is expected to remain dominant over the next five years. The fiber type is extremely preferred across all the end-use industries. The 'other fibers' segment is expected to grow at a higher pace, during the forecast period, driven by the increasing penetration of carbon composites due to a higher requirement of lightweight components.

In terms of regions, Asia-Pacific is expected to generate the largest demand for FR resins during the forecast period. This is because of several factors including the gradual shift of the E&E industry from the developed global economies to the developing countries in Asia, rising demand for high-speed trains and metro rails, indigenous development of commercial and regional aircraft, and increased construction activities. In the forthcoming years, the region is also likely to remain the most appealing market across the globe.

Register Here for a Free Sample of the Exclusive Report: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/Request-Sample/197/flame-retardant-resin-market-in-the-composites-ind.html#form

Following are the key players in the FR resin market in the composites industry:

Hexion Inc.

Huntsman International LLC

Olin Corporation

Nan Ya Plastics Corporation

INEOS Group Ltd.

AOC Resins

Georgia-Pacific LLC

Interplastic Corporation

Polynt Reichhold Group

Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.

In recent years, there were several key strategic alliances and M&As in the market with the purpose to strengthen product portfolio, widen geographical reach, increase the customer base, enhance product development and technical capabilities, etc. For example, in 2019, INEOS acquired the composites business of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. This transaction, when combined with Ashland's cost reduction program, helped Ashland to be in a better position to deliver sustained growth earnings and significant value for shareholders. In addition, in 2020, Huntsman Advanced Materials completed the acquisition of CVC Thermoset Specialties (CTS), a North American specialty chemical manufacturer, serving industrial composites, adhesives, and coating markets.

Report Features

This report provides market intelligence in the most comprehensive way. The report structure has been kept such that it offers maximum business value. It provides critical insights on the market dynamics and will enable strategic decision making for the existing market players as well as those willing to enter the market. The following are the key features of the report:

Market structure: Overview, industry life cycle analysis, supply chain analysis.

Market environment analysis: Growth drivers and constraints, Porter's five forces analysis, SWOT analysis.

Market trend and forecast analysis.

Market segment trend and forecast.

Competitive landscape and dynamics: Market share, product portfolio, product launches, etc.

Attractive market segments and associated growth opportunities.

Emerging trends.

Strategic growth opportunities for the existing and new players.

Key success factors.

This report studies the flame-retardant resin market in the global composites industry and has segmented the market in four ways, keeping in mind the interest of all the stakeholders across the value chain. Following are the four ways in which the market is segmented:

Flame-Retardant Resin Market in The Composites Industry, by End-Use Industry Type

Marine (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Transportation (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Electrical & Electronics (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Building & Construction (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Wind Energy (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Aerospace & Defense (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Pipe & Tank (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Flame-Retardant Resin Market in The Composites Industry, by Resin Type

Epoxy (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Phenolic (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Polyester (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Others (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Flame-Retardant Resin Market in The Composites Industry, by Fiber Type

Glass Fiber (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Other Fibers (Regional Analysis: North America , Europe , Asia-Pacific , and RoW)

Flame-Retardant Resin Market in The Composites Industry, by Region

North America (Country Analysis: USA , Canada , and Mexico )

Europe (Country Analysis: Germany , France , the UK, Russia , and Rest of Europe )

Asia-Pacific (Country Analysis: Japan , China , India , South Korea , and Rest of Asia-Pacific )

Rest of the World (Country Analysis: Brazil , Saudi Arabia , and Others)

Click Here for Other Reports from Stratview Research in the Composites Industry: https://www.stratviewresearch.com/market-reports/composites.html

About Stratview Research

Stratview Research is a global market intelligence firm providing wide range of services including syndicated market reports, custom research and sourcing intelligence across industries, such as Advanced Materials, Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mass Transportation, Consumer Goods, Construction & Equipment, Electronics and Semiconductors, Energy & Utility, Healthcare & Life Sciences, and Oil & Gas.

We have a strong team of industry veterans and analysts with an extensive experience in executing custom research projects for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies, in the areas of Market Assessment, Opportunity Screening, Competitive Intelligence, Due Diligence, Target Screening, Market Entry Strategy, Go to Market Strategy, and Voice of Customer studies.

Stratview Research is a trusted brand globally, providing high quality research and strategic insights that help companies worldwide in effective decision making.

Stratview Research has launched 'Composights', an online portal which offers free thought leadership reports, whitepapers, market report synopsis and much more for Composites and allied industries, worth US$ 20,000 every year.

Click here to sign up (No costs involved): https://www.stratviewresearch.com/composights/sign-in

For enquiries,

Contact:

Stratview Research

E-mail: [email protected]

Direct: +1-313-307-4176

SOURCE Stratview Research
MIAMI, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Flexbase , the automated payment platform for contractors and the construction industry that delivers faster and more efficient payments, today announced the first-ever credit card specifically for construction companies, targeting small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Flexbase Card is available immediately nationwide, offering up to 60 days interest-free credit and numerous other benefits.

"For years, slow payments and cash-flow have been the construction industry's biggest problem, resulting in many SMB construction companies stagnating or outright failing. In fact, a large percentage of these companies fail within the first few years of operation, making it increasingly difficult for others, including newcomers, to secure credit from banks," says Zaid Rahman, Founder and CEO of Flexbase. "With our card offering, we are going to democratize access to capital for construction companies of all sizes, and bring equal opportunity to everyone."

While any construction company may apply for Flexbase Card, those who use the card in tandem with the Flexbase platform will be able to achieve deeper insight into their financial data and other factors, potentially becoming eligible to borrow larger credit amounts. New workflow enhancements between the card and the platform will also reduce paperwork and increase invoicing efficiency. This combination of accelerated cash-flow management combined with greater access to capital will help improve these companies' financial position and their ability to compete and grow.

This is the industry's first card requiring no personal guarantee and no security deposit, providing much higher credit and up to 60 days of interest-free credit.

"SMB construction companies should not be failing in a booming market. By supercharging their access to capital, we are fulfilling the needs of a severely underbanked and credit invisible market segment," continues Rahman. "We are excited and proud to support these companies who represent a key factor in building a thriving national economy."

About Flexbase

Flexbase supercharges cashflow for construction companies. On average, it takes over 100 days to get paid in the construction industry. Through automation, Flexbase reduces the time it takes to get paid through a comprehensive AR/AP product for the construction industry. Flexbase is also revolutionizing construction credit by launching a credit card with no personal guarantee purpose built for the construction industry with built in expense management for managing project expenses across every stakeholder.

SOURCE Flexbase
CHICAGO, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Franchising for Heroes - A newly formed organization with the goal of helping service men and women find jobs and break into the world of business ownership through franchising has officially launched. The organization is run by Veterans and former First Responders with a passion for helping heroes in search of their next calling and offers a variety of programs to help veterans and current and former first responders succeed within the franchising space

Franchising for Heroes is the creation of Pivotal Growth Partners manager of strategic projects and special initiatives and former police officer, Martin Parker. Leveraging his former relationships within law enforcement and partnering with franchisees within PGP's client brands, Martin teamed with Chris Harvey, a decorated Navy veteran and franchise owner and Charles Rankin, franchise owner, Airforce veteran, and former FBI agent, Woody Furnas, former police commander and franchise owner and Jen Furnas, former paramedic and firefighter and franchise owner to bring his idea to fruition. The team set out to create programs offering first responders and veterans the chance to grow, learn and thrive in their Second Act of Service in addition to establishing the organization as a registered non-profit.

"What we have come to realize over the past year and a half is that companies and businesses, small and large, are finding it extremely difficult to retain or hire employees," said Martin Parker "We have also come to realize that due to nationwide social unrest, first responders are looking for other opportunities outside of public service. Veterans and first responders want to work. FFH wants to help create the opportunity to work and a path towards ownership within franchising."

FFH's Heroes to Jobs Program provides a way to help veterans and first responders find employment placement within a franchise brand as a shift lead, assistant manager, or manager. This program also places vets and first responders on a path to becoming an operational partner within the franchise's they are placed, with the ultimate goal of creating a path toward ownership of his or her own franchise location.

More so, Franchising for Heroes offers a Heroes to Owner's Program, which aids heroes who already qualify for ownership of a franchise. FFH's third program, Investment in Heroes, gives non-service members the chance to partner with a hero to become a franchise owner or invest in a hero as an operational partner.

"I wanted to do something that allowed me to continue to serve but on my own terms", said Charles Rankin, a co-creator of FFH, Veteran and Former FBI special agent. "Just the opportunity to talk with fellow veterans in the military and law enforcement about what's next is an honor."

Franchising for Heroes is actively seeking to partner with brands who value the service of our Heroes and would like to do their part in saying thank you by employing and creating ownership opportunities for our service men and women.

About Franchising for Heroes

Built on the premise of "Heroes Helping Heroes," Franchising for Heroes offers career consultation for U.S. Military Veterans, and First Responders looking for their second act of services as leaders in business. The founding members of Franchising for Heroes have proudly worn the same badges, patches, and scars as our heroes, and have first-hand experience transitioning from uniformed service to the world of franchising. Our mission is two-fold - we strive to help our brothers and sisters who heeded the call with education, guidance, awareness, and a path forward in franchise ownership and we amplify the visibility of our championed causes that seek to shine a light upon darkness that affects the lives of our heroes and their families. For more information about Franchising for Heroes, please visit https://franchisingforheroes.com/

About Pivotal Growth Partners

Pivotal Growth Partners (PGP) is a full-service Growth & Development Firm with an unparalleled track record of success in growing franchise brands. The experienced team at PGP has awarded & developed more than 5000 franchised businesses across the US and internationally, working with startups and some of the world's largest companies. With a combined 50+ years of experience and a network of growth and development partners, Pivotal Growth Partners creates value, growing small, regional companies into nationally acclaimed brands. PGP deploys proven processes and systems to effectively grow a business, by creating a "Results Focused" Franchise Growth & Support Culture within its brands. For more information, visit www.pivotalgrowthpartners.com.

SOURCE Pivotal Growth Partners

Related Links

https://franchisingforheroes.com


However, this is far from the case. While it's true the IRS will not ordinarily seek to put a corpse in jail, the IRS will target the estate of the deceased if it believes that the deceased violated the internal revenue code. The federal government will not hesitate to bring enforcement actions whether the deceased's violations were found to be willful or non-willful. The government has successfully prosecuted several such cases. This may land the potential heirs of the estate in a world of trouble if they are found to be a willing participant in the decedent's noncompliance or in covering up the noncompliance. Additionally, the IRS and State taxing authorities are creditors of the estate that most be satisfied before distributions can be made to the heirs of the estate that will not create a personal liability for the estate executor. The estate administrator's personal assets can be at risk if the taxing authorities are not satisfied before assets are distributed. There are options at your disposal for defending against these type of problems, however you would be well served to hire a dually licensed Tax Attorney and CPA to receive counsel on all of your options.

The best way to defend against the insatiable appetite of the federal government is to enlist the help of the dual licensed Tax Attorneys and CPAs at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing. Our team has built our reputation on going to battle against the federal and State government for our clients and consistently achieving effective damage control. To hear what we can offer you, call us today at (800) 681-1295 or schedule a reduced rate initial consultation online.

Gill: FBAR Non-Willful Penalties Extend to Estate Even After Defendant's Death

In a recent case heard in federal district court in the Southern District of Texas, the federal government won a major decision that sets the precedent for hunting down penalties even after a tax code violator has died. In U.S. v. Gill (No. 18-cv-04020 (S.D. Tex. 2021)), the court dismissed the estate's motion to dismiss roughly $800,000 in penalties levied by the IRS for FBAR reporting violations.

It is important to note two key aspects of the Southern District's decision. First, these penalties were assessed for what were found to be non-willful violations. A non-willful violation, as evidenced by the name, is one that the government attributes to a simple mistake or other unknowing failure on the part of the taxpayer. Though substantial, penalties for non-willful violations are much lighter than their willful counterparts. Still, the court deemed that these penalties should apply to the estate even after the violator was no longer alive to answer for them, indicating clearly that willful penalties would carry over as well.

Second, the distinction between unpaid taxes owed and penalties is important here. Imposing an order to pay back funds in the amount of unpaid taxes would seem to be in the interest of restoring equity and justice. But penalties, which are assessed to taxpayers in addition to unpaid taxes, are meant to punish the behavior incentivize future compliance. These reasonings don't really apply to someone who isn't alive. Yet, the court determined that assessing the penalties from the estate was proper because it served a "remedial" purpose.

How to Defend Against the IRS Targeting Your Estate After You Have Died

Not surprisingly, in tax violation cases, the odds are stacked against the taxpayer. In order to defend against a non-willful penalty for a tax violation such as a failure to meet FBAR reporting guidelines, you have limited options.

One such option in the face of such penalties is asserting a defense of reasonable cause. The reasonable cause defense is essentially the argument that the taxpayer reasonably believed that they were acting in compliance with the tax code. Because the tax code is so complicated and changes fairly frequently, this defense can make sense in many circumstances.

However, it is the burden of the taxpayer to prove their reasonable cause. How the federal government will evaluate reasonable cause depends on the nature of the violation and the penalty assessed. You will also likely have to show that your failure to remain compliant wasn't due to "willful neglect," or consciously choosing to ignore or avoid learning about the correct law that applied to your tax reporting requirements.

Can Voluntary Disclosure Help Prevent the IRS from Targeting Your Estate?

Another measure of defense that you may choose to employ against potential penalties for non-willful tax code violations is voluntary disclosure. The voluntary disclosure program was created to allow for people who realize that they had previously purposefully or unwittingly violated the tax code to amend previous filings and receive a pass on criminal tax prosecution. This cooperation makes the IRS' job easier, as they are saved the time and money of a criminal tax investigation or an audit. As such, voluntary disclosers ordinarily received advantageous penalty provisions related to their past transgressions.

Note: As long as a taxpayer that has willfully committed tax crimes (potentially including non-filed foreign information returns coupled with affirmative evasion of U.S. income tax on 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!

Voluntary disclosure is a delicate process. You should know that voluntary disclosure is a preventative measure, not a direct defense to penalties already assessed. If you hope to use voluntary disclosure to your advantage, you should be sure that the IRS is not already aware of your past noncompliance. Disclosing incorrectly or at the wrong time can make matters even worse for the honest taxpayer just trying to limit the damage for a mistake.

For this reason, you should always have the assistance of a dual Licensed International Tax Attorney and CPA. Only an Attorney can assess your criminal tax exposure. Tax attorneys can communicate with the IRS on your behalf to make safe and helpful cooperation work to your advantage instead of against you. Fortunately, the professionals at the Tax Law Offices of David W. Klasing have dual licensing and are ready willing and able to assist you throughout the process. Whether you are already facing IRS penalties or fear that the federal government may target you or a loved one's estate once they are already gone, we can help today.

We Can Help You Avoid IRS Penalties Assessed on Your Death

Our dual licensed Tax Attorneys and CPAs are ready and willing to defend you against the relentless efforts of the IRS. No matter what your situation may be, you deserve the help of the professionals. Call us today at (800) 681-1295.

See our 2011 OVDI Q and A Library

See our FBAR Compliance and Disclosure Q and A Library

See our Foreign Audit Q and A Library

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

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TRANSPORTATION DISPUTES FULLY RESOLVED

LARGE LEGACY CONTINGENT LIABILITY ELIMINATED

FRONTERA MOVES FORWARD WITH SMALL TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENTS, PAYMENT NOT REQUIRED WHEN SERVICE IS SUSPENDED

CALGARY, AB, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Frontera Energy Corporation (TSX: FEC) ("Frontera" or the "Company"), Cenit Transporte y Logistica de Hidrocarburos S.A.S. ("CENIT") and Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S. ("Bicentenario") separately announced today that the Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca approved the conciliation agreement (the "Conciliation Agreement") between Frontera, CENIT, and Bicentenario and that they have concluded the final formalities of the settlement arrangement. The settlement arrangement is now finalized and in full force.

Gabriel de Alba, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented:

"This completed settlement represents the final step in resolving all the disputes between the parties related to the Bicentenario Pipeline and the Cano Limon  Covenas Pipeline. This eliminates a large contingent liability and is an incredibly important milestone for Frontera, its shareholders and partners in Colombia. This is an example of Frontera's ability to work with local partners to lay the groundwork to advance and develop material infrastructure assets for Colombia."

Orlando Cabrales, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frontera, commented:

"Today, we achieved a critical milestone in advancing the Company's strategy to fully resolve the key legacy issue with the approval and completion of the conciliation agreement. I would like to express my appreciation to all those that have been involved in the process. The agreement is a testament to the good faith efforts by all parties to advance a positive commercial relationship and we look forward to continuing to explore opportunities to further strengthen these partnerships and create value for our stakeholders."

On November 16, 2020, Frontera, CENIT and Bicentenario announced that they had reached an agreement for the joint filing of a petition for approval of the Conciliation Agreement which, upon completion and approval by the competent Colombian court, would resolve all the disputes between the parties related to the Bicentenario Pipeline (the "BIC Pipeline) and the Cano Limon  Covenas Pipeline (the "CLC Pipeline"), and would terminate all the pending arbitration proceedings related to such disputes. All of the Frontera subsidiaries involved in those proceedings are also parties to the Conciliation Agreement, and references to Frontera include such subsidiaries.

The settlement arrangement mandates for a full and final mutual release upon closing of all present and future amounts claimed by all parties in respect of the terminated transportation contracts for both the CLC Pipeline and the BIC Pipeline, and also in respect to certain related contracts. For further information about those claims, refer to Note 28 of the Company's 2020 Annual Consolidated Financial Statements.

Under the previous BIC Pipeline and the CLC Pipeline Transportation Agreements, Frontera committed to ship or pay the cost of an equivalent of 47,333 barrels of oil per day until up to 2024 in the BIC Pipeline and BIC storage facilities and 2028 in CLC Pipeline as well as ancillary services. The pipeline was frequently disrupted and inaccessible due to actions from illegal groups during the period of the contract, impacting Frontera directly.

The terms of the Conciliation Agreement remain the same as previously announced by the Company on November 17, 2020, subject to the following adjustments:

The new CLC and BIC Pipeline contracts will be approximately 2,770 bbls/day for a term of up to five years for use of the CLC Pipeline and BIC Pipeline (and certain related facilities), becoming effective within a six-month period from November 11, 2021 (closing of the agreement).

Pipeline contracts will be approximately 2,770 bbls/day for a term of up to five years for use of the CLC Pipeline and Pipeline (and certain related facilities), becoming effective within a six-month period from (closing of the agreement). The previously disclosed volume was estimated at ~3,900 bbls/day. The amount was reduced due to increased value of the BIC Pipeline line fill as a result of increased Brent prices.

Pipeline line fill as a result of increased Brent prices. The Oleoducto de los Llanos Orientales S.A. ("ODL") Pipeline contract is now expected to begin by January 2022 and Frontera will not be required to make payments under the new transportation contract for oil that is required to be shipped on alternative pipelines.

With finalization of the agreement, the Company will recognize a non-cash loss of approximately $105.3 million relating to the reclassification of currency translation adjustment ("CTA") from other equity reserves to Statements of (Loss) Income. The CTA loss is primarily related to historical functional currency COP to U.S. dollar presentation currency translation differences on Bicentenario, as an investment in associates.

The Company does not expect the new BIC Pipeline, CLC Pipeline and ODL Pipeline Transportation Agreements to materially impact its transportation costs in the future. Frontera will not begin shipping under the new Transportation Agreements until 2022 and, as a result, the Company's 2021 transportation cost guidance will not be affected.

About Frontera:

Frontera Energy Corporation is a Canadian public company involved in the exploration, development, production, transportation, storage and sale of oil and natural gas in South America, including related investments in both upstream and midstream facilities. The Company has a diversified portfolio of assets with interests in 39 exploration and production blocks in Colombia, Ecuador and Guyana, and pipeline and port facilities in Colombia. Frontera is committed to conducting business safely and in a socially, environmentally and ethically responsible manner.

If you would like to receive News Releases via email as soon as they are published, please subscribe here: http://fronteraenergy.mediaroom.com/subscribe.

Advisories:

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding advancement of local partnerships, acceleration of regional exploration projects, development of material infrastructure assets and transportation costs) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: volatility in market prices for oil and natural gas (including as a result of a sustained low oil price environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions of OPEC and non-OPEC countries and the restrictions imposed by governments in response thereto); the duration and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and its severity; the success of the Company's program to manage COVID-19; uncertainties associated with estimating and establishing oil and natural gas reserves and resources; liabilities inherent with the exploration, development, exploitation and reclamation of oil and natural gas; the Company's ability to access additional financing; the ability of the Company to: meet its financial obligations and minimum commitments, fund capital expenditures and comply with covenants contained in the agreements that govern indebtedness; political developments in the countries where the Company operates; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data; geological, technical, drilling and processing problems and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's annual information form dated March 3, 2021 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

SOURCE Frontera Energy Corporation

Related Links

www.fronteraenergy.ca


MIAMI, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fun Wine Company, Inc., an industry leader in the innovation of 'better-for-you' low alcohol wine drinks, and creator of the FUN WINE Hard Bubbly and Cafe Graffiti Collections announced today that the Company closed a financing of $6,000,000 in 8%, 2-year notes convertible at a valuation of $90,000,000. Participants in the financing included lead investor Avon Road Partners of New Hope, PA, Cedarview Capital Management of New York City, Ross Family Trust of Boca Raton, FL, and a private New York investor.

FUN WINE Founder & CEO Joe Peleg commented, "We have invested over $15 million in the business to get to this point in our company's growth, and are elated that new investors continue to find FUN WINE as exciting an investment opportunity as we do." The Company intends to raise additional capital in a Regulation A+ public offering, subject to SEC Qualification, commencing in the first quarter of 2022 and has retained Manhattan Street Capital with its leading online fundraising platform to assist in conducting the Regulation A+. This regulation allows mid staged companies to raise up to $75 million over 12 months from Main Street investors.

About FUN WINE

Headquartered in Miami, The Fun Wine Company has received multiple awards for innovation, novel flavors, design, and packaging. The Company currently markets a new category of low-alcohol, low-calorie, all-natural, sparkling drinks produced by the largest wine group in Europe. With 5.5% ABV and all-natural monk fruit juice as a substitute for sugar, FUN WINE has only 59 calories in a 5 oz. glass of wine. Monk fruit was historically grown in China by monks, has no calories or carbs, and has hundreds of times the sweetness of sugar. It is also a wonderful flavor enhancer.

FUN WINE is built on four pillars: Flavor, Innovation, Price, and Art. Focused on eliminating the pretense often associated with traditional wine, FUN WINE makes wine fun for every drinking age while keeping prices affordable for mass appeal. It is available in a portfolio of delicious, all-natural, sparkling flavors, including Strawberry Rose Moscato, Peach Passion Moscato, Coconut Pineapple Chardonnay, Cappuccino Chardonnay, Espresso Cabernet, and Sangria. All flavors come packaged in pop graffiti 750 ml glass bottles and 330 ml aluminum bottles designed by Latin Grammy Artist Miguel Paredes. All FUN WINE bottles are recyclable.

Distribution of FUN WINE products in the US is led by Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), a world-class distributor of fine wines, spirits, and CBD in North America. RNDC is the second largest US distributor of wine and spirits, with operations in the District of Columbia and 37 states across the country. FUN WINE is sold at chain retail, supermarkets, pharmacy, and c-stores and should be available on-premise next year, including restaurants and fast food chains. Off-premise customers include Stew Leonard's, Walmart, Kroger, H-E-B, Wegmans Food Markets, Total Wine & More, Whole Foods, Rite Aid, King Kullen, Kinney Drugs, Tops, Sav-A-Lot, Shoprite, Circle K, 7-Eleven, Jewel Osco, Crown Liquors, and more. FUN WINE products are sold at affordable prices and have consistently experienced higher velocity rates than long-established wine products. In anticipation of supply chain bottlenecks, the Company has been accumulating inventory since the beginning of the year and has sufficient stock on hand to fulfill retail orders for the next six months. FUN WINE also has a presence in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and the Company has significant expansion plans overseas, including for local production in strategic markets. FUN WINE and FUN are registered US trademarks of FUN WINE (USA) LLC. www.funwine.com @Funwineofficial

Forward-Looking Statements and Legal Disclaimer: This press release contains information about the Company's view of its future expectations and plans regarding its distribution and financing activities which constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. The Company may, in the future, undertake a public offering pursuant to Regulation A+ under the Securities Act. No money or other consideration is being solicited at this time with respect to such offering, and if sent in response to these materials for such offering, it will not be accepted. No offer to buy securities can be accepted and no part of the purchase price can be received for an offering under Regulation A+ until an offering statement is qualified by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any such offer may be withdrawn or revoked, without obligation or commitment of any kind, at any time before notice of its acceptance given after the qualification date. An indication of interest made by a prospective investor in a Regulation A+ offering is non-binding and involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

For further information contact:

Gina Giacomantonio, GINA G PR

+1. 917.676.2938

[email protected]

SOURCE The Fun Wine Company, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.funwine.com


GATR EV has ordered 1,150 all-electric trucks in a major signal to the marketplace

The SEA M5 EVs offer industry-leading performance and range

GATR is committed to exploring new technology and opportunities for customers to help them be progressive and continue growth

The trucks are available from all five GATR EV dealerships

SAUK RAPIDS, Minn., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GATR Truck Center has made a significant step towards an all-electric transport future, with a deal to acquire 1,150 zero-emissions SEA M5 EVs for its clients across Minnesota and Iowa.

The deal will see the first 40 trucks delivered by the end of the 2021 calendar year, with the remainder delivered throughout 2022, with demonstration models made available for fleets to sample the technology for the very first time.

The package features the Hino Class 5 chassis, fitted with a SEA Electric SEA-Drive Power System, which has found favor the world over for its innovative design.

The truck's drive train features a 1,106lb-ft electric motor in combination with a 138kWh battery pack, which provides market-leading performance and range potential.

For GATR EV, the announcement will form the cornerstone of an e-commerce system currently in development focusing purely on the sale of electric vehicles.

All dealerships are set up to fully back this move into the EV space via comprehensive specialist after-sales support.

"The GATR companies are proud to be a leader in this huge momentum shift towards Electric Vehicles in our industry," said Matt Gordon, President of GATR Truck Centers/GATR EV.

"GATR EV is poised to offer solutions now to companies seeking new opportunities utilizing Electric Vehicle trucks.

"We can offer solutions in Q4 of 2021 and throughout 2022, we will have demonstration models for potential partners to experience this technology as well.

"Here at GATR, we pride ourselves on being innovators in our industry, being stewards of the environment, and exploring new opportunities to facilitate our customers in growing their companies and becoming more profitable."

Further to the announcement, GATR EV has struck a partnership with Merchants Fleet Management Company, which will enable clients access to one of the nation's most respected leasing companies.

For Merchants Fleet, the fastest growing fleet management company in the industry, the deal is the first step in a commitment to making 50 percent of its Mobility fleet electric by 2025, and 50 percent of its managed clients' fleets EV by 2030.

Other exciting initiatives will be announced in the coming months.

Since 1962, GATR Truck Center has been servicing Minnesota and Iowa, with its five locations offering full support to the heavy and medium segments of the market, including leasing and rental options.

The company's award-winning service and parts offering is backed up by three body shops, which specialize in a wide array of vehicle repairs.

GATR EV dealerships can be found in Elk River, MN, Sauk Rapids, MN, Cedar Rapids, IA, Waukee, IA, and Waterloo, IA, with further information available at www.gatrev.net.

Customers seeking further information should contact GATR EV Sales Manager, David Irving, at [email protected] or 515-859-6180.

To access a high resolution image: https://bit.ly/31GDvJW

SOURCE GATR Truck Center

Related Links

http://www.gatrev.net


HANGZHOU, China, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gmax Biopharm today announces that the first dose of GMA106 was given to human subjects in a phase 1 study to investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of this drug in the treatment of obesity. The study is a single dose, placeable controlled, double blind, randomized, dose escalating study, with 6 dose cohorts each containing 8 subjects. The dosages are 4, 10, 20, 40, 60, and 80mg. Gmax is also in the process of filing INDs for phase 1b/2 trials in China and USA.

"We are extremely excited about this event as GMA106 shows superior efficacy in weight reduction of non-human primate in pre-clinical studies. It can be a significant breakthrough as the second generation of drugs in our developmental pipeline for the treatment of obesity and T2DM. While GMA102 (T2DM) is already in phase 3 trial in China, GMA106 offers hope to fill more unmet medical needs in the obesity/T2DM areas. Additionally, this new drug could be used in combination with GMA102 for even better treatment of T2DM and obesity", said Dr. Shuqian Jing, founder and CEO of Gmax.

About GMA106: GMA106 is Gmax's second generation mAb therapy for the treatment of obesity/T2DM/NASH. It is rationally designed utilizing Gmax's GPCR mAb and M-Body technologies. This M-Body is composed of an anti-GIPR antibody fused with a GLP-1 peptide. It can simultaneously interact with GLP-1R and GIPR and regulate both signaling pathways to synergistically suppress appetite, reduce blood glucose and fat accumulation, and improve insulin resistance. Therefor GMA106 is a new and potentially a better treatment for obesity, diabetes and NASH (non-alcohol steatohepatitis).

About Gmax Biopharm LLC.: Gmax is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company established in 2010 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China. It's a global company focusing on R&D, production and commercialization of antibody drugs targeting GPCRs. Gmax mainly works on cardiovascular, metabolic and cancer areas. Currently there are five drug development programs in different stages of clinical trials: GMA102 (type 2 diabetes), GMA105 (obesity), GMA301A (PAH for adult), GMA301B (PAH for children), GMA106 (obesity/T2DM/NASH). GMA131, an ETA specific ERA mAb for DKD/CKD, is about to enter into phase 1/2 trial in China and USA. Gmax's unique M-body technology empowers acting on two or more different targets to improve drug efficacy or broaden indications.

www.gmaxbiopharm.com

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Gmax Biopharm LLC
"Some may know Gogoro for its award-winning portfolio of Smartscooters, but Gogoro's main focus is its world-leading battery swapping system, an innovative platform that allows riders to swap their batteries at stations in six seconds," said Chan Ming Lih, Industry Principal, Frost & Sullivan. "Today, Gogoro's battery swap solution is ideal for its own Smartscooters and nearly all electric two-wheelers in Taiwan, where the Gogoro platform supports 94.7% of refueling and manages more than 270,000 battery swaps per day."

The Gogoro Network is a sustainable smart city ecosystem that provides OEMs with a cleaner, faster, and superior electric refueling experience using Gogoro battery swapping. Today, Gogoro's Powered By Gogoro Network program has eight vehicle partners, making it the largest global battery swap platform for electric two-wheelers. Its vehicle partners currently include Yadea and Dachangjiang Group (DCJ) in China; Hero MotoCorp in India; Yamaha, Tailing eReady (a joint venture with Suzuki), AeonMotor, PGO, and CMC eMOVING in Taiwan. Gogoro provides these partners access to its innovations, including its intelligent drivetrains, components, and smart systems through its Gogoro Development Kit (GDK), enabling each OEM to develop electric two-wheeler models that integrate Gogoro's battery swapping.

Another successful solution from Gogoro is the GoShare electric two-wheeler sharing service. It launched GoShare in 2019 and by the end of 2021, GoShare had over 6,500 electric two-wheelers in operation and provided services in six special municipalities and counties in Taiwan.

The company continues to be an innovation-focused technology company committed to R&D. The Gogoro iQ System, an intelligent operating system that offers riders a variety of convenience and safety features, includes the ability to upgrade their vehicle over the air through a smartphone to improve performance and gain new features.

"With its innovative Gogoro Network battery swapping, new generation of smart batteries, and GoShare, Gogoro has clearly established a strong presence in the global electric two-wheeler market," noted Lih. "The company has proven its leadership capabilities in contributing to a more digitized, decarbonized, and resource-efficient transportation future, making it richly deserving of Frost & Sullivan's honor."

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents a Company of the Year award to the organization that demonstrates excellence in terms of growth strategy and implementation in its field. The award recognizes a high degree of innovation with products and technologies and the resulting leadership in terms of customer value and market penetration.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For six decades, Frost & Sullivan has been world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Contact us: Start the discussion.

About Gogoro Inc.

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

Press Contact:

Kala Mani. S.

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

Related Links

www.frost.com


VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Gold Royalty Corp. ("GRC") (NYSE American: GROY) is pleased to announce that it will host a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, November 15 at 12:00 pm EST.

David Garofalo, CEO & Chairman of Gold Royalty Corp, and John Griffith, Chief Development Officer will be providing shareholders and interested stakeholders an update following Gold Royalty's recently completed combination with Abitibi Royalties and Golden Valley Mines and Royalties. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session where participants will be able to ask any questions they may have of management.

To register for the Town Hall Meeting, please click this link: https://www.bigmarker.com/vid-conferences/Gold-Royalty-Town-Hall-VID-Conferences

About Gold Royalty Corp.

Gold Royalty Corp. is a gold-focused royalty company offering creative financing solutions to the metals and mining industry. Its mission is to acquire royalties, streams and similar interests at varying stages of the mine life cycle to build a balanced portfolio offering near, medium and longer-term attractive returns for its investors. Gold Royalty's diversified portfolio currently consists of net smelter return royalties on gold properties located in the Americas.

SOURCE Gold Royalty Corp.
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health Corporation's dismissal today of an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court of a health care civil rights lawsuit involving the rights of numerous HIV-positive "John Does" should be commended, according to consumer groups and a law firm representing the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs allege that CVS's prescription drug program for obtaining HIV medications put their lives at risk.

"We commend CVS for recognizing the potentially damaging impact of its appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, CVS should take the next step and ensure that people living with HIV have equal opportunity to access the same pharmacy benefits that other consumers receive. We look forward to discussing with CVS how to best achieve that result," said Jerry Flanagan, Litigation Director of Consumer Watchdog and counsel of record for the plaintiffs in the U.S. Supreme Court action.

The case before the Supreme Court, CVS Pharmacy, Inc. et al. v. John Doe, One, et al. (No. 20-1374), was filed in federal court in San Francisco in 2018 by attorneys for Consumer Watchdog and Whatley Kallas, LLP. Attorneys for Public Citizen joined the case at the U.S. Supreme Court. Oral argument in the action had been set for December 7, 2021.

The case before the U.S. Supreme Court involved an appeal by CVS of a unanimous ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals finding the plaintiffs had appropriately pled a claim for disability discrimination based on its discriminatory impact. CVS's petition to the U.S. Supreme Court, which was the subject of the request for dismissal filed today, sought to limit the reach of two landmark civil rights laws providing people living with disabilities "meaningful access" to benefits. The case now returns to the federal district court for additional proceedings.

CVS, one of the largest healthcare companies in the world, owns pharmacies throughout the U.S., but also operates as a pharmacy benefit manager, which coordinates pharmacy benefits for people like the John Does who are enrolled in employer-provided health plans.

CVS's program limits people living with HIV to obtaining their live-saving medications only by mail-ordercutting off access to pharmacists and other critical benefits essential for people living with HIVwhile continuing to make the same benefits available to others. The United States government and multiple disability groups filed "friend of the court" briefs, including one from the AIDS Health Foundation and another from Harvard Law School's Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, which detailed the health threats that such mail-order-only prescription drug programs cause for people living with HIV.

Download the brief filed by the John Doe plaintiffs at the U.S. Supreme Court here: https://tinyurl.com/b3frvx7p.

Though there is currently no cure for HIV, it can be effectively treated with antiretroviral medications. But use of those medications requires careful oversight and quick transition to new medications as the virus develops resistance, as well as monitoring for side effects that sometimes are only shown through visual cues. Pharmacists play a critical role in ensuring stable access to medications and counseling for people living with HIV. CVS's program, plaintiffs allege, causes a "loss of meaningful access" to pharmacy benefits by cutting off access to pharmacists, among other things.

People living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, have historically faced discrimination throughout the healthcare system. Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, one of the laws at issue in this case, is a key provision barring health insurance practices that have the effect of reducing access to benefits for people with disabilities such as HIV. Section 1557 re-adopts, and applies to health insurance, legal protections for people with disabilities enrolled in federally funded programs, as originally enacted in 1973 under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

In this case, CVS argued that Section 504 and Section 1557 cover only intentional discrimination, but not unintentional discrimination that has the effect of denying or excluding an individual with a disability from a benefit provided to others.

CVS's position is at odds with the plain language of the statutes and a prior unanimous Supreme Court decision by Justice Thurgood Marshall, as well as decades of decisions by the nation's Courts of Appeals. The Marshall opinion recognized that such "effects-based" protections were designed by Congress to address the fact that discrimination against people living with disabilities is most often the result of "thoughtlessness," "indifference," and "benign neglect" rather than only intentional activity.

For example, the existence of a staircase typically does not reflect an intent to discriminate against individuals with disabilities. But, as plaintiffs' brief notes, "if steps lead to the office where beneficiaries of a program must apply to participate, and there is no other access, persons who use wheelchairs are excluded from participation in the program and denied its benefits solely by reason of disability." In the case before the Supreme Court, CVS's discriminatory pharmacy program requiring access to HIV mediations only through mail order applies to people solely because of their HIV status and prevents meaningful access to benefits available to others, regardless of whether of CVS's actions were motivated by an intent to discriminate.

Through this lawsuit, the John Doe plaintiffs seek to undo the program's disability-based restrictions and provide equal access to the same benefits others already have.

Most other major health insurance companies in the United States now allow members to opt out of mail-order-only delivery of HIV medications as a result of numerous settlements achieved by attorneys for Consumer Watchdog and Whatley Kallas, LLP.

In a press release issued yesterday CVS announced that it would withdraw its petition in the Supreme Court. Today, CVS filed a stipulation of dismissal that will allow the case to continue in the lower courts.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Related Links

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org


In addition, the G-Charge Supercharging Station has sufficient space and energy. It has a maximum charging power of 160 kW and can provide users with 24-hour charging service.

It is worth mentioning that the charging station has a very user-friendly charging guidance function. With the GWM APP, users can quickly find the location of charging stations and book charging periods, pay for charging and use charging, etc. This not only saves the user's time but also satisfies the user's travel plan, which can be said to be a very intelligent experience.

It was revealed that users of ORA GOOD CAT may enjoy free charging services at the G-Charge Supercharging Station. It can charge the 400 TECH and 400 PRO models of ORA GOOD CAT from 30% to 80% in 32 minutes, and the 500 ULTRA model from 30% to 80% in 40 minutes.

According to official sources, on November 3, GWM and PEA ENCOM International Company Limited reached a cooperation agreement. It's a company specializing in green energy development under the power company PEA in Thailand, and has built dozens of charging stations for electric vehicles. This time, it installed a solar system on the G-Charge Supercharging Station, making it one of the largest public fast charging stations for electric vehicles in Thailand.

In addition to the construction of charging infrastructure, GWM has made other breakthroughs in the development of new energy. Take Dayu battery technology as an example. With dozens of patents, it is a core technology that covers the suppression, isolation, cooling, and discharge of heat sources, etc., and can effectively prevent power batteries from exploding due to thermal runaway.

In August, Meng Xiangjun, Rotating President of GWM, said at the 2021 Overseas Distributors Online Conference that in the next five years, GWM will invest RMB 100 billion in R&D in the field of new energy and intelligence to create safer, greener and smarter products for global users.

SOURCE GWM
"Alzheimer's entered my life at an early age when I lost my grandparents to the disease. Then, when I was 25 and my mom was only 55, she was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer's," said Lauren Miller Rogen, co-founder of HFC. "Seth and I founded HFC to raise awareness, educate people on the disease, and be a resource to those in need."

Bringing their live event back for a second year, Hilarity For Charity's Head To Head was an 80s-themed game night full of fun surprises. Celebrity team captains Charlize Theron, Ike Barinholtz, Jillian Bell, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Martin Starr lead their VIP guest team members in a game show night through trivia questions and challenges  with hilarious outcomes. The audience participated in a live chat where they shared their support, laughter, and personal stories.

"Laughter is therapeutic and seriously good for your brain, and we're not saying that because we're comedians," said Seth Rogen, co-founder of HFC. "We host these comedy-driven events to bring levity and hope to affected families, shed light on Alzheimer's, and spread joy because humor can be healing."

The live-streamed event was made possible by the generous support of sponsors including: Biogen, CALIROSA, Lionsgate, Hulu, UTA, Fiji Water, Home Instead, Eisai, GTB Technologies, Point Grey, SiteRx, Sony, Netflix, La Croix, HOUSEPLANT, Roddenberry Foundation, Lilly, Principal LA, Paramount, NBC Universal, Buoy Coast, and Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLP.

About HFC:

Founded in 2012 by Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, HFC is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to care for families facing Alzheimer's, educate young people about living a brain-healthy life, and activate the next generation of Alzheimer's advocates.

HFC is accelerating progress in Alzheimer's care, prevention, and support all while bringing many laughs and light to the Alzheimer's space. Thanks to the ongoing support of generous donors, HFC has raised over $15 million and awarded over 350,000 hours of in-home care relief to Alzheimer's family caregivers through our North American Caregiver Respite Grant Program. In addition to providing caregiver respite, HFC organizes online support groups to build caregiver community and connectivity, engages young people across the country to become Alzheimer's advocates, funds prevention-focused and brain-health research, and teaches people how to care for the health of their brains today, so they can reduce their risk of Alzheimer's tomorrow.

While there isn't a cure, there is care.

www.wearehfc.org

@wearehfc

SOURCE HFC
AUSTIN, Minn., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) today announced it has been ranked No. 32 on Military Times' Best for Vets: Employers 2021 list. This is the ninth consecutive year the company has made the list, which evaluates many factors that make a company or organization a good fit for military veterans.

"We are proud that Hormel Foods isn't just a great place to work, it's also a great place for our veterans who are a vital part of our team," said Janet Hogan, senior vice president of human resources at Hormel Foods. "We are proud of all of our veterans and service members, and it is an honor to be recognized as a Best for Vets Employer for nine years in a row."



This year, Military Times collaborated with Fors Marsh Group (FMG) to update the research methodology and analysis from previous years to provide a streamlined, user-friendly survey experience for participants. All survey changes were made based on subject matter expert reviews of the survey and rigorous qualitative research, including focus groups and in-depth interviews with Military Times subscribers. FMG designed, deployed, analyzed, and wrote the report for this year's survey.

"Military Times continues to set the standard for employer rankings for transitioning service members and veterans. Although often imitated, there is no other list that comes close to Best for Vets: Employers," says Mort Greenberg, SVP of media solutions at Military Times. "We stand by the rigor and soundness of this survey, which spotlights companies' employment programs that help transitioning service members excel in their post-military careers."

Hormel Foods actively recruits veterans and service members each year. In addition, the company has an employee resource group that provides assistance to current and former military members and their families as they integrate into the company's culture, while providing a platform for continued camaraderie throughout their career.

To view the complete Best for Vets: Employers list, visit https://bestforvets2021.militarytimes.com/

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS  Inspired People. Inspired Food.

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $10 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters, SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for 12 years, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement  Inspired People. Inspired Food.  to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/.



Contact:

Dean Peters

507-434-6352

[email protected]

SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation

Related Links

http://www.hormel.com


MILAN, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hovione, the global leader in spray drying and particle engineering, today announced that it is expanding its industrial facilities around the world to support its ambitious growth objectives. The company has been on an expansion track since 2016 in Portugal, Ireland and New Jersey with the aim of continuing to increase its capacity and capabilities to address customer needs.

The announcement of a $170 million investment in Hovione units in Portugal, Ireland, and New Jersey, leading to a global capacity increase of approximately 25%, was made at CPhI Wordwide, in Milan, by Guy Villax, CEO, and Jean-Luc Herbeaux, COO.

These investments will be used to support growth in the companys pharma custom development and manufacturing service business, fueled by strongly growing demand for Hoviones integrated and differentiated services in drug substance manufacturing, particle engineering and most recently drug product manufacturing. The expansion will go hand-in-hand with a build-up of Hoviones global team with the creation of more than 300 new jobs globally. This strategy will allow the company to continue to address difficult-to-meet client needs while reinforcing its commitment to the Hovione values and standard of quality.

In the USA, Hovione will add a 2900m2 building next to its current facility in East Windsor, New Jersey, laying the foundations for a state-of-the-art Hovione Campus. The upcoming cycle of investment will bring additional commercial spray drying capacity online by 2023. Further investments will follow with the aim to solidify the companys integrated offer: API - Particle - Drug Product in the region. This expansion will allow Hovione to accompany existing and new customers favoring US-based manufacturing through their development cycles all the way to commercial.

The capacity and capabilities of Hoviones Cork site in the Republic of Ireland will also be upgraded to enable the production of Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPI) and to facilitate onboarding of Drug Substance Manufacturing projects of all sizes. The investment will create an ecosystem in which large customer projects with unique technologies can find a home by connecting to the existing infrastructure and equipment. The site will also receive a new commercial size spray dryer to support the growing demand for particle engineering services.

In Portugal, Hovione is ready to start operations of its most recent facility with an increase in chemical synthesis capacity for High Potency Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAPI). The building is also prepared to receive a new commercial spray dryer to respond to the future needs of the global drug market.

"Hovione is in it for life and what better way to manifest this than through expansion of our global capacity and capabilities. Our sustainable organic growth strategy will allow us to keep true to those values that have been guiding us for more than 60 years", says Guy Villax, Chief Executive Officer.

"These investments reinforce our integrated specialized offer globally, providing our clients with a line of sight for their projects. Focus is placed on facilitating and speeding up the drug development cycle and launch, by providing API manufacturing, Particle Engineering and Tableting services in each site. Our strategy continues to be to grow organically via investments in our existing sites, which are designed for purpose. This reduces the complexity associated with the growth journey and allows us to focus our management attention on what counts most, i.e. guaranteeing that our clients go to market with quality, safe and effective medicines for their patients" says Jean-Luc Herbeaux, Hovione's Chief Operation Officer.

About Hovione

Hovione is an international company with over 60 years of experience as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) and is currently a fully integrated supplier offering services for drug substance, drug product intermediate and drug product. With four FDA inspected sites in the USA, China, Ireland and Portugal and development laboratories in Lisbon, Portugal and New Jersey, USA, the company provides branded pharmaceutical customers services for the development and compliant manufacture of innovative drugs including highly potent compounds. For generic pharmaceutical customers the company offers niche API products. Hovione also provides proprietary product development and licensing opportunities for drug products. In the inhalation area, Hovione is the only independent company offering a complete range of services.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1686008/Logo_Hovione_Logo.jpg

Contact

Isabel Pina | Director External Communications

[email protected] | Tel.: 0035121 982 9362

SOURCE Hovione
LONDON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Huobi Futures, a leading global digital asset derivatives trading platform under the Huobi Group, announced today that it will officially support grid trading features on the Huobi Global exchange's website and mobile app.

Grid trading features capitalize on price volatility by placing buy and sell orders at certain regular intervals above and below the price of a particular asset.

When a grid strategy is running, if one of the grid open orders is filled, the system will automatically place another order in the opposite direction. By automatically executing "buy low" and "sell high" functions, it guarantees the selling price to be higher than the buying price each time. This helps investors profit from sideways trends.

"Grid trading is a step up from 'shuttle trading'  creating a batch of positions that cover wider spaces for arbitrage. More importantly, Huobi's robust risk control system can ensure seamless operations for advanced traders," said Jeff Mei, Director of Global Strategy.

The addition of grid trading features comes after Huobi Futures launched features this year such as real-time settlement, follow a Maker and Taker, locked margin mechanism, bilateral take-profit and stop loss, and trailing stop. Going forward, Huobi Futures plans to add more features to cater to the increasing needs of its advanced traders and investors.

Grid Trading Campaign

Starting at 07:00 (London time) on Nov 11, users can trade USDT-margined swaps using the grid trading feature to equally share 20,000 USDT in prizes. The campaign will last for eight days. Users can simply run a grid trading strategy and cumulatively invest no less than 100 USDT in this strategy to receive rewards.

About Huobi Group

As a world-leading company in the blockchain industry, Huobi Group was founded in 2013 with a mission to make breakthroughs in core blockchain technology and the integration of blockchain technology to other industries. Huobi Group has expanded into public blockchains, digital assets trading, wallets, mining pools, proprietary investments, incubation, digital asset research, and more. Huobi Group has established a global digital economy industry ecosystem by investing in over 60 upstream and downstream companies in the blockchain industry and has created holistic global digital economy ecology.

For more information, please visit https://blog.hbg.com/.

SOURCE Huobi
Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Ennismore is a joint venture with Accor, formed in 2021.

Philippe Zrihen, Brand COO & Head of North America, Ennismore said, "We are thrilled to introduce the Hyde brand to the Middle East and to bring this iconic brand outside of the United States for the first time. The hotel will be home to four of our most craveable culinary experiences including Cleo and its dynamic Levantine menu, Katsuya's contemporary take on traditional Japanese cuisine, Hudson Tavern and The Perq. We truly believe that Hyde Dubai will be a highly sought-after destination in the city, for global travellers and locals alike."

Dr. Mkhitaryan, Group Owner of Emerald Palace Group said: "We are delighted to partner with the Hyde Hotel brand to launch the first international property outside of the US and in the UAE. This will be an exciting move for Emerald Palace Group and one that we are very much looking forward to having in our portfolio of hotels and residences. Hyde Hotel Dubai will be bringing guests a hideaway in the city offering a new kind of bespoke hospitality. We're ready to welcome guests through the doors and we're confident they will appreciate every last detail."

With interiors developed and conceptualized by renowned Italian designer Ciarmoli Queda, each of the hotel's 276 rooms and suites have been expertly designed to reflect the hotel's stylish take on a city sanctuary with inspiration from art and design from around the world. South African designer, Tristan Plessis is the designer behind stunning outlets Cleo, Hudson Tavern and Katsuya, as well as the chic pool side area where guests can relax by the pool enjoying this enclave of exclusivity.

Take your pick from the many room categories on offer including the Deluxe Hyde Out rooms, complete with an inclusive balcony and Hyde signature King Bed or the Hyde and Seek twin room option. The premium Hyde Away rooms feature a unique view of the Burj Khalifa and accommodate two adults and a child; while the Hyde Us family room is home to a large, separate living room. The hotel's luxurious suites include the Junior Hyde Me suite, the Executive Hyde In and the Presidential Hydden Gem suite.

True to the Ennismore portfolio, Hyde Hotel Dubai will offer a variety of unique culinary concepts, cementing the hotel's belief that food is how you experience a destination. Whimsical and surprising, Katsuya merges traditional Japanese cuisine with modern techniques and flavours delivering an entirely original experience. Guests and locals can enjoy signature cocktails, unique rolls, specialty sushi and sashimi platters. A New York speakeasy vibe in Dubai is on offer at the Hudson Tavern, bringing an urban escape complete with craft burgers, master mixology and a laid-back atmosphere at this candlelit tavern. Guests and locals can enjoy familiar flavours enhanced by a worldly charm at Cleo, perfectly capturing the vibrancy of Eastern Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. With a revolving menu designed to surprise and delight with every visit, Cleo draws inspiration from Lebanon, Syria, Greece and Italy  putting a modern twist on classic Levantine cuisine. The Perq's partnership with the local, specialty coffee roaster, Nightjar, brings guests standout coffee with a daily selection of freshly baked homemade pastries and savoury snacks including gourmet quiches, salads, and toasts.

Inspired by beauty rituals from around the world, the Hyde Hotel's Spa, Cinq Mondes Dubai offers the epitome of personal wellbeing. Holistic treatments carried out by expert therapists strive for deep regeneration of the mind and body.

For more information and reservations visit https://www.sbe.com/hotels/hyde/dubai or [email protected] / +971 487 1111

About Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences

When Hyde Lounge opened in 2005, it transformed the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles along with the concept of nightlife itself. Since that time, the brand has expanded to include Hyde Hotels and Residences, Beach Clubs, and Mixology Lounges, inviting its followers to enjoy a new kind of lifestyle at locations from Miami to Sydney. Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences currently located in Miami, Hollywood, FL and Dubai are intuitively dialed into the desires of the in-the-know, their interests, aspirations and tastes. This is a new kind of hospitality, grounded in the spirit of discovery. Hyde is more than a brand, it's a state of mind. Learn more at HydeHotels.com .

Hyde Hotels, Resorts & Residences is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Ennismore is a joint- venture with Accor, formed in 2021. ennismore.com

About Ennismore

Ennismore is a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global portfolio of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. It curates and manages unique properties and experiences in some of the most exciting destinations around the world. The Ennismore team is made up of some of the brightest doers, thinkers and makers from inside and outside the industry - including an in-house creative studio, a fully integrated F&B concept platform and a digital product & tech innovation lab - who together create brands that inspire discovery.

Founded in 2011 by entrepreneur Sharan Pasricha, Ennismore and Accor entered a joint venture in 2021, creating the world's fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality company, bringing together an unrivalled portfolio of global brands, with Ennismore's know-how in building brands with creative storytelling, design, and authentic experiences, with Accor's wealth of knowledge in delivering scale, network growth and distribution.

Under the leadership of Sharan Pasricha, Founder & Co-CEO, and Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO, Ennismore comprises 14 hotel & co-working brands and a collection of over 150 culturally relevant and diverse restaurants and nightlife destinations. The portfolio includes 87 operating properties globally, with a further 141 hotels in the pipeline across different regions, with strong growth coming from The Hoxton, Mondrian, SLS, SO/ and Tribe; complemented by flagship restaurant brands Bibo, Carna, Fi'Lia and Seabird.

Ennismore has been included in Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies lists in 2020 and 2021; ranked#29 in FT1000: Europe's Fastest-Growing Companies; and is part of FT Future 100 - the UK's fastest-growing businesses that are shaping the future of their sector.

The Ennismore Portfolio: 21c Museum Hotel, 25hours, Delano, Gleneagles, Hyde, Jo&Joe, Mama Shelter, Mondrian, Morgans Originals, SLS, SO/, The Hoxton, Tribe and Working From_.

ennismore.com

Media Contacts:

Emily Venugopal, [email protected]

Cara Chapman, [email protected]

SOURCE Hyde
NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Deutsche Bank today announced the lineup for its Depositary Receipts Virtual Investor Conference ("dbVIC") on Tuesday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 17, featuring live webcast presentations from international companies with American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programs in the US.

Representatives from participating companies based in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Germany, France and the UK will respond to questions during formal presentations, and will also interact with investors via virtual trade booths. The conference is targeted to all categories of investors and analysts interested in non-US companies.

There is no fee for participants to log in, attend live presentations and/or ask questions.

Please register via this link: www.adr.db.com/dbvic

Pre-registration is suggested.

November 16 Agenda (US Eastern Standard Time):

November 17 Agenda (US Eastern Standard Time):

The presentations will be available for replay after the Conference.

In addition to specializing in administering cross-border equity structures such as American and Global Depositary Receipts, Deutsche Bank provides corporates, financial institutions, hedge funds and supranational agencies around the world with trustee, agency, escrow and related services. The Bank offers a broad range of services for diverse products, from complex securitizations and project finance to syndicated loans, debt exchanges and restructurings.

Deutsche Bank provides commercial and investment banking, retail banking, transaction banking and asset and wealth management products and services to corporations, governments, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and private individuals. Deutsche Bank is Germany's leading bank, with a strong position in Europe and a significant presence in the Americas and Asia Pacific.

Deutsche Bank is sponsoring the Deutsche Bank Depositary Receipt Investor Conference solely for informational purposes. Deutsche Bank does not prepare, review, approve or edit any presentations, statements, documents or other information or materials, whether in written, electronic or verbal form, provided by any company participating in such conference, and disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of any such information or materials. Deutsche Bank is not promoting, endorsing or recommending any company participating in the conference.

The Depositary Receipts have been registered pursuant to the US Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"). The investment or investment service which is the subject of this notice is not available to retail clients as defined by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. This notice has been approved and/or communicated by Deutsche Bank AG New York. The services described in this notice are provided by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Deutsche Bank) or by its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in accordance with appropriate local registration and regulation. Deutsche Bank is providing the attached notice strictly for information purposes and makes no claims or statement, nor does it warrant or in any way represent, as to the accuracy or completeness of the details contained herein or therein. This announcement appears as a matter of record only. Neither this announcement nor the information contained herein constitutes an offer or solicitation by Deutsche Bank or any other issuer or entity for the purchase or sale of any securities nor does it constitute a solicitation to any person in any jurisdiction where solicitation would be unlawful. No part of this notice may be copied or reproduced in any way without the prior written consent of Deutsche Bank. Past results are not an indication of future performance. Copyright November 2021 Deutsche Bank AG. All rights reserved.

SOURCE dbVIC - Deutsche Bank Depositary Receipts Virtual Investor Conference
TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945



BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Investment Management, a company of Manulife Investment Management, today announced that share classes A, C, I & R6 of John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund are available to investors. The availability of these share classes follows the completion of the merger of John Hancock Mid Cap Stock Fund into John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund (the Fund). The merger was approved at a special meeting of shareholders which took place on October 6, 2021 and completed on October 15, 2021. The investment strategy, managed by Wellington Investment Management, is available to retail investors on a standalone basis only through John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund.

John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund seeks long-term growth and capital appreciation and invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of medium-sized companies with significant capital appreciation potential. The fund will continue to be managed by Mario E. Abularach, CFA, CMT, Partner and Equity Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst and Stephen Mortimer, Partner and Equity Portfolio Manager, Wellington Investment Management. Wellington has been the investment subadvisor of John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund since inception and was also subadvisor of the acquired fund. The merger is not expected to result in any change to the investment objective or principal investment policies of the fund, or any substantial change in investment strategy or portfolio composition.

"We're thankful to our shareholders and the John Hancock Funds Board for approving and recommending this merger. We also appreciate the investment expertise and confidence of the Wellington team - who is managing this strategy only for John Hancock Investment Management in the retail channel." said Andrew G. Arnott, CEO, John Hancock Investment Management and head of wealth and asset management, Manulife Investment Management, United States and Europe. "We believe the merger is in the best interest of our shareholders to create opportunity for reductions in gross and net expenses and greater potential for asset growth."

For more information on John Hancock Mid Cap Growth Fund click here.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of September 30, 2021, Manulife Investment Management's assets under management and administration, including assets managed for Manulife's other segments, totaled CAD $1.1 trillion (US $835 billion). Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

The value of a company's equity securities is subject to change in the company's financial condition and overall market and economic conditions. Events in the U.S. and global financial markets, including actions taken by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign central banks to stimulate or stabilize economic growth, may at times result in unusually high market volatility, which could negatively impact performance. The stock prices of midsize and small companies can change more frequently and dramatically than those of large companies. Foreign investing, especially in emerging markets, has additional risks, such as currency and market volatility and political and social instability. In addition, when a fund focuses its investments in certain sectors of the economy, its performance may be driven largely by sector performance and could fluctuate more widely than if the fund were invested more evenly across sectors. Please see the fund's prospectus for additional risks.

 2021 John Hancock Investment Management. All rights reserved.

Request a prospectus or summary prospectus from your financial advisor, by visiting jhinvestments.com, or by calling us at 800-225-5291. The prospectus includes investment objectives, risks, fees, expenses, and other information that you should consider carefully before investing.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
TSX/NYSE/PSE: MFC SEHK: 945



New solution assists with plan administration and investment selection and monitoring

BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Retirement, a company of Manulife Investment Management, today introduces Signature Fiduciary Connect. Signature Fiduciary Connect is a comprehensive new service model giving plan sponsors additional support for the administrative and fiduciary duties needed to offer workplace 401(k) plans. With Signature Fiduciary Connect, employers can efficiently outsource plan administration and fiduciary risk through John Hancock's partnership between select third-party administrators and 3(38) providers. Employers benefit from this optimized service model while their employees benefit from a powerful retirement plan that includes John Hancock's award-winning1 personalized engagement and financial wellness tools.

Signature Fiduciary Connect is administered though John Hancock Retirement and is available to plan sponsors, third-party administrators, and retirement plan advisors to assist with designing and managing a workplace 401(k) plan. The fiduciary component is managed through third-party administrators acting as administrator fiduciary or named fiduciary. 3(38) providers act as 3(38) investment lineup fiduciaries. John Hancock currently has partnerships with TAG Resources, AMP (Powered by Nova 401(k) and AFS), Paylocity, Wilshire and Raymond James and is evaluating expanding fiduciary partners in the coming months.

"We are excited to have Signature Fiduciary Connect available and believe it helps to solve for some of the hurdles that exist for employers who want to offer a workplace retirement plan but may not have the in-house expertise or the resources to build and run it," said Jack Barry, vice president, product development, strategy, and transformation at John Hancock Retirement. "We work with our partners, including TPAs and retirement plan advisors, to continue to do what they do best - and then we manage the rest - so the plan sponsor doesn't have to."

Signature Fiduciary Connect brings a valuable and competitive benefit to employees while helping to reduce administrative burden and mitigate risk to the employer. It frees human resources and benefits staff to focus on other employee needs, by providing ERISA experts for plan design and compliance, utilizing outside investment expertise to select investment options, and maintaining a plan sponsor website and generating reporting.

"As the retirement plan provider servicing the most small and mid-sized plans, our position in the market has given us both the perspective and the insight to build Signature Fiduciary Connect to be very helpful to employers," added Gary Tankersley, head of sales and distribution, John Hancock Retirement. "We believe that retirement plans should work for both plan sponsors and plan participants and, through our external partnerships, we are confident that implementing and servicing a retirement plan can be an easy and seamless exercise."

1 "Gold: John Hancock Participant Engagement Program," League of American Communications Professionals LLC (LACP), LACP 2020 Spotlight Awards, Global Communications Competition, November 2020; "DALBAR's State of the IndustryOnline Enrollment," DALBAR, Inc., October 2020; "Bronze Award in Consumer/Retail," Financial Communications Society (FCS) Portfolio Awards, September 2020.

About John Hancock Retirement

John Hancock Retirement is the U.S. retirement business of Manulife Investment Management. For nearly 50 years, we've helped people plan and invest for retirement; today, we're one of the largest full-service providers in the United States.1 We take a hands-on consultative approach based on the idea that no two plans - and no two plan participants - are exactly alike. We partner with plan sponsors, financial professionals, and third-party administrators to ensure that every plan is personal to the participant and delivers results.

As of September 30, 2021, John Hancock serviced over 52,000 retirement plans with over 3.1 million participants* and over $220 billion in AUMA.2

*Participant Counts reflect all active participants with a balance.

1. "2020 Defined Contribution Recordkeeper Survey," PLANSPONSOR, 2020.

2. As of September 30, 2021, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (USA) supported 48,549 plans, 1,605,083 participants, and $ 108,074,132,509.40 in AUMA. John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York supported 2,568 plans, 77,020 participants, and $ 6,133,181,973.20 in AUMA. John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, LLC supported 1,562 plans, 1,503,715 participants, and $106,615,194,819.75 in AUMA. Participant Counts reflect all active participants with a balance. Approximate unaudited figures for John Hancock, provided on a U.S. statutory basis.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement.

As of September 30, 2021, Manulife Investment Management's assets under management and administration, including assets managed for Manulife's other segments, totaled CAD $1.1 trillion (US $835 billion). Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulifeim.com.

Group annuity contracts and recordkeeping agreements are issued by John Hancock Life Insurance Company (U.S.A.), Boston, MA (not licensed in New York), and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Valhalla, NY. Product features and availability may differ by state. Each entity makes available a platform of investment alternatives to sponsors or administrators of retirement plans without regard to the individualized needs of any plan. Unless otherwise specifically stated in writing, neither entity is undertaking to provide impartial investment advice or give advice in a fiduciary capacity. Securities are offered through John Hancock Distributors LLC, member FINRA, SIPC.

NOT FDIC INSURED. MAY LOSE VALUE. NOT BANK GUARANTEED.

 2021 John Hancock. All rights reserved.

SOURCE John Hancock Retirement
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Beacon Healthcare Systems and Chief Compliance Officer John Tanner proudly co-chaired RISE's 2021 CompliancePalooza with Ana Handshuh, principal, CAT 5 Strategies. The virtual event for health plans took place on October 28 and 29.



"Kicking off the event both days and collaborating with Ana and the RISE team was an honor," said Tanner. "The payer industry has some of the most brilliant compliance professionals I know. Engaging with them and the many industry-expert presenters to hear their insights on best practices, and the ever-changing compliance landscape was very rewarding."



In addition to delivering keynotes each day and introducing many of the sessions, Tanner was also available between sessions to talk with attendees in Beacon's Virtual Showcase booth.



This year's CompliancePalooza agenda focused on directional changes from CMS, how to navigate them, and steps to take to execute them successfully. Topics included:

CMS Audit Shakeup Part 1: Tackle the Enormity of Medicare Advantage and Part D Program Audit Changes to Protocols

CMS Audit Shakeup Part 2: Shore up Your Fraud, Waste and Abuse Activities with Integrity Audit Lessons Learned

Get Ahead of the Changes in CMS' One-Third Financial Audit

Increasing Access to Care for Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Amid Unclear Requirements The Changing Landscape for Compliance

The Changing Landscape for Compliance

The Value of AI, Rules, and SMEs for Compliance and Combating FWA

A Breach in the Hull: Lessons Learned from a Successful Phishing Attack

Effective Strategies to Partner with Delegates and FDR Oversight Best Practices

Save Time and Resources  Program Audit Best Practices for Multi-Plan Organizations

About Beacon Healthcare Systems. Beacon Healthcare Systems streamlines the business of healthcare through reliable, innovative technology delivered by industry experts. With a focus on appeals, grievances, compliance, enrollment, supplemental benefits, and analytics, Beacon HCS is the first place health plans turn when looking for a trusted, experienced partner that can help them reduce costs, grow revenue, and achieve their strategic goals. Founded in 2011, Beacon HCS is a privately held California-based company with a technology center located in Austin, Texas. beaconhcs.com. Beacon is hiring!



Photo(s):

https://www.prlog.org/12893273



Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Beacon Healthcare Systems
SAN DIEGO and BENGALURU, India, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jubilant Biosys Limited announced today, an expansion of its facilities to support its discovery chemistry and in-vitro ADME Service offerings. Jubilant Biosys provides services for Turning Point Therapeutics Inc. for multiple small molecule oncology research programs. Turning Point is a precision oncology company developing next-generation therapies that target genetic drivers of cancer.

Services for Turning Point Therapeutics Inc. will be conducted out of Jubilant Biosys Limited's newly built state-of-the-art Chemistry Innovation Research Center (CIRC) in Greater Noida, India. It's Chemistry Innovation Research Center has an initial capacity of 500 FTEs enabling higher operational performance for discovery chemistry services and also rapid turn-around of in-vitro ADME data for client projects.

Commenting on this expansion, Giuliano Perfetti, Chief Executive Officer, Jubilant Biosys Limited said, "We are delighted to unveil our newly built Chemistry Innovation Research Center, Greater Noida for Turning Point's and our other clients' project needs and we are looking forward to accelerating their programs through this site."

"We are excited to continue our relationship with Jubilant Biosys Limited as they start using their CIRC. They continue to provide skilled contract services for challenging synthetic chemistry projects while realizing the importance of short cycle times to deliver and provide critical in-vitro ADME data for our growing portfolio," said Siegfried Reich, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Turning Point Therapeutics.

About Jubilant Biosys Limited

Jubilant Biosys Limited, a subsidiary of Jubilant Pharmova Limited, an integrated global pharmaceutical company, has presence in Bengaluru and Noida in India. Jubilant Biosys offers contract research & development services for global pharmaceutical innovators. Jubilant Biosys has demonstrated expertise in functional services in chemistry including - computational, medicinal/synthetic chemistry, PR&D and GMP scale-up capabilities up to phase II. Services in biology include structural biology, in-vitro biology, DMPK, in-vivo pharmacology and Toxicology. Further, Jubilant Biosys has integrated discovery expertise with a track record of working on over 80 programs in multiple therapeutic areas including but not limited to Oncology, Metabolic Disorders, Pain & Inflammation, CNS and expanding into Rare Diseases. For more information, please visit: www.jubilantbiosys.com

About Turning Point Therapeutics

Turning Point Therapeutics is a clinical-stage precision oncology company with a pipeline of internally discovered investigational drugs designed to address key limitations of existing cancer therapies. The company's lead drug candidate, repotrectinib, is a next-generation kinase inhibitor targeting the ROS1 and TRK oncogenic drivers of non-small cell lung cancer and advanced solid tumors. Repotrectinib, which is being studied in a registrational Phase 2 study in adults and a Phase 1/2 study in pediatric patients, has shown antitumor activity and durable responses among kinase inhibitor treatment-naive and pre-treated patients. The company's pipeline of drug candidates also includes elzovantinib, targeting MET, CSF1R and SRC, which is being studied in a Phase 1 trial of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring genetic alterations in MET; TPX-0046, targeting RET, which is being studied in a Phase 1/2 trial of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring genetic alterations in RET; and TPX-0131, a next-generation ALK inhibitor, which is being studied in a Phase 1/2 trial of previously treated patients with ALK-positive advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The company is driven to develop therapies that mark a turning point for patients in their cancer treatment. For more information, visit www.tptherapeutics.com.

About Jubilant Pharmova Limited

Jubilant Pharmova Limited (formerly Jubilant Life Sciences Limited) is a company engaged in Pharmaceuticals, Contract Research and Development Services and Proprietary Novel Drugs businesses. Pharmaceuticals business through Jubilant Pharma Limited Singapore (JPL) is engaged in manufacturing and supply of Radiopharmaceuticals with a network of 48 radio-pharmacies in the US, Allergy Immunotherapy, Contract Manufacturing of Sterile Injectables and Non-sterile products, APIs and Solid Dosage Formulations through six manufacturing facilities that cater to all the regulated market including USA, Europe and other geographies. Jubilant Biosys Limited provides contract research and development services through two world class research centers in Bangalore and Noida in India. Jubilant Pharmova Limited has a team of over 6,000 multicultural people across the globe. The Company is well recognized as a 'Partner of Choice' by leading pharmaceuticals companies globally. For more information, please visit: www.jubilantpharmova.com

Business Development Contact:

Ravichandran S

[email protected]

SOURCE Jubilant Biosys Limited
DENVER, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarisana, one of the leading providers of ketamine assisted therapy in the country, has opened a new office in the city of Longmont, bringing their total number of clinics in Colorado to four, and total number overall to seven.

Longmont Expansion Image

In addition to the current corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado, the new office space will serve the northern Colorado region, as Klarisana plans to expand to areas outside of Denver in an effort to service smaller local communities. The expansion comes as the result of rapid growth within the company, as the demand for ketamine assisted therapy rises due to increased awareness of its potential healing properties.

CEO Neil Haznar states, "The demand for ketamine assisted therapy is rising, but access to treatment still remains limited based on where you live and your ability to pay. In addition to expanding our locations, we continue to expand our network of accepted insurances. At a time when mental health is so critical, we believe everyone should have access to novel treatments like psychedelic therapy. If Klarisana is successful in its mission, we hope to see a decrease in the rates of suicide in the communinities served by our clinics."

Klarisana is a veteran-owned business that has been operating since 2015, opening its doors shortly after it was discovered that ketamine was successful at treating PTSD in veterans. Ketamine has become a breakout treatment for mental illness, due to its ability to act rapidly, unlike more traditional medications that take effect over several weeks. When undergoing a ketamine treatment, patients often report feeling like they're in a hypnotic or dreamlike state, as their everyday barriers come down, and their subconscious self reveals itself. It is during this time that breakthroughs can occur. A patient is able to reframe past trauma and allow new thought patterns to emerge. When used in conjunction with psychotherapy, it has the unique ability to alter our habits and mood.

Client Harleigh B. says of her experience, "I have tried many different kinds of therapy over the years and this one has surprisingly worked when none of the others did. It doesn't make you feel numb like typical antidepressants do. This type of therapy encourages you to face your problems and deal with them rather than numb your emotions. It gives you a different insight to life that you wouldn't get from drugs the doctors have been prescribing previously for the last few decades."

Klarisana is also expanding their role as a research center as the company is committed to becoming a leader in the psychedelic therapy field. Klarisana recently released their second peer-reviewed research study, published in the Journal of Psychiatry and Mental Health. The study which focused on Medicaid patients with Major Depressive Disorder found that 98% of patients saw an average of 50% improvement in depression, anxiety, and PTSD in less than a month of treatment at Klarisana.

As the only ketamine clinic in Colorado to accept insurance, Klarisana continues to set a standard where mental healthcare can be both affordable and accessible.

To read more about Klarisana's professional mental health services- please visit www.klarisana.com

Klarisana Psychedelic Therapies

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.

Media Contact

Kelsey JohnsonSocial Media and PR Coordinator

844.455.2747

[email protected]

SOURCE Klarisana

Related Links

http://www.klarisana.com


BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Following a four-month global recruitment process, Kylie Rampa has been appointed as chief executive officer of QIC, a leading Australian investment manager owned by the Queensland Government.

Ms. Rampa will commence in April 2022, taking the helm from Damien Frawley, who has led the organization for over nine years and announced in June his decision to retire in 2022.

QIC Chair Ian Martin said that Ms. Rampa's appointment had been approved by QIC's Board and the Queensland Government.

"The Board is confident that Ms. Rampa's strong experience in managing large and complex businesses, coupled with her investment and capital management acumen, will ensure that QIC continues to deliver strong performance for its clients," Mr. Martin said.

Ms. Rampa has more than 25 years' experience in investment management, particularly in real assets investing. Her expertise spans private markets, particularly real estate, and private and public capital markets, real estate development, asset management, mergers and acquisitions, business strategy, and operations.

"Ms. Rampa will continue to drive the Board-endorsed strategy across QIC's investment capabilities - with our core objective of being client-led in all that we do. Her appointment follows an extensive global recruitment process led by Egon Zehnder, a respected global executive search firm, which involved a very strong field of internal and external candidates. Together with the Board and on behalf of the entire team at QIC, I want to congratulate Ms. Rampa on her appointment, and we look forward to working with her."

Ms. Rampa joins QIC from Lendlease, where she is currently Group Head of Investments and a member of the global leadership team and global investment committee, with responsibility for driving the group's global strategy to grow Lendlease's funds under management and strategic capital partnerships.

Prior to joining Lendlease in 2013, Ms. Rampa spent 13 years at Macquarie and at various stages in her career worked at Gandel Group, AMP and Schroders.

Ms. Rampa said that, as a proud Queenslander, she is excited and energized to lead QIC through its next phase, building on its 30-year history and the strength of its existing core capabilities.

"I am very proud to be appointed CEO, and I want to acknowledge the tremendous work of Damien Frawley who has led a team of specialists who have added significant value for clients via QIC's investment capabilities. QIC has a strong reputation for delivering sustainable risk-adjusted returns for its commercial and government clients supported by a robust culture that fosters transparency, excellence, diversity and strong governance.

"Together with the QIC Board, the executive team and all QIC's employees, I am excited to lead an organisation that is focused on delivering strong investment performance for QIC's government, domestic and global institutional clients in a complex operating landscape."

Mr. Frawley will remain as CEO until Ms. Rampa commences in April 2022, ensuring a smooth transition.

About QIC:

QIC is a long-term specialist manager in alternatives offering infrastructure, real estate, private equity, private debt, liquid strategies and multi-asset investments. It is one of the largest institutional investment managers in Australia, with A$92bn (US$69bn) in funds under management[1]. QIC has over 800 employees and serves more than 115 clients. Headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, QIC also has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, New York, San Francisco and London. For more information, please visit: www.qic.com.



[1]As at 30 June 2021

Important Information



QIC Limited ACN 130 539 123 ("QIC") is a wholesale funds manager and its products and services are not directly available to, and this document may not be provided to any, retail clients. QIC is a company government owned corporation constituted under the Queensland Investment Corporation Act 1991 (Qld). QIC is regulated by State Government legislation pertaining to government owned corporations in addition to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ("Corporations Act"). QIC Private Capital Pty Ltd ("QPC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of QIC, has been issued with an AFS licence and other wholly owned subsidiaries of QIC are authorised representatives of QPC. QIC's subsidiaries are required to comply with the Corporations Act. QIC does not hold an Australian financial services ("AFS") licence and certain provisions (including the financial product disclosure provisions) of the Corporations Act do not apply to QIC. QIC also has wholly owned subsidiaries authorised, registered or licensed by the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA"), the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the Korean Financial Services Commission.

For more information about QIC, our approach, clients and regulatory framework, please refer to our website www.qic.com or contact us directly.

The statements and any opinions in this document (the "Information") are for commentary purposes only and do not take into account any investor's personal, financial or tax objectives, situation or needs. The Information is not intended to constitute personal legal or investment advice and it does not constitute, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy, securities or any other investment, investment management or advisory services.

SOURCE QIC

Related Links

https://www.qic.com


BOSTON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Liberty Mutual Insurance Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Long today announced that Anne Waleski, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Markel Corporation, has been elected to the company's board of directors. Waleski has served in executive and leadership roles at publicly traded companies and brings over 30 years of extensive financial expertise spanning the property and casualty insurance, manufacturing and retail sectors.

"The thoughtful insights and perspectives that Anne Waleski will contribute to our board are invaluable," said Long. "Her diverse array of professional experience, deep knowledge of our industry and corporate finances, and notable philanthropic efforts align with our company's identity and values."

Waleski joined Markel Corporation, a global Fortune 500 financial holding firm that includes insurance, reinsurance and investment operations, in 1993 and held various roles of increasing responsibility during her 26-year career at the company. She served as the organization's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and upon her decision to retire early, moved into a transitional role as Executive Vice President overseeing Markel's community engagement and charitable giving. Waleski also worked at Reynolds Metals and Circuit City Stores early in her career.

"I'm pleased to join Liberty Mutual's esteemed board and collaborate with the company's executive leadership team and my fellow directors to help drive the business forward," said Waleski. "The company's vision strongly resonates with me and I'm looking forward to working together with my new colleagues."

Waleski also serves on the board of directors for Enact Holdings, Inc. and Tredegar Corporation, She is actively involved in a number of charitable activities and nonprofit organizations, including being a board member for SportsBackers and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. She earned her master of business administration from the University of Richmond and bachelor of arts in economics from the College of William and Mary. Waleski also completed the advanced management program at the Fuqua School of Business from Duke University.



Liberty Mutual's board of directors is comprised of experienced and highly skilled independent members. The company has been recognized by the National Association of Corporate Directors for its diverse board membership and commitment to the inclusion of women and people of color.

About Liberty Mutual Insurance

At Liberty Mutual, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow.

In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today we are the sixth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2020 gross written premium. We also rank 71 on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2020 revenue. As of December 31, 2020, we had $43.8 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

We employ over 45,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Liberty Mutual Insurance

Related Links

www.libertymutual.com


There are initially four members of the Global Advisory Board, including Ido Aharoni Aronoff, who serves as a Global Distinguished Professor for International Relations at New York University's Graduate School of Arts and Science. He joins the group of advisors following a long and distinguished career in public service including 25 years in Israel's foreign service where he was the longest serving Israeli Consul-General in New York. He is a public diplomacy specialist and the founder of the Brand Israel Program. He is an advisor to numerous global businesses, Co-Founder of the Genius 100 Visions Community and is Chairman of the Charney Forum for New Diplomacy and of GMFF, one of Israel's leading film funds.

Prior to becoming a Senior Advisor to the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Global Advisory Board member Anna Escobedo Cabral served as the 42nd Treasurer of the United States from January 19, 2005 to January 20, 2009. She was previously executive staff director for the U.S. Senate Republican Conference Task Force on Hispanic Affairs, while also working as deputy staff director for the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. She is currently on the Board of Directors for Navient as a Trustee for the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Vice Chair of the Comcast/NBCU Hispanic Diversity Advisory Committee, President of the BBVA Microfinance Foundation Board, and Treasurer of Lideramos, a non-profit that provides leadership training.

Global Advisory Board member Anita McBride is Executive-in-Residence at the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University in Washington, DC. Her public service as a White House advisor, chief of staff, and human rights and women's empowerment advocate spans over 30 years. She was previously Assistant to President George W. Bush, Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush, and Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State. She served as director of White House Personnel under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and as director of the U.S. Speaker's Bureau at the United States Information Agency. She is a strategic consultant to numerous global non-profit organizations and has provided consultancy services to CARE. She co-founded the RAND African First Ladies Initiative and Fellowship program.

Also joining the Global Advisory Board is Joe Navarro, the celebrated specialist in human behaviour, interpersonal communication and body language. For 25 years, he served as an FBI Special Agent in the areas of counterintelligence and behavioural assessment. Joe lectures and consults worldwide with organizations interested in conducting more effective, empathetic communications with an emphasis on better understanding through the applied use of verbal and nonverbal skills. For the last eleven years, Joe Navarro has lectured annually at the Harvard Business School and his WIRED videos dealing with nonverbal communications have been viewed over 40 million times.

Commenting on the creation of the new advisory board, Libra Group's Chairman and CEO, George Logothetis, stated, "We are honoured to have access to the wisdom and experience of this eminent group of global leaders. As a business with assets and operations across 50 countries, insight into diverse cultures, jurisdictions and commercial practices is a critical aspect of our operations. These advisors provide complementary skills that will be invaluable to the strategies and tactical approaches for our many business interests. We look forward to announcing further members of the board in due course."

See https://www.libra.com/en/people/global-advisory-board/

About the Libra Group

The Libra Group is an international business group comprising 35 subsidiaries active across six continents. It is focused on six sectors: aviation, energy, hospitality, real estate, shipping and diversified investments. The group's Social Responsibility division comprises nine programmes that seek to deliver educational opportunity, business opportunity, and acts of humanity towards people who are marginalized or under-served. The Libra Group is owned by the Logothetis family.

www.libra.com

SOURCE Libra Group
LONDON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Brand Awards is an annual event held by Global Brands Magazine (GBM), an international publication headquartered in the UK. The award aims to recognise global brands achieving excellence in performance across a broad range of sectors while keeping its readers updated on the branding world's key trends. LiteFinance was evaluated based on customer service, satisfaction, digital innovation, strategic relationships and new business development.

Commenting on LiteFinance winning the awards, Shiv Kumar (CEO) of Global Brands magazine said, "Congratulations to the team at LiteFinance for winning not just one of our prestigious awards, but two, and well-deservedly so. It wasn't so long ago that LiteFinance was a young company, and now you're going head to head with the biggest players in the industry."

Commenting on winning the award, Alexey Smirnov (CEO) said, "For over 16 years, LiteFinance has been competing with global Forex brokers and is now holding leading positions in the market. Receiving such prestigious awards encourages us to continue to move forward and be the best. Our well-coordinated and diligent work together with our partners worldwide aims to provide the best possible service to our clients. We provide access to advanced technologies in the fields of copy trading and the Forex market. We are grateful to our clients for choosing our company and for the inspiration that helps us to become better every year."

About LiteFinance

LiteFinance is a high-tech reliable ECN broker with a strong reputation. Our clients can exploit a safe, user-friendly online platform for high-speed trading available in 15 global languages and provide access to a great deal of in-built tools for price chart analysis. The fans of the most popular trading platform, MetaTrader 4/5, can use it as well.

Trading with LiteFinance means: high-performance platform, low floating spreads, market execution with no requotes, professional assistance and access to exclusive analytical materials and signals.

About Global Brands Magazine (England)

Global Brands Magazine (GBM) has been at the forefront, bringing news, views and opinions on brands shaping the future of their industry. The UK-based magazine provides its readers with the latest news and information on 'best-in-class brands across the globe. Each year, GBM develops a series of awards for companies that stand out, having a unique vision, exceptional service, innovative solutions and consumer-centric products among their industry leaders.

About Global Brand Awards

Global Brand Awards honours brands for their excellence in performance and rewards companies across different sectors for the quality of their services. The Brand Awards highlight the accomplishments of organisations that have performed remarkably well in finance, education, hospitality, automotive, lifestyle, education, real estate, technology and more. Global Brand Awards recognise vital players who progress towards excellence by providing a platform to acknowledge their efforts. In addition, GBM strives to create awareness concerning the significance of such organisations and rewards them for their notable efforts with the ultimate global recognition.

Check out the links below for Social Media Shout outs:

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3bVFU5p

Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3EZRwAS

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3H7MZyk

Twitter: https://bit.ly/3odTXZU

SOURCE Global Brands Publications Limited
DACHAIDAN, QINGHAI PROVINCE, China, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lithium and Boron Technology, Inc. (OTC Pink: LBTI) ("LBTI" or the "Lithium Boron Technology"), a leading producer of Boric Acid and manufacturer of lithium carbonate, announced today, a major breakthrough in lithium carbonate extraction technology that will be used to process mineral rich brine water from the vast Dachaidan Salt Lake located in XaiXai, Quinhai Province, China.

Mr. Jimin Zhang, the newly appointed Chairman of LBTI, remarked, "We use a proprietary sorbent processing technology that has revolutionized traditional methods of lithium extraction which we believe is one of the best available in the world. The process enables us to efficiently extract lithium carbonate, in an environmentally friendly manner with a modularized, miniaturized and simplified process. We believe our production costs are among the lowest in the industry at approximately $3,125 (20,000 yuan)/ tonne which should enable us to produce lithium carbonate for industrial batteries (incl. electric vehicle batteries and energy storage batteries) at higher profit margins than other producers."

Mr. Zhang continued: "We are planning to build production capacity to an annual output of 20,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate over the next two years. According to Trading Economics, the price of Lithium Carbonate in China increased from 33,843 yuan per tonne to 194,000 yuan, approximately 570% increase because of the growing market demand and tight supply. We expect the trend to continue over the next five years."

Mr. Zhang concluded, "Given the global shift from gas guzzling combustion engines to new EV vehicles and the growth of lithium energy storage batteries, I believe Lithium Boron Technology has a very bright future."

On another note, Lithium & Boron Technology would like to recognize the achievements of retired Chairman, Mao Zhang, who was instrumental in building the Company and welcomes Mr. Xudong "Rhett" Wang, the Company's Chief Financial Officer as a new director of the Company.

About Lithium & Boron Technology, Inc.

We are a leading boric acid manufacturing company in the PRC. Our strategy is to expand our manufacturing facilities to produce lithium carbonate for the rapidly growing electric vehicle ("EV") battery and energy storage battery market in China. We have the exclusive right to process brine from Dachaidan Lake.

For more information contact:

USA

Robert Newman

Phone: (917) 494-9974

Email: [email protected]



CHINA

Rhett Wang

Phone

[email protected]

SOURCE Lithium & Boron Technology, Inc.
DALLAS, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The first-ever Dental Partnership Organization announced today that it has been named to Inc.'s first annual Best-Led Companies list, an exciting data-driven list of the strongest U.S. firms with revenue of $50 million to $2 billion, based on a 12-point measure of management excellence across the middle market. 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 in a complex market while maintaining the strength to have a broad impact. MB2 is recognized for its successful track record with a leadership team that spurs solid performance, creates value, penetrates markets, engages with customers, and more.

"My peers and I started MB2 Dental with the goal of empowering dentists and preserving our profession," said MB2 Dental CEO and Founder Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva. "In the beginning, MB2's leadership team consisted of only my fellow doctor partners and myself. We quickly realized we needed to bring in team members who were experts in all aspects of our business to truly serve our doctor partners. Over the years, we've carefully handpicked the very best team members to assemble an unbeatable leadership team. We are honored to be recognized on Inc's first-ever Best Led Company list. The majority of our executive team has been with MB2 since its earliest days, and all have been placed by usthe dentists. These team members have been fundamental in our growth and development into the company we are today. Through two private equity transactions, that group and the culture have not changed- only grown to include more talented individuals to support our mission."

To be considered for the list, each company had to fill out an application answering questions about its 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.

"This inaugural list of companies represents the remarkable midsized 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."

To compile the list, Inc. evaluated private and public U.S.-based companies with a 2020 revenue of $50 million to $2 billion or a valuation of $50 million to $10 billion using a proprietary 12-point measure of management excellence generated with input from partners at Pitchbook and Shango Labs.

To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/best-led-companies/2021

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 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 MB2 Dental

Dallas, Texas-based MB2 Dental is a first-of-its-kind Dental Partnership Organization (DPO) founded and led by dentist and entrepreneur CEO Dr. Chris Steven Villanueva, with a mission to empower dentists to preserve their profession. Since its founding in 2007, MB2 has partnered with hundreds of dentists to help them stay in the driver's seat as they maximize their talents, connect as part of a community and build exceptional wealth. MB2 currently partners with dentists and specialists in over 30 states and counting. For more information, visit https://mb2dental.com.

Press Contact:

Lindsey Byrnes

9728693789

https://mb2dental.com/

SOURCE MB2 Dental

Related Links

http://mb2dental.com


BREA, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Milton Security, a leading provider of Threat Hunting as a Service, XDR & MDR (MxDR) SOC Services, issued a statement today on their continued commitment to veterans.

Milton Security Stands with Our Nations Fellow Veterans

Milton Security, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned company that specializes in protecting organizations and their brands from cyber attacks. Since 2007, the company has, and will continue to support, train, and hire veterans as they move into the civilian cyber security industry. From newly separated veterans to those who have been in the civilian workforce, Milton Security understands the importance of dedicating oneself to protecting and serving this great nation and translates that to keeping organizations and their brand safe from threats.

"Our commitment to all veterans has never wavered since we started Milton Security over 14 years ago," said James McMurry, CEO & Founder of Milton Security. "Through our work with VETCON, SkillBridge, and other veteran-focused associations, we try to assist veterans to find a new home in cyber security. If any veteran, or soon-to-be veteran is looking for a new command to call home, please don't hesitate to reach out. As one veteran to many, we stand with you." McMurry proudly served as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard aboard various Cutters including the USCGC Roger B Taney (now a museum in Baltimore) and the USCGC Morgenthau.

James McMurry is one of two founders of VETCON, which became an official event of the DEFCON Hacker Conference in order to connect and support veterans in the Information Security field. As an authorized SkillBridge organization, Milton Security helps Service Members transition into a Cyber Security career during their last 180 days of Active Duty, providing first-hand, on the job training in the InfoSec industry at no cost to Service Members or the U.S. government.

Eric Cowperthwaite, Milton Security COO added, "As a veteran, in a company that has a heart towards veterans, we understand what it means to serve and protect - what it means to be part of a team that is working toward a greater good. I'm honored to be part of Milton Security and our continued commitment to helping veterans transition into the cyber security field. That kind of dedication and focus that you learn in the military is difficult to find and we gladly welcome it here at Milton Security." Cowperthwaite served in the US Army for 11 years and is an Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm veteran.

About Milton Security

Milton Security operates a 24*7*365 unique Extended Detection & Response/Managed Detection & Response (MxDR) service that provides Threat Hunting As A Service using customers' existing security infrastructure. For over 14 years, Milton's team of Threat Hunters have stopped hundreds of thousands of threats and assisted organizations in protecting themselves around the clock. Milton focuses on the best combination of AI, ML, and Human Correlation, to scout for threats, assist with incident response activities and protect hundreds of customers around the clock.

It's Milton Security. Obviously, We Protect Your Brand.

www.miltonsecurity.com | +1.888.674.9001 | [email protected]

Milton Security, Inc., is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business started in 2007.

Media Contact

Sal Vilardo

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

843.408.7869

SOURCE Milton Security
GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MINISO Group Holding Limited (NYSE: MNSO) ("MINISO Group", "MINISO" or the "Company"), a fast-growing global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products, today announced that it plans to release its September quarter 2021 financial results before the U.S. market opens on Thursday, November 18, 2021.

The Company's management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:00 A.M. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 18, 2021 (8:00 P.M. Beijing Time on the same day) to discuss the financial results. The conference call can be accessed by the following zoom link or dialing the following numbers:

Access 1

Join Zoom meeting.

Zoom link: https://dooyle.zoom.us/j/89323740265?pwd=NkZObW1RMnA3RTRVSjlYOVBHc0xEUT09

Meeting Number: 893 2374 0265

Meeting Passcode: 601915

Access 2

Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers by using the same meeting number and passcode with access 1.

United States Toll Free: 833 548 0282 (or 877 853 5247) Mainland China Toll Free: 400 182 3168 (or 400 616 8835) Hong Kong, China Toll Free: 800 906 780 (or 800 931 189) United Kingdom (Charge Fees): +44 208 080 6592 (or +44 330 088 5830) France (Charge Fees): +33 1 7037 9729 (or +33 1 7095 0103) Singapore (Charge Fees): +65 3165 1065 (or +65 3158 7288) Canada (Charge Fees): +1 647 374 4685 (or +1 647 558 0588)

Access 3

Listeners can also access the meeting through the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.miniso.com/.

The replay will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live event at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.miniso.com/.

About MINISO Group Holding Limited

MINISO is a fast-growing global value retailer offering a variety of design-led lifestyle products. The Company serves consumers primarily through its large network of MINISO stores, and promotes a relaxing, treasure-hunting and engaging shopping experience full of delightful surprises that appeals to all demographics. Aesthetically pleasing design, quality and affordability are at the core of every product in MINISO's wide product portfolio, and the Company continually and frequently rolls out products with these qualities. Since the opening of its first store in China in 2013, the Company has built its flagship brand "MINISO" as a globally recognized retail brand and established a massive store network worldwide. For more information, please visit http://ir.miniso.com/.

Investor Relations Contact

Raine Hu, Mengru Wang

MINISO Group Holding Limited

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +86 (20) 36228788 Ext.8039

SOURCE MINISO Group Holding Limited

Related Links

https://ir.miniso.com/


ATLANTA, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LexisNexis Risk Solutions today announces the addition of Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) telematics data from its Mitsubishi Road Assist+ app to LexisNexis Telematics OnDemand , a solution that seamlessly integrates telematics-based driving behavior data into auto insurer rating and underwriting workflows. Now when Mitsubishi vehicle owners, who have opted in to share their data for insurance purposes, shop for auto insurance in the U.S., they are able to use their Road Assist+ telematics data to potentially earn discounts on their insurance premiums as early as point of quote.

U.S. auto insurers can leverage driving behavior insights earlier in the insurance shopping process at the point of quote, as well as at underwriting and renewal, using normalized telematics data from the Mitsubishi Road Assist+ app from insurers using LexisNexis Telematics OnDemand. Telematics OnDemand delivers attributes and scores, harnessing data from participating automakers of the LexisNexis Telematics Exchange.

Auto insurers can offer customers and prospects who are Mitsubishi vehicle owners and users of the Mitsubishi Road Assist+ app more personalized pricing and usage-based insurance (UBI) options with the potential for an immediate discount. This approach helps auto insurers leverage driving behavior information  with no upfront monitoring period. Insurers can also gain critical insights for rating and pricing consumers based on how they drive, and further their own growth strategies through greater risk assessment.

"As the automotive and auto insurance industries desire greater data sophistication and decision-making insights, telematics data is key to unlocking added value for the auto insurer, the automaker and ultimately their shared customer," said Marc Gordan, head of global telematics product strategy and development, U.S. Connected Car, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "Expanding the Mitsubishi Motors telematics app data to now be included in our Telematics OnDemand solution demonstrates the significance of telematics data in further unifying and enabling these industries to offer consumers more streamlined, personalized pricing experiences in exchange for sharing their driving data. We're pleased to have Mitsubishi Motors as the first automaker to make their app data available through Telematics OnDemand and to be able to further execute on our strategy to provide source-agnostic data solutions to the insurance market."

By participating in the Telematics Exchange, automakers can provide an added benefit to their vehicle owners by offering a way for their customers to share their driving data more easily with insurers, allowing consumers to take advantage of their good driving behavior and insurers to more appropriately evaluate the risk from the beginning of the relationship.

"Mitsubishi Motors is always looking for ways to improve the customer experience and identify technologies that provide a high degree of ownership quality," said Cason Grover, director, product planning at Mitsubishi Motors North America. "By making our Mitsubishi Road Assist+ telematics data available via Telematics OnDemand, we have the potential to lower the total cost of ownership which includes insurance costs for Mitsubishi customers who opt in to sharing this information. This gives them a more efficient and personalized offering, and gives auto insurers an easy way to offer personalization when our customers are shopping for insurance."

Click here for more information on Telematics OnDemand.

Click here for more information on our data solutions for automakers.

About LexisNexis Risk Solutions

LexisNexis Risk Solutions harnesses the power of data and advanced analytics to provide insights that help businesses and governmental entities reduce risk and improve decisions to benefit people around the globe. We provide data and technology solutions for a wide range of industries including insurance, financial services, healthcare and government. Headquartered in metro Atlanta, Georgia, we have offices throughout the world and are part of RELX (LSE: REL/NYSE: RELX), a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, please visit www.risk.lexisnexis.com and www.relx.com .

About Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.

Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. MMNA was the top-ranked Japanese brand in the J.D. Power 2021 Initial Quality study, ranking third overall and tied with Lexus. In its Environmental Targets 2030, MMNA's parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has set a goal of a 40 percent reduction in the CO2 emissions of its new cars by 2030 through leveraging EVs  with PHEVs as the centerpiece  to help create a sustainable society.

With headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee, and corporate operations in California, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Virginia, MMNA directly and indirectly employs more than 8,000 people across the United States.

For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please contact the Mitsubishi Motors News Bureau at 615-257-2698 or visit media.mitsubishicars.com.

Media Contacts:

Regina Haas

LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Phone: +1.678.694.3569

[email protected]

Dean Carney

Brodeur Partners for LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Phone: +1.646.746.5607

[email protected]

SOURCE LexisNexis Risk Solutions

Related Links

https://risk.lexisnexis.com/


NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A majority of parents of children 18 or younger in the New York area are likely to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19, according to new data recently collected in a CUNY SPH survey on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in New York State's lower nine counties.

Parents made up 39 percent of the 1,000 respondents surveyed in September 2021 across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Nassau, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Rockland, Suffolk, and Westchester.

Thirty-two percent of survey respondents had a child 12 to 18 years old. Among them, 51 percent had either gotten their child vaccinated with at least one dose or were very likely to get them vaccinated against COVID-19, and an additional 13 percent were somewhat likely to do so. Among the 27 percent of respondents with a child under 12 years old, 56 percent were very or somewhat likely to get them vaccinated.

The results may foreshadow parents' responses to last week's news that federal health officials gave final approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children ages five to 11.

"Parental support of the vaccine for children will prove to be a giant leap forward in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic," says Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, CUNY SPH Dean and a lead author of the survey. "We must protect every precious child. With every family member immunized there is a significantly lowered risk of exposure to the virus and its variants, which is especially heartening as we look forward to family gatherings around the upcoming holidays. "

The report tracked vaccine acceptance in the region among adults of all ages: 68 percent of all respondents had received at least one dose themselves. Conversely, 32 percent of respondents had not yet received the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccinenearly half of whom (48 percent) were very likely or somewhat likely to get the vaccine in the future.

"Now is the time to stop the virus in its tracks and these survey results give us some guidelines on how to do that," says Dean El-Mohandes. "As long as the virus has the chance to live, it can generate variants that can be nefarious or even more fatal than we have seen before."

Notable differences in vaccination were reported among insured and uninsured respondents. Six percent of participants did not have health insurance. Only one in four (25 percent) of those uninsured respondents had received at least one dose of the vaccine, compared to 71 percent of those with health insurance. Among the unvaccinated respondents, those without health insurance were slightly more likely to express intent to get vaccinated than uninsured respondents (49 percent versus 46 percent).

The survey inquired into reasons for not yet receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. These respondents expressed feelings of fear, of vaccine safety, side effects, or of the vaccine in general, or mistrust in the COVID-19 vaccine development process, clinical trials, or effectiveness. Many participants believed there was no need to get vaccinated. For most, this was because they had already been infected with COVID-19.

Beyond those feelings, the survey discovered regulatory, logistical and childcare roadblocks. Of the 25 percent of respondents reporting barriers, 35 percent of that group said the lack of child or dependent care was their top barrier to getting vaccinated, 19 percent did not know where to get the vaccine, and 13 percent did not know how to sign up for an appointment.

Other factors were found to influence decisions about the vaccine:

Loss of a loved one may increase the likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly one in four (24 percent) of participants reported that they had lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Those who experienced the death of a close family or friend from COVID-19 were 50 percent more likely to be vaccinated than those who did not lose a loved one (15 percent versus 10 percent).



may increase the likelihood of getting a COVID-19 vaccine. Nearly one in four (24 percent) of participants reported that they had lost a loved one due to COVID-19. Those who experienced the death of a close family or friend from COVID-19 were 50 percent more likely to be vaccinated than those who did not lose a loved one (15 percent versus 10 percent). Chronic health conditions. Having a chronic health condition did not seem to affect vaccination acceptance. However, unvaccinated participants with chronic health conditions were more likely to express the intent to get vaccinated in the future (53 percent) compared to participants with no chronic conditions (42 percent).



Having a chronic health condition did not seem to affect vaccination acceptance. However, unvaccinated participants with chronic health conditions were more likely to express the intent to get vaccinated in the future (53 percent) compared to participants with no chronic conditions (42 percent). Overall access to social services. 40 percent of respondents reported needing better access to social services. Among them, food (38 percent) or housing assistance (27 percent) were most needed. In a separate question on health service needs, 52 percent of respondents reported needing better access to health services. Thirty percent said they needed better access to mental health services; 27 percent said wellness, followed by dental care (26 percent) and general medical care (26 percent).

"We know that people do not make decisions in a vacuum. As part of our continued outreach to our New York neighbors, we must understand the challenges they are facing and consider how to mitigate them as part of our campaign against the pandemic," Dr. El-Mohandes says.

How the boroughs compared:

Manhattan had the highest rate of vaccination with 79 percent of participants already vaccinated with at least one dose. This was followed by Nassau (74 percent), Queens (74 percent), and Westchester counties (73 percent).

Rockland, Suffolk, and Staten Island showed the lowest rates of vaccination and the lowest likelihood that unvaccinated respondents will receive the vaccine in the future. Among those who remain unvaccinated in those three counties, 36 to 58 percent reported that they are not very likely or not at all likely to get vaccinated

Overall, Asian and White participants had the highest rates of vaccination, at 73 percent and 72 percent, respectively. Sixty-five percent of Latino/a and 60 percent of Black participants reported having already received at least one dose. Among unvaccinated Black participants, 51 percent said they were very or somewhat likely to receive the vaccine, while 23 percent remained not very likely or not at all likely to get vaccinated in the future.

CUNY SPH Nine-County New York Survey, August 30 - September 2, 2021, N=1000, MOE +/-3%

About CUNY SPH

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting and sustaining healthier populations in New York City and around the world through excellence in education, research, and service in public health and by advocating for sound policy and practice to advance social justice and improve health outcomes for all.

Contact:

Ariana Costakes

[email protected]

SOURCE CUNY SPH

Related Links

https://sph.cuny.edu


SHENZHEN, China, and TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nam Tai Property Inc. ("Nam Tai" or the "Company") (NYSE Symbol: NTP) is to provide an update regarding the hearing held on November 8, 2021 in relation to the three applications filed on October 18, 2021, subsequent to the judgment handed down on October 4, 2021 by the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal in the British Virgin Islands (the "Court of Appeal"), namely the applications for: (i) conditional leave to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom (the "Privy Council") (the "Application for Conditional Leave to Appeal"); (ii) a stay of execution to stay a special meeting of shareholders of the Company which the Court of Appeal had ordered the Company to convene and hold at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 30, 2021 (the "Special Meeting") (the "Application for a Stay"); and (iii) a variation of the order of the Court of Appeal dated October 4, 2021 which ordered that only holders of the Company's common shares of record at close of business on March 15, 2021 (Eastern Time) (the "Record Date") would be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting (the "Application for Variation of the Order") (collectively, the "Three Applications").

The Three Applications were heard by the Court of Appeal on November 8, 2021. On November 10, 2021, the Court of Appeal delivered its decision whereby: (i) the Application for Conditional Leave to Appeal was granted and the Company was directed to comply with the conditions imposed by the Court of Appeal in allowing the Application for Conditional Leave to Appeal within 90 days from November 8, 2021 and (ii) the Applications for a Stay and for Variation of the Order were both declined.

In respect of the Special Meeting, if you are the Company's shareholder as of the Record Date and wish to change your vote, you may: (i) cast a new vote following the instructions on the proxy card to vote by telephone at +1 800 690 6903 or via the internet at www.proxyvote.com up until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 29, 2021; (ii) cast a new vote by mailing a new proxy card with a later date; or (iii) attend the Special Meeting to be held virtually at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/NTP2021SM on November 30, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time and follow the instructions to vote during the Special Meeting. If you are a beneficial owner of the Company's common shares, you can revoke any prior voting instructions by contacting the bank, broker, or other nominee that holds your shares or by obtaining a legal proxy from your bank, broker, or other nominee and voting at the Special Meeting. If you have any questions or need assistance in casting your vote, you may contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated, the firm assisting the Company with this proxy solicitation (the Company's shareholders may call toll free at +1 877 825 8777, banks and brokers may call collect at +1 212 750-5833).

The Company will keep its shareholders informed from time to time when appropriate.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT AND FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OUR SHARE PRICE TO DECLINE

Certain statements included in this announcement, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "might", "can", "could", "will", "would", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "seek", or "timetable". These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, may include projections of our future financial performance based on our growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business and the industry in which we operate. These statements are only predictions based on our current expectations about future events. There are several factors, many beyond our control, which could cause results to differ materially from our expectation. These risk factors are described in our Annual Report on Form 20-F and in our Current Reports filed on Form 6-K from time to time and are incorporated herein by reference. Any of these factors could, by itself, or together with one or more other factors, adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition. There may also be other factors currently unknown to us, or have not been described by us, that could cause our results to differ from our expectations. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements apply only as of the date of this announcement; as such, they should not be unduly relied upon as circumstances change. Except as required by law, we are not obligated, and we undertake no obligation, to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that might reflect events or circumstance occurring after the date of this announcement or those that might reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

ABOUT NAM TAI PROPERTY INC.

We are a real estate developer and operator, mainly conducting business in Mainland China. Our main land resources are located in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area ("Greater Bay Area") and Wuxi, China, of which the three plots in Shenzhen will be developed into Nam Tai Inno Park, Nam Tai Technology Center and Nam Tai Inno Valley. We plan to build these technology parks into landmark parks in the region and provide high-quality industrial offices, industrial service spaces and supporting dormitories to the tenants. Based on the experience of developing and operating technology parks and an industrial relationship network accumulated over the past 40 years, we have also exported the operation model of technology parks to other industrial properties. Through an asset-light model, we have leased industrial properties for repositioning and business invitation. We will also expand the commercial and residential property business in China as an auxiliary development strategy of the Company. As the growth prospects of China maintain, we expect to seize development opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and other first- and second-tier cities in China, and continue to strengthen and expand the business of industrial real estate, and commercial and residential properties. Nam Tai Property Inc. is a corporation registered in the British Virgin Islands and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (Symbol: "NTP"). Please refer to our corporate website (https://www.namtai.com/) or the SEC website (www.sec.gov) for our press releases and financial statements.

Contacts

Media and Investor Relations Department

Nam Tai Property Inc.

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Nam Tai Property Inc.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts are in orbit following their launch to the International Space Station on the third commercial crew rotation mission aboard the microgravity laboratory. The international crew of astronauts lifted off at 9:03 p.m. EST Wednesday from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket propelled the Crew Dragon Endurance spacecraft with NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron, as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer, into orbit to begin a six-month science mission on the space station.

This mission is the first spaceflight for astronauts Chari, Barron, and Maurer, and the third for Marshburn. Marshburn is the sixth person to launch from Earth on three different spacecraft.

During Crew Dragon's flight, SpaceX will monitor a series of automatic spacecraft maneuvers from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California, and NASA teams will monitor space station operations throughout the flight from the Mission Control Center at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

"With Raja, Thomas, Kayla and Mattias on their way to the International Space Station just days after Crew-2's return, we're seeing the power of American ingenuity right before our eyes," Nelson said. "NASA's partnership with SpaceX is not only critical for cutting-edge research, but also for international collaboration. The space station brings together nations around the world for the benefit of all. Godspeed, Crew-3  I can't wait to see all that you accomplish."

The Crew Dragon Endurance will dock autonomously to the forward port of the station's Harmony module around 7:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11. NASA Television, the NASA app, and the agency's website are providing ongoing live coverage through docking, hatch opening, and the ceremony to welcome the crew aboard the orbital outpost.

"Ensuring our crews have safe transportation and continued access to space is an enormous responsibility," said Steve Stich, manager with NASA's Commercial Crew Program. "We know the crew is excited to get on station and settle into their long duration mission. The NASA and SpaceX team remains vigilant in support of their safe arrival and eventual return to Earth."

Chari, Marshburn, Barron, and Maurer will join the Expedition 66 crew of NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei and cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov of Roscosmos. Crew-3 is the second commercial crew mission to fly an ESA astronaut.

"It is always thrilling to watch a rocket launch, especially when an international crew of astronauts is sitting atop it. Matthias Maurer is the second ESA astronaut to be launched in a Crew Dragon spacecraft under the U.S. Commercial Crew Program," said Josef Aschbacher, ESA director general. "We are delighted to see him fly alongside NASA astronauts to the International Space Station, continuing a long history of international collaboration in space for the benefit of Earth. On behalf of ESA, I'd like to wish all Crew-3 astronauts a productive and enjoyable mission."

The Crew-3 astronauts will spend approximately six months aboard the space station conducting new and exciting scientific research in areas such as materials science, health technologies, and plant science to prepare for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and to benefit life on Earth.

The Crew-3 mission continues NASA's efforts to restore and maintain American leadership in human spaceflight. Regular, long-duration commercial crew rotation missions enable NASA to continue the important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the station. Such research benefits people on Earth and lays the groundwork for future exploration of the Moon and Mars, starting with the agency's Artemis missions, which includes landing the first woman and person of color on the lunar surface.

Crew-3 Astronauts

Chari is commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Crew-3 mission. He is responsible for all phases of flight, from launch to re-entry. He also will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the station. This will be the first spaceflight for Chari, who was selected as a NASA astronaut candidate in 2017. He was born in Milwaukee, but considers Cedar Falls, Iowa, his hometown. He is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and joins the mission with extensive experience as a test pilot. He has accumulated more than 2,500 hours of flight time during his career.

Marshburn is the pilot of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and second-in-command for the mission. He is responsible for spacecraft systems and performance. Once aboard station, he will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer, and is scheduled to assume command of station for Expedition 67. Marshburn is a Statesville, North Carolina, native who became an astronaut in 2004. Prior to serving in the astronaut corps, the medical doctor served as flight surgeon at NASA Johnson and later became medical operations lead for the International Space Station. The Crew-3 mission will be his third visit to the space station, having flown on three different spacecraft, and his second long-duration mission. Marshburn previously served as a crew member of STS-127 in 2009 flying aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Endeavour, and Expedition 34/35, which concluded in 2013, using a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Barron is a mission specialist for Crew-3. She will work closely with the commander and pilot to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and re-entry phases of flight. Once aboard the station, she will become a flight engineer for Expedition 66. Barron was born in Pocatello, Idaho, but considers Richland, Washington, her hometown. She earned a bachelor's degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 2010, and a master's degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Cambridge, in England, in 2011, where she was a Gates Cambridge Scholar. Barron earned her submarine warfare officer qualification and deployed three times while serving aboard the USS Maine. Her current rank in the U.S. Navy is a Lt. Cmdr. At the time of her selection as an astronaut candidate, in 2017, she was serving as the flag aide to the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. Crew-3 will be Barron's first spaceflight.

Maurer also will be a mission specialist for Crew-3, working with the commander and pilot to monitor the spacecraft during the dynamic launch and re-entry phases of flight. He also will become a long-duration crew member aboard the space station. Like Chari and Barron, he will be making his first trip to space with the Crew-3 mission. Maurer comes from Sankt Wendel, in the German state of Saarland. Before becoming an astronaut, Maurer held a number of engineering and research roles, both in a university setting and at ESA. In 2016, Maurer spent 16 days on an undersea mission as part of a NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations space analog.

Learn more about NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission at:

https://go.nasa.gov/31b7VE2

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This Veterans Day, Nextdoor (NYSE: KIND), the neighborhood network, announced a partnership with Veterans United Home Loans, the nation's largest VA purchase lender, to amplify their efforts to support Veteran and military communities across the country by helping Veterans become homeowners.

Together, the purpose-driven companies are launching local Proud Veteran Homeowner Nextdoor Groups in neighborhoods nationwide to connect Veterans and military families to ask questions, share tips and advice, network, volunteer, and plan events together.

Veterans are known for caring deeply about their communities, ultimately going above and beyond to build stronger, more connected neighborhoods. According to the VA, 32% of Veterans work in public service or charitable organizations, compared to 22% of non-Veterans. To show their gratitude, Veterans United will give away 11 homes to Veterans who continue to serve their neighborhoods. Select stories of these incredible Veterans will be featured on ThanksToVeterans.com , including the following:

Andre, a Navy Veteran in Matthews, NC who taught his children the meaning of community by volunteering to put together food care packages for neighbors in need during the COVID-19 pandemic;

who taught his children the meaning of community by volunteering to put together food care packages for neighbors in need during the COVID-19 pandemic; Regina, a Navy Veteran in Stone Mountain, GA and widowed mother of three who volunteers at her local school and has an open-door policy for neighborhood kids;

and widowed mother of three who volunteers at her local school and has an open-door policy for neighborhood kids; Jim, a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam War in Deming, NM , who donates food to local tribes, and spends much of his time as a mentor and role model for his teenage grandson; and

, who donates food to local tribes, and spends much of his time as a mentor and role model for his teenage grandson; and Samuel, a U.S. Marine in Fresno, CA who served two tours in Iraq and now provides self-defense classes at his local dojo, often for children who are experiencing bullying and women looking to protect themselves.

"Veterans United helps Veterans become homeowners, so we are excited to team up with Nextdoor, a company that works to ensure all neighbors have a supportive community," said Nate Johnson, Chief Retention Officer for Veterans United. "It is especially fitting that we announce this partnership today, as we show our gratitude to Veterans who are often the cornerstones of the neighborhoods they call home. Through this partnership, we will continue to create meaningful ways for Veterans to connect with each other and their neighbors, both online and in-person."

Veterans and their fellow neighbors turn to Nextdoor to offer help to one another, particularly around Veterans Day. In 2020, the number of neighbors mentioning Veterans on Nextdoor was 12 times higher on Veterans Day compared to the weeks before and after. In Houston, TX, for example, Marine Veteran Cody posted on Nextdoor to offer free home repair services during a recent winter storm and received over 450 calls from neighbors in need. Nextdoor neighbor Ann in Alexandria, VA came across a trunk of military memorabilia from World War I in her attic and was able to connect with genealogists and historians thanks to a post on Nextdoor, ultimately tracking down the family to return the heirlooms to.

"Nextdoor's purpose is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood to rely on. We have a strong and growing Veterans community on Nextdoor, with Veterans being some of the most dedicated neighbors," said Heidi Andersen, Chief Revenue Officer at Nextdoor. "We are honored to partner this Veterans Day with Veterans United to support their impactful work in giving back to Veterans who have served our country and continue to play a valuable role in their local neighborhoods."

Neighbors can download the Nextdoor app to connect with and support Veterans in their local community. Veterans can find if their neighborhood has a Proud Veteran Homeowners group by visiting nextdoor.com/groups .

About Nextdoor

Nextdoor is where you connect to the neighborhoods that matter to you so you can belong. Our purpose is to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can rely on. Neighbors around the world turn to Nextdoor daily to receive trusted information, give and get help, get things done, and build real-world connections with those nearby  neighbors, businesses, and public services. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor in more than 280,000 neighborhoods across 11 countries. In the U.S., nearly 1 in 3 households uses the app. Nextdoor is based in San Francisco. For additional information and images: nextdoor.com/newsroom .

About Veterans United Home Loans

Based in Columbia, Missouri, the full-service national lender financed more than $25.8 billion in loans in 2020 and is the country's largest VA purchase lender. The company's mission is to help Veterans and service members utilize the home loan benefits earned by their service. The company's employee-driven charitable arm, Veterans United Foundation, is committed to enhancing the lives of Veterans and military families nationwide by focusing on supporting military families and non-profit organizations that strengthen local communities. Veterans United Home Loans and its employees have donated more than $100 million to the Foundation since its founding in November 2011.

SOURCE Nextdoor Holdings, Inc.
CENTENNIAL, Colo., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NioCorp Developments Ltd. ("NioCorp" or the "Company") (TSX: NB;OTCQX: NIOBF) is pleased to announce that CEO and Executive Chairman Mark Smith will present to investors around the world on NioCorp's Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project at the H.C. Wainwright Mining Conference on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at 11 a.m. Eastern Time.

The conference will be conducted virtually, and Mr. Smith's presentation will be webcast live here: https://journey.ct.events/view/a0162ca1-2607-4be8-937a-2ab1613f4095

Expected to participate in the H.C. Wainwright conference are hundreds of private equity firms, venture capitalists, institutional investors, family funds, and individual investors.

NioCorp $NB $NIOBF #Niobium #Scandium #rareearth #ElkCreek #HCWainwright

For More Information

Contact Jim Sims, VP of External Affairs, NioCorp Developments Ltd., 303-503-6203, [email protected], https://www.niocorp.com

About NioCorp

NioCorp is developing a superalloy materials project in Southeast Nebraska that will produce Niobium, Scandium, and Titanium. The Company also is evaluating the potential to produce several rare earth byproducts from the Project. Niobium is used to produce superalloys as well as High Strength, Low Alloy ("HSLA") steel, which is a lighter, stronger steel used in automotive, structural, and pipeline applications. Scandium is a superalloy material that can be combined with Aluminum to make alloys with increased strength and improved corrosion resistance. Scandium is also a critical component of advanced solid oxide fuel cells. Titanium is used in various superalloys and is a key component of pigments used in paper, paint and plastics and is also used for aerospace applications, armor, and medical implants. Magnetic rare earths, such as Neodymium, Praseodymium, Terbium, and Dysprosium are critical to the making of Neodymium-Iron-Boron ("NdFeB") magnets, which are used across a wide variety of defense and civilian applications.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company's expectation that it will present at the Conference referenced. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause a change in such assumptions and the actual outcomes and estimates to be materially different from those estimated or anticipated future results, achievements or position expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause NioCorp's plans or prospects to change include risks related to the Company's ability to operate as a going concern; risks related to the Company's requirement of significant additional capital; changes in demand for and price of commodities (such as fuel and electricity) and currencies; changes in economic valuations of the Project, such as Net Present Value calculations, changes or disruptions in the securities markets; legislative, political or economic developments; the need to obtain permits and comply with laws and regulations and other regulatory requirements; the possibility that actual results of work may differ from projections/expectations or may not realize the perceived potential of NioCorp's projects; risks of accidents, equipment breakdowns and labor disputes or other unanticipated difficulties or interruptions; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in development programs; operating or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, mining or development activities; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities of grades of reserves and resources; and the risks involved in the exploration, development and mining business and the risks set forth in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators at www.sedar.com and the SEC at www.sec.gov. NioCorp disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

SOURCE NioCorp Developments Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.niocorp.com


CENTER VALLEY, Pa., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Olympus Corporation of the Americas announced today that it has again been recognized as a military- and adoption-friendly workplace.

Olympus earned the 2022 Military Friendly Employer designation, marking the fifth consecutive year the company has received the designation. Olympus also earned the 2022 Military Friendly Spouse Employer designation for the first time and announced its new partnership with the Wounded Warrior Program.

Olympus Corporation of the Americas has earned the 2022 Military Friendly Employer designation and has been named to the 2021 annual list of Americas Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces.

Olympus has also been named to the 2021 Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's annual list of America's Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces for the fourth consecutive year.

OCA's Adoption Assistance Program reimburses U.S. full- and part-time eligible employees for all or a portion of qualifying expenses incurred (up to $10,000) from their legal adoption of a child. Qualifying adoption expenses include, but are not limited to, adoption, attorney and court fees and travel expenses.

Ben Gundersen, an account manager in Olympus' Center Valley-based Medical Systems Group, and his wife, Brielle, recently finalized an emotional and lengthy adoption process that was about two years in the making. Having adopted before, the Gundersens were approached in 2019 by a family friend about adopting the little boy of a mother in Utah.

"Ansel Arlo came into our lives suddenly and without warning," Ben Gundersen said.

The Gundersens would eventually meet the birth mother in Utah, where they were told she and the birth father agreed with the adoption. But shortly after the birth mother signed over guardianship to the Gundersens, the birth father opposed the adoption and a two-year legal fight ensued. The Gundersens found themselves in the middle of a custody battle between the birth mother and father that included a daylong court hearing during which the Gundersens were twice told to return Ansel to the birth mother.

They eventually reached out to the birth father to get to know him better and invited him to their home to see how Ansel was thriving with their family. The adoption was finalized in September, and the Gundersens continue to have a good relationship with the birth parents.

"This was surely a lesson in patience and, at the end of the day, love," Ben Gundersen said. "We learned so much about letting go when the situation is not controllable, while keeping faith that it will turn out the way it was intended."

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption publishes the list of top 100 Adoption Friendly Workplaces. The full list of winners can be found on the foundation's website.

Companies earning the Military Friendly Employer Designation were evaluated using both public data sources and responses from a proprietary survey. Methodology, criteria and weightings were determined by VIQTORY with input from the Military Friendly Advisory Council of independent leaders in the high education and military recruitment community.

Final ratings were determined by combining an organization's survey score with an assessment of the organization's ability to meet thresholds for applicant, new hire retention, employee turnover and promotion and advancement of veterans and military employees.

The Wounded Warrior Program provides wounded veterans access to mental and physical health, career counseling and peer and family support services free of charge.

"The support we receive from Olympus helps the Wounded Warrior Project empower, employ and engage warriors in their communities," said Gary Corless, Warrior Support at WWP. "Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, warriors never pay a penny for our programs  because they paid their dues on the battlefield."

About Military Friendly Employers

The Military Friendly Employers List is created each year based on extensive research using public data sources for thousands of federal contractors nationwide, the input of military employees and responses to the proprietary, data driven Military Friendly Employers survey from participating companies. The survey questions, methodology, criteria and weightings were developed with the assistance of an independent research firm and an advisory council of educators and employers. Data calculations and tabulations were independently evaluated for completeness and accuracy by Ernst & Young. The survey is administered for free and is open to companies that have hired veterans in the past 12 months. Criteria for consideration can be found at militaryfriendly.com.

About Olympus

Olympus is passionate about creating customer-driven solutions for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries. For more than 100 years, Olympus has focused on making people's lives healthier, safer and more fulfilling by helping to detect, prevent, and treat disease; furthering scientific research; and ensuring public safety.

Olympus Corporation of the Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Corporation, is headquartered in Center Valley, Pa., and employs more than 5,500 employees throughout locations in North and South America. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

About VIQTORY

Founded in 2001, VIQTORY is a service disabled, veteran owned small business that connects the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities through its owned assets such as Military Spouse Magazine, G.I. Jobs and Military Friendly brands. VIQTORY and its brands are not part of or endorsed by the U.S. Dept. of Defense or any federal government entity. Learn more at Viqtory.com.

SOURCE Olympus

Related Links

www.olympus.com


YOKNEAM, Israel, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTI) (OTCQX: OTIVF), a global provider of near field communication (NFC) and cashless payment solutions, will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021 on Monday, November 15, 2021.

Management will host a live investor conference call at 9:00 a.m. ET that same day to discuss OTI's financial results, provide a corporate update, and conclude with a Q&A session taking live questions from participants as well as answering many of the previously submitted questions by investors.

To participate, please use the following information:

U.S. Dial-in: 1 888 723 3164

International Dial-in: +972 3 918 0691

Webcast: https://Veidan.activetrail.biz/otiq3-2021

Investors and analysts may also submit questions they would like OTI to address on the call. Questions can be submitted at any time until 4pm ET, Friday, November 12 to [email protected] to ensure they are addressed on the call.

Please dial in a few minutes before the start of the call and request to join the "On Track Innovations Q3 2021 Earnings Conference Call" to ensure timely participation.

The replay of the conference call will be available via the investor relations section of the company's website.

About On Track Innovations Ltd

On Track Innovations (OTI) is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and sale of secure cashless payment solutions using contactless NFC technology. OTI's field-proven innovations have been deployed around the world to address cashless payment, automated retail and petroleum markets. OTI distributes and supports its solutions through a global network of regional offices and alliances. For more information, visit www.otiglobal.com.

OTI Investor Relations Contact:

Ehud Helft

GK Investor and Public Relations

1 212 378 8040

[email protected]

SOURCE On Track Innovations Ltd. (OTI)
MIAMI, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An online software company called ERinfo is transforming the way that emergency response teams are able to provide timely and effective treatment to patients. The software company, founded by a team of medical professionals, entrepreneurs, and technology development specialists, provides emergency responders with vital medical information that may otherwise be overlooked while on an emergency call.

"When you sign up for an account with ERinfo," says founder and Medical Director Dr. Paige Finklestein, "you simply upload your information and picture to our secure network. You don't have to carry anything on you, and emergency responders can access your information from anywhere."

The lifesaving software service provided by ERinfo is remarkable in both its simplicity of use and its use of modern facial recognition technology. In the event of an emergency, first responders can take a picture of your face, and using facial recognition technology, ERinfo can provide identification, medications, medical history, emergency contacts, and much more, even if the patient is unconscious, unresponsive, or not in a mental state where they can provide such information.

"Our goal is to make ERinfo an ubiquitous utility for everyone," says founder David Finklestein, "and that's why we've made subscription plans affordable, hopefully encouraging whole families to sign up. Even if you can't afford it, we have options for assistance with financial hardship. Your family deserves to be protected!"

Every year over a million Americans are admitted to emergency rooms without positive identification. With ERinfo, even patients with Alzheimer's, children without ID, and patients who may be unresponsive can be identified quickly, and medical responders can provide the most effective care. To learn more, you can visit ERinfo online at erinfo.me .



About ERinfo:

ERinfo, Inc. is a software company based out of Miami that is dedicated to providing first responders and medical professionals across the country with lifesaving patient information using facial recognition technology. Real-time retrieval of critical information and emergency contact notification can improve patient outcomes and help reduce treatment times and healthcare costs.

Founder and Medical Director Dr. Paige Finkelstein completed her degrees at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine after completing degrees in chemical engineering and biology at MIT. Dr. Finkelstein is a nationally licensed EMT and surgical resident at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach.

Founder David Finkelstein MBA is a professional engineer and attended the University of Vermont (BSME) and York University's Schulich School of Business (MBA), and continues to be a prolific entrepreneur.

Media Contact:

Sunny Sharma

(929) 437-4636

[email protected]

SOURCE ERinfo

Related Links

http://erinfo.me


"Kibeho: Listen My Children," an EWTN Original production, premieres at 10 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Nov. 24, with encores at 1:30 p.m. ET and 11 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 28. (Click here for the trailer: https://bit.ly/KibehoTrailer .

The Nov. 24 premiere will be preceded at 8 a.m. ET by "EWTN Live," with Immaculee IIlibagiza, who appears prominently in the docudrama. Immaculee is the woman who told the world about the genocide in the 2017 best-selling book, "Left to Tell," which was later made into a well-known documentary by the same name.

In addition to observations from Immaculee, the docudrama includes footage of the actual Rwandan school girl visionaries, the mental torture they endured by those who did not believe them, the doctors who were charged with determining if they were mentally ill, and church officials who made the final determination.

Among other things, Our Lady of Kibeho requested that the people of Rwanda pray the Seven Sorrow Rosary, a devotion given to St. Bridget centuries earlier which had largely been forgotten. During the genocide, the sisters at the convent school the visionaries attended prayed this rosary from morning to evening. All survived the bloodbath. (Find meditations on the Seven Sorrows Rosary and more in this little booklet from EWTNRC: https://bit.ly/7SorrowsRosary

In the film, we witness Our Lady taking one of the visionaries, Marie Claire Mukangango, to heaven, hell and purgatory. When Marie Claire asks Our Lady why she was shown these places, she tells her: "I showed you so you know the life that matters most is what is coming after this life on earth. Go and tell everyone. Encourage them to live the right way. Tell them to live without respecting God is the ultimate waste of time. They will regret it bitterly." Our Lady also said: "You have to tell the people that these places actually exist. To refuse Jesus is to refuse paradise."

There is much more to tell about these apparitions. This is a story no one who cares about eternal life should miss.

In its 40th year, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN's 11 TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 350 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the largest Catholic websites in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, "The National Catholic Register" newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division.

###

SOURCE EWTN Global Catholic Network

Related Links

ewtn.com


MIAMI, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Panda USA (also known as Panda Kitchen & bath), a global leader in the manufacturing and sales of wood cabinetry celebrated the grand opening of their latest facility, a 300,000 square foot factory in Surat Thani, Thailand. Panda USA also owns factories in China, Myanmar, and Malaysia. The grand opening of the factory occurred on the 21st of October with a celebration which hosted public officials to include the Deputy Minister of Commerce, Mr. Sinit Lertkrai.

logo Photos from Grand Opening

Panda USA which takes pride in high quality solid wood cabinetry saw an opportunity with Surat Thani, as the province is rich in natural resources to include rubber trees. This relationship between Panda USA and the province of Surat Thani will be a symbiotic one, as the new factory will greatly affect the local economy in a positive way with the creation of over 3,500 jobs. The economic impact will be substantial.

Sean Huang, President of Panda USA stated: "With the help of Deputy Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Sinit Lertkrai, we at Panda USA were able to create this factory in Surat Thani. Manufacturing in Surat Thani guarantees that Panda USA will continue to create high quality solid wood cabinetry, at below market prices. We look forward to creating a mutually beneficial relationship with the Surat Thani public."

ABOUT PANDA USA

Founded in 2002 by the Huang family, Panda USA set themselves apart by creating high quality solid wood cabinetry at below market prices. Their business model centered around controlling manufacturing and distribution which allowed Panda USA to maintain top quality products and service to the end consumer.

For more information about Panda USA please visit www.PandaKitchen.com

Photographs and interviews are available by request.

Creativas Group Inc. provides public relations and marketing counsel to national brands, recognized special events and leading non-profit organizations.

Follow us on social media @CreativasGroup.

Media contact:

Gabriel Pineres

[email protected]

786-541-7411

SOURCE Panda Kitchen & Bath

Related Links

https://www.pandakitchen.com/


CHICAGO, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pembrook Capital Management LLC ("Pembrook"), one of the nation's leading bridge lenders for affordable housing, is providing a first mortgage loan up to $4 million to refinance the existing debt, as well as execute capital expenditures and repairs, for a multifamily property located at 6700 S. Merrill Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.

The affordable housing property, located on Chicago's South Side, is comprised of 50 apartment units with 36,000 square feet of rentable area. Of the 50 units, 30 are in disrepair and the funding Pembrook is providing will support the sponsor's business plan of renovating and modernizing the apartments while maintaining their overall affordable status. The renovation budget will average $9,460 per unit.

"Pembrook remains focused on delivering capital to experienced sponsors in the affordable and workforce housing space," notes Stuart Boesky, CEO of Pembrook. "Demand for high-quality affordable housing options continues to outpace supply, particularly in the Chicago market, and we are pleased to support the renovation of 6700 S. Merrill Avenue, which will benefit residents and the surrounding community."

Terence Baydala, Managing Director, Originations, for Pembrook adds, "The opportunity to return 30 rehabilitated units back to the affordable housing supply in Chicago's South Side is an example of what Pembrook's affordable bridge program is all about."

The sponsors have vast knowledge of Chicago's South Side market knowledge and own approximately 900 workforce housing units across several South Side neighborhoods including Jackson Park, Woodlawn and Bronzeville. 6700 S. Merrill Avenue includes 30 one-bedroom one bath units, 14 two-bedroom one-bathroom units, and six three-bedroom, one bath units. The property is currently 40% occupied and the sponsor will commence leasing the remaining units upon completion of the renovations.

Pembrook is a real estate investment manager that provides financing throughout the capital structure. The firm has originated or participated in investments totaling over $1.5 billion since it began investing in 2007.

About Pembrook Capital Management, LLC

Founded in 2006 by Stuart J. Boesky, Pembrook Capital Management invests in a variety of commercial real estate with a core emphasis on impact investing and affordable housing across the country. The firm's strategy involves commercial real estate debt, including first mortgages, mezzanine, bridge loans, note financings, and preferred equity. Since its launch, Pembrook originated or participated in investments totaling over $1.5 billion and has invested approximately $700 million into affordable/workforce multifamily rental housing, equating to over 12,000 units housing an estimated 31,000 tenants, 70% of which were located in predominantly minority neighborhoods. Please visit http://www.pembrookgroup.com.

Media Contact

Great Ink Communications, (212) 741-2977

Tom Nolan ([email protected])

Eric Waters ([email protected])

SOURCE Pembrook Capital Management

Related Links

http://www.pembrookgroup.com


PHILADELPHIA and NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pep Boys, one of the nation's leading automotive service networks, has presented the Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) with a $100,000 donation, representing a significant new investment by the iconic, 100-year-old company in America's military veterans. The Bob Woodruff Foundation works to ensure our nation's impacted veterans, service members and their families have access to the highest level of support and resources they have earned, for as long as they need it.

The donation is one of a series initiatives announced in conjunction with the Pep Boys Centennial Celebration and represents a commitment to the Bob Woodruff Foundation as a long-term strategic partner. Pep Boys announced its intention to establish the partnership last year with the launch of the Pep Boys Centennial Calendar, of which a portion of the proceeds had been earmarked for the Foundation. Pep Boys CEO Brian Kaner presented a check for $100,000 to the organization's co-founder Bob Woodruff and BWF CEO Anne Marie Dougherty in New York City on Monday.

"The original Pep Boys were veterans looking to start the next phase of their lives after World War I, and in the process, they founded a company that has lasted a century and continues to give generations of those who served the opportunity to write their own next chapter," said CEO Brian Kaner. "It's now time for Pep Boys to take our commitment to our nation's heroes even further through dedicated programming and engagement in our local communities, and the Bob Woodruff Foundation is the perfect partner with which to do so."

"We're so grateful for the generosity of the Pep Boys team. It's exciting to find a partner who shares our vision and values, and has the national reach to make a positive difference in the lives of veterans from coast to coast," said Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO, Bob Woodruff Foundation. "Through this donation and our continuing partnership, we'll be able to support veterans as they bring their strengths to the civilian workforce in meaningful new careers."

Pep Boys' investment in the veteran community will be activated by the Bob Woodruff Foundation through a combination of grantmaking, public awareness, and community network activation across the nation where the company has locations. The partnership will also give the employees of Pep Boys' nearly 1,000 Service and Tire Centers the opportunity to live out the company's vision to "be the one communities count on to keep them moving," through local engagement and volunteer opportunities.

In addition to its partnership with Bob Woodruff Foundation, Pep Boys offers opportunities for veterans to apply their talents and dedication within one of the nation's largest and most dynamic industries. The company supports its own workforce development initiatives, including the "Race to 2026," which recruits and supports talented technicians in the automotive industry and is designed to help close America's skills gap. The company also recently gifted $100,000 in new scholarships for aspiring automotive technicians.

Pep Boys works extensively with RecruitMilitary, the nation's largest military-focused recruiting company, to help veterans identify and pursue career opportunities best suited to their skills and interests. The company also contributes to the community as a fourth-year affiliate of Progressive's Keys to Progress initiative, which has donated more than 750 vehicles to help veterans and their families move forward in their post-military lives and careers; and the beloved U.S. Marine Toys for Tots program which collects new unwrapped toys and distribute those toys to less fortunate children during the holiday season. Year-round, Pep Boys offers an everyday discount* on automotive services to all active, reserve and retired members of the military.

*Restrictions apply; visit https://www.pepboys.com/military-commitment for details.

About Pep Boys

Pep Boys is driven by its promise to its customers: We go further to help you go farther. Founded in 1921 by military veterans, generations of drivers have counted on Pep Boys ASE-certified Pros to care for their cars. With a national network of Service and Tire Centers, millions of vehicles and fleets pass through Pep Boys bays each year. Our commitment to being the ONE our communities count on is demonstrated through our exceptional customer experience and support of the critical technical training initiatives needed to close America's skills gap. For more information, visit www.pepboys.com/corporate.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was wounded by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, BWF has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long-term needs of today's veterans, including suicide prevention, mental health, caregiver support, and food insecurity. To date, BWF has invested over $80 million to Find, Fund and Shape programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members, and their family members across the nation, reinforcing the message that BWF has 'Got Your Six'. To discover stories of success and innovation from BWF's network of partners, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @bwforg.

Media Contact

Arianna Stefanoni Sherlock, Pep Boys

[email protected]

Emma Parker, Bob Woodruff Foundation

[email protected]

B-Roll video footage available here.

SOURCE Pep Boys

Related Links

https://www.pepboys.com/


OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) ("PHX" or the "Company") today announced three mineral and royalty acquisitions targeting the Haynesville play in East Texas and Louisiana. PHX has agreed to acquire approximately 827 net royalty acres for aggregate consideration of $5,200,000 in cash and stock from a private seller subject to customary closing adjustments (the "Acquisition"). The purchase price consists of $520,000 in cash and 1,519,481 in PHX common stock issued directly to the seller of the assets. The shares to be issued are subject to a 120-day lock-up period. The Board of Directors of PHX unanimously approved the Acquisition, which is subject to certain closing conditions and expected to close by Dec. 1, 2021. Additionally, in two separate transactions, PHX closed the acquisition of approximately 219 net royalty acres in the Haynesville play during the month of November 2021 for cash consideration of $2,331,992.

Chad Stephens, President and CEO, said, "These are exceptional acquisitions of additional mineral assets targeting the Hayneville play where we have been actively acquiring minerals and royalty over the last 12 months. These assets have compelling upside potential and are under some of the top operators in the play with active drilling programs. These acquisitions continue to demonstrate our ability to high grade our asset base by acquiring higher margin minerals in our core areas of focus, while divesting of lower margin legacy non-operated working interest assets. Further, our focus in the Haynesville play highlights our belief in natural gas being the transition fuel of the future and the Haynesville play's position as a key swing producing region in the United States."

Acquisitions Highlights

Approximately 1,046 net royalty acres in East Texas and Louisiana (primarily located in Nacogdoches , San Augustine , and Shelby counties in Texas and Caddo and DeSoto parishes in Louisiana ), focused on the Haynesville and Bossier plays;

and (primarily located in , , and counties in and and parishes in ), focused on the and plays; Includes 36 PDP gross wells, 13 gross wells in progress and an estimated 94 gross undrilled locations;

Three drilling rigs currently running on the Acquisition assets and an additional one drilling rig within 2.5 miles of the Acquisition assets 1 ;

; Estimated reserves of 9.4 Bcfe 2 ;

; Current net production 0.067 Mmcfe/d 3 ;

; Estimated net production for 2022 totaling between 550 to 650 mcf/d, comprised of 100% natural gas; and

Key operators of the Acquisition assets include Chesapeake, Geosouthern, Trinity, and Aethon.

PHX Minerals Inc. (NYSE: PHX) Oklahoma City-based, PHX Minerals Inc. is a natural gas and oil mineral company with a strategy to proactively grow its mineral position in its core areas of focus. PHX owns mineral acreage principally located in Oklahoma, Texas, North Dakota, New Mexico and Arkansas. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.phxmin.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes "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. Words such as "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "believes," "expects," "intends," "will," "should," "may" and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect PHX's current views about future events. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: PHX's ability to execute its business strategies; the volatility of realized natural gas and oil prices; the level of production on its properties; estimates of quantities of natural gas, oil and NGL reserves and their values; general economic or industry conditions; legislation or regulatory requirements; conditions of the securities markets; the ability to raise capital; changes in accounting principles, policies or guidelines; financial or political instability; acts of war or terrorism; title defects in the properties in which PHX invests; and other economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory or technical factors affecting our properties, operations or prices. Although the Company believes its expectations reflected in these and other forward-looking statements are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance its expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the results to differ materially from those expected by the Company's management. Information concerning these risks and other factors can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, available on the Company's website or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update the forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

1 Provided by Enverus as of 11/5/2021

2 As of 10/01/2021

3 Mmcfe/d is on a 6:1 basis; estimated October 2021 production

SOURCE PHX Minerals Inc.

Related Links

http://phxmin.com/


ALLENTOWN, Pa., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) announced today that it has joined Energy Impact Partners, a global venture capital platform leading the transition to a sustainable future, in their Flagship Fund, Fund II. The fund received $1 billion in commitments and will focus on investing in venture and growth companies advancing critical climate solutions.

PPL's participation in Fund II is part of the company's commitment to invest up to $50 million across EIP's platform to accelerate the shift to a low-carbon future and drive commercial-scale solutions needed to deliver deep, economywide decarbonization.

Through Fund II, PPL will work with EIP to identify cutting-edge technologies that advance the zero-carbon economy. This includes companies innovating across supply decarbonization, electrification, tech-enabled infrastructure, reliability and resilience, and intelligent demand.

"Innovation is key to our goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 while keeping energy reliable and affordable for our customers and the communities we serve," said PPL President and Chief Executive Officer Vincent Sorgi. "That's why we're partnering with EIP to support entrepreneurs, and it's why we're investing more than ever before to fuel research and development of breakthrough clean energy technologies."

Sorgi said PPL's collaboration with EIP builds on the company's growing culture of innovation and will provide greater visibility into emerging technologies that can be leveraged to advance a cleaner energy future. Fund II has already made significant investments in more than a dozen promising technology companies that are critical to accelerating the energy transition.

"We are thrilled to work with PPL as part of our largest coalition of utilities and industrials focused on creating a sustainable future," said Hans Kobler, founder and managing partner of EIP. "Tackling climate change is a major challenge and opportunity that can only be solved by working together. Our unique engagement model helps our partners innovate, drives growth in our investments, and as a result, maximizes real near-term impact on the climate."

Earlier this summer, PPL announced its participation in another EIP fund, the Elevate Future Fund, which focuses on enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion by expanding opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs and communities in the energy transition.

To learn more about PPL's commitment to research and development, visit www.pplweb.com. To learn more about Energy Impact Partners, visit www.energyimpactpartners.com.

About PPL

PPL Corporation (NYSE:PPL), based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a leading U.S. energy company focused on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably and affordably to more than 2.5 million customers in the U.S. PPL's high-performing, award-winning utilities are addressing energy challenges head-on by building smarter, more resilient and more dynamic power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions. For more information, visit www.pplweb.com.

About Energy Impact Partners

Energy Impact Partners, LP (EIP) is a global investment firm leading the transition to a sustainable energy future. EIP brings together entrepreneurs and the world's most forward-looking energy and industrial companies to advance innovation. With over $2 billion in assets under management, EIP invests globally across venture, growth, credit and infrastructure  and has a team of more than 50 professionals based in its offices in New York, San Francisco, Palm Beach, London, Cologne and Oslo. For more information on EIP, visit www.energyimpactpartners.com.

Note to Editors: Visit our media website at www.pplnewsroom.com for additional news and background about PPL Corporation.

Contacts: For news media: Ryan Hill, 610-774-4033

For financial analysts: Andy Ludwig, 610-774-3389

SOURCE PPL Corporation

Related Links

http://www.pplweb.com


SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pray.com , the world's leading app for mental and spiritual health, has launched an effort to support U.S. military veterans, by partnering with and supporting the Independence Fund , an organization committed to empowering our nation's catastrophically wounded, injured, or ill veterans to overcome physical, mental, and emotional wounds incurred in the line of duty. Specifically, Pray.com will raise funds for mental health initiatives and offer U.S. military veterans and service members (active duty and reserve) a one-year premium subscription for ninety-nine cents or a family plan for $4.99.

Operation RESILIENCY focuses on the mental health and well-being of veterans in order to prevent veteran suicide and improve the overall quality of the life for our Veterans and their families. The Independence Fund and the Veterans Health Administration Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention (OMHSP) have partnered together in order to make an immediate impact on the lives of our veterans and their families.

In addition to the premium subscriptions, Pray.com will also fundraise for Operation RESILIENCY through the month of November. The company has launched #OperationPray on Instagram, inviting followers to join in helping to spread the word to help veterans. For everyone who follows Pray.com and Independence Fund on Instagram, tags a friend, likes the post and shares to their story using the #OperationPray hashtag, the company has committed $1 for every participant up to $20,000.

Efforts will also include the publishing of new related content in app, the 'Life, Leadership, Legacy' series, featuring Eli Crane & Brian Reese, and the ' Armor of God ' podcast series, featuring real and raw stories by American veterans, will be free for all throughout the month of November.

"At Pray.com, we believe in the power of prayer and also prayer in action," said Steve Gatena, CEO, Pray.com. "We are deeply honored to support our veterans this Veterans Day and every day and we hope to drive awareness and raise funds for mental health services for everyone who has served this country so valiantly."

"When I reflect on what my husband has endured in a decade of life after his catastrophic combat injuries, I am confident that life without our faith would be like a life without oxygen. The heavy-combat units we bring through our Operation RESILIENCY program have men and women who fought and survived war in Iraq and Afghanistan  now it's time to help them survive at home. I am grateful to our partners at Pray.com for putting faith at the forefront of discussion and for providing an avenue to discuss Veteran mental health," said Sarah Verardo, CEO of The Independence Fund.

About Pray.com

Launched in 2017 with a mission to grow faith and cultivate community, Pray.com is the world's No. 1 app for daily prayer and Bible-based audio content. Reaching more than 10 million people worldwide through its mobile app and website, it is the easiest way to incorporate prayer into your daily life. Pray.com provides encouragement and inspiration through Daily Prayers, Pastor podcasts, and Bedtime Bible Stories. For more information, please visit: www.pray.com .

About the Independence Fund

Founded in 2007, the Independence Fund is committed to empowering our nation's catastrophically wounded, injured, or ill Veterans to overcome physical, mental, and emotional wounds incurred in the line of duty. We are dedicated to improving the lives of both our Veterans and their families. Through our Mobility, Caregiver, Advocacy, Casework, Operation RESILIENCY, [email protected] and Family programs, The Independence Fund strives to bridge the gap of unmet needs for Veterans and their Caregivers. Before joining the coalition, The Independence Fund had programs in place to include Afghan SIVs and their families in its programming, including Operation RESILIENCY, a retreat focused on the mental health of Veterans to combat Veteran Suicide by reuniting combat units who served and fought together and includes their interpreters living in the United States through the Afghan Special Immigration Visa (SIV) program.

Press Page: https://pray.com/articles/military-veterans

PSA Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iduRVWBvnbo

SOURCE Pray.com

Related Links

https://www.pray.com/


MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exclusive items and one-of-a-kind memorabilia from an EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION OF MUSIC'S MOST INFLUENTIAL & LEGENDARY DRUMMERS  including Def Leppard's Rick Allen, Ringo Starr, Red Hot Chili Pepper's Chad Smith, Sheila E., Aerosmith's Joey Kramer and more  raise funds to support trauma relief and suicide prevention for Veterans.

12 Drummers Logo

In honor of its 20th anniversary, Raven Drum Foundation has partnered with more than a dozen drummers to present a unique twist on a classic holiday song. Founders Rick Allen and his wife Lauren Monroe reached out to some of their music-industry peers to help raise vital funds for injured service members dealing with PTSD, trauma, and suicidal ideation. "The Twelve Days of Christmas" historically did not reference the days leading up to Christmas, but the 12 days following it. This year, Raven Drum Foundation is breaking from that tradition to launch its first ever "12 Drummers Drumming" online auction on Veterans Day, November 11th and all the items will be available for shipping to the winning bidders in time for the holidays.

The online auction will commence on November 11, 2021 at 9 AM PT with a signed drumhead, a stick that was used by "The Thunder God" (Def Leppard's Rick Allen) and two of Rick's original mixed media art pieces, including a tribute to the late Charlie Watts.

The auction will be live through Monday, November 22nd and will conclude at 9 PM PT. Visit 12drummersdrumming.org to browse and bid on exclusive experiences and signed memorabilia. Over the 12-day period, the auction will feature a new drummer (or two) each day and will reveal their auction item(s).

All proceeds benefit Raven Drum Foundation's mission to serve, educate, and empower Veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors with a focused effort to prevent suicide through innovative wellness-support programs. Raven Drum contributes to global healing and community through advocacy, storytelling, and the promotion of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Some of the unique items available for auction include:

Autographed Fender Strat Guitar signed by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

A 30-minute Zoom call with Guns N' Roses drummer Matt Sorum

Autographed drums, drumheads, and sticks from multiple Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

A limited-edition Yamaha Steve Gadd Signature Snare Drum

Ludwig Snare Drum signed by Ringo Starr

Notable Musicians Who Contributed to the Campaign Include:

Ringo Starr, The Beatles

Shannon Larkin, Godsmack

Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers

Sheila E.

Todd Sucherman, Styx

Kenny Aronoff, John Mellencamp

Steve Smith, Journey

Danny Seraphine, Chicago

Duane Trucks, Widespread Panic

John Lum, The Allman Betts Band

Matt Sorum, Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver

Jason Bonham, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening

Brad Wilk, Rage Against the Machine

Zac Hanson, Hanson

Carter Beauford, Dave Matthews Band

Joey Kramer, Aerosmith

Cindy Blackman Santana, Lenny Kravitz/Santana

Jim Keltner, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, The Traveling Wilburys



12 Drummers Drumming announcement video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlK0_-bzGxs

ABOUT RAVEN DRUM FOUNDATION

Raven Drum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by Rick Allen, drummer for Def Leppard, and Lauren Monroe, musician, and healing arts educator. Raven Drum's mission is to serve, educate, and empower veterans dealing with PTSD and TBI, people in crisis, and other at-risk populations. The foundation engages drumming as a tool for healing, allowing participants to use rhythm, mindfulness, and energy-medicine techniques as an avenue for connection and healing, and supports complementary and alternative-medicine programs for trauma recovery. For more information, please visit ravendrumfoundation.org.

Media Contact:

Laurie Baker

917-855-0970

[email protected]

SOURCE Raven Drum Foundation

Related Links

http://ravendrumfoundation.org


MOUNT BRYDGES, ON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RedRick Technologies, a provider of purpose-built ergonomic workstations, monitor mounting solutions, and reading room design guidance, announces they will demonstrating three new versions of their ComfortView ergonomic workstations at the upcoming, in-person Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2021 Annual Meeting. RedRick Technologies will be in Booth #7311  North Hall

Over the last two years, RedRick Technologies has introduced the following three new versions of their purpose-built ergonomic workstations that are designed to help radiologists and other healthcare professionals address a number of unique ergonomic challenges. These developments reflect a continued focus on employing ergonomics to address the challenges that bring real value to an organization by going beyond the common ergonomic challenges.

The newest developments they will be exhibiting include:

ComfortView - GLIDETM: Mitigates the unique risks from ultra-wide monitor arrays (4 or more displays) by incorporating a floating work surface that maintains the natural, unconscious adjustments that prevent repetitive strain injuries.

ComfortView  HOME: Combines the aesthetic benefits of a quality workstation with our purpose-built ergonomics to enhance the home office environment. Read our previous announcement on ComfortView - Home

ComfortView  SLIM: Narrower depth saves space and enables it to move through a standard doorway while fully assembled. Perfect when space savings is important.

Greg Patrick, CEO at RedRick Technologies, points out "The COVID pandemic has caused many organizations to rethink the work-from-home trend and continues to pressure healthcare providers to optimize space utilization. As a result of conversation with our customers we will continue to commercialize new solutions to the unique challenges they are experiencing."

Visit RedRick in Booth #7311  North Hall at RSNA, to learn first-hand how the unique benefits of their ergonomic workstations can help alleviate the risk of repetitive stress injuries in radiologists as well as cardiologists and digital pathologists. Good ergonomics is important for everyone who spends more than 4 hours a day in front of a multi-monitor workstation. RSNA attendees are invited to inquire about the following unique attributes of RedRick ergonomic workstations:

Customized shapes and sizes that maximize use of space. Optimized to manage unique configurations of diagnostic displays. Stable and effortless ergonomic adjustments.

About RedRick Technologies

RedRick Technologies designs, develops, and optimizes reading room environments, and the ergonomic workspaces they synergistically incorporate. You know us best from our sturdy and carefully designed ergonomic workstations and monitor mounting solutions, however, our expertise encompasses space design, environmental control, lighting, and acoustics; all factors that must work together to optimize radiology reading room design.

Since 2001 we have been helping clients maximize their department productivity, workflow, and space utilization, and help ensure their reading environment supports the operational goals of both Radiology and the healthcare enterprise. Our four-step process ensures an optimized radiology reading room design that facilitates your transition from volume-based to value-based imaging. Learn more by contacting us at 1-800-340-9511 and at www.redricktechnologies.com

SOURCE RedRick Technologies

Related Links

http://www.redricktechnologies.com


STAMFORD, Conn., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ReneSola Ltd ("ReneSola Power" or the "Company") (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced that it closed the sale of a 12 MWdc portfolio of solar development projects to Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company ("Greenbacker"), a publicly registered, non-traded limited liability company focused on investments in renewable energy power and energy efficiency projects, as well as other sustainable investments. The sale demonstrates the Company's proven track record in North America.

The portfolio comprises four ground-mounted projects across different locations in Maine. The projects are being sold at the "Notice to Proceed" (NTP) stage, and Greenbacker will complete the construction and retain long-term ownership.

Mr. John Ewen, CEO of ReneSola Power North America, commented, "ReneSola Power is committed to accelerating solar development in the U.S., and we are thrilled to see these projects contribute to Greenbacker's renewable energy portfolio and the clean energy goals of Maine."

Mr. Yumin Liu, Group Chief Executive Officer of ReneSola Power, said, "Greenbacker is an important partner to us, and we are excited to once again collaborate on these projects and help expand their renewable energy footprint in Maine. Community solar is an attractive market for us in the U.S., and this transaction aligns with our strategy to focus on high-quality early-stage project development. We look forward to leveraging our expertise to drive solar development activity across the U.S."

Mr. Charles Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer of Greenbacker, said, "We're proud that these projects will contribute to cheaper renewable energy for Mainers. Our partnership with ReneSola Powerand their wide-ranging renewables expertisecontinues to help the Pine Tree State progress toward its admirable clean power generation goals, and we look forward to collaborating on projects with them in the future."

About ReneSola Power

ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across a number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly, and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company's strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York.

About Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company

Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company LLC is a publicly reporting, non-traded limited liability energy company that acquires and manages income-generating renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, and other energy-related businesses. The projects in which we investincluding solar and wind facilitiessell power under long-term contract to high credit worthy counterparties such as utilities, municipalities, and corporations. For more information, please visit www.greenbackercapital.com.

SOURCE ReneSola Ltd.

Related Links

http://www.renesolapower.com


View Sample: to know additional highlights and key points on various market segments and how they will impact in coming years.

Vendor Insights

The global sex toys market is fragmented in nature due to the presence of several global and regional players.

The growing competition in the market is compelling vendors to adopt various growth strategies such as promotional activities and spending on advertisements to improve the visibility of their products. Some vendors are also adopting inorganic growth strategies such as M&As to remain competitive in the market.

For Instance, In June 2021, Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc. announced a partnership with the Cambridge Centre for Risk Studies (CCRS) to advance the ongoing commitment to deliver on the Paris Accord and ambition for carbon neutrality by 2040 while delivering growth and long-term shareholder value.

To understand more about additional vendors with various other strategies and their product offering Read a Sample market research report .

Geographical Market Analysis

APAC will provide maximum growth opportunities in the sex toys market during the forecast period. According to our research report, the region currently holds 37% of the global market share and is expected to dominate the market through 2025.

In addition, countries such as the US, China, Mexico, Russian Federation, UK, and France are expected to emerge as prominent markets for sex toys during the forecast period.

Know more about this market's geographical distribution along with the detailed analysis of the top regions - https://www.technavio.com/report/sex-toys-market-industry-analysis

Key Market Trends & Challenges:

The increasing exposure to sex toys is a major factor supporting the sex toys market share growth. The growing exposure of sex toys through media is increasing the awareness and adoption of sex toys among people across the world. The increased sales of sex toys are encouraging manufacturers such as LELO to introduce sex toys with disruptive technologies such as TIANI 24k. More people are accessing the Internet to know more about the latest products, which, in turn, will positively impact the market growth.

In spite of the growing exposure challenges such as negative social perceptions of sex toys may impede the market growth. The actionable insights on the trends and challenges will help companies evaluate and develop growth strategies for 2021-2025.

View free sample to uncover more facts for market Trends & Challenges affecting the sex toys market.

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Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights about this market report. Our analysts can also help you personalize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time.

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Related Reports -

Female Sex Toys Market -The female sex toys market has the potential to grow by USD 15.71 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 12.56%. Download a free sample now!



Sex Toys Market in Europe -The sex toys market in Europe has the potential to grow by USD 2.56 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will decelerate at a CAGR of over 6%. Download a free sample now!

Sex Toys Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 12.63% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 17.58 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 13.61 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 37% Key consumer countries US, China, Mexico, Russian Federation, UK, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Church and Dwight Co. Inc., Doc Johnson Enterprises, JIMMYJANE, LELOi AB, Luvu Brands Inc., Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, Tantus Inc., TENGA Co. Ltd., The Aneros Co., and WOW Tech International GmbH 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 preview 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 provide 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

http://www.technavio.com


Launched by the Climate Group, an international non-profit organization located in London, UK, EV100 is a global initiative that brings together companies committed to the transition of their owned or leased means of transportation into eco-friendly vehicles (EVs, HFCVs, etc.) and installation of charging facilities by 2030. The initiative's targets are 100% transition for vehicles up to 3.5 tons and 50% transition for vehicles over 3.5 tons. Participating enterprises are required to publicly announce their engagement with EV100, build a road map for phased execution of the targets and submit regular reports for assessment. Current EV100 member companies include 110 global leaders such as IKEA and Unilever that are committed to ESG practices.

SK networks became the second member among Korean enterprises to join EV100. SK networks plans to promote the transition to eco-friendly vehicles together with its seven subsidiaries (including sub-subsidiaries) such as SK rent-a-car and SK magic. In particular, SK rent-a-car's participation in EV100 with 200,000 vehicles in operation is unprecedented in the industry, which is why the Company plans to take up heavy responsibility in putting the initiative into practice.

Indeed, SK networks announced earlier in the first half its participation in K-EV100, a Korean transition project towards zero-emission cars, and has been engaged in efforts to build EV charging facilities and introduce corporate EVs. In January this year, SK networks opened a multi-culture space Gildong Chaewoom in Gil-dong, Gangdong-gu and built the first EV charging station in the country on the ground floor in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company.

SK rent-a-car in the car rental business held a ceremony in June this year to mark the beginning of the SK rent-a-car EV Park construction project, which would be the country's largest electric vehicle-themed venue. It also aims to replace 3,000 internal combustion engine cars in Jeju with EVs by 2025 and relevant implementations are currently in progress.

In addition, SK networks announced its net zero road map for greenhouse gas reduction to achieve 42% reduction compared to 2020 by 2030. The Company further disclosed its plan to reach the net zero goal by 2040.

SK networks, as a member of the EV100 initiative, will continue to enhance ESG management with a focus on eco-friendly elements across its business areas.

An SK networks executive emphasized, "Together with our subsidiaries, we are determined to represent Korea in promoting practical, sincere ESG management in consideration of society and environment so as to expand the sustainability management foundation based on stakeholder trust."

In the meanwhile, the British Embassy and Korea Sustainability Investing Forum (Kosif) sent congratulatory messages upon hearing the news that SK networks became an EV100 member.

Simon Smith the British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea commented, "My congratulations to SK networks on joining EV100 at COP26. This is a world-leading announcement, which means that 200,000 SK networks vehicles will be powered by zero emission technology before 2030. I applaud SK networks' commitment to taking action this decade, in line with the global ambition of limiting temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius"

Kosif Director Choon-seung Yang said, "The transition to EVs in the road/transport sector which accounts for 10% of the global greenhouse gas emission is discussed as a main agenda at COP26, and SK networks has ensured its global climate leadership by announcing its plan to accomplish the transition into eco-friendly cars in the largest scale in Asia," and added, "I hope that this would elicit active participation of other companies as voluntary engagement from the private sector is essential in responding to the climate change crisis."

SOURCE SK networks

Related Links

https://www.sknetworks.co.kr/


PARAMUS, N.J., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Smile Care Dental Group, founded by Dr. Wesam Shafee, DMD, is excited to now be open in Paramus, New Jersey. The top-rated multispecialty dental center has experts in all fields of dentistry under one roof.

Smile Care Dental Group to Host Grand Opening of New Paramus Location Smile Care Dental Group to Host Grand Opening of New Paramus Location

During Hurricane Ida, Smile Care Dental Group's Clifton, NJ practice experienced mass flooding and damage. The team had to close their doors temporarily to survey the wreckage, clear out the debris and discard damaged equipment, furniture and dental supplies. While difficult, they drew strength from the outpouring of love and support from their patients, family and friends.

Due to the extent of the damage caused by the flooding in Clifton, the team determined they would more quickly be able to provide dental care to their patients by focusing on building their Paramus location  which they had been building for over a year.

This Saturday, November 13th, Smile Care Dental Group is hosting their grand opening event for patients, friends, family and press to attend. There will be a ribbon cutting with Paramus Mayor, Richard Labarbiera, delicious treats and an opportunity to check out the gorgeous new space.

For more information on the event, please contact: [email protected]

About Smile Care Dental Group:

If you are looking for a highly trained and experienced dentist in Paramus, you have come to the right place. At Smile Care, you will receive the highest quality dental care. Their dental office uses the latest state-of-the-art equipment and cutting edge technology, and they uphold the strictest sterilization techniques. Smile Care knows that many people may feel anxious about coming to the dentist, so it is their goal to make each patient's visit with as pain and anxiety free as possible. They view it as their mission to educate their patients about all of their oral health care options, and to help guide them to choose a treatment plan that is most suitable and appropriate for their needs.

About Dr. Wesam Shafee, DMD:

Dr. Wesam Shafee, DMD earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Dental Medicine with honors in Clinical dentistry. He is very proud to have been honored with the America's Top Dentists award for consecutive years since 2013. Dr. Shafee has also served as Clinical Associate of Restorative Dentistry/Faculty at his Alma Mater, the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Dental Medicine.

Contact:

Emily Scoular

9149080862

[email protected]

SOURCE Smile Care Dental Group
Each winner was selected based on their validated business model, track record of commercial viability, collaborative mindset, and a robust and diverse team to drive meaningful change in their respective sectors - AgTech, Food Tech and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG). Each winner will receive invaluable industry exposure and consulting services from FoodBytes! Pitch member companies.

"These winners represent a triple bottom line food future," said Anne Greven, Global Head of F&A Innovation, Rabobank and FoodBytes! by Rabobank, and this year's lead judge. "These companies are answering the global demand to find solutions to the industry's most pressing issues, like climate change, the evolution of nutrition, and waste management, while also answering the call of new consumer demands, like sustainability, traceability, and alternative ingredients."

Today's public livestreamed programming marked the culmination of this year's FoodBytes! Pitch - Rabobank's multi-week food and agriculture innovation program that drives collaboration between startups, corporate leaders and investors to develop solutions to food system challenges. The selected winners rose to the top after being initially selected amongst the 45 global companies that made up this year's cohort of participating startups.

The FoodBytes! Pitch 2021 Winners

AgTech Award: 3Bar Biologics Inc., Columbus, Ohio, United States

3Bar Biologics is dedicated to improving farm yield, profitability, and sustainability using beneficial microbial products. The Columbus-based company's proprietary biomanufacturing and delivery method unleashes the potential for microbe technologies not available for commercial production until now - helping ag biological customers overcome traditional barriers to microbe productization, and rapidly and cost-effectively commercialize their microbes and accelerate time to market.

"We're honored to be a part of a solid group of high-caliber alumni that have participated in FoodBytes!," said Chris Koenig, Chief Business Development Officer, 3Bar Biologics. "This will open doors for partnership and investment opportunities that were otherwise not available to us."

Food Tech Award: Paragon Pure, Princeton, New Jersey, United States

Started in 2019, Paragon Pure's mission is to understand the science of nature to create genuine ingredients for delivering natural flavors, colors and nutrients into wholesome foods. The Princeton-based company has deep industry experience with flavor encapsulation, process engineering, physical chemistry, and navigating food ingredient regulatory spaces. They are developing a structured fat and flavor delivery system from upcycled ingredients to target the growing plant-based meat market.

"FoodBytes is much more than a competition," said Chris Gregson, CEO, Paragon Pure. "It is a tremendous recognition of our mission to create more nutritious, sustainable, consumer-friendly ingredients that fit the needs of the modern food industry. We believe the next generation of plant-based foods will play a critical role as we look towards important challenges of climate change, deforestation and human health. We are grateful for the help from FoodBytes! to highlight novel ingredients."

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) Award: Great Wrap, Melbourne, Australia

A compostable cling wrap derived from food waste, Great Wrap is revolutionizing the approach to everyday household products. Working out of their solar powered factory in Australia, Great Wrap is working on the tech to put plastics out of business.

Jordy Kay, Co-Founder & CEO, Great Wrap, cited the benefits of the FoodBytes! network of like-minded investors, customers, collaborators, mentors and peers, saying "we were so honored to be amongst a group of some of the industry's smartest. This experience helped introduce us to great potential partners who we are looking forward to working with in the future."

Industry Keynote Panels

In addition to startup presentations, attendees to this year's FoodBytes! Pitch were able to listen in on two thought-provoking panel discussions with industry experts. During "The Sweeter Side of Sugar: From Proteins to Plant Waste," attendees heard insights into $60B global market of sugar from Ali Wing, Co-Founder of Joywell, Eran Baniel, Chairman of DouxMatok, and Javier Sainz, Managing Director of SWTStevia, led by author and journalist Larissa Zimberoff. And Jamie Bacher, Co-Founder and CEO of Boost Biomes, Jenny Filbey, CEO of Mazen Animal Health, Ritu Thomas, Sr. Director of Growth & Strategy at Lamb Weston, and Tom Philpott, Food & Ag correspondent for Mother Jones, joined together for "Agriculture in the Face of Climate Change: Solutions for Rapidly Changing Landscape," a deep-dive examination of the numerous climate challenges currently facing the agriculture industry.

"We're doing everything we can to continue to evolve and we are committed to continuing to take on sustainable farming and agricultural practices," said Ritu Thomas, Sr. Director of Growth & Strategy, Lamb Weston, during today's panel. "Being a part of FoodBytes!, and meeting with all of these different companies, I'm so impressed with the level of innovation that exists. I'm heartened to see what people are doing and I'm leaving this conversation hopeful of everything that we can accomplish together."

The FoodBytes! Network

While FoodBytes! Pitch shines a light on the competition's participating innovative startups, the platform's 40 corporate members represent some of the most influential global food and ag companies, investors and service providers in the industry. Members play a pivotal role throughout the entire process - from scoring initial applications and helping to select the finalists.

Membership enrollment and startup scouting for 2022 is already underway. If you're a corporate or investor interested in learning how innovation can boost your bottom line, or a startup looking to get involved in the FoodBytes! community, please visit www.foodbytesworld.com or email [email protected] today to start a conversation.

To learn more about FoodBytes! Pitch 2021 and all the participating startups, please visit: https://www.foodbytesworld.com/event/2021-event/foodbytes-pitch-2021/.

About Rabobank F&A Innovation

Rabobank is a leading global food and agriculture bank providing sector expertise, strategic counsel and tailored financial solutions to clients across the entire food value chain. Rabobank's F&A Innovation team supports the bank's global mission of Growing a Better World Together  helping to turn today's promising ideas into impactful solutions for a sustainable food supply. Through the FoodBytes! food and agriculture innovation platform, Rabobank has built one of the most valuable networks for corporates, investors and startups pioneering sustainable ways to feed the planet.

FoodBytes! drives collaboration between startups, large food and ag companies and investors

through two complementary programs: FoodBytes! Pitch and FoodBytes! Pilot. Our approach to industry change: discovering and supporting startup innovation; and helping large food and ag companies embed and drive innovation across their organizations. To learn more, visit foodbytesworld.com or follow FoodBytes! on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

SOURCE FoodBytes! by Rabobank
NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OUTFRONT Media Inc. (NYSE:OUT) is pleased to announce that Stephan Bisson will be joining OUTFRONT Media as Vice President, Investor Relations on November 15, 2021. Stephan will be responsible for all aspects of investor relations and will report to Matthew Siegel, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at OUTFRONT Media.

Stephan has worked as an equity research analyst for the past thirteen years covering the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) sector, with a specialty in the out-of-home advertising industry, including OUTFRONT Media. His recent role was as a Senior Vice President at Loop Capital, and prior to that, he was a Vice President at Wolfe Research. He spent the first ten years of his career at Wells Fargo, rising to Vice President on an industry leading TMT equity research team.

About OUTFRONT Media Inc.

OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in North America. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go.

Contact:

Media:

Courtney Richards

Senior PR & Events Specialist

(646) 876-9404

[email protected]

SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc.

Related Links

http://www.outfrontmedia.com


The UNC case is a companion to Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard University, No. 20-1199. Both cases were filed on the same day in 2014.

The Harvard case challenges racial preferences at the nation's oldest private college, and this case challenges racial preferences at the nation's oldest public college. The Harvard case asks this Court to overrule Grutter v. Bollinger and hold that Title VI forbids federal funding recipients from using race in admissions.

This case asks the Court to recognize that, for public schools, the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of racial neutrality compels the same conclusion. Certiorari before judgment is appropriate here for the same reasons it was in Gratz v. Bollinger, the companion case to Grutter that was argued and decided on the same day.

Like Harvard, UNC is devoted to using race indefinitely and at every stage of its admissions process. The district courtafter seven years of litigation and an eight-day trialupheld UNC's system under a version of strict scrutiny that was anything but.

Edward Blum, president of SFFA, said, "It is our hope that the U.S. Supreme Court will grant both the Harvard and the University of North Carolina admissions cases for argument."

Blum added, "Every year, thousands of college applicants have been subjected to unfair and unconstitutional racial classifications and penalties by our nation's most competitive institutions. These polarizing practiceswhich a significant majority of all Americans oppose must end as soon as possible."

Blum noted, "If the Supreme Court decides, as it should, to reconsider racial preferences in college admissions, it should consider that question in the context of both a private school and a public school. And it should resolve that question under both Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution."

Blum concluded, "The cornerstone of our nation's civil rights laws is the principle that an individual's race should not be used to help or harm them in their life's endeavors. We hope the Supreme Court will use the Harvard and UNC cases to begin the restoration of the colorblind legal covenant that holds together Americans of all races and ethnicities."

Students for Fair Admissions

2200 Wilson Blvd. #103-12

Arlington, VA 22201

[email protected]

703-505-1922

Contact:

Edward Blum

703-505-1922

SOURCE Students for Fair Admissions
DUBLIN, Ohio, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Expanding on his bestselling how-to-succeed series, noted author and CEO Dr. Srikanth Gaddam announces both the release of "The Leadership Guide: Unleashing the Power Within," and the audio version of "The Entrepreneurial Guide: The Key Principles of Building and Growing Your Business."

In "The Leadership Guide: Unleashing the Power Within," Gaddam shares his own wisdom and leadership lessons of historical greats, from Nelson Mandela, to George Washington, Eleanor Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.

Author Picture The Leadership Guide

"This book is a roadmap to discover your own power within, learn leadership skills, set goals and manage leadership crises," said Gaddam, CEO and co-founder of ERPA Analysts Inc., a leader in enterprise application managed services, cloud hosting, and consulting services for companies like Amazon Web Service and WorkDay. https://www.erpa.com/

Gaddam's books and the two new audio versions, including "The Future of Disruptive Technologies: Impacts on Business, Workforce, and Societies," are available at Amazon.com. Gaddam is also the author of "Destination Success: Discovering the Entrepreneurial Journey," his first book published in 2017.

All Gaddam's books in print, Kindle and versions are at this direct link: https://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Srikanth-Gaddam/e/B08NY44VKS%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

In this latest book, Gaddam explains that leaders are not born, but made.

"How to explore 'your knowing?' Let your mind connect, so you can unleash your power and ultimately, unleash it in others," he says.

Each chapter in the 132-page, easy-to-read book, guides the user from a journey of self-discovery to leadership styles. Skill set pointers include goal-setting, risk-taking, how to stay authentic and ultimately legacy building. Chapter takeaways reinforce lessons learned.

The book quotes Albert Einstein, ahead of his time on the new people-centric style of leadership. "I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbageman or the president of the university."

"That illustrates Einstein's confidence in himself and the more open society he lived in," Gaddam says.

Once the reader discovers his and her own potential for leadership, it's up to them to "clarify the kind of leader you want to be," Gaddam says.

"From vision-setting and decision-making, to creative-thinking and risk-taking, this life-changing book will help you better understand thee concept of leadership and discover the leader hidden in you."

About Dr. Srikanth Gaddam

Dr. Gaddam is a seasoned entrepreneur, angel investor, author/educator, and the CEO/Co-Founder of ERPA Analysts, Inc  recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies by Inc. 5000 for ten years and one of the "Best Places to Work" in Ohio. He graduated with a Doctor of Management (DM) from Case Western Reserve University, MBA from the Ohio State University, and the Owner President Management program (OPM 43) from Harvard Business School. Dr. Gaddam has a passion for training young generations in entrepreneurial skills, while also supporting first responders  prompting him to create a college scholarship fund for the children of first responders, with daily operations run by a motivated group of high school students. Learn more about Dr. Gaddam's work at: www.DestinationSuccess.us.

Contact:

Sri Gaddam

614-718-9222

[email protected]

SOURCE Dr. Srikanth Gaddam
DALLAS, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucintel is pleased to announce SusGlobal Energy Corp. (OTCQB: SNRG) as the recipient of the "2021 Product Innovation Award in the Fertilizer Market" for the Company's SusGro Organic Liquid Fertilizer.

Lucintel chose SusGlobal for this award because of its novel product, a concentrated organic pathogen- free liquid fertilizer. SusGro Organic Liquid Fertilizer is considered an economical, sustainable and highly effective alternative to traditional fertilizers. It helps in the improvement of water retention, soil fertility, and pore space to enhance crop productivity by producing healthy plants.

SusGlobal's SusGro Organic Liquid Fertilizer is an organically based and concentrated organic pathogen-free liquid fertilizer with a full complement of nutrients suitable for a wide range of fertilization requirements. SusGro Organic Liquid Fertilizer's Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium ("NPK") Value is modifiable with a high concentration ratio of 1:100. It also helps in adding nutrients to the soil which enhances the soil structure and makes plants as well as soil healthy and strong. SusGro Organic Liquid Fertilizer is available at a very competitive price. SusGlobal has been recognized by The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra ("Sitra"), as one of 39 inspiring circular economy solutions from around the globe during the World Circular Economy Forum.

SusGro Organic Liquid Fertilizer is produced with proprietary technology, which transforms organic waste into a pathogen-free recognized organic liquid fertilizer. SusGlobal can convert 185,000 metric tonnes of organic waste streams into dry and liquid fertilizers. These fertilizers play a significant role in improving soil fertility by fixing atmospheric N (Nitrogen), producing plant growth substances in the soil. SusGlobal's valuable Environmental Compliance Licenses ("ECA") at the Company's processing facilities are issued under Section 9 of the Environmental Protection Act and for waste disposal sites under Section 53 of the Ontario Water Resources Act.

Lucintel's awards in innovation and industry excellence recognize outstanding achievements and the latest endeavors by companies in various industries, identifying the most successful, innovative, and forward-thinking companies and products in business today. Lucintel awards are based on systematic and detailed research on the relevant markets to identify and recognize the most successful recent innovations. These initiatives enable companies to demonstrate high levels of industry impact and benefits to end users. To know more contact Lucintel at +1-972-636-5056 or click on this link [email protected].



About Lucintel

Lucintel, a premier market research and Management Consulting firm based in Dallas, Texas, has served over 1,000 clients for over 20 years. With in-depth analysis and sage advice, Lucintel offers solutions for growth through game changing ideas and analysis of robust markets and unmet needs. Lucintel has been quoted in esteemed publications, including The Wall Street Journal, ZACKS, and The Financial Times. For further information, visit www.lucintel.com.

About SusGlobal Energy Corp.

SusGlobal Energy Corp., the developer of SusGro, a revolutionary pathogen-free organic liquid fertilizer is a renewables company focused on acquiring, developing and monetizing a portfolio of proprietary technologies in the waste to energy and regenerative products applications globally. It is management's objective to grow SusGlobal into a significant sustainable waste to energy and regenerative products provider, as Leaders in The Circular Economy. To learn more about SusGlobal, please visit www.susglobalenergy.com or follow the Company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Contact

Sabonn Dammarell

Lucintel

Dallas, Texas, USA

Email: [email protected]

Tel. 972.636.5056

Cell: 208-570-0101

SOURCE Lucintel

Related Links

http://www.lucintel.com


Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors operating in the market are adopting various marketing and growth strategies such as competitive pricing to compete in the market.

Adobe Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., City and Guilds Group, D2L Corp., Franklin Covey Co., GP Strategies Corp., John Wiley and Sons Inc., NIIT Ltd., Skillsoft Ltd., and Wilson Learning Worldwide Inc. are some of the few key vendors of this market. Vendors are competing to maintain their market position in the market. To succeed in this market, vendors must focus on providing corporate training at competitive prices.

Vendors are also trying to expand their market presence and strengthen their product portfolio by entering partnerships and launching new and innovative products.

For instance, In July 2021, Adobe Inc. launched Adobe Analytics for higher education to advance digital literacy

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Product:

Technical Training :



The segment contributed greatly to the overall market growth in 2020.





Technical training was the largest segment of the market in 2020 and will continue to remain as the largest segment of the market in 2025. The growing prominence of online courses will further augment the adoption of technical training courses in the corporate training market during the forecast period.

Segmentation by Geography:

North America :

:

In terms of Geography, the maximum growth originated from North America during 2020.

during 2020.



North America is expected to account for the maximum corporate training market over the forecast period.

Request a FREE Sample of this report for more highlights into the market segments

Regional Market Outlook

North America is leading the market with a contribution of 43% to the overall market in 2020 and would increase its contribution to a notable number of the global corporate market by 2025.

The US and Canada are the key markets for corporate training in North America. across all the years of the forecast period between 2020 and 2025.

APAC would be the fastest-growing region within the overall market between 2020 and 2025.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the US, Canada, UK, Germany, and France will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Global Corporate Training Market

Corporate Training Market Driver:

Cost-effective e-learning training modules:

The emergence of cost-effective e-learning training modules will fuel the growth of the corporate training market size. Organizations are increasingly adopting innovative and cost-effective ways to train their employees. The growing popularity of online learning has helped employees in saving their time and money in reskilling themselves, unlike enrolling in conventional training sessions conducted in corporations that consume more time in addition to the regular working hours.

Corporate Training Trend:

The popularity of mobile-based training:

The growing popularity of mobile-based training will drive the corporate training market growth during the forecast period. Companies are trying to gain maximum advantage from the adoption of mobile devices to conduct training. Mobile devices are packed with features such as learning management systems (LMS) accessibility, enabling employers to deliver corporate training modules that can be completed in a self-paced manner. The mobile-based corporate training approach reduces the dependency on time and place to participate in training sessions.

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Personal Development Market -The personal development market share should rise by USD 557.89 million from 2021 to 2025 at a CAGR of 7.75%. Download a free sample now!

Corporate M-Learning Market -The corporate m-learning market has the potential to grow by USD 21.90 billion during 2021-2025, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 16.24%. Download a free sample now!

Corporate Training Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of about 7.97% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 40.21 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.77 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 43% Key consumer countries US, Canada, UK, Germany, and France Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Adobe Inc., Cisco Systems Inc., City and Guilds Group, D2L Corp., Franklin Covey Co., GP Strategies Corp., John Wiley and Sons Inc., NIIT Ltd., Skillsoft Ltd., and Wilson Learning Worldwide 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 preview 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 provide 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

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Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors are deploying different organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market.

Amazon.com Inc., Ashley Furniture Industries Inc., Bed Bath and Beyond Inc., Inter IKEA Holding BV, Restoration Hardware Inc., Steinhoff International Holdings NV, Tesco Plc, The Home Depot Inc., and Wayfair Inc. among others are some of the few key vendors competing to maintain their market position in the market.

Various players in the market are engaging in strategic partnerships and joint ventures coupled with launching differentiated products to up their game in the furniture industry. For instance, In August 2021, Amazon.com Inc announced the launch of a new Fulfilment Centre (FC) and a specialized FC for large appliances and furniture in Coimbatore, India. Similarly, in August 2021, Bed Bath and Beyond Inc. announced an exclusive retail partnership with Safely to bring the next generation of home care to America.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Product:

BBO:



The bed linen, bedspreads, and other bedroom textiles (BBO) segment contributed largely to the overall market growth in 2020.





The BBO segment will continue to remain the largest segment of the market in 2025. The growing Internet penetration and the number of people using smartphones for online shopping of sheets, pillows, duvet covers, pillowcases, bedspreads, quilts, quilt covers, blankets, blanket covers, bed throws, and others will drive the segments' growth during the forecast period.



Bath linen



Carpets and rugs



Upholstery



Others

Segmentation by Distribution Channel:

Offline :

:

In terms of distribution channel, the offline segment generated maximum revenue in the market in 2020.





The offline segment market share was the largest due to a huge number of consumers still preferring to visit retail stores to check out the look and feel of bedspreads and other linen physical rather than through online pictures and videos.



Online

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Regional Market Outlook

APAC will contribute 35% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of this region can be attributed to the exponential growth of the real estate industry owing to the rising demand for residential units from nuclear families.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the US, China, India, Germany, and UK will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Global Home Textile Retail Market

Market Driver:

Increased consumer spending on home renovation and household furnishing:

Consumers are increasingly witnessing changes in preferences toward aesthetic household furnishing resulting in the rising number of home renovations. Consumers are providing aesthetic and modern looks to their homes. Furthermore, factors such as the rise in consumer spending levels, modern lifestyles, and increased smartphone penetration. In addition, growing number of working women across the globe has proliferated online shopping and e-retailing of home textiles, thus, contributing to the market growth.

Market Trend:

Growing demand for eco-friendly and green furnishings:

There has been a surge in the environmental concerns across the globe resulting in the rising demand for eco-friendly home furnishings including home textiles. Eco-friendly home textiles are manufactured using fibers sourced from plants that are grown without pesticides, chemicals, and fertilizers. In addition, market players are offering a wide range of aesthetic furniture made of bamboo, which is renewable within a few years. The rising demand for green furnishings will further accelerate the growth of the market.

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Digital Textile Printing Market by Ink Type, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Textile Market by Product, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025

Home Textile Retail Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 52.43 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 4.72 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 35% Key consumer countries US, China, India, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Amazon.com Inc., Ashley Furniture Industries Inc., Bed Bath and Beyond Inc., Inter IKEA Holding BV, Restoration Hardware Inc., Steinhoff International Holdings NV, Tesco Plc, The Home Depot Inc., and Wayfair 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 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

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Vendor Landscape

The market structure is fragmented due to the presence of several global and regional vendors. Vendors operating in the market are distinguishing their product and service offerings through a clear and unique value proposition to compete in the market.

Aurora Cannabis Inc., Bhang Corp., Cannoid LLC, Canopy Growth Corp., Cronos Group Inc., CV Sciences Inc., Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc, Medical Marijuana Inc., Tilray Inc., and VIVO Cannabis Inc. are some of the few key vendors of this market. Vendors are competing to maintain their market position in the market. To succeed in this market, vendors must focus on providing legal cannabis at competitive prices. In addition to this, vendors must focus on incorporating new technologies to support workplace automation.

Some vendors in the market are trying to expand their market presence and strengthen their product portfolio by entering partnerships and launching new and innovative products. For instance, In May 2021, Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc acquired GW Pharmaceuticals plc, a leader in the science, development, and commercialization of cannabinoid-based prescription medicines. In September 2021, the company launched Xywav for idiopathic hypersomnia.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Product:

Medical cannabis:



The segment contributed greatly to the overall market growth in 2020.





Medical cannabis was the largest segment of the market in 2020 and will continue to remain as the largest segment of the market in 2025. Factors such as the growing number of patients requiring medical cannabis and the increasing number of new countries legalizing the use of medical cannabis are driving the growth of the segment.



Recreational cannabis

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Regional Market Outlook

North America is leading the market with a contribution of 89% to the overall market in 2020 and would increase its contribution to a notable number of the global legal cannabis market by 2025.

North America will generate growth across all the years of the forecast period between 2020 and 2025. The rising popularity of CBD oil is driving the growth of the legal cannabis market in North America.

APAC would be the fastest-growing region within the overall market between 2020 and 2025.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the US, Canada, Germany, the UK, and Australia will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends Driving the Global Legal Cannabis Market

Legal Cannabis Market Driver:

Rising number of countries decriminalizing and legalizing cannabis

Many countries across the world are decriminalizing and legalizing the possession of cannabis. Countries such as Argentina , Barbados , Bermuda , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , the Czech Republic , and Germany have already decriminalized the use of cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes. Over the forecast period, several countries are expected to decriminalize the use of cannabis for private recreational uses and medical purpose. This is expected to increase the demand for legal cannabis, and hence drive the market growth.

Many countries across the world are decriminalizing and legalizing the possession of cannabis. Countries such as , , , , , , , the , and have already decriminalized the use of cannabis for recreational and medicinal purposes. Over the forecast period, several countries are expected to decriminalize the use of cannabis for private recreational uses and medical purpose. This is expected to increase the demand for legal cannabis, and hence drive the market growth. Legal cannabis Market Trend:

Launch of medical marijuana education programs:

Various organizations including educational institutions are introducing educational programs to increase awareness about the health benefits of medical marijuana. For instance, The University of Maryland, Baltimore , US, launched a master's program in medical marijuana. The curriculum is aiming to transfer the necessary knowledge and skills to educate patients, healthcare professionals and contribute toward research related to medical marijuana. Such education programs will have a positive impact on the growth of the market during the forecast period.

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Global CBD Oil Market  Global CBD oil market is segmented by Product (Marijuana derived CBD oil and Hemp derived CBD oil) and Geography (North America, South America, Europe, APAC, and MEA).

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Global Medical Marijuana Market  Global medical marijuana market is segmented by application (chronic pain, nausea, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA).

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Legal Cannabis Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of over 21% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 34.91 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 19.40 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution North America at 89% Key consumer countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and Australia Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Aurora Cannabis Inc., Bhang Corp., Cannoid LLC, Canopy Growth Corp., Cronos Group Inc., CV Sciences Inc., Jazz Pharmaceuticals Plc, Medical Marijuana Inc., Tilray Inc., and VIVO Cannabis 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
Vendor Landscape

The market structure is expected to remain fragmented during the forecast period. Vendors operating in the market are adopting various organic and inorganic growth strategies to remain competitive in the market.

Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., HP Inc., Konica Minolta Inc., Kyocera Corp., Lexmark International Inc., Ricoh Co. Ltd., Seiko Epson Corp., Sharp Corp., and Xerox Corp. are some of the few key vendors of this market. Vendors are competing to maintain their market position in the market. To succeed in this market, vendors must focus on providing printers at competitive prices.

Vendors are also trying to expand their market presence and strengthen their product portfolio by entering partnerships and launching new and innovative products.

For instance, In February 2019, Ricoh and Cisco Systems Inc. entered into a strategic partnership to empower digital workplaces. Cisco will provide cloud security solutions to Ricoh's RICOH IM C Series next-generation multifunction printers and other office devices.

View more about the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings.

Key Market Segmentation

Segmentation by Technology:

Laser:



The laser segment contributed greatly to the overall market growth in 2020.





Laser was the largest segment of the market in 2020 and will continue to remain as the largest segment of the market in 2025. The introduction of low-cost laser printers will fuel the growth of the segment during the forecast period.



Inkjet



Others

Segmentation by Type:

Multifunction printers :

:

In terms of type, the multifunction printers segment generated maximum revenue in the market in 2020.





Multifunction printers are expected to account for the maximum number of printers sales in the market over the forecast period. The need to reduce the use of paper and simplify printing workflows will be crucial in driving the growth of the segment.



Single function printers

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Regional Market Outlook

APAC is leading the market with a contribution of 69% to the overall market in 2020 and would increase its contribution to a notable number of the global printers market by 2025.

APAC will generate growth across all the years of the forecast period between 2020 and 2025. The growing demand for large format printing for advertising, billboards, banners, and posters will drive the market in APAC.

APAC would be the fastest-growing region within the overall market between 2020 and 2025.

Apart from regions, if we look at the country-wise market growth, the US, China, Germany, Japan, and the UK will contribute to the highest market growth.

Download our FREE sample report for more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.

Latest Trends, Driving the Global Printers Market

Printers Market Driver:

Rising demand from SMEs

Countries such as India , China , Germany , and the UK are witnessing strong growth in the number of SMEs. The rise in the number of SMEs is leading to increased investments in various solutions that help businesses meet their requirements at a minimal cost. This has subsequently increased the demand for printers from SMEs, which is driving the market growth.

Countries such as , , , and the UK are witnessing strong growth in the number of SMEs. The rise in the number of SMEs is leading to increased investments in various solutions that help businesses meet their requirements at a minimal cost. This has subsequently increased the demand for printers from SMEs, which is driving the market growth. Printers Market Trend:

Emergence of ink tank printers:

Ink-tank printers are increasingly becoming popular among end-users owing to their high print quality, cost benefits, and high speed of printing. The cost of an ink tank printer is comparatively higher than an inkjet printer. But the running cost and the cost per print are lower compared to with other printers. Also, they have longer lifecycles as they are made up of durable materials. Their growing popularity is encouraging vendors in the market to introduce ink tank printers with added features. This trend is expected to have a positive impact on the market growth during the forecast period.

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Global Large Format Printers Market  Global large format printers market is segmented by technology (aqueous, solvent, UV-cured, and latex) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA).

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Global Multi-functional Printer Market  Global multifunctional printer market is segmented by Technology (Inkjet and Laser) and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America).

Download Exclusive Free Sample Report

Printers Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 2% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 6.01 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 1.33 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, South America, and MEA Performing market contribution APAC at 69% Key consumer countries US, China, Germany, Japan, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Brother Industries Ltd., Canon Inc., HP Inc., Konica Minolta Inc., Kyocera Corp., Lexmark International Inc., Ricoh Co. Ltd., Seiko Epson Corp., Sharp Corp., and Xerox Corp. 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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PHOENIX, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 100 Black Men of Phoenix, in partnership with the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), are proud to announce the honorees of the 2021 Women of Color Achievement Awards. A total of twelve women are being recognized for outstanding professional achievement and demonstrating exemplary community service. Sponsored by UPS, the event will take place on Thursday, November 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., at the Carson Ballroom at Old Main, Arizona State University, 400 E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ.

"The 100 Black Men of Phoenix, Inc. is extremely delighted to partner with the Women Presidents' Organization in recognizing outstanding women of color in our community for their leadership, business savvy and dedication to community service. These amazing women exemplify excellence in all that they do and shine brightly as representatives of achievement to the youth and families we serve in the Phoenix metropolitan area. We celebrate these wonderful women for their accomplishments and thank them for adding to the road of possibilities for all people of color."

"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with 100 Black Men as we acknowledge this distinguished group of influential women business leaders. They demonstrate outstanding leadership qualities as the heads of multi-million-dollar businesses. They also devote their time and energy to improving the quality of life in their local communities. We salute all of Phoenix's powerful award winners," said Camille Burns, CEO of the WPO.

The following women will be honored:

Cristina Baena, Crest Insurance

Tamala Daniels, Tamala L Daniels, PLLC

Kristen Garcia Hernandez, Girl Scouts of So AZ

Ann Cheri Foxx Leach, Nocio Interventional Pain Specialists

Audrey Lopez, AGE Contracting

Amalia Luxardo, WFSA Patricia Mars, Venus by Mars Cosmetic Surgery

Arianna Sholes-Douglas, Tula Wellness and Aesthetics, PLLC

Diane Thomas, Premier Sales, Inc

Sharon Thompson, Central Phoenix Obstetrics and Gynecology

Edith Villalobos, EmV Design Build

Rasheedah White, Lo Lo's Inc.

"Simply put women, specifically women of color, are continuing to set the tone in every facet. Whether it's blazing the path of entrepreneurship or breaking down barriers, their contributions are impacting the world in a unique and dynamic way. Through the Women of Color Achievement Awards, the Women Presidents' Organization and 100 Black Men are highlighting these accomplishments and vital contributions that have profoundly influenced our communities," said Nikki Crate Foster, UPS Business Development, Managing Director of Sales, Mid Atlantic District.

About the 100 Black Men of Phoenix

The 100 Black Men of Phoenix ("The 100") is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization created in 1988 that is comprised of 114 professional African American men. The 100 is dedicated to improving the quality of life of African Americans within the Phoenix, AZ metro area by enhancing educational and economic opportunities for all. We take an active leadership role in helping minority youth become contributing, competitive and valued members of society. Currently, with a "lead by example" approach, we mentor over 100 youth monthly and have ongoing partnerships with various community organizations.

About the Women Presidents' Organization

The WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million-dollar companies. In monthly meetings across six continents, chapters of 20 women presidents from diverse industries invest time and energy in themselves and their businesses to drive their corporations to the next level. Local WPO chapters are coordinated by a professional facilitator and meet monthly to share business expertise and experience in a confidential setting.

The WPO chapter in Phoenix is comprised of a dozen high-powered women business owners, with revenues ranging from $1 million to $10 million. Industries vary from legal and financial services to advertising and healthcare and beyond.

Prospective WPO members must have annual gross revenue of at least $2 million, if product-based, or $1 million if service-based. Entrepreneurs who meet the WPO revenue requirements and are interested in joining should visit www.womenpresidentsorg.com.

Contact

Collin Burden,

Women Presidents' Organization,

[email protected],

646-453-4800



Rabbanni FurQaan,

100 Black Men of Phoenix,

[email protected],

602-628-0809

SOURCE Women Presidents' Organization

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DUBLIN, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Missile Seekers Market by Technology (Active Radar, Semi-active Radar, Passive Radar, Infrared, Laser, Multi-mode), Missile Type (Interceptor, Ballistic, Cruise, Conventional), Launch Mode, and Region (North America, Europe, APAC, & RoW) - Forecast to 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global missile seekers market size is projected to grow from USD 5.3 billion in 2021 to USD 6.8 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2021 to 2026.

The market is driven by various factors, such as geopolitical instabilities, changing nature of warfare, increasing defense expenditure of emerging economies, and technological advancements in missile seekers.

The missile seekers market will majorly be driven by the changing nature of warfare in the forecasted year. The advancements in technology have led to the development of new and advanced defense systems, including air defense systems and guided missiles for hitting moving targets. The changing nature of warfare across the globe has led to the acquisition of advanced missile firing and defending capabilities by militaries of various countries. These militaries are increasingly engaged in low-intensity battles. One example of the changing nature of warfare was the Indian military's reply to the Pulwama attack, where the Indian Air Force fighter planes destroyed a terrorist camp in Balakot (Pakistan) using guided missiles.

Advanced missile defense capabilities help countries in defending themselves against rocket and missile attacks. For instance, Israel's Iron Dome air defense system prevented more than 2,500 missile and mortar attacks with a success rate greater than 90%. The missile seeker in such a system plays the most important role of making sure the missiles fired by the defense system hit the targets accurately. This fueled the development of more advanced air defense systems, which use ground-to-air missiles with guided seekers, with a success rate greater than 90%. Thus, the changing nature of warfare has resulted in the increased demand for highly advanced seekers for missiles from militaries across the globe.

The missile seekers market includes major players BAE Systems (UK), Boeing (US), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Raytheon Technologies (US), Safran Group (France), Thales (France), and Northrop Grumman Corporation (US). These players have spread their business across various countries includes North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and the Rest of the World. COVID-19 has impacted their businesses as well. Industry experts believe that COVID-19 has affected missile seekers production and services globally in 2020.

Infrared Technology: The largest segment of the Missile Seekers market, by Technology.

The infrared technology is projected to dominate the missile seekers market during the forecast period. Infrared technology is capable of tracking the heat generated by an object. In missile guidance systems, infrared tracks the target based on the heat generated by it. Infrared is a passive type of homing technology which is effective in anti-aircraft missiles as it detects the heat generated by the jet engines of aircraft. Cross-array seekers and rosette seekers make use of infrared technology to guide missiles.

Interceptor: The fastest-growing segment of the missile seekers market, by Missile Type.

Based on the missile type, interceptor missiles is projected to grow at the highest CAGR for the missile seekers market during the forecast period. Interceptor missiles are anti-ballistic missiles used to counter ballistic missiles like intercontinental and intermediate-range ballistic missiles launched from any enemy country and to counter aircraft and other missiles. S400, Arrow 2, Arrow 3, THAAD, Patriot missile defense system, and Barak 8 are interceptor missiles used to defend against any kind of airborne threats, such as helicopters, aircraft, UAVs, anti-ship missiles, and ballistic missiles.

Air-to-Air: The fastest-growing segment of the missile seekers market, by Launch Mode.

Based on the launch mode, the air-to-air segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR rate for the missile seekers market during the forecast period. Air-to-air missiles are launched from aircraft, helicopters, or unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) to destroy enemy aircraft. The warhead types of air-to-air missiles are fragmentation warheads or continuous rod warheads. These missiles detect their targets using radars or infrared guidance systems and can fly at a very high speed. These missiles are long and have narrow cross-sections to reduce drag.

North America: The largest contributing region in the missile seekers market.

North America is projected to be the largest regional share of the global missile seekers market during the forecast period. Major companies, such as Raytheon Technologies, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and SemiConductor Devices, and small-scale private companies, such as Excelitas Technologies Corp, Marotta Controls, and KODA Technologies Inc., are based in the US. These players continuously invest in the R&D of new & improved missile seeker designs.

The missile seekers market in North America is driven by the increasing need for advanced defense systems from the US military. Missile seekers are the systems used in missiles to guide them on the right trajectory to accurately hit the desired targets. Recent technological developments in defense systems, including guided missiles, have led to the increased demand for more efficient missile seekers.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Introduction

2 Research Methodology

3 Executive Summary

4 Premium Insights

4.1 Attractive Growth Opportunities in Missile Seekers Market

4.2 Missile Seekers Market, By Launch Mode

4.3 North America Missile Seekers Market, by Technology

4.4 Missile Seekers Market, by Country

5 Market Overview

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Market Dynamics

5.2.1 Drivers

5.2.1.1 Geopolitical Instabilities Leading to Procurement of Advanced Missile Systems

5.2.1.2 Changing Nature of Warfare

5.2.1.3 Increasing Defense Expenditure of Emerging Economies

5.2.1.4 Technological Advancements in Missile Seekers

5.2.2 Restraints

5.2.2.1 Procurement of Conventional Warfare Systems Rather Than Advanced Precision-Guided Munition by Many Countries

5.2.2.2 High Manufacturing Cost

5.2.3 Opportunities

5.2.3.1 Miniaturization of Missiles and Their Components

5.2.3.2 Support for Researchers and Manufacturers for Developing Missile Seeker Solutions

5.2.3.3 Depleting Stock of Precision-Guided Missiles

5.2.4 Challenges

5.2.4.1 Delivering Products of Highest Standards Every Time

5.2.4.2 Regulations on the Use of Missiles

5.3 COVID-19 Impact Scenarios

5.4 COVID-19 Impact on Missile Seekers Market

5.4.1 Demand-Side Impact

5.4.1.1 Key Developments from January 2020 to August 2021

5.4.2 Supply-Side Impact

5.5 Trends/Disruptions Impacting Customers' Business

5.5.1 Development of Highly Accurate Missiles Capable of Hitting Moving Targets (Stormbreaker)

5.5.2 Development of Akash Surface-To-Air Missile Systems from Bel

5.5.3 3-D Printed Missiles

5.6 Market Ecosystem

5.6.1 Prominent Companies

5.6.2 Private and Small Enterprises

5.6.3 End-users

5.7 Pricing Analysis

5.7.1 Average Selling Price Analysis of Missile Seekers in 2020

5.8 Tariff Regulatory Landscape for Defense Industry

5.9 Trade Data

5.9.1 Trade Analysis

5.10 Value Chain Analysis of Missile Seekers Market

5.11 Porter's Five Forces Model

5.12 Technology Analysis

5.13 Use Cases

6 Industry Trends

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Supply Chain Analysis

6.2.1 Major Companies

6.2.2 Small and Medium Enterprises

6.2.3 End-users/Customers

6.3 Emerging Industry Trends

6.3.1 Reduction in Size

6.3.2 Imaging Infrared(I2R) Technology

6.3.3 Precision Guided Missile Seeker

6.3.4 Fiber-Optic Guidance Systems

6.3.5 Automatic Target Recognition (Atr)

6.3.6 Use of Synthetic Aperture Radar (Sar) in Missile Seekers

6.4 Innovations and Patents Registrations, 2012-2021

6.5 Impact of Megatrend

6.5.1 Use of Ai in Defense

6.5.2 Constant Innovation in the Defense Sector

7 Missile Seekers Market, by Technology

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Radar

7.2.1 Active Radar

7.2.1.1 High Accuracy Makes Active Radar An Attractive Technology

7.2.2 Semi-Active Radar

7.2.2.1 Demand for Anti-Aircraft Systems Will Drive the Market

7.2.3 Passive Radar

7.2.3.1 Simple Design to Drive Demand

7.3 Infrared

7.3.1 Imaging Infrared Technology to Drive Demand

7.4 Laser

7.4.1 Short-Range Missiles to Drive Demand

7.5 Multi-Mode

7.5.1 Need for High Accuracy in Unknown Terrain Will Drive Demand

8 Missile Seekers Market, by Missile Type

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Cruise

8.2.1 Need for Missiles to Travel Undetected Will Drive the Demand

8.3 Ballistic

8.3.1 Rising Border Disputes Will Fuel Growth

8.4 Conventional Guided

8.4.1 Growth in Combat UAVs Will Drive the Market

8.5 Interceptor

8.5.1 Border Tension Between Countries Will Fuel the Market

9 Missile Seekers Market, By Launch Mode

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Surface-To-Surface

9.2.1 Investment by Homegrown Companies Will Drive the Market

9.3 Surface-To-Air

9.3.1 Increase in Missile Defense System Will Drive the Market

9.4 Air-To-Air

9.4.1 Border Disputes Will Fuel the Market

9.5 Air-To-Surface

9.5.1 Increase in Overseas Combat Operations by Nato Countries Will Drive the Market

10 Regional Analysis

11 Competitive Landscape

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Market Share Analysis of Leading Players 2020

11.3 Rank Analysis, 2020

11.4 Competitive Evaluation Quadrant

11.4.1 Missile Seekers Market Competitive Leadership Mapping

11.4.1.1 Star

11.4.1.2 Pervasive

11.4.1.3 Emerging Leader

11.4.1.4 Participant

11.4.2 Missile Seekers Market Competitive Leadership Mapping (SME)

11.4.2.1 Progressive Companies

11.4.2.2 Responsive Companies

11.4.2.3 Starting Blocks

11.4.2.4 Dynamic Companies

11.5 Competitive Scenario

11.5.1 New Product Launches

11.5.2 Deals

12 Company Profiles

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Key Players

12.2.1 Bae Systems

12.2.2 Boeing

12.2.3 Raytheon Technologies

12.2.4 Safran Group

12.2.5 Northrop Grumman Corporation

12.2.6 Leonardo S.P.A

12.2.7 Thales

12.2.8 Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

12.2.9 Aselsan As

12.2.10 Semiconductor Devices

12.2.11 Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace

12.2.12 Janos Technology LLC

12.2.13 Analog Devices

12.2.14 Defence Research & Development Organisation

12.2.15 Bharat Electronics Limited

12.2.16 Tata Advanced Systems

12.2.17 Excelitas Technologies Corp.

12.2.18 Diehl Defence

12.2.19 Tonbo Imaging

12.3 Other Key Players

12.3.1 Adani Aerospace & Defence

12.3.2 Mbda Missile Systems

12.3.3 Marotta Controls

12.3.4 Koda Technologies Inc.

12.3.5 Vem Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

12.3.6 Radionix

13 Appendix

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k0sy69

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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RIVERSIDE, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The struggles we face every day are often perceived as "out of my control", this book identifies the root causes of our struggles and offers solutions to overcome them. In Canaan City Limits: Roadblocks Ahead, Rosita Dozier, a bible teacher, gives insight into how obstructions get in the way of our journey to the abundant life. She addresses the giants that block us on our journey, giants that show up as roadblocks keeping us from entering the land promised to us by God.

Canaan City Limits: Roadblocks Ahead

Canaan was a biblical land made up of seven nations. The inhabitants of these nations were known as the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and the Jebusites. The names of these inhabitants are especially important and gives us a clue to the stronghold each nation represents. As we understand each stronghold, we will see how they block our entrance into the land that flows with milk and honey. Each of these nations represent forces that people, Christians included, face every day.

Canaan City Limits: Roadblocks Ahead is an interactive devotional. There are sections for taking notes, as well as reflections and life application questions to help draw you into the subject matter. In today's society self-care and wellness are important topics that seem to be at the forefront of living better lives. I might add, knowing your enemy is just as important. Anyone or anything that gets in the way of moving forward is an enemy. How often do we settle for second best and compromise because we fail to fight our way through the roadblocks.

Rosita Dozier is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, currently living in Riverside, California. Rosita received her initial spiritual training from Bishop Robert E. Smith, Sr and later was ordained in Pomona California. She serves under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Charles Lee-Johnson, pastor of The Life Church in Riverside. Teaching bible studies is a top priority.

Canaan City Limits: Roadblocks Ahead is now available on Amazon.com. Visit her website: Rositadozier.com for more information, and sign up for her mailing list.

Rosita Dozier

[email protected]

951-500-5660

3745 Strong St. Unit 202

Riverside, CA 92501

SOURCE Rosita Dozier
Cassie Lohrey, whose husband, Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Ryan Lohrey, was killed on July 10, 2017, was one of the families who had their mortgage paid in full.

"When I found out Tunnel to Towers had paid off my home, the feeling was surreal. I was in utter shock and disbelief that we were receiving this opportunity. It allows me to focus on my daughter. I can spend more time on educating and raising her to be the best possible person she can be. I am very grateful for the Tunnel to Towers foundation and all of the donors that made this miracle happen for us," said Lohrey.

Tunnel to Towers paid off or provided mortgage-free homes to 35 Gold Star families in 18 states including:

15 U.S. Army soldiers

14 U.S. Navy sailors

4 U.S. Marines

1 Air Force Captain

1 Major in the North Carolina Air National Guard

Gold Star widows from around the country traveled to Washington D.C. to take part in the ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial, where over the course of the day the names of all 7,070 military personnel who lost their lives in America's military response to the September 11th attacks were read aloud.

Teresa Adams, Gold Star Spouse of U.S. Army Sergeant Roger Leeroy Adams Jr., said this ceremony gave a voice to her husband's memory.

"He is more than a number. To read Roger's name in that glorious setting will always be imprinted in my mind. I was truly grateful to be here along with the many others who have lost their loved ones."

Nancy Gass, Gold Star Spouse of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Girard "Jerry" Gass Jr. said, "To read my husband's name on the steps of a presidential memorial in our nation's capital was surreal. He was a humble hero. He sought no accolades. He loved his job. He did it because he cared; because it was the right thing to do; because he could; and because someone had to do it. He was just a good man. Being given this chance to read his name is a reminder to our children, to his parents and brother, to his Special Forces brotherhood, to all that knew and loved and lost him, that our country remembers...remembers that he was someone special."

For Tunnel to Towers Chairman and CEO Frank Siller, the honor of reading the names of those lost in these conflicts was long overdue.

"Every year we read the names of those we lost on September 11th. This year, on the 20th anniversary of those attacks, I wanted to honor the memory of those heroes who helped America fight back. By reading their names in our nation's capital, we will show those families America hasn't forgotten their sacrifice," said Siller.

The memorial name reading ceremony took place in front of the Veterans & Athletes United traveling Global War on Terror Memorial Flag. It is a 28 foot wide by 6 foot tall tribute made up of more than 7,000 dog tags bearing the names of those who have fallen in the War on Terror.

Tunnel to Towers paid tribute to each of the fallen with a luminary bearing their name. The lights surrounded the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool.

The entire ceremony is available on the Tunnel to Towers Facebook page .

2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. To celebrate its anniversary Tunnel to Towers promised to deliver 200 homes across its programs.

By the end of the year, the Foundation will have delivered 450 homes in its 20-year history.

For more information on Tunnel to Towers' mission to support America's veterans, fallen first responders and Gold Star families, visit T2T.org and consider donating just $11 per month.

About the Tunnel to Towers Foundation

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation is dedicated to honoring the sacrifice of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. For 20 years the Foundation has supported our nation's first responders, veterans, and their families by providing these heroes and the families they leave behind with mortgage-free homes. For more about the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and its commitment to DO GOOD, please visit T2T.org .

Follow Tunnel to Towers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @Tunnel2Towers .

MEDIA CONTACT:

Trevor Tamsen - Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Caroline Magyarits - Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Kerry Rom - Targeted Victory

SOURCE Tunnel to Towers Foundation

Related Links

http://T2T.org


UnityPoint Accountable Care (UAC), a subsidiary of UnityPoint Health, has earned $28.2 million in shared savings. Tweet this

"UAC prides itself on being a leader in the shift to value-based care. Our continued emphasis on improving outcomes, decreasing the cost of health care, and improving the experience and wellbeing of our patients and team members is validated by the results achieved with the Next Generation ACO Model," said Dr. Sanjeeb Khatua, MD, UnityPoint Accountable Care Chief Executive Officer. "We are extremely proud of the innovative care delivery models that have been implemented emphasizing innovation, technology, data and our provider teams' expertise," said Khatua. "We remain committed in our shift to value-based care with a continued focus on engaging and delivering value to the communities and patients we serve."

To improve quality and reduce or eliminate unnecessary costs in the health care system, UAC developed the UnityPoint Health ambulatory division "Care at Home" service line and the "Intellicenter" which offers home-based care opportunities and expands existing care options for patients under the Next Generation ACO Model. New care initiatives made available for eligible Medicare patients through these efforts include the following:

Follow-up care visit at a patient's home after a hospital discharge

The Next Generation ACO Model Post-Discharge Home Visit (PDHV) Benefit Enhancement allows licensed clinicians from the UnityPoint Health Care at Home team to provide a visit at a patient's home under supervision from a physician, providing flexibility right after a Medicare patient is discharged from the hospital. In 2020, this Benefit Enhancement was used for 809 UAC patients.

Support for patients transitioning back home from the hospital

The IntelliCenter assists a patient's transition back home by providing a post-discharge phone assessment with the patient to determine their care needs and develop a plan post-hospital stay.

Care coordination for the patient between the hospital and skilled nursing facility Improved care coordination through effective use of the Next Generation ACO Model Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) 3-Day Rule Waiver Benefit Enhancement, which waives the rule of requiring a 3-day stay in an inpatient hospital prior to admission to a skilled nursing facility.

The 2020 performance year results, posted by CMS for all organizations participating in the Next Generation ACO Model, continue to advance value-based health care and produce better care and patient outcomes. The Next Generation ACO Model requires participating health care organizations to take on greater financial risk than previous ACO models and work to continually improve quality while reducing unnecessary cost.

About UnityPoint Accountable Care

UnityPoint Accountable Care (UAC) is a network of more than 8,000 physicians and providers in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Currently serving more than 80,000 Medicare patients, UAC is one of the largest Accountable Care Organizations in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Next Generation ACO Model and has maintained its position as a leader in health delivery innovation through participation in both government and commercial insurance value-based programs. UnityPoint Accountable Care is driving the continued transition of UnityPoint Health from the fee-for-service payment model. More information is available at unitypoint.org/aco . The ACO's hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST, Monday  Friday.

About UnityPoint Health

UnityPoint Health is one of the nation's most integrated health systems, providing care to both metropolitan and rural communities across Iowa, western Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, UnityPoint Health has relationships with more than 400 physician clinics, 20 regional and 19 community network hospitals, 7 community mental health centers, 4 accredited colleges and home care services throughout its 9 regions. UnityPoint Health entities employ more than 32,000 employees who are dedicated to making it easier for people to live well. More at unitypoint.org.



SOURCE UnityPoint Health

Related Links

http://www.unitypoint.org


SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vesto, a market leading Multi-Token On-Chain Protocol for seamless access into DeFi, has signed a license agreement with Matryoshka Capital.

Vesto's protocol is an easy to use but powerful gateway into the cryptocurrency ecosystem, enabling the next generation of DeFi, dApps, and protocols.

Through this license agreement, Matryoshka Capital, will be able to convert its significant fiat currency pools into USDC and Dai to be locked up in DeFi and mint vUSDC and vDai to be used for their brokerage trading activities.

Vesto's 2-Token protocol is similar to how banks traditionally hold clients' fiat in the clients' savings account ledger, while also pooling those same fiat assets to earn the bank money in their own loan and investments accounts.

The difference is, with Vesto, Matryoshka Capital will own and control both their underlying assets on Ethereum and their vTokens on Polygon earning high DeFi yields. Best of all, this arrangement can earn users much higher yields than typical bank accounts, with DeFi historically running in the 5 to 15% range from Stablecoin liquidity pools, paid daily, with 24/7 access. For users choosing liquidity pools of more volatile asset classes, yields have historically run 15 to 25% or more.

Matryoshka Capital and its clients will significantly increase profitability and all-over gains not achievable with traditional banking and trading platforms in deploying Vesto's Protocol.

"After significant market due-diligence, we finally found the only fully integrated end-to-end solution, which is offered by Vesto. Vesto's Multi-Token On-chain Protocol is truly unique in the market and is the future of advanced brokerage services!"

Teo Zuniga, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

"We are very excited that Matryoshka Capital has decided to license our Protocol and related SaaS services! This relationship demonstrates the foundation for the future world of brokerage services globally!"

Christopher McGregor, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Co-Founder.

About Matryoshka Capital (https://www.matryoshkacap.com):

Matryoshka Capital provides brokerage and OTC services for trading digital and traditional securities-based assets. It provides a comprehensive mobile trading platform that allows its clients to receive quotes of financial instruments, analyze markets using charts and technical indicators, perform demo trades, connect to brokers for live trading and view the history of trading operations.

Matryoshka Capital is also formed and operates as a society that has been created by a number of Investors and Traders whose knowledge goes beyond the financial arena as well as the trading industry as a whole.

They are a group of mentors one hundred percent focused on the three fundamental pillars of any human being, health, self-evolution, and finances.

About Vesto (www.vesto.io):

Vesto is a market leading Multi-Token On-chain Protocol to provide seamless access into DeFi.

The Vesto Protocol consists of several comprehensive native smart contract modules; vWallet, vToken, vDeFi, vBridge, vSwap, vLighthouse, vProtect and vFactory. The 2-Token process mints vTokens, including vUSDC, vDAI and vWBTC, which can be paired with underlying deposited tokens, then utilized on other blockchain protocols, like Polygon.

The core elements of the Vesto protocol and related SaaS services have been integrated with many distinct but powerful components including smart contracts, multiple blockchains, stablecoins, fiat on / off ramp bridges, secure decentralized finance services ("DeFi") via Element Finance , Multi-Chain support via Polygon , powerful KYC, KYT, KYB, and AML solutions via FinClusive and Onfido , and cold storage and disaster recovery via Coincover .

For more information visit: vesto.io and/or email to [email protected] .

For press enquiries contact:

Prof. Carsten Bartsch, PhD

Chief Marketing Officer, Vesto

[email protected]

Vesto LLC  San Francisco, Vesto GmbH - Munich, Vesto Technologies Ltd. - London, Vesto SA de CV - Mexico City. 2021. All rights reserved. Platform and tech covered by pending patent applications.

SOURCE Vesto

Related Links

www.vesto.io


HARRISBURG, Penn., Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of The Amistad Project's lawsuit today and voided the statewide school mask mandate issued by Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam. The ruling was issued in response to a lawsuit filed by The Amistad Project on behalf of parents and school districts who argued that the Secretary did not have the legal authority to issue the order.

"This is a victory for the rule of law in Pennsylvania," said Tom King, lead attorney for Dillon, McCandless, King, Coulter, & Graham LLP. "The Secretary of Health never had the authority to enter this order to begin with, and that's exactly what the court recognized with this ruling."

The court ruled that the order was void ab initio, meaning it was invalid from the moment it was issued.

"State officials issued this order unilaterally, bypassing the normal democratic process. The court found that this is an improper action by the executive branch assuming powers that are not theirs," said Phill Kline, director of The Amistad Project. "This is another demonstration that the best decisions regarding education and children are made by parents, working with local school districts, not distant executives assuming unauthorized power."

"In previous pandemics, we've never quarantined the healthy; we've protected the vulnerable," Kline added. "During the COVID pandemic, however, governments have placed all kinds of restrictions on the healthy, which we've never done before, and this case recognizes that such conduct was never authorized by the people of Pennsylvania."

REF: Case No. 294 M.D. 2021

For more information about The Amistad Project, please visit www.theamistadproject.org.

SOURCE Amistad Project
LEHI, Utah, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Weave Communications, Inc., a leading all-in-one customer communications and engagement software platform for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 5,000,000 shares of common stock at a price to the public of $24.00 per share.

The shares are expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "WEAV" on November 11, 2021, and the offering is expected to close on November 15, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, Weave has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares of common stock at the initial public offering price less underwriting discounts and commissions.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, BofA Securities and Citigroup are acting as lead book-running managers for the offering. Piper Sandler, Raymond James, Stifel, William Blair, Guggenheim Securities, Academy Securities, Loop Capital Markets and Tigress Financial Partners are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus, when available, may be obtained from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526 or by email at [email protected]; BofA Securities, Attention: Prospectus Department, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001 or by email at [email protected]; or Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 1-800-831-9146 or by email at [email protected].

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with, and declared effective by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these 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 any such state or jurisdiction.

Media Contact:

Kali Geldis

Director of Communications

[email protected]

Investor Contact:

Mark Roberts

Blueshirt Group

(385) 336-5493

[email protected]

SOURCE Weave

Related Links

http://www.getweave.com


"Toyota West Virginia is preparing for future market needs as demand increases in the area of vehicle electrification," said Srini Matam, president of TMMWV. "The investment will fund targeted improvements that will increase our flexibility and competitiveness, allowing us to be in a better position to directly respond to shifting customer demand for higher efficiency vehicles."

What is A Hybrid Transaxle?

Hybrid vehicle systems combine two separate sources of propulsion or motive power, such as an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, to take advantage of their respective benefits while also compensating for their respective limitations. While a hybrid system adds vehicle mass with the addition of components and is more complex than a conventional vehicle, the same system allows the vehicle to be more efficient and a hybrid transaxle can effectively transfer power seamlessly between the engine, electric motor and wheels in any number of combinations.

Carbon Neutral Commitment

Toyota has committed to offering an electrified option across its entire lineup of both Toyota and Lexus vehicles by 2025. Advancing its production of electrified vehicles and their components, such as these hybrid transaxles, plays a part in helping Toyota to achieve its goals for carbon neutrality.

In fact, alternative-powered vehicles (APVs)  made up of hybrids, plug-ins, fuel cells and batteries  are nothing new for Toyota, as the company has put more electrified powertrains on U.S. roads than all other automakers combined and has remained the leading manufacturer and seller of APVs for 21 consecutive years.

West Virginia's Leading Role

Toyota's West Virginia team has and continues to play an active and important role in Toyota's manufacturing operations in the U.S., through a series of expansions and updates since it was established.

"This project is more than just a new product. It demonstrates the need for TMMWV and our path forward as we increase our powertrain capabilities to better support Toyota Motor North America's growing manufacturing footprint by building vehicles where we sell," adds Matam.

Today's announcement comes on the heels of another recent plant expansion. In February, TMMWV announced a $210 million investment and added 100 new jobs to expand capacity of its four-cylinder and V6 engine lines.

"Toyota has long been an outstanding corporate partner and engine for economic growth in our state," said West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice. "I'm proud knowing that it'll be West Virginians helping lead the way as Toyota continues to invest in future technologies and products that'll help get our friends and neighbors to their destinations more efficiently and safer than ever before."

Senator Joe Manchin, former governor of West Virginia, had the following thoughts on today's news.

"Every year on Veterans Day, I'm honored to pay tribute to our Veterans who gave so much to protect our nation and to our Gold Star families. Our brave Veterans are the glue that holds our nation, our state and our communities together. Their service and sacrifices will never be forgotten. Toyota Manufacturing West Virginia has been a strong partner for 25 years, and their commitment to employing our Veterans when they return home and investing in Veterans organizations through generous donations shows their dedication to the Mountain State and our people. Today's special commemoration shows that Americans and West Virginians love our Veterans and those who have sacrificed for our great country. May God continue to bless our great state and all those who fought to keep our nation free," Manchin said.

Senator Shelley Moore Capito said she was delighted by the announcement, and she looks forward to seeing Toyota continue to thrive in West Virginia.

"Toyota's presence in West Virginia represents more than just good jobs. It's also a company that has committed to improving our economy and investing in our workforce for more than two decades. I'm thrilled that the Buffalo plant is making this meaningful investment, which demonstrates the company's ability to continue incorporating additional technologies that will advance their production. West Virginia has a long and productive relationship with Toyota, and this announcement today further solidifies their commitment to investing in our state and our workers," Senator Capito said. "In the meantime, I will continue doing all I can to make sure our West Virginia workers  like those at the Toyota Buffalo plant  are protected. Earlier this week, I made my intentions known to put forth an amendment that would eliminate an unfair special interest subsidy in the Democrats' reckless tax-and-spend spree should the legislation move forward. We should not be prioritizing some American workers over others, and this amendment will allow our hardworking West Virginians to compete on a level playing field."

TMMWV annually produces about 1 million engines and transmissions for many North American-assembled vehicles. This year marks its 25th anniversary from groundbreaking, and it has since been expanded or received new investment 11 times.

In addition to today's investment announcement, Toyota celebrated Veterans Day by recognizing veterans employed at the plant and by making three donations to local veterans' support groups. Toyota donated $75,000 each to Gold Star Mothers of West Virginia, The Fisher House at the Hershel Woody Williams VA Medical Center in Huntington and The Woody Williams Foundation.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 36,000 in the U.S. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 30 million cars and trucks at our 9 manufacturing plants, 10 including our joint venture in Alabama that began production in September 2021.

To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

Media Contact:

George Gannon

304-593-8096

[email protected]

SOURCE Toyota Motor North America

Related Links

www.toyota.com


The partnership, titled "JumpStart NJ/Westchester Angels Strategic Alliance," will grow membership and boost deal flow for members, providing significant new opportunities for both angel investors and startups alike. With this new partnership in place, each group's members will collaborate in investor meetings and due diligence, allowing local startups to unlock deals, mentorship, and capital much faster.

Says Sandy Wollman, Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Westchester Angels: "When a collaboration works right, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. And that's exactly the case with the JumpStart NJ/Westchester Angels Strategic Alliance. By pooling our due diligence efforts, the vast experiences of our members, and other resources, we can grow the quality and quantity of entrepreneurship in the region. We're on track to reach a critical mass of entrepreneurs in Westchester and New Jersey  which will transform the area into even more of an innovation hub."

Says Stephen Dyer, Chairman of JumpStart New Jersey Angel Network: "The JumpStart NJ/Westchester Angels Strategic Alliance partnership will accelerate deal flow significantly, raising more capital for startups across the Tri-State area. Together, we can take an already impressive entrepreneurial landscape to the next level."

Both groups have a proven track record of spotting and fueling startup success. One of the Westchester Angels' most recent success stories is Ocrolus, a New York City-based financial technology company specializing in automated document analysis. Ocrolus is currently the fastest-growing fintech company in the U.S. and the fastest-growing software company in New York State. They were also named " The 30th fastest growing private company in America " by Inc. Magazine. Four years ago, Sandy Wollman led Ocrolus' seed round, in which five different angel groups raised $1M. That investment has since grown rapidly. In September, Ocrolus announced their Series C raise of $80M for a post money valuation of $500M+.

JumpStart NJ members invested $1.7 million in eight companies in 2020. The group also had two exits last year. In the first nine months of 2021, JumpStart NJ members have invested more than $2 million in 9 companies. One of the group's exits this year produced a 17x return on capital.

ABOUT THE WESTCHESTER ANGELS

The Westchester Angels is an Angel investor group whose mission is to provide financial and strategic partnerships to entrepreneurs in the metro New York area with a focus on Westchester County. The Westchester Angels' interest in start-ups goes beyond venture capital and they mentor and work closely with the companies they invest in. They meet every other month and perform due diligence in teams with individuals making their own investment decisions. The members often invest as a group or make individual decisions to invest. The Westchester Angels enjoy building businesses, seeing them succeed, and are committed to helping new and innovative companies prosper.

ABOUT JUMPSTART NEW JERSEY ANGEL NETWORK

JumpStart NJ Angel Network invests in the Mid-Atlantic region, and beyond, with about a third of the investments in New Jersey-based ventures. JumpStart NJ members have diverse interests and preferences. Areas of investment interest include software as a service (SaaS), healthtech, agrotech, medical devices, manufacturing, alternative energy, shipping/logistics tech, cyber-security, and consumer packaged goods. Members have deep knowledge and experience in many areas and invest not only their dollars but their expertise in helping young companies grow.

Media Contact:

Stacey Cohen, Co-Communications [email protected]

Christie Clements, Co-Communications [email protected]

SOURCE Westchester Angels
MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood) is pleased to announce the creation of the Westwood GIVES, a 501c3 charitable foundation.

Westwood GIVES represents the heart of Westwood's employees and serves as a platform for extending additional resources to causes and needs most important to the team. The mission of Westwood GIVES is to enrich, engage, and impact the world through three pillars of giving:

Westwood announces the creation of the Westwood GIVES, a 501c3 charitable foundation.

Health and Wellbeing (Enrich) - Enrich the lives of children, veterans, and the elderly through financial support for effective therapies and cures for chronic illness and disease, as well as sustenance, clothing, and shelter for those in need.

Professional Industry Support (Engage) - Engage students and fund scholarships for a variety of relevant professional and technical fields. Support high school level STEM programming with the goal of exposing students to Westwood's variety of professions and potential career paths that could enhance their future.

Building and Infrastructure (Impact)  Positively impact disadvantaged communities and families by providing financial support for organizations that build homes, schools, and the infrastructure to support safe and sustainable living.

Paul Greenhagen, Westwood's CEO/President, and Westwood GIVES' Chairman of the Board sees this as the firm's logical next phase of giving, "As Westwood has grown, we've empowered our people to take a proactive role in giving back at the local level. This has resulted in even more inspiring stories of our team's ability to touch and improve lives throughout the country, and internationally. And yet, as a team, we continually desire to do more. Westwood GIVES will help us achieve that."

Learn more about Westwood GIVES.

About Westwood Professional Services, Inc. (Westwood)

Westwood is a leading multi-disciplined AEC industry professional services provider for national wind energy, solar energy, power delivery, private development, and public infrastructure projects. Westwood was established in 1972 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Through a focus on its people, culture, and clients, Westwood has quickly expanded to serve clients across the nation from multiple U.S. offices. View more Westwood facts.

Awards

In 2021, Westwood placed #4 and #21 respectively on Zweig Group's national Hot Firms' and Best Firms to Work for Lists, and received two 2nd place awards for Zweig's Marketing Excellence. Westwood also ranked consistently higher four years in a row on the Engineering News Record (ENR) list as a leading design firm in the country. The firm consistently ranks on industry top 25 lists and receives recognition for its involvement on award-winning projects nationwide.

Source:

Westwood Professional Services, Inc.

12701 Whitewater Drive, Suite 300

Minnetonka, MN 55343

888-937-5150

www.westwoodps.com

SOURCE Westwood Professional Services

Related Links

http://www.westwoodps.com


GUANGZHOU, China, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Yatsen Holding Limited ("Yatsen" or the "Company") (NYSE: YSG), a leading Chinese beauty company, today announced that it will release its unaudited financial results for the third quarter of 2021 on Thursday, November 18, 2021, before the open of the U.S. markets.

The Company's management will hold a conference call on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at 7:30 am U.S. Eastern Time (8:30 pm Beijing/Hong Kong Time) to discuss the financial results. Listeners may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

United States (toll free): +1-888-346-8982 International: +1-412-902-4272 Mainland China (toll free): 400-120-1203 Hong Kong (toll free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong: +852-3018-4992 Conference ID: 10161698

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/.

A replay of the conference call will be accessible by phone one hour after the conclusion of the live call at the following numbers, until November 25, 2021:

United States: +1-877-344-7529 International: +1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 10161698

About Yatsen Holding Limited

Yatsen Holding Limited (NYSE: YSG) is a leading player in China's beauty market with a mission to create an exciting new journey of beauty discovery for consumers in China and around the world. Founded in 2016, the Company has launched and acquired multiple color cosmetics and skincare brands including Perfect Diary, Little Ondine, Abby's Choice, Galenic, DR.WU (its mainland China business), Eve Lom, and Pink Bear. The Company's flagship brand, Perfect Diary, is one of the top color cosmetics brands in China in terms of online retail sales value. Leveraging its digitally native direct-to-customer business model, the Company has built core capabilities which enable it to launch and scale multiple brands quickly while offering a wide selection of products to a growing variety of customers. The Company reaches and engages with customers directly both online and offline, with expansive presence across all major e-commerce, social and content platforms in China.

For more information, please visit http://ir.yatsenglobal.com/.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Yatsen Holding Limited

Investor Relations

E-mail: [email protected]

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Emilie Wu

Tel: +86-21-6039-8363

E-mail: [email protected]

In the United States:

The Piacente Group, Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Yatsen Holding Limited

Related Links

www.yatsenglobal.com


SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- UMortgage , a national mortgage company, today announced the expansion of its team to include Matt The Mortgage Guy , a full-service mortgage brokerage based in Sacramento, to its corporate portfolio.

Matt The Mortgage Guy is operated by Matt Gouge, an eight-year mortgage veteran who has built a strong social media presence educating consumers on housing-related financial literacy. Gouge, a UWM Top 1% California broker, ranked among the Top 150 mortgage brokers nationwide in 2021, according to industry publication Scotsman Guide.

"We're excited to serve California by supporting the pursuit of homeownership through a personalized and educational approach to getting a mortgage," said Matt Gouge, branch manager of Matt The Mortgage Guy. "Mortgages are not a one-size-fits-all product. We'll make sure that our clients obtain their best solution, and truly understand the nuts and bolts behind why that solution makes sense."

The new branch continues the national expansion of UMortgage. It will support borrowers looking to refinance or purchase a home, providing some of the mortgage industry's most competitive pricing and turn times, and high-level customer service.

"At UMortgage, we're committed to providing accessible financial literacy as it pertains to homeownership, especially for underserved communities," said Anthony Casa, President of UMortgage. "Matt Gouge has built a reputation as a trusted mortgage advisor and his YouTube platform will be valuable in sharing financial literacy to a broader audience."

Matt The Mortgage Guy will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark its official grand opening on Friday, Nov. 19 from 4-7 p.m PST. The event will take place at 707 Commons Drive, Suite 103, Sacramento, CA 95825, and will feature food, drinks and music, along with a professional photographer taking headshots of attendees.

About UMortgage

UMortgage is a purpose-driven mortgage company committed to serving their Loan Originators and community at large. Each Loan Originator offers consumers the personalized touch of working with a Broker in their backyard while maintaining the support and resources of a nationally licensed company. Licensed nationwide, they are trailblazing a path in the mortgage industry that is streamlined, modernized, and values-driven. For more information, visit umortgage.com or email [email protected].

Media Contact:

Corie Meredith

[email protected]

SOURCE UMortgage

Related Links

https://umortgage.com


Zoomd becomes certified by Snapchat to allow marketers using Zoomd's self serve, SaaS products to launch, monitor, and optimize user-acquisition campaigns on Snapchat

VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zoomd Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: ZOMD) (OTC: ZMDTF) (https://www.zoomd.com) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Zoomd Ltd. (collectively, "Zoomd" or the "Company"), the marketing tech (MarTech) user-acquisition and engagement platform, today reported it has signed a formal marketing partner agreement with Snapchat on November 3, 2021 for becoming Snapchat certified marketing partner.

Since its launch in 2011, Snapchat became known for its "mobile-first" social experience. Snapchat places significant emphasis on users interacting with virtual stickers and augmented reality objects. As of July 2021, according to Snapchat's reports, Snapchat had 293 million daily active users worldwide, a 23% growth over a year.

"We are thrilled to be among the few global tech companies that are certified partners and integrated with Snapchat directly via their API, enabling advertisers to easily run campaigns using Snapchat's special ad formats, technology and capabilities, all under the Zoomd's interface," says Ofer Eitan, Zoomd CEO.

With this new marketing partnership, via Zoomd's self-serve products, subscribed advertisers will be afforded the ability to directly track, measure, automate, and optimize Snapchat user-acquisition campaigns on the Zoomd platform. Advertisers can seamlessly run Snapchat campaigns alongside other multiple campaigns across different social channels including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Apple Search, and Google, all from a single dashboard.

About Zoomd:

Zoomd (TSXV: ZOMD, OTC: ZMDTF), founded in 2012 and began trading on the TSX Venture Exchange in September 2019, offers a site search engine to publishers, and a mobile app user-acquisition platform, integrated with a majority of global digital media, to advertisers. The platform unifies more than 600 media sources into one unified dashboard. Offering advertisers, a user acquisition control center for managing all new customer acquisition campaigns using a single platform. By unifying all these media sources onto a single platform, Zoomd saves advertisers significant resources that would otherwise be spent consolidating data sources, thereby maximizing data collection and data insights while minimizing the resources spent on the exercise. Further, Zoomd is a performance-based platform that allows advertisers to advertise to the relevant target audiences using a key performance indicator-algorithm that is focused on achieving the advertisers' goals and targets.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

DISCLAIMER IN REGARD TO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

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 Zoomd's future ability to successfully integrate Snapchat into its platform and provide for a good user experience. Forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, estimates, expectations and projections 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, technological, legal, privacy matters, political and social uncertainties (including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic), the extent and duration of which are uncertain at this time on Zoomd's business and general economic and business conditions and markets. There can be no assurance that any of the forward-looking 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 because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

The reader should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. All forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Company Media Contacts:

Amit Bohensky

Chairman

Zoomd

[email protected]

Website: www.zoomd.com



Investor relations:

Lytham Partners, LLC

Ben Shamsian

New York | Phoenix

[email protected]

SOURCE Zoomd Technologies Ltd.
Washington, Nov 11 : A US federal judge has ruled that the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot can access records related to former President Donald Trump in the lead-up to the insurrection, dealing a blow to Trump's effort to keep them secret.

"The court holds that the public interest lies in permitting -- not enjoining -- the combined will of the legislative and executive branches to study the events that led to and occurred on January 6, and to consider legislation to prevent such events from ever occurring again," Judge Tanya Chutkan of the US District Court in the District of Columbia wrote in a 39-page opinion, Xinhua reported.

The ruling was made on Tuesday night. Trump's legal team told the court they will appeal.

As the custodian of those records totalling some 700 pages, the National Archives is expected to turn over to the House a number of documents on Friday, including White House call logs, video logs and meeting schedules related to January 6 as well as three pages of handwritten notes from Trump's then-chief of staff, Mark Meadows.

More documents are scheduled for later in November.

Trump filed a lawsuit in the court in October against the National Archive and the select committee, claiming that the committee's request serves no useful legislative purpose, that it undermines Trump's executive privilege rights, and that the committee is not providing sufficient time for the former president's team to review its records requests.

The lawsuit came after President Joe Biden refused to assert executive privileges, arguing that Trump's effort was neither in the best interest of the US nor justified.

Chutkan said in her ruling that a former president cannot override the decisions of the incumbent president as relates to protecting privileged information of the executive branch. "It is the incumbent president who is best situated to protect executive branch interests." Presidential privilege "exists for the benefit of the Republic, not any individual," she wrote.

It is for this reason that Congress and the courts can access presidential communications when the public has a need to be informed, the judge said.

Chutkan went on to say that the select committee's requests, sweeping as they are, did "not exceed" the legislative power of Congress.

Mississippi Democrat Bennie Thompson who chairs the Jan. 6 committee called the ruling a "big deal" for the ongoing and intensifying investigation.

He told CNN's Chris Cuomo that he looked forward to the panel's investigators "going through (the documents) with a fine-tooth comb to make sure that our government was not weaponised against its citizens", Xinhua news agency reported.

"We can only do that by getting access to the information. I applaud our lawyers who defended us in this court setting," he said. "I applaud the expeditious ruling that we got because we have to get to this."
Chennai, Nov 11 : The Madras High Court has directed the Tamil Nadu government to bring up harsh measures to eradicate the practice of manual scavenging in the state.

The court was responding while hearing a petition filed by the Safai Karmachari Andolan seeking to increase the compensation paid to deaths while doing manual scavenging.

The first bench of the Madras High Court comprising Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D. Adikesvalu called upon the state government on Wednesday to prepare harsh measures as a deterrent against those who are the perpetrators of manual scavenging.

The court directed the state government to produce a status report within four weeks and also wanted the government to conduct a proper enumeration of those who are involved in manual scavenging jobs.

The advocate for the petitioners Srinath Sridevan said that while the state government pegs the number of manual scavengers at 464, according to the petitioners it would be well above 3000 in the state The first bench of the Madras High Court agreed with the advocate representing the petitioners, Safai Karmachari Andolan that heavy compensation is given to those who die while engaging in manual scavenging.

The advocate for the petitioners had requested the court to increase the compensation amount due to death while conducting manual scavenging from Rs 10 lakh at present to a minimum of Rs 50 lakh.

The counsel for the petitioners argued that the earlier amount was fixed way back in 2014 and that the cost of living has escalated many folds and that the compensation was totally inadequate and inappropriate.

The judges directed the state government pleader, P. Muthukumar to get instructions regarding this matter.

The court also wanted the state government to create awareness among those who are into manual scavenging jobs that they are good at other vocations and called upon the state government to take initiatives to rehabilitate those who are engaged in manual scavenging after providing them with proper awareness.

The counsel for Safai Karmachari Andolan claimed that 42 people died since the present case was filed in 2017 and insisted that there should be a fresh enumeration. He also requested the court to give directions to the state government to provide employment to the dependents of those who die while engaging in manual scavenging.

The counsel for the petitioners also invited the attention of the first bench of the Madras High Court that no official has been punished for engaging people in manual scavenging and wanted to prosecute the local body officials and private individuals engaging people for manual scavenging.
Lucknow, Nov 11 : Uttar Pradesh has crossed the 10-crore mark in administering the first dose of vaccines against Covid-19.

The state, according to a government spokesman, has already administered over 13.53 billion vaccine doses.

Nearly 68 per cent of the state's total eligible adult population has received at least one dose, with approximately 24 per cent fully immunised.

It has administered more than 13,53,77,271 vaccine doses, including 10,00,02,539 first doses and 3,53,74,732 double doses.

Despite being the most populous state, Uttar Pradesh is outpacing others in its efforts to prevent the anticipated third wave of the pandemic through vaccination.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has already issued orders to speed up the immunisation drive, with a target of delivering 25 to 30 lakh doses per day over the next two months.

Meanwhile, mega vaccination campaigns are being held in the state on a regular basis.

The spokesman said that the Yogi Adityanath government has now implemented the 'Cluster Model 2.0' to improve second dose coverage in the state.

Prioritising full vaccination, the second dose is being administered under the cluster model 2.0 in villages and localities where the first dose was successfully administered using the same model.

The state-wide rollout of the cluster model for the Covid-19 vaccination drive earlier in June made the task simple, equitable, and seamless, removing critical roadblocks such as transportation and the digital divide.
Kabul, Nov 11 : The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has downplayed the security threat posed by the Islamic State (IS), saying security forces have arrested 600 militants affiliated with the terror group over the past three months.

"The security forces of the Islamic Emirate have destroyed 21 bases of the IS group in different provinces including Kabul, Nangarhar and Herat and also captured about 600 militants over the past three months," Xinhua news agency quoted Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid as saying to reporters at a press briefing here.

Mujahid said the group doesn't enjoy support from Afghans and its activities are under control.

The spokesman also assured that the crackdown on the armed group would continue.

"Afghanistan's soil won't be used against any country." The remarks come as the US and its allies are concerned over alleged presence of Al Qaeda, IS and and other terror outfits in Afghanistan.

Responding to a question, Mujahid said that Afghanistan attaches great importance to developing ties with its neighbours and seeks to boost trade and economic cooperation with them.

Mujahid also said that acting Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi was currently on a visit to Islamabad to discuss with Pakistani officials the matters concerning mutual interests including trade and economic cooperation.

Also speaking at the briefing, Khalil Hamraz, head of public relations of the General Directorate of Intelligence, or the country's counter-intelligence agency, said that the agency would continue to crack down on the IS operatives and criminals including kidnappers, thieves and all those who violate law and order.
Lakhimpur Kheri : Nov 11 (IANS) Asha Ram, a 52-year-old farmer, was killed by a tiger near the Mailani range forests, under the Dudhwa buffer zone.

His partially eaten body was recovered from an area near Katra ghat close to the reserve forest on Wednesday.

The deceased had been reported missing since Monday afternoon when he had gone to the fields on his bicycle to collect fodder for his domestic animals.

Mailani range forest officials and Sansarpur police outpost in-charge Pravin Kumar rushed to the spot.

Dr Anil Kumar Patel, deputy director of Dudhwa buffer zone, confirmed that Asha Ram was killed by a tiger.

He said that the pug marks have been detected on the spot. The area is known for the movement of big cats, and appropriate action would be taken in this case. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.

Asha Ram had gone to the fields on Monday afternoon and when he did not return till late in the evening, his family members started looking for him in the neighbouring areas but to no avail.

On Tuesday, his bicycle with a bundle of grass was found around 4 km south of his village. The family members searched for him in that area which is close to the Mailani range forest.

On Wednesday, Asha Ram's partially eaten body, with deep injuries on the head, face and abdominal area, was recovered from a field.
United Nations, Nov 11 : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the situation at the Belarus-Poland border, where thousands of migrants and refugees are stuck in cold weather, said his spokesman.

The Secretary-General reiterates the importance of ensuring that migration and refugee issues are dealt with according to humanitarian principles and international law. Such situations should not be used for political purposes and become a cause of tension between states, Xinhua news agency quoted spokesman Stephane Dujarric as saying.

The spokesman also referred to the remarks by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, who said that she was appalled at the large number of migrants and refugees who continue to be left in a desperate situation in near-freezing temperatures at the border, and that governments in the region cannot allow more lives to be lost.

Overnight temperatures at the border have fallen below freezing and some of the stranded people stranded have warned they are running out of food and water.

This crisis comes amid an escalating international row as the EU, and now NATO and the US, have accused Belarus's authoritarian leader of provoking a renewed migrant crisis in Europe.

Many of the migrants are young men but there are also women and children, mostly from the Middle East and Asia.
Stockholm, Nov 11 : Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has tendered his resignation and asked the Speaker of Parliament Andreas Norlen to commence the formal process of finding his successor.

Lofven, who will lead a caretaker government until a new Prime Minister is installed, had previously insisted he would lead the Social Democrats over the 2022 elections, reports Xinhua news agency.

However, in August he unexpectedly announced his decision to resign.

The surprising announcement was made following a turbulent year.

In July, Lofven was re-elected as Prime Minister shortly after becoming the first Swedish premier to be ousted in a no-confidence vote in June.

He has been chairman of the Social Democrats since 2010 and Prime Minister since 2014.

On November 4, he stepped down as party leader and Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson was elected to lead the Social Democrats.

Most political analysts believe the speaker will now propose Andersson as the next Prime Minister, but due to the parliamentary situation, she would need support of the Left and Centre parties.

Should a majority not vote against her, Andersson will become Sweden's first female Prime Minister.
Kasganj : , Nov 11 (IANS) Chand Miyan, father of Altaf who allegedly ended his life in police custody, has claimed in a handwritten note that his son was suffering from depression and that 'he was withdrawing the case against the police'.

The Samajwadi Party has accused the police of trying to hush up the case and has demanded a probe by a sitting high court judge.

Five police personnel had been suspended for negligence on Wednesday in the matter.

The police said the victim was suffering from depression and that he died by suicide.

Chand Miyan has now given a written declaration that he is withdrawing the charges in the case and 'will not pursue it in the future'.

Interestingly, the handwritten note by Chand Miyan, carries his thumb impression instead of signature.

The death of a Muslim youth, 22-year-old Altaf, while in custody at the Kasganj police station in in Uttar Pradesh has snowballed into a major controversy with Samajwadi Party demanding high-level inquiry by a sitting high court judge.

The party has also demanded that the family of the youth be compensated.

Altaf, son of Chand Miyan, who was an accused in an elopement case of a minor Hindu girl in village Ahroli, was picked up by the police on Monday night and taken to Kasganj kotwali for interrogation. On Tuesday night, he died in police custody.

Altaf, who had been working as a tile layer, was fitting tiles at a house from where a girl went missing on Monday. The family members accused Altaf of being involved in the elopement case and an FIR was registered against him.

Kasganj Superintendent of Police Roshan Pramod Botre said that Altaf wanted to go to the toilet and was allowed to use the washroom facility at the police station. But when he did not come out, the cops opened the washroom and found him dead. He was rushed to the district hospital where he died after some time.

Altaf's body was handed over to the family members after the post-mortem.

The victim's father initially alleged foul play but later backed out.

Chand Miyan had told reporters that he had handed over his son on Monday night to the local police who told him that they wanted to interrogate him in connection with the elopement case of a girl belonging to another community.

Miyan said Altaf was shifted from the local police station to Kotwali and that he was not allowed to meet his son.

Samajwadi Party spokesman Abdul Hafiz Gandhi, has demanded a high-level inquiry by a sitting high court judge and said, "Is it not unusual that Chand Miyan has submitted a hand written declaration in support of the police but instead of the signature, the latter carries his thumb impression which proves that he is not literate? The whole thing is suspicious."
Moradabad : , Nov 11 (IANS) A pregnant woman who was travelling on the Shramjeevi Express with her husband, gave birth to a baby boy inside a toilet in the train.

Simpi, a resident of Bhagalpur in Bihar, was eight-months pregnant when she went into premature labour.

Her husband, Sooraj, raised an alarm and other female passengers helped the woman in her delivery.

A few Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel on the train assisted the couple and also provided them financial help.

When the train halted at Moradabad station, members of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) moved the woman to the district hospital.

The woman's husband, who works at a private firm in Delhi, said: "Our doctor had earlier informed us that my wife would give birth sometime next month. So, we decided to go to our hometown during Chhath puja for better health care and spend time with family and relatives. But maybe, God wanted it to happen this way. I'm very thankful to both CRPF and RPF personnel and fellow passengers for their assistance." The baby and mother are both healthy, he said.
Mumbai, Nov 11 : Negative global cues along with foreign fund outflows subdued India's key equity indices - S&P BSE Sensex and NSE Nifty50 - during Thursday's early-morning trade session.

At 10.15 a.m., the 30-scrip sensitive index traded at 59,921.26 points, down 438.60 points or 0.77 per cent.

The Sensex opened at 60,291.70 points from its previous close of 60,352.82 points.

Besides, the NSE Nifty50 traded at 17,877.15 points, lower by 135.30 points or 0.78 per cent.

It opened at 17,967.45 points from its previous close of 18,017.20 points.
Kolkata, Nov 11 : Former state finance minister and presently the chief financial advisor to the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Amit Mitra lashed out at Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar alleging that he was 'suffering from amnesia and needed help'. Mitra also doubted whether it was a case of 'Machiavellian omission'.

Mitra's outburst comes after Dhankhar asked the Mamata Banerjee government to come out with a white paper on Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) with details of investments attracted by the state through those programmes.

Mitra wrote on his Twitter handle -- "Governor said on 9th of Nov at meet and Greet event as reported, "We have to ensure there is no room for conflict...no room for adversarial situation.. only one way, togetherness." Very next day, he tweeted the opposite of these utterances, in a mode of all out conflict? Shocking!!!" Mitra was referring to the Governor's commitment to the Chief Minister a day before at a memorial function where he was also an invitee. At the meeting, Banerjee appealed to the Governor to help bring industry to the state. In response, the Governor welcomed the Chief Minister's statement. "As the constitutional head, I will do whatever it takes for the overall development of the state," he said. "West Bengal is on the path of progress. The efforts of the Hon'ble Chief Minister are to be commended for this," he added.

A day later the Governor wrote: "I urge Mamata Banerjee to publish a white paper on BGBBS (World Bengal Industrial Conference) so that information and transparency can be maintained in all cases." Asserting that the rule of law, respect for human rights and democratic values are imperative for investments, Dhankhar said much needs to be done on these fronts.

"It is our obligation that we subscribe to the sanctity of facts and not dictate actions by mere optics of advertisements and statements," he said in the Twitter post.

"Hon Governor's tweet on Business Summits is a classic case of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. On 9th Nov he strongly supported CM's plan of next Summit "I will leave nothing undone.. & "togetherness" & within 24 hours he tweets venom on Summits, by putting out a year-old letter to CM & FM, (me)!" Mitra wrote on his Twitter post.

"It is shocking that he seeks response when I had officially responded with a 4-page letter on Summits, giving data on investment offers UNDER IMPLEMENTATION, EMPLOYMENT generation etc, (read letter below). Is he suffering from Amnesia & needs help or is it a Machiavellian omission?" Mitra wrote.

The Mamata Banerjee administration has been organising BGBS since 2015 to attract investments to the state.

In a letter to the chief minister in August last year, the Governor said he had sought information on the five editions. The last business summit was held in February 2019.

The then finance minister Amit Mitra had claimed that the state had received proposals worth over Rs 12.32 lakh crore at the business summits between 2015 and 2019 and had generated 28 lakh jobs.

Dhankhar wrote that he had sought details of investments and jobs created in the state owing to the investment proposals and those claimed to be under implementation.

"Surely, their stance is far distanced from transparency in government and also not in consonance with your recent assertion that 'Our government works with complete transparency and there are financial clearances and regular audits'," he wrote in the letter dated August 25, 2020.
Patna, Nov 11 : Five people died in separate incidents during Chatt festivities in Bihar on Thursday, accordng to sources.

The first incident took place in Dewaria village in Hajipur district where a person died and another was critically injured after their speeding car crashed into a divider.

The deceased, the son of a senior police officer, was on way to celebrate Chatth in Muzaffarpur, they said.

In another incident, two persons, including a minor, drowned in Narpatganj in Araria district. The victims were a part of a group of devotees who were taking a bath in the JCB canal after the puja.

The deceased were identified as Babulal Paswan (25) and his nephew Suman(10).

According to the sources, another minor met a watery grave while taking a bath in the Kosi river in Araria district.

The fourth incident took place in Lakhisarai district where a boy Sant Kumar (12) drowned in the Haruhar river after the puja, they said.

IANS akj/shb
Sanaa, Nov 11 : Yemen's Houthi militia claimed that they launched three ballistic missiles at a military base in southern Saudi Arabia.

"Three ballistic missiles hit the first Regiment in Dhahran Aljanob city in Saudi southern region of Asir, killing dozens of Saudi soldiers, including the regiment commander," Xinhua news agency quoted Houthi military Spokesman Yehya Sarea as saying in a statement.

Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported earlier on WEdnesday that "the Saudi forces intercepted and destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi militia from Yemen towards the Asir region".

Also, the spokesman of the Yemeni Houthi militia claimed other four ballistic missile attacks on three Yemeni government military bases inside Yemen.

Two ballistic missiles hit a military base in Taiz province and two other missiles hit two bases in Marib province.

Cross-border missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthi militia on the Saudi cities have escalated since February when the group began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib.

Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 : The legislators belonging to the opposition Congress-led UDF on Thursday reached the Assembly on bicycles to register their protest against the Pinarayi Vijayan government for not reducing taxes on petroleum products.

Following the reduction done by the Centre, petrol price per litre came down by Rs 12.27 while diesel price fell by Rs 6.30 and the average price of one litre petrol in the state was Rs 103.80 and diesel stood at Rs 91.59, while in neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, their respective governments decided to reduce the state's portion in the tax component.

The Center's 'Diwali gift' came on November 4, but Kerala Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal ruled out further reduction in the taxes. He said that it was the Centre which had raised the taxes, while the state government never increased them, and hence Kerala was not duty bound to reduce tax.

On Thursday morning more than a dozen legislators from the Congress party and its allies cycled through the roads followed by a battery of press photographers.

"Both the Centre and the state have been taking on the people on account of the fuel prices. We have been for long demanding the State government to come to the rescue of the people. Other prices are spiralling on account of the rising fuel rates and the state government is a silent spectator. We will continue our protest against the state government for their callous attitude," said Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, who led the cyclists.

On the floor of the House also the Opposition took up this issue.
Auckland, Nov 11 : Students in classes 1-10 in New Zealand's Auckland city and the Waikato region can return to in-person leadering in schools from November 17, Education Minister Chris Hipkins said.

"Lockdowns can be stressful for children and young people, so returning to some on-site learning will mean they can reconnect with their teachers and friends," Hipkins told a press conference.

This will provide certainty ahead of the Christmas break and before the new school year starts, Xinhua news agency quoted the Minister as saying.

Measures to help minimise the risk of Covid transmission will include mandatory wearing of masks from class 4 up in most cases, ventilating classrooms, limiting the number of students on site, and maintaining distance from each other among groups of children, Hipkins said.

Each school will decide what works best for their learners and their community. That might be by alternating days or half weeks, he said.

"It is clear that the risk of reopening schools is outweighed by the benefits of kids re-engaging with their learning face-to-face in this context," the Minister said.

"With really strong vaccination rates, the balance of risk has shifted," he said, adding as vaccinations rates increase, including the requirement for teachers to have at least one Covid-19 vaccination from November 15, the risk to children and students is lowered.

Auckland, the country's largest city, and the nearby Waikato region have been the centre of New Zealand's latest community outbreak of Covid-19 fuelled by the Delta variant since mid-August.

The country reported 147 new Delta variant cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 7,922, while the death toll stood at 32.

Among the new infections, 131 were recorded in Auckland, 14 in Waikato and two in Northland, according to the Ministry of Health.

On Wednesday, Auckland opened shops and allowed outside gatherings up to 25 people in further easing of restrictions.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Microsoft and Meta have collaborated to integrate video chat app Teams and Facebook's Workplace that will be available to companies next year at no extra cost.

The integration between Workplace and Teams will give employees access to content from Workplace within Teams without having to switch back and forth between the two apps.

"This will make it even easier for employees to stay up to date with important information, and will open up more opportunities for company-wide feedback and engagement," Meta said in a statement late on Wednesday.

Through a pinned tab in Teams, workers can access Workplace content, including a condensed version of the Workplace news feed, without having to switch between apps. They can react to and comment on Workplace posts in Teams too.

"We have a shared vision of offering our customers choice and flexibility, so it made sense for us to come together to help our mutual customers unlock collaboration and break down silos within their organisations," said Jeff Teper, CVP Product and Engineering, Microsoft Teams.

In addition, Teams will be available on Meta Portal products in December and People will be able to use the devices for Teams video calls.

Office 365 tools such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint are already available on Workplace, as are SharePoint and OneDrive.

Facebook Workplace is also integrated into the Azure Active Directory.
Seoul, Nov 11 : A US diplomat fled into the Yongsan Garrison after allegedly hitting a taxi from behind while driving in Seoul earlier this week and has since been refusing to cooperate with a police investigation, officials said on Thursday.

The diplomat, whose identity is not known, was suspected of rear-ending the taxi's bumper while changing lanes near the Namsan No. 3 tunnel in central Seoul at 5.35 p.m. Wednesday, but left the site without stopping to deal with the accident, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The taxi's driver chased the diplomat's car to Yongsan Garrison Gate 3.

Police also arrived at the gate and tried to identify the diplomat, but the diplomat and three other passengers refused to cooperate with all police requests, including a breathalyzer test, without even opening a window of the car and entered the base, officials said.

The base is off limits to police, and the diplomat could not be apprehended due to diplomatic immunity.

Police said they sent a request to the US Embassy on Thursday asking for its cooperation with the case.

"We plan to decide on the charges after seeing the statement of the US diplomat," a police official said.
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 11 : A young Kerala mother, Anupama, on Thursday began an indefinite protest before the office of the Kerala State Child Welfare Council here, demanding the removal of the top office-bearers of the Council and the Child Welfare Committee, who she alleged are behind the handing over of her baby to adoptive parents.

Anupama has been fighting to get back her child allegedly given away to adoptive parents.

She told the media that all her pleas to authorities have fallen on deaf ears and there has been no further action by the Council and the Committee.

"We seek the removal of the top office-bearer's of these two organisations. I did meet the State Minister for Women and Children, Veena George and she said to me that I should not be prejudiced, but I now find that the authorities are prejudiced.

"Even when the ongoing probe is currently on, how can the top office-bearers of these two organisations continue in their posts. The demand for a DNA test has been hanging fire for long. We seek justice and hence I decided to launch a protest," said Anupama.

On Wednesday the young couple asked the state government to take custody of their child from the adoptive parents who are in Andhra Pradesh and they fear the child might be taken out of the country.

She said that the state government can keep the baby in its custody till the present court case is completed.

Twenty-two-year-old SFI activist Anupama, granddaughter of one of the topmost yesteryear CPI-M leaders in the state capital, and her husband Ajith -- approached the State Police chief and the Child Welfare Committee in this regard.

The couple was forced to approach the media, after their pleas to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the state police chief, their party leaders and several other agencies went in vain. It was only after the media took up the case, that the government and the police began to act.

According to sources, the Child Welfare Committee had allegedly given away the baby boy of the couple to an Andhra Pradesh couple for adoption last year.

Soon after the media hype, a family court in the state capital put a stop to further proceedings of formalising the adoption.

Last week, Anupama had threatened that if things do not move fast, she will have to launch a protest to get justice and hence decided to start it from Thursday.
Tehran, Nov 11 : Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that the upcoming Vienna talks on the 2015 nuclear talks must focus on the lifting of the sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

"Just let me insist on this: we are not holding nuclear talks, since the nuclear issue was fully agreed in 2015, in the form of the agreement between Iran and the P5+1," Bagheri Kani told local media after his meeting with Philippe Errera, a senior French official, in Paris.

The main issue to be discussed is the consequences of the US abandonment of the 2015 agreement, formally known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), said the Deputy Minister, who is also Iran's senior negotiator in charge of the Vienna talks, reports Xinhua news agency.

Those consequences are limited to "the illegal sanctions" against Iran only, he added.

The Iranian official said he was hopeful that the way for successful talks can be paved in his scheduled meetings with officials from several European countries this week.

Speaking about his meeting with Errera, director-general for political affairs and security at the French Foreign ministry, Bagheri Kani said it was "detailed, frank, serious, constructive and forward-looking".

The Iranian negotiator noted France's potential positive role concerning the JCPOA and other international matters in the coming months, as the country will take on the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2022.

After France, Bagheri Kani was expected to meet German officials in Berlin soon.

The JCPOA Joint Commission is scheduled to reconvene in Austria's capital Vienna on Nov 29, with the participation of delegates from China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and Iran.

The US, which pulled out of the international agreement in May 2018 under former President Donald Trump, is expected to engage in the talks indirectly.
Bhopal, Nov 11 : The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has claimed to have uncovered an alleged conversion racket wherein Hindu girls were being converted in a Christian Missionary Girls Hostel in Madhya Pradesh.

A delegation of NCPCR led by its Chairman Priyank Kanoongo had conducted a surprise inspection at the hostel located in a village under Raisen district in Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday.

During the investigation, NCPCR claimed it found that 15-20 Hindu girls from Schedule Tribes (ST) were staying in the hostel. These girls belong to the Schedule Tribe community who have been brought in Christian Missionary Hostel in the name of providing education.

"We were informed that these girls were brought to provide better education but the fact is that there is no school building in its campus. We have also come to know that these girls were brought for some special purposes and they are being trained here," said the Chairman of NCPCR.

During the investigation, it also found that many girls have been brought from the Northeast. However, when questioned about the purpose of keeping the Hindu girls in hostel and how they were brought from Northeast, the Missionary Hostel head could give a justified answer, said the NCPCR official.

The NCPCR team also found Bible, books and other material related to the Christian Missionary from the girl's rooms, and nothing was related to the school education.

Subsequently, NCPCR wrote to the Raisen district administration and Madhya Pradesh government on this and recommended action in the matter.

"I have asked the district administration to take these girls to their homes. It is unethical and against the rights of the children. Strict action should be taken against those involved in the matter," Kanoongo said.
Houston, Nov 11 : More than 70,000 people have died from Covid-19 in the US state of Texas, where a deadly third wave of the pandemic is finally showing signs of easing, local media reported.

As of Monday, 2,755 Texans were hospitalized for the coronavirus, down 578 from a week ago, Xinhua news agency quoted a report by the Texas Tribune as saying on Wednesday.

As many as 4,057 new confirmed cases and 1,302 new probable cases were reported on Tuesday, said the report, citing daily data from the Texas Department of State Health Services to track coronavirus vaccinations, cases, hospitalisations and deaths.

Till date, 53.5 per cent of Texans were fully vaccinated, the report added, noting that unvaccinated people made up the vast majority of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the state this year.

Texas collects data from vaccine providers, city and county health departments, hospitals and laboratories.

The data may not represent all cases of the disease given limited testing.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Hyderabad, Nov 11 : A 20-year-old woman was stabbed 18 times by her lover in LB Nagar area of Hyderabad's outskirts after she got engaged to another man earlier this year.

The victim, who suffered the stab injuries on Wednesday night, is now undergoing treatment at a private hospital, where her condition continues to be critical.

According to police, the accused, Baswa Raj, 23, was in relationship with the victim but bore a grudge after she got engaged to another man.

On Wednesday, Baswa Raj went to the victim's uncle's house in Hastinapuram, where she was staying, to meet her one last time. However, when they met, an argument broke out between them during which he attacked the victim with a vegetable knife and escaped.

The victim received 18 stab injuries on her hand, neck and back. The locals rushed her to a private hospital, the police officials said.

Baswa Raj has been booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

According to LB Nagar police inspector Ashok Reddy, the victim's statement was recorded by a magistrate.

She and Baswa Raj are from Daultabad area of Vikarabad district. They were reportedly in a relationship for last the three years but their families were not in favour of their marriage.

The girl was engaged to another man in February this year. The accused, however, tried to continue relationship with her, the police said.
United Nations, Nov 11 : The Ethiopian government has detained at least 70 truckers contracted to the UN and a number of international non-governmental organizations hauling aid cargo into the conflict-hit Tigray region, a spokesman of the world body said.

The truck drivers were detained in Semera, Afar region, which borders Tigray and the circumstances of their detention were unknown, and the trucks are secured, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"We are calling for their release. One can only imagine the impact of detaining 70 truckers who are driving trucks that are filled with desperately needed humanitarian goods," Dujarric said.

"It sure doesn't help the humanitarian situation. Those trucks are not moving and we desperately need them to move." Nine Ethiopian nationals who were working with the UN remained detained by the Ethiopian government on Wednesday, said Dujarric.

He said on Tuesday that 16 UN national staff members were detained, reports Xinhua news agency.

The spokesman did not explain the discrepancy from Tuesday.

"I want to get exact numbers, and I know you deserve exact numbers. The challenge is one of communications. We're also trying to determine the exact status of some of the people that have been detained," he told reporters.

The UN has not received any official explanation for the detentions, the spokesman said.

Earlier in the week, published accounts said the Ethiopian government began detaining ethnic Tigrayans following reports of the Tigray People's Liberation Front and the Oromo Liberation Army rebels joining together and heading toward Ethiopia's capital of Addis Ababa.
Mumbai, Nov 11 : Nationalist Congress Party Minister Nawab Malik on Thursday dismissed the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party's charges that he was waging a "solitary battle" without anybody from the Maha Vikas Aghadi government backing him.

"I am not alone... Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP President Sharad Pawar, all ministers, the government and the party are standing solidly behind me," Malik told mediapersons.

This assertion came a day after the state cabinet presided over by Thackeray lauded Malik's six-week long ongoing war in which he has exposed alleged acts of the Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, the BJP leaders and related issues.

"I may be fighting alone...But I have the full backing and blessings of all the top leaders that gives me the strength... I have taken up this responsibility to cleanse up certain things and will continue," Malik declared.

In the past nearly six weeks, Malik has made a series of shocking exposures on Wankhede, the "farzi" (fraudulent) rave party raids aboard a cruise ship on October 2, how Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was allegedly "trapped and kidnapped" for extortion, a syndicate in the NCB led by Wankhede along with BJP activists.

It spilled over to the alleged underworld connection charges hurled at each other by Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis and Malik.

Fadnavis raked up an old land transaction from Kurla which he contended was Malik's business links with the underworld.

Malik hit back with revelations on Fadnavis' alleged doings that enabled a mafia-linked person to attend an event of the Prime Minister and even click pictures, shielding shady persons involved in crimes like fake currency notes or bringing Bangladeshis to Mumbai or terrorising people in Nagpur by rewarding them with minister-rank posts.

Fadnavis shot out a tweet quoting George Bernard Shaw: "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it!" Malik retorted saying "it's the culture of the BJP to give animal titles to people" as they have no respect for human beings.
Seoul, Nov 11 : South Korea and Russia on Thursday agreed to establish direct bilateral military hotlines to strengthen their communication to prevent accidental clashes at sea and in the air, the Defence Ministry in Seoul said.

Kim Sang-jin, the Ministry's director general for international policy, and Viktor Kalganov, deputy director of Russia's National Defense Control Center, signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to set up the hotline between the two countries' Navies and another between their Air Forces, reports Yonhap News Agency.

The two countries have sought to deepen bilateral communication, as Russian military aircraft had entered South Korea's air defence identification zone multiple times in the past without prior notice, raising concerns about needless military tensions between the two countries.

"Through this MOU, we expect that the two countries can forestall accidental clashes in the air and at sea by strengthening trust and communication between the military authorities of South Korea and Russia," the Ministry said in a press release.

"It is also expected to contribute to a reduction of tensions and the establishment of peace in the region," it added.

One of the two hotlines is to be established for communication between South Korea's ROK Fleet Command and Russia's Pacific Fleet, while the other connects the Korean Air Force's First Master Control and Reporting Centre and Russia's 11th Air and Air Defence Forces Army.

ROK stands for South Korea's official name, Republic of Korea.
Hyderabad, Nov 11 : Prohibition and Excise department of Telangana on Thursday seized ganja (marijuana) estimated to be worth Rs 1 crore in Medchal district near Hyderabad.

An official said 462 kg ganja being transported in two cars was seized near Kowkur in Jawahar Nagar and four persons were arrested.

Medchal district excise deputy commissioner David Ravikant told reporters that the contraband was seized when it was being transported from Andhra-Odisha border area to Maharashtra.

Those arrested have been identified as Mohammed Fareed, Ismail, Sachin Chawan and Baswa Raju. He said they registered a case and took up further investigation.

This is the latest in the series of seizure of ganja and other drugs by the excise and police in and around Hyderabad during the last few days.

The department launched an intensive campaign to curb the drug menace on the direction of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao last month.

The excise officials had seized 4.92 kg Mephedrone drug from three different places in Medchal Malkajgiri district on October 23.

On October 30, two drug peddlers were arrested and 110 kg of ganja was seized from their possession in LB Nagar. The contraband, estimated to be valued at Rs 18.50 lakh, was being transported from the agency area in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh to Nagpur via Hyderabad.

Earlier, about 72 kg ganja was seized and four persons were arrested by police in two different raids in Hyderabad Police Commissionerate limits.

Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda Police, which cover Hyderabad and suburbs, are carrying out a special drive against narcotics.
Amaravati, Nov 11 : Undaunted by heavy rains caused by the cyclonic conditions in the Bay of Bengal, protesting farmers and women of the Amaravati region continued their 'Maha Padayatra' for the 11th day on Thursday.

Bearing umbrellas and raincoats, the protesters set off amidst heavy rain from Nagulappapadu in Prakasam district. However, farmers alleged that police have barricaded their path and are not allowing sympathisers to meet them.

Earlier, the protesters lodged under flimsy, temporary shelters, had to suffer from rain fury through the night. But they remained firm in their plans to continue the protest march.

Billed as 'court to temple march', the 45-day walkathon from Amaravati to Tirupati aims to force the state government to revert to the single capital city formula under which Amaravati remains Andhra Pradesh's sole capital.

Farmers and other residents of Amaravati villages have been demanding that Amaravati be retained as the only State capital.

The present state government headed by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has opted for a 3-capital city model under which the legislature is located in Amaravati while executive and judicial arms are headquartered in Visakhapatnam, and Kurnool respectively.

The opposition parties are extending support to the 'Maha Padyatra'. YSRCP has described the foot march as a ploy by TDP president and leader of opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu.

With 'Maha Padyatra' the agitation by Amaravati farmers entered a new phase. They have been continuing their campaign for more than 650 days to protest against the State government's plans for trifurcation of the State Capital.

Amaravati Parirakshana Samithi and Amaravati Joint Action Committee (JAC) are organising the foot march. The participants walk 10-15 km every day over 45 days to reach Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala.

Passing through the districts of Gunturu, Prakasam, Nellore, and Chittoor, the protest march will cover 70 major villages before culminating on December 15, at the temple city of Tirupati.
Kathmandu, Nov 11 : A motorcycle rally from Pashupatinath to Kashi Vishwanath was jointly flagged off on Thursday by Nepal's Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale and Ambassador of India Vinay Mohan Kwatra.

Nearly 50 Indian and Nepali motorcycle enthusiasts are participating in the rally which is aimed at showcasing the people-to-people connection between India and Nepal and further strengthening mutual cultural relations.

It is also intended to increase awareness among the youth about the shared religious and cultural heritage of the neighbouring nations.

Minister Ale spoke about the age-old cultural heritage and civilisational links between India and Nepal and wished the participants success in their journey.

The Ambassador of India, in his remarks, spoke about the special association between Kathmandu and Kashi and the role played by the two ancient temples - Pashupatinath and Kashi Vishwanath - in bringing people of the two countries together.

Ambassador Kwatra also urged the youth of India and Nepal to cherish and preserve this shared cultural wealth.

Chief Priest of Pashupatinath Temple blessed the participants before they set out on this journey.

The participants of the rally will arrive at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi on Saturday and and offer 'Swachchata Shramdan' at Dashashvamedha ghat to spread the message of cleanliness.

During the journey, the rally would also cross several historically important places: Motihari - where Mahatma Gandhi launched 'Champaran Satyagraha' during India's freedom struggl,; Sarnath - the city where Mahatma Buddha delivered his first sermon; and Gorakhnath Math - a temple highly revered and visited by people from both India and Nepal.

The snippets from the journey can be followed on Embassy's social media handles.

The rally is organised by the Embassy of India, Kathmandu in collaboration with Royal Enfield Kathmandu as part of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', an initiative of the government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independent India and the history of the remarkable progress of its people.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Pakistans Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has said that the engagement with the Taliban's Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) government must continue in order to help consolidate peace and stability, Ariana News reported.

Addressing a Troika Plus meeting in Islamabad on Thursday on the crisis in Afghanistan, Qureshi said currently the group of four nations, US, China, Russia, and Pakistan, has assumed greater significance and has a critical role to play.

According to him, the Troika Plus is confident that their engagement with the IEA government will "help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development, and help constrict space for terrorist groups" operating in Afghanistan, the report said.

"No one wishes to see a relapse into civil war; no one wants an economic collapse that will spur instability; everyone wants terrorist elements that are operating inside Afghanistan to be tackled effectively. And we all want to prevent a new refugee crisis," he said, adding that all regional countries have concerns and a shared interest in the country's peace and stability.

He noted that the country's economic situation was on the verge of collapse and that it is imperative that the international community provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Afghans.

He also said, "health, education and municipal services require urgent attention".

Enabling Afghanistan to access its frozen funds will link in with the Troika Plus' 'efforts to regenerate economic activities and move the economy towards stability and sustainability'.

The group previously met in Qatar in August to discuss political solutions to the conflict during the IEA's takeover of Afghanistan, the report added.
Wellington, Nov 11 : Food prices in New Zealand fell 0.9 per cent in October compared with the previous month, mainly influenced by lower prices for fruit and vegetables, non-alcoholic beverages, and meat, poultry, and fish, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Thursday.

October's movement was the first monthly fall since February 2021, when prices also fell 0.9 per cent, Xinhua news agency quoted the department as saying.

Fruit and vegetable prices fell 5.9 per cent in October, with lower prices for tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, capsicums and cucumbers. These falls were partly offset by rising prices for kiwifruit, broccoli and carrots, it said.

Although the weighted average price of tomatoes was down from the price in September, tomato prices are still 47 per cent higher than they were in October 2020, consumer prices manager Katrina Dewbery said.

Lettuce, capsicum, and cucumber prices were also all higher than they were in October last year, Dewbery said.

Meat, poultry, and fish prices fell 0.4 per cent in October, with lower prices for chicken pieces and roasting pork, she said.

These falls were partly offset by restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food prices. Grocery food prices were flat, she said.

Annually, food prices increased 3.7 per cent in October 2021, mainly due to higher prices for restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food, fruit and vegetables, and grocery food, the statistics showed.

October's annual movement was slightly lower than September's 4 per cent increase, but still higher than the average annual increase over the last year of 2.3 per cent, Dewbery said.
Sydney, Nov 11 : Motorists across the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have been warned on Thursday to stay off the roads due to severe weather forecasts and flood warnings.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said some parts of the state "will receive a month's worth of rain in the next three days", reports Xinhua news agency.

"If you are in an area affected by the wild weather, avoid unnecessary travel and never drive through floodwaters," he said.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) also issued a warning on Wednesday, forecasting widespread rainfall across NSW and intense rainfall in northern and central parts of the state which could lead to flash flooding.

"This is going to be the most widespread and heavy rainfall event we've seen so far heading into summer," BOM senior meteorologist Jonathan How told national broadcaster ABC.

Toole said that crews would be dispatched to manage the safety of the state's road network.

"We're mobilizing crews to be on standby and ready to respond in areas of most concern to help divert traffic, place signs, inspect assets and carry out a range of other activities to keep people safe and minimize inconvenience," said Toole.

State Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said NSW's State Emergency Service (SES) has already begun responding to an increased number of emergency call outs.

The extreme weather system has been forecast to last into the weekend.
Chennai, Nov 11 : Heavy showers for the past few days in Tamil Nadu have inundated around 55,000 hectares of land, of which, crops in 3,500 hectares have been destroyed.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran while speaking to IANS, said: "Around 3500 hectares of crop has been damaged and this will affect us. However, we have to study in detail to arrive at the total loss and how it will impact the farmers. Compensation and other factors would be decided in the coming days once the rain and winds settle down." With the huge volume of crops destroyed by heavy rains, the vegetable supply to neighbouring states like Kerala has also been jeopardised.

Sources from Tamil Nadu farmers association told IANS: "There is a dip in supply of vegetables to Kerala and according to a rough estimate the supply has been affected by more than 60 per cent. How these losses can be recovered is a million-dollar question." The Tamil Nadu farmers who were looking to recoup losses after the second wave of the Covid pandemic, are now staring at an uncertain future.

Talking to IANS, Secretary of vegetable farmers association in Chengalpattu, Selva Ganapathy, said: "The farmers of Tamil Nadu were slowly looking up after the pandemic but now the sudden rains have thrashed all our expectations. We are now staring at huge debts and don't know when we will get some meager compensation. The Revenue Minister has already stated that the government would assess the damage to the crops after the rains settle down and we are expecting that the government would compensate us in a better manner." Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has announced that his government would support and take care of all the people who have been impacted by the torrential rain.
Kathmandu, Nov 11 : Nepal on Thursday began the once in a decade census with the collection of personal data and information. But officials in Kathmandu were in a fix whether over conducting the survey in the disputed territories with India like Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura.

The former KP Sharma Oli government last year issued a new map incorporating the disputed territories with India that pushed bilateral ties to an all-time low.

This emerged as a major irritant in the Nepal-India relations, with Delhi calling Kathamndu's decision to publish the new map a cartographic assertion.

Nepal's move was prompted by India's announcement that it was building a road link to Kailash Manasarovar in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China via Lipulekh.

The new map was adopted by Parliament through a constitutional amendment. Officials have been wondering for quite a while about how to conduct a census in the region, not because it is remote but because it is controlled by India.

Now there were calls from several quarters to conduct the census in Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura area but officials are still in a fix.

"We are looking forward to using the satellite technology to collect necessary information of the people residing in Kalapani, Lipulek, and Limpiyadhura for the 12th National Population and Household Census," Director General of Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Nabin Lal Shrestha said.

"We have made a request with India through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conduct the census in those three areas," he said, adding that as of now no permission has been granted from the Indian side.

Nepal has been claiming that its boundary to the west-north begins from Limpiyadhura where the river Mahakali originates. In Kalapani, it is currently occupied by the Indian troops and Lipulehk is the tri-juncture between Nepal, India, and China.

The CBS said the government is holding talks with the Indian authorities to carry out the population census of the region.

According to the Bureau, the authority has been considering using satellite means to take the data of households residing in the region.

Shrestha said that the CBS cannot send enumerators to the Kalapani region without talks with India, as it continues to control the area, even though Nepal claims the territory as its own.

Also, since there is no direct road link connecting the region with the rest of the country, people can reach the area via India.

Officials say that the bureau has already collected the data on the population in the region based on India's 2011 census, according to which, there are 363 people in Kuti, 78 in Nabi, and 335 in Gunji -the three villages in the region.

CBS officials say they will wait for a response from the Foreign Ministry with regard to their request for diplomatic initiatives with India.

Since India has been nonchalant of late with regards to Nepal's diplomatic requests, it is not clear whether Delhi would respond.

When New Delhi published a new map in November 2019 to update its political map after detailing the boundaries of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, it had shown the Kalapani region within Indian borders.

The new map was unveiled after the Indian government on August 5, 2019 rescinded the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, paving the way for the creation of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Nepal's attempts to hold diplomatic dialogue to resolve the issue went unanswered by India.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 11 : A study room plays a huge role in the lives of students. Students grow and nurture themselves in these rooms, and thus, the study room must be customized according to their needs. It should be filled with comfort and inspiration. It must have all the things they love and dream of along with their books.

It is important to design the study rooms to give them a comfortable look yet focused surroundings. Nowadays, a minimalist yet organized lifestyle is encouraged, a Kate Spade-themed study room is perfect start. Also, it will add a chic touch to your study routine.

Learn to mix and match using this guide to create a Kate Spade-inspired study room.

Polka Dot Walls Polka dots are still a hit and the brand has made it even chicer with other combinations. It gives a designer touch to your room and will be a perfect display wall for all your books.

Funky Lamps Lamps add to the charm of a study room. It gives the "serious student" vibes you need to get in the right mindset. Make it more enjoyable by adding funky lamps or vintage lamps here and there to create a warm but serious ambience. Lamps enhance the look of a room a thousand times over and are highly recommended.

Black And White Striped Carpet Want to keep your room clean but make it chic? Carpet is the answer! Make your room look no less than a highly designed study by adding a black and white carpet under your chair. Surprisingly, carpets make your room look more organized and fashionable. Polka dot walls go really well with striped carpets according to Kate Spade.

Personalized Decorative Items The brands decorative items often give happy-go-lucky vibes and adding such items to your room will motivate you to do better every day. There are days when you might not want to work or study and your eyes may often wander around. This is the time when decorative items do their magic. Arrange your decorative items in a way that will motivate you and will strengthen your will to study hard.

Don't Be Afraid Of Color Combinations Sometimes, creating colour combinations might terrify you if you're not good with colours. Don't worry, trust yourself. After all, it's your study room. It should scream 'you' and nothing else. If it comes out as messy, you can always convert it into a style statement. Nobody has the right to judge you. But if you want to play safe, you can go for some already established, Kate Spade-inspired colour combinations to make your statement.

Details Are Important You can never go wrong with more details, whether you are or aren't minimalist. A tiny money plant peeking at you from the corner of your room might make your day better, or a tiny Buddha statue might motivate you to meditate before you start studying. Make the tiny spaces count. Add details to every nook and corner to make it yours. Make sure every little thing in your study room inspires you and drives you towards your goals.

You can never go wrong with a Kate spade theme, and by adding your own touch, you can make it even more beautiful. Always be true to yourself and make your room reflect who you are. Fill your room with positive vibes and watch as you grow in it. Kate spade themes are chic, funky, and trendy, which will make you feel in sync with the whole world, yet give you the peace of solitude in your own study room.

With time, you can switch to different carpets, colour combinations, decorative items, or add upgrades. Try other themes alongside Kate Spade to find your own style.

(Nitin Gagneja is the Founder of Flying Vertex Studio.)
Kabul, Nov 11 : The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan has brought with it a different set of rules and way of life for its locals, which is being questioned and criticized globally. The hardline history of the previous Taliban rule, rights to women, basic rights to the citizens and utilization of Afghan soil for terrorism, are some of the many points of serious concern, that have stopped any country from officially recognizing the Taliban rule.

While the Taliban rule in Afghanistan has shrouded the future of the country's citizens; the new rule has come as a sigh of relief and a hope of life for hundreds of villagers, who have witnessed the brunt of air strikes, gun battles and funerals.

The Taliban takeover, for these villagers, particularly from the urban middle class, has been rejoiced as it brings with it, an end to the ongoing airstrikes and gun battles, making their villages as a frontline fighting point in the past.

In Dastan, a remote farming village, situated in the north of Balkh province, residents have not seen international aids, workers or dignitaries coming to their help. However, the village has certainly seen gun battles, air strikes, corruption and loss of lives of their loved ones. For them, Taliban takeover will end the fighting, loss of lives of their family members and corruption.

"I would give everything to the Taliban," said Maky, an elderly resident of Dastan.

"Now, there is no sound of shooting. The war is over and we are happy with the Taliban." Another elderly resident of the village, Hajifat Khan, celebrates the Taliban victory by putting colourful flags and trinkets on the graves of the Taliban fighters, who died fighting from Dastan in the past.

"The men and women of this village are Taliban supporters, young and old. Now, Im satisfied. Now there are no infidels," he said adding that Dastan used to be a thriving community, but shrunk due to relocation of may families, who suffered to fighting and poverty.

Hajifat said that many families of his village and many others lost their loved ones, young and old in attacks by the Taliban insurgents and air strikes by US-led forces, whose target would rarely be in major cities and would primarily be focused on rural areas.

"I was against both of them because I wanted peace," said Mohammad Nasir, a young resident of Dastan village.

"I have grown up seeing a war raged against us. I have seen funerals. I have heard and witnessed deadly airstrikes. I have witnessed deadly terror attacks. At least now, we know we have to fight against poverty. At least no one is coming to kill us. I am happy Taliban have taken over," he added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Chandigarh, Nov 11 : Rejecting the Punjab government resolution moved in the Vidhan Sabha on Thursday against the proposed move of the Centre to extend the operational jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) from 15 km to 50 km, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh asked the state government not to politicise the issue of national security for petty partisans ends and motives.

"The operational jurisdiction of the BSF concerns national security and not the law and order in the state, which the current powers that be in Punjab are apparently not able to understand," he remarked in a statement here.

Amarinder Singh said it was sad that the government was trying to politicize an issue, which concerns national security and concerns all border states, including Punjab.

He pointed out that it is not only Punjab, but the states like Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal and others where the BSF jurisdiction is 50 kms inside the international border.

Moreover, he added, with Pakistan using sophisticated technology and highly improvised drones with a range of as much as 30 km, it is important that the BSF gets more operational jurisdiction.

"Extending the operational jurisdiction of the BSF neither infringes upon the federal authority of the state, nor questions the competence of the state police in maintaining law and order, as some vested political interests are trying to make out," Amarinder Singh remarked.

The former Chief Minister also made it clear that there is a huge difference between the law and order and national security. "Unfortunately people playing up the issue are unable to make out the difference between the law and order and the national security," he observed, while pointing out "the BSF like Punjab Police is our own force and not any external or foreign force coming to occupy our land".

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
November 11 : Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa are rumoured to be tying the knot today in Chandigarh. However, the actors have not commented on this. While fans are waiting eagerly to get a glimpse of the wedding, Patralekhaa's sister Parnalekha has shared a video of on her Instagram stories and captioned it as Intimate footage of me from PatRaj wedding.

In the video, someone disguised as a gorilla can be seen singing and dancing to the song, Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai, while wearing a yellow dupatta. While fans found the video hilarious, it was discovered that it was not Parnalekha who was dancing dressed in a gorilla costume. It was actually Rakhi Sawant, who was singing and dancing to Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai in the gorilla costume, with a yellow dupatta around her shoulders. Parnalekha has reposted the video on her Instagram stories.

Rajkummar Rao is rumoured to marry his long-time girlfriend and actress Patralekhaa in an intimate ceremony in Chandigarh today. However, some reports suggested that they have tied the knot on Wednesday.

Reportedly Rajkummar and Patralekhaa will tie the knot at an intimate ceremony in the presence of their close family members and friends. Some selected friends from the film industry will reportedly be present at the wedding. Other reports suggest that the couple will marry in a three-day weddingNovember 10, 11, and 12. Rumours also suggest that Rajkummar and Patralekhaa will exchange vows in a traditional ceremony in Jaipur.

Rajkummar and Patralekhaa have been dating for over a decade now. They had worked together in Hansal Mehta's CityLights. It is also reported that Rajkummar has something special planned for his wife-to-be. The Roohi actor has planned to gift something special to Patralekhaa on their wedding. The actor has been writing letters to his girlfriend for many years, and some have not even sent to her. The actor wants to give her these letters on their wedding day.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Patralekhaa made her Bollywood debut in the film CityLights. She has also featured in films like Love Games, Badnaam Gali and Nanu Ki Jaanu. On the other hand, Rajkummar Rao was last seen with Kriti Sanon in the film Hum Do Humare Do. The actor will next be seen in Badhaai Do with Bhumi Pednekar, and Monica, O My Darling alongside Huma Qureshi, Radhika Apte, and Sikandar Kher. He also has Hit: The First Case in the pipeline.
Chennai, Nov 11 : Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Thursday spoke to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and took stock of the rescue and relief operations undertaken by the state government in Chennai and other parts of the state.

An official statement from the Rajbhavan on Thursday said that the Governor also spoke to the Director-General of National Disaster and Response Force (NDRF) S.N. Pradhan on the rescue and relief operations undertaken in the state.

The Governor also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for their support in the relief and rescue operations and mitigating measures for the flood-affected areas of the state.

The NDRF has already deployed 14 battalions for rescue operations in the state while the SDRF has eight companies deployed in the flood-affected areas and waterlogged areas.
Sydney, Nov 11 : A total of 71.1 per cent of the population aged 12-15 in Australia's state of New South Wales (NSW) have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, while 90.4 per cent of those aged 16 and over have done so, according to figures released by NSW Health on Thursday.

However, as vaccination rates in the state soared, the youngest community members remained susceptible, reports Xinhua news agency.

Local newspaper Sydney Morning Herald reported on Thursday that more than 270 NSW schools and 300 childcare centers had been closed due to Covid-19 cases during the past month.

Schools notified of a case usually close for up to two days to allow time for cleaning and contact tracing of the disease.

Last week, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews expressed optimism about having children in the age group of 5-11 vaccinated this year.

But some immunization experts called for caution before the nation's regulatory authority, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), greenlights such a move, citing more complex balance of risks and benefits of vaccination in children than in adults.

On Thursday, NSW recorded 261 new locally acquired cases, three new cases from overseas and one related death in the past 24 hours.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Adding India to the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing club would hurt US-Pakistan relations as Islamabad tries to coordinate a regional response to a growing Afghanistan terror threat, Defense One reported citing a senior Pakistani official as saying.

"It's a recipe for a new Cold War, a recipe for a new divide, and if you are going to have that, the lines will be drawn," Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who leads the Senate Defence Committee, told reporters at a private event, the report said.

Sayed was responding to a question about proposed legislation in the US Senate that would order the Pentagon to look at adding India and several other Asia-Pacific countries to the decades-old intel-sharing agreement between Australia, the UK Canada, New Zealand, and the US.

He stopped short of saying that if India ultimately joined the Five Eyes group, Pakistan would place new limits on what it shares with the US. But he said the move would hurt US-Pakistan ties, which could affect coordination on Afghanistan policy, the report said.

The US has asked Pakistan not to recognize the Taliban, Sayed said, and so Pakistan is taking its time and looking for a regional consensus on the issue of legitimising the new government in Kabul, bringing in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, Iran, and possibly others.

"Also, we are waiting to see what the (US) does," he said, the report added.

Sayed said US officials should view the Taliban of today as different from the one that American forces overthrew two decades ago.

"I feel they are chastened, more pragmatic. They know this is not the Afghanistan of the 1990s. They do not have a pan-Islamic perspective," he said.

Soon after the Taliban takeover, Sayed said, Pakistan began trying to coordinate a regional response to IS-K and other terror groups. On September 9, he said, Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency hosted "an unprecedented meeting" of the intelligence chiefs of neighbouring countries plus Russia.

"We all agreed on a common counter-terror strategy in concert with the new administration in Kabul. So it's a work in progress, but the (US) should be on board," he said, the report said.

He said IS-K militants threaten to cross the border into Pakistan, mount terror attacks, and retreat to Afghanistan.

"That's our main concern. It's a nightmare for us," he said.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at Sanjeev.s@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 11 : More than 12 crore people are due for their second Covid-19 vaccine shot in India, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday.

Of the total eligible adult population, only 79 per cent has got the first dose, while 38 per cent has received the second dose, he added.

Mandaviya made the observation during a meeting with health ministers of all states and union territories. He asked the ministers to ensure that all the adult population is covered with the first dose under the ongoing "Har Ghar Dastak" mega-vaccination drive, while those who are due for the second dose are also motivated.

The minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strategies for strengthening the campaign, including deploying "Prachar Toli" in villages to mobilise and counsell the eligible population regarding vaccination along with awareness campaigns. This would be followed by "Vaccination Toli" which would ensure that all eligible citizens are vaccinated with the first and second doses.

"Lets us ensure collectively through collaborative and multi-stakeholder efforts that no eligible citizen is left without the 'Suraksha Kawachh' of Covid-19 vaccine in the country. Let us reach out to every household across the country and motivate people to take both the doses under Prime Minister's Har Ghar Dastak campaign", Mandaviya said.

Mandaviya stressed on the strategies of multiple vaccination teams to ensure 100 per cent coverage in the targeted area in a time-bound manner, development of a ranking mechanism for identifying and facilitating the vaccination teams which administer the maximum number of vaccine doses every 24 hours, utilising local weekly "bazaars" and "haats" for creating awareness and providing vaccination services and collaborating with local religious and community leaders in the meeting.

Multimedia IEC awareness campaigns should be launched to effectively counter anti-vaccine rumours and emulate innovative approaches and practices followed by high coverage districts within the States/UTs for adoption of similar strategies to achieve the target.

Noting that children can be the best ambassadors for behaviour change, he urged the states to rope in children for taking forward the message of full vaccination. "Let the children motivate their parents and the other family members to take both the vaccine doses", he stated.

Mandaviya said that fight against Covid is not over, adding that, "The two weapons of vaccination and Covid Appropriate Behaviour will be our greatest defence against it and we should not let our guard down before it is completely over." Terming vaccination as 'Suraksha kawachh', he reiterated the call of Prime Minister, "Dawai bhi Kadai bhi!"

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bengaluru, Nov 11 : Fashion e-commerce giant Myntra on Thursday announced that search for the nation's most sought-after fashion influencer has begun with the launch of season 3 of the digital fashion reality show -- Myntra Fashion Superstar (MFS).

Viewers can watch the digital and fully shoppable reality fashion show in an 8-part series as this year's show promises to be bigger and better, showcasing glimpses of real-life instances of the contestants, set to engage with audiences across the country with the thought-provoking theme, titled 'I Wear My Story'.

"As it enters its third edition, Myntra Fashion Superstar is now the most awaited digital fashion reality show, especially by the social media-savvy and fashion-conscious youth of the nation, to watch and engage with some of their coequals as they rouse discussions on topics that are relevant, much-needed and entertaining," Achint Setia, VP and Business Head - Social Commerce, Myntra, said in a statement.

Myntra Fashion Superstar (MFS) will not only give digital influencers across the country a platform to display their creativity to the judges and viewers, but also an opportunity to alter mindsets and create a larger impact on the community.

Premiering on Myntra Studio via the Myntra app and Voot, the much-awaited digital reality show has an esteemed panel of judges featuring India's favourite influencers Kusha Kapila, Aashna Shroff, Ankush Bahuguna and Santu Misra, led by fashion doyen Manish Malhotra.

"We're excited about the collaboration with Myntra for the third edition of Myntra Fashion Superstar. Both Voot and Myntra have been at the forefront of shaping pop culture in India. As a brand that strongly resonates with the youth, our association with Myntra will allow us to leverage our combined strengths to ensure the show achieves significant reach and scale," said Chanpreet Arora, Head, AVOD (Voot), Viacom18 Digital Ventures.

MFS season 3 commences with 12 talented contestants who will battle it out for the coveted title of India's next big fashion influencer through eight, 45-minute episodes.

The contest has been designed to progressively eliminate contestants as the episodes advance until the grand finale where the judges handpick their favourite influencer to be crowned with the title of Myntra Fashion Superstar.

This season, the influencers will also engage the audience through interactive live vlogs, as opposed to only traditional static video diaries with sheer creativity at the forefront. In return, the jury gives 'likes' to score the influencers that determine their future in the show.

The theme 'I Wear My Story' is about revealing the actual person behind the persona.

In this digital world, most people hide behind camera tricks and forced transitions and often show the world unauthentic social media versions of themselves. 'I wear my story' is about staying true to one's self and expressing one's own journey in his or her own style, unfiltered and authentic, through fashion.

"It is about celebrating one's self for who the person is, with all their inherent shortcomings, struggles, and glories, articulated through innovative fashion and beauty content. The key ingredients to becoming an influencer with the potential to impact mindsets and drive conversations that matter within their community are what the judges are looking for this season," according to the company.

The 12 chosen contestants for MFS- season 3 come from varied backgrounds across the country, possess a distinct sense of style, and will be showcasing a myriad of talents.

The creators can be seen putting their best foot forward as they create exemplary content to win the judges over on the link https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWG2GQdBjY-/?utm_medium=share_sheet
Chennai, Nov 11 : The Airports Authority of India has suspended arrival of flights at Chennai airport till 6 p.m. but departures will function as usual.

Chennai airport Director Dr Sharad Kumar, in a statement, said that the decision was taken for the safety of the passengers.

A decision on whether the aircraft should be allowed to land will be taken after 5 p.m., he added.

Eleven flights from various destinations like Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkatta, Tiruchi, and Madurai have been diverted either to Bangaluru or to Hyderabad, as landing is difficult due to heavy winds.

Airport Authority sources told IANS that 13 flights have already been diverted.

As many as 444 neighbourhoods in Chennai have been flooded and a total of 11,817 complaints have been received at the Corporation helpline number 1913 and civic issues of 5,913 complaints have been resolved, a statement from the Greater Chennai Corporation said.

The Corporation has already distributed 2.9 lakh food packets to the residents. Woodcutting machines are used to remove several uprooted trees with over 160 trees were uprooted.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Amaravati, Nov 11 : The CBI on Thursday filed six more charge sheets against the accused in connection with derogatory social media posts against Judges and Judiciary of the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

With this, 11 charge sheets have been filed against as many accused arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case so far, a statement issued by the investigation agency said.

In the latest development, separate charge sheets have been filed against Sridhar Reddy Avuthu, Jalagam Venkata Satyanarayana, Guda Sridhar Reddy, Sreenath Suswaram, Kishore Kumar Darisa alias Kishore Reddy Darisa, and Sudduluri Ajay Amruth.

The CBI had earlier arrested five accused during the investigation and also filed five separate charge sheets against them.

Investigation against one more accused is in progress. His Youtube channel has also been blocked. Moreover, warrants of arrest have been taken in the names of two of the accused who are abroad from the competent courts in India and process for arresting them has been initiated through diplomatic channels, the statement noted.

The CBI is gathering information about the accused who are abroad by issuing Blue Notice through Interpol.

Action was also initiated by the CBI, after it had registered this case to get objectionable posts removed from the social media platforms, public domains and a lot of such posts/accounts were removed from internet.

During investigation, a total of 13 digital gadgets including mobiles, tablets were recovered.

The CBI collected call details records of as many as 53 mobile connections. Around 12 accused and 14 others were examined in the case. During examination, evidence from digital platform have also been collected using Digital Forensic Technique.

It moved through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) channel for gathering the information related to the Facebook profiles of the accused, Twitter accounts, Facebook posts, tweets, youtube videos from Facebook, Twitter, Google etc.

On November 11, 2020, the investigation agency had registered the case against 16 accused and taken over the investigation of 12 FIRs from Andhra Pradesh CID, as per the orders of High Court of Andhra Pradesh in Writ Petition No. 9166 of 2020.

The original FIRs were registered on the complaints from Registrar General of High Court of Andhra Pradesh. It was alleged that the key personnel occupying posts of prominence in the state by intentionally targeting the Judiciary, made derogatory posts on social media platform against judges and judiciary following some court verdicts delivered by the judges of the court.

Investigations are on.
San Francisco, Nov 11 : Chat platform Discord's founder and CEO Jason Citron sought to reassure users that the company does not have impending plans to shift its business toward non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

In a tweet earlier this week, Citron shared an image of crypto wallet MetaMask integrated into Discord's user interface with the text "probably nothing" -- shorthand language in the NFT space for something that is about to be a big deal.

He contextualised the previous tweet on Wednesday evening, noting that Discord has "no current plans" to integrate crypto wallets into its app, reports TechCrunch.

"We appreciate all the perspectives we have been hearing in response to the internal concept you may have seen in a tweet earlier this week and want to clarify we have no plans to ship it at this time," Discord was quoted as saying by the website.

"We are excited about the potential for web3 technology and the positive ways these communities are coming together on Discord, especially those organised around environmentally friendly, creator-focused projects. However, we also recognise there are some problems we need to work through. For now we're focused on protecting users from spams, scams and fraud," the company added.

Citron casually shared the screenshot on Monday in a reply, not as an official company announcement, but several Discord users immediately jumped on the tweet.

The company quickly explained that the screenshot was part of a community hack week project and not something around the corner for the social chat app, but the horse had left the barn.

Discord users wary of the crypto space quickly encouraged each other to ditch their Nitro subscriptions, Discord's paid premium service that helps the platform stay ad-free. As the backlash spread, outraged Discord fans also pointed to a recent poll from the company asking for their thoughts on Web3 and NFTs.
Mumbai, Nov 11 : Actor Ashish Tyagi, who was last seen in the web series 'Bose', will soon be playing a parallel lead in upcoming action film 'Squad'. Ashish says the most surprising moment for him was when he saw Russians dancing to a song of actor Mithun Chakraborty while shooting for the film in Belarus.

Ashish says: "One odd day our executive producer wanted to surprise us all by ordering samosas for all of us and to our surprise, the Russians loved the snack so much that they finished it all before we could eat, also the other day we wrapped early and all of us thought off hitting the local pub and to our surprise, we found out that Russians are dancing crazily on Mithun Da's 'Jimmy Jimmy' song. That was such a treat for our eyes." He further shares about missing Indian food while shooting in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus.

"We used to miss Indian food in Europe, and all the stunts that we initially were not able to perform and we used to laugh at it together. Though we were not able to understand each other's native language, our film crew often used to chat with locals, so it was quite fun. It was a great experience.

"We faced a lot of challenges like harsh weather, shooting post-pandemic, travelling through different time zones but on the positive side, we got to work alongside an amazing international cast and crew. The country we were shooting in was quite surreal and despite the harsh weather we were able to pull off our shooting in the beautiful country." 'Squad' starring Rinzing Denzongpa, Pooja Batra and Malvika Raaj in lead roles is releasing on November 12 on ZEE5.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Bhopal, Nov 11 : With the Centre's announcement to celebrate 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas' to mark the birth anniversary of tribal leader and freedom fighter Birsa Munda with a mega event in Bhopal on November 15, political bickering has begun between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on this matter.

Preparations for the mega event at Bhopal's historic Jamburi Maidan are in full swing. The entire ground is being decorated, highlighting the cultural, social values and contribution of the tribal communities especially in the state.

An estimated budget of Rs 13 crore has been sanctioned for the event for which people from tribal communities from across the state will be transported to it's capital, sources told IANS.

"People of tribal communities will be brought to Bhopal. The allocated fund will be spent on transportation, accommodation food, sanitisers, masks etc. The fund has been allocated to each district," said a government official.

It is being alleged that the event is being organised to increase the ruling BJP's vote percentage in the tribal areas in the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh in 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to announce nearly a dozen schemes prepared by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government for tribal communities.

While the state BJP is busy in making the event a grand success, the Congress, which had won 36 assembly seats out of the 47 reserved for Scheduled Tribes in the 2018 elections, has started blaming the Shivraj government for investing a huge amount of money to get votes.

A group of senior Congress leaders on Wednesday opposed the government's plan to organise the 'Janjatiya Gaurav Divas'.

Citing the fire incident in Kamla Nehru hospital, in which five infants died of suffocation, the Congress leaders said, "At the moment when entire Bhopal is in mourning due to loss of innocent children, the BJP government is busy in a mega event," the leaders said at a press conference.

However, the Congress itself has planned a 'Janjatiya Divas' in Jabalpur on the same date (November 15).

Reacting to the allegations, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan slammed the Congress saying former Chief Minister Kamal Nath-led MP Congress could not digest its defeat in the by-polls and is therefore making wrong statements.

"BJP is not worried about it's vote bank. But, the kind of statements coming from the Congress is clear indication that they are worried. Congress ruled the state for several years but did nothing for Janjatiya people, and now when we are doing something for them, they are making false allegations about us," Chouhan said.
Film: Passing (Streaming on Netflix) Duration: 99 minutes

Director: Rebecca Hall

Cast: Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, Andre Holland, Alexander Skarsgard, Bill Camp, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy, Justus Davis Graham and Ashley Ware Jenkins.

IANS Rating: ***Adapted from Nella Larsen's 1929 book of the same name, debutant director Rebecca Hall's 'Passing', filmed in stark black-and-white tones, is a measured, quiet drama about race, identity and society in New York in the 1920s.

Putting into context, 'Passing' means when members of a racial, ethnic, or religious group present themselves as belonging to another group to gain more social clout than they originally did, at times escaping oppression and even death.

In this case, Irene (Tessa Thompson) and Clare (Ruth Negga) are a pair of mixed-race friends from childhood who reconnect as adults in dramatically different circumstances.

There is a huge difference between the current lives of these two Afro-American friends. Although Irene occasionally tries the act of 'passing' in the white areas, she lives comfortably in the black neighbourhood of Harlem with her dark-skinned husband, Dr Brian Redflied (Andre Holland), and her two sons. She's a part of a committee that organises social functions for the 'Negro Welfare League' and tries to protect her children from the horrors of racism.

Clare, on the other hand, is a free spirit and social interloper, more adventurous with her act of 'passing'. She is married to John (Alexander Skarsgard), a racist white man, and after her chance meeting with Irene in an upscale restaurant, she works herself back into Irene's life, using her to experience life in the black neighbourhood she left behind long ago. And by her doing so, she stirs up a string of complexities in their contentious frenemy status.

Both Thompson and Negga, imprisoned by the varied shackles of gender, race, class, and perhaps the sexual orientation of their time, give nuanced and memorable performances. But Thompson, who generally is a natural in front of the camera, becomes distracting through her overly melodramatic and unnatural reactions.

The black-and-white aesthetics of the frames are used to darken or lighten the skin tones of the actors. It brings about the realism behind the 'passing' phenomenon. Similarly, the cinematographer plays with lighting to contrast realities. While the photography conveys a mood of warmth, the story is rather tepid and feels undercooked.

The script falters in its final act. Considering the characters with their elements of mystery, forbidden romance and politics, the narrative feels too far-fetched and ambiguous. It is the sort of ending that will leave viewers pondering over its closing moments and their implications.
Chennai, Nov 11 : Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Thursday congratulated a woman police officer who saved an unconscious man by carrying him on her shoulders to an autorickshaw and rushing him to hospital.

The actor took to Twitter to congratulate police inspector E. Rajeswari, who carried a 28-year-old-man on her shoulders in a bid to rush him to a hospital after realising that he was only unconscious and not dead as presumed by other bystanders.

Kamal Haasan said, "The duty conscious nature of inspector Rajeshwari, who is seen running even as she carries an unconscious man in a bid to save his life, is astounding. Her courage and service are praiseworthy. My whole hearted congratulations to this role model of an officer." The incident occurred on Thursday morning when inspector Rajeshwari is believed to have recieved a call informing her that a man had died in the T P Chatram area of the city after a branch from an uprooted tree had fallen on him.

The woman inspector who went to the spot found the person to be unconscious and not dead as the others there had believed. With the intention of taking the unconscious man, identified as Udhayakumar, to the hospital, the inspector first carried him to her patrol vehicle before realising that there was an autorickshaw nearby.

A video clip of the inspector's brave act has gone viral and messages of appreciation are pouring in for her.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Mumbai, Nov 11 : Actress Parineeti Chopra is currently in Kargil, shooting for her yet-to-be-titled film. This is the first time that the actress has travelled to shoot amid the snow-clad mountains of Ladakh, and she seems to be absolutely in love with the place.

Talking about her experience, Parineeti said, "I feel honoured and ecstatic to be shooting in Kargil. I always wanted to come here because I have grown up hearing stories from my dad because he works with the Indian Army and to be finally here as an actor is such a blessing."

However, it's not all fun and games for the crew on the sets as sub-zero temperatures come with their own set of troubles and many times can thwart the shoot schedule. The actress explains, "The temperature is crazy, we shot in -18 and -12 degrees yesterday and our bottles of water were frozen and the guys with beards on our set had frozen beards."

"It was crazy to see that level of cold. I have never experienced that temperature before in my life but still feels exciting to be here as an actor and shooting in these beautiful gorgeous locations," she concludes.

-- Syndicated from IANS
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked him not to bother about the Bitcoin scandal in the state.

After meeting Modi at the Prime Minister's Office, he said that discussion on the Bitcoin scandal did not come up in the meeting. "When I started telling him about the scandal, he cut me short asking me not to bother about all this," he claimed.

Modi asked him to continue serving the people with more dedication and courage, Bommai said.

"The meeting with the Prime Minister went off very well. We discussed a lot of issues. He was especially keen on administration and our decisions during the last 100 days. How things could be made better was also deliberated upon," he said.

Bommai said that he had extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to attend four programmes in December. "The Prime Minister happily agreed for a Karnataka visit. He asked me to split the programmes and assured he would visit the state twice," he added.

The Prime Minister has agreed to lay the foundation stone for the Railway Suburban Project, and inaugurate the Ambedkar School of Economics and other projects in Bengaluru.

He said Modi appreciated the scholarship scheme aimed at the farmers' children. He said this project should succeed as Karnataka is the only state which has farmers' data in digital format. He expressed his desire to emulate the scheme in the entire country, he underlined.

The Transparency Act brought by the state government was liked by the Prime Minister who called it a "revolutionary" step. There was also a long discussion on implementation of National Education Policy (NEP), Bommai said.

"On losing Hangal bypoll, the Prime Minister advised to take winning and losing in the same way and asked me to set a target for 2023 general elections and win people's hearts," Bommai said.

Bommai also said he met BJP President J.P. Nadda and discussed upcoming elections in the state. "I also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday. It was a brief meeting," he said.

Asked if they discussed the Bitcoin scandal, Bommai said that being the Home Minister, Amit Shah would have more information on the issue than him.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday it became clear that the state will witness a cabinet reshuffle, accommodating the supporters of former Deputy CM Sachin Pilot.

The Rajasthan rift is likely to take a back seat for the time being but the issue of Chief Ministership will remain. Pilot supporters will be pushing for a leadership change as the former Deputy Chief Minister doesn't want to settle for less than that as the Pilot camp thinks that he has been denied such a post despite being the natural claimant.

Sachin Pilot has also declined the party's offer to move him out of the state at the AICC level. Sources close to him say that he does not want to move out of the state and fall in the trap of Ashok Gehlot who wants his adversaries to move out of the state with assignments at the Central level.

Sachin Pilot, who is pushing his case, has been meeting party leaders and on Wednesday met KC Venugopal ahead if the Gehlot--Priyanka Gandhi meeting. The Gandhi sibling wants the issue to be resolved immediately as she was instrumental in brokering peace when Pilot had revolted against Ashok Gehlot last year.

After the meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Ashok Gehlot has maintained that he will abide by the decision taken by the leadership and has conveyed everything to her.

Meanwhile, Congress sources confirmed that state Health Minister Raghu Sharma and Revenue Minister Harish Choudhary might be relieved from cabinet portfolios as they have been made party in-charges of Gujarat and Punjab.

Long pending appointments, especially related to the state unit, will be announced following the cabinet expansion. "After the expansion, the announcement of the appointments would also start," a Congress leader said.

Gehlot had met Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, General Secretaries Ajay Maken and K.C. Venugopal at former party president Rahul Gandhi's residence on Wednesday amid talk of a rejig in the cabinet.

Gehlot is buoyed with the bypoll results and his camp is enthusiastic about the win in Dhariawad, which was a BJP seat since 2013 and was captured by the Congress and Vallabhnagar, which was retained by the ruling Congress. The BJP finished third in Dhariawad and fourth in Vallabhnagar.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh polls, Union Home Minister and former BJP National President Amit Shah, with his ear to the ground, is preparing a victory guide to replicate 2017's landslide win in the state.

Shah who will visit Uttar Pradesh on Friday, is scheduled to meet around 700 party leaders in Varanasi, the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and brainstorm election strategies with them. He will also hold a rally in Azamgarh, the parliamentary constituency of opposition Samajwadi Party's (SP) supremo, Akhilesh Yadav.

In November, Amit Shah is scheduled to make two important visits to Uttar Pradesh, one of which is going to start on November 12 and continue for two days.

In this meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, election co- incharge, state in-charge, state president, state organization general secretary, regional presidents, district presidents and in-charges of all 403 assembly seats, will be involved. The BJP's election preparations, including the membership campaign, as well as its future strategies will also be decided.

On the second and last day of the tour, Amit Shah will visit other districts and address various election rallies. On November 13, he will inaugurate the All India Official Language Conference in Varanasi and then leave for Azamgarh. Shah will also address a rally after laying the foundation stone of the state university in Akhilesh's bastion.

He is also expected to inaugurate Khel Mahakumbh in Basti district organised by MP Harish Dwivedi and then address a rally there.

After holding several brainstorming sessions and rallies, the Home Minister will return to Delhi from Gorakhpur airport on Monday .

Amit Shah is considered to be the key election strategist of Uttar Pradesh, as during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when the BJP along with Apna Dal won 73 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state, Amit Shah was the National General Secretary.

Also, during the Legislative Assembly polls in 2017 and Lok Sabha elections 2019, Amit Shah had proved his mettle as the national president.
Chennai, Nov 11 : Sonia Agarwal and Vimala Raman, two actresses who have been part of a number of critically acclaimed Tamil films, are now working together on a Tamil horror film that is being shot in the hilly regions of Kerala.

The film, which is being directed by Shijinlal S.S., has been titled 'Grandma' and is being produced by Jayaraj R. and Vinayaka Sunil on behalf of GMA Films.

A source close to the unit of the film said, "Apart from Vimala Raman and Sonia Agarwal, actress Charmila too will be seen playing an important role in the film. It also has a Malayalam actor called Hemanth Menon as its antagonist." Sonia Agarwal's character has several stunt sequences in the film. Interestingly, the source claims that Sonia has done all the stunts herself instead of employing a double.

Shibi N. has penned the story and Yeshwanth Balaji K. is the cinematographer with music by Shankar Sharma.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, Nov 11 : The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Delhi Police for delaying the timeline of the probe in the matter involving former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh, who is allegedly accused of misappropriating Rs 2,397 crore of Religare Finvest Ltd funds.

A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana said the probe cannot go on indefinitely.

As it heard Singh's bail plea, it said: "It has been two years..... So should we allow him to be there for 10 years?" Citing its recent affidavit, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Natraj, appearing for Delhi Police, submitted that the police would be able to complete the investigation by January end.

However, the bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli directed the police to complete the investigation into the matter by November end.

The bench clarified that it is not on the merits of the case.

As another counsel in the matter submitted that the investigation is not complete, the Chief Justice reiterated that the probe cannot go on indefinitely and it has already been two years.

Concluding the hearing, he said: "We will only grant time till November end to wrap up investigation." The bench posted the matter for further hearing in the first week of December.

Previously, the top court had told the police that the probe into the matter cannot be unending and remarked that the government is taking too much interest in the case.

Issuing notice to the police on Singh's bail plea, the top court had told the police: "How much time does it take to complete the probe in a criminal case? The accused cannot be kept in jail without trial." Singh's counsel had argued that the accused in the 2G scam case were also granted bail by the top court. The Delhi High Court had cancelled Singh's bail, noting that his detention was necessary to unearth the "conspiracy hatched by him" and trace the alleged siphoned off money.

Singh had moved the top court against the Delhi High Court order, which came on RFL's plea challenging the trial court order passed on March 3, granting him bail in the case registered against him by the Delhi Police's EoW for cheating, criminal conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust.

In March 2019, the EOW had registered an FIR after it received a complaint from RFL's Manpreet Suri against Shivinder Mohan Singh, former CMD of Religare Enterprises Ltd Sunil Godhwani and former CEO Kavi Arora and others. It was alleged that loans were taken by them while managing the firm, but the money was invested in other companies.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : The CBI on Thursday registered an FIR against an Indian-origin Kenyan national, who apparently secured the custody of his 11-year-old son by fraudulently obtaining a court's order in his favour last year.

The federal probe agency filed the FIR in the matter following the Supreme Court order on October 7. The court had directed the CBI to secure the child's custody and hand him over to his mother.

According to the First Information Report, Perry Kansagra, filed a petition before the Saket Court which allowed the custody of his son Master Aditya. This was challenged by the child's mother Smriti Madan Kansagra.

However, after approaching a family court, Delhi High Court, and then the Apex Court, he was able to fraudulently obtain a "Mirror Order", which supports the original order passed by the court which has exercised primary jurisdiction over the custody of a child.

The FIR stated that Perry approached the Indian court with 'unclean hands' and 'intention to defraud'. Prima facie, the accused has committed offences of kidnapping, abduction, giving false affidavit and false declaration or undertakings, the CBI stated and charged him under 181,193,363 and 365 of IPC. The top court had observed that "It is true that the child is now in Kenya. But he was taken to Kenya only on the basis of fraudulently obtained orders from this court." The Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Indian Embassy in Kenya are directed to ensure that all possible assistance and logistical support is extended to Smriti in securing the custody of the child," the bench noted in its 71-page judgment.

In last October, the Supreme Court had granted the custody of the 11-year-old child to his Kenya-based father, after he expressed his desire to live with him. The top court was informed that on May 21, the Kenyan high court had refused to recognise the order passed by it. The high court had said that the judgment being from a superior court of a non-reciprocating country, and in connection with the guardianship of a child, was not registrable in that court.

In December last year, the top court was informed that on November 9, the Kenyan court had registered its judgment. The mother had moved the top court saying India and Kenya are not reciprocating countries, therefore provisions of Kenya's Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act will not apply. However, her plea was dismissed.

She again moved the top court seeking a CBI probe. Senior advocate Sonia Mathur appeared on behalf of the mother.

On Thursday,the Top Court recalled its judgments passed in October and December last year, and ruled that the custody of the child with Perry is illegal and ab initio void.

"Issue notice to Perry as to why proceedings in contempt jurisdiction be not initiated against him for having violated the solemn undertakings given to this court, returnable on November 16, 2021. The registry is directed to register a suo motu contempt case and proceed accordingly," the top court said.
New York, Nov 11 : NASA's ambitious Parker Solar Probe spacecraft, studying the Sun at close proximity, is being bombarded with space dust and debris on its way to the Sun, according to a study.

Scientists at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) have examined collisions between the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft and dust.

Traversing near-sun space at up to 180 kilometres per second, Parker Solar Probe ploughs through the densest region of the zodiacal cloud. The zodiacal cloud is a thick, pancake-shaped dust cloud that extends throughout the solar system and is made up of tiny dust grains shed from asteroids and comets.

As Parker Solar Probe barrels through this region, the study found that thousands of tiny (about 2 to 20 microns in diametre, or less than a quarter of the width of a human hair) dust grains strike the spacecraft at hypervelocity (faster than 6,700 miles per hour).

Upon impact, the material that makes up the dust grains and the spacecraft surface is heated so much that it first vapourises, then ionizes. Ionization is a process where atoms in the vaporised material are separated into their constituent ions and electrons, producing a state of matter called plasma.

The rapid vapourisation and ionization creates a plasma explosion lasting less than one thousandth of a second. The largest of these impacts also generate clouds of debris that slowly expand away from the spacecraft.

The findings could lead to new insights into space weather around the sun as well as have major implications for the safety of future spacecraft.

The team observed how metallic flakes and paint chips knocked loose during collisions with dust drifted and tumbled near the spacecraft. Those pieces of debris created streaks in the images taken by navigational and scientific cameras on Parker Solar Probe.

The study also reported that some debris scattered sunlight into the Parker Solar Probe navigation cameras, temporarily preventing the spacecraft from determining how it was oriented in space. That can be a dangerous prospect for a spacecraft that relies on precise pointing of its heat shield to survive.

Parker Solar Probe was launched in 2018 and has completed nine full orbits of the sun. Before its prime mission ends in 2025, it will complete another 15 orbits.

The results were presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the APS Division of Plasma Physics in Pennsylvania.
Lucknow, Nov 11 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday met ASHA workers here and discussed their problems.

The ASHA workers were recently beaten up by the police when they attempted to meet Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his visit to Shahjahanpur. They wanted to meet the Chief Minister regarding their demands but the meeting could not take place.

It may be recalled that the Congress has announced that if it forms the government in Uttar Pradesh after the Assembly polls scheduled next year, the honorarium of Anganwadi and ASHA workers will be increased to Rs 10,000 per month.
Chandigarh, Nov 11 : The Punjab Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution rejecting the Centre's order extending the BSF's jurisdiction.

Speaking in the House, Chief Minister Charanjit Channi termed it as unfortunate that the Shiromani Akali Dal "always saw everything through the narrow prism of politics", especially the issues of utmost importance like the devolution of more powers to states, transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab, besides the Sri Anandpur Sahib resolution.

He accused the Akalis the "gateway" through which the RSS, "which has always been inimical to the interests of Punjab, managed to make inroads in the state".

"When the RSS and its political wing, the BJP, undermined the federal structure of the country by revoking the Article 370, not only did the Akalis took sides with the BJP but SAD President Sukhbir Badal spoke in favour of the move and even went to the extent of not voting against the undemocratic move," said Channi, holding the Akalis responsible for imposition of such decisions on Punjab.

Refuting the criticism hurled at him on meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Channi said that his meetings with both the dignitaries were a courtesy call.

"Perhaps the Akalis have chosen to forget very conveniently that I wrote letters to the Union Government emphasising the reopening of the Sri Kartarpur Sahib corridor, besides pleading with it repeatedly to roll back the three draconian agricultural farm laws which are striking at the very roots of the farming sector which forms the backbone of our agrarian economy." The Chief Minister further apprised the House that in his meetings with the Union government on security issues, he always took the consistent stand that international borders should be sealed so that drugs could not enter Punjab.

"I never ever asked them to increase the jurisdiction of the BSF in the state which I am being falsely accused of. I am vehemently in opposition to this move by the government of India."
Muzaffarnagar : , Nov 11 (IANS) Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused the ruling BJP of cheating backwards castes.

Addressing a meeting in Muzaffarnagar, he said that the BJP has cheated the backward classes and a caste census would be undertaken as soon as his party comes to power.

Targeting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said that 'Baba' came after migrating from Uttarakhand and wasted five years of Uttar Pradesh.

Akhilesh Yadav said that there will be many alliances in the elections, many of which have already been decided.

"The income of farmers has not doubled as promised by the BJP. On the contrary, it has decreased. Import of grains has increased and the three farm laws will turn farmers into labourers," he said.

He said that the Prime Minister promised to make people wearing hawai chappals travel in the aeroplane, but the same people are finding it difficult to even travel on roads to due hike in fuel prices.

He said that maximum deaths are taking place in police custody under BJP rule. In the name of development, BJP is only changing the name through advertisements, he added.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : A 46-year-old man wanted for his involvement in an attempt to murder and riot case has been arrested, Delhi Police said on Thursday.

"We received a secret information that one proclaimed offender namely Guljar was hiding in Sikandrabad of Uttar Pradesh. If raid be conducted well in time, he could be apprehended," police said.

A police team laid a trap and succeeded in apprehending the criminal, a statement claimed.
Bengaluru, Nov 11 : The title track of Kannada movie 'Madhagaja' starring Srii Murali and Ashika Ranganath has been released on Thursday. The fans of SriiMurali have given a big thumbs up for the introduction song.

The film will also be released in Telugu ('Roaring Madhagaja'), Tamil ('Madhayaanai') and cine lovers have liked the promos and trailers of the movie. The movie is produced by Umapathy Srinivas Gowda and directed by Mahesh Kumar. 'KGF' fame music director Ravi Basrur has composed music for the film.

Noted Telugu actor Jagapathy Babu plays an important role in the movie. The film's team also paid floral tributes to the portrait of late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar before the release of the title track. SriiMurali has dedicated the title track to Puneeth.
Chennai, Nov 11 : A woman officer of the Chennai police, E. Rajeswari rescued a man from underneath a tree that fell upon him at T.P. Chatram area.

The woman police officer told media that she received a call from the control room stating that a man had been killed as a tree fell upon him.

"I received a call that a tree fell on him at the cemetery in T.P. Chatram, and my team and I reached the spot immediately. On close inspection, I found that he was unconscious but alive," she said.

The man, Udhayakumar, 28, was working at the T.P. Cemetry and his friend informed the control room that he had died after the tree fell upon him.

Rajeswari told media that she pulled up the friend of Udhayakumar for not rushing the injured man to the hospital.

The inspector also said that the duo had drunk the previous night and the friend did not bother to take Udhayakumar to the hospital. The video of her carrying Udhayakumar on her shoulders went viral.

She immediately took an autorickshaw and sent Udhayakumar along with his friend to the nearby general hospital.

The injured person is out of danger and doctors said that he suffered a concussion.
Mumbai, Nov 11 : Against the backdrop of the latest drug seizures in Gujarat, Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik on Thursday urged the central probe agencies to investigate if the neighbouring state was becoming a hub for entry of drugs through the sea route and supplies to other parts of the country.

Referring to the seizure of drugs valued at Rs 350 crore from the coastal town of Salaya in Devbhumi Dwarka and the previous seizure of 3,000 kg from the state's Mundra Port, Malik called upon the National Investigation Agency and Narcotics Control Bureau to probe the developments.

"There are big seizures made in Gujarat in the past couple of months... The NCB must pay attention there instead of going after 2 or 3 gms from Bollywood personalities for publicity and creating a false impression that Mumbai has become a drug hub," said Malik, who is also the Nationalist Congress Party's national spokesperson.

He told media persons that it also needs to be checked if the drugs that are coming into Gujarat are being supplied outside that state, and the people who are involved, and their connections need to be exposed, and the players must be punished.

Malik questioned why Bharatiya Janata Party activists like Manish Bhanushali and his kin Dhaval Bhanushali, Sunil Patil and Kiran Gosavi go to meet Gujarat Cabinet Minister Kiritsinh Rana, how they live in five-star hotels, and said it is the responsibility of the NCB and NIA to check the drug rackets thoroughly in that state.

"The central agencies must probe all these persons, whether they are activists or ministers. Its now established that drugs are entering India from the sea route through Gujarat state. Any person, ordinary or highly placed, must be booked," he demanded.

Malik's latest salvo came as part of the ongoing campaign launched by him after the high-profile NCB raids on an alleged rave party board Cordelia Cruise ship, and a total of 20 were arrested, including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan.
Mumbai, Nov 11 : The release of 'Sooryavanshi' in theatres has reinvigorated the film industry with new energy.

The film recently entered the Rs 100 crore club in just 5 days of its release thereby giving hope to filmmakers, actors, producers, distributors and exhibitors alike.

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who also has a theatrical release with 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui', is one happy man and the reason is cinemas finally traversing on the path to recovery.

The actor shares, "So many of my life's favourite memories are linked to me watching movies in a theatre. I'm feeling really happy that Hindi films are now set to release in theatres and make a big comeback. It is my firm belief that people will come back to the big screen to watch the best cinema and to get an experience like never before. Their decision to walk into a theatre won't be based on just event films or genres or star cast. It will be based on content." Adding to that, the actor feels that the members of the industry have a responsibility to provide memorable experiences to the audience and there can be no better way to do that than cinemas.

He says, "As an industry, we need to give them an experience that they will cherish, that will engage them into having a discussion and most importantly entertain them to the fullest. I'm really confident that we will manage to do that and make movie-watching a community experience again. We are a country that cherishes going to theatres with our families and friends." "It's an appointment viewing exercise, a moment of celebration for families and it will return in a big way. It just needs the right kind of films to do that. I just hope that my films contribute in pulling audiences back to the hallowed chambers of cinema. It's high time that the industry makes a big comeback," he signs off.

Ayushmann's theatrical slate runs deep as apart from 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui', he also has Anubhav Sinha's 'Anek', Anubhuti Kashyap's 'Doctor G' and Aanand L. Rai produced 'Action Hero'.
Chandigarh, Nov 11 : Terming the three farm laws as an attack on the federal structure, Punjab Agriculture Minister Randeep Singh Nabha on Thursday presented legislation for condemnation of three farm laws and demanded their immediate repeal for safeguarding the peasantry.

This specially-convened session of Punjab Assembly noted with concern that at the time of the passage of the contentious bills in the Rajya Sabha, the opposition's demand for division by count was not accepted.

The resolution says that the Entry 33 of the Concurrent List relates to trade and commerce and agriculture is neither trade nor commerce.

"The farmer is neither a trader nor is he engaged in commercial activity. They (farmers) are simply cultivators, growers and producers, who brings his produce in APMC market for selling it, either at MSP or at a price dictated by trader.

"The Vidhan Sabha deplores the act of the Union Government of misleading the Parliament by wrongfully interpreting the term foodstuff in Entry 33 (b) of the Concurrent List to be the same as agriculture stuff (agricultural produce) and therefore made a questionable yet dishonest attempt to achieve indirectly what it could not do directly.

"The Vidhan Sabha reminds the Union government that the APMC Acts have constitutional validity and sanction," the resolution said.

"These are state laws enacted under the presumption that agriculture and agricultural marketing is a state subject. The regulated markets established under APMC Acts have a legal foundation, infrastructure and a well-defined mechanism of documenting each and every purchase done by a trader or a government procurement agency.

"On the other hand the unregulated markets are akin to spurious trade centers without any infrastructure, without any institutional support and without any accountability," it added.

"The Vidhan Sabha strongly deprecates and condemns the efforts of the Union Government aimed at systematic dismantling of farmer-friendly regulated mandis (APMC Mandis) and replacing them with trader-friendly unregulated mandis.

"This special session of the Vidhan Sabha reminds the Union government that 86 per cent of the farmers have meagre land holdings who along with other rural work force like carpenter, weaver, mason and unskilled labourers form the backbone of rural economy." "The Union government through these contentious laws is paving the way to dispossess them of their lands and avocations and place them at the mercy of corporates.

"This special session of Vidhan Sabha demands the enactment of a special legislation in the Parliament, which should safeguard the interests of marginal and small farmers with a view to save them from their imminent exploitation by the corporate sharks who during the harvesting season may procure the produce at a price lower than MSP, store it and then sell it to the consumers at higher prices." The suggested special legislation should provide a legal guarantee to farmers that their produce will be not be procured at a price less than MSP and that the procurement or purchase of farm produce at a price below MSP will be a criminal offence, it said.

The Vidhan Sabha demands that the procurement at MSP should be mandatory for all crops and that MSP be calculated taking comprehensive costs into consideration, the resolution said.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : China undertook construction activities in the past several years along the border areas, including in areas it illegally occupied over the decades, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India has taken note of the US Department of Defense report to the US Congress, which inter-alia also makes a reference to the construction activities carried out by the Chinese side along the India-China borders, particularly in the eastern sector.

"India has neither accepted such illegal occupation of our territory nor has it accepted the unjustified Chinese claims," the spokesperson said.

Bagchi also stressed on the fact that the government has always conveyed its strong protest to such activities through diplomatic channels and will continue to do so in the future.

"Further, as conveyed earlier, the government has also stepped up border infrastructure, including the construction of roads, bridges etc., which has provided much-needed connectivity to the local population along the borders," he said.

The government remains committed to the objective of creating infrastructure along the border areas for the improvement of livelihood of its citizens, including in Arunachal Pradesh, he said.

"The government keeps a constant watch on all the developments having a bearing on India's security, and takes all the necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity," Bagchi said.

Last week, the US Department of Defense in its annual report submitted to the US Congress on military and security developments had flagged that China has built a large 100-home civilian village inside the disputed territory between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Arunachal Pradesh.

The report had also stated that these and other infrastructure development efforts along the India-China border have been a source of consternation in the Indian government and the media.

Talking about the claims made in the US report, a senior security official stated that the said village being referred to has been under Chinese control since 1959.

The village has been built by China in an area that was occupied by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) after overrunning an Assam Rifles post in 1959 in an operation known as 'Longju' along the frontiers in Arunachal Pradesh.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : The Supreme Court has observed that a total ban on legal mining, apart from giving rise to illegal mining, also causes huge loss to the public exchequer.

A bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao, Sanjiv Khanna, and B.R. Gavai said: "A balanced approach of sustainable development ensuring environmental safeguards, needs to be resorted to. At the same time, it also cannot be ignored that when legal mining is banned, it gives rise to mushroom growth of illegal mining, resulting in clashes between sand mafias, criminalisation and at times, loss of human lives." The Bihar government had moved the apex court challenging an NGT order holding that unless the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) grants approval to the district survey report (DSR) for the purpose of mining of sand, the same cannot be carried out.

Senior advocate Atmaram Nadkarni, representing the Bihar government, submitted that the tribunal has further held that the very invitation of the tenders without preparing the DSR in accordance with its judgment in the case of Satendra Pandey v. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and another could not have been done.

He submitted that the finding of the tribunal is like putting the cart before the horse, and it has also grossly erred in holding that the DSRs prepared by the state government were without following the requisite procedure and without considering the relevant factors.

The bench said: "It is also cannot be disputed that sand is required for construction of public infrastructure projects as well as public and private construction activities. A total ban on illegal mining apart from giving rise to illegal mining also causes huge loss." Modifying the tribunal order, it said the exercise of preparation of DSR for the purpose of mining in the state of Bihar in all the districts shall be undertaken afresh.

It further added that the same shall be examined by the SEAC within a period of 6 weeks and its report shall be forwarded to the SEIAA within the aforesaid period of 6 weeks from the receipt of it. "The SEIAA will thereafter consider the grant of approval to such DSRs within a period of 6 weeks from the receipt thereon," it added.

The top court said until further orders, "we permit the state government to carry on mining activities through Bihar State Mining Corporation for which it may employ the services of the contractors. However, while doing so, the state government shall ensure that all environment concerns are taken care of and no damage is caused to the environment".

The top court has listed the matter after 20 weeks.
Jaipur, Nov 11 : At a time when hectic discussions are being held in Delhi regarding cabinet expansion in Rajasthan, former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Thursday said that appointments will be made in the organisation and government soon.

"AICC and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot are in constant discussions and hence appointments shall be made soon in organisation and state government," he said while speaking to the media.

Pilot also uploaded a video on Twitter late Wednesday night where he is seen speaking in support of Congress workers and is seen saying, "Political leaders deliver lectures and go but the real worker stands on the booth and fights. He should be respected and rewarded for his hard work." "I met KC Venugopal and apprised him of the present circumstances in the state," he said in the video adding, "We have been demanding change as and when required. It has been three years since the formation of the government but Congress workers who sacrificed everything for the sake of forming government are awaiting their dues. They should be respected and rewarded in the form of political appointments. This should be done at the earliest as elections are approaching soon." Sources said that Pilot has once again batted for his team when CM Ashok Gehlot is talking to Sonia Gandhi about cabinet reshuffle and political appointments.

While Gehlot has been speaking against the Pilot camp quite frequently and praising those who supported his government (including independents and BSP MLAs) during Pilot's rebellion, indicating he shall give significant positions to them, Pilot since months, has been demanding positions for Congress workers.

Ashok Gehlot also met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Thursday and said, "The party high command will decide on the cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan. Ajay Maken has complete information regarding this issue." It is known that on Wednesday, Gehlot met Priyanka Gandhi and KC Venugopal in Delhi to discuss the cabinet expansion. At the same time Sachin Pilot, the former president of the Rajasthan Congress, also met top leaders.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday launched eGCA -- the e-governance platform of India's Civil Aviation Regulator.

Speaking on the occasion, Scindia said the project has been aimed at automation of the processes and functions of DGCA, with 99 services covering about 70 per cent of the DGCA work being implemented in the initial phases.

Besides another 198 services will be covered under the programme in other phases.

He said that this 'single window platform' will bring in monumental change eliminating operational inefficiencies, minimising personal interaction, improving regulatory reporting, enhancing transparency and increasing productivity.

The Minister said there will be a review to understand how the customers have benefited from this transformation, and "what more needs to be done".

"The project will provide a strong base for IT infrastructure and service delivery framework. The e-platform provides an end-to-end solution including various software applications, connectivity with all the regional offices, a 'portal' for dissemination of information and for providing online and speedy service delivery in a secure environment," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

"The project would enhance the efficiency of the various services provided by the DGCA and would ensure transparency and accountability in all DGCA functions. The project has been implemented with TCS as service provider and PWC as project management consultant." According to the Ministry, services provided to various DGCA stakeholders such as 'Pilots, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, Air Traffic Controllers, Air Operators, Airport Operators, Flying Training Organisations, Maintenance and Design Organisations' amongst others are now available on the eGCA online.

"The applicants would now be able to apply for various services and upload their documents online. The applications would be processed by DGCA officials and approvals and licenses would be issued online. Mobile app has also been launched for Pilots and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers to view their profiles and update their data on the go.

"The eGCA initiative is a milestone in the digital transformation journey of DGCA and would enrich the experience of its stakeholders. For DGCA, it is a step in the direction of 'ease of doing business'. This digital transformation would bring a significant value addition to the safety regulatory framework of DGCA."
New Delhi, Nov 11 : The Congress women wing chief on Thursday wrote to President Ram Nath Kovind demanding withdrawal of the Padma Shri conferred on Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut.

Netta D Souza, President, All India Mahila Congress, wrote in the letter, "2021 Padma Shri award recipient Ms Kangana Ranaut, has maligned the sanctity of the Padma Shri award and honour of our Constitution. She has intentionally hurt the national sentiment and with her words committed the overt act in contravention of provisions of law".

"It is humbly prayed that the overt act of Padma Shri Awardee should be condemned and she must be ordered to return the Padma Award considering the idea and dignity attached to it. It is prayed that such a person, who has no regard for the law of the land, the Constitution of India, doesn't deserve to hold eminent award like Padma Shri. Hence it may kindly be withdrawn from her in larger public interest and dignity of the award," added D Souza.

She said that in the public domain are video clips where the actress can be heard saying that freedom struggle and independence were "khairat" (alms) Indians got from the British.

"She went on to the extent of calling the contribution of freedom fighters as nothing. According to her, 2014 is when India got independence, and before that we were under British rule," D Souza said.

"She has specifically pointed out that Congress which has served India for more than 70 years is nothing but extension of British rule. The usage of words and phrases is clear manifestation of the intent and disrespect that the Padma Shri awardee carries towards the freedom fighters and their contributions to attain independence," said D Souza.

The Congress leader added that Kangana has questioned the sacrifice of the freedom fighters who laid down their lives for India's Independence.

"The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 is an Act of the Parliament of India which prohibits desecration of or insult to the country's national symbols, including the national flag, the Constitution, the national anthem etc. The words of the Padma awardee have clearly violated the sanctity of the Constitution and principles of freedom struggle. She has acted in contravention of provision of this Act," she said.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday asked Union Environment and Forests Minister Bhupender Yadav to call a meeting of the national capital's neighbouring states over the stubble-burning issue so that necessary steps to secure the life of citizens could be taken.

"City of Delhi had entered the 'severe category zone' with AQI reaching 404 on November 9. As per meteorological prediction. AQI is likely to remain in the 'very poor category' due to shallow mixing layer height and low wind speed," he said in a letter to Yadav.

"This is an accumulation of pollutants in the air shed. The situation has got worse with stubble burning recorded in the neighbouring NCR states since last week. The satellite remote sensing data by CREAMS laboratory of IARI has recorded further increase in the total active fire count in NCR as 5,395 on November 9," Rai wrote.

"Trans-boundary movement of pollutants from stubble burning has been huge since the start of November." "Intervention of the Central government is urgently required at this stage for stopping the uncontrolled and unbated stubble burning in the neighbouring states, which is heavily impacting the ambient air quality of the city of Delhi," he added.

As per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 5.30. p.m. stood at 390.

Thursday's stubble burning share stood at 26 per cent with 3,914 fire counts till 3 p. m.

The Air Quality Early Warning System forecast for Delhi has indicated the national capital's AQI could improve gradually after remaining in the "very poor" category from November 10 to 12.

To curb the air pollution caused due to the construction and demolition activity and open burning, the Delhi government will launch an anti-open burning and second phase of the anti-dust campaign soon.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested Punjab Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a money-laundering case linked to drugs trafficking.

He was taken into custody by the ED's Delhi team from Punjab under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Earlier in March, the central probe agency had carried out searches at eight locations linked to Khaira in Chandigarh, and also at the property of his son-in-law in Delhi, in connection with a drugs money laundering and a fake passport racket case.

Khaira was being investigated after the ED took cognisance of the two separate cases. According to sources, the central probe agency has unearthed a Rs 3.5 crore money trail in this connection.

During the probe, some top fashion designers were also summoned. They had designed Khaira's daughter's trousseau and were allegedly partly paid in cash, sources said.

Khaira recently re-joined the Congress, leaving the Aam Aadmi Party and his own outfit, the Punjab Ekta Party.

He was elected to the state Assembly in 2017 on a ticket of the Aam Aadmi Party. However, he later resigned from the AAP citing the 'dictatorial' attitude of party chief Arvind Kejriwal.

Earlier, Khaira had denied any wrongdoing. His counsel had attributed the raid to Khaira supporting the ongoing farmers' agitation. Khaira had also sought a judicial inquiry into the death of Navreet Singh, a young protester who had died during the tractor rally by the farmers on Republic Day in the national capital this year.
Agartala, Nov 11 : The Trinamool Congress on Thursday organised a massive demonstration in front of the police headquarters here to protest against the alleged attacks on its workers ahead of the November 25 elections to the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) and 19 other urban local bodies.

After the demonstration, a delegation of Trinamool leaders led by the party's Rajya Sabha member Sushmita Dev, state leader Subal Bhowmik and Rajib Banerjee met Deputy Inspector General (Southern Range) R.G.K. Rao and demanded immediate action against the attackers and to put an end to the violence against the opposition party workers and candidates.

Addressing the protesters, Dev said that the Trinamool has filed several FIRs with the police across Tripura after a series of violent attacks on the party men, but no arrest has been made so far.

"The police have become a puppet at the hands of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. A reign of terror has been unleashed in Tripura and all the agencies, including the National Human Rights Commission and Women's Commission, have remained silent. This is the nation of Mahatma Gandhi, not the country of Nathuram Godse," she said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Tripura police to ensure that no political party is prevented from exercising its right to campaign for the upcoming municipal elections in a peaceful manner.

Dev said the Trinamool wholeheartedly welcomes the decision of the Supreme Court, which would help every person in Tripura exercise his/her democratic right in peace and with even more enthusiasm.

"I thank the Supreme Court for intervening to ensure that elections are free and fair in Tripura. The lawlessness and the complacency of the Tripura Police has made a mockery of democracy," she tweeted.

The top court passed the interim order after hearing the submissions of senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, representing the Trinamool, and Dev.

The plea cited alleged violence against the party members and sought a direction to protect them for the municipal polls slated on November 25.

Trinamool's Tripura unit chief Bhowmik later told the media that so far, 13 Trinamool candidates, including women, have been attacked by the BJP workers and their goons in different parts of the state, but the police did nothing.

Bhowmik claimed that homes of many Trinamool candidates were attacked by the BJP workers and their goons and many of them were physically assaulted.

The Opposition party also urged the State Election Commission (SEC) to take appropriate measures to hold the civic polls smoothly and peacefully.

The BJP, however, has rubbished Trinamool's accusations.

BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharjee alleged that the Trinamool has unleashed a reign of terror in West Bengal against the BJP and brought the culture of violence in the peaceful Tripura to malign the state government.

"The Trinamool ministers, MPs and leaders are often coming to Tripura, spending lakhs of rupees they bagged from various chit funds," Bhattacharjee told the media.

The ruling BJP has won 112 (34 per cent) of the 334 seats uncontested in the AMC and 19 other urban local bodies ahead of the November 25 elections.

SEC officials said that the BJP has already secured the majority in seven civic bodies -- Jirania, Ranir Bazar, Mohanpur, Bishalgarh, Santir Bazar, Udaipur and Kamalpur.

The officials said that now 785 candidates from various political parties, including BJP, CPI-M led Left parties, Trinamool Congress and Congress, are vying for the 222 seats.

The counting of votes will take place on November 28.
Chennai, Nov 11 : The DMK while in opposition had presented a 97-page report on corruption to the then Tamil Nadu Governor Bhanwarilal Purohit, against the then transport minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar of the AIADMK for having favoured two companies in the purchase of retro-reflective stickers for trucks.

Interestingly after the DMK came to power in the state no action has been taken to remove these companies or to allow other companies manufacturing similar products for the purchase of retro-reflective stickers.

Retro-reflector is a surface that reflects light back to its source with minimum scattering. These are used on vehicles like trucks and are useful to prevent night time mishaps.

The AIADMK government had ordered that the mandatory, retro-reflective stickers for trucks be purchased only from two companies while there were eight companies in the state that manufacture the same type of product. The DMK had then alleged the state transport department led by M.R. Vijayabhaskar was forcing the truck operators to purchase retro-reflective stickers from these two companies only while the six other companies were also approved by the Union government.

The truck owners and the DMK had alleged that these companies were charging Rs 2500 more than what was charged by other companies for retro-reflective stickers. There are 4.5 lakh trucks in Tamil Nadu and the DMK alleged huge corruption by the then transport minister and the AIADMK in the deal.

However, the truck owners association alleged that the DMK has been continuing with the same policy ever since it assumed office and that all the statements by M.K. Stalin while in opposition have remained just statements.

M. Venkitachalam, President, All India Motor Transport Congress, Tamil Nadu, told IANS, "The Union ministry for road transport and highways after responding to our pleas had confirmed that stickers bought from any of the authorized companies are valid for getting the license but even now after assuming power the DMK government has not done anything to change it." Lorry owners said that other than these two companies, the names of other companies do not appear on the website for uploading the photo taken after affixing these stickers. A truck owner who did not want to be named told IANS that each truck owner has to shell out an extra Rs 2500 for purchasing stickers from these companies and with all the 4.5 lakh trucks to affix these stickers mandatorily to get the road license, huge corruption would have taken place.

While the DMK government had ordered an inquiry by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti Corruption against M.R. Vijayabhaskar, and raids were conducted at several of his premises including his residence, the promise made by the DMK while in opposition remains unfulfilled.

Arunachalam Chettiyar, a truck operator who has a fleet of 12 trucks at Namakkal in Tamil Nadu, told IANS, "There is no justification for this and the DMK government must keep its promise made before the elections. These two companies are charging heavily for the stickers and we are losing money unnecessarily. The government must act and prevent such extortion from the public."
Gurugram, Nov 11 : The Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam (DHBVN) will soon appoint relationship managers for the convenience of the entrepreneur to solve electricity-related problems.

"These relationship managers will assist the entrepreneurs and get their electricity-related problems resolved. The entrepreneur will only have to approach the relationship manager," said P.C. Meena, Managing Director, DHBVN.

He also informed that work is being done to make the industries generator free so that air pollution can be curbed. For this initiative, new power sub-stations are being set up at many places.

Meanwhile, the DHBVN on Thursday launched the programme 'Udyamee ke dvaar DHBVN' from Gurugram.

The official said this programme will be run in a phased manner in all the 12 districts of the state. Additional Chief Secretary of Power Corporations, P.K. Das, launched the new initiative virtually from its Chandigarh headquarters.

During the programme, around 100 entrepreneurs were given electricity connection release and acceptance letters. The entrepreneurs of Gurugram appreciated the initiative of DHBVN, saying that it would benefit the industries.

Das said that now there is power surplus in Haryana and its benefits should be given to the industries and entrepreneurs.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : In reaction to the India Conferences statement, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has said that it had already fulfilled all of the demands mentioned by the conference, Tolo News reported.

"The Islamic Emirate welcomes the India meeting. We are trying to take solid steps in governance, and the world countries should not be worried of Afghanistan soil being used against anyone," said Inamullah Samangani, deputy spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, the report said.

The India Conference, in which the representatives of Russia, Iran and five Central Asian states participated, called for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan that will counter terrorism and prevent Afghan soil from being used against other countries.

"World countries are trying to bring their wishes via negotiations to the Taliban and these meetings have a positive result for Afghanistan," said Sayed Haroon Hashimi, a political analyst, the report added.

Some political experts say that such meetings could be effective in ensuring stability and economic development.

"The India meeting is effective for Afghanistan because India is one of the aid-providing countries to Afghanistan and it is now also interested in supporting the country," said Sayed Hakim Kamal, an international relations analyst.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was not invited to the India Conference. China and Pakistan also didn't participate in the meeting.
Bhopal, Nov 11 : In a bid to strengthen the child protection mechanism in the state, the Women and Child Development (WCD) department of the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to set up 'Bal Mitra Gram' or children-friendly villages.

For this purpose, the department on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation (KSCF).

In collaboration with KSCF, the department has planned to set up around 100 children-friendly villages in 10 districts of the state in the first phase.

The idea behind setting up such villages is to make them free of child labour, besides protecting the children from other forms of exploitation, the WCD department said in an official note.

In a statement, KSCF said that 'Bal Mitra Gram' is a sustainable and holistic preventive programme for child protection and child-centric rural development, so that every child is safe, healthy and educted.

It further said that KSCF is currently reaching out to 600 villages, protecting around 1.5 lakh children, on a daily basis in several states, including Madhya Pradesh.

KSCF also said that it has converted 10 villages into children-friendly villages in the Ganj Basoda block under Vidisha district, which is the home district of Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi, the founder of KSCF.
Srinagar, Nov 11 : An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in J&K's Srinagar district on Thursday, officials said.

"Encounter has started at Srinagar. Police and security forces are on the job," a police officer said.

The firefight began after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire and retaliated, triggering the encounter.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : The government wants public sector oil explorer Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) to actively explore participation of private sector companies and other service providers in its quest to step up oil and gas production in the country and reduce dependence on imports, an official said on Thursday.

Petroleum Secretary Tarun Kapoor said that the ONGC's production has to be increased and for that, the company has to expand its portfolio through new exploration. And in the expanded plate, he said, the company can involve the private sector that brings in the right technology required for specific exploratory fields.

His comments came after an Additional Secretary-ranked official in the Ministry, who is also on the ONGC board, in a letter, asked the ONGC to give away 60 per cent stake plus operating control in India's largest oil and gas producing fields of Mumbai High and Bassein to foreign companies.

While Kapoor did not go into the specific case, he said any decision on the matter has to be taken by the board of the Maharatna company and the ministry can only offer its suggestions.

India is 85 per cent dependent on imports to meet its oil needs, and a way to cut the high import bill is to increase domestic production. The government has also set a target to reduce dependence on imported oil by 10 per cent over the next few years.

The ONGC's production from its blocks either on its own or through the help of private strategic participants would hold the key to raising country oil and gas production swiftly.

Production of oil and gas by domestic companies have almost stagnated for the last decade and with earlier years' prolific blocks now ageing, the focus is on finding new resource areas that can sustain production to meet the needs of the country for the next few decades.
Glasgow, Nov 11 : At the mandated UN High-Level Event for Global Climate Action -- "Racing to a Better World" -- High-Level Climate Champions, Gonzalo Munoz and Nigel Topping, formally reported on the progress made by non-state actors, and set out the five-year plan -- Improved Marrakech Partnership for Enhancing Ambition -- to accelerate delivery during this decisive decade.

The event on Thursday marks the culmination of the non-state actor agenda at COP26, which has sat prominently alongside the government agenda at Glasgow, and includes contributions by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, COP26 President Alok Sharma, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and Vanessa Nakate.

With significant new commitments from real economy actors on mitigation, adaptation, and mobilisation of finance, focus turns now to driving implementation.

At the event, the High-Level Climate Champions alongside the Marrakech Partnership (a global alliance of more than 320 major initiatives, coalitions, and NGOs), present their five-year plan, which has also been summarised in the Yearbook of Global Climate Action.

The vision aims to deepen engagement with regional stakeholders, enhance the implementation of commitments, and develop tools for accountability.

Core priorities include: expanding the global campaigns of Race to Zero, Race to Resilience, and the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, with a focus on developing near-term plans to deliver science-based commitments, scaling action for climate-vulnerable communities, and mobilising finance to developing and emerging economies.

Also driving alignment on sectoral transformation via the 2030 Breakthroughs, the Resilience Transformations and the Climate Action Pathways to make real economy solutions accessible and affordable everywhere.

Deepening regionalisation to ensure actors are brought in from all corners of the globe, with special recognition to marginalised voices and the most vulnerable.

And upholding the highest standards of transparency and accountability for non-Party stakeholder commitments, including regular audits of campaign members and stronger mechanisms to remove individual entities that are unable to meet requirements.

The Champions are also establishing a process to deal with public enquiries on any member of the Race to Zero campaign.

They have worked over the past year to enhance integrity and track the progress and impact of commitments made by businesses, investors, cities, states and regions and initiatives.

A summary of this work, including metrics and tools to measure the efficacy of actions to boost resilience, can be found in an accompanying factsheet, also published on Thursday.

These efforts serve as a source of credible evidence on how actors are following through on their commitments ahead of the Paris Agreement's Global Stocktake in 2023.

In direct response to the Champions' five-year plan, leading members of the Marrakech Partnership committed to fully support its implementation with a public declaration, representing their pledge "to do everything we can to bridge this gap, and keep a 1.5C temperature limit within reach".

Topping said: "The momentum among non-state actors is only set to grow. That is clearly welcome given the mountain left to climb. The science is clear. We're not transitioning nearly fast enough. Turning today's momentum into implementation is now absolutely the order of the day." Munoz said: "This Yearbook lands at a critical moment in the fight against climate change. However, actions by individual actors will not see us halve emissions by the end of this decade, as is required to keep in line with a 1.5C resilient future." "As non-Party stakeholders, we realize the imperative to work together towards a common goal, both among ourselves and in conjunction with Parties." (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Recognised as the Earth Day Network Rising Star 2021 (US) for her idea of 'Solar Ironing Cart', 15-year-old Indian student, Vinisha Umashankar has exhorted the world to move towards clean energy during the ongoing COP 26 at Glasgow.

"I am not here to speak about the future, I am the future," Vinisha, a class 10 student from Tamil Nadu's Tiruvannamalai district, said, encouraging the world to move towards renewable energy and accelerating the journey which started with her innovation in 2019.

She had received the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam IGNITE Awards instituted by National Innovation Foundation (NIF) - India, an autonomous body of the Department of Science and Technology for her mobile ironing cart, which uses solar panels to power a steam iron box. The prototype of Vinisha's mobile ironing cart, which uses solar panels to power a steam iron box has been developed by NIF-India in 2019.

A key benefit of the solar ironing cart is that it eliminates the need for coal for ironing, bringing about a welcome shift towards clean energy.

"End users can move around and offer services at doorstep for increasing their daily earning. The ironing cart can also be fitted with a coin-operated GSM PCO, USB charging points and mobile recharging which can fetch extra income," a release from the Ministry of Science and Technology said.

It is an ingenious solar-powered alternative for the millions of char coal burning ironing carts for pressing clothes and can also benefit the workers and their families. The device can also be powered by pre-charged batteries, electricity or diesel-powered generator in the absence of sunlight, the release added.
Srinagar, Nov 11 : A terrorist has been killed in an ongoing encounter between terrorists and security forces in J&K's Srinagar district, officials said on Thursday.

"One unidentified terrorist killed. One AK rifle alongwith ammunition recovered. Search going on," a police official said.

The gunfight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding, they came under a heavy volume of fire and retaliated, triggering the encounter.
Dakshina Kannada : , Nov 11 (IANS) A woman has pleaded with the government of India for the release of her husband, who has been arrested by the authorities in Saudi Arabia.

She also said that her husband has been targeted for putting up a patriotic message on social media.

Kavitha, a resident of Barnakatte near Mangaluru, claimed on Thursday that some miscreants have created a fake social media account of her husband Shailesh Kumar and posted derogatory messages against the king of Saudi Arabia and Islam.

Shailesh has been working in Saudi Arabia for 20 years now.

"In February last year, my husband had put up a patriotic message on his social media account, following which he had received a threat call from a stranger. The stranger had warned Shailesh to withdraw the social media account and if he didn't, they wouldn't allow him to be in Saudi Arabia. Taking no chances, Shailesh had withdrawn his account," she said.

After a few days, the miscreants created a fake social media account in Shailesh's name and uploaded derogatory messages against Islam and the King of Saudi Arabia, hatching a conspiracy to get him arrested, she said.

BJP leader Jitendra Kottari said that Shailesh is in a Saudi prison for one-and-a-half years now after the police arrested him without any investigation.

The Indian organisations in Saudi Arabia are also silent on the issue, he said.

The matter has been brought to the notice of BJP state President Nalin Kumar Kateel, who is also a local MP. Though Kateel has written a letter to the External Affairs Ministry, there has been no progress in the matter.

The government should take all the necessary steps for Shailesh's release, Kottari said.
New Delhi, Nov 11 : Exhorting the Governors to play the role of a "friend, philosopher and guide" in states of their posting, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said that they had a very important role in creating awareness among the people about the national goals and ensuring public participation.

"You must spend as much time as possible in the state and maintain connection with the people to fulfil this commitment," he said while inaugurating the 51st conference of Governors, Lt Governors and Administrators at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

The one-day conference was also attended by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and moderated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

The Conference of Governors was taking place in person after a gap of two years on account of the pandemic. The first Conference of Governors was held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1949, and was presided over by C. Rajagopalachari, the then Governor General of India.

Referring to the ongoing 26th annual summit of the climate change conference (COP26) in the UK's Glasgow, the President said that India has shown its commitment and capability in front of the world community on a number of global issues and emerged as the only major economy that has made tangible progress on the 'Paris Commitment'.

He particularly referred to 'Har Ghar, Nal Se Jal' as an incredibly successful programme which changed the lives of people and urged Governors to help ensure active participation of educational institutions, government organisations as well as NGOs.

Drawing attention to the areas dominated by the Scheduled Tribes, the President said that Governors have a special constitutional role in the development of these areas. By contributing to the progress of these tribal people, they can play their part in the inclusive development of the country, he said.

The day-long conference was marked by a session of reporting by all participants who spoke about the progress made in their respective states. Most of the states discussed the effective manner in which they had tackled the pandemic with the help of the Centre.

Five states - Gujarat, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Telangana - and the Union Territory of Ladakh made separate presentations on their best governance practices. Gujarat's emphasis on organic farming and Uttar Pradesh's special efforts for upscaling education and eradicating tuberculosis found mention in these reports, the release said.

After these sessions, the Vice President urged the Governors to play a proactive role in monitoring the various Central government projects and schemes and ensure that the money intended for people's welfare is spent for the right purpose. He reminded them to maintain high standards and win over people's confidence in taking up issues like climate change.

The Prime Minister said that the institution of the Governor is a critical connection between the Centre and the state, as he urged them to travel to remotest villages of the state and interact with neighbouring Governors regularly to know about people's problems.

In a particular reference to the states that share international borders or are coastal states, he requested Governors to travel to villages along the borders or the seacoast and spend time with people. At the same time, he urged them to hold regular interactions with Central government officials working in their states.

In his welcome speech, the Union Home Minister said that the Governors and Raj Bhavans can play an important role in enhancing public participation in the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.

In his closing remarks, the President said: "Earlier in this forum, we had discussed 'cooperative federalism' and 'competitive federalism'. Cooperation and competition have a prominent place in social life. This gives a momentum to life. But this era is of collaboration. If people are benefited by a new experiment in one state, that experiment should be adopted in other states too."
Phnom Penh, Nov 12 : Cambodia has administered at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccines to 14.01 million people, or 87.6 per cent of its 16 million population, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has said.

"Overall, Cambodia has identified vaccination as a key strategic measure," he told the opening ceremony of the 27th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting through a video link.

With a high vaccination rate, the government announced on November 1 the gradual reopening of the country in all sectors, he added on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), among the first-dose recipients, 13.18 million, or 82.4 per cent, have been fully vaccinated with both required shots, and 2 million, or 12.5 per cent, have received a third dose or a booster dose, Xinhua news agency reported.

Cambodia has launched a Covid-19 national vaccination campaign for all people aged five years and older since February, with China being the major vaccine supplier. Most of the vaccines used in the kingdom's immunization program are Sinovac and Sinopharm.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian nation on Thursday reported 66 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the national total caseload to 119,358, the MoH said, adding that five new fatalities were recorded, taking the overall death toll to 2,850.

An additional 71 patients recovered, lifting the total number of recoveries to 115,730, it said.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 12 : A day before the Odisha 'bandh' call given by the state unit of Congress, the Orissa High Court on Thursday directed the party to hold peaceful protest and not resort to a 'forceful' bandh.

The Congress is set to observe a bandh from 6 am to 12 noon on Friday in order to put pressure on the sate government for the dismissal of Minister of State (MoS) for Home, Dibya Shankar Mishra, for his alleged link to the prime accused in the Mamita Meher murder case. The party has also demanded registration of criminal case and arrest of the minister.

However, Naresh Kumar Mishra, a Cuttack-based businessman, has filed a petition before the court this morning challenging the Bandh.

Hearing the petitioner on an urgent basis, the high court directed that whatever protest is organised on Friday in the state should be peaceful and without any inconvenience or disruption in any manner whatsoever to any member of the public.

"In particular there shall be no attempt to forcibly close or prevent any lawful activity or any shop or establishment or prevent the plying of buses, trains and all forms of public or private transport," the court said in its judgment.

The Director General of Police (DGP) and the Commissioner of Police, both of whom joined the hearing in virtual mode, assured the court that all possible steps will be taken to ensure that no law and order situation arises inconveniencing the public.

"Any such attempt by anyone will be prevented by legal means," the court said.

"The Congress will observe a six-hour peaceful hartal on Friday as per the HC order. The members of the party will not resort to any kind of violent activities or disruptions," Congress spokesperson Satya Prakash Nayak said.

State Congress President Niranjan Patnaik has appealed to the public to support the protest for the interest of the state.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress activists from Odisha led by its President Smruti Ranjan Lenka staged a protest at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday.

They were demanding the removal of Dibya Shankar Mishra and the constitution of a special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of the Chief of Justice of Orissa HC for an impartial probe into the matter.
Phnom Penh, Nov 12 : Promoting the integration of ASEAN community in the new normal is a necessary task to create a great force to transform ASEAN into a resilient and competitive region, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said here.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 27th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings through a video link, Hun Sen added besides fighting against the spread of Covid-19 and developing strategies to revitalize and boost economic growth, the world is facing many common issues, such as geopolitics, trade wars and climate change, Xinhua news agency reported.

In order to address all these issues for the benefit and prosperity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Cambodia understands that ASEAN must adhere to multilateralism and solidarity, he added.

"As a way forward, Cambodia views that promoting the integration of ASEAN community in the new normal is a necessary and appropriate task to create a great force aimed at transforming ASEAN as a whole into a resilient, competitive and inclusive region," Hun Sen said.

"In this context, the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025 will serve as a key plan that will ensure economic growth with minimal development gaps and seamless connectivity among the ASEAN member states and with the world, by further promoting harmony and inclusivity of the three key dimensions of connectivity, namely physical, institutional and people-to-people connectivity," he added.

He said Covid-19 will continue to disrupt global transport operations and supply chains for a long term.

Therefore, ASEAN Transport Ministers should continue to closely monitor and examine the process of carrying out the Implementation Plan of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework by focusing on reinforcing regional connectivity to strengthen the potential of ASEAN markets and socio-economic resilience, Hun Sen added.

"In this regard, promoting smooth and timely cross-border transport between ASEAN member states will contribute to the strengthening of strong and sustainable regional production chains," the Cambodian Prime Minister said.

Meanwhile, he said the transport sector emits around 20 per cent of carbon dioxide, which is a major cause of climate change.

"I would like to request ASEAN to continue to strictly implement the ASEAN Transport Strategic Plan 2016-2025 and encourage the use of eco-friendly vehicles," he added.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Yaounde, Nov 12 : Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least three villagers in overnight raids in Cameroon's Far North region, according to local security sources.

A senior army source said the attackers came to the villages of Roum Toufou 1 and Rougoua Loktcha in Mayo-Tsanaga division of the region at about 11:30 pm local time on Wednesday and killed three people.

In the last two weeks, the terror group has multiplied attacks on civilian communities in the region, according to security reports.

On Tuesday night, a civilian was killed and another one injured in the Goldavi locality of the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

Cameroon's semi-arid Far North region has been a target of Boko Haram suicide bombings and raids since 2014 as the insurgency spilled over the border from Nigeria, killing thousands and uprooting nearly 3 million in the Lake Chad region, according to local NGOs.
Minsk, Nov 12 : Belarus and the United States will not exchange ambassadors in the near future, Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei told media.

Belarus is interested in developing relations with the United States, Makei said on Wednesday, hoping that the United States will better understand the interests of Belarus instead of imposing a US-style form of democracy on the country.

The United States believes Belarus plays a buffer role between Russia and the West, but Belarus has no interest in assuming that position, he added.

In 2008, the ties between Belarus and the United States deteriorated due to sanctions imposed by the United States against the country, Xinhua news agency reported.

Belarus recalled its ambassador to the United States, then the US Ambassador to Belarus left his post.

In September 2019, a senior US State Department official said during a visit to Belarus that the United States and Belarus had decided to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries.

But in August 2021, the United States introduced a new package of sanctions on the Eastern European country. After that, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry withdrew a decision to approve Julie Fisher as US Ambassador.
Tehran, Nov 12 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Iran is ready to achieve a "good agreement" during the upcoming Vienna talks, Iranian news network Press TV has reported.

Iran's Chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani is "engaged in successful talks in Europe these days," Amir Abdollahian added, referring to Bagheri Kani's tour to European countries ahead of the talks between Iran and the remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

The Vienna talks, aimed at the revival of the JCPOA, are set to resume on November 29, after a pause following six rounds of negotiations between April and June, Xinhua news agency reported.

"At the negotiating table in Vienna, we are ready to deliver a good agreement," Amir Abdollahian was quoted as saying.

He urged all parties engaged in the talks to re-embrace their nuclear commitments, saying "the return of all parties to their commitments is an important and leading principle." In an interview with Iran's state TV in Paris on Wednesday, Bagheri Kani, also Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, said the upcoming talks must focus on the lifting of the US sanctions against Iran.

"Just let me insist on this: we are not holding nuclear talks, since the nuclear issue was fully agreed in 2015, in the form of the agreement between Iran and the P5+1," he added.

P5+1 refers to the UN Security Council's five permanent members (China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States) plus Germany.

The JCPOA Joint Commission is scheduled to reconvene in Austria's capital Vienna with the participation of delegates from China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and Iran.

The United States, which pulled out of the agreement in May 2018 under former President Donald Trump, is expected to engage in the talks indirectly.
Here are early reactions to the book. "It has been eye opening to learn firsthand the work of the school counseling staff at my childs school and what they do to support the educational process". "As a fellow counselor, it was great to see a light shined this way into counseling. Its a great read."

Book Baby Publishing announces the release of The Real Deal of School Counseling. Real Deal is a book for those who are studying school counseling at the university, for those who have been in profession for years.

The Real Deal of School Counseling gives a realistic overview of the current state of school counseling. As a veteran school counselor of 17 years, Gadsden felt the need to write this book to encourage those involved in counseling. Gadsden saw, after having been a site coordinator for 30+ school counseling interns, that the interns come to the school site with an excellent grasp on theory and come with great hope to provide student support, generate insightful initiatives, lead small groups, and fully connect to students. Then when they truly saw what actually happened at school sites and districts throughout the K-12 system, many were not ready for the emotional toll that must be paid. They were discouraged when they discovered how much time it takes to work with each student, how much time the huge caseloads take, they realize that there is not enough time in the work day to get it all done.

The Real Deal is available at available in the following formats: hardback, softback and digital ebook format.

All book formats may be ordered on http://www.CLGADSDEN.COM
Companies with high security environments can now achieve peace of mind deploying an on premise two-factor authentication solution. Government agencies, telecommunications companies, manufacturers, large MSPs, and any company that needs an extra layer of security without utilizing the cloud can now rely on LoginTC Managed, a new product from Cyphercor Inc., for their 2FA needs.

LoginTC Managed represents our commitment to adding simple and secure multi-factor authentication everywhere there is a username and password, says Diego Matute, CEO and founder of Cyphercor. With this addition, we allow increased flexibility in deployment options for organizations that do not want yet another cloud dependency for their core operations.

LoginTC Managed is a fully on premise two factor authentication solution that provides an additional layer of security to a companys applications and services, without the need to connect externally to the cloud.

This news comes in the wake of months of growth and expansion in the company, as well as being acclaimed as one of the Best Identity Management Start-ups in Canada, and CEO Diego Matutes recognition as one of Ottawas Top 40 under Forty Business Leaders.

The need for a fully on premise two-factor authentication solution is something we've been hearing from professionals in high security environments for a while now, said Director of Operations, Victoria Savage. We're excited to be filling that need with LoginTC Managed.

To learn more about what the new LoginTC Managed platform will look like, click here.

About Cyphercor: Cyphercor is a team of dedicated, thoughtful and forward-thinking people that want to make security accessible rather than get in your way. We believe all organizations should have access to seamless, user friendly, secure and well supported multi-factor authentication. LoginTC is trusted worldwide by organizations large and small representing virtually every sector of the economy.
Veterans Cannabis Group Air Force Veteran and VCG Co-founder and Board Member, Jeremy Freitas concludes, The ECS21 study represents the Veterans Cannabis Groups ever-present commitment to driving forward the global medicinal cannabis movement while also serving the men and women who so bravely served our nation.

The Veterans Cannabis Group (VCG), a national non-profit advocacy organization founded in 2016, announced today, in honor of Veterans Day, its official partnership with Metta Medical, maker of LEVEL brand cannabis edible products, to co-sponsor ECS21, a California-based study into cannabinoid cannabigerols potential for improving sleep.

The ECS21 study will track the effects of cannabigerol - known as CBG - on the sleep patterns of over 100 Veteran volunteers for an eight-week period. By using Fitbit smartwatches and an app created by Curebase, a company committed to democratizing access to clinical studies that is also a partner in ECS21, the decentralized clinical trial leverages technology to reach a broader range of volunteer participants. Because it is able to include a more diverse range of veterans - like those who live outside major cities or lack dependable transportation - the studys results - which are due out in 2022 - will provide deep insight into the potential medicinal uses for CBG to improve ones sleep.

In 2019, the VA reported the veteran suicide rate to be 52.3% higher than the general population, said VCG Founder and former Army Sergeant, Aaron Augustis. With sleep disorders greatly impacting ones overall wellbeing, its obvious that helping veterans - and everyone - get better sleep is a key solution to the battle to end the veteran suicide crisis.

Similar to the VCG, Metta Medicals mission is to destigmatize cannabis use and encourage additional research into the plants possible medicinal benefits.

As a former US Navy veteran, I deeply empathize with those who carry the scars of war, adds Metta Medical Founder, Chris Emerson. I can see no better use for scientific study than to advance our understanding of how to use this natural plant to make effective, safe medicines.

The Veterans Cannabis Groups policy work has long focused on improving both state and federal-level governmental understanding and acceptance of cannabiss medicinal uses. In 2017, for example, VCG Founder Aaron Augustis visited Capitol Hill to speak on cannabiss potential uses upon invitation from Washington D.C. leadership, including representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs. More recently, beginning in 2019, the VCG provided veteran-level support to help successfully pass 2020s California Senate Bill 34, an initiative designed to ease access to medicinal cannabis for those in need.

Air Force Veteran and VCG Co-founder and Board Member, Jeremy Freitas concludes, The ECS21 study represents the Veterans Cannabis Groups ever-present commitment to driving forward the global medicinal cannabis movement by adding to a shared body of scientific knowledge into the many curative possibilities cannabis offers while also serving the men and women who so bravely served our nation.

To learn more about the Veterans Cannabis Group and the services they provide veterans and their families, visit http://www.veteranscannabisgroup.com.

ABOUT VETERANS CANNABIS GROUP

As a veteran-led advocacy group supporting veterans who use medicinal cannabis to alleviate their service-connected disabilities, the Veterans Cannabis Group is mission-driven to strengthen relationships between veteran communities, the cannabis industry, scientists, healthcare professionals, and city, state and Federal governments. Founded in 2016 in California by former US Army Sergeant Aaron Augustis, the group provides veterans and their families education about and safe access to medicinal cannabis alongside career opportunities and information on official US Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. By working directly with the VA in support of safe access to and continued scientific study of medicinal cannabis, the Veterans Cannabis Group advances the global cannabis medicinal movement. For more information, visit https://veteranscannabisgroup.com.

ABOUT LEVEL

LEVEL is a cannabinoid research and development company that is unlocking the true potential of cannabis to deliver brand-new highs with targeted effects. LEVEL formulates with cannabinoids you don't often hear about (CBG, CBN, THCa, THCv, Delta-8 THC) as well as the ones you do (Delta-9 THC and CBD) into swallowable and dissolvable tablets. LEVEL's products are scientifically designed to deliver the desired effect, every time. Whether you're looking to focus on a project, get a good night's sleep, prevent a hangover, relieve stress, or soothe aches and pains, there's a unique cannabinoid profile for that. We crafted the range of doses and intake methods we offer with the intention of providing tools that help you discover what your body responds to bestno matter your experience level with cannabis. For more information, visit https://levelexperience.com/.
Dr. Steve Carstensen and Dr. Lee Surkin I couldnt be more elated with this new development within the organization and enthusiastically look forward to our DSP future and the importance it will continue to hold within our marketplace, continuing to educate doctors on the critical treatment of OSA. -Lisa Moler, Publisher

Dental Sleep Practice (DSP), the leading magazine for dentists and dental professionals dedicated to the treatment of sleep breathing disorders, is proud to announce two new editors who are experts in this continually changing and evolving specialty. Steve Carstensen, DDS, will be returning to the DSP team as Chief Dental Editor, and Lee A. Surkin, MD, has been named Chief Medical Editor. Together, these brilliant doctors will be covering the entire gamut of sleep-related breathing disorders in the newly formatted MedMark Media publication.

DSP Publisher Lisa Moler said, I couldnt be more elated with this new development within the organization and enthusiastically look forward to our DSP future and the importance it will continue to hold within our marketplace, continuing to educate doctors on the critical treatment of OSA.

Lee A. Surkin, MD, FACC, FCCP, FASNC, FAASM, is triple board certified in Sleep Medicine, Cardiology, and Nuclear Cardiology. He is President of Empire Sleep Medicine, CardioSleep Diagnostics, and Chief Medical Officer of Sapphire Sleep Ventures and VirtuOx, Inc. Dr. Surkin is founder of the American Academy of Cardiovascular Sleep Medicine, a not-for-profit academic organization dedicated to an interdisciplinary approach to education, supporting clinical and academic research and furthering public awareness of the strong association between cardiovascular disease and sleep disorders. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Dr. Surkin has co-authored a seminal manuscript titled Cardiovascular Disorders in Narcolepsy, published in the prestigious European peer-reviewed journal, Sleep Medicine Reviews in August 2021. With over 24 years of clinical practice as a trailblazer in the fields of cardiovascular disease and sleep medicine, Dr. Surkin focuses on the integrative relationship between cardiovascular disease, sleep disorders, obesity, and stress. In a clinical setting, this is a unique, comprehensive, and effective model for patient care.

Dr. Surkin said, I am honored to become Dental Sleep Practice's first Chief Medical Editor and will bring a fresh approach to the collaborative and interdisciplinary relationship that needs to be fostered between dentists and medical doctors. Through shared learning presented in Dental Sleep Practice, we intend to spark communication leading to relationship building and ultimately enhanced patient care."

Steve Carstensen, DDS, graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry and has practiced in Texas and Washington. He achieved Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentists in recognition of thousands of hours of advanced education in dentistry, with an increasing amount of time in both practice and classwork devoted to sleep medicine. A lifelong educator, Dr. Carstensen is Sleep Education Director for Pankey Institute and lectures on the subject at Spear Education, recognized as among the finest places for dentists to further their education. As a volunteer leader for the American Dental Association, he was a Program Chairman and General Chairman for the Annual Session, the biggest educational event the Association sponsors.

He is the Consultant to the American Dental Association for sleep-related breathing disorders and co-author of a textbook for dentists treating the disease. For the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, he has been a Board Member, Secretary Treasurer, and President-Elect. He also has achieved Certification by the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine.

Dr. Carstensen said, Clinicians everywhere are constantly seeking the best new information to be able to help their communities and patients in their office. Im excited that Dental Sleep Practice has enlarged its vision to embrace collaboration between dentistry and medicine even more broadly. Returning as Chief Dental Editor is a true highlight of my career, and I cant wait to get to work.

Sleep Apnea, a sleep disorder that causes breathing to frequently stop and start, has been associated with significant health risks, including high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. In the national effort to understand, diagnose, and treat this disorder, dental professionals have emerged as an important part of the community seeking to build a knowledge database aimed at alleviating human suffering due to Sleep Apnea.

Dental Sleep Practice has repeatedly been recognized as a leading publication in the dental sleep niche. The journals affiliation with The Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorder Disciplines underscores its mission is to provide dentists and clinical teams with online, on-demand access to academically rigorous education and credentialing built upon evidence-based, multidisciplinary scholarship of sleep-related breathing disorders, TMD, and Craniofacial Pain. DSP is specifically designed to serve the professionals whose practices focus on understanding and treating Sleep Apnea disorders in the United States. The publication caters to all in the industry, from newcomers seeking to immerse themselves in best practices to current practitioners sharing their latest insights to service or equipment providers benefiting from a constant and deep connection to current and potential customers.

The new editors are eager to promote the journals mission in serving the Dental Sleep community, both from a dental and medical perspective.

MedMark Media has produced dental journals in the fields of endodontics, implants, and orthodontics for 16 years. The company is dedicated to creating a healthier America through knowledge, due diligence, and experience, by empowering dental professionals with high quality clinical information in clear and concise language and showcasing innovative technologies.

For more information please visit: https://dentalsleeppractice.com and https://medmarkmedia.com.
mHUB MedTech accelerator cohort meets in Chicago for 6-month program As a program mentor, Im excited to welcome to the city a group of hardtech focused healthcare startups that will help revolutionize how we diagnose and manage patients across the world.

mHUB, one of the nations leading independent hardtech and manufacturing innovation centers, has selected the startup teams that will participate in the premier cohort of its 6-month, hands-on accelerator for high-potential medical device businesses. Teams will move from across the country to participate in the program at mHUBs state-of-the-art facilities in Chicago. The program is set to commence in November 2021.

Supported by Baxter and Edward-Elmhurst Health Venture Capital, the programs industry partners will engage with the startups over the course of the program, providing mentorship and guidance for strategic connections within industry and clinical access. Community partner MATTER will provide additional programming and industry access, and Cooley LLP will provide legal programming, resources and office hours.

The selected cohort features early-stage ventures focused on commercializing disruptive medical device solutions such as: a needle-free platform to deliver biologics; wearables for reducing tremors, detecting and treating vestibular disruptions, and capturing wellness markers in elderly patients; as well as monitoring solutions for fetal care, cancer patients, diagnosing sepsis, and tracking IV drug delivery through sensors.

Chicago is a great place for entrepreneurs, and mHUB has built an incredible community around supporting startups that are manufacturing products, including medical devices, said Lyle Berkowitz, MD, a Chicagoland physician, entrepreneur, and investor. As a program mentor, Im excited to welcome to the city a group of hardtech focused healthcare startups that will help revolutionize how we diagnose and manage patients across the world.

The selected startups are the result of a rigorous selection process that included an advisory committee of healthcare industry experts, venture capitalists, manufacturers, and serial entrepreneurs. The startups were selected based on their ability to address large, unmet needs with innovative solutions that will transform patient care.

In alphabetical order, cohort teams include:



Bionode (Indianapolis, Indiana) developing smart contact lens system that rapidly reduces intra-ocular pressure in patients with glaucoma;

Equibands (Chicago, Illinois): developing Minimize, a lightweight, non-invasive, and discreet bracelet designed to counteract hand tremors  restoring independence for over 120 million people worldwide;

HIVE (St. Louis, Missouri): developing CloudConnect, a smart IV line that monitors when patients take (and forget to take) IV medication, continuously sending data to clinicians to empower them to act quickly and prevent expensive readmissions;

Neursantys (Calgary, Alberta, CA): developing NEURVESTA, a wearable which detects neurophysiological impairments disrupting balance and gait and delivers personalized neurostimulation to treat vestibular disruptions caused by aging, head impacts, and other medical conditions;

NovaXS (Berkeley, CA): developing Telosis, a needle-free medicine delivery platform delivering biologics into the lymphatic system for applications such as gene therapy, oncology, muscular degenerative disease, and endocrinology while improving treatment compliance;

NXgenPort (St Paul, Minnesota): developing NXgenPort (NGP), a device that maximizes remote care in cancer patients by combining proven chemo-port efficacy with microchip and sensor technology to monitor and report physiological measurements in vivo;

Ping (Chicago, Illinois): developing wearables that capture the wellness information of seniors to drive up engagement between aging populations and their family caregivers

ProMedix (Portland, OR): developing HydraSense to provide a rapid, accurate, and noninvasive assessment at the clinical bedside or remote care setting to help diagnose sepsis and monitor patient decline and response to treatment;

Walela (Mundelein, Illinois): developing sensor technology that measures fetal heart rate and blood pH to improve fetal and maternal outcomes and reduce unnecessary c-sections.

When the mHUB accelerator program was launched, MedTech was an obvious vertical for mHUB to support, said Melissa Lederer, mHUB Chief Experience Officer. The development of medical devices is a complex process. mHUB is positioned to help accelerate the product development of hardware while supporting the teams with the resources, guidance and healthcare industry access they need to navigate the commercialization path to market.

The MedTech cohort is the second cohort of mHUBs Accelerated Incubation program launched in 2020. The program was founded to address the specific barriers of bringing a hardtech solution to market. Mainly, the ability to rapidly prototype and scale and connect with investors who realize the upside of disruptive hardware solutions.

The mHUB accelerator provides access to capital through a $15M Product Impact Fund, nearly closed, with follow-on investment opportunities from the programs corporate partners as well as access to over $6M of capital-intensive prototyping equipment and business resources. It matches seasoned mentors to each startup, focuses on business and leadership training and offers access to a broad manufacturing ecosystem. Being situated in Chicago, one of the nations largest manufacturing regions, mHUB has built a supplier network of over 500+ U.S. manufacturers and growing.

Advances in technology are revolutionizing digital health and personalized medicine, said Cathy Skinner, CEO, NXgenPort. The mHUB accelerator program provides tremendous value to a medical device company like NXgenPort that uses microchip and sensor technology to enable remote monitoring of cancer patients. As an entrepreneur with over a decade of startup experience, accessing a prototyping lab as well as investment, on top of mentorship from healthcare leaders in Chicago, is a unique opportunity.

The healthcare industry is primed for disruption, partially due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and partially the speed at which smart technologies are transforming industries, said Heather Walsh, Executive Director, MedTech Cohort, mHUB Accelerator Program. Demand-driven, novel medical device technologies are being developed in response to the identification of new pain points in healthcare and an understanding of how the current technology can meet those challenges. Im thrilled to work with this group of startups who are bringing novel approaches to solving large, unmet needs.

The hyper-resourced accelerator program began on November 8 in Chicago.

mHUB will launch additional sector-specific accelerators approximately every six months with the next cohort focused on EnergyTech set to open application early next year. For more information visit http://www.mhubaccelerator.com.
Eric Dinger We see this increased activity as a monumental opportunity to capture that interest and replant, restore, and revitalize forests around the world on an exponential scale.' - Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation

Eric Dinger, a committed conservationist and successful entrepreneur, is joining the Arbor Day Foundation as president of its new carbon market venture: Arbor Day Carbon.

Arbor Day Carbon is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Arbor Day Foundation.

Arbor Day Carbon was created to accelerate the revitalization of forest ecosystems through nature-based solutions, specifically trees and forests, by growing carbon market demand. Dinger will work with investors to help drive the creation of quality carbon credits to meet current market demand; support developers and landowners to maximize the impact of their carbon projects; and partner with companies who seek to incorporate verified forestry carbon credits into their sustainability programs.

Carbon markets are very popular right now for corporations looking to voluntarily reduce their carbon footprint, said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. We see this increased activity as a monumental opportunity to capture that interest and replant, restore, and revitalize forests around the world on an exponential scale. Eric is an entrepreneur at heart with a start-up mindset, which is precisely what we need for this new undertaking at the Arbor Day Foundation.

Before coming to the Arbor Day Foundation, Dinger was the co-founder of Powderhook, a tech company that would connect conservationists to help share information and education for outdoor recreation activities. Powderhook was acquired by Sovereign Sportsman Solutions as part of a conservation technology roll-up strategy in 2019.

My lifes work has been about growing outdoor recreation and funding for conservation. Carbon credits will likely be the largest funding source for conservation work for generations to come, Dinger said. To be able to join the worlds best-known tree-planting organization to lead this venture is an exciting honor. With the respect of the Arbor Day Foundation brand behind our efforts, Arbor Day Carbon can differentiate our carbon products and programs, and ultimately maximize our impact.

Learn more about Arbor Day Carbon here.

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 help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

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.
I feel honored to be able to celebrate these 3 sites at once. Each one is encompassed by an extraordinary group of people who have truly achieved great things. - Mark Lacy, CEO and Founder

Since 1997, Benchmark Research has opened eight research sites in Texas, Louisiana, and California and developed a track record of safety and expertise, conducting more than 1,000 trials to study vaccines with over 45,000 participants. With these clinical trial participants, the company has made a substantial impact on vaccine development and the future health of communities throughout the country.

The three sites the company is celebrating are New Orleans - North Shore, Los Angeles, and San Antonio. According to Benchmark, these sites have all endured unexpected challenges such as hurricanes and opening in the midst of a pandemic but even so, they have greatly succeeded in their studies and developed a reputation for excellence.

Before Benchmark opened their New Orleans - North Shore site location they opened their first Louisiana site in Metairie in January of 2005, expanding to North Shore in October of 2019 and serving primarily pediatric populations. In less than 3 years, the site has enrolled over 555 participants. The Principal Investigators are Dr. Sherry Casey, Pediatrician and Dr. Rick Casey, Pulmonologist who primarily focuses on in patient studies.This clinic was chosen to participate in helping combat the pandemic by conducting trials to test the Medicago vaccine known as the plant based vaccine aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19. Recently, the site endured the challenges brought by Hurricane Ida, during this time the inspiring staff at NOLA North Shore came together as they did during the pandemic and showed tremendous dedication to their work and patients. Since its opening, the staff at the site have been recognized for their capabilities and expertise, recently Site Director Kim Harper spoke with Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development to offer insight on the burden that sites encounter when trying to execute complex and demanding protocols.

In October 2020, the company opened their 1st site within Los Angeles, named Benchmark SoCal. Located in the central area of 11 Urgent Cares with access to over 100,000 patients in the San Bernardino district, Benchmark SoCal was quickly recognized for its integrity since opening, having been awarded 2 Coronavirus studies and two diagnostic studies within the first month. The Principal Investigator for this location is Dr. Brian Bearie who has over 21 years of experience in the medical field and has served as Principal Investigator on over 21 Research Studies. This month the site expanded their current office space and will now have a new conference room for site initiation visits.

In 2021, Benchmark celebrated their newest site in San Antonio, making this their fourth site in Texas. The clinic, focused on conducting pediatric vaccine studies, is headed up by Olutola O. Adetona, M.D., M.P.H., who, during his career, has worked on 22 pediatric clinical research studies. Dr. Adetona has practiced in San Antonio for a dozen years and earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where he did his residency in Pediatrics.
Cary Smithson - Phlexglobal's Director of Regulatory Solutions Carys knowledge and proven leadership bridging all these areas will help Phlexglobal provide our customers with the right solutions for the pressing tasks ahead.John McNeillChief Executive Officer

Phlexglobal, a leading innovative technology and services provider for the life sciences industry, today announced that Cary Smithson, a widely respected life sciences regulatory subject matter expert, has joined Phlexglobal to lead its growing regulatory operations team. In her role as Director, Regulatory Solutions, Cary brings over 25 years of experience across clinical and regulatory strategy and operations to help Phlexglobal customers navigate the accelerating shift to structured data and digitalized business processes.

Cary will focus her teams efforts on supporting customer strategic initiatives that drive increased business productivity, enhance regulatory compliance, and simplify information management and the use of technology. She will draw on in-depth experience and insights encompassing regulatory information management, electronic submissions, clinical operations, GxP quality and compliance, IT strategy, and business process optimization. Cary will also maintain her longstanding support of the life sciences industry by continuing to lead the DIA RIM Artificial Intelligence topic group, as well as contributing to the DIA RIM Reference Model.

I was impressed by the customer-first approach that Phlexglobal takes across the organization, and their leadership role in supporting the development and implementation of pragmatic industry standards, Cary noted. Phlexglobal also understands that its not about technology for technologys sake, but how innovation can support the most pressing business needs of our customers. With critical regulatory initiatives underway such as DADI, ISO IDMP, eCTD v4, ePI and more requiring effective solutions, it was an easy choice to join this exciting team to help our industry overcome these challenges.

Were gratified that with so many doors open to her, Cary chose Phlexglobal, said John McNeill, CEO of Phlexglobal. Our industry is undergoing a challenging transition where the close alignment of people, processes, and technologies across clinical and regulatory will be critical to success. Carys knowledge and proven leadership bridging all these areas will help Phlexglobal provide our customers with the right solutions for the pressing tasks ahead.
Enjoy the ultimate 5-star Deluxe experience in Egypt sailing onboard HS Nebu with Central Holidays Our revolutionary new 5-Star Deluxe Nile Cruise ship HS Nebu, features unparalleled modernity with traditionally inspired touches that transport guests both literally and figuratively to the lands of ancient pharaohs, golden-clad tombs, and legendary pyramids  all while sailing in the lap of luxury

Central Holidays together with its parent company Sakkara Group International (SGI) are announcing the debut of their newest, ultra-luxe Nile River cruise ship  HS Nebu, bringing their fleet to 11 vessels, and raising the bar in Nile River cruising.

We are thrilled to demonstrate our commitment to travel in Egypt and to the US travel market with this investment that that sets a new standard of luxury in Nile River cruising, said Baher Ghabbour, Chairman and CEO of Sakkara Group International. We invite everyone to come experience the ultimate dream vacation in Egypt with Central Holidays sailing onboard our newest 5-Star Deluxe Nile Cruise ship HS Nebu. Building on our legacy on the Nile nearly 50 years strong, our revolutionary new river cruise vessel features unparalleled modernity with traditionally inspired touches that transport guests both literally and figuratively to the lands of ancient pharaohs, golden-clad tombs, and legendary pyramids  all while sailing in the lap of luxury.

HS Nebu entered service with its initial sailing on October 2, 2021. The new vessel is specifically designed for the North American market, brimming with amazing features and amenities for guests supreme comfort and convenience, including spacious staterooms with French balconies and plush linens, the highest safety standards, Wi-Fi, and much more. The ship features a diverse choice of exquisite dining options, including the Main Dining Room, Lounge Bar, Sundeck, and a live chef station. Plus, while onboard travelers can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool with bar service available to indulge requests. Wellness takes center stage as Nebu showcases the largest Spa on the River Nile, as well as a well-equipped fitness center.

The new 5-star vessel features 40 suites in four classes, and all of Nebus cabins are the largest in their respective categories on the Nile River. The 33 standard suites are each 301 square feet, approximately 100 square feet larger than other ships, and include a French balcony. There are two executive suites onboard, each with a cabin size of 452 square feet and each with a French balcony. Additionally, there are four single suites, each with a cabin size of 205 square feet. The one Owners Suite measures 764 square feet and offers a full balcony.

HS Nebu presents the ultimate 5-Star Deluxe Nile Cruise just waiting to be enjoyed, said Tewfik Ghattas, Board Member of SGI. At Central Holidays, were proud to share our insight into Egypt with you in everything we do. Since 1972, weve taken travelers to experience the mystifying sights, vibrant sounds, and endless delights of Egypt. This expertise translates into the very most authentically rich experiences of a lifetime for travel advisors and their clients as they sail with us onboard Nebu and in each fascinating port along the way.

Further to the launch of Nebu, Central Holidays is also pleased to announce the expansion of its dedicated travel industry Sales team with the addition of Egypt travel specialist and Egypt native, Mayye Osman as the new Manager - Egypt Product Development and Destination Specialist for Central Holidays, continued Ghattas.

It is an extremely exciting time to be part of this expansion into Egypt as travelers look forward to heading out on the travel adventures of their lives after the past year-and-a-half pent up, said Osman. Our Nebu cruise itineraries allow travelers to become part of the culture, history, ambiance, and everyday life of each place visited. Whether opting for a 3, 4, or 7-day sailing, travelers will revel in a meticulously planned cruise and land vacation in Egypt, an in-depth destination experience, all of our advanced safety and cleanliness protocols, the best service, and an unsurpassed insider's perspective when they travel with Central Holidays!

For additional details on HS Nebu or on Cruise and Land itineraries offered onboard the new luxury ship, contact Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or visit centralholidays.com.

About Central Holidays:

Founded in 1972, Central Holidays is an award-winning travel brand that offers superior travel programs, value, and service to enchanting destinations across Italy, Europe, Egypt, Africa, West Asia, and Latin America. As true destination specialists, this leader in travel offers an expansive range of Independent, Escorted, Hosted, and Land/Cruise itineraries. Central Holidays presents a wide array of diverse travel opportunities including cultural programs, culinary adventures, family vacations, romantic getaways, and active travel. Group Travel Experiences are a hallmark of the company, offering special interest travel, religious pilgrimages, and fully customized programs. Their newest brand, Journeys by Central Holidays, was created to orchestrate tailor-made travel experiences that redefine luxury. Central Holidays remains at the forefront of the tourism and travel industry, offering distinctive travel programs that support brand promises of reliability, expertise, and flexibility. For more information, contact Central Holidays at 1-800-935-5000 or visit centralholidays.com.
Clayton County Joins the Georgia Purchasing Group Registered vendors can access bids, related documents, addendum and award information.

Clayton County joins the Georgia Purchasing Group, an e-sourcing solution from bidnet direct that provides 17 local government agencies throughout Georgia a solution for bid and vendor management. All potential Clayton County vendors are encouraged to register online with http://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia to access upcoming solicitations.

Prior to joining the Georgia Purchasing Group, Clayton County published solicitations directly to their own website. The process will continue with notices, but all vendors must register with the Georgia Purchasing Group to download documents and view the full solicitation details. By publishing future solicitations on the Georgia Purchasing Group, Clayton County will be able to track every step of the process and have a more transparent bid process.

Government agencies using the Georgia Purchasing Group can track full business details of the vendors who view a request for proposal (RFP), download related documents, and verifies if the vendor saw an addendum.

With the Georgia Purchasing Group, we can also see whether or not a vendor who downloads our bids is a minority business, small business, or local, says Carol J. Rogers, Director of Central Services of Clayton County. This level of tracking, both pre-and post-award, was not possible from our website and it is very helpful for auditing and showing due diligence.

Clayton County invites all local vendors to receive access to its upcoming solicitations by joining the Georgia Purchasing Group. Vendor benefits of registering on http://www.bidnetdirect.com/georgia include:



Centralized Location to Opportunities from all 17 Participating Agencies

Notification of Term  Contract Expiration

Bid Alerts Customized to the Vendors' Products or Services Provided

Full Customer Service Support

About Clayton County:

Clayton County, where the world lands and opportunities take off, is a suburban community just minutes south of downtown Atlanta. We have a relaxed and neighborly feel like a small town, but with all the amenities of a major metropolitan area. An attractive lifestyle, business opportunities, a fine public educational system plus a university, and numerous excellent health care facilities, which make Clayton County a highly attractive place to live, work and play.

About bidnet direct:

bidnet direct, powered by mdf commerce, is a sourcing solution of regional purchasing groups available at no cost to local government agencies throughout the country. bidnet direct runs regional purchasing groups, including the Georgia Purchasing Group, across all 50 states that are used by over 1,600 local governments. To learn more and have your government agency gain better transparency and efficiency in purchasing, please visit https://www.bidnetdirect.com/buyers
Complimentary Brake inspection available at Akins Ford with regular service appointments

Akins Ford, a dealership and service center in the Atlanta area is offering all its customers a complimentary brake inspection along with regular service appointments. Winter is approaching and it is essential to get a vehicle inspection done before the snow hits. Keeping this in mind, Akins Ford is offering a free brake inspection performed by an expert technician to all its customers. The inspection will include inspecting the brake friction material, caliper operation, rotors, drums, hoses and connections. The technician will also examine the parking brakes for damage and ensure proper operation.

According to the dealership website, the complimentary brake inspection offer is valid until 31st December 2021. This offer can be availed of only a specific coupon.This coupon is available for printing on the dealership website. Interested residents of the Atlanta area are encouraged to visit the dealership website and get the free brake inspection on their next vehicle service appointment.

Akins Ford offers numerous services like tire balance and rotation, multi-point inspection, battery and brake-pad replacement. Prospective clients can schedule a service appointment at Akins Ford by visiting the dealership's website or by visiting the dealership in person. Akins Ford has the largest selection of Ford vehicles in Georgia. The dealership is located in the Atlanta metropolitan area at 220 W. May St. in Winder, GA. They are open for business Monday through Friday from 8:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The merger provides a platform for growth for our clients as well as our people. Many of our clients have aspirations to expand into the US or are heading towards an IPO on a US stock exchange. We are excited to be able to offer a wider range of services to support them on this journey.

Frazier & Deeter announced today its acquisition of Confluence Tax, a specialist tax practice known for its expertise in providing tax planning, tax compliance and other advisory services to biotechnology and technology companies in the UK. The Confluence Tax merger will strengthen Frazier & Deeters life sciences and technology practices and will expand the firms UK geographic presence to include Cambridge as well as London.

Expanding Frazier & Deeters presence and expertise in the UK is an exciting move for our firm and our clients, said Seth McDaniel, Managing Partner of Frazier & Deeter globally. The team at Confluence Tax is highly regarded in the life sciences community in the UK and has exceptional experience advising biotechnology and technology companies on tax matters.

Confluence Tax Founder Colin Hailey will continue to lead the firm from their office in Cambridge. Confluence Tax will begin to operate as a member of the Frazier & Deeter family of brands.

Our team is thrilled to become part of Frazier & Deeter. The merger provides a platform for growth for our clients as well as our people. Many of our clients have aspirations to expand into the US or are heading towards an IPO on a US stock exchange. We are excited to be able to offer a wider range of services to support them on this journey, said Colin Hailey.

Malcolm Joy, Lead Partner for Frazier & Deeter in the UK noted, Our international specialists have been working closely with Confluence Tax to serve their clients for some time now, and we know their team shares Frazier & Deeters values as represented in our brand promise of Investing in Relationships to Make a Difference. We are delighted to add the Confluence Tax team to our firm.

Frazier & Deeter is ranked among the top 50 accounting and advisory firms in the United States, with nine offices in the US serving thousands of clients around the world. In the US, Frazier & Deeter has been named a Best Firm to Work For and A Best Firm for Women. The firm entered the UK in 2019 under the leadership of Malcolm Joy, who was previously head of the UK Life Sciences sector for a top-five global accounting firm. Since then, the UK practice has grown rapidly, with an emphasis on serving fast-growing technology and life sciences companies as they expand internationally.

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 offices across the United States and now two 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.

About Confluence Tax

Confluence Tax was founded in 2010 as the only UK advisory firm to provide tax advice to businesses and individuals specifically within the technology and life sciences industries. The expert team has a deep understanding of companies operating within the knowledge economy and can advise on all aspects of tax and company structuring that are pertinent to this space. The Confluence Tax team operates out of a Cambridge office while serving clients all across the UK.

Confluence Tax is a member of the UK BioIndustry Association and a member of One Nucleus.
In addition to performance and privacy, the behavioral analytics thats required for effective API security requires a vast store of data. We are impressed with the Neosec platform and how it provides this and all the necessary heavy lifting - Alon Mantsur, CEO of Cybrella.

Cybrella, a leading provider of specialized cybersecurity professional services utilizing in-depth knowledge of the attack landscape, today announced a partnership with Neosec to provide AI-based API security as part of the companys services. The new partnership enables Cybrellas customers to discover all APIs in use across their organization, analyze the behavior of those APIs, and prevent abuse or cyberthreats that may be exploiting them.

Modern applications are essentially all API-driven, and they frequently expose confidential and proprietary information through these North-south APIs as the company communicates with partners, suppliers, and other users. This presents a new attack surface that puts businesses at risk in a new and fundamentally different way. Conventional application security techniques are largely irrelevant against API exploits and abuses. However, Neosecs new and innovative AI-based API Security Platform is an ideal solution to help businesses address these new API-based threats. Designed specifically to discover and secure all APIs used across the organization, without agents or sensors, Neosec gives security professionals visibility and control over their API infrastructurepreventing abuses and cyberattacks.

Organizations that contract with Cybrella for CISO as a Service, Application Security, or other cybersecurity services, can now benefit from Neosecs innovative AI-based API security. This new partnership adds the following advantages for Cybrella customers:



API Discovery: Locate API usage across the entire enterprise, including those previously unknown.

Pinpoint Vulnerabilities: Identify those APIs within the organization that have vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or that exhibit other risks.

Fraud Reduction: Find unauthorized use or abuse of financial and other transactions.

Prevent Data Leakage: Detect data exfiltration and regulatory compliance violations.

Improved Customer Experience: Improve partner and customer experiences through better API performance and a reduction in errors.

Cloud-Based and Seamless Integration: An open and extensible SaaS solution that layers on top of your enterprise core security stack to provide a total integrated solution.

Implemented and Managed by Cybrellas Experts: Cybrellas Application Security and CISO as a Service packages remove the complexities of installation and on-going administration.

Application Security Services and Advisory CISO Services

Cybrella provides the deep security skill sets that organizations typically lack, and engages with existing staff to properly assess security needs, develop appropriate policies, and clearly define responsibilities. The company works closely with its clients and educates their employees in the process of developing and maintaining secure applications, including the use of APIs. In addition to Application Security Services, Cybrellas Advisory CISO Service provides customers who lack in-house expertise with a dedicated CISO that operates as an integral part of their organization. The newly added API protection available through the Neosec partnership greatly contributes to both services. The Neosec platform adds an entirely new and powerful dimension to application security, and provides CISOs and other network defenders with the visibility required to secure all of their API based interactions.

In addition to performance and privacy, the behavioral analytics thats required for effective API security requires a vast store of data. We are impressed with the Neosec platform and how it provides this and all the necessary heavy lifting says Alon Mantsur, CEO of Cybrella. We are very pleased and excited to provide these added capabilities to our clients.

Giora Engel, Co-founder and CEO of Neosec commented We are enthusiastic about this industry-first partnership with Cybrella that goes beyond providing the product and includes additional layers of security consulting services and managed services. From API discovery to behavioral detection and response, Im confident that Neosec, combined with Cybrellas vast experience in cybersecurity, will provide security teams with the tools to accelerate customers digital transformation journey while reducing the risk and abuse.

With these optimized security services and the Neosec platform, businesses can get the most out of every corporate dollar.

About Cybrella

Cybrella is a world leading cybersecurity consulting company. HQ in Boston with an office in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Cybrella provides consulting services for all aspects of modern cybersecurity requirements  Risk Management, fraud & AML, Cloud Security, Technology, etc., provided in two-service bundles: CISO as a Service and Application Security as a Service. Cybrella's RedTeam operates with a world-class, highly trained, and certified penetration testing crew, acting as Ethical hackers to simulate possible attacks from the hackers point of view.

To learn more, visit https://www.cybrella.io/

About Neosec

Neosec is re-inventing application security with a powerful platform that unifies security and development teams to protect modern applications from threats. The foundation of the SaaS platform is built on data and analytics to manage security at scale. Neosec prevents threats from abusing the complex network of APIs that connect today's businesses. The platform helps organizations discover every API and audit risk. Neosec has pioneered the use of behavioral analytics to understand normal versus abnormal API usage and delivers powerful threat hunting capabilities. Neosec prevents threats and stops abuse hiding within APIs and brings new intelligence to application security. Neosec is based in Palo Alto, California with R&D in Tel Aviv, Israel.

To learn more, visit Neosec.com
Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS Board of Directors has officially appointed David Phillips, CAE as Chief Executive Officer after a nationwide search. He will assume day-to-day leadership of the association, as well as lead a search for a new President for Triangle Multiple Listing Service (TMLS).

Phillips owns Phillips Leadership and Consulting, a firm that assists associations with CEO searches, leadership development, and strategic planning. He has 18 years of experience as a Chief Executive Officer for local and state REALTOR associations in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Phillips is also an accomplished author of Time to Lead: Three Leadership Gifts.

The Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS is excited to welcome David as our new leader at the association, said Brett Bushnell, 2021 RRAR President. We are extremely excited with the wealth of knowledge David brings to RRAR. He has Association experience and has expertise in strategic initiatives, as well as new and innovative ideas to push RRAR to the next level.

I'm excited about rejoining the REALTOR organization and getting to work in one of my favorite cities, said Phillips. The opportunities for our association to make a difference in the lives of our members and the community are boundless. Getting to know our members and others in the real estate community will be my top priority and I feel blessed to work with a great group of professionals on the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS staff.

Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS is one of the largest professional associations of real estate brokers and sales associates conducting business in North Carolina since 1924, with a focus on the Raleigh Region. RRAR provides professional development, advanced education programs, ethical guidance, and many more services to over 10,500 members in support of its commitment to the real estate industry. For more information, please visit: http://www.RRAR.com.

For more information, contact:

Susan Franklin, Director of Communications

919-654-5400

susanf@rrar.com
Ecole Ducasse and ALMA launch a joint Pastry Arts Diploma bringing together the best of French and Italian Pastry

Ecole Ducasse, through the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie, and ALMA  The School of Italian Culinary Arts, are launching a joint Pastry Arts Diploma, bringing together the best of French and Italian pastry.

Today, Ecole Ducasse and ALMA are combining their expertise in pastry to offer a distinctive program to students who are eager to learn the iconic techniques of two most famous countries in the world when it comes to pastry.

The first intake of this unique 4-month program will start on March 7th 2022. The first two months of the diploma will be taught in Yssingeaux, at the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie, the French Pastry school part of the Ecole Ducasse network, followed by 2 months delivered in ALMA, the Italian Culinary Arts School, focused on the Italian Food & Fine-dining Cuisine and the Italian Style in the Hospitality Business based in Colorno, in the countryside of Parma, UNESCO City of Gastronomy, in the heart of Food Valley. This unique course will offer a full immersion in the pastry world across two countries and well grant students with a joint diploma from the two internationally renowned institutions.

This joint Pastry Arts Diploma is an intensive skills program dealing with the technicalities of pastry arts in both countries and is designed specifically for students who want to explore the universe of top French and Italian pastry arts. Among many other topics, students will learn classics bread and viennoiserie, chocolate and confectionery, healthy pastries new trend, artistic masterpieces sugar, the Italian Gelato and the design of a restaurants pastry menu.

Matteo Berti, ALMA Director of Education, points out The students enrolling the joint Pastry Arts Diploma will have the unique opportunity to be trained by some of the best pastry chefs in both France and Italy. They will finish this 4-month program with extensive knowledge in French and Italian technics.

In both schools, students will learn in a small group settings, which provides personalized, interactive and efficient training. For a personalized and unique approach, 90 percent of skills acquisition is achieved through practical learning workshops, complemented by masterclasses taught by renowned Chefs. Students will also beneficiate from state of the art equipment to learn how to work in a professional environment.

Luc Debove, Ecole Ducasse Executive Pastry Chef, commented: I am delighted to collaborate with ALMA on the development of such a unique program; bringing together the best of the French and Italian savoir faire can only be a source of inspiration to all.

About Ecole Ducasse

Ecole Ducasse is a network of schools founded in 1999 by multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse, dedicated to the transmission of outstanding French expertise and excellence in culinary and pastry arts.

Ecole Ducasse runs three schools in France  Paris Studio, Paris Campus and the Ecole Nationale Superieure de Patisserie  as well as international schools in the Philippines, Brazil, Thailand and India. All are united by a desire to share a passion for gastronomy with seasoned professionals as well as food enthusiasts, career changers and students. This broad portfolio of programs aims to meet all training needs: from short programs for experts or food enthusiasts to intensive two-, four-or six-month programs, to three-year undergraduate programs and bachelors degree in culinary and pastry arts.

Ecole Ducasse is part of Sommet Education, worldwide leader in hospitality education.

For more information: https://www.ecoleducasse.com/en

About ALMA

ALMA - The International School of Culinary Arts is recognized as the worlds leading educational and training centre for the Italian food and beverage and hospitality sectors at an international level.

ALMA trains cooks, pastry chefs, bakery chefs, sommeliers, professional waiting staff, restaurant managers, pizza chefs, pasta chefs and gelato artisans. ALMA is based in the heart of the Food Valley, in the beautiful Ducal Palace of Colorno: a few kilometres from Parma, proclaimed a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015, in recognition of its heritage of PDO and PGI delicacies and culinary specialties.

The Courses and Masters by ALMA are exclusively professional in nature. The standard of teaching is upheld by a teaching staff composed of leading cooks and pastry chefs, established maitre ds and master sommeliers, as well as the cream of Italian food connoisseurs and highly-qualified experts in nutrition, food hygiene, and the history of food and wine. Moreover, every week the team is joined by a visiting professor, including chefs with one or more Michelin stars, master pastry chefs and F&B managers from large hotel and catering establishments. Unique to ALMA are the tailored courses it runs in Italy and abroad, both for professional training and for corporate team-building activities, ensuring ongoing professional development. It is also outstanding in Italy in terms of the quality of its teaching facilities.

For more information: https://www.alma.scuolacucina.it/en/

Media contacts:

Ecole Ducasse: Anouck Weiss, media@sommet-education.com

ALMA: Giacomo Bullo, comunicazione@scuolacucina.it
Shovels donated to Morris Habitat for Humanity's Randolph Condominium Complex Groundbreaking by Fullerton Grounds Maintenance. "Fullerton Grounds Maintenance is always honored to do our part and help this wonderful community to break ground with the Randolph Condominium Complex."

New Jersey landscape and design services company Fullerton Grounds Maintenance (FGM) recently supported Morris Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that helps families build housing for low-income individuals and families, by donating 12 shovels to help break ground on the new Randolph Condominium Complex.

The largest project in Morris Habitat for Humanitys 36-year history, the new community will be comprised of 25 units across four buildings. Located behind Morris Habitats headquarters on South Salem Street, the community will provide much-needed affordable housing for eligible low- and moderate-income families. The 12 shovels Fullerton Grounds Maintenance donated will also be used for future groundbreaking projects at Morris. Each shovel has an engraved Morris Habitat for Humanity plate riveted on them.

The project will be completed in two phases. Thirteen condominiums are expected to be completed in late 2022, and an additional twelve condominiums will be constructed and finished by the end of 2023.

Founder and CEO of FGM, Scott Fullerton, has been partnering with Morris Habitat for Humanity for over two decades.

Fullerton Grounds Maintenance is always honored to do our part and help this wonderful community to break ground with the Randolph Condominium Complex. Were looking forward to its construction, which will provide multiple families with the opportunity to build their lives in Randolph.

The latest donation for the Randolph Condominium groundbreaking ceremony was just another way for Fullerton to support Morris efforts. A year ago, FGM teamed up with Morris Habitat for Humanity to help transform the old Roxbury Townships Department of Public Works site into a 12-unit condominium complex in Succasuna, N.J. for low- and moderate-income families. FGM was responsible for providing $15,000 in landscaping help to change the outdoor space of the condominiums into a childrens play area where families can relax.

About Fullerton Grounds Maintenance

Fullerton Grounds Maintenance, based in Kenvil, New Jersey, has been a leading provider of landscape services in central and northern New Jersey for the past 25 years. Fullerton Grounds Maintenance's mission is to exceed its clients' expectations by providing exceptional landscape services at competitive prices, by demonstrating that the team is fully accountable for its work, and by cultivating strong long-term relationships with its customers.
David Gibbons [Gibbons'] commitment to our mission and personal desire to transform childhood cancer research will help us greatly advance our priorities . . . to cure Americas top killer of kids by disease. - Robert Martin, Founder & Board Chair

Bridge To A Cure Foundation announces the appointment of David Gibbons to its Board of Directors.

Gibbons is an international executive whose career spans leadership at a number of global businesses, including 28 years at 3M. He also served as president of Rubbermaid Home Products, and eventually took the helm at Rubbermaid Europe. Subsequent stints include membership on numerous public company Boards, as well as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Perrigo, a pharmaceutical company now based in Ireland, from 2000-2007, and as Chairman of the Board of Cott Corporation, a global manufacturer of private label beverages, from 2008-2017.

Gibbons also has served on many charitable and community Boards, including recently as Chairman of the Board of Naples Childrens Education Foundation. He is currently a trustee of Southwest Florida Childrens Charities as well as a member of the board of African Parks Foundation USA.

Gibbons knows first-hand the suffering that childhood cancer inflicts. In the early 1980s Gibbons teenage son was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma. At the time, the cancer was considered 99% fatal. His son survived, but like many childhood cancer survivors, lives with residual health effects of treatment. Gibbons journey through the healthcare system seeking out the newest treatments available at institutions including Mayo Clinic and Memorial Sloan Kettering led to his interest in improving healthcare outcomes for children with cancer.

I greatly admire David Gibbons and look forward to working with him as a member of our Board of Directors, welcomed Bridge To A Cure Founder and Board Chair Robert Martin. His commitment to our mission and personal desire to transform childhood cancer research will help us greatly advance our priorities to develop a robust and open national childhood cancer database, develop clinical trial protocols specifically for children, and open up new funding streams to cure Americas top killer of kids by disease.

Gibbons graduated from Villanova University in 1965, marrying his wife Pat that same week. He has four sons and seven grandchildren.

About Bridge To A Cure Foundation

Bridge To A Cure Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, raises funds to modernize childhood cancer research. Dedicated to healthier, happier kids, the organizations action plan to accelerate the pace and success of childhood cancer research connects the people, information, and resources needed to propel life-saving cures. For more information, visit BridgeToACure.org or find us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter @BTACfoundation.


Senior Attorney Christopher Young Joining Gravis is an amazing opportunity to support the rights of all Montanans and beyond, which has always been my passion

The Gravis Law Business Team is pleased to welcome Attorney Christopher Young to the Firm. Mr. Young brings 20+ years of experience and passion defending his clients civil liberties. Christophers family has deep roots in Montana, having homesteaded in the late 1800s. His law school years and career brought a diverse set of skills and opportunities on the east coast, from representing Fortune 50 financial institutions as well as individuals. Now returned to the Bozeman area since 2014, Chris joins the growing Gravis Law Montana team with additional offices in Whitefish and Kalispell.

Were very excited to welcome Chris Young to Gravis Laws Business Team. His 20+ years of experience and broad expertise in civil litigation, civil rights matters, and cannabis regulation and compliance will be a great fit for our innovative business practice, said Jeff Heutmaker, Principal and Senior Business Attorney at Gravis Law. Were also looking forward to a new presence in Bozeman so that we can deepen Gravis Laws involvement in the Montana startup community. Our Securities Law and Mergers & Acquisitions practice areas are well-suited to serving the growing technology community in Bozeman, throughout the State of Montana, and the Rocky Mountain region.

Chris is excited to join the Gravis Law Team. Joining Gravis is an amazing opportunity to support the rights of all Montanans and beyond, which has always been my passion, said Chris Young, Senior Attorney. Together, we can make lasting changes in peoples lives. With Youngs current practice in litigation, civil rights, cannabis regulation and compliance, and personal injury, Gravis also offers a full suite of legal services in business, bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, consumer protection, tax law, real estate, criminal defense, estate planning, probate, and family law.

Gravis Law PLLC serves people and communities across the nation by providing uncomplicated access to world-class legal services. Since being founded in 2013, Gravis Law has grown from one location in Richland, WA, with five employees to nineteen locations across the country and more than 150 employees. Gravis Law leverages industry-leading technology and a team-based approach to bring exceptional legal solutions to all their markets.
Fairfield Inn Rendering Just a few minutes away from downtown Alpharetta, and less than a mile from the Avalon, the five-story, 78,000 square foot Fairfield Inn will feature 166 guest rooms, a fitness room, bike racks, and electrical vehicle charging stations.

Florida-based construction management firm, Firmo Construction, has been hired to build a Fairfield Inn by Marriott in Alpharetta. In partnership with Savannah-based hospitality management and development group, HOS Management, the two companies celebrated the start of the construction process for the new hotel with a groundbreaking ceremony this morning.

Eric Collin, President of Firmo Construction and Krishan Gandhi, VP of Development and Acquisitions of HOS Management, offered brief remarks to the events guests, which included President and CEO of Alpharetta Chamber, Deborah Lanham, and the projects architect, Nitin Patel of Elevate Architecture Studio.

With the relationships and partnerships weve already established with the City of Alpharetta and Alpharetta Chamber, our team is excited to become part of the area and ready to bring our expertise in hospitality construction to this new tourism opportunity, said Eric Collin. This hotel will commence our third project with the HOS Management team, and commemorate our first project in the Alpharetta community.

Bringing decades of experience with the Marriott brand and the hospitality industry, Firmo Construction, HOS Management, and Elevate Architecture Studio, will deliver this Marriott model on Webb Bridge Road, just a few minutes away from downtown Alpharetta and less than a mile from Avalon. The future five-story Fairfield Inn will feature 166 guest rooms, a fitness room, bike racks, and electrical vehicle charging stations. At a little over 78,000 square feet, the structure will be situated on a six-acre lot.

With HOSs mission to create welcoming hospitality experiences for all our properties, combined with Firmos experience with ground-up hospitality construction, I look forward to opening this hotel to future guests and visitors in the Alpharetta community, said Krishan Gandhi. Our team is excited to continue to work with a partner that shares our family-oriented mindset, while expertly navigating the construction process to deliver our vision.

For more information about this project, please email Nicole Miskovic at nicole@firmoconstruction.com or call 470-508-1616.

Groundbreaking ceremony event photos here.

Rendering of Fairfield Inn here.

About Firmo Construction

Established in 2003, Firmo Construction was formed with a mission is to deliver client visions by elevating each project to its fullest potential through innovative solutions. The construction management firm is headquartered in Sarasota, Fla. and licensed in over 16 states, offering engineering, architecture, and construction services for commercial projects of all sizes. An early adopter of USGBCs Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system as well as Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), the team continues to evolve with that progressive mindset today, remaining industry leaders in design and building technology. For more information, visit: http://www.FirmoConstruction.com.

About HOS Management

HOS Management is a second-generation Savannah hospitality and development group with over 30 years of industry experience managing a diverse collection of iconic hotel brands, including Hilton, Choice, IHG and Marriott, throughout the Southeast region. Founded by brothers Anil and Kirit Patel, the company strives to build thriving, sustainable hotel properties, provide incredible guest experiences, and give back to the communities in which they do business through company and employee-driven philanthropic initiatives. HOS has successfully cultivated long-standing relationships with hotel partners, investors and most importantly, guests, through its brands family-oriented philosophy. Visit http://www.HOSManagement.com to learn more.
Pay-per-click ads can help bring attention to businesses, but their Quality Score can better tell if they're worth the cost or not. Google Quality Score does more than guide advertisers on creating "good" ads, it incentivizes it.

Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising is a common method for businesses to appear on the front page of Google's search results. These ads show up above the usual search results, appearing in front of more users. However, not many people know how Google scores or grades these ads. Actual SEO Media, Inc. can explain how an ad's Google Quality Score can affect how much advertisers spend and save with paid searches.



Understanding Pay-Per-Click Ads

In today's digital age, browsing the Internet has become part of the daily routine. Using search engines online is another way for a business to broadcast its product or service to a greater number of people. The only issue is targeting the right audience. One method businesses use is pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

PPC ads show up at the top of the search results page and are a great way to increase a brand's visibility and generate new sales leads. Like with the other results on the page, they're relevant to the query a user has searched up. Every time a user clicks on a PPC ad, the business behind it has a pay a fee.

Google Quality Score

No one wants an irrelevant ad to appear in unexpected searches, neither Google, the advertisers, nor the users. If it's irrelevant, users won't click on it, so Google won't get the ad revenue, and businesses won't gain any new sales leads.

Every ad on Google gets a score based on how relevant the keyword used is. A lower score usually means the chosen keyword is less relevant and has a lesser chance of appearing on the search results page.

Once there's enough data, the keywords are given a score between 1 through 10, with 10 being the best. The algorithms base this score on predictions about users' future interactions with the search results page. If it calculates that users are more likely to click on it, it'll get a higher score.

This score is the basis behind Google's Quality Score. Quality Score helps Google pick and choose which ads to show. It allows advertisers to gauge how relevant the chosen keywords are, create good ads, and bring users to useful landing pages.

An ad's Quality Score affects three different factors:

eligibility to appear on the search page ("ad auction")

ranking

cost per click

Once an ad is given the green light, it enters the "auction" phase. This auction is a split-second decision Google makes to determine which ads will show up on a search results page. The higher the Quality Score, the higher the chance it'll appear, and the higher it'll rank.

This ranking refers to the position the ad will appear on the results page. The more relevant Google finds the ad, the greater the chance that it'll appear on the first page.

The final aspect Quality Score affects is the cost per click (CPC). Once the ad successfully appears in front of users, when they click on it, the advertiser has to pay for the click. Depending on the Quality Score, the price for this click can vary. Generally, the higher the Quality Score, the less an advertiser pays for the click.

As a leading SEO company in Houston, Actual SEO Media, Inc. helps clients expand their online presence. By using best SEO practices and Google's pay-per-click, 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 at: info@actualseomedia.com.
Kratovil is a recognized legislative and regulatory expert in identity crimes and synthetic identity fraud, payments, data security, and consumer privacy. "Our mission is to empower and guide consumers, victims, businesses, and government agencies to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity crimes," said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. "Jason will strengthen our ability to do that.

Jason Kratovil of SentiLink has joined the Board of Directors of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization established to support victims of identity crime.

I am happy to welcome Jason Kratovil to the ITRCs Board of Directors, said Eva Velasquez, President and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center. Jason is an industry leader with valuable experience and skill sets that will help our organization better serve victims of identity crimes. Our mission is to empower and guide consumers, victims, businesses, and government agencies to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity crimes. Jason will strengthen our ability to do that.

Kratovil is the Head of Public Policy & Industry Relations at SentiLink, a leader in identity verification technology, with solutions to stop synthetic fraud and identity theft in real-time at account opening. He is a recognized legislative and regulatory expert in identity crimes and synthetic identity fraud, payments, data security, and consumer privacy. Kratovil also serves on the Fairfax County (VA) Consumer Protection Commission.

He was previously a principal at the Washington, D.C. law firm of Sivon, Natter & Wechsler, P.C. While at the firm, he founded the Consumer First Coalition, through which he led efforts on behalf of the financial industry to implement the Electronic Consent-Based Social Security number (SSN) Verification system (eCBSV). Kratovil holds a Master of Public Policy degree, two B.A. degrees, and a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) certification.

To view a full list of the ITRCs Board of Directors, click here.

About the Identity Theft Resource Center

Founded in 1999, the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) is a national nonprofit organization established to empower and guide consumers, victims, business and government to minimize risk and mitigate the impact of identity compromise and crime. Through public and private support, the ITRC provides no-cost victim assistance and consumer education through its website live-chat idtheftcenter.org and toll-free phone number 888.400.5530. The ITRC also equips consumers and businesses with information about recent data breaches through its data breach tracking tool, notified. The ITRC offers help to specific populations, including the deaf/hard of hearing and blind/low vision communities.

Media Contact

Identity Theft Resource Center

Alex Achten

Head of Earned & Owned Media Relations

888.400.5530 Ext. 3611

media@idtheftcenter.org
We noticed the amazing effects naturally grown Longsheng rice water had on their skin from hand-rinsing their rice for meals and using the rice water to wash their hair. So, we used that same Longsheng rice to make premium, all-natural Viori body wash bars that cleanse and moisturize your skin

Vioris new body wash bars are made from the same Longsheng rice water found in Viori haircare bars which are inspired by the ancient rituals of the Red Yao Tribe in Longsheng, China. Viori works directly with the Red Yao to purchase their ancient rice at a premium to create a long-term sustainable partnership.

Viori Body Wash Bars are 100% natural, vegan, sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and plastic-free.

Several years ago we had the pleasure of meeting the women of the Red Yao tribe in Longsheng, China, said Himmie Lau, Executive Marketing Director of Viori. We noticed the amazing effects naturally grown Longsheng rice water had on their skin from hand-rinsing their rice for daily meals and using the rice water to wash their hair. So, we used that same Longsheng rice to make premium, all-natural Viori body wash bars that cleanse and moisturize your skin."

Viori body wash bars offer the same soothing, cleansing, refreshing effects on skin as Viori shampoo bars have on hair.

Viori offers scented or unscented body wash bars:



Serenity: A sweet, natural aloe fragrance that incapsulates the clean, fresh air only found on the serene peaks of the Longsheng mountain ranges.

Native Essence: The Red Yao tribe has been naturally cultivating Longsheng Rice high upon the rice-terraced mountains of Longsheng for over 2,000 years. In the spirit of that raw, natural simplicity, the unscented Natural Essence conditioner bar has no added fragrance.

To order the new Viori Body Wash Bars and other Viori products visit https://viori.com/

About Viori: Viori has partnered with the Red Yao on projects they believe will help their communities thrive. Viori works with the Red Yao directly to initiate projects to bring about economic prosperity, ecological harmony, cultural preservation, and community wellbeing for their tribe. To learn more about Vioris mission click here.
Watkins, a native of Georgia no longer has to worry about missing shingles and leaks coming from his roof. The army veteran received his new roof on Monday, November 1, 2021 courtesy of Total Pro Roofings Roof for Troops program.

To show their appreciation to veterans, Total Pro Roofing launched a Free Roofs for Troops program in 2016. The program provides free roof replacements to local veterans by using a portion of the profits from every paid install.

The Total Pro team has been so easy to work with and I am thankful for the security of a new roof before a cold winter spell, said Watkins.

Watkins served as a mechanic in the U.S. Army and was deployed during both Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During his tenure he received several medals and honors for his service. In support of his local community, Watkins supports the weekly food drive at the Berean Christian Church in Conyers.

Total Pro Roofings goal, moving forward, is to replace as many roofs as possible each year. Thanks to customers and its partnership with Warrior Battalion (a non-profit organization geared towards helping veterans), and all others, Total Pro Roofing is proud to be in the position to give back.

Total Pro Roofing, located in Grayson, GA, services the Greater Atlanta to Athens areas. Their many memberships include the National Roofing Contractor Association, the Licensed Georgia Roofing Contractors Association, and are an A+ accredited member of the BBB.

Total Pro is a CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster company and an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. Recent awards include: Atlantas Consumers Choice Award 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 & 2017, Best of Gwinnett 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 & 2016, Beacon Lighthouse award, & Best of Home Advisor.

You can learn more about the Roofs for Troops initiative HERE.
Studying abroad prepares students to become Ignatian citizens who can discern with global competence and promote inclusiveness and respect for others with international responsibility, said Andre Colombat, Ph.D., dean of international programs at Loyola.

Loyola University Maryland will offer two new study abroad programs for the 2022-2023 academic yearone in Seoul, South Korea, and one in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.

Studying abroad prepares students to become Ignatian citizens who can discern with global competence and promote inclusiveness and respect for others with international responsibility, said Andre Colombat, Ph.D., dean of international programs at Loyola.

Loyola sponsors study abroad opportunities in more than 20 countries, and more than 60% of Loyolas students participate. Students typically study abroad their junior year for a single semester, although full-year, summer, and holiday study tours are also available.

The popularity of study abroad programs speaks to the value of an international education experience, said Colombat. The benefits are varied and numerous, from being more competitive in a global market to building life skills such as independence and resilience.

Students in Loyolas study abroad program in Seoul, South Korea, will study at Sogang University, founded in 1960 by Jesuits from the United States and the only Jesuit university in Seoul. Sogang University offers most of its courses in English and has 25 departments with seven undergraduate schools and 12 graduate schools. Study tours, field trips, and internships will be available, and students will have the opportunity to explore Seoul as well as the mountains that surround the megacity. The program runs one semester in either the fall or spring.

Loyolas study abroad program in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, is a one-semester, intensive service and learning program focusing on the Jesuit mission of promoting justice and solidarity with the poor. Students will study through Creighton Universitya Jesuit institution based in Omaha, Neb.and take courses in the history and politics of the Dominican Republic and social justice issues pertaining to poverty. Students will also experience immersion in rural Dominican communities and have the opportunity to take an elective course with an immersion in Cuba.

Additionally, Loyolas office of international programs will offer the following new study abroad programs: a study tour in Vietnam exploring its history and politics; a study tour in Spain, France, and Italy focusing on St. Ignatius of Loyola; a summer program in the Balkans featuring Bosnia and Croatia; and a spring break yoga and wellness retreat in Panama.
Said President Jerome: "I'm extraordinarily grateful to our amazing guest speakers and phenomenal students for making this townhall so impactful. This was just our first step as we work to establish our own My Brothers Keeper chapter on campus so that the work started here today may long continue."

Monroe College, a national leader in educating first-generation and international students, was proud to welcome 200 young men from local high schools to its Bronx campus today for My Brothers Keeper: Changing the Narrative, a two-hour male empowerment townhall.

Led by Monroe President Marc Jerome and Michael Blake, the College's Visiting Social Justice and Civics Fellow, the event held on the Bronx campus reflected the work and values of the My Brothers Keeper (MBK) program created in 2014 by then-President Barack Obama to address persistent opportunity gaps facing young men of color. Mr. Blake had been instrumental in MBKs launch, having served as an aide to President Obama at the time.

Messrs. Jerome and Blake were joined by guest speakers Dr. Anael Alston, Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Access, Equity, and Community Engagement in the New York State Education Department; George Patterson, Senior Director with the New York City Department of Education with oversight for its My Brothers Keeper program; and Jordan Stockdale, Executive Director of The Young Men's Initiative.

Nearly 200 high school juniors and seniors from one dozen NYC high schools attended this mornings townhall, which began with a rousing tribute from the Colleges marching band. The students then heard powerful messages from the panel on the importance of standing up to injustice and being a force for positive change within their communities. Inspirational words on academic excellence, personal accountability, character, and leadership were also emphasized.

I am extraordinarily grateful to our amazing guest speakers and to the phenomenal students who attended this morning for making this townhall so impactful, said President Jerome. This was just our first step as we work to establish our own My Brothers Keeper chapter on campus so that the work started here today may long continue.

Compelling data on higher education outcomes was shared during a presentation on improving college access and opportunity for Black and Hispanic students. The data, compiled from publicly available information on the College Scorecard and IPEDs, the database managed by U.S. Department of Educations National Center for Education Statistics, show that college completion rates are far too low for people of color.

President Jerome noted: Theres a lot of attention and energy focused on improving college access, especially for historically under-served and under-represented student groups  and thats very important. However, we must also look at how many are completing their programs. The data is very telling. As a country, we must do better for these students.

ABOUT MONROE COLLEGE

Founded in 1933, Monroe College is a recognized leader in educating first-generation and international students. The College is proud of its innovative programs to increase college access, affordability, and completion outcomes, and the recognition it has received nationally for its impact on students social mobility.

Monroe educates more than 8,000 students each year, offering Certificate, Associate, Bachelors, and Masters degree programs from New York campuses in the Bronx and New Rochelle, as well as in the Caribbean nation of St. Lucia. Students may also pursue degree programs through Monroe Online.

Programs are offered through Schools of Allied Health Professions, Business and Accounting, Criminal and Social Justice, Education, Hospitality Management, Information Technology, and Nursing, as well as through its King Graduate School. Liberal arts and continuing education programs are also available. For more information and admissions criteria, please visit http://www.monroecollege.edu.


As a woman-owned business with a passion for empowering women in finance, we are excited to engage with the Purse Strings community. Our mission to help women control their financial futures aligns nicely with Purse Strings commitment to connect women in all stages of life with the right resources

Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation Trust Company, announced that her firm has formed an educational alliance with Purse Strings LLC, a female-centric platform that provides financial resources for women. As a Purse Strings Approved Professional, Next Generation shares insights into self-directed retirement plans with the Purse Strings audience, comprised of women who are seeking resources and education to become financially independent. Both Next Generation and Purse Strings are woman-founded, woman-owned businesses committed to educating consumers about their financial options.

Next Generation is a custodian and administrator for self-directed retirement plans, designed for investors who wish to include alternative assets within a tax-advantaged retirement vehicle. Some of these investments might include real estate, private equity, private lending, partnerships, hedge funds, cryptocurrency and more. Purse Strings offers straightforward financial advice and an available-for-hire network of vetted insurance and financial services professionals who specialize in serving women.

As a woman-owned business with a passion for empowering women in finance, we are excited to engage with the Purse Strings community. Our mission to help women control their financial futures aligns nicely with Purse Strings commitment to connect women in all stages of life with the right resources and financial professionals to help them succeed, said Brittany Melville, Next Generations Director of Marketing and Sales.

Barbara Provost, founder of Purse Strings, added "We are a one-stop shop for female-centric financial knowledge, know-how, and professional resources. We're available to any woman who wishes to design a fearless financial future that's full of choices."

Next Generation also offers educational webinars and articles on its blog about various aspects of self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy. Individuals may also schedule a complimentary educational session with Next Generation to find out more about self-directed IRAs and the many nontraditional investments these plans allow.

More information about self-directed retirement plans is available at https://www.NextGenerationTrust.com. To learn more about Purse Strings, visit https://pursestrings.co/.

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About Next Generation

Founded on the philosophy that every person should have control over their own retirement plans, Next Generation Trust Company educates consumers and professionals about self-directed retirement plans and nontraditional investments, a strategy at one time reserved only for the very wealthy. A custodian of self-directed retirement plans, it is a trust company chartered in South Dakota, with its sister firm, Next Generation Services, providing comprehensive account administration and transaction support for all accounts. The neutral third-party professionals at Next Generation expertly guide clients and their trusted advisors as part of their white glove, personalized service for a seamless transaction experience from start to finish. Contact: 888.857.8058 or NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com.

For more information, visit http://www.NextGenerationTrust.com.

About Purse Strings

Founded in 2015 by Barbara Provost, Purse Strings provides resources and services to help prepare women to become more financially independent and master their relationship with money. The website offers free financial education resources, guidance, and support including events and a database of Purse Strings certified professionals that have been vetted, trained, and are committed to addressing the specific financial needs of women. The organization also provides training, insight, promotion, marketing, and an established certification for insurance and financial professionals, plus access to the Purse Strings member community as an established and trusted resource. More information is at https://pursestrings.co.
groov EPIC 3.3 firmware release

The latest firmware for the groov EPIC edge programmable industrial controller from Opto 22, version 3.3.x, was announced today. This version, available as a free download for all existing customers, delivers much-requested enhancements to EPICs networking capabilities. In addition to processing and integrating OT data into backend applications, as before, EPIC can now act as a secure remote access gateway, enabling authorized users to modify and administer PLCs and other field assets without requiring an industrial PC at the field location.

Using groov EPIC as a PLC gateway is awesome! said Arlen Nipper, President and CTO at Cirrus Link Solutions and co-inventor of MQTT and Sparkplug. Compared to many of the IPCs Ive used, the experience is so much simpler. No programming or messing around on the command line, just point-and-click configuration. This is the ideal way to use Ignition at the edge.

By design, groov EPIC allows users to establish security zones between trusted OT networks and external IT LAN or internet traffic using its embedded firewall, user management functions, SSL/ TLS certification, and multiple segmented network interfaces. Using other pre-installed tools like Ignition Edge from Inductive Automation, Node-RED, and CODESYS, users can acquire and publish OT data from this secure zone directly into backend applications via MQTT, REST API calls, or traditional industrial communication protocols.

Firmware version 3.3.x adds port redirection and static routing, allowing legitimate connection requests initiated from external networks to reach destinations within the secure OT zone, facilitating maintenance activities such as PLC program updates. Authorized users can create secure conduits between trusted and untrusted networks on-demand from a local, remote, or mobile HMI connected to groov EPIC and through REST API calls. Using EPICs embedded VPN client, engineers can even connect to PLCs on remote networks without exposing them to unwanted access.

The new networking features have been incorporated into a refreshed groov Manage interface that makes it easier to find the suite of diagnostic tools already included, such as ping, traceroute, and nslookup. The EPICs network settings can be configured completely through this browser-based interface.

This release also upgrades other key components of the groov EPIC ecosystem.

For users of Node-RED on groov EPIC, the popular Dashboard UI can now run on EPICs onboard touchscreen as well as on PCs and mobile devices and be launched automatically on boot-up. The Node-RED runtime and Node.js engine are upgraded to versions 2.0.6 and 12.22.1, respectively.

The CODESYS runtime engine has been upgraded to 3.5.17.10 and now includes OPC UA client capabilities, giving users another option for integrating device tags into real-time control code.

Finally, version 3.3.x supports the new AC power monitoring and universal I/O modules slated for release in Q4 2021 and enables new features for the existing GRV-IDCI-12 and GRV-ITR-12 I/O modules.

Availability

groov EPIC firmware 3.3.x is available now as a free download via manage.groov.com, and new networking features are compatible with all EPICs manufactured since March 2018. Complete upgrade instructions are available in the groov EPIC Users Guide. For new customers, all groov EPICs now ship with this latest firmware version.

The Opto 22 Library Package for CODESYS 2.0.3.0, necessary for programming with the CODESYS development environment, is also available as a free download from http://www.opto22.com.

About groov EPIC

groov EPIC is an edge programmable industrial controller (EPIC). More than a PLC, PAC, or PC, it is a Linux-based processor in a compact industrial enclosure, with local and remote I/O and wide-ranging programming and communications options. In addition to real-time control, groov EPIC provides the connectivity many of todays projects require: it connects to field sensors and devices, legacy PLC systems, software applications, remote equipment, and cloud services for anything from weather conditions to big data analytics and predictive maintenance.

About Opto 22

Opto 22 designs and manufactures industrial control products and internet of things (IoT) platforms that bridge the gap between information technology (IT) and operations technology (OT). Based on a core design philosophy of leveraging open, standards-based technology, Opto 22 products are deployed worldwide in industrial automation, process control, building automation, industrial refrigeration, remote monitoring, and data acquisition applications. Designed and manufactured in the U.S.A., Opto 22 products have a worldwide reputation for ease of use, innovation, quality, and reliability. For over 45 years OEMs, machine builders, automation end-users, and information technology and operations personnel have and continue to trust Opto 22 to deliver high-quality products with superior reliability. The company was founded in 1974 and is privately held in Temecula, California, U.S.A. Opto 22 products are available through a global network of distributors and system integrators. For more information, contact Opto 22 headquarters at +1-951-695-3000 or visit http://www.opto22.com. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube.
Raybow PharmaScience attending CPhI Worldwide in Milan "We are excited to be able to meet our partners and customers in-person" said Halkjaer-Knudsen. "While we have all learned to use zoom, video and other technologies to keep on track, there is no substitute to meeting face-to-face."

Raybow PharmaScience is attending this three day trade show and conference which wraps up today. This annual event typically attracts thousands of pharma suppliers and buyers across the full supply chain. Raybow last presented in-person at CPhI Worldwide in Frankfurt, Germany in 2019.

This is one of the first major in-person European shows that Raybow has attended since Covid-19 shut down events and venues across Europe in the spring of 2020. Key executives attending the event include Peter Halkjaer-Knudsen, Executive Vice President, Dr. Dirk Hutten, Senior Director Business Development and Ryan Gil, Senior Manager, Business Development.

Raybow has taken a cautious approach to getting back to travel in an effort to keep employees safe and as a company this is a significant step to a return to more in-person events.

The in-person event runs for 3 days, ending on the 11th. There is also the opportunity for people unable to attend in Italy to set up online meetings following the event. Raybow will attend CPhI China in December in Shanghai and has plans to attend Chemoutsourcing in the U.S. in February, 2022. This will be our first in-person U.S. show since late 2019 although we have attended several virtual shows.

Raybow PharmaScience is a global Contract Drug and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) with operations in China, Europe and the U.S. Raybow is focused on providing world class research and development capabilities in the pharmaceutical manufacturing space. Raybow has shown its commitment to the R&D side of the business launching two 10,000 square meter R&D centers in the past 3 years alone and hiring more than 600 new chemists in that same time frame. The company will open a 3rd 10,000 square meter R&D center in 2022.
Melody Henriques-McDonald The water world is made of peacemakers and communicators and people who are willing to go that extra mile to make sure things work out. Were glad shes one of them.

The San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District Board of Directors, staff, and community supporters gathered today to celebrate the many contributions of Board President Melody Henriques-McDonald, now in her 30th year of leadership on the Board.

In 1991, the year she was first appointed to serve, California was in its fifth year of drought: the worst since the Dust Bowl. The governor had called on all communities to cut their water use by half. Then, a Miracle March dropped 240 inches of snow in the Sierra Mountains. Thirty years later, it was Gov. Gavin Newsom, not Pete Wilson, who in 2021 made the call to conserve.

All over California, districts and the state work to find solutions to their water systems  but in the San Bernardino Valley, significant progress has long been made to dramatically improve the local water storage and reliability.

And many credited Henriques-McDonald with helping to build the collaboration necessary to achieve those goals.

General Manager Daniel Cozad called Henriques-McDonald one of the modern water women pioneers  a trailblazer with extensive leadership and experience in the industry  applying her knowledge to help guide District and regional projects in terms of management, collaboration with other agencies, public outreach, and perception.

The water world is made of peacemakers and communicators and people who are willing to go that extra mile to make sure things work out, Cozad said. Were glad shes one of them.

General Counsel David Cosgrove agreed. Melody has a way to cut to the quick intellectually on any issue, and she has an instinctive understanding of the people involved in an issue and their motivations, he said. What Ive learned from Melody is that you have to know not just what it is that youre doing, but you have to deeply appreciate who it is that youre doing it with--and sometimes even who it is youre doing it against--because individuals, their motivations, and their methods are something that she has a keen intuition for.

Vice-President Richard Corneille said her institutional knowledge has been invaluable in guiding District policy and projects.

She brings such a continuity to our Board, he said. With 30 years on the Board and a long history of what happened in the past, one of her greatest contributions is promoting the District and the Board.

In addition to her work on the Board, Henriques-McDonald represents the District and serves as a voice for water interests with her involvement with the Association of California Water Agencies as a current member of the associations Executive Committee and Federal Affairs Committee. She also serves as chair of ACWAs Liability Program Committee, vice-chair of the Employee Benefits Committee, and has been a director of the associations Joint Powers Authority since 1991.

Her three decades of experience in the water industry have also included previous roles at ACWA, including membership on the Water Management Committee, State Legislative Committee, and as a past member of the Region 9 Chair of ACWAs Board of Directors. She was also a past chair and vice-chair of the JPIA Property and Workers Compensation Programs. Henriques-McDonald also served as past chair of the Water Management Certification Subcommittee, and was chair of the California Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region, where she served as a gubernatorial appointee from 1993-2000.

Beyond the water world, Henriques-McDonald is a member of the Highland Area and San Bernardino chambers of commerce. She is a licensed Realtor and broker; and she and her husband, Dean, operate a business known as Southwest Lift & Equipment, Inc. She is a graduate of San Gorgonio High School, Western Real Estate School, and the Arizona School of Real Estate, and the Special Districts Board Management Institute.

She and her husband have five children and 11 grandchildren, and are members of Immanuel Baptist Church of Highland, as well as Arrowhead Country Club of San Bernardino. She also sponsors four children through World Vision, a global organization that provides long-term development programs to children and communities in need.

More quotes about Henriques-McDonald:

I greatly appreciate the fact that shes served as the vital conduit to keep us connected with so many other parts of the water world, and I am grateful for the incredible number of hours she puts in to help people of this Valley retain a sustainable supply of water.  Board Member John Longville

The one thing I really appreciate about Melody is her total loyalty to the organization, and her positive demeanor with all people she deals with. Its wonderful.  Board Member David Raley

Giving back to the community here as a Board member is one thing, but Melody is doing it on a larger level to all of the special districts in California, which is beyond necessity as a Board member.  Board Member Robert Stewart

My favorite character trait of Melody is her care and her concern, that comes obviously from such an authentic place...Having Melody on our Board of Directors as a woman, as this incredibly successful human being, its an inspiration to me and I hope to be able to follow in her footsteps someday.  Assistant General Manager, Betsy Miller-Vixie

About the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District

For nearly a century, the SBVWCD has stewarded the San Bernardino Valley water basin and the native species of the Upper Santa Ana River Wash. Its collaborative approach to project management assures high-quality local water supplies for people, agriculture, and the environment. This includes groundwater recharge and oversight, and protection of habitat and native species in the Wash. Visit http://www.sbvwcd.org. Follow SBVWCD on Facebook and LinkedIn.
2021 Savoy History Series Sponsored by The American Foundation of Savoy Orders (Savoy Foundation) Prince Dimitri, a historical witness with a unique heritage as a descendent of the great royal and imperial houses of Europe, underscores the symbolic, intertwining relationship between royal jewels, the majesty of monarchy, autocratic power and aesthetics.

On November 4, 2021, The American Foundation of Savoy Orders (Savoy Foundation) held its 17th Annual Savoy History Series Presentation, Reception and Dinner. The event was held at the Knickerbocker Club in New York City and benefited the educational programs of the Foundation. The Chairman of the Savoy History Series, John Laurent J. Gelati, welcomed H.R.H. Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, the presenter, and moderator Prof. Caroline Weber.

The presentation by Prince Dimitri explored the magnitude and significance of the collection of jewels worn by Prince Dimitris ancestors, and the ones he has designed himself, inspired by his familys unparalleled jewelry as illustrated in his recently published book Once Upon a Diamond: A Family Tradition of Royal Jewels (Rizzoli). The presentations main title was: The Power of Gems Across European Royal Courts and The Fabled Jewels of the Savoy Queens of Italy: Prince Dimitris talk was in the form of an informal interview moderated by Caroline Weber, who is an author, fashion historian and a scholar of French literature, history, and culture.

This years 2021 presentation was more meaningful since the Savoy History Series missed gatherings in 2019 and 2020. The standing room only crowd experienced one of the liveliest and most exciting events in the history of the Savoy History Series. The talk was filmed for future presentation by subscription on the Savoy Foundations YouTube channel to reach a wider audience.

The attendees were treated to fascinating tales of jewels worn by many of Prince Dimitris royal relatives  including his mother, Princess Maria Pia of Savoy. A segment focused on the jewelry collection of the three Savoy Queens of Italy - Margherita, Elena and Marie-Jose; another segment was on the Russian Imperial jewels of Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia and of Empress Carlotta of Mexico. Prince Dimitri provided personal anecdotes about the gems and the haute joaillerie collected and commissioned during their reigns, as well as their provenance. Following the talk, Prince Dimitri graciously personally autographed his book for each guest.

The Savoy Foundation is grateful to the following supporters of the Savoy History Series event: Grand Patrons: Ms. Fatima Alsarhan, Ms. Vivan Cardia, Mr. Bruce Horten, Mr. John Laurent J. Gelati, Mr. and Mrs. Marco Grassi, Mr. Daniel J. McClory, Carl J. Morelli, Esq., Ms. Valerie Ohrstrom and Mrs. Maria Pellecchi; Patrons: Mr. Philip Norkeliunas, Mrs. Larissa Van Duser, and Dr. Maria T. Zoratti; Sponsors: Mr. Anthony J. Cipriano, Mme. Barbara de Portago, Dr. Regnier Brandon Fradd, Ms. Vanessa Noel, Mr. Chistopher Page, Ms. Caroline St. George, Ms. Stephanie Stokes, Ms. Ann Van Ness, Mr. Christopher English Walling and Ms. Carole Bellidora Westfall.

In a joint comment as to the success of the lecture, the seventeenth in the Savoy History Series, Carl J. Morelli, Chairman of the Board and Joseph Sciame, President of the American Foundation of Savoy Orders, stated: The overall event was stellar in content, presentation and ease with which Prince Dimitri shared facts and recollections of history unknown to the average person and attendee. Our congratulations to him and to the Event Chairman John Laurent Gelati for his oversight and to our own Savoy Foundation Executive Director Larissa Van Duser for the splendid coordination of the presentation.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION AND THE AMERICAN DELEGATION OF SAVOY ORDERS

Headquartered in New York City, the American Delegation of Savoy Orders, which includes all 50 of the United States of America, is among the 35 delegations of the Savoy Orders located throughout Europe, the Americas and Japan. The Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy are among the oldest orders of chivalry in the world. Their origins and principles, traditions and humanitarian goals date back a thousand years, like those of the Royal House of Savoy, which has the hereditary right to confer them.

H. R. H. Prince Victor Emmanuel of Savoy, son of His Late Majesty Umberto II, King of Italy, is head of the House of Savoy and Grand Master of the Savoy Orders. His son H. R. H. Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy is head of the Council of the Savoy Dynastic Orders. Cav. di Gr. Cr. Dott. Johannes Niederhauser is the Grand Chancellor of the Savoy Orders. Cav. di Gr. Cr. Dott. Sergio Pellecchi serves as the coordinator for the Savoy Delegations in the Americas.

The American Foundation of Savoy Orders, Incorporated a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, has supported local, national, and international charities focusing on medical, educational, and humanitarian fields, including philanthropy for U.S. veterans, hospitals and relief agencies for children, the poor, sick and elderly. The Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization in Roster Consultative Statues with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. In 2019, the Savoy Foundation launched a new charitable initiative - Chivalry for Childrens Causes - a multi-year program assisting institutions and charitable organizations that provide aid to children and families in need.

The Savoy Foundation sponsors the Savoy History Series, an annual presentation given by distinguished scholars and masters in their respective fields and sometimes by members of the Italian Royal Family on a topic related to the House of Savoy, and the history of Italy, Italian literature, history, art, music, science and impact on other countries. A wide array of extraordinary lectures and dynamic conversations featuring topics in Italian history and highlights from current exhibitions, film discussion and musical performances related to Italy and the Savoy dynasty provide interesting insights from a unique perspective. Savoy History Series is a program of the Savoy Foundation
SecureData provided a real-time solution when we needed it most. We and our clients thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. SecureData made it possible.

SecureDatas comprehensive data security solutions, including hardware-encrypted USB portable storage devices and remote drive management software, now help a Sacramento, CA-based nonprofit keep their homeless outreach program operational amid severe restrictions imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Oracles of Truth Academy (OTA) and its staff members serve some of Californias most vulnerable populations. They provide workforce and job placement services in an effort to create new opportunities for individuals who have been uprooted by economic hardship, mental health issues, and drug abuse.

OTA administrators do extensive screening of all program participants. This includes the gathering of employment history, medical records, and information on drug addiction and treatment, among other sensitive and regulated data.

OTA founder Dr. Tamme Shinshuri needed a secure way for her administrators to access participant information regulated by federal HIPAA and FERPA legislation while working remotely from home or in the field. Normal program operations had been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

SecureDatas business development team created a custom solution for OTA that included SecureDrive BT and SecureUSB BT portable storage devices and Remote Management Console subscriptions, which provide remote and centralized drive management. It was the right approach at just the right moment, according to Dr. Shinshuri.

SecureData provided a real-time solution when we needed it most. We and our clients thrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. SecureData made it possible, she said.

SecureDrive BT and SecureUSB BT devices are FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated and XTS-AES 256-bit hardware encrypted for the highest level of data security available in a portable USB drive. SecureDatas BT drives authenticate via your smartphone or mobile device and the free ClevX DATALOCK mobile app. OS/host independence ensures easy and effective deployment. BT drives work with any device that has a standard USB port.

BT drives are also remote management ready out of the box. The RM console gives IT administrators full control over where, when, and how drives can be accessed, the ability to reset passwords or revoke access remotely and remotely wipe all data in the case of lost or stolen drives.

Ken Higgins, Vice President of Business Development at SecureData Inc., helped OTA find the right solution to keep their operations in support of Californias unhoused populations in full operation despite the challenges of COVID-19.

Given the incredible sensitivity of the information OTA handles, they needed a solution that would not put individuals who had already suffered so much at any additional risk from leaks of protected personal information. Our FIPS-validated and hardware-encrypted storage devices, and the RM console were the perfect tools to ensure total data security, said Mr. Higgins.

It was also just a real pleasure working with Dr. Shinshuri, and Im proud that SecureData could be a part of her service in support of communities in need.

About SECUREDATA, Inc:

SecureData is a privately held company headquartered in Los Angeles, California. We provide ultra-secure and innovative data security solutions to our partners and customers worldwide through specialized services, software, and products. Our offerings include professional data recovery services, digital forensics, FIPS-validated, and hardware-encrypted portable data storage, data backup solutions, and file repair software. SecureData has built a reputation as a trusted security solutions provider with the highest number of industry-specific certifications proving that our process, facilities, and products exceed industry standards.

Please visit https://www.securedata.com/ and https://www.securedrive.com/ for more information.

About ClevX, LLC:

ClevX is an information security technology company  Your Innovation Partner. It is focused on the security/mobility markets, where ClevX pioneered its award-winning DATALOCK KP/BT secured USB and drives (OS-agnostic, hardware encrypted, PIN- or phone-activated, bootable) and easy-to-use portable software applications for secure drives for personal and business use. ClevX differentiates itself by creating solutions that are simple, clever

For more information, please visit: https://www.clevx.com/

About Oracles of Truth Academy:

The Oracles of Truth Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation founded by Dr. Tamme Shinshuri in 2010. OTA links disproportionately underserved individuals in the community who have been socially and economically impacted to whole-person care, education, and employment services to improve their quality of life, well-being, and self-efficacy. Through health and human services, education, and employment support, OTA delivers an affordable, quality, holistic, and debt-free learning experience.

For more information, please visit: https://oraclesoftruth.org/the-academy

SECUREDATA Media Inquiries:

pr@securedata.com

SecureDrive Product Sales Inquiries:

sales@securedrive.com or call 1-424-363-8535

Request a Free Evaluation: https://www.securedrive.com/support/request-evaluation


Mother with her children in front of ShelterBox disaster relief tent following the 2010 Haiti Earthquake. We are inspired by the incredible support from across Santa Barbara and the nation from people wanting to help families displaced by disaster and crisis situations, said Kerri Murray, President of ShelterBox USA.

In what was their most successful virtual fundraising event to date, Santa Barbara-based international disaster relief organization ShelterBox USA raised more than $600,000 at their annual virtual benefit An Evening to Experience ShelterBox held November 4, 2021. More than 350 people attended the live-streamed event which was broadcast internationally from the ShelterBox USA headquarters in Santa Barbara, CA.

We are inspired by the incredible support from across Santa Barbara and the nation from people wanting to help families displaced by disaster and crisis situations, said Kerri Murray, President of ShelterBox USA. For many of the guests participating in the live-streamed event, it was their first time learning about the global humanitarian relief efforts of ShelterBox. We are humbled by the generosity and outpouring of charitable support for this lifesaving mission."

The immersive experience into disaster response work of ShelterBox featured a virtual tour of the ShelterBox family relief tent, which a family up to ten will live in for a period of weeks to months after losing their home in an emergency. In addition to the tent demonstration, the organization highlighted the critical tools and supplies they provide to set up a household in an emergency, including water purification, solar lanterns, cooking equipment and critically needed hygiene supplies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members who have responded to disasters around the world shared deployment stories of the impact ShelterBox aid has on the lives of people who have lost everything after disaster, including in the aftermath of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti in August 2021.

The evenings festivities ramped up when a generous donor spontaneously announced a matching gift of $250,000 if the original goal of $250,000 was reached by the end of the event. In total and with the support of hundreds of individuals, Rotarians, and Foundation support, the night raised more than $600,000 to provide up to 6,000 displaced families with the life-saving emergency shelter and household supplies needed to survive after disaster.

During the event, ShelterBox honored the Dale and Edna Walsh (DEW) Foundation with the 2021 Global Humanitarian Service Award for their extraordinary philanthropic efforts to tackle some of the biggest issues facing the world. This includes the DEW Foundations longtime support of ShelterBox and its work in the Syrian refugee crisis. In 2020, DEW Foundation provided hundreds of displaced Syrian families with shelter and basic household items including shelter kits, blankets, and winter clothing to help them survive the cold winter months.

Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/0tyVyBZj-rA

About ShelterBox

ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and life-saving supplies to communities overwhelmed by disaster. Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth, and dignity following more than 300 disasters across 100 countries, sheltering over 2.2 million people and counting. ShelterBox responds urgently to earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunamis, or conflict by delivering boxes of essential shelter, aid, and other critically needed supplies. Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, a water filtration system, emergency lighting, and other tools for survival.

ShelterBox was nominated in 2018 and in 2019 for the Nobel Peace Prize for its work in some of the worlds most extreme conflict zones. ShelterBox USA is based in Santa Barbara, California.

To learn how to volunteer, fundraise, or to make a donation to ShelterBox USA, visit http://www.shelterboxusa.org. Legacy giving and corporate giving options are available as well. ShelterBox USA is a 4-Star rated charity by Charity Navigator and has Platinum status from GuideStar.

ShelterBox is the official Project Partner in disaster response of Rotary International. Rotarians are often the first point of contact for the ShelterBox Response Team when they arrive in a country that has been devastated by a disaster. They also help in fundraising and volunteer projects. ShelterBox is a registered charity independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation. Tax-deductible donations to the organization can be made at http://www.ShelterBoxUSA.org or by calling (805) 608  2400.

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Dr. Kimberley Linert Behavioral optometry, Linerts specialty, primarily deals with visual development and performance in children, top-tier athletes, patients with neurological conditions, or those with visual focus and coordination difficulties.

Bruce Merrins Celebrity Speakers Bureau has reached an agreement to represent Dr. Kimberley Linert, a pioneer in the field of behavioral optometry, author, podcast host and founder of the Optic Brainfit Foundation.

Linert, who earned her doctorate from the Illinois College of Optometry, is available for speaking appearances worldwide, including corporate events and meetings, conventions, retreats, seminars, workshops and more.

Behavioral optometry, Linerts specialty, primarily deals with visual development and performance in children, top-tier athletes, patients with neurological conditions, or those with visual focus and coordination difficulties.

Linert is also the founder of the Optic Brainfit Foundation, a holistic organization that combines traditional vision modalities with brain and movement therapy to achieve life-changing results. Her unique teachings have reached everyone from C-suite executives to performance athletes, from high achievers looking for a leading edge to young people with special needs or learning difficulties, brain injury survivors and the elderly.

Her book, Visualizing Happiness in Every Area of Your Life, is a step-by-step guide to help readers discover who they are, what they like, what is important to them and how to share their special gifts and talents with the world.

Linerts podcast, Incredible Life Creator, has featured hundreds of in-depth interviews with change agents, rabble-rousers, luminaries, big thinkers, peacemakers, inventors, influencers and many other visionaries who help viewers explore and navigate our world.

My educational background and experience has allowed me to help thousands of multi-faceted individuals, Linert said. After years of working one-on-one, my intention is to share this expertise with as many people as possible.

Linerts high-performance presentations include Brain Hacks for High Achievers, Training Your Brain to Achieve the Unachievable, and Finding the Edge for Peak Performance.

Since 1973, Bruce Merrins Celebrity Speakers Bureau has provided corporate meeting and event planners with worldwide booking services for an elite clientele, ranging from Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali to every United States president, beginning with Ronald Reagan.

For more information on Linert and Bruce Merrins Celebrity Speakers Bureau, visit https://brucemerrinscelebrityspeakers.com.
7 States one River The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website, one of the twelve geotourism mapguides in North America.

The TRV Stewardship Council Board of Directors met on October 20, 2021 in Sweetwater, TN to elect 2022 officers. The following directors will serve the 501c3 organization through FY2022:



Board Chairman, Tami Reist is the President of North Alabama Mountain Lakes. She is an assistant professor at Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College and graduated in 2021 from the Appalachian Regional Commission Leadership Institute Fellows program. Tami has served on the TRV Stewardship Council since 2016.

Board Vice Chairman, Jennifer Wheatley is the Director of Regional Tourism and Sustainability for the LBL Lakes Region Coalition. Prior to her current position, she served Land Between the Lakes with public outreach.

Secretary, Karin Landers is the Director of Tourism for Humphreys County, TN. She also serves on the Tennessee River Trails Coalition and is a member of the LBL Lakes Region coalition. Both organizations represent regional partnerships with interests in community and economic development.

Treasurer, Angie Pierce, Vice President of North Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Angie has a background in web site development and management, brochure and marketing plan development, and also serves as the portal editor for the TRV Stewardship Council.

The mission of the TRV Stewardship Council is to further the goals of geotourism which is tourism that sustains and enhances the geographical character of local and regional communities, and related public lands in the Tennessee River Valley Watershed. The primary activities of the Council will be to: Educate and advise public, private, and governmental organizations on the principles of geotourism; Facilitate the networking and collaboration of individual and regional geotourism projects and councils; Serve as an information and training resource for geotourism projects, businesses, site managers, and other councils.

The Tennessee River Valley Stewardship Council serves as the steering committee and editorial board for the Geotourism MapGuide website, one of the twelve geotourism mapguides in North America. The Board is comprised of volunteers from a seven state region. The Council's efforts are made possible through the generous support of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). For information on TVA's campgrounds and TVA's public trails, visit their website at http://www.tva.gov and click under the Recreation section.
Our goal at Walker Sands has always been to be the firm that B2B technology companies look to first for programs that drive business impact. In the 15 years I have been with the agency, I have witnessed first-hand the incredible strides weve made across all practice areas," said CEO Mike Santoro.

Walker Sands, a full-service marketing agency focused on accelerating the growth of B2B brands, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Since its inception in 2001, the company has accelerated the growth of hundreds of B2B brands, experienced exponential growth of its own, and been recognized numerous times for both its work and its company culture. To celebrate its 20 years of impact, Walker Sands turned to employees to select a series of charitable causes important to the company.

Over the last two decades, Walker Sands has grown into a 180-person, fully integrated marketing agency with five offices around the country. This impressive growth includes the recent acquisition of March Communications  a milestone for Walker Sands. Since 2001, the firm has built a full-service team with capabilities across public relations, demand generation, branding, creative, marketing strategy, and web that produces award-winning work for top B2B brands. Walker Sands is a 9-time Inc. 5000 honoree, and just this year has been named a Fast 50 company by Crains Chicago Business, an AdWeek Fastest Growing Agency, and a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace.

Our goal at Walker Sands has always been to be the firm that B2B technology companies look to first for programs that drive business impact, said CEO Mike Santoro. In the 15 years I have been with the agency, I have witnessed first-hand the incredible strides weve made across all practice areas. Im also proud of our company culture and the impact that we provide both our employees and the companies we work with.

In celebration of its 20th year in business, Walker Sands is donating $1,000 to 20 charities that span across a wide range of causes and cities throughout the U.S., including Walker Sands office locations in Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Boston, and Atlanta. All of the organizations receiving a donation, which include My Block My Hood My City, Backpack Brigade, and Raising a Reader Massachusetts, alongside 17 others, were nominated by a Walker Sands employee.

As we look to the future, Walker Sands is committed to creating a positive impact in both the industries we touch every day and in the larger community, said Santoro. That impact starts today with our $20,000 in donations and will only grow over the next 20 years and beyond.

For more information about Walker Sands donations in celebration of their 20th anniversary, visit http://www.walkersands.com/about/blog/walker-sands-celebrates-20-years-of-impact-with-20000-in-donations/.

About Walker Sands

Walker Sands is a full-service B2B marketing agency with core capabilities in public relations, demand generation, branding, creative, marketing strategy and web. The firms integrated approach to marketing drives awareness, credibility and conversions for 100+ clients around the world. A nine-time Inc. 5000 honoree, Walker Sands is one of the fastest-growing B2B marketing agencies in the world, with offices in Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and Atlanta. Learn more at https://www.walkersands.com and for career opportunities visit https://www.walkersands.com/about/careers/.


In her upcoming YA novel, Family of Liars, E. Lockhart revisits Beechwood, the Sinclair familys private island off the Massachusetts coast, the setting of her bestselling 2014 psychological mystery, We Were Liars. Delacorte has announced a 500,000-copy first printing for the novel, which is due on May 3, 2022. Senior v-p and publisher Beverly Horowitz, who will edit the book, acquired world rights to Family of Liars from Elizabeth Kaplan at the Elizabeth Kaplan Literary Agency. The novel will be released simultaneously in the U.K. by Hot Key Books, an imprint of Bonnier Books UK, and in Australia and New Zealand by Allen & Unwin.

Family of Liars takes place 27 years prior to the original story and spotlights the Liars mothers, who spend a pivotal summer on Beechwood as teenagers. When tragedy upends what was meant to be a time of fun, laughter, and first love, the bonds of family are tested, revealing who will crack under the pressure, and who will forever uphold the Sinclair familys rules, keeping secrets no matter what the damage.

The idea for Family of Liars came in seven years after the publication of We Were Liars, and I was, of course, thrilled to see Emily return to Beechwood Island and the Sinclairs, Horowitz said of the author in a statement. Readers are going to discover themes that are evocative of We Were Liars, but with a different and fresh approach. Intense summer friendships, fraught romance, and unspeakable truthsand liesare at the center of the new book, and I am so excited for fans of the first story to finally get their hands on it, and for readers new to Lockharts work to discover her unique talent for crafting complex stories that stick with you long after youve finished reading.

Fans of Lockhart (whose previous YA novels also include The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and Genuine Fraud) fueled her decision to explore further the privileged if flawed lives of the Sinclairs. Reader response to We Were Liars has been incredible and moving, she explained. With Family of Liars, I wanted to create an emotional catharsis and leave my audience shakenbut I knew I needed to do it in a very different way than I had in the first book. I hope Ive delivered an experience that will be surprising and new, while still returning people to the beauty and horror of Beechwood Island.

We Were Liars, a backlist staple, recently got a sales boost from the rise in book videos on TikTok; videos for the book using the #wewereliars hashtag have been viewed more than 68 million times.

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart. Delacorte, $19.99 May 2022 ISBN 978-0-593-48585-9
Acclaimed childrens book author and photo-illustrator April Pulley Sayre, known for her many books spotlighting the wonders of science and nature, died on November 6 in South Bend, Ind., of metastatic breast cancer. She was 55.

Sayre was born April 11, 1966 in Greenville, S.C., to David and Elizabeth Pulley. While growing up in Greenville, she wrote in her website biography, she learned about the plants and birds of her familys backyard from her mother, and learned to pick peas, hoe beans, and tend the cows during summers at her grandparents nearby farm. While volunteering at a raptor rehab center in Greenville, she helped care for hawks and owls. Sayre also recalled favorite family memories of being in the mountains on trips to North Carolina and Virginia when she was a girl. It was during childhood that Sayre first began taking photographs, as well, borrowing her mothers camera. These early experiences fueled her fascination for the natural world. Ive been passionate about nature, photography, and science since I was a very little girl. I cannot remember not loving these three, she said in a 2014 interview on the Writers Rumpus blog.

Sayres love for the natural world only grew deeper as she became a teenager. Upon graduating high schoolwhich she did in three years and was named class salutatorianshe studied primatology and anthropology at Duke University earning her B.A. in biology in 1987. At Duke, she wrote for, and then became editor of, Vertices, a popular science magazine on campus. Sayre continued to combine her interest in natural science with writing during a post-college internship with the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, D.C., where she wrote for the organizations newsletter. An internship at the National Geographic Society followed, and then in 1988, Sayre was offered a full-time position at NWF producing educational materials for teachers. While at NWF she met her husband Jeffrey Sayre, an author, naturalist, and conservationist who was also employed there. The couple married in 1989.

It was a newspaper ad that led Sayre to her childrens book career. In an interview with author Cynthia Leitich Smith on her Cynsations blog, Sayre recalled answering an advertisement in the Washington Post seeking childrens biographies of scientists. My husband and I had just returned from studying with a primatologist in Madagascar, so I wrote about her, Sayre noted. She and Jeffrey had traveled to that part of Africa the first year they were married to participate in an assessment of the flora and fauna of Madagascars first proposed national park. Once they were back in the U.S., the Sayres settled in South Bend, Ind., an adopted hometown they loved and which would eventually feature in some of her work.

The biography Sayre wrote had been accepted, edited, and ready to print when the project was abruptly canceled after the publisher (Twenty-First Century Books) was acquired by Henry Holt. Though Sayre was crushed by this outcome, she quickly turned things around when she contacted Twenty-First Century and re-pitched herself to them touting her resume of qualifications. As a result, she went on to publish 28 school and library titles with the company, beginning with the Exploring Earths Biomes series in 1994.

Sayres first trade picture book, If You Should Hear a Honey Guide, illustrated by S.D. Schindler (Houghton Mifflin, 1995), was discovered in the slush pile. The title won the John Burroughs Award (given to excellent natural history books for young readers) among other accolades. With several early successes already under her belt, Sayre attended Vermont College and earned an M.F.A. in creative writing in 2000. Her books were especially lauded by educators and were frequently selected for best of lists from various organizations recognizing excellence in science books for children. Sayres title Vulture View (Holt, 2007), illustrated by Steve Jenkins, was named a 2008 Theodor Geisel Honor Book.

In the most recent phase of her work, Sayre photo-illustrated her own texts, beginning with Rah, Rah, Radishes! A Vegetable Chant (S&S/Beach Lane, 2011). Her latest project in this vein, Happy Sloth Day!, a collaboration with her husband, will be published by Beach Lane in March 2022.

In all, Sayre created more than 80 books for young readers, many of them praised for their rhythm and clever wordplay. I try to choose phrases and words that are as juicy as possible, she told Writers Rumpus. I encourage schoolkids to collect delicious wordsyummy words that make their mouths happy when they say them.

Sayre and her husband traveled to 27 countries during their years together, and until the recurrence of her cancer in 2020, Sayre visited with more than 17,000 students across the country each year. I try to communicate the excitement I feel about nature and my fascination with the way scientists discover how nature works, she told Something About the Author in 1997. I also feel its important to write about the environmental problems our planet faces and whats being done to solve those problems.

Andrea Welch, executive editor of Beach Lane Books and Sayres longtime editor there, shared this remembrance: April was endlessly curious about nature and a poet and artist at heart, and this was reflected in each of the 12 picture books we made together. She loved to explore beneath the surface of things, and it was always so fun to be along for the ride. We had long conversations on topics ranging from leaves to lemurs to an especially charismatic frog living in her pond that she named Lemon. Ill never forget the time she asked for an extension one spring because she had been distracted by an excessive amount of cuteness going on in the yard. Though I will miss April tremendously, its comforting to know that her books will continue to give children the gift of seeing and appreciating the natural world from her inimitable point of view.
The Huey 049 helicopter will be open to the public from 1-3 p.m. today at Central Catholic high school weather permitting.
Purdue President Mitch Daniels' performance metrics were approved by the board of trustees for the 2020-2021 academic year.
It looks sexy, honestly, Copper Moon Coffee Manager Mitch Monroy said of the cafes Modbar, which Monroy used to prepare a rich, aromatic Ethiopian brew.
New York City, NY (11385)

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Cloudy with light rain developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Former Young and the Restless actor Jerry Douglas has died.

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Douglas' family said Wednesday that the actor died Tuesday after a brief illness, according to Deadline. He was 88.

People confirmed Douglas died Tuesday, just days short of his 89th birthday, which would have fallen Friday.

Douglas was born in Massachusetts and attended Brandeis University, where he earned a degree in economics. He pursued acting after college and had early roles on Mannix, The F.B.I., and Barnaby Jones.

Douglas was best known for playing John Abbott on the CBS soap opera The Young and the Restless from 1982 to 2006. After his character's death, Douglas made occasional appearances as Abbott's spirit.

Douglas last appeared on The Young and the Restless in 2016.

"On behalf of the entire company of The Young and the Restless, we send our deepest sympathies to the Douglas family on the passing of Jerry Douglas," Young and the Restless executive producer Anthony Morina said in a statement.

"Jerry came to Y&R in 1982 with an impressive resume of credits. Our show was lucky to have an actor of his caliber join the Y&R cast and introduce the audience to the iconic Abbott family," he added. "His contribution to the legacy of Y&R as Abbott family patriarch, John Abbott is still felt to this day. He will be sorely missed."

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Douglas is survived by his wife, Kym, three children, daughter Avra and sons Jod and Hunter, and two grandchildren.
Discovery+ has announced plans to air a new docu-series called The Great Giveback with Melissa McCarthy and Jenna Perusich, co-hosted by the titular actress cousins.

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Homeowners will be nominated by loved ones to receive free renovations in the six-episode show, which is set to debut in the spring.

McCarthy is executive producing it with home makeover icons Drew and Jonathan Scott.

McCarthy and Perusich previously appeared together in an episode of HGTV's Celebrity IOU.

"When my cousin Jenna and I did Celebrity IOU for her parents, we saw firsthand what a positive impact a home renovation can have," McCarthy said in a statement Wednesday.

"In a world where so much emphasis is on the negative, we wanted to show how amazingly kind people can truly be. The Great Giveback will introduce you to some remarkable people who have given so much of themselves to others. We can't wait to shine the light on them. Also, if I gut another room in my house, Ben will leave me."

McCarthy has been married to actor and writer Ben Falcone since 2005.
Traverse City, MI (49684)

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Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 27F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%..

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Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds light and variable..

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The new map draft, which was created by the ACC Geospatial Information Office in conjunction with the county Board of Elections, would see changes to the boundaries of Districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 and 10.
Asian and Asian-interest student organizations joined together for a celebration of their culture through food, games and performances at the second annual Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Night Market at the University of Georgia on Saturday, Nov. 13.
Amidst the sunny weather that held a slight November chill, the University of Georgia Press hosted a book sale in front of the Main Library from Nov. 9-10 in celebration of the months Spotlight on the Arts Festival.
Olivia is a junior journalism major at the University of Georgia. Her love for writing and sharing stories from the community led her to The Red & Black. She loves being able to highlight the people who make up the Athens community.

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As the COVID-19 delta variant continues to spread across the nation, questions about booster shots, hospitalizations, and vaccine hesitancy leave many frustrated. As part of The Red & Blacks health news coverage, we are publishing weekly reports on news relating to COVID-19 and its recent statistics.

Major updates

COVID-19 cases remained the same at the University of Georgia compared to last week, according to the universitys reporting system. UGA reported 22 new cases over the week of Nov. 1-7. These last two weeks have been the lowest number of cases documented by UGA since classes started this semester. The surveillance testing positivity rate increased this week to 0.64%, compared to the 0.17% last week.

No positive tests were conducted at the University Health Center. There were three positive tests through UGA surveillance testing, five positive tests from UGA community members reported from testing sites in Athens, and 14 positive tests from UGA community members reported from other testing sites.

Students that test positive for COVID-19 off-campus are required to report it to DawgCheck, UGAs monitoring tool. Because students may have tested positive off-campus and not reported it, the actual number of COVID-19 cases may be higher.

On Oct. 29, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for COVID-19 prevention in children aged 5 to 11 years old. The approval was based on the FDA's review of the data, which included participation from an independent advisory committee of experts who decided to make the vaccine available to children in this age range.

On Tuesday, Pfizer-BioNTech sought FDA authorization for the COVID-19 booster dose for all adults.

The Georgia Department of Public Health and health districts across the state will provide the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11 years old, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The deadline for covered University of Georgia employees to be vaccinated has been extended to Jan. 4, 2022, from the previous deadline of Dec. 8, according to an ArchNews email sent on Thursday. The new deadline was announced by the White House on Thursday.

This extension will provide UGA's covered contractor employees additional time to get vaccinated. Some covered contractor employees have been alerted, according to the ArchNews email, while others are still being identified and notified.

Appointments may be scheduled here. Due to vaccination status being verified on-site, individuals should bring their original vaccine card to the appointment.

Employees covered by this policy include those who work on or in connection with a federal contract, or who work in a covered contractor workplace.

On Sept. 20, The Red & Black launched a survey for students, faculty, and staff at the University of Georgia that gathered data on vaccination status and thoughts on vaccination and mask policies on campus. The results showed a high vaccination rate among respondents and mixed feelings about campus COVID-19 policies.

Georgias hospitals have about 17% of their intensive care unit beds left for sick patients. From Oct. 24-20, about 100% of COVID-19 cases in the Southeastern U.S. were delta variant cases, according to the CDC.

The majority of people who are hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated.

Due to masks being less implemented, more respiratory illnesses such as Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus have been spreading across the nation.

Data breakdown: University of Georgia

The university conducted 466 surveillance tests during the week of Nov. 1, a decrease from the 575 tests during last week. With fewer tests occurring, fewer cases can be detected.

Of the total positive cases this week, 10 of them belonged to employees and 12 belonged to students.

For the week of Nov. 1-7, the UHC administered 824 vaccines, an increase from the 581 administered last week. Cumulatively, the UHC has administered 29,673 vaccines.

Students and faculty may book a vaccine appointment at the UHC Vaccine Portal or get vaccinated at any University System of Georgia school. Students may also get tested for COVID-19 at the UHC with walk-in appointments.

Data breakdown: Athens-Clarke County

From Nov. 5-10, the county reported 49 new confirmed cases, compared to 84 from Oct. 30-Nov. 4, according to the Georgia DPH. The countys seven-day average positivity rate was 1.3%. The World Health Organization recommends communities maintain a positivity rate below 5%.

This week, ACC reported three confirmed COVID-19 deaths.

According to the Georgia Geospatial Information Office, the number of current hospitalizations in Region E  which includes ACC and several surrounding counties  decreased slightly last week. On Nov. 10, there were 41 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, compared to 44 on Nov. 3.

According to the Georgia DPH, about 46% of the county is fully vaccinated.

Data breakdown: Georgia

Statewide, the weekly rate of new confirmed COVID-19 cases has decreased.

According to the DPH, Georgia reported 5,418 confirmed COVID-19 cases between Nov. 5-10. This is a decrease of about 700 from the 6,135 cases between Oct. 30-Nov. 4. The states seven-day average positivity rate decreased to 1.7% on Nov. 10, according to current data.

The number of confirmed deaths in the state decreased  Georgia recorded 217 confirmed COVID-19 deaths between Nov. 5-10 compared to the 262 between Oct. 30-Nov. 4.

According to the DPH, about 5.2 million Georgians have been fully vaccinated, or about 50% of the state. In comparison, the U.S. has a current full vaccination rate of 57%. Approximately 5.9 million Georgians, or 57% of the state, have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

According to the CDC, even fully vaccinated people should wear a mask indoors if in an area of substantial or high transmission. Currently, the CDC says Clarke Countys level of community transmission is substantial, along with many other counties in Georgia. The CDC has also released guidelines advising vaccinated individuals to still wear masks when in public, indoor settings.
Kenansville, NC (28349)

Today

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Thadd White is Group Editor of the Bertie Ledger-Advance, Chowan Herald, Perquimans Weekly, The Enterprise & Eastern North Carolina Living. He can be reached via email at twhite@ncweeklies.com.
Greenville, NC (27833)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy. Some light rain is likely. Low 42F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Tim Wessel currently serves in his fifth year on the Brattleboro Select Board, after serving as both chair and vice-Chair. He writes twice monthly on the convergence of politics and policy in Windham County. The opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of the Brattleboro Reformer.
Dr. Ayne Amjad, state health officer, said during Gov. Jim Justices pandemic briefing Friday that the Mercer County Health Department was giving full doses of Moderna boosters rather than half doses, which is the recommended dose.
The U.S. beer industry has one less independent brewer.

Michigan-based Bells Brewery said Wednesday it is being acquired by Australian brewer Lion, a subsidiary of Japans Kirin Group. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Lion will join Bells with Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing, which it acquired in 2019. Together, the companies will vault to the top of the U.S. craft beer market in off-premise __ or non-restaurant __ sales volumes, edging out competitors like Sierra Nevada, Blue Moon and Sam Adams, according to data from Nielsen.

The move comes amid declining U.S. beer sales as younger drinkers flock to seltzers and other options. Overall U.S. beer sales fell 3% in 2020; craft beer sales plummeted 9%, according to the Brewers Association, a trade group for craft brewers.

As a result, many craft brewers have joined up with larger partners in recent years. San Franciscos Anchor Brewing sold to Japans Sapporo Group in 2017. Anheuser-Busch has bought several craft brewers, including Goose Island, Wicked Weed Brewing and Platform Beer.

Comstock, Michigan-based Bells was founded in 1985 by Larry Bell, who brewed the companys first beers in a 15-gallon soup kettle.

By 2020, Bells was the seventh largest craft brewer in the U.S. and was sold in 43 states and the District of Columbia. That same year, one of its signature beers, Two Hearted Ale, was named the best beer in America for the fourth straight year by Zymurgy, the magazine of the American Homebrewers Association.

Larry Bell said he decided to sell because he has health issues and is ready to retire. Day-to-day operations at his 550-employee company will continue be led by Bells Executive Vice President Carrie Yunker.

I want everyone who loves this company like I do to know we have found a partner that truly values our incredible beer, our culture and the importance of our roots here in Michigan, Bell said in a statement.

New Belgium CEO Steve Fechheimer noted that he is also a Michigan native and a longtime Bells drinker.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)  Smokey Bear taught kids the importance of preventing wildfires. McGruff the Crime Dog warned them not to talk to strangers. And in 1972, Big Bird lined up on Sesame Street to receive a measles vaccine as part of a campaign to get more youngsters inoculated against the disease.

But when that same iconic, 8-foot-tall childrens character tweeted last weekend that he had been vaccinated against COVID-19, conservative politicians immediately pushed back.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican, grilled Big Bird for what he called government propaganda." Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe described it as brainwashing children and twisted.

My wing is feeling a little sore, but itll give my body an extra protective boost that keeps me and others healthy, Big Bird tweeted.

Sesame Street has long faced grumbles from conservatives unhappy with its connections to U.S. public broadcasting, which receives federal funding. Yet this latest fallout marked a new contentious flashpoint that has plagued previous rollouts of the vaccine, just as the shot becomes available to children between the ages of 5 and 11.

Nearly 50 years ago, when the show was in its third season, Sesame Street encouraged kids to get the measles vaccine by showing Big Bird and other children getting the injection. The move was similar to other public service campaigns that used beloved characters to help teach children life lessons, including discouraging littering, wearing seatbelts and looking both ways before crossing the street.

What Big Bird is doing is part of a long tradition. But whats different now, of course, is that everything is political and everything is contentious," said Thomas Doherty, an American studies professor at Brandeis University. Something that we all wanted a year ago, the vaccine, is now this matter of great contention.

Controversy at the intersection of TV and politics has popped up here and there for decades. In 1952, I Love Lucy didn't use the word pregnant once in an episode that focused on the title character, Lucy Ricardo, having a baby after executives determined that doing so would be too scandalous.

The 1970s TV series Maude," a spinoff show of All in the Family," which explored all manner of political and racial issues in the household of a bigoted man from the New York City borough of Queens, showed the character Maude opting to get an abortion. The storyline was aired a year before the U.S. Supreme Court made Roe vs. Wade the law of the land. Multiple affiliates refused to air reruns of the episode.

In the early 1990s, the sitcom Murphy Brown found itself in a high-profile tiff during the 1992 presidential campaign when Dan Quayle, vice president to George H.W. Bush, lambasted the unmarried Murphys pregnancy as a mockery of fatherhood and American morality.

In The Puppy Episode of Ellen that aired in 1997, Ellen DeGeneres made history as the first prime-time lead on network TV to come out as gay. It was a huge cultural moment, but it also sparked attacks from religious groups. ABC later placed a warning about adult content when DeGeneres' character kissed another woman in a separate episode.

Nearly 15 years ago, PBS was denounced by the nation's education secretary after it spent money on a cartoon with lesbian characters. The episode of Postcards From Buster featured two lesbian couples while the title character, an animated bunny, was on a trip to Vermont  a state at the time that was known for recognizing same-sex civil unions when many others did not. PBS later decided not to distribute the episode to its stations.

When you get a mass medium as dominant and powerful as television ... thats always going to be a battleground over what messages get out there, said Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University.

Big Bird's tweet ruffled others' feathers at a time when educational messages directed toward children are under increased scrutiny. Schools have seen an uptick in heated debates from frustrated parents and elected officials over how racial and social justice issues are handled in classrooms and instructional materials. Most recently, Republican Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governors race after seizing on conservatives frustrations with schools.

Meanwhile, education officials have faced multiple conflicts on how they should handle mask and testing requirements during a pandemic. Some Republicans have pushed back against marketing the COVID-19 vaccine directly to minors.

The whole `Sesame Street' embrace of diversity, inclusion, being nice, paying attention to people of poverty and of different colors, that is all a form of education directed at kids that most people would think is a really good thing and a great contribution. Then comes the vaccines, Thompson said. And now, this idea of getting a vaccine is no longer a celebration. Its become something else.

In Tennessee, the state briefly halted its vaccine outreach to children and fired its top vaccination director after GOP leaders threatened to dissolve the health agency over marketing efforts to get children vaccinated against the disease. During a meeting with department heads, Republican Rep. Scott Cepicky held up a printout of the ad featuring a smiling teen with a Band-Aid who had recently been vaccinated and called it reprehensible.

The GOP-controlled General Assembly later passed legislation banning certain minors as young as 14 from getting the shot without parental consent  an option that was previously available, albeit used infrequently. The measure, which Republican Gov. Bill Lee promised to sign this week, has only a handful of exceptions.

"It's not surprising that the pandemic, vaccination and following public health advice might fall into this cultural battle or effort to leverage emotive issues to your political advantage if you're a senator or a political candidate," said Colin Woodard, author of  American Character: The History of the Epic Struggle Between Individual Liberty and the Common Good.

The flashpoints in our culture wars," Woodard said, are often flashpoints between an individual liberty and a common good perspective."

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This story has been corrected to show that the abortion storyline occurred on the show Maude, not All in the Family.

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Kimberlee Kruesi covers politics and the coronavirus pandemic for The Associated Press. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/kkruesi
BRIDGEPORT  The mayors office broke its silence Wednesday over ongoing union demands to use federal coronavirus aid to provide premium or hero bonuses to employees.

After a group of labor leaders gathered outside of the downtown government center and accused Mayor Joe Ganim of ignoring multiple requests to meet on the topic, Ganim aide Tom Gaudett and Communications Director Rowena White in an interview said the administration has been exploring awarding the extra pay, but it is complicated.

City staff has met multiple times to discuss the issue, what the ARP (American Rescue Plan) bill allows and who might be eligible, Gaudett, who had observed some of the unions press conference, said. Theres a lot of research that needs to be done on who worked from home, who was a front-line worker, how much they made during the period that is relevant.

Gaudett said Ganim is behind the idea - the concept of bonuses.

We should have communicated sooner with our unions, he said.

Wednesdays labor gathering, attended by five leaders of local bargaining units representing rank-and-file personnel with public facilities, the police and fire departments, the Board of Education and other municipal agencies, was the culmination of what they claimed have been about eight months of failed efforts to get Ganims attention.

When times were tough, were called upon, firefighter David Dobbs, who runs that union, said, recalling how city officials typically seek employee concessions when the annual budget is tight. Now the city has this windfall, shame on us for asking them to do the right thing?

Bridgeport received around $110 million from the ARP that federal lawmakers passed earlier this year. Some of that money has already been set aside to assist small businesses and nonprofits, provide youth activities and for infrastructure improvements. And the unions want the city to take advantage of a provision in the rules to provide a financial show of appreciation to personnel who left their homes during the worst of the pandemic to keep Bridgeport government and schools running.

Every day we have put our lives and health at risk, Sgt. Brad Seely, president of the police union, said during Wednesdays press conference, calling the bonuses the least the City of Bridgeport can do.

Several of our members contracted COVID-19, said Ron Lupica, head of the public facilities union.

Look, as firefighters ... our job is dangerous and we accept that, Dobbs said. This was the first time we were faced with the reality of bringing that danger home and possibly infecting loved ones, he said.

The most dramatic testimony came from Sherrie Weller, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1522, whose members include public school employees. She recalled Eleanor DeShields, a paraprofessional at Wilbur Cross High School who died nearly a year ago after, Weller said, contracting COVID-19 at work.

Weller said providing the bonuses to DeShields colleagues would be a way to honor Eleanor, who literally gave her life for her students.

Gaudett noted he was not aware of many, if any of the states other big cities seriously considering issuing premium or hero pay. The unions on Wednesday only mentioned New London.

But thats okay because we care about our front line workers, he said.

Gov. Ned Lamont is under pressure to do something at the state level.

And Bridgeports City Council over the summer requested the Ganim Administration issue the bonuses. Joining the labor leaders Wednesday were City Council members Scott Burns and Ernest Newton, the co-chairs of the budget committee.

Burns and Newton in an interview expressed frustration with how long it appears to be taking to make progress.

I just assumed they would take care of this, Newton said.

Burns noted the council had asked the labor relations department to compile a list of qualifying employees and that work could have been done by now.

The unions estimated 1,300 of their members would be eligible for the extra payments.

Earlier Wednesday White, ahead of the union gathering, issued a statement from Ganim indicating Janene Hawkins, his chief administrative officer, and labor relations were working out the details.

I support the concept of premium pay and appreciate all employee contributions, the mayor said. Any details related to additional income need to be in compliance with the act (ARP) and federal regulations once they are finalized.

But the mayor did not make an appearance Wednesday. Some of the union leaders expressed resentment over how during the pandemic he participated in parades to honor medical workers but seemingly does not appreciate his own employees. The city last year even produced a campaign-style video featuring Ganim leading a parade past the hospitals and thanking healthcare staff.

All this prancing around to the hospitals, (but) we havent sat at the table, said James Meszoros, local president of the National Association of Government Employees.

Despite all of the assertions Wednesday about workers who risked their lives, Bridgeport municipal employees have been slow to abide by a recent mayoral mandate to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to weekly testing. As previously reported, about a month after the Sept. 27 deadline around 800 employees, or 60 percent, were inoculated, with about 600 who either had not received their shots or not submitted proof of it.

Asked if the city should wait to issue the bonuses until more workers are vaccinated, Dobbs said approximately 80 percent of the fire department is vaccinated but added, I dont know its fair to tie those two issues together.

Meszoros said he has been asking the city for the names of his members who have not participated so he could encourage them, but is being told that is private information that cannot be shared.
SPANISH LAKE, Mo. (AP)  A puzzling, broad-daylight shooting at a small-town trailer park is renewing concerns among activists about how justice is doled out when a Black person is killed in Missouri.

A neighbor killed Justin King, 28, on Nov. 3 at the neighbor's mobile home in Bourbon, a town of 1,600 residents 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest of St. Louis. While police say the initial investigation indicates the shooting was justified, King's relatives and civil rights leaders on Thursday pressed for a more thorough probe.

I just think this is a nightmare and I'll wake up," King's mother, Eva Bruns, said at a news conference. He didn't deserve to die like this.

Racial injustice activists cited other killings of Black men in Missouri that failed to result in criminal charges. Among them: Tory Sanders, who died after a white sheriff pressed a knee to his neck in a manner similar to George Floyd's 2020 death in Minneapolis; and Derontae Martin, a teenager shot inside the rural home of a man with a history of racist comments.

When it's a white assailant and a Black victim, it is so hard to get answers, St. Louis activist leader Darryl Gray said. It is hard to get justice.

The Crawford County Sheriffs Department didnt respond to interview requests but said on Facebook that it appears that King was shot and killed after forcing entry into a neighbors residence where an altercation took place. The homeowner stated that he feared for his life and shot King.

But two of King's neighbors, in phone interviews, questioned the police account. They said King was a friend of the shooter, a white man in his 40s who lived across the street. Breaking into his house, they said, would be out of character for King.

Katie Bosek said that when her car wouldn't start around 11:30 a.m. Nov. 3, King and the shooter worked together to connect a loose wire and had the car going within minutes.

They were laughing when they walked off," Bosek said. "They were getting along.

Less than 15 minutes later, I heard three gunshots," Bosek said. "Bam bam bam! I went outside and Justin was dead.

Lesa Stiller, who manages the trailer park, was outside drinking coffee when she saw King leave the shooter's property, then turn around and go back. Seconds later, she heard three gunshots and saw King  dressed only in pajama bottoms  stagger backward, falling against a car. The shooter yelled out for Stiller to call 911.

I said, You shot him! she said. The man didnt respond.

King grew up in St. Louis County. He moved into the trailer about a year ago, to be closer to his young daughter, who lives with her mother in a nearby town, his father, John Alexander King, said.

Stiller called Justin King an amazing person who insisted on hanging her Christmas lights so she wouldnt risk a fall. Bosek said King helped find her dogs after they got loose the morning of his death.

Missouris castle doctrine law allows for deadly force against intruders. Peter Joy, a professor at the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, said the law requires the homeowner to act in a reasonable way.

Prosecutors have discretion, Joy said. If the police report says the individual who was killed was trying to break into the house, even if they know each other, that might be considered reasonable."

Activists believe the criminal justice system also failed Martin and Sanders.

Martin, 19, was among several young people at a party near Fredericktown in April when he was felled by a single gunshot. Investigators determined Martin killed himself, but a subsequent coroner's inquest jury found he died by violence, not suicide.

One witness said at the coroner's inquest in July that the homeowner told him he killed Martin, saying, he didn't like Black people. But another witness said he saw Martin shoot himself.

The homeowner, on Facebook, has mocked foreign accents and defended the Confederate flag. He testified he was on the main floor of his house when the gunshot rang out. Some of the young people, in testimony, backed up his account.

As for Sanders' death, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced in February that no charges would be filed. The 28-year-old Black man from Nashville was driving through southern Missouri in 2017 when he went to police in Charleston saying he needed psychiatric help. Hours later, as police held him while waiting to get him to a mental health facility, he created a disturbance, prompting then-Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson to lead a team of officers into the cell.

A lawsuit filed by Sanders' family said Hutcheson kept his knee on Sanders' neck for up to three minutes, even as a police officer urged him to stop.

Sanders death was pivotal in the Missouri NAACP chapter's 2017 decision to issue travel advisory warning people that civil rights wont be respected in Missouri. The advisory remains in effect.

The chapter's president, Nimrod Chapel Jr., said the criminal justice system in Missouri creates ridiculous excuses for murder when a Black man is the victim.

This is part of Missouris legacy, Chapel said.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Florida took its first step in drawing new political maps on Wednesday, and other than adding a new congressional district in a Republican area of the state, Senate staff proposed maps aren't overtly gerrymandered.

The Senate released four staff produced maps that carve out Florida's new congressional district in an area between Tampa and Orlando, but otherwise left most districts intact beyond necessary changes to add what will be the state's 28th congressional district. Florida's population growth of 2.7 million new residents between 2010 and 2020 led to the new seat in the once-every-decade redistricting process.
Andy Buchanan/AP

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)  The outgoing Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez was on his way to Taiwan at the invitation of the island's leader just weeks before a presidential election in the Central American nation that could see self-ruled Taiwan even more diplomatically isolated.

Hernandez was in Washington on a visit when he announced his trip to Taiwan in a statement Thursday. His country, one of Taiwans few remaining diplomatic allies, is due to hold the election at the end of the month.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP)  A prosecutor asked jurors in closing arguments Thursday to convict a Georgia district attorney on charges that he acted unethically, saying the acts imperiled justice, while his defense lawyer argued that none of the acts violate any laws and prosecutors didn't prove their case.

Jurors got the case against District Attorney Mark Jones on Thursday, and must decide whether he tried to influence a police officer's testimony, offered bribes to prosecutors and tried to pressure a crime victim to drop a complaint.

Jones took office in January overseeing a circuit including Muscogee, Harris, Chattahoochee, Marion, Talbot and Taylor counties in west Georgia. Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Jones after he was indicted and he would be removed if convicted.

Local news outlets report testimony in the trial began Tuesday, with witnesses including two assistant district attorneys who said Jones improperly offered them $1,000 bonuses if they won murder convictions or took murder cases to trial.

Jurors saw video of a profanity-laced argument Jones had with a Columbus police detective over the detective's conclusion that a shooting death was an accident and not a murder.

A district attorney's investigator said Jones prepared, but did not seek, an indictment against a witness in a murder case because he wanted the witness jailed.

Jurors also heard from the nephew of a shooting victim who filed a complaint against Jones for violating the Georgia Crime Victims Bill of Rights for not notifying relatives before a man charged with involuntary manslaughter in the uncle's shooting was released on bail. Prosecutors argue Jones improperly pressured the man to drop the complaint.

Prosecutors must be above-board. Otherwise, bad things happen, Deputy Attorney General John Fowler, who is prosecuting the case for the attorney generals office, told jurors according to the Ledger-Enquirer.

Fowler, said justice is for everyone," but argued Jones was not motivated by the impartial pursuit of justice.

For Mark Jones, its not about justice," Fowler told jurors. "Its all about him.

Jones did not testify and his defense called no witnesses. Attorney Katonga Wright argued that prosecutors had not proved their case.

If the facts dont fit, you must acquit Mr. Jones, she said in closing arguments, repeating a line from her opening statement Tuesday.

Wright argued Jones was not trying to pressure the nephew, and said he was too distant a relative to file a complaint under the law anyway. She said Jones was new to the job when he offered the prosecutors $1,000 bonuses and had a different understanding of how prosecutors may be compensated for their work. She said the argument with the detective was not an attempt to get the officer to lie under oath, but simply an conversation she characterized as drunk talk.

Charges against Jones for damaging government property in a May 2020 campaign video were already dismissed. The video included stunt driving moves, including cars driving in doughnuts with smoking tires in the parking lot of the Columbus Civic Center.

Jones is charged in another unrelated case with DUI, reckless driving and causing injury following a November 2019 crash in which police said Jones was driving drunk. That case is pending.
The FBI again Thursday asked for the publics help locating a man believed to have carried out a number of robberies in the New Britain and Hartford region of Connecticut starting in September.

Federal authorities announced Wednesday a criminal complaint had been unsealed charging Christian Velez, 23 with Hobbs Act robbery, a federal law that deals with acts of robbery or attempted robbery or extortion that affects interstate commerce.

On Thursday, the FBIs New Haven office held a press conference to urge people to report sightings of Velez, who the bureau said should be considered armed and dangerous.

We need your help in locating and bringing to justice Mr. Christian Velez, said Special Agent David Sundberg, who heads the FBIs New Haven office. It is alleged that Mr. Velez has committed numerous armed robberies and carjackings in several Connecticut communities. He is a wanted person for those crimes and is considered armed and dangerous to the public at large.

The bureau previously issued a wanted poster for Velez, including an offer of a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and capture of Velez.

Sundberg stressed that Velez should only be approached by law enforcement officers.

At one point during the press conference Sundberg urged Velez to turn himself in to authorities.

Sundberg did not say how many robberies and carjackings Velez is believed to have been involved in, but said the number of incidents were in the teens.

Several state warrants for Velez arrest have also been issued, according to federal authorities.

This is absolutely a priority. These types of violent acts tear at the fabric of our society and put many people at risk, said Sundberg. We really, really need the publics help in apprehending Mr. Velez before someone is hurt further.

Sundberg said the assaults Velez is accused of committing have resulted in injuries. Were trying to stop this before someone is killed, he said.

Anyone with knowledge of Velez whereabouts is asked to contact the FBIs New Haven field office at (203) 503-5580, or by submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP)  The head of the U.S. Forest Service says the agency is allocating $54 million for forest restoration work in northern Arizona in the wake of its recent cancellation of a contract for a larger multiyear project in the region.

Forest Service Chief Randy Moore announced the funding decision Tuesday in Flagstaff during a meeting with two members of the state's congressional delegation and numerous other officials, the Arizona Daily Sun reported.
Lisa Rinna's mother Lois had a stroke.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star informed fans about the very sad news that her mother, Lois, 93, had suffered another stroke, as she posted a video of her mother dancing to a remix of Justin Biebers Despacito.

She wrote: I know how much you appreciate and LOVE Lois so I need to tell you that she had another stroke, I am with her now.

The 58-year-old star urged her followers to celebrateher mother while wishing her love.

She continued: So lets celebrate her and send her so much love while she transitions.(sic)"

Lisa - who has daughters Delilah, 23, and Amelia, 20, with husband Harry Hamlin - admitted to being conflicted about publicly sharing the very sad news but knew they would want to be aware.

She said: I was so conflicted to share this very very sad news with you, but I know that you would want to know.

Whether Lisa was with Lois was in hospital - or any other information about her condition - is unknown.

Previously, in 2019, Lisa posted on Twitter about a stroke Lois had six years before, labelling it devastating.

She shared: My mom had a devastating stroke 6 years ago and had to learn how to walk and talk again.(sic)

The Prince actress continued, saying her sometime reality television star mother was one of the lucky ones.

On the Bravo show, Lisa and her mother shared another harrowing story that happened to Lois - being attacked by David Carpenter, a notorious serial killer and rapist who would target women hiking in the San Francisco area.

In April 2019, Lisa revealed on the show: A few years before I was born my mom was attacked by a man that she worked with.

She described how Lois was saved by law enforcement.

Lisa said: "He picked her up at the bus stop and then all of sudden he started to drive her down this really deserted road," she continued. "He tried to rape her. He tried to kill her. Luckily, a military policeman had seen them drive down this deserted road and he knew no one was supposed to be down there and he followed them down. My mom was saved that day by that military policeman."

Lois called the episode a really bad thing and that she knew him.

Lois recounted how she thought she was close to death, saying I thought that was it. He's straddling me. He had a hammer in one hand and a knife in another.
Actor Sanjay Dutt, who enjoys a massive fan following, has a list of films lined up for releases next year. The actor, who has been a part of several iconic films in the past, has been now appointed as the ambassador of Zanzibar. The actor recently expressed his delight to be roped in by the government authorities to promote tourism for this beautiful island city'.

The actor shared a bunch of pictures while posing with the dignitaries, including Hussein Mwinyi and other people in power in Zanzibar. He shared his pleasure in contributing to Investment, Health & Education sector of Zanzibar as well as being the ambassador to promote tourism for this beautiful island city. In the pictures, the Panipat actor sported a natural look with grey hair and grey beard and wore a light brown T-shirt with Ochre Yellow pants and white shoes to complete the semi-casual look.

Sanjay Dutt becomes ambassador of Zanzibar to promote tourism in the island city

"It was a pleasure to meet you @dr.hmwinyi. I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the Investment, Health & Education sector of Zanzibar as well as be the ambassador to promote tourism for this beautiful island city, with the support of your government, wrote Sanjay. His daughter Trishala was among the first ones to drop her heart for the pictures and the announcement.

Apart from being appointed as the ambassador, the actor is also known to contribute to the real estate in Dubai. He was also honoured with a golden visa for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The actor had shared the news on Instagram with a picture. The 61-year-old actor said that he was honoured to receive the prestigious visa "in the presence of Major General Mohammed Al Marri, Director General of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) - Dubai". He also thanked the UAE Government and Hamad Obaidalla, COO of flydubai for support. Meanwhile, on the work front, Sanjay Dutt has three pictures lined up for release including Toolsidas Junior, Shamshera, and the much-awaited KGF Chapter 2 alongside South Indian actor Yash.

IMAGE: Instagram/duttsanjay
Indians topped the list of foreign visitors in Sri Lanka in October, according to Sri Lankan officials on Tuesday, 9 November, as the island nation slowly recovers from the pandemic's impact on leisure tourism. PTI reported, citing Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority report that the top five international tourist generating nations in October were India, the UK, Pakistan, Russia, and Germany. The total number of international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka during October was 22,771. A modest improvement in the month of October can be noticed following the sharp contraction in arrivals after the month of April. This reflects the improvement in international arrivals owing to factors such as vaccination advances around the world," according to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority.

"India was the largest source of tourist visits to Sri Lanka in October, accounting for 37% of total traffic. The United Kingdom and Pakistan accounted for 10% and 9% of total traffic, respectively," according to the report.

The increase in arrivals from the Americas, as well as Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, suggests a slight revival of leisure tourism, which could be facilitated by factors such as gradual improvement in traveller confidence and the lifting of travel restrictions, according to the report. This year, a total of 60,695 tourists had visited Sri Lanka as of 31 October. It is an 88% decrease from the previous year, when 507,311 tourists visited the country from January to 18 March. Sri Lanka's economy has been harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in a drop in the number of foreign tourists visiting the island nation. So far, the country has reported 545,935 confirmed cases and 13,875 deaths as a result of the disease.

US opens up for fully-vaccinated foreign travellers

The United States reopened its borders to many vaccinated international travellers on Monday, 9 November, allowing families and friends to reunite for the first time since the outbreak of the coronavirus and providing a boost to the travel industry, which had been devastated by the pandemic. For the last 20 months, the US was closed to millions of foreigners.

Citizens and permanent residents of the United States have always been allowed to enter the country, but the travel bans have stranded tourists, stymied business travellers, and often kept families apart. However, travellers must have proof of vaccination and a negative report of the COVID-19 test.

The US will accept travellers who have been fully vaccinated with any of the World Health Organization-approved emergency vaccines, not just those used in the US. Many people in Canada, where the AstraZeneca vaccine is widely used, are relieved by this news.

However, millions of people around the world who have been vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V, China's CanSino, or other non-WHO-approved vaccines will be unable to visit the US.

(With inputs from PTI)

Image: PTI
Local terror sympathisers in Poonch and Rajouri helping terrorists have made the ongoing counter-terrorism operations challenging for security forces. The Indian Army in its communication to Jammu and Kashmir Police has said that two locals identified as Wazir and Mohd Rouf provided support to terrorists and even conspired with them to wage war against the country by conducting unlawful and terrorist activities. The ongoing counter-terror operation in the Poonch-Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir has entered day 32 and forces are still searching for terrorists in dense forests of twin districts.

Republic Media Network accessed the copy of the FIR and the army in its communication to police said, On 05 November 2021 at 2140 hours, a routine night ADP in general area Jamruti, Seora in Thanamandi general area observed some suspicious moment in Nala adjoining houses along the old Mughal road. While the ADP was approaching this Nala, to identified terrorist who had come out of house of Wazir S/o Ali Mohd opened fire on the ADP with the intention to kill the security forces party and fled into the nearby jungle. It has been revealed that Mohd Rouf S/o Farooq Ahmed and Wazir S/o Ali Mohd R/o Khablan have been harbouring these terrorists. providing them food, shelter and logistics and have been conspiring with them to wage war against the Union of India, conducting unlawful and terrorist activities.

It further added, In view of the above, you are requested to register a First information report (FIR) against the two unknown terrorist and the above-named individuals for waging war against the Union of India, carrying out terrorist acts as well as conspiring, harbouring and abetting territories activities against the security and integrity of the country.

The Counter-terror operation was launched on October 11, 2021, when some terrorists attacked the Indian Army in which five bravehearts including a JCO were martyred in the Dera Ki Gali (DKG) area of Poonch. On October 14, terrorists attacked the Indian Army in the Bhatta Durriyan area of Poonch in which four bravehearts including a JCO attained martyrdom taking a total number of causalities to nine. Since then, there was no clue about the terrorists till 5 November, when they managed to escape taking the help of a local network of terror groups.
BJP's fortunes continued to plummet in West Bengal as actor Srabanti Chatterjee severed ties with the party on Thursday citing its "lack of initiative". She had joined the saffron party on March 1 earlier this year in the presence of BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and Dilip Ghosh who was the president of the party's WB unit back then. In the 2021 Assembly polls, she lost to her TMC opponent and Minister Partha Chatterjee from the Behala Paschim constituency by a margin of 50,884 votes.

Taking to Twitter, she cast aspersion on the sincerity of BJP to further the cause of the state. When asked whether she would consider joining TMC, she said, "Let the time speak". Amid the growing exodus of leaders from the JP Nadda-led party, Ghosh recently indicated the possibility of organizational changes in WB BJP.

Severing all ties with the BJP, the party for which I fought the last state elections.Reason being their lack of initiative and sincerity to further the cause of Bengal...  Srabanti (@srabantismile) November 11, 2021

The exodus of BJP MLAs after WB polls

On May 2, TMC sprung a surprise by decisively winning the West Bengal Assembly election by bagging 213 seats whereas BJP could win in only 77 constituencies. Speculation about Mukul Roy's political future started doing the rounds after Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari pipped him to the Leader of the Opposition's post. While the then BJP national vice-president won the Krishnanagar Uttar seat in Nadia district, his son Subhrangshu who joined the party in May 2019 was defeated from the Bijpur seat from where he was the incumbent MLA.

Finally, Roy and his son rejoined TMC in the presence of CM Mamata Banerjee and her nephew on June 11. After a brief lull, Tanmoy Ghosh who won in Bishnupur on a BJP ticket switched allegiance to TMC on August 30. Biswajit Das and Soumen Roy, the sitting BJP legislators from Bagda and Kaliaganj respectively followed suit.

In another blow to BJP, Raiganj MLA Krishna Kalyani joined TMC in the presence of state Commerce Minister Partha Chatterjee on October 27. Addressing a public rally recently, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee claimed that BJP will be wiped out from West Bengal the day when his party opens its doors to all leaders willing to jump ship. With TMC winning all 4 seats in the bypolls, BJP's strength has now reduced to 70 seats.
The Parker solar probe, an over-the-top spacecraft launched by NASA three years ago, is being heavily bombarded by dust out in the universe, according to Gizmodo. Currently orbiting the sun in order to study it, the latest reports about the spacecrafts health have emerged as a matter of surprise for scientists. The probe was sent into space in August 2018 as NASA aimed to touch the sun and unfold mysteries that the star hides under its brightness.

It has been three full years since the Parker probe is bearing the hostile outer space environment, which has turned worse owing to its growing proximity to the sun. Scientists have planned 24 stellar orbits of the probe and with the completion of one revolution in each orbit, it is inching closer to the sun. As of now, Parker has completed nine of the orbits and will eventually get swallowed by the sun in the next four years. The probe was named after astrophysicist Eugene Parker and is part of NASAs Living with a Star program to explore aspects of the Sun-Earth system that directly affect life and society. Earlier in April this year, Parker Solar Probe broke its own records for solar proximity and speed, as it came around 10.4 million kilometres close to the Suns surface while moving faster than 532,000 kilometres per hour.

Parker probe gets bombarded by space dust

The hostility towards the spacecraft, due to the bombardment of space dust is increasing, although scientists doubt that it would jeopardise the mission before the probe meets its end. According to Gizmodo's report, the probe's collision with space dust is causing plasma explosions and debris clouds, and these situations have started impacting Parker's functioning. Scientists are now surprised as they had not anticipated the extent of damage interplanetary dust can cause and were also unaware of Parker's toughness. David Malaspina, a research scientist from the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado told Gizmodo:

These observations are happy surprises in that the impact explosions produce clouds of material so dense that we can watch fundamental solar wind physics operate in a way that would not be possible otherwise. They are also happy surprises in that the impacts so far have not been large enough to overcome the dust impact shielding designed into much of the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft.

As per the Gizmodo report, Malaspina further said that NASA itself asked for an investigation about the collision impacts Parker is enduring. Investigations revealed that the dust particles are no bigger than 2-20 microns in diameter but are striking the spacecraft at speeds of over 11,000 kilometres per hour. Equipped with a 4.5-inch-thick carbon-composite heat shield, Parker is built to endure temperatures up to 1,377 degrees celsius. Scientists have found that an energetic particle instrument of the spacecraft has started degrading and a hole has also been made owing to the bombardment. However, Malaspina said that he is not concerned about the probe's performance as its real test will be in its final three orbits when it will be 6.12 million km close to the Suns surface.

Image: NASA
Nearly 15 civilians were killed in violent armed attacks by bandits on communities in south-east Nigeria on Wednesday, the country's Daily Trust newspaper reported, quoting sources. On November 10 morning, about 50 bandits invaded two villages, Binnari and Jab Jab. The villagers retaliated against the armed bandits leading to a conflict. The bandit attack was driven by vengeance, as residents had earlier slain numerous bandits who were suspected of kidnappings, according to the report.

The newspaper report revealed that at least 15 locals were killed in the conflict between the two parties. The bandits, on the other hand, suffered seven casualties. The villagers claimed that there are no police officials or military deployed in the villages to protect them from such attacks and kidnappings. The robbers had previously assassinated three local guards and the chief of one of the attacked communities. Following the incidents, local police acknowledged that the villages had been attacked and that they had dispatched units to the region to restore peace.

Recent attacks in Northern Nigeria

According to the villagers and officials, as quoted by the Associated Press, approximately 30 people were killed in violent assaults targeting rural regions and police personnel in the northern part of Nigeria in recent days. Three assaults have happened in the northern states of Zamfara, Katsina, and Taraba in the last 48 hours. Armed gangs have terrorised local populations in the northwest and central sections of Africa's most populous country.

On Wednesday morning, gunmen stormed two villages in Taraba state's Karim Lamido local government area and opened fire on civilians. Police spokesman Usman Abdullahi told AP that a group of 40 people on motorbikes stormed the area and began firing randomly, forcing people to flee and abandon the village.

Furthermore, seven law enforcement officers were slain on Monday when gunmen attacked them while they were patrolling in northwest Zamfara state, an eyewitness was quoted as saying. The attackers started firing on a police van carrying the policemen. Seven officers died on the spot before police arrived to transport them to the hospital. Separately, another attack was conducted by gunmen in Katoge and Yanturaku sectors of the Batsari local government area in neighbouring Katsina on Tuesday, killing 11 people, according to police spokesperson Gambo Isa.

The gunmen threatening Nigeria's rural towns are former Fulani herders caught up in the country's long-running battle between farmers and nomad cattle herders, AP reported. They are accused of kidnapping around 1,400 children and murdering thousands in states throughout the country's north in the last year.

(With inputs from AP, Image: Pixabay/AP)
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven officially resigned on Wednesday, 10 November, paving the way for the country to have its first female head of government. According to the Associated Press, Magdalena Andersson, who is the current finance minister of the country, has been elected to replace Lofven as the head of the Social Democratic Party (SAP), putting her on the track to become the premier if she wins a vote in parliament expected next week. Until then, Lofven will continue as caretaking PM, parliament speaker Andreas Norlen said.

Speaking at a news conference, Lofven said, It has been seven fantastic years, and I am very proud as a working boy to have had the privilege of leading our country during these years.

It is to mention that Lofven, a union negotiator, has headed a minority coalition with the Greens since 2014. Earlier this year he had announced that he would step down ahead of the next general election, due in September 2022. Lofven was reinstated as the SAP President in July after securing a new coalition. However, he unexpectedly announced in August that he would be stepping down in November.

Now, no time frame for a new Cabinet has been announced. It is to note that under the Swedish Constitution, prime ministers can govern as long as a parliamentary majority - a minimum 175 lawmakers - is not against them.

Andersson step closer to becoming Swedens 1st female PM

Meanwhile, Andersson, who was last week unanimously elected as the new leader of SAP, is now a step closer to becoming the countrys first female prime minister. The 54-year-old economist and former competitive swimmer will become the head of the government, provided she wins a vote in parliament, the date of which has not yet been set.

Andersson will need to secure the support of the Greens as well as from the Left Party and the Centre Party, which had confidence and supply alliances with the Lofven government. If she secures the position of the PM, Andersson will then need to steer her party through the next general election in Sweden in 2022. According to AP, the present Social Democratic-Green governing coalition hopes to secure Anderssons confirmation as the PM with the backing of two smaller parties.

(With inputs from AP)
The Pakistani military officials on Wednesday briefed a delegation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) who visited the Line of Control (LoC). The OIC delegation was briefed by the Pakistani officials on the latest security situation along the LoC. India has strongly contested Pakistan's propaganda and has also asked the OIC in the past to refrain from 'allowing vested interests to exploit its platform for comments on internal affairs of the country'. Even so, the Imran Khan-led Pakistan has repeatedly carried out its propaganda through the OIC.

The OIC delegation comprised of OIC Special Kashmir envoy Yousef Aldobeay, OIC Assistant Secretary-General Tariq Ali Bakheet and senior diplomats belonging to Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Sudan and the Maldives. According to the Pakistan Army, the delegation was taken to the LoC.

In addition, Yousef Aldobeay is also visiting Pakistan occupied Kashmir from November 7 to 12. Aldobeay is expected to be accompanied by OICs Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Ambassador Tarig Bakhit and other Senior Officials will accompany the Special Envoy. As a part of its propaganda, Pakistan has asserted that the special envoy's visit will 'reinforce the centrality of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir issue'.

"The Special Envoy will hold discussions encompassing the peace and security, human rights, humanitarian and legal aspects of the grave situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). His visit will reinforce the centrality of a just settlement of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to lasting peace in South Asia," said Pakistan

According to Pakistan, the Special Envoy will also interact with a cross-section of the Kashmiri society including the 'representatives' of the Kashmiri People. The delegation is also expected to visit a model village housing Kashmiris 'forced from their homes by the Indian forces'.

'OIC has no locus standi in J&K's matters': MEA

Back in August External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi also asserted that the OIC has no locus standi in matters relating to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Bagchi had maintained that the erstwhile state is an integral part of India. He slammed the OIC General Secretariat and urged him to refrain from Pakistan's propaganda.
In a bid to strengthen bilateral relations and improve international cooperation, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met the Tajikistan NSA, Mahmudzoda Nasrullo Rahmatjon, on Thursday, November 11, in the national capital. This came after the National Security Advisor (NSA), Ajit Doval, chaired a meeting with the National Security Advisers or Secretaries of the Security Council of five Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, besides Russia and Iran, who attended the New Delhi meeting on Afghanistan on Wednesday. 'Glad to meet Tajik NSA Mahmudzoda Nasrullo Rahmatjon. Useful discussions on our bilateral cooperation and the regional situation,' Jaishankar tweeted.

Glad to meet Tajik NSA Mahmudzoda Nasrullo Rahmatjon. Useful discussions on our bilateral cooperation and the regional situation. pic.twitter.com/hFFa4ZJwQm  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 11, 2021

The representatives of the participating countries showed support towards building a peaceful, stable, and safe Afghanistan while keeping women's safety and equality as the topmost priority. Participants also emphasised that the war-ravaged country should no longer be used as a land for terror activities. They discussed the need to stop the sheltering, training, planning, or financing of terrorist acts. The participants discussed the United Nations' role in Afghanistan and the importance of preserving the US presence in the country.

The two leaders also expressed concern over the worsening situation in Afghanistan, including the socio-economic and humanitarian situation. They noted the need to extend urgent humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people residing under the Taliban's brutal regime. World leaders reiterated that unimpeded humanitarian assistance should be provided to Afghanistan directly and assuredly. While each Afghan living in the country must get equal assistance within the country in a non-discriminatory manner across all sections of society.

Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan

At the 3rd Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan, the participants discussed the security situation in the region arising from recent developments in Afghanistan, where terrorism, radicalisation, and drug trafficking are surging. India called for cooperation against the menace of radicalisation and extremism and stressed the urgency of forming an open and truly inclusive regime that represents the will of Afghanistan's citizens and has representation from all sections of their society. The participants also reiterated the need for future dialogue and agreed to remain engaged with each other in the future. Meanwhile, on Thursday, the external affairs minister also met with the Chief of Army Staff of the Nepali Army, General Prabhu Ram Sharma.

Image: Twitter/@Sjaishankar

With Inputs from ANI
Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Tzipi Hotovely, who was a part of a debate titled, 'New Era in the Middle East' at the London School of Economics (LSE) was jeered at by pro-Palestinian activists at the event. Hotovely was escorted out of the institution's campus by her bodyguards and was taken to her car on Tuesday after protestors surrounded her, opposing her presence at the debate. Following the incident, she vowed "not be intimidated" by protestors who also criticised the university for inviting the Israeli envoy.

Im thankful for all the support I have received from the British government, many friends and partners.



I had an excellent event at #LSE and I will not be intimidated. I will continue to share the Israeli story and hold open dialogue with all parts of British society. pic.twitter.com/12xFp87Kc2  Tzipi Hotovely (@TzipiHotovely) November 10, 2021

As per Sky News, as Tzipi Hotovely was walking out of LSE with a bouquet of flowers, she was surrounded by a swarm of people yelling, "Aren't you ashamed?" at her.

The demonstrators who were protesting outside were believed to be pro-Palestinians and targeted the Israeli ambassador because of her stand on matters such as Israeli settlements in the West Bank region, which are deemed illegal by many.

'The truth is they failed': Tzipi Hotovely

Some of the people there were using violence and were trying to intimidate me and what I represent, which is a democratic country in the Middle East, a great ally and friend of the UK, Hotovely was quoted by Sky News as saying. The Israeli ambassador added that the protestors were attempting to silence her reasonable opinion and asserted that she will not allow such people to be successful in their endeavours, and neither will the British government.

The truth is they failed because the lecture was taking place and instead of having photos of the ambassador not attending, they have the British government supporting me and condemning them, she said, Sky News reported.

She also informed that they will be going to host such events on all British university campuses. They will never give us the feeling that we are being intimidated," she added.

Meanwhile, UK Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed disgust on the protest against Hotovely's attendance at the LSE and wrote on Twitter, "Antisemitism has no place in our universities or our country."

Disgusted by the treatment of the Israeli Ambassador at LSE last night.



Antisemitism has no place in our universities or our country.



I will continue to do everything possible to keep the Jewish community safe from intimidation, harrassment & abuse.



(1/2)  Priti Patel (@pritipatel) November 10, 2021

According to an Israeli embassy official, the debate which was conducted on Tuesday evening was concluded with a question-and-answer forum, that took place peacefully within the building. In addition to this, students at the discussion had been allowed to hear the ambassador's input on the topic. Things intensified when she exited the premises and a group of demonstrators shouted at Hotovely, who was then escorted into the back of her car by a number of bodyguards.

(Image: @TzipiHotovely/Twitter/Facebook)
Nepal's Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale and India's Ambassador to Kathmandu Vinay Mohan Kwatra on Thursday jointly flagged off the Pashupatinath-Kashi Vishwanath Amrit Mahotsav motorcycle rally. Around 50 Indian and Nepali motorcycle enthusiasts took part in the rally, which aims to highlight the strong and timeless people-to-people ties that exist between New Delhi and Kathmandu. Besides, it also intends to raise awareness among youth regarding the shared religious and cultural heritage between the two countries, stated the Indian Embassy in Nepal.

Ale spoke on the age-old cultural history and civilizational links between India and Nepal while wishing the participants success in their journey. "Language, literature, religion, culture and living lifestyles have strengthened relations between the two nations," the Minister was quoted as saying by ANI. On November 13, participants of the rally will worship at Dashashvamedha ghat and offer 'Swachchata Sharamdan' to spread the message of cleanliness. Ambassador Kwatra urged the youth of India and Nepal to cherish and preserve their shared cultural wealth. He also spoke about the special relationship between Kathmandu and Kashi and the role played by the two ancient temples - Pashupatinath and Kashi Vishwanath - in bringing the people of the two countries together.

Participants of the rally will also travel to Motihari

"Your travel is set to start from one sacred site to the other- from Pashupatinath to Kashi Vishwanath. These two places if assumed in general are names of religious sites but on the other aspect, it is the main identity between the two nations," Kwatra stated. The Pashupatinath Temple's Chief Priest, Mool Bhatta, was also present at the event and blessed the participants before they embarked on their journey. Participants of the rally will also travel to Motihari, a famous site in India's freedom movement where Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi launched the Champaran Satyagraha in 1917.

It should be mentioned here that the participants will also travel to Sarnath, where Lord Budha preached his first sermon after attaining enlightenment. In addition, they will also pay a visit to Gorakhnath Math, a sacred Hindu and Buddhist temple venerated by both Indians and Nepalese. The event is being organised by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu in collaboration with Royal Enfield Kathmandu as part of the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav,' an initiative to honour and commemorate India's 75th year of independence and the extraordinary progress of its people.

(With ANI inputs)

Image: Twitter/@IndiaInNepal
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday held separate bilateral talks with his counterpart from Kazakhstan National Security Committee, Karim Massimov. The meeting came after the conclusion of the Delhi Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan. The discussions focused on the situation in Afghanistan as well as issues relating to bilateral ties, ANI reported.

As per PTI sources, NSA Doval's meeting with Massimov was focused on developments in Afghanistan. The leaders highlighted the need to enhance connectivity and trade routes between both countries. Additionally, they also mutually decided to take practical steps in the direction, the PTI source told the agency. "There were detailed discussions on Afghanistan as well as on bilateral relations," the source added.

The Third Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan was held on 10 November 2021 in New Delhi in an expanded format.



Read the Delhi Declaration on Afghanistan adopted today  https://t.co/qkoQyfQrLp pic.twitter.com/BCSxM8QAoQ  Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) November 10, 2021

Doval engages in separate talks with Russia and Iran

NSA Doval also held talks with counterparts from Russian and Iran. As per a Russian statement, as quoted by PTI, Doval and secretary of security council from Moscow Nikolai Patrushev discussed plans for further cooperation between both the nations in the sphere of security. Besides, the leaders also touched upon a number of bilateral and general regional security-related issues. As per the PTI source, the bilateral talks also focused on defence cooperation and deepening interaction between the security councils in both countries. Additionally, they also agreed to hold future "high-level" exchanges on the matters to follow up on the developments.

"NSA Doval had bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran. These were substantive meetings and reflected the personal chemistry of the NSA with his counterparts," said a source to PTI.

Doval also separately met Iran Secretary of the supreme national security council Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani on Wednesday. The diplomats discussed how to carry forward the dialogue process on Afghanistan, under the framework by Iran held in 2018 and 2019, that was followed to host the Delhi Regional Dialogue.

The Delhi Regional Security Dialogue was attended by secretaries of national security from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic apart from the aforementioned diplomats. The leaders adopted the "Delhi Declaration" to tender strong support for a peaceful, secure and stable Afghanistan. The dialogues also emphasised the respect for sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and non-interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs.

With ANI and PTI inputs

Image: @MEAIndia_Twitter
A United States diplomat has reportedly fled into the Yongsan Garrison after he hit a taxi from behind in Seoul. The US diplomat was reportedly driving in Seoul on Wednesday when the accident happened, reported Yonhap news agency. The diplomat has denied cooperating with the police for the investigation over the matter.

The identity of the US diplomat is not known and he has allegedly hit the taxi bumper while he was changing lanes near the Namasan No.3 tunnel in Central Seoul at 5:35 pm (local time) on Wednesday, reported Yonhap news agency. The US diplomat after the accident left the spot, however, the taxi driver chased the diplomats car to Yongsan Garrison Gate 3. South Korea Police also reached Yongsan Garrison Gate and they had tried to find the identity of the diplomat.

US diplomat flees after accident in Seoul

As per the report, the diplomat and three other passengers did not cooperate with the police. They even entered the base without opening the window of their car. The police were unable to take action against the diplomat due to diplomatic immunity. The South Korean police have sent a request to the US Embassy for their cooperation in the matter. The police official said that the department is waiting for the statement of the US diplomat, after which they will make a decision over the charges.

US diplomat urges North Korea to resume talks

Earlier in October, Sung Kim, US envoy for North Korea after meeting with South Korean officials called on North Korea to refrain from additional missile tests, according to AP. Kim urged North Korean authorities to return to talks. Sung Kim, made the remarks after his meeting with South Korean officials to discuss North Koreas missile tests. The meeting between Sung Kim and South Korean officials came days after the North fired off its underwater-launched ballistic missile, as per the AP report. Kims South Korean counterpart, Noh Kyu-duk, said that he and Kim reiterated that the discussions over North Koreas issues could resume after they begin talks.

Inputs from AP

Image: AP/PTI/RepresentativeImage
A pet dog in the United Kingdom recently tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement released by the UKs Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss, on Wednesday. Dr Middlemiss said that several tests were conducted at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) laboratory in Weybridge on November 3, Wednesday, and the disease was confirmed.

As per the statement, following the tests, all evidence implied that the coronavirus disease was transmitted to the dog by its owners, who were earlier tested positive for COVID-19. The statement added that there has been no indication that the dog was associated with the transmission of the infection to its owners and informed that pets or other domestic animals are not capable of transmitting the infection to humans.

'No proof that pets can transmit COVID-19 to owners': UK Chief Veterinary Officer

Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said, "The infected dog was undergoing treatment for another unrelated condition and is recovering," The Guardian reported. She went on to say that it is quite unusual for dogs to become infected from the disease, and when they do, they normally exhibit only minimal clinical indications and recover in a matter of days.

Dr Middlemiss added that there was no proof that pets may effectively transmit the virus to people and informed that they will keep a close eye on this scenario and will provide appropriate help to pet owners in case things deteriorate.

Additionally, Dr Katherine Russell, Consultant Medical Epidemiologist of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said that the COVID-19 disease is mostly transferred from person to person, although it can also pass from humans to animals in some cases. Handwashing should be done on a frequent basis, particularly before and after contact with animals, according to standard public health recommendations, she added. "Pet owners can access the latest government guidance on how to continue to care for their animals during the COVID-19 pandemic," ANI quoted Dr Russell as saying.

Dr Russell added that, in accordance with international obligations, the case was notified to the World Organisation for Animal Health and revealed that a small number of COVID-19 instances have been confirmed in pets in various European, North American, and Asian countries.

Earlier last year, the APHA lab discovered coronavirus infection in a cat, and a recent study from the Netherlands has revealed that the coronavirus infection is frequent in cats and dogs owned by COVID-19 positive individuals.

(Image: @Paulinel/Unsplash/Representative)
US Secretary of States Anthony Blinken on Wednesday, 10 November, met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and launched the forward-looking Strategic Charter to advance security, prosperity and rule of law between the two nations. In a tweet, Blinken said that the US and Ukraine affirmed commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership. He added that the two sides laid a solid foundation to a shared future.

The revitalised Strategic Partnership Commission is just one of many ways that were strengthening the Ukraine-US partnership, and setting the course for closer collaboration in the months and years ahead. And we look forward to seeing the progress that we are making today be realised, be implemented as we carry forward in a partnership that is of great importance to both of our countries, Blinken said as per a press note.

Welcomed the opportunity to meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister @DmytroKuleba today and launch our forward-looking Strategic Charter to advance security, prosperity, and rule of law. We affirm our commitment to strengthening our strategic partnership with Ukraine.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 10, 2021

Today, @SecBlinken and I met in Washington, D.C. to revive the Strategic Partnership Comission and sign its new Charter. We are laying a solid foundation to our shared future Im optimistic about. The U.S. stands by Ukraine as we defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. pic.twitter.com/S1Xqh9MZJ6  Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) November 10, 2021

Blinken dials Ethiopian Deputy PM, ex-Nigerian Prez

The same day, Blinken also held a telephone call with Ethiopian Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen. During the talks, Blinken expressed his concern over the ongoing conflict in their country and called for specific actions to be taken to bring about peace. He said that he spoke to Mekonnen to underscore US commitment to supporting Ethiopians in taking steps towards peace.

In a statement, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen today. Secretary Blinken expressed concern over the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and emphasised the urgency of taking concrete steps for peace.

I spoke to Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Mekonnen to underscore our commitment to supporting Ethiopians in taking concrete steps towards peace to preserve the unity and sovereignty of the state.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 10, 2021

Price went on to add that Blinken also called upon all parties to the conflict to engage in negotiations and end hostilities without preconditions. Blinken also underscored the need for immediate humanitarian access to northern Ethiopia and in support of all Ethiopian communities in need.

Blinken, in another tweet, said that the US deeply values the former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in pushing for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ethiopia. The two leaders discussed the urgent need for a halt to all military operations, negotiations on a cessation of hostilities without preconditions, and unhindered humanitarian access. Blinken also expressed his concern that the bellicose rhetoric on all sides of the conflict risks fueling inter-communal violence.

The United States deeply values the leadership of African Union High Representative and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo in pushing for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ethiopia.  Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) November 10, 2021

(Image: Twitter)
China, India, Indonesia, and Australia will be digging and using coal for years.

China has vowed to sharply curb carbon emissions by 2060 but the countrys need for coal means that for the immediate future the emissions will actually rise.

China joined the United Nations Climate Summit in Glasgow ranking as the worlds largest greenhouse gas polluter.

Based on a survey taken three years ago, China has also ranked for some time as the worlds biggest coal supplier, followed by India, the United States, Indonesia, and Australia.

But China is now promising to end the usage of fossil fuels before 2060.

Also on the positive side, the United States and China made a surprise announcement on Nov. 10, pledging to work together to slow global warming during this decade and ensure that the Glasgow talks meaningful progress.

According to a Washington Post report, the worlds two biggest greenhouse gas emitters said they would take enhanced climate actions to meet the goals of a climate accord reached in Paris in 2015.

Still, as The Post notes, the declaration was short on firm deadlines or specific commitments.

According to The Wall Street Journal, however, Chinas climate pledges are bumping up against realities on the ground.

In late August, Chinas top climate and energy official, vice premier Han Zheng, convened an online meeting of provincial leaders, admonishing them to resolutely curb the blind development of high carbon emissions projects like coal plants.

But then, amid coal shortages and power outages, Han told leaders of state-owned energy companies that while these curbs were still important, their priority was to get coal-power generators cranking again, according to The Journal.

A worker sorts coal near a coal mine in Datong, China's northern Shanxi province, Nov. 3, 2021. Credit: AFP Xi stays away

In a meeting held in Rome on October 31, representatives of the worlds leading economies made only limited progress over how to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

This has created low expectations for any breakthrough to come on the issue during high-level United Nations climate talks being held in Glasgow this month.

Chinas leader Xi Jinping was the only leader to address the opening high-level part of the conference in a written statement.

Its not clear why Xi had chosen not to attend. But this obviated the need for him to answer any troublesome questions or engage in any give-and-take.

Meanwhile, Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled plans to decarbonize his countrys economy by 2050 while at the same time insisting that Australia wont phase out the production or use of fossil fuels.

According to a report in the Financial Times, fossil fuels accounted for more than 90 percent of Australias primary energy mix in 2019-2020, with renewable energy sources making up just seven percent.

Despite pressure from activists, Morrison has stuck to his refusal to update Australias formal 2030 emissions reduction target.

Net Zero would be achieved the Australian waythrough technology not taxes, Morrison said on October 26.

This, he said, meant respecting peoples choices and not enforcing mandates on what people can do and buy(while also) keeping our industries and regions running.

Smoke belches from a coal-powered power station near Datong, China's northern Shanxi province, Nov. 2, 2021. Not on track

Australia has been under international pressure to commit to serious climate change measures.

But Morrison said that Australia wont be lectured to by others who dont understand Australia.

On October 31, leaders from the G20 nations, who represent the worlds biggest coal producers and consumers, agreed to stop financing coal-burning plants overseas.

But their communique included no new commitments to curb the use of coal domestically.

The leaders also pledged to pursue efforts to limit the global average temperature rise to within 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, compared with preindustrial times.

But according to reporting by The New York Times, the world is currently not on track to achieve that goal, which scientists say is necessary to avert the worst effects of climate change.

According to the Times, this stark fact weighs over the Glasgow climate summit, raising fears that the summit will yield similar half-steps.

Deciding how developed and developing nations divide the task of achieving climate targets under an accord reached in Paris in 2015 poses a major challenge.

The U.S. and Europe were seen as pushing China, India, and other developing nations to commit to earlier reductions in coal usage and carbon emissions.

Coal is king in India

But developing nations such as India responded that wealthy nations should do more to counter climate change and are demanding a big increase in financial support from the developed world.

Meanwhile, the state-owned enterprise Coal India is among the five largest coal-mining companies in the world.

The coal sector in India is a major source of revenue for the countrys states as well as for the central government.

While renewable energy capacity has dramatically increased in India, coal still provides about 70 percent of the countrys electricity.

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modis government sought to boost the countrys coal mining industry with a series of commercial auctions.

The Indian government has also repeatedly delayed the implementation of pollution regulations for coal plants, effectively throwing the dirtiest coal plants a lifeline.

In Indonesia, Southeast Asias largest country, the green electricity plan sounds good at first glance. But activists say that it still calls for a large portion of countrys energy to come from coal.

Meanwhile, the Rome summits final communique included no new commitments to phase out coal use domestically or to end fossil-fuel subsidies.

G20 leaders agreed to halt public financing of new coal-fired power plants overseas, albeit only power plants that arent outfitted with technology to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions.

The G20 nations also for the first time pledged to reduce G-20 methane emissions significantly.

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the conference these commitments, as welcome as they are, are [only] drops in a rapidly warming ocean.

Dan Southerland is RFA's founding Executive Editor.
But activists and citizens fire back, saying ruling elites are at fault.

Illegally harvested timber is shown in the Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary in Preah Vihear province, Cambodia, in a March 2021 photo.

Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen blamed the countrys poor this week for the countrys growing loss of forest cover, saying authorities should now demolish all wooden houses built after 1979 to reclaim the materials from which they were built.

Doors, window frames, and other parts of these houses are all made of wood, said the long-ruling prime minister, speaking on Monday at Cambodias Ministry of Land Development.

Trees were cut down to make firewood for cooking, while others were used to make charcoal, Hun Sen said, dismissing accusations of complicity in the decades-long destruction of the countrys forests.

Everyone just curses Hun Sen, says he allows people to cut down all the trees, and then blames him for their loss. Nobody really allows this, but for different reasons it became necessary for all those trees to be cut down, he said.

Forest protection activists and Cambodian citizens quickly rejected Hun Sens remarks, with many saying authorities do nothing to prevent supporters of Cambodias ruling party from illegally exporting timber to neighboring Vietnam, a major buyer of luxury hard wood.

It is the rich and powerful who are destroying the forests in Cambodia, and not the smaller citizens, said forest protection activist Heng Sros, adding that poorer Cambodians who use wood to build their houses typically buy their timber from local warehouses and markets, where they pay taxes.

Many of Cambodias most powerful businessmen, military and police officers, and government officials now collude with traders to commit forest crimes, he said.

If Hun Sen really wants to restore his image, he should take action to eradicate corruption and to arrest offending officials and put them in jail. That will be the only way to save whats left of our forests, he said.

Government officials also grant concessions of land to private companies that operate inside Prey Lang Forest and other protected areas, setting up logging depots and stockpiles of illegally harvested wood, said Srey Tey, a Prey Lang Network community member in central Cambodias Kampong Thom province.

Government officials are complicit with the offenders that are destroying so many of our forests, he said. If these losses were caused just by people cutting down wood to build their houses, we wouldnt have lost so many of our trees.

The officials responsible for our environment are not protecting the forests, he said.

Srey Nich, a resident of northeastern Cambodias Strung Treng province, agreed.

If people were cutting down trees just to build houses, we wouldnt be running out of forest now, he said, adding, It is time for us to save our forests for the next generations.

Hun Sens remarks blaming Cambodias poor for the countrys forest loss were completely inappropriate, said Te Srey Nich, a resident of eastern Cambodias Mondulkiri province.

The law should be strengthened and communities capacity built up so that they understand the law and can take action to protect the forests, she said.

Now we have people who understand the law but abuse the law.

Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand declined to sign a global pact at the COP26 summit in Glasgow this month to end and reverse forest loss by 2030, even while Southeast Asiahome to around 15 percent of the worlds tropical forestsis among its major deforestation hotspots.

Cambodia has lost 26 percent of its tree cover, equivalent to about 5.7 million acres, since 2000 according to satellite imagery.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Thai authorities have arrested and deported to Cambodia two activists from the banned political opposition after Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered one of them arrested over a poem criticizing the strongman ruler, two other party activists said Wednesday.

Thai authorities apprehended Voeun Veasna and Voeung Samnang while they were returning to their apartment on Nov. 8 and demanded money to bail them out, the two other activists told RFA.

On Oct. 9, Voeun Veasna used his Facebook account under the name Kranhoung Preylang to post a poem titled Hun Sen is a Traitor on the prime ministers Facebook page. The poem criticized Sen for amending Cambodias constitution, thereby destroying the country.

The poem also accused Hun Sen of allowing Cambodias forests to be destroyed during his rule.

Hun Sen quickly responded to Voeun Veasnas poem, calling it an expression of extremist theory, and called for his arrest, according to a Khmer Times report.

The 35-year-old activist affiliated with the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) had been living in exile in neighboring Thailand.

Not much is known about Voeung Samnang, whose arrest Hun Sen did not order.

Oeur Narith, a fellow CNRP activist who is seeking asylum in Thailand, said he had been working with the United Nations and human rights groups to raise the bail money, but in the meantime Thai authorities had secretly deported the pair back to Cambodia.

We tried our best, but they were deported quietly. It is unfortunate today that they have already sent them back, Oeur Narith said.

Despite their arrest, Oeur Narith, who is wanted in Cambodia for incitement, said he would not be discouraged from continuing to support the opposition party.

I have sacrificed my freedom and have been detained a few times, he said. I will continue to stand up for the country and not be selfish.

The second CNRP activist who confirmed the arrests and deportations requested anonymity because that person is still working with the U.S. to ensure the safety of Voeun Veasna and Voeung Samnang.

Thai officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but on Tuesday, Thai Police Lt. Gen. Pakpumpipat Sajapand, deputy chief of polices immigration bureau, told RFA-affiliated BenarNews by phone: [We] do not have information on the people.

RFA could not reach Cambodias national police spokesman Chhay Kim Khoeun for comment.

One rights activist blasted the move by the Thai government.

The Thai authorities action to send these two recognized refugees back to Cambodia is outrageous and unacceptable, and is a complete betrayal of Bangkok's obligation to protect refugees, said Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Asia division.

By sending these two men back to face certain persecution, and quite likely abuses and torture in custody, the Thai government has shown it values horse trading with people's lives over upholding its rights obligations, he said.

Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the CNRP in November 2017, two months after arresting its president Kem Sokha over an alleged plot to overthrow the government. Scores of supporters of the group have since been incarcerated, awaiting a tortuous legal process made slower by COVID-19 restrictions.

The move came amid a wider crackdown by Hun Sen on the countrys political opposition, independent media, and NGOs that allowed the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in parliament in a July 2018 election and drew U.S. sanctions and the suspension of trade privileges with the European Union.

Thailand has historically served as a haven for refugees from neighboring countries, but has also repatriated people at risk of jailing or mistreatment.

In January 2019, Truong Duy Nhat, who had been a weekly contributor to RFAs Vietnamese Service and was seeking political asylum in Thailand, was arrested by Thai Royal Police and handed over to Vietnamese police, who took him across the border into Laos, and from there back to Vietnam, where he is serving 10 years in jail on a land-fraud charge.

And in December 2018, Thailand deported to Cambodia the president of a construction workers union who had helped produce a documentary about sex trafficking for Russian state-owned TV network Russia Today (RT).

Rath Rott Mony spent two years in prison and paid a fine of 70 million riels (U.S. $17,200) in fines for incitement after his repatriation from Thailand, where he had fled to seek asylum.

Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Tea and Chau planned to share funds skimmed from the Ream Naval Base project, the U.S. alleges.

A file photo showing Tea Vinh (right), commander of the Royal Cambodian Navy, welcoming Yu Manjiang, commander officer of the Chinese fleet, in Phnom Penh Feb. 24, 2016, when the two countries were holding a joint naval exercise.

UPDATED: 1:25 pm EST on 2021-11-11

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Cambodian Navy Commander Tea Vinh and Defense Ministry Director-General Chau Phirun on Wednesday.

A press release announcing their designation under the Magnitsky Act accused the pair of conspiring to illegally profit from the refurbishment of Ream Naval Base, near Sihanoukville. Cambodian officials denied the allegations Thursday.

Ongoing construction work at the base has been a frequent subject of speculation since a 2019 article in the Wall Street Journal claimed a secret treaty had been signed granting the Chinese navy use of the base for 30 years. A spokesperson for the Cambodian government denounced the story as fake news.

Suspicions have remained however, thanks to admissions by officials that the project has the support of the Chinese government. It has become a sore point in U.S.-Cambodia relations, and the imposition of sanctions is likely to add to the tensions.

Wednesdays press release accused Phirun of having, conspired to profit from activities regarding the construction and updating of Ream Naval Base facilities.

Additionally, Chau, Tea, and other Cambodian government officials likely conspired to inflate the cost of facilities at Ream Naval Base and personally benefit from the proceeds, it continued. Tea and Chau planned to share funds skimmed from the Ream Naval Base project.

The press release offered no evidence to substantiate the allegations and the Treasurys press office did not respond to an email seeking comment on the matter.

Cambodian ruling party spokesman Sok Ey San said the government would not be investigating the allegations.

We cant rely on hearsay and dont want to waste our time and human resources, he told RFA. Without any documentation from the Treasury Department, we can assume that the allegations are groundless. He did not say whether the government had requested documentary evidence from the U.S.

Phirun, who described himself being tasked to modernize Ream Naval Base, also said the allegations were false.

I am working for the sake of Cambodians but the U.S is not happy [about Ream base issue] so they sanctioned me. I have not done anything wrong or colluded with China or committed corruption, he told RFA in an interview.

Sailors stand guard at the Cambodian Ream Naval Base in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, July 26, 2019. Credit: Reuters This is not the first time corruption allegations have been leveled at Phirun, who heads up the Defense Ministrys Material and Technical Services Department.

In March 2007, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered Phirun to return more than 200 hectares (495 acres) of land that he had allegedly stolen. He handed them to the government under threat of being fired.

Three years later, in January 2010, the prime minister once again named him during a speech at the Defense Ministry, identifying him as one of several corrupt generals.

In May of the same year, 22 teachers alleged that in 1991 Phirun had held them against their will. He only released them, they claimed, after the teachers thumb-printed contracts surrendering six hectares (15 acres) of land in Phnom Penhs Sen Sok district to Phirun and the wife of Tea Vinhs brother, Defense Minister Tea Banh.

Phirun was part of a delegation that travelled with Banh to China in 2019 to sign a mutual cooperation agreement to increase the scale of the Cambodian and Chinese militaries joint exercises.

Vinh has received his share of controversial press coverage, too. In 2007, he was named alongside his brother Banh in a report by anti-corruption NGO Global Witness. Customs officials told investigators that the brothers wives employed the services of Hak Mao, an officer with the Cambodian armys Brigade 70, to transport illicit timber. Mao was arrested for allegedly obstructing a narcotics investigation at his home in 2012, although he was subsequently released without charge.

Both these men have a history of involvement in illegal timber exports, the 2007 report said of Banh and Vinh.

The brothers were the subject of an investigation by environmental news website Mongabay in October of this year, alleging that Vinh is actively orchestrating a fire sale of land throughout Koh Kong province, which neighbors Sihanouk province where Ream Naval Base is located.

In addition to his duties with the Defense Ministry, Phirun is the co-owner of Impex Royal (Cambodia) Co Ltd with Russian citizen Alexander Borisenko.

Cambodian Ministry of Commerce records show that the company was registered in 2010. However, a Cambodian company of the same name existed prior to that with Borisenko at its head, according to a 2003 report by Baltic news portal Delfi and a 2007 decision by the Moscow Arbitration Court. The Delfi report described how Impex Royal, under the supervision of Borisenko, allegedly imported a military helicopter to Sudan in violation of EU sanctions in force at the time.

In 2018, Phirun became a founding director of another Cambodian company, Rain Cam Rich Co Ltd. Among the eight other co-directors was a Chinese man named Wang Molin. Molin shares his name with an executive from the Chinese state-owned Jiangling Motors Corporation Group (JMCG). Along with Phirun, Molin presided over an official meeting between the JCMG and Phiruns department at the Defense Ministry, according to a May 2018 post to the ministrys Facebook page.

That a senior official in a procurement role seemingly entered into a private business arrangement with an executive of a company seemingly courting the officials department raises questions of conflict of interest.

Tuesdays designation will freeze any asserts Vinh and Phirun have in the U.S., and prohibit all American citizens and companies from doing business with them. The State Department also issued complementary travel bans prohibiting entry to the U.S. for Phirun, his sons Chau Phirith and Chau Puleak, Vinh, his daughter Tier Leakhena, his son Tea Sokha, and Vinhs wife Kan Chantrea.
Cambodian Defense Ministry Director-General Chau Phirun and Navy Commander Tea Vinh were designated for U.S. sanctions on Wednesday under the Magnitsky Act. The U.S. Treasury Department accused the pair of conspiring to illegally profit from the refurbishment of Ream Naval Base, near Sihanoukville. On Thursday, Chau Phirun denied the allegations, which came amid longstanding U.S. suspicions that a secret treaty had been signed granting the Chinese navy use of the base for 30 years  claims Phnom Penh has denounced as fake news. In an interview with RFAs Khmer Service Thursday, Chau Phirun strenuously denied he had profited from the construction of the based. The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RFA: The US has recently sanctioned you and General Tea Vinh in regard to serious corruptions you involved in the upgrade of the Ream Naval Base facilities. How would you respond to such accusation?

Chau Phirun: I do not have anything to seriously explain with regard to the U.S. accusation. I just think that such accusation is far from being true and that it was made without any actual written evidence on my case. I am a general at Cambodias Ministry of National Defense and I am entrusted with the duties to manage and oversee the so-called project for the modernization of the Ream Naval Base. I simply think that a country that has the utmost power in the world and turns to impose sanctions or blacklist on a person or national of any country like myself, a Khmer citizen, it is not the right thing to do. I am working for our Khmer nationals and Khmer interests. The thing is that the Cambodian government and the Ministry of National Defense appointed me to carry out such work. And it happens that the U.S. is not happy with this issue and turns to impose sanctions on me. I think I have never done any wrongdoings in terms of either exploitation, conspiracy or collusion with the Chinese. Neither had I ever committed any acts of corruption at all. So I think it is not right.

RFA: Does this mean that you have not used your political influence or power in your position as a general in charge of managing the modernization project of the Ream Naval Base? And you did not exploit this project for personal gains as has been described by the U.S. Treasury Department?

Chau Phirun:I do not think that such accusation is right at all. We held bilateral discussions with [the Chinese counterparts] in regard to this construction project and there are always concrete studies on the construction plan and proper assessments. It has gone through a proper financial audit. I am just the manager of that project. By accusing me of conspiring with Gen. Tea Vinh to exploit profits [from the project], it seems like saying that Cambodia is a lawless country. It is not correct at all.

RFA: But the U.S. claims that you and General Tea Vinh inflated the construction cost of the Ream Naval Base project and you both exploited profits from it. How would you explain that?

Chau Phirun:I would like to explain that in terms of project planning, elsewhere around the globe, among project planners, no one can design an accurate plan. There have always been discrepancies, say sometimes 10 percent or 20 percent or 5 percent. It is just a plan and no one can design it accurately. And when we submit it to the [donor country], for example, the initial cost in Cambodia should be $10, but in China the cost could be up to $20; so how can you make it accurate? Also, how could I withdraw money freely from China? How could I inflate the cost? It must have gone through the auditing commission! You may ask other project planners around the globe, who can design a 100% accurate project planning? There will always be discrepancies, as I said.

RFA: For the project at Ream Naval Base, can you disclose or elaborate how much exactly China has invested in this project? And when will the entire project conclude?

Chau Phirun: There are long-term stages for the entire construction project. I myself cannot determine the amount that they will pay us because there are several stages. For example, now we start constructing the repair workshop. It could be the first stage and it could last at least two years. Likewise, the construction of a slipway for the port; it could take at least over a year. The construction of learning facility for our army, it will be done in stagesWe cannot sum up the project cost yet.

RFA: Does the fact that you mentioned that you cannot disclose that, further cause confusions or imply that there are some sorts of concealment without transparency or accountability with regard to what the Cambodian government has done with China now on this Ream Naval Base project?

Chau Phirun: I do not understand that. Cambodia is a little country and so the cost of expenditure on this project will not likely be over thousands of millions of U.S, dollars. It should be at most 10-20 million U.S. dollars. And frankly that 10-20 million U.S. dollars, it cannot be used to build a base for nuclear or other weapons, based on the calculation. The U.S. considered this a threat. I could say that, in fact, it affects the political interest of the U.S as the latter is not happy to see us getting closer to another country. That should be the point! By putting sanctions on me like that, it means the U.S. uses its power to pressure a little country like Cambodia, so that we become intimidated.

RFA: But in terms of the development project at the Ream Naval Base, what has Cambodian government done in order to show to the international community, not just the U.S. but also Australia, Japan and other free world states, that it has shown its utmost transparency and honesty in this development projectwithout having any ill intentions, as it is alleged that Cambodia provides China exclusive rights over the use of the Ream Naval Base?

Chau Phirun: We invited on several occasions foreign nationals who represent their respective countries that cooperate on this matter--such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and Franc--so that they could come and conduct the visit at the Ream Naval Base. And they did not notice anything abnormal. But when the U.S. side conducted their visit, they just wanted to endlessly insist on inspect this place and other places. At Ream Naval Base, we have around 4 to 10 units of facilities. And when we denied their access, they accused us of concealing armed forces or other things. It really becomes complicated if they continue to use that pretext. It becomes something like a search rather than a friendly visit.

Translated by Samean Yun.
The Chinese Communist Party is promoting a canonical view of its own history, analysts say.

A man walks in front of a picture of China's President Xi Jinping at the Museum of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, Nov. 11, 2021.

The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on Thursday passed a resolution on party history, the third in its century-long history, presenting "core leader" Xi Jinping as the right person to take China into a new era of international assertiveness and long-term "Marxist" rule.

While previous resolutions on CCP history have signaled major shifts in the party line, they have also served to consolidate power in the hands of a single faction within the ruling party.

The first historical resolution in 1945 affirmed the political line pursued by late supreme leader Mao Zedong, and established him at the helm of the CCP, while the second, passed in 1979, established economic reformer Deng Xiaoping's position as supreme leader.

A communique issued by the Central Committee at the end of the sixth plenary session on Thursday describes the work of governing China during the past year as "extremely arduous and difficult," and vows to continue to "seek progress while maintaining stability."

It throws its weight behind "new patterns of development," including promoting scientific and technological self-reliance, modernizing the military, and China's "wolf-warrior" diplomatic policy of recent years, calling it "superpower diplomacy with Chinese characteristics."

With the aim of enhancing "political awareness" along with "cultural confidence," the communique vows to "resolutely support the core position of Comrade Xi Jinping at the core of the CCP Central Committee and the entire party."

Regarding the resolution on party history, the communique said the CCP's main task is to "strive for national independence and liberation, and create the fundamental social conditions for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Late supreme leader Mao Zedong is credited in the communique with "establishing the correct revolutionary path ... of seizing power with military force," and obliterating a century of humiliation at the hands of foreign powers.

The wording is in stark contrast to the CCP's 1981 "Resolution on Certain Questions in the History of Our Party since the Founding of the Peoples Republic of China," in which the CCP under Deng penned a 13-page historical commentary that laid the responsibility for the "leftist errors" leading to the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) at Mao's door, while also lauding his leadership at great length.

The 1981 resolution was largely addressed to the rank-and-file of the CCP and the people of China, who needed to know the likely direction in which Deng would take them following the death of Mao (1976), the power struggle that led to the fall of his designated successor Hua Guofeng, and the trial of the Gang of Four in November 1980.

But this resolution's target audience appears to be the international community.

"The Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people solemnly declare to the world ... that Chinese people have now stood up, that the times when Chinese people were slaughtered and bullied is past," it said, adding: "The Chinese people don't just excel at destroying old worlds; they are also good at building new ones."

Late supreme leader and economic reformer Deng Xiaoming is credited with "emancipating minds" with his shift to economic development, and as the creator of "socialism with Chinese characteristics," while former president Jiang Zemin is credited with bringing the party into the 21st century, and former leader Hu Jintao with his "scientific approach to development."

In a nod to Xi's likely confirmation next year for a third term in office, general secretary Xi Jinping is positioned as a deep-thinking, farsighted, big-dreaming leader to take China forward and "build a Marxist party to rule for the long term."

Under Xi, lax governance by the CCP is a thing of the past, with the party now presiding over the "modernization of governance capabilities," communique said.

Independent political scholar and veteran dissident Zha Jianguo said the communique was essentially a hodge-podge of political slogans from the past few years of CCP propaganda.

"All of it has been used many times before in party propaganda," Zha said. "Why do they keep on repeating it?"

"Because they want to use these slogans to standardize the thinking of the entire party and the entire country, and unify the thinking of the Chinese people," he said.

Precedent for worship

Political scholar Wei Xin said the communique went further than that, in that it sets a precedent for the worship of the CCP and its version of history.

"They are creating a form of worship of party history," Wei said. "This worship of party history over the past century has turned the CCP from a revolutionary party to a highly totalitarian regime that is narcissistic and self-perpetuating in its worship of its own version of history."

"It's akin to the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte in the 19th century," he said.

Artist Cian Ci posted a political cartoon to his Twitter account on Thursday satirizing the CCP resolution by depicting the three leaders whose power was consolidated by their respective historical resolutions turning towards each other in a self-referential loop, making Nazi-style salutes.

The sixth plenum communique claimed victory for the CCP in strengthening "national security," especially in taking tighter control of Hong Kong, and "firmly implementing the principle that patriots should run Hong Kong."

The party also "resolutely opposed acts of Taiwan separatism and interference by external forces," it said.

"The CCP and the people of China solemnly declare to the world that [they] have made a great leap, have stood up, and are getting richer and stronger," it said.

'A continual tightening up'

Hong Kong political commentator Johnny Lau said the CCP under Xi has moved to assert Beijing's direct control over Hong Kong since the fourth plenum.

"There has been a continual tightening up of what they mean by 'one country, two systems,' which meant something different back in the day, before the 1997 handover," Lau told RFA.

"There's already a huge difference, and people are saying that Xi Jinping has basically overturned the more lenient definition made under Deng Xiaoping," he said.

Benson Wong, former assistant politics professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, said the references to Taiwan are largely formulaic, and give little away about what Beijing is planning next.

"Actually, the lack of comment on Taiwan could be said to reflect a failure [of CCP policy]," Wong said. "If you compare the comments on Hong Kong and Macau with those on Taiwan, you can spot the differences in how successfully those issues have been handled [from Beijing's point of view]."

The communique was published a day after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington and its allies would take unspecified "action" if China were to use force to annex Taiwan.

"There are many countries, both in the region and beyond, that would see any unilateral action to use force to disrupt the status quo as a significant threat to peace and security, and they too would take action in the event that that happens," Blinken said, but declined to specify what kind of action he meant.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Observers say the drills are likely to have been conducted within the last 12 months.

The Taiwanese Navy has deployed one of its two most advanced submarines in naval drills in the Spratly Islands, a report by Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said without specifying the timing.

The Republic of China National Defense Report 2021 released on Tuesday said the Hai Lung (Sea Dragon) submarine from the 256th Fleet successfully took part in a number of missions including the Navy and Air Force missile shooting drill, Lie Jin (Whale-hunting) drill, routine patrol and tactical combat drill in Nansha (Spratly) Islands, and combat-ready patrol and Hai Qiang anti-submarine drill.

It didnt mention the time and frequency but as this is the defense report for 2021, observers say the drills are likely to have been conducted within the last 12 months.

Taiwan controls two of the largest islands in the South China Sea, the Dongsha (Pratas) Island and the Taiping (Itu Aba) Island. Taiping is the largest of the naturally occurring islands among the Spratlys which Taiwan call Nansha Islands. It is also claimed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Governments from claimant countries have yet to respond to the news of the submarine drills but it has been widely covered by regional media.

Prior to this, Vietnam has repeatedly protested against Taiwans military activities at Taiping Island, which it calls Ba Binh, saying they infringed upon Vietnams sovereignty and raised tensions in the South China Sea.

To be honest, Im not at all surprised by this revelation, said Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore who studied the Taiwanese submarine program.

Its expected that the ROCN subs would conduct peacetime missions in the Spratlys anyway as Taiwan has sizeable possessions in the disputed area, he said, using the initials for Taiwans navy.

In times of a Taiwan Strait war, I believe Taiwanese defense planners will also want to ensure that its southern flank is properly secured, Koh added.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, although the island is self-governing and regards itself as a sovereign state.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen attends a ceremony for the start of construction of a new submarine fleet in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Nov. 24, 2020. Credit: Reuters Indigenous submarine program

According to Koh, the subs are likely to conduct surveillance on the Chinese military (PLA) and other Spratly claimants military forces, collect intelligence and even conduct training to hone combat proficiency in preparation for different conflict scenarios.

The Ministry of National Defenses report merely confirms this logical undertaking, he said.

The news comes at a time of heightened tensions between China and Taiwan. The national defense report dedicates a full 12-page chapter to outline the major military threats China poses to the island, pointing out that China has never renounced the use of force against Taiwan.

In order to prepare for that, the report puts great importance on strengthening Taiwans underwater capability including acquiring (a) new generation of submarines and upgrading the combat systems for the existing Chien Lung-class submarines.

Taiwan has a total of four submarines, two of them dating from World War II, making them among the oldest submarines in service in the world. They were transferred from the U.S. during the 1970s. The other two are the Chien Lung-class Hai Lung (SS-793) and Hai Hu (SS-794) submarines purchased from the Netherlands in the 1980s.

While the Hai Lung and Hai Hu were very modern when first inducted, the growing PLA Navys anti-submarine warfare capabilities mean they will become increasingly obsolete, Koh said.

Taiwan launched the construction of its Indigenous Defensive Submarine program in November 2020 at a new submarine factory in the southern port city of Kaohsiung, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen tweeted.

Taipei aims to acquire as many as eight diesel-electric submarines at an estimated cost of $16 billion. In April, Taiwans defense ministry revealed that assistance is provided by important countries in Europe and the United States to build new submarines.

A month before, the U.S. approved the export of sensitive technology including three major types of equipment  digital sonar systems, integrated combat systems and an auxiliary equipment system (periscopes)  for the fleet.

Taipei will need to watch its steps carefully because of the risk of escalation is high in the South China Sea, warned Leyi Qi, a Taiwanese military analyst and contributor for RFA Mandarin.

The PLA submarines are operating nearby and there are Kilo-class submarines operated by Vietnam, close to the Spratly Islands, Qi said.

Vietnam has acquired six diesel-electric Kilo-class submarines from Russia at a cost of $3.2 billion, the last of which was delivered in 2017.

Meanwhile China is believed to have around 70 submarines, including a dozen nuclear-powered submarines. The number of Chinese nuclear submarines is likely to increase to 21 by 2030, according to the U.S.s Office of Naval Intelligence.
A recent visit by members of the European Parliament to democratic Taiwan shows that European countries are starting to take seriously China's threat of possible military invasion of the island, which has never been ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and whose 23 million people have no wish to submit to authoritarian rule by Beijing, analysts told RFA.

Zsuzsa Anna Ferenczy, a politics scholar at Belgium's Vrije Universiteit Brussel, said the visit -- which concluded that Taiwan would be an excellent place from which to counter China's information wars -- was unprecedented.

"This is the first time that the European Parliament authorizes a visit of one of its committee delegations to visit Taiwan," Ferenczy said. "I think we are going through a shift here where Taiwan has been elevated on the European Parliament's agenda."

She said there is growing unease among EU member states over China's aggression towards Taiwan, which is a democratic, self-governing island using the name of the 1911 Republic of China founded by Sun Yat-sen after the fall of the Qing Dynasty.

"The situation in the region has escalated to an extent where the regional peace and stability is being undermined," Ferenczy said, adding that visits like the recent one headed by Raphael Glucksmann would continue to build consensus in Brussels about the need to form a coherent approach to China.

"With the pandemic, that has really shifted views and hardened views of China inside the EU, I believe that we are getting closer to convergence," she said.

French journalist and international relations expert Bassam Tayara said China's stepping up of military flights and political rhetoric around annexation of Taiwan by force in recent years had largely driven the shift in thinking in Europe.

"For the past couple of years, particularly during the increased tensions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, Beijing has pursued an aggressive policy focused on competition with the United States, while pursuing a systemic and totalitarian repression of the Uyghurs and constantly threatening behavior towards Taiwan," Tayara said.

"The EU, spurred on by the brutality of China's behavior towards Hong Kong, is waking up to all of that now, and finally recognizing the danger this small island -- the No. 1 manufacturer of semiconductors in the world -- is in," he said. "Chinese aggression is increasingly driving the EU into a closer relationship with Taiwan."

Growing media coverage

Antoine Bondaz, a research fellow at the Fondation pour la Recherche Strategique (FRS) with a specialist interest in Taiwan, said growing media coverage of Taiwan in the European and U.S. media have put the island in the international spotlight, partly due to its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its democratic politics, and its leading role in emerging technologies.

"First, the strengthening of cooperation between EU member states and Taiwan has indirectly made the EU aware of the need to take common measures to deal with pressure from China, especially economic pressure, Bondaz said.

He said the European Parliament has passed more than a dozen Taiwan-friendly resolutions this year, and, while none is legally binding, they reflect public opinion in the bloc and put political pressure on the Chinese government.

"Parliamentary work and parliamentary diplomacy didn't just play a key role in setting the political agenda; they also were instrumental in raising awareness of the importance of this kind of cooperation," Bondaz said.

"This visit of seven members of the European Parliament to Taiwan is very symbolic. Its significance lies in particular in the fact that it is a delegation specifically concerned with foreign interference in democratic nations," he said. "Because Taiwan is also the target of such interference."

Bondaz said he didn't foresee any changes brewing in the EU with regard to diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.

"But member states no longer fear threats from China, and are taking the initiative to engage with Taiwan, and they have also inspired the EU to speak out against China's threatening behavior," he said.



Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Environmental groups say they fear harm to the Mekong's ecosystem and to the livelihoods of local people.

Boats pass the Pak Beng pier on the Mekong River in northwestern Laos' Oudomxay province, site of a proposed hydroelectric dam, in a file photo.

Thai power authorities have agreed after a long delay to buy electricity from three hydropower projects in Laos, pushing aside objections from Thai NGOs who say the dams operations will harm the ecosystem along the Mekong River.

The Nov. 5 decision by the Thai National Energy Policy Committee opens the way for the country to buy power from the Nam Gneum 3 Dam and from the China-backed Pak Beng Dam and Pak Lay Dam, both located 60-80 km (35-50 miles) from the Thai border.

Speaking to RFA on Tuesday, an official of the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines called the decision a step forward for Laos, as the country had been trying for years to persuade Thailand to buy power from dams built by the one-party communist state either on the Mekong or on its tributaries.

Laos is going to build all planned dams, including these two dams on the Mekong River, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Right now, our ministers are meeting and discussing our plans to sell all our power to Thailand.

The Pak Beng Dam and the Pak Lay Dam are ready now to be built at any time, he said.

Laos had initially planned to sell its power to Vietnam, but the market there is too small, the official said, adding, Thats why construction of these two Mekong River Dams, the Pak Beng and the Pak Lay, had been delayed, but now were ready to begin construction.

Thai environmentalists and other concerned groups quickly responded to the governments announcement, with one conservation NGO saying that the decision to buy power from Laos had been rushed.

The Thai government made the decision to buy power from these two dams too quickly, the Thai Mekong River Peoples Network from Eight Provinces said in a Nov. 8 press release, adding that the Commissions decision was of no help to Thailand, which already enjoys a 50 percent surplus in available power.

The Pak Beng and Pak Lay dams will also lie too close to Thailand, and will harm the Mekongs ecosystem and the livelihoods of people living along the river, according to the group. The region and the Mekong River have already been seriously affected by existing dams, more specifically by abnormal and fluctuating flows of water and by droughts and floods, the Network said.

The decision to buy power from these three dams shows that the Thai government doesnt care about the people or the environment in the Mekong River region, agreed Niwat Roykaew, a member of the Thai conservation group Love Chiang Khonga district in Thailands Chiang Rai province bordering Bokeo province in Laos.

They, the dams developers and the Thai government, have overlooked the dams impact. [The region] is already in crisis. Our people have been fighting against this for years, he said.

This map published by AFP shows the locations of hydropower projects in various stages of completion along the Mekong River.





'Serious impacts'

All dams including those built along the Mekong have serious impacts on the environment and on people living nearby, a social and environmental expert from the National University of Laos said, also asking for anonymity in order to speak freely.

The Lao government sees only the financial benefit, but not the social and environmental impact, he said, adding, Dams dont benefit the locals very much.

Its impossible to stop the Lao government from building dams, but the government should better manage and control their impact and pay fair compensation to those displaced by their construction, he said.

The Pak Beng Dam is expected to displace around 6,700 people living in 25 villages in the Pak Beng district of Oudomxay province in northern Laos, while the Pak Lay Damlocated in the Pak Lay district of northern Laos Xayaburi province in northwestern Laoswill force the relocation of more than 1,000 residents of 20 villages, sources told RFA in earlier reports.

Laos has built dozens of hydropower dams on the Mekong and its tributaries under its plan to sell around 20,000 megawatts of electricity to neighboring countries by 2030.

Though the Lao government sees power generation as a way to boost the countrys economy as the batter of Southeast Asia, the projects are controversial because of their environmental impact, displacement of villagers without adequate compensation, and questionable financial and power demand arrangements.

Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Analysts say the junta may hope to use Danny Fenster as a bargaining chip.

A U.S. journalist on trial in Myanmar on charges of working to oppose the Feb. 1 military coup that overthrew civilian rule in the country has been hit with additional charges that could see him spend the rest of his life in prison, his lawyer says.

Danny Fenster, editor of the online Frontier Myanmar news magazine, was arrested while trying to leave the country in May and was charged with unlawful association, violations of immigration law, and encouraging resistance to the military.

He faces further charges of sedition and terrorism under Section 24 (a) of the Penal Code and Section 50 (a) of the Terrorism Act, Fensters lawyer Than Zaw Aung told RFA on Wednesday.

I only heard about this yesterday when a police officer reported it to the Western District Judge at the Pabedan Court in Yangon, Myanmars former capital, Than Zaw Aung said. The judge has set a date for [a hearing on] the two new charges, he added.

Fensters lawyer said his client had initially been charged in connection with reports filed in Myanmar Now, a news outlet for which Fenster no longer worked when the articles appeared.

But he said he had left Myanmar Now in August 2020, and [to prove this] he submitted his tax receipts from the government, he said.

Fenster could face up to 50 years in prison if convicted of all five counts against him, Than Zaw Aung said.

Myanmars ruling State Administration Council may now be using Fenster for potential leverage in its dealings with the United States, analysts told RFA.

Danny Fenster is an American citizen, and I think he is being held hostage because they want to have a bargaining chip with the U.S. government, said Nathan Maung, a U.S. citizen and co-founder of Yangon-based Kamayut Media who was arrested and later released by the military following the coup.

I think its really political, agreed veteran Myanmar journalist Myint Kyaw, adding, This looks like a hostage-taking scheme related to [Myanmars] relationship with the United States.

Requests for comment by the U.S. State Department on Fensters arrest received no response, but a State Department spokesman on Wednesday told the AFP wire service that the profoundly unjust nature of Dannys detention is plain for all the world to see.

Fensters family lawyer told RFA by email that his family is declining for now to speak to the media regarding the new charges filed against him.

More than 30 still held

More than 30 journalists arrested in Myanmar for reporting on the Feb. 1 military coup are still being held in custody following prisoner amnesties that many had hoped would see them freed, sources in the country say.

Many of the 34 denied release have been charged with defaming Myanmars military under Section 505 (a) of the Penal Code, while others have been charged under anti-terrorism laws over suspected ties with the opposition National Unity Government (NUG) or the local Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militias set up to resist military rule, sources say.

Myanmars ruling State Administration Council has twice granted amnesty to detainees held for protesting the military coup, once on June 30 in a mass release that included 14 journalists and a second amnesty on Oct. 18-19 that saw 17 journalists freed.

Paris-based Reporters without Borders (RSF) ranked Myanmar 140th out of 180 countries in the 2021 edition of its annual World Press Freedom Index and singled out junta chief Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing as among the worlds 37 worst leaders in terms of media crackdowns.

The country has fallen in position every year since it was ranked 131st in 2017.

Translated by Khin Maung Nyane for RFAs Myanmar Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Scorched-earth military operations in Myanmars southern Shan state and Sagaing region have forced nearly 40,000 people to flee their homes in the past two days, sources said Wednesday.

Around 30,000 residents from 30 villages in Sagaings Depayin township and 10,000 from 20 villages in nearby Shan states Pekon township sought refuge as government soldiers conducted raids in the area from Nov. 8-9, setting buildings alight under the pretext of fighting terrorism, members of the pro-democracy Peoples Defense Force (PDF) militia and residents told RFAs Myanmar Service.

The 50 villages are centers of dogged resistance to the military regime, which has waged an offensive against ethnic armed organizations and anti-junta forces in the countrys remote border regions since seizing power from the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government in a Feb. 1 coup.

A member of the Depayin PDF told RFA Wednesday that the military raided several villages on Tuesday morning, torching homes and arresting residents.

We could see through our binoculars as they were burning several houses, the militia fighter said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

What worries us is that most of our wooden houses were [coated] with oil [leftover from crude oil refining] and they could catch fire very easily.

Depayin PDF leader Ko Thukha said a fire the military started on a haystack in Wunyan village spread to nearby homes during Tuesdays raid. He added that at least six buildings in Kone Yoe and Tat Tae West villages were torched by the soldiers. At least three middle-aged women were taken hostage from Kone Yoe, he said.

The military acknowledged that it had raided several villages in Western Depayin township beginning on Monday evening after sending troops to the area aboard three helicopters.

Additionally, government troops stormed a PDF camp in Pekon township on Monday and set fire to nearby Latu village, according to a local militia who declined to be named.

They set fire to a PDF camp and as the camp was close to the village, they also set fire to the village, the PDF fighter said.

I dont think there are many houses left in the village. We couldnt get close to the village and could only view it from a distance.

The militia member said fighting had intensified in the area in recent days with the army attacking in great numbers, forcing the PDF to withdraw from its camp.

Severe rights violations

Junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun dismissed the reports as allegations, telling RFA that the military has no reason to burn villages.

We are working to secure the area in Sagaing region, but we didnt set any villages on fire  theres no reason to do that, he said.

[On Tuesday], there were clashes with about 15 PDF militants in the southwestern part of Pekon. We seized some ammunition and their training grounds, and tents were confiscated.

Aung Myo Min, human rights minister for Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG), said that if true the allegations would represent severe human rights violations.

We have received hundreds of thousands of complaints about this, but we have to thoroughly investigate everything before we can take legal action, he said, adding that reports were being systematically documented.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in September that more than 120,000 people have been displaced by fighting since May 21 in Kayah and southeastern Shan states, in addition to tens of thousands in Chin, Kachin, and Kayin states, as well as Magway and Sagaing regions.

In late August, OCHA announced that the number of people who need humanitarian aid in Myanmar had increased to nearly two million since the military coup. Those displaced by the recent fighting join more than 500,000 refugees from decades of conflict between the military and ethnic armies who were already counted as war refugees at the end of 2020, according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center, a Norwegian NGO.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
The decision marks the second time the militarys representation has been rejected by the UN.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (3L), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R) and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa (3R) attend a meeting with Co-Facilitators during the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Nov. 10, 2021.

Myanmars military regime has been snubbed once again on the international stage, this time by the organizers of the United Nations climate change conference, who turned its five-person delegation away at the door to the summit in Glasgow, Scotland, this week.

The move to bar the delegation comes just a month after reports that the U.N. credentialing committee delayed acceptance of the juntas appointed envoy to the General Assembly as part of a U.S.-China-brokered deal that would have the representative of Myanmars deposed National League for Democracy (NLD) government take a low profile until a formal decision is made later this year.

Sources close to the military government recently told RFAs Myanmar Service that Hla Maung Thein, the juntas director general of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, had planned to send a five-member delegation to the Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 conference, known as COP26. The group was to be led by Ambassador Tun Aung Kyaw of the Myanmar Embassy in London.

However, Myanmar pro-democracy groups learned of the plan and protested the juntas inclusion, which they said would allow it to raise its international profile despite its violent repression at home of opponents to its Feb. 1 coup.

Kyaw Swa Tun, a third secretary at the Myanmar Embassy in Washington, told RFA that the delegation had been denied entry to the 192-member nation conference when it arrived in Glasgow.

The military council was trying to get [global] recognition. A delegation of five people, led by the juntas Ambassador Tun Aung Kyaw and Councilor Chit Win, traveled to Glasgow, he said.

At the U.N. there is a group that accepts nominations and theres another group that deals with credentials. At the time of the nomination of the five, travel expenses were paid by the U.N. nominating group. However, the credentials group rejected their nomination and so they were not allowed to attend the meeting and had to return home from Scotland.

It was not immediately clear which group or individual objected to the juntas participation at the COP26. Junta representatives were even barred from taking part in the conference virtually.

RFA learned that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) had paid for the travel expenses of at least three of the five delegates when the junta was initially invited.

RFA was unable to contact the UNFCCC for comment on the decision to block the junta from attending the conference.

Nine months after the Feb. 1 coup, the juntas security forces have killed 1,252 civilians and arrested at least 7,091, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Many of the deaths and arrests have occurred during crackdowns on anti-junta protests.

The junta claims it unseated the NLD government because the party had engineered its victory in the 2020 election through widespread voter fraud, though international observers rated the vote legitimate. Military leaders have yet to present evidence backing up their allegation, and protests against the regime continue.

A victory for the people of Myanmar

Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) said it had also attempted to send a delegation to COP26 but was rejected.

As we all know, our government was formed on behalf of the people, so I think U.N. officials should recognize our governments representation and allow us to attend such major conferences, NUG Deputy Foreign Minister Moe Zaw Oo told RFA.

Otherwise, our country will miss a lot of opportunities because of non-participation at meetings on important issues, he added, saying that the NUG would continue its efforts to represent Myanmar on the world stage.

Moe Zaw Oo said the decision to ban the junta from attending the climate conference was a victory for the people of Myanmar.

They are trying to attend U.N. meetings, but U.N. officials and host countries are also working to prevent them from being represented, he said.

It will teach them the lesson that an organization that does not represent the people will not be allowed to attend such meetings.

Arkar Myo Htet, an NLD lawmaker, said refusing the junta representation at COP26 was a blow to the military regime.

It is a blessing for our uprising and our people that the junta was not allowed to attend such an important conference, he said.

This shows that the global community stands with our people.  The military is slowly failing in the international arena.

Attempts by RFA to reach junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun for comment regarding the delegation were not successful.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Use of the phones is required, with former prisoners forbidden to use phones of their own.

Chinese authorities in Tibet are giving cell phones to former Tibetan prisoners in a move aimed at monitoring their movements and conversations following their release, RFA has learned.

Launched around 2014, the policy has seen state-provided phones issued especially to former political prisoners, who are required to use them and are forbidden to possess or use cell phones of their own, Tibetan sources say.

Cell phones issued by the government have tracking devices installed in them that note your location and who you are meeting, said one former political prisoner in Tibet.

The SIM card used in these phones is directly linked to a government control office, but one does not have to pay for the phone service.," RFA's source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"If we keep our conversations a certain distance away from our phones, they are quite safe, though."

Also speaking to RFA, a Tibetan living in exile said he had seen these phones in use during a visit four years ago to Tibet.

On my trip to Tibet in 2017, I was able to meet some former political prisoners, and they were all carrying these government-issued cell phones, he said.

I also met a former political prisoner from Qinghai who had spent a number of years in prison, and he told me that leaving the phone in another room helped to block the tracking device.

Tibetan political prisoners are usually required to report each week or month to police on their movements and activities for at least one to two years following their release from prison, the source added.

To keep track of released political prisoners, the Chinese government also monitors their family and friends through their use of their own cell phones and SIM cards, with the government especially registering the SIM cards of Tibetans considered by authorities to be a threat to national security, another source living in Tibet said.

My own cell phone was also taken by the Chinese government for registration, and it has now become very difficult for me to receive or share any kind of information, the source said.

Pema Gyal, a researcher at London-based Tibet Watch, told RFA that the government program of issuing cell phones to former political prisoners was launched around 2014.

And what we have learned from many former political prisoners is that its the Apple iPhone Model 4 that is being used.

So it has become even more difficult now to share information with each other, Gyal said.

It is almost comical, the lengths the authorities are going to track people, said Sophie Richardson, China director at New York-based Human Rights Watch. It is also very chilling that people would be obliged to carry government-issued phones with them, because we all know that these are essentially tracking devices.

This means that you will literally have the government listening to you all the time, and that will clearly have consequences for the freedom of expression, Richardson said.

Formerly an independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force over 70 years ago.

Chinese authorities exercise strict controls over phone and online communications in Tibetan areas, sources say, and news of Tibetan protests and arrests is often delayed, sometimes for years, from reaching outside contacts.

Translated by Tenzin Dickyi for RFAs Tibetan Service. Written in English by Richard Finney.
The harassment of ethnic Uyghurs across the globe is getting worse, says Uyghur Human Right Project.

A Uyghur woman holds a placard as she demonstrates to ask for news of relatives in China's Xinjiang and to express concern about the ratification of an extradition treaty between China and Turkey, near the Chinese consulate in Istanbul, March 8, 2021.

Chinas campaign against ethnic Uyghurs extends well beyond its borders, according to a new report from a rights advocacy group that says Chinese agents have tracked, harassed and threatened members of the Muslim community in 22 countries.

The scale of Chinas transnational repression of Uyghurs is breathtaking. From the rendition of individuals to the everyday online threats, there is no peace for Uyghurs living overseas, said Omer Kanat, executive director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP).

The 64-page report  released jointly by the UHRP, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., and the academic exchange group Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs  is based on survey data from Uyghurs living around the world.

The report adds more than 5,500 instances of warnings and threats to individuals and their family members in 22 countries to an existing dataset that tracks incidents of surveillance, harassment and intimidation against ethnic Uyghurs.

Peter Irwin, senior program officer for advocacy and communications at the UHRP, said the tactics used by Chinese agents include cyberattacks, online harassment and public smear campaigns.

The scale and scope of Chinas state-backed hackers and intelligence operatives have expanded in countries that host Uyghurs since 2014, said Bradley Jardine, director of research at the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs.

In May of that year, the Chinese government launched its strike hard campaign against terrorist attacks in the western region of Xinjiang, including police raids on Uyghur households, restrictions on Islamic practices, and curbs on the culture and language of the Uyghur people.

Since 2017, China has held as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a network of detention camps that Beijing claims are vocational training centers. The camps are the center of a campaign of repression that also includes enforced birth control and forced labor and has drawn charges of genocide and crimes against humanity in the West.

If democracies do not act to ensure the civil liberties of vulnerable communities within their borders, a vital China policy constituency will be forced into silence  emboldening the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] to continue challenging the fundamental human rights that impact us all, Jardine said in a statement.

The organization surveyed 72 Uyghurs living Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, with 74 percent saying they had experienced digital risks, threats or online harassment.

The report recommends that governments take in more Uyghur refugees and sanction Chinese citizens responsible for acts of transnational repression.

Governments have a role to play, Irwin told RFA. They have an obligation to ensure that in some cases their own citizens are protected from this kind of intimidation and harassment.

The report also says the private sector should monitor digital threats on online platforms in all relevant languages  including Uyghur, Chinese and Turkish  and develop tools to identify state-actor harassment.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in a 16-page opinion issued on Oct. 25 has spoken out against what it calls the arbitrary arrest and detention of Vietnamese journalist and dissident Pham Doan Trang, who had written books criticizing Vietnams government and been interviewed by Radio Free Asia and the BBC. Arrested on Oct. 6, 2020 at her home in Ho Chi Minh City, Trang was later charged with making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information documents and items against the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under Article 117 of Vietnams Penal Code. RFAs Giang Nguyen interviewed human rights lawyer Kurtulus Bastimar, who filed the petition on behalf of Pham Doan Trang with the UN Working Group.

RFA: We spoke back in July when you were in the process of submitting this petition to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in the case of Pham Doan Trang. And now we have this decision by the Working Group calling Trangs deprivation of liberty arbitrary. When did you receive this decision, and what was your reaction?

Bastimar: I am so happy to have learned of this decision, as it is really important for international human rights law. I received this decision on Monday [Oct. 25]. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention transmitted the decision to me after they sent it to the Vietnamese government. My reaction is that the decision clearly states that the arrest and the detention of Pham Doan Trang was arbitrary under international law, because when we look at Paragraph 64 of the decision it says the Vietnamese government.

As you know, the U.N. Working group considers five categories, and each category involves different articles. In the first category, the UN working group decided that under Category One, Article Nine of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Trangs civil and political rights were violated, as I said, because her arrest and detention was carried out without an arrest warrant and Trang was not informed about the charges against her. And that's how Article 9, Subparagraph One and Subparagraph Two were violated.

The government justified the absence of an arrest warrant by stating that the arrest had been approved by the People's Procuracy. But the UNWGAD says the People's Procuracy is not an independent judicial authority. And this is really important because indirectly it means that even if an arrest warrant was approved by the Peoples Procuracy, this would not matter either because the judicial authority in question is not independent.

The UN working group also decided that Trang has been unable to challenge her detention before the court. And that's why her right to effective remedy under Article 2, Subparagraph Three of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has been also violated. That means that since the first arrest and detention of Trang, she has not been allowed to challenge her detention.

There is also another important and crucial part: The UN also decided that Trang has been placed outside of the protection of the law. That means her right to be recognized as a person before the law, under Article 16 of the Covenant, has also been violated. So, you know, this is really, really important. If a person cannot be regarded as a person before the law, that is the minimum level of human rights that must be protected. But it was also violated, and especially in Paragraph 68, the UN Working Group stated once again stated that the Vietnamese government cannot deprive the liberty of an individual based on Article 88 or amended Article 117 (of Vietnams Penal Code), because these articles are really broad and vague.

The UN also stated in this decision that a law must be clear and precise: so that when Vietnamese individuals read this law, they can understand it and regulate their behavior accordingly. But when they look at the lawnamely Article 88 or 117 amendedthey cannot understand what kind of action could be categorized as conducting propaganda or defaming the government. And they do not know this because the limits of the law are not clearly identified.

International human rights lawyer Kurtulus Bastimar, in an undated photo. RFA: So what this all means is that we have a decision by the Working Group finding Pham Doan Trangs detention arbitrary?

Bastimar: This decision is an international decision and was given by a supranational body, namely the UN Working Group. This means the Vietnamese government cannot judge, try, or continue to arrest and detain Pham Doan Trang. Because even if her detention has a basis or is legal under domestic law, this is not sufficient reason for a person to be arrested or detained. Arrest and detention must also be in line with international law. This has been stated many times by the United Nations Human Rights Committee as well.

The Vietnamese government should now respect this international decision because many of its domestic law processes as well as international laws have been violated [during Trangs arrest and detetion.] This international decision clearly states that the deprivation of Pham Doan Trangs liberty is arbitrary under international law. That's why she must be released immediately and unconditionally.

RFA: You mentioned that the Working Group stated that no trial should be held for Trang. We also know that the Vietnamese government tends to disregard such rulings, as it has in the past. We fully expect that they will continue with the trial. What mechanism does the Working Group have to hold the government accountable to those covenants that it has signed?

Bastimar: Basically you are right. We know that the Vietnamese government tries to ignore these decisions. They continue to rely on their own domestic laws and their domestic law processes. But that doesn't mean that they have a right to continue to ignore these decisions.

When we look at the impact of these decisions, we see the Vietnamese government decided to amend Article 88. So we know there is huge pressure and a huge impact resulting from those decisions in every countryfor example including in Turkey and in other countries as well. These decisions cannot be regarded as having a vague impact or no impact at all.

When it comes to the process of following up on those decisions after the trial process or at any other stage, the UN Working Group has now initiated follow-up procedures, which means the Vietnamese government will be monitored, and will be asked to provide information on whether or not Pham Doan Trang has been released, and whether she has been remedied or not. All of this information will be tracked by the UN Working Group.

But if the Vietnamese government continues to not implement the Working Groups decision, they will be invited to the United Nations Human Rights Council, where they will be questioned. And they will be asked to provide the reason why they did not implement this decision.

But I know that in the case of Pham Doan Trang, this decision will have a huge impact because we know from domestic lawyers in Vietnam that she was accused on [a charge that can carry a penalty of] 20 years of prison, but this has now been decreased to three years.

So every step we have taken at the level of international law has a great impact on domestic law and the domestic trial process. But I agree with you, that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention must start to have a body or process that can impose sanctions in case the decision is ignored.

RFA: Obviously, youll be following this case now, but what other steps will be taken by yourself and other advocates for Pham Doan Trang? Whats next, given this decision?

Bastimar: I will continue to follow the case and the decision and the situation of Pham Doan Trang in Vietnam. But I have already spoken to some international human rights bodies and other entities who will support us. I will also try to connect with parliamentarians in Europe.

We dont want to intervene, and we are not intervening, in the domestic affairs of Vietnam, and we are not issuing any orders to the Vietnamese courts. We are just kindly asking the government to respect international law and the international decision that our client should be released, and we will continue to fight for the rights of Pham Doan Trang until she is released.
Officers seized goods from a temporary wet market in An Giang and attacked a couple who had started filming.

A married couple trying to sell tofu said they were assaulted by police Wednesday when they began filming a raid of a temporary wet market in the southern Vietnamese province of An Giang.

According to Nguyen Hoang Nam and his wife Lam Thi Nguyen Trinh, residents of My Phu hamlet, which is part of Vinh Chau commune, the incident began when they initially attempted to cross a bridge to reach the communes large marketplace on the other side of a canal.

Authorities had shut down the bridge as part of a lockdown imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Local sellers set up a smaller, temporary market on their side of the bridge in response.

The couple said they interpreted a recent announcement that Vietnam would lower restrictions as an invitation to cross back over the bridge to the larger marketplace. But they were blocked once again from crossing.

Before the government said that anyone who was fully vaccinated would be allowed to cross the bridge. But after we got our two shots, they asked for us to submit a travel permit, Nguyen Hoang Nam, a resident of An Giang, told RFAs Vietnamese Service.

This morning I told them that the prime minister issued Directive 128, which lifts movement restrictions as the country transitions to a strategy of living together with the pandemic. Its supposed to facilitate trade. So, I asked them why they are putting up the checkpoint to block movement again.

Nam said that when the police still would not allow him to cross the bridge, he and others returned to the site of the temporary market and set up shop there only to be confronted by the officers once again, he said.

They snatched our stuff like robbers. This is suppression, not an act for the people, Nam said.

If they really think for the people, they should have let us do business and only block the affected areas. This is a deliberate crack-down to push people into economic exhaustion, he said.

Vietnam was relatively successful in containing the pandemic in 2020 and the first few months of 2021, but it has been struggling with a fourth wave that began in April. As confirmed cases climb, authorities have instituted and extended temporary lockdowns in the provinces and cities.

Nam and Trinh had been running a small tofu stand at the temporary market over the past few days. When the police came to shut down the market, officers asked the couple to move.

Trinh told RFA that her husband began filming while they argued with the police about their right to cross the bridge.

They got out of their police car to ask him to stop filming. My husband responded that he had the right to film and asked on what grounds they forbid him to do so. Then they came closer and snatched my husbands phone, she said.

I saw it all when I was frying tofu. I got angry and I stood up and grabbed the collar of the guy who snatched my husbands phone and demanded he return it. I told them they had no right to take it because my husband hadnt done anything wrong, Trinh said.

After that, another officer jumped onto Nam and held him by his neck, pushing his head to the ground and crushing his body against the pavement, she said.

Trinh said she also was pushed down when she tried to get Nams phone back. She said she suffered a scratch to the knee.

Trinhs knees were scratched after struggling with authorities to get back her husbands phone. Credit: Tieng Dan Television

Nam said that the police let him go after he banged his head on the ground and the police became aware that a crowd of townspeople were witnessing the confrontation.

RFA attempted to contact the Vinh Chau Commune People's Committee to verify the incident, but repeated calls went unanswered.

To date, 94 percent of the provinces population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 30 percent are fully vaccinated.

As of Wednesday, Vietnam has confirmed 984,805 cases of the coronavirus, with more than 15,000 appearing in An Giang province.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Anna Vu. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
When anti-government protests swept Armenia's capital, Yerevan, in the spring of 2018, Seda Grigorian was on the streets alongside thousands of like-minded marchers.

After protest leader Nikol Pashinian was made prime minister, he drew cheers of approval from crowds who gathered to hear him speak: The revolution, he vowed, marked the beginning of a new era in which the voices of Armenias citizens would be heard, and the years of corruption and trampled rights were over. Several months later, Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutian was voted into power echoing those sentiments, giving many hope that deeply controversial demolitions of historic buildings, and charmless high-rise developments would end in the city.

Three years after the revolution, Grigorian says her hopes of wholesale change faded as she tailed two plainclothes policemen rifling through her family home on November 6, searching for "a can of red spray paint." The search was part of a criminal investigation sparked by her opposition to a high-rise project in Yerevan.

Grigorian, a media professional, lives in the leafy suburb of Phys-Gorodok in the northwest of Yerevan. The suburb is named after the Soviet-era physics institute it was built around in the 1950s. Phys-Gorodok is beloved by locals for its park-like green space and is seen as something of an oasis in Armenia's often hectic and fume-clouded capital city. In February 2021, Armenia's Culture Ministry declared the suburb a "local cultural monument," effectively preserving its unique atmosphere. But shortly afterwards, a section of Phys-Gorod disappeared from the "cultural monument" map exactly in the area where property developers had planned a 12-story building.

Aside from the mysterious redrawing of the cultural-monument map, according to local activists the high rise was planned on public land that had been illegally privatized in the early 2000s. Arthur Mnatsakanian, deputy director and co-owner of Ratko LLC, the property-development company behind the project, told RFE/RL's Armenian Service that the land was purchased legally and they had the rights to begin construction. They also vow that the development will improve the area. An attempted compromise of building a low-rise building that would better fit the suburb would make it impossible to create a profitable development, Mnatsakanian says.

After vocal protests against the development, the dispute became increasingly bitter and began to attract local media attention. In August 2021, police violently dispersed protesters at the site as construction began. Then, in early September, graffiti appeared on a temporary fence put up around the construction site. In large red letters, the spray-painted messages included "Public property, free the trees" and "Free the district."

It was that graffiti that led to Grigorian receiving a knock on her door on November 6 as she was home alone. Two men told Grigorian they were from the investigative committee of Armenia and that they had a warrant from a judge to search her apartment. "They let me read the warrant and said they were looking for a can of red spray paint," Grigorian says. The warrant stated that CCTV camera footage captured a young woman approaching and possibly spray-painting the fence, "that's why they think it was me."

A spokesman for the investigative committee told RFE/RL that representatives from Ratko had accused Grigorian of vandalizing their property. The spokesman added that "the search of her apartment was necessary and unavoidable; the police are not trying to intimidate her." But Grigorian calls the search an "obvious" act of pressure from the authorities in the context of Phys-Gorodok locals repeated attempts at legal action over the high-rise development. "There have been three years of struggle for the rights of the citizens to protect their public space, and so far we haven't seen much interest from the responsible authorities to follow up with this case," she says. "But, on the other hand, when this graffiti appeared, the entire police department of this district is working hard to prove that it was me. They are searching my apartment and they are making this the number one case in the framework of the whole issue."
Hundreds of migrants trapped along the Belarusian border in freezing temperatures and with little food tried to force their way into EU member Poland, prompting warnings that the crisis could turn into a military confrontation.

Warsaw has accused Belarus of committing terrorism over its role in an escalating border dispute, while the European Union moved closer to penalizing Minsk for provoking the crisis. In turn, Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka threatened to cut off gas to Europe in retaliation for any new sanctions.

Underscoring the seriousness of the crisis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 11 spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the second time in as many days.

"The chancellor stressed that the situation was caused by the Belarusian regime, which was using defenseless people in a hybrid attack on the European Union," spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement.

The Kremlin said Putin complained to Merkel about what he called provocative U.S. and NATO actions in the Black Sea, as well as the migrant crisis. Putin also accused Ukraine of increasingly forceful behavior, including the use of drones in the conflict zones in eastern Ukraine.

The crisis has sparked a new confrontation between the West and Russia, which is Belaruss strongest ally. Moscow dispatched nuclear-capable strategic bombers to fly over Belarus for the second day in a row, in a show of support for Minsk, and a threat to the West.

The U.S. and European delegations on the UN Security Council condemned Belarus's behavior in a joint statement on November 11. After an emergency meeting on the crisis, the Western delegations condemned "the orchestrated instrumentalization of human beings whose lives and well-being have been put in danger for political purposes by Belarus."



They said Belarus is doing this with "the objective of destabilizing neighboring countries and the European Union's external border and diverting attention away from its own increasing human rights violations."

The Polish Defense Ministry on November 11 said a group of several hundred migrants attempted to cross the border by force in the area of Bialowieza the previous day, following similar attempts over the past days.

The attack began by throwing objects at the soldiers and then attempting to destroy the fence. Soldiers fired warning shots into the air, the ministry tweeted.

The ministry also shared a video of the border area near the Bruzhi-Kuznica border crossing, just outside the western Belarusian city of Hrodno, showing security forces patrolling with dogs along razor wire fences, with crowds of people standing on the Belarusian side of the frontier:

According to the Border Committee of Belarus, more than 2,000 people are gathered on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Arvidas Anushauskas said there could be more than 1,000 migrants along his country's border with Belarus.

"This increases the possibility of provocations and serious incidents that could also spill over into military domain," a joint statement by the Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian defense ministers said, noting the "deliberate escalation of the ongoing hybrid attack by the Belarusian regime, which is posing serious threats to European security."

The EU has accused Lukashenka of flying in migrants and funneling them to the bloc's borders to retaliate against Brussels for sanctions imposed after last year's presidential election, which Lukashenka claimed to have won, but no Western countries have recognized.

The thousands of people massed on the border include men, women, and children from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and other countries.

Lukashenka's government, which is backed by Russia, denies the EU charges and has accused Poland and the EU of violating human rights by refusing to allow the migrants to apply for asylum.

A BBC correspondent posted photos on social media of what he described as large groups of migrants in central Minsk, almost all heading to Belarus-Poland border. The pictures showed mostly men wearing winter clothes and carrying backpacks, but also a number of women and children.

EU foreign ministers may approve a new fifth package of sanctions at their meeting in Brussels on November 15. Earlier reports said sanctions would target some 30 individuals and entities, including the Belarusian foreign minister and the national airline, Belavia.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said sanctions will be expanded "very rapidly" at the beginning of next week, including the possibility of sanctioning airlines that "facilitate human trafficking towards Minsk and then the EU-Belarus border."



Meanwhile, Lukashenka warned that Minsk would respond to any additional sanctions against it, warning he could shut off oil or gas supplies transiting Belarusian pipelines to Poland and Europe.

Asked about Lukashenkas threat, a European Commission spokeswoman told reporters: "We are not going to be intimidated by any potential action by the Belarus regime using gas as a tool."

In a meeting with top security officials, Lukashenka also referred to the overflight by Russian bombers.

Yes, these are bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. But we have no other option. We must see what they are doing there beyond the borders," he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Moscows claim that it had nothing to do with the crisis on the Belarus-Poland border and rejected as "crazy" a suggestion in a media report that Russias state air carrier Aeroflot could be targeted with retaliatory sanctions.

In neighboring Ukraine, the government said police in the four border regions had been put on alert and extra border troops were being deployed to prevent possible attempts by migrants to cross.

Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy said 8,500 border guards would be in place, along with National Guard and National Police units.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said after meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart that "the idea that Belarus would weaponize migration isprofoundly objectionable."



Washington will pressure Lukashenka "as long as the regime is refusing to respect its international obligations, or commitments, as long as it's undermining peace and security in Europe through its actions, and as long as it continues to repress and abuse people, Blinken said on November 10.

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, AP, and RFE/RL's Belarus and Ukrainian services
With Bulgarians set to go to the polls on November 14, police have confirmed they have launched probes into possible voter fraud after an RFE/RL investigation into the conduct of the country's last elections in July.



The latest investigation by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service found what appeared to be widespread abuse of mobile balloting on July 11 in two towns in the southern Pazardzhik Province, a stronghold of the centrist Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, which attracts the support of members of Bulgaria's Muslim, Romany, and Turkish communities. Mobile balloting is when people vote from home due to a medical condition or old age.



An earlier RFE/RL probe focusing on the northeastern city of Razgrad found that medical documents needed to qualify for mobile voting had either been forged or filed on behalf of people who later said they had not submitted such a request.



The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said its observers found the July 11 snap parliamentary elections in Bulgaria to have been "competitive with fundamental freedoms generally respected."



But some Bulgarian politicians aren't convinced, bolstered by the recent findings, and fear there could be even more fraud in the crucial elections on November 14.



A NATO and European Union member, Bulgaria has been plagued by rampant corruption since overthrowing communism more than three decades ago. It is the EU's poorest member and routinely comes in at the bottom of the bloc for perceptions of corruption and media freedom.



Bulgarians will vote not only in parliamentary elections on November 14, but will pick a president as well. It will be the third time this year Bulgaria holds parliamentary elections after two previous votes in April and July failed to produce a government.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who was at the helm for more than a decade, resigned in April after widespread anti-corruption protests against him and his center-right GERB party, formally known as the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria.



The graft and cronyism linked to infrastructure projects, which appeared to benefit GERB friends and associates rather than average Bulgarians, not only sparked protests but a rebuke from the European Anti-Fraud Office.

Double Vote, Double Trouble?



The country's president, Rumen Radev, who is seeking a second term in office and picked the date for the parliamentary poll, said holding the two votes together would save time and money. However, given the fresh allegations of vote rigging during the July parliamentary polls, some Bulgarian politicians fear the double vote could spell double trouble.

"There was abuse before. These elections will give us two results on one day," said Antoaneta Tsoneva, a member of the Bulgarian National Assembly, the country's parliament, and a member of the centrist Democratic Bulgaria electoral alliance, which placed fourth in the July elections with 12.5 percent of the vote .



"It is an attempt to avoid voting machines and direct how voters cast their ballots. We have proof of it being used before," Tsoneva told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service, referring to mobile voting, which critics say is susceptible to tampering because of its use of paper ballots.



The Interior Ministry confirmed to RFE/RL that an election fraud probe linked to the July 11 vote had been launched in Razgrad and other unspecified areas.

Nebi Bozov, mayor of Sarnitsa, one of the two towns in Pazardzhik Province where RFE/RL detected unusual mobile ballot voting during the July 11 parliamentary vote, denied to RFE/RL that there had been any "irregularities."

In Sarnitsa, 198 ballots were cast using mobile voting. That meant electoral teams going to the homes of people who had requested to cast their ballots in that manner because a medical condition precluded them from getting to a polling station.



In Bulgaria, mobile voting is conducted using paper ballots, unlike polling stations where votes are tabulated electronically. Those paper ballots, critics contend, make mobile voting open to ballot stuffing.

'Decisive Resistance'



In Sarnitsa, one mobile polling station was employed to collect those 198 votes on July 11, raising questions how that was possible given the voting day was 13 hours long from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and collecting one vote usually takes at least 15 minutes.



Asked how such a high number of mobile votes had been collected in such a relatively short time, Mayor Bozov said he "has a good organization."



Told of Bozov's remarks, member of parliament Tsoneva retorted sarcastically: "This good organization will meet our decisive resistance."



Most of those 198 mobile votes -- 173 -- went to the DPS, official records indicate. That contrasts with results from polling stations in Sarnitsa, where DPS won just 50 percent of the vote.



The DPS party, which came in fifth place overall in July with 10.6 percent of the vote, was in the headlines earlier this year when one of its members, Delyan Peevski, a media magnate and powerbroker in Bulgaria, was among a trio of influential Bulgarians and companies belonging to them that were slapped with economic sanctions by the United States for their "extensive roles" in corruption in Bulgaria.

Peevski is again seeking a seat for the party in the upcoming parliamentary elections.



The Democratic Bulgaria alliance on November 8 requested that police probe the mobile voting results not only in Sarnitsa, but Batak, another town in Pazardzhik Province, Tsoneva, who represents the province, told RFE/RL.



On October 31, Tsoneva confronted Yordan Tsonev (no relation), the DPS leader for Pazardzhik Province, about the alleged vote rigging on the streets in Velingrad, a town in the province, an encounter she videoed and put on her Facebook page. 



In comments to RFE/RL, Tsoneva said she had told Tsonev that her party would not stand for a repeat of the alleged vote rigging. Tsonev did not respond to requests from RFE/RL for comment.



Bozov, the mayor of Sarnitsa, said a commission had been established to check all the applications, including medical documents and certificates, needed to qualify for mobile voting. "We've done everything, but we're still not doctors," Bozov told RFE/RL.

Apparent Abuse Of Medical Claims

It was unclear how many applications had been filed for mobile voting for the upcoming elections on November 14.



An earlier investigation by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service, published on October 29, found what appeared to be widescale abuse of medical claims required to qualify for mobile voting in Razgrad.



Just before the July 11 parliamentary vote, more than 2,500 requests for mobile voting were filed due to illness. Police later said an unspecified number of these requests had been made by people who later said they denied filing them.



Results from mobile voting in the Razgrad region during the July 11 parliamentary elections show that more than 90 percent of ballots cast went to the DPS. That compares with the 45 percent that the DPS received in the Razgrad region in voting at polling stations.



Verifying the medical documentation accompanying any request for mobile voting is the remit of mayors in jurisdictions where such requests are made. In Razgrad, five of the seven district mayors are members of the DPS.



RFE/RL published its report on the voting irregularities in Razgrad three days after the Bulgarian Interior Ministry announced it was launching a probe on possible voter fraud there.

Written and reported by Polina Paunova of RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service and by RFE/RL's Tony Wesolowsky in Prague
MARIUPOL, Ukraine -- A court in Ukraine has sent the suspected former warden of a notorious jail in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk to pretrial detention.

The Prymorskiy district court in the city of Mariupol ruled on November 10 that Denys Kulykovskiy must stay in pretrial detention until at least January 7, 2022.

The press service of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) told RFE/RL the day before that Kulykovskiy was detained in Kyiv on suspicion of "taking part in the killing and torturing of illegally held Ukrainian citizens," adding that he will face charges of creating a terrorist group, violating the law of war, and human trafficking.

Ukrainian writer and former RFE/RL contributor Stanislav Aseyev -- who spent 2 1/2 years in the detention center known as Izolyatsia (Isolation) in Donetsk, which is controlled by Kremlin-backed separatists, before he was released in December 2019 -- also wrote on Facebook that "a major war criminal and a guard at Izolyatsia, Denys Kulykovskiy, aka Palych, was detained in Kyiv."

Separatists seized the premises of the former Izolyatsia factory and art center in Donetsk after they took control of the city and some parts of the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, commonly known as the Donbas, in 2014.

The exact number of inmates in the facility is unknown. Ukrainian nationals who were released from Izolyatsia as part of prisoner swaps have said they were tortured by guards there.

The defunct industrial facility is also used by the separatists as a training facility and a depot for vehicles, military equipment, and weapons.

Russia has provided military, economic, and political support to separatists in the Donbas since 2014. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Moscow maintains it is not involved in Ukraine's domestic affairs.

More than 13,200 people have been killed during more than seven years of fighting between the separatists and Ukrainian forces.
TBILISI -- Jailed former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has agreed to follow a call by the European Court of Human Rights to end his hunger strike if he is transferred to a civilian clinic from a prison hospital.

Saakashvilis lawyer, Nika Gvaramia, announced his clients statement on November 11.

But Justice Minister Rati Bregadze said on November 11 that Saakashvili will not be transferred to a civilian clinic but will be returned to the Rustavi detention center once he stops his hunger strike.

On November 10, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) called on Saakashvili to stop the hunger strike he started on October 1 right after he was arrested on his arrival to Georgia after an eight-year absence.

The ECHR also called on the Georgian government to keep it informed about Saakashvilis state of health, as well as about the medical treatment being dispensed in the prison hospital. The ECHR also said Georgian authorities should ensure Saakashvili's safety while in custody and provide him with appropriate medical care for the post-hunger strike recovery period.

Saakashvili and his supporters have said that authorities transferred him to the prison hospital from a detention center in Rustavi near the capital, Tbilisi, against his will on November 8.

Saakashvili, his relatives, doctors, and lawyers have demanded his transfer to a civilian clinic.

Earlier in the day, Georgian Special Penitentiary Service released a video showing Saakashvili's November 8 transfer to the prison infirmary, saying that the footage "proves" that Saakashvili disobeyed the lawful orders and acted aggressively.

The video shows Saakashvili dragged against his will from the emergency vehicle to his cell.

The video caused widespread protest by opposition politicians, human rights activists, and on social media.

The ombudsman of Georgia, Nino Lomjaria, called it proof that Saakashvili was transferred under false pretenses and against his will, noting that the Penitentiary Service had distributed an edited version of the incident.

In response, hundreds of Saakashvili's United National Movement (ENM) party and their supporters held a fresh rally, this time outside the office of the State Security Service in Tbilisi, demanding Saakashvilis transfer to a civilian hospital.

The ENM was outpolled decisively by the ruling Georgian Dream party in the October 3 nationwide municipal and mayoral vote.

The opposition has claimed that Georgian Dream won the mayoral races in the country's five biggest cities as a result of vote rigging.
Former empress Farah Pahlavi first published her memoirs two years before the events of 1979 collapsed her world, deposing her husband, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and bringing an end to Iran's monarchy.



Pahlavi was 38 when she penned her accounts of her charmed life as a queen, known to Iranians as Shahbanou, to whom the idea of an Islamic revolution and indefinite exile was unthinkable.



"At the time I wrote my memoir, I had no idea what was to come," she said in a foreword for the republishing in English of her recollections, 1,001 Days: Memoirs Of An Empress, which will be released later this month, exposing her prerevolutionary life to a new generation.



A Fairy-Tale Life



Her life to that point was like a fairy tale: a commoner who married a king and became the queen of an ancient land when she was only 21.



She first met the shah -- who was crowned in 1941 and returned to power in 1953 following a CIA-backed coup -- at the Iranian Embassy in Paris, where she was studying architecture. In 1959, they married, and she became the 40-year-old monarch's third wife.

Pahlavi recalls the shah telling her about the responsibilities she would have as his wife, yet she was still surprised by the extent of her duties.



She raised four children -- including Crown Prince Reza, born just 11 months after her wedding -- while devoting much of her time to social causes and cultural affairs, including the promotion of Iranian and Western art, which brought her widespread praise and popularity.



Crowned An Empress



In 1967, she was crowned as the empress of Iran -- Shahbanou -- by the shah, who also crowned himself the King of Kings, or Shahanshah, in a lavish ceremony. She says she stills remember the occasion fondly as a milestone for women.



"I've always said that the day I was crowned [empress of Iran] represented the crowning of every woman in my country," Pahlavi said in a recent interview with RFE/RLs Radio Farda in which she spoke about her memoirs, first published in French.



Pahlavi supported many charities and institutions, including the Institute for The Intellectual Development of Children and Adolescents, which she helped establish. She traveled throughout her country, visiting remote regions while meeting with locals and those in need, including lepers.



Her visits to orphanages, hospitals and deprived regions often made the front pages of newspapers and magazines.

A 'Genuine, Human Face'



Historian Robert Steele says Pahlavi became the "genuine, human face" of the monarchy.



"Of course, this was carefully choreographed propaganda, which was quite effective, but Farah took this role of 'mother' of the Iranian people very seriously," said Steele, a visiting research fellow at the London School of Economics. "Farah was, to all intents and purposes, the genuine, human face of the Pahlavi monarchy."



She also mingled with world leaders, celebrities, and renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, who in 1976 traveled to Iran and took a polaroid picture of her for what would be an iconic portrait.



In the 1970s, she helped purchase over 300 masterpieces from contemporary Western artists, including Alberto Giacometti, Henry Moore, Rene Magritte, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Mark Rothko. The impressive collection, estimated at $3 billion, is kept at the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art inaugurated in 1977.

During those years, Pahlavi was full of hope and energy, devoting herself to a country she cherished and wanted to see progress.



"I did not want to lose sight of Iran's glorious history, so revered by the entire world, but I wanted my compatriots to benefit from modernity, education, health, and industrialization as well," she wrote in the foreword of her republished memoirs.



Steele said Pahlavi stayed away from politics while focusing on her passion for art, literature, music, and architecture.

"One of the reasons that she remained popular, even after the revolution, was because she had been largely detached from the murky world of Iranian politics," Steele said. Ultimately, however, in spite of their cultural importance, the events Farah organized and the artwork she collected contributed to the underlying discontent with the Pahlavi regime."



"At a time when opposition groups decried the 'Westoxicifation' of the Iranian population, the Pahlavi court's European tastes and love of Western culture marked it for special criticism," he said.



Revolution, Indefinite Exile



Opposition to the shah had been building due to a backlash against his Westernization and secularization efforts, political repression, and a widening gap between the rich and the poor amid excesses by the shah and his entourage. Those excesses included extravagant festivities celebrating 2,500 years of empire.



Pahlavi defends the 1971 celebration, for which food was catered from Paris.



"There was not one little mistake and we were very happy," she said in a recent online conversation about her memoirs organized by Harvard University.
North Macedonia's opposition failed in its bid to topple the government after ruling coalition lawmakers blocked a no-confidence vote.

The November 11 vote was a temporary victory for the government, which has been weakened by poor results in municipal elections. The deepening impasse threatens to plunge the country into outright political crisis.

The opposition bloc pushed the confidence motion against Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's cabinet, saying it had secured 61 votes in the 120-seat legislature. But only 60 lawmakers attended the session, one short of the required quorum of 61.

The lawmaker who did not attend comes from a smaller ethnic Albanian party that is in the opposition.

Technically, the deadline for the vote expires at midnight.

But Kastriot Rexhepi, who earlier backed the no-confidence motion, wrote on Facebook that he had decided not to participate in the vote because he thought that toppling the government would create problems for North Macedonia on the international stage.

The tiny Balkan country is hoping to start EU accession talks.

The opposition, led by the VMRO-DPMNE party, said earlier that if Zaev loses the vote they would try to form a new government before heading to an early election.

After a poor showing by Zaevs Social Democrats in municipal elections in October, the prime minister pledged to resign.

That announcement came after months of Zaevs struggles to keep afloat the country's pandemic-hit economy amid stalled accession talks with the European Union.

Analysts say that the former Yugoslav republic is heading into a potentially lengthy political crisis with no clear outcome.

Elected prime minister in 2017, Zaev is best known for the deal he struck with Greece to change the countrys name to North Macedonia -- in order to distinguish it from the Greek province of Macedonia.

The change enabled the country to join NATO and was a precondition for EU membership.

With reporting by dpa and AFP
A New York City judge has sentenced Aleksandr Zhukov, a Russian national behind what has been described as one of the most sophisticated digital fraud operations in the history of the Internet, to 10 years in prison.

District Judge Eric Komitee of the federal court in Brooklyn sentenced Zhukov for stealing more than $7 million from advertising companies in the United States between September 2014 and December 2016 via a digital-advertising-fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York said in a statement on November 10.

The 41-year-old Zhukov, who referred to himself as the "king of fraud," was also ordered to pay more than $3.8 million in forfeiture.

Extradited to the United States after being arrested in Bulgaria in November 2018, Zhukov was convicted following a jury trial in May 2021 of fraud and money laundering.

He has pleaded innocent to the charges.

Zhukov's scheme used thousands of infected computers around the world to falsely inflate web traffic to dummy websites and defraud advertisers.

"Sitting at his computer keyboard in Bulgaria and Russia, Zhukov boldly devised and carried out an elaborate multimillion-dollar fraud against the digital-advertising industry, and victimized thousands of companies across the United States," District Attorney Breon Peace said.

According to the statement, Zhukov "recruited computer programmers and other employees to help him perpetrate the scheme and build the technical infrastructure required to create fraudulent ad traffic."
DUSHANBE -- Two jailed Tajik opposition politicians have been placed in solitary confinement after sending a letter to President Emomali Rahmon from a penal colony.

Two imprisoned members of the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) -- Zubaidullo Roziq and Rahmatullo Rajab -- told their relatives that the administration of the penal colony in Vahdat near Dushanbe had ruled to place them in solitary confinement for two months as punishment for sending a letter to Rahmon without obtaining preliminary permission from the warden.

In their letter, Rajab and Roziq "revealed certain details of their case, trying to prove their innocence," their relatives told RFE/RL on November 11.

An official with the state penitentiary service confirmed to RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that the two men are currently in solitary confinement for "violating regulations."

Dozens of IRPT officials and supporters have been prosecuted and many imprisoned in recent years, prompting criticism of Rahmon's government from rights groups.

Rajab and Roziq were arrested in 2015 and sentenced to 28 and 25 years in prison, respectively, after a court found them guilty of involvement in a purported insurrection against Rahmon's government led by Army General Abduhalim Nazarzoda.

The IRPT, long an influential party with representatives in the Tajik government and parliament, has denied any links to the deadly events and called the imprisonment of its members and leaders politically motivated. The IRPT was declared extremist and banned in 2015.

Activists and rights groups say Rahmon, who has ruled Tajikistan since 1992, has used the security forces and other levers of power to sideline opponents and suppress dissent.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba have signed an updated text to a charter on a strategic partnership that reaffirms that the relationship between the United States and Ukraine is based on shared and common values.



The document provides for cooperation between the two countries on security and defense, democracy, and the rule of law, as well as the economy, including in the energy sector.



The charter goes into detail on Ukraine's energy security, saying that the United States intends to support Ukraine's efforts to become energy independent, decarbonize its economy, and deregulate its energy sector among other goals.



In addition, the United States declares its intention to "prevent the Kremlin from using energy as a geopolitical weapon."



The United States also vows to support Ukraine's efforts to counter armed aggression and malicious cyberactivity by Russia, including by maintaining sanctions on Russia, and applying other relevant measures.



On defense matters, the charter says Washington supports Ukraine's efforts to maximize its status as a NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner to promote interoperability and Ukraine's "right to decide its own future foreign policy course free from outside interference, including with respect to Ukraines aspirations to join NATO."



The parties also recognized the 2021 Strategic Defense Framework 2021 as a basis for further in-depth cooperation on defense and security and intend to work to advance shared priorities, including implementing reforms, deepening cooperation in areas such as Black Sea security, intelligence sharing, and countering Russian aggression.

The previous text of the charter was signed in December 2008. The parties agreed to review its text every 10 years or earlier by mutual consent.



Kuleba underscored the importance of support from the United States and added that Ukraine would benefit from any potential defense cooperation that would strengthen its capabilities including intelligence sharing or air defense systems.



"We are in a situation where we cannot allow losing or wasting any time and we are looking forward to working with the United States in this field," he said.



Blinken expressed concern about a large buildup of Russian military forces about 260 kilometers north of the Ukrainian border, not far from the border with Belarus.

He warned that Russia would be making a "serious mistake" if it were to try and repeat what it did in 2014 in Ukraine, and he said Washington was concerned by reports of "unusual Russian military activity" near the Ukrainian border.



"We're concerned by reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine," he said. "Any escalatory or aggressive actions would be of grave concern to the United States."



Ukraine's Defense Ministry last week said up to 90,000 troops remained in those locations despite the conclusion of military drills, when the units had been expected to return to the regular bases.



Blinken told reporters that the U.S. authorities were unclear about Russia's intentions with Ukraine, but that Washington's commitment to Ukraine's territorial integrity was "ironclad."

With reporting by Reuters
Contributed photo

The former Poke Boat Building on North Broadway was purchased in August by Katie and Michael Startzman, the owners of the Native Bagel Company. They hope to convert the building into a brewery/burger place by 2023.
Written By

Joe Schulz served as the reporter of the Green Laker in 2019 and 2020, before being hired as a reporter for the Commonwealth in October 2020. He is from Oshkosh and graduated from UW-Oshkosh in December with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

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Rocky Mount, NC (27804)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Academic, combat fitness test and leadership performances have had seniors (from left) Evan Baker, Landen Berlin and Samuel Dickinson being recognized among the top 20% of Army ROTC graduating cadets nationally.

While awaiting their military commissions and Rose-Hulman diplomas, Wabash Battalion Army Reserved Officers Training Corps (ROTC) senior cadets Evan Baker, Landen Berlin and Samuel Dickinson have earned the rank of Distinguished Military Graduate from the U.S. Army Cadet Command.

The honor is bestowed upon cadets placing among the top 20% of Army ROTC graduates nationally, based upon superior grade point averages, strong performance in the Armys combat fitness test, and providing exceptional leadership during their ROTC training.

These seniors are excellent cadets with bright futures thanks to the values and education they enjoy (at Rose-Hulman), states Lt. Col. Ben Schneller, professor of military science at Rose-Hulman.

Baker, a mechanical engineering major from Springville, Indiana, is the first sergeant in the battalions engineering company and was a Ranger Challenge team member for two years. He spent this past summer at the cadet summer training advanced camp at Fort Knox in Kentucky and is hoping to be commissioned as a transportation officer with the Armys reserves component.

ROTC has had an incalculable impact on how I conduct myself and how I lead others, says Baker. I have gained a great deal of confidence through leadership opportunities from ROTC. This confidence helps me be more sure of my decisions and stick to executing a plan all the way through. This change in leadership also changes your personality, naturally, and I find myself more patient and steady under pressure.

Berlin is awaiting commission to become an infantry officer, possibly with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The civil engineering student from Dacula, Georgia, is currently the battalions supply officer after serving as a team and squad leader. He attended cadet troop leader training with the 759th Military Police Battalion at Fort Carson in Colorado.

Army ROTC has pushed me daily to be the best version of myself while at Rose-Hulman, states Berlin. The different tools of leadership that have been taught in (Army ROTC) curriculum have not only increased my leadership abilities in relation to the Army but increased my ability to lead in the classroom and clubs through emotional awareness and analytical decision making.

Dickinson is a software engineering major who has been a platoon and company sergeant within the Army ROTC program. The Arcola, Illinois, native is planning to be a second lieutenant in the Indiana Army National Guard, serving in either the cyber or signal branches. He attended cadet troop training this past summer at Fort Hood in Texas.

He says, The Army ROTC program has taught me discipline, time management, communication, leadership, and given me an enormous amount of respect for the U.S. Army and those who serve.

The Army ROTC programs Wabash Battalion includes cadets attending Rose-Hulman, Indiana State University, University of Southern Indiana, DePauw University, University of Evansville, Saint Mary of the Woods College, and Vincennes University.
(dvinanews.ru)  The Lomonosov Prize Competition Commission has published the results of its consideration of works submitted by applicants for the unique regional award. As a result of public hearings that took place at the Lomonosov Foundation, the Commission identified the winners of this years competition.

For more than 20 years, the Lomonosov Prize has been awarded to those who contribute to the development of science, technology, culture, and society.

By the decision of the Competition Commission, the laureates of 2021 are as follows:

Oleg Grigorash, Head of Media Communications at AGD DIAMONDS JSC. The commission distinguished his work on the preparation and publication of the Diamond Era book dedicated to geologists and the history of developing the mineral resource base of the Arkhangelsk North.

Physicians Ivan Turabov, Nikolay Markov, Vyacheslav Mitrofanov, and Natalia Grigorieva. The results of their work made it possible to train pediatric oncologists in Arkhangelsk meeting the need for highly qualified personnel capable of early diagnosis of oncological diseases in children and their treatment at a modern technological level.

Physicians Evgenia Fot, Yana Ilyina, and Natalia Khromacheva. They won their prize by creating a scientific and practical methodology of a personified approach to the infusion therapy of critical conditions.

The team of authors of the Zvezdochka Ship Repair Center: Oleg Rokhin, Sergey Maizerov, Alexander Soloviev, Olga Trapeznikova, and Marina Shvitrite. The award was given for the development of an innovative technical design of shafting for the Leader icebreaker, the first new-generation icebreaker capable of providing year-round navigation along the Northern Sea Route and conducting expeditions in the Arctic.

Natalia Davidovich, Associate Professor of the Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Laboratory Diagnostics of the Northern State Medical University became the laureate of the Lomonosov Prize established by the Government of the Arkhangelsk Province in the Young Scientists Nomination. She was distinguished for her research work, Microbiome and determinants of resistance in residents of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

Two more awards from the administration of the city of Arkhangelsk will be awarded to young scientists:

Alexander Volkov, senior lecturer at the Department of Fundamental and Applied Physics, NArFU won his prize for researching the effect of ice polycrystallinity on ice electrical and dielectric properties. His work makes it possible to create an express method for field measurements of ice strength, which may be useful to determine the conditions of winter crossings, routes for icebreakers, and so on.

Physicians Vyacheslav Popov and Daria Popova - for the scientific and practical work "Renewable biological resources of the Arctic zone - the production of dental gel "Arktivit-dent". Its creation makes it possible to expand the range of hygiene products to treat periodontal diseases.

Ministry of Education of the Arkhangelsk Region
After more than 24 years as the chief executive officer at Roanoke Electric Cooperative, Curtis Wynn is stepping down to assume the role of CEO at SECO Energy, an electric co-op serving over 200,000 member-owners in Central Florida.

Wynns last day at Roanoke Electric will be December 13. T

he board of directors has appointed the co-ops chief operating officer, Marshall Cherry, to serve as interim CEO.

A Florida native, Wynn, 58, began his career washing trucks for his rural hometown electric co-op in Graceville. He said the decision to make a career transition at this time stems, in part, from his desire to be closer to his family and home, where he plans to eventually retire.

Its been a pleasure serving Roanoke Electrics member-owners for the past 24 years, Wynn said. This has been the highlight of my 42-year career in the electric co-op industry. I am not saying goodbye. A part of me will always be a part of this region and connected to this co-op.

Wynn has spearheaded a variety of cutting-edge, high-impact initiatives in the co-ops long-standing battle against energy poverty in the region.

During his tenure, Wynn developed the co-ops highly successful Upgrade to $ave energy efficiency program. It provides member-owners on-bill financing to make much-needed, cost-saving upgrades in their home.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the co-op also established its sustainable forestry program. It has helped hundreds of local landowners by providing information and resources to help them better manage and retain their land for the purpose of building generational wealth.

Most notably, under Wynns leadership, the co-op embarked on what many consider its most ambitious undertaking in its 86-year history. Called Roanoke Connect, the initiative set out to bridge the digital divide by bringing broadband connectivity to the region for the first time. After years of laying the groundwork, connections to high-speed internet service are now underway.

I would say my proudest accomplishment is the growth I have seen in our team, and how they have stepped up to address the many challenges the industry has thrown our way over the years, Wynn said. They did so by embracing our core values beyond anyones expectations, really wanting to make a difference in the community we serve. Leaving that behind makes me feel good about what lies ahead for Roanoke Electric.

In addition to his leadership role at the co-op, Wynn has served on various boards including immediate past president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association; past president, vice president and secretary-treasurer of North Carolina Electric Membership Cooperative; board member of the North Carolinas Association of Electric Cooperatives; board member of Meridian Cooperative (formerly Southeastern Data Cooperative, SEDC); and past nominating committee member for CoBank. Earlier this year, he was appointed to serve as a board member for National Cooperative Bank, a leading financial services company.

In January, Wynn will take the reins at SECO Energy, the third largest not-for-profit electric co-op in Florida and the seventh largest in the nation. He succeeds longtime SECO Energy CEO, Jim Duncan, who plans to retire.
Rutland, VT (05701)

Today

Rain. Low 42F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low 42F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
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
President Donald Trumps trade war may be pushing more manufacturers and other businesses to leave China  and one beneficiary is Tijuana, which seems to be booming, in part thanks to the trend.

Businesses dont face the tariffs in Mexico that they would if they remained in China.

An inexpensive and plentiful labor force, competitive real estate prices and proximity to U.S. markets make Baja California an appealing option for businesses who want out of China, according to Mexican and American business experts.

American companies that were in China, now because of the tariffs, are coming to Mexico, said Elias Laniado, the chief commercial officer for Vesta, Tijuanas largest industrial real estate developer. The tariffs benefit us.

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This added interest is contributing to a historic upsurge in Tijuanas economy. The citys industrial real estate vacancy rate is about three percent, and Tijuanas businesses employ the highest number of manufacturing workers in the citys history.

Some companies are choosing Tijuana over California because of affordability. They say its simply too expensive to do business in the Golden State, said Adriana Eguia, vice president of new business at Vesta and former CEO of Tijuanas Economic Development Corporation.

Companies in Southern California tell me, We want to come back to the U.S. but prices are way too high with minimum wage, so we are looking at Mexico. If we want to grow, it cant be in California, its going to have to be Arizona, Nevada or Mexico, Eguia said.

This trend of American-based companies with a presence in China moving to Tijuana began about two years ago, when the cost of doing business in China began to rise. A more recent trend is Chinese-based companies entering the Tijuana market, said Eguia.

So who is expanding to Tijuana? They arent household names.

They are smaller or midsize companies, said Ernesto Bravo, President of Tecma West, a division of a larger company that helps foreign businesses move into Mexico. They are suppliers to a larger company, and that larger company already has a presence in Mexico. They might be automotive, they might be aerospace or medical, and their client asks the company to be in Mexico.

Large companies with a presence in Mexico include Samsung, Toyota, Panasonic and Foxcom, Bravo added.

Tecma helps businesses expand into Tijuana by helping them navigate the regulatory process. The company offers a variety of services including tax compliance, customs, human resources, environmental health and safety and leasing.

Its difficult to quantify how many China-based companies have moved to Tijuana. Baja California does not track what companies move in and out of the region. Also, about half of all foreign businesses expanding to the area use services that protect the privacy of some of their clients.

Anecdotally, Eguia said, the number of email inquiries to the EDC has doubled from Chinese-based companies looking at Tijuana. Three Chinese companies visited Tijuana in a two-week span in November, and a delegation from Hong Kong visited Tijuana in that same month.

Interest in Tijuana so high that the EDC decided to send an envoy to China in October. Representatives visited Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong with the aim of pitching them Tijuana as an affordable base from which they can produce goods for American customers.

In the majority of cities, the companies commented that they were looking at Mexico because of the trade war, Eguia said.

Because Tijuana is close to the United States, shipping and storage costs are lower and executives can oversee production from Southern California. A drive from Los Angeles to Tijuana is less than three hours, while a flight to China is more than 12.

This setup also helps San Diegos economy. Every job created in Baja California helps generate half a job in San Diego, according to Paola Avila, vice president of international business affairs for the San Diego Chamber of Commerce.

Thats because, while manufacturing and engineering jobs go to Tijuana, companies that expand in Baja often open legal, finance, and marketing departments in San Diego.

We actually benefit more from companies that expand into Baja versus a company that expands to Texas, Avila said. Even, I dare say, LA.

Experts expect Tijuanas real estate market boom to continue in 2019, although there are some uncertainties with Mexicos new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Vestas Laniado, who has more than 40 years of experience in the industry, says Tijuanas boom is historic.

Weve never had so much activity, he said. At least in my professional life.

CBRE, a commercial real estate services and investment firm, has tracked the rate of occupied square footage in Tijuana for years, and reported that 2016 was a record year.

In the early part of 2017, there was a slowdown after the U.S. election, but the market bounced back quickly, said Joe Smith, senior vice president at CBRE.

By mid-year 2017, it was gangbusters again, it was business as usual, Smith said. 2018 looks like it will be the second busiest year in terms of net and gross absorption that weve seen.

Just as investors were worried about Trump in 2017, there are concerns about the new Mexican president.

Lopez Obrador has proposed reducing business taxes, doubling the minimum wage and creating an economic zone along the border. Although the business community likes the sound of lower taxes, they are worried about rising wages. If wages rise too much, Tijuana could lose its competitive edge in the global market.

Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter
A massive asteroid similar to the size of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest manmade building on this planet is heading for this planet as shown in the asteroid tracker of NASA.

As specified in The Jerusalem Post report, a massive asteroid labeled as 163899 (2003 SD220), has a diameter of roughly 791 meters, almost half a mile in length. As mentioned, this is almost the size of the said tallest human-made structure on this planet.

Nevertheless, observations carried out by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico in 2015 suggested, it could be far more massive, at least two kilometers long, with observers who compared its shape to that of a sweet potato.

Later on, NASA came up with different gauges, roughly 1.6 kilometers, and in comparison to its shape to that of a hippopotamus. Nevertheless, present NASA approximates have placed the asteroid at a 791-meter diameter.

ALSO READ: NASA Roleplays Near-Earth Space Objects Passing By, Here's What Happened in the Asteroid Simulation





Asteroid Flying Past the Earth in December

The asteroid is slated to fly past this planet on December 17 within a roughly 5.4-kilometer distance from the planet at a 5.6-kilometers per second speed.

To compare, the distance from the Earth to the Moon is far below approximately 385,000 kilometers. As such, in spite of being categorized as Potentially Hazardous Asteroid or PHA, as detailed in the Rubin Observatory site, because of its size and close proximity to Earth, it appears unlikely to posture a threat to the planet. NASA has in fact declared this planet safe from the impacts of an asteroid for the next century.

The asteroid is regarded as the "Aten-class." Meaning, its orbit is crossing over with the orbit of Earth around the Sun, although it's spending most of its side inside it.

As such, there is the hypothetical chance it could someday strike the Earth, although present estimations exhibit this is not a concern at the moment.

Nevertheless, there is another value in this particular massive asteroid, as it could hold the probability of being the area of a potential robotic exploration mission.

Asteroid Exploration

At present, no such mission has been planned although, theoretically, it is possible. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA estimated data for a hypothetical exploration mission to the asteroid.

Based on these estimations, it would have a measure of various values and factors also called "delta-v" that determine how difficult it would be to appropriately maneuver a spacecraft during launch and, or, landing of 9.851 kilometers per second. To compare, this is roughly the delta-v for launching into low-orbit, a rocket.

Essentially, asteroid exploration is a major field in astronomy, and a lot of space agencies have shown interest in the exploration of numerous massive objects in the solar system.

Last month, the United Arab Emirates announced plans for a new space mission to discover asteroids and be the pioneering Arab nation to land successfully on an asteroid.

Tentatively scheduled for launch in 2028 with a seven-year development time for the spacecraft, the mission will see the exploration of the UAE of the planet Venus, and seven asteroids that culminate in a planned landing in 2033 on an asteroid itself after a five-year journey, a separate report from The Jerusalem Post specified.

Related information about the massive asteroid heading for Earth in mid-December is shown on Anti-Cookie-Dough's YouTube video below:

RELATED ARTICLE: Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Refrigerator-Sized Asteroid Could Hit Earth Soon

Check out more news and information on Space in Science Times.
After receiving an offer in 1977 to become the next president of Scottsdale Community College, the late Dr. Art DeCabooter told his wife, Mary: Well, well try it for a year or so. If we like it, well stay and buy a bigger home with a pool. If not, well go back to the Midwest.
In case you've lost track of time this year, and just know that we are past Election Day but haven't quite made it to Christmas, you might want to pull out your calendar: Thursday is Veterans Day.

The federal holiday, which is always held on the anniversary of the end of World War I, as it used to be known as Armistice Day, commemorates those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

And while it falls awkwardly in the middle of the work week this year, many businesses in Seattle will still observe the holiday, and certain services may be reduced or closed.

Keep reading to see what's closed, what's open and what's free in Seattle this Veterans Day.

RonTech2000/Getty Images/iStockphoto

CLOSED: All government offices

All government offices will be closed for Veterans Day as it is a federal holiday. This includes the Department of Licensing, Seattle Passport Agency and Employment Security Offices, although online services will remain available.

John Moore/Getty Images

CLOSED: Most schools including Seattle, Bellevue and Kent school districts

Seattle Public Schools will not have class on Thursday in observance of the holiday. Public schools in all three districts will remain closed Friday due a large amount of staff requesting time off and a shortage of substitute teachers.

Merrill Images/Getty Images

CLOSED: King County Water Taxis

Both the Vashon and West Seattle routes of the King County Water Taxi will not be operating Thursday in observance of the holiday. The routes will resume to full commuter service on Friday.

Ramin Talaie/Corbis via Getty Images

CLOSED: Seattle Public Libraries

All SPL locations will be closed on Thursday. Book returns at the Central Library downtown will also be closed, according to a notice on SPL's website.

Patrick Foto/Getty Images

CLOSED: Banks

All banks are closed to observe the federal holiday. However, ATM operations may remain open depending on the bank.

David PagAn / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm

CLOSED: Post Offices

U.S. Post Offices will be closed for Veterans Day, and mail will not be delivered.

robh/Getty Images/iStockphoto

OPEN: Washington States Ferries

Washington State Ferries will be operating with reduced service on several routes, a change which went into effect last month due to ongoing staff shortages. The Washington State Department of Transportation will be honoring veterans with a moment of silence on all vessels at 11:11 a.m. followed by a whistle salute. The POW/MIA flag will also be flying on all vessels.

Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images

OPEN: King County Metro and Sound Transit

Buses will still be operating but will have reduced schedules for the holiday. More information on reduced schedules from Metro Transit is available here. Sound Transit will be operating on its regular weekday schedule.

Sergio Mendoza Hochmann/Getty Images

FREE: Street parking in Seattle

This might be your day to run some errands: on-street parking payment is not required in observance of the holiday according to the Seattle Department of Transportation.

Ershov_Maks/Getty Images/iStockphoto

FREE: State and National Parks

All National Park Service sites will be free to enter on Veterans Day. Washington State Parks are also free and will not require a Discover Pass for entry.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Thousands of Afghan refugees are fleeing the Taliban into neighboring Iran every day and the trend could eventually become a crisis for Europe, a top aid official said Wednesday.

Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, visited refugees this week around Kerman province in eastern Iran close to the Afghanistan border. He warned that Europe could be affected if the influx into Iran continues.

Speaking to The Associated Press in the capital Tehran at the end of his trip, Egeland said more needs to be done to provide hope, food and care for Afghans fleeing the Taliban.

Many Afghan refugees called their relatives telling them they are on their way to Iran and many want to go on to Europe, so Europe should be less occupied with a few thousand (refugees) sitting on the Polish-Belorussian border.

More people came today to Iran than are now on that border, he added.

More than 120,000 Americans, Afghans and others were flown out of Afghanistan during a massive airlift operation in the days after the capital of Kabul fell to the Taliban on Aug. 15. But thousands more were left behind, with many fleeing to the borders and seeking help from aid agencies.

An estimated 300,000 have fled Afghanistan into Iran since the Taliban takeover, according to the NRC.

There is no economy, there is very little assistance, and there is too little shelter and food for millions and millions in need, Egeland said.

He said that as the Afghan winter arrives and there are not enough shelters for refugees in Afghanistan, more refugees will enter Iran.

We expect this to become even more acute as hundreds of thousands are coming to the border between Afghanistan and Iran. Winter will be horrific in Afghanistan, he said.

The secretary-general urged wealthy countries to immediately scale up their aid contributions, both inside Afghanistan and in neighboring countries such as Iran, before the deadly winter cold.

According to the NRC, between 4,000 and 5,000 Afghans are fleeing into Iran each day through informal border crossings. It said Iran has supported those Afghans, in addition to hundreds of thousands of others who have been sheltering in the country for much longer  some for decades.

During his trip to Kerman province, Egeland met with some of the refugees and he said that the 3.5 million Afghan migrants already in Iran are struggling as a result of U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Irans interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, on Tuesday said Iran has several thousand people at its border with Afghanistan every day. He, too, warned that a fresh wave of Afghan refugees might attempt to go to Europe if help is not delivered.

The influx into Iran of millions of Afghan refugees began in 1979, when forces of the former Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan. The occupation ended in 1989, giving way to years of civil war and ultimately a Taliban-controlled government. Then came the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington, and the subsequent U.S.-led invasion targeting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, who was harbored by the Taliban.

Iran and Afghanistan have three border crossings along a common border some 945 kilometers (580 miles) long. Reportedly, Iran hosts some 800,000 registered Afghan refugees and more than 3 million undocumented Afghans.

In the years since the U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and re-imposed sanctions that sent the countrys economy into free fall, however, some Afghans in Iran have left the country.

Egeland praised Iran for hosting millions of Afghans for the past four decades and said the international community must now step up and show support. How can you expect Iran to shoulder this responsibility on their own? he said.

What Europe should do is invest in hope, possibility, opportunity inside Afghanistan and in the neighboring countries if they want to avoid people wandering towards Europe.

___

Associated Press TV producer Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran contributed.
DOVER, Del. (AP)  Mourners shared laughter, memories and tears Wednesday as they paid their last respects to former Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.

Minner, a sharecroppers daughter, high school dropout and widow, was the only woman to serve as Delawares governor, holding office from 2001 to 2009. She died Thursday at the age of 86.

Friends, family and fellow politicians, including President Joe Biden, paid tribute to her Wednesday during a funeral at Milford Church of the Nazarene. They recalled her as a woman who was driven by steely determination but never forgot her humble upbringing and maintained a sense of empathy for fellow citizens.

Each time she climbed up the political ladder, she always stayed grounded in the lives of everyday people, said Biden, who represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for decades.

During her decades of public service as a state lawmaker, lieutenant governor and governor, Minner served as a mentor and role model for many of those who attended her funeral.

Like many of you in this church, I would not be here today as your governor were it not for Ruth Ann Minner. Its just that simple, said Gov. John Carney, who served two terms as Minners lieutenant governor. She set the standard for all of us.

Ruth Ann was tough, because she had to be ... but she also was extremely warm and kind, Carney added. She governed from this deeply human place. She had a real understanding of human suffering and struggle and unfairness and pain.

Minner left school at 16 to work on the family farm and got married a year later. Her husband, Frank Ingram, died of a heart attack at age 34 in 1967, leaving his 32-year-old widow to raise three boys while managing the familys asphalt paving business. Faced with being the sole breadwinner for her sons, Minner earned a GED and briefly studied elementary education at a community college.

She may not have had a great formal education ... but she had an advanced degree in common sense, said U.S. Sen. Tom Carper, whom Minner succeeded as governor after serving two terms as lieutenant governor.

Minners career in elective office began when she won a state House seat in 1974, having first tasted politics as a bill clerk in the General Assembly, then as a receptionist for Gov. Sherman Tribbitt. She served in the House until 1982, when she was elected to the state Senate, where she served for 10 years. Minners signature achievement as a lawmaker was the Delaware Land and Water Conservation Act, which led to the preservation of more than 30,000 acres (12,100 hectares) of open space.

In 1991, Minners second husband, Roger Minner, died of cancer, leaving her widowed again and in charge of a family towing business. The following year, she became the states first female lieutenant governor, serving two four-year terms before succeeding Carper as governor.

Minners legacy as governor includes signing one of the nations toughest prohibitions on smoking in public places in 2002. Before signing the smoking ban, she oversaw the creation of the Delaware Advisory Council on Cancer Incidence and Mortality, which, as the Delaware Cancer Consortium, still works with lawmakers to reduce Delawares cancer rates.

Other landmark legislation included a 2007 measure prompted by the child sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church. The bill abolished Delawares two-year time limit for filing personal injury lawsuits and established a two-year period during which lawsuits previously barred by the passage of time could be brought anew. The bill resulted in more than 100 lawsuits, prompting the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington to seek bankruptcy protection and to settle with victims of priest sex abuse for $77 million.

A fiscal conservative who espoused liberal social views, Minner also was instrumental in the establishment of a state scholarship program that has provided free college tuition to more than 13,000 Delawareans, and in bolstering efforts to preserve farmland and open space.

No wonder she was a tireless champion in protecting Delawares public lands and waters, Biden said. Sounds corny, but she was a farmers daughter.
T Schofield/Getty Images/iStockphoto

EVERETT, Wash. (AP)  The body of a man matching the description of a missing kayaker was recovered Wednesday morning on the west side of Hat Island, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The body was recovered by U.S. Naval Station Whidbey crews, the Seattle Times reported. The Snohomish County medical examiner identified the man as James Lesemann, 37, of Everett. Lesemanns death was caused by hypothermia and drowning and has been ruled an accident, the medical examiner said.
BOISE, Idaho (AP)  Police received multiple calls from people reporting an armed and threatening man in the months before he killed two people and injured at least four others in a shooting at a Boise shopping mall, public records show.

The Idaho Statesman obtained the Ada County Emergency Dispatch records through a public record request and reported on the documents Thursday. The dispatch records showed callers had reported Jacob Bergquist to law enforcement agencies for separate incidents at a Walmart, a hospital and a mall in recent months.

Bergquist, who died a day after exchanging gunfire with Boise police officers, shot and killed two people and injured at least four others at the Boise Towne Square mall on Oct. 25.

Previously released records showed Idaho State Police troopers and Boise Police officers were aware of Bergquist, who frequently carried a firearm visibly and promoted a YouTube channel where he advocated for felons to be able to legally own firearms. But Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee said after the mall shooting that none of the reports to his agency involving Bergquist had risen to the level of an arrest.

Though Bergquist had a felony conviction in Illinois for theft and a misdemeanor conviction in Wisconsin for marijuana possession, neither conviction barred him from possessing a firearm in Idaho, the Ada County Prosecutors Office determined.

The first time someone contacted Ada County dispatchers about Bergquist was on March 7, according to the records. A caller from a Walmart store in Meridian, Idaho, reported that Bergquist  apparently a new employee  was told that he could not open carry on the premises but refused to put his weapon away, dispatch noted.

The caller said Bergquist made verbal threats but did not brandish the handgun he carried in a side holster. The caller also said he intended to fire Bergquist and wanted him banned from the store. Meridian Police Department officers notified Bergquist of the ban when they caught up with him after he left the store.

The next call about Bergquist was made on June 17, when someone reported that he had entered the Boise Towne Square mall through the entrance near Old Chicago with a gun holstered on his hip and two ammo magazines strapped to his back.

The mall does not allow firearms on the premises. The caller told dispatch that Bergquist was walking quickly and said they were concerned about the additional ammunition he was carrying.

In the report, the dispatcher wrote that Bergquist had been seen on numerous occasions open carrying a handgun (downtown) and now has moved to (the) mall area. The dispatcher also noted Bergquists YouTube channel. Its not clear from dispatch records whether police made contact with Bergquist over this particular incident.

The third Ada County Emergency Dispatch report on Bergquist came less than two weeks later. On June 28, a caller reported that a man open carrying a firearm on his hip tried to enter a building on the Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center campus on Emerald Street in Boise. Firearms are not allowed on the hospital campus.

Around the same time, another caller from Saint Als contacted dispatch after a coworker informed them that there were two guys with guns and a knife trying to get in. The caller said they had barricaded the door with a filing cabinet.

The dispatch report connected the two calls to Bergquist, who reportedly told police that he was at the hospital for a job interview and threw his gun into his backpack. Bergquist also complained that police had made the interview awkward and said he was upset with the hospital for calling law enforcement.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Washington, D.C., government has struck a deal with the U.S. Marshals Service to improve the situation at the city's main jail after it came under criticism and the Justice Department announced that 400 federal prisoners would be transferred out because of substandard conditions.

Conditions at the jail had long been a point of criticism for local activists. The issue took on a national political dimension in recent months because many defendants from the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection were being held there.

Wednesday's announcement said the city Department of Corrections and the federal Marshals Service will collaboratively assess conditions at the (Central Detention Facility) and develop a plan to address concerns.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement, "We all agree: everyone who is in our jail or under our supervised care should be treated humanely and have safe conditions.

Bowser added that she welcomed the attention and resources to address any deficiencies" at D.C. facilities.

Supporters of several Jan. 6 defendants filed suit, alleging the defendants' civil rights were being abused at the jail. One of those cases led to a surprise Marshals Service inspection last month, which found unsanitary and abusive conditions, according to a damning report by Lamont J. Ruffin, the acting marshal for U.S. District Court in Washington.

A federal judge later found both the jail's warden and the director of the corrections department in contempt of court. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth had summoned the jail officials to court 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.

The Justice Department announced plans to transfer the 400 federal prisoners from among a total population of about 1,500, to another facility in Pennsylvania. However, none of the Jan. 6 defendants was set to be part of that transfer.

The federal prisoner transfer was supposed to begin this week. Wednesday's announcement is not expected to change those plans.
Thousands of migrants and refugees have flocked to Belarus' border with Poland, hoping to get to Western Europe, Many of them are now stranded at the frontier, setting up makeshift camps as Polish security forces watch them from behind a razor-wire fence and try to prevent them from entering the country. The European Union has accused the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, of aiding illegal border crossings in retaliation for EU sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging migration to Europe.

A look at what led to the standoff:

WHAT IS BEHIND THE CRISIS?

Belarus was rocked by months of massive protests following the August 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office. The opposition and the West rejected the result as a sham.

Belarusian authorities responded to the demonstrations with a fierce crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police.

The European Union and the U.S. reacted by imposing sanctions on Lukashenkos government.

Those restrictions were toughened after an incident in May when a passenger jet flying from Greece to Lithuania was diverted by Belarus to Minsk, where authorities arrested dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich. The EU called it air piracy and barred Belarusian carriers from its skies and cut imports of the countrys top commodities, including petroleum products and potash, an ingredient in fertilizer.

A furious Lukashenko shot back by saying he would no longer abide by an agreement to stem illegal migration, arguing that the EU sanctions deprived his government of funds needed to contain flows of migrants. Planes carrying migrants from Iraq, Syria and other countries began arriving in Belarus, and they soon headed for the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Pavel Latushka, a member of the Belarusian opposition, charged that state-controlled tourist agencies were involved in offering visa support to migrants and helping them drive to the border.

The EU accused Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns in a hybrid attack against the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for the sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging the flow of migrants and said the EU is violating migrants' rights by denying them safe passage.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE BY EU COUNTRIES?

During the summer, Lithuania introduced a state of emergency to deal with an influx of migrants and strengthen its border with Belarus. It set up tent camps to accommodate the growing number of migrants.

In previous months, small groups of asylum-seekers tried to sneak into Lithuania, Poland and Latvia at night, using forest paths away from populated areas. This week, much larger groups gathered openly at the Polish border, and some people used shovels and wire cutters to try to break through a razor-wire fence at Poland's border.

Authorities in Warsaw estimated the crowds at about 3,000-4,000 and said they prevented hundreds of people from entering the country. Poland deployed riot police and other forces to bolster the border guards. Eight deaths have been confirmed at the Belarus-Poland border,, and temperatures have fallen below freezing at night.

The EU has made a strong show of solidarity with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. EU officials are expected to discuss another round of sanctions against Belarus, and European Council President Charles Michel said for the first time that the bloc would consider the possibility of financing physical infrastructure such as barriers or fences on the border.

Analysts say Lukashenkos heavy-handed approach would likely backfire.

Such brutal tactics would make Belarus toxic and delay the prospect of talks with the EU, said Artyom Shraybman, a Belarusian political analyst who was forced to leave the country under pressure from authorities. European politicians wont engage in talks under pressure.

Pavel Usau, head of the Center for Political Analysis and Prognosis based in Poland, also said Lukashenko is mistaken if he thinks he can force the EU into concessions.

Lukashenko expects the EU to give in to pressure and ask Poland to let migrants cross into Germany, Usau said. But the EU realizes that doing so would allow Lukashenko to emerge as the winner and encourage him to continue to take further such steps, raising the number of migrants to tens of thousands.

The Belarusian opposition has urged the EU to take even tougher measures, including a trade embargo and a ban on transit of cargo via Belarus.

WHAT IS RUSSIAS ROLE?

Belarus has received strong support from its main ally, Russia, which has helped buttress Lukashenko's government with loans and political support.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the migrants flows resulted from the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Western-backed Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. He challenged the EU to offer financial assistance to Belarus to deal with the influx.

At the same time, the Kremlin angrily rejected Poland's claim that Russia bears responsibility for the crisis.

Usau said Russia could step in as a mediator in the hope of improving ties with Germany and other EU nations.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Belarus is estimated to host between 5,000 and 20,000 migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Many have run out of money and grown increasingly desperate as the winter approaches. Belarusian residents are uneasy about their presence, raising pressure on the authorities to act.

Some observers expect Lukashenko to escalate the crisis and pressure the EU to ease sanctions.

As a minimum, Lukashenko wants to take revenge against the EU, and as a maximum he aims to soften the European sanctions that have dealt a painful blow to key Belarusian industries, said independent analyst Valery Karbalevich. "Belarusian authorities have tried unsuccessfully to persuade the EU to engage in talks and bargaining, and migrants are just an instrument in a hybrid attack by Minsk.

Lukashenko has nothing to lose," he added. "He's no longer worried about his reputation.

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Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed.

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Follow AP's migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
FAIRBOURNE, Wales (AP)  Like many others who came to Fairbourne, Stuart Eves decided the coastal village in northern Wales would be home for life when he moved here 26 years ago. He fell in love with the peaceful, slow pace of small village life in this community of about 700 residents, nestled between the rugged mountains and the Irish Sea.

I wanted somewhere my children can have the same upbringing as I had, so they can run free, said Eves, 72, who built a caravan park in the village that he still runs with his son. Youve got the sea, youve got the mountains. Its just a stunning place to live.

That changed suddenly in 2014, when authorities identified Fairbourne as the first coastal community in the U.K. to be at high risk of flooding due to climate change.

Predicting faster sea level rises and more frequent and extreme storms due to global warming, the government said it could only afford to keep defending the village for another 40 years. Officials said that by 2054, it would no longer be safe or sustainable to live in Fairbourne.

Authorities have been working with villagers on the process of so-called managed realignment -- essentially, to move them away and abandon the village to the encroaching sea.

Overnight, house prices in Fairbourne nosedived. Residents were dubbed the U.K.'s first climate refugees. Many were left shocked and angry by national headlines declaring their whole village would be decommissioned. Seven years on, most of their questions about their future remain unanswered.

Theyve doomed the village, and now theyve got to try to rehome the people. Thats 450 houses, said Eves, who serves as chair of the local community council. If they want us out by 2054, then theyve got to have the accommodation to put us in.

No one here wants to leave. While many are retirees, there are also young families raising a next generation. Locals speak proudly of their tight-knit community. And although the village center only consists of a grocers, a fish and chip shop and a couple of restaurants, residents say the pebbly beach and a small steam train draw bustling crowds in the summer.

Natural Resources Wales, the government-sponsored organization responsible for the sea defenses in Fairbourne, said the village is particularly vulnerable because it faces multiple flooding risks. Built in the 1850s on a low-lying saltmarsh, Fairbourne already lies beneath sea level at high spring tide. During storms, the tidal level is more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the level of the village.

Scientists say U.K. sea levels have risen about 10 centimeters (4 inches) in the past century. Depending on greenhouse gas emissions and actions that governments take, the predicted rise is 70 centimeters to 1 meter by 2100.

Fairbourne is also at the mouth of an estuary, with additional risks of flash floods from the river running behind it. Officials have spent millions of pounds in strengthening a sea wall and almost 2 miles of tidal defenses.

While there are flood risks in many other villages along the Welsh coast, decisions on which areas to protect ultimately boil down to cost. Officials say that in the case of Fairbourne, the cost of maintaining flood defenses will become higher than the value of what were protecting.

The effects of climate change that negotiators at the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, are working to mitigate already are a reality here.

Catrin Wager, a cabinet member of Gwynedd Council, the local authority overseeing Fairbourne, stressed that while Fairbourne may be the first Welsh coastal village to be designated unviable due to climate change, it certainly wont be the only one. Theres no precedent for how to develop policies for helping the villagers adapt, she said.

We need more answers from the Welsh and U.K. governments, thats my message going into this (U.N. summit), Wager said. We really need to get some guidance on not only mitigating the effects of climate change, but about how we adapt for things that are already happening.

Across the U.K., half a million properties are at risk of coastal flooding -- and that risk figure will jump to 1.5 million by the end of the 2080s, according to the Climate Change Committee, an independent advisory body set up under climate change laws.

Britains government, which is hosting the U.N. climate summit, needs to be much more upfront about such risks, said Richard Dawson, a member of the committee and professor of engineering at Newcastle University.

Ultimately, difficult decisions need to be made about many coastal settlements with disproportionately high numbers of older and poorer residents, he said, and officials need to prepare people for moving inland.

Whatever happens at COP the sea level will continue to rise around the U.K., thats something we absolutely need to prepare for, Dawson said. We have to be realistic. We cant afford to protect everywhere. The challenge for government is that the problem is not being confronted with the urgency or openness that we need.

In Fairbourne, a continuing standoff between villagers and officials underlines that challenge. Residents feel they have been unfairly singled out, and arent convinced there is a clear timeframe on how quickly sea levels will rise enough to threaten their homes. When and how will evacuation take place? Will they be compensated, and if so how much should it be?

There are no answers. The village vicar, Ruth Hansford, said many residents suffered emotional fatigue from years of uncertainty and negativity. Others simply decided to carry on with their lives.

Becky Offland and her husband recently took on the lease of the Glan Y Mor Hotel, going against the grain and investing in the village's future. They're hopeful their business will bring more visitors and financial support to Fairbourne.

Its like a big family, this place. Its not a village, its a family, said Offland, 36. Well all fight to keep it where it is.

Down the street, Fairbourne Chippy owner Alan Jones, 64, also said he has no plans to go anywhere.

Until water actually comes in here, 'til we physically cant work, well carry on, he said.

Eves said he and his son believe that what will be, will be. But he will mourn the inevitable disintegration of the village he loves.

You cant sort of take this village here, and put it over there and expect it to work again, he said. What you have here is a human catastrophe, albeit on a small scale.

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Read stories on climate issues by The Associated Press at https://apnews.com/hub/climate
A lawsuit in which workers accuse a Hindu organization of human trafficking by luring them from India to build a temple in New Jersey for as little as $1.20 a day has widened to four other states.

In the initial lawsuit filed in May, workers at a Hindu temple in Robbinsville, New Jersey, claimed leaders of the Hindu organization known as Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS, coerced them into signing employment agreements and forced them to work more than 12 hours per day with few days off, under the watch of security guards. They traveled to New Jersey under R-1 visas, which are meant for those who minister, or work in religious vocations or occupations, according to the lawsuit.
GODDARD, Kan. (AP)  A Kansas school district has removed more than two dozen books from its library shelves to review them after other school systems challenged the material.

KMUW-FM reports that Julie Cannizzo, assistant superintendent for academic affairs in Goddard, said Tuesday that one parent objected to language he found offensive in The Hate U Give, a novel about the aftermath of a police officer killing a Black teenager. The parent then submitted a list of books he questioned, and district officials agreed to halt checkouts and complete a review.

Were not banning these books or anything like that as a district, she said. It was just brought to our attention that that list of books may have content thats unsuitable for children.

The books that have been removed from circulation in the Goddard school district also include The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood; The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison; The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; Fences, a play by August Wilson that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1987; and They Called Themselves the K.K.K., a historical look at how the white supremacist group took root in America.

Cannizzo said in an email to principals and librarians last week that the district is assembling a committee to rate the content of the books on the list and to review the selection process. She did not say how long the process is expected to take.

Cannizzo said she plans to meet with school librarians this week. She wouldnt say when or if the books would return to circulation.

We havent even evaluated these books, she said. I couldnt even tell you what these books have in them or why someone may find them offensive or not.

The approach appears to be in conflict with a district policy for challenging textbooks, library books or instructional materials. Approved in 2016, the policy states: Challenged materials shall not be removed from use during the review period.

Jaime Prothro, Wichitas director of libraries, said theres an increase in challenges to library purchases nationwide. Prothro said she cant speak specifically to issues at play in Goddard or other districts. But she worries that current debates over books could limit access to diverse stories and experiences.

That one family may choose not to read something does not determine whether or not its appropriate for another family, she said.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said Wednesday that she plans to run for reelection in another Iowa congressional district next year, which would avoid a head-to-head race against Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne.

The two congresswomen were drawn into the same district through the once-a-decade redistricting process. The electoral maps approved by the Republican-led Legislature and signed by GOP Gov. Kim Reynolds on Nov. 4 moved Miller-Meeks' home county of Wapello into the 3rd District.

Miller-Meeks, of Ottumwa, said at a news conference in Davenport that she will seek election in the newly drawn 1st Congressional District rather than the 3rd District. She wouldn't say whether she would move into the new district, which the law doesn't require, but said her physical location would be less important than whom she is serving.

I will make that decision whether I do or not," she said. The most import thing was to let people know what I'm doing so that they can continue their plans or change their plans in accordance with where I was running.

The Constitution does not require people running for the U.S. House to live in the district they represent and candidates in other states, including California, have successfully run to represent districts they didn't live in, said Donna Hoffman, a political science professor at the University of Northern Iowa.

Practically speaking, though, weve seen congressional incumbents move. Its not necessary, but politically speaking, its difficult to run if you dont live in the district. But its not impossible, Hoffman said.

It's not uncommon for House members to move to avoid incumbent contests.

Democratic Rep. Leonard Boswell and Republican Rep. Jim Leach moved in 2001 when the redistricting maps put them up against incumbents. And Republican Rep. Tom Latham and Democratic Rep. Dave Loebsack moved in 2011 to avoid incumbent clashes.

Miller-Meeks said she wouldn't have had reservations about taking on Axne, but that she didn't want her current constituents to feel she was betraying them.

A run against Axne likely would have been challenging for Miller-Meeks, who won in November 2020 by just six votes. She previously unsuccessfully tried to unseat Democratic incumbent Dave Loebsack three times and won the 2020 race against Democrat Rita Hart after Loebsack didn't seek reelection.

Axne defeated incumbent Republican Rep. David Young by more than 7,700 votes in 2018 to become one of the first women to be elected to the U.S. House from Iowa. Young attempted to win back the seat back in 2020, but Axne won again, defeating him by more than 6,200 votes.

Axne is expected to announce her intentions within the next few days.

Miller-Meeks will have at least one opponent for the Republican nomination, as Bettendorf real estate business owner Kyle Kuehl said he would run for the seat. Kuehl, who served as a sniper in the Iowa Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, told the Quad City Times that he believes there are way too few veterans in Congress and way too few business owners in Congress, and, honestly, thats why not much is getting done.

The Republican nominee could face Democratic state Rep. Christina Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor who won her Iowa House seat in 2020 by defeating a Democratic incumbent in the primary and running unopposed in the general election.

The newly configured map moves several counties that were part of Miller-Meeks' existing district into the 3rd District. It renames the southeastern Iowa corner district the 1st District.

Democrats make up 35% of the active registered voters in the district, Republicans make up 32%, and nonaffiliated voters make up 31%, suggesting a competitive district for both major parties.

Last November, Republican Donald Trump had a 2.9 percentage point vote margin of victory in those counties. He received 51.4% of the presidential votes in those counties, racking up large margins in the rural counties while Joe Biden got 48.5% by turning out a huge vote advantage in Johnson County, which includes Iowa City and the University of Iowa. Biden also won by a smaller but significant margin in Scott County, a traditional Democratic county.
JERUSALEM (AP)  A Spanish woman admitted Wednesday under a plea bargain reached in an Israeli military court that she raised large sums of money that were diverted to a banned militant group, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Israel seized on the conviction as proof that it was justified in branding six Palestinian civil society organizations as terrorist groups last month. But the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a separate group, court documents suggest the woman knew little about the scheme and she was not implicated in any militant activities by the PFLP.

Israel, along with the U.S. and European Union, consider the group to be a terrorist organization.

Juana Ruiz Sanchez, a Spanish citizen who lives in the occupied West Bank and is married to a Palestinian, was a longtime worker for Health Work Committees, a Palestinian nonprofit group that provides medical services in the occupied West Bank.

According to legal documents obtained by The Associated Press, Ruiz raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the group, some of which was diverted to the PFLP.

But she appeared to have been largely unaware of her involvement in the alleged PFLP fund-raising scheme. In one case, for example, it said she raised some $4,000 for what she thought was medical equipment by presenting donors paperwork that she did not know was fraudulent. The funds were then diverted to the PFLP, according to the document.

This whole time I thought that I was working for a health, medical organization, she was quoted as telling the court. "I am very sorry, I simply erred and I want you to take into account that I never wanted to do any injustice to anyone.

But prosecutors noted she continued her work for the Health Work Committees even after learning a co-worker had helped finance an attack and after Israel declared the organization illegal in early 2020.

In doing so, the defendant worked for the organization and thus performed a service for the PFLP, the document said.

She was convicted of performing a service for an outlawed organization and illegal money transfers into the West Bank.

Israeli officials, referring to her by her married name of Juana Rishmawi, said the decision marked a victory in their war against the PFLP. Israel has targeted what it says is the groups efforts to raise funds from Western donors under the guise of humanitarian work.

The entire international community must work together with Israel to prevent terrorist organizations from operating in civilian frameworks and to prevent funds from reaching terrorist organizations, said Foreign Minister Yair Lapid.

Ruizs lawyer, prominent Israeli defense attorney Avigdor Feldman, called the governments case very weak. He said his client, who is in her 60s and has been in prison since April, had admitted to watered-down charges in order to go free.

The conviction includes a 13-month prison term and $16,500 fine. But with credit for time served and other reductions, she could be released in two weeks, Feldman said.

That was our main reason to come to the plea bargain, he said. The initial charges, he said, were very grave and could have resulted in years in prison.

In the end, they are charging her only that she should have known that the Popular Front was working behind the organization. Thats it, he said.

She is to be sentenced Nov. 17.

Last month, Israel designated six Palestinian civil society organizations as terrorist groups, saying they were tied to the PFLP, a secular, leftist political movement with an armed wing that has carried out deadly attacks against Israelis. But Israel has yet to take further action against the groups, which operate openly in the occupied West Bank.

The six groups, some of which have close ties to rights groups in Israel and abroad, deny the allegations. They say the terror designation is aimed at muzzling critics of Israels half-century military occupation of territories the Palestinians want for their future state.

The Health Works Committees was banned earlier and is seen as a test case for Israeli efforts against the other six.

A confidential Israeli dossier detailing alleged links between the groups and the PFLP contains little concrete evidence and relies almost entirely on the interrogations of two former workers at the Health Works Committees.

Ayed Abu Eqtaish, accountability program director in Defense for Children International-Palestine, one of the six groups, rejected the plea bargain.

The decision taken by the Israeli government is political and aims to silence institutions and prevent them from playing their role in exposing the practices of the occupation in the occupied territories, he said.

The Spanish government, which provided consular assistance to Ruiz during the trial, has said it has controls to prevent aid money from reaching militant groups. There was no immediate reaction to the plea bargain from the Spanish Foreign Ministry.

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Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion contributed to this report.
MILAN (AP)  The personal luxury market of high-end accessories, leather goods and apparel has snapped back to pre-pandemic levels as U.S. shoppers outspent those in China in pursuit of the latest fashion trends, according to a study released Thursday by the Bain consultancy.

Global consumer spending on personal luxury goods, including the latest sneaker trend or design collaboration, is forecast to spike by 29% this year, to 283 billion euros ($325 billion). That's a return to 2019 levels and a turnaround from the gloom of the 2020 pandemic lockdowns that shuttered stores and halted international travel. The recovery is expected to be supported by a strong holiday shopping season, Bain said.

We are pretty positive, even if the growth rate in particular in China has been slowing down since mid-August. But they are still very strong, said Claudia DArpizio, the Bain partner who headed up the study. There has been a sharp V-shaped recovery for personal goods.

The larger global luxury market, which extends to high-end travel, dining, fine art and furnishings, continues to lag 2019 levels, Bain said.

Consumers have shifted spending to high-quality furnishings, as many have been spending time at home instead of globe-trotting, while travel restrictions have been especially hard on luxury hotels, fine dining and cruises, all sectors that have yet to fully recover.

Global luxury comprehensively is expected to reach 1.1 trillion euros ($1.26 trillion) this year, which is about 10% below 2019 levels. The hardest-hit sector is luxury cruises, with spending down 80% from pre-pandemic levels and reduced even from 2020. Still, strong bookings for 2022 offer glimmers of hope, DArpizio said.

With international tourism still hampered, consumers have started picking up their new fashion trends at home, instead of fueling duty-free sales abroad.

U.S. consumers have at least temporarily supplanted the Chinese as the biggest spenders, accounting for one-third of all sales this year, compared with about 23% by Chinese shoppers, who were on par with Europeans. That trend is expected to invert by 2025, with nearly half of all spending by Chinese consumers, just over 20% by Americans and 18% by Europeans.

Bain forecasts that tourism will rebound by the end of next year to mid-2023, but DArpizio said she expects the pandemic will have established new habits, with luxury shoppers doing a lot of spending at home, not necessarily abroad.

We expect tourists to come back. We dont expect them to be as relevant as before, she said.

The pandemic also has accelerated the shift to online shopping and reinforced the predominance of bigger brands in the marketplace, while encouraging the use of collaborations and digital campaigns to grab attention.

The pandemic is widening the gap. We now see clear winners and losers. Bigger bands have more muscle, DArpizio said.

In this way, they have exploited connections within larger conglomerates, like the Gucci and Balenciaga tie-up between the two brands owned by French group Kering.
Alex Shalaby served as CEO of the Egyptian Company for Mobile Services (Mobinil, currently Orange) from 2005 to 2008 after which he was appointed as its chairman until his retirement in 2017. Between 1993 and 1995 Mr. Shalaby served as Regional Director for International Public Affairs for AT&T in Cairo, Egypt, where he served as the principal interface with key agencies in the region on matters impacting AT&T's international operations.

Prior to joining Mobinil, Mr. Shalaby was based in Washington, DC where he was an AT&T Director for Public Affairs, serving as the company's link to lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the executive branch of the U.S. government. He contributed to the further liberalization of the telecoms sector in emerging countries across the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe through relevant bilateral and multilateral agencies. During this period, he served on the boards of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt becoming its president in 1991, as well as the boards of the Bi-national Fulbright Commission, Injaz and Seeds of Peace. Mr. Shalaby currently chairs the board of The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, a think tank headquartered in Washington, DC as well as Hands Along the Nile, a development NGO based in Alexandria, VA.

Alex earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alexandria 1966 and went on to receive his Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from San Jose State University in California.
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The California Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to decide whether nursing home workers can be criminally prosecuted under state law for deliberately and repeatedly using the wrong terms when referring to transgender patients, terms like him or Mr. for a transgender woman.

The justices unanimously granted review of the states appeal of a lower-court ruling in July that said the 2017 law, though well-intended, violated freedom of speech by making it a crime to intentionally misgender patients. Violations would carry misdemeanor penalties of up to six months in jail and a $2,500 fine.

While agreeing to decide whether the 2017 law is valid, the states high court said the lower-court ruling would remain in the law books while the case was pending, and trial judges in different counties could decide whether to follow that ruling and refuse to enforce the criminal penalties.

The legislation, SB219, was sponsored by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco. While California already prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, LGBTQ advocates said transgender seniors remained vulnerable to mistreatment in nursing homes.

A 2013 survey, cited in a legislative staff analysis, found that nearly 60% of elderly transgender residents in San Francisco lived alone, and many said they lacked family support networks while living in care facilities.

The suit was filed by a group called Taking Offense. It argued that the ban on misgendering required some nursing home staff to convey messages that violated their personal beliefs.

The states Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento agreed in July, overturning a Sacramento County judges decision to uphold SB219.

We recognize the Legislatures legitimate and laudable goal of rooting out discrimination against LGBT residents, Justice Elena Duarte said in the 3-0 ruling. But the state law, she said, punishes the kind of isolated remarks not sufficiently severe or pervasive enough to create an objectively hostile work environment.

She noted that the laws criminal penalties could apply to comments that were not necessarily discriminatory or harassing, and did not have to be made in the patients presence.

The appeals court upheld another section of the 2017 law that requires nursing homes to place transgender patients in rooms consistent with their gender identity, rejecting arguments by Taking Offense that the provision granted those patients special and unwarranted rights.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta urged the states high court to review the case, with support from patients advocates and LGBTQ groups. Samuel Garrett-Pate, spokesperson for the advocacy group Equality California, said Wednesday he was pleased with the grant of review but dismayed that the court would allow trial judges to apply the appellate ruling in the meantime.

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.

LGBTQ seniors were protected from harassment on the basis of their gender identity until this outrageous ruling, which threatens to leave them unprotected, Garrett-Pate said. He said many other laws make repeated and targeted harassment a crime, and SB219 was drafted to protect an especially vulnerable population.

Wiener said in a statement that the lower-court ruling authorizes harassment and bullying of frail trans seniors in nursing homes  seniors who are least likely to be able to stick up for themselves. That ruling must be overturned.

Lawyers for Taking Offense could not be reached for comment.

The case is Taking Offense vs. State of California, S270535.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com
A San Francisco Unified School District educator was struck and killed by a motorist Wednesday morning at an intersection in Cow Hollow next to the elementary school where he worked and that he had attended as a youth.

Andrew Zieman, a paraeducator at Sherman Elementary School who worked alongside teachers to provide support for students, along with serving in other roles, died at the scene just as classes were starting for the day.

According to San Francisco police, a pedestrian  identified by the school as Zieman  was hit around 7:55 a.m. at the intersection of Franklin and Union streets, where Sherman Elementary School is located. Officers who responded to the scene found two vehicles involved in a crash and a man in his 30s down near one of the vehicles with life-threatening injuries.

In a letter to families Wednesday, Helen Parker, principal at Sherman Elementary, called Zieman a beloved staff member of our school.

Zieman had attended Sherman Elementary as a youth, and worked at the elementary school as a paraeducator for at least six years, according to the school district.

We are struggling to understand this tragic loss of life, especially since he meant so much to so many students, families, and staff, Parker said in the letter. Andrew taught from the heart. He was patient and kind, and always a positive role model. I am sure you will join me in offering our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Staff at the school were informed of Ziemans death Wednesday afternoon. With San Francisco public schools closed Thursday for Veterans Day, Sherman Elementary will begin the school day Friday morning with a circle led by Parker, where she will inform students of Ziemans death, Parker said.

Staff from the Department of Public Healths Comprehensive Crisis Services will be on campus Friday to provide short-term grief counseling, Parker said.

Ziemans death marked San Franciscos 12th pedestrian fatality of the year, according to a tally by Walk San Francisco, a pedestrian advocacy group.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash. Though the intersection is not part of the citys high-injury network where 75% of severe and fatal traffic injuries occur, it is located on a portion of Franklin Street where one-way northbound traffic goes down a hill that could contribute to higher vehicle speeds on the corridor.

Too many people are paying the ultimate price for unsafe streets, Jodie Medeiros, executive director of Walk San Francisco. Twelve people have died this year while simply walking.

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.

San Francisco for years has struggled to make progress on its Vision Zero goal to end traffic deaths by 2024, though the city has vowed to fast-track safety projects for pedestrians and cyclists next year and is putting to use a new law that gives cities greater authority to lower speed limits.

The section of Union Street where the crash occurred is part of a business activity district that is eligible for speed reduction under the AB43 law to 20 mph, according to Walk SF.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani, who represents the district where the crash happened, said Wednesday she was devastated by the news of the crash.

As details continue to emerge, one thing is clear: as a city, we absolutely must do more to ensure the safety of pedestrians on our streets, Stefani said in a tweet.

Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByRicardoCano
Less than a month before the Supreme Court was to hear a Bay Area suit against CVS that could have narrowed the scope of the nations disability laws, the drugstore chain announced an agreement Wednesday with advocacy groups and HIV patients who had challenged its policies on receiving prescription medication.

The high court had granted review in July of an appeal by CVS from a lower-court ruling that allowed patients to sue over practices, like CVSs refusal to let patients pick up the companys medications at non-CVS drugstores, that may have a disproportionately harmful effect on people with disabilities, even if there was no proof of discriminatory intent.

CVS and pro-business groups argued that the disability law prohibited only intentionally harmful practices, and that the appeals court ruling would increase company costs and consumer prices.

A ruling in their favor would have substantially limited the laws application to government-funded programs, including Medicare, from which CVS receives funds.

The conservative-majority court was scheduled to hear the case Dec. 7, and issue a ruling by next summer. But CVS and disability groups said Wednesday they would instead work to reach agreement on a policy that would provide equitable access to health care for all Americans.

Our agreement to pursue policy solutions in collaboration with the disability community will help protect access to affordable health plan programs that apply equally to all members, said David Casey, a CVS vice president and the companys chief diversity officer. As a result, we will not pursue the matter further before the Supreme Court.

Judith Heumann, a disability-rights advocate taking part in the talks, said, CVS Health engaged in an honest dialogue with disability community representatives and listened carefully to our concerns about what was at stake for disabled people with the question before the Supreme Court.

The suit by five unnamed HIV/AIDS patients, filed in a San Francisco federal court in 2018, challenged a new prescription-drug policy by the patients pharmacy benefits manager, CVS Caremark, and the patients employers.

Previously, the patients could fill their prescriptions at any local drugstore and consult with the pharmacists, who had prepared the medications, about any potential side effects or interactions with other drugs they were taking.

Under the new policy, they said, to keep discounts that could amount to thousands of dollars per month, they were required to receive all specialty drugs by mail or by pickup at a CVS pharmacy.

Because the medicines are prepared elsewhere and sent to the patients home or to CVS, its pharmacists cannot legally discuss possible hazards, the lawsuit said.

It said patients also risked losing their privacy when pharmacy staff shouted their names and medications in the presence of other customers.

A federal judge found no discrimination and dismissed the suit, but it was reinstated last December by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which said the patients could try to prove they were being discriminated against because of their illness.

In a 3-0 ruling, Judge Milan Smith said CVS may be violating the law if the patients can prove, as they claim, that they are being denied aspects of pharmaceutical care that they deem critical to their health ... including medically appropriate dispensing of their medications and access to necessary counseling.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

He noted that AIDS patients are protected by federal disability law.

The courts assessment that disability discrimination includes unintentionally harmful practices was in line with the conclusions of most federal appeals courts that had considered the issue.

But CVS, in its Supreme Court appeal, said claims that a health care providers practices have a discriminatory impact thrust courts into a policymaking role that properly belongs to the political branches or private enterprise.

Although the company will now drop its appeal, there is no change to our policies, Michael DeAngelis, a spokesperson for CVS Health, said Wednesday. As the statement says, we will seek public policy solutions in partnership with the disability community.

But Susan Mizner, disability-rights director for the American Civil Liberties Union, said, We are grateful to the leaders at CVS who listened to the disability community and agreed to reverse course. There are always better solutions to a problem than to undercut the foundation of disability rights laws.

The case is CVS Pharmacy vs. Doe, 20-1374.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Health officials in California are starting to promote the idea of virtually everyone getting a COVID-19 booster shot before the holidays  marking a subtle but important shift in messaging even before federal agencies have recommended the policy.

The strongest signal came during a Santa Clara County briefing on Wednesday, when officials strongly urged residents to get shots in advance of a potential winter surge fueled by family gatherings, increased travel and colder weather that drives people indoors.

Our top line message is we really encourage everyone to get out and get their booster shot, said Health Officer Dr. Sara Cody. Pretty much everybody in our population is eligible.

San Francisco Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax pushed a similar message Wednesday, strongly encouraging anyone eligible for a booster to get one soon.

If youre eligible for a booster, get a booster for the holiday season, he said. Its the best way to protect yourself, your family, the community.

Their comments  which havent yet been matched in bluntness by other Bay Area counties  came the same day California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said during a public appearance alongside Gov. Gavin Newsom that anyone who wants a booster should absolutely get one.

The US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not made such sweeping recommendations. The agency has advised boosters for people 65 and older and those who got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and allowed boosters for those 18 and over with underlying health conditions, or those whose jobs expose them to greater risk of transmission.

People are eligible for a booster if it has been at least six months since they got the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months since they got the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. This excludes kids 15 and younger, since it cant have been six months yet since they got their second shot.

Pfizer on Tuesday announced that it has applied for federal authorization for booster shots for everyone 18 and older.

While the remarks from Santa Clara Countys Cody are not an official recommendation going beyond the CDCs guidance, they do convey a stronger endorsement of boosters for nearly everyone by not parsing eligibility by age, underlying health or job.

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.

Health officials have been urgently advising those 65 and older to get a booster because theyre at higher risk of being hospitalized with a severe infection if they dont get boosted. But whether everyone else should also get boosters has been a point of confusion for many.

Cody sought to clarify and went a step further, emphasizing that almost everyone falls into one of those categories, and encouraged them all to get a booster.

We want to simplify the message and simply say: The holidays are coming, our case rates are flat to increasing, people are going to be gathering and theres a tool (that is) widely available that we can all use to increase protection, and thats a booster shot, Cody said. So we really encourage just about everybody, because just about everybody is eligible, to get a booster shot.

Nobody will be turned away who wants a booster, said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, the countys vaccine officer.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
CONCORD, N.H. (AP)  After rejecting millions of dollars to help increase New Hampshire's vaccination rate, the Executive Council on Wednesday reversed course and approved $22 million for the effort, along with a non-binding resolution that condemns vaccine mandates.

Last month, the Republican-led council, a five-member panel that approves state contracts, rejected $27 million in federal vaccination funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over concerns language in the grants would have bound the state to follow federal directives and mandates related to COVID-19.

The language the Republicans opposed has appeared in other contracts they approved, and both Republican Gov. Chris Sununu and Attorney General John Formella said it does not in any way impede the states sovereignty.

Later in October, the council voted to use $4.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to help community health centers and regional public health networks set up school-based and community vaccination clinics. With the approval of Wednesday's funds, that money will now be repurposed.

Thanks to a bipartisan majority of the Executive Council for working with my administration to revisit and craft a solution to accept these critical public health federal funds. We are moving full steam ahead, Sununu said in a statement Wednesday.

The vote was 4-0, with Republican Councilor Ted Gatsas just voting present."

Cinde Warmington, the lone Democrat on the council, said in a statement that she continued to speak out about the poor decision" made by the council when the money was rejected in October and demanded that it be reconsidered.

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.

Sununu said the non-binding resolution that condemns vaccine mandates is a result of councilors wanting to make sure that the voice of not just themselves, but individuals that they represented were heard.

"And that's a fine avenue of doing it, if it makes more comfortable to get a yes' on those dollars," he said.
MADISON, Wis. (AP)  Prosecutors in Kyle Rittenhouse's murder trial could ask the jury to consider lesser charges when it gets the case, a move that could secure a conviction for some crime but take a possible life sentence off the table.

Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger has struggled to counter Rittenhouse's self-defense arguments during the Illinois man's trial, raising questions about whether his office overcharged Rittenhouse. Daniel Adams, a former Milwaukee County assistant district attorney who isn't involved in the trial, described Binger's case as incredibly underwhelming.

He's got nothing, Adams said. I just don't understand it. What are we doing here? We're all kind of scratching our heads.

Rittenhouse shot and killed Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz during an August 2020 protest against police brutality in Kenosha, a city in southeastern Wisconsin that's not far from Rittenhouse's hometown of Antioch, Illinois. Rittenhouse was 17 years old at the time.

Binger's office, led by Democratic District Attorney Michael Graveley, charged Rittenhouse with multiple counts less than 48 hours after the shootings.

Rittenhouse faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide in Huber's death, which carries a mandatory life sentence. He also faces one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for wounding Grosskreutz and one count of first-degree reckless homicide in Rosenbaum's death. Both charges are punishable by up to 60 years in prison.

He's also charged with two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment for firing at an unknown man who tried to kick him in the face and allegedly disregarding that a reporter was standing behind Rosenbaum when he shot him. A reckless endangerment charge requires prosecutors to show Rittenhouse put someone in harm's way with an utter disregard for life. It carries a maximum 12-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors also charged Rittenhouse with a misdemeanor count of being a minor in possession of a firearm. That's punishable by up to nine months behind bars.

Prosecutors or defense attorneys can ask Judge Bruce Schroeder to inform jurors as they begin deliberations to consider finding Rittenhouse guilty of lesser charges in lieu of the original counts. The judge would then have to weigh whether the evidence the jury had seen supports those lesser charges before instructing the jury to consider them.

Assistant District Attorney James Kraus told Judge Bruce Schroeder on Thursday that prosecutors were still finalizing their request for lesser included charges. But he said they planned to ask the judge to tell the jury to consider lesser counts in Huber's death and the Grosskreutz shooting.

He said prosecutors were leaning against seeking lesser charges on the reckless endangerment counts and in Rosenbaum's death but might ask Schroeder to include a so-called provocation instruction. Such an instruction would ask the jury to consider whether Rittenhouse provoked the men into attacking him. If the jury finds he did, that would negate self-defense.

But multiple witnesses have described Rosenbaum as angry and out of control that night, saying they heard him threaten to kill Rittenhouse if he got him alone and challenging other armed people at the protest to shoot him. Video shows Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse across a parking lot before Rittenhouse shoots him.

Bystander video of Huber running up to Rittenhouse and hitting him in the head with a skateboard as he apparently reaches for Rittenhouse's gun has also hurt Binger's case.

Binger called Grosskreutz to the stand on Monday. Grosskreutz testified he thought Rittenhouse was going to kill him, but on cross-examination he acknowledged that he ran up to Rittenhouse and pointed a pistol at him a split-second after Rittenhouse shot Huber.

That's a pretty clear case of self-defense, said Paul Bucher, a former Waukesha County district attorney who isn't involved in the case. When he has a handgun (and) was in the process of pointing it, that would give me great pause as to whether I'd even charge that.

Rittenhouse testified Wednesday that Rosenbaum threatened to kill him twice, that Huber hit him with the skateboard twice before he shot him, and that Grosskreutz pointed his pistol at him after first raising his hands in a surrender gesture.

Rittenhouse said he did what he had to do to protect himself. He cried as he began to describe how Rosenbaum chased him down.

Adams said prosecutors most likely will seek second-degree versions of the intentional homicide charges. Such charges could apply if jurors determined that Rittenhouse sincerely believed his life was in danger but used an unreasonable amount of force, University of Wisconsin-Madison criminal law professor Cecelia Klingele said. Second-degree reckless endangerment could apply if jurors found that he put someone in harm's way but did so without showing utter disregard for human life, she said.

Second-degree intentional homicide carries a maximum 60 years in prison. The maximum sentence for second-degree attempted intentional homicide is 30 years. Second-degree reckless endangerment, meanwhile, carries a maximum prison term of 10 years.

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.

A life sentence wouldn't be an option if prosecutors sought convictions on lesser charges, but they would give jurors the flexibility to convict him of something, said Adams.

It gives the jury negotiation room, he said. They think something bad happened but they're not convinced the level of force was necessary. And that gives prosecutors two kicks at the cat.

Bucher said Rittenhouse's team also could ask jurors to consider second-degree versions of the charges in hopes of avoiding a life sentence.

But Binger has already muddled the case with multiple charges and asking jurors to consider even more counts risks confusing jurors further, Bucher said.

As a prosecutor, you charge more counts than necessary because you don't have a strong case, he said. You know the old saying, throw as much as you can against the wall and see what sticks. It's confusing for me. Imagine what it's like for the jury. You almost need a statute book to go through all this.

___

Associated Press writer Amy Forliti in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

___

Find APs full coverage of the Rittenhouse trial at https://apnews.com/hub/kyle-rittenhouse and follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1.
This Veterans Day, like all other Veterans Days, Im thinking about the people Ive represented in San Francisco whose military service was broken by sexual assault. They are men and women. Some were kicked out of the military when the mental health symptoms resulting from the assaults were misinterpreted as misconduct. Many turned to drugs for relief from PTSD, became homeless and lost contact with family. Some attempted suicide.

Only one reported their assault.

My former clients stories are not new or isolated. Sexual assault and harassment have plagued the military since at least World War II. In 2018 alone, 20,500 service members were sexually assaulted. Many victims, like my clients, do not report it for fear of retaliation. This apprehension is warranted  a third of victims are discharged after reporting.

The long history and prevalence of sexual assault in the military have led some to call it intractable. But it doesnt have to be. Change is within the power of the courts.

Unlike civilian employees, service members cannot sue their employer for negligence or recover damages. This inequity goes back to 1950, originating in the Supreme Court case Feres vs. United States. The high court ruled that service members cannot sue the Defense Department for injuries incurred incident to service.

The facts of Feres were relatively narrow, involving only two types of injuries: military medical malpractice and death from a barracks fire. The court, however, has since broadly asserted that opening up the military to litigation by service members would impede its ability to maintain good order and discipline. Since Feres was decided, it has ballooned to encompass sexual misconduct.

In 1984, a court dismissed a suit brought on behalf of a service member who committed suicide after being sexually assaulted by a drill sergeant. The court found the suit was barred under Feres because the victim was on duty and on post when she was assaulted. The court also refused to consider the claim that superiors were aware of sexual harassment of female service members and did nothing to prevent it. According to the court, this inquiry would interfere with military decision-making.

Feres has spawned many such cases. In 2013, the court dismissed a suit brought by a former member of the Puerto Rico National Guard alleging sexual harassment because the misconduct occurred on a military facility during duty and the claims were against supervisors. The court claimed to be bound by an appellate decision finding that even if conduct is despicable, Feres prevents recourse.

Feres liability vacuum has left the military immune to the external pressure to tackle its sexual misconduct problem. Indeed, research has found the Feres doctrine promotes abuses of power, including sexual assault by superiors.

There is, however, reason to hope. Judges have not failed to notice Feres unjust results in a variety of contexts. In 2019, two unlikely allies  Justice Clarence Thomas and former Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg  disagreed with their colleagues refusal to hear a medical malpractice case challenging the Feres doctrine.

In that case, the husband of a Navy service member filed a tort suit after his wife died in a naval hospital due to childbirth complications. Her death was the result of preventable blood loss in the same facility where she had worked as a nurse.

According to Justice Thomas, Feres was wrongly decided and heartily deserves the widespread, almost universal criticism it has received.

More recently, in a high-profile sexual assault case involving allegations against the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a federal court allowed the suit to proceed. The plaintiff alleged numerous instances of unwanted sexual advances and assault starting a few months after she began serving under the defendant. She claimed that despite repeated refusals, the defendant persisted and retaliated against her.

In rejecting application of Feres, the court explained that it is not conceivable that the (accuseds) military duties would require him to sexually assault Plaintiff, or that such an assault would advance any conceivable military objective.

Though the case hasnt been decided, the courts rare move to give the plaintiff her day in court is a sign that Feres is starting to crumble.

Nothing will give my former clients their service back, nor repair the damage caused to countless victims of decades of unchecked sexual assault and misconduct in the military. But courts can help end this longest war. By throwing out Feres and opening the courthouse doors to accountability, they can prevent sexual assault from happening in the first place.

Rose Carmen Goldberg teaches veterans law at the UC Berkeley School of Law. Previously, she represented military sexual assault survivors in San Francisco.
In August 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services deported my brother Manny Garcias undocumented wife Sherry even though he is a decorated Army veteran who served in the first Gulf War. Devastated, he reached out to multiple immigration attorneys and wrote letters to dozens of U.S. Senators and House members. Despite his best efforts, their two-year forced separation continues.

In July, the Biden administration announced plans to bring deported veterans and their immediate family members back to the U.S. by reviewing the cases of individuals whose removals failed to live up to our highest values. In the four months since the announcement, little progress has been made.

We need to do better by our veterans and their families regardless of their citizenship status.

My brothers nightmare underscores how deeply flawed our immigration court system is. According to a report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, that system is biased, inconsistent, and driven by politics. Immigration judges fail to apply binding legal standards, make decisions based on illegally invented rules, engage in abusive treatment of noncitizens and their counsel, and even decide cases before holding hearings. These problems existed before the Trump administration and only got worse under his watch, with the attorney general seeking to actively weaponize the immigration court system against asylum seekers and immigrants of color.

That seems to be what happened in Sherrys case. She had been issued a removal order. One of the very few ways to get relief from such an order is to prove removal would cause exceptional and extremely unusual hardship on a U.S. citizen family member left behind.

Manny is disabled, having experienced significant hearing loss and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his military service. When he was asked by Immigration Services what hardship he would experience if she were deported, Manny laid out how much he depends on her to navigate day-to-day life, to manage social situations where he struggles to follow conversations and remain calm, and the regular challenges he faces due to his hearing loss and PTSD. Her removal has resulted in a profound level of social isolation for him only made worse by the pandemic. Yet the removal order included none of those challenges in the record, arguing that his hardship would be no greater than that of any person losing their spouse.

A 2019 report from the Government Accountability Office suggests my brother is not alone. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, has developed policies for noncitizen veterans and their family members who may be subject to deportation, but the report found that from 2013 to 2018, it did not consistently adhere to those policies. Its unlikely these cases received the appropriate level of review. Since ICE does not track cases involving veterans and their families, it is impossible to know how many veterans were affected.

The task of doing right by people who fought for our country and their families is enormous. That the Biden administration has decided to take this on is encouraging. But since the announcement the only notable event has been temporarily bringing 21 veterans back from Mexico for a COVID shot. I worry that we are years if not decades away from rectifying the situation. Families like mine shouldnt have to wait that long.

Lisa Garcia Bedolla is a professor of education at UC Berkeley.
At 8:30 Wednesday morning, a giant crane quietly reached over the backside of UC Hall on UCSFs Parnassus campus, dropped its claw down through an opened skylight and plucked out a chunk of wall wrapped in wood and steel.

At long last, the New Deal-era History of Medicine in California frescoes were on the move.

We had the time to plan it out and do it properly, said conservator David Wessel, in something of an understatement, as he watched the crane swing around to a parking lot staging area, where the first of 10 wall panels  each containing a painting  was put to rest.

From there, the murals were welded onto a steel frame and loaded onto a specially designed trailer for transport.

The intricate undertaking was expected to take two days, but the process punctuated two years worth of at-times rancorous debate over the fate of the frescoes and the future of the building where they were housed.

UCSF administrators said in 2020 that the murals that comprised the History of Medicine would have to be removed in order to demolish UC Hall, a vacant research facility, as part of a massive campus modernization that will include four major projects spread across 1.5 million square feet of new construction .

University officials deemed the cost of removal an unwise use of public funds, so the family of the artist, Bernard Zakheim, was given 90 days to come up with a plan to claim the murals at their own expense. The family fought back and the university eventually agreed to bear the $3.2 million cost of preserving the murals.

Later, several neighborhood groups opposed to the construction used the murals as leverage in a lawsuit, arguing that the murals should not be moved so the building that housed them could not be demolished.

In August, an Alameda County Superior Court judge granted San Franciscans for Balanced and Livable Communities a temporary restraining order to stop the removal of the murals. In September, following a hearing, the restraining order was lifted.

And on Wednesday, the crane finally arrived to do the job. On hand were a crew of 25 art conservators, art movers, welders and heavy equipment operators working under ARG Conservation Services, a San Francisco firm that specializes in historic preservation.

The moving of the frescoes is the first physical action toward implementing our comprehensive plan for the Parnassus Heights campus, said Alicia Murasaki, UCSFs assistant vice chancellor for campus planning, as she watched the crane hoist another mural out of the building.

We will keep going.

Before it can tear down UC Hall, the original campus hospital opened in 1917, UCSF first must resolve multiple lawsuits seeking to block the reconstruction project. UCSF officials think that could happen as soon as next year.

After that, in 2023, Langley Porter, the psychiatric unit at the east end of campus, will come down. Langley Porter will be replaced by a new hospital at the UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center, expected to open in 2030. The new building would increase capacity by 42%, to 675 beds. UC Hall would be replaced by a new and renamed research and academic building, to open in 2026. The UCSF School of Nursing is also set to be replaced by a larger facility.

But first the murals had to go.

Commissioned in 1937 by the Federal Art Project, the 10 individual paintings lined the walls of a circular auditorium called Toland Hall. The murals depict the practice of medicine in the state dating back to the missionaries, with subjugation of native peoples by missionaries as a subtext. The murals were wallpapered over in the 1940s. They were later uncovered and, though damaged, were given a brief public viewing in 2015, advertised as the crown jewel of the UCSF art collection.

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.

Because the art is a fresco, applied to the wall itself with paint pigment absorbed into plaster, they could not be peeled off and rolled up as with flat wall murals.

In order to avoid damaging the curved and brittle frescoes, the plaster wall behind each panel had to be cut out and moved along with the artwork. Each panel was wrapped in fabric, then packed with a layer of foam and a layer of Masonite. Then a steel frame was built around the whole package.

Once lifted into the parking lot, it was shrink-wrapped, then the steel frame was welded onto a steel track in order to be lifted by forklift onto a custom-built trailer.

The trailer itself was independently tested by a consultant, who monitored vibrations during a practice run across the Bay Bridge for safekeeping at Atthowe, an art storage facility.

A UCSF task force was formed to determine a public display space for the frescoes, either on or off campus.

Were so excited we were able to save the murals said Deputy Campus Architect Patti Mitchell, as she witnessed the entire meticulous transfer process. This is so exciting.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com. Twitter:@samwhitingsf
After being inactive most of 2020, Muni Metros J-Church line was the first in San Franciscos flagship rail system to resume service during the pandemic last December. But almost a year later, the historic single-car train is still running a truncated route that keeps it out of the Market Street subway and from reaching downtown  even as most other Muni Metro lines were fully restored this spring.

Now, as the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency prepares to make limited service restorations in February 2022, the fate of the century-old J line has brewed yet another intense debate for the thousands of riders still using the line.

The agencys decision on the J-Church route could potentially remake the Muni Metro system. Heres what we know about whats at stake.

How will the SFMTA make its decision on the J-Church?

The SFMTAs Board of Directors will decide the lines fate at its Dec. 7 meeting when it votes on the next round of restorations that would bring Muni service to about 85% of pre-pandemic levels.

The J is Munis oldest active rail line and has run on or below Market Street since its 1917 inception. Its future is arguably the biggest unresolved question for the agency, and three options are on the table.

The first option, which the agency says is supported by technical analysis, would keep the J-Churchs current truncated route, ending at Church and Duboce streets instead of descending into the Market Street subway. A second option supported by many J-Church riders would run the full J route from Balboa Park to Embarcadero station with 15-minute frequencies. A third alternative would restore subway service on the J line only during the evenings.

Its unclear for how long the shortened route would remain in effect if the agencys board approves the first option. Some J-Church riders, though, are wary that such a decision could be a prelude to a permanent route change that keeps the line out of the subway.

How does the shortened route affect J-Church riders?

Two weeks after hip replacement surgery, Kathy Setian rode the J to City Hall in a ride-along organized by San Francisco Transit Riders in early September and experienced the lines new difficulties.

Transferring to another rail line at Church station proved challenging as she crossed wide and busy Market Street  lined with slippery rail tracks  using a walker. The elevator at Church station wasnt working, so she waited longer for a transfer to the F-line.

But, Setian said, Theres a wide, wide variety of people who are impacted. Its not just people with mobility problems.

Setian, whos organized J-Church riders behind an effort to restore the lines subway service, said other riders making the transfer at night are concerned about their safety. Almost all of Market Street is part of the citys high-injury network of streets where most fatal and severe traffic injuries occur.

The SFMTA said it plans to make accessibility improvements at that transfer point regardless of the Board of Directors J-Church decision next month.

For riders such as Karen Kennard, who lives near 30th and Church streets, the line is simply no longer appealing because of the transfer. Instead, Kennard either takes a longer walk to the Glen Park BART Station or rides the bus.

Every Muni Metro line running rail service has yet to recover its pre-COVID ridership, according to recent SFMTA data. At 15,000 weekly boardings, the J line had the lowest ridership on Muni Metro before the pandemic, and its recovery lags behind other lines that go into the tunnel.

The J, which serves hilly neighborhoods such as Noe Valley, The Castro, Dolores Heights and Glen Park, has shed nearly 10,000 riders.

Kennard said the transfer is contributing to the lines sluggish recovery because many riders dont want to tack on more time to their commutes by waiting for a transfer.

For the people who have come back to transit, as soon as they ride the J and realize it doesnt take them downtown anymore, I think a lot of them have voted with their feet, Kennard said.

Its an issue some agency board directors acknowledged at a recent meeting.

We know that a deterrent for people riding transit is transfers, SFMTA Board Chair Gwyneth Borden said at an Oct. 26 hearing. If somebody has a single-seat ride, theyre more likely to take it than when theres a transfer involved.

Why does SFMTA want to keep the J-Church as a surface-only route?

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.

Before the pandemic put Muni in a financial crisis of historic proportions, it was dealing with another epic problem  poor subway reliability.

Trains routinely stacked up entering the subway, creating long delays and unpredictable travel times for riders. The issue became so pronounced that it helped spur the creation of a working group aimed at tackling Munis perpetual subway troubles in 2019.

The effort got sidetracked as the pandemic took hold. But with the Market Street subway now seeing fewer trains that it used to, never has its performance been more reliable, the agency says.

Theres been a 75% reduction in subway delays compared to 2019, SFMTA spokesperson Stephen Chun said. Commutes from West Portal to Embarcadero stations that might have taken 28 minutes to complete before the pandemic now take 16 minutes to complete on 90% of trips, Chun said.

The N-Judah line, the most popular Muni Metro line before the pandemic, has gotten an added boost in reliability because it no longer has to compete with the J-Church at the subway entryway at Duboce and Church streets, according to Chun.

Can Muni run more trains in the subway?

Yes, but crossing a certain threshold will bring back the problems of 2019, the agency says.

Right now, Muni is running 21 trains per hour in the subway compared with the 40 to 42 trains per hour it operated pre-COVID, according to an SFMTA presentation at a recent community meeting.

The agency projects running 26 trains per hour next year based on growing ridership demand. Restoring the Js subway service would put it at 30 trains per hour  a throughput that carries with it an increased risk of delays caused by subway congestion, Chun said. It would be more efficient to use those four slots to run two- or three-car trains instead of the J, which is a single-car train, Chun said.

But Peter Straus, an S.F. Transit Riders board member, said that forward-thinking approach shortchanges J riders who currently rely on the route.

Even by MTAs own data, theres no reason to deprive J-Church riders of direct service now because of what may be needed three, four years downstream, Straus said.

Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByRicardoCano
HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kongs swanky new M+ museum  Asias largest gallery with a billion-dollar collection  is set to open on Friday amid controversy over politics and censorship.

M+ boasts 183,000 square feet (17,000 square meters) of exhibition space, 33 galleries and over 6,400 works in its collection that range from modern and contemporary art to architecture and moving images. Designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, M+ aims to put Asia on the global map for art and was built to rival Londons Modern Tate and the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

But the museum has come under fire for censorship, after it decided not to display a piece by Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei after pro-Beijing politicians said that it was spreading hatred against China and could violate the citys sweeping national security law. On its website, M+ replaced the digital image of the work with its logo.

The work by Ai, titled Study of Perspective: Tiananmen (1997), depicts Ai raising a middle finger at Beijings Tiananmen Square, where a bloody crackdown by the Peoples Liberation Army on pro-democracy protesters on June 4, 1989, killed hundreds, if not thousands.

Some of his works will be on display, but not the other images from Ais Study of Perspective series featuring middle fingers aimed at the White House, the Swiss parliament and the Mona Lisa, though they're still on the museum's website.

Beijing imposed the national security law after massive anti-government protests shook Hong Kong in 2019, challenging China's rule over the semi-autonomous city that was promised Western-style freedoms after its handover from Britain in 1997.

The law outlaws secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign collusion, and has been used to arrest over 120 people and silence opposition voices in the city. Among them, the annual vigil commemorating the Tiananmen massacre as well as the June 4 museum.

Ai has criticized M+ over its decision to censor his work.

Under the current National Security Law, I think Hong Kong is facing a very dramatic political change, Ai said in an interview with The Associated Press from Cambridge, England. So the freedom of speech (can) no longer be performed in a normal way, but rather under severe censorship.

So I dont think the museum  with this kind of condition can still have this ambition to become one of the worlds most advanced cultural facilities.

M+ has insisted that it is only acting in accordance with the law.

This is the first contemporary museum in Hong Kong, so therefore, I want to ensure that the message is clear so that people dont think that we are above the law, Henry Tang, chairman of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority Board, said at the museum's opening ceremony on Thursday, ahead of the public viewing.

This is the first principle that I always emphasize, particularly in the past, (as) there were some controversies regarding whether some exhibits might be in violation of law.

Some, however, believe that the artwork's removal may be justified.

It is self-censorship, but maybe it is survival, too, for M+. They need to balance what is important and what they can get away with, said John Batten, president of the International Art Critics Hong Kong.

And because this particular photograph has been such a lightning rod of criticism  maybe we should just put it aside for a while.

Batten said that the opening of M+ would be beneficial to the arts scene in Hong Kong.

M+ is the start of possibly a 50, a 100-year-old institution, so it should be forward looking, he said, adding that the excitement visitors will feel walking into M+ could be similar to that of the Metropolitan Museum or the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The collection of works in M+ also includes those from local artists, like South Ho. Hos photos Not Every Daily VI and Not Every Daily V captured the citys Occupy Central protests in 2014, and are part of the museums collection.

As a contemporary artist, I think its a good that the museum provides a new channel for us to get to know the arts in Hong Kong, and from Asia and other parts of the world, said Ho.

This is a form of investment in culture which allows people to know that apart from Hong Kongs economic achievement  its a good idea that we also have some cultural developments as well, he said.
LOS ANGELES (AP)  An Arizona man accused of supplying the dealer who sold Mac Miller the drugs that killed the rapper has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Ryan Michael Reavis, 38, will admit to a single count of distribution of fentanyl, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Los Angeles said in a statement.
Thinking of sunny leisure destinations for the holidays? Hawaiian Airlines is doubling service between Seattle and Honolulu in anticipation of a busy holiday season. Meanwhile, Southwest has a fare sale on popular winter and holiday travel destinations.

This weeks airline news also includes a celebratory day at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where construction wraps up in the newly enhanced North Satelite. And Alaska Airlines is expanding service between Seattle and three Ohio destinations.

Keep reading to discover the latest airline news for the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Sea-Tac Airport celebrates N Concourse with special events

Major construction of the North Satellite Modernization Project has officially wrapped up at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). To commemorate the opening of all gates at the N Concourse, air travelers are invited to celebrate on Nov. 4 during a day of special events.

Along with enhanced dining and retail offerings, the Experience SEA @ N schedule includes a variety of live music and cultural performances on the airport's brand-new performance stage, along with samples and special promotions from Tundra Taqueria, SEA Roast Coffee House and Filson. Those not traveling may tune in for livestreams of the days special events.

Alaska Airlines increases Ohio routes

Alaska Airlines has announced new daily nonstop service between Seattle (SEA) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) starting on June 16, 2022. That same day, Alaska will add a second daily roundtrip flight between Seattle and Cincinnati (CVG) and Seattle and Columbus (CMH).

Ohio is an economic powerhouse with a vibrant cultural and corporate scene thats underserved and primed for growth as we emerge from the pandemic, said Brett Catlin, vice president of network and alliances at Alaska Airlines. Adding Cleveland to our network furthers our investment in the Buckeye State while adding an important nonstop link between Northeast Ohio and the Puget Sound.

Service from Seattle to Cleveland will depart daily at 9:50 a.m. with an arrival time of 5:15 p.m. local time in Cleveland. Flights returning from Cleveland will depart at 6:25 p.m. with an 8:30 p.m. arrival time in Seattle.

On all flights flown now through Dec. 31, guests qualify for Alaskas Fast Track to Status promotion, earning 50% more elite-qualifying miles.

American Airlines simplifies AAdvantage program

Starting in 2022, American Airlines flyers will see a new AAdvantage program impacting how travelers earn status.

Instead of collecting elite qualifying miles, dollars and segments, the new program only has one status metric in place with Loyalty Points. American passengers will now earn one Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned.

courtesy of CTS Photos

Hawaiian Airlines increases holiday service

To meet an anticipated increase in holiday demand, Hawaiian Airlines is expanding service between Honolulu (HNL) and Seattle (SEA). Hawaiian will now offer SEA travelers two daily flights on select dates Nov. 19 through Jan. 5, 2022.

Guests traveling between Seattle and Honolulu will do so on Hawaiians wide-body Airbus A330 which features 18 lie-flat leather seats in First Class, 68 seats in Extra Comfort and 192 Main Cabin seats.

All guests traveling to the Hawaiian Islands must comply with the states Safe Travels program requirements.

Southwest Airlines winter fare sale

Book by Nov, 4 to save on winter and holiday airfare with Southwest. One-way fares start at $49 for travel dates Nov. 9 through March 9, 2022.

Sample one-way fares include Seattle (SEA) to San Francisco (SFO) for $68, Seattle to Orlando (MCO) for $157, and Seattle to Maui (OGG) for $188.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)  A $5,000 reward is being offered for help identifying a child whose skeletal remains were found in Alabama in 2012.

Central Alabama Crime Stoppers announced the reward Thursday as investigators continue their search for the girl's identity. Authorities have previously said the child showed signs of physical abuse and was likely the victim of a homicide.

The remains were found Jan. 28, 2012, at a mobile home community in Opelika, al.com reported. Residents saw the skull, and authorities later determined the skeleton was that of a Black girl between the ages of 4 and 7 with medium length black hair.

The child was likely abused and malnourished, and the cause of death was ruled to be probable homicide. Investigators estimated the child died between 2010 and 2011 with a focus on the summer or fall of 2011.

Opelika police said the girl may have shown signs of physical abuse on her face and body and may have also appeared sickly with bad hygiene. Due to malnourishment, the girls teeth were underdeveloped and may have appeared small and out of place for her face.

Police said they did not believe the girl was from the Opelika area. Chemical isotope testing on her bones suggest she was born and raised in Alabama or one of the surrounding southern states and the investigation has revealed she possibly had ties to the Orlando, Florida area.

The FBI earlier announced a renewed effort to identify the girl. Anyone with information can call Opelika police at 334-705-5220 or the Secret Witness Hotline at 334-745-8665. Tipsters can also contact Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)  Seven crew members of a commercial fishing boat were rescued after their boat caught fire Wednesday off the coast of Monterey, the Coast Guard said.

Watchstanders with the Eleventh Coast Guard District command center in Alameda received multiple alerts belonging to the fishing boat Blue Dragon around 12:20 a.m and arranged for a Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento C-27 Spartan aircrew to fly over the area about 350 miles (563 kilometers) west of Monterey
CHICAGO (AP)  A Chicago police oversight agency recommended suspension and in some cases potential termination for more than half a dozen officers following a botched 2019 raid on the home of a Black woman who wasnt allowed to put on clothes before being handcuffed, according to a report released Wednesday.

Earlier this year, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, which investigated the wrongful raid on social worker Anjanette Youngs home, noted nearly 100 allegations of misconduct by about a dozen officers.

The agency's report recommended between one day and one year of suspension for multiple officers and up to and including separation from the department for some officers. Police Superintendent David Brown has already moved to terminate one sergeant.

The raid reveals problems far more pervasive than any individual incident of officer misconduct," the report said. It also noted "other concerns, including lack of adequate training and supervision surrounding the Departments use of search warrants and the disproportionate impact of police actions on people of color.

The botched raid, first reported by WBBM-TV, and the citys handling of it prompted anger from clergy, lawmakers and civil rights activists who decried it as racist and an affront to a Black womans dignity.

Though the incident happened before Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office in May 2019, her administration later tried to block the video from airing on television and rejected Youngs Freedom of Information request to obtain video of the incident. Young later obtained it through a lawsuit.

In the fallout, Chicagos top attorney resigned and multiple officers were placed on administrative duty. The raid also led to reforms, including changes in search warrant protocols and making it easier to file complaints against police and get copies of video.
BERLIN (AP)  Austria's chancellor on Thursday stepped up threats of lockdown measures for unvaccinated people, as new coronavirus cases in the Alpine nation are soaring. The country's worst-affected province said it plans to take that step next week.

Austria has taken a series of measures in recent weeks in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and encourage more people to get vaccinated. On Monday, new rules took effect barring unvaccinated people who haven't recovered from an infection from restaurants, hotels, hairdressing salons and large public events.

Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said late last month that unvaccinated people in Austria could face new lockdown restrictions if infection numbers continue to rise  which they have. On Thursday, official figures showed 760.6 reported new cases per 100,000 residents over the previous seven days  a rate three times that of neighboring Germany, where record numbers also are causing alarm.

During a visit Thursday to Bregenz in western Austria, Schallenberg said that a lockdown for the unvaccinated is probably unavoidable and that the unvaccinated face an uncomfortable winter and Christmas, the Austria Press Agency reported.

I dont see why two-thirds should lose their freedom because one-third is dithering, Schallenberg said. For me, it is clear that there should be no lockdown for the vaccinated out of solidarity for the unvaccinated.

Upper Austria province, the country's worst-affected region with nearly 1,200 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week, said later Thursday that it plans to take the lead.

Officials there plan a lockdown for unvaccinated people from Monday, provided that there is a legal green light from the federal government, or rather that the federal government creates the legal basis, governor Thomas Stelzer said.

Schallenberg said authorities would consider a vaccine mandate for some professional groups. He added that the country's vaccination rate is shamefully low. About 65% of the population is fully inoculated.

The chancellor insisted that we can break this wave together.

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Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic
A Black police officer has filed a discrimination charge against an Ohio police department whose chief was seen in a surveillance video putting a note saying Ku Klux Klan on the officers jacket.

Attorneys for the officer said Thursday they discovered after the video was released this summer that the chief, who soon retired, had previously posted pictures of the officer and other employees on the Sheffield Lake Police Departments bulletin board that mocked their race, gender and religion.

The discrimination charge filed with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission is the first step toward filing a civil rights lawsuit, the attorneys said.

It was not a funny joke. It was offensive and humiliating, said Sheffield Lake Officer Keith Pool, who talked publicly for the first time about what happened. Even when we watch it now I'm in disbelief that this happened to me.

Pool, who last year became the first Black officer in the department's history and still works there, said all he could think was are you serious when he found the note.

He said the chief quickly came in the room and then called in other officers to look at the note. The chief then came back wearing a makeshift KKK hat, Pool's attorneys said.

What else can you say to the chief of police who did something so heinous, so awful, said Pool, a 30-year veteran officer who previously worked in departments around northeastern Ohio.

Police Chief Anthony Campo resigned just days later when Sheffield Lake Mayor Dennis Bring confronted him. Campo had been with the department west of Cleveland for 33 years, the last eight as chief.

Campo, who is white, told him it was supposed to be a prank, Bring said last June. The mayor called it embarrassing and disgusting and said he apologized to Pool.

The surveillance video, which did not include sound, shows Campo and Pool talking briefly after the officer discovered the note.

A message seeking comment about the discrimination charge was left with Sheffield Lake's mayor and law director on Thursday. No publicly available telephone numbers were found for Campo to seek his comment.

Attorneys representing Pool said they have asked the Ohio Supreme Court to force the city to release all records showing Campo's offensive conduct while he served as chief.

Campo made racist and offensive images using photos of city employees and would post them on the bulletin board or put them on the desks of employee, the attorneys said.

It seems this was his regular workplace behavior, said attorney Ashlie Case Sletvold.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP)  Chinese President Xi Jinping warned Thursday against letting tensions in the Asia-Pacific region cause a relapse into a Cold War mentality.

His remarks on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum came weeks after the U.S., Britain and Australia announced a new security alliance in the region which would see Australia build nuclear submarines. China has harshly criticized the deal.

And in a separate illustration of strains within APEC, one Southeast Asian delegate told The Associated Press that the group had so far failed to reach agreement on a U.S. bid to host the 2023 summit due to unmet demands from Russia.

Xi spoke in a pre-recorded video to a CEO Summit at APEC, which is being hosted by New Zealand in a virtual format. Xi is scheduled to participate in an online meeting with other Pacific Rim leaders including U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday.

In his speech, Xi said attempts to draw boundaries in the region along ideological or geopolitical lines would fail. His reference to the Cold War echoes Beijing's oft-stated position that the U.S. should abandon that way of thinking in dealing with China.

The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era, Xi said.

Xi also said the region should make sure to keep supply lines functioning and to continue liberalizing trade and investment.

China will remain firm in advancing reform and opening up so as to add impetus to economic development, he said.

The most pressing task in the region is to make an all-out effort to fight the pandemic and to emerge from its shadow as soon as possible, he said.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian delegate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the issue, said Russia had refused to support the U.S. bid unless some of its diplomats were removed from a U.S. blacklist or allowed to enter the U.S. to participate in the APEC meetings.

The delegate said the U.S. is unlikely to agree to Russias demands because issues involving Americas security are considered non-negotiable. The delegate added that China had stayed silent on the U.S. offer.

If the 21 APEC leaders fail to reach a consensus on the U.S. bid by Friday, the delegate said, a paragraph in a draft of the summit communique welcoming the U.S. offer would have to be deleted.

New Zealands Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said earlier this week that APEC was founded on consensus and that there was not yet a confirmed host for 2023.

Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney also spoke at the CEO summit, saying she believed that liberal democracies could improve global human rights by pressuring autocratic nations. She said businesses also needed to play a role.

If you can't battle evil, you can at least try to tackle apathy, Clooney said. And if you can't rely on liberal governments to solve global issues, you have to try and inspire the private sector to step in."

In all, APEC members account for nearly 3 billion people and about 60% of the worlds GDP. But deep tensions run through the unlikely group of 21 nations and territories that include the U.S., China, Taiwan, Russia, and Australia.

Many of the countries in Asia endeavor to balance Chinese and U.S. influences on the economic and geopolitical fronts.

China claims vast parts of the South China Sea and other areas and has moved to establish a military presence, building islands in some disputed areas as it asserts its historic claims.

Both Taiwan and China have applied to join a Pacific Rim trade pact, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, with Beijing saying it will block Taiwans bid on the basis that the democratically governed island refuses to accept that its part of communist-ruled China.

Officials say they have made significant progress during some 340 preliminary meetings leading up to this week's leaders' meeting. APEC members have agreed to reduce or eliminate many tariffs and border holdups on vaccines, masks and other medical products important to fighting the pandemic.

___

Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines
The contagious delta variant is driving up COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Mountain West and fueling disruptive outbreaks in the North, a worrisome sign of what could be ahead this winter in the U.S.

While trends are improving in Florida, Texas and other Southern states that bore the worst of the summer surge, its clear that delta isnt done with the United States. COVID-19 is moving north and west for the winter as people head indoors, close their windows and breathe stagnant air.

Were going to see a lot of outbreaks in unvaccinated people that will result in serious illness, and it will be tragic, said Dr. Donald Milton of the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

In recent days, a Vermont college suspended social gatherings after a spike in cases tied to Halloween parties. Boston officials shut down an elementary school to control an outbreak. Hospitals in New Mexico and Colorado are overwhelmed.

In Michigan, the three-county metro Detroit area is again becoming a hot spot for transmissions, with one hospital system reporting nearly 400 COVID-19 patients. Mask-wearing in Michigan has declined to about 25% of people, according to a combination of surveys tracked by an influential modeling group at the University of Washington.

Concern over COVID in general is pretty much gone, which is unfortunate, said Dr. Jennifer Morse, medical director at health departments in 20 central and northern Michigan counties. I feel strange going into a store masked. Im a minority. Its very different. Its just a really unusual atmosphere right now.

New Mexico is running out of intensive care beds despite the state's above-average vaccination rate. Waning immunity may be playing a role. People who were vaccinated early and have not yet received booster shots may be driving up infection numbers, even if they still have some protection from the most dire consequences of the virus.

Delta and waning immunity  the combination of these two have set us back, said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington. This virus is going to stick with us for a long, long time.

The delta variant dominates infections across the U.S., accounting for more than 99% of the samples analyzed.

No state has achieved a high enough vaccination rate, even when combined with infection-induced immunity, to avoid the type of outbreaks happening now, Mokdad said.

In a deviation from national recommendations, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order Thursday that allows any resident 18 or older access to a COVID-19 booster shot, another step to prevent hospitals and health care workers from being overwhelmed by the state's surge in delta infections.

Progress on vaccination continues, yet nearly 60 million Americans age 12 and older remain unvaccinated. That's an improvement since July, when 100 million were unvaccinated, said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients.

First shots are averaging about 300,000 per day, and the effort to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 is off to a strong start, Zients said at a briefing Wednesday.

Virginia Techs Linsey Marr, a leading researcher on the airborne spread of the coronavirus, predicted the northward spread of the virus in a Twitter post Sept. 15. The virus spreads in the air and can build up in enclosed rooms with poor ventilation. Colder weather means more people are indoors breathing the same air, Marr said.

Imagine that everyone you spend time with is a smoker and you want to breathe as little of their smoke as possible, she said.

The closer you are to a smoker the more exposure you have to that smoke, Marr said. And if youre in a poorly ventilated room, the smoke builds up over time.

Marr said she and her vaccinated family will use rapid tests before gathering for Christmas to check for infection.

Its hard to know whats coming next with this virus, Marr said. We thought we knew, but delta really surprised us. We thought the vaccine would help end this, but things are still dragging on. Its hard to know whats going to happen next.

___

Associated Press writers Ed White in Detroit and Corey Williams in West Bloomfield, Michigan, contributed to this report.
SEATTLE (AP)  Washington state health officials say there's growing concern more patients are becoming sick with respiratory viruses other than COVID-19 now that colder weather is nearing.

The Seattle Times reports the state recorded a seven-day coronavirus case rate of 174.2 infections per 100,000 Washingtonians as of the last week of October, the most recent complete data. The rate was down from about 200 cases per 100,000 in mid-October.

COVID hospitalizations also continue to decrease slowly. As of late October, there was a seven-day rate of 9.1 hospitalizations per 100,000 people, down from 10.6 per 100,000 the week before. At this time last year, hospitalization rates were about the same, ranging from 9.3 to 10.9 per 100,000 people.

When it comes to cases, particularly to hospitalizations, we are still seeing numbers higher than any of us want to see, state Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah said during Wednesday news briefing.

Hospital occupancy also remains high, which is common this time of year, state epidemiologist Dr. Scott Lindquist said.

A lot of this is due to the start of our respiratory virus season, he said.

This year, in addition to COVID, Lindquist said hes concerned about the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which causes cold-like symptoms. King County, which tracks respiratory virus season every year, has reported that the percent of positive RSV tests in late October was much higher than past levels this time of year  13% of tests are positive compared to the average of less than 2%.

Im seeing patient after patient with respiratory viruses that are not COVID, Lindquist said. This is really complicating the picture.

Kids are tending to have very high coronavirus case rates, particularly in northeast Washington, Lindquist added. In late October, the seven-day infection rate for children between ages 4 and 10 was 224.37 cases per 100,000 people, about 22% higher than the general population.

Fortunately, Lindquist said, the state is seeing some increase in community immunity, from both vaccination and natural immunity. He referenced Washingtons current R-effective estimate  the average number of new people that one person with COVID-19 infects  which is at about 1.07.

The state last week surpassed a milestone of 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses  at least 600 of which were given to children between ages 5 and 11 after the kid-sized shots were approved federally last week, DOH acting assistant secretary Michele Roberts said Wednesday.

Roberts acknowledged a significant data delay for those shots, since it takes a few days to process vaccination numbers, and said she expects the number to rapidly increase in the next few weeks.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The last time Congress approved a major renewal of federal highway and other transportation programs, the votes were 359-65 in the House and 83-16 in the Senate. It was backed by nearly every Democrat and robust majorities of Republicans.

This year's $1 trillion infrastructure bill easily cleared the Senate 69-13 with GOP support, but crawled through the House last week by 228-206 with just 13 Republican votes. Those defectors were savaged afterward by former President Donald Trump, hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called them traitors while tweeting their names and office telephone numbers, and one of the 13 says he received a death threat.

The votes, six years apart, and the harsh blowback against Republican mavericks illustrate a GOP in which conservative voices have grown louder and more militant, fanned by Trump's bellicose four years in office. Growing numbers of progressives have made Democrats more liberal too, with both shifts fueling a sharpening of partisanship in Washington.

This madness has to stop," said Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., an 18-term moderate, who said his offices received dozens of threatening calls following his yes vote. That included one obscenity-laced rant that aides provided in which the caller repeatedly called Upton a traitor and expressed hope that the lawmaker, his family and aides would die.

Upton closed his two Michigan offices for a day and reopened them after increasing their security.

This year's bill, triple the size of the 2015 measure, is a keystone of President Joe Biden's push to create jobs and build out the nation's roads, water systems, broadband coverage and other projects. A compromise between Senate Democrats and Republicans, it will send money into every state and is the kind of bill that politicians have loved promoting back home for decades. Biden plans to sign it Monday.

Democrats say GOP opposition to the bill is indefensible on policy and political grounds.

Its a sad statement of how the other party has lost its way, said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-N.Y., who's leading the House Democratic political arm into a 2022 campaign in which Republicans have solid chances of capturing congressional control. If you want our country to fail so you can say things are bad and win power for yourself, you act like the House Republicans are."

But for many Republicans, infrastructure projects  once an issue the two parties would reflexively work together on for mutual and national benefit  now offer a complex political calculation.

"When it comes to policy these days, were basically divided into two tribes. And you stick with your tribe and you dont try to help the other tribe, said Glen Bolger, a GOP pollster and strategist.

As president, Trump repeatedly promised his own massive infrastructure plan but never produced one, making the phrase infrastructure week a Washington synonym for pipe dream. But he opposes the current package, and his ability to rally his conservative supporters against those who cross him was a factor as GOP lawmakers decided how to vote.

Even so, hard-right cries for retaliation against the 13 pro-infrastructure Republicans, largely moderates from the Northeast and Midwest, have prompted their own pushback.

"This notion that were going to have people that are on the fringe, in terms of the Marjorie Taylor Greenes of the world and others, imposing some kind of a purity test on substance is lunacy," said Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo. Cheney has been at war with Trump and the party's far right ever since backing his impeachment early this year.

Cheney opposed the bill, saying it contained clean energy and other provisions that would hurt Wyoming. She said the 13 Republicans who backed it are among some of our very best members who did it because it was the right thing for their districts.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., an unabashed partisan warrior, was among 19 Senate Republicans who voted for the bill in August. McConnell, who doesn't have to worry about being reelected until 2026, said this week he was delighted" the measure was heading to Biden.

A day earlier, McConnell had already drawn Trump's wrath.

Trump issued a statement denigrating GOP senators who'd backed the bill for thinking that helping the Democrats is such a wonderful thing to do. Those Republicans should be ashamed of themselves, in particular Mitch McConnell, Trump wrote.

That was just the tip of the iceberg for the attacks.

In an interview, the leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus said GOP lawmakers should consider removing from their posts the 10 of the 13 defectors who are the senior Republican on committees and subcommittees. I respect their right to vote their districts and their conscience. But that doesnt mean that they should get the privilege of leading House Republicans, said Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.

At a private Florida dinner Monday to bolster House GOP campaign prospects, Trump said he loves House Republicans but not the 13 who voted for the bill, according to an attendee who described Trump's remarks on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, House GOP leaders tweeted, and then deleted, that Americans won't forget" a vote for the socialist infrastructure bill. Time to name names and hold these fake republicans accountable," tweeted Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo.

Before last week's vote, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said it would be very difficult" for Republicans to promote backing the infrastructure bill during their campaigns because it is so closely linked to Democrats' accompanying $1.85 trillion social and climate measure, which the GOP has solidly opposed.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who switched parties in 2019, said he supported the infrastructure bill because his state would receive over $20 billion we desperately need. Van Drew, who said he had heard some cranky things from some people, scoffed at the notion that the bill would catapult the president politically.

If Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to be mean to me, that's fine," he said of the colleague who labeled him and 12 others traitors. "I love America very much. I would never ever do anything to hurt this country.

__

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP)  A northern Idaho poll worker illegally handed out critical race theory information to voters on election day earlier this month, a former school board member said.

Kootenai County Clerk Jim Brannon condemned such actions and asked anyone who witnessed wrongdoing at the polls to file a formal complaint, the Coeur dAlene Press reported Thursday.

But it wasnt clear late Wednesday if any complaint had been filed.

Dave Eubanks said he witnessed a Precinct 19 poll worker offering a voter information against critical race theory after handing the person a ballot.

If that woman had been handing out literature in support of Black Lives Matter, she would have been shut down in a second, Eubanks said Wednesday. But the fact that she was handing out CRT stuff, I think people have winked at it."

Critical race theory is a way of thinking about Americas history through the lens of racism. Republican lawmakers in Idaho this year raised it as a problem and accused universities of indoctrinating students. Others see it as a non-issue raised during an election year to draw voters.

Kootenai County Commissioner Chris Fillios said he heard that some sample ballots had been left in polling places, mainly churches. Nearly half of the county's polling places are in religious buildings.

Oftentimes, people take their cheat sheet or voter guide with them when they go to vote," Fillios said, noting that's OK as long as they don't try handing them out. Our poll workers do diligently check those, but they obviously cant stand over the voter every minute of the day and make sure no one left a flyer.

Hayden Mayor Steve Griffitts also expressed concern, but said he had confidence in Brannon.

Elections are sacred, and were grateful for the volunteers that allow us the opportunity to freely elect our leaders, Griffitts said. We want to make sure that we keep integrity for our elections.
HILO, Hawaii (AP)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined Hawaii County $28,500 for failing to develop a plan to replace large capacity cesspools in Kau with a wastewater treatment plant.

The EPA required all large capacity cesspools to close by 2005 but a number have remained in use around Hawaii since.

In 2017, Hawaii County agreed with the agency to close five cesspools serving Pahala and Naalehu and replace them with wastewater treatment facilities approved by the state Department of Health, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reporte d.

That consent order required the county have a sewage treatment plant design approved by the state by July 24.

The agreement called for 272 properties now served by the cesspools to be connected to new county wastewater treatment facilities. Another 95 properties not served by the cesspools would be given the option to connect to the treatment facilities.

Amy Miller, the EPA's Pacific Southwest regional director of enforcement and compliance, said the county had failed to meet its legal commitment to modernize wastewater infrastructure.

EPA expects the county to expeditiously construct the Pahala wastewater treatment facility to protect drinking water and coastal resources on the Big Island, she said in a statement.

Mayor Mitch Roth said in a statement his administration has been working with the EPA to close the cesspools. But he said a revaluation of the project and the April discovery of a more extensive lava tube system than anticipated prompted the county to study the issue further.

We understood then that the decision would result in fines, and we chose to move forward as it is in the communitys best interest to create permanent solutions rather than temporary fixes, he said.

Environmental Management Director Ramzi Mansour told the countys Environmental Management Commission in January he was meeting with consultants for the $130 million project and was looking for a less expensive solution that would satisfy EPA and state Department of Health requirements.

Mansour said the project also would require about $400,000 per home to connect to the sewer system.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)  American and British citizens have been swept up in Ethiopias mass detentions of ethnic Tigrayans under a new state of emergency in the countrys escalating war, The Associated Press has found.

Thousands of Tigrayans in the capital, Addis Ababa, and across Africa's second most populous country have already been detained and fears of more such detentions soared on Thursday as authorities ordered landlords to register tenants' identities with police. Meanwhile, men armed with sticks were seen on some streets as volunteer groups sought out Tigrayans to report them.

Ethiopias government says it is detaining people suspected of supporting the forces from the Tigray region who are approaching Addis Ababa following a year-long war with Ethiopian forces that was triggered by a political falling-out. But human rights groups, lawyers, relatives and the government-created Ethiopian Human Rights Commission say detentions - including of children and the elderly - appear to be on the basis of ethnicity.

The daughter of a British national, Meron Kiros, told the AP her 55-year-old father, Kiros Amdemariam Gebreab, had lived in the U.K. for more than a quarter-century and was visiting Ethiopia to work on his PhD studies when he was detained at his home in the capital on Nov. 1.

My father has no political involvement in what has been happening, she said and attributed his arrest to purely for being a Tigrayan human being. She said the family had not been allowed any communication with him, which she described as heartbreaking.

The British government told the AP it has raised his case with Ethiopian authorities. Britain believes a very small number of U.K. nationals have been detained.

At least two U.S. citizens are among the Tigrayans detained as well.

A hotelier and his son were detained at their home on Nov. 2, the evening the state of emergency was imposed. Police officers accused them of supporting the Tigray forces, another of the hoteliers children told the AP. The father, in his late seventies, was released after three days, but the son remains in custody. He has not been charged.

My brother moved back here because he wanted to invest in Ethiopia and after a life here after living in the U.S., the relative said, speaking like many on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.

A State Department spokesperson told the AP that the U.S. is concerned about reports of detentions of a number of U.S. citizens in Ethiopia and is in active discussion with the government of Ethiopia about the matter.

But the overwhelming majority of Tigrayans detained have been local, some of them high-profile.

On Monday morning, the CEO of Lion Bank was detained along with seven of his colleagues and a customer, a lawyer told the AP. They were held at a police station before being released in late evening, the lawyer said.

An Ethiopian Orthodox Church official in Addis Ababa confirmed this week that dozens of priests, monks, deacons and others had been detained because of their ethnicity, including an assistant to the church's patriarch.

A civil servant for the Addis Ababa city administration said two friends were arrested while having lunch at a cafe on Nov. 5 after plainclothes police officers overheard them speaking Tigrinya. He has not heard from them since.

So far, I have been lucky, the civil servant said, but he worried it is only a matter of time before he is arrested, too.

Federal police spokesman Jeylan Abdi told the AP he did not know the number of people detained since the state of emergency was declared last week. He said the detainees are held in various police stations and the total had not been tallied.

He dismissed as propaganda" allegations that detentions are ethnically motivated and said searches found weapons in the detainees' possession, including assault rifles and heavy machine guns, as well as military uniforms.

The police spokesman also confirmed the presence in the capital of community policing groups, staffed by volunteers, but said they are not new. He said they are patrolling their neighborhoods with sticks and working with the police to identify threats.

They organize themselves, they elect their chairman and they protect the security around their home, not only from terrorist group but even ordinary crime, he said.

Thousands of people have been killed in Ethiopia's war, millions of people in Tigray remain under a government blockade and hundreds of thousands of people in the Amhara region are displaced as the Tigray fighters press on. Envoys from the African Union and the U.S. in recent days held urgent discussions in search of an immediate cease-fire and a path to talks. But the warring sides indicated it will not be straightforward or easy.

I believe that all sides see the dangers of perpetuating the conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters on Wednesday. The alternative of conflict that overtakes Ethiopia, spills out of the country, spills into the region, should be sobering to everyone.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  The federal government says California is ineligible for about $12 billion in public transit funding because of a long-running dispute over changes to the state's public pension law that the Biden administration recently determined are improper.

Federal law says state and local agencies must protect the interests of their employees to be eligible for federal public transit grants. A state law that took effect in 2013 made changes to California's public pension system, including making pensions less generous for new employees.

The Sacramento Bee reports the U.S. Department of Labor recently determined those changes were improper because they were imposed by law instead of collectively bargained with public employee unions.

The federal government's latest decision means the state would be ineligible for about $9.5 billion in money set aside for California public transit agencies in the infrastructure bill Congress approved last week. California would also forfeit about $2.5 billion in grants for public transit that were part of the most recent federal coronavirus relief legislation.

This relief funding has served as a lifeline for them, and in the absence of these federal dollars flowing to California transit agencies, we will absolutely see a reduction in service and losses in our workforce, making it more difficult for agencies to rebound, said Michael Pimentel, executive director of the California Transit Association, a nonprofit representing public transit agencies in the state.

State and federal officials have been arguing over this funding since the pension law was passed nearly a decade ago. After former President Barack Obama's administration blocked grant funding for two California transit agencies, the state sued and won. But that decision only applied to the Sacramento Regional Transit District and Monterey-Salinas Transit.

In 2019, former Republican President Donald Trump's administration ruled the state's pension law did not make it ineligible for public transit grants. But Democratic President Joe Biden's administration reversed that decision on Oct. 28.

California U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, both Democrats, have urged the Biden administration to overturn the decision, saying it was at odds with multiple state and federal court decisions and past Labor Department precedent.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, called the Labor Department's decision extremely concerning. In a letter to U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on Wednesday, Newsom argued the pension changes did not impede labor unions' collective bargaining rights, noting unions have negotiated new contracts since the 2013 state law took effect.

A letter from the U.S. Department of labor says the state pension law continues to interfere with the collective bargaining process regardless of the specific terms of workers' collective bargaining agreements now in existence.
BOSTON (AP)  Federal authorities have charged 13 people they allege are members or associates of a drug trafficking gang that moved fentanyl, cocaine, suboxone and counterfeit prescription pills from Massachusetts into Maine and New Hampshire and even into a county jail.

The arrests announced Wednesday stemmed from an investigation that started in August 2020 into the Gangster Disciples street gang operating in the Lawrence, Massachusetts area, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP)  A former New Jersey police chief already convicted of lying to the FBI is facing a retrial on hate crime charges.

Jury selection began this week in federal court in Camden in the case of Frank Nucera, the white former police chief in Bordentown, who was charged with hate crime assault and deprivation of civil rights on suspicion of slamming a handcuffed Black mans head into a doorjamb in 2016 while two officers were escorting the man from a hotel. Nucera has denied the charges.
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP)  Health care coverage has been stopped for striking maintenance and service workers at a West Virginia hospital, a union said.

About 1,000 members of the the Service Employees International Union District 1999 went on strike last week at Cabell Huntington Hospital after their contract expired.

Union organizing director Sherri McKinney said in a statement that the coverage was cut off without notification to striking employees and union retirees, The Herald-Dispatch reported.

Hospital human resources director Molly Frick said in a statement that union leadership was well aware that a strike would result in the cessation of pay and benefits. Any employee who wishes to return to work will have all benefits restored, including healthcare insurance.

A Cabell County judge issued a preliminary injunction Wednesday that was sought by the hospital prohibiting the union from certain activities outside the hospital.

Frick said the activities include loud noises, including the use of bullhorns and loud music, that have disturbed hospital patients. It also prohibits strikers from honking horns and encouraging drivers to honk, blocking hospital entrances, interfering with traffic at the hospital or making threatening statements to anyone trying to enter or leave the hospital's campus.

Circuit Judge Alfred Ferguson said anyone violating the order may be held in contempt of court.

The hospitals most recent offer included 3% average annual wage increases, increased shift differentials, an enhanced uniform allowance and continued automatic annual contributions to eligible employees retirement accounts.

Service employees also were asked to begin paying health insurance premiums. Under the hospitals latest offer, it would have contributed more than 90% of health care costs for employees and their dependents.
Perhaps the most infamous quote of the 2021 Virginia governor's race - and indeed of any 2021 race - belongs to Democrat Terry McAuliffe: "I don't think parents should be telling schools what they should teach."

What many people might not have fully processed is that the quote stemmed from a debate about books in schools. Now-Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin, R, had attacked McAuliffe for, as governor, vetoing a bill to allow parents to opt their children out of reading assignments they deem to be explicit. The impetus was a famous book from Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, "Beloved," about an enslaved Black woman who kills her 2-year-old daughter to prevent her from being enslaved herself.

While that effort took place years ago, it was rekindled as a political issue at a telling time. Not only are conservatives increasingly targeting school curricula surrounding race, but there's also a building and often-related effort to rid school libraries of certain books.

The effort has been varied in the degree of its fervor and the books it has targeted, but one particular episode this week showed just what can happen when it's taken to its extremes. Shortly after the election result in Virginia, a pair of conservative school board members in the same state proposed not just banning certain books deemed to be sexually explicit, but burning them.

As the Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star reported Tuesday:

- - -

Two board members, Courtland representative Rabih Abuismail and Livingston representative Kirk Twigg, said they would like to see the removed books burned.

"I think we should throw those books in a fire," Abuismail said, and Twigg said he wants to "see the books before we burn them so we can identify within our community that we are eradicating this bad stuff."

- - -

Abuismail reportedly added that allowing one particular book to remain on the shelves even briefly meant the schools "would rather have our kids reading gay pornography than about Christ."

It's easy to caricature a particular movement with some of its most extreme promoters. And there is a demonstrated history of efforts to ban books in schools, including by liberals. Such efforts have often involved classics such as "Huckleberry Finn," "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Of Mice and Men" for their depictions of race and use of racist language more commonly used at the time the books were authored. More recently, conservatives have often challenged books teaching kids about LGBTQ issues.

But advocates say what's happening now is more pronounced.

"What has taken us aback this year is the intensity with which school libraries are under attack," said Nora Pelizzari, a spokeswoman at the National Coalition Against Censorship.

She added that the apparent coordination of the effort sets it apart: "Particularly when taken in concert with the legislative attempts to control school curricula, this feels like a more overarching attempt to purge schools of materials that people disagree with. It feels different than what we've seen in recent years."

Even as the news broke Tuesday in Virginia, another school board just outside Wichita announced that it was removing 29 books from circulation. Among them were another Morrison book, "The Bluest Eye," and writings about racism in American including August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Fences," as well as "They Called Themselves the K.K.K.," a history of the white-supremacist group. The books haven't technically been banned, but rather aren't available for checking out pending a review.

"At this time, the district is not in a position to know if the books contained on this list meet our educational goals or not," a school official said in an email.

The day before, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, issued an executive order calling on state education officials to review the books available to students for "pornography and other obscene content." Abbott indicated before the order that such content needed to be examined and removed if it was found. He reportedly did not specify what the "obscene content" standard for books should be.

Abbott added Wednesday that the Texas Education Agency should report any instances of pornography being made available to minors "for prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."

The effort builds upon a review launched last month by state Rep. Michael Krause, R, who is running for state attorney general. Krause is targeting books that "contain material that might make students feel discomfort, 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 doesn't say what he intends to recommend about such books, but he accompanied his inquiry with a list of more than 800 of them, including two Pulitzer Prize winners: "The Confessions of Nat Turner" by William Styron and "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

There has also been an effort by Republicans in Wisconsin not focused on books, but broadly on the use of certain terminology in teaching students. As the Hill's Reid Wilson reported about the state GOP's particular effort to ban critical race theory from schools:

- - -

[State Rep. Chuck] Wichgers (R), who represents Muskego in the legislature, attached an addendum to his legislation that included a list of "terms and concepts" that would violate the bill if it became law.

Among those words: "Woke," "whiteness," "White supremacy," "structural bias," "structural racism," "systemic bias" and "systemic racism." The bill would also bar "abolitionist teaching," in a state that sent more than 91,000 soldiers to fight with the Union Army in the Civil War.

The list of barred words or concepts includes "equity," "inclusivity education," "multiculturalism" and "patriarchy," as well as "social justice" and "cultural awareness."

- - -

Back in September, a school district in Pennsylvania reversed a year-long freeze on certain books almost exclusively by or about people of color. A similar thing happened in Katy, Texas, near Houston, where graphic novels about Black children struggling to fit in were removed and quickly reinstated last month. Many such fights have been concentrated in Texas.

There has also been a recent effort by a conservative group in Tennessee to ban books written for young readers about the civil rights struggle. Supporters cite the anti-critical race theory law the state passed earlier this year. And school officials in Virginia Beach, Va., recently announced they'd review books, including ones about LGBTQ issues and Morrison's "The Bluest Eye," after complaints from school board members.

Indeed, oftentimes the books involved are the same.

As the Los Angeles Times reported this week, such battles are part of a much larger debate over excluding books that has been injected with new intensity amid the anti-critical race theory push and now, apparently, with the demonstrated electoral success of that approach.

The Spotsylvania County, Va., example is an important one to pick out. While the two members floating burning books have aligned with conservatives, the vote was unanimous. It was 6-0 in favor of reviewing the books for sexually explicit content. School officials expressed confidence in their vetting process but acknowledged it's possible certain books with objectionable content got through that process.

The question, as with critical race theory, is in how wide a net is cast. Sexually explicit content is one thing; targeting books that make students uncomfortable or deal in sensitive but very real subjects like racial discrimination is another.

There is clearly an audience in the conservative movement for more broadly excluding subjects involving the history of racism and how it might impact modern life. And while it's difficult to capture the targeting of books on a quantitative level nationwide, this is an undersold subplot in the conservative effort to raise concerns about what children might learn in school.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  An Israeli family asked an appeals court on Thursday to halt the planned return of a 6-year-old boy who survived a cable crash in Italy to his relatives there.

There was no immediate ruling in the case surrounding Eitan Biran, who has been at the center of a bitter custody battle between relatives in Italy and Israel. This week, an Italian judge issued an international arrest warrant for the boy's grandfather, who whisked Eitan to Israel on a private jet in September.

Eitans parents and younger sibling were among 14 killed in May when a cable car slammed into a mountainside in northern Italy. His maternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal relatives in Italy are both seeking custody.

Last month, an Israeli court ordered the boy to be returned to his relatives in Italy, saying that was the place of his normal residence. It also ordered his grandfather, Shmuel Peleg, who had brought him to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 in expenses and attorney fees.

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Peleg's lawyer, Ronen Dalyahu, said the hearing on Thursday was very meaningful and discussed all of the relevant issues connected to the boy's return to Italy. He said the court promised a decision in the coming days.

"The judges studied the documents and considered the points, and I hope they will give a ruling that serves the well-being of the child for years, he said.

Lawyers and relatives from the family in Italy left the courthouse without commenting.

The grandfather has defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the child's best interest. He drove Eitan from Italy to Switzerland without the other relatives' knowledge before flying him to Israel. He has not commented on the Italian arrest warrant.

Eitan's paternal relatives say he was taken without their knowledge and they had filed a legal complaint in Italy seeking his return.

Eitan and his parents were living in Italy at the time of the accident. After his release from a Turin hospital following weeks of treatment, Italian juvenile court officials ruled the child would live with a paternal aunt, Aya Biran, near Pavia, in northern Italy.

In the earlier ruling, the Tel Aviv family court said Eitans residence was in Italy, where his family moved when he was only a month old. She concluded that his relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt.

The judge also called on the family to reconcile, saying it was in the boy's interests.
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)  A judge has approved a request from Kentucky regulators to force West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice to pay $2.9 million in fines for cleanup violations at some eastern Kentucky coal mines.

The Tuesday order from Franklin County Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate requires that the Justice companies finish reclamation work at the mines, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. The order also allows the state to take posted bonds to cover the work.

Kentucky officials called the violations at the Justice-owned mines among the most egregious we have seen in nearly a decade" when the original agreement with Justice was struck back in 2014.

Most of the sites are surface mines. The work includes cleaning out ponds, stabilizing land, improving drainage and reshaping the land to its original pre-mining contours.

Under the agreement with Kentucky, the West Virginia governor and his son, Jay Justice, are personally, jointly liable for the $2.9 million penalty. Jay Justice runs the company's coal, timber and agriculture businesses.

The Justices have argued that they have not been able to meet the deadlines because of the economic downturn and safety concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In September, the states Energy and Environment Cabinet asked Wingate to rule the Justices had defaulted on the deal.

Jay Justice recently announced plans to resume mining and reclamation work at four surface mines in three eastern Kentucky counties and hire an estimated 150 people.

Its always been our intent to complete this work, said Lexington attorney Richard A. Getty, who represents the Justices.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP)  Testing has detected lead in most of the paint chips that fell to the ground in southern Indiana when a house was burned for a firefighter training exercise, an Indiana University professor says.

Gabriel Filippelli, a biogeochemist who is director of IUs Environmental Resilience Institute, said nearly all the paint chips brought to his laboratory tested positive for lead-based paint.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  Four Minnesota political leaders toured a veterans center in St. Paul on Thursday to pay tribute to those who served in the military and call for better access to mental health care and readjustment services for veterans.

Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Reps. Angie Craig and Dean Phillips made the visit on Veterans Day to highlight the value of centers like the three in Minnesota for helping veterans get the support they need. Among other things, the centers provide counseling, employment assistance and referrals for other services.

The four leaders are all backing legislation aimed at establishing more veterans centers across the country. Klobuchar announced plans Wednesday to introduce a bill to accomplish that. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith introduced a somewhat different approach last week. Phillips introduced a House version just before Memorial Day. Minnesota has centers in St. Paul, Anoka and Duluth. The leaders said they're needed in other parts of the state, too.

Phillips said at a news conference after the tour that finding the resources to take care of Americans when they come back from war is personal for him.

My dad did not come home from Vietnam, Phillips noted. His father was killed when Phillips was just six months old.

I think about the tens of thousands who came home from Vietnam who were mistreated, uncared-for, and struggle to this day," Phillips said. "And at the very least ... we must build a bridge for veterans who have served this country and ensure our freedoms, especially at such precarious times for democracy, both here and around the world.

Veterans centers were originally envisioned as safe havens where Vietnam veterans could get the services they need, said Walz, who served for 24 years in the Minnesota National Guard. The model is cost-effective, he said, and the centers are consistently ranked by veterans as one of their favorite benefits.

Minnesota actually is due for more vet centers, the governor said, noting that Minnesota has a bit of a connection  Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough grew up in Minnesota.

Craig said it took her an hour to drive to the St. Paul center, but it's as much as two hours away from parts of her southeastern Minnesota district, so establishing more of them around Minnesota is a huge priority for me. Craig said she has made way too many phone calls of condolences to families of veterans who have died by suicide.

State Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Herke, a 30-year Army veteran, said he has used a veterans center himself, and routinely referred his soldiers to them. It was key to my success to transition back into society, he said.

There are gaps in southern, western and northern Minnesota that need to be filled as the state works to reduce veteran suicides and homelessness, Herke said.

"We lose over a hundred veterans to suicide each year in Minnesota. This is a key component to success for that," the commissioner said.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP)  Liberty University is responding to a former spokesmans lawsuit alleging he was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about the handling of sexual misconduct accusations.

The evangelical Virginia school filed its responses to Scott Lambs suit last week, seeking more than $3 million and a gag order for Lamb, news outlets reported.

Lamb, a vice president-level executive at the school where he was hired in 2018, alleges in his lawsuit that he was terminated in October for engaging in activity protected under Title IX, the federal law that protects against sex discrimination in education, after challenging the universitys handling of the complaints.

Lamb said in an interview with The Associated Press that he pushed for answers about what was being done to investigate claims raised in a lawsuit filed over the summer by 12 women, and was continually dissatisfied. The womens lawsuit alleged the school had a pattern of mishandling cases of sexual assault and harassment and had fostered an unsafe campus environment.

Meanwhile, Virginias senators called Wednesday for an investigation into the schools handling of sexual misconduct claims, news outlets report. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine urged the Education Department to look into the universitys procedures for dealing with sexual assault cases.

Lamb also alleges that he was retaliated against for his participation in an outside investigation conducted into the tenure of Jerry Falwell Jr., the former president whose personal controversies and acrimonious departure from Liberty last year garnered national headlines.

The university has denied Lambs claim and said his firing wasnt related to Title IX. Instead, the school claims that Lamb falls under the unclean hands doctrine, where a plaintiff initially helped to set up the circumstances theyre filing suit about.

Libertys response states Lamb was a close advisor to Falwell and played a major hand in forming the Falkirk Center, a religious conservative think tank. Co-founder Charlie Kirk removed his name after Falwells exit, and the organization was renamed the Standing For Freedom Center.

Because of a confidentiality agreement, the university claims in its response that Lamb breached his contract and fiduciary duties to the school and has defamed the school. Liberty states that after Falwell left, Lamb began cataloging school information in an act of workplace espionage.
WEST MONROE, La. (AP)  All full-time employees of a Louisiana parishs school system will receive COVID-19 relief pay, its superintendent said.

Ouachita Parish Schools workers are expected to get a one-time payment of $1,500 by March 24, The News-Star reports.

Superintendent Don Coker said at the Tuesday school board meeting that the disbursement of federal money  which comes from the third round of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund  will total about $5 million.

The school district has been allocated about $72 million from the fund, but its employees hadnt previously received COVID-19 relief pay. Every worker will get the same amount of money regardless of their job title or certification status.

You can see our bus drivers and see the stress that they have and the stress that our teachers have been under and our administrators and all the way from clerical staff to paraprofessionals to custodial to cafeteria, Coker said. They have been working hard, and were so appreciative of that.

The superintendent said more than 100 people across the school system gave their input on the decision to use the relief funds for this purpose. They considered using the district's general fund, but Coker said employees would receive the payments more quickly if they came from the federal money.
LAFAYETTE, La. (AP)  An extension service to explain how to reduce two major greenhouse gases  carbon dioxide and methane  is up and running, serving policy makers and people in industry and government, a Louisiana university announced Thursday.

The C1 Extension Service is a resource for information, including training and ways to mitigate impacts on existing jobs, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette said in a news release.

Since it's part of the Energy Institute of Louisiana, we have some large-scale facilities where people can come out and kick the tires, Mark Zappi, the institutes executive director, said in an interview.

He said the institute is set up for research and technology development, while the extension service will provide information and technical aid.

The name C1 is because carbon dioxide and methane, which absorb the sun's heat and warm Earth's atmosphere, are often referred to as single carbon, or C1, molecules.

The Energy Institute houses several centers for a variety of energy issues and processes, including petroleum resources, clean technology fuel, and power usage and conservation.

The extension service offers expertise in areas that include green manufacturing, power conservation, alternative energy, carbon sequestration, data management, business impacts, green product marketing and ecological modeling, the school said.

Staffers have been meeting since June with industry groups and investors, Zappi said.

With investors, it's how to take an idea and make it marketable. With industry groups, there's a lot of How do we do this and make it feasible? he said.

The aim is help Louisiana meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, offsetting all carbon dioxide emissions with equal amounts removed from the atmosphere. Zappi is also co-chair of the governor's science and technology advisory committee for that effort.

He said "sharing resources that help mitigate the impact on existing jobs  and potentially expand the job market will be as important as sharing other information and technical help.

Louisiana is among the top five states for energy usage, greenhouse gas production and energy production  a field creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, Zappi said.

He said balancing economic and ecological impacts "will require expertise and cooperation across a range of disciplines and entities, which the service will be positioned to facilitate.
DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (AP)  A Georgia man faces life in prison after his conviction on malice murder and other charges in the 2019 shooting and stabbing of a 21-year-old woman.

The Times of Gainesville reports that a jury convicted Austin Stryker after nearly six hours of deliberation Wednesday. Prosecutors said Stryker was among members of a a small criminal gang in Georgia and that Hannah Bender was killed to keep her from informing authorities about a robbery.
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP)  A 47-year-old old man who admitted to fatally shooting an Illinois State Police trooper in 2019 has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison.

With time served, Christopher Grant will serve about 37 years. He pleaded guilty to crimes related to the shooting of Nicholas Hopkins in East St. Louis.

Hopkins had a search warrant and was near the home when he was shot. Grant told investigators the activity on the porch woke him up. He suspected someone was about to rob him and he fired his gun.

His attorney said in court this week that hes profoundly sorry and didnt know it was a police officer on his porch.

Prosecutors sought a life sentence, calling Grant a street-level drug dealer who had numerous firearms at the house.

In handing down the sentence, Chief District Judge Nancy Rosenstengal noted Grant's upbringing surrounded by drugs and violence. He was a young child when his own father was sent to prison. Grant has eight children.

Hopkins, 33, lived in Waterloo. He was married with three children.

His mother, Verna Hopkins told Grant in court that his actions destroyed the Hopkins family.

Nick was a hard worker. His day started before the sun. He served with his hand and his heart. Nick was a policeman, a carpenter and a family man," she said. His empty seat will forever be in our heart.
NEW YORK (AP)  Two people were killed in an apartment fire on Manhattan's west side, police said Thursday.

The fire broke out at about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday inside a fourth-floor apartment on West 62nd Street, police said. Firefighters responded and extinguished the flames.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Mississippi has finished repairing section of highway that collapsed during torrential rainfall brought by Hurricane Ida, and the road reopened Wednesday.

Two people were killed and nine were injured Aug. 30 as seven vehicles plunged, one after another, into a deep pit that opened up on the dark, rural stretch of Mississippi Highway 26 near Lucedale. One of the injured people died in a hospital Sept. 11.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  A federal court jury could not agree Thursday on whether a former Nebraska state trooper violated a motorist's civil rights by hitting in the head with the butt of a rifle, leading to a mistrial.

U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher declared the mistrial in Lindsey Bixby's case after the jury's forewoman said it had deadlocked following 2 1/2 days of deliberations. She said 10 jurors voted to find Bixby not guilty and two voted to find him guilty, the Omaha World-Herald reported.
Cedar Attanasio/AP

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has vowed to request $59 million in capital funding during the upcoming legislative session to finance major improvements at the troubled New Mexico State Veterans Home.

She announced the plan in a ceremony Thursday at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial in Albuquerque, where she said veterans deserve respect and support, including in their later years.
JERUSALEM (AP)  The Palestinian Foreign Ministry on Thursday said it has detected spyware developed by the Israeli hacker-for-hire company NSO Group on the phones of three senior officials and accused Israel of using the military-grade Pegasus software to eavesdrop on them.

The Palestinian accusations against NSO came as the embattled Israeli firm acknowledged that it had called off the appointment of its incoming chief executive in the wake of U.S. accusations that its spyware has been used by repressive governments around the world.

Thursday's announcement by the Foreign Ministry marked the first time Palestinian officials have claimed NSO software was used to spy on them.

Earlier this week, software was detected on the phones of six Palestinian human rights activists, three of whom worked for civil society organizations that Israel has controversially branded as terrorist groups. The spyware can be secretly installed without the victim taking any action and gives full access to their phone, including real-time communications.

Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. NSO Group declined to comment on the specific allegations, saying it does not disclose its clients and does not have information on the individuals they target.

Ahmed al-Deek, the assistant Palestinian foreign minister for political affairs, said a professional Palestinian institution inspected several phones and detected Pegasus on three of them. It was not immediately clear if the results were verified by outside researchers.

The hacking of the activists' phones was independently verified by security researchers at Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto and by Amnesty International. Amnesty said it has not been asked to verify the Foreign Ministry's findings. Citizen Lab did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

We are 100% sure that these three phones were hacked, al-Deek said. They belonged to senior officials.

A Foreign Ministry statement blamed Israel for the hacking, calling it a blatant and immoral violation of international law" and urged an international boycott of all parties involved.

NSO Group has come under fire in recent years after its software was found on the phones of rights activists, journalists, dissidents and other public figures from Mexico to Saudi Arabia. The Biden administration moved to limit the company's access to U.S. technology earlier this month, saying its tools have been used to conduct transnational repression.

After the U.S. announcement, NSO Group called off a leadership transition in which Itzik Benbenisti was set to take over as CEO from the company's founder, Shalev Hulio. A source within the company said Thursday that Benbenisti resigned after the transition was scrapped and before assuming the new position. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity because the company has not issued an official statement.

The Israeli government regulates NSO Group but has not said whether it uses the software. Officials have denied there was any link between the decision to outlaw the rights groups and any use of NSO software. The company says its products are used by security agencies to combat crime and terrorism.

The Palestinian Authority governs parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank under agreements reached in the early 1990s. Its security forces cooperate with Israel against Hamas and other militant groups that both view as a threat, and it is seen by Western countries as a partner in the long-dormant peace process.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas cancelled the first elections in 15 years last spring, and his popularity has plummeted as Palestinians increasingly view the PA as a corrupt and authoritarian institution. Security cooperation is extremely unpopular among Palestinians, many of whom view it as aiding Israel's half-century occupation of lands the Palestinians want for a future state.
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP)  Police in Maryland are investigating after a man was found fatally shot in a mall parking lot on Wednesday night.

Gaithersburg and Montgomery County police officers called to Lakeforest Mall's parking lot around 5:30 p.m. found a man who had been shot, county police said in a news release. Officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel performed life-saving measures, but the man succumbed to his injuries, police said.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  South Korean police said Thursday theyre pushing to investigate a U.S. diplomat to find if he intentionally fled following a traffic accident in Seoul.

The diplomats car rear-ended a taxi in Seoul on Wednesday but kept moving without stopping, the Seoul Yongsan Police Station said, citing an analysis of footage recorded by the taxis camera.

The taxi chased the diplomats car until it stopped close to the gate of a nearby U.S. military base in Seoul. Police officers dispatched to the site tried to identify the diplomat, but he refused to comply with any inquiry, police officers said, requesting anonymity because of department rules.

His car later moved into the U.S. base, where the residences of some of the U.S. diplomats based in Seoul are located, the police officers said.

Police said the taxi driver and a passenger didnt immediately report injuries. Police said they don't know if anyone aboard the U.S. diplomats car was hurt.

On Thursday, police sent official letters to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and South Korea's Foreign Ministry to ask for cooperation in their investigation and check if the diplomat would exercise his immunity. The Foreign Ministry later told police that there were four U.S. diplomats in the car, including the driver, and they all belong to the embassy, according to police.

If the driver was aware of the collision and deliberately fled, his behavior constitutes a criminal offense. Even if he failed to recognize the accident and didnt flee intentionally, he still has to pay repair costs for the taxis damaged bumper, according to police.

The U.S. Embassy in a statement disputed the account of the accident reported in the press, without elaborating which parts of the media reports it refers to.

We trust that the competent (South Korean) law enforcement authorities will conduct a thorough and fair investigation of the matter, and we will refrain for providing further comment until that investigation has been completed, it said.

South Koreas Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it was consulting with authorities. Spokesman Choi Young-sam said South Korea has been sternly dealing with crimes committed by foreign diplomats in Seoul.

South Korea is a signatory to the Vienna Convention, which grants diplomats and their families protection against criminal prosecution, although the immunity can be voluntarily waived. Earlier this year, the Foreign Ministry said there had been no cases in the past five years of foreign diplomats being prosecuted after waiving immunity.

The United States is South Korea's chief security ally. About 28,500 U.S. troops are deployed in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggression from North Korea.
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP)  Santa Barbara County authorities have arrested seven juveniles for a series of assaults that occurred on a local high school campus, seriously injuring one student.

The investigation started Tuesday when San Marcos High School administrators notified a school resource deputy that there were videos depicting assaults on the campus, the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  The tightest of smiles on his face and the fabric of his traditional thobe swirling about him as he strides through a hallway at U.N. climate talks, Saudi Arabias energy minister expresses shock at repeated complaints that the worlds largest oil producer is working behind the scenes to sabotage negotiations.

What you have been hearing is a false allegation and a cheat and a lie, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman al Saud said this week at the talks in Glasgow, Scotland. He was responding to journalists pressing for a response to claims that Saudi Arabia's negotiators have been working to block climate measures that would threaten demand for oil.

We have been working well with the head of the U.N. climate talks and others, Prince Abdulaziz said.

Negotiators from about 200 countries are coming up against a weekend deadline to find consensus on next steps to cut the world's fossil fuel emissions and otherwise combat climate change.

Saudi Arabias participation in climate talks itself can seem incongruous  a kingdom that has become wealthy and powerful because of oil involved in negotiations where a core issue is reducing consumption of oil and other fossil fuels. While pledging to join emission-cutting efforts at home, Saudi leaders have made clear they intend to pump and sell their oil as long as demand lasts.

Saudi Arabias team in Glasgow has introduced proposals ranging from a call to quit negotiations  they often stretch into early morning hours  at 6 p.m. every day to what climate negotiation veterans allege are complex efforts to play country factions against one another with the aim of blocking agreement on tough steps to wrench the world away from coal, gas and oil.

That is the Saudis' proposal, by the way. They're like, 'Let's just not work at nights and just accept that this is not going to be ambitious' when it comes to fast cuts in fossil fuel pollution that is wrecking the climate, said Jennifer Tollmann, an analyst at E3G, a European climate think tank.

And then if other countries want to agree with Saudi, they can blame Saudi Arabia, Tollmann said.

Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and head of a group of senior political leaders on climate, told The Associated Press on Thursday that Russia and Saudi Arabia are pushing back hard to block any mention in the final deal out of Glasgow of working to phase out coal, or to reduce government subsidies to fossil fuels.

Saudi Arabia long has been accused of playing a spoiler in the climate talks, and this year it is the main country singled out so far by negotiators, speaking privately, and observers, speaking publicly. Russia and Australia are also lumped in with Saudi Arabia at the talks as countries that see their futures as dependent on coal, natural gas or oil and as working for a Glasgow climate deal that doesn't threaten that.

Despite efforts to diversify the economy, oil accounts for more than half of Saudi Arabia's revenue, keeping the kingdom and royal family afloat and stable. About half of Saudi employees still work for the public sector, their salary paid in large part by oil.

And there's China, whose dependence on coal makes it the world's current biggest climate polluter. It argues it can't switch to cleaner energy as fast as the West says it must, although the United States and China did jointly pledge to speed up their efforts to cut emissions.

A core issue in the talks: Scientists and the United Nations say the world has less than a decade to cut its fossil fuel and agricultural emissions roughly in half if it wants to avoid more catastrophic scenarios of global warming.

Not surprisingly, island nations that would disappear under the rising oceans at a higher level of warming are the bloc at Glasgow pushing hardest for the most stringent deal out of this summit.

Meanwhile, climate advocates accuse the United States and European Union of so far failing to throw their weight behind the demands of the island nations, although the U.S. and the E.U. often wait until the last few days of climate talks to take hard stands on debated points.

The United States  the world's worst climate polluter historically and a major oil and gas producer  gets plenty of criticism in its own right. The Climate Action Network dishonored the Biden administration with its Fossil of the Day award to President Joe Biden for coming to Glasgow last week with ambitious climate talk but failing to join a pledge to wean his nation off coal or to rein in U.S. oil production.

Jennifer Morgan, executive director of the Greenpeace environmental group, said other governments need to isolate the Saudi delegation if they want the climate conference to succeed..

Saudi Arabia was fine with joining in governments' climate-pledge fever before the talks. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced in the runup to Glasgow that the kingdom would zero out its carbon emissions by 2060.

But Saudi leaders for years have vowed to pump the last molecule of oil from their kingdom before world demand ends  an objective that a fast global switch from fossil fuels would frustrate.

Naked and cynical, says Alden Meyer, a senior associate at the E3G climate research group, of Saudi Arabia's role in global climate discussions.

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Associated Press writers Frank Jordans, Annirudha Ghosal and Seth Borenstein contributed to this report.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  The amount of money in South Carolina's state bank accounts continues to grow thanks to a quick recovery from the economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic and people spending money much faster than experts predict.

The latest estimate released Wednesday said South Carolina lawmakers will have nearly $1 billion more to spend this budget year, according to the state Board of Economic Advisers.

That boosts the money that the General Assembly has control over to nearly $11 billion and doesn't count at the roughly $3 billion in federal COVID-19 relief money coming to South Carolina.

It also doesn't count about a $1 billion surplus after the state closed the books on the fiscal year that ended June 30. Predictions that economic growth would slow because supply chain issues, consumers slowing their spending or dwindling federal stimulus money didn't come true.

The 13.2% growth in the 2020-21 fiscal year budget was the largest in at least 40 years, the board said.

South Carolina sales tax collections continue to soar, growing by $500 million to $3.8 billion in the past fiscal year. Corporate tax revenues have also risen sharply thanks to retailers benefiting from all that extra money being spent.

The state's economic experts still think the rapid rise in revenue can't continue. They predict the budget for next fiscal year starting on July 1 will also be about $10.9 billion.

But the board acknowledged being wrong before and said its prediction was more volatile than usual.

The experts also warned revenues could crash if U.S. lawmakers fail to increase the federal debt ceiling in December causing an unprecedented default that could decimated the economy.

All the extra money likely means plenty of debate in the South Carolina General Assembly on pay raises for state employees and helping out rural school districts that don't have a big local tax base. There also will likely be lots of discussion about spending on infrastructure items, like crumbling, crowded roads, decades-old water and sewer systems or old buildings at state colleges and universities.

Gov. Henry McMaster has spent the fall making several suggestions on spending the federal pandemic relief money to jumpstart widening Interstate 26 to three lanes each direction from Charleston to Columbia; start building part of Interstate 73 in the Pee Dee; or repair or build local sewage and water systems.

The extra revenue could also revive debate on cutting taxes or reforming South Carolina's tax system that was put on the back burner when the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2000.

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Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP.
SCOTLAND, S.D. (AP)  A South Dakota man has been charged with murder and other counts for allegedly gunning down his ex-girlfriend, her father and another woman and wounding his ex-girlfriend's mother and a young child.

Francis Lange, 42, made an initial appearance Wednesday in Bon Homme County Circuit Court. He faces six charges  three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of committing of a felony while armed with a gun  in the Tuesday evening attack in Scotland, a small community in the southeast of the state about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southwest of Sioux Falls.

He appeared without a lawyer and asked that a court-appointed attorney be assigned to his case. The judge set his bond at $2 million cash and scheduled his next court appearance for Nov. 16 in Tyndall, the Yanton Press and Dakotan reported.

Lange went to the home of his ex-girlfriend Angela Monclova and fatally shot her, her father Librado Monclova, and Diane Akins, authorities allege in court documents. He also shot and wounded his ex-girlfriends mother, Vicki Monclova, and a 5-year-old girl whom authorities haven't publicly identified.

Despite her wounds, Vicki Monclova managed to make it on foot to her son Anthony Monclovas house, authorities said. Another son, Jacob Monclova, went to his sisters home and discovered the crime scene. He found the wounded girl crying in a bedroom, scooped her up and ran from the house.

When law enforcement and paramedics arrived, Librado and Angela Monclova were already dead. Akins was taken to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead from an apparent gunshot wound, authorities said.

Vicki Monclova and the child were taken by helicopter to a Sioux Falls hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. Their conditions haven't been released.

Lange was arrested without incident at his fathers house in Scotland later that night. Investigators said they found a gun believed to have been used in the shooting about a half-block from the crime scene.

Agents with the state's Division of Criminal Investigation said Francis told them he has been living with his father but had dated Angela Monclova and lived with her in the past.

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This story was updated to correct the name of Bon Homme County, which had been erroneously referred to as Homme County.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP)  Police in Springfield are urging residents and businesses to refrain from placing envelopes containing checks into U.S. Postal Service blue collection boxes in the city.

The department in a social media post Wednesday said it has received reports recently of people breaking into the boxes to steal mail and cash stolen checks. In some cases, the amount on the check was changed to a higher amount, which was then withdrawn from the victims bank accounts, police said.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  The speaker of Swedens parliament tasked the leader of the Social Democratic Party on Thursday with trying to form a new government, which would make Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson the Scandinavian countrys first female prime minister, if she is successful.

Parliament speaker Andreas Norlen said Andersson must indicate by Tuesday whether she can find enough support in the lower house of parliament, the 349-seat Riksdag, to form a Cabinet.

Andersson, 54, was elected to lead the Social Democrats during their regular congress on Nov. 4, after Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced in August that he was resigning the party post.

Lofven, 64, who stepped down as prime minister on Wednesday, is continuing to lead the Swedish government in a caretaking capacity until a new government is formed.

The present Social Democratic-Green governing coalition hopes to secure Anderssons confirmation as prime minister with the backing of two smaller parties. Sweden has a general election set for Sept. 11, 2022.

The Social Democrats currently hold 100 of the Riksdag's 349 seats, and the Greens have 16 seats. One of the coalition's hoped-for allies, the Center Party, said Wednesday that its lawmakers would abstain from a vote on Andersson, paving the way for her appointment as prime minister.

The small Left Party has not yet said whether its lawmakers would take part in a confirmation vote.

Under the Swedish Constitution, prime ministers can govern as long as a parliamentary majority - a minimum 175 lawmakers - is not against them.

Earlier Thursday, Ulf Kristersson, head of the opposition Moderates, which is Swedens second-largest party, said a center-right government was not feasible because no mainstream parties want to cooperate with the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, which is rooted in a neo-Nazi movement.
DALLAS (AP)  A man police say posed as a maintenance worker or health care provider at senior apartment complexes has been charged with capital murder in the death of an 81-year-old Dallas woman, and authorities are reviewing hundreds of other cases.

Billy K. Chemirmir, 45, also has been charged with attempted capital murder and robbery in two other attacks on senior women, police officials said Friday. Hes in the Dallas County jail on $1 million bond.

Police in the Dallas suburb of Plano were investigating Chemirmir regarding suspicious death and suspicious person calls at a senior apartment complex and found evidence linking him to 81-year-old Lu Thi Harris death in Dallas, Plano Police Chief Gregory Rushin said.

Chemirmir uses health care experience to his advantage in targeting and exploiting seniors, some of the most vulnerable people in our community. This is terribly disturbing, Rushin said.

Dallas police are now reviewing about 750 unattended deaths of elderly women for possible links, said David Pughes, the Dallas Police Department executive first assistant chief.

Were not going to leave any stone unturned. Right now, we have one confirmed Dallas offense. We're worried we could have more, he said.

Messages left with two lawyers listed in court records as having represented Chemirmir were not returned Friday.

An arrest affidavit says Chemirmir forced his way into the Plano apartment of a 91-year-old woman on Monday, telling her to go to bed. Dont fight me.

The woman was smothered with a pillow into unconsciousness and robbed. However, Plano paramedics revived her and she told investigators that her attacker had stolen her jewelry. Police identified Chemirmir from a license plate number and were able to find and tail him on Tuesday, when they watched him throw a jewelry box into a trash bin. They traced the box to Harris, according to the affidavit.

Harris was found dead in her North Dallas home Tuesday, Pughes said. According to the Dallas police affidavit, her body had what appeared to be lipstick smeared on her mouth, and a pillow on her bed also had lipsick smears, indicating she may have been suffocated.

Keys were found in Chemirmirs vehicle that fit Harris front-door locks, police said.

Chemirmir already had been wanted in an attempted capital murder case in nearby Frisco, where he was accused of forcing his way into the home of a 93-year-old woman, using a pillow to smother her and stealing her jewelry, according to the warrant. The woman survived.

We believe that the way that these crimes were committed, that when youre a senior and you have health are issues, and youre living by yourself and then you do become deceased, that many people would think right away thats natural causes, Rushin said. There is not a deep investigation into those matters, so it would be very easy to disguise a crime in that type of activity.

Frisco Police Chief said hed stop short of calling Chemirmir a suspected serial killer because this is early on in the investigation. Were still trying to piece it all together.

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This story was first published on March 23, 2018, and updated on Nov. 11, 2021, to correct the spelling of Billy Chemirmirs name in the last paragraph. It is Chemirmir, not Shemirmir. It also deletes a reference to a jewelry box being stolen from the 91-year-old woman who survived.
BUFFALO, W.Va. (AP)  Toyota Motor Corp. announced Thursday it will add a production line dedicated to hybrid powertrains at its West Virginia facility in a $240 million investment.

The announcement comes nine months after the Japanese automaker said it would invest $210 million at the plant in Buffalo, West Virginia, and add 100 new jobs to expand capacity of its four- and six-cylinder engine lines.
MONROE, La. (AP)  Monroe Regional Airport is losing one of its three major carriers.

United Airlines announced that it will end service from the airport early in 2022, the City of Monroe confirmed in a news release.

United Airlines said the decision comes in the shadow of a post-pandemic world that saw a drop in air travel, the statement said. United Airlines leadership have reviewed their operational capabilities and concluded they needed to reduce their capacity across their network.

United had three scheduled flights daily leaving the airport, all to Houston, The News-Star reported. It also pulled service from 10 other markets: Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Michigan; College Station, Texas; Columbia, Missouri; Mosinee, Wisconsin; Evansville, Indiana; Killeen/Fort Hood, Texas; Lansing, Michigan; Pierre, South Dakota; Twin Falls, Idaho; and Watertown, South Dakota.

The airport's remaining carriers  American and Delta  fly to Dallas and Atlanta, respectively.

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis said he is sad to see United Airlines go, but the Monroe Regional Airport will continue providing service to passengers.

MLU will continue to strengthen Delta and American Airlines services while aggressively working to develop opportunities with other carriers, he said.

Ellis said Uniteds decision has nothing to do with the city specifically, rather a change in travel habits during the pandemic.

As you saw the other cities that they pulled out of, this was a business decision, explained Ellis. We knew what an impact that COVID has on travel.

He said he also likes what he's hearing from the remaining major airlines.

Delta Airlines is flying larger jets into Monroe, Ellis said. American Airlines, we are talking to them about picking up other connections around the U.S. They have doubled down during this time with their flights and where they are flying.

The mayor said he has also tasked Airport Director Charles Butcher with trying to bring in a value carrier to help facilitate business travel.

I would love to see a direct flight to New Orleans, direct flights to Baton Rouge because there is a lot of business done between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, Ellis told KNOE-TV.

Butcher said he doesnt yet know the full impact to the airport from the loss of United.

Were working on the rates and charges this week, Butcher said. I dont know what kind of financial impact its going to have on us just yet.

United Airlines last day of service at Monroe Regional will be Jan. 3.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP)  Naval forces from the United States, Israel and two Gulf Arab states are taking part in a joint security drill in the Red Sea, a vital shipping route that feeds into the Suez Canal.

The U.S. 5th Fleet said Thursday that the five-day multilateral maritime exercise with Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain began on Wednesday and includes at-sea training focused on search and seizure tactics aboard the USS Portland transport dock ship.

The drill comes a little more than a year after the UAE and subsequently Bahrain normalized ties with Israel despite strong criticism by Palestinians over the formal recognition of Israel.

An Israeli navy officer said it is the first time the three nations have shared maritime training exercises. The UAE also sent a delegation to an Israeli-hosted air force drill last month.

"This is the first time at sea, and actually it's exciting that young officers are meeting young officers, the officer told reporters, speaking spoke on condition of anonymity under military guidelines. We'll do it step by step.

Their participation reflects their shared concerns over Iranian threats to regional shipping. Israel has accused Iran of trying to use the high seas to smuggle weapons to Israel's enemies. It also has accused Iran of carrying out a series of attacks on civilian ships with Israeli ties.

Israel has acknowledged beefing up its naval presence in the Red Sea in response to what it says is heightened Iranian aggression.

The statement by the 5th Fleet did not specify where in the Red Sea the exercise was taking place. The sea, which connects the Mediterranean Sea by the Suez Canal with the Indian Ocean by the Gulf of Aden is one of the world's key oil shipping routes.

Over the past years, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted oil shipments in the south of the waterway. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have waged war against the Houthis since 2015, in support of Yemen's internationally recognized government.

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Associated Press writer Josef Federman in Jerusalem contributed to this report.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  The U.S. government is urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti because of the countrys deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools and banks. Gas stations remained closed on Thursday.

The rare warning from the U.S. State Department comes as Haitis government and police are struggling to control gangs that have blocked fuel distribution terminals for several weeks.

Widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options," the State Department warned on Wednesday. The U.S. Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist U.S. citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable.

Its unclear how many U.S. citizens currently live in Haiti. A State Department official told The Associated Press that it does not provide those statistics and U.S. citizens are not required to register their travel to a foreign country.

Canada also issued a similar warning on Wednesday: If youre in Haiti and your presence isnt essential, consider leaving if you can do so safely.

The warnings comes as U.S. and Haitian authorities are trying to secure the safe release of 17 members of a missionary group from Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries who were kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang on Oct. 16. There are five children in the group of 16 U.S. citizens and one Canadian. Their Haitian driver also was abducted.

We request continued prayer for the kidnappers, that God would soften their hearts, the organization said in a statement on Wednesday. As you pray, remember the millions of Haitians who are suffering through a time of serious upheaval and unrest.

On Tuesday, top Haitian government officials acknowledged the widespread lack of fuel during a news conference and said they were working to resolve the situation, although they provided no details.

Defense Minister Enold Joseph said the government is investigating why 30 fuel tanks sent to Haitis southern region went missing, adding that he has observed gasoline being sold on the black market.

In addition, Le Nouvelliste newspaper recently reported that truck drivers have been kidnapped and fuel trucks hijacked.

Everything is upside down, said Pierre Alex, a 35-year-old who works at a factory that makes clothes hangers. He said his son isn't able to go to school but can't work at home either because there is no power and no internet. I don't know what saints to call upon to come help me.

The fuel shortage also has threatened Haitis water supply, which depends on generators, and hospitals in Port-au-Prince and beyond.

Marc Edson Augustin, director of St. Luke Hospital, said he can only care for 50 patients with COVID-19 despite having 120 beds set aside for them because the company that provides oxygen to the institution has been hit by the lack of fuel.

On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders warned that the shortages have forced it to reduce medical care since last week, with staff treating only patients with life-threatening conditions. The aid group said that its hospital and emergency center will run out of fuel for generators in three weeks or less if new supplies dont arrive.

As tensions and armed conflict escalate in Haitis capital, shortages of fuel, public transportation and drinking water are putting medical facilities and patients at risk, the aid group said. Nearly all public and private health facilities in Port-au-Prince have stopped or limited admissions to only acute cases or closed their doors due to similar problems.

The aid group said that one patient with respiratory distress was recently refused at four different medical centers because the lack of fuel forced them to halt admissions. A fifth facility took her in, officials said.

Doctors Without Borders also said that the lack of fuel is preventing staff from reaching the hospital because of the scarcity of public transportation. Its a problem seen elsewhere, with parents unable to send their children to school and some employees unable to go to work.

The situation also has led to a spike in food prices in a country of more than 11 million people where more than 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day. Meanwhile, a gallon of gasoline, when available, currently costs $15.

___

Associated Press writer Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP)  Details on the 18 lawyers who applied for an appointment to a Commonwealth Court vacancy in 2019 were obtained by a news organization this past week after it won a two-year legal battle against Gov. Tom Wolf.

LNP, The Caucus and Lancaster Online reported Wednesday that Wolf's office released documents about the vacancy to which the Democratic governor appointed a former state Senate Republican lawyer, Drew Crompton.
SAN JOSE (BCN)

A federal grand jury has charged a former Broadcom engineer with stealing trade secrets, according to a Nov. 4 indictment unsealed Wednesday in San Jose.

Peter Kisang Kim, of Ben Lomond, pleaded not guilty in a federal courtroom in San Jose, according to an announcement from the office of Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.

Kim was a principal design engineer at Broadcom and had been employed by the San Jose-based company for more than twenty years.

The indictment alleges that the 50-year-old Kim stole Broadcom trade secrets associated with its family of chips often used in high-volume data centers. Prosecutors say Kim stole the information in the days before his July 17, 2020, departure from Broadcom.

Ten days after his last day at the company, according to the indictment, Kim began working at the director level for Company-1, a China-based startup company focused on chip design and the market for networking chips.

The indictment alleges that Kim received a laptop for his work at Company-1 and, during the nine months following his departure from Broadcom and the start of his work at Company-1, that Kim possessed and repeatedly used Broadcom trade secrets on the newly-issued laptop and on other electronic devices.

These trade secrets were associated with test plans, design verification environment files, and design specifications for the Broadcom family of chips.

The indictment charges Kim with eighteen counts trade secret theft. For each count, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

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.

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VALLEJO (BCN)

Valley police are treating as suspicious the death of a 28-year-old woman found not breathing Wednesday.

In a 10:53 p.m. tweet, the Vallejo Police Department announced it is investigating the case as a suspicious death, after responding to a 2:58 report of a woman not breathing at a residence in the 600 block of Alabama Street.

The Vallejo Fire Department responded and declared the woman dead at the scene.

Police urge anyone with information about the incident to contact the detective division at (707) 648-4524.

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.

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By Randy Myers

Bay City News Foundation

Early on while shadowing 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, San Francisco documentary maker Jesse Moss came to the realization that he had not one but two primary stories he wanted to relate for his Amazon Prime documentary, "Mayor Pete."

His yearlong sprint with the politician drops Friday on the streamer and is also screening Thursday as part of the Frameline Fall Showcase at the Castro in San Francisco.

One focus was obvious, relating the whirlwind campaign that the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana -- also a war veteran and gay married man -- experienced as he and his team saw his star shine early in the primaries.

The other thread was more personal, spotlighting the intimate bond between two husbands, the more reticent Pete and the more open Chasten.

The decision to go beyond typical fodder of the politics-focused doc and tell a love story got sealed once Moss filmed Buttigieg as he addressed the pain he had experienced while remaining closeted. It was during a speech at a 2019 LGBTQ Victory Fund event.

His comments bristle with candor, and also are part of one of the most moving portions of "Mayor Pete." But it is in the behind-the-scenes exchange when the emotionality of it all hits you, with Chasten checking in on his husband. Moss felt it, too.

"It was a really personal moment, and I was able to film that," said the director, whose fly-on-the-wall designs have been used to award-winning effect, including in another politically themed documentary, "Boys State," released in 2020.

"They let me be there for that," Moss said. "And that's when I realized how significant their relationship could be as part of the story I was telling. The film really opened up for me at that moment."

The more difficult hurdle was getting the reserved Pete Buttigieg to be more forthcoming -- a quality that vexed his campaign manager Lis Smith (featured prominently in the documentary), who challenged him to come across as more emotive but still remain true to his own character.

Moss enjoyed the experience of making "Mayor Pete," but didn't leap onboard immediately. He said "no" at first. Moss came around after hearing Buttigieg speak intelligently and rationally on a swath of topics at a town hall forum. Even then, he knew what he wanted to avoid turning his film into a rah-rah documentary.

"I didn't sign up for the film as a Pete supporter," he said. "The film is not a promotional film for Pete."

What also persuaded Moss to jump aboard was witnessing how Buttigieg was able to appeal to more than just urban voters.

"What struck me about Pete and what is so interesting to me and why I wanted to make the film is that he seemed to be somebody who could cut across all these lines in American life," he said. "He stands for many things. He's a Rust Belt mayor. He's a gay man. He's a Navy veteran."

Unfortunately, Moss's first meeting with the now-U.S. Secretary of Transportation -- and the first openly gay Cabinet official -- fizzled rather than popped.

"It was like the opposite of the meet-cute. It was like the meet-awkward," he said.

Moss introduced himself on a train bound to D.C. after Buttigieg had an appearance in New York City.

"I went over to him, and he was with his campaign staff, and I said: 'Hello, I'm a documentary filmmaker.' He said 'hello' and turned back to his work," Moss explained. "I stood there awkwardly waiting for the small talk to begin, which it didn't."

Undaunted, he persisted.

"I was just prepared to be patient," Moss said.

The situation improved soon after chatting with Chasten.

"I love that Chasten is so different from Pete," Moss said. "I felt like Chasten could be the way that we really see Pete. They have this really strong relationship, and if we could see Pete through Chasten's eyes, that could help, and it could help me connect."

Moss invited Chasten to participate in one interview, and soon after, Chasten became a welcome presence throughout "Mayor Pete." He's also featured in some of Moss' favorite moments, including scenes of the couple in their South Bend home.

The Palo Alto-born director thrives on being a part of the unscripted filmmaking community -- where the unexpected happens. In "Mayor Pete," that happened when Buttigieg returned to South Bend in the angry aftermath of the June 2020 officer-involved shooting death of an African American man.

"I like to tell stories that are being written in front of the camera," Moss said. "It's painful (at times), but that's documentary filmmaking, where something unexpected happens. Your subject is tested, and everything you sort of imagined was the trajectory is thrown into turmoil."

The element of the unexpected was also an elemental part of "Boys State," which he co-directed with his filmmaking partner and wife, Amanda McBaine. It followed a group of male teens participating in an annual program wherein they create a mock government in Texas.

Moss sees "Boys State" and "Mayor Pete" complementing each other with "Boys State" asking questions about how we can move forward in a polarized and fractured nation.

"'Boys State' was a way of having a conversation through the eyes of teenage boys in Texas," he said. "But for me, Pete's candidacy was also about that conversation ...

"I like that Pete was trying to bring people together and embody this sort of what we hope a successful political leader can be. Someone who unifies and doesn't divide."

Jesse Moss will be on hand for a Q&A after the 7:45 p.m. Thursday screening of "Mayor Pete" at Castro Theatre. For tickets, and to see a full schedule of the two-day Frameline Fall Showcase, visit frameline.org.

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The National Park Service invites the public to share their thoughts on a proposed plan to improve the Stinson Beach parking areas this month, the service announced on Wednesday.

The park service hopes to prevent flooding, create resilient visitor amenities and improve traffic congestion in the park with their Stinson Beach Parking Area Rehabilitation Project plans, NPS said in a press release.

Before an Environmental Assessment can be drafted, the park service wants to hear residents' concerns, values and potential solutions to expanding parking services without compromising "natural and cultural resources," NPS wrote in a press release.

Though recent rain showers partially replenished the Bay Area's water supplies, Tri-Valley water agencies say residents shouldn't end water conservation efforts.

Zone 7 Water Agency declared a drought emergency in December, which mandates a 15 percent water conservation from all water service providers in Livermore, Pleasanton and the Dublin San Ramon Services District.

Water agencies remain hopeful that residents can continue to conserve water, as residents saved 20 percent more water in October of this year compared to last, according to a press release from Zone 7 Water.

Federal prosecutors on Wednesday filed a lawsuit accusing the San Francisco-based ride-hailing company Uber of illegally charging "wait time" fees to disabled passengers who need more time than usual to enter a car.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed the suit alleging that Uber violated part of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Uber started charging the wait time fees in 2016, charging fees for the time between when a driver arrived at the pickup location and when the trip started if that period lasted more than 2 minutes. Federal prosecutors allege the company failed to reasonably modify the policy for disabled passengers who need more time to get into a vehicle.

Kaiser Permanente nurses picketed Wednesday afternoon outside the nonprofit's hospital in Oakland to express their displeasure with a new patient treatment idea: sending patients home.

The picket in Oakland was just one of 14 others in the Bay Area and 20 statewide Wednesday over what the nurses are calling the Home All Alone patient dumping scheme.

Kaiser Permanente calls the idea the Medically Home care delivery platform and said it will provide acute-level care where people prefer to receive it, at home.

General Attorney Rob Bonta made a stop in San Jose on Wednesday as part of his tour through the state's 13 largest cities to better understand and combat California's growing number of hate crimes.

From 2019 to 2020, hate crimes across the state increased by 31 percent and in San Jose they grew by 169 percent - fairing worse than many of the major cities, Bonta said.

The recently appointed attorney general met with several community members in San Jose who represented different racial, religious, ethnic and other historically marginalized and underrepresented groups in the region.

It was a roundtable that allowed different voices to come together and brainstorm various ways to combat that growing number.

A coordinated effort by hundreds of Santa Clara residents successfully killed a proposal to build interim housing for unhoused families.

In a unanimous vote, the Santa Clara City Council rejected a proposal to build 60 units of transitional housing at 2035 White Oak Lane. Councilmembers directed city employees to search for alternative sites.

The proposal drew a record amount of correspondence and scores of residents who spoke out, according to Mayor Lisa Gillmor. She acknowledged the topic was difficult to address, and resulted in bitter and heated comments.

A federal grand jury has charged a former Broadcom engineer with stealing trade secrets, according to a Nov. 4 indictment unsealed Wednesday in San Jose.

Peter Kisang Kim, of Ben Lomond, pleaded not guilty in a federal courtroom in San Jose, according to an announcement from the office of Acting United States Attorney Stephanie M. Hinds and Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Craig D. Fair.

Kim was a principal design engineer at Broadcom and had been employed by the San Jose-based company for more than twenty years.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on Tuesday charged Antioch City Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker with interfering with law enforcement when they were called to her home on a report of shots fired last month.

It was a surprise to Torres-Walker. When interviewed Wednesday, said it was the first she had heard of the charge. "No one contacted me," she said.

A police report on the Oct. 3 incident said neighbor calls and the city's gunshot detection system had indicated shots fired at a large party at Torres-Walker's home. Police reported finding seven shell casings at the scene.

The defense in the criminal fraud trial of Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes spent much of Wednesday shoring up the qualifications of a former Theranos lab director who voided thousands of patient blood tests, aiming to show that Holmes "fully supported" that and many other steps taken to try to turn the company around.

Holmes is charged with 12 counts of defrauding investors, doctors and patients by making false and misleading statements about the now-defunct company's blood-testing technology.

Attorney Lance Wade first pointed out the many awards and educational pedigree of Dr. Kingshuk Das, the company's final lab director, then asked the doctor if he was the type of thorough scientist who would "dig in" to issues before reaching conclusions. Das responded, "Yes."

The Antioch City Council on Tuesday night approved the hiring of Cornelius Johnson, a retired San Francisco police captain, as interim city manager on a one-year contract.

Johnson, should he pass a pending background check, will become the first Black city manager in the city's history. Johnson also served as Mayor Lamar Thorpe's campaign manager in his successful election.

Johnson has no city administrative management experience. He earned a bachelor's degree in public administration, and a master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco.

The Coast Guard rescued seven people from a burning fishing boat 350 miles west of Monterey Wednesday early morning, according to the Eleventh Coast Guard District.

Coast Guard officials responded to multiple emergency radio beacons at 12:20 a.m. from the 85-foot commercial fishing boat called Blue Dragon.

Coast Guard aircrew from Sacramento arrived on the scene at 3:21 a.m. Officials said the Blue Dragon crewmembers were aboard a life raft and signaling to the plane with a flashlight. A second aircrew dispatched at 9 a.m.

Moraga police issued a missing person alert Wednesday for 44-year-old Asher Grinner, who was last seen earlier that morning at his home on Camino Peral.

Police believe Grinner, who is in good physical condition, left his home on foot about 9:30 a.m. He has not been heard from since.

Police describe Grinner as 5 feet, 8 inches tall and about 185 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and a full beard. He may be wearing dark clothing.

The California Highway Patrol issued a silver alert for a missing 95-year-old man early Thursday for Santa Clara and San Mateo counties on behalf of the Palo Alto Police Department.

Jack Birnbaum was last seen at about 6:40 p.m. Wednesday in the town of Stanford, according to a 12:36 a.m. tweet Thursday from the CHP. He is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, about 130 pounds, with gray hair and is believed to be wearing glasses and hearing aids.

Authorities said Birnbaum may be driving a 2005 silver Toyota Camry, with the California license plate 5NSE242.

Vallejo police are treating as suspicious the death of a 28-year-old woman found not breathing Wednesday.

In a 10:53 p.m. tweet, the Vallejo Police Department announced it is investigating the case as a suspicious death, after responding to a 2:58 report of a woman not breathing at a residence in the 600 block of Alabama Street.

The Vallejo Fire Department responded and declared the woman dead at the scene.

The National Weather Service forecast for the greater San Francisco Bay Area calls for sunny skies and calm breezes Thursday. Daytime highs will be in the low 60s on the coast and in the mid to upper 60s throughout the rest of the Bay Area.

Overnight lows should be near 50 throughout the region. Current conditions are expected to continue through the middle of next week.

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.

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Mock missiles. A rumored fire. A ghostly handprint. The story of the Padre Hotel, which many consider to be the jewel of Bakersfield, is one of boom and bust, of eccentric ownership and, ultimately, of rebirth.

Our tale begins in 1927, when Bakersfield was a destination for Californias oil rush. During this time, capitalists from Southern California and the Central Valley city pooled their resources  to the tune of $650,000 (or about $10 million today, adjusted for inflation)  to build one of the finest hotel accommodations between Los Angeles and San Francisco, according to a 1927 newspaper headline.

The hotel will create a new skyline for Bakersfield, the newspaper announced, celebrating its planned 196 rooms with a bath for each. Construction finished in 1928, and the hotel opened to great fanfare.

In the years following its costly construction, the Padre Hotel became one of the hottest scenes in Bakersfield, known for its lavish parties and well-coifed guests and dignitaries. Even first lady Jill Biden stopped there on a recent California visit.

But by the 1950s, strange happenings began occurring at the Padre. In 1954, an eccentric character by the name of Milton Spartacus Miller purchased the hotel, according to its current general manager Jennifer Johnson.

He definitely had a tumultuous ownership, Johnson said. He would draw in and welcome anyone from any background. ... Lots of parties were happening, and Spartacus had a reputation for pushing and pulling with authorities.

Courtesy Padre Hotel

Heres where the mock missile comes into play. In the '60s and '70s  Miller owned the hotel until his death in 1999  the owner refused to update the Spanish colonial revival buildings sprinkler systems, leading authorities to condemn the hotel from the third floor upward.

In response to this, Spartacus made some bold statements, Johnson said, including flying large banners from the fire escapes, posting a sign reading Alamo Tombstone on the roof and even aiming a fake missile at Bakersfield City Hall.

Miller lost the case, despite his claims that the building was fire proof.

The hotel cannot burn, he told reporters at the time. It is absolutely safe.

Contrary to Millers claims, the Padre Hotel did reportedly catch fire at some point in the 1950s, allegedly killing a family, though Johnson has never been able to find a record of the blaze. She chocks it up to the rumor mill that surrounds the mystique of the hotel.

Its mostly rumors perpetuated by ghost hunters, she said.

Courtesy Padre Hotel

During the well-publicized litigation, Miller became somewhat of a folk hero. A story from the Tulare Advance-Register in 1970 announcing Millers run for Congress called the Padres owner a resident gadfly of Kern County and a spokesman for the downtrodden.

Am I a demagogue? hes quoted as asking reporters in a press conference. I guess I am if thats what you want to call dissenters, but there should be more demagogues like myself. There is not enough dissent because people fear government.

Miller lost the election, and in the years that followed, the grand Padre Hotel fell into disrepair, with squatters reportedly taking up rooms on the condemned third through eighth floors.

But the Padres troubles didnt end here. After marrying Lora Gordon Miller from a hospital bed in 1999, Miller died, spurring a long legal battle between the new wife and Millers nephews, who claimed to be the rightful owners of the hotel. The family settled out of court in 2001.

In 2002, the derelict hotel got a new owner, which purchased the property for $1 million with plans to transform the building into condominiums. That plan fell through, and in 2008, the property was sold to its current owners, Eat.Drink.Sleep, which owns five boutique hotels around the West, including the Tower23 Hotel in San Diego. The purchase of the building closed for $4 million.

Courtesy Padre Hotel

It was halfway completed, a halfway vision, Johnson said of the hotel at the time of its purchase. There was a lot to do externally and internally.

Renovations included fixing up the hotels crumbling exterior, the facade of which was maintained to match the 1928 original. The lobby also retains its original dignity and signature L-shape, with a bar and restaurant.

But the rooms required a near complete makeover. On my recent stay at the Padre, I spent $169 for a basic room on a Monday night. It included a comfy king-size bed with cozy bedding, a luxe shower and amenities and soft robes. Tiny water bottles, notably, cost $3 a piece.

The real scene doesnt happen in the rooms, or at least it didnt in my room (my mother joined me on the visit). To find the true happenings, one must venture downstairs to the hotels well-stocked bar and restaurant. There, locals gather to celebrate, off-the-clock workers sip their bourbons and out-of-towners relish the vibrant, modern cocktail menu. My mom and I sipped strong, well-made old fashioneds and noshed on generally forgettable pizzettas ($16). The true star of the night was our server, who dished out recommendations and charm at the ready.

The real reason I was looking forward to my stay at the Padre wasnt the food and drink but the folklore. Rumors of the hotels haunting abound. In 2012, even Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo stayed at the Padre, and she reported meeting a ghostly little girl.

I was visited by this little girl who apparently died in this hotel. I would wake up and write things down, Caputo said at the time. Among her notations included mention of a tiny handprint, which Johnson corroborated.

Johnson said a handprint on the basement level was noticed during Eat.Drink.Sleeps renovation. She said Caputo believes it belongs to the little girl who visited her.

During renovations, they kept trying to remove it, but it wouldnt go away, Johnson said. Were not at this point trying to get rid of it anymore.

Johnson said strange experiences that are very difficult to brush off or explain abound at the Padre Hotel. She recounted a personal anecdote in which she felt as if someone was pushing a supply closet door closed. When Johnson finally got the door open, it mysteriously slammed shut in her face.

Thats the most afraid Ive been so far, she said.

Ghost blogs and websites affirm the Padres haunted nature. A ghost hunting team, Amped, was reportedly brought in in 2017. They said they noticed movement in toys that were placed on a bed with buzzers to entice young children spirits to play with them, one blog wrote.

Some young spirits were seen on sensor screens as they played with the toys left on a bed, the blog added.

I didnt notice any ghostly happenings at the hotel myself during my stay. Perhaps I was too sleepy from the cocktails and the down comforter.

According to Johnson, staff members have reported all manner of strange occurrences. Theyll walk into a room to find an object they know they didnt put there. Items in the kitchen will move from place to place without being touched.

You feel a tug on your shirt, the music will turn up loudly and turn back down, she recounted. Little things are moved around that you know weren't there when you walked into the room.
Take a right on Interstate 80, just before the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and drive through the understated company town of Crockett, home to the C&H Sugar headquarters and refinery. You'll find a verdant, winding corridor strewn with mountain bikers, most of them heading to the Carquinez Strait Regional Shoreline.

A few miles in, overlooking the strait at the edge of the East Bay, is the destination: a charming port town named Port Costa  a town stuck in amber, honoring its past through near-total preservation, but navigating how to maintain its footing in the present.

And despite its charming, placid exterior, never have I felt like such an interloper, an intruder even, in a Bay Area place as I have during a day trip to Port Costa from my Oakland apartment on a Sunday afternoon.

To be clear, there was no hostility or ill will from any of the residents; just a feeling that visitors could hang out so long as we didnt overstay our welcome.

Port Costa was settled in 1879. It was a massive grain port with two major sister railroad ferries, the Solano and the Contra Costa. As connectors to the Central Pacific Railroad, the ferries were the largest of their kind at the time, transporting dozens of train cars across the strait on any given day up until 1930, when the ferries were decommissioned. (Metal scraps from the Solano were used as a breakwater for the nearby San Joaquin River.)

Joshua Bote/SFGATE

According to the Port Costa Conservation Society, the town was home to as many as 3,000 people at "the peak of the grain season"  many sailors and railroaders likely coming for the work. A less romantic notion in some accounts of Port Costa also suggests that the town was popular among vagabonds, who cherished the seedy, rough-and-tumble culture of the town.

Now, fewer than 200 people reside in Port Costa, despite sitting just an hour away from San Francisco and Oakland, and even closer to the sprawling suburbia in Contra Costa and Solano counties.

Its proximity to nature, relative to much of the surrounding Bay Area, is staggering. The strait, which is fed by the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers, is picturesque, but ever so often interrupted by the blare of an Amtrak or Union Pacific train shuddering by. (Locals dont seem especially happy that the city is cut by railroad tracks, inhibiting access to the strait, despite the towns historical ties to rail systems.) A few steps away from the Catholic church are bluffs bordering the strait, fenced away by East Bay park officials.

Joshua Bote/SFGATE

Signposts of its history permeate Port Costa. At Canyon Lake Drive, the towns primary corridor where its main shopping drag stands, dates fill plaques, as if Port Costa were one living, breathing timeline of the Bay Areas unvarnished past. The church, just off this main street, was founded in 1898; a fireproof wheat storage unit that serves as a visitors outpost was built in 1886. The latters plaque lists out all the tragedies that it survived, the earthquakes and fires that have decimated many Bay Area historic landmarks.

(The plaque also doubles as a tribute to James Phelan, the former San Francisco mayor who played a key role in the citys recovery after the 1906 earthquake, as well as the push to eliminate Chinese and Japanese migration to California.)

The Burlington Hotel, founded in 1883, boasts a worn, ornate quality, featuring 21st century renovations done in 2013, but the signage outside is the main draw. It advertises that it was once a bordello, a brothel, during its late 19th century heyday. Rumors also abound online that the hotel is haunted by the ghosts of former partiers and guests.

In the early 20th century, the Burlington Hotel was also seemingly a popular destination for grifters of all stripes, again the towns seedier appeal is palpable. Tales littered newspapers at the time of a thieving hotel clerk making away with hundreds of dollars and a San Francisco innkeeper leaving his wife and hopping on a train with their joint savings.

A wishing tree stands on the same street just a few yards from the hotel, with hundreds of tags seemingly tied during the pandemic. I opted not to read any; it didnt feel like my place to pry on what locals wished for.

Joshua Bote/SFGATE

Sitting at a lovely outdoor trailer park market with vendors peddling plants, fruit preserves, jewelry and other tchotchkes, with some of the best pizza Ive ever eaten in the East Bay, courtesy of a newly opened pizza shop named Dog Willing, I got the sense that my companion and I were visitors to a party we had merely slipped into, not uninvited or unannounced, but as flies on the communitys proverbial wall.

Shopkeepers buzzed to each others trailers, chatting about their goods and their days, seemingly bartering with each other  Ill give you this succulent for a latte, I imagined them saying to each other. One store owner struck up a conversation with a little girl about her flowery dress. A couple running a jewelry stand struck familiar banter with a woman perusing the wares. You get the sense that this exact scene had taken place the week before, with a familiar main cast of locals and a rotating, interchangeable stable of tourists.

I found some camaraderie inside a vintage and antiques shop called the Compulsive Peddler, one of the few shops that was open that day. Across the street is the Theater of Dreams, a fascinating studio and paper art gallery owned by the artist Wendy Addison, and the longstanding Port Costa Mercantile; neither seemed to be open on that Sunday.

Compulsive Peddler's purveyor of distinction, a sweet bespectacled man named JJ Levine, and I make idle chatter about the pizza at the trailer park market and a vintage poster celebrating Chez Panisses fifth anniversary tucked into the back corner of his shop. I spot a magnet of Marge and Homer Simpson, a peculiar pop culture artifact to be found in this old-fashioned treasure trove, which he lets me keep for free. (I pay him a fiver, mostly as a gesture of goodwill.)

And the more I looked around the main street, the more I found a municipality that felt at odds with the larger Bay Area landscape.

The sea of In this house signs signaling solidarity in liberal enclaves all over the bay meets its logical antithesis as you first enter Port Costa  a collection of signs plastered outside one residency, showcasing pro-Donald Trump, anti-liberal missives. Sure, many folks in the overwhelmingly blue Bay Area are not true-blue liberals  but still, perhaps a bit of a jarring indicator that even in the so-called Bay Area bubble there exist other, smaller bubbles.

And on the mostly residential stretch of the main street, beside cars with Oakland As paraphernalia and license plate holders advertising dealerships in neighboring Walnut Creek and Concord  is an arresting sign, posted on the facade of an older home.

It reads, Save Port Costa  Stop Development of the Lake, and the thought of a similar conversation concurrently taking place in San Francisco, the interminable war over development, rattles in my brain. The concern over too-rapid change, of ahistorical transitions, is as profound here as it is in the city; if the town is standing after surviving decades of natural disaster, why should wealthy developers change it, the sign and its poster seem to suggest. Port Costa, as removed as it may appear, cannot be extricated from the rest of the bay.

Port Costa is, in many ways, a worthwhile landmark for the stunning waterfront views and the charming, beat-up Victorian facades  a place that doesnt feel so different now as it did a century ago. And as we pulled away from the dirt lot and headed back onto I-80, the main thought I was left with was that the town is a reminder that the Bay Area can still be vast and unpredictable and unfamiliar, but only if youll let it.
Occurred on November 6, 2021 / Portland, Oregon, USA



Info from Licensor: "It was recorded on Saturday, Nov 6th in Portland, Oregon. 2 dudes where trying to go around each other kept honking, and then they hopped out arguing. The guy got his sword and started hitting the other dude's car (this is before I started recording). I just thought it was funny. It's a typical thing in Portland; road rage happens every day, so I started recording, and it escalated fast. I couldn't really hear what they where saying and I had my son in the car though so I didn't want to stay for the outcome. I got about 2 blocks away to my house, though, and didn't hear any shots."
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As the battle against COVID-19 continues and more workplaces are requiring proof of vaccination, many California employers are seeing an uptick in requests for religious exemptions. Here are some tips from employment attorneys on how to respond.

Accommodations can be granted for a variety of religious beliefs, practices and observances, according to Nancy Inesta, an attorney with BakerHostetler in Los Angeles. These include not only beliefs based on traditional organized religions, but also religious beliefs that are new or not very common.

If the worker qualifies for a religious exemption, the company must then determine whether it can provide a reasonable accommodation without causing an undue hardship on the business.

Businesses should review accommodation requirements under California and federal law and have a clear plan for handling these requests.

Religious Accommodation Laws

The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) covers sincerely held religious beliefs, observances and practices, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does so at the federal level.

In general, California law and federal law are quite consistent in this area, although there are certain key differences, said Tina Tellado, an attorney with Holland & Knight in Los Angeles.

Under both state and federal law, the definitions of what constitutes a religious belief are similar, but one major difference is the standard for denying a request for a reasonable accommodation.

According to guidance from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), a request can be denied if the company can show that the accommodation would impose a "more than de minimis" cost.

Under California law, an employer must show an "undue hardship" to avoid making an accommodation. According to Government Code Section 12926, an "undue hardship" would impose "significant difficulty or expense," when considering factors such as the size of the business and the employer's financial resources.

"There's a little heavier burden on California employers," according to Kate Gold, an attorney with Proskauer in Los Angeles.

Making these decisions can be very difficult, because the company must apply the law to the employee's specific situation. Businesses should make the determination on a case-by-case basis.

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Interactive Process

A key step for the company is to engage in the interactive processa back-and-forth dialogue with the employeeto determine if a reasonable accommodation is possible. During the interactive process, the employer and employee should discuss possible options based on the worker's specific needs and the employer's work environment.

A reasonable accommodation potentially could include remote work or regular COVID-19 testing. However, companies should proceed cautiously with the remote-work option.

According to guidance from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), "unless specifically requested by the employee, an accommodation related to religious creed is not considered reasonable if such accommodation results in the segregation of the individual from other employees or the public."

To meet this standard, the worker would need to request a telecommuting option.

Denying a Request

To deny a request for a religious accommodation, the company should be able to provide a legitimate business reason for doing so, according to Inesta. The reason should be based on the "reality of the workplace," not just theoretical issues, she added.

"Don't just assume that because it's a health and safety issue, that you can't accommodate the employee."



As one example, she noted that the employee might be able to work in an office alone.

"Employers need to be very careful," Inesta said. "They need to do an accurate and realistic assessment of the workplace."

If the worker isn't eligible for a religious exemption, the company has no legal requirement under FEHA to provide a reasonable accommodation, according to the DFEH guidance.

Compliance Tips

A mandatory workplace vaccination policy should clearly state how to request a religious accommodation. The process should be handled by human resource professionals or other experts with specialized training, Inesta said.

Have a form available for employees to request an exemption. The federal government offers a template, which can guide the company in this process, according to Tellado. On the form, the employee should explain the nature of the religious objection.

Review each request on an individualized basis. If there's an "objective basis" to question the employee's religious beliefs, the company can request additional supporting information, according to the EEOC guidance.

If necessary, seek legal advice for religious accommodation requests. "If employers feel on the fence, they should get legal counsel on whether they have sound reasoning," Inesta said.

Retaliation is prohibited. "Whether the request is approved or denied, the employer is not allowed to retaliate against the employee," Tellado said.

She noted that the issue of vaccine-related religious accommodation is an evolving area of law, so employers should stay informed about the latest developments.

Toni Vranjes is a freelance business writer in San Pedro, Calif.
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BHP chairman Ken MacKenzie has not ruled out shutting down its Mount Arthur coal mine in NSW if no buyer can be found for the mining giants last thermal coal mine.

The miner sold its Colombian thermal coal interests mid-year leaving the wholly-owned Mount Arthur open cut mine in NSW to be sold within a year to meet its target to exit the commodity.

Speaking at the dual-listed miners Australian annual general meeting on Thursday, Mr MacKenzie said current high coal prices had not shifted the companys view about the attractiveness of coal for power stations. However, with no news of potential buyers, when asked if the company would consider shutting down the operation instead of selling it, Mr MacKenzie said, we remain open to all options.

BHP chairman Ken MacKenzie. Credit:Peter Braig

Mr MacKenzie said BHP has had no access to the Chinese market for its thermal and metallurgical coal in 2021 and he did not expect that to change in the near term.
The French Revolution has finally arrived in Australia, led by the sharp lines of a little black dress instead of a guillotine. More than 240 pieces for Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto, opening at the NGV International on December 4, have been unpacked in Melbourne revealing how pockets, matching suits and unmatched sophistication changed the world for women.

I am always struck by the timelessness of Chanels work, said co-curator Miren Arzalluz, who oversaw delivery from the refurbished Palais Galliera in Paris, where the exhibition opened last year. There are 1930s dresses that you could see today on the catwalk. That was her modernity. The timelessness of her work.

Ellen Doyle, textile display specialist, prepares a pink suit (Spring 1966) from the NGVs own collection for the upcoming exhibition, Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto. Credit:Eddie Jim

With Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto making its international debut in Melbourne, Arzalluz is reclaiming Chanels reputation as a designer, which has been clouded by books and biographies exploring romances, her behaviour as a horizontal collaborator during the Nazi occupation of Paris and films where she has been played by a diverse roll call including Audrey Tatou, Kristen Stewart and Shirley MacLaine.

We didnt want to talk about the legend. We didnt want to talk about Coco Chanel. So, we reclaimed her name Gabrielle Chanel. We wanted to talk about her as a designer and not the legend.
International students who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, with vaccines recognised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, will not be required to quarantine when they arrive in NSW from next month.

The NSW government made the announcement on Friday afternoon, bringing the imminent arrivals in line with the scrapping of quarantine on November 1 for fully vaccinated returning Australians and their immediate families.

The NSW International Student Arrivals Pilot Plan allows 250 returning international students, studying with NSW education providers, to arrive in the state each fortnight from December 6.

Institutions including UTS, UNSW, The University of Sydney, Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University, The University of Newcastle, University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University have all signed up to the plan.

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The students must have been fully vaccinated with a TGA-recognised COVID-19 vaccine before touching down in Sydney.

The first flight will carry around 250 students from over 15 nations, including Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, China and Canada, with a second flight to bring in students from South Asia and India also scheduled, Premier Dominic Perrottet and Jobs Minister Stuart Ayres said in a joint release.

Mr Ayres said students will require Commonwealth Government approval to travel to Australia.

The first phase of the plan was to bring 500 international students back on chartered flights, paid for by the students, before the end of 2021.

Scape Redfern, which has more than 500 rooms, was flagged back in September as where students would complete 14-day quarantine. However, for the fully vaccinated that will no longer be required.

Students will return via flights to NSW from December until further notice through the pilot plans phased approach, the NSW government said on Friday. Scape Redfern will continue as the accommodation partner supporting international students as they return.
As a young union organiser, ACTU Secretary Sally McManus was among hundreds of volunteers who rushed to support the Port Botany picket when summoned via a labour movement telephone tree. She described Coombs as a dragon slayer who led his union to win against all the odds. The diminutive, white-haired Coombs was the MUAs public face throughout the Patrick dispute. Australians saw someone very straight and very passionate  a dogged fighter standing up for fairness and whats right. John Coombs in 1998 on Sydneys Hickson Road, adjacent to what has become known as Barangaroo. Credit:Fairfax Matched against the wiry ex-wharfie was the Machiavellian Patrick managing director Chris Corrigan. Coombs quickly made sure that Corrigan and Howard were justifiably exposed as the problem and union members recognised as the victims. In a Lord Nelson moment, Coombs, who wore hearing aids, turned not a blind eye, but a deaf ear to a court order aimed at keeping Corrigans commercial arrangements from the public. Coombs promptly announced the details at a media conference outside the courtroom.

Asked if he knew about the confidentiality order, Coombs replied: What was that? I couldnt hear a thing in there. The stand-off ended when the High Court found a prima facie case that Patrick had conspired with others to illegally sack the workers for being members of the union. Led by Coombs, the jubilant wharfies and their community supporters marched back to their place of employment on May 7. Coombs battles were not confined to the 1998 war on the waterfront. During a heated meeting over the sale of the Australian national shipping line with then prime minister Paul Keating, which both authors here attended, ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty  the architect of The Accord with the Labor government that locked in universal health care and superannuation  supported the MUA. Addressing members at Port Botany in the rain, 1998. Credit:Dean Sewell Kelty and Coombs enjoyed a trusted relationship critical to the trade union movement and a deep lifelong friendship based on loyalty, respect and shared values.

Coombs could always be relied on to reach out to workers in dire circumstances following generations of maritime workers commitment to social justice and peace. He was an internationalist, always prepared to use the MUAs strategic leverage for the benefit of workers at home and abroad. Under his leadership, the MUA put bans on 15 French ships in three ports on Bastille Day, 1995 after the Chirac government resumed nuclear testing in the Pacific. In 2000, 12 ships were targeted in protest against the Fiji military coup. International solidarity worked both ways. In the prelude to the 1998 lockout Coombs got a call from a deep throat inside the Canberra bureaucracy tipping him off about a covert operation to hire ex-commandos and serving soldiers to train as wharfies on the Dubai docks. Some were incredulous when Coombs pulled out the job advertisement for soldiers to train as stevedores in an army gazette. No fair dinkum, youve got to believe me, he said. Friend number one knew all about it, he told me everything. He had a bit of a posh accent and he said he didnt really like us, but he couldnt cop this kind of skulduggery.

John Coombs on the P&O docks at Botany in 1998. Credit:Fairfax Coombs, who was on the executive of the International Transport Workers Federation, joined global union leaders to meet with Dubai authorities. Anxious to avoid bans on their trade, they revoked the mercenaries visas. Throughout the dispute, the ITF and maritime workers around the world organised global black bans against ships that sailed from non-union Australian ports. Before retiring in 2000 after 38 years with the union, Coombs made one last contribution to maritime workers  ironically, in agreement with Chris Corrigan. Coombs chaired the industry superannuation fund and Chris Corrigan was its deputy chair. It fell to them to negotiate how to distribute the funds $88 million surplus. As union negotiator Coombs secured Corrigans agreement for the lions share of the surplus to go to the funds members  the workers  rather than the employers. It was the pairs first tentative step towards repairing what had earlier seemed irreparable. That was John Coombs  always putting members first. Chris Corrigan sent a floral tribute on his passing.

Loading Coombs had two women by his side during the waterfront dispute  his wife Gwen and ACTU president Jennie George, whose leadership role was well known. But Coombs often said he would not have got through the dispute without the support and partnership of his wife of more than 60 years. Never ever did Gwen think we would be defeated, he said. It was just a matter of time, she told me. It was a matter of standing up to them. We wouldnt have won without her. Son Garry, who was conspicuous on the picket line in his wheelchair during the Patrick dispute, died on May Day, 2009. I would go through the battle of the waterfront every day of my life if I could cure my son, Coombs once said. Losing his son was the hardest thing he ever experienced, granddaughter Bonnie said at his funeral.
With the sun now well and truly set on the chances of a federal election this side of Christmas, all eyes are on a 2022 polling date. But that doesnt mean that either major party is breathing easy.

ALP national secretary Paul Erickson and Liberal federal director Andrew Hirst get ready for the 2022 federal election. Credit:John Shakespeare

Spare a thought for the ALP national secretary Paul Erickson and assistant secretary Jen Light who have had to take a momentary break from both politics and office politics to focus on the office. To be precise, office logistics, and relocating Labors campaign team from around the country to Sydneys trendy inner-city Surry Hills to set up its election headquarters.

Its a monumental change from 2019 when Labor located its campaign nerve centre in Labor heartland Sydneys Parramatta - in what we can only guess was a touching gesture to the partys Western Sydney support base.

Why dump the West for the inner city? Its got nothing to do with coffee, were told. Its all about convenience and better public transport, it seems. Hello Oxford Street, goodbye WestConnex!
John saw that adolescents had their own specific health needs and decided to do something about it. He created the first adolescent medical ward in an Australian hospital, ensuring both an adolescent friendly environment and nursing staff with an interest in working with adolescents. He then set about creating a paradigm shift in the treatment of adolescents at RCH, changes that eventually led to the Centre of Adolescent Health and then the Department of Adolescent Health. He became internationally renowned in this area, was president of the Australian Association for Adolescent Health and council member of the International Association for Adolescent Health.

In addition to his roles at RCH, he was asked to oversee medical services at Geelong Grammar. He took on this role with characteristic enthusiasm and energy, travelling regularly to Geelong and also to the rural campus at Timbertop. He used this opportunity to develop many innovative health care pathways.

One of these was to develop a drug program to combat illicit drug taking that focused on education and rehabilitation as well as voluntary drug testing rather than expulsion. This was radical at the time and many students reported that the policy saved their lives. He continued his commitment to the school over three decades, continuing after his retirement from RCH into his early 80s. The school commemorated his input by naming a cafe in his honour at the Geelong campus.

In 1976, John was asked to take over editorship and responsibility for the Australian Paediatric Journal. Paediatrics was still a relatively new discipline, and the journal first established in 1965 was failing. As for all the many tasks he accepted, he took this on with gusto and made several decisions that were once again innovative at the time. He remained as editor (later editor-in-chief) for 25 years.

Following his retirement from RCH in 1994, he continued to work at GGS but also was an active member of the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria. In this role, he chaired a committee responsible for unwell doctors that were deemed impaired in their ability to practice medicine. Typical of his character, rather than a focus on reproach or punishment, he recommended this be regarded as a health issue that required appropriate independent support and treatment. This then led to development of an independent health service, the Doctors Health Service whose philosophy was aligned with his longstanding views that health issues should be separated from disciplinary ones.
Advocates and medical practitioners have stressed the need for better support for palliative care across NSW, as the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill re-enters State Parliament on Friday.

The states nurses union announced on Monday support for the proposed legislation, which would allow people with a terminal illness that is expected to cause death within six months to choose to end their lives following assessments by two medical practitioners.

While organisations of doctors who treat the elderly have previously opposed the bill, these positions have softened as more states legislate.

Debate on the voluntary assisted dying bill will begin on Friday. Credit:iStock

Palliative Care NSW told the states 2017 inquiry that improvements in palliative and mental health care needed to be made before the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill (VAD) was considered. Today, in line with changes to the national bodys guidelines, it believes the laws are a matter for government.
A 21-storey apartment building will tower over the northern end of Barangaroo under plans for the final piece of the urban renewal area in central Sydney, sparking fears it will block views from the historic Observatory Hill.

The tower will be the tallest at Central Barangaroo, and is planned to be built adjacent to the western entrance of a new $220 million metro train station, according to several sources with information about the long-awaited developments for the site.

Residents fear the 21-storey residential tower will cast a shadow in the morning over the park to be built in front of the Crown skyscraper, and block views to and from Observatory Hill.

The other buildings planned alongside Hickson Road will range in height from about 10 to 12 storeys. Central Barangaroo is an area between the headland park and the skyscrapers at the southern end of the 22-hectare precinct.
Andrew Taubman of Queens Park remembers that in the 1960s, his father gave some visiting Americans a bag of passionfruit (C8), as an iconic Australian food then virtually unknown in the USA. One wrote to him later to thank him for the interesting and novel fruit, but said that after you peeled them and threw the seeds away, there wasnt much left to eat!

Patrick St George of Goulburn can see a particularly good reason for washing passionfruit before use (C8). Mark Griffiths and others might like to try making some passionfruit skin jam. It is purple, sounds a bit strange, but it is really delicious.

One last A word peeve (C8), passed on by Rhoda Silber of Manly. My brother in Johannesburg nominates his word peeve as artisanal. He says so many people use it there, to describe everything from a sandwich to a bookcase.

Now that we have apparently exhausted the hated words commencing with A (C8), Terry OBrien of North Parramatta asks if it is time to move on to basically?

Todays most popular word peeve (C8) is, like, a generational thing. Flora Fisk of Bowral is like, not liking the ubiquitous like. Colleen Behl of Kiama observes that it has become such a habit for people under 30 to say like in conversation they dont realise how often they say it. Like seems to have replaced you know. Mark Roufeil of Wollongong wonders if the overuse of some words could be gender-specific. Females under 30 precede every verb and adjective with like, whereas young males overuse other words not suitable for print. Is this a connection mode within the separate gender groups thats same, same, but different? 
In the days before he killed his baby son, a Brisbane father sent a text message to his girlfriend when the infant wouldnt stop crying, saying: Im going to end up killing this kid soon.

Kozan Samual Thomas Ware, 35, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court to the manslaughter of his 24-week-old son Adrian Joshua Wommie Ware.

Baby victim Adrian Ware. Credit:Facebook

His sentence was not enough, according to the family of the babys mother, who wanted to dish out a traditional punishment to Ware, in the form of impaling him with a spear.

The families of the accused and the babys mother, of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander heritage, exchanged words while seated in the courtrooms public gallery.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has flagged continued restrictions on the venues that people not vaccinated against COVID-19 can visit beyond a 90 per cent double-dose rate until 2022.

Public health and infectious disease experts have backed such a move, which follows contentious Victorian plans to exclude unvaccinated people from hospitality, entertainment and non-essential retail settings until 2023, citing the differing scenarios faced by both states and need to limit risk.

Queenslands plan will be reviewed once the state hits a 90 per cent double-dose threshold, expected as late as mid-January, though Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said exclusions for unvaccinated people will remain. Credit:Matt Dennien

Under Queenslands plan to reopen borders, which will allow quarantine-free vaccinated domestic travel by air and road from December 17 at the latest, those aged 16 and over without both jabs will also be then barred from working in or visiting much of the hospitality and entertainment sectors.

Limits will also remain on weddings with unvaccinated people present, at funerals, and visits to vulnerable settings like hospitals and aged care homes. The rules will be reviewed once the state hits a 90 per cent double-dose threshold.
A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly assaulting, choking and cutting a womans throat with a knife in Brisbanes south.

Police said about 10am on Thursday morning, a 38-year-old woman went to a unit on Vitko Street in Woodridge to collect property, when a 35-year-old man allegedly assaulted and choked her.

The man, who was known to her, then allegedly used a knife to cause a significant laceration to her throat.

The woman was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital with significant head and facial injuries, but was in a stable condition.

The man contacted police about an hour after the incident, and he was arrested and then taken to Logan Hospital, where he remains under police guard.
Former prime minister Paul Keating has every right to express his long-held sympathies towards China and to share his views about how Australia should respond. But we should be equally frank about how misguided and dangerous they are.

Misguided because Keatings assessment of Australias security outlook in the Indo-Pacific does not reflect the reality of the deteriorating strategic environment of the region. And dangerous because if we were to follow Keatings advice it would be a recipe for a weaker Australia that is more isolated from our closest allies in an increasingly uncertain era.

Former prime minister Paul Keating delivers his address to the National Press Club on Wednesday. Credit:ABC

When a great powers words and actions align, its wise to pay close attention to them. Xi Jinping has vowed to reunify China with Taiwan as part of its grand national rejuvenation by 2049, promising to do this by force if peaceful means fail. Given Chinas increasingly frequent incursions into Taiwans airspace, in concert with its illegal militarisation of the South China Sea and its rapid expansion of its military capability, it is cavalier and irresponsible to not take them incredibly seriously.

In downplaying the likelihood and consequences of a Chinese military takeover of Taiwan, Keating claimed Taiwan was not a vital Australian interest and that Australia should therefore not be drawn into military conflict over Taiwan. This is a morally vacuous position which casts aside the aspirations and desires of 24 million free people, whose self-determination would be wiped out in the event of a Chinese annexation of the island.
Coffee, burgers, pasta and other popular menu items could soon cost customers up to 20 per cent more as hospitality businesses grapple with rising ingredient prices and a shortage of staff.

Some cafes and restaurants have already started putting up the price of drinks and meals, and the peak body for the hospitality sector has warned that such increases will soon become more prevalent.

Esther Sun, owner of Mums Burger Kitchen in Boronia. Credit:Paul Jeffers

Esther Sun, who owns Mums Burger Kitchen in Boronia in Melbournes east, recently increased the cost of her gourmet burgers by as much as $2.

Ms Sun said the price of a bread roll had risen by 20, beef had rocketed from $11 to $17 a kilogram and the charcoal she cooks her burgers over has doubled in price.
A crowded race to replace Tim Smith as the Liberal candidate for Kew could have a dramatic new entrant, with party powerbrokers encouraging David Davis to nominate for the seat.

The Shadow Treasurers potential tilt comes as former opposition leader Michael OBrien faces a preselection challenge in his seat of Malvern. Stonnington councillor Alex Lew is poised to run after senior party figures encouraged him to take on Mr OBrien, who said after losing the Liberal leadership in September that he planned to contest the next election.

Mr Davis confirmed he had been approached to run but did not canvass his intentions. He has until 1pm Friday to nominate.

Liberal MP David Davis has been asked by party powerbrokers to nominate for pre-selection for the seat of Kew. Credit:The Age

Mr Davis candidacy would reshape the preselection contest in the traditional Liberal seat, with Kew members facing a choice between one of the partys most senior figures and a new face such as Jess Wilson, a former Young Liberals president, or lawyer Virginia Wallace.
The Property Council is warning Melbourne will remain a ghost town as construction of office towers continues apace while workers are reluctant to return to the CBD.

Melbourne is at 4 per cent of its pre-COVID office occupancy levels and City of Melbourne data shows foot traffic has been down 80 per cent during the pandemic. One in five stores in the CBD was vacant last month.

Property Council executive Danni Hunter wants public servants to be required to return to the office. Credit:Joe Armao

However, many office buildings are under construction, with the city set to deliver more than 222,000 square metres of office space in the second half of this year  half of all new office space in Australia.

In a plan released on Thursday night, the Property Council called for public servants to be required to return to the office three days a week and for public transport to be free for three months once 90 per cent vaccination is reached.
A man police allege attended the September anti-lockdown protest in Richmond and Hawthorn that left ten police injured and resulted in 235 arrested has been charged with 20 offences, including assaulting police.

Detectives from Prime taskforce on Thursday morning charged a 52-year-old Elwood man with a range of offences, including assaulting police, intentionally causing injury, assault with a weapon, rioting and resisting police.

On September 18 protesters hurled projectiles and abuse at authorities before surging through the police line, screaming and being soaked in capsicum spray as they went. One female police officer was trampled in the chaos, with scuffles breaking out along the road.

Taskforce detectives allege the man threw a glass bottle directly at police officers on Burnley Street, causing injuries to two police officers.
Having done so, the backlash was fierce. It included receiving a card at the Violet Town home they share with wife, Kaye Bradshaw, telling them their baby daughter, Alex (now 13) was a devil child. That network of regional support centres still exists, and the family now splits its time between Violet Town and Melbourne, allowing Allen to pursue the advocacy career that put them in the states top human rights role earlier this year. Ro Allens daughter, Alex, speaks out in support of the Yes vote at an Equal Love rally in 2017. Credit:Chris Hopkins Allen says the jobs appeal was enhanced because human rights had become a flashpoint during the pandemic, with Indigenous, trans and disabled peoples rights pushed to the top of public consciousness  in part through debate about access and inclusion to vaccination among other services. Why wouldnt you want this job right now? Its the perfect storm: people are talking about their human rights, which gives you leverage to make change. What attracted me was the intersectionality  we have a lot of commissioners, seniors, gender equality, LGBTIQ. I saw this role as the kind of glue.

You can be Aboriginal and have a disability, or be queer, we can look at a lot of these things at the same time, its not a choice. I came out of the LGBTIQ space, and that is an attribute that is in all those communities, were Aboriginal, multicultural, people with disabilities, rural and regional. The next step for me was how do I take that [intersection of factors] to a bigger platform, Allen said. I dont know why toilets [and who is allowed in female ones] send people into hysterics. Every toilet at home is a gender-shared toilet. Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Ro Allen Employing more women of colour at the commission is already a priority for Allen, who acknowledges that coloured women, Aboriginal women and women with disabilities still do not enjoy the same privileges as white women. Theres [ongoing] white privilege. Until we acknowledge that, we dont have equality; theres the bamboo ceiling all these other ceilings. We need to check ourselves, they said.

Its the same as men having to make room for women at the board table; we have to make room for women of colour and people with disabilities, theres some movement around people with disabilities but not enough. It bothers Allen that human rights complaints from Aboriginal people are really low, because it might indicate a perception the system does not deliver tangible results for them. Allen, wants to be as engaged as possible in the development of a treaty with Indigenous Victorians. Loading They also want to reduce continuing demonisation of transgender people. Having spent six years in their previous role trying to answer the question of why trans people still experience so much stigma, I didnt come up with an adequate answer. It is very similar to the way gay and lesbian people were demonised 40 or 50 years ago; until you met one or had a relative or someone in the family come out as gay or lesbian, Allen said.

Stereotypes, especially around bathroom use, remain a problem. I dont know why toilets [and who is allowed in female ones] send people into hysterics, Allen said. Every toilet at home is a gender-shared toilet ... [but discrimination about using them] is something you confront every day as a non-binary person. Allen was once hit with a handbag by an older woman in a ladies toilet who assumed they were a man. They were born biologically female, but do not correct those who mis-pronoun them and are sometimes called he or she right through meetings  people can pronoun me as they see me. Allen is in favour of single-cell, all-gender, all-ability toilets to which anyone can have access. They want them closed in, wall-to-floor, to stop cameras being stuck under cubicles, which is a problem for trans people.

People say, Oh trans people are going to attack me in the toilets, [but] often its trans people getting attacked, said Allen. Single-cell, all outward-facing toilets would suit everyone, though some men may not like them because they may have to queue in a way they havent had to  there probably will be pushback. Loading But this is a human need, we just need to get it done. As Victoria continues its nation-leading progress in the field of universal human rights, Allens early experience remains a driver. Ive come to this job through lived experiences of discrimination; you experience it, and you go one way or another, they said.
One of Melbournes largest Catholic schools is yet to fix its underpayment of hundreds of staff between 2009 and 2018, more than two years after learning it owed them.

Aquinas College in Ringwood was alerted in late 2018 that it owed staff superannuation on their annual leave loading for the past nine years, affecting 470 current and former employees.

Former Aquinas College teacher Paul Morgan. Credit:Scott McNaughton

While some staff were paid, the school has not yet personally informed all the affected people that they are owed, nor pay their outstanding super.

Last week, Aquinas principal Darren Atkinson wrote to a staff advocate to apologise for the serious delay  which has stretched to almost 1000 days  admitting that the school continue[s] to struggle to finalise the relevant superannuation calculations. He claimed this was, in part, due to a lack of staff resources and a change in school software.
Shortages fuelled by supply-chain problems are popping up all over the world. In Europe, retailers have reported the highest rate of empty shelves in 30 years. In North America, Amazon has warned that a shortage of warehouse workers will slow down delivery times. In Britain, fear of missing out caused a surge of Christmas pudding sales in October.

Here in Australia, badly tangled global supply chains will soon threaten retailers with bare shelves and children with empty Christmas stockings. The toilet paper frenzy of 2020 was merely a dress rehearsal for what is about to take place in Australia over the next two months.

Australians have been urged to start their Christmas shopping early. Credit:Steven Siewert

This holiday season was always going to be busy. Australian consumers emerged from lockdown last month like taut rubber bands, ready to hit the shops. The trifecta of government stimulus, low interest rates and cash savings are likely to fuel a record Christmas spending bonanza.

Already new data is showing a rapid rise in consumer spending. Clothing retail is up 30 per cent and department stores are up 40 per cent from the lowest point in the lockdowns. Nearly one in three Australian consumers is planning to spend more this Christmas than last year. That extra demand alone would put a strain on retailers. But logjams at every step of the supply chain are about to compound the problem.
There are concerns Western Australia will fall short of its 90 per cent double-dose vaccination target with data revealing one in eight people remain hesitant to get the jab and a drop in uptake since sweeping vaccine mandates were announced.

WA requires about 184,000 of its 405,000 unvaccinated people to get immunised to reach its reopening target, which the state government anticipates will happen in late January or early February.

However, a survey undertaken by the Melbourne Institute showed nearly 288,000 West Australians  or 13 per cent of those eligible  remained hesitant to get the vaccine.

The data also revealed an up-tick in hesitancy the day after WA Premier Mark McGowan announced mandatory vaccines for 75 per cent of the states 1.4 million-strong workforce on October 20.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he doesnt believe hes told a lie in public life after French President Emmanuel Macron and former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull accused him of lying.

The French leader said he knew Mr Morrison lied to him over Australias decision to cancel its contract to build submarines in favour of securing nuclear submarine technology from the US and UK under the AUKUS pact. Mr Turnbull said Mr Morrison had lied to him multiple times when they worked together in the Coalition.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Paul Jeffers

When asked by 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell if he had ever told a lie in public life, Mr Morrison replied: I dont believe I have, no. No.

Mr Morrison said anyone in public life copped accusations and hed learned not to take them personally.
Johannesburg: South Africas last white president, FW de Klerk, who died on Thursday, apologised for the crimes committed against people of colour in a video released by his foundation on its website hours after his death.

In his message de Klerk also cautioned that the country was facing many serious challenges, saying: Im deeply concerned about the undermining of many aspects of the constitution, which we perceive almost day to day.

Frederik Willem (FW) de Klerk, who negotiated a peaceful transfer of power to a black-led government under Nelson Mandela in 1994, died aged 85 after a battle with cancer, his foundation said.

I, without qualification, apologise for the pain and the hurt and the indignity and the damage that apartheid has done to black, brown and Indians in South Africa, de Klerk said.
London: Britains Queen Elizabeth will attend a Remembrance Day Service on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said, in her first public engagement in person since she spent a night in hospital last month and was subsequently advised to rest.

Last month the 95-year-old queen spent a night in hospital for the first time in years for what the palace called preliminary investigations into an unspecified ailment.

Britains Queen Elizabeth. Credit:PA

She has been subsequently advised to rest, and has been undertaking light duties over the last few weeks including hosting some virtual audiences.

The Queen will attend the annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph on Sunday 14th November, Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Thursday (Friday AEDT) about the ceremony to remember those killed and wounded in conflict.
Warsaw: Countries bordering Belarus have warned the migrant crisis on the European Unions eastern borders could escalate into a military confrontation while Ukraine said it would deploy thousands more troops to reinforce its frontier.

Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia said Belarus posed serious threats to European security by deliberately escalating its hybrid attack using migrants to retaliate for EU sanctions.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to shut down the transit of Russian natural gas via Belarus. Credit:AP

This increases the possibility of provocations and serious incidents that could also spill over into the military domain, a joint statement by the countries defence ministers said on Thursday, local time.

While not an EU member, Ukraine is wary of becoming another flashpoint in the escalating migrant crisis. Kiev announced drills and the deployment of 8500 additional troops and police officers to the countrys long northern border with Belarus.
Somerset, KY (42501)

Today

A few showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Areas of patchy fog. Low 36F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

A few showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Areas of patchy fog. Low 36F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
HID Global hails the renewed promise of mobile access

Its been almost exactly a decade since HID Global launched the world's first university pilot of smartphones carrying secure mobile IDs. A lot has changed in the following 10 years. Todays technology has matured, advanced, and proliferated across a variety of high-value use cases. To catch up on the latest developments in mobile access, we contacted Luc Merredew, Product Marketing Director, Physical Access Control, at HID Global. Q: What has changed since the first pilot implementation of smartphones used for secure mobile identification? Merredew: One of the biggest milestones several years ago was when mobile access solutions achieved certification to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. With increasing awareness of cloud-based security threats and resulting high expectations from a solution, todays system owners, operators, and users insist on companies being able to demonstrate that they have had their services vetted by independent laboratories and/or agencies. When adopting mobile access solutions that maximise convenience and efficiency, and deliver dramatically improved user experiences, it is neither necessary nor acceptable to compromise security in either the physical or digital domains. Q: Do universities continue to be the biggest users? Mobile IDs on devices eliminate person-to-person credentials when accessing secured areas Merredew: The use cases have grown dramatically, spread evenly across all types of organisations in locations ranging from high-rise buildings to multi-campus global enterprises. But yes, universities continue to be big adopters, and they were among those most eager to leverage the technology so they could bring people back to campus in person during the pandemic. In this environment, mobile IDs on smartphones and other devices eliminate person-to-person credential (e.g., badge or ID card) issuance or revocation, as well as the need to physically touch cards, readers, or keypads when accessing secured areas. Q: How were mobile IDs employed by your customers as they brought people back to physical locations after the pandemic shutdown? Merredew: One example is Vanderbilt University, where the challenges of COVID-19 brought renewed attention to the importance of a modern system for identity management and access control that was compatible with Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth technologies. Members of the campus community could more conveniently access buildings and services with their mobile devices, and the university could efficiently provision and de-provision credentials remotely without person-to-person contact. More recently, Vanderbilt leveraged HID Mobile Access to deploy campus IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch through Apple Wallet. Q: Is there another example outside the university vertical? Merredew: Another example is the iconic tower Arcos Bosques Torre 1 in Mexico City, where the owners and tenants enjoy the simplicity of using their trusted mobile devices to seamlessly access their spaces. As with the Vanderbilt deployment, the drive for operational efficiency and convenience in the tower was combined with a desire to minimise the need for users to come in physical contact with the system. Having a solution like HID Mobile Access that delivers touchless entry and increased safety and security is important. Q: What have been the biggest mobile access advancements? The mobile credential provides contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services Merredew: One of the most important advancements was simplifying upgrade paths to mobile access. In the Vanderbilt example, our HID Reader Manager was used to upgrade the firmware on the universitys physical access control readers and extend support for NFC-based credentials in Apple Wallet. The university uses the HID Origo Mobile Identities API integrated with CS Gold, a higher education transaction system from CBORD, for credential lifecycle management. Another significant enhancement has been the expanded range of uses cases for the mobile credential, going beyond simply opening doors to include providing contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services such as time-and-attendance terminals, cashless vending machines, printers, computers, workstations, and many other applications. Q: Wearables are also having an impact. Merredew: Contactless mobile experiences are also delivered through wearable wristbands. One example is the Nymi band which, once authenticated, continuously authenticates the identity of the user until its removed from the wrist. This delivers zero-trust security principles and access control using convenient fingerprint and heartbeat biometrics to users seeking touchless authentication. Q: What is the impact of the cloud? Merredew: The move to a cloud-based system to issue and manage mobile identity credentials has unified, automated, and simplified identity issuance at a single facility or across any number of distributed office or remote work locations. Q: What should end users look for in a mobile access solution? Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader as well as cloud certificates, to ensure security and data privacy Merredew: Solutions should support the largest possible number of popular mobile devices  in HIDs case, this includes more than 250. Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader, and a secure key management process, as well as cloud certificates, to ensure both security and data privacy. Make sure the solution supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and both iOS and Android operating systems. Solutions that provide Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK) support offer direct access to the solutions access control hardware, speeding deployment while enabling integration partners to continue innovating products that deliver even better user experiences. Q: Wonder what this market will look like in 10 more years. Whats next for mobile access? Merredew: Future innovations are on the horizon with technologies such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connectivity, which HID expects will become ubiquitous on mobile devices. It provides unprecedented accuracy and security when measuring the distance or determining the relative position of a target. It is not HIDs expectation that UWB will replace Near Field Communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, but rather supplement Bluetooth and other technologies to provide the assurance, reliability, and granularity of device position that enables truly seamless experiences.
Enterprise, AL (36331)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to cloudy skies and rain overnight. Low 53F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma is reportedly one of a number of players being targeted by Liverpool ahead of the January transfer window.

Liverpool are reportedly plotting a triple swoop in the January transfer window to cover the loss of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The Reds are set to be without the key attacking pair for up to six weeks from the end of December due to their Africa Cup of Nations commitments.

Midfielder Naby Keita will also take part in the tournament, leaving the Premier League title contenders short in a few different positions during a busy time in the campaign.

According to reports from Italy, Liverpool are lining up moves for a number of players, with Villarreal winger Arnaut Danjuma among those being targeted.

As well as bringing in attacking cover, it is claimed that Jurgen Klopp's side are also looking to sign Marcelo Brozovic from Inter Milan to compensate for the loss of Keita.

Brazilian defender Bremer, who has impressed in Serie A for Torino, is another player rumoured to be on Klopp's wishlist for the January window.
Bir Lehlou (Saharawi Republic) 10 November 2021 (SPS)- The President of the Saharawi National Commission for Human Rights (CONASADH- in Spanish Abbreviation) sent a letter to the President of the International Commission for the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, calling on the ICRC and the UN to assume their full responsibility in the protection of Saharawi civilians, including Saharawi human rights defender Ms. Sultana Sidi Brahim Jaya, under Moroccan police asaults and illegal house arrest for one year so far.

The letter drew the attention of the ICRC President "to the increasingly alarming situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara due to the terrorist and retaliatory crimes committed by the occupying State of Morocco against defenseless Sahrawi civilians, human rights activists, journalists and bloggers who are exposed to daily atrocities and shamful barbaric and inhumane practices."

It considered that "t he responsibility of your humanitarian body (ICRC) is at stake due to its failure to fulfill its international obligations towards the Sahrawi civilians under Moroccan occupation," calling on Mr. Maurer " to urgently play your role within the framework of international humanitarian law and other relevant requirements of the Geneva Conventions, and to move quickly before it is too late, to stop this aggression against the family of Sidi Brahim Jaya"

CONASADH also called on the President of the ICRC "to urgently visit the occupied territories of Western Sahara to see first hand the situation of Sahrawi civilians within an occupied territory where the decolonization process has not been completed yet.

Following is the full text of the letter submitted to distination Today:

------------------------

Mr. Peter Maurer

President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR)

Avenue de la Paix 19

1202 Geneva

Dear Mr. President

I would like to address you very urgently through this letter to draw your attention to the increasingly alarming situation in the occupied territories of Western Sahara due to the terrorist and retaliatory crimes committed by the occupying State of Morocco against defenseless Sahrawi civilians, human rights activists, journalists and bloggers who are exposed to daily atrocities and shamful barbaric and inhumane practices.

In the occupied city of Bojador, the family of Sidi Brahim Jaya has been put under a tight siege since November 19, 2020, while the human rights activist, Ms. Sultana Sidi Brahim Jaya and her family continue to protest peacefully against the Moroccan occupation by symbolically raising the national flag of the Sahrawi Republic on their house.

As documented by widely disseminated photos, videos and reports by international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International (MDE 29/4404/2021), Sultana Sidi Brahim Jaya, her sister, El Waara Sidi Brahim Jaya, and other members of her family continue to be subjected to daily abuse, physical assault, sexual harassment and other forms of barbaric and degrading treatments committed by Moroccan security agents and thugs to the sold of the occupying authorities.

The most recent barbaric act of the Moroccan security forces against Sultana took place early on November 8, 2021, when the Moroccan forces of repression attacked the house of Jaya family in the occupied city of Bojador cowardly ransacking or stealing everything. Sultana, her sister El Waara and their 80 years old mother were beaten, dragged, stripped off their clothes and verbally insulted and intimidated. This time, instead of exposing Sultana to infection with Covid as it was done before, the Moroccan assaulters injected her with an unknown substance, they further poured a smelling liquid all over the house, an act that proves that the authorities of the Moroccan state of occupation are determined to intensify their terrorist and hideous attacks against Sahrawi civilians and human rights activists in the occupied territories of the Non-Self-Governing territory of Western Sahara, which is currently a war zone.

The situation of the Sahrawi political detainees, including the Gdeim Izik group, is still alarming as a result of the miserable conditions they suffer inside the prisons of the Moroccan state of occupation and the humiliating and retaliatory practices practiced against them by Moroccan prisons administration.

To protest against the continuation of their illegal imprisonment and the degrading treatment they are subjected to, some of the detainees of the Gdeim Izik group in the prisons of the Moroccan state of occupation led consecutive hunger strikes protesting against the ignorance of their plight. The case of Yahya Mohamed El Hafed Iazza, the Sahrawi political prisoner, who spent so far the longest imprisonment period in Moroccan jails, is of particular concern as he has launched several hunger strikes to protest his unjust detention and denial of his basic rights to family visits and health care. Of similar concern is also the deteriorating condition of the political detainee, Mr. Mohamed Lamine Haddi, on hunger strike for over a month so far.

We call upon you once again to urgently intervene to end the suffering of all Sahrawi political prisoners and their families and to ensure their immediate and unconditional release, so that they can return to their homeland and be reunited with their families.

Mr. president,

The responsibility of your humanitarian body is at stake due to its failure to fulfill its international obligations towards the Sahrawi civilians under Moroccan occupation.

Accordingly, we call on you to urgently play your role within the framework of international humanitarian law and other relevant requirements of the Geneva Conventions, and to move quickly before it is too late, to stop this aggression against the family of Sidi Brahim Jaya. We also call on you to urgently visit the occupied territories of Western Sahara to see first hand the situation of Sahrawi civilians within an occupied territory where the decolonization process has not been completed yet.

We also consider that any delay in your intervention to protect Sahrawi civilians under occupation, would be a wrong signal given to the Moroccan occupying state that will embolden it to continue disregarding the rules of the Geneva Conventions and persisting in its systematic repressive practices in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, which are living an unprecedented situation characterized by an aggressive and retaliatory war waged by Morocco on defenseless Sahrawi civilians under the nose of the United Nations and its Mission supposedly in charge of the organization of a referendum in Western Sahara.

Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Mr. Abba ElHaissan

President of CONASADH." (SPS)

090/500/60 (SPS)
John Moran Auctioneers via YouTube

One of the first Apple computers, dubbed Apple-1 and nicknamed "Chaffey College" was auctioned at WeWorks (Boston, United States) for the amount of $ 375,000. This item was owned by a person who purchased it directly from The Byte Shop, the store where Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak originally sold their computers.

According to CNN reports , what makes this team so special is that it is one of the 200 manufactured by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak at the beginning of their venture to create Apple, a company that started as a business in a garage and became one of the most important technology companies in history with a value of more than two trillion dollars.
Known for his anthemic speeches, President Barack Obama aimed to touch millions with his messages of civility, patriotism and hope during his presidency.

Those speeches became the focal point for a new symphonic piece by The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra that premiered in town last month. And now, it has gone viral.

"A More Perfect Union," the latest performance from the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, went viral after a video by NowThis, an internet-based news organization, amassed more than 59,000 views on Facebook and more than 29,000 views on Twitter.

"It was the brainchild of Yuga Cohler [music director of the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra] and me, and was the result of many conversations about how we can get classical music to speak to more people, to make it feel as though its relevant in their lives," composer Paul Fruct said in the video. "Were inspired by President Obamas soaring oratory, [and] we felt that combining that and harnessing the power of the orchestra would be a way to do just that; to make it feel as though this piece was speaking to people about their lives."

The five-minute video delves into the themes of Obama's speeches and how they're manifested through the symphony. It also highlights the relationship between Ridgefielder Cody Keenan, Obama's speechwriter and collaborator, and the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra.

The six speeches highlighted in the performance take place in chronological order and features notable oratories such as his Address on the 50th Anniversary of the Selma, Alabama March and 2013's "On U.S. Military Action in Syria." Baritone Jorell Williams takes elements from those speeches and vocalizes them to fit the orchestral arrangement.

"I dont know the first thing about writing music or even how to read it  it feels totally foreign to me, but [Frucht] walked me through what it entails," Keenan said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media in September. "The one thread through all those speeches ... is what kind of country do we want to be, and the answer is never as easy as we think it is. Each of them tell a bigger story about who we are and who we can be as a country and a people."

A pre-recorded performance of "A More Perfect Union" is available to re-watch through the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra website.
GREENWICH  When asked why she joined the U.S. Navy 78 years ago, Winona Mullis of Greenwich is quick to mention the practical reasons: Her mothers brothers were in that branch of the service and she liked the crisp look of the womens uniforms.

But as she talks about that time, its clear the true depth of the 98-year-olds patriotism runs just as deep this Veterans Day as it did on the day in high school that she was chosen to carry the American flag in a local parade.

It was such an exciting time, waving that flag, Mullis said in an interview with Greenwich Time. It really means something to you. This is my country!

As military veterans across the country prepare to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day, the end of World War I, this World War II vet took time to reflect on her service and how it has shaped her life.

Born in western Pennsylvania and a graduate of Johnstowns Central High School, Mullis spent a year at Indiana State Teachers College before she volunteered with the Navy in 1943, training as a codebreaker at IBM. She was one of the first WAVES, which stands for women accepted for volunteer emergency service.

After training at IBMs Madison Avenue headquarters, she shipped out to a base in Bremerton, Wash., that is located on Puget Sound. She was a Specialist I, and was assigned to a group of women trained in programming, tabulation and other skills useful for the war effort.

There were six of us in our party and, at the base, there were three other women there, said Mullis. That had to make special quarters for us.

She remembers the destroyers and other larger ships coming to the base for repairs after battle. Mullis was also on hand for visits from dignitaries, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was discharged in March 1946, after securing the base and closing all the offices after the end of World War II.

There were about 150 women there eventually. They did all kinds of work, she said. It was a fascinating time.

With the war won, Mullis turned her attention back to teaching, completing her bachelors degree in Ohio and working for 39 years as a teacher.

I always wanted to be a teacher, she said. I was the seventh of eight children. My mother told me I used to line up pillows on the davenport and pretend (it was a classroom) when I was 5 years old.

Most of her career was spent teaching high school in Michigan, where Mullis had a family of her own. She moved to Greenwich about 22 years ago to be closer to her daughter, who had secured a post as an anesthesiologist at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City.

I loved my job, she said. I loved the students. I loved seeing their minds open up.

Even after her official retirement, Mullis spent many years teaching English as a second language and tutoring from home and at the Greenwich Senior Center and at a local church. In addition, she served as a member of the Representative Town Meeting for a decade and tabulated absentee ballots for the registrar of voters.

Active in senior center leadership, Mullis also worked at many blood drives at her church just around the corner from where she lives today.

Ive tried to pay back for all Ive been given, she said. I had a charmed life.

In 2019, Mullis was an honored guest at the towns Memorial Day celebration, as a fine example of women who had sacrificed for their country. Peter Le Beau, commander of Greenwichs American Legion Post 29, praised the countless legions of wives, mothers and sisters that built our warships, fighter planes and tanks.

They gave so much and (did it) time and time again, he said. In a very real sense, what they did was as meaningful as the bloodshed in combat by our boys.

The concept of selflessness and duty is not lost on Mullis.

Im very sentimental about that, the Greenwich resident said, remembering marching in another parade during basic training. Seeing that flag waving in front of you. Thats my flag!

Your chest would be puffed up.
Google Streetview / Contributed

STAMFORD  The Stamford YMCA has reached an agreement with the government to resolve allegations that the facilitys child care programs and other services were not accessible to a child with autism, according to federal officials.

Leonard C. Boyle, acting U.S. attorney for Connecticut, announced Wednesday that Stamford YMCA reached the settlement after being accused of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Stamford YMCA is a private entity that runs child care facilities, which are considered places of public accommodation within the ADA.
A bird's-eye view of Connecticut's foliage

Take some time to relax and enjoy the whimsical wonder of Connecticut's fall foliage with this visual experience of Fairfield County.
MIAMI (AP)  A businessman accused of siphoning off millions in state contracts from Venezuela met secretly with U.S. law enforcement to provide intelligence against Nicolas Maduros government prior to being charged in 2019 with money laundering, according to new filings in a related case against a disgraced University of Miami professor.

Bruce Bagley, who prior to his arrest in 2019 had been a top expert on organized crime in Latin America, is set to be sentenced next week in Manhattan federal court on two counts of money laundering tied to nearly $3 million in payments he received from the businessman, Alex Saab.

In a request for leniency, Bagley's attorney argued that his client was told that the payments, the bulk of which he forwarded to an unnamed intermediary's bank account, were to conceal payments to attorneys in the U.S. who accompanied Saab to meetings in which he allegedly provided law enforcement officials intelligence on Venezuela's government.

It is uncontradicted," attorney Peter Quijano wrote in a heavily-redacted 27-page sentencing memorandum filed Wednesday, that Saab and the intermediary came up with this wire-transfer method in order to hide Saab's payments to U.S. attorneys from prying eyes in Venezuela.

After The Associated Press reported on the meetings, the sentencing memo was deleted from the public docket, on instructions from Judge Jed Rakoff, and then refiled with details of Saab's meetings with U.S. officials redacted.

Saab was extradited last month to the U.S. from Cape Verde following a bitter legal fight that has strained relations between Washington and Caracas.

The U.S. has described Saab as the main conduit for corruption in Venezuela, someone who reaped huge windfall profits from dodgy contracts to import food while millions in the South American nation starved. The Maduro government considers him a diplomat who was kidnapped while on a humanitarian mission made more urgent by U.S. sanctions.

It's not clear what was discussed at the meetings, which have not been previously reported, nor whether Saab offered any meaningful assistance or simply used the opportunity to sniff out information about the U.S. probe into his own activities.

David Rivkin, one of Saabs attorneys, strongly rejected the claim that his client had ever cooperated with American officials as totally false.

At all times, Alex Saab has been a loyal citizen of Venezuela and has conducted all of his activities with the full knowledge and blessing of the government of Venezuela, said Rivkin.

But Bagley's explanation tracks with the account of three people familiar with the investigation into Saab who said that he met with U.S. federal law enforcement, including agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, on multiple occasions in Colombia and Europe prior to being charged in 2019. The three individuals spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the meetings.

U.S. prosecutors and investigators frequently meet with criminal suspects outside the U.S. when they are seeking to recruit them to provide assistance against a bigger target in exchange for promises of confidentiality and the possibility of leniency.

But any meetings attended by Saab would have entailed major risks for the Colombian-born businessman given his close ties to Venezuela's ruling elite, including Maduro's own family.

Federal prosecutors in Miami indicted Saab in 2019 on money-laundering charges connected to an alleged bribery scheme that pocketed more than $350 million from a low-income housing project for the Venezuelan government.

Separately, Saab was sanctioned by the previous Trump administration for allegedly utilizing a network of shell companies spanning the globe  in the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Hong Kong, Panama, Colombia and Mexico  to hide huge profits from no-bid, overvalued food contracts obtained through bribes and kickbacks. Several of his associates, including a longtime business partner and a pro-government former governor, were indicted last month for involvement in the alleged scheme.

Some of Saabs contracts were obtained by paying bribes to the adult children of Venezuelan first lady Cilia Flores, the Trump administration alleged when it announced the sanctions. Commonly known in Venezuela as Los Chamos, slang for the kids, the three  children of Flores from a previous relationship  have themselves been under investigation by prosecutors in Miami for several years.

The U.S. attorneys office in Miami, which is handling the investigation into Saab, declined to comment.

Rivkin said Saab never met Bagley or ever worked with him in any capacity. However, that would appear to contradict what Saab told the newspaper El Espectador in Colombia. In an April interview, Saab said that he was saddened by Bagleys legal problems and that the University of Miami professor had been recommended to him as an expert who could help defuse what he saw as a politically motivated money laundering investigation.

Whatever their relationship, Bagley's role in Saab's alleged graft network appears to have been relatively minor.

Saab initially hired Bagley to help get a student visa for his son and later sought his advice on investments in Guatemala, according to prosecutors. Then starting around November 2017, Bagley began receiving monthly deposits of approximately $200,000 from a purported food company based in the United Arab Emirates. Additional funds were wired from an account in Switzerland.

He then transferred 90% of the money into the accounts controlled by an informant in the belief they would be forwarded to Saab's U.S. attorneys. But Bagley kept a 10% commission for himself and continued to accept the cash even after one of his accounts was closed for suspicious activity. In total he received nearly $3 million, according to prosecutors.

The informant's name is redacted from Wednesday's sentencing memorandum. But in court last year to plead guilty, Bagley identified him as Jorge Luis Hernandez, a longtime U.S. informant in anti-narcotics cases from his native Colombia better known by his nickname Boli. Hes also served as a broker connecting narcos with American defense attorneys.

Bagley, an expert on Colombias criminal underworld, had provided testimony in support of Hernandez when he applied for asylum in the U.S. arguing he would be killed if he were deported to Colombia, where he had ties with right-wing paramilitary groups who then dominated drug trafficking along the the Caribbean coast.

Over the years, Hernandez proposed to Bagley lucrative business proposals to provide consulting services to top politicians from around Latin America, including a Colombian governor, Kiko Gomez, with ties to far-right militias and an unnamed presidential candidate from Paraguay.

On one occasion in 2019, Bagley traveled to New York to meet with Luis Dominguez Trujillo, a presidential hopeful from the Dominican Republic and grandson of the Caribbean island's former dictator, Rafael Trujillo. Unbeknownst to Bagley at the time, the meeting was being surveilled at the direction of New York prosecutors.

But Dr. Bagley, who was not motivated by the lure of a great deal of money, rejected (Boli's) job offer to work for a seemingly shady politician, thus defeating that particular attempt of (Boli) to deliver a defendant, Quijano wrote.

When Bagley did finally yield to Hernandez's entreaties, he thought it was to protect Saab from possible retaliation by powerful officials in Venezuela if they were to suspect he was cooperating with the United States, Bagley's attorney said.

The concern was not with the United States becoming aware of these payments but individuals in and the government of Venezuela discovering them," Quijano wrote. Saab agreed with (Boli) that their financial connection would make many important people in Venezuela nervous, considering his close ties to some of the government officials there. For the same reason, Saab could not pay his attorneys in the United States directly.

However, prosecutors contend that Bagley knew the funds were the product of corruption and state funds ultimately being taken from some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in the world.

Yes. It is corruption, the professor told Hernandez in one recorded conversation from a December 2018 meeting, adding that he knew Saab was deeply involved in the importation of food on behalf of the Maduro government. They have imported the worse quality products with inflated prices, and they have filled their pockets with money.

Prosecutors argue that Bagley in statements to law enforcement has yet to show real remorse or fully acknowledge his role in serious criminal conduct. They nonetheless are urging Judge Jed Rakoff to impose a lighter jail sentence than the recommended 46 to 57 month range due to Bagley's age  he's 75  and deteriorating health.

Bagley retired from the University of Miami last year after a long career as an international studies professor. A top expert on money laundering and organized crime, he wrote numerous books on the subject, testified before Congress and was regularly hired as an expert witness in court. As part of his request for leniency, lawyers provided the names of 39 individuals on whose behalf he testified as part of their asylum requests or immigration proceedings.

___

Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman
In honor of Veterans Day, a group of Democratic lawmakers is reviving an effort to pay the families of Black service members who fought on behalf of the nation during World War II for benefits they were denied or prevented from taking full advantage of when they returned home from war.

The new legislative effort would benefit surviving spouses and all living descendants of Black WWII veterans whose families were denied the opportunity to build wealth with housing and educational benefits through the GI Bill.

Since 1944, those benefits have been offered to millions of veterans transitioning to civilian life. But due to racism and discrimination in how they were granted through local Veterans Affairs offices, many Black WWII veterans received substantially less money toward purchasing a home or continuing their education.

A House version was introduced by Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, the Democratic majority whip, and Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts.

This is an opportunity for America to repair an egregious fault, said Clyburn of the bill introduced last week. Hopefully it can also begin to lay a foundation that will help break the cycle of poverty among those people who are the descendants of those who made sacrifices to preserve this democracy.

Moulton, a Marine veteran who served four tours during the Iraq War, said: There are a lot of Black Americans who are feeling the effects of this injustice today, even though it was originally perpetrated 70 years ago.

I think that restoring GI Bill benefits is one of the greatest racial justice issues of our time, he said.

A Senate bill was to be introduced later this month by Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock of Georgia, the son of a WWII veteran.

Weve all seen how these inequities have trickled down over time, Warnock said, adding that the bill represents a major step toward righting this injustice.

The legislation, authored by Moulton, would extend the VA Loan Guaranty Program and GI Bill educational assistance to Black WWII veterans and their descendants who are alive at the time of the bills enactment. It would also create a panel of independent experts to study inequities in how benefits are administered to women and people of color.

Lawrence Brooks, who at 112 years old is the oldest living U.S. veteran, was drafted to serve during WWII and assigned to the mostly-Black 91st Engineer General Service Regiment.

The Louisiana native, who has 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, always believed that serving his country was the only way he could leave behind his life as the son of sharecroppers, said his daughter, Vanessa Brooks.

But after he was discharged in August 1945 as a private first class, he did not realize his dream of going to college, working instead as a forklift driver before retiring in his 60s. He always wanted to go to school, his daughter said.

And when he bought his home, he used his retirement fund, not GI Bill benefits, she said .

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Servicemens Readjustment Act into law in 1944, making generous financial subsidies available to 16 million WWII veterans pursuing higher education and buying their first homes. Irrespective of race, veterans who served more than 90 days during the war and had been honorably discharged were entitled to the benefits.

But after returning from the war, Black and white veterans faced two very different realities.

Because the GI Bill benefits had to be approved by local VA officers, few of whom were Black, the process created problems for veterans. This was particularly acute in the Deep South where Jim Crow segregation imposed racist barriers to homeownership and education.

Local VA officers there either made it difficult for Black veterans to access their benefits or lessened their value by steering them away from predominantly white four-year colleges and toward vocational and other non-degree programs. Meanwhile, the nation's historically Black colleges and universities saw such a significant increase of enrollment among Black veterans that the schools were forced to turn away tens of thousands of prospective students.

Sgt. Joseph Maddox, one of two WWII veterans Moulton and Clyburn named their bill after, was denied tuition assistance by his local VA office despite being accepted into a masters degree program at Harvard University.

When it came time to pay the bill, the government just said no, said Moulton, who himself attended Harvard on the GI Bill. It actually is pretty emotional for vets who have gone through this themselves and, like myself, know what a difference the GI Bill made in our lives.

The bill is also named for Sgt. Isaac Woodard, Jr., a WWII veteran from Winnsboro, South Carolina, who was brutally beaten and blinded by a small-town police chief in 1946 after returning home from the war. The acquittal of his attacker by an all-white jury helped spur the integration of the U.S. armed services in 1948.

In contrast to the treatment of Black veterans, the GI Bill helped home ownership rates soar among white veterans in a post-war housing boom that created a ripple effect their children and grandchildren continue to benefit from today.

Of the more than 3,000 VA home loans that had been issued to veterans in Mississippi in the summer of 1947, only two went to Black veterans, according to an Ebony magazine survey at the time.

The Federal Housing Administrations racist housing policies also impacted Black WWII veterans, undoubtedly fueling todays racial wealth gap. Typically referred to as redlining, realtors and banks would refuse to show homes or offer mortgages to qualified homebuyers in certain neighborhoods because of their race or ethnicity.

Preliminary analysis of historical data suggests Black and white veterans accessed their benefits at similar rates, according to Maria Madison, director of the Institute for Economic and Racial Equity at Brandeis University, who has researched the impact of racial inequities in the administration of GI Bill benefits.

However, because of institutional racism and other barriers, Black veterans were more limited in the ways in which they could use their benefits. As a result, the cash equivalent of their benefits was only 40% of what white veterans received.

After adjusting for inflation and for market returns, that amounts to a difference in value of $170,000 per veteran, according to Madison. Her ongoing research seeks to put a dollar amount on the wealth loss to Black families caused by racism and GI Bill inequities.

Black WWII veterans who were lucky enough to have gained full access to GI Bill benefits succeeded at building good lives for themselves and their families, said Matthew Delmont, a history professor at Dartmouth College. Its a clear argument, he said, for why the new legislation is necessary.

Because the GI benefits werent distributed more evenly among Black veterans, we lost an entire generation of Black wealth builders, Delmont said. After the war, we could have had even more doctors, lawyers, teachers and architects.

Dovey Johnson Roundtree, a Black woman who was a WWII veteran, attended Howard University's law school with GI Bill benefits. She then became a nationally known Washington criminal defense attorney who played a pivotal role in the desegregation of bus travel.

And WWII veteran Robert Madison, who served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, credited his GI benefits for his success as a renowned architect.

____

Morrison reported from New York City. Stafford reported from Detroit. Both are members of the APs Race and Ethnicity team. Follow Morrison on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorison. Follow Stafford on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/@kat__stafford.
GREENWICH  With high demand from many of the youngest students in town to begin receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the towns cohort of residents over the age of 65 hit a milestone when it came to their vaccination rates.

The vaccination became available to children ages 5 to 11, an age group that had previously been ineligible, last week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave approval.

In town, Greenwich Hospital is offering vaccination clinics for parents to bring in their children  and all 110 pediatric vaccine appointments over the weekend were quickly filled, hospital President Diane Kelly said during a COVID update on Wednesday afternoon.

Were happy with that, and we have had to open up additional appointments based on the very positive feedback and the demand from people wanting to get their children vaccinated, Kelly said. Were going to be expanding clinic hours until 8 p.m., and hopefully that will allow for more accommodation.  We filled up pretty quickly.

The hospital is booking pediatric vaccine appointments for Nov. 11, Nov. 13, Nov. 18, Nov. 19 and Nov. 21 and for the second vaccination doses on Nov. 28 until 4 p.m., and on Dec. 2, Dec. 4, Dec. 10, Dec. 11 and Dec. 12 until 8 p.m.

Most of the appointments are offered on weekends because kids are in school on weekdays, Kelly said. The extended hours until 8 p.m. offer more flexibility and availability.

The young children  many of whom are students in elementary or middle school  will receive size-appropriate doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

To make an appointment for a childs vaccination at Greenwich Hospital, visit www.ynhhs.org/patient-care/covid-19/Vaccine/get-your-covid-vaccine.

The state Department of Public Health and Griffin Hospital are holding clinics for children ages 5 to 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov.13 at New Lebanon School, Nov. 14 at Hamilton Avenue School and Nov. 21 at Julian Curtiss School.

The demand for vaccines remains high among Greenwichs older population as well. The rate of town residents age 65 who are fully vaccinated is 91 percent, with 100 percent of those residents at least partially vaccinated, according to Barbara Heins, executive assistant to First Selectman Fred Camillo.

Seniors rock, Heins declared.

That is so good, Kelly said.

The vaccination rates in town have increased in all age groups, except in the 25- to 44-year-old cohort, which remains at a 66.65 percent who are fully vaccinated, said Heins.

Kelly urged more residents to get vaccinated againt COVID-19.

It is concerning and the reason I say that is backed up by the fact that the majority, and close to all of the (COVID-19) patients, that are requiring hospitalization at this point are non-vaccinated, Kelly said. That data speaks for itself.

In the 12- to 17-year-old age group, 87.17 percent of town residents are fully vaccinated; for the 18- to 24-year-old group, it is 81.1 percent fully vaccinated; and for the 45- to 64-year-old age range, it is 81.42 percent fully vaccinated, she said.

Because of the demand for pediatric COVID-19 vaccines, Greenwich Hospital is not currently taking appointments for anyone over the age of 12 to receive booster shots. Residents are advised to go to local pharmacies for the booster.

The town will hold a booster vaccine clinic from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 at Town Hall. The clinics will offer Moderna boosters to anyone who is eligible, which covers residents age 18 or older who received their original shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago or the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least two months ago.

Appointments must be made in advance through the federal VAMS system at https://bit.ly/3bFhUmR. Identification and proof of earlier vaccinations must be brought to the clinic.

As of Wednesday, Greenwich Hospital was treating four COVID-positive patients, with one in the intensive care unit on a ventilator, officials said. Overall in the Yale New Haven Health System, of which Greenwich Hospital is a part, there are 69 COVID patients hospitalized.

That number has been at a steady level and is evidence of a leveling off in case numbers in the region, Kelly said.

As of Tuesday, there have been 5,902 cases of COVID diagnosed in Greenwich since the pandemic began, which is an increase of 23 since last week, Heins said. The town Department of Health is monitoring 28 cases as active, which is an increase of five.

Overall, 96 residents have died after receiving a COVID-19 diagnosis, a number that has held steady over the last two weeks, Heins said.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com
Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of The Ben Shapiro Show, and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com. He is the author of the New York Times bestsellers How To Destroy America In Three Easy Steps, The Right Side Of History, and Bullies.
A massive modular home factory will open in the former Sears warehouse that spreads through Hanover Twp., Sugar Notch and Warrior Run.

Praxis Modular will open the largest volumetric modular factory in North America at 1055 Hanover St. in the Hanover Industrial Estates.

The 275,000-square-foot facility is four to five times larger than most modular manufacturers and the output will be five to six times greater than the conventional modular manufacturers, Praxis announced in a news release.

About 120 new jobs will be created at the new location where Praxis will produce wood, light gauge steel or structural steel modules for projects throughout the northeast, said Gloria Westgate, Praxis Modular chief business development officer.

Were looking at making a big impact on the housing market, Westgate said.

Jeff Amengual, CEO of Praxis Modular, said the expansive facility will include two production lines and state-of-the-art technology including automation and robotics.

An innovation center also will be added for research on new methods of building modular homes and smart homes, Westgate said.

Amengual founded Praxis Modular in 2020.

The entire building in the Hanover Industrial Estates is more than 1 million square feet and spreads across more than 127 acres.

The massive Sears warehouse formerly located there closed in 2019 and more than 120 people lost their jobs.

Praxis Modular will occupy more than a quarter of the building and just signed a lease with LBA Logistics real estate company, Westgate said.

She said the company is looking to fill a variety of positions including carpenters, roboticists, software engineers and drafters.

Salaries will vary depending on positions and skill level but Westgate said they will be competitive. She said company officials are working with area colleges and universities including Luzerne County Community College, Wilkes University and Johnson College in Scranton to fill jobs.

Praxis Modular also will participate in career fairs on college campuses and will hold career fairs at the factory, she said.

Jobs are advertised online on indeed.com and people can apply for jobs by email at careers@praxismodular .com.
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Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Higher wind gusts possible..

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Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 32F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Higher wind gusts possible.
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As many as 82,161 vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson were administered in the last 24 hours, including 25,289 which represent the first dose, 33,612 - the second dose and 23,250 - the third dose, Romania's National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) informs on Thursday.

According to CNCAV, since the beginning of the anti-COVID vaccination campaign, on December 27, 2020, there have been 13,513,901 doses administered to 7,397,941, including 6,681,072 who received the full scheme and 1,106,455 immunized with the third dose.

In the last 24 hours there have been 40 adverse reactions recorded, 7 local type and 33 general type.

In total, since the start of the vaccination campaign, there have been 18,967 adverse reactions recorded in anti-COVID vaccines, 2,037 local type and 16,930 general type.
Freedom, in the name of the Romanian soldiers that sacrificed their lives in theaters of operation, in the last 30 years, can last only as long as valued and defended, was the message sent on Thursday by the acting Minister of Defence, Nicolae Ciuca, on the occasion of Veteran's Day, agerpres reports.

He took part in a ceremony where he placed wreaths at the Monument of Heroes fallen in Theaters of Operations and in Romania, which is the Tineretului Park in the Capital.

"Let us remember the veterans every day, not just on the occasion of such events, whether this is about Romanian soldiers from the Second World War or those that took part in mission in theaters of operations. It is important to collaborate in order to keep the legacy left by the veterans, along with the fundamental values supported by the soldiers who participated in Romania's most difficult missions in Somalia and Angola, in the West Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Mali," the head of Defence wrote on Facebook.The Minister added that veterans from theaters of operations "risked everything for our safety".On the occasion of Veteran's Day, an internet page has been launched, dedicated to the foreign missions where soldiers of the Romanian army took part: misiuni.mapn.ro. Here, missions and active operations are presented, on sections, such as the ones in Poland, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina or the Mediterranean Sea, as well as those already concluded - Afghanistan, Iraq.Veteran's Day was established by law in 2014 and its purpose is recognizing the merits of the participants of the Army personnel in military actions and granting them rights, as well as to the descendants of those fallen. The date was chosen for its symbolism: On November 11, 1918, at 11:00, the Truce between the powers of Triple Entente and Germany came into effect, where the First World War was ended and the necessary conditions were created to establish the Great Union of Romania, on December 1st, 1918.The significance of this day for the Romanian army is also tied to the fact that on November 11, 2003, second lieutenant Iosif Silviu Fogorasi fell in action, the first Romanian soldier that died in the theaters of operations in Afghanistan.During the period of 1996-2021, Romania has lost 30 soldiers in missions executed in theaters of operations, and another 200 were injured.
The head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU), Raed Arafat, declared on Thursday, in Ploiesti, that the fire that broke out at the Infectious Diseases Ward of the County Emergency Hospital (SJU) was extinguished in three minutes, and a nurse suffered burns on 40% of her body surface, agerpres reports.

"There was a nurse where the fire started. Unfortunately, the woman is with 40% burns. She is to be moved to Bucharest, to Floreasca Hospital," said Raed Arafat.

Asked if the nurse was trying to put out the fire, Arafat said the fire extinguishers had been used.The head of DSU specified that the fire was announced at 4.15 am, and the intervention teams arrived on the spot in ten minutes, the fire being extinguished in three minutes.Arafat also said that the decision was made not to evacuate the other pavilions of the ward, because they were not affected by the event. However, there is a problem with the heating supply, with the plumbers working to resolve the situation.
The National Audiovisual Council of Romania handed down, on Thursday, fines ranging from 40,000 lei to 15,000 lei to private television broadcaster Realitatea Plus, on the grounds that it violated the provisions of the audiovisual legislation by disseminating unproven information and statements, defamatory concerning president Klaus Iohannis and of National Liberal Party (PNL) senator Alina Gorghiu.

Convened in public session, the National Audiovisual Council analysed the monitoring reports prepared by the specialized directorate as a result of the referrals received and decided to impose a fine of 40,000 lei on private broadcaster Realitatea Plus for the October 10 and 17 editions of the show "Behind the scenes of the parallel state", in which accusations were brought against President Iohannis, some representatives of the local authorities, as well as the company Holzindustrie Schweighofer, without taking into account the provisions of the Audiovisual Law no. 504/2002, states CNA, in a press release sent to AGERPRES.

The proposal was formulated, by mutual agreement, by CNA members Valentin Jucan, who, initially, proposed an amount of 50,000 lei, and Mircea Toma, who had proposed a fine of 30,000 lei.

In Valentin Jucan's view, an accusation against the president of a country "affects the credibility of the state itself."

"The president of any country obviously has a special status. In Romania, due to the form of government, the president is the most voted politician in the country. The moment some accusations are brought against the president of the country and, yes, the president should not to be exempted from such a thing if, I emphasize, if these accusations are very, very, very well proven and not just opinions, the moment you are talking about a country's president, no matter who that is, you are actually talking about the entire state system, because he is at its top, you are talking about its representativeness. (...) Any accusation brought against the president has repercussions on the presidential institution and on the credibility of the state itself," said Valentin Jucan.

At Mircea Toma's proposal, CNA sanctioned Realitatea Plus with a fine of 15,000 lei, because in the show "The Laws of Power" from October 4, "tendentious" statements were made against PNL senator Alina Gorghiu, and the broadcaster did not taking into account the provisions of art. 47 para. (4) of the Audiovisual Law.

According to Mircea Toma, the statements against Alina Gorghiu are "defamatory, (...) gender being treated in a discriminatory manner, reduced to sexual qualities".
President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday sent a message on the Day of Veterans from Theatres of Operations, stating that veterans are "true examples of courage, dignity, patriotism and loyalty to the country and national values."

"Today we celebrate the Day of Veterans from Theatres of Operations, an occasion to pay tribute to all the troops who, far from home and families, have selflessly and devoutly fulfilled their entrusted missions. (...) Veterans represent true examples of courage, dignity, patriotism and loyalty to the country and national values," says the head of state in the message, agerpres reports.

He points out that the professionalism of the Romanian military staff participating in missions in the theaters of operations is noticed and appreciated by Romania's allies and partners."Romania's participation in multinational missions, even before becoming a NATO member, was a determining factor that facilitated accession to the North Atlantic Alliance, the European Union, as well as the conclusion of strategic security partnerships with internationally relevant states. This year, the North Atlantic Alliance completed its most demanding operation in recent years, carried out over 19 years, the Resolute Support mission in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations, and today we honor the sacrifice of the 27 Romanian servicemen who lost their lives, th 227 troops that were wounded and our thoughts are with the grieving families. We also owe our respect to the veterans of World War II who gave their lives out of the love for their country, as well as to the servicemen who, in recent years, have participated in missions under the auspices of NATO, the European Union, the UN or the coalition outside the national territory," says President Iohannis.He thanked all the military staff who are currently carrying out international missions in various theatres of operations and conflict zones.
The Romanian and U.S. delegations, headed by strategic affairs senior official Dan Neculaescu and Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried, signed a joint statement at the end of the seventh round of the Strategic Dialogue between Romania and the US, mentioning security, investment and energy among the areas deemed of strategic importance to the two countries, agerpres reports.

This bilateral engagement comes at a symbolic moment, as the United States and Romania celebrate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century and the signing of the Agreement on the Deployment of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System in Romania, according to the Romanian Foreign Ministry (MAE).

According to the statement, security cooperation is a consistent part and a key component of the U.S.-Romania Strategic Partnership. Together the two sides will build upon significant achievements, such as the missile defense site in Deveselu, and will continue to enhance their joint endeavors within NATO to carry out their commitments on defense and deterrence, with a special focus on the Black Sea region, a key component of Euro-Atlantic security.Both sides agreed to work together to strengthen the transatlantic relationship across all formats of cooperation.The two sides acknowledged the strategic importance of developing infrastructure to facilitate interconnectivity between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including through U.S. support and potential investment. Both sides expressed support for the Three Seas Initiative and its potential to ensure economic resiliency for the region. At the same time, the two sides assessed the bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, with particular attention to the implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement for cooperation on Romania's nuclear power program signed last year.Moreover, the United States and Romania both highlighted the importance of President Iohannis' announcement, alongside Special Envoy Kerry at last week's COP26 gathering in Glasgow, of Romania's intention to deploy "first-of-a-kind" U.S.-built small modular reactors (SMR) by 2028.The United States and Romania will closely cooperate on technology in the field of communications, given the importance of the security of the next generation of wireless communications networks in order to ensure prosperity, but also security for the two nations, the statement says. They also agreed to work together to become stronger and more resilient, including through common action to promote democracy, rule of law, and fundamental human rights both regionally and globally.The two countries renewed their commitment to work together in combatting emerging threats and responding to attacks perpetrated with hybrid means, or in cyberspace, as well as fighting disinformation.The United States and Romania will continue to prioritize educational, cultural, and professional exchanges and are committed to work together to move towards meeting the requirements for admission of Romania into the Visa Waiver Program."Our extensive people-to-people connections are a collective strength and both countries agreed to build on public diplomacy programming that addresses Holocaust issues and promotes mutual understanding across the full range of our shared priorities," the document mentions.The seventh round of the Strategic Dialogue was hosted by the U.S. Department of State and included interagency and inter-ministerial representatives from both governments. The meeting featured senior U.S. representatives from the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland Security, and from the Romanian side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, the Ministry of Energy, and the Ministry of the Interior.Both sides expressed a strong interest in deepening the bilateral strategic partnership in the year ahead and through future strategic dialogues. The parties agreed to hold the next annual meeting in Bucharest, Romania in 2022, when they will mark the 25th anniversary of the launch of their strategic partnership in 1997.
The Governments of the United States and Romania* held the seventh round of the U.S.-Romania Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on November 9, 2021, following political consultations between Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu and U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on November 8.

This bilateral engagement comes at a symbolic moment, as the United States and Romania celebrate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century and the signing of the Agreement on the Deployment of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System in Romania.

Romanian State Secretary for Strategic Affairs Dan Neculaescu and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Dr. Karen Donfried opened the Strategic Dialogue.

The United States and Romania assessed the progress achieved in the framework of the Strategic Dialogue and emphasized the importance of the U.S.-Romania partnership in addressing common threats and challenges. The discussion focused on shared values and interests, reaffirming the strong, steady, and deepening bilateral cooperation between the United States and Romania and our joint commitment to enhance cooperation on a broad range of topics.

The meeting featured the established working groups of the Strategic Dialogue framework: political-military cooperation; regional political and economic developments; bilateral economic cooperation on infrastructure, investment, and trade; energy and the environment; cooperation in the field of the rule of law; and strengthening people-to-people connections.

Security cooperation is a consistent part and a key component of the U.S.-Romania Strategic Partnership. Together the two sides will build upon significant achievements, such as the missile defense site in Deveselu, and will continue to enhance their joint endeavors within NATO to carry out their commitments on defense and deterrence, with a special focus on the Black Sea region, a key component of Euro-Atlantic security. The United States and Romania underscored the importance of building on Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austins successful visit to Romania in October 2021 to deepen our cooperation on critical security issues.

Both sides agreed to work together to strengthen the transatlantic relationship, across all formats of cooperation. The parties expressed their commitment to systematic and in-depth consultation and coordination regarding policies and initiatives that promote transatlantic strategic resilience, with the aim of reducing dependence on actors who do not share the values and interests of the transatlantic community, while at the same time increasing connections with like-minded partners and actors.

In particular, the United States and Romania will work closely on the future Strategic Concept of NATO, with a view to strengthening the Alliance in fulfilling its mission as the guarantor of peace and security in Europe. At the same time, both parties underlined the importance of EU-NATO cooperation, ensuring complementarity and strengthening interoperability.

On infrastructure, investment, and trade opportunities, both countries raised ways to achieve positive, concrete outcomes for our businesses and citizens and to promote our shared economic values. The two sides acknowledged the strategic importance of developing infrastructure to facilitate interconnectivity between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including through U.S. support and potential investment. Both sides expressed support for the Three Seas Initiative and its potential to ensure economic resiliency for the region.

The two sides assessed the bilateral cooperation in the field of energy, with particular attention to the implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement for cooperation on Romanias nuclear power program signed last year. Moreover, the United States and Romania both highlighted the importance of President Iohannis announcement, alongside Special Envoy Kerry at last weeks COP26 gathering in Glasgow, of Romanias intention to deploy first-of-a-kind U.S.-built small modular reactors (SMR) by 2028. This makes Romania a regional leader and consolidates its commitment to fighting climate change with the contribution of preeminent U.S. technology, highlighting once again the distinctive feature of the U.S.-Romania Strategic Partnership. The two sides also discussed potential cooperation on offshore wind resources. Romanias bold regional leadership and U.S. ingenuity will create jobs, strengthen European energy security, and combat the climate crisis.

The United States and Romania will closely cooperate on technology in the field of communications, given the importance of the security of the next generation of wireless communications networks in order to ensure prosperity, but also security for the two nations.

The United States and Romania agreed to work together to become stronger and more resilient, including through common action to promote democracy, rule of law, and fundamental human rights both regionally and globally. They reaffirmed their commitment to work together in order to counter systematic attempts to undermine the common values of the Euro-Atlantic community. The United States and Romania stressed the importance of continued joint efforts to preserve the rules-based international order, supporting good governance and preserving open societies. Both parties discussed using the Summit for Democracy in December to strengthen democracy and rule of law around the world.

The United States and Romania also renewed their commitment to work together in combatting emerging threats and respond to attacks perpetrated with hybrid means, or in cyberspace, as well as fighting disinformation.

The United States and Romania will continue to prioritize educational, cultural, and professional exchanges and are committed to work together as Romania moves towards meeting the requirements for admission of Romania into the Visa Waiver Program. Our extensive people-to-people connections are a collective strength and both countries agreed to build on public diplomacy programming that addresses Holocaust issues and promotes mutual understanding across the full range of our shared priorities.

The seventh round of the Strategic Dialogue was hosted by the U.S. Department of State and included interagency and inter-ministerial representatives from both governments. The meeting featured senior U.S. representatives from the Department of State, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, and the Department of Homeland Security, and from the Romanian side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Tourism, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of the Interior.

Both sides expressed a strong interest in deepening the bilateral strategic partnership in the year ahead and through future strategic dialogues. The parties agreed to hold the next annual meeting in Bucharest, Romania in 2022, when we will mark the 25th anniversary of the launch of our Strategic Partnership in 1997.

*The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and Romania on the occasion of the Seventh Round of the Strategic Dialogue.
A pension point increase by less than 15 percent would bring no improvement in the lives of pensioners and cannot be accepted, president of the "Solidaritatea" National Federation of Romanian Pensioners (FNSPR) Marin Iancu told AGERPRES today during a retiree protest rally organized in front of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection by two FNSPR member organizations.

"The dismissed Labor Minister has spoken of an increase by 5 - 6 percent, up to 12 percent, but we see this is dragging on over such a long time span and we, the pensioners, no longer accept this. With all living expenditures on the rise, a pension point increase by less than 15 percent is unacceptable and cannot result in an improvement of the pensioners' living standards," said Marin Iancu, who went on to note that in the past two years the pensioners have been continuously lied to by the government that has skipped the pension rises provided for by the Pension Law.

"The well-grounded reason for today's protest is the particularly difficult life the Romanians in general and pensioners in particular are leading today. As far as we are concerned, we cannot accept this haggling of the government regarding the indexation of pensions, the increase of the pension point. We have been practically deceived and lied to throughout these two years, the Pension Law which provides for the pension point increase to reach 45 percent of the nationwide average gross salary has been disregarded. Another legal provision which has not been enforced is that of the annual indexing of pensions, which has been completely and deliberately ignored by the governments and the President of Romania," Marin Iancu said.

The representative of the pensioners points out that with spiraling prices, the pensioners have been pushed to the limit of subsistence.

"Everyone is aware of this price escalation, not just for gas and electricity, but for everything livelihood. Absolutely everything, food included, is growing more expensive. So we ask the question: How can a retiree who worked for 35-40 years to collect a pension of 1,100 - 1,500 lei survive under these conditions? We want the pensions to rise. We want the President of Romania and the government that is to take over to realize that we have reached the limit of subsistence, the limit of endurance for the life we lead," Marin Iancu said.

The representative of the pensioners' organization also called on the government to consult the population on the introduction of the Covid digital certificate, which will affect people's jobs.

"With all these endless debates over the green certificate, it would be best to urgently consult the population on enforcing this green certificate, which ultimately affects the Romanians' workplace and lives," said Marin Iancu, who concluded with the request that the "Solidaritatea" National Federation of Romanian Pensioners be included in the Seniors National Council.

Several dozens of retirees participated on Thursday in two protest rallies, one in front of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the other in front of the Presidency - their main reasons of discontent being the low pensions amid rising prices, political instability, the imposition of the Covid certificate requirement and the absence of a policy for the massive testing of the population.

The rally was organized by members of the Galati County Alliance of European Pensioners and of the Valcea County Pensioners Union, both founders of the "Solidaritatea" National Federation of Romanian Pensioners.

The protesters carried signs that read "Why hike prices if we're broke?" "The Ministry of Idleness and Social Disdain blatantly rips us off, slumbers in its boots, but voraciously feeds off the national pension fund", "Down with 'My Own Government' of country and nation traitors"," Stop the genocide of Romanians, pensioners in particular","No to compulsory vaccination, Yes to free testing and preventive medication", "No to the green certificate!"

The protest props also included a coffin on which the messages "Iohannis - the chief gravedigger for the retirees" and "Iohannis, the Terminator of Romania" were placed.
Lines of lorries at Romania's border checkpoints into Hungary are making traffic hard today, with some of them waiting for at least 150 minutes at Nadlac II for checking, according to the authorities, while some drivers say they have waited four hours to cross the border, agerpres reports.

According to the online border traffic monitoring application on the Border Police website, four checking lanes are open at the Nadlac II Border Crossing Point (PTF).

The Arad Border Police told AGERPRES that higher than usual numbers of lorries crossing the border with Hungary have been reported daily since the beginning of the week.Traffic congestion is also reported at other important checkpoints at the border with Hungary. At Varsand, also in Arad County, where three lanes are opened for heavy traffic, the waiting time for crossing the border is at least 60 minutes, according to data provided by the Border Police.In Bihor County, at Bors II, the waiting time is 60 minutes, and at least 50 minutes at Bors I. At each of these points, two lorry exit lanes are open.At PTF Petea, Satu Mare County, just one exit lane is open and people have to wait at least one hour for transit.Files of lorries are usual at the border with Hungary on the first day of the week because of traffic restrictions in Hungary every Sunday and on public holidays for vehicles in excess of 7.5 tonnes.
Interim PM Florin Citu on Thursday has sent a message of condolences to the families of the victims of the Ploiesti hospital fire, specifying that, because of the 4th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Romania is facing an overuse of the medical system, with "the only solution" to reduce pressure on the medical units being vaccination, agerpres reports.

"Unfortunately, today we have had a fire at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Ploiesti, which broke out in a COVID-19 ward. Two patients have died and a nurse has suffered burns. I am sending my condolences to the families of the two people who've died. The nurse has been transferred to the Floreasca Hospital, where she will be treated. We have activated the red plan, I have been in permanent touch with Secretary of State Raed Arafat and Minister of Health Cseke Attila, as I wanted to make sure that we have available beds for the patients, 15 of whom have been transferred. We will see what is the cause of the fire, the investigation has started," said Citu, according to a post on the Government's Facebook page.

He specified that he asked that all hospitals to get prepared for the 4th wave of the pandemic."Such tragedies must never repeat themselves. I asked that every hospital be prepared for the 4th wave, with the necessary approvals, with controlled oxygen installations. We are facing an overuse of the medical system because of the 4th wave of the pandemic and all those involved should make sure that all measures are taken for the safety of patients! And I repeat: the only solution to release the pressure from hospitals is to continue to get vaccinated," added the interim PM.A fire broke out on Thursday morning at the Ploiesti-based Infectious Diseases Hospital, which is a COVID-19 unit, and two patients have died, according to the Prahova Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.
PNL (National Liberal Party) first deputy chair Rares Bogdan said on Thursday that the Liberals want the prime minister to be a member of this party, while underscoring that the establishment of a government will not be blocked because of a name or another, agerpres reports.

"PNL entered these negotiations after a rather stormy meeting of the National Political Bureau. (...) PNL did not enter these negotiations with a mandate from the Political Bureau to accept the rotation. We are coming with a PNL prime minister, and he must absolutely be a member of the party," Rares Bogdan said at the Parliament Palace.

He was asked if the Liberals would not give up the nomination of Florin Citu for the office of Prime Minister."Florin Citu is the chair of PNL and, according to the decisions of the Council, he is the proposal for prime minister, but we will not block the establishment of a government for Romania because of a name. PNL is considering any scenario, in the event in which it will not have the first PM. And he must absolutely be a member of the PNL(...)," said Rares Bogdan.
Romania's Pavilion at Expo 2020 hosts "Romania, a photographic memory" photo exhibition, of artist Florin Andreescu, who presents the broad audience the essence of Romanian culture, traditions and the beliefs of the Romanian people, as well as the natural riches and unique landscapes from our country, according to the Commissioner General of Romania's Pavilion, Ferdinand Nagy.

The exhibition's opening, which took place on Wednesday, benefited from the presence of the Minister of State for International Cooperation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Reem Al Hashimy, general director of the Coordination Bureau for organizing Expo 2020 Dubai, according to the official Facebook page of Romania's Pavilion.

During her speech, the Emirati dignitary highlighted the tight bond between the United Arab Emirates and Romania, regarding Expo 2020 Dubai, as well as in the bilateral plan, and appreciated the success which Romania's Pavilion is having among the visitors of the world exhibition.

Throughout her presence at the photo exhibition, the Emirati state minister also interacted with Romanian artist Daniel Radulescu, appreciating especially the "All for Unity" sculpture, designed for this event, the sculptor's inspiration being the theme of the exhibition itself - "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future". Furthermore, she admired the charcoal drawing exhibition, made by the artist, along with the visitors from all around the world that crossed the threshold to Romania's Pavilion, and expressed their interest in taking part in one of the artist's interactive workshops.

The photo exhibition's mounting ended with a piano concert, held by Sabin Banescu, a student with the Music Faculty within the Transilvania Brasov University, along with his colleagues in Romania's Pavilion.

Among the participants there was also Romania's ambassador in the United Arab Emirates, Adrian Macelaru, Romania's Consul General in Dubai, Nicoleta Teodorovici, as well as other commissioners general of the states participating in the Expo 2020.
Two Turkish nationals holding what might look like Bulgarian identity documents were found on Thursday at the Curtici Border Crossing Point (PTF) between Romania and Hungary, where they were trying to enter Hungary by train, agerpres reports.

The Arad Border Police reports that upon inspection, the documents were proved to be false.

They found the persons to be Turkish nationals, aged 26 and 31, who said that they had entered Romania legally, on Romanian visas, but were headed for Germany. They contacted a Bulgarian national who, in exchange for 5,000 euros, handed them the documents they used to leave the country.The two will be investigated for forgery and illegal crossing of the state border, and appropriate legal measures will be ordered at the end of the probe.
The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) deputy Rozalia Biro stated on Thursday that in a large coalition formed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and UDMR, a new priority of UDMR will be the proposal to discuss revising and reforming the Constitution, agerpres reports.

"Given this opportunity to form a large coalition, between the PNL, PSD, and UDMR, a welcome coalition, we are introducing the priority of discussing the revision of the Constitution, a reform of the Constitution. We all know very well some ambiguities, question marks, and, sometimes, contradictions exist in our Constitution. And we believe there is a possibility, if there is the political will, to make a reform for a parliamentary republic, in the true sense of the word. Which means to ensure a higher weight to Parliament, to ensure those principles that truly lead to a parliamentary republic, following, if we have a common denominator for the amendment of the Constitution, to conduct a revision of the Constitution in this period," said, in a press conference, Biro Rozalia.

The second essential priority for UDMR, she mentioned, is focusing on social policies centered on family, to put the basis of a social economy with the purpose of ensuring a decent life to families with elderly persons and to facilitate that environment for youths to think of starting a family and having children.In general, the UDMR priorities within the negotiations taking place presently for the forming of a new governing coalition is based, said Biro, on some basic principles: there is need for stability, predictability, both social and economic policies to offer safety to Romania's citizens."As part of these negotiations, we are taking each chapter of government separately and we are trying to negotiate the introduction of those principles and objectives that we have enumerated in our attempts to form other coalitions in the recent past, namely to have measures meant to ensure safety. As part of negotiations, given the possibility of forming a large coalition, we are coming with this new priority [the revision of the Constitution - e.n.], in order to think in the perspective of the three years of governing to follow, possibly even for the future mandate," said Biro Rozalia.
We can only transfer this risk on our balance sheet if we get the premium which we need to cover these risks, based on our own assessment, Rauch said.

Ratings agency S&P Global warned even reinsurers could be underestimating their exposure to climate risk by as much as 50%, describing their efforts to account for climate change as nascent in a recent report.

Industry experts also say disasters with a long history of causing severe damage, such as hurricanes in Florida, are more closely modeled than floods or wildfires, which have only in recent years begun to cause major losses.

That calls for reinsurers and independent risk-modeling firms such as RMS and KCC to try new ways of approaching natural catastrophes.

One such approach is scenario modeling, where insurers are provided with a number of possible climate impacts on their portfolios over years, to take account of the whole range of uncertainty, said Laurent Marescot, senior director, EMEA and CIS, at RMS, which sells its risk models to insurers.

Another involves machine learning, which can be used to take existing models of floods in a particular region, for example, and map them to other parts of the world, Marescot said.
As at Shift, though, I came away from the Lucky Accomplice most impressed by how Ely and his team operate when meat is absent or at least twiddling its thumbs in the wings. Here that can be as straightforward as the house bread, which fuses the crackle of a great croissant and the squish of focaccia. The bread comes with both cultured butter and a tapenade of olive and cauliflower, and while it is excellent by itself, slathered with either (or both) you could imagine it as your main course.

Save some of that bread for an order of the black trumpet mafalda. Ely surrounds the modest portion of pasta and mushrooms with kale and toasted yeast with Parmesan foam. I know: I winced at the mention of foam in 2021, too. This, however, is a very thick foam  a Cheez Whiz of the gods. Stirred into the dish, it picks up and lifts the earthiness and sweetness of the black trumpet mushrooms.

A ragu of rutabaga and horseradish leaf  not as biting as horseradish itself, more like a memory of the flavor  is an autumnal bed for the ethereal gnudi made from quark, with a touch of flour for structure and lemon zest for sparkle. Even a seemingly straightforward salad of romaine heart is engineered for each bite to the just-right tickle of pickled onion or lemon and the additional crunch of fried breadcrumbs.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis man on Wednesday was ordered held pending trial on a federal charge that he threatened to blow up a St. Louis synagogue and kill Jewish people.

Cody Steven Rush, 29, called the FBI three times on Friday night, saying he wanted to blow up the Central Reform Congregation, according to federal charging documents filed Tuesday. Rush also said he hears voices, has schizoaffective disorder, suffers from PTSD, anxiety, depression and social anxiety disorder.

Speaking of Jewish people, Rush told the FBI, "I hate them with rage."

Rush said he should be arrested. He later told a police officer that he would not act until the next morning when he knew that people would be in the building, the charging documents say.

Rush refused the officer's suggestion to go to the hospital, saying he'd just been released. Officers arrived to find Rush sitting on the steps of a home in the 5200 block of Waterman Boulevard, near the synagogue.

"I am feeling suicidal and homicidal. I just feel like killing Jews," he told St. Louis police Detective James Wilcox.

Rush was then taken to a psychiatric center.
White House health officials said on Wednesday that the vaccination effort is off to a strong start and by the end of the day, more than 900,000 of the kid doses will have been administered. Additionally, about 700,000 first-shot appointments are scheduled for the coming days.

Interest has been high across the St. Louis area as the first vaccination events for young kids got underway over the weekend and continue this week.

Appointments quickly filled for the St. Louis County Department of Healths first clinic Saturday at its headquarters in Berkeley, when some 250 kids were vaccinated.

The St. Charles County Department of Public Health was swamped for its first event Wednesday afternoon at Family Arena.

Our event has been full since the end of last week, said spokesman Doug Bolnick. We booked the 240 appointments quickly and added another 120 slots, which filled as soon as they were opened. And, our two additional events in the coming days at county libraries are full as well.
For anyone new to Medicare, Plan G is the best plan to limit your out-of-pocket costs. The only cost that isnt covered is the annual deductible for care that falls under Part B. Thats $203 in 2021. (The 2022 deductible has yet to be announced.) It also covers all of your in-patient hospital coinsurance, which falls under Part A of Medicare.

If you happen to know someone who raves about their Plan F Medigap policy, that means they enrolled in Medicare prior to 2020. New enrollees arent allowed to purchase Plan F. But the only difference between F and G is that with Plan G you have to pay the annual deductible. Thats it.

Basically, with a Medigap Plan G, if you can handle the monthly premium cost, all expenses not covered directly by Medicare will be covered by the insurer who you buy your Plan G from.

And theres the rub. All Medicare supplement plans charge a monthly premium. Plan G will be the most expensive because it removes all your out-of-pocket exposure. Plan G monthly premium costs typically range from $80 to around $300 a month depending on where you live.
St. Louis supports in a different way than Ive ever seen before, Jabaley said to me at the bake sale. I think Lyla and her dream will inspire the insurance company, he said. He believes that a movement based on love and inspiration will become so attractive to the folks at UnitedHealth that they will decide to cover Lylas treatment.

Wendell Potter, a former insurance executive who exposes industry practices that harm families, published a story about UnitedHealth Groups eye-popping $5.7 billion in profits between June 1 and Sept. 30, while the McCartys fought for coverage for Lylas pain treatment.

It would certainly be something if good vibes could change an insurance companys practices.

The family, overwhelmed and grateful for the help that has been showered on them, is aware that others are not so lucky.

There are so many other people who didnt get a miracle like we got, Heather said. Lyla says she has decided to donate some of the money raised on her behalf to other children with the same condition.

I know how hard it is to get the treatment, she said. And, she knows how bad the pain gets. She has her own ideas about why the insurance company denied her medical care.
ST. LOUIS  Pamela Abercrombie was the life of the party.

The 49-year-old grandmother always went out of her way to help in her neighborhood, cutting the grass for older residents and working odd jobs for people who needed it, her cousin Tillonni Hamilton said.

Now, the family is mourning Abercrombie after she was shot around 11:45 p.m. Sept. 16 on a sidewalk in the 3800 block of West Florissant Avenue. She was taken to a hospital, where she died.

Prosecutors this week charged 26-year-old Perez Deshay Reed with Abercrombies death and another, non-fatal shooting just a half-mile away that same night. They also charged him with killing three more people and wounding another in the St. Louis region and tied him to two fatal shootings in Kansas City, Kansas. The FBI identified him as a potential serial killer.

Police said Abercrombie, a St. Louis native and mother of four, was from Spanish Lake, but her family said she had been living in north city with her boyfriend before she died.
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  An Oakville-area man pleaded guilty Wednesday to multiple violent assaults and a sex crime in 2018, and was sentenced to a total of 30 years in prison.

Phillip Stroisch, 46, admitted to the March 5, 2018, assault on a relative, including smothering, strangling, hitting, punching and pistol-whipping the woman and then sexually assaulting her, according to the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

The woman escaped by fleeing to a Chesterfield home where Stroisch reportedly had worked as a contractor. Early the next day Stroisch fired a gun into the residence, seriously injuring two people inside, according to a statement from county Prosecutor Wesley Bell's office.

Stroisch pleaded guilty to domestic assault, sodomy, two counts of assault and four counts of armed criminal action in a plea deal that saw other charges dropped. In addition to serving his prison sentence, he must register as a sex offender in Missouri, prosecutors said.
JEFFERSON CITY  Missouri school officials are spending $700,000 on a new recruitment effort aimed at reversing a decline in the number of people training to become teachers.

The creation of the digitally based platform comes as the No. 1 problem in training and retaining teachers continues to be the states low pay for educators.

Although the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has outlined a plan to boost the states base pay for teachers above its current level of $25,000, lawmakers and Gov. Mike Parson have not earmarked the funding needed to bring the figure more in line with surrounding states.

That, officials believe, has been a major contributor to an exodus of teachers from Missouri classrooms. The average teacher attrition rates for the past six years are more than 11%.

In short, too many teachers leave the profession, and there are fewer teachers available to replace them. As a result, when schools cannot find teachers, they are forced to leave positions vacant or fill vacant positions with teachers who arent certified for that content area, DESE said in an announcement earlier this week.
Wally Siewert, a former University of Missouri-St. Louis professor of political theory, called for public disclosure of the criteria and methodology and legal analyses of how the boards map is being drawn.

He said the maps, which also have to cut the number of wards in half under a 2012 voter-approved proposition, should be drawn openly in public.

So far the committees tentative maps have been put together behind the scenes and then released by the committee on the aldermanic website.

Among other speakers were representatives of the League of Women Voters of Metro St. Louis, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis.

Reed stood quietly to the side of the critics news conference, which was held outside the boards second-floor offices. Then he walked to another hallway to hold an impromptu meeting of his own with reporters, defending the process being used.

This engagement is open, its transparent, he insisted. You show me another place where theyre releasing their working drawings along the way.
Asked how the rough draft came to be, Bowman said the commission was scrambling to meet a Nov. 28 deadline and that most municipalities in the north St. Louis County are smaller geographically and split across three council districts, making it harder to keep cities intact.

That was never going to be the final map, I tell you that, he said.

Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson, said it was absurd Democrats would have drafted and published such a map in the first place.

To take the 2nd district and slice the area in half like the current draft proposes would be marginalizing, Proudie said in a written statement. I would be profoundly disappointed if the chair of the commission, who is the President of the Countys NAACP branch, (sic) to sit and allow such a blatant and obvious attempt at disenfranchisement take place.

Days said she had not seen the Democrats proposal in detail and would let the redistricting process play out. But, she also accused County Executive Sam Page of pushing the current proposal to try to interfere with her reelection prospects.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)  New Mexico's top economic development officials said Wednesday they are ready to put into action a 20-year strategy for diversifying the economy, saying the state has no time to waste if it wants to make up lost ground from the Great Recession and the coronavirus pandemic.

They announced that the federal government has awarded the state a $1 million grant for the effort. That follows an initial $1.5 million in federal recovery funding that New Mexico used to develop the strategy and to begin hiring economic relief coordinators to help rural communities and small businesses.

The latest grant will be used to implement the strategy, which state Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes outlined for a group of business leaders with the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce.

Keyes told the group that the pandemic has had an effect on everyone, resulting in lost lives, connections and opportunities. She said her family had its own challenges during the state's lockdown. She talked about planning grocery runs and hoarding water and other supplies and about the low-wage workers who were essential for keeping businesses open.
Fairlamb said he had disappointed his family, including his father, who was a veteran, and noted that since his arrest he has not spoken to his brother who is a Secret Service agent, "out of respect for his position and our government."

"My life got pulled out from under me, and it's no one's fault but myself," he said.

Before handing down the sentence, Lamberth told Fairlamb he had made the right decision in accepting a plea agreement. "Had you gone to trial, I don't think there's any jury that could have acquitted you. ... You couldn't have beat this."

Lamberth said that other January 6 defendants in situations similar to Fairlamb's are "going to get a lot more" time in prison if they go to trial and would be wise to follow Fairlamb's example and plead guilty.

"The way you hit (the police officer) in the face like that, you're fortunate he wasn't injured," Lamberth said.

Fairlamb was also sentenced to 36 months of supervised release following his time in prison and will have to pay $2,000 for damage done to the Capitol.

Before being escorted out of the courtroom, he blew a kiss to his wife, who was sitting in the front row with his sister and mother.
Douglas testified during Strickland's trial that he was one of four men who committed the crime. But Douglas later realized she had identified the wrong man and spent years trying to get the attention of politicians and legal authorities to recant her statement, according to testimony from several relatives and friends.

Her mother, daughter, sister, ex-husband and a co-worker all testified that Douglas felt guilty and depressed about identifying Strickland for many years before she died in 2015.

Bakers office said Douglas sent an email to the Midwest Innocence Project in 2009 with the subject line, Wrongfully charged.

I am seeking info on how to help someone that was wrongfully accused, the email stated. I was the only eyewitness and things were not clear back then, but now I know more and would like to help this person if I can."

Two other men convicted in the killings later insisted that Strickland wasnt at the crime scene and named two other possible suspects who were never charged, The Kansas City Star reported.

Attorneys for the attorney general's office tried to cast doubt on whether Douglas actually tried to recant her statement and suggested the email she sent to the Innocence Project could have been written by someone else using Douglas' email.
Both Washington and Beijing intend to update the world on their new national targets for 2035 in 2025  a move that is particularly significant for China. The declaration also said China will make best efforts to accelerate its plans to reduce coal consumption in the second half of this decade.

The announcement came as governments from around the world were negotiating in Glasgow about how to build on the Paris Agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect vulnerable countries from the impacts of global warming.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called the move an important step in the right direction.

Some experts noted the deal was short on commitments that would significantly reduce heat-trapping gases.

Its a good sign that the worlds two biggest emitters can actually work together to face the biggest crisis of humanity but theres not a lot of meat there after the methane stuff, said Byford Tsang a China policy analyst for the European think tank E3G.

Earlier Wednesday, a draft of a larger deal being negotiated by almost 200 countries in Glasgow called for accelerating the phasing out of coal  the single biggest source of man-made emissions  although it set no timeline.
AMSTERDAM (AP)  The European Medicines Agency has recommended the authorization of two new medicines against the coronavirus for people at risk of severe disease.

In a statement on Thursday, the EU drug regulator said it had concluded that the monoclonal antibody treatments  a combination of casirivimab and imdevimab, and the drug regdanvimab  have both been proven to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in patients vulnerable to serious COVID-19.

The EMA described the safety profile of both medicines as favorable," and said that despite a small number of side effects, the medicines' benefits are greater than their risks.

The drug combination of casirivimab and imdevimab is made by Roche; it was granted an emergency use license by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last November.

The EMA said both regdanvimab and the casirivimab and imdevimab combination should be offered to people over age 12 who don't yet require oxygen support, but are at risk of worsening COVID-19. It said the combination drug can also be used preventatively. Both drugs must be administered intravenously.

Regdanvimab is made by Celltrion Healthcare in Hungary and has been previously authorized by South Korea.
Dr. Kirkilas noted that five-to-11-year-olds attending school have some of the highest rates of COVID-19  more than 24 percent of new cases are among youth100,630 cases., an extremely high numer with over 1.3 million cases diagnosed in children just since the beginning of September.. Since the start of the pandemic nearly 6.4 million children have tested positive, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Childrens Hospital Association. School is a perfect setup for passing the virus around, he said. Fortunately, most children do well. But we have thousands of kids who require hospitalization and weve had pediatric deaths  Its still out there.

Likely, most kids wont be able to be fully vaccinated by Thanksgiving and it will be tight to make it by Christmas as three weeks are required between shots, and it takes two weeks after the second shot to be fully vaccinated.

Whatever the kids vaccination status, it will be impossible to avoid the topic when planning holiday gatherings. Kids also may be stressed by the disagreements over the vaccine between family members and friends. Older kids and teens may disagree with their parents as well, Dr. Schonfeld said.
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UN and AU (African Union) officials are having a hard time agreeing on whether the peacekeeping effort has been a success and how it should proceed. The local (Somali neighbors) AU officials point out that the fourteen-year peacekeeping effort has made a difference as al Shabaab and ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) personnel and areas controlled have been steadily reduced. Both groups have started taking refuge in neighboring countries, where local security forces can deal with the Islamic terrorists even more effectively than the AU peacekeepers in Somalia. Once all, or over 90 percent, of Somalia is pacified it will be practical to revive foreign aid efforts that were crippled, and plundered, in the past. The AU points out that the UN keeps sending in the foreign aid before it is safe, or even possible, to distribute the aid to the intended recipients. One reason for this continued disagreement is that AU members have grown up with and continue to live with the Somali threat. Many UN officials are new to peacekeeping and aid delivery and out of ignorance and optimism underestimate the unique problems found in Somalia.

Some Somalis with an interest in more unprotected foreign aid are currently holding senior positions in the Somali government and the implications of that were seen a week ago when the Somali Foreign Ministry ordered Simon Mulongo, a Ugandan AU official connected with the AU supplied peacekeeper force, to leave the country within seven days. The expulsion was justified by accusations that some AU officials opposed UN suggestions that the 21,000 peacekeepers remain after the long-delayed elections are held and that more of the peacekeeper troops be replaced with technical specialists to help with reconstruction and improvement of public services like public health and infrastructure. Many AU countries, especially those neighboring Somalia, have long and painful memories of Somalis attacks and Somali inability to form a national government.

The AU nations do not want to repeat the mistakes made the last time Somalis were unified forcibly by colonial powers in the late 19th century. That lasted until the 1960s. At that point colonial governments were being turned over to local officials, most of them democratically selected. The election process was not always democratic but that was a problem left for the locals to sort out. Somalis did that by attacking neighbors and fighting each other. By the early 1990s Somalia was a perpetual war zone with local warlords fighting each other and foreign aid groups seen as a source of income by the warlords. The foreign aid groups demanded that peacekeepers be sent in and that caused some unity in Somalia, but no peace because the warlords united to fight the foreign invaders calling themselves peacekeepers. The peacekeepers left and stayed away for over a decade. The UN had ignored the practical advice British colonial administrators had developed in the late 19th century when they described the best way to deal with violent Somalis was to "shoot on sight, shoot first, shoot to kill, keep shooting." Not unexpectedly, post-colonial Somalia proved unable to govern itself because when the Somalis had no foreigners to fight and plunder, they went after each other.

For the last few years, the UN and AU have been losing patience with Somalia and the cost of peacekeeping operations there. Initially there were supposed to be 8,000 peacekeepers who would only be needed for six months in 2007. That force did not disappear by the end of 2007 but kept growing and quickly reached 22,000. It made some difference, but in the face of massive corruption in the Somali government and various Somali communities that demanded help from the peacekeepers, the operation proved far more expensive and time-consuming than expected. Efforts to create Somali security forces (military and police) were, and still are, crippled by corruption and unwillingness to get anything done that did not serve clan or personal needs.

Efforts to work around these obstacles have led to a policy of recognizing the primacy of clan loyalties in Somali culture. Thus, the current federal system recognizes the four major clans and a coalition of smaller clans. This has made it easier to create a somewhat functional government but it has not made a major dent in the popularity of warlords. Al Shabaab is basically a traditional Somali warlord organization, dedicated to obtaining wealth and power for this temporary organization and its key members.

Religious and non-religious warlords have come and gone for centuries and the tolerance for this sort of thing remains strong in Somalia and among Somalis everywhere. Foreigners discover that this is typical behavior for armed groups in Somalia and that it is a historical fact. Force is the only thing that has worked in Somalia to control, or simply eliminate, the warlords. Many UN officials see sufficient progress in Somalia to justify reducing the shooters and increasing the helpers. The neighbors believe that too many Somalis still respect the shooters and see the foreign helpers as a source of income, not enlightenment. The AU officials insist that their proposals are a matter of survival for Somalis as well as their neighbors while the UN officials and many Somali leaders prefer more foreign aid personnel, but for different reasons.

Britain administered most of Somalia from 1884 to 1960 and after much effort imposed more peace, prosperity, and unity than the region had known for some time. That lasted about two decades after independence and then the usual bad habits began tearing Somalia apart again. The tribal/clan rivalries kept the pot boiling and even the rise of a "clean government" party (the Islamic Courts) after 2001, based on installing a religious dictatorship, backfired, and turned into another warlord group called al Shabaab. That caused even more Somalis to flee their homeland and led to even more problems as Somali refugees throughout Africa and worldwide brought their unique culture to other countries in Africa and the West. While doing that Somalis acquired a reputation for organized violence and criminal behavior as well as entrepreneurial success.

November 7, 2021: In Baidoa (250 kilometers southwest of Mogadishu) security forces arrested twelve al Shabaab members.

November 6, 2021: The U.S. has announced that anyone who provides information leading to the capture (dead or alive) of one of four al Shabaab leaders will receive $6 million. Those offers usually come with moving the informant and family members to another country where they are safe from revenge attacks by al Shabaab. The informant rewards program has been around for decades and the results are rarely publicized because of the need to safeguard the informants and their families. Despite that, in many countries wanted Islamic terrorists were suddenly found and killed or, more rarely taken alive, there are many locals who were aware of the rewards program and would often note who recently left, along with many family members, for a new home overseas that could not be identified. Finding out who played the dangerous informant game and won, as in lived to get out of the country with family, became a popular endeavor. Gossip travels faster and in more detail these days, what with cell phones and contacts in safe countries. This often-accurate gossip has helped the rewards program because it has demonstrated that if you have the opportunity and do it right, you can win big and live to spend the reward. Several al Shabaab and ISIL personnel have been killed in Somalia because of information from a local informant that is rarely identified by name, especially when a reward is involved.

November 2, 2021: In the north (Galmudug) the army and al Shabaab continue trying to force each other out of the region. The problems are that when al Shabaab takes control of a town they make threats or promises to the locals that will help al Shabaab regain control of the town if the army pushes them out and then withdraws because no local s can be found willing to defend the town against an al Shabaab return. Some towns in Galmudug have been occupied by the Islamic terrorists several times since 2011 and the peacekeepers, Somali army or local militias always take it back. In April Somali troops withdrew because of the election crises in Mogadishu and al Shabaab moved in. This time they arranged to stay by making a deal with the local clans to keep the peace and not retaliate for losses inflicted by clan militias in the past. The government took longer than usual to assemble a force of soldiers and peacekeepers to take the town back because of the election crisis in Mogadishu. This time the armys efforts to get local clans to defend their towns was more successful.

Mudug consists of territory stretching from Ethiopia to the Indian Ocean and from Puntland south to the Hirshabelle region. During the 1990s clan wars in Mudug caused the province to be divided. The northern part joined Puntland while the southern half, which is 750 kilometers north of Mogadishu did not. Somalia wants to reunite Mudug and Puntland sees that as aggression and has so far retained its portion of Mudug.

November 1, 2021: After finally reaching an agreement on how and when to conduct the long-delayed elections, voting began to select the 275 members of parliament and after for the 54 members of the senate. About 30,000 clan delegates will select members of parliament while the local legislatures in the five federal states will select the 54 senators. At that point the combined senate and parliament will elect a new president. Like previous agreements, this one might not actually work. After a year of bickering and threats of civil war followed by the withdrawal of foreign aid, there has been one delay after another as election agreements fell apart after agreements were achieved. These elections were supposed to be held in December 2020 but were delayed over a year because of difficulty in agreeing on how and when. Somalia has not had a popular (every adult can vote) election since the 1960s and that did not work out too well.

October 30, 2021: In the north (Puntland) al Shabaab attacked a Bari region military base. Using machine-gun, assault rifle and mortar fire the attackers killed two soldiers but the attack was repulsed. Al Shabaab was in this area to fight ISS (Islamic State Somalia, the local ISIL faction), which wants to destroy al Shabaab for being too moderate. This has been going on for several years after al Shabaab carried out a major offensive against the much smaller ISS based in the mountains around Bari at the northeast tip of Puntland. There was some success but ISS survived and al Shabaab made itself unpopular with local security forces, which are more effective in autonomous Puntland than in the rest of Somalia.

October 27, 2021: In central Somalia the army recaptured the town of Guriel (400 kilometers north of Mogadishu), which had been taken by a local Sufi militia a month ago. Recapturing the town took three days and caused a total of 600 casualties, including 120 dead, among those involved. Because of the widespread nature of the fighting over 100,000 civilians fled their homes. The army and the Sufi militia have been at odds with each other since late 2014. So far there have been several thousand casualties from seven years of skirmishes and fire fights. Since late 2011 Sufi militiamen have been defeating al Shabaab in central Somalia. The Sufi Ahlu Suna Waljama militia spent nearly a year to force al Shabaab from most key towns they held in central Somalia.

Sufis are believers in a more mystical and peaceful form of Islam, and are looked down on by many radical Sunni groups. But the Somali Sufis got tired of being harassed by al Shabaab and in 2008 began to arm and organize themselves for defense. In 2010 the Sufi militias became allies with the TNG (Transitional National Government) and Ethiopia, which keeps lots of troops on their Somali border, occasionally crossing into Somalia in order to discourage al Shabaab from raiding into Ethiopia. Since 2013 there has been growing friction between local Sufi leaders and the officials the national government sent to set up the local government. The Sufi complain that they are being ignored and taken advantage of. The corruption of the government officials doesnt help either. The Somalis Sufis dont trust the majority Somali Sunnis to abide by any peace deal.

October 25, 2021: In neighboring Uganda there were two bombings in the last week that left two people dead and many wounded. What was worrying was that the attacks were carried out by two different Islamic terror groups that are rarely active in Uganda. The first attack was by the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) that has been active in neighboring Congo for years because Uganda was too dangerous for them. Congo has become a lot more dangerous for ADF lately and that may explain the return to Uganda. The other attack was claimed by ISS, the local ISIL affiliate which has long been confined to coastal areas of Puntland, far to the north. The army and security forces of Uganda, Kenya and Somalia are all searching for answers about these latest appearances by long absent Islamic terror groups.
The 2021 Streaming Media Readers' Choice Award Winners

Each year, the voting in the Streaming Media Readers' Choice awards brings plenty of surprises, and this year is no different. Sure, some of the winners might be ones we would have predicted, but there are just as many that defy expectations. And that's a good thing, a reminder that, when it comes to choosing solutions providers, the "obvious choice" isn't always the best one.

This year's awards brought in 200 nominees, which were then voted on by StreamingMedia.com readers. Nearly 2,000 readers cast 14,600 votes in 22 categories that reflect both the Streaming Media and Streaming Media Producer purviews. After discarding votes from obviously phony email addresses, as well as votes by employees casting ballots for their own companies' products, we identified top three vote-getters in each category. Many of the names are familiar, even expected, but you'll find more than a few surprises in the list that follows. And if you're surprised that a company isn't represented, well, all we can say is that it either wasn't nominated or didn't get enough votes.

Thanks to all who nominated and voted, and thanks to Discover Video for sponsoring this year's awards. We're looking forward to another in-person awards ceremony at Streaming Media West 2022!

Analytics/Quality of Experience (QoE)

Winner: Bitmovin Video Analytics

Runners-Up:

Datazoom Platform

Telestream Inspector Live

Analytics/Quality of Service (QoS)

Winner: Telestream Surveyor ABR Active

Runners-Up:

Touchstream Virtual NOC

Edgecast Smartplay Stream Routing

Best New Streaming Innovation

Winner: Bitmovin Fast Multi-Resolution and Multi-Rate Encoding for HTTP Adaptive Streaming Using Machine Learning

Runners-Up

BirdDog Cloud Connect

PTZOptics PT Superjoy G1

Cellular Bonding Solution

Winner: LU800 Production-Level Field Unit

Runners-Up:

Teradek VidiU Go

TVU Networks TVU One

Closed Captioning Solution

Winner: Telestream CaptionMaker/MacCaption

Runners-Up:

EEG Video Falcon and Lexi

Encoding.com Cloud Media Processing Platform

Cloud Encoding/Transcoding Services

Winner: Amazon Web Services AWS Elemental MediaLive

Runners-Up:

Bitmovin Bitmovin Cloud Connect

Wowza Media Systems Wowza Streaming Cloud

Content Delivery Network (Including Edge)

Winner: Amazon Web Services Amazon CloudFront

Runners-Up:

Akamai Intelligent Edge Platform

Google Cloud CDN

Corporate Video/Enterprise Video Content Management Platform

Winner: Haivision Media Platform

Runners-Up:

Brightcove Enterprise Video Suite

Kaltura Enterprise Video Platform

DRM/Content Protection

Winner: Amazon Web Services AWS Elemental Media Package

Runners-Up:

Bitmovin/Nagra Forensic Watermarking/Bitmovin & Nagra Integration

Verimatrix Multi-DRM Core

Encoding Hardware for Live Production

Winner: BirdDog - BirdDog 4K QUAD

Runners-Up:

Haivision Makito X4 Encoder

LiveU LU800 PRO 4 Multi-Camera, Production-Level Contribution Encoder

Live Streaming Service

Winner: Resi Live Stream and Multisite Platform

Runners-Up:

Amazon Web Services Amazon Interactive Video Service

LiveU Matrix Cloud Video Management and Distribution Platform with New Dynamic Share & Global Directory

Meeting/Collaboration/Webcasting Solution

Winner: Zoom Webcasting

Runners-Up:

Cisco WebEx

Telestream Wirecast

On-Prem Encoding/Transcoding Solution

Winner: LiveU LU800 PRO 4 Multi-Camera, Production-Level Contribution Encoder

Runners-Up:

Amazon Web Services AWS Elemental Live

Haivision Makito X4 Encoder

OTT Video Platform

Winner: Brightcove Brightcove Beacon

Runners-Up:

Kaltura Cloud TV Platform

Zype Video Infrastructure

Per-Title Encoding Solution

Winner: Bitmovin Bitmovin Per-Title

Runners-Up:

Brightcove Brightcove Context Aware Encoding

Harmonic VOS360 Cloud Streaming Platform

PTZ or Network-Controlled Camera

Winner: PTZOptics PT30X-NDI

Runners-Up

BirdDog BirdDog P400

Panasonic AW-UE150

Quality Control Monitoring Platform

Winner: Akamai Broadcast Control Center

Runners-Up:

Encoding.com Cloud Media Processing Platform

Telestream iiVMS ASM

Server-Side Ad Insertion (SSAI) Solution

Winner: Amazon Web Services AWS Elemental MediaTailor

Runners-Up:

Edgecast Channel Scheduler

Flussonic Flussonic Media Server

Single- or Dual-Stream Encoding Hardware

Winner: LiveU LU800 PRO 4 Multi-Camera, Production-Level Contribution Encoder

Runners-Up

Haivision Haivision Makito X1 Rugged Encoder

Resi Resi Single and Dual Channel Encoders

Video Mixer (Less Than $1,500)

Winner: Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme

Runners-Up:

Roland V-8HD

Telestream Wirecast Pro

Video Mixer (More Than $1,500)

Winner: Blackmagic Design - ATEM Production Studio 4K

Runners-Up:

NewTek - TriCaster 2 Elite

Telestream - Wirecast Gear

Video Quality Metrics Solution

Winner: Telestream - iQ Video Quality Assurance

Runners-Up:

IdeaNova Technologies, Inc. - Inshow

SSIMWAVE - SSIMWAVE VOD Monitor

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Related Articles

Companies and Suppliers Mentioned
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 8, 2021 / AurCrest Gold Inc. (the "Company" or "AurCrest") (TSXV:AGO) is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Big Tree Carbon Corp. ("Big Tree") (see the Company's Press Release dated April 19, 2021), has signed an Emission Reduction Benefit Management Agreement (the "ERB Agreement") with the Agoke Development Limited Partnership. ("ADLP") to design and implement a Forest Carbon Offset Project that will create marketable Carbon Credits for the new carbon offset credit market.

After many months of negotiation, AurCrest has agreed to partner with ADLP to bring 974,000 hectares of potential carbon offsetting to market in a larger 1,028,496 hectare forest (the "Ogoki Forest"). ADC is the general partner of a limited partnership comprising the Aroland First Nation, the Eabametoong First Nation and the Marten Falls First Nation within whose traditional territories the Ogoki Forest is located. Pursuant to the terms of the ERB Agreement, Big Tree will assist ADLP in designing and financing this project and AurCrest, on behalf of Big Tree, will utilize the capital market expertise in our Company to bring growth and access to capital on behalf of the partners.

Christopher Angeconeb, AurCrest President and CEO stated "As a member of the Lac Seul First Nation, I am very pleased that ADLP has moved forward with AurCrest through this Company's model of participation and inclusion with our First Nations neighbour communities, to turn the historical role of indigenous people as stewards of the land into a modern model of indigenous-led environmental and community sustainability. I am very pleased that AurCrest is the first publicly traded company in Canada to be able to pursue this carbon sequestration opportunity. I am also proud that the Company's model represents a holistic approach to economic and resource development, as a partnership between indigenous and non-indigenous peoples of Canada, for the mutual benefit of all for generations to come."

It is part of AurCrest's mandate to assist under clause 92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action (the "TRC Report") and particularly clause 92.ii. of the TRC Report to ensure "that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects."

As outlined in the Company's Press Release dated May 25, 2020, AurCrest has been acting as a partnership bridge to connect capital markets with Forest Carbon Offset opportunities amongst indigenous communities since 2019. AurCrest has a long-standing relationship with First Nations in northern Ontario resulting in the appointment of Chris Angeconeb, a member of the Lac Seul First Nation, as President and CEO in March 2017, and the subsequent appointment of two prominent First Nations members to the Company's Board of Directors, Stan Beardy and Alex Carpenter.

The benefits derived from the monetization of the carbon credits, net of expenses, will be split as to 75% to ADLP and 25% to Big Tree. The ERB Agreement has an initial term of five years commencing from the date the first emission reduction benefits available for sale are generated by the project. At the end of the initial five year term, ADLP can purchase the 25% interest for fair market value. If the interest is not purchased at the end of the initial five years, the ERB Agreement continues for a further five years after which time the 25% interest held by Big Tree will be relinquished to ADLP.

Big Tree would also like to invite our shareholders to visit the Empire Club of Canada (www.empireclubofcanada.com) and join us on December 9th when we celebrate former AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde with the Empire Club's annual award of the Nation Builder of the Year. It is Big Tree's honour to be a lead sponsor in this event.

ABOUT AURCREST GOLD INC.

AurCrest is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties. AurCrest has a portfolio of properties in Ontario, which include the Richardson Lake, Ranger Lake and Bridget Lake gold properties.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

AurCrest Gold Inc.

Christopher Angeconeb

President and C.E.O.

(807) 737-5353

christopherangeconeb@gmail.com

Ian Brodie-Brown

Director of Business Development

(416) 844-9969

bigtree007@icloud.com

Forward Looking Statement:

Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. AurCrest undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

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: AurCrest Gold Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Generate Life Sciences announces it has entered into an agreement to be acquired by the publicly held healthcare company, CooperCompanies (NYSE: COO) and become part of CooperSurgical, a recognized global leader in women's health and fertility solutions.

For over 40 years Generate has been helping to grow and protect healthy families by providing reproductive, newborn stem cell (umbilical cord blood and tissue) and related genetic services. Bringing together Generate and Cooper will enable additional growth given CooperSurgical's established network in over 100 countries, providing greater access to Generate's innovative science that promotes family wellness.

"Generate helps families around the world benefit from its industry-leading services that support clients throughout their reproductive journey, from pre-conception through post-birth," said Generate CEO, Richard Jennings. "Over the past several years, our company has transformed into a global life sciences organization supporting clients looking to build and protect their families. Our affiliation with GI Partners was the catalyst to accelerate the growth of the company."

Generate's suite of products and services complements the current offerings of CooperSurgical in both fertility solutions and labor & delivery. The combined business will provide fertility clinics and healthcare providers with additional options to support their patients during their assisted reproductive technology treatment and beyond.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval, with closing expected to occur in Cooper's Fiscal first quarter.

About Generate Life SciencesGenerate Life Sciences ("Generate") is a life sciences company helping to grow and protect families through reproductive, newborn stem cell, genetic screening, medical device, and healthcare technology services. The Company serves families from preconception to post-birth. Its brands  CBR (Cord Blood Registry), California Cryobank, Donor Egg Bank USA, NW Cryobank, ReadyGen, Kitazato USA, and Donor Application  are pioneering leaders that have helped nearly one million families. Headquartered in Los Angeles, Generate operates facilities in Tucson, New York, Boston, Palo Alto, and Rockville, MD. For more information, please visit www.generate.com.

About CooperCompaniesCooperCompanies ("Cooper") is a global medical device company publicly traded on the NYSE (NYSE: COO). Cooper operates through two business units, CooperVision and CooperSurgical. CooperVision brings a refreshing perspective on vision care with a commitment to developing a wide range of high-quality products for contact lens wearers and providing focused practitioner support. CooperSurgical is committed to advancing the health of women, babies and families with its diversified portfolio of products and services focusing on medical devices and fertility & genomics. Headquartered in San Ramon, CA, Cooper has a workforce of more than 12,000 with products sold in over 100 countries. For more information, please visit www.coopercos.com.

Contact: Azeem Zeekrya, azeem.zeekrya@hdmz.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/generate-life-sciences-to-be-acquired-by-coopercompanies-301421685.html

SOURCE Generate Life Sciences
LONDON, ON, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - The Royal Canadian Legion will receive a contribution to its Poppy Fund from leading freelance audio marketplace Voices this Remembrance Day. Headquartered in London, Canada, Voices aims to support impactful action in its community.

Ann Walton, Vice President, People & Operations at Voices, shares "Remembrance Day is an opportunity to honour and spend a quiet moment in reflection and gratitude for those who have fought and made immeasurable sacrifices for our freedoms. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the battles we continue to fight for equality and reconciliation in our nation. Now, more than ever, is the time to bolster our communities and one another as we strive to overcome the obstacles the last few years have brought forward. Voices is proud to support Canada's veterans at a time when it is most needed."

The last two years have highlighted the critical need for donations across a wide variety of non-profits within the nonprofit sector, including veteran initiatives. After a very different Remembrance Day last year, the Royal Canadian Legion is hoping that a sense of normalcy will return to this year's poppy drive and to fundraising efforts amidst fewer COVID-19 pandemic restrictions across Canada.

This is especially poignant as this year marks the 100th anniversary of the traditional red poppy, originally adopted by the Great War Veterans Association of Canadathe predecessor to the Royal Canadian Legionin 1921.

This year, the Legion estimates approximately 20 million poppies will be distributed across Canada and is hopeful Canadians will don the red flower made so popular by John McCrae's poem 'In Flanders Fields' as an act of remembrance and respect.

For more information on the Royal Canadian Legion or to donate to the Poppy Fund, please visit www.legion.ca/donations.

About the Royal Canadian Legion

The Royal Canadian Legion is Canada's largest Veteran support and community service organization. Today, the Legion continues to improve the lives of Veterans, including serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as well as their families.

About Voices

Voices is the world's #1 audio services marketplace, with over 2 million registered users. Since 2005, the biggest and most beloved brands have entrusted Voices to help them find professionals to bring their projects to life. Headquartered in London, Canada, Voices helps match clients with voice over, music, audio production, and translation professionals in over 160 countries.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/voices-supports-royal-canadian-legions-poppy-fund-in-acknowledgement-of-remembrance-day-301421073.html

SOURCE Voices
FILE PHOTO: The app of Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi is seen on a mobile phone in front of the company logo displayed in this illustration picture taken July 1, 2021. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration

By Julie Zhu and Yilei Sun

HONG KONG/BEIJING (Reuters) - Didi Global is preparing to relaunch its ride-hailing and other apps in China by the end of the year in anticipation that Beijing's cybersecurity investigation into the company will be wrapped up by then, three people directly involved in the relaunch said.

The people, who declined to be identified as the information was private, said they expected China's cyberspace regulator to finalise any penalties on the company in December.

The company has set aside 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) for a potential fine, said one of the sources.

In July, the powerful Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) ordered app stores to remove 25 mobile apps operated by Didi - just days after the ride-hailing giant listed in New York. It also told the company to stop registering new users, citing national security and the public interest.

Asked about its preparations to relaunch the apps and the amount set aside for a potential fine, Didi said the information obtained by Reuters was "pure hearsay with no grounds in fact" and that it was cooperating actively and fully with the cybersecurity review. It did not elaborate further.

The CAC did not respond to a request for comment.

Didi shares listed on the New York Stock Exchange rose as much as more 6.7% in early trading on Thursday following the Reuters report before slipping back.

Didi, which has about 377 million annual active users in China, provides 25 million rides a day to users in the country who sign into its app with a phone number and password. Its apps also offer other products such as delivery and financial services.

It ran afoul of the CAC when it pressed ahead with its New York listing on June 30, even though the regulator had urged the company to put it on hold while a cybersecurity review of its data practices was conducted, sources have told Reuters.

Soon after, the CAC launched an investigation into Didi over its collection and use of personal data. It said data had been collected illegally and the apps concerned including for its camera device, as well as delivery and financial services.

NEW DATA LAW

Didi responded at the time by saying it had stopped registering new users and would make changes to comply with rules on national security and personal data protection, and would protect users' rights.

Didi has since been making changes to the apps to ensure they comply with China's Personal Information Protection Law which took effect on Nov. 1, the three people with knowledge of the matter said, adding that all staff had to complete training about the new law.

The changes include an updated and lengthy user agreement for customers to sign that clearly defines what data will be collected and how it will be used, said one of the sources.

The company is also working on new strategies to recruit drivers for the relaunch as many moved to rival services due to uncertainty surrounding the business because of the investigation, this source added.

Its shares have halved since its New York debut to leave its valuation at $43 billion. The investigation came amid a slew of regulatory moves by Beijing that have upended norms for a range of sectors from tech to property to private tutoring.

In particular, China has instructed its technology giants to provide more secure storage of user data amid public complaints about mismanagement and misuse that have resulted in privacy violations.

The new Personal Information Protection Law states that the handling of information must have a clear and reasonable purpose, lays out conditions under which companies can collect personal data and offers guidelines for ensuring data is protected when it is transferred outside the country.

($1 = 6.3980 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Julie Zhu in Hong Kong and Yilei Sun in Beijing; Additional reporting by Yingzhi Yang; Editing by David Clarke and Edwina Gibbs)
TICKERS: HBM

Source: Streetwise Reports (11/11/21)

HudBay Minerals is in full execution mode in terms of exploration, project advancement and landing new opportunities, according to a BMO Capital Markets report.



Financially, HudBay Minerals Inc.'s (HBM:TSX; HBM:NYSE) Q3/21 was "noisy" with beats and misses but overall was positive, reported BMO Capital Markets analyst Jackie Przybylowski in a Nov. 4 research note. Operationally, the company advanced two key projects.

"HudBay is not taking a break," Przybylowski commented. "It is pushing exploration forward, it continues to progress the Copper World option in Arizona and the company has outlined a new opportunity to reprocess tailings in Flin Flon."

During Q3/21, the Toronto, Ontario-based miner commissioned the copper flotation circuit ahead of schedule at its New Brittannia mill in Manitoba. in Also, it achieved full production at its Pampacancha mine in Peru "and is now delivering higher gold grades (and higher copper in Q4/21) as promised," Przybylowski relayed.

As for HudBay's Q3/21 financial performance, Przybylowski highlighted that the miner's earnings per share came in higher than expected. Other positives included in line production and unchanged full-year guidance. Also during Q3/21, HudBay improved its liquidity.

On the other hand, the company fell short of expectations in terms of sales and EBITDA, Przybylowski noted. "Shipment timing issues" caused sales to lag production, most significantly with respect to copper in Peru and gold in Manitoba.

Looking forward, Przybylowski pointed out that HudBay is "continuing to introduce opportunities for new positive catalysts." Those include achieving milestones at the company's Copper World project in Arizona, such as completion of an initial Inferred mineral resource estimate, expected by year-end 2021, and a preliminary economic assessment, anticipated in H1/22. Also by year-end, a ruling on HudBay's appeal regarding Rosemont could come down.

Additional events likely to move the company's stock are updates on exploration at its Peru and Manitoba projects and reprocessing tailings at the Flin Flon operation, also in Manitoba.

BMO maintained its Outperform rating and CA$15.50 per share target price on HudBay Minerals. Its stock is trading now at about CA$8.23 per share.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosures:

1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

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IMPORTANT DISCLOSURES for BMO, Hudbay Minerals Inc., Nov. 4, 2021

Analyst's Certification

I, Jackie Przybylowski, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers. I also certify that no part of my compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.

Analysts who prepared this report are compensated based upon (among other factors) the overall profitability of BMO Capital Markets and their affiliates, which includes the overall profitability of investment banking services. Compensation for research is based on effectiveness ingenerating new ideas and in communication of ideas to clients, performance of recommendations, accuracy of earnings estimates, and service to clients.

Analysts employed by BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. and/or BMO Capital Markets Limited are not registered as research analysts with FINRA. These analysts may not be associated persons of BMO Capital Markets Corp. and therefore may not be subject to the FINRA Rule 2241 restrictions on communications with a subject company, public appearances and trading securities held by a research analyst account.

Company Specific Disclosures

Disclosure 1: BMO Capital Markets has undertaken an underwriting liability with respect to Hudbay Minerals within the past 12 months.

Disclosure 2: BMO Capital Markets has provided investment banking services with respect to Hudbay Minerals within the past 12 months.

Disclosure 3: BMO Capital Markets has managed or co-managed a public offering of securities with respect to Hudbay Minerals within the past12 months.

Disclosure 4: BMO Capital Markets or an affiliate has received compensation for investment banking services from Hudbay Minerals within the past 12 months.

Disclosure 5: BMO Capital Markets or an affiliate received compensation for products or services other than investment banking services within the past 12 months from Hudbay Minerals.

Disclosure 6A: Hudbay Minerals is a client (or was a client) of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., BMO Capital Markets Limited or an affiliate within the past 12 months: A) Investment Banking Services

Disclosure 6C: Hudbay Minerals is a client (or was a client) of BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., BMO Capital Markets Corp., BMO Capital Markets Limited or an affiliate within the past 12 months: C) Non-Securities Related Services.
A member of the Air Force stands guard near Air Force Two at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on June 6, 2021. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

WASHINGTON  One in three female members of the Air Force and Space Force have experienced sexual harassment during their military careers, according to a Pentagon survey of more than 100,000 troops.

The most common type of harassment was sexual jokes, the survey found. Women also said they experienced sexual comments about their appearance and repeated attempts by some service members to establish unwanted sexual or romantic relationships.

The Air Force inspector general released the survey results Thursday in a report thats part of a broader effort in the service to examine race and gender inequality.

These disparities and gaps in trust affect our operational readiness, said Gina Ortiz Jones, undersecretary of the Air Force. We dont have time or talent to lose. We will actively work to rebuild that trust.

Some women who participated in the survey said they experienced sexism and sexual harassment but did not trust their chain of command to address the problem. They feared retribution and believed nothing would come of reporting the inappropriate behavior.

Female service members said they also experienced sexism and a negative stigma associated with being pregnant and taking maternity leave.

Across the board, female and minority members of the Air Force and Space Force remain underrepresented in leadership positions and promotions, the report found.

Nearly half of the women surveyed reported having to work harder than their male peers, and 38% of them said they had to conform their behavior to be more like men in order to succeed.

The Air Force inspector general issued a similar report in December that focused on Black service members. That investigation found Black airmen faced disparities in disciplinary action and career opportunities when compared to their white peers.

The newest report expanded the look at racial disparities to include Hispanic, Asian and Native American service members.

Like female service members, many racial and ethnic minorities reported having to work harder and behave more like white men to succeed in the Air Force.

Minority airmen and guardians said discriminatory and racist remarks were not appropriately addressed by their chain of command, which led to distrust of their unit, according to survey.

Gen. CQ Brown Jr., Air Force chief of staff, and Gen. John W. Raymond, chief of space operations, vowed in statements issued Thursday that they would take the feedback and use it to improve. The Air Force is working on a root cause analysis for the disparities found by the inspector general, they said. Its being led by the Air Education and Training Command at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas.

These reviews are important to help us identify and address racial, gender and ethnic disparity issues that negatively affect our airmen and guardians, Brown said. We must continue to listen to our people, understand what they are experiencing and receive their feedback as we take steps to improve.
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer from the 9th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flies a Bomber Task Force mission alongside two French Dassault Mirage 2000s over Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 11, 2021. (Andrew Kobialka/U.S. Air Force)

A pair of Air Force B-1 Lancers, flanked by six fighter jets, made a low pass over the only permanent U.S. military base in Africa on Thursday, in what officials said was a symbol of allied commitment to the region.

The bombers from the 9th Bomb Wing out of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, flew over Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, alongside two French Mirages and four F-35 Lightning fighter jets from the British Carrier Strike Groups HMS Queen Elizabeth  two of the stealth fighter jets were British and two American  U.S. Africa Command said.

The low approach coincided with an Allied Appreciation Day celebration on base, AFRICOM said in a statement. About 200 guests and senior leaders from Djibouti, the United States, France, Britain, Spain, Japan and Italy gathered to mark Veterans Day, which is celebrated as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day in other countries.

Todays bomber task force mission served as a visual representation of the international participants collective commitment to stability and security in the Horn of Africa, said Maj. Gen. Gregory Anderson, AFRICOM director of operations. It further demonstrates Djibouti as a leading security partner in the region.

The U.S. sees the tiny country in East Africa as a model ally in a region where Washington is competing for influence with Beijing and Moscow. Small U.S. investments on the continent now could pay big dividends later, U.S. officials say.

Our future security, prosperity and ability to project power globally rest on free, open and secure access in and around Africa, Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command, told Congress in April.

The bombers flew to Djibouti from RAF Fairford, about 35 miles north of Oxford, England. The air crews worked with U.S. and French joint terminal attack controllers to provide simulated close air support at Djiboutis Grand Bara Range before overflying Camp Lemonnier in the countrys capital city.

The American F-35s were from among 10 from Marine Corps Fighter Attack Squadron 211, which deployed in May with the British carrier strike group and the Royal Air Force 617 Squadron  the first time U.S. F-35s have been embarked on a foreign countrys carrier.

Thursdays overflight event highlighted some of the United States oldest alliances, symbolizing mutual involvement for peace in Horn of Africa, as in other parts of Africa, particularly the Sahel, said Air Division Gen. Stephane Dupont, commander of French Forces in Djibouti, which was a colony and overseas territory of France until 1967.

Royal Navy Commodore Steve Moorhouse, the strike group commander, said the symbolic flight further demonstrates that the strike group and this deployment is truly international by design.

Chad Garland Chad is a Marine Corps veteran who covers the U.S. military in the Middle East, Afghanistan and sometimes elsewhere for Stars and Stripes. An Illinois native whos reported for news outlets in Washington, D.C., Arizona, Oregon and California, hes an alumnus of the Defense Language Institute, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Arizona State University.
A worker receives a dose of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine at a Yandex office in Moscow on June 28, 2021. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg)

Europe was one of the first regions in the world to deploy coronavirus vaccines, yet parts of the continent are now seeing a resurgence in cases, with some countries experiencing their highest infection levels of the pandemic.

In the Czech Republic, new daily cases are up 33% over the past week, while recorded infections have jumped by 52% in Croatia and 49% in Austria, according to a Washington Post tracker.

On Thursday, Germany's weekly case rate soared to a record 249 new infections per 100,000 people, according to the country's infectious-disease agency, eclipsing last winter's high of about 197.

The difference now is that safe and effective vaccines have been available for months. But as winter approaches in Central and Eastern Europe, vaccination rates in many countries are lagging behind.

"The pandemic is anything but over," German Health Minister Jens Spahn said at a recent news conference.

"We are currently experiencing a pandemic mainly among the unvaccinated," he said. "And it is massive."

About 66% of Germans are fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data, which tracks publicly available figures, putting Germany just slightly behind Britain and France. The European Union's overall vaccination rate hovers at about 65%, buoyed in part by sky-high vaccine uptake in countries like Portugal, but bogged down by lagging efforts in Central and Eastern Europe.

In the Czech Republic, about 57% of people are fully vaccinated, a rate nearly identical to that of the United States, where officials have for months blamed the untamed spread of the virus on the unvaccinated. Only a third of the populations in Russia and Romania are fully vaccinated. In Russia, recorded infections are at their highest levels yet, with about 40,000 new cases reported each day.

More than a thousand coronavirus-related deaths are being recorded in Russia each day  a "startling" number, said Elizabeth King, a professor at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health whose research focuses on Russia and Eastern Europe.

Vaccine hesitancy in the region can be attributed to distrust in the government and in the vaccines themselves, King said.

"Misinformation is spreading as fast as the virus," she said.

Conspiracy theories about the coronavirus and vaccines have spread in Bulgaria, fueling resistance to shots there.

"The people in my community don't want to get vaccinated," said Kapka Georgieva, a Bulgarian woman who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. "They are afraid and hearing on television and other sources that they might die. There is panic. I can't convince anyone to get the vaccine."

In Russia, the Sputnik V vaccine has been widely available since the spring but has been met with a mix of ambivalence and mistrust.

A doctor in St. Petersburg, Lev Averbakh, recently told The Washington Post that he was "so sick and tired of explaining to people what this virus is about and why they need to be vaccinated."

"This resistance from the population is huge," he said.

King said that "the spread of misinformation around vaccines was a concern" in Central and Eastern Europe "even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic."

She pointed to measles outbreaks in recent years "due to lapses in vaccination" in countries like Ukraine, where less than 1 in 5 people are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The surge there is particularly worrisome, she said, because the health-care system is "not adequately prepared" to deal with the deluge of cases.

The low vaccination rate in Ukraine comes despite a wide array of vaccines available, including shots by AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Sinovac. Officials there have made a push in recent weeks urging people to get vaccinated.

"I ask everyone to switch off your social networks and turn on your brains," Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said recently in comments to reporters. "We must get vaccinated. It's the only solution."

The increase in cases across the continent come as the United States this week lifted restrictions on incoming travel from 33 countries, including many in Europe. Entry for foreigners is contingent upon proof of vaccination and a negative coronavirus test.

Sputnik V, however, was excluded from the U.S. list of accepted vaccines because it has not yet been approved by the World Health Organization. King said that authorization from the WHO or E.U. could make international travel an incentive for Russians to get vaccinated and also "eventually help change attitudes towards the vaccine within the country."
Buy Photo The softshell turtle ramen from Rakan Shokudo in Hiroshima prefecture has a texture and flavor similar to venison. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

Along the Kose River, on a winding road on Mount Rakan in Hiroshima prefecture, sits Spa Rakan, a scenic rest stop boasting a small restaurant, convenience store and onsen.

Youll more than likely see high-performance vehicles on your way there; its a popular route for car and motorcycle enthusiasts. And the trip is only about an hourlong drive from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni.

The restaurant, called Rakan Shokudo, offers a decent selection of udon, ramen and curry, all of which are easily ordered from a ticket vending machine.

If youre feeling adventurous, I recommend the softshell turtle ramen for 1,100 yen (about $9.90) or the softshell turtle hot pot for 1,500 yen.

Buy Photo The softshell turtle ramen from Rakan Shokudo in Hiroshima prefecture includes with three good-sized pieces of turtle meat, lots of bamboo shoots, chunks of fresh ginger and, of course, the noodles. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

Make sure you bring yen; the restaurants ticket machine accepts only Japanese currency, though the convenience store and onsen will take credit cards.

Insert enough yen into the machine and the menu buttons will illuminate the items you are able to purchase.

Buy Photo Rakan Shokudo in Hiroshima prefecture offers a decent selection of udon, ramen and curry, all of which are easily ordered from a ticket vending machine. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

My turtle ramen came out in a large bowl. The broth was clear and light, with three good-sized pieces of turtle meat, lots of bamboo shoots, chunks of fresh ginger and, of course, the noodles.

The turtle has a texture and flavor similar to venison, and the meat includes some bones.

The ramen was tasty and filling, though it lacked something. Adding an egg and some seaweed at a minimum would have helped round out the dish.

The restaurant has limited seating inside, about five spots along the countertop and three tables, some traditional Japanese dining rooms near the spa entrance and, when the weather is right, a large patio dining area.

For dessert, go to the convenience store counter and order one of 19 flavors of ice cream for 350 yen each. My favorite is green tea, a flavor I dont see very often outside of Japan.

If youre interested in relaxing in the onsen, the entrance fee is a bargain. Adult admission is 650 yen and 250 yen for children age 3. A towel rental will set you back 150 yen.

Parking is free and more than 20 spaces are available, along with a large, separate area for motorcycles.

Buy Photo Along the Kose River, on a winding road on Mount Rakan in Hiroshima prefecture, sits Spa Rakan, a scenic rest stop boasting a small restaurant, convenience store and onsen. (Jonathan Snyder/Stars and Stripes)

RAKAN SHOKUDO

Location: 21-5 Iinoyama, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 738-0226

Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday through Tuesday.

Prices: About 500 yen to 1,500 yen.

Dress: Casual

Directions: From the MCAS Iwakuni main gate take Route 2 then take Route 186 up Mount Rakan.

Information: Phone: 0829-72-2221; online: sparakan.com
Few Americans know much about Ethiopia. Yet it is the second largest country in Africa in terms of population, has been an independent country for centuries, and the capital, Addis Ababa, serves as the headquarters of the African Union. When I was military commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, we had a strong partnership with the African Union, focused on combating piracy off the eastern coast of the continent.

Unfortunately, the nation of 115 million is now in the grips of a vicious rebellion that resembles the fighting in the Balkans of the 1990s  racial and ethnic divisions, atrocities on both sides including ethnic cleansing and gang rapes, armies fighting over territorial control, millions of refugees.

A few years ago, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed won the Nobel Peace Prize for settling a long-running war with Eritrea, it looked like Ethiopia had a bright future. But over the past year, thousands have been killed in a revolt in Tigray Province and by the government's efforts to suppress it. It is not yet a full civil war, one engulfing the entire population. But the combined military forces of the rebel groups are within a few of hundred miles of Addis Ababa, and the prime minister has called on all males to prepare for combat.

What are the U.S. interests in this conflict, and what should Washington be doing about it?

First, Ethiopia matters because of its size and potential. It occupies a huge landmass  more than 1.5 times the size of Texas  in the heart of the Horn of Africa. While landlocked, it is the economic and political center of the strategically important northeast coast of Africa. Addis Ababa is the diplomatic capital of Africa, hosting the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa as well as the African Union and large missions from other nations on the continent.

Second, Ethiopia is central to overall politics and security on the continent. I discussed this with a former U.S. ambassador to the African Union, Reuben Brigity, who said: "Ethiopia's stability affects the entire region, from oil-rich South Sudan to the commercial hub of Kenya. Instability in Ethiopia will impact myriad U.S. interests in the region and beyond  from counterterrorism and trade to countering China and promoting democracy."

East Africa and the Sahel region have become breeding grounds for terrorist groups, and President Donald Trump's administration withdrew most U.S. troops from training and security missions there.

Third, we are seeing a huge humanitarian crisis unfolding. The United Nations projects mass refugee movements, greater atrocities and a high level of hunger if a full civil war breaks out. Dr. Michelle Bachelet, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said, "Nobody is winning this reckless war which is engulfing increasing parts of the country."

Finally, there is a large, activist Ethiopian population in the U.S.; many of those immigrants remain closely connected with family and friends in their homeland. Hence the large demonstrations lately in the Washington metropolitan area, which hosts an Ethiopian population estimated at 75,000 to 200,000 people.

For all these reasons, the U.S. has a strong national interest in helping with the crisis. The problem  much like in the Balkans in the 1990s  is the longstanding antipathies in the country. The heart of the opposition to the federal government is the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, which has cobbled together a coalition of other disenfranchised minorities and is marching on the capital. Large numbers of the Oromo and the Amhara peoples, along with smaller ethnic groups, have joined the antigovernment coalition.

The first step is negotiating a cease-fire leading to talks between the sides. International mediation efforts, led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo under the aegis of the African Union, are attempting to create the conditions for pause in the fighting. U.S. diplomatic efforts are being led by special envoy Jeffrey Feltman, a highly regarded diplomat I've known for a decade  he's a fellow graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts, where I served as dean  and he's a good choice for the job.

Washington needs to give Feltman freedom to use carrots and sticks: continuing to sanction the Ethiopian government for its human rights violations, while proffering aid and other assistance to the civilian population as an incentive for a cease-fire. Ethiopia should be considered for a new initiative by President Joe Biden's administration and Johnson & Johnson to rush doses of COVID-19 vaccine into conflict zones.

The U.S. should also be willing to participate in a UN-led peacekeeping effort to separate the warring parties, and use its logistical capabilities to ensure that aid can flow to every area. The military's U.S. Africa Command has deep knowledge of the region and the Ethiopians, and could help in structuring such a peacekeeping force.

Sending troops to East Africa may not play well in U.S. domestic politics. But three decades ago, the world stood by and watched a brutal civil war unfold in the small African nation of Rwanda. That was shameful. Ethiopia is far larger and more geopolitically important than Rwanda, and Africa is now the fastest-growing continent  it may flourish, or it could collapse into political chaos, starvation and terrorism. As the U.S. and its allies forge a strategy to engage the continent as whole, helping end Ethiopia's misery now makes a lot of sense.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

James Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is also chair of the board of the Rockefeller Foundation and vice chairman of Global Affairs at the Carlyle Group. His latest book is "2034: A Novel of the Next World War."
Police officers attempt to control a crowd gathered at a gas station hoping to fill their tanks, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021. (Odelyn Joseph/AP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti  The U.S. government is urging U.S. citizens to leave Haiti because of the country's deepening insecurity and a severe lack of fuel that has affected hospitals, schools and banks. Gas stations remained closed on Thursday.

The rare warning from the U.S. State Department comes as Haiti's government and police are struggling to control gangs that have blocked fuel distribution terminals for several weeks.

"Widespread fuel shortages may limit essential services in an emergency, including access to banks, money transfers, urgent medical care, internet and telecommunications, and public and private transportation options," the State Department warned on Wednesday. "The U.S. Embassy is unlikely to be able to assist U.S. citizens in Haiti with departure if commercial options become unavailable."

It's unclear how many U.S. citizens currently live in Haiti. A State Department official told The Associated Press that it does not provide those statistics and U.S. citizens are not required to register their travel to a foreign country.

On Tuesday, top Haitian government officials acknowledged the widespread lack of fuel during a news conference and said they were working to resolve the situation, although they provided no details.

Defense Minister Enold Joseph said the government is investigating why 30 fuel tanks sent to Haiti's southern region went missing, adding that he has observed gasoline being sold on the black market.

In addition, Le Nouvelliste newspaper recently reported that truck drivers have been kidnapped and fuel trucks hijacked.

The fuel shortage also has threatened Haiti's water supply, which depends on generators.

On Wednesday, Doctors Without Borders warned that the shortages have forced it to reduce medical care since last week, with staff treating only patients with life-threatening conditions. The aid group said that its hospital and emergency center will run out of fuel for generators in three weeks or less if new supplies don't arrive.

"As tensions and armed conflict escalate in Haiti's capital, shortages of fuel, public transportation and drinking water are putting medical facilities and patients at risk," the aid group said. "Nearly all public and private health facilities in Port-au-Prince have stopped or limited admissions to only acute cases or closed their doors due to similar problems."

The aid group said that one patient with respiratory distress was recently refused at four different medical centers because the lack of fuel forced them to halt admissions. A fifth facility took her in, officials said.

Doctors Without Borders also said that the lack of fuel is preventing staff from reaching the hospital because of the scarcity of public transportation. It's a problem seen elsewhere, with parents unable to send their children to school and some employees unable to go to work.

The situation also has led to a spike in food prices in a country of more than 11 million people where more than 60% of the population makes less than $2 a day. Meanwhile, a gallon of gasoline, when available, currently costs $15.

Associated Press writer Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report.
Lt. Gen. James Bierman, left, takes command of III Marine Expeditionary Force from Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy III, right, at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (U.S. Marine Corps)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION FUTENMA, Okinawa  The III Marine Expeditionary Force, the United States rapid-response force in the Pacific, has taken on a new but seasoned commander at a time when tensions with global competitor China are on the rise.

Lt. Gen. James Bierman took command of III MEF from Lt. Gen. H. Stacy Clardy III during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon on MCAS Futenmas windswept flight line.

"It is a challenging time here for all of us in III MEF, but it's part of the only forward-deployed MEF in the Marine Corps," Bierman told Stars and Stripes after the ceremony. "We're here to partner with our allies and friends in the joint force to make sure that we deter potential adversaries and to protect all of our collective interests."

Taiwan has been the focus of increased tension in recent weeks with Chinese troops practicing for an invasion and flying warplanes near the island democracy that is home to 23.5 million people. Late last month, President Joe Biden said the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacked, although his comments were walked back by the White House.

Buy Photo Lt. Gen. James Bierman speaks to reporters after taking command of the III Marine Expeditionary Force at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo The III Marine Expeditionary Force band drum major salutes during a change-of-command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Okinawa, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)

Bierman is a Bronze Star recipient coming from command of the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa, a major component of III MEF. The appointment marks the fourth time in 16 years Bierman has taken command of a unit within III MEF, he said.

We certainly find ourselves facing new, significant challenges, he told a gathering of about 200 Americans and Japanese, one of the largest on base since the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020.

III MEF will continue to do whatever needs to be done, he said. We will spare no effort to deter would-be adversaries, to maintain peace in this region.

Bierman said his Marines were prepared to deploy, fight and win on short notice.

Clardy is retiring after 38 years in the Corps and heading home to South Carolina, spokesman 2nd Lt. Zachary Voss told Stars and Stripes before the ceremony. Clardy took command of III MEF from Lt. Gen. Eric Smith on May 31, 2019.

Clardys tenure may be best remembered for his leading U.S. forces on Okinawa through the coronavirus pandemic. Marine Corps camps across the island experienced surges in COVID-19 cases that in summer 2020 amounted to hundreds daily and put bases on lockdown.

Clardy put the Corps new island-fighting doctrine, called expeditionary advanced base operations, to the test with numerous field exercises. He also helped improve III MEF integration with the Navys 7th Fleet and encouraged innovation through a series of technology and innovation competitions within the ranks.

The accomplishments of III Marine Expeditionary Force during your tenure are a direct reflection of your outstanding leadership, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger wrote in a message to Clardy that was read aloud Tuesday. With you at the helm, III Marine Expeditionary Force ensured our vital strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific region and prepared us well in advance for forward posture in an ever-changing and uncertain security context.

Berger said Clardys efforts to support allies Japan and South Korea will have a positive impact for years to come.

The ceremony Tuesday was the type of formation many had not seen since before the pandemic. The Marines displayed an array of weaponry, from the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter to the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and an AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter.

Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, commander of Marine Forces Pacific, presided over the change of command. He served with Bierman at the Pentagon, where the commandant would look to Bierman for advice, Rudder told the audience.

Rudder said he knew then that his friend was destined for bigger and better things and predicted III MEF wont be Biermans last job.

It doesnt get lost on me that the success of III MEF came from his leadership in the division, Rudder said.
Volcanic activity beneath Iwo Jima, site of a defining World War II battle between American and Japanese forces, is pushing sunken naval vessels to the surface. (Heather Johnson/U.S. Marine Corps)

Volcanic activity beneath Iwo Jima, site of a defining World War II battle between American and Japanese forces, is pushing sunken naval vessels to the surface.

Two dozen World War II-era ships in the water just off the islands black-sand beaches were photographed from above and reported Oct. 18 by the All-Nippon News Network. Although the ships have resurfaced previously, according to reports, a video posted online by the network brought fresh attention to the ghost fleet.

The network also reported that an undersea eruption near Iwo Jima  known as Iwo To in Japan  created a new island a half-mile square nearby. Its the third small island to appear there since 1900. They eventually wash away.

Reports differ as to who owned the ships. The U.S. Navy sank them to create a breakwater to shield an artificial harbor where other vessels unloaded troops and supplies, according to an Oct. 23 report by the Weather Channel.

Other reports indicate Imperial Japan sank the vessels for the same purpose prior to the cataclysmic battle in February and March 1945. The ships were used by Japan to prepare for an invasion of U.S. troops, the newspaper USA Today reported Oct. 22.

Iwo Jima has been rising steadily over the years and is now over 50 feet above sea level, the report said.

Volcanic activity beneath Iwo Jima, site of a defining World War II battle between American and Japanese forces, is pushing sunken naval vessels to the surface. (Heather Johnson/U.S. Marine Corps)

A spokesman for the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington, D.C., said its underwater archeology team has little information on the ships, even after contacting their Japanese counterparts.

Iwo Jima has been rising for years due to volcanic activity beneath it, an official with the volcanological department of the Japan Meteorological Agency told Stars and Stripes by phone on Oct. 27. The island has risen about three feet a year since 2014, the official said.

He said the agency started collecting data that year, and the island likely rose at the same pace in previous years.

Iwo Jima lies in the western Pacific about 760 miles south of Tokyo.

The meteorological agency tracks volcanic activity around the island, including reports of water columns along its coast, the official said.

How the island rises is unclear but it may be due to magma accumulating beneath the island and forcing it to rise, the official said.

Iwo Jima is used by U.S. Navy pilots based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to qualify for carrier landings prior to shipping out aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, homeported at Yokosuka Naval Base.

Carrier Air Wing 5 continually monitors events that could impact training and readiness and works closely with the Government of Japan to always remain ready to operate as part of the U.S. Navys only forward-deployed Carrier Strike Group, Lt. Cmdr. Joe Keiley, Task Force 70 spokesman, told Stars and Stripes by email Oct. 25.

Japans Defense Ministry said the volcanic activity, the rising island and hulks on the beach do not affect its operations at Iwo Jima, a ministry spokeswoman said on Nov. 1.

Japans Self-Defense Forces hold disaster relief and flight training on the island, the spokeswoman said.

We have been observing closely for any effects it may have on the Self-Defense Force facility and will continue to monitor the situation, she said.

The Navy and Japanese government have been looking for an airfield other than the one at Iwo Jima, where bad weather and logistics challenges sometimes mean the Navys landing practice must be relocated.

The Japanese government is developing a Self-Defense Force facility on Kagoshima prefectures Mageshima island in western Japan to relocate the Navys landing practice. The ministry has acquired most of the land but when it will be available for use is unclear, according to the spokeswoman.
In this photo released by Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, center, pose for photograph with the special envoys from United States, Russia and China, prior to a meeting on Afghanistan, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Pakistan hosted talks with special envoys from the United States, Russia and China on the path forward for Afghanistan, where deepening humanitarian crisis has forced many Afghans to migrate to neighboring countries since the Taliban takeover in August. (Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP)

ISLAMABAD  Pakistan on Thursday hosted talks with special envoys from the United States, Russia and China on the path forward for Afghanistan, where a deepening humanitarian crisis has forced many Afghans to migrate to neighboring countries since the Taliban takeover in August.

Afghanistan's Taliban-appointed foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, was in Islamabad but did not attend the meeting. The international community has not recognized the government appointed by the Taliban after they overran the country.

However, Muttaqi later met with the special envoys. He also met separately with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other officials to discuss a range of issues, including how to help Kabul overcome a deepening economic crisis and avoid a refugee crisis.

The meeting released a joint statement appealing on the international community to urgently provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. It also urged the Taliban to form an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans and provides for the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of the Afghan society.

The statement "welcomed the Taliban's continued commitment to allow for the safe passage of all who wish to travel to and from Afghanistan and encouraged rapid progress, with the onset of winter, on arrangements to establish airports countrywide that can accept commercial air traffic, which are essential to enable the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance".

It also condemned recent deadly attacks in Afghanistan and asked "the Taliban to cut ties with all international terrorist groups, dismantle and eliminate them in a decisive manner, and to deny space to any terrorist organization operating inside the country."

Thursday's gathering in Islamabad comes weeks after Russia hosted similar talks on Afghanistan, which Washington did not attend. On Wednesday, India hosted senior security officials from Russia, Iran and five Central Asian countries to discuss the ramifications of the Taliban takeover. India's archrival Pakistan and its ally China boycotted those talks.

The Taliban seized power in a blitz offensive that captured the capital, Kabul, and most of the country on Aug. 15, ahead of the final withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan after 20 years of war.

In his remarks at the meeting, Qureshi expressed concerns that an economic collapse in Afghanistan would cause instability in the region and beyond.

"All of us have common concerns related to Afghanistan and also have a shared interest in the country's peace and stability," he said, and also called for the release of Afghan funds frozen by the world community.

Qureshi urged for an "engagement with the new Afghan government" to "help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development and help constrict space for terrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan," he said.

"With international funding dried up, it has become difficult to pay even salaries, let alone pursue development projects," he added. "The common man is reeling under the effects of a severe drought. Any further downward slide will severely limit the new administration's capacity to run the government" in Afghanistan.

After the meeting, Qureshi said he had told participants the talks would be more productive with the Taliban representative in the room. He said the next meeting of the group was due in Beijing, where the Taliban representative will be invited.

Pakistan has been urging nations to free Afghanistan's assets abroad to enable the Taliban to access those funds to avert the deepening crisis. The Taliban-run administration currently does not have access to the Afghan central bank's $9 billion in reserves, most of which is held by the New York Federal Reserve.
European Union flags fly in Brussels on Sept. 16, 2020. (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Bloomberg)

The U.S. and European Union are focused on strengthening the multilateral trading system, the trade minister for Brussels said, less than two weeks after defusing one of the biggest transatlantic disputes lingering from the Trump administration.

Late last month, the U.S. and EU agreed to pause tariffs on more than $10 billion worth of goods as part of a broader reset following four tumultuous years under former President Donald Trump.

"In a nutshell, we agreed to hit the pause button on this major Trump-era irritant," EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said in a press conference in Brussels. "It's clear that the solution which we have reached is not the end solution for this dispute."

The two-year truce has created space for the U.S. and EU to push together for a successful World Trade Organization ministerial conference later this month. "It is important for the continued relevance of the WTO," Dombrovskis said.

Trade ministers from around the world plan to travel to Geneva on Nov. 30 for the WTO's 12th ministerial conference, which is a gathering of the organization's highest decision-making body.

The meeting presents a rare opportunity for governments to deliver concrete outcomes to show that the 26-year-old trade body remains relevant to a global economy where digital commerce is growing and the debate over China's role is heating up.

On Thursday, European trade ministers agreed on a common position for outcomes at the WTO ministerial conference, including an agreement to curb harmful fishery subsidies, the establishment of a task force on WTO reform, and a framework to expand global trade in vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai participated virtually in Thursday's meeting with European trade ministers and discussed the importance of reaching a WTO outcome to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a USTR statement after the meeting.

While the EU is willing to consider the arguments for a waiver of WTO intellectual-property rules for vaccines, Dombrovskis said the EU prefers a more holistic approach that deters export restrictions and expands vaccine access through trade facilitation and compulsory licensing arrangements.

"We are clear that intellectual property should not be a barrier for ramping up vaccine production," he said. "Our proposal to achieve this is through facilitating the use of compulsory licenses."

Dombrovskis said the EU wants to see "more commitment from our global partners to match our ambitions" for the WTO conference.

One area of concern is the WTO's fishery negotiations, where major gaps remain in talks aimed at eliminating an estimated $14 billion to $54 billion worth of annual government subsidies that threaten the sustainability of the world's fish stocks.

A ministerial outcome on fish remains uncertain because India opposes the current proposal, calling it unbalanced and unfairly beneficial to developed nations.

"If we want to see agreement in these various areas, other countries need to accelerate their work and adopt a realistic approach," Dombrovskis said.
PARIS  A man who killed a French Holocaust survivor was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison for a March 2018 attack that the court said was rooted in antisemitism.

The son of one of the victim's neighbors, Yacine Mihoub, stabbed 85-year-old Mireille Knoll 11 times and then left her in a burning Paris apartment. Another man involved, Alex Carrimbacus, was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison for theft.

Knoll's killing shook France and put a spotlight on concerns over antisemitism in the country, following the murder of another Jewish woman living nearby, Sarah Halimi, a year before, and the attack on a kosher supermarket in 2015, among other incidents.

In the wake of Knoll's slaying, thousands took to the streets of the French capital to march against antisemitism.

The French court ruled late Wednesday that her killing was the result of a robbery, motivated by an antisemitic prejudice that Knoll was hiding valuables in her apartment.

During the two-week long trial, the two defendants accused each other of having killed Knoll.

Carrimbacus said Mihoub shouted the Arabic phrase for "God is greatest" while he stabbed Knoll - a claim Mihoub denied.

Knoll and her mother escaped the "Vel d'Hiv" roundup of Parisian Jews in July 1942, according to Meyer Habib, a French lawmaker who said he has been in contact with Knoll's relatives. During the roundup, approximately 13,000 Jews were arrested and deposited in a stadium near the Eiffel Tower. Knoll escaped to Portugal, likely avoiding being sent to Auschwitz.

In what appeared to be a deviation from prior practices, French authorities quickly characterized her murder as having been motivated by antisemitism in 2018.

Knoll was murdered "because she was Jewish," said President Emmanuel Macron, who attended her funeral.

Some Jewish groups had argued that French authorities have often hesitated or been too slow at naming antisemitism as the motive behind attacks on Jews or on Jewish targets.

After Halimi's killing in 2017, investigators hesitated to do so, despite numerous details suggesting that an antisemitic link existed. A court in April officially established an antisemitic motive, even though it said that her suspected killer cannot be prosecuted because he was in a cannabis-induced state of mental delirium at the time of the attack. The lack of a conviction sparked outrage among the French Jewish community and drew criticism from Macron.

"Deciding to take narcotics and then 'going mad' should not, in my view, remove your criminal responsibility," Macron told the right-leaning daily Le Figaro.

His assurances to the country's Jewish community came as European officials warned that the coronavirus pandemic could give rise to a wave of antisemitic hate crimes on the continent. Earlier this month, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights said "existing antisemitic discourse has been revived" by the pandemic, "and new antisemitic myths and conspiracy theories" have emerged.
People hold Polish flags during the annual Independence Day march which because of their participation turned violent in recent years, in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday, November 11, 2021. Warsaw mayor and courts banned this years event due to its history of violence, but the right-wing ruling authorities defied the ban and gave the march state event status to allow it to go ahead.. (Czarek Sokolowski/AP)

WARSAW, Poland  Thousands marched in Warsaw on Thursday to mark Poland's Independence Day, led by far-right groups calling for strong borders, while its troops blocked hundreds of new attempts by migrants to enter the country illegally from neighboring Belarus in a tense political standoff.

Security forces patrolled the capital and other cities for the holiday rallies, which in recent years have seen some violent attacks by nationalist extremists.

This year's march was overshadowed by events unfolding along Poland's border with Belarus, where thousands of riot police and troops are turning back migrants, many from the Middle East, who are trying to enter the European Union. Makeshift camps have sprung up in forests on the Belarusian side near a crossing at the Polish town of Kuznica, and with temperatures falling and access to the frontier restricted, there are fears of a humanitarian crisis.

EU officials have accused Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns in a "hybrid attack" to retaliate for sanctions imposed on his authoritarian regime for a harsh internal crackdown on dissent.

"We Thank the Defenders of Poland's Borders," said one banner seen in Warsaw, which is 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of Kuznica. Traditional patriotic music, some of which was banned while Poland was part of the Soviet bloc, also was played.

Warsaw's liberal mayor and courts had banned the march, but right-wing authorities in the national government overrode the order and gave the gathering the status of a state ceremony.

The government's support for the far-right leaders of the march underlined how Poland's right-wing ruling party wants their support. It also is engaged in a political fight with the EU over Polish changes to the country's judiciary, viewed in Brussels as an erosion of democratic norms, along with rhetoric seen as discriminatory to LGBT groups.

In 2017, the Independence march drew tens of thousands and included white nationalist and anti-Semitic slogans. Yet the following year, which was the centennial of Poland regaining its statehood, the president and prime minister and other leaders marched along the same route as the nationalists.

In seeking to ban the march, Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, an opposition figure, argued that Warsaw, which was razed by Nazi Germany during World War II, is "no place to propagate slogans that have all the hallmarks of fascist slogans."

State television TVP, a ruling party mouthpiece, called it "a great march of Polish patriots."

As Thursday's march began, groups carried Poland's white-and-red national flags, but some also waved the green flags of the National Radical Camp displaying a stylized hand with a sword, a far-right symbol dating to the 1930s.

Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik tweeted that many of the security forces "will go directly from Warsaw to defend our border with Belarus. When marching, remember this!"

Robert Bakiewicz, the leader of the march, said in a speech that all Poles should stand behind the troops and officials who are protecting the eastern border.

"You know, dear ones, that we meet in an exceptional situation. This march is unique, unlike any other. Today there are not only internal disputes, today there are also external disputes," he said. "Today there is an attack on the Polish border."

About 15,000 Polish troops have joined riot police and border guards at the border. The Belarusian Defense Ministry accused Poland of an "unprecedented" military buildup there, saying that migration control did not warrant such a force.

The Defense Ministry said Thursday that the migrants made a number of attempts to cross the border since Wednesday, as they have all week.

Near the village of Bialowieza, where a group of a few hundred migrants threw debris across the razor-wire fence at Polish troops and then tried to destroy it, shots were fired in the air to deter them.

Shots also were fired in the air near the village of Szudzialowo after migrants attacked a soldier, the ministry said. "He was hit with a branch on the chest. He fired two warning shots into the air," the ministry said. The soldier was unhurt and the attackers fled into Belarus.

Since the start of the year, there have been 33,000 attempts to cross the border illegally, with 17,000 in October alone, the border guard service said.

The border crisis has been brewing since summer, with migrants trying to cross from Belarus to Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Many want to head for Germany, but Finland also is a destination.

The EU is looking at the role some airlines have played in carrying migrants and asylum-seekers to the bloc's doorstep, and there are reports that it is mulling sanctions against them.

Russia's national flag carrier, Aeroflot, strongly rejected allegations that it was involved, saying it isn't conducting any regular or charter flights to Iraq or Syria and didn't have any flights between Istanbul and Minsk.

The Polish government has pointed the finger at what it believes is a Turkish role  something Ankara denies.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in a phone call Wednesday with his Polish counterpart, Zbigniew Rau, rejected "baseless allegations" that flag carrier Turkish Airlines was involved, Turkish officials said.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Deputy Migration Minister Karim al-Nuri told the Russian state news agency Sputnik that his country will aid in returning its citizens from Belarus if they wish.

"We will transport those who want to return. We will facilitate this through the Iraqi embassy in Russia, since Iraq does not have an embassy in Belarus," the official said.

Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed reporting.
In this handout photo taken from video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, a long-range Tu-22M3 bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces flies to patrol in the airspace of Belarus, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Russia has sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus in a show of Moscows support for its ally amid a dispute over migration at the Polish border. Russia has supported Belarus amid a tense standoff this week as thousands of migrants gathered on the Belarus-Poland border in hopes of crossing into Europe. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

MOSCOW  Russia sent two nuclear-capable strategic bombers on a training mission over Belarus for a second straight day on Thursday in a strong show of Moscow's support for its ally amid a dispute over migration at the Polish border.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry said two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers practiced bombing runs at the Ruzany firing range, located in Belarus about 60 kilometers (just over 37 miles) east of the border with Poland. As part of the joint training, Belarusian fighter jets simulated an intercept, the ministry said.

The missions marked the second time in two days that Russia sent its nuclear-capable bombers into the skies over Belarus.

A pair of Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flew a similar patrol on Wednesday, and Belarusian air defense assets practiced intercepting them.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry said that such Russian bomber flights will be conducted on a regular basis.

The Russian military said the bombers spent over 4 1/2 hours in the air during the mission intended to buttress the countries' alliance. It noted that the bomber patrol "wasn't aimed against any third countries."

Russia has strongly supported Belarus amid a tense standoff this week as thousands of migrants and refugees, most of them from the Middle East, gathered on the Belarusian side of the border with Poland in the hope of crossing into Western Europe.

The European Union has accused Belarus' authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko of encouraging illegal border crossings as a "hybrid attack" to retaliate against EU sanctions on his government for its crackdown on internal dissent after Lukashenko's disputed 2020 reelection.

Belarus denies the allegations but has said it will no longer stop refugees and migrants from trying to enter the EU.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry accused Poland on Thursday of an "unprecedented" military buildup on the border, saying that migration control did not warrant the concentration of 15,000 troops backed by tanks, air defense assets and other weapons.

"It looks more like forming a strike group of forces," the ministry said, adding that the Polish military buildup prompted Belarus to respond with actions "both independently and within the existing agreements with our strategic ally," a reference to Russia.

Russia and Belarus have a union agreement envisaging close political and military ties. Lukashenko has stressed the need to boost military cooperation in the face of what he has described as aggressive actions by NATO allies.

Lukashenko on Thursday called the Russian bomber flights a necessary response to the tensions on the Belarus-Poland border.

"Let them scream and squeak. Yes, those are nuclear-capable bombers, but we have no other choice," the president, who has been in office since 1994, said.

Col. Gen. Retired Leonid Ivashov, the former head of the Russian Defense Ministry's foreign cooperation department, said the Russian bomber flights over Belarus were intended to demonstrate Moscow's support for its ally amid soaring tensions.

"Military drills and bomber flights are part of training for joint action," Ivashov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. "It's needed to avert a possible military conflict that could escalate into a big war. It's necessary to demonstrate our readiness."

Amid the tensions on the Belarus-Poland border, Russia has strongly backed Belarus, charging that the West destabilized the Middle East and therefore bears responsibility for migrants and refugees seeking safety in Europe.

At the same time, Moscow angrily rejected Poland's claim that Russia has helped foment a situation with humanitarian as well as political dimensions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted the thousands of troops that have been deployed on either side of the Polish-Belarusian border and said "it's a cause for deep concern of all sober-minded people in Europe."

Asked about German Chancellor Merkel's request for Russian President Vladimir Putin to exert his influence on Belarus, Peskov responded that "Russia, like all other countries, is trying to help resolve the situation." He said Putin has remained in contact with Lukashenko, but didn't elaborate.

Russia's national flag carrier, Aeroflot, responded to reports that the EU was mulling sanctions against the airline for its alleged involvement in bringing to refugees and migrants to Belarus. Aeroflot strongly rejected the claim.

"The information about Aeroflot's participation or assistance to organizing mass transportation of migrants to the territory of Belarus doesn't conform to reality," the airline said in a statement.

Aeroflot noted that it wasn't conducting any regular or charter flights to Iraq or Syria and didn't have any flights between Istanbul and Minsk.

Asked about the reports of possible EU sanctions against Aeroflot, Kremlin spokesman Peskov pointed to the airline's denial of knowingly transporting Europe-bound asylum-seekers.

"Let hope that such mad ideas only exist in those media hoaxes," he said in a conference call with reporters.
Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, NRC, Jan Egeland speaks in an interview with The Associated Press in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021. Thousands of Afghan refugees are fleeing the Taliban into neighboring Iran every day and the trend could become a crisis for Europe, Egeland said Wednesday. (Vahid Salemi/AP)

TEHRAN, Iran  Thousands of Afghan refugees are fleeing the Taliban into neighboring Iran every day and the trend could eventually become a crisis for Europe, a top aid official said Wednesday.

Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, visited refugees this week around Kerman province in eastern Iran close to the Afghanistan border. He warned that Europe could be affected if the influx into Iran continues.

Speaking to The Associated Press in the capital Tehran at the end of his trip, Egeland said more needs to be done to provide hope, food and care for Afghans fleeing the Taliban.

Many Afghan refugees called their relatives telling them they are on their way to Iran and many want to go on to Europe, so Europe should be less occupied with a few thousand (refugees) sitting on the Polish-Belorussian border.

More people came today to Iran than are now on that border, he added.

More than 120,000 Americans, Afghans and others were flown out of Afghanistan during a massive airlift operation in the days after the capital of Kabul fell to the Taliban on Aug. 15. But thousands more were left behind, with many fleeing to the borders and seeking help from aid agencies.

An estimated 300,000 have fled Afghanistan into Iran since the Taliban takeover, according to the NRC.

There is no economy, there is very little assistance, and there is too little shelter and food for millions and millions in need, Egeland said.

He said that as the Afghan winter arrives and there are not enough shelters for refugees in Afghanistan, more refugees will enter Iran.

We expect this to become even more acute as hundreds of thousands are coming to the border between Afghanistan and Iran. Winter will be horrific in Afghanistan, he said.

The secretary-general urged wealthy countries to immediately scale up their aid contributions, both inside Afghanistan and in neighboring countries such as Iran, before the deadly winter cold.

According to the NRC, between 4,000 and 5,000 Afghans are fleeing into Iran each day through informal border crossings. It said Iran has supported those Afghans, in addition to hundreds of thousands of others who have been sheltering in the country for much longer  some for decades.

During his trip to Kerman province, Egeland met with some of the refugees and he said that the 3.5 million Afghan migrants already in Iran are struggling as a result of U.S. sanctions on Iran.

Irans interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, on Tuesday said Iran has several thousand people at its border with Afghanistan every day. He, too, warned that a fresh wave of Afghan refugees might attempt to go to Europe if help is not delivered.

The influx into Iran of millions of Afghan refugees began in 1979, when forces of the former Soviet Union occupied Afghanistan. The occupation ended in 1989, giving way to years of civil war and ultimately a Taliban-controlled government. Then came the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington, and the subsequent U.S.-led invasion targeting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, who was harbored by the Taliban.

Iran and Afghanistan have three border crossings along a common border some 945 kilometers (580 miles) long. Reportedly, Iran hosts some 800,000 registered Afghan refugees and more than 3 million undocumented Afghans.

In the years since the U.S. pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and re-imposed sanctions that sent the countrys economy into free fall, however, some Afghans in Iran have left the country.

Egeland praised Iran for hosting millions of Afghans for the past four decades and said the international community must now step up and show support. How can you expect Iran to shoulder this responsibility on their own? he said.

What Europe should do is invest in hope, possibility, opportunity inside Afghanistan and in the neighboring countries if they want to avoid people wandering towards Europe.

___

Associated Press TV producer Mehdi Fattahi in Tehran contributed.
The criminal investigative agencies of the military service branches failed to consistently provide victims of specially defined crimes, including sexual assault, with appropriately trained investigators, according to a report released Wednesday by the Defense Department Inspector General. Army Criminal Investigation Division, seen in this photo, did so 91% of the time, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service did so 84% of the time and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations lagged with just 34% of cases getting a certified lead investigator. (Army Criminal Investigation Command)

The military is failing to provide all victims of specially defined crimes, including sexual assaults, appropriate criminal investigators and prosecutors as outlined by federal law, according to a report from the Defense Departments inspector general.

The findings call into question whether those victims received thorough investigations and support services, according to a report.

We found that the [Defense Department] cannot ensure that all victims of sexual assault are receiving support services available to them. We also found that the DoD cannot ensure that all commanders and investigators are making decisions based on the best possible information because of, among other things, inexperienced or untrained prosecutors," Sean O'Donnell, the acting Defense Department Inspector General, said in statement provided with the report Wednesday.

Federal law requires the Defense Department and the criminal investigative agencies for each military service branch provide victims with specially trained personnel in cases involving child abuse, serious domestic violence, or sexual offenses. The inspector general determined the investigative agencies did not consistently assign certified lead investigators for investigations of those crimes. It also found investigators did not consistently document communications with special victim personnel, and the services did not consistently assign specially trained prosecutors to those cases.

The IG reviewed 447 cases that occurred between June 2018 and May 2020 from across the services in which the nature of the case called for specialized personnel.

The Air Force had the worst record for assigning appropriate lead investigators and prosecutors. It failed to ensure it assigned special-victim prosecutors in 94% of its cases, according to the report. The Army failed half of the time, the Navy failed 59% of the time and the Marine Corps did not do so in 11% of cases.

Further, the prosecutors assigned to handle the cases we reviewed were generally junior in grade, less experienced, and lacking specialized training specific to special victim cases. This occurred because the number of available specially trained special-victim prosecutors has not kept pace with the increased number of special-victim investigations, according to the report.

When it comes to sexual assault, the military has seen the cases more than double from fiscal year 2011 to 2019. However, the report found there hasnt been a corresponding increase in the necessary resources and personnel.

The criminal investigative agencies, which include the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, had slightly better records of providing lead investigators who were certified for special victims cases. The Army did so 91% of the time and the Navy, which also conduct criminal investigations for the Marines, did so 84% of the time. However, the Air Force lagged with just 34% of cases getting a certified lead investigator.

The Air Force agencys director of law enforcement cited a lack of resources among increased cases as the problem, according to the report.

Victims are also required to get support from a certified victim advocate, which the report found was done in all cases reviewed for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.

The IG report offered three recommendations to help the military meet its federal mandates, and some agencies have already begun to make progress toward meeting them.

It called on each investigative branch to review the resource requirements to train, certify and assign additional criminal investigators when necessary and the service secretaries use their authority to provide the additional resources.

Army CID agreed with the recommendation, but it did not address the resource review, while the leaders of NCIS and Air Force OSI agreed and recently completed resource reviews, according to the report. NCIS is scheduled to receive additional personnel and funding in fiscal year 2022 and the Air Force has requested additional personnel.

A second recommendation called for the investigative agencies to develop procedures to standardize how their investigators better document communications with special-victim personnel, to which all three agencies agreed.

Finally, the report called on the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness to work with the service branches legal teams to determine whether to reestablish the Department of Defense requirement that special-victim prosecutors participate in certain notifications, collaborations and consultations. The recommendation is under review, according to the report.

In a Wednesday news conference that preceded the reports release, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had yet to see the full report.

Obviously, the secretary takes very seriously the scourge of sexual assault and sexual harassment on the force, he said. The secretary has made clear we have to stop kicking the can down the road on this. Its time for innovative solutions.

The IG will continue its review of how special victims are treated in the military, particularly when it comes to sexual assault. On Monday, it announced it will begin an evaluation of how the military investigative agencies conduct sexual-assault investigations involving adult victims. It will review cases opened and closed between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2020, according to a memo written by Randolph R. Stone, assistant inspector general for evaluations of space, intelligence, engineering and oversight.

The evaluation aims to understand the extent to which these crimes are investigated.
President Joe Biden speaks during an event to commemorate Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Arlington, Va. (Evan Vucci/AP)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden saluted the nation's military veterans as "the spine of America" Thursday as he marked his first Veterans Day as president in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

"There's nothing low risk or low cost about war for the women and men who fight it," said Biden, whose administration earlier in the day, announced a federal effort to better understand, identify and treat medical conditions suffered by troops deployed to toxic environments.

That expanded effort centers on lung problems suffered by troops who breathe in toxins and the potential connection between rare cancers and time spent overseas breathing poor air, according to the White House. Federal officials plan to start by examining lung and breathing problems but say they will expand the effort as science identifies potential new connections.

Biden's son, Beau, served in Iraq, and the president has suggested a potential link between Beau's death from an aggressive brain cancer and his exposure to toxins in the air, particularly around massive pits where the military disposes of waste by burning. There's no scientific evidence to establish hat link.

This year's Veterans Day commemoration comes just two months after Biden ordered the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, a chaotic ending to America's longest war where 2,461 American service members were killed over the nearly 20-year conflict.

In his remarks at Arlington, Biden praised generations who have served, declaring they've "endured and survived challenges most Americans will never know."

He also paused to remember three high-profile veterans who recently died, Colin Powell, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of State; Gen. Ray Odierno, an Army chief of staff and top general in Iraq, and Sen. Max Cleland, a Georgia Democrat who lost three limbs while serving in Vietnam.

"You are the very spine of America," Biden said of the nation's veterans.

The new federal effort on toxic exposure is also designed to make it easier for veterans to make claims based on their symptoms, to collect more data from troops who are suffering and to give veterans more time to make medical claims after symptoms such as asthma and sinus problems develop.

"We're discovering there is a whole host of lung conditions related to deployment," said Dr. Richard Meehan, an immunologist and rheumatologist. The retired U.S. Naval Reserve officer, who served in the Mideast during the 1990s and again in 2008, is co-director of the Denver-based National Jewish Health Center of Excellence on Deployment-Related Lung Disease.

Beau Biden's death was a defining moment for Joe Biden, one he said affected his decision to sit out the 2016 presidential race. The younger Biden deployed from October 2008 until September 2009 as a captain in the Delaware Army National Guard. In 2013, he was diagnosed with a tumor, and he died two years later at age 46.

Meehan, who along with his colleagues is investigating the role of inhalation exposures among military personnel who were deployed to Southwest Asia, said it isn't only burn pits that are the issue  the air quality in some countries is so poor that troops would not be allowed to work there under civilian federal workplace guidelines. The center receives funding from the Department of Defense, along with private donors.

Meehan has worried that troops who came back with breathing problems are being compared with other Americans to determine whether there is a higher rate of lung illness. But those deployed with the U.S. military are in peak physical condition, stronger and more fit than average Americans. To come back unable to make it up stairs without getting winded or unable to lift anything without breathing heavily is highly unusual.

"When you compare them to another group, you have to compare them to another healthy, fit group," Meehan said. "That's one of the problems overlooked in surveys that have shown no higher incidence of cancer."

The new rules will allow veterans to make claims within 10 years of service, and the government has changed how it determines what symptoms count and why.

The U.S. military has been aware for years of health risks associated with open-air burn pits. In 2013, federal investigators found a military camp in Afghanistan was operating a pit for more than five years, nearly four times longer than Pentagon rules allowed. The Defense Department has said burn pits should be used only as a temporary last resort when no other alternative trash disposal method is feasible, still they have persisted for years.
Chelsey Simoni and her husband, Kyle Simoni, in North Attleborough, Mass. Chelsey founded an organization that helps veterans facing health issues due to exposure to toxic chemicals. (David Degner/The Washington Post)

As the United States turns away from a generation of war, a great struggle remains.

Millions are living with wounds, physical and invisible, sustained in service to the nation  injuries not only due to the harsh realities of combat but also the result of exploitation, discrimination, demonization and negligence.

Successive administrations and Congress have struggled to correct some of these ills. But closer to the ground, countless veterans also are working on issues they experienced themselves, so that future generations of service members dont endure the oftentimes avoidable harms that can haunt individuals for years and weaken the military.

To mark this Veterans Day, The Washington Post profiled several of those fighting the next fight to fix the problems they encountered while serving. Their experience sheds light on the breadth of challenges affecting the active-duty and veteran communities. And while this selection of individuals is far from exhaustive, each is illustrative of the call to service, the drive to do good and right wrongs, that many continue to feel even after their military careers come to an end.

Crystal Ellington

Crystal Ellington, communications director at Minority Veterans of America, near her home in South Daytona, Fla. (Jacob M. Langston/The Washington Post)

Crystal Ellington was working as a helicopter mechanic at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state when, in 2019, she was sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier. The trauma and indignities that followed led her to become an advocate for other women and minorities whove faced injustices or hardships in connection with their military service.

Ellington, who is Black and queer, was the only woman in her unit when the assault happened. She chose to report the incident informally, hoping to avoid retaliation by not naming her perpetrator, whom she describes as a charismatic and well-connected soldier who outranked her. But their commander, Ellington says, mishandled the situation by asking her to reveal her attackers identity. She called it retraumatizing.

Ellington began experiencing panic attacks, and performing her duties became more difficult. And even though she was assigned a committed victim advocate, she says, I didnt feel like I had much recourse, and I didnt feel like I had anywhere to go.

Now, as communications director for Minority Veterans of America, Ellington is working to change not only how the military prosecutes sex assaults - a divisive topic in Congress, where lawmakers are debating moving such cases outside the chain of command - but also how commanders acknowledge victims.

Ellington is particularly focused on urging the Pentagon to adopt the clinical definition of military sexual trauma in use within the Department of Veterans Affairs. That, she argues, is the only way the military can address the extensive and often hidden fallout that can follow an assault and ensure that victims arent pilloried while in recovery.

I dont think people really understand military sexual trauma as it relates to how you move throughout the world, Ellington says. Just because you cant see someones disability doesnt make it any less valid.

Kristofer Goldsmith

Kristofer Goldsmith, an Iraq War veteran, works to support veterans vulnerable to radicalization from anti-government groups. (Kristofer Goldsmith)

In the years after his discharge from the Army, Iraq War veteran Kristofer Goldsmith experienced homelessness, unemployment, alcohol addiction and social isolation. He attempted suicide. Such darkness, Goldsmith later realized, can leave veterans vulnerable to radicalization from anti-government groups promising fraternity around a shared embrace of extremist beliefs.

While managing the social media accounts for Vietnam Veterans of America, an advocacy group, Goldsmith discovered a copycat page on Facebook. Before long, he had unearthed multiple sites targeting veterans specifically with divisive and what he saw as dangerous propaganda. He wanted to fight back.

Last year, amid a fractious and polarizing presidential contest, Goldsmith and a friend set out to infiltrate a leading white-nationalist group online. They publicly exposed its members hateful rhetoric and outed their leader to his neighbors, disrupting the groups activities just before the 2020 election and forcing the extremists to go underground for a time.

Next, he wormed his way into a group circulating conspiracy claims about the election and actively recruiting veterans to join their cause. After the Jan. 6 insurrection, Goldsmith was devastated and decided to turn his knowledge of how extremist groups function into a consultancy business. Hes also writing a book intended to be a how-to manual for other veterans to help take down hate groups from the inside.

Goldsmith wants such organizations to become too paranoid to seek out veterans - an attractive target, he says, because of their experience recruiting, organizing and fighting, and their influence with other veterans. He is advocating for the Pentagon and VA to focus on becoming more attuned to extremist tendencies or sympathies in potential military recruits and among those currently in uniform, and more forthcoming with resources that can help veterans avoid falling prey.

Goldsmith believes veterans can find a sense of purpose, as he did, in mobilizing against domestic extremists - the vast majority of whom are not veterans, he says. His aim is to make it so that civilians who are involved in these movements no longer trust veterans - so that they no longer consider veterans an asset, and instead view them as a liability.

Chelsey Simoni

Chelsey Simoni and her husband, Kyle Simoni, in North Attleborough, Mass. Chelsey founded an organization that helps veterans facing health issues due to exposure to toxic chemicals. (David Degner/The Washington Post)

Chelsey Simoni remembers the day in 2014 when the man who would become her husband, fellow veteran Kyle Simoni, told her that many people he had been to war with had died of rare forms of respiratory disease and cancer in just the few years since their return from Iraq.

Simoni, now 31, was in the process then of leaving the military - she had been a medical specialist before suffering a career-ending injury - and had enrolled in nursing school. Today she leads a foundation dedicated to researching toxic exposure in the military and educating medical professionals about how to spot rare conditions in those who have served. She named the organization the HunterSeven Foundation, a nod to her husbands sergeant major, who died of a rare form of bile duct cancer.

Public discourse surrounding toxic exposure, and the militarys responsibility to minimize it and care for those who have suffered from it, is most commonly focused on burn pits - massive open-air fires used to burn the militarys trash at bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. But according to Simonis research, most veterans who have suffered serious or fatal conditions due to toxic exposure never set foot anywhere near a burn pit, and she wants more suffering veterans to be acknowledged as part of the militarys problem.

Statistically, weve seen a lot more veterans become sick and ill that werent around burn pits, Simoni said. Thats the problem with burn pits: It provides a false secure of security. Because if we restrict the problem to specifically burn pits, people are going to say: I was never around burn pits. Im fine.

Simonis organization has published a comprehensive review of the impact of toxic exposure on veterans of the Iraq War and is planning to follow that next month by releasing a similar study focused on Afghanistan. She hopes the research helps to educate medical professionals and encourage them to probe deeper when veterans present with certain ailments, so that serious symptoms of combat-environment toxic exposure arent misdiagnosed.

Her mission is personal. Kyle, 34, suffers from severe issues with his liver and thyroid and a sleep disorder, conditions they believe to be connected to his service. We dont even know if we can have children because of his exposures, she says. This is our future.

Margaret Stock

Margaret Stock, a retired Army Reserve officer, is a civilian immigration attorney. (Neil T. O'Donnell)

It had become a familiar pattern: A service member who wasnt yet a U.S. citizen would encounter immigration enforcement, become entangled in a frightening bureaucratic mess involving multiple federal agencies until finally - in an act of desperation  they would seek the help of Margaret Stock.

Stock, a retired Army Reserve officer and civilian immigration attorney, became more and more disturbed by the trend, particularly as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq had exposed the Pentagons lack of expertise in the languages and cultural sensitivities unique to those parts of the world. For centuries, she thought, the U.S. military has leveraged immigrants in times of conflict, putting them on paths to citizenship while benefiting from their skills - such as translating enemy documents and interpreting transmissions sent in their native tongues. But after 9/11, the leadership appeared blind to these potential assets thanks to a broken immigration system and regulations that at the time barred enlistment without a green card.

It seemed crazy, she says. Our national leadership didnt use the asset we have.

By 2009, Stock implemented a Defense Department-wide program designed to attract military recruits with badly needed language, cultural and medical skills. It was designed to trade them fast-tracked naturalization in exchange for their service. More than 10,000 troops joined the ranks through her initiative.

The Pentagon mismanaged the program, though, often placing these personnel in jobs that didnt take full advantage of their specialization. Later, concerns among senior defense officials that the program could be exploited by U.S. adversaries led to its closing in 2016. Stock had retired, but suddenly she was flooded once more with messages from frantic recruits still in the pipeline who suddenly faced dismissal and, for some, deportation.

In the years since, she has offered legal advice and guidance on how to navigate the military enlistment process to hundreds of immigrants, helping many successfully reach their units and naturalize. Today, her workload is on the rise again, as tens of thousands of Afghans - American allies and their families - have arrived in the United States following the chaotic withdrawal from 20 years of war in late August.

The U.S. government doesnt have the institutional memory to figure this out, says Stock, who has quietly helped some government officials find their footing, including with seminars intended to explain the nuances of U.S. immigration law.

The emails, she says, never stop coming.

Michael Washington

Michael Washington, a combat veteran, stands on the Tacoma, Wash., bridge where he once tried to end his life. Washington is now involved in advocacy work focused on gun safety and veteran suicide. (Jovelle Tamayo/The Washington Post)

It was a late summer day in Tacoma, Wash., in 2013, when Michael Washington finished a meal at his favorite seafood joint, walked to the East 34th Street Bridge and scoped out the best spot to jump. As the cool wind whipped around him, the retired Marine turned firefighter contemplated how he had reached this point.

A veteran of several combat deployments, Washington watched his son  also named Michael  follow him into the Marine Corps and deploy to Afghanistan in 2008. The father returned from war alive. The son did not. And five unbearable years later, he readied himself on the bridges edge and leaned forward, like a swimmer on a diving platform.

Washington, 59, says that if not for the memory of his son and what he believes was a spiritual intervention urging him to step away, he would have taken his life in that moment of despair. Instead, he walked away, found help and eventually learned to see that in his tragedy there was opportunity.

Washington became a psychotherapist specializing in trauma among military personnel, veterans and first responders. He says that what he lacked, what drew him to the bridge that day, is what probably saved his life.

If I had access to a gun, theres no doubt in my mind that I wouldnt be here, Washington says. Time, he believes, is what he needed to come back from the edge, and no suicide method is as fast or as fatal as a firearm.

Veterans own guns at higher rates than other U.S. adults do, and they use them to die by suicide far more routinely, according to federal health data, underscoring the issues urgency.

Washington and others say more-secure gun storage may add precious seconds to a fateful decision, enough time to convince someone in distress to stop and seek help. Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun-control group for which Washington sits on the veterans advisory board, also has pushed for laws that could help family members or law enforcement temporarily take possession of firearms when loved ones are in crisis.

Gun access can be a thorny topic for veterans, Washington acknowledges. But conversations with family and friends  having a plan, he says  can be a deciding factor in whether a veteran survives an emergency.

Talking about it. Thats how you do it, he says.

Deirdre Hendrick

Deirdre Hendrick came out as transgender in 2016. They had been in uniform almost 30 years at that point, on active duty and in the reserves, but initially Hendrick chose to inform only civilian colleagues. Sharing this with fellow soldiers, Hendrick worried, carried too great a risk of discrimination, even though the Pentagon had ended its prohibition on transgender personnel serving openly.

For a time, Hendrick presented as female in one job (as a civilian auditor for Army Cyber Command) and male in another (as a lawyer in the Army Reserve), delicate day-to-day footwork made more onerous with both positions based at Fort Meade in Maryland. That changed in 2017, when Hendrick came out to military colleagues, too. But soon thereafter, the Trump administration reversed the Pentagons policy, causing upheaval for thousands of transgender service members in the process of transitioning or considering whether to do so.

Hendrick faced an onslaught of requests for help from service members struggling to understand their options - work that continues today, nearly two years after retiring from the military. The Biden administration reinstated the policy allowing transgender troops to serve openly, but there have been problems with its implementation, Hendrick says. Most issues occur because military commanders, finding themselves in unfamiliar territory, delegate to their subordinates the responsibility for approving troops plans for gender transition, Hendrick says.

Thats way too many people knowing all that personal information, Hendrick says. Many commanders are very good about it, but other times, other people try to get their hands in there.

Helping transitioning service members navigate the system has allowed Hendrick to see its flaws. The military has no accommodation, for example, for nonbinary personnel. Still, Hendrick is hopeful that recent changes - such as the Army adopting a gender-neutral fitness test - will help make the militarys perennial struggle with issues of gender and sexuality recede.

Im sure there will be discrimination against trans and queer people for a long time to come, Hendrick said. But the more opportunities were given to show that we can perform well, the less it would become.

Martin Johnson

Martin Johnson, a former Air Force F-16 crew chief, is part of a lawsuit against the Air Force, joining a fellow veteran in accusing the service of sidestepping regulations that require consideration of mental health injuries and their role in misconduct. (Veronica White)

Martin Johnson had a tough time adjusting to military life, racking up minor infractions and the punishments that came as a result. The hard landing was a wake-up call to work harder, and a deployment to Iraq seemed like the opportunity to prove his worth.

It was a week into his tour as an F-16 crew chief when a car bomb exploded outside his base, rattling Johnsons bones, leaving him hypervigilant and anxious. The relief he expected upon returning home was short-lived when Johnsons marriage collapsed.

I was so broken, I didnt know my left from my right, he says.

Infractions piled up again, sometimes for offenses such as failing to mow his lawn to military standards. The Air Force kicked him out in 2009 with a general discharge under honorable conditions, which allows veterans access to some benefits but prohibits use of others, including GI Bill educational stipends.

Along with other punitive discharges, advocates say, such discharges can stigmatize veterans in their next chapters of life. Johnson, who has tumbled from job to job in the years since his separation from the military, was eventually diagnosed with major depressive disorder, social anxiety and post-traumatic stress, he says. His request for a discharge upgrade was rejected.

Now, Johnson is the reluctant face of a lawsuit against the Air Force, joining a fellow veteran in accusing the service of sidestepping regulations that require consideration of mental health injuries and their role in misconduct. The Air Force has declined to comment on the litigation. The suit, filed in September by the Yale Veterans Legal Services Clinic, seeks a sweeping review of theirs and other veterans discharge-upgrade denials and improvements to the review process. Thousands of veterans could be eligible to join the case, according to the legal clinic, which has secured victories in similar lawsuits brought against the Army and the Navy.

Johnson says he only recently sought mental health support, having overcome the embarrassment of his discharge and navigated the confusing spaces between honorable service and everything else. Im not doing this for myself. This is for people who dont know who to talk to, who need the help.
Korey Rowe stands at the start of an interstate ATV forest trail that runs past his house in Oneonta, N.Y., on October 20, 2021. (Nadia Sablin/For The Washington Post)

ONEONTA, N.Y.  Korey Rowe was always trying to salvage something good from something bad, and this time that took shape as a literal renovation: He wanted to transform the abandoned karate dojo on Main Street into a full-service video production studio, and perhaps transform himself into something else along the way, too.

But around late summer, as he mapped out his next steps, he began to receive emails and phone calls from journalists and podcasters. They had questions about the past, not the future.

The callers wanted to know about the conspiracy theories Korey helped spread in the mid-2000s while he was serving as an infantryman in the Army, the ones about the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

They wanted to know whether he believed, as some of them did, that the viral films he helped distribute as a 20-something had kicked off a cultural shift that culminated in the political rise of Donald Trump.

They wanted to know whether he felt at all responsible for the 9/11 Truth movement now embraced by right-wing political extremists, and for modern American conspiracy-theory culture itself.

Korey was a man in the business of telling stories, and this was the simple story he told about himself: He made a lot of bad decisions while growing up in rural upstate New York. He enlisted in the military just weeks before the terrorist attacks in 2001 to bring some order to his life. And then the accumulated trauma from serving in two wars that he never expected left him deeply broken.

The narrative grew more complicated from there, rising to a climax of fringe beliefs and OxyContin, of jail time and uncontrollable anger.

He had tried to put it behind him.

"I just want to be Korey Rowe from Oneonta," he said. "I'm a father and a business owner and a community member."

These days, Korey, 38, took comfort in the idea that he was the most average man in America. Average height, he said, average weight, average intelligence. And what was more American than the pursuit of a dream? Oneonta, his hometown, had once felt like a cage. Now, after several years of struggling to build a middle-class life in Los Angeles, he had returned home, where he saw so much potential for himself, his wife and their two young daughters.

Korey Rowe stands at the overlook at the top of the trail he used to frequent as a young man in Oneonta, N.Y., on October 19, 2021. (Nadia Sablin/For The Washington Post)

The strategy would be straightforward. Local businesses needed to tell their stories to draw customers, and Korey had spent years learning to do precisely that. Making commercials would bring steady money, and shooting independent narrative film projects would bring creative fulfillment.

Korey looked at the uneven wood floors and the hornet infestation at the old dojo. Out of the disorder, he hoped to create the only media company of its kind here in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. And he wanted to bring jobs to rural Otsego County, he said, for people like him who were interested in making videos but could find few outlets to do so.

A renovation, and maybe a reclamation.

Business would pick up soon, he believed, once the leaves began to turn and the autumn landscape brought a rush of video shoots.

But the calls from the past kept coming.

The emails were piling up.

  

Korey's dream of becoming a filmmaker began in the mid-aughts when, after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, he helped his best friend, Dylan Avery, produce some of the first viral conspiracy-theory videos of the internet era. They had met when they were 14 while working newspaper delivery routes in Oneonta.

The series in question, "Loose Change," made fantastical claims about the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, including that the World Trade Center was brought down by explosives rather than airplanes and that the Pentagon had been attacked by a military missile. Laced throughout the videos was the suggestion that the U.S. government was intentionally concealing the truth about the attacks, including perhaps its own participation in them. It melded compelling narration drawn from internet research with engrossing news footage from the attacks to create a highly watchable documentary.

Dylan, the project's architect and director, had stitched together the first edition of the film on a personal computer while Korey was in the Middle East. When Korey returned home from Iraq in 2004, he joined Dylan as a producer. He threw himself wholeheartedly into researching and, later, into helping to distribute successive cuts of the film, DVD by DVD.

A scrapbook Korey Rowe has made of his time in the military and other significant professional and personal events in Oneonta, N.Y., on October 19, 2021. (Nadia Sablin/For The Washington Post)

"I was  angry. I was angry at the government. I was angry at the media. I just wanted to say something," Korey recalled. "And so this became my vessel. We never, ever, ever expected it to go anywhere."

What happened next with "Loose Change" was well documented. An 88-minute second edition of the series arrived in 2006 at precisely the right moment to capitalize on the way social media was rapidly changing how Americans connected with one another. Although widely debunked, the video exploded on Google Video, a predecessor to YouTube, and gained an almost cultlike following among anti-government skeptics, including several minor celebrities. The series became a central pillar of the fringe-yet-vocal 9/11 Truth movement that sprang up in fierce opposition to the George W. Bush administration.

Millions of people watched the various versions online. One 2006 profile in Vanity Fair said "Loose Change" "just might be the first internet blockbuster."

Dylan had first set out to write a fictional film about a group of friends who uncovered a 9/11 government conspiracy. They even filmed poorly acted scenes while Korey was home on leave from the military.

Then came a postmodern plot twist: While doing research, Dylan and Korey began to believe the conspiracy theories. Dylan dropped the narrative elements and made a documentary instead.

"I had seen countless innocent people die for no good reason, for a war that was based on lies," Korey said. "This wasn't a report I read. I was there. I saw them rob the American taxpayers and murder innocent people by invoking 9/11 every day."

Although they did not know it back then, Korey and Dylan were at the forefront of an unsettling shift that would soon upend American life in ways big and small. Citizen journalists and amateur storytellers, empowered like never before by technological and social shifts, had become soldiers in a guerrilla war over facts and fantasy.

The reporters and podcasters started to call Korey ahead of the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Amid an ongoing global pandemic that many people had come to deny, and a baseless national dispute over the results of the 2020 election, they were trying to understand how reality had become a partisan prize to be won.

Some of them told Korey they believed "Loose Change" had been a blueprint of viral conspiracism. Several pointed out that 9/11 conspiracy theories had in recent years become an organizing myth for many right-wing extremists on YouTube, Facebook and the messaging app Telegram.

Korey Rowe shoots video for a local business ad in Oneonta, N.Y., on October 19, 2021. (Nadia Sablin/For The Washington Post)

Korey was incredulous. He felt no kinship with the conservative fundamentalists.

Yet he decided to engage, he said, because he believed in accountability. And if people were going to tell the story of "Loose Change," he wanted a chance to influence it. Dylan, on the other hand, tired of being asked about the series, had made it clear he had no interest in talking to the media.

Korey pointed out that 9/11 skepticism at its earliest stages had a lot of support from antiwar liberals like his father, a lifelong Democratic voter who abhorred Trump like Korey himself did. The provenance of these videos was disillusionment, not right-wing politics, he said.

Back then, Korey told them, he had just been trying to make sense of a world that suddenly made no sense at all. He and his friends were young guys with cameras and laptops, he said. They had no formal training in journalism or scholarly research or documentaries. And they had no clout, he added, just an idea that spoke to people.

A lot of people, it turned out.

"Where does distrust in America come from? Look at what America has done. I'm not talking about the conspiracies. We were attacked. And what did we do? We destabilized a country. We invaded another country. We killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people," he said, lamenting that he had fought in those wars.

In retrospect, Korey and his friends had become characters in a story arc they didn't recognize, at once patients and superspreaders of a new disease of viral misinformation that would come to infect all of America.

But how could he and his friends be blamed for creating anger and distrust, Korey tried to understand, when they had been reacting to those feelings themselves?

Could there be some truth to it?

  

Before viral internet success, before the attention stopped being thrilling, before he fell into addiction and obscurity, and before therapy and love pulled him out of it all, he was just Korey from Oneonta in upstate New York.

Korey could trace the early plot points of his life while driving through his hometown streets here in Otsego County, on the northernmost tip of Appalachia. It was a region where the landscape often teetered from bucolic to battered and back again.

There was the parking lot at the high school where he was caught buying marijuana for the first time. That incident led him to drop out at 16 years old, which eventually led him to enlist.

There was the county jail, where he was taken on drug charges after becoming addicted to opioids.

There was the one-bedroom apartment where he thought about killing himself during one of his extreme bouts of depression, which he later discovered was tied to undiagnosed bipolar disorder.

Korey Rowe edits a film his company shot over the summer of 2021 at the Otsego Media office in Oneonta, N.Y., on October 19, 2021. (Nadia Sablin/For The Washington Post)

Korey had moved out of his parents' house when he was 16 and bad decisions were piling up. Two years later, he reckoned that joining the military would at least allow him to save for college. He chose the infantry, he said, because it offered the biggest signing bonus.

The 9/11 terrorist attacks happened just as Korey was beginning basic training. In January 2002, he was sent to Afghanistan for six months, according to military records, then he served for nearly a year in Iraq starting in 2003.

War "was something I wasn't ready for emotionally, physically, mentally," he said. "It was not something I wanted. It was not something I expected. Those were the hardest years of my life."

Looking back, Korey could see a fairly straight line between his wartime trauma, the distrust it elicited and the 9/11 Truth conspiracy theories he embraced. He also recalled in particular how "Fahrenheit 9/11," the 2004 antiwar documentary by Michael Moore, shifted his thinking about the conflicts and his own role in them.

"That's what led me to 'Loose Change,'" he added. "People are surprised when they talk to me now and I'm not a crazy conspiracy theorist. But I'm not. I wasn't into conspiracy theories before 'Loose Change' and I'm not into conspiracy theories now."

The story Korey and his friends told through the videos  twisted with inaccuracy and fantasy as they were  felt like an act of reclamation. Helping Dylan brought a sense of control in a world that felt increasingly uncertain, not to mention a deep sense of camaraderie, Korey said. Slowly, from that crucible of conspiracy theories, he also began to aspire to make movies. Something good from something bad.

"It was like living in some kind of dream world where we weren't really sure what was happening," Korey said. "There was a combination of fear and exhilaration. And as it got bigger and bigger, the fear and the exhilaration just grew. It created a huge wave of new emotions we had never felt."

Korey and Dylan used the viral success to start a short-lived production firm, Korey said, with their significant earnings from "Loose Change" going toward business expenses like office space and staff, as high as $40,000 some months. They garnered enthusiastic support from people like Alex Jones, who would soon become one of America's most famous promoters of conspiracy theories, and who Korey said at one point contributed $100,000 to their effort. Jones was listed as an executive producer on a third, reworked version called "Loose Change: Final Cut," and one of Korey's colleagues from the film later went to work with Jones directly.

As the 9/11 Truth movement grew and evolved, Korey became more aware of the people with outlandish ideas who were gravitating toward their specific project, including some with hard-to-follow conspiracy theories about moon beams and lizard people. He began to feel a deep loathing for those particularly fringe types, he said, in part because he thought they were undermining what he and Dylan believed was a legitimate enterprise. There were so many of them, and in unexpected places  rich, poor, young, old, indulging their fantasies out of public view even while living otherwise mainstream lives.

Conspiracy theories, Korey had seen firsthand, were not just for extremists or kooks. American conspiracism is as old as America itself, scholars say, but the internet was making fringe delusions suddenly more visible than ever while facilitating the growth of new communities of devout believers offline.

"Some of these people are just visceral and angry and hateful and largely base their views on information that is easily discountable. For me, I don't find any kinship in that," he said.

Korey was just learning something that would soon consume American politics and culture as technology made it easier than ever to mobilize grievance, anger and loneliness: Stories have the power to bring order to our lives. They have the power to make us feel seen, less uncertain, more in control. And what are conspiracy theories if not, fundamentally, types of stories?

Stories can heal.

But they can also destroy.

  

In a way, Korey believed, his involvement in "Loose Change" had helped keep his symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder at bay. But by the end of 2007, the production firm he and Dylan started had become financially unsustainable.

It was during that period, Korey said, that he experienced episodes of losing control of his emotions and war flashbacks.

"I think, we were all reaching for a sense of identity. And then it was clearly over. And it was like, what do we do from here?" he said. "The problem is that when you're in your 15 minutes of fame, you don't know it. We were never financially successful from 'Loose Change.' We were never able to buy houses or anything. The most we were able to buy from it were used cars."

View of Market St. near Korey Rowes business in Oneonta, New York on October 19, 2021. (Nadia Sablin/For The Washington Post)

Eventually his growing opioid dependence landed him in county jail, he said, where he spent eight months. Asked if he regretted it, he said no, because it had led him to get his act together. If he was always trying to find something good in tough situations, it was often because he knew he was accountable for creating them to begin with. He joked that he was "always in the wrong place at the right time."

Going to jail "really was an important moment in my life," he said. "When I walked out that door, I was a different person than I was when I walked in."

Korey soon found other missions. He moved to Los Angeles. He started therapy, he said, facilitated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

And he resolved to tell the story of fellow soldiers who had developed post-traumatic stress disorder and addiction issues after their service. He utilized the skills he had learned while studying video production at SUNY Oneonta, with help from his G.I. benefits.

The result, a 2018 documentary titled "Mile Marker," was styled as a road narrative and featured expansive, vulnerable interviews with several of Korey's fellow service members. It was a triumph for an aspiring storyteller.

Not that it got much attention.

"People don't actually give a s--- about veterans," Korey said.

He recalled how, when he returned to Oneonta from Los Angeles in 2019, he started getting approached by people who believed children were being trafficked and harvested for glands and hormones. These once-fringe beliefs had spread across the internet and became central to the QAnon mass delusion, a radical "big-tent" ideology closely tied to right-wing extremism that had something to offer anyone already inclined to conspiratorial thinking. But increasingly the moral panic over pedophile rings and human trafficking was taking up more and more space in mainstream conservative politics.

Now Korey expressed particular ire for those who intentionally tapped into grievance and conspiratorial fantasy for personal gain, in particular former president Donald Trump.

"People get involved in these movements because it gives them something to do. And largely we've gotten to a point in our society where people feel more estranged than ever," he said.

But hadn't "Loose Change" tapped into that alienation and turned it into clicks? A "remastered" high-definition version of "Loose Change" made in 2016, Korey acknowledged, had brought in a few thousand dollars in much-needed royalty money.

Korey rejected that premise.

"I could not accomplish in my entire life what Donald Trump did in one day for conspiracy theories," Korey said. "He was the president of the United States, had the Oval Office as his megaphone. And he had Fox News, who just broadcasted basically anything that he wanted to say."

He also turned his criticism back at the news media, which he blamed for helping bring credibility to the Bush administration's push to invade Iraq in the first place.

"When reporters ask me, 'Do you feel bad for pushing information that has been proven false?' I ask them back, 'Do you feel bad for working for an organization that passed on information that was proven false?'" he said.

Anyway, Korey wanted nothing to do with it.

He wanted to move on.

  

The red Cape Cod-style home where Korey now lived, on the outskirts of Oneonta, was all pink giraffes and plush purple owls. Fall decor had exploded throughout the house even before the leaves had started to turn outside.

"There are times in my life that Oneonta has been the worst place for me, almost physically hard to deal with, but when I was in Afghanistan and Iraq, I started thinking about the trees and the mountains and I understood that Oneonta was one of the most beautiful places on Earth," said Korey.

In the living room, his daughter Paityn, 4 months old, was on her stomach trying to roll over.

His other daughter, Piper, 3 1/2 years old, meanwhile, was running around demanding to play hide-and-seek, saying things like, "Back off, girlfriend!"

Danielle, his wife, was busy making one of Korey's favorites, chicken and biscuits.

For all the projects Korey had undertaken over the years, starting a family was the one he believed had truly saved his life. Everything else now, he said, was in service of getting that right.

"This is my little spot in the world," Korey said.

The rural house was not even wired with an internet connection. To get online, Korey had to use a mobile hotspot.

There were so many reasons to feel unmoored in America, he said, so many existential problems beyond anyone's control. Climate change and the coronavirus pandemic and attacks on the voting rights of racial minorities. Korey raged about the civil immunity recently granted by a bankruptcy judge to the family that owned Purdue Pharma, whose product, OxyContin, was central to the opioid epidemic. Too many of his friends had died of opioid overdoses to count, he said. The only reason he didn't die, he thought, was because of jail and Danielle.

Shadowy plots weren't necessary to explain what was wrong in the world, he said. It happened out in the open.

"I don't think we live in a democracy anymore. I think we live in a predatory capitalist society," he said. "There doesn't have to be a conspiracy theory. The system is corrupt. They do it in broad daylight."

As Danielle was finishing up dinner, Korey spotted Piper turning the doorknob to go outside without permission.

A look of panic swept across his face.

"What are you doing? You know you're not supposed to unlock doors by yourself," he scolded. "We've talked about that, on numerous occasions, right?"

"Sorry," Piper said, pouting.

"Want me to tell you a story why?" he asked.

Piper nodded.

"So imagine what would happen if you went outside in the middle of the winter, unlocked the door, went outside and couldn't get back in and it was the middle of the night. And then Mommy and Daddy didn't know you were outside. That could be really bad," he said.

"Sorry," Piper said again, tears in her eyes now.

"That's OK, give me a hug," Korey told her, his voice suddenly softer.

This little house and the studio were what he had control over.

Now it was time to sit down and eat as a family.

Now it was time to give the girls a bath.

Now it was time to put Piper to bed.

But first he would read her another story. A happy one.

  

The studio was coming together.

Projected on the new 58-inch television in the recently painted editing hub was the first cut of an ad that Korey was hired to create for a local gym. Korey had just mounted the screen so clients could see their stories come to life in high definition. Dylan was part of the team, too.

Their approach was very methodical, Korey explained. First they talked to the clients to pin down exactly what they wanted. Then they researched other videos for ideas and aesthetics. Finally, they deliberated on the most compelling stories to tell.

A man trying to turn his life around who lost 100 pounds.

A cancer survivor committed to staying healthy.

A young girl mastering the perfect dead lift.

What was more American than taking a story, tidying it and giving it a glossy finish? Real people transmuted into relatable characters and kneaded into a cohesive narrative.

"I'm excited to show him that on Thursday," Korey said to Alysa, his first full-time employee, satisfied with the outcome. He was helping her with a post-pandemic career change.

This was leaps and bounds more sophisticated than "Loose Change" had ever been, and yet there were echoes of its style there, clear lessons carried over across formats, from conspiracy theories to commercials.

"Loose Change" wouldn't go viral today, Korey mused, because it was too long. People these days preferred short, quick hits of information and story. Who had time to sit through a long narrative, to parse its meaning, to entertain complexity?

"I'm very blockbuster in my editing style," he remarked. "I tend to go over the top to hit people over the head with music and sound editing because that's what captures people's attention."

Orange and black extension cords ran across beaten-up wood floors toward sturdy hand-me-down desks. They were littered with tools and bottles of Coca-Cola. Stacked next to the computers were books with titles like, "The Screenwriter's Bible" and "Management." Korey and Dylan had a feature-length fiction film premiering soon, set in Oneonta, about a family man's struggle to accept that an asteroid is going to hit his house.

It was late September and the interview requests about 9/11 and "Loose Change" had mostly stopped. But Korey was still thinking about the questions they raised. He could not shake his disbelief at the suggestion that he and his friends had done something wrong.

He occasionally betrayed ambivalence about whether to distance himself from "Loose Change" or to embrace it. He did admit that there were some significant mistakes in the information the videos peddled. Nonetheless, he appeared proud of the vast reach it had, to revere it. A few weeks before, he had even posted "Loose Change" on his business's official Vimeo account.

Could he be proud of the reach, proud of the skillfulness, even while distancing himself from the content?

He seemed to believe so.

"We've been blamed for being the godfathers of all conspiracy information on the internet, which is ludicrous. I know from the creator's perspective that it was just trying to ask questions about facts that did not make sense," he said. "And I do want to state, we were 21- and 22-year-old kids. We were far from perfect. But we found ourselves in that situation and we tried to do the best we could do with it."

Korey settled on a thought now: "Loose Change" revealed something in the culture, he said, but it did not cause it.

"It was the underlying message that you're being lied to, and that you've been being lied to for a long time, and that people are benefiting from telling you lies, that's what made 'Loose Change' popular," Korey said.

"Even though there have been problems and Dylan didn't always choose the best information, the genesis of the argument is that there's a system of lies around you and that you need to wake up," he said. "It doesn't matter that it was about September 11. September 11th was the mechanism."

That's the thing about conspiracy theories: They are not rational, but they do have a rationale.

They feed on emotion, like all good stories.

That's what Korey had learned, what he would take with him on to this next venture, lessons from something bad that he would use to create something good. Or so he hoped.

As he left the studio, Korey looked up and smiled at the streaks of yellow and red and orange that had emerged in the trees.

What was more American than starting over?
Retired U.S. Army Col. Ralph Puckett stands alongside troops as they prepare to start a foot march during the 2021 David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., on April 16, 2021. (Henry Villarama/U.S. Army)

TIFTON, Ga. (Tribune News Service)  They were outnumbered 10 to one.

In the battle for Hill 205 during the Korean War, Army 1st Lt. Ralph Puckett Jr. suffered injuries so severe he was unable to move.

Despite ordering his men to leave him behind, they fought their way to his side and carried him off the field of battle.

Nearly 71 years later, retired Col. Ralph Puckett, 94, received the Medal of Honor for the actions he took that day.

As he recovered from his injuries in the early 1950s, Puckett was told he had been recommended to receive the Medal of Honor. But the recommendation was withdrawn and he was instead awarded the prestigious Distinguished Service Cross.

In an interview for The Tifton Gazette and The Valdosta Daily Times, Puckett said he never sought the Medal of Honor but credited John Lock, a retired Army lieutenant colonel, for making the medal and the White House ceremony possible.

"He was studying past Medal of Honor recommendations when he came across mine," Puckett said of Lock. "He believed I should have received it and he worked for nearly 20 years to get me upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

"We became good friends. John Lock. He's a fellow Army Ranger and a Ranger historian. He's written books and taught at West Point. A real brain. He just never gave up on it."

Puckett even advised Lock to cease his efforts on a few occasions but Lock never did.

"The man is the quintessential American warrior," Lock said of Puckett in an interview with WRBL, a CBS affiliate. "He goes by the moniker within the Special Operations community as 'The Ranger' going back to Vietnam."

Puckett recovered from his war injuries. He married. He and wife Jean had three children. He recovered from his wounds and continued his service in the Army.

He volunteered "for a combat tour in Vietnam where he served as the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 101st Airborne Division. Assigned the moniker, 'Ranger,' Lt. Col. Puckett would personally lead his soldiers in combat, appearing when and where they needed him most. For his valor, Lt. Col. Puckett would receive another DSC and two Silver Stars," according to his biography on his Medal of Honor website.

He retired and eventually returned to South Georgia, where he lives in Columbus not too many miles from where he was born in Tifton nearly a century ago.

Growing up

Ralph Puckett Jr. was born Dec. 8, 1926, in Tifton.

He was the second child of Ralph Puckett Sr. and Clara Stedman Puckett. Ralph was a middle child. Sister Clara Puckett Winston was about a dozen years older than him; his younger brother, Tommy Puckett, was several years younger than him, he said.

He grew up on the 800 block of College Avenue in Tifton, he added.

"There were always a lot of friendly people in Tifton," Puckett said. "Everybody knew everybody. It was hard to be a young boy there because I couldn't get away with anything. Before I could even get home, my mom was on the porch asking me what I had done."

He said he lived in Tifton through his 10th grade of school before attending prep school in Chattanooga, Tenn. He graduated Baylor School in the early 1940s. He boxed at Baylor and he boxed at West Point.

He graduated West Point in 1949.

In the Army, Puckett "was commissioned infantry," according to his Medal of Honor website. "Assigned to occupation duty in Okinawa, he volunteered, instead, for the newly conceived Eighth Army Ranger Company that was being formed shortly after the Korean Conflict began in 1950."

Becoming Ranger

The biography continues: "Selected as the Ranger Company's commander, 1st Lt. Puckett had five and a half weeks to devise a training regimen and forge his non-infantry soldiers into disciplined Rangers before being committed to combat operations."

He wanted to attend parachute school. "I wanted to be a Ranger," he said, but he had not planned on becoming the company commander.

"I told them I wanted to do whatever I can do to be a Ranger," Puckett told this newspaper. "... It's amazing I was selected to be the company commander. It needed a combat-experienced captain and I was a brand-new second lieutenant."

Puckett later asked why he was selected commander.

"I was told it was because they were pleased with my willingness to serve and fitness for the job," Puckett said. "They said I had the ambition, motivation, attitude and physical fitness needed for the job.

"It set the course for my career."

Puckett said he excelled at special forces because he embraced the mission of special forces.

"I learned I liked working with specially trained soldiers assigned to a specialized mission," he said. "... They are great soldiers and it is a great challenge to live up to the character of these soldiers and be their leader. I was impressed and still am impressed with the soldiers I meet in the special forces."

Puckett and the Rangers would soon be tested.

Days of honor

They were outnumbered 10 to one.

Daylight, Nov. 25, 1950, Puckett and his Rangers were part of Task Force Dolvin. They were leading the advance of the 25th Infantry Division.

They attacked and secured Hill 205, near the Chongch'on River, about 60 miles from the China border.

The enemy fired mortars, machine guns and small arms at Puckett and the Rangers.

"To obtain supporting fire, 1st Lt. Puckett mounted the closest tank exposing himself to the deadly enemy fire," according to the Medal of Honor website. "Leaping from the tank, he yelled, 'Let's go!' and began to lead his Rangers in the attack."

They were hit with heavy enemy machine gun fire as soon as they moved. One platoon was pinned down.

Puckett ran across an open area, drawing enemy fire three times. He knew it put him at risk, but his actions led Rangers to pinpoint the machine gun positions, leading them to destroy the machine guns.

The company seized Hill 205. Day turned to night. Temperatures dropped to near 0.

The enemy counterattacked.

"During the next four hours, the 57-man company, inspired and motivated by the extraordinary leadership and courageous example exhibited by Lt. Puckett, repulsed five human wave attacks by a 500-man battalion assaulting behind intense mortar barrages," according to the Medal of Honor website. "Continually directing 'danger -close' artillery support that decimated attacking enemy formations, repeatedly abandoning positions of relative safety to make his way from foxhole to foxhole to check the perimeter, interceding at each point of decision in the battle, redistributing ammunition and keeping only one eight-round clip for his own rifle, 1st Lt. Puckett's encouragement and dauntless will instilled in his men an unfailing desire and perseverance to resist."

It came at a cost.

Puckett had suffered a thigh wound from a grenade fragment during the first assault. He refused evacuation. He would be wounded again in this battle.

He again intentionally exposed himself to enemy fire. This time, a sniper fired on the Rangers. Puckett exposed himself to sniper fire three times. The sniper was located and killed.

But they were unable to get artillery support. On the sixth enemy assault, the enemy overran the Rangers.

"Two mortar rounds detonated in 1st Lt. Puckett's foxhole inflicting severe wounds to his feet, buttocks and left arm," according to citations. "Though the wounds to his right foot were so severe the doctors considered amputation for several months, 1st Lt. Puckett maintained the presence of mind to report that his command was being overrun by the enemy."

Unable to move, horribly wounded, Puckett ordered his Rangers to leave him behind and go.

"Two of his Rangers fought their way to his position killing three enemy who were only 10 yards from where 1st Lt. Puckett lay defenseless. Although 1st Lt. Puckett ordered his Rangers to leave him behind, they refused.

"Later as the enemy fired at the rescuers Puckett again ordered his men to leave him to ensure their safety. Finally secure at the bottom of Hill 205 and despite the seriousness and pain of his wounds, 1st Lt. Puckett maintained the presence of mind to direct a heavy concentration of artillery fire on the enemy now on top of the hill."

The Army would say many things about his actions:

"Puckett's extraordinary courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army."

"1st Lt. Ralph Puckett, United States Army, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 25-26 November 1950 while serving as Commander, Eighth Army Ranger Company, Task Force Dolvin."

But he needed time to heal. He needed time close to his home in Tifton.

Healing factor

Ralph Puckett met a soldier who claimed he could tell people's fortunes while hospitalized at Fort Benning, Ga.

He spent 11 months there, healing from the wounds he suffered during the two days of fighting on Hill 205.

The fortune teller told Puckett he would meet a blonde and brunette, adding the Ranger would marry one of them. A skeptical Puckett told the fortune-telling soldier to move on.

A few weeks later, his parents drove over from Tifton to see Puckett in the hospital. He had told his family about the fortune teller for a laugh.

During the family visit, "two beautiful girls stuck their heads in the door. One blonde, one brunette," he said. "They were visiting people. I didn't know them but my dad said, 'he's going to marry one of you.'"

They visited for about 90 minutes. He thought the blonde, Jean Martin, was "a really good-looking girl." She visited again. A relationship developed. Ralph and Jean married Nov. 26, 1952. They had three children, daughters Martha Kinnett and Jean Raney (deceased) and one son, Thomas Puckett. They have several grandchildren.

"I could barely move but she took care of me," he said of his wife. "She's been taking care of me ever since."

Staying in the Army and beyond

Given the severity of his wounds, Puckett was offered a medical discharge.

He refused it.

His military resume grew: he served "active duty as a combat arms officer at assignments that included the U.S. Army Ranger School and the United States Military Academy, West Point. As a Ranger advisor to Columbia, Captain Puckett established the prestigious Escuela de Lanceros program. Later, after completing Special Forces training in 1960, Major Puckett commanded 'B' and 'C' teams in 10th Special Forces Group in Bad Tolz, Germany."

He volunteered for combat duty in Vietnam in 1967. Puckett served as the commander of the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), 101st Airborne Division.

There he was assigned the moniker, "Ranger."

Puckett personally led soldiers into combat, "appearing when and where they needed him most."

For his valor, Puckett received a second Distinguished Service Cross and two Silver Stars.

His awards now include the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, two Bronze Stars with V device for valor, five Purple Hearts, 10 Air Medals, the Army Commendation Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.

He has the Combat Infantryman's Badge with star, Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Wings, Glider Badge and Columbian Lancero Ranger Badge.

He retired in 1971 as a colonel but he wasn't finished serving.

He became national programs coordinator of Outward Bound and established Discovery, "a leadership and teamwork development program that focused on 'Personal Growth through Safe Adventure,'" according to his biography. He loved the work and said he considered a mission to help young people develop into capable people.

"I think the country would be better and stronger if all young people served in some capacity," he said. "It would be good for the country and it would make a difference in the lives of young people."

About 30 years ago, the Pucketts returned to Columbus, Ga., where he and Jean still live.

He's written a book about his military experiences. He was the inaugural inductee into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. From 1996-2008, he served as the first honorary colonel of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Other honors include an appointment as an Ambassador of Goodwill by the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, selection as a 2004 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Military Academy and a 2007 recipient of the Infantry's Doughboy Award.

And in 2021, the recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions he performed in combat 71 years earlier.

Ceremony

His friend called him with the news.

John Lock told Puckett to expect in the coming days to receive official notification that his Distinguished Service Cross had been upgraded to the Medal of Honor.

On May 21 of this year, Col. Ralph Puckett, Jean Puckett and their family, along with Lock and others traveled to the White House.

The 94-year-old Puckett was ushered into the ceremony in a wheelchair. With help, he rose from the wheelchair and was escorted to a chair. He rose for President Joe Biden who presented the Medal of Honor.

"He leads from the front. He leads by example. He leads with heart," Biden said. "He is a Ranger and that's how Rangers lead  that's how you lead."

Puckett was impressed with the President.

"President Biden was one of the warmest, positive, friendliest people I have ever known," Puckett said, adding the President and First Lady Jill Biden spent a portion of their day with Puckett and his family.

"He was very delightful," Puckett said. "I called him Mr. President, and he said, 'Not President, call me Joe.' I continued calling him President Biden."

While the Medal of Honor was a long time coming, the award exemplifies Ralph Puckett's life as much as it does his actions during two days of combat.

As retired Gen. Jay Hendrix said of Puckett: "He feared no man, he feared no situation and he feared no enemy. Clearly a unique, courageous Soldier in combat and even more importantly, in my opinion, Col. Puckett was an ultimate Infantry leader."

(c)2021 The Valdosta Daily Times (Valdosta, Ga.)

Visit The Valdosta Daily Times (Valdosta, Ga.) at www.valdostadailytimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Denny Dorman listens during a memorial service for unclaimed veterans at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa, on June 18. (Christopher Smith/The Washington Post)

DES MOINES  Everyone on the third floor of South View Manor was accounted for except James Dean Ryan in Room #301. A police officer, checking on a worrying smell, opened his door and found Ryan face down on his living room floor, another Vietnam veteran who died alone.

Ryan's son and other relatives were notified, but many wanted nothing to do with him, alive or dead. No one stepped forward to bury him after his death last November. So the 66-year-old with talents for disco dancing and repairing furniture became yet another of America's unclaimed dead.

There is no requirement for local governments  who are responsible for unclaimed bodies  to report them to any national authority, so there is no official count. But tens of thousands of lives in the United States end this way each year, according to a Washington Post investigation that included more than 100 interviews over six months with medical examiners and local officials from Maine to California.

A striking number  thousands every year  served in the military, especially during the Vietnam War, according to funeral directors who directly handle their bodies.

"Vietnam vets got the rawest deal of anyone," said Jim Mowrer, an Iraq War veteran who never met Ryan but volunteered to carry his urn at his Iowa funeral in June. "We have a lot of making up to do to Vietnam vets."

While those who served in uniform after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are publicly thanked for their service, soldiers in the 1960s and 1970s were often jeered. Back then, the United States was fighting a long war against North Vietnam, a communist nation supported by the Soviet Union and China, that many felt was unwinnable. It caused massive civilian casualties in Southeast Asia and street protests around the United States.

"One of the most painful chapters in our history was Vietnam  most particularly, how we treated our troops," President Barack Obama told Vietnam veterans in 2012, on the 50th anniversary of the start of the war. "You were often blamed for a war you didn't start. ... You came home and sometimes were denigrated, when you should have been celebrated. It was a national shame."

More than 8 million people served in uniform during Vietnam and those who are alive are typically in their 60s and 70s. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 530 Vietnam veterans die every day.

The overwhelming number are buried by family and friends. But a growing army of strangers are volunteering to wave flags and say prayers for the thousands who have no one.

John and Lori Wetlaufer listen during a memorial service for Loris stepbrother, James Dean Ryan, and other veterans. (Christopher Smith/The Washington Post)

"They're estranged from their family. They die alone. They commit suicide," said Linda Smith of the Missing in America Project, which helps arrange funerals for unclaimed veterans. "They don't have anyone to mourn them  that's what we do. The number is huge. It's really sad."

Last year, 1,752 unclaimed veterans were buried in the 150 veterans' cemeteries run by the federal government, according to the VA. An unknown number of others were buried in state-run cemeteries, like the Iowa Veterans Cemetery where Ryan was interred. Still more were buried in the thousands of private cemeteries all over the country.

  

Ryan was 20 and recently married when he joined the Army in 1974. His father had served during the Korean War, his grandfather fought in World War II and Ryan felt it was his turn.

So the Iowa high school dropout with plans of opening a furniture-repair shop became an expert marksman with an M-16.

The transition was rough.

He rarely spoke about what happened after he enlisted, but according to his ex-wife Linda Janes, "It did a job on him."

He went to Fort Bragg, N.C., where his training included jumping out of planes and parachuting into mock Vietnamese villages built on the Army base. He was never sent to Southeast Asia, nor were most of those who served during Vietnam.

But Ryan was deeply disturbed by his training in survival behind enemy lines, according to relatives. At the time, there were widely publicized accounts of the torture endured by American prisoners of war, including John McCain, a Naval officer who became a U.S. senator from Arizona. Two friends of Ryan's were killed.

According to Ryan's military records, he was honorably discharged, but only after being granted unexplained "excess leave."

"He had a nervous breakdown," said Janes, Ryan's second wife, who married him two years after he left the Army.

One month after he returned home, his first wife, Pamela, divorced him. He seemed changed, according to those who knew him at the time, and could become violent and angry. A judge signed a decree giving Pamela custody of their 2-year-old daughter and Ryan "his shotgun, tools and toolbox."

A remarkable 38 percent of service members sent to Vietnam were divorced within six months of returning home, according to a study cited by VA.

Ryan let his military crew cut grow out until his thick brown hair reached his shoulders. He took jobs plastering walls and welding pipes and he met Janes, a local girl who loved how he danced to the Bee Gees, Abba and Diana Ross. "I always wanted a guy who was a good dancer  and he was a heck of a dancer."

She also saw his pain. In apparent flashbacks to his Army training exercises, she said, "at times, he cried to me about how they would drop him down and [he would] see kids strapped with dynamite."

She said when she or Ryan dealt with the VA, which runs a massive system of hospitals and outpatient facilities, it was so frustrating, they often just gave up.

Lori Wetlaufer, Ryan's stepsister, said he told her at least twice over the years how upset he was at not being able to get an appointment with a VA doctor. The last time she ran into him was at a gas station a year before he died, looking gaunt, and buying beer and cigarettes.

U.S. Army Honor Guard members Sgt. Major Peter Moeller, Staff Sgt. Devin Hilgenberg, and Staff Sgt. Dylan Benischek participate in a flag folding ceremony at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. (Christopher Smith/The Washington Post)

Janes said the military knew Ryan had a mental breakdown, but "there was no follow-up." She is sure Ryan suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He left the Army in 1975 and PTSD was only officially recognized as a psychiatric disorder in 1980.

Now, there is a far greater public understanding of how witnessing terrifying events can trigger depression, anxiety and substance abuse. But Vietnam veterans did not have the same mental health services that are available now.

Janes said she and Ryan were on their own, commiserating with other veterans and their families. She recalled a friend whose husband, a Vietnam veteran, would jump out of bed in the middle of the night and hide in a corner.

Ryan could not stop drinking  whiskey, beer, just about anything. Some people who knew him called him "J.D." and others "Jim," but everyone agreed he could be an angry drunk.

Wetlaufer said Ryan had a sweet side but often turned abrasive and "pushed a lot of people away."

Jerry Dacre, a neighbor who lives in Ryan's apartment building, said not long ago Ryan was stabbed by a man he had let sleep in his apartment. His kind side helped that homeless man, and his angry side then fought with him over money. "When he was sober, he was a good old boy. But when he drank, the demons came out," Dacre said.

Janes said Ryan was at times physically abusive and once pointed a gun at her. She said her son never had the father other kids in the neighborhood had. Janes said Ryan would often apologize and be on good behavior, only to slide back into anger, and go back to drinking liquor and smoking marijuana. After nine years of marriage, she divorced him in 1986.

"He went downhill after that," she said. "His life was so screwed up, and he just burned bridges all the way around."

The Vietnam Veterans of America and its 700 local chapters often help with funerals for the unclaimed. Increasingly, other nonprofit groups are stepping in to help, many of which use social media to invite the public to serve as proxy family.

"I think the root of this problem is PTSD. It causes enormous personal problems," said John Rowan, the national president of the VVA. "We see a lot of these folks who are single or divorced, and they are estranged from their families."

Rowan attended his first funeral for an unclaimed veteran in New York in 2008. That year, amid a national recession that made affording funerals harder for many, local officials began seeing a spike in bodies languishing in morgues. The numbers have continued to rise since.

Rowan said police found John A. White, a former U.S. Army sergeant who had been awarded a chest full of medals in Vietnam, dead in his hotel room near the Empire State Building. He had very little in his room except his dress uniform hanging in the closet.

"He had nobody in his life," said Rowan. "We gave him a final salute."

Other Vietnam veterans made sure White was buried in his uniform and formed an honor guard for the soldier awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star Medal.

After Des Moines police discovered Ryan's body on Nov. 12, the medical examiner found records that he had been treated at a local VA hospital. They called Lanae Strovers at Hamilton's Funeral Home because they knew she had a special interest in burying veterans.

Strovers had lost a friend who suffered from PTSD. She called the VA hospital to warn them that he desperately needed help. His mental health appointments kept getting canceled, and she pleaded with them to let him see a doctor. Three weeks later, she said, he died of an intentional drug overdose.

As Strovers began searching for Ryan's relatives, she saw names of family members listed in his father's obituary. She messaged a stepbrother she found on Facebook. He didn't reply but forwarded the message to his sister, Lori.

She was a lot younger than Ryan and though her mother and his father married later in their lives, she never really spent time with him. Wetlaufer called Ryan's son, but he replied, "No, thank you." He wanted nothing to do with the man who had mistreated his mother and abandoned him.

His parents were dead, no other family members felt close to him and many were angry with him. Wetlaufer told Strovers that having the government bury him was probably the best solution. Aware that money is often a factor when a family declines to bury their relative, the funeral director explained that there were veterans' benefits available to reduce the costs, including a free space in the state military cemetery.

In the end, seven months after he died, he was buried with other unclaimed veterans in a military send-off.

The United States has prioritized veterans' burials since the Civil War, when the public was outraged at bodies left on battlefields and buried in unmarked graves. Some states prohibit a veteran from being buried in a public cemetery for the poor and abandoned.

The federal government spends half a billion dollars a year to bury veterans, from maintaining its cemeteries to the $27 million for U.S. burial flags presented to families.

Mowrer, the Iraq vet, said he would like more focus on veterans while they are alive. The military excels at training young soldiers and burying dead ones, but Janes said, it "backs away from a lot of things in between."

It's the job of the VA to provide health care and benefits. Its budget is nearly 10 times larger than the Justice Department, which includes the FBI.

Congress is considering the Biden administration's proposed $270 billion budget for Veterans Affairs for next year, a significant increase to help fund more mental health services, including for substance abuse and suicide prevention.

Last week, President Biden announced new efforts to improve access to mental health care for veterans, noting that an average of 17 veterans a day die by suicide. "We have only one truly sacred obligation as Americans  to prepare and properly equip our women and men in uniform when we send them into harm's way, and to care for them and their families when they return," Biden said.

The VA's bureaucracy, more than its resources, has long been the target of veterans' complaints. Janes said the paperwork required was defeating; a missing ID number or lost document meant no benefit. Several funeral directors interviewed about unclaimed veterans say they stopped applying for federal burial benefits years ago because the process is too cumbersome.

States and counties also offer veteran burial benefits, a rare budget item with bipartisan support. Polk County, Iowa, which includes Des Moines, reimburses funeral homes up to $2,000 to handle unclaimed veterans, compared to $750 for unclaimed civilians.

Funerals typically cost more than $7,500, and funeral homes like Strovers' often donate services for unclaimed veterans. So do a growing army of volunteers.

Every year, the Missing in America Project arranges for services, chaplains, music, flowers and handcrafted urns for hundreds of unclaimed veterans, up from 30 to 40 a year when it launched nationally in 2007.

  

On June 18, Ryan and several other unclaimed veterans who ranged in age from 52 to 92 were honored at Hamilton's Funeral Home, where volunteers prayed, recited poems and sang "America the Beautiful."

Then the urns were loaded into a black hearse that was accompanied to the cemetery by 60 motorcycles, five police cruisers and a mile-long procession of cars and trucks. As they arrived, children waved American flags.

The remains of James Dean Ryan are placed in his final resting place at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery. Two hundred people came to the ceremony to pay their respects to veterans they had never met. (Christopher Smith/The Washington Post)

"These are heartwarming, but also gut-wrenching," said Terry Mitchel. "There is a reason we wear dark glasses."

Mitchel rode the lead Harley-Davidson for the Patriot Guard Riders, a group formed in 2005 to protect veterans' families from extremists from the Westboro Baptist Church that were disrupting military funerals. Patriot Guard Riders also form funeral honor guards for veterans, including many unclaimed.

At the Iowa gravesite, four kilted bagpipers played mournful tunes and a country artist sang the national anthem. Two hundred people came to pay their respects to veterans that almost all of them had never met.

Two uniformed soldiers folded Ryan's burial flag in a precise 13-step ritual.

Strovers picked a volunteer to receive the flag, a state representative, when she got no reply from the family.

Mowrer wore white gloves to carry Ryan's cremains in an urn made of polished cherry wood. He placed it in a niche in Wall 7, where a plaque lists Ryan's name and reads, "You are not forgotten."

Usually at unclaimed services, no one who knew the deceased shows up. But Wetlaufer and her husband did. Afterward, she praised the lovely service but said she did feel a pang of sadness when his name was called out as Ryan James instead of James Ryan. It was a reminder that strangers had arranged J.D.'s funeral.

Janes thought about attending. She had heard about it from a friend who saw the public notice of the burial of unclaimed veterans on Facebook.

"I feel bad that nobody wanted to get his body," she said. But she can still feel the pain he caused her before she left him 35 years ago. "If I went, I knew I would cry. I decided that he wasn't going to make me cry anymore."

The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed to this report.
An airman tosses unserviceable uniform items into a burn pit at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on March 10, 2008. (Julianne Showalter/U.S. Air Force)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to review research into several rare cancers to determine whether they could be caused by exposure to toxins during military service.

If the VA determines theres enough evidence to support a connection, the department could create a fast track to health care and disability compensation for veterans suffering from the cancers. Biden gave the agency 90 days to provide its recommendations.

The conditions include rare respiratory cancers, such as squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and salivary gland tumors, as well as lung cancers and constrictive bronchiolitis.

We know there can be too long of a delay in scientific evidence that demonstrates conclusive links between exposures and their health impacts, said a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. This can leave many veterans without access to VA benefits and high-quality treatment. The administration is moving forward with several steps to provide more timely answers.

Throughout the 1990s and the post-9/11 wars, the military used open-air pits to burn materials such as garbage, jet fuel, paint, medical waste and plastics. Veterans diagnosed with cancer, respiratory issues and lung disease at young ages have blamed exposure to the toxic fumes. They have sought VA benefits and health care, but the department contended for years that there wasnt sufficient evidence to support their claims.

Bidens administration said the 90-day review is part of its new approach to consider conditions for inclusion on the departments presumptive list, which lowers the amount of evidence that veterans must provide to receive benefits.

While previous efforts relied heavily on studies from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the new approach looks more broadly at research and data from other sources, as well as claims being filed by veterans, VA Secretary Denis McDonough has said.

Using this approach, the VA decided in August to add three conditions to the presumptive list: asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis. The department said there was enough evidence to link the conditions to airborne toxins from burn pits during overseas deployments.

The senior administration official said the three conditions acted as a proof of concept for the new decision-making model.

As we go through this process and as our data set grows from veterans submitting claims, thats going to help our knowledge grow to be able to get these additional conditions, the official said. Were going to start with rare forms of respiratory cancers, move on to constrictive bronchiolitis and move forward from there.

The administration made several other announcements on Veterans Day regarding veterans suffering from military toxic exposures. A senior administration official said it was a high priority for President Biden.

Its personal to him, the official said.

Bidens son, Beau, was a post-9/11 veteran and a member of the Delaware Army National Guard who served in Iraq in 2008. Beau Biden died of brain cancer in 2015, and his father suspects exposure to toxic burn pits in Iraq could have been to blame.

In addition to the review of rare cancers, Biden announced the VA would stand up a new call center in 2022, which veterans can call with questions about environmental exposures. The department also plans to create a team of 40 medical providers next year who specialize in environmental health issues. The providers will work with veterans and be a resource for other doctors, the administration said.

Biden also urged Congress to pass legislation that would extend the enhanced eligibility period for VA health care. The enhanced eligibility period allows combat veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan to receive free VA health care for up to five years after theyre discharged without having to prove a service-connected disability. Biden wants to extend the period to 10 years.

We know it can take time for conditions to manifest, the senior administration official said. Some veterans do not have concerns about their health until several years after deployment.
Buy Photo William J. Conley, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and teacher at Kaiserslautern High School who helped organize a Veterans Day march at the school, speaks before the event on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany  Members of the Kaiserslautern military community faced near-freezing temperatures to hold a Veterans Day march Thursday, which helped raise money for former service members.

The event was organized by the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Kaiserslautern High School and held at the schools track at Vogelweh.

About 120 JROTC cadets, their family members and others walked 22 laps around the track, which was blanketed in fog, to spotlight the 22 veterans who die by suicide every day.

Our event is a little somber, said William J. Conley, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and teacher at Kaiserslautern High School who helped the cadets organize the walk. But it was seen as an appropriate way to honor the memory of those who died by suicide and raise funds for veterans, Conley said.

Buy Photo From left, James Barnes, Yunalesca Luke, Hannah San Pedro and Maurnice Ahavit make up the color guard that led a march at Kaiserslautern High School on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, to mark Veterans Day. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Members of the Kaiserslautern military community faced near-freezing temperatures to hold a Veterans Day march in foggy conditions at Kaiserslautern High School on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Members of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Kaiserslautern High School lead a Veterans Day march Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Isaac Wu, right, walks with his flight of Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets during a Veterans Day march at Kaiserslautern High School on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes) Buy Photo Military police at Kaiserslautern High School participate in a walk to mark Veterans Day on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

Each cadet was asked to find a sponsor who would donate a minimum of $22, some of which will go to a yet-to-be-decided charity and some to support cadet activities.

At the start of the event, over $10,000 had been collected, with more expected to be raised throughout the day from shirt sales and other activities.

Its a big fundraising event where we can really make a difference, said Payton Silver, one of the cadet leaders.

The event began with the singing of the national anthem and a one-lap march by the cadets, who were broken down into groups called flights and led by a color guard. Patriotic songs were played over loudspeakers as the remaining laps were completed and more people joined in.

Buy Photo Kendra Wagers, a guidance counselor at Kaiserslautern High School, speaks to those participating in a march for veterans at the school on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Phillip Walter Wellman/Stars and Stripes)

We can create a community and support, Kendra Wagers, a guidance counselor at Kaiserslautern High School, told the crowd. Before her current post, Wagers worked for a decade at nearby Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where she interacted with troops who had suicidal thoughts.

With each step you take, think about that one life lost is too many, Wagers said. And what you can do to create that sense of connection and meaning for others.
The World War I memorial in Patriots Memorial Park in North Andover, Mass. (Facebook)

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (Tribune News Service)  What's in a name? Everything, if the name is yours and it has been spelled incorrectly on a bronze plaque for nearly 100 years.

That was the case with Arthur Enaire of North Andover, whose name was spelled "Ensire" on the town's World War I memorial when it was erected in 1922.

Arthur's nephew, Leonard Enaire, 92 and also a veteran, learned about the misspelling from his father, Henry Enaire, who died in 1980.

But it wasn't until Leonard went to see the plaque for himself in Patriots Memorial Park that he appreciated the permanence of that mistake, and felt compelled to get it fixed.

"I've been trying since to get his name changed, and everybody tells me you can't work on that, if you try to take a letter off, you get water behind it, it's a big expensive job," he said. "I kept at it."

Leonard said he approached individual members of North Andover's Select Board over the years about the problem, but with no luck.

"Nobody ever got back to me," he said.

The wheels didn't start to turn until about six months ago, when Leonard talked to Joseph LeBlanc, director of veterans services for North Andover and Boxford.

LeBlanc had worked on a similar project several years ago, helping to secure a State Historic Records Advisory Board grant for the completion of North Andover's Vietnam War memorial.

So after Leonard approached him, LeBlanc asked fellow veteran service officers to recommend someone who could fix the plaque, and they told him about Jeffrey Schiff of Schiff Architectural Detail in Chelsea. Schiff recently completed alterations to the plaque, thanks to $1800 in town funds and a $200 donation from the VFW, LeBlanc said.

"This had some unique challenges," Schiff said. "Because of the nature of a cast bronze plaque, it's not prone to correction after the fact, and to do it you have to destroy it to rebuild it."

Working by hand and using a specially shaped chisel, he carved off the offending "s" and also the "E," which he said was damaged and needed replacing.

Finding letters to replace them with was also a challenge, because the companies that made the originals are gone, and creating new, matching letters would be too expensive.

"I created an 'a' out of a 'w,'" Schiff said. "That was not exactly matching font, nor was the 'e.' It was an old stock 'e' that I had. It's again, not a matching font, but if you get everything to a certain state visually, where it will read and the color is consistent, it will pass."

While fixing Arthur's last name, Schiff also added a star beside the name of Fred Houghton, to indicate that he had died while serving during World War l.

That fact was recently confirmed for LeBlanc in research conducted by Anne Armitage of North Andover, a member of the town's Patriotic Observance Committee. She wrote to LeBlanc that the absence of Houghton's star was a mystery that couldn't be explained, but should be corrected.

Like Arthur Drouin, who has always had a star beside his name on the plaque, Houghton died from flu in the United States while he was waiting to ship out to Europe.

Schiff also put a new star next to the name of Albert Thompson, who was killed in battle in France, but whose original star had eroded.

As with Enaire, the spelling of Thompson's name has long been a source of debate, because it appears as "Thomson" in his military records. The Thomson School in North Andover was named for him, although it spelled "Thompson" with a "p" when it opened in 1924, then changed it to "Thomson" in 1928.

According to an article by Ted Tripp that appeared in the North Andover Citizen in 2005, it seems that Thompson may have deleted the "p" when he enlisted in the Army, probably to disguise the fact that he was only 15.

"The newspaper accounts in 1918 took the Thomson name from the telegram of his death and erroneously assumed the family name was spelled the same," Tripp wrote. "The change in the name of the Thompson School to the Thomson School in 1928 could have been the result of efforts by a local veterans group or a family member who wanted the town to use Albert's Army version of the name."

But Arthur Enaire's name never enjoyed this kind of public discussion.

Leonard said he never even talked about the plaque on the World War l memorial with his uncle, who was considerably older than Leonard's father.

He didn't see Arthur often, although Arthur's wife was Leonard's godmother, and he does remember going to Arthur's funeral in Boston.

"My father told me one time that (Arthur) lived in Hyde Park, in Boston, and he was a heavy equipment operator for the city," Leonard said. "I have no idea when that was."

Leonard was previously employed at the Davis and Furber machine shop in North Andover, and worked for the town from 1970 to 1994, driving a rubbish truck and working for the highway department.

He also served in the Army from 1948 to 1951, and said that experience played a role in his determination to get the plaque fixed.

"The name was wrong, and the veterans always say, leave no one behind, we always take our people back," Leonard said. "Being a veteran myself, it bothered me. Here's a guy, he's on the list, people think that's his name, which it's not. He should have been just like everybody else. His name should have been correct in the first place."

While Leonard wanted the memorial to honor his uncle accurately, he also wants future generations of Enaires to be able to look at its plaque and feel nothing but pride.

"I've got kids and grandkids," he said. "They might look at it sometime and say, 'My name is on there.'"

(c)2021 The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)

Visit The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.) at www.eagletribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Winston Watusi

Music Plus

There is a special music night at Jack Dustys next weekend - a belated tribute to one of the citys best guitar players.

Mike Everard, most recently in the spotlight for his dynamite blues playing with Hybrid Blues, died earlier this year after a long battle with cancer.

Mike Everard

The opportunity to farewell him has been difficult to arrange but, with venues back in level two, Jack Dustys in Bureta - a venue Mike played at often and which has been right at the front of the push to return to live music - seemed like the ideal place.

Mike had been part of the Tauranga music scene for the past decade, having returned from living in London and Australia in 2011.

He played with a lot of bands here. That can tend to happen when you are an experienced and versatile guitarist and a nice guy. And Mike was certainly both of those things. When I saw him perform last, which I think was at last years Rotorua Blues Festival with Hybrid Blues, he was obviously not well, but still playing brilliantly.

I literally lost count of the number of people who came up to me and told me what nice guy he was. Everyone seemed to have played with him; everybody liked him.

Influences

Mike, of course, played before heading overseas. He picked up the guitar when he was 14 and it became his life-long passion. He always had a preference for blues-based rock and soul, and early influences included Albert King, BB King, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, Richie Blackmore and Zal Cleminson.

For those unfamiliar with that last name, Alistair MacDonald Zal Cleminson is a Scottish guitarist, best known for his prominent role in The Sensational Alex Harvey Band between 1972 and 1978.

Mike spent a few years with Auckland bands, playing covers on the pub circuit before moving to Australia.

He took a long break from playing while living overseas to focus on his non-musical career, his wife Cheryle and their children, but when he returned to Tauranga he plunged back into music. Amongst other ventures he formed local covers band Eclipse, which includes Anna Crusis on vocals and his son Jason on keyboards. They performed regularly up until his last few months.

And Mike played with a bunch of other outfits here, including Keel, Derek Toners band Tuner and The Sid Attwell Band. In recent years he also played with Chill Factor, the house band for that regular Wednesday institution, the Tauranga Blues Jams.

Hybrid Blues

But perhaps his greatest musical achievement was the album he made last year with local original band Hybrid Blues. They had been looking for a guitarist and had tried a couple before Mike, but the minute he joined the band it all came together.

What they produced was a dynamic collection of varying blues styles which saw Mike employ a huge variety of tones and approaches, showing his time in cover bands had been well worthwhile as he created a far more interesting and varied musical accompaniment than a straight-ahead blues guitarist.

So whats happening on Saturday, November 20? First of all, be warned - you will need to book a table. And youll probably need to do so swiftly. We are still in level two, which means everyone has to be seated. And no dancing. I was asked to warn any potential attendees that seating is limited and a big crowd is expected.

I was also asked to encourage everyone to be there at 5:30pm as there will be some personal tributes from family and friends. The general theme of the gig is to pay tribute to Mike whilst acknowledging the variety of musical endeavours he has been part of, specifically playing original music, playing cover songs, and just getting up and jamming.

So after the tributes there will be original music played until 7pm, followed by an hour of jamming. Then the rest of the evening - I think the music runs til 10pm - will be taken playing cover music; all the songs Mike most liked to play.

Many musicians who played with Mike will be joining the line-up - a special farewell for someone who gave so much pleasure to people with his music.
While the journey has been long and somewhat tortuous, an advocate for alternative fumigation of New Zealands export logs has welcomed a reassessed road map on the future use of methyl bromide.

The Decision-Making Committee of the Environmental Protection Authority recently announced what it calls a comprehensive suite of new rules for the toxic and ozone-depleting substance.

Kade McConville, group director of Melbourne-based Draslovka Services Group, says the outcomes of the EPA reassessment are now based on science over grandfather rights, and have categorically changed the landscape of fumigation in New Zealand.

Draslovka is seeking to have ethanedinitrile, a non ozone-depleter developed by the company in the Czech Republic, registered with the EPA in New Zealand.

Kade says he sees the EPA reassessment of methyl bromide as justice for the environment and the communities which this substance has affected for decades.

Dr Chris Hill, general manager of the EPAs Hazardous Substances Group, says the decision sets a roadmap to full recapture of methyl bromide.

It provides a clear and structured pathway for industry to reduce the amount of methyl bromide emitted, says Dr Hill.

Ship-hold fumigation will be banned from January 1, 2023.

He says stepped increases will apply to the recapture of methyl bromide from containers and covered log stacks, starting from January 1, 2022.

Revoking the approval for methyl bromide (banning it outright) was not in the scope of this reassessment, but Dr Hill says the decision provides for far more stringent controls on its use.

Kade McConville says the new rules will make it increasingly difficult to commercially use methyl bromide in New Zealand for the treatment of timber and logs for export.

The most prominent of these changes is around buffer zone requirements  which are tied to recapture efficiencies - and subsequently air emissions, he says.

Any technically/chemically astute individual can tell you that fumigant recapture in a fumigation scenario is merely smoke and mirrors.

The forestry industry had been given a 10-year deadline to stop using methyl bromide, but this expired last October and has since been subject to a number of extensions.

Dr Hill says while methyl bromide use is being phased out globally, in New Zealand its use increased by 66 per cent between 2010 and 2019, he says.

We are currently out of step with most other countries which are turning away from this ozone-depleting substance.

"However, the combined controls imposed by this decision will result in methyl bromide emissions being reduced significantly over the next five years. The aim is also to disincentivise the use of this fumigant.

"While the EPA would like to see methyl bromide use phased out as soon as possible, we acknowledge that this is the only biosecurity treatment that some key overseas markets are prepared to accept," says Dr Hill.

Meanwhile, Kade McConville believes an EPA decision on the Draslovka registration of EDN may not come until the end of the year.

Following public consultation on a science memo and EPA staff report, he expects the Decision-Making Committee to call another public hearing on the matter which is being dealt with separately from the methyl bromide assessment.

Kade says the EDN application has been before the EPA for nearly four years, with Draslovka having spent $5 million in the registration process.

The EPA staff report and science memo concluded that the risks of EDN to people and the environment are considered negligible with proposed controls and requirements from the EPA and WorkSafe in place.

Kade says the challenge is to gain acceptance of the alternative treatment from New Zealands forestry trading partners, chiefly India and China.

At present India only accepts logs from overseas treated with methyl bromide.

Kade says logs treated with EDN are exported to China from the Czech Republic.

The Ministry for Primary Industries says New Zealand exported $3.81 billion of logs in 2019.

About 22 per cent of these (nearly $840 million) were treated with ethyl bromide for export.

Fumigation of logs for export constitutes the bulk (92 per cent) of New Zealands methyl bromide use.

De-barking provides a non-chemical alternative, but Kade McConville says there is not sufficient capacity in New Zealand to pursue this option.

New Zealand is a signatory to both the United Nations Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (1989) and the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1988) which are both committed to stopping depletion of the ozone layer.

Under the provisions of these agreements, signatory nations have since 2005 either banned or severely restricted the use of methyl bromide.

Kade says this country risks becoming the laughing stock of these agreements through its handling of the forestry fumigation issue.

In the end something needs to change, he says. You cant put it off.
Some schools in the region could lose up to half of their staff when the Covid-19 vaccine mandates come into force on Monday, says a principals representative.

Western Bay of Plenty Principals Association president Suzanne Billington says she has surveyed schools in the region and knows of three that could lose around half of their staff.

The majority are looking at losing as little as five or as much as 20 per cent of staff, says Suzanne.

Its a really difficult situation for all schools, because its been mandated from government, she says.

As principals and their boss, we have to carry out what the government is saying.

The Western Bay of Plenty Principals Association represents more than 60 schools from Whakatane to Waihi.

The government has introduced mandatory vaccines for anyone who comes into contact with children in an educational setting. They must have their first dose by November 15, and be fully vaccinated by January 1, 2022.

For those schools losing 50 per cent of their staff, they may need to close or operate at a reduced capacity says Suzanne.

Theres a limited relieving pool across the region and weve got quite a number of schools that are 80 to 95 per cent vaccinated. So they're looking for three-to-six staff, depending on the size.

Suzanne has been given a range of reasons for staff refusing to be vaccinated.

Some staff are against all vaccinations, while others are simply against the Covid-19 vaccine and some arent getting vaccinated as a stance against the mandates, she says.

Theyre taking a principled stand rather than a stand based on their feelings around vaccination.

I know theres one principal in this region that seriously considering resigning because of his feelings around the mandate.

Suzanne is the principal at Tauriko School and says shes lucky because all of her staff will be vaccinated by November 15.

She knows of three or four schools in that situation.

Otumoetai Intermediate principal Henk Popping says staff are quite happy to comply with the health order, with one or two teachers that might not get vaccinated.

Henk Popping.

The reality for our school is we've got 696 students over 12 who potentially could be vaccinated with their parents, but there are 204 students who arent, who are under 11, says Henk.

We have to protect them as much as we can. Generally there is support for the vaccination order in our school.

He says the general response from parents that volunteer or help out at the school is also positive.

Mount Maunganui Intermediate School Principal Melissa Nelson says the school has not been adversely affected and the teaching team will all remain on deck after November 15.

The vaccine mandate has certainly put pressure on our sector and the timing of it has been difficult for many schools to manage she says.

Papamoa College principal Steve Lindsey has concerns that he will lose staff because of the mandates.

Steve Lindsey.

I don't want to lose any of my staff, but we realise that this will have a net effect of us losing some people, he says.

That's really gutting for us and obviously for employees as well. Its a tricky situation for everyone.

NZEI Te Riu Roa president Liam Rutherford says there is a lot of uncertainty around how many educators will leave the profession.

The union is working closely with the Ministry of Education around any staffing issues that could arise as a result, he says.

The majority of our members agree with the mandate and our support of it, says Liam.

We will be actively working with them, schools, early childhood centres employers, and the government to be certain the vaccine mandate is implemented fairly and safely.

Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua president Melanie Webber didnt want to speculate on whether people will leave their jobs.

Field staff are supporting members, including those in the Western Bay of Plenty, who have concerns about the mandate, she says.

The Weekend Sun asked the Ministry of Education if they are aware of how many staff may leave over the mandates, and what they are doing to support schools that will lose staff.

At the time of writing, the Ministry had not provided any data.

Ministry of Education operations and integration leader Sean Teddy says they are working with schools that require their help to meet staffing needs.

If schools do need our assistance with staffing, we encourage them to contact their regional Ministry of Education office who will work with them on a case-by-case basis to address their specific needs, says Sean.

We are regularly meeting with education leaders to work through issues they are facing and to seek their feedback on meeting the requirements of the government mandates.
Customers queue for opening of the first AliExpress store in Andalucia It opened its doors doors this Thursday, 11 November, becoming the sixth AliExpress Plaza store to open in Spain

The new store in Seville, before it opened its doors to the public. / ABC SEVILLA

The huge Chinese retailer AliExpress boasts a new physical store presence in Andalucia from this Thursday, 11 November, after the Alibaba Group's global online sales platform opened in Seville as part of 11.11 World Shopping Day.

Located in the Lagoh Shopping Centre in Seville it becomes the sixth AliExpress Plaza brand store to open in Spain.

With a sales area of 335 square metres, the new store will stock about 1,000 different products from around 50 different brands, among which are Xiaomi, Ikohs, InnovaGoods and Braun. The main product categories available in the store will be consumer technology, mobile telephones, television and beauty.

"Our online market has many customers in Andalucia and this new store provides them with an additional way to connect with our brand, while reinforcing AliExpress' value for money", explained William Wang, general manager of AliExpress in Spain, Italy and France.

During the 11.11 World Shopping Day event, the AliExpress Plaza store in Lagoh, as well as the stores in Parquesur (Madrid), Finestrelles, Gran Via and Westfield La Maquinista (Barcelona), will be offering discounts on all available products. The offers will run until Saturday, 13 November, exclusively at these physical locations. Televisions, mobiles and headphones will have up to a 30 per cent discount, electric scooters will have up to 25 per cent, licensed products will have up to 60 per cent and there will be discounts of up to 80 per cent on cosmetics and beauty products.

Additionally, from 11 to 13 November there will be a special opening promotion exclusively at the AliExpress Plaza store in the Lagoh shopping centre: the first 200 customers who buy in the store each day will receive a random additional discount that will be applied to their purchases.
Royal Gibraltar Police warn of people falling foul of a well-known online scam Romance Fraud, is a scam that involves people being duped into sending money to criminals who go to great lengths to gain the victims trust and to convince them that they are in a genuine relationship

A warning has been issued by the Royal Gibraltar Police about a well-known online scam known as the Romance Fraud, after learning that a few people have fallen for it.

The scammers gain peoples trust over a period of time, and end up convincing them that they are romantically attached to them. They then start to ask for money, often for emotive reasons such as needing emergency medical care, or saying that they want to come and visit but cant afford the fare. Sometimes they offer investment opportunities. They go to great lengths to convince people that they are genuine.

The RGP recommends six simple steps to avoid falling into this type of trap:

1. Dont share personal details.

2. Dont send money to or receive money from unknown individuals.

3. Only use trusted dating websites.

4. Dont share personal contact details.

5. Think twice before using your webcam.

6. Trust your instincts.

The RGP says nobody should feel embarrassed about reporting the matter if they have fallen for the scam, and asks anyone who believes they have been a victim to do so by phoning 20072500 or at www.police.gi/report-online. Dont be embarrassed  report it, they say.
British man stands trial for sexually abusing the 11-year-old daughter of friends The prosecutor maintains that the defendant took advantage of the fact that the girl was alone in the kitchen of a property in Estepona

A 59-year-old British man is facing a court in Malaga, accused of sexually abusing an eleven-year-old girl on the Costa del Sol.

According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, the defendant was a friend of the girl's parents and took advantage of the fact that he was alone with her, in the kitchen of a house in Estepona, to touch her.

According to SUR sources, the accused and his wife, a British couple, were friends of the victim's parents, a married couple of the same nationality.

Alone

The events are alleged to have taken place on the evening of 10 December, 2017, when the girl was eleven years old. The court file indicates that the defendant took advantage of the fact that the girl was alone in the kitchen to stand behind her and hug her before sexually touching her. It is claimed that he did not stop until the girl managed to get escape with the excuse of having to go and feed her pet.

Five-year prison sentence

The Prosecutor's Office considers that these events constitute a crime of sexual abuse of a minor under 16 years of age and requests that, if the defendant is found guilty, he should be sentenced to five years in prison and that he is banned from communicating or approaching her for another six years. Finally, the prosecutor is calling for compensation of 6,000 euros for the psychological harm caused to the victim.
Owner reported for not taking dog with six-kilo tumour to the vet The 58-year-old man kept the dog in deplorable conditions inside a flat, according to the Gruprona local police officers in Malaga

A 58-year-old man in Malaga has been reported after Local Police officers found a dog with a six-kilo tumour being kept in deplorable conditions in a flat in the city. The animal could barely move and dragged the lump on the ground and had to rest every few steps, according to the team.

The investigation began in September, when members of the Nature Protection Group (Gruprona) of Malagas Local Police force visited the property where the animal was being kept. The dog's owner, a 58-year-old man, gave his consent for the officers to go inside and there they found a black dog that had a cyst of around 40 square centimetres that prevented her from performing any type of physical activity as any movement caused pain or physical discomfort.

Not vaccinated

The Gruprona officers discovered that neither the owner of the dog, or his son, had taken the animal to a veterinary clinic for treatment, which led to the tumour getting worse over the years. The police team also found that the dog had not been vaccinated in the last ten years either. The man now faces animal abuse charges.

Operation

After being urged to do so by the Gruprona offices, the 58-year-old man took the dog to a veterinary clinic. There she was operated on and the lump, which was a breast tumor, was removed. Now, she is reported to be recovering well.
Madrid to destroy 100,000 Covid vaccines after Health ministry stops them from being donated The doses were left over after Spain's Ministry of Health ordered the regions to stop using the AstraZeneca and Janssen formulas

The Community of Madrid will destroy 100,000 doses of expired coronavirus vaccines as the countrys Ministry of Health has not accepted the regions offer to donate the vials.

Out of the 321,450 Jansenn vaccines received in the region only 236,743 doses were finally administered.

Spains Public Health Commission, in which the regions and the Ministry of Health are represented, agreed on 26 October that those originally vaccinated with the single dose Janssen vaccine would be given a second additional dose of one of the mRNA vaccines  either Pfizer and Moderna.

The commission also agreed not to administer any more doses of the Johnson & Johnson Astra Zeneca vaccine.

As a result of the decision some 100,000 vials of vaccines from both AstraZeneca and Janssen have had to be discarded in the Madrid region.

They were offered for donation but the national Ministry of Health, headed by Carolina Darias, ruled this out and indicated that they should be destroyed instead, according to officials in Madrid.
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Kyle Rittenhouse took the stand in his murder trial, acknowledging he used deadly force when he shot three people during a protest against police brutality in Wisconsin last year
Developments at OCIMF

In its May, June and July newsletters, OCIMF reported on finding a pathway with climate change, West Africa piracy government initiatives, and concerns about marine loading arm maintenance, and much more.

Recently things have been quite quiet in the Middle East, but you will be aware of the terrorist attacks on two tankers over the past few days [late July 2021], Mercer Street in the Arabian Sea and Alberta in the Red Sea  resulting in the deaths of two seafarers on Mercer Street, said Rob Drysdale, managing director of OCIMF. Condemnation from various countries has followed and there is a real risk of further escalation in the region. I sincerely hope that the situation is not allowed to get out of control. Climate change For climate change initiatives, "there is so much going on within this space that it can be difficult to track what has already been done, what is being done today and what still needs to be done," Mr Drysdale said. OCIMF is reviewing what role it will take in greenhouse gas emission reductions. "We cannot be involved in everything, so we need to focus our collaboration efforts where we can best bring value for our members and for the maritime industry as a whole." "New fuels, whether they are reduced carbon, carbon neutral or zero carbon, are going to be a big part of the solution." "The technical challenges are huge, in fact, technical solutions have a long way to go to have any chance of catching up with the ideas for new fuels and hitting the deadlines set by IMO for 2050 let alone the aspirational targets already being discussed by others." "One of the problems not yet fully appreciated is the potential safety impacts of these new fuels on bunkering, storage and handling onboard." OCIMF has joined a "Safety of Future Fuels" working group in May, which was launched by the "Together in Safety" coalition (see https://togetherinsafety.info/). This group is doing a Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat (SWOT) analysis of various fuels, and risk assessments. West Africa piracy OCIMF noted that the first meeting between the Nigerian government and the Inter Regional Coordination Centre (ICC) Yaounde was held on July 14, as the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Collaboration Forum / Shared Awareness and De-confliction (GOG-MCF/SHADE). The Yaounde Interregional Coordination Centre in partnership with NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) and the Nigeria Navy chaired the meeting. This is a huge landmark in the journey to addressing maritime piracy, kidnap and ransom in the region. There is still a lot to do, but with the collaboration of all stakeholders I am confident of success, said Rob Drysdale, managing director of OCIMF. The Director General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) made the following remarks at the meeting. "Regional coastal states are on the right track, ramping up their law enforcement, judicial processes, and military capabilities to establish maritime security in their waters. Among these, Nigerias Deep Blue project is notable. It is by far the most ambitious and promising project in the region right now and has the potential, over time, to be a game changer to the fight against piracy." OCIMF also said it was pleased about Nigerias Deep Blue maritime security project. This is a significant investment in military and law enforcement infrastructure to secure its maritime domain and address the ongoing piracy issue in the Gulf of Guinea, Managed by the Nigerian Maritime Safety Agency (NIMASA), the multi-agency project will significantly increase maritime security in the region. A central command and control centre based in Lagos will oversee a network of integrated assets including two special mission vessels, two special mission long-range aircraft, 17 fast-response vessels capable of speeds of 50 knots, three helicopters and four airborne drones, providing 24/7 cover for the region. These complement the Yaounde ICC structure offering real capability to both Nigeria and the region. OCIMF hopes Deep Blue assets, coordinated with the activities of other navies and programmes through the mechanism of the GOG-MCF/SHADE, will seriously impact on the ability of pirate groups to prey on merchant shipping. IACS meeting OCIMF joined an International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) meeting on Jul 19-21, for an update on progress on working groups, in the lead up to an annual Tripartite event in Autumn. The three parties represent shipowners, shipyards and class, discussing design, construction and operation of new and future ships. Themes of the discussion were decarbonisation, human-centred design, design safety and digitalisation. There were updates on fire risks due to leakage from low pressure fuel pipes, and on the joint industry working group on anchoring equipment. Mooring equivalency OCIMF has initiated and is funding a joint industry project to study the performance of mooring systems, in order to see how alternative mooring systems compare. The project is being led by research institute MARIN. Examples of alternative mooring systems are vacuum pads and magnets. There have been growing safety concerns about conventional (rope based) mooring systems due to injuries after ropes have snapped. OCIMF supports the application of new technology when its safety and reliability can be demonstrated, OCIMF said. The MARIN led project will also identify the most important data to analyse, when assessing a mooring system. Root cause investigations At the IACS meeting, OCIMF presented an update on an IMO submission to MSC 104 to amend the Casualty Investigation Code to mandate root cause investigations. This follows OCIMFs analysis of an investigation report into the Sanchi-CF Crystal incident (collision between a tanker and bulk carrier off Shanghai in 2018 with 32 casualties). The analysis showed a lack of evidence related to human factors were identified during the investigation. SIRE 2.0 inspector training OCIMFs SIRE 2.0 training programme for SIRE CAT 1 accredited inspectors began with the first course successfully conducted from 19-23 July. Each course consists of a segment on human factors and non-technical skills, delivered by industry experts, and has segments on technical skills as well as a focus on Ethics and Code of Conduct. Online courses are being held weekly in different time zones to facilitate the transition of existing SIRE inspectors to the SIRE 2.0 programme, which will commence on 1 April 2022. Website / annual report In July, OCIMF rolled out a new website at ocimf.org. The content is now available in nine languages. I believe it is much more intuitive than the old version and should be easy for you to navigate, said Rob Drysdale, managing director. The 2021 OCIMF Annual Report, covering activities throughout 2020, is now available to download from the website at OCIMF - Oil Companies International Marine Forum - Annual Reports Marine Loading Arm failure OCIMF noted that the UK's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a "Safety Alert" after a catastrophic failure of a Marine Loading Arm (MLA) at a UK terminal. This was found to be due to lack of lubrication, leading to a failure of the pivot. In its report, the HSE Alert referenced OCIMF documents  the SIGTTO/OCIMF Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Guide 2008 and OCIMF Design and Construction Specification for Marine Loading Arms 2019. OCIMF is currently revising the Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Guide and will take into account immediate findings for inclusion into the revision of current guidance for MLAs, it said. California berth emissions OCIMF has joined a workshop organised by DNV, related to their technology assessment of emissions control regulations being considered for vessels at berth in California. The full name of the regulations is 2020 amendments to California Air Resources Boards (CARB) Ocean-Going Vessels at Berth Regulation. Over 40 stakeholders joined the workshops, representing ports, terminals operators, shipping companies, equipment vendors, trade organisations, Classification Societies, as well as oil companies (OCIMF). The discussion included understanding requirements for shore power technology, categorising the "novelty" level of elements involved, and identifying critical risks. OCIMF provided input on engineering, operational and safety aspects in connecting shore power to tankers. A future step will include assessing threats and risks. Infrastructure OCIMF participates in a number of working groups from the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC). This includes working groups on design and assessment of marine oil, gas and petrochemical terminals; design and assessment of marine single point mooring and multi point mooring facilities; design of fender systems; criteria for acceptable movement of ships at berths; mooring bollards and hooks; met ocean related risk in construction of marine works; and inspection, maintenance and repair of waterfront facilities. OCIMF members provide expertise from the oil and gas sector, in operations, inspection and maintenance of infrastructure. Tanker Accident Database OCIMF encourages tanker operators to register with the Tanker Accident Database, so they can submit reports about accidents, which are then anonymised, so that OCIMF / Intertanko is only able to read about the accidents, not the company involved. The database is operated by an independent company, MIS Marine, on behalf of OCIMF and Intertanko, but with OCIMF / Intertanko not having any access to the data collection area. Data can only be submitted by vessel operators holding a Document of Compliance. The way the system maintains anonymity is by having two separate digital systems. The data is entered into a first system, all information that could possibly identify a company is stripped away, and then it is added to a second system. The data is used for statistical analysis, trending and benchmarking. Despite being launched during a global pandemic many companies have already registered and begun submitting data. The more companies that join them the better the data pool becomes, OCIMF said. More information is at https://www.tankeraccidentdatabase.org/ British Standards Institute OCIMF has joined the Maritime Works committee CB/502 under the British Standards Institute. It monitors European and international activity in equivalent work areas, particularly Eurocodes and optimisation of UK influence. It oversees the BS 6349 series of standards that provides guidance on the planning, design, construction and maintenance of maritime structures. STS hoses guidelines OCIMF has a new paper, "Guidelines for the Handling, Storage, Use, Maintenance and Testing of STS Hoses." It is designed to be used together with OCIMF's STS Transfer Guide and ISGOTT. It is available from download from its website. Meetings The Environmental Functional Committee met on July 2, to finalise the committee environmental plan, to review progress on emerging risks, and to review recent IMO meeting briefs on greenhouse gases. The Human Factors Functional Committee met on June 23, looking at an information paper on the human factors element for the TMSA, due to be published in Sept 2021; contributions to SIRE 2.0 including human factors training and a review of human factors related questions. OCIMF held a meeting of its executive committee on Jun 9-10. Topics included a strategy implementation update; in-depth discussion on OCIMFs draft Environment Plan; secondee resourcing; update on SIRE 2.0 progress; 2021 financial projection versus approved budget; principal and Functional Committee updates. The next meeting is scheduled for 1 December 2021 in London. OCIMFs Maritime Security Committee held a meeting on June 9, looking at development of OCIMFs Risk Advisory Function; completing new guidance for the Employment of PMSCs (Private Maritime Security Contractors); reviewing the Indian Ocean High Risk Area. The Programmes Committee met on June 15, making decisions on the Vessel Inspection Programme (VIP) project that will deliver SIRE 2.0, new criteria for becoming a Programme Submitting Company, review of work experience requirements for applicant inspectors, launching of the revised Programmes policies, procedures and user guidance, and launching of the Programmes Participants Code of Conduct.




New control system makes cargo offloading faster and easier

Following a successful test on the P&C tanker Fure Ven, Svanehj is now launching FlowControl, which automates the control of electric cargo pumps on tankers.

The intention is to encourage more shipowners to choose the more environmentally friendly solution. With a newly developed software-based control system, Svanehj will make it faster, easier, and more efficient to operate electric cargo pumps. Known as FlowControl, the system ensures an optimal changeover between tanks and pumps in parallel, reducing the time needed for cargo discharge by up to 20% because the system will automatically operate at the optimal duty point. It allows the operator to take full control of the pumps, simplifying the entire cargo discharge operation. Without installing any additional hardware. It is well known that electric cargo pumps weigh less, make less noise and use significantly less power than hydraulic cargo pumps. Yet most P&C tankers have hydraulic pumps installed because electric pumps are different to operate, and in some modes of operation a bit more challenging. FlowControl is changing that, and our intention is to encourage more shipowners to choose the more environmentally friendly solution, says Johnny Houmann, Director, Sales & Projects at Svanehj. Furetank: A significant improvement

In recent months, Svanehj has been testing FlowControl in collaboration with the Swedish shipping company Furetank on board the P&C tanker Fure Ven. The 18,000 DWT vessel was built in 2019 as one of Furetanks V-Series, a new generation of climate-smart P&C tankers. Fure Ven is among the first vessels at Furetank to have electric cargo pumps installed. The company has recorded a 25% reduction in power and fuel consumption in relation to cargo discharge operations compared to vessels in the fleet that have hydraulic pumps. For Clas Gustafsson, Technical Manager at Furetank, it has been very positive to experience the improvement that the FlowControl installation has offered. Cargo discharge operations run smoother and easier, with fewer stoppages. We have experienced a significant improvement, especially while discharging with multiple (four or six) cargo pumps simultaneously against high backpressure and high power output. Some tuning can be done when running multiple pumps at low speed against medium or high backpressure. But overall, we are delighted with the FlowControl system, says Clas Gustafsson. New PLC possibilities pave the way

The FlowControl system is a software-based solution for both newbuilds and existing vessels. The application connects to the VFD, and the system will automatically operate the cargo pumps at the optimal duty point. This reduces port time, fuel consumption and maintenance costs for the cargo pumps. Operators are currently changing between cargo tanks during discharge. This requires the speed of the pumps to be adjusted manually. When you adjust the speed, the pumps will operate outside of the optimal duty point. But with the new PLC possibilities, we now can design pumping curves together with the software, without being limited by the construction of the pump. With FlowControl we are making discharging of P&C a matter of choosing the right software, says Anders Lurzer Askholm, Service Manager, at Svanehj. As FlowControl does not require any additional hardware, the system can be installed while the ship is in operation. Once the service engineer is onboard, the vessel will be upgraded within a few days in parallel with the loading/discharge operation.




The Sea Cargo Charter  charterers driving decarbonisation

The Sea Cargo Charter, an agreement by a group of charterers to calculate and report emissions from chartering activities, is building its footprint in shipping, as tanker operators are asked to provide data for all 2021 voyages.

The Sea Cargo Charter, an agreement by a group of charterers to report emissions from chartering activities and track alignment with IMO goals, is getting an increasing footprint in the shipping industry. The current status was presented in a Connecticut Maritime Association (CMA) forum webinar on May 5, with speakers from Cargill, Anglo American, Dow Chemical and Maersk Tankers. The webinar was supported by Global Maritime Forum and Marine Money. (The full webinar is on YouTube see link below). As of May 2021, the Charter has 22 signatories. Of particular interest to the tanker sector are charterers Trafigura, Equinor, Total, Gunvor, Shell, Occidental, and Dow Chemical. Also, tanker operators Maersk Tankers and Norden are signatories. On the face of it, the Sea Cargo Charter is only demanding tanker operators do what they are already required to do, decarbonise at a rate in alignment with IMOs targets. But it also provides a structure for charterers to demand information about emissions from their voyages, and for charterers to discriminate between tanker operators on the basis of emissions. Sea Cargo Charter also aims to drive standard methodologies about how maritime emissions are measured and added up, something webinar participants said is sorely needed. Another benefit is that Sea Cargo Charter demonstrates to regulators, and others, that charterers are getting involved in maritime decarbonisation, he said. Companies are not allowed to use offsets to reduce their reported emissions. If people want to do offsets that's fine, but its outside the Sea Cargo Charter reporting, said Cargills Jan Dieleman. The group has a relationship with the Poseidon Principles, an initiative supported by 27 banks, who undertake to measure the climate intensity of their shipping (loan) portfolios, and assess their alignment to established decarbonisation trajectories (such as the IMOs). Poseidon Principles and Sea Cargo Charter have the same office address in Copenhagen on their websites, as does Global Maritime Forum. Cargill Jan Dieleman, chair of Sea Cargo Charter, and head of Cargills Ocean transportation business said that the purpose, from a charterers perspective, is to have a tool to learn about the emissions from the ships it charters. In other words, to drive transparency. Hopefully that transparency is going to give increased accountability going forward, he said. It will also drive efforts to obtain emissions data in a standardised format. In Cargill we've been looking at emissions for the last 5 years. the more we looked at it the more complicated it became, he said. We needed something standardised where we all can say, these are the emissions, this is how we're going to measure it, this is how we're going to disclose all this information. One of the biggest challenges has been getting data flowing, he said. I don't see a lot of people unwilling to do it, but people are a bit uncomfortable with it. We have to explain what it is. What we have today in Sea Cargo Charter is not the end state. There's a lot of things that still need to be tackled. In future we may see more verification (checks on the data), Mr Dieleman said. Decarbonisation is going to be the biggest challenge and opportunity in the next decade. I urge people to turn it into business models and new revenue streams, not see it as a problem or headache. Cargill is described as a global food corporation on its Wikipedia page, and the largest privately held corporation in the United States in terms of revenue, with $114.7bn revenue a year. Anglo American Raghav Gulati, Safety, Sustainability and Technical Operations Manager - Shipping at Anglo American, said that the company is using the Charter as its vehicle to calculate emissions and measure our alignment to the IMO decarbonisation trajectory. With this standard, transparent framework, you an have confidence in the accuracy of the numbers, and then track if your decarbonisation trajectory is on course, he said. Anglo American is described on Wikipedia as a multinational mining company, the world's largest producer of platinum with 40 per cent of world output, and a major producer of diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore and coal. In time charters, gathering data is relatively easy, because the charterer is in control of the voyage. But when it comes to voyage fixtures - it becomes a challenge to get that data, he said. We've observed a lot of hesitance around sharing the data from counter parties. That's mainly because they are unaware of the principles. Having the discussion [about the reasons for needing data] with the stakeholders is proving very effective to get the data flowing transparently. Anglo American has done a lot of work with its internal commercial teams, so they can understand the requirements, and convey them to shipping companies in chartering discussions. The contract should specify the data which shipping companies are expected to provide, he said. How you manage the data is just as important as whether or not you obtain the data, he said. That data can get fairly overwhelming at times. The company has a target of only working with measured data. We expect that soon we can get that 100 per cent target of getting the factual data and we don't have any assumptions. It is important to validate the data coming in. If it comes to be totally inaccurate, that data has no value for us. If the numbers are not correct we can reach out to counterparties to have it counterchecked. Shipping companies should see the IMOs decarbonisation target as an industry target, not an owners or charterers target. It is a shared responsibility, he said. Maersk Tankers Eva Birgitte Bisgaard, chief commercial officer with Maersk Tankers, said that in the early days of maritime decarbonisation, the company had felt we were standing a little bit on our own as a shipowner supporting decarbonisation. When we first saw the initiatives coming from Cargill, we were right there. It was the ambition level of Sea Cargo Charter that made it super attractive for us, she said. Also, it was bringing a lot of the different parties together. I think the transparency that we are trying to drive through the Sea Cargo Charter will really help us. Its going to direct us to how we look at emissions. Maersk will file its first report in the beginning of 2022, based on data collected over 2021. Gathering the data is already proving a complex problem, with 230 vessels each providing about 100 pieces of data a day in their noon reports. That adds up to several millions of pieces of data which will go into the final report. But as a result, Maersk gets a much clearer idea of where its emissions are. The data calculation methods are just as important as the data gathering, she said. Maersk is now taking emissions into account when choosing which vessels to allocate to which cargo, perhaps with more efficient ships doing longer routes, she said. It also expects to use the data in discussions with vessel owners, showing them what their emissions currently are, and how they might be reduced. Maersk Tankers is a commercial manager of a pool of tankers, working with 30 different pool partners (owners). Dow Chemical Lance Nunez, Global Marine and Terminal Logistics Director with Dow Chemical said that its participation in Sea Cargo Charter has started driving increased focus on the respective emissions and ESG programs of our carriers. It would like to have data for all of its 2021 voyages, to include in its first report in 2022. Dow is one of the worlds biggest chemical producers and one of the worlds biggest speciality chemical shippers, he said. Emissions reductions are now prominently featured in our supplier relationship management discussions, he said. He said that these discussions have so far been welcomed by most of the companys core carriers. They have already got a long list of reduction actions. We still have plenty of work to do. The general sentiment from our carriers has been that [they] understand that emissions reporting is inevitable. Some carriers have not been so enthusiastic, but they seem to be more the exception than the rule. It usually stems from not understanding what the Sea Cargo Charter is about. After explaining that further, they become more receptive. What's seems most scary for them is the lack of standard methodology for data gathering and calculation. If reporting is to be sustainable, it needs to be straightforward and standard across their customer base. Sea Cargo Charter offers an opportunity to standardise. Both shipping companies and charterers have a role to play in reducing emissions, he said. It is a global issue impacting all industries, not just ours. Shipping companies can use the data they collect for their own purposes. This is a very efficient and effective way to collect that data, that at the end of the day, we will all need. It is not a spectator sport. we need everybody at the table bringing their best solutions. Ask yourself, what are you doing to be part of the solution. One challenge for parcel tankers, Mr Nunez said, is that the voyages do not have a definite start and end, with parcels being discharged at different times and places. Vessels are typically not fully empty before they start loading the next voyage. It is working on a methodology for calculating emissions from parcel tankers, with a certain amount of the emissions allocated to each cargo. We work in a dynamic industry with a lot of variation and a lot of complexity and global consensus on anything is difficult, he said. This is the first iteration of Sea Cargo Charter and its a great start. But we have a lot left to learn, we have a lot left to do. Commercial decision making A major benefit of Sea Cargo Charter is that it enables emissions to be taken into consideration as part of commercial decision making, rather than emissions data only being seen by operational staff. This is a huge step forward, Mr Dieleman said. It means that for reducing emissions overall, youre going to be in a much better place much faster. Dows Mr Nunez agreed that the decisions about vessel chartering have been made by cost and service quality until now. Going forward it is quickly becoming service, cost and sustainability. Cargill also uses the data in its consideration of which ship is best for which cargo. For example, a larger cargo volume may have lower emissions if it is moved on one large ship rather than two smaller ones. There's a lot of things which will spin off from this. Challenges When creating the Sea Cargo Charter, there was an effort to find the right balance between accuracy and pragmatism, Mr Dieleman said. Or in other words, getting completely accurate data would be an impractically large task. We tried to avoid being pulled into all kinds of rabbit holes. Mr Dieleman was concerned that the Sea Cargo Charter reports would end up being used to make a poorly informed league table. While discriminating between vessels on emissions may be one of the ultimate goals, it should only be done together with full understanding of the reasons that various vessels have the emissions that they do, or as he put it, knowing the nuances behind it. He would prefer that the purpose of Sea Cargo Charter is seen to be to create transparency and understand the drivers to reduce emissions and using that to go forward. Maersks Ms Bisgaard agreed, the worse place we could end up here is by naming and shaming, that won't get us anywhere. We're trying to bring down emissions. The important thing here is to be able to bring forth the relevant data that we need. There will be complexities if it becomes clear that charterers are paying more money for vessels as a result of being part of Sea Cargo Charter.  We're going to see much more strategic partnerships with suppliers and users, having discussions on the green premium, who's going to pay what, said Cargills Mr Dieleman. Another challenge is that there is still much uncertainty about what the future fuels will be, including about infrastructure and commercial viability. The predictability right now is super low, said Maersks Ms Bisgaard. Link with IMO There is a lack of clarity about IMOs requirements for certain vessels, because they do not obviously fit into the classification bands, said Cargills Mr Dieleman. If there's unclarity in IMO there's going to be unclarity in Sea Cargo Charter, because we link them up. Dows Mr Nunez said that Sea Cargo Charter could compliment IMOs initiatives, because IMOs efforts do not take the broader supply chain, which maritime cargo transport is part of, into account. If you are an end user you want to measure all your supply chain emissions. The maritime piece needs to fit in there. What the IMO has done so far is not ticking that box. The decision to align Sea Cargo Charter with the IMO targets was a complex one. A lot of participants thought the IMO target was maybe not ambitious enough, said Mr Dieleman. In the end we did settle for IMO to have the consistency. The IMO reporting schemes require much less granularity than the Sea Cargo Charter, which obliges reporting on a voyage basis, so providing emissions data that we as charterers can use to make better decisions, said Captain Gulati. Another factor is that IMO measures are focussed only on the asset and its emissions per ton mile. Sea Cargo Charter takes in a broader range of factors into account which may affect emissions, such as how the vessels are routed, how fast the loading is, how long the ballast legs are, so how much the vessels are optimised more broadly in the supply chain. The asset is an important piece but not the only one, Mr Dieleman said. The Sea Cargo Charter is trying to show emissions on a voyage by voyage basis, and why they occurred, was it the port stay, was it the speed you have, show the levers, said Cargills Mr Dieleman. Geographical Not all parts of the world have the same level of ambition in decarbonisation. Definitely the European region is far more progressed, said Anglo Americans Captain Gulati. The Asian countries are picking up the pace, they have started to come out with their own goals. Cargills Mr Dieleman added, I was pleasantly surprised, signatories are not all Western based, I was a little bit afraid of that. One of the first companies which signed up was a Chinese grain house.




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re: Toyota Qualis Tribute | The vehicle that redefined India's MUV segment EVERYTHING ABOUT THE QUALIS



Exterior :

Qualis, in all probability is one of the worst looking automobile ever sold in India. But like bread boxes are good at holding bread, the Qualis was good at carrying people and surely, the finish was better than other UVs sold in our country back then. Build quality was superbly executed with uniform panel gaps which put some mid-sized cars to shame. The shabby body panel just below the door lines was glaringly visible with all the ungainly weld spots. Anyways, we all had castigated the Qualis for its unappealing design at that time.



From all sides, the Qualis looked too boxy due to its tiny 14-inch wheels, van-like tailgate, and wraparound indicators. Even in the 2000s, it had an outdated MUV image to show.





On a vehicle like the Qualis, exposed weld spots and panel joints were not so good. For the truth to be told, most people got used to the design of Qualis over the years and, I even thought of buying one every time when a group of guests arrived with their scary assortment of baggage. Toyota had a better looking version around for the eastern markets which can compare well with the Tavera and Scorpio when it comes to exterior design. Let us not waste time here, the Qualis doesn't have anything exciting on the design side.



Design of the Qualis was purely functional, intended only to transport people from point A to point B.







Interior :

The same attention to detail was carried over to the interiors too, everything felt good to touch and were clearly laid-out, especially when compared to the other utility vehicles from that era. Qualis had ample headroom and adequate legroom too. Seats were designed very excellently for the fact to be said, grades of fabric were different in each variant. A major disappointment was the lack of legroom for the front seats, which meant tall passengers had to sit with their legs splayed. The company had ensured that the Qualis was produced like any other Toyota and that meant good fit, finish and overall build quality.



Inside, the layout and trim was well-presented and effectively executed. No rich-looking textures were present on the dashboard, but everything felt hard-wearing and reliable.





In the 10-seater layout, second and third rows of seats offered various configurations to manage the different needs of users. At the front, these models had a seperate seat for the driver and a flat 2-seater bench for side passengers. There existed two 2-seater benches at the rear placed along the side walls of the vehicle, both benches were foldable and detachable. The easy-folding rear seats enabled users to configure the seat arrangements for easy entry, exit and multipurpose usage.



Various seating arrangements possible inside the cabin of a Qualis shown in a 2001 brochure.





All seats were front-facing in the 8-seater layout models (GST and optional in GS). Independent seats were provided at the front for both driver and side passenger. The middle row seats were able to accommodate three passengers and the third row also had a 3-person bench. Like what I said about the 10-seater layout models, these 8-seater layout models also had foldable and detachable rear rows. When both rows are removed, the Qualis can even carry a motorcycle very comfortably inside its cabin. Boot lid opened upward and offered a great loading platform to make things easier.



An RD350 sitting comfortably inside a Qualis after removing second and third rows of seats. This particular car was a 2001 FS 10-seater.





The options of both single and dual air-conditioning were designed specifically for India's extreme weather conditions. Frankly speaking, the entire air-con unit of Qualis was top-class in those days. GST being the most expensive variant, had a roof-mounted blower unit at the middle row and wooden-finished centre console. The same GST variant was available without the twin blower air-con setup also, it was possible for customers to delete these standard equipments IIRC. Toyota sensed the need for child-proof locks and wind-down rear door windows, and began to offer those features from 2002 onwards. Pre-facelift model had sliding door windows at the second row.





Ride and Handling :

Qualis had a robust and proven ladder type frame with a twin wishbone and torsion bar set-up in front and leaf spring suspension at the rear. The front suspension worked well and the small 14-inch wheels made the Qualis very nimble. Brakes were terrific, had the right amount of feel and never unsettled the vehicle when applied hard. The suspension was on the softer side and hence the Qualis rode best at low speeds and on paved roads. The tiny 175 R14 tyres provided decent grip but a larger footprint, especially under a full load, would have been better. Ground clearance, despite those stunted 14-inch wheels was adequate, and this meant that the Qualis used to tackle bad roads with ease. Yes, city and inter city trips were equally comfortable to its passengers.



Look at the stingy 14-inch wheels, the Qualis always craved for bigger wheels. Picture from BS Motoring's April 2002 issue.





The rev-sensing power steering system made the work of turning this big vehicle around easier. With 3.5 turns lock to lock and a turning circle of just 9.8 metres, the Qualis is still a highly maneuverable tool in the bumper to bumper rush hour traffic. Steering system always took away all the feedback from the driver's hands, and led to a sense of overconfidence around fast corners most of the times. The tall gear lever with long throws, the two-spoke steering wheel, hand brake lever's position and other controls were actually easy to handle for the driver. Driving position was superb, and this is one of the very few vehicles that is suitable for a person who's not driven anything bigger than a Maruti 800 or a Tata Nano.



The light and nimble Qualis is almost like a car to drive. Suspension is on the softer side. Picture from BS Motoring's April 2002 issue.





Engine and Transmission :

Under the hood of Qualis lied a 2.4-litre four-cylinder 8V variant of Toyota's 2L engine. The same unit was seen in myriad Toyota saloons, pick-up trucks and vans worldwide. This diesel engine sported an all-square bore and stroke configuration - 92x92mm. Using distribution type fuel injection and operating on a 22.1:1 compression ratio, the engine delivered an adequate 74bhp at 4200rpm and 151Nm of torque at 2400rpm. Mated with the unit was a G-58 five-speed manual transmission. Even in the diesel-engined guise, the Qualis was supremely refined.



Qualis's 2.4-litre 2L unit was smoother and more refined than that of the Tata Safari's 1.9-litre 90bhp unit. Picture from Autocar India's August 2002 issue.





These diesel-powered vehicles were capable to clock the zero to 60kmph sprint in 8.7 seconds while zero to 100kmph came up in an agonising 26.3 seconds. In the early-2000s, the holder of the 'fastest MUV' label in India was the Tata Sumo Turbo which did a top speed of 136kmph while the Qualis GS diesel had maxed out at 132kmph. The unit felt eager and willing with an ample torque spread in the real world. Engines responsive nature and super-slick gearshift helped in making the Qualis like a car. Where the Qualis lost out was in top-end performance. Beyond 100kph, progress was slow and the engine liked not to be revved harder. So was this a totally capable car or a simple people-mover, like it was designed to be in the eighties? Toyota always wanted Indians to believe that the Qualis was targeted against mid-sized sedans.



Performance figures from the Scorpio SZ2600 vs Safari vs Qualis vs Sumo Turbo vs Bolero XD3P comparison test conducted by Autocar India in 2002.





A petrol-powered version of the Qualis was released later in January 2002 with Toyota's 1 RZ-E four-cylinder, single overhead cam engine. The unit was capable to belt out 92bhp at 4800rpm, while also capable of churning up the rear wheels with a reasonably torquey 150Nm at a surprisingly calm 2800rpm. The move to a petrol engine was pretty much expected, thanks to the imminent dismantling of the administered price mechanism for petrol and diesel which the government had assured to manifest itself from mid-2002. While Mahindra had plans for an Isuzu-engined Armada and MM550 earlier, nothing much materialised.



An unfamiliar petrol engine under the familiar hood. Though the motor was torquier than that of City and Lancer, the same was not reflected in the acceleration figures. Picture from BS Motoring's December 2001 issue.





Initial acceleration tests between 0-60kmph and 0-100kmph pulled out 6.6 seconds and 18.8 seconds respectively, and though not anywhere close to petrol sedan figures, that was ample performance from a big boxy vehicle like the Qualis. A top speed of 142kmph was the most respectable figure for a vehicle of its class in those days. The same gearbox from diesel was retained, including the internal ratios but the final drive was changed to a 4.555:1 ratio in place of the 4.100:1 on the diesel engined versions.



Acceleration test conducted for the Qualis GST petrol recorded a 0-100kmph figure in 18.86 seconds. Data from Overdrive India December 2001.

Qualis, in all probability is one of the worst looking automobile ever sold in India. But like bread boxes are good at holding bread, the Qualis was good at carrying people and surely, the finish was better than other UVs sold in our country back then. Build quality was superbly executed with uniform panel gaps which put some mid-sized cars to shame. The shabby body panel just below the door lines was glaringly visible with all the ungainly weld spots. Anyways, we all had castigated the Qualis for its unappealing design at that time.On a vehicle like the Qualis, exposed weld spots and panel joints were not so good. For the truth to be told, most people got used to the design of Qualis over the years and, I even thought of buying one every time when a group of guests arrived with their scary assortment of baggage. Toyota had a better looking version around for the eastern markets which can compare well with the Tavera and Scorpio when it comes to exterior design. Let us not waste time here, the Qualis doesn't have anything exciting on the design side.The same attention to detail was carried over to the interiors too, everything felt good to touch and were clearly laid-out, especially when compared to the other utility vehicles from that era. Qualis had ample headroom and adequate legroom too. Seats were designed very excellently for the fact to be said, grades of fabric were different in each variant. A major disappointment was the lack of legroom for the front seats, which meant tall passengers had to sit with their legs splayed. The company had ensured that the Qualis was produced like any other Toyota and that meant good fit, finish and overall build quality.In the 10-seater layout, second and third rows of seats offered various configurations to manage the different needs of users. At the front, these models had a seperate seat for the driver and a flat 2-seater bench for side passengers. There existed two 2-seater benches at the rear placed along the side walls of the vehicle, both benches were foldable and detachable. The easy-folding rear seats enabled users to configure the seat arrangements for easy entry, exit and multipurpose usage.All seats were front-facing in the 8-seater layout models (GST and optional in GS). Independent seats were provided at the front for both driver and side passenger. The middle row seats were able to accommodate three passengers and the third row also had a 3-person bench. Like what I said about the 10-seater layout models, these 8-seater layout models also had foldable and detachable rear rows. When both rows are removed, the Qualis can even carry a motorcycle very comfortably inside its cabin. Boot lid opened upward and offered a great loading platform to make things easier.The options of both single and dual air-conditioning were designed specifically for India's extreme weather conditions. Frankly speaking, the entire air-con unit of Qualis was top-class in those days. GST being the most expensive variant, had a roof-mounted blower unit at the middle row and wooden-finished centre console. The same GST variant was available without the twin blower air-con setup also, it was possible for customers to delete these standard equipments IIRC. Toyota sensed the need for child-proof locks and wind-down rear door windows, and began to offer those features from 2002 onwards. Pre-facelift model had sliding door windows at the second row.Qualis had a robust and proven ladder type frame with a twin wishbone and torsion bar set-up in front and leaf spring suspension at the rear. The front suspension worked well and the small 14-inch wheels made the Qualis very nimble. Brakes were terrific, had the right amount of feel and never unsettled the vehicle when applied hard. The suspension was on the softer side and hence the Qualis rode best at low speeds and on paved roads. The tiny 175 R14 tyres provided decent grip but a larger footprint, especially under a full load, would have been better. Ground clearance, despite those stunted 14-inch wheels was adequate, and this meant that the Qualis used to tackle bad roads with ease. Yes, city and inter city trips were equally comfortable to its passengers.The rev-sensing power steering system made the work of turning this big vehicle around easier. With 3.5 turns lock to lock and a turning circle of just 9.8 metres, the Qualis is still a highly maneuverable tool in the bumper to bumper rush hour traffic. Steering system always took away all the feedback from the driver's hands, and led to a sense of overconfidence around fast corners most of the times. The tall gear lever with long throws, the two-spoke steering wheel, hand brake lever's position and other controls were actually easy to handle for the driver. Driving position was superb, and this is one of the very few vehicles that is suitable for a person who's not driven anything bigger than a Maruti 800 or a Tata Nano.Under the hood of Qualis lied a 2.4-litre four-cylinder 8V variant of Toyota's 2L engine. The same unit was seen in myriad Toyota saloons, pick-up trucks and vans worldwide. This diesel engine sported an all-square bore and stroke configuration - 92x92mm. Using distribution type fuel injection and operating on a 22.1:1 compression ratio, the engine delivered an adequate 74bhp at 4200rpm and 151Nm of torque at 2400rpm. Mated with the unit was a G-58 five-speed manual transmission. Even in the diesel-engined guise, the Qualis was supremely refined.These diesel-powered vehicles were capable to clock the zero to 60kmph sprint in 8.7 seconds while zero to 100kmph came up in an agonising 26.3 seconds. In the early-2000s, the holder of the 'fastest MUV' label in India was the Tata Sumo Turbo which did a top speed of 136kmph while the Qualis GS diesel had maxed out at 132kmph. The unit felt eager and willing with an ample torque spread in the real world. Engines responsive nature and super-slick gearshift helped in making the Qualis like a car. Where the Qualis lost out was in top-end performance. Beyond 100kph, progress was slow and the engine liked not to be revved harder. So was this a totally capable car or a simple people-mover, like it was designed to be in the eighties? Toyota always wanted Indians to believe that the Qualis was targeted against mid-sized sedans.A petrol-powered version of the Qualis was released later in January 2002 with Toyota's 1 RZ-E four-cylinder, single overhead cam engine. The unit was capable to belt out 92bhp at 4800rpm, while also capable of churning up the rear wheels with a reasonably torquey 150Nm at a surprisingly calm 2800rpm. The move to a petrol engine was pretty much expected, thanks to the imminent dismantling of the administered price mechanism for petrol and diesel which the government had assured to manifest itself from mid-2002. While Mahindra had plans for an Isuzu-engined Armada and MM550 earlier, nothing much materialised.Initial acceleration tests between 0-60kmph and 0-100kmph pulled out 6.6 seconds and 18.8 seconds respectively, and though not anywhere close to petrol sedan figures, that was ample performance from a big boxy vehicle like the Qualis. A top speed of 142kmph was the most respectable figure for a vehicle of its class in those days. The same gearbox from diesel was retained, including the internal ratios but the final drive was changed to a 4.555:1 ratio in place of the 4.100:1 on the diesel engined versions. Last edited by Shreyfiesta : 9th November 2021 at 11:06 .
Travelmania BHPian

Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Kolkata Posts: 79 Thanked: 412 Times

Driving via the Seventh Wonder to the land of Peace in a Toyota Innova Crysta

Vehicle: Innova Crysta

Passengers: Me with my wife, Brother with wife and Daughter.

Distance covered: 3802 km

The total number of days: 8(eight) door to door.

Day 1: Left Kolkata 8th Oct at evening to drive overnight and reach Varanasi in the morning. 697kms

Day 2: Varanasi to Lucknow 327kms

Day 3: Lucknow to Agra 337kms via ALE

Day 4: Agra

Day 5: Agra to Rishikesh 426 km via YEW, Eastern peripheral and Meerut Expressway, Delhi-Haridwar road.

Day 6: Rishikesh

Day 7: Rishikesh to Lucknow 758kms via YEW, ALE

Day 8: Lucknow to Kolkata(Garia) 1027kms



Day 1: Kolkata to Varanasi

We left home around 5.30 pm to reach our dinner stop on Durgapur Expressway by 8.30 pm. But to my bad luck first got stuck at Kolkata Jam due to heavy traffic for Durgapuja, so we pathetically crossed the mess to hit another traffic jam at Dankuni. Somehow reached the dinner point at Mirchi Highway Dhaba. A decent vegetarian eatery with good service and a clean ambience. After dinner, we left for Varanasi at 9.30 pm.



Sailed overnight to we reach our Hotel at Varanasi Cantonment by 7.30 am. Throughout the road, the condition was good to better. Especially I should say the highway in Jharkhand was amazingly smooth. There is some diversion in a few stretches between Barhi and Aurangabad, but that will not obstruct the driving pleasure. My logic of night drive compared to day drive is to get more rest between movements and visit any highlights of the place in the evening if possible. Otherwise, the cost of the Hotel is identical in both cases. We checked in at Hotel Meadows, a small boutique hotel at Varanasi cantonment and safe parking on a private road in front of the hotel. The highlighted part was they provided early check-in at no extra cost. They also served breakfast promptly after order. I was a bit tired of the overnight drive, so I escaped for a tight nap of 2 hours.

Few snaps of the Hotel and Parking as well.





Our Crysta was parked safely just in front of the hotel



We have already planned to taste the delicious preparation at Deena Chat Bhander. However, Kashi Chat Bhander is also a renowned chat stop beside. They served lots of variety to fulfil our appetite. The following snaps will give a better description.















Our next program was to visit Sankat Mochan Temple and Ganga Aarti from Boat.

On our last visit, we missed the Sankat Mochan Mandir due to weekly closure, so we were lucky to get the opportunity to offer our prayers to Lord Hanuman.



Felt the divine feelings after the whole performance of Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat. The Aarti is best viewed from a boat to get a front look of the Purohits. After the Aarti, we took the boat to the middle of the river to float Diyas in Ganges. We never miss this activity of offering prayers to Maa Ganga whenever we visit Varanasi.



Sunset on Ganges







Mata Ganga Aarti



Our Full Team







Varanasi Ghats from night Ganges



Day 2: Varanasi to Lucknow

Left early by 8.30 am towards Lucknow. We got a clean dhaba for breakfast just after the toll plaza on Lucknow road. The Alu Paratha was delicious and served hot.





The Kitchen was very clean and tidy.

We reached Lucknow in time without any hassle or delay. We booked Hotel Legend Inn at Gomti Nagar near Sahara Hospital, more specifically beside Sanjivani Hospital. Very neat and professional Hotel with good rooms and better service.Enough Car Parking place at the open space in front of the hotel.



Though we visited Lucknow a couple of times, still we decided to visit Bara Imambara, particularly the Bhulbhulaiya, in the evening.







Sunset from Imambara



Rumi Darwaza

After finishing some shopping to please the female team members, we landed on Dastar Khwan for the speciality dish.

I hope everybody doesn't miss the opportunity to have some Biriyani and kebabs at the eatery whenever passing the city of Nawabs. Some commons snap of our activity though same with others.









As the Durgapuja bell rings, we begin tingling our palms to venture out somewhere to enjoy the festive occasion. This year I got a decent leave of nine(9) days at a stretch. Thinking about our journey structure, I began arranging the vacation with my team to finish a fascinating trip by seeing the features of the last visited places and adding new locations. I planned the itinerary in an accompanying way for recreation, drilling free drive, and co-travellers solace. As a road traveller, I generally attempt to plan my schedule to live it up with my family.Vehicle: Innova CrystaPassengers: Me with my wife, Brother with wife and Daughter.Distance covered: 3802 kmThe total number of days: 8(eight) door to door.Day 1: Left Kolkata 8th Oct at evening to drive overnight and reach Varanasi in the morning. 697kmsDay 2: Varanasi to Lucknow 327kmsDay 3: Lucknow to Agra 337kms via ALEDay 4: AgraDay 5: Agra to Rishikesh 426 km via YEW, Eastern peripheral and Meerut Expressway, Delhi-Haridwar road.Day 6: RishikeshDay 7: Rishikesh to Lucknow 758kms via YEW, ALEDay 8: Lucknow to Kolkata(Garia) 1027kmsWe left home around 5.30 pm to reach our dinner stop on Durgapur Expressway by 8.30 pm. But to my bad luck first got stuck at Kolkata Jam due to heavy traffic for Durgapuja, so we pathetically crossed the mess to hit another traffic jam at Dankuni. Somehow reached the dinner point at Mirchi Highway Dhaba. A decent vegetarian eatery with good service and a clean ambience. After dinner, we left for Varanasi at 9.30 pm.Sailed overnight to we reach our Hotel at Varanasi Cantonment by 7.30 am. Throughout the road, the condition was good to better. Especially I should say the highway in Jharkhand was amazingly smooth. There is some diversion in a few stretches between Barhi and Aurangabad, but that will not obstruct the driving pleasure. My logic of night drive compared to day drive is to get more rest between movements and visit any highlights of the place in the evening if possible. Otherwise, the cost of the Hotel is identical in both cases. We checked in at Hotel Meadows, a small boutique hotel at Varanasi cantonment and safe parking on a private road in front of the hotel. The highlighted part was they provided early check-in at no extra cost. They also served breakfast promptly after order. I was a bit tired of the overnight drive, so I escaped for a tight nap of 2 hours.Few snaps of the Hotel and Parking as well.We have already planned to taste the delicious preparation atHowever, Kashi Chat Bhander is also a renowned chat stop beside. They served lots of variety to fulfil our appetite. The following snaps will give a better description.Our next program was to visitfrom Boat.On our last visit, we missed the Sankat Mochan Mandir due to weekly closure, so we were lucky to get the opportunity to offer our prayers to Lord Hanuman.Felt the divine feelings after the whole performance of Aarti at Dasaswamedh Ghat. The Aarti is best viewed from a boat to get a front look of the Purohits. After the Aarti, we took the boat to the middle of the river to floatin Ganges. We never miss this activity of offering prayers to Maa Ganga whenever we visit Varanasi.Sunset on GangesMata Ganga AartiVaranasi Ghats from night GangesLeft early by 8.30 am towards Lucknow. We got a clean dhaba for breakfast just after the toll plaza on Lucknow road. The Alu Paratha was delicious and served hot.The Kitchen was very clean and tidy.We reached Lucknow in time without any hassle or delay. We booked Hotel Legend Inn at Gomti Nagar near Sahara Hospital, more specifically beside Sanjivani Hospital. Very neat and professional Hotel with good rooms and better service.Enough Car Parking place at the open space in front of the hotel.Though we visited Lucknow a couple of times, still we decided to visit Bara Imambara, particularly the Bhulbhulaiya, in the evening.After finishing some shopping to please the female team members, we landed on Dastar Khwan for the speciality dish.I hope everybody doesn't miss the opportunity to have some Biriyani and kebabs at the eatery whenever passing the city of Nawabs. Some commons snap of our activity though same with others. Last edited by Travelmania : 10th November 2021 at 23:04 . Reason: Kolkata to Rishikesh via Agra on Innova Crysta
In context: Driver assistance technologies have been around for many years, but they've become far more sophisticated over the past decade or so. Some modern vehicles, such as Teslas, are capable of near-total automation (well, sort of). Many others boast helpful auto-braking, lane-keeping, and exit-taking features, all of which can significantly reduce driving risk when implemented and used correctly.

However, US lawmakers don't feel that sort of functionality is doing enough for the safety of drivers.

As part of President Biden's new infrastructure bill, officials tossed in a provision requiring automakers to include anti-drunk driver tech in their cars. This technology would need to be implemented "as early as 2026," Autoblog reports. Provided the NHTSA can come to a consensus on what the tech should look like, that is.

The bill is light on details, which is to be expected -- that's for the NHTSA and the auto industry as a whole to figure out. However, it does require the technology to be capable of passively monitoring any given driver and identifying whether or not they're too impaired to be behind the wheel. Regardless of what form the final tech takes, there could be privacy implications for drivers.

What if vehicles use facial recognition to determine whether or not you're drunk? What if they monitor your driving habits to establish a baseline, and then constantly scan for deviations?

Both methods -- and plenty of others -- could work, but they'd undoubtedly ruffle a few feathers. On the other hand, putting an end to drunk driving is certainly a worthwhile pursuit, and some may argue that the ends justify the means.

In 2019, roughly 10,142 deaths were caused by drunk driving-related incidents, averaging out to around 28 fatalities per day, according to the NHTSA.

However you feel about the idea, both its detractors and proponents will have plenty of time to make their opinions on the matter known. Biden's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has passed Congress, but it will still likely be years before the NHTSA comes up with a solution for anti-drunk driving features in cars, much less begins enforcing it on automakers.

Masthead credit: why kei
Why it matters: Workers at Activision Blizzard this week announced some wins from the ongoing controversy surrounding the company and its treatment of employees. It comes after the CEO of Activision took a massive pay cut and promised changes late last month.

On Wednesday, Blizzard Senior Test Analyst Jessica Gonzalez, a member of the Activision Blizzard King Workers Alliance (ABK), tweeted a list of changes temporary contract workers at Activision Blizzard would begin receiving. Gonzalez calls it a huge victory but admits ABK's work isn't finished.

The company increased the minimum salary for contractors to $17 per hour. They'll get paid time off during Thanksgiving and winter break. Starting in 2022, they'll get 13 paid holidays per year, with the number of sick days increased to nine to match that given to Blizzard employees. There will also be new career growth and learning programs.

Last week ABK's official Twitter account reported that Blizzard was forcing contractors to take unpaid leave during the holidays, making this week's announcement a significant turnaround. ABK also put out a general call on Twitter for people to share their work experiences, and many contractors have since replied. Last week Gonzalez mentioned having to sleep under her desk and rely on welfare for medical insurance.

Today ABK workers are celebrating a huge victory for our contract workers. This is a result of collective action and there is more work to do!  pic.twitter.com/PNJCTX0DbX  Jessica Gonzalez  For the Alliance! (@BlizzJess) November 9, 2021

ABK comprises employees from Activision, Blizzard, and King (King isn't mentioned as much as Activision and Blizzard but is part of the same family) and started after the employee walkout that happened over the summer. The protest was a reaction to Activision Blizzard's initial response to a sexual harassment and employment discrimination lawsuit from the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

The lawsuit accused the company of allowing a "frat house" culture where female employees were subject to sexual harassment and pay discrimination. Later, Activision Blizzard was accused of intimidating employees and holding up the investigation process. It also faced an investigation from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which it settled for $18 million, as well as an investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Around 20 employees have left the company, including a former president, chief legal officer, and multiple game designers.

At the end of October, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick cut his own annual pay all the way down to $62,500 and published an open letter listing commitments he was making to change the company. They include a zero-tolerance harassment policy and hiring more women and gender-nonbinary people at Activision Blizzard.

Image credit: Raimond Spekking
Why it matters: The Microsoft Store has seen a major overhaul with the release of Windows 11, and is now more open than ever for developers who can publish apps regardless of the framework theyve used to build them. Soon it will also give Windows users full control over where games are installed via an update to the Xbox app.

When Microsoft first announced Windows 11, one of the key talking points was the improved Microsoft Store. After going through several incarnations that were not nearly as successful as the company had wanted, the latest iteration comes with a redesigned interface thats supposed to provide more reasons to use it. Additionally, Microsoft now welcomes just about any kind of app in the Microsoft Store, from progressive web apps to games and even Android apps.

Speaking of games, Microsoft has been trying to make the Microsoft Store a true alternative to platforms like Steam. Its efforts have invited a lot of criticism from people like Epic Games co-founder Tim Sweeney, who at one point claimed the Redmond company was ready to cripple competing game stores using Windows updates in order to make its own offering more attractive.

However, Microsoft has had limited success in convincing people to buy games from the Microsoft Store, mostly because the experience of installing and updating those versions hasnt been the best when compare to other game stores. The company has been working on improving that, and will soon introduce some quality-of-life changes that might nudge some gamers to give the Microsoft Store another try.

The company today confirmed reports that it will soon allow Windows users to install games from the Microsoft Store or Xbox Game Pass for PC into a folder of their choosing. This will make it easy to back up game installations, as well as install/move games to a different drive. But more importantly, it will open up the possibility for people to easily mod the Microsoft Store version of those games.

The changes will come as part of an Xbox app update thats being tested internally at Microsoft. The company didnt offer a timeline for their release, but Xbox partner director of experiences Jason Beaumont told The Verge that with great PC games like Back 4 Blood, Age of Empires IV, Forza Horizon 5, and Halo Infinite on day one with Game Pass, we wanted to provide players with more options to customize their experience in the Xbox app.
In brief: MoviePass, the ill-fated movie ticket subscription service that went bust after launching a membership program that proved unsustainable, is planning a comeback. With the right strategy and business model, could MoviePass succeed the second time around?

The startup was founded in 2011 but didnt make waves until mid-2017 when it slashed its monthly subscription rate to $9.95 per month. The plan allowed members to watch one movie per day at any theater in the US that accepted debit cards, which was pretty much all of them. 3D and IMAX screenings were excluded, but other than that, it was fair game, with no blackout dates to speak of.

It was an exceptionally good deal  too good, in fact. The companys business model simply wasnt sustainable and despite efforts to restructure and stay afloat, MoviePass and its parent company ultimately filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Now nearly two years later, the outfit is staging a comeback.

Insider reports that co-founder Stacy Spikes was recently granted ownership of the company by a Southern District of New York bankruptcy court judge. Spikes told the publication he was thrilled to have the asset back and is exploring the possibility of relaunching soon. Notably, previous customer data and email addresses were not part of the sale.

Financial terms of the acquisition out of bankruptcy were not shared, although the new owner said his bid was lower than the $250,000 minimum set by a trustee overseeing the bankruptcy.

Spikes has set up a new website for MoviePass where interested parties can register their email address to be notified when the service launches, perhaps as early as next year.

Image credit Erik Witsoe, Pixabay
In brief: Another day, another delay. Just one day removed of Valve delaying its Steam Deck handheld into 2022, Panic has done the same with the Playdate. This time, however, it wasn't a component shortage but rather, a faulty set of batteries that resulted in the delay.

Panic, the company that published adventure game Firewatch in late 2016, announced the Playdate in mid-2019. The quirky handheld eschews high-powered hardware and flashy graphics in favor of a minimalistic design with a unique crank mechanism and a season-based distribution method for games.

The initial batch of 20,000 Playdates went up for pre-order this past summer and were snapped up in under 20 minutes ahead of a planned late 2021 launch. Unfortunately, that vague launch window is no longer valid.

Hi! If you've pre-ordered a Playdate, check your email for a copy of the "Playdate Owner's Update #1".



There's bad news (a battery tragedy means Late 2021 units are now Early 2022, see email for your timing) but also good news (Pulp+SDK release dates!!)



Thanks for reading it. pic.twitter.com/03BUolZetY  Playdate (@playdate) November 11, 2021

Panic said that as the first 5,000 units arrived at their warehouse in California, they quickly realized that some werent exhibiting the battery life they expected. In fact, the packs in some systems were so drained that they wouldnt power on at all, and couldnt be charged.

This led to a months-long investigation, which ultimately resulted in Panic making the decision to replace all of the existing batteries with packs from a different supplier. This meant they had to ship all 5,000 finished Playdates back to Malaysia for new batteries.

The good news, the company said, is that they have already received the new batteries from the new supplier and they look great.

In related news, Panic said it has run into supply issues (just like everyone else) and that the Playdates current CPU is backordered by two years. Its simply not feasible to wait that long, so the team revised the Playdates main board (for units made later next year) to utilize a similar, but more widely available, CPU.

The company said end users wont notice anything different when it comes to playing games, adding that it gives them the best chance of being able to ship more handhelds in 2022.
(Photo : Unsplash/ Christian Wiediger) Nest Hub

Google's second generation Nest Hub is the company's smart display. It is not equipped with a camera, but it does have a radar sensor that can monitor and analyze your sleep when you place the device at your bedside. Users had stated that it is accurate and it is a great option if you wish to track your sleep.

Today, Google announced that it would be adding updates to the Nest Hub as it aims to improve its sleep-sensing capabilities.

Sleep Staging

Among the new features is one called Sleep Staging which Google describes as an analysis of your stages of sleep, according to CNET.

The stages are light, REM, deep, and awake. It is presented in a hypnogram chart form. Hypnograms are a popular way for sleep scientists to visualize your sleep data.

The Sleep Duration and the Sleep Quality screens will also let you know how long you were in each stage of sleep, and what percentage of your night's rest fell under each stage.

Also Read: Google Nest Hub and Mini's New Guest Mode: Here's How to Activate it

Updated Sound Detection

Google's Nest Hubs will now have a new cough and snore timeline, charting those sounds that come only from your calibrated sleeping area, according to The Verge.

That means that coughs and snores of partners will now be categorized in the "other sounds" timeline. And that timeline will also document loud noises around you that may have disturbed your sleep, like alarms or barking dogs.

Integration with the Calm App

Popular sleep and meditation app Calm will be available through Google Assistant on the Nest Hub starting in December. You will be able to ask Google to show you your meditations from Calm or to start a new meditation.

Calm Premium members will have access to Calm's full library, while non-Premium users will have a smaller selection of tracks.

Sleep Sensing

Google noted that you can enjoy Sleep Sensing on Nest Hubs through 2022. In 2023, the company plans to integrate Sleep Sensing into Fitbit Premium, currently $10 per month or $80 per year for a health and wellness subscription, according to TechHive.

The new sleep features should appear on Nest Hubs in the United States today, and they go live globally over the next few weeks.. It is a massive feature that headlines the new Nest Hub. It uses Google's miniature radar technology called Soli to detect submillimeter movements of the person sleeping closest to the display.

During setup, a visual guide shows you where to place and aim the display and asks you to get into your normal sleep position for a few seconds of calibration.

After that, you're good to go. A small icon appears on the top right corner of the display when it senses someone in bed, and a larger banner notification pops up when the display starts tracking sleep.

The Google Nest Hub also has a Respiratory Wellness feature that records how often the display heard coughing or snoring during the night, as well as your respiratory rate during sleep. Those are the things that most smartwatches can't do.

While Google partnered with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine to build a catalog of tips and recommendations, the Nest Hub doesn't claim to diagnose or pinpoint any specific health conditions, and it isn't certified in any way as a health or medical device.

Related Article: Google Fuchsia OS Will Finally be Running on the First-Gen Nest Hub - Will it Replace Android?

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
SpaceX's Crew-2 mission returned to Earth from the International Space Station or the ISS wearing diapers during the 8-hour long flight.

SpaceX Crew-2 Mission Returns

As per the report by Space.com, the astronauts have splashed down back to Earth after their 200-day long mission in the ISS, including NASA's Megan McArthur, Shane Kimbrough, along with European Space Agency's Thomas Pesquet, as well as Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Akihiko Hoshide.

The said astronauts spent six months in the space station to study and experiment on numerous science stuff in space.

One of the interesting ones that caught the attention of some is when the crew members of the mission harvested the chili peppers that they had grown in space.

The astronauts went on to use the peppers to create the first tacos from space.

Aside from that, the SpaceX Crew-2 mission also flew around the ISS in a 360-degree flight, which allowed them to take photos of the floating station.

Read Also: SpaceX Starship Can Do 1,000x More Payload Compared to Rockets Now; Q3 Performance at 41,000

SpaceX Crew-2 Mission Returns to Earth Wearing Diapers

Now that their mission in the space station has finally come to an end, little did they know that they will be flying back to the Earth donning diapers.

The astronauts from the Crew-2 mission were forced to use diapers instead of going to the toilet in the SpaceX capsule as it was out of order, according to the news story by The Register.

The toilet of the SpaceX is still unusable after a leak during the Inspiration4 mission occurred, which makes the urine storage tank of the capsule useless.

That said, to prevent another leaking incident similar to what happened to the first all-civilian crew mission, the ISS astronauts had to endure 8 hours wearing diapers instead.

However, one of the crew members of the Crew-2 mission, Megan McArthur, said in a media briefing before their return to Earth that "space flight is full of lots of little challenges."

The NASA astronaut further noted that they are "prepared to manage" wearing diapers.

SpaceX Toilet

Previously, last Sept. 21, the CEO and founder of SpaceX, billionaire Elon Musk, vowed to fix the toilet of the space capsule after the incident in the Inspiration4 mission.

On top of that, the SpaceX boss further assured that the next space flights will enjoy WiFi and a microwave.

However, all of these promises from Musk himself have yet to be seen in the SpaceX capsule.

Nevertheless, SpaceX engineers are already working on the toilet issue of the Crew Dragon capsule, which is supposed to be in time for the launch of the Crew-3 launch. But it turns out that the issue with the water closet still needs more work.

Related Article: SpaceX Crew-2 Mission's Earth Return Likely to Come with Sonic Boom Sound, Mississippi Residents Warnedt

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) announced that a massive breach affected a total of 25,000 employees. The railway agency added that subway, streetcar, bus, and paratransit systems might have been affected.

"Based on the investigation so far, it now appears that personal information of some TTC employees, former employees, and pensioners may have been stolen," said the transit agency in its official blog post.

TTC added that the massive cyberattack was identified to be active back on Oct. 29. As of the moment, the transportation department is still investigating the malicious campaign.

The Toronto Transit Commission added that they were able to restore some public-facing systems as the investigation continues.

Toronto Transit Commission Data Breach

According to TechCrunch's latest report, the latest system breach was able to leak employees' names, Social Insurance Numbers, and addresses.

Also Read: Three REvil Hackers Arrested in Europe Following Police Operation

But, the cyberattack seems to be less serious compared to the recent ones since TTC said that there is now evidence that the hackers misused the leaked data.

Although this is the case, the Toronto Transit Commission said that affected staff would receive identity theft protection, as well as credit monitoring. These safety measures would protect them in case the online attackers target their bank accounts.

Since many breaches are now entering national threat levels, many countries are now taking security countermeasures more seriously. Recently, we reported that the U.S. government is offering around $10 million bounties to those who can provide any information about DarkSide.

In other news, another data breach affected Robinhood's database.

TTC Offers Support for Targeted Employees

TTC explained that those employees, who think their sensitive details were leaked, can contact them at 416-362-7547 through Employee Service Centre.

The transportation department of Toronto added that their line is open between 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. EST. This is from Monday to Friday.

But, if you are not able to reach any representative, you can leave a message and TTC will contact you back regarding your security concern.

For more news updates about TTC transit breaches and other security threats, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Facebook, now Meta, to Block Advertisers from Targeting Users via Sensitive Categories-Here's How

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has released his opinion regarding people that spreads COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and goes as far as saying that they are criminals in what they do. Every misinformation spreading in social media, the internet, and through word of mouth costs lives, and they are harmful to the public up to this moment.

Pfizer CEO Slams COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation Spreaders as 'Criminals'

The Pfizer CEO has stood before the Atlantic Council, and in his time here, he was asked regarding his opinion on COVID-19 vaccine misinformation spreaders. Bourla has expressed his strong feelings against these people that resort to misinformation, calling them "criminals" as they contribute to doing harm in the society.

And while this is indirect harm, it can still lead to massive consequences that would endanger their health, their family, and the people around them due to wrong information. The conception of COVID-19 in the US remains mixed for the public, as some believe in doctors and health professionals, while others focus on what they see online.

Read Also: Apple iOS 15 Digital Legacy: Beta 2 Allows Family to Access Device Data, Apple ID If User is Dead

COVID-19 Vaccine Misinformation Still Rampant in the US

According to IFL Science, Bourla also went as far as to say that health professionals that contribute to the said misinformations are criminals as well, and their opinions cost lives of innocent people. Sometimes, when public leaders are the cause of misinformation, it could do more harm and affect a lot as it came from a trusted official.

The health professionals that contribute to this are not "bad people" per se, says the CEO, but has crimes against health and wellness.

COVID-19 Misinformation Affects Trust

The health crisis of today has been plagued with several fake news, conspiracy theories, and misinformation from different people, all acting on rumors and self-beliefs that have proven to be untested. It has been decreed by the Health Misinformation Act that social media platforms that tolerate the spread of misinformation would be fined.

That is how much the government is already fighting against those that spread misinformation in outlets now, especially as the digital world has made it possible that it can do it instantaneously. Throughout the pandemic, a lot of experts have seen misinformation as a threat to the promotion of proper safety protocols, as well as vaccine trust in the country.

These ideals back up the opinion of the Pfizer CEO that has strong words against those that are still keeping themselves in the dark regarding the truth of vaccines and how much it helps society. Now, the world is slowly recovering from the pandemic, as immunity is getting a higher rate, as the vaccination efforts continue to spread.

Related Article: COVID-19 Misinformation Also Lurks in Medical Social Network: Doctors Claim Even Fellow Physicians Spread Fake News

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, said in a tech forum that he actually warned Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey about a possibility of a coup amid the political unrest in the United States a day before the Capitol riot took place.

The Duke of Sussex said that he sent his warning via email and has not heard from Dorsey ever since. The Twitter CEO has not publicly commented about the issue.

The US Capitol riot took place on January 6, 2021. Supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, which is located in Washington D.C., in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential elections. Current President Joe Biden defeated Trump in the said elections.

More than 600 people have since been charged in relation to the storming of the Capitol.

Prince Harry Says He Warned Jack Dorsey About Riot

Prince Harry made an appearance at the RE:WIRED tech forum as a guest speaker and revealed that he actually warned Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey about the possibility of a coup happening a day before the Capitol riot took place.

According to a report by the BBC, the Duke of Sussex said, "I warned him his platform was allowing a coup to be staged."

The Duke of Sussex said that he sent his warning via an email to Dorsey and has not heard from the Twitter CEO since.

The BBC report adds that Dorsey has not publicly commented on the issue.

Related Article: Donald Trump Files Lawsuit Against Twitter to Get His Account Back

The US Capitol Riot

The US Capitol riot took place on January 6 after supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in Washington D.C. in an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential elections, which current President Joe Biden won.

As a result of the riot, the Capitol was locked down and lawmakers and their staff were evacuated to safety. Rioters occupied the Capitol for several hours and even assaulted law enforcement officers and vandalized property.

The Capitol riot resulted in a handful of deaths and multiple injuries. More than 100 law enforcement officers were injured during the riot.

According to a report by USA Today, more than 600 people have been charged in relation to the Capitol riot.

Judge Rules Against Trump

In one of the latest developments to take place regarding the storming of the US Capitol, a separate BBC report has said that a judge "has ruled a congressional committee investigating the Capitol riot can access some of ex-President Donald Trump's White House records."

The congressional committee investigation is looking into whether or not the former president knew beforehand that the riot was going to take place.

According to the report, the former president attempted to invoke his executive privilege. A ruling in his favor would have meant that the documents could be kept private.

Read Also: Parler Capitol Riot Threat Reports Sent to FBI Ahead of Jan. 6, Claims Amazon Ban as 'Unlawful'

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Image from Jp Valery Unsplash) Police Warns that Tesla Owners Could be Targeted by Professional Thieves

The official Norway police have warned sure Tesla owners that professional thieves could target them. The warning was given just shortly after a number of Tesla vehicles suddenly disappeared. The police, as of the moment, still do not know how these professional thieves were able to unlock and start the cars.

Tesla Model S Cars Stolen

According to the story by Engadget, just recently, there were two Tesla Model S cars that were stolen in the towns Jesshlm and Frogner, which were near Oslo in Norway. These cars were reportedly stolen even though the keys were still in possession of the car owners.

The police have officially issued a warning to local Tesla owners within the region. As of the moment, the department still does not know how the cars were stolen. The police now believe the theft to be the work of professional thieves.

Police Warns Tesla Owners

The police released a statement on Twitter that they have received reports regarding the thefts of two Tesla Model S units from private courtyards during the night. Also, the car owners still have their kid cards.

#Frogner #Jessheim. I lpet av natten har vi fatt melding om tyveri av 2 stk Tesla Model S fra private gardsplasser. Bileierne har nkkelkortene. Eiere av tilsvarende biler henstilles til a vre vaktsomme. Sannsynligvis er det profesjonelle tyver i distriktet.  Politiet i st (@politietost) November 11, 2021

The police then advised owners of similar cars to remain vigilant as there could probably be professional thieves within the district. A certain previous report also showed that stolen Tesla vehicles in the United States have almost been able to recover 112 of the stolen cars out of 115.

PIN to Drive Feature

In Europe, however, things are said to be a little more complicated. Some more sophisticated thieves have reportedly managed a string of different Tesla vehicle thefts throughout relay attacks over the course of the years.

As of the moment, it was stated that most of the vehicles have not yet been revealed. In response to those particular attacks, Tesla then started rolling out certain extra layers of security along with improved cryptography key fobs and the optional PIN to Drive feature.

Read Also: 2022 Zero SR Electric Motorcycle Speed Upgrades Can Be Done Through In-App Payments

Tesla Password Requirement

If a certain owner activates the car's PIN to Drive function, anyone entering the car will then know the car's pin in order to drive away. To access this function, go to Controls, click on Safety and Security, and select PIN to Drive.

It was noted that the owner would then be able to track the car through the use of the Tesla app. Owners are still able actually to disable tracking in their settings option. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was directly linked in a land grabbing case in Texas.

However, Tesla pushed an update sometime in 2020 to require users to enter their Tesla account password to disable tracking. This would make it a lot tougher to steal a Tesla vehicle.

In our previous story, Apple hired one of Tesla's ex-employees to help the company develop its own upcoming Apple Car.

Related Article: Tesla Recalls Almost 12,000 EVs from 2017 Above for Being Prone to 'False-Positive Braking' | Model S, 3, X, Y Included

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Written by Urian B.

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Unsplash/ Alexandr Bormotin) Veterans app

Apple has outlined how the experience of veterans has helped the tech giant create the real-time medical app on iPads called T6.

Apple's T6 Medical App

The outline was launched together in this year's Veteran's Day activity challenge on Apple Watch. The company has chosen to celebrate T6 and everything that it has done for the veterans, according to Apple Insider.

The T6 app serves as a tool for medical teams wherein they can input their patient data and analyze them. This is important since the first stages of treatment are the most critical.

Dr. Morad Hameed told Apple that when an unstable patient is admitted with traumatic injuries and meets a medical team assembled to treat them, that is when the clock starts ticking.

Dr. Hameed said that the point of intersection is a massive data source once captured accurately. The app T6 was created to do exactly that, to capture everything in sufficient detail and relevance that they can improve their performance on the fly, and that has never been done in healthcare.

Also Read: Apple's Health Team is Dealing With Internal Issues, Hindering Projects from Being Released, Report Says

Whether it is in the field, in the medical center, or when the patient is transported, the T6 app can be used to record every detail of the trauma treatment. It can also alert medical staff if there are any important changes.

The app's co-founder Igor Muravyov said that every piece of information that is entered into the app is immediately analyzed for clinical decision support, according to Mac Observer.

Muravyov said that they'd engineered the app so that users can navigate over 3,000 data within two to three taps, and that kind of experience can only be done via an iPad.

For example, if a patient is undergoing a massive blood transfusion because of injuries, the T6 app knows that the whole process depletes the patient's calcium level.

It will then issue regular alerts, telling medical staff when they need to provide the patient calcium to compensate for the loss.

Muravyov continued that T6 runs on Apple for a lot of reasons. The company provides reliability, security, portability, and power, making the app easy to use. With Apple, the creators of the app knew the quality of the hardware was going to be amazing.

Muravyov said that because the T6 app is being sued in hospitals and the military, security was paramount for them, and there is no higher bar than the Apple ecosystem for data security.

T6 is currently in use at the Level I trauma centers of Northwell Health, the largest healthcare provider in New York. Apple stated that the complete feature would be rolled out by the end of next year.

Apple's Health Push

Apple has been focusing on apps and features that can improve the health of its users. Aside from adding several health features in its latest Apple Watch release, the tech giant also included Johnson & Johnson's CEO on its board, according to CNET.

Apple is also currently working on releasing its health kit in hospitals in the United States.

The tech giant believes that technology can help improve people's lives, and it can help create healthier communities. Apple's health app offers dashboards for sleep, nutrition, and workouts.

Related Article: Apple Health iOS 15 Features You Should Know About-Wellness Tech In One

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Elon Musk has recently announced some intriguing activities in his Tesla and SpaceX companies. These include his latest tweet, which consists of a poll asking his followers to sell some of his Tesla stocks.

Much is made lately of unrealized gains being a means of tax avoidance, so I propose selling 10% of my Tesla stock.



Do you support this?  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 6, 2021

The Twitter post indicated that the billionaire plans to share 10% of his Tesla stocks if his consumers want him to.

"Much is made lately of unrealized gains being a means of tax avoidance, so I propose selling 10% of my Tesla stock," he said in his official announcement.

If you visit the tweet, you will see that 57.9% said that Musk should sell some of his stocks in Tesla. Since most of his fans agreed that he should sell his Tesla shares, the popular tech CEO kept his promise.

Elon Musk Sells $5 Billion Worth of Tesla Shares

According to CNN Business Edition's latest report, Tesla's boss sold around $5 billion of Tesla stocks, which is the first sale ever since 2016.

Also Read: Tesla SHIBA Payment Option Actually for DOGE? Leakers Explain How It Works

The U.S. securities regulators explained during the recent fillings that Elon Musk first sold almost $2.1 million worth of Tesla shares. After that, the CEO raised almost $1.1 billion in cash.

They explained that this fund is specifically for tax settlements. On Nov. 9 and Nov. 10, Musk sold another $3.6 million shares.

The latest $5 billion Tesla share record is still insufficient if the billionaire plans to keep his promise of selling 10% of his company's stocks.

If he wants to complete his promise, experts said there would still be some upcoming share sales ahead. Although it looks like a loss for the giant EV maker, Reuters reported that the company was able to experience a 3% stock increase after selling billions of stocks.

Other Activities of Tesla

Aside from selling stocks, Elon Musk is also making huge efforts to enhance its EV business. These include the upcoming Tesla Semis for PepsiCo, which CEO Ramon Laguarta is expecting.

CNBC reported that this electric car program was recently scheduled back in 2019. However, some issues happened which caused the delay. Now, the upcoming Tesla Semi initiative is expected to happen by 2022.

This just shows that Tesla is pretty busy in the EV market. In other news, Tesla became an electricity and clean energy provider in Texas.

On the other hand, the Tesla Shanghai factory is expected to manufacture more colorful versions of the company's EV models.

For more news updates about Tesla and other giant EV makers, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.

Related Article: Elon Musk's Twitter Poll: Just How Much Tesla Stock Does He Own?

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Image from Tim Frost on Unsplash) Subaru vs Tesla Unveils Its Very First EV | Introducing the Solterra SUV

While Tesla remains a prominent name in the electric vehicle space, other companies are starting to move into the EV industry as well. Subaru is now preparing to launch its very first EV called the 2022 Solterra SUV.

2022 Subaru Solterra

According to the story by The Verge, the 2022 Subaru Solterra is reportedly the Japanese automaker's very first electric vehicle. The EV is set to come to Canada, Europe, and the United States in 2022.

What makes the car more interesting is that the Solterra SUV will reportedly be powered by a certain eclectic vehicle platform that Subaru has co-developed along with Toyota. The Solterra will reportedly come in both a front-wheel as well as an all-wheel-drive variant.

329 and 286 Mile Range

Buyers will reportedly choose the 150kW with 201 horsepower AC synchronized motor drive that uses the front wheel. Another option is to choose a pair of 80kW with a 107 horsepower motor. The second option will have one 80kW powering each axle, resulting in 160kW with 214 horsepower.

Both motors will reportedly sport a 71.4kWh battery located beneath the vehicle's floor, which according to the estimates by Subaru, will supply about 530km or 329 miles of range on the WLTC standard over in Japan. The all-wheel-drive version will get a whopping 460km or 286 miles of range.

Toyota BZ4X Battery Charging

When the EV's battery runs low, the Subaru Solterra will be able to support DC fast charging going up to 150kW, although the company did not provide an estimate regarding how long it will take. Toyota reportedly stated that its BZ4X, which is also built on the exact same EV platform, will only take 30 minutes in order to get to 80% of the EV's capacity.

The Toyota BZ4X is also set to launch in 2022 and is expected to be built on the shared platform. The shared platform by Toyota and Subaru is called e-TNGA for Toyota and e-Subaru for Subaru.

Read Also: Police Warns That Tesla Owners Could Be Targeted by Professional Thieves

BZ4X and Solterra Similarities

Not like BZ4X, however, Solterra now appears to have a normal interior as well as the steering wheel. Subaru noted that just like its other gas-powered SUVs, the new Solterra would reportedly be featuring the company's X-Mode AWD control system that actually enhances the sense of security for the vehicle on rough roads.

The company has also added a brand new "Grip Control function." This new function helps the vehicle run at a constant speed while also stabilizing the vehicle despite driving on rough roads. This capacity was noted to be further enhanced.

When the EV comes out in 2022, The Verge states that Subaru will no doubt be competing directly with Rivian for its own customer base of other outdoorsy adventure-type vehicles. The company has not yet revealed the starting price for the new Solterra. The Verge, however, notes that the Solterra price could be less high compared to the Rivian R1S SUV.

Related Article: Autonomous Trucking Company Kodiak Robotics Plans on Expanding After Raising $125 Million

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
(Photo : Image from Simon Zhu on Unsplash) Hong Kong's OneDegree Claims to be First Asia-Firm Offering Crypto Insurance

A company from Hong Kong is claiming to be the first Asia-based firm offering crypto insurance. A massive Asia insurer by the name of OneDegree has now ventured into BTC in an attempt to be able to provide a model for other businesses within the field.

OneDegree Offers Crypto Insurance

The multi-line insurance firm called OneDegree has just announced that it is now partnering with the Hong Kong Bitcoin Exchange or HKbitEX to provide protection for the company's custody platform. OneDegree now claims to be the very first Asia-based insurance provider when it comes to digital assets.

The company has already been able to insure $100 million in digital assets directly under HKbitEX's own custody. Insurance demand for digital assets is currently growing. Insurance and risk management for digital assets will also help boost total investor confidence to help the market develop, as per OneDegree.

HKbitEX Gives Statement Regarding Digital Assets

According to the story by CoinTelegraph, third-party insurance aims to cover physical damage to wallets that are caused by natural occurrences, cybersecurity risks, and employee intentional or fraudulent acts. After the announcement, Ken Lo, the co-founder of HKbitEX, noted that he wants additional institutional investment when it comes to cryptocurrencies.

With well over 1,800 licensed asset managers, Hong Kong is currently home to more than $3 trillion in assets that are under management. Lo noted that they want to help asset managers enter this particular market in certain ways that would enable them to fulfill their own fiduciary duties towards their end investors.

Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission

The company reportedly noted that it is now creating more technological solutions to assist crypto market participants in avoiding risk. In addition to its very own in-house cybersecurity platform known as Cymetrics, the tools will reportedly assist clients in assessing their own cyber risk to manage their assets, as per the firm.

It was reported that Hong Kong's very own Securities and Futures Commission is now reviewing rules when it comes to covering virtual currency transactions. This includes whether individuals will be able to invest in certain crypto-related exchange-traded funds.

Read Also: Catecoin Announces Gate.io Listing on Nov 10 | 80M New Users to Get Access to CATE

Hong Kong 'One of the World's Important and Prominent Financial Hubs'

Hong Kong is reportedly one of the world's most important as well as prominent financial hubs. It has also had quite a significant impact when it comes to cryptocurrency innovation.

An example of this is that the city-state has given birth to a number of the most well-known and successful crypto films to date. This reportedly includes the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange known as FTX as well as the popular digital asset platform Crypto.com.

It is important to DYOR (do-your-own-research) before investing in any cryptocurrency asset. The insurance only covers breaches or natural causes that damage the owner's account but do not cover the losses due to a digital asset depreciation.

Related Article: $28B Malaysian Commodities Trading Firm Picks Polygon Blockchain to Tokenize Its Equity | From ETH to MATIC

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 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Event round-up: Commercialisation and international collaboration on quantum

On 27 October, techUKs tech & innovation programme, and international trade programme, joined forces to host the online event Working together towards a quantum future: Commercialisation of and international collaboration on quantum.

Speakers included:

Dr. Heike Riel, IBM Fellow, Head Science & Technology, IBM (Germany)

(Germany) Dr. Dominic O'Brien, Director, Quantum Computing Simulation Hub UK , and Professor of Engineering Science, University of Oxford (United Kingdom)

, and Professor of Engineering Science, (United Kingdom) Mark MattingleyScott, Vice Chair HPC and Quantum Working Group, Bitkom , and General Manager, Quantum Brilliance (Germany)

, and General Manager, (Germany) Laure De Bars, Research Project Director, SAP , and President, European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) (France)

, and President, (France) Vikram Sharma, Founder and CEO, QuintessenceLabs (Australia)

(Australia) Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director, Quantum Economic Development Consortium, SRI International (United States)

(United States) Alexander Ling, Director, Quantum Engineering Programme and Associate Professor, National University of Singapore (Singapore)

(Singapore) Dr, Keith Dear, Director Artificial Intelligence Innovation, Fujitsu (Japan/ United Kingdom)

(Japan/ United Kingdom) Sue Daley, Director  tech & innovation, techUK (United Kingdom)

(United Kingdom) Sabina Ciofu, Head of EU and trade policy, techUK (United Kingdom)

(United Kingdom) Laura Foster, Programme manager tech & innovation, techUK (United Kingdom)

You can watch the event below, which is followed by techUKs round-up of the event.

Panel one: International collaboration on Quantum Technologies

The panel on international collaboration on quantum technologies brought together quantum experts from the countries breaking ground in quantum to explore where international corporation is moving and how we can work towards adaptive regulatory strategies and industry standardization to strengthen global partnerships.

Moderated by Sabina Ciofu, Head of EU and Trade at techUK, the first panel kicked off by a brief overview of national quantum initiatives from the participating countries.

Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QECD), pointed out that one of the key enablers of the US quantum industry is significant historic investment by the US government, which supported a robust base of fundamental research, and this has led to several transformational breakthroughs in the field.

The US National Quantum Initiative has been running since 2018 when there was the legislation passed to create a multi-agency coordinated program across several US agencies that invest in science funding. The US government acknowledged how important it is to coordinate government funding with the private sector investment. She went on to highlight that there is a lot of big bets being made by the private sector at the same time that the government is making significant investments in the basic scientific research. The QECD was created to bridge that gap and bring together the whole ecosystem.

Singapore is one of the frontrunners in the quantum technology development. The Singaporean government was among the first ones to make a significant investment in the countrys quantum engineering capabilities. Prof Alexander Ling, Director of Quantum Engineering Programme and Associate Professor from National University of Singapore, mentioned that the key ingredients for success lie in the continued government funding into quantum research. The Singaporean government started to put sustained funding into basic research in quantum back in 2007, when the Centre for Quantum Technologies was established. Alexander also highlighted how important it is to support spin offs set up by entrepreneurs and academics at universities as these create valuable links between research and industry.

Dr Keith Dear, Director of Artificial Intelligence Innovation at Fujitsu explained in more detail the Q- Star Alliance model introduced in Japan this year. The Alliance brings together 25 Japanese companies to create a new strategic programme to collectively progress work in the field of quantum computing. Q-STAR invites the participation of diverse industries that support its objectives and initiatives, and collaborates with industry, academia, and government in promoting initiatives that apply new technologies, and establishing related technology platforms. It also aims to establish a globally-recognized platform that will promote collaboration with other organizations around the world working in quantum technology.

All panellists highlighted the need to coordinate government funding into quantum technologies with private investment to maximize opportunities for the advancement of the field. International collaboration is of vital importance if we are to succeed and progress at pace. Knowledge sharing, research partnerships and international regulatory cooperation will be crucial to drive innovation and bring the benefits of the quantum commercialization to all.

The panel were clear that international community needs to participate in the development of standards to ensure the best possible outcome and take advantage of common approaches. Governments, regulators and businesses need to work together to set standards that work for the industry and do not stifle its growth. New standards groups within classic computing may need to come together for standards specific to Quantum computing including the development of software tools for running software on QC hardware. The idea of regulatory/technology diplomacy  like minded nations to come together to outline the key positions in international regulation- emerged.

Panel two: Quantum Commercialisation

Sue Daley, techUK introduced the topic of commercialisation by asking each panellists to share their personal view of commercialisation. Panellists agreed that commercialisation is the process of bringing quantum to the people  the end users of quantum technologies and solutions  and out of the research institutions and universities.

The panel were also clear that quantum technologies belong to an ecosystem that goes beyond computing. It can also include technologies such as QKD or quantum simulation. Each of these technologies are at different levels of maturity and therefore different stages of commercialisation. This is important to recognise when we look at the first use cases that will enter the market in the coming years.

Fundamental to commercialisation is developing access, which relies on tackling a number of interconnecting aspects such as training and education, building supply chains, and developing complementary software application suites that will unlock value of quantum computers.

Focusing on access to quantum, Stuart Woods, Oxford Instruments introduced the concept of commercialisation through cloud computing. He stated that cloud for the people allows for democratisation and acceleration of quantum technologies. Bringing quantum to the people by the cloud in turn will encourage use this technology and become inspired by new and innovative use cases.

The conversation turned to developing roadmaps, and each speaker showcase what is happening in their region. Vikram Sharma discussed the National Science Organisation Australia (CSRIO), who recently released a quantum roadmap which showcased some of the opportunities and barriers of quantum in Australia. Of particular importance, this roadmap estimated that by 2040 Quantum tech would generate 4 Billion and create 16,000 jobs in the Nation. Figures like this showcase the value of quantum and help motivate industry to get involved in the quantum ecosystem.

Equally, roadmaps are crucial for policymakers as it shows what they need to promote to achieve these goals, whether that is domestic such as skills, or international such as trade agreements to open up international collaboration.

Throughout the conversation, the development of skills was a frequent topic of discussion. Education needs to be a constant dialogue between universities, quantum companies and industry. Whilst Universities are crucial, and PhDs in quantum are fuelling quantum research, there is such a demand for quantum skills it needs to include those already in the workforce, apprentices, and those who have never been to university in the first place. In other words, a PhD in quantum is not always necessary to work in quantum.

Key topics:

Skills/reskilling - skills development within industry and cross-border cooperation on the development of international and national educational programs are strongly encouraged. National professional organizations should work together to develop programmes aimed at providing new skills to existing workers who want to get into the quantum field.

Standards development- lack of harmonized standards will lead to barriers to future trade in quantum enabled services. Governments, regulators, and businesses across the world should work together to develop common standards to drive innovation and trade in this field.

Research and development collaboration- international collaboration in research and development is vital to the advancement of the field. So is turning research and innovation into new products. Linking research with industry and promoting international collaboration can significantly benefit the whole quantum ecosystem.

Exploring different access models to quantum  raising awareness amongst industry of the different ways quantum will be deployed is crucial. Initial commercialisation will be based on specific use cases, but eventually quantum will be used in conjunction with other technologies such as HPC and AI. Crucially, cloud will be fundamental for opening access, and cloud providers need to be engaging with the quantum ecosystem to realise this opportunity.

Building Roadmaps  Building national roadmaps to highlight the benefits of quantum to wider industry. Once benefits become apparent to industry, this will express a willingness to invest which will trigger the commercialisation of quantum. Roadmaps can also be important for policy makers, as it shows what they need to encourage such as trade agreements to open up international collaboration.

Quantum Commercialisation Week Click here to read more insights published during techUK's Quantum Commercialisation Week Click Here

Laura Foster Laura is techUKs Programme Manager for Technology and Innovation. She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies across business, including Geospatial Data, Quantum Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies. Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally in London, Singapore and across the United States as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week. Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster Read lessmore

Jana Psarska Jana is techUKs Policy Manager for International Trade. She supports techUK members in navigating international markets, including market access and regulatory challenges, and assists the tech sector in taking full advantage of UKs trade deals. Her responsibilities also include driving the UK digital trade policy agenda. Jana is committed to promoting UK digital trade by engaging businesses, UK government and international partners. Jana has several years of experience in trade promotion, public policy, and providing strategic advice on international expansion strategy to companies across a variety of sectors. Prior to techUK, she worked for the Department for International Trade, helping UK SMEs expand abroad. She holds a MA in International Political Economy from Kings College London. Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 (0) 7454556302 Twitter: @jana_psarska LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jana-p-2488448a/ Read lessmore

Sabina Ciofu Sabina leads techUK's international policy and engagement. Based in Brussels, she manages our EU policy priorities as well as our international trade agenda. Sabina leads techUKs engagement with the European Union institutions, as well as the EU Member States. Outside of the EU, her work is focused on key trade partners, such as the USA and Japan, as well as key international organisations, such as the WTO and the OECD. Previously, she worked as Policy Advisor in the European Parliament for almost a decade, where she specialised in tech regulation, international trade and EU-US relations. Sabina is the founder of the Gentlewomens Club, co-organiser of the Young Professionals in Digital Policy and a member of the World Economic Forums Global Shapers Community, where she has led several youth civic engagement and gender equality projects. She sits on the Advisory Board of the UCL European Institute and The Nine, Brussels first members-only club designed for women, holds an MA in War Studies from Kings College London and a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge. Email: [email protected] Phone: +32 473 323 280 Twitter: @SabinaCiofu,@SabinaCiofu,@SabinaCiofu,@SabinaCiofu Website: www.techuk.org/,https://www.techuk.org/,https://www.techuk.org/,https://www.techuk.org/ LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3todubH,https://bit.ly/3todubH,https://bit.ly/3todubH,https://bit.ly/3todubH Read lessmore
The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council grappled with its first two opportunities to recommend penalties for companies who failed to meet their contractual obligations under a controversial economic incentive for manufacturers.

It took more than an hour Wednesday evening for the 12-member body to settle on the decision to not recommend a punishment for one company and delay their ruling two weeks for the other.

The companies couldnt be more different in regard to the products they provide. One, Tin Roof Brewing Company, brews craft beers that are sold across the Baton Rouge area. The other, International Mezzo Technologies, manufactures parts in North Baton Rouge that have been used by professional race car teams and even NASA.

Both companies were given an exemption from paying property taxes under Louisianas Industrial Tax Exemption Program and failed to meet the terms of their contracts.

The program, known as ITEP, has been around for decades, granting manufacturers an exemption from paying property taxes that would otherwise go to local budgets in exchange for meeting state-set jobs and payroll benchmarks.

Manufacturers fell short on jobs, now metro council will decide their punishment Two Baton Rouge-based companies may be penalized for not creating jobs promised through a controversial economic incentive for manufacturers.

But a 2016 executive order by Gov. John Bel Edwards gave local entities an increased role in the enforcement of the program. The rule change is five years old, but municipalities are only now receiving notifications from Louisiana Economic Developments Board of Commerce and Industry about local companies out of compliance with the program.

This is a brand new feat for the state -- its not just East Baton Rouge, said Donnie Miller, Baton Rouge Area Chamber director of business development. Its something that  were dealing with for the first time, and today is an important day for how were going to move forward and address these.

Tin Roofs non-compliance with the program occurred in 2018, 2019 and 2020 because the brewery failed to submit documentation that it followed through with its commitments under the program, although co-owner Cammy McGehee said it met its contractual obligations otherwise.

In 2018, we had some leadership changes, some communication with our consultant that I feel was not 100% on my end ... and paperwork that fell through, McGehee told the council.

Mezzo was required to hire two new employees in 2019 and increase its payroll but failed to do so by the end of the year because several employees left the company late in the year and werent replaced until January of 2020, President Kevin Kelly told the council.

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Theres no doubt that we were out of compliance, but I think the spirit of the rule  was shown, Kelly said.

A Baton Rouge business got a tax break but didn't meet its terms. City leaders are asking why. A North Baton Rouge company that won a tax break from the city-parish will have to answer about violating the terms that made it eligible for 

As the representatives of the three East Baton Rouge Parish entities that would have received the exempted tax dollars, Metro Council, the Sheriffs Office and the School Board all have the power to recommend a penalty to the state board, defer to the board or mandate on their own that the companies pay a penalty. The council is the first of the three bodies to confront the issue.

Members of the public and several liberal council members urged hefty fines for the companies in order to set a strong precedent for other, larger companies that may have compliance issues in the future. Several of the more conservative members urged restraint toward the businesses.

Members first grilled McGehee about Tin Roofs missing documentation and threatened a fine of over $30,000 -- the amount of tax dollars the company was exempt from paying -- before settling on deferral of the item after an hour of back and forth.

McGehee, nearly in tears, promised to submit the documentation to the state board and the council before their next meeting on Nov. 23, after which the members threatening a fine softened their approach.

We have to be very, very careful about dropping the hammer because were thinking about the big company coming down the road, Council Pro Tem LaMont Cole said. We need to focus on the smaller company were dealing with today because the smaller companies are the lifeblood of our communities.

Kellys company was let off the hook after less than 10 minutes of discussion when the council voted unanimously to recommend no punishment for Mezzo.

Council members agreed that uniform standards to punish companies out of compliance need to be set in order to better confront the issue going forward.

Cole finished the debate by criticizing the way that the state board was suddenly seeking to penalize companies out of compliance.

The program is extremely complex as it relates to what is supposed to happen, and for the Board of Commerce and Industry to now make a decision to say were going to monitor this at this moment in time is really unfair to the businesses, Cole said.
St. Helena Parish recently spent $4.8 million to improve its much-maligned roads, but some parish leaders say they're unhappy with the quality of the work.

It's part of a long-running tension over the quality of infrastructure in the rural parish.

The parish hired Barriere Construction to perform a slew of road rehabilitation projects in 2020. Now, that work is drawing to a close: The parish police jury voted on Oct. 29 to pay $713,000 in past-due invoices to the company, one of the final payments it owed the firm.

Debate between jury members about whether to pay those invoices showed mixed feelings over the project's results.

Some jurors arent pleased with the quality of the newly-paved roads and say the parish should have waited longer for the company to return and fix problematic spots before handing over that $713,000. While that's a fraction of the overall project, it is a significant chunk of cash for the rural, mostly working-class parish with a depleted tax base.

The asphalt on some of these roads is crumbling up like crackers, said Willie Morgan, a police juror for the parishs third district. We know we got to pay the bill, but we should want our work done right, and then you pay em.

Morgan was at his day job during the Oct. 29 meeting, which was called during the workday to address the issue specifically, so he couldnt share that feedback before the board, he said. Decisions about a controversial project involving so large a sum of money should have waited, he argued, until Tuesdays regularly-scheduled police jury meeting.

Gravel trucks washed out a brand-new road. A parish and a landowner are pointing fingers After dump trucks tore up a road the St. Helena Parish police jury recently spent $258,000 to fix, a few local officials and residents want to

Police jury president Frank E. Johnson explained that the payments approved Oct. 29 were sums the parish was withholding while Professional Engineering Consultants  a Baton Rouge firm the parish contracted to oversee Barrieres work  went back to perform checks on sections of newly-paved roads where officials noted problems.

The panels president acknowledged shortfalls with some sections of road paved under the contract. But Johnson felt satisfied with PECs checks and thought it was time to pay the withheld balance, he told The Advocate.

Three other police jurors agreed, voting in the special meeting to approve the payments.

They had made a good-faith effort to finish the checklist, Johnson said. When you owe somebody, you have to pay them.

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Morgan isnt the only official to question the quality of some newly-laid roads, though.

Greensburg-area police juryman Jeremy Williams said that hes mostly satisfied with the projects results around the town. But bits of shoulder have crumbled and caved in in places, he said. And former longtime fifth district police juror Major Coleman said that potholes appeared in Leonard Chapel Road, a small thoroughfare near the St. Helena-Tangipahoa Parish line, right after they finished the project.

Barriere did, however, return to fix those potholes in the past two weeks, current fifth district police juror Ryan Bird said Thursday.

Reached by phone Thursday, St. Helena Public Works superintendent Al Franklin declined to comment on results of the roads project and referred questions to the police jurors.

S&W Foods plans new Hammond distribution center, will create 30 jobs S&W Wholesale Foods said it will spend $12 million to build a distribution center near Hammond that will create 30 jobs.

Local officials say the shortfalls of the project should be blamed less on Barriere constructions work and more on shoddy oversight by PEC. Thats part of the reason why St. Helena Emergency Operations Director Roderick Matthews wants the parish to hire its own engineer for future projects.

There were areas where we observed problems with the road rehab plan, Matthews said. Part of my reasoning for requesting a parish engineer was because I felt that (PEC) was more partnered with the contractors interests than with (the parishs).

Email and phone messages left with PEC and Barrieres corporate offices Thursday were not immediately returned.

Morgan, meanwhile, took issue with the hastily-called Oct. 29 special meeting in which the $713,000 spending decision was made. Reporters and residents werent properly notified of the meeting, he said.

That spending decision follows a spat between Johnson and the owner of a gravel pit in the presidents district over damage to a road included in the Barriere contract. Johnson has blamed gravel trucks for mangling the newly-laid asphalt.

The decision to shell out the most recent payments was unrelated to that dispute, Johnson said.
A former top prosecutor in Attorney General Jeff Landry's office has filed a lawsuit against his former boss, alleging that Landry retaliated against him for reporting sexual harassment and intentionally concealed records about it from the public.

Matthew Derbes, the former deputy director of the office's criminal division, filed the lawsuit Nov. 5 against Landry in Baton Rouge district court. Derbes publicly revealed in April that he was the whistleblower in the Landrys office after Landry held a news conference attacking Derbes without naming him, insisting that he was not a credible source of information and that Landry had acted appropriately in response to sexual harassment complaints against the head of his criminal division.

Derbes lawsuit says that in the fall of 2020, he told his immediate supervisor, former criminal division director Pat Magee, that his behavior toward women in his office was making them uncomfortable. Derbes filed official complaints about Magee in October and November of last year.

Once The Advocate | The Times-Picayune started requesting complaints about Magee late last year, Attorney Generals Office supervisors advised Derbes that they "would deliberately mischaracterize the complaints against Magee so that they would not have to release them. Once Landrys office hired the law firm Taylor Porter to investigate the complaints, Derbes said Landry deliberately restricted and limited the outside law firms investigation in order to favorably skew any conclusion in favor of Magee.

Taylor Porter concluded that while some of Magees actions were inappropriate, they did not rise to the level of sexual harassment. But Derbes lawsuit says Taylor Porter only questioned one of several women who were allegedly subjected to harassment, and did not question any witnesses.

Early this year, Landry filed a lawsuit against a reporter for The Advocate | The Times-Picayune who requested the Magee complaints and the records of Taylor Porters investigation. A Baton Rouge judge ordered that the complaint be released to the public, with some redactions to protect the identity of potential witnesses and victims.

Once the document was released, Derbes says in his suit, Landry and Magee blamed him for creating his complaint in the first instance and falsely accused him of engineering the creation of public documents and their release to the media.

Landry initially suspended Magee for 38 days without pay and ordered him to take classes on professionalism, before another former employee of his office lodged a new sexual harassment complaint against Magee. Magee resigned shortly afterward, saying he did not want to be a distraction in the office. He maintained he did nothing wrong.

In the aftermath, Landry released a memo to the media that identified Derbes by his job title and questioned his credibility, which Derbes argues was a deliberate attempt to reveal his identity. By April, an attorney for Derbes notified Landrys office that Derbes was filing a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Landry responded by demoting Derbes and removing his duties as a supervisor, according to the lawsuit. Derbes said he had no choice but to submit his resignation letter April 19 after his demotion and other retaliation on the part of Landry. But Landry fired back by calling the news conference to attack him, denying him medical leave and immediately terminating his employment and medical benefits, according to the lawsuit.

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Derbes lawsuit also alleges that Landry defamed him during the April news conference, by accusing him of lying, shirking his duties and breaking the law.

Read the complaint against a top aide that Jeff Landry fought to keep from the public After Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry sued a reporter for The Advocate to conceal a sexual harassment complaint against a top deputy, a

Derbes also alleges that Landry and Magee retaliated against him for more than just the sexual harassment complaints. His lawsuit says he also became aware of lenient treatment in August 2020 for a criminal defendant in a child pornography case who had not been arrested despite an arrest warrant being drawn up.

When [Derbes] complained about the disparate treatment of the criminal defendant to his supervisors, he was advised the criminal defendants family had a personal connection with Mr. Landry and that Mr. Landry did not want the criminal defendant prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the lawsuit states.

The criminal case involved Gregory Campo Jr. of Lafayette, but the relationship between the Campo family and Landry remains unclear. An attorney for the family previously said that the Campos did not know Landry whatsoever, and theres no record that the Campo family has donated to Landrys campaigns.

Roughly a year passed between when the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation  an arm of the AGs office  found evidence that Campo possessed child porn and the date in January 2021 when he was arrested, court documents show. The AGs office has said that the time lag was because Campo was in a long-term, out-of-state, residential treatment program, which slowed the process of arresting him.

+2 Inside the complaint against top Jeff Landry aide: 'Jurors would want to have sex with her' A sexual harassment complaint against a top aide for Attorney General Jeff Landry alleges that Pat Magee insisted that one woman should be dep

Court records show that Landrys office is no longer prosecuting Campos case, but the court record does not include a recusal notice from the AG's office. The East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorneys Office has taken over instead.

Derbes lawsuit also says he complained that the AGs office has been diverting money that is legally dedicated to insurance fraud cases to other expenses within the Department of Justice.

A spokesperson for Landry did not return a message for this story.

Derbes, who now works in the Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office, says in his lawsuit that the ordeal with Landry and Magee caused him to lose wages, earning capacity, suffer emotional distress and more. He is requesting a jury trial.
After an audit found the City of Zachary paid two vendors nearly $4 million for work without having a contract in place, some on city council are calling for a criminal investigation and for the mayor to resign  but Mayor David Amrhein says he didn't break the law.

"I think he needs to resign and there needs to be full investigations by the State Police and Department of Justice," council member and Mayor Pro Tem Lael Montgomery said Wednesday about the audit's findings. "He gave away $4 million without a contract. Without any paperwork. That means we're having to go back and do paperwork on the backend. That's criminal!"

Amrhein defended his actions, saying the money paid to the vendors was formally priced and agreed upon upfront, despite there being no formal contracts in place at the time of the review.

"There was no criminal wrongdoing or fraud  that was the first words out of their mouths when [the state auditors] sat down with us," Amrhein said. "These were not findings, they just gave us recommendations. Every time you get an audit they find something and give recommendations."

In addition to flagging those payments, made between July 2019 and May 2021, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor dinged the city's administration for inadequately reviewing invoices before it paid one of its vendors for services rendered.

The audit has Councilwoman Laura O'Brien pushing the rest of the council to hire its own outside attorney to represent their interests should the matter escalate in any way.

Zachary City Council hotly debates separate lawyers as audit of city looms A heated discussion broke out at the Zachary City Councils meeting Tuesday when one council member brought up the possibility of the panel hi

O'Brien tried leading a discussion around hiring outside counsel at the City Council's meeting on Tuesday  before the audit's findings went public  but that erupted into a heated debate between the mayor and several council members.

"If we need (legal) coverage, I want someone who has me in mind, as a councilperson, and not just the mayor and city as a whole," O'Brien said. "The council hasn't received any information on anything hardly. I only got calls here and there from influential people in the community that recommended we get counsel for ourselves."

O'Brien said it has been commonplace for the administration to present vendors invoices for the council's approval after vendors have been paid.

"We should be approving bills and then mailing them out," she said.

Montgomery added, "The mayor needs to understand this is not his business, this is the city's business. The money belongs to the people."

Amrhein asserts its not the council's place to weigh in on the day-to-day operations at City Hall.

Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack, in a letter to Zachary officials dated Nov. 8, zeroed in on two vendors that were paid $4.1 million for maintenance and utility services between 2019 and 2021. Auditors said the city paid $3.5 million to the vendors for water meter reading, utility maintenance and equipment repair and lift station and water well maintenance and repairs without a contract.

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Waguespack's letter goes on to say a vendor's invoices for utility location services were paid without the city requiring the vendor to submit timesheets or activity reports to confirming the hours billed to the city were correct.

The audit did not name the vendors in question.

Montgomery and O'Brien alluded to one of the vendors being a close personal friend of Amrhein's.

"I know everybody in Zachary," the mayor responded. Amrhein added the vendor "does the best job" and "is normally cheaper than everybody else."

Auditors also reviewed other records and found the city had issued purchase orders for utility maintenance work that were issued after the work was completed, instead of beforehand, which is standard.

Among the state auditor's list of recommendations:

The city should have written contracts that clearly outline the terms and conditions of work vendors perform before any are paid to minimize the city's liability.

Advertise and obtain periodic proposals for service contracts to determine the best and cheapest vendors are being selected when outsourcing city services.

Require vendors to submit detailed invoices, time sheets and activity reports prior to payment.

Issue purchase orders ahead of contracted work.

In his prepared response to the audit, Amrhein said the city has adopted signed contracts with the vendors. In the cases where no contracts were in place at the time auditors were reviewing city records, the city had specific pricing sheets on hand detailing the work and materials both sides had agreed upon, he said.

Amrhein said the city will consider issuing Request for Proposals for outsourced services as the "situation allows" going forward. The mayor claimed the city has improved its protocols around processing vendor invoices since the findings were brought to light and his office will reevaluate how it issues purchase orders as well.

"We've already done them all," Amrhein said Wednesday about the state's recommendations. "We've always checked invoices and everything, we have more safeguards there now."

Montgomery said the City Council will revisit the discussion around hiring outside counsel at its next meeting Nov. 23.

"I know that if the FBI and State Police came in and investigated they'll find criminal elements in this," he said. "You can't give away $4 million without paperwork."
LAKE CHARLES  Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday he would travel to Washington again next week as part of efforts to secure more disaster relief in the wake of the repeated hurricanes that have devastated parts of Louisiana since 2020.

Edwards spoke about relief efforts during an appearance at a rally in support of Democratic state Senate candidate Dustin Granger in Lake Charles, which is struggling to recover from four weather disasters that have hit the region since Hurricane Laura in August 2020. Laura, one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the state, was followed by Category 2 Hurricane Delta six weeks later, a severe freeze in February and flooding in May.

After more than a year, Congress finally appropriated some long-term disaster relief for southwest Louisiana at the end of September, but local officials, as well as the governor, say the amount  around $600 million  is not enough to adequately address the regions dire needs, particularly housing. Congress must approve another spending bill ahead of a Dec. 3 deadline, and Edwards is hoping additional disaster relief for Louisiana can be included.

While Edwards focused his comments on relief for the Lake Charles area, he will certainly also push for further aid for southeast Louisiana following Hurricane Ida while in Washington on Monday and Tuesday.

We really appreciate the almost $600 million that has been appropriated. That's more than a quarter of the total amount appropriated for the country in 2020, he told reporters after the rally, referring to the $1.6 billion in relief set aside for 2020 disasters in the recent bill approved by Congress. But quite frankly, it is inadequate to the task of a full and robust recovery, especially on that housing need.

+2 Woefully insufficient federal disaster relief confirmed for Lake Charles region LAKE CHARLES  The federal government confirmed Tuesday that southwest Louisiana will receive roughly $600 million in disaster relief for long

Edwards said he had meetings planned at the White House and with members of Congress.

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Officials in southwest Louisiana have been vocal about their disappointment in the amount appropriated so far and the time it has taken. They have pointed to other regions that have received far more money in a much shorter timeframe and questioned why the Lake Charles area should be treated differently.

For example, the bill approved in September is expected to include a $2.7 billion down payment on Hurricane Ida aid, and more will surely be on the way.

Edwards had spelled out $3 billion in unmet needs for Laura, Delta and Hurricane Zeta, which hit southeast Louisiana in October 2020. He has said he would expect to receive around half of that in federal relief, which means the appropriation Congress recently approved falls about $1 billion short.

Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter has called the amount woefully insufficient. Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Brian Abshire has said it will do very little.

Southwest Louisiana has received more than $1 billion in immediate federal assistance following the two hurricanes, but long-term relief would allow the region to address housing and economic development damage, among other issues. Several thousand people are still believed to be displaced more than a year after the two hurricanes, while blue roof tarps and ruined buildings remain common sights.

In the state Senate race that brought Edwards to Lake Charles, Granger faces Republicans Jeremy Stine and Jake Shaheen. They are running in Saturday's vote to replace Ronnie Johns, a Republican who resigned to become chair of the state Gaming Control Board.
Jason Edelstein knows how to pick locks, avoid security cameras, bypass electric fences and dodge guards.

In the dead of night, hes broken into data centres and critical infrastructure sites and stolen sensitive information.

But none of this is illegal. Edelstein is a senior executive at CyberCX  Australias largest cybersecurity firm.

CyberCX head of penetration testing Jason Edelstein has broken into data centres to steal sensitive information. Credit:Renee Nowytarger

His team of more than 140 hackers is hired by companies, including the biggest banks and energy suppliers, to find weaknesses in their security. While breaking-and-entering seems a world away from digital hacking, Edelstein says theyre not so different. It requires out of the box thinking.
FIRE: Firestorm: Battling Super-Charged Natural Disasters, Greg Mullins, Penguin, $34.99

Currowan, Bronwyn Adcock, Black Inc., $32.99

Two books, scores of stories both tragic and heroic, one theme  that the catastrophic fires of the 2019/20 summer in south-east Australia were merely a foretaste of what lies ahead.

Greg Mullins is probably the most experienced and knowledgeable firefighter in the country. Bronwyn Adcock is a skilled journalist who found herself in the middle of the inferno that engulfed the south coast of New South Wales on New Years Eve, 2019. In Firestorm and Currowan, they tell the same story from these different viewpoints.

Firefighters tackle the Currowan fire at Tomerong in January 2020. Credit:Nick Moir

Mullins watches, then throws himself into the fight as overwhelmed disaster-management agencies battle nature at her most ferocious across hundreds of kilometres of fire front. Adcock tells the personal tales of the residents of small communities north of Batemans Bay facing the sheer terror of trying to save homes, and then lives, as thousands of locals and holidaymakers flee to the coast as the idyllic landscape behind them ignites and explodes.
He was relaxed with the reserves and some were therefore bought for bargain prices while others attracted stronger competition, reported Deutscher and Hacketts Damian Hackett. And why the sale? Last year, Bennett established Living Well Northern Rivers  an innovative lending and mentoring initiative based near Byron Bay in far north NSW  with well-heeled social impact investor Danny Almagor. He was very philosophical about art collecting, having loved the works on his wall but hated the idea of locking them away in storage now that he has moved to Byron, Hackett said. It seemed Bennett couldnt take the Toorak Collection north because he already had a Byron Collection in situ. NEW HEARTLAND

With the sun now well and truly set on the chances of a federal election this side of Christmas, all eyes are on a 2022 polling date. But that doesnt mean that either major party is breathing easy. Spare a thought for ALP national secretary Paul Erickson and assistant secretary Jen Light who have had to take a momentary break from both politics and office politics to focus on the office. Credit:John Shakespeare To be precise, office logistics, and relocating Labors campaign team from around the country to Sydneys trendy inner-city Surry Hills to set up its election headquarters. Its a monumental change from 2019 when Labor located its campaign nerve centre in Labor heartland  Sydneys Parramatta  in what we can only guess was a touching gesture to the partys western Sydney support base. Why dump the west for the inner city? Its got nothing to do with coffee, were told. Its all about convenience and better public transport, it seems. Hello Oxford Street, goodbye WestConnex!

The bulk of Labors campaign team is already in place. Lidija Ivanovski, chief of staff to Labor deputy leader Richard Marles, is Campaign Enforcer as chief of staff, while Penny Wongs communications director, Andrew Oliphant, will run media. His two deputies are former AFR reporter Jo Heath, taking leave from her role as a senior adviser to Tony Burke, alongside Marles media boss, Kate Hanns. Dee Madigan is on board. Credit:Quentin Jones History repeats for Heath, Hanns and Ivanovksi who all played key roles in the 2019 effort. Meanwhile, Linda Burneys adviser, Tim Watts  not to be confused with Labors MP in the seat of Gellibrand  is running the policy team. Curious, considering Anthony Albaneses policy boss, Andrew Dempster, was regarded as a shoo-in for the gig. Also along for the ride is Gruen panellist and Campaign Edge executive director Dee Madigan who has worked on 22 state and federal Labor campaigns and will run advertising for the party, hoping to clock up a lucky No. 23. PUB WITH NO BEER

And another thing: in what could be a controversial departure from a beer-soaked 2019 election, Labors 2022 foray will be teetotal. No more crying into your cups, Laborites! Sources say Erickson and Co. have laid down the law: no booze shall be consumed inside campaign HQ. Liberal HQ has been a strictly dry affair since the days of John Howard  which was a particularly easy edict to abide by in 2019 when its offices were opposite the Castlemaine Perkins XXXX brewery. BRIT INVASION Across the divide, Liberal federal director Andrew Hirst is keeping a tight lid on the Coalitions campaign plans. But its headquarters will again be located in the inner Brisbane suburb of Milton. How good is Queensland?
Mostafa Baluch has been returned to custody in NSW on a police flight as investigators swooped on a trucking company allegedly linked to the accused drug kingpins failed bid to flee the country.

Mr Baluch, who skipped bail on October 25 and became the target of a nationwide manhunt, was discovered sitting in a Mercedes inside a shipping container on the back of a truck crossing from NSW into Queensland about 1am on Wednesday.

Mostafa Baluch arrives via police escort at Bankstown airport on Thursday night. Credit:Brook Mitchell

The driver of the truck, Jovanco John Kitanovski, 46, was charged with perverting the course of justice, accused of knowingly helping Mr Baluch flee NSW.

After his arrest by Queensland Police, Mr Baluch was flown out on Thursday on board a NSW Police Cessna. The plane touched down at Bankstown airport in the evening ahead of Mr Baluch being transported to the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater.
Voters must focus on more than tax cuts at elections As a career public servant I have watched the public service go from a valued part of society where folk could have a career contributing to the public good to a perceived public burden. Politicians have made careers cutting red tape and the voting public have lapped up the resulting tax cuts. We now have a public service that is barely capable of managing base load, let alone a pandemic. If folk want a public service with capacity to deal with their needs, they will need to vote for more than tax cuts at the coming elections.

Jeff Moran, Bacchus Marsh Seeking bipartisan support for caring policies In my 70-plus years on this earth, I have never seen such an adversarial lot of elected representatives, both state and federal. They refuse to be held account for their mistakes and actions. Pollution control, an absolute minimum income survival level for people and proper health care accessible by all should be minimum bipartisan mandates. The Scandinavian model where everyone is looked after is one to be envied. Vote one for more independents, the only way to sort our lot out.

Ian Anderson, Surrey Hills

A time when we had a mesmerising prime minister Watching Paul Keating at the Press Club was like being at the Sydney Theatre Company watching The Wharf Review with Jonathan Biggins in the lead role. The theatre of the event was mesmerising with the grand master holding court  Britain, an old theme park slipping into the Atlantic. Our politics miss Keating 26 years later.

Margaret Raffle, Keilor East THE FORUM Stop beating drums of war Congratulations and thank you to Stuart Rollo for his excellent piece  Lest we forget the cost of war as China hawks beat their drums (Opinion, 11/11). Remembrance Day is a day for solemn reflection on the cost of war, not for jingoistic drum beating and idealisation of the brutal consequences of warmongering. Veterans know the tragedy of war; let us hope that for once we take heed of their experience and reflect on what war has cost this country.

Lorel Thomas, Blackburn South

Those who are forgotten Good on Tony Wright  Herbert fought in two wars, but there was no land for him (The Age, 11/11)  for reminding us on Remembrance Day that we do not remember those of the Indigenous people who served and suffered for Australia, only to be forgotten on their return home. May we not forget.

Doris LeRoy, Altona Shocking mistreatment As always, Tony Wright writes an excellent article. The piece about Herbert Lovett is heartbreaking as it reveals how appallingly he was treated in his quest for a piece of land for his family. The fact that his application in 1945 for a farm, after he had served for the second time, was never answered and that every farm went to a white ex-serviceman is appalling. I sincerely hope that his son, Uncle Johnny Lovett, is at last listened to by the federal government. Many thanks, Tony Wright, for such an informative and positive piece. But such a negative view of the federal government, past and present.

Susan Wood, Southbank

Many deserve our honour Herbert Lovett, what an inspirational man. He was one among many we have effectively abused when we should have been honouring them and rewarding their sacrifice.

Elizabeth Morris, Kennington Urgent SOS from schools As if principals and senior teachers did not have enough on their plates, they have now been served the task of contact tracing whenever a positive case appears at their school. Government support is nowhere to be seen, as staff must make hundreds of phone calls and send many emails to determine which students (and often staff) must isolate for between seven and 14 days. Nearing two years of teachers constantly pivoting their teaching programs, and responding to growing issues regarding the mental health of young people, these additional administrative burdens are a real kick in the teeth. Save our staff, Education Minister James Merlino. Send help.

Tim Webster, Brunswick East

Mask up and distance The mind boggles  Cup party guests asked to get tested (Sport, 9/11). Why werent the people who attended the celebrations wearing masks? They have been shown to be indoors, dancing and in close contact with others. They could have been facing a cluster event.

Wendy Poulier, Ferntree Gully Worlds most vulnerable Steven Hamilton and Richard Holden (Opinion, 8/11) are wrong. Children are nowhere near the final battle. An enormous proportion of the worlds population at far greater risk from coronavirus than Australias children remains unable to access any vaccines at all.

Samuel McMahon, Parkville Homophobic, intolerant

Certain members of Victoria Police should move into the 21st century  IBAC probes claims police shared new Laidley photo (The Age, 11/11). Their distasteful, homophobic attitude towards Dani Laidley is a disgrace and can be compared to that of racism. It must be dealt with in an appropriate way. These police members are unfit to serve in a force where understanding and tolerance should be a given.

Barbara Rozenes, Southbank A matter of deterrence Paul Keating says that by Australia going down the path of AUKUS and future nuclear-powered submarines, we are moving our posture from defence to attack. I suggest that these moves are purely to deter any potential aggressor and to make it think twice about the huge damage that it may incur by its actions. Paul Keatings analysis is way off the mark.

Tim Nolan, Brighton Lagging behind world ... When Prime Minister Scott Morrison says we can rely on can-do capitalism he is absolving himself, and all of us, from any responsibility or action. It is a lack of leadership and a lack of policy. It is out of step with the rest of the world. Compare it to yesterdays statement by the United States and China: We need to think big and feel responsible.

Craig Dowling, Fitzroy North

... and behind business Who thought of the can-do capitalism slogan for climate change Scott Morrison has announced? Not satisfied to allow the corporate and general business world to organically move ahead with its own plans on renewable energy, the Prime Minister wants to claim them as his own and make it ideological. I assume he thinks he is their natural champion and leader. He forgets that they left him behind at the station many moons ago.

Ian Hollingworth, Caulfield East The problem with carbon Does the government appreciate that coal is carbon that has been captured and stored in the ground? Is it really suggesting that we should reduce our carbon emissions by burning it and then try to recapture the carbon from the atmosphere to pump it back into the ground?

Mark Martakis, Melbourne Our leaders prepare

The election theatre has opened. Scott Morrison is already on stage spouting his simple and often meaningless lines, while Anthony Albanese is still in the dressing room wondering what to wear, when to front the audience and what script to use.

Les Jones, Fitzroy North Our own EV industry Volkswagen, the peoples car, came into being in Germany in the late 1930s. At the time cars were relatively new technology, very expensive and thus very few owned one. It was clear to the government that private enterprise could not produce one at a price that the hoi polloi could afford. The state stepped in with subsidies and a purchase payback scheme: the Beetle was born. Australia could and should do likewise with an electric vehicle and public charging stations. It is precisely the industry that those (few) who currently work in coal could transition to. Furthermore it would generate numerous flow-on jobs and economic benefits. We just need a leader with vision.

Maxine Hardinge, Clunes Importance of universities

Has someone pointed out to the Prime Minister that if he wants some amazing future technology to get our emissions down to net zero, he had better start funding universities properly? Where does he think this technology will come from? His governments treatment of the tertiary sector has been deplorable (no JobKeeper, progressive cuts to funding) so I hope he can join the dots and realise that we really need healthy, thriving universities.

Kylie Marty, Northcote Building for our future The nation needs more than marketing hype like can-do capitalism and banal utterances from our Prime Minister. He seems to believe the private sector is solely up to the task on climate change, which may be just as well as this visionless government has an abysmal track record in areas of major policy development and implementation. There are occasions when government intervention is required as was demonstrated with COVID-19 and the need to sustain the economy through the injection of taxpayer funds. Furthermore, but for a publicly funded health system, mortality rates would have been much higher. We need leadership and sound policy formulation by governments to provide the foundations for our future.

Anne Lyon, Camberwell ALP, happy in opposition

You will not hear any trenchant criticism about anything from the elected opposition. That is left to retired prime ministers. It is hard not to get the impression that Labor does not want to win government. After all, opposition is a good job with no responsibility and excellent superannuation. Kowtow to Rupert Murdoch, agree with nearly everything the government proposes, have no issue with rorts and corruption, and elect a leader who cannot raise a sweat about anything or string two coherent sentences together.

John Laurie, Riddells Creek The towers we dont want We got rid of the Gas and Fuel buildings in the 1990s, now there are plans to build more of them  $25b towers plan to link city to MCG (The Age, 10/10). The lord mayor, in backing the development of these monstrosities, should have a rethink about what this hideousness would mean to Melbourne in the future.

Sylvia Kappadais, East Ivanhoe A liveable dimension Building a major residential district over the rail tracks east of Federation Square feels like a great idea in principle, and there are also other rail and road spaces that are suitable for such fill-in developments that may help to combat outer urban sprawl. But the towers as depicted in the article are a monstrosity that will suffocate the area. How about waiving the billions in air-right payments against a height limitation to, say, eight storeys, to keep it at a liveable dimension?

Ralph Bohmer, St Kilda West

Education and balance Thank you, Dr David Hastie, for the erudite and thought-provoking article on the history curriculum (Opinion, 8/11). I think I get what you are saying and I will happily pay for you to present a two-hour version to our education ministers in the hope some of them might get it too. Hooray for balanced discourse that has the capacity to emancipate.

Ian Taylor, Northcote AND ANOTHER THING Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding Climate change

The world has recognised the PMs net-zero plan for the do-zero plan that it really is.

Niko Melaluka, Fitzroy North Australia left behind and left out.

Jean Andrews, Cheltenham Morrison is following the science ... of the opinion pollsters.

Kyle Matheson, Mont Albert So Morrison is endorsing EVs. Has he had a shocking religious experience?

Jane Taylor, Newport The Marshall Islands (11/11): the mouse that roared.

Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency

Morrisons policies are full of holes: large holes for burying carbon and more large holes for digging it up as coal.

Penelope Buckley, Kew East The US and China can come to agreement for the greater good before the Liberals and Nationals can  2021 is still full of surprises.

Andrew Crane, Richmond Politics Ironic. The call for no more dont do government comes from a wont do anything PM.

Jon Buckeridge, Brighton And we vote them in. Politicians accountability needs an overhaul now.

Christine Hammett, Richmond

Career politicians? Its more like a family business these days.

Eric Butcher, Eltham Morrison: marketing man first, prime minister second.

Rosemary Lithgow, Maryborough Paul Keating (11/11): the 21st centurys Neville Chamberlain.

David Francis, Ivanhoe Keating says China wont take Taiwan with force. So China will make it an offer it cant refuse. What a relief for the Taiwanese.

Murray Horne, Cressy Keating: intelligent and eloquent.

Ian Maddison, Parkdale
The warning said a deep low-pressure system over NSW was crossing northeastern Victoria on Friday evening, before it moved into the Tasman Sea on Saturday. It said the heavy rainfall, which could lead to flash flooding, would continue on Friday night, with rainfalls of 30 to 60 millimetres likely across the warning area, and falls of between 50 and 80 millimetres possible across the Gippsland high country, the Strzelecki Ranges and adjacent coast. Rainfall rates are expected to gradually ease below warning thresholds during Saturday morning, the weather bureau said. Pedestrians on Melbournes Collins Street battle the rain on Friday morning. Credit:Paul Jeffers Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Michael Efron said that in the 24 hours to about 5pm the bureau had observed falls of between 30 and 50 millimetres across large parts of the states northeast and Gippsland region.

Balook in the Strzelecki Ranges in Gippsland received 77.6 millimetres of rain over 11.5 hours on Friday. Mount Tassie, also in the ranges, had been drenched with more than 50 millimetres of rain. So the heaviest falls have been in that region through the Strzelecki Ranges, and then also in the Gippsland high country, Mr Efron said. At Mount Buffalo in the northeast there were falls of 42 millimetres in the 24 hours to 5pm. We have seen some of that rain extending into central parts of the state as well, including the Melbourne region, Mr Efron said.

Looking at some of the wettest spots in the metropolitan area, places such as Warburton have had 21 millimetres. Loading Mr Efron also said that Friday was Melbournes coldest November day since 2007, with the city only reaching a top temperature of 14 degrees. That was about 8 degrees below average. Melbourne had recorded about 86 millimetres of rain this month, Mr Efron said, and the city was close to eclipsing its annual average rainfall. A severe weather warning for damaging winds was also in place for central and north-central regions on Friday, with Mount William recording top wind gusts of 87km/h at about 2pm, and gusts of 76km/h recorded at Kilmore Gap.

Powercor Australia, the electricity provider to central and western Victoria, said earlier on Friday that the combination of south-easterly winds and wet conditions was likely to damage trees and could lead to outages across the network. In the east, AusNets outage tracker showed there were more than 3800 people without power as of nearly 7pm on Friday. SES chief of operations Tim Wiebusch urged people to remain vigilant and use common sense. We know the number one killer during floods is people attempting to drive through floodwaters, he said.

We cant emphasise enough  never attempt to drive through floodwaters, it may be the last decision you make. Loading Mr Wiebusch said Victorians should secure their loose items at their homes, and warned of possible further blackouts, just days after thousands regained their power. People need to take precautions now, make sure your mobile phone is charged, that you have a torch, and that you have access to emergency warnings. Residents in affected areas should avoid travel if possible, steer clear from damaged trees, mud, debris and powerlines, and sit away from windows when indoors.

Mr Efron said Melbourne would see some rain during Saturday morning, but showers would ease off into the afternoon. The showers would be followed by yet another strong cold front crossing the state on Sunday that is forecast to bring windy conditions to the southern parts of Victoria, including in the southern metropolitan area of Melbourne. Along with that, [it will also bring] very cold air, he said. I think well see snowfalls developing to around 1000 metres elevation throughout Sunday and along with that some local hail and thunder.
Seven Australian-owned food and beverage companies will share in more than $33 million in federal funding to unlock new manufacturing opportunities, boost production, and create more jobs across the country.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will reveal the new grants for the industry in Melbourne on Friday with the investment designed to boost manufacturing from Kingaroy in Queensland to Hobart in Tasmania.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison at Sugo restaurant in Malvern. Credit:Wayne Taylor

Food and beverage production is the largest manufacturing sector in Australia, employing one in four manufacturing workers and contributing around $22.4 billion to our economy.

The funding is part of the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative, which was designed and launched at the height of the pandemic to help rebuild the troubled sector.
Workplace deals that require some stevedoring companies to source up to 70 per cent of new recruits from a pool of union candidates and employees families and friends will come under fire from one of the countrys largest business groups on Friday.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found last month the stevedoring firms, which move goods to and from ships, had extremely restrictive enterprise agreements with the Maritime Union of Australia that ate into their productivity.

The stevedores industrial landscape is rare in Australia: a private sector industry where the union claims overwhelming membership. Credit:Dean Sewell

It said those rules were reducing efficiency at ports, adding to supply chain problems and should be addressed, in a call that Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox will take up on Friday.

It is appropriate of course for enterprise agreements to contain provisions about wages and conditions of employment, Mr Willox will say, according to notes from his speech to the Australian Labour Law Associations national conference seen by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will argue against voluntary assisted dying when a long-touted bill is debated in Parliament on Friday, insisting more should be done to improve palliative care for those with a terminal illness.

In a move to signal he expects MPs to be respectful regardless of differing views, Mr Perrottet will take the unorthodox step of being the first government speaker to respond to the bill introduced by independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will take the unusual step of being the first government speaker in the voluntary assisted dying debate. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

A senior government source close to Mr Perrottet insists the Premiers decision to lead the government debate was not about influencing MPs but making his position and reasoning clear.

Mr Perrottet, who allowed his MPs a conscience vote, said his views on this are well known.
It was the investigators acting politically, and we would have complained to IBAC if police had gone in too hard, said the source, who also stressed the ALP believed that evidence to charge any MPs never existed as their conduct was not prohibited under the Crimes Act. The police files relate to operation Ocotillo, a 2018 probe into the red-shirt allegations. Operation Ocotillo was prompted by a scathing 2018 report by Ombudsman Deborah Glass into the affair. Former minister Adem Somyurek, who is facing an anti-corruption investigation into a separate alleged rort by Labor MPs, tried this week to distance himself from the red shirts affair. He said he had told Premier Daniel Andrews of his concerns in 2014 that public funds were being misused for political campaigns, but that the then opposition leader had dismissed his concerns. Adem Somyurek gives evidence before IBAC on Thursday. Credit: But the 2018 police files name Mr Somyurek first on the list of those detectives wished to question. The Age has chosen not to name the other MPs for legal reasons. Mr Andrews is not among them.

Mr Somyurek told the IBAC inquiry that the failure by the Ombudsman or police to act decisively had emboldened Labor MPs to continue misusing taxpayer funded resources for party political purposes. The police files, described in briefings from sources who could not be named for fear of losing their jobs, cast fresh light on internal tensions in the force over how hard to push the 2018 investigation. In February and October 2019, senior police advised they had sought advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions and would not prosecute any person over the scandal, although this legal advice has never been released. Detectives were told to describe MPs as persons of interest, not targets and were prevented from obtaining MPs phone records. Three sources with knowledge of the police inquiry said the investigation did not pursue all possible avenues and that a more robust approach of laying a criminal charge, or raiding and arresting select MPs, might have opened up fresh lines of inquiry or prompted suspects to co-operate with police.

The 2018 files describe how fraud squad detectives had been reviewing evidence gathered by the Ombudsmans inquiry and making their own inquiries before determining they needed to focus their investigations on a connection or nexus between timesheets filled out by Labor Party field organisers and the signing of these time sheets by MPs. A senior barrister they hired to advise police, Paul Holdenson, QC, also advised detectives to zero in on this issue. To do so, according to the documents, the fraud squad created an Operation Order in relation to the interviewing of 16 MPs or former MPs for the criminal offence of make and use a false document. Police documents also reveal that detectives intended to arrest, fingerprint, photograph and conduct a record of interview with some of the 16 serving or former MPs between October 15 and 18, 2018. A policing source said investigators believed they had the power to lawfully search and arrest some of the politicians and request they undertake a record of interview. Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass. Credit:Penny Stephens Police typically arrest, fingerprint, search and photograph suspects in many criminal cases, with the element of surprise and show of police intent sometimes encouraging suspects to co-operate with authorities rather than seek or follow legal advice.

But the detectives arrest plan was changed when senior police intervened, directing detectives to change their operational order. There were multiple changes to the Op Order and the order had to be revised a police file from late 2018 states. The files also state police were directed by high-ranking officers to ensure that the parliament members (MPs) not be searched, photographed or arrested if they are interviewed. The file says the intervention by senior police was to stay secret. Briefing notes distributed among detectives stressed there must be no mention of this information" to other police or anyone else, sources said. Sources said that the detectives operation order was amended multiple times by force command to ensure detectives subjected the politicians to no invasive police powers. One policing source also said detectives were told to describe MPs as persons of interest rather than targets, were prevented from using their powers to obtain MPs phone call records and directed a senior officer to liaise with suspect MPs, rather than investigators.

After the direction not to arrest and interview MPs, and the MPs refusal to conduct voluntary interviews, a police briefing note from October 2018 stated that investigating detectives had told their superiors that charges could still be laid. Loading The note stated it was the detectives recommendation that prosecution of the 16 MPs and former MPs be considered, even though no formal records of interview are provided, one of the sources said. Senior police were also told the fraud and extortion squad would still provide complete briefs of evidence dealing with the 16 MPs/former MPs even though no official record of interview exists. By October 18, according to the files, police had completed briefs of evidence against four Labor field officers who had been arrested and searched, including three who had provided comments during their record of interview. Mr Holdenson had also provided preliminary legal advice to police when the recommendation by detectives to their superiors to consider a prosecution was issued.
London: Rolls-Royce says the AUKUS security agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom and the US paves the way for Australia to embrace small modular nuclear reactors.

This week Rolls-Royce announced it had raised nearly 500 million ($915 million) in government and private equity funding to build its small modular reactor design.

Currently, no such reactors exist anywhere in the world, although China began construction of its first plant in July.

The future of nuclear power plants, according to Rolls-Royce. Credit:Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce believes it could begin building its first reactor in 2030 if it is given regulatory approval. It submitted the paperwork to regulators on Wednesday.
Thanks To All Of America's Veterans - History of Veterans Day

SEE ALSO: Fueled By The Fallen

AUTO CENTRAL - November 11th: World War I  known at the time as The Great War - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of the war to end all wars.

Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the countrys service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations"

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.

The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:

Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.

An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holidaya day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nations history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

President Eisenhower signing HR7786, changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. From left: Alvin J. King, Wayne Richards, Arthur J. Connell, John T. Nation, Edward Rees, Richard L. Trombla, Howard W. Watts

On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.

In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.

The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
New hymn released for Veterans Day

ROUND ROCK, TX - October 12, 2021: A new Army-focused hymn has been released for free nonprofit use in time for upcoming Veterans Day observances: "Ever Faithful to the Call," composed by Tom Lough. Veterans Day ceremonies and services for veterans typically feature songs from other military branches, but this free hymn honors the soldiers of the Army.

"I have longed for a Veterans Day hymn about our soldiers for many years," said Lough, 79, an Army veteran and church music composer living in Round Rock, Texas, "because there was nothing for them. Now, through the new hymn, Ever Faithful to the Call,' an overdue musical recognition for the Army soldiers can be included for this coming Veterans Day."

Free sheet music for the easy-to-sing hymn can be downloaded at www.everfaithfultothecall.com , along with a license for nonprofit use. Program planners and church music leaders are invited to download this free hymn for the Army soldiers and include it in their Veterans Day events and worship services.

For inspiration in developing the hymn honoring Army soldiers, Lough turned to chaplains, veterans, family members, and church music professionals for their ideas and reflections. He also connected the hymn to the Army core values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.

Could it become the Army Hymn? "Ever Faithful to the Call' is like no other Army-related song," Lough said, "so who knows what can happen?"

Click on the player below to listen to the hymn being sung by a choir. [Note: This audio file is for review purposes only.]
BERLIN, Nov. 10, 2021 -- China Evergrande Group today again defaulted on interest payments to international investors. DMSA itself is invested in these bonds and has not received any interest payments until today's end of the grace period. Now DMSA is preparing bankruptcy proceedings against Evergrande and calls on all bond investors to join it.

China Evergrande Group, the second largest real estate developer in China, defaulted on interest payments on two bonds back in September, with the 30-day grace period still ending in October. However, shortly before the end of the grace period, the public was misled by rumors about alleged interest payments. The international media also took the rumors for granted. Only the DMSA - Deutsche Marktscreening Agentur (German Market Screening Agency) already recognized the default at that time and proved in a study that the bankruptcy of Evergrande, the world's most indebted corporation, could ultimately lead to a "Great Reset", i.e. the final meltdown of the global financial system.

(Note to journalists: See DMSA press releases dated Oct. 25 and Oct. 29, 2021, and the DMSA study "The Great Reset - Evergrande and the Final Meltdown of the Global Financial System"; all available via the DMSA homepage www.dmsa-agentur.de.)

"But while the international financial market has so far met the financial turmoil surrounding the teetering giant Evergrande with a remarkable basic confidence - one can also say: with remarkable naivety - the U.S. central bank Fed confirmed our view yesterday," says DMSA senior analyst Dr. Marco Metzler. "In its latest stability report, it explicitly pointed out the dangers that a collapse of Evergrande could have for the global financial system."

In order to be able to file for bankruptcy against the company as a creditor, DMSA itself invested in Evergrande bonds, whose grace period expired today (Nov. 10, 2021). In total, Evergrande would have had to pay $148.13 million in interest on three bonds no later than today. "But so far we have not received any interest on our bonds," explains Metzler. He adds, "With banks in Hong Kong closing today, it's certain that these bonds have defaulted."

(Note to editors: Exact details of the bonds that have defaulted so far can be found in the appendix to this press release.)

Particularly problematic for Evergrande: all 23 outstanding bonds have a cross-default clause. "This means that if a single one of these bonds defaults, all 23 outstanding bonds automatically have 'default' status" DMSA senior analyst Metzler knows. However, this does not automatically result in a bankruptcy for Evergrande Group. To determine bankruptcy, a insolvency petition must be filed with the court. This can be done either by the company itself or by one or more of the company's creditors. And this is precisely what is now planned. Metzler: "DMSA is preparing bankruptcy proceedings against Evergrande. We are already holding talks with other investors in this regard. We would be pleased if other investors were to join our action group."

For the DMSA expert, it is clear: "As soon as a court opens insolvency proceedings, Evergrande will also be officially bankrupt - and that is only a matter of days."

Bond Name Regular coupon

payment date End of the

goodwill period

("grace period") Total interest

payment (in US$ million) EVERRE 8.25% due 2022 2021.09.21 22.10.2021 83.53 EVERRE 9.5% due 2024 2021.09.29 28.10.2021 45.17 Total not paid

in October 2021



128.70 EVERRE 9.5% due 2022 2021.10.11 2021.11.10 68.88 EVERRE 10% due 2023 2021.10.11 2021.11.10 42.50 EVERRE 10.5% due 2024 2021.10.11 2021.11.10 32.75 Total not paid in November 2021



148.13

Source: DMSA, own research

About DMSA Deutsche Markt Screening Agentur GmbH:

DMSA Deutsche Markt Screening Agentur GmbH, is an independent data service that collects and evaluates market-relevant information on companies, products and services. DMSA sees itself as an advocate for consumers, private customers and intelligent investors. The claim: to always look at companies and providers, products and services through the eyes of the customers. The customers are the focus of DMSA's work. For them, important and decision-relevant information is bundled and presented as market screenings. The aim is to create more transparency for consumers when selecting products, investments and services.

Press release:

http://www.dmsa-agentur.de/download/20211110_DMSA_EVG_PM_en.pdf

Press contact:

Inga Oldewurtel

Press Officer

[email protected]

Tel.: +49 176 62 26 18 97

Responsible for the content:

DMSA Deutsche Markt Screening Agentur GmbH

Wichertstrae 13

10439 Berlin

Germany

Michael Ewy

Managing Director

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Pennsylvania court strikes down school mask mandate

Commonwealth Media Services Pennsylvanias acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam

A Commonwealth Court ruling issued Wednesday struck down Pennsylvanias school mask mandate.

Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon wrote in a 31-page opinion that acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam lacked the authority to implement a masking order without complying with the regulatory process outlined in the Commonwealth Documents Law and the Regulatory Review Act, effectively rending the policy void ab initio or void from the beginning.

For this Court to rule otherwise would be tantamount to giving the Acting Secretary unbridled authority to issue orders with the effect of regulations in the absence of either a gubernatorial proclamation of disaster emergency or compliance with the Commonwealth Documents Law and the Regulatory Review Act, as passed by the General Assembly, Cannon wrote. As this would be contrary to Pennsylvanias existing law, we decline to do so.

The decision delivers a blow to Gov. Tom Wolf, whos emergency authority had been upheld in past court challenges, and calls into question an October decision by the Joint Committee on Documents that determined the masking order was not subject to the regulatory process.

Republicans in the House and Senate applauded the ruling as a constitutional win after more than 18 months of failed lawsuits, vetoes and legislative obstacles they argue allowed the administrations powers to go unchecked.

This debate has never been about the effectiveness of masks in schools, or any other setting, House Speaker Bryan Cutler, R-Quarryville, said. It is about whether or not each branch of our state government and the officials who work in those branches will follow the law and respect our Constitutions design that directs the legislative branch to make the laws that govern our people.

Cannon wrote in the ruling the decision passes no judgement on the effectiveness of mask wearing in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Todays ruling is a victory for all Pennsylvanians, regardless of how you feel about this particular issue, Cutler said. It shows that our system of checks and balances works in the interest of all people, so that no singular voice can silence the voice of free people who allow themselves to be governed.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Bellefonte, and Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Greensburg, expressed gratitude for the ruling, saying in a joint statement the law is clear that Beam lacks the authority to create new rules and regulations out of thin air.

Todays ruling validates what we have said all along  mask decisions should be made by parents and school boards, not unelected bureaucrats, the leaders said. A blanket mandate does not address the unique needs and circumstances of individual communities, and it takes power away from the people who are in the best position to protect our kids.

Beam implemented a statewide masking order for all public, private and parochial schools Sept. 7 after COVID-19 cases in school children skyrocketed more than 300% between mid-July and late-August. At the time, fewer than 15% of districts had opted to require masks indoors; a fact Wolf said was spurred by misinformation and pressure from Republican lawmakers.

Wolfs administrations about face on the issue generated confusion and frustration among local school district officials, who complained about the lack of direction and support from the state in enforcing the mandate. Many already had begun the school year when Beam issued the order.

Wolf announced earlier this week the statewide order would expire Jan. 17, at which time districts could make their own decision on masking.
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'The best I can be:' Alcoa veteran joined Army at 17, spent decades conquering health trials

Courtesy of the Blount County Veterans Affairs U.S. Army veteran Victor Hodge visits the Blount County Veterans Affairs office. He holds a picture of himself when he served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant doing maintenance on surface-to-air missiles in the late 1970s. Courtesy of Victor Hodge and Renee Sudderth U.S. Army Sgt. Victor Hodge stands next to missiles that he worked on during his military service in the late 1970s. Today he is 62 and lives in the Hall Community in Alcoa. Courtesy of J.R. Sudderth and Renee Sudderth A young Victor Hodge sits on a motorcycle with Richard Cooper (far left), Curtis McBath, Robert Henry and Kendall Lenoir. Andrew Jones | The Daily Times Victor Hodge led the Hall/Oldfield community historical marker unveiling ceremony on Oct. 16. The markers were part of Alcoas Centennial Celebration and were paid for by the city and a donation from the Arconic Foundation.

When Victor Hodge was 17, he saw Uncle Sam pointing at him and knew what he had to do.

We were going up to Maryville and there was a big sign on a building that said Uncle Sam wants you, Hodge remembered. Hes 62 today, but he was only 17 when he told his mother, Betty Jo Hodge, that he wanted to join the military.

Betty wasnt sure her son could make it in the service and told him as much.

Victor Hodge worked for the city of Alcoa in high school, cutting brush. He knew that work wasnt what he was meant to do. That just wasnt going to get it for me, he said.

But his mothers concerns were valid. Victor had struggled with kidney problems since before he was 6 years old and she wasnt sure how far he could make it.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1978, however, persevering despite his health struggles. He was moved from East Tennessee to El Paso, Texas, at Fort Bliss where he did his basic training. Then he was posted near the Florida Everglades at Homestead Air Reserve Base  once called Homestead Air Force Base.

There he was a Hercules Missile crewman, doing maintenance on the surface-to-air weapon. One picture taken during his service shows him leaning against one of the behemoth missiles, grinning.

Starting out was hard, though, Hodge said. Barely out of high school and trying to find lifes purpose, he found himself frightened during his first week in the service.

It was scary, he said. It was very scary because I was 17, never been away from home. Everyone was telling me I cant do this and I cant do that.

So he called his grandmother.

She said, Victor, I always told you God had a plan for you. So dont worry. Just keep believing in Him, Hodge remembered.

And thats what he did.

His faith would come to play a more important role in his life than hed ever imagined. By August 1980, his medical issues became so significant that he took a medical discharge from the service.

His medical condition would lead to total kidney failure.

Hodge has been on dialysis for 38 years now and uses a wheelchair to get around.

In a profile of Hodge published on splashmags.com in 2020, writer and former Alcoa resident Renee Sudderth talked to the veteran about how his health struggles sidelined him from an early age.

During his school years, it upset him that he couldnt play any sports, Sudderth wrote. He had to sit on the sidelines to watch. He even had to sit back and watch all his friends join the community motorcycle club known as the Optimus Club who traveled and won many Parades Best Showing. Because his friends loved him and he loved them, they allowed him in the motorcycle club even though he didnt have a motorcycle. He said he still had the best time ever.

Hodges optimism helped him through decades of physical struggle and inspired him to be a community advocate wherever possible.

This mid-October saw him lead a historical marker unveiling for the iconic Hall and Oldfield communities in Alcoa  his familys home through the years.

Today, Hodge and his wife, Valeria, have eight children and nearly 20 grandchildren.

The biggest thing was the love that was shown and given to me in Alcoa, he said. People loved me and watched out for me. Thats what helped me become who I was because I love everybody and everything.

His Hall Community family, related and not, have cared for him through the years. More recently, Hodge survived COVID-19-related hospitalization, only to come out and lead the marker-unveiling ceremony.

Im just trying to be the best I can be knowing that God has my life, Hodge said. I have three brothers and two sisters and all of them are in good health. So I had to believe in what God had for Victor.

Hodge doesnt let his condition keep him indoors. He often can be found at the site of what used to be the Commercial Building, later renamed the Martin Luther King Center.

He comes there in his wheelchair every day he can, to soak up the sun, talk to people, remember the past and dream about the future.

Hodge and his wife are involved at the current Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center and have advocated for the next generation of Hall Community leaders.

At the center of it all is Hodges perseverance, faith and aspirations to be an example of personal strength.

I feel like thats part of what God has for me to help other people understand that He is our leader, he said. If people see what I went through and see that I have real high spirits, that should help them not worry.

Editors note: Writer and former Alcoa resident Renee Sudderth profiled Hodge in a Nov. 10, 2020, article on splashmags.com and helped The Daily Times report some details included in this article and the photography accompanying it.
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10 States Sue Biden Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers

A coalition of 10 states led by Missouris attorney general on Nov. 10 sued President Joe Biden over his administrations COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health care workers.

A federal court has blocked, for now, the administrations private employer vaccine mandate, although a stricter one focused on health care workers remains in place.

The health care worker mandate, which covers more than 17 million nurses and others, doesnt include a testing opt-out.

The coalition says the mandate is unlawful under federal law in part because the federal government is trying to wrest away compulsory vaccination power that has always been the province ofand still properly belongs tothe states.

Vaccination requirements are matters that depends on local factors and conditions. Whatever might make sense in New York City, St Louis, or Omaha could be decidedly counterproductive and harmful in rural communities like Memphis, Missouri or McCook, Nebraska, the 58-page filing in federal court in Missouri states.

Federalism allows states to tailor such matters in the best interests of their communities. The heavy hand of CMSs nationwide mandate does not. This court should thus set aside that rule as unlawful agency action under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The mandate is poised to exacerbate an already alarming shortage of health care workers, the coalition said. As proof, they cite Dr. Randy Tobler, the CEO of Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri. He said that people working in his hospital told him that if the mandate takes effect, they wont work there.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson, and Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor filed the suit along with the attorneys general of Arkansas, Kansas, Iowa, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and New Hampshire. All are Republicans.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS), the agency that issued the rule, and the White House didnt immediately return requests for comment on the lawsuit.

A nurse prepares a Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination in Los Angeles on Aug. 23, 2021. (Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

The Biden administration asserts that the mandate will curb the transmission and spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. The rule acknowledges that many health care workers have recovered from COVID-19 and have some level of immunity as a result. But, citing a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study that was challenged by some scientists, CMS says natural immunity isnt allowed as an alternative to vaccination.

CDC officials have acknowledged natural immunity exists but say even those with it can benefit from vaccination. A number of health experts share the view, but a host of others say vaccination isnt necessary among the recovered.

CMS officials say the agency has the legal authority to issue a vaccine mandate through several sections of the Social Security Act, though the rule notes that CMS has never required vaccinations before.

Health care facilities that dont comply with the mandate face a series of penalties, including fines. They could be ousted from Medicare and Medicaid programs, a senior administration official told reporters on a call last week.

One official later explained why theres not a testing opt-out, a major difference between the rule and the private employer mandate.

We have a higher bar for health care workers, given their critical role in ensuring the health and safety of their patients, the official said. And so its either vaccination or an exemption under the rules outlined.
50 Plus Top Legal Figures Sign Letter Against Sweeping Victorian Pandemic Bill

Prominent legal figures are continuing their vocal opposition to impending pandemic laws that will allow the government to rule the state of Victoria by decree.

The letter, signed by 59 members of the Victorian Bar, warned that the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 gave unlimited and practically unreviewable power to the health minister and premier.

It follows earlier concerns raised by Christopher Blanden Q.C., the president of the Bar Association, in an internal newsletter to members.

The Bill would allow the Victorian premier to place the state under a pandemic declaration when he is satisfied there is a serious risk to public health. These declarations can last three months at a time and can be renewed as many times as possible.

When a declaration is in force, pandemic orders can be issued where it is deemed reasonably necessary to protect public health.

Not only is this threshold low, but it does not need to be satisfied objectivelyit is enough if the Minister subjectively believes that the order is reasonably necessary, the letter stated.

The content of an order is unlimited, according to Bar members, who noted that it includes issuing decrees around closing borders, mask mandates, and even detention of individuals.

The letter also outlined concerns around how orders can target specific classes of individuals even based on political belief or activity.

It also decried the weak accountability measures built into the Bill, saying two committees set up to provide oversight, the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee, and the Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee, are flawed, with the latter comprising members chosen by the government.

The Bill also gives broad and unchecked powers to authorised officers, including the power to take any action, give direction, or detain a person for the sake of protecting public health. The Bar said there were 382 such officers in the state.

It is one thing to allow temporary rule by decree to deal with an unforeseen and extraordinary emergency in circumstances of extreme urgency. It is something else altogether to entrench rule by decree as a longterm norm, the letter said.

In our view, this is antithetical to basic democratic principles and should not be allowed to happen, it continued.

We are now more than 18 months into the pandemic. It has become clear what sort of powers might be required to deal with it. There is no need to give the government of the day a blank cheque to rule by decree.

The Bar called on the Parliament to amend the Bill or vote against it.

The Bill has already cleared the lower house of the Victorian Parliament, with the Labor government having negotiated for some time with enough members of the upper house to ensure the passage of the proposed legislation is likely.

Thousands of Victorians have protested publicly against the proposed Bill, among a slew of issues related to the governments handling of the pandemic.

A petition to repeal the Bill, on the Rebel News website has garnered 82,000 signatures as of Nov. 11.
The logo of General Electric is shown at their subsidiary company GE Aviation in Santa Ana, Calif., on April 13, 2016. (Mike Blake/File Photo/Reuters)

A Statement of Confidence: General Electric Analysts React to Breakup Plans

General Electric Company shares pulled back 1 percent on Wednesday after rallying on Tuesday following news the company is planning to break into three different entities.

GE announced it will divide into three different companies focusing on aviation, health care and energy. GE is hoping the split will allow the company to unlock value for investors after shares have lagged the market for more than 20 years.

GE said it plans to spin-off its health care unit by early 2023 and its energy unit by early 2024. GE has been selling off assets and attempting to improve its bloated balance sheet for several years now. Earlier this year, GE sold its aviation financing unit and said proceeds from the sale should allow GE to reduce its gross debt to below $65 billion by the end of 2021.

Unfortunately, GE said the spin-offs will cost the company about $2 billion in transaction and operational costs. GE also said it now expects at least $7 billion in 2023 free cash flow.

Voices From the Street

Bank of America analyst Andrew Obin said GE bears will argue the stock has become dead money until the spin-offs.

We view the break-up as less about unlocking the sum-of-the-parts value as creating value going forward through operational focus and better capital allocation, Obin wrote in a note.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Deane Dray said the GE breakup has been highly anticipated for years, and the companys updated FCF guidance is a positive.

We are fans of the plan and believe the company is embarking on the three-way separation from a position of strength, Dray wrote.

Wells Fargo analyst Joseph ODea said GE is now well-positioned for the next step of its transformation.

We see the decision to break up as a statement of confidence in the success of efforts over the past several years to simplify GE and improve the operational performance, ODea wrote.

Ratings and Price Targets

Bank of America has a Buy rating and $140 target.

RBC Capital Markets has an Outperform rating and $130 target.

Wells Fargo has an Equal Weight rating and $120 target.

By Wayne Duggan

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Actor Alec Baldwin and Producers of Rust Sued Over Fatal Shooting of Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

Actor Alec Baldwin is being sued by a crew member on the film Rust following the fatal on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last month.

Hutchins, 42, was fatally shot on Oct. 21 when Baldwin, 63, pointed a .45 Long Colt revolver in the direction of Hutchins and director Joel Souza while rehearsing a gunfight scene. The revolver discharged a suspected live round, killing Hutchins and wounding Souza, 48.

The films head of lighting, Serge Svetnoy, is suing the actor and producers of the movie, accusing them of general negligence, in a lawsuit (pdf), filed on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

This incident was caused by the negligent acts and omissions of defendants, and each of them, as well as their agents, principles and employers, the lawsuit reads.

Simply put, there was no reason for a live bullet to be placed in that .45 Colt revolver or to be present anywhere on the Rust set, and the presence of a bullet in a revolver posed a lethal threat to everyone in its vicinity.

The lawsuit goes on to accuse the defendants, among other acts of negligence, of failing to implement and maintain industry standards for custody and control over firearms used on the set, allowing real bullets to be used, and failing to properly inspect the firearm that was used before passing it to Baldwin, instead allowing it to be loaded with a live bullet.

It also accused defendants of failing to hire a competent and experienced armorer for the movie and of observing basic gun safety practices on the set.

Svetnoy gave an emotional account of the incident in the lawsuit, referring to Hutchins as a close friend and explaining how the bullet had narrowly missed him.

Svetnoy said he had held the cinematographer in his arms for 30 minutes as her consciousness faded and was overcome with emotion, shock, grief, trauma, and anxiety before Hutchins eventually passed away.

The lawsuit is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory and general damages against each of the defendants.

Halyna Hutchins at the 70th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, on May 20, 2017. (Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Last week, attorneys representing the films armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed alleged that a disgruntled and unhappy individual may have intended to sabotage the set by replacing dummy rounds of ammunition with live rounds.

Speaking on NBCs Today show, attorneys Jason Bowles and Robert Gorence, who represent the 24-year-old armorer, explained that there was a box of bullets on the set that should have contained only dummy rounds that Gutierrez Reed should have been able to rely on, and pulled from to load the gun.

Bowles said he believes it was possible that a third party may have put a live round in the box, and that they had to have had the purpose of sabotaging the set when doing so, but noted that this is just one of the theories he and Gorence are currently exploring.

I believe that somebody who would do that would want to sabotage the set, want to prove a point, want to say that theyre disgruntled, theyre unhappy, Bowles said. And we know that people had already walked off the set the day before and they were unhappy.

We have a time frame between 11 [a.m.] and 1 [p.m.], approximately, that day, in which the firearms at times were unattended, so there was opportunity to tamper with this scene, the attorney added.

The Epoch Times hasnt verified Bowless claims that firearms were left unattended on set during that time period.

Lane Luper, the former head of the movies camera department, told Good Morning America on Nov. 3 that he quit production the day before the shooting occurred, citing firearms safety concerns and delays in pay, among other issues.

In my 10 years as a camera assistant, Ive never worked on a show that cares so little for the safety of its crew, Luper wrote in his resignation letter, some of which was aired on GMA.

On Twitter, Baldwin has reposted comments made by a costume designer on the set who claimed that concerns were met and addressed and that several safety meetings took place.

Producers have also doubled-down on claims that safety was a priority on set and have refuted Lupers claims.

Mr. Lupers allegations around budget and safety are patently false, which is not surprising considering his job was to be a camera operator, and he had absolutely nothing to do with, or knowledge of, safety protocols or budgets. As we continue to cooperate with all investigations, we are limited in what we can say, producers said in a statement to ABC News. However, safety is always the No. 1 priority on our films, and it is truly awful to see some using this tragedy for personal gain.

Officials investigating the fatal shooting havent ruled out charges for anyone involved.
Sherman Oaks Actor Escapes Follow-Home Robbery Attempt, Shooting

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif.Actor and former BET host Terrence Jenkins escaped what he said was an attempted robbery at his home in Sherman Oaks Nov. 10 after a group of armed suspects followed him to his residence.

Police were called to the home near Valley Vista and Kester Avenue, where the attempted robbery had occurred at 3:01 a.m., said Officer Lizeth Lomeli of the Los Angeles Police Department, who declined to confirm the identity of the victim.

According to TMZ, Jenkins, known as Terrence J, told cops he escaped what appears to be an attempted robbery just outside his home  and he also says the alleged suspects fired shots at him.

No injuries were reported.

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Jenkins was pulling into his driveway in Sherman Oaks at around 3 a.m. when another car pulled up with four men inside, one of whom ordered Jenkins out of his vehicle.

Were told he refused the command, and took off in his carand Terrence told cops the suspects chased him and fired at his car  before they fled, TMZ reported.

The suspects fled in what police said was a Silver Jeep Cherokee.

Police are examining surveillance video in the area.

The attempted robbery comes only days after the LAPD issued a safety bulletin about how to be aware of ones surroundings due to an increase in violent street robberies.

(Courtesy of the Los Angeles Police Department)
Matthew McConaughey attends HISTORY Talks Leadership & Legacy presented by HISTORY at Carnegie Hall on February 29, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for HISTORY)

Actor Matthew McConaughey Says He Opposes COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for Children, Needs More Information About Shots

Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey says he is against COVID-19 vaccine mandates for children and will not be forcing his own kids to get the shot until he has more information about them.

The 52-year-old actor is married to Brazilian-American model and designer Camila Alves and the couple share sons Levi, 13, and Livingston, 8, and daughter Vida, 11.

Speaking at The New York Timess DealBook summit on Tuesday, McConaughey explained that while he himself has received both vaccination shots, he plans to hold out a little while longer before deciding whether to not to have his children vaccinated too.

His comments come after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Nov. 2 recommended that nearly every child in the United States between 5 and 11 get Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine.

Over 1.6 million children are either getting Pfizers vaccine already or scheduled to get it, Biden administration officials said in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday.

We just said we can vaccinate kids. I want to trust in the science, McConaughey said Tuesday. Do I think that theres any kind of scam or conspiracy theory? Hell no I dont. We all got to get off that narrative. Theres not a conspiracy theory on the vaccines.

The actor noted that he and his wife are both vaccinated, and that, I didnt do it because someone told me I had to. I chose to do it.

McConaughey said his 90-year-old mother Kay, who lives with the family, is also vaccinated and has received a booster shot but that he has reservations when it comes to vaccinations and children.

Right now, Im not vaccinating [my young children], Ill tell you that, he said.

I couldnt mandate having to vaccinate the younger kids. I still want to find out more information, he continued. Theres gonna come a time, thoughand there has already in these last two years, obviouslytherell come a time where youre gonna have to roll the dice one way or the other and go, where are the numbers in my favor? Im vaccinated. Wifes vaccinated.  Were over here just trying to live as healthy a lifestyle as possible, but I couldnt mandate it for kids just yet.

An average of 300,000 shots of Pfizer have been administered to children aged between 5 and 11 in the United States within the last 7 days, and 700,000 of the kids are scheduled to get a shot at pharmacies in the coming days, the White House said Wednesday.

There are approximately 28 million children between 5 and 11 in America and the vaccine is also being administered at schools, malls, clinics, childrens hospitals, and doctors offices.

While the Biden administration has been pushing to vaccinate children with kid-sized doses, which are one-third the amount of the normal shot, some experts who oppose them say kids are at little risk of severe disease when they contract COVID-19.

Separately, Director Rochelle Walensky told reporters Wednesday that parents have been breathing a sigh of relief after the jab was expanded to the age group.

While children remain more resilient than adults to this virus, they still remain at risk. And with the help of vaccines, we can prevent COVID-19 and many other diseases that were once fatal, Walensky said.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
After War, the Journey Home Takes a Lifetime

Sailor Lawrence Markworth was eager to jump in the whaleboat to help search for a downed American pilot in the ocean near Vietnam in 1964. The war was in full swing.

We spotted a helmet bobbing in the water, and it looked like he was alive. We were all excited: Were going to rescue a pilot. This is so cool,' he recalled.

We get up to him  but he was dead. I remember everybody hoisting him aboard, and the ship was just silent. It was  I dont know, these things are still difficult to talk about.

The pilots death brought back the death of his father, for which he blamed himself. A week before his deployment, Markworth had performed CPR on his father at home. His father didnt survive, and Markworth carried his grief and self-blame into his deployment. He returned stateside two years later at age 20 with wartime trauma piled on.

Were not taught how to resolve these issues in this country. So the journey home is a lifetime, Markworth told The Epoch Times on Nov. 7.

Markworth enlisted in the Navy in November 1962 at age 18 and served on the USS Castor as an electricians mate for two years, based out of Japan.

Now 77, he has spent decades battling addictions and his deeper wounds of moral injury and feeling betrayed by his country. He also battled the Veterans Administration (VA) for years over his exposure to Agent Orange and the illnesses he subsequently developed.

Its more difficult to return than sometimes it is to go to war, he said. The day I got out of the military, I was so happy. And yet, I didnt realize that it was going to be some of the darkest times of my life.

Psychotherapist Ed Tick, who has worked with veterans for 45 years, said the VAs treatment of veterans in the United States is woefully inadequate and mostly dependent on medicationswhich the veterans dont want.

He has spent decades researching how different cultures help heal their returning warriors, including an 11-year apprenticeship with a Native American medicine man.

Military service and warfare are such extraordinarily penetrating and transformational experiences that they do live in the veterans minds and hearts as about the most important and intense thing they ever experienced. So for the rest of us, well, the wars over. But for them, no, its never over, Tick said.

The homecoming for a veteran, then, is a very serious, demanding moral, psychological, spiritual, cultural challenge.

Vietnam veterans suffered especially harshly after returning from war because they were treated cruelly. Some were called baby killers. Others were spat on. On top of that, many were drafted into the war and went against their will.

This is one reason theres no PTSD in Vietnam, like there is here, Tick said, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder.

In Vietnam, they dont blame the troops, and they dont even blame Americans. The Vietnamese say, You American veterans were also victims of the war. We are all brothers and sisters, because we survived the same hell.'

Tick has taken veterans to Vietnam every year since 2000 (until the pandemic) on a pilgrimage that has provided them a profound healing experience, especially when it comes to the burdens of moral injury and betrayal.

Moral injury is defined as a wound to the soul caused by participation in events that violate ones deeply held sense of right and wrong.

So we might go to war because were ordered to, and we might be a medic or a supply clerk, but were still supporting the war. And if we dont believe in it, were still helping and supporting that war, and that will cause moral injury. Even witnessing morally questionable acts will cause moral injury, Tick said.

Moral injury symptoms include profound shame, guilt, betrayal, grief, and alienation.

Moral injury is at the heart of PTSD. Its almost never the case that we find PTSD without moral injury, Tick said.

We really have to get our warriors in service and our veterans afterward to feel safe and secure so they can deeply explore their own conscience and their own value system and how they feel about what they did. And then give them opportunities for restoring and recovering those more esoteric moral dimensions of their being.

Markworth went to college after leaving the Navy in August 1966 and took seven years to gain a bachelors degree.

I really struggled because I didnt know who I was and Id lost part of my soul. He said he went full blown into the anti-war movement in San Francisco to help resolve his anger and shame that he had served in Vietnam and that he was part of the problem.

I became a radical. I was a hippie. I was a Marxist radical. It was another avenue to relieve my pain.

He first sought help through a therapist in 1969 after telling his girlfriend at the time that he was planning his suicide. Markworth said it saved his life, and hes been in and out of therapy since.

However, he said his trip to Vietnam in 2017 with Tick was the most healing thing Ive done in terms of my service.

At first, he was apprehensive about going, thinking the Vietnamese people would tell him hes not welcome and to go home.

It was just the opposite. Wed walk down the street, and they would come upand these veterans, some of them disabled, would shake our hands, Markworth said.

And then when we meet with thempeople from the North Vietnamese Army, or the Viet Congtheyd all say: We were both doing what we thought was right. Were warriors. And, you now are our friends.

They were just amazing. So accepting, forgiving. There were a lot of tears. And then they would tell war stories. And there were four Army guys and me, and these guys found out they were at the same place at the same time fighting the same battle, on different sides.

6 Steps For a Warriors Return

Tick has developed a six-step pathway for healing as veterans return home, based on his research and experience from other cultures. He follows the steps during his retreats within the United States, as well as the trips overseas, and theyre described in full in his book Warriors Return. Tick also published a new book this month, Coming Home In Viet Nam.

The first step is isolation and tending, where the warrior is taken care of and can rest.

Its wrong to bring warriors right home and put them back right into their family in their community, because the war is still in them. The first task of the community or the tribe is to take the war out of the warrior, Tick said.

The second step is called affirmation of destiny and requires the veteran to acknowledge what they did and what happened to them. This is the reality I lived and this is what I have to carry forward, he said.

The third step is an intense purification and cleansing stage. Tick said Native Americans use sweat lodges and vision quests, while the early Judeo-Christian tradition used fire and water to cleanse themselves and their weapons, and priests to help purify them. And they were not allowed to go home until they had gone through that process, Tick said.

The fourth step is storytelling, through talking, creative writing, painting, or any form of arts.

The Japanese samurai gave us some of the greatest landscape painters and Haiku poets. The Celtic warrior tradition said you cant have your sword unless you learn to play a drum or a fife or a pipe. You had to have an art form to balance the killing arts, Tick said.

The fifth step is restitution, which includes forgiveness and atonement, and involves both the community and the warrior. The community has to share the burden of responsibility, he said.

You acted in my name, I paid the bills, I sent you. You didnt do this on your own. And it wasnt your decision, you were doing it representing me and our country, and you thought you were protecting me. So I take responsibility for you. And for whatever you did, and Ill carry it with you, and Ill help you come home, he said.

And the warriors need to own what they did, and practice some form of atonement. Atonement is a step in action to put the world back together where we harmed it.

On his trips to Vietnam, the veterans have helped to build schools and houses, helped Agent Orange victims, and given cash and gifts to families in areas where the veterans fought.

Whenever we do this  40 or 50 years of taking medications and VA therapy to heal PTSD and it hasnt gone away. And these activities and two weeks in Vietnam, and our veterans turn into laughing, joyous, happy, smiling people and their PTSD disappears, Tick said. It doesnt always work, but it usually does.

The sixth and final step is initiation as a warrior, usually through a ceremony.

Traditional cultures didnt call somebody a warrior until they could carry the experience without traumatic breakdown. Because warriors are supposed to become community elders and leaders and teachers after service. So I dont help my veterans become civilians, Tick said.

Again, I tell them, You cant, you wont. You can live with civilians, you can serve in civilian society, as a teacher and an elder, but youre always going to be a warrior.'

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University of Alabama at Burmingham Hospital building in March 2017. (Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)

Alabama Child Breaks Record for Most Premature Infant to Survive

An Alabama boy was announced on Wednesday as the worlds most premature infant to survive, according to Guinness World Records.

Curtis Means, now 16 months old, was born nearly 19 weeks early on July 5, 2020, at UAB Hospital at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. His survival after being born at just 132 days is now a world record.

Means was just 14.8 ounces at birth, less than one pound, and did not have a high survival rate.

The newborns survival did not come easily. Breathing from a ventilator, young Curtis was not able to go home until April 6, a total of 275 days in the hospital.

The medical staff told me that they dont normally keep babies at that age, mother Michelle Chelly Butler told Guinness World Records.

Brian Sims was the attending physician on-call when Butler arrived to give birth.

Numbers show that babies born so young have little to no chances of survival, Sims said. We typically advise for compassionate care in situations of such extremely preterm births. This allows the parents to hold their babies and cherish what little time they may have together.

Curtis was not alone in his delivery. Also delivered was his twin sister, CAsya. Sadly, she did not respond to treatment and passed away just one day after her birth.

Hes very active. Im tired already! Chelly told Guinness World Records in the interview.

Im very proud of him because where he came from and where he at now, I can tell the difference, Chelly added. Having this record is a blessing that he has accomplished and Im thankful that [Guinness World Records] accepted him.

Chelly was less concerned about setting a record as she endured the monthslong battle for her young sons survival throughout his time at UAB. The family now celebrates Curtis being at home and continuing to develop normally as he marks what would have been his expected first birthday.

Guinness noted the previous record-holder was Richard Hutchinson from Wisconsin, born 131 days premature in 2020. Curtis broke the previous record by a month.

Doctors at the Childrens Minnesota Hospital in Minneapolis tried to prepare the couple for the worst and told them that he had a zero percent chance of survival.

I was kind of numb because being on all the pain meds and I was trying to keep myself in a positive place, Beth said.

Nearly 48 hours later, on June 5, 2020, Richard Scott William Hutchinson was born at a gestational age of 21 weeks and two days, making him 131 days premature.

Prior to Hutchinson, the record had been unbroken for 34 years. Canadian-born James Elgin Gill was born 128 days premature in 1987.

SWNS contributed to this report.
Voter enters a polling station at Floyd Middle Magnet School during the Democratic presidential primary in Montgomery, Alabama on March 3, 2020. (Joshua Lott/AFP via Getty Images)

Alabama Gerrymandering Lawsuit Brings Political Maneuvring as Democrats Aim to Increase Presence

A recent gerrymandering federal lawsuit against the state of Alabama highlights the unending fight between political parties to decide on congressional districts.

In Alabama, the latest episode in this conflict is a challenge to a redistricting the state made in 2011. The federal lawsuit argues that the state drew districts to pack largely Democrat-voting African Americans into a single district.

By doing so, Republican-controlled Alabama ensured one solidly Democratic district and six Republican districts.

Two of the lawsuits plaintiffs are Alabama Democratic politicians. Alabama state senator Rodger Smitherman and state senator Bobby Singleton, who are African American.

If their lawsuit succeeds, Alabamas congressional districts will be redrawn to have five Republican districts and two districts that could go narrowly to the Democrats.

The lawsuit argues that Alabamas 7th Congressional District unfairly clustered minority voters. The district is 55 percent African American.

Alabama Republican Party chair John Wahl said that the previous district arrangement was both fair and appreciated by minorities.

If were really concerned about minority rights, we want to protect minorities and make sure they have a voice representing them in Congress, said Wahl. What I seem to be seeing happen now is just an attempt to make sure that theres Democrat representation.

Wahl said that another Democrat district in Arkansas isnt fair. Alabamas population is 29 percent African American, but the states ties to the Republican Party are far deeper. In 2020, 63 percent of state residents voted for Donald Trump.

If all seven congressional districts were split fairly without any attempt to put communities anywhere, we would have seven Republican districts and no Democratic districts and seven white districts with no minority districts, he said.

Voters exit after casting their ballots at a polling station setup in the fire department at Gallant, Alabama on Dec.12, 2017. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Alabama ranks as one of Americas most conservative states, but this change could allow Democrats a chance to increase their political power there.

If fairness means majority rule, Republicans should win all of Alabama. But if fairness means proportionate representation, African Americans should choose about a third of Alabamas candidates.

So which answer is it?

The Supreme Court decided that federal courts cannot hear political gerrymandering challenges because districting questions like this one are inherently political.

But the Voting Rights Act of 1965 complicates this issue by outlawing race-based gerrymander, even when it impacts politics. Because 80 percent of African Americans self-identify as Democrat, this question is concerningly political.

According to counsel Mitchell Brown for the non-partisan Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), judging the difference between legal partisan gerrymandering and illegal racial gerrymandering can be difficult.

The SCSJ receives money from George Soross left-wing Foundation to Promote Open Society as well as the left-wing Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.

That is the million-dollar question, said Brown. There is definitely an overlap between partisan affiliation and race.

Brown said one possible answer as to whether a gerrymander is illegal is based on whether it harms minorities. Alabamas maps guarantee minorities a few representatives, but they also cluster African American voting power into one district.

But this approach grounds claims that Alabamas districts are illegal on implied connections rather than indisputable fact.

The more circumstantial evidence you have, the more the court understands the connection between the two, said Brown.

Poll station workers wait for voters at the Martin Luther King Nutrition Center during the presidential primary in Selma, Alabama on March 3, 2020. (Joshua Lott/AFP via Getty Images)

Making congressional districts fair involves uncertainties, said Theodore Arrington, a retired professor of political science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina.

Arrington was part of a successful 2012 lawsuit against Alabama that argued districts needed more minority voters.

Good districts follow natural boundaries, observe local government lines, provide proportionate representation, he said.

But a smart politician can follow all these rules and still make unfair districts, he said.

If youre clever, you can appear to follow all of those traditional district lines, and still create a gerrymander, said Arrington.

Sometimes, gerrymandering attempts can inadvertently result in competitive districts.

Republicans werent always in charge of Alabama, said Arrington. In 2000, Democrats in charge attempted to create gerrymandered districts.

But they messed up, he said. He called it dummy-mandering.

You get greedy, and you cut too many districts too close to the margin, he said. And the Republicans took those districts.

But when Republicans took power, they drew districts to their own advantage, said Arrington.

The new district suggested by the lawsuit would have 40 percent African American voters. As Democrats did in the early 2000s, it would trade certainty for the chance at a higher political payout.

Even if the lawsuit wins, only time will tell whether this choice will profit the Democrats of Alabama.



Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the state name of Alabama.


A man walks past an Ant Group logo at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, China on July 8, 2021. (Yilei Sun/Reuters)

Ant Group Starts to Differentiate Consumer Loan Business From Bank Loans

Jack Mas Ant Group is undergoing a brand differentiation process over its loan provider as part of its Beijing-driven restructuring.

Some Chinese users recognized changes in the fintech groups credit services, Jiebei, as the platform now clearly indicates that the loan is provided by banks, rather than Ants own consumer finance company, Chinas state-run media reported over the weekend.

Ant used to offer bank-like services, including lending through its virtual credit card business, Huabei, and loan unit, Jiebei.

Jiebei is gradually working on brand differentiation, an Ant Group spokesperson said on Nov. 7, adding that consumer credit services provided independently by banks or other financial institutions will be presented on a separate page labeled credit loan.

Ant did not elaborate on how much of its business would be affected by the brand differentiation.

The financial affiliate of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group is now in the pursuit of a Beijing-led branding restructuring, which began in April. It has since been working to turn itself into a financial holding firm, a move expected to curb its profitability and valuation.

In November 2020, regulators called off the $37 billion record-breaking listing of Ant, underscoring Beijings determination to rein in fintech giants and some freewheeling businesses of billionaire Jack Ma.

Regulators also criticized Huabei and Jiebei for improper links between payment services and financial products, saying that these may have over-promoted loan services to users.

Ant Group attaches great importance to the seriousness of the rectification, the company said in a previous statement. Its consumer finance unit won approval to begin operating in Chongqing city in June.

The Chinese regime has been rolling out anti-monopoly and data security curbs since the past year, drawing an end to the success stories of some decades-old firms, including Alibaba and Tencent Holdings, also known as WeChats operator.

As Beijing vowed to better protect consumers rights, since September, Ants virtual credit card service Huabei has been sending its consumer credit data to a database run by Chinas central bank.

Huabei and Jiebei were used by around 500 million people in the 12 months to June 30, 2020, Ant said in its initial public offerings prospectus.

The Alipay app of Ant, which is used for payments, wealth management, and consumer lending, has more than 730 million monthly users in China and handles more transactions a year than MasterCard and Visa.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia Barnaby Joyce and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attend the Remembrance Day service at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 11, 2021. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Australians Should Not Demonise Those Who Refuse COVID-19 Vaccine: Prime Minister

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that he respects peoples choices, and those who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccine should not be demonised in the country.

We dont have a mandatory vaccine policy as a Federal Government. Thats not something that we have done. We respect peoples choices, Morrison told the Seven Network on Thursday.

We live in a country where we are not going to go around demonising those who want to make their own choices.

The Prime Minister also attributed the countrys high vaccination rate to the people.

New South Wales (NSW) is now 90 percent double-dose. Victoria will soon be there. We have other states that have had less COVID now 80 percent up in Queensland (have had)  their first doses. Well hit 90 percent first dose this weekend for the whole country.

We got there because weve just trusted Australians. They know what they need to do, he said.

Morrisons comments were a response to former state Premier Bob Carrs call to strip those who have chosen not to get a COVID-19 vaccine of Medicare reimbursements if they are infected with the virus and go to the hospital.

Australias former Foreign Minister Bob Carr attends a press conference to discuss the security cooperation of the South China Sea during the fifth World Peace Forum at Beijings Tsinghua University on July 17, 2016, in Beijing, China. (Photo by Qi Tian/Getty Images)

Follow Singapore and legislate no medical or hospital expenses to be reimbursed to people who are not vaccinated without medical justification and then contract COVID, Carr wrote in a thread of posts on Twitter on Nov. 9.

You ignored warnings and got the disease. You pay for your wilful stupidity, not the rest of us.

This should be enforced as we enforce smoke-free work environments or no driving while drunk, the former premier added in a further post on Twitter on Nov. 10.

Bob Carr served as New South Wales Premier from 1995 to 2005 and the federal foreign affairs minister from 2012 to 2013.

Morrison also said Carrs comments were a heavy-handed approach and noted that is not how his government sees it.

Of course, we want people to get vaccinated, but we are not going to take that heavy-handed approach, which the Labor Party just always seems to like doing, Morrison said.

However, while the Australian federal government doesnt have a mandatory vaccine policy, several state governments, such as New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria, have mandated vaccines for entering services like retail and hospitality.

Queensland has also announced it will ban those who have chosen not to get a COVID-19 vaccine from venues after the state reaches 80 percent fully vaccination rate.

Meanwhile, Western Australias government has announced that it will launch vaccine passports once the state hits the 90 percent rate for complete vaccinations for people aged 12 and above.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during his Save America rally in Perry, Ga., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Ben Gray)

Appeals Court Blocks House Jan. 6 Panel From Accessing Trumps White House Records

A federal appeals court on Thursday halted the scheduled transfer of records of President Donald Trumps time in office from the National Archives to Congress, ruling that Congress cannot access the files for now.

A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overruled a federal judge, who had opined earlier this week that a House of Representatives panel investigating the Jan. 6 of the U.S. Capitol had a legitimate legislative purpose in seeking the records.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama nominee, said the transfer could proceed as planned on Friday.

Trump appealed. Jesse Binnall, a Trump lawyer, said the former president is likely to prevail as he tried to convince the higher court to enter an injunction against Chutkans order.

The alleged legislative purpose underpinning the overbroad request at issue here clearly does not merit involving the President and his records, Binnall said. The Committee has failed to identify anything in the broad swath of requested materials that would inform proposed legislation.

The panel agreed to stop the transfer, pending a further order from the court.

The court will hear the case in the coming days before making a more permanent ruling.

Trumps team was ordered to file a brief by Nov. 16 at noon, with a brief due from the House panel six days later. Trumps team can respond in a second filing due by Nov. 24 at noon. Oral argument is slated to take place on Nov. 30.

The panel consisted of Judges Patricia Millett, an Obama nominee; Robert Wilkins, an Obama nominee; and Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Biden nominee.

Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), the head of the Jan. 6 House panel, did not immediately react to the order.
Travis Scott performs at Day 1 of the Astroworld Music Festival at NRG Park in Houston on Nov. 5, 2021. (Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

Astroworld Victim Bharti Shahani Dies, Bringing Death Toll to 9

A 22-year-old woman who attended Houstons Astroworld Festival in Houston over the past weekend is the ninth person to die due to the incident, an attorney for her family and her family confirmed.

James Lassiter, the lawyer, confirmed to media outlets that Bharti Shahani died on Wednesday night. She was a student at Texas A&M University, attending the concert with her younger sister and cousin, family members have said.

She was like an angel for us, Bhartis father Sunny said, according to KHOU.

Please make sure that she gets justice, he told ABC . I dont want somebody elses daughter to go like this. I kept hearing the news and all that, but for the last six days, Ive not slept.

For days, Shahani had been on a ventilator after attending the event headlined by rapper Travis Scott.

There have been a lot of questions, and I think its common knowledge, but there was a video going around that most people have seen of a young lady falling from a gurney as they were trying to get her out there  evacuate her. That was Bharti Shahani, her attorney said.

Her sister, Mohit Bellani, described the concert.

We were drowning. We were drowning. We were dying. We were screaming for help, screaming for the concert to stop, crying, yelling. No one listened. No one cared, Bellani said, according to KBTX.

Authorities previously said that the incident was triggered when concertgoers rushed the stage. Some attendees recalled being pushed into one another from all sides or pushed down to the floor and trampled by others.

Some concert attendees recalled being pushed into one another from all sides, pushed down to the floor, and trampled or crushed by other concertgoers. A 9-year-old was reportedly injured during the event.

Scott was only minutes into his headlining show at the Astroworld music festival when at least one Houston officer radioed over a police channel that the main stage had been compromised by a massive crowd surge.

Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said Wednesday that police told organizers to shut down the performance while fans in the crowd were being administered CPR. Authorities gave word around 10:03 p.m. that the concert was in the process of shutting down, but witnesses say Scott and Drake, the superstar rapper who came on toward the end of Scotts set as a special guest, kept performing.

The Houston Police Department and the FBI are currently investigating the incident.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
In this handout image provided by the Australian Defence Force, Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Rankin is seen during AUSINDEX 21, a biennial maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy in Darwin, Australia, on Sept. 5, 2021. (POIS Yuri Ramsey/Australian Defence Force via Getty Images)

AUKUS Arms Race Fears Misleading: Defense Expert

Fears that the AUKUS alliance could spark an arms race in the Asia-Pacific are nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction, according to one defense expert, who said the pact between Australia, the United States, and the UK would help maintain a balance of power in the troubled region.

Clearly, Australia is keen to dispel misperceptions about AUKUS, but as Ive noted before, those who believe AUKUS can contribute to regional peace and stability, and those who think otherwise, will likely stick to their guns, said Collin Koh Swee Lean, a research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

He told The Epoch Times there are parties who would prefer to stay ambiguous and obfuscate matters but noted that its more helpful to look beyond rhetoric and examine the policy actions of ASEAN governments.

If Indonesia and Malaysia are so against AUKUS and intend to send a strong signal to Australia, they wouldnt have continued with their usual slate of defense and security engagements with the latter, he said. Indonesia and Australia just concluded their bilateral naval exercise New Horizon last week. And Malaysia just inked an MOU with Australia on cybersecurity cooperation.

Further, he noted that using the arms race label would be misleading, saying that only a limited number of nations had the political will and resources to engage in one.

I wont even attempt to call that an arms race but at best, arms competition, he said. Weve had numerous such similar warnings in the past, so the remarks from Indonesia and Malaysia are nothing new. It seems even an obligatory knee-jerk response to be expected.

The announcement of the trilateral agreement between the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia triggered a mixed response from Asia-Pacific governments. Japan, Taiwan, and the Philippines backed the agreement, and North Korea, Malaysia, and Indonesia expressed concerns that the new pact could kick off an arms race in the region.

Malaysian defense minister Hishammuddin Hussein declared that he would seek the views of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership on the pact.

Peter Jennings, head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the Australian government needs to devote more effort to its relations with Southeast Asian nations.

We need to get over the Australian view that everything can be done on the smell of an oily rag, he told AAP on Nov. 8. We have been way too relaxed about our position in southeast Asia, probably thinking that it is stronger than it really is, and we have been caught flat-footed with the volume of Chinese money.

Currently, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne is touring the region to assuage concerns and bolster ties within the ASEAN nations.

Lean noted that AUKUS would be a net positive for regional peace and could maintain a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.

This allows Southeast Asian countries to focus on economic recovery (from the pandemic) and not have to devote too many resources to defence, he said, noting that ASEAN alone would be insufficient to counteract Beijings military build-up.

At the heart of the new AUKUS pact is a pledge from the U.S. and UK governments to assist the Australian government with acquiring nuclear-powered submarines.

The move could significantly influence the power balance in the Indo-Pacific and elevate the potency of Australias naval capability, making it one of six nations globally to operate nuclear-powered subs, despite being a non-nuclear power.

The pact also aims to foster increased collaboration across fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, cyber, and undersea capabilities.
Members of the public look on during the Remembrance Day service in Melbourne, Australia, on Nov. 11, 2021. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Australia Safer Today Thanks To the Sacrifice of Veterans: PM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has thanked the 102,000 defence force veterans who gave their lives in service to make Australia a safer country today than it was in years past.

Speaking at the Doncaster Returned Soldiers League (RSL) on Nov. 11, Morrison said Australians came together on Remembrance Day to honour the lives of those who lost theirs to keep the county safe.

It doesnt matter which battle, which conflict, its the same uniform that has been worn. It is the same honour that is being lived up to and shown as youve stepped up in our name, Morrison said. We are safer today because of your efforts, and we are free today because of your efforts, and we are deeply thankful.

Morrison also said the day was about listening, preserving freedom, and safeguarding democracy.

Standing against tyranny. Protecting our home. Standing up for our values, so that Australia is never bullied, he said.

Joanne Beavis from Legacy (served 25 years) alongside Megan Rull during a Remembrance Day 2021 Service at The Cenotoph at Martin Place in Sydney, Australia, on Nov. 11, 2021. Megan Rull lost her partner to suicide last year after serving in Afghanistan. (Mick Tsikas  Pool/Getty Images)

Remembrance Day is celebrated on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, November, and is the exact time that guns fell silent across the Western Front in 1918, signalling the end of the first World War.

This year marks the 103rd anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between the Allied Forces and Germany. Originally called Armistice Day, it has become a day when Australians remember all veterans who fought in conflicts representing Australia.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) and Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews (R) attend the Remembrance Day service at the Shrine of Remembrance on November 11, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, in a media release, said that by pausing to remember and reflect on the legacy of the men and women who have died in service to Australia, it allows countrymen to draw on their strength and spirit in challenging times. He also reminded Australians to not forget those who had died.

Lest we forget, Campbell said.

Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese in a media release called on Australians to spend the one minute silence imagining all the veterans who did not return from conflicts and to remember the veterans who need our support in the present.

Anthony Albanese speaks to the media at Henson Park Oval in Sydney, Australia, on May 21, 2019. (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

We have a sacred responsibility to care for those who volunteer to defend us even now. Many never come home the same; their old selves left behind forever on a distant battlefield, Albanese said.

The minute of silence that we observe each Remembrance Day is a reminder that silence is anything but empty, he added.

Imagine them. All they were, and all they could have been. All that could have sprung from their hearts, their minds and their hands had our world never known war. We create this moment of quiet so that we can hear them. So that they will not fade.
A traveller departs for New Zealand at Sydney International Airport on April 19, 2021, as Australia and New Zealand opened a trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel bubble. (Saeed Khan/Getty Images)

Australia Soon to Have Travel Bubbles With Japan, Korea: Prime Minister

Australia is considering two-way quarantine-free travel bubbles with Japan and South Korea, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Morrison said the Australian government was working to establish travel bubbles with the two Asian countries after it had arranged a similar one with Singapore.

Singapore opens up on the 21st of November, he told the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday.

I think well move fairly quickly beyond that into Korea and Japan, and before the end of the year, I hope were opening up even more. Weve just got to get through these next couple of weeks.

Fully vaccinated Australians are able to travel to Singapore without quarantine from this week, while fully vaccinated Singaporeans can fly to New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory without quarantine from Nov. 21. However, travellers will need to test negative for CCP virus before departing.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) and Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews (R) attend the Remembrance Day service at the Shrine of Remembrance on November 11, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

However, the Prime Minister said that caution would still be needed in the process.

Australians have been through a lot. They dont want to see it get the wobbles now in terms of how were managing the safely reopening process.

He praised NSW and Victoria for scrapping quarantine for fully vaccinated international arrivals and encouraged other states to open up once reaching the 80 percent vaccination rate.

I commend both the Victorian and New South Wales governments for what theyve done in abolishing quarantine for those coming from overseas whove had two dose vaccinations. Vaccination was the key part of the answer, he said.

The experience that is being lived out now is a positive one in both states  That should be an encouragement to other states that will remain locked up for a bit longer. And we hope that will end as soon as possible.

Morrison also noted that he believed that other parts of the country, which are suffering skill shortages, will need to get their borders open for their own economies to flourish.

A woman walks past signage for Australian universities in Melbournes central business district on June 10, 2020. (Photo by William West/AFP via Getty Images)

The Prime Minister also said that international students may even return to Australia by 2022.

Students will be back, I think, before the end of the year, particularly here in Victoria, Morrison said.

As of Nov. 11, over 81 percent of Australians aged 16 or above have been fully vaccinated, with the 90 percent first dose rate expected to be reached this weekend.

NSW recorded 216 new cases and three deaths on Wednesday.

Victoria recorded 1003 new cases and 14 deaths in the latest reporting period.
Australian Aboriginal Health Body Criticizes State Government over Lack of Consultation

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory had released a statement saying the organisation was not adequately consulted before Chief Minister Michael Gunner announced new restrictions for remote communities.

In the media release on Nov.10, AMSANT Chief Executive John Paterson said that with regard to the requirement for rapid antigen testing and mask wearing in remote communities below 70% first vaccination levels for people 16 years and over, AMSANT was not included in discussions about the justification for this specific new measure.

The new restrictions announced by Gunner are to take effect from Nov. 15.

In addition, anyone entering these communities from Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, or outside the Territory will have to wear a mask in public areas for seven days, and from Nov. 19, they will also need to test negative to COVID-19 via rapid antigen testing within 72 hours of entering a community.

Paterson also expressed concern that using an overly punitive approach may undermine efforts to speed up vaccination in these remote communities, and said it is critical that the government engages meaningfully on why and how this measure should be implemented.

He suggested alternative approaches such as vaccine passports, which would avoid punitive and potentially criminalising consequences.

We strongly advocate for the immediate introduction of vaccine passports to increase community protection and to act as a powerful incentive for those who are hesitant or lax in getting vaccinated, he said.

However, Paterson stated that the most critical change needed by the NT government is the way they are calculating data, NT News reported.

He said they need to refer to the National Immunisation Register, which shows that only 67.7 percent of NT residents are fully vaccinated, considerably lower than the governments claim of 76 percent.

You will hear him (Gunner) saying this and that about the number of jabs in arms given in the Territory, but thats not an accurate measure because it doesnt account for all those that got vaccinated here as tourists, Paterson said.

The Epoch Times reached out to Chief Minister Gunners office for comment on this issue, but had not received a response at the time of publication.

Meanwhile, the woman who sparked the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Territory has apologised for lying.

According to NT News, the 21-year-old Cairns woman said she was deeply remorseful after admitting she had not told border officials of her four-day visit to Victoria, a COVID-19 hotspot.

This led to the current outbreak, which now stands at 6, as well as the subsequent lockdowns and lockouts in Katherine and Greater Darwin.

Meanwhile, AMSANT has also commented on the importance of the NT government consulting with them before implementing new health measures.

In an email on Thursday, Dr David Cooper, Manager of Research and Advocacy Policy at AMSANT, said that AMSANTs services provide around two-thirds of the primary health care services to Aboriginal people in the Territory, including many remote communities. This includes services and measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He went on to say that the experience of our services and their close relationships with communities and clients is critical to the design and implementation of culturally appropriate services and measures for remote communities.

He also stressed that the NT Government has signed the Closing the Gap Agreement, committing them to engagement and shared decision-making with Aboriginal people and leaders in relation to programs and services affecting Aboriginal communities.

This clearly has not occurred, he said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gestures as she speaks during a press conference in Brisbane, Australia, on Oct.3, 2021. (Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Australian State Drops Mask Mandate at 80 Percent First Jab Rate

Queensland has dropped its mask mandate on Thursday after the Australian state reached its 80 percent threshold for first dose jabs.

The change means that people in the state are only required to wear face masks at airports and on planes unless they have an exemption.

More than 3.2 million people in Queensland have now had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, about 68 percent have had both vaccines shots meaning Queensland will be expected to reach 80 percent double dose vaccinated on Dec. 17.

Until Dec. 17, people who are not vaccinated have the freedom to eat out at restaurants, cafes, pubs, and bars, attend live music gigs, sporting matches at stadiums, go to the cinema, and more.

But after Dec. 17, the state will impose sweeping restrictions on the unvaccinated, barring them from almost every kind of venue except ones that provide essential services, like supermarkets.

The new rules extend to hospitals, where only full vaccinated people may visit.

However, no one will be prohibited from seeking treatment, whether they are vaccinated or not.

According to the Courier Mail, the age group with the lowest first dose rate are 16 to 29-year-olds, with about 63 percent unvaccinated.

The Queensland government extended its vaccine mandate Wednesday to include workers at any health service in the state, including physiotherapists, GPs, pharmacies, private hospitals, allied health services, and more.

The workers have until Dec. 17 to get vaccinated.

Previously, the mandate only applied to public health workers in public hospital settings that dealt with COVID-19 cases.

About 4,000 health workers in Queensland have remained unvaccinated and may be forced to find alternative employment.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette DAth also announced Wednesday changes to home quarantine arrangements.

Now Queenslanders or those relocating to the state have the potential to be eligible for home quarantine from Nov. 19 if they meet the criteria.

People who meet this criteria will have the certainty to now start booking flights to come back to Queensland from the 19th of November. You can be assured you can start making plans, DAth said.

To be eligible, residents or those wanting to relocate must be fully vaccinated and have received their second dose at least two weeks before they arrive in Queensland.

They will also need to have passed a COVID-19 test 72 hours before leaving, and they also must have an eligible residence to complete their home quarantine.

Eligible residences need to have ample air circulation and be separate from shared spaces in the home or shared apartment entrances.

If you live in an apartment block where your access to your front door is in an open area, and you dont have to go through cupboard walkways or common shared walkways, you can quarantine in those areas, DAth said.
President Joe Biden arrives for the welcome ceremony on the first day of the Rome G20 summit, in Rome, Italy, on Oct. 30, 2021. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Biden Right to Issue Broad Invitation for Democracy Summit

But he should more clearly identify the CCP as the worlds biggest threat

Commentary

President Joe Biden is rightly promoting a democracy summit, but has needlessly excluded some American friends and allies, and failed to sufficiently focus on the growing threat from Beijing.

With increasing authoritarianism globally, led by China and its allies, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, the time is right for Bidens democracy summit. The summit, to be held virtually starting on Dec. 9, will encourage countries to improve their levels of democracy at home, but more importantly, will push them to unite against the biggest near-term threat to democracy and human rights on a global level: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea are not invited, which is good. Democracies and their allies need somewhere to regroup and rethink the best strategies for defending themselves against these aggressors.

But neither are some other authoritarian countries invited, that have been good allies to the United States and less territorially aggressive. That they are excluded from the democracy summit is a diplomatic snub that makes them easy picking for Beijing and its coterie of rogue dictators.

To put it simply, we need to recognize a continuum of authoritarianism, from better authoritarians who side with the worlds market democracies, and should be rewarded and encouraged for doing so, to worse ones, who side with Beijing. The worse the dictator, the more they should be excluded from all the benefits and privileges of respected membership in the international system.

Beijing is aggressively moving to divide the worlds countries into those who support it, as proven by their denial of diplomatic recognition to Taiwan, and those who are against it and, therefore, lose access to the worlds biggest market. America fell into this trap in 1971 and got thoroughly stuck there in 1979, and so led its allies in the wrong direction.

Tsai Ing-wen, president of Taiwan, meets with a delegation from the European Parliament in Taipei, Taiwan, on Nov. 4, 2021. (Supplied by Taiwanese Presidential Office Building)

The CCP is still successfully demanding that countries choose sides, while we are not demanding that countries choose the side of democracy. This puts the CCP at a diplomatic advantage in channeling countries in the illiberal direction of Beijings choosing.

The approach following World War II that granted a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) veto to Joseph Stalin, one of the worst dictators in modern history, was a mistake. Likewise, giving a UNSC veto to communist China in 1971 was disastrous. The Soviets and the CCP are using their vetos and other influence in the U.N. to balkanize what should be a stronger and more unified global force for democracy and human rights, as envisioned by the 1948 U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

We must again ask countries to take sides, but our side should be a politically diverse group of countries that support long-term democratization, versus those that support Beijings increasing illiberality on the other.

All countries, including those authoritarian countries that support democratization, will have a chance to democratize over time. Democracies, too, have room for improvement. So it is important to include the good dictators, however oxymoronic that sounds, among those that America considers its allies. What matters most in choosing our allies is their long-term and proven intention to democratize and improve human rights globally, along with their demonstrated ability to contribute to the alliance of democracies that is defending the international system from Beijings growing power.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for example, has been a traditional U.S. ally, even though its human rights policies are often atrocious. The Saudis are critical to the energy security of our democratic allies, especially in Europe. The Kingdom has historically been a strong U.S. ally, and counterbalance to Iran, including throughout the Cold War. It would be a loss to the cause of democracy globally to shut Riyadh out of the democracy summit, and thus push the Saudis further into the arms of the CCP.

While this may seem hypocritical, it is the realpolitik necessary to create a sufficiently strong coalition that achieves peace through strength against the CCP, rather than an alliance that is on a superficial level ideologically coherent, but will be weaker as a result and, therefore, more likely to stumble into war. Peace through strength cannot be achieved with a weak and divided alliance system.

Beijing will certainly approach any country excluded from the democracy summit to make the point: America is out to get you, because America is against dictatorship. A too-restrictive guest list thus plays into CCP talking points that could be seen as an own-goal by the Biden administration.

That said, there is also value to clearly stating our goals of democracy and democratization for all countries in the world, over the long term. This mobilizes democracy supporters in countries everywhere, including in China and Russia, who can powerfully leverage their weight from the inside of our adversaries to the long-term goals of democratization. The stated goal, therefore, should be the long-term democratization of countries around the world, not the democracies of today against the autocracies of today. That latter approach would just push the good, or allied autocracies, and democracy supporters in the worst dictatorships into a grudging alliance against the democracies.

The same goes for other authoritarian countries that have reason to side with the democracies against China, including Singapore and Vietnam. Singapore hosts a U.S. naval base, and Vietnam has reason to ally against China because Beijing is attempting to steal its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

A Vietnamese coast guard ship shows a Chinese coast guard vessel (right) sailing near Chinas oil drilling rig in disputed waters in the South China Sea on May 14, 2014. (Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP via Getty Images)

While democracies are proud and rightly promote their own more pluralistic form of government, they should also be wise enough to know that they will need to ally with some of the friendlier autocracies in order to effectively defend themselves against Beijing.

America was not powerful enough, alone, to beat the Soviets during the Cold War, and it is not powerful enough to alone beat the CCP in what is shaping up to be the second Cold War.

For this reason, Bidens choice of words in June about a competition with autocracies, rather than Beijing, was the opposite of what was needed.

He said, Were in a contest, not with China per se  [but] with autocrats, autocratic governments around the world, as to whether or not democracies can compete with them in a rapidly changing 21st century.

What Biden should have said is that freedom-loving countries around the world, including America and its allies, both democratic and democratizing, are in a competition with the CCP, which seeks to extend its illiberal control globally, to the detriment of all countries that value their independence and sovereignty. The CCPs goal of global hegemony is ultimately just as threatening to the worlds autocracies, as to the worlds democracies. The CCP, despite its protestations to the contrary, wants to take all of our sovereignties away.

The CCP seeks global hegemony against the worlds democracies and autocracies alike, giving them cause to unite in their defense against Beijing by using the principles found in the U.N. system, including the territorial integrity of all, matched with the 1948 U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights. As long as a country, even a dictatorship, is showing some respect for human rights and progressing toward greater levels of democracy and human rights, then they deserve the worlds respect and their territorial integrity.

But if authoritarians ignore the 1948 declaration, as has Beijing, and move their countries toward greater illiberality and more serious violations of human rights, then they lose their right to territorial integrity due to the responsibility of all countries to protect the populations of all other countries. This is known as the responsibility to protect, or R2P.

With this more balanced approach that recognizes a continuum between democracy and autocracy, and a right of territorial integrity that is predicated on the responsibility to provide human rights to all populations in all countries, is found the justification to ally with the friendlier authoritarians against the more illiberal ones that cleave to Beijing. There lies the more effective long-term strategy of advancement toward a world in which all countries of varying and always imperfect political types make progress on democracy and human rights together.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
President Joe Biden speaks during an event to commemorate Veterans Day in the Memorial Amphitheater, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Nov. 11, 2021. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Salutes Troops, Announces Plan to Treat Veterans Ailments

President Joe Biden saluted U.S. troops on Veterans Day and announced a multi-pronged effort to better treat military veterans suffering from ailments believed to be linked to exposure to contaminants while serving overseas.

Biden, speaking on Nov. 11 at the Arlington National Cemetery, said the day was about paying homage to the bravery and dedication that distinguishes all of those who have earned the title of veteran.

We have to remember there is nothing a low risk or low cost about war to the men and women who fight it, he added.

Were going to work with CongressRepublicans and Democrats togetherto make sure our veterans receive the world-class benefits that theyve earned, and meet the sacredthe specific carespecific needs that they each individually need. That means expanding presumptive conditions for toxic exposure and particulate matter, including Agent Orange and burn pits.

The White House said it was making it easier for veterans who believe they suffer from ills stemming from exposure to hazardous materials to get benefits.

One prong of the effort is to allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to create presumptions of exposure when theres evidence of health problems linked to environmental exposure in the aggregate but hard to prove on an individual basis.

The administration started processing disability claims for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis based on presumed exposure to particulate matter for troops who served in Southwest Asia and other areas, who developed the conditions within 10 years of their military service.

Experts from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and other Veterans Affairs experts examined the evidence and developed the model that will help identify other presumed exposures.

We are seeking more information from veterans, more evidence from more sources, and looking to take every avenue possible to determine where a potential presumptive illness based on military service location may exist in a more expedient and holistic manner, Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said in a statement.

We want all veterans who may have been impacted to file a claim even if it was previously denied.

Bidens eldest son, Beau, died at age 46 in 2015 from brain cancer. The president has suggested that his sons cancer was linked to toxins from waste-burning at military facilities during his deployment in Iraq.

Biden told PBS in 2018 that there was no direct scientific evidence his sons cancer was caused by the smoke but added that a lot higher incidence of cancer [is] coming from Iraq now and Afghanistan than in other wars.

It took decades to provide access to compensatory benefits and health care to many Vietnam era veterans for conditions presumed to be related to Agent Orange exposure. For the newest generation of veterans, concerns about burn pits and other exposures continue to mount, the White House said in a statement.

Biden returned to the White House after his remarks, entering the complex at about 12:45 p.m., and had no further events on his schedule until Nov. 12.
Bidens China Policy: CNNs Interview With Jake Sullivan Explained; Xi Jinping Third Term Set?

Some extreme forms of celebration occurred in China after a Chinese team won a popular video game contest over a South Korean team. How do the extreme celebrations reflect a broader problem in Chinese society, and how is China using its win to bring another wave of propaganda?

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan explained more about President Joe Bidens China policy in an interview with CNN. We compare how it ranks to former President Donald Trumps policy.
Kyle Rittenhouse testifies during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 10, 2021. (Sean Krajacic/The Kenosha News via AP)

CBS Deletes Post Saying Kyle Rittenhouse Murdered Two Men

CBS on Thursday deleted a social media post that alleged Kyle Rittenhouse murdered two men in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year.

Rittenhouse, 18, is on trial for fatally shooting two men and wounding another.

One of the men had his hand over Rittenhouses rifle barrel, according to a pathologists testimony. Another smacked Rittenhouse with a skateboard and was reaching for his gun, according to video footage and testimony during the trial. The third was pointing his gun at Rittenhouse when he was shot.

Kyle Rittenhouse testified in his murder trial yesterday, breaking down in tears as he told the jury he murdered two men at a Black Lives Matter protest last year in self-defense, a post on Twitter from CBS Mornings stated.

The post drew quick backlash, with some lawyers asserting it could be grounds for a libel case.

Hard to believe thats a real tweet. Straight up libel from CBS. I look forward to Rittenhouses numerous lawsuits, some of which will be successful, lawyer Mike Cernovich wrote on the social media website.

Oh, well, then. No need for trials, CBS News has delivered its verdict! added Dan McLaughlin, a writer at National Review.

A CBS spokesperson, asked for comment, told The Epoch Times in an email that the tweet was revised.

The spokesperson declined to answer who cleared the post and why it was deleted.

The original post was taken down and a new one was put up that used the same language, except it replaced murdered with killed.

The situation unfolded after David Hancock, a spokesman for Rittenhouse, appeared on Fox News and called the media coverage of the shootings absolutely irresponsible and purely abhorrent.
Japan's newly-appointed Defense Minister Gen Nakatani answers reporters' questions at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Shinzo Abe won endorsement Wednesday to serve another term as prime minister after winning a renewed mandate for his "Abenomics" strategies for reviving the world's third-biggest economy. Abe appointed a former military officer, Nakatani, as defense minister but kept the other members of his previous cabinet. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

CCP-Critic Named Japans Human Rights Advisor, Fulfilling Election Promise

Pro-China colleague appointed foreign minister

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday selected a critic of Chinas ruling communist party to be his human rights advisora post he promised to create in an election pledge to lead a government that would be vocal about the Chinese Communist Partys (CCPs) human rights violations.

Local media reported on Monday that former defense minister Gen Nakatani, 64, a member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, will be officially appointed this week when a special parliamentary session convenes.

Nakatani, who co-chairs the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), told reporters after meeting with Kishida on Monday that he would like to deal with international human rights issues according to the prime ministers instructions.

Naktani joined the international coalition last year with over 100 legislators from 20 countries, including the United States, to form the cross-parliamentary alliance to combat what they describe as the threat to posed by the Chinese communist regime to fundamental liberties and a free, open, and rules-based international order.

Kishida, who took office in early November, says he created the international human rights advisor role with the Chinese regimes human rights violations in mind. He has vowed to take a firm stance for democracy in the Hong Kong following the implementation of the sweeping pro-CCP national security law last year, and the human rights of Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities in the Xinjiang region.

Its estimated that at least 1 million Uyghurs are being held in the regions network of mass internment camps for what the CCP has said are necessary reeducation purposes.

Chinese authorities deny wrongdoing in the region, claiming its measures are to crack down on terrorism, religious extremism, and separatism in the country. They have referred to extremist threats to justify what has been strict surveillance and a reports of serious rights abuses.

Nakatani has said that he wants to introduce a Japanese version of the U.S. Magnitsky Act, a law that allows punishment of foreign human rights violators with U.S. asset freezes and bans on travel to the United States.

As lawmaker, Ive been tackling a fair amount of human rights issues. Id like to try and make appropriate advice based on my knowledge and experience, Nakatani told reporters of his plans in the new government on Monday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin declined to comment specifically on Nakatanis appointment, saying that it is a domestic political matter of Japan, but told reporters that Chinas internal affairs cannot be interfered in by external forces, Kyodo News reported.

Separately this week, Kishida also appointed Yoshimasa Hayashi, a pro-China colleague as foreign minister.

Hayashi, a former defence and education minister, chose to step down as head of the Japan-China Parliamentarians Friendship League to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, following his appointment.

He told reporters on Thursday that it was important to build constructive and stable ties with China, while asking for responsible behavior from its neighbor.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Chinas real estate sector takes another hit. But this time, it isnt Evergrande. Developer Kaisa is now making a desperate plea for help.

Risk or opportunity? Investment bank Goldman Sachs is weighing those optionsand buying up Chinese real estate debt.

The United States is working to block American investments from funding Chinas military. A ban on investing in nearly 60 Chinese companies gets an extension.

Thirteen U.S. officials pay Taiwan a visit. In a meeting there, the delegation discussed Taiwans defense capabilities amid Chinas growing military pressure.

Two-thirds of Chinese provinces have been hit by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. In some places, authorities are even forcing locals to drink a certain medical brew.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
A military medical worker prepares a dose of China's Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine at the Australian Centre for Education in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on May 1, 2021. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Military Pushes Beijings Vaccine Diplomacy

The Chinese military has been a key player in Beijings bid to use vaccine diplomacy to increase its global influence, having delivered China-made COVID-19 vaccines to military forces in 28 countries.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense (MOD) has donated vaccines to the militaries of developing countries across four continents, an act rarely seen carried out by other countries armed forces.

Tan Kefei, an MOD spokesperson, said at an Oct. 28 press conference in Beijing that the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the Chinese military, was practicing the concept of shaping mankinds common future via sending vaccines and other pandemic related materials to foreign militaries.

Shaping mankinds common future is a concept that Chinese leader Xi Jinping has promoted in recent years, described by analysts indicating a desire to export Beijings authoritarian model of government the world over.

The military as well as other government organs are tools of the Chinese totalitarian authorities, which perform whatever the regime asks. China sending the vaccines to other countries isnt for kindness as it claims, but to force these states to support it in the international community, Tang Jingyuan, U.S.-based China affairs commentator, told The Epoch Times on Nov. 9.

China is one of the countries that announced it had COVID-19 vaccines months after the pandemic started. In October 2020, Chinese media revealed that the Beijing regime seeks to aggressively export its vaccines at low prices, although the vaccines efficacy appeared to be much lower than U.S.-made vaccines that demonstrate efficacies higher than 90 percent.

A U.S. Senate budget hearing in July revealed that the lack of vaccines in the global market gave the Chinese regime the chance to export its vaccines.

A nurse holds a vial of Chinas Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at a health center in Caracas, Venezuela, on March 7, 2021. (Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters)

Militarys Vaccine Diplomacy

The PLA contacted foreign militaries and has sent the COVID-19 vaccines overseas using military aircraft in the past months. Chinese media praised the militarys diplomatic efforts and claimed that the endeavor received positive results.

On Aug. 24, the second day after the PLA sent vaccines to Vietnam, CCP mouthpiece Xinhua reported that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Myung Ching summoned Chinese ambassador Xiong Bo and told him that developing relations with Beijing was Hanois priority and that Vietnam is against the politicization of the origin of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

China and Vietnam have disputes because both claim sovereignty of several islands in the South China Sea.

Chinese web portal NetEase reported on Aug. 25 that it was the PLAs donated vaccine that caused Hanoi to support Beijing.

MODs spokesperson Tan announced on Aug. 26 that the PLA would send more COVID-19 vaccines to foreign militaries.

On Oct. 28, the PLA released a post listing 54 countries that received the vaccine or other pandemic-related material donations from the PLA, including Bolivia, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Cambodia, and Laos.
Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images)

Chinese Regime Leader Xi Jinping Gives Notice to AsiaPacific in Criticism Against US

Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping has issued a warning to U.S.-friendly nations in the AsiaPacific, in a thinly-veiled swipe against the formation of a Washington-led alliance against communism, during a prerecorded video address to the APEC summit on Nov. 11.

Attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on geopolitical grounds are bound to fail, Xi told the CEO forum of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, without naming any country.

Xi added, The AsiaPacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era.

APEC has 21 members, including Australia, China, Canada, New Zealand, Taiwan, and the United States. This year, the summit is hosted virtually by New Zealand.

Like Xi, Chinese regime officials have also criticized Western alliances that the United States is a part of. Most recently the condemnation has targeted the newly-formed AUKUS defense pact, a security arrangement between the United States, the UK, and Australia. Under the agreement, Australia will field a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

In October, Hong Xiaoyong, Chinas ambassador to Singapore, slammed the United States for having formed more and more small circles, in an opinion article published in The Strait Times. As examples of such circles, he named the Five Eyes, the Quad, and AUKUS.

The Five Eyes is an intelligence-sharing alliance between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the United States. The Quad, formed by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2007, comprises Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.

On Oct. 19, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for Chinas foreign ministry, accused AUKUS of embodying the Cold War mentality, saying the alliance was aimed at provoking bloc confrontation.

This is not the first time that Xi has decided to use an international forum to take a jab at Washington. In September, he said the world needed to reject the practice of forming small circles or zero-sum games, in a prerecorded speech to the U.N.s 76th General Assembly.

Australias intention to be part of AUKUS was recently explained by Arthur Sinodinos, the countrys ambassador to the United States, during a virtual talk hosted by the Washington-based think tank the Hudson Institute.

Sinodinos said that being a member of AUKUS was about upholding the international rules-based order. As for countries like China, the ambassador said they cannot throw [their] weight around against other nations.

Additionally, joining AUKUS was about protecting Australia, the ambassador said.

We want to be able to, in these deteriorating strategic circumstances, be able to project our power further up, rather than taking an approach that all our defense has to be a defense of the mainland, he explained.

Beijing Criticized

Also in his video address, Xi repeatedly called for cooperation among APEC members, including in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation in science and technology, and economic development.

However, the international community has questioned Chinas willingness to cooperate with the global fight against COVID-19, a disease caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus. Beijing was criticized for failing to cooperate with a World Health Organization-led investigation team conducting groundwork in Wuhan, China, earlier this year.

Xi also spoke of Chinas intention to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade agreement between 11 nations including Australia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. Beijing applied to join the trade pact in September.

The Chinese leader also promised to open up more of Chinas agricultural, manufacturing, and service sectors.

Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have sounded the alarm about Chinas bid to join the CPTPP.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), in a letter (pdf) dated Oct. 5, called on U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to use tools available under the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement (USCMA) to stop China from joining the 11-nation pact.

China comes nowhere close to complying with CPTPPs standards on state-owned enterprises, intellectual property, labor, the environment, and many other areas, Cotton wrote.

Chinas entry into the CPTPP would reward the state-sponsored theft and economic coercion that has been a hallmark of the Chinese Communist Party.
A hooded man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. (Kacper Pempel/Illustration)

Data Breaches in NL Cyberattack Spread, Three of Four Health Regions Affected

The Newfoundland and Labrador government says data from another of the provinces health authorities has been accessed by the hackers behind a debilitating cyberattack that has reduced health services in the province for nearly two weeks.

Health Minister John Haggie told reporters today that personal information of patients in the central health authority has been breached, and its likely employee data was accessed as well.

The Newfoundland and Labrador government announced Tuesday that personal information of patients and employees in two other health authorities had been accessed by the hackers who shut down health-care information technology systems on Oct. 30.

Haggie repeated today that an investigation is ongoing and there is no indication that any of the data has been misused.

The information breached includes patients names, addresses, health-care numbers, and reasons for visiting health-care facilities.

Government officials are refusing to divulge the nature of the attack on the health network or whether the hackers are asking for money.
Kyle Rittenhouse, left, looks over to his attorneys Corey Chirafisi, center, and Mark Richards after getting off the witness stand during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Nov. 10, 2021. (Sean Krajacic-Pool/Getty Images)

Defense Moves for Mistrial in Kyle Rittenhouse Case

The judge presiding over Kyle Rittenhouses homicide trial in Kenosha, Wisconsin, said he will consider a mistrial motion after defense attorneys alleged that prosecutors violated the rights of the 18-year-old defendant.

Kenosha County Judge Bruce Schroeder did not immediately rule on the request from defense attorneys for a mistrial with prejudice.

Rittenhouses defense attorneys have accused prosecutor Thomas Binger of having violated the teenage defendants rights by mentioning his silence after his arrest for the Aug. 25, 2020, shootings.

After having ordered the jury out of the room, the judge scolded Binger for having spoken about Rittenhouses silence, calling it a grave constitutional violation. He added, Youre right on the borderline and you may be over, and it better stop. This is not permitted.

Separately, Binger referred to a video that Schroeder had deemed inadmissible and excluded from evidence at a pretrial hearing.

That video showed an incident two weeks prior to the shootings where shoplifters were seen running out of a CVS pharmacy with potentially stolen items. In the video, a voice that sounds like Rittenhouse was heard saying, I wish I had my [expletive] AR. Id start shooting rounds at them.

The defense made a motion for mistrial after Schroeder admonished Binger for having tried to ask Rittenhouse questions in the cross-examination about the inadmissible video.

You knew very well that attorneys cant go into these types of areas when the judge has already ruled without asking outside the presence of the jury to do so. So dont give me that, Schroeder said, with the jury out of the room a second time.

When Binger tried to push pack, the judge responded, Dont get brazen with me.

When you say you were acting in good faith, I dont believe you, he also told Binger.

Rittenhouse lawyer Corey Chirafisi all but suggested prosecutors were deliberately trying to cause a mistrial because this one is going badly for the prosecution and it wants a do-over.

Rittenhouse took the stand for the first time on Wednesday, saying he used deadly force to defend himself. At one point, he broke into tears while recounting his encounter with Joseph Rosenbaum. Rittenhouse said that he didnt want to have to shoot Rosenbaum, but Rosenbaum was chasing him and had threatened to kill him earlier.

I didnt notice Mr. Rosenbaum until he came out from behind the car and ambushed me, Rittenhouse said, before he started to lose his composure and began sobbing, prompting the judge to call for a break.

Asked by his lawyer why he didnt keep running away from Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse said: There was no space for me to continue to run.

Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty for seven charges related to the Aug. 25, 2020, shootings, including homicide in the deaths of 36-year-old Rosenbaum and 26-year-old Anthony Huber, and attempted homicide for having injured 27-year-old Gaige Grosskreutz.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on March 1, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

DHS: Al Qaeda- and ISIS-Linked Terrorists Exploiting Online Presence To Encourage Attacks in US

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday issued a terrorism advisory, warning that al-Qaeda- and ISIS-linked terrorists are likely to maintain an online presence in an attempt to inspire U.S.-based individuals to engage in violent activity, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

In its latest National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin, published on Nov. 10, the DHS warned that violent extremist media branches of al-Qaeda and its affiliates, as well as ISIS, have celebrated perceived victories over the United States following the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The terror groups have also used their online presence to encourage the use of violence by their followers and supporters to further their objectives.

The Homeland continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment as it approaches several religious holidays and associated mass gatherings that in the past have served as potential targets for acts of violence, the DHS cautioned. These actors continue to exploit online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity.

It warns that foreign groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS celebrated the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and may use it to encourage violence by their supporters.

A senior homeland security official told CBS News that foreign groups are trying to encourage violence by lone wolves.

The type of content were seeing ranges from videos to online magazines, the official said. The videos will very often contain very graphic and violent content, a technique used for years now by the Islamic State- and al Qaeda-related media operations, when seeking to inspire acts of violence.

Its very clear that the theme promoted by media operations [associated with al Qaeda and ISIS] is to conduct attacks in the West, the official added.

This image, posted on the internet on April 11, 2007, allegedly shows one of the suicide bombers responsible for an attack in Algeria claimed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate. (AFP via Getty Images)

The DHS added in its fourth bulletin this year however that as of Nov. 10, it isnt aware of an imminent and credible threat to any specific location in the United States.

The advisory also highlights the perceived danger from a volatile mix of domestic extremists, often motivated by racially or ethnically motivated hate, reflecting a shift from the focus on al-Qaida and other organizations following the creation of DHS after the 9/11 attacks.

Timothy Langan, the assistant director of the FBIs counterterrorism division, made similar points last week in an appearance before the House intelligence committee. He said the threat from domestic terrorism has significantly increased in the last 18 months, with the agency currently conducting about 2,700 investigations on violent domestic extremists.

The greatest terrorism threat facing our homeland is that posed by lone actors in small cells, who typically radicalize online, look to use easily accessible weapons to attack soft targets, Langan said.

DHS has said it is working with the FBI, state and local law enforcement, and foreign counterparts and has also increased grants and training to community-based prevention programs to address the threat.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DOJ Sues Uber, Says Wait Fees Discriminate Against Disabled Customers

The Department of Justice is suing Uber over allegations it discriminates against disabled people by overcharging them when drivers have to wait for passengers to board their vehicles.

In a press release on Wednesday, the DOJ said it had filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against the ride-hailing company for charging wait time fees to passengers who, because of disability, need more time to enter a car.

The DOJ said the wait time fees based on disability have harmed many passengers and potential passengers with disabilities throughout the country, as passengers with a disability need more than two minutes to get in an Uber car for a number of reasons.

The lawsuit alleges that Uber violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination by private transportation companies like Uber.

Uber began charging passengers in multiple cities wait time fees in April 2016, before expanding the policy nationwide. The fees begin two minutes after the Uber vehicle arrives at the pickup location of the customer and continue until the car begins its journey.

The DOJs lawsuit wants Uber to stop discriminating against people with disabilities, modify its wait time fee policy to comply with ADA, train staff and drivers on the ADA, pay damages to those who were unfairly charged the illegal wait time fees, and pay a civil penalty.

People with disabilities deserve equal access to all areas of community life, including the private transportation services provided by companies like Uber, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the DOJs Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

This lawsuit seeks to bring Uber into compliance with the mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act while sending a powerful message that Uber cannot penalize passengers with disabilities simply because they need more time to get into a car. Uber and other companies that provide transportation services must ensure equal access for all people, including those with disabilities, Clarke added.

Uber said the average wait time fee charged to riders is less than 60 cents, according to The Associated Press.

The companys website says customers are notified that the wait time fee has started before entering the vehicle. If a ride is cancelled and the customer is charged a cancellation fee, the wait time fee is removed. The wait time fee may not apply to airports or certain other venues, or certain type of trips such as UberPool.

The San Francisco-based company said in an emailed statement to CNBC that it disagrees with the DOJ that its policies violate the ADA and that disabled riders are able to inform the company of the over-charges, in which case the companys policy is to refund them.

It has been our policy to refund wait time fees for disabled riders whenever they alerted us that they were charged. After a recent change last week, now any rider who certifies they are disabled will have fees automatically waived, an Uber spokesman said.

Wait time fees are charged to all riders to compensate drivers after two minutes of waiting, but were never intended for riders who are ready at their designated pickup location but need more time to get into the car, the spokesperson added. We recognize that many riders with disabilities depend on Uber for their transportation needs, which is why we had been in active discussions with the DOJ about how to address any concerns or confusion before this surprising and disappointing lawsuit.

The Epoch Times has contacted Uber for comment.

This is not the first time Uber has been criticized over its policies and how they affect disabled customers.

In April the company was ordered to pay $1.1 million in compensation to a blind woman who was refused rides on 14 occasions.

Lisa Irving claimed that drivers had been verbally abusive and harassed her about transporting her guide dog in the car on various occasions.

A lawsuit filed against the company in 2009 in Pennsylvania also accused Uber of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and failing to ensure that people in wheelchairs receive equal service from the company.
The U.S. Department of Justice is seen in Washington, on June 11, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

DOJ Warns It Is Preparing to Launch Crackdown on Wrongdoing by Companies

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is preparing to launch a crackdown on wrongdoing by companies within the coming weeks, a senior official said Thursday.

Speaking to the Financial Times, John Carlin, who is working on the departments planned crackdown, said, youll see cases in the weeks to come which will involve, some of the largest corporations operating in the United States.

The crackdown could potentially target companies who have violated the terms of deferred prosecution agreements (DPA), an arrangement reached between a prosecutor and a company to resolve a matter that could otherwise be prosecuted. The charges are typically dropped if the company agrees to comply with certain conditions or follow through on its obligations.

Carlin, who served as acting deputy attorney general for a short time after President Joe Biden was sworn into office, said that the department may go after companies that do not follow through on its obligations as set by the deferred prosecution agreements, and may take legal action against them.

There are going to be serious consequences, Carlin warned of companies who failed to invest in compliance systems as set out in the DPA.

You should expect in the days, months, years to come an unprecedented focus by this attorney-general on corporate accountability, he said, referring to Merrick Garland, the U.S. governments top lawyer.

He added: Now is the time to get the house in order, focus on compliance, because there [are] going to be tough enforcement actions coming out of the department if you do not do so.

The Biden administration has vowed to take a tougher approach to anti-competitive practices among big companies and in July, the president signed an executive order intended to promote the interests of American workers, businesses, and consumers and create a fair, open, and competitive marketplace.

In October, a dozen Republican and Democratic senators introduced a bill aimed at stopping Big Tech from limiting consumer choice and restoring competition online.

The American Innovation and Choice Online Act, which is similar to a bill introduced earlier this year by House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust Chairman David Cicilline (D-R.I.), would make it illegal for large tech companies to engage in discriminatory behavior, including disadvantaging rivals.

The bill would also give antitrust enforcers the power to hold large tech companies accountable for illegal behavior by giving them a range of tools to deter such violations.

Also in October, the DOJ announced a series of policy changes aimed at strengthening the way it responds to corporate crime and said it will hold those that break the law accountable and promote respect for the laws designed to protect investors, consumers, and employees.

Accountability starts with the individuals responsible for criminal conduct. Attorney General Garland has made clear it is unambiguously this departments first priority in corporate criminal matters to prosecute the individuals who commit and profit from corporate malfeasance, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said.
Dozens of Family Members of US Troops Still in Afghanistan, Pentagon Says

The Pentagon said on Nov. 10 that dozens of family members of U.S. troops still remain in Afghanistan nearly three months after the Taliban takeover of Kabul and after President Joe Biden withdrew all soldiers from the country.

Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby made the remarks during a press briefing when pressed by a reporter about the number of immediate family members of U.S. service members in Afghanistan.

I dont have a whole number on that, Kirby said. We believe its certainly most likely in the dozens.

He also said the department is working this as hard as we can to bring those family members back to the United States.

We take the obligation seriously to our people and to their families, Kirby said. And thats why we put the advisory out to the services last week, to give them a place, a portal where they can go to put information on there that we can then share with our State Department colleagues to get them out. Were going to stay at this.

Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl issued a memo on Nov. 4 stating that the Biden administration is currently putting together a database of relatives. The memo asks all U.S. military personnel and civilian employees with immediate family members in Afghanistan who wish to be evacuated to contact a department-associated email address.

The Pentagon places a high priority on facilitating the departure of Afghan nationals who are immediate family members, the memo states, noting that defense officials will continue to provide support in this relocation effort to the greatest possible extent.

Given the current situation in Afghanistan and the absence of an in-country U.S. embassy presence, there are a number of challenges related to departures of Afghan nationals, including those of unique interest to DoD, the memo reads.

The mission to evacuate Americans out of Afghanistan is not over, Kirby said, noting that defense officials are going to continue to work inside the interagency to do that.

When asked whether theres any concern about the safety of family members of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Kirby responded, Of course there is.

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was set into motion by then-President Donald Trump. But the Biden administration extended the withdrawal deadline and has been widely criticized for how it handled the evacuation.

Critics have focused on several major aspects of the withdrawal: how Americans were left behind when the last U.S. troops left on Aug. 30; how 13 U.S. service members were killed by a suicide bombing attack while helping evacuate Americans and others; and why the evacuations were so chaotic, especially with regard to forcing Americans to brave Taliban checkpoints to reach the U.S.-held airport in Kabul.

Military leaders have mostly portrayed the withdrawal as successful, noting that it was the largest airlift in U.S. history.

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.
This picture taken on April 24, 2015 shows a general view during the official opening ceremony of the automated container terminal produced by APM Terminals in Rotterdam. APM Terminals, a Maersk company, was granted a concession for the development and economic use of a new container terminal in the port of Rijeka in Croatia. (Bas Czerwinski /AFP via Getty Images)

EU Company Granted Concession for Croatian Port Terminal After Cancellation of Tender With Chinese Bidder

A 50-year concession for the development and economic use of a new deep-sea container terminal in the Adriatic port of Rijeka in Croatia has been granted to a European company.

The concession contract to build the necessary infrastructure and fully equip the Zagreb Deep Sea container terminal in the port of Rijekathe biggest seaport in Croatiaas well as for the terminals economic use was signed on Friday, according to a statement from the City of Rijeka.

The concession, estimated at an equivalent 2.6 billion euros ($3 billion) with the annual concession fee fixed at 2 million euros ($2.3 million), has been granted for a period of 50 years to European company APM Terminals, which runs more than 70 port terminals around the world.

APM Terminals is a part of Maersk, a Denmark-based container logistics company operating in 130 countries.

Under the agreement, APM Terminals will own 51 percent of the Rijeka terminal while the remaining 49 percent will be held by the Energia Naturalis Group (ENNA), the concession holder, according to Ship-Technology. ENNA is a private Croatian investment company operating in the energy, infrastructure, and transport sector.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at the signing ceremony that the concession contract created the conditions for Rijeka to take a leading role in cargo transshipment in the northern Adriatic and to become the most important sea exit for central and southeast Europe, the statement said.

APM Terminals CEO Morten Engelstoft said in a statement, We are confident that Rijeka Gateway [the project for a new container terminal in Rijeka] will become an important spot on the port logistics map, serving not only Croatia but also the wider Central Europe region.

Owner and president of the board of ENNA said the project to build the new container terminal in Rijeka and the modernization of the railway infrastructure is Croatias largest national project that will facilitate business opportunities and fast economic growth not only in logistics but in all services and all industries, according to the statement.

In 2020, a consortium of three Chinese companies proposed a bid to build the new container terminal in Rijeka in five years with an annual concession fee of 2 million euros ($2.3 million) in response to a tender launched by the Rijeka Port Authority, according to RailFreight.com. The second bidderAPM Terminals in cooperation with ENNAoffered to complete the terminal in 10 years and pay 1 million euros ($1.1 million) in concession fee, the same source said.

However, the Rijeka Port Authority canceled the tender in January without providing any reason and launched a new one, reported Total Croatia News.

In the second tender, only one bid was received. The bid, made by the consortium of APM Terminals and ENNA, was accepted.

The new container terminal should become operational within 3.5 years when the first phase of the project is expected to be completed. After the completion of the second phase the terminal will have a projected throughput of more than 1 million TEU (twenty-foot-equivalent units), a statement from APM Terminals said.

A TEU is a standardized unit of measurement used to determine cargo capacity for container ships and terminals based on a 20-foot long container.

Croatia is a member of the European Union and NATO.

Chinese Influence in Balkans

According to EURACTIV.hr, apart from Rijeka, China recently lost two other north Adriatic ports with Trieste in north-east Italy making a deal with Hamburg and the Slovenian port city of Koper making a deal with Japanese companies.

Chinese state initiative China-CEE Institute, based in Hungary and established by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), stated in a paper (pdf) published in July the importance of the Adriatic for trade.

The Adriatic Sea has  been an important entry for the European continent since it comes closer to the central European region than any other part of the seas surrounding the continent, the paper said.

Due to their geographical location and other factors, the ports in four countries that surround the Adriatic (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania) are an important group, among the most important cargo hubs in Europe, it said.

In Croatia  the most important port for goods is Rijeka, the paper said.

Vladimir Shopov, a visiting policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), wrote in a paper that the Chinese consortium bid in 2020 to construct the terminal at Rijeka was in line with Beijings continued efforts to strengthen its position along the Adriatic coast through various infrastructure projects, including ports, railways, and roads.

He pointed out the dangers in this.

If governments in the Western Balkans are unable to pay Chinese loans for such projects, they could be contractually obliged to transfer ownership of various ports and land assets to Beijing. This would provide China with some real leverage in the region, he wrote.

While most Western Balkans states have manageable debts, China accounts for a rising share of these liabilitiesroughly 15 percent in Serbia and Bosnia, more than 20 percent in North Macedonia, and more than 40 percent in Montenegro, Shopov added.

He wrote that China gained a degree of influence over the maritime infrastructure of south-eastern Europe by taking control of the Greek port of Piraeus in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
Lets examine three groups of people who are currently working to restore election integrity in this country.

In Michigan, an organization called the Public Interest Legal Foundation conducted an analysis and found nearly 26,000 dead people on the Michigan voter rollswith the vast majority of them being marked as active.

In Georgia, a non-profit group has been trying to get high-quality images of the 2020 election ballots so that they can conduct their own audit. However, after months of trying, they found that almost half of Georgias counties have not been able to produce the original images of the 2020 ballotswith many of them saying that they have actually been deleted.

Lastly, in Wisconsin, the sheriff of Racine County has just officially filed election fraud criminal charges against the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Resources:

 Sekur (promo code: Roman)

https://ept.ms/3yW0Wul

 Michigan

https://ept.ms/308Ma7d

https://ept.ms/3c1jYpA

https://ept.ms/3wCmso0

 Georgia

https://ept.ms/3ohGYX3

 Wisconsin:

https://ept.ms/3DabOXS

Stay tuned for our newsletter so you wont miss out on our exclusive videos and private events.

Facts Matter is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube.

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Faith-Based Dad Forgives DUI Suspect Who Caused Crash That Killed 11-Year-Old Daughter

A Phoenix dad whose daughter was struck by a car and killed last month says he forgives the suspect who was charged with manslaughter following her death. He is now behind bars, according to police.

The family of Daniel Marin around 1 p.m. on Sept. 3 were walking on the sidewalk along 43rd Avenue North at 3800 block after dining out when the suspect driving a silver sedan northbound along 43rd Avenue suddenly changed lanes, striking a gold-colored sedan, which then veered off the road, striking five people.

At 43rd Avenue North and 3800 block in Phoenix, Arizona, the scene of the pedestrian collision that took place on Sept. 3, according to Phoenix Police. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

After the collision, 11-year-old Alysah Marin was pronounced dead, while Daniels wife, sons, and niece were seriously injured and transported to local hospitals. Daniel was at work at the time. Both the suspect and the driver of the gold sedan were unharmed.

The suspect, Fernando De La Garza, 51, was allegedly driving under the influence, showing signs of impairment at the time of the collision, police stated. A urine sample showed traces of meth, oxy, PCP, and opiates, according to Fox News.

De La Garza faced several charges including a Class Two felony for manslaughter, two Class Two felonies for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, two Class Three felonies for aggravated assault, and Felony for endangerment, a person in court said.

11-year-old Alysah Marin. (Courtesy of Daniel Marin)

Now Daniel and his family are grieving Alysahs loss, but the dad says his role is to stay strong for loved ones who need him amidst the tragedy.

Its just still unreal. Im holding it. I have to, he told the station days after the incident. I have two boys that I have to make sure its going to be alright, and my wife, she lost her baby girl like I did. They need me, so I have to.

Of his daughter Alysah, he said, She was always happy. Loved to dance. Loved God.

But despite his loss, the father says he forgives De La Garza.

I know Im supposed to be angry, but Im faith-based. I forgive the guy, he said. Thats what my daughter would want me to do.

(Courtesy of Daniel Marin)

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Federal First Responder With Medical Condition Facing Termination Due to Vaccine Mandate

Dr. Gina Smith is a psychologist that specializes in treating first responders and veterans who is currently running as a Republican for the U.S. House to represent the 14th congressional district in Texas.

Her husband has been working as a federal first responder for over ten years.

Last summer, a mandate for federal employees invalidated the option for testing twice a week for COVID-19 and he had to be vaccinated or face termination. He then turned in his medical and religious exemptions and is still awaiting the results.

The paperwork he had to fill out, however, was not what she would have conventionally expected.

The exemption paperwork was a medical exemption form for early retirement which doesnt make any sense, thats not what hes asking for, Smith told The Epoch Times.

He then went to his long-time doctor, who according to Smith, told him: Look, I havent told anybody that they shouldnt get this vaccine, but Im going to tell you, you should not get this vaccine.

He has lymphedema in his foot, Smith said, referring to lymphatic pooling. Hes missing the back half of his leg, so he has pooling in his foot which has a risk for blood clots and things like that.

Serving in Iraq

Her husband, who currently works in law enforcement, is a former Marine. During his service in Iraq, was hit by an IED and sustained serious injuries that ended his career as a Marine.

He is missing a kidney, a spleen, and part of [his] pancreas, Smith said.

So if this overtaxes his one kidney and then he has kidney failure, he is not going to be able to get another kidney easily. He will be on dialysis, and the longevity of your life when youre on dialysis is not very long.

Smith and her husband are not opposed to the vaccines, and he had taken all the vaccines when he was a Marine except for the anthrax one. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, the issue they are concerned about is not with the blood pooling itself but with vein health and poor circulation.

Most of his peers didnt even know he was disabled, since he worked very hard to stay fit and to conceal it, but now his disabilities are on blast to everyone. And hes having to prove over and over and over again to his supervisors and to other people, Smith added.

This is not an anti-vaccine issue. This is an anti-mandate issuethe requirement of them to have a vaccine that is still under an emergency use order. It does not have long-term studies attached to it. And it does not take into account natural immunity, and on top of all of that, most of these federal first responders, they are the ones who are enforcing the Constitution, theyre upholding the Constitution. So their job is to know the Constitution. And so for many of these folks, they are looking at this saying, theres something wrong here. Theres something very seriously wrongit does not stand up to the threshold that the U.S. Constitution says that were afforded these particular rights.

Smith thinks that Congress, which is exempt from vaccine mandates, should be held to the same standards as the rest of the people in regards to the vaccine mandates.

I think that [Congress] needs to be held to the same account that everybody else is. I dont think that Congress should be above anybody, Smith said.

I really think that they do need to have an honest conversation about what exactly is going on here. I think that Senator Rand Paul is trying to have that conversation. And hes having an uphill battle. I think there are a few people who are open to having that conversation, [but] a lot of folks are not and Im not sure why thats happening. I know that its a conversation that I am willing to have, which is why Im speaking up about this, because these federal first responders cannot speak for themselves.

She said that if just 10 percent of fire and police first responders get fired, it would be a massive number that would compromise national security.

Continuing the Mission

If her husband gets fired he wont get security clearance due to background checks, so it would tie his hands on the ability to go work somewhere else, Smith said.

To file for disability he would have to lose his job first and there could be a significant wait time in between.

Smith said her husband thought he would stay in the Marine Corps forever. But the day he got hit by an explosive, he was on an Air Force Humvee instead of a Marine Corps unit, due to Congress not being able to support the war logistics properly, thus ending his career as a Marine.

His heart had stopped and was miraculously resuscitated. After recovering, he wanted to continue his mission as a patriot and went on to work as a federal law enforcer.

Now, she said that her husband told her because Congress couldnt get their stuff together, is the same reason why my career is going to end again, and Im not going to be able to continue my mission.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed on behalf of federal employees and contractors that dont want to get the jab due to either religious or medical reasons.
President Joe Biden speaks alongside Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava (R) and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (L) about the collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside, during a briefing in Miami Beach, Fla., on July 1, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Florida Gov. DeSantis Threatens to Send Illegal Immigrants to Bidens Home State

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis threatened to send illegal immigrants who are flown to Florida to President Joe Bidens home state of Delaware amid increasing Republican criticism of the presidents immigration policies.

During a news conference Wednesday, the GOP governor said his office is looking at legal avenues after his administration alleged that about 70 flights of illegal aliens were sent to Jacksonville, Florida, after being picked up by agents along the U.S.Mexico border.

Were going to get together and figure out what we can do in the immediate term to protect folks in Florida, DeSantis told reporters, noting that his options are limited because the federal government controls the immigration policies and actions.

But if theyre not doing that, DeSantis added, then clearly the state should be able to come in and provide protections, and so thats what were going to be looking to do.

If theyre going to come here, well provide buses, DeSantis said, before proclaiming, I will send them to Delaware.

DeSantis signed an executive order in September barring Florida state agencies from helping the federal government transport illegal immigrants. At the same time, the governor said he would file a lawsuit against the administration for its catch and release program.

I know when we initially got wind of this it wasnt through normal channels, DeSantis claimed, saying his office only obtained reports of the flights into Florida from leaked reports. It was people in the federal government who were effectively leaking this to us so that we have a heads up on it.

The Epoch Times has contacted the White House for comment after DeSantis remarks.

Last month, when questioned about the Biden administration having flown illegal aliens to Florida and New York state, White House press secretary Jen Psaki argued that it should be no suprise.

It is our legal responsibility to safely care for unaccompanied children until they can be swiftly unified with a parent or a vetted sponsor, Psaki said. Thats something we take seriously. We have a moral obligation to do that and deliver on that.

Psaki explained that the flights are in line with the administrations Office of Refugee Resettlement policies regarding children in custody.

In recent weeks unaccompanied children passed through the Westchester airport en-route to their final destination to be unified with their parents or vetted sponsor, she said at the time. Its no surprise children can be seen traveling through states, not just New York.

Yery Noel Medina Ulloa was recently charged with murder in Florida. (Jacksonville Sheriffs Office)

DeSantis statements came days after a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from Honduras was arrested and accused of posing as a 17-year-old under a false identity before killing a Jacksonville man who provided him with a job. The governor accused President Bidens administration of transporting the suspect, Yery Noel Medina Ulloa, from the border area to Jacksonville on a midnight flight.

However, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, also a Republican, said its not clear if Ulloa was flown in from the U.S.Mexico border area to Florida.

I will tell you that we are delving deep into this and this will be part of what we do in pushing the court to grant us relief and force the federal government to follow federal law, Moody said during an interview with Fox News.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 28: law enforcement officers walk out of the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building on January 28, 2019 in Washington, DC. Last Friday President Donald Trump signed a temporary measure to reopen the U.S. government after it was partially shut down for 35 days as the president and congressional Democrats could not come to a bipartisan solution for more money to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

From Nixon to Biden, US Domestic Counterterrorism Policy Plagued by Politics: Historians

The Biden administrations assessment that domestic violent extremism is one of the greatest threats facing the United States isnt the first time the federal government has made such a declaration.

Some 50 years ago, President Richard Nixon made a similar statement, deeming revolutionary terrorism as the gravest threat facing the homeland.

Counterterrorism historians discussed the similarities between the two periods at an event held by the Cato Institute in Washington on Nov. 10, warning that some of the past incursions on civil liberties could be repeated today.

Both eras are marked by the national security state turning its attention inward after an extended campaign overseas, said Faiza Patel, co-director at the Brennan Center for Justice.

There was this shift [in the 1960s and 70s] from the idea of a communist threat that was instigated from overseas, to the leftist threat as envisioned as purely domestic. And as I think about the post-9/11 era, where the government is really focused on the threat from groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS, and now everyones talking about domestic terrorism, Patel said at the Cato event. Were seeing a similar shift.

When Nixon declared domestic terrorism as the greatest threat facing Americans in June 1970, he was responding to an upswing in politically tinged violence throughout the countryincluding more than 100 bombing attacks and incidents of arson committed by leftists.

The scale of violence during the 1960s and 70s is really different from almost anything weve seen in a highly politicized domestic way, said Beverly Gage, a history professor at Yale University.

With little to no guidance about what constitutes domestic terrorism, the Nixon administration gave itself wide leeway to conduct controversial intelligence operations against dissidentsviolent and peaceful alike.

What emerged was what Western Washington University history professor Daniel Chard said was the first formal federal domestic counterterrorism policy, which he described as policing designed to find terrorists in advance.

A big part of this is mass surveillance, said Chard, who published a book about the subject in September.

Nixons June 1970 declaration about revolutionary terrorism spawned what became known as the Huston Plana series of controversial intelligence operations, including black-bag jobs, mail searches, and infiltrating leftist groups with undercover agents.

After these and numerous other illegal operationsincluding the bugging of Martin Luther King Jr. and the maintenance of a half-million pages of internal security files on Americansin the wake of the Watergate scandal, Attorney General Edward Levi issued a directive in 1976 curtailing many of the FBIs powers.

Levis directive, among other things, required FBI agents to show evidence of a crime before using secret police techniques such as wiretaps or entering someones home without warning.

However, the restrictions on FBI power loosened over the next 25 years and were effectively abolished by Attorney General John Ashcroft following 9/11.

Today, some are calling for those enhanced post-9/11 national security powers to be used domestically. The National School Boards Association (NSBA), for instance, sent a letter to the Biden administration in September characterizing protesting parents as domestic terrorism threats and calling for the FBI to use statutes such as the Patriot Act.

This time, the script has flipped politically, Gage remarked.

When you got into the Trump erainto the Mueller investigation, the showdown with Comey and then Jan. 6suddenly you have liberals and leftists looking for the FBI to save the republic from Trump, whereas Republicans, their opinion of the FBI has plummeted, she said.

But even though the players are different, Gage said both the Nixon-era and current counterterrorism policies present common issues.

The big political challengewhether youre talking about 100 years ago, 50 years ago, or the presentis that debates about violence are intimately connected to debates about speech, debates about civil liberties, debates about where this line is between legitimate political participation and illegitimate forms of political engagement, she said.

Those need to be thought of somewhat separatelywhether or not you like the group thats targeted, and whether you want them to be able to express their ideas.
Fully Vaccinated Teacher Put on Leave Says Shes Anti-Mandate, Not Anti-Vaccine

An Illinois teacher who is fully vaccinated said she will not show proof of her COVID-19 vaccination status because shes against mandates.

Earlier this year, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker mandated all teachers and school staff get vaccinated. But Kadence Koen, who teaches math at a high school in Springfield School District 186, vocally opposed the move but later confirmed to the district that shes fully vaccinated, according to local media.

In October, the Springfield school board voted to place Koen on unpaid leave for not complying with the mandate.

Koen posted her vaccination card on her Facebook page over the past weekend, according to local media reports. The card shows that she received both doses of a vaccine in June and July.

I didnt want to have to produce a vaccination card because I dont think thats legal or appropriate, but if you ask me to choose between my personal beliefs and my students, my students will win, Koen told the State Journal-Register.

The teacher added that her reluctance to inform the district was always about liberties and freedoms and medical autonomy and said she was disappointed in not having the matter settled in court.

Several months ago, in September, officials at Southeast High School placed Koen on leave in defiance of the mandate. At the time, Koen said she would refuse to show her vaccine card or agree to be regularly tested for COVID-19 because, according to her, it violates the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act along with her civil rights.

Im a big fan of liberties and freedom in the country and personal rights, she said in September after she was placed on leave. When my employer attempted to overstep my personal rightsmy body, my choiceI came to the decision I had to stand up to this.

A spokeswoman for the school district told local media that it cannot discuss any personnel-related issues. The Epoch Times has contacted the district for comment.

Whether people agree or disagree with my methods or agree or disagree with my stance, Im glad people are talking. Im glad people are no longer just accepting things as this is the way it has to be, Koen said, adding that her stance on vaccines created conversation in the community. I am glad its getting people to think.

Franklin Middle School music teacher Kingsley Keys, who also teaches in Springfield School District 186, is also on leave without pay over the vaccine mandate, he confirmed earlier this year.

This forced compliance as a condition of employment stands in stark contrast to the very impetus for informed consent and legislated medical autonomy, rights replete throughout federal and state statute, legislated to counter overreach, Keys said, the State-Journal Register reported.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Hong Kongs Captain America Protester Gets Almost 6 Years in Prison Over Pro-Democracy Chants

A Hong Kong court has handed down a nearly six-year prison sentence to a pro-democracy protester, after ruling that he had violated a Beijing-imposed national security law through certain nonviolent acts, including the chanting of protest slogans.

Former delivery man Ma Chun-man, 31, dubbed Captain America 2.0 for wielding the superheros shield during protests, was sentenced on Nov. 11 to five years and nine months in prison for incitement to secession. His conviction was the second under the security law, which was imposed by the Chinese regime in June 2020.

Ma is the first to be sentenced under the law solely for his speech. A district court judge found Ma guilty in October of inciting secession due to the slogans he chanted, such as the popular pro-democracy chant, Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times; the placards he held; and the statements he made to media.

Ma had pleaded not guilty and didnt testify.

During the trial, his defense attorneys argued that Ma was merely exercising his right to free speech, saying that he merely chanted slogans loudly, appearing alone. Nor did he harm others or engage in open defiance, they told the court on Nov. 11.

Before the sentence was delivered, Mas attorneys read part of a letter Ma wrote to the judge.

I do not feel any regret, Ma wrote in the letter, which he signed with his nickname. On my road to democracy and freedom, I cant afford to be a coward.

The judge said Ma was incited by some politician and he eventually became an instigator himself, without naming the politician.

In this context, its hard to guarantee there wont be other Ma Chun-mans, the judge said.

Mas sentence drew condemnation from human rights groups.

It is outrageous that Ma Chun-man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison simply for chanting slogans and sharing his political views online, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Secretary General Kyle Ward said in a statement. The Hong Kong government must stop criminalizing mere acts of expression without any demonstrated connection to the use of force or imminent violence.

The national security law criminalizes any speech or act deemed by Beijing to constitute secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with foreign forces, with each offense carrying a maximum penalty of life in prison. It has been widely criticized by Western governments and human rights bodies as a tool used to purge pro-democracy proponents and suppress dissent.

Since the law has taken effect, more than 100 peoplemostly pro-democracy politicians, activists, media figures, and studentshave been charged under the measure or similar offenses.

Tong Ying-kit, the first person to be convicted under the national security law, was sentenced in July to nine years in prison. Tong was accused of incitement to secession and engagement in terrorist acts after he drove a motorcycle carrying a banner bearing the slogan, Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times into a group of policemen in 2020.

Hong Kong courts are set to hand down sentences to three other national security cases in 2021. In August, pro-democracy activist Andy Li and paralegal Chan Tsz-wah became the first people to plead guilty to charges under the law. On Nov. 3, 20-year-old student activist Tony Chung, who was preparing to apply for asylum at the U.S. Consulate before he was arrested, pleaded guilty to secession. They face up to seven years in prison.

Hong Kong Epoch Times Staff and Reuters contributed to this report.
Honoring the Divine Bond Between Children and Parents: The Virtue of Filial Piety

The wise men's way of strengthening the family fabric and respecting the divinity within each human being

Ancient cultures and centuries-old traditions around the world believe that heaven has arranged all our relationshipsa predestined gift from the divine.

Truth is, everyone has a unique situation with their parents and ancestors, and people of faith do acknowledge that we have been made in the image of the Creator. So perhaps our families too have been divinely bestowed to us here on Earth.

However, when the roles are enacted in the grand performance called life, some relationships play out close and warmhearted, while others are distant and cold. And just like how scenes change with the rise and fall of curtains, tables of fate do change. But one virtue that can not only preserve any family but also transform its struggles over time is filial piety.

The magnanimity of filial piety has been expressed in the stories left by history, demonstrating its virtuous influence to transform wrongdoings and preserve family honor.

It is truly divine to pay respect to how one came to the world, by cherishing your family and those around you in society at large. (Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock)

Filial Piety Is a Higher Virtue

In todays era, we all shift blame and point fingers at times. Children are no different; they complain that their parents are overly demanding or hard to reason with, while the adults complain its the kids who are unruly. It is worth reflecting on how cultivating filial pietyrather than our typical immature fighting and conquest of whos right and whos wrongguided our ancestors to conquer this same challenge more effectively.

Filial Piety is a moral code. It is not an outdated, old-fashioned principle or lifestyle statement of raising children right. Nor does it involve children becoming spoiled, nor the opposite extreme of neglect under the guise children should be seen but not heard.

It is not about parents or childrens demands going to the extremes, where egos are stroked and indulged. Rather, it is a moral calling that brings children and parents closer to the divine by selflessly serving each otherbut also extending the warmth of this same virtue beyond their familial ties, embracing friends, strangers, and their societies.

Filial piety bears honor and respect toward parents throughout their lifetime and after death. Outside the home, filial piety would be expressed as serving ones country and this would bring about greater social harmony.

Practicing the art of filial piety calls for a magnanimous character. Ideally, it would start within a persons innermost self, a sense of wanting to do the right thing and being a good person. Then, this magnanimous spiritual aspiration one cultivates within would lead to embracing ones family, through respecting ones parents and ancestors, to expanding outside the home.

In the East and West, every culture talked about raising children the right way. Filial Piety is a virtue that the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (551479 B.C.) emphasized as most important to keeping the social order of society to function harmoniously while also honoring the divinity within each human being.

Filial Piety is discussed in The Analects. These are teachings Confucius left behind, to guide proper conduct, and can be summed up in the Chinese character for filial, xiao ()a traditional principle that paid due respect to parents and gave way to cultivating a great character within oneself.

The Chinese character xiao () consists of the character for a child () underneath the character for an aged person/parent (), signifying the virtuous role of the young in taking care of the elderly.

The Chinese character for filial obedience, xiao (). (The Epoch Times)

There are different levels of filial piety according to Confuciuss teachings.

At a low level, one labors for the parents, holding dear to the memories of their kindness and not putting too much emphasis on ones own hardship. The middle level is concerned with honor for them in ones accomplishments, which includes respectful and responsible behavior. At the highest level, one practices being filial by having no omissions, and this includes spreading kindness so that all benefit.

Perhaps the highest form of being filial is cultivating magnanimity to the point of being the best person one can be, with the highest attainment being that one becomes enlightened and gains deliverance.

Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher, educator, and the founder of Confucianism. (aphotostory/Shutterstock)

Practicing Filial Piety Brings Good Returns

One may wonder, what does magnanimity mean in the context of being filial? In many cultures around the world, there is the idea of reciprocity that is built into filial piety. And if no benevolent reciprocity existed, to create it, through behaving filial, would naturally bring about good fortune.

The hearts of those who endeavor to be filial and introspective are pure and sincere. And filial piety helps both parents and children to cultivate a sense of respect for the relationship that was arranged by the higher forces of the universe.

Even if the parents are immoral, it is supported by Confucian ethics that the filial child is to point out the wrongdoing while forbearing the karmic ties, while transforming their resentments and hardships to a more benevolent state. Practicing filial piety can also help one transform the difficult situation with their family.

One should always pay attention and give thanks to their ancestors, no matter how humble their beginnings have been. Paying respect to their family and extending that goodwill outside the home will bring good returns, hence the law of karma.

The following story about the legendary Chinese emperor named Yu Shun (or the Great Shun) is one of the countless stories of filial piety left to history from ancient Chinaages before the Chinese Communist Party came into power.

Emperor Yu Shun, also known as Chong Hua or the Great Shun (Xiao Ping/Zhengjian)

Shun was born into a family where his kindhearted mother died early, leaving him to endure a particularly difficult father and stepmother. He was not favored and endured abuse from his family, while being forced to do hard labor, eat poor quality food, and wear thin clothes in freezing winters. Despite this harsh treatment from his family, he maintained respect for his parents and took responsibility for his younger step-siblings.

Shuns first thought when his stepmother or siblings mistreated him was: I must have done something wrong that caused them to be angry and treat me this way. Reflecting on his shortcomings while practicing filial behavior led him to cry out one day in the field in which he worked: Why can I not bring joy to my family?

The legend says that people were touched by Shuns selfless concern in spite of his lowly role in his family. It is said that his sincere heart was also seen in the heavens. Later, when he worked outside, he was rewarded with an elephant that came to assist in plowing the fields, and birds came down to remove the weeds. As time went by, this young man was the talk of the town.

Years later, when the elderly Emperor Yao sought a successor, he turned to his fellow officials for help in finding the best replacement, and they recommended Shun. They all thought that, since Shun had endured much hardship and did so gracefully, in the noble spirit of showing filial respect, which included looking within, it was enough to ensure that he could take care of the kingdom.

When Shun became an emperor, he still thought the same way as he did in the past and even stated: Even now, my parents still do not like me. What is the point of being an emperor?

His people were touched by his words and so were his parents, and in the end, they treated him well. The higher virtue of filial piety practiced by Shun demonstrates that, with a forgiving heart, sacrificing and maintaining harmony in ones life will bring about good fortune.

Filial Piety In Different Cultures

From Europe to North America, cultures honor the passing of their parents and ancestors by lighting a candle to remember them, but also visiting their graves with flowers.

Many Asian countries have the tradition of children bowing to their parents and ancestors to express their gratitude. While in India, children touch their parents feet, because symbolically, heavens way is connected in their footsteps, and this humble connection is to be honored and respected today.

Looking at many countries, filial piety extends to national holidays. These holidays acknowledge those who served and those who lost their lives defending their country at times of war. For example, Remembrance Day is held yearly in many Commonwealth countries. Canada and Australia have their Remembrance Day on November 11. The United States celebrates Veterans Day on the same day.

Needless to say that some family traditions are worth breaking and creating anew. And wherever you came from, it is truly divine to pay respect to how one came to the world, by cherishing your family and those around you in society at large.

So what kind of filial piety does your family or culture practice? How has it made you a more magnanimous person? Let us know in the comments section!

Arshdeeep Sarao contributed to this report.

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
In happier times: Sun Ng of Hong Kong with his wife and new baby granddaughter in October 2021 before his COVID-19 diagnosis. (photo courtesy of Man Kwan Ng)

After Court Admonishes Hospital, It Allows Ivermectin for Dying COVID-19 Patient

An Illinois hospital defied an emergency court order over the weekend, refusing to allow an unvaccinated outside physician to administer the cheap drug ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient who was dying while being treated with expensive remdesivir, before finally relenting after being scolded by a judge.

Some other hospitals have been ordered by courts to allow the drug to be used.

The legal fight in the Illinois state court system comes as studies continue on the effectiveness of ivermectin in treating COVID-19. The costly drug remdesivir has been given emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating certain categories of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Sun Ng, 71, who was visiting the United States from Hong Kong to celebrate his granddaughters first birthday, became ill with COVID-19 and was hospitalized at Edward Hospital in Naperville, Illinois, on Oct. 14. His condition worsened dramatically and he was intubated and placed on a ventilator a few days later.

Ngs daughter, Man Kwan Ng, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering, did her own research and decided her father should get ivermectin, which some medical doctors believe is potentially effective against COVID-19.

But against the daughters wishes, the hospital refused to administer the drug, and denied access to a physician willing to administer it. The daughter, who holds power of attorney to make medical decisions on her fathers behalf, hired Chicago law firm Mauck and Baker and New York law firm Parlato Law, which is handling ivermectin litigation throughout the United States.

Attorney Kirstin M. Erickson of Mauck and Baker said the case is about a daughter who wants to save her dads life.

Ivermectin has been highly effective and used in humans for over 30 years, she told The Epoch Times. Resistance to its use is because its not part of the, quote, standard of care in hospitals.

Theyve given him the treatment they give at the hospital, which is remdesivir, and that was ineffective, and hes been on the ventilator for almost three weeks now, the lawyer said.

What Ive learned in these cases is that ivermectin costs between $1 and $3 a pill, where something like remdesivir is $3,000 per dose, she said.

There could be some financial backing here, politically, other things motivating it, Erickson said. I dont know what it is.

The daughter went to court on her fathers behalf.

On Nov. 1, Judge Paul M. Fullerton of the Circuit Court of DuPage County granted a temporary restraining order requiring the hospital to allow ivermectin to be given to the patient.

The daughter, an only child, had been denied access to her father, but at some point the same week, the hospital allowed her to see her father, Erickson said.

Although the hospital had been claiming the patient was doing well, it was clear he wasnt, the lawyer said, so the daughter took a picture of her desperately ill father on Nov. 4 and showed the graphic photograph to the judge to drive home the need for a new treatment plan.

At an evidentiary hearing before Fullerton on Nov. 5, it was pointed out that the preliminary injunction that the daughter was seeking was an extraordinary remedy. The judge said he agreed.

I cant think of a more extraordinary situation than when we are talking about a mans life, Fullerton said, according to court records.

Ng was admitted Oct. 14 and went on a respirator around Oct. 18, the judge recounted.

There is no dispute from the testimony of the doctors  that his risk of dying is over 50 percent.

One physician testified that someone in Ngs situation, which the judge described as basically on his death bed, has only a 10 to 15 percent of survival, the judge said.

Ivermectin is not an FDA approved drug [sic], Fullerton said.

In fact, ivermectin is approved for human use by the FDA, but not against COVID-19.

Certain formulations of ivermectin are approved in the U.S. to treat or prevent parasites in animals. For humans, ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses to treat some parasitic worms and other ailments, according to the FDAs website.

Although currently available data do not show ivermectin is effective against COVID-19, there are clinical human trials in progress.

Ivermectin can have minor side effects such as dizziness, itchy skin, and diarrhea at the dosage suggested for Ng, Fullerton said, but the risks of these side effects are so minimal that Mr. Ngs current situation outweighs that risk by one-hundredfold.

The judge issued a preliminary injunction on Nov. 5 directing the hospital to immediately allow  temporary emergency privileges to Ngs physician, Dr. Alan Bain, solely to administer Ivermectin to this patient.

Bain has treated many COVID-19 patients with ivermectin. Asked if the drug was responsible for saving the life of a specific patient he had successfully treated, he told Trial Site News in June: I believe it had a very strong impact. It was a good addition to everything else. Ivermectin is the real deal.

The hospital resisted the order on Nov. 6 and 7, denying Bain access to his patient. The hospital claimed it couldnt let Bain in because he was not vaccinated against COVID-19 and that its chief medical officer wasnt available to proctor Bain administering ivermectin.

The daughters lawyers filed an emergency report with the court early Nov. 8 and Fullerton heard briefly from both sides. The judge admonished the hospital and restated that it must allow Bain inside over a period of 15 days to do his job. When the hospital filed a motion to stay the order, Fullerton denied it, again directing the facility to comply.

Erickson said Sun Ng is already improving with ivermectin treatment. Ng passed a 60-minute breathing test that he could only previously tolerate for five minutes, she said.

Theres been improvement already, and were hoping for full recovery as soon as possible.

Erickson said she hoped Fullertons ruling will encourage hospitals to modify their COVID-protocols to incorporate more innovative drugs like ivermectin so that more lives are saved.

Joseph T. Monahan, the hospitals attorney, didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.
A child wears a mask as she has her temperature checked at the entrance to Alton Towers in Alton, England, on July 4, 2020. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

How Face Masks Harm a Childs Development

Commentary

Should young children be made to wear masks? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the answer is a resounding yes.

The public health agency now urges all children over the age of 2 to wear masks, regardless of vaccination status. Of course, we can debate the idea of vaccinating kids in the first place. Forty-five percent of American parents are very much against the idea of vaccinating young children.

Although I am not qualified to debate the effects of vaccines, as a psychosocial specialist I consider myself qualified to comment on the effects of masks. Toddlers should not be made to wear masks. Heres why.

Lets start by asking the following: Do face masks actually work, and are they effective in protecting young children from contracting COVID-19?

A number of studies have shown a strong association between mask-wearing and lower rates of being infected with the virus. According to a report published by the ABC Science Collaborative, proper masking is the most effective mitigation strategy to prevent secondary transmission in schools when COVID-19 is circulating and when vaccination is unavailable, or there is insufficient uptake.

In reality, though, it probably has more to do with distancing and proper ventilation. As researchers in Georgia noted, improving air circulation by opening windows and doors or using fans reduced COVID-19 cases by about one-third compared with schools that didnt make changes in ventilation.

In a recent BBC Future article, Dr. Mark Ng, an infectious disease specialist at Singhealth Polyclinics in Singapore, said masks may not be responsible for reducing transmission. Protective factors like personal hand hygiene, safe distancing, and whether an area is well-ventilated may play a part must also be considered, according to Ng.

So the efficacy of masks in protecting children from the virus is up for debate. Whats not up for debate, however, is the effect that masks have on the ways in which we interpret other peoples emotions and expressions.

With brain development, children undergo critical periods, or special time windows. Up until the age of 5, a childs brain develops more than at any other time throughout his or her life. Understanding the term critical period is, well, critical to understanding why masks have a negative impact on a childs development. During such periods, a childs nervous system is particularly sensitive to certain stimuli, such as a mothers touch or a fathers soothing voice. A child deprived of such experiences is likely to suffer in many ways, both psychologically and physically. Before learning how to effectively communicate, children learn to recognize basic emotions. They must first learn how to decode complex expressions.

Students wear protective masks as they arrive for classes at the Immaculate Conception School while observing COVID-19 prevention protocols in the Bronx borough of New York on Sept. 9, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo)

In the aforementioned BBC Future article, Dr. Kang Lee, a developmental specialist, warned that a community (or a country) where masking is the norm may hinder childrens ability to interpret emotions like happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and so on. Facial visibility, as Kang so accurately noted, is a key part of such development and masking can hinder that process, as we learn emotions mostly through the face.

By the age of 2, according to peer-reviewed research, children develop more abstract concepts of emotion. This includes an ability to decipher other peoples facial movements and actions. A recent paper published in Frontiers in Psychology studied the effects of masks on the social and emotional development of toddlers. The authors showed that the human capacity to read emotions from facial configurations when a face mask is present becomes particularly reduced in toddlers. The authors suggested that this can be explained by different age-related developmental stages of face processing associated with emotional reasoning. Privation of facial visual features might alter or delay the development of social skills associated with face perception in early childhood. Such conclusions should not be ignored.

Another credible paper, published in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed journal, found that face masks only serve to decreases facial expression recognition, confidence in expression identification, as well as the perception of intensity for all expressions.

Even more concerning is the effect masks have on verbal communication. After all, children learn language not just through listening, but also through observation. If teachers, caregivers, classmates, and the broader community are masked, this makes language acquisition particularly difficult. This is especially true for children with special needs. In the United States, one in every nine children under the age of 18 receives special education services.

In the aforementioned BBC Future piece, Stephen Camarata, a professor of hearing and speech sciences at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, discussed the effects of masks on children with disabilities, especially those with impaired hearing. As these children use facial features to fill in the information theyre not hearing, masks only serve to deprive them of critical cues, he warned.

So, even if masks are an effective way of preventing the transmission of COVID-19, what price are we willing to pay? How are masks shaping the children of today and the adults of tomorrow? These are important questions to ask.

Masks mightand I stress mightbe an effective way of combating the virus, but theyre also an effective way of hindering a childs development.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
In Pursuit of a Secure Border: Small Texas County Leads Charge Against Border Crime

KINNEY COUNTY, TexasCharging an illegal immigrant with a misdemeanor such as criminal trespass sounds simple enough.

But throw 1,008 cases at a small county with a jail that has 14 spaces and a court system that usually handles six or seven cases per monthusing Microsoft Wordand the wheels start to fall off.

On June 10, when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed state troopers to start arresting illegal alienson charges including trespass, criminal mischief, and evading on footofficials in Kinney County jumped on the idea.

County Sheriff Brad Coe was keen to stick illegal immigrants with any charges he could to deter them from coming to his county.

Were going to try to hold these people accountable, Coe said. He also wanted to get them in the system because the illegal aliens captured in Kinney County have evaded Border Patrol, so theyre unknown.

Since January, ranchers and local law enforcement had seen an unprecedented increase in the number of illegal aliens traversing the county, and theyd given up on expecting federal solutions. Local ranchers, tired of cut fences and property damage, signed affidavits allowing the sheriff and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to press charges on their behalf.

Although Abbott announced the Operation Lone Star border security initiative in June, it took almost two months to secure enough jail space and for the DPS to work out the process. The state set up a temporary 100-bed detention center in neighboring Val Verde County and cleared out the 1,000-bed Briscoe Unit in Dilley.

Meanwhile, in July, almost 10,000 illegal aliens evaded Border Patrol in the Del Rio Sector, according to preliminary Customs and Border Protection numbers.

By August, DPS was ready to start the initiative in Val Verde and Kinney counties. In Kinney, DPS assigned a small team to work the brush near the U.S.Mexico border in areas of high foot traffic. The officers quickly started arresting an average of 25 illegal aliens per day from private ranches, often at night.

At the sheriffs office, state troopers and local jail staff took about two hours to complete the paperwork and magistrate seven Mexicans who were arrested late on Aug. 7. Theyd been walking for two days before being caught on a ranch.

Two said they had already tried crossing a month ago but got caught by Border Patrol and expelled. Another man, who said he was aiming to get to New York, said this was his third time trying to get through. He said his cousin intended to pay the $4,000 smuggling fee upon his delivery to New York.

Several said theyll probably try again, while others werent as enthusiastic. They all said a travel agent on the Mexican side of the border directed them on where to cross, gave directions of where to walk, and had planned to coordinate a vehicle pick-up for them.

At first, Kinney County Justice of the Peace Narce Villarreal came down to the sheriffs office in the middle of the night to magistrate the groups before DPS transported them the 30 miles to the Val Verde facility. But the hours became untenable and the sheriffs office parking lot was overwhelmed with detainees, so the whole process was moved to Val Verde.

From Val Verde, the illegal aliens would eventually be transported 126 miles to the Briscoe Unit in Dilley while they waited for their court hearing. Subsequently, some were then transported another 200 miles to the Segovia jail facility in Edinburgh.

The Prosecution

Meanwhile, Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith was scrambling to take up the flood of new cases. He had started the job in January and was building the backend process on the fly. He had to go to the county commissioners to request a software system that would streamline the paperwork on the casesWord documents had become too unwieldy under the volume. He contacted two other county attorneys to double-check that his complaints were solid.

Smith said hes filed around 900 charges for criminal trespass since August, with more pending, and has had to rely heavily on Mason District Attorney Tonya Ahlschwede, who is part of Texass border prosecution unit, to keep up.

Former chief of the Del Rio Border Patrol Sector Austin Skero, who retired at the end of July, also joined the unit as an investigator.

After a misdemeanor arrest, Smith examines the evidence in the case file from the sheriffs office or DPS. If its determined that trespass occurred, hell file a complaint against the individual for trespassing, which is a Class B misdemeanor. The charge is elevated if the individual has a deadly weapon, is found more than 100 feet past the property line on agricultural land, or if the alleged crime took place during a disaster (the county has been in a perpetual state of disaster since April).

Once charged, the suspect will make a plea, and if he pleads guilty, hell most likely get time served and be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Its not a hefty penalty, but were hoping they avoid our county, Smith said.

The maximum punishment for a Class B misdemeanor in Texas is 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine, whereas a Class A is one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

As the cases have piled up, it has become a race against time for Smith.

If they dont make bail, theyre in jail the whole time until trial, he said. From the time of the arrest, he has 30 days to file a Class A misdemeanor complaint against a detained individual before the habeas corpus statute requires a personal recognizance (PR) bond to be set and the individual released.

In some cases, Smith received the arrest files from DPS on day 29, or even beyond day 30. In other cases, the complaints were filed within the 30 days, but the inmate had bonded out of jail and was nowhere to be found.

Logistics and lack of manpower were the bottlenecks, he said.

Because what the state did, when they planned on this process, they got the jails set up, they got defense attorneys funded, but not one prosecutor was there to get the prosecution set up for this, he said.

So were playing catch up, trying to get the resources at the same time to do everythingversus the defense had everything set up from the very beginning.

On Oct. 14, Abbott announced $36.4 million in grant funding toward border prosecutions and 12 border counties, including more than $3.1 million in grant money to Kinney County, as part of Operation Lone Star.

But the money doesnt just appear in the county bank account. Its grant money that requires an application process, and the county must carry the costs in the meantime.

Smith has already spent more than his annual office supplies budget (about $1,200) on file folders for the trespass cases.

Court Proceedings

The first of Kinney Countys cases came up on the court docket during the last week of October. They were conducted over video conference with retired judges coming in to fill the gaps.

On Oct. 26, Judge Vivian Torres sat on the virtual bench. The cases proceeded slowly, with frequent pauses for the translator to ensure the defendant understood the goings-on.

Defense lawyer Sylvia Delgado had arranged a plea deal for several defendants that reduced their charge from a Class A to a Class B misdemeanor and a sentence of time served, with court costs being waived.

The defendants pleaded guilty, and the judge agreed to the plea deal terms, which included a 72-day sentence, which had been served.

Delgado said shes been assigned about 190 cases so far by the Lubbock Public Defenders Office and has been focusing on getting the first ones out of jail because theyd been detained so long.

She said she meets her clients via Zoom video conference. And I tell them specifically: You have not been forgotten. Im your attorney, Im going to work to get you out,' Delgado told The Epoch Times on Oct. 28.

Delgado said she lets them know that shell attempt to get them released on a no-fee PR bond, try to get charges reduced, and, if they want to plead guilty, ask for time served.

And then, unfortunately, when I go back to see them before docket, a lot of them are gone, she said. Of her 18 clients for the Nov. 2 court docket, she has only been able to follow up with the six who are still in jail.

I met with Joselito, and Joselito had told me, Well, Ms. Delgado, I just want to plead guilty and get sent back to Mexico. I just want to go back to Mexico.

So I was looking for Joselito. And hes nowhere to be found.

She was told by the other inmates that Joselito was transferred to ICE, while others had returned to Mexico after bonding out.

Other defense attorneys have also said they had no idea where their clients were after they bonded out.

The regions district attorney, Suzanne West, told The Epoch Times that she believes inmates who bond out are released to ICE.

ICE didnt confirm that it was taking custody of the inmates, or what happened next. A spokesperson said the agency is following the enforcement priorities set out by the Biden administration.

In Texas and elsewhere, ICE conducts an individualized determination in each case to assess whether arrest and removal is warranted. This determination includes an assessment of aggravating and mitigating factors, as well as a determination of whether the person is removable under the law, ICE spokesperson Monica Yoas stated in an email to The Epoch Times.

ICE fully respects the civil rights and liberties of all people when conducting this assessment.

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, which operates the Briscoe and Segovia jails, said that as of Oct. 29, the Briscoe unit held 654 illegal alien inmates, with 536 from Kinney County, 105 from Val Verde, 10 from Zavala, and three from Frio County. In Segovia, all 291 illegal alien inmates are from Kinney County.

Delgado said she has asked for an investigator to help on the ground to find the missing people and has meanwhile obtained a continuance in court for their hearing dates.

If theyre truly lost, like we dont ever hear from them again, we dont know what happened. If I cant really find out, then theyre probably just going to keep getting reset, she said.

So I suppose a warrant may issue, but were not there yet. Were just not there in that system yet.

Most of the defendants on the next several dockets, totaling about 60 cases, had their cases dismissed because defense lawyers argued that the complaints were deficient as they lacked the landowners name.

Smith later said he was disappointed that the name of the ranch wasnt sufficient for the court, as he was hoping to avoid naming the landowner in public records. The landowners name is usually included in the arrest file, which the lawyer can access.

A lot of ranchers are concerned about cartel retribution, possibly, if their name comes up in complaint after complaint after complaint he said.

So we can still refile it and prosecute once we correct that information. But you know, theyre not going to show up.

Smiths office scrambled to amend the 900 complaints already filed to include the landowner name and the GPS location of the alleged offense.

Defense lawyers appeared to change tack on the Nov. 2 docket and entered not guilty pleas for all their clients who were still present.

The judge subsequently ordered the release of each defendant on a no-fee PR bond and set a pre-trial hearing for Nov. 18.

Ahlschwede, from the border prosecution unit, told the court on Nov. 2 that several illegal aliens who had been released from jail after paying a cash bond have since been arrested again for criminal trespass in Kinney County.

Smith said one man was released after paying a $4,000 cash bond. Then we re-arrested him 10 days ago. And despite it being a multiple offense, they gave a $500 bond. Well, we filed the motion to revoke [the bond] once we got the case filewhich was 10 days after it occurred, Smith said.

The man had been released three days prior to receiving the motion.

By the time we got the file, he was already gone. Who knows where hes at now, Smith said.

Coe said his office has been juggling a steady stream of people coming in to pay cash bonds with wads of crisp $100 bills.

Some of them are $5,000. Where are they getting the money? he said. At one point, he had more than half a million dollars in cash sitting in his vault.

Id bet theres a 99 percent chance that they dont show up [to court], Coe said of the released illegal alien defendants.

Theyll probably end up in places like Michigan, Missouri, West Virginia, Washingtonwell never see them again. So are we doing this all in vain? I mean, its doable. Its very, very new. Its just getting the mechanism rolling.

Impact

Coe said he hoped the convictions might be a roadblock for illegal aliens if they ever tried to file for some type of assistance or become U.S. citizens.

Thatd be a check mark against them. Some type of consequence has to be there, he said.

However, in reality, having a trespass conviction on record will act more like a speedbump, according to former immigration judge Andrew Arthur, who is now a resident fellow in law and policy for the Center for Immigration Studies.

Generally, this isnt going to have any effect on them from an immigration standpoint, but again, sleeping in a room with 30 guys for six months really does have a way of concentrating ones attention, Arthur told The Epoch Times on Oct. 27.

Even if the Texas legislature passes a bill that would enhance punishment to a third-degree felony for illegal alien trespassers, the impact on future immigration status would be negligible, Arthur said.

But again, anything that impedes peoples ability to enter the United States, anything thats going to require them to be detained pretrial, or imprisoned post-trial, is going to be a deterrent, he said.

Now, how strong a deterrent effect that is remains to be seen.

Arthur said the deterrent effect was worth the taxpayer dollars spent on the trespass prosecutions.

The problem is that Texas is doing the job that the federal government should be doing.

Volume

The majority of Border Patrol apprehensions along the southwest border occur in Texas. Of the more than 1.6 million illegal alien apprehensions in fiscal year 2021, Border Patrol apprehended almost 958,000, or 58 percent, crossing into Texas.

Customs and Border Protection doesnt publish the number of illegal aliens that Border Patrol agents have detected but who subsequently evade apprehension, but the internal numbers have sat at around 50,000 per month this year, according to an inside source. Its impossible to estimate the number of those who arent detected at all.

Within the Operation Lone Star border effort, the DPS had made 7,744 criminal arrests as of Oct. 14, including 1,300 for criminal trespass and 6,339 on felony charges. State troopers had been involved in 822 vehicle pursuits, mostly chasing smugglers who were transporting illegal aliens.

Kinney County has charged significantly more illegal aliens with trespass than Val Verde County so far, which started the initiative at the same time. Other counties, such as Frio and Zavala started prosecuting more recently, while Uvalde and Brooks counties are considering getting started but are strapped with the same lack of resources that Kinney County has experienced.

Smith said the volume of prosecutions coming from Kinney County were a result of the county officials caring about the issue.

They want to do something more about it than just close your eyes and not watch whats happening to your county, he said.

Smith said hes been accused by a defense lawyer of being racist for prosecuting illegal aliens.

The criminal complaints make no mention of immigration status or hinge on race. If you come down to Kinney County and trespass on private property, well arrest you too, he said in a statement on Oct. 26.

Delgado, the defense lawyer, said she hadnt seen any malfeasance, despite the scramble to pull everything together.

Its a big ship and its making a large turn in a small canal. And so we are all working really hard to get things moving. And I believe it is starting to unclog, she said.

Smith predicted that the system will be much more robust within a couple of months.

What were working on right now is tweaking the language of the complaints, researching everything, making sure theres nothing else they [the defense] can pick at, he said.

Now, will this Operation Lone Star continue for the next three years? Probably so. Unless the federal government decides to actually follow the laws passed by Congresswhich at the moment theyre not doing.

The only realistic solution to this crisis will require deploying all of the Texas military on the border and actually prevent the illegal entries from occurring. Right now, its like trying to build a dam after the flood gates have already been opened.
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi with the national security advisors of seven countries, in New Delhi on Nov. 10, 2021. India hosted the 8-national regional security dialogue on Afghanistan on Wednesday. (Picture Courtesy Press Bureau of India)

India Hosts Regional Security Dialogue on Afghanistan Amid Deepening Security Crisis

NEW DELHINew Delhi hosted an eight-nation security dialogue on Nov. 10 to firm up regional cooperation against rising terrorism, radicalization, and drug trafficking in Afghanistan, as well as the need for humanitarian assistance, since the Taliban retook power.

The regional meeting, led by Indian national security adviser Ajit Doval, was attended by his counterparts from Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Pakistan and China didnt attend.

The participants discussed the evolving situation in Afghanistan and its regional and global ramifications. The group issued the so-called Delhi Declaration, which, among other things, supports the fundamental rights of women, children, and minorities in Afghanistan.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized four points related to Afghanistan, according to a statement by Indias Ministry of External Affairs on Nov. 10.

Modi noted the need for an inclusive government; a zero-tolerance stance about Afghan territory being used by terrorist groups; a strategy to counter trafficking of drugs and arms from Afghanistan; and addressing the increasingly critical humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, according to the statement.

Strategic and foreign policy analysts told The Epoch Times that the Delhi Declaration highlights the emerging geopolitics in the region since the Taliban took over Kabul.

This is the second Delhi declaration in two yearsthe last time was in 2019. This declaration reaffirms what India has long sought, an Afghanistan that isnt used for terrorism, and provision of developmental assistance, 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 presence of the central Asian countries, Russia, and Iran demonstrate Indias clout in the region and acknowledgment of its role in Afghanistan and its future. The absence of both China and Pakistan shows a growing convergence between their policies on Afghanistan.

Harsh V. Pant, the director of the strategic studies program of the Delhi-based Observers Research Foundation, told The Epoch Times: Multiple challenges emanating from Afghanistan after the takeover by the Taliban require a comprehensive regional response and a new security architecture. No single regional state is in a position to deal with problems such as violent extremism, radicalization, porous borders, and drug trafficking on its own. Regional coordination is needed and, for that, security agencies across borders will have to work together.

The Indian government grasps Afghanistans issues and their complexities maybe better than any government in the world, according to Michael Johns, who was an influential advocate for U.S. aid to the Afghan resistance forces of Ahmad Shah Massoud during the Soviet occupation and later served as a White House presidential speechwriter to President George H.W. Bush and in other governmental and non-governmental capacities.

They are approaching Afghanistan with goodwill, which is admirable and appropriate. The Modi government is the one member of this NSA group that, as I see it, is prepared to do the right thing in Afghanistan because their goals are largely the same as those of the Afghans: stability, human rights, representative government, and sovereignty, said Johns, who said there are other countries, such as China, Pakistan, and Russia, whose policies differ on the matter.

Afghans inspect the inside of a mosque following a bombing in Kunduz province, in northern Afghanistan, on Oct. 8, 2021. (Abdullah Sahil/AP Photo)

Looming Crisis and Geopolitics

Experts say the crisis inside Afghanistan and the overall terrorism situation in the region are worsening, because of persisting rivalries between various regional powers and their diverging agendas in Afghanistan.

Ahmad Rashid Salim, a doctoral fellow at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley who researches and teaches on topics in the fields of Islamic studies, Farsi literature, and Afghanistan, told The Epoch Times that the Delhi declaration is a welcome step and includes key considerations, but it doesnt clarify what happens if the issues persist and/or worsen.

The crisis in Afghanistan requires regional and global powers to wake up from their slumber and realize that a catastrophe is imminent. What tangible actions will be taken to enable the millions at the risk of starvation and without adequate resources for Afghanistans grueling winter to survive? said Salim, who also is a best-selling author of Afghan origin, and a community leader.

He said that the U.S. administration is closing its eyes and wishing the disaster to pass while the Taliban are committing heinous crimes that include extrajudicial killings, ethnic cleansing, denying women the right to work and education, bringing Afghanistans free press to a stop, and major corruption.

The crisis in Afghanistan requires short and long-term commitments backed by a willingness to act, Salim said.

Hamid Bahrami, a Glasgow-based foreign policy analyst, told the Epoch Times that similar events to the Delhi meeting have recently occurred in Moscow and Tehran.

First, such events will not have tangible results as those who participated and those who did not, are all rivals, he said.

Bahrami was pointing at Pakistan and China. Even as Pakistan last week outrightly refused to attend the meeting, its national security adviser, Moeed Yusuf, called India a spoiler and not a peacemaker in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, China declined to participate due to scheduling issues, but said its open to multilateral and bilateral discussion with India on Afghanistan.

Pakistan on Nov. 11 hosted a meeting that brought together senior diplomats from China, Russia, and the United States to discuss Afghanistan. Al Jazeera reported that Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was present in Islamabad but didnt attend the meeting.

The absence of an actor inside Afghanistan is also another sign of failure of such events, said Bahrami.

Meanwhile, Satoru Nagao, a non-resident fellow with the Hudson Institute, said a TalibanPakistanChina alliance appears to be developing. He told the Epoch Times in a text message that this month, 45 tons of pine nuts were exported to Shanghai from Kabul by air.

This is the first export from Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to China. Therefore, the TalibanPakistanChina alliance is not just a simulation, Nagao said. Theres a possibility that it will really happen. India needs to prepare for such a scenario.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, political chief of Afghanistans Taliban, in Tianjin, China, on July 28, 2021. (Li Ran/Xinhua via Reuters)

The Legitimacy of Taliban Rule

While various regional meetings are happening on the Afghanistan issue, no country, including China and Pakistan, has yet recognized the Taliban regime as the legitimate government. Experts said regional powers are watching how the overall situation evolves vis-a-vis the groups agendas and policies on Afghanistan.

Bahrami said that Pakistans interests will be at risk if the Taliban fails to get Afghans support, which will likely happen. He added that any Pakistan initiative wont be successful because of its rivalry with India and Iran.

Salim said the Taliban doesnt represent the will of the Afghan people and is an existential threat to Afghans, to the region as well as the world.

Afghanistan has already turned into an epicenter for terrorists, as well as the worlds worst humanitarian crisisall in the span of three months. 95 percent of the country is at risk of starvation. unimaginable horrors will unfold. We need bold action from the international community and citizens of consciousness to prevent it, he said.

Johns said the Taliban have no legal basis to rule and the Afghan interim government, led by former First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, needs to be publicly recognized and the constitutional electoral process for a new presidential election established.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told the Indian TV station News18 following the Delhi declaration that it sees the meeting as positive and wants economic projects to start. When questioned about Pakistans absence from the gathering, Shaheen said its for the country to decide its position.
Aya Biran, a paternal aunt of Eitan Biran, who survived a cable car crash in Italy that killed his immediate family, arrives at court in Tel Aviv, on Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Israeli Family Seeks to Block Return of Boy to Italy

TEL AVIV, IsraelAn Israeli family asked an appeals court on Thursday to halt the planned return of a 6-year-old boy who survived a cable crash in Italy to his relatives there.

There was no immediate ruling in the case surrounding Eitan Biran, who has been at the center of a bitter custody battle between relatives in Italy and Israel. This week, an Italian judge issued an international arrest warrant for the boys grandfather, who whisked Eitan to Israel on a private jet in September.

Eitans parents and younger sibling were among 14 killed in May when a cable car slammed into a mountainside in northern Italy. His maternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal relatives in Italy are both seeking custody.

Last month, an Israeli court ordered the boy to be returned to his relatives in Italy, saying that was the place of his normal residence. It also ordered his grandfather, Shmuel Peleg, who had brought him to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 in expenses and attorney fees.

Shmulik Peleg, grandfather of Eitan Biran, who survived a cable car crash in Italy that killed his immediate family, arrives at court in Tel Aviv, on Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Pelegs lawyer, Ronen Dalyahu, said the hearing on Thursday was very meaningful and discussed all of the relevant issues connected to the boys return to Italy. He said the court promised a decision in the coming days.

The judges studied the documents and considered the points, and I hope they will give a ruling that serves the well-being of the child for years, he said.

Lawyers and relatives from the family in Italy left the courthouse without commenting.

The grandfather has defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the childs best interest. He drove Eitan from Italy to Switzerland without the other relatives knowledge before flying him to Israel. He has not commented on the Italian arrest warrant.

Eitans paternal relatives say he was taken without their knowledge and they had filed a legal complaint in Italy seeking his return.

Eitan and his parents were living in Italy at the time of the accident. After his release from a Turin hospital following weeks of treatment, Italian juvenile court officials ruled the child would live with a paternal aunt, Aya Biran, near Pavia, in northern Italy.

In the earlier ruling, the Tel Aviv family court said Eitans residence was in Italy, where his family moved when he was only a month old. She concluded that his relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt.

The judge also called on the family to reconcile, saying it was in the boys interests.
Japan's Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the party headquarters in Tokyo, on Nov. 1, 2021. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Kishida Reelected Japans PM in Parliamentary Vote

TOKYOFumio Kishida was reelected as Japans prime minister on Wednesday after his governing party scored a major victory in key parliamentary elections.

Elected just over a month ago by parliament, Kishida called a quick election in which his Liberal Democratic Party secured 261 seats in the 465-member lower house, the more powerful of Japans two-chamber legislature, enough to maintain a free hand in pushing through legislation.

The Oct. 31 victory increased his grip on power and was seen as a mandate from voters for his weeks-old government to tackle the pandemic-battered economy, manage the coronavirus, and other challenges. Kishida said he saw the results as a signal that voters chose stability over change.

Now I will focus on promptly tackling various policy measures, Kishida said after his reelection.

Later Wednesday, he formed his second Cabinet by keeping all but one of the ministers he appointed when he took office on Oct. 4. After a palace ceremony, Kishida was to map out his economic measures and other key policies at a news conference at night.

Kishida was chosen by the Liberal Democrats as a safe, conservative choice a month ago. They had feared heavy election losses if unpopular former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had stayed in power. Suga resigned after only a year in office as his popularity plunged over his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and his insistence on holding the Tokyo Olympics despite concerns of a virus surge.

The better-than-expected election results may give Kishidas government more power and time to work on campaign promises, including strengthening Japans defense capability.

Kishidas grip on power also may be strengthened by his Cabinet changes.

Fumio Kishida (C) bows after being reelected as Japans prime minister at the parliaments lower house in Tokyo, on Nov. 10, 2021, (Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo)

A key policy expert from his party faction, former Education Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, will be the new foreign minister, while former Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will shift to the governing partys No. 2 post.

Motegi voted for Kishida in the party leadership race and will replace party heavyweight Akira Amari, who resigned from the post over his unimpressive election performance following a bribery scandal.

Though many of Kishidas ministers are first-timers, key posts went to those from influential party wings, including those led by conservative ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and former Finance Minister Taro Aso.

Kishida promises to create a self-reinforcing cycle of growth and improved economic distribution to raise incomes under his new capitalism economic policy.

Kishidas immediate post-election task is to compile a major economic stimulus package of about 30 trillion yen ($265 billion) that includes cash payouts, to be announced next week. He also aims to pass an extra budget by the end of this year to fund the projects.

Kishida is also expected to outline his pandemic measures later this week.

As a former foreign minister, Kishida will continue to prioritize the Japan-U.S. security alliance and promote a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific with other democracies, including Quad dialogue members the U.S., Australia, and India.

Kishida has stressed the importance of a stronger military amid worries over Chinas growing power and influence and North Koreas missile and nuclear threats.

He has opposed changes to a law that requires married couples to adopt a single surname, which forces most women to abandon their maiden names. The Liberal Democrats are widely seen as opposed to gender equality and diversity.

By Mari Yamaguchi
Kyle Rittenhouse enters the courtroom during his trial in Kenosha Wisconsin Circuit Court in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 9, 2021. (Mark Hertzberg/Pool via Reuters)

Kyle Rittenhouse Spokesperson: Media Reporting of Trial Absolutely Irresponsible

A spokesperson for Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen on trial for shooting three people during protests and riots in Wisconsin last year, said that media coverage of the case and trial has been purely abhorrent.

During an interview on Fox News this week, spokesman David Hancock said that media coverage of the Rittenhouse case has been inaccurate.

The media has been absolutely irresponsible and purely abhorrent with this entire situation. They are parroting the same false information time after time, he remarked during the interview with the Ingraham Angle on Wednesday.

He continued: They even do it to this day. No, he didnt cross state lines with a weapon. That was known last year. Apparently, the media doesnt care for accurate information. Its appalling. Its almost as if they dont want to know the facts. Then they will have to stay the truth.

Rittenhouses spokesman also made reference to a tweet sent by then-presidential candidate Joe Biden claiming the suspect is a white supremacist.

Dont forget the candidate for the U.S. president himself last year prior to the election called Kyle Rittenhouse a White supremacist, he told Fox News. Joe Biden called him a White supremacist; that is appalling. I cant even gauge how wrong that is.

Kyle Rittenhouse, left, looks over to his attorneys Corey Chirafisi, center, and Mark Richards after getting off the witness stand during his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Nov. 10, 2021. (Sean Krajacic-Pool/Getty Images)

Rittenhouse, 18, faces two counts of homicide for shooting Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, with a rifle during unrest in Kenosha in August 2020. He also shot Gaige Grosskreutz, who testified earlier in the week, in the arm.

On Wednesday, Rittenhouse took the stand, waiving his Fifth Amendment rights before telling the jury that he didnt do anything wrong and defended [him]self. He continued to say that I did what I had to do to stop the person who was attacking me.

Other than the homicide charges, Rittenhouse was charged with possessing a weapon by a person under 18, as well as multiple counts of reckless endangerment.

Later in the trial on Wednesday, assistant district attorney Thomas Binger cross-examined Rittenhouse and repeatedly asked him he intended to kill anyone.

I didnt intend to kill them. I intended to stop the people who were attacking me, Rittenhouse said. I did what I had to do to stop the person who was attacking me.

Binger asked Rittenhouse why he even needed to be armed if his goal was to render first aid.

I brought the gun for my protection, Rittenhouse said in response. I didnt think I would have to use the gun and end up defending myself.

Day nine of Rittenhouses trial is scheduled for all day on Thursday.
LA City Council to Consider Banning Corporations From Purchasing Affordable Single-Family Housing

Amid the escalating housing crisis in California, the Los Angeles City Council will consider a motion Nov. 12 preventing online real estate corporations and private equity firms from purchasing affordable single-family housing as investments.

The motion was introduced by Council President Nury Martinez and seconded by Councilwoman Nithya Raman, who said the housing crisis has been worsened by online real estate companies like Zillow, Opendoor, and Rockethomes, who buy up affordable housing and sell it for a profit.

These companies primarily target affordable, single-family homes and compete to buy up as much inventory as possible, flip them, and then sell them for a profit, Raman said.

Martinez said in the motion that as of August 21, the price of homes in LA increased by 11.3 percent compared to the previous year. Zillow predicts Los Angeles housing costs will rise another 11.6 percent in the next twelve months.

Low-income Angelenos, who have lived in their neighborhoods for decades, are unable to compete with these iBuyers, Martinez said. This has led to many longtime residents being pushed out of their homes, neighborhoods, and communities.

The motion would instruct the chief legislative analyst and the city attorney to recommend strategies that LA can use to prevent online companies and private equity firms from buying up single-family housing.

This comes after California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bills 9 and 10 in September, which allow more units to be built on property previously zoned for single-family housing to boost housing availability.

The council passed resolutions opposing each of the two California Senate bills in August, arguing that the bills dont actually help the states housing crisis and only benefit real estate developers.

Back in August, Raman voted against the resolution that opposed Senate Bill 10, saying, If were going to tell Sacramento to stay out of our way when it comes to housing policies, then we, in Los Angeles, have to be willing to do the work ourselves, and all of the data that we have right now points to the fact that we havent been doing it.

Councilman Gil Cedillo also voted against both resolutions, saying the senate bills included opportunities for the city to address concerns.

Jim Righeimer, former mayor of Costa Mesa, California, told The Epoch Times previously that Senate Bills 9 and 10 lead to people competing with corporations for housing.

Were getting a situation where average everyday people are competing to buy a home against the corporation whos going to rent it out, Righeimer said. And we get a situation where people become renters their whole life, they dont get to own anything.

Righeimer called the bills the destruction of suburbia in California, arguing that this will ultimately cause prices to rise, worsening the housing crisis.

If you add more units, in the short run, rents will come down a bit until they all get filled, Righeimer said. Once they all get filled, rent starts moving up, and homeownership is going to get wiped out.

A PropertyShark report released on Nov. 9 revealed that California accounts for 70 percent of the priciest markets, with LA coming in second place, tied with New York, for the highest number of expensive ZIP codes.

A spokesperson for Nury Martinezs office didnt respond to a request for comment by press deadline.
Cargo containers are stacked on a ship at the Port of Long Beach, Calif., on Oct. 27, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

LA Ports Break Records During Supply Chain Crisis

The waters off the coast of Southern California continued to see record-breaking numbers of cargo ships this week as one city opened its harbor to help with the overflow.

The ports broke a new record on Nov. 9, with 168 ships waiting to unload goods. That included 55 ships drifting at sea, 48 at anchor, and 65 ships docked.

Another record fell the same day when 49 container ships were forced to drift off the coast, unable to anchor or dock at the overloaded twin ports.

This is record-setting levels at anchor and record-setting levels at loitering, Kip Louttit, head of the Marine Exchange of Southern California, told The Epoch Times.

The ships were forced to run their engines and loiter in designated areas off the coast, maintaining a buffer of three miles from each ship and three miles from land and the shipping lanes, until theyre assigned an anchorage or a terminal position to offload cargo.

Floating cargo ships and tankers loaded with holiday gifts, wood, cars, and other goods took up positions around Catalina Island, San Clemente, and down the coast off Huntington Beach and Oceanside.

The coastal city of Huntington Beach has opened its eight anchor spots to allow cargo ships anchorage during the crisis. All eight spaces were occupied, Louttit said.

A Huntington Beachs Harbor Commission spokesperson was not immediately available.

Residents, business owners, and tourists on Catalina Island could see the buildup of cargo ships floating nearby on the channel, but the recent foggy weather has helped to cloak them, Jim Luttjohann, CEO of Love Catalina Island, the tourism authority of the island, told The Epoch Times.

Its fairly invisible to us, unless youre on one of the passenger ferries going back and forth, and then it becomes more obvious because youre looking out and seeing them, Luttjohann said. There may have been a few weeks back before they went to the 24-hour operations, I feel like they were slightly more visually apparent then.

Residents on the island werent affected by the ships, Luttjohann said, other than not being able to get a certain tool or part as quickly as they were accustomed to before the backlog.

San Pedro Bay hasnt seen loitering ship traffic since 2004, according to the Marine Exchange.

The Port of Los Angeles reported that eight oil tankers were at anchor or drifting on Nov. 10 at its port. This was a normal number for the port, Louttit said.

At the Port of Los Angeles on Nov. 10, 21 vessels were docked, including 17 container ships and three cruise ships.

The port reported that over 4,600 shipping containers remained on the dock rail waiting to load as of Nov. 5, and over 73,000 total containers remained on the terminal. Of those, 30,000 had spent nine days at the terminals or longer.

At the Port of Long Beach, 13 ships were at terminals.

More ships are headed into the area, but the flow remains typical, Louttit said.

The ports are expecting 42 more ships to arrive over the next three days, which is 5 more than the normal level of 37 based on pre-pandemic levels, according to the Maritime Exchange. Of these arrivals, 16 container ships are scheduled to arrive.

The flow actually in and out is very normal, Louttit said. The problem is, they need to get more of the ones at anchor into the port.
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A Loudoun County resident holds a sign of Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Superintendent Scott Zieglers email on May 28, 2021notifying the school board of a sexual assault case in a high school bathroomoutside the LCPS administration building in Ashburn, Va., on Nov. 9, 2021. During a June 22 school board meeting discussion on LCPS pro-transgender policy, Ziegler said he wasnt aware of sexual assaults in school bathrooms. (Terri Wu/The Epoch Times)

Loudoun County Parents Press On With Calls for School Board Resignation

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va.Resign, scores of Loudoun County residents told the local school board on Nov. 9.

While the Virginia gubernatorial election last week saw a win for conservative candidate Glenn Youngkin, parents told the school board that their fight wasnt over yet.

We are still here, repeated residents in their public remarks.

This has always been about our children, not an election, said one mother. Never underestimate the determination of a mama bear when her cubs are under attack.

About 100 people signed up to speak in person at the school board meeting on Tuesday evening. Many criticized the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Superintendent Scott Ziegler and the school board for allegedly covering up a sexual assault case in a high school bathroom. He later passed a pro-transgender policy that allows students to go to the bathroom of their self-identified gender.

Speakers also questioned whether the law firm Ziegler hired could truly conduct an independent investigation on his handling of sexual assaults in LCPS.

Ziegler had emailed Loudoun County School Board (LCSB) about a sexual assault case in Stone Bridge High School on May 28. Yet, at the June 22 LCSB meeting, the superintendent said, To my knowledge, we dont have any records of assaults occurring in our restrooms. Ziegler acknowledged on Oct. 15 his statement was false, but said he misunderstood the question.

Public viewing of the parents comment session was not allowed, so county residents held a rally outside and watched the live broadcast of the meeting together.

Ian Prior, executive director of local advocacy group Fight for Schools, said at the rally that Virginia gubernatorial election was not his organizations main objective. It is to have a school board that doesnt put politics into education, that focuses on the basics.

The bottom line is we came out here to hold this school board accountable, said Prior. He announced that his organization had collected enough signatures25,000 over the past six monthsto initiate the recall process for targeted board members.

On Nov. 9, Fight for Schools filed recall petitions in Loudoun County Circuit Court to remove LCSB Chair Brenda Sheridan from office.

The first day that we got signatures was on May 8, and it hailed. It was windy; it was rainy, and then it was sunny and warm, and then the cycle would repeat itself, Prior said, recalling the dedication of local volunteers. The last day we got signatures was on election day, and it was nasty outit was raining, freezing, but people stayed out there from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Prior added that people signed to recall LCSB members for many reasons, including pro-transgender policies and Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Fight Against CRT Continues

Whats someone really like? Observe what they love and who they love. My observation is that you love CRT, a county resident said to the school board.

CRT advocates for critiquing social problems through the lens of racial struggle and argues that racism is inherent in the foundational values of Western societies. As such, it seeks to fundamentally transform social institutions to end racial oppression. LCPS has repeatedly said that it doesnt teach CRT in classrooms, and that it teaches a standard curriculum designated by the Virginia Department of Education.

Scott Mineo, founder of local advocacy group Parents Against Critical Theory (PACT), told The Epoch Times that parents might read some lesson plans or paragraphs and walk away thinking that wasnt too bad, but the trick is being able to read critically and identify CRT terminologies such as transform, transformation, transformative group, grouping, and so on.

In response to such changes of terminologies, Mineo said PACT would help teach parents to identify different portrayals of the theory. He added the current CRT manifestation was Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Loudoun County uses programs provided by Second Step in elementary and middle schools for SEL.

Critical Race Theory is not a part of the LCPS curriculum, LCPS Public Information Officer Wayde Byard said in an email responding to Epoch Times inquiry about SEL and Second Step programs.

Former Virginia State Senator Richard Black, who spoke at the rally on Nov. 9, called out mainstream media outlets for repeating a lie that CRT is only taught in universities, but not in public schools.

Critical Race Theory is as prominent as it is clear as the nose on your face, Black said.

National Education Associations (NEA) annual meeting in 2021 decided NEA would fight back against anti-CRT rhetoric. It is reasonable and appropriate for curriculum to be informed by academic frameworks for understanding and interpreting the impact of the past on current society, including critical race theory, NEAs document (pdf) reads.

Mineo said that part of PACTs education campaign included countering the labels placed on parents who object to CRT, such as that they are involved in white race politics or were responding to dog whistle politics.

Loudoun County resident Michael Rivera, who is running for the LCSB seat vacated on Nov. 2, such labels are irrelevant and inaccurate.

Rivera said he made the decision to run, with his wife.

We talked about the commitment. Its going to take away from my family life. But we both feel strongly enough because we have a child thats in middle school, that one of us needs to step up and do something, he told The Epoch Times.

We Are Going to Loudounize This Country

We are going to Loudounize this country because it doesnt stop here, declared Tiffany Polifko, PACTs vice president of education and outreach, to the Loudoun school board members.

To Mineo, Loudounize means what we have all done to really blow up this county, figuratively.

You dont hold back on calling out the people who are doing the wrong things, have done the wrong things, and continue to do the wrong thingsschool board members, superintendents, administrators, teachers, principals, anybody involved, he said.

These people needed to be exposed with facts, Mineo added.

He said that other counties in Virginia and the rest of America have contacted him for help addressing this issue in their own communities.

Work is already underway to expand this movement across the country.

According to founder and CEO Jon Tigges, Patriot Pub Alliance, a platform for secure collaboration and communication, has drafted a business plan to replicate what Loudoun residents have done in other counties. Were encouraging local communities to start meeting together face-to-face, grow in trust, and form a coalition united in purpose, he told The Epoch Times.

Prior of Fight for Schools told The Epoch Times, The work of the Loudoun County parents to hold their school board and their schools accountable was an inspiration throughout the state.

We have shown the ability to execute strategy and tactics at a high level, he said, adding that Fight for Schools would be happy to support other counties, especially for local school board races.

Locally, the groups focus will be the two special LCSB elections next year, and the board general election in 2023, Prior said.
Manhattan Offices Still Largely Empty: Poll

Negative outlook on commercial real estate as less than one-third of employees are returning to work in person

Only 28 percent of Manhattan office workers come to work in person on an average day, a survey has found. Only 8 percent come to the office five days a week. In-person attendance has increased over the past year, but much slower than companies anticipated. The numbers dont bode well for the commercial real estate market and for the citys economy at large.

The city is still reeling from the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the government restrictions imposed in response to it. In October last year, only 10 percent of Manhattan office workers have returned after the initial lockdowns sent them working remotely, according to a survey by the Partnership for New York City, a membership organization for some of the top NYC business executives.

The companies expected to have nearly half of their employees back in offices by July, but that proved a mirage. In June, only 12 percent of office workers were back, a follow-up survey revealed.

The number started to pick up at a greater pace afterward, reaching 23 percent in August.

In October, 46 percent returned to the office for at least one day a week. But only 8 percent were back five days a week, according to the latest survey by Partnership.

Commercial leasing activity in Manhattan jumped by nearly 60 percent from the 2nd to the 3rd quarter, but remains far below the blockbuster numbers from pre-pandemic years, Colliers brokerage reported.

The surveyed employers plan to keep more than 20 percent of their office workers remote even after the pandemic. About one-third of them plan on shrinking their office footprint over the next five years and more than one in eight plan to cut their workforce.

The survey also revealed changing sentiment toward COVID-19 vaccine mandates. In June, only 15 percent of employers said theyd require all their returning workers to get the vaccine. More than 7 percent said they would not require it and the rest hadnt decided yet.

In Octoberafter a slew of vaccination mandates by the city, state, and federal governmentsnearly half of respondents required vaccination (among those that disclosed their policy). Another almost 40 percent required either vaccine or regular testing for COVID-19. Only 11 percent had no vaccine policy.

Despite the tightening of vaccination policies, 44 percent of companies said they would require even vaccinated employees to wear masks, though 10 percent said the mask policy only applies to common areas or places where social distancing isnt possible.

The citys roughly 1 million office workers, the largest share of whom work in finance, represent a robust pillar of the local economy that appears to remain thinner for good with the plans for keeping a chunk of the work remote.

If companies decide to only have office workers come in three times a week, businesses in the city would lose $1.25 billion in annual revenue and the city would come about $111 million short on taxes, according to the citys Comptroller.

The city has struggled with sunken tax revenues this year and the last. Despite stronger than expected revenues in fiscal 2021 as well as $15 billion in federal aid, outgoing Mayor Bill de Blasio is leaving his successor expected budget shortfalls of more than $4 billion starting in fiscal 2023.
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif, left, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, speaks with then Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, on Capitol Hill in Wash., on Dec. 2019. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Meadows Refuses Subpoena Amid Legal Battle Over Executive Privilege

Former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows will not testify in Congresss probe of the Jan. 6 Stop the Steal rally amid a burgeoning legal battle over executive privilege, according to Meadowss lawyer.

The Jan. 6 committee was formed in June in a mostly party-line vote, as all but two RepublicansReps. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) and Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.)voted against forming the commission. The committee is led almost exclusively by Democrats, with Kinzinger and Cheney the only Republicans sitting on the panel.

For weeks, tension has been building between the mostly Democratic panel and former President Donald Trump.

The commission has subpoenaed documents and testimony from former Trump officials regarding the Jan. 6 rally. Trump has maintained that he and former administration officials are exempt from providing this testimony due to executive privilege, long a mainstay in U.S. presidential politics.

This tension came to a head near the end of October, when the Jan. 6 probe advanced a contempt of Congress charge against former Trump adviser and podcast host Steve Bannon. The charge was later certified by the Democrat-held House and has been sent to the Department of Justice, which will decide whether to pursue legal action.

Trump responded to this development on his website, writing: This is just a continuation of the Witch Hunt which started with the now fully debunked and discredited Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, quickly reverting to a perfect phone call with Ukraine, Ukraine, Ukraine, Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, and now this. The Unselect Committee is composed of absolute political hacks who want to destroy the Republican Party and are decimating America itself.

Now Meadows has also refused to answer Congresss subpoena, claiming as Trump and Bannon have that the subpoena is illegitimate since Meadows is protected under the umbrella of executive privilege.

George Terwilliger, Meadowss lawyer and a Republican ally, said in a statement, Mr. Meadows remains under the instructions of former President Trump to respect longstanding principles of executive privilege.

Terwilliger denounced the attempted subpoenas, writing that theyre contrary to decades of consistent bipartisan opinions from the Justice Department that senior aides cannot be compelled by Congress to give testimony.

President Joe Biden, he wrote, is the first President to make no effort whatsoever to protect presidential communications from being the subject of compelled testimony. Biden himself is in favor of the largely partisan commission, and has made no efforts to defend Trumps legal privilege as the former executive.

It now appears the courts will have to resolve this conflict, Terwilliger wrote.

Thus far, the courts havent sided with Trump. On Nov. 10, Obama-appointed District Judge Tanya Chutkan ruled against Trumps claim to executive privilege.

Chutkan explained her decision, admitting that executive privilege may extend beyond a presidents tenure in office, but saying the privilege exists to protect the executive branch, not an individual.

The incumbent presidentnot a former presidentis best positioned to evaluate the long-term interests of the executive branch and to balance the benefits of disclosure against any effect on the ability of future executive branch advisors to provide full and frank advice, she said.

In short, the claim was rejected on the grounds that Biden, as the sitting executive, hadnt asserted executive privilege over the requested documents.

A similar situation arose while Biden was the vice president in President Barack Obamas administration.

In June 2012, Republicans subpoenaed the Justice Department for documents related to Operation Fast and Furious, in which the federal government sold guns to Mexican drug cartels. Attorney General Eric Holder, head of the Justice Department, refused to turn the requested documents over to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform after Obama asserted executive privilege; Republicans in the committee quickly voted to charge Holder with contempt of Congress the same day.

After being certified by the Republican-led House, the Justice Departmentled by Holderrefused to pursue a conviction, citing Obamas claim to executive privilege.

Despite a long-standing precedent by the Justice Department to accept executive privilege over legislative subpoenas, it has significantly less precedent in the Supreme Court.

In United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court ruled that the president was protected from subpoenas by the judicial branch, but left the standing of legislative subpoenas somewhat unclear.

While this case clarified executive privilege over judicial subpoenas, only two federal cases have been heard on legislative subpoenas, according to research by the Congressional Research Service, and neither of those cases made it to the Supreme Court (pdf).

Thus, there is little Supreme Court precedent for this case and Trumps legal team may take advantage of this to bring a claim before the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.

Currently, the Jan. 6 committee has brought subpoenas against others in the former presidents administration, including White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and senior adviser Stephen Miller. These officials, like Bannon and Meadows, are likely to refuse to hand over subpoenaed information as Trump continues to encourage his former administration to hold their silence on grounds of executive privilege.

Zachary Steiber contributed to this report.
Meet the Parents Who Raised Thousands for a Censored Billboard Campaign

Two California moms whose daughters suffer from gender dysphoria say theyre still shocked and outraged that Los Angeles-area billboard advertising companies took down their sign last year promoting a book that explores why so many teens think theyre transgender.

Both moms, who use pseudonyms to protect the identities of their daughters and themselves, told The Epoch Times that many parents of teens who say theyre transgender feel voiceless in todays climate of censorship and cancel culture.

The parents have formed a coalition to expose transgender affirming indoctrination happening in schools and therapists offices in California and across the nation, they said.

One mom, who goes by Gigi LaRue, said the parents pooled funds to pay $11,000 for a billboard in West Hollywood in November 2020 to promote Abigail Shriers book, Irreversible Damage, The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters.

The sign read: Your child is learning about gender identity at school. Puberty is not a medical condition. Get the facts. Read this book, and displayed an image of the Irreversible Damage book cover.

The sign stayed up for the entire month, but when the group booked a second billboard in December, it was taken down within a few days. The second sign read: Why do so many of our youth think they are transgender? Know the facts before making a life changing choice. Read this book.

Cover of Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier. (Abigail Shrier)

The parents sought donations for the $7,000 billboard online, but Go Fund Me accused them of violating its terms of service agreement and returned the funds to their contributors. So, they turned to another fund-raising platform, Go Get Funding, to raise the funds.

Then, they faced yet another hurdle: The advertising company, OUTFRONT Media Inc., took the sign down only a few days after it went up, claiming it had received too many community complaints, LaRue said.

Because the same billboard was also cancelled in Dallas and Philadelphia before it was displayed, LaRue questions how it could have received many community-based complaints. She suspects the complaints werent so much from local residents as they were from transgender activist groups and their supporters in academia and the medical community.

Soon after the sign came down, legal departments of advertising companies blacklisted LaRues group because they deemed the ads too offensive, she said.

It became known that nobody would work with us, LaRue said.

LaRue still wonders how asking questions about trends in transgenderism and promoting a book about gender confused teens could be offensive enough to trump the parents rights to free speech.

The parents took the same ad to Pop Outdoor Media, which displayed the sign for about two weeks before pulling it down. LaRue said the owner told her that he and the landowner on whose property the sign was located had been swamped with phone calls and emails from people complaining about the sign.

Neither advertising company has responded to Epoch Times inquiries.

Running low on options, the parents rented a Rolling Adz truck display in Los Angeles to display the banner, Who is Keira Bell? after a British court ruled Dec. 1, 2020 in favor of Bell, a 24-year-old woman who changed her mind and detransitioned after gender reassignment surgery.

(Courtesy Gigi LaRue)

Bell sued Britains National Health Services clinic for transgender youth, which in three appointments led her into a devastating experiment using puberty blockers at 16, and later top surgery to remove her breasts. Bell argued the clinic should have challenged me more, and her legal team questioned why children were allowed to make such decisions.

The court ruled that its unlikely that children under 16 can give informed consent for puberty-blocking drugs, with Bell celebrating the ruling. In the U.S., the story barely made headlines. It was overshadowed by the news of the Canadian actor formerly known as Ellen Page coming out as Elliot on the same day, LaRue said.

Were pretty sure that was orchestrated, she claimed of the timing.

LaRue said her 16-year-old daughter began questioning her gender identity about three years ago after being indoctrinated in school and currently suffers from Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD).

When teens begin exploring gender online, one of the first suggestions they usually run into is that maybe they were born in the wrong body. People genuinely believe that thats possible, LaRue said.

But, even if being born in the wrong body is meant in a metaphorical sense, LaRue believes the goal should be self-acceptance, not encouraging teenage girls to change everything about themselvesincluding removing their breastsin order to be authentic.

It just doesnt make sense, she said.

In some ways, LaRue said she has it easier than other parents in her support group.

Shes not running away and trying to kill herself, LaRue said of her daughter. Its really hard on some of these parents. Theyve had to institutionalize their kids. Theyve lost custody. Ive met some people whose lives have just been completely ruined by this.

Most parents are unaware children are being indoctrinated in school and on social media platforms, and that record numbers of youth are suffering from gender dysphoria, LaRue said.

The phenomenon is happening in the United States, United Kingdom and other developed countries, she said.

In the past, LaRue has been a supporter of organizations such as Planned Parenthood, but not anymore.

Im a liberal Democrat. Im a dyed-in-the-wool liberal feminist, LaRue said. But, in the last few years, that has changed because I dont understand what happened to my party and to the institutions I used to trust. Its the most bizarre thing ever. Its like being on another planet.

LaRue said she has been 100 percent red-pilled.

Once you know, you cant unknow, she said. Ive met hundreds of other parentssome in person, some onlinewho are all going through the same thing and once you see the pattern you realize that its happening. The medical community at large is ignoring it and the mainstream media is ignoring it.

Another mom, who goes by Charlotte Jacobs, said her daughter also came out as gender-questioning, then pansexual and now transgender after she was indoctrinated in school.

Jacobs said many parents of gender confused children are afraid to speak out openly for fear of being called transphobic, cancelled, or fired from their jobs.

I was completely naive about that. Why wouldnt people want to talk about the 5,000-percent uptick in kids that say theyre transgender? It still blows my mind that I even have to be anonymous, Jacobs said, citing statistics from TransgenderTrend.com.

Referrals to the Tavistock and Portman Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) in England have surged in the United Kingdom since 2015.

The website states: The total number of referrals for 2018/19 in England alone is 624 boys and 1,740 girls. In less than a decade, there has been a 1,460-percent increase in referrals of boys and a staggering 5,337-percent increase in girls.

Abigail Shriers book was needed for years, Jacobs said We parents all breathed a sigh of relief, that we werent crazy with what we were seeing with our kids. Its extremely disturbing that the billboards were taken down.

(Courtesy Gigi LaRue)

Shrier, an independent journalist, supports the right of adults to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Her book explores why there has been such a sudden and dramatic increase of teenage girls identifying as transgender. She is concerned that these teens might regret the irreversible changes to their bodies from gender reassignment surgeries later in life. The book also explores why so many doctors and therapists are helping teens become transgender.

But, in mid-November last years, transgender activists attacked the book, calling it transphobic.

Target immediately pulled the book from its shelves after complaints from trans activists surfaced on Twitter.

Chase Strangio, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) deputy director for transgender justice, tweeted on Nov. 13, 2020: Abigail Shriers book is a dangerous polemic with a goal of making people not trans. I think of all the times & ways I was told my transness wasnt real & the daily toll that it still takes. We have to fight these ideas which are leading to the criminalization of trans life again.

At the time, Shrier called out Target being spineless and caving to the demands of woke activists.

Target later walked back its decision after facing a strong backlash from critics over censorship.

Amazon also reversed its decision to ban Shriers publisher from advertising Irreversible Damage, which went on to become a bestseller.

Recently, LaRue and other parents led a counter-protest against trans activists who sought to cancel standup comedian Dave Chapelles The Closer on Netflix.

Jacobs said the parents network is currently planning more protests and advertising campaigns to raise awareness for their cause.
The Moderna headquarters is seen in Cambridge, Mass., on Nov. 30, 2020. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Modernas COVID-19 Vaccine Offers Better Protection, Higher Myocarditis Risk Than Pfizers: Company

Moderna on Thursday said its COVID-19 vaccine offers better protection against so-called breakthrough cases than its rival Pfizers jab, but also said that more cases of heart inflammation have been seen in people who received its shot.

A small increase in cases of myocarditis is seen with mRNA-1273 compared to BNT162b2 in males 1229 years of age, a slide shown during a press briefing held by the company stated.

Modernas shot is called mRNA-1272; BNT162b2 is the one from Pfizer and its partner BioNTech.

Myocarditis is a form of heart inflammation that has been seen across the world in some people who received the Moderna or Pfizer jabs.

Some health authorities have noted a slightly increased risk of myocarditis when compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and that equates to about 10 additional cases in every 100,000 people who would be vaccinated, Paul Burton, Modernas chief medical officer, told reporters, according to Endpoint News.

A Kaiser Permanente Vaccine Study Center analysis (pdf) presented to a U.S. vaccine advisory panel last month showed that there have been approximately 13 excess cases of myocarditis after the second shot of the Moderna primary series in 18- to 39-year-olds when compared to Pfizers jab.

Head-to-head comparisons provide evidence that the risk of myocarditis/pericarditis was higher after Moderna than after Pfizer, stated a slide shown during the meeting.

The Moderna dosing level is higher than Pfizers and each dose contains a higher amount of messenger RNA, two facts health experts have said may contribute to the higher number of heart inflammation cases.

Burton claimed the myocarditis largely resolves without medical intervention and speculated that the higher rates seen in men versus women may be due to testosterone.

Modernas vaccine is authorized in many Western countries but has been paused recently by health authorities in multiple European nations for younger persons due to the elevated heart inflammation risk.

Moderna officials previously said a review of the companys global safety database did not indicate an elevated risk of post-vaccination heart inflammation. Theyre now saying an elevated risk has been detected, but that they believe the benefits of the shot still outweigh its risks, echoing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

While American drug regulators declined last month to stop the administration of Modernas shot to youth following suspensions in Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, they did delay a decision on whether to clear the vaccine for children between 12 and 17.

Dr. Hanna Nohynek, chief physician of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfares Unit Infectious Diseases Control and Vaccines, told The Epoch Times that the FDAs decision was justified by the incidence of post-vaccination heart inflammation.

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 said.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon capsule, is launched carrying three NASA and one ESA astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Nov. 10, 2021. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

NASA, SpaceX Launch 4 More Astronauts Into Orbit on Flight to Space Station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.NASA and private rocket company SpaceX launched four astronauts into orbit late on Wednesday, sending a veteran spacewalker, two younger crewmates chosen for future lunar missions, and a German materials scientist on their way to the International Space Station.

The SpaceX-built launch vehicle, consisting of a Crew Dragon capsule and a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket, blasted off from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida at about 9 p.m. (0200 GMT Thursday), with a reddish fireball lighting up the night sky as its nine Merlin engines roared to life.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon capsule, is launched carrying three NASA and one ESA astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Nov. 10, 2021. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

The liftoff of the Dragon spacecraft, named Endurance by the crew, was aired live from Cape Canaveral on NASA TV, punctuated by the sound of cheers and applause from mission controllers. Intermittent rain and clouds over the Cape earlier in the day had cast doubt on launch prospects, but the weather cleared by flight time, NASA said.

The mission had been confounded by a string of weather delays since its original launch window on Oct. 31. One postponement earlier this month was attributed to an astronauts unspecified medical issue, although NASA said the problem was later resolved.

Live video footage webcast by NASA showed the four crew members strapped into the pressurized cabin of their capsule and seated calmly in their helmeted white-and-black flight suits moments after a launch that appeared to go flawlessly.

Within 10 minutes of liftoff, the rockets upper stage had delivered the crew capsule into orbit, according to launch commentators. Meanwhile, the rockets reusable lower stage, having detached from the rest of the spacecraft, flew itself back to Earth and successfully touched down on a landing platform floating on a drone vessel in the Atlantic.

Hope You Enjoyed the Ride

As the Dragon separated from the upper rocket stage moments later, a launch engineer on the ground radioed to the crew: Welcome to orbit. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Dragon will take you from here. Safe travels.

The three American astronauts and their European Space Agency crewmate were due to arrive at the space station, orbiting some 250 miles above the Earth, on Thursday evening following a flight of about 22 hours.

The flight marks the third operational space station crew sent to orbit aboard a Dragon capsule since NASA and SpaceX teamed up to resume space launches from American soil last year, following a nine-year hiatus at the end of the U.S. space shuttle program in 2011.

Crew 3 includes two members of NASAs latest graduating class of astronautsRaja Chari, 44, a U.S. Air Force combat jet and test pilot serving as mission commander, and mission specialist Kayla Barron, 34, a U.S. Navy submarine officer and nuclear engineer.

The teams designated pilot and second-in-command is veteran astronaut Tom Marshburn, 61, a medical doctor and former NASA flight surgeon who has logged two previous spaceflights to the space station and four spacewalks. Rounding out the crew is European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer, 51, of Germany, a materials science engineer.

Bridge to the Future

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Crew Dragon capsule, is launched carrying three NASA and one ESA astronauts on a mission to the International Space Station at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Nov. 10, 2021. (Joe Skipper/Reuters)

Chari, Maurer and Barron were all making their debut spaceflights with Wednesdays launch, becoming the 599th, 600th, and 601st humans in space.

Both Chari and Barron also are among the first group of 18 astronauts selected for NASAs upcoming Artemis missions, aimed at returning humans to the moon later this decade, over a half century after the Apollo lunar program ended.

NASA has extolled space station missions in low-Earth orbit as critical training grounds and incubators for technologies that will help achieve the goals of a sustainable lunar presence, and eventual human flights to Mars.

With the Crew Dragon flying autonomously through space at more than 17,000 miles per hour, the four astronauts were expected to have a meal and get some sleep before arriving at the space station to begin a six-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The launch stands as SpaceXs fifth crewed flight overall in 17 months, and the fourth under NASAs public-private partnership with the rocket company founded in 2002 by Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of electric car maker Tesla Inc.

The first was a two-astronaut trial run to the space station in May 2020, followed by the maiden NASA-SpaceX operational Crew 1 in November of that year.

Crew 2 flew to the space station in April of this year, and just returned safely to Earth on Monday night with a splash-down capping a record 199 days in orbit.

The latest mission also follows a flurry of recent high-profile astro-tourism flights, including the SpaceX launch in September of Inspiration 4, the first all-civilian crew sent to orbit without a professional astronaut on board.

The Crew 3 team, on arriving at the space station, will be welcomed aboard by its three current occupantstwo cosmonauts from Russia and Belarus, and a U.S. astronaut who shared a Soyuz flight to orbit earlier this year.

By Joe Skipper and Steve Gorman
Net Zero and Green Financial Repression

Commentary

So far, the big message from the Glasgow, Scotland, climate conference is the role of finance in decarbonizing the global economy. Its a dangerous development.

In his speech to the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) last week, Britainschancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak, pledged action to rewire the entire financial system for Net Zero. Finance has taken center stage in large part because of inadequate government policies. According to the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP), around two-thirds of global emissions are linked to private household activity. Reducing them requires major changes in peoples lifestyles, UNEP said.

Rather than imposing carbon taxes that really hurtthe Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates a minimum of $135 a ton, rising up to $14,300 a ton in order to hit net zero in 2050governments prefer to outsource the heavy lifting to the world of finance in the hope that it will provide a pain-free path to the net-zero goal.

Up until now, central banks and financial regulatorsparticularly the Fed and the SEC in the United Stateshave been maintaining the pretence that their involvement in climate policy is motivated by concern about climate financial risk. As I show in my new report for the RealClearFoundation, Climate-Risk Disclosure: A Flimsy Pretext for a Green Power Grab, climate financial risk is a smoke screen for a green power grab. Now, Sunak has done the world a favor and exposed it for what it is.

Financial institutions signed up to the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero hold assets worth more than $130 trillion.

This is an historic wall of capital for the net-zero transition around the world, Sunak declared.

Sunak might well have been speaking from a script provided him by Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England and instrumental in bringing together the Glasgow Financial Alliance.

We must build a financial system entirely focused on net zero, Carney said.

Though billionaires and multimillionaires they may be, oligarchs of finance are custodians of other peoples money. Whats missing in the craze for net-zero and ESG (environmental, social, and government) investing is Bas in B for beneficiaries. A financial system wholly geared to financing net zero isnt one focused on savers and investors. Pension funds exist to generate secure incomes for pensions; insurers need to be solvent to pay out against insurance claims. Neglecting the B is a formula for financial ruin.

Carney puts the net-zero financing requirement at around $100 trillion.

If theres a revenue stream, then the funding is infinite, Bank of America Chief Executive Brian Moynihan told The Wall Street Journals Greg Ip. It should set alarm bells ringing when bankers stop talking about risk and prudence and start talking like Buzz Lightyear. These revenue streams dont currently exist, but one way or another, they will be createdjuiced up and supported by governments and multilateral aid agencies such as the World Bank.

On the other side of the ledger, returns on investment in the production of hydrocarbon energy needed to keep the lights on and economies moving are to be suppressed, pushing up their cost. The day Sunak spoke, low wind speeds necessitated paying coal-fired power stations 4,000 ($5,400) per megawatt-hour to help keep the lights on at COP26.

Ultimately, the revenue streams Moynihan and other bankers lend against come from taxpayers and consumers. Higher energy costs and supply disruptions would make it harder to service purportedly low-risk net-zero financing. When bankers talk of the social value of bank lending, it has all the makings of a systemic financial crisis.

In 1987, shortly after the Reagan administrations botched Savings & Loan (S&L) deregulation, University of Chicago economist Sam Peltzman warned of the dangers to bank capital when banks are induced by governments to channel credit to socially worthy sectors such as housing. There followed the S&L meltdown, which cost American taxpayers up to $124 billion.

Two decades later came an order-of-magnitude larger financial crisis, also with its origins in housing finance. Using the global banking system to cross-subsidize net-zero risks a financial crisis that would make 2008 look comparatively minormuch the way the S&L meltdown looks to us today.

Such thoughts must have been far from Sunaks mind as the Glasgow COPs host singled out British business for special treatment and announced that the UK will become the first-ever Net Zero aligned financial center. That vision will see businesses being forced to file net-zero transition plans policed by an independent task force.

We live in a global, interconnected world. About 62 percent of the revenues of Financial Times Stock Exchange-100 companies are generated outside the UK. Unilaterally imposing net-zero on UK-listed companies inflicts a climate tax on them, forcing them to cede market share and profits to their non-UK-listed competitors. As a former Goldman Sachs banker, Sunak knows this full well, but a costly soundbite at a U.N. climate conference is evidently worth the damage to British businesses.

Over $130 trillion of private capital waiting to be deployed; and a greener financial system, under way, Sunak boasted, displaying a habit acquired from Tony Blair of speaking in sentences without verbs.

Indirect climate policies are not a substitute for direct government action to suppress consumer demand for greenhouse gas-emitting activities. Using the financial system as the principal policy instrument of decarbonization will have unintended consequences and create immense distortions that threaten global financial stability and the functioning of a commercial society.

Historian Adam Tooze calls the energy transition a historic experiment. The climate crisis enters a new, dangerous phase as finance ministers, central bankers, and financial leaders all look to save the planetwith other peoples money.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine rests on a table at a clinic in Puyallup, Wash., on March 4, 2021. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo)

NIH Says Moderna Wrongly Left Off Government Scientists From COVID-19 Vaccine Patent

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Moderna are engaged in a dispute over which scientists developed Modernas COVID-19 vaccine, with the conflict possibly heading to court.

Moderna and government scientists collaborated on the development of the shot and the government asked the company to include a trio of scientists on its patent application. But company officials said in a patent filing in July for a key sequence thats part of the vaccine that they have reached a good-faith determination that the scientists did not invent it.

The filing took NIH officials by surprise, a government official familiar with the situation told The Epoch Times in an email on condition of anonymity.

The agency disagrees and a review of the matter determined Drs. Kizzmekia Corbett, Barney Graham, and John Mascola, who all worked with Moderna while at the NIH, are co-inventors of the component and should be named as such.

Omitting NIH inventors from the principal patent application deprives NIH of a co-ownership interest in that application and the patent that will eventually issue from it, the official said.

The three scientists, only one of whom still works at NIH, did not respond to requests for comment.

Moderna said in a statement that NIH scientists did not co-invent the mRNA, or modified nucleotide, sequence used in the vaccine, alleging the scientists were not even aware of the mRNA sequence until after the patent application had already been filed.

For those who would seek to twist Modernas good faith application of U.S. patent law into something else, nothing could be further from the truth. Moderna remains the only company to have pledged not to enforce its COVID-19 intellectual property during the pandemic. Moreover, on September 29th, Moderna offered to resolve its dispute with NIAID by making the government co-owners of those patent applications that only listed Moderna scientists as inventors, including the right as co-owners to license the patents as they see fit, the company added.

NIAID is part of the NIH.

Negotiations on the matter have stretched back over a year, the government official said.

Dr. Francis Collins told Reuters this week that Moderna has made a serious mistake here in not providing the kind of co-inventorship credit to people who played a major role in the development of the vaccine that they are now making a fair amount of money off of, adding that we did our best to try to resolve this amicably and ultimately failed.

But we are not done. Clearly, this is something that the legal authorities are going to have to figure out, he added.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, appears before a Senate hearing to discuss vaccines, in Washington, on Sept. 9, 2020. (Michael Reynolds/Pool/Getty Images)

TJ Mantooth, a partner at Hall Estill specializing in patents, told The Epoch Times in an email that the patent dispute could be settled by a court through examining whether all the inventors of the component are credited in the application.

Each inventor of a patent has equal rights to the subject matter of the claims. The most common manner of handling multiple inventors is for each inventor to assign their rights to a single company/entity. However, it is possible that different assignees can concurrently have rights to license, sell, or make the subject matter of the patent claims. Hence, Moderna wants exclusive ownership of the patent by having only inventors that are bound to assign the rights of the patent to Moderna while NIH wants an ownership interest through having one or more inventors that are bound to assign the patent rights to the NIH, Mantooth said.

Moderna expects to make between $15 billion and $18 billion this year from its COVID-19 vaccine. Naming government scientists as co-inventors could have enormous financial and legal ramifications.

If done, the government could authorize outside manufacturers to use the technology that Moderna is attempting to patent, according to Peter Maybarduk, director of Public Citizens Access to Medicines Program.

That includes granting use to the United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool, which was recently allowed to distribute information on Mercks COVID-19 pill to manufacturers in 105 countries.

NIH-Moderna is the most effective COVID-19 vaccine in the world. We, the people, paid for its development. Federal scientists pioneered the understanding of coronaviruses and then worked in partnership with Moderna, Maybarduk said in a statement. But Moderna has turned this peoples vaccine into a rich peoples vaccine; refusing to share technology with WHO or developing country manufacturers and sharing very few doses with COVAX while overcharging poor nations.

Stephane Bancel, Modernas CEO, said in a note this week that the company plans to supply up to 500 million doses to COVAX, or the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access. He also noted that the company pledged last year not to enforce COVID-19 related patents as long as the pandemic goes on.

Moderna is grateful for our collaboration with NIH scientists, and highly value their contributions. We remain focused on working together with our collaborators to address the pandemic, Moderna said.
Ontario Pauses Next Step of Lifting COVID Restrictions

Ontario is pausing the lifting of capacity limits for remaining indoor higher-risk settings as a preventative measure due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, the province announced on Nov. 10.

The province says that while it has one of the lowest rates of active cases across the country, and that hospital and intensive care capacity remains stable, the effective reproduction number and percent positivity have have increased slightly over the past week.

The government says such an increase was always expected with people spending more time indoors due to the weather and with the easing of measures.

Under the latest regulations, existing capacity limits and distancing requirements that were set to be lifted in the coming days, will remain in place for certain indoor venues, such as establishments with dance facilities, including night clubs and reception halls.

Announcing the latest update, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontarios chief medical officer of health, said at a press conference that its mainly young people who are driving up transmission.

Sadly, its spreading mostly from the 20 to 39 year old age group, he said. Its mostly in social settings where we take off our mask, where we have close contact as we move indoors in closed spaces, and thats where most of the transmission is occurring.

Moore said he doesnt want the province to take a step back.

Its always been my advice to government that if we have to, well pause, but we wont take step backwards, he said, adding that he is committed to keeping schools open. He did however keep the option open for regional intervention in case infection rates go high too quickly.

The province says that as of Nov. 10, the majority of reported cases were among the fully vaccinated, counting for 232 cases out of 454. But the vaccinated represent a much larger group of the population, with 85 percent of Ontarians having received at least two doses.

Ontarios COVID-19 data show that since Oct. 31, positive cases have increased in the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and fully vaccinated population.

A decline in vaccine effectiveness is another factor that could push the number of cases higher. Rochelle Walensky, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in August that vaccines continue to work exceptionally well for preventing illness and death, but what they cant do anymore is prevent transmission.

Ontario is recommending a third dose for vulnerable populations and health-care workers.

A study published in October in the New England Journal of Medicine says the effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine against infection declines to 20 percent between five and seven months after the second dose.
Former prime minister Paul Keating waits for Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten at the Labor campaign launch at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre as part of the 2016 election campaign in Sydney, Australia on June 19, 2016. (Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images)

Out of Date: Australian Politicians Rebuke Former PMs China Views

Liberal and Labor current and former politicians in Australia have rebuked the views of former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating, who said Australia had lost its way regarding its China policies.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Keatings views were typical of Labor and that the former leader couldnt see things clearly.

Morrison said that his government had taken a very strong position in the Indo-Pacific region in standing up for Australias interests.

This position has seen Australia refuse to kowtow to Beijing in the face of trade pressure, via tariffs, which have been described as economic coercion.

Weve worked closely with our allies and our partners right across the region, not just the United States but [also] Japan and India, and the many nations of ASEAN who we work closely with to make sure that we arent pushed around in this part of the world, Morrison said, according to The Australian.

Now, the views that Paul Keating has expressed is in line with many I think in the Labor Party, and thats why I said  How we secure Australias interests in our part of the world, you have got to be strong.

Youve got to be able to see things clearly. We are.

Morrison noted that this was why his government had invested more in defence than at any time since the Second World War.

I think Australians get it. We want to have a positive relationship with countries like China and trade with them, but at the same time, were not going to get pushed around, he said.

This comes after Keatings National Press Club address, where he said that Australia should stay out of any conflict with Taiwan, and suggested that the U.S. and UK-backed nuclear submarines, which came out of the AUKUS security pact minted in September, would be like throwing toothpicks at the mountain, meaning China.

Former Prime Minister Paul Keating and Prime Minister Scott Morrison (R) walk along the Roll of Honour during the Remembrance Day Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia, on Nov. 11, 2018. (Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

Joining Morrison in criticising Keatings remarks was a former Labor cabinet minister, Stephen Conroy, who said Keating was absolutely wrong in his assessment of China on the world stage.

Speaking to Sky News Australias Andrew Bolt, Conroy said Keating, who is a lauded Labor leader, had an outdated view of the Chinese regime.

Conroy said Keating wrongly believed that there would be a benign rise of China, but that didnt justify the former prime ministers decision to turn a blind eye and to obfuscate.

Hes absolutely wrong. Paul was a legend of the Labor Party, he was an extraordinary economic reformer, and he also had a footprint on the world stage, Conroy said.

But the world has fundamentally shifted since [Chinese leader Xi Jinping] took over.

Paul cant keep just waving his hand and dismissing the actions of the president of China, he said.

Nationals Senator Matt Canavan pointed to human rights abuses perpetrated by the Chinese regime as a reason for Australia not to trust Beijing.

I think Paul needs to ask the people of Hong Kong and Xinjiang how much we can trust them? For someone who likes to present themselves as a hard headed realist, he has unhealthy trust in the word of communists, he told The Epoch Times.

Meanwhile, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz said it was sad to see outdated, misinformed, and misguided opinions on China trotted out by the former prime minister.

China is not about turning over the existing world order and Its not the old Soviet Union pursuing some international ideology asserts Mr Keating, but that is exactly what China aims to do, Abetz told The Epoch Times.

One must not forget that it was Paul Keating who said, That government of theirs has been the best government in the world in the last thirty years.

One wonders how much his membership of the International Advisory Council of the China Development Bank colours his views.

The less Mr Keating opines on China, the better our public discourse becomes, he said.

Speaking to the Today show, national Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese didnt say whether he agreed with Keating, but said that he is wise counsel.

China has changed its stance, and Australia has too, Albanese said, according to The Australian.

We will always stand up for Australian values.
Alexis Ohanian, entrepreneur and husband of Serena Williams, watches the Women's Singles final match between Serena Williams of the United States and Bianca Andreescu of Canada on day thirteen of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Queens borough of New York City on Sept. 7, 2019. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Reddit Co-Founder and Solana Ventures Invest $100 Million to Build Social Media on Solana

Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, told conference attendees on Tuesday that he has partnered with Solana Ventures to further the growth of decentralized social media projects on the Solana blockchain.

What Happened

According to a report from CoinDesk, Ohanians venture firm Seven Seven Six and Solana Ventures announced a $100 million commitment to the next wave of social, built on Solana at the Solana Conference in Lisbon.

Originally, the investment was meant to be $50 million but Ohanian reportedly increased the amount to $100 million after he deemed the original amount insufficient during an onstage discussion.

With a high-performance blockchain like Solana, there is an unprecedented opportunity to fuse social and crypto in a way that feels like a [Web 2] social product but with the added incentive of empowering users with real ownership, said Ohanian.

Earlier this month, Ohanian described Facebooks rebrand to Meta Platforms Inc. as a masterstroke in distraction.

The Reddit co-founder said he hoped that the metaverse would be built organically from the bottom-up instead of a top-down Facebook imposed one.

My hope for that future metaverse is its not governed by one company but rather of the people and by the people, he said.

Price Action

Solana was trading 3.09 percent lower at $8.46 on the last check Wednesday. The coin hit an all-time high of $260 on Sunday.

By Samyuktha Sriram

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Vials of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine are seen in Bridgeport, Conn., in a file photograph. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)

Regulator Reviewing Reports of Rare and Serious Condition Linked to Moderna Vaccine

Europes drug regulator on Thursday confirmed it is investigating reports of a blood condition in recipients of Modernas mRNA COVID-19 vaccine.

According to a bulletin posted by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), it is reviewing six cases of capillary leak syndrome, considered a very rare disorder, after they were reported in the EMAs EudraVigilance database.

At this stage, it is not yet clear whether there is a causal association between vaccination and the reports of capillary leak syndrome, the EMA wrote on Thursday, adding that these reports point to a safety signal  information on new, or changes in, adverse events that may potentially be associated with a medicine or vaccine and that warrant further investigation.

The review also will address the risk of capillary leak syndrome in groups who have a medical history of the disorder.

As a result, EMA researchers will evaluate all the available data to decide if a causal relationship is considered likely or not, the bulletin reads.

It also noted there is currently insufficient evidence of a link between Modernas vaccine and cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Capillary leak syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a rare disorder involving repeated leaks of large amounts of plasma from blood vessels into nearby body cavities and muscles. The conditionknown as Clarksons diseasecan result in a sharp drop in blood pressure that can lead to organ failure or even death.

Attacks may be triggered by an upper respiratory infection or intense physical exertion. The frequency of attacks can range from several a year to a single instance in a lifetime, says the clinic.

Symptoms include nausea, fatigue, irritability, muscle aches, more thirst, or a sudden increase in body weight, the clinics website says.

Earlier in the year, the EMAs safety committee concluded that capillary leak syndrome should be added to the product information as a side effect of AstraZenecas vaccine, which uses different technology than Modernas.

Outside of the European Union, Canadas health agency earlier this year updated the label for the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Covishield COVID-19 vaccines to add capillary leak syndrome as a possible side-effect. The Canadian agency included a warning for individuals with a history of the ailment to not receive those vaccines.

U.S., European, and Canadian health officials have previously stated that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines benefits outweigh the potential risks.

Like all medicines, the EMA said on Thursday, this vaccine can cause side effects, although not everybody will experience them. The most common side effects known for [Modernas vaccine] are usually mild or moderate and get better within a few days after vaccination.

Moderna this week confirmed it is seeking to expand the conditional license for its COVID-19 vaccine in the European Union to include children between the ages of 6 and 11.

Moderna has not responded to several requests for comment.

COVID-19 is the illness caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.
Salmon Fishermen Sue to Block Federal Shutdown of Alaskan Fishery

Salmon fishermen are suing the Biden administration because an unaccountable federal fisheries board plans to shut down federal waters in Cook Inlet in Alaska, a move that will put them out of business.

The legal complaint in Humbyrd v. Raimondo was filed Nov. 9 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska. Longtime salmon fishermen Wes Humbyrd, Robert Wolfe, and Dan Anderson are suing Gina Raimondo in her official capacity as secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

A regulation known as Amendment 14 that was proposed by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, a body created under federal law, would permanently close the federal waters of Cook Inlet in Alaska to commercial salmon fishing. This federally controlled area spans 3 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles off Alaska and is referred to as the Cook Inlet Exclusive Economic Zone.

In less than a month, the Rule will permanently close the commercial salmon fishery in Cook Inlets federal watersnot because the fishery is overfished or for any other conservation or environmental reason, but simply because the government finds it too bothersome to coordinate with the State of Alaska in managing the fishery, the legal complaint states.

Michael Poon, an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation, a Sacramento, California-based nonprofit national public interest law firm, is representing the fishermen.

The council is an unconstitutional federal agency just pulling the rug out from under them, not because the area is overfished or for any conservation-related reason, but because its too much work to manage the fishery.

This is the kind of callous decision one would expect when peoples lives [are] being ruled by unfireable, unaccountable bureaucrats. And thats what we have here, and thats the argument were making to the court, Poon told The Epoch Times.

Michael A. Poon, attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation. (Courtesy of Pacific Legal Foundation)

The regulation sprang from litigation, according to the Department of Commerce.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council first developed the salmon fishery management plan under the MagnusonStevens Act more than 40 years ago. The current plan excludes designated federal waters in Cook Inlet, which allowed the state of Alaska to manage commercial salmon fishing in the area.

But local commercial salmon fishermen and processors challenged the exclusion of the Cook Inlet economic zone from the salmon management plan.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit held that the Cook Inlet economic zone must be included in the salmon management plan to comply with the MagnusonStevens Act. The Act requires fishery management councils to prepare fishery management plans for fisheries under their jurisdiction that require conservation and management.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council unanimously recommended that the department implement Amendment 14 to the salmon plan and federal regulations to comply with this decision. Amendment 14 specifically addresses the Cook Inlet economic zone and the commercial salmon fishery there.

Responding to the appeals court ruling, the council worked with the department, Alaska, and the public from 2017 to 2020 developing Amendment 14 and decided that closing the Cook Inlet zone to commercial salmon fishing optimized conservation and management of the Cook Inlet salmon fishery when considering the costs and benefits of the viable management alternatives.

The closure is consistent with the Councils longstanding salmon management policy to facilitate salmon management by the State of Alaska and avoids the introduction of an additional management jurisdiction and the associated uncertainty into the complex and interdependent network of Cook Inlet salmon fishery sectors, the department stated on one of its websites.

Poon said the council runs afoul of the Constitution because its members are neither appointed as officers of the U.S. government, nor subject to appropriate oversight by the president or his officers.

The Constitution requires that officers be removable by the President, so that he is able to take care that the laws be faithfully executed and to provide a powerful mechanism for oversight, according to the legal complaint.

The council, Poon said, is an unaccountable body  [that] exercises federal power.

When you have unaccountable officials exercising really significant power, you can expect things to go wrong. You can expect poor decisions to be made, he said.

The Founding Fathers recognized that we have to have clear lines of accountability that keep the people in charge, or otherwise, we no longer have a government that is of, by, and for the people.

You have to have people who are accountable to the people in order to have a government that functions and doesnt become tyrannical, he said.

The council has significant authority to make or break peoples lives, Poon said. This regulation is going to wipe out our clients 50-year-long careers.

The Commerce Department didnt respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times by press time.
Scott Wilson Tackles Forever Chemicals Through Technology

Scott Wilson works to take persistent, toxic chemicals out of the environment.

Hes the president and CEO of Regenesis, which aims to address hazardous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or forever chemicals, in groundwater using an activated carbon solution called PlumeStop.

Wilsons concern with nature and the environment started early in life.

Ive always been drawn to the water, Wilson told The Epoch Times. This started in my early youth, where I spent days in the Pennsylvania woods exploring the streams, taking in all flora and fauna. Later in my youth, our family moved to San Diego, and I fell in love with the ocean.

I always wanted to be around water and learn as much as I could, whether studying the tide pools, watching how the cliffs erode, or even observing the wave action while surfing. Apart from the sheer beauty of water and the fact that it supports all life sources, I was also very interested in how water moves early on.

Through his parents membership in the National Wildlife Federation, Wilson was exposed to Ranger Rick, the iconic cartoon raccoon. In one story Wilson read as an eight-year-old kid, Ranger Rick and his friends couldnt use their swimming holeit had been polluted.

There was foam floating on top of the waters surface and trash everywhere, Wilson recalled. I just couldnt believe someone would do that to a river. At that age, I didnt comprehend that many rivers were actually much worse off, so much worse, in fact, that a river could catch fire, like the Cuyahoga River did, which happened about that same time.

Wilson later had the opportunity to work with Dr. James Zajic, whose research used microbes to treat fuel oil and address pollution.

I was naturally led into this field from these early experiences and inspirations, Wilson explained.

Hence his interest in groundwater contamination and, more specifically, PFAS.

PFAS has emerged as a hot topic in recent months.

In June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule mandating PFAS reporting from manufacturers or importers of it. And in early October, California banned PFAS in food packaging and childrens clothing. More recently, PFAS have garnered scrutiny from Congress.

In the popular media, PFAS have attracted attention from the likes of infotainment host John Oliver on Last Week Tonight.

Asked if the media has gotten anything wrong in its PFAS coverage, Wilson argued that the discussion of emerging PFAS remediation technologies, which aim to destroy those forever chemicals, can be a little too bullish.

Due to the strength of the carbon to fluorine bond, these experimental treatment technologies must involve huge energy inputs and only result in small rates of destruction. It is highly unlikely that any of these will ever be efficient enough to become viable and will not be sustainable due to the enormous [carbon dioxide] output associated with the energy requirement, he said.

His companys technology, by contrast, does not destroy the PFAS that it filters out of groundwater. While some contaminants that the system traps can be degraded by bacteria, PFAS are not among them.

The PFAS is bound beneath the surface of the earth as a constituent of the aquifer material, much like other compounds such as forms of lead and arsenic, Wilson explained. In other words, the product helps pull the PFAS out of the groundwater and binds it to the surrounding sand and rock.

He articulates his perspective on PFAS chemicals carefully:

It is important to recognize that not all PFAS are the same. PFAS are a vast class of chemicals in the thousands with widely different environmental behavior and toxicological properties. The biggest concern right now is with two specific PFAS compounds, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), he said.

PFOA has been linked to various cancers, including testicular cancer and kidney cancer. In addition, PFAS do not deteriorate, meaning they accumulate within the body.

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveal that blood levels of PFOA and PFOS have steeply declined in recent years. Some of the highest measured concentrations were in 3M and Dupont workers in 2000 and 2004, respectively.

Wilson poses a question about other PFAS compounds, which he notes have not all been studied extensively:

Do we want these substances in our bodies or in the bodies of our children and grandchildren? If the answer is no, then we should look for ways to reduce our exposure to PFAS where it makes sense, starting where there is the highest risk. My focus is on removing PFAS from groundwater and eliminating this specific exposure risk pathway. I should leave food packaging to others studying the issue.

While manufacturers are the ultimate source of PFAS, Wilson partly attributes the widespread extent of PFAS contamination today to past government regulations, which actually mandated the use of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) or other PFAS compounds in some settings.

For many years, the FAA required AFFF-containing compounds to be used at airports and military bases due to its superior fire extinguishing performance. Also, the [EPA] was involved in approving PFAS use for chromium mist suppression at metal plating facilities. These are examples of how regulations can have unintended consequences, Wilson said.

Unfortunately, there is no commercial incentive to develop technologies to treat the chemical without regulations to set a target for what amount of a chemical is allowed in the environment, he said.

Regenesiss own PlumeStop technology did not originate as a tool for PFAS removal.

Our earliest treatment for PFAS was initially intended for gasoline contaminants, with PFAS being discovered in baseline groundwater samples once the project was already in motion, Wilson said.

According to Wilson, his firms innovation is superior to pump-based approaches because it does not produce any PFAS waste. Instead, it eliminates PFAS exposure hazards for humans and the wider natural environment by binding them to an aquifer matrix.

PlumeStop has already been utilized at various sites, including the Camp Grayling Army Airfield in Michigan.

We just need more sites in the ground for a longer period of time to further demonstrate what the approach can do. That just takes time, Wilson said.

His environmental war cry?

Eliminate environmental risk now instead of waiting for a silver bullet.
Seniors Decry Health Providers Age Bias

They treat me like Im old and stupid recounts one senior sharing a common experience

Joanne Whitney, 84, a retired associate clinical professor of pharmacy at the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco, often feels devalued when interacting with health care providers.

There was a time several years ago when she told an emergency room doctor that the antibiotic he wanted to prescribe wouldnt counteract the kind of urinary tract infection she had.

He wouldnt listen, even when she mentioned her professional credentials. She asked to see someone else, to no avail. I was ignored and finally I gave up, said Whitney, who has survived lung cancer and cancer of the urethra and depends on a special catheter to drain urine from her bladder. (An outpatient renal service later changed the prescription.)

Then, earlier this year, Whitney landed in the same emergency room, screaming in pain, with another urinary tract infection and a severe anal fissure. When she asked for Dilaudid, a powerful narcotic that had helped her before, a young physician told her, We dont give out opioids to people who seek them. Lets just see what Tylenol does.

Whitney said her pain continued unabated for eight hours.

I think the fact I was a woman of 84, alone, was important, she told me. When older people come in like that, they dont get the same level of commitment to do something to rectify the situation. Its like Oh, heres an old person with pain. Well, that happens a lot to older people.

Whitneys experiences speak to ageism in health care settings, a long-standing problem thats getting new attention during the COVID pandemic, which has reportedly killed more than half a million Americans age 65 and older.

Ageism occurs when people face stereotypes, prejudice, or discrimination because of their age. The assumption that all older people are frail and helpless is a common, incorrect stereotype. Prejudice can consist of feelings such as older people are unpleasant and difficult to deal with. Discrimination is evident when older adults needs arent recognized and respected or when theyre treated less favorably than younger people.

In health care settings, ageism can be explicit. An example: Plans for rationing medical care (crisis standards of care) can specify younger adults should be treated before older adults. Embedded in these standards, now being implemented by hospitals in Idaho and parts of Alaska and Montana, is a value judgment: Young peoples lives are worth more because they presumably have more years left to live.

Justice in Aging, a legal advocacy group, filed a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in September, charging that Idahos crisis standards of care are ageist and asking for an investigation.

In other instances, ageism is implicit. Dr. Julie Silverstein, president of the Atlantic division of Oak Street Health, gives an example of that: doctors assuming older patients who talk slowly are cognitively compromised and unable to relate their medical concerns. If that happens, a physician may fail to involve a patient in medical decision-making, potentially compromising care, Silverstein said. Oak Street Health operates more than 100 primary care centers for low-income seniors in 18 states.

Emogene Stamper, 91, of the Bronx in New York City, was sent to an under-resourced nursing home after becoming ill with COVID-19 in March. It was like a dungeon, she said, and they didnt lift a finger to do a thing for me. The assumption that older people arent resilient and cant recover from illness is implicitly ageist.

Stampers son fought to have his mother admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital where she could receive intensive therapy. When I got there, the doctor said to my son, Oh, your mother is 90, like he was kind of surprised, and my son said, You dont know my mother. You dont know this 90-year-old, Stamper told me. That lets you know how disposable they feel you are once you become a certain age.

At the end of the summer, when Stamper was hospitalized for an abdominal problem, a nurse and nursing assistant came to her room with papers for her to sign. Oh, you can write! Stamper said the nurse exclaimed loudly when she penned her signature. They were so shocked that I was alert, it was insulting. They dont respect you.

Nearly 20 percent of Americans age 50 and older say they have experienced discrimination in health care settings, which can result in inappropriate or inadequate care, according to a 2015 report. One study estimates that the annual health cost of ageism in America, including over- and under-treatment of common medical conditions, totals $63 billion.

Nubia Escobar, 75, who emigrated from Colombia nearly 50 years ago, wishes doctors would spend more time listening to older patients concerns. This became an urgent issue two years ago when her longtime cardiologist in New York City retired to Florida and a new physician had trouble controlling her hypertension.

Alarmed that she might faint or fall because her blood pressure was so low, Escobar sought a second opinion. That cardiologist rushed mehe didnt ask many questions and he didnt listen. He was sitting there talking to and looking at my daughter, she said.

It was Veronica Escobar, an elder law attorney, who accompanied her mother to that appointment. She remembers the doctor being abrupt and constantly interrupting her mother. I didnt like how he treated her, and I could see the anger on my mothers face, she told me. Nubia Escobar has since seen a geriatrician who concluded she was overmedicated.

The geriatrician was patient, Nubia Escobar told me. How can I put it? She gave me the feeling she was thinking all the time what could be better for me.

Pat Bailey, 63, gets little of that kind of consideration in the Los Angeles County, California, nursing home where shes lived for five years since having a massive stroke and several subsequent heart attacks. When I ask questions, they treat me like Im old and stupid, and they dont answer, she told me by phone.

One nursing home resident in every five has persistent pain, studies have found, and a significant number dont get adequate treatment. Bailey, whose left side is paralyzed, said shes among them. When I tell them what hurts, they just ignore it or tell me its not time for a pain pill, she said.

Most of the time, Bailey feels like shes invisible, she said, and like shes seen as a slug in a bed, not a real person. Only one nurse regularly talks to her and makes her feel she cares about Baileys well-being.

Just because Im not walking and doing anything for myself doesnt mean Im not alive. Im dying inside, but Im still alive, she told me.

Ed Palent, 88, and his wife, Sandy, 89, of Denver, similarly felt discouraged when they saw a new doctor after their long-standing physician retired. They went for an annual checkup, and all this doctor wanted to do was ask about how they wanted to die and get them to sign all kinds of forms, said their daughter Shelli Bischoff, who discussed her parents experiences with their permission.

They were very upset and told him, We dont want to talk about this, but he wouldnt let up. They wanted a doctor who would help them live, not figure out how theyre going to die.

The Palents didnt return and instead joined another medical practice, where a young doctor barely looked at them after conducting cursory examinations, they said. That physician failed to identify a dangerous staphylococcus bacterial infection on Eds arm, which was later diagnosed by a dermatologist. Again, the couple felt overlooked, and they left.

Now theyre with a concierge physicians practice that has made a sustained effort to get to know them. Its the opposite of ageism: Its We care about you and our job is to help you be as healthy as possible for as long as possible, Bischoff said. Its a shame this is so hard to find.

Were eager to hear from readers about questions youd like answered, problems youve been having with your care, and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit khn.org/columnists to submit your requests or tips.

Judith Graham is a contributing columnist for Kaiser Health News, which originally published this article. KHNs coverage of these topics is supported by The John A. Hartford Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and The SCAN Foundation.
Stock Wars: Aerojet Rocketdyne vs. Maxar

Benzingas weekly Stock Wars matches up two leaders in a major industry sector with the goal of determining which company is the better investment.

This week, the duel is between two companies in the aerospace industry: Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. and Maxar Technologies Inc.

The Case For Aerojet Rocketdyne

This rocket and missile propulsion manufacturer can trace its roots back to 1915 as the General Tire and Rubber Company, which partnered in 1945 with a rocket engine manufacturer to form Aerojet-General. General Tire and Rubber became GenCorp in 1984 and acquired Aerojets rival Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne in 2013.

In December 2020, Lockheed Martin announced it was acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.4 billion, with the transaction slated to close in late 2021. However, Raytheon Holdings Corp raised an objection to the acquisition in February 2021. At publication, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has not ruled on whether the acquisition can go forward and Lockheed Martin has pushed back its expected closure of the deal to the first quarter of 2022.

Among its recent corporate developments was a new NASA contract for the construction of the Orion Main Engine, the primary propulsion element for the Orion spacecraft that will be used to explore deep space; the expansion of its Los Angeles facility to support the production of new-generation RS-25 main engines for NASAs Space Launch System that send astronauts to the Moon; and the successful test of a full-scale advanced solid rocket motor as part of an ongoing series in support of a Department of Defense program to develop a ground-launched tactical hypersonic weapon.

In its most recent earnings report, the third-quarter data published Oct. 26, the company recorded $545.3 million in net sales, up from $527.7 million one year earlier, and $42.6 million in net income, up from $31.7 million in the previous year. Its diluted earnings per share of 52 cents was higher than the 38 cents in the third quarter of 2020.

President and CEO Eileen P. Drake noted the company ended the third quarter with a record backlog of $7 billion, $2.3 billion of which we expect to convert to sales in the next 12 monthsthis amount is up from $2.1 billion in the third quarter of 2020 and up from $2.2 billion last quarter. We continue to see momentum in the defense business and strong support for our space programs.

Aerojet Rocketdyne opened for Wednesdays trading at $43.78, sandwiched between its 52-week range of $34.64 and $53.53.

The Case For Maxar Technologies

This company can be traced back to 1969 when John MacDonald and Vern Dettwiler founded MacDonald, Dettwiler, and Associates (MDA), an aerospace, information systems, and technology company headquartered in the basement of MacDonalds Vancouver residence. Maxar was created in 2017 following MDAs acquisition of DigitalGlobe, a Colorado-based commercial vendor of space imagery and geospatial content.

Among Maxars most recent corporate developments are the appointment of former OneWeb CFO Thomas Whayne as chief strategy officer; the winning of an Option Year 2 contract renewal by the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery program; orders to build two communications satellites SiriusXM Holdings Inc; and a five-year, $60 million contract with the NGA to continue development and operations of a classified big data analytics program.

In its most recent earnings report, the third-quarter data published Nov. 3, Maxar recorded $437 million in revenue, up from $436 million one year earlier, and net income of $14 million, a drop from $85 million in the previous year. Its diluted net income per common share was 19 cents, versus $1.34 in the third quarter of 2020.

Adjusted EBITDA margins expanded 330 basis points, driven by the expansion of contracts with existing commercial and international defense and intelligence assistant tells us customers contributing to positive margin growth, said Biggs Porter, executive vice president and CFO. On a full-year basis, revenue is at 8 percent year-over-year, driven by increases from international defense and intelligence commercial customers and adjusted EBITDA margins expanded on 100 basis points.

Maxar opened for trading on Wednesday at $31.53, closer to its 52-week low of $21.35 than its 52-week high of $58.75.

The Verdict: Aerojet Rocketdyne is in a precarious situation with the FTCs delayed ruling on whether Lockheed Martin will be able to acquire the company. In its earnings report, the company bluntly stated that failure to complete the Merger could negatively impact the price of the Companys common stock, as well as its future business and financial results.

FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan, a Biden administration appointee, has already voiced her skepticism about acquisitions where a major corporation takes over one of its key suppliers. The fact that she shared her concerns in an Aug. 6 letter to progressive Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), an opponent of the proposed transaction, is not playing in Aerojet Rocketdynes favor. Also, approving the transaction would contradict President Joe Bidens July 9 executive order Promoting Competition in the American Economy, which clearly opposed the type of union that Lockheed Martin is seeking.

Maxar, on the other hand, came out of its third-quarter earnings report with a bump-up in its stock price even though its year-over-year revenue was flat and its net income was down due to a deferred revenue burn off from its EnhancedView contract with the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office that was slated to expire in 2020 but was extended on Sept. 1, 2021.

In this Stock Wars duel, Maxar is the stronger aerospace stock, primarily due to the impossible circumstances that have frozen Aerojet Rocketdyne in place. Maxar is performing far below its 52-week stock price high, which is curious given how the company has been checking all the right boxes in its operations. And if the aerospace industry undergoes an aggressive wave of consolidation, Maxar would certainly be in some acquiring entitys crosshairs.

By Phil Hall

 2021 The Epoch Times. The Epoch Times does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
A man wears a mask while walking through the Evergrande Chanqqing community in Wuhan city, China on Sept. 24, 2021. (Getty Images)

Embattled Evergrande Paid Some Overdue Interest, Averts Default

The worlds most indebted real estate developer made some overdue interest payments just before the Nov. 10 deadline, sources told media, while some creditors say they received nothing.

Cash-strapped Evergrande has rushed several last-minute transfers since October, teetering on the brink of default. The Chinese property developer was supposed to make further overdue interest payments of $148 million on three U.S. dollar bondsdue in April 2022, 2023, and 2024, and no later than Nov. 10.

A failure to pay would result in a formal default by the company and trigger cross-default provisions.

Chinese media outlet Cailianshe reported several bondholders had received interest payments on the three bond tranches. Customers of international clearing firm Clearstream received overdue interest payments, a spokesperson said, according to Bloomberg, while two unidentified investors holding two bonds confirmed that they received payments.

The payments were made at the end of a 30-day grace period that ended on Wednesday, as was the case with two separate offshore coupon payments due in late September.

Yet German data service provider DMSA, who invested in these bonds, said in a statement that it had not received any interest payments up to the end of the grace period. Two sources with knowledge of the matter earlier told Reuters that some bondholders had not been paid by the end of Nov. 10 in Asia time zone.

For two separate offshore coupon payments due in late September, bondholders did not receive the payments until one working day after their 30-day grace periods ended.

Evergrande, that once epitomized a freewheeling era of borrowing and building, is struggling from deadline to deadline in recent weeks with overall more than $300 billion in liabilities, $19 billion of which are international market bonds.

According to HKEXnews, the giant had raised around $145 million (HK$1.125 billion) in three consecutive trading days before Wednesdays deadline, by selling stakes in media firm HengTen Networks Group.

Last week, Evergrandes automotive unit also sold its UK-based electric motor making business Protean Electric.

Evergrande has not so far officially explained its defaults. It would face $8.1 billion in interest and principal payments on its offshore bonds by the end of 2022 and has hundreds of projects across China, according to Financial Times.

A string of offshore defaults of Chinese developers over the past months has seen credit rating downgrades in the property industry. International investors are now demanding the highest ever yields to buy or hold junk dollar bonds from Chinese issuers, said analysts at JPMorgan.

An electronic board displays various stock prices at Exchange Square in Hong Kong on Oct. 21, 2021. (Bertha Wang/AFP via Getty Images)

The Federal Reserve on Nov. 8 warned that stresses in the Chinese real estate sector, including debt-ridden property developer Evergrande, could impact the United States if they spill over into the Chinese financial system.

Financial stresses in China could strain global financial markets through a deterioration of risk sentiment, pose risks to global economic growth, and affect the United States, the Fed said in its semi-annual Financial Stability Report.

Chinas central bank denied the possibility on Oct. 15, claiming the debt crisis is controllable and unlikely to spill over.

The liquidity crunch of Evergrande has been in global headlines since September, as its wealth arm, which raised more than $15.6 billion in the past five years, suspended payments to its products, triggering protests in several cities by retail investors.

Some fear their life-savings will all be lost.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Students wear masks as they attend their first day in school after summer vacation at the St. Lawrence Catholic School north of Miami, on Aug. 18, 2021. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images)

Texas Judge Blocks Governors Ban on School Mask Mandates

A judge in Texas ruled on Wednesday that Gov. Greg Abbotts ban on school mask mandates violates federal disability law and cannot be enforced by the states attorney general.

The ruling for the time being resolved the legal limbo in Texas over an executive order Abbott issued prohibiting school districts from imposing mask mandates. The lawsuit was brought by a disability group that argued that the ban made it unsafe for disabled students to attend school.

Plaintiffs here have alleged that the use of masks by those around them is a measure that would lower their risk of contracting the virus and thus make it safer for them to return to and remain in an in-person learning environment, U.S. District Court Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in an opinion on Nov. 10.

The evidence here supports that the use of masks may decrease the risk of COVID infection in group settings. Plaintiffs here are at higher risk of contracting COVID that [sic] their non-impaired peers. But because [Abbotts executive order] precludes mask requirements in schools, plaintiffs are either forced out of in-person learning altogether or must take on unnecessarily greater health and safety risks than their nondisabled peers.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton disagreed with the ruling.

My Agency is considering all legal avenues to challenge this decision, Paxton said on Twitter.

Kym Davis Rogers, the litigation attorney for Disability Rights Texas, the group which filed the lawsuit, said in a statement, We are thankful that school districts can now take the steps necessary to protect these students.

No student should be forced to make the choice of forfeiting their education or risking their health, and now they wont have to, Rogers added.

The national dispute over school mask mandates is highly polarized along political lines. All of the bans on school mask mandates have come from Republican-led states. Democrats overwhelmingly support such measures.

Lawsuits over the school mask mandates largely skirt over whether the measures are effective at preventing the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. The science on the matter remains shaky, while its harms are understudied.
A group of pilgrims carry a Crucifix along the M7 motorway as they take part in the Journey of the Cross and Icon as part of the build up to World Youth Day Sydney 08 near the Sydney International Equestrian Centre in Sydney, Australia, on July 5, 2008. (Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images)

The Dangers of Being Catholic in Australia

Commentary

As Christmas is fast approaching, it is a time for Christians, especially Catholics, to reflect on a turbulent year. Those who are even remotely interested in spiritual matters know that Christianity, especially Catholicism, is threatened.

The threat is, at least partially, a consequence of the powerlessness of the Catholic Church and its leaders to support the moral foundations and tenets of their faith. This is especially true when these come into conflict with the demands of an increasingly secular world.

The legislative attempts in several Australian states to remove the exemptions of religious schools and charities to hire people of their own faith is just an example of the unrelenting persecution suffered by Catholics (and indeed, all Christian churches) in Australia.

Religious persecution, which is a worldwide phenomenon, takes many forms. It ranges from complete disdain for the spiritual mission of religions, to violent repression of religious activity.

The former is exemplified by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authoritys (ACARA) recent revision of the high school curriculum, which disregards the Christian heritage of Australia.

The latter can be illustrated by the vicious persecution of the Falun Gong faith and the Muslim Uyghurs in China, or religious minorities in Iran and Yemen where members of the Bahai faith are treated horribly and imprisoned.

The Western worlds devaluation of the importance of the role of religion must necessarily impact its ability, or even willingness, to condemn the persecution of religion and people of faith.

In Australia, Catholic priests have been victims of the I hear, I listen, I believe brigade.

The most notable example, of course, is the attribution of historical sex abuse offences to Cardinal George Pell.

The High Court has since wholly exonerated him.

But Cardinal Pells case is merely an example of what could happen to a persons reputation when allegations of sexual impropriety are made against him.

Cardinal George Pell leaves at Melbourne Magistrates Court on in Melbourne, Australia, on May 1, 2018. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Another case is Father John Fleming, a Catholic priest who, since 2008, has been the subject of an intense campaign by The Advertiser/Sunday Mail, an Adelaide newspaper in the Murdoch media empire, to discredit his character and smear his reputation by accusing him of historical sex crimes.

However, these allegations are unsubstantiated and implausible.

He sued The Advertiser/Sunday Mail for publicising defamatory material about him, even though the police did not pursue the matter.

However, Fleming lost his defamation case in the first instance, a decision which the Full Supreme Court of South Australia upheld, and the High Court twice decided not to intervene.

The Pell and Fleming cases are eye-opening narratives that illustrate how uncorroborated allegations of sexual impropriety could irretrievably trash a persons reputation.

These cases reveal that hostile policymakers and trendsetters assume uncritically that you are undoubtedly guilty if you are a Catholic priest because of your association with the Catholic Church.

Indeed, once a Catholic priest is accused of a serious sexual offence, he is assumed to be guilty.

Of course, there have been cases where clerics have abused their position of trust by grooming young girls and boys to serve their perverse sexual interests or treating children in their care horrendously.

But to assume that all clerics must necessarily be guilty because of their association with the Catholic Church is an apt example of present-day persecution of religion in Australia and throughout the world.

Court judgments that made adverse comments on the behaviour of Catholic priests are examples of crude utilitarianism.

Proponents of utilitarianism would look at the judges decision in a relevant case and, considering the consequences of the judgment, might conclude that it yields measurable benefits for society.

These benefits include the expectation that society would be a safer place for impressionable young people, even if occasionally innocent people are convicted.

However, such an approach distorts the rule of law, which requires that innocent people should go free.

Nevertheless, this utilitarian approach has recently become very trendy, especially in our #MeToo times which has facilitated the uncritical acceptance of the I hear, I listen, I believe mantra, according to which persons who say they are victims of sexual abuse must necessarily be believed regardless of the implausibility of their allegations.

Although such allegations prove to be true in some cases, there is always a distinct possibility that they are fictitious narratives because of the complainants faulty memory or because the allegations are malicious or vengeful.

Activists and advocates for survivors of sexual abuse gather in the Federal Building Plaza to protest the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in Chicago, Illinois, on Sept. 28, 2018. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

One of the contentious points in court proceedings relates to the onus of proof in defamation cases.

As the complainant is always to be believed, the onus of proving that an accused person is not guilty of sexual abuse is shifted to the plaintiff.

This is a violation of the Briginshaw ruledeveloped by the Australian High Court in 1938which is applied consistently in Australias jurisdictions, except in South Australia.

The only case in which judges have ruled that Briginshaw did not apply was Flemings case.

The Full Supreme Court of South Australia commented that any references to Briginshaw as establishing an onus or a standard are incorrect. Additionally, in the several High Court cases referred to, there is no reference to Briginshaw establishing a principle.

It is reasonable to speculate then that Briginshaw has not been applied in Flemings case because he is a Catholic priest.

If so, the presumption of innocence did not apply to him, and, therefore, he had to prove his innocence.

An appeal to Australias political rulers to recoup the right of religious freedom seems to be the only alternative left for Catholics (and those of other Christian faiths).

However, experience indicates that politicians are typically uninterested in preserving religious freedom and, more importantly, are likely to hide behind the excuse that they cannot interfere with the work of judges to not violate the separation of powers doctrine.

It will be interesting to see how the present disagreements in the Coalition government on the Religious Discrimination Bill, introduced by Senator Michaelia Cash, which includes a Folau Clause, making it illegal to dismiss a person for making religiously inspired comments, will be resolved, if at all.

The demonstrable persecution of religion in Australia may eventually have fatal consequences for applying the rule of law.

Indeed, if peoples faith were subjected to sustained secular attacks, a marked deterioration in the application of the rule of law would be observed over time.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Unacknowledged Genius: The 17th-Century French Artist Charles Le Brun

The question pulls at the mind as tight as a stretched canvas: Given his legacy as an exceptional painter, art theorist, and founding member of the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, why is Charles Le Brun (16191690) not given attention on par with Nicolas Poussin or Peter Paul Rubens?

Anyone in love with the rich paintings of Baroque art will inevitably engage with its grand masters such as Poussin, Rubens, or Anthony van Dyck. Vast numbers of exhibitions, publications, and even films have shaped our perception of biblical and mythological scenes, further branding these scenes into our collective consciousness.

But what about the influential powerhouse of the Baroque era: Le Brun?

Self-portrait of Charles Le Brun, between 1651 and 1700. Oil on canvas. The Museums of the City of Paris. (PD-US)

Louis XIV and the Palace of Versailles

Although the Baroque style originated in Italy, it expanded west and soon dominated the French court, centered at the palace of Versailles. The grandeur of the palace itself also fills volumes of books, with no name more mentioned than Louis XIV.

Portrait of Louis XIV, king of France, by Charles Le Brun. Palace of Versailles. (PD-US)

Louis XIV was no ordinary king. His entire life revolved heavily around the classic arts. For example, he was essential as one of the four people to have paved the way for French ballet. In fact, Louis appeared on stage in 1653 as the sun god Apollo, and this event led to the coining of his nickname the Sun King.

As for the art of painting, anyone who has visited the hallowed artistic halls of Versailles has surely been thunderstruck by the magnitude of the palaces frescoes. But visitors may be surprised to discover how little literature is available about the artist who created them.

Murals on the ceiling in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. (Public Domain)

The Genius of Charles Le Brun

Even photographs of Le Bruns paintings attest to the artists genius. However, they hardly do justice to the awe-inspired walk through the Grand Gallery in Versailles.

Large arched doors invite viewers into halls that offer an experience like none other. The decorative elements of the architecture merge seamlessly with the murals, which transport guests to glimpses of otherworldly, even celestial realms.

The Fall of the Rebel Angels, before 1685, by Charles Le Brun. Oil on canvas. On loan from the Musee National du Chateau in Versailles. (Francois Jay/Musee des Beaux-Arts de Dijon)

In the monumental work The Fall of the Rebel Angels at the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, Le Brun painted the scene from the Bibles book of Revelation. The painting shows triumphant angels surrounding Archangel Michael, who strikes rebellious angels, sending them swirling around the evil dragon and into the spiraling abyss.

The composition of the painting leads the viewer from high contrasting colors of multifigural masses toward the center of a bright open space, giving the illusion of many layers of height.

In effect, we are taken in and become part of the scene. We experience this overturning of evil and reconstruction of cosmic law as if it were unfolding in our very time and space.

We can observe the outstanding treatment of intertwined bodies falling into chaos, dramatically entangled with the dying body of the beast.

A more intimate scene, on display at the Louvre, depicts Le Bruns The Sleeping Christ (1655) in a masterfully arranged composition bathed in warm light. The sleeping Christ child resting in mother Marys arms shows exceptional handling of body weight. The child is being soothed by the love of his mother and that of the surrounding figures. His marble-like appearance lays gently in an arrangement of red, blue, and white drapings, giving him an ethereal presence.

The Sleeping Christ, 1655, by Charles Le Brun. Oil on canvas; 34 1/4 inches by 46 1/2 inches. Musee du Louvre, Paris. (Musee du Louvre, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais/Franck Raux/Art Resource, NY)

These examples give insight into the work of a genius capable of versatile techniques and subject matters, ranging from monumental, multifigural dramas to intimate, emotional scenes executed with great mastery.

Why Is Charles Le Brun Forgotten?

Charles Le Brun, who acted as the court painter and oversaw numerous workshops, significantly impacted Louis XIVs endeavor to become the greatest art patron who ever lived.

Besides the incredible vast body of work the artist left behind, Le Bruns art theory shaped how art was taught academically all over Europe, finding its way into ateliers worldwide to this day.

Everhard Jabach (16181695) and His Family, circa 1660, by Charles Le Brun. Oil on canvas. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (PD-US)

Yet the last exhibition explicitly honoring Le Brun in Versailles was as far back as 1963. In English, there is only one biographical publication from 2016 by Wolf Burchard titled The Sovereign Artist: Charles Le Brun and the Image of Louis XIV.

To answer why this genius is no longer celebrated, we need to understand how we mythologize artists and how we understand history. First, Charles Le Bruns promotion in 1664 to the position of First Painter to the King made him a dedicated and powerful man. Therefore, Le Bruns name is seldom mentioned outside of France because he is closely associated with the Sun King, and that name carries the political baggage of absolute monarchy.

The term absolute monarchy later was stigmatized and used to ignite the French Revolution. With the fall of the regime, so fell the prospects and legacies of many professionals of the empire. The post-revolutionary stigma seems to have stuck with the artists behind the creation of Versailles and, above all, damaged the reputation of Le Brun.

An engraving of legs in various attributes, by Charles Le Brun. (PD-US)

When an artist simultaneously plays the role of a leader in his field, we seem to have been trained to doubt his artistic integrity. However, Le Brun was perfectly positioned and given free rein at the height of a flourishing art era to follow an established lineage of traditional craftsmanship. Therefore, he naturally aligned his vision with the kings grand endeavor.

The claim of art historian Anthony Blunt, who called Le Brun a dictator of the arts in France and therefore cast him as a second-rate artist, seems to rely on political association rather than a sincere evaluation of his art.

However, there seems to be more. Le Brun does not fit into the romanticized image of the ever-struggling artist who depends on the generosity of numerous patrons. And nothing in his biography reveals any scandalous stories that art historians could have used to embellish mystery surrounding the masters vita, such as is the case with Caravaggio or Bernini. Le Brun was honored rather than slighted in his own time.

Air from Seasons and Elements, a set of four tapestries, their designs attributed to Charles Le Brun. Canvas; silk, wool, and metal-thread embroidery in tent stitch. Metropolitan Museum of Art. (PD-US)

Touching Us Through Universals

What matters most in experiencing artwork in a meaningful way is through asking the question How does the essence of the artwork affect me as a viewer?

Charles Le Bruns works are not just paintings or murals. They reach deeper. Looking up into the worlds he created, we see glimpses of genius. They tap into something more universally spiritual than societys ever-changing events, which are forgotten in the noise of war and revolution.

The Triumph of Faith, 16581660, by Charles Le Brun. Art Renewal Center. (PD-US)

As civilization has developed, sometimes true treasures disappear from our awareness. Yet it is only a matter of time before humanity, longing for inspiration, turns to look back and admire the many wondrous achievements that our civilization has to offer.

Its not even a matter of unearthing these treasures. All we have to do is keep our eyes and heart open and recognize when timeless beauty speaks.
The logo of Chinese video app TikTok is seen on the side of the company's new office space at the C3 campus on August 11, 2020 in Culver City, California. (Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images)

Tech Founders Leave Companies Amid Chinas Private Sector Crackdown

Chinese private tech giants are reacting after three tech companies saw their founders and CEOs quit companies.

Zhang Yiming, the founder of TikToks parent company ByteDance, announced his resignation as ByteDance CEO in May. ByteDance in November said Zhang had completed the job transition and officially stepped down.

Zhang, a Chinese computer engineer, founded Bytedance in March 2012.

In October 2014, Bytedance established the CCP branch, followed by a Party Committee in April 2017, then grassroots Party branches such as audit and operations, public affairs, and technical support, according to state-owned media.

In 2016, Zhang launched a short-form video app called Douyin and after one year released the overseas version called TikTok.

TikTok has more than 100 million users outside China.

According to the 2021 Hurun 100 Rich List, a list of Chinas richest people that was released on October 27, Zhang ranks second, with a net worth of $51 billion.

However, TikTok is alleged to cooperate with the Chinese authorities to promote Chinese Communist Party (CCP) propaganda to western youngsters and censor and surveil contents that the totalitarian regime dislikes.

Former President Trump ordered a ban on TikTok and Wechat in the United States as a threat to national security, but the Biden administration revoked the order.

Although used by the Chinese authorities, Bytedance, like other internet technology companies, is subject to official scrutiny. In May 2020, the Chinese media reported on the app Douyin for selling counterfeit goods, which the media blamed on Zhang Yimings lack of moral values.

Today, Zhangs Weibo account still exists, but all of his more than 2,000 posts have been deleted.

On Oct. 29, Su Hua, CEO and co-founder of Kuaishou, a video-sharing mobile app developer based in Beijing, announced his resignation.

Kuaishou is Bytedances main competitor in China, with its social short video app very popular in countries such as Brazil, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The app is known as Snack Video or Kwai in overseas markets, according to Business Insider, a stock market media.

Another tech mogul Huang Zheng, 41, founder of Pinduoduo, the largest agriculture-focused technology platform in China, announced his retirement on March 17 when he released his first quarterly financial report. Huang Zheng ranked sixth in the 2021 Hurun 100 Rich List, worth about $34.4 billion.

Zhang Yiming and Huang Zheng are two prominent Chinese tech billionaires who made moves similar to Jack Mas announcement two years ago that he was resigning as chairman of the board of Alibaba, according to Forbes.
Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds poses for a photograph during a visit to Milton Keynes University Hospital in Milton Keynes, England, on March 19, 2021. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Tory MPs Paid 1.7 Million in Consultancy Fees: Labour Analysis

The UKs Labour Party said on Wednesday that Conservative MPs have received more than 1.7 million ($2 million) in consultancy fees this year.

In the latest Tory sleaze accusation, Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds said 50 Conservative MPsaround one in sevenhave been taking money from outside interests.

Delving into Parliaments Register of MPs Financial Interests, Labours analysis showed that Conservative MPs have received a total of 1,712,357 in consultancy fees this year.

Former cabinet minister Sir John Redwood, the MP for Wokingham, was said to have earned the most in fees, at 194,810 ($262,450).

Redwood is expected to commit 50 hours each month to his main consultancy job and three hours each quarter for another job, according to the most recent register.

There is no suggestion that any of the MPs concerned broke any parliamentary rules, but Dodds said this shows there is something rotten at the heart of [Prime Minister] Boris Johnsons Conservative Party.

She urged Johnson to show leadership, heed Labours call to ban MPs from having paid directorships and consultancy roles, and put an end to Tory sleaze.

The claims came after Johnson warned MPs they must obey Westminster rules regulating their outside interests if they want to continue taking second jobs and that those who failed to do so should be punished.

MPs who are not ministers are allowed to moonlight as long as they register their financial interests.

More than 200 MPsnearly one in threehave declared additional earnings in the past year, including rental income, book royalties, payment for surveys and articles, consultation fees, solicitor fees, and income from being part time doctors and nurses.

Some of the more lucrative second jobs have been held by lawyers, including Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer, who has earned more than 100,000 ($134,000) in addition to his salary for being an MP since 2015. Theres no suggestion that he broke any rules, and Starmer said he had stopped doing second jobs since becoming the party leader last year.

Labour called for a formal investigation on Wednesday after media reported Sir Geoffrey Cox, a Conservative MP and former attorney general, used his parliamentary office for his second job as a lawyer.

According to a report by The Times of London, Cox used his office in the House of Commons in September to participate remotely in a meeting to advise the British Virgin Islands over a corruption probe launched by the Foreign Office.

Coxs office said the MP does not believe that he breached the rules but will of course accept the judgment of the Parliamentary Commissioner or of the committee on the matter.

According to Parliament, having MPs with a diverse range of professions was preferable than a Parliament composed entirely of full-time professional politicians, which the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 1995 said would not serve the best interests of democracy.

Most MPs were expected to have another job, which they carried out before starting in the Commons at 2:30 p.m. However, the custom has become increasingly controversial as consultancy and lobbying jobs became common.

Business Minister Paul Scully told LBC Radio on Thursday that he believes it is right that MPs are able to have second jobs  But wrongdoingpaid advocacy and the likeneeds to be absolutely stamped out.

Speaking to broadcasters on Thursday morning, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said that with regard to second jobs, theres an independent process that we have thats set by Parliament that governs all of those things. And its absolutely right that that process is followed to the letter.

Alexander Zhang and PA contributed to this report.
Protesters hold up signs as they march across Victoria Bridge during a rally against a mandatory Covid-19 vaccine in Brisbane, Australia, on Oct. 1, 2021. (Dan Peled/Getty Images)

Totalitarian: Retail Chain Owner Lambasts States New Restrictions on Unvaccinated

A retail chain owner says he will not mandate the COVID-19 vaccine to his staff or exclude customers based on their vaccination statuscalling newly announced health restrictions in Queensland preposterous and ridiculous.

Heath Goddard, co-founder and CEO of national homewares and bedding retailer, Pillow Talk, was critical of the lack of transparency around medical advice underpinning the use of tough public health restrictions to deal with the pandemic.

Until its tested in court, and weve got decent judges to attest and listen to the debate. We have a problem. We have a nation that is currently being ransacked from within, he told The Epoch Times.

Heath Goddard, co-founder and CEO of Australian national retail chain, Pillow Talk. (Supplied)

I cant pick on Premier Palaszczuks one-off announcement yesterdaythe whole thing from start to finish has been a complete and utter disaster, he said.

Earlier this week, Queenslands state leader, Annastacia Palaszczuk, announced that from Dec. 17or once 80 percent of the local population is vaccinateda raft of new restrictions would kick-in for unvaccinated residents.

The approach follows in the footsteps of other Australian state leaders who are pushing to increase vaccination rates by incentivising freedoms to those willing to take the jab.

In Queensland, however, no restrictions are currently in place with residentsjabbed or un-jabbedallowed to mingle freely.

However, once the milestones are reached, only vaccinated Queenslanders will be allowed to enter a range of businesses and venues, including restaurants, clubs, cafes, and stadiumsthe rest will be locked out.

An end date to all restrictions has yet to be announced.

Award-winning Brisbane cafe owner, Phillip Di Bella, has already indicated he will not be enforcing any restriction against unvaccinated individuals, saying the Coffee Commune will not discriminate.

While all customers are currently allowed to enter retail outlets, Goddard said he was on the same wavelength as Di Bella.

Anyone is welcome to come into my business. vaccinated or unvaccinated. I certainly have not mandated any person in my company to get vaccinatedcan not do it. I know the dangers there, he said.

But I cant talk to the premier; I cant talk to the health minister or anyone else. They wont talk to you. Theres no discussion. Its just: Were going to do this. Its a totalitarian direction, he added.

Since when do we have totalitarian directions in Australia? Weve got them now. Were worse than (communist) Czechoslovakia. Its ridiculous, and yet people are going along with it. Why? he said, noting similar observations had been made to him by Eastern Europeans living in Australia.
A Roadmaster truck driving school rig offers hands-on training for students seeking to obtain their commercial drivers license and head out on the open road. (Roadmaster Driving School photo)

Truck Driving Schools Thrive Amid Massive Shortage of Drivers

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many considered long-haul truck driving to be the ultimate in social distancing.

There was freedom to be found in wide-open spaces and winding roads amid stifling lockdowns and theoretical flattening of curves.

In 2021, tractor-trailers are still king of the road, despite a growing nationwide shortage of drivers numbering in the tens of thousands.

Steven Strong, campus director at Southwest Truck Driver Training (STDT) in Phoenix, says few occupations today offer the romantic allure of long-distance truck driving or the promise of a high-paying job after a brief training period.

STDT, which has two campuses in Arizona and one in Nevada, currently boasts hundreds of new students this year who are seeking to earn their commercial drivers license (CDL) and get straight to work after graduation.

A Roadmaster Drivers School instructor explains the working components of a long-haul truck at the schools campus in Phoenix. (Roadmaster Drivers School photo)

Total enrollment at STDT this year exceeds 1,400, compared to 1,200 a year ago, Strong told The Epoch Times.

Were definitely seeing a good number of folks wanting their commercial drivers license. I think whats fueling the interest is the training is shortfour to eight weeksand the entry level is pretty high, he said.

There are currently more job openings than there are truck drivers, Strong said. Because the average age of a truck driver is 52, retirement counts as a leading factor fueling the worsening shortage of drivers, which numbers close to 100,000, according to the American Trucking Association.

In most cases, an STDT student can expect to have a job waiting for him or her following successful completion of the program. Nearly 15 percent of graduates this year are women, Strong said.

Not many drop out. Some [graduates] want to see the country. Some want to drive locally and enjoy quality time with family, he said.

At Roadmaster Drivers School, which is based in St. Petersburg, Florida, President Brad Ball said interest in the four-to-five-week program has never been greater.

Yes, we have seen an increase in folks interested in the program over recent years, especially with all of the supply chain news and carriers offering historic increases in pay and bonuses, improving driver routes, Ball told The Epoch Times.

We do have a waiting list at some of our school locations in the busiest markets, but not at our Phoenix location. Classes start every Monday, but it takes a week or two to get through the enrollment process and become scheduled for a start date, he said.

Like Driving in a Small Apartment

The interest in becoming a CDL-licensed truck driver is definitely there, Ball said. The opportunity is better than its ever been. Many [graduates] have multiple job offers.

Aside from the freedom of the road, truck drivers receive many career benefits, including starting pay that averages up to $50,000 per year. And with truck drivers being in such great demand, job security is almost guaranteed, he said.

Drivers in many cases receive generous medical insurance and retirement benefits, paid vacation and sick time, as well as the option of taking their pet with them.

You get to see the country.

Ball said Roadmaster programs average 12 students per week at the Phoenix location. Students also have access to the latest in tractor-trailers and equipment and technology, he said.

Truck driver training is hands-on. You need to see, feel, and touch the trucks, Ball said. Its like driving in a small apartment.

The 2016 Freightliner Cascadia truck, for example, ranks among the largest in its class. The custom sleeper cab comes with a television, a full kitchen with microwave and refrigerator, shower, bathroom, bed, and storage space.

Another big semi-truck is the ARI Legacy and Volvo Big Bunk AT GATR B147. This sleeper cab has all of the bells and whistles of the 2016 Freightliner Cascadia, along with an office desk and table with seats.

Ball said: Most of our students are 21 and above. When they graduate, they will already know who they are going to work for.

Classroom instruction is an important component at Roadmaster Drivers School in 2021. (Roadmaster Drivers School photo)

He said the shortage of drivers is a serious and ongoing problem, and if nothing changes, we could see [a shortage] of 200,000 drivers going forward.

The governments COVID-19 vaccine mandate for companies with more than 100 employees is also a big problem for the trucking industry, he added. The OSHA mandate is set to go into effect on Jan. 4.

There are lot of [drivers] that will quit a larger company and go on. I think it is the worst time to be putting in a rule like that, Ball said.

Even so, demand for truck drivers remains at an all-time high, said Steven Gold, founder of 160 Driving Academy, the nations largest commercial driving school with more than 100 locations nationwide.

Almost everybody is saying, I want a better opportunity and make more money,' Gold told The Epoch Times.

Many are now finding opportunity in abundance in long-haul truck driving. But first, they need the training and experience before they can expect to draw $100,000 salaries a year or two after graduation.

Students at Roadmaster Drivers School in Phoenix, learn the rules of the road during a class in 2021. (Roadmaster Drivers School photo)

With 20,000 students enrolled this year, Gold expects that number to nearly triple next year because of the increase in demand for CDL licenses among both men and women, representing many population demographics.

Some drivers eventually move on from starting as a company employee to becoming an owner-operator, an expensive prospect, he said.

Very few are going to do that. You need some driving experience before you buy a $150,000 piece of equipment, Gold said. Its an expensive proposition, a sometimes dangerous proposition. We tell everybody to go work for a big company first.

Gold said about 12 percent of the students at 160 Driving Academyand a quarter of the instructorsare women, who tend to be more careful drivers.

Cathy Roberson, president of Logistics Trends and Insights in Georgia, said that while the increasing number of graduates of tractor-trailer driving schools is a positive sign, its going to take time for the number of graduates to put a dent in the national shortage of drivers.

Weve had this tractor-trailer driver shortage well over 20 years. I dont think its going away. I dont think we can satisfy demand any time soon, she told The Epoch Times.

I dont really see them being able to fill the demand [although] every graduate is a plus.

Freedom and money aside, long-haul truck driving is an often hard and lonely job.

Its not for everybody, Gold said.
Taiwanese sailors salute the island's flag on the deck of the Panshih supply ship after taking part in annual drills at the Tsoying naval base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on Jan. 31, 2018. (Mandy Cheng/AFP via Getty Images)

US and Allies Will Take Action If China Attacks Taiwan, Blinken Says

TAIPEI, TaiwanSecretary of State Antony Blinken says the United States and its allies would take action in the event that the Chinese regime used force to unilaterally change the status quo of the self-ruled island.

However, Blinken didnt specify what kind of action Washington or its allies might take while answering questions during a Nov. 10 forum hosted by The New York Times. His response falls in line with the decades-long U.S. foreign policy strategy known as strategic ambiguity, which means that the United States is deliberately vague on the question of whether it would come to Taiwans defense.

At the same time, I think its fair to say that were not alone in this determination to make sure that we preserve peace and stability in that part of the world, Blinken said. There are many countries, both in the region and beyond, that would see any unilateral action to use force to disrupt the status quo as a significant threat to peace and security, and they, too, would take action in the event that that happens.

The Chinese Communist Party sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened war to bring the island under its control. In reality, the island is a de facto independent country with its own democratically elected government, military, constitution, and currency.

In October, Taiwans defense minister warned that the Chinese regime will be capable of mounting a full-scale invasion of the self-ruled island by 2025.

In 1979, Washington ended its diplomatic ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing, but it has maintained a non-diplomatic relationship with the island based on the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). The act authorizes the United States to provide Taiwan with military equipment for its self-defense.

We will make sure that Taiwan has the means to defend itself, because the purpose here is never to get to that point where anyone is actually trying to disrupt the status quo by force, to make sure that deterrence is there, and that no one engages in actions that could be profoundly disruptive, dangerous, to world peace and security, Blinken said.

Beijing spoke out against Blinkens statement. On Nov. 11, Wang Wenbin, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, accused Blinken of violating international law with his support of Taiwan, during a daily briefing. Wang also said China would never allow the United States to interfere with its internal affairs, with regard to issues related to Taiwan.

Chen Huei-jen, deputy head of the Department of North American Affairs at Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanked Blinken for his support during a briefing on Nov. 11.

Chen also said the Taiwanese government will continue to deepen its cooperation with the United States and other like-minded countries.
China's special climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua speaks during a joint China and US statement on a declaration enhancing climate action in the 2020's on day eleven of the COP26 climate change conference at the SEC in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 10, 2021. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

US, China Issue Joint Plan to Boost Cooperation on Climate Change

The worlds two largest emitters of carbon dioxide on Nov. 10 pledged to work together in tackling climate change as global leaders wrap up the two-week COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

The framework, unveiled by U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua two days before the conference comes to a close, was billed by both sides as a way to help the summit achieve success.

In the area of climate change there is more agreement between China and the US than divergence, making it an area with huge potential for our cooperation, Xie said through an interpreter at the conference briefing room.

He said that the joint agreement shows again that cooperation is the only choice for both China and the United States.

The plan identified five areas for cooperation but is thin on concrete targets, emphasizing that the countries have differentiated responsibilities according to their different national circumstances, a concept Xie stressed during the press briefing.

Xie did not commit the country to the Global Methane Pledge, which 104 countries signed onto during the conference promising to cut their methane emissions by 30 percent during the five-year period between 2025 and 2030.

Early into the summit, Xie also defended Chinas reliance on coalwhich supplies around 60 percent of the countrys electricity supplysaying Beijing is at a special development stage and already making our biggest possible effort to address climate change.

A coal-fired power plant in Shanghai, China, Oct. 14, 2021. (Aly Song/Reuters)

Beijing, in the joint declaration, promised to phase down coal consumption over the next decade and cooperate with America to boost clean energy. The two countries will also share technology innovation aimed at slowing climate change. A bilateral meeting on reducing methane, the second-largest source of greenhouse gases after carbon dioxide, will be convened in the first half of 2022, the announcement said.

Kerry said the declaration was a roadmap for our present and future collaboration on climate.

You know the expression that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Well, every step matters right now, and we have a long journey ahead of us, he told reporters.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement between China and the United States.

Tackling the climate crisis requires international collaboration and solidarity, and this is an important step in the right direction, he wrote on Twitter.

Chinas leader Xi Jinping did not attend the COP26 summit, becoming the only world leader who delivered remarks via written statement, in which he demanded richer nations to lead the climate effort and accommodate less developed countries. He did not give new promises.

Chinese officials have repeatedly asked Washington to soften its China policies to facilitate climate cooperation. On Nov. 2, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson declared that you cant ask China to cut coal production on the one hand, while at the same time imposing sanctions on Chinese photovoltaic enterprises, a reference to a June trade blacklist on several Chinese solar panel parts manufacturers that allegedly used forced labor from Uyghur minorities in Chinas Xinjiang region.

Kerry, who said previously that life is always full of tough choices in answering a reporters question about Beijings abuses in Xinjiang, said again on Wednesday that pressing Beijing on human rights is within his purview.

Were honest about the differences. We certainly know what they are and weve articulated them, Kerry told reporters. But thats not my lane here. My job is to be the climate guy and stay focused on trying to move the climate agenda forward.

US special climate envoy, John Kerry speaks during a joint China and US statement on a declaration enhancing climate action in the 2020s on day eleven of the COP26 climate change conference at the SEC in Glasgow, Scotland, on Nov. 10, 2021. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The regime has not been sincere about tackling climate change but is merely playing the issue to its advantage, some China experts have said.

Even as China expands wind and solar capacity, such efforts are driven by a need to satiate energy shortage, according to Katie Tubb, an economic policy analyst at the Heritage Foundation think tank.

They are willing to get energy wherever they can get it, she told The Epoch Times.

China has made a long-term target to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, 10 years later than the deadline set by developed countries. In Tubbs point of view, it is a strategic decision for the regime to see the West pursue green technologies and potentially reap any fruit coming out of it.

Theyre hedging their bets, she said.

Miles Yu, the principal China policy advisor to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said getting Chinas cooperation on climate is a very difficult task.

China, really deep inside, does not care nearly as much about the issues like climate change as the United States current government does, Yu told The Epoch Times late October.

Climate change is not Chinas top strategic priority but a potential lever for Beijing to extract concessions on issues such as human rights and trade from the United States, Yu said.

They focus on this radical push for just economic power at any cost, even at the expense of global ecology.
(LR) Officials from Singapore, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, New Zealand, India, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines pose for a group photo during the 3rd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Summit in Bangkok on Nov. 4, 2019. (Manan Vatsyayana/AFP via Getty Images)

The US Is Right to Refuse RCEP Trade Deal Favoring China

News Analysis

China stands to be the big winner of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and it would have benefitted even more if the United States had joined the multilateral trade deal.

With the RCEP going ahead officially, China will now be able to drive trade on its terms, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), which also claimed that the United States had missed out on an opportunity by not joining the free-trade pact signed by 15 countries in 2020.

The U.S. refusal seems to be the correct response, given that Washington doesnt want Beijing dictating the terms of trade.

RCEP will go into force on Jan. 1, 2022, after meeting the minimum number of ratifications last week. It was signed by the Asia-Pacific nations of Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Burma (also known as Myanmar), New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. Thus far, of the 15 member states, 10 have ratified the agreement.

Bryan Mercurio, an international trade law professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told the SCMP that RCEP was a victory for China, although it remains to be seen how much economic benefit theyll gain from the agreement. In addition to trade benefits, China is hoping that RCEP will help with the internationalization of its currency, the yuan.

The Asia-Pacific nations have entered into the agreement, ostensibly, because they believe that their own economies will benefit. However, Mercurio said that according to the results of mathematical modeling, the three winners will be China, Japan, and South Korea.

Chinas Ministry of Commerce issued a statement declaring that Beijing would be ready to cut trade tariffs as soon as RCEP goes into effect. The elimination of tariffs will benefit the Chinese regime, while hurting most of its RCEP trade partners, as China already runs a trade surplus with Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Cambodia, Brunei, Burma, and Indonesia.

Containers are seen at the Yangshan Deep-Water Port in Shanghai on Oct. 19, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters)

Signing RCEP will pull the member states closer to the Chinese regimes sphere of economic influence. It will also increase cheap imports from China, further delaying the development of domestic technologies and manufacturing capabilities in these countries.

Globalists say that the United States missed out on an opportunity by not joining the agreement, because RCEP has very loose rules of origin, meaning that China could open factories and supply chains across the member nations, exporting inputs and finished goods largely tariff-free.

However, the United States could also open factories across RCEP nations and export from one to the other, tariff-free. RCEP is a trade agreement, not an investment agreement. The United States would have the same opportunity to invest in factories in RCEP countries, as it always has. A product manufactured in Vietnam by a U.S. company would be treated the same when shipped to Indonesia as it would if the factory were owned by a Vietnamese company. The tariff rules are focused on the country of manufacture and export, not on the country that owns the factory.

Proponents claim that if the United States had joined RCEP, it would be in a better position to negotiate fair terms of trade with China. However, this seems unlikely, as China has failed to comply with the terms of the phase one trade deal that it has already signed with the United States. Theres no indication that China will fulfill its role as the buyer of last resort in RCEP. This is particularly true at a time when Chinese leader Xi Jinping is enacting economic policies that are focused on strengthening the domestic economy, rather than international trade. RCEP also has no provisions for non-tariff barriers (NTBs) to trade.

One of the reasons for the U.S.China trade war has been Chinas excessively high tariffs on U.S. imports. But the tariffs are a very small part of U.S. grievances, although theyre the easiest to see and thus get the most attention in the media. The more important issue is non-tariff barriers to tradesuch as limited market access, restricted industries, prohibited sectors, and other regulations within Chinathat prevent the United States from investing in or trading in certain areas of the economy. The United States, by contrast, has very few restrictions on Chinas access to U.S. markets. China has been profiting from the openness of the U.S. economy, while preventing the United States from enjoying the same benefits in China. RCEP wouldnt have changed this.

Other U.S. grievances include forced technology transfers and state subsidies being given to Chinese firms. Although the World Trade Organization (WTO) has rules against these issues and the United States has filed grievances, the WTO has failed to remedy them. RCEP doesnt even address these issues, so it would be even less likely to fix them.

Time magazine stated that the United States missed out on RCEP, the same way that it missed out on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). According to Time, the multilateral free-trade deal included a raft of environmental, human rights, intellectual property, and labor regulations that stood to bolster U.S. competitiveness.

In actuality, the United States missed out on nothing. If it felt that imposing environmental, human rights, and labor regulations on itself would bolster U.S. competitiveness, then Washington would have already done so, without joining a multilateral free-trade agreement.

(Left to right) Trade or foreign ministers of Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, Chile, Brunei, Japan, Mexico, Peru, and Vietnam pose for an official picture after signing the rebranded 11-nation Pacific trade pact Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Santiago, Chile, on March 8, 2018. (Claudio Reyes/AFP via Getty Images)

Some critics of the U.S. decision suggest that if both China and the United States had joined the TPP, Washington could have pressured Beijing to make structural changes in the areas of environmental, human rights, intellectual property, and labor regulations, which would increase U.S. competitiveness. But many of these rules already exist in the WTO, and the Chinese regime ignores them.

Since Beijing refuses to comply with WTO norms, its unlikely that China would be willing to make major changes in its domestic economy to appease the members of a free trade deal, whether its the RCEP or the TPP.

The United States refusing to join RCEP or the TPP isnt new and isnt the result of one political party versus the other in Washington. Historically, the United States has preferred bilateral trade agreements with its trading partners. The United States is a signatory to only three major multilateral trade agreements: the WTO, the USMCA (which has replaced NAFTA), and the CAFTA-DR, composed of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. The United States maintains free-trade agreements with 20 countries, including three countriesAustralia, South Korea, and Singaporethat are also members of RCEP.

The United States not joining RCEP changes nothing about trade with Australia and South Korea. However, it would have meant tariff-free trade with China and Japan, which the United States doesnt want. Consequently, Chinese exports to the United States will continue to be tariffed, and China wont be able to bypass U.S. tariffs by exporting from RCEP member countries if the United States has tariffs against them.

Chinese state-run media Global Times stated that Washingtons failure to join RCEP will end U.S. hegemony. The globalists say that the United States is being left behind and that it will miss out on trade opportunities with countries that generate 30 percent of the worlds gross domestic product. But RCEP isnt a fortress that requires its members to put tariffs on non-RCEP trade. RCEP members are still permitted to trade with the United States under current terms dictated by Washington.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The logo of Seaboard Foods hog processing plant is seen in Guymon, Okla., on May 13, 2020. (Andrew Hay/Reuters File Photo)

US to Allow Pork Plants to Operate Faster in Trial Program

CHICAGOThe U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday that some pork plants can apply to operate faster processing-line speeds under a one-year trial, after a federal judge ended a Trump-era rule that removed line speed limits in March.

Faster slaughtering would help meat companies like WH Groups Smithfield Foods and JBS to increase pork production at a time of strong demand and high bacon prices.

The companies, and others like Hormel Foods Corp supplier Quality Pork Processors, are eligible to apply for the trial program because they were previously allowed to operate without speed limits under the 2019 rule struck down in March.

A federal judge invalidated the 2019 rule following a United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Union lawsuit against the USDA over concerns about worker safety.

During the new trial program, plants would implement worker safety measures included in an agreement with their workers union or worker safety committee, the USDA said.

Plants will collect data on how line speeds affect workers that will be shared with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the USDA said.

The data could be used to make future rules for the industry, the USDA said.

The trial will facilitate experimentation with different ergonomics, automation, and crewing to design custom work environments that increase productivity and protect food safety while decreasing the probability of worker injuries, the USDA said.

Futures traders said the pilot program boosted Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures amid concerns that slower processing speeds had reduced meatpackers demand for pigs to slaughter.

December lean hogs were up 0.825 percent at 75.775 cents per pound.

The pork industry has lost 2.5 percent of its slaughtering capacity following the March court decision, the National Pork Producers Council said.

By Tom Polansek
A volunteer reads poems to a dementia sufferer at a care home in Stratford, UK. (WILL OLIVER/AFP/Getty Images)

Vaccine Mandate Has Led to Disciplinary Proceedings in Englands Care Homes, Say Owners

Care homes are embroiled in disciplinary proceedings over the Governments shambolic mandatory vaccination policy for staff, further adding to the workforce pressures they face, a care group has said.

The National Care Forum (NCF) said a number of its members estimate they will lose about 8 percent of staff by Thursdaythe deadline for staff in England to get both jabs.

The body, which represents not-for-profit care providers, carried out a snapshot survey of members between Nov. 2 and Nov. 8.

Some 43 members responded in full, which run about 300 services for more than 11,000 people and employ about 14,000 staff.

Members reported spending an enormous amount of time implementing the policy, with almost all holding extra staff briefings and needing additional HR resources.

The survey found that 58 percent of members are running disciplinary hearings and 40 percent managing appeals that are related to the requirement.

And 53 precent said they have spent money on specialist legal advice.

Members said on average 3.5 percent of their staff have already left as a result of resignation or dismissal, and they estimate a further 4.4 percent might leave.

The NCF said social care can ill afford such a serious loss of staff given the enormous workforce pressures plaguing the sector.

The chief executive, Vic Rayner, said care homes have been the unwitting guinea pigs throughout the rollout of the policy, which one provider branded a shambles.

Unwitting Guinea Pigs

She said: Since the introduction of this policy we have been vocal about the unnecessary high costin terms of human costs, financial costs and the loss in trust and goodwill amongst care staff and their employers as a direct result of this policy.

Care homes have been the unwitting guinea pigs through the implementation of this policy, and the impact on people must not be swept under the carpet.

It is vital that the Government learns from this experience and makes changes for the wider rollout of this policy.

Care homes told the NCF that the Government had not properly assessed the impact of the policy before imposing it, the rollout and exemption process were disorganised and late and the policy was perceived as badly timed and unjust.

One provider said the rollout has been a shambles and that the medical exemption process was late, unclear (and) poorly written.

Another said: Our staff are now not only managing a care home, they are expected to be security and medical assessors. We do not have the tools to do this.

And one said comforting residents who are upset at seeing long-term staff leave is the worst thing they have had to do in a 22-year career.

According to a separate survey of members of the Institute of Health and Social Care Management between November 8-10, which received 148 responses, 84 percent wanted the deadline delayed to spring.

This would bring care home staff in line with the recently announced April 1 deadline for NHS and other social care staff.

The National Care Association said the vaccine is a key part of controlling the virus but an unintended consequence of the mandatory policy will be no staff, no care.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said it has a responsibility to do everything we can to protect vulnerable people.

He added: We consulted and worked closely with the sector to encourage take up of the vaccine ahead of the deadline.

Since the consultation was announced uptake of the first dose amongst care home staff has risen from 80 percent to 94 percent.
Navy veteran Robert Houk with his family at the Veterans Last Patrol honor ceremony. Houk served on the USS New Jersey during the late '60s off the coast of Vietnam. (Courtesy of Veteran's Last Patrol)

Veterans Last Patrol: Making a Difference for Veterans in Hospice Care

Heart, healing, and going home

Veterans Last Patrol, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, is on a mission to connect veteran volunteers with veterans who are in hospice care.

When friendships matter the most, a volunteer from Veterans Last Patrol can make all the difference for a veteran who may be alone during end-of-life care. While some enjoy the closeness of family and friends, others have lost connection with loved ones and the military community.

Robert Houk served in the U.S.Navy on the battleship USS New Jersey during the late 60s off the coast of Vietnam. In hospice care, his mobility is limited and days are spent in a wheelchair.

Can I get out on the river one more time to fish? he asked a volunteer with Veterans Last Patrol. His wish to catch one more trout was granted with help from Davidson River Outfitters in North Carolina this past summer. Once again on the river (in a chair), he was able to breathe the fresh air, enjoy the serenity of a summers day, the gentle flow of the river, and smile while holding a freshly caught trout.

It was Navy veteran Robert Houks last wish to go trout fishing. Veterans Last Patrol made that happen with the help of Davidson River Outfitters in North Carolina. Houk served on the USS New Jersey during the late 60s off the coast of Vietnam . (Courtesy of Veterans Last Patrol)

The stories of veterans in hospice care are touching and a stark reminder of who better to be served than those who so valiantly served us.

Serving in the military is an exceptional experience. Bonds are formed. While the decades may have passed, often rekindling that time of connectedness with one who has experienced similar memories is comforting as the veteran approaches his or her final days. Some stories are more easily shared veteran to veteran.

The Man Behind the Mission

Retired Army Col. Claude Schmid is at the helm of Veterans Last Patrol. Schmid retired in 2013 after 31 years of military service in combat units around the world.

As a young boy, when I was around the table with my brothers, my mother would tell us of her volunteer work with a local hospice, about the decline and adversity faced with end-of-life issues, Schmid said.

His mothers experiences made an impression on him.

As wounded soldiers were returning to the United States, it was Schmids job, as a representative of senior military leadership, to greet them (usually on planes) as they returned to the United States from Iraq or Afghanistan. Depending on the extremity of their injuries, family members would often be with them, having first flown to Germany.

It wasnt an easy assignment. Schmid would thank them for their service, offer sympathy and any assistance he could, and ensure that they were properly looked after during their transfer to a medical facility.

They needed companionship and to share their stories, Schmid said.

Claude Schmid visits with Stan, who was a gunners mate on the battleship USS Missouri during World War II. He witnessed the Japanese surrender ceremony in September 1945. (Courtesy of Veterans Last Patrol)

His mothers stories of hospice care, his own military experience, and supporting wounded warriors got his wheels turning.

I started checking with various hospice facilities and found that they were often lacking when it came to volunteer help, Schmid said.

Schmids thoughts immediately went to veterans, particularly those spending their last days in hospice care.

To date, Veterans Last Patrol has served more than 1,000 veterans with some 200 volunteers, and the list is growing.

We certainly partner with other veterans groups, said Schmid, acknowledging that for the veterans that volunteer, its not easyyou never really see the approach of death up close  and you develop a rapport.

Its our way of serving other veterans but you have to be willing to deal with end-of-life issues, said Schmid, adding that the organization is constantly trying to recruit volunteers.

Schmid mentioned a recent veteran he had connected with. Hes 93, served in World War 11, Korea, and Vietnam.

He also recalled the story of another veteran.

Your sense of hearing stays longer. This veteran couldnt see and couldnt speak [so] the volunteer would read to him. He enjoyed listening to music so the volunteer would play music from his phone. He played Onward Christian Soldiers and the veteran started to sing along with the words. It was amazing.

A World War II veteran living in a hospice facility in New Jersey expresses his delight at a visit from Veterans Last Patrol. (Courtesy of Veterans Last Patrol)

Ways to Help

Veterans Last Patrol, which is entering its third year of operation, is currently active in 17 states: Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Washington, Oregon, California, and Nevada. Schmid is keen on growing its network of volunteers nationwide.

You dont have to be part of a local group or chapter. Many are individuals in different parts of the states, he said.

As we grow, well increasingly help folks partner and set up chapters in their areas with other volunteers.

Schmid went on to talk about the organizations three core missions.

First and foremost is offering friendship and companionship to a veteran who is in hospice care. Once a relationship is established, volunteers will usually visit at least once a week.

Hosting honor ceremonies is another way to remember a veterans service.

We try to hold a last honor ceremony while they are still alive, which could include a certificate from Congress, handmade quilts, and other gifts. Its a way to say thank you one more time.

As a young Army soldier, Roy Johnson served during World War II as part of the post-Japan Occupation forces. He was responsible for keeping the electricity going for U.S. forces communications. After serving in the military, he was a Winn-Dixie supervisor for 40-plus years and a huge Clemson fan.

You help me remember those big events from a long time ago, he said at an honor ceremony celebrating his military service.

Many veterans are alone. Offering emergency assistance is another way to help particularly if the veteran is handicapped.

Well bring the necessities of life or offer pet care, said Schmid.

A Heartfelt Reaction

While still in the military and spending a lot of time with wounded warriors, and leading up to the start of Veterans Last Patrol, Schmid reflected on their individual stories and journeys.

What are the motivations for serving when the consequences could be so dire? He came up with what he refers to as the H-E-A-R-T factor based on the answers he was given.

H stands for honor.

It was my honor, said Schmid. I heard it over and over again. It was an honor to serve.

The E and A stand for the excitement and adventure factors that motivate many young men and women to join the service.

Schmid related another incident with two returning, injured soldiers.

One was in better shape than the other. They were getting off the plane and I encouraged the one to go and get something to eat, that he must be tired from the long flight, said Schmid.

He told me that he didnt want to go, that until his buddy was ready to go that he wasnt going.

Rapport. That was Schmids R.

Schmid related a story about another soldier.

I went into this aircraft. There were four or five family members watching their son who was in a very sophisticated medical bed. He was severely injured. The husband was trying to console his mother. I was talking with them and asked why he had decided to serve, remembered Schmid, noting that they appeared to be from a small town somewhere in America.

They all served, said the soldiers wife proudly, and she told Schmid of the multiple generations in their family who had served in the military.

Tradition. The T in HEART.

Roger, a volunteer with Veterans Last Patrol, visits Bill, a Vietnam veteran in the hospice. (Courtesy of Veterans Last Patrol)

A volunteer visits with a World War II vet in a hospice facility in South Carolina. He was scheduled to come home on Dec. 7, 1941, the day that Pearl Harbor was attackedand stayed for many more battles. (Courtesy of Veterans Last Patrol)

We Owe It to Them

From his mothers example to his time spent with wounded warriors, Schmid has found a way to honor vulnerable veterans as they spend their last days in hospice care.

Were part of a team, Schmid said. Whether they patrolled the air, sea, or land, this is their final chapter, and this is one final way for us to serve.

Were obligated all the way through their last patrol. We must stand by them.

If you know of a veteran in hospice care who could use friendship and support, or if you would like to learn more about Veterans Last Patrol and how you can make a difference, go to their website at VeteranLastPatrol.org or call 864-580-8005. You can reach Claude Schmid at cschmid@veteranlastpatrol.org.

_________

Operation Holiday Salute 2021

Last year, Veterans Last Patrol received and delivered 30,000 holiday cards to veterans in hospice around the country. Americans across the nation participated in this amazing operation to bring a little joy to veterans on their Last Patrol.

This year their goal is 50,000 holiday cards. You can help by sending cards addressed to Dear Veteran or Dear Hero to Veterans Last Patrol, 140B Venture Blvd., Spartanburg, SC 29306. The deadline is Dec. 3, 2021.

Donations are appreciated to help defray the costs of packaging and postage and can be made online at VeteranLastPatrol.org or mailed by check.

For more information, see their website at VeteranLastPatrol.org or call 864-580-8005.
Winning the Opium Wars on American Will

Commentary

In early August Economic Information Daily, a communist Chinese government mouthpiece, accused the multibillion-dollar online video game industry of peddling spiritual opium to Chinese teenagers.

Comparing video game playing to opium addiction has explicit historical and national security connections. Opium addiction, spurred by Great Britain, undermined Chinas social and political cohesion and physically harmed the Chinese people. Addicts cant think; they barely move; they certainly cant soldier.

No wonder EID asserted, No industry, no sport, can be allowed to develop in a way that will destroy a generation. Some 60 percent of Chinese teenagers play video games. The afflictions of degenerating eyesight and physical passivity associated with internet addiction of all types, including to social media, exact a national physical and mental toll.

Subsequently Beijings National Press and Publication Administration regulatory bureau limited minors to three hours of video gaming per week. NPPA declared, Teenagers are the future of our country, the protection of their physical and mental health is directly linked to the vital interests of the people, and is related to the youngest generation at a rejuvenating period of our country.

Overreaction by a dictatorship? Definitely knee-jerk. Kids can jink NPPA restrictions by lying about their age. However, stopping a damaging threat to social morale and physical fitness is a reasonable political and social response by any thoughtful government, including a nation founded on visionary commitment to inalienable individual rights, the United States being the premier and, in truth, the only example thereof.

I believe China is preparing for war against the United States. Physical decline and addictive behavior sap the wolf warrior spirit Chinas president and threat to global peace, Xi Jinping, extols.

But similar digital, addictive, and manipulative ills stalk his designated enemy, America. Marxist critical race theory (CRT), repeating the Marxist model of oppressors versus oppressed, seeks to divide America by race. Straight out of Alice in Wonderland, CRTs dense, obscurantist, and slippery opium lingo ultimately means: Hate America, facts be damned. American flaws are exaggerated; the flaws of the rest of the world? Victims! Everybody else is a victim!

CRT and other cults of victimhood ultimately place feelings first, not education and useful, truly critical knowledge. Victim cults do not communicate; they isolate by group and play US versus THEM. Individual aspirations, efforts, and successes? They are either ignored or damned.

CRT and victim cults simultaneously seed social division and disdain individual achievement. Ultimately, they weaken America.

The next generation of American warriors is confused, sidetracked, and pre-defeated by asserted blows to tender psyches and perceived microaggressive social pains. The next generation of American thinkers is cheated of knowledge when self-crowned elites claim math is racist. Sorry2 plus 2 only equals 3 in Marxist hells ruled by bayonets.

CRT and the victim cults are huge con games, with arbitrary word rules that change. The cults are designed to intimidate, isolate, and manipulate.

Arbitrary rules are like arbitrary algorithms. Which is where the peculiar evil of Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook enter.

In September media began publishing documents provided by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen that revealed the cruel impact Zuckerbergs algorithms have on Facebook users. Facebook manipulators, using a technique sometimes called amping, amplified provocative content in order to promote user activity, which meant more money for Facebook.

Amping promoted posts and content that triggered emotional responsesnegative, hateful, and emotionally damaging responsesand it pumped bucks into Zuckerbergs bottom line.

Magnate Zuckerberg has doubled down on fantasy. Hes shape-shifted his company into Meta, purveyor of a metaverse of complete virtual reality. He offers addicts an opium world where life is a game of clicks, manipulative images, and amping.

What to do about educational and digital warfare waged on America?

Parents need to complain to school boards.

We can also combat harmful, fascist fantasies with intelligent narratives. Reading isnt passive. Honest, warts-and-all histories of the U.S. are winners. So are informative novels. Robert Heinleins Starship Troopers sends an Airborne Ranger company into the stars. A boyhoodish novel, its subtle and very adult social and political spine emphasizes physical and moral courage and the value of patriotism.

As for a contemporary and earthly read: in June a friend of mine recommended Summer Nilssons first novel Land of the Pines. He said: Not just for kids. The novel mixes real and fancifulthe trees and bees run the newspaper business. A talented young female kitten (who sings) undertakes a rite of passage, confronting fear, temptation, and failure. Common sense, perseverance, talent, and good advice win out.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
The Earth Animal pet supply store in Westport is having its 14th Annual Mitten Project through Dec. 31.

People can buy mittens with a $5 donation, at the Earth Animal retail store at 925 Post Road East in Westport. They can then sign and put the mittens in the stores windows.

The initiative focuses on the communitys health and wellness by raising funds to support the Connecticut Food Bank and the Foodshare social services organization.

Earth Animal has been dedicated to caring for animals, people and the planet since 1979. The commitment of the stores employees to support families in the community heightens during times of crisis.

The mitten project in 2020 raised more than $38,000 for the cause. The focus in 2021 is on increasing efforts to address the elevated need of hunger, and reaching a higher goal.

Earth Animal will match every penny that has been donated from the event.

For information about how to donate, visit earthanimal.com or contact Merritt Goldstein, owner of Earth Animal at merritt@earthanimal.com.

Donations sought for Westport holiday program

The Westport Department of Human Services is again sponsoring its annual Holiday Giving Program for Westport residents.

Westport residents and organizations who wish to donate cash, checks, or gift cards to the program are invited to contribute to the Family to Family Seasonal Holiday Giving Program online at www.westportct.gov/donate. Contributions can be mailed to Westport Department of Human Services at Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Avenue, Westport, CT 06880. Donations may also be dropped at Town Hall by appointment.

Westport residents facing financial difficulties can contact Human Services at 203-341-1050 or humansrv@westportct.gov for confidential assistance.

During the past two years, the coronavirus pandemic has increased local needs, with many working parents facing unemployment, underemployment, food insecurity, and chronic stress that is associated with providing for their families.

Contact Westport Department of Human Services Family Programs Coordinator Annette DAugelli at adaugelli@westportct.gov, or 203-341-1183 with questions, or ideas to support the annual program.

One hundred percent of all donations from the program go directly to families, who qualify for financial assistance throughout each year, according to information from DAugelli.

Westport real estate agent affiliated with Coldwell Banker Realty

Jillian Klaff, who is a full-service Westport real estate agent has affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Realty brokerage companys global luxury office, at 355 Riverside Ave. in Westport.

Klaff has 30 years of experience serving home buyers and sellers in the Westport area. Klaff also has her own real estate agency called Jillian Klaff Homes.

Contact Klaff at 203-858-2095, which is her mobile phone, 203-227-8424, which is her office phone, or at her email address at jillian.klaff@cbrealty.com.

Visit her webpage for Coldwell Banker or the website coldwellbankerhomes.com for more information.

Westport Police Department having Thanksgiving food drive

The Westport Police Department, in conjunction with TEAM Westport and Stop & Shop, will be hosting a Thanksgiving Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 13.

Westport Police officers, and volunteers will accept non-perishable food items, and cash donations in front of the Stop & Shop, at 1790 Post Road East.

The suggested items for donations are: Canned meats, tuna, salmon, spam, canned cranberries, boxed stuffing, canned yams, canned corn, canned gravy, pasta, pasta sauces, chili, hot, and cold cereal, canned fruit, canned, and dry soups, peanut butter, jelly, macaroni, and cheese, rice, granola bars, pancake mix, syrup, mayonnaise, etc.

All donations will go to Homes with Hope, the Gillespie Center, the Westport food pantry, and the Westport Department of Human Services.

Homes with Hope is a Westport-based organization that is dedicated to ending homelessness, and providing independent living opportunities for its clients in Fairfield County.

The Gillespie Center is a shelter for single men and single women. The shelter typically operates at 100 percent capacity. Donations will help provide a meal to the resident clients during the Thanksgiving holiday. The Gillespie Center also provides food services to the resident clients, people who are at risk of homelessness, and people in need in the community.

Short cuts film festival concluding

Two short plays, Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker, and My Father, the Mover, are headlining the final installment of the Short Cuts Film Festival all documentary program at the Westport Library, at 7 p.m. on Nov. 18.

The Short Cuts program is rounded out by three additional short documentaries: Change the Name, Unspoken, and The Unlikely Fan.

A conversation with some of the directors will follow the showing of the diverse selection of the documentary films.

The films will be able to be viewed live in the Trefz Forum of the Westport Library, or people can watch them in their homes.

At-home viewers will be able to access the talkback event, via Zoom, and also ask questions.

The Westport Library is located at 20 Jesup Road in Westport.

The Short Cuts Film Festival is a program of the not-for-profit production company, JIB Productions. JIB Productions is the producer of the long running lunchtime series that is titled: Play With Your Food.

Visit jibproductions.org/shortcuts further information.

Buy tickets at eventbrite.com.

Westport store helps homeless animals

Lilly Pulitzer by Splash of Pink held a fundraiser at its store in Westport on Nov. 6. Ten percent of the proceeds from sales from the event went to support the PRAI for PAWS, the philanthropic arm of the PRAI Beauty business in New Canaan that helps homeless dogs throughout the world.

The Free the Shelters campaign of PRAI Beauty has helped more than 80,000 shelter animals in the U.S. and Canada find a home since 2017 and sponsors the adoption fees for rescue animals.

Splash of Pink is family-owned, and operated business in Westport, and New Canaan. They sell dog collars and leashes.
BRIDGEPORT  A city man was being held on $1 million bond Tuesday after police said he shot another man in the head in a drive-by shooting on Fairfield Avenue Monday afternoon.

Allen Young, 26, of uncertain address, was charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault and stealing a firearm.

Get me out, Young shouted to a group of young men sitting in the back of the courtroom during his arraignment Tuesday afternoon.

Senior Assistant States Attorney Nicholas Bove urged Superior Court Judge Tracy Lee Dayton to set a high bond for Young.

But Youngs lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Carli Riccio urged leniency for her client who she said has held a steady job.

A man was shot in the head, the judge replied. She also pointed out that Young is on probation for a prior gun conviction.

She ordered him held in lieu of $1 million and continued the case to Nov. 23.

According to police, shortly before 3 p.m., ShotSpotter activated to three gunshots fired on Fairfield Avenue.

When officers got to the scene, police said witnesses told them the victim was in the Bridgeport Rescue Mission and that the shots had come from a Volkswagen sedan that had sped from the scene.

Police said the victim was found in the mission suffering from a bullet wound to the head. He was taken to St. Vincents Medical Center where police said he was in stable condition.

Police said witnesses told them that the Volkswagen had pulled up to a BMW sedan on Fairfield Avenue and the driver of the Volkswagen had fired a silver handgun at the driver of the BMW.

Officers later spotted the Volkswagen on the East Washington Avenue bridge and followed it to Seaview Avenue where it was stopped, police said.

Police said the driver, Young, was taken into custody along with two passengers. Police said officers found a .40-caliber handgun in the cars glove box.
NORWALK  City clerk, former Common Council member and longtime political activist Donna King will retire from her role with the city on Tuesday.

Since 2013, King served as the city clerk, working in the mayors office and was appointed by Mayor Harry Rilling.

You get to a point where you think, Im going to have to make a decision while Im still well and healthy enough to enjoy some retirement time, King said. It wasnt easy to make a decision because I do love what I do, but its time.

King, who has lived in Norwalk since 1965, has been involved in city politics for more than 30 years after first being elected to the Common Council in the 1980s. She began on the council as a replacement in her district for a member who resigned.

Following the term where she stepped up, King served for another three terms as an at-large council member during the 1980s, she said.

Beginning around 1995, King served as the Democratic Town Committee Chair following another resignation. She served as DTC chair until 2002 when she reached the term limit of four consecutive terms as an officer.

Between her time on the council and her work as city clerk, King worked as a banking liaison in the office of the state treasurer for 14 years, beginning in 1999, according to her LinkedIn page.

King also serves as the mayors office LGBTQ liaison and has been a justice of the peace since 2005.

While she is retiring from her work in the city and is no longer a DTC member, King said she may be open to continuing her political activism.

Im not on the town committee anymore. I chose not to, but it allows me to sort of pick and choose and help out candidates that need me, King said. Maybe Ill even help continue to recruit new people who are interested.

King said she plans to remain in the area, as one of her two sons, Greg, lives with his family in Wilton. She also plans to begin volunteering with local nonprofits.

I have a granddaughter whose gotten herself involved in Democratic politics, and shes only 18, King said. In 2017, women came from all directions because they wanted to be involved. So that has always been very rewarding too because there are good people out there who really want to serve and said, Its my time. I have over the years mentored many men and women.

King celebrated her last Common Council meeting on Tuesday, with a surprise virtual visit from her son, Aaron.

Aaron congratulated his mother on her decades of service not only to the city of Norwalk, but her work with the state and supporting her family as well.

My first memories of my mom getting passionately involved with the city and in politics go back to when my brother Greg and I were pretty young, Aaron said. As mom became more active in the election process, she recruited the two of us to ride our bikes around the neighborhood and put political fliers on peoples doorknobs and it was actually a lot of fun. I also have clear memories of joining mom at Democratic headquarters to stuff and lick envelops, although I liked stuffing the envelops more than licking them.

Aaron said his proudest moment was voting in his first election at 18 and being able to cast a ballot for his mother.

On my first chance to cast a ballot, I was able to vote for my mother, he said. I still remember being in my dorm room, filling out that absentee ballot.

King said her sons guest appearance during the meeting was a pleasant surprise, as Aaron lives in Maryland.

Kings retirement was first announced at a Common Council meeting in October, where Rilling acknowledged Kings hiring as one of his better decisions as a newly elected mayor in 2013.

She professionalized the city clerk position to a level that Ive never seen before, Rilling said. She really did a great job, very thorough and effective. I want to thank Donna for all her hard work, wish her well as she turns the page to a new chapter.

A new city clerk will be appointed by the mayor and approved by the Common Council, city spokesperson Josh Morgan said.

abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison County States Attorney Tom Haine on Monday announced his office has filed a brief with the Illinois Supreme Court urging it to strike down the Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) Act as unconstitutional.

In May, a White County judge ruled the states FOID card system was unconstitutional and reduced residents Second Amendment rights to bear arms to a facade. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul appealed the decision to the Illinois Supreme Court.

On Monday Haine said his office has submitted an amicus curiae, or friend of the court, brief to the states highest court, making Madison County the first to file such a brief in the pending case.

Illinois currently is one of the only three states  the others being New York and Massachusetts  that require people have a license to posses a firearm.

Madison County citizens value their Second Amendment rights, Haine said.

Chicago and Cook County have filed briefs supporting the FOID Act in an important case, defining Second Amendment rights for Illinois residents, which is currently before the Illinois Supreme Court, he said. Madison County and the rest of Illinois has a very different understanding of our Second Amendment rights than the views of Cook County and Chicago.

It is important that the voice of Madison County be heard by the Illinois Supreme Court alongside the restrictive views from Chicago, Haine said. This amicus brief allows our position to be heard loud and clear before the states highest court  the FOID Act is unconstitutional, and must go.

In the brief, Haine states the FOID Act does not advance the public interest because the law poses no practical deterrent to those who violate it. He also states the law is an unconstitutional burden on peaceable Madison County citizens.

Its public-interest justification exists only in theory, not in reality, the brief states.

The brief also analyzes recent trends in U.S. Supreme Court decisions and states that the FOID Act, in addition to having insufficient public interest justification, is per-se unconstitutional.

It is simply a historical fact that nothing like the FOID Acts requirement that law-abiding citizens obtain a license before possessing any kind of firearm in the home existed in or around the founding era, and such a requirement is highly unusual even today, according to Haines brief.

The brief closes by asking the Illinois Supreme Court to make clear that the Constitution protects law-abiding, responsible citizens in Madison County and throughout Illinois from being forced to ask permission before they can simply protect their home.

Haine on Monday thanked his Civil Division Chief Assistant States Attorney Andrew Carruthers and Civil Division Assistant States Attorney John Hanson, both signatories on the brief, for their work on behalf of the county.
In honor of Veterans Day, Landmarks Illinois has published its new online database of historic World War I monuments and memorials in Illinois.

The Landmarks Illinois WWI Monuments of Illinois Database currently contains information on 311 monuments and memorials such as doughboy statues, plaques, sculptures and public spaces dedicated to honoring those who served in the Great War. Monuments included in the database are located in 158 different Illinois communities.

"We are proud to bring attention to the monuments that honor our fellow Illinoisans who fought or served in the First World War," Bonnie McDonald, president and CEO of Landmarks Illinois, said in a statement. "Many of these memorials are now 100 years old or more. These historical markers, and those they honor, deserve to be recognized and celebrated."

The database is the result of a years-long survey of existing WWI monuments throughout the state, made possible through financial support from the Pritzker Military Foundation. In 2017, in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into WWI, Landmarks Illinois launched the statewide survey to better learn about the remaining WWI monuments in Illinois. In partnership with Landmarks Illinois Director of Reinvestment Suzanne Germann, former Landmarks Illinois Regional Advisor, the late Steve Thompson of Mattoon, and preservation consultant Matt Seymour, conducted the comprehensive survey of WWI monuments throughout Illinois.

"This unique program has shined a light on the large number of remaining memorials throughout Illinois dedicated to the Great War," said Suzanne Germann, director of reinvestment for Landmarks Illinois. "We are grateful to all those who helped with the extensive survey and shared information on memorials in their communities. We hope this new database sparks curiosity and inspires people to preserve the WWI memorials in their neighborhoods so they can stand for another 100 years and more."

In conjunction with the survey, Landmarks Illinois created and carried out a WWI Monument Preservation Grant Program during 2017 and 2018 to provide financial support to communities wanting to preserve their WWI monuments and recover their dedication-era quality and appearance.

The Pritzker Military Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to Landmarks Illinois for the creation of the WWI monument database, survey and grant program. Nearly $75,000 of the funding went toward the WWI Monument Preservation Grant Program, which successfully helped preserve 13 aging WWI monuments and memorials in the state.

"Landmarks Illinois is the 'go to' organization in the state of Illinois to preserve historic buildings," said Col. Jennifer Pritzker, founder of the Pritzker Military Foundation. "This project is dear to me because both of my grandfathers served in WWI, and I personally find it inspiring to bring awareness to these monuments. The purpose is not to glorify war, rather to remember how costly and destructive they are and why we should make every effort to avoid them."

Among the WWI memorials documented in the Landmarks Illinois WWI Monuments of Illinois Database is the Goldstar Memorial in Riverside's Guthrie Park, which consists of a concrete plaza with a flagpole in the center and multiple stone monuments around the edge, each with a plaque. Three of these monuments recognize a specific community member killed during WWI. The fourth monument honors all of those from the community who gave their lives in the War.

The Riverside memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1921. Landmarks Illinois awarded the Village of Riverside $5,000 in 2018 through the WWI Monument Preservation Grant Program to aid restoration efforts at the village-owned site. New foundations for the stones were created, landscaping was updated and the flag pole was restored. The restoration of the monument has been a joint effort through the village and American Legion Post #488 of Riverside.

"Memorials like the Gold Star Memorial in Guthrie Park are like postcards to the future," said Joseph Baar Topinka, commander, American Legion Post #488. "They must be preserved and revered in the present. If they are not, the future will not have them from which to learn from the past. What a loss that would be to communities like Riverside, Illinois, that are steeped in history."
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Sweden has charged two executives of a Swedish oil exploration and production company for complicity in the military's war crimes in Sudan from 1999 to 2003, including in its dealings with the country's regime to secure the companys oil operations in the African nation.

The two, who were not identified by the Swedish Prosecution Authority, had a decisive influence on the business of Stockholm-based Lundin Oil AB in Sudan, the prosecutors said, adding one was indicted for complicity for the period May 1999-March 2003, and the other for the period October 2000-March 2003. Lundin Oil later became Lundin Petroleum and is now known as Lundin Energy.

From 1983 to 2005, Sudan was torn apart by a civil war between the Muslim-dominated north and Christian south. A separate conflict in Darfur, the war-scarred region of western Sudan, began in 2003. Thousands of people were killed and nearly 200,000 displaced.

A 2010 report by an activist group, the European Coalition on Oil in Sudan, alleged that Lundin Oil and three other oil companies helped exacerbate the war in southern Sudan by signing an oil exploration deal with the Sudanese government for an area the regime didnt fully control.

That led the Swedish prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into the company. Six years later, its chairman, Ian H. Lundin, and then CEO Alex Schneiter, were informed that they were the suspects of the investigation.

Lundin was the operator of a consortium of companies exploring site Block 5A, including Malaysias Petronas Carigali Overseas, OMV (Sudan) Exploration GmbH of Austria, and the Sudanese state-owned oil company Sudapet Ltd.

Our investigation shows that the military and its allied militia systematically attacked civilians or carried out indiscriminate attacks," Public Prosecutor Henrik Attorps said in a statement.

In a reaction, Lundin spokesman Robert Eriksson said the Swedish prosecutors decision to issue charges was incomprehensible" and called the investigation unfounded and fundamentally flawed."

Both Ian and Alex strongly deny the charges, and we know that Lundin did nothing wrong. There is no evidence linking any representatives of Lundin to the alleged primary crimes in this case," said Eriksson, head of Lundin's media communications, said.

After the Sudanese military went into Block 5A in May 1999, Lundin Oil changed its view of who should be responsible for the security around the companys operations, the prosecution said, and added that the company requested that the military should now be made responsible for the security, knowing that this meant that the military would then need to take control of Block 5A via military force.

"What constitutes complicity in a criminal sense is that they made these demands despite understanding or, in any case being indifferent to the military and the militia carrying out the war in a way that was forbidden according to international humanitarian law, the Chief Public Prosecutor Krister Petersson said.

Eriksson said that Lundin operated in Block 5A responsibly, as part of an international consortium, and in full alignment with the policy of constructive engagement endorsed by the United Nations, European Union and Sweden at the time.

The authority said that there also was a claim to confiscate an amount of 1.4 billion kronor ($161 million) from Lundin Energy AB, which, according to the prosecutor, is the equivalent value of the profit of 720 million kronor ($83 million) which the company made on the sale of the business in 2003.

It is important that these serious crimes are not forgotten. War crimes are one of the most serious crimes that Sweden has an international obligation to investigate and bring to justice," Attorps said.

___

Jari Tanner in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

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Chalong Police hunt killer after teen fight leaves 18-year-old dead

PHUKET: Police are hunting for a young man wanted for stabbing an 18-year-old during a fight outside a house in Chalong last night (Nov 10). The 18-year-old later died of his injuries.

violencecrimedeathpolice

By Eakkapop Thongtub

Thursday 11 November 2021, 10:20AM

Officers were called to the house, in Soi Phatthana 8, Moo 4, Rawai, at about 7pm.

Lt Col Kanaen Somrak of the Chalong Police was initially notified, but due to the nature of the incident Chalong Police Superintendent Col Sarawut Chuprasit and Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Sanan Chanrong were also immediately notified, reported police.

Investigators from the Chalong Police and rescue workers from Rawai Municipality arrived at the scene to find Nakarin Somboon, 18, unconscious and unresponsive, lying in a pool of blood inside the house.

Officers counted at least 10 knife wounds, including a deep stab wound under the right breast.

Rescue workers performed CPR before an EMS Advance unit arrived to rush him to Chalong Hospital, where despite efforts by doctors Mr Nakarin was later pronounced dead.

Officers reported from their initial investigation that a group of teenagers  including three people: Mr Knot (real name unknown), Ms Kwang (real name unknown), and Bang (real last name unknown)  came to the house to attack Mr Nakarin.

During the fight outside the house, Mr Knot stabbed Mr Nakarin while the two were fighting.

The group fled after Mr Nakarin fell to the ground.

Police are now searching for Mr Knot and his associates. Officers are checking footage from CCTV cameras in the area, police said.
Chinas Xi warns of Cold War-era tensions in Asia-Pacific

WORLD: Chinese President Xi Jinping warned today (Nov 11) against a return to Cold War-era tensions in the Asia-Pacific, urging greater cooperation on pandemic recovery and climate change.

ChineseCoronavirusCOVID-19environmentmilitarymarineVaccinepolitics

By AFP

Thursday 11 November 2021, 09:57AM

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the Asia Pacific region should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era. Photo: AFP

Amid growing tensions with the United States over Taiwan, partially offset by a surprise deal between Beijing and Washington on climate, Xi said all countries in the region must work together on joint challenges.

Attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on geo-political grounds are bound to fail, he told a virtual business conference on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era.

The Chinese leader called for a joint effort to close the immunisation gap, making COVID-19 vaccines more accessible to developing nations.

We should translate consensus that vaccines are a global public good into concrete actions to ensure their fair and equitable distribution, he told the New Zealand-hosted summit.

Xi said countries should step up cooperation in research, production, testing, and mutual recognition of vaccines, to emerge from the shadow of the pandemic and achieve steady economic recovery at an early date.

Green development

China yesterday said it had reached an understanding with the United States at a summit in Glasgow on climate change, a key area on which the Biden administration sees the potential for cooperation.

Xi did not mention the US deal directly but said all of us can embark on a path of green, low-carbon sustainable development.

Together, we can usher in a future of green development, he said.

China will stay committed to promoting win-win cooperation and contribute to the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region.

The global warming pact came ahead of expected virtual talks between Xi and US President Joe Biden, reportedly to be held as soon as next week.

It also came at a time of rising tension in the Asia-Pacific.

Beijing has ramped up military activities near Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy claimed by China, with a record number of planes intruding into the islands air defence identification zone in early October.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said yesterday that the United States would ensure Taiwan can defend itself to avoid anyone trying to disrupt the status quo by force.

China also claims almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in shipping trade pass annually, rejecting competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Against that backdrop, the United States, Britain and Australia announced in September that they had formed a new alliance - AUKUS - under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines using US technology.

Although delivery is years away and China was not specifically named, the announcement angered China and separately sparked a furious row with France which saw its previously negotiated contract for selling Australia conventional submarines torn up.
Thailand Pass support hotlines expanded

PHUKET: The Thai Department of Consular Affairs has expanded the number of 24-hour hotlines to help travellers with issues submitting their applications through the Thailand Pass website.

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By The Phuket News

Thursday 11 November 2021, 03:34PM

Image: Dept of Consular Affairs

The expanded hotlines were announced in Phuket yesterday through the Phuket Info Center official Facebook page, operated by the Phuket office of the ministry of INterior.

The new Call Center hotlines  open 24 hours  are all local numbers in thailand, as follows:

02-572-8442

065-205-4247

065-205-4248

065-205-4249

People looking to specifically report technical problems were advised to email: support@tp.consular.go.th

For people residing outside of Thailand, may also contact the Royal Thai Embassy and Royal Thai Consulate-General in your area, the notice read.

The move to provide expanded 24-hour assistance follows a deluge of complaints from people who have been unable to register due to server issues or even issues submitting documents required.

Others have submitted their applications and not received a QR code required in order to obtain their approved Thailand Pass.

Others still, like one couple that contacted The Phuket News directly, saw the wife issued her Thailand Pass but her husband refused for no known explanation. The common documents submitted confirming travel details and insurance were identical. The couple have now deferred their plans to travel to Phuket.

Government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana last Sunday (Nov 7) said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has been alerted to the problems with the Thailand Pass website, https://tp.consular.go.th/, and instructed state agencies to fix the new online system, which was supposed to streamline the administration of travel and health requirements for both Thai and foreign travellers.

See also:

Beware of fake Thailand Pass websites, warn officials

Oblique support delivers last-minute Thailand Pass

Nightmare scenarios continue in wake of Thailand Pass launch
Southern Pines, NC (28387)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
RIDGEFIELD  The grounds of Lounsbury House teemed with a knowing silence Thursday morning as residents gathered to salute the nations veterans.

American Legion Post 78 presented the Veterans Day program alongside the Marine Veterans of Fairfield County and the Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations. Ridgefielders young and old came to pay tribute to the towns service members, as well as Americas millions of veterans.

We need to always promote Americanism and have everybody appreciate what the veterans (have) done, and not let them forget about all the freedoms they enjoy and how they got em, Post Commander George Besse said. It wasnt just by Congress  it was by ... everybody in the service.

Veterans are the ones who are lucky enough to come home, he continued, and we gotta remember those and thank them for their service.

Among those is Ridgefield Fire Chief Jerry Myers, who was the ceremonys featured speaker. Though Myers always knew he wanted to be a firefighter, the department wasnt hiring at the time he graduated from Ridgefield High School. The service, he said, was the next best thing.

Myers enlisted in the army and received basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey. He then went to Fort Sam in Houston, Texas, for combat medical specialist training. From there he was deployed to Illesheim, Germany, with the 1st Armored Division. After completing his three-year enlistment in July 1980, Myers returned home and joined the Ridgefield Fire Department.

In the military they teach you some really valuable lessons about teamwork and responsibility that translate really well into public service, said Myers, who in his speech referenced the palpable kinship between veterans and first responders. To come back and be asked to speak to other veterans, its a big deal for me.

The program featured remarks and readings from members of the veterans organizations, vocalist Alyssa Marushak, of Redding, and reflections from First Selectman Rudy Marconi and Ms. President US of Ridgefield Maggie Fleuette.

In his welcoming remarks, Besse reminded the crowd of the origins of Veterans Day. It was originally known as Armistice Day, which marked the end of World War I and consecrated a cause for world peace. President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name of the holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to apply to all of Americas service members.

We went where we were told to go, did what we were told to do, and we are proud of that service, Legion Chaplain John Gillaugh said.

In his reflection, Marconi said it is Americas soldiers who assure our freedoms are protected. But he questioned why the nations discourse has devolved (into) questionable respect, noting that antisemitism and verbal attacks are common occurrences.

We need to take responsibility for our actions and words, respect one another, listen  with a curious and open mind  and embody good citizenship, he said. These are the rights, values and freedoms we thank our veterans for today.

Myers agreed. (Weve lost) track of the ideals we were formed with, he said, so for the veterans who have written a blank check to the United States  its important that we give a little tip of the hat to them every year.

alyssa.seidman@hearstmediact.com
Laval_news

Mayor Boyer: a lot to do

Elected with a comfortable majority of 14 of 21 councillors, with two city council mandates behind him, Laval Mayor-elect Stephane Boyer has plenty of pain sur la planche: a post-pandemic recovery, wrangling a boisterous council, and promoting his vision of bringing the provinces third largest city onto the world stage in 2022.

And hes got to do it all while putting his own imprimatur on it, after a decade of what was seen as a transitionary post-Vaillancourt era government known as the Demers administration.

I would like to put my own stamp on things he told The Suburban, noting his different communication style than his predecessor, and I want to put Laval on the map; to be open to the world. Laval has been seen as a simple suburb for too long, and its time to make ourselves known, to put ourselves out there and to have a voice at the provincial and federal levels. The Saint-Francois native says hed like to re-instill pride in Laval. I used to go to university in Montreal and people would joke when they heard I was from Laval. Its time for this to change, we have a city to be proud of and to inspire.

Boyer says job one is, well, jobs, or at least filling them. Over the last two years things evolved very quickly. Just last year we were working on our (economic recovery) plan and now the problem is not creating jobs but filling them. Whether restaurants or factories, the problem is the lack of workers.

Given Laval cant change immigration levels says Boyer, What we can do is increase the attractiveness of Laval to immigrants, to people from other regions and anyone considering moving to the Greater Montreal area.

He and his team are already at work on a plan to promote the region, through marketing and new services putting job seekers in contact with potential employers, helping newcomers integrate, find housing, get involved with local organizations and more. He doesnt have a firm timeline yet, but the lack of workers is there now, so we will be getting on it very quickly.

Boyer also said he stands by his commitment on diversity. One of our commitments is to respect that there are more and more diverse populations, culturally and of course, linguistically. Laval will stay a French city, but we want to be able to offer more services in English and other languages, he says, citing the example of some Montreal libraries that offer books in a wide array of languages. I also want to have more activities in different languages he says in response to a query about Lavals library system throughout the pandemic famously offering near-zero English content online for youth and families. That means in English, he said, and other languages.

Boyer also maintains he is still committed to a more collaborative approach to governance. In April, the then-deputy-mayor and DuvernayPont-Viau councillor told The Suburban that he would like to involve the opposition more in the governance of the city in terms of commissions and other collaborative efforts. Its still part of my plan. Id like to be able to give a bit more power to city councillors within their districts, and to work more with the opposition, adding that after former mayor Marc Demers stepped back from running the city about a year ago, It happened a few times that we adopted opposition-sponsored resolutions. I would like to keep that going in that direction.

But it takes two to dance he says, and is looking forward to seeing in a few months if the opposition is serious as well, and if theyre interested in something other than taking down the mayor.

As the youngest mayor in Lavals history, the 33-year-old Saint-Francois native says the important message is that elected officials pass bylaws and budgets, but we also put out messages and symbolism. What we say in the public sphere has impact on people and I want to send the message that competence and commitment has no age, no sex. To tell all youth, they can do great things and age doesnt matter. Were seeing that change in Laval and all over the province, especially during this last campaign with a lot of young leaders elected in cities like Sherbrooke, Longueuil and Mascouche. Weve seen a shift in public opinion open to different backgrounds, younger leaders, maybe someone with a new and different message.

That message reaches beyond the Riviere-des-prairies. First elected in 2013 at age 25, and recognized by the Union of Quebec Municipalities as an Elu municipal par excellence and a World leader of tomorrow nod by Frances diplomatic corps, he says Laval needs to reach beyond its borders. My face is not very known in the national media and there are so many issues like the environment, housing and public transit, that are common regional issues. These are not restricted by administrative limits so we have to work together.

Case in point, Boyers much publicized announcement with Longueuils Mayor-elect Catherine Fournier to launch a broad and aggressive pan-Quebec affordable housing initiative. Its very important to pursue initiatives for affordable housing in all our communities, and we wanted to make a statement, a collaborative approach. That was our mindset.
Montreal, CA (H4T1V6)

Today

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 7C. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 4C. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
ALTON  Riverbend sites are featured in a new documentary created by Chicago PBS station WTTW.

The new special, titled "Beyond Chicago From the Air," premieres Dec. 1. Narrator Geoffrey Baer shares history from around the state as drone photography captures footage of towns, parks, railroads, waterways and monuments during the summer, fall and winter seasons.

Featured landmarks include Alton's Lincoln-Douglas Debate Square, the Elijah Lovejoy Monument and the Piasa Bird. The Cahokia Mounds, the remains of one of the most sophisticated prehistoric Native American civilizations in North America, will also be featured, as will the Great River Road.

"'Beyond Chicago From the Air' tells the stories of our region from a new and different vantage point, illuminating and expounding on its rich and fascinating history," Sandra Cordova Micek, president and CEO of WTTW, said in a statement. "With the power and innovation of drone cameras, we hope to take our curious viewers on an unforgettable journey while inspiring them to explore and discover on their own."

A companion website will also offer a look at the history of commerce on the Mississippi River, the story of the former Native American city of Cahokia, the mounds its people left behind, and how its history is being kept alive for future generations, according to information from WTTW.

"After finishing 'Chicago From the Air,' we quickly realized there were so many more sights we wanted to explore," Baer said. "In 'Beyond Chicago From the Air,' our viewers will discover stories weve never told before, including tales of the Mississippi River, Illinois farmlands, and Native American lore  all from the POV of a high-flying drone camera."
ALTON  The Russell E. Dunham Memorial VFW, Post 1308, paid tribute to area service members on Veterans Day.

The event, hosted by retired Air Force member David Stout, specifically noted veterans of Desert Storm.

"I truly appreciate the fact that everybody comes out and honors our veterans," said Grafton Mayor Mike Morrow, a Desert Storm veteran himself. "On behalf of the citizens of Grafton, we want to thank all of our veterans for all of their service, for their dedication to our country, and for the selfless sacrifice that you have all made."

USAF member Jeff Gray provided Thursday's invocation, followed by a performance of the National Anthem by Pat Stewart and Jo Ann Groves.

Alton 6th Ward Alderwoman Stephanie Elliott spoke for Alton Mayor David Goins, reading a proclamation that declared Nov. 11, 2021, as Veterans Day in Alton and providing a brief history of the celebration.

Originally named Armistice Day, Veterans Day was enacted to commemorate the end of World War I. Major hostilities were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when an armistice with Germany went into effect.

In 1954, the holiday's name was changed to Veterans Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Thursday's keynote speaker was Army Lt. Col. Robert Pranger who shared stories about several veterans in his life who had inspired him. Three of them were from his own family: his father, Lawrence Pranger, and his uncles, David Pranger and John Bertman.

"I grew up listening to all three of these veterans," he said.

He told how his father grew up in Carrollton during World War II and respected the veterans he saw coming home from the battles. Then, in 1961, it was his father's turn to serve, and he was drafted into the military.

"My dad really looked up to these folks," Pranger said. "That stuff stayed with him throughout his life."

Pranger also shared memories of his Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps Manager, Elton Minnie.

"He did a lot of things above and beyond his duty to make I was successful in my career," Pranger said.

Thursday's indoor ceremony included the laying of wreaths in remembrance of veterans from all four branches  Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps  as well as prisoners of war and Gold Star Mothers, women whose children became missing in action or died while on active duty or as a result of such service.

Chief Command Master Sgt. Bill Moyer and Master Sgt. Don Butler were each presented with their own Quilts of Valor. The quilts were made by The Quit of Valor Foundation, a grassroots community service effort that began in 2003 to honor all returning service men and women touched by war.

Moyer first enlisted in the Air Force Ready Reserve in April 1954. His first 20 years was as a flight engineer. He spent 14 years as Chief Command Master Sergeant at Scott Air Force Base before retiring in 1992.

Butler enlisted in the Army Ready Reserve in March 1956, before being discharged a year to join the Armed Forces in 1957. He then served in Desert Shield/Storm in 1991. He was discharged from Master Sergeant position in 1994.

Thursday's event closed with a three-volley gunfire salute and Taps presented by the Alton Post 1308 Ritual Team.
SPRINGFIELD  Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has released his annual Safe Shopping Guide highlighting hazardous toys, children's products and household items that have been recalled during the past year to help Illinois families ensure a safe holiday shopping season.

The 2021 Safe Shopping Guide includes detailed descriptions and photographs of childrens products recalled in the last year  from children's toys to gliders, some of which have been linked to infant fatalities. Since January, there have been more than 50 recalls of products by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission that are focused on protecting children.

The Attorney Generals online resource can help families avoid purchasing recalled products on the secondhand market and identify items that might already be in their homes. The guide also describes actions families can take if they already have recalled products in their homes.



"Recalled items should not appear on store shelves; however, they may still be available through secondhand sellers. My offices annual Safe Shopping Guide will help shoppers avoid buying recalled products for children on their holiday lists, and it offers guidance for those who may already have a recalled item in their homes," Raoul said in a statement. "I encourage parents, grandparents, guardians and anyone who is shopping for a child this holiday season to use this free guide for a safer holiday."

Some of the products to be looked out for include toys, swimsuits, and baby spoons and forks that have been recalled due to choking hazards from small parts that can break off; bathrobes and sleepwear that can be flammable; and winter jackets that pose strangulation risks.

In addition, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group also released its 36th annual Trouble in Toyland Toy Safety Report, which shows that many counterfeited toys or recalled products can make their way into consumers' shopping carts both in-person and online. So far in 2021, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recalled 13 toys and two additional products that could be considered toys.

These recalled products posed risks including high levels of lead, potential foreign-body ingestion by a child and choking because of small parts from easily broken toys.

In a press conference on Thursday, Abe Scarr, the director of the Illinois PIRG Education Fund, said that recalled toys in online listings sometimes did not mention the recall and while some are safe to sell despite the recall (with some products being recalled for overheating batteries which may be replaced by the producers), examples found online didn't mention whether the product was being safely sold. A list of recalled items can be found here.

Other toys to watch out for include smart toys with wide range Bluetooth capabilities that can be hacked into easily, toys with small parts (which cannot be sold for children under the age of 2) and ingestion hazards which included high-powered magnets.

"We do this report every year and it always seems like there's something new," U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Chicago, said in the press conference. "We want to make sure consumers feel confident."

Dr. Elizabeth Powell, attending physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, said that there were a "Big 3" to watch out for in terms of potential hazards, which included small round objects, which could pose a choking threat, button batteries, which could also become lodged in a child's digestive system, and magnets, which are more of a threat to 5- to 6-year-olds.

Additionally, Powell mentioned that when dealing with wheeled products, including bicycles and skateboards, helmets should always be worn by children as potential head injuries due to wheeled products were one of the "most significant things" she deals with in the age group.

Attorney General Raoul is also urging people to be aware of gliders and accessories for inclined sleepers that were recalled after being connected to infant deaths. In addition to products for infants and young children, Raouls guide highlights items for older children, such as hoverboards that can overheat or explode, and youth all-terrain vehicles that do not meet safety requirements and speed restrictions, posing a risk of serious injuries or death.



While many recalled items have been removed from store shelves, consumers should check the Safe Shopping Guide to make sure they are not planning to give a product as a gift that a retailer or secondhand vendor still is inadvertently selling. Buyers should also check the product guidelines to make sure that the products they are buying are appropriate for the age of the recipient.
EDWARDSVILLE  Auto theft charges have been filed recently by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

Matthew S. Holmes, 37, of Granite City, was charged Nov. 8 with offenses relating to motor vehicles and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, both Class 3 felonies, and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony.

The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department.

According to court documents, on Nov. 5 Holmes allegedly was found to have a stolen 2020 Chongquing Austronautic Bashon motorcycle and less than five grams of methamphetamine. While driving the motorcycle he also allegedly attempted to flee from a Granite City police officer, disobeying two or more traffic control devices.

Bail was set at $100,000.

Holden R. Mollet, 24, of Granite City, was charged Nov. 8 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Nov. 7 Mollet allegedly was found to have a stolen 2019 Honda.

Bail was set at $50,000.

Clinton R. Gibson, 45, of Steeleville, was charged Nov. 8 with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Bethalto Police Department. On Nov. 8 Gibson allegedly was found to have a 1997 Dodge Ram. No bail was noted.

Other felony cases filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Gabriel D. Deeringer, 20, listed as homeless out of Collinsville, was charged Nov. 9 with theft under $500 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On Oct. 19 Deeringer allegedly took a bicycle valued at less than $500 from another person. It was noted she has a prior conviction for burglary out of Madison County in 2020. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Michael E. Bullion, 35, of Alton, was charged Nov. 8 with criminal damage to government supported property, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 5 Bullion allegedly damaged a vacuum and coffee mug valued at less than $500 at the Union Street Group Home. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Berton L. Newton, 30, of Alton, was charged Nov. 9 with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 8 Newton allegedly damaged two TVs and other items owned by another person, causing in excess of $500 damage. Bail was set at $15,000.

Joseph D. Partain, 43, of Cottage Hills, was charged May 8 with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County Sheriffs Department. On Sept. 5 Partain allegedly attempted to flee from a Madison County sheriffs deputy, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the speed limit. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Jake E. Ford, 34, of Collinsville, was charged Nov. 9 with driving while license revoked, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Madison County States Sheriffs Department. On Nov. 8 Ford allegedly was driving a 2010 Volkswagon on Fairmont Avenue in State Park Place with a revoked drivers license. It was noted the license was revoked for a DUI conviction in 2014, and he has a prior conviction for driving while license revoked in 2016. Bail was set at $15,000.
EDWARDSVILLE  A Connecticut man was charged with cannabis trafficking this week, one of numerous cannabis- and controlled-substance-related felonies filed by the Madison County States Attorneys Office.

Kighl A. Dozier, 37, of New London, Connecticut, was charged Nov. 8 with unlawful cannabis trafficking and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, both Class X felonies. The case was presented by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois.

According to court documents, on Nov. 6 Dozier allegedly was found to have more than 5,000 grams  11 pounds  of cannabis that he was transporting from Arizona to Illinois for distribution. Bail was set at $200,000.

In an unrelated case, a father and son were charged with cannabis- and drug-related charges.

Andre A. Weathers Jr., 22, of the 3800 block of Lake Drive, Pontoon Beach, was charged Nov. 9 with unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, a Class 3 felony. On Nov. 3 he was also charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, and aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. Those charges were sealed Nov. 3 and opened Nov. 9.

Andre A. Weathers Sr., 46, of the same address, was charged Nov. 9 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony.

The drug and cannabis charges were presented by MEGSI, the weapons charges by the Granite City Police Department.

According to court documents, on Nov. 8 Weathers Jr. allegedly was found to have 30-500 grams of cannabis with intent to deliver; Weathers Sr. was found to have less than 15 grams of cocaine.

The weapons charges stem from an Oct. 16 incident in which Weathers Jr. allegedly discharged a .45 caliber handgun in the direction of another person; and was carrying that handgun without a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card or concealed carry license.

Bail for Weathers Jr. was $200,000 for the weapons charges and $15,000 for the cannabis charges. Bail for Weathers Sr. was $15,000.

Other drug-related charges filed recently include:

 Demetrius C. Gower, 24, of Granite City, was charged Nov. 9 with unlawful possession of cannabis, a Class 3 felony; and aggravated unlawful use of weapons, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by MEGSI. On Feb. 6 Gower allegedly was found to have 500-2,000 grams of cannabis and a loaded and accessible Springfield Armory Model XDs .45 caliber handgun in a vehicle without a concealed carry license. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Cynthia M. Everage, 59, of Alton, was charged Nov. 8 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the East Alton Police Department. On Nov. 2 Everage allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Johnny T. Scruggs, 3, of Alton, was charged Nov. 8 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 6 Scruggs allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Marco D. Toney, 28, of Alton, was charged Nov. 8 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 6 Toney allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Shane A. Seets, 30, of Brighton, was charged Nov. 9 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Sept. 17 Seets allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Joshua D. Shimchick, 33, of Hartford, was charged Nov. 9 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Sept. 17 Shimchick allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Brett R. Lowder, 36, of Wood River, was charged Nov. 9 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 6 Lowder was found to have less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000.

 John M. Perkins, 44, of Granite City, was charged Nov. 9 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Nov. 8 Perkins allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Mathew A. Parrott, 31, of Granite City, was charged Nov. 8 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Alton Police Department. On Nov. 6 Parrott allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of cocaine. Bail was set at $50,000.

 Steven B. Garner Jr., 24, of Kirkwood, Missouri, was charged Nov. 8 with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Nov. 5 Garner allegedly was found to have less than 15 grams of Alprazolam. Bail was set at $50,000.
EAST ALTON  United Ways annual Community Christmas drive is looking for businesses, organizations, schools, churches and stores to host donation boxes and collect items for those in need during the upcoming holidays.

A business can serve as a donation drop-off location by requesting one or more boxes to place within their location, accessible for customers, visitors or employees. The boxes are provided courtesy of Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery and cost nothing to place within any location. Those interested in receiving a box should call 618-258-9800.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  One of the largest electricity providers in Mississippi said Wednesday that it intends to shut down some aging natural gas power generating plants over the next five years and expand its use of renewable energy sources such as solar power.

Entergy Mississippi said in a news release that it will add 500 megawatts of renewable power by 2025 and another 500 megawatts by 2027. The company said renewable sources currently make up less than 1% of its power generating capability. That would grow to about 17% by 2025 and almost 33% in 2027.
ROME (AP)  After days of waiting in the choppy central Mediterranean, a charity rescue ship with 306 migrants aboard on Wednesday received permission by Italy to disembark the passengers just as a storm approached, the humanitarian organization said.

SOS Mediterranee tweeted that those aboard Ocean Viking felt indescribable relief that Italian authorities approved disembarking of the passengers in Augusta, Sicily.

The humanitarian group said the port assignment came just ahead of a strong storm bearing down on area of the central Mediterranean where Ocean Viking has been essentially stranded for days while waiting permission to dock.

"States must set up again a mechanism for disembarking to avoid these continuous stalemates at sea,'' the charity said.

With the anti-migrant League one of the parties in Premier Mario Draghi's broad coalition, political pressure has been strong to discourage the arrivals of migrants rescued at sea by charity ships from unseaworthy vessels launched by human traffickers.

Crew members aboard the Ocean Viking said that recent downpours left migrants on the open deck drenched and shivering. The migrants' teeth are chattering from the cold, SOS Mediterranee said hours before port permission was received. The charity said that on Tuesday night 2-meter (6.5 foot) high waves rocked the vessel.

Last weekend, the Italian Coast Guard evacuated a total of eight people, including those needing medical assistance and their immediate family members, from Ocean Viking.

That left 306 migrants aboard, some for more than a week since their rescue, waiting in limbo off Lampedusa, a tiny Italian island south of Sicily.

On Sunday, another humanitarian rescue ship, Sea-Eye 4, arrived in the port of Trapani, Sicily, after days of waiting for permission. Aboard were more than 800 rescued migrants.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, migrants rescued at sea and brought to Italy undergo preventative quarantine, many of them transferred to currently unused passenger ferries.

Those fleeing poverty are usually denied asylum.

Italy's pleas to other European Union nations to take in some of the asylum-seekers generally go unheeded. Since Italy has barely a handful of repatriation agreements with the homelands of the migrants, they often wind up staying in Italy, trying to find odd jobs or a way to reach work or family elsewhere in Europe.

___

Follow APs migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
WASHINGTON (AP)  In her first solo White House event as first lady, Jill Biden went right into teacher mode Wednesday as she honored hidden heroes  the children and caregivers of injured U.S. troops.

My gosh," she said brightly to the little girl who had introduced her, a 9-year-old named Gabby whose father suffered debilitating injuries during deployment to Iraq as a Marine. You did such a beautiful job. Such a beautiful job."

She also thanked Gabby's little sister Ava, who clutched a security blanket as she stood nearby. Biden told both girls they make your family so proud."

From a young age, hidden helpers learn the cost of our wars up close, Biden told the audience.

Biden was joined in the East Room by veterans' families, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough. The cause is personal to Biden, whose late son Beau earned a Bronze Star in Iraq.

Biden said she often visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in 2009, when wars were raging in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I would sit near the beds of the wounded warriors, usually with a spouse close by, and listen to their stories of courage and sacrifice," she said. Over time, I built relationships with those families. And my heart went out to the spouses who cared for them  so often young moms, bouncing babies on their hips.

She said she still thinks about the children in those hospital rooms.

I think about how they have grown up like Gabby and Ava, helping their dad cope with an injury that they cant see, she said.

Earlier this year, the White House Joining Forces initiative teamed up with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Wounded Warrior Project to launch Hidden Helpers, designed to provide support for the children of Americas 5.5 million military caregivers.

One wife and mother, Sylvia Lopez, spoke of how her children have helped with their father's illness, adding that they have places to hide when their dad has flashbacks.

Our children are wonderful, and they helped me so much, but no child is prepared to handle these responsibilities, Lopez said. They have struggled socially because I cannot leave my husband's side.

Biden said she understood how difficult the children's lives can be and added that they should not have to face the trauma alone.

Our troops and their families need to know that if they ever face injuries, illnesses or wounds, we will have your back, she said.

She ended the event singing Happy Birthday to a soon-to-be 7-year-old boy as he was presented with a cupcake.
EDWARDSVILLE  Madison Countys emergency rental assistance program exceeded $4.5 million in payments to residents affected by COVID-19.

"The pandemic created a housing crisis for thousands of Madison County families and landlords and this program helped eligible households with rent and rent arrearage, Madison County Community Development Chief Deputy Administrator Chris Otto said.

Since March, Madison County Community Development disbursed the funding through the American Rescue Plan Acts Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds low and moderate income households.

The funds helped to pay rents that were past due during COVID-19 when there was a moratorium on rents. The money was also available to pay utilities such as electric, gas, sewer, trash and water as well as preventing disconnections or resuming service.

The ERAP program has been successful due to higher income thresholds than other MCCD assistance programs. Current income guidelines allow single member households with up to $47,550 annual income to apply with a progressive scale up to $89,650 income for a household of eight.

Community Development anticipates servicing rental requests through Dec. 31 and paying rental requests through February 2022 as funds allow, Otto said.

Requests for rent and/or utility assistance may be applied for at the Madison County website at www.co.madison.il.us. Click Departments  Community Development  Rent & Mortgage AssistanceEmergency Rental Assistance  Tenant or Landlord Application.

The following Township offices offer applications: Chouteau  618-931-0360, Collinsville  618-344-1290, Godfrey  618-466-3381, Jarvis  618-667-2560, Nameoki  618-931-1230, Venice  618-452-1121.

The following Libraries will offer applications: The Hayner Public Library District in Alton  618- 462-0677 and Wood River  618- 254-4832. The Madison County Urban League in Alton will also provide applications at 618- 463-1906

To apply for rental assistance, you may complete an application for up to 12 months towards past due rent. Up to three months of future rent may be requested on a separate form.

Applicants are eligible for up to 15 months of total rental assistance after which no further rental applications will be considered.

To apply for utility assistance, you may complete an application towards up to 15 months of past due bills. Note that all rental and utility applications must be completed in full to be considered.

Rental assistance has been the most requested form of assistance coming through the Madison County referral line, Otto said.
WASHINGTON  The campaign to vaccinate elementary school age children in the U.S. is off to a strong start, health officials said Wednesday, but experts say there are signs that it will be difficult to sustain the initial momentum.

About 900,000 kids aged 5 to 11 will have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in their first week of eligibility, the White House said, providing the first glimpse at the pace of the school-aged vaccination campaign.

Were off to a very strong start, said White House COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients, during a briefing with reporters.

Final clearance for the shots was granted by federal regulators on Nov. 2, with the first doses to kids beginning in some locations the following day.

The estimated increase in vaccinations in elementary school age children appears similar to a jump seen in May, when adolescents ages 12 to 15 became eligible for shots.

Now nearly 20,000 pharmacies, clinics and physicians offices are offering the doses to younger kids, and the Biden administration estimated that by the end of Wednesday more than 900,000 of the kid doses will have been given. On top of that, about 700,000 first-shot appointments are scheduled for the coming days.

About 28 million 5- to 11-year-olds are now eligible for the low-dose Pfizer vaccine. Kids who get their first of two shots by the end of next week will be fully vaccinated by Christmas.

The administration is encouraging schools to host vaccine clinics on site to make it even easier for kids to get shots. The White House is also asking schools to share information from trusted messengers like doctors and public health officials to combat misinformation around the vaccines.

An initial surge in demand for vaccinations was expected from parents who have been waiting for the chance to protect their younger kids, especially before the holidays.

About 3% of newly eligible children in the U.S. got first shots in the first week, but the rate of vaccinations in varied widely around the country, as it has for adult vaccines.

California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Wednesday that more than 110,000 Californians ages 5 to 11 have received their first coronavirus shot  9% of kids that age in the state.

On the other ends of the spectrum, Idaho reported just 2,257 first shots, or 1.3% of the newly eligible kids there.

Some experts say that nationally, demand could also begin to recede soon. They note polling data suggests only a fraction of parents have planned to get their kids shots immediately, and they suspect the trend will play out like it did earlier this year when kids ages 12 to 15 were first able to get shots.

In the first week after vaccines for that age group were authorized in May, the number of adolescents getting a first shot jumped by roughly 900,000, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics review of federal data. The next week, it rose even further, to 1.6 million.

There was an initial burst, said Shannon Stokley of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But then the number dropped steadily for months, interrupted only briefly in early August as the delta variant surged and parents prepared to send children back to school.

Adolescent vaccinations have since flagged considerably, to just 32,000 getting their first shots last week. Only about half of adolescents ages 12 to 17 are fully vaccinated, compared to 70% of adults.

Its unlikely that vaccination rates in young kids will be as high as whats seen in adults  or even in adolescents, some experts said, unless they are required for school.

Part of the reason is that adults are far more likely than children to suffer serious illness or die from COVID-19, they noted. Parents may have the perception it may not be as serious in young children or they dont transmit it, said Stokley, the acting deputy director of the CDCs Immunization Services Division.

But more than 2 million COVID cases have been reported in U.S. children ages 5 to 11 since the pandemic started, including 66 deaths over the past year, according to CDC data. Were going to have a lot of work to do to communicate to parents about why its important to get children vaccinated, she said.

Zients said the effort to vaccinate younger kids is still ramping up, with new clinics coming on line. Government officials expect the number of children who are vaccinated to keep rising in the days and weeks ahead, he said.

We are just getting started, he said.

Earlier this year the White House set  and missed  a July 4 goal to have at least certain percentage of U.S. adults vaccinated. Officials have not announced a similar target for kids.

Dr. Lee Savio Beers, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, called the new numbers reassuring and said the rollout appears to be going smoothly for the most part. She noted however that with a lower dose and different vials than for older kids, the rollout requires more steps and that some states have been slower in getting vaccine to providers.

Initial data from some areas show Black children lagging behind whites in getting their first doses, which Beers said raises concerns.

Its really important to make sure the vaccine is easily accessible in a wide variety of places, Beers said.



Stobbe reported from New York. Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Fla., Becky Boone in Boise, Idaho, Don Thompson in Sacramento and Lindsey Tanner in Three Oaks, Mich., contributed to this report.



The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


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Kia will only sell electric cars in Europe by 2035, the Korean brand confirmed this morning as it becomes the latest auto maker to stamp a date to ditch the internal combustion engine.

Bosses said Europe will be the first market where it stops selling petrol and diesel cars and will do the same across key global markets five years later, by 2040.

It's part of a pledge for the manufacturer to be entirely carbon neutral by 2045.

Kia the latest car maker to ditch petrol and diesel: The Korean manufacturer says it will sell only electric - and potentially hydrogen fuel cell electric - vehicles in Europe from 2035

The news comes a day after Kia - and sister brand Hyundai - failed to put their names to the COP26 pledge to eliminate all new vehicle emissions by 2040.

The two Korean powerhouses joined some of the biggest auto manufacturers in the world - including Volkswagen, Toyota, Stellantis and BMW - by shunning yesterday's Glasgow Declaration on Zero Emission Cars and Vans.

The agreement was revealed by Britain on Wednesday during the climate summit and asked car makers, governments, cities, businesses, investors and financial institutions to 'work towards' all sales of new cars and vans to be fully zero-emissions in 'leading markets' by 2035 and globally by 2040.

Despite not joining the pledge, Kia's announcement today commits to fully electrifying its vehicle line-up in Europe by 2035 - and the same across major global markets by 2040.

Hosung Song, president and chief executive of Kia, said: 'For us, it is not only about setting goals and reaching targets. It is about setting a vision that will inspire others to join the movement to benefit humanity and protect the environment.

'In line with our vision of becoming a sustainable mobility solutions provider, we commit to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.'

Kia, which currently sells three fully-electric cars in Britain - the e-Niro (pictured), EV6 and Soul EV - plans to ramp up the number of zero-emission vehicles in its range

The Kia EV6 (pictured) is one of the most impressive electric cars on the market today with a range of up to 328 miles

The company said it also plans to introduce its first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle in 2028, likely using next-generation technology being developed by Hyundai, with some input from Ineos Automotive, which is planning a hydrogen fuel cell Grenadier 4X4 using shared powertrains.

When are car makers going electric? Read our in-depth brand-by-brand guide to electric cars, including how many EVs they sell today, which is their cheapest model and when they plan to stop producing petrol and diesel engines.

A hydrogen model will be in addition to the seven new electric vehicles Kia has planned for launch between now and 2027 as part of its existing 'Plan S' strategy.

One new all-electric car it is likely to unveil soon is a seven-seat SUV, which it is due to be previewed at next week's LA Auto Show as the Concept EV9. However, this is only likely to be offered to the American and Middle Eastern markets.

Kia says it aims to achieve carbon neutrality in just over 20 years by reducing carbon emissions in all operational facets, from supply, logistics, vehicle production and vehicle use through to disposal of waste.

Its plant in Zilina, Slovakia has already made the switch to green energy.

By 2045, the Korean firm hopes to have reduced 97 per cent of the companys 2019 level of carbon emissions.

It says it will attain carbon neutrality by 'implementing additional measures to fully offset its remaining carbon emissions'.

The brand also announced it is working in partnership with non-profitable organisation The Ocean Cleanup to take plastic waste gathered from river cleanups to then use in the production of new vehicles.

Kia is planning to increase the companys percentage of plastic re-use to 20 per cent by 2030, it says.

One new all-electric car Kia is likely to unveil soon is a seven-seat SUV, which it is due to preview as the Concept EV9

Kia has only released teaser images of the vehicle before unveiling the concept in full next week (17 November)
Marks and Spencer hailed the beginning of the end of its long-term troubles as it raised profits forecasts for the year.

In a bullish update that sent shares soaring 16.5 per cent, chief executive Steve Rowe said the hard yards of his recovery plan were showing results.

The high street retailer now expects profits in the region of 500million  40 per cent higher than the 350million previously pencilled in.

Sales up: M&S now expects profits in the region of 500m  40% higher than the 350m previously pencilled in

Rowe sounded a cautious note by warning of headwinds from the pandemic, ongoing supply chain disruptions and Brexit.

But shares rose 16.5 per cent, or 32.05p, to 226.5p  the highest level since late 2019  as investors cheered.

AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said something spectacular must have happened since August.

No Xmas shortages Marks and Spencer brushed off fears of festive disruption, declaring: Our plans are in place to make sure that we have everything that customers need at Christmas. Chief executive Steve Rowe said it had seen data suggesting Britons want a bigger, better, more social Christmas. The 137-year-old firms chief played down shortages fears, saying: Is it perfect? No, definitely not. Is there a fantastic range available in key areas of knitwear, casualwear, coats and Christmas gifting? Yes, there is. Despite sounding optimistic, he noted the retailer faced a shortage of slippers. He said there would be more social events and more gifting after Covid scuppered last Christmas.

The stock has gained 66 per cent this year and 166 per cent since its lows last year, giving M&S a value of 4.4billion.

Rowe said: Given the history of M&S weve been clear that we wont overclaim our progress.

'But it is clear that underlying performance is improving, with our main businesses making important gains in market share and customer perception.

The hard yards of driving long-term change are beginning to be borne out in our performance.

M&S has more than 1,000 shops in the UK including more than 700 Simply Food shops.

Rowe took over in 2016 but his attempts to turnaround the business after years of falling clothing sales were disrupted by the pandemic.

The 137-year-old retailer fell out of the FTSE 100  of which it was a founding member  in September 2019. Shares then hit a record low of 85p last year.

But M&S yesterday recorded a profit of 269.4million in the six months to October 2.

That compared with a loss of 17.4million in the same period last year and profits of 176.3million two years ago.

The projection of 500million of profits for the full year marked the second upgrade in three months.

In August, it said that it would beat its forecast of between 300million and 350million.

Bouncing back: In a bullish update M&S chief executive Steve Rowe (pictured) said the 'hard yards' of his recovery plan were now starting to show results

Clothing and home sales were still 1 per cent lower than the first half two years ago but profits in this division hit 156.2million  up from 109.6million pre-Covid.

Food sales jumped 10.4 per cent from 2019 and it reported a 143.7million profit in the period, up from 92.2million in 2019.

Several rivals including Debenhams and Arcadia have disappeared from the High Street, which Rowe said had boosted business.

But he added: I am sure there is a benefit, but am also sure our teams have been responsible for driving the majority of those benefits.

The firm did not announce a dividend, despite the positive results, and does not expect a payout to shareholders this year. It said it will focus on ensuring its profitability is sustainable.

Retail analyst at Shore Capital Clive Black said: M&S has started selling products people like, that is the easiest way to put it.

We have had a lot of encouragement from shoppers in recent months who say their products are better quality, style and prices. And they are available in shops and online.

When you come from the mess M&S was in five or six years ago, it has taken a lot to get here.

It has been in decline for a decade but we have seen a real turning point.

He added: There is more to do and they are not calling victory yet but it is encouraging.
Cocktail sales are soaring as young drinkers enjoy a night out in the pub, according to pub chain Wetherspoons.

But beer sales have plunged as older punters  its core customers  stayed at home.

Company boss and founder Tim Martin said that some of its older clientele had been 'understandably cautious' about trips to their local while there are still Covid risks.

Changing tastes: Wetherspoons has seen sales of drinks such as cosmopolitans and mojitos rise 45% from two years ago while traditional ale sales declined by 30% and stout by 20%

This led traditional ale sales to decline by 30 per cent and stout by 20 per cent in the 15 weeks to November 7, Wetherspoons said in a trading update, compared with the same period of 2019 before Covid struck.

Across the whole company, sales were down 9 per cent.

But sales of drinks such as cosmopolitans and mojitos, in contrast, were up 45 per cent on two years ago while vodka sales were 17 per cent higher and rum 26 per cent to the good.

Anna Barnfather, an analyst at Liberum, said that the slump in older customers visiting means Wetherspoons 'continues to lag' behind the wider market, which in September saw sales rise by around 3 per cent compared with 2019.

Wetherspoons shares tumbled to the bottom of the FTSE 250 index last night  dropping 7.2 per cent, or 74.5p, to 954.5p  as investors fretted about how long it will take to bounce back.

Martin, an outspoken Brexiteer who founded Wetherspoons in 1979 in London's Muswell Hill, admitted that the company's performance 'will depend, to some extent, on the outlook for the Covid-19 virus'.

He added: 'Whereas we have an increased element of caution about near-term sales, booster vaccinations and better weather in the spring are likely to have a positive impact in the coming months.'

Wetherspoons was forced to close its pubs for 19 weeks during the pandemic lockdowns.

Beer slump: Wetherspoons boss and founder Tim Martin said that some of its older clientele had been 'understandably cautious' about trips to their local while there are still Covid risks

The ongoing effects of the pandemic were clear, with its central London, airport and train station branches all far less busy than before the outbreak.

The effects of the working from home trend, which keeps many people out of city centres, also meant that breakfast and coffee sales were considerably lower.

The no-frills pub chain often runs bumper offers on its cocktails menu, which has boasted tipples such as a vodka and cranberry concoction called the Woo Woo and a Jack Daniel's whisky-based drink dubbed The Godfather.

Wetherspoons does not play music at its pubs. But it said that sales at its music-playing bar chain Lloyds No.1 were marginally higher in 2019 and probably reflected 'a higher percentage of younger customers' out partying.

Laura Hoy, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said a 'permanent' shift in favour of younger pub-goers could be bad news for Wetherspoons.

Hoy said older customers' worries about going out 'should wane as the pandemic comes under control, but there's no telling how long that will take'.

Wetherspoons operates more than 900 pubs and is known for converting some of its sites from former opera houses, cinemas and bank branches.

The company reported better news on supply chain and recruitment problems, saying it has 'almost always been able to find alternatives, overall stock levels were in line with previous years' and that things had got easier in recent weeks.

And recruitment hiccups, resulting in staff shortages in holiday destinations, have mostly eased. Its workforce is up from 37,000 staff when pubs reopened in April to more than 42,000.
Burberry will expand its new store format targeted at higher-spending customers after posting a big surge in profit, its first-half results show.

The luxury fashion group famous for its trench coats said it plans to open 50 new concept stores globally by the end of the current financial year, after seeing good performance at the 15 it already has.

It comes as sales in the six months to the end of September have now returned to pre-pandemic levels - up 1 per cent compared to 2019 - although the firm is still suffering due to a lack of tourists in some regions, including Europe.

Burberry sales rose in the US and China, but fell in Europe and Japan due to a lack of tourists

Like-for-like group sales rose 37 per cent on last year to 1.21billion, but growth slowed down dramatically from the first quarter, when sales rose 90 per cent, to the second, when they were up by just 6 per cent.

Chairman Gerry Murphy said the brand's full-price sales were growing at a double-digit percentage.

'We are seeing an acceleration in performance in countries less impacted by travel restrictions and we remain confident of achieving our medium-term goals,' he said on Thursday.

The recovery in revenues has fed through to profits, helped by reduced discounting and price rises, with pre-tax profits rising to 191million in the first half, from 73million a year ago.

The company, which last week named Gianni Versace boss Jonathan Akeroyd as its new chief executive, said sales almost doubled in the US, while growing by 80 per cent in Korea and 40 per cent in China.

However, it warned that new Covid restrictions imposed in August in the Asian region had a bad impact on sales, especially in Mainland China, where fewer shoppers visited its stores.

'Global Chinese consumer spending patterns may significantly change having an immediate adverse impact on Group sales,' it noted in its future risks' list.

Burberry also said that sales in Europe tumbled 31 per cent in the first half, while remaining under pressure in Japan due to reduced tourist levels.

Shares in Burberry tumbled 8 per cent to 18.09 in morning trading on Thursday. However, they have recovered since the Covid crash, trading at levels seen in February 2020.

Adam Vettese, analyst at multi-asset investment platform eToro, said: 'China is a key market for Burberry, and so any slowdown in the Chinese economy or a tightening of consumer spending will have an outsized effect on Burberrys bottom line.

'This warning has clearly spooked investors, despite the firm trying to compensate by reinstating its interim dividend and announcing a 150million share buyback.'

Burberry announced a dividend of 11.6p, compared to no dividend a year ago, and a 150million share buyback.

Burberry shares have recovered since the Covid crash, trading at levels seen in February 2020

The company, known for its camel, black and red check and new "TB" monogram, said full-price sales almost doubled in the Americas, while South Korea grew almost 80%, and mainland China was up over 40%.

Other regions, such as Europe and Japan, remained under pressure from reduced tourist levels, it said.

Akeroyd will join Burberry next April, succeeding Marco Gobbetti, who announced his departure in June, midway into a multi-year turnaround to take the brand further up-market. ($1 = 0.7389 pounds) (Reporting by Paul Sandle Editing by William Schomberg and Kate Holton)

Jonathan Akeroyd  who ran Alexander McQueen for 12 years before taking over at Milan-based Versace in 2016  will succeed Marco Gobbetti as Burberry chief executive in April.
Sales at troubled fashion chain Ted Baker rebounded in its first half as shoppers went back to its stores to buy office and party wear after the lifting of Covid restrictions.

The company, which was already struggling before the pandemic struck, said it was 'cautiously optimistic', despite a decline in online sales and at its city centre stores, which are suffering due to a lack of tourists.

While still more than a third below their pre-pandemic levels, revenues rose 17.6 per cent to 199.3million in the six months to 14 August, while pre-tax losses narrowed to 25.3million, from 86.4million in 2020.

Rising sales: But Ted Baker city centre stores are suffering due to a lack of tourists

E-commerce sales tumbled 10 per cent compared to last year, when they boomed thanks to heavy promotions, but remain some 22 per cent above 2019 levels.

Ted Baker said the decline was a result of reduced promotions, which resulted in fewer sales but higher margins. However, margins were dented by higher duties as a result of Brexit.

'During the first half of 2020, the impact of falling demand, restrictions on store trading and retailers' need for cash was that the market became highly promotional, and we acted decisively to clear stock and drive additional cash,' the company said.

'In 2021, we adopted a less promotional stance to improve margin and brand perception, and begin normalising customer expectations. This was partly offset by additional duties and unrecoverable sales tax resulting from Brexit.'

Investors reacted well to the results, with Ted Baker shares rising 2 per cent to 1.39 in morning trading on Thursday.

However, the stock remains some 45 per cent below its February 2020 levels, and is only just a tiny fraction of its 2015 peak of 28.

Ted Baker has 377 stores and concessions, with three-quarters of those located in the United Kingdom, Europe and North America.

Its stores in city centres and at travel locations like airports, which accounted for half of all sales in 2020, are still struggling due to a lack of tourists and many office workers still working from home.

'Metro city centre locations have been impacted by both lack of international tourism and the shift to working from home for large parts of the economy,' the group said.

'Encouragingly, stores in regional locations, outlets, shopping malls and concessions are seeing firmer recovery, with growth rates for the last four weeks of the half-year period being the strongest.'

Ted Baker shares, at 1.39 today, are just a tiny fraction of their 2015 peak of 28

The retailer is now half-way through a three-year turnaround that was launched by chief executive Rachel Osborne and is focused on cost cuts and boosting its online presence and product range.

It has also been working to repair its image after former boss Ray Kelvin left in 2019 following misconduct allegations. Kelvin, who started the company in 1988 in Glasgow in Scotland, has denied the allegations.

'Ted Bakers half year results showed the fashion retailer is clawing its way back towards profitability as it works to restore its image as a premium brand,' said Laura Hoy, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

But she noted that the decline in online sales was concerning, coupled with the delay of the launch of its new ecommerce platform to early next year.

'A big part of Teds transformation plans rests on improving the groups digital presence and progress on this front has been sluggish with management pushing back the launch of its new online platform to early 2022,' she said.

'While easing pandemic restrictions means people can return to in-person shopping, it doesnt mean they will. Losing ground in e-commerce is bad no matter how you slice it. The online shopping boom hasnt showed any signs of slowing, and the we wouldve like to see the same from Teds eCommerce sales.'
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William "Billy" Wolfe, 49, died Nov. 8. Survived by father, William Wolfe; sisters, Judy Grams, Sally Wolfe, and half sister, Mary Prince. Billy worked on family farm. We are sure he is in heaven. Please pray for him.
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GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  As this year's U.N. climate talks go into their second week, negotiations on key topics are inching forward. Boosted by a few high-profile announcements at the start of the meeting, delegates are upbeat about the prospects for tangible progress in the fight against global warming.

Laurent Fabius, the former French foreign minister who helped forge the Paris climate accord, said the general atmosphere had improved since the talks began Oct. 31 and "most negotiators want an agreement.

But negotiators were still struggling late Saturday to put together a series of draft decisions for government ministers to finalize during the second week of the talks.

People are having to take tough decisions, as they should," Archie Young, the U.K.s lead negotiator, said Saturday.

Here's the state of play in four main areas halfway through the U.N. climate talks in Glasgow:

TOP RESULT FROM THE CONFERENCE

Each Conference of the Parties, or COP, ends with a general statement. It's as much a political declaration as a statement of intent about where countries agree the effort to combat climate change is heading.

A flurry of announcements at the start of the COP26 talks in Glasgow on issues including ending deforestation, cutting methane emissions, providing more money for green investments and phasing out the use of coal could be reflected in this final declaration. Even though only some countries signed on to each of those deals, others would be encouraged to add their signatures at a later date.

Affirming the goal of keeping global warming at or below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, compared to pre-industrial times, is also seen as important. With greenhouse gas emissions continuing to rise, host Britain has said it wants the Glasgow talks to keep 1.5 C alive. One way to achieve that would be to encourage rich polluters in particular to update their emissions-cutting targets every one or two years, rather than every five years as now required by the Paris accord.

MONEY MATTERS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

Rich countries pledged to mobilize $100 billion each year by 2020 to help poor nations cope with climate change. That target was likely missed, much to the frustration of developing nations.

Restoring goodwill and trust between rich and poor countries on this issue requires a clear commitment on raising financial support starting from 2025. Addressing the thorny question of who is to pay for the losses and damages that nations face as a result of global warming they aren't responsible for is likewise important, but agreement there could be elusive, observers say.

Its about finance, finance, finance, finance, said Fabius.

CARBON TRADING: A TRICKY NUT TO CRACK

Many negotiators and observers at climate conferences roll their eyes when they hear the words Article 6.

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The section dealing with rules for carbon markets has become one of the trickiest parts of the Paris climate accord to finalize. Six years after that deal was sealed, countries appear to be making headway though and there's even talk of a breakthrough on the issue that so frustrated negotiators in Madrid two years ago.

Observers say Brazil and India may be willing to drop demands to count their old  but others say worthless  carbon credits amassed under previous agreements. The price for this might be that rich nations grant poor countries a share of proceeds from carbon market transactions to adapt to climate change. This has been a red line for the United States and the European Union until now.

A deal on Article 6 is seen as crucial because many countries and companies aim to cut their emissions to net zero by 2050. This requires balancing out any remaining pollution with an equal amount of carbon they can reliably say is captured elsewhere, such as through forests or by technological means.

TRANSPARENCY AND RIGOR IN NATIONAL EMISSIONS-CUTTING TARGETS

The Paris Agreement lets governments set their own emissions-cutting targets, and many of them are in the distant future.

Verifying that countries are doing what they committed to, and that their goals are backed up by realistic measures, is tricky. China in particular has bristled at the idea of having to provide data in formats set by other nations. Brazil and Russia, meanwhile, have resisted demands to lay out in greater detail the short-term measures they're taking to meet their long-term goals.

___

Follow AP's coverage of the climate talks at http://apnews.com/hub/climate
General Electric has extended its deadlines for employees to comply with the federal vaccine mandate.

Following guidance from the federal government, the company entered into an agreement with the IUE-CWA Local 301 union on Monday in which it pushed back dates to allow workers more time to get vaccinated against the coronavirus or obtain an exemption, according to a document shared with the Times Union.

Earlier this fall, GE called on employees to be fully vaccinated or procure an exemption by Dec. 8.

Chris Depoalo, business agent for the union, said GE advised workers that if they failed to be vaccinated by the deadline they would be separated from the company. When asked about employees separation from the company for failure to adhere to the mandate in October, GE did not comment.

Depoalo said he thinks GE would walk those employees out.

They wouldn't let them on the facility because they're afraid to lose their federal contracts, he said. GE is bound to the vaccine mandate as a federal contractor.

Per the latest agreement, shared with the Times Union by Depoalo, GE walked back its original deadlines.

Workers who demonstrate a good faith intention to be vaccinated by receiving their first jab by Jan. 4 and a second dose no later than Jan. 28 would be given unpaid leave from Jan. 19 until they are fully vaccinated, with the leave of absence not extending beyond Feb. 11. The cutoff date for exemption submissions was delayed until Nov. 16.

Although GE did not comment on employees potentially being separated from the company, the agreement drafted two options for those who are not interested in satisfying the mandate.

Those workers will be permitted to resign effective Jan. 18 and must tender their resignation in writing no later than Dec. 31.

Also, noncompliant employees eligible to retire on Feb. 1 will have to hand in their papers by Dec. 19. These workers will be able to use unpaid time off or their remaining paid time off between Jan. 4 and Jan. 31.

Individuals separated from the company would be eligible for reemployment if they meet four criteria: They qualified for the sites recall list; resigned or were involuntarily separated over their failure to be vaccinated; are looking to be hired back at the same branch, or have notified the company of their full vaccination before April 1.

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The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration called on companies with 100 employees or more to enforce a vaccine or test requirement. According to NPR, about two dozen states have filed lawsuits over the mandate and an appeals court is thwarting the rule.

President Joe Bidens edict is in limbo, but GE is maintaining its stance.

The Times Union asked GE if it will have to hire more workers for its federal projects as others are separated from their work sites.

We are focused on supporting our employees through the process to comply with the order, a spokesperson responded. We are on pace to achieve the compliance target.

According to Depoalo, a couple of employees left GE over the directive. While he remains unvaccinated, Depoalo was able to attain a religious exemption.

I still feel like it's an overreach by the government, he said. We're just trying to stick together and, you know, we're gonna get through this situation.

As some employees battle uncertainty about their future with the company, GE recently announced it was splitting into three standalone entities focused on health care, energy and aviation. The move signals a new era for the company, formed in 1892, that could bring serious changes for its sectors in the Capital Region.
ALBANY  In an effort to gather crucial local data necessary to plan the state's licensing of adult-use cannabis businesses, New York's Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) is compelling municipalities to submit their decisions to opt out of allowing cannabis retailers as soon as possible through an online portal launched Wednesday, Nov. 10.

The opt-out process has been a hot topic at town board meetings across the state, with a Goshen tirade even going viral on TikTok, after the state legalization bill passed last spring gave municipalities until Dec. 31, 2021, to push through local laws limiting the distribution of licenses for businesses like dispensaries and cannabis lounges in their jurisdictions.

In some municipalities, including the Hudson Valley's Tuxedo and Cold Spring, voters were asked to weigh in directly on the potential for cannabis businesses in their area during last week's general election.

"These decisions will be critical for those seeking a license to understand where opportunities are available and for the Board to understand the initial geographic picture of participation," said Chris Alexander, the OCM's executive director.

The OCM and its oversight board, the Cannabis Control Board, have not yet provided any details to prospective adult-use licensees on the nature of the application process or the number of licenses the state will grant. But knowing which municipalities will disallow such businesses will be crucial for the board to determine how to distribute the initial round of licenses under their purview.

"I encourage localities requesting to opt-out of hosting dispensary and on-site consumption licensees to file their requests promptly," said Tremaine Wright, who chairs the board that will ultimately approve the state's first adult-use cannabis businesses.

Municipalities are not allowed to prohibit other conduct made legal on the state level last spring, such as smoking weed in public. While they are required to pass any local opt-out laws by Dec. 31, governments can choose to opt back in at any time or to allow some types of businesses but not others.

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Some local leaders in the Capital Region and the Hudson Valley have chosen to permit cannabis dispensaries but have banned on-site consumption businesses, or "lounges," which are akin to bars for pot use.

The recent Hudson Valley referendums produced a similar result: residents in both Tuxedo and Cold Spring appear to have opted out of on-site consumption businesses, though voters from the latter opposed a separate proposal to ban dispensaries, offering a boost to those hoping to purchase pot and smoke at home. In Cold Spring, still-uncounted absentee ballots may impact this result.

Municipal governments that chose to opt out of having cannabis retailers in their jurisdictions were already required by law to directly request that the Cannabis Control Board refrain from allowing such businesses to obtain state licenses.
ALBANY  The Upstate NY Black Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Alliance are to send a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer to urge the New York Democrat to swiftly find a path forward for the passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The groups argue that strong voting rights are good for business.

The letter, expected to be sent Wednesday, comes the week after New York voters rejected three election-related ballot questions at nearly identical rates. The ballot measures included redistricting tweaks, opening a pathway for same-day voter registration and no-excuse voting by mail.
In October, a primary concern for many people in their early 20s was to enjoy their Halloween festivities.

Mariabella Rivera-Todaro, however, had different priorities this fall: addressing food insecurity in New Paltz before the holidays arrive. The 20-year-old, who is nonbinary and identifies with gender-neutral pronouns they and them, founded a nonprofit, Millions of Butterflies, that is bringing a free food fridge to the New Paltz community to address hunger.

The idea behind free food fridges, a grassroots movement addressing food insecurity that gained popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, is to be community supported. Anyone who needs food at any time and for any reason can visit a designated fridge  usually set up outside at a community location every day  to take groceries. And similarly, people with extra cooked meals, snacks or ingredients can stop by to leave food in it.

Rivera-Todaro believes food insecurity is an urgent concern in New Paltz. While its a cute town with a booming tourism draw, they said there are many families, college students and young people who struggle to adequately feed themselves every day.

According to Hunger Solutions New York, 10 percent of Ulster County residents, and 16.5 percent of children in the county experience food insecurity on a regular basis.

Living just outside of town in Esopus, Rivera-Todaro has been one of those people.

There are families working really hard to make ends meet who dont always have money to put food on the table. I remember times when I was younger when my mom had to choose whether I was getting clothing or eating, said Rivera-Todaro.

The New Paltz Free Food Fridge, which will be located just outside of the towns Village Hall, is slated to be up and running on Nov. 18  just in time for Thanksgiving. Millions of Butterflies will be building the structure in the days leading up to its opening.

New Paltz officials support the project. When Rivera-Todaro attended a village board meeting in September ready to advocate for its placement in Hasbrouck Park and armed with a petition of roughly 400 signatures, it didnt take much convincing. The board was supportive of their mission and ultimately waived the building fees for the structure, suggested a new spot by Village Hall to make it more accessible during the winter and flooding season. The board even offered to supply the electricity on behalf of the town.

Offering food for a cause

Courtesy Mariabella Rivera-Todaro

Millions of Butterflies began using food as a key ingredient in its mission.

The nonprofit started in the summer of 2020, a period where Rivera-Todaro, a self-described advocate by nature, often traveled to New York City to join thousands of demonstrators passionate about the Black Lives Matter movement.

During the marches, theyd see people handing out food to protesters but noted a lack of sweet-treat options.

I made 100 brownies one day to bring down to a big rally, and then left them all at home and my little brother ate a bunch of them, they laughed. Not wanting to waste food that was made in the name of activism, they decided to sell the brownies in downtown New Paltz and donate the profits to Black Lives Matter causes.

That day, something clicked with Rivera-Todaro: bake sales can be activism.

It really took off, because we were like, We can just make baked goods ... sell them and redistribute the money, they said, referring to friends and volunteers who joined in these early bake sales.

And a lot of people [during] COVID, they didnt want to be outside with thousands of people packed, screaming and shouting ... And some people want to make a difference but dont want to go protest and get arrested. I think a lot of people, including myself, saw this as a safer alternative that was also doing a lot of good and bringing change.

Millions of Butterflies is a small group, Rivera-Todaro said, with only two full-time members and a handful of volunteers. Since that summer, theyve been holding regular bake sales  where passersby can also purchase poetry  to support philanthropic organizations and fund their own initiatives like the free food fridge.

The founder sees their role as being an entity that redistributes money in a world where the wage gap continues getting larger.

Millions of Butterflies is honestly what gets me out of the bed in the morning, said Rivera-Todaro, who currently works two jobs as an office assistant for a law firm and as a subtitle writer for a tech company. Ive found a lot of community out of it and I think people who enjoy volunteering have found a good outlet for it. Especially because its queer, Latino and youth led  I think people get really into it and feel heard.

For the last six months, those bake sales, in addition to a GoFundMe page, has raised $4,000 for the New Paltz Free Food Fridge project. Moving forward, the funds the group garners will continue to support the pantry and enable them to make holiday and school supply packages for low-income children, they said.

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A community fridge that feels like home

The Free Food Fridge will be more than a refrigerator: the group is also building an entire shed to make a home-style pantry. They plan to paint the outside walls in a pleasant purple shade with butterflies buzzing around. And on the inside, theyll place carpeting on the floors and install cabinets and shelves around the structure.

Rivera-Todaro, who graduated from SUNY Ulster last spring with a degree in fashion, said its important to make the pantry visually welcoming for the same reason people use clothing to manifest respect and confidence. Ideally, a good-looking structure will attract more interest to passersby and make others in town value the service it provides.

Additionally, a welcoming shed could also counter any potential stigma, making people who need it feel better about accepting help.

Not everyone who needs something always has the comfort of aesthetics, Rivera-Todaro said. They dont always have the luxury of having something pretty and nice. So, I just feel good about [creating] something pretty thats dedicated to them.

It takes a lot of humility to say I need this, and it shouldnt be ugly, they added. I think it should be pretty and I want it to look like home, because not everyone has a home.

Zoe Foery, a SUNY New Paltz student who also prefers the gender-neutral pronouns they and them, said the Free Food Fridge will be instrumental to the community.

The 22-year-old is no stranger to food insecurity. Growing up with two siblings in a single-parent household, they said they often didnt have access to healthy eating options. Their own life experience proves, they said, that hunger among college students and families is a reality in New Paltz thats easy to ignore because victims dont always look like theyre struggling.

This is going to be helping people a lot. Food insecurity doesnt seem like a problem here because it hasnt been talked about much, but it is a problem, Foery said. I never had access to fruits and veggies even though I love them. A place like this will give people ways to [supplement] their meals [so] they can afford healthy food.

While the Free Food Fridge will be maintained and cleaned by Rivera-Todaros nonprofit, they hope the group doesnt serve as the primary provider stocking the pantry.

I hope people take it upon themselves to donate when they can, because its about community. And Millions of Butterflies, while were a group of community members, were not the community at whole, they said. People always have cans or make big meals. Or have a couple extra microwavable frozen meals they can fit in there. And farms have extra produce, restaurants have extra meals that theyd be tossing anyway at the end of the day.

They plan to start connecting with local businesses and farmers soon, to explore a collaborative donation system.

Rivera-Todaro is always looking for more funding and volunteers so they can expand the operations of the nonprofit. To get involved, anyone can reach out to them at their Millions of Butterflies Facebook group or the New Paltz Free Food Fridge Instagram page.
SALEM, Ore. (AP)  A school board in Oregon that recently banned teachers from displaying symbols including those supporting gay pride and Black Lives Matter has abruptly fired the superintendent, deeply upsetting members who opposed the move.

The escalating disputes in the Newberg School Board come as schools nationwide have become battlegrounds, with arguments over vaccine and mask mandates, how racism is addressed in teaching, instruction related to sexuality and gender-neutral bathrooms.

After Superintendent Joe Morelock was fired in a Zoom meeting late Tuesday night, board member Brandy Penner said Wednesday she believes the conservative board members fired Morelock because he didnt aggressively implement their ban on controversial symbols, adding that the policy didnt define what symbols would be unacceptable.

Rebecca Piros  one of three who opposed his firing  told Morelock she was sorry.

Morelock replied: Just remember that from the darkest dark comes the brightest light, so everything will work out eventually." Piros broke down in tears when she heard those words.

On Wednesday, some residents of Newberg, a town of 23,000 situated 25 miles (40 kilometers) southwest of Portland, erected signs quoting Morelock's reply to Piros. Newberg Equity in Education, a group composed mostly of parents who oppose the school boards recent rightward tilt, planned a demonstration Thursday at the school district office.

The four conservative board members offered no explanation as they summarily fired Morelock, giving him 10 days left on the job.

The superintendent's advisory cabinet, composed of administrators across the school district, quickly objected, saying they were "shocked and dismayed that the board would take this disruptive action in the middle of the school year.

They described Morelock as a tireless advocate for the schools, noting that he took over as interim superintendent in 2018 with the district in significant financial difficulty after having to lay off staff.

Under his leadership, new contracts with our associations brought better pay to teachers and staff, more educational school days for our students, a stabilized financial situation with a safety net of over $9 million in the ending fund balance, and the passage of the largest construction bond in the history of Newberg Public Schools, the administrators said.

Attempts to reach Morelock for comment were referred to the school district spokesman, who did not immediately return phone calls.

The teachers union in Newberg denounced Morelock's termination as yet another example of a board majority bringing instability to our schools.

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The Newberg Education Association union has already filed a lawsuit over a policy passed by the conservative school board members that limits what kinds of images or signs school employees can display on campus. The board initially passed a rule banning school staff from displaying Black Lives Matter and gay pride symbols, but then expanded it to all political or controversial signs and symbols after being advised the first rule wouldn't survive a legal challenge.

The union argues the policy violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protecting free speech and the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteeing equal protection.

In Tuesday night's meeting, board member Penner called the conservative members cowards and predicted they'd be sued for firing Morelock. She also pointed out that Morelock would be receiving his salary for a year and that an interim superintendent will now need to be hired.

So we'll be paying for two superintendents and the financial and legal liabilities to the district are endless, she said.

Newberg Mayor Rick Rogers has previously told the four conservative board members their actions can hurt the town, which features a dozen wine tasting rooms and a university founded by Quakers.

While you may believe your actions only affect the school district, please know in truth your actions impact us all. To thrive, Newberg must be welcoming to all, he wrote.

___

Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Over an 11-hour interview with investigators last July, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo defiantly denied allegations he sexually harassed women and sparred with the lawyers questioning him, accusing one of being out to get him, according to a transcript released on Wednesday.

New York Attorney General Letitia James made public hundreds of pages of transcripts of interviews conducted by two independent lawyers, hired by her office, during their monthslong probe of sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo.

In their interviews with investigators, conducted over several months, the women accusing Cuomo of misconduct laid out their horror stories of working for a boss who made comments about womens looks, asked questions about sex and gave inappropriate touches and kisses.

The transcripts covered interviews done with 10 of the women who accused Cuomo of misconduct, plus the interview that Cuomo himself gave on July 17.

Most of the allegations, and Cuomo's defenses, have been aired publicly before in interviews, news conferences and a report published by James' office in August that sparked public outrage and pushed Cuomo to resign from office. But the transcripts offer a new level of detail on the allegations against the Democrat and Cuomo's confrontational interview.

During the interrogation, Cuomo insisted he was careful in how he behaved around women and said several of his accusers had misrepresented what happened. He also bristled at a groping allegation by an aide, Brittany Commisso, who said Cuomo had pulled her toward him and grabbed her breast in the governor's mansion.

Cuomo, 63, said it would be not even feasible for him to have done that, especially since he believed his conduct was constantly under scrutiny by enemies, including one of the lawyers then investigating him, former acting U.S. Attorney Joon Kim.

Youve investigated me for six years," Cuomo told Kim, referring to corruption investigations conducted by federal prosecutors during Kim's tenure, including one that sent one of Cuomo's close friends to prison. I would have to lose my mind to do some  such a thing. It would be an act of insanity to touch a womans breast and make myself vulnerable to a woman for such an accusation."

Numerous people have tried to set me up, Cuomo said. Im always wary of people. I have phenomenal precautions. It would be an act of insanity.

The Albany County sheriffs office filed a criminal complaint against Cuomo over Commisso's groping allegation late last month.

In her interview with investigators, Commisso said Cuomo made comments about her appearance, called her honey" and asked her about her sex life. She said when she wore a dress rather than pants to work, the governor said it was about time that you showed some leg.

She also described the alleged assault at the governor's mansion, saying that even as she pushed Cuomo away, she worried she would be the one who got in trouble if she slapped him or made a scene.

I would be taken away by the state police officers and I would be the one that would get in trouble and I would be the one to lose my job, not him, she said.

In her interview with investigators, Lindsey Boylan, a former economic development official who was the first woman to publicly accuse Cuomo of harassment, called his famously caustic administration "a terrible environment for everyone, whether they were sexually harassed or not. But she told the investigators harassment was what spurred her to come forward. If this was just a toxic work environment, we wouldnt be sitting here.

Boylan said Cuomo regularly commented on her appearance, constantly looked at her legs and once kissed her on the lips without her consent.

When the governor's dog climbed on her, Cuomo said, Well, if I was the dog, Id mount you, too.

Asked by investigators whether any sexual harassment training was done while she was working in the Executive Chamber, Boylan said no, adding: The whole building is sexual harassment.

She and other women described Cuomo as, at turns intensely demanding, furious or egregiously inappropriate.

Cuomo asked Boylan to sing him Happy Birthday over the phone and former aide Charlotte Bennett to sing Danny Boy as a hazing ritual. The governor pounded his fist into a door in frustration once and on another occasion told a top aide he was lucky he didn't throw him out the window, according to testimony.

Bennett, who has alleged Cuomo quizzed her about her sex life in a manner that made her think he was hitting on her, said staffers called to meet with Cuomo came in with dread and distress and would sometimes be in tears afterward.

Cuomo announced his resignation on Aug. 10, a week after James released a report concluding that Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 women.

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Cuomo's attorneys have previously called for the release of transcripts from the investigation. But Cuomo attorney Rita Glavin criticized the attorney general for the partial release while the criminal charge is pending.

The Attorney General deliberately harms a pending case by broadcasting to each witness what other witnesses have testified to, and spreading false and salacious hearsay and rumors, Glavin said in a statement.

The state Assembly had been considering impeaching Cuomo when he resigned. A legal team hired by the Assembly's judiciary committee has continued to work on a report on Cuomo's conduct in office. The committee's chair said Wednesday that committee members had been invited to review the report in Albany on Nov. 18 and 19 ahead of its planned public release.

In his interview with investigators, Cuomo portrayed many of the women accusing him as having misrepresented their interactions. Asked repeatedly about allegations of harassment, he started answers with the word no, more than 350 times and uttering the words never happened eight times.

During one lengthy exchange, he refused to offer a simple answer to a question about whether a woman mentioned in one bit of testimony was his girlfriend.

How do you want to define girlfriend? Cuomo asked.

Did you date her? Kim asked.

How do you want to define date? Cuomo countered.

Cuomo suggested Kim was a puppet doing the bidding of his predecessor in the U.S. attorneys office, Preet Bharara, and his rabbi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

You know that I said that Preet and you were unethical and should not be considered for attorney general, Cuomo told Kim. Preet Bharara has political aspirations, may have political aspirations against me. His rabbi, your rabbi, Senator Schumer called for my resignation.

Kim told Cuomo he wasnt engaging with him on those types of statements, but said I wouldnt want the silence to go as some kind of acceptance of it."

Cuomo closed the deposition with another jab at Kim: I would like to say it was a pleasure, Mr. Kim. But Im under oath."

___

Peltz and Sisak reported from New York. Contributing were Thalia Beaty, David B. Caruso and Michelle L. Price in New York, Marina Villeneuve in Albany and Carolyn Thompson in Buffalo.
Thousands of migrants and refugees have flocked to Belarus' border with Poland, hoping to get to Western Europe, Many of them are now stranded at the frontier, setting up makeshift camps as Polish security forces watch them from behind a razor-wire fence and try to prevent them from entering the country. The European Union has accused the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, of aiding illegal border crossings in retaliation for EU sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging migration to Europe.

A look at what led to the standoff:

WHAT IS BEHIND THE CRISIS?

Belarus was rocked by months of massive protests following the August 2020 election that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko a sixth term in office. The opposition and the West rejected the result as a sham.

Belarusian authorities responded to the demonstrations with a fierce crackdown that saw more than 35,000 people arrested and thousands beaten by police.

The European Union and the U.S. reacted by imposing sanctions on Lukashenkos government.

Those restrictions were toughened after an incident in May when a passenger jet flying from Greece to Lithuania was diverted by Belarus to Minsk, where authorities arrested dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich. The EU called it air piracy and barred Belarusian carriers from its skies and cut imports of the countrys top commodities, including petroleum products and potash, an ingredient in fertilizer.

A furious Lukashenko shot back by saying he would no longer abide by an agreement to stem illegal migration, arguing that the EU sanctions deprived his government of funds needed to contain flows of migrants. Planes carrying migrants from Iraq, Syria and other countries began arriving in Belarus, and they soon headed for the borders with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

Pavel Latushka, a member of the Belarusian opposition, charged that state-controlled tourist agencies were involved in offering visa support to migrants and helping them drive to the border.

The EU accused Lukashenko of using the migrants as pawns in a hybrid attack against the 27-nation bloc in retaliation for the sanctions. Lukashenko denies encouraging the flow of migrants and said the EU is violating migrants' rights by denying them safe passage.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE BY EU COUNTRIES?

During the summer, Lithuania introduced a state of emergency to deal with an influx of migrants and strengthen its border with Belarus. It set up tent camps to accommodate the growing number of migrants.

In previous months, small groups of asylum-seekers tried to sneak into Lithuania, Poland and Latvia at night, using forest paths away from populated areas. This week, much larger groups gathered openly at the Polish border, and some people used shovels and wire cutters to try to break through a razor-wire fence at Poland's border.

Authorities in Warsaw estimated the crowds at about 3,000-4,000 and said they prevented hundreds of people from entering the country. Poland deployed riot police and other forces to bolster the border guards. Eight deaths have been confirmed at the Belarus-Poland border,, and temperatures have fallen below freezing at night.

The EU has made a strong show of solidarity with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. EU officials are expected to discuss another round of sanctions against Belarus, and European Council President Charles Michel said for the first time that the bloc would consider the possibility of financing physical infrastructure such as barriers or fences on the border.

Analysts say Lukashenkos heavy-handed approach would likely backfire.

Such brutal tactics would make Belarus toxic and delay the prospect of talks with the EU, said Artyom Shraybman, a Belarusian political analyst who was forced to leave the country under pressure from authorities. European politicians wont engage in talks under pressure.

Pavel Usau, head of the Center for Political Analysis and Prognosis based in Poland, also said Lukashenko is mistaken if he thinks he can force the EU into concessions.

Lukashenko expects the EU to give in to pressure and ask Poland to let migrants cross into Germany, Usau said. But the EU realizes that doing so would allow Lukashenko to emerge as the winner and encourage him to continue to take further such steps, raising the number of migrants to tens of thousands.

The Belarusian opposition has urged the EU to take even tougher measures, including a trade embargo and a ban on transit of cargo via Belarus.

WHAT IS RUSSIAS ROLE?

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Belarus has received strong support from its main ally, Russia, which has helped buttress Lukashenko's government with loans and political support.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the migrants flows resulted from the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Western-backed Arab Spring uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa. He challenged the EU to offer financial assistance to Belarus to deal with the influx.

At the same time, the Kremlin angrily rejected Poland's claim that Russia bears responsibility for the crisis.

Usau said Russia could step in as a mediator in the hope of improving ties with Germany and other EU nations.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Belarus is estimated to host between 5,000 and 20,000 migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa. Many have run out of money and grown increasingly desperate as the winter approaches. Belarusian residents are uneasy about their presence, raising pressure on the authorities to act.

Some observers expect Lukashenko to escalate the crisis and pressure the EU to ease sanctions.

As a minimum, Lukashenko wants to take revenge against the EU, and as a maximum he aims to soften the European sanctions that have dealt a painful blow to key Belarusian industries, said independent analyst Valery Karbalevich. "Belarusian authorities have tried unsuccessfully to persuade the EU to engage in talks and bargaining, and migrants are just an instrument in a hybrid attack by Minsk.

Lukashenko has nothing to lose," he added. "He's no longer worried about his reputation.

___

Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed.

-

Follow AP's migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration
ALBANY  A Utah man allegedly went on the dark web to pay roughly $16,000 in cryptocurrency to solicit the murder for hire of two people in Hoosick Falls in an apparent attempt to end a heated child custody dispute, according to federal prosecutors.

Christopher Pence, 41, of West Cedar City, was arrested on Oct. 27 after a tipster informed FBI agents that a person was attempting to recruit killers to carry out the would-be murders, according to complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Albany.

On Nov. 9, a federal grand jury in Albany indicted Pence on charges of use of a facility of interstate commerce in connection with a murder for hire.

The confidential tipster provided federal investigators with records and communications showing payments received as Pence tried to hire hit men through a site on the dark web, according to an Albany-based FBI agents affidavit. It said between July 16 and Aug. 9, an anonymous user on the site interacted with another user and a site administrator to arrange the killings in exchange for approximately $16,000 worth of Bitcoin.

"The anonymous user provided the site administrator with the names, address and photographs of the intended victims, as well as the

manner in which the killing should take place," the affidavit stated. "Specifically, the user advised that the killing should be made to look like an accident or botched robbery, and that, if possible, care should be taken to not harm any of the three children known to be in the care of the intended victims."

The intended victims told the FBI that Pence's family had legally adopted five of their children. They said there had been an "escalating dispute between the two families such that the intended victims desired to regain custody of their children and were involved in the reporting of Pence's family to local child welfare authorities, both of which reportedly angered Pence," the affidavit said.

"Furthermore, Pence and the intended victims did not agree on how the children should be raised or the personal choices

and lifestyle of the intended victims," the affidavit said.

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The would-be victims told investigators that they recognized photos Pence had allegedly provided to those he was allegedly trying to recruit to commit the murders. They were photos they had given Pence's family for use in a "baby book" for their children, the affidavit said.

On Oct. 27, the affidavit said, Pence admitted he had solicited the killing of the pair.

Pence, represented by Albany attorney Eric K. Schillinger, was initially arraigned before a federal judge in Utah who ordered him transferred to the Northern District of New York.
ALBANY  When Marc Fernich took on the criminal appeal of imprisoned NXIVM leader Keith Raniere in July, the onetime lawyer for Jeffrey Epstein said government shouldn't be in the business of policing morality.

Less than five months later, Fernich is no longer in the business of representing Raniere.

Court documents filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit show that Fernich  who did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday  is no longer part of Raniere's legal team, and that California-based attorney Joseph M. Tully is in.

Tully recently filed a $12 million lawsuit on behalf of NXIVM loyalist Marc Elliot against Starz over its four-part series "Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult." He's the latest in a revolving door of attorneys who have worked on Raniere's appeal.

In June 2019, a federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Raniere on all charges, including sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy and racketeering crimes. The former Halfmoon denizen and purported self-help guru known to followers as Vanguard" is serving a 120-year sentence in a federal facility outside Tucson, Ariz.

Raniere's legal team is being reshuffled just weeks after federal prosecutors in Brooklyn revealed a new development in the case: that an associate of the jailed Raniere allegedly possessed court-restricted evidence and sexually explicit photos of a victim.

Senior U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, who presided over Raniere's trial, had ordered that such pre-trial evidence was not to be shared by anyone outside the defense team. But prosecutors said Raniere associate Suneel Chakravorty possessed the information and planned to use it on Raniere's behalf. Chakravorty denied doing so.

The judge ordered all past and present attorneys for Raniere to give sworn declarations stating that they had not disclosed or shared the information with outside individuals.

At trial, Raniere was defended by attorneys Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, Paul DerOhannesian and Danielle Smith, the latter two based in Albany at the time. Raniere enlisted appellate lawyers that included Jennifer Bonjean, who successfully represented the comedian Bill Cosby in his appeal, as well as Steven Alan Metcalf II, Joseph McBride and Martin Tankleff.

Fernich joined Raniere's appeal in early July along with Jeffrey Lichtman, whose high-profile clients have included drug cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman Loera and John A. "Junior" Gotti, the son of the late Gambino crime family boss.

Lichtman told the Times Union on Thursday that he's no longer representing Raniere.

Fernich represented Epstein, the late Manhattan financier and notorious sexual predator who was found dead in his jail cell in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan in what was ruled a suicide on Aug. 10, 2019. Fernich was on Epstein's legal team at the time of his death, when he faced a long list of federal charges.

After taking Raniere's case, Fernich told the Times Union, "Personal autonomy and individual choice, however unorthodox, are essential values. To the extent Keith's prosecution infringed those values, I hope to help vindicate them. Government shouldn't be in the business of policing morality."

Just weeks into his representation of Raniere, Fernich asked Garaufis to adjourn a restitution hearing so the attorney could attend the funeral of a close friend, attorney Joel Winograd. The judge said no. At the hearing, witnesses later told the Times Union, Fernich told the judge it was a "lack of human decency" not to allow him to go. The witnesses said Garaufis picked up a tissue box and sarcastically suggested that Fernich use them  throwing it in his direction.

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So far, Tully's criticism of the judge is related to legal questions. In a brief filed with the Manhattan-based Second Circuit, Tully said that at trial, Garaufis erred in his instructions to the jury pertaining to Ranieres sex trafficking charges and the judge's definition of the term "commercial sex act."

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn are expected to respond by Jan. 5.

Raniere and five co-defendants were all convicted in the 2018 NXIVM case.

Nancy Salzman, 67, who co-founded NXIVM and its Executive Success Programs with Raniere in 1998, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison; she does not need to report to prison until Jan. 19. Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman, 42, the former Clifton Park resident who was NXIVM's longtime operations director and a principal financial supporter, is serving six years and nine months in a Philadelphia federal prison. Like Raniere, she is appealing her case.

Also convicted were former NXIVM members Allison Mack, 39, the former "Smallville" actress, and Lauren Salzman, 45, the company's former director of education and Nancy Salzman's daughter. Both women pleaded guilty to racketeering and racketeering conspiracy and cooperated with prosecutors. Mack is serving a three-year prison sentence in California. Lauren Salzman testified at trial as the government's star witness against Raniere, and received five years probation.

Another defendant, former NXIVM bookkeeper Kathy Russell, 63, formerly of Halfmoon, pleaded guilty to visa fraud. She received two years of probation.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union

ALBANY  A Canadian man was sentenced Wednesday to two years in prison for conspiring to steal trade secrets from the General Electric Co., federal authorities said.

Jean Patrice Delia, 46, of Montreal, pleaded guilty in December 2019 to conspiring with his business partner and co-defendant, Miguel Sernas, to compete against GE using trade secrets Delia stole from GE while employed by GE in Schenectady, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
ALBANY  State lawmakers have introduced a bill that would bar hospitals from garnishing wages and taking liens out on the homes of patients with back medical debt after a new report revealed the practice impacts thousands of New Yorkers a year.

While most hospitals in the state do not report filing liens on patients' homes, the practice is particularly common among certain hospital systems that sue patients for back-owed debt and win, with St. Peters Health Partners in Albany leading the pack, a new report from the Community Service Society found.

The median outstanding debt that triggers the lawsuits is $1,900, according to CSS, a nonprofit that has been investigating predatory medical debt collection practices in New York.

When a lien is filed on a persons home, they generally cannot sell the property without paying off the debt. It can also prevent them from refinancing or obtaining additional loans, such as a home equity loan.

So if that owners pipes burst in this coming winter, theyre not gonna be able to get a home equity loan to fix the pipes, said Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president of health initiatives at the Community Service Society and co-author of the report. If they need a car and their car breaks down, theyre not going to be able to get a car loan. So it really ruins peoples financial security, especially since peoples homes are typically their main asset and future economic security.

From 2017 to 2018, the last years for which data were available, 56 nonprofit hospitals in the state reported placing liens on the homes of 4,880 patients, the report from CSS found. St. Peters Health Partners placed the most liens during that period (955), followed by Northwell Health (830). Northwell stopped suing patients for back debt in 2019 after CSS began investigating the practice.

CSS found that the practice of taking liens out on patients' homes is most widespread among hospitals in just 15 counties, including four in the Capital Region. Albany Medical Center and its affiliates filed liens on the homes of 482 patients during this period, Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville filed 358 liens, and Ellis Hospital in Schenectady filed 230, the report shows.

During this same period, the hospitals that placed liens collectively received over $442 million in state Indigent Care Pool (ICP) funds that are awarded to help hospitals offset the costs of uncompensated care and provide financial assistance to patients who need it. That is an estimated 48 times more than the medical debt they sought to secure through filing liens on patients homes, CSS found.

Hospitals have historically defended the practice, calling it a last resort thats taken after all other avenues have been explored.

We provide financial aid resources to patients, make multiple attempts to contact patients with outstanding payments by mail and phone, and provide ample time for patients to respond before turning the debt over to a collection agency, said Sue Ford, a spokesperson for Albany Med. Ultimately, this is the absolute last resort in our effort to collect payment after all other options have been exhausted. Funding, of course, is critical to continue providing the services our community expects and deserves.

Bea Grause, president of the Healthcare Association of New York State, which represents hospitals across the state, said New York hospitals have a long record of advocating for and implementing patient protections.

"The report ignores the extensive work by hospitals to assist patients to be covered for services provided and to further insulate them from personal liability if they qualify for financial assistance," she said in a statement. "All of this, as well as additional communications with patients, precede use of the courts for patients deemed able but unwilling to pay."

A spokesperson for St. Peters Health Partners said Wednesday that the hospital system no longer files lawsuits or liens on patients property as part of its efforts to recover unpaid bills.

"The data being used for the report is several years old and is not an accurate picture of our billing practices today," Robert Webster said. "Collecting payment for the care and services we provide is necessary to ensure St. Peters Health Partners has the resources to continue providing high-quality health care to our community. However, we consider each patient on a case-by-case basis and have numerous exceptions in place for low-income and uninsured patients."

Webster did not respond to a question about when specifically St. Peter's Health Partners stopped filing lawsuits and liens, but a previous CSS analysis found it was still doing so as recently as December 2020.

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Nathan Littauer Hospital echoed the sentiments of Albany Med, HANYS and St. Peter's Health Partners.

"Nathan Littauer finds this public report misleading," the hospital said in a statement. "The report ignores the extensive work Nathan Littauer engages in to assist patients in addressing their financial concerns."

Previous analyses by CSS, including one released this past March, found that medical debt lawsuits in Albany County disproportionately impact low-income communities of color, with wage garnishments impacting individuals working in fast food, retail and other industries that would render them eligible for financial assistance under state law.

As pressure increases on health care providers to address social determinants of health such as housing and food insecurity, at least 10 states have barred the practice of placing liens on primary residences under any circumstance.

Legislation proposed this year by Sen. Gustavo Rivera and Assemblymember Richard Gottfried would bar New York hospitals from placing liens or from garnishing wages when they win court judgments in medical debt collection cases.

The bill had 16 co-sponsors as of Wednesday morning, including Senate Finance Committee Chair Liz Krueger.

"The concept that really sick people would go to a hospital, get the care they needed we hope, and then get hit with bills that they couldn't afford to pay and then surprise  had liens put on their home or wages garnished? This is outrageous, Krueger said. In a humane society this is outrageous.

She added that she believes the bill will pass in the upcoming legislative session.

Benjamin said the practice appears to have continued unabated throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Another report released by her organization last January found that hospitals had sued more than 5,300 patients for medical debt during the 10-month height of the pandemic when courts were effectively closed to the public. Few patients actually wind up defending themselves when their cases go to court, and many are even unaware theyve been sued in the first place, CSS found.

They think its OK to go ahead and sue patients and to resort to these extraordinary collection practices, she said. "And its sort of on us and really our state elected officials to say, No, thats not OK. 
TROY The man facing retrial in a 2017 quadruple slaying in Lansingburgh repeatedly questioned a medical examiner Wednesday about an unexpected topic of court debate  the skin tone of one of his alleged victims.

Would you say she was darker than me or lighter than me? James White asked forensic pathologist Michael Sikirica about the complexion of slain 22-year-old Brandi Mells.

White, 41, representing himself at his first-degree murder and robbery trial in Rensselaer County Court, is accused of fatally stabbing Mells; Shanta Myers, 36; and Myers' two children, Jeremiah Myers, 11, and Shanise Myers, 5, inside a basement apartment at 158 Second Ave.

The propertys landlord discovered the bodies on Dec. 26, 2017  five days after prosecutors allege White and since-convicted cohort Justin Mann killed the victims in a home invasion that netted video game controllers and a television.

Sikirica, a forensic pathologist who said he has conducted more than 10,000 autopsies, testified Wednesday to establish the manner of death of the victims. While such testimony is typically noncontroversial, it became combative during Whites cross-examination of Sikirica.

If you had to make a comparison to my skin tone, would you say that is darker or lighter? White asked the medical examiner.

Would you say that the complexion of people of African-American descent come in many shades of color? White added. Mells was Black, as is White. It was not immediately clear why White continued to ask questions about the slain womans skin tone. It began after Sikirica testified that Mells had an abrasion to her cheek that would have been there before she was killed.

Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf objected to Whites questions. County Judge Debra Young sustained the objections.

The defendant repeatedly cut off Sikirica. At one point, White asked Sikirica a question, tried to pull the question back and was told by the judge he could not do that.

White then said under his breath: Naturally.

Later, outside the presence of the jury, Hauf told the judge that White was making similar remarks  such as responding to the judge's rulings by muttering "shocking or "figures"  that jurors could possibly hear.

I heard him on one occasion make a comment today, which is inappropriate, the judge said. I know Mr. White believed that the court is biased but it appears his issue is with the courts decisions that dont go his way.

Young told White to refrain from uttering such comments about her rulings.

It was a slip of the tongue and Ill do my best to make sure it doesnt happen again, White told the judge.

Thank you, the judge said.

But White kept talking.

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He said he respects Youngs decision based on the law.

The problem is  and Ive continually illustrated is  this court has for the last..., White began. He stopped and said: You know what? Its not even worth it. Withdrawn.

White also repeatedly challenged Sikirica over the doctors testimony that it would be highly unlikely for only one person to be involved in the crime. That last part could undercut White's claim that Mann acted alone.

White also questioned Sikirica over the temperature of the crime scene, the date that the victims died and rigor mortis. White was trying to show that the time frame of the murders could have been misread due to cold weather.

Now, Im no expert on cadavers. I do have some knowledge of shopping for meat in the frozen section of the supermarket, the defendant volunteered at one point.

Hauf objected. The judge sustained the objection.

White then asked Sikirica if hes ever bought meat in the supermarket. Sikirica said yes. White then struck his question.

Rensselaer County prosecutors allege that on Dec. 21, 2017, White and Mann rode a bus from Schenectady to Troy, went to the apartment and, once inside, tied up the victims using sheets and stabbed them in the neck.

Mann, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, is expected to be the prosecutions star witness against White.

Whites first trial ended in a mistrial as the COVID-19 pandemic was exploding in April 2020. The retrial resumes Friday.
Children ages 5 through 11 who receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Dec. 19 can be entered in a drawing to win a full scholarship to any two- or four-year SUNY or CUNY college or university, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.

The scholarship includes tuition, room and board. Ten winners will be announced each week beginning Nov. 24, with a total of 50 winners selected over the five-week period.

"Finally, the COVID-19 vaccine is here for young New Yorkers age 5 through 11," Hochul said in a statement. "Our critical work to make the vaccine accessible and available to all eligible children and their families is underway - and we will creatively support and celebrate those who get vaccinated."

In order to be eligible, children must be between the ages of 5 to 11 and be residents of New York state. Pursuant to federal law, children must be lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens in order to be eligible.

Federal COVID-19 relief and outreach funds will be used to cover the cost of the vaccination incentive program.

Parents and guardians can enter on behalf of their eligible children here or go directly to https://www.governor.ny.gov/programs/vaccinate-educate-graduate. Those without internet access may call 1-833-697-4829 to submit an entry over the phone. New York will administer the random drawing each week, and winners will be verified by the state Department of Health and Higher Education Services Corp.

Only one entry per child will be accepted, and children must have received their first COVID-19 vaccination at least one day prior to their entry. Entries will be carried over through all the Vaccinate, Educate, Graduate program's drawings. More rules can be found here.

Parents and guardians are also encouraged to visit the state's new website for information, frequently asked questions, and new resources about the COVID-19 vaccine and children.

Vaccines for this age group may be administered by private doctors, county health departments, some health centers and pharmacies.

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Parents and guardians can visit vaccines.gov, text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find locations.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is the immunization authorized for this age group.

New York's mass vaccination sites are currently being utilized for people aged 12 and older, while Vax To School pop-ups are focused on 12- to 17-year-olds. Additional programming and events focused on 5- to 11-year-olds will be announced soon.
ILION  News that the historic Remington firearms company is moving its headquarters to Georgia has reignited debate over whether New York's tough gun laws are pushing out such companies.

Officials at RemArms, the venerable gun maker's new owners, though, stressed that they also plan to expand manufacturing in Ilion, where the company was started in 1816.

"In Ilion, we are increasing production and attempting to hire more employees. The entire executive staff have spent a lot of time in Ilion, we are very pleased with the work being done and are confident we will be able to increase production in Ilion as needed," company officials said in an email in response to an inquiry about the new Georgia headquarters.

While not abandoning Ilion, they also made it clear that they wanted to be based in Georgia because of New York's tough gun control laws.

"The decision to locate in Georgia is very simple, the state of Georgia is not only a business-friendly state, its a firearms-friendly state," they said.

Even though Ilion is considered the original Remington site, the actual headquarters has recently been in Alabama, where the company's bankruptcy was filed last year.

More than 700 people worked at the Ilion plant when the old owners went into bankruptcy. The new owners, a consortium of investors known as the Roundhill Group, purchased the company and changed its official name to RemArms.

About 220 unionized workers are now at the plant, said Phil Smith, spokesman for the United Mine Workers of America, which represents the employees. It was unclear how many management employees are there.

The company's new CEO took an indirect swipe at New York's gun control laws when he announced the upcoming move to Georgia earlier in the week.

We are very excited to come to Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry, RemArms CEO Ken DArcy said in a prepared statement regarding the move.

In addition to their corporate headquarters, the company plans a new manufacturing plant as well as an R&D center at their new home in LaGrange, which is about an hour from Atlanta.

Even though RemArms cited Georgia's gun-friendly laws, it's not clear that New Yorks laws alone were enough to prompt the headquarters going to Georgia.

Manufacturers have been leaving upstate New York for decades, citing high taxes and tough regulations.

The state of Georgia and local government offered Remington a variety of inducements to move to the Peach State. Local governments in Herkimer County, though, also offered a tax break for the plant to keep operating.

But at least one local lawmaker said New York's gun laws may have been a factor.

New York state policies under one party Democrat rule, which are unkind to businesses in general and have directly singled out gun makers, play a substantial role in Remingtons decision to look to a more welcoming state for expansion, State Sen. Peter Oberacker, an Otsego County Republican whose district is near the factory, said in a statement about the move.

Remington earlier in the year had weighed in against a proposal, which has since been signed into law, that could hold gun makers liable if it is found that they irresponsibly fuel the criminal gun market.

Remington went into bankruptcy in part due to lawsuits in which survivors of the 2012 Sandy Hook school massacre in Newtown, Conn., sued the company. One of their assault-style rifles known as the Bushmaster was used in the school shooting.

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The firm was also carrying a heavy debt load from when it was purchased in a leveraged buyout years earlier.

At least one other company left New York over the years citing strict gun laws.

Kahr Arms, which had been based in Rockland County, expanded and then moved to Pennsylvania in 2013 after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed through the SAFE Act gun control law months after the Sandy Hook massacre. Kahr at the time said it wasn't the actual law, which banned assault-style weapons, but the rapidity with which it passed that worried them. Company executives said that made them worry about what other legal or regulatory obstacles they might face going forward.

Kahr started business in the 1990s and was founded by Justin Moon, son of South Korean evangelist Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church.

Founded in Ilion in 1816, Remington is one of the U.S.s oldest and best-known firearms makers.

Purchase of the company last year was spearheaded by Richmond Italia, who operated a large paintball company in Quebec.

It wasnt immediately clear what role Italia now has at RemArms.

DArcy has worked in a variety of positions including CEO of Crosman air rifle manufacturer and Bolle, a French firm that makes goggles and sunglasses as well a ski and bike helmets.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 248 6070 @RickKarlinTU
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP)  A Missouri man repeatedly denied suggestions from prosecutors Wednesday that he fatally injured his wife by jumping on her back or strangling her during an argument two years ago.

Joseph Elledge testified for the second day in his first-degree murder trial in the death of 28-year-old Mengqi Ji, who he married after she came to the U.S. from China to study at the University of Missouri.

The defense rested its case Wednesday afternoon, and closing arguments were scheduled to begin Thursday morning.

During nearly eight hours of testimony on Tuesday, Elledge said Ji died after she hit her head when he pushed her during an argument on Oct. 8, 2019. He said she went to bed and that he discovered her dead the next morning.

On Wednesday, Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight suggested during cross-examination that Ji died when Elledge hurt her during an argument that began when he was giving her a massage, KOMU-TV reported.

At one point, Knight asked, Do you want to tell the jury how you really killed your wife, Joe?

The prosecution accused Elledge of strangling Ji on the bed. Knight noted urine was found on the sheets, adding that people often urinate when being killed or strangled.

Did you jump on top of her back? Did you strangle her? Knight asked. Elledge repeatedly denied hurting Ji during the massage.

Jis remains, which were found in a park near Columbia in March, had four broken ribs. Elledges defense attorney has suggested the ribs were broken when animals stepped on her remains.

Evidence presented during the trial has detailed the couples difficult and deteriorating relationship, which was marked by frequent arguments. Elledge testified that he and his wife were both considering divorce.

Elledge has admitted that he put his wife's body in the trunk of her car after she died and waited nearly two days before driving to Rock Bridge State Park about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Columbia with the couple's young daughter in the vehicle.

He said he dug a grave and buried her and reported her missing after he returned home.

Knight said Elledge put their daughter to bed and played upbeat music because he was happy a problem was off his hands. Elledge responded that he played the music to soothe his daughter.

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Elledge also acknowledged that he sent a text to Jis phone that night because "I thought people would expect me to do that.

After Elledge testified, Keith Norton, a forensic pathologist at the Boone County Medical Examiners Office who performed Ji's autopsy, testified that he was not able to find a cause of death but had confirmed that her death was caused by another person.

Norton said it was highly unlikely" that the broken ribs he found on Ji's body were caused by a fall in the couple's home.

Defense attorneys have argued that Ji died from a subdural hematoma after she was pushed by Elledge in the couple's kitchen. Norton said a subdural hematoma, which is a buildup of blood between the skull and the brain, can occur from a fall and can be fatal.

___

This story has been corrected to show that Mengqi Ji had four broken ribs, not three.
VALLEY FALLS  This out-of-the-way village of less than 500 people, with its one-room library and handful of streets with Victorian-era homes, has few commercial businesses.

But there is definitely one enterprise it does not want - pot sales.

Village officials opted out of the newly passed recreational marijuana law in its entirety, appearing to be among the first Capital Region municipalities to do so.

The village of Valley Falls, which is in the town of Pittstown bordering the Hoosic River, announced on Facebook Wednesday that the board passed a law to prohibit the licensing and establishment of cannabis retail dispensaries and on-site consumption venues. The law was passed on Oct. 21, they wrote, though it is subject to referendum.

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The mayor of Valley Falls did not respond to a request for comment last week.

Other Capital Region municipalities have opted out of parts of the new cannabis laws, or taken steps to explore opting out.

The Capital Region's largest town, Colonie, proposed legislation over the summer to ban on-site marijuana consumption venues, which the town board unanimously approved in September. The town of Ballston also banned on-site consumption in September. Both towns are still allowing marijuana dispensaries.

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Other municipalities are following suit, with scheduled public hearings to discuss fully or partially opting out of the law scheduled in the coming weeks in Clifton Park, Bethlehem, Guilderland and more. Municipalities statewide have until Dec. 31 to opt out of allowing such businesses, and have the choice to opt back in at a later date. However, municipalities will not have the ability to opt out after the December deadline passes.

Approved marijuana retailers are not expected to open until next year at the earliest, although the state has yet to finish writing the regulations, taxing and license structure that will govern them.
BETHLEHEM  A newly opened store at Kenwood Avenue's Four Corners was damaged after a pickup truck in reverse careened into it Wednesday night, town police said.

Police said they were called to the Fifth Corner Goods and Gifts in Delmar at 5:42p.m. for a report of a vehicle into a building. The emergency responders found the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado partially inside the business.
The Capital Region is celebrating America's veterans this week, including special observances Thursday, Nov. 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I in 1918.

Clifton Park: State Sen. Jim Tedisco (R-Glenville) will induct into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, Clifton Park resident Emil Baker, a small business owner and a decorated U.S. Army Vietnam War combat veteran. at 3 p.m. Thursday at Tediscos District Office, Plank Road, Clifton Park.

Lake George: Fort William Henry in Lake George hosts a Veterans Day Field of Flags Ceremony and musket salute at 11 a.m. Thursday. The field is expanded to include more than 8,000 flags on the west lawn with the name of each veteran or active-duty military personnel displayed on large signs placed around The Field of Flags. Service member names are grouped by military branch, chronologically and then alphabetically. (Also of interest, the Museum is now open year-round.)

Rotterdam: The Town of Rotterdam and the Rotterdam Veterans Committee will host the 62nd Annual Veterans Day Service at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Rotterdam Town Hall Monument. Over a dozen veterans and military organizations will participate in the ceremony along with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1895 who will host an open house at 609 Draper Avenue in Rotterdam. The service will include a wreath ceremony, three-volley salute and remembrance. All are welcome.

Watervliet: The city of Watervliet will hold its Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. Thursday at Veterans Memorial Park, located at 16th Street and Second Avenue, Watervliet Mayor Charles Patricelli announced. United States Army Lt. Colonel Michael Hutchinson and U.S. Army Captain Traci St. Denis will be the guest speakers at the event.

Ballston Spa: The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors and the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency resume its monthly Honor Deceased Veterans Program at noon Tuesday, Nov. 16 in the Board of Supervisors Room in the County Office Building at 40 McMaster St., Ballston Spa with a ceremony honoring Robert G. Mitchell. Mitchell was the former Veterans Services Agency Director and founder of the Countys Honor Deceased Veterans Program.

Paul Buckowski/Times Union

Deal: Free car washes for active, retired military personnel

For the 16th consecutive year, Hoffman Car Wash and Hoffman Jiffy Lube all active and retired military personnel will receive a free car wash at any of the 19 Exterior or Full Service Hoffman Car Wash locations on Thursday. Also, Advanced Dentistry of Clifton Park is holding its first Veterans Day event Friday. Twenty veterans are scheduled to come to the office to receive a free dental cleaning, exam, and xrays as a thank you for their services.

Paul Buckowski/Times Union

Earlier this week

The Shenendehowa Central School District held a dedication ceremony Wednesday at the High School, continuing on the annual tradition that was postponed due to COVID-19 last year. Over 250 students, teachers, administrators and guests were in attendance for the event. Guests were treated to musical performances by the Mostly A Cappella Choir, High School East Wind Ensemble, and High School Chamber Orchestra.

A Veterans Day celebration was held outside at Duanesburg Elementary School Tuesday morning. Nearly 20 local veterans attended and were greeted with patriotic songs from the high school band and cheering elementary students holding handmade signs and waving American flags.
CHICAGO (AP)  The Chicago woman arrested in the U.S. last week on a murder conspiracy charge in the 2014 slaying of her mother in Indonesia will remain locked up after her attorney waived a detention hearing Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle agreed to waive the hearing in which attorneys would have argued over whether Heather Mack should be allowed to post bond. Mack, who served seven years behind bars in Indonesia for killing Sheila von Wiese-Mack, sat in the courtroom wearing a orange jail-issued jump suit and shackled at the ankles.

Norgle said Mack's attorney can request another hearing at any time, but if no other hearing is scheduled she will remain in federal custody at least until her next court appearance on Jan. 18.

Attorney Keith Spielfogel did not explain his reasons for deciding against a detention hearing and Mack did not say anything other than to confirm that she did not wish to make a statement.

In an indictment unsealed last week, Mack, 26, and her former boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, were charged with conspiring to commit murder in a foreign country and obstruction of justice in von Wiese-Mack's killing. The maximum sentence on the murder conspiracy charge is life in prison and the obstruction of justice charge carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Schaefer remains in prison in Indonesia after being convicted of killing von Wiese-Mack at a luxury resort on Bali then stuffing her body in a suitcase that they left in the trunk of a taxi.

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Mack was released after serving a little more than seven years of a 10-year sentence and quickly deported to the United States. She was arrested on arrival at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Mack's 6-year-old daughter, Stella, arrived in the U.S. with her and court records show that a Cook County judge issued an emergency order appointing one of Mack's attorneys as the girl's guardian.

Mack appeared in court later that day, where she pleaded not guilty to the charges. At the time, Norgle ordered that she remain in custody until the hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

According to the indictment, Mack and Schaefer exchanged messages about how and when to kill" von Wiese-Mack, and tried to cover up the crime by removing the clothing they wore when they did it.
ALBANY  The State Liquor Authority early next year will end a controversial, 12-year-old program that allows attorneys filing liquor-license applications on behalf of clients to self-certify the completeness and accuracy of the applications and move them faster through the approval process.

The agency's board, ruling Wednesday after a two-hour discussion with industry representatives in Albany and remotely from New York City that was at times contentious, voted unanimously to cancel the self-certification program. Board members called it underused, unfair to those who cannot pay a premium to a lawyer for self-certification and fundamentally broken because the majority of self-certified applications, when fully scrutinized, are found to have as many errors as regular applications.

"I don't think there's any choice but to eliminate the program," said SLA Chairman Vincent Bradley, who voted to end self-certification in 90 days, to allow time for in-process applications to move through the system and for those being prepared under the program to be filed.

Commissioner Lily Fan, who originally advocated for a 60-day window, later agreed with Bradley's recommendation for three months; the third board member, Commissioner Greeley Ford, voted to end the program but maintained his position that six months would be a better end date. With the majority prevailing, the last day for filing self-certified applications is Feb. 8, the board said during the meeting.

Bradley said the agency will look at ways to speed approval times for all applicants, is open to industry comments and suggestions and will organize a meeting in the coming weeks between the SLA and stakeholders about improving the application process.

"We recognize we are in a crisis," Bradley said. "We recognize its taking too long."

The self-certification program was launched in August 2009 to address a licensing backlog then running at 35 to 40 weeks, according to a Nov. 4 memo tracing the program's history by the SLA's general counsel, Gary Meyerhoff. It was twice extended, for six months each time, and technically should have ended in early 2011 but remained in effect for more than a decade despite lacking official authorization, according to the Meyerhoff memo.

Strong support during Wednesday's meeting for continuing the program came from multiple New York City licensees who have benefited from self-certified applications and the veteran attorneys representing them. Because state law generally does not allow the granting in New York City of temporary liquor licenses, which are approved faster, most applicants would have to wait six to nine months for a permanent license before they could open for business without a self-certification option, operators told the board.

However, the self-certification advocates said, most New York City landlords are unwilling to allow more than two or three months of free rent at the beginning of a lease while the liquor license is in process, meaning restaurateurs face paying three to seven months' rent, often in the range of $20,000 to $40,000 monthly, without having any operating income.

Opposition to continuing the self-certification program was expressed by Scott Wexler, executive director for more than 35 years of the Empire State Restaurant & Tavern Association. The trade group's several thousand members are generally outside of New York City and are thus eligible for temporary permits until a full liquor license comes through.

A critic of the program since its inception because he believes to to be unfair, Wexler acknowledged to the SLA board that self-certification has undeniably helped some licensees over the years. But, he said, the fact that so many of the program's applications contain significant errors, despite being filed by lawyers who are under oath and subject to perjury penalties, means self-certification has proven unworkable and another approach needs to be tried.

"It's clear that with the limited resources the state has given the authority to run all of its operations, you don't have the additional staff that would be needed to bring this program into compliance even if it wasn't as unfair as it is on its face," Wexler told the board.

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Also in opposition to the program was John Springer, a consultant and former bar owner based on Long Island who said he has advised thousands of clients on navigating the process for applying for a liquor license. He is not an attorney. Over the summer Springer issued a formal challenge, known as a request for a declaratory ruling, to the self-certification program, arguing that the agency's 2009 implementation of it was invalid because the SLA did not follow the formal rulemaking process in the state's Administrative Procedures Act.

The legal arguments underlying Springer's challenge to self-certification, and as rebutted in Meyerhoff's Nov. 4 memo, are dense and nuanced, coming down in part to what the definition of a "rule" is under state law and whether the self-certification program "significantly affects" the public.

Springer's formal challenge to self-certification resulted in a September request from the agency's licensing bureau that the SLA board reconsider the program. In the lead-up to Wednesday's meeting, memos from internal critics  including the former deputy commissioner of licensing, who left the agency last week for what Bradley described as a "tremendous opportunity" in the private sector, and the licensing manager who has been in charge of the self-certification program since 2013  were posted on a dedicated page on the SLA website labeled Full Board review of Attorney Self-Certification Program. They describe the program as unfair because of its two-tier system and unreliable because when self-certified applications are fully scrutinized, "they contain just as many mistakes and errors as non-certified applications" but are allowed to continue in the approval process.

Springer's request for a declaratory ruling was quickly denied Wednesday by the board, who said the meeting was the wrong forum to consider it and that doing so would set a precedent encouraging future misplaced challenges. Further, the board said, it considered Springer's objection to their denial moot, because they intended to vote on the program later in the meeting.

He left the meeting, saying later via email that he will be "filing a court challenge next month."

In a subsequent blog post, Springer wrote that his lawsuit will assert the SLA's 2009 creation of the program was illegal, saying, This isnt over. They had no right to do this without drafting guidelines, holding hearings and publishing them. The reason that the law requires programs like this to go through a formal process before adoption is precisely because of what happened here.
Farmington, WV (26555)

Today

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low around 35F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies with a few showers after midnight. Low around 35F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 19th annual list of Military Friendly Employers has been released on www.militaryfriendly.com and will be published in the December 2021 issue of G.I. Jobs magazine.

Humana earned the #1 Military Friendly Employer ranking in the largest company category.

"Humana is proud to serve the military community, as we have over the past 25 years, and is honored to be recognized as a Military Friendly Employer," said Chris Hunter, President of Humana's Group, Military and Specialty Segment.

Combined Insurance earned top honors in the $1 billion to $5 billion dollar annual revenue category, while Premise Health was number one among middle-market firms. Geostabilization International took top honors in the small to midsize firms and The Citadel took the number one spot among nonprofit organizations.

The Home Depot and USAA have been rated as Military Friendly Employers in all 19 years since the list started. ManTech, Travelers, CDW, Dyncorp, Norfolk Southern, American Electric Power, Applied Materials, AT&T, BNSF Railway, Cintas, Schneider, Southern Company, State Farm, Southwest Airlines, GE, J.B. Hunt, Union Pacific Railroad and Lockheed Martin have been designated a Military Friendly Employer in at least 15 of the 19 years.

"We're grateful for this honor and proud to stand behind service members and their families," said Erin Izen, Director of Workforce Development & Military Relations for The Home Depot.

IT firms led the way, representing 12% of Military Friendly designated employers. Defense and healthcare/pharma each comprised 11% of the designated employers this year.

Geographically, Military Friendly Employers identified Texas as their top hiring region for veterans with Virginia, California, North Carolina, Florida, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio, New York, and Arizona rounding out the Top 10.

For further information on the Military Friendly Employers list, contact mf2021@militaryfriendly.com.

About Military Friendly

Military Friendly is the standard that measures an organization's commitment, effort, and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for the military community. Over 1,500 organizations compete annually for Military Friendly designation. Military Friendly ratings are owned by Viqtory, Inc., a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. Viqtory is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or the federal government. Results are produced via a rules-based algorithm. The data-driven Military Friendly lists and methodology can be found at https://www.militaryfriendly.com/mfcguide/.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nations-top-military-friendly-employers-announced-301421601.html

SOURCE Military Friendly
(The Center Square)  Republican Pennsylvania senators approved two gun bills this week that Gov. Tom Wolf already has promised to veto.

Senate Bill 448 adds to an existing preemption statute by prohibiting municipalities, of which more than 2,500 exist in Pennsylvania, from enacting firearm ordinances that contradict state law. Senate Bill 565, meanwhile, would legalize permitless concealed carry.

The Pennsylvania Constitution is unequivocally clear  the rights of the citizens to bear arms shall not be questioned, said Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Clearfield, who sponsored SB 448. No municipalities can enact an ordinance infringing on that right.

Langerholc said local officials have adopted firearm ordinances in recent years that brazenly contradict the states preemption law. Individual residents, however, often lack the time and resources to challenge these regulations.

Dont get mired in all of these ancillary issues, Langerholc said Tuesday on the Senate floor. "This isnt about further gun restriction or allowing individuals to carry, what have you. This is about what the existing law and why municipalities, townships, counties cant seem to follow that law. That should give all of us cause for concern.

All but one Democrat voted against the measures and lambasted the majority party for dismissing local control and turning a blind eye to the 1,600 gun-related deaths that occur in Pennsylvania every year. Wolf, in a statement issued hours before the chamber voted, called the bills dangerous and warned of dismantling the states system for responsible gun ownership.

We need to stop this nonsense  we should question why we would want anyone who hasnt undergone a background check to carry a concealed weapon, Wolf said. "We should question politicians who turn a blind eye to the fact that states without concealed carry permits have an 11% higher rate of homicide than those with discretion.

Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Greensburg, said the bills dont change existing rules that require background checks for handgun purchases. They also pointed to FBI data that purports a link between gun ownership and higher rates of community safety.

No criminal has ever said, I want to go commit assault and murder  but I have to wait for my license to carry to come in,  said Sen. Cris Dush, R-Wellsboro, who sponsored SB 565. But every day, honest Pennsylvanians who want to carry a gun simply to come home safe at night are forced to wait for their permit so they can carry legally.

Twenty-one other states allow permitless carry, including Pennsylvanias neighbor West Virginia. It is unlikely the Keystone State will join the ranks so long as Wolf remains in office. His term expires in 2022.

Pennsylvanians deserve safety, Wolf said. Republicans are dealing them peril with this irresponsible bill.

The bills now head to the House for consideration.
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Five bald eagles were found acting strangely and seemingly sick in northern Maryland, prompting an investigation by state wildlife officials
Man dies after being pinned beneath tractor he was driving

A 50-year-old man has died after he was pinned beneath the tractor he was driving in central Michigan
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will ask lawmakers to delay a requirement to hold back third graders who dont meet reading benchmarks but said the state must strengthen efforts to boost math and reading scores
[November 11, 2021] 2021 AWI Let's Get Fit Tour, Miami Beach!

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2021 AWI Let's Get Fit (LGF) Tour, powered by Advanced Wearables Inc, will make its third and final Florida stop on Saturday, November 13th prior to heading West toward California. Local fitness trainers from Miami Beach will compete. One will be awarded and funded with an opportunity to provide FREE group fitness classes to their local community, paid for by Advanced Wearables Inc, a socially conscious health & fitness wearables-tech company. With help from nutritionists, trainers, doctors and motivational speakers, AWI Let's Get Fit Tour is on a mission to inspire people to work toward the healthiest versions of themselves. The AWI LGF Tour California finale will include the grand opening of AWIFIT Power Studios in Encino, as well as its December 11th Venice Beach event where the 2021 AWI Super Trainer of the Year will be named. The City of Miami Beach will proclaim November 13, 2021 AWI Let's Get Fit Day, AWI's third such honor in under two weeks. The City of Pembroke Pines announced a similar honor on November 1st, as did the City of Naples on November 10th.



What: AWI Let's Get Fit Tour

Date: Saturday, 11/13/21

Time: 5:30pm

Where: Carillon Miami Wellness Resort

6801 Collins Ave.

Miami Beach, FL. 33141

Why: "We currently find ourselves in the middle of an already existing health crisis exacerbated by recent events that have made it difficult for our neighbors to get out and exercise. This tour is about encouraging people to rethink one's health and get moving. It's also about giving back," said Abigail Aboitiz, AWI Founder. Advanced Wearables Inc is home of the AWI Wireless EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) Powersuit, the gym you wear.

AWI Powersuit allows for full range of movement and a more efficient workout than traditional exercise. Controlled by an app on a smartphone or tablet, the AWI Powersuit delivers 85 contractions per second to 10 major muscle groups covering up to 98% of skeletal muscle tissue yielding results of multiple hours of traditional training in 20 minutes. AWI EMS Powersuit can be integrated into traditional exercise such as strength, aerobic, stretching and balance. Enter to win an AWI Powersuit. https://lgft.awifit.com/miami/ AWI is calling on local fitness trainers with a similar passion to join the movement!

https://lgft.awifit.com/trainers/ Follow AWI

Twitter: @awifit247

Instagram: @awifit247

Facebook: @awifitgo View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2021-awi-lets-get-fit-tour-miami-beach-301422541.html SOURCE Advanced Wearables Inc

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[November 11, 2021] AIMCo Announces Sale of Eolia Renovables

EDMONTON, AB, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Alberta Investment Management Corporation, ("AIMCo"), on behalf of certain of its clients, announced today the sale of its 97.33% ownership stake in Eolia Renovables de Inversiones, S.C.R., S.A ("Eolia" or the "Company") to ENGIE SA ("ENGIE") and Credit Agricole Assurances ("CAA"). Eolia is a leading independent power producer in the Spanish renewable energy sector, engaged in the development, construction and operation of wind farms and solar photovoltaic plants. The Company currently manages a 899 MW portfolio of renewable energy assets with long-term contracted revenues under the Spanish Renewables regulatory regime, and has maintained an attractive renewables project pipeline of 1.2 GW in Spain. AIMCo purchased a majority position in Eolia in 2019, and over the course of its holding period has implemented industry and governance best practices, including the recruitment of highly respected and qualified industry authorities to join AIMCo's investment professionals on the board of directors. Working closely with Eolia's strong management eam, AIMCo expanded the number of employees at Eolia, adding core management capabilities that have helped the organization successfully meet the demands and challenges of a business that has grown rapidly through opportunistic M&A and in-house development.



"Since its acquisition of Eolia, AIMCo focused its efforts on collaborating with the management team in establishing a market leader. Today, Eolia is one of the largest independent renewable power producers in the country, with a proven track record of operational excellence and ESG best practices. Eolia's success has meant that it has attracted significant market interest and the outcome of this sales process represents an outstanding financial outcome for AIMCo's clients in support of their long-term investment objectives," said Ben Hawkins, Senior Vice President, Infrastructure and Renewable Resources, at AIMCo. "Today's announcement is indicative of the important role that the renewables sector plays within European energy markets. AIMCo remains committed to investing on behalf of our clients in the long-term potential of both renewable and broader energy transition opportunities globally. The partnership of ENGIE and CAA, two globally recognized leaders in clean energy development, are well-positioned to lead Eolia through the next chapters in the Company's development."

Completion of the transaction is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions including merger control clearance from relevant competition authorities, and is expected by Q1 2022. AIMCo was advised by Cantor Fitzgerald and Linklaters. ABOUT ALBERTA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT CORPORATION AIMCo is one of Canada's largest and most diversified institutional investment managers with more than $150 billion of assets under management. AIMCo invests globally on behalf of 32 pension, endowment and government funds in the Province of Alberta. For more information about AIMCo please visit www.aimco.ca or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aimco-announces-sale-of-eolia-renovables-301421850.html SOURCE Alberta Investment Management Corporation

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[November 11, 2021] Artificial Intelligence in the Fight against Climate Change: A new report presented at COP26

Two researchers from Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, have contributed to a major report offering specific recommendations on how AI can help mitigate climate challenges.

David Rolnick , Mila core academic member and Assistant Professor at McGill University , is one of the lead authors of the report.

Mila researcher Sasha Luccioni also contributed to the report as one of the project authors, focusing on the responsible development, deployment, and governance of AI in the context of climate change. MONTREAL, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - A new report produced by the Centre for AI & Climate and Climate Change AI for the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), outlines the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to power climate action and strategy. Earlier this week, the report, Climate Change and AI: Recommendations for Government, was presented at COP26 in Glasgow, the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The report, co-authored by 15 leading AI researchers from around the world, calls for governments and policy-makers to expedite AI-driven climate solutions.



David Rolnick, Canada CIFAR AI Chair and a Co-founder and Chair of Climate Change AI, is one of the report's lead authors alongside Climate Change AI's Priya Donti (Carnegie Mellon University, USA) and Lynn Kaack (Hertie School, Germany) and Centre for AI & Climate's Peter Clutton-Brock (Radiance International, UK). Rolnick is widely recognized within the AI community for his work at the intersection of machine learning and sustainability, being named earlier this year in the Pioneer category of MIT Technology Review's annual list of ?Innovators Under 35?

"There are many ways that AI can be a powerful tool in enabling and accelerating climate action, from monitoring carbon stock using satellite imagery, to optimizing heating and cooling in buildings, forecasting crop yield, and helping design next-generation batteries," said Rolnick. Project author Sasha Luccioni focused on the responsible development, deployment, and governance of AI in the context of climate change. She is one of the leading researchers behind the recently launched website, This Climate Does Not Exist, an interactive experience that allows people to see the potential impact of climate change on any address worldwide. The report was commissioned by the GPAI which brings together experts across multiple sectors from 18 countries and the European Union to bridge the gap between AI theory and practice by supporting AI research and applications. Report Summary The authors offer 48 actionable recommendations for governments with a broad array of use cases highlighted throughout the report. To support AI applications in climate change mitigation and adaptation, the report calls for governments to: Improve data ecosystems, particularly in sectors critical to climate transition such as the energy sector.

Increase support for research, innovation, and deployment through targeted funding, infrastructure, and improved market designs.

Make climate change a central consideration in AI strategies to shape the responsible development of AI.

Support greater international collaboration and capacity building to facilitate the development and governance of AI-for-climate solutions. Click here to view the official press release from CAIC and CCAI.

The report is available here: Climate Change and AI: Recommendations for Government.

See page 3 of the report for a complete list of authors and their affiliations. SOURCE Mila - Quebec AI Institute

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[November 11, 2021] City of Greendale, Cincinnati Bell Partner to Offer Fiber to 100 Percent of Consumer, Business Locations

The City of Greendale approved a partnership with Cincinnati Bell (News - Alert) Inc. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, that will result in the development of a one gigabit high-speed broadband fiber network available to every address in the city. This robust fiber network will be deployed over the next 24 months. Access to reliable high-speed Internet is essential for residents and businesses to address work-from-home, virtual learning, and telehealth activities. Under terms of the partnership, Cincinnati Bell will deliver its state-of-the-art "Fiber to the Premise" network (FTTP) to approximately 2,200 locations in the City of Greendale. The City of Greendale's investment of approximately $625,000 will leverage a Cincinnati Bell investment of approximately $2.5 million to implement the project. As part of the agreement, Cincinnati Bell's Smart City organization - UniCity - will help design, construct, and install the infrastructure to support public Wi-Fi in designated parts of the City of Greendale. Public Wi-Fi is critical to create economic development opportunities for businesses that leverage these networks to reach customers in new ways, and to support applications that enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors. "The City of Greendale is excited to partner with Cncinnati Bell to bring high-speed fiber broadband to the residents and businesses of our city," said Alan Weiss, Mayor of the City of Greendale. "This will be a great amenity for the Greendale Community."



Cincinnati Bell has a long history and progressive experience in providing and managing large and complex wireline and wireless projects. As the leading supplier of fiber-based services in Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati Bell has invested more than $1 billion since 2010 into building a fiber network across the region. The partnership with the City of Greendale furthers the company's goal to find creative solutions toward providing high-quality fiber connections to all, particularly with respect to those who are unserved and under-served.

"Internet connectivity is mission-critical to access jobs, educational opportunities, and health-care resources," said Tom Simpson, Chief Operating Officer of Cincinnati Bell. "We are excited about this partnership with the City of Greendale, and appreciate the City's leadership in support of digital equity and equal access to high-speed broadband Internet." About Cincinnati Bell Inc. With headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cincinnati Bell Inc. delivers integrated communications solutions to residential and business customers over its fiber-optic network including high-speed internet, video, voice and data. Cincinnati Bell provides service in areas of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Hawai'i. In addition, enterprise customers across the United States and Canada rely on CBTS and OnX, wholly-owned subsidiaries, for efficient, scalable office communications systems and end-to-end IT solutions. For more information, please visit www.cincinnatibell.com. The information on the Company's website is not incorporated by reference in this press release. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111006001/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Datto to Present at RBC Capital Markets Global Technology Conference

Datto Holding Corp. (Datto) (NYSE: MSP), the leading global provider of cloud-based software and security solutions purpose-built for delivery by Managed Service Providers (MSPs), today announced that Tim Weller, Chief Executive Officer and John Abbot, Chief Financial Officer, are scheduled to present at the RBC Capital Markets Global Technology (News - Alert), Internet, Media, and Telecom Virtual Conference on Wednesday, November 17, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. ET. A live webcast of the presentation will be accessible by visiting Datto's investor website at investors.datto.com. An archived version will be available shortly after the completion of the presentation.



About Datto As the world's leading provider of cloud-based software and security solutions purpose-built for delivery by Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Datto believes there is no limit to what small and medium businesses (SMBs) can achieve with the right technology. Datto's proven Unified Continuity, Networking, and Business Management solutions drive cyber resilience, efficiency, and growth for MSPs. Delivered via an integrated platform, Datto's solutions help its global ecosystem of MSP partners serve over one million businesses around the world. From proactive dynamic detection and prevention to fast, flexible recovery from cyber incidents, Datto's solutions defend against costly downtime and data loss in servers, virtual machines, cloud applications, or anywhere data resides. Since its founding in 2007, Datto has won numerous awards for its product excellence, superior technical support, rapid growth, and for fostering an outstanding workplace. With headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut, Datto has global offices in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

MSP-F View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005993/en/

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[November 11, 2021] DeepBrain AI - Named as CES 2022 Innovation Awards Winner

SaaS based AI Human video synthesis platform 'AI STUDIOS' by DeepBrain AI won CES Innovation Award 2022 in Streaming category.

DeepBrain AI is coming in January to demonstrate its innovative technology in person at CES Las Vegas and NRF New York. SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DeepBrain AI is proud to announce that it has been named a CES 2022 Innovation Awards Honoree for its AI Studios script to video solution in 'Streaming' category. This year's CES Innovation Awards program received a record high number of over 1800 submissions. The announcement was made ahead of CES 2022, the world's most influential technology event, happening Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV and digitally. The CES Innovation Awards program, owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), is an annual competition honoring outstanding design and engineering in 27 consumer technology product categories. An elite panel of industry expert judges, including members of the media, designers, engineers and more, reviewed submissions based on innovation, engineering and functionality, aesthetic and design.



AI Studios is a video production tool that makes it easy to produce videos without the need to film or employ the real people. By combining DeepBrain's AI Studios in the form of SaaS and a computer, it's possible to eliminate costly studio, lighting, camera, set staff, and even the video host. Just by typing the script, this enables the AI anchor to naturally speak, use body language and gestures just like a real presenter. Individuals, small & big entities can produce various content videos, such as YouTube, corporate training and news, all without equipment or expertise.

The CEO of DeepBrain AI, Eric Jang commented on this achievement - "This year DeepBrain AI has truly showcased it's technological and commercial capabilities both at home and abroad. Receiving this recognition from CES highlights our efforts during the year, as we are actively expanding into the US market." Eric also added  "In addition to CES Innovation Awards, DeepBrain AI has packed 3 different achievements in 2021, including  'Top AI Startup Company' in South Korea, 'Best Technology Innovation and Service Application' in China, and 'GLOBAL Future Stars' Supernova Challenge' winner in Dubai." DeepBrain AI will showcase its AI Human technology including its winning product in person at the upcoming CES 2022 conference in Las Vegas. The company is also sponsoring the following NRF 2022 conference held in New York, where it will showcase its technology application in retail industry. The detailed AI Studios product description and photos can be found at CES.tech/innovation. To schedule a meeting with DeepBrain AI at the upcoming conferences please contact Global Team at [email protected] DeepBrain AI is an AI Human video synthesis company from South Korea, which has successfully commercialized world's first real-time video synthesis solution in the form of both conversational and non-conversational 'AI Human' technologies. Applicable to various customer-facing and presenter-led industries, DeepBrain AI has stacked top enterprise clients in Banking, Education, Media, Retail, Healthcare and more. Having local offices in Beijing and Shanghai, China, and California, USA, DeepBrain AI is actively forming business partnerships in several markets. Most recently, the company has signed a supply agreement for its 'AI Human' Announcer technology with two major Chinese broadcasting companies - Qinghai TV and Beijing Broadcasting Station (BTV). Contact:

Aibek A.

6, Yeoksam-ro 7-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 06240

E-Mail: [email protected]

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/deepbrain-global

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deepbrain-ai---named-as-ces-2022-innovation-awards-winner-301422046.html SOURCE Deepbrain AI

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[November 11, 2021] General Bank of Canada Chooses IFDS Canada to be their Primary Technology Solutions Provider

TORONTO, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - International Financial Data Services (IFDS) Canada, a leading provider of technology and outsourcing services to some of the world's largest financial institutions, today announced it has launched a full range of service solutions for General Bank of Canada's new High Interest Savings Account (HISA). General Bank of Canada has helped Canadians across the country with their financing, lending, and investment needs since 2005. General Bank of Canada's new HISA offers competitive rates and CDIC insurance, up to applicable limits. "Based on their fully-integrated platform, extensive experience in the savings space and in-depth industry knowledge, IFDS was a natural choice to support this exciting nw addition of our High Interest Savings Account," said Gord Mooney, President of General Bank of Canada.





"We're proud that General Bank of Canada has chosen us as the primary transfer agency and service solutions provider of their new High Interest Savings Account, and we are delighted to support them as they continue to offer additional solutions to help Canadians reach their financial goals," said Katherine MacMillan, President and CEO of IFDS Canada.

About IFDS

With its global headquarters in Toronto, Canada, International Financial Data Services (IFDS) is a world-leading provider of outsourcing and technology solutions to the financial services industry. IFDS' technology is used by over 240 financial organizations around the world, enabling solutions to a wide range of global asset managers, wealth managers, banks, and insurance companies. With over 1,700 employees and partners located throughout Canada, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, the IFDS enterprise supports more than 18 million accounts with AUA of CAD $4.7 trillion. IFDS is a 50/50 joint venture between Boston-based State Street Corporation, one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors, and Connecticut-based SS&C Technologies, a global provider of investment and financial software-enabled services and software for the global financial services and healthcare industries. For more information, visit www.ifdsgroup.com. All numbers are as of September 2021 About General Bank of Canada

General Bank of Canada, as part of the Wheaton Group of Companies, is an Edmonton-based schedule 1 chartered bank that was launched in 2005 to assist Canadians with their auto and commercial loan needs, as well as assisting Canadian depositors through providing General Bank of Canada GIC products. For more information, visit www.generalbank.ca. SOURCE International Financial Data Services

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[November 11, 2021] Landmarks Illinois publishes WWI Monuments of Illinois Database containing more than 300 memorials of the Great War

CHICAGO, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Veterans Day, Landmarks Illinois has published its new online database of historic World War I monuments and memorials in Illinois. The Landmarks Illinois WWI Monuments of Illinois Database currently contains information on 311 monuments and memorials such as doughboy statues, plaques, sculptures and public spaces dedicated to honoring those who served in the Great War. Monuments included in the database are located in 158 different Illinois communities. "We are proud to bring attention to the monuments that honor our fellow Illinoisans who fought or served in the First World War," said Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. "Many of these memorials are now 100 years old or more. These historical markers, and those they honor, deserve to be recognized and celebrated." The unique database is the result of a years-long survey of existing WWI monuments throughout the state, made possible through generous financial support from the Pritzker Military Foundation. In 2017, in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the U.S. entry into WWI, Landmarks Illinois launched the statewide survey to better learn about the remaining WWI monuments in Illinois. In partnership with Landmarks Illinois Director of Reinvestment Suzanne Germann, former Landmarks Illinois Regional Advisor, the late Steve Thompson of Mattoon, and preservation consultant Matt Seymour, conducted the comprehensive survey of WWI monuments throughout Illinois. "This unique program has shned a light on the large number of remaining memorials throughout Illinois dedicated to the Great War," said Suzanne Germann, Director of Reinvestment for Landmarks Illinois. "We are grateful to all those who helped with the extensive survey and shared information on memorials in their communities. We hope this new database sparks curiosity and inspires people to preserve the WWI memorials in their neighborhoods so they can stand for another 100 years and more."



In conjunction with the survey, Landmarks Illinois created and carried out a WWI Monument Preservation Grant Program during 2017 and 2018 to provide financial support to communities wanting to preserve their WWI monuments and recover their dedication-era quality and appearance. The Pritzker Military Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant to Landmarks Illinois for the creation of the WWI monument database, survey and grant program. Nearly $75,000 of the funding went toward the WWI Monument Preservation Grant Program, which successfully helped preserve 13 aging WWI monuments and memorials in the state. "Landmarks Illinois is the 'go to' organization in the state of Illinois to preserve historic buildings," said Col. Jennifer Pritzker, Founder of the Pritzker Military Foundation. "This project is dear to me because both of my grandfathers served in WWI, and I personally find it inspiring to bring awareness to these monuments. The purpose is not to glorify war, rather to remember how costly and destructive they are and why we should make every effort to avoid them."

Among the WWI memorials documented in the Landmarks Illinois WWI Monuments of Illinois Database is the Goldstar Memorial in Riverside's Guthrie Park, which consists of a concrete plaza with a flagpole in the center and multiple stone monuments around the edge, each with a plaque. Three of these monuments recognize a specific community member killed during WWI. The fourth monument honors all of those from the community who gave their lives in the War. The Riverside memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1921. Landmarks Illinois awarded the Village of Riverside $5,000 in 2018 through the WWI Monument Preservation Grant Program to aid restoration efforts at the village-owned site. New foundations for the stones were created, landscaping was updated and the flag pole was restored. The restoration of the monument has been a joint effort through the village and American Legion Post #488 of Riverside. "Memorials like the Gold Star Memorial in Guthrie Park are like postcards to the future," said Joseph Baar Topinka, Commander, American Legion Post #488. "They must be preserved and revered in the present. If they are not, the future will not have them from which to learn from the past. What a loss that would be to communities like Riverside, Illinois, that are steeped in history." If you know of a monument or marker in your community that is not already in the database, or if you have additional information on, or photos of, an existing monument in the database, please contact Landmarks Illinois Director of Reinvestment Suzanne Germann at [email protected]. Explore the Landmarks Illinois WWI Monuments of Illinois Database here. About Landmarks Illinois

We are People Saving Places for People. Landmarks Illinois, now celebrating its 50th Anniversary, is a membership-based nonprofit organization serving the people of Illinois. We inspire and empower stakeholders to save places that matter to them by providing free guidance, practical and financial resources and access to strategic partnerships. For more information, visit www.Landmarks.org. Media Contact:

Kaitlyn McAvoy

Communications Manager

Landmarks Illinois

312-922-1742

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/landmarks-illinois-publishes-wwi-monuments-of-illinois-database-containing-more-than-300-memorials-of-the-great-war-301422368.html SOURCE Landmarks Illinois

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[November 11, 2021] MDA awarded initial design phase contract for lunar rover

Engages expert pan-Canadian team of small businesses, scientists and academics BRAMPTON, ON, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - MDA Ltd. (TSX: MDA), a leading provider of advanced technology and services to the rapidly-expanding global space industry, today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to undertake a Phase A initial design study for a Canadian Lunar Rover mission to the Moon. As part of the CSA's Lunar Exploration Accelerator Program (LEAP), the Lunar Rover will advance eight key technologies that are foundational building blocks for planetary rovers, including mobility, communications, operations, thermal control for lunar night survival, power generation and storage, and semi-autonomous plus autonomous operations. The rover will conduct its mission at the South Pole of the Moon, providing the opportunity to explore resources in the permanently shadowed regions, including lunar volatiles and water ice, as well as thermal and radiation safety analysis for future human lunar landings. MDA has assembled a world-leading team of Canadian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and scientific and academic experts to deliver the LEAP Lunar Rover, paving the way for Canada to establish technologies and capabilities that feed into future commercial lunar supply chains. Technology team: Mission Control Space Services; CTA (Centre de Technologies Avancees BRP-UdeS); Institut national d'optique (INO); Clearpath Robotics; Kepler Communications; Xiphos Systems Corporation; Delton Innovations Ltd.; NASA Ames Research Center; University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies; and Carleton University .

Mission Control Space Services; CTA (Centre de Technologies Avancees BRP-UdeS); Institut national d'optique (INO); Clearpath Robotics; Kepler Communications; Xiphos Systems Corporation; Delton Innovations Ltd.; NASA Ames Research Center; Institute for Aerospace Studies; and . Science team: York University; Western University ; Concordia University ; University of Hawaii ; Stoney Brook University; Ingeniu, Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation; and the Natural History Museum. The team will be led by Professor Michael Daly of York University .

York University; ; ; ; Stoney Brook University; Ingeniu, Museums of Science and Innovation; and the Natural History Museum. The team will be led by Professor of . Public outreach, education and engagement: Felix & Paul Studios; and Mission Control Space Services.



QUOTE "We are proud to lead this highly capable and experienced technical and academic team. With this depth of talent, we believe that our team will surpass the goals of the CSA's mission while developing state-of-the-art technologies and scientific approaches that will position MDA and the Canadian space industry for the rapidly-growing global space economy, paving the way for future commercial applications on the lunar surface and beyond."

 Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer, MDA

"The science gathered from this mission will position Canada at the forefront of lunar resource planning and prospecting, and will ensure that Canadian science team members will be contributing to an international effort with unique and important measurements, datasets and interpretations. This opportunity will also allow us to train the next generation of Canadian planetary scientists and engineers and grow capability within our scientific community."

 Professor Michael Daly, Director of the Centre for Research in Earth and Space Science, and York Research Chair in Planetary Science, York University LINKS www.mda.space

PSPC award notice

Canada is designing a rover for Moon exploration - YouTube SOCIAL MEDIA Twitter: www.twitter.com/MDA_space

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MDAspace

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/mdaspace

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/mdaspace

Instagram: www.instagram.com/MDA_space ABOUT MDA Serving the world from its Canadian home and global offices, MDA (TSX:MDA) is an international space mission partner and a robotics, satellite systems and geointelligence pioneer with a 50-year story of firsts on and above the Earth. With over 2,000 employees across Canada, the US and the UK, MDA is leading the charge towards viable Moon colonies, enhanced Earth observation, communication in a hyper-connected world, and more. With a track record of making space ambitions come true, MDA enables highly skilled people to continually push boundaries, tackle big challenges, and imagine solutions that inspire and endure to change the world for the better, on the ground and in the stars. SOURCE MDA Ltd.

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[November 11, 2021] Midland Industries Acquires Century Brass

Midland Industries ("Midland"), a portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital, L.P. ("Wynnchurch"), announced the acquisition of Century Brass Products ("Century Brass" or the ?"Company"). Century Brass is a leading distributor of primarily machined brass fittings and valves to the plumbing industry across the United States. John Gerber, CEO of Midland, said, "The acquisition of Century Brass strengthens our team and product offering while expanding our customer base and footprint in the plumbing wholesale space. We welcome Terry Klein and his team to the Midland family and look forward to learning from their years of history and deep product knowledge, enabling us to continue providing our customers a distinct advantage in the marketplace." "We are excited to be part of the Midland family," said Terry Klein, Vice President of Century Brass. "We're thrilled to leverage the technology and product offering to our customers, and to utilize the connected network of inventory across the United States." About Century Brass Products: Century Brass Products, headquartered in Long Island, New York, is a leading distributor of primarily machined brass fittings and valves to the plumbing industry across the United States. The Company also distributs power electrical cords and stainless-steel braided hoses.



About Midland Industries: Midland Industries, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the new manufacturing and distribution platform brand representing recently consolidated companies including Anderson Metals, Midland Metal Mfg, Buchanan Rubber Ltd., Mid-America Fittings, Stainless Adapters Inc., and Champion Brass. With over 40,000 SKUs comprising fittings, valves, hose, and related products, the company distributes to general industrial, hose, fluid power, plumbing, oil and gas, water works, irrigation, truck and trailer, power transmission, and other end-markets. For more information, please visit: https://midlandindustries.com.

About Wynnchurch Capital: 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, please visit: https://www.wynnchurch.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005310/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Shapeways and Desktop Metal Unveil Partnership to Increase Anytime, Anywhere Access to World-Class Additive Manufacturing Services

Shapeways Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SHPW) ("Shapeways" or the "Company") and Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM) ("Desktop Metal") today unveiled a landmark partnership to offer manufacturing and engineering teams unprecedented flexibility and seamless access to industry-leading 3D printing services. Consistent with the strategic partnership the parties entered into in early 2021, Shapeways is expanding Desktop Metal system capacity and capabilities by providing customers access to these solutions at Shapeways' ISO-9001 manufacturing facilities in both Long Island City, New York and Eindhoven, Netherlands. In addition, Desktop Metal plans to leverage Shapeways' manufacturing capabilities and purpose-built software platform, Otto, to provide its customers with instant access to fully digitized, end-to-end 3D printing workflows. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005468/en/ "We're extremely pleased to progress our partnership with Shapeways and propel the additive manufacturing industry forward," said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. "For customers starting their digital manufacturing journeys who may not be ready to purchase equipment of their own, Shapeways will offer instant access to Desktop Metal's comprehensive portfolio of high-speed, AM 2.0 printing platforms and rich materials library, enabling them to benefit from expedited production, reduced costs, and flexible, overflow manufacturing capacity as dictated by growing business demands." Shapeways is investing in and deploying a broad portfolio of Desktop Metal solutions including Studio System, Shop System, Production System, Fiber, and RAM (News - Alert) technology as well as a variety of EnvisionTEC 3D photopolymer printing solutions to expand its global manufacturing footprint across metals, elastomers, polymers, composites, and digital casting applications. These printing solutions offer industrial customers a means to leverage 3D printing capacity on-demand to fuel business growth while balancing operating and capital expenditures. The full rollout of these printing solutions on Shapeways' digital manufacturing platform will occur through early 2022, and additional Desktop Metal offerings will be available in the future. Additionally Shapeways intends to add technology from other industry partners, including an extended suite of post-processing and finishing options over time. "Together, Desktop Metal and Shapeways are democratizing 3D printing, reinforced by our ability to offer anytime, anywhre access to an extensible array of high-quality manufacturing services," said Greg Kress, CEO of Shapeways. "As Desktop Metal's largest manufacturing services partner, we are committed to establishing ourselves as the 'go-to' company for businesses around the world seeking fast, efficient, execution in turning digital designs into physical products."



Industry-leading solutions from Shapeways and Desktop Metal comply with and are subject to rigorous manufacturing requirements where production quality and consistency are paramount. The companies believe they are uniquely positioned to enable strong outcomes for customers, including high-performance end-use parts delivered with a strong ROI, across the most demanding industry sectors, including aerospace, automotive, consumer products, defense, industrials, and healthcare. About Shapeways

Shapeways Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SHPW) is a leading digital manufacturing platform provider offering customers access to high-quality manufacturing from start to finish through automation, innovation and digitization. The company's purpose-built Otto software, wide selection of materials and technologies, and global supply chain lower manufacturing barriers and speed delivery of quality products. Shapeways' digital manufacturing services have empowered more than one million customers worldwide to produce more than 21 million parts using 11 different technologies and 90 different materials and finishes. Headquartered in New York City, Shapeways has ISO 9001-compliant manufacturing facilities in Long Island City, N.Y., and the Netherlands and a network of innovative partners around the globe. It was founded in 2008 and spun-out of the Lifestyle Incubator of Royal Philips (News - Alert) Electronics in 2010. Investors include Lux Capital, Union Square Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, INKEF Capital, Index Ventures and Hewlett Packard Ventures. For more information, visit www.shapeways.com. About Desktop Metal Desktop Metal, Inc., based in Burlington, Massachusetts, is accelerating the transformation of manufacturing with an expansive portfolio of 3D printing solutions, from rapid prototyping to mass production. Founded in 2015 by leaders in advanced manufacturing, metallurgy, and robotics, the company is addressing the unmet challenges of speed, cost, and quality to make additive manufacturing an essential tool for engineers and manufacturers around the world. Desktop Metal was selected as one of the world's 30 most promising Technology Pioneers by the World Economic Forum, named to MIT (News - Alert) Technology Review's list of 50 Smartest Companies, and the 2021 winner of Fast Company's Innovation by Design Award in materials. For more information, visit www.desktopmetal.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "project," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks, and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to, the success of the companies' strategic partnership, customer acceptance of the companies' solutions, Shapeways' ability to further develop and scale its digital platform, and the risks and uncertainties set forth in Desktop Metal's and Shapeways' respective filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings 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. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and each of Desktop Metal and Shapeways assume no obligation and do not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005468/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Tax Free Shopping Recovery Accelerates During Europe's Summer Holiday Season

Today at the annual Altagamma Luxury Observatory Conference in Milan, Global Blue reveals new analysis of Tax Free Shopping's post-pandemic recovery in Continental Europe, following the summer holiday season. Europe's Tax Free Shopping has reached its highest levels since the pandemic Thanks to the softening of borders across the region, re-opening of long-haul flights and a strong appetite to shop amongst travellers, Tax Free Shopping in Continental Europe this summer reached its highest rate of recovery since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Across Continental Europe, the overall recovery averaged at 38% versus the summer period in 2019, peaking at 40% in August. This is up from an average of 15% between April and June 2021. Top Tax Free Shopping destinations such as France (49% in September compared to September 2019), Italy (38%) and Spain (38%) all benefitted from a steady increase, while countries who announced softer border restrictions before summer, such as Greece (70%) and Turkey (182%), experienced the highest rates of recovery. Luxury shoppers from the GCC and the US region are driving recovery Over the three summer months (July-September), shoppers from the GCC consistently fuelled Tax Free Shopping recovery, achieving 86% of their 2019 summer spending levels and peaking at 143% in September. A summer average of 112% was achieved in France, while Spain reached 84% and Italy 73%. The GCC Tax Free recovery rate was boosted by high-end luxury hoppers with an appetite to spend - indeed, 'Elite'3 shoppers from the GCC reached an average recovery of 125% over the summer months. This was driven by pent-up demand as well as a partial reallocation of spending from the UK into Europe, following the end of the UK's Tax Free Shopping scheme earlier this year.



Meanwhile, American shopper spend spiked after the US was added to the EU Council's approved travel list in June and remained strong all summer with an average of 73% and a height of 85% in August. This is compared to a rate of 16% during April-June 2021. New Tax Free Shoppers from the UK are helping to sustain recovery

Shoppers from the UK - a new 'post-Brexit' Tax Free Shopping nationality - also helped to uplift recovery and accounted for just over 3% of Europe's total Tax Free spend in August and September. With an average spend of 1,500, which is more than twice the European average, the UK shopper is a valuable new Tax Free nationality. Their top destinations this summer were France (33% of overall UK Tax Free spend), Spain (23%) and Italy (22%). Research by Global Blue shows a continuous improvement of traveller sentiment Research by Global Blue has indicated futher positive recovery prospects: according to its traveller sentiment research4, 70% of international shoppers surveyed in September and October are willing to travel in the coming months (provided there are no quarantine conditions), up from 62% in July and August. This rises to 76% amongst Elite and Frequent shoppers. Pier-Francesco Nervini, Chief Operating Officer North & Central Europe & Global Accounts at Global Blue commented: "The softening of borders across the continent alongside the establishment of 'health pass' schemes has spurred more confidence in travel and enabled high-end luxury shoppers from some key destination markets to securely plan and execute their trips. Although the travel retail industry still has a long way to go on its path to recovery, it is very encouraging to see a strong appetite amongst international shoppers - particularly those from the US and GCC - to return to spending and shopping in European stores." 1 Refers to July, August and September 2021 2 Gulf Coast Countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar 3 Individual international shoppers who have spent more than 40,000 over the past 24 months 4 Sample: 16,000 internationl global shoppers who have already done a Tax Free Shopping transaction with Global Blue View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005615/en/

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[November 11, 2021] United States Steel Corporation Further Strengthens Balance Sheet by Permanently De-Risking a Portion of its Pension Plan

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) ("U. S. Steel") today announced it has purchased group annuity contracts from Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York (both subsidiaries of Legal & General America, Inc. and, together, referred to as "Legal & General") to transfer approximately $284 million of the Company's pension plan obligations to Legal & General. The purchase of the group annuity contracts will be funded directly by the assets of the pension plan. "Legal & General was carefully selected by an independent fiduciary as a highly rated and experienced retirement benefits provider to ensure our retirees' benefits are secured and maintained, a continued priority of our Best for All? strategy," said U. S. Steel President and Chief Executive Officer David B. Burritt. "This transaction is yet another meaningful step in strengthening the Company's balance sheet and further de-risking our pension plan, a plan that remains more than 100% funded and is an important source of differentiation versus some peers in the steel industry." The purchase results in the transfer of administrative and benefit-paying responsibilities for approximately 17,800 U.S. retirees and beneficiaries to Legal & General. Legal & General will begin paying benefits for certain retirees and beneficiaries in the United States Steel Corporation Plan for Employee Pension Benefits (Revision of 2003) on January 1, 2022. There will be no change to the pension benefits for any retirees and beneficiaries as a result of the transaction. Details will be provided to retirees and beneficiaries whose continuing payments will be fulfilled by Legal & General. As a result of the transaction, the Company expects to recognize a non-cash pension settlement charge of approximately $110 million, subject to finalization of actuarial assumptions and other applicable adjustments in the fourh quarter of 2021.



Forward-Looking Statements This release contains information that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in those sections. Generally, we have identified such forward-looking statements by using the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "target," "forecast," "aim," "should," "will," "may" and similar expressions or by using future dates. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. It is possible that the Company's actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the time made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. 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. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risks and uncertainties described in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and those described from time to time in our future reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. References to "we," "us," "our," the "Company," and "U. S. Steel," refer to United States Steel Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Founded in 1901, United States Steel Corporation is a leading steel producer. With an unwavering focus on safety, the company's customer-centric Best for All? strategy is advancing a more secure, sustainable future for U. S. Steel and its stakeholders. With a renewed emphasis on innovation, U. S. Steel serves the automotive, construction, appliance, energy, containers, and packaging industries with high value-added steel products such as U. S. Steel's proprietary XG3 advanced high-strength steel. The company also maintains competitively advantaged iron ore production and has an annual raw steelmaking capability of 26.2 million net tons. U. S. Steel is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with world-class operations across the United States and in Central Europe. For more information, please visit www.ussteel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111006066/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Vodafone Selects VMware for Automation and Orchestration of All Workloads Running on Core Networks Across Europe

As service providers continue to virtualize and containerize network functions, they require a consistent, cloud-native platform for onboarding and managing these workloads across any network and any cloud. Vodafone (News - Alert) has selected VMware (NYSE: VMW) as its strategic technology partner to deliver a single platform to automate and orchestrate all workloads running on its core networks across Europe, starting with 5G standalone (5G SA). Vodafone previously announced its selection of VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure as its Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) platform. Last year, Vodafone completed the rollout of Telco Cloud Infrastructure across all its European business and 21 markets in total. The company saw gains in productivity as it brought network functions online around 40% more quickly, and cost savings of up to 55%*. Vodafone is now expanding its partnership with VMware to deploy the full VMware Telco Cloud Platform in all European markets. This means that in addition to utilizing Telco Cloud Infrastructure for NFV, Vodafone will leverage VMware Tanzu for Telco and VMware Telco Cloud Automation to orchestrate all network functions and services, regardless of vendor, to run its core networks. Vodafone's continued partnership with VMware supports the company's technology strategy, Tech 2025. As part of this five-year plan, Vodafone will focus on developing a network platform starting with the rollout of 5G SA that will be then followed by many other digital network features utilizing cloud-native architecture powered by VMware. These include voice over internet and next generation of videoconferencing and virtual/augmented reality, all orchestrated into the correct network slices according to different customer requirements. Johan Wibergh (News - Alert), Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone, sad, "We've made great strides in modernizing and virtualizing our core network. Now we must turn our attention to layering in automation, software engineering and cloud-native principles to simplify operations and accelerate how quickly we can deploy new applications. VMware Telco Cloud Platform will help us achieve these goals and reach our Tech 2025 targets faster."



Vodafone has already begun the rollout of VMware Telco Cloud Platform in eight markets - Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and U.K. - and will expand to all 11 of its European markets over time. "As service providers modernize their networks to transition to 5G, they require a single platform to automate and streamline delivery of multi-vendor network functions across network core, RAN and edge. VMware Telco Cloud Platform provides this unifying platform to simplify operations, accelerate automation and increase feature velocity across all parts of the network," said Sanjay Uppal, senior vice president and general manager, Service Provider and Edge, VMware. "Through its partnership with VMware, Vodafone is modernizing its network infrastructure with automation built in, setting them up for long-term success as they roll out 5G services to even more markets in the coming years."

VMware Telco Cloud Platform is a cloud-native platform that enables service providers to rapidly deploy and efficiently operate multi-vendor CNFs and VNFs with agility and scalability across 5G and other networks that span from the core and the edge to the radio access network (RAN). The two fundamental elements of this architecture are VMware Telco Cloud Infrastructure and VMware Telco Cloud Automation - both of which Vodafone will deploy across its European markets. Learn more about how VMware is helping service providers modernize their networks at telco.vmware.com. Additional Resources: Bookmark the VMware Telco Cloud blog

Get all VMware Telco Cloud updates on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn *Source (News - Alert): Vodafone internal analysis and reporting, March 2021 About VMware VMware software powers the world's complex digital infrastructure. The company's cloud, app modernization, networking, security, and digital workspace offerings help customers deliver any application on any cloud across any device. Headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert), California, VMware is committed to being a force for good, from its breakthrough technology innovations to its global impact. For more information, please visit https://www.vmware.com/company.html. VMware and Telco Cloud Platform are registered trademarks or trademarks of VMware, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other jurisdictions. This article may contain hyperlinks to non-VMware websites that are created and maintained by third parties who are solely responsible for the content on such websites. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005270/en/

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[November 10, 2021] Geek+ launches CEVA's e-commerce transformation with best-in-class robotic picking

Pilot project brings 4x picking efficiency to CEVA Logistics warehouse MELBOURNE, Australia, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Geek+, a global AMR leader, is proud to announce the successful deployment of AMRs in CEVA Logistics's Truganina warehouse. CEVA is a global third-party logistics (3PL) provider looking for new and innovative automation solutions to better serve its Australian e-commerce clients. Implemented by Korber Supply Chain, the project greatly improves efficiency and productivity in the warehouse, ensuring smoother order fulfillment for CEVA's customers. Lit Fung, Geek+'s Managing Director for APAC, UK, and Americas, said: "Today, an accelerated demand for fast order fulfillment has created a challenging scenario for businesses everywhere. In Australia, a booming e-commerce landscape has made 'delivery services' the determining factor of who's going to come out on top. Using smart robot automation, CEVA has turned a challenge into an opportunity that will allow them to set the standard and gain considerable advantages." With upwards of 500,000 square meters of warehouse space and 1,350 employees, the site in Australia is one of the largest warehouses in the southern hemisphere. When a leading online shoe store experienced rapid growth, CEVA began looking at ways they could help the company meet consumers' demands for speed and cost of delivery. Previously, CEVA would have had to add more employees to an already labor-intensive process, with 12 to 15 employees using radiofrequency picking devices to complete one order. Today, Geek+ autonomous mobile robots intelligently and flexibly move mobile inventory racks and pallets to picking stations, saving employees time that would otherwise be spent walking around finding and picking inventory. The result is an overall impovement in employee comfort and logistical efficiency, as well as considerable savings.



"Thanks to Geek+'s AMR technology, we now have a very fast and efficient picking productivity and throughput solution," said Milton Pimenta, CEVA Logistics's managing director for Australia and New Zealand.

Following the project's seamless implementation, CEVA saw an immediate improvement in key performance indicators, most notably a fourfold increase in picking efficiency. CEVA plans to use the solution to support its wide customer base, securing its leadership position as a first-rate logistics provider.

"CEVA feel that a number of their clients could benefit from AMR technology. As this was the first pilot project for the business, it was extremely important that we delivered on our predictions," said Ravi Nath, Korber Supply Chain's head of automated solutions for Australia and New Zealand. Geek+ will continue to work closely with Korber to help scale operations across regions and support CEVA with efficient, accurate, and flexible AMR solutions for the company's wide network of global customers. About Geek+ Geek+ is a global technology company leading the intelligent logistics revolution. We apply advanced robotics and AI technologies to realize flexible, reliable, and highly efficient solutions for warehouses and supply chain management. Geek+ counts 300 global customers and has deployed more than 20,000 robots worldwide. Founded in 2015, Geek+ has over 1500 employees and is headquartered in Beijing, with offices in countries and regions like Germany, the UK, the US, Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. For more information, please visit: www.geekplus.com About CEVA Logistics CEVA Logistics is one of the world's leading supply chain management companies with more than 78,000 employees working across ten regional clusters around the world. We provide service across the automotive, consumer and retail, energy, healthcare, industrial and aerospace and technology sectors.

For more information, please visit: www.cevalogistics.com/ About Korber Supply Chain Korber is an international technology group with about 10,000 employees, more than 100 locations worldwide and a common goal: We turn entrepreneurial thinking into customer success and shape the technological change. In the Business Areas Digital, Pharma, Supply Chain, Tissue and Tobacco, we offer products, solutions and services that inspire. We act fast to customer needs, we execute ideas seamlessly, and with our innovations we create added value for our customers. For more information, please visit: www.koerber-supplychain.com

For inquiries, please contact: Fish Yu

Head of Marketing at Geek+ APAC, UK

[email protected] Marie Peterson

Director of Global Marketing and Communications

[email protected] SOURCE Geek+

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[November 10, 2021] Readout: Minister Champagne meets with EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, Nov. 10, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, met with Thierry Breton, the European Union's Commissioner for the Internal Market. The Minister and the Commissioner discussed how to deepen trade and scientific ties between Canada and the EU to drive a green economic recovery and build back better in the wake of the pandemic. Minister Champagne took the opportunity to laud Commissioner Breton for his leadership role in strengthening COVID-19 vaccine supply chains, which enabled the EU to export doses to 150 countries, including Canada. The two sides recognized the importance of building new biomanufacturing capacity, including vaccine production, to respond to the current pandemic and future global health emergencies, as well as building more reliable supply chains for critical minerals and technologies. The Minister and the Commissioner talked about the importance of collaboration in the area of digital technologies, building on the progress made at the Canada-EU Summit in June 2021, at whic it was proposed to leverage digital tools and international forums like the Canada-EU Digital Dialogue and the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) to further a sustainable recovery. They reiterated their keenness to work together in another area of focus identified at the summit: space and satellite technology.



The Minister and the Commissioner agreed to remain in close contact to advance their shared priorities. Associated link

Canada and the European Union Stay connected Find more services and information at Canada.ca/ISED. Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.

Twitter: @ISED_CA, Facebook: Canadian Innovation, Instagram: @cdninnovation and LinkedIn SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

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[November 10, 2021] Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce's participation in BEYOND Expo sends important message

BEIJING, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The BEYOND International Technology Innovation Expo (BEYOND Expo) hosted by the Macao Technology General Association will be held at The Venetian Macao on December 2nd - 4th. As a partner, the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce (TDB) will organize mainland enterprises to participate in the expo. Genertec China P&T Appliances supports TDB to organize. The premiere of BEYOND Expo will be held at Cotai Expo, The Venetian Macao between December 2nd and 4th. The purpose of the expo is to further improve close collaborations between the Greater Bay Area and the countries along the "Belt and Road", which will together promote the construction of digital infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region to achieve interconnection as well as mutual win and development. It is worth mentioning that the TDB will organize groups of mainland enterprises to participate in the expo. The reasons behind it are very profound and strategic. Opportunities and more opportunities The world today is undergoing a major change unseen in a century. The COVID pandemic has accelerated the evolution of this major change. In response, China has proposed to accelerate the formation of a new development pattern of "dual circulation", which brings major historic opportunities for Macao. According to the "Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone" recently issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, China must accelerate the development of science and technology and improve the distribution of high-end manufacturing industries in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In response, Macao will build a batch of scientific and technological infrastructures urgently needed for development, organize and implement international big science plans and projects, create high-standard demonstration base for production-study-research at universities such as the University of Macau and Macau University of Science and Technology, build a technology innovation and transformation center, and promote the construction of an important pillar for the international science and technology innovation center of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area at the cooperation zone. In addition, Macao will also vigorously develop integrated circuits, electronic components, new materials, new energy, big data, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, and biomedicine industries. The construction of a microelectronics industry chain for special chip design, testing and inspection will also be accelerated. Furthermore, Macao will build an artificial intelligence collaborative innovation ecosystem, create Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) application demonstration projects, fifth-generation mobile communications (5G) application demontration projects, and next-generation Internet industry clusters.



With policy guidance plus high-tech industry clustering, the Greater Bay Area is without a doubt expecting a bright future! Creating dual circulation strategic pivot under "one country, two systems"

Dual circulation, back and forth, shall never end. Assuming that during the "13th Five-Year Plan", Macao's main goal was to participate in the "Belt and Road" Initiative, to build a "China and Portuguese-speaking countries business cooperation service platform", and to integrate into the regional collaborations, the new "14th Five-Year Plan" goal will focus on continuing the construction of "one center, one platform, one base", especially enhancing Macao's functions of facilitating domestic circulation and connecting domestic and international dual circulation as its new contributions to China's reform and opening up in the new era. Taking finance as an example, the "Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" proposes to support the development of special financial services such as leasing in Macao, look into the establishment of a RMB-denominated securities market, a green financial platform, and a Sino-Portuguese financial service platform in Macao, and explore the construction of Macao-Zhuhai cross-border financial cooperation demonstration zone, etc. According to the "Survey on Future Talent Demand in Macao's Financial Industry" conducted by the Commission for Talent Development of the Institute of Sustainable Development of Macau University of Science and Technology in 2020, the average demand for the number of employees in the financial industry in the next three years is 7,281, with an estimated talent gap of 446. In the next six years, the average demand for employees in this industry is 7,740, with an estimated talent gap of 905. The development of modern finance and the establishment of a cross-border financial demonstration zone can not only effectively promote the collaborations between China and the countries along the "Belt and Road" as well as the international and domestic "dual circulation", but also bring in highly skilled professionals for Macao to moderately develop its modern finance industry. Talk about killing 2 birds with 1 stone! Policies, industries, and talents are in place. Only "export" is missing During the early stage there was policy guidance. During the middle stage, the industry clusters began to appear, and the influx of talents further promoted the development of relevant industries. What comes next is mass production and export. The "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Plan Outline" clearly proposes to support Guangdong-Macao collaboration in the construction of a high-quality imported consumer goods trading center and build a high-quality consumer goods trading industry ecology. In addition, it proposes to build a Sino-Portuguese international trade center and an international hub port for digital trade, promoting the digital transformation of traditional trade. Not only that, in recent years, as consumer demand has presented a trend of individualization and diversification, and consumption of related new products and services has grown rapidly, China has paid more and more attention to the role of consumption, especially high-quality consumption, in promoting high-quality economic development. The "14th Five-Year Plan" outline also clarified the expansion of domestic demand as the strategic basis for building a new "dual circulation" development pattern. Just like China International Import Expo in Shanghai and China International Consumer Products Expo in Hainan, there will also be international high-quality expos at the Hengqin Guangdong-Macao Intensive Cooperation Zone and a high-quality imported consumer goods trading center is to be built. The significance of these measures needs no further explanation. As a result, it is not surprising that the Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce will organize a delegation to participate in the BEYOND Expo. As is known, the BEYOND Expo is hosted by the Macao Technology General Association, with a total exhibition area of nearly 50,000 square meters, covering four major areas  influential technology, life sciences, new infrastructure, smart cities and life and future science. The expo has attracted exhibitors from the world's 500 large multinational companies, unicorn innovation companies and new start-ups, and has invited global ecological partners, government agencies and national ambassadors, as well as global capital and media to participate in this international event. Over 20,000 scientific and technological innovation professionals around the world will participate through online and offline platforms. There are dozens of forums taking place concurrently, with topics covering women in science and technology, smart medical care, new developments in smart medical disciplines, construction technology, smart travel, green economy, medical and medical technology and equipment innovation forums, metaverse, artificial intelligence, smart logistics, agricultural technology, innovative medicine and biomedical technology forums, angel investment summits, smart life, food technology, robotics and other vertical fields, as well as international investment and financing summits, international capital matchmaking, innovation roadshows, etc. The content is expected to be rich and diversified. The person in charge of the delegation said: "With the advantages of the system of "one country, two systems" and the support of the central government, we believe that Macao will definitely become a gateway city for communication between domestic and foreign technology companies, and that Macao will have a broader development prospect." SOURCE China P&T Appliances

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[November 10, 2021] Optiva Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

All amounts are stated in United States dollars unless otherwise indicated Revenue increased on a sequential basis to $16.7 million

Focus on growth continues to push year-to-date New Bookings (1) to $24.1 million versus $7.7 million during the same period last year

to versus during the same period last year Gross margin at record levels of 79%

Net income of $3.8 million compared to a net loss of $29.2 million in Q3'20

compared to a net loss of in Q3'20 Adjusted EBITDA (1) of $5.9 million or 35%, versus $6.8 million in Q3'20, representing the fifth consecutive quarter of Adjusted EBITDA margin above 25%

of or 35%, versus in Q3'20, representing the fifth consecutive quarter of Adjusted EBITDA margin above 25% Balance sheet remains robust with $32.8 million (2) in cash to support growth

in cash to support growth Adjusted EPS(1) of $0.35 TORONTO, Nov. 10, 2021 /CNW/ - Optiva Inc. ("Optiva" or "the Company") (TSX:OPT), a leading provider of mission-critical, cloud-native revenue management software for the telecommunications industry, today released its third quarter financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021. "I am pleased with our continued success in executing our strategic objectives during Q3 with customer wins, increased bookings and strong cost management. We are in line with our fiscal year 2021 plan and, in some instances, ahead of expectations," said John Giere, President and Chief Executive Officer of Optiva. "We remain committed to being a very customer-centric organization, which combined with our industry expertise and first-mover advantage in the private and public cloud telco market, positions us extremely well to capture meaningful growth on the back of having established solid footing across all aspects of our business." "Our customers continue to be very engaged with our team in exploring the most appropriate pathway to realize their long-term business goals balanced against their nearer-term immediate needs, bridging the gap to implement a full-cloud migration plan in strategic partnership with Optiva," added Giere. Business Highlights Optiva continues to invest in strengthening and building its global sales team to drive increased bookings, customer retention, contract renewals, service enhancement and delivery growth. As a result of our initiatives, New Bookings increased to $11.3 million in Q3 '21, and $24.1 million on a year-to-date basis.

in Q3 '21, and on a year-to-date basis. The Company continues to add to its R&D talent and is on track for our new product launch by Q1'22. A critical element of our strategy is to establish, where appropriate, R&D Centers of Excellence. The Company has established our first R&D Centre of Excellence in Belfast, Northern Ireland . The Centre will focus on the development and delivery of Optiva's cloud-native software solutions, accelerating the innovation investment within our roadmap.

. The Centre will focus on the development and delivery of Optiva's cloud-native software solutions, accelerating the innovation investment within our roadmap. During Q3'21, the Company completed the insourcing of its key finance department functions.

A leading Saudi-based telecom operator selected Optiva BSS Platform for its new MVNO business line to rapidly bring to market innovative digital services to the fast-growing consumer market segment. The partnership enables the operator to deploy Optiva cloud-native BSS technology on its state-of-the-art, private cloud infrastructure. The solution will provide a differentiated, superior customer experience and digital service offerings that build upon the operator's strong enterprise customer base and accelerate the velocity of its product introduction cycle to more quickly deliver profitable growth.

Optiva has been selected as an approved vendor for next generation charging solution by a large multinational telecommunications group, operating in countries in Africa and the Middle East . The Company's services include cellular network access and business solutions.

and the . The Company's services include cellular network access and business solutions. The Company announced the launch of its new MVNx Fast Track program - (https://optiva.com/mvnx/), which provides MVNOs and MVNEs an all-in-one, cloud-native BSS MVNx solution. The program allows them to deploy in 90 days, realize more than 40% of total cost of ownership and operations cost savings, leverage embedded testing and customer service automation and rollout new propositions within three hours with out-of-the-box templates and guided configuration flows. Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results Highlights:















Q3 Fiscal 2021 Highlights Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended ($ US Thousands, except per share information) September 30,

September 30, (Unaudited) 2021 2020

2021 2020 Revenue 16,666 18,804

49,068 57,774 Net Income (Loss) 3,783 (29,221)

21,813 (43,190) Earnings (Loss) Per Share $ 0.62 $(5.50)

$ 3.73 $(8.12) Adjusted EBITDA 5,901 6,819

14,975 (2,906) Cash provided by (used in) operating activities 5,217 (1,398)

5,948 (5,279) Total cash, including restricted cash 32,823 21,306

32,823 21,306

Revenue for Q3'21 decreased by $2.1 million to $16.7 million , driven by known attritions while showing early indication of stabilizing at current levels. The year-over-year decrease in revenue was primarily due to the discontinuation of software, support and subscription sales to customers who had previously notified Optiva of their exit.

to , driven by known attritions while showing early indication of stabilizing at current levels. The year-over-year decrease in revenue was primarily due to the discontinuation of software, support and subscription sales to customers who had previously notified Optiva of their exit. Gross margin reached a new record level at 79% in Q3'21, increasing 4% over the 75% gross margin achieved during the corresponding period in 2020. This increase was mainly attributable to continued strict cost management and operational efficiencies.

General and administrative expenses decreased to $3.0 million when compared to $8.3 million during the same period in 2020. The decrease is mainly due to lower legal and advisory costs related to activities of the special committee of the board of directors incurred last year, lower amortization costs, lower stock-based compensation, and bad debt recovery, slightly offset by higher compensation costs.

when compared to during the same period in 2020. The decrease is mainly due to lower legal and advisory costs related to activities of the special committee of the board of directors incurred last year, lower amortization costs, lower stock-based compensation, and bad debt recovery, slightly offset by higher compensation costs. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") (1) for Q3'21 of 2021 was $5.9 million compared to $5.6 million during the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA (1) ("Adjusted EBITDA") for Q3'21 amounted to $5.9 million as compared to $6.8 million during the same period in 2020. The Adjusted EBITDA for Q3'21 includes a reversal of bad-debt provision of $0.8 million .

for Q3'21 of 2021 was compared to during the same period in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA ("Adjusted EBITDA") for Q3'21 amounted to as compared to during the same period in 2020. The Adjusted EBITDA for Q3'21 includes a reversal of bad-debt provision of . Net income for Q3'21 was $3.8 million compared to a loss of $29.2 million during the corresponding period in 2020. The increase in net income is mainly attributable to the Company's ongoing focus on cost management and overall operating expenses and higher finance costs last year related to accretion of preferred shares on redemption. (1) EBITDA,Adjusted EBITDA, new bookings and adjusted EPS are non-IFRS measures. These measures are defined in the "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" section of this news release (2) Includes restricted cash Conference Call Optiva Inc. will hold an analyst call on November 11, 2021, to discuss its Q3 '21 financial results for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021. John Giere, CEO, and Ashish Joshi, CFO, will host the call starting at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time. A question and answer session will follow management's discussion. Date: Thursday, November 11, 2021

Time: 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time

Toll-free (Canada/US): 1-866-248-8441

International: 1-720-452-9102

Reference number: 7088116 Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time. An operator will register your name and organization. Non-IFRS Measures "EBITDA" and "Adjusted EBITDA" are not financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute to net income (loss), operating income or any other financial measures of performance calculated and presented in accordance with IFRS, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of liquidity. The Company defines EBITDA as net income (loss) excluding amounts for depreciation and amortization, other income, finance costs, finance income, income tax expense (recovery), foreign exchange gain (loss) and share-based compensation. The Company defines "Adjusted EBITDA" as EBITDA (as defined above), excluding restructuring costs, one-time provision amounts, and any one-time transaction costs associated with shareholder conflict. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a metric that investors may find useful in understanding the Company's financial position. The following table provides a reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. New Bookings are total bookings minus SLA renewals. New Bookings Indicates the contractually committed revenue, excluding renewal of maintenance/support contracts from existing customers, that we expect to recognize over the forthcoming quarters. New Bookings is thus a subset of our Total Bookings in a particular period. New Booking indicates our success in contracting new business whereas Total Bookings reflects our success in both, contracting new business as well as renewing existing maintenance and support SLAs. Adjusted EPS is reported diluted EPS excluding the impact of change in the fair value of warrants.











Three months ended, September 30 Nine months ended, September 30

2021 2020 2021 2020









Net income (loss) for the period $ 3,783,002 $ (29,220,983) $ 21,812,912 $ (43,189,879)









Add back / (substract):







Depreciation of property and equipment 65,161 - 83,601 - Amortization of intangible assets 362,763 2,188,032 1,088,289 7,140,553 Finance (income) (328,765) (173,251) (471,360) (250,074) Finance costs (recovery) 804,557 29,660,877 (9,500,031) 28,282,767 Income tax expense 833,422 1,987,199 2,438,396 2,675,506 Foreign exchange loss (gain) (109,584) (282,702) (635,219) 1,899,005 Share-based compensation 490,144 1,421,022 1,905,976 535,890 EBITDA 5,900,700 5,580,194 16,722,564 (2,906,232)









Restructuring costs - 59,440 - 202,162 Change in other provisions - - (1,313,725) 3,072,717 One-time costs (recovery) related to shareholder conflict







and debenture financing - 1,179,264 (433,610) 2,101,129









Adjusted EBITDA $ 5,900,700 $ 6,818,898 $ 14,975,229 $ 2,469,776









About Optiva Optiva Inc. is a leading provider of mission-critical, cloud-native revenue management software for the telecommunications industry. Its products are delivered globally on the private and public cloud. The Company's solutions help service providers maximize digital, 5G, IoT and emerging market opportunities to achieve business success. Established in 1999, Optiva Inc. is on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: OPT). For more information, visit www.optiva.com. Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statement Certain statements in this document may constitute "forward-looking" statements that involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our 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. When used in this document, such statements use such words as "may," "will," "expect," "continue," "believe," "plan," "intend," "would," "could," "should," "anticipate" and other similar terminology. These statements are forward-looking as they are based on our current expectations, as at November 10, 2021, about our business and the markets we operate in and on various estimates and assumptions. Our actual results could materially differ from our expectations if known or unknown risks affect our business or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate. As a result, there is no assurance that any forward-looking statements will materialize. Risks that could cause our results to differ materially from our current expectations are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on Optiva's website at www.optiva.com/investors/. Other unknown or unpredictable factors or underlying assumptions subsequently proving to be incorrect could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Optiva does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to 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, except as required by law. OPTIVA Inc.



Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position

(Expressed in U.S. dollars)



(Unaudited)

















September 30, December 31,

2021 2020





Assets









Current assets:



Cash and cash equivalents $ 32,031,896 $ 17,663,998 Trade accounts and other receivables 9,241,414 7,868,501 Unbilled revenue 6,310,487 4,086,395 Prepaid expenses 3,053,180 2,752,304 Income taxes receivable 4,316,147 4,281,673 Other assets 747,621 222,101 Total current assets 55,700,745 36,874,972





Restricted cash 791,372 625,692 Property and equipment 847,517 - Long-term unbilled revenue 2,940,041 3,520,177 Deferred income taxes 351,336 208,237 Other assets 107,353 624,134 Intangible assets 2,539,464 3,255,482 Goodwill 32,271,078 32,271,078





Total assets $ 95,548,906 $ 77,379,772





Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit









Current liabilities:



Trade payables $ 4,296,734 $ 8,811,407 Accrued liabilities 9,719,033 9,677,245 Provisions 4,200,000 5,555,373 Income taxes payable 5,661,702 4,932,157 Deferred revenue 4,301,164 4,894,195 Total current liabilities 28,178,633 33,870,377





Deferred revenue 487,312 661,837 Other liabilities 1,822,907 2,797,836 Pension and other long-term employment benefit plans 10,918,925 15,582,459 Debentures 86,818,996 86,338,367 Series A Warrant 768,340 16,662,808 Standby Warrant 92,550 - Deferred income taxes 769,379 898,146 Total liabilities 129,857,042 156,811,830





Shareholders' deficit:



Share capital 269,992,761 250,904,013 Standby Warrant - 997,500 Contributed surplus 13,389,540 11,406,814 Deficit (314,029,337) (335,842,249) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (3,661,100) (6,898,136) Total shareholders' deficit (34,308,136) (79,432,058)





Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit $ 95,548,906 $ 77,379,772 OPTIVA Inc. Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Expressed in U.S. dollars, except per share and share amounts) (Unaudited)





















Three months ended, September 30 Nine months ended, September 30

2021 2020 2021 2020









Revenue:







Support and subscription $ 11,411,812 $ 14,077,343 $ 35,681,432 $ 44,030,708 Software licenses, services and other 5,253,879 4,726,877 13,386,078 13,742,981

16,665,691 18,804,220 49,067,510 57,773,689









Cost of revenue 3,491,639 4,649,294 10,765,379 15,124,936









Gross profit 13,174,052 14,154,926 38,302,131 42,648,753









Operating expenses:







Sales and marketing 1,788,771 1,581,100 5,502,413 6,272,788 General and administrative 2,990,055 8,288,092 11,983,848 23,893,409 Research and development 3,412,594 2,255,154 7,171,172 22,863,069 Restructuring costs - 59,440 - 202,162

8,191,420 12,183,786 24,657,433 52,231,428









Income (loss) from operations 4,982,632 1,971,140 13,644,698 (10,582,675)









Foreign exchange gain / (loss) 109,584 282,702 635,219 (1,899,005) Finance income 328,765 173,251 471,360 250,074 Finance (cost) recovery (804,557) (29,660,877) 9,500,031 (28,282,767)









Income (loss) before income taxes 4,616,424 (27,233,784) 24,251,308 (40,514,373)









Income taxes (recovery):







Current 922,153 2,100,108 2,691,270 2,795,866 Deferred (88,730) (112,909) (252,874) (120,360)

833,422 1,987,199 2,438,396 2,675,506









Net income (loss) $ 3,783,002 $ (29,220,983) $ 21,812,912 $ (43,189,879)









Other comprehensive income:







Items that will not be reclassified







to net income:







Actuarial gain (loss) on pension and non-pension







post-employment benefit plans, net of income







tax expense of nil: $ 3,237,036 $ (3,560,350) $ 3,237,036 $ (3,560,350)









Total comprehensive income (loss) $ 7,020,038 $ (32,781,333) $ 25,049,948 $ (46,750,229)



















Income (loss) per common share:







Basic $ 0.62 $ (5.50) $ 3.73 $ (8.12) Diluted 0.61 (5.50) 3.68 (8.12)



















Weighted average number of common shares:







Basic 6,150,557 5,315,757 5,850,993 5,315,903 Diluted 6,159,307 5,315,757 5,926,567 5,315,903









OPTIVA Inc.







Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows

(Expressed in U.S. dollars)







(Unaudited)





























Three months ended, September 30 Nine months ended, September 30

2021 2020 2021 2020









Cash provided by (used in):

















Operating activities:







Income (loss) for the period $ 3,783,002 $ (29,220,983) $ 21,812,912 $ (43,189,879) Adjustments for:







Depreciation of property and equipment 65,161 - 83,601 - Amortization of intangible assets 362,763 2,188,032 1,088,289 7,140,553 Finance (income) (328,765) (173,251) (471,360) (250,074) Finance costs (recovery) 804,557 29,660,877 (9,500,031) 28,282,767 Pension 9,015 100,932 (709,033) 109,323 Income tax expense 833,422 1,987,199 2,438,396 2,675,506 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 40,961 (11,484) (409,081) (1,055,526) Share-based compensation 490,144 1,421,022 1,905,976 535,890 Change in provisions - (258,968) (1,355,373) 2,098,172 Change in non-cash operating working capital (1,018,447) (5,505,549) (7,004,459) 1,561,903

5,041,813 187,827 7,879,837 (2,091,365) Interest paid (40,297) (7,656) (93,054) (34,070) Interest received 8,656 6,020 18,625 75,934 Income taxes received (paid) 206,465 (1,584,095) (1,857,734) (3,229,262)

5,216,637 (1,397,904) 5,947,674 (5,278,763)









Financing activities:







Payment of dividends - (11,378,719) - (13,588,145) Issue of share capital - - 19,088,748 - Payment of interest on loans and borrowings (4,351,439) - (8,764,162) - Redemption of preferred shares - (80,000,000) - (80,000,000) Transaction costs on debentures - (3,315,583) - (3,315,583) Issuance of debentures - 90,000,000 - 90,000,000

(4,351,439) (4,694,302) 10,324,586 (6,903,728)









Investing activities:







Purchase of property and equipment (665,636) - (931,118) - Purchase of software (372,271) - (372,271) - (Increase) / Decrease in restricted cash (253,885) 57,647 (165,680) 261,165

(1,291,792) 57,647 (1,469,069) 261,165









Effect of foreign exchange rate changes







on cash and cash equivalents (476,654) 223,160 (435,293) 788,793









Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (903,248) (5,811,399) 14,367,898 (11,132,533)









Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 32,935,144 26,426,859 17,663,998 31,747,993









Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 32,031,896 $ 20,615,460 $ 32,031,896 $ 20,615,460 SOURCE Optiva Inc.

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[November 10, 2021] Brinks Home and Sunnova Launch Exclusive Partnership to Sell Home Security and Energy Solutions

Sunnova Energy International Inc. ("Sunnova") (NYSE: NOVA) and Brinks Home announced today the launch of an exclusive partnership. The agreement will allow Sunnova to offer its customers options from the Brinks Home portfolio of smart home security solutions, and allow Brinks Home dealers and authorized representatives to offer their customers Sunnova's suite of solar, battery, and energy services. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211110006473/en/ "Brinks Home is committed to delivering best-in-class customer experience coupled with smart home products and security services to our nearly one million customers," said William Niles, Chief Executive Officer of Brinks Home. "The partnership with Sunnova will align with that mission by extending our value proposition to smart home energy management with a partner that shares the same commitment to customer satisfaction. We look forward to partnering with Sunnova to deliver a smarter, safer, and greener home for our shared customer base." "The home is a sanctuary, which means ensuring the safety of your family is a key priority. Increasingly so, this also means providing your family with reliable and resilient energy services. Sunnova and Brinks Home have partnered to offer a better energy service with the best security service to our customers and their families. By connecting Brinks Home customers to clean and affordable solar energy and Sunnova customers with top-of-the-line security, we're confident customers will find the unique solutions their homes need," said William J. (John) Berger, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sunnova. "The solutions provided by Brinks Home complement Sunnova's, and by leveraging our collective stengths, we will help power and protect the home of the future."



As the demand for smarter, more energy efficient homes continues to grow, so too does the home security market1. Home security companies are incorporating new technologies into their offerings to help automate and adapt the home to the consumer's wants and needs. Sunnova will also offer financing to Brinks Home customers for security equipment and installation. Offering financing for home security services will complement Sunnova's current suite of offerings as the company continues to develop the Sunnova Adaptive Home, which integrates solar, battery storage, energy control and other hardware and software technologies, for the full electrification of the home. About Brinks Home

Brinks Home is one of the largest home security and alarm monitoring companies in North America. Headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Brinks Home provides platinum grade protection to over 950,000 residential and commercial customers through highly responsive, simple security solutions backed by expertly trained professionals. The company has one of the nation's largest networks of independent authorized dealers and agents-providing products and support to customers in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico-as well as direct-to-consumer sales of DIY and professionally installed products. To learn more about Brinks Home or how to become an Authorized Dealer, Partner, or Representative, visit brinkshome.com or brinkshome.com/partners. About Sunnova Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE: NOVA) is a leading residential solar and energy storage service provider with customers across the U.S. and its territories. Sunnova's goal is to be the source of clean, affordable and reliable energy with a simple mission: to power energy independence so that homeowners have the freedom to live life uninterrupted. For more information, please visit sunnova.com 1 https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/home-security-system-market View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211110006473/en/

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[November 10, 2021] Trip.com unveils outstanding customer service pledge

SINGAPORE, Nov. 10, 2021 /CNW/ -- Trip.com a rapidly growing global online travel agency, is proud to announce the launch of their 2021 Customer Service Pledge, available to read in multiple languages. Through this challenging period for the travel industry, Trip.com, an online travel agency owned by Trip.com Group, has been committed to exceeding customer satisfaction by offering the best possible service and experience to its users. The pledge is made up of six key pillars: 1. Making travel effortless Trip.com has been committed to providing the best possible service and experience for all users since their inception. Trip.com's robust customer services team ensures top quality assistance is delivered to all its users. Its professional and passionate customer support advisors interact with thousands of users, ensuring that their questions and concerns are prioritised. This user-centric attitude isn't just a mind-set but something that Trip.com's users can feel each time they interact with the customer service team. 2. Guaranteed bookings Another important pillar of Trip.com's customer service is the ability to guarantee their travellers' bookings once payment has been finalised. If a customer is faced with a problem while dealing with one of Trip.com's partners, the customer service team will act quickly to help handle the issue and find a solution. 3. Assistance provided by phone, chat or email To ensure the right level of support is offered, Trip.com's customers have the choice of contacting a customer service team member through email, phone or chat, making it easy to get in touch and receive a timely reply. Trip.com is working towards being the best travel companion for its customers by making all interactions user-friendly. For customers travelling abroad and needing some assistance, Trip.com also developed a 'Free in-app all' function through the app.



4. 24/7 support Trip.com offers 24/7 support, allowing the platform's users to reach a member of the dedicated customer services team at all times. Whether a customer is denied boarding at the airport because a letter is missing in their name, or arrives at the airport to find out their flight has been cancelled, the dedicated team offers helpful support and solutions in many different languages including English, Cantonese, Japanese and Korean.

5. No waiting Trip.com prides itself on offering an efficient service and does not believe in making customers wait in queues to be connected to a member of the team. Some issues can be solved when they are reported and handled quickly and the team is on hand to help as swiftly as possible. 6. Free in-app calls Trip.com is aware of how easily international call charges can rack up when travelling abroad. To relieve the stress of these costs, if users need to contact the customer services team during their trip, Trip.com offers free Internet calls. Users can simply use the "VoIP (Internet Call)" function on the app to connect with a member of the team. No payment is required. During the pandemic, Trip.com's brilliant customer service team revisited its approach to customer service to meet the changing needs and increase in customer calls. Grace Ding, Head of Trip.com Global Customer Support Centre commented: "While the past 18 months have been challenging for everyone, we understand that customers' needs and expectations have changed. The importance of excellent customer service during a global pandemic is extremely important for us, especially working in the travel industry. Trip.com is already known for its impeccable customer service. During the pandemic, surveys showed that customer satisfaction levels stood at an average level of 89% in H2 of 2020 and 90% in H1 of 2021 and we believe that these results speak for themselves. Today, in a world that is facing unprecedented times, we are proud to see one of our companies make a pledge towards maintaining an incredible level of service to ensure people can continue to travel stress-free." For more information visit 6 Ways Trip.com Offers Outstanding Service https://www.trip.com/pages/service/ About Trip.com Trip.com is an international one-stop travel service provider, available in 20 languages across 27 countries and regions in 31 local currencies and sites. Trip.com has an extensive hotel and flight network consisting of more than 1.2 million hotels and flights from over 480 airlines covering 2,600 airports in 200 countries and regions around the globe. Trip.com's world-class 24/7 multilingual customer service as well as additional centres in Edinburgh, Tokyo and Seoul, help to 'create the best travel experience' for its millions of customers worldwide. To book your next trip, visit www.trip.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tripcom-unveils-outstanding-customer-service-pledge-301421161.html SOURCE Trip.com

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[November 10, 2021] INFiLED Impresses Pro AV Industry Visitors at InfoComm 2021 in Florida

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2021 /CNW/ -- INFiLED, a global leader in LED displays, recently impressed visitors with its expanded presence at the largest technology exhibition and conference in North America focused on the pro AV industry, InfoComm 2021, which was held in Orlando, Florida, from October 27-29. "We're having an excellent year in the Americas with our new office opening in Los Angeles and our new U.S. Team exhibiting at InfoComm with many of our quality Direct View LED (DVLED) products on display. As Gold Sponsors for several InfoComm 2021 elements, including the Digital Signage Conference and Pavilion, the Technology Innovation Stage, and the Tech Managers Reception, it was exciting to have such an expanded presence and to meet so many visitors who came to tour our awesome booth at InfoComm," said INFiLED VP of Sales, Grif Palmer. INFiLED's home fr the duration of InfoComm 2021, Booth 801, showcased many prominent DVLED products used by their clients with examples of their use in applications around the globe including three sizable DVLED videowalls comprised of their AR Plus, DB, DF, and WP products, as well as multiple other DVLED samples that were demonstrated during the show. A veteran of the industry, Mr. Palmer was a speaker at the Digital Signage Conferences, "Tips for Deciding Between Video Walls, LED & Projection" and "New Tech Lightning Round  Digital Signage," as well as participating in a Tech Managers Panel & Reception.





INFiLED's main focus is on Rental/Staging, Corporate, Retail, and Creative Digital Signage applications. ABOUT INFiLED INFiLED is a leading high-tech enterprise specialized in developing and manufacturing large format LED display solutions. INFiLED's product application range covers digital signage, transportation, sports, events, command & control, corporate branding and meetings, creative applications and much more. With installations in over 85 countries and over 178 patents, one of the highest numbers in the industry, INFiLED is striving to be a top brand of LED screen manufacturers to enlighten the world with a visual feast! View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/infiled-impresses-pro-av-industry-visitors-at-infocomm-2021-in-florida-301421763.html SOURCE INFiLED

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[November 10, 2021] TigerGraph and NUS Business Analytics Centre Collaborate to Strengthen Graph Database Capabilities

SINGAPORE, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The National University of Singapore Business Analytics Centre (NUS BAC) and TigerGraph , provider of the leading graph analytics platform, announced that they have entered into an MOU to enhance business analytics curriculum and strengthen students' graph database capabilities. Part of the technology that powers search engines and online product recommendations, a graph database allows analysts to find connections among the data. In business analytics, a graph database can be used to improve revenue through product and service marketing, manage risks through fraud protection, as well as optimise resources through supply chain analysis. The collaboration aims to enhance students' skills in using graph databases through related software and resources by TigerGraph. NUS business analytics students can also look forward to capstone internship opportunities with TigerGraph and its partners. Jointly formed by the NUS School of Computing and NUS Business School, NUS BAC offers the Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programme. Associate Professor James Pang Yan, Co-Director of the BAC, said, "Graph analytics is an emerging field which can help to solve some of the problems that traditional analysis can't solve. Our collaboration with TigerGraph will help to provide the latest industry-relevant knowledge and training in graph technology for our NUS MSBA students. This talent pool will in turn help to meet the growing demand of businesses, in Singapore and in the region, who turn to analytics to improve operations." TigerGraph is a revolutionary native parallel graph database purpose-built for loading terabytes of data within hours and analysing as many as 10 or more hops deep into relationships in real-time. TigerGraph supports transactional as well as analytical workloads, is ACID compliant, and scales up and out with database sharding. Its technology also supports applications such as fraud detection, customer360, IoT, AI and machine learning to make sense of ever-changing big dat.



Serene Keng, managing director of channel and alliances for Asia Pacific and Japan, TigerGraph said, "TigerGraph strongly believes in leading the way for private and public collaboration towards the next frontier of big data and advanced analytics through our partnership and alliance initiatives. We are proud to join forces with NUS to make graph analytics capabilities more accessible to enterprises by developing a larger talent pool with sought-after graph database skill sets. The addition of TigerGraph Native Parallel Graph to the curriculum of one of the best Business Analytics Master programmes in the world underscores the demand from academia and industry alike for all things graph in order to accelerate digital transformation of Singapore businesses." In addition, TigerGraph will sponsor the NUS-TigerGraph Innovation Challenge, which will be held in 2023. This challenge will feature problem statements based on realistic business problems from TigerGraph and its clients, and aims to showcase and reward ground-breaking innovative solutions from NUS students.

About TigerGraph TigerGraph is a platform for advanced analytics and machine learning on connected data. Based on the industry's first and only distributed native graph database, TigerGraph's proven technology supports advanced analytics and machine learning applications such as fraud detection, anti-money laundering (AML), entity resolution, customer 360, recommendations, knowledge graph, cybersecurity, supply chain, IoT, and network analysis. The company is headquartered in Redwood City, California, USA. Start free with tigergraph.com/cloud . Helpful Links Get TigerGraph

TigerGraph Cloud

TigerGraph Website

TigerGraph Blog

TigerGraph on Twitter

TigerGraph on LinkedIn About National University of Singapore (NUS) The National University of Singapore (NUS) is Singapore's flagship university, which offers a global approach to education, research and entrepreneurship, with a focus on Asian perspectives and expertise. We have 17 faculties across three campuses in Singapore, with more than 40,000 students from 100 countries enriching our vibrant and diverse campus community. We have also established our NUS Overseas Colleges programme in more than 15 cities around the world. Our multidisciplinary and real-world approach to education, research and entrepreneurship enables us to work closely with industry, governments and academia to address crucial and complex issues relevant to Asia and the world. Researchers in our faculties, 30 university-level research institutes, research centres of excellence and corporate labs focus on themes that include energy; environmental and urban sustainability; treatment and prevention of diseases; active ageing; advanced materials; risk management and resilience of financial systems; Asian studies; and Smart Nation capabilities such as artificial intelligence, data science, operations research and cybersecurity. For more information on NUS, please visit www.nus.edu.sg. About NUS Business Analytics Centre Established in 2013 as part of a collaboration with IBM to grow the talent pool of business analytics professionals, the National University of Singapore's Business Analytics Centre (NUS BAC) is jointly supported by NUS Business School and NUS Computing. It offers the NUS Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) programme, taught by award-winning academics from both Schools. The NUS MSBA is a multi-disciplinary programme that facilitates experiential learning through a balance of intellectual academic rigour and hands-on application. Students will be well equipped with the most in-demand hard and soft skills, and gain the ability to understand, formulate and use relevant data science techniques and tools to resolve complex business analytics problems in a range of industries including finance, retail, information technology, supply chain and healthcare. NUS BAC has a strong industry community with more than 100 organizations from different industry sectors. To date, more than 600 industrial analytics projects have been completed by NUS MSBA students collaborating with NUS BAC industry partners. For more info, visit msba.nus.edu.sg. SOURCE TigerGraph; NUS

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[November 11, 2021] Skimmer kicks off nationwide tour at The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Dallas, TX

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Skimmer , the global leader in pool service software (SaaS platform and app), is kicking off the pool industry trade show season at the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Dallas, Texas next week. Skimmer team members will be exhibiting and providing live product demonstrations from November 16th through November 18th in Booth #1225.

The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo in Dallas is where all segments of the industry gather to stay well-informed of the trends, market directions, and technology. The event offers pool industry professionals a large selection of educational sessions, an expo hall, and various networking opportunities. Skimmer Executive Chairman Pete Freeland describes the International Show as "the perfect venue for Skimmer to publicly debut its technology, team, and tiki bar." Skimmer announced record-setting third quarter results this week. The company now has 18,000 users across 2,800 companies using the platform to service over 600,000 pools in the United States and Canada. Skimmer's100+% annual growth rate reflects the pool service industry's trend of adopting user-friendly, scalable pool service software that enables a new level of efficiency, professionalism, and profitability in the industry.



Skimmer's CEO, Jack Nelson, commented "Our customers are located in almost every state in the country. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to connect with them and prospective customers now that trade shows are reopening. Members of our executive, product, marketing, and customer support teams will be at the Desert Pool & Spa Show, Mid America Pool & Spa Show, HOTT Show, Southwest Pool & Spa Show, The Pool & Spa Show, IPSSA Weekend of Inspiration, Southeast Pool & Spa Show, Everything Under the Sun Expo, Western Pool & Spa Show, and AQUA Live shows. We are thrilled to finally be able to showcase our fantastic team and software to live audiences." About Skimmer

Skimmer's platform provides pool service and repair businesses of all sizes access to features that simplify work orders, route optimization, pool tech management, billing and invoicing, customer communication, and payments. Everything you need to run your pool service business, all in one app. Learn more at getskimmer.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/skimmer-kicks-off-nationwide-tour-at-the-international-pool--spa--patio-expo-in-dallas-tx-301421884.html SOURCE Skimmer

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[November 11, 2021] Exyte with Record Order Intake in 9M/2021

- YOY order intake increased by 61.2%, reaching 5,132 million - Sales rose by 21.3% to 3,395 million - Adjusted EBIT is up 25.4%, reaching 178 million STUTTGART, Germany, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Exyte continued its excellent performance during the first nine months of 2021, reaching a record order intake of 5,132 million (9M/2020: 3,184 million) thanks to a strong demand in the APAC and EMEA regions. Sales increased by 21.3% to 3,395 million with adjusted EBIT reaching 178 million. Advanced Technology Facilities (ATF) remained the largest business segment and the region EMEA the strongest region for the time being. Due to a high demand in all regions, sales increased by 21.3% to 3,395 million (9M/2020: 2,800 million). With sales of 1,813 million (9M/2020: 1,743 million), the region EMEA was the strongest, owing to major ongoing projects in Ireland, Germany, and Israel. In the region APAC, sales increased to 1,064 million (9M/2020: 596 million), mainly due to higher sales in Singapore and China. A substantial project in the ATF business segment in the region AMER led to an increase of sales, reaching 343 million (9M/2020: 291 million). Adjusted EBIT rose to 178 million, a YOY increase of 25.4% (9M/2020: 142 million), primarily due to the highergross profit as a result of increased sales. The adjusted EBIT margin grew from 5.1% to 5.3%. Free cash flow was at 473 million.



Further growth due to semiconductor business With sales increasing to 2,968 million due to major ongoing projects in all regions, the business segment ATF remains the strongest segment (9M/2020: 2,400). Order intake for the Biopharma & Life Sciences (BLS) business segment was at 384 million, well above the level in 2020 (9M/2020: 215 million), due to major projects in Singapore and Malaysia, while sales grew to 247 million (9M/2020: 135 million). With new significant projects awarded in Israel, the business segment Data Centers (DTC) reached an order intake of 175 million (9M/2020: 98 million).

Dr. Wolfgang Buchele, CEO of Exyte, stated "Our strict implementation of the strategic focus on industries with strong secular growth  from the semiconductor industry and life sciences to data centers  in combination with our expertise in controlled and regulated environments forms the solid base of our strong profitable growth." Outstanding performance continues "Due to the continuous award of important projects in all our business segments, we expect incoming orders in 2021 to be on a record level," said Peter Schonhofer, CFO of Exyte. "We also expect double-digit growth in sales in 2021 compared to 2020, driven by a high order backlog, combined with a considerable increase in adjusted EBIT." Follow this link to view the financial statement for 9M/2021. 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 a 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 around 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

Adriana Williams

Vice President Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

+49 711 8804 1489

[email protected] www.exyte.net Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1685307/reldat.jpg SOURCE Exyte

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[November 11, 2021] S&P Global Market Intelligence Information Technology Outlook Report finds that digitization leaders outperform in equity and credit markets

LONDON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Digitization can enhance enterprise performance in equity and credit markets by 2.7 times, according to the newly released 2022 Information Technology Outlook from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Customer experience, hybrid infrastructure, cyber security, artificial intelligence (AI) and workplace technology are driving change in the industry and this report examines how their impacts will play out in the year ahead. Published by 451 Research, the enterprise technology research unit of S&P Global Market Intelligence, the report spotlights the impacts of digitization in customer experience, the need for workplace technology innovation and digital enhancements including machine learning and automation to manage and secure the digital infrastructure required to keep organizations competitive. "Organizations have to become more data driven and build skills across their business lines to put data to work to serve their customers, employees and partners," said Eric Hanselman, principal research analyst with 451 Research. "Enterprises will have to become skilled at managing and securing a hybrid collection of resources and services, if they're to remain competitive in their markets and be an attractive place to work." Based on insights and survey data from 451 Research, key highlights from the report include: Formal digital transformation strategies have accelerated over the past decade as 54% of businesses have formal strategies in place, up from 43% in 2019 and 29% in 2016.

54% of enterprises are increasing their proportion of workloads on cloud, with 57% reporting use of hybrid cloud model.

With the "Great Resignation" underway, workplace technology is playing a greater role in where people choose to work. 35% said that they were likely to accept a new job if the only way it differed from their current job was better availability of devices, applications and other productivity tools.

72% of organizations with machine learning in production say they are either 'very' or 'somewhat concerned' about the environmental impact of AI, but operational deployments of AI can reduce energy consumption.

Cyber security requirements for digitization and other tech initiatives have driven over USD$5 billon in M&A activity in the last year.





The S&P Global Market Intelligence 2022 Information Technology Outlook Report is part of a "Big Picture Outlook" series published by the division's research group that provides a look ahead to key strategic trends and opportunities. To learn more about this "Big Picture Outlook" research series, please visit here. To request a copy of the report, please contact [email protected]. S&P Global Market Intelligence's 451 Research unit provides expert analysis, proprietary data, and timely thought leadership for the high-growth emerging technology sectors. This enterprise technology research offering complements S&P Global Market Intelligence's broad universe of research sector coverage including energy, financial institutions, metals & mining and TMT (Technology, Media and Telecom). S&P Global Market Intelligence's opinions, quotes, and credit-related and other analyses are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendation to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or to make any investment decisions, and do not address the suitability of any security. About S&P Global Market Intelligence

At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. We integrate financial and industry data, research and news into tools that help track performance, generate alpha, identify investment ideas, perform valuations and assess credit risk. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations and universities around the world use this essential intelligence to make business and financial decisions with conviction. S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), the world's foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, offering ESG solutions, deep data and insights on critical business factors. S&P Global has been providing essential intelligence that unlocks opportunity, fosters growth and accelerates progress for more than 160 years. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence . Media Contact

Sabrina Mayeen

S&P Global | Market Intelligence

+44 (0)20 7176 0495

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sp-global-market-intelligence-information-technology-outlook-report-finds-that-digitization-leaders-outperform-in-equity-and-credit-markets-301421558.html SOURCE S&P Global Market Intelligence

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[November 11, 2021]

INRS, Polytechnique Montreal and the Montreal Climate Partnership study the impact of telework and mobility on carbon footprint

A research team led by INRS launches a study on the socio-environmental impacts of telework by measuring the CO 2 emissions of its community

QUEBEC and MONTREAL, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - What are the environmental impacts resulting from post-pandemic changes in our work practices? That question will be explored by a team from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), in collaboration with Polytechnique Montreal, as they launch a study on the CO 2 emissions balance, which includes the effects of the INRS community's commute to and from work. This unprecedented participatory research project, financed and supported by the Montreal Climate Partnership and INRS, reflects a commitment to take concrete action to address the climate emergency.

"Given the climate emergency, every action counts," says Louise Henault-Ethier, Associate Professor and director of the Eau Terre Environnement Research Centre at INRS who initiated this new study. "With this project, INRS is taking concrete action to better understand the impacts of mobility changes in its community and to accelerate climate transition."

Understanding the impacts of mobility and telework on the carbon footprint

INRS adopted a telework policy in June 2021 and seized the opportunity to properly identify and measure the environmental impact of the implementation of this policy, initially motivated by social issues. INRS had already carried out a first assessment of the direct CO 2 emissions of its community's professional commuting from the workplace for the period 2020-2021.

The research team will quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by modeling the INRS community, including faculty members, student members, and administrative staff, travelling between home and work. It will include both the CO 2 emissions avoided by working from home and the increased emissions associated with the use of computer servers during numerous virtual meetings.

"Based on data for direct GHG emissions, we are going to integrate a tool that will allow us to identify, calculate and offset emissions associated with work-related travel. As far as I know, this is a first," explains Professor Louis-Cesar Pasquier, a specialist in carbon sequestration at INRS. "With this new study, we are taking a step further to understand the impact of individual mobility choices on the carbon balance."

INRS will collaborate with the team of Professor Catherine Morency, head of the Mobility Chair and theCanada Research Chair on personal mobility at Polytechnique Montreal. With the expertise of Polytechnique, the team will be able to survey and model the mobility behaviours of study participants within the INRS community. This includes daily habits and their impacts, relocations that prolong less frequent work-related travel, changes in motorization, or the growth of certain other leisure-related trips.







"The new habits that people will keep after the pandemic will undeniably have an impact on the carbon footprint," says professor Morency.

"In fact, many organizations are concerned about the repercussions of telework. Understanding and quantifying the effects of telework requires measuring a range of behaviours, from changes in the modes of transportation used to get to work to urban sprawl, which could increase commuting distances and reduce the availability of more sustainable transportation options," she says.

A project that mobilizes a whole community

The methodology developed for the INRS data can be applied to collaborators of the Montreal Climate Partnership, who wish to undertake mobility commitments within the framework of Les grands gestes campaign, made possible by the Foundation of Greater Montreal, the Trottier Family Foundation, the City of Montreal, the financial contribution of Cogeco and nearly a hundred other partners. The mission of the Montreal Climate Partnership is to mobilize economic, philanthropic, institutional and community forces to accelerate the decarbonization of Montreal.

"This study will complement the other initiatives of the Montreal Climate Partnership targeting employee mobility, as it will allow us to scientifically confirm the relevance of promoting certain practices over the medium term," says Melanie Le Berre, Executive Director of the Montreal Climate Partnership.

With the findings, the Montreal Climate Partnership hopes to make recommendations to Montreal organizations on how to reduce their carbon footprint, while taking advantage of the economic benefits of telework and other new practices.

Research team includes Louise Henault-Ethier, Louis-Cesar Pasquier, Philippe Apparicio from INRS, Catherine Morency, Owen Waygood, and Hubert Verreault from Polytechnique Montreal.

About INRS

INRS is a university dedicated exclusively to graduate level research and training. Since its creation in 1969, INRS has played an active role in Quebec's economic, social, and cultural development and is ranked first for research intensity in Quebec and in Canada. INRS is made up of four interdisciplinary research and training centres in Quebec City, Montreal, Laval, and Varennes, with expertise in strategic sectors: Eau Terre Environnement, Energie Materiaux Telecommunications, Urbanisation Culture Societe, and Armand-Frappier Sante Biotechnologie. The INRS community includes more than 1,500 students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, and staff.

About the Montreal Climate Partnership

The Partnership is an independent initiative, which brings together about a hundred economic, community, philanthropic and institutional organizations aiming at mobilizing the key players in the Montreal community to help reduce GHG emissions by 55% by 2030 and put the city on the path to carbon neutrality by 2050. The Montreal Climate Partnership follows on the success of the collaboration established in 2018-2019 by a group of philanthropic foundations with the City of Montreal and the organization C40 Cities for the development of the City's Climate Plan and is inspired by the best international mobilization models, such as the Green Ribbon Commission in Boston. The initiative places Montreal among the world's leading C40 cities by making the ecological transition a pillar of its prosperity and attractiveness. The initiative is funded by the Foundation of Greater Montreal, the Trottier Family Foundation, and the City of Montreal. Learn more at https://climatmontreal.com/en/

About Polytechnique Montreal

Founded in 1873, Polytechnique Montreal, is one of Canada's largest engineering education and research institutions. Located on the Universite de Montreal campus, it is the largest French-language university campus in the Americas. With nearly 55,000 graduates to date, Polytechnique Montreal has educated over 22% of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec's current membership. Polytechnique offers more than 120 programs taught by 294 professors, and welcomes 9,930 students yearly, with an annual operating budget of $275 million - including a research budget of $105 million.

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SOURCE Institut National de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
[November 11, 2021] Intouch Group Launches Medical Communications Affiliate

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Intouch Group, a full-service global agency network serving the pharmaceutical industry, today announced the addition of Intouch Medical Communications (Intouch MedComm) as its newest affiliate to address the ever-evolving needs of clients. Fully integrated into the Intouch Group network, Intouch MedComm is composed of a deep bench of digital- and science-savvy MDs, PhDs, and PharmDs, along with other credentialed experts across various disciplines, leveraging decades of global medical affairs experience, and industry-leading omnichannel expertise in over 32 categories and indications. Intouch MedComm applies clinical acumen to create innovative and compelling experienes to enable scientific exchanges that drive deeper brand engagement among HCPs, field forces, and patients.



"Clients have been requesting more modern, innovative, forward-thinking medical communications services, and our legacy of creative and digital prowess, combined with omnichannel expertise, perfectly positions Intouch to deliver," said Boris Kushkuley, President, Commercial and Consulting Services, Intouch Group. "Intouch MedComm is different from other agencies. We strive to redefine what scientific exchange looks like in a modern world, all while advancing our clients' business goals." Intouch has been creating effective medical communications since its inception in 1999. Medical Communications service offerings have increasingly become a critical part of the marketing mix for Intouch clients. Kushkuley and Joe Wellington MD, SVP, Managing Director, Head of Medical, lead this growing team.

"Thanks to COVID-19 as a catalyst, the need to modernize medical communications has been propelled even further to the forefront," said Faruk Capan, CEO of Intouch Group. "I'm looking forward to seeing Intouch MedComm drive even more business success for our clients and Intouch." To learn more, visit the Intouch Medical Communications website at IntouchMC.com About Intouch Group

Intouch Group is a full-service agency network, providing creative and media services, enterprise solutions, and data analytics globally through ten affiliates in eight offices, including Intouch Solutions, Intouch Proto, Intouch Seven, Intouch Oxygen, Intouch Media, Intouch B2D, Intouch Analytics, Intouch Market Access, Intouch Medical Communications, and Intouch International. Collectively, Intouch Group employs more than 1,400 people. With a dedication to the life sciences, Intouch Group operates with the belief that there is no challenge too big to cure. Contact Intouch Group at [email protected] or visit them on the Web at intouchg.com. On Oct. 20, 2021, Intouch Group and EVERSANA announced their intention to join forces; EVERSANA's acquisition of Intouch is expected to be closed by the end of 2021. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/intouch-group-launches-medical-communications-affiliate-301421890.html SOURCE Intouch Group

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[November 11, 2021] Quotient Adopts Tax Benefits Preservation Plan to Protect Valuable Tax Assets

Quotient (NYSE: QUOT) (the "Company"), the leading digital media and promotions technology company, today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously adopted a tax benefits preservation plan (the Plan) to protect the Company's ability to use its net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs) and other tax assets under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code). The Plan is similar to plans adopted by other companies with significant NOLs. The Company estimates that it currently has between approximately $285 million and $290 million of federal NOLs available to offset future taxable income. These NOLs are available to reduce the Company's future federal income tax expense and represent significant value to the Company. The purpose of the Plan is to protect the Company's ability to use these tax assets, which would be substantially limited if the Company experienced an "ownership change" within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code. Generally, an "ownership change" occurs if the percentage of the Company's stock owned by one or more of its "5-percent shareholders" (as such term is defined in Section 382 of the Code) increases by more than 50 percentage points over a rolling three-year period. Pursuant to the Plan, the Company will issue, by means of a dividend, one preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of Company common stock to stockholders of record at the close of business on November 24, 2021. Stockholders are not required to take any action to receive the rights. Initially, these rights will not be exercisable and will trade with, and be represented by, the shares of Company common stock. The Company intends to submit the Plan to a vote of its stockholder at its 2022 annual meeting of stockholders or else by November 11, 2022. The Plan will expire if stockholders disapprove the Plan at the 2022 annual meeting or stockholder approval is not otherwise obtained by November 11, 2022, unless the Plan is otherwise terminated earlier according to its terms.



Under the Plan, the rights generally become exercisable only if a person or group (an "acquiring person") acquires beneficial ownership of 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Company common stock in a transaction not approved by the Board. In that situation, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person, whose rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, additional shares of Company common stock at a 50% discount. The Board, at its option, may exchange each right (other than rights owned by the acquiring person that have become void) in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Company common stock per outstanding right, subject to adjustment. Except as provided in the Plan, the Board is entitled to redeem the rights at $0.001 per right. If a person or group beneficially owns 4.9% or more of the outstanding shares of Company common stock prior to today's announcement of the Plan, then that person's or group's existing ownership percentage will be grandfathered. However, grandfathered shareholders will generally not be permitted to acquire any additional shares.

Additional information regarding the Plan will be contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Sidley Austin LLP is acting as legal counsel to the Company. About Quotient Quotient (NYSE: QUOT) is the leading digital media and promotions technology company for advertisers, retailers and consumers. Quotient's omnichannel platform is powered by exclusive consumer spending data, location intelligence and purchase intent data to reach millions of shoppers daily and deliver measurable, incremental sales. Quotient partners with leading advertisers and retailers, including Clorox, Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Unilever, CVS, Dollar General and Peapod Digital Labs, a company of Ahold Delhaize USA. Quotient is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and has offices across the US as well as in Bangalore, Paris, London and Tel Aviv. For more information visit www.quotient.com. Quotient and the Quotient logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Quotient Technology Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. Other marks are the property of their respective owner. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005619/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Bright Health Group Reports Third Quarter 2021 Results

Bright Health Group, Inc. ("Bright Health" or the "Company") (NYSE: BHG), a diversified healthcare services company building a technology-enabled, fully-aligned, national Integrated System of Care personalized for consumers, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2021. "I am pleased with our continued growth and overall performance in the face of a uniquely challenging year, but more importantly, on our prospects for the future," said Mike Mikan, President and CEO of Bright Health Group. "We are seeing proof points that highlight the power of our fully aligned model within local Integrated Systems of Care. For example, in Florida, we saw a 22% lower medical cost ratio and reduction in inpatient and ED admission rates for IFP members attributed to our owned and affiliated clinics. As we look to 2022, we are well positioned to expand this model to new markets, such as North Carolina and Texas, building on our strong growth and performance to date." Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights Bright Health Group's total revenue of $1,079 million in the third quarter of 2021 increased by $727 million, or 206.3%, compared to the prior-year period. Revenue was primarily driven by organic membership growth in Bright HealthCare during the 2020 Open Enrollment Period and the 2021 Special Enrollment Period for our Commercial business that began on February 15, 2021, and NeueHealth organic and inorganic growth. The Company also experienced an increase in investment income due to a $46 million unrealized gain on equity securities. Bright Health Group's medical cost ratio ("MCR") for the third quarter of 2021 was 103.0%, which includes a 540 basis point unfavorable impact from COVID-19 related costs and a 900 basis point unfavorable impact primarily from a cumulative reduction in premium revenue due to an inability to capture risk adjustment on newly added lives. Our MCR in the third quarter of 2020 was 90.1%, which included a 390 basis point unfavorable impact from COVID-19 costs and a 530 basis point favorable impact from non-COVID prior period developments. The Company's GAAP net loss was $296.7 million in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $237.5 million compared to the prior-year period. The Company's non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $245.9 million in the third quarter of 2021, an increase of $191.8 million compared to the prior-year period. "Our year-to-date 2021 MCR of 90.3% represents solid performance, especially given the remarkable growth and unique factors we have experienced this year. As a company still building to scale, we expect to see some quarterly variation in performance from time to time. Overall, we believe matching payment to population health status is needed to align incentives and drive performance in the direct-to-consumer market. However, with a predominately new and rapidly growing business, population health risk is difficult to estimate in the near-term but is expected to improve as our markets and populations mature, setting us up well for 2022," said Cathy Smith, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. "Our focus continues to be on generating long-term value for the business and our shareholders through relentless pursuit of our mission." Key Metrics







As of September 30, 2021 2020 Consumer and Patient Metrics Bright HealthCare Commercial Consumers 606,594 149,794 Bright HealthCare Medicare Advantage Consumers 114,094 57,751 NeueHealth Value-Based Patients 170,211 19,141

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ($ in thousands) September 30, September 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Financial Metrics Revenue $ 1,078,657 ? $ 352,120 $ 3,067,055 $ 847,542 Medical Cost Ratio 103.0 % 90.1 % 90.3 % 81.6 % Operating Cost Ratio 28.7 % 27.7 % 25.4 % 30.8 % GAAP Net Loss $ (296,722 ) $ (59,256 ) $ (364,990 ) $ (84,610 ) Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ (245,918 ) $ (54,084 ) $ (290,757 ) $ (81,188 ) See the table at the end of this release for additional information and a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure used in the table above. Financial Outlook For full year 2021, Bright Health Group is providing the following guidance and commentary: Bright Health Group's revenue is expected to be $4.1 billion to $4.2 billion with an expected enterprise medical cost ratio of approximately 92.5% plus or minus 50 bps.

On a segment basis, Bright HealthCare end-of-year membership is expected to be approximately 700,000, while NeueHealth revenue is expected to be approximately $575 million, or approximately $475 million excluding investment income.

Intercompany revenue elimination, comprised of payments from Bright HealthCare to NeueHealth for managing patient care and for network services, is expected to be approximately $(350) million.

Introducing Adjusted EBITDA guidance for 2021 of between $(550) and $(600) million(1). About Bright Health Group Bright Health Group is built upon the belief that by aligning the best local resources in healthcare delivery with the financing of care we can drive a superior consumer experience, optimize clinical outcomes, reduce systemic waste, and lower costs. We are a healthcare company building a national Integrated System of Care in close partnership with our Care Partners. Our differentiated approach is built on alignment, focused on the consumer, and powered by technology. We have two market facing businesses: NeueHealth and Bright HealthCare. Through NeueHealth, we deliver high-quality virtual and in-person clinical care to over 170,000 patients under value-based contracts through our 131 owned and affiliated primary care clinics. Through Bright HealthCare, we offer Commercial and Medicare health plan products to over 720,000 consumers in 14 states and 99 markets. We are making healthcare right. Together. For more information, visit www.brighthealthgroup.com. Earnings Conference Call As previously announced, Bright Health Group will discuss the Company's results, strategy, and outlook on a conference call with investors at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time today. Bright Health Group will host a live webcast of this conference call which can be accessed from the Investor Relations page of the company's website (investors.brighthealthgroup.com). Following the call, a webcast replay will be available on the same site using the access code 627744. This earnings release and the Form 8-K dated November 12, 2021, can be accessed on the Investor Relations page of the Company's website. We routinely post important information on our website, including corporate and investor presentations and financial information. We intend to use our website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Such disclosures will be included in the Investor Relations section of our website. Accordingly, investors should monitor this portion of our website, in addition to following our press releases, Securities and Exchange filings and public conference calls and webcasts. Notes (1) A reconciliation of the projected Adjusted EBITDA, which is a forward-looking non-GAAP financial measure, to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, is not provided because the Company is unable to provide such reconciliation without unreasonable effort. The inability to provide a reconciliation is due to the uncertainty and inherent difficulty predicting the occurrence, the financial impact and the periods in which the non-GAAP adjustments may be recognized. These GAAP measures may include the impact of such items as interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense; transaction costs, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration, contract termination costs; and the tax effect of all such items. Historically, the Company has excluded these items from non-GAAP financial measures. The Company currently expects to continue to exclude these items in future disclosures of non-GAAP financial measures and may also exclude other items that may arise (collectively, "non-GAAP adjustments"). The decisions and events that typically lead to the recognition of non-GAAP adjustments, such as a decision to exit part of the business, are inherently unpredictable as to if or when they may occur. For the same reasons, the Company is unable to address the probable significance of the unavailable information, which could be material to future results. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this release that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements and should be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of our business plan and strategies. These statements often include words such as "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "believe," "intend," "project," "forecast," "estimates," "projections," and other similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include any statements regarding our plans and expectations with respect to Bright Health Group, Inc. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. Factors that might materially affect such forward-looking statements include: a lack of acceptance or slow adoption of our business model; our ability to retain existing consumers and expand consumer enrollment; our ability to contract with care providers and arrange for the provision of quality care; our ability to accurately estimate our medical expenses, effectively manage our costs and claims liabilities or appropriately price our products and charge premiums; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations; the risks associated with our reliance on third-party providers to operate our business; the impact of modifications or changes to the U.S. health insurance markets; our ability to manage the growth of our business; our ability to operate, update or implement our technology platform and other information technology systems; our ability to retain key executives; our ability to successfully pursue acquisitions and integrate acquired businesses; the occurrence of severe weather events, catastrophic health events, natural or man-made disasters, and social and political conditions or civil unrest; our ability to prevent and contain data security incidents and the impact of data security incidents on our members, patients, employees and financial results; and the other factors set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in Bright Health Group's prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) on June 25, 2021, and our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this release to conform these statements to actual results or changes in our expectations. Bright Health Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) September 30,

2021 December 31,

2020 Assets ? ? ? Current assets: ? ? ? Cash and cash equivalents $ 956,189 ? $ 488,371 Short-term investments 331,719 ? 499,928 Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $5,701 and $2,602, respectively 99,216 ? 60,522 Prepaids and other current assets 240,545 ? 130,986 Total current assets 1,627,669 ? 1,179,807 Other assets: ? ? ? Long-term investments 681,923 ? 175,176 Property, equipment and capitalized software, net 30,932 ? 12,264 Goodwill 842,301 ? 263,035 Intangible assets, net 351,519 ? 152,211 Other non-current assets 40,751 ? 28,309 Total other assets 1,947,426 ? 630,995 Total assets $ 3,575,095 ? $ 1,810,802 Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Redeemable Preferred Stock and Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) ? ? ? Current liabilities: ? ? ? Medical costs payable $ 685,045 ? $ 249,777 Accounts payable 95,161 ? 57,252 Unearned revenue 34,917 ? 34,628 Risk adjustment payable 548,352 ? 187,777 Other current liabilities 88,133 ? 35,847 Total current liabilities 1,451,608 ? 565,281 Other liabilities 56,254 ? 28,578 Total liabilities 1,507,862 ? 593,859 Redeemable noncontrolling interests 130,029 ? 39,600 Redeemable preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 and 166,307,087 shares authorized in 2021 and 2020, respectively; 0 and 164,244,893 shares issued and outstanding in 2021 and 2020, respectively - ? 1,681,015 Shareholders' equity (deficit): ? ? ? Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 3,000,000,000 and 658,993,725 shares authorized in 2021 and 2020, respectively; 628,133,782 and 137,662,698 shares issued and outstanding in 2021 and 2020, respectively 63 ? 14 Additional paid-in capital 2,823,244 ? 9,877 Accumulated deficit (886,333 ) ? (515,989 ) Accumulated other comprehensive income 230 ? 2,426 Total shareholders' equity (deficit) 1,937,204 ? (503,672 ) Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, redeemable preferred stock and shareholders' equity (deficit) $ 3,575,095 ? $ 1,810,802 Bright Health Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (in thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) ? Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, ? 2021 ? 2020 2021 ? 2020 Revenue: ? ? ? ? ? Premium revenue $ 1,020,233 ? $ 345,426 $ 2,922,950 ? $ 827,135 Service revenue 11,079 ? 4,920 31,602 ? 13,344 Investment income 47,345 ? 1,774 112,503 ? 7,063 Total revenue 1,078,657 ? 352,120 3,067,055 ? 847,542 Operating expenses: ? ? ? ? ? ? Medical costs 1,050,943 ? 311,319 2,640,143 ? 675,114 Operating costs 309,790 ? 97,379 779,090 ? 260,650 Depreciation and amortization 14,205 ? 2,678 25,981 ? 5,550 Total operating expenses 1,374,938 ? 411,376 3,445,214 ? 941,314 Operating loss (296,281 ) ? (59,256 ) (378,159 ) ? (93,772 ) Interest expense 1,594 ? - 6,282 ? - Other income (1,226 ) - - - (1,226 ) - - Loss before income taxes (296,649 ) ? (59,256 ) (383,215 ) ? (93,772 ) Income tax (benefit) expense 73 ? - (18,225 ) ? (9,162 ) Net loss (296,722 ) ? (59,256 ) (364,990 ) ? (84,610 ) Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests (3,942 ) ? - (5,354 ) ? - Net loss attributable to Bright Health Group, Inc. common shareholders $ (300,664 ) ? $ (59,256 ) $ (370,344 ) ? $ (84,610 ) Basic and diluted loss per share attributable to Bright Health Group, Inc. common shareholders $ (0.48 ) ? $ (0.43 ) $ (1.19 ) ? $ (0.62 ) Basic and diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding 630,378 ? 136,337 312,294 ? 135,926 Bright Health Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) (Unaudited) ? Nine Months Ended September 30, ? 2021 2020 Cash flows from operating activities: ? ? ? Net loss $ (370,344 ) ? $ (84,610 ) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: ? ? ? Depreciation and amortization 25,981 ? 5,550 Share-based compensation 43,234 ? 3,722 Deferred income taxes (17,946 ) ? - Unrealized gains on equity securities (109,012 ) - Other, net 14,555 ? 1,022 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquired assets and liabilities: ? ? ? Accounts receivable (18,683 ) ? 27,508 Other assets (86,836 ) ? (24,980 ) Medical cost payable 342,531 ? 35,458 Risk adjustment payable 359,257 ? 68,186 Accounts payable and other liabilities 53,853 ? (22,015 ) Unearned revenue (3,476 ) ? 1,498 Net cash provided by operating activities 233,114 ? 11,339 Cash flows from investing activities: ? ? ? Purchases of investments (736,838 ) ? (702,672 ) Proceeds from sales, paydown, and maturities of investments 536,110 ? 349,113 Purchases of property and equipment (20,682 ) ? (1,181 ) Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired (431,718 ) ? (174,090 ) Net cash used in investing activities (653,128 ) ? (528,830 ) Cash flows from financing activities: ? ? ? Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock - ? 686,840 Proceeds from issuance of common stock 10,581 ? 874 Payments for debt issuance costs (3,391 ) - Proceeds from IPO 887,328 - Payments for IPO offering costs (6,686 ) ? - Net cash provided by financing activities 887,832 ? 687,714 Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 467,818 ? 170,223 Cash and cash equivalents?-?beginning of year 488,371 ? 522,910 Cash and cash equivalents?-?end of period $ 956,189 ? $ 693,133 Non-GAAP Financial Measures We use the non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net loss excluding interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for the impact of acquisition and financing-related transaction costs, share-based compensation and changes in the fair value of contingent consideration. This non-GAAP measure has been presented in this quarterly Earnings Release as a supplemental measure of financial performance that is not required by or presented in accordance with GAAP because we believe it assists management and investors in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding and including items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management believes this measure is useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate and capital investments. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized term under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to Net Income (Loss) as a measure of financial performance or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a measure of free cash flow available for management's discretionary use as it does not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and debt service requirements. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Because not all companies use identical calculations, the presentation of these measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies and can differ significantly from company to company. The following table provides a reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented: Three Months Ended

September 30, Nine Months Ended

September 30, ($ in thousands) 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net loss $ (296,722 ) $ (59,256 ) $ (364,990 ) $ (84,610 ) Interest expense 1,594 - 6,282 - Income tax (benefit) expense 73 - (18,225 ) (9,162 ) Depreciation and amortization 14,205 2,678 25,981 5,550 Transaction costs (a) 448 965 5,598 3,312 Share-based compensation expense (b) 24,180 1,529 43,234 3,722 Change in fair value of contingent consideration (c) 304 - 1,363 - Contract termination costs (d) 10,000 - 10,000 - Adjusted EBITDA $ (245,918 ) $ (54,084 ) $ (290,757 ) $ (81,188 ) (a) Transaction costs include accounting, tax, valuation, consulting, legal and investment banking fees directly relating to business combinations and certain costs associated with our initial public offering. These costs can vary from period to period and impact comparability, and we do not believe such transaction costs reflect the ongoing performance of our business. (b) Represents non-cash compensation expense related to stock option and restricted stock award grants, which can vary from period to period based on a number of factors, including the timing, quantity and grant date fair value of the awards. (c) Represents the non-cash change in fair value of contingent consideration from business combinations, which is remeasured at fair value each reporting period. There was no material activity for periods prior to the first quarter of 2021. (d) Represents amount paid for early termination of an existing vendor contract. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005503/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Allegion Launches New Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Website Section; Provides Added Transparency on Sustainability Priorities, Progress

Allegion plc (NYSE: ALLE), a leading global provider of security products and solutions, today launched a new section of its website dedicated to its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) efforts, providing additional visibility on the company's sustainability priorities and progress, which can be found at www.allegion.com/ESG. The newly released website section outlines Allegion's dedication to sustainability across the global business, with content highlights including: An interactive and a downloadable version of the company's first ESG materiality matrix, which was developed based on a 2021 formal survey of key internal and external stakeholders;

Dedicated and easy-to-navigate pages for the company's ongoing environmental, social and governance initiatives, including timely data and progress highlights, as well as related policies and statements; and

A detailed index that illustrates alignment of the company's ESG materiality matrix factors to applicable Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) factors and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, pointing to relevant and reported information for each ategory.



"Understanding stakeholder priorities, driving progress and providing greater transparency have been the initial focus of Allegion's cross-functional ESG Council," said Dave Petratis, chairman, president and CEO of Allegion. "Whether you're a shareholder, current or prospective employee, analyst, customer or community partner, we want you to understand our strong commitment to doing the right thing in the right way. Corporate social responsibility and sustainability are embedded into the values that guide our company and our actions."

The company was recently honored for its leadership in ESG - as showcased through two prestigious awards in 2021: The National Safety Council's Robert W. Campbell Award and the Indiana Chamber's Jackson Lewis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion Award. The Campbell Award is the premier Americas recognition for excellence in integrating environmental, health and safety (EHS) management into business operating systems. An elite group of winners - now including Allegion - have, through a rigorous application process with a systematic review and audit, showcased strong processes and measurable achievements in EHS performance that leads to productivity and profitability. Allegion was honored as the sole 2021 winner for its track record of proven positive impacts on workplace safety and engagement, the environment, customers and local communities. As the inaugural Jackson Lewis Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Champion, Allegion was also recently recognized for its proactive and intentional DEI efforts throughout the past 18 months. Those included developing a strategic DEI framework based on three pillars: learn and listen deeply; unite widely; and take action. From there, 2021 action priorities were established, leading to the creation of a U.S. supplier diversity program and a global employee-led inclusion council. The company also developed formal and informal opportunities for team members to learn and have constructive two-way conversations at a global scale. More information on Allegion's DEI approach and specific 2021 action priorities can be found in the updated ESG webpages. "ESG commitments continue to be a vital part of how we achieve results here at Allegion," Petratis added. "Embracing a workplace culture of safety, environmental excellence, engagement, equity, inclusion and diversity is critical to an organization's system of management. Company leaders and their employees all have a responsibility to uphold excellence in these things, and together, we will make a lasting difference in our global communities. It's the right thing to do - and it helps advance business vitality." In addition to directly visiting www.allegion.com/ESG, the new ESG section of Allegion's website can be easily accessed by visiting www.allegion.com and clicking "ESG" in the top navigation on the homepage. About Allegion Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in seamless access, with leading brands like CISA, Interflex, LCN, Schlage, SimonsVoss and Von Duprin. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion secures people and assets with a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and institutions. Allegion had $2.7 billion in revenue in 2020, and its security products are sold around the world. For more, visit www.allegion.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005303/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Nextech AR Solutions Corp. Reports Third Quarter 2021 Earnings & Conference Call Updated

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. ("Nextech"or the "Company") (OTCQB: NEXCF) (NEO: NTAR) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29) reports its financial and operating results for the third quarter 2021 ending September 30th, 2021. Subsequently, Nextech will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter results on November 11th, 2021 at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time. Please join Evan Gappelberg, Chief Executive Officer, and Andrew Chan, Chief Financial Officer, to discuss these financial and operating results followed by a question-and-answer period. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005375/en/ With it's augmented reality and Metaverse suite of products, Nextech is focused on transitioning to a business of mass 3D Model creation. This chart highlights the Company's projection through the second quarter of 2022 for 3D model creation at scale, with its' 3D model factory. (Graphic: Business Wire) Three Month Q3 Financial Highlights: Revenue for the three months ended September 30 th , 2021 was $5.7 million an increase of 23% compared to the three months ended September 30 th , 2020 of $4.7 million. Product sales increased 20% to $4.6 million, technology services increased 22% to $0.8 million and renewable software licenses increased 153% to $0.2 million.

, 2021 was $5.7 million an increase of 23% compared to the three months ended September 30 , 2020 of $4.7 million. Product sales increased 20% to $4.6 million, technology services increased 22% to $0.8 million and renewable software licenses increased 153% to $0.2 million. Gross profit for the three months ended September 30th, 2021 was $1.8 million a decrease of 39% compared to the three months ended September 30th, 2020 of $3.0 million. Profitability from product sales declined 6% as global supply chain issues increased our cost of acquiring inventory, and we incurred a gross loss from technology services as we continued to incur direct fixed delivery costs in the slower summer months. Nine Month Q3 Financial Highlights: Revenue for the nine months ended September 30th, 2021, was $19.6 million an increase of 83% compared to the nine months ended September 30th, 2021 of $10.7 million. Product sales increased 61% to $15.0 million, technology services increased 207% to $3.7 million and renewable software licenses increased 497% to $0.9 million.

Gross profit for the nine months ended September 30th, 2021, was $7.4 million, an increase of 14% compared to the nine months ended September 30th, 2020 of $6.5 million. Profitability from product sales increased 26%, while technology services contributed $1.0 million in gross profits over the nine month period.







Nextech AR Solutions Corp. Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position (Expressed in Canadian dollars) (Unaudited) As at September 30, 2021 December 31, 2020 Assets Current assets Cash $ 8,258,563 $ 10,684,952 Digital Assets (Note 4) - 2,546,035 Receivables (Note 5) 1,895,277 1,312,548 Contract Asset (Note 14) 267,865 244,478 Prepaid expenses (Note 6) 895,117 1,354,369 Inventory (Note 7) 4,581,632 3,211,675 15,898,454 19,354,057 Non-current assets Equipment (Note 8) 367,784 300,558 Right-of-use asset (Note 9) 1,147,661 1,034,724 Intangible assets (Note 10) 7,239,443 3,500,041 Goodwill (Note 10) 7,832,208 4,886,513 Total assets $ 32,485,550 $ 29,075,893 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (Note 11) $ 3,832,913 $ 2,527,437 Deferred revenue (Note 14) 1,573,270 383,022 Lease liability (Note 9) 288,966 150,662 Contingent consideration (Note 3) 463,030 2,717,859 6,158,179 5,778,980 Non-current liabilities Lease liability (Note 9) 860,152 877,978 Total liabilities 7,018,331 6,656,958 Shareholders' Equity Share capital (Note 12) 65,020,985 41,968,520 Reserves 10,041,357 6,757,098 Deficit (49,595,123 ) (26,306,683 ) 25,467,219 22,418,935 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 32,485,550 $ 29,075,893

Nextech AR Solutions Corp. Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Comprehensive Loss (Expressed in Canadian dollars) (Unaudited) Three months ended Three months ended Nine months ended Nine months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Revenue (Note 14) $ 5,737,585 $ 4,662,928 $ 19,555,840 $ 10,683,942 Cost of sales (Note 15) (3,936,309 ) (1,705,571 ) (12,147,574 ) (4,209,001 ) Gross profit 1,801,276 2,957,357 7,408,266 6,474,941 Operating expenses: Sales and marketing (Note 15) 4,358,738 3,145,881 13,494,067 5,933,721 General and administrative (Note 15) 3,735,240 639,773 9,914,613 3,156,980 Research and development (Note 15) 1,863,785 1,048,161 5,389,276 1,552,714 9,957,763 4,833,815 28,797,956 10,643,415 Other expense (income) Stock-based compensation (Note 12) (574,131 ) 2,124,158 2,384,912 2,989,057 Amortization (Note 10) 682,889 189,236 1,276,798 409,947 Right of Use Amortization (Note 9) 64,735 - 144,057 - Gain on digital assets (Note 4) - - (219,321 ) - (Gain) loss on contingent consideration (Note 3) 102,400 - (1,413,648 ) - Depreciation (Note 8) 37,286 25,440 97,321 52,723 Foreign exchange gain (252,992 ) (15,284 ) (371,369 ) (7,307 ) 60,187 2,323,550 1,898,750 3,444,420 Loss before income taxes (8,216,674 ) (4,200,008 ) (23,288,440 ) (7,612,894 ) Deferred income tax recovery - 24,139 - 72,617 Net loss $ (8,216,674 ) $ (4,175,869 ) $ (23,288,440 ) $ (7,540,277 ) Other comprehensive income (loss) Exchange differences on translating foreign operations 413,553 (195,249 ) 296,096 (15,485 ) Total comprehensive loss $ (7,803,121 ) $ (4,371,118 ) $ (22,992,344 ) $ (7,555,762 ) Loss per common share Basic and diluted loss per common share (0.09 ) (0.06 ) (0.28 ) (0.11 ) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Basic and diluted 86,125,077 71,979,018 82,002,671 66,112,703 Nextech AR Solutions Corp. Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Cash Flows (Expressed in Canadian dollars) (Unaudited) Three months ended Three months ended Nine months ended Nine months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Cashflows from operating activities Net loss $ (8,216,674 ) $ (4,175,869 ) $ (23,288,440 ) $ (7,540,277 ) Items not affecting cash Amortization of intangible assets 682,889 189,236 1,276,798 409,947 Deferred income tax recovery - (24,139 ) - (72,617 ) Amortization of right to use asset 13,466 36,007 92,788 36,007 Depreciation of property and equipment 37,286 25,440 97,321 52,723 Gain on digital assets - - (219,321 ) - (Gain) loss on contingent consideration 102,400 - (1,413,648 ) - Shares issued for services 78,535 - 1,378,382 - Stock-based compensation (574,131 ) - 2,384,912 - Share-based payments - 2,332,046 - 3,844,950 Shares issued to settle related party liability - - - 38,239 Changes in non-cash working capital balances Receivables (797,207 ) (867,929 ) (582,729 ) (728,382 ) Contract Asset 69,342 - (23,387 ) - Prepaid expenses 411,727 (124,032 ) 459,252 (119,374 ) Inventory (514,123 ) (1,160,476 ) (1,369,957 ) (1,488,357 ) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 1,399,775 119,806 1,305,476 600,593 Deferred revenue 133,360 526,005 1,190,248 526,005 Other payables - - - (230,174 ) Net cash used in operating activities $ (7,173,355 ) $ (3,123,905 ) $ (18,712,305 ) $ (4,670,717 ) Cashflows from investing activities Purchase of equipment (27,653 ) (68,022 ) (138,572 ) (68,022 ) Proceeds from sale of digital assets - - 2,765,356 - Purchase of Next Level Ninjas - (719,895 ) - (719,895 ) Cash acquired during acquisition - (45,715 ) - (45,715 ) Net cash used in investing activities $ (27,653 ) $ (833,632 ) $ 2,626,784 $ (833,632 ) Cashflows from financing activities Proceeds from exercise of options and warrants 123,986 1,949,438 1,416,934 3,882,162 Proceeds from private placement - - - 3,009,047 Proceeds from public offering, net of issuance costs - 12,118,689 12,632,937 12,118,689 Payment of lease obligations (13,145 ) (39,475 ) (148,923 ) (39,475 ) Payment of contingent consideration (18,902 ) - (18,902 ) - Net cash provided by financing activities $ 91,939 $ 14,028,652 $ 13,882,046 $ 18,970,423 Change in cash during the period (7,109,069 ) 10,071,115 (2,203,475 ) 13,466,074 Cash, beginning of period 15,395,005 6,282,197 10,684,952 2,849,344 Effects of foreign exchange on cash (27,373 ) 34,700 (222,914 ) 72,594 Cash, end of period $ 8,258,563 $ 16,388,012 $ 8,258,563 $ 16,388,012 Supplemental cash flow information Taxes paid (224 ) - 8,743 - Interest Paid 9,022 - 16,298 - Interest received (54,895 ) - (33,426 ) - Conference Call Details: Date: Thursday, November 11, 2021

Time: 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

Toll Free Dial-In Number: (877) 201-0168

International Dial-In Number: (647) 788-4901

Conference ID: 5039337

Webcast Link: Nextech AR Q3, 2021 Earnings Call For those unable to join the live event, a recording of the presentation will be posted on the company's website. Nextech is also pleased to reveal that an updated Corporate Presentation is now available on the Company's website - https://www.nextechar.com/investor-relations-overview To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com. On behalf of the Board of Nextech AR Solutions Corp.

Evan Gappelberg

CEO and Director

[email protected]

866-274-8493 About Nextech AR Nextech develops and operates augmented reality ("AR") platforms that transports three-dimensional ("3D") product visualizations, human holograms and 360 portals to its audiences altering e-commerce, digital advertising, hybrid virtual events (events held in a digital format blended with in-person attendance) and learning and training experiences. Nextech focuses on developing AR solutions however most of the Company's revenues are derived from three e-Commerce platforms: vacuumcleanermarket.com ("VCM"), infinitepetlife.com ("IPL") and Trulyfesupplements.com ("TruLyfe"). VCM and product sales of residential vacuums, supplies and parts, and small home appliances sold on Amazon. Non-IFRS Financial Measures Total Bookings is not defined by and does not have a standardized meaning under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. This non-IFRS financial performance measure is defined below. Non-IFRS financial measures are used by management to assess the financial and operational performance of the Company. The Company believes that this non-IFRS financial measure, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, enables investors to evaluate the Company's operating results, underlying performance and prospects in a similar manner to the Company's management. As there are no standardized methods of calculating these non-IFRS measures, the Company's approaches may differ from those used by others, and accordingly, the use of these measures may not be directly comparable. Accordingly, this non-IFRS measure is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. "Total Bookings" is the total dollar value of all services/goods included in contracts with our customers. 'Value' is the total revenue (recognizable or not) associated with each transaction, as opposed to the amount invoiced in the period. Please refer to the Company's most recent management discussion and analysis for further information on non-IFRS measures. Forward-looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events, including with respect to the Company's financial outlook. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts, nor guarantees or assurances of future performance but instead represent management's current beliefs, expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events and operating performance. Specifically, NexTech's forecast on Total Bookings is considered forward-looking information. The foregoing demonstrates NexTech's objectives, which are not forecasts or estimates of its financial position but are based on the implementation of its strategic goals, growth prospects and growth initiatives. Management's assessments of, and outlook for, Total Bookings set out herein are generally based on the following assumptions: (a) NexTech's results of operations will continue as expected, (b) the Company will continue effectively execute against its key strategic growth priorities, (c) the Company will continue to retain and grow its existing customer base and market share, (d) the Company will be able to take advantage of future prospects and opportunities, and continue to realize on synergies, (e) there will be no changes in legislative or regulatory matters that negatively impact NexTech's business, (f) current tax laws will remain in effect and will not be materially changed, (g) economic conditions will remain relatively stable throughout the period, and (h) the industries NexTech operates in will continue to grow consistent with past experience. The Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable in the circumstances, given the time period for such projections and targets. The achievement of target revenue set out above is subject to significant risks including: (a) that the Company will be unable to effectively execute against its key strategic growth priorities and (b) the Company will be unable to continue to retain and grow its existing customer base and market share. These estimates have been prepared by and are the responsibility of management. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the final short form prospectus of the Company dated August 12, 2020. NexTech does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. The NEO has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified using forward-looking terminology such as, "will be", "looking forward" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness 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, levels of activity, performance, or achievements of NexTech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. 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 forward-looking information. NexTech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005375/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Axcient Continues to Innovate with Launch of x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud for Microsoft Azure

DENVER, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Axcient, a leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), today announced x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud for Microsoft Azure, a complete Backup and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) solution that protects MSPs and their clients' data in the Azure public cloud against the threats of ransomware, security breaches, accidental deletion, and cloud outages.

x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud for Microsoft Azure leverages the x360 platform for security and ease of management and solves a critical challenge for MSPsensuring protection and recoverability of data in the public cloud. With x360Recover, MSPs get a comprehensive solution for data protection that frees them from the risks of relying solely on Microsoft backup, along with low management overhead and simplified pricing to ensure profitability. MSPs have great growth opportunities with public cloud-based services, but threats like ransomware put the security and profitability of this business at risk, said Ben Nowacky, SVP of Product at Axcient. With x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud for Azure, Axcient provides comprehensive third-party protection and rapid recovery, exceptional ease of use and simplified pricing that enables healthy marginsall on a single platform that supports both on-premises and public cloud workloads. More small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and MSPs are choosing to host their infrastructure and applications in the public cloud to reduce costs and complexity. A large percentage of channel partners are choosing Microsoft Azure as the foundation for their digital transformation. While Microsoft is responsible for the security of the network and data centers, MSPs are responsible for protecting applications, data, and endpoints within Azure, requiring business continuity solutions to protect their clients workloads. Microsoft Azure backup solutionswhere data, workloads, and backup are within the same private cloudrun the risk of being ineffective in the case of cloud outages. x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud for Microsoft Azure fully virtualizes Azure backups, leveraging the automation of Axcients Virtual Office and customizable Runbooks for exceptional ease of use. The solution unifes client protection across on-premises and Azure workloads, it provides a flat per-device fee that includes unlimited storage and retention, and offers a third-party cloud where full Disaster Recovery (DR) testing and live VMs can be virtualized in minutes with near-instant RTO for DR.



The key features of x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud with Microsoft Azure include: Direct-to-Cloud backup of Azure VMs to the Axcient cloud

Near-instant RTO and a15-minute or less backup schedule RPO

Unlimited storage and retention

Chain-free backups that reduces management complexity and increases security and reliability

Built-in AirGap anti-ransomware security technology and automated backup testing

Unified protection with a single platform for on-premises and Azure workloads, including the same agent and deployment processes

Consistent, simplified pricing with no overage surprises

Ability to export any recovery point to Azure format VHD (up to 32 TiB per disk)

FTPS protocol to download VHDs at high speed

Azure tools to upload VHD to create native Azure VM To learn more about Axcients x360Recover Direct-to-Cloud for Microsoft Azure, please stop by the Axcient booth at IT Nation Connect, taking place November 10-12 in Orlando, Florida, or visit https://axcient.com/solutions/axcient-direct-to-cloud/.

About Axcient

Axcient is an award-winning leader in business availability software for Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Axcient x360 empowers MSPs to Protect Everything by combining SaaS Backup, BCDR, and secure File Sync & Share into one platform and experience for MSPs. Trusted by MSPs worldwide, Axcient protects businesses data and continuity in the event of security breaches, human error, and natural disasters. For more information, visit www.axcient.com. Follow Axcient on LinkedIn , Facebook, and Twitter . Media Contact:

Amanda Lee

ARL Strategic Communications for Axcient

[email protected]



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[November 11, 2021]

Spectra7 Microsystems to Present at Ladenburg Thalmann Virtual Technology Expo on November 18th

Company to release third quarter results November 29th

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (TSXV:SEV) (OTCQB:SPVNF) Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. ("Spectra7" or the "Company"), a leading provider of high-performance analog semiconductor products for broadband connectivity markets, today announced that CEO, Raouf Halim, and CFO, Bonnie Tomei will be presenting at the Ladenburg Thalmann Virtual Technology Expo on Thursday, November 18, 2021. The virtual presentation is scheduled at 3:30PM EST / 12:30PM PST.

Management will be available for one-on-one meetings during the Expo. Interested investors should contact Spectra7 Investor Relations at [email protected] or their Ladenburg Thalmann representative to secure a meeting time.

Interested parties may register to watch the Spectra7 presentation at conference.ladenburg.com and request one-on-one meeting with Spectra7 on the event website.







In addition, the Company intends to release its financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2021 on Monday, November 29, 2021.

ABOUT SPECTRA7 MICROSYSTEMS INC.

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. is a high performance analog semiconductor company delivering unprecedented bandwidth, speed and resolution to enable disruptive industrial design for leading electronics manufacturers in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, data centers and other connectivity markets. Spectra7 is based in San Jose, California with a design center in Cork, Ireland and technical support location in Dongguan, China. For more information, please visit www.spectra7.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provided (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, please contact:

Matt Kreps/Jim Fanucchi

Darrow Associates

214-597-8200

[email protected]

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

Bonnie Tomei

Chief Financial Officer

669-212-1089

[email protected]

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

John Mitchell

Public Relations

650-269-3043

[email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spectra7-microsystems-to-present-at-ladenburg-thalmann-virtual-technology-expo-on-november-18th-301422023.html

SOURCE Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.
[November 11, 2021] The Well Told Company Announces Goop As Online Retailer

Clean Beauty, Fashion and Home Shop Founded by Gwyneth Paltrow

Officially Carrying Select Well Told Products TORONTO, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Well Told Company Inc. ("Well Told" or the "Company") (TSXV: WLCO), the female-founded wellness company that offers plant-based supplements, remedies, and other functional wellness products, is excited to announce that its Sleep and Energy Booster supplements are officially ?available on goop (www.goop.com).? Launched in 2008 by Gwyneth Paltrow, goop began as a homespun weekly newsletter ?based out of Paltrow's kitchen. Having grown significantly since then, goop operates from ?a place of curiosity and non-judgment, starting hard conversations, cracking open taboos, ?and looking for connection and resonance everywhere they can find it. ?"Goop has become such an incredibly influential wellness and clean beauty resource, we ?could not be more thrilled to count them as a retailer," said Monica Ruffo, founder and ?CEO of Well Told. "Working with them on their due diligence process affirmed how ?carefully selected each and every product is that they sell, and how committed they are to ?featuring brands they can genuinely stand behind."? On November 7, 2021, goop returned with the very exclusive "In goop Health wellness summit" in ?Carlsbad, California, for wellness experts and thought leaders. Host Gwyneth Paltrow gifted all ?attending guests with Well Told products.



Other Matters In addition, the board of directors of the Company has approved the grant of an aggregate of 715,673 stock options under its Stock Option Plan. Mr. Sean Samson, a newly appointed director of the Company, has been granted 271,963 stock options at an exercise price of $0.185 per share until November 10, 2026, and Monica Ruffo, the founder, CEO and a director of the Company, has been granted 443,710 stock options at an exercise price of $0.18 per share until five years from the Transaction (defined below).

Pursuant to the Company's reverse takeover transaction previously announced on October 14, 2021 (the "Transaction"), Monica Ruffo acquired 28,964,024 common shares of the Company and options ?of the Company exercisable for 2,281,496 common shares of the Company in exchange for her securities of Well Told Inc.? Immediately before the Transaction, Ms. Ruffo owned or controlled, ?directly or indirectly, no ???securities of the Company.? Immediately after the ?? Transaction, Ms. Ruffo ? owned or ?controlled, ?directly or indirectly, 28,964,024 common shares of the Company and options exercisable for 2,281,496 ?common shares of the Company, representing 22.7% of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the ? Company on a non-diluted basis and representing 24.1% of all of the issued and outstanding ?common shares of the Company on a partially diluted basis.? The securities acquired by Ms. Ruffo were acquired for investment purposes. Ms. Ruffo may increase or reduce her investment in the Company according to market conditions or other relevant factors. The foregoing disclosure regarding Ms. Ruffo's holdings is being disseminated pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. A copy of the report to be filed with Canadian securities regulators in connection with the acquisition of these securities can be obtained under the Company's profile on the SEDAR website (www.SEDAR.com) or by contacting the Ms. Ruffo at [email protected]. About The Well Told Company Inc. Well Told is a female founded, emerging plant-based wellness company that formulates, develops, distributes and sells a variety of supplements, remedies and other functional wellness products. Founded by serial entrepreneur and award-winning leader Monica Ruffo, it was after undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and deciding to take her health into her own hands that she discovered the lack of transparency and availability of clean, plant-based formulations in the wellness industry. With the mission "Clean wellness for all", Well Told's products are currently available in over 2,000 well known stores across Canada and over 800 stores in the U.S. 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.? View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-well-told-company-announces-goop-as-online-retailer-301421818.html SOURCE The Well Told Company Inc.

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[November 11, 2021] Ankura Appoints Retired Lieutenant General Vince Stewart, USMC to Chief Inclusion & Innovation Officer

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ankura Consulting, an independent global expert services and advisory firm, today announced that it has appointed its Chief Innovation and Business Intelligence Officer, retired Lieutenant General Vincent R. Stewart, USMC, to the newly created position of Chief Inclusion & Innovation Officer. Lt. Gen. Stewart's new senior leadership position underscores Ankura's commitment to equity and recognition that an inclusive and diverse working environment drives innovation, growth, and high-quality results for clients. "Vince is a proven and highly-respected leader at Ankura and throughout our global client base  and he is the right person to take on this important, enterprise-wide leadership position," said Ankura's Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Lavin. "Inclusion is a shared responsibility across our entire leadership team, and Vince's new role reinforces our commitment to clients and our colleagues in aligning diversity and business strategy. Vince has been a major contributor to our success since joining our team in August 2020, and I look forward to his future contributions to our Firm ad our clients in his new leadership capacity."



Lt. Gen. Stewart is a focused and results-oriented leader with more than 30 years' experience in all aspects of cyberspace operations, intelligence, and counterintelligence. In his newly created role, he will lead Ankura's end-to-end diversity, inclusion, and fairness initiatives and ensure that these values and principles permeate all aspects of the Firm's operations. Lt. Gen. Stewart will also continue to build upon Ankura's innovative and actionable technology capabilities and multi-disciplinary solutions for clients navigating the complexities of their evolving operating paradigm. Prior to Ankura, Lt. Gen. Stewart served in the United States Marine Corps for almost four decades, most recently as Deputy Commander of United States Cyber Command. In this capacity, Lt. Gen. Stewart provided strategic leadership for more than 10,000 personnel and had direct responsibility for securing the Department of Defense's Information Network, which consisted of three million users in 140 countries across 15,000 networks, and 6,000 physical locations. Lt. Gen. Stewart also served as the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, where he was responsible for delivering intelligence on the military capabilities of potential adversaries and providing threat and intelligence briefings to the President of the United States and Congress. He also served as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on military intelligence-related matters.

"Ankura's culture is unique and it is enriched by the diversity of our people, and I'm honored to take on this additional leadership responsibility and help continue to move strategies and solutions forward that align equity and businesses strategies," said Lt. Gen. Stewart. "At Ankura, we believe a truly inclusive and diverse working environment requires innovation, agility, discipline and practical problem solving. I am excited to expand our approach to all aspects of diversity and to solidify Ankura's position as a leader in diversity, equity and inclusion." About Ankura Ankura Consulting Group, LLC is an independent global expert services and advisory firm that delivers services and end-to-end solutions to help clients at critical inflection points related to change, risk, disputes, finance, performance, distress, and transformation. The Ankura team consists of more than 1,500 professionals in 34 offices globally who are leaders in their respective fields and areas of expertise. Collaborative lateral thinking, hard-earned experience, expertise, and multidisciplinary capabilities drive results and Ankura is unrivaled in its ability to assist clients to Protect, Create and Recover value. For more information, please visit, www.ankura.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ankura-appoints-retired-lieutenant-general-vince-stewart-usmc-to-chief-inclusion--innovation-officer-301422016.html SOURCE Ankura

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[November 11, 2021] Fabric Genomics Technology Supports Global Scientific Study of Whole Genome Sequencing in Rare Disease Diagnosis

The New England Journal of Medicine has published findings from a pilot study that has shown how whole genome sequencing (WGS) uncovered new diagnoses for patients across the broadest range of rare diseases. The identification and prioritization of candidate genetic variants were performed with Fabric Genomics' artificial intelligence (AI)-driven decision-support system and the company's clinical genetics teams, who analyzed a large portion of the genomes of the 4,660 people in the study, a part of the 100,000 Genomes Project, led by Genomics England, England's National Health Service (NHS) and Queen Mary University of London. The pilot study found that using WGS led to a new diagnosis for 25% of the participants. Of these new diagnoses, 14% were found in regions of the genome that would be missed by other conventional methods, including other types of non-whole genomic tests. The groundbreaking 100,000 Genomes Project which produced this study was established in 2013 to sequence whole genomes from NHS patients and their families in the United Kingdom. "Congratulations to Genomics England and Queen Mary University of London for the incredible progress they have made in the 100,000 Genomes Project bringing the power of whole genome sequencing to rare disease diagnostics," said Martin Reese, PhD, Founder and CEO of Fabric Genomics. "Large public projects like this have created technologies, data and solutions including Fabric GEM (News - Alert) that demonstrate benefits for individuals and the health care system as a whole. The Fabric team is happy to have participated in this important study showing how whole genome sequencing can guide patient care in the clinic at scale." "Rare disorders and uncommon forms of common conditions are significant health burdens and are costly worldwide," said clinicalgeneticist and Fabric Genomics co-founder Dr. Paul Billings. "This pilot study underscores the importance of WGS in significantly improving the speed, diagnostic yield and value of testing for rare disorders. The inclusion of new AI and review from Fabric Genomics appears essential for those outcomes."



This publication follows on the heels of another demonstration of the potential of whole genome sequencing to impact patient treatment involving the Fabric GEM AI algorithm. In October, Fabric Genomics published in Genome Medicine performance results of its Fabric GEM AI algorithm in a benchmark retrospective study together with its partner Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine in previously diagnosed newborns and rare disease patients at Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego and other clinical sites demonstrating improved and rapid identification of genetic diseases. Fabric GEM is a clinical decision support software applying advanced AI, and leveraging genomic, phenotypic, and clinical data to identify a short list of causal candidates. Fabric GEM prioritizes variants, reducing the typical number of candidates for clinical review to fewer than five.

The full publication can be found online at: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2035790. The Genomics England news release can be found at: https://www.genomicsengland.co.uk/news. About Fabric Genomics Fabric Genomics is making genomics-driven precision medicine a reality. The company provides clinical decision-support software that enables clinical labs, hospital systems, and country-sequencing programs to gain actionable genomic insights, improved diagnostic yields, and reduced turnaround time. Fabric's Enterprise Platform for end-to-end genomic analysis incorporates proven AI-algorithms and natural language processing and has applications in both hereditary disease and oncology. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Fabric Genomics was founded by industry veterans and innovators with a deep understanding of bioinformatics, large-scale genomics, and clinical diagnostics. To learn more, visit fabricgenomics.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005494/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Lakeview Community Partners Receives Draft Plan Approval, Official Plan Amendment Approval and Zoning By-law Endorsement from Mississauga City Council

Lakeview Community Partners Limited (LCPL), the group developing Lakeview Village, has received Draft Plan Approval (DPA), Official Plan Amendment approval (OPA) and Zoning By-law endorsement (ZBL). This approval was granted at a publicly held Planning & Development Committee meeting on November 8, and then ratified on Wednesday, November 10 in Council Chambers at the City of Mississauga. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005420/en/ Aerial View of Lakeview Village looking East - Renderings by Cicada Design Inc., Toronto, Canada Lakeview Community Partners Limited LCPL can now moveforward with the creation of a community that transforms what was once a powerplant into an incredible mixed use, sustainable waterfront village. This inter-connected, environmentally conscious 15-minute community will create new housing supply and jobs while rehabilitating the local ecosystem and providing restored access and activity to the Mississauga waterfront for the first time in decades, along with a variety of new public parks and trails.



"The DPA, OPA approval and ZBL endorsement is a landmark achievement for Lakeview Village and everyone that has worked tirelessly to bring this development to the Mississauga waterfront. We can't thank the City of Mississauga council members enough for confirming the community's support of, and trust in, this project," said Brian Sutherland, Vice-President of Development, Argo Development Corporation and development lead for Lakeview Village. "We began this process in 2018 working closely with the community on a vision for what this transformation could bring to Mississauga's waterfront and this approval allows us to begin an exciting new phase." To learn more about Lakeview Village, visit our website: www.mylakeviewvillage.com.

About Lakeview Community Partners Limited Lakeview Community Partners Limited is a partnership of community builders that includes TACC Construction Limited, Greenpark Group, CCI (News - Alert) Development Group, Branthaven and Argo Development Corporation. The partnership represents an unprecedented collaboration dedicated to transforming Mississauga's waterfront through the development of Lakeview Village, a sustainable mixed-use community and all-season destination on the former site of the Lakeview Generating Station, a decommissioned coal-fired power plant. This transformative 177-acre revitalization project will revolutionize the way people live, visit and experience the waterfront through its thoughtful design and curated collection of housing, retail, office and recreational programming. For more information, visit www.mylakeviewvillage.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005420/en/

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[November 11, 2021] GWM Unveils World's First G-Charge Supercharging Station

BAODING, China, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ -- On November 3, GWM unveiled the world's first G-Charge Supercharging Station in Bangkok, Thailand. This is the latest achievement it has shown users in the development of new energy. The G-Charge Supercharging Station, GWM's first fast charging station with DC charging mode, has six connectors. These connectors are equipped with three DC charging units, each with two CCS Type 2 connectors. That means it works even if you and five other users need to charge at the same time. In addition, the G-Charge Supercharging Station has sufficient space and energy. It has a maximum charging power of 160 kW and can provide users with 24-hour charging service. It is woth mentioning that the charging station has a very user-friendly charging guidance function. With the GWM APP, users can quickly find the location of charging stations and book charging periods, pay for charging and use charging, etc. This not only saves the user's time but also satisfies the user's travel plan, which can be said to be a very intelligent experience.



It was revealed that users of ORA GOOD CAT may enjoy free charging services at the G-Charge Supercharging Station. It can charge the 400 TECH and 400 PRO models of ORA GOOD CAT from 30% to 80% in 32 minutes, and the 500 ULTRA model from 30% to 80% in 40 minutes. According to official sources, on November 3, GWM and PEA ENCOM International Company Limited reached a cooperation agreement. It's a company specializing in green energy development under the power company PEA in Thailand, and has built dozens of charging stations for electric vehicles. This time, it installed a solar system on the G-Charge Supercharging Station, making it one of the largest public fast charging stations for electric vehicles in Thailand.

In addition to the construction of charging infrastructure, GWM has made other breakthroughs in the development of new energy. Take Dayu battery technology as an example. With dozens of patents, it is a core technology that covers the suppression, isolation, cooling, and discharge of heat sources, etc., and can effectively prevent power batteries from exploding due to thermal runaway. In August, Meng Xiangjun, Rotating President of GWM, said at the 2021 Overseas Distributors Online Conference that in the next five years, GWM will invest RMB 100 billion in R&D in the field of new energy and intelligence to create safer, greener and smarter products for global users. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gwm-unveils-worlds-first-g-charge-supercharging-station-301422175.html SOURCE GWM

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[November 11, 2021] Blackstone Achieves Its Goal of 100,000 Veterans, Veteran Spouses and Caregivers Hired Across Portfolio Companies

Blackstone (NYSE: BX) is proud to announce that 100,000 veterans, veteran spouses and caregivers have been hired across its portfolio companies through the Veterans Hiring Initiative since 2013. This achievement doubles the initial hiring commitment made by Blackstone Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder Steve Schwarzman in 2013 in response to the national call to action issued by First Ladies Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to support veterans and their families. At a 2013 White House event, Mr. Schwarzman heard then-First Lady Michelle Obama speak about the serious challenges veterans face as they transition to civilian life. Determined to tackle the problem, he returned to Blackstone and pledged to leverage its internal resources and work with portfolio companies to hire 50,000 veterans, veteran spouses and caregivers over the course of five years. By 2017, Blackstone portfolio companies hit that target one year ahead of schedule, and the firm redoubled its efforts. Blackstone committed to hiring another 50,000 portfolio-wide in five years. This year, Blackstone portfolio companies achieved that goal, hiring a total of 100,000 veterans, veteran spouses and caregivers - only eight years from Mr. Schwarzman's original pledge. "We are honored by the opportunity to support American veterans and their families," said Steve Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Blackstone. "These individuals offer their talent, commitment and leadership to our country - and yet far too often, their remarkable abilities remain untapped by the private sector. The White House called on businesses to hire from this unique talent pool, and we couldn't be prouder of how Blackstone portfolio companies stepped up and answered that call." "Veterans and their spouses crave meaningful work that makes a difference, and Blackstone offers exactly these kinds of opportunities," added General (ret.) David L. Goldfein, 21st Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force and Senior Advisor at Blackstone. "This milestone exemplifies how effective partnership between the public and private sectors can powerfully respond and make a lasting positive impact on both veterans and Blackstone portfolio companies." p> "For nearly a decade, Blackstone's companies have led by example, giving veterans and military spouses the training and skillsets to help them find long-term, meaningful careers," said Eric Eversole, President of Hiring Our Heroes. "Their commitment and passion have made a meaningful difference in the lives of countless military families and we are honored to work with them."



We thank Michael McDermott for his dedication to making this program a success as the Veterans Hiring Initiative is brought into the framework of Career Pathways, which aims to provide economic opportunities and career mobility for diverse and historically underrepresented talent pools across Blackstone portfolio companies. Blackstone has also partnered with FourBlock and the Commit Foundation - two nonprofits supporting transitioning veterans - to hold events providing veterans with career advisory services and facilitating introductions to hiring managers. "Thanks to Michael and the Blackstone team for your unique and enduring leadership," said Matthew Amidon, Director of the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. "You have been and continue to be instrumental in ensuring we leverage the immense talent in our veterans and military families. Your example is the one to follow as we look to match their leadership with their next career."

"Blackstone portfolio company CEOs have regularly remarked on how veterans bring outstanding dedication and leadership ability to their work," said Marcus Felder, Vice President in Blackstone's Portfolio Operations group and leader of the Career Pathways program. "Working with our portfolio companies to recruit, train and retain these exceptional employees enables us to better fulfill our core mandate: to deliver for our investors by building better businesses. It's a win-win-win - for veterans and their spouses, for portfolio companies and for the country." In addition to connecting veterans with opportunities at portfolio companies, Blackstone has also prioritized recruiting and developing veteran talent within the firm and supporting veterans through charitable giving. The Blackstone Veterans Network supports the hiring and career development of veterans, veteran spouses and caregivers at Blackstone, while the Blackstone Military Internship Program (MINT) - an initiative of the Veterans Network - helps military personnel transition to careers in the financial services industry. In the coming months, Blackstone will work with Hiring Our Heroes, a program run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to place more veterans at roles within the firm. Since 2012, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation has partnered with and made grants to nonprofit organizations supporting veterans. About Blackstone

Blackstone is the world's largest alternative asset manager. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $731 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter (News - Alert) @Blackstone. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005712/en/

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[November 11, 2021] OTP Bank Selects SambaNova Systems to Build Europe's Fastest AI Supercomputer

SambaNova Systems, the company building the industry's most advanced software, hardware and solutions to run artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and OTP Group, the leading banking group in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), today announced a strategic partnership to build the fastest AI supercomputer in Europe. Together, they will deploy a multi-rack AI system, built on SambaNova Dataflow-as-a-Service GPT, for the most advanced language model in the world at a commercial bank. The system will be provided as a national AI resource to the public sector, private industry, and higher education in cooperation with the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (ITM) of Hungary. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005717/en/ Together, SambaNova Systems and OTP Group will deploy a multi-rack AI system, built on SambaNova Dataflow-as-a-Service GPT, for the most advanced language model in the world at a commercial bank. (Graphic: Business Wire) "This is a unique collaboration between OTP Group, ITM, and SambaNova Systems to provide an incredible resource to the country and the Central and Eastern European region," said Peter Csanyi, Deputy CEO, head of Digital Division at OTP Group. "We are pleased to announce that this groundbreaking supercomputer will represent a unique AI capability to build GPT-3 level language models for languages across CEE." With this partnership, OTP Group takes the European lead in AI research and development. The Bank's 17 million ustomers will experience faster, more personalized AI-based financial services with a supercomputer that can process large amounts of text-based information and data in a short time. By significantly speeding up workflows and taking over repetitive tasks, creating more space for service development and human creativity, the innovation will have a positive impact on OTP Group's employees across Europe.



"OTP Group has an impressive industry-leading plan to make AI its key technology driver for the next decade. With the support of ITM, the AI environment that they're creating will provide accessible, cutting-edge infrastructure for universities, research centers, public and private organizations across Hungary," said Prof. Dr. Laszlo Palkovics, Minister for Innovation and Technology in Hungary. The partnership between OTP Group and SambaNova Systems is a multi-year collaboration agreement to deploy SambaNova's Dataflow-as-a-Service GPT solution and build a one-of-a-kind Hungarian language model, one of the most complicated languages in the world, to be followed by the unique languages of other OTP Group countries. With this implementation, the bank will transform itself with AI and the power of SambaNova GPT, cutting across every corner of the enterprise, from the front office to the back office.

"Large language models are quickly becoming the primary interface to the enterprise and AI will drive the transformation of industries. This deployment at OTP Group will showcase what's possible with advanced AI across document-heavy industries, such as banking and financial services," said Rodrigo Liang, co-founder and CEO of SambaNova Systems. The deployment is a technical feat; the project, had it been developed and deployed in-house, would have taken the bank several years and extensive human capital resources. With SambaNova, OTP Group can deploy in days or weeks. Once deployed, this AI supercomputer will enable OTP Bank to advance forward with AI and make further inroads across the global financial market. About SambaNova's Dataflow-as-a-Service GPT SambaNova's flagship offering, Dataflow-as-a-Service, is an extensible AI services platform, and enables organizations to jump-start AI initiatives overnight by augmenting existing capabilities and staffing with a simple subscription. The platform is powered by DataScale, an integrated software and hardware platform delivering unrivaled performance, accuracy, scale and ease of use built on SambaNova's Systems Reconfigurable Dataflow Architecture. With AI becoming a business necessity in the global economy, customers need complete solutions that can run at scale in a financially viable way. With an integrated full-stack system, including best-in-class AI models, software and hardware, SambaNova provides the most expansive, accessible and impactful AI applications in the world. To learn more about SambaNova's Dataflow-as-a-Service for language with GPT, visit: https://sambanova.ai/solutions/gpt/. About SambaNova Systems SambaNova Systems is an AI innovation company that empowers organizations to deploy best-in-class solutions for computer vision, natural language processing, recommendation, and AI for science with confidence. SambaNova's flagship offering, Dataflow-as-a-Service, helps organizations rapidly deploy AI in days, unlocking new revenue and boosting operational efficiency. SambaNova's DataScale is an integrated software and hardware system using Reconfigurable Dataflow Architecture, along with open standards and user interfaces. Headquartered in Palo Alto (News - Alert), California, SambaNova Systems was founded in 2017 by industry luminaries, and hardware and software design experts from Sun/Oracle and Stanford University. Investors include SoftBank Vision Fund 2, funds and accounts managed by BlackRock, Intel Capital (News - Alert), GV, Walden International, Temasek, GIC, Redline Capital, Atlantic Bridge Ventures, Celesta, and several others. For more information, please visit us at sambanova.ai or contact us at [email protected]. Follow SambaNova Systems on LinkedIn. About OTP Group OTP Group is the leading financial group in the CEE region with an exceptional growth track record, outstanding profitability and solid capital and liquidity positions. The banking group provides universal financial services to 17 million customers with 40,000 employees in 11 countries. It offers cutting edge digital solutions and a network of more than 1,700 branches. OTP Group's future oriented operations and development efforts focus on environmental, social and governance sustainability while aiming to strengthen its position as employer of choice throughout the Central and Eastern European region. OTP Group is headquartered in Hungary and has a diversified and transparent ownership structure. The banking group has been listed on the Budapest Stock Exchange since 1995. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005717/en/

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[November 11, 2021] CTL Offers Its Chromebox CBx2 Bundled with Parallels? Desktop for Chrome OS to Run Microsoft? Windows? Applications

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CTL announced that it has signed an OEM agreement with Parallels , (a business affiliate of Corel ) to offer its Intel Core i7 based Chromebox CBx2 bundled with Parallels Desktop for Chrome OS. The bundle will be offered as the CBXKUS1900026 SKU on CTL.net and through Ingram Micro in the US and is available only to customers who enroll the device with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade or Chrome Education Upgrade. Parallels is a global leader in cross-platform solutions. Parallels Desktop for Chrome OS is an IT managed solution that allows users to simply and securely run native Windows applications on Chrome OS devices both online and offline. Virtual windows desktop capabilities through Parallels combined with a powerful compact device like the CTL Chromebox CBx2 with Intel Core i7 processor, allows for seamless integration and secure remote access in environments ranging from K-12 Education to Enterprise. "Parallels is thrilled about our partnership with CTL who is the first to create a specific SKU that includes Parallels Desktop for Chrome OS bundled with the CTL Chromebox CBx2 with Intel i7 Processor. With our powerful software now available by default, we're expanding the possibilities for educational institutions and enterprises to run essential Windows applications securely on Chrome OS, both online and offline," said Andrea Johnston, Chief Revenue Officer at Corel. This version of the CTL Chromebox CBx2 features a powerful Intel i7-10510U Processor, Wi-Fi 6, and up to 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage. With the addition of Parallels Desktop for Chrome OS on the CTL Chromebox CBx2 with Intel i7 Processor, this highly capable device can securely run applications from both Chrome OS and Windows without sacrificing speed or performance. The CTL Chromebox CBx2 with Intel i7 processor is available with different storage and memory configurations, from 8GB to 64GB memory, and from 128GB to 2TB of storage. "At CTL, we like to stay innovative, and are always thinking of new ways that customers can utilize our Chrome OS devices. Partnering with Parallels, we are able to supply our customers with cross-platorm solutions that allow us to provide more value than ever before," says CTL CEO, Erik Stromquist. "Bundling a powerful device like the CTL Chromebox CBx2 with Intel i7 processor with the secure and easy-to-use virtual machine capabilities like Parallels Desktop for Chrome OS will allow our customers to be more productive and efficient. The ability to access full-featured Windows applications, along with the minimal user training requirements and simple IT deployment and management that Parallels brings to the table is a technology solution that just makes sense for our education and enterprise customers."



To learn more about the CTL Chromebox CBx2 with Intel i7 processor bundle with Parallels Desktop for Chrome OS, visit https://www.parallels.com/products/desktop/chrome/ . To purchase the CTL Chromebox CBx2 with Intel i7 Processors, visit https://ctl.net/products/ctl-chromebox-cbx2-7-enterprise-with-parallels . If interested in bulk purchasing, please contact us . About Parallels

Parallels is a global leader in cross-platform solutions that make it possible and simple for businesses and individuals to use and access the applications and files they need on any device or operating system. Parallels helps customers leverage the best technology out there, whether it's Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, or the cloud. Parallels solves complex engineering and user-experience problems by making it simple and cost-effective for businesses and individual customers to use applications wherever they may belocal, remote, in the private datacenter or in the cloud. Parallels, a business affiliate of Corel, has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Visit parallels.com/about for more information.

About Corel

Corel products enable millions of connected knowledge workers around the world to do great work faster. Offering some of the industry's best-known software brands, we give individuals and teams the power to create, collaborate and deliver impressive results. Our success is driven by an unwavering commitment to deliver a broad portfolio of innovative applications  including CorelDRAW, MindManager, Parallels and WinZip  to inspire users and help them achieve their goals. To learn more about Corel, please visit www.corel.com . About CTL

CTL has been manufacturing best-in-class Chromebooks, Laptops, Desktop PCs, Computer Displays, Workstations, and High-End Servers since 1989. CTL's rugged Chromebooks for Education, Chromebox, and Chromebook Tablets have received widespread recognition from noted tech publications such as PC Magazine, ChromeUnboxed.com, Android Police, Android Central, CNET, and Laptop Magazine. CTL's headquarters, sales, and support teams are located in the United States. CTL is a Google for Education Premier Partner, and an Intel Technology Program Platinum Partner. For more information about CTL and to purchase CTL products, visit us at ctl.net . Parallels and the Parallels logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Parallels International GmbH in Canada, the United States, and elsewhere. Corel, CorelDRAW, MindManager, and WinZip are trademarks or registered trademarks of Corel Corporation in Canada, the U.S., and/or elsewhere. Google, Chrome, Chromebook, Chromebox, the Chrome Logo and Chrome OS are trademarks of Google LLC. CONTACT: Mike Mahanay

Email: [email protected]

Number: 800-642-3087 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ctl-offers-its-chromebox-cbx2-bundled-with-parallels-desktop-for-chrome-os-to-run-microsoft-windows-applications-301421741.html SOURCE CTL

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[November 11, 2021] Odesso Launches TechJamz Podcast on Dash Radio

PHOENIX, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Odesso, a leading enterprise no-code SaaS provider that helps digital businesses accelerate three times faster than traditional low/no-code and API management products, today launched TechJamz, a podcast dedicated to exploring complex and current technology trends and concepts. Hosted by Odesso's CEO Zee Rizvi along with a circuit of co-hosts from technology leadership as well as high-profile guests from various industries, participants will bring over 50 years of tech experience to the table as they explore an array of topics such as data during the age of COVID-19, automation, the cannabis industry, smartphone wars, and more. TechJamz will air its first podcast on November 11th at 1 PM PST on Rukus Avenue Radio. In this inaugural episode, Zee Rizvi and co-hosts Margaret Kreyling and Michael de Bruin, Odesso's Chief Security Officer, talk about ten technologies that will transform the global economy by 2025. The podcast will also be a recurring segment on Zee Rizvi's music talk show ZamJamz, which draws in an average of 50,000 listeners per show. A new TechJamz episode will be aired monthly, with reruns of segments airing weekly. TechJamz is the first tech-focused podcast on Rukus Avenue Radio, Dash Radio 's exclusive South Asian radio station that boasts over five million monthly listeners. Dash Radio caters to over 15 million monthly listeners and is the largest all-original digital audio broadcasting platform with over 80 original stations. "We couldn't be moe excited for Zee and TechJamz to explore this exciting space on our station," says Sammy Chand, CEO of Rukus Avenue. "Our goal has always been to present topics relevant to the South Asian community but of interest to all listeners, and what better way to bridge the gap than through discussions around all things tech."



"TechJamz encompasses Odesso's inherent mission to simplify. In the same way that we help organizations remove workflow barriers with our no-code platform, we want to help get rid of any limitations that prevent anyone from learning about technology," said Zee Rizvi, CEO for Odesso. "Our goal is for listeners to walk away with a clearer understanding of complex or trending concepts, and how it impacts their lives directly and indirectly." The new podcast is produced by Odesso, a no-code software company built to unleash the tangible importance of enterprises' ability to create and deliver software, workflows, and process automation to bridge the operational challenges and gaps found traditionally in business, and IT's limitations with its toolset capabilities. The company has recently been experiencing major growth with the expansion of its product suite, launching its new Seed to Sale software solution and Appian Performance Tuner in October.

To participate in these conversations or nominate someone as a potential guest, please email the media contact listed below. Listen to the first episode on November 11th at 1 p.m. PST: https://www.rukusavenueradio.com. About Odesso

Odesso is a cutting-edge software platform that empowers those who are knowledgeable and closest to the business challenges across your organization to capitalize upon market opportunities and respond to sudden changes to regulatory or compliance requirements. The company is built on the pillars of trust, reliability, compliance, and ingenuity. Odesso's robust enterprise no-code platform enables these experts to rapidly address, create, and deploy apps and automation solutions to address the business's immediate needs without the need for IT and developers or causing additional data silos. To learn more about Odesso, please visit: https://www.odesso.com/ About Rukus Avenue

Founded in 1996 by Sammy Chand, Rukus Avenue's confluence of cultures has had a signature musical expression that has been noted for its cultural contribution to America. Its storied history has featured artists that have been recognized by the New York Times, Smithsonian Museum, BBC, FOX, CBS News, WNYC, KCRW, and more while its music has been showcased in over 60 different film and television shows from around the world. In 2019, Rukus Avenue founded Dash Radio's exclusive South Asian radio station, Rukus Avenue Radio, which has grown to become the world's most listened to South Asian radio station with over 5 million listeners a month. In 2020, Rukus Avenue scored the hit Netflix series "Indian Matchmaking". To learn more about Rukus Avenue, please visit: https://www.rukusavenue.com/ Media Contact:

Amy Flores

Firecracker PR

[email protected]

(888) 317-4687, ext. 706 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/odesso-launches-techjamz-podcast-on-dash-radio-301421953.html SOURCE Odesso

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[November 11, 2021] Rev Expands Executive Team to Accelerate Adoption of AI-Powered Sales Development Platform

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rev , an AI-powered martech solution for B2B sales and marketing teams, today announced the appointment of Fred Mondragon as its Chief Revenue Officer and Megan Herrick as its Senior Vice President of Marketing.

The two appointments come on the heels of the launch of Revs Sales Development Platform (SDP) and will accelerate growth and boost the companys sales and marketing efforts. Revs SDP uses AI to revolutionize the sales and marketing process that occurs above the sales funnel. The companys sales development platform helps B2B companies find more relevant prospects in less time, improves lead quality throughout the pipeline, and helps drive consistent revenue growth. Oracle, Adobe, and 7 of the top 10 cloud software companies leverage Revs lead solution to deliver fresh prospects that can be prioritized as their next best customers. Im proud to welcome Fred and Megan to Revs leadership team, said Jonathan Spier, CEO, Rev. Freds track record in successfully leading revenue growth at leading software companies will be instrumental to Revs growth trajectory. Megan is an accomplished and strategic marketing leader with expertise in building brands and bringing cutting-edge technologies like ours to market. Im thrilled to have them both on board to help bring our innovations to customers, empowering B2B companies with a lead solution that can be used a their most powerful sales weapon.



Mondragons career spans over 20 years in channel sales and business development for leading technology companies in Silicon Valley, including Medallia, Oracle, and NetBase. As Revs Chief Revenue Officer, Mondragon is responsible for global sales and alliances. He speaks Spanish and Portuguese and holds a masters degree in Business Administration from Stanford University. I am honored to be joining the talented team at Rev, says Mondragon. As a sales leader myself, I know the importance of fueling the funnel to optimally focus on the highest quality prospects. Revs technology helps every sales development team perform at the highest level, and I couldnt be more excited about the opportunity.

Herrick has a successful record of working in SaaS technologies, consumer products and services, and high-growth, fast-paced environments, including Vivint, Pluralsight, and Overstock.com. In addition, she has an extensive background as a marketing and communications executive, taking start-ups through funding rounds, mergers, acquisitions, and IPO preparedness. In 2017, Herrick was nationally recognized as a Top Woman in PR, and in 2015 she was honored by Utahs Women's Technology Council. Rev has pioneered an entirely new, AI-based way to help companies across a multitude of industries identify their highest quality prospects, said Herrick. Im looking forward to raising awareness of our SDP platform while amplifying a solution to an above-the-funnel problem that every B2B company faces. About Rev

Rev powers sales and marketing teams to discover fresh prospects most likely to become their next best customers. Revs Sales Development Platform (SDP) helps B2B companies identify relevant prospects in less time, improve lead quality throughout the pipeline, and drive consistent revenue growth. Founded in 2013, Rev ranked #35 on Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in America in 2020. The worlds best B2B sales and marketing organizations, including ZenDesk, Oracle, and 7 of the top 10 cloud software companies, use Rev to focus time and effort above the funnel. For more information, visit getrev.ai . Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae4901a6-276a-4938-99dc-6d4444fb3c4d

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b37216b8-5f31-4fca-ae17-57b2c5c69a66

Media Contact David Oro Phone: +1-707-558-8585 [email protected]

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[November 11, 2021] Surna Cultivation Technologies Signs First Preventative Maintenance Contracts

Quickly Converts New Service Offering to Recurring Revenue Orders Boulder, Colorado, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Surna Inc. (OTCQB: SRNA), operating as Surna Cultivation Technologies, was awarded preventative maintenance contracts for HVACD systems from facilities in Arizona and Michigan. These facilities operate a combined 75,000 square feet of cultivation space. Surna Cultivation Technologies is excited to sign our first preventative maintenance contracts, said Grant Wilkerson, Surna Project Manager. By utilizing these services, our customers can feel confident that their systems will operate at their peak performance and that their HVACD (environmental control) equipment will be regularly serviced to remain sustainable for the long haul. Surna can provide reliable, local maintenance services for facilities regardless of HVACD system type, manufacturer, or facility location. Surnas maintenance team initially performs an overall assessment of each piece of equipment, which helps to identify potential problems before hey are emergencies. They then communicate with the customer at scheduled intervals ensuring maintenance tasks are completed and work with the customers cultivation team to avoid disruption of the critical work being done in their facility.



Surnas HVACD maintenance plans are customized for the individual needs of each facility, and owner, to ensure that the goals of the individual business is being met. Surnas goal in providing maintenance services is to optimize the customers mission critical environmental controls system and maximize their uptime both now and into the future. About Surna

Surna Inc. (www.surna.com), operating as Surna Cultivation Technologies, is an industry leader in CEA facility design and technologies. We provide full-service licensed architectural and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering services, carefully curated HVACD equipment, proprietary controls systems, lighting, and benching and racking products. Our team of project managers, licensed professional architects and engineers, technology and horticulture specialists and systems integrations experts help our customers by precisely designing for their unique applications. Through our partnership with a certified service contractor network, we provide installation and maintenance services to assist in a smooth build-out and optimal facility performance. We have been providing solutions to indoor growers for over 15 years and have served over 800 cultivators with over 200 of them being large, commercial projects. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, we leverage our experience in the industry to bring value-added solutions to our customers that help improve their overall crop quality and yield, optimize energy and water efficiency, and satisfy evolving state and local codes, permitting and regulatory requirements. Contact:

Jamie English

Vice President, Marketing Communications

[email protected]

303.993.5271



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[November 11, 2021] GrubMarket Acquires Oakport Transportation to Expand Transportation and Logistics Capabilities amidst Disruptions to Global Supply Chains

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GrubMarket today announced it has completed the acquisition of Oakland, CA-based Oakport Transportation, a provider of comprehensive trucking and logistics services that stores and ships produce throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and Nevada, plus selected routes throughout the rest of the U.S. for certain seasonal items. GrubMarket will leverage Oakport's facilities and logistics networks to address the supply chain challenges introduced by recent trucking shortages, route congestion and skyrocketing consumer demand for fresh food. The timing of this acquisition is of paramount importance. The coronavirus pandemic has exposed massive vulnerabilities in the supply chain ecosystem, impacting and dislocating shipping routes, ports, warehouses, and trucking lines. The shortages in key transportation and logistics resources have spiked transportation costs and ultimately consumer prices. Oakport Transportation provides critical services such as load and LTL volume delivery, refrigerated storage for perishable goods, cross docking, and load consolidation. After the acquisition, the business will continue to be managed by its current leadership team. "We are excited to join the GrubMarket team and welcome the opportunities brought forth by GrubMarket's robust technology platform and network. We are constantly striving to be the most dependable trucking and logistics patner for our customers. We are thrilled to learn that GrubMarket shares this same goal. We sincerely look forward to joining the GrubMarket team and bringing more efficient, reliable and cost-effective logistics services to GrubMarket's suppliers and end customers," said Sal Rizzo, CEO of Oakport Transportation.



According to Mike Xu, CEO of GrubMarket: "Over the past few years, we've seen the stress on global logistics brought about by COVID-19. Moving perishable products around the country is complex and difficult, and requires predictability and precision. Oakport Transportation is a leader in providing high-quality transportation and logistics services. They are reliable and highly influential in the produce space, and we are excited for them to join the GrubMarket family. This acquisition enables GrubMarket to further strengthen our producer relationships on the West Coast, expand our internal fleets and warehouse capacity, and become a leader in transportation and logistics services for the underserved food producer and supplier market. Together, we will overcome the disruption plaguing the current supply chain and make a greater impact on the evolution and transformation of the American food supply chain industry." Oakport's transportation and logistics offerings will be integrated into GrubMarket's eCommerce and software product family, which already includes the innovative and proprietary WholesaleWare software suite, the company's software-as-a-service platform that provides food industry wholesalers and distributors with seamless financial management, easy-to-use sales and online ordering features, precise inventory management, lot traceability and tracking, grower accounting, and automated routing and logistics tools.

About GrubMarket

Founded in 2014, GrubMarket is a San Francisco-based food technology company operating in the space of food supply chain ecommerce for both business customers and end consumers, as well as providing related software-as-a-service solutions to digitally transform the American food supply chain. Currently, GrubMarket operates in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Missouri, Massachusetts, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and British Columbia (Canada), with plans to expand to other parts of the U.S., Canada, and other parts of the world. For Media Inquiries:

GrubMarket Media Team

[email protected]

(510) 556-4786 GrubMarket

1925 Jerrold Ave.

San Francisco, CA. 94124 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grubmarket-acquires-oakport-transportation-to-expand-transportation-and-logistics-capabilities-amidst-disruptions-to-global-supply-chains-301421894.html SOURCE GrubMarket

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[November 11, 2021] Cross-Industry Leaders from Arevon, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Devon Energy, DCP Midstream and OneOk Named as Innovation Award Winners at the ThoughtTrace REALIZE Conference

HOUSTON, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A cross-section of leaders from various sectors of the Energy industry earned top honors as Innovation Award Winners at the ThoughtTrace REALIZE Conference. More than 100 changemakers gathered in The Woodlands for the ThoughtTrace REALIZE Conference - one of the first events in Texas uniting participants from across the upstream, midstream, and renewable energy segments. A great deal of common ground was evident between the groups, particularly for navigating high-risk situations and streamlining the document-intensive complexities that come with the territory. Only five companies received the distinction of an Innovation Award, and these were: Arevon

Brookfield Renewable Partners

Devon Energy

DCP Midstream

OneOk





Using ThoughtTrace's Document Understanding platform, organizations can uncover valuable information buried in contracts and documents in a fraction of the time and cost it would require with manual review methods. Aside from massive productivity gains, companies using "AI that reads" are dramatically reducing OPEX, minimizing corporate risk, and discovering new business opportunities that are worth millions of dollars.

Innovation Award Winners are discovering novel ways to use AI to optimize workflows, and are actively shaping how the ThoughtTrace platform will address ever-evolving document challenges across a wide range of use cases. "ThoughtTrace is transformative for customers by removing the barrier of Document Understanding and democratizing access to valuable, previously hard-to-find information. The ThoughtTrace Community, and Innovation Award Winners specifically, strive to continuously find a better way. They champion new solutions and advanced methods designed to solve today's problems," said Nick Vandivere, CEO, ThoughtTrace. Vandivere goes on to add, "Document Understanding, or lack-there-of, is a crippling issue that affects nearly every department in every vertical. Congratulations to the Innovation Award Winners for getting a win with A.I. in record time, and tackling this enormous problem for their teams." About ThoughtTrace

ThoughtTrace is a Document Understanding & Contract Analytics Platform that uses pre-trained AI to read, organize, and manage the document workflows and processes critical to your business. ThoughtTrace is pre-built for specific industries and use cases, delivering enormous value on Day One. Leveraging AI/ML as a complement to human expertise, ThoughtTrace can extract critical information from thousands of unstructured text documents rapidly and cost-effectively, saving the time and resources previously required to manually search through vast quantities of data. Learn more at www.thoughttrace.com

Media Contact: Brittany Bluestein, VP of Marketing, [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cross-industry-leaders-from-arevon-brookfield-renewable-partners-devon-energy-dcp-midstream-and-oneok-named-as-innovation-award-winners-at-the-thoughttrace-realize-conference-301422262.html SOURCE ThoughtTrace, Inc.

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[November 11, 2021] CCELL Celebrates 5th Anniversary with New Website, Slogan and Brand Video; Launches Fan Giveaway Campaign

SHENZHEN, China, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CCELL , the world's leading brand with a focus on creating trendsetting vaping hardware and advanced vaporizing technology, announced today that the Company is celebrating its 5th Anniversary with a variety of exciting initiatives, including the release of its new website, slogan, and brand video, as well as the launch of a social media giveaway campaign. "It's been an honor to work alongside a company that is fiercely committed to the innovation and safety of the vaping industry," said Joe S., VP of CCELL. "As we celebrate our many accomplishments, we hope that we can adequately honor all the people who have helped us achieve our goals, and continue to support our efforts to make vaping safe and enjoyable for everyone." As reflected on its recently updated website, CCELL has changed its slogan from "Lead to Perfection" to "Perfection without Limits" showcasing the brand's growth over the years, and its intention to go beyond current limits. "When CCELL was established in 2016, we set the ambitious goal to build a brand that leads the industry. Since then, we have successfully done this and, as we move into this next phase, we are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of the industry to make vaping safer and more enjoyable," added Joe S. The Company's new brand video, which is aimedto highlight the hard work and dedication of the company, features a look back at the journey the company has walked and where it is heading in the future. It also showcases some of CCELL's signature products and the brand's unrivaled ceramic heating technology. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WG9QO76Xp94



CCELL's giveaway campaign will take place within the next few weeks on the Company's social media channels including Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . Users can upload videos of themselves talking about their CCELL experience and tag CCELL for a chance to win limited edition CCELL swag items. The giveaway campaign details will be listed on the Company's social media pages. Please visit https://www.ccell.com/ to stay up to date with future announcements.

About CCELL

CCELL is a global innovator and pioneer with a mission of leading portable vaporizers to perfection. CCELL was born in the headquarters of Shenzhen Smoore Technology Limited, which has more than10 years of expertise in the vaporization industry. With advanced R&D resources, strong production capability and reliable quality control system, CCELL has successfully upgraded the industrial standard of vaporizing technology while others try to follow. Learn more about CCELL at www.ccell.com as well as on LinkedIn, Instagram , Facebook and Twitter . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1605411/CCELL_Logo.jpg

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[November 11, 2021] Lumos and NorthState Assemble World-Class Leadership Team to Fuel Aggressive Fiber Growth Strategy

Lumos and NorthState, a regional provider of fiber-to-the-premises, multi-gigabit broadband internet for residences and businesses, has strategically strengthened its executive leadership team by adding new members to support the company's growth plans. This newly formed executive leadership team will drive the strategic direction of the company setting the stage for rapid growth in North Carolina and Virginia and into other parts of the Mid-Atlantic. Lumos senior executive additions include David Smith (News - Alert), chief network officer; Jay Winn, chief customer officer; Scott Roy, chief human resources officer; Tom Fabbricatore, chief information officer; and Shane Ward, chief financial officer. The company intends to have an executive leadership presence and offices in both Waynesboro, VA and High Point, NC. "Each member of our executive leadership team is integral to our future by bringing unique and robust experiences of successfully transforming companies and leading them to a high-growth trajectory," said Diego Anderson, Chief Executive Officer for Lumos. "Our leadership team will work closely as an expanded group to boldly transform Lumos into a premiere regional fiber broadband company. "We are well-positioned in terms of corporate leadership to support our plans to aggressively expand our fiber footprint," Anderson added. "Our leadership team will be actively engaging local and state leaders as we form public-private partnerships to address the need for equitable, affordable gig-speed broadband that is vital for work-from-home, video calls, virtual learning and local economic growth that improves the lives of everyone in our communities. The gig economy is only made possible by a future-proof fiber network. Our new leadership team has the vision, expertise, resources and passion for bringing the first fiber network to many more underserved communities across the Mid-Atlantic." David Smith, Chief Network Officer Prior to his new role as chief network officer, Smith served as the vice president of technical operations and planning at Lumos. With a total of nine years' experience at Lumos, Smith has rapidly moved up with increasing responsibility in the IP Network and engineering sectors of the company. In his new, elevated role, Smith will lead all aspects of the critically important infrastructure and backbone of the Lumos netwok, including operations, engineering, outside plant, facilities, supply chain, safety, and product development teams. He has more than 15 years of experience in information technology and telecommunications and has held numerous business management leadership roles, including Booz Allen consulting. Smith received a BS degree in information systems management from Bridgewater College and an MBA from Averett University.



Jay Winn, Chief Customer Officer With more than 25 years' global marketing experience, Winn will lead the company's brand, customer experience, marketing, customer care, and sales channels. He has worked for many respected brands, including leadership roles at well-known agencies, such as Ogilvy. Winn has an impressive record of driving growth and transformation for technology companies, including Verizon, CenturyLink, Windstream, Comcast (News - Alert) and the successful launches of the CenturyLink and Comcast Business brands. He has earned the Gold Effie for marketing effectiveness as well as a Cannes Lion nomination for creativity. Winn received BBA and MBA degrees from Abilene Christian University.

Scott Roy, Chief Human Resources Officer A proven, big picture, human resources champion with both strategic and "hands-on" tactical business acumen and the ability to achieve desired results, Roy will lead the company's employee engagement and organizational culture initiatives. He has extensive experience in executive human resources leadership roles both domestically and globally. Roy has been in human resources leadership roles for various manufacturing entities such as Caparo Bull Moose, SPX, Faurecia Automotive, and Doosan Construction Equipment Co., ranging from multi-million to multi-billion dollars in revenue. He received a BA degree from Bowdoin College and continuing education in leadership and employee development with People First Inc. as well as Mind Spring in Asheville, NC, and finance for non-financial managers at Insead in Paris. Tom Fabbricatore, Chief Information Officer An experienced chief information officer and business leader with more than 25 years' executive management experience in the industry, Fabbricatore will lead the company's digital strategy, cybersecurity, and IT transformational enablement activities. His experience spans numerous transformational and evolutionary events in the industry with rapidly growing private and publicly traded companies. Fabbricatore most recently held the position of chief information officer at Airwavz Solutions, and prior to that was chief information officer for Deltacom (News - Alert), US LEC and CTC Communications. He received a BSBA degree from the University of Florida and attended Northeastern University's data communications program in Boston, MA. Shane Ward, Chief Financial Officer With more than 24 years of diverse accounting and finance experience in the financial services and tower industries, Ward will lead all financial strategy, forecasting, analysis, accounting, and controls. He previously served as chief financial officer for CTI Towers. During his tenure at CTI Towers, Ward navigated the company through sustained growth through $70 million in mergers and acquisitions transactions involving Vyve, Mediacom, and Cable One, expanding from an initial four towers to more than 1,100 today. Prior to CTI, he was the director of corporate accounting for American Tower (News - Alert) Corporation, where he managed the domestic and international accounting teams and consolidated reporting. During his tenure at American Tower, Ward led the finance team through several large acquisitions and finance transactions. He is a Chartered Accountant CA (News - Alert)(SA) and a graduate of the University of South Africa. About Lumos and NorthState Lumos provides ultra-high-speed fiber internet, wall-to-wall Wi-Fi, voice, and streaming services to nearly 200,000 homes and businesses in Virginia and North Carolina, where we're known as NorthState. Our customers enjoy the fastest, symmetrical gig speeds available built on a network they can truly count on-all backed by local, expert customer care teams. We know that consistently fast, reliable internet is what you need to stay connected to the things that matter. Learn more at LumosFiber.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005769/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Positive Action, Inc. Enters Partnership to Distribute Content via PresenceLearning's Therapy Platform

TWIN FALLS, Idaho, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Positive Action, Inc. ("PAI"), the leading education and technology company for evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs, has entered a distribution partnership with PresenceLearning, the leading provider of live online therapy tools and special education related services for K-12 schools. Positive Action, Inc. Enters Partnership With PresenceLearning Delivering Online Therapy For Students "PresenceLearning's technology platform is breaking down barriers for students to access quality special education services from a live clinician," said Alex Allred, CEO of PAI. "We are delighted to pair our SEL curriculum content with PresenceLearning's platform in support of the mutual objective of delivering the most effective SEL learning experience to students." Via PresenceLearning's platform, students log in from school or home to live teletherapy sessions with licensed clinicians. Special education related services delivered include speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral and mental health therapy, and assessments. Clinicians within PresenceLearning's network will be able to access complete digital curriculum materials from Positive Action's SEL programs, including comprehensive eucation materials (most with approximately 140 lessons), student activity sheets, thumbnail graphics for posters, and other visual aids. Proven effective in multiple randomized controlled trials, the Positive Action SEL program is designed for use in all tiers of instruction and includes specialized materials designed for drug education, anti-bullying, family, and counselor objectives.



"The addition of Positive Action to our digital content library meaningfully expands the SEL resources available to our clinicians and school partners. Our platform facilitates a personalized therapy experience for each child, and in today's environment, incorporating SEL into therapy is vital to helping students reach their potential," said Kate Eberle Walker, CEO, PresenceLearning. About Positive Action, Inc.

Positive Action, Inc. (PAI) is the leading education and technology company for evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) programs. Developed by founder Dr. Carol Allred beginning in 1973, our PK-12 programs are based on the intuitive philosophy that we feel good about ourselves when we do positive actions. We offer the only SEL program proven to simultaneously improve student academic achievement and behavior in multiple, multi-year randomized controlled trials, the highest standard of evidence-based education. Our programs have earned prestigious accolades from numerous institutions, including the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Justice, Harvard University, and The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). For more information, visit: www.positiveaction.net.

About PresenceLearning PresenceLearning, Inc., is the leading provider of therapy software and teletherapy services for special education related services and behavioral mental health counseling in schools. At the heart of the company is a purpose-built therapy platform, designed by clinicians for clinicians. Special education teams utilize the Therapy Essentials platform to serve children both in and out of school, leveraging PresenceLearning's national network of more than 1,500 speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and behavioral and mental health professionals as needed to ensure that every child is served. To date PresenceLearning has delivered more than 3 million therapy sessions. Investors in the company include Bain Capital Double Impact, Catalyst Investors, Catamount Ventures, and New Markets Venture Partners. For more information, visit www.presencelearning.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/positive-action-inc-enters-partnership-to-distribute-content-via-presencelearnings-therapy-platform-301412966.html SOURCE Positive Action, Inc.

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[November 11, 2021] TruRating Announces the Hire of Global Head of Marketing and Innovation, Amy Daugherty, in Expansion of Its Global Leadership Team

TruRating, the global customer analytics and insights technology company known for its work with retailers like JD Sports, Canada Post, and five Below, has announced the hire of their new Global Head of Marketing & Innovation, Amy Daugherty. Taking on a dual role, in marketing her focus will be re-aligning the organization's international efforts with a focus on rapid growth. As innovation lead, Daugherty will be initially focused on the launch of a new responsive technology set to go live at NRF in 2022. Daugherty joins TruRating from Amala Beauty, a German luxury and organic skincare brand where she served as the Global Head of Marketing, with a 20-year career behind her in CPG, Beauty and Luxury Goods. "I've sat on the other side of the table my entire career. As a marketer, understanding what made my consumer tick was at the heart of every decision I made," said Daugherty of her career working for brands and partnering with retailers. "Ituition only takes you so far and most of the data and insights solutions I had access to over the years came up short. When I learned about TruRating, I was astonished by their capabilities and could see how their product represented the future of insights and analytics. I knew immediately that I had to be a part of it."



Georgina Nelson, founder, and CEO of TruRating, said, "Amy's wealth of industry knowledge and experience made her the ideal person to fill two distinct needs for the business. Within five minutes we knew she was right for us." TruRating is set to launch Intelligent Questions - a revolutionary responsive survey technology - at NRF 2022 and was nominated in x3 categories at the Vendors in Partnership Awards including Best CX Solution.

About TruRating TruRating, founded in 2014 by consumer rights lawyer Georgina Nelson, provides feedback with industry-leading response rates (80% in-store, 50% online) via a patented system that delivers micro-survey questions at the point of sale. Combining payment validated responses with transactional data, TruRating helps retailers understand how each area customer experience impacts spend, sentiment and loyalty. TruRating's data also fuels an online recommendations platform designed to challenge an industry dealing with increasingly frequent accusations of unrepresentative content. Find out more at: https://www.trurating.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005793/en/

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[November 11, 2021] SIMON Reports Third Quarter Highlights

SIMON Markets LLC (SIMON), a fintech company transforming the digital wealth management landscape for financial professionals through its leading platform for alternative investment solutions, today announced business highlights underscoring its continued growth during Q3 2021. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005802/en/ SIMON's Q3 Highlights (Graphic: Business Wire) Noting record quarterly volumes, the company reports a year-over-year increase in structured investment broker-dealer volume of more than +130% and a year-over-year increase in annuities volume of +400%, both as compared to volumes in Q3 2020. During the quarter, the company introduced two new strategic partnerships to expand their suite of product offerings to financial professionals, released significant enhancements to its platform to improve the way advisors manage client accounts with a superior digital experience, and announced new growth initiatives, including the arrival of Digital Assets on SIMON. Catering to a growing demand for risk-managed and alternative solutions, SIMON is focused on giving financial professionals access to a broad suite of products with powerful analytics and seamless integrations to help make well-informed portfolio allocation decisions. "In Q3, we announced a strategic partnership with a leader in the digital assets space, NYDIG, with whom we are excited to present a suite of educational content and product offerings for bitcoin and other crypto assets," said Jason Broder, CEO of SIMON. "Advisors and investors today seek adaptability and flexibility wih the products they allocate to, and that's exactly what SIMON delivers-a platform with better tools to navigate the modern investment landscape. Everything we do is to help advisors deliver a better tomorrow for their clients. To that end, we've made a lot of progress in Q3, and have several exciting announcements yet to come in Q4."



Recent Press Releases: SIMON Welcomes AIG Life & Retirement to Annuities Platform  Financial professionals can run powerful allocation analytics on AIG annuities in SIMON's centralized Marketplace (Press Release, 09/14/21) Hello Digital Assets: SIMON and NYDIG Partner to Deliver Bitcoin Education and Investments to Financial Professionals  SIMON's centralized platform for wealth managers gears up to launch digital assets portal designed to meet the industry's evolving education and access needs (Press Release, 08/25/21) About SIMON

An award-winning fintech company, SIMON is committed to transforming the digital experience for financial professionals, enabling them to better serve their clients. SIMON's intelligent and innovative platform delivers an end-to-end digital suite of tools to more than 100,000 financial professionals, who serve $5 trillion in client assets, empowering them with on-demand education, an intuitive marketplace, real-time analytics, and lifecycle management. With a focus on reshaping the advisor experience, SIMON is setting new industry standards, simplifying the complex, and delivering structured investment, annuity, and defined outcome ETF solutions to investment professionals, centralized within one unique ecosystem. Originally incubated within Goldman Sachs, SIMON launched as an independently operating company in December 2018 under the shared ownership and direction of seven leading financial institutions-Barclays, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, J.P. Morgan, Prudential, and Wells Fargo (News - Alert). Growth equity firm WestCap became an investor in 2021. The company is headquartered in New York, NY, with an additional location in Birmingham, AL. For more information about SIMON, visit www.simon.io and follow the company on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Securities products and services offered by SIMON Markets LLC, a broker-dealer registered with the SEC (News - Alert), Member FINRA / SIPC. Annuities and insurance services provided by SIMON Annuities and Insurance Services LLC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005802/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Jack Daniel's and the Armed Services YMCA To Send 1,700+ Service Members and Families Home for the Holidays Through "Operation Ride Home"

The Jack Daniel Distillery and the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) said today that more than 1,700 junior-enlisted service members and families will be headed home for the holidays to see loved ones through their "Operation Ride Home" (ORH) program. This year marks a significant milestone in the program's history with the largest number of service members and families traveling home. Now in its 11th year, the program provides financial assistance to active-duty, junior-enlisted military and their families to travel from their base of duty to loved ones' homes across the country. Including this year's travelers, more than 10,000 people have made it home through ORH. Service men and women from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have been assisted with travel to all 50 states. "These heroes are on the front lines, protecting us and protecting our liberties, and we are absolutely thrilled they'll get to reunite with their loved ones this year," said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel's Master Distiller. "Providing some financial assistance to see that they make it home is the least we can do, and I can only imagine the hugs, the tears, the joy and the laughter when these reunions take place." "Due to the pandemic and military travel ban, we weren't able to activate Operation Ride Home last year, but we made it our goal to send even more heroes home for the holidays when it was safe to do so. That day is here, and we are on track to accomplish our goal," said Armed Services YMCA President and CEO Bill French, VADM, USN (Ret). "I've been there, and I know the stress of military life on both the service member and the family, and it's only been made worse by the pandemic. No one deserves to be home more than they do, and we hope our friends will join us as we work to get even more families reunited this holiday season." As it has done throughout the program, Jack Daniel's kcked off this year's campaign with a $100,000 donation and is asking friends to visit operationridehome.com and contribute to help even more service members make it home. More than $2 million in overall donations have provided travel funding over the past 11 years.



The ASYMCA works with the various military commands in specific areas co-located with ASYMCA branches to identify and prioritize junior-enlisted service members and families most in financial need. Plane tickets and pre-paid debit cards are given to assist those traveling. Operation Ride Home is open to active-duty E-5 and below, both single and married, who might not otherwise financially be able to travel home. The option to drive or fly is an individual decision. For additional information on eligibility and to view participating installations that qualify for travel assistance, please visit https://www.asymca.org/operation-ride-home.

About Jack Daniel's: Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel's is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel's Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Apple (News - Alert), Jack Daniel's Tennessee Rye, Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel's Country Cocktails. Today, Jack Daniel's is a true global icon found in more than 170 countries around the world and is the most valuable spirits brand in the world as recognized by Interbrand. Your friends at Jack Daniel's remind you to drink responsibly. About the Armed Services YMCA: The Armed Services YMCA is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that serves currently serving military members and their families. In 2019, we engaged more than 225,000 people in our programs and delivered over 1 million points of services to junior enlisted Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and family members at 200 service centers in 18 states. Whether providing respite childcare for parents in need, summer camps for kids, or assisting with emergency needs, the Armed Services YMCA is a nonprofit with a mission: Strengthening Our Military Family. Visit our website to see how you can join us in supporting military families. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005381/en/

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[November 11, 2021] ALYI Finalizes Terms To Acquire 51% Of East African Business Expected To Accelerate EV Revenue Growth

Dallas, Texas, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alternet Systems, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALYI) (ALYI) today announced ALYI CEO Randell Torno has finalized acquisition terms to acquire a majority interest in a Nairobi business designed to accelerate the companys electric vehicle revenue. Its now in the lawyers hands to draft documents to formally memorize our agreement, said Mr. Torno. I expect we will have a final executed document within a week or two. Mr. Torno has departed Nairobi for Addis Abba where he is presiding over ALYIs rollout of its first electric three-wheel Bajajs going into service as taxis and delivery vehicles  photos and videos of the event to follow upon Mr. Tornos return to Dallas. Next, Mr. Torno will travel to London where next week he will participate in strategic meetings further developing ALYIs electric race in Nairobi in addition to finalizing terms on a second acquisition. ALYI is an Electric Vehicle and overall Electric Vehicle Ecosystem company concentrating on the East African market with plans to expand into the overall global developing economic market. The company recently announced a $2 million 2021 revenue target anticipated from sales of its first electric motorcycles into the African motorcycle market. ALYI is building an entire Electric Vehicle (EV) Ecosystem that addresses the entire EV adoption environment, from the perpetual design of best in class vehicles to the perpetual design of the myriad of mechanical and digital systems that go into a best in class vehicle; from the charging and maintenance infrastructure that goes into supporting consumer and commercial vehicles, to the EV value proposition itself that drives consumers and businesses to transition from combustion engins to electric powered vehicles.



ALYI has designed its EV Ecosystem solution to include democratized participation. ALYI has partnered with Revolt Token to finance ALYIs growth by offering participation in the EV ecosystem through the sale of Revolt Tokens. To learn more about Revolt Token and how to participate in ALYIs electric vehicle ecosystem through the purchase of Revolt Tokens, visit https://rvlttoken.com/ .

For more information and to stay up to date on ALYI's overall latest developments, please visit www.alternetsystemsinc.com .



Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that any of the companies mentioned herein will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the companies' contracts, the companies' liquidity position, the companies' ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur.



For more information, please visit: http://www.alternetsystemsinc.com

Alternet Systems, Inc. Contact:

Randell Torno

[email protected]

+1-800-713-0297



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[November 11, 2021] Certified Service-Disabled and Veteran-Owned Bancroft Capital Announces Veterans Day Partnership with BlackRock

Bancroft Capital (a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Broker Dealer) is pleased to announce the launch of new dedicated share classes of certain BlackRock money market funds exclusively for clients of Bancroft Capital and its affiliates. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005856/en/ Starting on Veterans' Day 2021, these share classes will be offered in BlackRock Liquidity Funds FedFund and BlackRock Liquid Federal Trust Fund (BLFT) both constant net asset value government money market funds, and the BlackRock Liquid Environmentally Aware (News - Alert) Fund (LEAF), an environmentally focused prime money market fund. These offerings help bring sustainable investment principles to institutional clients to help meet their cash and liquidity needs while seeking to create more positive social outcomes for our nation's diverse youth.



"Bancroft Capital is proud to partner with BlackRock in the creation of the Bancroft suite of money market funds. The credibility of this partnership and quality of the strategies we are providing to clients will allow us to grow our current cash and investment offering as we set the standard for excellence in this arena," said Bancroft Capital CEO Cauldon D. Quinn. "BlackRock's and Bancroft's shared success amplifies our ability to drive positive social and environmental outcomes through cash management solutions," said Tom Callahan, Global Head of BlackRock Cash Management. "We are honored to have been able to contribute to the business growth of diverse, women-owned and veteran owned broker-dealers for the past decade - and even prouder to work in partnership with Bancroft to provide this expanded suite of unique liquidity strategies to our mutual clients."

About Bancroft Capital Bancroft Capital was co-founded in 2017 by Cauldon D. Quinn, CEO, a disabled Navy veteran. As a for-profit company, Bancroft rises above the competition on the merit of value-added content and leadership derived from industry veterans with 40+ years of industry pedigree; and on the foundation of a commitment to offer meaningful training and employment to service-disabled military veterans through Bancroft's signature Veteran Training Program (VTP). www.Bancroft4Vets.com About BlackRock BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005856/en/

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[November 11, 2021] GSMA Reveals MWC Barcelona 2022 First Details

LONDON, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ -- MWC Barcelona, the world's largest mobile technology event returns to Barcelona in 2022 under the theme Connectivity Unleashed. Building on the success of the 2021 edition, GSMA has today opened registration for the event, which will take place from 28th February  3rd March 2022. During the four-day conference, attendees will hear first-hand about the future of connectivity from leaders within the mobile industry and beyond. "This year, I was incredibly proud that we were able to bring the industry back together in Barcelona after so long apart. Building on the success of MWC21, I'm thrilled that we can do it again," said GSMA CEO Ltd. John Hoffman. "At the 2022 edition of MWC we will provide a platform for the debates that define society's relationship with technology and, ultimately, we will be the place where business gets done." Connectivity Unleashed 'Connectivity Unleashed' will be explored through topic areas, including: CloudNet - Networks continue to adapt to support service delivery and, today, cloud is considered a key enabler of large-scale transformation with the market projected to reach $75 billion by 2026.

Networks continue to adapt to support service delivery and, today, cloud is considered a key enabler of large-scale transformation with the market projected to reach by 2026. 5G Connect - This theme will explore what tomorrow's world looks like with 5G and the business models shaping its growth.

- This theme will explore what tomorrow's world looks like with 5G and the business models shaping its growth. Internet of Everything - With 24 billion IoT connections predicted by 2025, smart technology offers a new means to reimagine and transform physical spaces.

- With 24 billion IoT connections predicted by 2025, smart technology offers a new means to reimagine and transform physical spaces. FinTech - The mobile eco-system is the heartbeat of fintech as technology continues to reduce barriers and enable new disruptions and innovations.

- The mobile eco-system is the heartbeat of fintech as technology continues to reduce barriers and enable new disruptions and innovations. Tech Horizon - The Tech Horizon theme aims to explore how mobile is transforming our future with innovations that go beyond the industry and deliver purpose.

- The Tech Horizon theme aims to explore how mobile is transforming our future with innovations that go beyond the industry and deliver purpose. Advancing AI - With global investment set to top $170 billion by 2025, geo-political lines are taking shape on AI's use of data and where collaboration is needed to develop new industry innovations. The Intersection of Connectivity, Industry & Innovation An emphasis on connected industries and digital innovation will bring an exciting line-up of thought leaders and disrupters to our conferences platforms. For example, on the heels of their acquisition announcement, Weta Digital's CEO jois a growing list of confirmed speakers;



Prem Akkaraju , CEO, Weta Digital

, CEO, Shuky Sheffer , President and CEO, Amdocs

, President and CEO, Amdocs Anne Chow , CEO, AT&T Business

, CEO, AT&T Business Cher Wang , Chairwoman and Acting CEO, HTC

, Chairwoman and Acting CEO, HTC Maurcio Ramos , CEO, Millicom

, CEO, Millicom Pekka Lundmark , President & CEO, Nokia

, President & CEO, Nokia Stephane Richard , Chairman & CEO, Orange

, Chairman & CEO, Orange Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete , Chairman & CEO, Telefonica

, Chairman & CEO, Telefonica Caroline Casey , Founder & Creator, Valuable 500

, Founder & Creator, Valuable 500 Nick Read , CEO, Vodafone Speakers will be joined by exhibitors from across the connectivity ecosystem including Cisco, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, Google, Huawei, Intel, Nokia, Orange, Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Telefonica, Vodafone, and ZTE among others. The GSMA extends a warm welcome to first-time exhibitors, Fisker, Fujitsu and, LG Uplus. "MWC22 will show off cutting-edge technology that pushes the boundary of possibility. Sparking conversations that fuel innovation, bringing start-ups, big business, and governments together to inspire and create a connected world that delivers for all. MWC21 was the beginning of a comeback for live-events, and I can't wait to be back in Barcelona," said Mats Granryd, Director General GSMA.

A window into the future The GSMA's start-up exhibition will once again be at the heart of MWC in the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue. It will bring together over 450 international start-ups and 500 investors to shape eight programmes in sectors including; Digital Health, Fintech, Frontier Tech, Sportstech, Impact, Investors, Communities and, Diversity and Inclusion. Delegations from Austria, Andorra, Chile, Egypt, Korea, Spain, Switzerland and, the UK will be showcasing their solutions on the show floor together with ground-breaking startups from the rest of the world. "This year marks the 8th edition of the GSMA's key innovation platform at MWC Barcelona, 4YFN.," said Pere Duran, 4YFN Director. "Combining MWC and 4YFN recognises the critical role startups play in fulfilling the potential of mobile technology. The innovation they deliver will enable us to unleash new potential and ensure we are contributing to society and the planet in a way we can be proud of passing to future generations." Committed Community As MWC returns for another in-person event, health and safety remain the number one priority. To ensure all delegates have a safe and enjoyable MWC Barcelona 2022 experience, GSMA has evolved its Committed Community Health & Safety plan. The plan reflects the changing global circumstances, going beyond required measures to ensure MWC remains a safe environment to conduct business. Full details of the Committed Community plan will be released shortly. The GSMA appreciates the time, effort and, resources involved in attending an event like MWC and remains committed to communicating changes or updates as the world progresses actions to manage Covid-19. Register now Registration is now open for MWC Barcelona 2022, the industry's most influential connectivity event. Click here to ensure your attendance. About GSMA The GSMA is a global organization unifying the mobile ecosystem to discover, develop and deliver innovation foundational to positive business environments and societal change. Our vision is to unlock the full power of connectivity so that people, industry, and society thrive. Representing mobile operators and organizations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach. This activity includes advancing policy, tackling today's biggest societal challenges, underpinning the technology and interoperability that make mobile work, and providing the world's largest platform to convene the mobile ecosystem at the MWC and M360 series of events. We invite you to find out more at gsma.com. Media Contacts:

GSMA Press Office

[email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1385555/GSMA_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gsma-reveals-mwc-barcelona-2022-first-details-301422346.html SOURCE GSMA

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[November 11, 2021] Surgical Notes Improves Billing Performance of Virginia Ambulatory Surgery Center

DALLAS, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Surgical Notes, a nationwide provider of revenue cycle services and solutions for the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) and surgical hospital markets, announces the publication of a new case study highlighting the success of the company's SNBilling revenue cycle management (RCM) service in helping improve the financial and operational performance of Princess Anne Ambulatory Surgery Center in Virginia Beach, Va. "SNBilling has provided us with a stellar product and team." 

Charmayne Harrington , Business Office Manager The multi-specialty ASC was managing its revenue cycle operations internally, but this approach was proving difficult and leading to shortcomings affecting the surgery center's bottom line. In addition, the center was facing staffing and business office space challenges, which motivated Charmayne Harrington, the ASC's business office manager, to begin searching for an RCM partner. This led Princess Anne Ambulatory Surgery Center to Surgical Notes and SNBilling. SNBilling manages all aspects of the ASC billing process, from insurance verification and authorization through complete adjudication of insurance claims and patient billing. SNBilling's expert teams monitor all critical ASC revenue cycle key performance indicators to identify problems negatively affecting revenue and profits and apply data-driven changes that achieve lasting financial and operational improvements.



Princess Anne Ambulatory Surgery Center had entrusted its transcription and coding to Surgical Notes in 2015 and 2017, respectively, and experienced great results, so there was no hesitation by Harrington to select Surgical Notes over three other companies and move to SNBilling. The surgery center and SNBilling team worked closely to transition the ASC from in-house to outsourced RCM, with Harrington witnessing immediate dividends from the center's decision. "We sent SNBilling all of our managed care contracts," she said in the case study. "Their team interpreted the contracts and then set them up correctly in our practice management system. The SNBilling team's contract expertise was impressive." That was only the beginning. Within just a few months, the partnership between Surgical Notes and Princess Anne Ambulatory Surgery Center led to these noteworthy improvements:

Increase in payments

Increase in payments > 90 days

Decrease in bad debt

Decrease in accounts receivable (AR) Other improvements include improving commercial payer outcomes, more timely responses from payers, and improved productivity for Harrington. "Since I'm no longer spending so much time overseeing employees in the office, I've gotten back valuable time that has allowed me to work on other projects and duties that had been pushed to the back burner," she said. Surgical Notes has welcomed the opportunity to expand its relationship with Princess Anne Ambulatory Surgery Center and further help the center realize its financial performance expectations and goals, said Randy Bishop, President and Chief Executive Officer for Surgical Notes. "Princess Anne Ambulatory Surgery Center is an impressive facility that has delivered exceptional patient care since it opened in 2007," said Bishop. "We've been fortunate to get to know Charmayne and the center's staff over these past few years and were pleased when she selected SNBilling as her RCM partner. It's been a great experience to work even more closely with Charmayne to deliver improvements that positively affect the ASC's bottom line. We look forward to building on the success we've already accomplished together." The SNBilling team's performance to date has Harrington also looking forward to that continued collaboration. "SNBilling has provided us with a stellar product and team. They have been able to fulfill our needs and maintain a continued interest in our growth and efficiency. I can truly say that Surgical Notes is an extension of my own team." To access the Princess Anne Ambulatory Surgery Center case study, click here. To learn what SNBilling can do for your ASC, contact us. About Surgical Notes, Inc.

Surgical Notes is a healthcare IT solutions company dedicated to providing best-in-class revenue cycle solutions for the ambulatory surgery center and surgical hospital markets. By integrating Surgical Notes ' suite of products and services, ASCs have access to an enterprise revenue cycle solution designed to maximize profitability, physician distributions, and business office efficiency. The largest management companies and over 20,000 healthcare providers trust Surgical Notes to enhance the financial strength and performance of their ASCs. To find out more about Surgical Notes and its ASC revenue cycle solutions, visit www.SurgicalNotes.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/surgical-notes-improves-billing-performance-of-virginia-ambulatory-surgery-center-301422349.html SOURCE Surgical Notes

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Teledyne e2v HiRel Announces Availability of New TDGD271 and TDGD274 Drivers for GaN FETs

Teledyne e2v HiRel today announced availability of a pair of new isolated gate drivers ideally suited for driving GaN power parts used in a wide variety of power supply, dc/dc converter, battery management systems (BMS), Point-of-Load (POL) modules and motor control applications.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005271/en/

Teledyne e2v HiRel GaN Drivers (Photo: Business Wire)

The TDGD27x isolated gate drivers utilize silicon isolation technology, supporting up to 2.5 kVRMS. This technology enables industry leading common-mode transient immunity (CMTI), tight timing specifications, reduced variation with temperature and age, better part-to-part matching, and 100% AC/DC testing at -55 C to 125 C.







"Many power applications are taking advantage of the reduced size and higher efficiency made possible by wide band-gap (WBG) semiconductors. However, there was a lack of supporting functions suitable for the most demanding high reliability applications," said Mont Taylor, VP of Business Development at Teledyne HiRel. "The TDGD isolated gate drivers are available with 100% screening and from one diffusion lot, making them a natural choice for the most demanding systems."

Devices are available for ordering and shipment today from Teledyne e2v HiRel or an authorized distributor. They are shipped from our DoD Trusted Facility in Milpitas, California.

ABOUT TELEDYNE e2v HIREL ELECTRONICS

Teledyne HiRel's innovations lead developments in space, transportation, defense, and industrial markets. HiRel's unique approach involves listening to the market and application challenges of customers and partnering with them to provide innovative standard, semi-custom or fully-custom solutions, bringing increased value to their systems. For more information, visit http://www.tdehirel.com

ABOUT TELEDYNE DEFENSE ELECTRONICS

Serving Defense, Space and Commercial sectors worldwide, Teledyne Defense Electronics offers a comprehensive portfolio of highly engineered solutions that meet your most demanding requirements in the harshest environments. Manufacturing both custom and off-the-shelf product offerings, our diverse product lines meet emerging needs for key applications for avionics, energetics, electronic warfare, missiles, radar, satcom, space, and test and measurement. www.teledynedefelec.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005271/en/
[November 11, 2021] Philadelphia Business Journal Names AscellaHealth President and CEO Dea Belazi Among Top Honorees for Philadelphia Region's "Most Admired CEOs"

AscellaHealth, a global specialty pharmacy and healthcare solutions company, announces today that Dea Belazi, president and CEO, will be among the top honorees at the Philadelphia Business Journal's 2021 "Most Admired CEOs" awards ceremony on Dec. 9, 2021. This award goes to individuals who are established leaders with a strong record of innovation in their field, outstanding financial performance, a commitment to quality, a strong vision, a commitment to diversity in the workplace and contributions to Greater Philadelphia. "I'm deeply gratified to be honored along with these top business executives and proud of AscellaHealth's exceptional team that has supported all our corporate initiatives to take a leading position as a Specialty Pharmacy and healthcare services provider," says Belazi. "In the face of challenges during the pandemic, our gals have remained the same: enhance patient outcomes and expand opportunities to serve key stakeholders throughout the healthcare industry."



The Philadelphia Business Journal presents this award in recognition of some of the region's top executives, who have demonstrated the skills, agility and ingenuity required to lead their companies through the most difficult of times. Representing the commercial real estate, engineering, information technology, health care, life sciences and legal industries, along with many other sectors of business, each of these Philadelphia-area chief executives has shown "grit and resilience in navigating the pandemic over the last year," says representatives from the Philadelphia Business Journal. "At AscellaHealth, we strive to create a work culture of innovation and collaboration and value the unique contributions that our employees deliver each day," adds Belazi. "We are committed to achieving health equity for all Americans and understand the importance of promoting greater access to affordable, quality healthcare."

The Business Journal will recognize these leaders at a live event at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia on Dec. 9 and profile all 28 in a special print edition of the paper on Dec. 10. About AscellaHealth LLC AscellaHealth is a global Specialty Pharmacy and Healthcare services organization serving payers, providers, life sciences and patients, offering a comprehensive portfolio of customized, tech-enabled specialty pharmaceutical and medical management services. An Inc. 5000 2021 winner, AscellaHealth's unique, patient-centric approach is built upon proprietary technology processes for innovative programs and services optimizing health outcomes and quality of life for patients with complex chronic conditions or rare diseases that require specialty medications and/or gene and cell therapies. Visit www.AscellaHealth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005928/en/

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[November 11, 2021] GAUSSIN Announces ARAMCO as Its Title Sponsor for the 2022 DAKAR RALLY

GAUSSIN (ALGAU - FR0013495298), a pioneer in the clean and intelligent transport of goods and people, announced that ARAMCO has agreed to be the title sponsor of GAUSSIN's new RACING TRUCK for the 2022 DAKAR RALLY that will be held in January. As a part of this agreement, ARAMCO also has the option to subscribe for up to 20% of the common stock of GAUSSIN shares. Upcoming events 2022 Dakar Rally Race: January 2-14, 2021 About GAUSSIN GAUSSIN is an engineering company that designs, assembles and sells innovative products and services in the transport and logistics field. Its know-how encompasses cargo and passenger transport, autonomous technologies allowing for self-driving solutions such as Automotive Guided Vehicles, and the integration all types of batteries, electric and hydrogen fuel cells in particular. With more than 50,000 vehicles worldwide, GAUSSIN enjoys a strong reputation in four fast-expanding markets: port terminals, airports, logistics and people mobility. The group has developed strategic partnerships with major global players in order to accelerate its commercial penetration: Siemens (News - Alert) Postal, Parcel & Airport Logistics in the airport field, Bollore Ports and ST Engineering in ports and Bluebus for people mobility. GAUSSIN has broadened its business model with the signing of license agreements acceleratingthe diffusion of its technology throughout the world. The acquisition of METALLIANCE confirms the emergence of an international group present in all segments of intelligent and clean vehicles.



In October 2021, GAUSSIN won the Dubai World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport. GAUSSIN has been listed on Euronext Growth in Paris since 2010. More information on www.gaussin.com.

More information on Gaussin is available on www.gaussin.com * This document may contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information refers to future prospects, developments and strategies of Gaussin and is based on an analysis of expected future results and estimates of amounts that are not yet determinable to date. Forward-looking information naturally contains elements of risk and uncertainty relative to events and therefore dependent on circumstances which may or may not occur in the future. Gaussin draws your attention to the fact that forward-looking information provides no guarantee concerning its future performance or financial situation, financial results or trends in the sector in which Gaussin operates, and which may significantly differ from those proposed or suggested in the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation. Furthermore, even though the financial position of Gaussin, its performance and trends in the sector in which Gaussin operates comply with the forward-looking information contained in this presentation, such performance or trends may not be a reliable indication of the company's future performance or prospects. Gaussin is not committed to updating or confirming analysts' expectations or estimates or to publicly correcting any information or event in order to reflect an event or circumstance eventually occurring following this presentation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005938/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Alibaba 2021 11.11 Global Shopping Festival Delivers Steady Growth

Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE: BABA; HKEX: 9988) today successfully concluded its 13th annual 11.11 Global Shopping Festival ("11.11"), which generated RMB540.3 billion (US$84.54 billion) in gross merchandise volume (GMV (News - Alert)) during the 11-day campaign. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005942/en/ Alibaba 2021 11.11 Global Shopping Festival Delivers Steady Growth (Photo: Business Wire) "This 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, we delivered steady and quality growth that is a reflection of the dynamic Chinese consumption economy. We also leveraged the power of 11.11 as a platform to fulfill our social responsibility. This year's festival was a meaningful milestone as part of our commitment towards building a sustainable future," said Yang Guang, Vice President at Alibaba Group. A record 290,000 brands participated in the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival this year, of which 65% are small and medium-sized businesses, manufacturers from industrial belts and new brands. Agricultural belts in less developed regions enjoyed strong sales, with GMV of agricultural products from these regions growing 20% year-over-year. Ahead of this year's 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, Alibaba Group fully migrated all systems and operations onto its public cloud. Use of renewable energy in the Zhangbei County data center, which plas a major role in supporting Alibaba's e-commerce businesses, reduced more than 26,000 tons of carbon emission.



Highlights from the 2021 11.11 Global Shopping Festival 78 brands grew to surpass RMB100 million in GMV this year, up from RMB10 million in GMV last year, while 698 brands grew to surpass RMB10 million this year from RMB1 million in GMV last year.

More than 45% of consumers that made purchases were born in the '90s and '00s. Consumers born in '00s increased by 25% year-over-year.

500,000 products with official Green Product Certification from more than 2,000 merchants were featured in a dedicated eco-friendly vertical on Tmall.

Over 1,600 brands participated in the new membership challenge campaign on Tmall and attracted over 97 million new members during this Global Shopping Festival.

More than 1.3 million new products were offered by over 29,000 overseas brands that participated via Tmall Global this year, with some 2,800 overseas brands joining for the first time.

From November 1 to 10, 90 emerging brands remained as the top brand by GMV in their respective small categories for three consecutive years. 275 emerging brands saw their GMV doubled YoY for three consecutive years.

Over one million packages were delivered by around 350 Xiaomanlv driverless vehicles from November 1 to 10, surpassing the volume of packages delivered by Xiaomanlv vehicles from September 2020 to September 2021. About the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival

The 11.11 Global Shopping Festival began in 2009 with participation from just 27 merchants as an event for merchants and consumers to raise awareness about the value of online shopping. More than 290,000 brands participated in this year's event. For the latest news and updates on the 2021 11.11 Global Shopping Festival, please visit: www.alizila.com About Alibaba Group Alibaba Group's mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company aims to build the future infrastructure of commerce. It envisions that its customers will meet, work and live at Alibaba and that it will be a good company that lasts for 102 years. Note: GMV for the 11.11 Global Shopping Festival is the total value of orders settled through Alipay on Alibaba's China retail marketplaces, Kaola, Lazada, AliExpress, and New Retail and consumer services platforms from November 1 to November 11, 2021. It is reported on a real-time basis and includes shipping charges paid (where applicable). Alibaba Group's operating results disclosed in this press release are denominated in RMB; year-over-year comparisons and growth rates are calculated on the basis of RMB amounts and are not affected by foreign exchange rate fluctuations. All translations of RMB into US$ are made at US$1=RMB6.3907, the central parity rate announced by the People's Bank of China on October 29, 2021. All GMV and other figures presented in this press release are unaudited and subject to adjustments. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005942/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Dorsey Partner Monica Clark Named an American College of Bankruptcy Fellow

International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP is pleased to announce that Partner Monica Clark will be inducted into the American College of Bankruptcy as a Fellow in the 33rd Class of the College at its 2022 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado. Thirty-seven new Fellows will be honored and recognized for their professional excellence and exceptional contributions to the bankruptcy and insolvency practice. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005967/en/ Congratulations to Partner Monica Clark, who will be inducted into the American College of Bankruptcy as a Fellow during its 2022 Annual Meeting. (Photo: Dorsey & Whitney LLP) The American College of Bankruptcy is an honorary public service association of the United States and international insolvency professionals who are invited to join as Fellows based on a proven record of the highest standards of expertise, leadership, integrity, professionalism, scholarship, and service to the bankruptcy and insolvency practice nd to their communities.



The College facilitates the effective domestic and cross-border application of bankruptcy and insolvency laws and the administration of justice in the courts through, among other activities, conducting professional educational programs, sponsoring the publication of scholarly reports, and maintaining the National Bankruptcy Archives. The College also funds projects that improve the quality of bankruptcy law and practice, as well as access to justice, in particular through grants by its affiliated Foundation to pro bono legal service programs. The Foundation is believed to be the single largest financial supporter of pro bono bankruptcy services in the United States, contributing over $3 million since 2012. In all of its work, the College is dedicated to enhancing professionalism, scholarship, diversity, equity and inclusion in and service to bankruptcy and insolvency law and practice. Nominees are extended an invitation to join based on a sustained record of achievement. Candidates are selected by the College's Board of Regents from recommendations of Circuit Admissions Councils in each federal judicial circuit and Nominating Committees for Judicial and International Fellows.

Ms. Clark is a Co-Chair of Dorsey's Bankruptcy Practice Group. She represents lenders, lessors, purchasers, and other parties in bankruptcy cases nationwide. In addition to her law degree, Ms. Clark has a Master's Degree in English and has taught legal writing at the University of Minnesota Law School. Ms. Clark is a recipient of Dorsey's Scales of Justice and the Raeder Larson Public Service Award, for her pro bono representation of student loan debtors. Prior to joining Dorsey, Ms. Clark clerked for the Honorable Robert J. Kressel, United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota and Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Eighth Circuit. About Dorsey & Whitney LLP Clients have relied on Dorsey since 1912 as a valued business partner. With locations across the United States and in Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, Dorsey provides an integrated, proactive approach to its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey represents a number of the world's most successful companies from a wide range of industries, including leaders in banking & financial institutions, development & infrastructure, energy & natural resources, food, beverage & agribusiness, healthcare and technology, as well as major non-profit and government entities. www.dorsey.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111005967/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Sage Intacct customers honored at Sage Transform 2021 for outstanding achievements in cloud financial management

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sage (FTSE: SGE), the market leader in cloud business management solutions, today announced the winners of the 2021 Sage Intacct Customer Success Awards. Winners were showcased at the Sage Transform 2021 conference this week in Las Vegas. They include a company that has cut their close time by more than half, and a nonprofit that has saved $500k annually through better expense management. The Sage Intacct Customer Success Awards Program recognizes organizations that have used the innovative functionality within Sage Intacct or Sage Intacct Budgeting and Planning to dramatically improve their business and financial operations. In total, 28 customers were honored, including one Customer Hero Award and five Industry Awards. Sage is excited to honor our largest ever group of Sage Intacct Customer Success Award winners at Sage Transform this year, said Dan Miller, Sages EVP for Sage Intacct. These companies have embraced digital transformation by leveraging Sage Intacct solutions to take their businesses to new levels. At Sage, we know that we dont succeed unless our customers succeed, and we are committed to meeting customers' needs and offering solutions that allow them to scale their business with ease  all while feeling supported every step of the way. Sage Intacct Customer Hero Award Amongst the Customer Success Award winners, Purple Wave was singled out for the 2021 Sage Intacct Customer Hero Award. Purple Wave is an online-only auction company specializing in the liquidation of agricultural and construction equipment and fleet vehicles. With Sage Intacct, Purple Wave replaced manual work with automation to streamline its core accounting processes. The company gained robust multi-dimensional reporting for better business insights as it expanded its sales team to 50 reps covering more than 11 central U.S. states. Building on that success, Purple Wave rolled out Sage Intacct Budgeting and Planning to improve on labor-intensive budgeting processes that had been done entirely in Excel. After switching to Sage Intacct, the time saved allowed employees to become more specialized in their roles, gaining efficiency and insights around processes and how to improve them. It is now significantly easier for financial leaders at Purple Wave to provide reporting to management, board members, and third parties. Additional key results using Sage Intacct and Sage Intacct Budgeting and Planning include: Cut time to close the books down from 30 days to 8 days

Reduced budget creation time by 50%

Improved decisions with budget vs actuals reporting

Able to manage budget data imports in hours, not weeks



Click here to learn more about Purple Waves use of Sage Intacct solutions. Sage Intacct Industry Award Winners

Customers across five key vertical industries were honored with Sage Intacct Industry Awards. Here is a look at their results: Canine Companions  Nonprofit Canine Companions is a human services nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to adults, children, and veterans with disabilities, as well as facility dogs to professionals working in healthcare, criminal justice, and educational settings. Highlighted results using Sage Intacct include: Saved $500k annually through better visibility into expenses

Freed 50% of time spent on gift processing

Shortened audit process by 25% and reduced audit cost by 20-25%

Expel  Software/SaaS Expel, Inc. is a fast-growing cybersecurity managed detection and response (MDR) provider that aims to make great security as accessible as the internet. Highlighted results using Sage Intacct include: Improved decisions with budget vs. actuals reporting

Able to manage budget data imports in hours, not weeks

$50M raised from top investors since implementing Sage Intacct, leveraging impressive financial reporting

Vets Pets  Healthcare Vets Pets is a cooperative group of 26 veterinary hospitals in North Carolina with joint venture partnerships focused on people, pets, medicine, leadership, and service. Highlighted results using Sage Intacct include: Reduced monthly close from up to 23 days to about 6 or 7 days

Eliminated 100 hours of manual accounting each month

Improved decision-making with reporting insights

Gained scalability amid rapid business growth, scaling from 2 practices when founded in 2007 to 26 in 2021 Laird Management  Hospitality A family-owned company with 600 plus employees and 31 restaurants, Laird Management is a large Burger King franchisee in Arizona. Highlighted results using Sage Intacct include: Streamlined financial reports help cut month-end close time in half

Reduced financial reporting time by 80%

New efficiencies helped company scale without expanding the accounting team

Tandem HR  Professional Services Tandem HR is a PEO partnering with small and mid-sized organizations to provide a high-touch, Fortune 500-style HR infrastructure. By delivering human resource, payroll benefit, workers compensation, and other vital HR services, Tandem HR offers professionals time back to dedicate to revenue-generating activities, fueling clients success. Highlighted results using Sage Intacct include: Saved 500 person-hour annually by eliminating manual accounting workarounds

Reduced time needed for monthly close from 30 days to 10 days

Only needed to add one finance employee while tripling annual revenue growth from $300M to $900M

Learn more about Sage Transform 2021 at www.sageintacct.com/transform and follow daily updates from the conference on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and the Sage Intacct blog. Media contact:

Peter Olson

[email protected]

408-878-0951 About Sage

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[November 11, 2021] E Inc. to Host 2021 Third Quarter Results Conference Call

TORONTO, Nov. 11 , 2021 /CNW/ - E Automotive Inc. d/b/a E Inc. (TSX: EINC) (the "Company" or "E Inc.") a company that connects the automotive wholesale and retail experiences with a proprietary technology platform operating under the brands EBlock and EDealer, today announced that it will release its third quarter 2021 financial results by press release on Friday, November 12, 2021, prior to market open. The Company will subsequently hold a conference call that same day, Friday, November 12, at 8:30 am Eastern Time hosted by Mr. Jason McClenahan, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Mr. Andy Bohlin, Chief Financial Officer. A question and answer session will follow the corporate update. Conference Call Details







DATE: Friday, November 12, 2021 TIME: 8:30 am ET DIAL-IN NUMBER: (647) 792-1240 or (800) 430-8332 TAPED REPLAY: (647) 436-0148 or (888) 203-1112 REFERENCE NUMBER: 9020280

A link to the live audio webcast of the conference call will also be available on the events page of the investors section of E Inc.'s website at e.inc or by visiting the following link: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1512054&tp_key=4e34aa7cd5. Please connect at least 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to hear the webcast. An archived webcast will be available for one year. About E Inc.

E Inc.'s mission is to optimize the online vehicle buying, selling, and management experience for automotive dealers and consumers. E Inc. has a digital platform (the "Platform") that provides automotive dealerships with access to an online wholesale auction marketplace where they can purchase or sell vehicles to other dealers, as well as access innovative software solutions to support dealers' digital retailing and inventory management. Access to E Inc.'s Platform is complemented by ancillary service offerings to assist dealers with supplementary auction-related needs, along with driving consumer traffic to their digital properties and optimizing other business processes. E Inc.'s digital wholesale marketplace goes to market under the brand EBlock, and E Inc.'s digital suite of retail products goes to market under the brand EDealer. SOURCE E Inc.

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[November 11, 2021] Copperleaf Announces Third Quarter 2021 Results

Q3 revenue increases 55% YoY to $16.8 million

Annual Recurring Revenue grows 52% YoY to $33.2 VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Copperleaf Technologies Inc. (TSX: CPLF) ("Copperleaf" or the "Company"), a provider of enterprise decision analytics software solutions, today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. "Our third quarter results demonstrated strong progress on our key financial metrics. We delivered 52% YoY growth in Annual Recurring Revenue, 50% YoY growth in our Revenue Backlog, and a 125% Net Revenue Retention Rate," said Judi Hess, CEO of Copperleaf. "For more than a decade, Copperleaf has been helping organizations allocate their resources, time, and funds toward the most valuable areas of their businesses to optimize their performance. With the successful completion of our IPO, we are in an even stronger financial position to build on our advantage and capture a greater share of the decision analytics market, which is still in the early stages of a long-term growth cycle." Third Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights (All Capitalized terms not defined herein, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended September 30, 2021; Comparison periods in each case are the three months ended September 30,2020, unless otherwise stated) Record revenue of $16.8 million , an increase of 55% over Q3 2020, driven by the increase in new clients and the expansion of existing clients.

, an increase of 55% over Q3 2020, driven by the increase in new clients and the expansion of existing clients. Annual Recurring Revenue 1 as at September 30, 2021 of $33.2 million , a 52% increase from $21.8 million as of September 30, 2020 .

as at of , a 52% increase from as of . Subscription revenue of $8.2 million (49% of total revenue), an increase of 52% from the prior year.

(49% of total revenue), an increase of 52% from the prior year. Gross profit of $12.9 million , a 67% increase from $7.7 million in Q3 2020, representing a Gross Margin of 77%. The year-over-year growth reflects an increase in revenue, successful remote delivery resulting in less travel, as well as an improvement in utilization.

, a 67% increase from in Q3 2020, representing a Gross Margin of 77%. The year-over-year growth reflects an increase in revenue, successful remote delivery resulting in less travel, as well as an improvement in utilization. Adjusted EBITDA 1,2 loss of $1.4 million , compared to a loss of $2.0 million in Q3 2020.

loss of , compared to a loss of in Q3 2020. Net loss of $3.3 million , or $0.20 per share, compared to a net loss of $2.8 million , or $0.19 per share, in Q3 2020.

, or per share, compared to a net loss of , or per share, in Q3 2020. As of September 30, 2021 , our Net Revenue Retention Rate 1 was 125%.

, our Net Revenue Retention Rate was 125%. As of September 30, 2021 , our Revenue Backlog 1 grew 50% to $79.1 million , compared to $52.6 million as of September 30 , 2020.

, our Revenue Backlog grew 50% to , compared to as of , 2020. Cash and cash equivalents of $12.2 million as at September 30, 2021 , compared to $15.9 million at December 31 , 2020. Subsequent to quarter end, Copperleaf completed its IPO for net cash proceeds of $151.5 million .







1 Please refer to "Key Performance Indicators" section of this press release 2 Please refer to "Non-IFRS Measures" section of this press release

"We delivered record revenue and Annual Recurring Revenue in the third quarter," continued Ms. Hess. "Some of the world's largest and most respected organizations trust Copperleaf to guide their investment decisions. We have built a strong global brand and we intend to continue making investments to support future growth. These investments continue to drive new client acquisition and existing client expansions, increasing our Annual Recurring Revenue, and demonstrate the power of our land and expand model." Key Developments On October 14, 2021 , Copperleaf completed its oversubscribed and upsized IPO and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

, Copperleaf completed its oversubscribed and upsized IPO and listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Our Alliance Ecosystem continues to gain traction as partners build their Copperleaf practice areas, resulting in an increase in active partner pursuits during fiscal year 2021.

At the end of Q3 2021, the water and wastewater verticals officially became core sectors at Copperleaf alongside energy, with transportation starting to gain global traction in our emerging verticals.

Our environmental, social, and corporate governance ("ESG") enabled solutions empower our clients to move from aspirational goals to operational plans. Market traction for ESG and the energy transition continues to build. It has influenced half of our new 2021 deals as of the end of Q3 2021, and is leading to an expansion in our global pipeline.

The Copperleaf Community is engaged and growing, with one third of our clients participating in client-led innovation with Copperleaf Labs during Q3 2021.

During Q3 2021, we released version 21.3 of our product suite, which includes a new costing option to generate more accurate cost estimates using parameterized models, in addition to many other features. We believe better cost estimation results in better decisions.

Continuous improvement in product development for automated testing has reduced our test burden by 50% for the nine month period ended September 30, 2021 , resulting in faster time to market and lower costs. Q3 2021 Financial Results Conference Call Details Judi Hess, Chief Executive Officer and Chris Allen, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call followed by a question-and-answer session today, November 11, 2021, at 4:30 PM ET. Date: November 11, 2021 Time: 4:30pm ET Dial-In Number: 416-764-8659 or 1-888-664-6392 Webcast: https://bit.ly/3Cl97T2 Replay: 416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 (Available until November 18, 2021) Replay Entry Code: 410571# 1 Key Performance Indicators The Company monitors a number of key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate performance. Some of the KPIs used by management are recognized under IFRS, whereas others are non-IFRS measures and are not recognized under IFRS. These non-IFRS measures are included as additional information to complement the IFRS measures, providing further understanding of our results of operations from management's perspective. We believe that non-IFRS financial measures are useful to investors and others in assessing our performance; however, these measures should not be considered as a substitute for reported IFRS measures nor should they be considered in isolation. As these measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, they do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. For a reconciliation of non-IFRS measures to the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with IFRS, see section "Non-IFRS Measures" below. Annual Recurring Revenue We define Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) as the annualized equivalent value of the subscription revenue of all existing contracts as at the date being measured, excluding non-recurring SaaS and hosting fees. Our clients generally enter into three-to-five-year contracts that are non-cancelable or cancelable with penalty. Our current gross client retention is 100%, and our calculation of ARR assumes clients will renew their contractual commitments on a periodic basis as those commitments come up for renewal. We believe that this measure provides a fair real-time measure of performance in a subscription-based environment. Net Revenue Retention Rate We believe that our Net Revenue Retention Rate is a key measure to provide insight into the long-term value of our clients and our ability to retain and expand revenue from our client base over time. Our Net Revenue Retention Rate is calculated over a trailing twelve-month period by considering the group of clients on our platform as of the beginning of the period and dividing our ARR attributable to this same group of clients at the end of the period by the ARR at the beginning of the period. By implication, this ratio excludes any ARR from new clients acquired during the period but does include incremental sales added to the cohort base of clients during the period being measured. This measure provides insight into client expansions, downgrades, and churn, and illustrates the growth potential of our client base alone. Revenue Backlog Revenue Backlog represents the total revenue expected to be recognized in the future, related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied at period end. The recurring nature of our revenue provides high visibility into future performance, and upfront payments result in cash flow generation in advance of revenue recognition. Subscription contracts require annual upfront payments; however, some clients pay multiple years upfront. Typically, approximately 50% of our expected annual revenue is recognized from client contracts that are in place at the beginning of the year, and this continues to be our target model going forward. However, this also means that agreements with new clients or agreements with existing clients purchasing incremental products and services in a quarter may not contribute significantly to revenue in the current quarter. For example, for SaaS contracts and professional services, a new client who enters into an agreement late in a quarter will typically have limited contribution to revenue recognized in that quarter. Perpetual licenses, by contrast, are often recognized as revenue upon delivery of the software which typically occurs immediately upon contracting, and thus rarely enters Revenue Backlog. Adjusted EBITDA Adjusted EBITDA is used by management as a supplemental measure to review and assess operating performance and provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure of operating performance and reflects our ability to generate cash-based earnings. It provides a more relevant picture of operating results by excluding the effects of financing and investing activities, which removes the effects of interest and other expenses such as non-cash items and other one-time or non-recurring expenses that are not reflective of our underlying business. Our management also uses Adjusted EBITDA to facilitate operating performance comparisons and decision making from period to period and to prepare annual operating budgets and forecasts. In addition, it is used to provide securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. 2Non-IFRS Measures As required by Canadian securities laws, we reconcile the non-IFRS measures to the most comparable IFRS measures. For more information on non-IFRS measures and other measures, see the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the three and nine-months ended September 30, 2021, filed on SEDAR and available on the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.copperleaf.com/. The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) for the periods indicated:

For three months ended September 30

2021 2020 $ Change % Change Net income (loss) ($3,281,416) ($2,828,932) ($452,484) (16%) Depreciation and amortization $547,734 $535,493 $12,241 2% Share-based payments expense $426,768 $220,215 $206,553 94% Finance costs $186,874 $123,671 $63,203 51% Finance income ($738) ($5,215) $4,477 (86%) Foreign exchange loss (gain) ($349,639) ($61,874) ($287,765) (465%) Income taxes (recovery) ($92,762) $27,568 ($120,330) (436%) IPO transaction related costs $1,143,600 - $1,143,600 100% Adjusted EBITDA ($1,419,579) ($1,989,074) $569,495 29%





For nine months ended September 30,











2021 2020 $ Change % Change Net income (loss) ($6,674,784) ($11,250,852) $4,576,068 41% Depreciation and amortization $1,685,183 $1,642,466 $42,717 3% Share-based payments expense $1,431,997 $876,451 $555,546 63% Finance costs $600,042 $395,552 $204,490 52% Finance income ($8,748) ($80,300) $71,552 (89%) Gain on lease modification ($181,372) - ($181,372) 100% Foreign exchange loss (gain) $701,814 ($596,196) $1,298,010 218% Income taxes (recovery) $98,782 $216,286 ($117,504) (54%) IPO transaction related costs $2,092,582 - $2,092,582 100% Adjusted EBITDA ($254,504) ($8,796,593) $8,542,089 97% Selected Financial Information

Consolidated Statements of Loss and Comprehensive Loss

(expressed in Canadian dollars)

(unaudited)

For the three months ended

September 30, For the nine months ended

September 30,

2021 2020 2021 2020

$ $ $ $ Revenue 16,802,972 10,827,117 47,485,285 28,086,716









Cost of revenue 3,934,755 3,100,818 9,861,210 9,115,359









Gross profit 12,868,217 7,726,299 37,624,075 18,971,357









Operating expenses







Sales and marketing 6,384,224 3,940,753 16,125,910 10,921,409 Research and development 5,268,994 3,936,882 14,534,271 11,851,854 General and administrative 4,752,680 2,593,446 12,428,160 7,513,604

16,405,898 10,471,081 43,088,341 30,286,867









Loss from operations (3,537,681) (2,744,782) (5,464,266) (11,315,510)









Other expenses (income)







Finance costs 186,874 123,671 600,042 395,552 Finance income (738) (5,215) (8,748) (80,300) Gain on lease modification - - (181,372) - Foreign exchange loss (gain) (349,639) (61,874) 701,814 (596,196)

(163,503) 56,582 1,111,736 (280,944)









Loss before income taxes (3,374,178) (2,801,364) (6,576,002) (11,034,566)









Income taxes (recovery)







Current income tax expense (recovery) (92,762) 27,568 98,782 216,286

(92,762) 27,568 98,782 216,286









Net loss and comprehensive loss for the period (3,281,416) (2,828,932) (6,674,784) (11,250,852) Net loss per share







Basic (0.20) (0.19) (0.41) (0.75) Diluted (0.20) (0.19) (0.41) (0.75) Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic 16,781,900 15,224,756 16,428,684 15,027,915 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted 16,781,900 15,224,756 16,428,684 15,027,915









Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(expressed in Canadian Dollars)

(unaudited)

September 30,

2021 December 31,

2020

$ $ Assets



Current assets



Cash and cash equivalents 12,166,925 15,916,417 Prepaid expenses 1,716,294 1,326,691 Contract costs 668,004 601,283 Accounts receivable 12,471,327 26,169,662 Investment tax credits receivable 2,916,282 1,586,673 Contract assets 3,815,426 594,310

33,754,258 46,195,036 Non-current assets



Deposit 80,629 81,513 Contract costs 1,194,179 1,216,571 Deferred share issuance costs 639,948 - Right-of-use assets 1,402,422 2,421,832 Intangible assets 1,160,537 1,333,890 Property and equipment 1,949,468 2,389,296

6,427,183 7,443,102





Total assets 40,181,441 53,638,138





Liabilities and shareholders' equity



Current liabilities



Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 11,787,760 11,276,887 Lease liabilities 913,080 1,049,762 Contract liabilities 12,713,704 18,198,658

25,414,544 30,525,307 Non-current liabilities



Lease liabilities 1,426,756 2,694,460 Contract liabilities 10,162,615 12,906,512

11,589,371 15,600,972





Total liabilities 37,003,915 46,126,279





Shareholders' equity



Share capital 30,447,072 29,069,354 Share-based payments reserve 4,055,004 3,092,271 Deficit (31,324,550) (24,649,766) Total shareholders' equity 3,177,526 7,511,859 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 40,181,441 53,638,138









Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(expressed in Canadian Dollars)

(unaudited)

For the three months ended

September 30 For the nine months ended

September 30

2021 2020 2021 2020

$ $ $ $ Cash provided by (used in)







Operating activities







Net loss (3,281,416) (2,828,932) (6,674,784) (11,250,852) Items not involving cash







Depreciation of property and equipment 262,895 211,335 766,808 708,867 Amortization of intangible assets 93,941 115,293 304,383 312,928 Depreciation of right-of-use assets 190,898 208,865 613,992 620,671 Foreign exchange loss (gain) (349,639) (61,874) 701,814 (596,196) Gain on lease modification - - (181,372) - Income tax expense (recovery) (92,762) 27,568 98,782 216,286 Finance income (738) (5,215) (8,748) (80,300) Finance costs 186,874 123,671 600,042 395,552 Share-based payments 426,768 220,215 1,431,997 876,451 Changes in non-cash working capital items 1,209,295 5,131,463 382,183 10,124,654 Interest paid (23,824) (46,687) (87,382) (148,151) Interest received 738 5,215 8,748 80,300 Income taxes paid (124,656) - (627,642) - Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (1,501,626) 3,100,917 (2,671,179) 1,260,210









Financing activities







Proceeds from exercise of stock options 498,655 11,414 908,454 203,725 Deferred share issuance costs (270,668) - (270,668) - Payment of principal on lease liabilities (237,890) (266,890) (816,454) (784,940) Net cash used in financing activities (9,903) (255,476) (178,668) (581,215)









Investing activities







Additions to property and equipment (108,886) (14,853) (326,959) (222,697) Additions to intangible assets (48,142) (420,696) (135,827) (467,992) Net cash used in investing activities (157,028) (435,549) (462,786) (690,689)









Effect of foreign currency on cash and cash equivalents 267,896 (76,151) (436,859) 338,033 Increase (decrease) in cash during the period (1,400,661) 2,333,741 (3,749,492) 326,339









Cash and cash equivalents  beginning of period 13,567,586 12,918,834 15,916,417 14,926,236 Cash and cash equivalents  end of period 12,166,925 15,252,575 12,166,925 15,252,575





















Disaggregation of revenue Revenue For three months ended

September 30(1) For nine months ended

September 30(1)

2021 2020 2021 2020 Subscription $8,211,319 $5,419,774 $22,853,746 $13,980,994 Professional services and other $7,924,758 $3,991,666 $18,727,731 $11,283,892 Perpetual software licenses $666,895 $1,415,677 $5,903,808 $2,821,830

$16,802,972 $10,827,117 $47,485,285 $28,086,716 Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws in Canada. Forward-looking information may relate to our future business, financial outlook, and anticipated events or results, and may include information regarding our financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects, or opportunities, or the markets in which we operate, 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" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "financial outlook", "forecasts", "projection", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "does not anticipate", "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events, or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". 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 possible future events or circumstances. Forward-looking information may include, among other things: (i) the Company's expectations regarding its financial performance, including among others, revenue, gross profit, expenses, Adjusted EBITDA; (ii) the Company's expectations regarding industry trends, addressable market growth, overall market growth rates, and growth rates and growth strategies; (iii) our business plans and strategies; (iv) the continued success of our commercial model; (v) our expectations regarding growth in our customer base, our ability to retain customers and increase margin per customer; (vi) acceleration in the growth and adoption of new technologies; (vii) relationships with our technology partners; (viii) our ability to continue to attract and retain talent; (ix) our competitive position in our industry; and (xi) and the long-term impact of COVID-19 on our business, financial position, results of operations and/or cash flows. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, estimates and assumptions that we considered appropriate and reasonable as at the date such statements are made, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the risk factors described in our Q3 2021 MD&A and under "Risk Factors" within the Company's IPO prospectus (the "Prospectus"). A copy of the Prospectus can be accessed under our profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking 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 at the date made. In addition, forward-looking financial information with respect to potential outlook and future financial results contained in this press release are based on assumptions about future events including economic conditions, the assumptions noted above and proposed courses of action, based on management's reasonable assessment of the relevant information available as at the date of such forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking financial information should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed. About Copperleaf: Copperleaf provides enterprise decision analytics software solutions to companies managing critical infrastructure. We leverage operational and financial data to empower our clients to make investment decisions that deliver the highest business value. What sets us apart is our commitment to providing extraordinary experiences, shaped by people who care deeply, products that deliver exceptional value, and partnerships that stand the test of time. Copperleaf is a patron of The Institute of Asset Management and actively participates in shaping the future of asset management standards, including ISO 55000. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, our solutions are distributed and supported by regional staff and partners worldwide. Together, we are transforming how the world sees value. For more details, visit https://www.copperleaf.com/ SOURCE CopperLeaf Technologies Inc.

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[November 11, 2021] CynergisTek Reports Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results

CynergisTek, Inc. (NYSE AMERICAN: CTEK) (the "Company" or "CynergisTek"), a leader in cybersecurity, privacy, and compliance, today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021. Q3 2021 Operational Highlights Bookings for the quarter up 16% from prior year and 24% year to date.

17 new customers added during the quarter.

After a Q3 raise of $1.4 million Company suspended and is in the process of terminating the ATM equity distribution agreement in light of progress with recent post-pandemic growth initiatives. "It has been a busy few months since my return with the roll out of our Resilience Partner Program that added six new multiyear clients, including two outside of the healthcare industry. Our consulting service has seen recent growth in our technical testing, certification, and privacy services with 200% growth in the number of contracts year-over-year and our best quarter this year in adding new customers with a total of 17," said Mac McMillan, President and CEO of CynergisTek. "The need for our core products and services is bigger now than it has ever been. The Healthcare Task Force has said that healthcare cybersecurity is in critical condition. Nearly 90% of hospitals are reporting major breaches and the average cost of a breach has risen to over $9 million. On top of that, cyber insurers are making it harder to get covered, making building resilience in these organizations more important than ever." For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021, as Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2020 Revenue was $3.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $4.5 million for the same period in 2020. Managed Services revenue decreased for the three months ended September 30, 2021, by $0.5 million to $2.2 million, due to the impact of the pandemic and some short-term delays in beginning work at a couple recently signed contracts. Consulting and professional services revenue was $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $1.8 million for the same period in 2020, due to underperformance in our Backbone business unit, which we expect to recover in Q4 2021 and in to 2022. Gross margin was 48% of revenue due in part to the positive impact of the Employee Retention Tax Credit. Excluding the Employee Retention Tax Credit, gross margin was 35% for the three months ended September 30, 2021, comparable to the same period in 2020. SG&A expenses increased for the three months ended September 30, 2021, by $0.9 million to $3.7 million, as compared to the same period in 2020, primarily due to severance costs associated with the departure of our former CEO. GAAP net income for the three months ended September 30, 2021, was $1.2 million, or $0.10 per basic and diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.12 per basic and diluted share, for the same period of 2020. This includes income of $2.9 million from the forgiveness of the full principal balance and related interest of the PPP Loan. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA loss was $0.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2021, compared to a loss of $0.8 million for the same period in 2020. The reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP information can be found in the table at the end of this release, which provides the details of CynergisTek's non-GAAP disclosures and the reconciliation of non-GAAP information. Use of Non-GAAP Measures CynergisTek, Inc. ("CynergisTek" or the "Company") prepares its consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). In addition to disclosing financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, the Company discloses information regarding Adjusted EBITDA ("Adjusted EBITDA"), which differs from the commonly-used "EBITDA." In addition to adjusting net income (loss) to exclude income taxes, interest, depreciation, and amortization, Adjusted EBITDA also excludes share-based compensation, impairment charges, fair value adjustments, severance, and other cash and non-cash charges and gains. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance as defined in accordance with GAAP. However, Adjusted EBITDA is used internally in planning and evaluating the Company's operating performance. Accordingly, management believes that disclosure of this metric offers investors, bankers, and other stakeholders an additional view of the Company's operations that, when coupled with the GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of the Company's financial results. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to loss-from-continuing-operations or net-cash-used-in-operating-activities as measures of operating results or liquidity. The Company's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies, and the measures exclude financial information that some may consider important in evaluating the Company's performance. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of the Company's results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are (i) it does not reflect the Company's cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments, (ii) it does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, the Company's working capital needs, (iii) Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on the Company's debt, (iv) although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements, (v) it does not adjust for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in the Company's statements of cash flows, (vi) it does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters the Company considers not to be indicative of its ongoing operations, and (vii) other companies in the same industry may calculate this measure differently than the Company does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA facilitates operating performance comparisons from period to period by isolating the effects of some items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary widely among similar companies. These potential differences may be caused by variations in capital structures (affecting interest expense), tax positions (such as the impact on periods or companies of changes in effective tax rates or net operating losses) and the age and book depreciation of facilities and equipment (affecting relative depreciation expense). Management also presents Adjusted EBITDA because (i) management believes this measure is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in the same industry, (ii) management believes investors will find this measure useful in assessing the Company's ability to service or incur indebtedness, and (iii) management uses Adjusted EBITDA internally as a benchmark to evaluate the Company's operating performance or compare the Company's performance to that of its competitors. Conference Call Information Date: Thursday November 11, 2021

Time: 4:30 pm ET / 1:30 pm PT

U.S.: 1-866-269-4260

International: 786-204-3977

Conference ID: 8966580

Webcast: https://viavid.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1510488&tp_key=2205529a4d A replay of the call will be available from Thursday November 11, 2021, 7:30 PM ET to Thursday November 18, 2021, 11:59 PM ET. To access the replay, please dial 1-844-512-2921 from the U.S. and 1-412-317-6671 from outside the U.S. The PIN is 8966580. About CynergisTek, Inc. CynergisTek is a top-ranked cybersecurity consulting firm helping organizations in highly-regulated industries, including those in healthcare, government, and finance navigate emerging security and privacy issues. CynergisTek combines intelligence, expertise, and a distinct methodology to validate a company's security posture and ensure the team is rehearsed, prepared, and resilient against threats. Since 2004, CynergisTek has been dedicated to hiring and retaining experts who bring real-life experience and hold advanced certifications to support and educate the industry by contributing to relevant industry associations. For more information, visit www.cynergistek.com or follow us on Twitter or Linkedin. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the business of CynergisTek. These forward-looking statements are within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "would," "could," "intends," "may," "will," or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to uncertainties relating to product/services development; long and uncertain sales cycles; the ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; future capital requirements; competition from other providers; the ability of the Company's vendors to continue supplying the Company with supplies and services at comparable terms and prices; the Company's ability to successfully compete and introduce enhancements and new features that achieve market acceptance and that keep pace with technological developments; the Company's ability to maintain its brand and reputation and retain or replace its significant customers; cybersecurity risks and risks of damage and interruptions of information technology systems; the Company's ability to retain key members of management and successfully integrate new executives; the Company's ability to complete acquisitions, strategic investments, entry into new lines of business, divestitures, mergers or other transactions on acceptable terms, or at all; potential risks and uncertainties relating to the existing and ultimate impact of COVID-19, including the geographic spread, the severity of the virus, the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to contain the COVID-19 outbreak or to treat its impact, and the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial markets, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Certain of these risks and uncertainties are or will be described in greater detail in the Company's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at http://www.sec.gov. Given the risks and uncertainties, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should recognize that the statements are predictions of future results which may not occur as anticipated. Many of the risks listed above have been, and may further be, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impact on the healthcare industry. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements and from historical results, due to the risks and uncertainties described herein, as well as others not now anticipated. CynergisTek is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.







CYNERGISTEK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS September 30,

2021 (unaudited) December 31,

2020 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 5,088,141 $ 5,613,654 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts 1,773,227 2,063,136 Unbilled services 648,968 566,713 Prepaid and other current assets 1,392,791 2,032,420 Income taxes receivable 1,845,502 1,680,866 Total current assets 10,748,629 11,956,789 Property and equipment, net 283,966 541,525 Deposits 34,310 64,586 Deferred income taxes 6,003,866 4,959,125 Intangible assets, net 5,042,021 6,063,617 Goodwill 8,394,483 8,394,483 Total assets $ 30,507,275 $ 31,980,125 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 766,006 $ 1,326,919 Accrued compensation and benefits 1,153,093 814,830 Deferred revenue 1,671,922 1,265,864 Current portion of earnout liability 200,000 562,500 Current portion of promissory note to related party 281,250 562,500 Current portion of operating lease liability 84,009 252,398 Total current liabilities 4,156,280 4,222,511 Long-term liabilities: Earnout liability, less current portion 50,000 1,300,000 Promissory note to related party, less current portion - 140,625 Paycheck Protection Program loan - 2,825,500 Operating lease liability, less current portion - 40,031 Total long-term liabilities 50,000 4,306,156 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Common stock, par value at $0.001, 33,333,333 shares authorized, 12,882,997 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2021, and 12,024,967 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 12,883 12,024 Additional paid-in capital 41,154,149 38,564,520 Accumulated deficit (14,866,037 ) (15,125,086 ) Total stockholders' equity 26,300,995 23,451,458 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 30,507,275 $ 31,980,125

CYNERGISTEK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended

September 30, Nine Months Ended

September 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net revenues $ 3,825,679 $ 4,502,909 $ 11,874,343 $ 14,176,307 Cost of revenues 1,972,545 2,909,788 6,146,436 9,679,816 Gross profit 1,853,134 1,593,121 5,727,907 4,496,491 Operating expenses: Sales and marketing 1,092,906 1,325,965 3,547,525 4,490,797 General and administrative 2,646,064 1,480,597 5,793,316 5,381,929 Change in valuation of contingent earnout 250,000 - (1,050,000 ) - Depreciation 48,383 48,296 144,265 141,668 Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 340,539 416,191 1,021,596 1,248,574 Finance cost for equity commitment - - - 390,000 Total operating expenses 4,377,892 3,271,049 9,456,702 11,652,968 Loss from operations (2,524,758 ) (1,677,928 ) (3,728,795 ) (7,156,477 ) Other income (expense): Gain on forgiveness of PPP loan and other income and expense 2,843,254 - 2,843,266 - Interest income - 1,867 - 9,545 Interest expense (9,982 ) (26,046 ) (47,322 ) (77,654 ) Total other income (expense) 2,833,272 (24,179 ) 2,795,944 (68,109 ) Income (loss) before provision for income taxes 308,514 (1,702,107 ) (932,851 ) (7,224,586 ) Income tax benefit 911,900 425,708 1,191,900 1,642,902 Net income (loss) 1,220,414 (1,276,399 ) 259,049 (5,581,684 ) Deemed dividends from warrant anti-dilution provisions (8,343 ) - (14,177 ) - Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders $ 1,212,071 $ (1,276,399 ) $ 244,872 $ (5,581,684 ) Net income (loss) per share: Basic $ 0.10 $ (0.12 ) $ 0.02 $ (0.53 ) Diluted $ 0.10 $ (0.12 ) $ 0.02 $ (0.53 ) Number of weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 12,141,088 10,597,024 12,101,466 10,486,334 Diluted 12,610,443 10,597,024 12,573,978 10,486,334 CYNERGISTEK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF GAAP LOSS FROM OPERATIONS TO NON-GAAP ADJUSTED EBITDA (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 2020 GAAP loss from operations $ (2,525,000 ) $ (1,678,000 ) Adjustments: Stock based compensation 672,000 378,000 Change in valuation of contingent earnout 250,000 - Non-recurring severance, restructuring and legal costs 587,000 79,000 Depreciation 48,000 48,000 Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 341,000 416,000 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA $ (627,000 ) $ (757,000 ) Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA per share: Basic $ (0.05 ) $ (0.07 ) Diluted $ (0.05 ) $ (0.07 ) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111006022/en/

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[November 11, 2021] Morgan Stanley Wins 2021 MMI/Barron's Industry Award for Wealth Manager Platform of the Year

Morgan Stanley announced today that the Firm has been honored as the Wealth Manager Platform of the Year in the 2021 Money Management Institute (MMI)/Barron's Industry Awards. The Wealth Manager Platform of the Year category recognizes a wealth manager platform that exemplifies innovation in delivering better outcomes for investors and Financial Advisors. Morgan Stanley received this award for its combination of strategic acquisitions, advisory product expansions and cutting-edge technology enhancements on its investment advisory platform, which assist Financial Advisors in growing their business efficiently and delivering a superior client service experience. Morgan Stanley was recognized for driving technology innovation with the seamless integration and enhancements to its portfolio management capabilities, including: Investment Proposal Tool: A fully integrated all-in-one investment proposal tool linking portfolio construction, research and risk in a seamless investment proposal solution that Financial Advisors can use with new and existing clients across multiple accounts and programs. Strategy Builder: This technology was enhanced to include the Portfolio Management advisory program, allowing Financial Advisors to tailor advisory investment solutions for clients across Morgan Stanley and Financial Advisor discretionary programs in an efficient manner that integrates investment product research engine ("Investment Screener") and risk analytics powered by BlackRock's Aladdin ("Portfolio Risk Platform"). "It is truly an honor to once again be recognized by MMI/Barron's as the Wealth Manager Platform of the Year," said Andy Saperstein, Co-President of Morgan Stanley and Head of Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. "This award is a testament to our continued consistency and commitment to providing our Financial Advisors with virtually unmatched technology and investment advisory solutions that can benefit our clients." Since its inception, the annual MMI/Barron's Industry Awards recognizes innovation and leadership in he investment advisory solutions industry and celebrates outstanding achievement by honoring firms that have raised the bar by delivering superior solutions for financial advisors and investors. Founded in 1997, the Money Management Institute is an industry association representing financial services firms that provide financial advice and professionally-managed investment advisory solutions to investors.



For more information about Morgan Stanley's MMI/Barron's Industry Award honors as well as a full list of this year's honorees, please visit - https://www.mminst.org/mmi-news/mmi-and-barron%E2%80%99s-announce-winners-2021-industry-awards About Morgan Stanley Wealth Management

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, a global leader, provides access to a wide range of products and services to individuals, businesses and institutions, including brokerage and -investment advisory services, financial and wealth planning, cash management and lending products and services, annuities and insurance, retirement and trust services. About Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the Firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more information about Morgan Stanley, please visit www.morganstanley.com. Nominations for the 2021 MMI/Barron's Industry Awards were reviewed and evaluated by a specially appointed MMI Industry Awards Steering Council and the MMI Membership Experience Committee (MEC). The council and committee members represent all segments of the MMI membership-asset managers, wealth managers and solutions providers. The Steering Council and MEC reviewed the nominations based on: (1) Level of innovation and forward-thinking; (2) Potential to effect noticeable change in the investment advisory industry; (3) Advancement of existing investment advisory practices and protocols; and (4) Potential to deliver improved outcomes for financial advisors and investors. After carefully reviewing the nominations submitted, the Steering Council and MEC determined a slate of finalists in each award category. The primary contacts at each of MMI's 182 members firms were eligible to vote to determine the winners in each category. Morgan Stanley was the only firm to win this award out of more than 100 submissions. MMI/Barron's does not receive compensation from the participating firms in exchange for the award and Morgan Stanley did not pay a fee to MMI/Barron's in exchange for its receipt of the award. Morgan Stanley is a member of MMI and pays a fee to MMI as part of its membership dues. Morgan Stanley's receipt of this award is not indicative of any future performance.  2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111006124/en/

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[November 11, 2021] MONAT CEO & Co-Founder, Rayner Urdaneta, Recognized as One of Twelve Good Men by Ronald McDonald House Charities - South Florida

CEO and Co-Founder of MONAT, global healthy-aging haircare, skincare and wellness innovator, Rayner Urdaneta, has been recognized as one of the Twelve Good Men by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in South Florida for the 2021 year. This award is granted to individuals with a history of outstanding community involvement, civic service and who support one or more of South Florida's top charity organizations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111006132/en/ CEO and Co-Founder of MONAT, global healthy-aging haircare, skincare and wellness innovator, Rayner Urdaneta, has been recognized as one of the Twelve Good Men by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) in South Florida for the 2021 year. (Photo: Business Wire) These guests were honored during the Twelve Good Men Luncheon fundraiser in South Florida. The luncheon and fashion show raises money to fund the annual operating budget of the Ronald McDonald House in Miami, providing a "home away from home" for families with seriously ill children receiving medical treatment at pediatric facilities nearby. "Living with Gratitude and inspiring others to do the same is at the core of who I am and what we strive to achieve with the MONAT Gratitude organization," said Urdaneta. "I am honored to be recognized with this award, but even more grateful that we are able to spread the good word about the amazing work Ronald McDonld House Charities does in South Florida by participating in the annual luncheon and fundraising event."



The previous year's honorees first nominate recipients, and then the event committee members select the 12 finalists for the award to be recognized at the annual Twelve Good Men luncheon. This year, the luncheon raised around $95,000 for the children and families who reside in the Ronald McDonald House in Miami. Follow MONAT on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube. Additional information about the company can be found at its website, www.monatglobal.com.

About MONAT Global

MONAT Global is an international healthy aging haircare, skincare and wellness brand founded to help people everywhere enjoy beautiful, healthy, fulfilling lives through exceptional, naturally based products; a fun and rewarding business opportunity; and a culture of family, service, and gratitude. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Miami, Florida, MONAT provides ground-breaking opportunities through a novel Social Marketing approach to Direct Sales. MONAT's product development is led by Chief Science Officer Alan J. Meyers and supported by a Scientific Advisory Board comprised of eminent professionals in medicine, cosmetics, haircare, science and health. MONAT offers a unique and exciting business model and one of the most generous compensation plans in the U.S., Canadian, U.K., Irish and Polish markets. Availability: www.monatglobal.com #MONATGlobal

Facebook: /MONATOfficial | Instagram: @monatofficial | YouTube (News - Alert): /MONATOfficial

Twitter: @MONATOfficial | Pinterest: /MONATOfficial View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211111006132/en/

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The next phase of the pandemic is much more complicated than local news indicates.

There are a little less than half a million people under 18 in the metro . . . And today's vaxx numbers don't indicate much of a rush to get students inoculated against COVID-19.

Meanwhile . . .

Workers and politicos resist mandates and requirements from the Biden White House.

Vaxx hesitancy is putting it mildly, the reality is there is outright local vaxx resistance that only seems to be getting worse as the numbers decline.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

Kansas City Health Department now vaccinating children against COVID KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- The Kansas City Health Department received its shipment of Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccines yesterday and began vaccinating children between 5 and 11 years old. On Nov. 2, the CDC approved the vaccine for children in that age group.

Children's Mercy Hospital holds mass vaccination clinic for kids, gives out 600 doses The initial response to the child dose of COVID-19 vaccines has been much higher than it was in the teenage population. Doctors at Children's Mercy Hospital spoke to the media Wednesday on the heels of a mass vaccination clinic.Six hundred children ages 5-11 got their first dose of the newly authorized COVID-19 vaccine at the hospital's clinic.

Vaccine clinics for children see encouraging turnout Mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics are opening up for young children across the country. The unified government in Wyandotte County has officially opened its vaccination site to younger children.By the end of Wednesday 1 million kids ages 5-11 will have their first COVID-19 vaccine shots. In the Kansas City metro, those numbers are steadily growing.

Missouri attorney general files lawsuit challenging health care vaccine mandate Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and nine other state attorney generals filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Biden administration's vaccine mandate that requires staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at health care facilities that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Kansas City attorney talks about vaccine mandates, what workers should do While some states are fighting mandates, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration takes the position that its rules are federal and preempt any state laws. One Kansas City attorney talks about what companies should do now in case the mandates are upheld."We're advising our clients to prepare for the worst hope for the best because the compliance is pretty soon.

Developing . . .
A hopeful news items about bringing new friends closer offers an optimistic glimpse featuring ongoing good deeds from veterans.



There's even a GoFundMe . . . Check the local highlight . . .



"After escaping Afghanistan, the family was taken to a refugee camp in Qatar for screening. They then spent two months in a military camp in Virginia before finally making it to Kansas City. (Army Veteran) Joseph's family was there to greet them with hugs when they landed at the airport."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

From Kabul to Kansas: An Afghan family escapes with help from an Army veteran "He basically said 'Sir, things are going downhill quick. I gotta get out of here or I'm going to die.'" From thousands of miles away in Kansas, Army veteran Joseph Lendo helped the family of an interpreter he worked with in Afghanistan escape Kabul.

Further reading . . .

Local churches, organizations turn office space into home for Afghan refugees LEE'S SUMMIT, Mo. - From 2001 to 2021, federal government statistics show more than 1,500 Afghan refugees have settled in Missouri. Thanks to local churches and organizations, one more family will call the state home.

Developing . . .
The economy is garbage right now and those of us with even a modicum of perspective on history know that war has provided the only reliable exit from financial peril for most Western nations.



And, maybe, a good old fashioned bombing campaign might one of many reasons why our MSM is so eager to stoke the anger of Americans.

On the bright side . . .

One of our favorite things about Kansas City is that the WWI memorial which stands before the skyline of this town has proudly served as not only a notorious hookup spot for random gay sex but also as an ANTI-WAR MEMORIAL.

Look at the inscriptions and the signage closely.

Everything about the memorial serves as a deterrent and caution against future wars.

At the time, there was a hope that WWI was "the war to end all wars" but like most political slogans: That was just another lie.

Sadly . . .



War seems like a horrific state of the human condition and global affairs.



And so we're circumspect as we notice so many chest-thumping and prideful missives about veterans today.



The U.S. loves veterans of foreign wars so much that we keep making more . . . And that cycle doesn't really show any sign to stopping in the future.

And so . . .

We'll have a happier post about Veteran's day later but for now this note about hype for the holiday should suffice . . .



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . .

National WWI Museum and Memorial hosts Veterans Day observances KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National World War I Museum and Memorial has a full Veterans Day schedule of ceremonies and observances to commemorate the 103rd anniversary of the signing of the Armistice ending the war, as well as the 100th anniversary of the site dedication making Kansas City the country's home for learning about the conflict.

World War I Museum pays tribute to an 'often-forgotten' hero with faces of Kansas City veterans Pvt. Henry Johnson, a Harlem Hellfighter and World War I hero, was denied recognition by the U.S. military until decades after his death. For Veterans Day, a mural at Kansas City's World War I Museum and Memorial immortalizes Johnson's story.

Veterans Day 2021: Freebies, discounts to honor our brave by: Darcie Loreno, Nexstar Media Wire Posted: / Updated: Note: Most businesses require proof of military service, and the deals include participating locations only. It's recommended that you call specific locations to make sure they are taking part in the promotions. Thursday, Nov.

You decide . . .
Johnstown, PA (15901)

Today

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 34F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 50%..

Tonight

Mainly cloudy with a mixture of rain and snow showers developing late. Low 34F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 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
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Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said, it was only while the Government was making hard decisions on expenditure at WASA, that it discovered certain payments had been made to PSA President Watson Duke.
On November 10, Ukrainian military recorded five violations of the ceasefire by Russias occupation forces, including one with the use of arms proscribed by the Minsk agreements.

Thats according to the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters, Ukrinform reports referring to their press service.

In the area of  Prychepylivka, the enemy fired 82 mm mortars. Outside Katerynivka, Luhansk region, the occupiers opened fire employing large-caliber machine guns.

In the direction of Shyrokyne, Russian proxies fired grenade launchers of various systems and small arms. Near Zolote-4, the enemy fired at Ukraines positions with small arms.

In the vicinity of Novotoshkivske, enemy troops used automatic easel-mounted grenade launchers and small arms.

Enemy attacks brought no casualties over the reporting period.

Ukrainian defenders returned fire to the enemy shelling.

The JFO command says no banned weapons were used in the counterstrikes, while the enemy was forced to cease attacks.

As of 7:00 Kyiv time on Thursday, November 11, Ukraine's military reported no new ceasefire violations by the Russian occupation forces.

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Joint Forces remain in full readiness to deter and repel Russias armed aggression, the report says.
An additional 8,500 service members of the State Border Guard Service, the National Guard and police officers will be protecting Ukraine's border with Belarus, Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky has said.

He stated this during a working trip to Volyn region on Thursday, November 11, the Interior Ministry's press service reported.

"We are strengthening our border units with the National Police and the National Guard. In addition, about 8,500 service members and police officers will be additionally involved. This powerful group will consist of 3,000 service members of the State Border Guard Service, 3,500 service members of the National Guard, and 2,000 National Police officers. The Interior Ministry's aircraft will also be on duty, including 15 helicopters that will provide mobility and, if need be, will transfer our forces to the border," Monastyrsky said.

According to him, such actions will deter illegal migrants, but the only comprehensive solution is to build "a reliable modern intellectual border."

"Ukraine must build an 'intellectual border' with Russia and Belarus as soon as possible. UAH 17 billion will be needed to finance this project. These funds will be allocated from the budget," Monastyrsky said.

Chairman of the State Border Guard Service Serhiy Deineko, in turn, said that currently there is no threat to Ukraine from the border with Belarus, the situation is stable and under control.

"However, our service, together with the National Police and the National Guard, is working out all possible scenarios in order to protect the Ukrainian border from a possible breakthrough attempt artificially organized by crowds of migrants," Deineko said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address on November 10 that Ukraine will strengthen security on its border with Belarus due to migration challenges.

Photo credit: Ukrainian Interior Ministry
Russia's gas monopoly Gazprom has booked no additional transit volumes of gas to transit via Ukraine, simply returning to the earlier-contracted daily transmission volumes of 109 million cubic meters.

Thats according to Serhiy Makogon, CEO of Gas TSO of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports referring to his Facebook post.

"Gazprom reports an increase in supplies to the EU, but facts suggest otherwise. The volume of daily transit through Ukraine simply returned to the contracted one of 109 million cubic meters after dropping to almost 57 million cubic meters in the first days of November," Makogon wrote.

He stressed that Gazprom had not booked any additional transit volumes, so this is not about Russia increasing gas supplies to the EU through Ukraine.

The head of the operator says Ukraine is ready to transit up to 250 million cubic meters of gas per day, which is 2.5 times higher than the current daily shipment volume. For example, the transit volume on the same day last year amounted to 178.4 mcm, while in 2019 it was 277.3 mcm.

As reported earlier, in October, gas transit to European countries through the Ukrainian gas transmission system amounted to 2.634 billion cubic meters, which is 623 mcm below the numbers reported in September. The average daily volume of Russian gas shipments through the territory of Ukraine in October decreased to 86 mcm.

Over the 10 months of 2021, gas transit through Ukraine stood at 35.3 bcm. In total, Slovakia received 22.430 bcm, Hungary got 6.799 bcm, Poland saw 3.227 bcm, Moldova took 2.439 bcm, and Romania received 0.394 bcm.

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Ukraines State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving (SAEE) have signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of developing the green financing market and enhancing energy efficiency in Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform, this has been reported by the SAEEs press service.

Ukraine has a significant potential for energy efficiency in all sectors of the economy. Various tools, including financial ones, are required for its implementation. The expansion of green financing, in particular with the support of UNDP, will become a driver of change, promote lowering barriers and launching numerous energy efficiency projects, SAEE Head Valeriy Bezus said.

According to him, within the concluded memorandum, the parties will step up cooperation to support more sustainable economic development of Ukraine and will focus primarily on developing the market of green financing. The cooperation will also include work on the legal framework for the introduction of a guarantee of energy origin, the creation of a national energy monitoring information system, as well as the implementation of the requirements of EU energy efficiency directives.

As reported, on October 27, 2021, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk signed the law "On Energy Efficiency", which aims to create conditions for improving the efficiency of fuel and energy resources use in Ukraine.

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The Government of Ukraine appreciates practical contribution of Austria and the business of this country to the development of the Ukrainian economy.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said this at a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Ukraine Gernot Pfandler and representatives of the Austrian business, Ukrinform reports with a reference to the Government portal.

"Despite the pandemic, trade between our countries grew by 67.5% in the first half of 2021 and already amounted to $966.9 million. We are interested in further development of cooperation, because Austrian companies have created thousands of jobs in Ukraine, they pay significant taxes, and Austria is among the six largest investors in Ukraine, Shmyhal said.

Participants of the meeting discussed a number of issues related to improving the business climate. In particular, Shmyhal stressed that Ukraine is making every effort to implement judicial reform.

"Relevant laws have been approved. Despite enormous opposition, the work of the Ethics Council is one of the steps that will help clean up the judicial system. All branches of the government, the entire Ukrainian society must take efforts to implement this really important reform, he said.

In addition, according to Shmyhal, the government has set up an export credit agency to support business in Ukraine.

Among other things, the parties discussed the issue of increasing permits for international cargo transportation.

At the meeting, the Ukrainian prime minister stressed that the development of energy efficiency is an acute issue, especially against the background of the energy crisis in the world.

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Ukrainian law enforcers and security officials are set to act jointly to not allow illegal migrants to penetrate the countrys border from neighboring Belarus if such attempts arise.

Thats according to Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ivan Bakanov who spoke at a briefing following a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on November 10, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"Id like to assure you that the SBU, jointly with other competent authorities, is undertaking all necessary measures to ensure that the border is locked. We must all unite and act to make sure the things that our German colleagues offer us dont happen," Bakanov said.

He assured that the president keeps the issue under personal control. "Therefore, believe me, theres a plan in place. This is an action plan to join our efforts and prevent illegal migrants from entering Ukraine," the SBU chief stressed.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, Nils Schmid, a member of Germanys Bundestag with the Social Democratic Party, suggested involving Ukraine in resolving the refugee problem on the border between Poland and Belarus. The lawmaker believes the EU could reach an agreement with Ukraine to ensure that the latter accepts the illegal migrants to remain on its territory while their asylum applications are being considered. Thus, he claimed, a "controlled route" to Poland would be created for migrants.

Read also: Why Russia is pushing for a new round of aggression against Ukraine

According to Polish border guards, as of November 8, up to 4,000 people, amassed in the area near Polands border, are seeking to get to the EU from Belarus.

Photo: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
The United States will continue to provide security assistance to Ukraine, including lethal defensive weapons, to defend against Russian aggression, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said.

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, he said this at a press briefing on Wednesday, November 10, after the signing of the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership.

"We continue to provide security assistance that Ukraine needs, including lethal defensive weapons, to defend against any Russian aggression. That is a vital aspect of our support and assistance to make sure that Ukraine has the means to defend itself against any aggression," Blinken said.

He added that the United States is working closely with European partners and allies "to make sure that everyone is focused on the concerns that we have about the possibility of renewed Russian aggression based on the reports we're seeing of these irregular movements of Russian forces near Ukraine's border, and to make sure that we are coordinated and acting in unison."

According to Blinken, this issue was raised at the G20 summit in Rome in late October, when U.S. President Joe Biden brought together German Chancellor Angela Merkel, incoming German Chancellor Martin Schulz, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson "to focus everyone on the concerns that we have together."

The United States demonstrates its support for Ukraine in a variety of different ways through various forms of assistance, he added.

Blinken recalled that the United States has provided more than $409 billion to Ukraine since 2014 and at this current fiscal year, Congress has allocated almost $400 million at the request of the White House.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken signed the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership on Wednesday, November 10, which sets out the main directions of bilateral relations in key areas for decades to come.

Photo: Ukrainian Foreign Ministry
Ukraine will strengthen security on its border with Belarus due to migration challenges, but this will not affect the border crossing procedure for Belarusian citizens, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

He said this in a video address to Ukrainians, published on the Facebook page of the head of state, Ukrinform reports.

"Today [on November 10] a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council was held. The first issue was to strengthen our security, our state border due to the situation in Belarus. I want to note that this will not affect the crossing of the border by Belarusian citizens. We are talking only about migration challenges and threats. Our country is ready to solve and overcome them," Zelensky said.

Earlier, NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said at a briefing after the meeting that the National Security and Defense Council had considered the situation with the placement of migrants breaking through Belarus to Europe and possible risks to Ukraine.

Relevant agencies have been instructed on how to proceed.

On November 9, two large groups of migrants broke through the border from Belarus to Poland, but Polish border guards managed to bring them back to the border line.

The migration crisis on the Belarusian-Polish border has been going on since August. Poland accuses Belarus of deliberately creating migratory pressure on Poland and the EU.

According to Polish border guards, up to 4,000 people seeking to enter the EU have stayed near the Polish border since November 8. Today, Poland's border with Belarus is defended by about 13,000 service members from four army divisions.

German MP Nils Schmid proposed that the EU ask Ukraine for help in accommodating migrants who are breaking through Belarus to Europe.

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The resumed work of the Strategic Partnership Commission significantly increases the opportunities for the U.S. to support Ukraine in the face of Russias aggression

Ukraine and the United States have practically resumed the work of the Strategic Partnership Commission (SPC) and signed an updated Charter, which replaced the previous document of 2008. And this is not just a diplomatic formality, but a serious shift for Ukrainian-American relations  after the turbulent period associated with the first impeachment of Donald Trump, as well as against the background of pressing threats posed by Russia. In the new Charter, America reaffirmed it would not leave the Ukrainian nation face to face with the aggressor, supported Ukraines aspirations to join NATO, and expressed the intention to strengthen economic tie. But that's not all.

HOW RESUMING SPC WORK IS IMPORTANT

In the very name of the Commission, the key is to define that the partnership is of a "strategic" nature. This means that the level of interaction between the two countries is deeper than usual and filled with special content. In essence, the SPC is an additional tool for direct dialogue, which is ongoing in several areas at the level of sectoral bodies. For example, on the eve of the Commission meeting in Washington, the U.S.-Ukraine Trade and Investment Council met, as well as the three working groups on security and countering Russian aggression, democracy and rule of law, and Ukraine's economic transformation. So this is how plans are being filled with content and proposals.

The Ukraine-U.S. Strategic Partnership Commission was established in 2008. The previous meeting took place in 2018, after which the cooperation in the said format froze. The decision to revive the SPC was made when the presidents of the United States and Ukraine met in Washington in early September 2021. From that point, serious preparations began under the supervision of the two diplomacy chiefs.

Commenting on the process, the Department of State said that over the past 13 years, bilateral relations between the United States and Ukraine had strengthened and matured, leading to the need to update the Strategic Partnership Charter to make sure it meets the challenges of the 21st century and reflect the expanded bilateral partnership.

In Kyiv, it was noted that the resumption of the PCU and the preparation of an updated Charter will contribute to the implementation of the priorities of the entire Foreign Policy Strategy of Ukraine.

UPDATED CHARTER

The Strategic Partnership Charter is a document that lays the foundation for further cooperation. It is designed for ten years, so the text mostly outlines directions and intentions, as well as confirms the official positions of the two countries on specific issues. As Dmytro Kuleba noted in this regard, "theoretically, the White House administrations may change, but the Charter will continue to operate."

Importantly, the new document has fixed several fundamentally important points, primarily related to countering Russian aggression. Among them is the point that the United States reaffirms its support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, including in Crimea. In addition, the United States calls for continued talks in the Normandy Four format, as well as on Crimea Platform, a tool that has been making the Kremlin twitch.

The updated Charter also provides for enhanced Ukraine-U.S. cooperation to strengthen security in Europe and the Black Sea region, as well as to enhance energy security. In addition, Washington reaffirmed its support for Kyiv's aspirations toward NATO membership and praised important reforms that are underway in Ukraine. In addition, U.S. support for the transformation of the Ukrainian economy and investment promotion has been consolidated.

STATEMENTS MADE IN WASHINGTON

A joint press conference of the U.S. and Ukrainian top diplomats, Anthony Blinken and Dmytro Kuleba, after the signing of the updated Charter, was no less significant. A number of truly important statements were made, especially by the American side. Some of them can be seen as open messages addressed to the Kremlin.

In particular, the U.S. Secretary of State said the countrys commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty is ironclad, emphasizing that any actions Russia could take, aimed at escalation or aggression, will always be a matter of great concern of the United States. This comment apparently relates to recent reports of a buildup of Russian forces near the border with Ukraine. "We're monitoring the region very closely, as we always do, we'll continue to consult closely as well with allies and partners on this issue, he said, underlining the U.S. concern that Russia could make the serious mistake of attempting to rehash what it undertook back in 2014.

He also made it clear that the United States would continue to provide defense assistance to Ukraine. "We continue to provide security assistance that Ukraine needs, including lethal defensive weapons, to defend against any Russian aggression," the chief of U.S. diplomacy said.

Blinken also expressed U.S. support for reforms in Ukraine and promised that from now on, the Strategic Partnership Commission would meet regularly.

GAS PIPE BYPASSING UKRAINE

At the same time, it became clear from the statements of the U.S. top diplomat that the government in Washington does not intend to change its stance on another issue  Nord Stream 2, the Russian gas pipeline bypassing Ukraine. This means the U.S. doesnt have on the table the issue of recalling sanctions lift off the pipes operator. At the same time, Blinken says the United States is monitoring the situation to make sure Russia doesnt use energy as a weapon.

It should be noted that there are some differences in U.S. and Ukraines approaches to the issue. The Ukrainian side has publicly pointed to the Kremlin already using gas as a tool of pressure and blackmail against Europe in order to speed up the certification of their new gas pipeline. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of State sticks to different rhetoric.

U.S. sanctions targeting Nord Stream 2 AG could bury the project forever. And this is exactly what the U.S. Congress is working toward. The NDAA 2022 is now being considered in the Senate, which lays down the relevant economic restrictions.

Meanwhile, Blinken said, the United States is awaiting a response from the German government, which has pledged to take swift action in response to the Kremlin's abuse of energy levers. At the same time, he noted, the United States will also be countering Russia's attempts to blackmail Europe. "Should Russia attempt to use energy as a weapon or commit further aggressive acts against Ukraine, we are committed and Germany is committed to taking appropriate action," he said.

Resumed cooperation at the level of strategic partnership is important for Ukraine, which needs support against the background of global challenges posed by the pandemic, recession of the world economy, as well as hybrid aggression by Russia and the Kremlin's energy pressure. The United States needs this as well given its interest in stabilizing the situation in Eastern Europe, ensuring security in the Black Sea, and strengthening a projected partnership with one of Europe's largest countries. In this regard, the interests of the two parties coincide. An updated and workable tool, such as the SPC, will significantly increase opportunities for more rapid and meaningful interaction, as well as for U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of Russias aggression. Now the ball is on the diplomacy pitch.

Yaroslav Dovgopol, Washington
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda have discussed the situation on the EU's border with Belarus and the travel of citizens in times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zelensky wrote this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"I discussed by phone with Gitanas Nauseda the difficult situation on the EU-Belarus border. I assured him that Ukraine will adequately respond to the situation on our border," Zelensky said.

He also said that he had agreed with his Lithuanian counterpart to coordinate measures to preserve the freedom of movement of citizens of Ukraine and Lithuania during the pandemic.

Earlier, the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania issued a joint statement expressing serious concern about what is happening on the borders of Belarus with the EU, as well as Russia's military buildup near Ukraine.

The migration crisis on the border between Belarus and the EU has been going on since the end of June. Lithuania, Poland and Latvia accuse Belarus of deliberately creating migratory pressure on their countries and the EU as a whole, calling these actions a "hybrid attack."

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Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak have discussed the situation on Ukraine's border with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, the President's Office has reported.

According to the report, they met as part of participation in a meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission in Washington.

The parties discussed the whole range of issues on the bilateral agenda, including cooperation in the political, security and economic spheres, the report said.

"Andriy Yermak, Dmytro Kuleba and Jacob Sullivan exchanged views on the situation on the Ukrainian border. The Advisor to the President of the United States was informed about the current situation and the steps taken by the Ukrainian side to resume the negotiation process for a peaceful settlement in the east," the report reads.

Yermak thanked the U.S. side for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and expressed confidence that the successful visit by the Ukrainian president to the United States in September this year is a sign of new opportunities for building Ukrainian-American relations.

Yermak expressed gratitude for the security assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine.

The parties discussed energy security issues in Ukraine and Europe in the context of the Nord Stream 2 project, as well as the importance of preventing Russia from using the gas pipeline to achieve its foreign policy goals.

Yermak expressed confidence that the signing of the updated U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership will become an enhanced model of cooperation in the field of security and defense.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on November 10 signed the U.S.-Ukraine Charter on Strategic Partnership, which sets out the main directions of bilateral relations in key areas for decades to come.

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Neither the competent authorities of Ukraine nor the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have had access to nuclear facilities and materials in the occupied territories of Ukraine for over seven years.

The causal relationship between environmental change and armed conflict is generally perceived as war being caused by the effects of climate change. Less attention is allotted to environmental disasters resulting from armed conflict. A radioactive time bomb is ticking away as a result of the war in Ukraine, at the Yuny Komunar (Yunkom) mine. In 1979, an industrial underground nuclear explosion with a TNT energy equivalent yield of 200-300 tonnes (0.2-0.3kt), the first of its kind in a densely populated and intensively exploited coalmining district, was produced there. The section, codenamed Klivazh Facility, contains the chamber of the underground nuclear explosion and adjacent jointing zone.

The purported idea behind the underground nuclear explosion was to assess its effectiveness for reducing the rate of sudden coal and gas outbursts in the process of coal bed workings. Today, as a direct result of the war in Ukraine, the Klivazh facility, and adjacent areas demand attention to nuclear safety and security in Ukraine and in the European and Russian territories.

In 2018, Russian-backed occupation forces in Donetsk ceased drainage works at the Yunkom mine. Located in the town of Bunhe, (temporarily occupied area of Donetsk region), the mine is hydraulically interconnected with several other chemically polluted ones. Their saturation creates a risk of nearly uncontrolled flooding of the Klivazh facility. Like a dirty bomb, this radioactive-chemical cocktail poses a large-scale environmental threat affecting the ecology, human health and lives in areas far beyond Ukrainian borders should it seep through to the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea making its way into the Mediterranean.

While all the pertinent data related to the nuclear testing in Yunkom is in Moscows hands, neither the competent authorities of Ukraine nor the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have had access to nuclear facilities and materials in Ukraines occupied territories for over seven years. In April of this year, President Zelensky warned, the lack of such information is a problem that has no borders, and its consequences will have no boundaries. Earlier this year, Ukraines Ambassador to the United Nations, Serhiy Kyslytsya, noted the grave radioactive threat posed by the Yunkom mine and called upon the UN to carry out an environmental impact assessment in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Importantly, these territories used to be the industrial heart of the Soviet Union with a lot of high-risk pollutant enterprises. Without proper oversight and maintenance, they stand to add to the critical environmental threat.

Access to the territory is pivotal to preventing the disaster; upright international engagement is particularly crucial in this instance. Russia maintains that it is not a party to the war in Ukraine and instrumentalizes this position to legitimize the Russian occupation authorities in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In the case at hand, Russia has put forth that in order for the international community to gain access to the toxic sites, it must address entry issues with the DNR directly. The truth is, however, that it is not the occupation administration but Moscow who holds the key to preventing an international radioactive catastrophe or causing one.

Nuclear safety is of paramount, global importance. It is the responsibility of states, particularly those in the United Nations Security Council, the IAEA and, as it pertains to Ukraine, the Budapest signatories, as well as the Trilateral Contact Group and the Normandy Format participants. A rules-based society is undermined not only by belligerent states, but by states who do not keep their promises, particularly in non-proliferation commitments. The time may be approaching where the states who pledged Budapest assurances will feel the consequences of their inaction. As the future of the highly politicized Minsk Agreements is in limbo, a less-politicized matter such as an impending international environmental calamity should be used to facilitate access and forward movement aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine. It is very well possible that nature is providing an opening for badly needed international cooperation in the settlement of the Donbas war.

Lada L. Roslycky

Black Trident Defense & Security Group, Founder
In Ukraines schools, some 79% of the staff have already received their jabs against COVID-19.

Thats according to the Minister of Education and Science, Serhiy Shkarlet, who reported the news via his Telegram channel.

"Over the past two days, vaccination statistics have improved by 1.4%. That is, 94.4% of educators received at least one dose of the vaccine. Some 79% of employees of general secondary education facilities were vaccinated with two doses (on November 8, their share stood at 76.2%), said Shkarlet.

According to the minister, the best vaccination rates among educators are seen in Donetsk region (89.2%), Kharkiv region (88.8%), Cherkasy region (87.6%), Luhansk region (86.2%), and Poltava region (85.8%).

However, 5.6% of school staff remain unvaccinated.

The areas with the highest number of unvaccinated teachers include Kherson region (10.5%), Rivne region (9%), and Zakarpattia region (8.5%).

Shkarlet urged educators to get vaccinated, thus taking care of their own health and the health of those around them.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, a total of 11,697,386 people have been vaccinated since the onset of the inoculation campaign, of whom 11,697,384 received a single dose and 8,154,792 were fully immunized. A total of 19,852,176 jabs have been administered.
Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska discussed with her Israeli counterpart, Michal Herzog, issues of inclusive education, gender equality, and barrier-free society, as well as scheduled a joint event.

The First Lady of Ukraine wrote about the talks on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"A series of bilateral events with the first ladies around the world continues. I had the opportunity to talk to the Israel Presidents spouse, Michal Herzog. She participated in the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen where she addressed the participants in an inspiring video. Im glad that our communication continues, while the soft power platform only contributes to this," Zelenska said.

Olena Zelenska said Michal Herzog became First Lady of Israel four months ago and chose to focus her efforts on mental health issues of certain population groups, as well as the issue of national unity.

During their latest conversation, the First ladies of Ukraine and Israel exchanged experiences and discussed the implementation of the right to education of people with special educational needs. According to Olena Zelenska, the two agreed that Israel share with Ukraine the available information and experience on its inclusive education system. The first ladies also discussed gender equality and a barrier-free society.

"We have planned a joint event to exchange best practices in the field of building barrier-free space and life," said Olena Zelenska.

The President's spouse has recalled that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Israel, a progressive country, known for its conceptual views on various processes.

"We have something to be proud of: a lot has already been done, but there is still a lot to do. I am convinced that cooperation and unity will have practical significance and yield results for both parties," Olena Zelenska added.

As reported, on August 23, the Kyiv Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen "Soft Power in the New Reality" was held in the Sophia of Kyiv National Reserve on the initiative of Ukraines First Lady Olena Zelenska.

The event was attended by the First Ladies of Brazil, Israel, Costa Rica, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Germany, Croatia, as well as the wife of the European Council president and daughter of the president of Lebanon.

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Some 62% of Ukrainians support Ukraine's accession to the European Union, whereas 58% want their country to join NATO, according to a survey conducted by the Rating Sociological Group between November 4-9, 2021.

The poll revealed that if a respective referendum were held today, 62% of respondents would support Ukraine's accession to the EU, and 32% would oppose it.

At the same time, 58% of respondents would be in favor of Ukraine's joining NATO, and 35% would oppose it.

According to the poll, residents of the country's western and central regions are the most loyal to European integration, unlike residents of the eastern regions, where less than half support Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO.

At the same time, those most skeptical about Ukraine's joining the EU and NATO are the voters of the Opposition Platform  For Life party and the parties of Andriy Shariy and Yevhen Muraiev.

The survey was conducted among residents of Ukraine aged 18 and older in all regions, except for the temporarily occupied territories of Crimea and Donetsk and Luhansk regions. A total of 5,000 respondents were interviewed.

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Forcibly displaced populations*

In the first half of 2021, millions more people were forced to flee their homes due to armed conflicts, generalized violence or human rights violations. Many of them faced additional challenges due to COVID-19, disasters, extreme weather and other effects of climate change.

As the 2021 Mid-Year Trends report outlines, UNHCR estimates that global forced displacement has likely exceeded 84 million by mid-2021, a sharp increase from the 82.4 million reported at end-2020.

*The term forcibly displaced people encompasses refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced people and Venezuelans displaced abroad. It includes refugees and other displaced people not covered by UNHCRs mandate and excludes other categories such as returnees and non-displaced stateless people. Learn more about the definition here.

Main countries of origin for international displacement at mid-2021

Refugees and asylum-seekers

By end of June 2021, the number of refugees under UNHCRs mandate had surpassed 20.8 million, which is 172,000 people more than at the end of 2020. More than half of new recognitions were from five countries: the Central African Republic (71,800), South Sudan (61,700) Syria (38,800), Afghanistan (25,200) and Nigeria (20,300). In the same period, there were 92,100 newly displaced Venezuelans in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The number of asylum-seekers had climbed to 4.4 million, compared to 4.1 million at the end of 2020.

Internally displaced persons

UNHCR continues to respond to situations of internal displacement in 33 countries. By mid-2021, due to conflict and violence, the number of internally displaced persons had risen to nearly 50.9 million. Intensifying violence led to significant new displacements in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Myanmar, South Sudan and countries in the Sahel region, among other locations.

Internally displaced persons of concern to UNHCR from 2010 to mid-2021

The Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought new challenges for countries as well as for displaced populations. The transition by governments from attempting to contain the spread of COVID-19 to living with it was made possible primarily by the rollout of vaccination programmes. For UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the global vaccination campaign represented "the greatest moral test of our times".

It is encouraging that almost all countries have included refugees, asylum-seekers and others in need of international protection in their national COVID-19 vaccination plans.

Nevertheless, resources are still needed for immunization-related activities and to ensure last-mile vaccine delivery.

Finding solutions

Returning home in safety and dignity based on a free and informed choice remains the preferred solution for most of the world's refugees. While the number of returnees did increase compared to the same period of 2020 (both refugees and internally displaced people), it remained well below pre-COVID-19 levels during the same period of 2019.

In the first half of 2021, an estimated 126,700 refugees returned to 23 countries of origin from 41 countries of asylum. Some of these returns were facilitated by UNHCR and its partners, while others were self-organized. As shown on this chart, most returnees in the first half of 2021 were South Sudanese returning primarily from Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda:

Refugee returns to their home country at mid-2021

As emphasized in the Global Compact on Refugees, identifying and supporting durable solutions that enable refugees to rebuild their lives is a strategic priority for UNHCR and the humanitarian community. Traditionally, durable solutions include voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement to a third country, and legal status in refugees' countries of asylum. However, as has been the case for several years, only a tiny fraction of displaced populations were able to find a safe and lasting solution in the first half of 2021.

Read the 2021 Mid-Year Report

The figures presented here were collected from governments and UNHCR offices worldwide and supplemented, where needed, with data from non-governmental organizations. Unless otherwise specified, figures relate solely to events occurring up to 30 June 2021.
Burundian refugee Velarie Ntahonicaye and her family pose outside their home in Kigoma Refugee Camp, Tanzania, April 2019.  UNHCR/Clemence Eliah

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, together with 33 partners, is appealing for US$222.6 million to provide much needed humanitarian assistance for over 315,000 Burundian refugees during 2021.

For nearly seven years, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been generously hosting refugees from Burundi. While last years political transition has brought hope that more refugees may be able to return home, the majority of Burundians will continue to be in need of international protection throughout 2021.

This years funding appeal  the 2021 Burundi Regional Refugee Response Plan  seeks critical support for the provision of food, shelter and education, as well as access to healthcare and water, which are particularly needed to ensure prevention and response measures related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Increased international support is crucial to ensure Burundian refugees receive meaningful protection and care in neighbouring countries, said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, UNHCRs Regional Director for the East, Horn of Africa and Great Lakes region. Committing resources is an important signal that the world has not forgotten Burundian refugees and their host communities.

The appeal includes funding requirements to step up voluntary, safe and dignified return for those who choose to repatriate, and is complemented by a Joint Refugee Return and Reintegration Plan, which covers reception and monitoring of returnees, and support to help them reintegrate in Burundi.

In 2020, the response to the Burundian refugee situation was among the most underfunded globally with last years US$293 million appeal just 40 per cent funded. The consequences for the lives of refugees and their host communities were acute. They included cuts to food rations, inadequate shelters, shortages of medicines, and insufficient livelihood activities.

For more information on this topic, please contact:
Eritrean refugees arrive in Adi Harush camp, after being relocated from other camps in the north of Ethiopia's Tigray region that were destroyed in the early months of the conflict.  UNHCR/Hanna Qassis

I am extremely concerned about the conditions of Eritrean refugees in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Since the outbreak of hostilities in November 2020, they have been deeply affected by the violence and insecurity that has engulfed the region. They have been caught up between warring groups, two refugee camps have been completely destroyed, and tens of thousands of Eritrean refugees were forced to flee  yet again  for their lives. We have received credible and corroborated reports of reprisal attacks, abductions, arrests,and violence meted out against Eritrean refugees for their perceived affiliation with one side or the other throughout this bloody conflict.

I have been disturbed by general criminality against refugees committed, mainly at night, by various armed actors in the Mai Aini and Adi Harush refugee camps. In the past weeks, hundreds of Eritreans have been arrested in Shire. We have sought clarity from the authorities in Mekelle and have requested access to and the immediate release of any unlawfully detained refugees and asylum seekers. We have also heard reports of other very serious allegations of violence against Eritrean refugees and have called on both the Federal Government and the Tigray Regional Government to launch formal investigations into all credible allegations.

The violence and intimidation of Eritrean refugees must stop. Refugees are civilians in need of and with the right to international protection. UNHCR calls on all parties and actors to not only comply with their international legal obligations, including the protection of civilians, but also to stop using and manipulating refugees to score political points.

Our collective focus must instead be on ensuring their protection  including from violence, arrest, and abduction  and stepping up assistance to them. This means urgently constructing a safe new camp for Eritrean refugees who were previously living in the now destroyed Shimelba and Hitsats camps. It means being able to access fuel and cash to run our operations to assist refugees and the two million other displaced people in the Tigray region. It means restoring essential banking services, as well as electricity and communications networks, which are  along with security  essential to ramp up the humanitarian response. And it means opening the airports in Shire and Mekelle, as well as all land routes into Tigray from neighboring regions of Ethiopia so that humanitarians can get more help into the hands of those in need  Eritrean refugees and all other impacted civilians in Tigray.

UNHCR is scaling up its response both in the delivery of relief materials and in the deployment of more senior personnel. But protecting civilians, including Eritrean refugees, and greater efforts to facilitate the humanitarian relief effort are urgently needed by all parties.
Marie does not know her age but looks to be in her late thirties. She has never had a birth certificate nor any other identity document. She has never been to school, either. She lives in poverty with her six children and her husband Damas in Vono, a small village in the Republic of the Congos Plateaux region, 40 kilometres away from Djambala, the main town.

I would love to go look for a job in Djambala, as a maid for instance, and be able to support my family more. But you need to have papers to get hired, she says in a defeated voice. Like Marie, most of the indigenous hunter-gatherers in the village do not have birth certificates  the first legal proof of ones existence.

For Marie, every day is about survival. She and Damas walk for kilometres to look for cassava leaves in the forest, as well as asparagus, mushrooms and sugar cane. With the little they manage to sell, they sometimes buy some meat, oil and salt for the children. But other times, the family go hungry.

We are in a very, very vulnerable situation. Im struggling every day to get food for the family. Every single day. But my children give me the energy to fight for them, she says in a shaky voice. Marie could not enrol her kids in school because they lacked the birth certificates required in the Congo and many other African countries to register. Instead, they trek to the forest with her to forage for food and firewood.

We are in a very, very vulnerable situation. Im struggling every day to get food for the family."

They walk barefoot, including at the school they attended for three days, before being kicked out for lack of identity documents, she says.

Once back at their home, Marie completes her daily round of chores that also include cooking and cleaning the house. It is just too much. I am reaching my limit, she whispers. Poverty has also taken its toll on Damas, who is unable to help his wife as much as he would like because of his poor health. We dont have enough food, we dont have money to buy clothes. Theres nothing, he says.

The indigenous group has long lived on the margins of society. They face disparagement because of their smaller stature and traditional way of living, despite a national law adopted in February 2011 promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous people  including the right to citizenship and the right to civil status documents. Their in-depth knowledge of the medicinal plants and sacred trees in the savanna and forest is also often dismissed.

Mawaki Ngandibi, 24, sits with his 18-month-old son Doude in front of his home in Ngoulayo, Republic of the Congo.  UNHCR/Helene Caux

Damas Ngueste (centre) helps fellow villager Clave (left) tie bundles of leaves collected in the forest while his eldest son, Bibila, (right) holds tondolo fruit he collected.  UNHCR/Helene Caux

Marie Ngokoli walks home from the forest after picking asparagus and leaves used to wrap cassava tubers to sell at market.  UNHCR/Helene Caux

Damas Ngueste listens to the radio while his wife Marie chops wood to make a fire for cooking.  UNHCR/Helene Caux

Justin Assomoyi, director for the promotion of indigenous people's rights at the Ministry of Justice, hands over a late birth certificate to a young indigenous boy in Ngoulayo site, on 13 September 2021.  UNHCR/Helene Caux

For some Bantu in the Congo  the main ethnic group  indigenous people have been and are still considered less than human. They have been used as servants and put to work in the fields, among other tasks, says Cyr Maixent Tiba, Advisor on Human Rights and the Promotion of Indigenous People at the Ministry of Justice in Brazzaville. He is also the Ministrys focal point on statelessness, and Bantu himself.

Being constantly side-lined has instilled an inferiority complex amongst the indigenous people in the Congo and a withdrawal into themselves.

Marginalization, combined with the remoteness of their communities, which are far from government institutions and services, makes it harder for them to register their children at birth, and engage in the lengthy process to obtain IDs.

See also: Volunteers boost Sama Bajau birth registration amid pandemic

Additionally, some indigenous women say they have been asked to pay fees at maternity wards to register their new-born babies  a service that is, by law, free of charge. Some village chiefs also ask for money to add indigenous peoples names to the list of those entitled to apply for birth certificates. Too poor to pay, many give up without registering their children.

The Congos indigenous communities are not alone in their plight. Around the world, millions of people are unable to prove their citizenship, and find themselves excluded from education, medical services and formal jobs, and are unable to move freely. Through its #IBelong Campaign to End Statelessness, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is seeking to ensure they have documentation by 2024.

In the Congo, a civil state census three years ago led to the identification of some 199,400 people  including at least 25,000 indigenous people  without birth certificates, out of a total population of almost 5.8 million. Acting on this data, the government launched an extensive countrywide operation in 2020, with the support of UNHCR, to issue birth certificates.

The goal is to make sure that every Congolese has a birth certificate. And the indigenous people are Congolese.

Mobile hearings have been held to register people and deliver the documents. As of September 2021, 30,000 birth certificates had been issued, including 5,000 to indigenous people. The goal is to make sure that every Congolese has a birth certificate. And the indigenous people are Congolese, stresses Justin Assomoyi, Director for the Promotion of Indigenous People's Rights at the Ministry of Justice.

For the indigenous, receiving birth certificates and ID documents is a passport to a new life. You need to have identity documentation to escape statelessness which today is considered a serious human rights violation, says Geodefroid Quentin Banga, UNHCR statelessness expert in Brazzaville. But apart from the documentation, the socio-economic aspect also has to be taken into account.

Twenty-four-year-old Mawaki Ngandibi could not be happier after his family benefited from the initiative. In September, he and his wife Nadine received a birth certificate for their 18-months-old son Doude, at an official ceremony in Djambala. I am happy about my childs birth certificate because when he grows up, I am going to send him to school, he says.

Marie and Damas registered sometime back for documents. They hope that their family will obtain their IDs soon so that they too, can overcome a lifetime of exclusion and provide a future for their children.

My life is broken, wasted, Damas says. I wish I could get my childrens birth certificates so that they can be admitted to school. All my hopes are on my children.
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, directed the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to draft new rules governing the killing of wolves involved in conflicts with livestock.
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 11th Nov, 2021) Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, witnessed the signing of a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) and the Khalifa University of Science Technology that is made to identify better ways for both parties to work together in various public health aspects.

Matar Saeed Al Nuaimi, Director-General of ADPHC, and Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, Executive Vice President of the Khalifa University, signed the MoU in the presence of representatives of both parties.

The MoU acts as a documentation of the cooperation between the two sides. They shall cooperate in producing academic programmes and research results made by the research team, members of the academic staff and scientists in the public health field.

Al Hamed commended, "Thanks to its distinguished and advanced academic and research programmes, Khalifa University is highly placed among the leading educational institutions on both regional and global levels. In our pursuit to play a leading role in the world of Public Health (through the efforts of ADPHC), we signed this MoU to add new momentum to the field of knowledge and research.

This leaping step will serve the interests of the Emirate and the UAE as a whole."

Al Nuaimi said, "ADPHC is pleased to cooperate with Khalifa University to ensure the implementation of strategic cooperation and information interchange in a way that creates a synergy and a collaborative partnership between both partners. Through this MoU, we have defined the major areas, disciplines and topics of special or common interest through which we can exchange activities in the fields of teaching, learning and research productively."

Dr. Al Hammadi said, "We are delighted to partner with ADPHC; one of the countrys leading government entities regarding research and awareness efforts amid the ongoing pandemic. We believe in the importance of strategic cooperation among entities to ensure a healthy future of our country."

Both parties have agreed on cooperating in multiple projects aimed at supporting the UAE's vision, including public health, infrastructure, and research cooperation.
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DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 11th Nov, 2021) Azali Assoumani, President of the Comoros, attended the business forum on investment in his country, held at the Business Centre at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Several Emirati and international officials and investors also attended the event.

In his speech, President Assoumani called on the audience to invest and forge partnerships in his country and engage in exchanging innovative ideas and expertise. He also encouraged them to cooperate with his countrys private sector to develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).

The Comoros is still a country with unrealised potential, he added, noting there are numerous opportunities for investing in various sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, energy, transport, social services, renewable energy and the green economy.

The Comoros has achieved significant recent progress in supporting the green economy, mainly due to its ability to overcome the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added. The UAE has contributed to these efforts and supported his countrys economic development by encouraging Emirati investors, he noted.

Assoumani then pointed out that the Comoros recently held the "Donors' Conference" in Paris, which witnessed a significant turnout, but the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the process of implementing the conferences recommendations related to investment.

With the return to normalcy and the opportunity of being present at Expo 2020 Dubai in the UAE, one of the most prosperous countries in the world, the forum aimed to promote the advantages offered by the Comoros to the UAE and other countries, he added. He stressed that Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to promote the potential and capacities of his country.

In addition to the cultural and artistic diversity of the Comoros, its young people are creative and energetic and account for over 60 percent of the population, Assoumani further said. The Comoros is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA), which have over 1.5 billion consumers, representing a great opportunity for investors.

Assoumani also expressed his happiness at the audiences interest in the presentation of his prime minister and members of his countrys delegation on available investment opportunities, strategic trends and the projects aimed at making the Comoros a prosperous country.
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Newcastle, Australia, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :Australia's conservative leaders have defied calls for urgent climate action, boasting they will sell coal for as long as anyone is buying. But in the country's carbon heartland, locals are already preparing for life beyond fossil fuels.

Two-hundred-and-thirty years ago, among the verdant outcrops that flank the southeastern coastal town of Newcastle, a band of escaped convicts made the first recorded discovery of coal on the Australian continent.

It would begin Australia's long love affair with the sooty fuel that now nets the country tens of billions of Dollars a year and has made Newcastle the world's largest coal-exporting port.

Nathan Clements was born and raised in the nearby town of Singleton, which he described as "very much the heartland of coal mining here".

"I don't want to say coal is everything, but it's a lot," he said.

"My older brother worked in a coal mine, my dad worked in a mine and still does to this day. When it was my turn, it was the norm to walk into that industry," said the 26-year-old, who for the last seven years has worked as an electrical fitter fixing mine equipment.

Around Singleton and the broader Hunter region, evidence of the vast scale of the coal industry is obvious.

Coal trains rumble through the countryside, each engine dragging a writhing column of rusty wagons from far into the distance.

From the air, open cast mines pock the bush with jet-black scars. Off the coast, an armada of vessels waits, ready to load up and return to China, India, Japan or South Korea with mountains of millennia-old rock.

And Australia's government would like to keep it that way.

When dozens of countries, meeting at COP26 talks in Glasgow, recently agreed to phase out coal, Australia baulked.

"We are not closing coal mines and we are not closing coal-fired power stations," said resource minister Keith Pitt, using the opportunity to boast about the quality of Australian coal and 300,000 Australian jobs linked to the sector.

But unlike the government, workers in Singleton and towns across the Hunter are gradually coming to terms with King Coal's demise.

"I still need to work. I still need a job," said Clements, but "it is inevitable. There is an inevitability to it." For him, there was a slow realisation that he might not be able to follow the career path of his father, who will retire in his coal job next year when Muswellbrook -- Australia's oldest open cut coal mine -- closes after almost 115 years of operation.

Clements said discussing the industry's future has become markedly less taboo and scepticism more mainstream with catastrophic events of the last few years.

"For a lot of people, I noticed a change in attitudes around the 2019-2020 bushfires," he said, referring to the climate-worsened disaster that tore through much of southeastern Australia.

And despite the government's bravado, the market is voting with its feet.

The very largest mining firms, such as Australia's own BHP and Rio Tinto, are already sprinting for the exits, rapidly offloading coal assets to smaller risk-embracing outfits.

Official figures show the number of people directly employed in the coal industry is more like 44,600 -- less than half the number of Australians employed by McDonald's.

Some in the coal sector are fearful that well-paying jobs are going to quickly become a thing of the past.

But others are optimistic that their region will succeed despite Canberra's digging in on a seemingly dying industry.

"There's so much innovation going on," said Sam Mella of Beyond Zero Emissions, a think tank working with local industry on diversification.

She pointed to the infrastructure around coal -- the port, the rail network, transmission lines as well as universities and research institutes -- as a valuable asset for the region.

"We have this fantastic legacy to build on," she said. "I think the Hunter is going to lead the way in the post-carbon economy." So far, there is no silver bullet -- no one technology or project that will save the entire region or replace coal.

But there is hope that out of the plethora of projects, from water filtration technology to megawatt-scale batteries to designing and manufacturing hyper-efficient wind turbines, that something will emerge.

The question is whether the transition can come quickly enough for workers like Clements.

"My concern is that when the market finally says 'nah, we're not interested anymore' that we don't have a plan, and a lot of people lose their jobs."But "I think there is still a chance for the region, I don't think it's a one-way ticket," he said. "There is definitely still a bit of life there."
Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :US Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced hope Wednesday that diplomacy led by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo could halt a deadly war in Ethiopia.

"We are hopeful that, given the important work that president Obasanjo is engaged in -- the efforts that we're making and others are engaged in -- that there is still a window to pull back and to move this to a better place," Blinken told reporters.
Algiers, Nov 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Nov, 2021 ) :Italian President Sergio Mattarella has called for "due account to be paid to the rights of the Sahrawi people" in an "equitable" and UN-brokered solution to the Western Sahara conflict.

Mattarella's comments, came on a visit Saturday to Algeria, the main backer of Western Sahara's Polisario Front independence movement, which has been locked in an escalating war of words with neighbouring Morocco since US ex-president Donald Trump recognised Rabat's sovereignty over the former Spanish colony late last year.

In an interview with Algeria's El Moudjahid newspaper, Mattarella said Italy had "always strongly supported the role played by the United Nations" in the search for a solution.

The world body has maintained a peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara since 1991, overseeing a now broken ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario, and attempting to organise a self-determination referendum for the territory.

"We support Algeria's role and its commitment to the UN framework on Western Sahara," added Mattarella, whose office is largely ceremonial.

Trump's recognition of Morocco's claim to sovereignty last December broke with years of international consensus that Western Sahara's future should be settled by a UN-supervised referendum.

It has posed a diplomatic headache for European countries with close ties with North Africa, particularly Spain and Italy.

Italy is the largest consumer of Algerian gas, importing more than a third of the North African country's output.
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National Security Advisor (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf on Thursday told the four-member US delegation headed by Minority Staff Director, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chris Socha who called on the NSA here that abandoning Afghanistan again by the international community would be a mistake

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :National Security Advisor (NSA) Dr Moeed Yusuf on Thursday told the four-member US delegation headed by Minority Staff Director, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chris Socha who called on the NSA here that abandoning Afghanistan again by the international community would be a mistake. During the meeting, both the sides discussed situation of Afghanistan along with the ways to enhance cooperation in light of the regional and international developments and challenges, said a news release.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Moeed Yusuf said the world needed to constructively engage the Afghan Taliban in order to prevent governance collapse and avert another refugee crisis.

He said Pakistan was coordinating with the world to have a stable and peaceful Afghanistan.The two sides also exchanged views on the importance of developing the strategic relationship between Pakistan and US, and the determination to strengthen ties in all sectors and vital areas of cooperation.
The Academic Council of the University of Karachi on Thursday approved the four-year BS degree program for the academic session 2022

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :The Academic Council of the University of Karachi on Thursday approved the four-year BS degree program for the academic session 2022.

The KU Vice Chancellor chaired the Academic Council meeting, held here at the Arts Auditorium.

The Academic Council also approved BS Poultry and BS Genetics programs which were recently approved by the Board of Faculty of Science.

It was decided in the meeting that KU would give admission in the fifth semester (third year) to students who want to do masters in any discipline as higher education Commission-Islamabad has discontinued the masters program.

The meeting also approved that students after completing a two-year associate degree program at college would be eligible to take admission in the fifth semester (third year) if they want to study further.

The Academic Council decided that associate degrees would be replaced by the BS four years degree after successful completion of the course.

It was also decided that if required students coming from college, after completing associate degrees in arts, commerce, or science, would have to do a deficiency course to be able to apply for the degree program.

The Academic Council approved establishing academia-industrial advisory board at the departmental level to bridge the gap between the two.

Five members of faculty and five members from relevant industries would be the part of Board.
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A high-profile meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has adopted a landmark resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC's 100 years of endeavors, according to a communique released here on Thursday

BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :A high-profile meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has adopted a landmark resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC's 100 years of endeavors, according to a communique released here on Thursday.

The resolution was reviewed and adopted at the sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, held in Beijing from Monday to Thursday, said the communique of the plenum.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, made an important speech at the session.

The session heard and discussed a work report Xi delivered on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He also explained the draft of the resolution to the session.

The session also reviewed and passed a resolution on convening the 20th National Congress of the CPC in the second half of 2022 in Beijing.
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German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Thursday it was time to impose fresh EU sanctions on Belarus over the migrant crisis on its border with Poland

Berlin, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Thursday it was time to impose fresh EU sanctions on Belarus over the migrant crisis on its border with Poland.

"We are in a situation in which the proper consequences (for Minsk) are overdue.

This is what we want, together with our European partners," he said.

Maas was addressing a parliamentary debate on the mass influx the EU says Belarus's strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko has orchestrated, which Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya attended as an invited guest.
The Council of the European Union extended on Thursday sanctions for Turkey's unauthorized drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean for one more year

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th November, 2021) The Council of the European Union extended on Thursday sanctions for Turkey's unauthorized drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean for one more year.

"Following the review of the framework for restrictive measures in response to Turkey's unauthorised drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Council today adopted a decision extending the regime for one year, until 12 November 2022," the council said in a statement.

The EU will remain able to impose targeted sanctions such as assets freezes and travel bans on individuals and entities involved in the unauthorized drilling activities, the council specified.
The number of people fleeing war, conflict and persecution rose significantly during the first half of 2021, driven especially by the millions more displaced inside their own countries, the UN said Thursday

Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :The number of people fleeing war, conflict and persecution rose significantly during the first half of 2021, driven especially by the millions more displaced inside their own countries, the UN said Thursday.

In a fresh report, the United Nations refugee agency estimated that by the end of June, more than 84 million people worldwide were living as refugees, asylum seekers, or in so-called internal displacement within their own countries.

That marks a hike of about two million people from an already record high at the end of 2020.

"The international community is failing to prevent violence, persecution and human rights violations, which continue to drive people from their homes," UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

In its mid-year trends report, the agency warned that many of those fleeing their homes were facing additional challenges due to Covid-19, extreme weather and other effects of climate change.

Some 26.5 million people were living as refugees by the end of June, including some 6.6 million Syrians, 5.7 million Palestinians, and 2.7 million Afghans.

Some 3.9 million Venezuelans were also displaced beyond their borders without being considered refugees, while 4.4 million people were registered worldwide as asylum seekers.

While those numbers marked small hikes, most of the increase in global displacement seen during the first half of the year was due to people fleeing inside their countries, especially in Africa, UNHCR said.

More than 4.3 million people were estimated to have become newly internally displaced across dozens of countries between January and June -- 50 percent more than during the first half of 2020, the report showed.

Intensifying violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia, with its escalating conflict in Tigray, forced more than one million people to flee internally in each of those countries.

Active conflicts and violence also pushed up internal displacement in places like Myanmar, Afghanistan, Mozambique and South Sudan, UNHCR said.

Meanwhile, fewer than one million internally displaced people were able to return home during the first half of 2021, leaving a full 51 million worldwide living in internal displacement at the end of June, up from 48 million six months earlier.

The vast majority of refugees are hosted in countries neighbouring crisis areas, mainly in poorer parts of the world, while IDPs often find accommodation in already struggling communities.

"It is the communities and countries with the fewest resources that continue to shoulder the greatest burden in protecting and caring for the forcibly displaced," Grandi said.

"They must be better supported by the rest of the international community."
Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad are discussing the possibility of sending a plane to Belarus to return citizens, Xosawi Bebekir, a representative of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Russia, told Sputnik on Thursday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th November, 2021) Iraqi Kurdistan and Baghdad are discussing the possibility of sending a plane to Belarus to return citizens, Xosawi Bebekir, a representative of the Kurdish Democratic Party in Russia, told Sputnik on Thursday.

"According to the latest information that I am aware of, these migrants are not only Kurds, they are generally from Iraq. The Kurdistan Ministry of Internal Affairs is negotiating with Baghdad on preparations for sending an airplane there in order to return those who agree (to come back).

Many people want to return (to Iraq) it seems, but found themselves in such a situation that they cannot return," Bebekir said.

The Kurdish politician said that there is no discussion in helping migrants settle in European countries.

"Negotiations are underway with all parties, both with Poland and Belarus ...They (migratns) are in the cold, in the forest, we are talking about the death of people. If steps are not taken, people may die," Bebekir added.
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A Texas court has overturned the state governor's ban on mask mandates in schools, as it violates the rights of children with disabilities, US District Judge Lee Yeakel said on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th November, 2021) A Texas court has overturned the state governor's ban on mask mandates in schools, as it violates the rights of children with disabilities, US District Judge Lee Yeakel said on Wednesday.

In May, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order prohibiting cities, school districts and other entities across the state from enforcing a mask mandate. The politician promised to bring to justice any school, college or government agency violating the ban.

In August, parents of children with disabilities, the Disability Rights Texas organization, and Texas officials filed a lawsuit against several defendants, including Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. According to the suit, the governor's order denied children with disabilities access to public education, as they are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 and dying.

"The spread of COVID-19 poses an even greater risk for children with special health needs. Children with certain underlying conditions who contract COVID-19 are more likely to experience severe acute biological effects and to require admission to a hospital and the hospital's intensive care unit," the judge said, as quoted by the Texas Tribune.

Lee confirmed that Abbott's executive order deprived children with disabilities of access to public school programs, services and activities and, thus, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In addition, the judge banned Paxton from enforcing Abbott's order.

The governor has not yet reacted to the court's decision. Paxton expressed strong disagreement with the judge's opinion. He added that the prosecutor's office would consider all legal options to challenge the decision.
President Emmanuel Macron led tributes on Thursday to the last French Resistance fighter from World War II who died last month and will be buried with a cross carved from the wood of Notre-Dame cathedral

Paris, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :President Emmanuel Macron led tributes on Thursday to the last French Resistance fighter from World War II who died last month and will be buried with a cross carved from the wood of Notre-Dame cathedral.

Hubert Germain, who was the last surviving Resistance fighter honoured by late Free France leader Charles de Gaulle, died aged 101 in October.

His coffin draped in the French flag was carried up the Champs-Elysees on an armoured vehicle to the Arc de Triomphe, where Macron and visiting American Vice President Kamala Harris paid their respects.

Germain, the son of a general in France's colonial army, was in his late teens when he fled to Britain after France's capitulation where he joined up with de Gaulle who was organising resistance to the German occupation.

He went on to fight in key battles at Bir-Hakeim in Libya, at El Alamein in Egypt and in Tunisia, as well as in the invasion of German-occupied France in 1944 which liberated the country.

The Paris-born fighter was one of 1,038 people decorated with the Order of the Liberation for their heroism by de Gaulle, who would go on to become president of France and is the founder of the current constitution.

Germain, who became an MP and minister, will be buried later Thursday in a special crypt reserved for Resistance fighters at Mont Valerien, a former fortress west of Paris where German troops used to execute opponents.

Macron will lay a Cross of Lorraine, the symbol of the resistance, fashioned out of wood from Notre-Dame cathedral on his coffin, in accordance with Germain's wishes.

France holds a ceremony ever year at the Arc de Triomphe on Armistice Day, a public holiday to mark the armistice signed to end World War I.
Ukraine said on Thursday it would deploy thousands of border guards and security personnel to its border with Belarus amid a migrant crisis that has seen tensions soar between the EU and Minsk

Kiev, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Nov, 2021 ) :Ukraine said on Thursday it would deploy thousands of border guards and security personnel to its border with Belarus amid a migrant crisis that has seen tensions soar between the EU and Minsk.

Migrants have been trying to cross from Belarus into EU member Poland for months but tensions reached a new level this week when hundreds made a joint effort and were pushed back by Polish borders guards.

The interior minister of Ukraine, which borders both Belarus and Poland, said thousands of security personnel would run drills on the country's shared border with Belarus "to counter a potential crisis with migrants".

During an unscheduled trip to the Volyn region -- which borders Belarus and Poland -- Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky announced that a total of 8,500 troops would be dispatched to the border with Belarus.

He said the deployment would comprise 3,000 border guards, 3,500 the National Guard servicemen and 2,000 police.

"The interior ministry's aviation will also be on duty, including 15 helicopters," he said, adding that these measures "will help to deter illegal migrants".

Western governments accuse Belarus's strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko of luring migrants to his country and sending them to cross into Poland in retaliation for previous sanctions over Minsk's crackdown on the opposition.

Ukraine's border guards service said on Thursday it had so far not seen "any threat" from the crisis, which is unfolding some 200 kilometres (around 124 miles) away from the country's frontier.

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday discussed the issue with Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda and vowed to "adequately respond to developments of the situation at the border".

Poland has accused Minsk of "state terrorism" for using intimidation to force migrants to breach the border.

Belarus has in turn accused Poland of violating international norms by blocking the migrants and beating them back with violence.
The University of South Florida Muma College of Business and McKibbon Hospitality today announced a new partnership that will turn some premier hotel brands into intensive student training grounds.

The new affiliation creates an innovative hospitality teaching lab program designed to give School of Hospitality and Tourism Management students first-hand experience in hospitality management at some of the worlds largest hotel brands, including Marriott and Hilton.

Student success is our top priority. This partnership between USF and McKibbon Hospitality opens up an important training opportunity and gives our graduates a competitive advantage, said Moez Limayem, the Lynn Pippenger Dean at the USF Muma College of Business, which is comprised of six schools, including the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. We value this new partnership. Educating the next generation of hotel managers requires teaming up with the top brands to teach the latest in hospitality management.

Students will have access to nearly 100 teaching hotels across the country that are managed by McKibbon.

The new program will offer USF hospitality management students a one-of-a-kind training advantage  the chance to gain valuable insight and hands-on experience at a variety of hotel brand concepts that cater to differing clients. For example, students will have the opportunity to learn management techniques at the select-service Courtyard by Marriott Tampa Downtown or the boutique, full-service Kimpton Hotel Arras in Asheville, North Carolina.

Students who learn alongside and inside of these global brands will be equipped with much-needed operational skills and hands-on training that the industry needs, said Cihan Cobanoglu, the dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Leaders from the USF Muma College of Business and McKibbon Hospitality signed the agreement during a special announcement at the Hyatt House Tampa Airport.

McKibbon Hospitality, headquartered in Tampa, manages nearly 100 hotels and over 10,000 guest rooms in over 40 markets for some of the worlds largest hotel brands, such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG. The award-winning hotel management company is one of the largest in the country, with 20 prominent brands across the country.

We are thrilled to partner with USF on this exciting, mutually beneficial initiative, inviting hospitality students to experience hotel operations in a hands-on, immersive setting, said John McKibbon, chairman of McKibbon Hospitality. Career development and on-the-job training have always been central to our company culture, helping our associates grow within McKibbon and in their careers, and we look forward to continuing that commitment with USF and their students. In addition to providing unique training and development in preparation for their future careers, we look forward to the new perspectives and fresh ideas that students will share with our hotel leadership teams, strengthening not only our operations but the industry as a whole.

In the Tampa Bay area, McKibbon Hospitality operates hotels in Tampa, Clearwater, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Lakeland.

The announcement comes at a time when USFs hospitality management program is on the rise. In July 2020, the school received professional and academic accreditation from the Accreditation Commission of Programs in Hospitality Administration.

USF will expand the hospitality management major to the Tampa and St. Petersburg campuses in 2022. Currently the degree is only offered at the Sarasota-Manatee campus. The St. Petersburg campus also has a hospitality leadership program geared toward managers and team leaders working in the hospitality management industry.
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.
Lincoln, RI (02865)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 48F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low 48F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
Victoria, TX (77901)

Today

Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Thunder is possible early. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Rain showers this evening with mostly cloudy conditions overnight. Thunder is possible early. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Victoria, TX (77901)

Today

Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain, heavy at times, early. Thunder is possible early. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%..

Tonight

Mostly cloudy. Periods of rain, heavy at times, early. Thunder is possible early. Low 53F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 100%.
JORDAN MEAD is News Editor for The Vidette. Contact her at jnmead@ilstu.edu. Follow Mead on Twitter at @meadjordan19

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ASHLEY DANIELS is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Daniels can be contacted at Adanie6@ilstu.edu. Follow Daniels on Twitter at @RTV_Ash210

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Vietnam was busy signing agreements and making deals on the sidelines of the COP26. As Vietnam slowly recovers its economy, business sentiment remains positive as showcased by deals signed with the governments and business entities of Australia, France, and the UK.

On the sidelines of COP26, Vietnams Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was involved in signing several agreements with state leaders, business organizations, and international organizations.

While issues related to climate change at COP26 were at the forefront, agreements and strategic partnerships were also inked on business, industries, and technology transfer. Meetings were held with several heads of state including the US, the UK, France, India, Japan, Ireland, and Kuwait.

Vietnam Briefing highlights major developments regarding business and agreements regarding the UK, France, and Australia.

UK  digital economy, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals

Vietnam and the UK signed a cooperation agreement on the digital economy and digital transformation. As mentioned in our previous articles, Vietnam has been moving aggressively towards digital transformation. The two countries shared national programs and projects on the development of the digital economy and support measures for digital economic development. This includes the initiatives within the UK-ASEAN Digital Innovation Partnership and the Asia-Pacific Digital Trade Network.

In addition, Spanish renewable energy firm SGRE and Vietnam-based energy firm BCG energy signed an MoU to supply equipment and solutions for the development of wind farm facilities in Vietnam. SGRE also shared a proposal for establishing a wind power supply chain to enhance production capacity.

COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca stated that it will invest US$90 million to support Vietnam improve its pharmaceutical production capacity. During the 2022-2030 period, it plans to make three pharmaceutical products in Vietnam while also supplying additional vaccines.

France  sustainable development, smart cities, and aircraft deliveries

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Economic Cooperation and Development Organisation (OECD) in Paris and also met with French President Emmanuel Macron. The two sides sought ways to boost strategic cooperation for sustainable development. At least 29 cooperation agreements were signed between ministries, agencies, and businesses of Vietnam and partners from France and the EU.

French multinational company Thales and Vietnamese state-owned VNPT signed an MoU on technical collaboration in areas of telecommunication satellites, smart cities, digital identity and biometrics as well as 5G, IoT, and cybersecurity. Low-cost carrier VietJet signed an agreement with commercial airplane manufacturer Airbus for 119 aircraft in the presence of Chinh and VietJet MD Dinh Viet Phong. In addition, during talks, Vietnam and France also stated that they will work together to set up projects regarding defense equipment.

Currently, French businesses have invested in 375 projects with a total value of US$3.1 billion in Vietnam and France is the second-largest EU country investing in Vietnam.

Australia  climate change, investment, and strategic partnership

Vietnam and Australia made a joint statement on climate change while also agreeing on economic strategy. The two countries reaffirmed commitments to take up renewables and address climate change challenges. Vietnam and Australia also finalized the Australia-Vietnam Enhance Economic Engagement Strategy. The strategy aims to deliver a detailed roadmap to deliver a joint ambition to become the top 10 trading partners and double two-way investment. The plan is expected to be released in the next few weeks though trade and investment levels are expected to accelerate in the 2021 to 2025 period. Australia also entered a comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN of which Vietnam is a member.

Vietnams recovery on track for 2022

These deals and the integration of Vietnam with free trade agreements and strategic partnerships bode well as the country recovers its economy and opens up for business. Vietnams commitment to climate change is also noteworthy.

Eurochams Business Climate Index (BCI) for Q3 shows that EU business leaders are optimistic about the countrys business environment and maintain the desire to increase their investment in Vietnam.

Vietnams National Assemblys recent meeting proposed a GDP growth of 6 to 6.5 percent GDP growth year on year with a CPI of around 4 percent. The governments goal will be to emphasize a plan on COVID-19 prevention measures and vaccinating the whole country. Key strategies in 2022 will involve improved public debt management and spending restraint.

In addition, the RCEP is expected to take effect in January 2022, further bolstering Vietnams trade efforts. While Vietnam suffered a significant extent due to the fourth wave and associated lockdown, its economy remains resilient and is expected to bounce back from next year.
Medical workers at Al Sabah childrens hospital in the South Sudanese capital Juba say they are strained after dozens of interns went on strike demanding transport and feeding allowances. Patients at the hospital say they must now wait for a long time before getting medical attention; Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have called on Sudans military leaders to immediately release all civilians detained when the military took power on October 25, and, over the past two weeks; The Sudanese Teachers Association is calling on Sudan's military rulers to observe the rule of law and protect all teachers from rights violations. This after police arrested and detained more than 70 teachers in Khartoum on Sunday
At least 51 people were killed when Islamist militants raided three villages in central Mali near the border with Niger, a district administrator said on Monday.

The towns of Ouatagouna, Karou and Deouteguef were simultaneously attacked around 6 p.m. on Sunday, according to a note from the Asongo district administrator to the governor of Gao region.

Houses were ransacked and burned to the ground and herds of livestock carried away, said the note, which was seen by Reuters.

"Provisional toll is 51 killed, several other injured," it said.

No group has yet taken responsibility for the attacks in the area where Malian troops, French and European forces, and United Nations peacekeepers have been battling insurgents linked to the Islamic State and al Qaeda.

Mali's army spokesman Colonel Souleymane Dembele confirmed the attacks but gave no further details.

Other local sources told Reuters that militants stationed themselves at the towns' entrances and fired indiscriminately upon civilians.

The administrator said Malian troops were sweeping the area. He also requested military escort to "help with the funerals, reassure the populations and offer condolences to the bereaved families," according to the note.
Germanys carnival season, a series of festivals among German Catholics, began Thursday but under strict COVID-19 restrictions, because of a surge in new infections in the nation.

Costumed revelers in the western city of Cologne had to line up Thursday to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations before they could start the outdoor celebrations. Last years festivals were canceled altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The carnivals are being held despite the fact Germany is undergoing a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, setting a record Wednesday for the number of daily infections.

And while the vaccine requirement was strictly enforced, the streets of Cologne were filled with people, side by side, without masks.

Thursdays celebrations began with a somewhat ominous sign - designated so-called prince for the Cologne carnival, Sven Oleff, had tested positive for COVID-19 the previous day, a breakthrough case since he is fully vaccinated. The festival committee said he showed no symptoms and was feeling well.

The German celebrations  which Germans refer to as the fifth season  is a series of festivals celebrated originally by Catholics, primarily in Germanys Rhineland region. They feature music, food and alcoholic beverages, and they run until Ash Wednesday in February  or the beginning of the Lenten season of fasting and reflection.
On his first Veterans Day in office, U.S. President Joe Biden ordered his administration Thursday to provide better medical treatment for veterans exposed to toxic air and to study the diseases they may have contracted while serving overseas.

For years, American service members were exposed to open-air fire pits during tours of duty in Iraqi and Afghan war zones. Dangerous materials such as electronics, vehicles and human waste were routinely sprayed with jet fuel and set ablaze, spewing toxic fumes and carcinogens into the air.



For Biden, the directive is personal. He has suggested, without proof, that the cancer that killed his son Beau in 2015 was linked to exposure to burn pits during his military deployment to Iraq.

"He volunteered to join the National Guard at age 32 because he thought he had an obligation to go," Biden said at a Service Employees International Union convention in 2019. "And because of exposure to burn pits, in my view, I can't prove it yet, he came back with stage 4 glioblastoma."

Biden laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington on Thursday to honor U.S. veterans. In a short address, he said retired veterans and those who are serving now are "the spine of this country."

"We've asked so much of you for so long," he said. "Our country is grateful."

He urged veterans who are struggling with medical problems or thoughts of suicide to reach out for help.

The new studies related to toxins will initially center on lung problems suffered by troops exposed to contaminated air and the potential connection to rare respiratory cancers, according to senior White House officials, but will expand as possible links to other ailments are identified.

In August, the Department of Veterans Affairs began processing claims for veterans suffering from asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis based on exposure to the pits. New rules will allow veterans to make claims within 10 years of their service and change what symptoms count and why.

"Exposure to contaminants and environmental hazards poses a major health concern for veterans of all generations," the White House said. But it added, "There are also gaps and delays in the scientific evidence demonstrating conclusive links between known exposures and health impacts, leaving many veterans without access to Department of Veterans Affairs benefits and high-quality treatment to address significant health conditions."

The White House said it took decades for the government to compensate Vietnam-era veterans for their exposure to Agent Orange.

"For the newest generation of veterans, concerns about burn pits and other exposures continue to mount," it said.

Veterans Day in the U.S. is commemorated on November 11 to honor everyone who served in the U.S. armed forces. It originally was called Armistice Day, to mark the end of World War I.
Ukraine's foreign minister has held strategic security talks in Washington with the U.S. secretary of state. The meeting comes as Ukraines Defense Ministry reports that about 90,000 Russian troops have been positioned along their common border and in rebel-controlled parts of eastern Ukraine. VOA Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports. Camera: VOA Ukraine Service. Contributing: Ostap Yarysh.
A Chinese newspaper editorial that lamented government interference in media and increasing restrictions on Chinese journalists has apparently been removed from the papers website.

The English-language commentary was published Monday in the Global Times, a nationalistic newspaper controlled by Chinas Communist Party.

I feel deeply that it is becoming more and more difficult to do media, read the editorial by Hu Xijin, the Global Times chief editor.

Hu is better known for his acerbic attacks on the United States, especially as the U.S.-China relationship has deteriorated. However, in his Monday piece, he instead criticized Beijing.

"Frankly speaking, media practitioners have been subject to increasing restrictions for some time," Hu said. The interference, he warned, could impact the media's function as news outlets and lead to a loss of credibility and combat effectiveness.

"As a battlefront, they should be trusted and have the independent space to carry out innovation that fits the needs of the times, he added.

By Thursday, the editorial could not be found on the Global Times English website. It was replaced by a 404 page not found error message. The Global Times Twitter account deleted a previous tweet in which it linked to the story. The editorial could also not be found on the papers Chinese website.

Hu did not immediately respond to VOAs questions about why the article was not accessible.

Hu has a complicated history. Though he is widely seen as a Communist Party attack dog, Hu claims to have been a student protester during Chinas 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square. He later turned his back on the movement, implying it was naive. He now defends Chinas crackdown at Tiananmen Square, which killed hundreds or even thousands of protesters.

More recently, Hu has received attention in Western media because of his sharp-tongued verbal attacks on the United States and his nearly ceaseless defense of Chinese policies. Hu delivers most of his sharpest attacks on Twitter, which is blocked in the Chinese mainland, along with every other major Western social media website. At times, he has been criticized for talking flippantly about the possibility of war between the United States and China.

In his carefully worded article this week, Hu stopped short of calling for Chinese media to exercise full independence. The goal, he says, is not for Chinese media to become like the New York Times or BBC, but to become media with Chinese characteristics" that can "self-explore ways that support the country's policies."

Hu did not say what type of government interference he objected to, but at various points seemed to criticize interventions by government departments and local governments.

China is in the midst of a wide-ranging campaign apparently meant to bolster ideological purity in nearly every facet of Chinese society. Part of that campaign has targeted the media, though such restrictions are far from new.

The Chinese government tries to maintain tight control over all discussion on the Internet and mass media, especially during sensitive moments such as the coronavirus outbreak. In recent years, Beijing has also devoted more resources to its state media organs, both at home and overseas.

Chinese state media have been especially gushing in their praise of President Xi Jinping ahead of this weeks key Communist Party meeting, which is set to pave the way for his extended rule.

In a tweet last week, Chinas official Xinhua news agency posted an article calling Xi a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly.

The tweet quickly became a minor Internet sensation, prompting a parade of mockery and satire on Twitter.
New research finds that the COVID-19 pandemic has hurt the financial viability of media outlets in southern Africa, with print media being the worst hit.

Launching the report, researcher Reginald Rumney, a journalism professor at Rhodes University in South Africa, said the media in the region had been drastically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This crisis, particularly the lockdowns and restrictions on movements, forced audiences online all to consume broadcast news," Rumney said. "Newspapers and magazines were hard hit. And of course, with a decline in circulation came a huge decline in revenue and retrenchment of staff and a big a restructuring of the newspaper industry across the region. A lot of papers were forced to go online, stop printing completely. Retrenchments were dramatic.

In Zimbabwe, Alpha Media Holdings, which publishes NewsDay, the Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard, stopped printing paper copies of its newspapers for months, moving all the publications online. All of its staff received a 50% pay cut, while those not directly involved in e-paper production were put on leave.

In South Africa, Associated Media Publishing stopped publishing its magazines, which included Cosmopolitan, House & Leisure and Women on Wheels, while Caxton and CTP Publishers & Printers announced closure of its magazine division.

South Africas weekly Mail & Guardian kept publishing but said some advertisers had canceled their campaigns.

Rumney said without a dramatic turnaround or external assistance such as donor funds, most media houses in southern Africa will not get out of the hole that the coronavirus put them in.

Joanah Gadzikwa, a media professor in South Africa, said the pandemic had caused a redefinition of the media industry in southern Africa that could have a harmful effect on the regions societies.

The death or decline in circulation figures is worrisome," Gadzikwa said. "What do we think should be the way forward? Because news is something that we cannot not have in our societies. A lot is happening in Zimbabwe, in southern Africa, that if issues do not see the light of print like this, we are heading towards another catastrophe. The pandemic has thrown everything upside down, but when things remain in [the] dark, it becomes a huge problem.

The issue has extra resonance in Zimbabwe, where advocates for the media say authorities have assaulted journalists in the line of duty.

Nigel Nyamutumbu, the head of Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, said, "In terms of Zimbabwe, you find that on one hand, we have a problem of money, we have a problem of resources. We have also the problem of politics, political will, where you can actually talk of the statutory instruments that were used to enforce the lockdowns. Where you also use the weaponization of the COVID-19 to actually clamp down in a calculated manner some civil liberties, including that of free expression, and including that of media freedom, which by extension obviously affects media sustainability.

Nyamutumbu said one cannot have a thriving media in an unconducive operating environment.

And right now, even with COVID-19 slowly coming under control, southern Africa is not a conducive environment for print journalism.
Ethiopia on Thursday outlined conditions for possible talks with rebels from the country's war-hit Tigray region, following days of frantic diplomatic efforts by international envoys to head off another surge in fighting.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has been locked in a year-long war with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which has pushed south in recent months and not ruled out a possible march on the capital Addis Ababa.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Dina Mufti told reporters that one of the conditions for possible talks  which he stressed have not been agreed to  would be for the TPLF to withdraw from the Amhara and Afar regions bordering Tigray.

"In order for there to be a peaceful solution, they say it takes two to tango," Dina said.

"There are conditions: First, stop your attacks. Secondly, leave the areas you have entered [Amhara and Afar]. Third, recognize the legitimacy of this government," he said.



"By the way, don't misunderstand, it's not being said a decision has been made to enter into negotiations," he added.

Watch: VOA's Cindy Saine's report on Diplomatic Efforts Continue, Ethiopian Forces Detain UN Staffers, Truck Drivers

TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda told AFP at the weekend that pulling out from Amhara and Afar before talks begin is "an absolute non-starter."

The TPLF is demanding the end of what the U.N. describes as a de facto humanitarian blockade on Tigray, where hundreds of thousands of people are believed to be living in famine-like conditions.

International envoys have in recent days stepped up efforts to broker a cessation of hostilities.

Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, left Ethiopia on Wednesday following several days of meetings there and in neighboring Kenya, according to officials briefed on his movements.

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU's special envoy for the region, was due to leave Thursday after a final meeting with Abiy, the officials said.

He has also recently travelled to the Tigray capital Mekele to meet TPLF leaders.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Obasanjo on Wednesday and offered "strong support" for his mediation efforts, the State Department said.

He voiced hope that there was a "window" for progress.

Yet it is far from clear how major gaps between the two sides can be bridged.
It would be Ryan Lazaros first time to vote if he got lucky October 31 and was able to register to vote in next Mays Philippine national elections. The 19-year-old student was one of hundreds of people who lined up that week outside a mall in Manila in a desperate attempt to register to vote just before the registration deadline.

September 30 was the original deadline to register to vote for the much-awaited polls. It was extended until the last week of October to accommodate those unable to go out during the lockdowns.

As the new deadline approached, throngs of people wanting to register headed to polling centers, competing to make the deadline. Registration centers could only accommodate 300 people a day, based on time estimates and prevailing public health protocols.

Im tired and sleepless and Im dealing with the fact that I might miss the chance to register to vote, Lazaro told VOA, adding that he and his friends had arrived at the center 10 hours before it opened, but the slots were already filled

Since it was already the last day to register, though, they decided to take their chances and lined up with no guarantee of registration.

This is our third attempt. Lets see, he said.

The Philippines will be having one of Asias biggest elections next year in the middle of a pandemic, with almost 4 million Filipinos having contracted the coronavirus and more than 40,000 dead from the disease. It is a chance for the country to pick new leaders who might have a different strategy to control the pandemic that wiped out millions of jobs and drove many to hunger.

Observers say the May election will be one of the most hotly contested in recent Philippine history. It is seen as a referendum between extending President Rodrigo Dutertes power and influence or shifting to a candidate who promises a more democratic government. The widespread allegations of corruption and human rights violations during Dutertes six-year regime are among of the issues facing voters on election day.

The Philippine Commission on Elections had said the number of voters might reach a record 65 million. The Philippine population is pegged at 110 million, and only those aged 18 and above may vote.

Election officials say the October 31 was the final deadline and extending the registration period might delay preparations for the elections. Nevertheless, the target number of voters was registered.

You are looking at a voter population of almost 65 million voters. That is a huge percentage of our national population, James Jimenez, election commission spokesperson, told an October 27 press conference.

Voters across the country endured long lines, some camping out and spending the night at registration centers just to secure a slot for the morning opening. Despite their sacrifice and efforts, some were not successful.

The registration was extended for three weeks from its original deadline last September because of public clamor and pressure from Congress, which passed a law to extend the deadline. Despite that, there were still Filipinos not able to register.

We find ways to come here because we need to work. If we dont go to work, we will have nothing to eat, said 54-year-old Lorelay Balera, who had tried to register until the deadline last week.

After sleeping on the floor for hours, she did not make it to the cut.

All we hear is cut off, cut off. The system isnt working for us. If they want us to vote, how can we vote if they wont accept us?

Despite the lockdowns that prevented people from registering earlier, the turnout exceeded the commissions expectation, an indication that Filipinos want to have a say on the affairs of the country, observers say.

Its in record number, Ona Caritos, the executive director of Legal Network for Truthful Elections, an elections watchdog.

Despite the pandemic we will have 65 million registered voters for election so that's a good number and that's a historical number for the Philippines, she said.

The commission has conducted the first of a series of voter simulations, which included a time and motion study, to ensure that polling centers across the country will be in compliance with public safety protocols.

With low vaccination rates compared to other Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines had one of the worst outbreaks in the region. It is projected, however, that 70 million people will be inoculated by April, a month before the elections.

Election watchdogs are calling on the commission to release guidelines and protocols on campaigning and on voting on election day as soon as possible.

That's our call and that's our request for COMELEC to release the guidelines as early as possible so that people will be informed, they will be educated especially about the new guidelines and protocols and civil society, organizations like ours would be able to demand in the information dissemination campaign, Caritos said, referring to the elections commission by its acronym.

After waiting for 32 hours, Lazaro and his friends successfully registered.
Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has said Canberras policy on China is misguided and fails to understand the country's rise.

Paul Keating was Australian prime minister from 1991 to 1996. Throughout his career, he emphasized the need for Australia to foster closer ties with its neighbors in the Indo-Pacific.

Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra Wednesday, he criticized Australias current attitudes toward China, its biggest trading partner.

Relations have been fraught over a range of geopolitical disputes, including the blocking of Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from Australias 5G network and allegations of Chinese interference in Australian politics. Canberras call for an independent probe into the origins of COVID-19, which was first detected in China in late 2019, also infuriated Beijing. It has responded with various import restrictions on Australian goods, including coal and wine.

Keating argued Australia could have a civil relationship with China even though there may be disagreements. He stressed that Canberra should not be drawn into a military engagement over Taiwan because it was not a vital Australian interest.

He also criticized Australias plans to build nuclear submarines under the new AUKUS alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom.

He said the technology would be outdated by the time the vessels were in service.

Eight submarines against China - when we get the submarines in 20-years time, it will be like throwing a handful of toothpicks at a mountain, Keating said.

Allan Gyngell is a former senior adviser to Paul Keating and the former head of the Office of National Assessments, an Australian intelligence agency.

He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the former prime minister has accurately summed up Australias problems with China.

He is right that the relationship between Australia and China at the moment has never been worse since we established diplomatic relations, and I also think he is right in pointing to the lack of depth of understanding about China itself in the Australian debate, Gyngell said.

The current Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, has not yet responded to Keatings remarks. However, a government lawmaker, James Paterson, reportedly said the former leaders assessments were out of date.

Morrison has previously insisted that the AUKUS alliance was in Australias national interests and would boost regional security.
German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the presumptive leader of the next government, presented an updated financial forecast Thursday indicating increased revenues for future government projects.

At a news conference in Berlin, Scholz said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent fourth wave of new infections and the worldwide supply chain problems, Germanys tax revenue over the next few years would be higher than the estimates made in May.

Scholz said the new revenue forecast showed all levels of government collecting about $205 billion more in revenue through 2025 than the earlier prediction. He credited the higher-than-expected revenue to a robust labor market.

Scholzs Social Democratic Party won the most seats in Septembers parliamentary elections, but because it does not control more than 50% of parliament, it is in negotiations with the third- and fourth-place finishing parties, the environmentalist Greens and pro-business Free Democrats, to form a coalition government.

When asked how the power-sharing negotiations were going, Scholz said he was optimistic.

I see very concrete things going on, and the observations I had are that a lot of things have come together. Everything still left to discuss is not so difficult that it cannot be overcome, he said.

Scholz said this new forecast meant the next government could "work sensibly, though he cautioned there were still financial burdens from the pandemic.

He identified investments in mitigating climate change and upgrading Germanys public sector computer and internet infrastructure as two of his priorities.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse.
Authorities in Ghana are trying to save an endangered monkey species from extinction. Authorities say human activities are destroying the habitats of the white-naped mangabey monkeys that only live in a few parts of West Africa.

At the Accra Zoo in Ghana, a worker is feeding some of the few remaining white-naped mangabey monkeys. Eighteen of these monkeys found homes in this zoo after their habitat in the wild was destroyed.

Authorities say human activities, such as deforestation and mining, are significantly reducing the population of this species in Ghana.

Stephen Tamanja is the manager at the Accra Zoo.

The environment or the habitat of the animals we have are affected by human activities. That is just an example. Other attributes could be there. And so, sometimes it forces animals to lose some of their habitats, said Tamanja.

Wildlife Vets International, a charity organization providing veterinary support to international wildlife, found that by the end of October 2020, there were only an estimated 1,000 white-naped mangabey monkeys in the wild globally.

The monkeys are called white Naped Mangabey because of their gray body, white "collar" neck, and red crown physical features.

Activists are pressing the United Nations to adopt animal welfare as one of its focal activities, in the same manner the world body focuses on protecting human rights and maintaining international peace and security.

The goal, advocates say, is to enforce protection of endangered animals, especially in parts of Africa where animals are treated poorly. David Nyoagbe of Africa Network for Animal Welfare explains why.

In this part of West Africa, animals are not actually regarded as living beings. People mistreat them so with our education now in schools and the communities, animal welfare is gaining ground and people are beginning to respect animals. Cruelty is now on the lower side, he said.

Meyir Ziekah, a veterinarian for Ghanas forestry commission, told VOA that residents of some communities are helping the state in breeding the endangered monkeys and then releasing them into the wild.

The NGO together with us is actually doing community sensitization and looking for alternative livelihood for the community members who were into hunting and some of these anthropogenic activities that affect these primates. So that when these animals are released, the community feels [like it is] part of the whole project, they have other things to do for their livelihoods, said Ziekah.

The white-naped mangabey monkeys were once widespread in Ghana, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, but they are now only found in isolated pockets of forests.

Ghanaian authorities hope the recovery efforts will help increase their numbers in the near future.
Journalists and press freedom advocates in Hong Kong say new legal requirements for accessing two public databases in the Chinese territory could stifle investigative reporting and chill press freedoms.

The Land Registry and the Companies Registry both enacted changes on November 1 that require users to supply more personal information when conducting data searches, such as their Hong Kong identity card number and the reason for the search.

Users must also agree to limitations on how the information can be used and acknowledge that their personal data may be shared with law enforcement agencies.

Authorities say the changes are needed to protect private data and ensure information is used for legal purposes.

But journalists fear the requirements may be used against them and could result in newsrooms being more cautious. Many cited recent arrests under Hong Kongs national security law and Basic Law, including a producer convicted in April after searching a public vehicle database.

Neither the Companies Registry nor the Land Registry responded to VOAs requests for comment.

Concerns were amplified after producer Bao Choy was found guilty on two counts of making false statements to obtain public data, under Hong Kongs Basic Law earlier this year.

The then-producer at the public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) was working on "Hong Kong Connection, a documentary that looked at the police response to an attack by suspected gang members against pro-democracy protesters in the city's Yuen Long district in July 2019.

As part of her research, Choy was tracking down license plate registration from cars seen on video transporting suspected attackers.

But a court in April said Choy had failed to declare that her search for public information had a journalistic purpose.

Choy argued that she selected other traffic and transport related issues because the form had no option for journalism.

She was fined $770 and when her RTHK contract expired in January it was not renewed.

The journalist, who is currently in the United States, previously told VOA that authorities are using Hong Kongs laws "to suppress press freedom."

Access limited

The database changes come a few months after the Companies Registry allowed for some details on directors to be removed, citing the risk of doxing a tactic in which attackers use information such as addresses to harass individuals.

Keith Richburg, president of Hong Kongs Foreign Correspondents Club, described the latest changes as another blow to press freedom, and questioned their purpose. The press club has been calling on the government to maintain public access.

To actually close off the information to people with legitimate reasons, thats making it more difficult for people to do their job, Richburg told VOA.

"I would argue the press has a legitimate interest and same interest as accountants or lawyers or government officials to access this information because press freedom is mentioned in the Basic Law.

Three Hong Kong-based journalists who cover news and politics said the changes could impact their work. All requested anonymity out of fear of reprisal under the national security law.

One former investigative reporter said the new restrictions could make journalists think twice about whether its worth putting themselves at risk for a story.

Youre not knowing whether or not for sure its going to be illegal or falling into a gray area. I would say maybe there are reporters who drop stories because its too cumbersome to do a record search, the journalist said.

The reporter added that journalists are already having reservations about searching for vehicle license information after Choys case.

It just places even more pressure on editors to not do anything that might cause unwanted risk or attention to themselves, the journalist added.

A second reporter, who works for an international outlet, said Choys case is a warning to others.

A major concern would be whether the government can find my search offensive and arrest me for invading others privacy, even if it's for the public interest, the reporter said.

And a journalist working for a local media outlet said the regulations could affect those who want to dig a little deeper.

It is bad for journalists and the free flow of information. Ill surely think twice about using these databases if Im required to provide my personal information, the reporter said.

Public databases are often a vital part of in-depth coverage of corruption or in uncovering the wealth of senior Chinese leaders.

Despite the new obstacles, Richburg, a veteran journalist at outlets including The Washington Post, and director of journalism and media studies at the University of Hong Kong, believes that journalists will become more determined to find ways to access information.

Ordinarily we would tell [students] these are accessible public records. So, in the future, we may have to tell them these records may be more difficult to get. This is all so new we havent actually gotten to that point yet, he said.

It may become more difficult, may take a bit longer, and may have to rely on more sources, opposed to actual public documents, Richburg added. But I have no doubt its still going to go on, accountability reporting is still going to be there.

The new requirements add to what correspondents say is a declining environment for media.

The annual survey by the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents Club found that 84% of respondents believe conditions have changed for the worse since the national security law came into effect.

Chinas Foreign Ministry slammed the survey, warning the club against meddling in Hong Kong affairs.

But press freedom has been under scrutiny since the national security law was enacted last year in an effort to curb dissent following anti-government protests in 2019.

The law prohibits acts deemed as secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign collusion. Authorities have used it to arrest dozens of prominent pro-democracy activists and journalists, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai.

The pro-democracy paper Lai foundedApple Dailyclosed in June, after several executives were charged under the law for alleged foreign collusion.
Simon Louagie dreaded losing Talbot House, a World War I soldiers' club that has become an institution in remembrance tourism on the Western Front where soldiers from all corners of the globe fought amid untold carnage just over a century ago.

For months last year, a COVID-19 lockdown closed the club which had always been an open house. Once it was for Commonwealth soldiers who fleetingly shed the fear of battle in Flanders fields that was within earshot.



For generations since, people found history, solace, wisdom and an understanding at Talbot House about why the motto of this region in western Belgium is "Never into war again."

Since the end of World War I in 1918, millions of visitors  from as far away as the United States New Zealand, and South Africa  have flocked to memorials in northern France and Belgium to pay tribute to the fallen.



Now, closing in on two years of the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions, the tourist industry welcoming them is crippled. Lockdowns and travel restrictions, of which many remain in place, are keeping foreign visitors away.

Another Armistice Day beckons on Nov. 11 and the outlook remains bleak.



Talbot House manager Louagie remembers that when funds were running low and doors were closed, only one thought ran through his head: "Not on my watch." From as many as 500 guests a day, he sometimes found himself alone.



The house, he said, "needs noise. It needs piano music. It needs visitors, schoolchildren, people playing chess. Cups of tea, rattling in the kitchen to make it come alive. I need to hear the kettle whistle," he said.



"We cannot disappoint all those generations before us by letting it close down," he said. The thought has echoed around the region where hundreds of thousands lost their lives during the four years of fighting which finally led to the victory of allied forces over Germany.



Nick Benoot, who runs the small Hooge Crater Museum not far from Poperinge could not believe it when at the end of 2019, schools started to cancel trips because of reports of a virus in Wuhan, China.



Like Louagie, he had plunged money into the business and needed any income he could get. "Seriously, do you mean that? This is in China. This is far, far away from us," he remembers saying. But the reality of the pandemic, which has since claimed at least 5 million dead across the globe, soon sank in and he had to close on March 13, 2020 - a somber day he remembers well.



From 65,000 paying visitors in 2017 to just 3,000 last year, the numbers demonstrated how remembrance tourism slumped throughout the region.

"It was like we went bankrupt. We had to close everything down," he said.



But each man dealt with it in his own way and is still around to tell his story.



Crowdfunding was the answer for Louagie. Last year, a 98-year-old World War II veteran raised money by walking from a war graves cemetery to Talbot House, cheered on by locals who pulled money out of their wallet when they were not applauding. When a local died, the family asked that instead of flowers, mourners donate money to Talbot House.



"It became very emotional when I saw how many people cared so deeply," Louagie said.



As virus measures eased recently thanks to Belgium's vaccination drive, some visitors enjoyed their breakfast at Talbot house. And just like old times, praise was heaped on English volunteer Libby Madden for her Victoria sponge cake. "You know, we very much want to keep the spirit of this wonderful place alive," she said.



Flanders' fields were once so war-scarred that churches and castles simply vanished as rubble under the mud. Much around Ypres has been restored to its former splendor and imbued locals with an unshakeable sense of optimism.



Benoot was looking at an empty parking lot last year and had missed the din of spoken English from heaps of British tourists that resounded in the museum and cafe. Yet this week, "we have had the first British (bus) in two years."



Even as his income dwindled in the middle of the pandemic, Benoot understood that the message of "the war to end all wars" still needed to be passed on to younger generations.



At 37, he thought himself to old to convey the message to kids, so he left it to his sons Louis and Arthur, 10 and 8, who are now YouTube whizzes to teach kids about gas masks, helmets and medical kits. The Hooge Boys are a hit now.



"We don't do what all the rest does. So I think we have a way to survive," Benoot said.



Even the Last Post ceremony in nearby Ypres  a daily, mournful bugle call harking back to 1928 that had only briefly stopped during World War II  was at risk of being silenced. The tradition has the bugle playing under the Menin Gate where some 55,000 names of soldiers whose remains were never found are engraved.



Yet it pulled through. Volunteers refused to stop and pulled strings all the way up to the top political posts to ensure its continuation, even if it had to be scaled down.



"During COVID, there was only one bugler and the names of 55,000 soldiers," said Benoit Mottrie, the head of the Last Post Association.



On Thursday, there should be the full complement of six buglers again, backed up by a piper, a choir, a band and several hundred invitees and poppy promenade walkers. Even the Belgian prime minister will show up.
French President Emmanuel Macron laid a wreath Thursday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris to commemorate Armistice Day, while visiting U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris observed the ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe.

The event marked the 1918 agreement between Allied powers and Germany to end their fighting in World War I, and a White House official said the ceremony was an opportunity to honor the French and American soldiers who died in the conflict.

It follows a Wednesday visit by Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, to Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial outside of Paris where they took part in a wreath-laying ceremony in observance of Armistice Day and Thursdays Veterans Day holiday in the United States. The site honors American service members killed in both world wars and holds the remains of nearly 1,600 Americans.

Harris is visiting France as part of an effort to improve soured relations between the two longtime allies. Both she and Macron described the opportunities for cooperation and the start of a new era as they spoke to reporters before meeting Wednesday at Elysee Palace.

I look forward to the next few days where we'll continue to work together and renew the focus that we've always had on our partnership and the benefit to the people of France and the people of the United States and the people of the world, Harris said.

Symone Sanders, senior and adviser and chief spokesperson for Harris, said in a statement that Macron and Harris discussed cooperation on transatlantic security, space exploration and preparing for future pandemics.

Harris is set to speak Thursday at the Paris Peace Forum and represent the United States at a summit Friday on Libya ahead of that countrys elections next month.

Relations between the France and the United States plunged to a historic low in September when Australia scrapped a $65 billion deal to buy traditional submarines from France in favor of an agreement in which Australia will build nuclear subs with the help of the United States and Britain.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for "national unity" Wednesday after an eruption of protests over Iran's downing of a Ukrainian International Airlines plane.

Iran initially said mechanical problems caused the commercial jetliner to go down, before admitting days later that Iranian military personnel mistakenly shot down the plane, killing all 176 people on board.

The revelation sparked days of protests in Iran as people expressed their anger at the country's leaders.

In an address broadcast live on state television, Rouhani said "if there was a delay" by the military to disclose information about the disaster, "let them apologize."

Rouhani also demanded a full explanation of the catastrophe and cited the need for changes to how the Iranian government runs the country.

Rouhani has called on elections officials to refrain from banning potential political candidates from seeking office in the Feb. 21 general election. All candidates are currently vetted by a constitutional monitor to determine their loyalty to the country.

"The people are our masters and we are its servants," Rouhani said after a cabinet meeting. "The servant must address the master with modesty, precision and honesty."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also addressed the recent protests Wednesday.

"The last few nights we've had people in the streets of Tehran demonstrating against the fact that they were lied to for a couple of days," he said. "This was a very serious situation. We believe that it is, the fact that it wasn't disclosed early enough."

Crash investigation

The downing of the plane happened hours after Iran fired missiles at U.S. forces in Iraq and was bracing for a U.S. counterstrike that never came. Iran's missile attacks, which caused no casualties, were in retaliation for what the United States called a self-defensive strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on Jan. 3.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said Wednesday it asked Iran to give it the black box flight recorders from the Ukrainian plane that went down last week.

A statement from Ukraine's prosecutor's office said it is taking all necessary measures to ensure the recorders are properly decrypted and to preserve all evidence as investigators carry out their probe of the incident.

Alexander Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Science, told Ukrainian media after returning from leading an investigation team in Iran that Iranian specialists were due to arrive in Kyiv on Wednesday, and that analysts expect to begin examining the flight recorders on Monday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said he and Rouhani agreed that experts from their countries would work together, including on deciphering the black boxes. Zelenskiy and French President Emmanuel Macron also agreed to have French specialists help with that work.
Thousands of people in Botswana whose ancestors came from Namibia are demanding reparations for genocide they say was committed by German forces more than a century ago. Namibia is negotiating with the German government, but the descendants say they are being left out of the talks.

In the early 1900s, German colonizers in Namibia killed thousands of people from three tribes -- the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama  for taking in an uprising. There are no official figures on how many people were killed.

Some of the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama later settled in Botswana, and their descendants live there today.

This week, Botswanas minister of presidential affairs, Kabo Morwaeng, told parliament that Botswana has been facilitating dialogue between the Namibian government and the affected groups.

"Batswana of Namibian descent who have approached the government for assistance on the issue of reparations for the genocide, while their specific numbers are unknown as they are represented by a committee, are accordingly receiving assistance arranged by Botswana under a process that has been established by the government of Namibia for a negotiated settlement, said Morwaeng.



Morwaeng added Botswana cannot do anything more than facilitate dialogue because the issue involves sovereign states -- Namibia and the Federal Republic of Germany.

But legislator Carter Hikuama, who represents some of the affected descendants in parliament, is unhappy with the Botswana government.

"We need their facilitation; we need their support," Hikuama said. "We are not expecting the government of Botswana to negotiate on behalf of these people. We want the government of Botswana to facilitate the negotiations and allow these people to access the Germany.

Edwin Saidoo is the vice chairperson of the Botswana Society of the Nama, Ovambaderu and Ovaherero tribes. He says the group displeased.

"Let me be very frank, with regards the government of Namibia, in no unambiguous terms we have not had any assistance, save for a suggesting that was made in one sitting where we had thought we will be given a chance to be part of the negotiating table as those in the Diaspora," Saidoo said.

He urges the Namibian government to open up talks to include affected communities abroad.

"Our expectation is only for the government of Namibia to open up the talks instead of making them a bilateral negotiating between it and the Federal Republic of Germany," Saidoo said. "The talks need to be approached, in our view, from a multinational view and therefore include and encompass all the nations and states that hold the diaspora who are also from the affected communities."

In May of this year, Germany officially apologized to Namibia for the killings, and has promised development aid worth $1.2 billion, as part of the compensation to the affected to communities

However, some descendants of the victims in both Namibia and Botswana are angry at the offer, which has been described as an insult by traditional leaders, because it does not include payments for reparations.
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New York state legalized recreational marijuana use this year, just in time to host the annual Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition. Evgeny Maslov has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. Camera - Michael Eckels.
A Hong Kong activist, nicknamed Captain America 2.0 for carrying the fictional superheros shield at pro-democracy demonstrations, was sentenced Thursday to nearly six years in prison for promoting Hong Kongs independence from China.

Food delivery driver Ma Chun-man was convicted last month of inciting secession by chanting slogans, doing media interviews and displaying signs.

Ma was sentenced to five years and nine months under a law that China imposed in June 2020, generally ending the largest and longest-running pro-democracy protests since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Amnesty International called Mas sentence outrageous and said limits on free speech in Hong Kong are dangerously disproportionate.

Under the law, anything Beijing sees as secession, terrorism, subversion and collusion with foreign forces are punishable with maximum life sentences.

China insists all rights and liberties remain intact, maintaining the law was needed to bolster national security and end violence it says was provoked by external forces.

District Judge Stanley Chan, who convicted Ma, defended the sentence, even though Mas actions were non-violent.

The defendant was incited by some politician, and he eventually became an instigator himself, Chan said. In this context, it's hard to guarantee there won't be other Ma Chun-mans.

Ma pleaded not guilty and said in a letter to the court, I am not ashamed or regretful of what I have done. He said he was inspired by pro-democracy protests last April.

One of Mas lawyers said he was unsure if Ma would appeal.

Some information in this report comes from AFP and Reuters.
The emotional and racially charged trial of three white men accused of killing an African American jogger focused on whether the tragic shooting was an act of murder or self-defense.

Day Four of the Ahmaud Arbery murder trial in Brunswick, Georgia, on Wednesday centered on accounts of police officers who responded to the scene, and a neighbor who told the jury he called the police on Arbery.

Gregory McMichael, 65, his son Travis McMichael, 35, and neighbor William Roddie Bryan, 52, are accused of chasing down Arbery and killing him in a Brunswick, Georgia, suburb in February 2020.

In addition to felony murder and aggravated assault, the three Georgia men are charged with attempted kidnapping and a federal hate crime for allegedly racially profiling 25-year-old Arbery.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty, contending they suspected Arbery, who was out on a jog, of fleeing a crime when they pursued him in vehicles and shot him on a street in their predominantly white neighborhood.

Travis McMichael was captured on Bryans cellphone video confronting Arbery with a shotgun. The two are seen struggling before Arbery reached for the gun and was shot three times.

At the Glynn County (Georgia) Superior Court, Matthew Albenze, a longtime resident of the neighborhood, testified he called police after he saw Arbery outside a home under construction.

A suspicious Black man

Albenze told a nonemergency police operator he could see a suspicious Black man in a white T-shirt entering the home.

I just need to know what he was doing wrong, the operator asked, according to a recording played in court. Hes been caught on camera a bunch before. Its kind of an ongoing thing out here, Albenze told the operator, saying Arbery was now running off the property.

Gregory McMichael told the police that Arbery was running fast through the neighborhood when he first spotted him. The defendants said they thought Arbery was a burglary suspect when they attempted to make a citizens arrest. A police officer testified on Tuesday, however, that the defendants never told him they were trying to make a citizens arrest.

Prosecutors maintained the men assumed the worst of Arbery as he ran through the neighborhood, which had experienced some recent break-ins of cars.

The jury, made up of 11 white people and one Black person, saw CCTV video of Arbery walking into a home construction site before the shooting, but he didnt take anything before walking away. Video also captured a white couple looking around the same construction site as Arbery, but they were never confronted.

Some court observers believe the defendants will have a difficult time proving their case.

Not only did Greg McMichael or the others not witness Arbery committing a crime, they did not have reasonable suspicion that a crime had occurred, said Areva Martin, a civil rights attorney, in a televised interview on the HLN cable network. This is not going to be sufficient evidence by any standard to support their defense that they had a right to try to stop, detain or arrest Ahmaud Arbery.

Inside the courtroom, police officer Jeff Brandeberry, who responded to the scene, said Greg McMichael told him he shouted at Arbery to stop before Travis McMichael confronted Arbery with a gun.

Brandeberry also testified that Gregory McMichael got blood on himself because he moved Arbery's arm as he lay on the ground after the shooting, to check him for a weapon.

Arbery was unarmed.

I didn't know if he had a weapon or not, Greg McMichael said, explaining why he touched Arberys body, according to the transcript Brandeberry read to the court.

Lengthy legal battle

Arberys death sparked nationwide protests last year after police did not charge the suspects for more than two months after the video of his killing was leaked and went viral on social media.

Following the arrest, former District Attorney Jackie Johnson was accused by the state attorney generals office of knowingly and willfully hindering police officers from arresting Travis McMichael. It also alleges that Johnson showed favor and affection to Gregory McMichael, who was a former employee of the district attorneys office.

Johnson, who denied any wrongdoing in her handling of the case, was voted out of office last year following a national uproar over the case. Two other prosecutors recused themselves from the case.

The trial was also delayed over scrutiny of the jury selection and the racial makeup of the panel. The almost entirely white jury was selected even though 26% of residents in Glynn County are Black, according to Census Bureau data.

In an interview with CBS News last month, Arberys mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said she believed her son was targeted because of his race.

This trial means a lot to me, thinking back to when Ahmaud was first killed, she said. We went through three prosecutors. We went through no arrests. And we finally made it this far.

The trial is expected to last several weeks. If convicted, all three men face life in prison.
A U.S. cybersecurity firm says a hacking group possibly linked to China has breached nine global organizations including at least one in the United States.

The report by Palo Alto Networks of Santa Clara, California, said it found malicious actors were actively stealing passwords from target organizations with the goal of maintaining long-term access.

The report said from September 22 into early October, the hackers compromised at least nine entities in sectors such as technology, defense, health care, energy and education. None is identified in the report. One organization is in the United States.

Ryan Olson, vice president of threat intelligence at Palo Alto Networks, said that any company doing business with the Pentagon could have a range of data in their emails about defense contracts that could be of interest to foreign spies.

Nicholas Eftimiades, a retired senior intelligence officer and specialist on Chinese espionage, told VOA Mandarin the tactics used in these attacks are usually employed against foreign governments. In this case, the hacking group used the tactics against commercial interests on a global scale.

Eftimiades added that if these attacks had not been detected, the threat group would have gained access to thousands of companies and been able to conduct espionage from those companies.

The report was released on the Palo Alto Networks website on November 7. The Chinese Ministry of State Security did not respond to VOAs request for comment.

Olson told CNN, which first reported the breach, that in aggregate, access to that information can be really valuable, adding, even if it's not classified information, even if it's just information about how the business is doing."

Palo Alto Networks said it detected two programs that were used, Godzilla and NGLite.

Both included instructions in Chinese and are publicly available for download on GitHub, said the firms report. GitHub is used by millions of developers and companies worldwide for many things including sharing computer code.

The cybersecurity firm added that the tactics used in the attacks appear similar to those used by Emissary Panda, a Chinese threat group that has been active since 2010.

The group has been active in the Middle East and has attacked U.S. defense contractors in the past, according to teampassword.com, a cyber-security firm.

Olson told Newsweek that "based on the tools and techniques used in this campaign we see an overlap with Emissary Panda/APT27." But he also stressed that the firm has yet to conclusively attribute the attacks to a threat group.

Palo Alto Networks did not disclose the names of any of the organizations that were attacked, but said the company is sharing information to raise awareness of threats and to fix the vulnerabilities exploited by hackers.

The firm has been working with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a U.S. federal agency responsible for strengthening cybersecurity and communications infrastructure.

Eric Goldstein, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA, told VOA Mandarin via email that CISA was working with Palo Alto Network to understand, amplify and drive action in response to the activity identified in this report. The agency has been working with the private sector through a Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative program.

Eftimiades, the retired intelligence officer, said private companies usually are not equipped to deal with this type of threat.

He said that governments around the world, especially the U.S. government, should develop a deterrence policy to reduce or stop these types of attacks and develop a global alliance to respond to such attacks.

The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the U.S. State Department is prepared to create a new bureau of cyberspace and digital policy and a special envoy responsible for critical and emergency technology, in order to better confront cybersecurity challenges.
A federal agency charged with making sure that government employees do not use their positions to influence elections released a scathing report this week, finding that at least 13 senior members of the administration of former President Donald Trump, including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, engaged in willful violation of the Hatch Act, a federal law limiting their political activities.

The report, released by the Office of Special Counsel, reveals a major problem for the United States when it comes to preventing senior administration officials from misusing their positions for political gain. According to the OSC, the only person in a position to punish Hatch Act violations by the most senior officials in the executive branch is the president.

Indeed, the 2020 election revealed that, at least with respect to an administrations senior-most officials, the Hatch Act is only as effective as the White House decides it will be, the report found. Where, as happened here, the White House chooses to ignore the Hatch Acts requirements, then the American public is left with no protection against senior administration officials using their official authority for partisan political gain in violation of the law.

Ethics laws seen as insufficient

Liz Hempowicz, public policy director for the Project on Government Oversight, an independent good-government group, told VOA the unprosecuted violations revealed in the report go to the heart of what many Americans see as the biggest problem with the country.

The number one concern for constituents across the board is corruption in government, and even more specifically, corruption in government that is never held accountable, she said.

Hempowicz decried violations of an ethics law where the watchdog organization in charge of enforcing the law cannot or will not bring enforcement actions against very high-level individuals who violate the law incredibly publicly.

Hempowicz continued, It just goes to some of the main concerns we've heard from the public. And it reinforces the idea that these ethics laws that we have to protect the people's interests are not sufficient.

Multiple violations

The report lists a large number of violations of the Hatch Act during Trumps term in office, but much of the report is focused on the months immediately prior to the 2020 presidential election, and particularly to the Republican National Convention (RNC). Trump sparked controversy by deciding to hold the convention, a purely political event typically staged in a large city outside Washington, on the grounds of the White House itself.

The report says that while it may have been a breach of political norms, it was not de facto illegal to hold the RNC at the White House. However, during the convention, the OSC documented individual violations of the law.

During the RNC, Pompeo and then-Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf both appeared in their official capacity in events designed to improve the former presidents chances of reelection. Pompeo, who was on a diplomatic trip to Israel at the time, delivered a livestreamed address to the convention. Wolf prerecorded an official naturalization ceremony, in which immigrants to the United States officially become citizens, for a similar purpose.

Numerous violators

The report lists numerous other senior officials who, on one or more occasions, used appearances made in their official capacity to boost the former presidents reelection campaign.

They include then-Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette; then-Senior Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway; then-Senior Adviser to the President Jared Kushner, who is also Trumps son-in-law; and then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.

Others were then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows; then-Senior Adviser to the President for Policy Stephen Miller; then-national security adviser Robert OBrien, and several others.

As elected officials, neither Trump nor former Vice President Mike Pence was subject to the Hatch Act during his term in office, and therefore broke no rules by campaigning in his capacity as president or vice president.

However, the OSC concluded that the president and vice president knew about the frequent and ongoing violations of the law, pointing out that the agency had briefed the White House multiple times and had sent an unprecedented 15 warning letters to senior administration officials notifying them that they had violated the Hatch Act.

Calls for change

The OSC is led by Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner, who was nominated by Trump and confirmed to his position by the then Republican-led Senate in 2017. His office regularly brings enforcement actions against more junior executive branch appointees. However, the agency has long believed that its authority ends with Senate-confirmed members of the administration and people appointed directly by the president.

According to the OSC, the report was issued to educate employees about Hatch Act-prohibited activities, highlight the enforcement challenges that OSC confronted during its investigations, and deter similar violations in the future.

In recognition of its inability to effectively enforce the law, the OSC recommended a number of legislative changes. Among other things, the agency is asking Congress to give it the authority to apply monetary penalties to senior administration officials for Hatch Act violations, even after they have left office. The agency also wants the ability to issue regulations related to the Hatch Act, and suggests that Congress determine what areas of the White house complex can be used for political activity.

It was egregious

Experts concerned with good governance and transparency said there was nothing particularly unexpected in the report, but they praised it for drawing attention to the significant gaps in enforcement that allowed the violations to take place in the first place.

I don't think there was anything that was surprising," said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a group that promotes good government. We all saw the activity as it occurred. It was egregious.

Nevertheless, he told VOA, the report is important.

We have a tendency, as a society, to move on from crises ... without going back and following the thread about what the consequences are ... and we don't learn as a result," said Stier. "The OSC report is a very important look at the need for reform of the basic infrastructure of the way our government operates.

The OSC and other watchdog agencies like it were set up more than 40 years ago, in the wake of the Watergate scandal that brought down former President Richard Nixon.

It's about time that we revisit, in our present world, what we need by way of structure inside government to ensure that we continue to have a first-grade, corruption-free and effective government, Stier said.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to address leaders of the Pacific Rim on Friday amid heightened regional trade and geopolitical tensions.

China set the tone for the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting this week, with Xi warning in a video recording Thursday that the region must not return to the tensions of the Cold War era.

The comment was seen as a reference to efforts by the United States and its regional allies to blunt what they see as China's growing coercive economic and military influence.

Biden will address the gathering, the White House confirmed in a statement, adding he will discuss ongoing efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic and support global economic recovery.

"The president's participation demonstrates U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and to multilateral cooperation," the statement said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry has also confirmed that Xi will speak at the meeting via video link.

The APEC gathering comes ahead of a much-anticipated virtual summit between Biden and Xi on Monday, as the superpowers look to prevent growing tensions between the world's two biggest economies from spiraling toward conflict.

APEC is the last multilateral meeting of the year and comes after a flurry of gatherings including the high-profile G-20 summit in Rome and the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.

APEC 2021 was hosted entirely online because of host New Zealand's hard-line pandemic control measures, which have kept its borders closed to almost all travelers for 18 months.

New Zealand has emphasized APEC support for fighting COVID-19, decarbonizing economies and growing sustainably.

At a special meeting called by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in June, APEC members pledged to expand the sharing and manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines and lift trade barriers for medicines.

APEC will be held in Thailand next year.

The United States has offered to host the 2023 round of APEC meetings for the first time in more than a decade, although a consensus has not been reached on this proposal, officials have said.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Canadian President Justin Trudeau are also expected to speak at the meeting.
A team of scientists found evidence that slabs of silicate glass found in Chiles Atacama Desert were created by a comet that exploded above ground 12,000 years ago.
On Thursday, fewer than 2,000 of the 14,000 students enrolled at the University of Buea showed up for class, a day after about a dozen students were injured when police say someone set off an explosive device at the school in western Cameroon.

The governor of Cameroon's southwest region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, urged everyone to return, saying the military has been deployed to protect students and staff members.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the government blames separatist groups. Buea is an English-speaking town in Cameroon's southwest region. Government troops and separatists have been fighting each other in the region since 2017, when teachers and lawyers protested alleged discrimination at the hands of the French-speaking majority. The military reacted with a crackdown and separatist groups took up weapons, saying they want the western regions to be an independent country.

Horace Ngomo Manga, the vice chancellor of the University of Buea, said the IED exploded at the schools amphitheater on Wednesday evening.

"So far, we have one male student and eleven female students at the solidarity clinic, where they are following up treatment," he said. "The students are being carried one by one for X-rays for further investigations into the depth of their injuries."

The military said that last month, separatists warned all schools and universities in Buea to seal their doors but gave no further explanation.

Bilai said students should not be intimidated by the explosion, and that education is crucial to the countrys future and must be allowed to continue without interruption.

"We must bear in mind that we are dealing with the education of our children who are the leaders of tomorrow," he said. "I therefore expect everyone to support the educational sector by denouncing any form of disorder which could disrupt the smooth functioning of our schools."

However, some on campus are uneasy after the explosion. Ekane Manga, a lecturer at the university, said the presence of soldiers on campus may have invited fighters to attack the institution.

"There should be coordination amidst the ranks of the soldiers because having people with guns around students is not the best thing," he told VOA.

Separatists in Cameroon have attacked and closed hundreds of schools in recent years, but authorities say this is the first time they have set off an IED at a university.
A Sudanese judge on Thursday ordered telecoms companies in Khartoum to explain why internet services are still cut more than two weeks after a military takeover and two days after a court said connections should be restored.

Mobile internet services across Sudan have been cut since the military seized power on Oct. 25. The suspension has hampered efforts by pro-democracy groups to mobilize for a campaign of civil disobedience and strikes against the coup.

The judicial order to restore internet services immediately was issued on Tuesday in response to a complaint by the Sudanese Consumer protection Society. The judge on Thursday repeated the order for Zain , MTN and local providers Sudatel and Canar to restore services, pending the announcement of any damages to be paid to subscribers.

The companies could not immediately be reached for comment.

The coup ended a power-sharing arrangement between the military and civilians that was agreed after the overthrow of former president Omar al-Bashir in 2019, and was meant to lead to elections in late 2023.

Some senior civilians were detained and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was placed under house arrest.

Mediation aimed at securing the release of detainees and a return to power sharing has stalled as the military has moved to consolidate control. Political sources told Reuters on Thursday that there had been no progress in indirect contacts between Hamdok and the army.

Hamdok told mediators that his position would be based on that of the civilian political coalition that emerged from the uprising against Bashir.

Representatives of that coalition on Wednesday rejected negotiations with the military.

The United Nations envoy to Sudan, who has been trying to facilitate mediation, is due to brief the U.N. Security Council on developments later on Thursday.
Supporters and opponents of Ghana's new anti-LGBT bill faced off in parliament on Wednesday in the first public hearings into the proposed legislation that would make it a crime to be gay, bisexual or transgender.

Akoto Ampaw, a lawyer representing a coalition against the law, was met with occasional jeers as he told the session the Family Values bill would be "totalitarian" and "unconstitutional."

On the other side of the argument, Abraham Ofori-Kuragu, a representative of Ghana's Pentecostal council, told the tense gathering of lawmakers and media the bill reflected the will of most Ghanaians.

There have been no national opinion polls on the bill, which has been condemned by U.N. rights experts. But supporters say the legislation has broad backing in the largely Christian West African country.

Gay sex is already punishable by up to three years in prison in Ghana, though no one has been prosecuted in years.

The new bill would go further, lengthening jail terms and forcing some to undergo "conversion therapy" - practices intended to change a person's sexual orientation.

It would also criminalize the promotion and funding of LGBT+ activities as well as public displays of same-sex affection and cross-dressing.

"The very provisions of the bill stoke hate, bigotry and violence against a small and vulnerable minority community," Ampaw said in his opening statement to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

Ofori-Kuragu of the Pentecostal council said opposition to the bill had been stoked by the West.

"I have never seen a bill so bold in its presentation of the Ghanaian agenda," he said.

LGBT+ rights groups in Ghana said they have seen a spike in homophobic attacks since the draft law was introduced in August.

"Our greatest worry is the health and safety of our community members," Danny Bediako, director of the human rights organization Rightify Ghana, told Reuters. "I have never seen so many people who want to leave the country."

Homosexuality remains taboo in many socially conservative African societies where some religious groups have branded it a corrupting Western import.

Gay rights activists say it was actually colonial Western powers who first criminalized homosexuality in many parts of the continent.

The committee is expected to hear ten petitions a week in a series of public sessions before the bill is put to a vote in parliament, deputy majority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said.
Pakistan hosted China, Russia, and the United States Thursday for talks on Afghanistan, bringing them to Islamabad at the same time as a Taliban delegation led by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who arrived Wednesday night.

We are confident that Troika Pluss engagement with the new Afghan government will help consolidate peace and stability, promote sustainable economic development, and constrict space for terrorist outfits operating from and within Afghanistan, Pakistans foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said in opening remarks.

Talking to media later, he promised to involve the Taliban officially in future regional meetings.

God willing, we will invite them in the next meeting in Beijing so that their concerns should be shared with the world, and they should know what the world community expects from them in return, Qureshi told journalists in the capital, Islamabad.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the four countries of the Troika Plus format pressed the Taliban to provide access to education for women and girls of all ages. The Taliban have suspended secondary school education for girls in most provinces since their August 15 takeover of the country.

The statement also called upon the Taliban to ensure unhindered humanitarian access, including by women aid workers, for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan to respond to the developing crisis.

In many Afghan provinces, local Taliban commanders are demanding that female aid workers are always accompanied by a close male relative, making their jobs difficult or in some cases impossible.

At the same time, the special representatives for Afghanistan from the four countries that participated in the meeting agreed on the need for urgent humanitarian assistance and urged the United Nations to take the lead in coordinating help for the Afghan population.

International aid agencies have sounded the alarm on Afghanistans situation, calling it one of the worst humanitarian crises.

Now we have over 22 million people marching toward starvation, said the World Food Programs executive director, David Beasley, in a video message he tweeted from Kabul airport Thursday.

The situation is made more difficult because the United States has frozen nearly $10 billion in Afghan government assets in U.S. banks until the Taliban fulfill their commitments to the international community.

The Troika Plus, or extended Troika, format was created by Russia and included Iran and the four countries meeting Thursday in Islamabad. However, Iran has been reluctant to attend meetings that put their officials face to face with U.S. officials.

In a telephone briefing Monday in Brussels, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West underlined the importance of working with the region, including Iran, on our common and abiding interest in a stable Afghanistan, he said.

He also emphasized that the Taliban needed to deliver on their promises on human rights and womens rights.

"Statements are not enough, he said.

According to West, the formation of an inclusive and representative government was a point I think is especially shared by many regional powers as well.

Thursdays meeting is the fourth on Afghanistan by its neighbors since the Taliban takeover. The three others were held in Moscow, Tehran, and New Delhi. China and Pakistan stayed away from the New Delhi meeting Wednesday, with China citing scheduling issues and Pakistans national security adviser calling India a spoiler in Afghanistan.

In October, senior U.S. officials, including West, engaged with the Taliban directly in Qatars capital, Doha, and more engagement is expected.

"We are preparing for a next round of interagency U.S. engagement with the Taliban, West said, without giving dates.
TRANSCRIPT

The Inside Story: Missions End

Episode 13  November 11, 2011

Show Opening Graphics:

Voice of KANE FARABAUGH, VOA Correspondent:

They were there at the start

Rhonda Lawson, U.S. Army Veteran:

I will never consider our presence in Afghanistan a failure.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

Its hard to say the mission might have been accomplished in total.

KANE FARABAUGH:

 now at the end, U.S. military veterans and the families of the fallen reflect on Americas longest war.

Denise Williams, Illinois Gold Star Mothers President:

I get asked, was it worth it? 

KANE FARABAUGH:

A Veterans Day view from the homefront on the legacy of the war in Afghanistan  now on The Inside Story: Missions End

The Inside Story: Missions End:

KANE FARABAUGH:

Hi. Im VOA Midwest Correspondent Kane Farabaugh, reporting from the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall in Illinois.

Veterans Day, which initially marked the armistice that ended World War 1 in 1918, is a federal holiday observed every November 11th honoring U.S. military veterans for their service to the nation. This is the first Veterans Day since the end of the war in Afghanistan, the longest conflict in U.S. history.

Here in Marseilles, Illinois, the names of more than 2,400 American men and women who died serving in Afghanistan are a permanent reminder of the cost of the war, and the sacrifices made.



Etched in these black panels are the names of thousands more Americans who died in other flashpoints in the Middle East, including Iraq.

But in 2002, this memorial didnt exist. The were no U.S. forces on the ground in Iraq. And fewer than 10,000 U.S. service members were committed to fighting terrorism in Afghanistan.

Thats when I traveled there, towards the beginning of the conflict, just months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks meeting up with some of the first men and women serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

The U.S. military had been in Afghanistan just a few months when I landed at Bagram Airfield in May of 2002 on a reporting assignment for the American Forces Network.

Brian Cole, U.S. Army Officer:

Im Major Brian Cole with the United States Army reserve with the 489th Civil Affairs Battalion.

KANE FARABAUGH:

I met Brian Cole while distributing supplies at a recently re-opened school shut down by the Taliban prior to the U.S. invasion

Brian Cole, U.S. Army Officer:

I think Im in the land of the giants sometimes.

KANE FARABAUGH:

in the remote village of Karabagh Bazaar which, we were told, had just been cleared of landmines.

Brian Cole, U.S. Army Officer:

Because when we write letters home, we tell them that the people of Afghanistan need school supplies.

I look at what we are doing as an extension of our foreign policy of having the people come back from Pakistan and Iran back into Afghanistan and if we want to have the people come back, we need to assist them once they can get here to help them get established.

KANE FARABAUGH:

That same day Cole delivered food to another remote village, all part of the U.S. militarys strategy to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people.

Brian Cole, U.S. Army Officer:

And what we are doing by bringing the school supplies and food now is were serving as a stop gap until the non-governmental organizations get here so they can take over our mission.4

KANE FARABAUGH:

Its been more than nineteen years since I met Cole in Afghanistan.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

How yall doing?

KANE FARABAUGH:

After some effort tracking him down, I learned he safely returned home.

We reconnected in July at Fort Boonesborough outside Lexington, Kentucky.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

Im a state park ranger now, and I have like a phobia against trash because thats one thing they were doing they would take MRE (meals ready to eat) boxes and put explosives in it, or just roadside trash would all of a sudden become a mine, would become an explosive.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Despite the risk, Cole felt his units objectives were clear.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

Our mission was to help  two things  to gain support for us being there, and to put in the water wells and things like that, and to help gain acceptance for the U.S. forces being there, and also the bigger picture was to help gain support for the newly established Afghan government.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Cole believes the big picture lost focus when the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

You can only have one main effort. And we tried to have two main efforts and I think we took our eye off the ball when we did that.

KANE FARABAUGH:

The war in Afghanistan took a personal toll on Cole. His daughter was just a month old when he deployed, and his absence was difficult for his family back in Kentucky.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

My wife, she never accepted me going, and we never recovered from that, and I ended up divorced.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Cole says he made sacrifices to build a better Afghanistan but that that mission was never accomplished.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

I think a better way to say it is the missions over.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Cole says the legacy of the U.S. military in Afghanistan is best measured by what didnt happen.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

We were able to keep similar 9/11 attacks from occurring and I think they would have had we not gone. The training camps would have flourished even more so.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Which is why he feels the U.S. military should have stayed in Afghanistan, pointing to forces stationed in countries like Germany and Japan since World War Two as a precedent.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

If you leave too soon, youre back too early.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Cole has since retired from the U.S. Army. He says he has few regrets about his service in Afghanistan  but one is losing contact with his Afghan interpreter.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

Hyadet  Im hoping I can track him down and maybe serve as a sponsor for him back here if hes able to come to the United States.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Why?

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

I loved him. I mean he kept us safe.

KANE FARABAUGH:

And he was with you every day?

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

Right. Yep. Literally by my side.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Was it hard for you to leave him?

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

It was. I remember telling him, dont let these guys get you killed man.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Cole credits his interpreter with saving the lives of his fellow soldiers, and his own.

What will you do if you can get him here?

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

Give him a place to live.

KANE FARABAUGH:

How do you think he would appreciate that?

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

Oh, hed love it. We talked about that. We talked about coming to the United States.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Cole still didnt know the status of his Afghan interpreter as the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan neared its conclusion, culminating in the chaotic exodus of tens of thousands aboard planes departing the Kabul Airport.

Brian Cole, Kentucky Park Ranger:

So, Im hoping that hes able to come with a program to bring him to the United States. We definitely need to bring them back and keep them safe. We owe that to them.

KANE FARABAUGH:

My assignment to Afghanistan in 2002 was to understand the conditions and motivations of service members who were spending their first Fourth of July holiday after 9/11 in Afghanistan, trying to rout the al-Qaida terrorist network.

Dan Millbauer (from Armed Forces Network report):

Meanwhile an Air Force B-52 was also in the area on a planned mission to bomb suspected Taliban and Al Queda locations.

KANE FARABAUGH:

My friend and American Forces Network colleague, Staff Sergeant Dan Millbauer, accompanied me on our first experience in a combat zone.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

When you come into the country the way we did in a military aircraft and under cover of darkness to avoid being shot at and landing in a corkscrew kind of pattern, thats kind of when it first hits you that, Oh yeah, this is real. We are going into harms way.

KANE FARABAUGH:

At the time, nearly 10-thousand U.S. forces were in harms way, many based at Bagram Airfield which was quickly growing into one of the largest U.S. military facilities in the world.

Its where Rhonda Lawson served with a U.S. Army mobile public affairs detachment, or MPAD, which hosted us in Afghanistan.

Rhonda Lawson, NCOIC 28th MPAD:

Im a print journalist by trade.

KANE FARABAUGH:

To keep U.S. troops there informed, her team produced a base newspaper and other products.

Rhonda Lawson, NCOIC 28th MPAD:

We run stories not just here at Bagram but also stories from Kabul. Every once in a while, we might get a story from Kandahar or from Uzbekistan.

Rhonda Lawson, U.S. Army Veteran:

What I took pride in doing was telling the soldiers story. We talked about the mission but at the same time what I wanted people to know was that our soldiers were real people. Our soldiers had families. Our soldiers had feelings.

KANE FARABAUGH:

US troops also received messages from back home showing passionate support for their mission.

Rhonda Lawson, U.S. Army Veteran:

One of the cards that I got, it just said Kick Bin Ladens ass on it. So, there was this sense that we needed to get revenge.

KANE FARABAUGH:

But finding Bin Laden took nearly a decade. Neither Lawson nor others we spoke to during our 2002 visit

Unidentified Soldier:

Its like a long ass camping trip.

KANE FARABAUGH:

...thought operations in Afghanistan would become the longest in U.S. history.

Rhonda Lawson, U.S. Army Veteran:

Desert Storm, a lot of the fighting ended in about six weeks, so I think people thought this would be quick like Desert Storm.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

Of course, a lot of us thought that any operations around 9/11 response would be temporary or quick.

KANE FARABAUGH:

As the war in Afghanistan dragged on, Millbauer returned to Afghanistan a second time in 2003 to work with a psychological operations or PSYOP unit.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

Its really trying to strategically put out information.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Millbauer says noticed some things had changed when he returned to Bagram Airfield.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

There was more activity, more people there, and I think more coalition partners had forces there.

KANE FARABAUGH:

And working in Afghanistan was more dangerous, says Millbauer. He vividly remembers a close call during a mission to support a remote Afghan radio station.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

I heard this whistling of an RPG coming in so, it passed over my head.

KANE FARABAUGH:

No one was injured, says Millbauer. For him, the constant threat of attack didnt change his outlook on U.S. military objectives, including helping locals in have a better life.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

Some of the things we did was to provide them with clean water sources, and lots of money to improve their lives, s0 in that regard, I was behind that all the way.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Millbauer and Lawson were two of more than 775,000 U.S. forces who served at least one deployment to Afghanistan since 2001.

Despite the country now falling back into the hands of the Taliban, Lawson  who retired from the U.S. Army in 2017 - believes the U.S. effort was not in vain.

Rhonda Lawson, U.S. Army Veteran:

I will never consider our presence in Afghanistan a failure.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

You know, its hard to say whether the mission was accomplished in total.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Millbauer, who left the military in 2007, feels the U.S. reached the point of doing all it could in Afghanistan.

Dan Millbauer, U.S. Army Veteran:

Weve found and eliminated Osama Bin Laden. You know, I think after 20 years, its probably time to get out of there and let them try to take care of themselves the best they can.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Many Afghans are worried about how they will be treated by the Taliban, who took control of most of the country as US forces pulled out of Afghanistan  ending Americas longest conflict.

KANE FARABAUGH (TV clip while reporting in 2002):

Here at Kabul International Airports where weve ben following

KANE FARABAUGH:

My first visit in the spring of 2002 reporting for the American Forces Network from the newly liberated capitol city of Kabul, Afghanistan started in U.S. Army Major Patrick Flanagans military Humvee as we departed Bagram Airfield.

The two-hour ride in a small convoy on a sixty kilometer stretch of highway cut through the remote countryside and brought Flanagan and his unit into contact with foreign troops, Northern Alliance fighters and wary Afghan citizens.

Patrick Flanagan, Retired U.S. Army Officer:

I remember the first couple of rides into Kabul, they would say Oh, youre with the killers. And Im like, the killers? They said, Youre here to kill the al-Quaida, the Taliban, the bad people.

KANE FARABAUGH:

That perception didnt meet the reality of this days mission.

KANE FARABAUGH (TV clip while reporting in 2002):

When United States Psychological Operations Army forces go into stores in Kabul like this one, theyve got several things in mind.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Our journey led us to Kabuls famed Chicken Street, where Flanagans objective was to shop.

Patrick Flanagan, U.S. Army Psychological Operations:

We are buying some school supplies, purchase them to take them back up to our area in order to give them to the locals, to have them promote, that they are in charge of their schools, and they want to take care of their people as well as the teachers that are working hard to support the education effort for Afghanistan.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Delivering school supplies, along with leaflets and other material labeled with slogans and messages was part of Flanagans U.S. Army psychological operations or PSYOP mission.

Patrick Flanagan, Retired U.S. Army Officer:

Its the militarys form of influence. It would be like if you would hire a marketing campaign to sell Coca Cola.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Flanagan says the intent of PSYOP wasnt to mislead or indoctrinate, but to educate and protect.

Patrick Flanagan, U.S. Army Psychological Operations:

Its not so much taking information trying to use it for or against the population, but an appreciation and an understanding for what they are going through so we can use the themes and symbols and messages to better assist themselves and as well as coalition forces.

Patrick Flanagan, Retired U.S. Army Officer:

Dont step on IEDs or report if there is unexploded ordnance. So, some of them was just to inform them so it didnt hurt them, but others is like  you know the coalition; you shouldnt throw rocks at their trucks. Or the coalition are friendly. So, a whole series of messages designed to help them understand why were here so they wouldnt have someone else to answer those questions for us that really didnt like us.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Today, remnants of Flanagans PSYOP mission are stored in his rural Virginia basement, memories of Afghanistan where he lived and worked for a total of two years over multiple deployments supporting a mission he sees today as incomplete.

Patrick Flanagan, Retired U.S. Army Officer:

And I think at times, because of some of our actions, weve hardened the people that dont like us. I think it was polarizing, not through our effect through psychological operations but I think it just accentuated people that were just living and working on the farms were like, yeah, we like this, were getting some help. But then they were agitated by the Taliban who would say, we dont want you to help them, so they would think of new ways to cause havoc and chaos and pain because they also wanted to win the hearts and minds of the people, so you had this struggle.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Flanagan retired from the Army in 2011 and has spent time since working for a U.S. military contractor.

Through his brother, former Illinois Congressman Michael Flanagan - now a Washington D.C. consultant - he had opportunities to share his views on his time in Afghanistan with other legislators and policymakers.

Patrick Flanagan, Retired U.S. Army Officer:

I think we should have left a while ago. I think we overextended our stay.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Flanagan feels the U.S. achieved its goal of breaking up Osama Bin Ladens terrorist operations in the country but lost the effort to nation-build in Afghanistan.

Patrick Flanagan, Retired U.S. Army Officer:

Hindsight is 20/20 but yes, I think we should have said, ok, hes done now, wheres al-Qaida? and lets have some sort of ramp off so the military can exit.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Flanagan wants a parade or celebration marking the return of U.S. forces back home.

Patrick Flanagan, Retired U.S. Army Officer:

Just to say, thank you very much and when thats over it kind of finalizes it, and its done, and you can look back and say thats finished.

KANE FARABAUGH:

But Flanagans hopes to serve the public again. He is seeking opportunities to run for political office where he hopes to use the experience he gained in Afghanistan while in uniform to shape future U.S. foreign policy.

MSgt Lawrence Taylor, 241st Air Traffic Control Squadron:

After September 11th, I knew eventually it was going to be a matter of time before we were gonna get called up to perform our duties as necessary as Guardsmen.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Lawrence Taylor worked as an air traffic controller in San Jose, California, on September 11, 2001. Just four months later, he was among the first uniformed members of the military on the ground at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

MSgt Lawrence Taylor, 241st Air Traffic Control Squadron:

When we showed up, the tower itself wasnt in the best condition. The ceiling had a mortar hole in it. The conditions here were dismal. We came here with basically nothing, and we set up an air traffic control facility from the ground on up.

KANE FARABAUGH:

When I first met Taylor in May of 2002, serving with the U.S. Air National Guard in Afghanistan, flight operations at Bagram Airfield had picked up pace. Most serving at the time of my reporting assignment for the American Forces Network were part of Operation Enduring Freedom  the militarys official name for the mission to eliminate the al-Qaida terrorist network that used Afghanistan as a haven to launch attacks.

SSgt Steve Hutcherson, 241st Air Traffic Control Squadron:

As a Guard unit going out and doing this kind of stuff, this is the first time that weve ever done this.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Steve Hutcherson was working the radar system at an aviation facility in St. Joseph, Missouri, during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. When I visited him in a radar trailer near the flight line of Bagram Airfield in 2002, he had been in-country nearly five months.

SSgt Steve Hutcherson, 241st Air Traffic Control Squadron:

You are a part of it. You are not just watching it on TV and now you are over here and actually part of getting things straightened out. Its a pretty patriotic thing.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Hutchersons first combat deployment wasnt his last.

Steve Hutcherson, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

Was home for about six months, and we got the call again, and we got over to Iraq and spent a little time over there.

KANE FARABAUGH:

It wasnt hard to track down Hutcherson 19 years after we first met. He still works for the same Air Traffic Control Squadron in Missouri he deployed with in Afghanistan and Iraq. Only now, hes a civilian with the unit after retiring from the Air National Guard.

Steve Hutcherson, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

People in now know nothing but Afghanistan. And nothing had really changed since we first went in there and took control of everything.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Hutcherson says he wasnt surprised by the rapid advance of the Taliban in regaining control of Afghanistan.

Steve Hutcherson, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

I would have been more surprised if we watched the news and saw the Afghan army fighting the Taliban. That would have shocked me much more.

KANE FARABAUGH:

But Hutcherson doesnt believe the end result changes the success of the mission.

Steve Hutcherson, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

The mission was to stop another 9/11-style attack. Its been 20 years since it happened, and we havent had one. Really, I mean honestly, I dont think most of us think about terrorism anymore. Were so divided right now amongst ourselves that weve forgotten about international terrorism.

Lawrence Taylor, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

For me, it was more personal than political, because I felt like I had an obligation to do something, and thats why I was an airman.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Nineteen years after I met him in the control tower at Bagram Airfield, Taylor invited me to visit with him at his suburban Chicago home.

Lawrence Taylor, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

I think when I showed up, there might have been a little over 100. But when I left, there might have been about 8,000 people, maybe 9,000.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Taylor served in Afghanistan for almost a year, also later deploying to Iraq. Before retiring, he received one of the highest honors in the U.S. Air Force  the Air National Guard Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year award.

Today, he works for the Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, and watched the fall of the Afghan government  and the loss of U.S. strategic resources, including Bagram Airfield  unfold in recent weeks.

Lawrence Taylor, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

I thought wed be there forever.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Taylor says the current circumstance in Afghanistan does little to change the way he views how he and his fellow military members served their country.

Lawrence Taylor, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

Me, Im glad I got to go. At the time, I think it was worth it. I still do. But Im sure Id get a good argument from a lot of people.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Its an argument that policymakers, politicians, historians and voters will also debate for decades to come, as the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan closed amid the chaotic and dangerous evacuation of tens of thousands of U.S. citizens, troops and their allies at the Kabul airport.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Is the mission accomplished or is it simply over?

Lawrence Taylor, U.S. Air National Guard Veteran:

I dont know. I mean I really dont know. I mean I think that would be something more for the taxpayers to answer, the politicians. And I went there for, you know, my own reasons and my perspective and what I thought was right. To look back on it, I think thats something that other people. Ill let them decide.

KANE FARABAUGH:

So far in this program, weve heard directly from veterans who served.

They are some of the more than 750,000 American service members who deployed at least once to Afghanistan.

More than 20,000 were wounded.

More than 2,400 never returned.

Those are the names which are etched on these panels.

Denise Williams, President, Department of Illinois Gold Star Mothers:

This is not a legacy and a reminder of death to me. This is a reminder to the living that everything you have was purchased with these names, with these lives.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Denise Williams is a regular visitor to the Middle East Conflicts Memorial Wall along the banks of the Illinois River near Marseilles, Illinois.

Denise Williams, Illinois Gold Star Mothers President:

This memorial represents those who have died since 1967 in all Middle East conflicts. People forget we lost three soldiers in the Yom Kippur war in 1967. The infamous Blackhawk Down in Mogadishu  theyre here. USS Cole  theyre here. So, its not just post 9-11, its all Middle East conflicts.

KANE FARABAUGH:

But there is one name on these walls closest to Williams heart - her sons, Andrew Meari.

Denise Williams, President, Department of Illinois Gold Star Mothers:

Its comforting that my son is with his brothers and sisters where he needs to be, where he should be, where he chose to be. That his name will be remembered.

KANE FARABAUGH:

PFC Andrew Meari was deployed with the Armys 101st Airborne Division in southern Afghanistan during the U.S. troop surge in 2010 when a suicide bomber on a motorcycle detonated a device near his outpost. One of the soldiers with Meari that day, Sgt, Felipe Pereira, later recalled the incident in a video produced by the U.S. Defense Department.

Sgt. Felipe Pereira, 502nd Infantry Regiment:

I run down the hill even further, thats when I got to PFC Meari, you know the soldier just turns to me and says, man hes dead  hes gone. Hes gone.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Andrew Meari was just 21 years old when he was laid to rest on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2010 near his home in Illinois.

Meari visited his mother on leave just weeks before he died. Williams says even then, he never wavered in his understanding of the mission to eliminate terrorist threats in the country.

Denise Williams, Illinois Gold Star Mothers President:

He absolutely believed if we were not fighting them there, we would be fighting them here. He believed in what he was doing. He believed in the righteousness of it.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Williams views that objective in Afghanistan as a success. Osama Bin Laden was captured and killed less than a year after her sons death.



Denise Williams, Illinois Gold Star Mothers President:

Everything else we did in Afghanistan - while there are many noble causes, there are many noble ideas - thats not what a war is about, that is not what soldiers are for. Soldiers dont dig wells, and build schools, and my son participated in some of that. Thats not the purpose of soldiers.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Today, Williams represents Illinois Gold Star Mothers as the non-profit service organizations President.

Denise Williams, Illinois Gold Star Mothers President:

We are the mothers of those who have lost their child or children because of their decision to put on their nations uniform.

KANE FARABAUGH:

As the United States marks the first November 11th Veterans Day after the end of the war in Afghanistan - a date which also marks exactly 11 years since she buried her son - Williams answers a difficult question she is often asked.

Denise Williams, Illinois Gold Star Mothers President:

I get asked was it worth it? There is no such thing as your childs death being worth it to a mothers heart. Period. But my son didnt fight for the Afghan people. He didnt fight for a political party. He did not fight for anything other than the Constitution, the oath that he swore. He fought for the American people  for America. America is worth fighting for.

KANE FARABAUGH:

Thanks for joining us for this special edition of Inside Story. Im Kane Farabaugh.

Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram @VOANews.

You can also stay up to date online at VOANews.com.

See you next week for The Inside Story.

###
"Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God," says the inscription carved into the large white marble gravestone on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Perched on a hillside in Arlington National Cemetery, the memorial overlooks Washington.

The tomb "is hallowed ground," said Tim Frank, a historian at the largest military cemetery in the United States, the final resting place of more than 400,000 men and women.

It is a place where people can honor not just the unknown soldier, who died during World War I, but all soldiers, known and unknown, who gave their lives in America's wars, Frank told VOA.

"It is the nation's most sacred military monument" and is guarded all the time, added historian Philip Bigler, author of Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: A Century of Honor.

Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is a federal holiday observed on November 11 to pay tribute to military veterans. This year it also commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which draws several million visitors each year.

There is a quiet reverence as an Army honor guard walks back and forth at the tomb in a perfectly timed pattern.

"I wasn't expecting to be so moved," said Alicia Davis, a visitor from Memphis, Tennessee. "And watching the guard protect the tomb made me realize just how many people have died for this country."

Origins of the tomb

The monument is also a reminder of the bloody history of World War I.

Millions of people died during the Great War, which took place mostly in Europe from 1914 to 1918. The U.S. suffered more than 100,000 casualties. Because many of soldiers who died could not be identified, they were laid to rest in U.S. military cemeteries in Europe.

Britain and France each buried an unknown soldier on Armistice Day in 1920, and the United States soon followed suit.

In 1921, an unknown American soldier was brought from France to Washington for burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Instead of choosing to honor a general with a monument, all three countries selected "the unknown common soldier as a hero of World War I," Bigler said.

The unknown soldier arrived in Washington to fanfare usually reserved for dignitaries. The body lay in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where about 90,000 visitors paid their respects. Then on Armistice Day, during a ceremony to bury the soldier, U.S. President Warren G. Harding praised the soldier, saying, "He died for his country, and greater devotion hath no man than this."

Visitors were welcomed to the gravesite, which was marked with a simple stone slab and nothing more. When families began holding picnics on it, however, a civilian guard was posted to protect the site.

In 1931, the familiar white marble cube was placed on top of the slab.

Years later, American unknown soldiers from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars were placed in crypts in front of the tomb. The Vietnam War soldier has since been identified through DNA analysis and was reburied in his hometown. His vault has remained empty to pay homage to all of the members of America's military still missing in war.

It is unlikely another unknown soldier will be laid to rest at the cemetery, Frank noted.

"That's because every service member now provides a DNA sample," he said.

Honor guard's role

Just as well-known as the tomb are the soldiers who guard it.

For more than 80 years, specially selected honor guards have kept watch over the sarcophagus 24 hours a day, even in bad weather.

Gavin McIlvenna is the president of the Society of the Honor Guard, a nonprofit that educates people about the unknown soldiers.

In the late 1990s, he was part of the Army's 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard  the protectors of the tomb.

For the honor guards, he said, "it's an opportunity to give back, show our respect and thank the unknown soldiers for their service."

Sergeant Chelsea Porterfield just ended her tour of duty at the tomb as the first female Sergeant of the Guard, running the day-to-day operations. She is one of only a handful of women soldiers who have protected the tomb.

"It's challenging in a lot of ways, physically and mentally, but the reasons we do it are greater than being cold or wet or hungry or tired. A little piece of me is always going to be there," she said.

For 100 years, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has deeply touched the lives of so many people, Bigler said.

"A lot of soldiers have died so we could have the liberty we take for granted," he said. This memorial represents the ultimate sacrifice they paid for freedom in America.

Vietnam veteran Peter Carlyle of Alexandria, Virginia, sums up his Tomb of the Unknown Soldier experience in a few simple words: "It makes me proud to be an American."
The United States and China surprised the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow on Wednesday with a joint declaration to take action to limit global warming over the next decade.

The declaration came as delegates entered the final hours of negotiations to agree on a final text at the conference that will outline how the world will limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

China and the United States are the worlds two biggest polluters, and scientists say their future actions are critical in the fight against climate change. The absence of Chinese leader Xi Jinping from the summit last week was strongly criticized by U.S. President Joe Biden.

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry told reporters in Glasgow on Wednesday that the joint declaration builds on statements made by both countries in April.

We also expressed a shared desire for success at this COP on mitigation, adaptation, support and, frankly, all of the key issues which will result in the world raising ambition and being able to address this crisis. Now, with this announcement, we've arrived at a new step, a road map for our present and future collaboration on this issue, Kerry said at a press conference.

The United States and China have no shortage of differences, but on climate, cooperation is the only way to get this job done. This is not a discretionary thing, frankly. This is science. It's math and physics that dictate the road that we have to travel, Kerry added.

Chinas chief climate negotiator, Xie Zhenhua, echoed those sentiments.

Climate change is a challenge, a common challenge, faced by humanity," Xie told reporters. "It bears on the well-being of future generations. Now, climate change is becoming increasingly urgent and severe, making it a future challenge into an existential crisis. In the area of climate change, there is more agreement between China and the U.S. than divergence, making it an area with huge potential for our cooperation. We are two days away from the end of the Glasgow COP, so we hope that this joint declaration can make a China-U.S. contribution to the success of COP26.

Among the joint pledges were cooperation on controlling methane emissions, tackling illegal deforestation, enhancing renewable energy generation and speeding up financial support for poorer nations. But the declaration did not include many specific dates or targets.

Cautious welcome

After the joint declaration, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted, "I welcome todays agreement between China and the USA to work together to take more ambitious #ClimateAction in this decade. Tackling the climate crisis requires international cooperation and solidarity, and this is an important step in the right direction."

Climate activists offered a cautious welcome to the declaration.

This announcement comes at a critical moment at COP26 and offers new hope that with the support and backing of two of the worlds most critical voices, we may be able to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees," Genevieve Maricle, director of U.S. climate policy action at the World Wildlife Fund, wrote in an email to VOA. "But we must also be clear-eyed about what is still required if the two countries are to deliver the emission reductions necessary in the next nine years. 1.5C-alignment will require a whole-of-economy response.

Momentum

The joint declaration has given new momentum to the negotiations as delegates try to agree on a final text, officially known as the "cover decision, by the end of the conference on Friday. The text details how parties to the COP26 summit will limit global warming to no more than 1.5 degrees C in Earths average temperatures above pre-industrial levels  the target agreed on at the Paris climate summit in 2015.

The first draft text of the decision, published Wednesday, urges countries to revisit and strengthen" their targets on cutting emissions before the end of 2022. It says rich countries should go beyond the pledge to pay poorer nations $100 billion a year. The draft text calls on governments to phase out coal and fossil fuels, but with no fixed dates.

The COP26 host, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urged delegates to "grasp the opportunity.

We're now finding things are tough, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. It doesn't mean that we can't keep 1.5 alive, Johnson said. I think with sufficient energy and commitment, and with leaders from around the world now ringing up their negotiators and asking them to move in the ways that they know they can move and should move, I still think we can achieve it. But I'm not going to pretend to you that it is by any means a done deal.

Jennifer Morgan, executive director of Greenpeace International, told VOA that the language of the draft text was weak.

This is not a plan to address the climate emergency. It's a bit like a pledge and a wink and a hope," Morgan said. "Countries need to commit to actually come back to increase and strengthen their targets and their actions. That's clearly one thing. The text does include that coal will be phased out and fossil fuel subsidies will be phased out. I think optimally, you would have dates by which time they would be phased out, but it's important that they're there.

Climate finance

Delegates are also negotiating how much  and quickly  richer nations should pay poorer countries to help them deal with the impact of climate change and de-carbonize their economies. While richer countries are responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, developing countries tend to suffer greater impacts of climate change. A pledge first made in 2009 by richer nations to pay $100 billion annually  and renewed at the Paris climate summit in 2015  has still not been fulfilled.

It's very frustrating to see countries that have spent six years conspicuously patting themselves on the back for signing that promissory note in Paris, quietly edging towards default now that vulnerable nations and future generations are demanding payment here now in Glasgow, Johnson said Wednesday.
The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are holding their first joint naval exercise with Israel, a year after normalizing ties with the Jewish state, the U.S. Navy said on Thursday.

The five-day maneuvers in the Red Sea, which is linked to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, are intended to "enhance interoperability between participating forces", a statement said.

"It is exciting to see U.S. forces training with regional partners to enhance our collective maritime security capabilities," said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, or NAVCENT.

"Maritime collaboration helps safeguard freedom of navigation and the free flow of trade, which are essential to regional security and stability."

The exercises, which began on Wednesday, include boarding, search and seizure training on the USS Portland, an amphibious transport dock ship.

It is the first publicly announced military cooperation by the UAE and Bahrain with Israel since they opened diplomatic relations in September last year.

The normalization agreements, which also involved Morocco and Sudan, broke with decades of Arab consensus that there should be no diplomatic ties without a resolution to the Palestinian conflict.

Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and the United States share concerns about Iran, which has previously been accused of orchestrating attacks on shipping in the region.

The Red Sea borders Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been fighting alongside government forces against Iran-backed rebels since 2015.

It lies next to the Gulf of Aden, which saw a rash of attacks on shipping by Somali-based pirates in the first decade of the 21st century before patrols by navies from around the world largely halted them.
U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that Washington would review whether it could help restore the internet in Cuba, which has suffered blackouts since protests erupted over the weekend.

They've cut off access to the internet. We're considering whether we have the technological ability to reinstate that access, Biden told reporters at a press conference alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A number of U.S. lawmakers have urged the president in recent days to address connectivity issues on the island, as protests over food and medicine shortages have rocked Havana, leaving at least one person dead and hundreds arrested.

Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn told VOA Thursday the Biden administration must support the Cuban people in concrete ways.

Theyve been very hesitant to step forward. And it appears that what they're trying to do is not take sides in a fight, Blackburn said.

Time is of the essence here, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, according to Reuters. Every day that the regime has to black out the truth is a day they can get the upper hand on this, he said of the Cuban government.

Global internet watchdog NetBlocks has confirmed restrictions to multiple social media and messaging platforms across Cuba over the past week.

The targeted restrictions are likely to limit the flow of information from Cuba following widespread protests on Sunday as thousands rallied against the socialist governments policies and rising prices, the organization said in a statement.

Earlier Thursday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced a 16-member Cuba advisory group to develop policies to support the Cuban protesters and hold the Cuban government accountable for human rights abuses.

I know this team, many of whom are Cuban American and in one way or another have borne witness to the brutality of communism, will work diligently for the cause of freedom, McCarthy said in a statement.

European leaders have also expressed their support for the Cuban people. On Monday, the foreign minister for the European Union, Josep Borrell, urged the Cuban government to listen to these protests of discontent.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other officials have blamed the unrest on social media postings by Cuban Americans and the U.S. governments decades-long embargo on Cuba. Sanctions and restrictions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and a drop in tourism related to the pandemic have put extra pressure on the Cuban economy in recent years.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed his governments support for Diaz-Canel on Monday and said, If the U.S. really wants to help Cuba, let it immediately lift the sanctions and the blockade against its people.

The protests were the largest anti-government demonstrations in Cuba in decades.

Some information for this report came from Reuters.
Terrorist attacks on gold mining operations in Burkina Faso are becoming a regular occurrence. For VOA, reporter Henry Wilkins looks at the impact the attacks are having on the lives of survivors and what it could mean if extracting gold, the country's primary source of income, becomes too dangerous
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Rural women are farmers, small business entrepreneurs and investors who dedicate most of their earnings to the wellbeing of their families and societies. Mombasa reporter Amina Chombo visited women who farm seaweed along the southern coast of Kenya. Narration by Grace Oyenubi.
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A fatal shooting during the production of a movie called Rust is raising questions about safety on movie sets. Authorities are still investigating the October 21st shooting south of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Penelope Poulou spoke with Tim Forrest at Central New Mexico Community College.
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Queens Aint No Sunshine Season 1 Episode 4 Editors Rating 4 stars * * * *  Previous Next Photo: Daniel Delgado/ABC

There is no one way to grieve, BUT I know Brianna did not just Google how to dispose of a dead body! Theres no emotion, no tears, and no dramatic monologue as Brianna mechanically reports her husband is dead and has his body removed from her house. The look on her face is the look of someone who is in a constant state of shock  as she should be, as her husband just died after revealing he has been unfaithful.

Episode four takes us on a wildly dramatic ride accompanied with just the perfect amount of comic relief. And though the episode makes light of Jeffs death, there is a lesson the Queens take away: We dont know the hour, we dont know the day, when the ones we love are going to fly far away. This truth inspires a lot of mending of relationships and forgiving. After Valeria realizes Eric has always loved Naomi, she feels silly for beefing with her for 20 years. Before Jeffs funeral service begins, she gives Naomi her flowers and acknowledges how good of a woman and musician she is. In a weird way, she also gives Naomi permission to tell Jojo that Eric is her father (at least thats what it felt like). After choosing not to have Erics child, Valeria admits to Naomi that he would be an amazing father. Naomi has kept this a secret from Jojo and Eric for 20 years, and a part of me thinks she is selfish AF for withholding precious information; the other part reminds me not to judge her (but Im definitely judging, though). Her reason for not telling Eric was based on pure resentment, jealousy, and anger. As fate would have it, Jojo and Eric cross paths a few times, and their spirits just seem to vibe well with each other. Now that the cat is out of the bag, I look forward to seeing dope musical daddy-daughter moments.

We wont see daddy-daughter moments between Jeff and his student turned side chicks baby, but I wouldnt be surprised if Alexis becomes an unofficial member of the group or something. Brianna went from attacking Alexis at the funeral (as she should because she shows up to a married mans funeral) to sobbing in her arms. Can you believe that Alexis threw up on Jeffs body?? Alexiss presence reminded her that although her husband was flawed, he was still a good man, a great father, and, most important, she loved him. The resentment she had over Jeffs cheating, coupled with the pressures of being a single mother to five kids, didnt allow Brianna to grieve. She needed to go through the stages of grief on her own time. The drama at the funeral definitely feels similar to a Tyler Perry movie, like Jill da Thrill says.

This episode also presents a lot of drama in Jills personal life  like Jeff, shes a cheater too. After hooking up with Alicia, the journalist from Out magazine, Jill feels guilty about betraying Tina. Alicia tries to explain to her in so many words that now that she is free and open, she doesnt have to live a life of restrictions. Throughout the episode, Jill fails to navigate conversations about cheating without looking or sounding guilty. The guilt is written all over her face. And instead of confessing, she asks Tina to move in. Also, Tina, who despite being Jills side lesbian lover and cheating on her own husband, ironically isnt the biggest fan of adultery. The pressure to keep her secret from Tina becomes too much, and eventually Jill spills the beans and blurts out I slept with someone else while Tina is in mid-sentence. I wonder if the cheater knows that the person getting cheated on most of the time has somewhat of an idea that something is off. Tina had her heres why I already knew that list ready. She ultimately decides to let Jill find herself and amicably ends their relationship. Is it really amicable if you break up with someone at a funeral and leave, though?? Not really.

On another note, so far, Valerias character has gotten a pretty bad rap for being a bougie, self-centered B-word. In this episode, though, she reveals a more vulnerable side and makes decisions that prioritize other peoples feelings ahead of her own. When Jeffs mistress initially becomes the topic of discussion before the funeral, its Valeria who vouches for her, reminding the ladies that Alexis may be grieving too. She also doesnt allow the girls to blame Alexis for Jeffs cheating. At the time, Alexis had no idea Jeff had passed, so she kept calling his phone (probably because she knew she was pregnant). Valeria breaks the news to her, and although one could argue that it isnt her place, Alexis and Brianna understanding each other is the first step to healing for both women.

Other Notes

 The singing! It has been a minute since weve heard Naturi sing, and her vocals sound beautiful. This role is legit perfect for her, like all the girls roles are for them.

 I truly hope Brandy can bless us with her vocals each episode.

 This is super-random, but Im currently listening to Alicia Keyss memoir, and it dawned on me: Jojos character  the classical pianist who merges hip-hop with traditional sounds!
Downtown Huntsville hosted its annual Veterans Day parade Thursday, with many local veterans lining the streets or walking the parade route.

All gave some, and some gave all," said veteran Duane Hoffman.

Hoffman is a veteran of the Korean War. On Thursday, he shared what it was like in Korea and how it felt leaving his small town.

I was just a farm boy, growing up in Kansas, said Hoffman. The war was a whole new world to me."

Hoffman served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955.

It ended up being called the forgotten war, said Hoffman. People didnt really talk about it.

During his time serving, when soldiers returned to the states, life just went on as they left it.

There was no celebration, said Hoffman. I went to school, I picked up a job, I got married  all that good stuff  but it was like it didnt happen.

But now, Hoffman said, the nation beams with pride and it touches him in more ways than just one. Hoffman said celebrations like the Veterans Day parade in Huntsville are a part of his bucket list.

I attended a lunch at one of the high schools yesterday, and with their presentation, I broke down in tears," he said. "It does touch you.

The Korean War was well over 50 years ago, but it still brings tears to Hoffmans eyes.

It means a lot, he said.

Hoffman said he loves traveling to events across the state and country to honor veterans. He said he is happy to live here in Huntsville, where patriotism shines bright.
The need for rental assistance is still high in North Alabama, but funds have run out at the local level in Madison County, leading officials to close their portal for applications.

In total, the Madison County Commission has helped nearly 1,000 families with rental and utility payments. District 6 Commissioner Violet Edwards said they used all of their available funding and had to close their portal, but that those they were able to help were thankful.

"This was just a little reprieve as we get back into our normal, daily schedule, and they were just very appreciative for this second chance or this opportunity to get on their feet," said Edwards.

Edwards told WAAY-31 that, to date, the commission has assisted 979 tenants and landlords and spent a little more than $5 million to do so.

They have since closed their portal to new applications, but Edwards said there's still options available.

"The assistance is still out there," she said. "I know Covid is still real and that some people might find themselves in hardship."

Madison County residents can still apply for the state's rental assistance program. The City of Huntsville's assistance portal is open until Friday, then it will also close due to lack of available funding.

The city has used nearly 90% of its original funding of $6 million but is looking to open a second, more detailed program for those in need.

"We'll prioritize pending evictions and those that make less than 50% of their immediate income," said Scott Erwin, manager of community development for the City of Huntsville. "So, we will try to make sure we're serving those with the greatest needs in our community."

Erwin leads the charge in getting additional funding for people who may not have a need for help just because of the pandemic, such as a low-income family.

He wants to present a total of nearly $5 million to help tenants.

"It is not intended to be a long-term solution," he said. "This is a temporary solution that will get someone off this immediate circumstance until they can go back to their previous employment or other sources of income."

Erwin told WAAY-TV they'll be presenting the grant at the next Huntsville City Council meeting. If approved, they can open up the portal as early as December.
The Opelika Police Department continues to search for answers in the decade-old case of a young girl whose remains were found in a trailer park.

The Central Alabama Crime Stoppers said this week they are offering a $5,000 reward for information that helps identify the girl. Her skeletal remains were found Jan. 28, 2012, at a trailer park on Hurst Street in Opelika, and its estimated she died sometime in 2010 or 2011, with a particular focus on the summer or fall of 2011.

Thus far, the investigation has determined the child is 47 years old, had medium-length black hair styled in cornrows, was likely abused or malnourished in life and was born and raised in Alabama or one of the surrounding southern states.

Her height, weight and eye color cannot be determined, according to officials. A long-sleeve pink shirt with heart-shaped buttons and small ruffles near the neckline was recovered near the remains, though police say it is unknown if it belonged to the child.

She possibly had ties to Orlando, Florida.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of Baby Jane Doe is encouraged to call Opelika Police at 334-705-5220 or Crime Stoppers at 1-833-AL1-STOP. You can also click here to submit a tip online.
Students at Sparkman High School were able to honor local veterans and hear stories about each of the different military branches during the school's annual ceremony Wednesday.

Many students at the ceremony stood up when they were asked who was planning to join the military after graduation. WAAY 31 spoke with one of those students.

Sparkman High School holds ceremony for Veterans Day Sparkman High School holds ceremony for Veterans Day

Dillon Watson said hearing the stories of the veterans and seeing all of his classmates who are planning to serve, reminds him why he's planning to serve as well.

It shows to me that American values are still there," he said. "Theyre not yet lost."

Watson is a junior at Sparkman and a member of JROTC. He's waiting for the day when he can join the military as his father and other family members have.

I also see it as my patriotic duty to serve this country and defend our democracy and freedom," he said.

Veteran John Miller and his brothers said they were just doing what Uncle Sam asked of them.

People say that we are heroes, but we were just doing what our country had asked us to do  to serve," said Miller.

Miller and his four brothers each served in the Vietnam War. They made it back home to North Alabama safe and sound.

Veterans Day means a whole lot to me, because we sacrifice so much for us as individuals, as well as our families, and we thank our parents for the prayers they sent up for God to bring us back, and he answered their prayers," Miller said.

Watson said Veterans Day is all about thanking veterans and active-duty members for protecting and serving the country.

We have freedoms, we have all this stuff that we need to be successful, and we have all these people that are still helping us be successful to this day," said Watson.

Abby Judge said she's thankful for her dad every Veterans Day and for all he did while serving the country. Judge is 17 and also a Sparkman student. Her dad served as a colonel in the army before retiring.

He adopted Judge during his time serving at the Embassy in Southeast Asia. She said her dad is a hero.

Being an American citizen or being an immigrant coming to America, (it) means everything to really thank our veterans for all the things theyve done, because if it wasnt for them, we wouldnt be a country, we wouldnt be free, have all the needs that we have right now," Judge said. "So, its just a big thank you to all of them.

Judge plans on joining the military once she graduates. She said it's a great way to show her appreciation to her dad and the country.
Skamokawa News

NOT TOO NICE--As this week begins, we've got thunder and downpours and some wind. Saturday had us dodging large hailstones off and on in West Valley, in between the heavy rain showers and a few sun breaks, so depending on where you were and when, you were either enjoying a little outdoor time, or you were hiding inside. With the exception of this past sunny Monday, this week looks to be pretty wet.

With all this darkness and gloomy weather, it's really imperative to turn on those headlights as while you may be able to see, people can't always see you. It's also a good time to check out those headlights and brake lights as I've seen quite a few "winkers" out there lately, so here's to being seen, which will help to keep you safe.

SPECIAL DAYS--Those celebrating birthdays from Nov. 11-17 are Rory Heywood, Mark Helms, Ty Briscoe, Virgil Cothren, Pat Ohrberg, Ashley N. Helms, Andrew Prestegard, Misty Holland, Brandi Seaberg, Hap Anderson, Martina Snow, Layton Elliott, Dean Seaberg, Heidi Souvenir, Samantha Havens, Zachary Stewart, Katie Watson, Roberta Trotter, Jody Kephart, Kylian Cochran, Julianne Bell and LuAnn Davison.

Those celebrating anniversaries this coming week are Mark and Terri Slape, Roy and Cathy LaBerge and Jim and Karen Blain. May you all have wonderful celebrations this coming week.

VETERANS DAY--Today, Thursday Nov. 11, is Veterans Day. I hope you will take a minute to thank all those who have served and are currently serving this country; their sacrifices should never be forgotten or taken for granted. We are the land of the free because of the brave. Thank you one and all!

FLEA MARKET--It's Flea Market time in the Youth Building at the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds in Skamokawa. There are huge highway signs that mention the fairgrounds prior to getting into Skamokawa on both the east and west ends of town and some on either end of the bridge over Skamokawa Creek, so if you turn right by Redmen Hall, you won't be able to miss the fairgrounds on your left. The flea market runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Come on down and check it out!

LEFSE MAKING TIME--If you want to learn how to make lefse or just help make it, or put an order in, then head to the Norse Hall on Puget Island, where members of the Sons of Norway will be from Nov. 11-13. By Saturday there should even be some for sale, so head that way for a tasty treat! Contact Jan Silvestri with any questions 360-431-1705.

BINGO TIME--On Saturday evening, the doors will open at the Norse Hall at 5:30 for their bingo games that will begin at 6 p.m. Not only should you have a fun time playing bingo, you could also pick up some Norwegian goodies!

MUSIC TIME THIS SUNDAY--If you like live music, and want to join in performing on your own or with others, then come to the Skamokawa Grange Hall this Sunday afternoon, Nov. 14. Sign in time for this "Open Mic" event will be at 2:45 p.m., and the music will begin at 3 p.m., with a fun jam session at the end!

If you don't want to participate, that's okay too, as many folks just want to come and listen to the local folks get together and have a good time, so here's your chance to come to 18 Fairgrounds Road and tap your toes and take in some music that is sure to soothe your soul!

STAR PROGRAM--If you you are in need of help providing Christmas gifts for your children, we have a great group of folks in our area who are willing to help you. Time is flying by however, so don't delay in either calling the Star Program phone number: 360-431-5232 or stop by the Health and Human Services offices out the Elochoman or just stop by the Sheriff's office and get a form. These forms need to be turned in by November 23 so you have less than two weeks to get that taken care of. There will be trees set up in local businesses so that one can pick out a tag and fill that child's wishes, but you'll need to return the tag and gifts to the place you picked it up by Dec. 13; just a bit over a month away. You can always leave a donation at the Bank of the Pacific as there may be tags that don't get filled, so with those funds, gifts can be purchased so that all those children will have a gift under the tree this Christmas. Let's all do our part and help make dreams come true for all the children in our area.

DINE/ENJOY/HELP--There are a couple of dinners coming up that not only help us wives that are sick of cooking, but they also help our local restaurant, which is always great after all the hassles they've gone through, but it will also help another great fundraising event: "Shop With a Cop!" We can dine locally and enjoy a "no cooking and cleaning" day/evening and then a portion of the meal will be donated to this great cause, so it's a win, win for everybody! If you want more info on the two dining out events, one on Nov. 20 and one on Nov. 25, call 360-795-6055.

SHOP LOCAL--Christmas will be here before you know it. There will definitely be some holiday bazaars and other doings after Thanksgiving, so we hope you'll be watching for those ads and buying things here locally to help support all the artisans and craftsmen that will be selling their homemade items at these special places.

DECK THE HALLS--One of those places that you will want to be sure to check out this holiday season is right here in Skamokawa at the historic Central School/Redmen Hall with its River Life Interpretive Center on the second floor. The hall is always dressed up in holiday decor and cheer and is a great spot to look for those unique gifts. This annual holiday event includes three weekends, Friday through Sunday from 10 to 4 beginning Nov. 26 and going through Dec.12 so if you're a vendor and you'd like a spot, contact the hall at 360-795-3007.

OUT OF THE PAST--This week back in 1946, the week began with a "lovely day" and it was off to the movies for the Everests as "The Virginian" was showing and they both thought it was real good. Later on that week they saw "Kitty"....no comment was made. After several nice days, the heavy fog rolled in and the temperatures dropped, which made for several days of very cold weather. George Everest was leaving Hawaii on the USS Gen. Bittner as he was heading out of the military. He had hoped to be home in time for Thanksgiving but it looked like that was just not going to happen. Mrs. Shirley Robbins went to join her husband, Alvin (Skip) Robbins, who was serving as a radioman and stationed in Panama at the fleet air base there. The couple was expected to be there for two years. Shirley was the daughter of locals, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jacobson, who resided in the Rosedale area.

This week back in 1951, the week began with a horrible storm, which was so bad that ships could not cross the Columbia bar, which was the first time that had happened all year long. As the weather began to clear a couple of days later, Frank and Jean Shane were making their way towards Cathlamet, to see Jean's sister, Elsie Everest. They had not been this way in five years due to a multitude of health issues. Sadly after just a short weekend stay, they had to go home due to their daughter having to go to the hospital, but they'd had a great visit with family while they were here. During the stormy weather, the Buick of Krist and Carol Pedersen wound up being damaged on the Puget Island bridge after it took a skid; it was not exactly a good day for the ole car! Former Cathlamet Crown Zellerbach Personnel Manager, E.M. (Chet) Boddy, was pictured in the paper this week, as he had been named the new sales rep for Thornley Buick Company. He was currently an officer in the Marine Corps reserve as well. All this according to my Grandma Elsie Everest's diaries.
After midnight on the 13th of November the mobile crisis mental health services for Wahkiakum will be provided by Columbia Wellness.

Columbia Wellness crisis services are already offered in Cowlitz and Grays Harbor Counties and Columbia Wellness has already been a valued part of Wahkiakums coverage team this year. Columbia Wellness will be the provider of the 24-7 Mobile Crisis hotline services for the community. They know Wahkiakum and will be able to be effective immediately.

Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams are available to help those in the community experiencing a mental health and/or substance use issue. They provide assistance in community settings such as homes and schools. They are professionals trained to evaluate a person for safety, to de-escalate a crisis, and to provide information and education. They also refer people to community behavioral health services for additional support within available resources.

In order to reach Columbia Wellness mobile crisis people are encouraged to call 800-803-8833.

Other numbers that may be useful include:

--National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255. Or text HEAL to the Crisis Text Line at 7141741.

--Under 21? Call Teen Link at 866-TEENLINK (866-833-6546).

--Washington Recover Helpline for substance abuse, gambling and mental health 866-789-1511.

--Copline is a 24/7 help hotline for law enforcement 800-972-0026.

--Washington Poison Center 800-222-1222.

--Trevor Hotline for LGBTQ youth in crisis 888-488-7386.

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Wilkin Co. adopts vaccine policy following OSHA requirement

Daily News file photo The penalty for violating the policy is up to $13,653 per violation and if the employer willfully violates the policy or mandate, they can be charged up to $136,000.

Editor's Note: A quote by Wilkin County Human Resources Director Stephanie Sandbakken was removed from this story. The quote was taken out of context and was not an accurate reflection of Sandbakken's neutral position on the issue.

The Wilkin County Board adopted a vaccine policy for county employees at a Tuesday, Nov. 9 meeting following an emergency temporary standard (ETS) issued by the U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Under the ETS, every U.S. employer with over 100 employees faces two choices: adopt a vaccine mandate or allow county employees to remain unvaccinated so long as they undergo a weekly COVID-19 test and wear a mask while at work. The ETS is set to take effect Dec. 5 and the mandatory testing and usage of face masks will take effect Jan. 4.

OSHA is facing legal challenges over the requirement due to medical freedom concerns, but the county, which employs around 110 individuals, needs to proceed under the assumption the ETS will activate next month, Wilkin County Human Resources Director Stephanie Sandbakken said.

Theyre trying to incentivize employees to get vaccinated, she said.

The penalty for violating the policy is up to $13,653 per violation and if the employer willfully violates the policy or mandate, they can be charged up to $136,000. If an employee does not abide by the policy, they are to be suspended without pay until they comply, Sandbakken said.

For me, this isnt about us getting poked multiple times since we were infants till now, its about having the right to say no, to choose what we have in our bodies, Commissioner Jonathan Green said.

Still, the commissioners were forced with a decision, opting to allow unvaccinated individuals to remain employed if they submitted to a weekly test and wore a face mask while at work.

Commissioner Eric Klindt expressed concern a vaccine policy would lead some employees to quit, leaving the county with even more open positions. Wilkin County recently accepted two resignations, and a homemaker, public-safety answering point manager, part-time deputy sheriff and dispatcher position are already open.

There will be more, Klindt said.

The testing requirement is difficult for a rural county, Emergency Manager Breanna Koval said. There is no testing site in Wilkin County. Area clinics are testing symptomatic individuals, but not those who require a test every week. The next closest testing site is in Moorhead, Minnesota.

The county board agreed to provide testing for employees who choose not to get vaccinated. No federal funding may be used to enforce the mandatory testing, including CARES Act or American Rescue Plan dollars. The move could cost the county up to $25,000 a year, but it is a necessary one, Green said.

Its not about the $25,000, its about retaining employees. Its going to cost us a lot more if we lose them, Green said.

Even if the county were able to acquire rapid testing kits for all unvaccinated employees each week, its not guaranteed supplies will last, Wilkin County Public Health Director Becky Tripp said. Already, tests are more expensive and more difficult to procure.

The county will be subject to the state of Minnesotas OSHA requirements which have not yet been released. The states rules can be the same or stricter than the federal rules, Koval said. Since the federal rules are already stringent, Koval said the only way the state could take the policy further is by issuing a blanket vaccine mandate for all employees rather than providing an option for unvaccinated individuals.

The county can amend the policy if needed once further information presents itself. Human Resources will begin collecting every employees vaccination status to meet the Dec. 5 deadline.
More than $200 million in utility relief remains available for low-income households
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Italian government gets tough with Green Pass protesters.

Italy's interior ministry has cracked down on the No Green Pass movement by prohibiting their rallies from city centres, in a bid to protect public health and stop disruption to businesses and local residents.

Italian interior minister Luciana Lamorgese said that while people have the constitutional right to protest, there is also a need "to have safe living spaces for the large number of citizens who have been vaccinated and observe the rules."

On Wednesday night the minister sent a directive to the prefects of Italian cities, tasking them with identifying "specific sensitive urban areas, of particular interest for the orderly development of community life, which may be subject to a temporary ban on public demonstrations."

The order effectively means that future Green Pass protests will be reduced to sit-ins, rather than marches, and will be held far away from historic centres, shopping streets or "sensitive" sites such as institutional or political headquarters.

The move comes as authorities take increasingly strident measures against the No Green Pass protests which have had a negative impact on city centre retailers at weekends for several months.

The rallies have led to a surge of covid infections in the northern port city of Trieste whose mayor has curbed protests amid concerns that the surrounding region could become subject to new restrictions.

Protestors at No Green Pass rallies have also been condemned for comparing themselves to Holocaust victims, notably in Novara where dozens of people dressed in the style of Auschwitz prisoners.

Italy's new rules for protests against the Green Pass will come into force ahead of this weekend.
Italy's 'Tiramisu couple' Alba and Ado Campeol die within days of each other.

Alba Di Pillo, who is credited with inventing tiramisu, has died just days after her husband, Ado Campeol.

Together the couple marketed the hugely popular dessert at their restaurant, Alle Beccherie, in the north Italian city of Treviso.

News of Alba's death was announced in a statement by Italy's Veneto Region which described her as "La Mamma del Tiramisu."

For a lifetime they had been inseparable at work in their restaurant as well as in their private life. Death separated them only for a few days" - said Veneto governor Luca Zaia.

Alba and Ado at Le Beccherie restaurant in Treviso

"Today Alba and Ado are reunited in that chemistry that characterised that temple of hospitality and the Venetian gastronomic tradition that is Le Beccherie in Treviso."

Tiramisu was "born from the imagination and passion of satisfying the palate of Alba's customers", said Zia, who expressed his gratitude to the husband-and-wife team for helping to make Veneto "appreciated internationally".

The creation of the dessert, whose name translates as "pick me up", is said to have came about by chance in 1969.

Alba was making vanilla ice cream when she accidentally added mascarpone cheese to the egg and sugar mixture.

She realised something magical had happened when she tasted the concoction on coffee-soaked savoiardi or 'lady finger' biscuits, and she perfected the recipe with the help of chef Roberto Linguanotto.

The dish was added to the restaurant's menu formally in 1972 before going on to achieve global stardom.
Emergency situation in Agrigento province of Sicily.

The Agrigento area of Sicily has been hammered by heavy rains leading to widespread flooding and landslides on the southwest coast of the Italian island.

The prefect of Agrigento, Maria Rita Cocciufa, has issued a "heartfelt appeal" to residents in the area, urging them: "do not get in the car and do not leave the house, the condition is of great, very great, risk due to the wave of severe weather that is affecting the northern area of the province of Agrigento."

In addition to Agrigento, there are also emergency situations in Sciacca, Menfi, Ribera, with rescue operations and evacuations carried out throughout the night, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

In Sciacca, a retaining wall and part of a road collapsed close to a seven-storey building, swallowing several cars.

Sciacca mayor Francesca Valenti told Italian news channel Tgcom24 that the "town is on its knees, destroyed," adding that it is "too soon to count the damage."

Cover photo BlogSicilia
Then there is the supply chain itself. Some companies make components that are already an integral piece of American construction equipment. Any demand for more forklifts and excavators as construction takes off in the U.S. will mean even more parts. Consider Jiangsu Hengli Hydraulic Co., which manufactures high-pressure tanks, hydraulic systems and other equipment. Some of these elements typically account for around a third of the cost of an excavator. The company supplies cylinders to American bellweather Caterpillar Inc.  an obvious winner of an uptick in the Biden administrations infrastructure spending. It also sells to other beneficiaries, including Japans Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., that operate in the U.S. market.
These episodes show that the business community is wise to remain part of the broader Republican coalition, but to put some additional distance between itself and the GOP. It should continue to make inroads with Democrats, emboldened by the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The Chamber pushed hard for that bill among members of both parties, with success. And it needs to go back to basics, reminding elected officials and the public why its interests are aligned with the nations long-term prosperity.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian delegate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to publicly discuss the issue, said Russia had refused to support the U.S. bid unless some of its diplomats were removed from a U.S. blacklist or allowed to enter the U.S. to participate in the APEC meetings.
Britain, its been said, has a second-rate health-care system at the price of a third-rate one. Indeed, the real wonder of the NHS is that it has performed as well as it has given the skimpy resources it has received over the years. Its the virtuous circle of deep public support and NHS staff goodwill that seems to be its driving force. And yet this means there is always a danger that if one breaks down, so could the other. That was once unthinkable. But so was a pandemic.
The U.S. is particularly worried about Islamic State and al-Qaeda developing the capacity to launch attacks on its soil, while European leaders are keen to avoid a repeat of the 2015 migrant crisis, and are watching developments on the Polish-Belarus border with alarm. Meanwhile, the absence of China and Pakistan in one of the two tracks will make developing an urgent plan to deal with the unfolding crisis even more difficult, as Madiha Afzal, a foreign policy fellow at Brookings and the author of Pakistan Under Siege: Extremism, Society and the State, told me.
The East Jerusalem consulate has long been seen in Israel as a nemesis and an advocate for the agenda of the Palestinian Liberation Organization. A de facto U.S. embassy to the Palestinians, the consulate also stood as a brick-and-mortar symbol of Americas refusal to accept Israeli sovereignty over the entire city of Jerusalem or to formally recognize it as Israels capital. That policy ended in 2018, when the Trump Administration accepted Israels claim to the united city and moved the U.S. embassy there. For Israel, this was the fulfilment of a national dream as well as a resounding diplomatic success.
For all these reasons, the U.S. has a strong national interest in helping with the crisis. The problem  much like in the Balkans in the 1990s  is the longstanding antipathies in the country. The heart of the opposition to the federal government is the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front, which has cobbled together a coalition of other disenfranchised minorities and is marching on the capital. Large numbers of the Oromo and the Amhara peoples, along with smaller ethnic groups, have joined the antigovernment coalition
With roughly 31 million Covid shots administered each day, its inevitable that some people will die soon after they receive immunizations; the question is, did the vaccine cause it? Determining that can be very difficult, particularly in cases where the deceased had one or more underlying illness, was aged, frail or all three. In the U.S. and the U.K., apart from fatalities from the clotting syndrome, authorities have reported that the evidence does not suggest that vaccines played a role in post-vaccination deaths. In Norway, an expert group of geriatric specialists studied the first 100 deaths among nursing home residents following receipt of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and concluded that a causal link to the inoculation was likely, though not certain, in ten cases. The group recommended that in cases where life expectancy is short, the risks and benefits of vaccination should be carefully assessed. It suggested that the risk of death from vaccine reactions could be reduced using measures such as good hydration.
As for South Africa, a recent New Yorker feature article noted that Mandelas dream is in ruins and spoke of the mob violence that is threatening the countrys constitutional order. Some 40,000 businesses have been looted, vandalized or burned amid mass riots and unrest. The country has seen its worst violence since the end of apartheid. South Africa also has been experiencing major Covid waves and lockdowns. The measured unemployment rate is 33%, and that does not count those who have stopped looking for work.
Its a sham. Its also the moment that should prompt the United States and the world to turn their attention to one of the hemispheres poorest and least stable nations  and act forcefully. First, because of the obvious suffering of the Nicaraguan people, and the risks to a region ill-equipped to deal with a creaking police state. But also because Washingtons policy of seeing Central America largely through the lens of migration made this democratic deterioration more likely. Today, theres no swift means of removing the increasingly paranoid Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo: Nicaraguans must ultimately resolve this crisis themselves, yet civil society and the opposition have been smothered and every critic is now a traitor to the nation. That set of circumstances suggests prudence, though, not inaction.
I, too, was subjected to a lot of nastiness coming home after my service was completed. The day I got home and changed my clothes was the last day I ever talked about being in the service. I moved away from my neighborhood and never told a soul that I had been in the military.
While they talked, Roberts pulled out a single-lens reflex Mamiya camera, one of those boxy numbers that have faded into nostalgia. Hes kept the photos he took of the women that day with him all these years  as he returned stateside to his bride, as he taught junior high science at a prep school in Philadelphia, as he spent three decades teaching computer science at Carnegie Mellon University, and as he entered retirement seven years ago in a Pittsburgh suburb. In the images Roberts captured that day, its the easy smiles of the women that stand out. Such smiles were few during Robertss nearly year-long stint in the village.
In a 15-page emergency motion filed Thursday, Trumps attorneys asked to keep the documents secret for now, and proposed that all sides brief the court next week on whether to keep them so for the weeks or months an appeal may take to decide. Trumps legal team said the case presented serious, novel questions about whether a former president can sue a successor to withhold government records from Congress, and that the institution of the presidency would be irreparably harmed if the documents were released beginning at 6 p.m. Friday as planned.
Nobody ever knows who is struggling or [waging] wars the eye cannot see. What does chronic depression even look like? Santiago wrote in his note, which he double-posted on Instagram and Facebook, along with a slide show of him as a baby, with family, in Bali, at games, at work. At times I think my close friends just tolerate me. Moreover, I feel truly alone. I always have. For a long time (years) Ive known I would take my own life.
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The officer was off duty and driving in her personal vehicle with a male acquaintance to a home in the 3100 block of Squire Road in Upper Marlboro for a hair appointment, police said. At about 12:40 p.m., the officer and acquaintance were on the phone with the barber and overheard a confrontation in the background of the call, according to authorities.
Ben Fishman, who worked on Libya at the White House during the Obama administration and is now a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the appeal of elections was understandable but said it was equally important to have made the right technical preparations and to have in place political agreements to accept the results. Everyone wants to see Libyans exercise their rights to vote, he said. The question is when and how.
The mass expulsions were denounced by immigrant advocacy groups and members of the presidents own party, who noted that Haitian families  including thousands of women and children  were being returned at higher rates than migrants from other nations. Many had fled Haiti years earlier and had been living in Chile, Brazil and other South American nations. They opted to leave for the United States after hearing from relatives and others that jobs were available and Haitians would be allowed to enter.
The judge said it was remarkable that more than half of Flints 81,000 residents have signed up for a share of the settlement. Its not clear just how much each child will receive. A claims process is next with families required to show records, such as blood tests or neurological results, and other evidence of injury.
Shelby, 87, whose 2022 retirement will end six terms in the Senate, has $9.7 million in cash in his campaign account and $6.5 million in his leadership PAC, according to federal records. He has told others that $5 million of it will go to an independent SuperPAC supporting Katie Britt, 39, who after leaving his staff served as the CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, according to two people who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations.
correction

Two months after publication of this story, the Georgia secretary of state released an audio recording of President Donald Trumps December phone call with the states top elections investigator. The recording revealed that The Post misquoted Trumps comments on the call, based on information provided by a source. Trump did not tell the investigator to find the fraud or say she would be a national hero if she did so. Instead, Trump urged the investigator to scrutinize ballots in Fulton County, Ga., asserting she would find dishonesty there. He also told her that she had the most important job in the country right now. A story about the recording can be found here. The headline and text of this story have been corrected to remove quotes misattributed to Trump.
Blinken said the U.S. did not know Russias intentions but said Moscows playbook has been in the past to invent provocations along its border to justify military intervention. We dont have clarity into Moscows intentions, but we do know its playbook, he said. If there are any provocations that were seeing, theyre coming from Russia.
Burrell, with the skill of an avid birdwatcher, realized these sounds were coming from the same spot above his tent and that, while the calls sounded like they came from many birds, they were really just from one: a northern mockingbird. While some campers might have pulled their sleeping bags higher over their heads, trying to drown out the bird noises so early in the morning, Burrell listened closely and sought a deeper, Christian meaning in the small birds mimicry.
While there is nothing inaccurate about the word Godself, the Scriptures clearly uses Himself in reference to God, and our church has no problem with that, the statement read. We seek to use gender-neutral pronouns when the scriptural text does so in the original languages, and we use gendered pronouns when the text does so in the original languages.
The plenum is about past achievements, but its really about the future, said Tony Saich, director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University. By tracing the continuity of the party over 100 years, it is used to show that it was inevitable for Xi to emerge at this time to be the core of the party, he said.
He drinks around 1.5 liters of water a day and takes a few grains of sugar at a time, but stopped consuming salt because it upset his stomach and is refusing infusions. He has difficulty speaking, suffers short-term memory loss, hearing difficulty and a permanent headache, raising concerns of cognitive damage, the report said. Tirosh said his condition is life-threatening and that even if he stops the hunger strike, he will still need to spend several weeks in the hospital.
It is also Russian President Vladimir Putin who would decide whether Lukashenko could follow through with threats to turn off the Belarus pipeline, which supplies about 20 percent of Europes Russian gas, according to analysts. So far, Russia has insisted it has no part in Lukashenkos growing feud even as it declines to rein him in.
After Halimis killing in 2017, investigators hesitated to do so, despite numerous details suggesting that an antisemitic link existed. A court in April officially established an antisemitic motive, even though it said that her suspected killer could not be prosecuted because he was in a cannabis-induced state of mental delirium at the time of the attack. The lack of a conviction sparked outrage among the French Jewish community and drew criticism from Macron.
For her, it was an entry to a different world. She had just married, and her new husband brought her from their home village in the mountains to Kabul, where he had a job in the Finance Ministry. She was alone in the house all day while he was at the office.
The meeting released a joint statement appealing for the international community to urgently provide humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. It also urged the Taliban to form an inclusive and representative government that respects the rights of all Afghans and provides for the equal rights of women and girls to participate in all aspects of the Afghan society.
For around seven years, Yemen has been submerged in a violent civil war between the government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, and the Iranian-backed rebel Houthis, who now control most of the countrys north. Most high-level Yemeni government officials live in neighboring Saudi Arabia, and Aden is run by the Southern Transitional Council, a body backed by the United Arab Emirates that has repeatedly clashed with the government over control of the south.
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On the crowded calendar of runway shows from Milan to Mumbai, Melbourne Fashion Week has struggled like a teenager to find a look that sticks. While Melbourne Fashion Festival, held in March, has blazed trails with its pioneering approach to inclusive beauty and sustainability and Australian Fashion Week in Sydney attracts international attention, MFW has played catch up over the years, but may leapfrog ahead of the pack by returning to its retail roots on Monday.

This is a peoples event. Its about runway to retail, said Sally Capp, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, spokesperson for the event that is operated by Melbourne City Council. We are hoping for a bump up in the CBD. Normally, we are the lead in to the Spring Racing Carnival with its finery. By moving the dates we are making sure that people can physically go and enjoy a full-on retail fashion experience.

Designer Dimitria Diida Papafotiou, with model Maddy Sacchetta, is energised by the upcoming Melbourne Fashion Week. Credit:Wayne Taylor

The event, which started life as Melbourne Spring Fashion Week 27 years ago, would usually usher in new season styles but has been pushed back to avoid a repeat of last years predominantly digital activation, despite bringing it closer to the Black Friday sales period. As a result of the calendar shake-up designers are being encouraged to showcase timeless pieces rather than current collections.

Our city has been shut down and behind closed doors people have been working frenetically to prepare for the bounceback, Capp said. We have so much pent-up demand and energy and interest. Fashion goes to the DNA of Melbourne. We almost cant have enough fashion at the moment.
When the war is over/Got to get away/Pack my bag to no place/In no time, no day.

As a minutes silence fell upon Melbournes Shrine of Remembrance at 11am on November 11, with the Last Posts final notes still ringing out, the scent of burning eucalyptus mingled with cannon smoke.

Uncle Mik Edwards (right) and Uncle Shane Clarke (left) during the smoking ceremony. Credit:Simon Schluter

On Thursday, several thousand observers gathered to pay their respects to more than 102,000 Australians who lost their lives to wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations since Federation. It was the first large crowd to gather at the Shrine in many long months.

Bunurong elders Uncle Shane Clarke and Uncle Mik Edwards performed a smoking ceremony and offered a Welcome to Country, lighting eucalyptus leaves and other native flora from the eternal flame in the Shrines forecourt before bathing guests and grounds in cleansing smoke.
Wilmington, DE (19810)

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Showers this evening becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low around 45F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

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Showers this evening becoming a steady light rain overnight. Low around 45F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
Get ready for some rhythm and blues at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 at the Henderson County Performing Arts Center, 400 Gibson Road in Athens. This one night only event is co-sponsored by Wesley Pruitt and the Henderson County Arts Council.
Weber State Veterans Services Ranks No. 2 in Nation as Best for Vets'

July 2, 2021

According to a new survey from Military Times, Weber State University ranks No. 2 in the nation for veteran students.

More than 300 schools across the country participated in the Best For Vets: College survey, which included 70 questions about each colleges costs, programs, policies and services that impact military-connected students. Weber State is the only Utah college in the Top 10.

Its the support we get from the university and its Military Outreach for Veterans Education (MOVE) committee, and it is the teamwork we have in the Veterans Services office, explained Charles Chandler, WSU Veterans Services director. You put those two together, and its a catalyst for making sure that veterans are taken care of here at the university because the transition from being in the military into higher education is daunting.

In 2020, 1,275 students received some type of benefit through Weber States Veterans Services.

WSU Veterans Services helps students excel at the university with assistance such as certifying educational benefits for veterans, supporting classroom success and nurturing veterans along the way, so they complete their desired degree or certificate. In addition, the WSU Davis campus in Layton has a dedicated full-time School Certifying Official and tutoring services through Veterans Upward Bound. Veterans are able to receive tutoring, ask for help and hang out or study in the lounge.

Adam Darby is the president of the Student Veterans of America chapter. He served four years on active duty as a Specialist in the Army stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado. He is now a senior pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering, Applied Science & Technology.

I can say with confidence that my experience as a veteran student has been positive, Darby said. I have made some good working relations with not only my professors but also different departments across campus that I interact with as well.

Darby is also a peer mentor for the Veterans Integration To Academic Leadership (VITAL) program, which helps veteran students get mental health treatment for stress, anger, depression, anxiety, sleep problems and PTSD. It also offers academic peer mentoring and referrals to services on and off campus.

VITAL coordinator Robert Brito said, Weber State does whatever it takes to help pave the way for those who have done so much for the country.

We care, Brito said. We all care. Our customer is the veteran student. Students come first, and helping them through the process, working through road blocks is how we help them succeed.

For more information about the Veterans Services office, visit weber.edu/veterans.

For photos and graphics, visit the following links.

wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2021-Photos/July-2021/i-kBNNdH8/A

wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2021-Photos/July-2021/i-NL8gNFv/A

Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University.
If you want to conduct an experiment in the sociology of pandemic behavior, try a quick jaunt to Las Vegas. Always a petri dish for freaks, Sin City has gotten stranger in these strange times since it continues to have a mask mandate for everyone, vaccinated or not, gathered indoors.
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In 1987, following the failure of two Supreme Court nominations, President Ronald Reagan announced his choice of Judge Anthony M. Kennedy, who went on to win confirmation, and more events that happened on this day in history.

Video 1918: Armistice 1921: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 1938: "Typhoid Mary" 1942: France 1966: Gemini 12 1987: Anthony Kennedy 1998: The Persian Gulf 2003: Robert Durst 2004: Yasser Arafat 2011: Barack Obama 2016: Barack Obama 2016: Mike Pence 2016: Robert Vaughn 2020: Georgia
Quincy, IL (62301)

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Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low near 25F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Quincy, IL (62301)

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Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low around 25F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph..

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Amid reports of nationwide supply chain issues and price increases on Christmas trees, Connecticut tree farms that grow their own trees aren't feeling the squeeze. However, wholesale suppliers who import their trees may be affected, according to Kathy Kogut, the executive director of the Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers Association.

Its going to be the people that do fundraisers, Boy Scouts, churches, civic organizations and people that sell trees out of a tree lot because they dont have a tree farm, Kogut said. They cant get them.

Kogut, who also operates Koguts Hemlock Hill Tree Farm in Meriden with her husband Bill, said that while most of Connecticuts tree farms are ready for the upcoming Christmas tree season, some will find difficulty in stocking up on supplemental wholesale trees that they bring in to round out their inventory. She estimates that 30 to 40 percent of the farms in the Connecticut Christmas Tree Growers Association will bring in the wholesale trees.

The volume of wholesale trees varies between farms. However, Kogut said she saw one farm bring in as many as 1,000 wholesale trees last year in order to meet the demand.

If they oversold last year, theyll be short this year, Kogut added.

In terms of the supply chain issues occurring across the country, Kogut said that the only major thing that tree farms with their own trees are having a hard time getting are accoutrements and other decorations for their shops.

But whether buyers go to a cut-your-own tree farm or a wholesale lot, Kogut advises buying early this year.

Youre going to find a Christmas tree in Connecticut somewhere because there are farms that have plenty of trees...but you may not find that the Christmas tree farm that you usually go to has an abundance of trees, she said. [They] may have to close early because theyre at capacity or they might not have the variety that youre always used to getting.

In some cases, Kogut sees some of the smaller tree farms closing sales after only a week of business due to the demand and limited supply. She reports that some of the farms in the association have already started to sell trees.

"Today, holiday shoppers arent seeing the surpluses of the 1990s and 2000s, as many farmers scaled back their operations and started planting fewer trees amid the Great Recession," the Huffington post reported, adding that it takes about 10 years to grow a tree.

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

Trees mainly affected by the shortage are wholesale balsam trees from the northern United States and Canada, and fraser firs from the south  mostly from North Carolina. In the south, freight transportation cost increases have made moving trees difficult. According to Kogut, 500 trees could be sent via freight transportation for $3,000 a few years ago. This year, that figure has climbed to $9,000.

In Canada, Kogut said that some tree farms are being bought up for their land. Additionally, many balsams were hurt by frost, further diminishing the supply coming from the north. A bad wet season has also caused some farms to lose some of their inventory due to tree diseases like Phytophthora ramorum, which is a root rot disease.

Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media

As for the cost of live trees, Kogut said that trees from tree farms have stayed relatively at the same price, only increasing 3 percent yearly due to cost of living. Other nominal price increases are due to increases in the prices of items used for tree growth such as chemical fertilizer.

Artificial Christmas trees

If youre looking for an artificial tree instead, there is also a shortage of those.

The American Christmas Tree Association stated that this year will see fewer artificial trees available for consumer purchase this season, and those that are available will come with a higher price tag. This is due to ongoing supply chain issues as well as the increase in shipping costs for holiday goods.

Alex von Kleydorff/Hearst Connecticut Media

Companies such as the National Tree Company have been forced to increase their prices on artificial trees and holiday decorations sold at Walmart and Target up to 25 percent more than last year, Chris Butler, CEO of the National Tree Company, told Fox News.

Home Depot, as of now, shows plenty of artificial trees in stock with prices online range from $150 to $6,809.

"The peak week for buying Christmas trees is around Thanksgiving time, and we think by that point the shelves might be quite empty, Butler told Fox News. "We're suddenly scrambling to get containers along with every other importer of goods from China. Not only were we unable to get all of the containers that we wanted to get, but also the prices have gone up tenfold."

Kogut said approximately 25 to 30 million trees are sold in the United States yearly while 150,000 trees are sold solely in Connecticut every year.
STRATFORD  Perched on a low dune of pink-and-tan seashells, the snowy owls arctic camouflage was conspicuous Wednesday to a crowd of birders and photographers who hovered nearby, rapidly clicking away with their cameras.

After a few moments, the stillness of the beach was disrupted by a woman who approached within several yards of the owl, prompting it to depart with a few flaps of its wings to a nearby jetty. The crowd of onlookers soon followed, a few raising their voices in frustration and apparent concern for the bird.

The woman, who later identified herself as Lisa Dickal, a state-licensed wildlife rehabilitator, said she had intentionally flushed out the bird to determine whether it was healthy enough to fly or whether it needed to be potentially rescued.

A nearby Department of Energy and Environmental Protection police officer quickly intervened, backing up Dickal and warning some of the photographers to stop crowding around the bird. Dickal identified the owl as a juvenile that had likely wandered south from its place of birth, thousands of miles away in the high arctic.

After tensions eased  with the help of DEEP and Stratford police who were on the scene monitoring the crowds  Dickal expressed her frustration with some of the bird-watchers, ultimately attributing their reaction to a misunderstanding.

This whole purpose wasnt to ruin peoples day, it was to assess the bird, she said. The experience overall was upsetting because maybe three people would listen, the rest were extremely combative.

The commotion surrounding the rare snowy owl that appeared in Stratford this week is indicative of what conservationists in Connecticut described as a growing conflict between public enthusiasm for nature and the need to protect vulnerable species and their habitats from disturbing crowds.

Interest in outdoor activities such as birdwatching surged during the COVD-19 pandemic, prompting some veteran hobbyists and scientists to call for a closing of ranks around sharing information that can draw large crowds when a particularly rare species is spotted.

Another snowy owl, for instance, was at the center of a similar controversy last year when it alighted in New Yorks Central Park, drawing hundreds of curious onlookers.

This one bird has really uncovered some huge problems on both sides of the issue, said Patrick Comins, executive director of the Connecticut Audubon Society.

Obviously were a conservation organization and were concerned about the well-being of every snowy owl thats here. But people kind of come up with their own guidelines of what people should be doing or shouldnt be doing, and then theyre not shy about espousing those opinions and then thats causing some conflict, Comins said.

Adding to the concern for some is the popularity of crowdsourcing birding apps such as e-Bird, where users can report sightings, receive alerts of rare birds and track their own life lists of species that they have seen.

Its like literally the paparazzi alert system, Dickal said.

To address the concerns, e-Bird keeps a list of of sensitive bird species that prevents sharing of specific location data on those sightings with the general public. The snowy owl is not on that list, but e-Birds website says that large crowds following owls in winter can disrupt their feeding habits, and it encourages users to show ethical behavior around all owls.

Experts said a few snowy owls can typically be seen along the Connecticut coast each winter; their stark white-and-black plumage makes them a particularly attractive draw for birders.

My obsession is owls, but the snowy owl is my favorite, said Elizabeth Tsimbidaros, who drove from her home in Southbury to watch the bird through her telescopic lens. Its very early this year; usually I don't hear about them until December.

Most snowy owls in Connecticut are juveniles in search of new hunting grounds, and they are exhausted after the long flight from the arctic tundra. Crowds can scare away the owls preferred food of small rodents and prevent them from resting during the day, draining the energy they have left.

Globally, the owls are considered vulnerable, with an estimated 28,000 mature individuals in the wild.

Christine Cummings, president of A Place Called Hope, a birds-of-prey rescue in Killingworth, said that attention likely contributed to the death of a snowy owl rescued by her team in Connecticut several years ago.

It came in, it was so depleted, it couldnt hunt and it died in our care, Cummings said.

Earlier this year, the Audubon Society similarly blamed the death of an American oystercatcher chick at the nonprofits Milford Point preserve on four wildlife photographers who attempted to capture images of the nest at close range. Two chicks in the nest were too young to fly, the Audubon Society said, and the parents appeared wary of leaving the nest unattended to find food.

Even after a ranger asked the photographers to back up, they stayed in place for nearly four hours, according to a post on the nonprofit's website. After they left, one of the oystercatcher chicks was found starved to death.

Still, Comins from the Audubon Society said he viewed the increased popularity of bird-watching as a positive and hoped it would steer more support to conservation efforts.

We dont want to love nature to death, and there are plenty of ways that even experienced naturalists can inadvertently cause some harm to the environment, Comins said. But I feel that the more people that are aware of and engaged with and in awe of the wonders of nature, that is only going to be beneficial to nature itself.

Comins also pointed to individual actions, such as following a birding code of ethics or waiting until after migrations season to post sightings of rare birds, that he said could help ameliorate potential harm to wildlife.

In Stratford on Wednesday, Barbara Garbarino said she shared the concerns of conservationists after driving from her home in Putnam County, N.Y., to spend two days photographing the snowy owl.

At about 8 a.m., she said she had stood among a crowd of other birders and photographers, mindful to keep a respectful distance.

I would be heartbroken if anything were to happen to that owl, Garbarino said. I look at it, and its such a beautiful bird.
FILE - The Homeland Security Department headquarters in northwest Washington, on June 5, 2015. The Department of Homeland Security says the U.S. faces a "heightened threat environment" with the approach of the holidays.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Light rain transitioning to a few showers by morning. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Light rain transitioning to a few showers by morning. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.
Winchester, VA (22601)

Today

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Steady light rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.
I was in high school during the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer. Like a lot of my classmates, I was fascinated by the Princess of Wales, who was not much older than us and seemed to be marrying into a fairy tale of glamour, wealth and fame.

I was in high school during the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer. Like a lot of my classmates, I was fascinated by the Princess of Wales, who was not much older than us and seemed to be marrying into a fairy tale of glamour, wealth and fame.

Charles, who was not exactly loves young dream, seemed strangely irrelevant to this setup. It was Diana alone  her clothes, her hair, her face  who transfixed us.

We experienced Diana through thousands of magazine photographs and occasional snippets of video but rarely through audio. After hearing the Princess of Wales say her wedding vows, it was years before I saw footage of Diana speaking at length, and even then she was only dutifully reciting words that had been written for her by some palace staffer. She was a purely visual spectacle, a beautiful blank screen just made for projection.

This blank screen gets broken up into a zillion pieces in a new film by Chilean director Pablo Larrain (Jackie, No). Spencer imagines a three-day Christmas gathering at the Queens Sandringham estate, just as the royal marriage is falling apart and "The Firm" is raising questions about Dianas soundness.

Spencer is an odd little film, a "fable from a true tragedy," as its opening title suggests. Not a conventional biopic but an impressionistic experimental drama, its freighted with symbolism and haunted by displaced emotion. With a jangled, discordant soundtrack and hallucinatory visuals, it often feels like a horror movie, with glints of The Shining and Repulsion, or a dark antic comedy, like Woman on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown. ("Leave me. I wish to masturbate," Diana announces at one point, which turns out to be a clever ploy to get her maid to clear the room.)

Kristen Stewart is a resolutely minimalist actor, hard to read but compelling to watch. She seems to give very little, but thats what brings us in closer, trying to figure out what shes up to. (Neon/TNS)

If the film as a whole is an intermittently intriguing failure, the performance of Kristen Stewart as Diana is utterly absorbing. Stewart is a resolutely minimalist actor, hard to read but compelling to watch. She seems to give very little, but thats what brings us in closer, trying to figure out what shes up to.

Her technical performance captures something essential about the real-life Diana. Stewart gets the body language  the raised shoulders, the tilted head, the up-and-under glances  and the blurty, breathless voice. Her Diana is a paradox  diffident but strong-willed, shy but desperate for attention.

There are queasy amounts of food at Sandringham, but everything else about the Christmas celebration is chilly and remote. Diana comes alive when shes with her beloved sons but barely interacts with the rest of the family. Her only friends are in the servants quarters.

The princess is struggling with her mental health (or with being very silly, as its euphemistically described).

The princess is struggling with her mental health (or with "being very silly," as its euphemistically described). And while she craves public adoration, she is also becoming exhausted by public scrutiny, so that the clicking cameras of the Fleet Street photographers covering the Christmas church service seem to overwhelm her.

"There has to be two of you," as Prince Charles tells her. "The real one and the one they take pictures of." This is where the tragedy comes in. Shes the most visible woman in the world, but shes never truly seen, and shes starting to lose herself. "Beauty is useless," Diana tells us.

Stewart understands some of this. She and Diana may be two very different women, separated by decades, but both have been devoured by the media, commodified and categorized, set up as icons and then punished when they stray from the official image.

Stewart became famous as Bella Swan in the superpopular Twilight franchise, a character purposely underwritten so millions of tween girls could imagine themselves in her spot.

Stewart became famous as Bella Swan in the super-popular Twilight franchise, a character purposely underwritten so millions of tween girls could imagine themselves in her spot.

Stewart never seemed happy about the glare of celebrity. "Fame is the worst thing in the world," she once declared. But she survived the obsession of fans, the harshness of critics, and even, at one point, the ire of Donald Trump, who complained that Stewart had cheated on Robert Pattinson "like a dog." (Not only does this man know nothing about Stewart, he clearly knows nothing about dogs.)

In response to her early fame, Stewart cultivated a spiky persona and a luxe grunge style that resisted the usual tropes of the female ingenue. She came out as queer. And she (mostly) rejected blockbuster roles, retreating instead into indie American films (Certain Women) and arthouse European projects (Personal Shopper, Clouds of Sils Maria).

In Spencer, we see Stewart in a version of one of Dianas diaphanous white gowns  except shes wearing it while bent over a toilet to vomit. Playing one of the most famous and glamorous women in the world, Stewart expertly exposes the human cost of fame and glamour.

alison.gillmor@freepress.mb.ca

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CALGARY - The consequences of last summer's searing drought are being felt on farms and ranches across the Prairies, where some livestock producers are heading into a long, cold winter with dangerously low supplies of feed and water.

A national farm organization is asking the federal government to pitch in with efforts to move hay from the East Coast to struggling farmers and ranchers in Western Canada. Cows and their calves graze in a pasture on a farm near Cremona, Alta., Wednesday, June 26, 2019.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

CALGARY - The consequences of last summer's searing drought are being felt on farms and ranches across the Prairies, where some livestock producers are heading into a long, cold winter with dangerously low supplies of feed and water.

On his ranch near Nanton, in southern Alberta, Canadian Cattlemen's Association president Bob Lowe said he's fortunate for the late-season rainfall that allowed him to salvage some sort of hay crop. But he said many producers haven't been so lucky.

"Some people haven't got anything," Lowe said. "And water is a huge concern. In some areas, there is no surface water. . . I havent heard of anybodys wells going dry yet, but that will be the next thing."

The summer of 2021 will go down on record as one of the worst and most widespread droughts in North America in years. Months of extreme heat and little rain left crops withering in fields across the Prairie provinces and into Western Ontario. In B.C., farmers were also affected by wildfires and heavy smoke.

Now that harvest season is complete, the damage is being tallied. According to a report from the government of Saskatchewan, crop yields in that province were "well below average" and moisture conditions remain a concern, with significant precipitation needed this fall and winter to replenish soil moisture levels and watering holes.

"Many areas in the province will have inadequate winter feed supplies," the report said. "Due to the dry conditions this year, dugout, slough and well levels have been low and there are concerns about livestock water supplies."

The government of Manitoba warned in a recent report that pastures in that province have suffered from dry conditions for "much of the last two or three years" and that most pastures are rated "fair to very poor" heading into winter.

The feed shortfall has resulted in spiking prices, so that ranchers looking to purchase supplemental feed for their herds are facing costs two to three times higher than normal.

Lowe said the financial and mental stress means some producers are already starting to sell off herds they've spent years building up.

"I'm hearing stories from auction markets about herds of cattle coming up for sale that just haven't been up for sale before," he said. "There's a lot of people getting out of the business. They're just tired of it."

In an effort to address the situation, national farm organization the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) launched an initiative earlier this year called Hay West. The program aims to ship surplus hay from Eastern Canada, where growing conditions were good this year, to the Prairie provinces.

Since August, the program has shipped 5.5 million pounds of livestock feed from the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec to struggling Western ranchers and farmers. An additional 50 million pounds has been collected and is ready to be shipped via rail or truck.

However, CFA vice-president Keith Currie said the organization needs more funding in order to move that feed. So far, the cost of the Hay West program is largely being covered by private donations (Canadian National Railway Co. recently committed up to $250,000 to help cover freight costs) but CFA is asking the federal government to pitch in too.

"Were hoping that they step up," Currie said. "The more we can get, the better. We're going to start (with an ask) in the millions."

In August, the federal government pledged up to $500 million for drought-affected farmers through AgriRecovery, a federal-provincial disaster relief program.

Currie said the focus needs to be supporting farmers who have watched a lifetime's worth of equity wither away due to the drought, and ensuring that the size of the Canadian cattle industry isn't depleted to a point where it will take years to recover.

Experts have suggested up to 20 per cent of the Canadian cattle herd could be sold off this fall and winter as producers are forced to decrease the size of their herds or go out of business entirely.

"Our focus continues to be on the breeding stock, in particular, so we have cattle still in place in the years to come," Currie said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 11, 2021.
MILAN (AP)  Daniel Lee is leaving his job as creative director at Bottega Veneta after three years and creating the brand's distinctive cloud-like bags and puffy-weave slip-on footwear.

MILAN (AP)  Daniel Lee is leaving his job as creative director at Bottega Veneta after three years and creating the brand's distinctive cloud-like bags and puffy-weave slip-on footwear.

Bottega Veneta did not give a reason for the surprise departure of the 35-year-old British designer, who joined the Italian fashion house in July 2018. The company, which revealed the news Wednesday, said a new creative organization would be announced soon.

The fashion houses CEO, Leo Rongone, credited Lees creative vision with helping the brand grow over the last three years.

He provided Bottega Veneta with a fresh perspective and a new sense of modernity, while remaining respectful of the brands 50-year heritage, Rongone said in a statement.

Lee joined Bottega Veneta, which is owned by the French group Kering, from Celine, where he was womenswear director.

His accessories enjoyed quick success at the Italian fashion house, especially the soft leather Pouch bags and square-toed pumps and sandals.

Lee took the top four prizes at the 2019 British Fashion Awards. His tenure also saw an abrupt change in marketing, leaving Bottega Veneta fans bemused when it disappeared from social media for a spell.

During the pandemic, as many fashion houses experimented with ways of communicating with clients and customers in the absence of live runway shows, Bottega Veneta opted for salon-style previews, first in London, then Berlin and Detroit.

Kering Chairman and CEO Francois-Henri Pinault, said in a statement that Lee's singular vision made the houses heritage relevant for today and put it back to the center of the fashion scene.
TORONTO - Brookfield Asset Management Inc. reported its third-quarter more than quadrupled compared with a year ago, boosted by continued growth and investment performance across its business.

Brookfield Asset Management Inc. CEO Bruce Flatt attends the company's AGM in Toronto on May 6, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

TORONTO - Brookfield Asset Management Inc. reported its third-quarter more than quadrupled compared with a year ago, boosted by continued growth and investment performance across its business.

The alternative asset manager, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says it earned a profit attributable to shareholders of US$797 million or 47 cents per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30.

The result compared with a profit of US$172 million or 10 cents per diluted share in the same quarter last year.

Revenue totalled US$19.25 billion, up from US$16.25 billion a year ago.

Funds from operations totalled US$1.41 billion or 85 cents per share in the quarter, up from US$1.04 billion or 65 cents per share in the same quarter last year.

Distributable earnings rose to US$1.24 billion compared with US$890 million a year ago.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 11, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:BAM.A)
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) is on life support as U.N. climate talks enter their final days, but he added that until the last moment, hope should be maintained.

Part of an advertisement can be seen through the fence near the venue for the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP)  United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) is on life support as U.N. climate talks enter their final days, but he added that until the last moment, hope should be maintained.

In an exclusive interview on Thursday with The Associated Press, Guterres said the negotiations set to end Friday in Glasgow, Scotland, will very probably not yield the carbon-cutting pledges he has said are needed to keep the planet from warming beyond the 1.5-degree threshold.

So far, the talks have not come close to achieving any of the U.N.'s three announced priorities for the annual conference, called COP26. One is cutting carbon emissions by about half by 2030 to reach the goal Guterres alluded to.

The other two are getting rich countries to fulfill a 12-year-old pledge of providing $100 billion a year in financial climate aid to poor nations and ensuring that half of that amount goes to helping developing nations adapt to the worst effects of climate change.

Guterres said the Glasgow talks are in a crucial moment and need to accomplish more than securing a weak deal that participating nations agree to support.

Part of an advertisement can be seen through the fence near the venue for the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

The worst thing would be to reach an agreement at all costs by a minimum common denominator that would not respond to the huge challenges we face, Guterres said.

Thats because the overarching goal of limiting warming since pre-industrial times to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 F) by the end of the century is still in reach but on life support, Guterres said. The world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius (2 degrees Fahrenheit), leaving far less than a degree before the threshold is hit.

Less than 36 hours from the scheduled close of the negotiations, Guterres said that if negotiators cant reach ambitious carbon-cutting goals  and very probably it will not happen  then national leaders would need to come up with new pledges next year and in 2023 during high-level meetings.

He said it is very important that nations update their goals and send top leaders to the climate talks every year, at this point. However, Guterres would not say at what point he thinks the 1.5-degree goal would have to be abandoned.

When you are on the verge of the abyss, its not important to discuss what will be your fourth or fifth step, Guterres said. Whats important to discuss is what will be your first step. Because if your first step is the wrong step, you will not have the chance to do a search to make a second or third one.

Guterres said he agreed with youth climate activists  who have been a daily presence protesting in large numbers outside the climate talks, and at times inside  who called for the U.N. to term global warming a climate emergency of a high level and treat it as such.

People arrive for another day at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

For me, it is clear it is a climate emergency, Guterres said. I have asked all member states to declare it, and I will be making sure that we mobilize the whole of the U.N. system based on the concept of a climate emergency.

As terrible and tragic as the COVID-19 pandemic is, theres a way climate change is more of an emergency, Guterres said.

The pandemic is reversible. We have the tools and the instruments to stop it, he said. Climate change is a global threat to the planet and to humankind. And for the moment, we have not yet all the tools and the instruments that we need to defeat it.

And much of that comes down to money.

The lack of movement on financial aid to poorer countries troubles Guterres, who later told negotiators the gap was a glaring injustice. He said if he were the leader of a vulnerable small island or other endangered country he would be upset with whats not happening in Glasgow.

When I see trillions being spent by the developed world and at the same time, the suffering, the impacts of climate change more than in the global north, in hurricanes, in droughts that undermine the development of my country and the well-being of my citizens, Guterres said, putting himself in the shoes of an island leader. I mean, it would be impossible in this situation not to feel an enormous frustration if the developed countries do not correspond to a number of basic commitments on financial help.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gestures during an interview at the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. Guterres says the Paris temperature goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees "is on life support" with climate talks so far not reaching any of the U.N.'s three goals, however "until the last moment hope should be maintained." (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Peter Liese, a senior member of the European Parliament, said on Thursday he and fellow lawmakers would push for the $100 billion to be delivered definitely next year.

And that rich-poor split kept cropping up Thursday.

Pushing back against the narrative of trying to limit warming to 1.5C put forward by rich countries, a group of developing nations said that rich countries were trying to shift the burden of combating climate change onto poorer nations.

Talks are now at the point where two pathways were possible: one that was good for people and the planet, and the other that led to carbon colonialism, said Bolivias chief negotiator, Diego Pacheco Balanz. We need to fight the developed countries against the carbon colonialism.

Balanz was speaking on behalf of the negotiating block of developing nations that include countries from Africa, Latin America and Asia  with China and India among the latter.

Guterres praised a Wednesday evening agreement between the United States and China to cut emissions this decade as a reason why he still hopes for some semblance of success in Glasgow. He said China indicating that it would seek to have its emissions going down before 2030 represented a key change in the top emitter's outlook.

Climate activists dressed as shrouded bodies protest near the venue for the COP26 U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)

I believe it will be very important that this agreement paves the way for other agreements, Guterres said in a 25-minute AP interview.

But Guterres later told climate negotiators that promises ring hollow when the fossil fuels industry still receives trillions in subsidies... or when countries are still building coal plants.

Every country, every city, every company, every financial institution must radically, credibly and verifiably reduce their emissions and decarbonize their portfolios starting now, Guterres told negotiators to loud applause.

The U.N. chief said he hoped that two sticky issues that defied resolution for six years can be solved in Glasgow: creating workable markets for trading carbon credits and transparency that shows that promised pollution-reducing actions are real.

Fresh drafts of the documents on regulating international cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the carbon markets section, were released overnight, as were new proposals containing various options for assessing and tracking financial aid for developing countries.

The chair of this years U.N. climate meeting called on negotiators from almost 200 countries to engage in another gear shift as they try to reach agreement on outstanding issues a day before the talks are scheduled to end.

British official Alok Sharma said on Thursday that the drafts released overnight on a number of crunch topics represent a significant step further toward the comprehensive, ambitious and balanced set of outcomes, which I hope parties will adopt by consensus at the end of tomorrow.

Sharma said he was under no illusion that the texts being considered would wholly satisfy all countries at this stage but thanked negotiators for the spirit of cooperation and civility they had shown so far.

We are not there yet, he said, adding that he aimed to get a fresh draft of the overarching decision released early Friday.

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Associated Press writer Aniruddha Ghosal contributed from Glasgow.

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Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate

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Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears and Frank Jordans at @wirereporter

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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.
OTTAWA - Hate speech, disinformation and online extremism can't be allowed to prevent people from enjoying the freedom that cyberspace offers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday at an international discussion on the internet.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told an international audience that hate speech, disinformation and online extremism can't be allowed to prevent people from enjoying the freedom that cyberspace offers. Trudeau speaks during a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Hate speech, disinformation and online extremism can't be allowed to prevent people from enjoying the freedom that cyberspace offers, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday at an international discussion on the internet.

"There is no doubt: the digital space has incredible power for good. But from disinformation on vaccines to online extremism, weve also seen the threat it can pose to our democratic values, systems and our citizens," Trudeau said via video link from Ottawa to the Paris Peace Forum.

"We can't allow the benefits of the digital space to come at the expense of people's rights or safety."

The forum bills itself as an effort to revitalize global institutions, and is focusing this year on the vast inequalities exposed by the pandemic.

In-person attendees included the host, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris, and Canada's industry minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne, who is also attending a conference on artificial intelligence in the French capital.

Harris said the U.S. is committed to working with its allies to eliminate online terrorist content.

"For the United States, our approach to the digital domain is rooted in our democratic principles," she said. "We will continue to advocate for an open, secure and interoperable internet and work to ensure that technology helps, not harms, the people of our world."

Trudeau was addressing a panel on the challenges of the digital domain after co-founding a new international program last year with called the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence.

He noted that Canada served as the chair of the partnership last year and "focused on bringing together the international community to ensure AI respects rights and freedoms and doesn't harm democratic societies."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the gathering from Washington where she has been holding meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden.

She said the EU and U.S. have deepened their co-operation on how to make AI more "trustworthy" for its users.

"AI is without any doubt already changing our lives for the better. It can help for example, detect cyberattack... it can support doctors in more precise cancer diagnosis," said von der Leyen.

"Yet, for people to trust AI, we must also manage the risks."

Before the speeches, Macron welcomed a roomful of masked and physically spaced international politicians and business leaders to a high-ceilinged Parisian conference centre. That included Champagne, one of two Canadian federal ministers travelling in Europe this week, with whom the French president exchanged an extended handshake.

Earlier this week, Champagne told The Canadian Press he is planning to table a new digital charter after the return of parliament to address the issues surrounding AI and the internet-based economy.

Champagne said earlier this week the technology needs to be mindful of protecting privacy and that the government needs to create an overarching framework that reflects Canadian values.

Von der Leyen told the gathering that the EU was joining France in its pursuit of building trust and security in cyberspace.

"Throughout the pandemic, indeed, the internet has been a lifeline for millions of companies, and the only connection to our loved ones for so many of us," she said.

"Yet cyberspace has also become a more dangerous place, with rising threats against our critical infrastructure, our democratic processes, and even our personal health and safety, including our children's."

Trudeau's live video address to the conference also highlighted another challenge that those working through internet have had to rise above during the pandemic  a failing connection that cuts you off from the people you are trying to connect with.

About three minutes into his presentation from Ottawa, Trudeau's screen froze, and then cut out.

The live, onstage moderator back in Paris immediately pivoted back to the attendees.

"He seems to have disappeared. Anyway, thank you very much," he said, calling on the French crowd to give the Canadian prime minister a round of applause  which they did.

"It just goes to show that he really is live, and we're not so showing you pre-recorded videos."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 11, 2021.
BRANDON  A special ceremony was held at a Brandon care home Wednesday to honour one of the first women to serve in the Canadian Forces.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Canadian Women's Army Corps veteran Irene Hogeland holds a photo of herself in uniform taken during the Second World War at the Dinsdale Personal Care Home Tuesday.

BRANDON  A special ceremony was held at a Brandon care home Wednesday to honour one of the first women to serve in the Canadian Forces.

Irene Hogeland is a veteran of the Canadian Womens Army Corps, which was established in 1941.

Hogeland, a resident of Dinsdale Personal Care home, said it was an honour and a privilege to serve in the Second World War.

More than 21,000 Canadian women enlisted in the womens corps in strictly non-combatant roles from 1941 to 1946. They were office personnel, dental and medical technicians, telephone operators, secretaries, clerks and drivers. Some worked in communications and drafting.

Hogeland was raised on a farm near Moose Jaw, Sask., and moved to town at 16 after finding a job, located in the same building as an army recruiting office.

Every day, recruiters would ask when she would join the army.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN A photo of Canadian Women's Army Corps veteran Irene Hogeland and her husband and fellow Second World War veteran Mel Hogeland.

Her older brother had already joined the air force, another was in the army, and her younger brother was waiting for his 18th birthday to enlist.

Hogeland said she was inspired to join the Canadian Forces out of a patriotic duty to her country, and she had her heart set on the air force, partially because she loved the blue uniform.

Hogeland enlisted in the air force on Aug. 18, 1943, once she was 18.

She said her parents were proud of her  a sentiment that was not popular at the time. Some parents would not allow their daughters to enlist because it was believed the army was an unsuitable place for women.

While her parents took pride in their children serving their country, they feared their children would never return home.

"It was a constant worry for Mom and Dad," Hogeland said.

The stress was exacerbated by poor communication and the months-long wait for letters to reach family members.

CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Second World War memorabilia from Mel Hogelands time in the Canadian Forces.

After training, Hogeland was sent to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

"It was exciting," Hogeland said.

Her first assignment was as a runner in the headquarters of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. She received a promotion to the Department of Movement and Control; the service was responsible for meeting soldiers returning from Europe at ports in Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and New York City. Hogeland was charged with dispatching soldiers across the country to their respective depots.

While posted in Ottawa, Hogeland was promoted to sergeant.

One of her proudest moments was being selected for the Honour Guard at Canadas National War Memorial in 1944, when French Gen. Charles de Gaulle laid a wreath.

"He was a tall man, about six feet. We lined up going to the cenotaph and he walked in. You had to look up to him," Hogeland said. She added he took the time to introduce himself to the Honour Guard through a translator.

"He spoke very kindly."

Her busiest time was at the end of the Second World War when she helped troops return home from overseas.

Once the war ended, authorities deemed womens services no longer necessary. Hogeland said she and many other women were disappointed by the decision because they wanted to remain in the military.

"I felt always patriotic," Hogeland said.

Hogeland returned to Moose Jaw when the womens corps was disbanded in September 1946. She attended business college and went on to meet her husband, Mel Hogeland, a veteran from Brandon. They married in 1947 and had three daughters. They rarely spoke about the war. Mel died in 2010.

Hogeland has connected with fellow female soldiers during reunions in Brandon, Winnipeg and Toronto.

"We never fought together but we all had the same memories," Hogeland said.

In Brandon, she has met other veterans through the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #3.

Its important to share stories about the war to ensure the knowledge is passed down the generations, she said. She takes pride in sharing her story and hopes Canadians remember to honour veterans.

"Nov. 11 is a difficult day," Hogeland said. "As I get older, there are fewer Second World War veterans in the community to honour and to share their stories."

 Brandon Sun
Council mulls new honour for Sgt. Tommy Prince

A new historical marker may be on the way to honour Sgt. Tommy Prince in Winnipeg.

City council is being asked to approve permanent interpretive panels to acknowledge Princes contributions at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place, a leisure facility at 90 Sinclair St.

The recommendation is part of the citys Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling our History process, which aims to ensure Indigenous histories and stories are commemorated.

Prince is one of Canadas most-decorated Indigenous soldiers and received both the Military Medal and Silver Star, according to Veterans Affairs Canada.

The Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan land dedication reserve will provide $25,000 to fund the project.

Proposal to move archives moves forward

A $12.7-million plan to move the City of Winnipegs archives back to the Carnegie Library will be considered during the 2023 budget process.

If the funding is then approved, the irreplaceable photos and documents could finally gain a permanent home at the vacant heritage building at 380 William Ave.

The Carnegie Library had housed the archives until it was badly damaged by flooding in 2013, which forced the temporary move to a leased warehouse at 50 Myrtle St.

On Wednesday, the property and development committee unanimously supported the recommendation to refer the matter for 2023 budget consideration. The committee also ordered a report on how best to ensure Indigenous records are protected and honoured, as part of the citys reconciliation process.
In the Royal Canadian Legion Elmwood Branch #9, the bustling crowd inside belied the blowing snow and empty streets outside.

In the Royal Canadian Legion Elmwood Branch #9, the bustling crowd inside belied the blowing snow and empty streets outside.

More than 100 people from all walks of life came together Remembrance Day to honour Canadas veterans and those serving today. It was a pared-down service, both because of the pandemic and the sudden storm that blanketed Winnipeg the night before and continued into the day.

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A wreath of poppies is photographed at the Field of Honour at Brookside Cemetery.

Those who made the journey took a moment of silence, heard Amazing Grace and In Flanders Fields, and watched as wreaths were laid by veterans and in memory of loved ones who had died.

It was one of the few in-person ceremonies held this year, as many opted to hold a virtual service for the second year in a row. Other ceremonies, like that being held simultaneously at Transcona Branch #7, were open only to invited guests.

Premier Heather Stefanson encouraged Manitobans to hold a moment of silence and remember Canadas veterans in a statement.

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Former governor general Edward Schreyer: I"t is soul-satisfying in a way, that we should take a day apart... to dedicate and re-dedicate ourselves to the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their very life on behalf of others.

"COVID-19 remains the most significant challenge of our time, and while many Manitobans have given up some of their freedoms in order to protect themselves and their loved ones from the impacts of the pandemic, nothing compares to the bravery and ultimate sacrifice made by thousands of men and women in uniform in the pursuit for peace and defence of democracy," she said.

Among those laying wreaths at Elmwood Branch #9 was former governor general Edward Schreyer, who spoke of attending similar services as a child in Beausejour, Man., decades ago.

"The desire and wish to participate in occasions such as this is as great and strong today as ever, and there is a very fundamental reason," he said.

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Veteran Kerry Ten Eyck: "I was proud to do what I did, and Id do it all over again."

"It is good. It is soul-satisfying in a way, that we should take a day apart, and other hours and days as well, to dedicate and re-dedicate ourselves to the memory of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their very life on behalf of others, and on behalf of causes they could not have understood in total dimension."

That sense of comfort was apparent to veteran Kerry Ten Eyck, who was among the crowd Thursday. He comes from a family of service  his older twin brothers were in the navy and the air force, and he has lineage that served in the army.

Ten Eyck, 62, joined the army in 1980 and served as a medic and physicians assistant all over Canada and across the world until he retired in 2010. He currently works in orthopedics at Concordia Hospital.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / THE CANADIAN PRESS The 21-gun salute on the south lawn of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Thursday afternoon, he, his wife and his twin seven-year-old sons planned to visit the Brookside Cemetery and leave poppies at the graves of veterans. Its a tradition hes tried to keep through the pandemic and hopes to pass on to his children.

Sitting in todays service, he said, he found himself worried for the current state of the world amongst the speeches calling for peace

"I just hope for a better world  its not looking pretty outside these days, theres a lot of conflict and radicalism all over the world, even in North America. Im just hoping that doesnt spread and get out of hand," he said.

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / THE CANADIAN PRESS A crowd watches the 38th Artillery Tactical Group during a Remembrance Day ceremony which included a 21-gun salute on the south lawn of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg on Thursday.

He thought of his loved ones, too  not just his family, but friends in the service who didnt make it home.

"Ive had friends and colleagues who never made it back from Afghanistan," he said. "I was proud to do what I did, and Id do it all over again. I was sad hearing their names."

According to the Veterans Affairs department, more than 2.3 million Canadians have served in the military and more than 118,000 have died during service

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_

DAVID LIPNOWSKI / THE CANADIAN PRESS Gunner Lelond, of the 38th Artillery Tactical Group, looks on during the Remembrance Day ceremony.
It only took hours after a public plea in the Free Press for the hunt for a photograph of a Second World War soldier who died in action to come to an end.

It only took hours after a public plea in the Free Press for the hunt for a photograph of a Second World War soldier who died in action to come to an end.

Winnipeg River Heritage Museum Photographs of Edmond Coulombe, taken in his uniform shortly before he shipped out, were donated to the Winnipeg River Heritage Museum in St-Georges by the family of a local resident last year.

A photograph, actually a few photographs, of a smiling mustachioed Edmond Coulombe, taken in his uniform shortly before he shipped out, were donated to the Winnipeg River Heritage Museum in St-Georges by the family of a local resident last year.

And there could be more.

Coulombe, who was 22 when he was killed along with four other soldiers by a grenade in a Dutch village near the German border March 30, 1945, was from Pine Falls. All five are interred in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, Netherlands.

Winnipeg River Heritage Museum Coulombe, who was 22 when he was killed along with four other soldiers by a grenade in a Dutch village near the German border March 30, 1945, was from Pine Falls.

A photo of Coulombe was sought by Pieter Valkenburg, and his wife Daria, to be included in the Faces of Graves project, a digital archive which includes photographs and biographies of every soldier interred in the Canadian War Cemeteries in the Netherlands. The photo hunt was highlighted in the Nov. 6 edition of the Free Press.

The couple, who live on Prince Edward Island, had volunteered to help the project when they were visiting the cemeteries a few years ago. Valkenburg is a former Dutch diplomat.

"I was so excited when I saw the article," said Diane Dube of the Winnipeg River Heritage Museum. "I was sure I just put them (the photos) away a couple of months ago.

"I put them aside in a cardboard box while we are in the process of getting organized. Luckily, I remembered which box it was in."

Winnipeg River Heritage Museum A photo of Coulombe was sought by Pieter Valkenburg, and his wife Daria, to be included in the Faces of Graves project, a digital archive which includes photographs and biographies of every soldier interred in the Canadian War Cemeteries in the Netherlands.

One of the photos shows Coulombe with his parents, Ulric and Yvonne, and brother, Johnny, both in uniform; another shows a uniformed Coulombe with his duffel bag in front of the steps of a building; another has the two uniformed brothers with their sisters, Annette and Juliette, and another woman; while the final photo has the two uniformed brothers standing side by side.

Linda Cyr, whose mother was Annette, said she is pleased the museum has found photographs for the project  and she may be able to find more.

"My mom had a biography of all the family members and I've got photos of Edmond before the war," said Cyr, adding another family member may have other photos.

"He died young, but he died while serving his country. Having him in this project is definitely an honour for the family."

Valkenburg said he was surprised it only took a few hours from the time the story was published to the P.E.I. couple getting an email with attached photographs of Coulombe.

"If it wasn't for the Canadians who liberated the area in the Netherlands where I was born, I might not be here," he said.

Winnipeg River Heritage Museum Valkenburg said he was surprised it only took a few hours from the time the story was published to the P.E.I. couple getting an email with attached photographs of Coulombe.

"I was born during the Hunger Year of 1944, when there was little or no food. About 20,000 people starved to death that winter. Allied soldiers not only liberated us from Nazi rule, they saved us from starvation.

"This research project is one way for me to honour those who lost their lives in war."

Due to the quick success on Coulombe's photo, the Valkenburgs are now looking for a photograph of James Cairns, a First World War soldier who enlisted with what is now the Royal Winnipeg Rifles while living in Manitoba in 1916. He was killed in action in France in August 1918.

Anyone who can help is asked to email the couple at dariadv@yahoo.ca.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca
There is a new Reconciliation Road in Manitoba, and the grandson of a Canadian Indigenous war hero is delighted to have played a part in putting it on the map.

There is a new Reconciliation Road in Manitoba, and the grandson of a Canadian Indigenous war hero is delighted to have played a part in putting it on the map.

"This is for my dad," Earl (Buddy) Prince said Monday on National Indigenous Veterans Day. "I know that he would be very, very proud of what we accomplished here today."

SHELLEY COOK / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Buddy Prince and Chief Deborah Smith

The accomplishment was having the name of a dirt road on the south side of Highway 59 in the RM of St. Clements previously known as Colonization Road officially renamed. The highway runs adjacent to Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, about 45 minutes north of Winnipeg.

Prince is a member of the First Nation who regularly drove to and from the community, passing the accurately  and insensitively  named road each time.

Prince's father, Thomas Edward Prince, was the son of Sgt. Tommy Prince, one of Canadas most decorated Indigenous war heroes. He was the oldest of 11 brothers and sisters. And just as his grandfather did in the early years, Buddy's father also attended residential school and struggled as a result throughout his life.

Help available Click to Expand The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program has a hotline to help survivors and their relatives suffering with trauma: 1-866-925-4419

"You know, passing this road every day, it just reminded me of my dad and the abuses he suffered," Prince said, explaining how he and his wife Lisa drove by the intersection one day and she suggested he do something about it.

Not sure how to even begin, he wrote a compelling Facebook post, inquiring about how to change the name of this road. He tagged municipal politicians and brought up the subject with the Brokenhead band council. On Sept. 11, 2020, leaders from the First Nation and the RM of St. Clements met and agreed to work together to begin the renaming process.

It took about a year of consultations, legislation passing and community involvement to see the effort come to fruition Monday when the Reconciliation Road sign went up during a small ceremony to mark the occasion.

Brokenhead Chief Deborah Smith and RM of St. Clements Mayor Debbie Fiebelkorn spoke of the partnership between the two communities.

"It feels amazing. I feel very proud," Prince said, as he took in a deep breath, closed his eyes and tried to steady his voice as vehicles sped past.

His father, who served for years as Brokenhead's chief and on its council, died in 2007 from leukemia at the age of 62.

"You know, he went through a lot and we went through a lot with him because of his experience," Prince said.

"It was six months before he passed away and lost his fight against cancer that my dad finally broke down and told me why he was the way he was, and what happened to him at residential school."

The abuses that Tommy Jr. suffered left wounds so deep that they shaped the entirety of his life. He held onto them and his experiences in secrecy and shame that manifested into anger and depression. He tried to ease his pain with alcohol until he finally spoke his truth in the closing months of his life.

When he shared the horrors that he had endured in residential school he began to heal and, as a result, his children did, too.

They started to see a different side of the man who had been trapped for so many years underneath layers of deep-rooted trauma.

"Everything clicked. I understood why he was so angry and why he took it out on us. It was an eye-opener," Prince said. "After it was revealed and we talked about it, the last six months of his life were the best days of my life.

"Hes always on my mind, especially when I pass this road every day. Im sure Im not the only one who felt like this. For anyone who has gone through residential school, or for anyone who knows someone who has gone through residential school  to come across Colonization Road is a slap in the face. We dont have to go through that anymore."

shelley.cook@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @ShelleyAcook
Read carefully before planning a family trip across the border  the fine print in Canadas return policy states unvaccinated children cannot attend school or daycare for two weeks after an international visit.

Read carefully before planning a family trip across the border  the fine print in Canadas return policy states unvaccinated children cannot attend school or daycare for two weeks after an international visit.

While the U.S. border has opened to Manitobans eager to head south, be it to snag Black Friday deals or otherwise, many rules remain intact for travellers who are not yet eligible to get immunized against COVID-19.

"Its really important for parents and guardians to know, if theyre going to be travelling outside of Manitoba or Canada, what all the rules are when they come back," said Radean Carter, senior information officer with the Winnipeg School Division.

"(The clause about school attendance) could have an impact on your decision to travel."

The division has circulated an online flyer that lists everything families need to know about travelling during a pandemic school year.

Canadas directives on travel indicate fully vaccinated residents do not need to quarantine upon returning from another country and can attend school without issue, if they have no symptoms of COVID-19.

Young students face different protocols. Anyone younger than 12, who has travelled with fully immunized parents, guardians or tutors, is exempt from doing a full quarantine upon return  but that doesnt mean they can show up to a child-care facility or classroom right away.

Those students are not allowed to attend crowded settings of any kind, take public buses, or visit places where they may have contact with vulnerable populations for a period of 14 days after re-entering the country.

They can, however, accompany parents to grocery stores and gather with small groups of fully vaccinated people. At the same time, families are expected to keep a list of both close contacts and locations visited.

In contrast, young learners who have travelled with unvaccinated adults must strictly self-isolate at home for two weeks, post-trip.

Cathy Cordy, who owns Under the Tuscan Sun Travel, said she spends much of her workday answering clients' questions about international travel protocols because the rules are ever-changing and vary depending on the destination.

"I believe the travel adviser is never more valuable than it is today. I spend the majority of the time keeping up on what (public health) changes there are," said Cordy, a Winnipeg travel agent.

Current national protocols require unvaccinated youth to complete tests pre-entry, on arrival and on the eighth day back in Canada.

Fully vaccinated international travellers are only required to show a pre-entry molecular test and if selected, an arrival test.

A rollout of vaccines for children born after 2009  and a related loosening of protocols  cannot come sooner for Cordy, who said she is more than ready to "climb out of the hole Ive been in with my business" after nearly two years of public health officials discouraging family beach vacations.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
Victims of sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces will finally get their day in court.

Victims of sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces will finally get their day in court.

Last week, newly appointed Defence Minister Anita Anand announced she will transfer the investigation and prosecution of such cases away from the military and into the civilian justice system. While its an approach that should have been taken from the outset, the new minister should be lauded for her swift action in addressing a crisis left languishing by her predecessor.

CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Defence Minister Anita Anand.

The scope of the issue has come to light over the last year, with allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct brought forward against 11 current and former high-ranking members of the military. Until now, most of these cases have been under the purview of the military police and justice system.

To assume an internal body can effectively and fairly look into cases of this nature  ones that embarrass the institution and hold people in power to account  is naive. The military is designed to be a closed system with its own rule of law and a culture of silence. It should be exempt from policing itself.

Thus far, many of those accused have been stripped of their posts and forced into retirement. Only two cases of sexual misconduct involving military leadership  former chief of defence staff, retired Gen. Jonathan Vance and Maj.-Gen Dany Fortin  have resulted in criminal charges.

Minister Anands decision is based on recommendations made by retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour as part of an external review into sexual misconduct and harassment within the Canadian military. In a letter to former Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, Arbour calls for the immediate transfer of all sexual offence investigations to civilian authorities temporarily.

"The issue of sexual harassment and misconduct in the CAF has opened the institution to unprecedented scrutiny and an equally unprecedented opportunity for change," Arbour writes.

ADRIAN WYLD / CANADIAN PRESS FILES Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan

While Minister Sajjan seemed content with the status quo, Minister Anand has already proven shes capable of taking decisive action on difficult issues that affect the very functioning of the department.

This is the first time so many members in senior leadership positions have been embroiled in similar controversies, but this is far from the first time the military has dealt with allegations of sexual misconduct.

As the leadership scandal grew, so did the number of claimants in a $900-million class action lawsuit aimed at the CAF and Department of National Defence. The lawsuit was initiated by former forces members alleging sexual harassment, sexual assault or discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation during service and settled in 2019. So far, nearly 14,000 claims have been filed. The period to do so closes at the end of November.

Its clear that past attempts to mitigate sexual misconduct in the military have failed to make a difference.

Its clear that past attempts to mitigate sexual misconduct in the military have failed to make a difference. Operation Honour, for example, did little more than order members to stop engaging in sexual misconduct and provide leadership with a convoluted incident management decision tree.

If those at the top are being accused of sexual offences, who are survivors supposed to turn to for adequate support? If the military cant keep its own members safe, how can the institution be entrusted with keeping the country safe?

Sexual misconduct in the military is a crisis that needs an external judge and jury. Minister Anand should be commended for heeding recommendations and taking a good first step in that direction.
Remembrance Day is our annual moment to pause and honour the sacrifice of those in our armed forces who suffered or died on behalf of Canada. The special date of Nov. 11 recalls the moment in 1918 when Germany and its allies concluded an armistice with the British Empire and its allies, ending a terrible bloodbath that everyone involved intended never to repeat.

Editorial

Remembrance Day is our annual moment to pause and honour the sacrifice of those in our armed forces who suffered or died on behalf of Canada. The special date of Nov. 11 recalls the moment in 1918 when Germany and its allies concluded an armistice with the British Empire and its allies, ending a terrible bloodbath that everyone involved intended never to repeat.

Warfare has continued ever since, usually not on the industrial scale of the slaughter that was seen in the 1914-18 war. The dream of a world without war has never died. Institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations offer some reasons for hoping that wars may eventually become less common. But the dream is still far from fulfilment.

November 1918 marked the end of a world war and the beginning of an influenza pandemic that may have taken many more lives than the war. Ten million military personnel and another 10 million civilians died in the 1914-18 war. The flu probably took 50 million lives worldwide  though no one really knows because diagnosis was difficult. Accurate diagnosis scarcely mattered, because there was no treatment for the disease.

This Remembrance Day finds the world in the midst of another global catastrophe: the COVID-19 pandemic has already taken at least the five million lives reported by national health authorities. Statisticians who compare pandemic-era deaths with earlier years suspect that the official figures for India and many other countries greatly understate the reality.

Even at five million deaths, COVID-19 ranks alongside world wars and the 1918 flu as a global catastrophe and a mark of human vulnerability. Scientists quickly developed the vaccines that can stop spread of the virus but most humans around the world are still not vaccinated. Many governments cannot afford to buy the vaccine and many people think the vaccine is more dangerous than the virus it combats.

While the pandemic continues to sweep around the world, the next global catastrophe is already starting to unfold. Mountaintop glaciers are melting and gushing into the oceans. Permafrost in the Canadian Arctic is turning to mud. Canadian forests are burning as never before. Croplands this summer turned to deserts.

Concerted joint action by all nations will be needed to curtail the burning of fossil fuels, stop the rise in Earths surface temperature and keep the planet habitable. Our species is occasionally capable of concerted joint action, as they showed in the 1987 Montreal Protocol banning production of the chlorofluorocarbons that were destroying the protective ozone layer in Earths atmosphere.

On the evidence of the campaign against COVID-19, however, the human species is not yet skilled at concerted joint action. Governments of wealthy nations, urged on by their people to take care of Number One, elbow their way to the front of the line for vaccine supplies, pushing ahead of others facing the same peril.

If this is the way our species is going to combat global warming, then our chances of saving the planet may be no brighter than our chances of putting an end to war. Canada may have to ask for many more sacrifices by its people to protect the country from the global catastrophes unfolding around us.

As we honour the sacrifices of past generations, we should recognize that the era of sacrifice is not necessarily all behind us. This world is still a dangerous place to live and taking care of Number One may not answer the need.
For more than 100 years, the appeals have been published in the pages of this newspaper and its predecessor.

MR. GOOD FELLOW, WILL YOU PLAY SANTA CLAUS screamed the banner headline on Dec. 11, 1920, the same edition of the Winona Republican-Herald that carried news about President-elect Warren G. Harding, ads for 15-cent shows at the Opera House and an update on legal proceedings against several Winona men who pleaded guilty to violating prohibition laws.

At the time, the Goodfellows campaign was called unorganized but generous, claiming that in 1919 it raised more than $1,000  $750 in cash donations and the rest in fuel and provisions.

While the details may have changed, the intent has not. Winona Goodfellows, which is sponsored by the Winona Daily News and is one of the longest running charities in Winona, continues to support children by supplying vouchers that can be redeemed for warm winter clothing and footwear at local retailers.

We currently provide more than 700 vouchers to income-eligible families with children in preschool through sixth grade enrolled in Winona-area schools. The vouchers are used at local retailers for coats, hats, mittens, boots, scarves and any other winter clothing children need to enjoy Minnesotas frigid months.

The application process is open through Nov. 13. Interested and eligible families who have not yet applied are encouraged to do so at winonagoodfellows.org/apply. Questions can be directed to winonagoodfellows@gmail.com.

This year, the vouchers, now worth $50, can be redeemed at Baby Bean, DJs Clothing Warehouse, Rogans Shoes and Target. We are excited that two locally owned businesses are joining the program for the first time this year (Baby Bean, DJs Clothing Warehouse), and we are equally excited that Target is able to participate once again. We are also grateful that Rogans Shoes, a longtime partner, continues to honor the vouchers.

We are expecting the need is greater than ever in Winona County, with many families still dealing with the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. So far, more than 400 vouchers have been mailed to families with hundreds more to process.

Winona Goodfellows is a nonprofit fund held at the Winona Community Foundation, with all donations fully tax-deductible. This program runs completely on donations from organizations and individuals, many of whom have been donating to Goodfellows for decades.

We welcome donations in any amount, and every dollar matters. The majority of our donors give between $25 and $100. Many benefited from this program when they were children, and are now proud contributors and sustainers.

Donations can be mailed to Winona Community Foundation, c/o Winona Goodfellows Fund, 111 E. Riverfront St., Suite 2, Winona, MN, 55987. Donations can also be made at www.winonacf.org. Simply include a note in the message line that it is meant for the Goodfellows Fund.

In addition to donations, we are also always looking for new board members.

If you would like to help Winona Goodfellows continue to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of Winonas children, please send an email to winonagoodfellows@gmail.com.

So, what do you say Mr. Good Fellow? Can you help a child in Winona this winter?

John Casper is the board president of Winona Goodfellows and a former Winona Daily News editor.

ABOUT THIS SERIES

Stories For Good is a weekly column coordinated by the Winona Nonprofit Alliance, more than 50 local nonprofits of all shapes and sizes, to showcase their stories and impact. To learn more, visit facebook.com/winonanonprofitalliance or winonacf.org/nonprofitalliance

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This story originally appeared on Nov. 11, 1921, in the Winona Republican-Herald, a predecessor of the Winona Daily News.

More than 1,000 residents of this city came to the armory this afternoon to commemorate the third anniversary of the signing of the armistice and to pay solemn tribute to the men who gave their lives in order to make that armistice and the peace which followed it possible.

The Unknown Soldier is laid to rest

Meanwhile, in the nation's capital, America's unknown hero was at rest forever in his majestic shrine among the quiet hills.

He lies unknown, but not unhonored nor unsung. Laid to rest today with all the honors a grateful nation could pay, the unknown hero from France was bivouacked among the gallant dead in Arlington National Cemetery.

The highest officers of the army and navy walked beside his coffin; none but the hands of gallant comrades of the great war laid hands upon it. President Harding walked behind his bier to do him homage; former President Wilson made his first public appearance in months; General Pershing turned aside an opportunity to ride and trudged behind the body to the last resting place. Representatives of foreign governments reverently laid their highest military decorations on his casket, and with soil from France where he fell unknown, he was laid away.

In Winona, an atmosphere of deep seriousness pervaded the gathering as the audience listened to the opening words of Mayor E.S. La France in which he recalled the joy with which the news of the end of the war was received three years ago and as he expressed the hope that means would be found at the Washington conference to prevent the recurrence of such a struggle.

Tears came to the eyes of many as a silent tribute was paid to the soldier dead after volleys had been fired and taps had been sounded in respect to the memory of those who left here to serve their country, never to return.

Not merely parents and relatives of the soldier dead felt the heavy loss which they had sustained, but old and young in the big assemblage had a sense of the tragedy which the war's toll meant for them and for all others.

Resolution is Adopted

Following an address by the Rev. Dr. Harry P Dewey, pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Minneapolis, a resolution was adopted expressing to President Harding and the United States delegates to the Washington conference "the hope and expectation that a co-operative plan will there be devised that will operate toward the reduction of armament and the abolishment of war."

The resolution, a copy of which will he sent to Washington, was introduced by Webster Davis, principal of the Senior High school.

The Resolution

The resolution as adopted follows:

"Whereas millions of lives were sacrificed in the hope of abolishing war, and

"Whereas, the late war has left many nations rent asunder, internally and externally, by the spirit of suspicion and hate, and staggering under burdensome taxation for armament, and

"Whereas a future war, due to the inventive genius of man, threatens the very destruction of civilization itself, and

"Whereas a conference on Limitation of Armament has been called by the President of the United States to meet in Washington,

"Resolved that we, the citizens of Winona, Minn., assembled in mass meeting express our deep gratitude for the hope manifested by the calling of such a conference, and

"Resolved that we express to the President and the United States delegates to this conference the hope and expectation that a co-operative plan will there he devised that will operate toward the reduction of armament and the abolishment of war."

A Significant Day

That this Armistice Day is the most significant since the conclusion of the war was the belief expressed by Dr. Dewey.

"It is the most significant date for two reasons," he said. "First, because we aro paying special tribute to the nation's unknown dead, who stood for the very highest form of patriotism, and secondly, because today, for the first time since Nov. 11, 1918, there seems to be a definite effort on the part of the nations of the world to make lasting the results of the great war."

Dr Dewey interspersed his remarks with a large number of illuminating and frequently amusing stories and anecdotes His vigorous address apparently pleased the large audience, and drew frequent bursts of applause.

Observance In Two Parts

The observance was divided into two separate and distinct parts. The first was a solemn tribute to the dead, while the latter part was given over to the consideration of the problem of the limitation of armaments, which featured the address by Dr. Dewey

With the armory well filled, the program began at 2:15 p.m. when the firing squads of the American Legion and the United Spanish War Veterans marching to the strains of "The Stars and Stripes Forever," entered. The armory was decorated with the national colors and as the uniformed servicemen marched down the narrow aisle, the audience rose.

Mayor Opens Meeting

"I wish to thank the citizens of Winona for their splendid response in answering the call of this meeting," Mayor E.S. La France, who presided, declared In calling the meeting to order. "I am proud in the knowledge of the splendid public spirit that exists here in Winona.

"Three years have passed since the news of the Armistice was flashed around the world and we rejoiced exceedingly in the knowledge that our sons would be returned to us. We hoped that war in future would be abolished. To this end we are met to commemorate the occasion. Unusual significance is centering upon the nation's capital where, to show the gigantic folly of having recourse to wars, great statesmen are assembled. The body of an unknown American hero is being laid to rest in his native land.

"Our boys fought inspired with the thought that theirs was the last great war. With this in mind, the president has called a meeting today of momentous importance. That gigantic waste of money may be used in the pursuit or peace and happiness. It is with genuine pleasure that I welcome this gathering and I thank the committee for its part in the work."

Tribute is Paid

The Rev. Father J.E. Grabowski then gave the brief invocation and with the audience standing, the firing squads marched to the street outside, where after a volley fired by the United Spanish War Veterans, three volleys were discharged by the Legion squad. "Taps" was then sounded and after two minutes of deep and reverent silence in memory of the dead, the Rev George S. Keller spoke the words of benediction, praying that wars might be prevented in the future.

Followed, a selection by the band, the speaker, Dr. Dewey, was then introduced.

In his address on "The Outlook For Peace," Dr. Dewey gave the large audience a viewpoint of the present problem which may have not been considered. He dealt with the psychological factors in inspiring war or peace as well as the physical and material, and gave all a keener appreciation of the falsity of many of the ideas which are being fostered in the world today.

Would Reduce Armaments

Three great reasons for the reduction of armaments were cited by the speaker as means to abolish warfare

"The first", he declared, "Is that behind the physical reasons for the reduction very materially of the armaments of the world, there are the psychological reasons. If the weapons of war are put away, the taste for war is subdued and the suggestion of conquest is put out of mind.

"Secondly," he continued, "we must get rid of the idea that war is here to stay  that in the very nature of the case, it is ineradicable. That is the idea that is in the back of the heads of many of the representatives at the arms conference, and it is the idea that we hear so often on our streets. It is an idea that imperils optimism and creates the very thing we dread."

Sees Hope For Future

The speaker then showed by an historical review, how much less prevalent war is today than It was in the ages past, and how much mightier the movement for peace.

"We have just as good reason to believe that war can be put out of existence in the not distant future," he declared, "as we had a few years ago that slavery and the liquor traffic could be abolished.

Sees Hope of Reduction

"This is not the time that all navies and armies, can be abolished, but I am of the opinion that a sweeping reduction of armaments can be made which will have its telling effect on the peoples of the world," Dr. Dewey declared.

"A person can hardly restrain a certain belligerent feeling when all is military around him, but so long as you can get rid of the signs and suggestions that make you feel warlike, a great step has been taken in the prevention of future conflicts. Canada and the United States have never warred in the past 100 years and why? Because they were never prepared for it, because there were no battleships on the lakes, no fortresses and no armies patrolling the borders.

Trust Begets Trust

"We have come to the day when we can at least advance this end."

Referring to the conference at William College last summer, the speaker quoted Mr. Root as saying at this conference "that there was never a time when the peoples were more interested in what is right or wrong in international affairs than at the present time." Again quoting Mr. Root, the speaker said that "the governing bodies of the countries are honest, generous, hate war, and love peace, but they are imperfectly informed."

"War has received a doom which is only postponed," the speaker forcefully brought, out. "Fear begets fear as trust begets trust, and. distrust makes for danger. As a man thinketh so is he."

For the first, time in the history of world," Dr. Dewey said in giving the third great reason, "it is evident beyond all question that to go on with military rivalry is the destruction of civilization. Since this is true, there is only one alternative. We are driven to take our chance with the Sermon on the Mount. We must have faith enough in men and faith enough in God to believe that if we try the method of Good Will, and take the full risk of it, the miracle will be wrought and brotherhood and peace will become a blessed reality."

Following Dr. Dewey's address a quartet composed of Blake Nevius, Harry Busdicker, A.K. Rau, and John L. Utermoehl, sang "Land of Hope and Glory," by Elgar.

The assemblage stood as the band played the "Star Spangled Banner," and the gathering was concluded.

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Ashley for the Arts 2020 Community Cares Grant awarded $10,000 to the Independence School District for a series of murals.
WAUPUN  The City of Waupuns 2022 budget was set at nearly $13 million Tuesday night at City Hall.

That requires a tax levy of $3.5 million, up $200,000 or 6.1 percent from 2021. The mill rate (per thousand dollars of assessed valuation) stands at $8.06 in Dodge County (up 21 cents per $1,000 or 2.6 percent) and $8.14 (up 26 cents per $1,000 or 3.2 percent) in Fond du Lac County.

Presenting highlights of the plan were City Administrator/Director of Economic Development Kathy Schlieve and Finance Accountant Michelle Kast.

There were a number of budget workshops, and we talked about a whole lot of stuff, said Schlieve. We talked about fairly significant issues that are impacting the community either immediately or in the future. Those ranged from public safety and EMRs (Emergency Medical Responders). Some very significant decisions were made this year that will impact the 2022 budget. Weve also had a conversation, frankly, about the possibility of a referendum. All of that is yet to be determined.

American Rescue Plan Act funds, of which Waupun will receive $1.3 million, may play a role in meeting some of the future demands which include facilities such as the Public Safety Building, the Senior Center and other capital improvement projects.
Binger called Grosskreutz to the stand on Monday. Grosskreutz testified he thought Rittenhouse was going to kill him, but on cross-examination he acknowledged that he ran up close to Rittenhouse and pointed a pistol at him a split-second after Rittenhouse shot Huber.

"That's a pretty clear case of self-defense," said Paul Bucher, a former Waukesha County district attorney who isn't involved in the case. "When he has a handgun (and) was in the process of pointing it, that would give me great pause as to whether I'd even charge that."

Rittenhouse testified Wednesday that Rosenbaum threatened to kill him twice, that Huber hit him with the skateboard twice before he shot him, and that Grosskreutz pointed his pistol at him after first raising his hands in a "surrender" gesture.

Rittenhouse said he did what he had to do to protect himself. He cried as he began to describe how Rosenbaum chased him down.

Prosecutors or defense attorneys would have to ask Judge Bruce Schroeder to inform jurors as they begin deliberations that they could consider finding Rittenhouse guilty of lesser charges rather than the original counts. The judge would then have to weigh whether the evidence the jury had seen supports those lesser charges before instructing the jury to consider them.
He is also charged with two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety for shooting toward two men who were not struck by bullets, as well as possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor.

On Wednesday at the trial, Rittenhouse took the stand to give his version of the night of the shooting. He insisted that he shot Rosenbaum, Huber and Grosskreutz in self-defense. I didnt do anything wrong. I defended myself, Rittenhouse testified.

Rebuttal witness called

On Thursday afternoon, the state called a rebuttal witness  state crime lab forensic imaging specialist James Armstrong, who enlarged an image from a drone video of the Car Source lot at 63rd Street and Sheridan Road. Prosecutors said the image shows Rittenhouse pointing his rifle at a man and woman at the car lot before Rosenbaum began chasing Rittenhouse.

In his testimony Wednesday, Rittenhouse denied pointing his AR-15 style rifle at the couple.

The defense fought admission of the photo enlargement, trying to argue that the software used could be unreliable because Armstrong could not explain how the software used might alter colors. Kraus argued that the defense was trying to use Schroeders admitted lack of knowledge of technology to keep out evidence.
Proposed decennial political boundaries that have been praised as fair maps by Gov. Tony Evers came under fire by several Democratic lawmakers Thursday who said the proposal would diminish Black and Hispanic representation in the Legislature.

The Assembly voted 60-38 along party lines to send GOP-drawn congressional and legislative district maps to Evers, who has already promised to veto the boundaries. Those maps focus on maintaining the core of the existing district boundaries that Republicans drew in secret in 2011 and are regarded by some as among the most gerrymandered in the nation. Ultimately, its expected the states next 10-year maps will be decided in court.

Maps drawn by the bipartisan Peoples Maps Commission would narrow, but still maintain, Republican legislative and congressional delegation control. On Thursday, Republicans introduced the commissions maps as an amendment to force an up or down vote on the governors proposal. The amendment failed 21-77, with 17 of the Assemblys 38 Democratic lawmakers joining Republicans in opposing the commissions maps.

Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, D-Milwaukee, blasted the commissions maps, which she described as illegal and a perversion of justice that cannot stand.
Wits, British Council to boost innovation in Africa

The new Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic will form part of the Innovation for African Universities Project that will drive economic development.

A new Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic, based in the School of Business Science, has been selected to be part of the newly formed Innovation for African Universities (IAU) project, part of the British Councils Going Global Partnerships programme. The University of Edinburgh with whom Wits recently renewed a partnership, is the UK partner in the project, together with ecosystem players - the Africa Circular Economy Network and the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct.

The Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic will see senior commerce students provide advice on entrepreneurship-related issues to members of the Wits community and the general public, explains Dr Rob Venter, a project leader from the Wits School of Business Science. These students will be supported by academic staff, alumni, volunteers, and leaders with experience in entrepreneurship. We are grateful for the grant from the British Council which will help to get the Wits Entrepreneurship Clinic off the ground.

The 24 successful 2021 IAU network partners will receive funding of up to 60,000 to deliver their projects, which address entrepreneurship, youth employability, climate change and digital innovation. The inspiring projects address local and global challenges, and reflect their extensive understanding of community needs and challenges. The partners will benefit from a shared UK-African network of collaborative partnerships which support an exchange of learning that fosters an increased culture of entrepreneurship and innovation within universities across focal programme locations.

Youth are Africa's greatest asset, with the youth population in Sub-Saharan Africa expected to double to over 830 million by 2050. This growth will bring unprecedented opportunities for entrepreneurship and innovation. But many young Africans lack the opportunities, training and support to develop their ideas for businesses and enterprise.

The Going Global Partnerships Programme aims to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within universities and to facilitate the development of skills required to build industries, companies, products and services. The IAU project is specifically designed to support the development of African-UK University partnerships that build institutional capacity for higher education engagement in entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems in selected African countries.

By bringing together universities from across the UK and sub-Saharan Africa with organisations supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the region, we can facilitate an exchange of learning, ideas, knowledge and connections to enable universities to become key champions for innovation and entrepreneurship, says Moses Anibaba OBE, the Regional Director of the British Council for sub-Saharan Africa. We recognise the key role that universities can play in the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa, helping enable African youth to become the job creators of tomorrow and drivers of economic development in the continent.

Mandisa Cakwe, Director: Teaching, Learning and Research Development in the South African Department of Higher Education and Training adds: Partnerships are key for the expansion and strengthening of the higher education system in South Africa. The IAU is building partnerships between universities in Africa and the UK, which will help us to achieve our strategic goals and contribute to building the capacity of students and staff, as well as improving the curriculum in specific areas that some projects will focus on. The department welcomes the support of the programme and is looking forward to more possible areas for future collaboration. The IAU promises to be a great and much needed platform for collaboration, learning, and knowledge exchange.
Breaking walls after the Berlin Wall

Which wall needs to fall in society and science?

Wits Professor Dilip Menon joined leading international scientists and scholars on 9 November, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, to present their breakthrough research, responding to the question: Which are the next walls to fall in science and society?

Erected in 1961 by the East German government, the purpose of the Berlin Wall was to keep so-called Western fascists from entering East Germany and undermining the socialist state, but it primarily served the objective of stemming mass defections from East to West, according to historical records. The fall of the Berlin Wall 32 years ago is described as a monumental win for social change and the freedom of thought.

To commemorate this day and celebrate the freedom gains, scholars and scientists have converged in Berlin since 2009 for the Falling Walls Science Summit to discuss breakthroughs and the next walls that need to fall.

On Tuesday, Menon took the stage as the winner of the prestigious international Falling Walls Award for his transnationalism research.

Welcoming him to the stage, Professor Jutta Allmendinger, President of the WZB Berlin Social Sciences Centre described Menon as a scholar whose modesty prevents him from seeing his work as a scientific breakthrough.

She likened Menon to a spiral that expands outwards because of the extent and the scope of his work, which traces the social history of caste, nationalism and communalism in history and expands to encompass literature, South Africa and other localities.

Recently, Menon together with academics from various disciplines collected and reassembled key concepts from Asian, African and Latin American epistemologies to revise the concepts used to talk about the world.

It is Menons vast work that led to his recognition as the winner of the Social Sciences and Humanities category on the Berlin stage.

Menon, the Director of the Centre for Indian Studies in Africa, delivered a talk titled Breaking the walls to a paracolonial paradigm: How humanitys destiny can be framed by shared heritages through oceanic connections.

Watch and listen to Menon talk about nature's rebellions, social science's response to the crisis before us as well as the concept of times, water, migration and affinity.
LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. -- A 40-year-old man from Little Falls is accused of sexually abusing a child under the age of 13 several times.

Brian M. Lekki was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 9, and charged with first-degree sex abuse and course of sexual conduct against a child, both felonies.

New York State Police say the abuse happened multiple times in the town of Newport and the town of Newfield.

Lekki was remanded to the Herkimer County jail on $10,000 cash baile or $20,000 bond.
ONEONTA, N.Y. -- A Navy veteran from Worcester has become part of the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.

Sen. Peter Oberacker, R-51, chose Construction Mechanic First Class Richard Scheiner as the first veteran from his district to be inducted into the HOF.

CM 1st Class Richard Scheiner is a natural-born leader and it is my honor to select him as my first inductee into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame, said Oberacker. Rick wore his uniform with intense pride and distinction as evidenced by the numerous medals he was awarded during his decade and a half of service to our nation. Moreover, Rick continues to display his deep commitment to others as an instrumental leader with a number of community organizations.

Scheiner served as a member of the Naval Seabees from 1979 to 1994. In recognition of his work throughout his 15 years of service, Scheiner received three Southwest Asia Service Medals, Kuwait Liberation Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, three Good Conduct Medals, Navy Expedition Medal.

Scheiner has also held leadership positions including master of Schenevus Valley Masonic Lodge 592 and grand director of ceremonies for the New York State Grandlodge.

The induction ceremony was held virtually on Veterans Day.
VIENNA, N.Y. -- A tanker truck carrying milk flipped over along Route 13 in Vienna early Thursday.

The accident happened around 5:30 a.m. near Saltzman Road in Vienna.

Kirk Tupaj // WKTV Kirk Tupaj // WKTV

NEWSChannel 2 spoke with fire officials who say Mercy Flight airlifted a person to the hospital with injuries.

At this time, officials have not specified on the severity of those injuries, how many people or other vehicles were involved, if any.

NEWSChannel 2 has reached out to State Police to learn more.

Fire crews from Vienna and McConnellsville responded to the scene, as well as New York State Police, the Oneida County Sheriff's Office, Mercy Flight, AmCare Ambulance and the New York State DEC.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more details are released.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - 19-million-dollars of money from the American Rescue Plan landed recently in Tippecanoe County's bank account.

As we've previously reported, the county will get more than 37-million-dollars as part of the stimulus package. But officials right now are forced to sit on the money as they await guidance from the federal government on how to spend it. Commissioner Tom Murtaugh said he's awaiting clarification on how the recently passed federal infrastructure bill could overlap.

"This is basically a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We want to make sure we're not just using this to cover routine expenses. We want to make sure this is something that will move Tippecanoe County forward," stated Murtaugh.

A committee of local elected officials is putting together a plan for the money.

Murtaugh said they're being patient to ensure the one-time money is spent right.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI)Indiana's Housing and Community Development Authority is now accepting eviction diversion applications from renters. That includes landlords from more than 90 Indiana counties. Indiana's Supreme Court said this is an additional tool to promote housing stability.

The goal of the program is to provide rapid distribution of emergency rental assistance funds to landlords and tenants. This program is brand new, it was rolled out a few weeks ago.

According to the state's website, Tippecanoe County is in the top five for having the most eviction cases. Those filings are from January 1st through September 30th of this year.

Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority said in order for renters to qualify for the program they must have a pending eviction against them.

Superior Court 7 Judge Dan Moore said the eviction diversion program informs tenants and landlords there are other resources to remedy an eviction.

"If both parties agree to participate in the program it takes that eviction out of the general docket, stays it for 90 days gives the parties to try and get financial aid," said Moore.

He's talking about financial aid through emergency rental assistance. It requires both the tenant and the landlord to submit an application to the state for the funds however both the tenant and landlord must agree to take part in the process.

"If the dispute is resolved, the case gets dismissed and while they are in that program and if they successfully complete the program the case remains confidential," said Moore.

Judge Moore said the eviction wouldn't be on the tenant's rental record which could be beneficial.

"The benefit from the tenant's point of view is that it allows the eviction to be confidential, buys some time to hopefully resolve the issue," said Moore. "The benefit from the landlord's point of view is that there's aid available to resolve the rent, they get their rent paid and get made whole."

Moore said it's another way around the tenant and landlord having a contested hearing in court.

"It is an effort by the court to try to ensure that everybody, tenants and landlords are aware of the resources out there to provide some financial aid to try to resolve those evictions that can be resolved," said Moore.

Judge Moore said to date he only has one case participating in the program.

According to the state's website, Emergency Rental Assistance Funds or ERA funds are available through September of next year. However, President Biden's American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provided Indiana with ERA funds through September of 2025.

For more information on Indiana's eviction diversion program click here

For information on the Indiana Supreme's Court release click here

For Indiana's Housing and Community Development Authority website click here
New W&M Spirit Shop and Bookstore now open

William & Mary Spirit Shop and Bookstore: The newly renovated location features an array of William & Mary branded products, select trade books, outdoor seating for customers and free parking available to Triangle Building merchants. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

The William & Mary Spirit Shop and Bookstore, operated by Barnes & Noble College, opened at 601 Prince George St. on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021.

The newly renovated location features an array of William & Mary branded products, select trade books, outdoor seating for customers and free parking available to Triangle Building merchants.

The move reflects W&M Bookstores continued adaptations to the sale and delivery of university textbooks and course materials while recognizing the value of in-person shopping for W&M merchandise and supplies, said Cindy Glavas, director of William & Mary Auxiliary Services, when the move was announced in the spring.

The store is still operated by Barnes & Noble College (BNC), through a contract with William & Mary, but is also now supported by a partnership between BNC and Fanatics, the top retailer of collegiate merchandise. This new partnership provides even more apparel options through the newly launched best-in-class website and allows the store to provide a greater product selection. Online orders will either be fulfilled by the local off-site warehouse or by a Fanatics distribution center.

Our new location has given us the opportunity to prioritize our inventory and ensure that we are meeting the needs of our customers with highly-desirable, on-trend products, while maintaining the traditional items that they also expect, said Susan Lemerise, manager of the W&M Spirit Shop and Bookstore.

The move to an exclusively digital experience for textbook purchases is consistent with industry trends. The store has seen significant growth in the number of W&M students utilizing online textbook selection over the past few years, so this was a natural progression in service delivery, said Glavas. W&M students will place their orders through bookstore.wm.edu and are able to view availability for rentals, new, used and digital formats. Orders will be fulfilled out of a local, off-campus warehouse for convenient campus pick-up, or students may elect to have orders shipped to an off-campus address.

William & Mary leased the space in the Triangle Building from the Williamsburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

The store will hold its official grand opening on Wednesday, Dec. 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony, students and community members can enjoy storewide savings, free T-shirts, a scavenger hunt, a merchandise customization bar, photo opportunities with the Griffin and more. Students are also eligible to win textbook scholarships up to $250 each. Customers are encouraged to follow the store on social media for complete event details.

The new William & Mary Spirit Shop and Bookstore is open MondaySaturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
94 year old Woodward, OK resident passed November 17, 2021. Services Saturday November 27, 2021 at 10:00 am at the Vici Church of the Nazarene and burial following at Sunnyside Cemetery, Vici. Shaw Funeral Home of Vici
Members of OK State Stand United were joined by other Oklahoma State University students and members of Justice for Julius Monday to show support for death row inmate Julius Jones. They marched and encouraged people to contact Gov. Kevin Stitt and ask him to approve clemency for Jones, as recommended by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Michelle Charles/Stillwater News Press
Chirk-based community organisation finalist in UK Social Enterprise Awards

A Chirk-based community organisation has been named a finalist in the UK Social Enterprise Awards.

Glyn Wylfa has been shortlisted in the Transformative Community, Business Category, recognising it as one of the leading social enterprises in the country.

Established eight years ago, the organisation houses a cafe, community and tourist hub and business centre as a social enterprise for the benefit to the local community.

In the last year, Glyn Wylfa has increased sales income by 15 per cent and net profit/surplus by 30 per cent, which was used for energy saving and customer benefit investments while also doubling their charitable and local donations.

The cafe receives over 43,000 visitors per year, employs 13 and is open seven days a week. The business centre houses a number of successful businesses, along with the local police station.

Social enterprises are businesses which trade for a social or environmental purpose. There are 100,000 social enterprises in the UK contributing 60bn to the UK economy, each one being set up to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face from homelessness to the climate emergency.

The UK Social Enterprise Awards run by Social Enterprise UK, the national membership body for social enterprises, recognise the nations most pioneering social enterprises.

Glyn Wylfa will be joining other shortlisted organisations at the prestigious awards ceremony held at Londons iconic Guildhall on 8 December.

This year the awards featured two new categories one recognising a Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice and the other for the Social Enterprise Team of the Year  a category specifically acknowledging those teams which have demonstrated the strength, passion and resilience so characteristic of the social enterprise sector over an extremely challenging year.

Previous winners have included a company set up to tackle furniture poverty, an IT consultancy employing people with autism and a community energy co-operative  demonstrating just how diverse the social enterprise sector is.

Commenting on being shortlisted  Brian Colley, director: It is an honour for our directors, employees, customers and other stakeholders to be recognised as a shortlisted social enterprise for this prestigious award.

Commenting on the Awards, chief executive of Social Enterprise UK Peter Holbrook said: The UK Social Enterprise Awards are back, bigger and better than ever before.

We have had a record number of applications this year, all of which have showcased the strength, dynamism and resilience of the social enterprise community through whats been an incredibly difficult and uncertain period.

Over the course of the pandemic social enterprises have been going above and beyond the call of duty to support their teams, the individuals, and communities they work with, showing the grit, determination and innovation so inherent to this sector.

Theyve been operating directly on the frontline of the crisis, launching new products and pivoting their business models to meet the needs of communities and society as a whole.

The Awards are all about celebrating the achievements of the UKs social enterprise movement, which is showing us that another way of doing business is possible  one which has never been more important as we look to build back better and address the climate emergency.
The onus of these crimes does not fall on women: Welsh minister speaks out in spiking debate

A Welsh Government minister has said the focus on stopping spiking incidents must fall on the perpetrators rather than women.

A debate was held on the issue in the Senedd yester afternoon amid rising reports of women either having alcohol or drugs deliberately added to their drinks without their knowledge or being injected with needles.

Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt said the governments aim was to ensure people who commit such crimes are dealt with, rather than the impetus being on women to change their behaviour.

She also called on men to call out abusive behaviour by their friends.

She said: First and foremost let me be clear that it is not for women to modify their behaviour, it is for abusers to change theirs.

The onus of these crimes does not fall on the women. It falls squarely on those men who commit them.

Secondly, to those who know the perpetrators. If you know or see a person that is carrying out these crimes you have a moral duty to report them as soon as it is safe to do so.

We all have a duty in our communities to call out inappropriate behaviours and offer support, where it is safe to do so.

This includes men being empowered to engage with other men and boys to call out abusive and sexist behaviour among their friends, colleagues and communities to promote a culture of equality and respect.

The debate was called by the Welsh Conservatives after Clwyd West MS Darren Millar asked the Welsh Government to take urgent action over spiking.

His proposals included providing bottle stoppers and drinks covers free of charge at night time venues and improving security, including checks on pockets, bags, jackets and coats.

He also suggested staff should be trained on how to spot and deal with spiking incidents, with enhanced CCTV in venues to assist with evidence to secure the prosecution of those responsible.

Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders also spoke out on the issue, describing the discussion as important and timely.

She highlighted research from StopTopps, which makes drink-protectors to deter spiking, which was conducted earlier this year.

It showed 38% of respondents to its survey had been a victim of drink spiking at least once but 98% didnt report the crime to police.

On a local level, in North Wales, police have received 22 reports of spiking so far in 2021 leading to only one arrest. In 2020, there were 18 reports and zero arrests.

Ms Finch-Saunders said: As a community leader, a woman and a mother, spiking is a modern phenomenon that strikes at the very core of concerns about safeguarding the well-being of our loved ones and other young women when they are out and enjoying our hospitality venues.

With the aim to incapacitate someone enough to rob or assault them, with victims disorientated to the point of nausea, hallucinations, amnesia and unconsciousness, this is a diabolical and such a cowardly act by a minority of individuals that is now threatening the safety of our young people and the viability of our excellent night-time industry operators.

Another shockingly scary activity is that of injections used on others.

Whilst the data suggests that drink spiking is far more prevalent than spiking with a needle, the compounding of spiking concerns with those regarding the spread of hepatitis B and C has led many young women now to have to take to wearing denim jackets as a means of preventing or slowing the effects of an injection.

The MS said it was difficult to assess whether spiking by needle had become a national trend due to a lack of data.

She therefore urged to the Welsh Government to undertake a rapid review to find out the true number of needle spiking incidents in Wales and to explore ways that venues can take more preventative measures.

Conservative MS for the Vale of Clwyd, Gareth Davies, said: Sadly, far too many attacks, whether its men or women, either go unreported or fail to result in any prosecutions at all. In my policing area in north Wales, there were only 18 reports and zero arrests last year.

We have to get the message out to victims of this insidious crime that its okay to report spiking, it is a crime, and you shouldnt be embarrassed to report it.

Discussing the action the government was taking to address the issue of spiking, Jane Hutt said: We understand the genuine concern of women and young girls around their safety, particularly in the night time economy setting.

Thats why were strengthening our Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) Strategy to include a focus on violence and harassment against women in the street and workplace as well as the home.

At its heart, the revised strategy recognises VAWDASV is a societal issue that requires a societal response.

Tackling male violence, gender inequality and misogyny require action at both ends of the spectrum; we must support survivors and we must hold perpetrators to account but we must also create genuine behaviour change.

This is how we will combat the insidious and pervasive negative attitudes towards women that can manifest in acts like spiking.
Undercover police officers to patrol bars in run up to Christmas in bid to help keep women and girls safe

Undercover police officers are set to be used in the local night time economy in the weeks leading up to Christmas in a bid to keep women and girls safe.

The new initiative has been announced by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin after 202,000 in funding was secures to launch the operation in Wrexham town centre and Flintshire.

The scheme, which is part of the Safety of Women at Night campaign, is the first of its kind in Wales.

The team will be made up of four uniformed officers, two plain clothed officers and a sergeant, with at least one of them being a female officer.

Their job will be to identify vulnerable women and girls and any potential offenders so they can take preventative action.

If they have had too much to drink, the officers will ensure that women and girls are accompanied by somebody responsible so that they get home safely.

Potential offenders will be stopped and searched for any substances that could be used to spike drinks and incapacitate victims.

A taxi marshal scheme will be established with eight registered door staff posted at taxi ranks on Friday and Saturday nights.

The operation will also include a campaign to raise awareness among college and university students.

In addition, a media company will be hired to create a learning package for men and boys to increase understanding about sexual assault, placing the responsibility squarely on the perpetrators.

As part of the drive a short film will be produced and there will also be a training package for parents and guardians.

The extra funding is in addition to 390,000 aimed at reducing the number of offences involving violence against women and girls in Wrexham.

The new campaign to protect party-goers was pioneered by Northumbria Police two years ago.

Mr Dunbobbin said: There have been a worrying number of sexual attacks over recent years that have attracted media attention and thereby rising community tensions and affecting the confidence of women whilst out alone.

Were also conscious that people trying to get home after a night out may find it more difficult than usual to find taxis because of a shortage of drivers which could mean they have to wait for longer or may be tempted to try and make their own way.

Were determined in North Wales to do all we can to protect people and keep our streets safe at this the busiest time of the year for the night-time economy.

We want people to be able to enjoy themselves sensibly and above all to get home safely and we believe that putting extra eyes on the streets can make a difference.

We also believe that the fact that our officers will be in plain clothes means that they will be able to blend in so that anyone with evil intent wont know if were watching.

The pilot by Northumbria Police on the streets and in the pubs and clubs of one of the UKs party capitals, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 2019 proved a big success

It was trialled to target predatory offenders and police reported a 30 per cent reduction in rapes and serious sexual assaults in the city centre and earned the force praise from the charity Rape Crisis and survivors of serious sexual offences.

Mr Dunbobbin added: There are a number of reasons a person can become vulnerable, including excess alcohol, getting lost, or becoming separated from friends.

Our officers will be there on the streets and theyll be on the look-out for the tell-tale signs of vulnerability and also for the kind of predators who might be looking for an opportunity to take advantage of someone.

They will be on the streets and ready to step in to keep people safe.
A second witness testifies Gregory McMichael didn't know whether Arbery had committed a crime prior to pursuit
One hundred and forty nine people, most of them part of the #MeToo movement, recently signed an open letter written by Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette defending his proposed law (Bill 92) creating a specialized court to supervise and adjudicate sexual and domestic violence cases. The signatories came primarily from the academic community, but also included journalists, Members of Parliament and even a Senator.

These establishment figures have no problem in aligning themselves with the minister most openly associated with the extreme Quebec chauvinism championed by the provinces Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government. Jolin-Barrette was the author of Bill 21, which bars Muslim women who wear Islamic headscarves from holding certain public sector jobs and women wearing full-face veils from receiving health care and other public services. He is currently piloting through the Quebec legislature Bill 96, legislation that would strip immigrants of the right to communicate with the Quebec government and its agencies in English.

Quebec Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette (Source: Wikipedia)

With its support for Bill 92, the #MeToo movement is once again attacking long-established judicial protections for the accused. This campaign, which in many respects echoes the law-and-order rhetoric traditionally associated with the right and far-right, has nothing to do with defending victims of sexual violence or vulnerable women. Rather, it is part of a movement, rooted in the upper-middle class, and supported by much of the nominal liberal-left wing of the political establishment, to promote identity politics and, in the name of ending womens oppression and equity, secure women greater access to top jobs in corporate management, academia and the state.

The publication of the open letter on October 9 followed statements by Quebec Court Chief Justice Lucie Rondeau, including in an interview with the Le Devoir, in which she said that the proposed special court would compromise judicial impartiality and the presumption of innocence.

The judge asserted that the courts must be absolutely independent of other actors in the fight against crime and that by placing the way police officers question complainants under the control of the special court, Bill 92 undermines this principle of judicial independence. Justice Rondeau also mentioned that the very name specialized court in sexual and domestic violence is not compatible with the presumption of innocence since it presumes that the allegation of violence is founded.

This intervention immediately led to an aggressive and, in some respects, hysterical reaction from the #MeToo movement and members of the ruling elite.

The Quebec National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution stating that the creation of a specialized court in sexual and domestic violence was necessary to bring about a cultural change in the justice system.

Laval University law professor Louise Langevin, a specialist in civil law and feminist theories of law with no apparent expertise in criminal law, said that Judge Rondeau's arguments did not hold water and even claimed her intervention constituted an attack on democracy, as the judiciary has no right to interfere with the legislative process.

A signatory of the open letter, documentary filmmaker and comedian Ingrid Falaise, claimed that the Chief Justice's intervention was the equivalent of being told we're not listening to you and, ridiculously, that it was like being raped again.

Also among the signatories of the open letter are Monique Neron and Emilie Perreault, two journalists who made the documentary La Parfaite Victime (The Perfect Victim), which was highly praised when it was released last summer. It was later revealed that the makers of The Perfect Victim had used erroneous, if not fabricated, statistics to prove their documentarys thesis that it is virtually impossible to convict someone of sexual assault. For example, at one point they claimed statistics showed only 18 percent of complaints of sexual crimes investigated by the police had resulted in criminal charges, when in fact the correct figure in the case cited was about 70 percent. The film also sought to trivialize core legal concepts, as when circus music was played while a lawyer was explaining what reasonable doubt means under criminal law.

A fact completely ignored by the documentarians is that in 2020, while Quebecs #MeToo movement focused all its attention on the acquittals of celebrities Gilbert Rozon and Eric Salvail, 89 of the 102 sex crime cases heard in Montreal courts resulted in a conviction, disproving the myth that the justice system is systemically biased in favor of those accused of sexual violence.

#MeToo has championed the claim that those who assert they have been sexually assaulted, having little to no chance at justice in the current legal system, must be taken at their word. This then becomes the springboard for a frontal attack on due process and the presumption of innocence. Those who dont endorse high-profile individuals facing allegations of sexual assault immediately being removed from their positions or who uphold the democratic principle that the veracity of sexual assault allegations need to be legally tested are denounced for not believing or silencing the victims.

Following, last Decembers acquittals of Rozon and Salvail there were numerous calls from #MeToo proponents for reconsideration of the onus of proof in sexual assault cases. A direct attack on the presumption of innocence, this would mean those accused of sexual crimes would have the legal obligation to positively disprove the charges against them to escape conviction. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself refused to rule out the possibility of reversing the burden of proof, saying he was ready to listen to the opinions of people who know what they are talking about. (See: Quebecs #MeToo movement denounces the presumption of innocence )

In effect, the #MeToo movement is demanding that long-established judicial protections for the accuseddue process and the right to a fair trial, in which the onus is on the Crown to prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubtbe effectively replaced by justice administered via anonymous denunciation on social media, and a legal system with eviscerated protections for those accused of sexual crimes.

The production of the misleading documentary The Perfect Victim is only one of many disgraceful episodes in the evolution of the #MeToo movement. The Dis son nom (Say His Name) page is another striking example. Created in July and August 2020, Say His Name is a list posted online, on Facebook and on Instagram, of people accused of sexual assault. The denunciations are anonymous. Legal proceedings for defamation brought by a man listed on Say His Name revealed that the pages administrators had made no serious attempt to verify the veracity of the allegations. The two administrators of the page had decided, by their own admission, to believe the victims and not to question their heartfelt stories. During the legal proceedings, the administrators of Say his Name deleted two thirds of the 1565 denunciations, presumably because they constituted confirmation of their reckless publishing of unverified accusations.

The anti-democratic demands of the #MeToo movement, which originated in the United States, are finding a sympathetic ear from the ruling class and its political representatives in Canada. The political establishment has been systematically attacking democratic rights for decades with the criminalization of strikes, the suppression of civil liberties in the name of the war on terror and the relentless promotion of militarism.

For the ruling class, the #MeToo movement is also a useful tool to divert attention away from the growing social inequality, hardship and misery produced by class society, toward identity politics based on gender, race, and ethnicity.

Jolin-Barrette and the entire right-wing CAQ government must be pleased with their alliance with the #MeToo movement over the specialized court, since it allows them to give a progressive veneer to a reactionary bill that, if passed, will lay the groundwork for further attacks on democratic rights.

Like all measures that encroach upon judicial guarantees under the pretext of tackling crime or terrorism, the attack on the presumption of innocence will be used against the working class as it comes into opposition with the austerity measures of the ruling elite and its disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Only days before a strike deadline for nearly 32,000 Kaiser Permanente workers on November 15, job actions by tens of thousands of other Kaiser workers on the west coast have been announced. This means that roughly 100,000 Kaiser workers might participate in strike action next week, in what would be a major development of the growing strike wave across the United States.

Around 2,500 pharmacy employees will go on strike on November 18 at over 150 Southern California Kaiser Permanente facilities. The pharmacy workers include pharmacy techs, pharmacy assistants, and pharmacy interns. They have faced increased workloads over the pandemic, including providing curbside pickup and home deliveries, and staffing shortages. Like 2,500 health care workers at Kaisers Georgia facilities, where workers voted recently to authorize a strike, the pharmacy workers are in the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW).

A Kaiser Permanente building (kp.org)

More than 700 stationary and biomedical engineers at Kaiser have already been on strike for over eight weeks in northern California. The engineers are fighting against effective pay cuts and contract provisions that would allow Kaiser to send engineers to facilities across county lines, rather than address staffing issues.

The Service Employees International UnionUnited Health Workers (SEIUUHW) has called for a 24-hour sympathy strike by 58,000 workers on November 18. The SEIU members, comprising some of the poorest paid hospital staff from cafeteria workers to janitorial staff, are interested in fighting after more than 18 months on the frontlines of a pandemic.

Sympathy strikes, once common in the United States, have essentially disappeared for decades as the unions have become integrated with management and worked to eliminate strikes and enforce concessions. Indeed, the SEIU itself has been forcing its members to cross the picket lines of the engineers for two months, which has no doubt produced immense frustration and anger among workers. The calling of a statewide 24-hour sympathy strike is a clear indication that the SEIU is worried that it is on the verge of losing control of the situation, and it is calling a limited strike in a bid to prevent more general action that escapes the unions control.

After decades of attacks on living and working conditions and now having experienced the horrors of the pandemic, which continues to drag on, the health care giant faces a looming war with nurses, pharmacy staff, engineers, cafeteria and janitorial workers.

For decades, the job of the well-heeled trade union bureaucracy has been to prevent, disrupt and isolate struggles in order to enforce concessions. Kaiser has relied heavily on the labor-policing services provided by the union, codified in the Labor-Management Partnership (LMP) established after a 1997 strike. On its website, the LMP explicitly declares that it was formed, at the initiative of the unions, in order to prevent strikes that threatened to derail the organization.

This was acknowledged in a statement by Arlene Peasnall, senior vice president of human resources at Kaiser Permanente, who stated that Kaiser is indisputably one of the most labor-friendly organizations in the United States. By labor-friendly, Peasnall is referring to the bureaucratic apparatus of the trade unions working hand-in-glove with the employers.

However, if the unions fail to prevent or quickly suppress a strike, Kaiser is ready to bring in inexperienced replacement workers as strikebreakers paid at considerably higher rates, who, unfamiliar with systems, technology, and protocol, often put patients at risk.

If a strike actually occurs, Peasnall said, highlighting the fact that the union and the company are furiously working to avert a walkout, our facilities will be staffed by our trained and experienced managers and emergency staff we are bringing in as needed, and our physicians will continue to be available to care for patients.

As for the 2,500 pharmacists, the UFCW will do what it can to keep it isolated from Local 770s 30,000 other members, the Kaiser workers in Georgia and the tens of thousands of other Kaiser workers in other unions who have voted to strike.

This was the UFCWs strategy in 20032004 during the bitter 19-week grocery store strike/lockout of 59,000 workers in southern California, which was the longest work stoppage in the history of the US supermarket industry. The UFCW kept the California workers isolated from striking grocery workers in other states, wearing them down until a concessions contract could be forced through. The contract negotiated included the imposition of a two-tier wage system, increases in medical costs, and no wage increases over the course of the contract. The UFCW did everything possible to prevent the broader mobilization of the working class and ram through the rotten contract against the wishes of the membership.

However, a new mood of determination and militancy is taking hold among workers, who are engaged in the largest strike movement in the United States in decades. Workers at John Deere, IATSE members in the film industry, teachers and others are increasingly rebelling against the treachery of the unions.

Indeed, the fact that the SEIU has been compelled to call a sympathy strike is a significant indication of the enormous potential for a broader movement uniting the entire working class against stagnant wages and the spread of COVID in the workplaces, which the unions have helped to enforce.

The outcome of this struggle depends on workers establishing their own initiative independent of and opposed to the corporatist trade unions. This means building the growing network of rank-and-file-committees, democratically run by workers themselves, to unite with workers in every workplace and across state and national boundaries. This is the only means by which transnational corporations and health care giants can be fought.
The Committee for Public Education (CFPE) has been independently collating and tracking school closures since the beginning of Term 4, following the official reopening of schools in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), Australias two most populous states.

In just over five weeks over 500 schools in Victoria have either been closed or partially closed due to COVID infections with the numbers in NSW heading towards 300.

The full extent and overall data are not published by the state governments, the media or the unionsthe Australian Education Union (AEU) and the New South Wales Teachers Federation (NSWTF)which are complicit in this dangerous experiment. Many of the closed schools have been hit by multiple infections, the extent of which also remains undisclosed.

New South Wales school closures [Source: CFPE]

The refusal of public authorities to publish comprehensive accounts of COVID-related school closures is just one expression of the extraordinary censorship that has accompanied the reopening drive.

It was only after the CFPE began exposing the alarming infection numbers on social media, that the Age and Guardian newspapers and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation suddenly began highlighting some of the closures.

The CFPE is holding an online meeting this Saturday at 4 p.m. (AEDT), entitled Oppose the dangerous reopening of schools in Australia! Form and join our rank-and-file action safety committees! We urge all educators, parents, students and workers to attend the event, which will outline the experiences in the schools and a perspective to fight against the endangerment of teacher and child safety.

The CFPE has received correspondence from teachers and parents providing updates on school closure sites and explaining their stories. Teachers have requested their comments remain anonymous because they fear that speaking publicly could have implications for their employment. Parents have also requested that they not be named in case their children are targeted.

A secondary teacher from Melbourne, the Victorian state capital

One of my students, who I had taught that day, tested positive. I was given a set of official government criteria to decide for myself whether I was a low risk, moderate risk or high risk close contact. You are low risk if you are fully vaxxed, not within immediate proximity of the student in question, and in the same room as the student for not longer than 2 hours!!

We all know that it is virtually impossible to not at some stage be near almost every student in the room, in the course of most lessons. And 2 hours!! For a virus that transmits in seconds!!

There is no doubt that a gigantic social experiment is being played out here. Today we read in the media that primary school children will most likely not be vaccinated until next year. So why are they being herded into classrooms, completely defenceless against the virus?

If teachers who are not fully vaccinated are not allowed to teach, how is it alright for children aged 5 to 11, and also many 12-to-16-year-olds, to be in packed classrooms?

The only conclusion, based on what I am observing at my school, and more broadly, is there is a deliberate attempt by governments to infect wide layers of the population, the ultimate consequences of which are totally unknown.

A parent from Melbournes south-east

My daughter attends primary school. On the 30th of October the school sent out emails to everyone saying they had one case of COVID. On Tuesday they sent out another stating several students had tested positive. The next day another email stating that it continued to grow. Then I received a text saying a child in my daughters class had tested positive. The school now has lots of cases but is still open.

Victorian school closures [Source: CFPE]

I called the principal asking what they are doing to prevent cases. She told me the air purifiers are not being delivered until next April. With no fresh air schools havent got any hope! I told her the kids should be outdoors more, she said thats up to the teacher.

I will not be sending my child back to school this year in these dangerous conditions. There are only a few weeks left, they just need to put them back online!

Another parent from Melbournes south-east

We are keeping our 11-year-old home for now. Our vaccinated 13-year-old had their first day back yesterday and today. This morning they were in tears over concerns about bringing COVID home to their younger sibling.

I believe the primary school has many children positive, all of whom are from vulnerable and/or essential worker families, which of course puts already vulnerable kids at higher risk.

A specialist teacher in Melbourne

What is happening in our school is terrible. We deal with students who have severe and profound disabilities. Last year we worked on-site through all the lockdowns when mainstream schools were closed and not regarded as safe.

This week we had a student who was displaying symptoms of COVID. Students in that case are meant to isolate. We rang his parent and she said she couldnt pick him up. We are meant to have a designated area to isolate the student. We dont have that; he was left in the classroom the entire day displaying symptoms. We have been told this is what is going to continue to happen. Department guidelines are left up to local interpretation. Our staff members are so anxious.

A primary teacher in Melbournes northern suburbs

There has been a case in the adjoining classroom with mine. The teacher shares an office with me where the doors open into both rooms. The Education Support (ES) staff member, who works in the adjoining room and has been listed as a close contact, also shares the office and comes in and out of my room regularly. The ES member is isolating but not me.

None of this was discussed with me, there was no special consideration, the school didnt check if the adjoining doors between the classes were open. Another child has now tested positive in that room.

All the staff are thinking, not if, but when will we have to deal with infections in our classroom. The government knows there will be more infections and are actively concealing this information. The unions are responsible for this situation too, they have done absolutely nothing to protect our safety but cover up the extent of infections and stifle any discussion among teachers.

A parent from New South Wales

Last year I was bullied by the attendance officer when they contacted me. I had to resort to requesting a medical certificate to cover the time it took for home schooling to approve my application. It was a very stressful time.

This year I hesitantly sent my kids to school with a strict mask regime. I have not returned them to school since the NSW lockdown. Again, I was very stressed as to how I was going to justify their absence. So far, I have not returned my kids to school and I am worried my hand will be forced, despite only half a term remaining.

Its interesting to see just how much more latitude private schools can offer parents who are reluctant to return their kids to school during a deadly pandemic.

A secondary teacher in Victoria

I have seen your posts on Facebook and I am a teacher and agree entirely with what you are saying about the opening of schools, however cant say anything publicly but the data shown and the assumed data behind that also doesnt paint the full picture.

Even at our school (high school) we have had NUMEROUS cases of COVID within the school many of which have been at school whilst infectious, however, the school is NOT partially isolating classes (even though they spend 2 hours and more together AND other kids in the same class have since tested positive, AND their siblings are still being sent to school), teachers and their classmates as well as parents are not informed if a student in their class has COVID. It looks bad if the school shuts down just letting you know.

A secondary teacher from Melbournes western suburbs

In 2020 positive cases always meant an extended period of online learning. This year it has been different with only one day given to carry out contact tracing, and cleaning. School administrations are under pressure from the Department to remain open and make a decision on whether closure is necessary.

Students are still in the process of completing their final VCE exams. Many are extremely concerned and stressed that a friend or a loved one may have what could be a deadly disease! They are then expected to do an exam that is meant to determine their future? Unbelievably we are told the government is very concerned about the mental health of students?

A teacher from NSW

My school was closed last week due to COVID and is closed again tomorrow. We were told to watch for emailsthey knew this morning but we still were expected to teach all day.

A teacher from last week was told she didnt need to isolate even though her students do. The same with the librarian and music teacher. In one class only half the class are considered close contacts and are isolating. How on earth did they come to that conclusion? Siblings arent isolating either.

How is this safe? Not one teacher who spent any time with them, not even the class teacher who spends all day, was told to isolate. Im immunised but Im angry, we are being put at risk.

A parent from regional Victoria

I am so frustrated by the medias constant whitewashing of this issue and complete refusal to focus on the concerns expressed by OzSAGE and other public health experts.

I am particularly shocked by the information being provided by the Murdoch Institute, Royal Childrens Hospital. These are highly esteemed organisations with a vital role to play in informing and educating the public, and advocating for childrens health, but are instead perpetuating the line that COVID is safe in kids, when indeed there is much evidence to indicate otherwise. Why would we even take the chance given how close we are to a vaccine program for kids?

As a parent of unvaccinated under 12s attending school in regional Victoria, this greatly concerns me as I have no way of attempting to judge how prevalent COVID is in our local schools, which is vital information that I use in assisting me to decide whether or not to permit my children to attend school each day. With schools no longer listed as exposure sites, is there any other way that we can access information regarding which schools currently have COVID cases??

With no remote learning options provided, I feel tortured making the daily decision whether or not to allow my children to access education (which they are desperate to do!), or keep them at home to avoid the risk of exposing them to a potentially serious disease with unknown long-term consequences.

Our school has no CO2 detectors, no air filtration systems, no classes conducted outdoors and the only external door to my childs classroom is currently broken and the windows do not open, so there is no external ventilation. I find this situation terrifying. Children have the right to receive education in a safe environment and this is clearly not an option at this present time.

Register here for the CFPE meeting this Saturday and promote it among teachers, students, colleagues and friends! The CFPE encourages educators, parents and students to contact us, share your experiences and help break the government-media conspiracy of silence over what is taking place in schools:

Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/commforpubliceducation

Twitter: @CFPE_Australia
A worker in protective suits with a loud speaker stands watch as service sector workers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus line up during a mass COVID-19 testing in Beijing on Oct. 29, 2021.

Beginning in mid-October, following the resurgence of the global pandemic, there have been more widespread outbreaks in China. Most provinces have been affected, and the situation is still not fully contained.

As of November 5, outbreaks had spread to more than 20 provinces. In addition, due to seasonal factors, particularly the onset of colder weather, pandemic prevention and control has become more difficult and complicated, among the countrys nearly 1.5 billion people.

According to the National Health Commission, as of midnight on November 8, there were 393 imported confirmed cases and 1,222 local cases, including 27 severe ones. On that day, 62 new confirmed cases and 74 new asymptomatic infections were added.

The current wave of infections was caused by a number of unrelated overseas sources. As of November 10, there were 88 medium and high-risk areas. The seven high-risk areas were in Heilongjiang Province (three regions), Hebei Province (two regions), Beijing (one region) and Inner Mongolia (one region). The 81 medium-risk regions were in 14 provincial-level administrative regions, including Beijing, Liaoning and Sichuan.

Reports indicate multiple transmission chains, with most of the cross-regional infections related to domestic travel. Potentially at-risk personnel have greater mobility across regions, increasing the risk of further spread of the pandemic.

At the same time, transmission chains have emerged in multiple port cities, some related to elderly tour groups. The proportion of elderly patients suffering severe illnesses is relatively high.

There have been cases of infection of medical workers and other front-line workers in many places, including nurses, doctors, medical students and workers in centralised quarantine facilities. According to information released on November 3, in Xining City, Qinghai Province, the six new confirmed cases from November 1 to 2 were all medical workers. Ningxia, Guizhou and other provinces have also reported infections of workers in quarantine facilities.

In addition, elementary and middle school students have become victims. Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, reported 12 confirmed cases on November 7, of which nine were primary and middle school students, and seven were from the same primary school. The previously reported confirmed cases in Xinji City, Hebei Province also included many primary and middle school students.

At present, the number of new cases in a single day in Heilongjiang Province is gradually decreasing. Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi and other provinces have not seen any new cases for 12 consecutive days. Community transmission in Inner Mongolia, Beijing, Shandong and other regions has been basically controlled. There are still fluctuating epidemics in Gansu, Qinghai, Yunnan and other places, but the risk of external spread is said to be relatively low.

On November 6, National Health Commission spokesperson Mi Feng told a press conference that since mid-October, the number of new confirmed cases worldwide had rebounded for four consecutive weeks, and Chinas actions to prevent infections from overseas had continued to increase.

It is necessary to adhere to the general strategy of preventing the importation of overseas cases, and the rebound of the domestic pandemic, strict port management and monitoring, and improvement of personal protection of risk groups, he said.

Generally speaking, the government is adhering to its strict lockdown, mass detection program and pandemic prevention and control strategy, and has become more proficient in implementing it. The government has punished or warned local bureaucrats over laxity in prevention and control of the pandemic, but the large-scale pandemic prevention mobilisation has kept the outbreak under control in most areas, at least at this stage.

Wang Huaqing, an expert from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has suggested that for people who completed vaccination more than six months ago, the third dose of vaccination should be provided as soon as possible.

Previously, Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the CDC of the National Health Commission, also said vaccination was still the most critical factor. In the next stage, increasing the rate of triple-dose injections nationwide would be a central policy.

At present, triple-dose injections are mainly provided to people at high risk of infection and personnel in key positions. According to reports, more than 20 provinces have carried out this work.

Despite the Western media launching a new round of campaigns to promote the alleged problems of Chinas pandemic prevention policy, and to demand the countrys opening up, major Chinese scientists are supporting the governments policy.

On November 1, Zhong Nanshan, a well-respected medical scientist and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, gave an interview rejecting the view that the zero-COVID policy is too costly. He said Chinas continuous zero-infection, zero spread policy seemed to require a lot of investment, but compared with the killing policies of some countries, the actual cost was lower.

Epidemiologist Jiang Qingwu also said the zero-COVID policy was to use affordable low costs to ensure the health of the people and low mortality.

An important reason for Beijings adherence to zero-COVID is the general support of scientists and the public. Although the Stalinist bureaucracy is very bureaucratic when implementing policies, and this has generated complaints on social media, the regime is also under working-class pressure to retain the policy to protect public health.

Recent comments on Weibo provided some insight into this sentiment. One noted: Some time ago, both Europe and the United States had to open up. The Western media all devalued and questioned Chinas zero-COVID policy. This time the epidemic in Europe has become the epicenter, and experts predict that this will be 50 percent of the epidemic. Ten thousand people have died, and there are voices in the West that agree with Chinas policies, and they are beginning to recognise that this is the lowest cost measure.

Another said: Given the population density of China, if zero-COVID is not carried out, it will become like the original situation in Wuhan. At that time, it was just a city in Wuhan. If all of China became like that, not only would it not be able to guarantee the economy and production, but also a large number of lives would have to be sacrificed.

Another commented: The public has reached a consensus on zero-COVID, and no one will be dissatisfied with this epidemic prevention goal. However, when implementing policies in different regions, the situation is complicated. But since epidemic prevention and control is for the people, we hope to give full play to the power of the masses. Then people should be allowed to express their opinions.

The Stalinist regime in Beijing is no defender of working-class interests, but it is fully aware of rising economic and class tensions, and that abandoning the zero-COVID policy would face large-scale opposition, as was revealed when the pandemic initially got out of control in Wuhan in early 2020.

However, the Chinese Communist Party bureaucracy is incapable of advancing an international perspective to halt the spread of the pandemic on a global scale. Ending the pandemic requires a conscious international mobilisation by the working class, to demand the elimination of COVID-19, unifying across national borders against the homicidal capitalist ruling elites.
President Donald J. Trump in the Cabinet Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

A federal judge in Washington D.C. ruled Tuesday night that former President Donald Trump cannot invoke executive privilege to protect documents from his White House that relate to the preparation of the January 6 attack on the Capitol and Trumps actions and communications during that attack.

District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan focused her decision not on the merits of Trumps claim of executive privilege, but on whether he could, as a former president, assert the privilege when the current president and the current Congressin the form of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attackhave agreed that the documents should be turned over by the National Archives to the committee.

At bottom, this is a dispute between a former and incumbent President. And the Supreme Court has already made clear that in such circumstances, the incumbents view is accorded greater weight, she wrote, citing a ruling against former President Richard Nixon, who sought to withhold materials relating to the Watergate scandal.

There are two remarkable aspects to the position taken by Trump in the legal proceeding, which began when he filed suit against the House committee last month.

First, Trumps legal arguments have the same basis as his lying claims of a stolen election. That is, his lawyers act as though President Joe Biden was not legitimately elected and therefore Trump remained in full possession of the White House.

Judge Chutkan noted that Trump did not accept that under the Supreme Court precedent, the current president, not the former president, determines the best interests of the executive branch.

The ex-president does not acknowledge the deference owed to the incumbent presidents judgment. His position that he may override the express will of the executive branch appears to be premised on the notion that his executive power exists in perpetuity, she wrote. But Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.

This line was highlighted in virtually every media account of the judges decision, although they did not explain the fundamentally authoritarian character of Trumps argument.

The other important aspect of the Trump suit is that his lawyers did not claim that the documents sought by the House Select Committeetelephone logs, videos, contemporaneous notes of various White House aides, etc.were irrelevant to the stated purpose of the House committee investigation.

This amounts to conceding the central political issue surrounding January 6: that Trump was at the center of the conspiracy to overthrow the Constitution and transform a lame-duck president, defeated at the polls, into a president-dictator. Neither the corporate media nor the congressional Democrats have sought to point out this obvious inference.

Judge Chutkan, an Obama appointee, stated her emphatic agreement with the legitimacy of the House investigation, against the argument of Trumps lawyers that the committee was a partisan political operation with no legislative purpose.

In establishing the committee, the House of Representatives was declaring that discovering and coming to terms with the causes underlying the January 6 attack is a matter of unsurpassed public importance because such information relates to our core democratic institutions and the publics confidence in them, she wrote. The court agrees.

The court holds that the public interest lies in permittingnot enjoiningthe combined will of the legislative and executive branches to study the events that led to and occurred on January 6, and to consider legislation to prevent such events from ever occurring again.

The National Archives is expected to begin turning over the documents on Friday to House investigators, but Trumps attorneys said they would immediately file two sets of appeals: one asking the Court of Appeals to review the lower court ruling, and the other with Judge Chutkan, asking her to stay the effect of her ruling pending that review.

Assuming, as most legal observers do, that Judge Chutkan will deny that request, Trump is expected to file an additional motion with the Court of Appeals, asking for an emergency stay to block any delivery of documents by the National Archives to the House committee.

The Court of Appeals has set December 27 for a hearing on the appeal of Judge Chutkans ruling. Any emergency stay of her order would have to be issued by Friday.

Trump evidently expects that whatever the response of the Court of Appeals, he will file a further appeal to the US Supreme Court, where three of the nine justices are his own appointees, and six are right-wingers nominated by Republican presidents.

His expectation of favorable treatment was not fulfilled last November in relation to his bogus claims of election fraud, rejected 9-0 by the high court, and the outcome of such an appeal cannot be certain.

A more probable political-legal tactic is to stall any final decision on the handing over of documents for another year, until the 2022 elections, when Trump expects that the Republican Party will win control of the House, disband the Select Committee and rescind all its document requests, making the outstanding legal issues moot.

That is the near-certain outcome if the Republicans do retake the House, since a majority of House Republicans voted to overturn the will of the voters by denying certification to the electoral votes of the states of Arizona and Pennsylvania. Most of them supported overturning the electoral votes in five or six battleground states, until the unsuccessful fascist attack on the Capitol made such an action politically untenable.

This is the same stalling tactic pursued by Stephen Bannon and others of Trumps fascist co-conspirators who are defying subpoenas to testify before the committee. Bannon has been formally held in contempt of Congress, but there will be no penalty applied unless the Department of Justice takes action to enforce the congressional sanction.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has been silent on that question, taking no action more than three weeks after the contempt citation was issued. If the Department of Justice refuses to step in, dozens of Trump aides and allies will follow Bannons lead and refuse to testify, turning the supposed investigation into a travesty.

Congressional Democrats hailed the lower court ruling. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it an important victory for the Constitution, the rule of law and the American people. Her written statement went on to declare, No one can be allowed to stand in the way of the truthparticularly not the previous President, who instigated and encouraged the insurrection.

But significantly, the House Select Committee has not sought the testimony of a single member of Congress, in the House or Senate, despite the mounting evidence that a dozen Republican members participated directly in the planning of the Capitol attack. This included giving constituent tours to some of the fascist attackers during the weeks leading up to January 6, so they could familiarize themselves with the layout of the building and make tactical preparations.
The basic right of academics and other university workers in Australia to free speech, particularly to criticise or oppose government or management policies, is in increasing danger after the High Court last month upheld the sacking of a professor.

Despite media and trade union claims that the outcome represented a victory for academic freedom, the court effectively cleared the way for university employers to dismiss educators for breaching confidentiality rules when subjected to termination proceedings.

The ruling amounted to a classic Catch-22. On the one hand, the judges said James Cook University (JCU) wrongly charged Peter Ridd, a physicist and long-time head of the universitys Marine Geophysical Laboratory, with discourteously criticising his colleagues research on the Great Barrier Reef, accusing some of grossly misusing scientific data. The judges found that these statements alone did not justify his dismissal in 2018.

Peter Ridd [Source: Sydney Institute]

The High Court even paid lip service to free speech by quoting from John Stuart Mills book On Liberty. The judges said a ban on disrespectful and discourteous conduct would amount to intellectual pacification and the sacrifice of the entire moral courage of the human mind.

On the other hand, however, the court declared that Ridds conduct in publicly criticising JCU for taking this disciplinary action against him violated the managements enterprise agreement with the university trade unions, which required secrecy regarding disciplinary matters.

In other words, if university staff members are unlawfully subjected to disciplinary proceedings for making critical public comments, they must remain silent! They must abide by management gags, and cannot campaign among their fellow workers or the public against their victimisation, or else they can be sacked for breaching confidentiality.

National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) general secretary Matthew McGowan declared the judgment was a vindication for the unions enterprise agreements (EAs), claiming they were the only effective legal remedy to protect academic and intellectual freedom.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The court specifically relied on the fact that the NTEUs EA with the JCU management contained rules about only speaking publicly within fields of competence and only raising disagreements with JCU decisions through applicable processes.

Thus the union helped impose the anti-democratic restrictions that allowed JCU to sack Ridd. While Ridd is a climate sceptic backed by the Murdoch media and right-wing organisations, the High Courts backing of his dismissal sets a chilling precedent that will be used more widely to intimidate, silence or, if that fails, dismiss academics.

Ridd was sacked for serious misconduct, that included a Sky News interview in which he affirmed remarks that he had made in a book chapter arguing that the Great Barrier Reef was not in danger from climate change. JCU dismissed him, under the managements Code of Conduct, for failing to treat others with respect and courtesy in his public discussion of his research.

While the court said he was allowed to express those views, JCU was entitled to sack him because, in response to these charges laid against him, he sent emails saying he had offended powerful organisations and that our whole university system pretends to value free debate, but in fact it crushes it. According to the judges, these were not expressions of opinion within an area of Dr Ridds academic competence.

The court also ruled that JCU had lawfully sacked Ridd for suggesting that his supporters write to the universitys vice chancellor. Ridd had disclosed confidential matters and made comments critical of decisions or decision making processes of JCU that did not follow applicable processes for raising those concerns.

This points to a wider danger. NTEU enterprise agreements with other universities contain similar clauses and also define serious misconductfor which staff can be sackedin sweeping terms that ban public criticism of management.

The Western Sydney University academic staff agreement, for example, states that serious misconduct includes comments that risk damage to the reputation, viability or profitability of the university. That emphasis on profitability is in line with the NTEUs fundamental agreement with the intensifying transformation of universities into corporatised institutions servicing the needs of the financial elite, both in teaching and research.

Earlier this year, the Liberal-National government pushed through legislation requiring universities to implement a Model Code proposed by former Chief Justice Robert French that likewise eviscerates free speech. Among other things, the code restricts academic freedom to a persons subject of study and research.

The code also bars views that might humiliate or intimidate anyone, and permits managements to impose reasonable and proportionate regulation necessary to the discharge of the universitys teaching and research activities.

Education Minister Alan Tudge last month welcomed a decision by the University Chancellors Council to adopt the code. Tudge said it was a very significant step in the right direction for universities.

Over the past 18 months, Tudge has spearheaded the governments exploitation of the COVID-19 pandemic to further starve the universities of funding and demand that they slash and restructure their courses and research to satisfy the requirements of big business and other employers.

The High Courts backing of Ridds dismissal is likely to be used against criticism of these pro-business policies, and increasing links to military research, being pursued by governments and university managements.

That is underscored by another recent ruling, by the Full Federal Court, on the University of Sydneys 2019 sacking of political economist Tim Anderson, primarily on the basis of allegations that his criticisms of US militarism and Israels oppression of the Palestinian people were offensive.

This August, the appellate court overturned a Federal Court judgment backing Andersons dismissal but did not order his reinstatement. Instead, it sent the case back to the Federal Court to determine whether Andersons conduct breached the NTEUs enterprise agreement with the management.

Anderson too was accused of breaching confidentiality orders barring him from even telling anyone that he was facing dismissal, and of failing to comply with a lawful and reasonable direction to delete some social media posts.

Academics internationally are facing similar attacks. The University of Bristol recently sacked political sociology Professor David Miller, alleging that his criticisms of US and Israeli militarism did not meet the standards of behaviour we expect from our staff.

Last month, the University of Florida barred three professors from providing testimony in a voting rights case against the state.

Such moves are aimed at overturning basic democratic rights and intimidating dissent, under conditions in which university workers are facing unprecedented job destruction and pro-business transformation, while the NTEU and other unions oppose any industrial action to fight the offensive.
Over 3,000 graduate student workers, members of the Student Workers of Columbia (SWC), at Columbia University in New York City, are striking for the second time this year for improved wages and basic social rights in the most expensive city in the US. The SWC is a part of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 2110. The strike is part of a years-long struggle by Columbia student workers for a decent contract.

In the spring, the SWC, which was at the time known as the Graduate Workers of Columbia (GWC), led a strike, which was paused for mediation by a supposedly neutral third party. Rank-and-file student workers opposed the halting and the subsequent calling off of the strike by the UAW. Several months later, a new bargaining committee, which presents itself as a reformed version of its discredited predecessor, is carrying out essentially the same policies by isolating the strike and limiting its demands to what Columbia says it can afford.

On Monday, about 65 students marched in the central campus plaza near the Low Library. The event garnered broad sympathy by Columbia students, faculty and staff alike, and the strike has drawn widespread support of students across the country.

Student workers spoke to the World Socialist Web Site on the conditions they faced. Jessica, an international student, denounced the recent move by the administration to divide stipend payments to graduate workers, formerly awarded as an annual lump sum, into biweekly disbursements. The administrations tactic, she said, was clearly aimed at gaining financial leverage over striking students.

Im picketing today because Im scared for myself and for my colleagues. Since the switch to regular payments instead of a one-time disbursement, Ive had several delays in my checks. This has happened multiple times. Its like they dont even regard it as a major issue.

Several students reported that last Friday the administration issued a provocative letter to graduate workers informing them that they need to confirm they had not been on strike to receive their pay. This is a shameful strikebreaking move, Jessica commented. I have until today to confirm that I wasnt on strike to get paid. Im really crossing my fingers that the union is prepared to fight this.

She continued to detail the plight of international students at Columbia University, which is representative of conditions facing international students at universities around the country and the world.

For me, since I come from a country where political relations with the US havent been as strained, Im not as worried about my visa status. Of course, its always a concern in the back of every international students mind. But for my colleagues who are from countries such as Russia or Chinaand there are many such students at ColumbiaI know that theyre terrified to speak up. What will happen to their visas if they cant afford to pay rent and they dont have a proper address here? What could happen to them if they were targeted by the administration just for asking for the minimum which was promised to them?

Were particularly vulnerable to the changes in payment disbursements because we are only allowed to work 20 hours per week, and we are not allowed to work outside of the university. Theres absolutely no way we can make up the financial deficit if the administration delays our payments in any way.

Printed testimonials from strikers were posted around central campus. One said, I am an international student and a portion of my income every month goes to support my family back home. Last month, I got to know that my dad was getting laid off from his job. This means that the monetary support I usually send would need to increase. With the rent that I pay living in NYC and Columbia docking our pay, I dont know how I will manage. The stress is eating me alive!!!

Another read, As an immigrant with no family support network to rely on, I am entirely at the mercy of the administration for my very existence [Because of] my research work  I am de facto required to live close to campus, where housing is expensive and my salary is barely able to cover rent, healthcare and living expenses Now that Columbia is docking my pay  I am in serious danger of being unable to register for courses  which in turn could put me at grave risk of losing my immigration status and being deported.

Reports abound of members of this highly exploited layer of students losing visa status because of the economic fallout from COVID-19. In 2020, the Trump administration issued threats to international students to whip up xenophobic and racist sentiment and to force the lifting of restrictions to in-person activity.

Elizabeth, a picketing Columbia masters student, spoke about her support for the strike. Health care is a major concern for student workers right now. But the issues are increasingly becoming the same at schools everywhere, its the administration versus workers.

Its insane that $45,000 per year is whats being offered for some workers. Thats less than the average rent in this neighborhood, never mind your other expenses. Youll be lucky if you can get by with six other roommates with that amount, let alone if you want to provide for a family.

Another posted testimonial gave a harrowing account from a Ph.D. candidate who skipped dental treatment because they could not afford needed dental care, which is not included in Columbias benefit package. I was presented with pricing options [which were] in a different universe from my financial resources and I [now] have to struggle with poor teeth health throughout the year with no end in sight. I wake up every morning with a splitting headache and fatigue from poor sleep this cant keep going on

Noel, a Columbia graduate fellowship student who was attending the rally, told the WSWS, I have a tremendous amount of sympathy and support for my striking colleagues. I see what theyre fighting against as the same as my struggles that I go through every day. But since my program isnt covered by the union, Ive been told I am not protected if I walk out. It reeks of a divide-and-conquer tactic. Students need to realize that this movement is about all of us.

An undergraduate student told the WSWS, Theres a series of strikes going on in the country right now. I really hope that this movement becomes part of that.

Many workers across the US and internationally feel the same. A conscious move by striking student workers at Columbia to join with 10,000 striking workers who rejected a second UAW-brokered sellout contract last week at John Deere, the agricultural machinery giant, would provide a powerful impetus to the strike wave now emerging across the world, including Kelloggs workers; nurses and other health care workers in California, West Virginia and Massachusetts; Alabama coal miners, Scranton, Pennsylvania, teachers and others.

The expansion of the Columbia strike would be a blow to the university administration, which consists of the most ardent defenders of the interests of Wall Street and of the American military-intelligence apparatus.

But for that new organizations with a new perspective are necessary. No change of personnel at any level can overcome the pro-capitalist character of the misnamed unions. Rather, students seeking to combat the attacks by university administrations must align their struggles with the growing movement in the working class to break with these corrupt organizations and form their own independent rank-and-file committee to take over conduct of the strike.

We urge all students who wish to advance this fight to become involved with the IYSSE, and contact the WSWS.
In an address to the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised the corporate elite that there would never be lockdowns again, while presenting the previous COVID safety measures as a tragic burden that was imposed on his government.

The speech, along with a series of other appearances over the past week, had the character of an election pitch to big business, ahead of a national ballot which will be held next year.

Morrison touted his recently announced climate policies, which will do nothing to reduce emissions for decades to come, while providing the corporations with a bonanza through government investments and handouts. He similarly presented the Liberal-National Coalition as being best placed to impose the pro-business economic restructuring and recovery that is demanded in the financial press.

Scott Morrison speaking at the National Press Club in February [Source: Facebook/Scott Morrison]

But Morrison made clear that the foundation of all these profit-driven policies was the abolition of lockdowns and other COVID safety measures. Morrison thanked the assembled business representatives, declaring, Youre the ones whove managed the heartache, and the complexity and the frustration of extreme lockdowns and restrictions and keeping your people COVID safe.

All but openly adopting the language of the extreme right-wing anti-lockdown movement, Morrison hailed the freedoms that were resulting from the rushed lifting of restrictions in Victoria and throughout the country. Those freedoms, he declared, must never be taken from us again.

Morrison linked the end of health measures to an unleashing of corporate profit-making and a recovery that would be dictated by and imposed on the working class for big business. He stated that his perspective was for, Can do capitalism, not dont do governments. I think thats a good motto for us to follow not just in this area [of climate policy], but right across the spectrum of economic policy in this country. Weve got a bit used to governments telling us what to do over the last couple of years. I think we have to break that habit.

Amid a global pandemic and outbreaks that remain the worst Australia has experienced since the COVID crisis began, Morrison used the word health twice. Infections and hospitalisations went unmentioned, under conditions in which the state of Victoria, where he was speaking, continues to register over a thousand cases a day, and the hospitals are in an unprecedented crisis.

Morrisons only concrete reference to the state of the pandemic was to again hail vaccination as a silver bullet, enabling the lifting of all restrictions. While he and the government have described the inoculation rate as one of the highest in the world, when children under 12 are included, the actual proportion of the total population that has received two doses is almost 70 percent. In countries such as Singapore, with over 90 percent eligible vaccination, the overturning of safety measures has been followed by major surges of illness and death.

Morrison likewise proclaimed that Australia has one of the lowest fatality rates from COVID anywhere in the world.

While it is true that deaths have not been on the scale of the US, Europe and countries such as Brazil and India, a not insignificant number of people have perished. That includes some 952 people who have died since July 11, as a direct consequence of the refusal of governments to implement the necessary lockdown measures, and their subsequent lifting of the inadequate restrictions since then. The deaths of 14 Victorians were announced just before Morrisons speech, but their passing did not merit a mention.

The callous, pro-business drive to force the population to live with the virus is proceeding, because it is supported by the entire political establishment. The federal Labor opposition fully supports the reopening. Its points of differentiation from the government are from the right, with Labor leader Anthony Albanese pitching his party as better placed to implement pro-business economic restructuring and Australias ever-greater alignment with the US confrontation with China.

And on the ground, it is the state and territory administrations, the majority of them Labor-led, that are dismantling public health policies and implementing the agenda that Morrison outlined. This is epitomised by Victoria. Labor Premier Daniel Andrews, who previously implemented the lockdowns Morrison bemoaned, now speaks in terms indistinguishable from the prime minister and other Liberal-National leaders. He insists on the need to accept death and illness for the foreseeable future in the interests of economic recovery, i.e., corporate profit.

The class character of this program is summed up by the full-resumption of in-person teaching, which has served as the spearhead for the broader lifting of most restrictions. According to the latest post from the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), a rank-and-file teachers group aligned with the SEP, fighting the reopening policies, since term four began on October 4, 514 Victorian schools have been hit by COVID infections. That included 20 new schools added to the list yesterday alone.

The CFPE is compiling the information from a patchwork official data, press reports and first-hand accounts from teachers and parents. Outside of its work, the extent of the spread among educators would be buried by the Labor government, the teacher unions and the corporate media. The suppression of information is motivated by fear over widespread hostility among educators, parents and students, and because the extent of the spread in educational institutions cuts across all of the lies used to justify the broader reopening drive.

In the space of only a handful of weeks since mass in-person teaching was resumed, education accounts for the largest number of clustered infections by industry, with well over three times more than the next worst affected sector, aged care. There are dozens of schools where more than one case has been reported.

In a bid to normalise the virus, the Victorian government is dispensing with the previous practice of closing a school when infections are detected. Instead, infected students will be sent home, as will those identified as the close contacts. But the isolation period for those contacts is to be reduced from fourteen to just seven days. On their sixth day after exposure, they will take a rapid antigen test, and will be permitted to return to school if it is negative. Antigen tests are less reliable than PCR examinations, and the timing is far less than the potential two-week incubation period of infection.

The same policy is to be rolled out by the Liberal-National government in New South Wales (NSW), where the CFPE has tallied almost 300 school closures this term. Year 12 students in NSW began sitting their final Higher School Certificate exams this week, after widespread calls for the tests to be cancelled or postponed were ignored.

As is the case internationally, the government policies which are premised on continued mass infections are creating an unprecedented health crisis. In the first study of Long COVID in Australia, researchers at Monash University found that 70 percent of 200 critically-ill patients still had symptoms six months after they left hospital. This included almost 35 percent reporting shortness of breath, 22 percent loss of strength and 19 percent fatigue. Studies internationally have shown that as many as ten to fifteen percent of children who are infected will suffer from Long COVID.

The immediate hospital crisis, moreover, is far from over. Data released by the Victorian government last week showed that in this years September quarter, there were 80,000 more emergency department presentations in the state than over the same period in 2020. The breakdown has not been released. In addition to COVID patients, the pandemic has created a massive backlog of elective surgeries, and has stymied the treatment of other conditions because of the chronically-underfunded and crisis-ridden state of the hospital system.

Last week, it was revealed by the Age that dozens of seriously-ill Victorian patients were not included in the official figures of current COVID hospitalisations. Patients are removed from the tally, even if they remain critically ill, once they are deemed to no longer be infectious. The number of this cohort stands at over 200. The misleading figures inevitably raise questions about other official data, including on infections.
A nine-year-old child in Omaha, Nebraska, was hospitalized last week when COVID-19 spread rapidly through Black Elk Elementary in the Millard Public School (MPS) district. There have been at least 50 cases reported at Black Elk alone. On November 5, MPS released a limited comment from the family of the hospitalized child, which included a brief update on his status: Our son continues to be a strong fighter through COVID pneumonia and through secondary bacterial infections. We are with him every step of the way.

This is not the first outbreak in the district, which was forced to shut down several elementary classrooms in August as cases were reported throughout the district. A custodian with Millard died early on in the pandemic, but the district has refused to implement mask mandates this year, with Superintendent Jim Sutfin stating that requiring masks turns teachers into mask police. Now, as one students parents are facing the terror of seeing their child critically ill from COVID-19, Sutfin responded by stating, Black Elk has not been an ideal situation.

Students in an Omaha classroom [Credit: Omaha Public Schools Facebook]

Meanwhile, Omaha Public Schools (OPS), Omahas largest school district, is already talking about reviewing its mask policy as soon as January, citing the fact that vaccines are now available for children aged 5-11. OPS reports 84 active cases for students and 20 for staff on their dashboard, but given the amount of under-reporting noted in the study that came out of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, it is safe to assume the numbers are higher.

All of this is happening within the context of the uncontrolled community spread in the wider Omaha/Douglas County area. The Douglas County Health Department reports: On Friday, November 5, the Douglas County Health Department confirmed 276 new positive COVID-19 tests have been received since midnight the previous day. The Health Department received four new death certificates during the past day. We have lost four men, one in his 40s and three over 70 years of age. All of them were vaccinated and two had underlying conditions.

This is all unsurprising given Nebraskas governor, billionaire Republican Pete Ricketts, has supported the herd immunity policy embraced by the rest of the ruling class. Most recently, Ricketts reinstated county-level reports, demographics and daily updates on COVID-19 cases to Nebraskas COVID-19 dashboard after removing them. The removal of the data had been criticized by public health officials and others who noted the value of knowing the details of community spread. Ricketts also joined with Iowas Republican Governor Kim Reynolds in supporting a lawsuit against vaccine mandates.

Kristi, a parent in Omaha who asked to have her name changed for privacy, spoke with the World Socialist Web Site and shared some of her thoughts on the situation in the schools. She said, Whats happening in Millard at Black Elk elementary is heartbreaking.

Kristi has worked to keep her children at home during this entire pandemic, but noted that this year there are no remote options and the state has tried to use the County Attorney and OPS to force parents to send their children to schools. She referred to those running the schools and those in power in Nebraska as bullies, saying: People want their kids to have an education but not at the cost of their life. I understand that remote [learning] was hard and a lot of kids struggled with it, but at the end of the day Id rather my kid be behind in education than bury them. Its wrong for them to not give a parent that choice.

Kristi also noted that children do not wear their masks at lunch time and commented on the lack of real distancing within the schools and the fact that masks alone cannot keep children safe. She stated: Its like they're using our kids as guinea pigs, but I refused to let them bully me to send my kids. They want to see if they can threaten us with courts and OPS. Like I have said, you cant spank your child anymore or OPS comes sometimes and will take your child, or you definitely end up in the courts; it is child abuse if youre driving and your kid isnt in a car seat, but its okay for our kids to go into a place thats a breeding ground for this virus? Theres kids dying all over the place.

Kristis comments reflect the thoughts and feelings of parents and teachers everywhere who want to see this pandemic handled in a scientific, sane manner. UK parent Lisa Diaz made similar comments during the WSWS webinar How to end the pandemic, during which scientists outlined a clear path out of the pandemic. It is not for lack of scientific knowledge or technology that this pandemic cannot end, but rather a lack of political leadership from the ruling class, who put profit over lives. Parents, students, teachers and all of the working class must work to create rank-and-file safety committees and fight back against these ruthless policies that are putting children all over the world at risk of severe illness and death.
Jared Lakey, second from left, with his family. (Credit: The Frontier/Lakey family lawyers)

Last Friday, two former Wilson, Oklahoma police officers were convicted of second-degree murder for using their less lethal Taser-X26Ps dozens of times over a nine-minute period on 28-year-old Jared Lakey, resulting in his death.

On July 4, 2019, Wilson police officers Joshua Taylor and Brandon Dingman arrived on the scene after responding to a call that Lakey was acting disorderly by running around naked outside and screaming. Body camera footage shows officers issuing commands to put your hands behind your back, all the while proceeding to fire their tasers a total of 53 times into Lakeys body, spanning less than four minutes, before he was choked unconscious by a third officer, Carter County Sheriff's Deputy David Duggan. Lakey died in the hospital two days later on July 6.

According to prosecutors, former officers Dingman and Taylors repeated use of the tasers, also known as stun guns, was dangerous and unnecessary and a substantial factor in the death of Lakey. Axon, the company that sells the directed energy weapon, explicitly warns that [r]epeated, prolonged or continuous energy weapon applications may contribute to cumulative exhaustion, stress, cardiac, physiologic, metabolic, respiratory and associated medical risks which could increase the risk of death or serious injury.

Axon further states that [m]ost human energy weapon lab testing has not exceeded 15 seconds of energy weapon application, and not to use multiple energy weapons or multiple completed circuits at the same time without justification (emphasis added.)

According to court records, in addition to a second-degree murder conviction, which carries a minimum of 10 years to life in prison, Taylor, now 27, and Dingman, now 35, were also found guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon by a jury and are to be sentenced on December 2.

Shannon McMurray, Dingmans lawyer, said on Monday that the former officer planned to appeal his conviction. Citing a medical examiners autopsy report, McMurray said that Lakey had an enlarged heart and critical coronary artery disease prior to his death. The autopsy report, however, listed the officers use of electrical weaponry and restraint as contributing factors in Lakeys death.

Its just a tragedy for everybody, McMurray said. In my opinion, they acted within policy. McMurray claims the officers had been trying to avoid using other types of force on Lakey. They were truly, truly concerned for his safety and theirs if they had gone hands-on, she said.

Warren Gotcher, Taylors lawyer, also said on Monday that his client would file an appeal. Were very disappointed in the verdict, said Gotcher, who also pointed to Lakeys health as playing a significant role in his death. No one could look at him and tell that he had that much of a diseased heart.

A lawsuit filed by Lakeys family reports that his body was riddled with taser probes and that medical providers told the family that Lakey died from multiple heart attacks.

Spencer Bryan, a lawyer for Lakeys parents, Doug and Cynthia Lakey, said in a statement on Monday that they were grateful to the jury and prosecution for taking these officers off the streets, but heavily criticized the Police Chief Kevin Coleys explanation, i.e., justification, during the trial about why the officers continued to tase Lakey.

Coley testified that Taylor and Dingman had been attempting to cause neuromuscular incapacitation in Lakey. Ignoring all of Axons explicit warnings, the officers continued to attempt neuromuscular incapacitation because he had kept moving.

According to Axon, the devices [tasers] save lives and prevent injuries. However, according to a 2017 investigation by Reuters, more than 1,000 people in the United States have died after being tased by police since 2000. In July 2008, a grand jury in Louisiana indicted police officer Scott Nugent on a manslaughter charge involving the death of 21-year-old Baron Pikes, who was shocked nine times with a taser. During the grand jury proceeding, the District Attorney said, It is our intention to show at trial that Mr. Nugent caused the death of Baron Pikes by tasing him multiple times, unnecessarily and in violation of Louisiana law.

However, at the conclusion of an inquiry on deaths after electro-muscular disruption, i.e., neuromuscular incapacitation, by the US Department of Justice, the National Institute of Justice published a special report stating that there is no conclusive medical evidence within the state of current research that indicates a high risk of serious injury or death from the direct effects of CED [Conducted Energy Devices] exposure.

District Attorney for the 20th Judicial District Craig Ladd said on Monday that police officers were trained to limit Taser exposure to 15 seconds or less and to avoid simultaneously using their devices. But in the case of Mr. Lakey, he continued, the electrical connection from the officers Tasers lasted 3 minutes and 14 seconds.

Ladd went on to say, They clearly failed to adhere to these safety guidelines. They tased Jared because he was lying naked in a ditch and wouldnt put his hands behind his back when they asked him to, even though it wasnt clear whether Jared truly understood what was going on or what he was being requested to do. Ladd continued, He never made any aggressive moves towards the officers, swung at them, lunged at them, or kicked at them.

Tasers, which are classified as less lethal, are designed to assist law enforcement officers in temporarily immobilizing a person by jolting them with 50,000 volts of electricity. Lakeys brutal and agonizing death has brought further scrutiny to the use of tasers by law enforcement officers, with proponents claiming the devices are a practical alternative to lethal firearms, while critics point to their frequent misuse and routine fatalities.

The conviction of Taylor and Dingman is an exceptional case. While police in the US routinely kill 1,000 people every year, or approximately three people every day, criminal charges are rare, and successful prosecutions are even more uncommon. The Henry A. Wallace Police Crime Database at Bowling Green State University identified just 104 non-federal law enforcement officers charged with murder or manslaughter in relation to on-duty shootings between 2005 and June 2019. One third of those cases resulted in any criminal conviction and only 4 officers were convicted of murder and 18 found guilty of manslaughter.
Medical staff talks to a shopper in her car who volunteered at a pop-up community COVID-19 testing station at a supermarket carpark in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, April 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

On Monday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that her Labour Party-led government expects to end the lockdown in Auckland at the end of the month. Despite the city being at the centre of a worsening outbreak of the Delta variant of COVID-19, the government yesterday allowed retail businesses and public facilities to reopen. Hundreds of people reportedly queued, some for hours, outside shops at Sylvia Park, WestCity and Albany shopping malls.

There are now 3,056 active cases, most of them in Auckland, with 127 in the neighbouring Waikato region, 30 in the largely impoverished and rural Northland region, and four in Christchurch. Deaths from the pandemic have risen to 33 and there are 84 people in hospital.

Ardern stated that reopening retail carried a low risk of transmitting COVID-19which flies in the face of public health experts warnings. Professor Michael Plank, a COVID-19 modeller, told Radio NZ that the move was risky while cases were still rising quite sharply, doubling around every 12 days. He noted that 700 community cases in the past 14 days were unlinked, meaning the source of infection is not known and contact tracing cannot keep up with the growing spread.

Epidemiologist Michael Baker told Stuff on Monday that it was not desirable to loosen restrictions. Pointing to the exponential rise in cases, he also urged the government not to reopen any more schools. Many high school students have already returned to class, and the government says it will open all schools on November 17.

Director-general of health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield, told the media yesterday that this was safe because the spread is more likely to happen outside of school settings than inside. In fact, reopening schools has driven a surge in cases and deaths in the United States, Britain and elsewhere.

Ardern said all businesses, including bars and restaurants, are likely to reopen at the end of the month, when Auckland is projected to have 90 percent of residents over 12 years old fully vaccinated. She said cases will grow, but that is not the only consideration, and the government was taking into account the needs of businessesi.e. their demand for an end to any impediments on the extraction of profit from the working class.

So far, 65 percent of New Zealands population is fully vaccinated, which is 77 percent of those eligible. The outbreak is spreading largely, but not solely, among the unvaccinatedunderscoring the fact that vaccines alone are not enough to stop the pandemic.

The corporate media is celebrating the reopening of retail, with Stuff, the New Zealand Herald and other outlets provocatively labelling November 29 Freedom Day. This phrase was notoriously used by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to describe the homicidal lifting of public health restrictions on July 19. Since then, the UK has recorded over 13,200 deaths from COVID-19 and the virus is being allowed to spread out of control.

New Zealands low death toll relative to other countries is due to its adoption in March 2020 of an elimination strategy. Ardern announced on October 4 that there would be a transition away from this policy, despite its widespread support in the working class and among public health experts in NZ and internationally.

In the past month, as a result of the decisions to ease restrictions, the number of active cases has expanded almost sevenfold, and the government is telling the population it must accept thousands more, along with inevitable deaths.

Yesterday, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins made clear that COVID-19 is not going to remain contained in Auckland. He said that Aucklanders will be allowed to travel outside the city over the Christmas holidays, and the rest of the country will be exposed to the virus, as the government abandons the use of lockdowns to stop the spread.

The public health system faces a preventable disaster. Stuff reported yesterday that South Auckland general practitioners are having to follow up people with COVID-19 who are isolating at home, because Auckland Regional Public Health, the agency tasked with this job, has become overwhelmed.

Meanwhile, far-right, anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protests are continuing. On Tuesday, about 3,000 people marched through Wellington and rallied outside parliament, calling for an end to public health restrictions and opposing vaccine mandates for teachers, healthcare workers and others.

The protest was led by Destiny Church and supported by similar groups, in a front organisation called the Freedom and Rights Coalition. Many people carried New Zealand and Maori nationalist flags, a few held Trump banners and there was at least one QAnon flag. Outside parliament, a speaker denounced the media as terrorists and called the lockdown measures a dictatorship.

In a rambling Facebook live commentary during the event, Destiny Church co-leader Hannah Tamaki combined anti-lockdown and anti-vaxx demagogy with denunciations of migrant workers and calls for police to be paid more.

The far-right is being emboldened by the political establishment and the media. Opposition National Party leader Judith Collins told Stuff that the government should not dismiss the enormous protest. She described some of the anti-vaccination messages as unhelpful, but said many people there were sick of the government. She demanded an end date for vaccine mandates to placate those who oppose the measure.

On November 6 the Herald published a prominent op-ed from Leo Molloy, a bar and restaurant owner and close friend of Destiny Churchs Brian and Hannah Tamaki. He declared: Were going to learn to live with Covid, we have to, just as the remainder of the world has We dont need a nanny-state dictatorial Government wiping our snotty nose for us and confining us to barracks any longer.

Molloy told Newshub yesterday that he will reopen his business on December 1, regardless of whether the government lifts restrictions. He said he had received encouragement and positive support from the police.

As in other countries, the union bureaucracy is seeking to ensure that there is no organised opposition to the return to work and the return to school.

At the Labour Partys conference last weekend, Richard Wagstaff, president of the Council of Trade Unions (CTU), hailed what he called a master class in leadership from our Prime Minister and her team. He made no mention of the dangerous easing of restrictions in Auckland, and instead praised the tripartisan collaboration during the pandemic between the CTU, the government and business leaders, saying we, as a nation, are in this together as a team of five million.

FIRST Union posted a Facebook message on November 8 stating that some retail workers are feeling apprehensive and anxious. Instead of opposing the dangerous return to work, however, the union called on workers and shoppers to wear masks and follow social distancing and other public health guidelines, implying that the reopening could be done safely.

The Post-Primary Teachers Association said on October 20 that it was dismayed and angry with the partial reopening of secondary schools. But the union refused to organise any industrial action to protect students, staff and their families. Macleans College, Avondale College and Mt Albert Grammar have all closed in the past week after students tested positive for COVID-19. The primary teachers union, NZEI Te Riu Roa, has made no statement about the plan to open all schools on November 17, tacitly supporting the governments decision.

The role of these pro-capitalist organisations underscores the need for workers, including teachers and parents, to take matters into their own hands. The WSWS and the Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand call on workers to form rank-and-file safety committees, outside of the union structures, to oppose the governments agenda of spreading COVID-19 throughout the country. Such committees must urgently be set up to stop the reopening of schools and businesses while COVID-19 is out of control, and to fight for the elimination of the deadly virus, both in New Zealand and internationally.
As the COVID-19 pandemic rages internationally, the Turkish governments determination to end social-distancing measures and keep schools open in the interests of the ruling class is leading to mass slaughter.

According to Worldometers, Turkey ranks sixth in the world in total number of cases with nearly 8.3 million persons infected since the pandemic began. The number of daily new cases in Turkey has been over 20,000 since the end of August and around 30,000 in November. Since the second half of August, 200 to 300 people have died of COVID-19 every day.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey (Paul Morigi Photography/Flickr)

While the official death toll exceeds 72,500, this is clearly far below the actual number of deaths. According to calculations of Guclu Yaman, a member of the Pandemic Working Group of the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), excess deaths caused by the pandemic in Turkey reached 208,000 on November 4.

This tragic situation is the direct product of the social murder policy implemented by President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government, with the support of the bourgeois opposition parties and trade unions. Insisting on keeping all non-essential workplaces and schools open, the government lifted almost all measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

Erdogan emphasized on Monday his determination to continue this policy. He bluntly stated his governments priorities, declaring: From the early days of the pandemic, we have built a system that will not allow any disruption in industrial production. By doing so, we have not only maintained our export volume, but also boosted it.

Trying to normalize preventable deaths and infections, Erdogan added: The numbers of patients, admissions, ICU patients and deaths are all at a manageable level.

According to the weekly incidence data for October 23-29 announced by Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Sunday, the northwestern city of Karabuk leads with 534 cases per 100,000 people; in only 8 of Turkeys 81 major cities is it less than 50 per 100,000. It is 293 in Istanbul (population 16 million) and 287 in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

As schools become a hotbed of coronavirus, with many teachers and students infected, social opposition is growing against sending children to unsafe schools so parents can be sent to work. According to a survey by NG Arastrma Sirketi, 76 percent of parents think that reopening of schools will lead to an increase in the number of coronavirus cases.

However, Erdogan has declared, The debate on whether schools will stay open or close should come to an end. Face-to-face education in schools will definitely continue.

According to Health Ministry data, 35 percent of new cases in October were youth under the age of 19. If students tested positive for COVID-19 in Turkey, the classroom is quarantined, not the school. Moreover, to stop in-person education in a classroom, there must be at least two cases. If there is only one case, the class continues as if nothing had happened.

The information provided to bianet by Egitim-Is union official Orhan Yldrm shows contagion in schools reaching gigantic proportions. According to Yldrm, at least 1,000 classrooms are quarantined every day in Turkey. We express the number of closed classes per day in thousands. Every day, some classes are closed while some classes reopen, he said.

COVID-19 is killing children and causing long-term health problems. The government refuses to disclose data on teachers and children. However, it is known that one of the latest child victims of COVID-19 was Yigit Parlak, an 11-year-old secondary school student in Samsun.

He was a child who was more vulnerable to the COVID-19 due to his chronic lung disease. According to his father, he was treated for coronavirus in the hospital for 12 days after being diagnosed with COVID-19, but shortly after returning home he fell ill again and tragically died.

Nonetheless, Education Minister Mahmut Ozer said, Our biggest advantage in keeping schools open right now is the high number of vaccinated teachers. We are in the decision to continue face-to-face education by revising the pandemic measures from time to time. He announced that 87 percent of 1.2 million teachers received two doses of vaccine. However, only 58 percent of the population in Turkey is fully vaccinated, and vaccination has come to a standstill.

Moreover, teachers are heavily affected by COVID-19 and are forced to work despite being exposed to virus. Yldrm commented: We can say that 10 percent of the teachers are Covid positive or contacts. We talk about a number about 100,000 and this is the weekly number.

Yldrm all but admitted that there are no precautions in schools, and that the government implements a policy of mass infection, declaring: [The ministry] doesnt send teachers who had contact [with COVID patients] home as well. In fact, if one teacher in a school has COVID, all teachers should be considered contacts. However, they dont implement this but just send the COVID-positive one home. They dont consider [students] in a classroom whose teacher is COVID-positive, either, and this causes the [COVID] numbers to appear lower.

Health Minister Koca admitted this murderous policy at the end of October, declaring: Unfortunately, the spread will continue until herd immunity is achieved.

Ummuhani Yesilkaya, 33, who died from COVID-19 during her pregnancy in October, was one of the teachers who fell victim to this herd immunity policy. As her condition worsened, doctors decided to give birth by cesarean section to save the babys life, but the mother tragically died.

The government is trampling upon scientists calls for a more humane policy. A member of the governments Science Board, Prof. Alper Sener said: In case of a jump to 60,000 or 70,000 cases per day, there may be situations such as lockdown and closing of schools.

Immediately afterwards, two ministers stressed their determination to keep schools open. While Education Minister Ozer said face-to-face education would continue, Health Minister Koca said, I came across a news article that talks about the possibility of schools closing. This news is false. Our Science Board does not have such an agenda.

Although the vaccination age has been reduced to 12 in Turkey, vaccination at that age is not obligatory, and many children aged 12-18 are still unvaccinated. Children under the age of 12 are not in the vaccine program. Koca announced: We do not think [to vaccinate] under the age of 12 in Turkey. It will not be correct for the next period for now. While Koca does not take the trouble to scientifically explain this position, children under the age of 12 continue to be sent to schools under unsafe conditions.

The herd immunity policy that created this disaster is implemented with the support of the entire political establishment, including the pseudo-left parties and trade unions. The so-called opposition parties organize crowded ceremonies, celebrations, or festivals in municipalities they control, as if there were no pandemic.

Similarly, education unions, including Egitim-Is, have never demanded the closure of unsafe schools. On the contrary, they advocated opening schools, claiming that children must not fall behind in education.

Against this alliance of death, the only social force that can stop the pandemic and save lives is the international working class. Workers must demand and fight for nonessential workplaces and schools be closed until zero cases are reached, together with mass vaccination, widespread testing, contact tracing and isolation of infected persons and other public health measures. There must be full income support for all workers affected by these measures.
For some time, reality and the rhetoric from official circles about the pandemic have been diverging. Despite the social crisis being wrought by the pandemic, there is barely any mention of the number of cases and deaths. Instead, the medias focus is on the new oral antivirals produced by Merck and Pfizer, boosters for all adults, the authorization for pediatric vaccines and, finally, the opening of borders to all international traffic.

More and more, from every venue, the mantra of endemicity and learning to live with the virus is being chanted by every political official and governmental representative with the promise that it will not be all that bad.

Take Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who spoke on CBS Morning yesterday, explaining that Americans will have to learn to live with the coronavirus. In his matter-of-fact approach, he told the hosts: As we look to the future, I think what is likely to happen is that there will be coronavirus around for some period.  I think we can certainly learn to live with it.

People look at white flags that are part of artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's temporary art installation, "In America: Remember," in remembrance of Americans who have died of COVID-19, on the National Mall in Washington. The installation consisted of more than 630,000 flags, Sept. 17, 2021. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Downplaying the dangers of SARS-CoV-2, he added: Think about the common cold, for example. We have learned to live with the common cold.  We can ultimately get COVID, I think, to a place where its somewhere in between the cold and the flu. Yes, its a virus thats circulating but it doesnt disrupt our way of life, doesnt prevent us from seeing the people we love, doesnt prevent our kids from being in school.

As written under the responsibilities of the Office of the Surgeon General, The US Surgeon General is the Nations Doctor, providing Americans with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of illness and injury. And yet, he told the American people that the virus could be taken to a more benign place than even the flu. However, the best scientific estimates are that if SARS-COV-2 is allowed to become endemic in the US, it will kill upward of 100,000 people each year.

The US is fast approaching 50 million reported cases of COVID-19, meaning that more than one in seven persons has had a documented infection. Almost 780,000 people have died, including more than 180,000 between the ages of 25 and 65. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) projects that the real death toll is 873,000. In raw numbers, this level of death has surpassed the death toll of the Civil War and has exceeded those who died from the Spanish flu between 1918 and 1920.

That more Americans have not died has much to do with the courage of health care workers risking their lives to save their patients and efforts made by scientists to study and share the results of their work with others to improve the odds of people surviving an infection. These gains have been made despite the concerted efforts of the Republican and Democratic parties, the unions and the financial oligarchs to reopen schools in order to force workers back into infected workplaces to ensure the economic engines are at operating at full steam.

In contradiction to the spin being spouted by the mainstream media that the US is exiting the pandemic and returning to normalcy, the curve of infections has once more begun a new ascent, with close to 75,000 new cases Wednesday, a 6 percent rise over the last 14 days. Worrisome as well is that the latest low in cases only reached an astounding 71,000 daily COVID cases. Never in the course of the pandemic in this country during the last five waves has the trough in cases been so high, an observation that Dr. Michael Osterholm made in his latest news brief update.

According to the New York Times tracker, the daily average of deaths is 1,251, which means that in a little more than each minute of the day yesterday, someone perished from COVID-19. The Johns Hopkins dashboard places the daily death toll up 1 percent from the week prior, validating the rise in cases. If the US remains on the current track, another 65,000 to 70,000 people will not celebrate another new year.

In the South and Southeast, where intense summer heat has given way to more temperate weather, making it more accessible for people to be outdoors, cases have dropped sharply from their summer peaks. Presently, the virus is surging through the mountainous Western states and the Midwest, where colder temperatures are setting in. Seven-day averages from the Midwest, West and Northeast are increasing, with hospitalizations tracking these statistics. Twenty-seven states across the country have reported a rise in cases over a 14-day average.

In Colorado, where the surge in cases has been prolonged and persistent, state health officials have reinstated crisis of standards of care, directing resources to patients whom health care systems deem to have the best chance at survival. On Monday, the public health department declared the entire state a high-risk environment for COVID. One-third of the hospitals in the state are expecting they will be short of ICU beds. Twenty percent will be dealing with insufficient health care workers. More than 1,500 people across the state are currently hospitalized for COVID.

Meanwhile, cases are surging quickly in New Mexico, with 1,270 new cases each day on a seven-day moving average despite boasting one of the highest full vaccination rates in the country. In northwestern New Mexico, the San Juan Regional Medical Center has instituted a similar crisis standard of care while the state has diverted resources to manage the crisis.

Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico are all averaging more than 50 new cases each day per 100,000 people. In Utah, every county except Daggett is in the red (very high rate), with more than 200 cases per 100,000 residents. Stephen Goldstein, a virologist at the University of Utah School of Medicine, told the Deseret News: To some extent, its difficult to say why certain areas, I think, are having their big surges at particular times. Like, why us now and the Midwest previously, the South earlier in the summer. An honest statement, which, coming from a virologist, highlights the complete abandonment of all commitments to public health dictums as the country is left flying in the dark.

He added: Im concerned that we could stay at this pretty high level for a while. I dont know if I would predict were going to see another big spike from where we are now. But even staying around this level for the next couple of months would be pretty devastating.

Minnesota is also seeing indicators of worsening number of cases and hospitalizations. The state has seen more than 822,000 COVID-19 cases and over 9,000 deaths since March 2020. The Tuesday update of 7,173 additional cases contains data from over the weekend, making the total current as of Monday morning. The high volume of cases and insufficient staffing means that the health department cannot track their infections in a timely manner.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Minnesota Health Department said: We are taking steps to boost staff capacity, but we anticipate this backlog will impact new case data at least through Wednesday, November 10. The marked increase in case growth is another reminder that the threat of COVID-19 remains very high in Minnesota.

Cases in Michigan continue a climb which began in late July, with over 4,500 new cases every day on average now. Though the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized is lower than in previous months, even these numbers are straining health systems with skeleton crews and over-utilized resources, according to the Detroit Free Press.
A New Jersey gym owner and former MMA fighter who punched a police officer during the January 6 riot was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Wednesday, becoming the first rioter sentenced for violence against the police during the attack.

Scott Fairlamb pleaded guilty in August to assaulting a police officer and obstructing an official proceeding. He has been in jail since he was arrested in late January and will get credit for the time he has already spent behind bars. Fairlamb was also the first riot defendant to plead guilty to assault.

"It's such a serious offense ... an affront to society and to the law, to have the Capitol overrun and the function of government stopped," said Judge Royce Lamberth, noting that the assault had struck "in the heart of our democracy."

Fairlamb's sentence will likely set an early benchmark for how harshly rioters charged with violence may be punished, and it ushers in a new phase of the US Capitol riot cases, which so far have had only nonviolent defendants sentenced largely to no jail time.

"I truly regret my actions that day. I have nothing but remorse," Fairlamb said in court Wednesday with tears in his eyes as he asked the judge for "mercy."

Fairlamb said he had disappointed his family, including his father, who was a veteran, and noted that since his arrest he has not spoken to his brother who is a Secret Service agent, "out of respect for his position and our government."

"My life got pulled out from under me, and it's no one's fault but myself," he said.

Before handing down the sentence, Lamberth told Fairlamb he had made the right decision in accepting a plea agreement. "Had you gone to trial, I don't think there's any jury that could have acquitted you. ... You couldn't have beat this."

Lamberth said that other January 6 defendants in situations similar to Fairlamb's are "going to get a lot more" time in prison if they go to trial and would be wise to follow Fairlamb's example and plead guilty.

"The way you hit (the police officer) in the face like that, you're fortunate he wasn't injured," Lamberth said.

Fairlamb was also sentenced to 36 months of supervised release following his time in prison and will have to pay $2,000 for damage done to the Capitol.

Before being escorted out of the courtroom, he blew a kiss to his wife, who was sitting in the front row with his sister and mother.

Prosecutors had sought 44 months in prison for Fairlamb, because of his criminal history, photos he had taken with an "AREA CLOSED" sign outside the Capitol -- which prosecutors said showed Fairlamb knew he was not allowed at the building -- and messages to a friend that he'd "go again" to the Capitol.

Body camera footage shows Fairlamb following and yelling at officers on January 6, at one point shouting, "You have no idea what the f**k you're doing." He then shoved and punched the officer in the head, the footage shows.

Prosecutors allege that Fairlamb was one of the first rioters inside the Senate side of the building. Four days after the siege, Fairlamb allegedly tagged Rep. Cori Bush, a Missouri Democrat, in an Instagram post and wrote that he "shoulda lit your ass up," presumably during the attack. The post also contained screenshots of racist and sexist threats against the congresswoman.

This story has been updated with more from the court hearing.

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Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney said at a New Hampshire event on Tuesday that the United States is "confronting a domestic threat that we have never faced before" in the form of former President Donald Trump, who she said is "attempting to unravel the foundations of our constitutional republic."

Cheney also sharply criticized House Republicans for continuing to support Trump, saying that Trump reportedly said that the insurrection was on Election Day, rather than January 6, at the conference's annual fundraising dinner on Monday night.

"Political leaders who sit silent in the face of these false and dangerous claims are aiding the former President who is at war with the rule of law, and the Constitution," Cheney said. "When our constitutional order is threatened, as it is now, rising above partisanship is not simply an aspiration. It is an obligation."

Cheney is the top Republican on the House select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, and was one of 10 House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump for "incitement of insurrection" following it.

"We are also confronting a domestic threat that we have never faced before: A former president who's attempting to unravel the foundations of our constitutional republic, aided by political leaders, who have made themselves willing hostages to this dangerous and irrational man," said Cheney after ticking off the threats the US faces around the world.

Cheney gave on Tuesday the keynote address for a First Amendment award given by the Saint Anselm College's Institute of Politics. Her comments are sure to prompt speculation about a 2024 presidential run, which could potentially be against the former President. Cheney mentioned in her speech some of her ancestors who lived in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary, that she is a "conservative Republican" who disagrees "strongly with nearly everything President Biden has done since he has been in office," and supports "limited government, low taxes, a strong national defense" and family values.

But while she opposed Biden's policies, she repeatedly took aim at the former President, calling him a "liar" who "tragically misled" Americans and "provoked violence" on January 6.

"I love my party. I love its history. I love its principles," Cheney said. "But I love my country more. I know this nation needs a Republican Party that is based on truth."

"We need a Republican Party that is led by people who remember that the peaceful transfer of power is sacred," she added. "We need Republican leaders who remember that fidelity to the Constitution, fidelity to the rule of law  those are the most conservative of conservative principles."

In a statement on Tuesday, Trump again ripped the work of Cheney and her colleagues on the House committee investigating the deadly attack on the Capitol and falsely claimed that his 2020 loss was "fraudulent."

"The Unselect Committee of politically ambitious hacks continues to subpoena people wanting to know about those protesting, on January 6th, the insurrection which took place during the Presidential Election of November 3rd," Trump said. "That's right, the Committee is studying the PROTEST when it should be studying the Fraudulent Election that led to the protest. As the LameStream Media knows, the facts are there for all to see!"

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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTHI) - We have a development involving the future Vigo County casino.

On Wednesday, News 10 received information about an Indiana Gaming Commission public meeting on November 15.

Lucy Luck Gaming is one of the items on the agenda. More specifically, it says, "Settlement Offer made pursuant 68IAC 7-1-15(a)."

How did we get here?

In June, News 10 reported the Indiana Gaming Commission denied Lucy Luck's request to renew its gaming license for Vigo County. In doing that, the application process reopened.

The commission, at the time, said Lucy Luck did not have an executive team in place to run the casino. The commission also said casino operations were not fully funded.

Terre Haute businessman Greg Gibson is the chairman of Lucy Luck. Both Gibson and a lawyer for Lucy Luck refuted those claims.

Hard Rock (and the other companies applying)

Gibson's Lucy Luck planned on a Hard Rock branded casino for Vigo County, but with the application process reopened - Hard Rock was one of four companies that applied.

The new Hard Rock proposal is not tied to Lucy Luck.

On November 17, the gaming commission is expected to select one of four proposals for Terre Haute's casino. The companies applying are Hard Rock, Full House Resorts, Churchill Downs, and Premier Gaming.

Learn more about the four proposals here.

We will continue to follow this story and bring you more developments as they become available.
(CNN) -- The global threat of measles has become worse after 22 million babies missed their vaccinations because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned Wednesday.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known and still kills more than 60,000 people a year, mostly young children. But it killed more than a million a year as recently as 2000.

Vaccination campaigns turned that around, but it doesn't take much to threaten any progress.

The CDC said Wednesday that reported measles cases fell in 2020 after a global resurgence from 2017-2019. The agency doesn't necessarily think that's good news. "Large and disruptive measles outbreaks in 2020, however, suggest that measles transmission was underreported," the CDC team wrote in the agency's weekly report on death and disease, the MMWR.

The CDC notes millions of kids missed out on their vaccines because of the pandemic.

"Over 22 million infants missed their first dose of measles vaccine -- 3 million more than in 2019 and the largest annual increase in over 20 years," the CDC said.

"While reported measles cases dropped in 2020, evidence suggests we are likely seeing the calm before the storm as the risk of outbreaks continues to grow around the world," Dr. Kate O'Brien, director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at the World Health Organization, said in a statement.

"It's critical that countries vaccinate as quickly as possible against COVID-19, but this requires new resources so that it does not come at the cost of essential immunization programs. Routine immunization must be protected and strengthened; otherwise, we risk trading one deadly disease for another."

CDC and WHO have been warning that the pandemic has damaged routine childhood vaccination programs.

"Large numbers of unvaccinated children, outbreaks of measles, and disease detection and diagnostics diverted to support COVID-19 responses are factors that increase the likelihood of measles-related deaths and serious complications in children," Dr. Kevin Cain, CDC's global immunization director, said in a statement.

"We must act now to strengthen disease surveillance systems and close immunity gaps, before travel and trade return to pre-pandemic levels, to prevent deadly measles outbreaks and mitigate the risk of other vaccine-preventable diseases."

The CDC estimates that measles vaccination programs prevent more than 31 million deaths a year.

"Even before the pandemic, we were seeing how even small pockets of low measles immunization coverage could fuel unprecedented outbreaks, including in countries where the disease had been considered eradicated. And now, COVID-19 is creating widening gaps in coverage at a pace we haven't seen in decades," Ephrem Tekle Lemango, UNICEF's associate director for immunization, said in a statement.

"While we have not seen an increase in cases yet, measles is simply too contagious. If we do not act, gaps will become outbreaks, and many children will be exposed to a preventable but potentially deadly disease," he added.

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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI)- The White House has extended the deadline for federal contractors to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The original deadline was December 8, but now they will have until January 4 to receive the first dose and January 28 to receive their final dose.

The Biden administration's goal is to get more employees vaccinated through this extension. Since vaccination requirements have been put into place vaccination rates have increased by 20 percent.

GE Aviation in Terre Haute is complying with the executive order. Many employees are still refusing to receive the vaccine despite the mandate. An engineer at GE Aviation, Shane White, says there will be a significant amount of employees who will not receive the vaccine and are applying for exemption.

"For us to not be given a choice on what we're gonna input into our bodies is unacceptable," says White.

White says some employees may consider quitting and looking for another job if the mandate stays in place.

Federal contractors all across the state of Indiana will be participating in a protest tomorrow at the Indiana Statehouse from 12:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Reita Keyes has been giving out the covid-19 vaccine since it first became available almost a year ago. She started out at Good Samaritan Hospital Keyes now gives out the vaccine in the cramped spaces of the Knox County health department.

Keyes says, "A lot less space, you know, but it is still a worthwhile thing, so you just do it. Get in there and do what you can and help people. Try to encourage them to come in and do it."

Keyes has caught up with old friends who have come in to get the shot. But recently, she's seen kids in the hallways.

Keyes says, "They have it all color-coded that who gets what. Even like the second shot on the Moderna, they get less than the Pfizer does now. But we have it all marked real well."

Organization is key for the clinic. Color coding keeps pediatric shots to kids and regular shots to adults separate. Half of the clinic handles covid-19 shots. The other half handles all other vaccinations.

Health officer Dr. Alan Stewart says, "So we're getting students vaccinated. This would be a big, big step forward in trying to rid our community of covid."

Right now no clinics are planned at any Knox County schools. Knox County recently moved to yellow status. That led many Knox County schools to lift mask mandates.

Stewart says, "I wish the schools would have waited to discontinue mandatory masking. This would have given us a few more weeks to get more shots into the students and this would have made the school environment safer yet."

For the moment health workers will stay later at the health department to make sure those kids who want the shot can get them.
GRENADA, Miss. (WTVA) - A high-speed chase Wednesday evening, Nov. 10 began near Jackson and ended about 100 miles north in Grenada.

The incident began before 5:00 when Madison County deputies pulled over a black Maserati with a Texas license plate.

Desmond McKinney, Source: Madison County Sheriff's Office. Desmond McKinney, Source: Madison County Sheriff's Office.

Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker said the driver, identifed as Desmond McKinney of Memphis, sped away.

The chase traveled north along Interstate 55.

In Winona, law enforcement officers tried to stop the car with spike strips.

Even with a blown tire, the chase continued about 20 miles north to Grenada where the car stopped.

McKinney then surrendered to law enforcement officers.

According to the sheriff, McKinney is wanted in Georgia. He was returned to the Madison County jail overnight.

Note: I-55 travels through Carroll County north to Montgomery County (Winona).

Correction: The chase was initiated by the Madison County Sheriff's Office, not police.
Here is the latest Wisconsin news from The Associated Press at 1:40 a.m. CST
Another group of astronauts launched to the International Space Station from Florida on Wednesday night, SpaceXs third operational crewed flight in less than a year.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASAs Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn and Kayla Barron and the European Space Agencys Matthias Maurer lifted off on time at 9:03 p.m. from Kennedy Space Centers 39A launch pad. On Thursday, following a 22-hour journey through space, the Crew Dragon capsule, which Crew-3 named Endurance, will reach the ISS for a six-month stay.

We wish you a great mission. Godspeed. And enjoy the launch, mission control called out to the astronauts shortly before liftoff.

The launch was originally scheduled for Oct. 31 but was delayed multiple times because of bad weather and after one of the astronauts experienced a minor medical issue that NASA would not release details about. The agency would only say the issue was not COVID-19 related.

Sometimes when you try to fly on Halloween, you get a trick instead of a treat, Chari told mission control in the final minutes before launch.

Who are the astronauts?

All but one of the crew members are space rookies.

Chari, an Air Force colonel and test pilot of Cedar Falls, Iowa, is commanding the mission and has also been selected for future lunar missions as part of NASAs Artemis program returning humans to the moon.

Marshburn, of Statesville, North Carolina, has been an astronaut since 2004 and will pilot Endurance. Crew-3s second-in-command, Mashburn previously was a flight surgeon at Johnson Space Center in Houston and medical operations lead for the ISS. Hes flown to space twice before, first in 2009 aboard the Shuttle Endeavour and on Russias Soyuz in 2013.

Barron, from Richland, Washington, will act as a mission specialist. Previously, she served in the Navy and was deployed three times aboard the submarine U.S.S. Maine. The other mission specialist will be Maurer, from the German state of Saarland. Although Maurer has never been to space, in 2016 he spent 16 days on NASAs undersea Extreme Environment Mission Operations experiment.

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Routine crewed launches

The Crew-3 mission is part of Elon Musk and NASAs overall mission to send up human missions to the ISS one after another, ending Americas reliance on Russia, which charges about $80 million for a seat on its Soyuz rocket.

Crewed launches from U.S. soil ended in 2011 when the shuttle program shut down and did not resume until May 2020 when SpaceX flew a successful test flight to the ISS with Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley.

Recently, the director of Russias space agency Dmitry Rogozin said cosmonauts would be allowed to fly on SpaceXs rocket and capsule, now that it has completed several missions and proven reliable. Russia had previously expressed concerns about SpaceXs lack of experience.

The new crew will join three astronauts who are already on board, Mark Vande Hei, Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov, who flew up on the Soyuz as part of the Expedition 66 team.

cglenn@orlandosentinel.com
Damon Albarn is now a citizen of Iceland. (Matt Crossick/Empics)

Damon Albarn said he always had a sense he wasnt just English as he revealed he has become an Icelandic citizen.

The Blur star, whose mums family are originally from Denmark, was awarded his new citizenship last year and said it was deep.

Speaking on Apple Music 1, he said: Its a deep one because my mums family is originally from Denmark, so Ive always had a sense that I wasnt just English.

Read more: Sir Elton John on why Damon Albarn is the most interesting British musician

When I went to Iceland, the first time, it was as a result of a recurring childhood dream of levitating over black sand, but they had no geography to it.

Obviously it could have been New Zealand and wed be having an entirely different conversation now, but Im glad that it was Iceland that I identified with.

Albarn, 53, also gave host Zane Lowe an update on the Gorillaz film and revealed that he has been having writing sessions with Netflix in Malibu.

There has long been talk of a film about the virtual band - which Albarn formed with artist Jamie Hewlett more than 20 years ago - and the star has said things are moving forwards.

Its really exciting to do that, said Albarn.

Its something weve been wanting to do for a very long time. Its been through so many incarnations. Gorillaz doing a movie. Honestly."

The star formed Gorillaz with Jamie Hewlett. (PA)

But Netflix, I dont know," he went on.

"Apart from them kind of running this city now, I mean  its just extraordinary to see how ubiquitous they are now.

Read more: Gorillaz return to the stage to play free gig for NHS workers

They just seem like theyre a good creative team, you know?

But I cant say anything more about it, obviously.

The full interview is available on demand on Apple Music.

Additional reporting from PA.

Watch: NHS workers deserve a hug and a thank you, says Damon Albarn
PANAMA CITY BEACH  Beach police officials say they hope a new child seat program not only will help educate parents, but protect the lives of their small children.

According to Police Chief Eusebio Talamantez, his department has launched a car seat safety program that is open to the public and will be taught by two patrol officers who recently were certified as child passenger safety technicians through the Safe Kids program.

A press release from the department states the first Car Seat Safety Day is slated for Nov. 18 at Frank Brown Park. Those interested in participating can register through this link. Courses will be from 8-11 a.m. and from noon to 5 p.m.

Interested parents must register and attend the designated Safety Day or any future designated Safety Day events to participate in the program.

"It gives us another opportunity to interact with our parents out there," Talamantez said. "No matter what side of the fence you're on in regards to the police ... I think the one thing we can all agree on is that the protection of children should be a primary mission for any law enforcement agency."

Panama City Beach Police Department: adding 3 more police officers

Beach Police Chief Drew Whitman: hired as new city manager of Panama City Beach

A Panama City Beach police officer shows the proper way to install a child car seat to a city employee. The Panama City Beach Police Department recently launched a child car safety program for residents.

One officer who will teach the course is Shykeya Wimberly, who said that although she often sees children in car seats during traffic stops, she "knew very little" about car seat safety before becoming a child passenger safety technician.

That has changed thanks to an extensive certification course, which Wimberly said took her about one week to complete.

"Before taking the class, I would have never known if a child was in the correct seat or if they were strapped correctly," Wimberly said. "When I took the training, I was very shocked at all the child deaths that happen yearly that may have been prevented had the child been correctly placed in their seat."

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The press release also notes several statistics about car seats, including:

Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States.

Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by more than 70%.

More than half of car seats are not used or installed correctly.

Talamantez said that when he became police chief earlier this year, there were several areas of public safety that he wanted to focus on heavily. One of those was the safety of children.

He said that the idea for the program was sparked after he realized there were no local resources for families to learn about car seats or check if their child's seat was installed properly.

"I know as a young dad myself, that's what I had to do," Talamantez said. "I wanted to be able to offer that to the community."

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach Florida police to teach child car seat safety
The Biden administrations Iran envoy, Rob Malley, is traveling to the Middle East for a wide-ranging round of consultation with U.S. allies ahead of the resumption of the indirect nuclear talks with Iran, the State Department said.

Why it matters: Israel and the Gulf states are concerned about the latest advances in Irans nuclear program and its aggressive regional activity.

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But, at the same time, the countries are also concerned about a return to the 2015 nuclear deal, which they see as not good enough to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

Driving the news: Malley and the White House's Middle East coordinator Brett McGurk traveled to the United Emirates on Thursday. They are going to attend a conference in Dubai organized by the UAE foreign ministry and meet with Emirati officials.

From Dubai, Malley will travel to Israel. In his first visit since January, Malley will meet with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Israeli officials say that, at the moment, he is not expected to meet with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

Next, Malley will travel to Saudi Arabia and then to Bahrain where he will attend a security conference in Manama and meet senior officials from the region. He is scheduled to return to Washington on Nov. 20.

What they are saying: Malley will coordinate our approaches on a broad range of concerns with Iran, including its destabilizing activities in the region and the upcoming seventh round of talks on a mutual return to full compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, the State Department said in a statement.

Between the lines: Malleys extensive consultations in the region show the Biden administration wants to achieve two things  reassure regional allies it is taking their concerns into consideration and send a signal to Iran that there is no friction between the U.S., Israel and the Gulf states.

Worth noting: The Biden administration continued today to engage in what Israeli officials happily called a power demonstration in the region to deter Iran.

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The U.S. Fifth Fleet on Thursday began a joint exercise with Israel, the UAE and Bahrain's Naval forces in the Red Sea. This is an unprecedented event, and it takes place while tensions between Iran and Israel in the Red Sea are growing.

An Israeli naval officer said in a conference call with reporters on Thursday that the goal of the joint exercise was to make the sea a safe place. He mentioned in this context the Iranian drone attack on the "Mercer Street" oil tanker several months ago. We are facing Iranian terrorism at sea and we know we are not the only one in the region that are concerned about this threat, the Israeli naval officer said.

The U.S. Air Force on Thursday sent two B-1 strategic bombers on a presence patrol in the region for the second week in a row. The B-1s were accompanied by Israeli F-15 jets and fighter jets from other countries in the region.

What's next: Indirect nuclear talks with Iran are set to resume in Vienna on Nov. 29.

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Mickey Guyton brought a new and necessary perspective to the stage of the CMA Awards on Wednesday, with the acclaimed country artist performing "Love My Hair" from her debut album alongside Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards.

The song was inspired by the story of Faith Fennidy, a Black student in Louisiana who was sent home from school after being told that her braided hair violated the school's policy. The story resonated with Guyton, who previously sang of the racism she encountered as a child in Texas on "Black Like Me."

On Wednesday's telecast, Guyton, Spencer and Edwards were proudly introduced by Fennidy.

"This next artist created this song to make sure girls like me feel seen and loved. And thats how you turn something very painful into very positive."

"I used to think what God gave me wasn't fair," Guyton sang as Spencer and Edwards stood by her side, taking her hand.

Mickey Guyton arrives for the 55th CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tenn.

"I'd braid it all just to hide the curls up there / I found my freedom when I learned not to care / Now I'm not scared to love who I am / I love my hair."

When they finished their final harmonized refrain of "I love my hair," Fennidy joined them onstage for a group hug, as the audience in the arena rose to their feet.

During rehearsals earlier in the week, the trio spoke to The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, about the performance, which Edwards believed would be "a really historic moment for the CMAS, and for country music in general."

For nearly a century, these Black artists have shaped country music

"This song is about self love," Guyton said. "We talk about loving our hair as Black women. It is also (about) truly loving who we are. I think so many of us are so mean to ourselves, and we need to learn to love ourselves a little bit. I really hope it touches a lot of people."

"I think this moment is is overwhelming in the best way because it's so much bigger than any of us," Spencer added. "It's about love."

CMT Artists of the Year: Randy Travis, Mickey Guyton and more country artists honored

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA Awards: Mickey Guyton joined by Black student sent home over hair
Bean? Machaca? Green Chile? No matter your favorite filling, Phoenix is full of interesting spots to take down a burrito. And these three spots are no exception. This list includes a colorful taqueria decorated with Mexican folk heroes, a taste of the borderlands on Grand Avenue, and a little stand in downtown Gilbert with an unusual mascot.

They're all funky spots I'd gladly share with out-of-towners who've had their fill of turkey and gravy because each one offers a unique take on one of Arizona's favorite foods.

As you make your November dining plans, I recommend eating these three burritos first.

Order the smoked marlin burrito at La Santisima

The smoked marlin burrito at La Santisima in Phoenix.

La Santisima is known for its wild, colorful style and inventive Guadalajara-style tacos. But a burrito stole the show during a recent lunch to this beloved 16th Street taqueria.

A specialty from the coastal states of Sonora and Sinaloa, smoked marlin has a reddish-pink flesh and an intense salty flavor that's akin to a strong tuna. It's usually found in soft tacos, often alongside fried bulbs of fish or shrimp, but here it can be ordered in the Mazatlan Marlin burrito ($15.99), stuffed with rice, toasted Oaxacan cheese and the restaurant's fruity style of guacamole. The bright avocados balanced the gaminess of the flakey fish, which is cooked with veggies like carrots, peas and onions that mellow the flavor. The result is more subtle than a typical marlin taco, and one I'll be coming back for.

Best things I ate this week: Burrata, a smoky burrito and clam linguini

Details: Two locations, 4117 N. 16th St., Phoenix. 602-254-6330 and 5932 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale. 623-939-3292. lasantisimagourmet.com.

Order the bean burrito at El Testal

Burritos at Testal on Grand Avenue.

Chihuahua is the largest state in Mexico and home to the vibrant alcoholic spirit sotol, a tribe of world-renowned indigenous athletes and Fernando Hernandez, the owner of Testal, a counter service restaurant on Grand Avenue in Phoenix where he serves Chihuahuan-style burritos.

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What really sets Testal's burritos apart is the fluffy tortilla, made from flour, water and vegetable shortening, with no preservatives. The restaurant's kitchen staff follows the recipe of Hernandez's mom, Ana Saldana. They roll them by hand and run them through a machine every morning.

The burritos themselves are thinner, rather than bulging with fillings, and they're not sealed up on the ends. After eating almost every burrito on the menu, I realized that the fillings themselves play a minor role in this epic performance.

They're all delicious, whether made from soft chicharron, shredded beef in chile verde or one of the vegan options like picadillo with vegan ground beef. But beans ($4) were my favorite of the bunch, because who doesn't adore a lush refried bean burrito, especially when the thin burrito shape allows for a more sumptuous tortilla in every bite.

Regional burrito tour: Try these Chihuahua-style burritos on Grand Avenue

Details: 1325 NW Grand Ave., suite 1, Phoenix. 602-384-9993, testalphx.square.site.

Order the Topo Loco burrito at Topo

Topo, a food stand serving burritos and soft serve, is the newest food and beverage concept from restaurateur Joe Johnston.

I admit it, I was drawn to this walkup burrito stand not by the menu, but by an anthropomorphic rodent in a forest ranger's hat. At Topo, in downtown Gilbert, the roof is flanked by a 7-foot-tall statue of a gopher.

The Spanish word "topo" commonly refers to a mole (which, if we're splitting hairs, is technically a different species from the gopher), as well as an epically disturbing Alejandro Jodorowsky movie.

The roadside attraction is the brainchild of Joe Johnston, the owner of Joe's Farm Grill, who knows how to appeal to our childish sense of whimsy.

As far as the food goes, they serve just two burritos, a cup of elote and vanilla and prickly pear soft serve ice cream.

The Topo Loco burrito at Topo in Gilbert.

The more basic Topo Burrito is made with pork and beans, but when ordering under the shadow of a giant gopher, it seems appropriate to get a little crazy, so I recommend the Topo Loco ($8.50), which is stuffed with Fritos corn chips, juicy pulled pork, creamy elote corn dip and a soft dollop of refried beans. The Fritos provided a nice crunchy texture. This isn't classic Mexican food, but it is an interpretation that feels right at home in Arizona.

Read more about Topo:Critic's Notebook chronicles the bites I ate in metro Phoenix

Details: 301 N. Gilbert Road, building 2, Gilbert. topoarizona.com.

Reach reporter Andi Berlin at amberlin@azcentral.com or 602-444-8533. Follow her on Facebook @andiberlin, Instagram @andiberlin or Twitter @andiberlin.

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 3 burritos to order at metro Phoenix Mexican restaurants this month
EXETER  An attorney representing 22 families who are fighting the face mask policy in the Exeter area SAU 16 school district has filed an appeal after the judge dismissed the injunction.

The parents attorney, Robert Fojo, recently filed a motion to reconsider the ruling in Rockingham County Superior Court, arguing the court relied on erroneous case law and interpretation of the state law, and not the text, that bars physical restraint of others.

Fojo has claimed that requiring students to wear a mask amounted to faculty and staff physically restraining their movement in violation of state statute RSA 126-U.

Previous story: Judge tosses parents' challenge to SAU 16s mask rules for Exeter area schools

A group of SAU 16 parents are asking a judge to reconsider her ruling regarding masks in schools.

In response, SAU 16s attorney objected to the motion for reconsideration on the grounds that Fojo and his clients simply rehashed arguments that were already settled in Judge Marguerite Wagelings Oct. 16 decision to dismiss the case.

The injunction and request for a temporary restraining order against the mask policy was first brought against the Exeter Region Cooperative School District, and the individual elementary school districts of Exeter, Brentwood, Kensington and Stratham at the beginning of the school year. It came on the heels of SAU 16s masking matrix hit the threshold of community spread to require face coverings inside school buildings.

During the hearing on the original injunction, Judge Marguerite Wageling suggested Fojo should appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court to achieve finality on the mask requirement. She also advised Fojo should not play whack-a-mole with the court system, as he has filed several lawsuits against other school districts on behalf of parents who are opposed to their own childrens schools mask requirements, which include Epping and Dover.

In Fojos motion to reconsider he cites three main arguments the court erred in making its decision.

The first argument is that Wageling limited the interpretation of the physical restraint statute to mean that another person had to use their hands to physically put on a students mask if they refused to wear one. Fojo likened children not being allowed to go to school for not wearing masks to, a school official physically placing a mask on a child.

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More: Dr. Chan explains why COVID cases are high in NH, outbreaks in schools and what's next

Second, Fojo still maintains because there is no state law that explicitly affords school districts the ability to implement a mask policy, it is therefore illegal. During the initial hearing on the injunction, Wageling accepted the argument by SAU 16 that, under state law, school districts can take measures to ensure the health and sanitation of students and staff within its facilities.

Lastly, Fojo revisited the notion that SAU 16 was pre-empting the state Department of Health and Human Services role in mitigating communicable diseases by instituting the mask requirement.

The issue: Seabrook schools scrap masks after COVID outbreak. Parents cheer. Teachers union disagrees.

Fojo did not respond to a request for comment for this story.

SAU 16, through their attorney, reiterated the physical restraint statute requires physical action by a school official to forcibly constrain a students movement. Fojo previously compared mask wearing to being restrained in a straitjacket, which SAU 16 and the court rejected.

These are nearly word-for-word recitations of allegations in plaintiffs complaint, SAU 16s objection to the motion to reconsider reads.

A ruling has yet to be made on Fojos motion.

Public health experts' advice counters Fojo's claims

Fojo's lawsuits around the state have claimed masks are "harmful" and have "no benefit." These claims are counter to public health expert guidance at all levels.

Mask mandates in times of "substantial" transmission of COVID-19 aligns with guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Strafford County and Seacoast public health networks, which have all recommended that all staff and students over age 2 wear masks inside schools.

Dr. Benjamin Chan, New Hampshire's state epidemiologist, has said school leaders in counties with substantial transmission should consider universal masking requirements.

SAU 16's masking matrix

In August, the Cooperative School Board, and the elementary school boards for Brentwood, Kensington and Stratham, voted to adopt SAU 16s masking guideline matrix to determine if masks are required in school buildings.

The matrix is based on community vaccination and community transmission.

According to the matrix, masks in schools are required when the SAU 16 region experiences substantial community spread of COVID-19, which is 100 cases or more per 100,000 in the last two weeks, or test positivity increases to more than 10% in the last seven days as defined by the state.

Currently, Exeter and surrounding communities are experiencing substantial community spread and masks are required in school.

The only SAU 16 community that did not adopt the masking guidelines was Exeters elementary school board, which went a step further and is requiring masks to be worn in school buildings at all times.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: SAU 16 parents who oppose mask rules in schools appeal judge's ruling
KENOSHA, WIS.  Kyle Rittenhouse broke down sobbing Wednesday as he testified at his murder trial, telling the jurors he felt trapped in the moments before he fatally shot Joseph Rosenbaum.

I was cornered, he said, before starting to cry.

Rittenhouse, 18, became so emotional at that point, he could not form complete sentences. The judge called a 10-minute break to allow him to compose himself.

When jurors walked by Rittenhouse after the judge called a recess to allow him to regain his composure, many looked up at him in apparent sympathy as he continued to cry. On a courtroom bench across the room and within earshot of the jurors, Rittenhouses mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, sobbed loudly.

Rittenhouse has pleaded not guilty to the charges and says he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and wounded Gaige Grosskreutz in August 2020. At the time, Rittenhouse was 17 and living in Antioch.

Two of them passed away, but I stopped the threat that was attacking me, he testified.

Rittenhouse and the men he shot were in downtown Kenosha that night amid social unrest following the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white police officer. Blakes uncle, Justin, who has been quietly protesting outside the courthouse each day, said he was unmoved by Rittenhouses tears.

I dont have any empathy for someone who comes into this town uninvited, with an assault rifle, and puts himself in the middle of it, Blake said. He has never shown any empathy for the people he killed, so I dont believe it now.

In the courtroom, the days most emotional outburst belonged to Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder, who twice stopped the proceedings to yell at Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger outside the jurys presence. With the defense team demanding a mistrial, Schroeder accused Binger of infringing on the defendants right to remain silent and for ignoring a pretrial ruling.

Dont get brazen with me, he shouted.

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The defense suggested Binger may have intentionally tried to force a mistrial because the case was going so badly for him that he wanted a do-over. Such a motive could be cause for a mistrial with prejudice, meaning the case could not be retried and Rittenhouse would go free. The judge has not yet ruled on the request.

After court ended for the day, Blake led a march near the courthouse to demand justice for the men Rittenhouse shot. About three dozen peaceful protesters lit candles and prayed, with many of them expressing doubts about Rittenhouses sincerity on the witness stand.

It was a circus. It was an act, said Bishop Tavis Grant, national field director with the Chicago-based Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. This is not a play.  He should be held accountable.

The sign-toting demonstrators, who were of diverse races and ages, said the trial is about racial equality and that Rittenhouse is getting special treatment.

Weve never seen a Black or brown defendant be given this kind of leeway, Grant said. We have a glaring opportunity to look justice in the face and say justice cannot be right for some  it must be right for all.

Though defendants rarely testify at their own criminal trials, its common in self-defense cases where the accuseds mindset plays a key role in the case. As in other states, Wisconsin law holds that a person can shoot if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to avoid being killed or badly hurt.

Rittenhouses early breakdown was one of the few displays of outward emotion by the teen, who appeared composed and well-prepared for the daylong testimony. He avoided several potential traps laid by the prosecutor by ignoring a question and repeating his self-defense claim.

I didnt do anything wrong, he testified. I was trying to defend myself.

Several pretrial rulings made it easier for Rittenhouse to testify. Schroeder barred prosecutors from showing two troubling videos taken in the weeks before the shooting. In one, Rittenhouse punches a girl who is fighting with his sister, while in the other he discusses wanting to shoot people he believes are shoplifting from a drugstore.

The judge also banned the prosecution from showing pictures of Rittenhouse socializing with members of a far-right organization at a Wisconsin bar earlier this year. In the photographs, Rittenhouse is wearing a T-shirt with Free as (expletive) printed on it, which the prosecution unsuccessfully argued spoke to his lack of remorse.

Wearing a blue suit and navy tie, Rittenhouse seemed confident and relaxed at the start of his testimony as he answered perfunctory questions about his education and participation in police cadet programs. He told jurors he graduated from an online high school and was studying nursing through Arizona State University.

An ASU spokeswoman told the Tribune that Rittenhouse has not gone through the admissions process and is not in the school of nursing. He enrolled in a nondegree program last month, according to the university.

Rittenhouse acknowledged he misled people about being a certified medic. He said he had first aid and advanced lifesaving training through his job as a lifeguard. He also carried an AR-15-style rifle loaded with 30 rounds of full metal jacket bullets.

The teen testified he had no problems with any protesters that night except for Rosenbaum, who he said twice threatened him. Rittenhouse told jurors Rosenbaum threatened to kill him if he ever got him alone and also vowed to rip his heart out.

Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum crossed paths in a used car lot, where he says a man told Rosenbaum to get Rittenhouse and a chase ensued. As Rosenbaum chased Rittenhouse, he threw a plastic bag at him. Rosenbaum was not armed.

I know its a bag now, but when he threw it at me ... I thought it was a chain, Rittenhouse said.

At one point during the chase, Rittenhouse stopped and pointed his rifle at Rosenbaum. Rittenhouse thought it might slow the man down, but the pursuit continued.

I was alone, I pointed at him and he kept chasing me, Rittenhouse said.

Rittenhouse said when they reached several parked cars, he felt trapped and Rosenbaum reached for Rittenhouses gun. Rittenhouse shot him four times.

I did what I had to do, Rittenhouse said.

Prosecutors scoffed at Rittenhouses claims that Rosenbaum could have taken the teens gun from him, pointing out that the rifle was strapped to his body. Binger suggested that if Rosenbaum touched the weapon, as Rittenhouse testified, it was because it was pointed at him.

Rittenhouse insisted his life was in danger.

If he would have taken my gun, he would have used it against me, he testified. I never wanted to shoot Mr. Rosenbaum.

Videographer Richard McGinniss, who was covering the unrest, witnessed the shooting and immediately tried to help Rosenbaum. He screamed at Rittenhouse to call 911 and saw him reach into his pocket. McGinniss assumed he was calling 911. He wasnt.

Records show Rittenhouse called a friend, Dominick Black, and then ran away with his first aid kit. Rittenhouse told the jury he felt his life would be in danger if he stayed at the scene.

My first thought was to help him, Rittenhouse testified. I didnt want to stay there with the crowd building, the mob advancing on me.

In one of the days most powerful exchanges, Binger pressed Rittenhouse on why he didnt stop to help Rosenbaum or even call 911. After all, Binger said, he took a moment to call his friend.

I called the first number in my phone, Rittenhouse said.

Is that quicker than three digits  911? Binger asked.

I dont know, Rittenhouse responded.

As Rittenhouse headed down Kenoshas main drag, he testified, Huber hit him with his skateboard, causing him to become lightheaded and stumble to the ground. While he was on the ground, a man jumped over Rittenhouse and attempted to kick his head. Rittenhouse fired two shots at him and missed.

He would have stomped my face in if I didnt fire, he said.

Huber then attempted to stop him with his skateboard, hitting Rittenhouse in the head. The teen fired a single shot into Hubers chest, killing him almost immediately.

On the video, Grosskreutz then approached Rittenhouse with a cellphone in one hand and his pistol in the other. Video shows the teen turn toward him with his rifle and Grosskreutz raise his hands.

Rittenhouse then checked his gun, and Grosskreutz took a step forward, his left arm stretched out and the hand holding the gun pulled back with the barrel pointed toward the teen. Rittenhouse fired a bullet into his arm, essentially blowing off his entire biceps.

I used deadly force to protect myself, he said.

After shooting Grosskreutz, Rittenhouse made his way down the street to the police. He tried to turn himself in, but police ignored his attempts to surrender and drove by him.

I was freaking out. I was attacked. I just shot somebody, he said.


Here's what happened on thee ninth day of the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teenager charged with killing two people and wounding a third during violent protests in Kenosha last year after the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Follow our live coverage from November 16.

In addition to counts of intentional, reckless and attempted homicide and reckless endangerment, Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with possessing a firearm as a minor, a misdemeanor. A curfew violation charge was dismissed Tuesday.

More: Jurors are likely to hear from Kyle Rittenhouse in the second week of his homicide trial

More: Kyle Rittenhouse trial live updates: Was it unusual that Rittenhouse randomly picked the jurors who would be alternates?

Check below for updates as Journal Sentinel reporters and photographers cover the trial. You can also read about what happened on day one, two, three, four, five, six, seven and eight of the trial.

The trial is expected to continue through the week.

A comment Judge Bruce Schroeder made during the Kyle Rittenhouse trial is causing outrage on social media

Judge Bruce Schroeder made racial comment during the trial on Thursday

During the trial Thursday, Judge Bruce Schroeder made a racial comment that has caused outrage on social media. Many believe the comment, which was an attempt at a joke, was inappropriate.

I hope the Asian food isnt coming ... isnt on one of those boats along Long Beach Harbor," said Schroeder in response to an inquiry for a lunch break.

The comment may be regarding the situation unfolding on the West Coast. A record-breaking number of cargo ships are waiting off the coast of California due to a backup at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

 Drake Bentley

A Twitter List by journalsentinel

Prosecution, defense battle over pixels

The prosecution and defense engaged in an hours-long battle Thursday afternoon about what happens when a digital image is enlarged.

The focus was whether enlarging an image would inject pixels of different colors into the image to fill in the space. The defense was concerned that the State Crime Labs software programs would add pixels of the incorrect color.

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A forensic imaging specialist from the State Crime Lab testified he did not know exactly how the programs algorithm worked, or how the program chose which colors to assign the added pixels.

The lengthy fight over pixels centered around a slowed-down and clarified clip of drone footage that prosecutors say shows Rittenhouse pointing his gun at two people moments before he shot Joseph Rosenbaum in a car lot.

The drone video was taken from a distance and the image of Rittenhouse is very small in the original footage.

The defense argued that enlarging the image of Rittenhouse with software programs could create an inaccurate depiction of the original footage and could potentially show something that wasnt there originally.

Assistant District Attorney James Kraus said the defense's argument was "dishonest" as the software is widely used and reliable. Kraus also said the defense was playing to Judge Bruce Schroeders lack of knowledge about technology.

Before bringing in the jury from a break, Schroeder engaged in an extended discussion with the attorneys about the pixel issue. He used a magnifying glass to look at printed, enlarged images of Rittenhouse. He also stood close to a TV screen to watch the video clip a few times in a row.

He eventually said he would leave the issue to the jury to decide.

The forensic imaging specialist's testimony marked the end of the presentation of evidence. After the attorneys argued that the jurors would be too tired to begin deliberations Friday afternoon, Schroeder decided to give them a three-day weekend. Jury instruction and closing arguments will begin Monday morning, with deliberations starting Monday afternoon.

 Sophie Carson

Judge tentatively agrees to three-day weekend

After short additional questioning of expert witness John Black, the defense rested its case.

The prosecution and defense asked a handful of clarifying questions about the way Black increased the brightness and contrast of certain videos he analyzed.

Following a short break Thursday afternoon, prosecutors were expected to present one witness to testify to two photos.

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder said he would like to begin jury deliberations tomorrow afternoon after closing arguments. But prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed that they would prefer to wait until Monday for the jury deliberations.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said he doesnt want to start deliberations late on a Friday afternoon and go into Saturday.

Schroeder tentatively agreed to give the jury a three-day weekend but said he might change his mind.

 Sophie Carson

Videographer says Rosenbaum lunged at Rittenhouse

A videographer who witnessed Kyle Rittenhouse shooting Joseph Rosenbaum testified Thursday that he saw Rosenbaum lunge at Rittenhouse before shooting.

The witness, Andrew Hernandez, said he makes his living by filming civil unrest and other events for the website Real Americas Voice, although he said he was working independently the night of the Kenosha shootings.

The testimony on the sequence of events was followed by a cross-examination in which Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger challenged Hernandez on having a favorable bias toward Rittenhouse.

Prior to the shootings, Hernandez said he witnessed Rittenhouse de-escalating tensions among Antifa and rioters after a dumpster was set on fire in the road. He also said what many other witnesses have testified, that leading up to the shooting, Rosenbaum aggressively shouted at people to shoot him and used the N-word.

He said later that he saw Rosenbaum chasing Rittenhouse in the Car Source parking lot and threw a bag at him. Hernandez said he then heard a gunshot  which came from someone else nearby  and then saw Rosenbaum lunging towards him very clearly and Kyle fires.

Hernandez was outfitted with a body camera that night and also took video with his smartphone. In his testimony, Hernandez explained he did not provide that footage to police and only recently handed it over to the defense and prosecution.

Binger challenged him on that, noting that Hernandez supplied the footage through a lawyer who is employed at the same firm as one of the defenses other witnesses. Binger argued that suggested a bias, but Hernandez said he was not aware of that connection until Binger pointed it out.

Binger further challenged Hernandezs objectivity by asking if he had ever made any social media posts in support of Rittenhouse prior to today. Hernandez agreed that he had.

Binger also pointed out that shortly after the Rosenbaum shooting, Hernandez posted a message on Twitter saying in part that an armed citizen shot a rioter who was attempting to vandalize or burn the dealership down.

Hernandez was asked if he formed an opinion about the incident shortly after it happened but he denied doing so.

 Elliot Hughes

Witness says shootings occurred in under 3 minutes

Expert witness John Black testified Thursday morning that the entire duration of Kyle Rittenhouses three shootings occurred in 2 minutes and 55 seconds.

Black, a use-of-force expert, was allowed by Judge Bruce Schroeder to testify only on the timing of the sequence of events in the Rittenhouse shootings on Aug 25, 2020.

During questioning from defense attorney Mark Richards, Black said the four shots Rittenhouse fired at Joseph Rosenbaum all came within three-quarters of a second.

The defense has posited that a gunshot fired by someone in the crowd made Rittenhouse think that Rosenbaum or another person was firing on him. Rittenhouse turned and fired on Rosenbaum two and three-quarters of a second after that first gunshot, Black said.

Twenty-eight seconds elapsed between Rittenhouses fourth shot at Rosenbaum and him arriving at the spot where he would encounter and shoot Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz, Black said.

Once there, Rittenhouse fired two shots at an unidentified man after he kicked Rittenhouse in the face, Black said. He then fired one shot at Huber and another at Grosskreutz. Black said those four shots happened in a span of about five and a half seconds.

During cross-examination, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger asked Black how much he was being paid by the defense to testify. He said he is charging $320 an hour and has billed the defense more than $9,000 already.

 Elliot Hughes

Prosecutor objects as use-of-force expert testifies

After a big day in the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, witness testimony got off to a slow start Thursday.

The defense called to the stand John Black, an expert in the use of force. Black, who also has expertise in the field of video evidence, was called to discuss the time that elapsed between Rittenhouses shooting of three men on Aug. 25, 2020.

Black started with testimony on how sound and images can be affected by electronic storage, and how he synced seven videos of the Rittenhouse shootings together to determine how much time elapsed between different events. He said he was confident his estimation of the timing was correct within a tenth of a second.

As defense attorney Mark Richards began to play video, Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger objected. He argued that Richards and Black were delving into issues outside the scope of what Judge Bruce Schroeder ruled they could discuss in front of the jury.

Specifically, Binger objected to Black discussing the time elapsed between Rittenhouse yelling, friendly, friendly, friendly and Rosenbaum throwing a bag at Rittenhouse prior to the shooting. He argued Black was allowed to discuss the time between the shots fired.

Schroeder said the defense could continue with descriptions of the timing of those events but agreed with Binger on another point. Binger also argued that Blacks video report on the shootings included written characterizations that also were not prudent for the jury to see.

Schroeder agreed and said those characterizations cannot be included as evidence. The court stayed in recess so Black could adjust his report accordingly.

 Elliot Hughes

See previous updates below

Use-of-force expert expected to testify

After Kyle Rittenhouse testified for most of Wednesday, expect some emotional letdown for the end of the defense case.

The next witness is likely to be John Black, an expert in use of force from Oregon. He offered a sample of his testimony last month during a pretrial hearing to determine whether he met the standards for expert, opinion testimony.

Prosecutors objected to any opinion about whether Rittenhouse acted reasonably in using deadly force against four people on Aug. 25, 2020. Judge Bruce Schroeder agreed the jury can decide that for itself.

But he said some of Blacks analysis about timing of gunshots and how human tendencies to focus on one thing among many can distort perceptions of time and distance.

On Wednesday, Binger said a new report from Black goes well beyond that, but defense attorney Mark Richards said Black would only testify about the allowed subjects and his written report would not be moved into evidence.

But first Schroeder could rule on Wednesdays defense motion for a mistrial with prejudice. Rittenhouses lawyers argued that Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger had deliberately sought to cause a mistrial by hinting that their client had invoked his right to remain silent after his arrest, and by trying to bring up some evidence the judge had earlier ruled inadmissible.

If Schroeder granted a mistrial with prejudice, Rittenhouse could not be retried. Other lawyers say it is unlikely he would take the case from the jury so late in the trial.

The defense indicated it may call a couple of more shorter witnesses in addition to Black, and the state could then present rebuttal evidence, which would take the case to Friday and push the deliberations into next week.

Prosecution questions why Rittenhouse had gun, amount of risk he faced

Rittenhouse took the stand in his own defense Wednesday and at times showed emotion, and even broke down on the stand.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger spent more than an hour pressing Rittenhouse on why he had his gun with him and the amount of risk he perceived in the crowd.

The questions were often repetitive. Binger focused on Rittenhouses reasons for taking his AR-15 as he moved throughout the crowd prior to the shootings, since Rittenhouse had been asking if people needed medical care and testified that he was intending to extinguish fires.

Binger tried to argue that Rittenhouse must have taken his gun with him because he perceived he would be at risk or unsafe.

When you decided to bring your AR-15 loaded with 30 rounds down to the 63rd Street Car Source location, what did you think you needed protection against? Binger asked.

I didn't think I was going to need to protect myself, Rittenhouse replied.

As of 3 p.m., Binger had not asked Rittenhouse about the shootings specifically.

Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder at one point told Binger to pick up the pace.

I thought we had covered much of this before, Schroder said.

Schroeder called a break after the defense argued that zooming in on a video on an iPad would change the image. Prosecutors wanted to pinch and zoom in on a drone video to see the image better.

 Sophie Carson

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kyle Rittenhouse trial replay: Judge makes racial comment
Rachel Brosnahan

PHOTOGRAPHED BY THE TYLER TWINS Rachel Brosnahan

Between the long hours on set, keeping up with Instagram and staying on top of the news during the week, Rachel Brosnahan is ready for a detox by the weekend.

To clear her mind, the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel star, 31, now makes her weekends work-free, so she can fully enjoy those days off.

"There's a 24-hour news cycle, we're accessible 24 hours via social media, and are expected to answer emails 24 hours a day. I've found that quite unhealthy for me," Brosnahan told Health magazine for their December cover.

"So, I have tried as often as possible to really put down work on the weekends," she explained. "I preserve that time to see friends and family and take the dogs on a long walk."

RELATED: Rachel Brosnahan on Her Secret to Staying Healthy During the Long Days of Mrs. Maisel Filming

The Emmy winner also prioritizes therapy to work on her mental health.

"I am so grateful to have access to therapy and believe that it should be more accessible for everyone, because therapy is the greatest thing," she said. "I also cuddle my dogs as often as I possibly can."

Rachel Brosnahan

PHOTOGRAPHED BY THE TYLER TWINS Rachel Brosnahan

Brosnahan, though, knows her limits when it comes to her physical health.

"I always envy in magazines like Health when I read about people who get up every morning and work out. I'm shouting from the rooftops that I have found that impossible," she said. "I have never been able to have a set routine. Once I realized that it was okay that my physical health journey wouldn't look like other people's, it became about finding ways to do what I can, when I can."

In Brosnahan's case, that means finding workout classes whenever she has a free moment, no matter where she is.

"I was recently [filming] in New Mexico and started taking Pilates, which I love," she said. "I've noticed a big difference in my posture and core strength."

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RELATED VIDEO: Rachel Brosnahan Reveals the 'Highly Romantic' Thing Her Husband Did for Her During COVID

Brosnahan said that her renewed focus on her physical and mental health are all part of an effort she's made in the last year to prioritize herself.

"Being an actor, there's recognition that I'm so lucky to be here, and that every job could be the last. And I think sometimes that leads to this mentality that you have to say yes to everything as it comes up. But that's a fast recipe for burning out," she explained.

Rachel Brosnahan

PHOTOGRAPHED BY THE TYLER TWINS Rachel Brosnahan on Health's December cover, on newsstands Nov. 12

"So, I've become better at protecting my personal time and my physical and mental health," she continued. "There was a period where I missed so many important life events. I missed a lot of weddings. I missed my own college graduation for my job. I was hustling, pounding the pavement. And I don't regret it, but as I move forward, it's important to protect those personal things. I'm proud that I continue to get better at that as I get older."
Our country owes a great debt of gratitude to our veterans and active duty servicemembers. During the week of Veterans Day, we pay special tribute to the men and women who have bravely served in our armed forces and recognize their vital role in our continued freedom and safety. I am proud to have introduced three important pieces of legislation for Veterans Day, to honor and help those who have protected us.

The call of duty is a burden shared proudly by hundreds of thousands of families across America, who sacrifice and support our troops on the home front. That is why I have introduced a resolution Recognizing Military Spouses of the United States of America. Military spouses face unique challenges and hardships in their day to day lives and are constantly subject to frequent moves, sometimes being the only parent in a household for months or years on end. This resolution highlights those unique challenges and acknowledges their strength and perseverance through difficult times.

We must help to bolster this strength and perseverance whenever we can. Tragically, since the Vietnam War, suicide and mental health issues in the military have steadily increased. Many of these suicides are due to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.

Service dogs have long been a helpful and necessary resource for veterans in their everyday lives, but oftentimes veterans end up waiting a year or more before being paired with a loyal canine companion. This is unacceptable.

My legislation, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Canine Reporting Act of 2021, would help veterans in need by reducing the time that it takes to pair a veteran with a service dog.

Finally, I am humbled to honor New Mexicans who bravely weathered a terrible moment in American military history: the Bataan Death March.

In January of 1942, all U.S. and allied Filipino troops on the Philippine Islands were consolidated to the Bataan Peninsula and the island of Corregidor in the western Philippines. Fighting between the Japanese and allied troops on the peninsula lasted 3 months until, due to the lack of food and supplies, allied forces surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. Following their surrender, American and Filipino prisoners of war were forced to march over 60 miles to POW camps further inland. The estimated death totals on the march range between 5,650 to 18,000.

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Of the 75,000 allied servicemen stationed on the Bataan Peninsula, 1,816 were from New Mexico, which is by far the most per capita of any state. New Mexico has a long history of honoring these brave servicemen, including a memorial march at White Sands Missile Range held each year.

In honor of the brave New Mexican servicemen who heroically resisted the Japanese Army and suffered through the Death March on the Bataan peninsula, I have introduced the Bataan Memorial Clinic Act, which would name the Veteran Affairs community-based clinic in Las Cruces the Las Cruces Bataan Memorial Clinic.

This bill is co-sponsored by my fellow New Mexico Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, and endorsed by local chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Las Cruces Veterans Advisory Board.

During veterans week, we honor all who courageously serve and have served in our great nations military, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. My office has two full-time Veterans Liaisons in our district who can help with any issues that you may be experiencing with the VA. Rick Pineda (rick.pineda@mail.house.gov) and Gabe Barcenas (gabriel.barcenas@mail.house.gov) will happily be able to assist you with any of your needs.

Happy Veterans Day!

U.S. Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-N.M., represents New Mexico's second congressional district, covering southern New Mexico.

This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Three introduced bills honor and help U.S. armed forces
Wording on the Chuck Austin memorial plaque

The plaque dedicated to Yakima three-war veteran Chuck Austin states the following:

In memory of Charles Chuck Austin, January 17, 1926  January 25, 2021,

U.S. Marine Corps, WWII, Korea, Vietnam

Charles Walter Austin joined the Marines at the age of 17 to serve his country in WW II and survived two of the bloodiest battles at Peleliu and Okinawa. Making a career in the Marines, he went on to serve in Korea at the battle of the Chosin Reservoir and then in Vietnam before retiring in 1967.

During his service, he received multiple military commendations and was honored in 2019 by the Resolution of the Washington State House of Representatives for his service and dedication to American ideals.

Chuck was a true hero, and will be missed by his family, friends and fellow VFW Post 379 members. He felt having his name on a Veterans housing and services center in his hometown of Yakima was a great honor.

This monument is dedicated by VFW Post 379 in honor of past Commander and Life Member Chuck Austin.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP)  Sweden has charged two executives of a Swedish oil exploration and production company for complicity in the military's war crimes in Sudan from 1999 to 2003, including in its dealings with the country's regime to secure the companys oil operations in the African nation.

The two, who were not identified by the Swedish Prosecution Authority, had a decisive influence on the business of Stockholm-based Lundin Oil AB in Sudan, the prosecutors said, adding one was indicted for complicity for the period May 1999-March 2003, and the other for the period October 2000-March 2003. Lundin Oil later became Lundin Petroleum and is now known as Lundin Energy.

From 1983 to 2005, Sudan was torn apart by a civil war between the Muslim-dominated north and Christian south. A separate conflict in Darfur, the war-scarred region of western Sudan, began in 2003. Thousands of people were killed and nearly 200,000 displaced.

A 2010 report by an activist group, the European Coalition on Oil in Sudan, alleged that Lundin Oil and three other oil companies helped exacerbate the war in southern Sudan by signing an oil exploration deal with the Sudanese government for an area the regime didnt fully control.

That led the Swedish prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into the company. Six years later, its chairman, Ian H. Lundin, and then CEO Alex Schneiter, were informed that they were the suspects of the investigation.

Lundin was the operator of a consortium of companies exploring site Block 5A, including Malaysias Petronas Carigali Overseas, OMV (Sudan) Exploration GmbH of Austria, and the Sudanese state-owned oil company Sudapet Ltd.

Our investigation shows that the military and its allied militia systematically attacked civilians or carried out indiscriminate attacks," Public Prosecutor Henrik Attorps said in a statement.

In a reaction, Lundin spokesman Robert Eriksson said the Swedish prosecutors decision to issue charges was incomprehensible" and called the investigation unfounded and fundamentally flawed."

Both Ian and Alex strongly deny the charges, and we know that Lundin did nothing wrong. There is no evidence linking any representatives of Lundin to the alleged primary crimes in this case," said Eriksson, head of Lundin's media communications, said.

After the Sudanese military went into Block 5A in May 1999, Lundin Oil changed its view of who should be responsible for the security around the companys operations, the prosecution said, and added that the company requested that the military should now be made responsible for the security, knowing that this meant that the military would then need to take control of Block 5A via military force.

"What constitutes complicity in a criminal sense is that they made these demands despite understanding or, in any case being indifferent to the military and the militia carrying out the war in a way that was forbidden according to international humanitarian law, the Chief Public Prosecutor Krister Petersson said.

Eriksson said that Lundin operated in Block 5A responsibly, as part of an international consortium, and in full alignment with the policy of constructive engagement endorsed by the United Nations, European Union and Sweden at the time.

The authority said that there also was a claim to confiscate an amount of 1.4 billion kronor ($161 million) from Lundin Energy AB, which, according to the prosecutor, is the equivalent value of the profit of 720 million kronor ($83 million) which the company made on the sale of the business in 2003.

It is important that these serious crimes are not forgotten. War crimes are one of the most serious crimes that Sweden has an international obligation to investigate and bring to justice," Attorps said.



Jari Tanner in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

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Sally Andersons oldest son is an Air Force pilot, her youngest is in the Navy and her brother was in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army.

Were kind of a military family, the retired state Department of Corrections worker said.

That includes the Yakima womans late brother-in-law, Jerome Hagan, who was a major in the Armys 1st Cavalry Division when he completed three tours of Vietnam and was wounded once.

Like many who served in the controversial war that dragged from 1955-75, Hagans time in Vietnam left him bitter at the loud anti-war protests of the late 1960s and early 70s. It also left him with vivid memories of tragedies, close calls and acts of compassion during his time on active duty.

Anderson recalls him telling the story of camping in a rural village that U.S. forces had occupied. One night a young boy approached the soldiers asking for medicine to help a young friend who was suffering with a fever.

The soldiers had no medical supplies to offer, but Hagan had a few aspirin tablets. He gave those to the boy, who scurried off gratefully to give them to his sick friend.

Later, Hagan and the other soldiers found out that the aspirin had worked  the ailing boys fever had broken.

They also found out the sick boys father was part of the Viet Cong, a militia that supported the Communist North Vietnamese regime and was fighting tooth and nail against American troops. The father, Anderson said, had planned to set off a bomb in Hagans Jeep, but his son  grateful for the aspirin that had cured him  pleaded with him not to go through with it.

The son prevailed, and Hagan and his men eventually made their way out of the village safely.

Maj. Hagans service earned him a promotion to colonel before he left the Army, and he died a few years ago, Anderson said.

But the deep impression of his war experience lives on in a poem he wrote sometime in the early 1970s.

When he showed it to soldiers, Anderson said, it made them cry.

Heres the poem that Hagans family still shows to soldiers and still cherishes, particularly on Veterans Day:

A Soldier

I have seen children who from hunger cry.

I have faced Charlie, and watched him die.

I heard a friend, whose blood spilled bright,

Say against freedom his price was slight.

I was helping stop communism from upping the score,

And felt great pride in the uniform I wore.

The news from home said Students want more,

and the demands not met bring on campus war.

They ridicule America with their shows of might,

While its for, not against, my country I fight.

They hated, ridiculed, scorned me and more.

Because of my pride in the uniform I wore.

Duty is a word theyve never learned,

and freedoms a privilege theyve never earned.

When my president speaks, they scream lie,

But on his decision, if need be, Ill die.

And hope by death that Ive done my share,

Because Im still proud of the uniform I wear.

I am an American, and proud of my right,

Of having for freedom been able to fight.

You on the campus, you who say youre not treated equal,

Should see what Communist aggression can do to a people.

Though you burn my flag, and scream Im unfair,

You cant stop my pride in the uniform I wear.

I think of the men who die here each day,

So you students can continue to live your way.

What thanks do they get for the sacrifice they made?

You burn their flag and spit on their grave.

But if they were alive, their combined voices would roar,

Of the pride they felt in the uniform they wore.

Loyal Americans, dont look at this trash,

Who burn their schools and with police they clash.

And judge all young Americans by their unloyal way,

For there are thousands who would like to say:

That we love our country and for its future we care,

And were all proud as HELL of the uniform we wear.

-- Maj. Jerome D. Hagan, 1st Calvary Division, Vietnam
Greensboro, NC (27407)

Today

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
If you watch enough old movies, you know that there are two types of bank robberies. The fir
Rated PG-13 for strong language and some violence

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87 percent

In Theaters

From writer/director Kenneth Branagh comes this deeply personal story about a young family in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1969 as protestants and Catholics are violently clashing, forcing them to make a life-changing decision about their futures. All told from the viewpoint of a 9-year-old boy (newcomer Jude Hill) who has a rosy outlook on life in spite of the violence surrounding him and the financial struggles his family faces on a daily basis.

Told in vibrant black and white, the film is a lovely piece of art, and due to its simplicity, should find a wider audience than most awards-worthy indies we see nowadays. The story itself might not be deeply complex, but it proves that it doesnt have to be. It gives us a view of a turbulent time but because everything starts and ends with home, it makes you feel safe even when danger lurks. That being said, it is sneaky. It shows us how fragile that security can be as there was no middle ground to be found during that time. While catholics and protestants had to live, work and go to school together, they were, in many homes, taught to hate and hurt the other side. I simply loved the many discussions between the young boy and his father (Jamie Dornan) as the dad tries to convey upon the son that tolerance and understanding need to win out as the son tries to understand why there is so much dissonance. In this way it is incredibly relevant to America today as these same conversations are being had in homes in regard to our heated political strife as we are hoping and dreaming that the polarity declines as we watch the divide get larger and the potential for civil violence grows.

Sure to be a big player in the upcoming awards season, the cast is full of terrific performances from not only Hill and Dornan, but also from Judi Dench, Ciarin Hinds and Caitriona Balfe who all deliver memorable and impressive turns. When you add in the amazing production and music from Van Morrison, what you get is a love letter to Belfast that most viewers will appreciate as a warm and cozy memory of their own homes and what is most important in life. A

Danny Minton may be reached at danny@dannyminton.com.
After an unsuccessful attempt to land funding for a project to redevelop Montgomery Countys old hospital on First Street, developers asked for Conroes support in a resolution for a second attempt at the tax credits for the project.

During the citys regular meeting Wednesday, Downtown Director Frank Robinson said while the city approved a similar resolution in January, the second application attempt by The Overland Property Group required a new resolution of support.

They believe this is another opportunity to take another run at it, Robinson said. What we are asking today is to adopt a new supporting resolution that mirrors the one you approved back in January of this year.

April Engstrom with the Overland Group said the resolution is for the companys 2022 tax credit application.

This is a super competitive process where we would be awarded funding based on our application a resolution of support is a requirement of the application. While this resolution of support is a requirement for the application, we always want the citys support and we always want to foster a partnership with the city.

If this deal gets funded, we will be here at least the next 30 years taking care of this building. We arent turn and burn developers.

On yourcouriernews.com: Plans to revitalize old Montgomery County Hospital hit snag

In January, Brett Johnson, President and CEO of Kansas-based Overland Property Group, presented a plan to the Conroe City Council to redevelop the historic building which served as the first county hospital into one- and two-bedroom apartments for qualified seniors.

The $12 million project however was dependent on the approval of low-income housing tax credits. Those credits provide a tax incentive to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental housing for low-income households. The tax credits subsidize the acquisition, construction and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low-and moderate-income tenants.

Robinson explained that Overland Property Group was told that they didnt receive the tax credits for 2021 because they were competing with the city of Houston for tax credits and Houston being much larger had the advantage among all the considerations that went into awarding the credits.

Engstrom said a change in process could mean success this round.

We look forward to you guys getting this project to the finish line, said Mayor Jody Czajkoski.

Councilman Curt Maddux agrees.

I love the project, Maddux said. I would rather look at that than what is down there now.

The Montgomery County Hospital was built in 1938. The facility served the county through the 1970s when the Montgomery County Hospital District was formed for the creation of a new hospital for Conroe. A new Conroe medical complex opened in 1982 on Conroes south side and the old county hospital was abandoned.

The East Texas Dream Center, a nonprofit, faith-based charitable organization, eventually found a new home at the property. Shawn and Shannon Nelson with the Dream Center purchased the 57,000-square-foot building in 2013 for $10,000.

On yourcouriernews.com: Developer looks to renovate old Montgomery County Hospital property

But a fire struck the property in May 2018 and after discovering numerous code violations the city closed the building. It has been uninhabited ever since.

On Jan. 27, Brett Johnson with Overland Property Group based near Kansas City gave a presentation to the Conroe City Council laying out his plans to redevelop the property.

Johnsons group has renovated 65 historic properties since the company started in 2002. Nineteen of those properties are in Texas.

His plan calls for 42 to 45 senior living apartments in the space. He will again seek affordable housing tax credits from the government to complete the project. The project is estimated to cost $12 million, $10 million of which will be handled through the tax credits.

We are hopeful, Engstrom said of the application. We think it stands a very good chance.

Sondra Hernandez contributed to this report.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
Today

Some clouds. Low 64F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight

Some clouds. Low 64F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.

Tomorrow

A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 82F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.
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CORDOVA  Angie Hansen spent 25 years in service to her country  first as a young girl being one of the top tank mechanics in her division and then decades of doing security clearances for those being deployed.

Back in 1983, there werent a lot of 18-year-old females going into the military.

Hansen was the exception.

It was just something I always thought about, going into the Army, the National Guard, Hansen explained. I guess when I did it, it was mostly for the GI Bill, but it turned into a career.

As a kid, her father had a part-time job where he did maintenance works on trucks. Thats where she caught the knack for mechanics.

I would help him out, checking oil and water, that type of thing -- thats how the interest started, she said. Then I took the ASVAB test and I scored high in the mechanics part. They recommended that role for me when I went in. And I was excited because it was fun. Thats when I went into the area of working on tanks.
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In the military, you know what needs to be done and you get it done. You do everything they tell you to do in the right way, he said.

Erks remembers having to sweep and mop the floors of the camp buildings. Id have to sweep out every speck of dirt in the cracks of the tiles. It prepared me for what was to come in Germany, said Erks.

After eight weeks at Fort Bliss, Erks was Germany bound. He remembers 2 a.m. wake up calls to the alarming sound of whistles being blown in his ears by the commanders. It didnt take us long to jump out of bed, go to the site we were sent to, and dig tank trenches about three feet deep.

Erks was also in charge of running the M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle. Erks said his faith and the friendships he made while being in the military made all the long days worth it. He and his friends would often go to a Lutheran church service every Sunday morning in Frankfurt, Germany. Attending church gave the soldiers resiliency and strength to maintain peak efficiency and nobility.

As soon as they were packing up to leave Germany in 1956, one of Erks friends had already set a date for a veteran reunion. The first reunion Erks attended was in 1961 at a church camp in Wisconsin. Erks and his friends have been meeting ever since then at the camp.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP)  Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly dropped plans to take a rapid COVID-19 test Wednesday even though a state lawmaker who attended one of her public events tested positive.

Kelly's office issued a statement Wednesday afternoon saying that she received medical advice that a test wasn't necessary because she wasn't showing any symptoms and had not been in close contact with the infected lawmaker, Democratic state Rep. John Alcala, of Topeka.

Kelly spokesperson Sam Coleman had said earlier that the governor had decided to get tested upon learning that Alcala had tested positive after attending a Kelly news conference Monday at a north Topeka grocery. Kelly announced a proposal for eliminating the states sales tax on food.

Kelly felt confident enough about her COVID-19 status that she went shopping Wednesday with a Leavenworth-area mother and her 10-year-old daughter to help promote the tax proposal. Kelly had been vaccinated and expects to get her booster shot later this week.

During Monday's event, Kelly was masked most of the time, including when she interacted with lawmakers and shoppers.
Rittenhouse said that earlier that night, Rosenbaum was holding a chain and twice threatened his life. Apologizing to the court for his language, Rittenhouse quoted Rosenbaum as saying: Im going to cut your (expletive) hearts out!

Later that night, Rittenhouse said, he was walking toward a car dealers lot with a fire extinguisher to put out a blaze when he heard somebody scream, Burn in hell! He said he responded by saying, Friendly, friendly, friendly!

He said Rosenbaum was running at him from one side and another protester with a gun was in front of him, and he was cornered. He said he began to run, and he heard a protester tell Rosenbaum, Get him and kill him!

Rittenhouse said he heard a gunshot directly behind him, and as he turned around, Rosenbaum was coming at him with his arms out in front. I remember his hand on the barrel of my gun, Rittenhouse said.

That was when he fired, he said.

He also said he thought the object Rosenbaum threw during the chase  a plastic hospital bag  was the chain he had seen earlier.

Asked by his lawyer why he didnt keep running away from Rosenbaum, Rittenhouse said: There was no space for me to continue to run to.
More than 90% of employees at eight Omaha and Lincoln health systems that already have required their workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 have gotten their shots.

The health systems chief medical officers jointly announced that they would require vaccination in early August, well ahead of the mandate for health care facilities that receive Medicare and Medicaid dollars. All eight health systems have granted exemptions to a small percentage of their employees on medical or religious grounds.

Among many arguments in the 58-page filing, the states allege that the mandate puts health care workers' jobs at risk and threatens to exacerbate a worker shortage that's especially worrisome in rural areas.

In the lawsuit, the states write that vaccination requirements are within state authority and depend on local considerations, and that the federal mandate oversteps federal bounds.

"Whatever might make sense in New York City, St. Louis, or Omaha could be decidedly counterproductive and harmful in rural communities like Memphis, Missouri or McCook, Nebraska," it reads.
NEW DELHI: In another one of its ploys to cheat the people of Delhi, the BJP-led MCD is attacking poor children's right to education by stealing primary school land at the Ajmal Khan Market. AAP Chief Spokesperson and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj informed that the BJP is selling land meant to educate the poor to their private partners, issuing tenders for unnecessary projects.

In the process, the MCD is troubling shopkeepers and driving them away, halting their stalls near a land belonging to a primary school next to Ajmal Khan Market, giving it away for private parking. The Aam Aadmi Party staunchly condemns and opposes the BJPs cheap trick of selling public property worth thousands of crores under the MCD, said Bhardwaj.

BJP in deep turmoil over upcoming MCD elections: Saurabh Bhardwaj

AAP Chief Spokesperson and MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "For several months now we have been raising this issue, that as the BJP is realising that it is bound to lose the upcoming MCD elections and they are in deep turmoil. The Aam Aadmi Party is all set to come to power in the MCD for the people of Delhi are angry at and fed up with BJPs consistent misgovernance. And so, all the property under the three BJP ruled MCDs worth thousands of crores is being plotted to be sold. Near Ajmal Khan Market, on Bank Street Road, some 4115 sq. meter of land which belongs to a temporarily shut primary school, is now being sold to a private builder by the MCD to develop private parking in its place."

The AAP leader further alleged, "The tender for this property is in the process of being issued. This land, worth crores, is being sold off to a private company. In the surrounding area, it is said that 48 shopkeepers are given stallages, which the MCD has issued a notice to the shopkeepers of halting. They have issued a notice for these shop owners to give up the area."

AAP condemns BJPs attack on childrens right to education

According to Bhardwaj, "We earlier shared the BJP-led MCDs strategy to gradually decrease attendance in primary schools to eventual mergers of these schools. Following this, these schools are emptied and after showing the land belonging to the school as something not in use, it is then pushed into the process of being sold off to private builders. This is the standard procedure that BJP has been following, which the Aam Aadmi Party staunchly condemns."

"We believe that when it comes to primary education in Delhi especially, there is a shortage of schools. Instead of shutting and merging schools, more branches need to be opened up so that people do not have to face the exorbitant fees of private schools to get basic education for their children. Instead of this, the BJP is shamelessly catalysing shutting of the meagre number of primary schools present and selling them off to private builders, something that there is no actual need of," he added.

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New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday (November 11), shared an idea on how taxes on petrol and diesel can be further slashed. The minister known for his unique ideas said that if petrol and diesel are brought under the GST regime, then taxes on petroleum products will reduce further.

He, however, pointed out that bringing petroleum products will require a collective effort from all states. The BJP leader said that Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will definitely try to bring petrol and diesel under GST if she gets the support of the state governments.

Speaking on the sidelines of Times Now Summit, the Senior BJP leader said, In the GST Council, finance ministers of states are also members. Some states are against bringing petrol and diesel under the GST regime.

If petrol and diesel will be brought under the GST regime, then taxes on these products will be reduced and revenue of both the Centre and the states will increase, he was quoted as saying by News Agency PTI.

However, this isnt the first when someone has proposed bringing petrol and diesel under the GST regime. Early this year, the GST Council headed by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman discussed the matter on the directions of the Kerala high court. The council decided not to bring petrol and diesel under GST.

Bringing petrol and diesel under the GST regime could reduce the petrol prices which were at their record highs before the Centre recently reduced the excise duty on the two petroleum products. Also Read: Veranda Learning IPO: Online education platform files Rs 200-crore IPO papers with SEBI

But that would also mean a decreased revenue from the sale of petrol, diesel and other petroleum products in the country. Also Read: Gold Price Today: Gold jumps Rs 883 to nine-month high, check latest rate

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New Delhi: The scanned copies of OMR sheets of candidates who appeared for NEET 2021 have been released by National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates who want to access the OMR sheets can visit the official website at neet.nta.nic.in.

The candidates who did not receive the OMR sheets on their email IDs can download it from the website now. After NTA received complaints from many candidates regarding the document, the agency uploaded the OMR sheets on the official website, the official notification read. The OMR sheets will remain available for NEET 2021 candidates till November 14.

The scanned image of the OMR Answer Sheet has already been e-mailed to the Candidates at their registered e-mail address. On receiving requests from the candidates not receiving the scanned image of the OMR Answer Sheet, the NTA is now providing an opportunity to view/download the scanned image of the OMR Answer Sheet of NEET (UG)  2021 on the official website, the NTA said.

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) results 2021 were declared on November 1. NEET UG 2021 was held on September 12, in pen and paper mode, at 3,858 test centres in 202 cities.

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New Delhi: India on Thursday hoped that Pakistan will facilitate the visit of around 1,500 Indian pilgrims to that country through the Attari-Wagah transit point in view of Gurupurab. The pilgrims are scheduled to visit Gurudwara Darbar Sahib, Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib, Gurudwara Panja Sahib, Gurudwara Dehra Sahib, Gurudwara Nankana Sahib and Gurudwara Sachha Sauda, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

"As you know, movement through the Kartarpur corridor was suspended in March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Land travel between India and Pakistan is since being conducted on a limited scale through the Attari-Wagah Integrated Check Post in coordination with the Pakistani side," he said.

READ | Pakistan reiterates proposal to reopen Kartarpur Corridor for Indian pilgrims

Bagchi said both sides follow their extant rules and health guidelines. "In view of the significance of Gurupurab and sentiments associated with it, it has been decided that a Jatha of around 1500 pilgrims will visit Pakistan from November 17-26, 2021 via the Attar-Wagah ICP," he said.

Bagchi said the visit will be covered under the 1974 bilateral protocol between India and Pakistan on visits to religious shrines. "We hope that the forthcoming jatha...Does take place," he said in response to a question at a media briefing.

He said Pakistan had earlier denied permission for visit of Sikh pilgrims from India to that country twice in June -- one, on the occasion of Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan Dev and second, on the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. "Both of these jathas are also covered under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol," he added.

In November 2019, India and Pakistan threw open the Kartarpur corridor linking Dera Baba Sahib in Gurdaspur in India with the Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan, in a historic people-to-people initiative.

Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the river Ravi, about four kilometres from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. It is the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev, who had spent the last 18 years of his life in Kartarpur. The Kartarpur corridor was thrown open in the midst of heightened tension between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

The relations between the two countries nosedived after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmir's special status on August 5, 2019, and bifurcated it into two union territories.

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Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday (November 11) directed the authorities to be vigilant and review the situation from time to time in wake of the stormy weather prevailing in many southern districts close to Chennai and Tamil Nadu.

During a video-conference with the district collectors of Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor and Kadapa on the situation arising from heavy rains, the CM called for a high alert in view of the heavy spells, especially in Nellore and Chittoor districts and told the officials to be prepared with SDRF and NDRF teams. He instructed the collectors to prepare relief camps for taking care of the people from inundated areas with proper facilities and told them to provide Rs 1000 as a relief to every victim.

A dedicated phone number is also being set up for the flood victims and top officials are told to coordinate with other departments to evacuate people from flood-prone areas.

The officials were also directed to take all necessary precautionary measures to prevent damage and ensure that all types of medications are available at PHCs, Area Hospitals, and District Hospitals along with generators to meet emergency services without any interruption.

Priority is being given to power restoration works, plugging breaches to canals in case of the damages and ensuring supply of safe drinking water to all the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department informed that surface winds close to the speed of 60-70 km per hour will be experienced in Chennai from today evening. Heavy rains are expected in Nellore, Prakasam, Chittoor and Kadapa.

The MeT department officials also added that a low-pressure in the Bay of Bengal is likely to make landfall in the southern part of the country as a cyclone by November 17 and citizens are advised to brace for another likely spell of heavy rains.

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New Delhi: The BJP spent Rs 252 crore in the assembly elections held in Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Kerala earlier this year with almost 60 per cent used for campaigning in the Trinamool Congress-ruled state.

According to the Election Expenditure Statement submitted to the poll panel, of the Rs 252,02,71,753 spent by the BJP, Rs 43.81 crore was for the Assam polls and Rs 4.79 crore for the Puducherry assembly election.

In Tamil Nadu, where the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) snatched power from its arch-rival AIADMK, the BJP, which got just 2.6 per cent of the votes, spent Rs 22.97 crore in its campaign.

READ | West Bengal BJP leader Surajit Saha expelled after remark against Suvendu Adhikari

The BJP pushed full throttle in its campaign against the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, spending Rs 151 crore in the state.

In Kerala, where the incumbent LDF retained power, the BJP spent Rs 29.24 crore.

The election expenditure statements submitted by the political parties to the Election Commission have been put in the public domain by the poll panel.

According to an expenditure statement submitted by the Trinamool Congress earlier, it spent Rs 154.28 crore for its campaign in the West Bengal Assembly election, marginally more than its main challenger BJP.

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New Delhi: A day after meeting Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Thursday (November 11) called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi.

Gehlots meeting comes amid speculations of a rejig in the Rajasthan Cabinet which can see "one man, one post" formula while considering appointments, sources told PTI. The meeting with Sonia Gandhi lasted for an hour where the duo reportedly discussed several issues including political situation as well as the Rajasthan cabinet expansion.

Addressing mediapersons after his visit to the Congress chief, Gehlot as quoted by ANI said, "I have briefed the party`s high command about the current situation. The party high command will decide on the Cabinet reshuffle in Rajasthan. Ajay Maken (state in charge) knows everything. We will accept whatever decision will be taken by the party high command. I just want good governance to continue in the state of Rajasthan."

On Wednesday, the Rajasthan CM and senior Congress leader had met All India Congress Committee general secretary Priyanka Gandhi at the residence of Rahul Gandhi, where party general secretaries Ajay Maken and KC Venugopal were also present. However, Rahul Gandhi did not attend the meeting.

Following the meet, Maken had told reporters, "We discussed the political situation in Rajasthan. We discussed a roadmap to ensure that the Congress returns to power in the next assembly elections."

Maken said the leaders also discussed the "good performance of Congress" in the recent assembly by-elections.

A major reshuffle is expected in the Rajasthan cabinet to accommodate loyalists of former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot. Recently, Pilot had also paid a visit to Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to discuss his future as well the induction of some of his loyalists in the Rajasthan cabinet.

(With agency inputs)

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday (November 11, 2021) said it would not accept the submission of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by it, that all trees are not forests and said the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) would have to get forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act for felling of trees for phase IV of metro expansion.

A bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao said it cannot stall the development but there has to be a balance between development and environment.

"You will have to get clearance Mr Solicitor General. We will give time to the Union of India to give clearance. We are not going to accept this submission made by CEC that all trees are not forests.

"We are not going to accept it. Just see the ramifications of this point being accepted. Who is going to find out whether the tree is natural or planted. It is going to create chaos," the bench also comprising Justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna said while reserving its order on the plea filed by the DMRC.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the PSU, said the report of the CEC says it is not Forest land.

"Suppose I am to go for forest clearance under the Forest Conservation Act, it is going to take one and half years. There would be a price escalation of the project. If they (those opposing the project) really want to have the luxury let them deposit the escalated amount of the project," Mehta said.

ALSO READ | PM Narendra Modi to dedicate country's first world-class railway station in Bhopal on Nov 15

Advocate A D N Rao, who is assisting the top court as amicus curiae in the matter, said if the DMRC gives an undertaking that let the court decide whether the area of 5.33 km is forest or non-forest and the court finds that it is a forest area then forest clearance, compensatory afforestation and payment of money would be needed.

"Payment of this money cannot hold Delhi to ransom which is facing severe air pollution. Why metro. It is reducing the pollution in the country and caters to a large number of commuters. In 21 minutes flat you reach Airport from New Delhi station," Rao submitted.

Senior advocate Rajiv Dutta, appearing for intervenors Dr P C Prasad and advocate Aditya N Prasad, submitted that the Delhi High Court had asked them to approach the CEC with their plea seeking directions to the authorities, including DMRC, to change the nature of the project from overground to underground to "preserve and improve the air quality" and "to ensure that least number of trees are cut in a city like Delhi where the air is already oversaturated with pollutants".

Dutta stated that the CEC did not deal with the objections raised by his clients and the Delhi government.

He said since trees that are to be axed for the construction of the Delhi Metro corridor between Aerocity and Tughlaqabad fall in the eco-sensitive Ridge area and forest clearance is mandatory.

The counsel for the Delhi government said the DMRC has to comply with the law and take the forest clearance for the project.

The top court had earlier agreed to consider listing for an urgent hearing the plea of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) alleging that its ongoing construction work has been halted due to lack of requisite permission for felling trees.

Nearly 3,000 workers are sitting idle and a loss of Rs 3.4 crore is being incurred by DMRC per day because no construction work is going on due to the lack of permission, Mehta had told the apex court.

The law officer had said that the DMRC has filed an interim application in a pending PIL, titled as T N Godavarman versus UOI, about issues including forest preservation.

Trees are required to be felled in the national capital for DMRC's phase IV expansion plan.

DMRC has identified over 10,000 trees for felling for the expansion work of the Janakpuri-RK Ashram, Maujpur-Majlis Park, and Aerocity-Tughlaqabad corridors and has not got requisite permission for chopping them.

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New Delhi: China's ruling Communist Party on Thursday adopted a landmark resolution to cement President Xi Jinping's "core" status in the country's political history and cleared the decks for him to extend his rule for a record third term next year and perhaps beyond. With this, Jinping has achieved the high status conferred to China's tallest leader Mao Zedong.

Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Thursday (November 11) discussed Xi Jinpings elevation as the most prominent political figure in the history of China after Mao.

In the Communist Partys history of 100 years, Mao Zedong is the only leader who has been the President of China for life. He was the all-powerful supreme leader with undisputed authority. Jinping also wants to set himself up to rule like Mao Zedong. This has become very much possible after the passing of the resolution.

China has a one-party system with the Communist Party of China being the only party. Its central committee, consisting of 370 members, takes all the big decisions in the country. Todays historic resolution has also been passed by this committee. The same committee will choose the next President in 2022 and Jinping is now the obvious choice.

In 2018, this committee approved a proposal under which the condition of leaving the presidency after 10 years was dropped. Thus, in all likelihood, the election next year would just be a formality.

The question is - If Xi Jinping continues to be the President of China for the next 15 years, how will it affect India and the world?

It will certainly be bad news for India as it cannot hope for an amicable solution to the border dispute during Jinpings tenure. The stand-off between the two countries could go on for a long time.

Apart from India, China will also put pressure on other countries with which it has border disputes. With the extension of Jinping's term, China's army will become more aggressive than before and this will not be a good sign for peace-loving countries in the world.

Jinpings extended rule could also mean a boost to terrorism. If Xi Jinping has complete control of China, then countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and North Korea, which are known for exporting terrorism all over the world, will be given open support. Notably, China has so far saved Masood Azhar from blacklisting in the United Nations on three occasions.

The economic uncertainty in the world will also increase due to Chinas confrontation with countries like the US and India. The threat of trade war will loom large.

Even for the people of China, it would be unfortunate for Jinping to become President for life. This will lead to rise of dictatorship, citizens will not get their basic rights and those who speak against the government will be punished.

Thus, whatever is happening in China today is worrying not just for India but for the whole world.

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New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed the progress of the ongoing vaccination campaign across the country and warned against any laxity in dealing with the pandemic.

The Union Health Minister, while reviewing the vaccination status with the health ministers of States and Union Territories, warned them not to think that the pandemic is over.

We shouldn't think that COVID-19 is over. CoWIN can be used to prepare district-specific action plans, Mandaviya said during the meeting.

Delhi | Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya meets State/UT health ministers on 'Har Ghar Dastak' COVID19 vaccination campaign We shouldn't think that COVID19 is over. CoWIN can be used to prepare district-specific action plans, he says during the meeting. pic.twitter.com/t1ScYRGYT4  ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021

Todays review meeting has been called "to give further impetus to Prime minister Narendra Modis call of Har Ghar Dastak during which Mandaviya will review the situation with health ministers of states and UTs.

The government launched the month-long 'Har Ghar Dastak' campaign on November 2 on the occasion of Dhanwantari Diwas. With this campaign, the Centre is targeting to complete maximum single dose and second dose adult COVID-19 vaccination.

The campaign aims for house-to-house COVID-19 vaccination of those who are yet to take a dose and also those whose second dose is overdue.

Around 79.2 per cent of India's adult population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, while more than 37 per cent of the country's around 94 crore adult population has been administered both the doses, according to health ministry officials.

The top five states which have administered the highest number of doses are Uttar Pradesh followed by Maharashtra, West Bengal, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The health ministry has also written to several states and union territories asking them to prioritise administering the second dose to beneficiaries who have not got themselves inoculated with the second shot even after the expiry of the prescribed interval between the two doses, the sources said.

The Health Ministry had informed that 110.23 crore vaccine doses have been administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

The Centre has provided 1,20,08,58,170 vaccine doses to states and union territories so far, through free of cost channel, and through the direct state procurement category, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.

According to an official release, 16,74,03,871 balance and unutilized COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories to be administered.

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Ghaziabad: The Regional Transport Department here has seized 22 petrol and diesel vehicles which were 15 and 10 years old but were still being driven by their owners, an official said on Thursday (November 11, 2021).

The vehicles comprised four cars and 19 two-wheelers, and were seized by the transport department to curb pollution in the city, he said.

The department has issued a list of about one lakh vehicles that have exceeded their use period as defined by the department.

These vehicles - cars, scooties, and bikes -- are meant to be phased out from Ghaziabad but can be driven in other districts of Uttar Pradesh, Regional transport officer (RTO) Vishwajit Singh told PTI.

ALSO READ | Woman cop carries unconscious man to safety amid heavy rainfall in Chennai- Watch

Only less than five per cent of vehicle owners in the list have obtained a 'No Objection Certificate' which is required to register these vehicles for use in the other parts of the state where these rules are not applicable.

The action was taken under the Niti Aayog's voluntary vehicle scrapping policy, under which vehicle owners will be required to re-register their vehicles paying a high fee once they exceed a certain age.

ALSO READ | DGCA goes digital, Scindia launches eGCA for automation of processes, functions

Till now there has been no order from the Aayog that says these vehicles can ply in the National Capital Region (of which Ghaziabad is a part) after getting a fitness certificate, Singh said.

The department will impound more such vehicles in the coming days, he added.

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Delhi/Lucknow: The wait for the Goddess Annapurnas idol, which went missing from Kashi and smuggled out of country more than a century ago and was one of the prized possessions of MacKenzie Art Gallery at the University of Regina, Canada, was finally over on Thursday as it was handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Government at the national Capital at a colourful event amid cheering crowd of devotees.

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G Kishan Reddy presented the idol to Suresh Rana, minister in the Yogi Adityanath Government. Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani and Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi in the union cabinet were among the host of dignitaries who attended the event and offered prayers to the Goddess of food.

The event was followed by taking out of a grand procession (shobhayatra) carrying the idol of Goddess Annapurna, which had brief stopovers at Mohan Mandir in Ghaziabad and at Dadrinagar Shiv Mandir in Gautam Buddha Nagar where jubilant devotees received it with great enthusiasm and offered their prayers.

The shobhayatra then proceeded to Bulandshahar from where it will go to Aligarh, Hathras and Kasganj where it will have an overnight stay. On Friday (November 12), the shobhayatra will have stopovers in Eta, Mainpuri, Kannauj and Kanpur where it will stay for the night. On Saturday, (November 13), the shobhaytra will travel to Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki and Ayodhya where it will have an overnight stay. reach

Finally, it will reach Varanasi on November 14 via Sultanpur, Pratapgarh and Jaunpur. The idol will be installed at the Kashi Vishwanath temple amid chanting of Vedic hymns at a formal ceremony on the occasion of Devotthan Ekadashi on November 15.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced about the homecoming of the idol from Canada following an agreement with the Canadian Government in this regard during his one of Mann ki Baat sessions last year.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath recently thanked the PM for bringing back the precious idol and for his relentless efforts to bring about a cultural renaissance in the country

The Union Minister for Culture and Tourism G. Kishan Reddy had recently said that as many as 42 rare idols and antiquities have been returned to the country by different countries during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whereas from 1976 to 2013, only 13 rare works of art could be brought back.

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New Delhi: Tech giant Google in its blogpost announced that it has expanded its flood forecasting initiative to all over India.

The company first started working on its flood forecasting system in 2018, in order to help combat the catastrophic damage from floods each year, was covering an area with about 220 million people. It has now been "expanded to cover an area with over 360 million people", the company wrote in a blogpost this week.

Google, in past, has sent out 40 million potentially life-saving alerts, in the first three years, it almost tripled the alerts by sending out "over 115 million" in 2021.

This initiative works as part of Google`s broader Crisis Response programme which provides people access to trusted information and resources in critical moments.

"Our flood forecasting system is now live in all of India and Bangladesh, and we are working to expand these life-saving alerts to countries in South Asia and South America. And eventually, we want them to be available everywhere," it said in the blogpost.

ALSO READ | DGCA goes digital, Scindia launches eGCA for automation of processes, functions

It also added that it aims to make the "alerts more local, accessible, actionable and accurate".

While most global flood alerts only provide information on how much a river will rise (e.g. 30 cm), Google "flood alerts display inundation maps, which show the extent and depth of flooding right on top of Google Maps, so people can visualise this critical information more easily".

The tech giant recently also launched the Google Flood Hub to make flood data even more hyper-local. It allows people to zoom into the inundation maps to find information about the

same flood, and focus on highly specific areas, such as a village.

"The Flood Hub provides the same depth and flood extent information in a more visual format that helps people to understand the current and forecasted flood situation in their area instantly. This site will be our primary resource for local, visual forecast information moving forward," the post said.

The company has also partnered with multiple local aid organisations such as Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), to help send the alerts to people without smartphones or internet access.

(With IANS inputs)

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New Delhi: After Kanpur and Kannauj, Uttar Pradeshs capital Lucknow reported cases of Zika virus on Thursday (November 11). Two people tested positive for mosquito-borne disease, Dr Ved Vrat Singh, Director General Medical and Health, Government of Uttar Pradesh confirmed, as per ANI.

Kanpur had reported its first case of Zika virus after a 57-year-old warrant officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) was diagnosed with the infection in late October. As per IANS report, with 16 more cases of Zika virus on Wednesday, the total caseload in the state reached 106, out of which one patient tested positive from the neighbouring Kannauj district on November 6.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who was in Kanpur on Wednesday had assured people there is no need to panic. Reviewing the situation, CM Adityanath had said that so far 17 people have recovered from the infection. District admin, health department and municipal council, strategically worked on increasing surveillance, sanitisation and investigation, ANI had quoted the UP CM as saying.

Last week, Adityanath had held a high-level meeting and released detailed guidelines on COVID-19 vaccination, the spread of Zika virus in the state and other issues. He had also directed the officials to speed up sanitisation work.

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that transmits through the bite of an infected Aedes species of mosquito, which bites during the day. The symptoms of this disease are mild fever, rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache.

(With agency inputs)

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Srinagar: One terrorist has been killed in ongoing encounter at Chawalgam area of Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam district. Two or three more terrorists are believed to be trapped in the area. A joint operation of the CRPF and police is underway.

The operation started on Thursday (November 11) after the security forces received inputs about presence of terrorists in area.

A police officer said, As joint searching team of forces cordoned the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired upon searching party which was retaliated and an encounter started.

In a tweet, the Kashmir zone police said, #Encounter has started at #Chawalgam area of #Kulgam. Further details shall follow.

The police said that in the initial exchange of fire, one terrorist was killed.

Although the intelligence input suggests there are two or three terrorists trapped, the actual number can be said once operation concludes, said a police source.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Acharya Kripalani on the occasion of his birth anniversary on Thursday (November 11, 2021).

PM Modi took to Twitter to remember Acharya Kripalanis part in India`s freedom struggle. The prime minister remembered the former Congress president for fighting for the freedom struggle under Mahatma Gandhi's leadership.

"Acharya Kripalani was at the forefront of India`s freedom struggle under Bapu`s leadership. He had a great vision for our nation and worked to fulfil it as MP. He made immense contributions towards environmental protection and social empowerment. Remembering him on his Jayanti," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Acharya Kripalani was at the forefront of Indias freedom struggle under Bapus leadership. He had a great vision for our nation and worked to fulfil it as MP. He made immense contributions towards environmental protection and social empowerment. Remembering him on his Jayanti.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2021

Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani, popularly known as Acharya Kripalani, was a part of the Indian National Congress, and a freedom fighter who idolised Mahatma Gandhi.

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New Delhi: A rare idol of Goddess Annapurna, stolen from Varanasi about 100 years ago and retrieved from Canada recently, will be installed at the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple on November 15.

The central government will hand over the idol to the Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday at an event in Delhi. Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi on Thursday said that the government will hand over the idol of Maa Annapurna to the Uttar Pradesh government today.

Lekhi said, "An idol of Maa Annapurna, which was stolen from Varanasi about 100 years ago was retrieved from Canada recently. The idol will be installed at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on November 15. The government of India will hand over the idol of Maa Annapurna to the Uttar Pradesh government today."

An idol of Maa Annapurna, which was stolen from Varanasi about 100 yrs ago was retrieved from Canada recently. The idol will be installed at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Nov 15. Govt of India will handover the idol of Maa Annapurna to UP Govt today: MoS MEA Meenakshi Lekhi at Delhi pic.twitter.com/xcSXqrTsjD  ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021

Lekhi also offered prayers to the deity today at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. Later in the day, the idol will be taken from Delhi to Aligarh. From there it will be taken to Kanauj on November 12 and it will finally reach Ayodhya on November 14.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will consecrate the idol at Kashi Vishwanath Temple on November 15. The idol is 17 cm in height, 9 cm in breadth and 4 cm in thickness.

According to Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, 42 rare heritage artifacts have been returned to the country since 2014 during the tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Whereas between 1976 and 2013, only 13 rare statues and paintings could be brought to India. At present, 157 sculptures and paintings have been identified abroad. Discussions are going on with several countries to bring them back to India.

Efforts are on to bring idols from Singapore, Australia, Switzerland and Belgium. Efforts are also being made to bring about 100 idols from America.

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Lucknow: In order to speed up the pace of vaccination even further in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has been working on a mission mode. Encouraging people to get vaccinated at the earliest, Cluster Approach 2.0 has been started, under which, special teams have been made in rural areas which visit door-to-door and make people aware to get vaccine cover.

Ensuring 100 percent of people get vaccinated with the second dose, Manoj Shukla, GM (Vaccination) of National Health Mission (NHM), UP informed that door-to-door call slips are being sent to get the first and second doses of vaccination to achieve the target set by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

He said, Vaccination booths have been set up in the area as per the convenience of the people, in which the first and second doses are being given.

CM Yogi, while directing to speed up the pace of vaccination in the state, has set a target of giving the first dose of COVID-19 to 100 percent people by the end of November. So far, more than 13.62 crore people have been vaccinated in UP, out of which 10.03 crore have been given the first dose and 3.58 crore have been inoculated with the second dose.

Teams are going from village to village in Uttar Pradesh and giving call slips (containing information of place and date of vaccination) to the people. Before the arrival of the vaccination team in the cluster, the cluster mobilization teams are clearing out the misconceptions related to the COVID-19 vaccine among the people and motivating them to get vaccinated.

Two quick response teams have been activated to manage any adverse events during vaccination in the cluster. CM instructed to follow all the necessary COVID-19 protocol in all the religious and cultural programmes to be organized in other districts including Panchkosi and 14 Kosi Parikrama starting from November 14 in Ayodhya, Dev Deepawali in Varanasi and Dadri Mela in Ballia on November 19.

It is worth mentioning that due to the collective efforts of the Yogi Government, Uttar Pradesh is getting global appreciation in COVID-19 management today and in terms of testing and vaccination, Uttar Pradesh is at the top position in India.

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New Delhi: Russian President Vladimir Putin most likely will be visiting India in the first week of December, with the expected date being 6th December for the annual summit between the two countries. The one-day visit to Delhi will see the Russian President holding talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A number of agreements are expected to be signed during the visit. The summit happens even as the first batch of the S400 air defence systems will be reaching India by the end of this year.

Putin last visited India in 2018 for the annual summit. Interestingly, it was during that visit the contract for S400 system was signed between India and Russia. The visit by the Russian President will be his 2nd only foreign visit this year, the first one being to Geneva for a summit-level meeting with US President Joe Biden. He had joined the G20 summit in Italy virtually due to the covid crisis at home.

Last year, the annual summit could not happen due to the COVID crisis. Russia and Japan are the only two countries with which India has such an annual summit-level mechanism that alternates between the respective countries. So far, 20 Annual Summit meetings have taken place alternatively in India and Russia.

In 2019, PM Modi had visited the far eastern Russian city of Vladivostok and was also the Guest of Honour for the 5th Eastern Economic forum. India had then announced a $1bn soft credit line to boost Indian business participation in Russias development, especially in the Far East.



COVID crisis naturally will be a main subject of discussion during the summit. Russia's sputnik V vaccine is being produced in India, and during the deadly 2nd wave of covid crisis, Moscow had sent humanitarian support to New Delhi. Both countries are also engaged in Afghanistan, with Russian National Security Advisor (Secretary of the Security Council) Nikolai P. Patrushev visiting Delhi 2 times since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in August to discuss the situation in the country.

Defence forms the main pillar of the relationship, with Russia being India's largest defence partner. The manufacture and co-production of four Project 1135.6 Frigates, manufactured in India of assault rifle - AK-203, through 100% indigenization, additional supplies of Su-30 MKI, as well as the MiG-29s, additional supplies of the MANGO ammunition & VSHORAD systems are among the key projects.

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New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress over its leader Salman Khurshid reportedly comparing Hindutva with the jihadist Islam of terrorist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram in his latest book, and said the opposition party is weaving a web like a spider against Hindus.

Meanwhile, a Delhi-based lawyer has filed a complaint with the Delhi Police seeking registration of an FIR against Khurshid on the matter.

According to lawyer Vivek Garg, Khurshid, in his book 'Sunrise Over Ayodhya: Nationhood in Our Times', wrote: "Sanatan Dharma and classical Hinduism known to sages and saints were being pushed aside by a robust version of Hindutva, by all standards a political version similar to the jihadist Islam of groups like ISIS and Boko Haram of recent years."

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said Khurshid's book on Ayodhya hurts religious sentiments of people.

"In this book Hinduism is compared to ISIS and Boko Haram," Bhatia said, adding that the Congress is weaving a web like a spider against Hindus.

Alleging that this is happening at the behest of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Bhatia questioned her silence on the issue and said: "If you remain silent, then it will be clear that your ideology is also against Hindus."

Demanding Khurshid's removal from the Congress, the BJP spokesperson said, "Earlier, the term 'Hindu terrorism' was invented when the Congress was in power."

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya in a tweet highlighted a paragraph of the book and said, "Congress's Salman Khurshid in his new book writes that Hindutva is similar to the jihadist Islamist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram. What else can we expect from someone whose party coined the term Saffron terror just to draw equivalence with Islamic jihad, to get Muslim votes?"

The book by former Union minister Khurshid on the Ayodhya verdict was released on Wednesday.

Lawyer Garg said Khurshid made the remarks in a chapter called 'The Saffron Sky' (page -113).

The complaint was addressed to the Delhi Police Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) and the SHO of Roop Nagar police station on Wednesday seeking registration of an FIR in the matter under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

When contacted, a senior police officer said, "We have received a complaint on Thursday but are verifying the allegations made by the complainant. Accordingly, action will be taken as per law."

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New Delhi: Hyderabad-based pharma major Bharat Biotech founder and Managing Director Dr Krishna Ella on Wednesday said that an ideal time for booster dose of a coronavirus vaccine would be six months after receiving the second dose.

However, he added that a final decision will be taken by the government.

About the nasal vaccine being developed by Bharat Biotech after its Coavaxin, he said that the Phase 2 trials are done and data was being analysed. "We should expect it in 3-4 months," he said, adding that Bharat Biotech was also talking to the government about using the Cowin platform for doing clinical trials.

Ella indicated that the nasal Covid vaccine could be taken instead of the second dose of Covaxin or to protect previously infected persons.

The nasal vaccine was more effective in preventing infection as compared to an injectable vaccine which does not reach upper lungs and could eliminate the need for a vaccinated individual to continue wearing the mask, he said.

On bringing a vaccine for children, Ella said Bharat Biotech was the only company in the world to have done clinical trials among those between 2 and 18 years of age.

Ella also opened up about the hurdles faced in Covaxin`s WHO approval.

He said that they had 5 vaccines WHO pre-qualified "so we knew it very well, we know how to do it. But the problem is many media people who are negative, they even wrote to the scientific journals to look into some death in Bhopal. It happened because of suicide but it was blamed on vaccine".

Asked about the reason behind the negative publicity, the Bharat Biotech founder responded: "When Prime Minister took the vaccine, immediately they said it`s a BJP vaccine, it`s a Modi vaccine. All sorts of synonyms. We are scientists, we don`t understand the politics."

The World Health Organisation granted emergency use listing to India`s indigenous vaccine Covaxin on November 3.

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Jammu: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated Srinagar as a part of its creative cities network under the crafts and folk art category.

The inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) 2021, under the Crafts and Folk Arts category, took place on Monday, and the announcement was made on UNESCO`s official website, wherein 49 cities have joined this elite list.

The exercise for UNESCO nomination was started by Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, however, but the nomination was not accepted then.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed this achievement and said that it is fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar.

In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the @UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir."

Delighted that beautiful Srinagar joins the @UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) with a special mention for its craft and folk art. It is a fitting recognition for the vibrant cultural ethos of Srinagar. Congratulations to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 8, 2021

Srinagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu termed the addition as a "proud moment" and said that this has been achieved with the collective hard work of different organisations in the valley.

Speaking to ANI, Mattu said, "It is a very proud moment. It has been a sustained effort. Different organisations spent a lot of time and energy to achieve it. The most important part is that the Prime Minister congratulated us. Srinagar is the only city in the country which has been placed on the UNESCO International art and crafts map."

He further said, "The art and craft of the valley will uplift when it will become global. We can now interact with the other cities around the globe that are famous for art and craft."

Nazir Ahmad, an artist expressed his happiness as Srinagar has been added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, adding "The art and craft of the valley were already famous in the global market and being added to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network will make the art and craft from the city more famous across the globe."

Mushtaq Ahmad, another local artist, reportedly said that "This will encourage the artisans."

Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, however, said that the decision was ultimate recognition for artisans and weavers of Jammu and Kashmir and had extended congratulations to the entire J-K team including Srinagar Mayor Junaid Mattu and Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation Athar Aamir Khan.

"Srinagar included in @UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the crafts &folk art category. It is the ultimate recognition for artisans & weavers of J&K. Congratulations to the entire J&K team, @Junaid_Mattu Ji, @AtharAamirKhan & thanks to @EduMinOfIndia, @MinOfCultureGoI for all the support," he said.

Sinha said that Prime Minister had always given special priority to Jammu and Kashmir, adding "Grateful to Hon`ble PM @narendramodi for always giving special priority to J&K. Dossier of exceptionally rich art & craft legacy of Srinagar was meticulously prepared & submitted in June this year by @SMC_Srinagar with help of Kashmir INTACH."

(With Agency Inputs)

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Ghaziabad: Seven people allegedly involved in cow slaughtering were arrested after an exchange of fire in which they were injured, police said.

Acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted at a godown in Behta Hazipur in Loni and the accused were arrested following the encounter with the police, they said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar said the gang opened fire at the police team during the raid which was retaliated by the security personnel.

All the seven accused sustained bullet injuries on their legs, he said.

The accused have been identified as Mustkeem, Salman, Monu, Intzar, Nazim, Asif and Boler. Two other men -- Bhoora and Danish -- managed to escape, Kumar said.

Police seized remains of three slaughtered cows, seven countrymade pistols, seven empty cartridges, five cleavers and two axes from the accused.

Police are scrutinising the accused's previous criminal record.

Samples of the slaughtered cows have been sent for testing and the carcasses disposed off under the supervision of a veterinary doctor, SSP Kumar added.

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Kanpur: Increasing number of Zika virus cases has created a worrisome situation for the industrial city of Uttar Pradesh as it has crossed the 100-mark with 16 more cases being reported on Wednesday.

The fresh tally of 106 cases includes nine men and seven women, including two in an advanced stage of pregnancy from the Zika epicentre of the Chakeri area and one patient who tested positive on Saturday from the neighbouring Kannauj district, said an IANS report.

Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Nepal Singh reportedly said that the 16 new patients are residents of Harjinder Nagar, Pokharpur, Tiwaripur Bagiya and Qazi Khera localities in the Chakeri area.

The pregnant women who contracted the Zika virus underwent an ultrasound test and doctors confirmed their foetuses were healthy.

"In the report received from KGMU Lucknow on Tuesday, seven women of whom two are pregnant, and nine men have been confirmed to be infected with Zika virus. The infected persons have no severe symptoms. All have been kept in home isolation. About 100 teams have been deployed in the city for source reduction and 15 teams for home sampling and sampling. Also, an additional 15 rapid response teams (RRT) have been engaged to check the spread of Zika virus," the CMO is quoted as saying by IANS

A senior health official, however, said that a massive sampling campaign is underway in the affected areas.

"Most of the patients are asymptomatic. A door-to-door survey and sampling of symptomatic people are being done. Instructions have been given for sampling pregnant women, particularly those in the affected areas. Also, radiology centres have been alerted. If there is any problem in the development of the foetus, information should be given to the control room immediately," officials told the news agency.

Earlier on Sunday, 10 more people, including three Indian Air Force personnel, tested positive for the Zika virus in Kanpur, taking the total number of cases to 89. On Saturday, 13 people were tested positive for the Zika virus, including one case from neighbouring Kannauj district.

Kanpur District Magistrate Vishak G Ayyar told PTI on Wednesday, Out of the 89 infected people, 55 are men and 34 are women. Among these, 23 are those having age below 21 years. Of the total infected people, 12 are Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel. This includes 11 men and one woman.

The Kanpur DM reportedly said that health teams have collected samples of 525 people who were in close contact with the infected people and living in the radius of 3 km of the IAF station hangars for testing.

Notably, the first case of the Zika virus was reported in the city on October 23 when a warrant officer of the IAF tested positive for the infection. A total of 3,283 samples have so far been collected and sent to the virology lab of KGMU in Lucknow and NIV in Pune for testing.

(With Agency Inputs)

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San Francisco: Elon Musk has offloaded Tesla shares worth $1.1 billion, after he was trolled on Twitter for a controversial poll last weekend where he proposed selling 10 per cent of his stock in the electric car-maker.

The new US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings show that Musk has sold 934,091 of over two million shares of the automaker.

At the company's current valuation, the shares he sold are worth about $1.1 billion, reports The Verge.

Clearly, two of the costliest tweets in the history of Global Inc - and who else but Elon Musk, the world's richest man, to have bunged them in.

In a tweet announcing the poll, he had said: "Much is made lately of unrealized gains being a means of tax avoidance, so I propose selling 10 per cent of my Tesla stock.

"I will abide by the results of this poll, whichever way it goes."

Nearly 58 per cent of Elon Musk's followers who participated in his Twitter poll told him to sell 10 per cent of his stock (worth $24 billion) in the electric car company, ostensibly to pay more tax.

Musk posted: "Note, I do not take a cash salary or bonus from anywhere. I only have stock, thus the only way for me to pay taxes personally is to sell stock."

The bloodbath that followed sunk Tesla stock by $200 billion (market capitalisation was $1,211 billion on November 5 end of day and $1,023 bn on Tuesday).

Musk's own net worth took a $50 billion beating.

He has been a vocal critic of a proposal to tax unrealised gains on publicly traded assets in the US.

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New Delhi: Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor celebrated his birthday on Thursday (November 11) and his kids Arjun Kapoor, Anshula Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor took to social media to shower love on daddy dearest!

Arjun took to Instagram to share an unseen childhood picture with his father Boney Kapoor and penned a heartfelt note as well. He wrote, "Being selfless isnt something one can be taught its an in built machinery that exists among very few people, I happen to be the son of one of those people... Ive seen & heard stories of dad going out of his way to help find solutions for others and forgetting to help himself & fulfilling his needs before all that... its not easy being selfless & surviving... Happy Birthday to a man who has not only survived but lived like a King thru it all.... love you Dad"

Actress Janhvi Kapoor also shared adorable pictures with her father on her Instagram story. She wrote, "Happy Birthday to the best man in the world! I love you, even when you give her (Khushi) more attention."

Khushi shared an old picture of her late mother Sridevi and dad Boney and wrote, "Happy Birthday papa, love you the most."

Anshula Kapoor shared a cute picture of herself and her dad Boney Kapoor. In the heartfelt picture, Boney was seen giving his daughter a sweet kiss on the cheek.

For the unversed, Boney Kapoor was married to Mona Shourie, with whom he has two kids - Arjun and Anshula. The couple married in 1983 and it lasted till 1996. Mona died of multiple organ failure after battling Cancer and hypertension on March 25, 2012.

The producer later married Sridevi in 1996 and has two daughters with her -Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor. Sridevi was found dead on February 24, 2018, at a Dubai hotel where she had gone to attend a family wedding. Medical reports concluded she died of accidental drowning in a bathtub.

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New Delhi: Star kid Khushi Kapoor set the internet on fire when she dropped pictures from her trip to Dubai in a smouldering bikini top and shorts on Thursday (November 11) on Instagram.

In the pictures, she can be seen wearing a chequered bikini top with a cloche hat with a matching pattern. She paired the hot top with black shorts and voila, she put together the perfect beach outfit!

Khushi captioned the picture with a clever caption, referring to American musician Jay-Z's song '99 problems'. She wrote, "99 problems but the beach aint one."

Take a look at her post:

Khushi is quite popular among paparazzi and is often seen getting clicked by them. She is also quite popular on social media for her jaw-dropping photoshoots and has 668K followers on her Instagram handle.

While her sister Janhvi has made her starry debut in Bollywood and is working in plum projects, Khushi is yet to make her maiden move in showbiz.

On the work front, her sister Janhvi Kapoor will be next seen in Karan Johars production Dostana 2 and Aanand L Rais Good Luck Jerry.

The Dhadak actress was last seen in horror-comedy Roohi alongside Rajkummar Rao.

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New Delhi: Actress Shilpa Shetty was spotted at the airport as she arrived after her refreshing Himachal trip, however, she was seen alone. The actress was caught on camera by paparazzi at the airport and graciously posed for the paps.

She was seen wearing a half-shoulder crop sweatshirt with black pants. The actress was heard saying 'lele bhai' to the shutterbugs as they tagged along with her to click pictures.

Take a look at the video:

Fans were quite amused with her casual attitude and dropped laughing emojis at her 'lele bhai' comment. A few of them also commented asking about Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra's whereabouts.

One netizen wrote, "Wheres the husband now did she forget to pack him and leave him behind in himachal".

Raj Kundra made their first public appearance with Shilpa Shetty recently after his porn film controversy emerged. The first pictures from their trip to Himachal Pradesh had surfaced online and several fan clubs had shared them a few days ago.

On the work front, Shilpa was last seen in the film 'Hungama 2' along with Paresh Rawal, Meezaan. It was directed by Priyadarshan.

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New Delhi: Vicky bhai, shaadi kab hai? (Vicky, when is the wedding?)Paparazzi try to take out information from the horses mouth and ask actor Vicky Kaushal when he is getting married to rumoured ladylove Katrina Kaif amidst their December wedding buzz. While the Uri: The Surgical Strike actor maintained a steady silence to the question, actress Sara Ali Khan, who was with him at that time could not keep a straight face. She looked at Vicky after the currently most sought-after question was asked and burst into a mischievous smile - giving us a hint that the D-Day might not be too far.

Check out the video:

Vicky and Sara were spotted outside an office building and could be in talks for a film. After ditching paps direct question, the actors sat in their respective cars and left the venue.

Earlier, news in the gossip mill was abuzz that Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif are tying the knot in December this year. It was also reported by news agency IANS that the two lovebirds had a private Roka ceremony at Kats close friend and film director Kabir Khans home on Diwali. The function was attended by Katrinas mother Suzanne Turquotte and sister Isabella Kaif. Vicky's parents and brother Sunny Kaushal were also in attendance.

On the work front, Katrina Kaif is currently basking in the success of her recently released film Sooryavanshi opposite actor Akshay Kumar. The movie has revived cinema hall viewing and has minted more than 100 crores so far. She will also be seen opposite Salman Khan in Tiger 3 and Farhan Akhtars Jee Ley Zaraa along with Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt.

On the other hand, Vicky Kaushal was last seen in Amazon Primes critically acclaimed film Sardar Udham. He will next be seen in Mr Lele and Sam Bahadur.

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New Delhi: A lot of online fraud has been on the rise lately, one such being the KYC (know your customer) fraud that targets vulnerable banking customers.

Bringing KYC Fraud to light, Indias largest public lender State Bank of India (SBI) has said that customers should exercise immense caution while carrying out their banking activities.

The reality of #KYCFraud has proliferated across the country. The target is sent a text message asking to update their KYC by clicking on a link by someone acting as a bank/company representative. Report such scams at http://cybercrime.gov.in, SBI has tweeted.

The reality of #KYCFraud has proliferated across the country. The target is sent a text message asking to update their KYC by clicking on a link by someone acting as a bank/company representative. Report such scams at https://t.co/3Dh42ifaDJ#StateBankOfIndia #CyberCrimeAlert pic.twitter.com/cRydhDQ39H  State Bank of India (@TheOfficialSBI) November 10, 2021

What is the modus operandi for KYC Fraud?

Usually bank customers receive SMS in their mobile phone that states Dear customer your SBI Bank account has been suspended for KYC and is followed by a random link. It further alarms the SBI customer that incase the latter fails to update the KYC with the link, then his/her account will be blocked.

SBI has warned the customers to not fall prey to any such SMS fraud.

Here are 4 thins that SBI has mentioned for customer safety

1. Do not click on attachments/links recieved in SMS/emails from unknown sources

2. Do not download any mobile app based on telephone calls/emails from unknown sources.

3. Do not share sensitive details like Aadhaar number, date of birth, mobile number, debit card number, PIN, CVV, Internet banking userid/password, OTP.

4. Bank never sends links to update KYC.

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New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested former Punjab MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a money laundering case being probed against him and others, officials said. They said Khaira, 56, was taken into custody by the central probe agency in Punjab under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency had raided his premises in March this year.

The ED has alleged that Khaira is an "associate" of drug case convicts and fake passport racketeers. The politician has denied any wrongdoing and said he is being targeted by central agencies as he has been vocal against the Centre's three new farm laws.

Khaira won the assembly election in 2017 from the Bholath Assembly seat in Punjab's Kapurthala district on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket.

He had recently resigned from the state assembly. He quit from the primary membership of Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP in January 2019 and floated his own outfit, the Punjab Ekta Party. He then re-joined the Congress.
NEW DELHI: Punjab Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution against the Centre's decision to extend the jurisdiction of the BSF to a 50 km belt along the international border in the State.

Confirming the development, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi said, We are committed to protecting Punjab and if required will approach the Supreme Court in this matter.

Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution against Centre's decision to extend the jurisdiction of the BSF to a 50 km belt along the international border in the State. We are committed to protect Punjab and if required will approach SC in this matter: Punjab CM (file pic) pic.twitter.com/O7DN2mhtlu  ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021

States Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had earlier moved a resolution in Vidhan Sabhas special session, demanding the withdrawal of the Union Home Ministry`s directive that increases the Border Security Force`s (BSF) jurisdiction from 15km to 50km in the state.

Randhawa said that the decision of extending the jurisdiction of BSF is an expression of distrust towards the State Police and the People of Punjab.

"Punjab is a land of martyrs and the brave. Punjabis have made exemplary sacrifices in the freedom struggle and later on in the wars of 1962, 1965, 1971 and 1999 and received gallantry awards. Punjab Police is a unique patriotic force that has contributed to maintaining the unity and integrity of the country. According to the Constitution, maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the state government and for this purpose, the government of Punjab is fully competent," the resolution said.

Randhawa further said that the government should have consulted the state government before taking such a major decision.

"The decision of extending the jurisdiction of BSF from 15km to 50km by the Union government is an expression of distrust towards the state police and the people of Punjab. This is their insult, too. The Union government should have consulted the state government before taking such a major decision. The law and order situation in Punjab is totally under control. Extending the jurisdiction of BSF is symbolic of petty politics. All parties of Punjab have unanimously condemned this decision and demanded the Centre withdraw the October 11 order issued by the ministry of home affairs, Government of India. Therefore, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha unanimously resolves that a resolution rejecting the notification of the central government in this regard may be passed," the resolution added.

The Centre had in October empowered the Border Security Force (BSF) to conduct searches, arrest suspects and make seizures up to an area of 50 km inside Indian territory from the International Border (IB) along India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders.

The BSF, which was only empowered to take action up to fifteen kilometers in the states of Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam, has now been authorised to extend its jurisdiction up to 50 km without any hurdle or permission either from central or state governments.

However, its jurisdiction has been cut short by 20 km in the five northeastern states - Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya - where it had jurisdiction up to 80 km. Similarly, in Gujarat, the BSF`s jurisdiction has been curtailed from 80 to 50 km. In Rajasthan, the BSF`s area of jurisdiction will remain the same at 50 km.

(With ANI Inputs)

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CHENNAI: Amid a flood-like situation in Chennai and the surrounding areas, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has further predicted thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over a few districts of Tamil Nadu within the ''next three hours'' on Thursday.

Thunderstorm with heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Thiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu within next three hours, the IMD said in its weather bulletin issued at 3:55 AM.

Thunderstorm with heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places over Thiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram districts of Tamil Nadu within next three hours (issued at 3:55 am): IMD  ANI (@ANI) November 10, 2021

The weather office also predicted moderate rain at isolated places over Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Villupuram, Ranipet, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Kanyakumari, Thirunelveli and Thenkasi districts of Tamilnadu and Puducherry within the next three hours.

The IMD had earlier issued a ''Red'' warning for Chennai, predicting thunderstorms with heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city on Wednesday (November 10) and Thursday (November 11).

Chennai and nearby northern regions that saw little respite from the rains on Tuesday are expected to receive ''heavy to very heavy rainfall'' over the next 48 hours, it added.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that a well-marked low-pressure area over the southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to concentrate into a depression and bring in more rainfall to Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh that have been inundated with copious rains already for the past three days.

"The Low-Pressure Area (LPA) over the southeast Bay of Bengal lay as a well-marked Low-Pressure Area over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal at 5:30 AM. By 8:30 AM, it lay over central parts of the South Bay of Bengal. It is likely to concentrate into a depression over southwest Bay of Bengal during the next 12 hours, move west-northwestwards and reach near north Tamil Nadu coast by Thursday early morning," the IMD said in a statement.

Thereafter, it is likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Karaikal and Sriharikota around Cuddalore by Thursday evening.

The IMD`s area cyclone warning department at Chennai said Cuddalore, Pudukottai, Villupuram, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Puducherry, and Karaikkal areas would receive rains on Wednesday while on Thursday, heavy to very heavy rains are expected in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Chengalpattu, and Tiruvannamalai districts.

The weather body has also warned that the whole of Western Tamil Nadu will receive spells of rain and from November 11 onwards, the rains would recede. A significant amount of rainfall was received from 8:30 am on Tuesday till 8:30 am on Wednesday.

Tamil Nadu | Incessant rain causes water-logging at several parts of Chennai pic.twitter.com/Wu3wruFKbG  ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2021

While Nagappattinam experienced 310 mm rainfall, Thirupoondi - 306 mm, Karaikal - 287 mm, Thalanayar - 236.2 mm, Atiramapattinam - 129 mm, Cuddalore - 98 mm, M.O Pondicherry received 95 mm and Chennai`s Nungambakkam 27 mm.

From November 12 to 14, rainfall is likely in several regions of Tamil Nadu. Thunderstorm with lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal.

In view of the IMD advisory, the government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges on November 10 and 11 in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengelpet, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai districts. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed at multiple places to deal with any exigencies.

There would be squally winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph over southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and along and off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts on Thursday, the IMD said.

Sea condition will be rough to very rough over southwest and adjoining the west-central Bay of Bengal and along and off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts during on Thursday and hence, fishermen have been advised not to venture into southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal and along and off Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts.

According to Tamil Nadu Revenue and Disaster Management Minister KKSSR Ramachandran, the death toll due to heavy rainfall in the state stands at 12.

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New Delhi: The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has extended the deadline for the implementation of the New Tariff Order (NTO) 2.0 from December 1, 2021, to April 1, 2022. The telecom authoritys decision will offer a major respite to broadcasters and distribution platform operators (DPOs).

TRAI has also come up with a new implementation plan for NTO to ease the migration of broadcast subscribers to the new pricing regime. The plan points out that DPOs will have to make sure that they provide services to subscribers according to the NTO 2.0 norms starting from 1st April 2022.

TRAI has extended the deadline on requests of several service providers, broadcasters, DTH Operators, MSOs and DPOs. The authority took the decision after discussing the matter with stakeholders to understand the time required for a smooth migration of subscribers to the New Tariff Order.

TRAI said in a letter to the stakeholders, In view of the complexities and magnitude of processes involved and keeping in view of the past experiences, it would be prudent that sufficient time should be given for migration of consumers to New Regulatory Framework 2020 to avoid any inconvenience to consumers.

Sufficient time for exercising an informed choice is the basic premise of the New Regulatory Framework 2020 which will ensure easy implementation of New Regulatory Framework, the authority added. Also Read: PUBG India big update! PUBG New State launched in India, check trailer and other details

Since the new regime will come into effect from 1st April 2022, DPOs are required to seek permission for offering new bouquet subscriptions from the subscribers. DPOs will have to obtain permission from 1st February 2022 to 31st March 2022. Also Read: YouTube removes public dislike counts on all videos

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San Francisco: Micro-blogging site Twitter has announced that its subscription service Twitter Blue is now available in the US and New Zealand for iOS, Android and web users for a monthly price of $2.99 in the US.

The company's subscription service is also adding new features, including an undo button, which lets you recall tweets before they are sent.

"With Undo Tweet, subscribers can preview and perfect Tweets before they are sent," the company said in a blogpost.

"Subscribers also have access to Reader, which turns long threads into an easier-to-read experience. They can also change the text size within Reader to tailor their experience even further," it added.

One of the features also lets people view ad-free articles on participating websites and gives a portion of revenue from Twitter Blue subscriptions to those sites.

"This is just the beginning for Ad-free Articles with much more ad-free content to come as we continue to build more partnerships, with more publishers, in more markets," the company said.

According to the company, a portion of the revenue from Twitter Blue subscription fees goes directly to publishers within their network in continuing our commitment to strengthen and support publishers and a free press.

"Our goal is to help each publishing partner make 50 per cent more per person than they would have made from serving ads to that person. A better experience for readers -- and more support for the journalism they care about," the company mentioned.

Subscribers can add more flair to their Twitter experience with exclusive app icons and colourful themes and Bookmark Folders.

The company is also introducing Custom Navigation, which gives subscribers the ability to customise what appears in their navigation bar for quick access to the Twitter destinations they care about most.

The subscribers will be able to upload videos of up to 10-minutes (as opposed to the standard 2 minutes for non-subscribers) via Longer Video Uploads and pin their favourite conversations to the top of their DM's with Pinned Conversations.

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New Delhi: F.I.R. actress Kavita Kaushik recently shared a video in which she was seen donating her long locks to cancer patients for wigs. On Wednesday, she had taken to Instagram to post a video in which she was seen at a hair salon getting her hair cut by a barber.

She revealed that her hair will be used to make wigs for cancer patients. She also asked fans to be patient to see her new short hair look.

In the caption, the TV actress wrote, "And this goes for donation for wig making for cancer patients! Aur mera naya look ? wait karo yaar."

Take a look at her post:

The next day on Thursday (November 11), the actress shared a sizzling picture of her in a blue monokini and her uber-cool short hairstyle. She was seen posing by a pool in a deep blue swimsuit with her hands up in a sultry pose.

She penned a quirky caption, saying, "Who's this New chick! I got no idea but she is wicked #newhair"

Actress Kavita made her television debut with Ekta Kapoor's show 'Kutumb' in 2001 and she had also starred in 'Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii'. Later, she rose to fame with her role as Chandramukhi Chautala in the sitcom F.I.R. Later, she gained even more recognition with the show 'Dr. Bhanumati On Duty' in which she played the lead.

Kavita has taken part in many reality shows as well such as 'Nach Baliye' in 2007 and 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa' in 2015. Last year, she had taken part in Salman Khan's reality show 'Bigg Boss 14'.

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Kabul: The country's Intelligence Department has claimed that at least 600 ISIS (Daesh) terrorists have been arrested in the past three months across Afghanistan, reported a local media.

"In several parts of the country, nearly 600 members of Daesh who were involved in subversive acts and killings were detained. The detainees include some top members. They are in the prisons," TOLOnews quoted a spokesman for the intelligence department, Khalil Hamraz as saying while speaking to the reporters in the government's information and media centre.

The statement comes at a time when the regional countries have repeatedly raised their concerns over the ISIS activities in the war-torn country.

READ | Taliban back WHO, UNICEF's polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan

ISIS have carried out several assaults in recent weeks, including a twin bombing of a military hospital in Kabul last week, which left at least 19 people dead, reported Sputnik. The terror group claimed a massive suicide bombing in Kandahar, besides orchestrating targeted killings in Nangarhar and Parwan provinces and another major suicide bombing in a Shia community mosque in the northern Kunduz province, killing more than 100 people.

However, the spokesperson claimed that the story security situation in the country was "satisfactory", according to TOLOnews.

The spokesman for the Islamic Emirate, Zabiullah Mujahid who also took part in the press conference, once again denied ISIS as being a major threat in the country. He said that 21 ISIS sanctuaries were eliminated in several provinces, reported TOLOnews.

"Our efforts are continuing to root out (Daesh) but the threats have been reduced to a great extent," TOLOnews quoted Mujahid as saying.

However, on the contrary, according to some political analysts, ISIS would put regional countries at high risk besides posing threat to Afghanistan.

"Daesh in the region is a great threat to Afghanistan and other regional countries," TOLOnews quoted a political analyst, Akhtar Mohammad Rasikh as saying.

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WELLINGTON: The Asia-Pacific region must not return to the tensions of the Cold War era, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Thursday, ahead of a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden expected as soon as next week.

Xi, in a recorded video message to a CEO forum on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit hosted by New Zealand, said attempts to draw ideological lines or form small circles on geopolitical grounds were bound to fail.

"The Asia-Pacific region cannot and should not relapse into the confrontation and division of the Cold War era," Xi said.

Xi`s remarks were an apparent reference to US efforts with allies and partners in the region, including the Quad grouping with India, Japan and Australia, to blunt what Washington sees as China`s growing coercive economic and military influence.

China`s military said on Tuesday it conducted a combat readiness patrol in the direction of the Taiwan Strait, after its Defense Ministry condemned a visit by a U.S. congressional delegation to Taiwan, the democratically governed island claimed by Beijing.

Combative U.S. diplomatic exchanges with China early in the Biden administration unnerved allies, and U.S. officials believe direct engagement with Xi is the best way to prevent the relationship between the world`s two biggest economies from spiraling toward conflict.

A date has not been announced for the Xi-Biden meeting, but a person briefed on the matter said it was expected to be as soon as next week.

Xi said achieving economic recovery soon is the most pressing task for the region, adding that countries must close the COVID-19 immunisation gap.

"We should translate the consensus that vaccines are a global public good into concrete actions to ensure their fair and equitable distribution," Xi said.

The regional leaders are meeting as part of a week-long series of APEC conferences culminating in a summit on Friday and Saturday, hosted entirely online by New Zealand, a country with hardline pandemic control measures that has kept its borders closed to almost all travellers for 18 months.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change has been a key item on the agenda at the summit, which is taking place in parallel with the United Nations` COP26 meeting in Glasgow, as world leaders and businesses work towards lowering emissions and combating global warming.

Xi highlighted the importance of managing climate change to ensure sustainability and said China would achieve its carbon neutrality targets within the time frame it has set.

"Our carbon reduction action will also require massive investment, thus creating huge market opportunities and room for cooperation. The business communities across the Asia-Pacific are warmly welcome to join us in this endeavor," Xi said.

New Zealand`s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, said in her opening address at the meeting that APEC had taken steps to wean the region`s industries off fossil-fuel subsidies.

"Why on earth are governments subsidising fossil-fuel use to the tune of some $500 billion every year? I`m pleased that APEC is turning the tide on these subsidies by taking concrete steps to tackle them," Ardern said in her virtual address.

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Taipei: Taiwan on Thursday slammed Beijing for its `interference` in the internal matters of the democratic island after the Chinese Communist Party said that Taiwan`s participation in Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) activities must be based on the 'one China' principle.

"China`s false statements have severely undermined the spirit of APEC," the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said adding that China should stop "improper political operations" and interference with Taiwan`s participation in APEC-related meetings. The developments came a day after Beijing`s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson, Zhu Fenglian said that the "Taiwan region`s" participation in APEC activities must be based on the "one China" principle, Taiwan News reported.

"Since Taiwan joined APEC in 1991, it has participated in the economic and trade forum as a full member," the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in a statement. "Taiwan enjoys the same status and has the same obligations as all members. There is no `one China` principle in the agreement allowing Taiwan`s participation in APEC," MOFA was quoted as saying by Taiwan News.

The ministry also said that it rejects China`s attempts to distort historical facts and demand acceptance of the "one China" principle to "create the illusion" that Taiwan is subordinate to China. Taiwan is not a part of China and that the Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan for even one day.

China has no right to represent Taiwanese on the international stage or anywhere else, Taiwan News reported citing MOFA."Only Taiwan`s democratically elected government has the right to represent the 23.5 million Taiwanese," MOFA said. This came as Beijing claims sovereignty over the democratic island and has increased military incursions in Taiwan.

Taiwan is a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Despite being governed separately for more than seven decades, China has threatened that "Taiwan`s independence" means war.

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